XPENG flying car completes trial flight in central China's Hunan Xinhua) 08:59, March 28, 2025 A drone photo taken on March 27, 2025 shows the air module of XPENG's flying car AEROHT conducting a flight demonstration at Liuye Lake Tourist Resort in Changde City, central China's Hunan Province. A ceremony for the flying car's maiden flight in Hunan was held by Chinese electric vehicle maker XPENG here on Thursday. The flying car consisting of a ground module, an electric vehicle, and an air module, performed the application scenario of cross-water flight on the day. (Xinhua/Chen Sihan) CHANGSHA, March 27 (Xinhua) -- The "Land Aircraft Carrier," a flying car developed by Chinese electric vehicle maker XPENG, completed a public trial flight Thursday in Changde City, central China's Hunan Province. The air module of the flying car performed a trans-lake flight. Flying to a height of 40 meters, it landed at the original location safely after circling over Liuye Lake, a scenic spot in Changde. "This flying car can be used for both sightseeing and rescue purposes," said Zhao Deli, founder of XPENG's flying car affiliate Huitian. This flying car consists of a ground module and an air module. The ground module is an electric vehicle while the air module is known as electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL). Last year, a test flight was carried out in Lujiazui, Shanghai. The product has received nearly 5,000 orders. The ground module of XPENG's flying car AEROHT is pictured at Liuye Lake Tourist Resort in Changde City, central China's Hunan Province, March 27, 2025. A ceremony for the flying car's maiden flight in Hunan was held by Chinese electric vehicle maker XPENG here on Thursday. The flying car consisting of a ground module, an electric vehicle, and an air module, performed the application scenario of cross-water flight on the day. (Xinhua/Chen Sihan) The air module of XPENG's flying car AEROHT conducts a flight demonstration at Liuye Lake Tourist Resort in Changde City, central China's Hunan Province, March 27, 2025. A ceremony for the flying car's maiden flight in Hunan was held by Chinese electric vehicle maker XPENG here on Thursday. The flying car consisting of a ground module, an electric vehicle, and an air module, performed the application scenario of cross-water flight on the day. (Xinhua/Chen Sihan) Visitors watch the air module of XPENG's flying car AEROHT at Liuye Lake Tourist Resort in Changde City, central China's Hunan Province, March 27, 2025. A ceremony for the flying car's maiden flight in Hunan was held by Chinese electric vehicle maker XPENG here on Thursday. The flying car consisting of a ground module, an electric vehicle, and an air module, performed the application scenario of cross-water flight on the day. (Xinhua/Chen Sihan) An aerial drone photo taken on March 27, 2025 shows XPENG's flying car AEROHT at Liuye Lake Tourist Resort in Changde City, central China's Hunan Province. A ceremony for the flying car's maiden flight in Hunan was held by Chinese electric vehicle maker XPENG here on Thursday. The flying car consisting of a ground module, an electric vehicle, and an air module, performed the application scenario of cross-water flight on the day. (Xinhua/Chen Sihan) The air module of XPENG's flying car AEROHT conducts a flight demonstration at Liuye Lake Tourist Resort in Changde City, central China's Hunan Province, March 27, 2025. A ceremony for the flying car's maiden flight in Hunan was held by Chinese electric vehicle maker XPENG here on Thursday. The flying car consisting of a ground module, an electric vehicle, and an air module, performed the application scenario of cross-water flight on the day. (Xinhua/Chen Sihan) A visitor takes photos of the ground module of XPENG's flying car AEROHT at Liuye Lake Tourist Resort in Changde City, central China's Hunan Province, March 27, 2025. A ceremony for the flying car's maiden flight in Hunan was held by Chinese electric vehicle maker XPENG here on Thursday. The flying car consisting of a ground module, an electric vehicle, and an air module, performed the application scenario of cross-water flight on the day. (Xinhua/Chen Sihan) A drone photo taken on March 27, 2025 shows the air module of XPENG's flying car AEROHT conducting a flight demonstration at Liuye Lake Tourist Resort in Changde City, central China's Hunan Province. A ceremony for the flying car's maiden flight in Hunan was held by Chinese electric vehicle maker XPENG here on Thursday. The flying car consisting of a ground module, an electric vehicle, and an air module, performed the application scenario of cross-water flight on the day. (Xinhua/Chen Sihan) An aerial drone photo taken on March 27, 2025 shows XPENG's flying car AEROHT at Liuye Lake Tourist Resort in Changde City, central China's Hunan Province. A ceremony for the flying car's maiden flight in Hunan was held by Chinese electric vehicle maker XPENG here on Thursday. The flying car consisting of a ground module, an electric vehicle, and an air module, performed the application scenario of cross-water flight on the day. (Xinhua/Chen Sihan) A drone photo taken on March 27, 2025 shows the air module of XPENG's flying car AEROHT conducting a flight demonstration at Liuye Lake Tourist Resort in Changde City, central China's Hunan Province. A ceremony for the flying car's maiden flight in Hunan was held by Chinese electric vehicle maker XPENG here on Thursday. The flying car consisting of a ground module, an electric vehicle, and an air module, performed the application scenario of cross-water flight on the day. (Xinhua/Chen Sihan) (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) Airlines start to fly summer, autumn plans, adding more international routes Global Times) 09:42, March 31, 2025 (Photo/Courtesy of China Eastern Airlines) Chinese airlines started on Sunday to implement a set of summer and autumn flight plans, which will run until October 25, while the mileage of international flight routes continues to expand, official data showed. The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC), the regulator, said on Sunday that it has approved 140 domestic and foreign airlines, including 32 Chinese airlines, to operate 17,512 passenger flights per week, of which 11,004 flights are by Chinese carriers, an increase of 38.4 percent year-on-year, involving 77 foreign countries. The weekly planned flights of China Eastern Airlines' overseas routes will exceed 1,500, including over 1,250 international flights, up by 22 percent year-on-year, China Eastern Airlines said. China Southern Airlines said that it plans to implement more than 200 international and regional routes, with its hub network covering 47 countries and regions. The carrier said that it will actively extend services to cover the BRI partner countries. And, Air China said that it will open new flight routes such as Beijing-Vladivostok, Beijing-Irkutsk, Beijing-Toronto and Beijing-Cairo, resume flights from Chengdu to Paris, and increase the frequency of flights on routes including those from Beijing to Stockholm, Copenhagen and Warsaw, as well as Shanghai-Hanoi, Chongqing-Tokyo and Chengdu-Tokyo routes. Hainan Airlines plans to operate more than 130 international and regional routes, covering more than 30 countries and regions, and add new international routes, including Beijing-Edinburgh, Chongqing-Osaka/Bangkok, and Haikou-Osaka, and continue to accelerate the resumption and opening of international and regional flights, the company said. In addition to enhancing connectivity between Hong Kong and the Chinese mainland, the Cathay Group said that it is expanding its global network to solidify Hong Kong's status as a leading international aviation hub in the world. Cathay is adding 13 destinations to its flight network this year, including Hyderabad, Dallas, Urumqi, Rome, Munich, and Brussels for Cathay Pacific, and Sendai, Nha Trang, Ishigaki, Komatsu, Cheongju, Daegu, and Miyako (Shimojishima) for HK Express. "We will promote an orderly increase of international passenger flights and consolidate the traditional international air transport market and continuously expand networks among countries participating in the joint construction of the BRI," the CAAC said. 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The Partnership: The Secret History of the War in Ukraine This is the untold story of Americas hidden role in Ukrainian military operations against Russias invading armies. https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/03/29/world/europe/us-ukraine-military-war-wiesbaden.html and now Trumps mouth https://t.me/SputnikInt/81729 If I think theyre tapping us along, I will not be happy about it, Trump declared. https://t.me/SputnikInt/81728 I think hes going to BE GOOD. And I certainly wouldnt want to put secondary tariffs on Russia. But if they were put on, it would not be very good for them, US President Donald Trump claimed. There you have all you need to see that the USA is plum sleazy crazy Trump is pissed because if Russia questions legitimacy of Ukrainian governance and president. Then all deals made by Trump are illegal and void under international law Temper temper temper WtR PS: (and) Russia just wiped out NATO Special Operations Forces (SOF) of their Ukrainian based Main Intelligence Directorate and destroyed up to 170 NATO militants and mercenaries. So, Trump is pissed and he is impotent as is the USA Country United States of America US Virgin Islands United States Minor Outlying Islands Canada Mexico, United Mexican States Bahamas, Commonwealth of the Cuba, Republic of Dominican Republic Haiti, Republic of Jamaica Afghanistan Albania, People's Socialist Republic of Algeria, People's Democratic Republic of American Samoa Andorra, Principality of Angola, Republic of Anguilla Antarctica (the territory South of 60 deg S) Antigua and Barbuda Argentina, Argentine Republic Armenia Aruba Australia, Commonwealth of Austria, Republic of Azerbaijan, Republic of Bahrain, Kingdom of Bangladesh, People's Republic of Barbados Belarus Belgium, Kingdom of Belize Benin, People's Republic of Bermuda Bhutan, Kingdom of Bolivia, Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana, Republic of Bouvet Island (Bouvetoya) Brazil, Federative Republic of British Indian Ocean Territory (Chagos Archipelago) British Virgin Islands Brunei Darussalam Bulgaria, People's 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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 Man jailed after pressuring boys to send explicit images as he posed as young girl online This article is old - Published: Monday, Mar 31st, 2025 A former primary school teacher who posed as a young girl online and pressured children to send explicit images of themselves has been jailed. Daniel Fuge, 38, of Prospect Road, Dorchester, formerly of Wrexham, denied making indecent images, and three counts of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity. But a jury found him guilty of all four charges following a trial at Mold Crown Court in February. He appeared at Mold Crown Court for sentencing today, where he was sentenced to ten years in prison. Fuge was made subject to sex offenders register notification requirements and a sexual harm prevention order, both indefinitely. He is also barred from working with children and vulnerable adults, and he was given a 10-year restraining order prohibiting Fuge from contacting his victims. Fuge persistently asked and pressured two boys for explicit material on Snapchat, before inciting one to send a video carrying out a sexual act. The material of one of the victims was later circulated around his school. Following a meticulous police investigation, his devices were seized from his parents home in Wrexham, and upon examination, further victims were identified. He was charged in March 2024. At the time of committing the offences, Fuge had been working as a primary school teacher in Saudi Arabia and posed as the young girl online when he returned home during school holidays. He had been using a device running a virtual private network (VPN), used to encrypt its internet connection to hide its location and identity. Detective Constable James Hughes, who led the investigation said: I would like to praise the victims in this case for their bravery and courage throughout this investigation. Daniel Fuge stole their innocence away as he posed as a young girl to trick and deceive them into sending explicit images to satisfy his own warped sexual desires. The messages recovered as part of the investigation evidenced that he was aware his victims were just children at the time, but despite this, he continued his predatory behaviour. He has shown no regard for the effects his actions have had on the victims or their families. I urge anyone who has ever experienced something similar to get in touch with us and not suffer in silence. You will be listened to and supported by police. Wrexham Councillor quits Labour I have not left Labour so much as Labour had left me This article is old - Published: Monday, Mar 31st, 2025 A Wrexham councillor has resigned from the Labour party and has said he will now sit as a councillor of the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC). Coedpoeth councillor Anthony Wedlake explained his decision as cutting of disability benefits from the most vulnerable to fund a huge growth in spending on arms as a defining step of Labour moving away from a party for working class people with little to choose from the Tories. The move reduces the number of Labour councillors on Wrexham Council to 15. In a statement he said: The Labour Party under Keir Starmers leadership has been moving further and further from the core values Labour is meant to represent. I have been concerned about the direction of the party for some time, but to take money from the poorest in our society to spend on armaments is the final straw. I cannot in all conscience remain a member of a party that attacks the working class. I have not left Labour so much as Labour had left me. I believe that we need a new party of the working class that will stand up for the rights of working people and fight the austerity policies of all the other parties: Labour, Tory, Plaid and of course Reform all of whom would cut spending on services for working people while the richest 1% amass colossal wealth. That is why I will be sitting as a Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition councillor. I will continue to represent the people of Coedpoeth to the best of my ability, and I believe that is best done by leaving a party committed to cutting public services and benefits and instead fighting in their interests as a TUSC councillor. It is also clear that being an independent councillor on Wrexham council means coalition with the Tories which is clearly not an option for me. Discontent from Mr Wedlake has been evident on occasion, notably when he called out Labour in a debate on a winter fuel motion, Mr Wedlakes statement on the lack of interest in joining the independents is also consistent with his comments in the Guildhall Chamber, when he blasted Council Leader Mark Pritchard noting The trouble is that the leader of this council cant blame the Tory Party, because its his friends in the Tory Party who keep him as leader of this council. Dave Warren, secretary of TUSC Wales, welcomed Anthony as a TUSC councillor: I am delighted to welcome Anthony Wedlake to our ranks. I believe that there are many sincere activists in the Labour party who are coming to the conclusion that Labour can no longer be regarded as a party that fights for working class people. A new party based on the trade unions and committed to socialist policies is needed, and TUSC is the first step towards that objective. TUSC Wales welcomes any other Labour councillors who cannot stomach Labours commitment to austerity, nationally and locally, to come under the TUSC umbrella. We will be campaigning for a new workers party to contest the Senedd and Welsh council elections in 2026 and 2027. Councillor Wedlake wished the hundred or so TUSC candidates standing on May 1st in the council elections in England well, I hope they win and kick-start the process of forming a new party for working people A public meeting is expected in the second week of April for those interested in the Wrexham Trade Union and Socialist Coalition. The TUSC website explains who they are: Wrexham hotel partners with local prostate cancer support group to raise awareness and provide meeting space This article is old - Published: Monday, Mar 31st, 2025 A Wrexham hotel has announced a new partnership with the Wrexham Prostate Cancer Support Group, offering its facilities as a regular meeting place for people in the area affected by the disease. The initiative, spearheaded by co-owner Steve Hesketh of Hotel Wrexham, follows a conversation with the groups secretary, Phil Jones, which highlighted the urgent need for increased awareness and support. After speaking with Phil and learning more about the groups work, our management team didnt hesitate to offer the use of our Orchard Suite, said Mr Hesketh. I was genuinely shocked to learn that prostate cancer is now the most common cancer in men across Wales. If caught early, its treatable but the key is encouraging more men to get tested. Prostate cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in UK men, with over 52,000 new cases each year. In Wales alone, over 2,500 men are diagnosed annually. Despite the prevalence, awareness remains low, and early-stage symptoms are often overlooked. According to Prostate Cancer UK, one in eight men in the UK will be diagnosed in their lifetime. The Wrexham Prostate Cancer Support Group aims to address this by providing a safe, welcoming environment for men to seek advice, share their experiences, and learn more about detection and treatment. The group also plays a vital role in promoting PSA (Prostate-Specific Antigen) blood tests a simple check that can identify early signs of the disease. The group will now meet monthly at The Hotel Wrexhams Orchard Suite, with the next session scheduled for 7pm on Wednesday 2 April, and subsequent meetings held on the first Wednesday of every month. The partnership not only provides a regular, accessible venue for those in need but also helps to amplify the message that early detection can save lives. Top pic: hotel co-owner Steve Hesketh, group sales manager Jules Robinson, and support group secretary Phil Jones. As youth delinquency has hit 20-year lows across the nation, Washoe County is now hyper-focused on a small pocket of violent youth offenders. Staff at the Jan Evans Juvenile Justice Center are also handling sharp increases in youth mental health challenges, with 60 to 70% of detainees suffering from a diagnosable mental illness or substance abuse disorder. And the community is reckoning with a spike in the number of teens facing felony-level charges for possession of concentrated cannabis. Watch this 2 News Nevada investigation to learn more about the challenges and risks Northern Nevada youth face, and how the county is trying to rehabilitate the regions most vulnerable children and teens and find help through the interactive resource guide below. Instructions for navigating the resource guide: A legislative bill that would have ended daylight saving time in Nevada will not advance after missing a Senate committee deadline. Assembly Bill 81, also known as Lock the Clock Act, passed Nevada's Assembly last month but it failed to advance out of a Senate committee by Friday's deadline. If it did eventually become law, the new time would have started January 1, 2026. APRIL 18, 2025: A bill that would end daylight saving time in Nevada has passed the Assembly and will now head to the Senate for a vote. The Assembly voted 17-15 on Thursday to approve AB 81, also known as Lock the Clock Act. If the bill is passed, it would take effect January 1st of 2026. To get a good understanding of what time changes would look like without daylight saving: During the summer solstice on June 21st, the sun would rise at 4:32 a.m. and set at 7:30 p.m. You can read the bill's text below - March 31, 2025: The Lock the Clock Act has officially advanced out of committee, bringing the bill one step closer to being put into place. The Assembly Committee on Government Affairs voted to pass the act, known formally as Assembly Bill 81, out of committee with bipartisan support. The bill will see a full Assembly vote in the coming weeks. Assemblymember Selena La Rue Hatch released a statement on the advancement, saying: "This bill is not just about folks that are upset at losing an hour of sleep or having to change their clock. There are documented negative health effects that come from observing daylight saving time and changing our clocks twice a year. The Lock the Clock Act will have immediate positive impacts on our health and quality of life without having to spend a dime." February 25, 2025: Nevada lawmakers are considering getting rid of daylight saving time. Assembly Bill 81, also known as Lock the Clock Act, would do away with daylight saving time. So, no more springing forward on the second Sunday of march every year or regaining that hour on the first Sunday of November. Assembly member Selena La Rue Hatch says this is more than just people complaining about changing their clocks and losing an hour of sleep. She says there are documented negative health effects that come with observing daylight saving time. "We know that during clock change events heart attacks go up, strokes go up; so do car accidents, workplace accidents, stress, anxiety, depression, all of those increase whether we go forward or back with the clock," says La Rue Hatch. Assembly member La Rue Hatch says there's also negative impacts to the economy. She says there are measurable productivity decreases when the clocks change, and we're also not saving money on energy. La Rue Hatch says this bill will not impact our agricultural producers, saying, "Some people argue that farmers and ranchers don't want this, but as someone who grew up on a ranch let me tell you - the cows are getting up at the same time no matter what the clock says." Many health organizations are endorsing permanent standard time as being more natural and beneficial for our bodies. Annie Vong, a representative for Nevada Public Health Association, says, "Seasonal time changes, as Assembly member La Rue Hatch says, pose a risk for public health when it comes to motor vehicle crashes and cardiovascular events, and NPHA fully supports this bill." Justice Forest, Administrative Assistant for Nevada Association for Education of Young Children, says, "Mood swings, difficulty focusing, difficulties with concentration and worse performance in schools are caused by daylight saving time." One public commenter in opposition says this bill is being pushed a little prematurely, saying there are some missing stakeholders that have not been included - such as tribal chiefs and the casino resort community. La Rue Hatch says the only other issue people have is they prefer to stay in daylight saving time; unfortunately that's not legal. "The federal government doesn't allow us to choose permanent daylight saving time. If we want to stop changing the clocks, we have to go to permanent standard time." If the bill is passed, it would take effect January 1st of 2026. To get a good understanding of what time changes would look like without daylight saving: During the summer solstice on June 21st, the sun would rise at 4:32 a.m. and set at 7:30 p.m. UPDATE - March 31: The Churchill County Sheriff's Office reports that Nancy Griffiths and Jayson Daniel have both been found, according to an updated online post. No other details were provided. The community was thanked by the sheriff's office for all of its assistance in finding them. The public is being asked to assist the Churchill County Sheriff's Office in finding a man whose family has asked for a welfare check. In an online post, CCSO says that Jayson Daniel was last seen around the Peppermill Casino in the Reno-Sparks area. Jason is said to be driving a charcoal gray, 2021 Ford Ranger with Nevada license plate 70H-911. According to the post, in a missing person report already filed, the Churchill County Sheriff's Office is also trying to find Nancy Griffiths, who is said to be in the company of Jayson. The Churchill County Sheriff's office is asking anyone with any information that could help their agency find this man and woman to contact Sergeant Brad Kufalk, the case agent assigned to this case, at (775) 423-3116 or bkufalk@so.churchill.nv.us; refer to case number C25-01547. (The Churchill County Sheriff's Office contributed to this story.) Gather your sparkle and share; give back in style by donating your gently used prom attire, helping students shine bright on their big night without breaking the bank. As prom season approaches, Catholic Charities of Northern Nevada (CCNN) calls on the public to donate formal attire, shoes, and accessories to help local students have an unforgettable prom night. Think about donating those lightly used shoes, gowns, suits, and costume jewelry that may no longer be needed when you dive into your spring cleaning. Since the majority of proms in the area happen in April and May, students are actively looking for affordable, fashionable clothing that they may buy from St. Vincent's Thrift Stores. Donations are being accepted at Super Thrift in Sparks and the donation dock at the Catholic Charities 4th Street Thrift Store. Additional neighborhood drop-off locations can be found on this page on the Catholic Charities website. Catholic Charities says all the kid's purchases fund their poverty relief programs, and every donation ensures that more kids can go to their prom in style and confidence. Two people were arrested for drug charges following a traffic stop in Washoe County on Sunday. A car was stopped by Washoe County Deputies for traffic-related violations in Sun Valley on March 30, at around 12:15 p.m. According to a Facebook post, the car had previously been seen at a home where there was a history of criminal activity, and was part of an active investigation being led by the Sparks Police Department. Deputies found three people inside the car. After their initial contact and investigation, a Reno Police Department K9 Officer was called to the location to provide assistance. Following a free-air sniff, the K9 alerted, establishing probable cause for a search of the car. Deputies found several pieces of drug paraphernalia and illegal drugs, such as cocaine, marijuana, and methamphetamine, in the car during the search. Morgan Jack was taken into custody and booked in the Washoe County Detention Facility for the following charges, Possession of Illicit Drugs for Commercial Purposes (Felony), More than 42 grams of a controlled substance in possession (Felony), Controlled Substance Possession Less Than 14g (Felony), and for Transporting a Substance Under Schedule I Control (Felony). Sierra Shopes was taken into custody and also booked into the Washoe County Detention Facility on charges of misdemeanor charges of possession of drug paraphernalia, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Unauthorized possession of a dangerous drug. In the post The Washoe County Sheriff's Office reminded the community that its goal is to improve community safety and combat drug-related activities head-on. (The Washoe County Sheriff's Office contributed to this story.) You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close Getting around is a necessary but increasingly costly endeavor. American households spent $13,174 on transportation in 2023 about 7 percent more than we did the previous year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics most recent data. Almost every element of our driving experience has gotten more expensive. Insurance rates rose by more than 50 percent over the past three years. Auto financing costs dipped recently, but interest rates are still three percentage points higher than they were at the end of 2021. And were spending more than $48,000, on average, for a new car around $10,000 more than we did in 2020. The only relief has been that gas prices have fallen from their 2022 record high, clocking in at approximately $3.15 per gallon on average in late March, AAA reports. Members only Vehicle costs wont be pulling a U-turn and reducing anytime soon, especially if automakers raise prices in response to President Trumps tariffs. But you can lower your own car spending, potentially by thousands of dollars, by utilizing these 25 tips and strategies recommended by auto experts. Car buying 1. Pick the right car for your needs and budget The biggest financial mistake people can make is buying the wrong vehicle for them and then selling it soon after to purchase another, says Matt Jones, senior director of brand and industry at car-buying website TrueCar. No amount of deal hunting, discounts and sly negotiations can save you more money than you will cost yourself by picking the wrong car and trading it in prematurely. This is because cars depreciate over time, seeing the biggest drop in value, about 20 percent, within the first year. Moreover, if you took out a loan to finance the car purchase, youll likely owe more than the vehicle is worth when you sell it. Carefully consider which vehicles and features make the most sense for your lifestyle both now and in the future. Be realistic about your needs, says Sean Tucker, lead editor for Kelley Blue Book. People might think they need three rows of seating for when the grandkids visit, but if that only happens at Christmas, save yourself $10,000 by buying a car with two rows and renting a bigger car when you need it. Read reviews and take test drives to get a sense of a vehicles maneuverability, comfort, noise level and handling. Kelley Blue Book, Edmunds and AAA allow you to look up five-year cost-of-ownership estimates that account for the purchase price as well as fuel, maintenance, insurance, financing, state fees and depreciation. 2. Research the cars average sales price before stepping onto a dealership lot Once youve identified the particular vehicle you want, find out how much the car costs on average before visiting a new or used car dealership, since sticker prices can vary between dealers. Always go into a negotiation with information, says Ronald Montoya, senior consumer advice editor for Edmunds. You need to know what the going rate for the car you want in your local area is so youre in the best position to determine whats a good price and youre not asking for anything unreasonable. Many sites, such as Edmunds, Kelley Blue Book, TrueCar, Carfax and Consumer Reports, show how much the make and model you want is currently selling for in your area based on recent sales data, usually described as the average offer, market price or fair market price. Knowing this figure can help you negotiate since it gives you a more accurate benchmark than the vehicles MSRP, or manufacturer's suggested retail price. If a salespersons offers arent within the range of competitive prices youve researched, walk away and visit another dealership. 3. Look beyond local dealers Casting a wider geographic net could help you nab a better deal than sticking close to home. Dont limit yourself to shopping in your area, Tucker says. If you can save $1,000 by driving two hours, isnt that worth it? He cautions that you may want to stay within your state boundary to avoid tax issues or buying a vehicle that doesnt meet your states emissions standards. 4. Time your shop Better deals on new cars often appear in the fall or early winter, from October through December, when dealers mark down vehicles in an effort to clear out the previous years models and meet their year-end sales goals, Montoya says. And, as more people buy new cars, they sell or trade in their old ones, making the end of the year a good time for used-car shoppers, too. The used-car market typically sees an influx of cars starting in early fall, helping to drive prices down, he adds. If you dont want to wait until then to buy, visit a dealership on the last few days of the month salespeople or dealerships that are behind on their monthly quotas may be more willing to discount at that time. Try to stick to the trim level youve budgeted for, and dont be tempted to buy up. Sam Island 5. Dont be swayed by extras Buying a car can become an emotional decision, Jones says. Were in a reward mindset, were treating ourselves to this big purchase, and we can overbuy or decide we want the top of the line, but do we need that? Because its often more profitable for carmakers to build higher-end, luxury models, you may struggle to find base-model options at dealerships, tempting you to buy up. Try to stick to the trim level youve budgeted for by shopping around or asking if the dealer can place a custom order with the manufacturer. Dealerships also commonly sell accessories that dont come with the car, like wheel locks or tinted windows, that end up making it more expensive, Montoya says. While some dealerships view installed extras as nonnegotiable, many are willing to reduce the price if you negotiate. Ive seen dealerships discount the options by half or, in some cases, if the customer is really insistent, the options are thrown in for free, says Montoya. Some pricey extras to avoid or at least avoid paying more for: VIN etching, protective coatings like rustproofing, extended warranty coverage, nitrogen-filled tires, and embellishments like pinstriping or door edge guards. Auto loans 6. Compare quotes from multiple lenders Getting auto loan offers from several lenders could save you thousands. According to LendingTree, car buyers who shopped for loans on its auto loan comparison platform could have saved an average of $5,198 over the life of their loan by opting for the offer with the lowest interest rate versus the highest rate. Drivers with a credit score of 720 or better can save even more by comparison shopping, as lenders may offer them a wider range of interest rates. Contact your current bank or credit union, as well as other financial institutions and online lenders, to see what interest rates and repayment terms theyll provide on an auto loan. You can also try an online lending marketplace such as LendingTree, myAutoloan or Autopay to solicit and compare quotes from several lenders in one step. 7. Think about more than just the loans monthly cost Dealers may try to focus negotiations on what your monthly car payment would be, rather than the vehicles sales price. This tactic could get you to spend more on the car, added extras or financing without you realizing it. For example, drawing out the duration of a loan would reduce the amount of the monthly payment, but it increases the total interest youd pay. Say you take out a $39,000 five-year auto loan with a 6.8 percent interest rate, bringing your monthly bill to $769. Extending the loan another two years would lower your monthly outlay to $585, but youd pay about $3,000 more in interest overall. Gold Mining and Processing Update Perth, Mar 31, 2025 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Horizon Minerals Limited ( ASX:HRZ ) is pleased to provide an update on the development of the Phillips Find ("Phillips Find") and Boorara ("Boorara") Gold Projects. HIGHLIGHTS New Toll Treatment Agreement for processing Phillips Find ore - Completion of processing of the first 37,000t of ore from the Phillips Find JV with BML Ventures Pty Ltd (BML) under the 200,000t Toll Milling Agreement with FMR Investments Pty Ltd (FMR) to treat Horizon ore from February to June 2025 at the Greenfields Mill - First ore parcel from Phillips Find consisted of 37,624 dry tonnes at 1.46g/t for 1,675.3oz at an average price of $4,728/oz, generating ~$7.9M to the Phillips Find JV - An additional 80,000t of ore from Phillips Find will be processed at the Greenfields Mill in both April and June in addition to approximately 80,000t of ore to be processes from Boorara to complete the Toll Processing Agreement with FMR. - A New Toll Milling Agreement executed to treat 70,000t of ore from Phillips Find in September/October 2025 to be processed at Focus Minerals Limited's (Focus) Three Mile Hill processing plant - Grade control drilling completed at Phillips Find and has resulted in a revised schedule where the final 70,000t ore mined in the current campaign is treated at Three Mile Hill Mining, haulage and processing progressing well at Boorara - Proceeds received from the processing of the first 50,604t of Boorara ore under the Ore Sale Agreement with Norton Gold Fields' Paddington Mill for the processing of total of 1.24Mt of Boorara ore - First ore stockpile from Boorara was 50,604 dry tonnes at 0.791g/t for 1,163 oz sold at an average gold price of $4,256/oz, generating ~$4.951M in revenue - The second ore parcel is currently being processed at Paddington with a third parcel is in the process of being hauled. More than 100,000t of high-grade ore is currently stockpiled on the Boorara ROM pad, allowing for the additional campaigns to be processed at the Greenfields Mill in April and June - Boorara is now operating at steady state ore production Commenting on the mining progress, Managing Director and CEO Mr Grant Haywood said: "Following on from our first gold pour for Boorara in January, we have now built up significant ore stockpiles, with mining now in steady state operation and in a position for the continuous processing of ore and cashflow generation which will continue well into 2026. We are also pleased to secure a new toll treatment agreement with Focus Minerals which aligns with the revised mining schedule at Phillips Find and allows us to increase our overall gold production from Boorara. As gold production ramps up in the June quarter we expect to commence a steady cash build from our dual mining and haulage operations." Next Steps The next campaign of ore treatment at FMR's Greenfields mill is scheduled to commence on 9 April 2025 and will comprise approximately 40kt of Boorara ore and 40kt of Phillips Find ore. A similar split of Boorara and Phillips Find ore is scheduled to be processed in June 2025 which will complete Horizon's current 200kt Toll Treatment Agreement with FMR. The remaining 70kt of Phillips Find ore shall be processed through September/October 2025 at Focus Minerals' Three Mile Hill plant. Processing of ore at Paddington from Boorara has now reached steady state and is expected to be continuous. A further mining and processing update is expected in the Company's March Quarterly Report. *To view tables and figures, please visit: https://abnnewswire.net/lnk/3EP3Z408 About Horizon Minerals Limited Horizon Minerals Limited (ASX:HRZ) is a gold exploration and mining company focussed on the Kalgoorlie and Menzies areas of Western Australia which are host to some of Australia's richest gold deposits. The Company is developing a mining pipeline of projects to generate cash and self-fund aggressive exploration, mine developments and further acquisitions. The Teal gold mine has been recently completed. Horizon is aiming to significantly grow its JORC-Compliant Mineral Resources, complete definitive feasibility studies on core high grade open cut and underground projects and build a sustainable development pipeline. Horizon has a number of joint ventures in place across multiple commodities and regions of Australia providing exposure to Vanadium, Copper, PGE's, Gold and Nickel/Cobalt. Our quality joint venture partners are earning in to our project areas by spending over $20 million over 5 years enabling focus on the gold business while maintaining upside leverage. Related Companies Jessica Walsh, Founder & Creative Director of &Walsh, USA, has been named the Jury President for the Design Lions at the 2025 Cannes Lions festival. Walsh is recognized as a visionary figure in the design industry, celebrated for her distinctive style that incorporates bold, emotionally charged, and thought-provoking visuals. Her agency, &Walsh, has collaborated with prominent brands including Google, Apple, and Converse, as well as innovative startups like Bombas and Coconut Cult. Beyond her achievements in design, Walsh is known for her dedication to mentorship and advocacy. She established Ladies, Wine & Design, a global nonprofit organization focused on supporting women in creative leadership roles. Additionally, she utilizes her platform to advocate for social and political change. Her project, 40 Days of Dating, garnered international attention and led to both a book and film deal. Every year on March 30th, food lovers across the world come together to celebrate World Idli Day, an occasion dedicated to one of Indias most cherished breakfast staplesthe humble yet versatile idli. This soft, steamed delight has been a cornerstone of South Indian cuisine for centuries, loved for its simplicity, nutrition, and comforting taste. The tradition of World Idli Day was initiated in 2015 by Chennai-based caterer M Eniyavan, who recognized the universal love for idlis and sought to commemorate it with a special day. His passion for idlis led him to create a 44 kg idli, marking the inaugural celebration. Since then, the day has grown in significance, celebrating the cultural and culinary importance of idlis across the globe. When it comes to idlis, MTR Foods has played a pioneering role in popularizing this dish beyond its traditional roots. Founded in 1924, MTR is credited with the invention of Rava Idli, a timeless innovation born out of necessity during food shortages in the 1940s. Today, MTR continues to be a household name, blending heritage with modern convenience to keep South Indian flavours alive. On the occasion of World Idli Day 2025, Adgully spoke with Prerna Tiku, Chief Marketing Officer, MTR Foods, to discuss the brands legacy, its commitment to innovation, and how MTR is shaping the future of idlis in India and beyond. MTR is credited with inventing Rava Idli, a dish that has stood the test of time. How does MTR position itself as the go-to brand for idlis in a competitive market, and what role does brand heritage play in your marketing strategy? At MTR, our century-long legacy as a trusted culinary brand resonates deeply with consumers who value authentic and flavourful food experiences. Rava Idli exemplifies how we embrace innovation while staying rooted. Our expertise in South Indian breakfast flavours have firmly established us as the go-to brand for idlis not just in India but across the world. For over 100 years, we have been an integral part of Karnatakas rich culinary journey, and we take immense pride in our South Indian roots, which forms the foundation of our brands identity. This legacy is built on a deep understanding of the regions cuisine, its authentic flavours, and innovation. These pillars continue to guide us as we deliver these authentic flavours to consumers everywhere. Consumer preferences are constantly evolving. How does MTR use market research and consumer insights to drive innovation in the idli category, from new flavours to convenient formats? Our Centre of Excellence drives continuous R&D to curate recipes that cater to evolving consumer preferences. We connect with a lot of home chefs to draw on deep insights into regional tastes and culinary nuances to create products that resonate with diverse palates. We really want to celebrate the versatility of this humble dish Idli. We have innovated on multiple levels, by introducing not just new ingredients but also new flavours like Schezwan Idli and Gourmet Butter Idli. And we havent stopped at that, we have also added accompaniments to enhance the overall culinary experience for consumers. Recognizing the modern consumers demand for convenience, weve also evolved the formats of our offerings. From idli mixes to ready-to-use chilled batters, weve made it effortless for consumers to enjoy authentic dishes without the long preparation process. Every innovation is deeply rooted in consumer insights. Our commitment to innovation ensures we stay relevant to modern consumers without compromising on the authenticity they trust us for. MTR has been actively leveraging influencer marketing to engage consumers. Could you share how this strategy has impacted brand visibility and consumer adoption? How do you measure the success of such campaigns? Influencer marketing has been instrumental for us to connect with todays digital-first audience. With the increasing digital penetration, influencers bring credibility and help us engage meaningfully with diverse consumer cohorts in the digital universe. We actively collaborate with over 800 influencers who resonate with various segments of our audience. We engage these influencers through unique activities and events, such as the recently held MTR Idli Carnival for World Idli Day. These one-of-its-kind influencer events are designed to authentically immerse influencers in the brand experience, enabling them to create content that is both engaging and relatable. By collaborating with food creators, home chefs, and lifestyle influencers, we bring alive the versatility of our products through real, everyday cooking experiences. These partnerships have been instrumental in driving awareness and encouraging trials, particularly among newer and younger consumers. We measure the success of such initiatives through key metrics such as reach, engagement, sentiment, and their impact on product adoption. Beyond the numbers, the quality of conversations and the positive association built around the brand remain critical in strengthening consumer trust. With the rise of digital marketing, how is MTR integrating e-commerce, social media, and digital storytelling to connect with a wider audience and drive sales in the idli category? At MTR, we embrace an integrated digital marketing strategy that ensures a seamless journey for consumers, from awareness to consideration and ultimately to purchase. Quick commerce and ecommerce play a significant role, constituting around 50% in some of our categories. We actively collaborate with quick commerce and e-commerce partners to launch campaigns tailored to emerging consumer trends. Additionally, our dedicated D2C website ensures that consumers across the country have easy access to our products. Our social media strategy spans key platforms like Meta and YouTube, leveraging strong regional insights to craft content that resonates with diverse audiences. This approach allows us not only to narrate our brand story but also to engage with consumers in a language that truly connects with them. Idlis are a staple in South India but are gaining popularity nationwide and even globally. What marketing strategies is MTR implementing to expand its reach beyond its core consumer base and tap into new demographics? South Indian breakfast is not just popular in south of India but across the country and globally. In fact, idlis made using MTR products are loved and enjoyed across the world, underscoring the appeal of this iconic dish. It continues to be a key lever of market penetration for us. Building on this widespread popularity, weve introduced innovative flavours like Schezwan Idli and Gourmet Butter Idli to attract new demographics. These offerings are designed for select consumer segments, broadening the appeal of idlis to both traditionalists and experimental eaters alike. Additionally, leveraging digital platforms and influencer collaborations helps us tell relatable stories that resonate with consumers. MTR Cuisine centre of excellence led MTR Idli carnival which showcased the versatility of Idli through fusion recipes that can easily be prepared at home, encouraging consumers to experiment with familiar favourites. Through these initiatives, we aim to broaden our consumer base and establish idlis as a beloved dish. Also Read: Lakshmi Narayanan B on how IPL is reinforcing CEATs presence in Indian households At the 25th edition of FICCI Frames 2025, an engaging panel discussion unfolded on the topic Future of Print. Moderated by Ashish Pherwani, the session featured Girish Agarwal and Sivakumar Sundaram, two prominent figures in the print media industry. The discussion revolved around the resilience and adaptability of print media in an era dominated by digital platforms. Session Chair Ashish Pherwani opened the discussion by acknowledging the challenges faced by print media in the wake of digital transformation. However, he highlighted that despite numerous predictions of decline, print has continued to grow, proving its lasting relevance. Even in this tough year, print has grown. That is such a heartening story for the world, and I believe the world should learn from India, he remarked. Girish Agarwal attributed the sustained growth of print media to its strong foundation and fundamental business model. The newspaper business in India operates at a 28% EBIT margin, whereas many digital businesses struggle to define profitability, he emphasized. He further explained that newspapers have a unique right of way into peoples homes and daily routines, creating a long-term bond with consumers. Adding to the conversation, Sivakumar Sundaram highlighted how print media offers a distinct experience that digital platforms cannot replicate. In the digital world, we are trapped in echo chambers, seeing only what aligns with our beliefs. Newspapers provide an opportunity to discover new perspectives, breaking away from digital algorithms, he explained. Pherwani pointed out that newspapers, despite being the last to report news after digital, TV, and radio, still need to surprise the reader every morning. Agarwal responded by underscoring the hard work of journalists. We have 7,000 journalists across the country, covering diverse and often difficult stories. They go to great lengths, even risking their lives, to uncover the truth, he stated. Sundaram further stressed the crucial role newspapers play in keeping not just readers but also the government and judiciary informed, ensuring a thriving democracy. When asked about the struggles faced by newspaper CEOs, Agarwal dismissed the notion that print is on the decline, likening it to fluctuations in other industries like automobiles and technology. Every CEO is striving for growth, but the fundamentals of our business remain strong, he said, asserting that newspapers will continue to thrive as long as they retain reader engagement. He also raised concerns about digital platforms relying on newspapers for content without having their own journalists on the ground. Google approaches newspapers for content because they know they dont have teams to gather news. Some publications make the mistake of giving their content away instead of driving readers directly to their platforms, he cautioned. When asked about future investments, Sivakumar Sundaram stated, Even during COVID, when we were down to 10%, we continued investing in print. Today, as digital screens get smaller, the demand for real, tactile experiences grows, reinforcing the importance of newspapers. Girish Agarwal reinforced this, emphasizing that print media will continue to adapt, especially in tier 2 and beyond cities, where people still have the time to engage deeply with newspapers. If the format ever changes, we will evolve with it, he asserted. The panelists shared their strategies for success. Sundaram emphasized on resilience and relevance in content strategy. Agarwal encouraged the industry to remain confident, stating, Whatever good we did in 2024, we must continue in 2025 and beyond, staying honest to our profession. The discussion concluded on a high note, with Girish Agarwal dispelling misconceptions about the decline of print media. We made a record profit in 2023-24 since our listing, he quipped, highlighting the continued profitability of the print industry. Raymond Limited has announced the appointment of Rashmi Mundada as a Woman Independent Director (Additional Director) to its Board of Directors. The appointment was approved by the company's Board of Directors on March 29, 2025, through a resolution passed by circulation, following a recommendation from the Nomination & Remuneration Committee. Mrs. Mundada will hold the Director's position from March 28, 2025, until the company's next General Meeting or until her appointment is officially confirmed by the members, whichever is earlier. The company stated that the appointment of Mrs. Mundada is subject to the approval of the Members of the Company and adheres to the guidelines outlined in Stock Exchange circulars NSE/CML/2018/24 and BSE/LIST/COMP/14/2018-19, both dated June 20, 2018. Rashmi Mundada is a Fellow Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India and has been a practicing Chartered Accountant for over 22 years. She also possesses a Diploma in System Audit (DISA) from ICAI. Her professional experience encompasses auditing and assurance, Income-Tax and GST, business transformation, risk management, and project finance. She currently serves on the board of five unlisted public companies. Raymond Ltd. has confirmed that there are no familial ties between Mrs. Rashmi Mundada and any existing Director or Key Managerial Personnel of the company. AFSPA Extended in 3 Districts of Assam, Withdrawn From One 2 The Assam government said it has extended the application of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 (AFSPA) in three districts of the state for six more months after a review of the law and order situation. The government, however, withdrew the controversial law from Dibrugarh district as the situation improved there. Home and Political Department Secretary Debaprasad Misra, in an order on Sunday, stated that the four districts were kept under the purview of AFSPA since October 8 last year after withdrawing the act from the rest of the state. Following the receipt of reports from various security agencies, it has been observed that the overall security situation in Assam has significantly improved, particularly over the last three-and-a-half years, due to the sustained efforts and proactive counter-insurgency measures by the Assam Police and security forces, it added. In light of these improvements, the Government of Assam believes that the disturbed area status under the AFSPA need not be extended in Dibrugarh district beyond March 31, 2025, the order stated. Despite these improvements, there have been sporadic incidents of IEDs being planted by ULFA (I), the only militant group active in the state, in various districts, alongside their involvement in kidnapping for ransom to fund their activities, Misra said in the notification. Therefore, the Government of Assam recommended that the disturbed area status under AFSPA be continued for an additional six months in the three districts of Tinsukia, Charaideo and Sivasagar. The AFSPA was first imposed in Assam in November 1990 and has been extended every six months since then after a review by the state government. The act empowers security forces to conduct operations anywhere and arrest anyone without any prior warrant. It also gives a certain level of immunity to the security forces in case of an operation going wrong. Civil society groups and rights activists have been demanding the withdrawal of the draconian law from the entire Northeast claiming violation of human rights by the armed forces. The cry to repeal the act gained renewed momentum following the death of 14 civilians in firing by security forces in a botched anti-insurgency operation and retaliatory violence in Mon district of Nagaland on December 4, 2021. Alabama families have one more week to apply for education savings accounts through the states new school choice program. The CHOOSE Act allows eligible students to receive up to $7,000 in tax credits that can be used for private school tuition. Homeschoolers can receive $2,000, or up to $4,000 per family, for other educational expenses. Eligibility will be determined by household income and certain student needs. Applications close April 7 and will begin to be disbursed for use from July 1 to June 30 of the upcoming school year. Taxpaying Alabama families want school choice, and our ESA program, the CHOOSE Act, is providing that unique opportunity, Gov. Kay Ivey said in a news release. This program gives Alabama students greater flexibility to pursue educational options that meet their individual needs. I urge eligible students to take advantage of this opportunity and apply before the April 7 deadline. In its first year, the program is open to all students whose household income meets 300% of the federal poverty level. For a family of four, thats about $93,600 which officials said covers about 75% of families in the state. The first 500 ESAs will be given to students with disabilities. Additional priority will be given to: Children of active-duty military service members who attend priority schools Siblings of participating students Low-income students The Alabama Department of Revenue is overseeing the CHOOSE Act. So far, ALDOR has approved at least 220 private schools and several dozen tutors, vendors and other service providers to accept ESAs this year. (Cant see the table? View it here.) More than 27,000 students have applied to the program since January, according to the governors office. The majority of current applicants already attend private schools or are homeschooled, AL.com found. Officials have allocated $100 million to the program in its first year, which would cover up to 14,000 accounts. All students, regardless of income or needs, can apply for the program starting in the 2028-29 school year. How do I apply for a CHOOSE tax credit? To apply, participants need to provide a birth certificate, proof of residency and proof of income. Additional documentation may be required if a student has a disability. Payments do not go into the parents pocketbook or into their own wallets. They must coordinate through ClassWallets portal for those transactions. If there are any funds left after that year, they are rolled back into the states CHOOSE Act fund. However, once a child is in the program, theyre given preference for the next year. Under the current law, public school students may use ESAs if the school they plan to enroll in charges tuition. Some students who are not currently enrolled in public schools may be able to use funds for some services or classes that public schools provide. Officials encourage families to direct any questions to ALDOR or to ClassWallet, the company helping to administer the program. Contact information and other parent resources are available at chooseact.alabama.gov. Comedian Paul Rodriguez addresses the media at the Laugh Factory in West Hollywood, Calif. on Monday, Nov. 20, 2006. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles) ASSOCIATED PRESS Comedian and actor Paul Rodriguez was arrested after police allegedly found narcotics in his vehicle during a traffic stop on Friday night in Burbank, California. 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. Rodriguez was booked at the Burbank jail for possession of narcotics and released with a citation to appear in court next month, Turner said. 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. 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. Rodriguezs 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 Worlds Fastest Indian and Tortilla Soup. ______ 2025 Los Angeles Times. Visit latimes.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Anson Mount attends the Paramount+'s 2nd Annual "Star Trek Day" Celebration at Skirball Cultural Center in 2021 in Los Angeles. He recently filmed a movie in Birmingham, Alabama. (Photo by Tommaso Boddi/WireImage) WireImage Star Trek: Strange New Worlds actor Anson Mount recently gave a shout-out to an Alabama city during a Q&A session on social media, calling it a cool town and suggesting more films should be made there. Anson, who currently stars in the Star Trek: Strange New Worlds TV series and is also known for his role on the popular Hell on Wheels TV series, answered questions from fans on Instagram recently when he got asked if he had any new movies coming out. Anson mentioned his upcoming flick Kill Him Til Hes Dead, which is a sci-fi action movie filmed in Birmingham late last year that also stars Byron Mann and Milo Ventimiglia as well as Ashley Greene, reports Deadline. While the question was a chance to promote the film, Mount also took time to sing the praises of Birmingham and advised other filmmakers with smaller budgets looking for a quality location to check it out. We had a lot of fun shooting that in, of all places, Birmingham, which I never really spent time in, much less shot in, but Im sold, man, said Mount in the video. Its a cool town, and that city did such great things for us on that shoot. It was amazing how far money went. If youre looking for low-budget filmmaking location with a friendly city, Birmingham. Check it out. At this time, Kill Him Til Hes Dead doesnt have a confirmed release date. Alejandro El Potrillo Castillo Andrade, 34, was killed in a March 29, 2025, crash in Calera. (GoFundMe) A popular radio personality was killed in a weekend traffic crash in Calera. Shelby County Coroner Lina Evans identified the victim as Alejandro El Potrillo Castillo Andrade. He was 34 and lived in Montevallo. Castillo was a well-known local and beloved radio personality in the Spanish-language community Birmingham. He formerly worked at El Jefe Radio. Catillo, who served as an emcee for local events, founded La Chula 97.5 in Shelby County. Its difficult times that were processing with a lot of pain, the station wrote on its Facebook page. Castillo left behind a wife and two young daughters. The two-vehicle wreck happened just after 6 a.m. Saturday in the 3000 block of County Road 12. Chief David Hyche said officers arrived on the scene to find Castillo dead. Hyche said an investigation is ongoing by the Calera Police Department Traffic Homicide Unit, the Shelby County Traffic Homicide Task Force and the Shelby County Coroners Office. A GoFundMe has been set up to help Castillos family. Donations can be made here. An Alabama woman is jailed in Florida after authorities say she drove hours to try to have sex with a minor in Walton County. On Saturday, according to Walton County sheriffs officials, deputies were called to a home on Pheonix Street in Santa Rosa Beach after a 911 call about a juvenile being at a house drinking and smoking. When deputies arrived, they spoke with 53-year-old Tracey Heinfeld, of Leeds, who said she drove from Orange Beach to check on a teenager who was friends with her son. Heinfeld told deputies she was worried and wanted to ensure he was okay. She said she was able to find out the childs location from someones account on Snapchat. When deputies spoke to the juvenile, the teen said he was scared of Heinfeld and that she was trying to have sex with him. The victim also showed deputies text messages sent from Heinfelds phone clearly stating she wanted to have sex with him, sheriffs officials said in a Monday news release. While reading the text messages on the victims phone, Heinfeld sent two pictures. The first was a picture of a WCSO patrol vehicle at the scene, and the second was of deputies standing in front of the house. Heinfeld was read her rights and continued to speak to deputies, saying again that she was able to get the victims address from Snapchat. She allowed deputies to access her phone, where they could see she had deleted text messages from the conversation with the victim. After recovering the text messages, they clearly matched the text messages on the victims phone. At one point, the juvenile begged Heinfeld not to come and told her he did not want to see her. Heinfeld said in text messages, Im coming to see you. Im already halfway there, so when I get there, do you wanna go to the club? Ill go to the pub with you. Maybe Ill pick you up a drink and get you drunk and take advantage of you, or maybe I wont. Maybe Ill just let you see me and then just turn around and go home. Heinfeld is charged with using an electronic device to solicit a child, traveling to meet a minor for sex, cyberstalking, and tampering with evidence. She remains held in the Walton County Jail on $500,000 bond. A person walks on campus at University of Minnesota in Minneapolis on April 21, 2020. (Glenn Stubbe/Star Tribune via AP, File) 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. 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. 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 Minnesota case comes days after Alireza Doroudi, an Iranian-born University of Alabama graduate student, was taken by ICE from his Tuscaloosa apartment around 3 a.m. Tuesday. ICE HSI made this arrest in accordance with the State Departments revocation of Doroudis student visa. This individual posed significant national security concerns, a DHS spokesperson said. Doroudis attorney, David Rozas, said in a statement to AL.com he was unaware of any allegations concerning significant national security issues. He has not been arrested for any crime, nor has he participated in any anti-government protests, the statement from Rozas said. 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. 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. AL.com contributed to this report. This is a guest opinion column Last week, President Trump signed a new Executive Order that rightly recognizes that leadership for disaster preparedness and response belongs at the state and local level supported by a competent, accessible, and efficient Federal Government. This Executive Order, Achieving Efficiency through State and Local Preparedness, is based on the common sense principle that state and local governments are closer to the people and are therefore in the best position to build resilience with the federal government available to help back them up. Thanks to a coalition of small-town mayors, Alabama is already leading the way. The need to build resilience is well understood in the East Alabama communities those mayors serve. Just two years ago, a line of tornadoes tore along the Georgia-Alabama line, destroying homes and other infrastructure and leaving some people without power for weeks. Even today, the destruction is still visible. Strengthening local communities was at the forefront of our minds last year when Groundswell, a nonprofit that builds community power, connected with Mayor of Lanett Jamie Heard. With his leadership, we brought together mayors across five neighboring Alabama counties Chambers, Clay, Macon, Randolph, and Tallapoosa plus our neighbors across the line in Troup County, Georgia to build a network of 10 resilience hubs. Typically located at neighborhood churches and community centers, resilience hubs keep the lights and other critical systems on when the power goes out. As a result, local residents can stay warm or cool, keep their phones charged, plug in medical devices, and access other critical services during extreme weather and extended outages. Building resilience is especially important in smaller towns and rural communities because when extreme weather hits, rural Americans often face longer recovery times due to aging infrastructure and limited access to resources. The 60 million Americans who live in rural communities are more vulnerable to power outages and disasters compared to urban ones, resulting in longer recovery times, according to the National Science Foundations Center for Climate and Energy Decision Making. Building resilience is hard work, and its important to do hard things the right way. To that point, the new EO also highlights the importance of engaging people at the individual level. Here, too, Alabama is in the lead. Working in close collaboration with this coalition of East Alabama mayors, our team is standing up a regional community advisory council that will directly involve local residents in decisions about where the resilience hubs will be located, what services they will offer, and how to build the necessary networks to keep people connected during storms and other hazardous events. Exemplifying how locally-led resilience efforts can be supported by an accessible and efficient federal government, the East Alabama resilience coalitions work is supported by a three-year, $20 million Community Change Grant from the U.S. EPA that will leverage private capital to fund each of the 10 resilience hubs in development as well as complete repairs and energy efficiency improvements on area homes to preserve affordability, improve the resilience of local families, and support economic development in alignment with this Administrations goal of cutting electricity bills in half. Incorporating housing repairs and energy efficiency improvements is essential to the overall resilience picture especially in rural counties because the average hardworking rural household pays about 20% of their entire household income for the monthly electricity bill. East Alabamas resilience coalition exemplifies what the executive order says: The best resilience strategy starts close to home, with local leaders and residents working together to decide whats best, and community development organizations like Groundswell supporting them with helping hands and expert capacity to get things done. The federal government can wisely enable more locally driven resilience with efficient investments, like the ones underway in East Alabama. Michelle Moore is the CEO of Groundswell, author of Rural Renaissance, and a mission-driven business leader. Ever since Alabama passed a law allowing permitless carry, more and more people have been getting arrested for bringing guns onto Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville. Since the start of 2023, when the new law took effect, 99 people have been arrested for illegally bringing firearms onto the military base, according to Redstone officials. And the rate of arrests has been going up each year since. I wish I could tell you why its still an issue, said Dennis Brown, deputy police chief at Redstone Arsenal. I really dont know. We have been very aggressive with getting the information out. When asked why the rate of these arrests at Redstone is so much higher than other, larger bases in Alabama, Brown explained that he believes it is because 98% of Redstones population is non-military personnel and commute into the base for work. He also emphasized Redstones proactive nature in addressing the issue. The 38,000-acre Redstone Arsenal is a highly secure U.S. Army installation. According to government websites, the base serves as the Armys center for missile and rocket programs, and also hosts the FBI, the Marshall Space Flight Center operated by NASA, and a total of 75 federal tenant agencies. The website notes that there are over 50,000 civilian and contract employees that work on the base compared to only 700 active duty soldiers. Under federal law, its illegal to bring a gun onto a military base. The charge is a federal misdemeanor, and for most, it can be as simple as handling a speeding violation, with a mandatory court appearance and paying a fine of around $500. More severe cases can see heavier fines or even prison time. The majority of the heftier charges come from instances where the gun violation is paired with something more severe, according to both Brown and federal court records. Brown pointed out possession of narcotics, outstanding tickets and warrants and drunk driving as common cases. Brown further explained that many of the charges are against individuals who do not work at the post at all. Many are external contractors or people who are lost. The people who work at the garrison are well aware of the rule and that only licensed weapons can be brought on-site under specific circumstances, he said. But even in the simpler cases, these violations can be especially problematic for federal employees who can lose their jobs if they are charged with a crime or even lose their security clearance. Visitors and employees have to go through strict checkpoints in order to get onto the base. Brown said that when someone drives up to the gate, guards will ask if the individual has a firearm and give them the chance to turn around if so. A charge can only be brought if the person says no and is proven wrong by a random or justified check, or if the guard can clearly see otherwise. Brown explained that each day, a random number is selected. If the number is eight, every eighth vehicle that comes through the gate, is pulled over for an extra security check, he said. Alabama law Beginning in January of 2023, Alabama made it legal for anyone 19 or older to carry a gun without a pistol permit. Since the passing of the bill, Brown said, the security team at Redstone has tightened up safety measures, which may have further contributed to the spike in the number of arrests. State law doesnt trump the federal ones that prohibit guns on the base. Brown says that in fiscal year 2023, there were 17 arrests made for weapons. In fiscal year 2024, there were 45. And as of this week, there have already been 37 arrests in the 2025 fiscal year. The fiscal year runs from Oct. 1-Sept. 30. Brown also disclosed that between 2020 and 2022, there were only five total arrests on the charge. He attributed this rate to COVID regulations, less strict safety measures, and the stricter gun laws at the time. Brown added that he believes Redstones reminders to leave guns at home arent getting to the right people. This comes despite repeated messaging through Redstone press releases and multiple local news reports. Furthermore, Brown highlighted that messaging concerning the risk of bringing a firearm onto the premises is highlighted at the Visitors Center, and that billboards outside of all entrances, often large and flashing, further emphasize this risk. That was my mistake The charge falls under a federal law that enforces codes on U.S. military bases to ensure security and minimize disruptions. In Redstones case, this charge often constitutes bringing a firearm onto the premises. There have been 155 documented cases of the violation, according to court records, since the start of Redstone Polices 2023 fiscal year. Ninety-nine of these cases involved gun possession, according to Chief Brown. The additional violations can come from things like DUIs, drug possession, or existing warrants. The majority of excuses are that oh, I forgot I had it in the vehicle, Brown explained. He added that other cases are people looking to make a quick stop at the on-site gym or store. One retired military officer was arrested for carrying a gun on the base in early 2025. He told AL.com he was visiting the commissary for food before being stopped unexpectedly. The case was eventually dismissed despite him being held in jail for five days. It was bull, Ive never been in trouble before. Im sitting there telling you how it is, but they didnt care what I was saying, he said. Of course I had never been to jail. I still have dreams about it. Another man who was arrested in the summer of 2023 told AL.com that he went on the base to pick up a friend. He said he wasnt thinking about the gun in his car. To get the visitors pass, you have to fill out some paperwork. I flipped through it quickly because I was trying to get my friend on time, he said. That was my mistake. When asked at the gate, he said he told the guard, yes, I have weapons in the car. I can turn around. He said he wasnt given the chance to turn around and was arrested and held on the base for multiple hours. A month and a half later, later, prosecutors asked a judge to dismiss his case, court records show. They dont have to worry about me again, he said. Im gonna keep staying far as hell away from that base. President Donald Trump walks down the stairs of Air Force One upon his arrival at Joint Base Andrews, Md., Sunday, March 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Luis M. Alvarez) AP Cracks may be forming on the issue once believed to be Donald Trumps greatest strength, according to a poll released Monday measuring the presidents approval rating. About 4 in 10 U.S. adults approve of Trumps job performance, according to the new Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll. In every issue surveyed in the poll, ranging from immigration to managing the federal government to the war in Ukraine, Americans have a more unfavorable view toward Trumps handling of it than those with a favorable opinion. The poll showed Trumps job approval the greatest on immigration -- an issue the president connected with the American people on that helped him recapture the White House in 2024. The survey found 49% of respondents strongly or somewhat approve of how Trump is handling immigration compared to 50% who strongly or somewhat disapprove of his immigration policies. The economy, which along with immigration helped propel Trump back into the White House, is now one of Trumps weakest issues, the poll found. Just 40% of respondents strongly or somewhat approve of the presidents handling of the economy compared to 58% who strongly or somewhat disapprove. Trump fated the worst on an issue an issue that ties into the economy: trade negotiations with other countries. Just 38% of respondents strongly or somewhat approve of the presidents stance on that issue while 60% of those polled strongly or somewhat disapprove. Trumps numbers on the economy pale in comparison to how Americans used to view him. During his first term, the economy was an issue on which Americans frequently gave Trump good marks. In October 2020, just before he lost reelection, an AP-NORC poll found that about half of U.S. adults approved of Trumps handling of the economy, putting the rating far above his performance on race relations and the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, Trumps stewardship of the economy is being put to the test again and the AP-NORC poll isnt the only sign that his threats of tariffs are making everyday Americans nervous. Consumer confidence has been falling over the past few months. Trump has argued that tariffs would bring more jobs in the auto industry to the U.S. and narrow the budget deficit, but prices on imported cars could also rise steeply if some of the costs of the taxes are passed along to consumers. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., takes an escalator on Capitol Hill in Washington, Friday, Jan. 31, 2020, during the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez) AP A Democratic senator thumbed his nose at Middle Americans after claiming they cant find Greenland on a map, according to the Trump administration. Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., made the remark during an appearance Monday on CNN to criticize Donald Trumps effort to acquire Greenland. Look, your average Trump voter laughs at [Democrats] and says, hes owning the libs. And your average Middle American says, Why are you wasting your time worrying about Greenland, I cant even find it on a map? Coons told CNNs Dana Bash on Inside Politics. The White House said Coons insulted Americas heartland. SHOWING THEIR TRUE COLORS: Democrat Sen. @ChrisCoons thinks your average Middle American is too stupid to find Greenland on a map," the White Houses rapid response account on X posted Monday afternoon. SHOWING THEIR TRUE COLORS: Democrat Sen. @ChrisCoons thinks "your average Middle American" is too stupid to find Greenland on a map. pic.twitter.com/ethsbnBWgT Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) March 31, 2025 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 on Sunday, according to the Associated Press. 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. The Associated Press contributed to this report. English News China's technological leap: fueling global innovation through cooperation Alwihda Info | Par peoplesdaily - 28 Mars 2025 While technological competition is inevitable, framing it as a zero-sum game overlooks the vast potential for shared success. The development of China's NEV sector offers a compelling experience: openness and cooperation create opportunities for mutual benefit, fostering a global ecosystem where innovation thrives. By Li Tielin, People's Daily Recent developments in China's auto industry have sparked significant discussions, as Chinese automakers increasingly share cutting-edge technologies with global partners. In a notable example, Dongfeng Motor's new energy vehicle (NEV) brands, including Voyah, have reportedly begun exchanging technologies with joint-venture partners such as Dongfeng Nissan. This trend is not isolated. Xpeng is collaborating with Volkswagen Group China on electric vehicle development, while SAIC Motor has joined hands with Volkswagen's premium brand Audi to develop a digital platform for intelligent and electric vehicles. In a further sign of strategic cooperation, Chinese autonomous driving company Pony.ai has forged a joint venture with GAC Toyota Motor and Toyota China Investment, highlighting a broadening alliance between Chinese innovators and global industry leaders. Historically, foreign automakers held sway over the global car market, with joint ventures serving as the primary conduit for Chinese companies to learn advanced manufacturing techniques and management expertise. These early partnerships laid the groundwork for China's burgeoning industrial landscape. Today, however, the collaborative dynamic has shifted dramatically. Breakthroughs in core NEV technologies - including batteries, electric motors, and sophisticated control systems - as well as advances in intelligent driving, have elevated Chinese brands from mere technology learners to industry leaders. Once characterized by an exchange of market access for technological know-how, these joint ventures now increasingly see Chinese firms providing critical technological support to their global partners. The transition from follower to leader in the NEV sector has been driven by several factors. Foremost among these is a commitment to independent innovation, demonstrated by the domestic development of high-performance chips, LiDAR systems, hybrid technologies, and autonomous driving. Equally important has been the collaborative effort across the industry, bolstered by supportive government policies, robust research and development, better collaboration between an effective market and a proactive government, a comprehensive industrial ecosystem, and a huge market. Measures such as the proliferation of EV charging infrastructure, targeted tax exemptions, and pilot programs transitioning public transportation to electric vehicles have collectively spurred this rapid advancement. Moreover, Chinese NEV manufacturers have become deeply integrated into global industrial and supply chains, expanding their international presence and broadening their service to global markets. Automakers such as Geely, Changan, and Chery have unveiled new global strategies this year, with plans for new overseas manufacturing facilities moving forward at a rapid pace. The evolution of China's NEV industry - from a reliance on imported technologies to becoming a contributor on the global stage - reflects the nation's broader commitment to openness and international collaboration. This approach is vividly illustrated by the deployment of DeepSeek, China's large artificial intelligence (AI) model, at the data center of Saudi Arabia's Aramco. Meanwhile, China's lunar probe Chang'e-6 carried scientific instruments developed through international cooperation - a negative ion analyzer from the European Space Agency, and a radon gas detector from France. British startup Volklec has reached a licensing agreement with China's Far East Battery to use its technology to make batteries for energy storage and electric vehicles, further cementing cross-border collaboration. Increasingly, Chinese scientific and technological innovations are bearing fruit around the world, demonstrating that they are not developed solely for national benefit but foster opportunities through exchanges and cooperation. This fosters the sharing of achievements, encourages ecosystem co-creation, and supports common development on a global scale. Foreign scholars now view China as an "enabler," a nation leveraging trade, capital exports, and technology transfer to promote more equitable global development and address long-standing global disparities. As a beneficiary of international scientific and technological exchanges, China is actively embracing its role in fostering open, fair, just, and non-discriminatory international cooperation in the field of science and technology. Amid a new round of technological revolution and industrial transformation - driven by breakthroughs in AI, quantum technology, and biotechnology - the need for exchanges of ideas and better resource allocation has never been greater. Isolationist approaches like "decoupling and breaking chains" and "small courtyard and high wall" will only hinder technological progress. While technological competition is inevitable, framing it as a zero-sum game overlooks the vast potential for shared success. The development of China's NEV sector offers a compelling experience: openness and cooperation create opportunities for mutual benefit, fostering a global ecosystem where innovation thrives. By intensifying its commitment to technological innovation and international cooperation, China is not only enhancing its own industrial landscape but also contributing to the advancement of technology worldwide, reinforcing the idea that progress is best achieved through partnership rather than division. Dans la meme rubrique : < > Low-altitude economy lifts off as Chinese automakers enter the eVTOL era China expands efforts to boost global e-commerce cooperation Legacy of Tea-Horse Road lives on at China-Laos border Pour toute information, contactez-nous au : +(235) 99267667 ; 62883277 ; 66267667 (Bureau N'Djamena) English News From Yunnan to the world: how China's coffee is rising on the global stage Alwihda Info | Par peoplesdaily - 28 Mars 2025 In the undulating highlands of southwest China, Yunnan's distinctive natural environment - characterized by low latitudes, high altitudes, large day-night temperature fluctuations, and fertile, slightly acidic soils - creates conditions reminiscent of the world's renowned coffee-growing regions. These attributes have allowed small-grain coffee to flourish, earning the province a growing reputation among coffee connoisseurs. Data from Kunming Customs show that in 2024, Yunnan exported 32,500 tonnes of coffee - a remarkable year-on-year increase of 358 percent. This skyrocketing growth has positioned Yunnan as a rising player in the global coffee market, with key export destinations including Germany, the Netherlands, the United States, and Vietnam. The province's expanding global presence is further bolstered by efficient logistics, such as the China-Europe freight train service, which ensures European consumers receive their coffee orders in as little as 15 days. German coffee entrepreneur Eric Baden, who runs Coffee Commune in Shanghai, is one of Yunnan coffee's most ardent advocates. Through his writings for the Specialty Coffee Association, Baden has introduced the region's offerings to coffee lovers and roasters around the world. For over a decade, Baden has championed the unique qualities of Arabica coffee beans grown in Yunnan's red soil. His efforts were validated in 2019 when Yunnan's P86+ Arabica beans clinched a silver medal at the largest coffee roasting competition in Australia and New Zealand - a milestone that, in his view, highlights the province's growing global recognition. Pu'er, often dubbed "China's coffee capital," plays a pivotal role in the supply chain, providing raw beans for industry giants such as Nestle, Starbucks, and Luckin Coffee. According to Starbucks' website, since establishing a farmer support center in Yunnan in 2012, the company has worked closely with local growers to refine cultivation techniques and improve bean quality, expanding the reach of Yunnan coffee internationally. In addition to meeting Chinese domestic demand, the premium beans are exported to markets across Asia, Europe, and the U.S., with Starbucks even offering a Yunnan single-origin coffee in its Chinese product lineup. Advances in processing technology have further bolstered Yunnan's coffee industry. In 2024, 31.6 percent of the province's coffee was classified as specialty grade, and an impressive 80 percent of beans underwent deep processing. New products, such as freeze-dried powder and cold brew concentrates, are gaining popularity, particularly in Vietnam's ready-to-drink market, where consumers applaud the coffee's smooth, richly nuanced flavor accented by a hint of fruity acidity. The online marketplace has taken notice as well. On Amazon, Yunnan coffee varieties are selling briskly, with many customers commending the beans' exceptional quality and distinct character. A new generation of entrepreneurs is playing an instrumental role in spreading Yunnan coffee across the globe. Lin Shuxian, born in the 1990s and once a resident of Yuxi in Yunnan, moved to Spain in 2021. Driven by nostalgia for home flavors and a keen insight into untapped opportunities in the European coffee market, she began promoting Yunnan coffee in Spain, Germany, and the Netherlands in 2022. Through her company, "Shu from Yunnan," she exports Yunnan green coffee beans to Europe, helping to introduce the region's distinctive offerings to a wider audience. Today, Yunnan coffee is increasingly featured in boutique cafes in Spanish cities like Barcelona, Malaga, and Caceres. In Zaragoza, major roasters continue to source Yunnan green beans from Lin's company, roasting, packaging, and distributing them to a growing market. "They bought 360 kilograms of green beans from me, and the entire batch was gone within a week," Lin said. "Yunnan coffee gives roasters a unique opportunity to explore a range of exciting flavors." Yunnan coffee is now gaining significant international attention. A report by the International Coffee Organization believes that China has the potential to have a bright and formative future in coffee, noting its firm integration into the global coffee value chain and its own unique place within the global coffee industry. By Xu Xin, Li Zhiwei, Bai Yuanqi, People's Daily In the undulating highlands of southwest China, Yunnan's distinctive natural environment - characterized by low latitudes, high altitudes, large day-night temperature fluctuations, and fertile, slightly acidic soils - creates conditions reminiscent of the world's renowned coffee-growing regions. These attributes have allowed small-grain coffee to flourish, earning the province a growing reputation among coffee connoisseurs. Data from Kunming Customs show that in 2024, Yunnan exported 32,500 tonnes of coffee - a remarkable year-on-year increase of 358 percent. This skyrocketing growth has positioned Yunnan as a rising player in the global coffee market, with key export destinations including Germany, the Netherlands, the United States, and Vietnam. The province's expanding global presence is further bolstered by efficient logistics, such as the China-Europe freight train service, which ensures European consumers receive their coffee orders in as little as 15 days. German coffee entrepreneur Eric Baden, who runs Coffee Commune in Shanghai, is one of Yunnan coffee's most ardent advocates. Through his writings for the Specialty Coffee Association, Baden has introduced the region's offerings to coffee lovers and roasters around the world. For over a decade, Baden has championed the unique qualities of Arabica coffee beans grown in Yunnan's red soil. His efforts were validated in 2019 when Yunnan's P86+ Arabica beans clinched a silver medal at the largest coffee roasting competition in Australia and New Zealand - a milestone that, in his view, highlights the province's growing global recognition. Pu'er, often dubbed "China's coffee capital," plays a pivotal role in the supply chain, providing raw beans for industry giants such as Nestle, Starbucks, and Luckin Coffee. According to Starbucks' website, since establishing a farmer support center in Yunnan in 2012, the company has worked closely with local growers to refine cultivation techniques and improve bean quality, expanding the reach of Yunnan coffee internationally. In addition to meeting Chinese domestic demand, the premium beans are exported to markets across Asia, Europe, and the U.S., with Starbucks even offering a Yunnan single-origin coffee in its Chinese product lineup. Advances in processing technology have further bolstered Yunnan's coffee industry. In 2024, 31.6 percent of the province's coffee was classified as specialty grade, and an impressive 80 percent of beans underwent deep processing. New products, such as freeze-dried powder and cold brew concentrates, are gaining popularity, particularly in Vietnam's ready-to-drink market, where consumers applaud the coffee's smooth, richly nuanced flavor accented by a hint of fruity acidity. The online marketplace has taken notice as well. On Amazon, Yunnan coffee varieties are selling briskly, with many customers commending the beans' exceptional quality and distinct character. A new generation of entrepreneurs is playing an instrumental role in spreading Yunnan coffee across the globe. Lin Shuxian, born in the 1990s and once a resident of Yuxi in Yunnan, moved to Spain in 2021. Driven by nostalgia for home flavors and a keen insight into untapped opportunities in the European coffee market, she began promoting Yunnan coffee in Spain, Germany, and the Netherlands in 2022. Through her company, "Shu from Yunnan," she exports Yunnan green coffee beans to Europe, helping to introduce the region's distinctive offerings to a wider audience. Today, Yunnan coffee is increasingly featured in boutique cafes in Spanish cities like Barcelona, Malaga, and Caceres. In Zaragoza, major roasters continue to source Yunnan green beans from Lin's company, roasting, packaging, and distributing them to a growing market. "They bought 360 kilograms of green beans from me, and the entire batch was gone within a week," Lin said. "Yunnan coffee gives roasters a unique opportunity to explore a range of exciting flavors." Yunnan coffee is now gaining significant international attention. A report by the International Coffee Organization believes that China has the potential to have a bright and formative future in coffee, noting its firm integration into the global coffee value chain and its own unique place within the global coffee industry. Dans la meme rubrique : < > Low-altitude economy lifts off as Chinese automakers enter the eVTOL era China expands efforts to boost global e-commerce cooperation Legacy of Tea-Horse Road lives on at China-Laos border Pour toute information, contactez-nous au : +(235) 99267667 ; 62883277 ; 66267667 (Bureau N'Djamena) What is going on with the latest fashion for educated Democrat voters to key the DOGE-adjacent Tesla in the Whole Foods parking lot? As Elon Musk asks: who is pushing this propaganda to teach people to firebomb Teslas? What is it all about? I will tell you what its all about. There is no politics without an enemy. And why is Nancy Pelosi, grande dame of the Democrat party for the last 20 years, silent about the armed insurrection against Tesla EVs and dealers, according to Fox News ? I will tell you. Nancy Pelosi, along with the rest of the Democrat party nobility, needs to keep the Democrat party peasantry angry and engaged. There is no politics without an enemy. Why are Bernie Sanders and AOC traveling across the nation holding Fight Oligarchy rallies in packed stadiums? Its because of the difference between our democracy and their oligarchy. Where democracy is the rule of us and oligarchy is the rule of them. Only, of course, experts from Gaetano Mosca in The Ruling Class to Joseph Schumpeter in Capitalism, Socialism, and Democracy agree that the people cannot rule. Best they can do is elect the people that will rule over them. So, members of the current ruling class -- or oligarchy -- like Bernie and Sandy are not really calling for democracy. They are just riling up their supporters. There is no politics without an enemy. Then there are the racist nooses. You know, what every Southern racist in the segregationist Jim Crow South kept on hand to lynch uppity blacks. From 1888 to 1968, there were 4,743 lynchings of blacks in the U.S., according to the NAACP . Do not compare the year 2019, activists insist, when according to the FBI there were 2,574 black-on-black murders in the U.S. Then there was the tragic case of Jussie Smollett, who reported a fake hate crime after having accidentally placed a noose around his neck. Then there is the noose incident at an elementary school in super liberal Evanston, Illinois, home of Northwestern University, in May 2022. I think we are all shocked to learn that elementary schools in super-liberal cities are now the center of racist would-be lynchings. Whats all this nooseology about? I will tell you. There is no politics without an enemy. Then there is Signalgate and the shocking, shocking inclusion of legacy-media hotshot Jeffrey Goldberg in a top-secret high-level Trump administration discussion of a super-secret attack on the helpless Houthis. Obviously, hundreds of Trump administration nominees should be fired and probably waterboarded for this flagrant violation of national security protocols in order to find out whether President Trump should be impeached for encouraging an armed insurrection. You know what I wonder. I wonder whether Goldberg, who served in the IDF before returning to the U.S. to work at the Washington Post, is IC-adjacent. And so I wonder if Signalgate is an IC operation. The sooner that the Trump administration is cut down to size the less likely it will have the power to damage the vital work of our irreplaceable Intelligence Community. What is going on here? President Trump and his minions are enemies of the ruling class. There is no politics without an enemy. Had enough? Of course, you know who came up with there is no politics without an enemy. Its right there in Google Search. Far-right, monarchist, and reactionary blogger Curtis Yarvin wrote it. And Yarvin got it from Nazi jurist Carl Schmitt who wrote in The Concept of the Political: The specific political distinction to which political actions and motives can be traced is the distinction between friend and enemy. But wait! Thats from my copy, translated by C.J. Miller. Whatabout the translation by George Schwab on the Internet Archive? The specific political distinction to which political actions and motives can be reduced is that between friend and enemy. Okay. Lets get serious. How was it written in the original German? Die spezifisch politische Unterscheidung, auf welche sich die politischen Handlungen und Motive zuruckfuhren lassen, ist die Unterscheidung von Freund und Feind. Now you educated liberals will note that, in German, friend and enemy are alliterative: Freund und Feind. Literally Hitler. Also, my German dictionary says that Unterscheidung means both distinction and discrimination. And thats appropriate, because every one of you educated liberals peacefully protesting outside a Tesla dealer today will insist that discrimination is the worst thing in the world unless it is discriminating in favor of an oppressed people against a white oppressor. Or between a Tesla EV before November 5, 2024 and a Tesla EV on April 1, 2025. But really, all this fuss about Freund und Feind is too complicated for you and me and dear old Sen. John Yerkes Iselin. We just want it Real Simple. And the Real Simple thing about politics is this: there is no politics without an enemy. Thanks, Curtis Yarvin. I needed that. Christopher Chantrill @chrischantrill blogs at The Commoner Manifesto and runs the go-to site on US government finances, usgovernmentspending.com. Also get his American Manifesto and his Road to the Middle Class. Image: Public Domain In Oregon, we are seeing tremendous stress fractures forming throughout the state and local governments. Friction between law-abiding gun owners and the urban gun grabbers is growing exponentially. The deep divide between rural farmers and ranchers and the green climate-change nuts gets larger every time a water-control bill or land-grabbing bill is proposed. There is more talk about the Greater Idaho movement and seceding from Oregon every time Portland elected officials try to squeeze more taxes and wealth from rural landowners. It is bizarre to watch Portland, with a multi-million-dollar deficit and out-of-control spending, trying to saddle Eastern Oregon residents with higher taxes to support the Portland urban tax gluttony. And then, the state attorney general and governor proclaimed Oregon a sanctuary state, which led to federal funds drying up like a small puddle on a hot parking lot. They didnt understand the warning signs or get the meme that antagonizing the source of your funds is stupid at best. California, our neighbor to the south, has been put on notice by the federal government, and money is being held up because Newsom and the California legislature act like they are still driving the limo. It is only a question of time before Oregon is on the fed's list of places that need correction, and the money stops flowing into Oregon. With Oregon being awash in debt and large, expensive programs on hold or dead, I guess things will get quite interesting in Oregon. Friends in the Oregon legislature indicate that even if all these radical bills become law, there will be no money to implement the programs. Now, this is the delicious irony of the situation in Oregon. Governor Tina Kotek and Attorney General Dan Rayfield, by declaring Oregon a sanctuary state, have cash-starved the Democrat liberal programs and doomed them to failure. An Eastern Oregon farmer made this observation on this decision. Smart, I am not, but I know enough to keep my fingers away from the running chainsaw. John Woods: Veteran, Conservative, Patriot, Father, Husband, Certified Action Range Shooter, Voting Delegate to state Oregon Republican Party. Image: Oregon Department of Transportation Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams set out on an eight-day mission to the International Space Station and ended up stranded there for nearly a year. Bidens Handlers Administration, and its media propaganda arm, went to great lengths, even after Wilmore and Williams finally splashed down on Earth, to claim they were never stranded. Arizona Democrat Senator Mark Kellys twin brother Scott asserted there was always a capsule docked at the ISS that could have brought them home anytimethey always had a ride homebut he was badly stretching the truth. There was a capsule docked there, but it was only for in extremis emergencies. If the ISS went up in flames or lost its oxygen generating capability, it was a last-ditch escape plan. Elon Musk famously noted he offered to rescue them, but Bidens Handlers refused: SpaceX launched a Crew Dragon capsule to rescue the pair last September, but after it docked at the space station, NASA opted to stall its return. Musk, who donated $288 million to Donald Trumps presidential campaign, told Fox News Sean Hannity that working with him to bring the astronauts back would have made Trump look good and that Biden didnt want the publicity so close to the presidential election. While still stranded on the ISS, Wilmore confirmed Musks account, and shortly thereafter, he and Williams were successfully returned to Earth while Boeing still apparently has no idea why its Starliner capsule malfunctioned or whether it will ever fly in space again. They were rescued after Trump asked Musk to rescue them, and Musk quickly prepared a rocket and capsule for the task, successfully landing the reusable rocket and returning the astronauts. In their first interview since returning to Earth, Wilmore praised Trump and Musk: Graphic: Fox/X Screenshot I respect you, I trust you. Youve given me no reason not to trust you. Either one of them, Wilmore said. I have no reason not to believe anything they say because theyve earned my trust. And for that, I am grateful that our national leaders actually are coming in and taking part in our human space flight program. He described their involvement as hugely important and empowering for the nation. Note Wilmores subtle word choice. Their involvement was hugely important in returning Williams and him to Earth. Wilmore emphasized the significance of having engaged leadership in space exploration. I think its a good thing for our nation when the national leaders, especially something that has high visibility, are involved in the process, he said. And Im grateful for that. Williams was equally complimentary: Im just glad that theyre involved and theyre taking notice, she said of Trump and Musk. Maybe it wasnt the perfect situation, but [it] allowed a lot of people, including the President and Elon, to look at whats going on on the International Space Station, take it very seriously, and understand that our involvement as a country, as a space-faring nation, is really important throughout the world. She stressed the importance of Americas leadership in space exploration, saying it sets an example and shows our ability to be able to do the hard things: put people in space, operate in space, work in space, and then bring us back. Note the careful language both employed, also illustrated by Williams final comment, particularly the and then bring us back part. To put a final nail in the coffin of the they were never stranded narrative, even NASA, for once, told the truth: Even NASA has confirmed that the astronauts wouldnt be home now had it not been for President Trump. NASA spokeswoman Bethany Stevens credited President Trump for securing the return of the two stranded astronauts in an interview with Fox News Digital. "This is a huge win for the Trump administration. And it would not have happened without President Trump's intervention. Up next on the docket, to continue implementing President Trump's ambitious space agenda that he touted in his inaugural address is to confirm his nominee for NASA administrator, Jared Isaacman," Stevens said. NASA knows how to play the political game. Interesting, isnt it, that only under the Trump Administration has NASA been able and willing to tell the truth, truth Wilmore and Williams have been willing to carefully tell all along? Space remains unforgiving and deadly. For Bidens handlers, failure and deceit were the only options. The lives of astronauts were political playthings. Were it not for Donald Trump and Elon Musk, God only knows how long Williams and Wilmore would have been stuck on the ISS. 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. Americas Trump/MAGA/America haters have been absolutely thrilled that Mark Carney is now Canadas new prime minister. That sentiment about his inherent worth was perfectly summed up in a meme that many of my leftist friends (gathered during a lifetime spent in leftist enclaves) shared on Facebook: Canada picked a guy with a PhD in economics. Mexico chose a woman with a degree in physics and a PhD in energy engineering. The U.S. handed the job to a carnival-barking senior citizen with multiple felonies and six bankruptcies under his belt. Internet meme. Ignore the silly insults a bout Trump (who has a bachelors degree from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania), who used bankruptcy as a reorganization tool on his way to becoming a multi-billionaire, and whose felony convictions were political hit jobs. Focus, instead, on that reverence for credentialism. Canadas Mark Carney, who got a Masters and PhD at Oxford, attended that institution in the late 1980s and early 1990s when it was already transitioning to leftism. However, one could colorably argue back then that it was still a legitimate institution and not just a playground for leftists. His degrees, therefore, should have value. But do they? Well, maybe not. YouTube screen grab (cropped). Britains media are reporting that Carneys specific PhD degree may not have any value at all because he may have plagiarized chunks of it. Per The Telegraph: Passages of his thesis from his doctorate in economics from Nuffield College were published appearing to show verbatim quotes, paragraphs or lightly amended excerpts from previous works without proper attribution. Geoffrey Sigalet, from the University of British Columbia said: Hes just directly repeating without quotations. Thats what we call plagiarism. [snip] Mr Carney is accused of presenting sentences from the economist Michael E Porter as his own in his thesis. Mr Carney does cite Mr Porters 1990 book The Competitive Advantage of Nations at different points, but is accused of failing to do so in others. Carney, through his spokespeople, is vigorously denying the charge that he plagiarized Porters work, but its hard to deny that the unattributed language is remarkably similar. Thus, in 1990, Porter wrote, First, government intervention can impede international competition and artificially support domestic profits. Five years later, Carney included this unattributed sentence in his thesis: First, government intervention can impede international competition and artificially support domestic profits. Other sentences were similar, albeit tweaked: In one paragraph, Mr Carney wrote: There are three reasons why domestic profitability is not a good indicator of true international competitive advantage. The original sentence in Mr Porters book read: Domestic profitability is not a good indication of true international competitive advantage for three important reasons. In addition to those weird echoes of Porters work, Carney also had some sentences that almost precisely echoed (without attribution) the work of a 1989 Jeremy C. Stein article, Efficient Capital Markets, Inefficient Firms: A Model of Myopic Corporate Behaviour. Stein wrote, Maximising the present value of their income will be the same as maximising the following utility at each time t, and Carney echoed, Maximising the present value of their income will be the same as maximising the following utility function at each time t. When writing a long and complicated document, mistakes happen. But at a certain point, things cease to be mistakes and have an odor of deliberation about them. Or, as Ian Fleming memorably wrote, Once is happenstance. Twice is coincidence. Three times is enemy action. I cant say that Id be surprised to learn that Carneys mistakes werent mistakes at all. Despite a life spent at elite schools followed by a career amassing wealth (without ever creating value), Carney is a leftist at heart and, as we saw a few years ago, leftists have no compunction about plagiarizing, with everyone from academics to Kamala Harris standing accused. The reason leftists are so willing to appropriate others work is that every leftist has a very personal spin on Marxs mantra about from each according to his ability; to each according to his needs. As leftists see it, when their needs outstrip their abilities (including their intellectual abilities), whats yours is theirs. Indeed, whenever I think of leftists, I think of Frozone, in The Incredibles, trying to explain to his wife that he needs to save the world. Her response is leftist to the core: In other words, every leftist (seemingly including Mark Carney) is his own greatest good. Under that rubric, if Carney needs to steal someones intellectual property, so be it. French polls show that conservative nationalist Marine Le Pen is the leading candidate for president of France when elections are held in 2027. It makes sense, given the rising support her National Rally (RN) party garnered in the last National Assembly election, where it became a top vote getter. Parties with that pattern tend to go upwards in successive elections. Which is precisely why we are seeing what we are seeing now in France -- the Full Maduro -- the disqualification of Le Pen from running for office, on trumped-up charges of embezzlement over a bookkeeping dispute. It's outrageous, and about as tinpot-dictatorship as such things get. It's exactly what Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro did to his opponent, Maria Corina Machado, last year, when she rose overwhelmingly in the polls against him. She was disqualified, and when she ran an ally instead, the scheme really failed because the ally won bigly, so Maduro's next move was to try to jail these opponents which he trying to do now. It's exactly what a cabal of leftist prosecutors and Biden administration officials tried to do to President Trump, failing miserably in each of a string of efforts. The bookkeeping dispute sounds a lot like the clown show in New York, which is what Prosecutor Alvin Bragg and Colombian-American Justice Juan Merchan (whose daughter was raising money for Democrats), tried to do to President Trump. Fortunately, Trump had good legal representation to thwart the worst of it. Had he not had it, he might have ended up like Le Pen. The left establishment plays for keeps, both in Venezuela and the U.S. -- and now, France. And we have seen many recent cases of political opponents being disqualified from running for office ever since the lawfare on Trump -- from the disqualification of Brazil's popular Jair Bolsonaro, to the full judicial negation of Romania's election, based on the judges not liking the result of it. It is becoming a new normal now from the global left, and France has not been spared. Le Pen has vowed to appeal, but in France, the deed is done, and the real reason for the charges is obvious enough -- to keep her from running for president in 2027. Like Trump, the French swamp establishment absolutely hates her. Which has been obvious enough since at least last year. During June's legislative elections, President Emmanuel Macron's party coalition, Ensemble, did poorly, so he forged an alliance with the conventional conservatives, known as Republicans, as well as the radical leftists, known as the New Ecological and Social People's Union (NUPES), who did well -- all to ensure that Le Pen's party was isolated, despite its broad public support. Anything to keep her out, including cobbling together an illogical, chaotic ruling alliance. After that, Macron kept the defense, finance, and foreign affairs portfolios for his own party, handed the immigration portfolio to the conservatives, and tellingly, passed the justice portfolio to the radical leftists who got to work finding a charge to make stick against Le Pen. That may be why they got the portfolio. And, oh, it was arguable charges, embezzlement, which is explained this way by Reuters: Le Pen, the National Rally (RN) and two dozen party figures were accused of diverting more than 4 million euros ($4.33 million) of European Parliament funds to pay France-based staff. They had argued the money was used legitimately and that the allegations had defined too narrowly what a parliamentary assistant does. Judge Benedicte de Perthuis said Le Pen had been "at the heart" of the scheme. The court found Le Pen, eight other people who were EU lawmakers at the time and 12 parliamentary assistants guilty of embezzling the EU funds. The defendants were not accused of pocketing the money, but rather of using EU funds to the benefit of their party. Like the American judicial hypocrites, the establishment there is harrumphing about threats to "democracy." CNN continued: The courts presiding judge, Benedicte de Perthuis, said Le Pens actions amounted to a serious and lasting attack on the rules of democratic life in Europe, but especially in France. She said Le Pens immediate ban on standing for office was tied to democratic public unrest that would result from the election of a person convicted of embezzlement. Even CNN could see the writing on the wall: But the decision itself looks set to spark significant unrest. Jordan Bardella, Le Pens protege who succeeded her as RNs president, said it was not only Le Pen who is being unjustly condemned: it is French democracy that is being executed. A crude German coeval nakedly laid out the real plan: Juergen Hardt, a senior German lawmaker with Chancellor-in-waiting Friedrich Merzs conservatives, said: As a Member of the European Parliament, Marine Le Pen saw the European Union only as a self-service store with which she could finance herself and her party." "The French court is right to put a stop to her political ambitions," Hardt said. All about stopping Le Pen from running for office. The blunt German knows it and spits it out without gaslighting. And not only is it likely to lead to riots and unrest, the public may well just vote for her anyway in bigger numbers than before. People don't like lawfare, nor do they like sleazy judges telling them who they can and can't vote for. We saw how President Trump's polling numbers went up with each lawfare outrage, and it's possible we will see something of the same dynamic in France. Marine may be viewed as a potential Charlotte Corday, just ready with the knife approaching the swamp establishment's decaying bath tub, and they couldn't deserve it more. That's French history. As history also foretells -- in France, this judicial overreach and crazed hate for change could get very ugly. Image: Wikimedia Commons, via Picryl // public domain Image: Louvre Museum, via Picryl // public domain For those unfamiliar with this part of the world, the Dnieper River rises in the Valdai Hills near Smolensk, Russia, before flowing through Belarus and Ukraine to the Black Sea. This sea is making headlines today due to Ukraines peace negotiations for this particular area. At the same time, as April 25, 2025, approaches, preparations are underway for the 80th-anniversary celebrations of the Elbe River reunion, which is associated with the meeting of the American and Soviet military on the Elbe River in the German city of Torgau on that day in 1945. This event became a symbolic act of Allied victory over Nazi Germany at the end of WWII. The meeting at the Dnieper River could be a similar act to prevent a nuclear WWIII. Presently, there are negotiations among American, Russian, and Ukrainian officials in search of peace to stop this madness, when two Christian nations who lived together for centuries, sharing religion, family, history, and economic ties, are now destroying each other. For now, lets leave aside the question of who provoked this war. For every argument that it was an unprovoked Russian aggression, prominent American, European, and other international experts offer many other counterarguments that prove that Russia was indeed provoked. Scott Horton, head of the Libertarian Institute, presented facts and documents to this effect in his 900-plus-page book Provoked, but there are many other books and articles on this subject. Let historians do more to research and continue these debates. Regardless, as Presidents Trump and Putin agreed during their recent phone conversation, this very horrible war between Russia and Ukraine must end. There are many powerful forces, including in the United States, Europe, and Ukraine, that want this war to continue, either for their economic benefits or for weakening Russia, with no regrets for Ukrainian lives. They will use every chance to derail the peace process, and some of them again call Trump a Russian asset for his peace efforts. Another important factor in preventing peace is the Ukrainian militant groups, some of whom are openly neo-Nazis. Among those who admit that are not only unbiased Western observers, but Ukrainians themselves. For example, Oleksandr Merezhko, the chair of the parliaments foreign affairs committee and a member of President Zelenskys Servant of the People party, said to the Financial Times that ultranationalists pose a very real threat to the government and one that could one day stand in the way of any attempt to negotiate an end to years of brutal fighting. There will always be a radical segment of Ukrainian society that will call any negotiation capitulation, he said. The far right in Ukraine is growing, and the right wing is a danger to democracy. The most famous of these forces is the Azov Battalion, whose founder and leader, Andriy Biletsky, according to France 24, in 2010 called for Ukraine to lead the white races of the world in a final crusade against what he described as Semite-led Untermenschen or the subhuman. In 2018, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a provision blocking any funding or training of Azov members by American forces, citing its neo-Nazi connections. However, after the Azov Battalion was absorbed into Ukraines National Guard as the 12th Azov Assault Brigade. Almost overnight, they are no longer terrorists, but fighters for freedom and democracy. Remembering the days when the U.S., Russia, and Ukraine were on the same anti-Nazi side of the barricades, and given the seemingly significant progress in the current peace negotiations, wont it be fantastic if on April 25, Americans, Russians, and Ukrainians meet on the Dnieper River to celebrate long-awaited peace and start the healing and rebuilding process? Another incentive could be that Eastern and Western Christians celebrate Easter on the same day April 20, this year. They rarely come on the same day. So isnt it a sign from above? Image: The Presidential Administration of Ukraine via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0. No matter how often the Secretary of Defense demonstrates his commitment to this country and our soldiers, he is continually blasted with lies and exaggerations by those who want him fired. One of the most recent media attacks came with the Signalgate fiasco, which was an unfortunate incident of allowing an outsider onto a strategic text communication, but Hegseth was not even responsible for the error: For one, it wasnt Hegseth who invited media propagandist Jeffrey Goldberg to the administrations Signal chat. The defense secretary successfully did his job, which was to carry out the presidents ordered strikes on Houthi terrorists in Yemen. But for those people who hate Pete Hegseth for making it through the nomination approval process, they are still bent on destroying him, for multiple reasons. First, Hegseth is an outsider. Although he is retired military, he didnt retire as a high-ranking officer whod put in his 20 years, so that makes his appointment questionable to the military-industrial complex, including the cabal of generals: The real reason leftists and other establishment hacks are gunning for Hegseths resignation has nothing to do with their fake national security concerns and everything to do with the fact that hes an outsider who represents a threat to the system theyve spent decades protecting. Unlike so many of their fellow D.C. insiders, Hegseth is not beholden to the military-industrial complex and defense lobbyists wielding their influence throughout Washington. His only interests are and always have been warfighting and the troops. Another attack came for the tattoos he wears, with people associating the ink with alleged support for white supremacism: I was in the National Guard during the inauguration of Joe Biden, so I served under Bush, served under Obama, served under Trump, and now was going to guard the inauguration because I was in the DC guard, he told Fox in June. Ultimately, members of my unit in leadership deemed that I was an extremist or a white nationalist because of a tattoo I have, which is a religious tattoo. Its a Jerusalem cross. Everybody can look it up, but it was used as a premise to revoke my orders to guard the inauguration. Most recently Hegseth faced criticism over a tattoo in Arabic, that translates to mean kafir, or infidel: Tattooing the Arabic word kafirwhich refers to someone who knowingly denies or conceals fundamental divine truthson his body is a display of both anti-Muslim hostility and personal insecurity, Nihad Awad, national executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nations largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, told Newsweek in a statement. This isnt just a personal choice; its a clear symbol of Islamophobia from the man overseeing U.S. wars, wrote Palestinian-American activist Nerdeen Kiswani on X. Kafir has been weaponized by far-right ideologues, and now its on the arm of someone with access to the Pentagon. One man provides some clarity though: Moroccan media personality Rachid Hammami, better known as Brother Rachid, also explained that the term is commonly used by veterans of Middle Eastern wars. This word is widely recognized among military veteransespecially those who served in the Middle Eastas a symbol of defiance against Islamic terrorists. Its often seen on stickers, truck decals, T-shirts, and mugs, Hammami posted on X. Its hard to believe that CAIR is still being quoted as a legitimate source for the Arab community, especially considering its been blacklisted by the FBI for almost two decades for its involvement with and support of Hamas. There is an explanation for the hatred of Pete Hegseth that the left refuses to acknowledge: Hegseth speaks proudly and humbly about being a Christian, as well as his focus to restore the military to its former glory, rejecting the policies that fashioned it into a leftist, social experiment. The left remains wedded to their liturgy of DEI, secularism, and systemic racism. They are still trying to promote transgenderism in the schools, and are fighting Trumps ban on transgenderism in the military; Hegseths presence reminds them everyday that their evil, deceitful agenda will not stand. Perhaps above all of the noise created by some members of Congress, the following is true: For the first time in a long time, the armed forces have a defense secretary who cares about the well-being of Americas service members and doing right by them. Look no further than his participation in physical training exercises at U.S. military bases he visits to see that Hegseth genuinely values the importance of engaging with our troops and learning about the issues theyre facing. That type of dedicated leadership goes a long way in instilling confidence among enlisted and prospective service members that their superiors will have their backs when it matters most. Which is probably why branches like the Army are seeing increased recruitment numbers they havent seen in more than a decade. So, let the D.C. political class wallow in its embarrassingly fake outrage about Signalgate. Pete Hegseth is winning for Americas troops and at the end of the day, thats all that really matters. Lets hope that Secretary Hegseth will continue to dodge the slings and arrows that are fired his way. We need him to set an example, and demonstrate the support for the warriors who protect this nation. Image: Public domain. After a year of monthly protests at the CVS pharmacy near Baylor University, a counter-protest has occurred. Pro-Life Waco delivered its first outreach at CVS across Interstate 35 from Baylor in April of 2024. Our top outreach goals are 1) chemical abortion education and 2) exposing the CVS and Walgreens commitment to joining the abortion industry. College Democrats of Baylor, an official student organization, organized a modest counter-protest to our monthly hour-and-a-half protest on February 26. This resulted in a news story in the Baylor Lariat newspaper. They promised to be back in March. On March 26, we were outnumbered by about 20 to 15. Nevertheless, the counter-protest amplified our pro-life impact on the vast sidewalks of this corner drug store. The expansion of the visual display on the sidewalks was something thousands of travelers could not avoid seeing. The counter-protest ramped up our enthusiasm, which continued as we had lunch together at the nearby Panera Bread. For the most part, the interaction was respectful. I persuaded four counter-protesters to accept our chemical abortion flier. This included JW Lastrape, the President of College Democrats of Baylor. The only disrespect came from members of the NoZe Brotherhood, a very unofficial student organization. This woke group prides itself on outlandish dress, masks with oversize noses, and irreverent actions. One NoZe brother attempted to distribute condoms to our pro-life foot soldiers. Following months of pharmacy outreach, PLW leadership created Pro-Life in the Public Square (PLPS). The goal of this new organization is to promote public square outreach -- activism that reaches the broad spectrum of public sentiment on abortion. Our top priority is a strong national response to the entry of two national pharmacy corporations into the chemical abortion business. PLPS offers a totally free Quick Start Pack to pro-life groups and individuals who will join the national collaboration for continuing pharmacy outreach at a local CVS or Walgreens. The Quick Start Pack includes 10 signs (with four different messages) and 100 chemical abortion flyers. PLPS also provides financial support for two additional public square outreach initiatives: 1) church and local group yard sign campaigns, and 2) billboards in small towns with a major highway running through. Given the current weakness of the local public square outreach within the pro-life movement, a revival of this branch can strengthen the pro-life movement in the post-Dobbs era. Image: John Pisciotta Is much-touted Rep. Jasmine Crockett the best Democrats can do? She made a name for herself about a week ago, when she mocked the governor of Texas, Greg Abbott, for using a wheelchair, calling him "Governer Hot Wheels." Then, instead of apologize, she tried to gaslight the public with a claim that she was referring to his migrant transport operations. We know what she meant. But that isn't her first ad hominem that goes below the belt. Now she's been found to have berated Rep. Byron Donald, a black conservative, for being married to a white woman. Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX) faced backlash on social media over the weekend after an interview from last year made the rounds an interview in which she said Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL) believed he had been whitewashed after marrying a White woman. ... Last June, Crockett joined The Breakfast Club to dish on the leadup to the 2024 election when she blasted Donalds a Black Republican who is a staunch ally to President Donald Trump. While referring to Black conservatives, Crockett addressed them as skinfolk who definitely are not our kinfolk, and called out Donaldss interracial marriage. The fact that youre sitting around talking about life was better under Jim Crow, like, is this because you dont understand history? Crockett said on the program. Or literally its because you married a white woman and so you think that whitewashed you? So much for "who you love." She kind of ... forgot as she all-but-called him an "Oreo." Except that she was so much more offensive. What business of hers is it to review the skin color of Donalds's spouse? Some on social media have noted that that wasn't what she was saying when Kamala Harris, who is also married to a white, ran for president. What it shows us is that racism is alive and well among certain black leftists. Imagine if a white politician did that, targeting a liberal black politician married to a white? The video is several months old, and only came to light over the weekend. That it floated on by was probably because she wasn't all that famous at the time. But now she is, and has been hailed as Democrat presidential material. She even brags about her contacts at the Dallas Morning News in this prank incident, something that ought to draw questions about her sponsorship. She's now producing one pop-off after another, with lefties clapping like seals to this dingbat even as they call Trump supporters "a cult." If this is the best the Democrats can do, they're in a world of trouble. Let that party shrivel. Image: Grok, AI-generated image, via X The first casualty in war is the truth, and now the New York Times has revealed how true that was. While the U.S. public under the Biden administration was told, via Congress, that the U.S. was supplying arms to Ukraine, actually, the U.S. was pretty much running the whole show. Its long and interesting report begins this way: One of the men, Lt. Gen. Mykhaylo Zabrodskyi, remembers being led up a flight of stairs to a walkway overlooking the cavernous main hall of the garrisons Tony Bass Auditorium. Before the war, it had been a gym, used for all-hands meetings, Army band performances and Cub Scout pinewood derbies. Now General Zabrodskyi peered down on officers from coalition nations, in a warren of makeshift cubicles, organizing the first Western shipments to Ukraine of M777 artillery batteries and 155-millimeter shells. Then he was ushered into the office of Lt. Gen. Christopher T. Donahue, commander of the 18th Airborne Corps, who proposed a partnership. Its evolution and inner workings visible to only a small circle of American and allied officials, that partnership of intelligence, strategy, planning and technology would become the secret weapon in what the Biden administration framed as its effort to both rescue Ukraine and protect the threatened post-World War II order. The U.S., during the time of Gen. Mark Milley, was pretty much calling the shots on all aspects of the war -- targets, intelligence, trainings, logistics and all kinds of sneaky pete inside Russia itself, ostensibly to keep the information out of Putin's hands, the idea being to let him think Ukraine was putting up a ferocious fight on its own, without more than U.S. arms sales buttressing it. But that isn't what was happening. The Times summed it with: But for nearly three years before Mr. Trumps return to power, the United States and Ukraine were joined in an extraordinary partnership of intelligence, strategy, planning and technology whose evolution and inner workings have been known only to a small circle of American and allied officials. With remarkable transparency, the Pentagon has offered a public accounting of the $66.5 billion in weaponry it has supplied to Ukraine. But a New York Times investigation reveals that Americas involvement in the war was far deeper than previously understood. The secret partnership both guided big-picture battle strategy and funneled precise targeting information down to Ukrainian soldiers in the field. They supplied coordinates to the Ukrainians on Russian targets from a base in Wiesbaden. They supplied mobile artillery units called HIMARS for satellite-guided rockets on Russian targets with American troops calling every shot. They put boots on the ground, and more boots on the ground, calling them "subject matter experts." They dispatched the U.S. Navy to share targeting information on Russian warships beyond Ukrainian waters -- when Ukraine sank Russia's flagship battleship without a navy, through drones, that was what was going on. They targeted Crimea and through sustained firepower chased the Russians out. Then mission creep came calling, and soon enough, the U.S. was handing out intelligence on Russian locations for military strikes. There were arguments, and in 2023, they were bad enough that the Ukrainian army split into two directions and won nothing. The Ukrainians complained that the U.S. role bogged it down, which sounds about right with Milley, who is a bureaucrat who may have viewed the Vietnam war as a model, not a warning. There's an intriguing detail about one Ukrainian general using then 29-year-old Confederate Gen. J.E.B Stuart's daring 1862 cavalry end run around Union Gen. George McClellan's Army of the Potomac as a successful model. (So much for political correctness, better not let that get out, might mean bringing back more Confederate statues and place names.) The Times compares it to the U.S. sending military advisors into Vietnam and consequently getting drawn more and more into that war, enmired. One recent operation they didn't bring up, but leaped out to me was the U.S. involvement in the Colombia rescue mission of three American and many more Colombian hostages held by FARC Marxist narcoterrorists in 2007. The problem with this whole mission-creep approach in Ukraine is less that it happened (and apparently the U.S. ground general, named Lt. Gen. Christopher Donohue was pretty good) than that it amounted to an undeclared war that the public wasn't aware of. That's not good in a democracy. Putin may or may not have been fooled, and I am going to guess that at a certain point he wasn't, but for sure, the U.S. public had no idea. It was being drawn closer and closer into a world war without its consent, and became itself a military target, and had no idea it was happening. The other problematic part is that all this help and assistance prolonged the war and increased the casualty count on both sides without succeeding, the calls for more and more bottomless-pits of money simply increasing. Had it not happened this way, there might have been negotiations starting sooner. A simple agreement to not join NATO and perhaps a referendum on the eastern part of Ukraine as to which country they'd like to be part of might have saved a lot of lives and destruction. That's Milley for you, though -- he got us into deep involvement in a war Joe Biden was unwilling to ask the public to go along with because he suspected the answer would be 'no,' but he wouldn't take 'no' for an answer. One day, he's sneaking around with the Chinese, telling them to trust him on keeping Trump from engaging in any military action; the next day, he's making the U.S. a bigger target. Now President Trump is there to clean up the mess and try to bring peace to Ukraine and bring Putin back into the family of normal nations if possible. I do find it interesting that this story got out -- the Times said, from doing considerable interviews with different sources. If Putin was as fooled as the American public, he won't be fooled now. So chalk it up as another failure from the worst general in American history, Mark Milley, again. Image: U.S. Secretary of Defense, via Wikimedia Commons // CC BY-SA 2.0 Deed Several places in the world are fortunate enough to have advanced weather prediction technology, while others arent so lucky. Unfortunately, Africa doesnt have as much access to data collection and forecasting technologies as some other places in the world, and this could make predicting the weather difficult. Well, Google launched its nowcasting weather model in Africa. Surprisingly, AI can be used for more than just generating videos of a toddler beating up Pikachu (yes, thats an actual video). It can also serve a purpose outside of stealing jobs from artists, and one of them is helping to predict the weather. Several places in the world have all of the proper forecasting tools at their disposal, but predicting the weather in other places can be difficult. Well, Google has a new nowcasting (forecasting, but for predicting a shorter timespan) model called MetNet. Much like a language model, MetNet needs to be trained on certain data in order to give the proper results. Google brought weather nowcasting to Africa Among all of the questionable things that Google is doing with AI, its actually doing things that help the world. Over in Africa, it can be pretty tough to know whats going to happen with the weather, and that can be a major issue for people who farm. Well, Google will help out with a valuable tool. Its a model called MetNet, and it can be a boon for nowcasting. The thing with traditional forecasting is that its not great for short-term predictions. If you want to know whether youll need to take an umbrella or a sunhat during your trip to the market, you wont be able to do that with a typical forecasting model. It can take several hours to generate a forecast. Googles model is useful for determining the weather in the short term. This way, people can know the proper times to leave the house or stay home. Theyll know the proper times to plant their seeds or hang their clothes. The skys the limit with this sort of technology. High accuracy According to the company, the model can predict global precipitation with high accuracy. Using MetNet, residents in Africa will be able to get accurate predictions every 15 minutes within a five-kilometer radius over the next 12 hours. The model can also generate them all in under a minute, so there wont be that long of a wait. Users in Africa can now use the nowcasting feature using Search. Users will get information using the Weather feature. Apples nightmare with lawsuits and hefty fines wont end anytime soon. The tech giant recently decided to comply with DMA rules to avoid an EU fine over browser choice for iPhones. Now, the company has received a fine in France over a privacy tool. Today, the French antitrust regulators hit Apple with a 150 million ($162.42 million) fine for abusing its power in the mobile app market through a privacy tool. Apple receives a fine of 150 million over an iOS privacy tool Apples privacy tool that attracted a 150 million fine is App Tracking Transparency (ATT). This privacy tool requires apps to ask users for permission to track their activities across third-party apps and websites. The main aim of introducing this tool was to give users more control over their data. Ever since the tech giant introduced the tool, online advertisers, publishers, and rivals have openly criticized it, accusing the company of abusing its position in the market. In a statement, the French antitrust regulator said, While the objective pursued by ATT is not in itself open to criticism, the way it is implemented is neither necessary nor proportionate to Apples stated objective of protecting personal data. Since the watchdogs dont have an issue with the tool itself, Apple could be allowed to keep it around. However, in order to avoid the fine, the company will need to change how its used. What will Apple need to change? Well, the French antitrust regulators didnt say. The company has a 7-day deadline to announce its decision The competition watchdog has given Apple a deadline of seven days to communicate its decision. This ruling comes just over a month after Apple faced a privacy lawsuit in France for collecting users Siri voice recordings. The lawsuit further accused the company of using such data to promote its in-house advertising business. Apple, speaking about the 150 million fine, in a statement, said, While we are disappointed with todays decision, the French Competition Authority has not required any specific changes to ATT. Its up to Apple how it wants to comply with the ruling. Therefore, itll be interesting to see what the company does next. Ultimate Summary: A Reddit post has sparked speculation about a potential BlackBerry comeback. According to the post, an unnamed UK company is seeking pre-seed funding to revive the BlackBerry brand and release new phones with the iconic physical QWERTY keyboard. BlackBerry was once the leader of the phone market in the United States and the rest of the world. However, the brand ceased operations more than a decade ago. It was in August of 2020 when Onward Mobility announced that it had licensed the BlackBerry name for its new phone. While there was a glimmer of hope, the company announced in 2022 that the alleged BlackBerry phone would never launch. As the dream came to an end, a report from the same year claimed that BlackBerry was coming with a movie to tell its rise and fall story. Since then, we have heard very little about the brand. However, a Reddit post from two days ago has fueled hope for BlackBerry fans, hinting that its coming back. The iconic BlackBerry brand could finally make its way back to the phone market A Redditor, coldheartedsigma, has fueled the hope via a post claiming that a UK company is looking to revive the BlackBerry name. According to the post, the unnamed company is having words with investors to raise money via a pre-seed funding round. If claims are true, which we hope they are, the company is planning to revive Onward Mobilitys dream of bringing back the BlackBerry name to the phone market. Putting it simply, the UK company is looking to launch 5G-enabled BlackBerry phones featuring the iconic physical QWERTY keyboard. The Redditor even managed to grab a screenshot of a slide from the pitch deck. He has edited the screenshot seen below, as his company is said to have signed an NDA (Non-Disclosure Agreement) with the UK company. The post also hints that the company is negotiating for the exclusive licensing of BlackBerry patents. While the designs of the first 5G BlackBerry phone remain under wraps, the Redditor did spill a few details, fueling further hopes. A few details of the alleged phone The first BlackBerry phone made by the UK-based startup will supposedly come with an AMOLED display of unknown size. The device would feature 12GB of RAM and come in two storage variants: 256GB and 512GB. Moreover, it would incorporate a capacitive physical QWERTY keyboard, a feature that BlackBerry phones have gained immense popularity for. The alleged BlackBerry phone is expected to feature GenAI features, 5G connectivity, and come pre-installed with Android 15. As seen in the blurry screenshot, we are hoping for a MediaTek Dimensity SoC to power the alleged BlackBerry phone. A product roadmap appears to include multiple products that feature physical QWERTY keyboards. However, theres no mention of the exact launch date of the alleged BlackBerry phone. Nor do we have any launch timeframe at the moment. Although this news about the BlackBerry phone may have given hope, we recommend taking it with a pinch of salt. Samsung is planning to launch a couple of new mid-range Android tablets, including the Galaxy Tab S10 FE and Galaxy Tab S10 FE+, soon. Ahead of the launch, the new Samsung slates have been the subject of numerous headlines. Recently, the rumor mill leaked the colors and key specs of the upcoming tablets through some marketing materials. Now, a retailer has revealed the alleged launch date of the Galaxy Tab S10 FE series. Galaxy Tab S10 FE series could see the light of day in a matter of days According to a report, Samsung could launch the Galaxy Tab S10 FE and Galaxy Tab S10 FE+ on April 3rd. Both the slates will go on sale in South Korea on the same day. The information has arrived just a few days after a retailer in Austria revealed the pricing of the upcoming Samsung tablets. It looks like Samsung isnt going to make a big deal about launching the Galaxy Tab S10 FE series tablets. Theres a possibility that the global or the US launch date of the Galaxy Tab S10 FE occurs on a different date than its Korean counterparts. Key specs & pricing details already leaked If recent reports are true, the Galaxy Tab S10 FE and Tab S10 FE+ will offer 10.9-inch and 13.1-inch LCD displays, respectively. Both will offer WQXGA screen resolutions and a refresh rate reaching 90Hz. Samsungs in-house Exynos 1580 chip will power both slates. The company could offer them in 128GB and 256GB native storage variants. In terms of optics, the new Galaxy Tab S10 FE series slates will offer a 12MP selfie camera with a wide 120-degree aperture. The rear lens will be a 13MP sensor with support for autofocus and an LED flash unit. Sources suggest that the Galaxy Tab S10 FE variant will sip power from an 8,000 mAh battery. Conversely, the Galaxy Tab S10 FE+ will feature a larger 10,090 mAh power cell. Regarding pricing, sources suggest that retailers could offer the Galaxy Tab S10 FEs 5G variant for around $735. Additionally, reports indicate that the Wi-Fi-only version of the Galaxy Tab S10 FE+ might retail for approximately $810. Samsung will offer them in various color variants. We should have more details about their global/US availability and pricing in a matter of days. Google is one of the largest companies in the world. Its products and services are used on a daily basis by millions of users around the world. So its really not surprising that every now and then, the company finds itself embroiled in a lawsuit over various disputes about its operations, products, and services. But Google is hoping to scratch at least one of those lawsuits off its list by agreeing to a 100 million dollar cash settlement for an ongoing class action lawsuit for the past 14 years. The 14-year-old lawsuit A bit of backstory: In March 2011, 14 years ago, a class action lawsuit was filed against Google. The complaint alleged that Google overcharged advertisers, failed to provide the discounts it promised, and charged for ads clicked outside the geographic areas the advertisers targeted. If youre unfamiliar with how Google runs its ads, it uses a pay-per-click system. Advertisers only pay when a user clicks on their link to go to their website. Based on this, the lawsuit claims that Google charged advertisers for clicks outside their demographic. It means that if a company in the US is targeting US customers, it should only pay for clicks for US users. It also means that if youre living in Australia, by right, you shouldnt see the ad since youre not part of the demographic. Advertisers also shouldnt have to pay since youre not who they were initially targeting. The lawsuit claims that Google breached its contract by allegedly manipulating its Smart Pricing formula to artificially reduce discounts. They also accused Google of misleading them by failing to limit ad distributions to designated locations. This is in violation of Californias competition law. Googles 100 million cash settlement Whether or not Google is guilty of these accusations is unclear. However, Google wants to move on and is agreeing to a 100 million dollar settlement. Google insists that its settlement is by no means an admission of guilt. According to Google spokesman Jose Castaneda, This case was about ad product features we changed over a decade ago and were pleased its resolved. The reason the case took 14 years to reach its conclusion is due to the overwhelming amount of submitted evidence. This included more than 910,000 pages of documents and several terabytes worth of click data. The advertisers in the lawsuit also participated in several mediation sessions. Google has discontinued the 2nd-gen Nest Protect smart smoke detector. The search titan has posted on the Google Nest Community Blog that it is no longer producing new units of the Nest Protect. Furthermore, the company has also stopped manufacturing the Nest x Yale smart door lock. Google has discontinued the decade-old Nest Protect smoke detector; 3rd-party devices are coming Google introduced the first-gen Nest Protect smart home accessory in 2013. The company released the second-gen model in 2015, which it has just discontinued. If you like Googles smart home ecosystem, then dont worry because some 3rd-party alternatives are on the way. Google has partnered with the home safety firm First Alert to launch the First Alert Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Alarm. First Alerts smart smoke alarms offer several of the same features found on the Nest Protect The new smoke alarm alternatives will work with the First Alert and Google Home apps, but not with any other smart home platforms. First Alerts new Smart Smoke & CO Alarms cost $129.99 and will be available in hardwired or battery-powered models later this year. You can already pre-order these devices in the US and Canada. First Alerts latest smart smoke alarms offer a handful of the same features found on the Google Nest Protect. They have automatic safety checkups and a Heads-up Early Warning, which sends voice and app alerts before an alarm triggers. You can silence accidental alarms from both the First Alert and Google Home apps. The new alarms also utilize First Alerts Precision Detection, which is an advanced sensing technology that uses photoelectric sensing. Google will continue supporting the existing Nest Protect units Google said that the Nest Protect will continue to sell while supplies last. Its worth mentioning that theres no change to the companys support policy for existing Nest Protect devices. They will continue to work as always through their expiration dates. Furthermore, the company will continue to provide software and security updates for the existing units. While Google hasnt officially announced it yet, The Verge reports that the company has also stopped making new units of the Nest x Yale smart door lock. The Yale Smart Lock with Matter will succeed the previous offering. Designed to complement the Nest Doorbells, the new smart lock will launch in summer 2025. The OnePlus 12R has received a new update that adds system improvements, the March 2025 security patch, and privacy features. The latest update, marked as OxygenOS 15.0.0.701, has started rolling out in India. It will be available in other markets soon. OnePlus 12R gets security, privacy, and system boosting update One of the biggest additions in the OxygenOS 15.0.0.701 update for the OnePlus 12R is the March 2025 security patch. The patch removes security vulnerabilities in the system, making the smartphone more protected against attackers. The update adds Privacy Center to Phone Manager. The new feature improves privacy by reviewing app permissions and offering the option to revoke them. Users will get notifications when an application accesses their location while running in the background for three days. This will let them change their location permission settings. It also brings an option to disable ad tracking for all apps. The update makes several changes to the UI. Folders on the home screen can now be resized by dragging them to 12 or 21. Other than that, the dock can now display five apps, even if the home screen is set to display four apps per row. Animations for notifications and Quick Settings have also been improved for smoother performance. Smart Cars now supports Android Auto OnePlus 12Rs update does not forget car owners. With the latest addition, Smart Cars now supports screen mirroring and allows casting while in Simple mode. It is stated that this feature is currently only supported by some ICCOA-compliant vehicles. Smart Cars now also has Android Auto support outside of China. The update also improves Wi-Fi connectivity for a smoother experience while watching live streams or making video calls in various apps. These are all the juicy changes listed in the companys official changelog. You should also keep in mind that the update is being rolled out in batches and has not yet reached regions outside of India. So, you can expect it to expand to more regions in the coming days. You will get an automatic notification when the update is rolled out in your region. However, if this doesnt happen, a manual check may be required. If you are into streaming services, you probably know about Max (formerly called HBO Max). Warner Bros. Discovery decided to rebrand the name back in May 2023. Its 2025, and the company has announced yet another rebrandingthis time, its the logo thats changing. For the uninitiated, Maxs logo previously flaunted the bright blue color. However, the new, redesigned logo of Max shows off a black-and-white color palette that reminds you of HBOs classic branding. Warner Bros. Discovery unveils a new, redesigned logo for the Max streaming service As noted by Variety, the company updated the redesigned logo on the service and its social media accounts yesterday morning. Now, if you compare HBOs logo with Maxs new one, youll be able to associate both brands with one another. The new logo also mimics Apple TV+s monochrome branding. Its worth noting that the company will continue to roll out the new color palette and redesigned Max logo for the marketing materials over the next few weeks. If youre unaware, HBO Max and Discovery+ merged to form Max. The announcement came in the subsequent year. Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) was formed after a merger between WarnerMedia and Discovery. When the newly formed company launched Max, it ditched the HBO branding and traded the previous deep purple color palette for bright blue, which reflected in the redesigned logo too. At the time, the then-global CMO said that it chose blue because it is the most liked color, universally. Besides, the company wanted to indicate that Maxs expansion was beyond HBOs premium programming to include a wide range of content. The updated logo and color palette are quite different from what rivals flaunt The latest transition to a redesigned logo will help Max to stand out in the crowd of multiple streaming services that have adopted blue branding. In related news, Max recently also announced availability in Australia. These changes come a month after the streaming service rolled back its decision to charge extra fees for certain content. Samsung launched the Galaxy Watch 7 and Watch Ultra in the second half of last year. Now, the South Korean tech giant is planning to launch the successors to these devices in the form of the Galaxy Watch 8 series in the coming months. The company hasnt yet officially revealed anything about its next-gen wearable offerings. However, a tipster has spotted the test firmware for the Galaxy Watch 8. Test firmware suggests the Galaxy Watch 8 will come in Bluetooth and LTE variants X user @theordysm has spotted the test firmware builds for the alleged Galaxy Watch 8 series smartwatches. The source suggests that the wearable will come in both Bluetooth and LTE connectivity-enabled variants. The model numbers SM-L320 and SM-L330 identify their Bluetooth variants, which correspond to the firmware builds L320XXU0AYC4 and L320OXM0AYC4, respectively. Furthermore, the source suggests that the LTE variants of the Galaxy Watch 8 have the model numbers SM-L325U and SM-L335U, backed by the L325USQU0AYC6 and L325UOYM0AYC6 firmware builds. These hardly come as a surprise as the current Galaxy Watch 7 has model numbers SM-L310 and SM-L315. The current Galaxy Watch 7 has model numbers SM-L310 and SM-L315. Samsungs product model numbers follow a usual pattern, which suggests this leak regarding the Galaxy Watch 8 could be the real deal. Unfortunately, the source hasnt revealed anything about the specifications of the upcoming Samsung smartwatches. What do we know about Samsungs next smartwatch so far? Previous reports have suggested that Samsung could launch its next smartwatch in multiple models, like the Galaxy Watch 8 and Galaxy Watch 8 Classic. Samsung may also launch a Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 variant this year as well, but theres been no leak regarding it so far. Last years Galaxy Watch 7 models brought a handful of meaningful upgrades. They have upgraded health tracking sensors, apart from advanced artificial intelligence-powered features for wellness tracking and sleep. Samsung could build more features based on the upgraded sensors of the previous-gen smartwatches. That said, Samsung could launch the Galaxy Watch 8 series wearables alongside the new foldable smartphones that are due by July or August 2025. Everything appears to be aligning for the Exynos 2600 chip to hit the market on time. Samsung is working tirelessly to equip its Galaxy S26 series with the upcoming 2nm silicon. A recent report claimed that the company will return to its dual-chip strategy with its 2026 Galaxy flagship phones. That said, a rumor has surfaced about a supposed name change for the Exynos 2600 chip. According to Vhsss_God on X/Twitter, Samsung wants to rebrand the 2nm Exynos 2600 chipset. Given that this is the first time weve come across such a rumor and the source doesnt have a significant history of leaks to support it, its important to approach this rumor with caution. Samsung could change the name of the Exynos 2600 chip, but take it with a pinch of salt Although this is the first time the possibility of a name change has been raised, there is a reason why Samsung would want to take this alleged decision. Recently, Exynos chips have earned a bad reputation for performance and power efficiency. The Exynos 2400 in the Galaxy S24 series performed well overall, but previous generations were a disaster. So, a possible rebranding of Exynos chips could help eliminate the negative image surrounding the companys chipsets. It could also help avoid the perception that these SoCs are inferior to Snapdragon. Anyway, as we said, there isnt much support for this latest leak, so for now, you can take it with a pinch of salt. Meanwhile, Samsung remains focused on fine-tuning its 2nm process. According to reports, the firm is on the right track. Initial production test results showed a promising yield rate of 30%. Samsung Foundry is said to begin producing prototype units in May. The projects success could significantly impact Samsungs current situation Samsung is determined to make the Exynos 2600 project a success. This would guarantee the company higher profit margins per unit sold on its Galaxy phones. It would also send a message to the semiconductor industry: Samsung is back. The South Korean giant needs a similar milestone to attract the attention of other major companies, which could secure its substantial chip manufacturing contracts. Samsung could also be the first to launch devices with 2nm chips on the market. Both Apple and Qualcomm are expected to announce their 2nm chips sometime in H2 2026. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, which will compete with the Exynos 2600, will use TSMCs third-generation 3nm process. Some reports from last year hinted that Sony was looking to discontinue its Xperia lineup of smartphones. Amid all the speculation and rumors, a report from earlier this year hinted that the Sony Xperia 1 VII is arriving this year. Now, a trusted insider has claimed that Sony could upgrade the telephoto camera of the Xperia 1 VII. A fresh leak hints that Sony could use an upgraded telephoto sensor on the Xperia 1 VII If you have followed up on reports about the Xperia 1 VII, you must be aware of reports claiming that all rear-facing cameras on the Xperia 1 VII could end up using an Exmor T sensor. Now, an Esato forum user, spektykeles, claims that Sony might use an upgraded telephoto sensor of around 1/2 in size. If the claims are accurate, the Xperia 1 VIIs camera will receive a significant upgrade. Last years flagship Sony Xperia phones featured a 1/3.5 Exmor RS zoom sensor in comparison. While the speculation around the sensor size remains, itll likely be larger than what the Xperia 1 VI currently packs. Moreover, its worth noting that the rumor mill hints that the phone could debut in May or June. A report from earlier this month also hinted that Sony is working on multiple 200MP and 100MP sensors. Rumors suggest that Sonys future Xperia smartphone lineup will include one of those sensors, indicating a much-awaited camera upgrade. Rumor about Sony reviving the Walkman Apart from claims about the Xperia 1 VII camera upgrade, there might be some good news for Sonys Walkman lovers, too. In addition to the rumors of a camera upgrade, the insider wrote in a separate post, Welcome back, Walkman. The phrase also follows the old Sony Ericsson liquid energy logo. Although the details are scarce, it could be a hint that Sony is planning to revive the Xperia Walkman phone. Its also possible that the company will return to the Walkman name for its music player app and add more audio-focused features. War veteran Ben Roberts-Smith at the federal court in March 2022. He wants a retrial after losing his defamation case against Fairfax newspapers. Photograph: Bianca de Marchi/AAP Ben Roberts-Smith has argued his case should be retried because there was a miscarriage of justice caused by the alleged misconduct of Nick McKenzie, the Nine journalist whom Roberts-Smith unsuccessfully sued for defamation. In an interlocutory application, published by the federal court in Sydney on Monday, Roberts-Smith claimed that McKenzie engaged in wilful misconduct in the proceedings by improperly and unlawfully obtaining and retaining information concerning [Roberts-Smiths] legal strategy concerning the trial that was confidential and privileged. Roberts-Smith argued that he did not know about the alleged misconduct from McKenzie the second respondent in the long-running defamation proceedings instigated by the war veteran until after the trial. He claimed that had McKenzies alleged actions not occurred, there was at least a real possibility that the result of the trial would have been different. The alleged misconduct relates to an audio recording of McKenzies conversation with a witness who gave evidence in the original trial. The defamation proceedings, which ran for a year in the federal court in Sydney, were brought by Roberts-Smith against McKenzie and Fairfax newspapers in relation to a series of stories published between June and August 2018, alleging the decorated war veteran was guilty of murder and war crimes. Roberts-Smith lost that case. Justice Anthony Besanko ruled in June 2023 that Roberts-Smith, on the balance of probabilities, had murdered unarmed civilians while serving in the Australian army in Afghanistan. Related: A female Donald Trump: how Gina Rinehart is pushing the Maga message in Australia Roberts-Smith has appealed against the decision. On Monday, in a hearing before the federal court in Sydney, he sought to amend the grounds of his appeal to include miscarriage of justice relating to the alleged audio recording of McKenzie. In an affidavit from one of the solicitors representing Roberts-Smith, published by the federal court on Monday, the solicitor said that the audio recording had been sent to the principal of the law firm representing Roberts-Smith, with the heading Paul: secret McKenzie recording. According to the affidavit, in the recording, a man that the solicitor claims is McKenzie, allegedly tells a witness that Roberts-Smiths ex-wife Emma Roberts and her friend are actively briefing us on his legal strategy in respect of you we anticipated most of it. One or two things now we know. He goes on to say: I shouldnt tell you. Ive just breached my fucking ethics in doing that this has put me in a shit position now. Like, if Dean [Levitan, one of McKenzies lawyers] knew that and then you know Id get my arse fucking handed to me on a platter. Roberts-Smith argued that in light of the recording, the judgment in favour of Fairfax, McKenzie and others should be set aside, and there should be a judgment in favour of Roberts-Smith or that a new trial should be ordered. Justice Nye Perram said he would make a decision on how to proceed with the appeal later on Monday. Nine, which bought Fairfax in late 2018, said in a statement to Guardian Australia: There is no breach of legal privilege or ethical concerns. Any claims of a miscarriage of justice are baseless. Nine has full confidence in the reporting and actions of Nick McKenzie. No one wants to see a cute puppy get stuck indefinitely in the shelter or foster care system, but it's a fate that all too many wonderful dogs fall victim to. Some dogs, while still being lovable little pups, have more needs than others, and in an overcrowded and competitive shelter care system, that can really stack the odds against him. Finn is an adorable Welsh Corgi puppy, but because of his blindness (compounded with his natural Corgi sassiness), he's struggled to find a fitting forever home. Finn has had other adopters fall through, and after months with no progress, his rescuers are turning to TikTok for help. Finn already had one family adopt him briefly, but they soon returned him to the NAWS Humane Society in Moneka, IL. Finn has also struggled in the pet foster system, and has been moved from foster home to foster home, "unable to settle." It's not that Finn is a bad dog, but blind dogs are more difficult to train than seeing ones, and with Finn exhibiting the usual stubbornness and sassiness of his Corgi breed, his training has proven even trickier than expected. Related: Sweet Dog with Mismatched Eyes Utterly Shocked to Be Unexpectedly Abandoned by Dad at Shelter "Finn needs an experienced adopter who is either familiar with the Corgi breed and how stubborn/sassy they can be, or has experience with blind animals," animal rescuer Fran Grzesik explained in the caption. "We are looking for his final stop, a home that will be patient, willing to train him, and understanding that the process can be difficult due to him being blind." Want To Adopt Finn? Just because Finn is a special needs dog doesn't mean that he doesn't deserve a chance at a loving forever home. He's only four months old, and with time, care, and love, he could grow into a wonderful pet, if only he can find a family with the patience and time to give him the level of care he needs. Finn is actually pretty good around other pets (though a home with very young children probably isn't right for him), and he loves being outside, hunting for treats in a snuffle mat, and "napping hard after a play session." If you think you might be that family (and you live in Illinois or the Chicagoland area), check out Finn's adoption profile and submit an adoption application on the NAWSUS website. Let's find this good boy a home once and for all! Bridget Phillipson and the secretary of state for science, innovation and technology, Peter Kyle, attend a demonstration of AI tools in London. Photograph: Alicia Canter/The Guardian AI tools will soon be in use in classrooms across England, but the education secretary, Bridget Phillipson, has one big question she wants answered: will they save time? Attending a Department for Education-sponsored hackathon in central London last week, Phillipson listened as developers explained how their tools could compile pupil reports, improve writing samples and even assess the quality of soldering done by trainee electrical engineers. After listening to one developer extol their AI writing analysis tool as superhuman, able to aggregate all the writing a pupil had ever done, Phillipson asked bluntly: Do you know how much time it will have saved? That will be our next step, the developer admitted, less confidently. Related: The English schools looking to dispel doom and gloom around AI In an interview with the Guardian, Phillipson said her interest in AI was less futuristic and more practical. Could classroom AI tools free teachers from repetitive tasks and bureaucracy, allow them to focus on their students and ultimately help solve the recruitment crisis that bedevils Englands schools? I think technology will have an important role to play in freeing up teachers time, and in freeing up that time, putting it to better use with more face-to-face, direct teaching that can only ever be done by a human, she said. This is less about how children and young people use technology, and more about how we support staff to use it to deliver a better education for children. I think thats where the biggest potential exists. In the next few years I want to see AI tech embedded across schools, with staff supported to use the best technology to improve childrens outcomes but also to make teaching a more attractive career for people to go into and stay. Its not about replacing teachers. Its about how the use of technology can complement the very human face-to-face contact that cant be replaced. Some of the tools are being designed to solve very specific problems. Jessica Leigh Jones, the chief executive of iungo Solutions, showed Phillipson and Peter Kyle, the secretary of state for science, innovation and technology, a tool to assess how well students had wired circuit boards for vocational qualifications such as T-levels. Using a digital microscope, the tool can rapidly scan dozens of boards and provide feedback to students in a fraction of the time needed by a qualified and experienced electrical engineer a specialist role in short supply, Jones noted. Jade Lesh, iungos digital growth engineer, told Phillipson the tool minimises the time spent marking each piece of work, and that their tests have found it to be as accurate as a trained humans eye. Time saved was also Phillipsons interest in an observation tool being developed by TeachScribe, giving early-years teachers lapel microphones to record their comments about each childs development how well they are playing with others or being creative which are then uploaded to a database and compared with the governments early-years curriculum goals. The developer, Ewan Dobres, said it would save teachers a phenomenal amount of time that could be spent with pupils because they would no longer have to stop and write down each observation. Related: Make AI tools to reduce teacher workloads, tech companies urged Other applications on display at Faculty AIs offices included tools that would allow teachers to scan and transcribe pupils handwritten work, and use AI to assess it against national benchmarks in English and literacy. Helen Williams, chief executive of the Inmat multi-academy trust in Northamptonshire, said her schools had been working with a company called Stylus on a writing assessment tool that not only saved time but allowed teachers to set pupils more of the writing tasks that are a burden for them to mark. Williams said using AI tool for marking had advantages other than saving time. They levelled the playing field between experienced and early-career teachers, and removed the traps teachers can fall into when assessing their own pupils. If youve got a class of 30, youre always going into marking with an idea of well, this one will be all right. AI doing it takes away that unconscious bias and is actually just marking whats there, which might throw up some things that a teacher hasnt picked up in the past, she said. This article was amended on 31 March 2025. An earlier version said that TeachScribe used earpieces when it uses lapel microphones. Did Tim Cook lie about Apple's DEI? By Stefan Padfield web posted March 31, 2025 At Apple's recent annual meeting, CEO Tim Cook said in response to a question about Apple's DEI initiatives: "We've never had quotas or targets for Apple. Our strength has always come from hiring the very best people ." He might have been lying. Apple's "Inclusion & Diversity" page starts by proclaiming: "We're increasing representation across teams, and holding ourselves accountable at every level." To be clear that Apple is referring to representation based on race and sex, tables are set forth dividing Apple's workforce into "Gender" (though only "Male" and "Female" numbers are provided) and "Race and Ethnicity," which is broken into Asian, Black, Hispanic/Latinx, Indigenous, Multiracial and White. This raises the question: How does a company increase representation of one race without discriminating against other races? As Judge James Ho, concurring in the 5th Circuit case of Price v. Valvoline, noted: "Favoring one race necessarily means disfavoring those of another race." In fact, Harmeet Dhillon, an American lawyer and Republican Party official, recently told senators that "Target Corp. may have acted illegally in pledging to increase the representation of Black employees across its workforce." Apple clarifies that this discrimination will occur not only in entry-level hiring but also in leadership positions by proclaiming: "Over the past year, we filled more open leadership roles than ever with women globally and Black candidates in the United States. We remain committed to continuing to grow leadership representation." Numbers are provided only for women, Black, Hispanic/Latinx and URCs. (Apple explains that "Underrepresented communities (URCs)" are "groups whose representation in tech has been historically low Female, Black, Hispanic/Latinx, Multiracial, and Indigenous peoples.") The absence of Asians and Whites is arguably telling and informative about what Apple considers "diversity" and "inclusion." As reported by America First Legal, "Apple's Vice President of Core OS Software Engineering, Jon Andrews, candidly discussed Apple's discriminatory hiring practices during two separate 'all-hands' meetings in the past year. Andrews said, in part: 'We've made some changes to the way we do manager hiring. There's two questions at the top of an offer when it goes to approval. One is that a female was interviewed and that a URE (underrepresented employee) was interviewed. And for management positions, I have said that I won't approve an offer unless there's a yes next to one of those.'" One would be forgiven for concluding that Apple does have targets specifically, to increase representations of groups deemed "diverse" based on race and sex. In fact, the third item appears to convey nothing short of a formal quota in applications. One can hire based on merit "hiring the very best people," as Cook puts it or one can hire based on something else. By focusing on race and sex outcomes in hiring and promotion, Apple seems to be focusing on something else. To the extent one concludes that Cook misrepresented Apple's DEI initiatives at the annual meeting, one next should ask whether this was a knowing or ignorant misrepresentation though neither would be a good sign for Apple and its shareholders. If Cook knew or should have known that Apple has race and sex representation targets, and does, in fact, hire and promote on that basis instead of hiring and promoting "the very best people," then Cook arguably has the requisite mental state to support a securities fraud claim should some subsequent stock price drop be reasonably connected to a failure to fully disclose the risks associated with discriminating based on sex and race in hiring and promotion. Such a stock price drop could result in Apple becoming a DOJ target for illegal DEI. One could also craft a state law bad-faith claim, alleging a willful violation of the laws against race and sex discrimination. On the other hand, if Cook is ignorant of the race and sex discrimination apparently occurring at Apple in the name of DEI, then he's potentially breaching his duty to be fully informed. Of course, one can have Clintonian discussions about the meaning of "quotas," "targets," and "the very best people," but we are in the midst of a "common sense revolution," and common sense should tell you that dividing job applicants and employees on race and sex to meet goals of increased representation is still race and sex discrimination, bringing with it all the usual legal, reputational and performance risks we associate with such discrimination. Imagine if all the resources corporate America has devoted to dividing us on race and sex in the name of DEI had been directed toward charitable and bottom-line-enhancing initiatives geared toward raising the floor for all Americans on a colorblind basis, and reducing inequalities, whether that be in the areas of health, wealth, education or job opportunities. It is hoped our common sense revolution will move corporations to unite us rather than divide us. Stefan Padfield is executive director of the Free Enterprise Project at the National Center for Public Policy Research. He wrote this for InsideSources.com. Home British Steel has blamed outages at its blast furnaces and higher energy costs for financial losses, days after announcing plans to end steelmaking at its Scunthorpe plant. The company said challenging trading conditions impacted its profitability in 2023, in its latest annual results published on Monday. It generated revenues of 1.26 billion in 2023, down from 1.73 billion the year before, reflecting the lower volume of production. Pre-tax losses hit 231.2 million for the year, although this was nearly half the 408.5 million in 2022. Trading conditions in 2023 were challenging, with falling commodity and steel prices impacting margins, the company said. Energy prices remained above historic levels, albeit softening from the highs in 2022. Operational performance in 2023 was significantly impacted by poor stability of the companys blast furnaces, with extended outages resulting in low production and sales volumes. These outages, along with the firm not being able to reduce fixed costs, drove a significant deterioration of profitability in the year, it said. Losses continued into 2024, British Steel warned, as tougher trading conditions prevailed. British Steels Chinese owner Jingye announced on Thursday it was launching a consultation on the proposed closure of blast furnaces at the Scunthorpe plant, raising fears of thousands of job losses. It reportedly rejected a 500 million Government offer to help its transition to a greener form of steel production with a new electric arc furnace. In the latest financial results, the firm said discussions continue with the UK Government to seek support for the transition which it sees as a vital part of securing a long-term sustainable future for the business. It invested about 100 million including on upgrades and new projects in 2023. People smugglers were given an open invitation to send migrants to the UK because the police and intelligence agencies were not working together, Sir Keir Starmer has said. The Prime Minister said he was angry about the scale of illegal migration as he convened a summit involving 40 countries to address the problem. The start of 2025 has seen the highest number of people making small-boat crossings for the first three months of a year on record, but the Prime Minister insisted his approach to tackling the problem with international allies was starting to bear fruit. Opening the summit at Lancaster House, he said: Illegal migration is a massive driver of global insecurity. It undermines our ability to control who comes here, and that makes people angry. It makes me angry, frankly, because its unfair on ordinary working people who pay the price from the cost of hotels, to our public services struggling under the strain. And its unfair on the illegal migrants themselves, because these are vulnerable people being ruthlessly exploited by vile gangs. Almost 30,000 people have crossed the English Channel in small boats since Sir Keir became Prime Minister, including 6,642 so far in 2025. But Sir Keir highlighted figures showing that between July 5 and March 22 there were 24,103 returns including 6,339 enforced returns of people with no legal right to be in the UK, 3,594 foreign national offenders and 6,781 asylum-related returns. (PA Graphics) He also pointed to international criminal investigations involving UK authorities which were beginning to bear fruit, stressing his commitment to tackling people smuggling in the same way as cross-border terrorism. But he blamed the Conservatives for failing to prevent people-smuggling gangs targeting the UK. We inherited this total fragmentation between our policing, our Border Force and our intelligence agencies. A fragmentation that made it crystal clear, when I looked at it, that there were gaps in our defence, an open invitation at our borders for the people smugglers to crack on. To be honest, it should have been fixed years ago. (PA Graphics) He said the Governments Border Security Command would help address those gaps. Countries including Albania, Vietnam and Iraq from where migrants have travelled to the UK were at the London talks, which are the first of their kind, alongside representatives from France, the US and China. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said the summit was unprecedented. Weve never done this before across the world, bringing together countries where people are travelling from countries, people are travelling through, and then destination countries from right across the world, she told reporters. Agreeing new action on law enforcement, on social media, advertising and new action to pursue and disrupt these dangerous gangs. Sir Keir Starmer and Yvette Cooper were convening an Organised Immigration Crime Summit at Lancaster House (Stefan Rousseau/PA) Officials from social media companies Meta, X and TikTok were also invited to join discussions on how to crack down on the online promotion of irregular migration. Developments aimed at tackling illegal migration ahead of the gathering include: The Government will expand right-to-work checks to cover gig-economy workers by making amendments to the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill. Businesses that do not carry out the checks could be fined up to 60,000, or face closures, director disqualifications, and up to five years in prison. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper signalled she wanted to crack down on the number of people who have arrived in the UK on a student or work visa and have since claimed asylum. The Government is reviewing how Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), the right to family life, applies to migration cases, Ms Cooper said. Several deportation attempts have been halted by how the ECHR clause has been interpreted in UK law. Ministers have looked to a tougher approach in Denmark for inspiration. Sir Keir led a roundtable discussion at the summit (Kin Cheung/PA) Some 1 million in UK funding will go towards strengthened efforts to root out people-smuggling kingpins in Iraqs Kurdistan region, the Home Office announced. The UK has launched an advertising campaign on Vietnamese social media and messenger app Zalo, warning people about trusting people-smuggling gangs in an effort to reduce irregular migration from the south-east Asian country. The record total of migrants crossing the Channel in the first quarter of 2025 far exceeds previous years. Some 5,435 arrived in January, February and March in 2024 at the time, a record for the first quarter of a calendar year, and well above the number in the same three months in 2023 and 2022. Ms Cooper said calm weather had contributed to this years higher numbers. Following the first day of the summit, the Home Office said a joint communique had been agreed on how to deepen our collaboration internationally to tackle this vile crime. The Government said concrete outcomes had been agreed, with new joint British-French work to tackle the problem in source and transit countries, including by bolstering false document detection capabilities by delivering training to Iraqi officials and commercial transport staff. The communique, published later on Monday, said: We have taken a significant step forward in strengthening our global approach to OIC. By sharing intelligence, modernising our approaches and deepening our collaboration with partners within, across and beyond governments, we are determined to disrupt the criminals facilitating OIC at every stage of its operation until it becomes unviable. Together, we stand united in the fight against OIC, committed to protecting vulnerable migrants and bringing to justice the criminal facilitators. Paul Marchant has stepped down as chief executive of Primark. (PA) (Brian Lawless, PA Images) The head of Primark has resigned after an allegation from a woman about his behaviour. Paul Marchant stood down as chief executive of the high street fashion brand with immediate effect on Monday after an investigation by external lawyers. Associated British Foods (ABF), which owns Primark, said Marchant "acknowledged his error of judgment and accepts that his actions fell below the standards expected". It said Marchant co-operated with the investigation and apologised to the woman involved. Marchant had been in charge of the fast fashion chain for 16 years. What we know The details of the alleged incident have not been released, but ABF said it related to Marchant's "behaviour towards (a woman) in a social environment". It said he had acknowledged "his error of judgement". The statement from the company said: He has made an apology to the individual concerned, the ABF board and also to his Primark colleagues and others connected to the business." Paul Marchant had been boss of Primark since 2009. (PA) (Brian Lawless/PA Wire) ABF said it will continue to offer support to the woman who brought the incident to its attention. George Weston, chief executive of ABF, said: I am immensely disappointed. At ABF, we believe that high standards of integrity are essential. Acting responsibly is the only way to build and manage a business over the long-term. Colleagues and others must be treated with respect and dignity. Our culture has to be, and is, bigger than any one individual. Who is Paul Marchant? Born in the UK, Marchant joined Primark as chief operating officer in 2009 and later the same year became chief executive, taking over from the company's founder, Arthur Ryan. He joined the company from New Look, where he was also chief operating officer, and had worked at a number of brands, including Debenhams, Topman and River Island. On its corporate website, where Marchant is still listed as chief executive, Primark says: "Under Pauls leadership, Primark has become a truly international business. He has spearheaded our European and US expansion, more than doubling our store footprint since joining." Primark's performance Primark operates under its trade name Penneys in Ireland, where it is based, and has more than 450 shops. Primark makes up almost half of ABFs sales and brought in more than 9.4bn in revenues in the year up to September 2024. In January, the firm cut its sales forecasts blaming cautious shoppers and unfavourable weather - predicting only low single-digit sales growth in 2025. In November, the company had said it expected mid single-digit growth. Its UK and Ireland sales fell by 4% in the 16 weeks to 4 January, although sales in Spain, France, Italy and the US all increased, with the latter reporting a 17% rise. Following Marchant's resignation, ABFs finance director Eoin Tonge will act as interim boss of Primark, while Joana Edwards, ABF group financial controller, will replace Tonge. Shares in ABF, which also owns grocery brands such as Ryvita and Twinings, fell by 4% in early trading on Monday as a result of Marchant's resignation. The Chancellor put the National Insurance rise at the heart of her first Budget in October - Lauren Hurley/Crown copyright Labours National Insurance increase will make the average family more than 3,500 worse off by the next election, according to estimates from the Conservatives. Rachel Reevess 25 billion National Insurance raid on employers, announced in Octobers Budget, will take effect from Sunday. It kicks in at a time when council tax, the TV licence fee, water bills and electricity prices are all set to rise in the space of a few weeks. Critics say employers will have to increase wages more slowly and could make some workers redundant to absorb the extra costs. Business confidence has dropped markedly in surveys taken in the wake of the Budget. Economic growth forecasts for 2025 were halved last week by the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR), the Governments independent economic forecaster. The Tories say 30 per cent of the extra costs will be passed on to employees in lower wages in 2025/26, and this will then rise to 76 per cent over the following four years. It led to the estimate that British households will be 3,536 worse off between now and the next general election, which is expected to take place in 2029. The Treasury is likely to dispute the figures. Kemi Badenoch, the Conservative leader who is giving a press conference today pushing the analysis, said: Rachel Reeves has gambled with the economy leaving us dangerously vulnerable to American tariffs. Labours unprecedented borrowing spree and record levels of tax means she has pulled the handbrake on economic growth. The Prime Minister might think this is all just pocket money, but Britains working families will certainly notice the 3500 Labour ministers have cost them. Labour didnt have a plan and now they have snatched winter fuel payments from pensioners, introduced emergency welfare cuts, and from this weekend will be hiking taxes on work through their Jobs Tax. Ms Reeves, the Chancellor, put the National Insurance rise at the heart of her first Budget in October. She raised taxes by 40billion overall, making it the biggest tax-raising Budget since 1993. This month, water bills are expected to rise by around 26 per cent on average, energy bills by 6.4 per cent, council tax by 5 per cent, TV licences by 5 per cent and road tax by up to 4 per cent, according to analysis by The Times. Mel Stride, the Tory shadow chancellor, said: Labours war on business has become a war on working people. Now we know exactly how much hard-working Britons are set to lose out on thanks to Labours Jobs Tax. The Treasury was approached for comment. Journalist Louis Theroux has said he is preparing for a full head shave due to his alopecia. The British documentarian, 54, said he is likely to cut off his hair in the next 12 months and will take inspiration from actors Stanley Tucci and Dwayne The Rock Johnson who are both bald. The TV star, who has been documenting his alopecia the medical term for hair loss shared a series of photographs of his hair to his Instagram page. He said: Latest from alopecia-land. Ive cut the hair short because I realised the longer it was the worse it looked. But its patchy AF (as f**k) and Im basically preparing the way for a full head shave some time in the next 12 months. Big glasses a la Tucci, big muscles a la Dwayne Johnson, plus a year-round tan. Thats the formula. Ive included a last photo from 1994 that I stumbled on yesterday as a reminder that the hair was always a problem, which I will have to worry about less and less as it disappears. Its like when your house burns down. At least I dont have to hoover!' He previously shared images of his dyed hair and the results of microblading his eyebrows, which is a form of temporary tattoo. There are different types of alopecia and various medical conditions that cause hair loss, according to the charity Alopecia UK. The journalist is best known for presenting documentaries including Louis Theroux: Weird Weekends and The Most Hated Family In America. He also hosts The Louis Theroux Podcast, where he has interviewed celebrity guests including Saltburn actor Barry Keoghan and US film star Armie Hammer. The majority of young adults in the UK are concerned about the state of the nations democracy, a survey has found. The UK Youth Poll survey saw more than 2,000 people aged 16 to 29 questioned about their attitudes and priorities. It found while those surveyed backed democracy over dictatorship by 57% to 27%, 63% said they believe it is in trouble and nearly three-quarters (72%) said it has become too divided. The survey, which was carried out by the University of Glasgows John Smith Centre (JSC), also found about two-thirds (67%) believed social media should be banned for under-16s and the same proportion said toxic masculinity was becoming more common. Nearly three-quarters (73%) said they believe racism is a significant issue in UK society while just more than half (51%) feel immigration has changed communities for the better. Money and work issues were named as the main contributors to feeling nervous, anxious or on edge, with financial worries (37%), work pressure (23%) and job security or unemployment (20%) the most commonly cited. Despite these issues, nearly two-thirds (63%) of those questioned said they are optimistic about their personal future and nearly three-quarters (72%) described themselves as either rather or very happy. Dr Elisabeth Loose, who led the survey, said: Young people are undoubtedly worried about the future of the UK and they are concerned about the state of democracy. However, our poll makes it clear that young people are positive, they support our democratic inheritance and many want to play a part in it if only they were given an opportunity to do so. As to what young people want from politics, the answer is a more open, honest political culture which provide answers to their basic needs. This is a generation that thinks our politics is too divided and wants politicians to come up with deliverable solutions. Many young people are simply seeking the safety and security of a good job, an affordable home and the comfort of family and friends around them. When asked what would make politics feel more relevant, more than a third (36%) of respondents said they wanted to see politicians being more open and honest while just over a quarter (27%) said they wanted to see more young people in leadership roles. Some 27% also said they wanted to see government focusing on issues that affect them, with affordable housing, more investment in the NHS and lower taxes for low earners listed as the top priorities. James Kanagasooriam, chief research officer at polling company Focaldata, claimed the results also showed 16 to 29-year-olds are not a single homogeneous group. He said: This poll shows young people are a highly heterodox group and that the old narrative of a monolithic generation war pitting young people against all older people is becoming obsolete. A total of 63% of those surveyed said they are optimistic about their personal future (Paul Faith/PA) In fact, the differences within the youth generation by class, education, gender, ethnicity and region are often more pronounced than the differences between generations. These patterns challenge any simple characterisation of Gen Z they are largely independent-minded, unexpectedly energised in the conservative flank and more willing to participate in civic life than society often assumes. The poll found young men tend to be more right wing than young women, but that most sit in the centre ground. It also found those in work or with a degree are more optimistic and engaged that those who are long-term unemployed or less well educated. The poll was carried out by the JSC in partnership with pollster Focaldata, and was sponsored by the Nationwide Building Society. Fieldwork was carried out between February 4-12, with a total of 2,039 people aged 16-29 being surveyed. Marine Le Pen was convicted of embezzling funds and barred from running for president - Julien De Rosa/AFP Credit: TF1 - LE20H Marine Le Pen refused to quit politics on Monday night after she was banned from running for president. The 56-year-old president of the hard-Right National Rally party claimed that millions of French voters had been deprived of a voice by an authoritarian regime after she was found guilty of embezzlement by using European Parliament funds to pay party expenses. She has been banned from running for office for five years and was also handed a four-year prison term by the Paris court, but will not go to jail. Two years of those years will be suspended, and another two served outside jail with an electronic bracelet. The judge specified that the politics ban should come into force with immediate effect, even if an appeal was lodged. This means she cannot run in the 2027 presidential race, despite being the favourite to reach the run-off, according to a poll out on Sunday. Emmanuel Macron will also not be running because of a two-term limit. The ruling has upended French politics and sent shockwaves across Europe. It also triggered anger among members of the Trump administration, with Elon Musk saying it would backfire, like the legal attacks against President Trump. Jordan Bardella, Le Pens 29-year-old protege and the party leader, may now have to step up to run for French president, despite fears from some party leaders that he is not ready for the task. Jordan Bardella is being touted as a potential replacement for Le Pen - Leo Correa/AP Describing him as a tremendous asset for the movement, Le Pen said she had not given up hope of running. In the meantime Im fighting, Im not going to let myself be eliminated like that, Im going to pursue the avenues of appeal that I can, she said. Theres a small path, its certainly narrow, but it exists. The presiding judge, Benedicte de Perthuis, issued the ruling on Monday morning, saying Le Pen had been at the heart of a scheme to misappropriate more than four million euros of EU funds and use it to pay the hard-Right partys staff back home. Le Pen stormed out of the court stony-faced and later told the broadcaster TF1 that this was a political decision. In France, in the land of human rights, judges have put in place practices that we thought were reserved for authoritarian regimes, she said. Marine Le Pen said: Ive been eliminated but in reality its millions of French people whose votes have been eliminated this evening as we speak - Abdul Saboor/Reuters Experts point out that the judges were merely applying a 2016 law Le Pen backed to clamp down on political graft. But she blasted the ruling as a fateful day for our democracy and for our country, saying: I didnt think that the judges would go so far against our democratic process and interfere in the French peoples choice. Because, lets be quite clear, Ive been eliminated but in reality its millions of French people whose votes have been eliminated this evening as we speak. All 24 accused, including RN party officials or assistants were found guilty of embezzling 2.9 million (2.4m), along with the party itself. We are all innocent and we want to see that innocence recognised, said Ms Le Pen, who urged judges to rush through an appeals trial in the coming months. Donald Trump on Monday compared Le Pens conviction to his own legal battles. She was banned from running for five years and she was the leading candidate. That sounds like this country, that sounds very much like this country, the US president said, describing the court ruling as a very big deal. 08:00 PM BST Thats all for today Thanks for following our live coverage of Marine Le Pens conviction. This blog is now closed. 07:54 PM BST Trump administration says Le Pen verdict is concerning Donald Trumps administration said Monday it was concerning to exclude candidates from politics, in response to a French courts ruling against French hard-Right leader Marine Le Pen. Exclusion of people from the political process is particularly concerning given the aggressive and corrupt lawfare waged against President Trump here in the United States, Tammy Bruce, a State Department spokesman told reporters. 07:52 PM BST Le Pen ban will backfire warns Musk Elon Musk warned that the ban on Marine Le Pen from running for office would backfire as Right-wing leaders across the world united to condemn the ruling. This will backfire, like the legal attacks against President Trump, he wrote on X. Donald Trumps son, Don Jr, also criticised the move, which he said would further stifle free speech in Europe. France is sending Le Pen to jail and barring her from running? he wrote on X. Are they just trying to prove JD Vance was right about everything? the US presidents son added in reference to the vice-presidents attacks on European democracies alleged censoring of political opponents. When the radical left can't win via democratic vote, they abuse the legal system to jail their opponents. This is their standard playbook throughout the world. https://t.co/FgmgeyQ2rp Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 31, 2025 07:40 PM BST Its not good to be in the opposition in France Marine Le Pen warned that it is not good to be in the opposition in France as she urged the appeals court to analyse the case with neutrality. The rules (for parliamentary deputies) were so clear that, as luck would have it, the entire opposition was accused of the same thing. Mr. Bayrou, who was in the opposition at the time, ourselves, and Mr. Melenchon, who was in the opposition, the RN leader joked during a live interview with TF1. 07:34 PM BST Bardella: The ruling deprives millions of French people of freedom As Marine Le Pen was speaking for the first time since her conviction, her young protege Jordan Bardella released another statement. By banning Marine Le Pen from being a candidate in the 2027 presidential election, they are trying to prevent her accession to the Elysee by any means necessary , he said. They are depriving millions of voters of their choice and therefore of their freedom, he continued on X. 07:21 PM BST Le Pen refuses to give up Le Pen has not given up hope. Jordan Bardella is a wonderful asset to the movement...I hope we wont have to use that asset sooner than necessary, she said in reference to her partys president and her assumed successor. While waiting for a decision on her future appeal, she said: I wont remain passive. Millions of French support me...I will keep going until the end. Dont worry, she told voters. Im not demoralised, Im like you, scandalised, outraged, she went on, urging judges to rush through an appeals trial that could potentially clear her in time for 2027. 07:19 PM BST I will appeal as quickly as possible, says Le Pen Marine Le Pen insisted she and dozens of other officials in her National Rally party are all innocent. The populist leader added that she would appeal as quickly as possible. 07:18 PM BST Le Pen: This is a fateful day for democracy Marine Le Pen called today a fateful day for democracy. Millions of French people are outraged. In France, the country of human rights, judges have applied the laws of an authoritarian regime, she told French broadcaster TF1. This is a tragic day for our democracy, with millions of French people deprived of their candidate. This trial was taken against by political adversaries, she added. 07:11 PM BST Le Pen denounces conviction as political decision Marine Le Pen slams a political decision in her first comments since she was banned from holding elected office in a fake jobs scam involving her party in the European Parliament. The rule of law has been totally violated by this decision, said Ms Le Pen in an interview on TF1. Asked why she left the court before hearing the judge pass sentence, she said she didnt need [to hear] more as she understood what was going on. 07:05 PM BST Le Pen speaks for the first time since ruling We will be bringing you all the best bits from the interview. Marine Le Pen poses prior to an interview on the evening news broadcast of French TV channel TF1, - THOMAS SAMSON/AFP 06:54 PM BST What other Right-wing politicians have been blocked from power? 06:51 PM BST Le Pen stays silent before big interview Marine Le Pen said nothing to the press as she left her party HQ in Paris. She was heading to an interview on French TV expected to start at 8pm GMT. The populist leader has not spoken since the court ruling. 06:39 PM BST Listen to todays episode of The Daily T Todays episode of The Daily T also discusses Marine Le Pens ban from running as French president. 06:36 PM BST Bolsonaro calls Le Pen ban Left-wing activism Jair Bolsonaro, the former hard-Right Brazilian president, said that the move to ban Marine Le Pen from seeking public office for five years was left-wing judicial activism. This ruling is clearly left-wing judicial activism. Wherever the right-wing is present, the left and the system will work to get their opponents out of the game, Mr Bolsonaro told Reuters. Here and in France, this is pure lawfare, he added. It looks like this movement is spreading around the world. The left has found an easy way to perpetuate itself in power by using judicial activism. 06:22 PM BST Bayrou troubled by embezzlement ruling Francois Bayrou, Frances prime minister, is troubled by an embezzlement ruling against Marine Le Pen, a source close to him said. But Mr Bayrou does not plan to make any statement on a judicial ruling, the source told AFP. 06:13 PM BST Le Pen shocked by court decision Marine Le Pen is shocked by her guilty verdict, according to her lawyer. Rodolphe Bosselut added she will fight to hasten her appeal procedure and will formally request that the appeal takes place before 2027, before the presidential elections. Le Pen has not spoken publicly herself yet, but is due to speak to French media soon. 06:09 PM BST Bardella calls for protests against Le Pen conviction Jordan Bardella, Marine Le Pens almost certain successor, has called for France to come out in support of the hard-Right leader. Marine Le Pens sentence with provisional execution, which prevents her from running in 2027, is a democratic scandal, he wrote on X. Through our popular and peaceful mobilization, lets show them that the will of the people is stronger. La condamnation avec execution provisoire de Marine Le Pen, qui l'empeche d'etre candidate en 2027, est un scandale democratique. Par notre mobilisation populaire et pacifique, montrons-leur que la volonte du peuple est plus forte https://t.co/UfVMl1zDcx#SauvonsLaDemocratie pic.twitter.com/OVsHmxvVE3 Jordan Bardella (@J_Bardella) March 31, 2025 05:57 PM BST Analysis: Le Pen will be made a martyr This may well be Marine Le Pens Donald Trump moment. The US president convinced voters he was a victim of lawfare, a witch hunt waged by an elite class that was determined to block him from power. A court on Monday found Ms Le Pen guilty of embezzling EU funds and banned her from French politics for five years. The National Rally leader is now banned from running the next race for the Elysee but her shadow will stretch long over the two years leading up to the 2027 vote. Ms Le Pen has brought the party founded by her father Jean-Marie Le Pen a racist and a Holocaust denier closer to power and mainstream respectability than it has ever been. Credit: Reuters 05:52 PM BST Welcome back to our live coverage Were bringing you all the latest on the French courts ruling to bar Marine Le Pen from public office for five years. 03:36 PM BST More reaction across Frances political spectrum The far-Left France Unbowed party said that it never expected to use the courts as a way to get rid of the National Rally. In a statement, it said: We fight them at the ballot box and in the streets, with the mobilisation of the French people, as we did during the 2024 legislative elections. We will fight again tomorrow in the polls, whoever is their candidate. Meanwhile, Fabien Roussel, national secretary of the French Communist Party, told Ms Le Pen to respect the judicial system. Ms. Le Pen is a politician who demands firmness on the part of the judiciary! Respect the judicial system then. Eric Ciotti, former leader of the centre-Right republicans, attacked the Paris court, saying the democratic destiny of our nation confiscated by an outrageous judicial cabal. He added: The favoured candidate in the presidential election prevented from running. This is not a simple dysfunction. It is a system to capture power that systematically throws aside any candidate that is too far to the right and who has a chance of winning. Eric Zemmour, president of Frances far-Right Reconquest party, also hit out the judges. It is not for judges to decide who the people must vote for. Whatever our disagreements, Marine Le Pen is legitimate to run for the vote. 03:14 PM BST Farage says Le Pen cancelled on very trumped-up charge Nigel Farage said Marine Le Pen has been cancelled on what he called a very trumped-up charge. The Reform UK leader described the barring of the National Rally leader from public office as a trend. Le Pen is a candidate that would, without doubt, have won the next French presidential election. And you know what, if looks to me like a very trumped-up charge, he told the BBC. He suggested that Eurosceptic parties have been unfairly targeted with legal action. I dont see how it could be possible the only people that have ever been in breach of EU funding rules are Eurosceptics. Just not possible, he said. 03:04 PM BST The French Right will survive the banning of Marine Le Pen Marine Le Pen, hitherto the favourite to succeed Emmanuel Macron as French President, has been barred from standing for public office for five years with immediate effect after being found guilty of embezzlement to fund her party, writes Daniel Johnson. For French politics, this is an earthquake. Her angry reaction storming out of court before the end of the two-hour judgement indicates that the sentence is a devastating blow to the leader of the National Rally, who has been leading the polls for the 2027 presidential election. Although she will appeal, her candidacy is effectively over. Still, Le Pen is nothing if not a fighter. At 56, she is certainly not ready to abandon what she sees as her destiny to lead France. Marine Le Pen has been banned from French politics for five years - Michel Spingler/AP 02:45 PM BST Le Pens appeal could take place within months Olivier Prado, a legal expert, said Marine Le Pen got up and left because she clearly felt this provisional ban is a political decision. As things stand she cannot run for French president in 2027. However, he said an appeal could potentially take place within months, suggesting it was not impossible an appeals verdict could be handed down by early next year. 02:29 PM BST Le Pen targeted for bringing RN closer to victory, says niece Marine Le Pens niece Marion Marechal, also a member of the European Parliament, said her aunt was only targeted because she brought our camp on the path to victory. That is the only thing she is guilty of, and that is why she was convicted. No one on the Right should pretend to be satisfied with this decision, she said. Depuis des decennies, le camp national et notre famille ont subi tous les coups, toutes les attaques, toutes les injustices. Des juges se pensant au-dessus du peuple souverain, ont decide d'executer dans un tribunal, celle qu'ils n'ont jamais pu faire reculer dans les urnes. pic.twitter.com/0dNl4ATox1 Marion Marechal (@MarionMarechal) March 31, 2025 02:09 PM BST Le Pen to file an appeal Marine Le Pen will appeal a French courts decision to ban her from running in the next presidential election, her lawyer has said. Its a blow to democracy, Rodolphe Bosselut told reporters outside National Rally (RN) headquarters in Paris. Le Pen is in a fighting mood, added Laurent Jacobelli, a RN lawmaker and party spokesman. She could technically still run if she is successful in her appeal before the election but experts have warned the process will likely take years. 01:48 PM BST Reaction from Telegraph commentators Anne Elisabeth Moutet writes: This is it for Marine Le Pen and her familys political dynasty. But this is by no means the end for her party: Jordan Bardella, her almost certain successor, will prove more palatable to French voters who are adverse to voting for a three time loser. Younger voters are more favourable to Bardella, and the party can present itself as a victim of the Left-wing French judiciary. Zoe Strimpel writes: The Le Pens have never been up to good, and Marine, for all her shape-shifting, is no different. That she has been caught, like others in the populist Right, in defiance of the laws both of the land and of decency doesnt really surprise me. The question is whether shell do a Trump and use the conviction to her advantage, in the same childish spirit defiance as her yellow-headed American friend. Marine has not been without some persuasive ideas and her purported abandonment of anti-Semitism has been welcome. But she was never a good un and this proves it. 01:44 PM BST Europes hard-Right closes ranks in support of Le Pen A number of figureheads on the hard-Right of European politics have expressed support for Marine Le Pen after the embezzlement conviction. Geert Wilders, leader of the Party for Freedom in Holland, said he was shocked by the incredibly tough verdict against Le Pen. I support and believe in her for the full 100 percent and I trust she will win the appeal and become President of France, he said. Meanwhile, Santiago Abascal, leader of Spains Vox Party, said: They will not succeed in silencing the voice of the French people. George Simion, Romanias hard-Right presidential candidate, said: Targeting or annihilating your political opponent by any means is straight out of the instruction manual of totalitarian regimes. This happened today in (France). 01:22 PM BST Le Pen paid a price for systematic denial, says lawyer Patrick Maisonneuve, lawyer for the European Parliament, said Marine Le Pen and her party and colleagues had paid the price for their systematic denial of any wrongdoing throughout the trial. That prompted judges to conclude that they could repeat the offence as they failed to acknowledge it or express any remorse. Throughout the 3 months of hearings, there was a systematic denial of what had happened during those years, and Im convinced the court really took into account this stance of denial by saying that since you are in total denial, I believe that there is a risk of recidivism and therefore Im applying the provisional ban, he said after the verdict. The lawyer said he was happy with the sentence and courts demand that the National Rally repay the money illicitly used. On the organisation of the system that had been set up to embezzle funds from the European Parliament via the rules governing parliamentary assistants, there was clearly not a single discussion, not a single hesitation on the part of the court with regard to the conviction and in my position, thats what I wanted to look for, he said. Patrick Maisonneuve speaks to the media after a guilty verdict in the embezzlement case of Marine Le Pen - Getty Images Europe 12:51 PM BST Analysis: The unthinkable has happened It was the verdict that Marine Le Pen and her party had feared but refused to believe. Even this weekend, the three-times presidential contender and National Rally figurehead offered reassuring noises that it would not come to pass. But her worst fears have come to pass: a five-year electoral ban that comes into immediate effect. Adding to the humiliation, she has been handed a four-year prison term, two suspended and two under an electronic bracelet. That means she cannot run for president in 2027 in what would have been her best chance yet of clinching the Elysee. It is a hammer blow to the 56-year-old, who has spent years de-demonising the party formerly run by her late dad, Jean-Marie, a Holocaust denier. The tactic has worked as her approval ratings are at record highs and a poll out this weekend suggested up to 37 per cent of French would vote for her in round one of the 2027 presidential election. That placed her far ahead of the next runner, Edouard Philippe, Emmanuel Macrons former prime minister. There remains a glimmer of hope: an appeals trial in the coming months in which the sentence is reduced. An appeals court judge could also theoretically decide to suspend the provisional ban under certain conditions, say experts. Possible but far from assured. If upheld, the verdict means she can remain MP until the end of her mandate but can not run for re-election to the National Assembly should Mr Macron dissolve parliament and call fresh snap elections - a decision he can take starting from June. All eyes will now turn to the partys plan B Jordan Bardella, the 29-year-old protege. Does he have the shoulders for one of the worlds top jobs - French presidents wield huge powers? Many, including from his own camp, think not. But there are no real alternatives at this stage. 12:35 PM BST Ruling is declaration of war by Brussels, says Italys deputy PM Italys deputy prime minister has said the decision to ban Marine Le Pen from running for the presidency was a declaration of war by Brussels. Matteo Salvini said those who fear the judgement of the voters often find reassurance in the judgement of the courts. In Paris they condemned Marine Le Pen and would like to exclude her from political life. A bad film that we are also seeing in other countries such as Romania. The one against @MLP_officiel is a declaration of war by Brussels, at a time when the warlike impulses of von der Leyen and Macron are frightening. We will not be intimidated, we will not stop: full speed ahead my friend! 12:32 PM BST Frances Left-wing indifferent to Le Pen ban We are not counting on the justice system to beat the National Rally, said Eric Cocquerel from the radical Left France Unbowed party, LFI. We beat them in the last legislative elections and intend to beat them in the next presidential election. The responsibility falls not on the judges but on the legislators who voted in this (2016) law, among them RN, he said. 12:26 PM BST Analysis: Le Pen ban is a gift for Europes nationalist Right This is Marine Le Pens Donald Trump moment. Mr Trump convinced voters he was a victim of lawfare, a witch hunt waged by an elite determined to block him from power. He won Novembers US presidential election, despite being convicted of 34 felonies and facing charges over allegations he tried to overturn the vote he lost to Joe Biden. Ms Le Pen is now barred from running the next race for the Elysee, a defenestration at the top of Frances largest single party that will make the deeply polarised country even more impossible to govern. This is a huge blow for the National Rally leader, who has gradually detoxified her partys brand while edging closer to power over the past three French presidential elections. But it is a gift for Europes nationalist Right, which will waste no time in transforming her into a martyr. They will paint Ms Le Pen as a Joan of Arc, sacrificed in a Brussels-backed globalist conspiracy to prevent a Eurosceptic reaching the pinnacle of French politics. Even before the verdict was read out in full, Hungarys Viktor Orban was declaring Je suis Marine! on social media. He wasnt the only one to try and make political capital from the verdict. The Kremlin branded it a violation of democratic norms, while somehow managing to keep a straight face. Marine Le Pen storms out of court after being found guilty of embezzling EU funds - AP 12:13 PM BST Details of Le Pens sentence As well as being banned from running for office for five years, Le Pen has been given a four-year prison sentence. Two of those will be suspended, while the other two will be spent with an electronic tag rather than in custody. She has also been given a 100,000 (82,635) fine. Le Pen is likely to appeal the sentence, meaning the jail term and fine will be put on hold, but the ban has been put into place immediately. 12:00 PM BST Your views... 11:55 AM BST Bardella: French democracy has been executed French democracy has been executed after Marine Le Pen was banned from politics for five years, Jordan Bardella has said. The RN chief has been unjustly condemned, it is French democracy that has been executed, Mr Bardella, the partys president, said. Aujourd'hui, ce n'est pas seulement Marine Le Pen qui est injustement condamnee : c'est la democratie francaise qui est executee.#JeSoutiensMarine Jordan Bardella (@J_Bardella) March 31, 2025 11:53 AM BST A body blow to Le Pens presidential hopes Legal experts have been saying this could occur but few in France really believed it would really happen. Marine Le Pen has been eliminated from the 2027 presidential election in France and cannot appeal the ruling. The provisional ban is immediate. She can keep her national mandates, namely as an MP, but cannot run for president even if she appeals. 11:51 AM BST Le Pen banned from standing at next presidential election Le Pen has been banned from standing at the next election, with the judge sentencing her to a five-year ban from politics. She has been sentenced to four years in prison with two under an electronic bracelet and a 100,000 euro fine. 11:47 AM BST Le Pen ban verdict next Well bring you the exact details of the ban as they come in. 11:39 AM BST Le Pen heads to meet Bardella at party HQ Le Pen has arrived at her partys HQ in western Paris ahead of a meeting with its president Jordan Bardella. She remained tight-lipped as reporters asked her about the judges decision. 11:36 AM BST Former RN deputy banned for three years Louis Aliot, former number two of the National Rally, is sentenced to 18 months in jail, 12 suspended. The rest will be under an electronic bracelet. He has been hit with a three year ban but no provisional one to preserve the freedom of voters who chose their mayor, says the judge. 11:35 AM BST Europe violating democratic norms, says Kremlin The Kremlin has slammed a French courts ruling to bar far-Right leader Marine Le Pen from running for office over a fake jobs scheme. More and more European capitals are going down the path of violating democratic norms, a Kremlin spokesman told reporters in a briefing when asked about the decision. Le Pen was long an admirer of Vladimir Putin, even at one point putting a photo of her with the Russian president on a campaign brochure before hastily removing it over the Ukraine war. She has since distanced herself from the Russian leader but has been lukewarm on helping Ukraine, insisting it should only get defensive weapons. 11:30 AM BST Watch: Le Pen storms out of court Heres footage of Le Pen leaving the courtroom before hearing the details of her ban. We know it will be immediate but we dont know how long for. Credit: Reuters 11:28 AM BST Je suis Marine: Orban voices support for Le Pen Viktor Orban has tweeted his support to Marine Le Pen. Je suis Marine!, he said on X after she was banned from French politics. The Hungarian prime ministers Fidesz party is in an alliance with Ms Le Pens National Rally in the Patriots for Europe group in the European Parliament. Todays judgement relates to the embezzlement of EU funds dating back to before the founding of that group. 11:25 AM BST Le Pen associate given two-year ban from politics Catherline Griset, Le Pens former parliamentary attache and close friend, has been handed a one-year suspended prison sentence and a two-year electoral ban. Were still waiting to her the details of her ban. Julien Odoul, a well-known party figure, has been handed an eight-month suspended prison term. His sentence is accompanied by a one-year ineligibility period, without provisional ban. Le Pen ally Eric Ciotti is amongst the first to react. He said he wondered if France is still a democracy. 11:14 AM BST Le Pen storms out of court Le Pen has left the court without hearing the duration of the provisional ban. It could mean she is banned from running in the 2027 presidential race, depending on the length. Even before the final sentence, French commentators are already talking about a judicial and political earthquake that has blindsided Le Pen and her party. 11:10 AM BST Length of ban unclear Le Pen will receive a provisional ban, says the presiding judge. That is a blow but we now are awaiting the duration. If the provisional ban is less than 18 months, she can still run for president. 10:52 AM BST System involving fictitious contracts existed in RN, says judge The nine MEPs and 12 assistants found guilty signed fictitious contracts and there was indeed a system within the party, said presiding judge Benedicte de Perthuis. It has been established that all these people were in fact working for the party, that their MEP had not entrusted them with any tasks and that they moved from one MEP to another, she went on. It was not a question of pooling the work of the assistants but rather of pooling the MPs envelopes, she went on. Lets be clear: no one is on trial for playing politics, thats not the point. The issue was whether or not the contracts were respected, said the judge. 10:43 AM BST No personal enrichment for Le Pen, says judge The presiding judge has said that Marine Le Pen had been at the heart of this system since 2009 but that there was no personal enrichment. Benedicte de Perthuis also slammed the cynicism and determination of the National Front and its successor National Rally to misuse funds from the European Parliament and European taxpayers. As a reminder, beyond an electoral ban, Marine Le Pen risks a maximum five-year prison term, including three years suspended. The remaining two years could be served with an electronic bracelet. Were expecting her verdict later today. 10:38 AM BST Who could replace Le Pen if she is banned? In a documentary broadcast by BFMTV late on Sunday, Marine Le Pen for the first time explicitly gave her blessing to Jordan Bardella becoming president. Of course he has the capacity to become president of the republic, she said. But there are doubts even within the party over the so-called Plan B (for Bardella) and whether he has the experience for a presidential campaign. 10:18 AM BST Le Pens opponents reject ban from politics Some of Marine Le Pens staunchest opponents have spoken out against her being banned from running for president. These include Eric Coquerel, MP for radical Left party France Unbowed, LFI, who told LCI: I dont agree that things that should be decided by the ballot box are decided by the courts. It will only paint the National Rally as a victim. 10:12 AM BST Le Pen guilty of misappropriating 474,000 Marine Le Pen has been found guilty of misappropriating 474,000, in particular for the contracts of her bodyguard, Thierry Legier, and her former parliamentary attache, Catherine Griset. Catherine Griset worked for Marine Le Pen, but not as a member of parliament in Brussels, the presiding judge, Benedicte de Perthuis, told the Paris criminal court. 10:04 AM BST Inside the courtroom Marine Le Pen shook her head when she learnt that her close friend and ex-sister-in-law Catherine Griset, who is MEP, was found guilty. 09:53 AM BST Le Pen found guilty Marine Le Pen and 8 other MEPs have been found guilty of misappropriating funds in the case of the parliamentary assistants of the Front National, now National Rally. This conviction automatically entails a penalty of ineligibility for Marine Le Pen. It remains to be seen whether this sentence will be provisionally enforceable and therefore immediate. The 12 assistants on trial alongside the MEPs were also found guilty of concealing misappropriated funds. The court ruled that they had got the European Parliament to pay for people who were actually working for the party to the tune of 2.9 million. Jean-Marie Le Pen, the late former leader, was a beneficiary of the fake jobs scam, said the judge. 09:39 AM BST Judge warns of long wait for verdict The presiding judge has started speaking but has warned the court they will not get the verdict straight away. Its going to be a little long, warned judge Benedicte de Perthuis at the outset. There is no desire on the part of the court to maintain suspense, but it will proceed as usual, giving a number of explanations of the decision taken, she went on. We have clearly understood that what is at stake goes beyond this courtroom, but the court will proceed as usual, she added, in front of Marine Le Pen, seated in a blue jacket in the front row, alongside party vice-president Louis Aliot, who risks losing his post as mayor of Perpignan today. 09:31 AM BST Judge begins reading out verdicts The Paris criminal courts head judge has begun reading out verdicts but it could be hours before we learn the fate of Marine Le Pen. Le Pen and 24 other RN officials are accused of running an extensive scheme over many years to embezzle EU funds. There are no cameras or recording devices allowed inside the court. 09:14 AM BST Criticising guilty verdict a double-edged sword Criticising a guilty verdict would be double-edged, points out Mathieu Croissandeau, political analyst for BFMTV. For (the National Rally), justice is never harsh enough when it comes to criminals but always too hard when it comes to politicians. There is a risk that a guilty verdict could be taken as a denial of democracy by public opinion, whose faith in French institutions, including the judiciary, is already low, adds Croissandea. He also warns Le Pens National Rally could decide to wreak revenge on President Macron and the minority government by backing a no-confidence motion to bring it down. So far, it has abstained. 09:03 AM BST Le Pen: Judges could kill our movement Marine Le Pen declined to speak this morning. However, she expressed her confidence last night in an interview with La Tribune du Dimanche. She said: Ive read here and there that were feverish. Personally, Im not, but I can understand why we might be: with provisional execution, the judges have the right of life or death over our movement. 09:00 AM BST Le Pen arrives at court Marine Le Pen has arrived at the Paris criminal court ahead of this mornings verdict. Marine Le Pen arrives at the courtroom for her embezzlement case - Getty Images Europe 08:57 AM BST Analysis: Le Pens political future hangs in the balance Make no mistake, Marine Le Pens political fate hangs in the balance this morning. Few expect the Paris criminal court to clear her on all counts in the EU parliamentary money affair given the damning evidence laid out during the trial. But guilt is not the issue here. The number one sword of Damocles hanging over her is an automatic five-year ban from holding electoral office. In her words, it would spell her political death and would upend French politics just two years before presidential elections that Le Pen is increasingly confident she can win. An Ifop poll yesterday placed her way out in front in voter intentions for the first round. The feeling even amongst the party faithful is that 29-year-old dauphin Jordan Bardella doesnt have the experience and stature to fill her shoes should she be disqualified. Anything short of automatic ineligibility could work in Le Pens favour, however, as it will likely galvanise supporters who - like Trump fans - see the trial as a political cabal and allow her to fight on, down but not out. The clock is ticking. 08:46 AM BST Four outcomes for Le Pen Marine Le Pen could be cleared of all blame. Legal experts believe the case against the politician and her associates is strong, so this is unlikely. She could be convicted by judges but not make her ban from politics automatic. She could appeal the ban, which would not come into effect until after a second and potentially third trial. This could allow her to run for president, depending on how long the process takes. Judges could order an automatic ban from politics. Le Pen would appeal, but only the sentence - which involves a five-year prison sentence and a fine - would be suspended. As a result, she would be banned from running for president in 2027. The court could also reduce the length of her ban from politics from five years to one or two, meaning she may be able to run in 2027. 08:36 AM BST What is Le Pen accused of? Marine Le Pen has been accused of misusing EU funds to hire party staff when she was a member of the European Parliament between 2004 and 2017. It was allegedly claimed at the time that the staff had been working on an EU basis but the claim is that they were actually working for the RN in France. Prosecutors have also accused 24 high-ranking officials of similar charges, claiming the party misused 3m of EU money. All the accused have denied the charges. 08:32 AM BST Welcome to our live coverage Good morning and welcome to our live coverage as Marine Le Pen faces a ban from French politics. Well bring you all the latest updates and analysis as it happens. Marine Le Pen has been found guilty of embezzling EU funds to pay staff in her party - Alain Jocard/AFP Marine Le Pen will not be allowed to stand in Frances next presidential election after a court banned her from politics for five years. The National Rally (RN) chief was found guilty of embezzling EU funds to pay party staff in a court ruling in Paris on Monday morning. She was handed a four-year prison sentence, two of which will be served under house arrest and the other two suspended. But Le Pen, who was also given a 100,000 euro (83,600) fine, stormed out before she could hear the judges ruling. The Paris ruling represents a hammer blow to her ambition of taking the Elysee, especially as she is riding high in the opinion polls ahead of the 2027 election. The judge accused her of being at the heart of the embezzlement scheme. Although Le Pen didnt immediately comment, her supporters quickly expressed disapproval. Jordan Bardella, her 29-year-old protege who could replace her on the ballot in 2027, said that Le Pen is being unjustly condemned and that French democracy is being executed. Credit: Reuters Le Pen, the hard-Right figurehead, is almost certain to appeal against the conviction, and neither the prison sentence nor the fine would be applied until her appeals are exhausted, which would probably take several years. But her five-year ban from running for office begins immediately, with the Paris courts head judge opting for the provisional execution measure that was requested by prosecutors. The ban will only be lifted if the appeal is upheld before the election, which experts deem unlikely. However she will retain her seat in the National Assembly until her mandate ends. Le Pen, two dozen associates and the party itself were found guilty of diverting more than 4 million (3.3 million) of EU money to pay for RN staff. All the accused argued that the money was used legitimately and denied the allegations. There was no immediate comment from Le Pen, who will appear on French broadcaster TF1 this evening. Yesterday she seemed confident that she would not be banned from running for the presidency. Ive read here and there that were feverish. Personally, Im not, but I can understand why we might be: with provisional execution, the judges have the right of life or death over our movement, she said in an interview with the French newspaper La Tribune du Dimanche. It was reported that after storming out of court, Le Pen headed straight for the RNs headquarters in western Paris for a meeting with Jordan Bardella, the partys president. Widely seen as her right-hand man, Mr Bardella said: Today it is not only Marine Le Pen who was unjustly condemned. It was French democracy that was killed. Mr Bardella, who succeeded Le Pen as party president in 2022, now looks set to become the RNs de facto candidate for the 2027 election. Jordan Bardella, National Rallys president, seems set to become the partys de facto candidate for the 2027 election - @J_Bardella/X There have been questions about whether the 29-year-old is old enough to take her place but Le Pen endorsed him for the first time publicly late on Sunday. Of course he has the capacity to become president of the republic, she told BFMTV. But as she left the courtroom stony faced, the blow to her personal ambitions cannot be understated. She has spent years trying to soften the image of her party, once led by her father Jean-Marie Le Pen, who was convicted numerous times for racism and anti-Semitism. She suffered her first defeat to Emmanuel Macron in 2017 but returned stronger in the 2022 elections, gaining 3 million more votes. As party figurehead, she also presided over last years National Assembly elections, in which the RN became Frances single largest party. Le Pens allies on the European hard-Right leapt to her defence after the courts decision. Within minutes of her ban being announced by the judge, Viktor Orban, the prime minister of Hungary, wrote I am Marine in a post on X. Mr Orbans Fidesz party is in an alliance with Ms Le Pens National Rally in the Patriots for Europe group in the European Parliament. Meanwhile, Matteo Salvini, Italys deputy prime minister, has said the decision to ban Marine Le Pen from running for the presidency was a declaration of war by Brussels. Mr Salvini said those who fear the judgment of the voters often find reassurance in the judgment of the courts. There was even discontent among her political opponents. Eric Coquerel, MP for radical Left party France Unbowed, who told LCI: I dont agree that things that should be decided by the ballot box are decided by the courts. It will only paint the National Rally as a victim. Mark Carney Mark Carney has only been Canadas prime minister since March 14. Yet in that short period of time, he has made an unusually high number of blunders. Carney is politically inexperienced. He acted arrogantly and was curt with several reporters. He is reported to have a volcanic temper. He has often appeared distant and impersonal on the campaign trail. Hes been involved in awkward photo-ops. He backed out of a French-language debate. We can now add something else. Carney has shown incredibly poor judgement by defending a candidate who appeared to support the collection of a financial bounty placed on the head of a political rival by a foreign power. Extraordinary, but true. Paul Chiang, a Liberal MP and parliamentary secretary to the minister of diversity and inclusion, suggested that Canadians collect the $183,000 (CDN) bounty the Hong Kong police have placed on Conservative candidate Joe Tays head. (Chiang and Tay are running in different ridings.) This is reported to have happened during a January news conference with Chinese-language media that wasnt widely covered elsewhere. According to the Ming Pao newspaper, Chiang said it would be a great controversy if Tay was elected with this foreign criminal charge looming over him. He then made this reprehensible statement: If you can take him to the Chinese Consulate General in Toronto, you can get the million-dollar reward. The audience reportedly laughed. Was he really joking? To make matters worse, Chiang is a retired 28-year police veteran. If anyone should know better than to make this type of disgusting and dangerous remark, its a former police officer. Chiang claimed he spoke with Tay on Monday to personally apologise. He called it a terrible lapse of judgement and said it will never happen again. He also made a public apology on X, saying that the comments he made were deplorable. But Tay was having none of this. Chiang had made an unsolicited attempt to contact me the previous evening, he wrote on March 31, and has posted on social media that he offered me an apology. Tay stated, I want to be clear: no apology is sufficient. Moreover, he pointed out that suggesting that people collect a bounty from the Chinese Communist Party to deliver a political opponent to the Chinese consulate is disgusting and must never be condoned. He said that Carney should fire Chiang as a candidate. Carney will be doing nothing of the sort, it seems. Although the PM acknowledged he was deeply offended by Chiangs comments, he suggested this episode could serve as a teachable moment. He also said, Hes made his apology. Hes made it to the public, hes made it to the individual concerned, hes made it directly to me, and hes going to continue with his candidacy. He has my confidence. Has Carney lost his mind? Does he crave political power to the point that he cant do the right thing and remove a candidate who has behaved reprehensibly? What could possibly justify keeping him as a Liberal candidate for the forthcoming election? Theres nothing teachable here. Its unforgivable. Moreover, how will Carney stand up for Canadas safety, security and independence with US president Donald Trump when he cant even take on Communist China and fire a Liberal candidate who effectively supported a CCP-endorsed bounty? This controversy comes in the context of recent accusations that Carney secured a more than $250 million (CDN) loan for his former company, Brookfield Asset Management, from the Bank of China last November. How do we know hes not going to act against our interests in favour of his financial interest?, Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre asked. Carney has rejected accusations that he is indebted to China. But the questions dont seem to be going away. Michael Taube, a columnist for the National Post, Troy Media and Loonie Politics, was a speechwriter for former Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper More than 1,000 flood schemes will be built or repaired across England under Government plans to protect homes and businesses. The projects come as part of the 2.65 billion investment to tackle flooding over the next two years. The Government and Environment Agency said the schemes will help to protect 52,000 homes and businesses from flooding, which has become increasingly frequent and severe in recent years because of climate change. On Monday, ministers released the full list of projects supported by funding over the next year. Around 430 million will go towards the construction of new schemes while a further 220 million will be used to repair existing flood defences, they said. Further funding has been earmarked for repairing equipment used to respond to floods, such as pumps, and to raise public awareness of flooding risks, the Government said. Floods minister Emma Hardy said: The role of Government is to protect its citizens. However, we inherited flood defences in their worst condition on record. Through our plan for change, this Government will deliver a decade of national renewal and economic growth. As part of that we are investing a record 2.65 billion to build and repair over 1,000 flood defences across the country. Flagship projects receiving funding include the Derby flood risk management scheme in Derbyshire, which will get 34.6 million to protect 673 homes. The North Portsea Island scheme in Hampshire will receive 13.8 million to protect 1,081 homes. The Preston and South Ribble scheme in Lancashire will receive 10.4 million to protect 1,537 homes. And the Poole Bridge to Hunger Hill flood defences in Dorset will receive 12.2 million to protect 135 homes, among others. Caroline Douglass, executive director for flood and coastal risk management for the Environment Agency, said: Protecting communities in England from the devastating impact of flooding is our priority and this is more important than ever as climate change brings more extreme weather to the nation. The delivery of these schemes will be welcome news for homeowners and businesses, who have experienced flooding in the past and may face more extreme weather as our climate continues to change. Our focus is now on working with local councils and regional flood and coastal committees to deliver these schemes on time, ensuring as many properties as possible are protected. The Government said it has prioritised 140 million to ensure that 29 schemes that are already in progress but struggling with cost pressures can be delivered as soon as possible. The Environment Agency also confirmed the list of supported schemes, which includes flood defences in Great Yarmouth and the Alverstoke Flood, and the coastal erosion risk management scheme on the south coast. What can be done about the corrupt progressive judges destroying the rule of law? By Rachel Alexander web posted March 31, 2025 For the first time in many years, a real movement is emerging among Republican leaders to do something about the corrupt progressive judges trampling on the Constitution and the rule of law, ignoring existing laws and precedents. It's all finally coming to a head with a handful of far left rogue judges issuing injunctions preventing President Donald Trump from doing his job, usurping the powers of the executive branch. Since the average American non-attorneys aren't experts on the law, judges have been able to slide for years making up legal reasoning that pretends to justify their far left activist agenda, legislating from the bench. We all know how they dismissed election corruption lawsuits with bogus excuses like standing, laches and mootness. I covered their twisted reasoning in various recent cases here . The problem has become so bad that The Babylon Bee satire site published an article titled "Trump Leaves Presidency To Become Even More Powerful District Court Judge." Impeaching judges is practically impossible, since it requires two-thirds of the U.S. Senate (only a simple majority in the U.S. House of Representatives). Only 15 federal judges have ever been impeached , and merely eight of those were actually convicted and removed by the U.S Senate. Some members of Congress are filing Articles of Impeachment anyway. One intriguing idea flouted by some members of Congress is to limit federal district court judges from issuing nationwide injunctions. California Rep. Darrell Issa sponsored the The No Rogue Rulings Act of 2025 , and Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley sponsored the Nationwide Injunction Abuse Prevent Act of 2025 . Both would limit injunctions to that judge's jurisdiction, not nationwide. Supported by House Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana, Issa's bill is expected to be brought up for a full House vote this week. Issa said , "You know, we don't need a Supreme Court if 700 judges can each do what the Supreme Court does." Others have talked about having appeals courts hear appeals from rogue judges immediately. Another fascinating idea, suggested by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, would be for Congress to strip judges of jurisdiction over certain issues such as immigration and executive orders. Political commentator and Fox News host Mark Levin has cited historical precedent for this, such as President Thomas Jefferson's repeal of the Judiciary Act of 1801. There is an option being floated for Congress to use appropriations power to defund the lower courts. However, Berkeley constitutional law professor John Yoo argues this would have limited impact and face constitutional challenges. Democrats proposed their own legislation in 2023 to cut down on one particular abuse, judge shopping. U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and U.S. Representative Deborah Ross, D-N.C. co-sponsored the Fair Courts Act , which prohibits a district court from granting nationwide relief unless the request is heard by a panel of three judges, and requires random assignment of judges. Currently, many courts claim the assignments are random, but they're really not, the presiding judge is usually in charge of divvying up cases, or has delegated that to the chief clerk. However, the bill doesn't stop lawsuits from being filed in unlikely jurisdictions, so challenges could still be filed in California or Washington state, for example. Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio will be holding hearings in his House Judiciary Committee investigating the judges beginning Tuesday. The proceedings are named "Judicial Overreach and Constitutional Limits on the Federal Courts." He has said all options will be examined. While some like Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D. claim rogue judges can be reined in by appellate judges, that overlooks the fact the left judge shops for judges in left-leaning circuits. The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals is notoriously on the left. Similarly, many of these lawsuits have been filed in California or Washington state, since the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals is one of the most liberal appeals courts. The Supreme Court only has the bandwidth to take about 80 cases a year, so the vast majority of these cases will end at the appeals court level with bad decisions. Trump is defying some of the judges' orders. The Trump administration sent illegal immigrant gang members from Venezuela to El Salvador's prison earlier this month despite U.S. District Court Judge James Boasberg's order prohibiting it. This will likely end up addressed by SCOTUS. Boesberg is being targeted by members of Congress with Articles of Impeachment, and pundit Laura Loomer has exposed Boasberg's family ties to the gangs. His daughter Katharine Boasberg works for a 501c3 called Partners For Justice that gives criminal illegal immigrants and gang members legal advice. He should have recused himself from hearing the case for that reason. Trump, who has called along with Elon Musk to impeach Boasberg, is also filing emergency appeals directly with SCOTUS. Even liberal SCOTUS Justice Elena Kagan has objected to the rogue judges' overstepping their power by issuing nationwide injunctions. Liberal law professor Jonathan Turley believes Congressional legislation to restrict the nationwide injunctions will be upheld by SCOTUS. I think that federal judges have overextended themselves," he said during an interview on Fox News. "I think they have intruded into areas of Article II or presidential authority." Rachel Alexander and her brother Andrew are co-Editors of Intellectual Conservative. She has been published in the American Spectator, Townhall.com, Fox News, NewsMax, Accuracy in Media, The Americano, ParcBench, Enter Stage Right and other publications. Home Network Rails boss has announced his retirement amid a Government overhaul of the sector. Chief executive Sir Andrew Haines said he will leave the company in October after seven years in the role. The functions of Network Rail which manages railway infrastructure will be taken over by Great British Railways (GBR). The Government is consulting on policies to be included in the forthcoming Railways Bill which will enable the establishment of GBR. The organisation will be a new public sector body also overseeing train operation. Sir Andrew said: It has been a privilege to lead Network Rail through a time of such change and transformation for Britains railways, and I am proud of the progress that we have made on performance, safety, reliability and customer service. After seven years as chief executive, as Great British Railways starts to progress through legislation and into implementation, I have decided it is the right time for me to retire. I am a passionate supporter of the principles behind Great British Railways and the once-in-a-generation opportunity it presents to create an integrated railway that delivers a better service and experience for passengers, stakeholders and colleagues. It has been a privilege to lead this transformational journey to date. Sir Andrew established interim arrangements for the creation of GBR. Speaking on behalf of Network Rails board, acting chairman Mike Putnam said: Andrew has been an exceptional leader for Network Rail at a critical time in the history of Britains railways. He has secured reforms that will lead to a more reliable railway, while maintaining a continual focus on safety and performance. His vision, leadership and ambition for an integrated, simpler railway that will deliver a significantly better experience for passengers has been at the heart of the creation of Great British Railways. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said: Id like to thank Andrew for the commitment and leadership hes shown over the past seven years. He provided stability during the most challenging of periods and ensured the railway kept running throughout the pandemic and through national industrial action. His vision and support has been vital as we establish Great British Railways one of this Governments biggest reforms. His work has been a key part of our efforts to deliver a simpler, more efficient railway, with passengers at its heart. Poe the AI Story Bear was the first talking stuffed toy to use AI software and was released in August 2024 AI-powered teddy bears could harvest data from young children, the UKs leading computer scientist has warned. Sir Nigel Shadbolt, a leading researcher in artificial intelligence, has raised concerns about smart toys that use artificial intelligence to converse with children. He said: When AI is integrated into the cuddly soft toys that a child grows up with, what does that do to the interaction, to the companionship, to the sense of self? It might allow that language deficit that children suffer in some homes to be eliminated because teddy is there to have those extended and rich conversations that really might enrich the child. But they also could be used to survey, they could be used to appropriate and harvest data from the child. A privacy threat In 2023, Allan Wong, the chief executive of VTech, a Hong-Kong based electronics company which manufactures toys, suggested that AI-powered teddy bears could be available within the next few years. Last year, Skyrocket, a Los Angeles-based toymaker, released the first talking stuffed toy to use AI software, called Poe the AI Story Bear. The toy, which hit the market in August, can generate and read aloud stories to children. Sir Nigel, who was speaking at the Oxford Literature Festival, partnered with The Telegraph, said such technology could pose a privacy threat. He called for strong regulation on how much data was stored by the toys and how it was used. We are going to see increasing efforts to build these consumer products, he said. We can imagine a world in which those capabilities are cheap to implement, the models are easy to replicate and copy, so what will the protection around those classes of object be? In the past we worried with teddy bears about whether children would swallow the eyes if they came off. This is an entirely different class of challenge. It is quite immediate. Sir Nigel is executive chairman of the Open Data Institute which he co-founded with Tim Berners-Lee, the creator of the World Wide Web. He was speaking about his new book, As If Human: Ethics and Artificial Intelligence, which he co-wrote with Roger Hampson. One of the items recovered by police is a First World War officers Rolex watch - MET Police Police have recovered more than 1 million worth of gold jewellery stolen in London over a two-year period. A First World War officers Rolex watch, a golden locket and an engraved ring are among the items in the retrieved haul, the Metropolitan Police said. Detectives issued an appeal for the owners of the jewellery which also included an engraved pocket watch, wedding ring and a number of necklaces to come forward and reclaim them. The force said the items had largely been taken from Londons south Asian community in the Hounslow area throughout 2023 and 2024. Four men face charges of conspiracy to commit burglary and will face trial in May. Detectives say the owners of the stolen jewellery should come forward to reclaim it - MET Police Detective Sergeant Lee Davison, who is leading the investigation, said: While it is believed to be worth over a million pounds in total, it is the sentimental value that remains priceless. This is why myself and the team are working tirelessly to identify the owners. Anyone who recognises items in the recovered haul is asked to contact the force on 101. The discovery of the items marks the latest high-end jewellery theft in London, following the armed robbery of an Instagram influencers Primrose Hill mansion in December. More than 10 million worth of jewellery was stolen from art collector Shafira Huang. The police are still searching for a white man, believed to be in his late 20s or 30s, in relation to the incident. An engraved gold ring is among the haul recovered by the Met Police - MET Police As well as bespoke jewellery, the man took a number of Hermes Crocodile Kelly handbags worth around 150,000 and 15,000 in cash. Among the jewellery stolen was a 10.7-carat Graff diamond ring and two De Beers butterfly diamond rings. The suspect also took a Hermes 3.03-carat ring, a diamond and sapphire-encrusted ring, and a Niloticus Lumiere necklace. Ms Huang has offered a 500,000 reward for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the suspect. Collection pot covered in cobwebs Go Beyond a small, dedicated charity giving disadvantaged children the chance to visit the countryside and enjoy outdoor exercise had an entirely different business model 10 years ago. Then, donations came from multiple sources from thriving charity stores in cities across the South West, from bucket collections outside supermarkets, from sponsored events and a quarterly email appeal. Now, the stores are all closed, the buckets are largely empty, the events are sparsely attended and email donations have dropped 20 per cent. The cost-of-living crisis has really affected the way people support charities, says Sara Shearman, the director of fundraising at Go Beyond. It used to be something people did quite naturally; now, it is seen as a luxury. Sadly, it is far from alone in its struggles. Last week, the Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) released its latest UK Giving Report, which backed up what floundering charities have been saying for months that the number of people donating has dropped to critical levels, as the wider British public becomes significantly less generous. The figures are stark: 55 per cent of the nearly 14,000 people surveyed said they had donated to a charity in the previous year a drop of 10 per cent from 2019. At a national level, that means 5.2 million fewer people reaching into their pockets. Donation rates were down across the board but particularly among young adults: less than a third of under-25s now support any charity. The CAFs findings also revealed a reduction in volunteering. In 2023, 7.1 million people helped out in some capacity. Last year, that figure had fallen to 5.6 million. Overall, the number of people supporting charities whether through donations, sponsorship or time has fallen to the lowest levels recorded since the CAF began tracking such trends in 2016. We are living through a time of real income pressure with budgets needing to go much further, so youd naturally expect charitable giving to be constrained a little, says Neil Heslop, the chief executive of the CAF. What is concerning is that this trend seems to go beyond this specific economic situation, with people now simply getting out of the habit of giving up their time or money, and the proportion of the public that donates to charity in steady decline. Giving fatigue Lauren Weymouth, the editor of Charity Times, believes we are in an era of giving fatigue. There was a huge fundraising surge during the pandemic, and people did donate generously, she says, but five years on, it has gotten to the point where they are looking at the increase in costs in everything and thinking, Well, I have done a lot recently, so I am going to pause on that. For Shearman, there are more profound factors at play too. Traditionally, she notes, charities would collect money outside supermarkets something that has been all but destroyed by our increasingly cashless society. Fundraising is mostly online now, she says, but charities have suffered from this. Most of them have invested in technology to accept card payments via the internet, but it is tough on the very small charities that dont have the infrastructure. Similarly, there are fewer ways to give money casually than there were before, which is why Shearman has introduced a button on her website allowing people to donate 3.50 to buy a child an ice cream something she likens to throwing a few coins in a bucket. These trends have coincided with the rise of the subscription economy, which has spelt trouble for organisations historically reliant themselves on consistent contributions from supporters. We think that charities biggest competitors are other charities but because they rely on subscriptions, it is actually companies like Netflix or Spotify, says Weymouth. People are looking at the money coming out of their accounts each month additionally and thinking, Well, Spotify has gone up, but I need that, so Ill cut back on Oxfam. Time, too, appears to be more of a premium than ever before. We organised a zip wire event but found it really difficult to get people to enter, says Shearman. The money just isnt there and people are much more particular with their time now, which means we have to work so much harder to get the same income. The charity shop is dying And then there is the rise of second-hand-clothing apps, which has proved disastrous for charity shops. Stephanie Moore is the founder and CEO of Reach Out to the Community, an independent charity shop in Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester, which aims to combat homelessness and food poverty. Since founding the organisation in 2016, she has seen donations drop in quality and quantity as people have turned to online marketplaces such as Vinted. Stephanie Moore, the founder and CEO of an independent charity shop, says theyre receiving donations of things that they have to dispose of, like cracked plates and broken games consoles - Lee Mclean Times have changed and people are selling much more online, she says. Her shop survives only thanks to donations from older people, who give far more generously than younger generations. Annie Dodd, a volunteer at Reach Out, echoes this. Older people are more conscious of not wanting to waste things, she says. I think a lot of young people use [apps such as Facebook Marketplace]. Similarly, the quality of donations has fallen off a cliff as people increasingly drop off items they cannot sell. At the moment, were getting a lot of stuff were having to dispose of cracked plates or broken games consoles, stuff like that; stuff that really shouldnt come to a charity shop, says Moore. Generally Ill only bring stuff in [to charity shops] when Im moving I dont know if thats bad, its just a thing, says Felix Woods, 22. I sell the odd thing, and I know people who do its a good way to recycle clothes. Felix Woods, 22, says that he only donates items to charity shops when hes moving - Lee Mclean For Go Beyond, this shift meant it became too difficult to keep its stores open. The charity shop is dying, says Shearman. There is a huge amount of competition to attract the dwindling number of good donations left out there, so we decided to close the shops and invest more in fundraising. Overpaid executives Another issue affecting donations is the damaging perception that charity executives are overpaid. Many such roles come with six-figure salaries, and the median annual salary for those heading the UKs 100 largest charities now stands at just shy of 200,000, according to industry research. People feel like they are giving to an organisation that is paying executives more money than they will ever make and it really bothers them, says Weymouth. For Nick Connolly, the chief executive of homelessness charity EveryYouth, getting donations from the general public is now too arduous. The amount of money you need to invest to make individual giving work is beyond our capability, because to make it worthwhile you need people to give regular gifts and for that you need to advertise, which costs a lot. Instead, Connolly is sourcing money from corporations and fundraisers but that is not without its own issues. Whereas in the past, I would be competing against 20 or 30 other charity organisations, now the number is usually over 100, he says, noting that Labours tax raid on employers has only worsened an already dire situation. Add to that national insurance increases from the Government and you get a very difficult environment indeed. As pressure on the sector (which employs approximately a million people) increases, certain types of organisations are faring better than others. The CAF survey found that people favoured health charities, which scooped up an estimated 2.22 billion of donations last year. Health charities are the ones doing the best because people can see the effect Covid had on the health sector and because they can relate to them everyone knows someone who has been affected by cancer or Alzheimers, says Weymouth. Meanwhile, environmental charities are really struggling, because while people know that climate change is happening, theyre not as closely linked to the cause. Weymouth notes that any charities focusing on diversity or inclusion are also suffering more than most this might be because, statistically, the donors who are still giving a significant amount are more likely to be white and middle class, and may have been put off by overt identity politics. Similarly, homelessness charities are having a difficult time. Homelessness is becoming more prevalent but unfortunately no less stigmatised, so people can be unsure how to respond if at all, says Laura Herring, the director of fundraising and communications at St Mungos. The cost-of-living crisis also means that people arent able to give as much, or as often, as they would like to. A ray of hope All in all, it is a bleak situation except for one area. Charity bequests are up by a significant amount, as people donate less in life but more in death. In the past 20 years, money bequeathed to charity in peoples wills has risen from 1.7 billion a year to 4 billion, totalling about 15 per cent of all donations. It is a brilliant way of giving because it costs you nothing now, says Richard Radcliffe, the founder of Radcliffe Consulting, which specialises in legacy fundraising. This is an ageing society and so it makes sense. Its incredibly convenient, there are inheritance tax benefits, and it makes you feel really happy because you can choose a charity close to your heart. We call it life-driven, death-activated. Honestly, I think it is the future of the sector and increasingly the only way for many charities to survive. A thick layer of mud covers the streets of Alfafar in Valencia, Spain, after floods in November 2024 - Belinda Jiao Extreme flooding is not solely caused by climate change, a study has found. Floods over the past 8,000 years have exceeded the extremes seen in recent decades, researchers at the University of Exeter discovered. Recent floods, such as those in Valencia, Spain and across the UK last winter, have been linked to climate change and accompanied by warnings of being unprecedented. However, Prof Stephan Harrison, from the universitys College of Life and Environmental Sciences, said the new study found that many previous floods had exceeded the recent extremes. By dating individual sand grains in floodplain sediments and analysing their size, the researchers were able to assess the frequency and scale of floods going back several thousand years. In recent years, floods around the world, including in Pakistan, Spain and Germany, have killed thousands of people and caused enormous damage, said Prof Harrison. Such floods are seen as unprecedented but if you look back over the last few thousand years, thats not the case. In fact, floods we call unprecedented may be nowhere near the most extreme that have happened in the past. Cars and debris block a tunnel in Valencia after flash floods in November 2024 - David Ramos/Getty The study examined palaeoflood records for the Lower Rhine in Germany and the Netherlands, the Upper Severn in the UK and rivers around Valencia. In the Rhine, records over the past 8,000 years show at least 12 floods that are likely to have exceeded modern peaks. The Severn analysis shows that floods in the last 72 years of monitoring are not exceptional compared to what can be seen in records going back 4,000 years. The largest flood in the Upper Severn occurred around 250 BCE and is estimated to have been 50 per cent larger at its peak than the floods in the year 2000, which damaged 10,000 homes and led to new flood defences. Prof Harrison said climate change modelling was limited in what it could reveal about floods as it relied on records that date back only as far as 120 years ago, whereas natural variability can only be seen on a longer timescale. This is really the first time that anyones put together this idea that some past floods were enormous, he said. Compared to the narrative put out by some climate attribution specialists who say the floods were having now are so big that they could only be caused by human-induced climate change. These recent floods have been enormous, but not as enormous as some of the things in the past. He added: We said clearly, a few years ago, the climate modelling community have got it wrong, he added. Birds-eye view of the aftermath of heavy flooding of the River Ahr in Germany in July 2021 - SASCHA STEINBACH/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock However, Prof Harrison agreed it was undisputed that continued human-induced climate change would increase rainfall and exacerbate flooding in the future. He warned that historical records serve as a reminder that future floods could be significantly worse than anything currently experienced. Enormous floods can occur without any human climate change, he said. If you then add the human component to it as well, then the floods get even more massive. So weve got to be very careful about using phrases like this infrastructure or this housing estate is resilient to a one-in-300-year flood. We have no idea what a one-in-300-year flood looks like. The paper is published in the journal Climatic Change. Sir Keir Starmer is understood to have plans in place to punish Donald Trump if he includes Britain in his raid on global imports - Andy Rain/Bloomberg Finance LP 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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 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? Mariia Romanyshyn (L) and Doreen Larney and her son Martin (R) outside the Central London County Court - Champion News The family of a recluse who signed over his 650,000 home to a waitress he met at his local breakfast cafe have won a court fight to get it back. Richard Joy, a military memorabilia collector, died in May 2018 aged 82, having lived his entire life in the family home in Harrow, where he amassed a mountain of books and left his parents old room untouched. Mr Joy, described by his family as a recluse, never married or had children and spent most of his time at the local library or working on his collection of rare coins, medals and militaria. But less than two years before his death, he signed his home over to Mariia Romanyshyn, 38, a Ukrainian waitress he met at his local cafe in 2011. Mrs Romanyshyn said she formed a close bond with Mr Joy, who visited the Upper Crust cafe in Harrow three times a week, with the pensioner eventually inviting her and her family to live with him in his house as his adopted family. Richard Joy visited the Upper Crust cafe in Harrow three times a week, befriending Mariia Romanyshyn during this time - Champion News In 2016, she claimed Mr Joy decided to give her his home, thrusting the deeds of the property into her hands and saying: The house is yours. I want you to keep the house. But Mrs Romanyshyn was sued over the house gift by Martin Larney, Mr Joys cousin and executor of his estate, who went to court to get the house back for the family. He claimed Mr Joy was too mentally frail to understand what he was doing, but Mrs Romanyshyn fought back, claiming he was sharp enough to follow the complex storylines of Benedict Cumberbatchs Sherlock and to play chess with her daughter, to whom he was a grandfather figure. After a week in court, the case came to an end when the parties agreed to settle their row, with Mrs Romanyshyn dropping her claim to ownership of the house. In his order, Judge Simon Monty KC said the parties had agreed her claim to the house would be dismissed and Mr Joys estate divided up under the terms of a 2011 will, which left the bulk of his estate to Mr Larney, his 87-year-old mum Doreen Larney, and a former friend not involved in the case. According to Mrs Romanyshyn, Mr Joy had repeatedly encouraged her and her family to move in with him - Champion News Challenging her claim at Central London County Court, Andrew Nicklin, Mr Larneys barrister, said Mr Joy did not have capacity to make such a big decision at that stage of life. He was vulnerable with apparent cognitive impairment and dependant on Mrs Romanyshyn, who had moved into his home with her family at some point after they became friends, he said. Giving evidence, Mrs Romanyshyn explained how she got to know Mr Joy in 2011 while serving him in the cafe, where she knew him as a respectable and reputable customer. After he spent time in hospital, she offered to help him with shopping or casual chores but then began caring for him on a more regular basis. Mr Joy had repeatedly encouraged her and her family to set up house with him, she said, telling her: My wish is for this to be your family home. She told the court she moved in with her family despite her misgivings about such a big step, and abandoned previous plans to move out of London and buy a home. Grandfather figure Lynne Counsell, Mrs Romanyshyns barrister, said: They and their children became the adopted family of the deceased and they also assisted him and cared for him, but neither of them were ever paid carers and at no time demanded or received any money for their care and assistance. Mrs Romanyshyn treated the pensioner as her uncle, while her daughter viewed him as a grandfather figure, adding that he was still mentally sharp enough to make major decisions. The deceased played chess with Mrs Romanyshyns oldest daughter before and after the deed of gift...and he also watched and was able to follow episodes of Sherlock on television. Mrs Romanyshyn told the judge Mr Joy simply told her, I have a present for you, before offering her the house deeds, to which she had replied: Dont worry, I will look after it very well for you. He received and felt the care, love and affection from me and my family, she said. An extremely high degree of trust was there between us. But Mr Nicklin suggested that in 2016 Mr Joy was in no position to sign off complex legal documents, arguing: The deceased was vulnerable with apparent cognitive impairment and, on the face of the medical evidence produced, lacking capacity. A position of ascendancy Although accepting that the relationship between Mr Joy and Mrs Romanyshyns family may have involved care and affection, he said she held a position of ascendancy, which demanded the utmost care be taken to ensure he knew what he was doing when deciding legal issues. Giving evidence, Ms Larney, who stands to inherit a share of the house under his 2011 will, described her first cousin as a a bit of a recluse who had a tendency to burn through his money. She said his bank manager father had tried to leave him money in trust because he got through it so fast. He just wasnt good with money, it had no value for him, she told Judge Monty, adding: He would spend 6,000 on a gold coin and then he wouldnt have any money left. The court heard that his collection of militaria was donated to the Imperial War Museum, under the 2011 will, whilst part of his coin collection was sold to pay for his funeral expenses. The case was heard in a week-long trial last month, but the warring parties agreed to settle their dispute out-of-court after negotiations behind the scenes. The settlement is partially confidential, but Judge Monty in his order stated that he had been satisfied on the evidence heard at trial that the last true will of Richard Anthony Joy was the will dated 26 November, 2011. He said Mrs Romanyshyns counterclaim against Mr Larney, in which she sought a ruling that she owns Mr Joys old home due to a 2016 deed of gift, would be dismissed. NHS Fife An NHS trust that allowed a transgender doctor to use a female hospital changing room could face enforcement action to protect womens safe spaces, a watchdog has warned. It comes after NHS Fife told the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) that it would not consider altering its controversial policies until after the conclusion of a landmark employment tribunal. Carol Potter, the health boards chief executive, said any recommendations that resulted from the case, brought by nurse Sandie Peggie, would be then considered in partnership with the Scottish Government and trade unions. NHS Fife accused Ms Peggie of misconduct after she challenged the presence of Dr Beth Upton, who was born male but identifies as a woman, in female facilities at Victoria Hospital, Kirkcaldy. In a letter to John Kirkpatrick, the EHRCs chief executive, Ms Potter insisted that the boards policies and practices align with our legal duties and our values. However, the EHRC issued a statement to The Telegraph saying it would be writing again to NHS Fife shortly and would consider any appropriate next steps, including the use of our enforcement powers. A legal expert also warned that the boards decision to allow trans staff to access women-only areas was a continual breach of legal obligations to provide single-sex changing facilities. Dr Michael Foran, a gender law expert from the University of Glasgow, said the health boards refusal to change its policy immediately could expose it to additional claims of unlawful discrimination from other employees. Dr Beth Upton was born male but identifies as a woman - Iain Masterton / Alamy Live News The Telegraph can disclose that NHS Fife only replied to the commission after the watchdog was forced to ask twice for information about its policies. Baroness Kishwer Falkner, the chairman of the EHRC, wrote a second time to the health board on Monday last week after receiving no reply to its initial demand on Feb 21. She set a deadline of Monday this week for a reply. Ms Potter wrote back last Thursday but failed to respond to the commissions request to see the boards equality impact assessment of its policy on the provision of changing facilities for staff. The legally required assessment would have examined the impact on women of allowing trans people to access female-only areas. However, it has been reported that the board never conducted one. The EHRC initially wrote to NHS Fife and the Scottish Government last month in the wake of the first part of the employment tribunal brought by Ms Peggie. It is due to resume in July. Health board reminded of obligations Baroness Falkner said at the time that the watchdog had reminded NHS Fife of its obligations about the provision of single-sex spaces. She said the commission had highlighted the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992, which state that changing rooms will not be suitable unless they include separate facilities for, or separate use of facilities by, men and women where necessary for reasons of propriety. The EHRC also demanded a meeting with Neil Gray, the SNP Health Secretary, over forthcoming NHS Scotland guidance on trans issues. It emerged that the guidance, which was to be rolled out across the Scottish NHS, warned that telling a trans person they cannot use their preferred facilities could amount to unlawful discrimination on the grounds of gender reassignment. In her reply to the EHRC, Ms Potter referred to the significant media attention and public discussion surrounding the Peggie case and said that not all facts or considerations may be fully reflected in what was being reported. Ms Potter offered assurances that the board recognised its obligations under the Equality Act 2010 and was committed to fostering a safe, inclusive, and non-discriminatory environment for all staff and patients. She said NHS Fifes procedures related to trans issues complied with the law and the SNP Governments national policies for Scotlands health boards. However, she did not mention the 1992 regulations despite them being specifically referred to in Baroness Falkners letter. Nurse Sandie Peggie took NHS Fife to a tribunal - Andrew Milligan/PA Ms Potter said: We are fully aware of the need to protect individuals from discrimination and harassment based on protected characteristics and are committed to ensuring a fair and thorough approach. We currently believe it is important to allow the legal process to reach its conclusion before considering further actions regarding NHS Fife practices. She also noted that NHS Scotland was drawing up guidance and once finalised and formally approved, this guide will be accompanied by a comprehensive equality impact assessment. However, she did not mention whether any assessment had been conducted for the boards existing policy. Explaining the delay in NHS Fifes response, she said that a formal copy of the EHRCs initial request had only been received on March 20, despite it being published on its website almost a month earlier. Watchdog considering appropriate next steps An EHRC spokesman said: The policies and practices of all Scottish health boards must comply with the Equality Act 2010, as it relates to the provision of single-sex services and spaces. We wrote to NHS Fife to remind them of their obligations under the public sector equality duty, and request that they provide information relevant to the provision of changing facilities for their staff and the rights of different groups in the application of these policies. We are currently reviewing the response NHS Fife provided and will be writing to them again shortly. As Britains equality regulator, we will consider any appropriate next steps, including the use of our enforcement powers. Dr Foran said: It is clear that NHS Fife is committed to maintaining its current practice, which does not provide separate sex changing facilities as is required under the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992. As a matter of law, this means that the ongoing practice represents a continual breach of legal obligations to provide single-sex changing facilities and could therefore expose NHS Fife to additional claims of unlawful discrimination from other employees. Sex Matters, a human rights charity, urged the health board to get its house in order. Maya Forstater, its chief executive, said: NHS Fifes response to the EHRC looks like an attempt to deflect criticism. It gives the impression of an NHS board that has calculated its safer to cling to legally shaky policies motivated by trans ideology than to admit and fix its failure to provide single-sex toilets and changing rooms, as its legally required to do. A Scottish Government spokesman said: A meeting has been arranged with the EHRC next month. File image of a man, who appears to be from an ethnic minority, being arrested by police Police chiefs have been accused of two-tier justice over anti-racism guidelines that tell officers they do not have to treat ethnic minorities the same as other members of the public. Chris Philp, the shadow home secretary, said the guidelines amounted to unacceptable social engineering when everyone should be treated equally before the law. The Police Race Action Plan, drawn up by police chiefs, states that it is the police who criminalise people and that arrest rates should be equalised between groups. It comes following a row over two-tier justice guidelines drawn up by the Sentencing Council, which advised courts to normally consider ordering a pre-sentence report about an offender if they were an ethnic minority, cultural minority, and/or faith minority community, transgender, young or female. The council backed down on Monday after being threatened with emergency legislation by Shabana Mahmood, the Justice Secretary. The police guidance, issued by the National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) and the College of Policing, states that the commitment by forces to racial equality meant producing equality of policing outcomes for people from different ethnic groups by responding to their specific needs. It adds: It does not mean treating everyone the same or being colour blind (racial equality). The guidelines say police should be committed to an end to racial disparities in policing outcomes however seemingly impossible both may be. The police chiefs also say forces must become anti-racist, with the guidelines claiming that black people are criminalised and that it is not enough for officers to be merely not racist. Insane political correctness Mr Philp, who was policing minister during the last Conservative Government, said: This is Kier Starmers two-tier justice at its very worst. It is appalling that this document says that people should be treated differently depending on their race. Everyone should be treated equally before the law regardless of colour, yet this document says the opposite. The document also refers to people being criminalised by the police this is absurd, because people criminalise themselves when they break the law. And it asks for the police to artificially engineer the same arrest and charge rates across ethnic groups, with no reference to underlying levels of criminality. He added: The police should treat everyone the same, and investigate all crime. There is no room for social engineering or insane political correctness when it comes to arresting criminals and protecting the public. In the Commons, Mr Philp challenged Yvette Cooper, the Home Secretary, to agree with me that this two-tier approach to policing is totally unacceptable. Ms Cooper replied: The police operate without fear and favour, and they respond to the crimes that they face across the country and to the perpetrators of those crimes whosoever they should be and wheresoever they are. That is the right approach for policing to take, whether they are dealing with the most serious violence that we have prioritised or the neighbourhood crimes in communities. As you will know from the approach that we are taking to the Sentencing Council and the importance there of us bringing forward rapid emergency legislation, we are very clear that there can be no preferential treatment for anyone in the criminal justice system. Ongoing mistrust Chief Constable Gavin Stephens, chairman of the NPCC, said: People from black communities have the lowest levels of confidence in the police, are under-represented in our workforce and are more likely to experience police powers such as stop and search or use of force. Recent independent inquiries by Baroness Louise Casey and Lady Elish Angiolini have also urged our service to renew its efforts to address racism and discrimination. He added: This historic and ongoing mistrust between the police and black communities risks for example people not reporting things to the police if they are in trouble or aiding our efforts to catch criminals. Explaining or reforming race disparities and addressing mistrust with black communities will mean we are more effective at fighting crime and protecting all communities. Trump isn't defying the courts, he's defending the Constitution By Curtis Hill web posted March 31, 2025 On March 7, I argued in The Federalist that President Donald Trump should ignore a Supreme Court that would allow lower courts to refuse to uphold the Constitution and instead encroach on executive authority. Recent new encroachments prove my point. U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan has blocked the EPA from terminating $14 billion in climate grants awarded by the Biden administration, funds now sitting in a Citibank account. Judge Ana Reyes has ordered the military not to enforce Trump's ban on trans-identifying service members. These rulings are not mere disagreements, as Chief Justice John Roberts claimed when he rejected Trump's call to impeach a judge who ruled against his deportation policy. They are direct assaults on the president's constitutional power. I urged Trump to defy such orders then, and I stand by that now Trump must confront the courts! Since Jan. 20, a pattern of politically motivated judicial overreach has emerged. Chutkan's decision overrides Trump's executive authority to redirect the EPA, preserving Biden-era spending. Reyes' ruling interferes with his control over military policy, a domain the Constitution assigns to the president and the president alone. In February, a Rhode Island judge forced the release of frozen federal funds, and multiple courts blocked Trump's efforts to end funding for so-called "gender-affirming care" for minors. These single district judges, often appointed by past Democrat administrations, issue nationwide injunctions that halt the president's agenda. This is not judicial review it is judicial governance. Roberts' call for "normal appellate review" ignores the reality: Unelected judges are hijacking executive policies in the name of judicial review, and while appeals wind through the courts, executive action stalls, sometimes for years. Justice Samuel Alito has warned of this for years. In his Obergefell dissent, he criticized courts for imposing policy under the guise of constitutional rulings. In Trump v. United States, he argued with the majority that judicial overreach undermines the president's ability to fulfill his duties. These latest district court orders bear out his concerns. They do not check executive power they seize it, substituting judicial preference for the president's constitutional role. Article II gives Trump, not judges, authority over federal agencies and the military. When a single judge blocks presidential policy, that judge has assumed far more power than the Constitution provides under the separation of powers. History offers precedent. During the Civil War, Abraham Lincoln suspended habeas corpus despite court objections, asserting executive necessity over judicial interference. Trump faces a similar moment. He should disregard Chutkan's and Reyes' orders, allowing the EPA to end those grants and the military to enforce his ban. Roberts' statement that impeachment is not the answer to "disagreement" misses the issue. These are not disagreements over law; they are attacks on Trump's Article II powers. If Congress will not curb this overreach through impeachment and with a divided Senate it likely cannot the president must step in. Trump was elected to dismantle the bureaucracy and strengthen the military, not to be handcuffed by judges. Each injunction undermines that mandate, replacing the will of voters with the dictates of unelected judges. Waiting for the Supreme Court to resolve these cases risks years of paralysis too long when you're choking on tens of trillions of dollars in debt and a massive bureaucracy, and the future of the executive branch is at stake. Trump should defy these rulings now and force a constitutional confrontation. This is not about defying law it is about defending the Constitution and the authority it grants the president no matter who is president. The American people expect Trump to do the job he promised. In an unprecedented fashion, he is doing just that. The courts have an important constitutional role to fulfill. But it's not to play president. Project 21 Ambassador Curtis T. Hill, Jr., is the former attorney general of Indiana. This was first published at The Federalist. Home Employers should give workers time off to attend potentially lifesaving cancer screening, the outgoing head of the NHS has said. Amanda Pritchard, who ends her tenure as NHS England chief executive on Monday, said that companies need to do all they can to help people attend cancer checks. The NHS offers a number of cancer screening programmes, including checks for breast, bowel and cervical cancers. (PA Graphics) While bowel cancer screening is done at home, women currently need to attend breast and cervical cancer checks in-person.Millions of women have missed the potentially lifesaving checks in recent years. Now the health service is urging employers to help encourage workers to attend to reduce barriers to attending. Ms Pritchard, told PA news agency: We have seen real progress in the last few years in transforming access to cancer screening, from expanding out-of-hours clinics, to taking vans out into the community and enabling people to access services at the touch of a button. Screening doesnt take long but lives are saved when cancers are caught early. Its really encouraging to see early diagnosis in England now reach its highest ever level, but with over 130,000 people still losing their lives to cancer every year, we cannot take our foot of the pedal. 2,700 cases of cervical cancer are diagnosed in England each year Its important to attend your cervical screening when invited, you may be able to book your cervical screening appointment using the NHS App Find out more about cervical cancer in the NHS App's Health A to Z#IWD pic.twitter.com/rranqhad83 NHS England Transformation (@NHSDigital) March 8, 2025 She added: Collectively we need to do everything we can to break down the barriers and help millions more people to make cancer screening a regular part of their lives and our companies and business leaders have a key role to play in this. Simple steps really can help to save lives, like ensuring staff know they can start slightly later or take an hour off during the working day to attend their screening appointment. Ms Pritchard said that the NHS is leading the way and setting an example as an employer. The service is one of the biggest employers in the world and has around 1.5 million workers in England alone. Amanda Pritchard, stands down from her role as chief executive of NHS England on Monday (PA) As we continue our drive to make cancer screening more convenient, Im delighted the NHS has started to lead the way in this and set an example as an employer, she said. This year weve seen new initiatives, for example at the Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust and North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust to offer hundreds of staff cervical screening on-site, to help them make the most of screening as part of their working day. These are schemes set up by staff, for staff. I very much hope we can develop and share best practice to offer this further throughout the NHS and it is vital that businesses now look at what they can do to support their employees to prioritise screening it could save their lives. The latest data from NHS England shows around two million women are not up to date on their mammograms, with over five million not up to date with their cervical screening in England. (PA Graphics) On Friday the health service announced that at-home cervical screening kits could potentially be rolled out in England from next year to help meet the goal of eliminating cervical cancer by 2040. The service has also rolled out a ping and book service to alert the phones of women to remind them they are due or overdue an appointment, including through the NHS app. Cervical screening checks the health of the cervix and is offered to women aged 25 to 64. And women are invited for breast screening every three years between the ages of 50 and 71. Coverage rates for cancer screening which required an in-person appointment tumbled during the Covid-19 crisis and have failed to recover to pre-pandemic levels. Before the pandemic around three-quarters of eligible women in England took up the offer of breast screening, which detects early signs of breast cancer. During the pandemic the figures dipped to 64% and now stands at 70%. Just 66% of eligible women aged 25-49 took up their cervical screening offer in 2024. Some 74% of women aged 50 to 64 took up the offer. People aged 50 to 74 can conduct bowel cancer screening at home every two years, with around 72% of eligible people taking part. Sir Ed Davey has insisted that the Liberal Democrats are not soft Tories, after riding into his partys local election campaign launch on a hobby horse. The Lib Dem leader used the publicity stunt to declare the vote a two-horse race after earlier vowing to usurp the Conservatives as the party of Middle England. But he denied pitching the Lib Dems as the soft Tory party, insisting the Conservative Party and Kemi Badenoch, its leader, were moving away from their values. Sir Eds party hopes to erode the Conservative vote in the 20 Tory-run councils up for election on May 1, with the aim of becoming the second-largest party in local government. To illustrate the point on Monday, he smashed through a blue fence astride the hobby horse in Henley, Oxfordshire a traditionally Tory area now held by a Lib Dem MP. The Lib Dem leader has vowed to tackle what he describes as the local issues people care about, such as sewage spills, potholes and access to a GP or dentist. Sir Ed Davey vowed that the Lib Dems would usurp the Conservatives as the party of Middle England - Peter Nicholls/Getty Images Ahead of the launch, he claimed his party was the natural home for voters who havent forgiven the Conservatives for all the damage they did to our country. But asked on Monday whether that made the Lib Dems the soft Tory party, he said: I dont think so, because I think lots of people feel those are the issues that matter to them. And on the doorsteps, were getting people who used to vote Conservative and people who used to vote Labour coming to us, so I think its a broad appeal. But theres no doubt that, I think, a lot of lifelong Conservatives feel the Conservative Party has left them, and the Conservative Party is chasing after Reforms tail, going to the Right, and dont seem to value the community in the way they used to. He also claimed the Tories had lost touch with local communities, adding: Were true to our values, its the Conservatives who are moving away from theirs, and thats their lookout. The Lib Dem campaign launch followed similar events held by the Tories and Reform UK in recent days. Mrs Badenoch struck a relatively downbeat tone at the Conservative launch, saying she was aiming to do a bit better than a wipeout. At Reforms launch on Friday, Nigel Farage, the partys leader, portrayed the local elections as a potential springboard for future parliamentary wins. However, on Monday, Sir Ed predicted that Reform would not be popular in the elections despite promising polling for Mr Farage. He told BBC Radio 4s Today programme that Mr Farage dealt in divisive politics, saying: They do attract attention. I think when people realise that hes a Putin apologist he called Vladimir Putin the world leader he admired the most, when they hear Reforms views on the health service where they like an American-style insurance system, I dont think Reform will be as popular come election day. Sir Eds comments relate to a 2014 interview with GQ magazine in which Mr Farage said the Russian president was the world leader he most admired. The Reform leader also previously said the UK would have to move to an insurance-based system of healthcare. However, he insisted on Friday that he supported healthcare remaining free at the point of use. A man has died after falling while climbing on Ben Nevis. The 22-year-old fell in the Moonlight Gully area while climbing with another man on Saturday. Members of the Lochaber Mountain Rescue Team (LMRT) were tasked by Police Scotland to help the two climbers at about 5pm. The deceased man and his colleague are both believed to have come from England, the Scottish Sun newspaper reported. A LMRT spokesperson said on social media: The team treated and rescued one climber with serious injuries who had managed to move further down the hill. Due to some very challenging weather conditions, combined with hazardous ground, the team returned Sunday morning to recover the other casualty who was sadly deceased. We send our deepest condolences to the family, and would like to offer thanks to the crew of Coastguard Rescue Helicopter R151 and members of Police Scotland MRT North Division. A Police Scotland spokesperson said: Around 5pm on Saturday March 29, police were made aware of concerns for two climbers injured on the North face of Ben Nevis. Officers attended to carry out searches with our partners in the Lochaber Mountain Rescue Team and Inverness Coastguard rescue helicopter, with the operation continuing on Sunday March 30. A 30-year-old man was taken to Raigmore Hospital with serious, but not life-threatening injuries. The body of a 22-year-old man was recovered and next-of-kin are aware of the death. A report will be submitted to the procurator fiscal. The owner of the container ship that collided with a US tanker in the North Sea earlier this month has sought to set up a fund ahead of any verified legal claims against it following the incident. MS Solong Schiffahrtsgesellschaft MBH & Co KG, a subsidiary of Ernst Russ, which owns the ship Solong, filed documents at the Admiralty Court in London on Wednesday, according to court records. It follows the Portuguese-flagged vessel crashing into the anchored tanker Stena Immaculate off the East Yorkshire coast on March 10. Rescuers saved 36 people from both ships, with one sailor from the Solong, named as Filipino national Mark Angelo Pernia, 38, missing and presumed dead. Court records show that the limitation of liability claim was filed against logistics firm Samskip MCL BV, and all other persons claiming or being entitled to claim loss or damage arising out of or in connection with or resulting from the collision between the two vessels. The records also state that a separate legal claim has been filed at the same court by Stena Bulk Marine Services USA LLC, which owns the Stena Immaculate, and Crowley-Stena Marine Solutions LLC, the maritime company managing the ship, against MS Solong Schiffahrtsgesellschaft. No further details about that claim are currently available, with Stena Bulk having been approached for comment. In a statement on Monday, Ernst Russ said that the company was seeking to face claims and was setting up the fund for those who have verified claims against Solongs owner. A spokesperson said: The North Sea collision and subsequent fire that involved the container vessel Solong caused substantial damage to both vessels. We remain mindful of the loss of a seafarer in this incident, and such a loss felt by the family of Mark Angelo Pernia, his friends and maritime colleagues. It became clear to us as owners, and all those involved in the salvage operation, that Solong was critically damaged in the collision and fire, and consequently Ernst Russ has sought a port of refuge for Solong in Aberdeen, to bring her to safety, undertake expert assessment of the damage sustained and deal with damaged containers and cargo on board. Whilst the Solong is likely to be a total loss due to the severe damage, Ernst Russ and their insurers remain committed to the safe conclusion of this tragic incident. Ernst Russ are also very grateful to the Port of Aberdeen for accommodating the stricken vessel. Given the substantial damage arising from the collision, it follows that the company is setting up a fund in the Admiralty Court in London. This limitation fund is then available for parties who have verified claims against Solongs owner. The stricken container ship the Solong arriving in Aberdeen (Michal Wachucik/PA) The incident occurred in territorial waters of the UK and there are interested parties and potential claimants residing in the UK, such as public authorities, hence the setting up of a fund in the UK is the most appropriate way forward. Owners of the Solong are seeking to face claims and ensure a fund is available for any proven claims. This is usual process for large maritime casualties, and the fund provides necessary security for potential claimants claims. Meanwhile, Ernst Russ continues to offer all necessary assistance in support of the ongoing investigations. Meanwhile, the Solongs captain, Vladimir Motin, 59, of St Petersburg, Russia, appeared at the Old Bailey on March 21, charged with gross negligence manslaughter and is due to face trial in January next year. A previous court hearing was told that the collision happened at about 9.47am on March 10, at 10.2 nautical miles from the nearest point on the coast. The Stena Immaculate anchored at the point of the collision at 6.50pm on the previous evening, with the Solong travelling at about 15 knots when it hit the port side of the other vessel. Stena Bulk said following the incident that 17,515 barrels of jet fuel were lost due to the collision and the subsequent fire, with the Solong still burning a week after the collision before arriving in Aberdeen on Friday. At an international summit in London, Keir Starmer will urge global leaders to combat people-smuggling networks with the same urgency as terrorism. Photograph: Stephanie Lecocq/PA People-smugglers should be treated like terrorists, Keir Starmer will say on Monday, as he hosts an international summit on organised migration crime in London. Starmer will urge representatives from more than 40 countries to cooperate across national borders to stop smugglers just as they did to stop terrorists when he was director of public prosecutions more than a decade ago. The summit is the latest initiative in the governments attempts to cut irregular migration by targeting organised crime. So far, however, the strategy has not paid off, with more people having crossed the Channel in small boats this year than had done so by this point in the previous three. Starmer will say: When I was the director of public prosecutions, we worked across borders throughout Europe and beyond to foil numerous plots, saving thousands of lives in the process. We prevented planes from being blown up over the Atlantic and brought the perpetrators to justice. I believe we should treat organised immigration crime in the same way. He will add: I simply do not believe organised immigration crime cannot be tackled. Weve got to combine our resources, share intelligence and tactics, and tackle the problem upstream at every step of the people smuggling routes. Ministers will mark the opening of the summit with a range of new policy measures, including 30m to tackle global trafficking routes and the flows of illicit money which fund them. A further 3m will go to the Crown Prosecution Service to help it expand its international work. Officials from a number of countries will attend, including the US, Vietnam, Iraq and France. Meta and TikTok will also be there to talk about how to stop the online promotion of people smuggling. Yvette Cooper said on Sunday the government would also change employment laws so companies can be punished for employing someone without the necessary visa even if they do so as a contractor rather than as staff. The home secretary is targeting businesses such as restaurants, takeaways, barbers and beauty parlours, which often use irregular workers without checking their immigration status. She added that the government is also considering the application of article eight of the Human Rights Act, which protects the right to a family life and is often used by migrants to argue they should be allowed to stay in the UK. Cooper told the BBCs Laura Kuenssberg on Sunday: We are reviewing this area to make sure that the immigration and asylum system works effectively in the way that parliament intended it to and make sure that there is a proper sense of control in the system. Starmer and Cooper scrapped the previous governments Rwanda plan soon after coming to power last year and focused instead on cross-border action to tackle people smugglers. Officials say the approach is working, highlighting a series of recent arrests of people they describe as smuggling kingpins. Three men were recently convicted in Belgium for being involved in people smuggling, for example, after being arrested in the UK. The number of small boat crossings continues to rise, however. More than 5,000 people have made the crossing so far this year a threshold which was met faster than in any year on record. Cooper in part blamed the weather for the high number of crossings, saying on Sunday: We cannot carry on with border security being so dependent on the number of calm days that happen in the Channel. But the reason that is happening is because the criminal gangs still have a deep hold. Donald Trump said he was very angry with Vladimir Putin for attacking Volodymyr Zelenskys credibility - Vyacheslav Prokofyev/Sputnik Vladimir Putin has ordered 160,000 men to be drafted into the Russian army by mid-summer despite claiming to be working towards peace with Ukraine. The record-high conscription drive suggests Russia is planning to boost its ranks after months of sustained losses in trying to expel the last of Kyivs troops from Kursk and in its slow grind forward into Ukraines east. Russian men aged 18-30 are eligible to be drafted for mandatory military service through bi-annual call-ups in spring and autumn. Each time Russia has grown its army, its defence ministry has denied any link to the Ukraine conflict and claimed that the conscripts would not be sent into active combat. In a decree published on Monday, Putin demanded the draft size for this years spring conscription hit 160,000 by July 15, up from 150,000 in 2024, 147,000 in 2023 and 134,500 in 2022. The forthcoming draft campaign is in no way connected with the special military operation in Ukraine, the Russian defence ministry said in a statement. Kyiv has repeatedly accused Moscow of taking Russian conscripts captive while sending ill-equipped and badly trained troops into meatgrinder assaults on the front line. The UK Ministry of Defences latest intelligence update said that Russia has likely sustained more than 900,000 casualties during three years of war with Ukraine. On Sunday, Donald Trump vented frustration at his Russian counterpart for making slow progress towards a ceasefire. He was very angry, p---ed off with Putin for attacking Volodymyr Zelenskys credibility and seemingly stalling peace negotiations by demanding the Ukrainian leader be replaced. 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. In response, the Kremlin said it viewed efforts to end the war in Ukraine as a drawn-out process. There is nothing concrete yet that we could and should announce, Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin spokesman said. He added that Putin is still open to contact with Mr Trump, and although no phone call was currently scheduled, one could be organised promptly. Mr Trump on Sunday also accused Mr Zelensky of trying to back out of signing a long-contested deal with the US over his countrys rare minerals. He told reporters on Air Force One: Hes trying to back out of the rare earth deal, and if he does that hes got some problems, big, big problems. The US president speaks to reporters on board Air Force One on his return to Washington - Kevin Lamarque The latest version of the minerals deal would give the US access to Ukraines oil, gas and minerals through a joint investment fund, which would split revenue between the two countries. On Friday, Mr Zelensky said that he would not sign the deal if it threatened Ukraines potential accession to the EU, as reports emerged that it could go against the blocs economic sovereignty rules. Despite forceful US efforts to broker a ceasefire, the Ukrainian leader said late on Sunday that there had been no let-up in Russian attacks, including on Ukraines energy infrastructure despite a fragile deal to halt such tactics. Accusing Russia of being unwilling to forge any kind of truce, Mr Zelensky said: The geography and brutality of Russian strikes.. .show that Putin couldnt care less about diplomacy. In the early hours of Monday, Kharkiv, Ukraines second-largest city, once again came under heavy Russian drone attack, resulting in three injuries and fires throughout the city. Further aerial attacks targeted the Kherson, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia and Dnipro regions. 02:47 PM BST Thats all for today Thank you for following our live coverage of the war in Ukraine and ongoing peace negotiations. We will be back soon with more updates and analysis from the three-year conflict. 02:29 PM BST Pictured: Russian forces conduct military exercises A Russian mortars crew fire during their military exercising at an undisclosed location - Russian Defense Ministry Press Service A heavily camouflaged sniper practices shooting - Russian Defense Ministry Press Service Fighting in Ukraine is focused in the eastern Donbas region, which Russia wants to capture all of - Russian Defense Ministry Press Service 02:19 PM BST Zelensky commemorates liberation of Bucha Volodymyr Zelensky commemorated three years since the liberation of Bucha from Russian forces today. The town on the outskirts of Kyiv was quickly taken by Russian troops during the start of the full-scale invasion. It became the site of multiple massacres and atrocities, with hundreds of unarmed civilians killed during the one-month occupation. Three years ago, our warriors liberated Bucha from the Russian occupiers. And the world saw what the Russian occupation truly is: people killed in the streets, people tortured, graves in the yards of ordinary house, he wrote on X. Since then, no one in the world can say they do not know what Ukraine is defending. Ukraine is fighting for the lives of its people. It is fighting to ensure that no one, ever again, does on our land what the Russian occupiers did. Three years ago, our warriors liberated Bucha from the Russian occupiers. And the world saw what the Russian occupation truly is: people killed in the streets, people tortured, graves in the yards of ordinary houses. Since then, no one in the world can say they do not know what pic.twitter.com/4mzgpzxSlz Volodymyr Zelenskyy / (@ZelenskyyUa) March 31, 2025 01:57 PM BST Inside Ukraines occupied territory where thousands of Russians are moving in In the small Ukrainian port city of Berdiansk, shop fronts are boarded up, the playgrounds empty, some of its few tourist attractions turned into makeshift military facilities, writes James Beardsworth. The few residents left say the city situated along Ukraines Azov Sea coastline has been turned into a ghost town since Russias invasion. At night, people seldom walk the streets. Those that do, do so in fear of the Russian occupying forces, who can arbitrarily search and arrest people at any time. Putin insists that Berdiansk is now part of Russia, and peace talks mediated by Donald Trump could soon see swathes of territory like this permanently change hands. 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, said one 52-year-old female resident who requested anonymity. A Russian serviceman patrols the promenade in Berdiansk, a small port city situated along Ukraines Azov Sea coastline - YURI KADOBNOV/AFP 01:38 PM BST No update on four US soldiers missing near Belarus border A US armoured vehicle that went missing in Lithuania has been retrieved after a six-day operation, but there is still no information about the fate of the four US soldiers who were inside. The vehicle was pulled out of the bog on Sunday night, Lithuanias defence ministry said, without providing an update on the soldiers. The troops had been reported missing on Tuesday after they did not return from a training mission. The vehicle, a M88 Hercules was discovered in a deep swamp on Wednesday, the US army said. The missing soldiers were training near the Belarus border, a key ally of Russia and close supporter of its of invasion of Ukraine. Rescue operations on March 28 at the General Silvestras Zukauskas training ground as they searched for four missing US soldiers in Pabrade, Lithuania - Shutterstock 01:13 PM BST Pictured: Ukraines navy patrols the Black Sea A Ukrainian military boat CB90 of Military Naval Forces patrols Black Sea coast line of Odesa region, Ukraine 12:56 PM BST Russia is changing its drone tactics Russian forces are changing ther drone tactics on the battlefield, according to new reports. The Institute for the Study of War noted that Kremlin-affiliated Russian bloggers had agreed with a report in German outlet Bild on Saturday that Russian forces have altered their long-range drone strike tactic. The Washington-based think-tank noted said the drones appear to loiter several kilometres from their targets at high altitudes before conducting synchronised strikes with multiple drones. Such tactics, Russian milbloggers claimed, have helped facilitate recent Russian drone strikes on the regions of Kharkiv, Odesa, and Dnipro. Volodymyr Zelensky accused Russia of firing over 1,000 drones at Ukraine last week, despite ongoing efforts to secure a ceasefire. 12:36 PM BST Trump accuses Zelensky of trying to back out of minerals deal Donald Trump has accused Volodymyr Zelensky of trying to back out of signing a deal with the US over his countrys mineral deposits. The US president told reporters on Air Force One: Hes trying to back out of the rare earth deal and if he does that hes got some problems, big, big problems. The latest version of the minerals deal would give the US access to Ukraines oil, gas and minerals through a joint investment fund, which would split revenue between the two countries. Mr Zelensky said on Friday that he would not sign the deal if it threatened Ukraines potential accession to the EU, as reports emerged that the agreement could go against the blocs economic sovereignty rules. Moscow has also begun discussions with Washington over its own rare earth and minerals deal, the Kremlin announced. Kirill Dmitriev, head of Russias sovereign wealth fund, said: Rare earth metals are an important area for cooperation, and, of course, we have begun discussions about various rare earth metals and projects in Russia. 12:24 PM BST Pictured: Firefighters battle a huge blaze in Kharkiv Firefighters attempt to put out a huge blaze in Kharkiv, Ukraine after a Russian drone attack - Anadolu 12:16 PM BST Sweden announces its biggest aid package to Ukraine to date Sweden has decided on a new military aid package to Ukraine worth 16 billion crowns (1.23 billion), the biggest package to date from the Nordic country. The largest chunk of the package will consist of equipment that will be purchased in processes led by the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration. The government has said Sweden will ramp up aid to Ukraine this year, boosting the 2025 budget allocation to 40 billion crowns (3.09 billion) from 25 billion (1.9 billion) projected earlier, to aid Kyivs fight against Russian invasion. 12:00 PM BST Putin to meet Chinas foreign minister Earlier we reported that Wang Yi, Chinas foreign minister, was heading to Moscow for a meeting with his Russian counterpart (see 10.21 post). It has now emerged that Vladimir Putin will also meet Mr Yi. Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlins spokesman, described the two as good old friends and partners. 11:40 AM BST Pictured: Lammy speaks ahead of Ukraine meeting David Lammy is in Madrid ahead of a meeting with European foreign minsiters over the war in Ukraine. David Lammy speaks during a press conference ahead of a Weimar Triangle meeting on Ukraine in Spain - REUTERS 11:23 AM BST Kremlin reacts to Trump saying he was p----d off at Putin The Kremlin has said Russia is continuing work on building bilateral relations and on Ukraine settlement ideas after Donald Trump said he was p----d off at Vladimir Putin for dragging out peace negotiations. Dmitry Peskov, Putins spokesman, said he was open to setting up a call between the two leaders later this week. This process is time-consuming, probably due to the fact of the complexity of the substance. The president remains open to contact with President Trump. 10:49 AM BST Russia accuses Ukraine of attacking energy sites Russia has accused Ukraine of continuing attacks against energy sites despite an agreement to limit such strikes as part of a US-negotiated ceasefire. The continuation of deliberate attacks by the Ukrainian army on Russias energy facilities is evidence of the Kyiv regimes complete lack of commitment to its obligations regarding settling the conflict in Ukraine, the Russian defence ministry said in a statement. It specified that Ukraine had attacked energy sites in the Bryansk border region. Both sides have accused one another of continuing the strikes despite the 30-day moratorium. Hours after the agreement was announced, the Kremlin said it would hinge on Russian sanctions being lifted. 10:21 AM BST Chinas foreign minister heads to Moscow Chinas foreign minster is travelling to Moscow ahead of talks with his Russian counterpart on Tuesday. Wang Yi is scheduled to meet Sergei Lavrov on Tuesday days after Russia and Ukraine agreed in principle to a limited ceasefire covering energy infrastructure and the Black Sea. Chinas foreign ministry, in comments consistent with Beijings position, insisted it remained neutral in the conflict. We always believe that dialogue and negotiation are the only viable way out of the crisis. Chinas cooperation with Russia does not target a third party and should not be affected by any third party, a spokesman reporters at a daily briefing. 10:04 AM BST Moscows view on Trump criticism Newspapers in Moscow have been unusually critical of Donald Trump this morning after he criticised the Russian president for dragging out peace negotiations. Moskovsky Komsomolets, a leading pro-Kremlin paper, accused the US president of not fulfilling obligations to stop Ukrainian strikes on Russian energy infrastructure. All agreements on the level of President Trump are only worth a few pennies on market day. Moscow is prepared to make a deal with the US president, as the leader of the free world, and the undisputed boss of Nato and the lord and master of Kyiv. But right now the leader is not leading, the boss is not bossing and the lord is not directing his vassal, the paper stated. It warned at the end of the article: If the diplomats cannot move the peace process forward, the military will do all the talking. Putin has made his move, now we wait for Trumps. 09:33 AM BST Pictured: Firefighters tackle blaze in Kharkiv Firefighters continue to extinguish the fire that broke out in production and warehouse buildings in Kharkiv - Anadolu 09:06 AM BST British commandos helped bring the CIA into the heart of Ukraine A team of British commandos escorted Ukrainian generals out of Kyiv to join an emergency war room where Western military chiefs plotted the defeat of Russia. Two generals were taken by armed guard on diplomatic passports into Poland, then Germany, shortly after the war broke out to join an operation involving the CIA that would help turn the tide of the conflict and embarrass Vladimir Putins armed forces. The operations room was set up two months into the war in Clay Kaserne, the headquarters of US Army Europe and Africa, a component of the US armed forces, in Wiesbaden, Germany. Clay Kaserne would become a complex staging post for joint efforts involving Nato allies to assist Ukraine in fighting Russia. Details of assistance to Ukraine were revealed on Sunday in a wide-ranging investigation by The New York Times (The NYT) that raised questions about how intimately involved the US, Britain and the West have been in the war in Ukraine. A secret operations room was set up two months into the war in Germany 08:47 AM BST Watch: Trump says hes not happy with Putin Donald Trump criticised Vladimir Putin again on Sunday while speaking to reporters on Air Force One. I was disappointed in a certain way with some of the things that were said over the last day or two having to do with z because he considering Zelensky not credible. Hes supposed to be making a deal with him, whether you like him or you dont like him. So i wasnt happy with that, he said. The US president had previously said he was p----d off with his Russian counterpart for questioning Mr Zelenskys credibility. Credit: Reuters / US Network Pool 08:27 AM BST Zelensky aiming for summer election Volodymyr Zelensky is aiming to hold elections in Ukraine in the summer if a full ceasefire comes into effect, according to reports. The Ukrainian president had been resistant to calling elections after facing questions over his legitimacy and popularity by Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump. But after the US president questioned his popularity - including during their Oval Office shouting match - polls show Mr Zelenskys ratings are at an all-time high. This has changed Mr Zelenskys view on holding a vote, sources told the Economist. Martial law, which currently bans elections, is set to expire on May 8th. Ukrainian law requires 60 days of campaigning during elections, meaning the earliest it could come is in July. 08:02 AM BST Russia pounds Kharkiv for second night in a row Russia bombed the city of Kharkiv in northeastern Ukraine for the second night in row, injuring two people, sparking fires and damaging a kindergarten and private houses, according to Kyiv. The attacks on Kharkiv, Ukraines second-largest city, lasted most of the night and hit the citys largest and oldest district, Ihor Terekhov, the mayor, said. The sixth explosion in Kharkiv, Mr Terekhov said in a post on Telegram in the early hours of this morning. It was not clear what was targeted in the attacks that came a week after a US-negotiated ceasefire on strikes on energy and Black Sea infrastructure. Russia targeted Kharkiv for the second night in a row overnight 07:38 AM BST Putins main goal in peace talks: removing Zelensky Vladimir Putins primary goal in peace negotiations is securing the removal of Volodymyr Zelensky from his position as Ukrainian president, according to reports. Sources told the Moscow Times that the Russian president viewed even the smallest concessions as a gift not to Trump, but to Zelensky. Thats unacceptable to Putin, a diplomat told the news site. The Kremlin is interested in manipulating the US into backing the removal of Mr Zelensky, who Putin views as illegitimate. Zelensky will not agree to any territorial concessions. We need to address the root of the issue: Remove him, a source close to the Kremlin said. 07:28 AM BST Ukraine says Russia launched 131 drones, 2 ballistic missiles overnight The Ukrainian air force said Russia launched 131 drones and two Iskander-M ballistic missiles during overnight attacks. The air force shot down 57 drones and another 45 drones did not reach their targets, likely due to electronic countermeasures, it said. 07:24 AM BST Trump lashes out at Putin as Ukraine ceasefire talks stall 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, writes Harriet Barber. 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. 07:16 AM BST Welcome to our live coverage Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of the war in Ukraine. Well bring you the latest news and analysis throughout the day. Rescuers have vowed not to give up the search for survivors, three days after the quake hit - Myo Kyaw Soe/Xinhua Rescuers in Myanmar and Thailand are in a race against time to save anyone who may still be buried alive after Fridays earthquake. Hundreds are missing following the quake, which caused widespread damage and killed around 2,000 people. The death toll is expected to rise. Early on Monday morning, many were still feared to be trapped beneath the rubble of collapsed buildings as the so-called golden window for rescuing survivors expired. The first three days after an earthquake are critical for saving anyone trapped, because people can usually only survive for a few days without water. Kyaw Kyaw, a rescue worker, told The Telegraph: We are continuing the rescue efforts, but since the critical 72-hour golden hour has passed we can only hope to find those trapped alive. We are doing our best. In Thailand, Tavida Kamolvej, Bangkoks deputy governor, said signs of life had been detected under the rubble of a skyscraper that was under construction when the quake hit. She said: We have to speed up. Were not going to stop even after 72 hours. Chinese rescuers rescued a survivor from the rubble of a building in Mandalay on Monday - Xinhua/Shutterstock Rescuers using cranes and sniffer dogs said they would continue their search, and Chadchart Sittipunt, Bangkoks governor, said there had been past cases in which survivors had been found after a week. He said: Weve detected weak life signs and there are many spots, adding that scans of the rubble had suggested the possibility that some survivors were still alive. In Mandalay, Myanmar, the city closest to the earthquakes epicentre, rescuers were filmed pulling people alive from the debris in the early hours of Monday. Crowds applauded as rescuers freed a woman from a mangle of concrete and twisted metal, carrying her away to safety. Videos showed another victim being brought down from the ruins of a collapsed multi-storey building on a zip line. Credit: CCTV via Reuters On Sunday, emergency workers amputated a womans leg in an attempt to free her from a collapsed Mandalay apartment building, but she was pronounced dead shortly afterwards. Myanmar has been ravaged by four years of civil war, with the efforts of emergency workers hampered by shortages of medicine and equipment. The civil war has displaced more than 3.5 million people and severely weakened the countrys healthcare system. Damage to bridges, motorways and airports has also restricted the delivery of humanitarian aid. China, India, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and Russia have all sent supplies and personnel to help with the rescue efforts. The disaster has exacerbated the turmoil in Myanmar, which has been embroiled in conflict since 2021 when its democratically-elected government was ousted in a military coup. One rebel group has accused the ruling military junta of continuing air strikes after the earthquake. Singapore has also called for an immediate ceasefire to facilitate relief efforts. Mr Kyaw said: Now that the Chinese team has brought the necessary equipment, we are making every effort to rescue the trapped victims as quickly as possible. Yue Xin, the head of the first detachment of Chinese rescuers, said: It doesnt matter how long we work. The most important thing is that we can bring hope to the local people. The US has also pledged $2 million to support relief efforts, with USAid deploying an emergency response team, while the UN also announced that it was rushing supplies to affected areas. Our teams in Mandalay are joining efforts to scale up the humanitarian response despite going through the trauma themselves, said Noriko Takagi, the UN refugee agencys representative in Myanmar. The earthquakes impact extended into China, where state media reported that 12 people were injured. CCTV footage has emerged, showing Chinese nurses shielding babies and holding onto their cots as tremors shook Jingcheng Hospital in Ruili, close to the border with Myanmar. Credit: CCTV via Reuters Keir Starmer - Simon Dawson/No 10 Downing Street More than 6,000 migrants have already crossed the English Channel in small boats so far this year a new record. Labours latest response has been to double down on smashing the gangs by funding foreign law enforcement. But there are two big reasons why this approach is not going to resolve our escalating immigration and asylum crisis. First, the Government has misdiagnosed the problem. Every pronouncement is couched in terms of the exploitation of the vulnerable by the vile trade of people smuggling. No doubt there is some exploitation at play. But migrants are not solely commodities to be trafficked they have agency, too. And they are choosing to come to Britain through the services of organised criminals. Why Britain over other perfectly safe and prosperous countries, such as France and Belgium? Because migrants know that once they are here they are unlikely to be ever deported. Either our courts will block deportations on spurious human rights grounds, or they can slip off into our lightly regulated labour markets and make a living in the grey economy. Nor are those arriving by boats the most vulnerable. In fact, two-thirds of migrants who have made the crossing are young men aged between 18 and 39, rather than women and children. Cracking down on the gangs will help to moderate the flow across the English Channel, but only at the margins. Barriers to entry in the people smuggling business are low you just need a dinghy and a mobile phone and when one gang is neutralised another takes its place. The National Crime Agency (NCA) has in the past likened the process to whack-a-mole. Ultimately, when it comes to illegal migration, the demand side is far more important than the supply side. Which brings us on to the second major problem with Labours approach. Last year, 108,000 migrants claimed asylum in the UK, the highest annual number since records began over 40 years ago. But 40,000 of these individuals more than a third had not arrived via the small boats or as stowaways. Instead, they came on work, study or visitor visas, only to then claim asylum when they arrived in Britain; stopping the boats is only a partial solution to a wider problem. This is not new: but under the post-2020 immigration system the problem has rapidly grown. This is partly due to the sheer scale of immigration. But more importantly, the changed composition of migration means that far more people are arriving on visas from relatively poor countries like Nigeria and Pakistan. They have obvious incentives to claim asylum in Britain (compared to say, a student or worker from Australia or Sweden). And if they have to game the system, so be it. Ultimately, the only way to actually stop the flow of asylum seekers and clear the backlog from the hotels is to ensure that anyone and everyone who arrives here illegally or under false pretences is unable to stay here. Among other things, that means offshore processing and relocation (as with the now binned Rwanda scheme), judicial reform at home and revisiting Britains relationship with international treaties and courts abroad. Until Labour do this, its not the gangs that are likely to be smashed, but the record of immigrants coming to Britain without permanent status and abusing our hospitality. Karl Williams is Research Director at the Centre for Policy Studies Olympic House in Hackney, London. Residents from 15 flats in Olympic House and Simpson House were awarded a combined total of 263,555.68. Photograph: Google Tenants of two buildings in east London have been awarded a six-figure sum in rent repayments by a tribunal after challenging a billionaire described by a judge as a rogue landlord. The group of current and former residents of Olympic House and Simpson House in Hackney took companies owned by John Christodoulou to tribunal for operating unlicensed houses in multiple occupation (HMOs), which meant the buildings were not subject to the safety and quality standards required by law. The London Renters Union, which represents the tenants group that brought the claim, said the lack of licensing left residents vulnerable to hazardous conditions, including fire risks due to inadequate safety measures. Cyprus-born Christodoulou, 59, is based in Monaco and, according to the Sunday Times rich list last year, has an estimated wealth of 2.5bn. The Guardian has contacted his company Yianis Group for comment. Jordan Osserman, a spokesperson for the campaign, said: This case shows how the law is rigged against renters. Christodoulou makes millions off our rent while flouting the law and cutting corners on safety. During the hearing earlier in March, the judge in the first-tier tribunal (property chamber), Robert Latham, said: The respondent can only be characterised as a rogue landlord. After a lengthy legal battle that began in 2020 when the landlord rejected residents request for rent relief during the Covid-19 crisis, telling them they could use money saved on lunches to pay their rent in full 46 residents from 15 different flats across Olympic House and Simpson House have been awarded a combined total of 263,555.68. The ruling forms part of a rent repayment order (RRO). These were introduced in housing legislation in 2016 and empower the property chamber of the first-tier tribunal to force a landlord who has broken the law on housing standards to pay back part, or all, of the rent. There are now concerns that Christodoulou may not pay, despite the order. The London Renters Union said the tenants had discovered that the landlord was attempting to liquidate the companies that the judgments are against after transferring ownership of Olympic House and Simpson House from one company to another within his corporate group at a large loss or undervalue. Marc Sutton, a member of Somerford Grove Renters, which represents 170 flats in Olympic House, Simpson House and St Johns Court in Hackney, all majority-owned by Christodoulou, said: This appears to be a deliberate attempt to evade financial responsibility through corporate restructuring. These tactics highlight how wealthy landlords manipulate corporate structures to avoid accountability while tenants suffer the consequences. Osserman added: Even when we win in court, landlords like Christodoulou can game the system to avoid paying up. He added: The only way we can fight back is by organising and taking collective action. Trump This week will see the opening salvoes in a global trade war that brings echoes of darker times. Donald Trump, hailing it as liberation day, proposes to impose tariffs across the board from April 2 and this will trigger retaliation. Despite the US presidents braggadocio, there are no winners from this approach as we have seen in the past. The protectionist policies pursued by William McKinley in the late 19th century, raising import duties to 50pc in some instances, caused high prices and a political backlash. The Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act of 1930 worsened the Great Depression. The arguments used in the past were the same: if foreign goods were more expensive then Americans would buy home-produced products, bolstering US manufacturing and fuelling economic expansion. But the impact of retaliation, especially in a more integrated global trading environment than before, cannot easily be calculated. President Trump has hardly made a secret of his predilection for tariffs and calls them a generational opportunity to boost US prosperity. He will have no-one else to blame if this goes horribly wrong. Moreover, unless Britain secures an unlikely exemption, the trade war will throw all the Governments growth plans into greater disarray. The Office for Budget Responsibility has estimated that a tit-for-tat trade war with 20pc reciprocal increases will knock at least one per cent off UK GDP and unravel the Chancellors economic assumptions. How adeptly Sir Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves handle the serious disruption that is about to be inflicted on world trade and markets will be a defining moment for the Labour government. Chinese companies embracing open-source, close collaboration to greatly assist industry growth 09:48, March 31, 2025 By Wang Yi, Tao Mingyang ( Global Times Engineers inspect a humanoid robot at the 2025 Zhongguancun Forum Annual Conference on March 27, 2025. (Tao Mingyang/GT) Sip a latte topped with a swan design by a robotic arm, receive a charcoal portrait from an artificial intelligence (AI) artist, or follow a humanoid robot to a meeting room to discuss the latest technology breakthroughs with global experts - these aren't scenes from sci-fi, but daily sights at the 2025 Zhongguancun Forum (ZGC Forum). The five-day sci-tech event featured nearly 100 robots from 15 Chinese companies across reception, communication, performance and other services, a showcase of China's great leap in merging robotic precision with creative intelligence. Under the theme "New Quality Productive Forces and Global Science and Technology Cooperation," the latest edition of the conference demonstrates how China's robotics industry has rapidly risen: from barista bots mimicking master techniques to navigation systems with real-time sensing, these technologies are now operational, spurring increasing global cooperation. Robots on display At the opening ceremony of the 2025 ZGC Forum Annual Conference on Thursday, a group of robot dancers put on a striking show. This group of humanoid robots, comprising "T1" developed by Beijing-based Booster Robotics and "Kuavo" developed by Shenzhen-based Leju Robotics, demonstrated complex dance moves and interactive capabilities tuned to music, all powered by precision programming. Aslan Tarik, CTO of Beijing Tangta Technology Co, who mainly focuses on AI and AI robotics, told the Global Times on the sidelines of the forum that the robot performance reminded him of the impressive robots showcase at the 2025 Spring Festival Gala. A regular attendee of the ZGC Forum, Tarik said from last year's conference to this year's, the most significant change has been the leap in the mobility of robots, reflecting rapid development of China's AI-powered robotics sector. To perfect the three-minute performance, Leju's team created a custom program for Kuavo - using high-precision motion capture equipment to collect movement data from professional dancers, "translating" human actions into commands that the robots can understand, and applying retargeting technology to ensure that the robots can execute similar movements based on their own physical characteristics. Leju deployed over 20 Kuavo units at the forum to assist with guest reception and guidance, the company told the Global Times. In the retail and catering area, Beijing-based robotics firm Galbot partnered with beverage tech startup Haoyin Technology Co to operate a cafe at the forum. Haoyin's robot coffee stand integrates a robot arm and coffee machine, which is capable for customize coffee with different flavors according to customer requirements, while Galbot's robot "G1" picks up orders, including robot-made coffee, for delivery to customers. Zhang Jin, a representative from Haoyin, told the Global Times that the robot coffee stand of roughly three square meters, features an intelligent robot capable of remembering customers' preferred flavors, noting that the company has about 20 coffee stands in Beijing and Shenzhen. International synergy China's humanoid robot market is expected to reach 5.3 billion yuan ($729.7 million) in 2025, doubling the size of 2024. It is projected to reach 75 billion yuan in 2029, leading in the world with the largest market share of 32.7 percent, according to a 2024 humanoid robot industry conference report. With the industry showing strong growth potential, Wang Tianmiao, a robotics expert at Beihang University, told the Global Times on the sidelines of the forum that China's humanoid robot ecosystem is evolving rapidly, creating a favorable environment for the startups, as technological advancements and supportive policies continue to drive growth. Wang's comments are echoed by recent breakthroughs and the government's supportive policies. During the opening ceremony of the 2025 WZGC Forum Annual Conference, the application of embodied robots equipped with large language models in the retail sector and the world's first open-source general humanoid robot platform "Tien Kung" were included in China's 10 major scientific and technological achievements in 2024. China's 2025 Government Work Report stated that the country will vigorously develop new-generation intelligent terminals and smart manufacturing equipment, including intelligent connected new-energy vehicles, AI-enabled phones and computers, and intelligent robots. Beijing in February 2025 issued an action plan to accelerate embodied AI technology development and industry cultivation from 2025 to 2027. Building on consistent domestic advancements, global collaboration is gaining pace too. Paolo Dario, chief scientist at the Italian National Competence Center for Robotics ARTES 4.0, told the Global Times that "incredible progress" has been achieved by the robotic community worldwide in the last few years, and he is optimistic that more can be done through closer collaboration between Europe and China. Tarik from Beijing Tangta Technology Co noted that China's technology ecosystem has helped boost his company's robot research, as exemplified by the advent of DeepSeek, featuring open source and strong computing power requirements. (Web editor: Tian Yi, Zhong Wenxing) In a world of chaos opportunity emerges By Aviram Bellaishe web posted March 31, 2025 I read with great interest the article by Abed Al-Qader Zaoui titled "The World's Turmoil and How the Arabs Should Face It" in Alssahifa. It is a sharp, honest reflection of the growing sense of anxiety, moral confusion, collapse of norms, and lack of clear direction in today's international system feelings shared by many around the world. Yet alongside the accurate diagnosis of the chaos, I would like to offer an additional perspective: it is precisely within this chaos that real possibility lies. When old structures weaken, it is the clever and capable actors who can rise and claim a new role. The World Is Not Collapsing it is Shifting Yes, the global system is in flux alliances are fraying, economic blocs are competing, sanctions and pressure campaigns abound, and non-state actors are gaining power. But this is not the "end of the world." Rather, it is the beginning of a new order where influence is moving away from traditional centers (such as the United States and Europe) and into the hands of regional, technological, and economically adaptive players. Those who can recognize and respond to this shift will not only survive but thrive. While acknowledging this shift in global power, it is equally important to express deep gratitude to the United States. Since the historic 1979 peace accords with Egypt, the United States has consistently stood by Israel and played an essential role in brokering peace agreements in the region including, most recently, the Abraham Accords, with more still to come. However, as part of a mature and forward-looking regional security vision, Israel and its neighbors must also take initiative. Peace must arise not only from American mediation but from a sincere internal understanding of shared needs and threats. A future peace agreement with Lebanon, for example, should not be dismissed as utopian. On the contrary it could become a vehicle for neutralizing Hizbullah not only as a threat to Israel but as a destructive force within Lebanon itself. Such a peace would open the door to joint economic, technological, and infrastructural cooperation that could revitalize both countries and the region. And What About the Arab World? Instead of standing as passive observers to a collapsing system, we must ask: what role are we prepared to play in shaping it? Some Arab states have already begun to answer this question through bold action: The United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Morocco are pursuing new models of innovation, diplomacy, trade, and regional integration. Oman has positioned itself as a smart, neutral broker in times of tension. Countries like Egypt and Jordan increasingly recognize that long-term stability rests not only on military strength but on technological advancement, economic modernization, and youth empowerment. A broader, long-overdue shift in perception is needed: to view the nations of the Middle East especially those bordering Israel as facing common existential challenges. From radical Shiite and Sunni extremism to food security, water shortages, healthcare resilience, and energy sustainability, our threats are no longer separate, and our solutions should not be either. Regional cooperation is no longer a diplomatic ideal it is a practical, strategic necessity. The international stage is not abandoning the Arab world it is inviting it to participate meaningfully. Leadership Is Not Found It Is Built Zaoui rightly points out the lack of thoughtful, visionary leadership. But is this an unchangeable fate? Are we destined to be led by populists and opportunists? Today, in an age where knowledge is decentralized and influence flows through new channels, leadership can emerge from the ground up through universities, private enterprise, civil society, and innovation hubs. It need not be limited to governments but rather fueled by ideas, responsibility, and bold action. Controlling the Narrative Not Silencing It The author warns of an explosion of false information, rumors, and manipulation and he is right to raise the alarm. But the answer is not censorship. The answer is to build tools for discernment, to educate, and to invest in critical thinking. The real war today is not between states but between truth and deception between empowered, aware minds and managed, misled ones. If the Arab world wants to remain resilient, it must invest in media literacy, in independent institutions, and in a public that knows how to ask the right questions and challenge the wrong answers. In Conclusion: Within the Chaos Clarity Belongs to the Responsible We are living in an era where old powers decline and new frameworks emerge. Those who cling to victimhood will be left behind. Those who choose responsibility, wisdom, and strategic patience will help shape what comes next. The choice is not the world's to make. It is ours. Aviram Bellaishe, a leading expert in regional geopolitics, Middle Eastern affairs, and Arabic language and culture, served for 27 years in Israel's security apparatus. He gained extensive experience in negotiations, operating mechanisms of influence and perception, and developing strategic and international collaborations. His professional achievements earned him three prestigious excellence awards from the head of the security directorate. After his discharge, Bellaishe transitioned to commercial, economic, and technological cooperation with Arab countries, leveraging his expertise to expand business and financial partnerships in the region. He served as the Head of the Middle East and North Africa Department at the law firm Doron, Tikotzky, Kantor, Gutman, Amit, Gross & Co., and as Co-CEO of the firm's commercial arm. Additionally, he managed the "Israeli Peace Initiative" steering committee for several years and currently serves on the executive committee of Mena2050, an organization dedicated to advancing regional cooperation. Bellaishe holds a bachelor's and master's degree in law (with honors), specializing in conflict resolution and mediation. He is a doctoral candidate focusing on consciousness engineering and religious propaganda, with an emphasis on studying influence mechanisms in the Arab world. His extensive experience and unique expertise position him as a key figure in regional dialogue and cooperation efforts. Home The National Institutes of Health campus in Bethesda, Maryland, in 2015. Photograph: Lydia Polimeni/AP The federal government has cancelled dozens of grants to study how to prevent new HIV infections and expand access to care, decimating progress toward eliminating the epidemic in the United States, scientists say. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) terminated at least 145 grants related to researching advancements in HIV care that had been awarded nearly $450m in federal funds. The cuts have been made in phases over the last month. NIH, a division of the Department of Health and Human Services, is the largest funding source of medical research in the world, leaving many scientists scrambling to figure out how to continue their work. The loss of this research could very well result in a resurgence of HIV that becomes more generalized in this country, said Julia Marcus, a professor at Harvard Medical School who recently had two of her grants cancelled. These drastic cuts are rapidly destroying the infrastructure of scientific research in this country and we are going to lose a generation of scientists. Related: Its back to drug rationing: the end of HIV was in sight. Then came the cuts In 2012, the FDA approved pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), an antiviral drug taken once a day that is highly successful at preventing new HIV infections. While the drug has been a powerful tool to contain the virus, inequities remain in accessing those drugs and sustaining a daily treatment. Despite major progress, there are still 30,000 new infections each year in the US. Many of the terminated HIV-related studies focused on improving access to drugs like PrEP in communities that have higher rates of infections including trans women and Black men. One of Marcuss projects was examining whether making PrEP available over the counter would increase the use of the drug in vulnerable communities. The research has to focus on the populations that are most affected in order to have an impact and be relevant, said Marcus. Yet, this may be the justification for defunding so many HIV-related studies. A termination letter reviewed by the Guardian dated 20 March cited that so-called diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) studies are often used to support unlawful discrimination on the basis of race and other protected characteristics, which harms the health of Americans. Scrapping an entire category of disease from research will have innumerable downstream effects on the rest of healthcare Erin Kahle, University of Michigan The National Institutes of Health did not expand on why the grants were terminated in response to questions from the Guardian. In a statement it said it was taking action to terminate research funding that is not aligned with NIH and HHS priorities. We remain dedicated to restoring our agency to its tradition of upholding gold-standard, evidence-based science. Many researchers were left stunned by the scale of the cancellations since in 2019, Donald Trump announced in his State of the Union address a commitment to eliminate the HIV epidemic in the country over the next 10 years. As part of this initiative, his administration negotiated a deal with drug companies to provide free PrEP for 200,000 low-income patients. Scientific breakthroughs have brought a once-distant dream within reach, said Trump in his address. Together we will defeat Aids in America. Related: Aid cuts predicted to cause 2.9 million more HIV-related deaths by 2030 study Amy Nunn, a professor at the Brown University School of Public Health, said she had even tailored grant proposals to fit the policy goals of the initiative, which included geographically targeting HIV prevention efforts. One of her studies that was terminated focused on closing disparities of PrEP use among African American men in Jackson, Mississippi. They finally adopted those policies at the federal level, Nunn said, noting that Trump was the first president to make ending the epidemic a priority. Now theyre undercutting their own successes. Its so strange. Though hundreds of millions of dollars in federal funds had been awarded for the grants, the terminations will not recoup all of that money for the administration, since many are years into their work. Some are even already finished. Nathaniel Albright learned earlier this month that an NIH grant supporting his doctoral research was cancelled even though his project had already been completed. A PhD candidate at Ohio State University, Albright is defending his dissertation at the end of the month. Still, Albright is concerned how the cuts affect the future of the field. Its created an environment in academia where my research trajectory is now considered high risk to institutions, said Albright, who is currently struggling to find postdoctorate positions at universities. Pamina Gorbach, an epidemiologist who teaches at University of California, Los Angeles, had been following hundreds of men living with HIV in Los Angeles for 10 years to learn their needs. She had been awarded an NIH grant to better facilitate their treatment through a local clinic. Her funding was cancelled earlier this month as well. Its really devastating, said Gorbach. If youre living with HIV and youre not on meds, you know what happens? You get sick and you die. Related: US urged to think bigger on healthcare amid Trump onslaught on sector Clinic staff in Los Angeles will likely be laid off as a result of the cuts, said Gorbach. Others agreed one immediate concern was how to pay their research staff, since the funds from a grant are immediately frozen once it is terminated. The NIH funds also often make up at least a portion of university professors salaries, all said they were most alarmed by the impact on services for their patients and the loss of progress toward ending the epidemic. This is erasing an entire population of people who have been impacted by an infectious disease, said Erin Kahle, the director of the center for sexuality and health disparities at the University of Michigan who lost an NIH grant. Scrapping an entire category of disease from research will have innumerable downstream effects on the rest of healthcare, she added. This is setting us back decades, said Kahle. British firms look set to be hit by Donald Trumps tariffs after Downing Street acknowledged the UK was unlikely to be spared. The US president is set to unveil sweeping import taxes on goods from countries around the world on Wednesday, an event Mr Trump has dubbed liberation day. Sir Keir Starmers Government has been trying to negotiate an economic deal with the US, which it is hoped could protect UK businesses from the worst impacts of Mr Trumps plans. But that will not be in place before Wednesday and trade talks alone are unlikely to be enough to exempt the UK from the presidents desire to impose tariffs on imports to the US from around the world. US President Donald Trump believes tariffs on imports will help American firms (Niall Carson/PA) Mr Trump has already announced a 25% import tax will be introduced on all cars imported to the US, a measure which will be a blow to the UKs automotive industry. Some 16.9% of UK car exports were to the US last year, representing a total of more than 101,000 units worth 7.6 billion. The levy is on top of a series of tariffs set to come into effect on April 2, which could include a general 20% tax on UK products in response to the rate of VAT, which Mr Trump deems to be discriminatory against the US. The Prime Ministers official spokesman said: When it comes to tariffs the Prime Minister has been clear he will always act in the national interest and weve been actively preparing for all eventualities ahead of the expected announcements from President Trump this week, which we would expect the UK to be impacted by alongside other countries. Our trade teams are continuing to have constructive discussions to agree a UK-US economic prosperity deal. But we will only do a deal which reflects this Governments mandate to deliver economic stability for the British people, and we will only act in the national interest. Donald Trump has announced a 25% import tax will be introduced on all cars imported to the US (Suzanne Plunkett/PA) Asked whether the Government had given up hope of a UK-US deal being signed before the tariffs are announced, the spokesman said he is not going to put a time frame on those discussions but that they are likely to continue beyond Wednesday. Mr Trump believes tariffs will protect US businesses from unfair competition from foreign rivals. The new tariffs could derail the Governments plans to grow the economy, and they come into force just after Chancellor Rachel Reeves made a series of cuts at the spring statement in order to restore a narrow buffer in the public spending headroom. Losses deepened for the UKs FTSE 100 stock exchange, which was trading around 1.3% lower during Monday. European stocks are also still seeing sharp falls, and US markets have opened lower with the S&P 500 down about 1.4% in early trading. The budget watchdog has warned that a full-blown trade war, in which the UK responds in kind to Mr Trumps tariffs, could knock 1% off gross domestic product, a measure of the size of the economy, and wipe out Ms Reeves headroom. The assessment from the Office for Budget Responsibility helps explain why so far, unlike other economies such as the European Union, Sir Keirs government has refrained from retaliating against Mr Trump. The Prime Ministers spokesman said: Youve got the OBRs modelling and weve said previously a trade war with the US is clearly not in anybodys interests. We continue to have constructive discussions on agreeing a deal with the US, but at the same time, weve also been clear that all options are on the table, we obviously reserve our right to respond, to protect our protect our industries. But we want to take a calm and pragmatic approach to this. I think British industry has also been clear that they want to see the Government having a dialogue with the United States and thats what were going to continue to do and seek to achieve. Tory shadow trade secretary Andrew Griffith said: This news is potentially a hammer blow not just to British businesses and workers but to (the Prime Ministers) own Chancellor whose creative accounting at the emergency budget fails to include the impact of tariffs. This is just further proof that, when Labour negotiates, Britain loses. Liberal Democrats leader Sir Ed Davey said Donald Trump cannot be trusted (Jonathan Brady/PA) Liberal Democrats leader Sir Ed Davey said the UK should be prepared to hit back at Mr Trumps tariffs. Sir Ed said: Ministers have rightly tried to avoid Donald Trump imposing his destructive tariffs on British businesses but as we knew all along, Trump doesnt care. Just asking nicely clearly doesnt work with Trump, so we have to stand tall with our allies in Canada and Europe and show that we will not be bullied. That means being prepared to impose reciprocal tariffs if necessary, including on Elon Musks Teslas, and urgently negotiating a better trade deal with the EU to show Trump we have alternatives. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, who is a prominent supporter of the US president, said that tariffs wont be popular with anybody, not me either but that retaliation would be an act of self-harm. What disappoints me more than anything is we had a massive opportunity in Trumps first term to do a free trade deal with America, he said. We didnt do it because the Conservatives didnt deliver Brexit, we werent free to do it, but we did negotiate nearly three quarters of the chapters that we needed to get to that position But I do think we can sort this out. A Burmese student in the UK, whose home was damaged in the Myanmar earthquake, says his family consider themselves lucky compared to others. Aung Kaung Myat, a mechanical engineering student at the University of Sussex, was unable to contact his parents for several hours after he first heard the news of the 7.7 magnitude earthquake that hit his country on Friday. Mr Kaung Myat, from Mandalay, Myanmars second-largest city near the epicentre where hundreds of buildings have collapsed, said the real concern is for those who have lost everything. The earthquake caused damage to hundreds of buildings across Mandalay, Myanmar (Jiang Chao/Xinhua via AP) My family is safe right now, which Im incredibly grateful for, but like many others, theyve been deeply affected, the 23-year-old student told the PA news agency. Our home has been damaged but compared to what others are going through, we would consider ourselves lucky. The real concern is for those who have lost everything and those whove been injured, displaced and struggling to get even basic medical care and also food and even water. According to state media, more than 2,000 people have been killed so far, with more than 3,900 injured and about 270 missing. Aid agencies have warned that the earthquake could exacerbate hunger and disease outbreaks in a country already wracked by food shortages, mass displacement and civil war. The earthquake itself is devastating, but what makes it even worse is that Mandalay, like the rest of Myanmar, is already in crisis, said Mr Kaung Myat. Since the military coup in 2021, public services have collapsed, including healthcare. Hospitals are severely underfunded and understaffed and they even lack basic medical supplies. The military, the current regime, prioritises its own power and survival over the needs of the people. So theres no real aid coming from them. That means victims, especially those in public hospitals, who are really less fortunate, are left to save themselves right now. Mr Kaung Myat, who had been feeling helpless so far away from home, has set up a fundraiser to help buy medical supplies for local hospitals in the area. His parents, who both work in the medical industry, have been organising supplies on the ground. Rescuers prepare to conduct a search and rescue at a collapsed building in the aftermath of an earthquake in Mandalay, Myanmar (Myo Kyaw Soe/Xinhua via AP) So far they have co-ordinated donations to Mandalay General Hospital (MGH) and 550 Bedded Childrens Hospital. They will be donating to additional hospitals including Mandalay Orthopaedic Hospital (MOH) and those in the Sagaing region, where conditions are believed to be even worse. Mr Kaung Myat, who left Myanmar for the UK in 2022, has said it is unsafe for him to return to his country after being involved in student demonstrations against the military coup and due to the countrys conscription law. The military seized power from Aung San Suu Kyis government in February 2021, triggering a civil war and a series of anti-coup protests. I went back home in 2023 after my first year, and at the time, the situation had not escalated as much. But now, it has gotten worse and worse, and its not really safe for students to return to our country, he said. Especially for those students whove been involved in the massive protest, the military coup and demonstration. To learn more about Aung Kaung Myats fundraiser you can visit his fundraising page at https://www.gofundme.com/f/medical-aid-for-mandalay-earthquake-victims Vladimir Putin looks on, whilst visiting a military base of the nuclear fleet The Kremlin is nervous. On Saturday night, a limousine caught fire north of the headquarters of the Russian security services. Last week, footage showed servicemen being frisked by special protection officers. Those same officers were later seen opening up sewer hatches in a hunt for bombs near where the Russian leader was speaking. To Western intelligence agencies, the situation is becoming clear: within Russias top brass, the knives are out for their leader. Western analysts are often accused of wishful thinking. Rightly so. In March 2022, an op-ed in the New York Times described Russia as a Potemkin superpower, naively suggesting that just the faintest push would cause the whole regime to suddenly collapse. Such a projection has not come to pass. But there is one thing the rising paranoia does certainly reveal: Putin does think hes vulnerable. You can understand why. Lets first consider the feeling within Russian society at large. Since the war started three years ago, 250,000 soldiers have died the pain does now appear to be cutting through. Grieving mothers are now starting to write to president Putin demanding explanations, with one telling Sky News: its impossible to live like this. The heavy losses have led to a wider conscription crisis which has caused Putin to offer salaries far above the average for young men to go to the front line. Do not underestimate the anger of these families: when Moscow was at war in Afghanistan in the 1980s, it was the mothers of soldiers that formed the frontline of the anti-war movement. Then theres the key demand made by Putin in negotiations with the US: that Volodymyr Zelensky be removed before a ceasefire be agreed. The madness of that condition exposes the Russian premiers desperation. Mr Zelenskys possible successor, current ambassador to the UK Valerii Zaluzhny, is more hardline than him. But what will worry Putin the most is the impatience of the man he once considered his most loyal friend in the West: Donald Trump. On Sunday, the American president deviated from his traditional praise for the Russian leader by saying he was p----- off with him after weeks of attempting to negotiate a ceasefire in Ukraine. That marks a sharp change of tone from 2015, when Trump described him as a strong leader. We are now entering the time of year known as fighting season the months where the weather warms up and the ground hardens to allow tank warfare. The improved weather could favour Ukraine. Clearer skies will make drones more useful in targeting Russian forces, and their untrained troops with no experience of combined arms, tanks, artillery and airpower will also struggle against Ukraines better trained defence. There could be no time when the Russian premiers vulnerability could be as pivotal in altering the course of this war as now. The question is whether the West will seize the moment. Covid-19 was fresh in our minds when the pandemic treaty process began three years ago - OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images In April at the World Health Organization (WHO) in Geneva, more than 190 countries will attempt to mount a final push to agree on a landmark pandemic treaty that will improve how we prepare for and respond to pandemic threats. The aim is to make the world safer and more secure. When the process kicked off three years ago, Covid-19 was fresh in all our minds. Today, even though global attention has dwindled, the consequences of failing to strike a deal remain high and extend well beyond how the world will grapple with health emergencies. The value and virtue of multilateralism itself are on the line. When last years negotiation round ended, countries agreed that nothing about the treaty would impinge on or override national sovereignty. WHO has no authority to impose vaccine mandates, treatment strategies, or any other pharmaceutical or non-pharmaceutical measures, including lockdowns. Yet even with this important and legally binding guarantee, many of the technical details were still being dissected and discussed. Discord has run deep on a range of issues: from how best to design a system for low-income countries to share genomic information on pathogens and, in return, secure vaccines and gain access to technologies guarded through intellectual property, to how to address one health the intersection between people, animals, and their environment. Another point of contention is how much of the treaty can be agreed now, as binding commitments, versus carving out intractable issues to be resolved later. While last December, negotiators seemed to have a vague sense of urgency to get the agreement finalised in advance of a new, hostile US government taking the helm, it was not enough to dislodge countries from their staunch positions over the collective finish line. In the span of just two months, however, the world has completely changed. The global multilateral system is under siege. The new American administration began withdrawal from the WHO and Argentina is doing the same. Although still technically part of the WHO until next January, the US Presidents Executive Order makes clear that they will cease negotiations on the treaty and the US delegation was absent for the first time during the penultimate negotiating session in February. The UK, in contrast, remains a strong supporter of the WHO and an ambitious and equitable pandemic treaty. British leadership to help get a deal over the line is even more important in the context of the recent announcement to cut its aid budget. The US has frozen most of its funding of international organisations and for health programming including for disease surveillance, access to medicines, and health system strengthening in nearly every county where it previously provided support. The UK has similarly initiated deep cuts to its foreign aid slashing 40 per cent of the current budget roughly 6 billion starting in 2027. Other core health donors, including France, Germany, Sweden, and the Netherlands, appear to be following suit by stating their intent to cut back their development assistance budgets. A sign of collective strength These decisions are unravelling the very institutions that were developed to promote and protect health around the world from HIV, malaria, tuberculosis, polio, and measles, to efforts to control, eliminate, or eradicate a range of potential pandemic diseases risk collapse as well as the concept of multilateralism. In a national address in February, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said in response to President Trumps threats to withhold hundreds of millions of dollars supporting HIV/Aids treatment in the country that we are witnessing the pursuit of narrow interests and the decline of common cause. Mr Ramaphosa said the antidote was right in front of us: staying true to our values and finding common ground in order to turn these trying circumstances to our advantage. This is why negotiators cannot afford to fail with just a single week in April of formal negotiations remaining. In this radical new reality, meant to demoralise, demean, and reverse the progress of decades, the pandemic treaty provides an opportunity to demonstrate that, with or without the US, there is global solidarity when it comes to global health. Finalising the treaty text is a concrete action against the great dismantling. Existentially, it is a reaffirmation of commitment to equity, integrity, and solidarity. Practically, it is a necessity for human health. There are currently new outbreaks of a number of deadly viruses, including Marburg and Sudan-type Ebola virus, neither of which can be protected against with a vaccine that is currently available. And all it takes is one mutation of H5N1 avian influenza, already moving from animals to humans, to spark a new global pandemic against which we have no defence. To meet the May deadline set by the World Health Assembly, negotiators must make difficult compromises on foundational issues. The bottom line is that to strike this deal, countries no longer have the luxury of striving to perfect every aspect of the treaty, to holding tight to narrow national self-interest. The moment is now to find that common ground. At this point, to be a success, the treaty just needs to be good enough to help countries work together when the next pandemic hits. That means rich countries need to give on issues including technology transfer and pathogen access and benefit sharing, and developing countries need to commit to investing in steps to prevent pandemics, including in animal health. While a few strokes of a presidents pen may have changed how the US will engage in multilateral efforts and global health, they cannot change the evidence: pandemic threats can only be addressed through multilateral collaboration. That no one nation can do it alone is not a sign of individual weakness but a sign of collective strength. States must call upon that collective strength to get the treaty over the line before its too late. The loss to our collective health would be immense, but the loss of our sense of common purpose would be immeasurable. Nina Schwalbe, MPH, PhD, is a Senior Scholar at Georgetown University Center for Global Health Policy & Politics and ONeill Institute for National & Global Health Law and the CEO and Founder of Spark Street Advisors, a global health think tank. Elliot Hannon contributed to this piece. Protect yourself and your family by learning more about Global Health Security Pierce County Sheriff's Department Facebook Pierce County Sheriff Two people were killed and another four were injured in a shooting at a house party in Washington State. Deputies responded to the party, which involved 30 to 40 juveniles at a house in Tacoma, just after midnight on March 29, the Pierce County Sheriff's Office said. Originally called to respond to a report of a fight, shots rang out just before deputies arrived, police said. One male victim was pronounced dead on the scene, while another succumbed to his injuries after being taken to the hospital, according to the sheriff's office. Four others were injured. Though police did not identify the victims or specify who was killed and who was injured, the youngest was 16 years old while the others ranged from age 17 to 21, the sheriff's office said. A juvenile suspect, whom police did not name, was taken into custody. 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. Deputies arriving on scene found a chaotic scene, with people and cars fleeing from the home, leading to vehicles getting stuck in the neighborhood. Though no one beyond the initial victims was found injured, homes and vehicles near the scene shooting were damaged, the sheriff's office said. "This is another grim reminder of how dangerous parties can be when things get out of hand," the sheriff's office said in a statement. "Our deputies and first responders have dealt with a lot in the last 24 hours, and we would hate to respond to more unnecessary deaths." Read the original article on People Riviera Beach Police Department Heather Opsincs The mother of a 5-year-old Florida boy who died last week after allegedly drinking a cup of juice that had methamphetamine in it is now facing a negligent manslaughter charge after she was arrested last week, PEOPLE has learned. Riviera Beach police allege that the mother, Heather Opsincs, left a plastic apple juice bottle with methamphetamine inside of it open in the fridge of her room at the Sands Hotel, which her 5-year-old son later opened and drank last Sunday, leading to his accidental overdose death. The boy, who was in the care of a babysitter at the time, began shivering and shaking before he became stiffed and his head tilted down, according to a probable cause affidavit obtained by PEOPLE. Police also allege that Opsincs, 37, later waited an hour to call 911 after being informed that her son became sick. Paramedics responded to the hotel and provided medical attention to the 5-year-old boy before taking him to a local hospital, where he was later pronounced dead, Riviera Beach police said in a press release last week. Opsincs later twice tested positive for methamphetamine, while her son also tested positive, according to the probable cause affidavit. Police also allege they found six meth pipes among other drug paraphernalia inside the apartment, as well as two plastic apple juice bottles. Inmate records reviewed by PEOPLE show Opsincs is still in custody at the Palm Beach County Jail one week after she was arrested. Opsincs bond was set at $100,000, records show. 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. At Opsincs pretrial detention hearing last Friday, Judge April Bristow told the visibly shaken mother that the details of the case were pretty egregious, WPTV reported, and allowed her the possibility of release on bond as long as she refrained from contacting two witnesses. The outlet reported that Opsincs was also not allowed to speak with anyone under 18 years old, except her daughter. Opsincs is due back in court on April 22, court documents show. Read the original article on People People participate in a "TeslaTakedown" protest against Elon Musk outside of a Tesla dealership in Irvine, California, March 1, 2025. Photo by Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images Police charged a 70-year-old man with striking a supporter of President Donald Trump with his car outside a Tesla dealership amid a national wave of anti-Tesla protests Saturday. Meridian, Idaho, resident Christopher Talbot allegedly made an obscene gesture toward a counter-protester before injuring him by driving his car into him, police said, according to local reports. The alleged incident occurred at one of numerous protests at Tesla facilities around the country during what activists called a Global Day of Action against Tesla CEO and Trump adviser Elon Musk. 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 reportedly said. The victim then went to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries and was later released. A 70-year-old man is booked into jail on charges of hitting a Trump supporter with his car at a Tesla protest in Ada County, Idaho on March 29, 2025. The Meridian Police Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment from the Daily Caller News Foundation. Ada County records do not yet list Talbots case or an attorney to contact. (RELATED: Texas Man Charged With Slamming 4-Wheeler Into Tesla In Anti-Musk Rampage) Talbot was booked in an Ada County jail and did not qualify for bond, jail records show. Police reportedly charged him with felony aggravated battery. The alleged incident marked a weekend of demonstrators showing their anger toward Musk, his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and Trump for cutting federal spending and agencies in alignment with the presidents agenda. The Meridian protest reportedly drew about 30 anti-Musk protesters and about 200 counter-protesters. The FBI previously told the New York Post it was monitoring Saturdays events for possible threats of violence, and it has formed a Tesla-focused task force to counter what the Trump administration calls a domestic terrorism trend against Musks company. All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporters byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org. Mar 30, 2025; Portland, Oregon, USA; Portland Timbers forward Antony (11) controls a pass during the second half against the Houston Dynamo at Providence Park. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images (Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images) Antony scored a brace Sunday and the Portland Timbers made it back-to-back wins, stopping the visiting Houston Dynamo 3-1. Felipe Mora added a goal and two assists for Portland (3-2-1 10 points). The Timbers had possession for only 43 percent of the match, but they made the most of their chances, outshooting Houston 16-12 and putting 10 shots on frame to the Dynamo's one. That included Antony's clinching marker in the 71st minute, his third in two matches. It came after a clearing pass by Jack McGlynn toward goalie Blake Gillingham went awry. Mora deflected it away toward the Houston net, and Antony only had to angle the ball from the left side into an empty net. That mistake sealed the loss for the Dynamo (0-4-2, 2 points), despite excellent possession numbers and seven saves from Gillingham. Antony got all four of his shots on net, while Ezequiel Ponce squeezed off three shots for Houston. Portland and Houston arrived at this match in opposite frames of mind. While the Timbers were coming off their best performance of the year in a 3-0 blanking at Colorado on March 22, the Dynamo were still seeking a spark after a scoreless draw at Seattle in which they were outshot 16-6. Portland needed just six minutes to initiate scoring. A failed clearing attempt by Daniel Steres wound up on Santiago Moreno's foot in the 18-yard box. He fed Mora, who slotted the ball past Gillingham. Houston equalized in the 12th minute via a brilliant free kick by McGlynn. He lofted a long ball to Franco Escobar, who got an unmarked run toward the right post, and Escobar drilled it to the left of goalie James Pantemis. The Timbers took the lead for good in the 23rd minute when Antony, who scored last week at Colorado, deftly chipped Mora's pass just inside the right post to complete a quick counterattack. --Field Level Media Photo shows rescue operations to recover the bodies of 15 aid workers, in southern Rafah, on March 27, 2025. - Courtesy OCHA The bodies of more than a dozen aid workers have been recovered in southern Gaza from what a United Nations agency described as a mass grave, a week after they went missing following attacks by Israeli forces. Eight of the 14 bodies recovered Sunday from the site in the southern Rafah area were identified as members of the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS), five as civil defense, and one as a UN agency employee, PRCS said in a statement. One PRCS medic remains missing. The body of a fifteenth person, a civil defense worker, was recovered last Thursday from the site, after PRCS said they were initially denied access to the area. CNN has reached out to the Israeli military. Last week, PRCS said nine of its emergency medical technicians had been missing since March 23 following an incident in which Israeli forces fired on ambulances and fire trucks in southern Rafah. An Israeli military official told CNN Wednesday that its forces did bury the bodies of the aid workers because the troops expected it would take time to coordinate their retrieval with the PRCS and the United Nations. In another statement on Wednesday, the Israeli military said it will investigate the deadly attack. The incident from March 23rd, 2025, in which IDF forces opened fire targeting terrorists advancing in ambulances, has been transferred to the General Staffs Fact-Finding and Assessment Mechanism for investigation, an IDF spokesperson told CNN in a statement, adding that the military places utmost importance on maintaining communication with international organizations operating in Gaza and engages with them regularly. A day earlier IDF spokesman Lt. Col. Nadav Shoshani insisted the IDF did not randomly attack an ambulance and claimed without evidence that nine terrorists had been killed. Aid organizations and the UN have expressed outrage over the attacks, which the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent said were the single most deadly for IFRC workers in almost a decade. This massacre of our team is a tragedy not only for us at the Palestine Red Crescent Society, but also for humanitarian work and humanity, PCRS said in its statement, calling the targeting of its medics a war crime punishable under international law. The attacks come amid Israels renewed assault on the enclave and as its complete blockade of humanitarian aid nears the one-month mark. Buried beneath the sand OCHA, the UNs Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, said the bodies were recovered after a complex, week-long rescue operation that involved using bulldozers and heavy machinery to unearth the victims and their battered vehicles from under sand. Health workers should never be a target. And yet, were here today, digging up a mass grave of first responders and paramedics, Jonathan Whittall, the head of UNOCHA in the occupied Palestinian territories, said from the site. Video shared by the UNOCHA showed a bulldozer digging through dirt and moving debris as emergency responders used shovels to reach the victims. Several bodies were seen being pulled from sand, some wearing PRCS vests and showing signs of decomposition. Medical workers mourn as the bodies of 8 PRCS EMTs, 6 Civil Defense staff, and 1 UN worker were recovered on Sunday in Rafah, Gaza. - PRCS Early information indicates the first team of aid workers dispatched to the area were killed by Israeli forces on March 23 and other emergency aid crews were struck over the following several hours as they searched for their missing colleagues, UNOCHA said. One by one, they were hit, they were struck, their bodies were gathered and buried, Whittall said. Were digging them out in their uniforms, with their gloves on. Ambulances, as well as UN and civil defense vehicles, were found crushed and buried under the sand, Whittall added, accusing Israeli forces of trying to cover up the scene. CNN has reached out to the Israeli military for comment. According to the PRCS, their aid workers were dispatched to Rafahs Al-Hashashin area on March 23 to respond to Israeli attacks when they came under assault. Israeli forces besieged the area, leading to (the) complete loss of communication with our teams, PRCS said. Hours later, Gazas Civil Defense said that six of its staff also went missing after being dispatched to the same area following what it described as a sudden incursion by the Israeli occupation forces, the killing and injuring of dozens, and the besieging of PRCS vehicles. The Israeli military told CNN earlier its forces had opened fire that day at suspicious vehicles, including ambulances and fire trucks, that were advancing toward troops without prior coordination, use of headlights or emergency signals. It said it had eliminated a number of Hamas and Islamic Jihad militants by firing on the vehicles and condemned what it claimed was the repeated use of civilian infrastructure by the terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip, including the use of medical facilities and ambulances for terrorist purposes. Search crews use a bulldozer to search for the victims through sand on Thursday in southern Rafah. - Courtesy OCHA The attacks came less than a week after Israel renewed its assault across the strip on March 18, breaking a weeks-long ceasefire with Hamas. Since then, Israeli attacks have killed at least 921 Palestinians and injured more than 2,000 others, according to the Hamas-controlled Gaza Ministry of Health. CNN has no way of independently verifying the numbers and the Israeli government does not allow foreign journalists to independently enter Gaza. More than 80 people were killed in Gaza following Israeli strikes on Sunday and Monday, medics and health authorities in the enclave said. Dr. Marwan El-Hems, director of field hospitals in Gaza, told CNN that he estimated that 83 to 85 people had been killed because of Israeli military activity since Sunday morning. The total included about 30 on Monday morning. The news also follows Israels decision before the ceasefire collapsed to block humanitarian aid from entering the enclave, in what it described as a move to pressure Hamas into accepting new terms for an extension of the ceasefire rather than proceed with phase two of the truce. UNOCHA and aid groups accuse Israel of violating international law by blocking the flow of aid into Gaza and of using starvation as a weapon of war. The same organizations have accused Israel of restricting or creating hurdles to the entry of aid throughout the war. Health services must be protected International aid and humanitarian organizations have repeatedly condemned the Israeli militarys attacks on medical facilities and personnel. Even in the most complex conflict zones, there are rules. These rules of International Humanitarian Law could not be clearer civilians must be protected; humanitarians must be protected. Health services must be protected, Jagan Chapagain, Secretary General of the IFRC, said in a statement on Sunday. Hospitals in Gaza including Nasser Medical Complex, the enclaves largest functioning hospital have seen intense bombardment and raids from Israeli forces accusing the facilities of harboring Hamas operatives. About 400 aid workers, including teachers, doctors and nurses, have been killed in Israeli attacks in the enclave since October 7, 2023, according to OCHAs latest update released Tuesday. The PRCS says the number of its staff killed in line of duty by Israeli forces in Gaza since October 2023 has now reached 27. The occupations 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, PCRS said. Meanwhile, Gaza health officials said the death toll in Gaza since October 7 has surpassed 50,000, marking a grim milestone for a war with no end in sight. This story has been updated. CNNs Kareem Khadder and Dana Karni contributed reporting. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com MichalLudwiczak/Getty Images Swiss Riviera of Lake Geneva in Montreux, Switzerland Looking to plan an unforgettable romantic getaway for you and the love of your life? Then, it's time to head to Europe. And no, we're not talking about France. In February, European Waterways released the findings of its study ranking the most romantic destinations across Europe. To come to its conclusion, the team evaluated destinations based on their number of romantic and fine dining restaurants, number of restaurants with Michelin stars, number of wine bars rated four stars or above, the number of tours and wine tastings available, and the number of vineyards. The company noted in its findings, which it shared with Travel + Leisure via email, "For years, France has been considered the pinnacle of romance, home to enchanting cities like Paris, Bordeaux, and Carcassonne. However, recent data reveals a shift in the rankings." That's because, after looking through all the data, it turns out Switzerland is the most romantic European destination of all. After factoring in all the data and giving each country a normalized score, Switzerland claimed the top spot with 269 points, leaving France trailing behind with 250. "France, while still a heavyweight in the romance category, has faced stiff competition from Switzerlands unique offerings," Maryanne Sparkes, a travel expert at European Waterways, explained. "While destinations like Avignon, Bordeaux, and Carcassonne remain popular for their rich history and culinary excellence, Switzerlands ability to provide both adventure and intimacy has propelled it to the top." Sparkes noted that Switzerland's dedication to quality over quantity, combined with its stunning wine regions like Lavaux and Valais, gave it a solid edge and made it a spot foodies, wine lovers, and romantics will all adore. Additionally, the study added that Switzerland offers unparalleled luxury through its high-end resorts like Grand Hotel des Bains Kempinski in St. Moritz, The Woodward in Geneva, and Mandarin Oriental Palace Luzern in Lucerne, which offer spa retreats, plush rooms, and a sense of style that are ideal for couples looking to unwind together. And, as anyone who has ever even googled Switzerland knows, its scenery is simply breathtaking all year longfrom the flower fields around Lake Lucerne in Spring to the blanketed mountain peaks of Verbier all winter long. Both Greece and Italy also made the list, with special shoutouts to Santorini, the Amalfi Coast, and Positano. But, if you happened to already plan a loved-up trip to France, that's OK. The findings called out several locations across the nation where romance abounds. See the complete findings at europeanwaterways.com. Related | This U.S. Destination Dethroned Paris as the Most Romantic in the World | Learn More Read the original article on Travel & Leisure Mar 30, 2025; Martinsville, Virginia, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Denny Hamlin (11) out of turn four during the Cook Out 400 at Martinsville Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images (Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images) MARTINSVILLE, Va., -- Denny Hamlin won Sunday's Cook Out 400 at Martinsville Speedway, beating Christopher Bell to the checkered flag by 4.617 seconds. Hamlin cleared Bell for the race lead with 73 laps to go after a contested restart, and despite Bell's best effort, Hamlin pulled away and rode off into the Virginia sunset with his sixth Martinsville victory and the 55th of his Cup Series career. "It certainly felt like the old days," Hamlin said. Despite several dominant Martinsville performances since he last captured a grandfather clock in 2015, Hamlin entered Sunday a decade removed from his last Martinsville win. "We've been stuck in a rut over the last three years or so," Hamlin said of his recent Martinsville performances. "The fall of 2022 is the last dominant car I had at this racetrack. Since then, we've been hanging around third to fifth. We were always the next best behind the No. 12 (Ryan Blaney) and a couple of Hendrick cars. We came with some different stuff, just trying to get better and turn back the clock." Hamlin's run on Sunday was certainly one that looked straight out of the early 2010s. Hamlin led 274 of 400 laps and won Stage 2 en route to the victory. "The feeling is fantastic," Hamlin said. "Life is good right now, I have no complaints." Bell, Bubba Wallace, Chase Elliott and Kyle Larson rounded out the top five, with Ross Chastain, Ryan Preece, Joey Logano, Chase Briscoe and Todd Gilliland completing the top 10. Other notable finishers included Ryan Blaney in 11th, Tyler Reddick in 14th, Kyle Busch in 17th, William Byron in 22nd and Josh Berry in 33rd. Bell came a spot shy of winning for the fourth time in the season's first seven races, and ended a two-race slide that saw him finish 12th at Las Vegas and 29th at Homestead-Miami. Bell hung with Hamlin for the first half of the race's final green flag run, but as the two leaders encountered lapped traffic, Bell began to fade, becoming a speck in Hamlin's rearview mirror. "He beat me by almost five seconds, so even if I had cleared him, I don't think I would've stayed in front of him for the whole run," Bell said, referencing the Lap 326 restart that saw he and Hamlin battle side-by-side. "He drove away and I was hanging on pretty good at the end," Bell said. "Definitely the best we've been at Martinsville in a long time. I still feel like there's room to improve. "Second is a result where you feel a lot better about it the next day." Right behind Bell was another Toyota in Bubba Wallace, who finished third in Stage 2 and was closing in on Bell for second in the closing laps. Sunday's race marked consecutive third-place finishes for Wallace, who sits eighth in points seven races into the 2025 season. "You just trust in the people that you know, trust in the process, (and) these are the results you get," Wallace said. Stage 1 saw two yellow flags, with the first caution of the day flying for debris on Lap 32. The first incident came at the expense of Chris Buescher, who spun on the frontstretch off the front bumper of Carson Hocevar on Lap 72. After a two-lap dash to the green-checkered flag, Logano took home the Stage 1 victory. The first caution of Stage 2 flew for Burt Myers' No. 50 Chevrolet, which stalled on the exit of Turn 2 after losing power. In his official NASCAR Cup Series debut, Myers finished 37th of 38. Hamlin went on to win Stage 2 despite a surge from Elliott, who caught Hamlin as he ran in lapped traffic. Following a long green flag run to begin Stage 3, cautions began to stack up as the race neared its final quarter. After Noah Gragson and Buescher got tangled up on Lap 310, only three green flag laps were run before Logano went around in Turn 4 on Lap 318. Logano's spin was the last caution of the day. The eighth race of the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season will take place at Darlington Raceway on April 6. The Goodyear 400 will go green shortly after 3 p.m. ET, with coverage on FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. --Samuel Stubbs, Field Level Media The doctor accused of trying to murder his wife while on a scenic hike in Hawaii had suspected her of having an affair months earlier and allegedly told his adult son he tried to kill her in a phone call after the near-fatal attack, according to reports. Gerhardt Konig, a 46-year-old anesthesiologist, was charged Wednesday with second-degree attempted murder after he allegedly attacked his wife, Arielle Konig, 36, at the Pali Lookout, a famous panoramic vista on Oahu. The couple had been married for six years, but over the months leading up to the attack, their marriage had started to fall apart, Island News reported. Hawaii doctor Gerhardt Konig (left) is accused of attempting to murder his wife, Arielle. Facebook / Gerhardt Konig Arielle, a renowned nuclear engineer, filed a restraining order against her husband Thursday and told the court that he had become prone to extreme jealousy and has attempted to control and monitor all of my communications. She claimed that her husband, whom she wed in 2018, had accused her of cheating on him in December. In an attempt to salvage their marriage, Arielle said they had been participating in both couples and individual therapy and counseling. The couples relationship started to improve from the therapy, she said, and they decided to plan a weekend getaway to Oahu to celebrate Arielles 36th birthday with just the two of them, leaving their two children, ages 2 and 5, at home. The day after arriving on the island from their home in Maui on March 23, Konig suggested they hike the trail near Pali Lookout where he allegedly flipped because his wife refused to take a picture with him. Konig has been suspended by his employer after the alleged attempted murder of his wife, a prominent nuclear scientist. KHON2 News He allegedly tried to push his wife off the trail, then punched her and hit her with a rock, and at some point, even tried to jab her with two syringes. I do not know what was in the syringe, but Gerhardt is an anesthesiologist and has access to several potentially lethal medications as part of his employment, she wrote in the filing. Konig was stopped when two women on the trail heard Arielles screams for help and intervened. Arielle was rushed to the Queens Medical Center in critical condition with multiple facial and head injuries. Konig was arrested later that evening near Pali Highway after a brief foot pursuit, cops said. The couple had been married since 2018. Facebook / Gerhardt Konig The nuclear engineer told the court that following the attack, she had learned that her husband had called one of his adult children from a previous marriage on FaceTime and allegedly confessed to trying to kill her, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported. I just tried to kill Ari, but she got away, Arielle claims in the filing that Konig told his child. Konig is being held at the Oahu Community Correctional Center. Konig is being held at the Oahu Community Correctional Center. Honolulu Police Department His bail had previously been set at $5 million, but Arielle wrote to the court she is afraid for herself, her children, and the rest of her family if her husband is released, and a judge ordered him to be held without bail on Friday. Konig, who previously worked as a University of Pittsburgh professor and UPMC anesthesiologist, was employed by an independent contractor to provide medical services as an anesthesiologist in Maui. Maui Health is committed to patient safety and upholding the highest standards of care, Maui Health said in a statement last week. We have been made aware of the allegations against Gerhardt Konig, MD. Dr. Konig has been suspended from the Medical Staff pending investigation. Dr. Konig is employed by an independent entity contracted to provide medical services at various medical facilities on Maui, including Maui Memorial Medical Center. Chris Ratcliffe/Bloomberg via Getty An EasyJet Plc passenger aircraft taxis towards the main terminal building at London Southend Airport. A woman reportedly died on an easyJet flight mid-air earlier this week, resulting in the flight diverting to Spain, as several passengers onboard attempted to save her life. According to reports from the Liverpool Echo and The London Standard, a 67-year-old woman began experiencing a medical emergency after her easyJet flight departed from Tenerife, Spain, for John Lennon Airport in Liverpool, England, at around 6:45 p.m. local time on Tuesday, March 25. The outlets reported that fellow passengers and flight crew members suspected she had suffered cardiac arrest, and three people aboard the flight including one nurse sprung into action, giving the woman CPR as the plane changed course for northern Spain. According to the Echo, bystanders recalled the three passengers performing CPR for 50 minutes. Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto/Getty easyJet plane (stock image) Related: Man Reportedly Dies After Apparent Medical Emergency on Ryanair Flight: Everything Went into Chaos' One of those three passengers told the Echo that he was flying with his wife, daughter and son-in-law when the flight staff asked for assistance. "The staff got an oxygen tank and a defibrillator while myself, a nurse and a physiotherapist took it in turns to perform CPR on the woman," he recalled, per the outlet. "We tried our best, but she died onboard the plane. When we landed, police, paramedics and the CID team came onto the plane before we all got off." The Echo also reported that the woman was traveling back from Tenerife with her husband. 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. easyJet confirmed in a statement to PEOPLE that the plane was diverted to SantiagoRosalia de Castro in northern Spain because of a "customer onboard requiring urgent medical attention." "Flight EZY3366 from Tenerife to Liverpool on March 25 was required to divert to SantiagoRosalia de Castro, where it was met by paramedics due to a customer onboard requiring urgent medical attention," the company wrote. "The well-being of our passengers and crew is always easyJet's highest priority. Our crew are trained to respond to medical issues and did everything possible during the flight, along with a medical professional who was assisting on board," the statement continued. "We have remained in contact with the family and are continuing to offer our support and assistance. Related: CEO Sues American Airlines, Claiming Flight Attendant Dismissed Her Worries About Man Allegedly Masturbating in First Class A similar incident on the European budget airline took place last month, when a flight heading to England from Egypt was forced to make an emergency landing in Greece after the pilot reportedly collapsed. The aircraft was traveling from Hurghada to Manchester on Feb. 8 when the pilot experienced a medical emergency, a spokesperson for easyJet previously told PEOPLE. The co-pilot was forced to divert and land the plane in Athens. "The first officer performed a routine landing in accordance with standard operating procedures and the aircraft was met by paramedics on arrival in Athens," the airline said. Read the original article on People Cumberland County Prosecutor's Office Giovanni Impellizzeri A former elementary school janitor from New Jersey was sentenced to eight years in prison after he admitted to putting his own bodily fluids and waste into the food served to children. Giovanni Impellizzeri, 27, entered a guilty plea to charges of second-degree official misconduct and third-degree possession of child sexual abuse material back in January after making a deal with prosecutors, who dropped charges of aggravated assault, endangering the welfare of a child and tampering with food products. The Cumberland County Prosecutor's Office said in a news release that Impellizzeri will have to serve five years of his sentence before he is eligible for parole. The New Jersey State Police opened an investigation into Impellizzeri on Oct. 30, 2023 after school authorities notified them about reports coming in from parents regarding "alarming" videos of Impellizzeri on the encrypted app Telegram. 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. One individual reported seeing videos of Impellizzeri posted on the app which, according to the affidavit, showed him performing sexual acts with items from the school as well as doing things that would endanger the well-being of the students at the school. In one of those videos, Impellizzeri could be seen masturbating and urinating on pillows and kitchen bowls, the affidavit reads. Another video showed the janitor spraying bleach into a container of cucumbers that was later served to children at the school, with the intention of harming the students, according to the affidavit. He even used multiple pieces of bread to wipe his genitals as well as spitting on the bread before putting the bread back into the container to be later served to children at the school" in one video, according to the affidavit. Police were able to confirm the videos were taken during the time that Impellizzeri was an employee of the Upper Deerfield Township school district, and also found items identical to or matching the ones seen in the videos at the elementary school. The following day, police arrested Impellizzeri, and the Cumberland County Department of Health came in to ensure all items in the school kitchen were properly sanitized for the children. During the course of their ongoing investigation, police also discovered that the defendant was in possession of child sexual abuse materials, and added that offense to his list of charges. Impellizzeri admitted to his crimes in January while entering his plea, and in court on Friday apologized to his victims. Read the original article on People The worlds richest man is dying to figure out how lawmakers on Capitol Hill got strangely wealthy despite their comparatively modest public salaries. Speaking at a town hall in Wisconsin Sunday night, Elon Musk suggested that his team at the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) will investigate how certain members of Congress have achieved generational wealth. One attendee at the town hall had asked Musk if DOGE had uncovered evidence of funds wired from the US Agency for International Development (USAID) to Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.), Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY). Elon Musk alleged that members of Congress are lining their pockets with government dollars. REUTERS Theyll [the government] send the money overseas to one NGO [non-governmental organization], then theyll go through a bunch of them, and then Im highly confident that a bunch of that money then comes back to the United States and lands in the pockets of the people you just mentioned, Musk replied. But it is a circuitous route. It doesnt go directly, but lets just say that theres a lot of strangely wealthy members of Congress where Im trying to connect the dots of, How do they become rich?' Studies have suggested that more than half of reps in Congress are millionaires. Bloomberg via Getty Images Rank-and-file members of Congress make $174,000 annually. Last year, Musk whose net worth is pegged at $330 billion by Bloomberg helped kill legislation to raise congressional pay, then later supported an increase as a means of fighting corruption. Scores of lawmakers who have spent decades in Congress are millionaires. Two of the wealthiest include former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), who has a net worth of about $250 million, and Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.), whose personal fortune hovers around $552 million. Pelosis wealth largely comes from her and her venture capitalist husband Pauls lucrative investments in companies like Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, Google and Netflix. Elon Musk handed out $1 million checks to two Wisconsin voters during his town hall Sunday. AP Scotts personal fortunes largely stem from his work co-founding HCA Healthcare, a company that runs hospitals and other medical facilities around Florida, and Solantic, an urgent-care clinic chain. His work on both of those companies predates his time in the Senate. How do they get $20 million if theyre earning $200,000 a year? Musk further pondered. Were going to try to figure it out and certainly stop it from happening. Musk swung through Wisconsin on Sunday to rally support for Brad Schimel, a conservative Waukesha County judge, in the closely watched election for the state Supreme Court. Elon Musks DOGE team has been aggressively probing government expenditures. REUTERS During his visit, Musk handed out $1 million checks to two Badger State voters. The Tesla and SpaceX CEO has encouraged Wisconsin residents to sign his petition against activist judges to get prize money. I should say that the reason for the checks is that its really just to get attention, Musk explained about the prize money. And somewhat inevitably, when I do these things, it causes the legacy media to kind of lose their minds. The Wisconsin Supreme Court race pits Schimel against Dane County Judge Susan Crawford, with the winner having outsize sway over issues such as state abortion laws and redistricting. Control of the Wisconsin Supreme Court is seen as politically valuable given the ongoing battles between Democratic Gov. Tony Evers and the GOP-controlled state legislature. DELANO, Calif. Carolina Sanchez joined the United Farm Workers union in 2016 after the blueberry farm where she worked changed the daily rate for each pound she picked. They said if you dont like what youre paid, you can go home, Sanchez said. She organized the 500 workers at the Delano farm to strike with the UFWs support. Eventually, they won a union contract, and Sanchez was elected as the union representative at her workplace. This month, Sanchez began mobilizing her fellow workers to attend a march she was leading Monday, Cesar Chavez Day. Former UFW President Arturo Rodriguez addresses members at the rally Monday in Memorial Park in Delano, Calif. Sixty years after the historic Delano grape strike, which launched Chavezs 280-mile march to Sacramento with Filipino American and Mexican American farmworkers, over 5,000 United Farm Worker members and other union members gathered Monday in Delano for a march to the Forty Acres site where Chavez held his first public fast. This year's march focused on the Trump administrations recent immigration policies, in the hope that the rally, called con estas manos, or with these hands, reminds people about the workers who grow and pick their food. Farmworkers in California, who grow one-third of the countrys vegetables and three-fourths of its fruits and nuts, have reported growing fear and anxiety over a series of Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrests and deportations in the Central Valley. Around half of Californias farmworkers are undocumented, according to a study by the University of California, Merced, and according to the U.S. Agriculture Department, about 42% nationwide lack legal immigration status. UFW Secretary Treasurer Armando Elenes said those numbers tend to be underreported. We estimate its closer to 60 or 70 percent undocumented farmworkers" in California, he said. Elenes said Border Patrol has detained and deported around 200 farmworkers in Kern County. He said that calling for more temporary work visas isn't enough and that there's a need for broader labor protections for workers who fear being rounded up and separated from their families. We need to push back on the federal government. We need state and local laws that give our workers sick days, heat protection and health care, he said. Gabriel Leal said he witnessed some of his farmworker friends detained by Border Patrol during raids in January. At the march, representatives from other labor organizations, like the California Federation of Labor Unions and SEIU California, addressed the crowd, and California Attorney General Rob Bonta shared his familys story. Being here is like coming home for me I grew up with my parents working for United Farm Workers, and I know the fight is not about the grapes or the lettuce, but its about the people, said Bonta, who was born in the Philippines and whose mother helped organize Filipino and Mexican farmworkers. The march allowed farmworkers like Gabriel Leal, who picks grapes and cherries, to feel supported by the turnout. ICE rounded up a few of his friends during the January raids. They were stationed along the roads, stopping anyone, he said. Even if were afraid, we have to go into work without us, whos going to feed our families? Whos going to feed our country? But not everyone in the region is unhappy about the Trump administrations immigration policies and deportation measures. Alex Dominguez, a Kern County resident who identifies as a Republican and comes from generations of field workers, said he and his family members are cautiously optimistic about the ICE arrests. A part of me understands the worries and concerns from the larger community around increased police presence, said Dominguez, a water and agriculture attorney. But from what Ive seen, its the bad guys that are being taken, and that makes our Latino families safer. Dominguez, who is also the vice president of the Kern County Farm Bureau, said he's listening to growers, ranchers and farmworkers but doesnt believe the immigration measures have stopped any of them from being able to do their jobs. These workers have to make money, so not going to work is not an option, Dominguez said. During the march, Cesar Chavezs son Paul Chavez said the point of the mobilization isnt to change peoples minds. Were gathering people who want to stand up to racism and xenophobia to show that there are people who are on their side, he said. Sanchez was hopeful that the march sends a message that immigrant workers everywhere are supported. All of us workers understand what Chavez accomplished and will never forget his legacy, she said. A Washington Army National Guard soldier works on a machine gun ahead of mission in 2021. Washington Military Department (The Center Square) Amid rising tensions with Washington, D.C., state lawmakers advanced a bill Friday that would grant Gov. Bob Ferguson authority to prohibit another National Guard from entering his state. The Senate State Government, Tribal Affairs & Elections Committee gave its approval Friday afternoon following a public hearing earlier that week. Democrats voted to advance the proposal to the Rules Committee without discussion, setting it up for consideration on the chamber floor. The majority party passed House Bill 1321 out of the chamber of origin earlier this month with a party-line vote. If the Rules Committee sends it to the Senate floor for a vote over the coming weeks, Democrats could make it law without a single Republican vote, demonstrating their reach. We see the political winds change every four years in the other Washington right, Rep. Sharlett Mena, D-Tacoma, testified during the March 25 hearing. Regardless of whats going on in Washington, D.C., Washington state should be able to enforce the policies and values that we have and not have other states coming in to enforce their policies without our consent. If approved, Washington state would join Idaho, Kansas, Maine, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Carolina and Texas in passing the law. Mena said the language is almost identical to that passed by the other states, adding that were a little late to the party. Every state has a National Guard, which operates under three different statuses. However, Republicans have cited confusion over what Mena is trying to fix with her proposal. The statuses dictate when to activate the guard but under different levels of control. State Active Duty gives the governor sole control; Title 10 of the United States Code allows the president to federalize any guard troops; and Title 32 of the U.S.C. offers a hybrid, where the president authorizes the guard for federal duties under the governors control. If approved, HB 1321 would reaffirm that guard troops can operate under state authority but cannot deploy into Washington state without Fergusons approval. However, it doesnt change the presidents authority to federalize and deploy troops across state lines without permission. Nick Fielden, an analyst with the Office of the Attorney General, testified in support of the bill on March 25. Representing state Attorney General Nick Brown, the successor to Fergusons position, Fielden said HB 1321 mirrors Idahos historic interpretation, passed in 1927 and last amended in the 1950s. It does not obstruct our National Guards mission. It does not affect our current state compacts or our ability to train or combat natural disasters, Fielden testified. It simply gives Washington state a protection that many other states, including Idaho, Maine and Texas, already have. During the House floor debate, Rep. Jim Walsh, R-Aberdeen, said Menas bill focuses on a very small slice of scenarios: instances in which neighboring states might need help without federalizing the guard but dont have existing agreements with Washington state. The Center Square reached out to Fergusons staff and Senate Republican leadership for comment but did not receive an immediate response. If passed, HB 1321 would take effect immediately. This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately, according to the bill. The U.S. innovates, China iterates. That aphorismor its less flattering version, China imitatesdominates many conversations about the relative strengths of the worlds largest and second-largest economies. The U.S., the narrative goes, sits on the technological frontier, creating groundbreaking products and services that chart the course of the world economy. China takes those ideas and builds on them, spitting out cheaperand perhaps inferiorversions. In AI, that cliche seemed for years to be based in fact, as Chinese companies struggled to keep up with free-spending, talent-rich U.S. tech giants. But this January, a Chinese startup undercut that narrative. Hangzhou-based DeepSeeknot even a tech company, strictly speaking, but an offshoot of a hedge fund called High-Flyerreleased R1, a reasoning large language model (LLM) that matched the performance of OpenAIs o1, which had been released just a few months earlier. Not only had R1 seemingly come out of nowhere, it was both remarkably innovative and astoundingly cheap. The final training run for its predecessor, V3, had cost a mere $6 million, according to DeepSeeka joke of a budget, in the words of former Tesla AI scientist Andrej Karpathy, compared with the tens or hundreds of millions spent on some of its U.S. rivals. The impact of the news was enormous: As R1 rocketed to the top of most-popular download lists, Big Tech investors panicked, wiping out over $1 trillion in value from tech stocks like Nvidia and Microsoft. Leaders like OpenAI CEO Sam Altman agonized in public and mused about converting to open-sourceas DeepSeek had done, making its model publicly available and modifiable, and therefore cheaper to use. A lot of us, including myself, got this wrong, in terms of Chinas ability to develop these cutting-edge breakthroughs, says Jeffrey Ding, assistant professor of political science at George Washington University and author of the ChinAI newsletter. U.S. unease has been matched by Chinese glee. DeepSeek founder Liang Wenfeng got a coveted seat at a February meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping and private-sector leadersalongside luminaries like Alibaba founder Jack Ma and Huawei founder Ren Zhengfei. Major Chinese companies like EV maker BYD and home-appliance maker Midea are rushing to integrate DeepSeeks model into their own products. Its been a jolt of optimism in a China where pessimism reigned. DeepSeek could single handedly jump-start the economy in ways the government could never figure out how to do, says Paul Triolo, technology policy lead at advisory firm DGAAlbright Stonebridge Group. But DeepSeek is just one player in a vibrant Chinese AI sector to which many U.S. CEOs have been oblivious. Big Tech companies like Alibaba and ByteDance (the parent of TikTok) are releasing AI models that have beaten Western products on reasoning benchmarks. And a new wave of smaller AI dragons are putting Chinas cheap and efficient AI to work in the real world, through mobile apps, AI agents, and robots. Investors, meanwhile, have rushed back into Chinese tech stocks. The Hang Seng Tech Index, which tracks tech companies listed in Hong Kong, is up 35% year to dateled by stocks like Alibaba; Kuaishou, which created the text-to-video AI model Kling; and SMIC, Chinas national champion chipmaker, which is helping Huawei make AI chips. While investors were taken aback by DeepSeeks arrival, few longterm observers of Chinas economy were surprised. AI could become the latest of many industries in which being a fast follower helped the country achieve parity, or even dominance. Chinese solar panels and wind turbines are already powering the worlds transition to renewable energy. Chinese electric vehicles have helped make China the worlds largest car exporterand even non-Chinese EVs are powered by Chinese batteries. And in areas like drones, robotics, and biotechnology, Chinese companies are global leaders. Some Western CEOs are dismissive of these achievements, attributing them to government subsidies, IP theft, smuggling, and export control violations. But the factors that have enabled China to keep up in various technological races have proved to be both durable and powerful: a massive manufacturing base; an eagerness to imitate foreign competitors; a deep pool of talent; and a government thats able to act as backer and cheerleader. Chinas innovators may be more focused on tailor-made problem-solving rather than the breakthrough, systemwide thinking found in the U.S., explains Keyu Jin, an economist and author of The New China Playbook. But that style of targeted, good enough innovation enables China to mass-produce technology that can be priced affordably even when, like DeepSeek, it approaches the cutting edge. And as Western business leaders worry about how theyll foot the bill for AI advances, China could soon be selling what the rest of the world wants. A quick rebound As recently as two years ago, China appeared to be doomed to fall far behind in Al. In 2020, Beijing embarked on an extended campaign to curb Chinas tech sector, which some political leaders viewed as both too powerful and too irresponsible. A once-steady flow of Chinese tech IPOs dried up as Beijing imposed stricter rules around data privacy. OpenAIs ChatGPT rollout in 2022 made the breadth of the AI gap clearer. Subsequently released Chinese-made LLMs generally performed worse than ChatGPTeven when operating in the Chinese language. Meanwhile, U.S. export controls stopped Chinese companies from acquiring Nvidias AI chips, which were key to training and running LLMs. Ding points to the fall of 2024 as the time when the narrative shifted. You started to see the gap closing, he says, particularly in the open-source space, where Chinese companies were starting to optimize for smaller-size models that could be trained more efficiently. Chinas AI sector, meanwhile, had been hatching waves of new startups. First were the little dragons, machine learning and computer vision companies like SenseTime and Megvii that attracted global attention. When energy shifted to generative AI, attention moved to the AI tigersBaichuan, Moonshot, MiniMax, and Zhipu. Now, theyve been overshadowed by the newest set of dragons: six Hangzhou-based startups, including DeepSeek. Hangzhou, the home of Alibaba, is the hotbed of Chinas AI innovation. It has the strength of being far away from Beijing to avoid all kinds of bureaucratic procedures; the benefit of being so close to Shanghai to access international capital and talent; and an extremely strong talent pool thanks to Alibaba, NetEase, and others, explains Grace Shao, founder of Proem, an AI consultancy. Alibaba itself has been a booster of opensource creators: The top 10 LLMs ranked by performance on Hugging Face, an open-source AI community, are trained on Alibabas Tongyi Qianwen models. A giant screen shows news footage of Deepseek Founder Liang Wenfeng and Tencent's Pony Ma attending a symposium on private enterprises, at a shopping complex in Beijing, China February 17, 2025. REUTERS/Florence Lo Among the citys buzzy new dragons are Unitree, whose dancing robots performed at this years televised Spring Festival Gala, watched by hundreds of millions of Chinese viewers; Game Science, the studio whose Black Myth: Wukong was one of 2024s fastest-selling video games; and Manycore, a spatial intelligence firm that focuses on 3D rendering. How has Chinas AI sector managed to catch up so quickly? One reason is that China is, well, really big. Shao notes that DeepSeeks user base took a major leap when Tencent, operator of the ubiquitous WeChat platform, offered DeepSeeks LLM to its more than 1 billion usersand immediately made the startup one of the biggest names in Chinas AI sector. Government plays a key role in determining how to leverage that scale. Through policies, regulations, and subsidies, officials nationwide create a state-coordinated innovation system, and the private sector tends to rally around that systems priorities. The government plays a cheerleading role, Triolo says: When Liang Wenfeng meets with Premier Li Qiang and President Xi Jinping, thats a signal. Indeed, that high-level February meeting unleashed Chinas DeepSeek hype: First, Chinese telecom companies embraced and promoted its LLMs, then tech and consumer companies followed suit, and then finally local officials. Ironically, U.S. export controls on semiconductors may have accelerated Chinas innovation. Money has never been the problem for us; bans on shipments of advanced chips are the problem, Liang told Chinese media last year. For years Chinas chip industry had struggled to get off the ground, as manufacturers could buy better chips from overseas. But the U.S. trade restrictions mobilized the entire nation to go after the cutting edge, says Jin, the economist. Huawei, the telecom giant, is now at the forefront of Chinas advanced-chip supply chain. Its Ascend AI chipswhile still not as powerful as Nvidiasare being used by startups like DeepSeek for inference, or the running of AI models in real-world situations once theyve been trained. The final element is talent: Chinas universities are churning out passionate engineers whom AI startups can tap. While some DeepSeek engineers are Western-trained, Triolo notes that Liang Wenfeng went out and recruited these top peopleyoung people who didnt have experience in the West, who werent trained at MIT and Stanford. CEOs, he adds, are blown away by the quality of people coming out of second-, third-, and fourth-tier universities in China. You cant find those kinds of people, in those numbers, at U.S. universities. Some observers also see a sea change in attitudes among founders from Chinas 90s generation. Older tech founders thought it was okay to copy, but make it better, Shao suggests. Now [entrepreneurs] talk about open-source being a philosophical choice. China can innovate and not just copy. Hurdles to clear As disruptive as DeepSeeks success has been, it doesnt necessarily presage that China will gain the dominance in AI that it currently holds in, say, solar panels or EVs. Among other hurdles, Chinese tech startups lack the capitalization opportunities that can give their counterparts in the U.S. copious funding and a clear exit strategy. The tech crackdown of the early 2020s slowed Chinas already sluggish venture capital space to an almost complete halt. There are few VC firms based in China itself, and foreign venture investors pulled back as geopolitical tensions rose with the U.S. (DeepSeek, notably, had no venture backing, instead relying on the deep pockets of its hedge fund parent company.) Chart shows amounts of capital raised by greater-China-focused VC/PE funds Chinese stock exchanges have taken a dim view of unprofitable startups. For a while, Chinas startups went to New York for their IPOs, but scrutiny from Washington and Beijing has choked off that flow. The capital markets are just so underdeveloped, immature, and illiquid, Triolo says. Its a big problem. Its keeping people up late at night in Beijing. At Marchs so-called Two Sessions political gathering, where Beijing unveiled its economic priorities for the year, Chinese leaders said they would start a national venture capital guidance fund that would mobilize 1 trillion Chinese yuan ($138 billion) toward hard technologya tacit admission that the private sector would need a boost from the state. But as DeepSeeks accomplishments suggest, Chinese AI startups may not need enormous sums to become globally competitive. Chinese officials now support the relatively cheap open-source development of AI models as a way to encourage broader adoption of Chinese-made technology. And companies like Alibaba argue that open-source models will encourage more customers to use their ecosystems. The AI models that emerge may not earn wide adoption in the U.S. under an increasingly protectionist Trump administration. But they could win customers in the rest of the world. DeepSeeks focus on efficiency and openness may be a better fit than expensive, OpenAI style proprietary technology in emerging markets that are long on ingenuity but short on computing power and capital. Chinese companies have already showed the massive inroads they can make in foreign markets with cheap-but-reliable solar panels, cheap EVs, and cheap phones. If the likes of DeepSeek and Alibaba can continue to lower the need for the costliest kinds of computing power, the so-called Global South could well pass up the best AI in the world for the best AI it can afford. This article appears in the April/May 2025 issue of Fortune with the headline "China launches an AI comeback." This story was originally featured on Fortune.com Big Tech is set to spend hundreds of billions of dollars this year, much of it to construct huge data centers that will power the industry's artificial intelligence efforts. But President Trump's tariffs could push those costs higher, analysts told Yahoo Finance, raising both the price of construction materials and data center equipment produced in targeted countries. Overall, CBRE estimates Trump's tariffs will raise construction costs for commercial projects by 3% to 5%. Steel, aluminum, and copper products targeted by Trump are the building blocks of data centers, used for the facilities' structures, electrical infrastructures, and cooling systems. "As they [Big Tech companies] try to build out AI data centers, this is going to have an effect on their ability to do so," CSIS director of strategic technologies Matt Pearl told Yahoo Finance. Amazon (AMZN), Microsoft (MSFT), Google (GOOG), and Meta (META) so-called Big Tech hyperscalers that operate data centers around the country, some of which they own and some of which they lease have said they will spend a cumulative $325 billion in 2025 as they rush to build out infrastructure. But Trump has implemented new blanket tariffs of around 20% on Chinese imports in addition to existing 10% duties that went into place during his first term. He plans to enact 25% tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico April 2, as well as reciprocal tariffs on all other countries. On top of those country-specific tariffs, Trump said this week he would impose an import tax on internationally produced semiconductors "down the road," though it's unclear what such duties would look like, as Yahoo Finance's Dan Howley wrote. Read more: The latest news and updates on Trump's tariffs Tariff czar: President Trump speaks at a reception celebrating Women's History Month in the East Room of the White House on March 26. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) (ASSOCIATED PRESS) In 2024, the US imported roughly $33 billion in computer parts from Taiwan, including Nvidia's (NVDA) GPUs, according to US trade data compiled by supply chain analyst and Michigan State University professor Jason Miller. US trade data also shows the country imported $43 billion in "computers" a data classification category that includes data center servers from Mexico and an additional $34 billion worth of the goods from China. In other words, lots of data center equipment used to operate facilities is coming into the US from Mexico, China, and Taiwan. Trump hasn't provided information on the level at which he will tariff goods from Taiwan. Then there are electrical components needed to build data centers. "The supply chain has been constrained for years and getting access to the components necessary to build data centers and the infrastructure that supports data centers," Barclays analyst Brendan Lynch explained. "In particular, the electrical components, such as transformers, has been a constraint on growth in the industry, to the extent many of those components are coming from overseas, that would increase the cost [of data center construction] if tariffs were implemented." Still, he said, data center operators are so hungry to build out their AI capacity that they may simply take the hit from tariffs to get ahead. Lynch continued: "They will definitely spend more ... it's just going to affect the yield on the project for the data center developer [data center companies whose facilities are leased and operated by Big Tech hyperscalers] or it's going to cost the hyperscaler more if they're doing it internally." StockStory aims to help individual investors beat the market. Correction: A previous version of this story misstated the new tariff rate on Chinese imports enacted by the Trump administration as 10%. It is 20%. Laura Bratton is a reporter for Yahoo Finance. Follow her on Bluesky @laurabratton.bsky.social. Email her at laura.bratton@yahooinc.com. Click here for the latest technology news that will impact the stock market Read the latest financial and business news from Yahoo Finance Takeshia Bryant/Facebook Takeshia Eads A Florida man has been arrested for the murder of his wife, after he allegedly shot her in their home soon after she filed for divorce. According to the Orange County Sheriff's Office, 41-year-old Lamar Bryant was arrested for first-degree murder in the recent death of his wife, Takeshia Eads. Her family has asked the media to use 42-year-old Takeshia's maiden name, Eads, per local outlets WESH and WOWT. Citing the sheriff's office, WESH reported that deputies initially responded to a report of a possible shooting at the couple's home in Orlo Vista, just west of Orlando, at around 3:45 p.m. on Tuesday, March 25. In a 911 call, the person reporting the shooting can be heard telling the dispatcher, "My son-in-law shot my daughter!" per an arrest affidavit obtained by WESH. Investigators then found a woman, later identified as Eads, who had sustained a gunshot wound to the head, per WOWT. She was taken to an area hospital and was later pronounced dead. OrangeCoSheriff/Facebook Lamar Bryant mugshot WOWT reported that Eads had recently filed for divorce from Bryant, according to investigators, but Bryant allegedly did not want to sign them. The two were married for 10 years. Prior to the shooting, investigators said that Bryant had picked up one of their daughters from school, stopping at a liquor store and then a storage unit on their way home, per WESH. The young girl whose identity has not been made public told investigators that he kept guns in the unit, and when he returned to the car, he "removed two firearms from his pockets and placed them on the center console." When the pair returned to the house, Eads was standing outside. She and Bryant went inside the house together, and gunshots were heard soon after, per WESH. 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. Eads' oldest daughter, Cordeja Paige, spoke to WFTV and WESH about her mother's death, remembering her as a kind person who cared deeply for her church community and as a loving mom of four kids and a grandmother of five. It was God first, her kids, and her family. She would give the shirt off her back to anybody, Paige told WFTV. Paige also spoke out about taking action against domestic violence, speaking directly to people experiencing abuse. Its not going to get better. So, it doesnt matter how much you love the person or how much you feel like the person is going to change, its not going to happen. And if you do have kids, think about your kids first, Paige continued. She added of her mother: "She touched a lot of people, and she touched a lot of lives, so she was a good woman." Bryant is being held without bond after making his initial court appearance, the outlets reported. Court records show his next court date is on Monday, April 1. 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 Reuters French far-right figurehead Marine Le Pen has been banned from running for political office for five years after being found guilty of embezzling European Union funds, in a politically explosive ruling that has shattered her hopes of winning the presidency in 2027. A Paris court also handed Le Pen, who was the frontrunner for the next election, a four-year prison sentence with two years suspended, to be served under house arrest, and a 100,000 ($108,000) fine. Le Pen will file an appeal, her lawyer said. Her party, National Rally (RN), was ordered to pay 2 million in fines for the 4.1 million that it was accused of embezzling. The courts presiding judge, Benedicte de Perthuis, said Le Pens actions amounted to a serious and lasting attack on the rules of democratic life in Europe, but especially in France. She said Le Pens immediate ban on standing for office was tied to democratic public unrest that would result from the election of a person convicted of embezzlement. Le Pen slammed the ruling as a purely political decision during an appearance on French TV station TF1 on Monday evening. Le Pen stressed that the rule of law was completely violated through the ruling, saying that her right to an effective recourse under the European Convention of Human Rights had been denied. US President Donald Trump said on Monday that Le Pens conviction was a very big deal. She was banned from running for five years and shes the leading candidate that sounds like this country, he told reporters in the Oval Office. The decision also looks set to spark further unrest. Jordan Bardella, Le Pens protege who succeeded her as RNs president, launched a petition to drum up support for her. Bardella called on members of the French public to sign the petition and show through popular and peaceful mobilization that the will of the people is stronger. He also suggested that it was not only Le Pen who is being unjustly condemned: it is French democracy that is being executed. Marion Marechal, Le Pens niece and a Member of the European Parliament for a rival far-right party, said her aunt had led our side on the path to victory. This is her only guilt, and that is why she is condemned. Calm and composed as she entered the court on Monday, greeting supporters, Le Pen grew increasingly agitated, shaking her head as the court president spent more than an hour detailing the embezzlement scheme. The question therefore arises in a singular way in this criminal case which makes its decision in the name of the French people. The court must not ignore the requirement to seek a social consensus, the presiding judge said. Le Pen and Bardella speak during a National Rally meeting in Paris in September 2024. - Ludovic Marin/AFP/Getty Images De Perthuis said her fellow judges had weighed the two risks in their sentencing: the risk of a person convicted for embezzlement being elected for political office and the major risk to public order if a likely presidential candidate was banned from running. Le Pen left the courthouse as she was invited by court officials to hear her full sentencing, then refused to answer questions from journalists as she arrived at her partys headquarters in Paris. Le Pen told TF1 that she left the courtroom before the judgement was read out because she realized the president of the court was in the process of handing down a political decision. A shock to the Fifth Republic Le Pen, her National Rally (RN) party and more than 20 of its members were convicted of using European Parliament money to pay staff who were in fact working for RN in France. Nine members of the European Parliament, including Le Pen, and 12 assistants were found guilty. The court ruled that Le Pen had used four party employees as parliamentary assistants, including her personal assistant and her bodyguard, misusing European Union funds for her own political party. Le Pen and her colleagues embezzled more than 4 million over more than 11 years, the court ruled. The decision has scuppered Le Pens ambitions to win the Elysee Palace at her fourth attempt in 2027, when President Emmanuel Macron will be unable to seek a third consecutive term. Le Pen had branded the case against her a witchhunt, mirroring language that US President Donald Trump used against legal proceedings that targeted him. Her right-wing European allies also quickly rallied to her defense after the decision. Je suis Marine, Viktor Orban, Hungarys prime minister and a champion of socially conservative politics in Europe, posted on X following the conviction, with Italian far-right leader and Matteo Salvini slamming the decision. Le Pen had been the frontrunner to succeed Macron as French president in 2027. - Alain Jocard/AFP/Getty Images The Trump administration has also railed against perceived attacks on far-right politicians in Europe, including a court decision to re-run the Romanian presidential election, which saw a surprise win by a far-right candidate. Administration officials, most notably US Vice President JD Vance, have publicly backed far-right groups in Europe, including the anti-immigration Alternative for Germany (AfD) party in Germany. Shortly after Le Pens sentencing began, the Kremlin said that her conviction showed Europe was trampling on democratic norms. At the time of her trial, even former Macron ministers came out in protest at the idea of her losing the right to stand for office. Current French Justice Minister Gerald Darmanin posted on X in November that it would be profoundly shocking if she were to be barred from elections. Le Pens conviction is the latest in a long line of financial irregularities committed by prominent French politicians. Former President Nicolas Sarkozy is currently awaiting sentencing for corruption and influence peddling. Sarkozy had already been convicted in 2021 of corruption and influence peddling, with a three-year prison sentence, two years of which were suspended. He did not go to prison but was obliged to wear a GPS-tracking ankle bracelet. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Thai police have arrested a French fugitive on the tropical holiday island of Phuket over a deadly prison breakout that freed a notorious drug lord nicknamed "The Fly." Adonis Correa, 24, is the latest of two dozen suspects to be detained in a sprawling international manhunt after the shocking escape of suspected gangland kingpin Mohamed Amra from a prison van in northern France in May 2024. Correa is considered by investigators to be a "close friend" of Amra, who was arrested in Romania last month after nine months on the run as France's "public enemy number one." Correa was arrested on Wednesday in the southern island of Phuket, a hugely popular beach destination for millions of tourists, French sources and Thai police said on Thursday. "Thai immigration police have arrested a French national linked to a transnational criminal organization involved in a violent prison break that resulted in the deaths of prison officers," Thai police said in a statement. The shocking, violent nature of Amra's escape last year stunned France and made headlines around the world. Masked gunmen armed with military-grade automatic weapons attacked a prison van transporting him at a motorway toll plaza, killing two guards and wounding three others. Interpol had issued a red notice at the request of France for the arrest of Amra. Amra, who is suspected of pursuing his drug-related activities and even ordering murders from his prison cell, went on the run and was eventually tracked down in Bucharest and sent back to France. Police officers escort Mohamed Amra, nicknamed ''The Fly Prosecutors at the time said Amra, who had changed his appearance and dyed his hair, had been identified through facial recognition tools and his fingerprints. At least 2 dozen suspects detained Correa is the latest of two dozen suspects detained as part of the French probe into the breakout. He entered Thailand on a tourist visa Feb. 8 through Phuket International Airport before an arrest warrant and Interpol red notice were issued against him, according to Thai police. Thai authorities said they tracked Correa to the Kamala and Patong areas of Phuket and arrested him on Wednesday. His lawyer in France, Joseph Hazan, told AFP on Thursday that his client had turned himself in. "He presented himself to Thai authorities, with whom we have been in contact for several days," Hazan said, adding that his client had not yet made a statement and would "explain himself to the French judges." Thai officials have canceled Correa's visa and he is now being held in Bangkok while his deportation to France is arranged. Thailand and France do not have an extradition treaty but sources told AFP they expect Correa to be sent back some time next week. "The Fly" has history of violent crime, officials say Amra has a long history of convictions for violent crimes that started when he was only 15, according to judicial sources. "He is very well-known to the judiciary," Paris chief prosecutor Laure Beccuau said previously. Amra has close links to organized crime, said another source close to the case who asked not to be identified, and is suspected of ordering killings linked to the drugs trade. Another source who asked not to be named said Amra runs his own drug trafficking network. However, none of his 13 prior convictions for crimes ranging from armed robbery to extortion were directly related to the narcotics business, said Beccuau. He was jailed in January 2022 in Evreux prison in the northwestern Normandy region to serve several sentences, including for criminal conspiracy, extortion, robbery, armed violence and participation in an illegal motor rodeo. At the time of his escape he was also facing two fresh charges, one for attempted murder and another for participation in a gangland killing in the southern city of Marseille on the French riviera, a hub for drug trafficking and gang violence. 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 Courtesy of Westin Bora Bora Resort & Spa Aerial view of the Westin Bora Bora Resort & Spa during sunset. The Westin Bora Bora Resort & Spa Most of the resort's bungalows are overwater, providing ample privacy, direct access to Bora Bora's famous lagoon, and, in some cases, individual plunge pools. There are three bars and three restaurants to choose from, one of which features a rotating tasting menu. The beautiful private beach, with views of Mount Otemanu, offers waterside activities for guests of all ages. Guests can learn about the conservation of sea turtles in French Polynesia at the on-site eco center through guided tours and educational seminars. Wellness activities aboundwhether at the on-site spa for a massage or a solo workout in the fitness center. As I sat in my plunge pool on a clear Sunday afternoon, I took a moment to listen to the soothing sound of gentle waves lapping against the stilts of my overwater bungalow. Below, a school of bright blue fish swam by, while directly in front of me stood Mount Otemanuan extinct volcano and the highest point of the island of Bora Bora, looking like a setting right out of Jurassic Park. Right then, as the sun was starting to set, turning the sky a light yellowish pink, it dawned on me just how special Bora Bora really is. This was one of many moments of idyllic reflectionand sensory overloadI experienced throughout my stay at The Westin Bora Bora Resort & Spa, the newest resort to open on the French Polynesian island since 2017. My mom and I arrived here after nearly 24 hours of travel from the East Coast. But three flights and one short boat ride from the airport later, we were pulling up to the resort's welcome dock as a rainy-season storm began to subside, and the clouds slowly drifted away, unveiling towering Mount Otemanu. Courtesy of Westin Bora Bora Resort & Spa The entryway at the resort. The resort's buildings are not exactly new; Le Meridien Bora Bora used to sit on this plot of the atoll, but following an extensive renovation and rebrand, as of September 2024, The Westin Bora Bora Resort & Spa offers a completely new experience. There are 142 bungalows, each with its own private terrace with direct access to either the lagoon or the crystal-blue waters of the ocean. All 128 overwater bungalows are connected by a long, winding boardwalk. Guests can ride along the pathway on the hotels blue and pink bikes at all hours of the day and night; the policy is 'leave a bike, take a bike,' which adds to the laid-back vibe of this resort. However, the quality of service remains. After day two, the staff at Tipanier, one of three restaurants and the go-to breakfast spot, brought my and my moms coffee order as soon as we were seated. Snorkeling gear was left outside the door of our bungalow following an off-hand comment I made to a waiter about seeing stingrays from our plunge pool. At the spa, the masseuse added a local soothing serum to aid in the healing of my back sunburn. And, on our final night, at Maere, the resorts signature restaurant, the chef cooked the raw seafood courses for my mom, who does not eat raw fish. Below, my full review of The Westin Bora Bora Resort & Spa. The Rooms The resort is home to the largest collection of overwater bungalows in Bora Bora, all blending modern comforts and a natural feel that seamlessly integrates with the outdoors. Each varies in size, depending on its location along the boardwalk, and some have private plunge pools on the terrace. Closer to the hub of the property, 14 family-friendly beach bungalows overlook a private lagoon. For our stay, we were housed in the premium Otemanu overwater bungalow, which, as the name suggests, has some of the best views of Bora Bora's famous mountain. There was a see-through glass panel on the floor, a large terrace with a dining table, a private plunge pool, and a step ladder that led right into the water. The outdoor Bluetooth speaker was a nice touch, too, perfect for my evening swims during sunset. In the bedroom, the signature Westin Heavenly Bed was a standout. My mom loved it so much that she immediately ordered the pillows for our house as soon as we flew back home. Food and Drink There are three bars and three restaurants to choose from, all of which have a distinct menu. The one we frequented the most was Tipanier, named after French Polynesia's fragrant Plumeria blooms. This French-inspired eatery along the lagoon serves an over-the-top breakfast buffet and dinner of seasonal dishes. At Varavara, the poisson crua Tahitian dish prepared with raw tuna, coconut milk, and lime juicewas so fresh and delicious that I ordered it three times during my stay. On our final night, we ate at Maere, the hotels signature restaurant, offering a rotating tasting menu using only locally sourced ingredients. Wine pairing is also available. Here, highlights include the homemade dried swordfish with fresh coconut milk and grilled tuna steak with sweet potatoes. More relaxed optionswith excellent drink offeringsinclude the poolside restaurant Te Ava, OA on the second floor of the resort, and Honu Tiki. The latter is a beachside bar that serves daily happy hourguests would flock from their poolside lounge chairs to the swinging beach chairs for a mudslide. We stayed at the resort during the rainy season, just before the holiday rush, and restaurants were alternating their hours of operation. So, we ended up dining alongside the same guests and were serviced by the same staff members, which contributed to the resort's comfortable atmosphere. Activities and Experiences Courtesy of Westin Bora Bora Resort & Spa Aerial view of the main resort pool and beach. There are plenty of activities and experiences on-site, and as a result, guests get to know each other pretty quickly. The Westin Bora Bora Resort & Spa has the largest swimming pool in Bora Bora, complete with a swim-up bar, in-water loungers, and adjacent cabanas that are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Along the private beach, youll find stand-up paddle boards, kayaks, or Hydrofoil bikes available all day long. There are also daily group activities such as a coconut palm weaving class, shell crafting, or a flower crown weaving session. Courtesy of Westin Bora Bora Resort & Spa Guests can take out kayaks or other water sport activities. If you are looking to leave the hotel and dive deeper into Tahitian culture, the resort's team can arrange an off-property excursion like diving, snorkeling, or a Jeep tour of the island. My mom and I took part in a lagoon cruise with a shark and stingray activity. We spent the entire day with a local guide, swimming with wildlife, taking in the scenery, and enjoying lunch on a palm-fringed motu, a small island, in the lagoon. The Spa Courtesy of Westin Bora Bora Resort & Spa View from a treatment cabin at the Heavenly Spa. The Heavenly Spa by Westin is a tranquil space located toward the back of the resort, just a short walk or quick bike ride away. The spa treatments stem from Polynesian wellness traditions and holistic, Asian-inspired therapies. I had booked a traditional deep-tissue massage; however, I showed up with a dramatic sunburn. The accommodating masseuse used her expertise to ensure I still had an extremely relaxing and beneficial experience. There is also a well-equipped fitness center and a variety of workout classes, such as sunrise yoga, Pilates, or Tahitian dance. Family-friendly Offerings Stephan Debelle/Courtesy of Westin Bora Bora Resort & Spa A turtle at the Eco Center Bora Bora. While Bora Bora has a reputation for being a honeymooners' paradise, there are plenty of family-friendly activities here, too. The Eco Center Bora Bora, originally founded in 2000, provides an excellent opportunity to engage young travelers in an educational experience. The on-site center is where locals and visitors can turn in injured sea turtles found in the wild. The hotel offers a guided tour and seminars, and allows guests to observe the daily release of rescued turtles into the lagoon. During my stay, two sea turtles were being cared for at the Eco Center. Accessibility and Sustainability The Westin Bora Bora Resort & Spa has ADA-compliant features. There is a ramp and wheelchair access in the main public spaces. Four bungalows accommodate guests with disabilities: two overwater bungalows with a view of the lagoon and two beach bungalows equipped with a plunge pool. Location Many resorts in Bora Bora are not located on the main island but rather on the atoll that surrounds it, and The Westin Bora Bora Resort & Spa is no exception. One of the hotels speed boats will pick you up from the airport, and the ride to the resort is just under 15 minutes. Upon arrival, the setting is truly stunning and tranquil, with unobstructed views of Mount Otemanu as the main selling point. There is a private lagoon that flows through the entire property, adding to the picturesque setting. How to Get the Most Value Out of Your Stay The Westin Bora Bora Resort & Spa is under the Marriott umbrella, so Marriott Bonvoy members can book a stay using points. Nightly rates range between 70,000 and 85,000 points, and if you book four nights, you'll get the fifth one free. Doubles from $1,000. Read the original article on Travel & Leisure A person walks on campus at University of Minnesota in Minneapolis on April 21, 2020. (Glenn Stubbe/Star Tribune via AP, File) (ASSOCIATED PRESS) MINNEAPOLIS (AP) A University of Minnesota graduate student who was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement was taken into custody because of a drunken driving infraction, not for being involved in protests, federal officials said Monday. This is not related to student protests," Tricia McLaughlin, assistant secretary at the Department of Homeland Security, said in a statement. "The individual in question was arrested after a visa revocation by the State Dept. related to a prior criminal history for a DUI. News of the student's detention and the lack of an official explanation sparked student protests and expressions of concern from university and political leaders. Gov. Tim Walz told reporters Monday that he spoke with Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem about it Friday and was still waiting for further details. Meanwhile, officials at Minnesota State University Mankato said Monday that one of their students had been detained by ICE as well. President Edward Inch said in a letter to the campus community that the student was detained Friday at an off-campus residence. No reason was given. The University has received no information from ICE, and they have not requested any information from us, Inch wrote. I have contacted our elected officials to share my concerns and ask for their help in stopping this activity within our community of learners. The Mankato school did not name the student, nor give the student's nationality or field of study. ICE did not immediately respond to a request for details on that case. This is becoming a deeply concerning pattern, where ICE detains students with little to no explanation ... and ignores their rights to due process, U.S. Sen. Tina Smith said in a statement. I will keep pressing the administration for answers about these arrests and work to get answers from federal immigration authorities about this case. The University of Minnesota has not named its student either. That student, who was detained at an off-campus residence on Thursday, was enrolled in the business school on the Minneapolis campus. University spokesperson Andria Waclawski said the school had no further updates Monday. She said earlier that they were following the lead of the student and respecting their request for privacy, while providing the student with legal aid and other supports. The governor said Monday that, A deep concern is, here, that no matter what the situation was, in this country, everyone has due process rights and our concern is whether those due process rights are being followed." President Donald Trump's 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 with ties to universities are known to have been taken into custody or deported in recent weeks. Most of those detainees have shown support for Palestinian causes during campus protests over Israel's war in Gaza. Venezuelan migrants deported from the United States peer through windows of an Eastern Airlines plane upon arriving at Simon Bolivar International Airport in Maiquetia, Venezuela, Sunday, March 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Cristian Hernandez) SAN FRANCISCO (AP) A federal judge on Monday paused plans by the Trump administration to end temporary legal protections for hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans, a week before they were scheduled to expire. The order by U.S. District Judge Edward Chen in San Francisco is a relief for 350,000 Venezuelans whose Temporary Protected Status was set to expire April 7 after Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem reversed protections granted by the Biden administration. Chen said in his ruling that the action by Noem threatens to: inflict irreparable harm on hundreds of thousands of persons whose lives, families, and livelihoods will be severely disrupted, cost the United States billions in economic activity, and injure public health and safety in communities throughout the United States. He said the government had failed to identify any real countervailing harm in continuing TPS for Venezuelan beneficiaries and said plaintiffs will likely succeed in showing that Noems actions are unauthorized by law, arbitrary and capricious, and motivated by unconstitutional animus. Chen, who was appointed to the bench by President Barack Obama, a Democrat, said his order in the lawsuit brought by the National TPS Alliance applies nationally. Noem had also announced the end of TPS for an estimated 250,000 additional Venezuelans in September. The judge gave the government one week to file notice of an appeal and the plaintiffs one week to file to pause for 500,000 Haitians whose TPS protections are set to expire in August. Alejandro Mayorkas, the previous secretary, had extended protections for all three cohorts into 2026. "Today is a good day for the migrant community in this country, said Pablo Alvarado, co-executive director of the National Day Laborer Organizing Network. He said that people fleeing war-torn El Salvador who initially benefited from the TPS program fought to maintain protections that came to include countries such as Ukraine, Sudan and Syria and the broader community must continue fighting. It takes so much courage to come forward and say, Here I am, and Im going to fight for this, Alvarado said. Were not going to throw anyone under the bus. Were going to fight for everyone because everyone is deserving. The Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Congress created TPS, as the law is known, in 1990 to prevent deportations to countries suffering from natural disasters or civil strife, giving people authorization to live and work in the U.S. in increments of up to 18 months if the Homeland Security secretary deems conditions in their home countries are unsafe for return. The reversals are a major about-face from immigration policies under former President Joe Biden, a Democrat, and come as Republican President Donald Trump and his top aides have ratcheted up attacks on judges who rule against them, with immigration being at the forefront of many disagreements. At a hearing last Monday, lawyers for TPS holders said that Noem has no authority to cancel the protections and that her actions were motivated in part by racism. They asked the judge to pause Noems orders, citing the irreparable harm to TPS holders struggling with fear of deportation and potential separation from family members. Government lawyers for Noem said that Congress gave the secretary clear and broad authority to make determinations related to the TPS program and that the decisions were not subject to judicial review. Plaintiffs have no right to thwart the secretarys orders from being carried out, they said. But Chen found the government's arguments unpersuasive and said that numerous derogatory and false comments by Noem and by Trump against Venezuelans as criminals show that racial animus was a motivator in ending protections. Acting on the basis of a negative group stereotype and generalizing such stereotype to the entire group is the classic example of racism, he wrote. Biden sharply expanded use of TPS and other temporary forms of protection in a strategy to create and expand legal pathways to live in the United States while suspending asylum for those who enter illegally. Trump has questioned the the impartiality of a federal judge who blocked his plans to deport Venezuelan immigrants to El Salvador, levelling his criticism only hours before his administration asked an appeals court to lift the judges order. The administration has also said it was revoking temporary protections for more than 530,000 Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans who have come to the U.S. since October 2022 through another legal avenue called humanitarian parole, which Biden used more than any other president. Their two-year work permits will expire April 24. In this photo taken from video distributed by Russian Defense Ministry Press Service on Sunday, March 30, 2025, a Russian Army 2S5 howitzer Giatsint-S fires towards Ukrainian positions in Ukraine. (Russian Defense Ministry Press Service via AP) Russia views efforts to end its three-year war with Ukraine as a drawn-out process, a Kremlin spokesman said Monday, after U.S. President Donald Trump expressed frustration with the two countries leaders as he tries to bring about a truce. We are working to implement some ideas in connection with the Ukrainian settlement. This work is ongoing, Dmitry Peskov said in a conference call with reporters. There is nothing concrete yet that we could and should announce. This is a drawn-out process because of the difficulty of its substance, the Kremlin spokesman said when asked about Trumps anger at Russian President Vladimir Putins comments dismissing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyys legitimacy to negotiate a deal. Russia has effectively rejected a U.S. proposal for a full and immediate 30-day halt in the fighting. The feasibility of a partial ceasefire on the Black Sea, used by both countries to transport shipments of grain and other cargo, was cast into doubt after Kremlin negotiators imposed far-reaching conditions. Trump promised during last years U.S. election campaign that he would bring Europes biggest conflict since World War II to a swift conclusion. Peskov didnt directly address Trumps criticism of Putin on Sunday, when he said he was angry, pissed off that Putin had questioned Zelenskyys credibility as leader. But the spokesman said that Putin remains absolutely open to contacts with the U.S. president and was ready to speak to him. Both countries are preparing for a spring-summer campaign on the battlefield, analysts and Ukrainian and Western officials say. Putin on Monday ordered a regular bi-annual call-up intended to draft 160,000 conscripts for an one-year tour of compulsory military service. Russian authorities say that the troops deployed to Ukraine only include volunteers who signed contracts with the military and conscripts aren't sent to the frontline. Some draftees, however, fought and were taken prisoners when the Ukrainian military launched an incursion into Russia's Kursk region in August. Zelenskyy said late Sunday that there has been no reduction in Russias attacks as it drives on with its invasion of Ukraine that began in February 2022. The geography and brutality of Russian strikes, not just occasionally, but literally every day and night, show that Putin couldnt care less about diplomacy, Zelenskyy said in his daily address. And almost every day, in response to this proposal, there are Russian drones, bombs, artillery shelling, and ballistic strikes, he said. He urged further international pressure on Moscow to compel Russia to negotiate, including new sanctions. The European Union's foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas picked up on that theme at a meeting of some of the blocs top diplomats in Madrid on Monday. Russia is playing games and not really wanting peace, Kallas told reporters ahead of the meeting, which was due to discuss the war. So our question is, how can we put more pressure on Russia. Trump said he would consider imposing further sanctions on Russia, which already faces steep financial penalties, and using tariffs to undermine its oil exports. Kharkiv, Ukraines second-largest city, came under another Russian drone attack overnight, injuring three people, the Ukrainian Interior Ministry said Monday. Russia also fired two ballistic missiles and 131 Shahed and decoy drones, the Ukrainian air force said. Meanwhile, Russias Defense Ministry said air defenses shot down 66 Ukrainian drones early Monday over three Russian regions. The continuing attacks by the Ukrainian armed forces on Russias energy facilities show the complete lack of respect for any obligations related to the settlement of the conflict in Ukraine by the Kyiv regime, the ministry said in a statement. ___ Follow APs coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine jumping cat shot on clear sky in background MR.Yanukit/Shutterstock.com Cats are renowned for always landing on their feet. While thats not entirely true, cat physics sounds like an oxymoron. Scientific laws dont appear to apply to animals that can squeeze into seemingly impossible places and effortlessly navigate the most complicated obstacle courses. The British Shorthair shown in this post by animals.motions demonstrates cats impressive skills in obstacle avoidance. While the Corgi pup also has plenty of dexterity, canines cant compete with cats when it comes to flexibility. Cats bodies are built for maneuverability, from their brains to their bones. The Truth About Cats Landing on Their Feet The cats ability to reorient its body mid-air to land on its feet is as baffling as it is beautiful. The precise mechanics have intrigued both cat lovers and physicists for hundreds of years. Early scientists found even when a cat begins falling upside down, it will still land on its feet. Cat-turning, or the cat-righting reflex, is a little different for every cat. Some cats leverage their paws or tails, but cats without tails can also turn themselves. Although scientists still argue about how its done, the bend-and twist method is believed to include the most important movements in the process. When the cat bends at the waist, it can rotate the front and back halves of its body in opposite directions. This cancels the opposing angular momentum. So, when the cat unbends, its body is oriented in a different direction. However, the height of the fall and the cats overall health could prevent it from flipping in time. The impact could also cause the rest of its body to make contact with the ground, resulting in serious injuries. Most of the time, they are able to turn their bodies to land feet first, but its not a guarantee. Feline Flexibility One reason cats are able to execute such acrobatics is their long, flexible spines. Cats have 30 vertebrae to our 33, but their vertebrae are elongated and more articulated. There are cushioned discs between the bones that allow the vertebrae to expand and compress like a spring. This not only makes their spines more flexible, but it also helps absorb impact when running and jumping. Cats can twist their torsos 180, but a humans range of motion is only as much as 90. Cats have other adaptations that aid in their ability to maneuver. Their collarbones are attached to muscle, not bones like humans are. So if their head fits, they can shift their collarbones so their body can follow. Their shoulder blades are also attached to muscle, so they can adjust their shoulders to squeeze into tight places. With these bones only attached to muscle, cats can quickly change direction and lengthen their strides while running. Cats are digitigrade as well, meaning they walk primarily on their toes. This minimizes their footprints and aids in quick, stealthy movement. Mind Over Matter Researchers explain that cats depend on working memory to help them avoid obstacles. Once their forelegs have stepped over the obstacle, their working memory helps them position their hindlegs to avoid it, too. Scientists suggest that the motor commands used for the forelegs combine with their visual information about the size and location of the obstacle. This establishes a memory of the obstacle in relation to the cats body that they utilize while still in motion. Cats are not only light on their feet, they are also clever. Another study on feline locomotion found that cats preferred strategy for avoiding small obstacles is to find a way around them. The direction of the cats stride may change, but the length and rhythm are not altered. As we see in the video above, the cat takes a detour instead of going all the way through the obstacle course. Another strategy cats use is stepping over objects. Of course, this requires working memory, as described above. Researchers believe cats choose their strategy depending on the difficulty of the neuro-motor process necessary to reach the goal. Anyone who has ever owned a cat will not be surprised that they figured out a way to work smarter, not harder, and still look graceful while doing it. The post Learn the Riveting Physics Behind the Cat-Righting Reflex appeared first on A-Z Animals. Some cruelty hides in the open. Tourists snap photos. Shoppers swipe credit cards. People scroll past without thinking twice. And yet, animals across the world are paying the price quietly, painfully, and often unnoticed. Here's where it's happening and why it needs to be talked about. Factory Farms United States, Brazil, China, Germany Credit: Reddit In the U.S., Brazil, and China the worlds top meat producers factory farming is the standard. Animals are packed into massive warehouses, often without light, space, or access to the outdoors. Germany, known for its pork exports, also faces repeated criticism over the state of the farms. Elephant Rides Thailand, India, Sri Lanka, Myanmar Credit: flickr In Thailand, tourists flock to elephant camps, unaware that many of the animals were broken through violent training. In India and Sri Lanka, elephants used in temples and festivals are often chained, malnourished, and beaten. Myanmars wild elephants are still captured illegally to supply the trade. Live Animal Markets China, Indonesia, Nigeria, Vietnam Credit: flickr Wet markets in China and Indonesia are infamous for cramming live animals into an unsanitary environment. In Nigeria, bushmeat markets sell everything from monkeys to antelopes. Vietnams live animal trade continues despite growing health and welfare concerns and international pressure. Bullfighting Spain, Mexico, Colombia, Peru Credit: Getty Images Spain still hosts hundreds of bullfights annually, despite global outcry. In Mexico and parts of Colombia, the sport is seen as a cultural spectacle. Peru's rural festivals often include amateur versions, where bulls are tormented without regulation or oversight. Dog Meat Trade South Korea, China, Vietnam, Nigeria Credit: flickr Though South Korea is moving toward bans, thousands of dogs are still bred or stolen for meat. Chinas Yulin festival brings international outrage every year. Vietnams dog meat restaurants remain widespread. In Nigeria, dog markets openly sell and slaughter animals for consumption. Roadside Zoos United States, Thailand, Russia, Ukraine Credit: flickr In the U.S., underregulated roadside zoos still operate in multiple states. Thailand and Russia have parks where animals are kept in tiny cages for selfies. Ukraines struggling zoos, especially post-conflict, have also drawn criticism for starving and neglected animals. Animal Rides Egypt, Morocco, Jordan, Pakistan Credit: flickr In Egypt, horses and camels near the pyramids work long hours without rest or hydration. Moroccos tourist centers see donkeys and mules whipped for overloading. In Jordan and Pakistan, animals are pushed to exhaustion in extreme heat, often with untreated wounds. Greyhound Racing United States, United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia Credit: flickr Although banned in several U.S. states, greyhound racing still exists in Florida and elsewhere. The UK and Ireland continue to support the industry with government funds. In Australia, scandals have emerged involving live baiting, doping, and the killing of underperforming dogs. Fur Farming China, Poland, Finland, United States Credit: Wikimedia Commons China produces over half the worlds fur, with minimal animal welfare laws. In Poland and Finland, foxes and minks are raised in small cages despite EU pressure. Even the U.S. still allows fur farming in states like Wisconsin, where its poorly regulated. Slaughterhouses Without Oversight India, Brazil, Pakistan, Indonesia Credit: Wikimedia Commons In India and Pakistan, illegal and unregulated slaughterhouses are widespread and lead to immense suffering. Brazils meatpacking plants have come under fire for cruelty and corruption. In Indonesia, investigations have shown repeated instances of botched killings and untreated injuries. Monkey Street Performances Indonesia, India, Thailand Credit: flickr In Indonesia, chained monkeys are forced to dance in masks and costumes for tips. India banned the practice, but illegal shows still happen in rural areas. In Thailand, monkeys trained to pick coconuts are often kept in poor conditions and denied any freedom. Marine Parks United States, Japan, Russia, Spain Credit: flickr In the U.S., places like SeaWorld have faced years of backlash. Japan continues to capture dolphins for marine parks, especially in Taiji. Russia has kept orcas in captivity for sale to China. Spains dolphinariums still promote shows using animals in barren tanks. Animal Circuses Russia, Vietnam, Belarus, Iran Credit: flickr Russias traveling circuses keep bears, lions, and monkeys in harsh and outdated environments. Vietnams circus shows often include elephants and dogs in painful costumes. In Belarus and Iran, animal acts remain popular despite global trends toward banning them entirely. Animal Sacrifice at Religious Festivals Nepal, India, Bangladesh Credit: Instagram Nepals Gadhimai Festival has slaughtered thousands of animals in a single day, though reforms are growing. In India and Bangladesh, goats and buffalo are publicly sacrificed during festivals. Some regions are starting to modernize practices, but many still defend them as cultural traditions. Wildlife Trafficking Democratic Republic of Congo, Laos, Myanmar, Brazil Credit: flickr In the DRC, baby primates are captured for illegal sale. Laos and Myanmar are known routes for tiger and pangolin trafficking. Brazil, rich in biodiversity, is a hotspot for bird and reptile smuggling. Most of this happens underground, but the evidence is everywhere. Puppy Mills United States, Czech Republic, Hungary, South Korea Credit: Reddit In the U.S., puppy mills still supply pet stores in many states. Eastern European countries like the Czech Republic and Hungary export dogs bred in miserable circumstances. South Koreas unregulated breeders sell puppies online and through markets with little accountability or care. Smith County Jail Jeremiah Megallon A robbery at a car dealership didnt go to plan after the alleged thief injured himself and called the police for help, according to reports. Jeremiah Megallon called the police on himself after he allegedly injured himself on broken glass while breaking into the Patterson Dodge dealership in Tyler, Texas, on Wednesday, March 26, per CBS affiliate KKTV 11, KLTV and Fox News. The Tyler Police Department was called by Megallon, 38, at around 3:35 a.m. local time. Police said the suspect hurt himself badly after throwing a rock through a window and made the call after he wasnt able to make it out of the building the same way he came in, according to the outlets. Public Information Officer Andy Erbaugh told Fox News, He said he had broken into the Patterson Dodge dealership in an attempt to steal a car but was unable to get out of the building. He had cuts from breaking a window at the dealership and crawling through it." Erbaugh said there were several unlocked doors [the suspect] could have used to get out, per Fox News. Related: Cops Nicknamed Alleged Thief 'Ms. Dookie' After She Pooped on Store Floor to Draw Attention Away From Her Accomplice 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. A member of the car dealership staff claimed that Megallon cut himself on a 1-inch double-pane window, KTLV reported. Megallon was treated at a local hospital and then sent to Smith County Jail, where he was arrested for alleged burglary of a building, Erbaugh confirmed to the outlet. A staff member at the car dealership claimed that Megallon only managed to steal candy from the desk of a salesperson during the alleged botched robbery. After 26 years here, truth is stranger than fiction, Erbaugh said of the incident, per Fox News. PEOPLE reached out to the Tyler Police Department for comment, but they did not immediately respond. Read the original article on People Caution tape. [Wikimedia Commons/Public/Diego Torres Silvestre from Sao Paulo, Brazil, CC BY 2.0 ] Image not directly from story. [Wikimedia Commons/Public/Diego Torres Silvestre from Sao Paulo, Brazil, CC BY 2.0 ] The Republican Party of New Mexico (RPNM) said Sunday the entryway to their Albuquerque headquarters was destroyed in a deliberate act of arson. The apparent attack was fueled by hatred and intolerance, the RPNM said in a statement. Rather than being an isolated incident, the party claimed the damage is a direct assault on our values, freedoms, and our right to political expression. Officials included photos of the burned building showing damage to an entryway and soot on the walkway. Another photo shows ICE=KKK written on the headquarters wall in red spray paint. The RPNM also blamed the silence and implicit encouragement of progressive leaders for the occurrence of politically motivated violence around the U.S. (RELATED: Gov. Sununu Pushes Back Against Don Lemons Attempt To Blame Republicans For Political Violence) Their failure to stand against political violence has created an environment where attacks like this are not only possible but increasingly frequent, the statement continues. We are deeply relieved that no one was harmed in what could have been a tragic and deadly attack. Those who resort to violence to undermine our state and nation must be held accountable, and our state leaders must reinforce through decisive action that these cowardly attacks will not be tolerated, RPNM Chairwoman Amy Barela said in the statement. Barela added that the party is working with local and federal officials, including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, as the incident remains under investigation. The Republican Party of New Mexico will not be silenced. We will emerge from this stronger, more united, and more determined to fight for the people of New Mexico and the future of our country, she continued. Our fight is not just for our partyits for every New Mexican who wants a safer, freer, and more accountable state. We will never back down. The New Mexico House Democrats issued a statement condemning the attack. New Mexico House Democrats condemn political violence in all of its forms, the statement reads. We are grateful that no one was hurt in this senseless act. We appreciate law enforcements swift response and expect that those responsible will be held accountable. 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. 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. 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. Volunteers look for survivors near a building damaged in the magnitude 7.7 earthquake on March 28, 2025, in Naypyidaw, Myanmar. (Aung Shine Oo / Associated Press) Weak building codes and years of government unrest appear to have contributed to the devastation from the magnitude 7.7 Myanmar earthquake, a leading seismic safety expert in the region said. The Friday earthquake originated near Mandalay, Myanmar's second-largest city of about 1.5 million, from rubbing tectonic plates along the Sagaing fault, which runs through the center of the country. The temblor has killed more than 2,000 people and injured more than 3,900. More than 600 miles away in Bangkok, the Thai capital, buildings buckled. But stronger building codes and distance from the epicenter left Thailand with far less destruction. Rescue efforts in the region have been hampered by collapsed buildings and bridges and roads that now lead to nowhere, and aftershocks continue to keep residents on edge. The disaster has not surprisingly raised questions about earthquake preparedness in Southeast Asia and farther afield in places such as Taiwan, which is noted for being very proactive, and California, which is in the midst of an earthquake "drought." The Times spoke with Nurul Alam, a resilient infrastructure specialist who worked at the Asian Disaster Preparedness Center in Bangkok, about what the aftermath indicates about disaster preparedness in Asia and beyond. Rescuers work at the site of a high-rise building under construction in Bangkok that collapsed after the magnitude 7.7 earthquake in neighboring Myanmar. (Sakchai Lalit / Associated Press) How prepared was Myanmar for the earthquake? In 2014, Alam conducted seismic risk assessments in Mandalay, near the epicenter of the recent earthquake. Given the city's geographic proximity to a major fault line, his team had recommended that the government update its building codes to make structures more resilient and improve seismic contingency planning. "I believe if they would have followed the recommendations, there would have been less trouble now, but I don't think that that happened," he said. "It was already risky. The buildings were vulnerable over there anyways, and people knew that this would come." Rescuers search for survivors of the 7.7 earthquake in Naypyidaw, Myanmar. (Aung Shine Oo / Associated Press) Myanmar is also particularly vulnerable given that the country has been embroiled in civil war since 2021. Millions of people have been displaced, and government and medical infrastructure has been crippled. Although information from Myanmar is tightly controlled by the ruling military junta, aid workers and scientific organizations estimate the devastation to be enormous. How prepared was Thailand for the earthquake? Thailand updated its earthquake building codes in 2007 and released new regulations on seismic-resistant design in 2021. Most of the building damage from Friday's quake was nonstructural, hitting partition walls, fixtures, electricity and plumbing, Alam said. Structural beams, columns and slabs held up, despite extreme shaking and swaying of some high-rises. Read more:The guide to earthquake readiness and resilience that youll actually use. That indicates to Alam that Thailand has high compliance with its building codes. However, he said it seemed that residents were not well prepared in terms of how to respond and that contingency planning could help alleviate disruptions to roads and public services. "What is commendable in Thailand is that whatever is in the building code, I think most of the structures followed the code, and that's why the devastation was not that high," he said. Eighteen people died in Bangkok due to the earthquake, and one 30-story building under construction collapsed. Efforts to find about 80 missing people are ongoing. How does the response compare with other places in Asia? Often areas with more earthquakes have stronger building codes and contingency plans, so they are less affected by serious tremors, Alam said. Japan, for example, has strict seismic codes and early warning systems due to frequent earthquakes. Taiwan, another earthquake-prone island, takes similar precautions, which helped mitigate death and damage last year during its strongest earthquake in a quarter of a century. The magnitude 7.4 temblor, which could be felt as far as Shanghai, killed about 18 people. A day before the earthquake in Myanmar, Taiwan's government staged civil defense drills on how to respond to a major disaster. Some countries, Alam said, could do more to prepare. Demolition work is underway at a building collapsed by a powerful earthquake in Hualien City, Taiwan, in April 2024. (Suo Takekuma / Associated Press) Turkey, which experienced a magnitude 7.8 temblor in 2023, has stronger earthquake codes than Bangkok, he explained, but lower compliance in terms of construction. He said buildings are also more vulnerable in India, Nepal and Bangladesh. One risk assessment he worked on in Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, estimated that about 70,000 structures or buildings would collapse from an earthquake of similar magnitude. What does this mean for earthquake-prone places such as California? California would probably fare better in an earthquake than many Asian countries because of its experience with natural disasters and its strong building codes and compliance, Alam said. He added that areas at high risk of earthquakes in the U.S. also practice drills more frequently than places such as Bangkok. "California's seismic history has actually paved the way for all this information that we have right now," Alam said. "I think Bangkok should learn from them." Los Angeles has touted its sweeping earthquake safety ordinance the nations toughest, which requires thousands of buildings to be evaluated and strengthened if necessary. In 2015, the city passed a landmark regulation requiring an estimated 15,000 buildings be retrofitted so they will better withstand violent shaking, and in 2022, The Times reported that more than 8,000 seismically vulnerable buildings had been retrofitted across the city at an estimated cost of $1.3 billion. Last year, however, The Times reported that L.A.'s building retrofit data have been outdated for years. Buildings collapsed onto cars during the Northridge earthquake in 1994. (U.S. Geological Survey) What else can cities do to better prepare? Alam said detailed seismic hazard and risk assessments can help determine whether the standards for constructing new buildings need to be improved. These surveys should be done early, he said, because it can take years to change building codes, which are normally updated by the government every five years. Existing infrastructure can also be retrofitted to make the vulnerable buildings more resilient, particularly those that have already been damaged by earthquakes. Usually the retrofitting expense falls within 30% of the total reconstruction cost, he said, and the work can be done in stages to keep the facility in use. "You cannot stop earthquakes, right? You can only be safe where we make our structures and our other facilities stronger and retrofitted against those kind of disasters," Alam said. He said that whereas seismic issues received a lot of attention at the start of the century, concerns about the effects of climate change began to overshadow them about a decade ago. "It's on the back shelf. Nobody really is worried about it until there are big earthquakes happening. It's not only in Thailand, it's actually all around the world," he said. "This might be a wake-up call for governments." 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. PANAMA CITY (Reuters) -Panama's police said on Sunday they had rejected a request by the judiciary branch to seek a red notice by Interpol for former President Ricardo Martinelli, on the grounds that this is prohibited for refugees or political asylum seekers. Martinelli, who was president of the Central American nation from 2009 to 2014, has been living inside Nicaragua's embassy in Panama City since the country's government moved to arrest him after a court found him guilty of money laundering. On Thursday, a top Panamanian official said the government had approved safe passage for Martinelli to travel to Nicaragua, where he has received asylum. "After the legal review of the request from the judicial branch to include former President Martinelli in the Interpol database, we confirm that we have rejected the processing of said notification," a statement said. "It does not comply with the parameters established by Interpol since 2014, and we reaffirmed in 2017, which prohibit the issuance of red alerts on citizens who are refugees or political asylum seekers, as is the case of Mr. Ricardo Martinelli Berrocal." Neither Interpol nor a lawyer for Martinelli could immediately be reached for further comment on a Sunday night. A spokesman for Martinelli confirmed on social media that the request for a red alert was rejected. (Reporting by Elida Moreno;Writing by Stefanie Eschenbacher; Editing by Clarence Fernandez and Kim Coghill) By Luiza Ilie BUCHAREST (Reuters) - Hard-right opposition leader George Simion led an opinion poll published on Monday, five weeks before the first round of a repeat presidential election that could determine whether Romania remains on its pro-Western course. The European Union and NATO member which borders Ukraine will repeat the two-round election on May 4 and 18 after the Constitutional Court voided the initial ballot in December following accusations of Russian meddling, which Moscow denied. With the cancelled election's far-right frontrunner banned from running again, ultranationalists have regrouped around Simion, leader of the opposition Alliance for Uniting Romanians (AUR), Romania's second-largest party. An opinion poll conducted by polling institute Verifield and commissioned by Nicusor Dan, one of the candidates, showed Simion was on course to secure 35% of votes in the first round, slightly higher than in earlier polls. It showed Victor Ponta, a former leftist prime minister whose politics have since become more ultranationalist, would win 21.1% of votes and that Bucharest mayor Dan, running as an independent, would get 20.8%. The new poll put support for Simion's AUR at 31.7% and showed the ruling Social Democrats trailing on 21.2%. It surveyed 1,100 people between March 24 and 28 and had a margin of error of 2.95%. Simion's party has developed from a fringe anti-vaccination group during the COVID pandemic into the leading opposition force, appealing to the working-class diaspora and young voters and building on popular anger with mainstream politicians. Simion, 38, has supported restoring Romania's pre-World War Two borders, which include areas now in Bulgaria, Moldova and Ukraine, and has been declared persona non grata in the latter two countries. Ponta, 52, quit as prime minister in 2015 after a deadly nightclub fire led to big anti-corruption protests. He has said he backs what he calls "radical change" taking place in the United States and has courted voters with an ultranationalist leaning while backing Romania's role in the EU and NATO. Dan, 55, is a centrist who supports Romania's EU and NATO membership and most current aid for Ukraine. Romania's president has a semi-executive role which includes chairing the council that decides on military aid and defence spending, and can veto EU votes that require unanimity. (Reporting by Luiza Ilie, Editing by Timothy Heritage) US Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrives at Cheddi Jagan International Airport in Georgetown, Guyana, last Thursday. - Nathan Howard/Pool/AFP/Getty Images 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. 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. 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. 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. 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 BANGKOK (Reuters) - People were pulled alive out of rubble in Myanmar and signs of life were detected in the ruins of a skyscraper in Bangkok on Monday as efforts intensified to find survivors three days after a massive earthquake that killed around 2,000. Rescuers freed four people, including a pregnant woman and a girl, from collapsed buildings in Mandalay, the city in Myanmar near the epicentre of Friday's 7.7-magnitude earthquake, China's Xinhua news agency reported. Signs of life were detected under the rubble of an under-construction skyscraper in the Thai capital that collapsed in the quake, Bangkok's Deputy Governor Tavida Kamolvej said. Rescuers were urgently working out how to access the area it came from, given three days had passed since the quake, she said. By medical standards, realistic chances of survival diminish after 72 hours, she said, adding: "We have to speed up. We're not going to stop even after 72 hours." Thailand's official death toll was at 18 on Sunday, but could shoot up with 76 people remaining missing at the site of the collapsed building. Scanning machines and sniffer dogs were being used to detect signs of life. In Myanmar, state media said at least 1,700 people have been confirmed dead as of Sunday and that the military government had declared a week-long mourning period from Monday. The Wall Street Journal, citing the junta, reported the death toll had reached 2,028 in Myanmar. Reuters could not immediately confirm the new death toll. Media access has been restricted in the country since the junta took power in 2021. China, India and Thailand are among Myanmar's neighbours that have sent relief materials and teams, along with aid and personnel from Malaysia, Singapore and Russia. "It doesn't matter how long we work. The most important thing is that we can bring hope to the local people," said Yue Xin, head of the China Search and Rescue Team that pulled people of the rubble in Mandalay, Xinhua reported. The United Nations said it was rushing relief supplies to survivors in central Myanmar. "Our teams in Mandalay are joining efforts to scale up the humanitarian response despite going through the trauma themselves," said Noriko Takagi, the U.N. refugee agency's representative in Myanmar. The United States pledged $2 million in aid "through Myanmar-based humanitarian assistance organizations". It 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 quake devastation has piled more misery on Myanmar, already in chaos from a civil war that grew out of a nationwide uprising after the military coup ousted the elected government of Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi. One rebel group said Myanmar's ruling military was still conducting airstrikes on villages in the aftermath of the quake, and Singapore's foreign minister called for an immediate ceasefire to help relief efforts. 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. (Reporting by Bangkok Bureau, Shoon Naing, Wa Lone; Writing by Kay Johnson and John Mair; Editing by Lincoln Feast and Raju Gopalakrishnan) WorachatSodsri/Getty Images Boats docked in front of the colorful homes of Nassau, Bahamas. A new analysis looked at the top boating destination in the Caribbean and named Nassau in The Bahamas the top destination. Other top-ranking spots include destinations in Puerto Rico, Colombia, and the Dominican Republic. Few places around the world rival the Caribbean when it comes to stunning ocean views. The water here just hits different. It's a hue of blue that's almost too beautiful to imagine, offering clear views right to the white sandy bottom, with only the colorful fish and coral blocking the view. And while you can always swim in the waters in front of any number of the fantastic hotels lining the beaches around the region, perhaps the best way to experience it is with a boat trip. To help you find the best places to hop aboard, Getmyboat, the world's largest boat rental marketplace, examined its top boating destinations in the Caribbean. It then ranked the cities around the region based on the frequency of demand and the number of completed rentals. It also included data on the most popular style of watercraft, the number of boats available, and first-hand information about the local boating culture. After looking at all this information, it named Nassau, the capital of The Bahamas, the No. 1 spot. "With its turquoise waters and proximity to the famous Exuma Cays, Nassau offers fantastic boating experiences and stands out as the busiest boat rental destination in the Caribbean," the findings stated, noting that the most popular vessel choice is a powerboat. "Popular boat trips include visiting Pig Beach, snorkeling in Thunderball Grotto, and exploring private islands." It added that fishing charters are also a top choice for visitors, including half and full-day excursions, noting the "warm climate and thriving marine life make it exceptionally popular for winter escapes and Spring Break vacations for families and groups of friends of all ages." Travel Guide | Plan the Perfect Trip to The Bahamas | Read More Following closely behind Nassau is Fajardo in Puerto Rico, a destination "known for its bioluminescent bays and the nearby Cordillera Nature Reserve." The team added that the most popular vessel choice here is a yacht. "Boat trips to Icacos Island and Vieques offer opportunities for pristine snorkeling, diving, and the unique experience of visiting a bioluminescent bay," it added. "Its seasonally dependent, but if you come at the right time, you could be greeted by glow-in-the-dark organisms, illuminating the waters around you during a tour by boat at night." Joining these two spots is Cartagena in Colombia in third, followed by Bavaro in the Dominican Republic, and Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic rounding out the top five. See the entire list of top spots and book your boat day at getmyboat.com. Read the original article on Travel & Leisure 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. 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. 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 Donald Trump said he was very angry with Vladimir Putin for attacking Volodymyr Zelenskys credibility - Vyacheslav Prokofyev/Sputnik Vladimir Putin has ordered 160,000 men to be drafted into the Russian army by mid-summer despite claiming to be working towards peace with Ukraine. The record-high conscription drive suggests Russia is planning to boost its ranks after months of sustained losses in trying to expel the last of Kyivs troops from Kursk and in its slow grind forward into Ukraines east. Russian men aged 18-30 are eligible to be drafted for mandatory military service through bi-annual call-ups in spring and autumn. Each time Russia has grown its army, its defence ministry has denied any link to the Ukraine conflict and claimed that the conscripts would not be sent into active combat. In a decree published on Monday, Putin demanded the draft size for this years spring conscription hit 160,000 by July 15, up from 150,000 in 2024, 147,000 in 2023 and 134,500 in 2022. The forthcoming draft campaign is in no way connected with the special military operation in Ukraine, the Russian defence ministry said in a statement. Kyiv has repeatedly accused Moscow of taking Russian conscripts captive while sending ill-equipped and badly trained troops into meatgrinder assaults on the front line. The UK Ministry of Defences latest intelligence update said that Russia has likely sustained more than 900,000 casualties during three years of war with Ukraine. On Sunday, Donald Trump vented frustration at his Russian counterpart for making slow progress towards a ceasefire. He was very angry, p---ed off with Putin for attacking Volodymyr Zelenskys credibility and seemingly stalling peace negotiations by demanding the Ukrainian leader be replaced. 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. In response, the Kremlin said it viewed efforts to end the war in Ukraine as a drawn-out process. There is nothing concrete yet that we could and should announce, Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin spokesman said. He added that Putin is still open to contact with Mr Trump, and although no phone call was currently scheduled, one could be organised promptly. Mr Trump on Sunday also accused Mr Zelensky of trying to back out of signing a long-contested deal with the US over his countrys rare minerals. He told reporters on Air Force One: Hes trying to back out of the rare earth deal, and if he does that hes got some problems, big, big problems. The US president speaks to reporters on board Air Force One on his return to Washington - Kevin Lamarque The latest version of the minerals deal would give the US access to Ukraines oil, gas and minerals through a joint investment fund, which would split revenue between the two countries. On Friday, Mr Zelensky said that he would not sign the deal if it threatened Ukraines potential accession to the EU, as reports emerged that it could go against the blocs economic sovereignty rules. Despite forceful US efforts to broker a ceasefire, the Ukrainian leader said late on Sunday that there had been no let-up in Russian attacks, including on Ukraines energy infrastructure despite a fragile deal to halt such tactics. Accusing Russia of being unwilling to forge any kind of truce, Mr Zelensky said: The geography and brutality of Russian strikes.. .show that Putin couldnt care less about diplomacy. In the early hours of Monday, Kharkiv, Ukraines second-largest city, once again came under heavy Russian drone attack, resulting in three injuries and fires throughout the city. Further aerial attacks targeted the Kherson, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia and Dnipro regions. 02:47 PM BST Thats all for today Thank you for following our live coverage of the war in Ukraine and ongoing peace negotiations. We will be back soon with more updates and analysis from the three-year conflict. 02:29 PM BST Pictured: Russian forces conduct military exercises A Russian mortars crew fire during their military exercising at an undisclosed location - Russian Defense Ministry Press Service A heavily camouflaged sniper practices shooting - Russian Defense Ministry Press Service Fighting in Ukraine is focused in the eastern Donbas region, which Russia wants to capture all of - Russian Defense Ministry Press Service 02:19 PM BST Zelensky commemorates liberation of Bucha Volodymyr Zelensky commemorated three years since the liberation of Bucha from Russian forces today. The town on the outskirts of Kyiv was quickly taken by Russian troops during the start of the full-scale invasion. It became the site of multiple massacres and atrocities, with hundreds of unarmed civilians killed during the one-month occupation. Three years ago, our warriors liberated Bucha from the Russian occupiers. And the world saw what the Russian occupation truly is: people killed in the streets, people tortured, graves in the yards of ordinary house, he wrote on X. Since then, no one in the world can say they do not know what Ukraine is defending. Ukraine is fighting for the lives of its people. It is fighting to ensure that no one, ever again, does on our land what the Russian occupiers did. Three years ago, our warriors liberated Bucha from the Russian occupiers. And the world saw what the Russian occupation truly is: people killed in the streets, people tortured, graves in the yards of ordinary houses. Since then, no one in the world can say they do not know what pic.twitter.com/4mzgpzxSlz Volodymyr Zelenskyy / (@ZelenskyyUa) March 31, 2025 01:57 PM BST Inside Ukraines occupied territory where thousands of Russians are moving in In the small Ukrainian port city of Berdiansk, shop fronts are boarded up, the playgrounds empty, some of its few tourist attractions turned into makeshift military facilities, writes James Beardsworth. The few residents left say the city situated along Ukraines Azov Sea coastline has been turned into a ghost town since Russias invasion. At night, people seldom walk the streets. Those that do, do so in fear of the Russian occupying forces, who can arbitrarily search and arrest people at any time. Putin insists that Berdiansk is now part of Russia, and peace talks mediated by Donald Trump could soon see swathes of territory like this permanently change hands. 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, said one 52-year-old female resident who requested anonymity. A Russian serviceman patrols the promenade in Berdiansk, a small port city situated along Ukraines Azov Sea coastline - YURI KADOBNOV/AFP 01:38 PM BST No update on four US soldiers missing near Belarus border A US armoured vehicle that went missing in Lithuania has been retrieved after a six-day operation, but there is still no information about the fate of the four US soldiers who were inside. The vehicle was pulled out of the bog on Sunday night, Lithuanias defence ministry said, without providing an update on the soldiers. The troops had been reported missing on Tuesday after they did not return from a training mission. The vehicle, a M88 Hercules was discovered in a deep swamp on Wednesday, the US army said. The missing soldiers were training near the Belarus border, a key ally of Russia and close supporter of its of invasion of Ukraine. Rescue operations on March 28 at the General Silvestras Zukauskas training ground as they searched for four missing US soldiers in Pabrade, Lithuania - Shutterstock 01:13 PM BST Pictured: Ukraines navy patrols the Black Sea A Ukrainian military boat CB90 of Military Naval Forces patrols Black Sea coast line of Odesa region, Ukraine 12:56 PM BST Russia is changing its drone tactics Russian forces are changing ther drone tactics on the battlefield, according to new reports. The Institute for the Study of War noted that Kremlin-affiliated Russian bloggers had agreed with a report in German outlet Bild on Saturday that Russian forces have altered their long-range drone strike tactic. The Washington-based think-tank noted said the drones appear to loiter several kilometres from their targets at high altitudes before conducting synchronised strikes with multiple drones. Such tactics, Russian milbloggers claimed, have helped facilitate recent Russian drone strikes on the regions of Kharkiv, Odesa, and Dnipro. Volodymyr Zelensky accused Russia of firing over 1,000 drones at Ukraine last week, despite ongoing efforts to secure a ceasefire. 12:36 PM BST Trump accuses Zelensky of trying to back out of minerals deal Donald Trump has accused Volodymyr Zelensky of trying to back out of signing a deal with the US over his countrys mineral deposits. The US president told reporters on Air Force One: Hes trying to back out of the rare earth deal and if he does that hes got some problems, big, big problems. The latest version of the minerals deal would give the US access to Ukraines oil, gas and minerals through a joint investment fund, which would split revenue between the two countries. Mr Zelensky said on Friday that he would not sign the deal if it threatened Ukraines potential accession to the EU, as reports emerged that the agreement could go against the blocs economic sovereignty rules. Moscow has also begun discussions with Washington over its own rare earth and minerals deal, the Kremlin announced. Kirill Dmitriev, head of Russias sovereign wealth fund, said: Rare earth metals are an important area for cooperation, and, of course, we have begun discussions about various rare earth metals and projects in Russia. 12:24 PM BST Pictured: Firefighters battle a huge blaze in Kharkiv Firefighters attempt to put out a huge blaze in Kharkiv, Ukraine after a Russian drone attack - Anadolu 12:16 PM BST Sweden announces its biggest aid package to Ukraine to date Sweden has decided on a new military aid package to Ukraine worth 16 billion crowns (1.23 billion), the biggest package to date from the Nordic country. The largest chunk of the package will consist of equipment that will be purchased in processes led by the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration. The government has said Sweden will ramp up aid to Ukraine this year, boosting the 2025 budget allocation to 40 billion crowns (3.09 billion) from 25 billion (1.9 billion) projected earlier, to aid Kyivs fight against Russian invasion. 12:00 PM BST Putin to meet Chinas foreign minister Earlier we reported that Wang Yi, Chinas foreign minister, was heading to Moscow for a meeting with his Russian counterpart (see 10.21 post). It has now emerged that Vladimir Putin will also meet Mr Yi. Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlins spokesman, described the two as good old friends and partners. 11:40 AM BST Pictured: Lammy speaks ahead of Ukraine meeting David Lammy is in Madrid ahead of a meeting with European foreign minsiters over the war in Ukraine. David Lammy speaks during a press conference ahead of a Weimar Triangle meeting on Ukraine in Spain - REUTERS 11:23 AM BST Kremlin reacts to Trump saying he was p----d off at Putin The Kremlin has said Russia is continuing work on building bilateral relations and on Ukraine settlement ideas after Donald Trump said he was p----d off at Vladimir Putin for dragging out peace negotiations. Dmitry Peskov, Putins spokesman, said he was open to setting up a call between the two leaders later this week. This process is time-consuming, probably due to the fact of the complexity of the substance. The president remains open to contact with President Trump. 10:49 AM BST Russia accuses Ukraine of attacking energy sites Russia has accused Ukraine of continuing attacks against energy sites despite an agreement to limit such strikes as part of a US-negotiated ceasefire. The continuation of deliberate attacks by the Ukrainian army on Russias energy facilities is evidence of the Kyiv regimes complete lack of commitment to its obligations regarding settling the conflict in Ukraine, the Russian defence ministry said in a statement. It specified that Ukraine had attacked energy sites in the Bryansk border region. Both sides have accused one another of continuing the strikes despite the 30-day moratorium. Hours after the agreement was announced, the Kremlin said it would hinge on Russian sanctions being lifted. 10:21 AM BST Chinas foreign minister heads to Moscow Chinas foreign minster is travelling to Moscow ahead of talks with his Russian counterpart on Tuesday. Wang Yi is scheduled to meet Sergei Lavrov on Tuesday days after Russia and Ukraine agreed in principle to a limited ceasefire covering energy infrastructure and the Black Sea. Chinas foreign ministry, in comments consistent with Beijings position, insisted it remained neutral in the conflict. We always believe that dialogue and negotiation are the only viable way out of the crisis. Chinas cooperation with Russia does not target a third party and should not be affected by any third party, a spokesman reporters at a daily briefing. 10:04 AM BST Moscows view on Trump criticism Newspapers in Moscow have been unusually critical of Donald Trump this morning after he criticised the Russian president for dragging out peace negotiations. Moskovsky Komsomolets, a leading pro-Kremlin paper, accused the US president of not fulfilling obligations to stop Ukrainian strikes on Russian energy infrastructure. All agreements on the level of President Trump are only worth a few pennies on market day. Moscow is prepared to make a deal with the US president, as the leader of the free world, and the undisputed boss of Nato and the lord and master of Kyiv. But right now the leader is not leading, the boss is not bossing and the lord is not directing his vassal, the paper stated. It warned at the end of the article: If the diplomats cannot move the peace process forward, the military will do all the talking. Putin has made his move, now we wait for Trumps. 09:33 AM BST Pictured: Firefighters tackle blaze in Kharkiv Firefighters continue to extinguish the fire that broke out in production and warehouse buildings in Kharkiv - Anadolu 09:06 AM BST British commandos helped bring the CIA into the heart of Ukraine A team of British commandos escorted Ukrainian generals out of Kyiv to join an emergency war room where Western military chiefs plotted the defeat of Russia. Two generals were taken by armed guard on diplomatic passports into Poland, then Germany, shortly after the war broke out to join an operation involving the CIA that would help turn the tide of the conflict and embarrass Vladimir Putins armed forces. The operations room was set up two months into the war in Clay Kaserne, the headquarters of US Army Europe and Africa, a component of the US armed forces, in Wiesbaden, Germany. Clay Kaserne would become a complex staging post for joint efforts involving Nato allies to assist Ukraine in fighting Russia. Details of assistance to Ukraine were revealed on Sunday in a wide-ranging investigation by The New York Times (The NYT) that raised questions about how intimately involved the US, Britain and the West have been in the war in Ukraine. A secret operations room was set up two months into the war in Germany 08:47 AM BST Watch: Trump says hes not happy with Putin Donald Trump criticised Vladimir Putin again on Sunday while speaking to reporters on Air Force One. I was disappointed in a certain way with some of the things that were said over the last day or two having to do with z because he considering Zelensky not credible. Hes supposed to be making a deal with him, whether you like him or you dont like him. So i wasnt happy with that, he said. The US president had previously said he was p----d off with his Russian counterpart for questioning Mr Zelenskys credibility. Credit: Reuters / US Network Pool 08:27 AM BST Zelensky aiming for summer election Volodymyr Zelensky is aiming to hold elections in Ukraine in the summer if a full ceasefire comes into effect, according to reports. The Ukrainian president had been resistant to calling elections after facing questions over his legitimacy and popularity by Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump. But after the US president questioned his popularity - including during their Oval Office shouting match - polls show Mr Zelenskys ratings are at an all-time high. This has changed Mr Zelenskys view on holding a vote, sources told the Economist. Martial law, which currently bans elections, is set to expire on May 8th. Ukrainian law requires 60 days of campaigning during elections, meaning the earliest it could come is in July. 08:02 AM BST Russia pounds Kharkiv for second night in a row Russia bombed the city of Kharkiv in northeastern Ukraine for the second night in row, injuring two people, sparking fires and damaging a kindergarten and private houses, according to Kyiv. The attacks on Kharkiv, Ukraines second-largest city, lasted most of the night and hit the citys largest and oldest district, Ihor Terekhov, the mayor, said. The sixth explosion in Kharkiv, Mr Terekhov said in a post on Telegram in the early hours of this morning. It was not clear what was targeted in the attacks that came a week after a US-negotiated ceasefire on strikes on energy and Black Sea infrastructure. Russia targeted Kharkiv for the second night in a row overnight 07:38 AM BST Putins main goal in peace talks: removing Zelensky Vladimir Putins primary goal in peace negotiations is securing the removal of Volodymyr Zelensky from his position as Ukrainian president, according to reports. Sources told the Moscow Times that the Russian president viewed even the smallest concessions as a gift not to Trump, but to Zelensky. Thats unacceptable to Putin, a diplomat told the news site. The Kremlin is interested in manipulating the US into backing the removal of Mr Zelensky, who Putin views as illegitimate. Zelensky will not agree to any territorial concessions. We need to address the root of the issue: Remove him, a source close to the Kremlin said. 07:28 AM BST Ukraine says Russia launched 131 drones, 2 ballistic missiles overnight The Ukrainian air force said Russia launched 131 drones and two Iskander-M ballistic missiles during overnight attacks. The air force shot down 57 drones and another 45 drones did not reach their targets, likely due to electronic countermeasures, it said. 07:24 AM BST Trump lashes out at Putin as Ukraine ceasefire talks stall 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, writes Harriet Barber. 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. 07:16 AM BST Welcome to our live coverage Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of the war in Ukraine. Well bring you the latest news and analysis throughout the day. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. An executive at U.S. Bank is believed to have been killed when a small plane crashed into a home in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, on Saturday afternoon, U.S. Bank said in a statement on Sunday. The plane was registered to Terry Dolan, U.S. Banks vice chair and chief administration officer, the corporation told CNN in a statement. The medical examiners office has not been able to confirm whether he was on board, but we believe he was, the statement read. Our thoughts and prayers are with him, his family and friends, and anyone who may have been affected by yesterdays tragic incident, the statement continued. Jessica L. Campbell, the forensic anthropologist at the Hennepin County Medical Examiners Office, said earlier Sunday that the office was unable to provide any information about the victims identity, citing the ongoing investigation. The aircraft, a small executive transport plane capable of carrying six people, struck a home, setting it on fire around 12:20 p.m. local time. The plane was headed to Anoka County-Blaine Airport in Minneapolis from Des Moines International Airport in Iowa, the Federal Aviation Administration said in a statement. There are no survivors from the small plane, Brooklyn Park Fire Chief Shawn Conway said at a Saturday news conference. Preliminary information shows that one person was on board the plane, Tim Sorensen, an aviation accident investigator with the National Transportation Safety Board, said at a Sunday afternoon news conference. One person was inside the home at the time of the crash and was uninjured after escaping on their own, Conway said Sunday. He described the house that was struck as a total loss. Video footage from the scene shows the home fully engulfed in flames as several onlookers are heard being told by fire officials on a loudspeaker: The house is on fire. Please back away from the house near the fire! Several fire trucks were on site. They lost their home immediately, as you can see by the damage, Conway said of the houses residents. When the fire department arrived on scene, the incident commander saw a fully involved structure fire, Conway said. The aircraft wasnt found until after the fire was contained, he added. What were asking for right now is for the neighborhood to please give us a little opportunity to continue to process the scene and work through this. There were no occupant fatalities, Conway said. The NTSB is leading the investigation into the crash, Conway said Sunday. The agency is currently documenting the crash site and plans to start recovering the aircraft later Sunday afternoon, Sorensen said. The NTSB will release a preliminary report about the crash in around two weeks. The investigation is just getting started, he said. We dont have a lot of answers right now. Investigators will examine all other aspects that may have affected the operation, such as the weather, such as the background experience of the pilot, the status of the aircraft, maintenance of the aircraft, Sorensen added. A small plane crashed into a residential area near Minneapolis on Saturday, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. - Mike Deyo A Ring camera captured the moment the plane appears to fall out of the sky before it is heard crashing into a neighborhood. Cindy Leitschuh told CNN her family had unknowingly caught video of the plane. While her husband Curt and their 8-year-old son were out front playing catch, they had set off their Ring camera. My 8-year-old son actually saw the plane going up and down, Leitschuh said. He thought it was a drone. And then hes like: Yeah, I saw this plane going up and down and left and right, and then I saw a bunch of black smoke. So then my husband went and looked at the Ring and saw it was on our Ring. In a statement on X, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz 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. At the Saturday news conference, Brooklyn Park Mayor Hollies Winston thanked Walz for supporting us and providing resources to our city. I will say that as a community and as a city, were very much going to surround the families that have been affected by this, Winston said. The suburb of Brooklyn Park lies about 11 miles north of Minneapolis. CNNs Sarah Dewberry contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Nikita Casap comp image A Wisconsin teen murdered his mother and stepfather then stashed their bullet-riddled bodies under blankets and lived with the corpses for weeks, according to prosecutors. Nikita Casap, 17, appeared in court Thursday on a slew of charges, including first-degree intentional homicide, for the gruesome killings of his mom and stepdad in their Waukesha home last month, said a new complaint filed by authorities. The highest, highest counts that we have, quite frankly, in our country is whats been alleged here, Waukesha County Commissioner David Herring said in court, WISN reported. Nikita Casap, 17, has been charged in the murders of his mother and stepfather. Waukesha County Jail Its unclear what sparked the slayings. Casaps two-week absence from Waukesha West High School as well as weird or suspicious text messages sent from his stepdads phone prompted a police welfare check at the familys home Feb. 28, officials said. There, cops found the teenagers mom, Tatiana Casap, buried under piles of clothes and blankets in the hallway near the kitchen with multiple shots to the neck, upper torso, abdomen and right wrist, the complaint stated. The teenage suspect with his alleged victims, mom Tatiana Casap and stepdad Donald Mayer. Casaps stepfather, Donald Mayer, was discovered in the homes first-floor office with a gunshot wound to the head, according to the filing. Both bodies were decomposed beyond recognition, forcing authorities to use other methods to confirm their identities, prosecutors said. Tatiana and Mayer are believed to have died around Feb. 11, or 17 days before deputies discovered them, the complaint said. Prosecutors believe Casap lived with his mother and stepfathers bodies for 12 days. WDJT Prosecutors believe Casap lived with the bodies for 12 days, all while communicating with his school, his stepfathers employer and family members from his parents accounts, before escaping in Mayers car. Casap was arrested during a traffic stop in Wakeeney, Kan. the same day deputies found the couples bodies at the house about 850 miles away while driving his stepdads VW Atlas with the family dog inside. Officers observed in plain view a gun on the passenger side floorboard that was later determined to be a Smith and Wesson .357 Magnum firearm, the complaint said, with the weapon description matching a gun his stepdad recently bought. Further, officers located [the dead parents] drivers licenses, unused ammunition for the .357 Magnum and spent shell casings. Jewelry and other valuable items were found in the vehicle, and Casap also allegedly used Mayers debit cards to get cash and buy goods. The items and cash were valued at more than $10,000, prosecutors said. Mayers debit cards were allegedly used by the teen to buy items and get cash while on the lam. The teen who does not have a license to drive was originally charged with one count of theft and one count of operating a motor vehicle without the owners consent when initially apprehended. Casap was later also charged with two counts of first-degree intentional homicide, two counts of hiding a corpse and two counts of theft of movable property. The complaint said Casap had begun to send gory images on Snapchat to a female high school classmate and made troubling references to shooting his parents and killing himself. Casap was communicating with someone in Russia about assassinating Donald Trump and escaping to Ukraine. WISN-TV The girl told authorities Casap also was exchanging messages with someone in Russia about assassinating President Trump. The tip led investigators to find messages in his phone to someone in Russia and other unidentified individuals as he considered the idea of escaping to Ukraine, officials said. In those messages were discussions about the loudness of a .357 Magnum matching the description of Mayers gun, according to the complaint. Casap could face life in prison if convicted. Casaps bail, previously set at $250,000, has been increased to $1 million, court records indicate. Immigrant advocates on Monday sued the Trump administration over a rule requiring immigrants to register with the federal government or face criminal prosecution. Advocates say President Donald Trump's revival of a dormant "alien registration" law would turn the United States into a "show me your papers" country and expose non-citizens even those here legally to a new criminal enforcement regime, the lawsuit claims. The complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., alleges the Department of Homeland Security and top administration leaders failed to follow procedure in announcing plans to enforce the rule, which takes effect April 11. "Were talking about a new reality in America, in which anyone perceived to be an immigrant would have to carry their identity documents any time they leave the house and be prepared to show them to law enforcement on demand, at risk of being arrested," said Michelle Lapointe, legal director at the nonprofit American Immigration Council, one of the plaintiffs. DHS didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. On his first day in office, Trump issued an executive order called "Protecting the American People Against Invasion." It ordered the DHS to ensure all "unregistered aliens" register with the government and submit fingerprints and biographical information. President Donald Trump signs executive orders Jan. 20 at Capital One Arena in Washington. The administration's interim final rule requires all non-citizens carry proof of their registration at all times or face a $5,000 fine and up to 30 days imprisonment. Refusing to register could result in a $5,000 fine and up to six months in prison. "The Trump administrations policy raises the possibility that immigrants who are registered regardless of lawful status might be criminally charged and penalized for failing to carry proof of their registration with them at all times," according to an American Immigration Council analysis. In the interim final rule published in the Federal Register, the administration quotes a law on the books since 1940 that requires "alien registration." The requirement was used during World War II at a time when the U.S. government was worried about a "fifth column" of disloyal non-citizens, according to the lawsuit. It was later incorporated into the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952. It has remained in that law, unused, ever since. Trump came into office on a promise of enforcing the nation's immigration laws and cracking down on those here illegally an effort supported by millions of Americans angry about a sharp rise in immigration during the Biden administration. Immigrant advocates are challenging the constitutionality of Trump's enforcement efforts on different fronts, including the administration's moves to detain immigrants at a military base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba; ship alleged gang members to a notorious prison in El Salvador; and cancel Biden-era "legal pathways" for immigrants to apply for entry at the border. Lauren Villagran can be reached at lvillagran@usatoday.com. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Lawsuit claims Trump 'alien registration' rule is illegal Alexander Spatari/Getty Images The cobblestone streets of Rue de L'abreuvoir in Montmartre, Paris, France. Alaska Airlines has teased an expansion into Europe. Executives announced that Europe is on the radar for 2026. Airlines have been expanding with new routes and partnerships to provide increased European service. A European getaway could soon be easier from the West Coast. Alaska Airlines executives have recently confirmed the airline plans to expand into Europe within the next two years. Europe is definitely on the radar for 2026, Alaska Airlines CEO Ben Minicucci said in a recent industry event, according to travel news site Skift. The comments were made during the Aviation Leader Series Luncheon at The Wings Club in New York City on March 27, 2025. The airline previously stated it will be adding 12 additional international markets by 2030, including Europe, on a January 2025 investor earnings call. "Yes. I mean, Europe, we haven't started yet," Alaska Airlines Chief Commercial Officer Andrew Harrison said when asked about seasonality of future airline routes. Alaska Airlines declined to provide additional comment when asked by Travel + Leisure, but executives did specify the planned expansions would mostly be from its hub at SeattleTacoma International Airport. The airline has previously announced an international expansion in Asia, with new service from Seattle to Seoul, South Korea, taking off in September 2025. Alaska also announced daily service from Seattle to Tokyo (NRT) starting on May 12, 2025. Seattle is a major hub for Delta Air Lines, which operates service to Amsterdam (AMS) and Paris (CDG) from the airport. Delta also offers service to Seoul from Seattle. Both of the Alaska Airlines executives comments come as airlines have been adding new routes, or partnering with airlines to offer flights throughout Europe. For example, Southwest Airlines recently launched connections to Europe through a joint commercial agreement with Icelandair. Announced in January 2025, the two airlines signed the agreement to offer connections to destinations such as Amsterdam, Berlin, Dublin, and Prague from Icelandair's Reykjavik hub. American Airlines previously announced new routes to Europe that launch this spring, including service to Athens, Edinburgh, and Milan. Read the original article on Travel & Leisure As a U.S. team of experts heads to Myanmar to assist in recovery from the devastating earthquake that killed more than 2,000 people in Southeast Asia on Friday, international teams, including those from China and Russia, are filling the void in the U.S. absence. The U.S. said Monday that it would provide $2 million in aid and a small U.S. Agency for International Development emergency response team has been deployed to assess the situation in Myanmar, but officials said that it had not yet been able to enter the country as of Monday morning. While the dollar amount of initial aid is in line with what the U.S. has pledged in the past, the overall pace of the response has been slower. In the aftermath of the 2023 earthquake in Morocco, for example, a USAID Disaster Assistance Response Team was deployed just hours later, although Morocco did not ultimately ask for DARTs. MORE: Desperate search for survivors continues in Bangkok high-rise collapse from 7.7 quake That same year when Libya endured catastrophic flooding, DARTs were deployed the same day. And when a major earthquake struck Turkey and Syria that same year, the DART teams were also launched just a few hours after the disaster hit. In both cases, the DARTs took a few days to get on the ground. PHOTO: U.S. Indo-Pacific Command military personnel continue to work alongside Thai military and first responders near the collapsed State Audit Office building in Bangkok, Thailand, March 28, 2025. (U.S. Indo-Pacific Command) The U.S. response comes amid President Donald Trumps efforts to dismantle USAID, laying off thousands of employees, revoking funding for more than 80% of its programs and closing its headquarters, although those efforts are being challenged in multiple court cases. On Friday, the State Department announced it was officially shuttering the agency and taking over many of USAID's functions and its ongoing programming." The State Department has pushed back on the assessment that cuts to USAID have limited the earthquake response, but officials say there has been at least some logistical impact caused by the reorganization, rather than a lack of funding. I would reject the notion this is obviously a result of the USAID cuts and that kind of funding, State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said Monday. Were certainly in the region. In the meantime, it was Chinese teams that arrived 18 hours after the quake and more than 400 Chinese personnel are now on the ground in the region. Beijing has sent in planes full of supplies, providing $14 million in aid. China also has multiple teams in Thailand. Its a public relations win for China, showing it can be a reliable partner when its neighbors are in crisis. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning on Monday posted on X photos and videos of Chinese workers on the ground, rescuing survivors and delivering supplies, saying, China, a friend in need. A leading aid group said in a statement to ABC News on Tuesday that the U.S. has already missed the first urgent window to help find survivors. Abby Maxman, president and CEO of Oxfam America, blamed the Trump administrations dismantling of USAID for what she characterized as the U.S.s severely compromised emergency response. "For decades, the US Government has responded to sudden onset emergencies primarily by providing humanitarian support through USAID. With USAID effectively gutted and critical staff receiving their final notices in the midst of an emergency, the US Governments ability to respond to the humanitarian crisis in Myanmar and future crises is severely compromised," Maxman said. "Speed, collaboration, and resources are life and death matters when disaster strikes. The illegal decision to dismantle USAID means the U.S. will be unable to show up like it has in past emergencies." At the site where a high-rise building collapsed on Sunday in Bangkok, a group of U.S. military personnel were coming and going from the search area throughout Monday. The American team is working with Israeli soldiers to search for survivors, sending drones into areas too dangerous for rescue workers to reach. PHOTOS: See the destruction in Myanmar, Thailand from 7.7 magnitude earthquake Were learning a lot from the Americans, and theyre bringing in a lot of good equipment, said Choktong Issarangkool, one of the volunteers in the rescue and search teams who is also acting as a translator for the American teams. Thais say they are grateful for the American assistance, something this region has become accustomed to following a natural disaster: U.S. aid teams have always been among the first on the ground to help. State Department officials said discussions regarding a more extensive response to the earthquake are ongoing, including the possibility of sending a DART team, although it might be smaller than in past efforts. Our disaster experts, including those based in Bangkok, Manila and Washington, D.C., continue to monitor the situation with coordination with U.S. government counterparts in the region, Bruce said. She emphasized that the $2 million of initial support would be implemented through partner organizations that were already working in the impacted areas. US pledges $2 million for Myanmar quake, but China already filled the void originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Wisconsin Supreme Court candidate Susan Crawford greets well wishes Saturday, March 29, 2025 at a campaign stop at a field office for the Democratic Party of Wisconsin, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Andy Manis) MADISON, Wis. (AP) President Donald Trump's preferred candidate for Wisconsin Supreme Court and his Democratic-backed challenger made a final blitz across the state on Monday, the day before voting concludes in a race where early turnout has surged and spending is nearing $100 million. Billionaire Elon Musk, a top Trump adviser, held a rally in Green Bay on Sunday night to push for the election of Brad Schimel, a Waukesha County judge and former Republican attorney general. He faces Susan Crawford, a Dane County judge and former attorney who fought for abortion rights and to protect union power. Liberals currently hold a 4-3 advantage on the court, but the retirement of a liberal justice this year put the ideological balance in play. The court in battleground Wisconsin is expected to rule on abortion rights, congressional redistricting, union power and voting regulations in the coming years. This election is going to determine all of our fundamental rights and freedoms," Crawford told supporters at a Monday night rally in Madison. Through Sunday, the last day of early voting, at least 644,800 people had cast ballots, based on a Monday tally from the Wisconsin Elections Commission. That number will rise as some municipalities report additional ballots collected over the weekend. As it stands now, early voting numbers were 57% higher, or about 235,000 ballots greater, than the 409,755 early ballots counted the day before the last Supreme Court election in 2023. Milwaukee County, the states largest county and the one that is home to the most Democrats, has seen a 40% increase in early voting compared with 2023. Liberal Dane County, the states second largest county and home to the state capital of Madison and the University of Wisconsin, has seen a 43% increase. Voting was up even more in the three suburban Milwaukee counties of Waukesha, Ozaukee and Washington, which are commonly referred to as the WOW counties. Ballot returns were up 62% in Waukesha County and 53% in Ozaukee County. In Washington, the most heavily Republican of the three counties, early voting was nearly double two years ago. I believe that were getting the energy and were getting people motivated, Schimel said after his first campaign stop Monday morning in Madison. Former Republican Gov. Scott Walker, who campaigned with Schimel in Madison, said he's not overly confident based solely on the early voting numbers, given the increased push from Republicans to vote absentee. Voters dont register by party in Wisconsin, so it is impossible to know how many ballots have been cast by Republicans or Democrats. In Sauk County, a swing-voting county northwest of Madison, retired financial planner Jim Greenwood was knocking on doors in a working-class neighborhood on the west side of town. The activist with the county Democratic Party was making a late-campaign round of canvassing stops. Mary Bellis, a dispatcher for the Sauk County Sheriffs Department, told Greenwood that she typically votes Democratic but not always. Bellis said she planned to vote for Crawford, in large part because she sees establishing a liberal majority on the state high court a necessary check on Trumps authority. Trump is scaring the living daylights out of me, said Bellis, 54. Id rather not have Republicans have the upper hand across the board. Trump won Sauk County by only a little more than 600 votes in 2024 en route to carrying Wisconsin by fewer than 30,000 votes. Joe Biden carried the rural and exurban county on the edge of the Madison metro area by about the same margin when he won Wisconsin in 2020. The high-stakes race has become a proxy battle over the nation's politics, with Crawford and Democrats trying to make it a referendum on Musk given his deep involvement in the contest. He and two groups he funds have combined to spend more than $21 million on the race that will determine majority control of the court, based on a Brennan Center for Justice count. Let me talk for a minute or two about my opponent, Elon Musk," Crawford said at the Monday rally. Crawford said she never imagined the race would come down to her fighting against the richest man in the world. Crawford has benefited from $2 million given to the state Democratic Party by billionaire megadonor George Soros and $1.5 million from Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, also a billionaire. To date, more than $90 million has been spent on the race, according to the Brennan Center. That is nearly double the previous record-high of $51 million for a judicial race, set in Wisconsin in 2023 when control of the Supreme Court was also on the line. Both Musk and Trump, who endorsed Schimel, have been pushing his candidacy as a way to protect Trumps agenda as it faces legal challenges in one of the few battleground states in the country. They've also pointed to the potential that congressional district boundary lines in Wisconsin could be redrawn by the court to favor Democrats. Speaking in the Oval Office Monday, Trump called the election a big race and recounted his own history in the state. Republicans typically dont do very well in Wisconsin. But I did, actually won it twice, he said, before falsely claiming that he also won the state in 2020 when he lost to Democrat Joe Biden. Trump hinted as to why the outcome of the state Supreme Court contest was important. The court can decide election-related laws and settle disputes over future election outcomes. Wisconsins a big state politically, and the Supreme Court has a lot to do with elections in Wisconsin, he said. Winning Wisconsins a big deal, so therefore the Supreme Court choice its a big race. Schimel has leaned heavily into the Trump endorsement with a TV ad running in the final days of the race that says voting for Schimel will protect Trumps agenda. He wore a Make America Great Again hat while campaigning over the weekend and has posed for pictures in front of a giant inflatable Trump. Crawford has the backing of Democrats who have tried to focus the race on Musk, casting it as the first chance for liberal voters to push back against the Trump agenda since his narrow win in November. Musk, at his Sunday rally in Green Bay, put the stakes of the race in stark terms. I think this will be important for the future of civilization, he said. Its that significant. ___ Associated Press writer Thomas Beaumont in Baraboo contributed to this report. Wild Tech has reinforced its Western Australian presence with the hiring of Harvestaire executive director Dirk Vorster as its practice lead in the state. Vorster enters the role for the Sydney-based enterprise resource planning (ERP) specialist with a background in ERP solutions and digital transformation dating back to 2008, with an extensive presence in WA. Before his time at Harvestaire, Vorster also worked locally at Fusion5, Precise Business Solutions, CLiP Solutions and Enabling all of which have been Perth-based roles. As such, Wild Tech claimed Vorsters appointment underscores its growth and presence in Perth and WA. Prior to this, he also worked at AccTech Systems and Roco Fittings in South Africa in ERP-related roles. During his positions at Harvestaire and Fusion5, Vorster played a key role in developing NetSuite practices, growing customer bases and forming strategic partnerships, according to Wild Tech. We cant be everything to everyone. We need to find a good balance of whats needed for our customers and we need to find where we can deliver value to the customer with our partners. In regards to skill deficits, everyones trainable, but its just how fast we need to respond. As for whats been weighing on the mind of DXCs A/NZ Oracle practice director, Mark Simpson, making sure the business drives focus to deliver on its outcomes and getting the global service providers name out into the market are of top concern. What gets me down is how do we drive the focus that we need to deliver [our] outcomes? Its more about the opportunities rather than challenges, he said. I know its easy for me to say, but our teams, from a delivery perspective, are second to none. We are unbelievably good at what we do. What probably keeps me awake at night is making sure more people know how great we are and what we do. Were obviously doing a lot of work with sponsorships like Ferrari and Manchester United to help get the [DXC Technology] name known. When we are delivering and where we are providing that platform, from a services point of view, for these organisations to do what they do, its incredible. When considering the channel, its important to note that the industry certainly doesnt operate in a vacuum. This is all too true for Gartner vice president analyst Luke Ellery, who said he sees concerns surrounding the current geopolitical landscape of the world. Were seeing in Australia quite a lot of signals [indicating] uncertainty, so I think that is keeping organisations up at night, and as a result, I see there being more focus on in the area that I cover: third-party risk management, he said. A lot more focus around, Who are the organisations that were working with and what geography and what country are they from? Youve seen it a bit over the last few years, but were probably seeing that a little bit more at the moment. Vendor views A number of vendors that operate in the channel shared similar views, with the speed in how they do business consistently coming up. Andrew Habgood, Elastics former vice president of Asia Pacific and Japan (APJ) partner ecosystems and current international vice president of partner ecosystems, said that as technology evolves, the vendors partners want to adopt new areas. As such, he feels Elastic has to be fast enough to keep up with them, to share with them, educate them, inform them and then help them with adopting all these great new things. [The] world is moving so fast that if we dont capture the attention of the partners and really keep them up to date, we could miss, he said. Now, I think were doing a reasonable job, but we need to continually educate, inform and activate our partners in those areas. When were engaged, we just see partners leading everywhere. They want more they want to consume more, adopt more, build more, solve more problems. Lalit Malik, Oracles group vice president and head of alliances and channels for Asia Pacific (APAC), also has speed on the brain, but to provide necessary skillsets. All these technologies are hitting us faster than before and you have a very large partner base. Our dependence on that partner base is real and its significant, he said. So, to ensure that the partners that we have are skilled on the newer technologies, the changes that are happening and are up to speed to deliver to the customers, its something that needs to be an integral part of strategy and we need to be nimble enough to be able to make that that capability enhancement and change as we move along. Coming down to a more local level, Oracle A/NZ general manager of alliances and channels Robert Gosling added his concerns are on the vendors engagement model. From a technology perspective, weve transformed from being an on-premises licenced business to a cloud business, and that is fundamentally a very different way you approach the market, because youre now offering a cloud service, he said. Just because were providing more services, this doesnt add any value to the customer until theres am implementation on top of that. I think that changing approach, from being a non-premises sales organisation to actually working with partners and genuinely adding value to the customers, our product capability and their services implementation capability to address the areas of what customers perceive as the price of risk, is critically important. Mike Johnson, Zoom A/NZ head of channel, added simply that hes concerned with not going fast enough. I genuinely think theres a market opportunity of what organisations are looking to do [in] bringing UC and CX together, like leveraging AI. That is something that I truly believe we have a differentiator in that space, he said. Any technology company with a differentiator needs to go and get that into the market. So, Im constantly looking at ways that I can go faster. The announcement over the weekend by President al-Sharaa, who confirms the commitment to build a new state. He should remain in office for five years and lead the country to the writing of the new Constitution and the first post-Assad political elections. The Kurds have rejected the new government, denouncing the lack of (real) involvement of minorities. Damascus (AsiaNews) - The new Syrian interim government, presented over the weekend by President Ahmed al-Sharaa and composed of 23 ministers, includes a Christian woman, the only woman in the executive called upon to revive a country marked by almost 14 years of war and violence: She is Hind Kabawat, former member of the committee in charge of the work for the new Constitution and long active in inter-religious dialogue and women's emancipation, who has been assigned the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs. The new leadership in Damascus lacks a prime minister, but includes Druze and Alawite members of the ethnic-religious minorities and veterans of the uprisings against the former regime of Bashar al-Assad; however, the new government has rejected the Kurds, who represent the majority in the north-east of the country. According to the intentions of interim president al-Sharaa, the executive should remain in office for five years, the time foreseen for the writing of the new Constitution and the holding of the first political elections. In his presentation speech he spoke of the birth of a new phase in our national process in a common perspective of building a new State. We will try to rehabilitate industry, protect national products and create an environment that encourages investment in all sectors. We will also endeavour to reform the monetary situation, strengthen the Syrian currency and prevent manipulation, he added. The ministers are mostly Sunni Muslims, reflecting the demographics of the country once ruled by the Assad clan, who came from the Alawite Muslim minority. Analysts and experts agree that the key positions are occupied by the president's war comrades, former members of the government of salvation in Idlib, the northern province that was a rebel stronghold during the civil war (2011-2024). Among these are Asaad al-Shaibani, who maintains his position as head of diplomacy, and Mourhaf Abou Qasra, who remains in Defence after having commanded the operations that overthrew the old regime. The latter has the onerous task of rebuilding the Syrian army. Anas Khattab, a former jihadist who headed the General Intelligence Directorate, will be the new Interior Minister and Mouzhar al-Waiss will be the new Justice Minister. He replaced Shadi Mohammad al-Waisi, who had been called upon to resign by activist groups after the circulation of old videos linking him to the execution of two women accused of prostitution in Idlib. Yarub Badr, a member of the Alawite religious community to which Assad belongs, has been appointed Minister of Transport, while the Druze Amgad Badr and the Christian Hind Kabawat will head the Ministries of Agriculture and Labour and Social Affairs. The only woman in the executive has long been a critic of the old Assad regime, as well as having worked for dialogue and interfaith harmony. Already part of the Committee of Seven wanted by al-Sharaa, in an interview with AsiaNews published earlier this month she said she was inspired by the figure of Fr. Paolo dall'Oglio, and his ideals of justice. A Catholic and mother of two, Kabawat has repeatedly emphasised the goal of ensuring inclusion and diversity for the new Syria, which is not one thing: Christians, Muslims, every ethnic group must be part of the process. And for the future she hopes for a Syria for all Syrians inspired by the Italian Jesuit capable of building bridges, not walls. In reality the road ahead is still long and difficult, as demonstrated by the recent sectarian violence against the Alawites (wrongly or rightly identified with the previous regime) in the strongholds of Latakia and Tartous, with a death toll of over a thousand. Sharaa has attempted to reassure both Syrians and foreign observers that his government will not persecute minorities, but his past as former leader of the Syrian branch of al-Qaeda fuels some scepticism. There is also concern about the government's promised massive privatisation of state industries and public bodies, and layoffs. Furthermore, the Western bloc has recently emphasised that there will be no carte blanche for the new leadership and a relaxation of sanctions - fundamental for the recovery of the country - will be linked to the decisions taken. In a recent report, the United Nations confirmed that 90% of Syrians live in poverty and half of the country's infrastructure has been destroyed or rendered dysfunctional. Furthermore, 75% of the population depends on some form of humanitarian aid, compared to only 5% in the first year of the conflict. Finally, among the critical voices of the future interim government is that of the Kurds: yesterday the administration of the north-east rejected the names and choices, stressing that it had failed in its attempt to involve the country's minorities. In a statement, the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (Aanes) said it does not consider itself bound to implement or apply the decisions made by this government. Any executive that does not reflect the diversity and plurality of the country cannot guarantee the proper governance of Syria. Although it includes one Kurd - the Minister of Education Mohammad Turko - it does not involve any representative of the Aanes, who controlled large areas of Syria for more than a decade. A Taipei emergency team waited in vain for two days without being allowed to enter the country, devastated by an earthquake. The perverse interweaving of political issues and rescue operations for people under the rubble. No entry even for foreign journalists. A ceasefire is essential so that aid does not also become a weapon of war. Yangon (AsiaNews/Agencies) - About a hundred rescue workers specialised in searching for people under the rubble were mobilised immediately on Friday from Taiwan to go and help Myanmar devastated by the earthquake. But after waiting two days for permission to enter the country, they were demobilised this morning. The Burmese generals' government - despite the fact that many of its own offices in the capital Naypyidaw are unusable - does not consider it necessary. Taipei itself, moreover, was concerned about sending them to a country where not even the earthquake is stopping the war, with news of new air raids continuing to arrive. Not even the great tragedy and the thousands of deaths are opening that humanitarian window within the conflict that is essential to deal with the emergency. Political considerations are influencing border management: the doors were opened immediately to the rescue teams sent by Beijing. The spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry stated today that the teams sent by the People's Republic have so far saved six human lives in earthquake-devastated Myanmar. He spoke of around 400 Chinese experts, rescuers and health workers involved in the rescue operations in the country. Other teams have been able to enter from ASEAN countries: from neighbouring Thailand and from Singapore, which has however called (so far in vain) for a ceasefire in order to be able to operate even in the hottest war zones. Today a Malaysian team was the first rescue force to reach the city of Sagaing. India has also launched Operation Brahma with aid and rescue personnel that have been in Yangon since Saturday; as has Russia, which has sent 120 doctors and rescue workers. At the same time, however, the Myanmar junta has rejected all requests from foreign media to enter the country to document the tragedy. The official reason given was the lack of water and electricity, but it is clear that the intent is to keep prying eyes out of a country that the military has been trying to take back for four years, but now only controls the big cities. Moreover, in recent weeks the Trump administration has actually given a big hand to the Naypyidaw regime, by cutting the funding of Voice of America and Radio Free Asia, two of the voices that have most widely denounced the horrors of war and repression in Myanmar over the past four years. This is another reason why it is essential that the international community works together to provide aid to the affected populations and to call for a ceasefire. This is also to prevent the aid collected by international organisations from being intercepted by the junta and turned into a weapon of war. The Government of National Unity of Myanmar - the political umbrella organisation to which some of the anti-coup militias belong and which de facto control fragmented areas of the country - yesterday announced a two-week suspension of offensive military operations in the areas affected by the earthquake, to allow relief operations to take place. They have also offered cooperation and a guarantee of security in the areas under their control to the United Nations, international relief agencies and humanitarian organisations committed to providing immediate assistance and medical support to the victims. Other ethnic militias are continuing the offensive, especially in the less affected areas. The Naypyidaw government, on the other hand, has not made any sign of life: Karen militias reported that air raids on some villages took place again yesterday. Devastation upon devastation, in a seemingly endless madness. by Vladimir Rozanskij The Eurasian military alliance has presented new guidelines for law enforcement operations to be applied in all member states to prevent terrorist infiltration. Last year 420 illegal organisations were identified, but there were also many summary actions against Tajiks after the attack on Krokus City Hall. Dushanbe is insisting that its citizens fully legalise their residence status in Russia by the end of April. Moscow (AsiaNews) - The secretariat of the Eurasian military alliance, CSTO, has presented its plan for regional operations to combat illegal immigration this year, called Nelegal-2025, to be applied in all the territories of the member states Belarus, Kazakhstan, Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Armenia, even if the status of the latter is currently frozen. The channels through which these migratory flows develop must be identified and blocked, putting an end to illegal practices. The organisational managers of the national staff have agreed on the timing and methods of the operations to be carried out in parallel, with a detailed exchange of information. The plan involves several stages, with the aim of achieving a stabilisation of the migratory situation, avoiding the dangers of terrorist infiltration, as stated in the CSTO press release. A similar initiative was held last year, which revealed more than 13,000 violations of migration legislation in Moscow alone, with more than 10,000 foreigners accused of breaking the rules of entry, exit and stay in the territory of the Russian Federation, and also for not having respected the established order for being able to carry out work activities in Russia. The previous Nelegal-2024 action was activated in September, and 420 cases of organised illegal immigration were identified. The Tajikistan authorities in particular had repeatedly and publicly addressed the Russian counterpart, protesting against violations of the rights of Tajik citizens in Russia, and in the intergovernmental session held in Dushanbe in October, Prime Minister Kokhir Rasulzoda appealed to the Russians against the continuous checks, searches and arrests with summary procedures against Tajiks, largely due to the effects of the attack on Krokus City Hall in March, attributed to Tajik Islamic terrorists. Rasulzoda complained that with vague assurances of security, people are held at the border for hours, sometimes for days, including students, the elderly, children and members of official delegations. Russian Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin also recognised the need to create a working group between Russia and Tajikistan to control migration, and the Tajikistan Foreign Minister, Sirodziddin Mukhriddin, speaking at the CIS Council of Ministers, once again expressed concern about the continuous restrictions on the rights of Tajik citizens, with measures that contradict the principles of humanism and mutual support, which are the fundamental values of the Commonwealth of Independent States. For all these reasons, the decision to entrust the CSTO with a broader and more detailed plan regarding migration issues could offer more convincing answers for everyone, not only guaranteeing Russia's security, but also giving the possibility of regulating the migratory and labour flows, which are so necessary for the countries of Central Asia to support their families, and for Russia itself to fill labour shortages. The Tajikistan institutions are therefore insisting that their citizens fully legalise their conditions of stay in Russia by the end of April, and carry out the necessary checks on entry permits and all documentation in their own country. In addition to an entry visa, in Russia it is now necessary to register at the place of residence and obtain a work permit which requires a monthly payment, and registration in the archive of persons under control, with a verification agreed between the ministries of labour and the organisations concerned in the two countries involved, the country of origin and the country where the activities take place. In case of non-compliance with all the rules, they are marked on the deportation register, and after repatriation they will be banned from entering Russia for a period of 3 to 10 years. Tajikistan has also opened consultation offices, with telephone numbers always available, to give everyone the opportunity to avoid imperfections and violations that would close the doors of Russia. Pope Francis has approved his canonisation, together with that of Archbishop Ignatius Maloyan, killed in the Armenian genocide. A lay catechist, To Rot was killed in 1945 for defending marriage against the Japanese who, in order to ingratiate themselves with local tribes, promoted polygamy. Vatican (AsiaNews) A few months after Pope Franciss visit to Papua New Guinea, its local Church can rejoice in a new long-awaited news. The remote country in Oceania will have its first saint: Peter To Rot, a lay catechist, married and father of three children, killed in 1945 by the Japanese occupation forces. The Vatican Press Office announced today that, on Friday, the pontiff approved the favourable votes of the cardinals and bishops members of the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints for the canonisation of Peter To Rot (1912-1945) and that of another martyr, Armenian Catholic Bishop Ignatius Shoukrallah Maloyan, killed in 1915 during the Armenian genocide. Francis also approved the promulgation of three other decrees, including one recognising the miracle attributed to the Venezuelan Blessed Mary of Mount Carmel, born Carmen Elena Rendiles Martinez (1903-1977), foundress of the Congregation of the Servants of Jesus. The Church is thus preparing to proclaim three new saints. The date of the ceremony, which will take place in Rome, will be set in a consistory that will be called when Francis is able to preside over it. While in the Gemelli Hospital last month, Francis promulgated the decrees in causes of canonisation of two more saints, Giuseppe Gregorio Hernandez Cisneros and Bartolo Longo. Born in 1912 in Rakunai, in the easternmost part of Papua New Guinea, Peter To Rot belonged to the Tolai community. Son of the village chief, after he was specially trained, he carried out with dedication the ministry of catechist in his community. When the Japanese occupied Papua New Guinea during World War II and imprisoned all the missionaries, he did what he could to carry out catechetical activities and continue to prepare couples for Christian marriage. For this reason, he opposed the practice of polygamy that the Japanese had allowed to ingratiate themselves with local tribes. As a result, he was arrested and sentenced to two months in prison. During his time in prison, only his mother, wife together and children could visit him. Treated more harshly than the other prisoners, he died in prison in July 1945, poisoned. St John Paul II beatified him on 17 January 1995 in Port Moresby. Last year, the bishops of Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands requested to dispense Peter To Rots cause from a miracle. While noting the reporting of many proofs, they argued that it is very difficult to document the necessary miracle because too few hospitals can provide the scientifically necessary documentation to prove a miraculous healing; what is more, the local culture is essentially oral which makes it hard to provide written documentation of any miracles that might have occurred. As for Archbishop Ignatius Maloyan, he was born in 1869, and served as the Armenian Catholic bishop of Mardin when the storm of genocide swept away his people in the early 20th century. Although he had always cultivated good relations with local authorities, to the point of receiving an honour from the sultan, he too was accused of "treason" by Turkish officials in 1915. Dragged to court, the chief of police, Mamdouh Bey, proposed that he embrace Islam, to save his life. The prelate replied that he would never deny Jesus or betray the Church and that it was a joy for him to suffer any torture for Christ, even death. In prison, he consecrated bread for his fellow inmates, and would later be shot along with many other Christians. by Nirmala Carvalho In Varanasi, the celebrations for the end of Ramadan are blocked due to closures related to a Hindu holiday. Meat, fish and poultry shops have had to close; only a few vegetarian markets are available. Protests also break out in Meerut over the ban on street praying. Delhi (AsiaNews) The feast of Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting and prayer, has sparked sectarian tensions and protests between the Hindu majority and Muslims in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. While Muslims around the world will celebrate the event with banquets and traditional food, all meat, fish and poultry shops in Varanasi will remain closed. The Times of India reports that the lockdown is due to the Hindu festival of Navratri, which began yesterday until 7 April, during which shops remain closed for nine days, overlapping this year with the Eid al-Fitr celebrations. Varanasi Mayor Ashok Kumar Tiwari waded into the controversy. Citing the sacredness of the holiday, he urged Muslims to respect it, including the closure of trading activities. Navratri, literally the "Nine Nights", is a festival dedicated to Devi or Sakti, the "Divine Mother", the feminine expression of the Godhead. Navratri is celebrated with great devotion throughout India and in Hindu communities around the world. This year the festival falls on the Muslim feast of Eid, which has led to disagreements and tensions because the Islamic community feels it has been denied the opportunity to celebrate the end of its month-long fast. But for Varanasis mayor, Since the proposal of the closure of meat shops during Navratri was passed in the executive, it would be strictly implemented. Tiwari explained that his city is a "religious and cultural capital", with almost 2,000 pilgrims coming every day for the famous temple. A tradition should be followed, he added, and it should not be seen as something forced at the expense of members of other religions. Human rights groups have criticised the decision, stressing that Eid comes "once a year" and after the Ramadan sacrifices, Muslims, especially the poorest, look forward to feasting on Eid. Only shops 500 metres away from any temple are allowed open today, said Fr Anand Mathew, a local Catholic priest speaking to AsiaNews. This is badly affecting business in the Muslim community who sell chicken, fish, meats, etc. and the poor who have to pay higher prices for non-vegetarian food for today's Eid feast, he added. In addition, the municipal administration and the police "harass Muslim traders and workers. For the past two years, it has been impossible to sell anything non-vegetarian within a radius of two kilometres near the Vishwanath Temple, local sources explain, and these restrictions create fractures in society. Nevertheless, Varanasi can take pride in a strong history of interreligious harmony, making it a symbol of religious diversity, as well as particularly wealthy. With thousands of temples, it is the epicentre of Hinduism, but Muslims make up almost 30 per cent of the citys estimated 1.5 million residents and the city has always been a mosaic of different faiths and cultures, with a large Christian presence as well. Protests broke out after the Eid prayer in Meerut, also in Uttar Pradesh, when Muslims were prevented from offering Namaz, the Muslim prayer, in the streets. The protesters waved placards saying that only Muslims do not offer namaz (prayers) on the streets, whereas Hindus can do so during the festivals of Holi, Shivratri, Diwali, Ganesh Chaturthi and Ramnavmi. Last week, the city's police warned people who planned to hold Eid prayers on the street that they would face legal action, such as the possible cancellation of passports and driver's licenses. In Haryana district, numerous Palestinian flags were flown. 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. Voters there went to the polls to elect a new local council empowered to appoint the citys mayor. The vote was viewed by analysts as an important test of Pashinians popularity. Armenias Central Election Commission said on Monday morning that with nearly all ballots cast counted, Civil Contract won 36.8 percent of the vote and thus fell short of an absolute majority in the council. Its likely ally, the pro-Western Eurovote bloc, failed to clear the 6 percent vote threshold for holding seats there. The Armenian Community Party and its mayoral candidate, Vartan Ghukasian, finished second with almost 20.7 percent of the vote, followed by the Our City bloc of Martun Grigorian, an opposition member of the Armenian parliament, which got about 15.9 percent. Two other opposition groups led by prominent TV producer Ruben Mkhitarian and businessman Karen Simonian will also be represented in the new city council, having polled 7.9 percent and 6.2 percent respectively. The four opposition contenders were thus projected to gain at least 18 of the 33 council seats, putting them in a position to install a common candidate as Gyumri mayor. Ghukasian, who had run the city from 1999 to 2012, said during the tense election campaign that he should be chosen as mayor if he gets more votes than the other opposition forces. Mkhitarians and Simonians blocs were quick to pledge to back the ex-mayors candidacy without seeking any power-sharing deals with him. Grigorian, who has had an uneasy relationship Ghukasian, made no statement to that effect as of Monday morning. Speaking shortly after midnight, a senior member of Civil Contract, Vahe Ghalumian, acknowledged that the ruling party will not control the new city council. He insisted that the partys electoral performance cannot be considered a defeat. Civil Contract came in first and got nearly twice as many votes as the runner-up, Ghalumian told journalists. Pashinians party suffered an outright defeat on Sunday in another local election held in a major community just west of Yerevan. A local bloc led by the opposition Aprelu Yerkir party won more than 56 percent of the vote in the community comprising nine villages. Opposition representatives and election observers critical of the Armenian government reported various irregularities throughout Sundays voting in Gyumri. But they did not allege the kind of systematic fraud that could have seriously affected the outcome of the tightly contested ballot. Grigorian held a news conference on Sunday afternoon to condemn law-enforcement authorities for detaining more activists of his opposition bloc, including an elderly woman. Armenias Anti-Corruption Committee said that they are suspected of committing an election-related crime. It did not elaborate. Eight other opposition activists, including Grigorians father and son, were arrested on Thursday. They all were freed after being charged with giving or promising vote bribes or engaging in election-related benevolence which is also not allowed by Armenian law. Grigorian and other local opposition figures rejected the accusations as politically motivated. Pashinians party also failed to win the previous local election held in 2021. It gained control of Gyumris municipal administration late last year following criminal charges brought against the unofficial leader of a local bloc that ran the city. 31 March 2025 14:55 (UTC+04:00) Qabil Ashirov Read more In 2024, a noteworthy yet modest development in Azerbaijan's economic landscape occurred with the entry of direct foreign investment from Mexico. For the first time, Mexico contributed $5.2 million to Azerbaijans economy, marking a milestone in the relationship between the two nations. Although this investment accounted for just 0.1% of the total direct foreign investments flowing into Azerbaijan, it holds symbolic significance. This marks the beginning of what could be a growing economic relationship between the two countries, although one must acknowledge that it still represents a small fraction of the overall investment climate in Azerbaijan. Azerbaijans total direct foreign investment for 2024 exceeded $7 billion, reflecting a 5.83% increase from the previous year. The increase in foreign investments demonstrates that Azerbaijan continues to attract interest from global investors, largely driven by its energy sector, strategic location, and ongoing infrastructure developments. The $388.1 million increase in total investments is encouraging and suggests that Azerbaijan is positioning itself as a key player in regional and global economic discussions. Yet, despite this overall positive trend, the Mexican investment remains relatively small in comparison to the major sources of foreign capital flowing into Azerbaijan, such as from European, Middle Eastern, and regional partners. What stands out most is the fact that, prior to 2024, Mexico had not invested in Azerbaijan at all. This underscores how fresh and potentially pivotal this new avenue of foreign capital is. The question arises: What led to this development, and how might this small yet symbolic investment evolve over time? A closer look reveals that Mexicos emerging role in Azerbaijans economic framework could reflect the broader trend of increasing diversification in the countrys foreign investment sources. With rising global connectivity, economies that were once distant from Azerbaijanlike Mexicoare beginning to explore economic partnerships, likely driven by the mutual interest in energy, infrastructure, and potential trade collaborations. This moment of investment diversification in Azerbaijan is important for the countrys long-term economic strategy. Historically, Azerbaijans foreign investment has been concentrated in a handful of regions and industries, most notably in the oil and gas sector. While the country has made strides in diversifying its economy, attracting foreign capital from varied regions and industries, such as Mexico, offers an opportunity to broaden its economic ties and reduce dependence on a limited number of investors. The injection of capital from new and unexpected sources like Mexico can also serve as a potential buffer against global financial volatility, which can disproportionately affect markets reliant on investments from a single region or sector. However, the fact that the Mexican investment is still so small compared to other contributors is indicative of a broader challenge Azerbaijan faces: the need to cultivate sustained and meaningful foreign investment beyond just energy. The fact that direct foreign investment to Azerbaijan saw an overall decline of 43.3% in investments flowing out of the country is also a concerning trend. Azerbaijani investors placed $1.8 billion abroad in 2024, marking a significant decrease from 2023 levels. This trend highlights a dual challenge for Azerbaijanwhile it seeks to attract more foreign capital, it also faces increasing capital flight, suggesting that domestic investors may be looking for more opportunities elsewhere. To turn this situation around, Azerbaijan must focus on not only attracting new investments but also ensuring that those investments are sustained. Creating an environment that fosters innovation and diversification in industries beyond energy will be key. Agriculture, tourism, technology, and manufacturing should all be areas where Azerbaijan looks to expand its attractiveness as an investment destination. For now, the $5.2 million from Mexico may seem like a small drop in the ocean, but it could well be the beginning of a larger and more varied economic partnership that will serve Azerbaijan well in the years to come. In conclusion, the increase in foreign direct investment from Mexico, while modest, is a significant first step in broadening Azerbaijans economic partnerships. At the same time, the country faces the challenge of mitigating capital flight and ensuring the sustainability of foreign investments across different sectors. Azerbaijan must continue to diversify its economy and create an environment where both foreign and domestic investments can thrive in tandem. 31 March 2025 08:30 (UTC+04:00) Elnur Enveroglu Read more Driven by the vision of creating "Greater Armenia," Armenians carried out mass killings of Azerbaijanis between 1905 and 1907. These massacres began in Baku and spread throughout Azerbaijan, including in what is now Armenia, leading to the destruction of hundreds of settlements and the brutal deaths of thousands of Azerbaijanis. Behind all of this was the manifestation of a sick ideology, the illusion of a "Greater Armenia" stretching from sea to sea, or more clearly, the embryos of the fabricated concept of "Miatsum." This ideology was not the product of just a few years, but of centuries, and it began to manifest itself. Finally, during World War I and the subsequent Russian Revolutions in 1917, Armenians tried to further their intentions under the Bolshevik banner. Starting in March 1918, the Baku Commune, under the guise of fighting counter-revolutionaries, initiated a campaign of ethnic cleansing to remove Azerbaijanis from the Baku Governorate. Tens of thousands of Azerbaijani civilians were murdered based on their ethnicity and religion, and settlements, along with cultural sites such as mosques and cemeteries, were obliterated. The violence continued, with Armenian nationalists carrying out further massacres, looting, and ethnic cleansing in areas like Garabagh, Zangazur, Nakhchivan, Shirvan, and Irevan. As the Armenian Dashnak-Russian Bolshevik forces were about to initiate the March massacre against Azerbaijanis, the Mensheviks, Social Revolutionaries, Kadets, and Dashnaks all provided their full support, or rather, defended the Baku Soviet led by Stepan Shaumyan. No Azerbaijanis were accepted into the "revolutionary" army created by Armenian Korganov, who headed the Military-Revolutionary Committee of the Baku Soviet. Instead, Armenians were recruited into this newly formed army and heavily armed. This fact was also acknowledged by Armenian authors themselves. On March 31, the Revolutionary Defense Committee was formed by the Bolsheviks to take on the entire struggle. The committee included P. Caparidze, G. Korganov, I. Sukhartev (a left-wing Socialist Revolutionary), and Stepan Shaumyan. During the days of the March battles in Baku, the head of the Bolshevik detachment was N. Ananchenko, and the commissioner was S. Martikyan. To engage Armenian national groups in the fight against the Azerbaijani population and to involve Russian and Armenian workers who followed the right-wing Socialist Revolutionaries and the Dashnaks, the Revolutionary Defense Committee invited representatives from these parties as well. Given the active presence of Armenian Dashnak-Russian Bolshevik armed groups in Baku, Azerbaijanis had to take self-defense measures and were forced to resort to arms. The Azerbaijan Democratic Republic took steps to address these atrocities, especially the events of March 1918. On July 15, 1918, the Council of Ministers established a commission to investigate the tragedy. This commission focused on the March genocide, examining the crimes committed in Shamakhi and the Irevan Governorate. Additionally, a special department within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was formed to bring international attention to the issue. In 1919 and 1920, the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic commemorated March 31 as a day of national mourning, marking the first political acknowledgment of the genocide. However, after the fall of the Republic, these efforts were halted. It was not until 80 years later, in 1998, that Azerbaijans then-president, Heydar Aliyev, issued the Decree "On the Genocide of Azerbaijanis," offering a formal political evaluation of these tragic events. The decree highlighted the systematic genocide of Azerbaijanis from the 19th to the 20th centuries, including the March 1918 massacre. The decree declared March 31 as the "Day of the Genocide of Azerbaijanis." The National Leader of Azerbaijan emphasized the importance of bringing global awareness to the genocide and achieving political and legal recognition. Despite the challenges, he urged the continuing effort to correct the historical narrative that had been distorted by Armenian propaganda. In recent years, research has uncovered new facts and documents related to the genocide. One significant discovery was the mass grave found in the city of Guba, which is a gruesome testament to the events of 1918. Excavations in 2007 revealed that over 400 bodies, including those of women, children, and elderly men, were buried at the site. The remains belonged not only to Azerbaijanis but also to other ethnic groups, such as Lezgins, Jews, and Tats. In 2009, the Azerbaijani government approved plans for a memorial to honor the victims of the Guba massacre. This discovery and subsequent investigations have helped further document the scale of the genocide committed against the Azerbaijani people. 31 March 2025 18:30 (UTC+04:00) Full digital access to all news for 1 year Full digital access to all news for 6 months Full digital access to all news for 3 months Full digital access to all news for 1 month Find the plan that suits you best. In the first two months of 2025, Azerbaijan imported automotive industry products worth $12.82 million from Turkiye, marking a 12% decline compared to the same period last year, Azernews reports citing the Turkish Exporters Assembly. Here we are to serve you with news right now. It does not cost much, but worth your attention. Choose to support open, independent, quality journalism and subscribe on a monthly basis. By subscribing to our online newspaper, you can have full digital access to all news, analysis, and much more. Subscribe You can also follow AzerNEWS on Twitter @AzerNewsAz or Facebook @AzerNewsNewspaper Thank you! 31 March 2025 10:22 (UTC+04:00) Nazrin Abdul Read more Azerbaijani Ambassador to Kenya, Sultan Hajiyev, met with Kenyan Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi to discuss the growing relationship between the two countries, Azernews reports, citing the embassy. Both sides expressed satisfaction with their dynamic cooperation, highlighting upcoming visits that are expected to enhance bilateral and multilateral ties. Prime Minister Mudavadi shared positive reflections on his visit to Azerbaijan and praised the decisions made under Azerbaijan's leadership at COP29. He also emphasized Kenya's interest in adopting Azerbaijan's digital solutions, particularly through collaboration between "ASAN service" and Kenya's "Huduma" citizen service. Ambassador Hajiyev highlighted Azerbaijan's upcoming hosting of the 13th UN World Urban Forum and World Environment Day in 2026, stressing the potential for impactful collaboration between the two nations. Mudavadi expressed Kenya's readiness to work closely with Azerbaijan on sustainable urban development and climate change initiatives. The meeting also touched on the recent humanitarian aid from Azerbaijan, with Mudavadi thanking the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and Azerbaijan International Development Assistance Agency (AIDA) for their support to Kenya's educational and medical sectors. 31 March 2025 10:00 (UTC+04:00) Nazrin Abdul Read more Today, March 31, marks the Day of the Genocide of Azerbaijanis, commemorating 107 years since the tragic events of 1918, Azernews reports. Between March 30 and April 3, armed groups, including the Baku Soviet and Dashnak Armenians, perpetrated a horrific genocide against Azerbaijanis across Baku, Shamakhi, Guba, Khachmaz, Lankaran, Hajigabul, Salyan, Zangezur, Garabagh, Nakhchivan, and other regions. Official sources report that approximately 12,000 Azerbaijanis were killed, with tens of thousands more reported missing. Exploiting the political turmoil in Russia following the 1917 February and October revolutions, Armenians carried out their plans under the Bolshevik banner. The Baku Commune, beginning in March 1918, implemented a systematic campaign aimed at eradicating Azerbaijanis, justifying the violence as a fight against "counter-revolutionary elements." In 1919 and 1920, the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic marked March 31 as a day of national mourning in memory of the atrocities. Following Azerbaijan's independence, the nation gained the opportunity to present an objective historical account of these events. The decree "On the Genocide of Azerbaijanis," signed by national leader Heydar Aliyev on March 26, 1998, officially recognized the genocide and condemned the actions of the Armenian perpetrators. March 31, Genocide Day, is now observed annually at the state level in Azerbaijan and has become an integral part of the countrys foreign policy, ensuring the acknowledgment of this tragic chapter in Azerbaijani history. 31 March 2025 12:46 (UTC+04:00) Nazrin Abdul Read more Azerbaijanis have endured a systematic policy of genocide and ethnic cleansing by Armenians for over a century, according to a statement issued by the Azerbaijani Ombudsmans Office, Azernews reports. The statement outlines that, since the early 20th century, Azerbaijanis of Turkic and Muslim descent have been subjected to genocidal crimes in both Azerbaijan and present-day Armenia, carried out with consistent impunity and on a large scale. One of the darkest chapters of this policy occurred in 1918, when the genocide against Azerbaijanis, motivated by ethnic and religious hatred, resulted in horrific massacres. These atrocities have become deeply etched in Azerbaijans collective memory. The statement highlights that the anti-Muslim, anti-Azerbaijani actions carried out by Armenian nationalists led to widespread massacres, the destruction of entire villages and cities, the devastation of historical, religious, and cultural monuments, cemeteries, the uprooting of families, and the violent expulsion of Azerbaijanis from their ancestral lands. The massacres carried out in Baku, Shamakhi, Guba, Garabagh, Zangezur, Irevan, Nakhchivan, Lankaran, Ganja, Goychay, Shaki, Sabirabad, Salyan, Kurdamir, and other regions were part of a deliberate campaign to erase the presence of Azerbaijanis in these territories. In particular, during the massacres of March 1918, 110 villages in Shamakhi, over 150 villages in Karabakh, 115 villages in Zangezur, 98 villages in Kars, and 167 villages in Guba were burned, and their innocent populations were mercilessly slaughtered. The countless human bones discovered in Guba later reflect the brutality, cruelty, and vandalism of these genocidal acts, clearly demonstrating that Armenians, who were directly responsible for these massacres, killed innocent Azerbaijanis out of hatred, simply because of their ethnicity. The statement further emphasizes that the existence of verified historical documents and survivor testimonies serves as irrefutable evidence of these atrocities. These records confirm that the massacres were not isolated incidents but were part of a coordinated, planned effort to ethnically cleanse Azerbaijanis. The documents conclusively establish that these crimes, in accordance with international law, constitute genocide. Despite the overwhelming evidence, the statement laments that international recognition of these genocidal acts has been insufficient, and a fair global response has yet to materialize. In 1998, by the decree of National Leader Heydar Aliyev, March 31 was declared the Day of Genocide of Azerbaijanis, and research was initiated to provide a legal and political framework for addressing the crimes committed. The statement stresses the importance of internationally recognizing the genocide against Azerbaijanis, ensuring appropriate legal appreciation, and taking measures to prevent the repetition of such crimes in the future. The Azerbaijani Ombudsmans Office calls on the international community to conduct a thorough political and legal evaluation of the ethnic cleansing and genocide committed against Azerbaijanis, formally recognize the 1918 massacres as genocide, and work towards restoring historical and legal justice for the victims. The statement has been sent to a wide array of international bodies, including the UN, EU, OSCE, UNESCO, and various human rights organizations, as well as diplomatic missions and Azerbaijans diaspora organizations, urging them to take action and recognize these crimes for what they truly weregenocide. 31 March 2025 14:19 (UTC+04:00) President of the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria Abdelmadjid Tebboune has sent a congratulatory letter to the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev on the occasion of the Ramadan holiday, Azernews reports. "Your Excellency, dear brother. On the occasion of the holy Eid al-Fitr, I extend my sincere congratulations and best wishes to you on behalf of the people and government of Algeria, as well as personally. I wish Your Excellency strong health and happiness, and your brotherly people greater progress and prosperity. I pray to Almighty Allah to grant us and the entire Islamic Ummah this holiday again with peace, goodness, and abundance. On the occasion of this auspicious holiday, I would like to reiterate our commitment to strengthening the fraternal relations between our countries in accordance with the interests of our brotherly peoples, and to contribute to the progress of the Islamic Ummah in an environment of well-being and stability. Your Excellency, Dear Brother, please accept my highest respects and best wishes," the letter reads. 31 March 2025 14:34 (UTC+04:00) On March 31, a telephone conversation was held between Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, and Masoud Pezeshkian, President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Azernews reports. President Masoud Pezeshkian extended his congratulations to President Ilham Aliyev and the people of Azerbaijan on the occasion of Eid al-Fitr, conveying his best wishes. President Ilham Aliyev expressed gratitude for the congratulations and, in turn, extended his holiday greetings to the Iranian President and people. President Masoud Pezeshkian thanked President Ilham Aliyev for the congratulations. During the phone conversation, they hailed the dynamic nature of high-level reciprocal visits between the two countries. They also touched upon the activities of the intergovernmental commission, and the prospects for bilateral cooperation in economic, trade, transport, energy, and other fields. 31 March 2025 13:45 (UTC+04:00) On the occasion of the Eid al-Fitr, I extend my sincere congratulations to you and wish you happiness, peace, and success," the letter reads. Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia Abiy Ahmed Ali has sent a congratulatory letter to the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev on the occasion of the Ramadan holiday, Azernews reports. Here we are to serve you with news right now. It does not cost much, but worth your attention. Choose to support open, independent, quality journalism and subscribe on a monthly basis. By subscribing to our online newspaper, you can have full digital access to all news, analysis, and much more. Subscribe You can also follow AzerNEWS on Twitter @AzerNewsAz or Facebook @AzerNewsNewspaper Thank you! 31 March 2025 15:03 (UTC+04:00) Transitional President of the Republic of Gabon Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema has sent a congratulatory letter to President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev on the occasion of the Ramadan holiday, Azernews reports. "Mr. President, As the Muslim community celebrates the Eid al-Fitr, I extend to you and your family my sincere congratulations and wishes for health, happiness, and prosperity. The month of Ramadan is a period of peace, tranquility, and high spirituality for Muslims. This month is also a source of personal development and holds significant importance in terms of reflection and communication. I hope that this blessed month will contribute to strengthening the universal values of sharing, solidarity, and nobility, and will unite our actions in the face of today's major challenges. Mr. President, please accept assurances of my highest consideration," the letter reads. 31 March 2025 16:26 (UTC+04:00) Azerbaijanis living in Europe have gathered in front of the "Peace Palace" in The Hague to protest against ongoing injustices and double standards towards their homeland, Azernews reports. Organized by the Azerbaijani community in Europe, the demonstration voiced strong opposition to the continued bias against Azerbaijan, particularly in European and Dutch parliamentary discussions. Protesters marched and held placards in front of the "Peace Palace" to demonstrate their unity and solidarity in the face of unfair treatment. The demonstrators chanted slogans such as Rise for Justice!, Truth for Azerbaijan, Justice for All!, Say No to Armenias Occupation!, Recognize Azerbaijans Rights Worldwide!, Together for Justice, Peace, and Truth!, Lets Return to International Justice!, End Double Standards!, and No Mercy for Ruben Vardanyan on the Mirotvorets List. Participants also recalled the tragic history of mass killings and genocide committed against Azerbaijanis by Armenian forces. They highlighted the large-scale atrocities and their devastating consequences, emphasizing that these crimes should be recognized under international legal conventions as crimes against humanity. One of the key demands of the protest was the recognition of the March 31, 1918, genocide, in which thousands of Azerbaijanis were killed in brutal massacres. Demonstrators urged international institutions to acknowledge this historic injustice, calling for justice and accountability for the crimes committed 107 years ago. 31 March 2025 15:51 (UTC+04:00) The Turkish Embassy in Azerbaijan has issued a statement commemorating March 31, the Day of Genocide of Azerbaijanis, Azernews reports. In a social media post, the embassy stated: "On the anniversary of the horrific massacre committed by Armenian Dashnaks alongside the Bolsheviks on March 31, 1918, we solemnly honor the memory of the victims with deep sorrow and respect and pray for their souls." It should be noted that today marks 107 years since the massacres committed between March 30 and April 3, 1918. During this period, Armenian armed groups from the Baku Soviet and Dashnaksutyun carried out brutal attacks against Azerbaijanis in Baku and various regions of the Baku Governorate, as well as in Goychay, Guba, Khachmaz, Lankaran, Hajigabul, Salyan, Zangezur, Karabakh, Nakhchivan, and other areas. 31 March 2025 18:00 (UTC+04:00) The Marmara Group Strategic and Social Research Foundation has inaugurated 16 distinct award categories to commemorate its 40th anniversary. Akkan Suver, the foundation's president, informed Azernews of this initiative. He elaborated that among these categories, designed to honor the legacy of the foundation's departed members and volunteers, is the "Turkic World Award," established in memory of Heydar Aliyev, the National Leader of the Azerbaijani people. The inaugural recipient of this prestigious award is Aziz Sancar, a Nobel laureate, world-renowned scientist, and honorary member of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences. The awards encompass the following categories: "Suleyman Demirel Democracy," "Zhelyu Zhelev Philosophy," "Erhard Busek Governance," "Bernard Lewis History," "George Marovich Intercultural Dialogue," "Sahap Kocatopcu Export," "Husamettin Kavi Industry," "Jacques Kamhi Love and Peace," "Ahmet Samsunlu Environment," "Yuksel Cengel Politics," "Ogan Soysal Foreign Affairs," "Yalcn Sonmez Industrial Zone," "Orscelik Balkan Creative Thinking," "Sami Kohen Media," and "Hadi Turkmen Barrier-Free Life." The awards will be conferred upon the winners during the 28th Eurasian Economic Summit, scheduled to take place from May 6 to 8 of this year. 31 March 2025 19:05 (UTC+04:00) By Alimat Aliyeva Britain, despite concerns from European allies about excessive defense dependence on Washington, is set to purchase additional F-35 fighter jets from the United States, Azernews reports. Previously, London had ordered 48 F-35B fighter jets for the Royal Navy's two aircraft carriers, with 37 units already delivered. Now, British authorities are reportedly considering the purchase of F-35A variants as part of a broader increase in the countrys military budget. These new aircraft are expected to partially replace the Royal Air Forces fleet of Eurofighter Typhoon jets, which have been in service for over 20 years. The Royal Air Force plans to decommission 49 Typhoon aircraft, which are considered technologically inferior to the F-35. The UK is responsible for manufacturing about 15% of the F-35s components. According to sources cited by The Times, Britain will not lose its engineering expertise as a result of switching to American-made jets. The UK will continue to produce the Eurofighter Typhoon for export markets, including to countries such as Saudi Arabia and Turkiye. Additionally, this move underscores Britain's ongoing commitment to maintaining cutting-edge air power capabilities while balancing international defense relationships. The decision to purchase more American F-35s could also signal a deepening of UK-US defense ties, even as concerns about Europe's reliance on Washington persist. It's worth noting that the F-35s versatility, including its stealth capabilities, makes it a highly desirable asset for modern air forces. With this purchase, the UK is positioning itself to remain at the forefront of military aviation for years to come. 31 March 2025 21:15 (UTC+04:00) US President Donald Trump is planning to travel to Saudi Arabia in May on his first foreign trip since returning to the White House, the Axios news website reported Sunday, Azernews reports, citing Yeni Safak. Planning for the trip is ongoing as the Trump administration works to resume a ceasefire in Gaza between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas and to get Hamas to release more hostages, it said. Trump had told reporters on March 6 that he would likely visit Saudi Arabia "over the next month and a half." "I am going to Saudi Arabia. Normally, you would go to the UK first. Last time I went to Saudi Arabia. They put up $450 billion," he said. "This time, I said I will go if you put up a trillion dollars to American companies. Meaning the purchase over four years of a trillion dollars. They agreed to do that. So I am gonna be going there," he added. The current plan is for Trump to travel to Saudi Arabia in mid-May, said a US official and a source familiar with the matter. THE SINKING OF THE S.S. SNOWDEN BY: The Eastern Carolina Avenger Ahoy ye landlubbers and salty old tars of Caroline, it is I, the EC Avenger bringing you news of a sad encounter I happened upon a mere five moons past! I was sailing the seas in my ongoing quest for the Fount of Knowledge when I happened upon a cruel act of piracy. Over the horizon appeared the vilest, most tyrannical pirate captain of them all, Max Cheeze, leading the most duplicitous crew of mongrels any salty dog ever saw. Max Cheeze, educated in the Scrolls of Marx and previously having plied his trade in northern waters and those of the left coast has been seeking greater riches off the coast of Caroline. He commands a truly decrepit vessel overrun with the most plague-ridden set of bureau rats to every scurry up a mooring line. These rats seldom see the light of day, concerning themselves mostly with guarding Max Cheezes most prized possession, a commissioned portrait of the Cheeze himself by Basil Hallward, locked safely away deep in the hold. Cheezes portrait, said to contain mystical powers, is the only other known painting by Mr. Hallward, the other being that of Dorian Gray. Others counted among the sniveling crew include the TW twins, Allen and William, Carol the plank walker, and elevated bureau rat Danny Hodsun, with their ally Elle Boothe. I watched as Max Cheeze and company came upon the royal training ship, S.S. Snowden. The would-be king Cheeze set upon it with great haste to plunder and destroy the vessel while simultaneously abducting that most precious cargo of young minds in his attempt to forcibly relocate them among the population of Chocawanateth. An armed merchantman, the Aurora came upon the scene, captained by Charles of Hickmann and the able sailor, Lady Davis. With battle flags flying and cannons blazing, the Aurora and her intrepid crew attempted to provide aid to the stricken Snowden. Outgunned and outnumbered, the Aurora was forced to retire to fight another day. Meanwhile, Max Cheeze and his crew began the process of burning the Snowden to the waterline. Max Cheeze, although angered by the defiance of Captain Hickmann, nevertheless won yet another victory in his continued campaign to pillage and wantonly destroy the institutions of learning along the Beaufort coast. Despite his victory, the Cheeze was sweating from a previous wound inflicted in a skirmish earlier that day with another vessel of the crown resulting in his breakfast being thrown upon him. Shortly following the battle to seize the S.S. Snowden, Max Cheeze received an offer of aid from the darkest Forrest Dweller in the colony. The Forrest Dweller brought forth a pawn, Garriss Sun, still wet behind the ears, who attempted to spew deceit and lies about the gallant Hickmann. Like Scylla and Charybdis, the Forrest Dweller and Garriss Sun rose from the Whirlpool of Ignorance attempting to spread their false prophet message to the good people of Beaufort. As the sun set, and the initial flames could be seen licking at the Snowdens sails, yours truly could only watch and wait to see what would become of the ill-fated vessel and its precious cargo. Twas a sad sight and day indeed. Citizens of Beaufort beware and guard yourselves against the ill designs of Max Cheeze, the Scroll Keeper of Marx, and his crew of wretches! Until we meet again, I invite you all to seek the Fount of Knowledge with me. Do not abandon hope and know that I, the EC Avenger, will stay ever vigilant, reporting the sights, sounds and events of the Beaufort coast to you in my never-ending quest for truth and wisdom! Features Think of the other, and give back what you take from others and the earth that feeds us. Its the most fundamental morality. Belfast has welcomed the first cruise ship call of 2025, as the Viking Vela docked at Belfast Harbour on Sunday. It is the first time the new Viking vessel has come to Belfast, which will this year welcome inaugural visits from 10 cruise ships as part of a cruise season that will see 146 calls to Belfast Harbour from some of the worlds best known cruise lines. During the 2025 season a total of 57 different ships from 31 different cruise lines including 13 by Belfasts most frequent caller, the Regal Princess will make their way to the city. The largest vessel that will be visiting Belfast this year will once again be the 333 metre-long MSC Preziosa. In a further indication of the citys growing status in the cruise industry, this year will see Belfast Harbour facilitate eight turnarounds which means passengers beginning and ending their trip in Belfast boosting overnight stays in city hotels. The 2025 cruise season will come to an end on November 6. The full schedule will be available on cruise-belfast.co.uk and belfast-harbour.co.uk A new branch of bakery chain Greggs has opened in north Belfast, with the creation of 15 new jobs. The location in York Street is the third Greggs to open in Northern Ireland in recent weeks, after a new drive-thru was launched in Craigavon and another store opened in south Belfast. The York Street store is open from 6.30am to 7pm on weekdays, between 7am to 7pm on Saturdays and from 8am to 6pm on Sundays. The company said the store has a modern new look and comfortable indoor seating. Bakery chain Greggs. (Stock image) Dana Marchbank, shop manager, said: Were looking forward to opening our doors to the local community and to provide a fantastic range of Greggs favourites. Gillian Long, retail operations director for Greggs, said: Our new shop on York Street builds on our continued growth in Northern Ireland, creating another 15 new jobs to the local area. Were delighted to be able to offer our range of products to a growing community of Greggs fans across Belfast. Last month, Greggs opened a store on south Belfasts Lisburn Road, on a site formerly occupied by restaurant Deane & Decano. Greggs has over 2,600 shops across the UK, and employs around 32,000 people throughout its operations. The company was founded in Newcastle in 1939 by John Gregg, beginning as an egg and yeast delivery business. Campbell College students with their second-place trophy in the Bar Mock Trial finals held at The Royal Coutrts of Justice in London Pupils from a Belfast grammar school have said it was a thrill to visit the Royal Courts of Justice in London where they finished as runners-up in a nationwide Bar Mock Trial competition. The aspiring lawyers from Campbell College were narrowly beaten by The Boswells School, Essex, after seeing off 212 other schools to make the final two of the prestigious nationwide event. The Campbell College pupils competed against 24 school teams from across the UK in the final stage of the competition. Also travelling from Northern Ireland to compete in the final were teams from St Patricks Academy, Dungannon and Banbridge Academy. Read more NI school pupils off to the Old Bailey after making winning case in mock trial competition Founded in 1991 by the national education charity Young Citizens, and supported by the Bar of Northern Ireland, the Bar Mock Trial Competition is a legal education programme in which state school pupils compete in mock criminal trials, taking on roles such as barristers, witnesses, defendants and jurors to impress a judging panel of legal experts. Supported by professional judges and barristers, the team from Campbell College first won a virtual competition heat against 11 other schools in January in order to progress to the national final in London. Some 214 schools and over 3,000 students took part in the competition this year, with thousands more having taken part since it was founded nearly 35 years ago. Campbell College student Matthew (15) said: To be in such historical and prestigious surroundings as the Royal Courts of Justice was inspiring and exciting. The wigs and gowns made it feel so real and totally made me believe that I could do this for my career one day. Noah (14) was playing the role of a witness in the mock trial. Being a witness was so fun, he said. I totally believed in my story and I enjoy drama, so couldnt wait to get into the actual witness box. Joshua (15) added: The judges were really helpful. Its hard to believe they are the same judges who hear real barristers in the highest courts in the land every day. It has definitely inspired me to be a judge in the future. Oscar (14) said: Im so glad to have been part of our school team. It felt good to be part of this. Ive made a lot of new friends and learnt many new skills, and used my critical thinking. Prizes in the competition were presented by the Attorney General, Lord Hermer KC, who called on young people to come and be brilliant lawyers because the country needs you. Royal Courts of Justice in London Many of you want to pursue careers in law, and I think thats a wonderful thing to do, he said. I was state educated, and the first person in my family to go to university, and I want you to know that law is a career for you. Dont let anyone tell you otherwise. By taking part in this mock trial competition, you have committed to the process of the rule of law, and I would like to thank you for that. To see so many engaged young citizens has given me a huge sense of optimism. Ashley Hodges, Chief Executive at Young Citizens, the competition organisers said: To achieve a thriving democracy of active citizens, young people need to know how our legal justice system works and why it matters. We are proud that every year the Mock Trial Competition gives thousands of students an immersive way to understand their rights and our systems integral to the rule of law. This knowledge is fundamental to a fair society in which all can play their part. Young Citizens will continue to work with the Bar, HM Courts and Tribunal Service and volunteers from the profession to boost legal literacy across the UK. 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. Stormont Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins (David Young/PA) 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. A 44-year-old man has been arrested A man has been charged after a man was stabbed and taken to hospital following an incident in Crossmaglen on Sunday. Police said the incident happened at the premises on Concession Road. They said the victim was aged in his 40s and has injuries to his hand, neck and head. The man, aged 44, has been charged with attempted murder and possession of an offensive weapon in a public place. He is due to appear before Newry Magistrates Court on Tuesday, 1st April. PSNI Detective Sergeant Dougherty said: "We received a report that a man had been stabbed at around 9.20pm, inside licensed premised in the Concession Road area. "The man, aged in his 40s, suffered deep lacerations to his hand and a number of more superficial wounds to his head and neck. He attended hospital for treatment. "Shortly afterwards a 44-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm with intent and possession of an offensive weapon in a public place. He remains in custody at this time." Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) stock image. Picture: Aodhan Roberts/Belfast Telegraph. News Catch Up - Friday 28 March Detective Sergeant Dougherty continued: "We know a number of people were present at the time of this shocking attack, and several of them bravely restrained the perpetrator. "We would appeal to them to come forward to police to assist with our investigation. Please call us on 101, quoting reference number 1521 of 30/03/25." A woman reacts after being informed that her husband had died at the site of a collapsed under construction high-rise building in Bangkok, Thailand, Sunday, March 30, 2025 (Credit: AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit) Rescuers walk past the ruin of a high-rise building under construction that collapsed in Bangkok (AP Photo/Wason Wanichakorn) and Johnny Ward who lives in Thailand (inset) A Northern Ireland man living in Thailand has spoken of how his Bangkok apartment started swaying and its walls cracking when a massive earthquake hit neighbouring Myanmar. Johnny Ward, who was born in Galway but grew up in Co Down has experienced tremors before in his job as a travel blogger which sees him trekking all over the world he was in Tibet when a huge earthquake struck nearby Nepal in 2015. However, the 41-year-old said Fridays 7.7 magnitude which also caused devastation in Thailand was different and lasted for what seemed like several minutes. Johnny Ward, who grew up in Co Down and now lives in Thailand I was on the phone to a mate doing some work and the room just started swaying, Mr Ward, who has lived in Thailand since 2017, recalled. It felt like I was badly hungover, but I wasnt. I hung up the phone straight away to try and get my head around what was happening. Then the walls started cracking in my bloody condo. Ive been in a few earthquakes before. I was in Tibet during a massive earthquake 10 years ago and Id felt them before, but this went on far longer than a normal earthquake does. Normally, it starts, and, regardless of how strong it is, it passes in about 10 seconds. This went on for what seemed like two or three minutes. A woman reacts after being informed that her husband had died at the site of a collapsed under construction high-rise building in Bangkok, Thailand, Sunday, March 30, 2025 (Credit: AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit) Mr Wards wife and young child were out having lunch at the time at ground-floor level apartment in one of the citys many high-rise buildings at the time and said they had never experienced a similar tremor. I did this trip across the Atlantic that lasted months, and being so long at sea, when you get back on land you get this kind of imbalance sickness, like vertigo, he said. Thats what it felt like when the earthquake hit. Rescuers carry a body of a worker from the site of an under-construction high-rise building that collapsed on Friday after an earthquake in Bangkok, Thailand, Sunday, March 30, 2025 (Credit: AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit) Heavy machineries clear the debris as rescuers work at the site of an under-construction high-rise building that collapsed on Friday after an earthquake in Bangkok, Thailand, Sunday, March, 30, 2025 (Credit: AP Photo/Manish Swarup) The earthquake struck at around 12.50pm with its epicentre near Mayanmars second-largest city, Mandalay, followed by a second 6.4 magnitude tremor 12 minutes later. As of Sunday evening, the death toll was over 1,700, with thousands more injured. But that number is expected to rise significantly as rescue efforts continue. Two smaller earthquakes were reported in the country overnight on Saturday and again on Sunday. Tremors were felt elsewhere, including in Southwest China. At least 18 people have lost their lives in Thailand with most of the victims caught up in the collapse of a tower block that was under construction in the capital. Widespread damage was caused in many areas of Myanmar, with buildings toppling to the ground and people trapped in the rubble. Rescuers work in a building that collapsed In Friday's earthquake in Mandalay, Myanmar, Sunday, March 30, 2025 (Credit: AP Photo/Thein Zaw) Damaged buildings are seen in the aftermath of an earthquake in Naypyitaw, Myanmar, Sunday, March 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Aung Shine Oo) A state of emergency in six regions and states in the country which is in the grip of civil war its National Unity Government, which is currently in exile, announced a two-week pause in offensive military operations in affected areas. The UN has said there is a severe lack of medical supplies, making the response to the natural disaster much more difficult. The ruling military junta in the country has taken the rare step of asking for international help. This combo of satellite images shows shacks and buildings before, top, on Sunday March 23, 2025, and collapsed after the earthquake, in Mandalay, Myanmar (Credit: Maxar Technologies via AP) Because of the junta in Myanmar, and how much they restrict the internet during the uprising, we dont really know the full effects of whats happened there, Mr Ward said as he revealed some people in his building are without water as a result of disruption to local infrastructure. Here, most of those injured or killed were a result of a tower block that collapsed while under construction, he said. Obviously, its really bad in Myanmar, but thankfully weve escaped the worst. On Sunday, another, smaller earthquake hit Myanmar and workers were trying to search for survivors. Rescue teams have been sent from several countries, including China, India and Vietnam. Police have issued a missing person appeal for a teenage boy last seen in Belfast at the weekend. The PSNI issued the appeal on their social media channels for 14-year-old Rhys Mooney. Teenager Rhys Mooney Photo credit: PSNI South Belfast Facebook News Catch Up - Monday 31 March A PSNI spokesperson said in the post: Rhys was last seen in the area of Boucher Road, Belfast at 7.50 pm on 30th March 2025, wearing an all grey tracksuit. If you have any information regarding his whereabouts, please contact police on 101 and quote reference 1385 - 30/03/2025. Two women have been handed a police Community Resolution Notice following a fight outside a bar on the Shankill Road at the weekend. Footage of the video appears to show a number of people involved in the brawl which then spills on to the busy road outside The Royal Bar. The incident happened after 11pm on Saturday. Police confirmed to this newspaper two women have been sanctioned following the incident. In a statement, a PSNI spokesperson said: Police received a report of an assault in the Shankill Road area of north Belfast shortly after 11.15pm on Saturday, March 29. Two women, aged 28 and 48, were later issued with Community Resolution Notices (CRNs) for common assault. MobLands star-studded cast also includes Helen Mirren and Tom Hardy but they cant save this hammy, heavy-handed thriller A funny thing happens whenever Pierce Brosnan tries on an Irish accent. Weve heard it before. The actor, by his own admission, has had an unusual speaking voice since the mid-1960s, when he moved from Navan, Co Meath to live with his mother in Scotland. They eventually settled in London, where a young Brosnan went out of his way to sound like everyone else. The accent got mangled way back there, trying to fit in, he told Stephen Colbert in 2017. It was, I suppose, one of my best performances. You want to be part of the community, you want to be part of the gang, and then I realised I wasnt. Astronauts Butch Wilmore, left, and Suni Williams inside the vestibule between the forward port on the International Space Stations Harmony module and Boeings Starliner spacecraft in June 2024 (Nasa via AP) Nasas celebrity astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams have said they hold themselves partly responsible for what went wrong on their space sprint-turned-marathon and would fly on Boeings Starliner again. SpaceX recently ferried the duo home after more than nine months at the International Space Station, filling in for Boeing. In their first news conference since coming home, the pair said they were taken aback by all the interest and insisted they were only doing their job and putting the mission ahead of themselves and even their families. Astronauts Nick Hague, Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore talk to reporters during a press conference at Johnson Space Centre in Houston (Ashley Landis/AP) Mr Wilmore did not shy from accepting some of the blame for Boeings bungled test flight. Ill start and point the finger and Ill blame me. I could have asked some questions and the answers to those questions could have turned the tide, he told reporters. All the way up and down the chain. We all are responsible. We all own this. Both astronauts said they would strap into Starliner again. Because were going to rectify all the issues that we encountered. Were going to fix it. Were going to make it work, Mr Wilmore said. Ms Williams noted that Starliner has a lot of capability and she wants to see it succeed. Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore during a press conference at Johnson Space Centre in Houston (Ashley Landis/AP) The longtime astronauts and retired navy captains ended up spending 286 days in space 278 days more than planned when they blasted off on Boeings first astronaut flight on June 5. The test pilots had to intervene in order for the Starliner capsule to reach the space station, as thrusters failed and helium leaked. Their space station stay kept getting extended as engineers debated how to proceed. Nasa finally judged Starliner too dangerous to bring Mr Wilmore and Ms Williams back and transferred them to SpaceX. But the launch of their replacements got stalled, stretching their mission beyond nine months. US President Donald Trump urged SpaceXs Elon Musk to hurry things up, adding politics to the stuck astronauts ordeal. The dragged-out drama finally ended on March 18 with a flawless splashdown by SpaceX off the Florida Panhandle. Astronauts Nick Hague, Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore pose for a photo during a press conference at Johnson Space Centre in Houston (Ashley Landis/AP) Nasa said engineers still do not understand why Starliners thrusters malfunctioned; more tests are planned through the summer. If engineers can figure out the thruster and leak issues, Starliner is ready to go, Mr Wilmore said. The space agency may require another test flight with cargo before allowing astronauts to climb aboard. That redo could come by the years end. Despite Starliners rocky road, Nasa officials said they stand behind the decision made years ago to have two competing US companies providing a taxi service to and from the space station. But time is running out: the space station is set to be abandoned in five years and replaced in orbit by privately operated labs. Russia views efforts to end its three-year war with Ukraine as a drawn-out process, a Kremlin spokesman said, after US President Donald Trump expressed frustration with the two countries leaders as he tries to bring about a truce. We are working to implement some ideas in connection with the Ukrainian settlement. This work is ongoing, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in a conference call with reporters. There is nothing concrete yet that we could and should announce. This is a drawn-out process because of the difficulty of its substance, he said when asked about Mr Trumps anger at Russian President Vladimir Putins comments dismissing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskys legitimacy to negotiate a deal. Russia has effectively rejected a US proposal for a full and immediate 30-day halt in the fighting. The feasibility of a partial ceasefire on the Black Sea, used by both countries to transport shipments of grain and other cargo, was cast into doubt after Kremlin negotiators imposed far-reaching conditions. Mr Trump promised during last years US election campaign that he would bring Europes biggest conflict since the Second World War to a swift conclusion. Mr Peskov did not directly address Mr Trumps criticism of Mr Putin on Sunday when he said he was angry, pissed off that Mr Putin had questioned Mr Zelenskys credibility as leader. But he said that Mr Putin remains absolutely open to contacts with the US president and was ready to speak to Mr Trump. Both countries are preparing for a spring-summer campaign on the battlefield, analysts and Ukrainian and Western officials say. President Donald Trump walks on the south lawn of the White House, in Washington DC (Jose Luis Magana/AP) Mr Zelensky said late on Sunday that there has been no let-up in Russias attacks as it drives on with its invasion of its neighbour that began in February 2022. He said the attacks demonstrated Russias unwillingness to forge a settlement. The geography and brutality of Russian strikes, not just occasionally, but literally every day and night, show that Putin couldnt care less about diplomacy, Mr Zelensky said in his daily address. And almost every day, in response to this proposal, there are Russian drones, bombs, artillery shelling, and ballistic strikes, he said. He urged further international pressure on Moscow to compel Russia to negotiate, including new sanctions. The European Unions foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas picked up on that theme at a meeting of some of the blocs top diplomats in Madrid on Monday. A Ukrainian military boat CB90 of Military Naval Forces patrols the Black Sea coastline of Odesa region, Ukraine (Evgeniy Maloletka/AP) Russia is playing games and not really wanting peace, Mr Kallas told reporters ahead of the meeting, which was due to discuss the war. So our question is, how can we put more pressure on Russia. Mr Trump said he would consider adding further sanctions on Russia, which already faces steep financial penalties, and using tariffs to undermine its oil exports. Kharkiv, Ukraines second-largest city, came under another Russian drone attack overnight, injuring three people, the Ukrainian Interior Ministry said on Monday. Russia also fired two ballistic missiles and 131 Shahed and decoy drones, the Ukrainian air force said. Meanwhile, Russias Defence Ministry said air defences shot down 66 Ukrainian drones early on Monday over three Russian regions. The continuing attacks by the Ukrainian armed forces on Russias energy facilities show the complete lack of respect for any obligations related to the settlement of the conflict in Ukraine by the Kyiv regime, the ministry said in a statement. President Donald Trump is greeted by Air Force Colonel Angela F Ochoa as he walks down the stairs of Air Force One (Luis M Alvarez/AP) Donald Trump has said Ukraines President Volodomyr Zelensky faces big, big problems if he backs out of a mineral deal with the US. The US presidents remarks come hours after he criticised Russian President Vladimir Putin for comments he made about the leader of Ukraine. Hes trying to back out of the rare earth deal, Mr Trump told reporters on Air Force One of Mr Zelensky, 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. We made a deal on rare earth. And now hes saying, well you know, I want to renegotiate the deal. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky speaks during a briefing in Kyiv (AP/str) Speaking en route from Florida to Washington, Mr Trump said: He wants to be a member of Nato. He was never going to be a member of Nato. He understands that. Although he insisted to reporters that were making a lot of progress, he acknowledged that theres tremendous hatred between Mr Zelensky and Mr Putin, a fresh indication that negotiations may not produce the swift conclusion that he promised during the campaign. In an earlier interview with NBC News, he referenced comments Mr Putin made on Friday about temporarily putting Ukraine under external governance. Mr Trump said he was angry, pissed off when the Russian leader started getting into Zelenskys credibility. Mr Putin reaffirmed his claim that Mr 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. Russian President Vladimir Putin (Vyacheslav Prokofyev/Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo/AP) 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. On his flight back to Washington on Sunday evening, Mr Trump reiterated his annoyance towards Mr Putin but somewhat softened his tone. 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, Mr Trump said there was a psychological deadline. If I think theyre tapping us along, I will not be happy about it, he said. 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. 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. Mr Zelensky said on Sunday that over the past week most regions of Ukraine had come under Russian attack. Writing on X, 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. President Donald Trump talks to reporters as he walks on the South Lawn of the White House on Sunday (Jose Luis Magana/AP) Donald Trump has warned of a bad situation after Irans president rejected direct negotiations with the US over its advancing nuclear programme. President Masoud Pezeshkians rejection, which left open the possibility of indirect negotiations with Washington, was Tehrans first response to a letter the US president sent to the countrys supreme leader via Oman. Well see if we can get something done, Mr Trump told reporters on Air Force One as he returned from Florida to Washington on Sunday. And if not, its going to be a bad situation. 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. President Masoud Pezeshkian speaks during a rally commemorating the anniversary of the 1979 Islamic Revolution (Iranian Presidency Office/AP) Mr Trump said before Mr Pezeshkians comments that he was considering military action and secondary tariffs if Iran does not 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, Mr Trump said in a comment aired on Sunday by NBC News. Mr Trumps letter arrived in Tehran on March 12, but he has offered little detail on what he told the supreme leader. Talks between the two countries have made no progress since Mr Trump, in his first term, unilaterally withdrew the US from Tehrans nuclear deal with world powers in 2018. Regional tensions have since 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 Irans self-described Axis of Resistance. Now, as the US conducts intense air strikes targeting the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen, the risk of military action targeting Irans nuclear programme remains on the table. We dont avoid talks; its the breach of promises that has caused issues for us so far, Mr Pezeshkian said in televised remarks during a cabinet meeting. They must prove that they can build trust. Iranian demonstrators burn a representation of the Israeli flag during the annual anti-Israeli Quds Day, or Jerusalem Day rally in support of Palestinians, in Tehran (Vahid Salemi/AP) The US State Department responded: 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. 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. Mr Pezeshkian was elected half a year ago after campaigning on a promise to re-engage with the West. Since Mr Trumps election and the resumption of his maximum pressure campaign on Tehran, Irans rial currency has gone into freefall. Mr Pezeshkian had left open discussions until February when Irans 85-year-old Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned Mr Trump talks are not intelligent, wise or honourable with his administration. The Iranian president then immediately toughened his own remarks on the US. 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 Irans hardline paramilitary Revolutionary Guard also showed its troops stepping on an Israeli flag painted on the ground although there was no American flag as often seen in such propaganda videos. Smoke rises from a location reportedly struck by US airstrikes in Sanaa, Yemen (AP) Suspected US airstrikes struck around Yemens rebel-held capital overnight, attacks that the Iranian-backed Houthis said killed at least three people. The full extent of the damage was not immediately clear. The attacks into Monday followed a night of airstrikes early on Friday that appeared particularly intense compared to other days in the campaign that began on March 15. A Yemeni girl visits the graves of Houthis during Eid al-Fitr marking the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan in Sanaa, Yemen (Osamah Abdulrahman/AP) The strikes around Sanaa, Yemens capital held by the Houthis since 2014, and Hajjah governorate also wounded 12 others, the rebels said. Their Al-Masirah satellite news channel aired footage of broken glass littering homes in Sanaa after the concussive blast of the bombs, but continued not to show the targets of the attacks suggesting the sites had a military or intelligence function. Strikes there killed one person, the rebels said. Another strike targeting a pickup truck in Hajjah killed two people and wounded a child, the Houthis said. It marked the first, publicly known time the American strikes targeted a vehicle in this campaign. An Associated Press review has found the new American operation against the Houthis under US President Donald Trump appears more extensive than those under former president Joe Biden, as the US moves from solely targeting launch sites to firing at ranking personnel as well as dropping bombs in cities. Yemenis pray the mass Eid al-Fitr prayers marking the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan in Sanaa, Yemen (Osamah Abdulrahman/AP) The new campaign of airstrikes, which the Houthis now say have killed at least 61 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 loosely defined what constitutes an Israeli ship, meaning other vessels could be targeted. The Houthis had targeted over 100 merchant vessels with missiles and drones, sinking two vessels and killing four sailors from November 2023 until January of this year. They also launched attacks targeting American warships, though none has 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 decade-long stalemated war that has torn apart the Arab worlds poorest nation. The assassination of John F Kennedy in 1963 has been the subject of dozens of conspiracy theoriesJFKs driver that day was from Tyrone and a member of the Orange OrderLong-awaited files have revealed how the US was spying on its allies The assassination of US President John F Kennedy in November 1963 shocked the world and has inspired conspiracy theories for over 60 years. The official version of events say that ex-US Marine Lee Harvey Oswald shot the president who was riding in a presidential motorcade in Dallas. But many people find that story hard to accept. There are dozens of different theories, including that the US government had a hand in the event, mafia involvement, or that Kennedys driver, who was originally from Tyrone and an Orange Order member, drove in a way that enabled the assassination to take place. President Trump has ordered the release of classified files from the period they dont reveal anything that could fundamentally change our view of history, but they have revealed some fascinating facts. These include that the CIA kept files on both Ireland and the UKs military intelligence services, despite being close allies. To go through some of the discoveries from the long-awaited JFK files, Ciaran Dunbar is joined by Belfast Telegraph reporter Abdullah Sabri and Ulster University lecturer in international history Dr Robert McNamara. Publican Willie Jack opens up on welcoming King and Queen: He said they were only here for the whiskey Top businessman on his turn as royal tour guide, his pride in Cathedral Quarter, and why he might yet add to his pub empire Willie leads the royals on a tour of Commercial Court Maxie Swain Mon 31 Mar 2025 at 20:00 For Willie Jack, it was fitting the King chose one of our cultural crown jewels as his first port of call in the royals whistlestop walkabout in Belfast last week. China to provide Myanmar with 100 million yuan in emergency humanitarian aid Xinhua) 10:14, March 31, 2025 BEIJING, March 29 (Xinhua) -- 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. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) Some Gen Zers are being taught how to have a phone call conversation. Some Gen Zers do not have experience in having a phone call conversation Accounting firm Forvis Mazars is rolling out a "major firm-wide" investment plan, with the launch of a "comprehensive learning and development programme" for its "digital generation" workers. The "immersive" initiative - which is thought to put their employees through challenging scenarios - is to help boost the employability skills of those who were born between 1997 and 2012 and lack confidence in picking up their smartphone and calling someone. James Gilbey, UK chief executive of Forvis Mazars, told The Telegraph: "We've committed to a major firm-wide investment to put relationship skills front and centre." The help the company is providing follows rising fears that Gen Zers taking up roles in companies resort to text or email communication due to not having experience in talking to someone over the phone. Victoria Bari, the head of training at Berry Recruitment Group, is quoted by MailOnline as saying: "There is certainly a generational divide and for younger, more inexperienced consultants, emails and messaging are the first route of communication. "But talking to people remains the most effective method of building relationships, which is a fundamental building-block of sales." 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. PITTSFIELD Id lose my home. My brother would be homeless. Wed lose everything. Those fears were voiced by people from across the Berkshires Sunday morning, who gathered to Price Memorial A.M.E. Zion Church to tell state Reps. Tricia Farley-Bouvier and John Barrett III how cuts to Social Security would harm them and their loved ones. I would be homeless if they cut my Social Security Im terrified, a Williamstown resident said at the event, which was organized by local nonprofits including Greylock Together and Indivisible. President Donald Trump has said repeatedly that his administration wont touch Social Security, but cuts to the agencys staffing and offices have already taken a toll on access to benefits. The Washington Post has reported that the Social Security Administration website crashed four times in 10 days this month because its servers were overloaded, and people must often wait hours to speak to a person, sometimes without the option to enter a callback number. The Trump administration plans to cut about 7,000 Social Security employees, or about 12 percent of the organization. If it starts to slash services, the Berkshires could be hard hit. The median age in the county exceeds both the state and national averages. Over 26 percent of Berkshire residents were 65 or older last year. That percentage will continue to grow as the baby boomer generation ages. Social Security is what we pay into over the course of our careers," Nicole Payne said. "This is what we work for. Its our right and its being taken away from us, and we need to fight." Every year, the Social Security Administration delivers $1.5 trillion a year in earned benefits to 73 million retired workers, their survivors and poor and disabled Americans. In Massachusetts, nearly one in five residents, or 1,294,623 people, receive Social Security benefits each year, according to the AARP. The majority of those beneficiaries are the states 921,297 retired workers, who account for about 71 percent of all Social Security recipients. The payments are also critical to the states economy, injecting more than $22.6 billion into the local market each year. In the Berkshires, where local incomes lag behind rising housing and living expenses, those payments are critical for older residents and people with disabilities, for whom sometimes their monthly Social Security check is their only income. On Sunday, advocates and Social Security recipients voiced their unease about what Trump's cuts could mean for the program. Some said they or their family and friends are already struggling to get help with their Social Security benefits. I have a friend who just reached the age of Social Security, and he went to the office to apply and he couldnt get in," a Lee resident said. "There was a sign saying you have to call to make an appointment. He tried to call and he couldnt get through so he went to the website and they blocked him." Barrett said one of his most serious concerns is that the cuts could represent a long-sought effort by conservatives to privatize all or part of the agency, something he said the Democratic Party is not doing enough to prevent. I am very upset with what the national leaders of the Democratic Party are doing," he said. "I dont see them doing enough. They say they are. They are doing little." Farley-Bouvier, who moderated the listening session, urged the 40 to 50 people in attendance to share their own stories so she could relay them to the Berkshires delegation to Congress, which includes U.S. Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey and U.S. Rep. Richard Neal. When youre in the minority, the best way to fight back is with personal stories," Farley-Bouvier said. "So how are these changes impacting you? She also reminded people of best practices to protect against scammers, who are taking advantage of the confusion by sending texts and emails requesting that people verify their identity. The best way to get your information from Social Security is to create your own Social Security account, Farley-Bouvier said. If somebody sends you a text or an email that says 'click here to verify your identity,' dont do that. If people need help setting up an account, Farley-Bouvier recommend that people reach out to their local senior center. Chris Cozzaglio, an aide to Neal who works out of the Silvio O. Conte Federal Building in Pittsfield, also invited people to contact him at 413-310-4194. PITTSFIELD Is Pittsfields big-box store boom over? It appears so. Since 2023, Big Lots, Staples and Bed Bath & Beyond have left the city, with Joann Fabric and Crafts slated to join them later this year. Its also been nearly six years since city residents lost the Berkshire Mall, just over the line in Lanesborough. This coincides with difficult headwinds nationally for retail. Last year, store closings across the country outpaced openings, driven largely by big-box volatility. Recent research tracking retail and consumer trends predicts it will only get worse in 2025, forecasting that 15,000 retail stores will close about double the total in 2024. Meanwhile, online shopping has seen sustained growth since 2020, with Amazon at the forefront of the e-commerce wave. Like it or not, Pittsfield is changing. I moved here as a child in the early 2000s, and the city I grew up with has been fading slowly. When I was a kid, my ideal day might have begun with a trip to Busters the closest thing we had to Chuck E. Cheese on Dalton Avenue or to K.B. Toys in the Allendale Shopping Center, followed by picking out a (physical) movie to watch at Hollywood Video. All of these places no longer exist. The big-box stores loomed large and played an important role in the local economy not just as places to shop affordably, but also as job providers. My first job was in retail because, at the time, it was one of the few industries that would hire someone with no prior work experience. Big retails duality Jim Shulman | Baby Boomer Memories: Zayre was Pittsfield's First 'big box' Store I remember when Zayre first opened in Pittsfield back in 1959. I had never been in such a big store with so much merchandise on display on one floor. It was probably Pittsfield's first real "big box" store. What also really impressed me was what I According to Eagle columnist Jim Shulman, Pittsfields big-box era began in 1959, when Zayre came to the city. In a way, its legacy lives on its parent company opened T.J. Maxx and HomeGoods locations in 1979 and 1999, respectively. Both remain open off Merrill Road today. Most of the retail chains I remember arrived between the late 1980s and early 2000s. That boom was driven by two major developments: the opening of the Berkshire Mall in 1988 which Pittsfield benefited from and the 1995 launch of Berkshire Crossing shopping center, where Walmart became one of the anchor stores. This wave of expansion brought both benefits and consequences to the region. On one hand, these stores helped stabilize unemployment in the 1990s as General Electric was leaving Pittsfield. Their bulk-buying model allowed them to drive down prices, empowering consumers but at a cost to local businesses. A 1992 series in The Eagle titled Up Against the Wal-Mart captured this tension. The reporting examined the benefits the new store might bring and the risks it posed to smaller merchants, who were bracing for the worst. Some merchants are dreading Wal-Mart, one article declared. Some are gearing up to compete. Consumers should benefit. But Wal-Marts coming may signal a new wave of strip developments along Berkshire highways. Walmart and stores like it had a massive impact in Pittsfield and beyond. A 2003 article on the closure of North Adams last local shoe store captured the shift: I think people have left the downtown for the malls and convenient shopping, said Eileen Clark, owner of Martins Shoe Store. Martins closed that year after more than 100 years in business, citing competition from big-box retailers. What happens next? While big-box retail still has several strongholds in Pittsfield and the Berkshires, its dominance is fading. In some cases, what once gave these stores an edge over local shops their ties to vast multinational corporations with complex supply chains is now contributing to their decline, as parent companies face bankruptcy. So whats next? If consumer and retail researchers are correct in their forecasting, more closures are coming meaning more empty storefronts and lost jobs. Some of the very strip developments The Eagle warned about in 1992 such as the Dalton Avenue Plaza in Pittsfield and the former Steeple City Plaza in North Adams have struggled to fill vacancies. If those persist, landlords might give up on recruiting retail tenants and instead redevelop the properties, as has been proposed for the Berkshire Mall. A continued decline in retail would also reshape the local economy. More residents will have to seek jobs in other sectors, and the region will face fewer shopping options. Pittsfield needs to take control of its own destiny. Ultimately, the city will need to answer one big question: What kind of community does it want to be? Spiritual growth places us in uncomfortable territory. God leads us in ways that challenge us to increase our faith and discipline. As a result, we become aware of our own weakness and inability. God means to humble us, but our own pride and the Devil get involved to cause us to question the process or even our own salvation. In another common example, we begin to stray or fall into sin. The Spirit begins to convict us, calling us back to himself and the path of discipleship, but again, our human nature and Satan lie to us, interpreting Gods convictions as condemnation. From these reasons and more, we experience doubt, even over our own salvation. What can we do when we encounter such doubt? Remember, Doubt Is Human Every Christian struggles with doubt at some point. Even great biblical figures experienced it. John the Baptist boldly declared Jesus as the Lamb of God at one time. Later, while in prison and persecuted by Herod, the same John sent messengers from prison to Christ and asked, Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else? (Luke 7:19). John had baptized Jesus and gave testimony to Gods plan. His doubt didnt necessarily mean he lost faith, only that he struggled within his current circumstances and asked questions. Jesus didnt rebuke the messengers or his cousin. God understands our human nature wrestles with doubt and questions. He doesnt expect perfect faith all the time. If doubt were a sign of lost salvation, most believers in the Scripture and through history would be lost. Further, God invites questions. Jesus never turned away an honest seeker, either. He asked and allowed questions during his teachings, an incredibly interactive model. The Bible is full of people who wrestled with God, in every way, and instead of rejecting them, he met them there. The father of a demon-possessed boy in Mark 9 said, I believe; help my unbelief! Jesus didnt reject him but answered his request. None of our questions are too big or small for God. He isnt surprised or intimidated by our struggles. Faith doesnt mean the absence of struggle but trusting God through it. Dont Let the Devil Condemn You One of the Devils favorite strategies is turning our doubt into condemnation. He lies to us, If you were really saved, you wouldnt do this thing or question God. Scripture tells us, There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1). God convicts and calls to repent, to avoid later condemnation. The Devil speaks a hopeless word, condemning us to get us to give up on God. If we doubt our salvation, we probably havent lost it. Would someone spiritually dead care? A person completely separated from Christ feels no urgency to seek him. The possibility exists that we arent truly saved, but if we are concerned, the Holy Spirit draws us to repent and be saved. If we simply have doubt, the solution remains the same: turn to God and hear from him. Either way, instead of fearing doubt, use it as a reason to press into God. Let him tell you what to do. The one who gave his Son eagerly wants to redeem and restore us. Reconnect with God Doubt tempts us to seek isolation. When we question our salvation, we might withdraw and think were alone in the struggle. But instead of pulling away from God, the best thing to do is seek his face. As Job wrestled through his tragic and traumatic situation, he continually cried out to God for a personal revelation and direct communication. Through Christ, the veil has been torn, and we have such access freely today. First, take our doubt to God in prayer. He calls us to cast our cares on him (1 Peter 5:7) and pour our hearts out to him (Psalm 62:8). This includes our doubts and questions as he faithfully meets us there. Pray honestly. He already knows our hearts and often waits for us to willingly open up to him and ask for his help. He generously gives wisdom to those who ask without any discrimination (James 1:5). God continually speaks to us, and we must set aside time in prayer and stillness to hear and allow him to comfort and correct us, replacing the lies with his life-giving truth. Second, another powerful way to hear God is through praise and worship. When we praise him, our attention changes from ourselves to his person. Praise places us in the proper position to receive more truth and revelation. We remind ourselves of who he is, his love for us, and all hes done. In Acts 16, the apostle Paul and his companion Silas, had been beaten and imprisoned. In chains, they turned their attention to singing hymns, praising God. The prison soon shook, their chains fell off, and the doors miraculously opened. Praise invites and welcomes Gods presence and communicates our submission to his ways and will. When we isolate ourselves from God and others, we follow the Devils plan, not Gods. Faith prays and praises even during doubt, refocusing us on the one who begins and finishes our salvation. Remember the Author and Finisher of Faith Jesus is both the source and culmination of salvation. It begins and ends with him alone, not with our feelings or performance. During times of doubt, we tend to focus on our own weakness and insufficiency. But we could never save ourselves anyway, and in doubt, we must trust his complete work. Christ alone is the foundation of our faith. He saves, secures, and sustains us. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God not by works, so that no one can boast (Ephesians 2:8-9). Our salvation doesnt depend upon how well we perform, how strong our faith feels, or a lack of struggle. It depends entirely on Christ, and his work is finished. When we doubt our salvation, we ask ourselves, Did I place my faith in the Person of Jesus? Did I repent, deny myself, and turn to him? In this, our salvation is secure because he promises to hold onto us. As Jesus said, All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out (John 6:37). When we repent and turn to him, he will never reject us. To be saved by grace means it is based on Gods ability, not ours. And this is a good thing. Our salvation doesnt happen due to our good behavior or what we can earn; if so, the glory would be ours, not Gods, and he alone is due glory. Salvation comes through faith, also a gift, believing in the words and promises of God more than our situation. Paul writes in Titus 3:5, He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. When we doubt our salvation, we preach this truth to ourselves. Gods mercy and grace dont fade or change. Even when we fall, his mercy triumphs over judgment (James 2:13). Jesus is the alpha and omega, the beginning and end (Revelation 22:13). Resting in Christ means trusting his promise more than our feelings. Feelings and situations change, but God and his Word dont. His sacrifice and grace is sufficient, and his love is unshakable. Reconnect with Your Faith Community One way we reconnect with God and truth is through the Body of Christ. God is a community, a family within himself Father, Son, Holy Spirit. He didnt design Christianity as a solo endeavor. We need one another. Just as doubt isolates us from God, it does the same with the faith community. When we struggle with uncertainty regarding our salvation, isolating from others will make it worse. In fact, rejecting the wisdom of the saints will lead to more doubt and anxiety. From the beginning, God created us for community to encourage and support each other in faith. God intended the Church as a body, where every member plays a role in strengthening the whole. Paul writes in Romans 12:5, So in Christ, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. Our faith is both individual and communal. God gave us gifts to bless each other, especially when our doubt shakes us. The early church lived this out. They devoted themselves to the apostles teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer (Acts 2:42). The early Christians didnt meet once a week but daily, living in community while learning and praying together. The author of Hebrews further explores this. Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called today, that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin (Hebrews 3:12-13). This passage clearly reveals the way to avoid developing a heart of unbelief: encourage each other daily so our hearts arent hardened by sin and isolation. If were wrestling with doubt, one of the best things we can do is reconnect with other mature, believing saints. We should find someone in our faith community we trust, like a pastor or mentor, and ask them questions. Hopefully, weve made the investments needed to have these relationships, but even if weve been remiss with this, we can reach out to leaders we respect. A simple, loving conversation with another believer can bring clarity. As weve noted, every believer deals with doubt and struggle, and through community, a mature believer will encourage us from their similar experience, relating to us without judgment. Proverbs 11:4 says, Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety. Wise counsel from fellow believers helps us see our doubts in light of Gods character, love, and truth rather than our limited vision. Reconnecting with our faith community strengthens our foundation. Worshipping together, studying Scripture, and sharing life with other disciples of Jesus reminds us we arent alone in walking the narrow way. When doubting our salvation, take these humble steps. Recognize Gods conviction and reject condemnation. Reconnect with the Father through the Spirit and allow him to correct and encourage us. Trust in Jesus finished salvation work. And make time for the church to receive their gifts and edification. Peace. Photo credit: Getty Images/People Images Britt Mooney lives and tells great stories. As an author of fiction and non-fiction, he is passionate about teaching ministries and nonprofits the power of storytelling to inspire and spread truth. Mooney has a podcast called Kingdom Over Coffee and is a published author of We Were Reborn for This: The Jesus Model for Living Heaven on Earth as well as Say Yes: How God-Sized Dreams Take Flight. Worlds largest startup gathering to unfold in Delhi on 3 Apr March 31, 2025 | Monday | News Second Edition of Startup Mahakumbh at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi Startup Mahakumbh is set to return to New Delhi with its second edition, reaffirming its position as Indias largest startup congregation and a global innovation showcase. Following the success of its inaugural edition, which saw participation from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, this landmark event will take place from April 35, 2025, at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. With the theme Startup India @ 2047Unfolding the Bharat Story, the summit aims to shape Indias startup ecosystem for the future, driving innovation, policy discussions, and economic transformation. This years edition is expected to bring together more than 3,000 startups, 1,000 investors and incubators, and 10,000 delegates from over 50 countries, along with 50,000 business visitors. The event will provide a platform for startups to engage with industry leaders, investors, and policymakers, fostering collaboration and new business opportunities. A key highlight of the event is the powerful public-private collaboration shaping Indias startup landscape. Industry leaders and policymakers will share their insights, including Peyush Bansal, CEO & Co-founder of Lenskart, who will explore the evolution of D2C brands and future trends. Dr V. Anantha Nageswaran, Chief Economic Advisor to the Government of India, will discuss India's macroeconomic position in a global context and its impact on the startup ecosystem. S. Krishnan, IAS, Secretary of MeitY, will outline Indias AI roadmap, while Rajesh Kumar Singh, IAS, Secretary of DPIIT, will address policy-driven growth for startups. Adding to the lineup, Ananth Narayanan, Founder & CEO of Mensa Brands, will share strategies for scaling digital-first brands, Kris Gopalakrishnan, Co-founder of Infosys & Chairman of Axilor Ventures, will delve into Indias tech evolution, and Nithin Kamath, Founder & CEO of Zerodha, will discuss the disruptions and opportunities in fintech. Manish Sabharwal, Vice Chairman of TeamLease Services, will provide insights into workforce innovation and the future of employment. These distinguished speakers will set the stage for dynamic discussions, offering startups valuable perspectives on innovation, policy, and business growth. Sector-focused pavilions will showcase advancements in artificial intelligence, deep technology, cybersecurity, health technology, biotechnology, agritech, climate technology, fintech, direct-to-consumer businesses, business-to-business models, gaming, sports, mobility, defense, space technology, and more. These pavilions will feature live demonstrations, masterclasses, panel discussions, fireside chats, and investor pitching sessions, creating an immersive experience for attendees. Startups to watch out for include key players in D2C, mobility, health, and biotech. Notable names in mobility include Ather, Ultraviolet, River, Rapido, and Battery Smart. Health and biotech startups such as UR Advanced Therapeutics, Shira Medtech, Brain Sight AI, and Niramai will also be featured. The D2C segment will spotlight brands like Appliance.AI, Go Desi, Assembly, Indus Valley, and Snitch. A key announcement at the event includes the much-anticipated product launches of a D2C brand and a flying taxi, underscoring the spirit of innovation at Startup Mahakumbh. A highlight session, Rivals in Business, Allies in Disruption: A Faceoff with SNITCH & The Souled Store, will feature a fireside chat between two competitor brands, adding a dynamic competitive edge to the discussions. Curated by an organizing committee led by FICCI and supported by ASSOCHAM, NASSCOM, TiE, IVCA, and Bootstrap Foundation, with strong backing from the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Startup Mahakumbh 2025 is positioned as a key event driving Indias innovation landscape. For startups, investors, and industry leaders, this event offers a unique opportunity to connect, collaborate, and contribute to Indias entrepreneurial growth. Its important for healthcare startups in India to recognise the price sensitiveness of the market March 31, 2025 | Monday | Views | By Vrushti Kothari Chandigarh-based startup RNT Health, recognised for its groundbreaking innovations, including the recent US FDA Breakthrough Device Designation for an oesophageal cancer detection tool, has launched its Automated Endoscopy Report Generation software to streamline manual reporting workflows in endoscopy suites. In an exclusive interview with BioSpectrum, Tanmaya Gulati, Co-Founder of RNT Health Insights, shares details of the companys recent and upcoming innovations and a vision for transforming endoscopic procedures in India. Could you share some of 2024s most impactful milestones for RNT Health Insights and key plans for 2025? During 2024, RNT Health Insights achieved significant milestones, including receiving the US FDA Breakthrough Device Designation for two of our Medical Devices- one intended for Early Gastric Cancer detection and the other for detecting Early-stage Oesophageal Cancer. Oesophageal cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer-related deaths in India and the sixth leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide, claiming over 540,000 lives annually. Its prognosis is notably poor, with a five-year survival rate of less than 20 per cent. This is primarily due to the associated high miss rate of detection during early stages and attributed to the fact that it is almost always detected at an advanced stage. Likewise, despite gastrointestinal endoscopic procedures being the gold standard method for the diagnosis of gastric cancer, the current miss rate for the diagnosis of the disease during these procedures stands at 4.6-25.8 per cent, depending upon the endoscopists experience and visual observations. Recently, we have also secured the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) Test License in India, and were honoured with prestigious non-dilutive grants including the WTFund grant, as well as the Pfizer INDovation NIPER-A edition programme grant, conducted by Pfizer, Social Alpha, Department of Pharmaceuticals, and NITI Aayog and also a Research and Development grant from Emergent Ventures- Mercatus Center at George Mason University, USA. In 2025, we are focused on obtaining the necessary regulatory approvals and then commercialising our breakthrough medical devices in India, aiming to transform gastrointestinal diagnostics across all endoscopy suites nationwide. How does the technology behind your AI-assisted detection tool improve real-time diagnostic precision? The technology behind our artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted detection tool integrates advanced spatial and temporal computer vision algorithms. This allows for the meticulous analysis of every single video frame in real time, detecting subtle lesions while also understanding the dynamic relationships of various parameters over time. Our models are designed for optimal latency, processing data and delivering predictions within 25 milliseconds per frame to ensure smooth integration into existing endoscopy workflows. This unique combination of high accuracy and swift processing, along with a robust learning framework trained on a diverse and heterogenous dataset of cancerous as well as non-cancerous lesions, positions our medical devices as an essential tool in enhancing diagnostic accuracy during endoscopic procedures. Are there any upcoming product launches or partnerships in the pipeline? Our Automated Endoscopy Report Generation software was launched in February 2025. It is a tool designed to streamline and automate the labour-intensive manual reporting workflows in endoscopy suites. Our Automated Endoscopy Report Generation software, ReportGI, is available to use from March 15 onwards. Additionally, we are preparing for the launch of our esophageal and gastric cancer detection medical devices in India, after obtaining the CDSCO Manufacturing License and other necessary regulatory approvals, in the latter half of the year. This launch will be in collaboration with our pilot research hospital centres. We are also exploring opportunities to expand our product portfolio both horizontally and vertically, developing new algorithms in close collaboration with key opinion leaders in the field. What are the key regulatory and market challenges you face in bringing AI-based diagnostic tools to broader markets? Navigating the evolving landscape of regulatory standards for AI-driven Medical Devices presents significant challenges due to the nascent nature of this technology in healthcare. Our commitment to transparency and adherence to rigorous safety and efficacy standards are fundamental as we build our startup. Additionally, fostering stakeholder engagement, driving adoption, and aligning our developments with clinical practices and workflows are pivotal to our strategy, despite the inherent challenges in introducing novel diagnostic tools in the Indian healthcare market. What are the current challenges and trends facing the medtech/ diagnostic startups in India? The evolving landscape of medtech and diagnostic startups in India is characterised by a shift away from a one-size-fits-all approach in patient care towards personalised medicine. This is driven by the capability to analyse and interpret healthcare data with high accuracy and then provide actionable insights. Personalised diagnostics and the use of sophisticated algorithms, such as deep learning, are emerging as key trends and are shaping the future of healthcare technology. The primary challenges faced by startups in this sector include navigating the complex regulatory landscape, which is continuously adapting to such new technologies, and meeting the stringent requirements for clinical validation necessary to gain acceptance within the medical community. To make a mark for themselves in the medtech sector, do Indian startups prefer getting global approvals first and then launching their products in India? Is there a trend, or are there challenges surrounding approvals in India for medtech startups? Or are there any quality constraints? Indian medtech startups are increasingly focusing on capturing the domestic market before scaling globally, supported by the government's push for self-reliance in medical device manufacturing. Indian doctors have the finest training in the world and are adept at adopting and utilising new technology. However, a large portion of the cost of new medical technology is borne by the patients- and healthcare startups in India need to recognise the price sensitiveness of the Indian market. To build for the Indian medtech industry, and making a significant difference to the quality of Indian healthcare and then expanding globally is a fulfilling path, that startups like ours intend to undertake, and with initiatives like the Meditech Mitra scheme, the process of obtaining regulatory approvals in India has become more scientific and transparent and supportive for startups. How has funding accelerated your growth, and are there any recent investments youd like to highlight? Our growth has been substantially accelerated by funding and support from organisations such as IKP Eden, WTFund, Social Alpha and Pfizer, Emergent Ventures, and the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India. These partnerships have not only provided financial backing through grants and funding support but have also facilitated essential hospital and research collaborations, helped us expand our technical team, and supported our progress towards critical regulatory milestones, allowing us to broaden our scope of operations and impact within the healthcare sector. Vrushti Kothari (vrushti.kothari@mmactiv.com) CSIR's strategic priorities will focus on indigenisation, healthcare innovation, and bio-based economic growth March 31, 2025 | Monday | Views | By Vrushti Kothari National Science Day is celebrated every year on February 28 to spread the message of the importance of science and its application in the country. Over the years, the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has been playing a critical role by actively pursuing international collaborations to strengthen Indias science and technology (S&T) capabilities and support developing nations through capacity building and technology partnerships. In an exclusive conversation with BioSpectrum, Dr N Kalaiselvi, Director General, CSIR; and Secretary, Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR), Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India elaborates upon the future of scientific growth in India. What are your strategic priorities for CSIR in 2025, particularly in the realms of life sciences research? Are you considering partnerships with other countries to promote scientific research? In 2025, CSIR's strategic priorities will focus on indigenisation, healthcare innovation, sustainable energy, waste-to-wealth solutions, and bio-based economic growth. Efforts in healthcare include developing an indigenous paracetamol process line and commercialising a sickle cell anaemia diagnostic kit. In energy, CSIR is advancing hydrogen storage technologies and carbon fibre composites. Waste-to wealth innovations will see wider implementation of eco-friendly construction, road laying and road repair materials, biodegradable plastics, and kitchen-to-kitchen biogas systems. Additionally, CSIR is promoting aroma, floriculture, seaweed, and essential oil-based industries to enhance sustainability and rural livelihoods. CSIR has bilateral agreements with leading institutions in France (CNRS, Institut Pasteur), Germany (DAAD, Fraunhofer), Norway (SINTEF), USA (NIH, Mayo Clinic, St. Jude Hospital), Russia (Skoltech, Russian Academy of Science), Israel (DDR&D), and others. Multilaterally, CSIR engages in Horizon Europes MSCA SE programme and is expanding ties with Norway, Russia, and BRICS nations. CSIR also supports research in developing countries through doctoral and postdoctoral fellowships with The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS) (30 slots annually) and technology partnerships with Ethiopia, Nepal, Bhutan, Guyana, and the Dominican Republic. Union Budget 2025 has significantly increased funding for science and research. How is CSIR leveraging this opportunity? The increased funding in Union Budget 2025 is an opportunity for CSIR to strengthen mission-driven research in critical areas such as biopharmaceuticals, green hydrogen, bio-based materials, and next-gen therapeutics. A major portion is being allocated to technology translation, ensuring that innovations move from labs to industry faster. Would you like to highlight major research projects that are taking place within CSIR institutes (in the life sciences space) that would lead to novel/innovative product developments in the coming times? Some of our most promising projects include CSIR-Healthcare themes RNA Therapeutics Platform, advancing RNA-based vaccines and personalised medicines; AI-driven Drug Discovery Programme, which is accelerating drug repurposing for neglected diseases; GM Cotton Initiative, a breakthrough in insect-resistant and climate-resilient cotton crops; Indigenous CAR-T Cell Therapy, aimed at making next gen cancer treatments affordable in India; and Herbal Biopharmaceuticals, developing plant-derived therapeutics for neurodegenerative diseases. What are the key challenges facing life sciences research and innovation in India, and how can those be addressed? Life sciences research and innovation in India face several critical challenges, which need systematic and sustained efforts to overcome. One of the primary challenges is funding. Life sciences research is capital-intensive, requiring significant investment in infrastructure, laboratory equipment, and long-term studies. Compared to fields like engineering or physical sciences, life sciences demand larger financial outlays for experimental research, clinical trials, and regulatory approvals. Enhancing public and private sector funding for biotechnology, drug discovery, and health sciences is crucial to fostering breakthrough innovations. Another major challenge is the shortage of skilled professionals in emerging areas like synthetic biology, genomics, and bioinformatics. Despite India's strong talent pool in STEM, there is a gap in high-end expertise required for cutting-edge life sciences research. Strengthening graduate and doctoral training programmes, expanding interdisciplinary collaboration, and increasing industry-academia partnerships can help bridge this gap. Additionally, the "Valley of Death" remains a persistent issue in life sciences, more so than in other fields. The transition from basic research to commercialisation is hindered by high R&D costs, long development timelines, regulatory complexities, risk of failure, and scalability challenges. Many promising innovations fail to secure investment beyond the proof-of-concept stage, limiting their journey to real-world applications. To address this, strengthening translational research support, expanding biotech incubators, and streamlining regulatory frameworks is essential. While it is difficult to resolve all these challenges immediately, the Government of India is actively working towards solutions. The recently introduced BIOE3 policy is a significant step in this direction. How is CSIR supporting the growth of life sciences-based startups in India, especially in the unreached areas of the country? CSIR plays a pivotal role in nurturing life sciences-based startups across India. Through its specialised incubation centres and innovation hubs, CSIR is facilitating cutting-edge biotech and life sciences entrepreneurship. The Atal Incubation Centre at CSIR-CCMB (AIC-CCMB) in Hyderabad, established under the Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), is one of India's premier life sciences incubators. It provides state-of-the-art laboratory facilities, mentorship, and funding support to biotech startups working in genomics, molecular diagnostics, regenerative medicine, and agriculture biotechnology. AIC-CCMB has incubated over 50 startups that are developing innovative solutions in healthcare, agriculture, and biotechnology, fostering a collaborative ecosystem that links startups with researchers, investors, and industry leaders. Similarly, CSIR-IIIM Startup Centre in Jammu is promoting life sciences entrepreneurship in northern India, particularly in the field of medicinal plant research, phytopharmaceuticals, and Ayurvedic formulations. This initiative is instrumental in advancing drug discovery and biotechnology innovations suited to the regional ecosystem, thereby creating scientific entrepreneurship opportunities and driving economic growth in Jammu and Kashmir. In addition, the recently established CSIR-Innovation Complex in Mumbai serves as a multidisciplinary innovation hub, providing high-end scientific infrastructure, including molecular biology labs, cell culture facilities, and advanced analytical tools. It supports biotech and healthcare startups through technology transfer, commercialisation assistance, and collaborations with hospitals and pharmaceutical industries, accelerating product development and regulatory approvals. Beyond these dedicated incubation centres, CSIR is actively fostering life sciences startups nationwide by offering technical training, industry-academia linkages, funding facilitation, and regional innovation ecosystems to ensure inclusive scientific entrepreneurship. Through these efforts, CSIR is empowering innovators, generating employment, and strengthening India's bioeconomy, making it a crucial player in Indias growing startup ecosystem. Looking ahead, what is your vision for CSIR and its role in Indias scientific and technological advancement over the next decade? CSIRs vision for the next decade includes transforming CSIR into an Innovation Powerhouse, delivering globally competitive technologies, achieving self-reliance in critical sectors including biopharma, clean energy, and sustainable materials, and strengthening international collaborations to ensure India's leadership in emerging scientific domains. CSIR is committed to positioning India as a global leader in scientific innovation. What advice would you give to young women aspiring for a career in scientific research? My advice is to be fearless and ambitious as science thrives on curiosity and perseverance. Seek mentorship and collaborate, as building strong networks is essential. Embrace challenges because innovation often emerges from uncertainty, and believe in yourself, knowing your contributions can redefine the future of science. Women bring diverse perspectives and creativity to research, and I strongly encourage them to take leadership roles in STEM. Vrushti Kothari (vrushti.kothari@mmactiv.com) We aim to position India as a leader in personalised medicine and drive future innovations March 31, 2025 | Monday | Views | By Amguth Raju The landscape of cell and gene therapy (CGT) in India is rapidly evolving, with significant advancements poised to revolutionise patient care. At the heart of this transformation is Miltenyi Biotech India, a pioneering force dedicated to bringing cutting-edge technologies and training to the region. In an interaction with BioSpecturm India, Priya G Hingorani, Managing Director of Miltenyi Biotech India, discussed the company's new state-of-the-art innovation and training centre in Genome Valley, Hyderabad, and explored the future of personalised medicine in India. Congratulations on the launch of the Miltenyi Innovation Technology Centre (MITC)! What inspired the creation of this facility at Genome Valley, Hyderabad? Thank you. Miltenyi Biotech has been pioneering CGT for over 35 years, starting with a small cell separator and growing into a leader in innovation. Recognising India's potential in advanced medical treatments, we saw the need to educate researchers and partners on specialised equipment and evolving therapies. This led to the establishment of a state-of-the-art training centre in Hyderabad, where scientists from India and beyond can gain hands-on experience. Our goal is to provide comprehensive training, enabling researchers to advance CGT. By offering access to cutting-edge equipment and expertise, we aim to position India as a leader in personalised medicine and drive future innovations in this field. What new technologies are you bringing to India? Could you elaborate on some of the key technologies that make your centre a leader in CGT? Our centre is equipped with the newest and most advanced machines for CGT. One of our key pieces of equipment is the Prodigy. It's the size of a large microwave; and its a fully automated system that can take cells, process them, and create a new finished product or a new cell. Scientists can programme the machine with specific instructions and ingredients to make therapies like CAR T cells, T cells, or other cells that help patients fight cancer using this advanced technology. Right now, we're focused on cancers that affect the blood, like leukemia and lymphoma, but we're also exploring other possibilities. We also have other machines that help scientists with specific tasks. For example, the CliniMACS Prodigy is excellent for separating cells, which is a very technical process. Once a scientist isolates a cell, they need to figure out what type of cell it is and how many they have. Our machines help them do this accurately and precisely. We're also introducing new technologies like Taito and Blaze. Blaze is a revolutionary machine for spatial biology. Imagine being able to see inside a living organism, like a rat or mouse, as if you were walking through it. This machine allows scientists to see exactly how molecules work, which cells are affected, and what treatments might be effective. These machines will be available in India very soon, as we're committed to giving Indian scientists access to the latest global advancements. You mentioned presenting CAR T-cell therapy at a medical conference. Beyond that, what are the primary research areas you're focusing on in India? Currently, we haven't launched any CGTs for sale in India or anywhere else in the world. However, we are working on bringing CAR T-cell therapy to market, which we recently presented at a major medical conference. In India, we're working closely with universities and research institutions to help them develop cell therapies that are specifically designed to treat Indian patients. Our research mainly involves partnering with academic and private organisations that are interested in pushing the boundaries of CGT. We're providing training to researchers and scientists to help them understand and use our technologies effectively. We are focused on providing them with the tools and knowledge to advance their own research and develop new treatments. We are dedicated to supporting the development of innovative therapies that can improve the lives of patients in India and around the world. How do you foresee the future of CGT in India? The future of CGT in India looks very promising. This field is expanding rapidly worldwide, and India is catching up quickly. Experts predict the global market for CGT will surpass $100 billion within the next three to four years. In India, which is a relatively new player in this area, the market is expected to reach around $600 to $700 million during the same period. We're seeing a lot of interest from pharmaceutical companies and academic institutions in India, all of whom are starting to explore personalised medicine. Places like Genome Valley in Hyderabad are clear examples of this growing interest. The Indian government, both at the state and central levels, is also actively supporting this growth through new policies. The progress we've seen in the last five years has been remarkable, and we anticipate even greater advancements in the next five years. The cost of CGT is a concern. How is Miltenyi Biotech working to reduce costs and make it more accessible? It's important to consider the value that CGTs provide, rather than just focusing on the cost in isolation. These therapies are often used to treat patients with very difficult conditions, like relapsed or refractory cancers, and research is expanding to cover solid tumors and neurological disorders. Our primary goal is to save lives. To make these therapies more accessible, we are exploring partnerships to develop appropriate pricing models. While our costs in India are lower compared to places like the US, Japan, and Europe, it's important to understand that these therapies won't be as inexpensive as generic medications. We are working to find a balance between providing value and ensuring accessibility. CGT, as a new treatment segment, has regulatory challenges. How do you view these? The Indian government is being very proactive in creating regulations for CGT. Of course, there are challenges, as everyone is learning together, but we are seeing strong support from both state and central governments. We are confident that the regulatory framework will become more established and solidified soon. Boris Stoffel, Global CEO of Miltenyi Biotech, spoke about the "democratisation" of CGT. What does that mean? Democratisation, in this context means making CGT accessible to more people. Our presence in India is focused on ensuring that these therapies are available to those who need them. We are creating an outreach programme to reach patients where they are, and we are partnering with academic institutions and hospitals to provide access to every deserving patient, regardless of their ability to pay. What distinguishes Miltenyi Biotech India from other players in the CGT sector? What unique value does it bring to the Indian market? Miltenyi Biotech India's unique selling proposition (USP) is deeply rooted in the cultivation of local expertise and the fostering of a collaborative ecosystem within the Indian CGT landscape. We recognise a remarkable abundance of skill and an insatiable thirst for knowledge across India's private, public, and academic institutions. This forms the bedrock of our strategy. Essentially, we are positioning ourselves as the premier partner in developing a highly skilled workforce within this specialised field. Amguth Raju We plan to establish a CoE in medtech and launch a bio-innovation acceleration programme in 2025 March 31, 2025 | Monday | Views | By Vrushti Kothari Karnataka State Cabinet has recently approved funding allocations of over Rs 350 crore for technology and innovation development across the state, which includes seed funding for startups. Amidst this development, the Manipal-Government of Karnataka Bioincubator is charting an ambitious course for 2025, solidifying its role as a catalyst for innovation in biomanufacturing and medtech. With strategic expansions, pioneering initiatives, and a commitment to fostering a robust startup ecosystem, the incubator is well-positioned to drive impactful advancements in the life sciences sector. To gain deeper insights into this dynamic growth trajectory, BioSpectrum engaged in an exclusive conversation with Manesh Thomas, Chief Executive Officer, Manipal - Government of Karnataka Bioincubator. What new initiatives are planned to attract and nurture more startups in the life sciences sector? In 2024, the incubator onboarded 10 new startups and 38 existing startups, for a total of 48 startups in the life sciences, biosciences, and healthcare sectors. To attract more startups, we conducted around 57 programmes to build partnerships with innovators from universities and R&D organisations, as well as startups and MSMEs. The incubator is now focused on expanding and diversifying its incubation services and programmes to support innovators and startups. Plans include the augmentation of Bioincubator facilities with an additional 10,000 sq ft of space. A Clinical Validation Hub will be launched specifically for medtech startups at the bioincubator. The incubator also aims to establish a Centre of Excellence (CoE) in medtech with the support of the Government of Karnataka. Additionally, a GMP facility for small-scale bio-manufacturing will be set up. The incubator is also set to launch a bio-innovation acceleration programme for bio-medical startups and establish an advanced biomanufacturing facility for prototyping and scale-up. To further support the ecosystem, the incubator will host an International Bio-Innovation Summit to showcase opportunities and foster collaborations. What role are startups expected to play in advancing biomanufacturing capabilities, and how is this anticipated to impact the overall industry? In regulated sectors such as life sciences, biosciences, and healthcare, a significant challenge lies in bridging the gap between early-stage innovations, often culminating in patent filings, and their progression to biomanufacturing and market-ready products. Startups can play a crucial role in closing this gap by driving innovation in biomanufacturing. They can achieve this by developing cost-effective processes, scaling disruptive technologies, and addressing critical inefficiencies in production. These efforts are anticipated to enhance domestic manufacturing capacity, reduce reliance on imports, and position India as a leading global hub for biomanufacturing. What are the incubator's plans for the year 2025 to foster entrepreneurship and innovation? The incubator plans to expand wet lab and pilot-scale manufacturing facilities to accommodate diverse biotech startups, along with clean rooms for biomedical pilot productions. A certification programme for startups in the biomedical domain is also being planned. Additionally, a Social Bio-Innovation Initiative will be introduced to address rural and underserved healthcare challenges. The incubator aims to start a Biodesigning programme to address unmet medical needs and launch Entrepreneurial Training Modules focusing on regulatory pathways, IP management, and market strategy. Strengthening partnerships with global accelerators and research institutions will be a key focus to enhance startup support. Currently, the facility is DSIR SIRO recognised, and plans are underway to obtain ISO 9001 and NABL accreditation. Furthermore, the incubator plans to conduct 3 hackathons to scout innovations in the biomedical domains. By bridging the gap between research and commercialisation, enhancing biomanufacturing capabilities, and nurturing entrepreneurial talent, it aims to accelerate Indias standing as a global leader in biotech innovation. As the incubator continues to push boundaries, its unwavering focus on infrastructure development, international collaborations, and social innovation will undoubtedly shape the future of healthcare and the bioeconomy, creating a lasting impact on the industry. Vrushti Kothari (vrushti.kothari@mmactiv.com) Creating a Future Ready Pharma QC and Microbiology Ecosystem March 31, 2025 | Monday | Views | By Salavadi Easwaran, Academic Dean, Biocon Academy According to the India Skills Report, the pharma industry had a high skill gap in quality control (QC) and other critical areas, with an employability rate of 37 per cent, far lower than the 46 per cent national average. As automation reshapes the industry, addressing this talent shortage is key to sustaining Indias global leadership in pharmaceuticals. Let's take a closer look at the QC talent gap, the function of upskilling, and potential solutions. For decades, Indias pharmaceutical industry has built its reputation on scale and speed, cementing its status as the Pharmacy to the World. At the heart of this success lies stringent quality control (QC), ensuring drug safety, efficacy, and compliance with global standards, optimal patient outcomes and access to lifesaving drugs. However, as automation, AI, and rapid microbiological methods reshape QC, a growing challenge leads to slow progressa shortage of skilled professionals who are adept at operating these evolving systems. Fresh graduates have theoretical knowledge, might have the intent and interest, but hands-on expertise is missing, while experienced professionals, trained in manual QC methods, struggle to keep pace with rapid digitisation. The result? A widening gap between cutting-edge technology and a workforce unprepared to manage it. This isnt just about hiringits about redefining how talent is developed, trained, and retained. In an industry where precision is everything, a skill gap isnt just a workforce issue; it can pose a risk to public health. Currently, India supplies over 60 per cent of global vaccine demand and 20 per cent of generic medicines worldwide. With the sector projected to reach a $130 billion valuation by 2030, maintaining strict safety and quality standards is more crucial than ever. As per the India Skills Report, the pharma sector had an employability rate of 37 per cent significantly below the national average of 46 per cent with a major skill gap in quality control and other key areas. As automation reshapes the industry, addressing this talent shortage is key to sustaining Indias global leadership in pharmaceuticals. Lets dive deeper into the talent gap in quality control, the role of upskilling, and how we can address the same. Evolving Skill Demands in Quality Control & Microbiology For a long time, Indias pharmaceutical microbiology has been a labour-intensive domain, with stringent sterility requirements relying heavily on manual intervention. But the landscape is rapidly evolving. Advanced detection, enumeration, and identification (DEI) techniques are transforming quality control. Additionally, Rapid Microbiological Methods (RMMs) are reducing turnaround times, automated sterility testing is minimising human error, and AI-driven predictive analytics is making quality control smarter and more precise. Despite these advancements, industry adoption remains conservative and cautious. Regulatory compliance frameworks, and financial support systems designed around conventional QC methodologies, have not kept pace with technological innovation. Furthermore, many pharmaceutical companies hesitate to transition due to a shortage of skilled professionals capable of managing and integrating these advanced systems. While automation and digital transformation are inevitable, a paucity of trained personnel could stifle progress. The key challenge lies in bridging this talent gap. Without a workforce proficient in digital QC and microbiology automation, even the most sophisticated technologies will remain underutilised. The industry must address this issue head-on, ensuring that both new and existing professionals are equipped with the skills required to keep pace with global pharmaceutical standards. Addressing the Skill Gap: A Three-Tiered Approach Bridging this talent gap requires a comprehensive strategy that prepares new graduates, upskills existing professionals, and fosters a cross-skilled, agile workforce. We need a structured, forward-thinking approach that must focus on three key areas: Developing Industry-Ready Graduates A major challenge in talent acquisition is the disconnect between academic training and industry expectations. While fresh graduates often possess strong theoretical foundations, they frequently lack hands-on experience in modern QC processes. Universities must reframe their curricula, beyond basic principles, integrating real-world applications in QC and microbiology while prioritising practical exposure. Programmes like the six-month Student Training Programme in Quality Assurance & Quality Control at the National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), Hyderabad, and the Biotech Finishing programmes by the Karnataka Government, and the Quality Control Analytical and Applied Industrial Microbiology programmes of Biocon Academy serve as essential models, equipping graduates with industry-relevant skills. Strengthening internship and apprenticeship opportunities will further ensure that newcomers can seamlessly transition into the workforce, contributing effectively from day one. Upskilling the Existing Workforce in Digital & Automated QC While experienced professionals bring domain expertise, many remain unfamiliar with new-age technologies in automation, AI-driven monitoring, and rapid microbiology techniques. This knowledge gap slows adoption rates, preventing companies from fully leveraging real-time digital monitoring and automated sterility testing. To bridge this divide, targeted upskilling programmes must focus on integrating automation and data analytics into QC workflows. By enhancing technical proficiency in these areas, companies can improve risk assessment, streamline process validation, and ensure higher-quality outcomesenabling a smoother transition toward digital transformation. Fostering a Cross-Skilled, Agile Workforce Traditionally, the pharmaceutical industry has operated in silos, training and qualifying talents in particular domains and deliverables limiting workforce mobility and holistic understanding. As QC roles evolve to incorporate new technologies, a shift toward cross-skilling can build a more versatile and adaptable workforce. Manufacturing microbiologists, such as fermentation specialists, can transition into QC roles, utilising their expertise to strengthen sterility assurance. Similarly, training production teams in rapid microbiology techniques foster a culture of continuous learning and innovation. This multidisciplinary approach enhances operational efficiency, ensures long-term sustainability in talent development, and helps future-proof the workforce for seamless integration of technological advancements in microbiological QC. Role of Industry & Academia in Skill Development Bridging the talent gap in pharmaceutical QC isnt solely the responsibility of educational institutions. The industry must take an active role in nurturing a skilled workforce by investing in structured training programmes that go beyond standard operating procedures. Well-designed onboarding initiatives can significantly reduce the learning curve for new hires, accelerating their integration into highly regulated QC environments while ensuring competency in both traditional and emerging methodologies. A stronger collaboration between academia and industry is essential to align curricula with evolving industry demands. As pharmaceutical microbiology rapidly advances, ensuring that graduates possess relevant, up-to-date knowledge is critical to maintaining quality and regulatory compliance. Establishing joint training programmes, industry-led workshops, and research partnerships can help bridge this gap, creating a workforce that is better prepared to navigate the complexities of modern QC. Government initiatives also play a crucial role in bolstering industry capabilities and fostering self-reliance. Programmes such as the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for Pharmaceuticals and the Scheme for Promotion of Bulk Drug Parks aim to strengthen infrastructure, drive domestic manufacturing, and enhance global competitiveness. Leveraging these initiatives for skill development can provide a much-needed boost to workforce readiness, ensuring that India remains at the forefront of pharmaceutical innovation and quality assurance. Way Forward Addressing the talent gap in QC and microbiology is imperative to sustain and strengthen Indias leadership in the global pharmaceutical sector. These fields must be positioned as high-value career paths to attract skilled professionals and drive innovation. Industry-academia collaborations are crucial in bridging this gap by aligning educational curricula with evolving industry needs. A forward-thinking approach, one that prioritises skill development, embraces technological advancements, and fosters continuous learning will ensure that India not only meets current global standards but remains prepared for future challenges. By investing in talent today, the industry can solidify its reputation as the Pharmacy of the World and continue to set new benchmarks in pharmaceutical excellence. Salavadi Easwaran, Academic Dean, Biocon Academy Yoghurt could slash the risk of bowel cancer. Yoghurt could cut the risk of being diagnosed with bowel cancer Oncologist Professor Justin Stebbing has said the dairy product contains a bacteria called Bifidobacterium - which is believed to have an effect that stops tumours from forming - and it can reduce the risk by up to 20 per cent. However, he insisted that people eat yoghurts with "live cultures" because different forms of the food may not be able to produce the same results due to "fermentation processes", which "can result in varying levels of beneficial bacteria". The advice comes off the back of research in February 2025 that found those who consume at least two servings of yoghurt every week over 30 years are a fifth less likely to get bowel cancer. Prof Stebbing - who is a professor of biomedical sciences at Anglia Ruskin University in Cambridge - wrote on The Conversation: "The emerging evidence suggests that regular yoghurt consumption may have a protective effect against certain aggressive forms of [bowel] cancer." Implementation of Rapid Microbiological Methods will play a vital role in contributing to the Global Health for drugs March 31, 2025 | Monday | Views The inaugural BioLuminescence 2025 event by Merck took place in Ahmedabad on February 20, serving as a pivotal platform to enhance engagement with regulatory bodies, key opinion leaders, and stakeholders in the pharmaceutical industry. An internationally recognised microbiologist and subject matter expert in pharmaceutical microbiology, contamination control, Dr Michael Miller, President - Microbiology Consultants, LLC spoke about the Future of Pharma QC and how Rapid Microbiological Method (RMM) play a key role there. What are some of the developments you have seen in quality control (QC) Microbiology from the past 10 years, some trends that stood out for you in this space? There are a number of startups that have been pushing the envelope in microbial detection, quantification and identification and newer technologies that are miniaturised, such as lab-on-a-chip platforms, and real-time detection of microorganisms. I expect to see this trend continue in the foreseeable future. What are the latest RMM technologies being developed to support pharmaceutical companies? The science of biofluorescent particle counters (BFPC) has been around for a number of years. However, sterile pharma manufacturers are now validating these for routine use. They produce an autofluorescent unit (AFU) in real-time, allowing manufacturers to immediately react to excursions or out-of-trend findings for viable microorganisms, rather than retrospectively addressing these issues once incubation on standard plates have completed, which could be as long as a week since the batch was manufactured. And many of these systems are designed to capture the sampled air flow onto conventional media in the hopes of growing these for subsequent studies, such as microbial identification, which may help with investigations associated with the original contamination event. I also manage a catalogue of existing and next generation RMMs that is constantly changing as new technologies are introduced. What are the key advantages and challenges associated with adopting RMM in the future of pharmaceutical QC? The key advantage of using rapid methods, especially for newer cell and gene therapies, or advanced therapy medicinal products (ATMPs), is that these medicines can be tested and released much faster than conventional methods. This is important for short-shelf life products and those medicines that have an immediate medical need. And many RMMs are more sensitive, accurate and precise than conventional methods, making them a better choice for microbiology testing, in terms of assessing product quality, which is directly linked with patient safety. The perceived challenges with implementing RMMs have been associated with regulatory understanding and approval, which has been debunked for many years (i.e., regulators around the world have already approved multiple types of RMMs), and the supposed difficulty in validating these new methods for their intended use. The latter has been addressed by many regulatory guidance documents and compendial chapters over the years, and will be specifically addressed with the 2025 revision to PDA Technical Report #33 (Evaluation, Validation and Implementation of Alternative and Rapid Microbiological Methods), of which I am a co-chair. How can the microbiological industry contribute to the development of collaborative strategies to address regulatory challenges in QC? With respect to RMMs, the industry should continue to be educated to realise its benefits of implementation for a wide variety of applications, including finished product release for sterile and nonsterile medicines, in-process testing and environmental monitoring, to name a few. These are not necessarily regulatory challenges, as I have mentioned above, but more aligned with continuous improvement and better understanding of ones processes and products. The more the companies embrace and implement RMMs, the easier it will be for the industry as a whole moving forward. What regulatory considerations should pharmaceutical companies be aware of when selecting an RMM system for their applications? The selection of RMMs should be based on a firms user requirements for microbiology testing, which may include the type of test, an intended time-to-detection, sample size and sample composition, data management and validation considerations. There are specific regulatory expectations for RMM validation, and these have already been published in a variety of guidance documents. The global pharmacopeias have also revised or added new chapters providing guidance on RMM and alternative method validation. And the upcoming revision to PDA TR#33 will specifically address regulatory expectations as well. For firms that are considering RMMs, I would encourage them to review the guidance currently available, participate in user groups, RMM conferences and training programmes, and engage in the support of consultants who may assist in developing their validation and implementation strategies. How does the Parenteral Drug Association (PDA) support industries with their Scientific Publications and Forums? The PDA provides global support for the pharma industry in many ways. I already mentioned the work we are doing with the revision to PDA TR#33, but there are numerous conferences the industry can participate in where RMMs are discussed. The PDA Journal of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology is another resource for RMM implementation strategies and validation research. What are some of the aspects that can lead to a drastic change in Sterile Manufacturing? It is a well known fact that people are the number one source of microbial contamination in sterile manufacturing. So, if we can eliminate the bugs and confirm we are operating in a state of control, we can significantly reduce the risk of producing a contaminated batch of product. I have been involved with the implementation of real-time BFPC systems in gloveless, robotic isolators for sterile manufacturing. The two go hand-in-hand, as microbial contamination from people is no longer a threat to sterile manufacturing, and real-time AFU data confirms the absence of microorganisms in these well-controlled environments. I will be a co-author on one such isolator system in which we have incorporated BFPCs for continuous, real-time monitoring of microorganisms. Look for these publications in the PDA Journal and other pharmaceutical trade journals. What are some of the Future Technologies in the pipeline and QC requirements? The recent revision to the EU GMP Annex 1 is a perfect example of how future technologies, such as RMMs, can play a role in the newest quality control requirements. Annex 1 now supports the use of rapid and alternative methods and continuous monitoring systems to increase the protection of the product from microorganisms and to assist in the rapid detection of potential contaminants in the environment and the product. Annex 1 will allow changing the current microbiological acceptance levels for environmental monitoring based on the new RMM signal instead of the CFU, as long as the RMM has been adequately validated. For these reasons, it makes sense for the industry to explore the implementation of RMMs to meet these new regulatory expectations. How do you see the future of Made in India drugs in terms of contribution to Global Health? How will it strengthen microbial QC help India's progress as a global drug manufacturer? As many know, there have been critical issues associated with the manufacturer of drugs, especially from a microbial contamination control standpoint. Numerous firms, within India and around the world, have been forced to recall products or shut down facilities as a result of poor manufacturing practices but also the inability to generate meaningful microbiology data that supports a well-controlled manufacturing process and environment. RMMs will help bridge the gap between not knowing how well controlled a manufacturing process is with a more robust understanding that their contamination control strategies are actually working. Therefore, I see the implementation of RMMs playing a vital role in contributing to Global Health for drugs that are Made in India as well as around the world. 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 John Boyega told his cab driver he'd been cast in 'Star Wars' before anyone else. John Boyega couldn't resist telling his cab driver he'd been cast in Star Wars The 33-year-old actor was so overcome with excitement at being cast as Finn in 2015's 'Star Wars: Episode VII The Force Awakens' that he couldn't resist breaking the "rules" about keeping his job a secret, but there was no one else available to speak to at the time. Speaking in documentary 'Number One on the Call Sheet: Black Leading Men in Hollywood', he said: "'The Force Awakens' to me was a fundamental moment. "We waited months for that. When that big call came in, that's that call that all those stars talk about that changed their life and stuff. It's like, 'That's it? That's the call!' It's such an attack on reality.' Of having "snitched" on his casting, he added: "You're not gonna know who I tell! "I got in a taxi and told the driver. That was the first person I told. My mom's not here, my dad's not here, we're sharing in this moment, bro. 'Bro, I just got Star Wars!' He was like, 'Oh, yeah, congratulations mate. Great, that'll be 45 pounds, please.' "It was that kinda moment. But I had to share. I know the rules were like, 'Don't share.' But come on, man, you just offered me the opportunity of a lifetime!" John hit out at 'Star Wars' fans who struggled to accept diversity in casting. He said: "Lemme tell ya, 'Star Wars' always had the vibe of being in the most whitest, elite space. "It's a franchise that's so white that a Black person existing in [it] was something. "You can always tell it's something when some Star Wars fans try to say, 'Well, we had Lando Calrissian and had Samuel L. Jackson!' "It's like telling me how many cookie chips are in the cookie dough. It's like, they just scattered that in there, bro!" And John criticised certain movie goers who can't accept Black actors taking leading roles. He added: "They're okay with us playing the best friend, but once we touch their heroes, once we lead, once we trailblaze, it's like, 'Oh my God, it's just a bit too much! They're pandering!'" John previously hit out at the franchise for reducing the importance of his character in the final trilogy. He told Britain's GQ in 2020: "What I would say to Disney is do not bring out a Black character, market them to be much more important in the franchise than they are and then have them pushed to the side. It's not good." Arguing "all the nuance" went to Daisy Ridley and Adam Driver, he added: "You knew what to do with these other people, but when it came to Kelly Marie Tran, when it came to John Boyega, you know f*** all." 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 The boss of Primark, which operates as Penneys in Ireland, has resigned after an allegation over his behaviour towards a woman. Primarks parent firm, Associated British Foods (ABF), said Paul Marchant has stepped down as chief executive of the high street fashion brand with immediate effect following an investigation. Advertisement It said the incident related to his behaviour towards (a woman) in a social environment. Primark runs more than 450 stores globally (Liam McBurney/PA) The company said Mr Marchant co-operated with the investigation, acknowledged his error of judgment and accepts that his actions fell below the standards expected by ABF. He has made an apology to the individual concerned, the ABF board and also to his Primark colleagues and others connected to the business, the firm added. ABF stressed that it will continue to offer support to the individual who brought the incident to its attention. Advertisement Mr Marchant had led the Dublin-based fast fashion chain, which runs more than 450 shops, since 2009, when he took over as chief executive from founder Arthur Ryan. He was previously chief operating officer at rival New Look and had held roles at Debenhams, Topman and River Island. George Weston, chief executive of ABF, said: I am immensely disappointed. At ABF, we believe that high standards of integrity are essential. Advertisement Acting responsibly is the only way to build and manage a business over the long-term. Colleagues and others must be treated with respect and dignity. Our culture has to be, and is, bigger than any one individual. ABFs finance director Eoin Tonge will now act as interim boss of Primark, working with the brands senior executives and strategic advisory board, ABF said. Advertisement Joana Edwards, ABF group financial controller, will replace Mr Tonge on an interim basis. Primark, which makes up almost half of ABFs sales, brought in more than 9.4 billion (11.2 billion) in revenues in the 2024 financial year. Shares in ABF, which also owns grocery brands including Ryvita and Twinings, fell by 4% in early trading on Monday as a result. A dispute over the awarding of a 9.5 million contract for the countrys after hours emergency air ambulance service has been settled, the Commercial Court has heard. The contract is to provide a service between Ireland and other countries, primarily the UK. Advertisement Sere Holdings Ltd, which came eighth and last in the tender process, had brought a challenge over the awarding of the contract, but this was rejected by the High Court in 2023. Sere appealed and the Court of Appeal (CoA) overturned the decision last year. The CoA sent the case back to the High Court where it has been listed before the fast track commercial division in preparation for a rehearing. On Monday, Mr Justice Mark Sanfey was told the matter had been settled. The judge struck out the case on consent between the parties. Advertisement In its action, Sere claimed the contract winner, IAS Medical Ltd, did not satisfy a requirement that each bidder must have a turnover of 4 million for the previous three years in relation to the services it was bidding for. Ireland 19-year-old jailed for eight years for murder of K... Read More Sere asked the court to set aside the award of the contract to IAS under the European Communities (Public Authorities Contracts) (Review Procedures) Regulations 2010, known as the Remedies Regulations. The Sere challenge was against the HSE, which funds the service. IAS was a notice party. Air ambulances both inside and outside Ireland are generally provided by the Irish Air Corps and the Irish Coast Guard Services under existing arrangements. But they are unable to provide it between 7pm and 7:30 am, and 7pm to 8:30am in June, July and August. This is why a private contractor is needed for the after hours service. A Co Louth man has claimed in the High Court that he was fired from his job as an IT engineer contractor at Dublin Airport for telling an Aer Lingus employee to f*** off. Colm Dunne, from St Laurences Park, Drogheda, claims his dismissal last month from his post at ESP Global Services Ltd, an IT support services firm, was extremely harsh and not proportionate. Advertisement Mr Dunne was allegedly dismissed after a disciplinary process determined his use of inappropriate language towards the Aer Lingus employee constituted gross misconduct. Mr Dunne does not accept his use of the swear word justifies a charge of or constitutes gross misconduct. It is Mr Dunnes case that it has never been explained how his use of the obscenity amounts to gross misconduct. Mr Justice Brian Cregan last week granted a number of short-term injunctive orders sought by Mr Dunne, including that ESP restrain from taking steps to give effect to his purported dismissal. The orders were granted with only Mr Dunnes side represented. Mr Justice Cregan also gave permission to Conor Power SC, for Mr Dunne and instructed by Feran & Co solicitors, to serve the proceedings on ESP. Advertisement In a sworn statement to the court, Mr Dunne says that during the course of a shift on January 27th, he had an unfortunate interaction with a member of Aer Lingus check-in team. Mr Dunne says the Aer Lingus employee approached Mr Dunne about a malfunctioning self-service kiosk, used by passengers to check-in baggage prior to a flight. Mr Dunne was tending to another faulty kiosk at the time of the interaction. During the course of this interaction, Mr Dunne admits that he regrettably told the employee to go away and f*** off." Mr Dunne says the Aer Lingus employee raised a formal complaint regarding the interaction. Advertisement On January 31st, Mr Dunne says he was informed by ESPs human resource (HR) department that he was to be suspended from work pending the outcome of an investigation into an allegation of gross misconduct namely, that he used inappropriate language towards an Aer Lingus employee. On February 4th, Mr Dunne says, he was told by his HR department that the investigation had concluded. It is Mr Dunnes case that he had no communication with his employer during the purported investigation. At a disciplinary hearing on February 7th, Mr Dunne says he was informed that, by reason of [his] action having been considered to be gross misconduct, he was to be dismissed immediately. He says that his offer to apologise to the Aer Lingus employee in person was turned down. Advertisement Mr Dunne says his job was advertised on ESPs vacancies webpage on February 12th. Ireland High Court confirms near 400k fine imposed by Cen... Read More Mr Dunne says that he appealed his dismissal to his employer on a number of grounds, including that the punishment was extremely harsh and not proportionate. However, the appeal process and hearing failed to address the very serious defects of fairness of procedure and due process in the disciplinary process, Mr Dunne claims. Mr Dunne, who has worked at ESP since October 2021, says he has enjoyed an unblemished disciplinary record prior to the incident in question. The case returns to court this week. The Tanaiste is to appeal for calm and measured EU co-operation ahead of a major tariff announcement by US President Donald Trump expected on Wednesday. Simon Harris is due to hold calls with Dutch trade minister Reinette Klever and Danish foreign minister Lars Lkke Rasmussen on Monday morning. Advertisement Mr Harris who is also 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 ministers have expressed concern over how exposed Ireland is to potential double-digit tariffs on exports. Advertisement Mr Trump and his commerce secretary Howard Lutnick have suggested US pharmaceutical firms located in Ireland will be targeted with tariffs. Taoiseach 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 per cent tariff on cars taking effect in April. During Mr Harriss engagements on Monday, the Russian invasion of Ukraine is also expected to be discussed. Advertisement 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. The Taoiseach has said the European Union will be strategic in its response if Donald Trump sparks a trade war, saying the bloc does not want to invite more damage. The US president is expected to target some of Irelands major employers, including pharmaceutical companies, and Micheal Martin said he wants to see negotiations emerge from the EUs response. Advertisement Speaking in Dublin on Monday, Mr Martin also said he wants to see a landing zone agreed to enable companies and the economy to enjoy a bit of stability. Mr Trump has announced a 25 per cent import tax on all cars imported into the US, a measure expected to hit car makers across the EU. The levy is on top of a series of tariffs set to come into effect on Wednesday. Mr Martin said there will be competing interests across EU countries who will want to protect their own industries. Advertisement It would be challenging to try and get a negotiating platform at European level in response to these tariff positions, he said. First point, Europe doesnt want tariffs. (The) European Union doesnt but (the) US seems intent on imposing tariffs with a view to reshoring a lot of manufacturing to the US. That is the stated aim. Donald Trump (Jose Luis Magana/AP) But on the other hand, I think Europe will not immediately respond but take its time, and its in that period that the member states, working together, can be strategic in terms of how it responds. So a strategic response is very important, in other words, that we dont invite more damage in response, and that we do in a way that maximises Europes leverage here. Advertisement Ultimately, one would like to see negotiations emerge as a result of Europes response to the US position of tariffs, and that we could get some reasonable landing zone that could enable companies and the economy to enjoy a bit of stability in some sense of what the future holds. Mr Martin said the pharmaceutical industry in Ireland is particularly strong, and has been the hub for a lot of US manufacturing companies to access European and Asian markets. He said countries across the EU will suffer to different degrees. Its been very successful for everybody, including the US, including US companies and including Ireland, but also countries like Belgium, Denmark, also have significant US pharmaceutical presence. Finland and others. Advertisement Its not just Ireland, but other countries, then if you look at the automotive industry and the car industry, really big impact on countries like Slovakia, Germany and others. A lot of countries are going to suffer differently and will be impacted negatively by the tariffs, because it crosses about five to six sectors that (the) US looks like imposing tariffs, so to different degrees countries will be impacted. He said Ireland will intensify its bilateral contacts with the US, both with the government and with companies which would be severely impacted by tariffs. Well be using every avenue at our disposal, but primarily with (the) European Union and bilaterally, and also then with companies, Mr Martin added. Advertisement Simon Harris (Brian Lawless/PA) The Tanaiste urged the public to be calm and measured in their response to threatened tariffs. Simon Harris said the country is entering a time of extraordinary economic turbulence, but added that the Government is not complacent about what that means. Were working around the clock on that, but what weve got to do here is be calm and be measured, he added. Weve got to work at a European level. Were part of a market of 450 million people in Europe. We will have this announcement what President Trump calls liberation day on Wednesday, and we will survey that situation then, and then next Monday we will have an EU trade council meeting in which I represent this country, and we will work at an EU level to see how best to respond. The aim here has to be simple: to navigate and negotiate, to get the United States around a table, not get into tit for tat, but to try and sit down and find a way forward. The ex-partner of "an extremely dangerous" killer who gunned down a young drug dealer on Dublin's northside proclaimed herself innocent on Monday afternoon, despite a jury finding that she impeded the garda investigation by collecting the murderer from a bus stop just minutes after the shooting and later checking him into a hotel. When the 12 jurors left the courtroom having returned unanimous guilty verdicts against Rachel Redmond - the younger sister of Robert "Roo" Redmond - the 34-year old shouted from the dock: "I didn't do it though, I didn't do anything". Advertisement As Ms Redmond was led away to the cell area by prison officers, a supporter for 22-year-old Jordan 'Jordo' Davis - who was shot dead "in a cold-blooded and calculated execution" while pushing his four-month-old son in a pram - shouted back: "Justice is done finally for the child" and "I hope she rots". The jury had heard how drug dealer Davis was shot to death in broad daylight six years ago by Wayne Cooney, who fired at him eight times in a laneway beside Our Lady Immaculate Junior National School in Darndale on Dublin's northside. Mr Davis suffered three gunshot wounds, including one to the head that killed him instantly. The jury took seven hours and 33 minutes over three days to unanimously accept the State's case that Rachel Redmond drove the shooter - her former partner and convicted murderer Cooney - away from the scene and later checked him into the Clayton Hotel near Dublin Airport on the night of the murder. Taking the stand at her own trial, Ms Redmond had denied that she had an "agenda" to collect Cooney after he "executed" the young father, telling a jury that she did not think he would be capable of carrying out a murder. Advertisement Ms Redmond told the jury that she didn't know Cooney had committed "any crime at all" when she drove him away from the scene and later checked him into a hotel. She went on to say she was in love with Cooney and hadn't seen the bad in him but had started opening her eyes when she saw the CCTV footage of the killing. In his closing speech, Seoirse O Dunlaing SC with Simon Matthews BL, prosecuting, described Ms Redmond's testimony as "absolutely risible". Mr O Dunlaing added: "The accused is saying 'I didn't know'; If you said that to a horse you would get a kick". Advertisement Defence lawyers for Ms Redmond had submitted in their closing address that Ms Redmond was not performing "the sort of slick getaway you see in the movies" when she collected Cooney from the bus stop just minutes after he murdered Mr Davis. Barrister Dominic McGinn SC urged the jurors not to convict his client because of the sins of other people around her. "We can't point the finger at Rachel Redmond because her boyfriend is the killer and her brother is involved. You can't convict her by association," he said. The jury had heard that Cooney had been convicted of the murder in 2022, while the defendant's older brother and career criminal Robert "Roo" Redmond pleaded guilty in April 2024 to conspiring together with Cooney to murder Mr Davis on or about May 22 2019 and was sentenced to seven years in prison. Cooney was described by the prosecution as having acted like "a shark patrolling the ocean looking for its prey" when he was seen on a distinctive orange bicycle in the Darndale area for three days before he fired eight bullets at Mr Davis, striking him three times. Advertisement In his charge to the jury, Mr Justice Paul Burns said the prosecution must prove beyond reasonable doubt that Ms Redmond knew Cooney had murdered Mr Davis at the time she did the acts complained of. He said subsequent knowledge was not enough. Following today's guilty verdicts, Mr Justice Burns thanked the members of the jury for the "very important function" they had performed on behalf of their fellow citizens. "Thank you very much for the obvious hard work and attention you paid to this case," he added. The judge excused them from jury service for the next seven years. When the jury of three men and nine women left the courtroom, defence counsel Keith Spencer BL asked for Ms Redmond to remain on bail so that she could put her affairs in order. Advertisement Mr O Dunlaing, for the Director of Public Prosecutions, said he was opposing the application and asked that Ms Redmond be remanded in custody. Mr Justice Burns pointed out that the defendant's status had changed and she had been convicted of "this very serious offence". At this point, Ms Redmond interjected from the dock and said aloud: "I didn't do it though, I didn't do anything". She added: "I shouldn't be here, I didn't do anything". Mr Justice Burns remanded Ms Redmond in custody until May 12, when her sentence hearing will take place. Mr O Dunlaing said a victim impact statement had been prepared by Mr Davis' family on a previous occasion. When the judge rose, Ms Redmond shouted out: "They're a pack of scumbags". One of the deceased's supporters, who was gathered at the back of the courtroom, shot back "justice is done finally for the child" and "I hope she rots" as the defendant was led away to the cell area by the prison officers. Rachel Redmond's life-long friend Stacey Hayes had told the trial how she was directed by the defendant to a bus stop in Clarehall to collect Cooney, who just minutes earlier had shot Mr Davis dead. The trial heard Ms Redmond was in phone contact with Cooney just five minutes after the shooting and remained talking to him for over three minutes. She later went to the Clayton Hotel that night, where she used her own bank card to pay for a room for Cooney while he remained out of sight. It was also the State's case that drug dealer Robert Redmond was engaged "in some acrimony" with Mr Davis. A detective testified that "tick lists" found at two addresses linked to Robert Redmond had contained the name "Jordo" - the same nickname Jordan Davis was known by - with amounts up to 153,000 recorded as owing. 70,000 was written beside one entry with the words "not yet" in capital letters. Evidence was given that Mr Davis was warned by Robert Redmond - "I'm on your case mate, it won't be long" and "soon, very soon bang bang" - 19 days before he was shot to death. Rachel Redmond (34) from Coolock but with an address at Clifdenville Road, Cliftonville Avenue, North Belfast, Antrim was charged on two counts that on or about May 22 and May 23 2019, in the county of the City of Dublin, did knowingly or believing that another person, namely Wayne Cooney, committed an arrestable offence, to wit murder, without reasonable excuse did an act with intent to impede his apprehension or prosecution. Ms Redmond had pleaded not guilty to the two counts. Rachel Redmond, who took the stand in her own defence, told her barrister that she had been in her friend Stacey Hayes' car on the afternoon of May 22nd when she received a phone call from Wayne Cooney asking for a lift. Ms Redmond told her then-partner 'no' and to get a taxi, adding: "He said he had no money. I asked Stacey when we were on the phone if she could go and pick Wayne up and she said yes". Ms Redmond said Cooney told her he was at a bus stop at Clarehall and they had deviated a bit to collect him. She passed off being on the phone to Cooney for 200 minutes as "just chit chat, where he was and where to pick him up from". The defendant said she saw Cooney as they approached Clarehall Shopping centre and that she had remarked to Stacey "there is the eejit up there on the left" before collecting him. Ms Redmond said she told Cooney when he got into the car that there had been a shooting in Coolock and he replied "it's a mad place". She said she hadn't found anything unusual about his behaviour and they were dropped near a relative's house on Streamville Road. Ms Redmond told the jury there wasn't enough room for Cooney to stay at Streamville Road that night as members of her family were already staying there. She said Cooney used her phone that night to book a room at the Clayton Hotel near Dublin Airport and she had paid for it as she was working in Aer Lingus at the time. Ms Redmond's sister, she said, had driven herself and Cooney to the Clayton Hotel, where she [Rachel] used her bank card to pay for the room. Ms Redmond said she spoke to Cooney when he was arrested in connection with the murder a month later. "I didn't think he would be able to do anything like that, I didn't think he would be capable of doing that," she told the jury. The defendant said this "thought" had changed when she was arrested on suspicion of murder in 2020 and saw the CCTV footage from the investigation. Under cross-examination by the prosecution, Ms Redmond accepted it was the first time a court and a jury had heard that Cooney stayed at the Clayton Hotel on May 22 because there was no room at Streamville Road. Ms Redmond said she hadn't said this to gardai in 2020 as she was advised by her solicitor to remain silent. She added: "All of this is just unnecessary, I am innocent". The defendant agreed with the prosecution that Cooney had been convicted of murder when she visited him in Mountjoy Prison in August 2022 and that she was arrested when leaving the prison. "I couldn't see him being that kind of a person, I was in love with him, I didn't see the bad in him. When I saw the CCTV that's when I started opening my eyes". Told by the prosecution counsel that she had picked up a murderer on May 22, Ms Redmond said there was no way she would have picked someone up if she knew they had done something like that. The prosecutor put it to Ms Redmond that at a minimum she believed Cooney had killed Mr Davis and that she had one agenda in mind, which was to pick her partner up after the murder. Counsel told the defendant she had later checked Cooney into a hotel to "shield" him from authorities because the murder was committed by him and she knew he had done it. "You're wrong," replied Ms Redmond. 'It's a mad place' Ms Redmond's lifelong friend Stacey Hayes described how she was directed to a bus stop by Rachel to collect the defendant's boyfriend Wayne Cooney. The witness said they had picked up Cooney not far from a bus stop opposite 'Tesco' on the Clarehall Road in Dublin 17. She said it was "minutes" between hearing about Mr Davis being shot and picking up Cooney. Ms Hayes said Rachel had been on the phone until they "got to Wayne" but the witness didn't know who Rachel was actually speaking with. She told the jury that Rachel had said "there he is or get that eejit; something like that" when they picked him up. When asked by the prosecutor why she had done a U-turn on Belcamp Lane before turning onto the Malahide Road in the CCTV footage, Ms Hayes replied: "She was just telling me where to go". In cross-examination, the witness agreed with the defence that she remembered telling gardai in her statement that Rachel had said to Cooney there had been a shooting in Darndale when he got into the car and he had replied: "It's a mad place." Tattoo of a crown with the initials 'RR' Cooney had several tattoos on his right arm including depictions of "a wedge of 50 bank notes" and the Ha'penny Bridge. Evidence was given that on his left hand was a tattoo of a crown with the initials 'RR' underneath it. Now retired Detective Garda Shane Kelly said he was "one hundred percent sure" it was Wayne Cooney - who had the nickname 'Spuddy Cooney' and was from Glenshane Drive in Tallaght - when shown CCTV footage from around Darndale and at the Clayton Hotel near Dublin Airport on May 22nd 2019. The statement of Mr Davis' mother Sandra Davis was read into the record, where she said she had five children and that her daughter had died two years previously. Ms Davis described her relationship with Jordan as being very close. The mother-of-five recalled that her son had told her he was smoking 'weed' at 16 years old, remarking that he was always 'drawn to the older lads'. She said there was nothing fancy in her home but that the house started to get raided by gardai. Ms Davis noticed a change in her son when Jordan started accumulating money and began to buy lots of nice clothes. She asked her son where he got the money from but he wouldn't answer her. She said Jordan started to 'hang around' with a 'fella called Roo' and that she knew her son was getting money from selling drugs as he wasn't working and always had the best clothes. Ms Davis asked Jordan to stop and kept telling him that his luck was going to run out. She went on to say that things then changed between her son and 'Roo'. Ms Davis went on to say her son was afraid something was going to happen and she started to hear him on the phone to "a fella called Smythser". Ms Davis said two men had come looking for her son at her home one night after Christmas in 2021. Jordan, she said, had rang and was screaming at her to get out of the house as there were two men outside her home. She said Jordan sounded very scared but she couldn't leave. When Ms Davis looked out the window she saw "a big white flash fancy car" and two men were shouting Wheres Jordan? Where's the fucking pr**k. She asked the men not to discuss her son's business on the street and to come inside. The men came into the sitting room, one of them was "huge with dark hair and had a beard and muscles" and was being called 'Smythser' by "the other fella". The "other smaller lad", who she knew to see from around the area, was Sean Little and "doing all the talking". Little, another 22-year-old from Coolock, was later found shot dead beside a burning car near Balbriggan off the M1 in Dublin on May 21,st2019 - the day before Jordan Davis was murdered. Ms Davis said Little told her that Jordan was supposed to meet them at the house as he owed 50K and 70K. She said Little was calling Jordan "a little pr**k". She added: "He told me he didnt give a f**k and that he wasn't leaving without the money. He told me he knew where my mother lived. He told me that Jordan was flashing cash and spending their money on food and taxis. He told me 'you know your son is going to be getting buried with your daughter'. This got me very upset. I told them I had no money. They told me to ring Jordan". Ms Davis said she tried to ring Jordan but he didn't answer her calls or their calls. "He text to say to tell them he was in hospital. This made him angrier". Ms Davis said 'Smythser' didnt say anything and was just sitting there staring at them. She said Little told her she would be identifying her son in a coffin. She added: "I dont know why he said that. He told me Jordan was going to be shot. I was getting very upset". Ms Davis said Little "had kept going with this sort of stuff" until 'Smythser' said "look leave it there, we should get out of here". She said 'Smythser' told her "look you talk to Jordan, I'm taking your word that you will sort this out". She said the two men then went off in the car. Ms Davis added: "I was raging with Jordan. I texted him that they were gone. He said he would ring tomorrow. Jordan came home the day after, he said that it was 'Smythser' and Sean Little that were at the house". "He said he had to give them 5,000 per week to sort it but he said he could only pay 3,000. He told me that he could get 3,000 and that he sent someone over to Tesco Clarehall car park with the money a few days after". She said Jordan told her in January 2019 that he was still paying money over to 'Smythser'. Referring to a separate incident in March 2019, Ms Davis said she had heard someone trying to get in her front door and then saw 'five fellas' in her garden. One of them shouted at Ms Davis: "Tell Jordan to pay his f**king bills, it's not over, tell Jordan we'll be back". She said the entire front of her house was smashed up and not a pane of glass was left. She said she never went back to her house after that and was very angry with Jordan for putting her and her family in danger. She said Jordan became constantly stressed and pale but then "all of a sudden" he had no fear. Ms Davis said Jordan told her the week he was murdered that 'a guy' with 'North Face' gloves was going around the estate on an orange bike. She said someone had convinced Jordan he was fine, that it was alright for him to be out in Darndale and that the man was looking for someone else. Ms Davis said she was on a bus on May 22, 2019 when she was told there had been a shooting in Darndale. She said her niece then rang her to tell her Jordan was dead. She saw her son lying on the ground in the lane, which she said was "every mother's worst nightmare". "Tick Lists" It was the State's case that the defendant's brother Robert Redmond was engaged "in some acrimony" with Mr Davis in the weeks leading up to his death. "Tick lists" were found at two addresses linked to drug dealer Robert Redmond which contained the name "Jordo" - the same nickname Jordan Davis was known by. The first "tick list" was found on November 19th 2018 at a house in Kinsealy, which belonged to the sister of Robert Redmond's ex-partner. On the top left hand corner of one page was the nickname 'Jordo' owing 153,000. There was a list of dates in chronological order and the last figure showed 95,100. A second "tick list" in a copybook was found by gardai at Robert Redmond's home at Woodview Close in Donaghmede on January 30, 2019. On the list was the name "Jordo" with 70,000 written beside one entry with the words "not yet" in capital letters. Other items found included luxury handbags, sunglasses and 8,000 in cash which were in 50 notes. Career criminal Robert Redmond has 99 previous convictions which include two counts for possession of firearms and ammunition with intention to endanger life as well as a life sentence for murder. He also has convictions for blackmail and extortion, threats to kill and assault causing harm. The court heard that in May 2013, he pleaded guilty to the possession of heroin worth almost 37,000 and was jailed for five years. In 2022, Redmond was sentenced to the mandatory term of life imprisonment for murdering father-of-eight Barry Wolverson (40) at Madigan's Yard, Kileek Lane, Swords, Co Dublin on January 17, 2020. "I'm on your case mate, it won't be long" Detectives found a thread of 'WhatsApp' messages between Mr Davis' phone and a phone number saved on the deceased's handset as 'Rew', which ended in the numbers 858. The messages had been exchanged between the drug dealers just 19 days before Mr Davis was murdered. A series of messages were sent from the number saved as 'Rew' to Mr Davis' phone at 9.49am on the morning of May 3, 2019 beginning with: "How much you give him in total about 3k". Another message sent a minute later from the number saved as 'Rew' to Mr Davis said: "You haven't gave him anymore than 10K you owed 70K so thats how you owe 60K or over" [sic]. Mr Davis sent a message at 1.29pm saying: "3K get your facts right to you even talk to him pal". 'Rew' said: "You gave Smithzer 20k??" Mr Davis replied: "You should no how many times you think he was seen get with it Robert". 'Rew' said: "I haven't talked to Smithzer in ages" followed by "I'll get someone to contact him now". Mr Davis replied: "Well the encro away there lad". The number saved as 'Rew' says at 1.34pm "wat you mean" and then "they didn't add anything on" followed by "someone be onto you today". Mr Davis replies: "Classic Robert" to which 'Rew' asked "you on the gear or something". At 1.36pm 'Rew' says to Mr Davis: "Lad who you trying to be". A minute later 'Rew' sent a message to Mr Davis' phone saying: "Fucking clown that can't pay bills trying to be a big man. I heard a lot about you trust me I'll get you soon". 'Rew' also says in a message: "I'm on your case mate it won't be long" followed by a series of 13 or 14 laughing emojis. The next message sent from 'Rew' to Mr Davis at 1.38pm says: "Get off me phone soon, very soon bang bang" to which Mr Davis replies: "Nice one mate". Robert Redmond's partner Aisling McNally testified that she had told gardai in May 2019 that Robert Redmond had used a number ending in 858. Aisling McNally Aisling McNally gave evidence that she had been going out with Rachel Redmond's brother Robert Redmond, of Streamville Road in Donaghmede for about three years in May 2019 before their relationship fell apart. Ms McNally said she referred to him as Robert but others called him "Roo". The former partner of the drug dealer said she had dropped Robert off at Donaghmede Shopping Centre on the afternoon of May 22 and he told her he was meeting friends at Belcamp Lane. Ms McNally said she later picked up Robert from a halting site at Belcamp Lane around 4.13pm - just minutes after Mr Davis was shot to death in the laneway. The witness recalled May 22 2019 as she said Sean Little had been murdered in Coolock the previous day. Clayton Hotel Rachel Redmond was identified by detectives as the woman who appears on CCTV footage of the lobby of the Clayton Hotel near Dublin Airport after midnight on May 23, 2019. Samuel McGarry, who worked as an assistant night manager for the Clayton Hotel at Dublin Airport in May 2022, confirmed that a booking had been made for Rachel Redmond on May 22nd 2019 through booking.com. He said the booking was made at 11.02pm on May 22 and that a person giving their name as Rachel Redmond had checked in to the hotel at 00.05 on May 23. 'Not performing the sort of slick getaway you see in the movies" In their closing speech, the prosecution had described Ms Redmond's testimony that she didn't know Wayne Cooney had committed "any crime at all" when she drove him away from the scene and later checked him into a hotel as "absolutely risible". Seoirse O Dunlaing SC, for the State, added: "The accused is saying 'I didn't know'; If you said that to a horse you would get a kick". The prosecutor said Mr Davis had been shot in "callous circumstances" with a semi-automatic weapon in broad daylight in the vicinity of a school and there was no doubt that Cooney was the murderer. He said Cooney had acted like "a shark patrolling the ocean looking for its prey" when he was seen on an orange bicycle hanging around the Darndale area for days prior to the murder. The lawyer submitted that Stacey Hayes had given "uncontradicted evidence" that she was directed to pick up Cooney at the precise location where the gunman was last seen on CCTV footage. Mr O Dunlaing asked the jury to look at the manner in which Ms Redmond picked up Cooney after the murder and the manner in which she checked him into the hotel. He said the accused was "hiding" her then-partner. The barrister added: "Are you seriously being asked to accept she did not know?" Mr O Dunlaing said the accused has had a couple of years to think about what "cock and bull story" she could tell a jury of her peers when the matter came on for trial. Whereas the defence argued in their closing address that their client was not performing "the sort of slick getaway you see in the movies" when she collected Cooney from a bus stop just minutes after he murdered Mr Davis. The defence urged the jurors not to convict Ms Redmond because of the sins of other people around her. "We can't point the finger at Rachel Redmond because her boyfriend is the killer and her brother is involved. You can't convict her by association," Dominic McGinn SC said. Kanye West "didn't want to have children" with his ex-wife Kim Kardashian. Kanye West has hit out at his ex Kim Kardashian again The controversial rapper married the reality star in 2014 and they became parents to four kids - North, 11, Saint, nine, Chicago, seven, and Psalm, five - before divorcing in 2022 but in a new interview Kanye has declared he regrets settling down with his ex. During an interview with DJ Akademiks which was published on YouTube, Kanye said: "That was my fault. I didn't want to have children with this person after the first two months of being with her, but that wasn't God's plan." Kanye went on to express his dismay over the former couple's custody arrangement, saying: "I don't got the name and likeness ownership, or at least 50-50 with my kids. So how's it joint custody? ... "My kids are celebrities and I don't have the say so. So this white woman and this white family have the control of these highly influential black kids that are half the children of Ye." It comes after Kanye previously hit out at the "Kardashian mob" in a scathing rant on social media in which he accused his former partner and her family of limiting his access to the kids and not allowing him to make key decisions about their upbringing - comparing it to being in prison. In a series of posts on X - formerly known as Twitter - Kanye wrote: "Yes I have beef with people that froze my account, took my kids away and have tried to put me in jail and IT'S STUCK ... "I don't want to just 'see' my kids. I need to raise them. I need to have say so of where they go to school and who their friends are and whose houses they sleep over whether my daughters wear lipstick and perfume ... "All these rights have been taken away from my by the Kardashian mob, Hulu and DIsney and the biggest agenda to use the selectively bred Black children to be platforms to influence Black people." He added: "Just seeing my kids is like visitation. It's like I'm in prison 'seeing' my kids. I don't care if I live or die or if I'm in jail or free ... " A near 400,000 fine imposed by the Central Bank on a unit of fund manager Waystone, the Irish financial services giant, has been confirmed by the High Court. The President of the High Court , Mr Justice David Barniville, confirmed the sanction against the unit, Waystone Fund Management (IE) Ltd, at the High Court on Monday. Advertisement This was the first such application to be brought by the Central Bank to the High Court. The fine of 393,512 will now have to be paid within seven days. The judge who will give a written judgement on the matter later made the confirmation and noted the Central Bank has set out all the steps it had taken. The case related to the management of a 17.7 million investment in illiquid, hard to value private assets, loan notes between 2018 and 2019. Opening the application to the court, Claire Hogan BL for the Central Bank said there were eight prescribed contraventions admitted by the Waystone unit. She said the sanctions did not take effect until confirmed by the High Court. Advertisement Waystone Fund Management (WFM) agreed the facts and admitted the prescribed contraventions and on this basis the Central Bank decided that further investigation was not necessary and it was appropriate to imposed a reprimand but also a monetary penalty of 562,160 which with a 30 per cent settlement scheme discount brought the total to 393, 512. WFM had agreed to the sanctions. The case related to an alternative investment fund launched in October 2018 and which targeted investors where the minimum subscription was 100,000. In late 2019 an auditor identified concerns about the loan notes during the annual audit including the identification of conflicts of interest and concerns in relation to the methodology and the accuracy of the valuations being provided by the issuer. WFM sought the return of the funds investment in the loan notes, and in January 2020 7.5 milllion was returned but no further monies were ever returned. Advertisement On August 4th, 2020 on the recommendation of WFM a decision to suspend investor dealing the was taken and additional subscriptions or investor redemptions were also stopped. Ireland Women sexually abused by older relatives describe... Read More Investors are believed to have lost in the region of 10.2 million but WFM was later party to a settlement reached with the funds investors which saw them recover their initial investment in the notes and some costs. On August 5th, 2020 the High Court heard the Central Bank was notified that the fund had been suspended due to a delay in the return of the funds invested in the loan notes and this was the first time that the Central Bank was notified of any issues relation to the investment in the loan notes. The Central Bank later found that that WFM had breached requirements of the 2013 Investment Fund regulations including a failure to conduct adequate due diligence and monitoring, treat all investors fairly and act in the best interest of investors. WFM is no longer active having transferred its fund management business to another entity within the Waystone Group in 2022. The Minister for Housing has refused to set out the Governments social housing targets for the year ahead, saying he did not want to get into guessing numbers. James Browne said he did not want to get into predictions or estimates, adding that he wants to maximise the delivery of homes. Advertisement Government said it would build 9,300 social homes in 2024, however question marks remain over whether the target will be reached. The Governments previous targets for building social homes in 2020, 2023, 2022 and 2023 were all missed. The target for this year in the Programme for Government and Fianna Fails general election manifesto is for the state to directly build at least 12,000 social homes a year. Senior government figures have been criticised for claiming during the election campaign that close to 40,000 new homes would be built in 2024, which would have been far in excess of its own targets. Advertisement This was despite the Central Bank projecting in its September Quarterly Bulletin that completions would hit around 32,000. Data published by the Central Statistics Office earlier this year revealed that only a total of 30,330 new homes were completed last year, below the target in the Housing for All plan of 33,450 new-builds in 2024. Asked what is the Governments estimate in building social homes for 2025, Mr Browne told RTE Morning Ireland programme: Oh, look, Im not going to get into guessing numbers. You know figures are really important. Advertisement Im a new Minister for Housing. My view is, I dont get into predictions. I dont get into estimates. What matters are the real numbers. My aim is to maximise the delivery of homes in this country, whether that be social, affordable or private. We need all different mix, and thats what Ill be doing. Rather than getting into this kind of, I suppose, endless discussions about predictions, I want to maximise delivery of homes. Advertisement The only way we will solve the housing crisis is supply, supply, supply, and thats what I intend to do over my period as Minister for Housing. Defending the Governments stance on social housing, the Fianna Fail minister claimed that this government and the previous government has delivered the largest amount of social homes for decades. And we are are going to continue that work and effort to deliver and maximise the number of social homes, he added. I think we need to be clear here. Advertisement The strongest delivery social homes since 1975 was recorded in 2022, when 10,250 homes were delivered, and that record was exceeded again in 2023 with 11,938 homes. On Friday, it was confirmed that a record 15,378 people were living in emergency accommodation last month. The latest figures from the Department of Housing show that of those living in emergency accommodation in February, a total of 4,653 were children. Mr Browne said the numbers were disappointing. What were also trying to do is maximise the people coming out of homelessness as well so that people are not spending an order amount of time in emergency accommodation, he added. We dont want people spending any amount of time in emergency accommodation, so we dont. A man who raped and smothered his wife while armed with a knife during an incident in which she was afraid she may be killed has been jailed for 12 and a half years. The Central Criminal Court heard that the victim is now raising her children alone, having become isolated from the rest of the Travelling community for bringing her former husband to court. Advertisement She said it was not the Traveller way to bring their own to court, and she had believed for a time he would do better. She wanted her kids to have two parents and for them to be good role models. She said other women in her community would have just put up with what happened, but she had followed through on the case for the sake of her own girls. She said the truth was now out and that she was not the monster - the accused man is the monster. The 25-year-old man, who can not be identified to protect his wifes identity, was convicted following a trial earlier this year of the rape, sexual assault, false imprisonment and making threats to kill his wife at the family home in Dublin on a date in September 2023. He has 35 previous convictions for offences including theft, burglary, robbery and breach of a protection order. Advertisement Passing sentence on Monday, Mr Justice Kerida Naidoo said the woman was subjected to two rapes and two serious sexual assaults by her husband in what was effectively the family home, and in what was a terrifying experience for her. Mr Justice Naidoo said it was a significant breach of trust and that the offending involved a level of violence, the threat of violence and the restriction of her liberty. He noted the man does not accept the guilty verdicts and has not expressed any remorse. He set a sentence of 13 years and, noting there was little in the way of mitigation, suspended the final six months on a number of conditions, including that the man engage with the Probation Service. After the sentence was handed down, the man's supporters started shouting and exchanging insults with the complainant before they were removed from the court by gardai. Advertisement A local garda told Mark Lynam SC, prosecuting, that the couple are members of the Travelling community and had married young. They had a turbulent relationship, with a number of safety and barring orders over the years. The garda said the accused man was in prison for a number of years, but the couple rekindled their relationship after his release. They were living in separate locations at the time, and on the day in question, she travelled to his home. She went to bed as she was feeling unwell and woke to him rubbing her leg. She told him she was unwell and went back to sleep. She said the accused man then got on top of her and put his hand over her nose and mouth, leaving her unable to breathe. She fought him off, sustaining injuries in the process, and got out of bed. She went to the window to try and breathe but may have lost consciousness and fell onto the bed. Advertisement She saw the man with a knife. He told her not to talk or shout. If the gardai come, I will stab you to death, he told her, saying he would get jail either way. She went downstairs, wobbly and weak, while the man told her to clean up the blood. She said her face was ashen grey and her lips blue from the smothering. She saw a knife on the couch in the sitting room and tried to bide her time, as she was afraid he would kill her if she went upstairs. She made him swear on their childrens lives that he would not kill her before they went upstairs again. They got into bed, and she made it clear she did not want to do anything. The accused man did not listen and raped her. He then sexually assaulted her before raping her a second time. She did not resist but made it clear she did not want to do it. Advertisement The accused man later went through her phone and accused her of having sex with other men. He also accessed pornography and dating sites on her phone. The next morning, she accused him of rape but he sought to minimise it. She promised she would not report it so she could leave the house. She told him she was going to the social welfare office but went to the garda station and reported what had happened. The man was later interviewed and denied any sexual assault or rape had taken place, accusing the woman of making it all up. In her victim impact statement, the woman outlined how she had come from a strict family and thought her new husband would be decent when they married at a very young age. She said it did not take long for him to show his true colours. She said he would go drinking and gambling, as well as scamming her out of her social welfare payments when she had small children to feed. She said he did not hit her but screamed and punched walls. She said that following his release from prison, he had come to her full of promises and told her he had done anger management. She said instead, the man had tried to kill her in her own bed and made her a prisoner in her own home on the night in question. She said she kept thinking about how her children would be told their mammy was dead. She said since the offence, she has constantly worried about her safety. She said she has suffered flashbacks and nightmares from which she wakes up screaming and terrified. Ireland Woman knocked unconscious following assault in Ban... Read More Mr Lynam said the Director of Public Prosecutions placed this case into the 10 to 15 years headline sentencing category, noting the domestic violence and relationship were aggravating factors. Tim OLeary SC, defending, said the accused man does not accept the facts of the case. He submitted his client had no previous convictions of this kind. He said for the purpose of legal argument in relation to the headline sentence, he would submit the case involved a one-off incident, with all the offending happening during the course of that domestic incident. He said he did not agree it should fall into the 10- to 15-year sentencing bracket. If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this article, you can call the national 24-hour Rape Crisis Helpline at 1800-77 8888, access text service and webchat options at drcc.ie/services/helpline/ or visit Rape Crisis Help. The Ceann Comhairle is to face a no confidence motion as part of an unprecedented row between opposition and government. A vote on Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy was tabled after the opposition accused her of partisanship over her handling of their protest in the Dail last week. Advertisement Ms Murphy categorically denied the accusations and said she fully intends to continue in the role. Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald, centre, said Verona Murphys position had become untenable (Brian Lawless/PA) This is the first time a no confidence vote in a Ceann Comhairle will take place in the history of the state. Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald said Ms Murphys position had become untenable as part of a row over changing Dail speaking time. The deepening dispute has convulsed parliament since the new government was formed in January, preventing committees from being established and hindering legislative work. Advertisement How did we get here? The row began with how the coalition government was formed in January. Independent TD Michael Healy-Rae, pictured, struck a coalition deal with Fianna Fail and Fine Gael (Brian Lawless/PA) The Regional Group of Independents and two Kerry brothers, Michael and Danny Healy-Rae, struck a coalition deal with Fianna Fail and Fine Gael. The Regional Group were led by Independent Tipperary TD Michael Lowry, who was a communications minister with Fine Gael in the 1990s. It emerged that he had suggested Verona Murphy, a Wexford TD who was part of the Regional Group, be put forward as the government candidate for Ceann Comhairle. Advertisement Five independents were appointed junior ministers. The remaining independents sought to form a technical group a mechanism that gives opposition TDs speaking time during high-profile Dail slots such as Leaders Questions. Verona Murphy, centre left, was named Ceann Comhairle in December (Maxwells/PA) This was strongly rejected by most opposition parties who argued that the independents who helped form the incoming government should not be treated as opposition TDs. They argued this would dilute the role of opposition in the Dail to hold government to account. Advertisement On January 22nd, the nomination of Micheal Martin as Taoiseach was delayed by the oppositions disruptive protest against the governments proposals. The nomination of the Taoiseach was allowed to proceed the following day while a proposal satisfactory to both government and opposition was worked on by the Dail reform committee. But these efforts stalled after the opposition and government accused one another of not compromising. We have gone backwards, People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy said on January 31st. Advertisement People Before Profit-Solidaritys Paul Murphy said at the time things had gone backwards in trying to reach an agreement (Daniel Fayeun/PA) On February 3rd, Ms Murphy said she was not satisfied that government-affiliated independent TDs, including Mr Lowry, could be in opposition. Despite this intervention, the Government proposed an other members grouping, arguing that a modern Dail was not necessarily made up of Government and opposition members. A vote of the Dail reform committee held on February 26th approved the Government proposals; although the Government has a majority on that committee to reflect its Dail majority. Farcical Dail scenes Disorder broke out in the Dail on the day a vote was due to be held to approve the change of rules. Before the vote took place, opposition TDs repeatedly disrupted Mr Martin during Leaders Questions. Opposition TDs then took to their feet and raised their objections in an attempt to derail the vote. The nomination of Micheal Martin as Taoiseach, right, was delayed by the oppositions disruptive protest (Brian Lawless/PA) During the lengthy standoff, Ms Murphy ordered TDs to sit down, saying their actions were an absolute disgrace and they were making a holy show of yourselves. Amid the shouting and interruptions, and allegations of misogyny from Ms Murphy, the motion to change Dail rules was announced as passed by the speaker. Later that day, seven opposition parties failed to express confidence in Ms Murphy over how Dail procedures and rules were handled during the disruption in the chamber. Ms McDonald said that opposition leaders were troubled by Ms Murphys actions and suggested that she had rushed through Dail procedure in a way that was orchestrated. The opposition then drafted a motion of no confidence against Ms Murphy and asked her to consider her position. Ms Murphy categorically rejected accusations of partiality and collusion and said she fully intends to continue in her role. Opposition leaders united to express concern over the Ceann Comhairle (Grainne Ni Aodha/PA) Prolonged disorder and obstruction is utterly unacceptable in any democratic parliament, she said in a statement. So too is making false accusations of partiality and collusion against its officials and chair. The vote Ms Murphy is expected to survive the no confidence vote due to the Governments majority. The opposition has not clarified if they will continue to disrupt the Dail if Ms Murphy remains as Ceann Comhairle, or if they will legally challenge the way the motion to change the Dail speaking-time rules was passed. The Taoiseach issued a stark warning the day after chaotic scenes in the Dail. New precedents have been set. I do not believe this Dail will ever be the same again because of what has transpired over the past few weeks. It will never be the same again, he said. A massive earthquake that rocked Myanmar could exacerbate hunger and disease outbreaks in a country already wracked by food shortages, mass displacement and civil war, aid groups and the United Nations have warned. The official death toll climbed past 1,700, but the true figure is feared to be much higher. Advertisement The 7.7 magnitude earthquake hit on Friday, with an epicentre near Myanmars second-largest city of Mandalay damaging the citys airport, buckling roads and downing hundreds of buildings along a wide swathe of territory down the middle of the country. Chinese rescuers at a collapsed building before conducting a search and rescue operation in the aftermath of an earthquake in Mandalay, Myanmar (Myo Kyaw Soe/Xinhua/AP) Some 270 monks were taking an exam in Mandalays U Hla Thein monastery, which crumpled to the ground when the quake struck. Seventy were able to escape, but rescue workers at the scene on Monday said 50 were found dead and that they were still searching for 150 more in the rubble. Some 700 Muslim worshippers attending Friday prayers during the holy month of Ramadan were also killed when mosques collapsed, said Tun Kyi, a member of the steering committee of the Spring Revolution Myanmar Muslim Network. Advertisement It was not clear whether they or the monks were already included in the official count. Mr Tun Kyi said some 60 mosques were damaged or destroyed, and videos posted on The Irrawaddy online news site showed several mosques toppling during the quake, and people fleeing from the areas. With an ongoing civil war and poor infrastructure, Myanmar was already one of the most challenging places in the world for aid organisations to operate, and relief efforts have been further hampered by severe damage to roads, bridges and hospitals, power outages, fuel shortages and spotty communications. A lack of heavy machinery has slowed search-and-rescue operations, forcing many to search for survivors by hand, with daily temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit). Advertisement Government spokesman Major General Zaw Min Tun told state-run MRTV that more than 1,700 people had been found dead and that another 3,400 have been injured and more than 300 were missing. This latest tragedy compounds an already dire crisis and risks further eroding the resilience of communities already battered by conflict, displacement, and past disasters, the United Nations Myanmar country team said on Monday, calling for unimpeded access for aid convoys, medical personnel and assessment teams. Rescuers search for survivors at a collapsed building in the aftermath of an earthquake in Mandalay, Myanmar (Cai Yang/Xinhua via AP) Even before this earthquake, nearly 20 million people in Myanmar were in need of humanitarian assistance, said Marcoluigi Corsi, the UN resident and humanitarian coordinator for Myanmar. Aid agencies in Myanmar say their teams on the ground still do not have a true picture of the devastation. Advertisement Were really not clear on the scale of the destruction at this stage, Lauren Ellery, deputy director of programs in Myanmar for the International Rescue Committee, told The Associated Press. They were talking about a town near Mandalay where 80% of the buildings were reportedly collapsed, but it wasnt in the news because telecommunications have been slow. And groups the IRC works with reported that some places have been physically cut off by landslides, she said. The World Health Organisation said it has reports of three hospitals destroyed and 22 partially damaged in the region. Advertisement The scale of deaths and injuries is not yet fully understood and the numbers are expected to increase, the UN agency said in a report. The earthquakes devastation has overwhelmed health care facilities in the affected areas, which are struggling to manage the influx of injured individuals, it added. There is an urgent need for trauma and surgical care, blood transfusion supplies, anesthetics, essential medicines, and mental health support. Indian and Myanmar rescuers carry a dead body at U Hla Thein Buddhist monastery that collapsed in Fridays earthquake in Mandalay, Myanmar (AP Photo) An artificial intelligence analysis of satellite images of Mandalay by Microsofts AI for Good Lab showed 515 buildings with 80%-100% damage and another 1,524 with between 20% and 80% damage. It was not clear what percentage of the citys buildings that represented. Beyond the earthquake damage, rescue efforts are complicated by the bloody civil war roiling much of the country. In 2021, the military seized power from the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi, sparking what has since turned into significant armed resistance. While one group in the civil war declared a partial unilateral ceasefire, the government and other armed groups have not stopped fighting, despite international calls to end the violence to facilitate the humanitarian response. Government forces have lost control of much of Myanmar, and many places were dangerous or impossible for aid groups to reach even before the quake. More than three million people have been displaced by the fighting, according to the UN. Ms Ellery, of the International Rescue Committee, noted that the area worst hit by the earthquake was already seriously damaged by flooding last year in which many lost homes, and is also where many of the countrys internally displaced people have sought refuge. Since the earthquake, many people have been sleeping outside, either because their homes have been destroyed or they are worried that the continuing aftershocks might bring them down. Rescuers work at U Hla Thein Buddhist monastery that collapsed in Fridays earthquake in Mandalay, Myanmar (AP Photo) With the monsoon rains starting in May, finding people shelter was going to be a major challenge, she said. You have these flooding events that lead to disease outbreaks, they lead to displacement and food insecurity, but then with damaged hospitals and clearly damaged sanitation systems, its really increasing the risk of disease outbreaks, she said. Its pretty much unparalleled stress on many, many vulnerable people. International rescue teams from several countries are now on the scene, including from Russia, China, India and several south-east Asian countries. On Monday, an Indian team jackhammered through slabs of fallen concrete at one site in Mandalay, cutting rebar reinforcement with an angle grinder powered by a portable generator as they sought to reach lower levels. They could be seen bringing out one covered body and loading it into an ambulance. The European Union, the UK, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea and others have announced millions of dollars in aid, either directly or through local partners and international organisations. Despite massive cuts and firings at the US Agency for International Development the body charged with delivering humanitarian assistance overseas the American Embassy said a team of experts was on its way to Myanmar. The embassy said it would provide up to two million dollars through local organisations. A small number of American military personnel were also sent to assist in Bangkok, where the earthquake killed at least 19 people, many at a construction site where a partially built high-rise collapsed. Another 33 have been reported injured and 78 missing, primarily at the construction site near the popular Chatuchak market. On Monday, heavy equipment was temporarily shut down at the site and authorities urged onlookers to be silent as they used machines to try and detect any signs of life from under the rubble. Bangkok governor Chadchart Sittipunt told reporters at the scene that signs had been detected Sunday night, though experts could not determine whether it had been machine error. Watching the crews work in the rubble, Naruemon Thonglek said she had already made some peace with the fact that her partner and five friends believed buried beneath were unlikely to be found alive. A part of me still hope they will survive, she said. For a miracle, if it exists. The death toll in last weeks massive earthquake in Myanmar has passed 2,000, state media said. It comes as rescuers and an activist group said several hundred Muslims died while praying at mosques during Ramadan and 200 Buddhist monks were crushed by a collapsing monastery. Advertisement The quake could exacerbate hunger and disease outbreaks in a country that was already one of the worlds most challenging places for humanitarian organisations to operate because of civil war, aid groups and the United Nations warned. Rescuers work at U Hla Thein Buddhist monastery that collapsed in Fridays earthquake in Mandalay, Myanmar (AP) The 7.7 magnitude quake hit on Friday, with the epicentre near Myanmars second-largest city, Mandalay. It damaged the citys airport, buckled roads and collapsed hundreds of buildings along a wide swathe down the countrys centre. Relief efforts are further hampered by power outages, fuel shortages and spotty communications. Advertisement A lack of heavy machinery has slowed search and rescue operations, forcing many to search for survivors by hand in daily temperatures above 40C. Rescue workers at Mandalays collapsed U Hla Thein monastery said they were still searching for about 150 of the dead monks. Some 700 Muslim worshippers attending Friday prayers were killed when mosques collapsed, said Tun Kyi, a member of the steering committee of the Spring Revolution Myanmar Muslim Network. He said some 60 mosques were damaged or destroyed. Advertisement Videos posted on The Irrawaddy online news site showed several mosques toppling. It was not clear whether those numbers were already included in the official toll. Myanmar state MRTV reported that the leader of the military government, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, told Pakistans prime minister during a call that 2,065 people were killed, with more than 3,900 injured and about 270 missing. Relief agencies expect those numbers to rise sharply, since access is slow to remote areas where communications are down. Advertisement The United Nations Myanmar country team called for unimpeded access for aid teams. Even before this earthquake, nearly 20 million people in Myanmar were in need of humanitarian assistance, said Marcoluigi Corsi, the UN resident and humanitarian co-ordinator. Were really not clear on the scale of the destruction at this stage, Lauren Ellery, deputy director of programmes in Myanmar for the International Rescue Committee (IRC), told The Associated Press. They were talking about a town near Mandalay where 80% of the buildings were reportedly collapsed, but it wasnt in the news because telecommunications have been slow. Advertisement Groups the IRC works with have reported that some places are cut off by landslides, she said. The World Health Organisation said it has reports of three hospitals destroyed and 22 partially damaged in the region. There is an urgent need for trauma and surgical care, blood transfusion supplies, anaesthetics, essential medicines and mental health support, it said. More than 10,000 buildings are collapsed or severely damaged in central and north-west Myanmar, the UN humanitarian agency said. One pre-school classroom building collapsed in Mandalay district, killing 50 children and two teachers, it said. An artificial intelligence analysis of satellite images of Mandalay by Microsofts AI for Good Lab showed 515 buildings with 80% to 100% damage and another 1,524 with 20% to 80% damage. It was not clear what percentage of the citys buildings that represented. Rescue efforts are also complicated by the civil war. In 2021, the military seized power from the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi, sparking what has turned into significant armed resistance. While one group has declared a partial unilateral ceasefire, the government and other armed groups have not stopped fighting. Government forces have lost control of much of Myanmar, and many places were dangerous or impossible for aid groups to reach even before the quake. Members of a Chinese search and rescue team transfer a pregnant survivor from a collapsed building in the aftermath of an earthquake in Mandalay, Myanmar (Myo Kyaw Soe/Xinhua via AP) More than three million people have been displaced by the fighting, according to the UN. Ms Ellery noted that the area worst hit by the earthquake was seriously damaged by flooding last year, and many displaced people sought refuge there. Since the earthquake, many people have been sleeping outside, either because homes were destroyed or out of fear of aftershocks. Monsoon rains start in May and finding people shelter will be a major challenge, she said. International rescue teams from several countries are on the scene, including from Russia, China, India and several South East Asian countries. On Monday, an Indian team jackhammered through slabs of fallen concrete at one site in Mandalay. They could be seen bringing out one body. The European Union, Britain, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea and others have announced millions of dollars in aid. A Thai buddhist monk takes a picture at the site of a high-rise building under construction that collapsed after a 7.7 magnitude earthquake in Bangkok, Thailand (Sakchai Lalit/AP) Despite massive cuts and sackings at the US Agency for International Development the body charged with delivering humanitarian assistance overseas the US embassy said a team of experts was on its way to Myanmar. The embassy said it would provide up to two million dollars through local organisations. A small number of US military personnel were sent to assist in Bangkok, where the earthquake killed at least 18 people, many at a construction site where a partially built high-rise collapsed. Another 33 have been reported injured and 78 missing, primarily at the construction site near the popular Chatuchak market. On Monday, heavy equipment was temporarily shut down at the site and authorities urged onlookers to be silent as they used machines to try to detect signs of life. Bangkok governor Chadchart Sittipunt told reporters that signs had been detected on Sunday night, though experts could not determine whether it had been machine error. Watching the crews at work, Naruemon Thonglek said she had made some peace with the fact that her partner and five friends there were unlikely to be found alive. A part of me still hopes they will survive, she said. Israels military has issued sweeping evacuation orders covering Rafah and nearby areas, indicating it could soon launch another major ground operation in the Gaza Strips southernmost city. Israel ended its ceasefire with the Hamas militant group and renewed its air and ground war earlier this month. Advertisement At the beginning of March it cut off all supplies of food, fuel, medicine and humanitarian aid to the territorys roughly two million Palestinians to pressure Hamas to accept proposed changes to the truce agreement. Buildings destroyed during Israeli ground and air operations stand in northern of Gaza Strip as seen from southern Israel (Leo Correa/AP) Israels military ordered Palestinians to head to Muwasi, a sprawl of squalid tent camps along the coast. The orders came during Eid al-Fitr, a normally festive Muslim holiday marking the end of the fasting month of Ramadan. Last May, Israel launched a major operation in Rafah, on the border with Egypt, leaving large parts in ruins. Advertisement The military seized a strategic corridor along the border as well as the Rafah crossing with Egypt, Gazas only gateway to the outside world that was not controlled by Israel. Israel was supposed to withdraw from the corridor under the ceasefire it signed with Hamas in January under US pressure, but it later refused to do it, citing the need to prevent weapons smuggling. Medics killed by Israeli fire buried Dozens gathered at a funeral for some of the 15 emergency responders killed by Israeli fire during a ground operation in Rafah last week. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies called it the deadliest attack on its medics in several years. Advertisement Raed al-Nems, a spokesperson for the Palestinian Red Crescent, said the paramedics were killed in cold blood despite wearing uniforms and operating in clearly labelled ambulances. Mourners gather around the bodies of eight Red Crescent emergency responders, recovered in Rafah a week after an Israeli attack, as they are transported for burial in Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip (AP) At funeral prayers, their shrouds were draped with Red Crescent banners. Israels military has said its forces opened fire on several vehicles that raised suspicions by advancing without headlights or emergency signals. The military said a Hamas operative and eight other militants were among those killed. Advertisement The United Nations humanitarian office said the dead included eight Red Crescent workers, six members of Gazas Civil Defence, which operates under the Hamas-run government, and a UN worker. Rescuers were only allowed to access the area nearly a week later to recover the bodies. Footage of Sundays recovery operation released by the UN showed Civil Defence workers digging into a mound of sand and pulling out a body wearing the same orange vest as theirs. Netanyahu vows to implement Trumps Gaza plan Israel has vowed to intensify its military operations until Hamas releases the remaining 59 hostages it holds 24 of them believed to be alive. Advertisement Israel has also demanded that Hamas disarm and leave the territory, conditions that were not included in the ceasefire agreement and which Hamas has rejected. Displaced Palestinians, who flee from Rafah, arrive in Khan Younis, Gaza (Abdel Kareem Hana/AP) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday that Israel would take charge of security in Gaza after the war and implement US President Donald Trumps proposal to resettle Gazas population in other countries, describing it as voluntary emigration. That plan has been universally rejected by Palestinians, who view it as forcible expulsion from their homeland. Human rights experts say it would likely violate international law. Hamas has insisted on implementing the signed agreement, which called for the remainder of the hostages to be released in exchange for a lasting ceasefire and an Israeli pullout. Negotiations over those parts of the agreement were supposed to begin in February but only preliminary talks have been held. The war began when Hamas-led militants stormed into Israel on October 7 2023, rampaging through army bases and farming communities and killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians. The militants took another 251 people hostage, most of whom have been released in ceasefires or other deals. Israels retaliatory offensive has killed more than 50,000 Palestinians, according to Gazas Health Ministry, which does not say how many were civilians or combatants. At its height, the war had displaced some 90% of Gazas population, with many fleeing multiple times. Large areas of Gaza have been destroyed, and its unclear how or when anything will be rebuilt. Palestinians have held funerals for 15 medics and emergency personnel killed by Israeli troops in southern Gaza after their bodies and mangled ambulances were found buried in an impromptu mass grave. The Palestinian Red Crescent said the workers and their vehicles were clearly marked as medical and humanitarian personnel and accused Israeli troops of killing them in cold blood. Advertisement The dead included eight Red Crescent workers, six members of Gazas Civil Defence emergency unit and an employee from UNRWA, the UNs agency for Palestinians. The International Red Cross/Red Crescent said it was the deadliest attack on its personnel in eight years. The @IFRC condemns the killing of eight @PalestineRCS medics in Gaza. We are heartbroken. These dedicated humanitarians, killed while responding to the wounded, should have been protected. We mourn their loss and stand with the Palestine Red Crescent. Full statement: pic.twitter.com/ohKLIjaW1O IFRC (@ifrc) March 30, 2025 Since the war in Gaza began 18 months ago, Israel has killed more than 100 Civil Defence workers and more than 1,000 health workers, according to the UN. The emergency teams had been missing since March 23 when they went at around noon to retrieve casualties after Israeli forces launched an offensive into the Tel al-Sultan district of the southern city of Rafah. Advertisement The military had called for an evacuation of the area earlier that day, saying Hamas militants were operating there. Alerts from the Civil Defence at the time said displaced Palestinians sheltering in the area had been hit and a team that went to rescue them was surrounded by Israeli troops. The available information indicates that the first team was killed by Israeli forces on 23 March, the UN said in a statement. Further emergency teams that went to rescue the first unit were struck one after another over several hours, it added. All the teams went out during daylight hours, according to the Civil Defence. The Israeli military said on Sunday that on March 23, troops opened fire on vehicles that were advancing suspiciously towards them without emergency signals. Advertisement Mourners follow the convoy carrying the bodies of eight Red Crescent staff (Abdel Kareem Hana/AP) It said an initial assessment determined that the troops killed a Hamas operative named Mohammed Amin Shobaki and eight other militants. Israel has struck ambulances and other emergency vehicles in the past, accusing Hamas militants of using them for transportation. However, none of the dead staff members from the Red Crescent and Civil Defence had that name, and no other bodies were reported at the site, raising questions over the militarys suggestion that alleged militants were among the rescue workers. After a ceasefire that lasted roughly two months, Israel relaunched its military campaign in Gaza on March 18. Since then, bombardment and new ground assaults have killed more than 1,000 Palestinians, according to Gazas Health Ministry. The ministrys count does not distinguish between militants and civilians, but it says over half those killed are women and children. Advertisement Aid workers say ambulance teams and humanitarian staff have come under fire in the renewed assault. A worker with the charity World Central Kitchen was killed on Friday by an Israeli strike that hit next to a kitchen distributing free meals. A March 19 Israeli tank strike on a UN compound killed a staff member, the UN said, though Israel denies being behind the blast. For days, Israeli forces would not allow access to the site where the emergency teams disappeared, the UN said. On Wednesday, a UN convoy tried to reach the site but encountered Israeli troops opening fire on people. Advertisement The convoy saw a woman who had been shot lying in the road. The dashboard video shows staff talking about retrieving her, then two people are seen walking across the road. Gunfire rings out and they flee. One stumbles, apparently wounded, before he is shot and falls on to his face to the ground. The UN said the team retrieved the body of the woman and left. On Sunday, the UN said teams reached the site after the Israeli military informed it where it had buried the bodies, in a barren area on the edges of Tel al-Sultan. Footage released by the UNshows workers from PRCS and Civil Defence, wearing masks and bright orange vests, digging through hills of dirt that appeared to have been piled up by Israeli bulldozers. The footage shows them digging out multiple bodies wearing orange emergency vests. Some of the bodies are found piled on top of each other. At one point, they pull out a body in a Civil Defence vest out of the dirt, and it is revealed to be a torso with no legs. Several ambulances and a UN vehicle, all heavily damaged or torn apart, are also buried in the dirt. Their bodies were gathered and buried in this mass grave, said Jonathan Whittall, with the UN humanitarian office OCHA, speaking at the site in the video. Were digging them out in their uniforms, with their gloves on. They were here to save lives. Its absolute horror what has happened here. It was a heartbreaking day as we bid farewell to eight colleagues from the Palestine Red Crescent ambulance team in the #Gaza Strip. Rest in peace, heroes of humanitarian work. #NotATarget #IHL pic.twitter.com/l7InkmyXCn PRCS (@PalestineRCS) March 31, 2025 A giant crowd gathered on Monday outside the morgue of Nasser Hospital in the southern city of Khan Younis as the bodies of the eight PRCS workers were brought out for funerals. The bodies were laid out on stretchers wrapped in white cloth with the Red Crescent logo on it and their photos, as family and others held funeral prayers over them. They were killed in cold blood by the Israeli occupation, despite the clear nature of their humanitarian mission, said Raed al-Nimis, the Red Crescent spokesman in Gaza. Israeli troops have killed at least 30 Red Crescent medics over the course of the war. The head of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, Jagan Chapagain, said the staff killed last week wore emblems that should have protected them; their ambulances were clearly marked. All humanitarians must be protected, he said. A Paris court has started delivering a verdict in an embezzlement case that could shake up French politics and derail far-right leader Marine Le Pens career. Ms Le Pen and 24 other officials from her National Rally are accused of having used money intended for European Union parliamentary aides to pay staff who worked for the party between 2004 and 2016, in violation of the 27-nation blocs regulations. Advertisement Ms Le Pen and her co-defendants deny wrongdoing. The biggest concern for Ms Le Pen is that the court may declare her ineligible to run for office with immediate effect even if she appeals. That could prevent her from running for president in 2027 and she has described such scenario as a political death. The Constitutional Council ruled on Friday, in a separate case, that imposing the punishment immediately was constitutional. Advertisement If found guilty, Ms Le Pen and her co-defendants also face up to 10 years in prison a verdict they could appeal which would lead to another trial. Ms Le Pen was runner-up to President Emmanuel Macron in the 2017 and 2022 presidential elections, and her partys electoral support has grown in recent years. The nine-week trial took place in late 2024. Marine Le Pen arrives at a Paris court expected to deliver a verdict in an embezzlement case that could derail her career (Thibault Camus/AP) Ms Le Pen has denied accusations she was at the head of a system meant to siphon off EU parliament money to benefit her party, which she led from 2011 to 2021. Advertisement She argued instead that it was acceptable to adapt the work of the aides paid by the European Parliament to the needs of the legislators, including some highly political work related to the party, which was called the National Front at the time. While giving evidence, Ms Le Pen told the court: I absolutely dont feel I have committed the slightest irregularity, the slightest illegal move. Hearings showed that some EU money was used to pay for Ms Le Pens bodyguard who was once her fathers bodyguard as well as her personal assistant. Prosecutors asked the court to declare Ms Le Pen guilty and requested a two-year prison sentence and a five-year period of ineligibility. Advertisement Ms Le Pen said she felt they were only interested in preventing her from running for president. Prosecutors also requested a guilty verdict for all other co-defendants, including various sentences of up to one year in prison and a two million euro (1.6 million) fine for the party. Russia views efforts to end its three-year war with Ukraine as a drawn-out process, a Kremlin spokesman said, after US President Donald Trump expressed frustration with the two countries leaders as he tries to bring about a truce. We are working to implement some ideas in connection with the Ukrainian settlement. This work is ongoing, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in a conference call with reporters. Advertisement There is nothing concrete yet that we could and should announce. This is a drawn-out process because of the difficulty of its substance, he said when asked about Mr Trumps anger at Russian President Vladimir Putins comments dismissing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskys legitimacy to negotiate a deal. Russia has effectively rejected a US proposal for a full and immediate 30-day halt in the fighting. The feasibility of a partial ceasefire on the Black Sea, used by both countries to transport shipments of grain and other cargo, was cast into doubt after Kremlin negotiators imposed far-reaching conditions. Mr Trump promised during last years US election campaign that he would bring Europes biggest conflict since the Second World War to a swift conclusion. Advertisement Mr Peskov did not directly address Mr Trumps criticism of Mr Putin on Sunday when he said he was angry, pissed off that Mr Putin had questioned Mr Zelenskys credibility as leader. But he said that Mr Putin remains absolutely open to contacts with the US president and was ready to speak to Mr Trump. Both countries are preparing for a spring-summer campaign on the battlefield, analysts and Ukrainian and Western officials say. President Donald Trump walks on the south lawn of the White House, in Washington DC (Jose Luis Magana/AP) Mr Zelensky said late on Sunday that there has been no let-up in Russias attacks as it drives on with its invasion of its neighbour that began in February 2022. Advertisement He said the attacks demonstrated Russias unwillingness to forge a settlement. The geography and brutality of Russian strikes, not just occasionally, but literally every day and night, show that Putin couldnt care less about diplomacy, Mr Zelensky said in his daily address. And almost every day, in response to this proposal, there are Russian drones, bombs, artillery shelling, and ballistic strikes, he said. He urged further international pressure on Moscow to compel Russia to negotiate, including new sanctions. Advertisement The European Unions foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas picked up on that theme at a meeting of some of the blocs top diplomats in Madrid on Monday. A Ukrainian military boat CB90 of Military Naval Forces patrols the Black Sea coastline of Odesa region, Ukraine (Evgeniy Maloletka/AP) Russia is playing games and not really wanting peace, Mr Kallas told reporters ahead of the meeting, which was due to discuss the war. So our question is, how can we put more pressure on Russia. Mr Trump said he would consider adding further sanctions on Russia, which already faces steep financial penalties, and using tariffs to undermine its oil exports. Advertisement Kharkiv, Ukraines second-largest city, came under another Russian drone attack overnight, injuring three people, the Ukrainian Interior Ministry said on Monday. Russia also fired two ballistic missiles and 131 Shahed and decoy drones, the Ukrainian air force said. Meanwhile, Russias Defence Ministry said air defences shot down 66 Ukrainian drones early on Monday over three Russian regions. The continuing attacks by the Ukrainian armed forces on Russias energy facilities show the complete lack of respect for any obligations related to the settlement of the conflict in Ukraine by the Kyiv regime, the ministry said in a statement. Kerry Katona narrowly avoided being caught up in the devastating earthquake which struck Bangkok, Thailand on Friday (28.03.25). Kerry Katona narrowly avoided the recent earthquake in Asia The quake struck neighbouring Myanmar - killing more than 1,700 people - and its affects were also felt hundreds of miles away in the Thai capital where 18 people died when an unfinished tower block collapsed with many more remaining missing - and Kerry has revealed she was on holiday in the area and had been due to be in Bangkok on the day of the disaster but she flew home early to go see her daughter Mollie. In her column for OK! magazine, Kerry explained: "I should have been in Bangkok on the day of the earthquake. I was booked into a hotel there until Friday 28 March, but I flew back a couple of days early to come and see Mollie. "Blessings were on my side, I guess. I do have friends there. Ive spoken to people and everyone I know is safe, thank God. Ill be flying back there in a couple of weeks. Its very scary. My thoughts are with everyone whos been affected." Kerry has revealed she headed to Ireland after her holiday to surprise her eldest daughter at her drama showcase. She added: "I flew over there to surprise Molly at her drama school end-of-year showcase. I told her I wouldnt be able to make it, but I surprised her by turning up while she thought she was just going for dinner with [her sister] Lilly! "It was so difficult trying to keep it a secret, I had to avoid talking to her on the phone as I was worried shed know I was hiding something!" It comes after Kerry revealed in a previous column for the magazine that she is considering moving to Thailand full-time in the future after striking up a collaboration with a hotel there. She wrote: "I'm now working on creating my own relaxation package here at The Beach Samui hotel, where people will be able to book a week-long holiday, curated by me, with experiences such as sound baths and yoga sessions. "The hotel is opening up a new retreat and my plan is to regularly come over and work on the collaboration. "My dream, when the kids are older, is to live out here full-time. I've been really healthy here - although I did have a Guinness on St Patrick's Day." Donald Trump has said Ukraines President Volodomyr Zelensky faces big, big problems if he backs out of a mineral deal with the US. The US presidents remarks come hours after he criticised Russian President Vladimir Putin for comments he made about the leader of Ukraine. Advertisement Hes trying to back out of the rare earth deal, Mr Trump told reporters on Air Force One of Mr Zelensky, 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. We made a deal on rare earth. And now hes saying, well you know, I want to renegotiate the deal. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky speaks during a briefing in Kyiv (AP/str) Speaking en route from Florida to Washington, Mr Trump said: He wants to be a member of Nato. He was never going to be a member of Nato. He understands that. Although he insisted to reporters that were making a lot of progress, he acknowledged that theres tremendous hatred between Mr Zelensky and Mr Putin, a fresh indication that negotiations may not produce the swift conclusion that he promised during the campaign. Advertisement In an earlier interview with NBC News, he referenced comments Mr Putin made on Friday about temporarily putting Ukraine under external governance. Mr Trump said he was angry, pissed off when the Russian leader started getting into Zelenskys credibility. Mr Putin reaffirmed his claim that Mr 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 Russian President Vladimir Putin (Vyacheslav Prokofyev/Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo/AP) 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. On his flight back to Washington on Sunday evening, Mr Trump reiterated his annoyance towards Mr Putin but somewhat softened his tone. 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. Advertisement Asked when he wanted Russia to agree to a ceasefire, Mr Trump said there was a psychological deadline. If I think theyre tapping us along, I will not be happy about it, he said. 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. 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. Advertisement Mr Zelensky said on Sunday that over the past week most regions of Ukraine had come under Russian attack. Writing on X, 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. Donald Trump has warned of a bad situation after Irans president rejected direct negotiations with the US over its advancing nuclear programme. President Masoud Pezeshkians rejection, which left open the possibility of indirect negotiations with Washington, was Tehrans first response to a letter the US president sent to the countrys supreme leader via Oman. Advertisement Well see if we can get something done, Mr Trump told reporters on Air Force One as he returned from Florida to Washington on Sunday. And if not, its going to be a bad situation. 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. President Masoud Pezeshkian speaks during a rally commemorating the anniversary of the 1979 Islamic Revolution (Iranian Presidency Office/AP) Mr Trump said before Mr Pezeshkians comments that he was considering military action and secondary tariffs if Iran does not 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, Mr Trump said in a comment aired on Sunday by NBC News. Advertisement Mr Trumps letter arrived in Tehran on March 12, but he has offered little detail on what he told the supreme leader. Talks between the two countries have made no progress since Mr Trump, in his first term, unilaterally withdrew the US from Tehrans nuclear deal with world powers in 2018. Regional tensions have since 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 Irans self-described Axis of Resistance. Now, as the US conducts intense air strikes targeting the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen, the risk of military action targeting Irans nuclear programme remains on the table. Advertisement We dont avoid talks; its the breach of promises that has caused issues for us so far, Mr Pezeshkian said in televised remarks during a cabinet meeting. They must prove that they can build trust. Iranian demonstrators burn a representation of the Israeli flag during the annual anti-Israeli Quds Day, or Jerusalem Day rally in support of Palestinians, in Tehran (Vahid Salemi/AP) The US State Department responded: 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. 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. Mr Pezeshkian was elected half a year ago after campaigning on a promise to re-engage with the West. Advertisement Since Mr Trumps election and the resumption of his maximum pressure campaign on Tehran, Irans rial currency has gone into freefall. Mr Pezeshkian had left open discussions until February when Irans 85-year-old Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned Mr Trump talks are not intelligent, wise or honourable with his administration. The Iranian president then immediately toughened his own remarks on the US. 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 Irans hardline paramilitary Revolutionary Guard also showed its troops stepping on an Israeli flag painted on the ground although there was no American flag as often seen in such propaganda videos. A US armoured vehicle that went missing in Lithuania has been retrieved from a swamp after a six-day search but there is still no information about the fate of the four American soldiers who were on board, Lithuanian officials said. The armoured vehicle was pulled ashore at 4.40 am, the towing operation is complete, Lithuanian military police and US investigators continue their work, defence minister Dovile Sakaliene said on Monday morning in a post on Facebook. Advertisement The soldiers were on a training exercise at the General Silvestras Zukauskas training ground in the town of Pabrade when the group and their vehicle were reported missing in the early hours of Tuesday morning, the US army said. Lithuanian army and emergency services personnel build a makeshift dam during recovery efforts near Pabrade, Lithuania (AP) Until the investigators have more details, we need to stay calm and focused, and keep in mind the sensitivity of the situation and the concerns of the soldiers families, Ms Sakaliene posted on Facebook. She made clear to reporters that the first information about fate of the soldiers will be delivered by the US army. The soldiers, all from 1st Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, were conducting tactical training when they went missing. Advertisement Hundreds of Lithuanian and US soldiers and rescuers took part in the search through the thick forests and swampy terrain around Pabrade, which lies just 10 kilometres (six miles) west of the border with Belarus. The M88 Hercules armoured vehicle was discovered on Wednesday submerged in 4.5 meters (15 feet) of water. A large-scale recovery operation got under way but water, thick mud and soft ground around the site have complicated recovery efforts and have required specialised equipment to drain water from the side and stabilise the ground in order to pull the 70-tonne vehicle ashore, the army said. French far-right leader Marine Le Pen has been sentenced to a five-year ban on running for public office for embezzling EU funds. The ruling, which takes effect immediately, is likely to bar her from running in Frances next presidential election. Advertisement Le Pen, who was twice runner-up to French President Emmanuel Macron, has enjoyed growing support in recent years. Mondays verdict will weigh heavily on political life, both in France and more widely in Europe, and on her own future as a political force. What does the ruling say? For Le Pen, the worst-case scenario materialised. The 56-year-old daughter of the late far-right totemic figure Jean-Marie Le Pen was sentenced to two years under house arrest and an additional two-year suspended sentence, and five years ineligibility for public office with immediate effect. Le Pens lawyer said she would appeal against the verdict but she will remain ineligible while she does and so could be ruled out of the 2027 presidential race. Le Pen will not serve the house arrest sentence until all appeals are exhausted but the ban on running for office will be implemented immediately despite her legal challenge. Advertisement With the election just two years away, time is running out, and there is no guarantee that an appeals court would rule more favourably. Le Pen and other National Rally party officials stood trial for having used money intended for European Union parliamentary aides instead to pay staff who worked for the party between 2004 and 2016, violating the 27-nation blocs regulations. The National Rally was called the National Front at the time. The judge said Le Pen had been at the heart of a system that her party used to siphon off EU parliament money. Le Pen, who denied wrongdoing, was also fined 100,000 euros (83,677). Although she can appeal against the house arrest sentence, which she could ultimately serve while wearing an electronic ankle bracelet, the ban on running for office is with immediate effect, independent of whether she files an appeal or not. Advertisement An appeal ruling that would overturn the ban could restore her hopes of standing. But with the election just two years away, time is running out and there is no guarantee that an appeals court would rule more favourably. Le Pens efforts ruined Mondays ruling came amid record ratings in opinion polls for Le Pen, who hoped her decade-long efforts to steer her party towards the mainstream would finally deliver at the next presidential election. French far-right leader Marine Le Pen leaves the courtroom after a French court found her guilty in an embezzlement case in Paris (Thibault Camus/AP) Since she inherited the leadership of the National Front party from her father in 2011, she has worked to crack the wall of fear of the far-right that so far has barred their path to the presidency. She changed the party name and booted her embarrassing father out in 2015, part of her effort to rid the renamed National Rally of the taint of racism and antisemitism that clung to the far-right for decades. Advertisement A wily politician, Le Pen also transformed her own image from that of an aggressive, anti-system proponent to a mild-mannered spokeswoman for Frances forgotten. The normalisation strategy has paid off and the party has become the main political group in the lower house of the parliament, developing a strong network of officials across France. What is next? Since 2011, Le Pen has been the leading figure of the National Rally. Ten years later, Jordan Bardella, 29, succeeded her as party president so that she could focus on the upcoming presidential election. French far-right leader Marine Le Pen during an election campaign rally in Nice, southern France, in 2017 (Claude Paris/AP) Last year, Mr Bardella led the partys campaign for the European elections while Le Pen took the helm of the group of RN legislators at the French National Assembly. Under Mondays ruling, Le Pen is allowed to keep her mandate as a member of parliament. Advertisement Mr Bardella had a meteoric rise to the top, honing his political skills as the president of the partys youth wing. Although he has been careful not to overshadow Le Pen, his popularity has grown fast, especially among young people. If Le Pen is effectively banned from running, Mr Bardella seems like the natural candidate to succeed her. Yet observers say there is no guarantee he would be able to convince as many voters as she does. In recent months, some voices inside the party have criticised his management as too focused on his personal career. Le Pens party takes a financial hit The National Rally was fined two million euros (1.67 million), of which it must definitely pay one million, while the other half would be demanded in the event of a repeat offence. The party will also relinquish another million euros which were confiscated during the investigation. French far-right leader Marine Le Pen waves after making a speech during the far-right Patriots for Europe summit in Madrid, Spain, in February (Paul White/AP) It is unclear how big an impact the confiscation and fine will have on the partys coffers. An audit of the partys accounts between 2013 and 2016 revealed that it was running a deficit of 9.1 million euros by the end of 2016. Yet the party still had a cash balance of 1.7 million euros and had lent one million euros to Le Pens 2017 presidential campaign, while also holding 87,000 euros in loans to Cotelec, its funding association. At the time, the party was also indebted to a Russian bank for 9.4 million euros, a loan taken out in 2014 for six million euros. However, the National Rallys electoral successes in last years legislative elections provided broad financial resources to the party. In France, state funding of political parties is largely based on election results. 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. Advertisement Review Eating outMelbourne This hatted vegetarian wine bar was always nice, but its bloomed into something special Patsys has found its feet since opening three years ago, evolving into a standout spot for meat-free dishes. Besha Rodell March 31, 2025 Save Log in , register or subscribe to save recipes for later. You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share This venue appears in the April 2025 Melbourne hit list. See all stories . 1 / 7 Inside Patsys. Chris Hopkins 2 / 7 Artichoke gratin with citrus salad Chris Hopkins 3 / 7 Beetroot tortellini. Photograph by Chris Hopkins 4 / 7 Mushroom pate dish. Photograph by Chris Hopkins 5 / 7 Cabbage confit. Photograph by Chris Hopkins 6 / 7 Patsys souffle. Photograph by Chris Hopkins 7 / 7 The warm, whimsical interiors. Photograph by Chris Hopkins Previous Slide Next Slide Good Food hat 15 / 20 How we score Vegetarian or vegan$$$$ One recent gorgeous Melbourne evening, I found myself at the edge of the city in front of a door with a sign stating that the restaurant I was planning to visit had permanently closed. I wondered what was nearby somewhere I could pause and regroup and decide where to go next. I remembered Patsys, the pretty wine bar and restaurant that sits across from Queen Victoria Market in a heritage building and is open every day from noon until late a convenient trait for those of us who like to dine out between Sunday and Wednesday when more and more places seem to be closed. The last time I visited Patsys was soon after it opened three years ago. Back then, it seemed like a nice room with good food. But, other than the fact that it was a vegetarian restaurant that relied on vegetables and grains and other delicious things rather than fake meat, it hadnt stuck out as particularly noteworthy. Advertisement The warm, whimsical interiors. Photograph by Chris Hopkins When I arrived there recently, however, I was amazed at the warmth from the staff, the whimsy of the room all cottage-y comfort but without a hint of twee corniness and the fantastic-looking menu. Our planned quick stop for a wine turned into settling in for a full meal, and it became obvious that Patsys had matured hugely in the few years its been open. The place could stand alone as one of the more interesting wine bars in town, even without the distinction that many of the wines are vegan. The list is full of interesting producers and varietals, including some Id never seen before, and the staff is wonderfully equipped to talk you through it. Ive had dozens of mushroom pates over the years, and most are weird and gummy or overly salted or ramped up with the chemical taste of truffle oil. Patsys version, served as a tartine, is creamy and umami-rich and everything you want in a silky, savoury parfait. Mushroom pate dish. Photograph by Chris Hopkins Advertisement Large hunks of globe artichokes come in a smoked mozzarella gratin, the inherent richness countered with a fresh salad of greens and citrus. Theres very little counter to the richness of the cheese souffle, but its so wonderfully airy and fluffy and decadent you wont mind, and the addition of pink peppercorns in the buttery sauce is dynamic and unexpected. I tired a bit in recent years of dishes of giant charred hunks of cabbage, but the one here regained my attention and admiration with its mustard and thyme glaze, the acid tang of pickled shallots, and the crunch of hazelnuts. Pastas are house-made and bridge the gap between tradition and creativity beautifully. Tortellini is filled with a puree of golden beets and sprinkled with a smattering of poppyseeds, while girella comes with ricotta, greens, brown butter and walnuts. Theres an elegant rusticism to the pastas in particular and a sense of generosity that can sometimes be missing from specifically meat-free menus. Artichoke gratin with citrus salad Chris Hopkins In fact, its entirely possible I wouldnt have even noticed that Patsys is a vegetarian restaurant hadnt I already known that fact. First and foremost, the menu reads like a list of things I want to eat; the lack of meat barely registers. Perhaps this is a case, too, of people treating vegetables with more care because they understand the love and labour that went into growing them, given that the restaurant owners source most of their produce from their own small farm near Daylesford. Advertisement So many places have closed recently, ones that I never expected to see go bars and restaurants that we perhaps took for granted or didnt shine a bright enough light on because we assumed theyd always be there. In the reviewing game, we often focus too much on whats new. Excellence and evolution can be underappreciated as a result. Im so glad to see Patsys grow into the fantastic restaurant it is today its a reminder to check in more frequently and bestow praise as often and loudly as possible wherever its warranted: to the new, the old, and the place where it often hides in plain sight, the in-between. The low-down Atmosphere: Whimsical but sophisticated in a heritage building Go-to dishes: Souffle ($28); mushroom pate tartine ($16); confit sugarloaf cabbage ($36) Drinks: Fun, creative cocktails. Beautifully eclectic wine list Cost: About $150 for two before drinks Good Food reviews are booked anonymously and paid independently. A restaurant cant pay for a review or inclusion in the Good Food Guide. 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 44-year-old man was at home in his Peninsula Drive unit in the heart of Surfers Paradise with his two sons, aged 21 and 23, when a domestic dispute began in the unit upstairs shortly before 2am on Monday. Our 44-year-old victim has verbally intervened, asking them to be quiet so he could get to work, Detective Inspector Mark Mooney said. The unit block on Peninsula Drive, Surfers Paradise, where the violence broke out. Credit: Google The alleged offender fired a warning shot from a black revolver from his back balcony onto the ground below, outside the victims unit. The election circus has rolled into town with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese visiting Midland Hospital with Premier Roger Cook to announce the $355 million upgrade. Albanese was also pressed on the biggest political hot potato this past week the delay to the assessment of Woodsides North West Shelf 50-year extension proposal. WA Premier Roger Cook and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese meet with Harsimranjeet Sidhu and baby Amber during a visit to St John of God Midland Public Hospital, in Midland, WA. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen Opposition leader Peter Dutton has pledged to make a decision on the proposal within 30 days if he wins the election and stated there was no reason as to why approval couldnt be given. Albanese lashed that pledge in Midland this morning, warning it would open up the project to legal challenges. If you go out there, and you preempt the law, which says that consideration must be given objectively by the minister, then you, by definition, put yourself in a position of legal challenge, he said. Frankly, you could get any lawyer at random, pick them out, and they could be in that case because it is a shut case. Cook was also asked by the travelling Canberra press pack about his efforts to establish the Western Bears NRL team in WA. Cook revealed the state was in discussions again after his government put tools down over the state election period. As Ive said on many occasions, only WA can put the N in NRL and wed obviously welcome the opportunity to be able to have a team here, but where it has to be on the basis of value for money, he said. Albanese was speaking in the seat of Hasluck which used to be held by the Liberals with a 5.9 per cent margin however in the 2022 Tania Lawrence sensationally overthrew senior Coalition minister Ken Wyatt who held the seat since 2010. Acclaimed singer Anthony Warlow has taken quick action after some abrupt comments appeared on a social media post in his name attacking Opera Australia. Warlow has had a rich career, famously playing the Phantom in Phantom of the Opera, and is about to star in Annie as Daddy Warbucks. He has also played Sky Masterson in Guys and Dolls. Hang onto that fact for a moment. Singer Anthony Warlow. Credit: Chris Hopkins The intemperate comments in the singers name, which he denies posting, appeared on an Opera Australia post detailing a Today Show visit to Guys and Dolls, the companys new Handa Opera production. A reporter interviewed star Cody Simpson (playing Masterson) and Annie Aitken, calling her Australias musical theatre royalty. It sent someones kettle, somewhere, boiling dry. Follow our live coverage of the 2025 federal election here. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has mocked Peter Duttons penchant for the harbour after the opposition leader said he would choose to relocate to Kirribilli House on Sydney Harbour if elected rather than the Lodge in the national capital. Dutton told commercial radio station KIIS FM that he would move his family from Queensland to the harbourside property in Sydneys north if the Coalition won government, which would make him the first prime minister from outside Sydney to relocate to Kirribilli House when taking the top job. Anthony Albanese has accused Peter Dutton of hubris over comments he made about where he would live after the election. Credit: Nine News, James Brickwood We would live in Kirribilli. You know, we love Sydney, we love the harbour its a great city, Dutton said on Monday morning when asked where he planned to live if he won the election. King Charles will return to work this week. King Charles has returned to work The 76-year-old royal was forced to cancel a number of engagements last week after being briefly hospital due to side effects from his ongoing cancer treatment, but he is ready to resume duties, albeit with a slightly adjusted schedule. Charles is set to have spent a "restful" weekend at his Highgrove estate before travelling to Windsor Castle on Monday (31.03.25) to star the working week. It has been confirmed the king will hold investitures at Windsor on Tuesday (01.04.25), as well as his weekly audience with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and other meetings at Buckingham Palace on Wednesday (02.04.25). Thursday (03.04.25) will involve public engagements in London and Windsor, and Charles will also take on one of his regular duties, receiving three ambassadors for the presentation of their credentials. However, according to The Telegraph, "one or two" other engagements have been postponed. Next week, the king and his wife, Queen Camilla, will embark on a state visit to Italy. Charles cancelled a tour of Birmingham last Friday (28.03.25) after being hospitalised. Buckingham Palace said in a statement the evening before: "Following scheduled and ongoing medical treatment for cancer this morning, The King experienced temporary side effects that required a short period of observation in hospital. His Majesty's afternoon engagements were therefore postponed. "His Majesty has now returned to Clarence House and as a precautionary measure, acting on medical advice, tomorrow's diary programme will also be rescheduled. "His Majesty would like to send his apologies to all those who may be inconvenienced or disappointed as a result." Buckingham Palace announced news of the King's diagnosis in February 2024. The monarch underwent a "corrective procedure" for an enlarged prostate and doctors noticed a "separate issue of concern" that led to his cancer diagnosis. The Palace said at the time: "During The Kings recent hospital procedure for benign prostate enlargement, a separate issue of concern was noted. Subsequent diagnostic tests have identified a form of cancer. "His Majesty has today commenced a schedule of regular treatments, during which time he has been advised by doctors to postpone public-facing duties. Throughout this period, His Majesty will continue to undertake State business and official paperwork as usual. "The King is grateful to his medical team for their swift intervention, which was made possible thanks to his recent hospital procedure." Charles - who ascended to the throne in 2022, following the death of Queen Elizabeth - was said to be feeling "positive about his treatment". The statement continued: "He remains wholly positive about his treatment and looks forward to returning to full public duty as soon as possible. "His Majesty has chosen to share his diagnosis to prevent speculation and in the hope it may assist public understanding for all those around the world who are affected by cancer." If you follow money to find true sources of power, you discover China and Russia behind the brutal regime that has for four years presided over Myanmars collapse into civil war. The two countries have sold weapons to the junta that seized control in February 2021, so it was natural for them to answer the call when Senior General Min Aung Hlaing asked for international help after the devastating 7.7-magnitude earthquake that struck Myanmar on Friday. A Buddhist monk walks near a collapsed pagoda in Mandalay after the Fridays earthquake. Credit: AP China and Russia got boots, medical kits and sniffer dogs on the ground, along with India, Thailand, Malaysia and Vietnam. Meanwhile, the United States was struggling to get its boots on. The worlds richest country was the largest provider of foreign aid until the return of Donald Trump to the White House. But thanks to the sudden dismantling of the US Agency for International Development (USAID), Trump has left a void on the world stage. Oslo: 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. Despite the short test flight, Isar Aerospace said 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-metre-long Spectrum is a two-stage launch vehicle designed to put small and medium satellites into orbit. The rocket lifted off from the pad at 12.30pm (Oslo time) and flew for about a half-minute before the flight was terminated, Isar said. 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. London: Virginia Giuffre, one of Jeffrey Epsteins victims, who accused Prince Andrew of sexually assaulting her as a teenager, has claimed that she is dying after being hit by a school bus. In a post on Instagram on Monday, the 41-year-old shared a picture from a hospital bed, showing bruises on her face. In the caption, she said a speeding bus had collided with her car, and that doctors had told her she had four days to live. Giuffre used the post to express the wish to see her three children, from whom she is believed to be estranged. Ive gone into kidney renal failure, theyve given me four days to live, transferring me to a specialist hospital in urology, she wrote on Instagram. Im ready to go, just not until I see my babies one last time, but you know what they say about wishes. "The expat, non-resident lending market, is not really something that we see as a growth opportunity. It's more of a low-hanging fruit. But it is just good to have," he said. "There are customers on the market, but not a lot of lenders there. So it's an opportunity for the non-bank lenders to grab. We have this product and we have the expertise. So we're just kind of doing it. But it's not comparable to what we do for full-doc loan prime customers, and low-doc customers here in Australia." JUDGE Cormac Quinn affirmed last week in Carlow Circuit Court of Appeals a sentence imposed on Nigel OHara of Fourteen Acres, Kilcarrig, Bagenalstown when he was convicted of animal cruelty in February 2024. Mr OHara (47) appealed the severity of the sentence imposed by Judge Geraldine Carthy, which included a four-month prison term, a lifetime disqualification from keeping dogs and a 2,000 fine. In addition, it was ordered that Mr OHara pays 3,791.78 in ISPCA costs and 3,690 in ministerial prosecutions costs. One of the dog discovered The court heard from ISPCA senior inspector Fiona Conlon, who gave evidence of conducting two inspections of Mr OHaras premises in June and July 2021, during which 19 dogs were removed. Ms Conlon described calling on 21 June 2021 along with ISPCA senior inspector Alice Lacey and finding 24 dogs including greyhounds, Jack Russell terriers, a rottweiler and a beagle cross some of which were living in poor conditions. One greyhound was shut in a dog trailer, a Jack Russell was confined in a small wooden dog kennel and other dogs were in dirty sheds with poor ventilation and little natural light. Some of the dogs did not have access to water. One of the dogs found living in poor conditions In addition to the environmental concerns, several physical welfare issues affecting some of the dogs were identified. A number of the dogs were emaciated and others had pressure sores, dental problems and overgrown nails. Ms Conlon told the court that the 12 most impacted dogs were initially seized. She met Mr OHara two days later, at which time he surrendered the seized dogs and gave commitments to rehome any remaining dogs until he could commit the necessary time to their care. However, when she returned on 8 July 2021, she found more dogs in dirty kennels and dark, unventilated sheds, some without access to water. A further seven dogs were initially seized and subsequently surrendered. Judge Quinn thanked Ms Conlon and her ISPCA colleagues for their hard work. He said that it goes without saying that animals are dependent on people and, if they are not looked after, then cruelty is brought upon them, adding: Hes in custody now. Dogs are reliant on us for survival, wellbeing and for their emotional requirements. In this case, their most basic needs were not being met, said Ms Conlon. There are consequences for those that commit animal welfare offences but, in this case, had the defendant delivered on the commitments that he gave after my first visit, the consequences may not have been so severe. By Grainne Ni Aodha, PA The Tanaiste is to appeal for calm and measured EU co-operation ahead of a major tariff announcement by US President Donald Trump expected on Wednesday. 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 also 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 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. Taoiseach 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 per cent 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. By Cate McCurry, PA The Taoiseach has said the European Union will be strategic in its response if Donald Trump sparks a trade war, saying the bloc does not want to invite more damage. The US president is expected to target some of Irelands major employers, including pharmaceutical companies, and Micheal Martin said he wants to see negotiations emerge from the EUs response. Speaking in Dublin on Monday, Mr Martin also said he wants to see a landing zone agreed to enable companies and the economy to enjoy a bit of stability. Mr Trump has announced a 25 per cent import tax on all cars imported into the US, a measure expected to hit car makers across the EU. The levy is on top of a series of tariffs set to come into effect on Wednesday. Mr Martin said there will be competing interests across EU countries who will want to protect their own industries. It would be challenging to try and get a negotiating platform at European level in response to these tariff positions, he said. First point, Europe doesnt want tariffs. (The) European Union doesnt but (the) US seems intent on imposing tariffs with a view to reshoring a lot of manufacturing to the US. That is the stated aim. Donald Trump (Jose Luis Magana/AP) But on the other hand, I think Europe will not immediately respond but take its time, and its in that period that the member states, working together, can be strategic in terms of how it responds. So a strategic response is very important, in other words, that we dont invite more damage in response, and that we do in a way that maximises Europes leverage here. Ultimately, one would like to see negotiations emerge as a result of Europes response to the US position of tariffs, and that we could get some reasonable landing zone that could enable companies and the economy to enjoy a bit of stability in some sense of what the future holds. Mr Martin said the pharmaceutical industry in Ireland is particularly strong, and has been the hub for a lot of US manufacturing companies to access European and Asian markets. He said countries across the EU will suffer to different degrees. Its been very successful for everybody, including the US, including US companies and including Ireland, but also countries like Belgium, Denmark, also have significant US pharmaceutical presence. Finland and others. Its not just Ireland, but other countries, then if you look at the automotive industry and the car industry, really big impact on countries like Slovakia, Germany and others. A lot of countries are going to suffer differently and will be impacted negatively by the tariffs, because it crosses about five to six sectors that (the) US looks like imposing tariffs, so to different degrees countries will be impacted. He said Ireland will intensify its bilateral contacts with the US, both with the government and with companies which would be severely impacted by tariffs. Well be using every avenue at our disposal, but primarily with (the) European Union and bilaterally, and also then with companies, Mr Martin added. Simon Harris (Brian Lawless/PA) The Tanaiste urged the public to be calm and measured in their response to threatened tariffs. Simon Harris said the country is entering a time of extraordinary economic turbulence, but added that the Government is not complacent about what that means. Were working around the clock on that, but what weve got to do here is be calm and be measured, he added. Weve got to work at a European level. Were part of a market of 450 million people in Europe. We will have this announcement what President Trump calls liberation day on Wednesday, and we will survey that situation then, and then next Monday we will have an EU trade council meeting in which I represent this country, and we will work at an EU level to see how best to respond. The aim here has to be simple: to navigate and negotiate, to get the United States around a table, not get into tit for tat, but to try and sit down and find a way forward. Advertisement During the first half of FY24-25, Thatta Cement Co Ltds revenue increased by 23.2 per cent compared to the previous year, reaching PKR3.849bn (US$13.8m), according to the company's interim report. This growth followed a 12.3 per cent rise in sales volume, driven by improved local sales and higher retention prices. The cost of sales rose by only 7.5 per cent in 1HFY24-25, thanks to the companys cost optimisation strategies, including the installation of a 5MW solar power plant. Therefore, gross profit saw an 81.7 per cent increase in 1HFY24-25 compared to the same period last year. The gross profit margin improved from 21.16 per cent in 1HFY23-24 to 31.21 per cent in 1HFY24-25. Distribution expenses grew by 11.6 per cent in 1HFY24-25, primarily due to increased sales volumes, which resulted in higher freight charges. In contrast, administrative expenses decreased by 12.7 per cent during the same period. A significant rise in profit-related provisions led to a 170.9 per cent spike in other expenses in 1HFY24-25. However, this increase was fully offset by a 333.3 per cent increase in other income for the company in 1HFY24-25. This higher other income resulted from a royalty reversal of PKR150.84m, following a downward revision in the prices of limestone and shale clay by the Department of Minerals and Mines, Government of Sindh, which allowed for the reversal of excess royalty provisions. Thatta Cement Co reported a 163.8 per cent increase in operating profit in 1HFY24-25, achieving an operating profit margin of 45.5 per cent, compared to 21.2 per cent in 1HFY23-24. Finance costs decreased by four per cent during this period due to monetary easing. Net profit surged by 214.9 per cent to PKR1.127bn in 1HFY24-25, with earnings per share (EPS) reaching PKR13.31, up from PKR3.64 in 1HFY23-24. The net profit margin also saw a substantial improvement, rising from 11.5 per cent in 1HFY23-24 to 29.3 per cent in 1HFY24-25. Outlook With improvements in the macroeconomic environment, cement demand is expected to gradually recover. However, overall dispatches for FY24-25 may remain low due to reduced Public Sector Development Program (PSDP) disbursements. Additionally, the increasing capacities of cement facilities over the years, combined with weak demand, have led to a significant demand-supply gap. In such a scenario, it remains uncertain whether the cement sector can sustain high retention prices in the long term. During 1HFY24-25, Thatta Cement Co acquired 12.5m shares of Thatta Power (Pvt) Ltd (TPPL), resulting in a revised ownership stake of 88.5 per cent. This acquisition will provide Thatta Cement Co with better control over TPPLs operations. Furthermore, Thatta Cement Co has invested in Minsk Work Tractor & Assembling (Pvt) Ltd. These diversified investments are expected to create new avenues for alternative income for the company. by Abdul Rab Siddiqi, Pakistan Advertisement The Municipal Council of Zliten wants Libyan Prime Minister, Abel Hamid Aldabaiba, and his Ministry of Defence to resolve the dispute in front of the National Cement Co plant in the city. The council demanded the withdrawal of forces from outside the city from in front of the Zliten plant, stressing the need to adopt peaceful solutions and negotiations to resolve the matter. The call follows an arrest order issued by the Attorney General to arrest several accused of halting operations at the cement plant. Dear Global Community, With humility and profound remorse, wethe people of the United States of Americareach out to extend our deepest apologies. Our actions in recent months have often fallen short of the ideals we claim to cherish, and we recognize the pain and disappointment we have caused. To Our Beloved Neighbors Canada, our steadfast friend and closest ally, we owe you more than words can express. Your patience has been a beacon of grace, illuminating our shortcomings while maintaining a spirit of friendship that transcends political turbulence. You have stood by us, even when our own internal divisions threatened to erode the trust between our nations. Your resilience and compassion have been a testament to the true meaning of neighborly love. Mexico, our vibrant and cherished neighbor to the south, we extend our sincerest apologies for the rhetoric and actions that have sought to diminish your dignity. Your rich cultural tapestry, your hardworking people, and your profound historical legacy deserve nothing but the deepest respect. We acknowledge the harm caused by misguided policies and inflammatory language, and we commit to rebuilding a relationship of mutual understanding and genuine partnership. To Our Transatlantic Family Europe, our spiritual and historical touchstone, we hear your wisdom and feel the weight of the lessons you've tried to impart. Your centuries of complex historymarked by both devastating conflicts and remarkable reconciliationhave offered us invaluable insights that we have too often ignored. We recognize that our recent actions have threatened the delicate global order you have worked tirelessly to maintain. Greenland, Canada, and all nations whose sovereignty we have carelessly threatened or disrespected: We understand the gravity of our provocations. Our actions have been not just inappropriate, but fundamentally counter to the principles of international cooperation and mutual respect. We categorically renounce any suggestion of territorial aggression or imperial ambition. A Promise of Transformation To the entire world, we acknowledge that our recent months have been marked by volatility, divisiveness, and a retreat from the collaborative spirit that once defined our global leadership. We recognize that our internal conflicts have had far-reaching consequences, impacting global stability, diplomatic relations, and the collective hope for a more just and interconnected world. But we are not without hope. The majority of Americans yearn for healing, for reconnection, and for a recommitment to the values of mutual respect, understanding, and genuine global citizenship. We understand that trust is earned through consistent action, not merely proclaimed through eloquent words. Our pledge is not just a promise, but a commitment etched into the heart of our democratic process. We will work tirelesslythrough grassroots movements, political engagement, educational initiatives, and genuine diplomatic outreachto rebuild the bridges we have damaged. We ask for your patience as we navigate our internal challenges. We request your continued engagement as we strive to realign our national character with the principles of compassion, inclusivity, and global cooperation. Hopefully within the next two to four years, we are able to overcome our current indifference and demonstrate through concrete actions that the ideals of understanding, respect, and collaborative progress are not just rhetoric, but the very foundation of our national renewal. To our global family: We are listening. We are learning. We are committed to doing better. With profound humility and hope, The People of the United States of America John Mathna * * * Mr. Mathna, Firstly, your letter was one of the "better" Kumbaya letters this forum has seen in quite a while. In my humble opinion. But, for the record, I would like to opt out of being included in the conciliatory "we" of your letter. I prefer the current, stronger, "leveling the playing field" stance of President Trump. Secondly, on what date will you be joining Rosie O'Donnell in Ireland? Phil Snider * * * Oh, how we, the People of The United States of America, have wronged the entire world. Our unfeeling and chauvinistic policies have done nothing but hurt our world community. We should have allowed the Barbary pirates to continue their acts of terror. We interfered when the Central Powers were running wild thru Europe. Later, our supplies wrongfully helped England and Russia to fight the Axis Powers. Of course, other nations played a part but the majority of the effort was ours. The people of The United States do sincerely apologize for this selfishness. We take full responsibility for assisting South Korea in their struggle against Communist aggression. We should have minded our own business and, possibly, sent flowers. It has been our money-grubbing, capitalist dollar that has kept the U.N. afloat when we were usually the target of their criticism. In short, we have done so little to benefit our worldly neighbors that we should be thoroughly ashamed to be Americans. Perhaps we should give more foreign aid. Perhaps we should bow down to the so obvious superior wisdom of other nations. After all, it was mainly us that kept the world from having to speak German or Japanese. Had we but kept to ourselves..... Again, I apologize to the entire world for being an American and proud of it. I also apologize for not having a touchy-feely attitude. It pains me so. Ed Bradley * * * Mr. Mathna. First off do not be apologizing for me. You dont have that right. I dont apologize for any actions that our nation is presently taking. You are apologetic to Mexico (corrupt government in my opinion) which has allowed the cartels mostly before Trump came into office to cross our borders with drugs, human sex trafficking smugglers, and illegals committing heinous murders and other crimes by the thousands. MS 13 and TDA gangs setting up throughout the nation. You apologized for that? The corrupt judges (Boasberg just one of many) trying to stop President Trump from deportation of these worst of the worst gang members - are you apologizing for that? It has been estimated that at least 11 million illegals have entered America during your hero Joe Bidens open borders administration. What a failure, to put it nicely, not to mention the rest of the problems he left. I would think a man of your liberal compassion would be housing and supporting at least a dozen of these illegals and paying for their every need. How many have you got living in your house? Every bleeding heart liberal should have as many as possible in their care taking them off the government dime. I just paid IRS taxes today so your opinion piece kinda hit a nerve as I dont want to continue funding these illegals with my tax dollars. Im all for DOGE and immigration into America should be done the right way - no crossing open borders. China is our nation's biggest threat. Cyber and militarily. You apologized to them for all the fentanyl chemicals they are sending through Mexico to make drugs to poison and kill thousands of our citizens. If China has their way youll need to learn Chinese as their intentions are to be the world superpower and have dominance over us. Read up on the failed VP candidate Walz and check out his ties to communist China. It is alarming about Walz. Thank goodness the Harris/Walz ticket failed as Americans saw them for the frauds they were. You also seem to think that we are wrong for wanting America to have fair trade agreements with various nations that have for decades been lopsided with respect to trade and tariffs. How much tax (tariffs) does Canada charge the USA for dairy into Canada? Look that up youll see for yourself as just one example. The European Union is the same way, charging way more than reciprocal. I have no apologies for them. The Europeans should be the ones taking care of the Houthis and the shipping lanes, much less the war between Ukraine and Russia, since its in their backyard. The UN and the WHO is a joke that America doesnt need to be a part of as well. Im glad President Trump is trying to correct the many issues that this nation has faced for decades. His administration has a monumental task ahead and he is being obstructed in every way by Democrats who refuse to even clean up the waste, fraud and corruption of our taxpayers' money. No apologies needed for fixing this broken government. As the great Dr. Michael Savage PHD says: Liberalism is a Mental Disorder. Arch Tinker * * * Mr. Snider, Its my hope that Mr. Mathna stays and stays in Tennessee. We need people willing to stay and fight against all the wrong we see being perpetuated by the current administration. Im often asked why, as a liberal, I stay in Tennessee? Im a lifelong Tennessean. This is my home. Im not going anywhere. Yes, by the numbers we are smaller than conservatives in this state, but we small number are still Tennesseans and Americans who will continue to voice our opposition and opinions - just like you. Robbie Nicholson * * * I like this particular line: As the great Dr. Michael Savage PHD says: Liberalism is a Mental Disorder." I find that interesting when you consider the men who wrote the Declaration of Independence and later those that wrote the Constitution were certainly not Conservatives. Also, when you think about it, neither was Jesus Christ. Raleigh C. Perry * * * Mr. Mathna, I must disagree with you regarding your blanket apology to the global community. First, how can you speak for an entire nation based on your opinion? Your letter is not only overreach, it also attempts to simplify the complexity of a free people exercising their rights. Second, the presumption that we should all apologize for the actions or decisions of otherswhether we supported them or notis not humility. Its a blatant attempt at self-erasure. Count me out. Chuck McDonald 7/5/2025 Here is the latest Hamilton County arrest report. (If your case is dismissed, just email us your name and date we ran it and we will promptly take off. Email to news@chattanoogan.com ) ANDRUS,KIMBERLEE ... more Here are the new marriage licenses from the County Clerk's office: ANDREW CHRISTOPHER WHITE CASSANDRA LEE WALLACE 7000 TIDES CIR UNIT 121 7000 TIDES CIR UNIT 121 SARASOTA, Florida 34240 SARASOTA, Florida 34240 JOSE ANTONIO BARAHONA PINTO ANA LUZ CHACHAGUA TADEO 5426 TOWNE HILLS LN 5426 TOWNE HILLS LN HIXSON, Tennessee 37343 HIXSON, Tennessee 37343 LYDIA IRENE FULLEYLOVE CHRISTIAN MATTHEW OLSHEFSKI 213 LENAPE AVE 305 HOLLY AVE MAYS LANDING, NJ 083301843 WOODBURY HEIGHTS, NJ 080971116 AMBER LEIGH COOPER JASON DEWAYNE WHEELESS 1351 PASSENGER ST UNIT 368 1351 PASSENGER ST UNIT 368 CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37408 CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37408 HALEY MICHELLE COATES JACOB TAYLOR BRYSON 1793 CYNTHIA DR 1793 CYNTHIA DR ROSSVILLE, GA 307413611 ROSSVILLE, GA 307413611 CALAH ELIZABETH HANSON MICHAEL SEBASTIAN SCHMID 1388 NO PONE RD NW 1388 NO PONE RD NW GEORGETOWN, TN 373364712 GEORGETOWN, TN 373364712 CAITLIN ELIZABETH POWERS JERRY DANIEL WATKINS 80 RIDGEWAY DR 1376 MEADOWOOD DR CHATTANOOGA, TN 374151861 HIXSON, TN 373432419 SAMUEL DAVIS MCCALLA HOBBS HANNAH ELIZABETH MULKEY 1714 JOHN ROSS RD 144 SUNRISE LN APT 15 CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37412 RINGGOLD, GA 307362973 ASHLEY CHRISTINE OLOONEY BRANDON ALLEN SLAVEN 1039 OMAHA CIR 1039 OMAHA CIR HIXSON, TN 373433228 HIXSON, TN 373433228 TIFFANY MICHELLE MCDANIEL DIEGO JOSUE HERNANDEZ MARTINEZ 2124 CLIFT ELDRIDGE RD 2124 CLIFT ELDRIDGE RD SODDY DAISY, TN 373795846 SODDY DAISY, TN 373795846 GABRIEL JAMES WILLIAMS JANAE ELISE FIFELSKI 31831 GRAND RIVER AVE UNIT 48 31831 GRAND RIVER AVE UNIT 48 FARMINGTON, Michigan 48336 FARMINGTON, Michigan 48336 GEOFFREY HAMILTON MCARTHUR JENNIFER PURVIS GREEVER 10281 DAFFODIL CIR 10281 DAFFODIL CIR SODDY DAISY, Tennessee 37379 SODDY DAISY, Tennessee 37379 BRITTANY LEANN NASH SHAWN MICHAEL JUZWIAK 2921 KIRKMAN RD 705 ASHLEY FOREST DR CHATTANOOGA, TN 374211023 HIXSON, TN 373433271 DARRION LAVONTAE MANSON BREANNA LASHAY MITCHELL 423 GADD RD 423 GADD RD HIXSON, TN 373433824 HIXSON, TN 373433824 TROY KIT BIEBERITZ JENNIFER BRETT NIXON 1249 OLD ALABAMA RD SW 1249 OLD ALABAMA RD SW MC DONALD, Tennessee 37353 MC DONALD, Tennessee 37353 HAMILTON JAMES BOSGRAF KAILEY RENE BERTH 818 ARBORSTATION DR 818 ARBORSTATION DR LONG BEACH, Mississippi 39560 LONG BEACH, Mississippi 39560 BROOKLYN GRACE WHITMIRE ELI WEBB SMILEY 104 KELL RD 104 KELL RD SIGNAL MOUNTAIN, TN 373771065 SIGNAL MOUNTAIN, TN 373771065 ROBERT RYAN HARGRAVE JULIA ELIZABETH NAREY 1433 N WINER DR 1433 N WINER DR SODDY DAISY, Tennessee 37379 SODDY DAISY, Tennessee 37379 FREYDY BELARMINO BARTOLON VELASQUEZ MARISOL ALICIA JACOBO 1043 E CIRCLE DR 1043 E CIRCLE DR ROSSVILLE, Georgia 30741 ROSSVILLE, Georgia 30741 WILIAM AMILCAR VICENTE SOTO TANYA VELASQUEZ MIGUEL 3617 CLIO AVE 3617 CLIO AVE CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37407 CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37407 JEFFERSON CLAYTON TURNER MARY ELIZABETH TURNER 1244 ROY WEBB RD 1244 ROY WEBB RD JACKSONville, Alabama 36265 JACKSONville, Alabama 36265 ELLI ROSE RONAY JOHN AUBREY MOORE 3824 MISSION VIEW AVE 3824 MISSION VIEW AVE CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37411 CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37411 BARRY SCOTT SIMPSON BELINDA GAIL POE 813 SPEARS AVE 4545 TRICIA DR CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37405 CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37416 JAMES ROBERT PATTERSON ANNA ROSE EPTING 2115 POWERS FERRY RD SE APT D 2115 POWERS FERRY RD SE APT D MARIETTA, Georgia 30067 MARIETTA, Georgia 30067 JACOB DYLAN LEWIS MEGAN PAIGE CALHOUN 1178 GREEN GROVE DR 1178 GREEN GROVE DR HIXSON, Tennessee 37343 HIXSON, Tennessee 37343 TANNER HAWKINS DUNAWAY SARAH RUBY GRIFFIN 1607 KNICKERBOCKER AVE 1607 KNICKERBOCKER AVE CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37405 CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37405 SKYLER MICHAEL CANNON BRITTANY LYNN MARIE RAINS 3206 IDLEWILD DR 3206 IDLEWILD DR CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37411 CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37411 DIANDRA ELYSE DELSO SANTIAGO ELIAS QUINTERO 734 N ASH AVE 734 N ASH AVE BROKEN ARROW, Oklahoma 74012 BROKEN ARROW, Oklahoma 74012 OLVIN ALEXIS CHAVARRIA CASTILLO SANDY LORENA SUAZO FLORES 7427 MOSES RD 7427 MOSES RD HIXSON, Tennessee 37343 HIXSON, Tennessee 37343 BOBBY DEAN PARKER SIDNEY ALYSSE LYNN 2492 FOREST VILLAS CIR 2492 FOREST VILLAS CIR CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37421 CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37421 HALEIGH JADE SHELL KASHAWN NICHOLAS COSEY 175 CULVER ST 175 CULVER ST CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37415 CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37415 RANDALL EUGENE DRIVER MARINA MENDEZ 6100 HUNTER CREST DR 6100 HUNTER CREST DR OOLTEWAH, Tennessee 37363 OOLTEWAH, Tennessee 37363 TAYLOR MARIE BAILEY LOGAN MATTHEW BROOKS 420 ENGLISH IVY DR 420 ENGLISH IVY DR NASHVILLE, Tennessee 37211 NASHVILLE, Tennessee 37211 STEVEN LOYD GIFFORD ANGELA RENEE LEE 7257 AVENTINE WAY APT 102 9113 HIXSON PIKE CHATTANOOGA, TN 374214198 SODDY DAISY, TN 373798822 MYSTICAL DAWN MAYNOR EUEL BRANDON HAUN 71 KEY WEST AVE 71 KEY WEST AVE ROSSVILLE, Georgia 307417641 ROSSVILLE, Georgia 307417641 HANNAH ELIZABETH DOYLE BRANDON JACOB BAILEY 3381 NORTHROP ST 3381 NORTHROP ST LUPTON CITY, TN 373510422 LUPTON CITY, TN 373510422 MICHAEL ALAN STOCKER CARLA CECILIA NOYA 7464 WHITE PINE DR 7464 WHITE PINE DR OOLTEWAH, Tennessee 37363 OOLTEWAH, Tennessee 37363 RAY CALLAWAY COVINGTON SHELBIE GRACE SHOLTZ 6831 HICKORY LN 9148 INTEGRA PRESERVE CT APT 218 CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37421 OOLTEWAH, Tennessee 37363 DAVID PHILIP MAMEDOV MATTHEW MICHAEL VANDERHOOF 1322 DISTRICT LN APT 135 1322 DISTRICT LN APT 135 CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37406 CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37406 JANELLE RUTH GLASS PAUL KIYOHARU BYRKIT 7117 CANE HOLLOW RD 7117 CANE HOLLOW RD HIXSON, TN 373432470 HIXSON, TN 373432470 ALAN CHRISTOPHER JESKEY JAYANTI SAMADDAR 1400 CHESTNUT ST APT 455 1400 CHESTNUT ST APT 455 CHATTANOOGA, TN 374024534 CHATTANOOGA, TN 374024534 NAKOMA CHASE GARRETT MALLORY LEIGH GUMM 1784 HUNT RD SE 1789 HUNT RD SE CLEVELAND, Tennessee 37323 CLEVELAND, Tennessee 37323 ALEXANDRIA NICOLE BOYD RICHARD WILLIAM HATFIELD 4040 MOUNTAIN CREEK RD APT 704 4040 MOUNTAIN CREEK RD APT 704 CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37415 CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37415 ANDRE TIMOTHY TABLANG PATRICIA KALSEY PAKPAHAN 6671 FOXBORO DR APT 207 6671 FOXBORO DR APT 207 CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37421 CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37421 Southern Adventist University welcomes author and entrepreneur Jennifer Pharr Davis to speak on resilience, adaptability, clear communication, goals and teamwork for the E.A. Anderson Lecture on Monday, April 14, beginning promptly at 6:50 p.m. in Room 3205 of Brock Hall. An accomplished hiker, speaker, author, and entrepreneur, Ms. Davis has hiked over 14,000 miles on six continents and in all 50 U.S. states. Notably, in 2011, she became the first woman to hold the overall recordthe fastest known timefor hiking the Appalachian Trail by completing the 2,190-mile hike in 46 days. This feat prompted National Geographic to award her the title Adventurer of the Year. As a mother, Ms. Davis continues to push boundaries, hiking across the Pyrenees and Iceland while pregnant and exploring trails with her children. She is the founder of Blue Ridge Hiking Company in Asheville, N.C., where she lives with her family. The E.A. Anderson Lecture Series is an annual feature of the Institute of Ethical Leadership housed within Southerns School of Business. The free series aims to develop and support leaders through education and experience while fostering ethical marketplace environments. Made possible by the generosity of the late E.A. Anderson of Atlanta, the lectures promote expertise and perspectives from business leaders from across the country. Business casual attire is required for all attendees, continuing education credit is offered, seating is limited, and doors close at 7 p.m. For more information, visit southern.edu/businesslectures. For years, Elon Musk has revolutionized entire industries with his companiesfrom PayPal and Tesla to SpaceX and Neuralink. After purchasing the social media company X, formerly known as Twitter, he has also led the fight for free speech on online platforms. Across his businesses, there are many issues he could be working on. But when President Trump asked him to join the administration, he answered the call and committed himself to serving the American people. In many ways, he is tackling one of the biggest threats our nation faces: our $36 trillion debt. Today, we are spending more money to service our debt than to fund our entire military. And as our debt grows, it will become more and more difficult to fund basic government functions. Thats why Musk is leading the Department of Government Efficiency: to rein in reckless spending and put our country on a better fiscal path. So far, DOGE has had a lot of success. In just over two months, they have discovered $130 billion in potential savings by eliminating waste, fraud, and abuse across the federal government. They hope that number will reach $2 trillion by Independence Day next yearour nations 250th birthday. Every American should be applauding this effort. Our children and grandchildrens future depends on it. But because Musk is helping President Trump, he has become a target for the radical Left, which has launched a domestic terrorism campaign against his company, Tesla. In Las Vegas, suspects set Tesla vehicles on fire with Molotov cocktails. In Oregon, a man shot up a Tesla dealership. In Texas, authorities discovered incendiary devices planted at a Tesla showroom. Across the country, Tesla owners have had their cars vandalized and destroyed by arson, and on Saturday, Democrat-aligned groups organized a Global Day of Action to target hundreds of Tesla dealerships. The reason for this campaign is simple: In November, the American people rejected the Lefts radical agenda. Theyve lost the debate. But instead of making a better pitch to voters, they are trying to stop Republicans with violence and intimidation. Make no mistake: Such political violence has no place in our country. Thats why, last week, I went down to the Senate floor to call for the passage of my resolution condemning the recent acts of violence, arson, and domestic terrorism committed against Tesla properties. Democrats, however, refused to join the resolution, with one of my colleagues even claiming that it feels wrong to specifically condemn violence against Tesla. More than anything, this moral cowardice reveals that Democrats are more beholden than ever to the radical left. After spending the last four years denouncing domestic terrorism and supporting electric vehicles, some Democrats are even celebrating the violent attacks on our nations largest EV company. Tim WalzDemocrats failed vice presidential candidateclaimed he gets a daily boost from checking on Teslas stock price, which has declined amid the terrorism campaign. Democrat ally and late night host Jimmy Kimmel seemed to endorse the violence, sarcastically telling his audience, Dont ever vandalize Tesla vehicles. Democrat congresswoman Jasmine Crockett said that all she wants for her birthday is to see Elon taken down. As the worlds greatest legislative body, the United States Senate should be able to speak with one voice and jointly condemn political violence. With todays radical Democrat Party, however, that is impossible. * * * Dear Marsha, Regarding your stand on burning new cars, a fair number of Tennesseans believe in rule of law. That is those who commit crimes should have due process and be convicted and serve their time. Many on both sides of the political divide know this and see what you advocate is just and that what was handed down to those who forced their way into our Capitol was just as well, not the pardon, the conviction. I realize you stand for two sorts of justice, those for me and those for thee. While you play this verbal shell game of look here while I go there, the Canadian government has paid for a billboard in Florida that points out a simple fact, tariffs are taxes pure and simple, delivered as much to the buyer as the seller. So when you crow about lowering taxes, so much about the deficit that was a big issue prior to November, remember tariffs. And when you reflect with your base about the cost of groceries and drugs since you started this year, please share with them how soon eggs will return to regular values, not extra large. One thing Id like to know, how is your health insurance? Do you have any issues with co-pays or deductibles? Or does it not enter into the plan members of Congress are on? And one last thing, Lisa Murkoski spoke a fine speech to the Alaska legislature about a week ago. It stressed how kindness and politeness in doing Americas business is a longtime standard that is a way of the past. Prentice Hicks The Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga announces the appointment of Katrina Craven as its new vice president of Marketing and Communications. Ms. Craven brings more than 25 years of experience in marketing, communications and public relations. She previously served as director of Marketing and Communications at the Gary W. Rollins College of Business at UTC, where she led branding, strategic communications and public engagement efforts for over a decade. Before her tenure at UTC, Ms. Craven held roles at the Hunter Museum of American Art and the Tennessee Aquarium, developing and executing public relations campaigns that heightened institutional visibility and deepened audience engagement. Ms. Craven is a graduate of UTC where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communications and served as editor-in-chief of the student newspaper, The University Echo. In her new role at CFGC, Ms. Craven will oversee all internal and external communications. She will lead the Communications team and be responsible for developing and implementing a comprehensive marketing and communications strategy aligned with the Foundations strategic initiatives, grantmaking and philanthropic partnerships. Additionally, she will manage the organizations brand, content creation and stakeholder engagement while collaborating with senior leadership to support donor and community engagement. She is the first person to hold this role at CFGC. Katrina brings an incredible depth of experience in marketing and communications, with a track record of leading teams, shaping strategy and executing campaigns that engage communities and inspire action, says Maeghan Jones, president and CEO of CFGC. As a Tennessee native, she understands the unique strengths and challenges of our region. Her ability to connect with donors who care deeply about our community will be invaluable. We are excited about the many ways her talents will help advance our mission. "Storytelling has always come naturally to me, and this new position at the Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga feels like the perfect fit," said Ms. Craven. "It gives me the opportunity to highlight the incredible individuals, families, and organizations who are dedicated to helping everyone in our region thrive. I'm truly honored to be given the opportunity to share stories of transformational generosity." Spring is in full bloom, and the East Tennessee Symphony Orchestra welcomes the change in seasons with a lively and uplifting Spring Concert Sunday, April 13, 5:30 p.m., at Founders Hall at The Commons (4950 Swinyar Dr. in Collegedale). Performances include Swedish Rhapsody, Op.16 by Hugo Alfven, Nordic Suite for String Orchestra arranged by Rune Sorensen, and Symphonic Dances, Op. 64 by Edvard Grieg. This family-friendly event is free and open to the public. The ETSO has performed alongside a number of prolific bands and musical acts, to include: the Firework Finale during the 2023 and 2024 Hamilton County Fair, its Christmas Concert with the Annie Moses Band for two years in a row, an unforgettable performance with the Grammy award-winning Ricky Skaggs, and many more events with talented local and regional musicians. A schedule of future concerts will be available on the ETSOs website. For more information, contact Mathew Miller at 580-4999, or visit the Facebook event page. The Cherokee Nation Supreme Court, located inside the Tribal Complex in Tahlequah, heard an appeal March 28 regarding the denial of a candidate for Tribal Council. T.D. Jakes, the senior pastor of The Potter's House, is delivering a sermon titled Sustainable Outcomes: Still Here at the worship center on March 19. | Screenshot: YouTube/ The Potters House of Dallas Bishop T.D. Jakes, the founder of the Potter's House in Dallas, Texas, has revealed that the health incident he experienced while preaching on November 24 was a heart attack. In an interview with NBC's Craig Melvin on the "Today" show, Jakes explained, You know, I didn't really realize what was happening to me on stage until I got to the hospital in an ambulance. And [I was] fussing that it happened on stage, by the way, because I didn't want it to happen. He recounted how a doctor informed him, You had a massive heart attack, despite his lack of typical symptoms such as numbness or sharp pain. He only felt himself drifting off to sleep and later said, I almost died. "The doctor leaned over in my ear and said, 'You had a massive heart attack.' And the reason I didn't realize it is I had no symptoms that they say: no numbness, no sharp pain, no anything. I just kind of drifted off to sleep. I didn't know what it was, but I almost died," Jakes added. Jakes had previously alluded to health issues during his return to the pulpit on New Years Eve but had not specifically stated that he had suffered a heart attack. However, he was more explicit in the recent interview, sharing, He [the doctor] said five minutes later, I would have been dead on arrival. The right side of my heart had completely stopped giving blood at all. As long as I was up preaching, I felt fine. When I sat down, the adrenaline dropped and exposed the fact I was preaching with half of my heart closed through a clot. They had to go get it. Reflecting on his near-death experience, Jakes described it as comforting, stating, In my mind, I was in a quiet, peaceful, serene, white-enveloped, cloud-enveloped space. I was on my way out. Afterwards, in retrospect, it was such a privilege to stand on the other side to get a little glimpse of what that might be like I think it was absolutely amazing. Jakes experienced a health issue that caused him to briefly lose consciousness after praying Psalm 19:14 during his Sunday morning service on November 25 of last year. A video clip of the incident posted on YouTube showed him sharing his passion for preaching and expressing that he wasnt tired of his job just before facing a health incident on stage. Jakes message comes as he filed a defamation lawsuit against former pastor and convicted sex offender Duane Youngblood the day after the health incident. The lawsuit alleges that Youngblood made defamatory accusations against Jakes regarding events that supposedly occurred around 40 years ago. According to lawsuit documents, Jakes attorneys stated that Youngbloods claims were part of an orchestrated scheme to tarnish Jakes reputation and extort millions of dollars from him. Youngblood, who previously pastored in Homestead, Pennsylvania, was arrested on multiple charges related to the sexual abuse of minors dating back to 2002. Feature: Chinese-invested mango processing factory improves livelihoods of rural workers, farmers in Cambodia Xinhua) 10:40, March 31, 2025 KAMPONG SPEU, Cambodia, March 29 (Xinhua) -- Phann Leakhena, a mother of two children, has seen a significant change in her livelihood after she got a steady job at a Chinese-invested mango processing factory here in western Cambodia's Phnom Sruoch district four years ago. Leakhena said prior to the establishment of Zhong Bao (Cambodia) Food Science &Technology Co, Ltd., she was jobless and life was in hardship because she depended her entire livelihood on helping pick mangoes and spray pesticides for other mango orchard owners in exchange for little money and the income was just occasional. But her life has changed when she was offered a job as a mango slicer at the factory, where she has earned a monthly salary, ranging from more than 300 to 500 U.S. dollars. Moreover, as the factory is close to her house, it's convenient for her to live together and mind her children. "I like job here because I can make money, and the job is stable," she told Xinhua in a recent interview. "Since I got a job here, my livelihood has significantly improved because I can save a good amount of money. Leakhena said she could save about 200 dollars every month after all bills and necessities. "If I compare my previous and current livelihoods, it's far different. At this factory, we can make good income, job is easy to do, and it is adjacent to our house," she said. Leakhena said China's purchase of Cambodian dried mangoes has not only benefited small-scale farmers and workers in this rural area, but also contributed to boosting the local economy. "It's good that Chinese people help buy mangoes from Cambodia because it has helped create jobs for locals, so they needn't migrate for jobs far away from home," she said. Leakhena is one of more than 800 workers employed by the factory, which produces dried mangos, and the factory has purchased thousands of tons of mangoes from local farmers annually. Neang Sreymao, a 20-year-old mango-slicing team leader at the factory, said she likes the job because it is near her house and the salary is also decent. "My monthly salary ranges from 500 to 800 U.S. dollars, and this has improved my livelihood better," she told Xinhua. Sreymao said the factory has a huge impact on rural livelihoods, as it has offered opportunities for smallholder farmers to increase their income and for locals to have stable jobs with decent salaries. "I would like to call on Chinese consumers to support made-in-Cambodia mango jam, so it will contribute further to the development of Cambodia," she said. Sreymao added that the factory has helped revive mango farms in the region, as most of the farmers quit them in the past due to no potential market. "Previously, mango plantations were abandoned. No one cared for them because when harvest seasons came, there were no buyers, so they abandoned them or changed to grow other agricultural crops," she said. "Since China has purchased mangoes from Cambodia, farmers have planted mango trees (again) and reaped the fruits, so they have money to support their families," she added. Tith Sreymean, a 19-year-old mango slice quality controller at the factory, said the dried mangoes exported to China are both high in quality and hygiene. "I would like to thank Chinese companies very much for helping buy mango jam from Cambodia," she told Xinhua. Sreymean added that their support has allowed rural workers to make regular salaries and farmers to get better income. "People living near the factory are very happy after Chinese investors have established it here because it has enabled them to make a stable income, and it's easy for them to travel from their homes to work at the factory," she said. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) United Methodist Church in Nigeria Bishop Ande Emmanuel. | Photo Credit: Facebook/ Bishop Ande Emmanuel A United Methodist Church bishop was attacked while engaged in ministry work in Nigeria, resulting in damage to a vehicle used as part of his entourage. UMC Council of Bishops President Tracy Malone announced the attack in a statement on Wednesday, reporting that Bishop Ande Emmanuel and other UMC members traveling with him in the Nigerian Episcopal Area were assaulted by an unspecified party. We strongly condemn the use of violence as a means of conflict resolution, stated Bishop Malone. Such actions only lead to further harm, suffering, and division. We urge all parties to seek peaceful and constructive ways to resolve their differences. Bishop Emmanuel was elected during The United Methodist Church's West Africa Central Conference in December after previously serving as a leader in the Southern Nigeria Conference. He was the first bishop elected following the resignation of former Nigeria Area Bishop John Wesley Yohanna in July. The UMC, a global denomination, has long been embroiled in divisive debates over its Book of Discipline, which prohibits same-sex marriage, the ordination of noncelibate homosexuals, and funding for LGBT advocacy groups. However, last year at the UMC General Conference, delegates voted overwhelmingly to remove these rules after thousands of theologically conservative churches exited the denomination in recent years. Since these changes, tensions have escalated between the progressive UMC and the conservative Global Methodist Church (GMC) over ownership of the Nigerian Episcopal Area. In July 2024, Yohanna announced that the regional body voted to join the GMC at a special session that month. However, the UMC disputed this statement, claiming that only a fraction of the 560,000-member Nigerian Episcopal Area has agreed to disaffiliate from the mainline denomination. Last December, reports emerged of violence between GMC and UMC members in Munga Dosa, leading to the deaths of three United Methodists and the destruction of multiple houses. Last month, both denominations reported further violence at the Banyam Theological Seminary, a historically UMC-affiliated school where GMC leadership held a conference. According to Emmanuel, GMC members took over the seminary and vandalized property, while GMC Bishop Scott Jones accused UMC followers of disrupting their worship and injuring some of their supporters. In Nigeria, same-sex marriage and homosexual acts are illegal, and the law prohibits participation in LGBT advocacy organizations. Home Books Wrongfully imprisoned for 36 years, Christian mother shares how God redeemed injustice In a Missouri prison visiting room in 2017, Judy Henderson collapsed to her knees. The then-60-year-old woman had spent 36 years behind bars, serving a life sentence without parole for a crime she didn't commit. But on this day, tears streamed down her face as Gov. Eric Greitens stood behind her, delivering news that would make history in Missouri: she was being granted clemency. He just took me by the shoulders and he said, Judy, its good news. Its good news for you, Henderson told The Christian Post. He said, Today, Im going to commute your sentence to time served, immediate release. And I still get chills just thinking about it because I can visualize how that was, how that felt. 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 Hendersons new memoir,When the Light Finds Us,chronicles a devastating miscarriage of justice and a journey of spiritual reckoning, resilience and remarkable grace. The book opens with Hendersons rawest memory of all: the moment she was convicted. I can't even put in words the devastation that you feel knowing your life has just been taken, Henderson said. Especially whenever you hear your mother wailing in the background and you can't hold her, you can't touch her. You can't comfort her in any way. But I knew at that moment I had to be strong. Henderson was a business owner, mother and the eldest of eight children when her life unraveled. A survivor of domestic violence and emotional trauma, she was conditioned, by what she termed a generational curse, to endure abuse and seek peace through submission. After divorcing her husband to protect her two young children, Henderson entered a vulnerable period that would prove fateful. I was already mentally conditioned to want this white little picket fence, she said. Then I met my co-defendant [] he was suave and debonair, very polite, very convincing. And I had no idea [] that there was this other side of him that was even capable of doing such a thing. In her book, she recounts how she was manipulated by her boyfriend into robbing a jeweler in Springfield, Missouri. However, the robbery turned deadly when the jeweler refused to give them a ring and other valuables. Hendersons boyfriend fired a gun several times, killing the jeweler and injuring her. Both were charged with murder, but only Henderson was found guilty. A central issue in her trial a conflict of interest was later deemed unconstitutional: Henderson and her co-defendant shared the same attorney. I went to trial first, so I could not take the stand and be honest and tell the truth about this because it would hurt his other client, she explained. You cant give one a fair trial and not the other one. What followed was a slow death sentence: life without parole for 50 years for capital murder. Henderson entered prison in a fog of disbelief and rage, feeling as though shed landed in a foreign country where the language, customs and expectations were unfamiliar. I was very, very angry to begin with. God and I had to come to terms with a lot of different things, she shared. But everything began to change during a three-day Christian retreat offered to a small group of lifers. God speaks of love in the Bible. He loved us so much that He died for us. Whenever I saw the enormity of how much love was in this three-day retreat, and how these volunteers [] didnt have to give up their time to come in there and speak with us [] They chose to do this because they had the love of God in them, and that gave me hope. It wasnt an easy path Im not going to just sit here and paint this great little picture. It wasnt great, she said but it was transformative. She recommitted her life to Christ and found deep resonance in Jeremiah 29:11, a verse she kept above her cell mirror for decades: For I know the plans I have for you plans to give you a future and a hope. I knew prison was not what God had planned for me, she said. But while I was there, He had a purpose. That purpose, she believes, was to become a light to others still in the darkness of incarceration. In prison, she became a certified paralegal and mentor for others incarcerated. She became a certified dog trainer, a certified personal and group fitness trainer from AFAA and a certified hairdresser. Eventually, she became an advocate for legislative reform, leading efforts to ensure that battered women could use their histories of abuse as legal defense. Henderson's advocacy work led to landmark legislation recognizing battered women's syndrome as a legal defense in Missouri. You can either get bitter, or you can get better, she reflected. "I chose better because the anger was only hurting me; it didn't bother anybody else. Nobody in that prison cared that I was angry. Everybody was angry. That was a common emotion, and I had to raise myself up with the help of Jesus Christ, and I had to believe that He already gave me all the tools that I would need the day He created me to navigate through whatever was put in my path. Today, she works with women recently released from prison, helping them find housing, reunite with their children and begin again. Thats what my mission is. Thats what my purpose is. I will do that until the day I take my last breath. Henderson stressed her book isnt simply about wrongful incarceration but a story of radical forgiveness. She emphasized she harbors no ill will toward the man who deceived her, nor the system that imprisoned her. God forgave us. He died on the cross and suffered enormously for us, she said. How could I not, loving Him as my Father, also forgive others as He did? Her ability to forgive is not naive; its born from hard-won clarity and a fierce refusal to let bitterness define her. I did not want Satan to think that he had that kind of power over me, she said. I did not want bitter. The books title, along with its cover art of a flower blooming through barbed wire, is a metaphor for that journey, she said. Light to me symbolizes freedom, she explained. I was in such darkness for so many years without even realizing it. And then whenever I was sent into prison [] that is one of the darkest places you can be. Still, the light found her. And through her writing, work and faith, Henderson, now a grandmother, helps guide others toward that same freedom only available through Christ. Dont give up hope. Sometimes, we just have to listen for His voice. You cant keep going in the same direction if you keep running into roadblocks. That is your sign. Go in a different direction. Let Him show you. Home News Elon Musk thanks pastor for invoking 'hedge of protection' around him 'I think we're going to need divine protection, frankly' SpaceX CEO and DOGE chief Elon Musk thanked a pastor who publicly prayed for him during a large town hall in Wisconsin. The pastor, who remains unidentified as of Monday, asked for divine protection amid what he framed as Musk and President Donald Trump's battle against evil. Speaking to a crowd of about 2,000 supporters in Green Bay, Musk was campaigning in support of Brad Schimel, the conservative candidate in a high-stakes Wisconsin Supreme Court election set for Tuesday. He framed the state supreme court election as critical, suggesting it could influence congressional redistricting and the balance of power in the U.S. House of Representatives. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe While he was taking questions from the audience, one man asked if his father, a pastor, could offer a prayer for him, to which Musk agreed. The pastor, who was wearing a white clerical collar, thanked Musk for what he is doing for the United States and characterized the "lawfare" and corruption he is fighting as "a bad spirit, if you want to say it that way, putting it nicely." Pastor prays for God to protect Elon Musk, his family and all who are working with him at Wisconsin rally@elonmusk bows his head, says, "I think we're going to need Divine protection, frankly." pic.twitter.com/RMhdgs4HjS Melissa Barnhart (@MelBarnhart) March 31, 2025 Pastor prays for God to protect Elon Musk, his family and all who are working with him at Wisconsin rally@elonmusk bows his head, says, "I think we're going to need Divine protection, frankly." pic.twitter.com/RMhdgs4HjS Melissa Barnhart (@MelBarnhart) March 31, 2025 "It's something evil that has come against our country, our morals, our families, et cetera," he added. "And then you and the president and others getting attacked with this outrage and this hate." Noting that God has blessed America and provided it with "a great history," the pastor added, "Although we've gone through many rough times, you're still very present and active with us." "We ask that you envelop and protect all of those who are fighting for justice, for freedom, for order, for dignity, and to reward people according to merit," the pastor continued. "Especially put your hedge of protection around Elon Musk, around his children, around his whole entire family, and all of his team members; that all would do good and just by our country and freedom, truly and [that] justice would reign once again." "We ask this in the name of the blessed Savior, Jesus Christ, who we remember during this time of year, who suffered and died for our sins," he added. "May you wash away all that is wrong with our country and start with us. We ask this in Jesus name. Amen." Thanking him in response, Musk said, "That was beautiful. I think were going to need divine protection, frankly." The pastor's prayer came the same day evangelist and Samaritan's Purse CEO Franklin Graham also urged his followers on social media to pray for Musk amid the hatred against him. "Elon Musk is taking a lot of heat for leading the efforts to cut waste in our government. He has pushed policies to reduce spending, curb regulations, downsize workforce, and eliminate wasteand for this, he is receiving a lot of hate," Graham said. Graham noted that Musk is likely discouraged amid the violence vandals are perpetrating against Tesla vehicles and Tesla showrooms. During an interview with Fox Business earlier this month, Musk said he is running his businesses "with great difficulty" as he also juggles his work with DOGE. "'Tesla takedowns' and violence against his brands are making headlines, and he has said that his companies are suffering due to his involvement in helping the Trump administration and trying to make a difference for our nation," Graham continued. "He has said that Americas future is something that keeps him up at night. I'm sure that all of the hateful displays we are seeing on the news must be a discouragement." "We need to lift [Musk] up in prayer. Even though he is a very smart and gifted man, he still needs wisdom from God. Lets ask God to lead him, protect him, and give him wisdom. No question, there is power in prayer," Graham added. Musk has described himself as a "cultural Christian," and has acknowledged Christianity's foundational role in shaping Western civilization. "While I'm not a particularly religious person, I do believe that the teachings of Jesus are good and wise, and that there's tremendous wisdom in turning the other cheek," Musk told Jordan Peterson during an interview for The Daily Wire last year. Musk has also spoken highly of Christianity's cultural impact, arguing last year that Western civilization is "absolutely screwed if it loses Christianity." Home News Evangelical teacher suspended for not using trans pronouns to have $43K taken from account: court order An Evangelical Christian from Ireland, who was suspended from his teaching job, is to have over $43,200 (40,000) forcibly removed from his bank account following a court order. Enoch Burke was first suspended from his job as a teacher at Wilsons Hospital School, a Church of Ireland school in Westmeath, following a disagreement with the schools principal about the school's policy toward a student who wanted to socially transition and identify as the opposite sex. Burke publicly voiced his opposition to using the students new name, they/them pronouns, and the school's position on affirming transgenderism generally. 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 Despite being suspended, pending a disciplinary review, Burke continued going to the school grounds saying he had come to teach his class before the school received a High Court injunction barring him from the premises. Burke went on to breach the injunction and was arrested for contempt of court, leading to a bizarre game of cat and mouse in which Burke was at various times in jail or back on the school grounds. He now owes around $85,500 (79,100) in unpaid court fines. The High Court has now issued an absolute order to the Bank of Ireland, requiring it to transfer $43,200 from Burkes account to a Courts Service account within the next seven days. Burke has continually refused to cooperate with the authorities, saying that he wishes to obey God rather than man. His court appearances are often chaotic affairs, with Burke and his supporters talking over, or being talked over by the presiding judge. The most recent appearance ended when the judge left while Burke was still speaking. Burke is one of 10 children in his family which has a history of activism. The case continues and will be back in court in less than two weeks. This article was originally published at Christian Today Home News Most people come to faith between ages 4 and 14, but 'theological education hasnt done enough to focus on next gen' Lucy Kajidori, leader of the International Council of Evangelical Theological Education's (ICETE) Impact Team on Children and Families, spoke with Christian Daily International about the urgent need to integrate ministry to children more deeply into theological education. She shared how the initiative began, what gaps exist, and what the group hopes to achieve. Kajidori is an educator with experience in intercultural ministry and development. She has an MTh from the University of Oxford, U.K., and is a Ph.D. candidate at Fuller Theological Seminary in California, where she is researching local and contextual theologies of children. She also serves as researcher of theology and practice for the Viva Network, a Christian NGO working with children internationally. CDI: Lucy, thanks for speaking with us. Could you share how your involvement with the ICETE Impact Team for Focus on Children began? 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 Kajidori: It really started with Michael Ortiz (ICETE executive director) and the ICETE leadership team. Theyve become deeply convinced that theological education hasnt done enough to focus on the next generation, and theyve made it a real priority now. So, they created three groups: one for the next generation, one for youth ministry, and one for children and families. I was invited to lead the group on children and families. The key idea is that this isnt just a token gesture were trying to go deep and help theological education better serve churches that serve these groups. CDI: What is the gap you see that needs to be addressed? Kajidori: Well, half of the worlds population is under 18. Yet, if you look at theological training institutions, the vast majority offer no training on ministry to children or youth. And those that do often treat it as a very separate, specialist field only for those training to be childrens pastors or youth workers. But we would argue that every pastor, no matter their role, is going to be working with children, parents and grandparents in their church and community. We want to move away from seeing children as an add-on and instead recognize them as a core part of the church. CDI: You mentioned earlier that many people come to faith at a young age. How does that impact your work? Kajidori: Yes, weve learned from the 4-14 Window movement led by Luis Bush and others that more people come to faith between the ages of 4 and 14 than at any other life stage. So, if we want to be serious about mission and evangelism, then we have to be serious about ministry to children and youth. That means pastors themselves need to be equipped to minister to young people, or at least to lead and support those who do. Its a crucial moment in faith development. CDI: What were some key takeaways from your groups conversations this week? Kajidori: Three main challenges stood out to us. First, theres a lack of collaboration. Seminaries, churches, families and childrens ministries often work in silos. We want to be bridge-builders connecting the dots between those groups. Second, we noticed a real lack of locally developed curriculum and resources, especially ones designed for theological education that focus on children and young people. So weve created a subgroup in our impact team to work on resources and curriculum development. And third, and perhaps the most difficult: theres a cultural issue in theological education. Many institutions still dont take children seriously. Theres this underlying belief that churches exist mainly to minister to adults. Changing that mindset will take decades, but we hope this impact group can be part of that shift. CDI: If everything goes as you hope, what would your dream scenario look like? Kajidori: Our big dream is that every student in every ICETE-affiliated theological institution whether theyre in a formal or non-formal program would be required to take a core course or module on ministry with children. Not as an optional extra, but as an essential part of their training. We want it to become a normal, expected part of theological education around the world. CDI: Is there anything else youd like to share? Kajidori: Yes, we also acknowledged theres a gender element to this. In many places, childrens ministry is mostly done by women. In our impact team, we had three men and we were thrilled they were there! But we want to explore why more men arent engaging in advocacy for children within theological education. So, if there are men out there who care about this and want to get involved, please come and join us. This article was originally published at Christian Daily International Home News Planned Parenthood staffer 'inadvertently' provided sexually explicit coloring book to kids A Kentucky museum says a Planned Parenthood staffer "inadvertently" provided sexually explicit coloring books to kids as young as 8 years old at an event earlier this month. The Kentucky Science Center, located in Louisville, issued an apology on March 26 after alleging that Planned Parenthood distributed an explicit "Adult Coloring and Activity Book" to children ages 8 to 13 during a March 21 Health and Wellness Days event attended by public school students. In a statement posted on Facebook, the science center expressed regret, saying, "We sincerely apologize for the distribution of a Planned Parenthood coloring book at our recent Health & Wellness Days event." 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 center claimed the book, which includes illustrations of male and female anatomy and sexual education activities like crosswords and word searches, was provided by Planned Parenthood without their consent and did not align with the event's intended content or their policies. "We deeply regret the harm this caused," the center added. "We are taking immediate steps to ensure that all materials distributed at our events are thoroughly reviewed in advance and this partner is no longer welcome at the Science Center." It's not immediately clear whether the statement is referring to Planned Parenthood, the nation's largest abortion provider, as "this partner." On Friday, the Science Center shared in an update that Planned Parenthood is "acknowledging this mistake." "We have learned that a staff member inadvertently distributed an item that wouldn't typically be used in a setting like this event," the statement reads. "We apologize for this error and are reviewing our internal protocols." CP reached out to Planned Parenthood to comment on Friday. This story will be updated if a response is received. The coloring book in question, described by Planned Parenthood as an "Adult Coloring and Activity Book," was initially created for the organization's annual conference, and intended for adult attendees, not children, according to the museum. Billed as "Planned Parenthood's first ever adult coloring and activity book," the 20-page book by illustrator Bethany Robertson and Sarah Sandman includes an illustrated coloring sheet with apparent packages of contraceptive pills, images of male and female genitalia and a page titled "Sex Libs" with fill-in-the-blank sentences such as "The first time I ever put on a condom" and "My favorite way to put on a condom." Another page of the activity book featured a "connect the dots" image of the White House along with an illustration intrauterine device (IUD), a small, T-shaped contraceptive device that is inserted into the uterus to prevent pregnancy. The incident comes on the heels of a report claiming the Trump administration plans to freeze millions of dollars in federal family planning grants. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is in the process of reviewing over $27 million in Title X federal family-planning grants to ensure recipients comply with federal law and executive orders by President Donald Trump, an official confirmed with The Chrisitan Post this week. "HHS is concerned about the compliance of several awardees impacting $27.5 million in continuation awards," the official said. "HHS expects all recipients of federal funding to comply with federal law." The department is considering freezing the funds while it reviews whether or not "the money was used for diversity efforts," sources familiar with the matter told The Wall Street Journal Tuesday. Affiliates of Planned Parenthood were among the groups that the freeze could impact, the report noted. Home News School facing backlash over Easter cancelation says it will celebrate, just not at church A primary school in the United Kingdom that faced criticism for canceling its traditional Easter bonnet parade and church service, has announced plans to continue celebrating Easter but not at a local church in order to ensure inclusivity. The earlier decision by Norwood Primary School in Eastleigh, Hampshire, to cancel its longstanding Easter events had drawn sharp criticism from several quarters, with many viewing it as discriminatory against Christianity. The Bishop of Southampton, Rhiannon King, told the BBC she and some other Christian leaders spoke to the school regarding the cancellation of the Easter events. 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 local vicar of Eastleigh Parish Church, the minister of Eastleigh Baptist Church and I have been in touch with the head teacher and this has been warmly welcomed, King was quoted as saying. We are encouraged by the head teachers assurance that learning about Christian faith remains embedded firmly in the Religious Education curriculum and by her warm invitation to go in and meet some of the children in the new term an offer we would be delighted to accept. The schools headteacher, Stephanie Mander, defended the initial decision as part of the schools commitment to inclusivity and promoting respect for all religious backgrounds. In a letter to parents, she explained that the adjustments were made in the spirit of inclusivity and respect for the diverse religious beliefs represented in the schools community. Among the critics of the schools decision was Suella Braverman, former home secretary and member of Parliament for Hampshire, who described the move as cultural surrender. Some, however, dismissed the backlash as overblown, with one parent calling it a storm in a teacup, according to the BBC. In an opinion piece for GB News, Carole Manole wrote, The whole point about diversity and inclusivity is that its meant to celebrate ALL cultures and creeds. And what certainly shouldnt be allowed are attempts to eradicate the indigenous religion of this country so as not to offend others. She asked, how is it that those entrusted with shaping the minds of children fail to realize that respect for other religions cannot be promoted by dismissing or attempting to erase another? Manders letter to the parents was shared in a local Facebook group. One commenter questioned whether Christmas celebrations would be the next to be canceled. Is Miss Mander preparing to cancel Christmas as well? read the comment. Another person expressed confusion over the decision, stating, I dont get it personally. Parents have always been given the option to not attend. The schools always been diverse and accepting of all. Trumps Policy Shifts Risk Religious Freedom, Netherlands Euthanasia Rates Soar, Protests Against Hamas Erupt link to download the audio instead. link to download the audio instead. 08:53 08:53 Sponsored by WatersEdge: Invest with purpose? With WatersEdge Kingdom Investments, you can! We offer great rates that multiply your resources and build churches. Learn more at: https://bit.ly/3CxWtFz Top headlines for Monday, March 31, 2025 In this episode, we discuss warnings from a leading religious freedom advisory panel about potential negative impacts of policy changes under the Trump administration on religious rights worldwide. Next, we delve into a recent report on the Netherlands, where nearly 10,000 people chose euthanasia last year, marking a notable 10% increase from the previous year. Plus, we turn our attention to the Gaza Strip, where protests have erupted in response to Hamas rule, signaling growing discontent in the region. 00:11 Trump policy shifts will impact religious freedom: USCIRF chair 01:10 Texas mosque ordered to halt alleged illegal funeral services 02:17 Woman sues abortionist over perforated uterus, skull fragments 03:11 Sponsor Message WatersEdge 04:10 Nearly 10K in Netherlands euthanized amid 10% increase in 2024 05:11 Rare protests against Hamas break out in Gaza 06:03 Planned Parenthood executive salaries continue to increase 07:04 TD Jakes reveals he suffered heart attack: 'Such a privilege' #ReligiousFreedom #USCIRF #TrumpPolicy #ProLife #AbortionDebate #Euthanasia #GazaProtests #HamasProtest #PlannedParenthood #NonprofitTransparency #TDJakes #ChristianLeaders Home Opinion Apologetics done right: Understanding the case for Christianity If youve tried your hand at evangelizing atheists and religious skeptics, you know all too well that some of them will maintain that atheism is the default worldview and there is no evidence or good arguments for God. And, when you whip out your standard Christian apologetic arguments, such as the cosmological argument for God that asserts a creator brought everything we know into existence, theyll say, That doesnt prove the God of the Bible exists! I hate to break it to you, but theyre right. Or when you make them aware of the teleological argument that says the universe and humankind exhibit marks of intelligence and design, skeptics will return fire and say such a case doesnt mean Christianity is true. 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 Once again, theyre correct. Heres the thing: when you or I dole out Christian apologetic claims in a onesie-twosie fashion, thinking it will seal the deal on someones salvation, the end result is usually a crash-and-burn situation for us, with no consideration given to the faith on the side of the unbeliever. This is unfortunate and, in the end, it is our fault because we typically dont stir the apologetics pot correctly to help the person were talking to think about the case for God in the right way. And just what is that right way? While a singular argument can have an impact and get the cerebral juices flowing for some people, a better approach is the cumulative case method that takes progressive steps towards the end goal of showing that Christianity is reasonable to believe and accept. My apologetics professor, Dr. Norman Geisler, taught this kind of approach and used a twelve-step framework to discuss God with unbelievers that he turned into a couple of books, Twelve Points That Show Christianity Is True and I Dont Have Enough Faith to be an Atheist. Now, Im guessing that strikes you as being lengthy. Twelve steps? Isnt that a bit much? I hear you, but Geisler reasoned that some people were a little further along than others concerning what they believed, so most times, you didnt need to cover all 12 steps. A more concise version of the cumulative case method is one used by William Lane Craig, which he briefly discussed during a recent podcast. Let me walk you through his outline and show you how a cumulative case approach can help unbelievers better understand the case for Christianity. A first cause For those still asking the question, Why is there something rather than nothing? that was posed by the co-discoverer of calculus G. W. Leibniz, the first cause argument helps by simply asserting that something (the universe, us, etc.) exists and that you dont get something from nothing. Therefore, an eternal something exists. The options for our eternal reality are surprisingly few reality is either an illusion, is self-created, is nothing more than the universe, or was created by something self-existent. Dr. John Lennox rightly discards the first two as ill-conceived and says, Human intelligence ultimately owes its origin to mindless matter or there is a Creator. It is strange that some people claim that it is their intelligence that leads them to prefer the first to the second. Does the first cause argument prove the God of the Bible? Absolutely not. But its evidence does make the idea of a first uncaused cause reasonable to assume. OK, fine, but where do we go from here? The next logical step is to work backward from the effects of the first cause to determine its nature, and that begins with what it has made. A purposeful cause You have to admit that identifying natural vs. intelligence causes is cake. Lennox says, Is it not to be wondered at that our archaeologist immediately infers intelligent origin when faced with a few simple scratches whereas some scientists, when faced with the 3.5 billion letter sequence of the human genome, inform us that it is to be explained solely in terms of chance and necessity? Admit it, we know intelligence when we see it. The argument from design is very compelling (its my favorite) and helped turn around some atheists like Antony Flew. Does it mean Christianity is true? No. But it does indicate that whatever brought reality into existence is intelligent and purposeful, i.e., it had intent. And one of the things it intended to do was help us understand how to live. A caring cause Its both funny and instructive to see those who espouse relative morality the most manifest absolute morals in matters they care about. Many atheist philosophers have given up on opposing objective morality for example, Louise Atony said, Any argument against the objective reality of moral values will be based on premises that are less obvious than the existence of objective moral values themselves. Yep. Does the moral argument for God that says objective moral values imply a moral lawgiver seal the deal on the Christian faith being the right belief system? No, but it does support the idea that whatever brought us to life is moral, cares about us, and wants us to live right. At this point, lets take a quick breath to note that these three steps, just on their own, lead to some pretty powerful inferences. The cause of reality must be supernatural (it created the natural); powerful (incredibly); eternal (self-existent); omnipresent (it created space and is not limited by it); timeless and changeless (it created time); immaterial (because it transcends space/physical); purposeful (has intent); necessary (as everything else depends on it); infinite and singular (you cannot have two infinites); diverse yet with unity; intelligent (supremely); and moral (no moral law can be had without a giver). This lines up well with the God described in Scripture who is supernatural (Gen. 1:1); powerful (Jer. 32:17); eternal (Ps. 90:2); omnipresent (Ps. 139:7); timeless/changeless (Mal. 3:6); immaterial (John 5:24); purposeful (Gen. 3:9); necessary (Col.1:17); infinite/singular (Jer. 23:24, Deut. 6:4); diverse yet with unity (Matt. 28:19); intelligent (Ps. 147:4-5); moral (Dan. 9:14) and caring (1 Pet. 5:6-7). Not a bad start. Now, lets continue. A revealing cause When it comes to Jesus, the agnostic scholar Bart Ehrman admits, He [Jesus] certainly existed, as virtually every competent scholar of antiquity, Christian or non-Christian, agrees. Many of those scholars also agree that Christ was killed under Pontius Pilate, was buried, went missing from His tomb, was reportedly seen by a decent number of people, and His followers swore to that fact and paid the ultimate penalty for it. Now we get to the fish-or-cut-bait line of the Christian faith. If these things are true, then Christianity is indeed true, and weve got God revealing Himself in the flesh to His creation. Just one last step to go. A personal cause Craig has discussed elsewhere the important distinction between knowing and showing your Christian faith. The steps before this are all about showing how Christianity is true, but ultimately, knowing its real comes down to the witness of the Holy Spirit that is personally given to each believer when theyre born again. Every Christian believes because of the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him (Acts 5:32); The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are Gods children (Rom. 8:16). The apostle John agreed writing, If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater; for the testimony of God is this, that He has testified concerning His Son. The one who believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself (1 John 5:910). Do others experience feelings about God? Sure. The Mormon burning in the bosom and similar experiences in Islam are just a couple of examples. But when you combine the evidence of the showing side of faith with the knowing that all believers receive, the result is a case thats hard to refute. Thats why the cumulate case approach to apologetics is so compelling it takes rational steps towards rationally accepting the truth about Christianity that are then confirmed inwardly by Gods Spirit, who is given to those who receive Christ. At that point, a journey begins that was stated well by Anselm, who wrote: For I do not seek to understand in order that I may believe, but I believe in order to understand. For this also I believe that unless I believe I shall not understand. And thats a pretty exciting place to be. Home Opinion Are exorcisms legitimate in our day? Whats your gut reaction when you come across a video of a preacher casting out demons? Do you roll your eyes and dismiss it as a hoax, or do you feel a sense of hope in witnessing someone break free from the dominion of darkness? Ill be honest my journey with deliverance ministries has made me more of a skeptic than a believer. Sure, I believe in the reality of demons and the stronghold they can have on individuals, leaving many desperate for liberation. But lets face it: the prevalence of scammers in this arena is concerning. In recent years, weve witnessed a surge on platforms like YouTube featuring self-proclaimed Dragon Slayers who have gained fame by publicly demonstrating their ministry of casting out demons during services and under the bright lights on stage. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe To assist you in navigating the murky waters of deliverance ministry, Ive compiled some key insights that will ground your understanding. Together, well explore what deliverance ministry is biblically and theologically, touch on a few warning signs to be aware of when engaging with this movement, and how Christians should effectively practice it in the faith. What is deliverance ministry? Deliverance ministry is a practice aimed at freeing individuals from demonic control through the authority of Jesus. In His ministry, Jesus commanded and authorized His disciples to cast out evil spirits (see Luke 9:1-2; 10:17; Mark 16:17). However, the term deliverance is far richer and more significant in the Old and New Testaments than what is highlighted on stage by most deliverance ministries. Deliverance in the Old Testament The Old Testament depicts deliverance as the liberation experienced by Gods people when they were saved " (Heb., yasha) or rescued (Heb., natsal) from bondage or enslavement from an oppressor, or from sin itself. Another significant Hebrew term is moshaah, which encapsulates the essence of Gods ability to rescue or deliver His people from danger. These Hebrew terms underscore Gods unwavering love and His powerful might that conquers any threat or stronghold that seeks to imprison His people. Deliverance in the New Testament The New Testament features weighty Greek words that highlight the theology of deliverance. By looking at these key Greek terms, we can gain a clearer insight into deliverance and recognize the depth and intricacy of salvation. Sozo refers to being saved or rescued from sin and its consequences. Rhuomai emphasizes Gods role in rescuing and protecting His people from danger. Apallasso captures the idea of liberation, indicating that deliverance involves being freed from various forms of bondage. Eleutheroo reinforces the promise that God will free or liberate people from spiritual, emotional, or physical captivity. In essence, deliverance is not just about physical rescue; it encompasses Gods promise to save, protect, and guide His people, reinforcing the belief that He is essentially a God of salvation: The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold (Psalm 18:2). A primary concern with deliverance ministries Therefore, a significant concern I have regarding deliverance ministries is their tendency to focus too much on demonic activity. This narrow perspective can lead to sensationalism, where an overemphasis is placed primarily on casting out demons rather than addressing people's holistic needs. Moreover, this approach often aligns with the prosperity doctrine, which manipulates people into believing they must contribute financially to these ministries to receive deliverance from demons or attain financial blessings. Such teachings can create an unhealthy dependency on financial gifts as a means to achieve spiritual freedom. This not only distorts the true nature of deliverance but also exploits vulnerable individuals who are searching for spiritual and emotional help. Bringing biblical balance to deliverance ministries Believers must understand that deliverance involves more than just facing demonic forces. They shouldn't believe naively that demons are the sole cause of their troubles and that everything will be fine if the right anointed preacher casts them out. Deliverance ministries often focus, to a fault, on the hype surrounding Satans attacks while neglecting to equip their audiences if some are theologically equipped to do so. Yes, we should believe what Peter said about Jesus that He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil (Acts 10:38). This serves as a strong reminder for all of us about the need for ministry in Gods power. However, that is not all that Jesus did, nor is it the primary command He gave to the Church. True deliverance encompasses a comprehensive understanding of Gods salvific grace, healing, and protection not just the casting out of demons. In Matthew 28:19-20, we receive what is known as the Great Commission: the directive to preach the Gospel, make disciples, and cast out demons. All three elements are vital for us as followers of Christ, and we must not downplay one command over the others. Sharing the Gospel with those in need of knowing Jesus and helping Christians grow in their faith constitutes the majority of what we find in the New Testament. In Hebrews 5:14, the writer emphasizes the importance for Christians to be trained so they can mature and recognize the difference between right and wrong. In 2 Peter 1:3-11, Peter encourages dispersed Christians to make every effort to add to their faith (3:5) so that they are not ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ (3:8). If we genuinely want to see people delivered, we must preach Jesus to the world (Mark 16:15), teach them to be rooted in the Word of God (Psalm 1; Colossians 2:6-7), and assist them in growing their faith (1 Peter 2:2) as they develop their spiritual gifts to edify the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:12-31). By doing this, Christians will be better equipped to resist the devil (James 4:7) and avoid falling into his schemes (2 Corinthians 2:11) because they are drawing closer to God (James 4:8) and are outfitted with His armor (Ephesians 6:10-19). So, the next time you feel drawn to a deliverance ministry, be sure to evaluate whether it is anchored in a biblical balance rather than offering a one-dimensional teaching that does not fully capture the essence of deliverance as presented in infallible Scripture. Home News Baptist alliance launches Stand in the Gap initiative to fund humanitarian aid slashed by Trump admin. A global Baptist organization representing around 53 million people across numerous regional churches seeks to help raise funds for international aid that has been lost to the recent cuts by the Trump administration. The Baptist World Alliance held the "Stand in the Gap Solidarity Sunday" this week in a bid to boost support for international aid programs. BWA spokesperson J. Merritt Johnston told The Christian Post that the event was launched in response to what she described as "a rapid deceleration of humanitarian aid around the world." 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 BWA is hearing from Baptist groups from around the world imploring us to send urgent life-saving assistance," Johnston said. "We cannot replace the millions of aid dollars that have been lost, but as the Church, we also cannot sit on the sidelines." "We have encouraged churches to participate in Solidarity Sunday on March 30 or a future fifth Sunday, dedicating a portion of their service to pray and to receive a love offering to respond to the needs at this critical time." Although BWA does not presently receive federal funding through the United States Agency on International Development, some of its partners, including those affiliated with the Baptist Forum for Aid and Development, do. "BWA is comprised of 266 member partners in 134 countries and territories. Member partners in areas that are impacted request support to meet specific needs in their contexts," Johnston explained. "The grant requests are reviewed by the Baptist World Aid team and funds are distributed as available to respond to as many requests as we can. Those living in impacted areas know firsthand what the needs are and how best to meet them." BWA hopes "to network the resources of our global family so that local leaders on the ground can receive what they need to respond and share the love of Christ in practical ways across their communities." President Donald Trump has sought to drastically cut funding and personnel from USAID, alleging that the agency has engaged in extensive wasteful spending. Examples cited by the White House include $1.5 million spent on "advance diversity equity and inclusion in Serbia's workplaces and business communities," $2 million spent on sex change operations and "LGBT activism" in Guatemala and the delivery of hundreds of thousands of free meals to al Qaeda-affiliated terrorists in Syria. Critics, among them multiple Christian nonprofits, have argued that the cuts which reportedly amounted to 92% of USAID and State Department foreign assistance-related grants and contracts have terminated life-saving programs for vulnerable communities overseas. In a statement announcing the "Stand in the Gap" initiative, BWA says its leaders are receiving requests for help from places like the war-torn Democratic Republic of Congo, where hospitals are overwhelmed and thousands are displaced while churches lack resources to provide water, food and medical care needed. On the conflict-ridden Thailand-Myanmar border, BWA says some have died seeking medical assistance when health clinics in displacement camps were temporarily suspended under stop-work orders. In a 5-4 unsigned opinion released March 5, the United States Supreme Court denied the Trump administration's request to freeze $2 billion in USAID reimbursement funds, upholding a lower court order. As a result, the Evangelical humanitarian aid charity Samaritan's Purse was able to receive a $19 million reimbursement for work it did to provide food and medical care to people in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan and South Sudan. 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 Idaho will require schools to teach fetal development, show ultrasound video to students Idaho's Republican Gov. Brad Little has signed a law requiring schools to teach about fetal development, a move proponents believe will enable children in the state to learn that life begins at conception. Little signed Senate Bill 1046 into law last week, following its approval by the Republican-controlled Idaho Senate in a 27-8 vote on Feb. 27 and the Republican-controlled Idaho House of Representatives in a 63-6 vote on March 18. The votes fell mainly along party lines, with most Republicans supporting the measure and most opposition coming from Democrats. Three Democrats in the Idaho House joined Republicans in supporting the legislation, while two Senate Republicans joined Democrats in opposing 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 Beginning with the 2025-2026 school year, Senate Bill 1046 declares that each school district serving students in grades five through 12 "shall include instruction on human growth and development" in the curriculum. The "human growth and development" lessons must include "A high-definition ultrasound video, at least three (3) minutes in duration, showing the development of the brain, heart, sex organs, and other vital organs in early fetal development." The other requirement for the new curriculum involves the presentation of "a high-quality, computer-generated rendering or animation showing the process of fertilization and every stage of human development inside the uterus, noting significant markers in cell growth and organ development for every week of pregnancy until birth." The curriculum must be included in any course "that discusses or provides instruction concerning human biology, discusses or provides instruction concerning contraception, or discusses or provides instruction concerning sexually transmitted diseases or sexually transmitted infections." Lila Rose, pro-life activist and founder of the advocacy group Live Action, said in a statement that the "study of human development is a fundamental aspect of science education." "I am thrilled that with the passage and signing of SB1046, students in the great state of Idaho will gain a deeper understanding of the incredible process of how human life begins," she said. "This is a significant step toward equipping Idaho's students with accurate, necessary, and scientifically accurate information regarding human life in the womb," Rose added. "Idaho is now one of the pioneering states to ensure state-of-the-art education explaining and illustrating human development, like Live Action's Baby Olivia video, is included in state education standards. Through vivid, life-like animation, students can now witness the beauty and reality of life in the womb from the moment of fertilization." Critics of the bill have argued that it could limit what teachers can include in their instruction on the topic. The Idaho Freedom Foundation contends, however, that "harmful myths" are being advanced by Democrats that human life does not begin at conception as a justification for more expansive legalized abortion. Idaho joins North Dakota and Tennessee as the states that require education on fetal development. "Every American student deserves access to the truth about when life begins and how it develops," Rose said. "These truths inform minds and foster a culture that respects human life at every stage of development." The "Baby Olivia" video, shared by Rose in an X post published as Tennessee implemented a similar law to Idaho's Senate Bill 1046 last year, shows unborn babies at various stages of development as part of an effort to make the point that life begins at fertilization. Identifying conception as "the moment that life begins," the narrator asserts that "At fertilization, her gender, ethnicity, hair color, eye color and countless traits are already determined." The video also details how the baby "begins to implant in the uterus about one week after fertilization." "Her cells organize into what we call an embryo. At three weeks and one day, just 22 days after fertilization, Olivia's heartbeat can be detected," the video continues. "The buds of her arms and legs appear by four weeks. She begins to move between five and six weeks, with both spontaneous and reflexive movements. At six weeks from fertilization, her brain activity can be recorded and bone formation begins." Additional development milestones highlighted in the video include the emergence of fingers and toes as well as the ability to hiccup at around seven-and-a-half weeks gestation, the ability to suck her thumb, swallow, grasp an object, touch her face, sigh and stretch nine weeks into the pregnancy, the maturation of taste buds by week 12, the ability to sense her mother's movements 14-18 weeks into the pregnancy and the development of speaking movements in her voice box at 18 weeks gestation. Insisting that "babies have survived outside the womb" as early as about 20 weeks into pregnancy, the video notes that "at 27 weeks, her eyes are responding to light, she can recognize her parents' voices and will even recognize lullabies and stories." The video concludes by labeling childbirth as the end point of Olivia's nine-month "journey." Home News Over a fifth of adults have left religious groups they were raised in: Pew study Christianity among religions seeing sharp decline More than 20% of adults have departed from the religious groups in which they were raised, according to a Pew Research Center study spanning 36 countries. The trend, called religious switching, has resulted in notable declines for Christianity and Buddhism, while a growing number of adults now identify as religiously unaffiliated. The phenomenon of religious switching, as defined in the report, involves individuals changing their religious identities between childhood and adulthood. This includes disaffiliation from religion entirely or switching to a different major religious group. However, it doesn't account for transitions within the same religion, such as shifting from one Christian denomination to another. While some countries, including India, Israel, Nigeria and Thailand, report high religious retention rates of 95% or more, other regions, particularly East Asia, Western Europe and the Americas, display significant religious mobility. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe In South Korea, the survey found that half of its adult population no longer identifies with their childhood religion. Similarly, 36% of adults in the Netherlands, 28% in the United States and 21% in Brazil report having left the religious traditions they grew up with. In many of these cases, individuals have transitioned into the religiously unaffiliated category, which includes atheists, agnostics and those who describe their religious identity as nothing in particular. The data suggests that Christianity is one of the religions most affected by this shift. In Sweden, for instance, 29% of adults raised as Christians now identify as religiously unaffiliated. Christianity stands out as the religion with the highest net losses due to religious switching in most of the countries studied. For example, in Germany, the ratio of people leaving Christianity to those joining is 19.7 to 1.0, meaning nearly 20 Germans raised as Christians no longer identify with the faith for every one individual who has converted to Christianity. However, there are exceptions to this trend. In Singapore, Christianity is experiencing small gains, with a ratio of 1.0 to 3.2 indicating that for every Singaporean who has left Christianity, about three others have joined. In some countries, such as Nigeria, the ratio is balanced, with equal numbers of individuals leaving and joining Christianity (1.0 to 1.0), reflecting a more stable religious landscape for the faith in these regions. Buddhism has also experienced significant losses in some regions. In Japan, 23% of adults who were raised Buddhist no longer identify with any religion, while in South Korea, 13% of adults have similarly disaffiliated from Buddhism. While the majority of religious switching involves disaffiliation, the report also notes cases of individuals moving toward religion. South Korea has the highest proportion of adults (9%) who were raised without any religious affiliation but now identify with a specific faith, the majority of them becoming Christian. Other countries, such as Singapore and South Africa, also show notable rates of adults switching between two distinct religions. The survey further reveals that religious switching is not evenly distributed across all religious traditions or regions. Christianity, the worlds largest religion, is predominant or historically influential in 25 of the 36 countries surveyed. Islam, the second-largest religion globally, is predominant in six of the surveyed nations, including Bangladesh, Indonesia and Turkey. Buddhism, with historical predominance in countries like Japan, South Korea and Thailand, has seen notable disaffiliation in certain areas. Meanwhile, Hinduism and Judaism, each predominant in only one country surveyed (India and Israel, respectively), exhibit much lower rates of religious switching. Home News 82-year-old Pastor Douglas Jones accused of criminal sexual conduct Douglas Jones, the longtime senior pastor of the 4,000-member Welcome Missionary Baptist Church in Pontiac, Michigan, has been accused of criminal sexual conduct. His attorney, however, says the allegation is ridiculous. Jones, who has led the Welcome Missionary Baptist Church since 1989, has been charged with one count of fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct, which allegedly occurred on Aug. 26, 2024, The Oakland Press reported. All of the details pertaining to the case werent immediately clear on Monday, but it is alleged that family members of the plaintiff continue to attend Welcome Missionary Baptist Church. 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 Fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct involves unwanted sexual contact without penetration. If found guilty, Jones could spend up to two years in prison and/or be fined $500. Jones attorney, Cyril Hall, denied the allegation against their client last Friday. Were shocked by the allegations, although were confident they will be dismissed we categorically deny any allegations and know the pastor would not engage in this type of behavior, Hall told the publication. The Oakland County Prosecutors Office did not immediately respond when contacted about the case by CP on Monday. Online records show that Jones pleaded not guilty to the charge at an arraignment on March 20 and posted a 10,000 bond that same day. He is now scheduled for a probable cause hearing on Tuesday. Jones, who has served on many boards and recognized for his work with local youth, has been described as a pillar of the Pontiac community, according to the Oakland Community Health Network. Pastor Jones is heavily involved with our communitys youth and has established Ministries for Young Men Making a Difference, the Teen Esteem Ministry, a Domestic Violence Ministry, and many more programs to help the greater Pontiac community, the Oakland Community Health Network added. Jones, who is a native of Cincinnati, Ohio, is a father of three daughters and a grandfather, according to the church. Pastor Keyon Payton noted in a statement on Facebook Sunday that Jones had suffered the loss of his wife and a daughter in recent years. Beyond his decades of ministry, Pastor Jones has endured profound personal loss. The passing of his wife of many years, followed by the tragic death of his daughter, has compounded his grief in ways that few can understand. And yet, like so many pastors, he likely felt the pressure to keep going to push through, to lead, to serve while carrying an unbearable weight, Payton wrote. The psychological toll of such grief and stress is immeasurable, and for many, it leads to unprocessed pain that manifests in ways they never intended. He further asserted that while Jones isnt a perfect man, he is a good man. In my 20 plus years of pastoral ministry, I cannot begin to fathom the depth of sacrifices he has made over his lifetime of service. His generation of pastors gave of themselves in ways that few outside of ministry can fully comprehend often at great personal cost to their health, their families, and their own emotional well-being, he added. The call to pastoral leadership is far heavier than most members or spectators can imagine. It demands more than just preaching on Sunday; it requires the daily, unseen labor of carrying the burdens of others, often at the expense of ones own peace." Home News Toddler reportedly suspended from nursery school for transphobia: 'Totalitarian insanity' A toddler in the United Kingdom was reportedly suspended from a nursery school for allegedly exhibiting transphobia. Data from the country's Department of Education show that the student, who was 3 or 4 years old, was among 94 students who were suspended or expelled from similar primary schools for "abuse against sexual orientation and gender identity" during the 2022-2023 academic year, according to The Telegraph. Of the 94 suspended pupils that year, 10 were aged 7 or younger and one was 4 or younger, though the government data did not provide details of the children's identities. The data also reportedly show that the number of students suspended or expelled from all state primary schools for homophobic or transphobic behavior increased from 164 in 2021-22 to 178 in 2022-23. 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 Helen Joyce, director of advocacy at Sex Matters, criticized what she believes is the absurdity of the situation. "Every once in a while, the extremes of gender ideology throw up a story that seems too crazy to believe, and a toddler being suspended from nursery for so-called 'transphobia' or homophobia is one such example," she told The Telegraph. "Teachers and school leaders involved in this insanity should be ashamed of themselves for projecting adult concepts and beliefs on to such young children," she continued, adding that this isn't an isolated case. British author J.K. Rowling, who has been outspoken against the issue of transgenderism and men in women's sports, torched the story Monday as "totalitarian insanity." "If you think small children should be punished for being able to [recognize] sex, you are a dangerous zealot who should be nowhere near kids or in any position of authority over them," the "Harry Potter" creator wrote on X. This is totalitarian insanity. If you think small children should be punished for being able to recognise sex, you are a dangerous zealot who should be nowhere near kids or in any position of authority over them. https://t.co/IZI0sP58ss J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) March 31, 2025 The case echoes that of Nigel and Sally Rowe, parents from the Isle of Wight who took legal action in 2021 when a Church of England school labeled their 6-year-old son as potentially "transphobic." They had complained upon learning their son and his classmates were expected to accept that one of them had transitioned from a girl to a boy. The Rowes were ultimately awarded more than $23,900 in legal costs and a commitment from the British government to reform trans-affirming policies in schools, though Nigel Rowe told Fox News Digital in 2022 that representatives from the affiliated Church of England opposed them in their fight. "They still don't support us," he said at the time. "It's a bizarre world we live in." "The Bible says we do not fight against flesh and blood, but against spiritual principalities," Nigel said, referencing Ephesians 6:12. "As a Christian, I believe that there is a demonic realm bent on the destruction of everything that is of God." "Destroy the family, and you'll destroy society. ... Destroy the family and then the culture will collapse. I very much see [transgender ideology] as that, and it's very much a movement throughout the world," he added. A spokesperson for the U.K. Department of Education gave a statement to The Telegraph without addressing the allegedly transphobic toddler. "All pupils and staff should feel safe and protected at school and should never face violence or abuse," the spokesperson said. "The Education Secretary has been clear that she expects school leaders to enforce good behavior and we are committed to a comprehensive program of behavior support for schools." "Our Plan for Change sets out our relentless focus on making sure every child gets the best life chances, no matter their background, including establishing free breakfast clubs in every primary school, providing access to mental health support and making attendance one of the four core priorities of our school improvement teams," the statement added. Home News Labour council seeks to imprison street preachers up to 2 years for causing offense, distress Christians to be criminalized for handing out Bibles, praying for, laying hands on people A Labour Party-run council in England has sparked outrage by proposing a sweeping injunction that could imprison Christian street preachers for up to two years over claims of causing offense or distress. Rushmoor Borough Council, covering Farnborough and Aldershot, has faced accusations of attempting to criminalize Christians for preaching, praying and distributing Bibles in public spaces. The council initially applied for the injunction in February, citing complaints about noise, public disruption and distress caused by street preachers. Under the proposed terms, Christians would be banned from praying for individuals without prior consent, handing out religious leaflets or Bibles by hand, and laying hands on people in prayer even with permission, according to The Telegraph. 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 injunction also sought to prohibit approaching individuals to discuss religion and preaching messages that could be perceived as hostile toward protected characteristics such as age, gender or sexual orientation. Violations of the injunction could result in fines, arrests and a maximum prison sentence of two years. After an intervention by the Christian Legal Centre (CLC), street preachers represented by the legal group have managed to temporarily halt the attempts. The council also postponed a court hearing that would have sealed the injunctions terms. The council is now reportedly rewriting the injunction while seeking greater consultation with local Christians. The CLC described the proposed measures as disproportionate and unlawful. Andrea Williams, the organizations chief executive, vowed to challenge any legislation that attempts to silence or criminalize the Christian faith. Rushmoor Borough Council defended its actions by pointing to a high volume of complaints from residents and local businesses about the behavior of street preachers. Common grievances included the use of portable PA systems, loud amplification and messages that some found offensive or upsetting. In one instance, a member of the public claimed that Christian preaching created a non-inclusive environment. Another complained that hearing religious messages had ruined their day. However, preachers and their supporters argue that the councils proposed action unfairly targets Christian evangelism. They contend that the preaching of the Gospel a practice deeply rooted in British history is inherently challenging to non-believers and could sometimes provoke strong reactions, but this does not constitute a criminal offense. The Gospel is not my idea; I am being obedient to God, one preacher said, defending their right to share their faith publicly. There is a fracturing of the understanding of what the Christian faith is across this land. For the first 19 years of my life, I was against God, but then my life was completely changed. I know what it is like to be on the other side, and I know people can change their minds and find hope. That is why I do what I do., added the preacher. Since we found out about the injunction and asked for prayer, we have been contacted by Christians from across the U.K. The issue is uniting preachers and Christians and we are prepared to challenge this as far as need be to prevent the Gospel being criminalized in Aldershot and Farnborough. Home News Why do protesters in Gaza want Hamas out? Expert breaks down group's 'dictatorial' rule After thousands of Gazans took to the streets last week in a rare display of defiance against the Hamas terror group, a strategic advisor for a Christian advocacy group believes it is "unconscionable" for anti-Israel activists in the West to continue supporting Hamas. Phillip Dolitsky, an Orthodox Jew who works on issues related to foreign policy for The Philos Project, a United States-based nonprofit that equips Christians to support Israel and the Jewish people, says the ongoing Israel-Hamas war is not the sole focus of the protests in Gaza. "They want Hamas out," Dolitsky told The Christian Post. "And I think that now that Hamas has been made vulnerable and that its capability has been so greatly depleted, finally, there are people who are trying to call for an end to Hamas rule." 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 Senior Hamas officials have claimed that the demonstrations that erupted last week are directed against Israel and the ongoing war in Gaza, which began after Hamas launched a surprise attack in southern Israel, killed 1,200 people on Oct. 7, 2023, and took around 240 hostages. Since the war began, the Hamas-controlled Gaza Health Ministry says over 50,000 people have died in Gaza, a figure that doesn't differentiate between combatants and civilians. Israel's military response has led to a series of anti-Israel demonstrations in the West, with activists in the United States setting up protest encampments on college campuses. Many of the anti-Israel demonstrators expressed support for Hamas, and Jewish students at various institutions reported that they experienced antisemitic harassment from the demonstrators. "I think it's unconscionable that there are people in the West who would support this genocidal group, which has done nothing but destroy, rape, kill, and plunder," Dolitsky stated. "And when the people who live underneath them want an end to their rule." "This is a ripe opportunity for people to decide who they're going to side with," he continued. "Are they going to side with the people of Gaza, who are protesting Hamas? Or Western people on college campuses who are in favor of Hamas?" In a video shared by the Center for Peace Communications last Tuesday, the protesters in Gaza can be heard chanting, "'Hamas get out!' Gaza's people don't want wars. They demand the end of Hamas's rule. They demand peace." Another video shared online shows a large group of protesters south of the Gaza Strip declaring, "Oh the shame, you sold Gaza with dollars," and, "Hamas is a terrorist." In the footage of a protest in the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza, the protesters chant, "Out, out Hamas!" According to an opinion poll published in March 2024, 70% of Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank said they are satisfied with Hamas' actions. Sixty-three percent said that they "prefer a 'day after' scenario in which Hamas remains in control of Gaza rather than the Palestinian Authority." Dolitsky speculated that the reason for the anti-Hamas protests is that Gazans have finally had enough of the terror group, which has controlled the Gaza Strip since 2007, adding that Hamas "continually sells out the people it claims to govern." He highlighted reports of Hamas stealing humanitarian aid and murdering innocent Gazans who attempted to take any of it. "It is a brutal, dictatorial regime that not only hates Israelis but also hates even its own people who stand in the way of their genocidal aims," Dolitsky said, suggesting Gazans are upset that the ceasefire didn't continue and that the war has interrupted Ramadan, a sacred time for Muslims. Now that the Israeli military has eliminated multiple Hamas leaders who were key to the terror group maintaining control over Gaza's population, the calls for their rule to end can finally resonate, Dolitsky believes. "The Israeli government, by its military action, has perhaps changed the future there by making it, frankly, unpalatable to allow Hamas to rule these people," he said. "And I think the people of Gaza now recognize that." Hamas is the "greatest barrier to peace," he contends, warning that allowing groups with terrorist affinities to rule Gaza will only result in a return to the status quo. A "fresh start" that "leaves behind the sympathies that allowed for Hamas" is necessary for peace, he asserted. Earlier this month, President Donald Trump's administration rejected a proposal from a coalition of Arab states that would have required Hamas to grant control to an interim administration until a "reformed" Palestinian Authority could take over Gaza. National Security Council spokesman Brian Hughes said in early March that the proposal from Arab states "does not address the reality that Gaza is currently uninhabitable and residents cannot humanely live in a territory covered in debris and unexploded ordnance." Trump has proposed that the U.S. take over Gaza, a plan that involves rebuilding the region so it is "free from Hamas" and relocating the people who live there. According to Dolitsky, the administration's idea sounds like a "radical plan," but it may provide Gazans with the "fresh start" that they need. "We need to rethink what the Middle East looks like without terrorist groups governing people," he said. Sovereign AI refers to a national or regional effort to develop and control artificial intelligence (AI) systems, independent of the large non-EU foreign private tech platforms that currently dominate the field. It represents a strategic push by countries or regions to ensure they retain control over their AI capabilities, align them with national values, and mitigate dependence on foreign organizations. There are two main considerations associated with the fundamentals of sovereign AI: 1) Control of the algorithms and the data on the basis of which the AI is trained and developed; and 2) the sovereignty of the infrastructure on which the AI resides and operates. Core principles of sovereign AI Strategic autonomy and security Countries, whether individually or collectively, want to develop AI systems that are not controlled by foreign entities, especially for critical infrastructure, national security, and economic stability. This is essential for strategic autonomy or reliance on potentially biased or insecure AI models developed elsewhere. Cultural relevance and inclusivity Governments aim to develop AI systems that reflect local cultural norms, languages, and ethical frameworks. This ensures AI decisions align with local social values, reducing the risk of bias, discrimination, or misinterpretation of data. Data sovereignty and privacy With data being a key driver of AI development, countries prioritize keeping their data within their borders. This ensures data privacy, security, and compliance with national laws, particularly concerning sensitive information. It is also a way to protect from extra-jurisdictional application of foreign laws. Economic growth and innovation Sovereign AI offers the opportunity to boost domestic AI innovation, improve competitiveness, and protect intellectual property from foreign control. This allows countries to maintain leadership in emerging technologies and create economic opportunities. Ethics and governance Governments are concerned about the ethical implications of AI, particularly in areas such as privacy, human rights, economic dislocation, and fairness. Ensuring that AI systems are transparent, accountable, and aligned with national laws is a key priority. Core EU regulations beyond GDPR impacting sovereign AI Broadcom EU AI Act (Artificial Intelligence Act) The EU AI Act, which is slated for full enforcement in 2025, is one of the first comprehensive regulatory frameworks for AI at the global level. It is a risk-based regulatory framework that aims to ensure that AI is used safely, ethically, and in a way that respects fundamental rights. The AI Act establishes a classification system for AI systems based on their risk level, ranging from low-risk applications to high-risk AI systems used in critical areas such as healthcare, transportation, and law enforcement. The EU AI Act will shape how AI algorithmic systems are built and used within national borders, particularly countries that plan to deploy high-risk AI systems like facial recognition or AI in healthcare. Compliance with the AI Act ensures that AI systems adhere to safety, transparency, accountability, and fairness principles. High-risk AI systems must undergo rigorous testing and certification before deployment. Transparency requirements mandate that users understand how AI models make decisions. Accountability means clear chains of responsibility in the event of harms caused by AI systems. EU Data Act The EU Data Act, which went into effect in 2023, plays a key role in shaping the framework for Sovereign AI by improving data accessibility and governance across Europe. The Data Act aims to create new markets by making available device data not just to manufacturers but also users and third parties, it regulates among other things fair contract terms for data sharing and specific requirements to enable switching between cloud providers. The Data Act framework creates new possibilities to access data that could be used for AI training and development. It also regulates the terms under which organisations can avoid lock-in with a particular cloud provider, which is a key consideration when developing AI capabilities . By focusing on data sharing and access, the Data Act helps organizations and governments unlock the potential of data-driven innovations, including AI. This is crucial for reducing risks related to AI training and enhancing the ability to develop competitive AI solutions by facilitating AI training through the availability of relevant data for a particular jurisdictions AI systems. Cybersecurity Act (NIS2 Directive) The NIS2 Directive focuses on improving the overall cybersecurity resilience of the EU by setting common cybersecurity standards across member states. The act applies to critical infrastructure sectors, including energy, transport, and digital services, and mandates that entities adopt stronger cybersecurity measures and report major incidents to authorities. Whilst nations develop Sovereign AI systems, the NIS2 Directive will enforce robust cybersecurity standards for AI technologies, particularly those deployed in critical infrastructure. Ensuring that AI systems are protected against cyber threats is crucial, especially for those involved in national security, health, or transportation. Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA) DORA significantly impacts Sovereign AI by establishing robust requirements for operational resilience, cybersecurity, and risk management within digital infrastructures of the financial industry and across their supply chain. As Sovereign AI systems increasingly become integral to critical sectors like finance, DORA ensures that these systems are resilient to cyber threats and operational disruptions and places a number of requirements on the downstream supply chain of the financial industry, ranging from operational resilience (including testing thereof), to transparency, performance monitoring and detailed contractual terms. By enforcing standardized risk management protocols and incident reporting requirements, DORA effectively complements the EU AI Act by safeguarding the stability and security of critical AI-driven services delivered to a broad definition of the financial industry and across different service providers. Core challenges for sovereign AI Resource constraints Developing and maintaining sovereign AI systems requires significant investments in infrastructure, including hardware (e.g., high-performance computing GPU), data centers, and energy. Many countries face challenges in acquiring or developing the necessary resources, particularly hardware and energy to support AI capabilities. Talent shortages AI development requires specialized knowledge in machine learning, data science, and engineering. Countries must invest in education and workforce development to ensure they have the skills needed to compete in the global AI race. Global interdependence and cooperation AI development relies on global data and collaboration. Countries must balance the desire for sovereignty with the reality that many AI technologies and infrastructures are interdependent, requiring cooperation across borders to be truly effective. Technological leadership and competitiveness To compete on the global stage, sovereign AI systems need to be technologically advanced. Developing state-of-the-art AI models comparable to those of major tech companies is a significant challenge due to the massive scale of investment and infrastructure required.That said, most organizations do not find value in building their own foundation models from scratch. Instead, they leverage open source models fine-tuned with their custom data, which can often be run on a very small number of GPUs. How the technology of VMware Private AI Foundation can address these challenges Resource management and scalability Private AI infrastructure VMware Private AI Foundation with NVIDIA provides on-premises, secure AI infrastructure, which can be crucial for EU Member States that wish to keep their AI data processing and model training within their borders. VMware Private AI Foundation brings together industry-leading scalable NVIDIA and ecosystem applications for AI, and can be customized to meet local demands. This infrastructure is virtualized to intelligently pool and share AI capacity, which in turn reduces overall power requirements and the total cost of ownership (TCO). Further, this infrastructure can be accessed and managed using open source APIs, such as Kubernetes, and integrates with popular open source AI model repositories, such as Hugging Face, using its native command line interface (CLI). Ultimately, this affords a flexible AI infrastructure that can be embraced without fear of lock-in either from proprietary applications or the existence of proprietary hardware architectures. Its tempting to invest in an end-to-end AI solution that ultimately creates dependencies on a particular hyperscaler model and AI infrastructure. However, the more pragmatic approach to achieve sovereignty objectives remains investing in a private AI infrastructure platform that is future-proofed against changes in the AI ecosystem, allowing organizations to onboard new models and services at the speed of software. Optimized hardware Broadcoms role in delivering specialized accelerated networking and storage, combined with performance-optimized and production-supported NVIDIA GPUs, ensure that sovereign AI systems can be powered by cutting-edge hardware capable of processing large datasets and complex AI models without relying on foreign providers. Equally, Broadcom switches and Network Interface Cards (NICs) with high bandwidth, ultra-low latency connections efficiently route traffic for training and execution without bottlenecks. Because of Broadcoms commitment to open standards, these switches are Ethernet-based, which has a large ecosystem that promotes choice and negates lock-in. Data sovereignty and security On-premises AI deployment By utilizing VMware Private AI Foundation with NVIDIA in either hosted or on-premises environments, organizations can ensure that their data remains within their borders, minimizing the risk of data leaks or unauthorized access from foreign entities. The technology is self-contained, and the customer or its sovereign cloud provider of choice has control of the workloads, security, features, and updates, as well as the applications running on the environment. Broadcom high-performance storage solutions include fibre channel host bus adapters and NVMe solutions that provide fast, scalable storage solutions optimized for AI workloads. Equally, Broadcom security features at the hardware level, with Root of Trust and Hardware Security Module (HSM) integrated processors and storage solutions, ensure that sensitive AI workloads and customer data are protected from the ground up. This targets concerns around data sovereignty and privacy. Keeping data on-premises in the organizations preferred data repositories ensures that AI can be embraced without any loss of control of data. Secure data handling Advanced services for VMware Cloud Foundation such as VMware vDefend for zero-trust security are designed with advanced security protocols that help prevent data breaches, ensuring compliance with local privacy laws. This is particularly important for sensitive government and citizen data, especially when organizations can easily try out new open source AI models such as Mistral or DeepSeek, and protect model output with existing enterprise security controls. Supporting local AI talent and innovation Local development and customization VMware Private AI Foundation with NVIDIA can enable organizations to build and deploy AI models that are tailored to local needs and specific sectors (e.g., healthcare, agriculture). It fosters innovation by providing a platform where local developers can experiment and iterate on AI models AI ecosystem support VMware Private AI Foundation with NVIDIA can support AI research and development, utilizing NVIDIA and open-source models and applications, all within national borders, enabling local universities, startups, and research institutions to thrive, which can also help address the talent shortage by providing the necessary resources for training and development. Ethics and governance compliance Transparency and control Governments can ensure their AI systems are developed with transparency and accountability by utilizing VMware Private AI Foundation with NVIDIA in a secure VMware Sovereign Cloud Service Provider data center, where they can monitor and govern AI development. The user has full control of the input, output and the data that the model will train on. This supports ethical AI deployments that are aligned with national policies and values. Compliance with regulations By using an AI infrastructure that is fully controlled by the end user, compliance becomes a question of controls and jurisdiction in which the solution is deployed. Organizations can ensure that their AI systems meet country-specific ethical standards, such as fairness, privacy protection, and transparency as well as local security controls and certification requirements. Private AI and Sovereign Cloud Providers VMware Private AI Foundation with NVIDIA, can be delivered both on premise and at the control of a specific organisation. However it can also be hosted as a PaaS/IaaS cloud solution that is delivered with one of our Sovereign Cloud Service Provider partners. Enabling choice for organisations to rely on a Sovereign Cloud Provider they trust can play a critical role in addressing several of these challenges when pursuing Sovereign AI. It provides a secure, scalable, resilient and flexible AI infrastructure that can be controlled within national borders, ensuring that data and models remain private and compliant with local regulations. It also supports the objectives of developing local AI capacity and strengthening the local industrial base with proven capabilities that are key in underpinning strategic autonomy. Your next move Want to learn more about VMware Private AI Foundation with NVIDIA? Check out the VMware Private AI Foundation with NVIDIA webpage for more resources. Contact us using this Interest Request form About the authors Guy Bartram is a Director for Partner Marketing in Broadcom and manages Cloud Service Provider marketing and all associated programs for Broadcom Advantage Pinnacle partners. Ilias Chantzos is Global Privacy Officer and Head of EMEA Government Affairs, Broadcom Inc. Anti-Slavery International appoints CEO Helen Moulinos has been announced as the new chief executive of Anti-Slavery International. Moulinos was most recently the interim CEO at the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust, and at NAM Aidsmap. She has previously led the independent human rights advocacy charity POhWER, and worked in the private sector earlier in her career. Moulinos said: Im taking up this role with deep respect for the staff, survivors, activists, and advocates who have fought tirelessly for freedom and with a commitment to amplifying their voices and accelerating progress for a fairer world. New CEO for SSAFA Air marshal Steve Shell will join armed forces charity SSAFA as its new CEO on 2 April after 37 years of service with the Royal Air Force. Shell will succeed Andrew Gregory, who stepped down at the end of February after more than eight years in the role. I look forward to building on my 37 years of service within the military family and to playing a key role in a prestigious organisation, said Shell I stand ready to follow on the great work that Sir Andrew set up for us. WRAP boss leaves to become Green Party CEO Environment action charity WRAP is recruiting a new chief executive after Harriet Lamb departed to become CEO of the Green Party of England and Wales. Lamb said: It has been a great privilege to be the CEO of WRAP and the decision to leave was extremely difficult. However, the chance to be CEO of the Green Party fulfils a lifelong interest. WRAP is a special organisation. Its many expert and motivated people will ensure the organisation continues to grow its impact. United Response welcomes new CEO National disability charity United Response has announced Kate Terroni as its new CEO. Terroni has worked in health and social care for 23 years, including over five years at the Care Quality Commission regulator, where was most recently its chief executive. She said: From support worker to social worker, director of social services to regulator, I have committed to putting the voices of people who receive care at the heart of everything I do. I am delighted that I can use my experience from working across social care to lead an organisation that shares the same values and ambitions for the people we support. CEO of Social Interest Group to step down Gill Arukpe has announced that she will be stepping down as CEO of health and social care charity Social Interest Group after 16 years in the role. Under Arukpes leadership, the charity extended from three to five member organisations and increased its national reach across London and its sustainable funding. Arukpe said: After 16 incredible years as CEO of Penrose and the founder of Social Interest Group, I have made the decision to step down. It has been an honour to lead passionate and professional teams, forge strong partnerships, and work alongside commissioners and key decision-makers to drive systemic change in housing, health, and social care services. New CEO for Bield Housing and Care Scottish housing and care provider, Bield Housing and Care, has announced the appointment of Debbie Collins as its new chief executive. Collins stepped into the permanent position after a year as interim CEO, where she helped shape the next phase of the organisations development. A CIMA-qualified accountant, Collins experience spans senior roles in both the public and private sectors including six years working in social housing. She originally joined Bield in 2023 as the organisations first chief operating officer, where she led across financial and organisational delivery. RSPCA chair to step down RSPCA chair Claire Horton has announced that she is stepping down from her role due to caring and work responsibilities. After 15 months, the former chief executive of Battersea Dogs and Cats Home said that it was a difficult decision, but her current full time role as director of the War Graves Commission and family health challenges now made it impossible to give the role the attention she wanted. Horton oversaw key strategic changes including the introduction of the charitys first new brand in 50 years and a new partnership model for its network of more than 130 branches. Recruitment for a new chair is underway. Beat appoints chair and trustees Eating disorder charity Beat has a new chair of trustees and appointed three new trustees to its board. Chris Martin, former CEO of the Mix and YouthNet, will take over from current chair Mike Cooke after an eight-year term. Beat has also appointed three new trustees: Angela Hind, Danielle Glennon and Malika Bouazzaoui. Hind is the CEO of the Medical Research Foundation; Glennon is a clinical consultant psychological therapist and mental health nurse, and Bouazzaoui is a digital health strategy consultant. Alcohol Change UK appoints chair The board of trustees at national alcohol harm reduction charity Alcohol Change UK has elected Mick Urwin as its new chair, after the unexpected death of former chair, Isabelle Szmigin, in December 2024. After more than two years serving on the board at Alcohol Change UK and taking a leading role in its various sub-committees, Urwin brings understanding and experience across policing, community projects and the charity sector. Urwin is a retired police sergeant who specialised in alcohol harm reduction, creating policies and strategies to tackle underage drinking and alcohol-related anti-social behaviour and violence in the night-time economy. New head of fundraising development for Sight Scotland Scotlands largest visual impairment charity has announced the appointment of Karen Hodgins as its head of fundraising and audience development. Hodgins brings 18 years of experience in managing fundraising teams across diverse charitable causes. She joins Sight Scotland from the Scottish SPCA, where she served as head of public fundraising for nearly two years. Prior to this, she spent two years at Children First as head of supporter experience. Head of comms leaving Causeway Edwin Buckley has announced that he will be leaving his role as head of communications at modern slavery charity Causeway to launch a PR agency. Buckley, who held his role for two years, will be departing to focus on his purpose-driven PR agency, People of Prominence. Buckley said: It has been an absolute pleasure to be part of the Causeway team, working with the incredibly dedicated staff, and helping to support and elevate the voices of the survivors of modern slavery which the charity supports. However, my desire to support more causes, reach more people, and tell more important stories, has now led to me launching People of Prominence and I cant wait to continue my professional journey with this new venture. New head of family services for Dravet Syndrome UK Dravet Syndrome UK has announced that Sandra Awuah, formerly senior social worker at Enfield Childrens Service, is joining the charity as its first-ever head of family services. Dravet Syndrome UK is a small, independent UK charity dedicated to improving the lives of those affected by Dravet Syndrome, a complex form of epilepsy that occurs in around 1 in 15,000 births. Awuah said: Im excited to join Dravet Syndrome UK at such a significant time for the charity. Having worked closely with vulnerable families throughout my career, I understand the challenges they face when navigating complex health and social care systems. Energy Saving Foundation appoints three trustees Three new trustees, including two young leaders, have joined climate crisis charity Energy Saving Foundation. Following an open recruitment process, Ella Thorne, Jasmine Newhouse and Zoe Bonnett were recruited to support the charity in its aim to support young people in taking action on climate change. Thorne is a senior communications and corporate affairs adviser with experience in global sustainability, Newhouse is climate action adviser at Ashden Climate Solutions, while Bonnett is an environmental advocate and student currently studying at the University of Warwick. 16 new trustees for British Museum, Tate and V&A Culture minister Chris Bryant has announced the appointment of 16 new trustees for the British Museum, the Tate and the Victoria and Albert Museum. The new cohort of trustees includes TV broadcaster and writer Claudia Winkleman. Other appointees include British artist and filmmaker Isaac Julien, author and historian Tom Holland, presenter and published author Vick Hope and founder of Lessons at 10 Akshata Murty. Three new trustees for Cure Parkinsons Cure Parkinsons has welcomed three new trustees to the board, which the charity hopes will bolster the boards expertise across a range of areas that will and help it to continue to grow. The charitys new board members include Jane Hodges, a financial and legal professional with over 20 years experience, most recently at Goldman Sachs. It has also appointed Mathew Llewellyn, a chartered accountant working with two decades experience in the IT industry; and Phoebe Stamford-Moroz, who is an expert in governance. sign up to receive the free Civil Society daily news bulletin here . For more news, interviews, opinion and analysis about charities and the voluntary sector, Sign up for The Media Today, CJRs daily newsletter. More people in the United States are tuning in to news about national politics and the actions of Donald Trump than at the same point in the presidency of Joe Biden, a new survey has found. The report, released today by the Pew Research Center, shows that 71 percent of people polled say they are following events around the administration, compared with 66 percent during the early days of the Biden presidency. Notably, the study shows a significant uptick in those who say they are following the news very closely: 31 percent, up from 22 percent four years ago. The results suggest a small reversal of the trend of news avoidance that has plagued media outlets over the past several years, with 40 percent of respondents saying they are paying more attention to the news since Trump took office, compared with just 10 percent who say they are paying less attention. The data also mirror anecdotal signs that Trumps relentless slate of dramatic executive actions has caused readers and viewers to engage more intently again with the news. Critical reporting on the administration has brought publications like Wired and The Atlantic new subscribers since the start of the year, while exclusive interviews with Elon Musk and Volodymyr Zelensky have helped Bret Baiers nightly show on Fox News top the dominant network newscasts. Unsurprisingly, respondents across the partisan spectrum offer differing reasons for why they are tuning in. Eighty-eight percent of Democrats, and those leaning Democrat, say concern about the administrations actions is a major factor in why they are following it, compared with just 45 percent of Republicans and those leaning Republican. Fifty-six percent of all Democratic respondents say they find news about the administration hard to avoid, versus 31 percent of Republicans. Of particular concern for the news media is how fewer people in the US appear to be taking note of Trumps relationship with the press, according to the survey. Since winning reelection, Trump has waged a steady legal campaign against the media, including lawsuits and FCC investigations into critical coverage. Pew found that just 36 percent of US adults surveyed say they have heard a lot about Trumps relationship with the press this year, compared with 72 percent of respondents at the start of Trumps first term. About one in five respondents say theyve heard nothing at all about the relationship, up from 6 percent in 2017. Republicans and Democrats do seem to largely agree on one thing: 61 percent of Republicans, and 67 percent of Democrats, say the relationship between Trump and the press is bad. Sign up for The Media Today, CJRs daily newsletter. Eight days ago, David Bauder, a media reporter at the Associated Press, published a story listing the by now familiar ways in which Trump and his administration have put journalists on their heels after only two months back in power, checking off a barrage of lawsuits and rhetorical attacks, the newly aggressive posture of the Federal Communications Commission, the gutting of the US-funded overseas broadcaster Voice of America, and the White House banning Bauders own shop, the AP, from events after it refused to start referring to the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America in the stenographic way Trump would like. Bauder also noted the (equally familiar) right-wing charges that the mainstream press is no longer widely trusted or even that widely consumed, among other sharp challenges. As last week unfolded, we were assigned more bleak reading (and listening). On an episode of the New York Times influential podcast The Daily, Jim Rutenberg outlined how Trump is not only undermining the press, but circumventing it, as alternative right-wing outlets and podcast bros furnish him with unprecedented levels of media cheerleading and support. (The episodes title: Nixon Dreamed of Breaking the Media. Trump Is Doing It.) In Vanity Fair, Joel Simon situated Trumps efforts to bend the media to his will in the wider context of growing authoritarianism in the US, and argued that anticipatory obedience is rife on the part of outlets from the Washington Post to ABC News. As the week went on, we also saw some real-time tests of Trumps power over the press and the presss power to fight back. Several of them were teed up in advance: a congressional hearing designed to rake NPR and PBS over the coals; multiple lawsuits brought by journalists at VOA and its sister broadcasters, aimed at stopping the gutting; a long-awaited hearing in a case brought by the AP challenging its Gulf-related ban, which the agency says amounts to unconstitutional discrimination based on a question of speech. Others were unscheduled, if unsurprising: a top Trump campaign aide suing the Daily Beast for defamation; the FCC (newly aggressive indeed) announcing that it is investigating Disney and ABC (which Disney owns) over their promotion of supposedly insidious diversity policies; plainclothes immigration outlets snatching a foreign student at Tufts University off the street, quite possibly because of an op-ed that she coauthored in the student paper. These stories certainly all attested to a media facing attacks on multiple frontsand, in many ways, vulnerable in the face of them. But this vulnerability wasnt in evidence to the same extent across the board; indeed, in some ways, at least a few of these stories showed the limits of the administrations power over the press and how the press might assert its own power in response. The biggest political story of the moment has been a testament to media power, too, despite some very Trump-era caveats. Ultimately, the past week has shown how reports of our impotence might be exaggerated, or at least premature. The utterly horrifying treatment of the Tufts student aside, the least hopeful of the stories mentioned above might have been the hearing involving the AP; the outcome isnt yet known since the judge in the case has yet to rule, though he reportedly seems skeptical that the ban is infringing the agencys exercise of its speech rights under the First Amendment. The AP has modeled persistence since the ban was announced, refusing to cave on the Gulf naming issue, continuing to show up at events despite repeatedly being turned away (an exercise that one reporter dubbed Schrodingers Pool Duty), and managing to cover certain press availabilities involving Trump and other world leaders by flying in correspondents from their home countries. Still, the agency insists that the ban is preventing it from reporting on Trump with nuance and immediacy, and is costing it a competitive advantage; Evan Vucci, an AP photographer, told the court last week that being in the room is vitally importantand that being shut out of it kills us. Zeke Miller, the APs chief White House correspondent, told the court that hed observed a wider chilling effect from the ban, which he said has led to a softening of questions at White House events and a reluctance among TV anchors to say Gulf of Mexico. Miller allowed that this was a subjective impression, though at least on the Gulf front, the media reporter Oliver Darcy has documented something similar. Meanwhile, observers (including Paul Farhi in CJR) have suggested that members of the White House press corps havent stood up strongly enough to the new administration, at least in public. Officials have certainly asserted power over the White House Correspondents Association, not least by robbing it of its traditional right to pick which outlets serve in the press pool. Now, according to Mike Allen of Axios, officials are planning to impose their own seating assignments in the briefing room. One WHCA member reportedly suggested that the serving White House press secretary become the associations permanent president in a bid for deescalationthough this idea seems sure to be rejected. (Over the weekend, the WHCA faced further charges of folding to Trump when it canceled the comedian Amber Ruffins scheduled appearance at the upcoming White House Correspondents Dinner shortly after a Trump spokesperson attacked her onlinethough the WHCA said that the decision was already in the works as part of a re-envisioning of the dinner.) There was more hopeful news, however, about VOA and the other international broadcasters that Trump moved to gut two weeks ago; in response, various staffers and outside allies suedarguing that since Congress appropriates funds for the broadcasters, the administration cant just take them awayand last week, they enjoyed some initial success. The US Agency for Global Mediawhich oversees the broadcasters and has recently come under the influence of Kari Lake, a news anchor turned Trump allyhad already agreed to disburse some funds to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty by the time a judge temporarily blocked the agency from withholding money; on Thursday, USAGM restored funding not only for RFE/RL but for the Open Technology Fund, an organization under the agencys banner that promotes internet access in closed societies, while also reinstating staffers at the Office of Cuba Broadcasting, allowing programming there to resume, per the Times. Then, on Friday, a judge temporarily froze USAGMs efforts to dismantle VOA and the other broadcasters, citing their congressionally approved funding. These may be but short-term reprieves; also on Friday, USAGM staffers received a classically Muskian Fork in the Road email inviting them to resign. But Patsy Widakuswara, a VOA journalist turned plaintiff in one of the cases against USAGM, told Politico that the timing of the email could be an encouraging sign that the administration is getting the message that they have to do things legallyeven if, she noted, the journalists under USAGMs aegis are by no means out of the woods yet. While these cases played out, a congressional subcommitteeled by the far-right congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene and named for Musks DOGE initiativehauled in the heads of the public broadcasters NPR and PBS for a reds-under-the-bed style dressing-down. (Liam Scottwho had covered press freedom for VOA until he was fired amid the recent cutsattended the hearing and covered it for CJR.) The hearing may have been grotesque political theater, but it ended with very real threats: Greene called for the federal government to defund the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which oversees NPR and PBS (You all can hate on us on your own dime, she said) and followed that up with a letter to House Speaker Mike Johnson making the same case; she also cosponsored a bill to that effect introduced by Ronny Jackson, the White House physician turned Trump-allied congressman. Even before the hearing, NPR and PBS were facing pressure from the FCC and defunding calls from Trump himself; the broadcasters get a relatively small percentage of their funds from the government, certainly compared with public media in other democracies, but smaller public media stations, especially in rural areas, can be more dependent on that money, and its absence would be sharply felt across the ecosystem, as the NPR and PBS leaders suggested to the committee. Sign up for CJRs daily email And yet public media is hardly defenseless. Trump has suggested defunding it before and didnt get very far. Thats no guarantee that it wont happen nowan early theme of the second Trump presidency has been blitzing through whatever inhibitions and guardrails just about survived his first. But, as CNNs Brian Stelter noted ahead of the hearing, a spending bill that Trump himself recently signed not only contained money for the CPB, but funds it through 2027 due to the way public media spending works. Greene called in her letter for this funding to be rescinded; again, this could conceivably happen, constitutionally or otherwise. But even Trumps Republican Party is not entirely insulated from the winds of public opinion, and defunding NPR and PBS would seem to be unpopular. A Pew poll last week found that less than a quarter of the electorateand fewer than half of Republican and Republican-leaning voterscurrently supports such a move, numbers that are even lower than I would have guessed, Stelter observed on X. Decades of right-wing attacks have not been all that effective. Again, taken together, these and stories like them point to very real vulnerabilities on the part of the media that should not be downplayed. But they also show how, when those targeted choose to fight back, they appear more powerful than the tribunes of media impotence would suggest, at least some of the time. Some of these fightsthose involving USAGM, in particularare inseparable from the broader tug-of-war between Trump, Congress, and the courts that is playing out at the moment across a whole range of government functions. But the news media has some more specific cards it can play as wellnot least the First Amendment. (One imagines that law firms, for example, might like to have similarly explicit constitutional protections right about now.) Even this is not a guaranteed trump card, as the uncertain case of the AP shows. But another, perhaps lesser-noticed legal decision last week brought some positive news on this front: the Supreme Court declining to take up a defamation case brought by Steve Wynn, the casino mogul and GOP donor, that could have allowed the court to reconsider the robust libel protections for the press that current precedent considers to be protected by the First Amendment; again, these might not last forever, but its good news that theyre intact for now. On a more abstract level, its easy to interpret the barrage of attacks on the press as evidence of our weaknessthat were an easy and popular target. And yet, taken on their own terms, these attacks are at least implicitly premised on the recognition that the media has power (to propagate the woke mind virus, if nothing else). If the administration is willing to cede such power to the press, at least rhetorically, it seems counterproductive for us to rhetorically cede it right back by insisting that were powerless. It seems to me that commonly cited examples of media cavingJeff Bezos tampering with the Posts opinion section; ABC caving to an obviously meritless Trump lawsuit; CBS considering doing likewise, but on steroidsdont so much reflect journalistic powerlessness as C-suite spinelessness. Or cravenness; or greed; pick your poison. Zeke Miller and others have observed a softening of certain types of Trump coverage in the face of his attacks, and there is likely some of that going on; theres also the potential for self-censorship, which is definitionally hard to measure since it revolves around stories we dont know about. But Id argue that its far too early to conclude that journalists are caving en masse. Cowardly coverage of Beltway politics is hardly a new phenomenon; from the outside, it can be hard to tell which soft-pedaling is due to fear and which to access or similar, decades-old incentives. And a great deal of excellent, hard-hitting journalism is still being produced every day; as the APs Bauder noted recently, for instance, 60 Minutes, the CBS show at the heart of Trumps bogus suit against the network, has chronicled the new administration unbowed. (Last night, it covered the attempted demolition of VOA; Widakuswara thanked the show for telling VOAs story while we are unable to do our work of telling Americas story.) Last summer, I noted in this newsletter that reporters still have the power to go where others cant (or wont) and to set the agenda, at least among political elites. As evidence, I pointed to the historic photo of Trump in the aftermath of an assassination attempt that Vucci, the AP photographer, risked his life to take. The photo came up in court last week: the APs lawyer held aloft a coffee-table type book, produced by Trump, to show that hed used Vuccis photo for the cover. All these nuanced power dynamics came to a head last week not in a courtroom showdown, but in the weeks biggest storythe Atlantic editor Jeffrey Goldbergs explosive report that Michael Waltz, Trumps national security adviser, accidentally added him to a group chat on a commercial messaging app in which very senior officials proceeded to share highly sensitive details of a bombing raid in Yemeneven if the timeline here was, as they say, very dumb. In some ways, the episode demonstrated the medias vulnerability: rather than take full responsibility, the implicated officials attacked Goldberg in vicious terms and served up distinctly post-truthy deflections; no one was fired, as they surely would have been under administrations past, not least Trumps first. (I dont fire people because of fake news, Trump told NBCs Kristen Welker yesterday.) Even this latter point, however, isnt clear-cut: per reports in the aftermath of Goldbergs story, Trump was deeply frustrated by the embarrassing headlines that it triggered; it has since been reported that top advisers suggested that Trump fire Waltz, that this could still happen, and that the key reason it hasnt yet is that Trump doesnt want to give the mainstream media a scalp. (If the story had appeared in a right-wing outlet like Breitbart, the Wall Street Journal reported, Waltz would already be gone.) Again, this fact could be read as evidence of a lack of power on the medias part, but I think its much better read as an acknowledgment thereof, from a defensive crouch; at least on this story, Trump is the one on his heels. It certainly cut through with the publicand even sparked some criticism from usually Trump-friendly precincts of new and alternative media. (Even Dave Portnoy had a complaint.) Trump, perhaps, hasnt circumvented the media quite yet. Nor has he broken it, as The Atlantic proved not only by running its initial story but by then calling the administrations bluff and publishing the full chat, after officials insisted, ludicrously, that they hadnt discussed anything very sensitive; in so doing, as Politico noted, it showed how to resist the playbook that Trump has used to bring some of the nations oldest and most powerful institutions to heel, and backed him into a corner instead. The revenge tour could yet come for Goldberg, but in recent media appearances, hes brushed off the prospect with an admirable equanimity. On Meet the Press yesterday, he noted to Welker that he hadnt really done anything besides getting added to a chat, and that the administrations hostile response hasnt worked on him. Sometimes people get intimidated, he said, but 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 a kind of silly deflection. Other notable stories: On Friday, Trump commuted the sentence of Carlos Watson, the founder and CEO of the media company Ozy, just as he was set to report to prison after being convicted of fraud and other charges for his role in misleading investors and inflating the companys value. Last year, Josh Hersh and Susie Banikarim covered Watsons trialand what it said about the digital-media environment of the 2010sin a three-part podcast series for CJR. Hersh reported on Watsons commutation on Friday, while Banikarim told Semafor that shes both amazed and not all that surprised that Watson managed to pull it off. His cause didnt seem an obvious one for Trump to take up, but in many ways Carlos is a Trumpian figure, she said, someone who seems to always find a way to make the system work in his favor. Politicos Adam Wren reports that people in the orbit of former president Joe Biden are bracing for the imminent release of at least four booksauthored by journalists from NBC, CNN, Axios, and elsewherethat promise to excavate and relitigate not only the historic 2024 presidential campaign but the former presidents own physical and mental condition before dropping out; per Wren, Bidens aides did not make him available to any of the authors but are prebutting some of the books, challenging their framing and questioning their fact-checking approach in an attempt to protect the former presidents image. Meanwhile, Michael LaRosa, a former Biden staffer, told a podcast that Bidens administration bullied reporters while it was in office. The APs Michael Casey has the story of Carlo DeMaria, the mayor of the Boston suburb of Everett who won a libel case against a local newspaper that turned out to have printed fake stories about himas a result of which the paper shut downonly to now face corruption claims that have led to a no-confidence vote from the City Council. Per court records, a reporter for the paper invented a City Hall insider who fictitiously accused Kickback Carlo of everything from extortion to sexual assault, but he now stands more broadly accused of padding his salary with bonus payments, Casey writes. (DeMaria has denied any wrongdoing.) Last year, the parents of Oleksandra Kuvshynova, a contractor for Fox News who was killed while reporting in Ukraine in 2022, sued the network, alleging that it behaved negligently and later tried to cover up the fact. Now the widow of Pierre Zakrzewski, a Fox video journalist who was killed in the same attack, is suing the network as well, claiming that it failed to take proper measures to protect her husband and also that its insurance was inadequate to compensate his family. Fox has pushed back on both suits, and plans to fully respond to the latter in May. And the Posts Kyle Swenson spoke with Jason Chernesky, who worked as a historian at the Food and Drug Administration before DOGE cut his job, about an oral history project that he has since set up to capture and preserve the stories of members of the federal workforce at this tumultuous time. (The project is open to those affected by the cuts, but also those executing them; Chernesky says he would gladly interview Musk.) Chernesky described the effort as being in the tradition of past initiatives like the Federal Writers Project, which I profiled for CJR back in 2020. Americans with Disabilities Act litigation isnt newbut how, why, and where it shows up in the claims space has shifted considerably in recent years. For those of us who work directly in claims resolution and management, these changes arent theoretical. Theyre playing out in real time, often in the form of fast-moving lawsuits and high-pressure settlements. Over the past two decades, ADA enforcement has gone from top-down federal action to a growing wave of individualized claims. In the early 2000s, the Department of Justice targeted large corporationshotels, restaurant chains, big-box retailerswhen systemic accessibility issues were identified. Today, the trend is far more grassroots. Individual plaintiffs, often working with specialized attorneys, are filing claims against smaller operators: single-location hotels, independent retailers, regional landlords and others who lack the legal infrastructure of larger brands. For claims professionals, this shift has major implications. ADA Claims Are No Longer Niche The ADA became law in 1990, and enforcement ramped up quickly. In the first full year of ADA Title I enforcement (FY 1993), more than 16,000 ADA-related discrimination charges were filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. By FY 2015 that number had jumped to nearly 27,000 roughly a 60% increaseaccounting for 30% of all EEOC charges that year. In 2019 and 2020, disability-based charges consistently made up one-third or more of all EEOC complaints, underscoring how central ADA claims have become within the broader employment claims landscape Meanwhile, in federal court, the broader trend is even starker. Between 2005 and 2017, ADA-related lawsuits surged by 395% court data shows, growing from roughly 2,000 filings to more than 10,000 annually, even as other civil rights litigation declined. The scale and persistence of this growth points to a larger shift in how ADA compliance issues are being identified, escalated, and monetized. The Scale of ADA Litigation Has Changed Across the U.S., ADA-related claims are on the rise and theyre no longer isolated or tied to specific industries. From lodging to retail to housing, claims are surfacing steadily and across the board. Why now? A few reasons. ADA design guidelines have become more precise over time, and the standards are better understood by the general public. While the ADA isnt embedded in standard building codes, its influence now shapes how businesses approach physical design, digital access and customer experience. For plaintiffs, the process of filing a claim has also become easier. The legal threshold is lowa person only has to show they were denied access or treated unequally due to a disability. That can mean anything from a missing handrail to a non-compliant website. Attorneys who specialize in ADA litigation now routinely help clients identify and pursue these casessometimes filing multiple suits in short order. In one recent case in Michigan, a single individual filed lawsuits against four separate hotels, demanding $30,000 from each. The cases were settled within two weeks. Thats $120,000 in settlements, plus legal fees, in less than a month. Where Claims Are Coming From Now Historically, ADA cases clustered around open-access, high-traffic businesses: malls, restaurants, lodging. Thats still true, but the spectrum has expanded. Apartment complexes, previously only targeted in DOJ-led actions, are increasingly the focus of individual lawsuits. If a leasing office isnt accessible, or a tenant cant use the buildings amenities due to design flaws, litigation follows. The most significant growth area, however, is digital accessibility. Websites, mobile apps, and digital signage now fall under the ADAs broad umbrella. Many businesses were caught off guard during the pandemic-era digital shift, when web portals quickly became a primary customer interface. Inaccessible websitesespecially for visually impaired usersare now one of the most common sources of ADA claims. A surge in litigation over digital compliance is already underway, and this will likely define the next era of ADA-related risk. Claims Profiles and Settlement Realities Most ADA claims dont go to trial. They settleand quickly. For property owners and operators, the optics of an ADA suit can be damaging. Even when violations are minor or maintenance-related, being on the receiving end of a discrimination allegation creates reputational risk. That risk, combined with the relatively modest initial demands of plaintiffs, leads many small businesses to settle rather than fight; however, the numbers are climbing. Where a plaintiff might have once asked for $10,000 plus legal fees, the average settlement for an employment discrimination claim (across all types) is now about $40,000, reflecting higher typical recoveries than a few decades ago. Add in attorneys fees, remediation costs, and operational downtime during repairs, and the true cost of an ADA claim goes well beyond the initial settlement. Thats especially tough on smaller operators, who may not have budgeted for this kind of exposure. In some cases, claims are triggered not by original design flaws, but by ongoing maintenance failures. A compliant property can still fall out of line if a lift breaks or a lot degrades. That creates an additional layer of complexity for claims teams. The issue isnt always how a structure was builtits whether its being kept in working order. Technology and Transparency Are Fueling the Trend Identifying non-compliant properties no longer requires an in-person visit. With Google Maps, aerial views, and street-level photography, potential plaintiffsor their attorneyscan find ADA gaps remotely. No ramp in the image? No pool lift? Thats often enough to initiate a lawsuit. This transparency cuts both ways. It allows people to assert their rights. But it also means businesses can be blindsided by claims based on images they didnt know were public. For claims professionals, this creates new risk exposure. Properties that might have escaped scrutiny in the past are now easily evaluatedand targetedfrom a distance. Expect the Trend to Continue ADA-related claims will likely continue rising. This isnt a speculative forecastits the trajectory were already seeing. Public awareness is higher. Enforcement is more accessible. Plaintiffs have more tools, and legal support is more readily available. At the same time, the physical and digital infrastructure of many businesses is aging, and expectations around access have evolved. For claims professionals, ADA exposure now cuts across physical, operational and digital domains. Staying ahead requires not just risk awareness, but a responsive, informed approach to resolution. Its no longer just about large corporations with systemic failures. Todays claims are driven by the cumulative impact of overlooked or aging details and theyre coming fast. Ruggles is a senior ADA and accessibility consultant at Charles Taylor. Ruggles has 19 years of experience in architecture design, property condition assessments, construction document review, construction monitoring, defense legal expert and training with a focus on disabled accessibility consulting. U.S. shipping and logistics company IMC Pro International has agreed to pay $400,000 to the U.S. government to settle allegations that it helped Chinese chemical companies ship fentanyl-making chemicals to the United States, according to U.S. authorities. The deal was announced on Wednesday by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Western District of Texas. It marks the first time a U.S. shipping company has settled accusations that it violated the Controlled Substances Act by transshipping fentanyl precursors through the United States. The monetary settlement does not include an admission of guilt. Chemical smugglers increasingly route fentanyl precursors through the U.S. and then down to Mexico, where the chemicals are turned into street fentanyl in clandestine labs. These packages are hidden in plain sight amid the deluge of cheap e-commerce goods that arrive by air from China to the U.S. each day. Last year, Reuters became the first news organization to reveal this circuitous but effective smuggling route and the way an obscure U.S. trade provision has aided traffickers. The rule, known as de minimis, allows merchandise with a value totaling less than $800 to enter the country duty-free and with minimal inspections. This first-of-its-kind settlement exposes loopholes some companies are exploiting to bring poison to our communities, said Daniel Comeaux, Special Agent in Charge of the DEAs Houston Division. The case began in 2023 when U.S. authorities seized five boxes of fentanyl-making chemicals in Eagle Pass, Texas, along the border with Mexico. IMC Pro was listed as the company that sent the packages. The value of the contents was listed as under $800, which would have made the parcels eligible for streamlined entry under de minimis, authorities said. But IMC Pro was not the sender, authorities learned. Instead, it had struck deals with Chinese chemical companies that gave them access to IMC Pros shipping accounts. This allowed the Chinese firms to pre-print U.S. shipping labels that listed IMC Pro as the company that sent the goods, authorities said, in what appears to be an attempt to obscure their origins. An employee at IMC Pro reached by telephone on Thursday said the company declined to comment. The company did not respond to emailed questions. IMC Pro was founded in 1994 and has offices in Compton, California, and Bensenville, Illinois, according to its website. The seized boxes contained over 25 kilograms of 1-boc-4-piperidone, a regulated chemical that is a common precursor used by fentanyl cooks in Mexico. The parcels also contained nearly 140 kilograms of (2-bromoethyl)benzene, another key fentanyl ingredient that is on the DEAs Special Surveillance List. These chemicals were slated to be routed across the border into Mexico, authorities said. As part of an investigation published last year, Reuters purchased both of these chemicals from Chinese sellers in order to penetrate the shadowy supply chain of fentanyl precursor chemicals. This investigation revealed that it remains astonishingly cheap and easy to purchase these chemicals, and that Washingtons own trade policies have turned the United States into a major transshipment hub for Chinese fentanyl chemicals, stoking an overdose death toll approaching 450,000 American lives. (Reporting by Gottesdiener in Boston; Editing by Marla Dickerson) In this Feb. 14, 2018, file photo, the late actor Chadwick Boseman posed for a portrait in New York to promote his film, "Black Panther." The Cleveland Orchestras live performance of Black Panther at Severance Music Center this weekend was a powerful, immersive tribute that blended cinematic grandeur, African musical traditions and emotional resonance into an unforgettable night. (Photo by Victoria Will/Invision/AP) Victoria Will/Invision/AP CLEVELAND, Ohio The weather gods werent kindly disposed to Cleveland Orchestra guest conductor Anthony Parnther last August for his Blossom debut with John Legend. As he reminded his social media followers earlier this month, We were yanked off the stage a third of the way through the concert because of a storm! This time, were in the storm-proof majesty of Severance Hall. This time came on Friday, when Parnther presided over Black Panther (2018), the first-ever screening of a Marvel Studios film at Severance Music Center. He led a masterful performance of Ludwigs Goranssons Grammy and Oscar-winning score, enhanced by Senegalese talking drum guru Massamba Diop. Among its many credits, Black Panther was the first Marvel Studios film to feature a Black director and a predominantly Black cast. It was nominated for seven awards at the 91st Academy Awards, winning three. It was also the first superhero film to receive a Best Picture nomination, and the first Marvel film to win an Academy Award. Good evening Cleveland, Parnther said from the stage, welcoming a large, enthusiastic audience that had already applauded as soon as the house lights were dimmed. He told us that we were going to be taken back to the very beginning of cinema before there were talkies with soundtracks, there was only the film and an ensemble of musicians. Parnther went on to describe the score as a mishmash of musical styles centered around the tama, a talking drum from Senegal. As Massamba Diop, a master of the instrument, made his way from the back of the hall and onto the stage, the crowd went wild. Not physically present was the films star, Chadwick Boseman, who died from colon cancer at the age of 43. Parnther acknowledged that Bosemans family was in attendance and dedicated the performance to his memory. Fans of Marvel Studios Black Panther series will need little introduction to the story line, but for those joining the saga in midstream, Bosemans character TChalla is crowned king of Wakanda following his fathers death, but is challenged by Killmonger, who plans to abandon the countrys isolationist policies and begin a global revolution. Wakanda is a fascinating collision between the primitive and the futuristic, pitting the traditional against the technological in images of breathtaking beauty. The score is shot through with musical colors that wonderfully accent dramatic action scenes, as well as its introspective and humorous moments. Contributions from The Cleveland Orchestra included wonderful solos by principal cello Mark Kosower, intriguing low notes from the basses, contrabassoon and harp, blazing fanfares from the brass, and arresting rhythmic interjections from the percussion that underpinned much of the action. Tender moments were quietly cushioned by the strings. But it was Massamba Diops inspired playing that connected the musical themes. Complementing the score, which includes authentic African gestures, are the films evocative costumes by Ruth E. Carter, which earned her an Academy Award for Best Costume Design. Currently on display in the Smith Lobby, they incorporate elements from different African tribes. The program will be repeated tonight, March 29 at 7:30 pm at Mandel Concert Hall at Severance Music Center, 11001 Euclid Ave., Cleveland. Tickets are available online. Daniel Hathaway is founder and editor of the online journal ClevelandClassical.com. He teaches music journalism at Oberlin College and Conservatory of Music. President Donald Trump, in an interview with NBC's Kristen Welker, acknowledged there have been discussions for how he could run for a third term. "I'm not joking," he told Welker. AP WASHINGTON President Donald Trump acknowledge that he is looking for ways to serve for a third term as president, despite a constitutional prohibition barring candidates from being elected more than twice. Im not joking, Trump told NBC News on Sunday in a telephone interview, according to NBCs Kristen Welker on Meet the Press. Welker, relating the conversation on her show Sunday, noted that while Trump has made jokes about a third term, he told her in his interview there are methods which you can do. Later, aboard Air Force One, Trump responded to questions about serving a third term. 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, The Associated Press said. Trump lost the 2020 election to Democrat Joe Biden. But he added, I dont want to talk about a third term now because no matter how you look at it, weve got a long time to go. The 22nd Amendment to the U.S. Constitution specifically says that 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. Trump loyalist Steve Bannon has argued, though, that Trump is eligible since the amendment doesnt specify consecutive terms, CNN said. Republican Rep. Andy Ogles of Tennessee has introduced legislation in the House of Representatives calling for changing the text of the 22nd Amendment to allow a president who serves nonconsecutive terms to serve a third four-year term. Ogles proposal would exclude two-term former presidents such as Barack Obama from coming out of retirement. In his interview with Welker, Trump acknowledged there were discussions on the possibilities. One scenario that she specifically asked him about would involve Vice President JD Vance run for president in 2028, with Trump as his running mate. Once elected, Vance and Trump would essentially exchange places. Well, thats one, Trump responded. But there are others too. There are others. Can you tell me another? Welker asked. No, Trump replied. Derek Muller, a professor of election law at Notre Dame, noted to that the AP that there is a flaw with that theory. The 12th Amendment, ratified in 1804, says no person constitutionally ineligible to the office of President shall be eligible to that of Vice-President of the United States. If Trump is not eligible to run for president again because of the 22nd Amendment, he is not eligible to run for vice president, either, Muller argued. I dont think theres any one weird trick to getting around presidential term limits, Muller said. The 22nd Amendment, added to the Constitution in 1951 The 22nd Amendment was approved by Congress and submitted to the states in 1947 after President Franklin D. Roosevelt was elected four times in a row. Ratification by the states was completed in the states in 1951. Changing or repealing the 22nd Amendment would be a monumental task, require two-thirds support of both the House and the Senate and the ratification by three-quarters of the states. A kindergarten student at Holcomb Elementary in Oregon City, OR, works on reading skills. A new Ohio bill would create clarity for parents about when their child can start kindergarten. Julia Silverman COLUMBUS, Ohio - An Ohio House bill seeks to clear confusion about when children can begin kindergarten. House Bill 114 would change the date by which children must be five years old to the first day of instruction of the school year of admittance. The bill would apply to traditional public, charter and STEM schools. Currently, state law requires local school boards to pass resolutions requiring children to be five years old by either Sept. 30 or Aug. 1 to enter kindergarten, said state Rep. Adam Bird, a Cincinnati-area Republican, who is sponsoring HB 113 with Rep. Kevin Ritter, a Marietta Republican. Prior to 2001, state law set the cutoff for the entire state at Sept. 30. But since then, each district has had the option to set it at Sept. 30 or Aug. 1. Why? I dont know why its that way, Bird told lawmakers last week during a first hearing on the bill. And maybe somebody who is smarter or was here a long time ago has the answer to that. What I do know is the current law causes confusion and frustration among parents. And they would like to see some consistency. If a school districts policy is Aug. 1 and a student doesnt turn five until Aug. 2, theyve missed the cutoff even if the school year doesnt start until Aug. 20, Bird said. Parents of kids who miss the cutoff sometimes see adjacent districts with the Sept. 30 date, and realize their kids could have started kindergarten a year earlier if they lived a few miles away. Constituents have requested the bill to change the date, Bird said. Ive often said the best bills come from constituents and their real-life experience, he said. And that would be the case for this particular bill. Both Republicans and Democrats on the Ohio House Education Committee said last week that they agree with the change. Many said theyve heard frustrations from their own constituents. However, Democrats had concerns about another part of the bill that eliminates flexibility to allow gifted and talented children to enter kindergarten early through referral and evaluation processes or through district student acceleration policies. Under the referral and evaluation process, a school must evaluate a child who doesnt meet the age requirements but who will be five by Jan. 1, if admission is requested by the parents, an educator employed by the district, a preschool educator who knows the child, or a pediatrician or psychologist who knows the child. Under district student acceleration policies, students who wont be five by Jan. 1 can sometimes enter kindergarten early if they are eligible under their districts accelerated learning policy that is set up for bright children who demonstrate they can learn subjects or entire grades in an accelerated manner. HB 114 eliminates both for kindergarten admissions, although Bird said hes open to amending those sections of the bill. I certainly would be willing to work with you and the committee to make amendments that we all see fit so that were not making it more restrictive, Bird told Rep. Beryl Brown Piccolantonio, a suburban Columbus Democrat. I do think that there should be a recognition that there are gifted kids out there. For those that are gifted and are capable, they and their parents should be able to make that move to kindergarten at an earlier age. Laura Hancock covers state government and politics for The Plain Dealer and cleveland.com. WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 16: U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's nominee to be Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Eric Scott Turner testifies during his Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs confirmation hearing at the Dirksen Senate Office Building on January 16, 2025 in Washington, DC. Turner, a former NFL player, served in the Texas House of Representatives and ran the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council during Trumps first term. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images) Getty Images WASHINGTON, D.C.- Democrats in Ohios congressional delegation last week warned U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Scott Turner that closing or downsizing its offices in Ohio would disproportionately harm vulnerable populations. Spurred by published reports that HUD plans to shutter dozens of its field offices across the nation, Ohios five Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives sent a letter to Turner last week arguing for preservation of its two Ohio offices, which are located in Cleveland and Columbus. Vivek Ramaswamy speaks at a campaign rally for now-President Donald Trump at the Santander Arena, Oct. 9, 2024, in Reading, Pa. Ramaswamy, a Columbus-area Republican, is now running for Ohio governor in 2026. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File) AP Rotunda Rumblings Early ad-mission: TV ads for the 2026 Ohio governors race have started airing earlier than at any time in recent memory, as a super PAC backing Republican gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy has purchased more than $2.2 million worth of airtime in Cleveland and four other Ohio markets. Jeremy Pelzer has more on why Ohioans are seeing such ads even though the 2026 general election is still more than 19 months away. Fracking the wild: State officials selected Houston-based Encino Energy as the winning bidder to frack underneath 62.5 acres of Leesville Wildlife Area in Carroll County. As Jake Zuckerman reports, Encino will pay a $219,000 signing bonus and 18% of its revenue from the project to tap into the riches under the preserved space. The state also agreed to put another 172 acres of mineral rights at Leesville out to bid. Signed it: Gov. Mike DeWine signed Senate Bill 1 on Friday, a Republican-backed overhaul of higher education policy in Ohio that limits faculty collaborative bargaining rights, ends DEI on campuses, forces schools to adopt policies that they wont impose any controversial belief or policy on students, and others. As Zuckerman reports, Republicans say the bill will end an era of liberalism run amok on college campuses. Democrats say the bill is an assault on both workers rights and intellectual freedom. Women in the Statehouse: The Ohio General Assembly has 46 women serving in its two chambers more than at any other time in the states 222-year history. Women lawmakers say their ability to make inroads into the halls of power has a real effect on what happens at the Statehouse, including what issues are prioritized. Pelzer writes, though, that women are still underrepresented relative to the state population, and many women serving in the legislature say they still encounter sexism in the Statehouse. Power plays: Ohio could be on the cusp of reshaping its marketplace for energy, with major implications for customer power bills and developers interested in expanding Ohios grid. The House and Senate have passed dueling legislation House Bill 15 and Senate Bill 2 to change the way Ohio regulates and taxes the companies that generate power and distribute it to peoples homes and businesses. Zuckerman breaks down where the bills align and, perhaps more importantly, where they diverge. Amtrak timetable: While the DeWine administration has been studying the possibility of significantly expanding Amtrak in Ohio, the governor said last week that it will likely be up to his successor to make a final decision on the matter. As Pelzer reports, the second phase into studying the creation of three new routes (and adding more trains to one existing route) is expected to start soon but likely wouldnt be completed until after DeWine leaves office in 2027. Pelzer also asked the current candidates for governor in 2026 for their stances on Amtrak expansion. Case closed: Case Western Reserve University has closed its Office for Diversity, Equity and Inclusive Engagement, citing the need to comply with presidential executive orders affecting institutions that receive federal funding. Molly Walsh writes that President Eric W. Kaler, in a Wednesday message to the university community, emphasized that while the institution remains committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive environment, new federal mandates from the Trump Administration necessitate change. Ideology police: President Donald Trump on Thursday tasked Vice President JD Vance with removing improper ideology from the Smithsonian Museums, Sabrina Eaton reports. Trump signed an executive order late Thursday titled Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History. It calls for prohibiting federal spending on exhibits or programs that degrade shared American values, divide Americans based on race, or promote programs or ideologies inconsistent with Federal law and policy. The order instructs the Cincinnati Republican to use his position on the Smithsonian Institutions board of regents to remove improper ideology from its properties and recommend any further actions to Trump. Anti-Vance tour: During April, U.S. Rep. Ro Khanna, a California Democrat, is planning to make speeches critical of Vance in Ohio and at Yale Law School, their shared alma mater, The New York Times writes. Khanna said he intended to cast Vance as a unique threat to Americas constitutional order and argued that there was no time to waste in building the case against Vance, a likely heir to President Trumps right-wing political movement. Peace prize nomination: U.S. Rep. Max Miller, a Bay Village Republican, last week joined California Democrat Brad Schneider in leading a bipartisan congressional letter urging that the Nobel Peace Prize be awarded to the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, which represents the families of the hostages kidnapped by Hamas on October 7, 2023. In a world where terror thrives in the shadows, they have forced daylight upon it, said the letter, which was also signed by U.S. Rep. Greg Landsman, a Cincinnati Democrat. Full Disclosure Five things we learned from the Feb. 13, 2024, ethics disclosure form filed by state Rep. Brian Stewart, a Pickaway County Republican, about his 2023 finances: 1. In addition to his legislative salary of $76,526.81 in 2023, Stewart reported making more than $100,000 as a lawyer and somewhere between $10,000 to $24,999 in rental income. 2. Stewart, a decorated U.S. Army veteran who served in Iraq, received somewhere between $1,000 and $9,999 in military disability compensation. 3. At some point in 2023, Stewart owed at least $1,000 to PenFed Credit Union, Consolidated Direct Loans (a student-loan servicer) and CitiBank. 4. He received travel reimbursements in 2023 from the Ohio House ($3,302.52 for mileage, $895 for lodging), as well as $209.28 from the Ohio House GOPs campaign arm. 5. His investments worth more than $1,000 included stock in Amazon and Apple, two 529 college savings accounts, and stakes in two mutual funds. Birthdays Ex-state Rep. Bob Hagan Maj. Gen. John C. Harris, Ohio adjutant general James M. Cox, Ohios 46th and 48th governor, 1920 Democratic presidential nominee (1870-1957) Straight from the Source What a terrible breakup between the left and Elon Musk. I mean, Im convinced Taylor Swift is going to write a song about this someday. - U.S. Sen. Bernie Moreno, a Westlake Republican, joking Thursday after Massachusetts Democratic U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren referred to Musk as co-president at Senate Banking Committee hearing. The Hill reports that Moreno said Democrats treatment of Musk was ironic given his work on electric vehicles as chief executive of Tesla. Capitol Letter is a daily briefing providing succinct, timely information for those who care deeply about the decisions made by state government. Subscribe to get Capitol Letter in your email box each weekday for free. CLEVELAND, Ohio A strong band of thunderstorms is heading into Northeast Ohio Sunday night and could generate winds up to 50 mph. The National Weather Service issued a statement at about 10:40 p.m. saying radar shows the storms stretched along a line from near Euclid to North Royalton to Lodi. Communities that could be impacted by the storms include Cleveland, Akron, Medina, Painesville, Willowick, Chardon, Fairport Harbor, Parma, Cuyahoga Falls, Euclid, Mentor, Cleveland Heights, Strongsville, Brunswick, North Royalton, Barberton, Solon, Willoughby, Hudson, and Wadsworth. The Weather Service warns strong winds from the storms could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured items outside. There were no reports of widespread power outages in Northeast Ohio as of 10:50 p.m. When would-be apprentices asked for my help, I wasn't going to deny them my meager insights even as some of the tasks were well beyond my ken. When I was a judge on "The Apprentice," I always got a kick out of it because I would be offering my advice to Mr. Trump he was always Mr. Trump, never Donald and he always would seem to want to go my way. I took my judging chores with maximum sincerity and generosity. I wanted everyone I witnessed to win, even Gene Simmons from Kiss, who wanted off in the worst way and then chose it, walking out with no reason and no notice. I don't think he will be invited into this White House any time soon, although if you can have The Atlantic's Jeffrey Goldberg on speed dial and stay in the inner circle, I guess anything is possible. Just announced! Tickets for the CNBC Investing Club's 3rd Annual Meeting are now available for non-Club members! This is your chance to participate in investing discussions, network with other investors, and most importantly, see what the Club is all about. This year, we're escaping the New York City chill and heading down to Orlando, Florida. We invite you to join us and secure your ticket before seats run out! No matter, a contestant could put together Erector Set of an idea, and another contestant could draw up something Oppenheimer would be stumped by in its simple elegance and originality. I could make an impassioned case for the latter and think that it was such a lay-up that I was ready for the wrath of the Erector Set creator to throw his invention in my direction. I was always thinking that, if push came to shove, I could cower under the six-inch thick office desk for protection. That was until I realized that my input meant nothing if I was buttressing the wrong pick, the candidate that didn't matter in the grand scheme of things because they were going anywhere but downstairs at Mr. Trump's direction. The jurisprudence was sorely lacking Oliver Wendell Holmes would been horrified, Louis Brandeis grave rolling. My justice was blind, deaf, and dumb to the Chief of Justice. My entreaties certainly seemed compelling, I had to fool some viewers at home, but they didn't realize they were being fooled as badly as I was. Yep, it was that kind of show. My input was meant to be nothing of the musings of a foil. Tin had the edge on me. Oh, and you may think like so many others that it was just the opening part of some discussion or transaction or negotiation, that's a canard. Mr. Trump does what he wants especially if the ratings, Neilson, or polling website 538, get thrown off by a maximum margin. That's all part of the drama that made his show No. 1 then and seems to be giving his White House numbers a similar edge now. He likes drama. Even if it is phony. So, here we are on the eve of "Liberation Day," and there are people frantically trying to get short Sunday evening anticipating that Wednesday will be the day when we will be liberated from even more of our money than we were last week. "Liberation Day" President Donald Trump calls his reciprocal tariffs day will certainly teach the Germans how wrong they were to build plants like the one that pumps out 400,000 VWs per year in Puebla, Mexico not far from my wife's palanque where she makes Fosforo mezcal, pretty good stuff if I do say myself. The Volkswagen plant, the largest auto factory in the Western Hemisphere, happens to be 1,056 miles too far from the Texas border. Seemed like a good idea at the time 60 years ago and still going strong. Oh, and don't laugh at the BMW factory erected six years ago in the gritty town of San Luis Potosi or the Mercedes-Benz plant built in Aguascalientes, which opened seven years ago to take advantage of the goodwill of then-first-term President Trump and his USCMA "treaty" the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement that replaced in 2020 the North American Free Trade Agreement, which into effect in 1994. They had him figured, too. Everyone looks to be on the wrong side of history including our mezcal but at least we have an excuse, they don't grow Tobala trees in Milwaukee. What's the excuse of the Germans? That they believed in the rule of law? Good luck with that. So what happens? I think the president wants to throw off everyone except the bears, who are probably laughing at their good fortune. They get still one more week to smack down the techs that are now so weak and pathetic that we are all in disbelief. Can anyone imagine anything good coming out Wednesday that will make tech look better? I can't think of anything. Which brings me to something rather staggering for all of Trump's iconoclasm, we know that going short anything save, say, copper, has been a huge win. It's an incredible moment because I can sit here Sunday night and write that we are going to get clobbered and then we get clobbered and then people say, "Boy, we were clobbered" because we keep thinking that this can't keep going on, can it? I mean doesn't Trump have to give the bulls something? I think people are beginning to wonder what they did so wrong believing this would be a good time for making money on the long side. Maybe they didn't do anything wrong. Maybe we are all hapless judges like I was thinking somehow that the merits mattered. Did we all have it coming? Were we not listening when he made it clear that he disliked our trading partners, and we were going to do everything from annex Canada to rob Denmark of Greenland to prop up Russian President Vladimir Putin and backslap the shoulder not the head of Turkey for jailing the opposition. The market isn't even that oversold. It was such a remarkably bad week for everything that had been good for so long that it was almost comic that Morgan Stanley had to price the CoreWeave deal where Club name Nvidia was willing to backstop it. Talk about averaging up. What was the original basis for their slug of stock? The best thing that can be said: Nvidia has a nice average on its CoreWeave deal. I know what you are thinking: It can't be this bad. Trump can't want to exact revenge on our trading partners that bad, can he? Even if it costs everyone who owns stock to get hurt? Does he really have the same attitude on this one issue that Joe Biden had when he was president that only rich people own stock and they can take some pain, because, heck, they are rich aren't they? I think Trump may take this view until so many people think he will do it and he switches and gets bullish. Right now, the prevailing winds seem to make it too easy to short. But it's like people forgot how to do it. As it's been too long or something. So, we brace ourselves, still in disbelief that this man in the White House, whom everyone in business just said they had great meetings with, is telling them the same things I heard when I was a judge on "The Apprentice," namely everything I wanted to hear. None of it came to pass. (Jim Cramer's Charitable Trust is long NVDA. See here for a full list of the stocks.) As a subscriber to the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer, you will receive a trade alert before Jim makes a trade. Jim waits 45 minutes after sending a trade alert before buying or selling a stock in his charitable trust's portfolio. If Jim has talked about a stock on CNBC TV, he waits 72 hours after issuing the trade alert before executing the trade. THE ABOVE INVESTING CLUB INFORMATION IS SUBJECT TO OUR TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND PRIVACY POLICY, TOGETHER WITH OUR DISCLAIMER. NO FIDUCIARY OBLIGATION OR DUTY EXISTS, OR IS CREATED, BY VIRTUE OF YOUR RECEIPT OF ANY INFORMATION PROVIDED IN CONNECTION WITH THE INVESTING CLUB. NO SPECIFIC OUTCOME OR PROFIT IS GUARANTEED. BlackRock CEO Larry Fink on Monday sent a message loud and clear to investors: The firm isn't the traditional asset manager it once was. In his 2025 letter to shareholders, the BlackRock co-founder detailed the company's transformation, which is focused on expanding into fast-growing markets such as infrastructure and private credit. The news Fink touted infrastructure investing which includes the buildout of large-scale projects in transportation, digital infrastructure, and energy as "an opportunity so vast it's almost hard to grasp." By 2040, he forecasted that the global demand for new infrastructure investments would total $68 trillion. "To put that price tag in perspective, it's roughly the equivalent of building the entire Interstate Highway System and the Transcontinental Railroad, start to finish, every six weeks for the next 15 years," he added. In his widely-read letter to investors, Fink also pointed to BlackRock's recent $12.5 billion acquisition of Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP), the world's largest independent infrastructure fund manager, as a tailwind for future revenue growth. The deal gives BlackRock clients exposure to the multi-trillion infrastructure boom because GIP owns London's Gatwick Airport, key energy pipelines, and more than 40 global data centers. As for private credit, Fink praised BlackRock's decision to buy HPS Investment Partners for $12 billion. The deal, expected to close sometime in 2025, will add $148 billion in assets to BlackRock's existing $89 billion private debt platform. Clients continue to increase their allocations to private markets as a "source of diversification and uncorrelated alpha generation potential," Fink said. He pointed to BlackRock's private markets net inflows of $9 billion, citing "strong demand" for infrastructure and private credit strategies. "Client feedback surrounding the recent and planned acquisitions of GIP and HPS has exceeded even our own high expectations, and we expect these to drive significant future net inflows and revenue growth in 2025 and beyond," Fink added. He continued, "BlackRock has always had a foot in private markets. But we've been first and foremost a traditional asset manager. That's who we were at the start of 2024. But it's not who we are anymore." BLK YTD mountain BlackRock (BLK) year-to-date Big picture Since the start of 2024, portfolio name BlackRock has been on a dealmaking spree . In addition to the $24.5 billion spent on the GIP and HPS deals, the asset manager also recently purchased alternative data provider Preqin for $3.3 billion in October, which should bolster BlackRock's Aladdin portfolio management platform. Most recently, a BlackRock-led group of investors also announced plans to buy port operations near the Panama Canal in a deal worth nearly $23 billion from Hong Kong's CK Hutchison. That deal is now said to be delayed amid growing concerns from China's antitrust regulator, Reuters reported Saturday. It looks like this one is getting bogged down in the politics of the strained U.S.-China relationship. President Donald Trump has said he wants the U.S. to take back control of the Panama Canal. Additionally, the annual investor letter comes during a rocky time for financial stocks in 2025. Shares of BlackRock, down roughly 1.3% on Monday, have shed more than 9% year to date. Fellow Club financial holding Goldman Sachs , which also has a strong foothold in private credit, has tumbled 5.5% year to date. Financials have taken a hit as recession concerns mount on the back of Trump's tariffs, which are set to come to a head Wednesday, with the planned introduction of reciprocal levies on U.S. trading partners. Bottom line It was reassuring to see Fink hold his commitment to expansion into fast-growing markets. We think the recent acquisitions in infrastructure and private credit give BlackRock other ways to satisfy clients' ever-changing needs, while also raking in more and more assets. We were thrilled to see BlackRock reach $11.6 trillion of assets under management last quarter, the highest level in its history. "These acquisitions will help BlackRock accumulate more assets," Jeff Marks, the Investing Club's director of portfolio analysis, said last month . "The deals should strengthen BlackRock's earnings power and could help the stock re-rate to a higher price to earnings multiple." The push into different segments also helps offset any weakness that the iShares operator might experience with asset management rivals like Vanguard announcing broad fee cuts for many of its mutual funds earlier this year. BlackRock CFO Martin Small has said that fee reductions won't have a material impact on BlackRock's financials. (Jim Cramer's Charitable Trust is long BLK, GS. See here for a full list of the stocks.) As a subscriber to the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer, you will receive a trade alert before Jim makes a trade. Jim waits 45 minutes after sending a trade alert before buying or selling a stock in his charitable trust's portfolio. If Jim has talked about a stock on CNBC TV, he waits 72 hours after issuing the trade alert before executing the trade. THE ABOVE INVESTING CLUB INFORMATION IS SUBJECT TO OUR TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND PRIVACY POLICY , TOGETHER WITH OUR DISCLAIMER . NO FIDUCIARY OBLIGATION OR DUTY EXISTS, OR IS CREATED, BY VIRTUE OF YOUR RECEIPT OF ANY INFORMATION PROVIDED IN CONNECTION WITH THE INVESTING CLUB. NO SPECIFIC OUTCOME OR PROFIT IS GUARANTEED. European defense stocks have surged in recent months as geopolitical tensions prompt regional officials to ramp up spending on national security. In Germany, lawmakers have passed a historic debt reform , paving the way for a huge splurge on defense, while U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer has pledged to hike Britain's national spend on defense . The EU has also drawn up plans to mobilize up to 800 billion euros ($862.2 billion) to bolster regional security. Europe's Stoxx aerospace and defense index has gained around 34% since the beginning of the year and analysts think some stocks have further to rise. Thyssenkrupp According to S & P Global data, Thyssenkrupp added around $1.5 billion to its market cap between the date of EU unveiling its ReArm Europe plan three weeks ago and Wednesday's market close. Thyssenkrupp is planning to spinoff its marine systems division, with the new standalone unit set to be listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, according to news agency Reuters . The firm reported a 50% increase in orders in its fiscal first quarter, thanks to "major orders" in its marine systems division, which builds submarines, ships and naval electronics. "The current fiscal and defense policy goals will probably result in further orders for the naval industry," a Thyssenkrupp spokesperson told CNBC in an email last week. "Therefore, we are in constant contact with our German and European partners to be prepared for future requirements." In early March, analysts at Citi kept the company as "buy," arguing the risk-reward outlook for Thyssenkrupp was "still favourable" despite the share price doubling. " Direction of travel for defence spending in Europe is up, which should translate into stronger for longer order intake for incumbent companies," they said. "We have used [enterprise value]/backlog as an alternative metric to run valuation scenario for [Thyssenkrupp's] defence business Using the range of 0.3-0.5x of backlog, we arrive at a valuation range of 5-8.3 billion for TK's marine business." Thyssenkrupp's stock has gained 150% since the beginning of the year. Renk Group Defense contractor Renk Group reported a record order intake of 1.4 billion euros ($1.5 billion) on Wednesday, citing strong market conditions. The company forecast revenue of 1.3 billion euros in 2025, with a medium-term outlook of 2 billion euros in revenue in 2028. Last year, Renk's annual revenue jumped 23.2% year-on-year to 1.1 billion euros. On Tuesday, Deutsche Bank upgraded the company's stock to a buy, hiking its target price for shares by 55% to 45 euros "to reflect the recent sector re-rating" and revised discounted cash flow assumptions. Rheinmetall German arms manufacturer Rheinmetall said earlier this month that it expects its defense sales to jump by up to 40% this year, predicting "major high-volume orders from military customers." The sales increase was expected even without any potential boost from greater regional defense spending, the firm said, although it noted that it was "in a promising position to play a significant role in the upcoming increase in defense capability." In the wake of the company's earnings release, analysts at Bank of America said they saw a "clear path" to sales of 30 billion euros by 2029 for Rheinmetall , whose 2024 sales reached 9.75 billion euros. Beyond 2030, they said there was potential for the company to deliver sales of around 50 billion euros. Thales Since the ReArm Europe announcement on March 4, Thales 's market cap has increased by more than $6 billion, according to S & P Global data. Thales reported higher income and revenue for 2024, with CEO Patrice Caine telling CNBC after its earnings release earlier this month, that the EU's defense spending plans "reinforce our own conviction that we see a decade of growth for Thales in defense it will not change the equation for 2025, but clearly it's a positive on the long run." On Monday, UBS's Ian Douglas-Pennant upgraded Thales stock to a buy recommendation, hiking the price target from 160 euros to 330 euros. "We believe management's guidance for 6-7% organic sales growth per year in the long term is likely to prove conservative," he said in a note. "We model 12.6% 2023-30 CAGR." CNBC's Arjun Kharpal contributed to this report. Investors might be underestimating the impact of tariffs on pharmaceutical products, according to one Wall Street firm. That could have negative implications for companies such as Bristol Myers Squibb , though overall market sentiment has been keeping the Club stock afloat. The news In a note to clients Sunday, analysts at Leerink Partners said President Donald Trump's potential pharmaceutical tariffs may have more negative impacts than investors realize depending on how, exactly, the administration's import duties are structured. The global supply chain for pharmaceuticals and some of the accounting practices associated with it are complex. In any case, analysts said sustained tariffs will raise drug costs for American consumers because even if companies can relocate manufacturing to the U.S., it will take years to execute and ultimately costs more than manufacturing out of the country. "Although corporations can make adjustments to mitigate the negative impact of tariffs, it could take some time given the complexities of global tax strategies and supply chains and uncertainty related to the durability of tariffs (since President Trump can change his mind)," wrote the analysts, who have a buy-equivalent outperform rating on Bristol Myers stock. Get Your Ticket for the Annual Meeting! Secure your ticket today for the CNBC Investing Club's upcoming 3rd Annual Meeting on May 2nd in Orlando, Florida! Big Picture Leerink's warning comes a few days before Trump is set to announce a batch of "reciprocal tariffs" on Wednesday. Exact details aren't yet known, but Trump said last week that he'll be announcing tariffs on imported drugs at some point " because we have to have pharmaceuticals." Bristol Myers' investor relations team responded to Leerink when the analysts asked about the company's tariff risk. According to Leerink, the company said in part: "We have not commented on our specific exposure to the broad topic of tariffs, as this is a very fluid situation." Bristol Myers told the analysts that its supply chain is not "overly reliant on any single country," and that it has a broad global manufacturing footprint. In general, U.S. biopharma companies are more concerned about possible tariffs on the European Union and Ireland than the current Trump-imposed tariffs on China, Mexico, and Canada, according to Leerink, which reached out to 21 companies and summarized their responses. Ireland is a big hub for the pharmaceutical industry, something that Trump mentioned in recent weeks. Bristol Myers and fellow Club name Eli Lilly , for that matter, both have manufacturing presences in Ireland and other European countries, analysts at Jeffries pointed out in a separate note. Jefferies analysts wrote that Trump has made it clear that he wants biopharma companies "with foreign manufacturing and tax shields outside the US to bring operations" back stateside. Bottom Line Despite the looming uncertainties around the biopharma sector, the Club is still bullish on Bristol Myers Squibb. We're very optimistic about Bristol's new schizophrenia drug Cobenfy in the coming years. Plus, the stock has a cheap price-to-earnings multiple and pays a solid dividend, said Jeff Marks, director of portfolio analysis for the Club. However, he cautions that we would not buy in at current trading levels, which is in the $60's. "There is a market rotation bidding up defensive stocks like Bristol Myers as they seek to hide out the market selloff," Marks said. He was referencing that Bristol Myers is up more than 2.5% in the month of March, compared with a nearly 6% slide in the S & P 500. We'd prefer to add to our position when prices pull back. (Jim Cramer's Charitable Trust is long BMY . See here for a full list of the stocks.) As a subscriber to the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer, you will receive a trade alert before Jim makes a trade. Jim waits 45 minutes after sending a trade alert before buying or selling a stock in his charitable trust's portfolio. If Jim has talked about a stock on CNBC TV, he waits 72 hours after issuing the trade alert before executing the trade. THE ABOVE INVESTING CLUB INFORMATION IS SUBJECT TO OUR TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND PRIVACY POLICY , TOGETHER WITH OUR DISCLAIMER . NO FIDUCIARY OBLIGATION OR DUTY EXISTS, OR IS CREATED, BY VIRTUE OF YOUR RECEIPT OF ANY INFORMATION PROVIDED IN CONNECTION WITH THE INVESTING CLUB. NO SPECIFIC OUTCOME OR PROFIT IS GUARANTEED. Indiana University fired computer science professor XiaoFeng Wang on the same day that FBI agents executed search warrants at two homes owned by Wang and his wife, his union revealed Monday as it asked the school to revoke his termination. The Bloomington chapter of the American Association of University Professors in a letter to Indiana U. on Monday protested Wang's firing, which it said occurred without the "highest level of scrutiny and process" required by university policy. The letter came as both the FBI and the university declined to reveal what led to the search of Wang's home and the termination of the tenured professor after two decades at the university. Indiana U. spokesman Mark Bode, in an email to CNBC, said, "Indiana University was recently made aware of a federal investigation of an Indiana University faculty member." "At the direction of the FBI, Indiana University will not make any public comments regarding this investigation," Bode said. In accordance with Indiana University practices, Indiana University will also not make any public comments regarding the status of this individual." The university has removed the online profiles of both Wang, who researched cryptography, privacy and cybersecurity at the university's Luddy School of Informatics, Computing and Engineering, and his wife Nianli Ma, a systems analyst and programmer in the university's library division. Indiana U. Law Professor Alex Tanford, the union chapter's president, told CNBC in an interview Monday that Wang contacted him earlier this month as the university conducted what had first appeared to be a "routine" investigation over a grant application and how he reported a publication of his curriculum vitae. Wang, who had been barred from his office and from access to his computer during the university's probe, emailed Tanford on Friday to say, "I've been terminated," the law professor recalled. The email arrived shortly after Tanford heard from his daughter, who lives out of state, asking him what he knew about news reports of the FBI searching a house that same day in Bloomington, where Indiana U. is located. That house is owned by Wang and Ma. Hedge funds are dumping stocks at a rapid pace as President Donald Trump's aggressive tariff agenda spiked volatility on Wall Street. These professional traders have net sold global equities for six weeks in a row, with last week's notional de-grossing amount reaching the largest level since July, according to data from Goldman Sachs' prime brokerage unit. The cohort has been particularly fleeing high-flying technology names, offloading shares at the fastest pace in six months. The selling last week was also the second largest notionally in the last five years, Goldman's data suggested. .SPX YTD mountain S & P 500 Bank of America trading desk also flagged bearish sentiment among hedge funds and other money managers. "Sentiment in all conversations is pretty bearish. It seems like long/short books are very tight, from a risk/exposure perspective. Long Onlies seem very defensively positioned," BofA trading desk said in a note to clients Monday. "The mood is very very cautious." Hedge funds were retreating at a time when the macroeconomic environment suddenly grew less certain. President Donald Trump 's aggressive tariff charges on imports into the U.S. stoked fears of dampened consumer spending, slower economic growth and even a recession. Investors are bracing for Trump's Wednesday imposition of reciprocal tariffs on "all countries ." The White House has already slapped punitive tariffs on aluminum, steel and autos, along with increased tariffs on all goods from China. Earlier this month, the S & P 500 dipped into correction territory, or falling 10% from its recent peak. The benchmark is now trading 9.5% below that record high from February. Get Your Ticket to Pro LIVE Join us at the New York Stock Exchange! Uncertain markets? Gain an edge with CNBC Pro LIVE , an exclusive, inaugural event at the historic New York Stock Exchange. In today's dynamic financial landscape, access to expert insights is paramount. As a CNBC Pro subscriber, we invite you to join us for our first exclusive, in-person CNBC Pro LIVE event at the iconic NYSE on Thursday, June 12. Join interactive Pro clinics led by our Pros Carter Worth, Dan Niles, and Dan Ives, with a special edition of Pro Talks with Tom Lee. You'll also get the opportunity to network with CNBC experts, talent and other Pro subscribers during an exciting cocktail hour on the legendary trading floor. Tickets are limited! South Korean automaker Hyundai warned U.S. dealers it is evaluating its pricing strategy in the face of forthcoming 25% tariffs on imported vehicles and parts announced by President Donald Trump. Randy Parker, chief executive officer of Hyundai and Genesis Motor North America, told dealers in a note that "current vehicle pricing is not guaranteed and may be subject to change for units wholesaled after April 2." Analysts expect automakers will have to significantly hike vehicle prices if the new tariffs remain in place for an extended period, leaving consumers to pay more for vehicles that already have price tags averaging near $50,000. 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. "Tariffs are not easy," Parker told dealers. Parker also said the automaker is "fortunate that we do not depend heavily on imports from Mexico and Canada, and we have been sure footed in our U.S. investments." Hyundai announced a $21 billion investment in the United States with the president at the White House on March 24, two days before Trump announced 25% auto tariffs that are set to go into effect this week. In a Saturday interview with NBC News, Trump said 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." This story is part of CNBC Make It's Six-Figure Side Hustle series, where people with lucrative side hustles break down the routines and habits they've used to make money on top of their full-time jobs. Got a story to tell? Let us know! Email us at AskMakeIt@cnbc.com. One of the first quilts Mike O'Dell ever made was for his sons. He drew a Star Wars stormtrooper on a 5-by-6.5-foot sheet of graph paper on his kitchen floor, cut the pattern into smaller sections and sewed fabric onto the paper. Then, he stitched the pieces together on a sewing machine and discarded the paper remnants, he says. He started the process in 2018 and finished the quilt 18 months later, says O'Dell, 50, an Oklahoma City-based nurse anesthetist. But the actual sewing work quilting on top of the design, a practice called "foundation paper piecing" was surprisingly straightforward for a beginner, O'Dell says. He figured that if he hired people to streamline the process, he could make and sell quilting kits with licensed images of nature scenes, animals and characters. He launched his side hustle, called Legit Kits, in 2020. The company brought in more than $1.25 million in sales through Shopify last year, according to documents reviewed by CNBC Make It, and an additional $150,000 selling quilt kits at Joann Fabrics and Crafts, O'Dell estimates. (On Feb. 23, Joann announced closures of all of its roughly 800 stores, citing bankruptcy liquidation.) DON'T MISS: How to start a side hustle to earn extra money O'Dell works at Legit Kits one day per week as its CEO and creative director, and spends four days per week at a hospital. Legit Kits' seven full-time employees and four freelance designers keep the business running during O'Dell's nursing hours. He spends his one Legit Kits day per week largely promoting the company, he says on social media, particularly Facebook and networking in professional crafting groups, which helped him land a spot on an episode of ABC's "Shark Tank" that aired in January. Legit Kits broke even last year, after accounting for costs of inventory, payroll, hiring and a $4,500 monthly rent for a 4,500-square-foot manufacturing space, O'Dell says. He plans to pay himself $50,000 from Legit Kits this year, on top of his $240,000 nurse anesthetist salary. Here, O'Dell discusses starting a side hustle without prior experience, how he balances his full-time job with Legit Kits and what he wishes he'd known before jumping into entrepreneurship. CNBC Make It: Do you think your side hustle is replicable? Can anyone successfully create a crafting business? O'Dell: Sure. There are so many opportunities out there. I took something that's generally crafty and I added [artful designs] to it. They seem similar, because they both take skill, but art is what causes an emotional reaction in the observer. I wasn't a quilter before I started writing patterns, but my wife was. When she started, I watched her make nine-patch quilts and sew the pieces of fabric together in a grid, like tic-tac-toe. It reminded me of my first job, when I was still in high school, with a computer company. I did their instruction manual, and drew pictures the same way pixel by pixel in a computer program. That's how I drew the storm trooper. It was 1,260 pixels, and it was easy enough for a beginner like me to do. My ignorance was actually a benefit, because when you're an expert at something, you tend to make assumptions. When people don't know stuff, they have to ask a lot of questions. How do you balance your full-time job with your side hustle? I've lost sleep. I've had a lot of stress. But I don't know that there's any sort of burnout that can match medical burnout, and I've had that for a long time. The burnout that I feel at the hospital fuels my energy to do the other thing for myself. Legit Kits is my brain child. I own 100% of it, and I get to control what happens. It turns the volume down when everybody's mad at work. I hear it, but I'm just like, "I'm not going to manage my people that way." [Plus] it's kind of hard to beat an anesthesia salary. I've got three kids, and I want my kids to go to college. Actress Kim Sae Ron's letter to the late ASTRO member Moonbin has been made public, providing an intimate glimpse into her grief and struggles in the aftermath of his passing. Garo Sero Research Institute posted a diary entry letter dated April 27, 2023. Kim, who had been close friends with Moonbin since their childhood as actors, expressed deep sorrow and regret in the message. "Bin, I miss you. I tried to choose death because things were so difficult, but then I heard news about you," Kim wrote, as quoted by Koreaboo. "I know better than anyone just how scary and lonely that decision must've been, so I can't bear to ask you why." She went on to describe the moments leading up to his passing, revealing that she had considered calling him but ultimately did not. "I regret that so much. I probably couldn't have stopped you, but you might've postponed it for a day," she wrote. Kim also reflected on how ASTRO members were devastated by Moonbin's death on April 19, 2023. "Seeing Jinwoo (Jinjin) and Myungjun oppa (MJ) try to smile, seeing Dongmin (Cha Eunwoo) break down, seeing Minhyuk (Rocky) so solemn, it makes me break down too." She expressed her internal struggle, revealing that she has postponed her thoughts of suicide. "I've decided to postpone my death, just a little, because I have to protect Sua and the other members. Sanha said he would protect me. I used to be the most worried about the maknae, but he's now become a reliable adult." In the letter, Kim voiced her frustration with public scrutiny, the pressures of her career, and the weight of expectations. "I am so disappointed and disgusted by how I'm not improving, by how the media is targeting me with unverified attacks, how I am still unsatisfied." She concluded with a heartfelt farewell: "Rest in peace, Bin. If it's the path that you've taken, wherever it is, I'm sure it's shining and bright. I respect all your choices and I am cheering you on. I'm sorry for not being able to compliment you endlessly and for not being able to hug you. I love you. See you soon. Wait for me." Kim's letter has since drawn attention from fans and the public, highlighting the deep bonds between the two stars and the ongoing impact of Moonbin's passing on those who knew and loved him. KLA is set for further market share gains in the semiconductor equipment market, according to Morgan Stanley. Analyst Shane Brett upgraded KLA to overweight from equal weight and lifted his price target by $122 to $870. His new forecast implies 29.2% potential upside for the company. KLA has a majority share of the process control market within the wafer fabrication equipment, or WFE, industry, which involves machines inspecting semiconductor wafers. Given its competitive standing, Brett forecasts KLA to exceed industry WFE forecasts on "structural and idiosyncratic drivers" throughout the next couple of years. "We expect KLA to outgrow WFE in 2025-2026 and see a rich catalyst path for a re-rating," Brett said, modeling KLA's revenue to grow at 8% and 12%, respectively, in the next two years. According to the analyst, the two catalysts that should support KLA's revenue growth are process control intensity and market share increase. Brett said KLA's market share in the process control intensity should increase going forward given the industry's transition toward larger die sizes and increased design starts, which leads to lower yield, or a higher percentage of nonfunctional or low-quality chips. Larger die sizes refers to a greater size of the integrated circuit on a chip, which means the chip could boast a higher performance but potentially have more defects, for example. This benefit for KLA from these trends is evident so far with the company's performance mirroring Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing's capex spending. "KLA's share of TSMC capex and memory share has increased and we expect share to increase at TSMC and memory share to recover from 2024 going forward," Brett said. He added that "[market] share increase, where KLA should continue to gain market share in process control given the company is first to inflections, has the fundamental technology to enable that, and the data processing capabilities to keep customers, all combining to deepen KLA's moat." KLA shares are up 6.9% this year, outperforming the broader market. The stock is down more than 2% over the past year, however. KLAC 1Y mountain KLAC stock performance. Get Your Ticket to Pro LIVE Join us at the New York Stock Exchange! Uncertain markets? Gain an edge with CNBC Pro LIVE , an exclusive, inaugural event at the historic New York Stock Exchange. In today's dynamic financial landscape, access to expert insights is paramount. As a CNBC Pro subscriber, we invite you to join us for our first exclusive, in-person CNBC Pro LIVE event at the iconic NYSE on Thursday, June 12. Join interactive Pro clinics led by our Pros Carter Worth, Dan Niles and Dan Ives, with a special edition of Pro Talks with Tom Lee. You'll also get the opportunity to network with CNBC experts, talent and other Pro subscribers during an exciting cocktail hour on the legendary trading floor. Tickets are limited! You can't control how other people see you, so needing or demanding that someone else understand your perspective has always seemed like a flaw to me. And depending on the approval of others feels risky because there is no guarantee you'll actually get it. That's why I was surprised when Caroline Fleck, an adjunct clinical instructor at Stanford University, told me that the "biggest misconception" about validation is that we should not seek it. "I think we need to abandon the idea that external validation, seeking it or wanting it, makes us weak," Fleck, who authored the book "Validation," tells CNBC Make It. Validation can give us confidence, help us navigate conflict, and aide us in smoothing out a romantic skirmish. Though, this doesn't mean you should only associate with people who agree with you and applaud your every decision. "People confuse validation with praise," Fleck says. A slowdown in first-quarter deliveries and headwinds from Tesla protests could dampen the company's near-term growth, according to Stifel. Analyst Stephen Gengaro reiterated his buy rating but trimmed his price target by $19 to $455. That still implies more than 72% upside from where shares closed on Friday. Gengaro lowered his first-quarter and full-year 2025 delivery forecasts, saying a slower-than-expected rollout of Tesla's new Model Y and the timing of its lower-priced vehicle could affect sales volumes. Tesla is expected to unveil a lower-cost electric vehicle, potentially a variant of its Model Y car, in the first half of the year. The company has already cut prices on its Model Y vehicle amid slowing global EV demand and rising competition, particularly in China. Gengaro is also cautious on how anti-Elon Musk crowds could affect sales in the near term. "The ramp of the new Model Y, the best-selling car in the world in 2024, is clearly a short-term sales headwind," Gengaro wrote in a Sunday note to clients. "As Model Y production ramps in 2025, we expect sales to accelerate. In addition, protests against Elon Musk (damage to Tesla sites, vandalism of customer-owned cars, damage to Superchargers) is a headwind to sales." TSLA 1Y mountain Tesla stock performance. The analyst cited data from the Stifel Think Tank Group that reflected a fall in Democrats' favorability rating on Tesla and an uptick in Republicans' views on the company. Democrats have been historically much more likely to buy EVs than Republicans, he pointed out. Still, Gengaro remains bullish for the long run given Tesla's strong positioning against other automakers in terms of tariff risks , as well as the expected rollout of its driver assistance software known as full self-driving in Texas by June. The introduction of the lower-cost car and growth in Tesla's energy storage business could also be catalysts for the stock, he said. "We expect share price volatility to persist in the near term, but remain optimistic on TSLA's medium- to long-term prospects and reiterate our Buy," Gengaro said. Tesla has had a rocky year and the stock has given up much of its postelection gain , losing about 34.7% year to date. Shares were down more than 4% in the premarket. Get Your Ticket to Pro LIVE Join us at the New York Stock Exchange! Uncertain markets? Gain an edge with CNBC Pro LIVE , an exclusive, inaugural event at the historic New York Stock Exchange. In today's dynamic financial landscape, access to expert insights is paramount. As a CNBC Pro subscriber, we invite you to join us for our first exclusive, in-person CNBC Pro LIVE event at the iconic NYSE on Thursday, June 12. Join interactive Pro clinics led by our Pros Carter Worth, Dan Niles and Dan Ives, with a special edition of Pro Talks with Tom Lee. You'll also get the opportunity to network with CNBC experts, talent and other Pro subscribers during an exciting cocktail hour on the legendary trading floor. Tickets are limited! Here are Monday's biggest calls on Wall Street: Stifel reiterates Tesla as buy Stifel cut its price target on the stock but said it is sticking with Tesla shares. "We are updating our forecasts to reflect lower near-term sales, and trimming our target price to $455 from $474. We expect share price volatility to persist in the near term, but remain optimistic on TSLA's medium- to long-term prospects and reiterate our Buy." Morgan Stanley upgrades KLA to overweight from equal weight Morgan Stanley says it sees a "rich catalyst" path ahead and robust earnings in late April for the semis company. "We see a rich catalyst path for a re-rating: MarQ 2025 earnings (late-April): KLA should be able to guide JunQ rev of flat q/q or better, with TSMC strength offsetting China weakness." Deutsche Bank upgrades Goodyear Tire & Rubber to buy from hold Deutsche Bank said it sees "improved performance" from the tire company. "Similarly, our conversations with the company have given further confidence that it has the necessary traction to achieve its targeted $1.5bn in cost savings and margin improvement by the end of 2026. The improved performance comes at a time when tariff policy could leave Goodyear a relative winner within our coverage, with most of its US demand served by domestic manufacturing and tires (at least for now), not included in the tariffs announced last week." Cantor Fitzgerald reiterates Nvidia, Broadcom, Marvell, Micron and ASML as overweight Cantor Fitzgerald said it is sticking with its overweight ratings on a slew of semis stocks. "Our Top Picks remain NVDA (sustained AI spend + product cycle), AVGO (custom silicon ramp + networking), MRVL (custom silicon ramp + networking), MU (HBMrelated upside), ASML ." BMO upgrades Steel Dynamics to outperform from market perform The firm called the company "best in class." "We are upgrading our rating to Outperform (from Market Perform). Steel Dynamics is a best-in-class domestic US steel producer, with a product portfolio that is relatively well-positioned to benefit from expanded Section 232 tariffs." HSBC upgrades PNC Bank to buy HSBC said it sees an attractive entry point. " PNC shares are down 19% from their late November 2024 highs (vs S & P 500 down 5% over the same time frame). We now see an attractive entry point to add exposure to a high quality banking institution with proven discipline around risk and capital allocation." Mizuho initiates Viper Energy as outperform Mizuho said the energy company is in a "league of its own." "We are initiating coverage of Viper Energy (VNOM) with an Outperform rating and $56/share PT." Evercore ISI adds Brinker to the tactical outperform list Evercore ISI added a tactical outperform on Brinker and says it sees a compelling entry point for the owner of Chili's. "Many investors are understandably wary of Chili's ability to lap increasingly difficult SSS comparisons. More specifically, investors wonder if Chili's had caught lightning in bottle with successful social media marketing (e.g. cheese pull videos being featured on Tik Tok) and younger consumers." BMO downgrades U.S. Steel to market perform from outperform BMO downgraded U.S. Steel on valuation. "We are downgrading our rating to Market Perform (from Outperform) as in our opinion the current share price is nearing fair fundamental value." Barclays downgrades Canada Goose to underweight from equal weight Barclays said it sees too much competition for the clothing company. "We are downgrading shares of GOOS to UW based on 1) global macro pressure; 2) increasing competitive pressure; 3) potential impact of tariff exposure." Jefferies upgrades Wingstop to buy from hold Jefferies said Wingstop has "defensive qualities." "Enough drivers to navigate tough backdrop, with potential unlocks that could set up for positive surprises ahead." Evercore ISI reiterates Netflix as outperform The firm said its survey checks show Netflix has a large runway for growth internationally. "Consistent with our HQ (High Quality) framework, we see Netflix facing a very large TAM with still SD% [single digit] share of that TAM, with one of the 'Net sector's strongest management teams, with an extremely strong and growing value proposition (which supports ongoing pricing power), and a very solid track record of innovation." Truist upgrades Celsius to buy from hold Truist said it is bullish on the energy drink. "We are raising our rating on CELH to Buy from Hold and our 12-month price target to $45 from $35. In our opinion, the market is already looking past the hiccups of the legacy business in 2024 and the brand's slowdown in 1Q25." Jefferies initiates Norwegian Cruise Line as buy Jefferies said shares of the cruise company are at a discount. "As the fourth largest cruise line in the world (behind CCL, RCL, and MSC), there is a lot to like about NCLH, including: 1) reasonable capacity growth of MSD to HSD [mid single digit to high single digit], 2) MSD net yield growth, and 3) a relatively new CEO pushing cost efficiency." Bank of America initiates Cava as buy The firm called the Mediterranean restaurant company a "value compounder." "Like best-in-class operator peers, CMG and TXRH, CAVA has created a model that offers compelling value to customers while also translating its persistent topline growth into high and rising returns." Bank of America reiterates Meta and Alphabet as buy The firm said it is sticking with both stocks as tariffs loom. "While the entire sector has tariff exposure, we expect Large Cap Online media platforms to hold up better ( GOOG , META) given less relative brand exposure and/or more robust advertiser auctions." Cantor Fitzgerald initiates Okta as overweight The firm said the identity access management company is well positioned. "Okta is a leader in the identity security space, but the industry giant has encountered growth challenges of late." Bank of America initiates Kestra Medical Technologies The firm said the wearable medical device tech company has a "compelling GM [gross margin] expansion opportunity." "We are initiating coverage on Kestra (KMTS) with a Buy rating and $30 PO." Barclays reiterates Apple as underweight Barclays said Apple has a "challenging growth backdrop, undefined AI strategy and a premium valuation." "According to our sell-through checks, iPhone sell-through in China has been muted since the IP16 launch. AAPL continues to experience market share losses in China. Especially in Feb when Android were strong, relatively muted iPhones imply additional points of share losses." President Donald Trump speaks during a swearing-in ceremony in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, March 28, 2025. President Donald Trump is about to announce his biggest batch of tariffs yet. And while major details about them are shrouded in mystery, one thing is clear: Some trade partners are about to feel a lot more pain than others. Trump is set on Wednesday to unveil "reciprocal tariffs" against other countries that have their own duties on U.S. goods, or other policies that the White House considers unfair trade barriers. He has hyped up the kickoff date as America's "liberation day" and "the big one." The plan has created significant uncertainty, and many of its core components including the number of countries affected, how each country's tariff rate is being calculated, and which nations will be hardest hit remain unclear. While Trump has touted the new tariffs as the key to resetting America's economic relationship with the rest of the world, some in his administration have suggested a narrower focus on a handful of prime targets. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, in a Fox Business interview on March 18, singled out what he called the "Dirty 15." He was referring to the 15% of nations that account for the bulk of U.S. trading volume while imposing hefty tariffs and other "non-tariff barriers" on U.S. goods. Bessent did not name those countries. Kevin Hassett, director of Trump's National Economic Council, said in a subsequent interview on the network that the administration is looking at 10 to 15 countries that account for America's "entire trillion-dollar trade deficit." Hassett also did not name those countries. Data from the Commerce Department shows that in 2024, the U.S. had the highest goods trading deficit with China, followed by the European Union, Mexico, Vietnam, Ireland, Germany, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, Canada, India, Thailand, Italy, Switzerland, Malaysia, Indonesia, France, Austria and Sweden. The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, in a notice seeking public comment as part of a review of unfair trade practices to be delivered to Trump by Monday, listed 21 countries in which it is "particularly interested." "Taking a step back, we view this departure as a significant negative for the BioPharma and Biotech sectors, as FDA's independence rooted in sound scientific rigor is critical for their efficient functioning," analysts at BMO Capital Markets wrote in a note Monday. Some Wall Street analysts said Marks' departure could undermine the FDA's mission of ensuring safe and effective treatments reach patients in the U.S. That could put even more pressure on a struggling biotech sector. Shares of Moderna and Novavax both closed more than 8% lower Monday. Meanwhile, the SPDR S&P Biotech ETF slid nearly 4%. The departure of Peter Marks, the Food and Drug Administration's top vaccine regulator, has raised fresh fears about whether the Trump administration will quickly approve and promote critical shots. In his position, Marks oversaw the introduction of Covid-19 vaccines and rules for the use of emerging treatments like cell and gene therapies. Shares of major vaccine makers dropped on Monday after a key U.S. health official resigned in protest of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s views on immunization . Peter Marks, director of the center for biologics evaluation and research at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), speaks during a Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee hearing in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Tuesday, May 11, 2021. In his resignation letter obtained by CNBC on Friday, Marks criticized Kennedy's "misinformation and lies" about immunization. He said a growing measles outbreak that started in Texas came as a consequence of "undermining confidence in well-established vaccines." "As you are aware, I was willing to work to address the Secretary's concerns regarding vaccine safety and transparency by hearing from the public and implementing a variety of different public meetings and engagements with the National Academy of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine," Marks wrote. "However, it has become clear that truth and transparency are not desired by the Secretary, but rather he wishes subservient confirmation of his misinformation and lies." The Department of Health and Human Services did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Kennedy, a prominent vaccine skeptic, has already taken steps that public health experts say could deter routine immunizations in the U.S. He has downplayed the importance of the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine and promoted unproven treatments to counter the measles outbreak. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is also carrying out a study into long debunked links between vaccines and autism, led by a researcher with a history of spreading misinformation about shots. Analysts at Leerink Partners wrote in a Monday note that the effect of Marks' resignation on biotech and pharmaceutical stocks will depend in part on who replaces him at the FDA and whether Republicans in the White House and Congress start to lose patience with his approach. Other analysts also stressed that Marks is only one official at the agency and noted that new FDA Commissioner Marty Makary has a track record of supporting proven treatments. "Though many believe the Marks resignation is a very bad omen for the Healthcare industry and innovation at large, it may be a bit premature to cast too dark of a shadow on the entirety of Pharma and Biotech," wrote Mizuho Securities analyst Jared Holz. CNBC's Angelica Peebles and Annika Kim Constantino contributed to this report The Hague, Netherlands (PANA) Ongoing atrocities fuelled by rampant impunity and an accountability gap across Sudan require comprehensive justice responses two decades after the United Nations Security Council referred the situation in Darfur to the International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said on Monday Chinese companies are trying to cut Taiwans lead in semiconductor technology by hiring away its best engineering talent through front companies that hide their connections to China, the Taiwanese Ministry of Justice Investigation Bureau (MJIB) has alleged. In a dramatic crackdown on the practice last week, MJIB said its agents raided 11 Chinese companies in 34 locations, questioning 90 individuals in connection with what it described as an illegal poaching campaign. According to an MJIB statement, several Chinese companies had set up companies that looked as if they were Taiwanese, foreign-owned, or overseas Chinese, using tactics designed to hide their connections to the mainland. 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In 2010, the actor most famous for playing Screech on Saved By the Bell went scorched earth on his former castmates, alleging that: Mario (Slater) Lopez brought a young woman to his pad where she was forced to have sex against her will. Tiffani-Amber (Kelly) Thiessen cheated on her boyfriend with both Lopez and Mark-Paul (Zack) Gosselaar . Cast members were smoking weed in their dressing rooms while filming an anti-drug episode, with a certain smoke wafting from the crack beneath Tiffani's dressing room. Elizabeth (Jessie) Berkley and Lark (Lisa) Voorhies also hooked up with Lopez and Gosselaar but notably, not with Diamond. Gosselaar took steroids while filming Saved By the Bell: The College Years . Executive producer Peter Engel had threesomes with Thiessen and Gosselaar. Even though Diamond had little nice to say about his Bayside High classmates, there was no need to patch things up with the actor before his death, according to Gosselaar, speaking on a panel at 90s Con 2025. Just to be clear, there was nothing to be reconciled because that beef that was created was created out there, not here, he said, according to People. Berkeley agreed: One hundred percent. Don't Miss Created out there? Timeout, Zack all those accusations were the product of Diamonds book, not internet gossip. But Gosselaar says no one took offense. He wrote a book. It was a thing. We all kind of looked at him like, Oh, Dustin, but we never took that personally, he explained. None of that was personal. Its nice that Gosselaar is over it, but never took that personally? Thats not what he told HuffPost Live in 2014. Everything Ive heard about his book is, it is negative, Gosselaar said. I dont remember those things. Berkley chalks up Diamonds resentments to youthful immaturity. Honestly, it was more like how after high school, you keep in touch with some friends more than others, she said at 90s Con, but there was not a negative feeling. Advertisement Diamond backtracked on his accusations years after his book was published, blaming his publishers even though he did all the initial finger-pointing. A lot of the stories were just kind of throwaways, he said on Oprah: Where Are They Now? in 2013. I have nothing but good thoughts and memories toward everybody. I expected that I was going to be sent a copy to proofread and say, Okay, thumbs-up or thumbs-down. And I was sent the (final) copy. Oh, this is done. Diamond never apologized for the allegations, but he at least tried to make nice with the Saved By the Bell cast during an appearance on Dr. Oz in 2016. This is my best weapon for repairing the damage that was caused by things that were done by people who took advantage of me, he said. I will say, guys, I think youre fantastic, working with you has been just one of the icons of my life. But Im sure that youve experienced downfalls as well in your time, and Im still loving you guys. 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. Commentary: China sticks to opening up despite growing global protectionism Xinhua) 10:41, March 31, 2025 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. 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. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) In 1984 I was running a school in Central Africa just as the Aids pandemic hit. At the time, we had no idea what was happening or why formerly fit and healthy men and women were suddenly starting to fade and die before our eyes, leaving many young orphans. It was in a part of Zambia where there was little to offer in terms of healthcare, infrastructure or social support. We were only there for a year, but it was one of the most memorable periods of my life not least because of the despair and devastation that my late husband Paul and I witnessed as HIV took its toll. We talked often of the people we knew and worked with over the years. A favourite was Swahna. I can still hear his laugh and see his face the day I brought an English bull terrier to the house, and he asked me: Is this dog or is this pig? Swahna would tie rags to his feet, put on a Beatles LP and turn the volume up as he danced around the room, singing along at the top of his voice while polishing the parquet floor. Before our return to the UK, he wanted only a smart trilby hat for himself, a pink hat with feathers for his wife and a pushbike with a basket as leaving gifts. He refused the money we tried to give him until we insisted. Only months later, we heard that both Swahna and his wife had mysteriously died within weeks of each other, leaving a beloved young daughter behind. Some say the Duchess of Sussex hijacked a photo opportunity at the Royal Salute Polo Challenge in 2024, ushering Sentebale chair Sophie Chandauka away from the prince's side The prince appears to be accused of bullying, racism and harassment by Sentebales chair, Dr Sophie Chandauka When, in 2006, Prince Harry co-founded his charity, Sentebale, established in memory of his late mother Princess Diana to help youngsters orphaned by Aids in the tiny African nation of Lesotho, I was both touched and impressed. He was just 21 years old, and this was a much needed initiative in one of the countries hardest hit by Aids. In the years since, the charity expanded its work in Southern Africa and seemed to go from strength to strength until now. The mass resignation of trustees last week was followed by the stepping down of Prince Harry and his co-founder, Prince Seeiso of Lesotho, as patrons. Then came the hard-hitting allegations by Sentebales chair, Dr Sophie Chandauka, of bullying, harassment and racism that appear to be targeted at Harry himself. I was once reluctant to dive in and criticise Harry for the many things he was accused of as a teenager and young man. Like millions of us, I always retained a soft spot for the young prince, even during his wayward years before he buckled down to join the Army and serve in Afghanistan. However, things changed when he married Meghan, and they took the dramatic decision to exit life as working royals. Instead of public duty, they appeared hellbent on cashing in on their titles with those eye-watering Netflix and podcast deals. In his own memoir in 2023, Spare, he spared no one as he defended Meghan from racism and misogyny allegedly perpetrated by close members of his own family. Never, though, did I believe that what followed Megxit was solely Harrys decision or even what he wanted. And for me there was no clearer demonstration of that than the excruciating moment in their 2022 Netflix documentary when he sat back and watched as Meghan executed a low curtsey in an anecdote that many agreed disparaged our late Queen. Prince Seeiso of Lesotho and Prince Harry attending a welcome event at Sentebale in 2024. The pair both stepped down as patrons last week following mass resignations at the charity At that moment, the princes eyes were sad, his expression, unsure. He was certainly not comfortable. Yet another example came in April last year with that revealing and unflattering footage of Meghan apparently hijacking a photo-opportunity at a fund-raising polo match for Sentebale. We learn now from Dr Chandauka that the Duchess of Sussex was not expected but suddenly turned up (with a celebrity friend in tow), and the chaotic scenes of Meghan twice appearing to usher the charity boss away from Harrys side during the prize-giving were the result. Dr Chandauka claimed at the weekend that she was asked by Harry to defend Meghan from criticism after the video went viral, which she declined to do. I wonder if that was the day the campaign Dr Chandauka claims has been waged to have her removed from her post at Sentebale was launched? I think it may have been Piers Morgan who was the first to suggest that Meghan was a narcissist, and he has since said it repeatedly. Im afraid to say, I agree with him. And herein I believe lies the explanation for Harrys at times inexplicable behaviour. That is not to excuse the prince in any way. He is an adult a 40-year-old father of two with agency and perspective. But how can he have tolerated some of Meghans more questionable actions? Secretly I have always felt that there is only one excuse left for Harrys behaviour, all others having been plundered. Is he the flying monkey thats a psychological term used to describe someone who enables, or defends and excuses, the behaviour of a narcissist to Meghan? The term comes from The Wizard Of Oz in which the Wicked Witch put flying monkeys under her spell. Flying monkeys are those people who will defend a narcissist; who will justify and explain away their behaviour while not seeing or understanding what is happening around them. Typically, such enablers have personality flaws of their own, are needy and easily taken in by narcissists, who can be charming and effusive if it suits their manipulative purpose or draws attention. From what we have learned about her, I believe the Duchess of Sussex shows narcissistic traits, including a need for admiration, a sense of entitlement and self-importance, and even a lack of empathy (given her estrangement from much of her own family). Continuing with my armchair psychologists hat on, I understand that, over time, enablers can be left feeling isolated and miserable as those around them become disenchanted with the narcissist and begin to disengage. Some friends of Prince Harry have said that they are increasingly worried about him. He reportedly barely leaves his Montecito mansion in California, and they fear he has become, in effect, Meghans spare as she has launched a new lifestyle show well worth the watch to see what narcissistic charm and fakery looks like in action and a podcast in quick succession. I have some sympathy for Harry. It must be devastating to see the possible implosion of a charity that meant so much to him and to face such upsetting allegations over his conduct. My sincere hope is that someone from his press team flags up this column to him and that he picks up the phone to his therapist. And if there is salvation to be had for this prodigal son, then its to be found in getting back to doing what he does best raising awareness of the plight of the orphans of Africa or of the wounded military veterans in his other great charitable initiative, Invictus. In part three of the Mail's exclusive serialisation of On Democracies And Death Cults, renowned author Douglas Murray asks how some of the most prestigious universities in the West allowed themselves to become tools of Hamas and its plan to blame Israel for the murder of its own citizens. In June 2024, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) performed a daring and successful rescue mission for four of the Israeli hostages kidnapped on October 7, 2023. They included Noa Argamani, a young woman snatched from the Nova festival. Footage of her being driven off on the back of a Hamas motorcycle, screaming in terror, became one of the formative images of the day. When the IDF rescued her and the other three hostages they found out one of the people who had been holding them was Abdallah Aljamal. During the war Aljamal had filed many articles about the humanitarian suffering inside Gaza. One of the news sites that he had contributed to was Al Jazeera. And it turned out that while filing these articles, he had failed to tell his readers that he was holding Israeli hostages in his own home, where they were being tortured daily. Yet details like this were lost all the time. The world seemed so pleased to be able to throw its attentions onto the conflict in Gaza that any and every claim could be made about Israel's actions. Almost every time, these were presented in the worst possible light. If anyone pointed out that the death tolls in other conflicts in the 21st century were far larger than Gaza, they were told that they were trying to deflect attention from the latter. If they pointed out, as did Major John Spencer, the chair of urban warfare studies at West Point's Modern War Institute, 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. A group of pro-Palestine supporters pictured with placards during a rally in London on October 14, 2023 A woman pictured with a megaphone at a pro-Palestine demonstration in New York on October 9, 2023 Douglas Murray (pictured) asks how some of the most prestigious universities in the West allowed themselves to become tools of Hamas and its plan to blame Israel for the murder of its own citizens It had been the same for years. When anyone pointed out any virtue of Israeli democracy they were accused of diverting attention from the 'occupation', the 'ethnic cleansing', or the always-ongoing 'genocide'. By the 2010s this had already reached such a pitch that anyone even pointing out that Israel has liberal rights in a region not known for the same was accused of diverting attention from the plight of the Palestinians. A feminist philosopher at the University of California, Berkeley, Professor Judith Butler, and other 'gender theorists' even came up with a term, pinkwashing, to describe anyone who even said that Israel has equal rights for gay people. This allowed people like Butler (who identified as lesbian before identifying as non-binary) to try to rationalise why they had openly landed on the side of people who would kill them if they actually lived under the groups they were supporting. During the 2006 Israel-Hezbollah war, Butler was asked whether the hesitation of some on the political Left to support terrorist groups due to their violent actions risked harming international solidarity with the Palestinians. Butler responded: 'Understanding Hamas and Hezbollah as social movements that are progressive, that are on the Left, that are parts of a global Left, is extremely important.' If Butler herself ever lived under a regime run by Hamas or Hezbollah, she would be executed at worst and made to cover her face from male attention at best. Israeli Noa Argamani (pictured) was abducted from the Nova festival by Hamas on October 7, 2023 This image of Noa being abducted by members of Hamas on October 7 became one of the formative images of the day Watching Western would-be revolutionaries do this to everything involving Israel is like watching someone playing chess and trying to cut off any move their opponent can make. Every fact can be dismissed. But when it comes to Israel, the difference between 'equal rights' and 'hanging gays from cranes' is waved away as mere Israeli PR. Notice the difference between living and being hanged and you will be accused of 'pinkwashing.' Point out that Israel is a liberal democracy with all the benefits and complexities that that entails and you will be told that you are excusing 'genocide'. 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. History gets rewritten all the time. But it gets rewritten especially fast in wartime. Within a couple of months of October 7 there was a narrative that went something like this: Israel had the world's sympathy and support in the immediate aftermath, but had squandered it by prosecuting its war against Hamas in Gaza. In fact, the world's sympathy didn't even outlive the first day as protests exploded on the streets of New York, London, Manchester and many other cities in the West. The attack on the Nova music festival on October 7, 2023, saw Hamas gunmen kill and abduct Israelis Hamas terrorists killed an estimated 1,200 people as they invaded Israel from Gaza. Pictured: Hamas take part in a military parade to mark the anniversary of the 2014 war with Israel -- July, 2023 Two days later celebratory crowds gathered outside Downing Street, lighting flares, chanting 'Allahu Akbar' and praising the massacres. In these early celebrations the vast majority of the participants were British Muslims, with the men dressed in terrorist chic and many of the women in burkas and other face coverings. But very quickly the numbers were swollen as all kinds of people joined the protest. The first big march against Israel in London took place on October 14, this time with thousands in attendance. Whenever the crowd spotted anyone they identified, rightly or wrongly, as Israeli, they chased them. The British police stood by idly during almost all of this, just a bystander. A week later, more than 100,000 anti-Israel protesters brought central London to a halt. That demonstration included the Islamist group Hizb ut-Tahrir, banned in a number of Muslim and European countries. One of its members in the UK declared that the Hamas attacks 'made us all very, very happy' and shared a message on social media about 'killing the Jews'. Protesters let off smoke canisters as they gathered in support of Palestinians on October 14, 2023, in London Protesters on October 14, 2023, climb monuments in Trafalgar Square, central London Marchers waved the flags of Islamic Jihad and other terror organisations. Some wore clothes which featured depictions of hang gliders, of the same type as those on which gun-toting Hamas terrorists had descended on the Nova music festival party on October 7. Two young Muslim girls wearing these presumably celebratory emblems were eventually found and appeared before a Muslim judge who let them go without charges. The protesters intimidated not just local shop owners and any locals, especially any Jews, who they thought were in their way. They also tried to intimidate the police, who had clearly lost control as protesters clambered freely over the buildings of Whitehall, covering monuments in terrorist flags. In the year that followed October 7, I saw protests in a bewildering array of cities in Toronto and Vancouver, in Sydney and Melbourne, in Johannesburg and Cape Town. Everywhere the same thought came to my mind: What has it got to do with you? Why does this one conflict matter so much? Of all the conflicts going on around the world, from Syria to Myanmar, from Sudan to Ukraine, why was this the one that people from around the world had chosen to throw themselves into? And not against the invaders but against the victim. In city after city across the West, Jewish communities put up posters of the kidnapped Israelis to try to show the horror of what had happened. And in city after city, they were torn down. In Dublin, a picture of the youngest hostage, eight-month-old Kfir Bibas, was ripped apart, as if there was anything that a babe-in-arms toddler could have done to make himself a culprit or undeserving of sympathy. But this was the way of the protests in the West, where even recognising the plight of the hostages and those slaughtered in the October 7 atrocity was seen as an affront, a terrible provocation that must be repelled. Students at Cambridge University set up an encampment in solidarity with Gaza in May 2024 Oxford students put up a sign listing their six demands at their 'Liberated Zone' camp Why did the world's sympathy seem to be not with the victims of the massacres but with the perpetrators? Why had the whole world seemingly got this conflict so completely upside down? Most curious of all was that, particularly in the US, the impetus for the anti-Israel protests turned out to be not among Islamist rabble-rousers on the streets, but at nearly every one of the country's elite educational institutions, not least at its most expensive and historic Ivy League schools. The massacre was still going on when Yale University professor Zareena Grewal tweeted: 'Israel is a murderous, genocidal settler state and Palestinians have every right to resist through armed struggle.' Albany Law School professor Nina Farnia wrote: 'The Palestinians are a beacon to us all.' And Professor Danny Shaw of New York's City University declared: 'These Zionists are Babylon swine. Zionism is beyond a mental illness; it's a genocidal disease.' Student groups at Harvard issued a statement holding the Israeli regime 'entirely responsible for all unfolding violence'. All this set the pattern for what would happen in the months ahead. Soon tent encampments started going up on one campus after another. The tactics everywhere looked strikingly similar and inexplicably coordinated. As replica protests sprang up at universities in the UK and Canada, there was speculation in some quarters about what level of coordination was going on, and who was paying for these protests. The following July, US intelligence delivered its verdict: the Iranian government, the prime backer, financier and trainer of Hamas, its proxy, was also providing financial support to protesters. Police clash with pro-Palestinian students from UCLA after destroying part of the encampment barricade at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) early on May 2, 2024 Police in riot gear pictured storming through the window of a Columbia University building in New York occupied by dozens of pro-Palestine protestors to begin clearing them out on April 30, 2024 It was noticeable that the protesting students at dozens of American campuses all had a similar costume. The men generally wore black-and-white checked head scarves known as keffiyehs, aping their Palestinian heroes. From the outset, there was a major misunderstanding among the campus protesters that their own university must somehow be involved by investing in or supporting the purported Israeli 'genocide'. It was a claim that was never explained but the delusion that America's universities were somehow part of Israel's war machine emerged almost everywhere. Some of the students must have known their institution was not in any way involved. But they wanted to protest the war and so, quietly turning a blind eye to the truth, carried on pretending their university was somehow central to the conflict in order to give themselves something close to home at which they could direct their rage. At Columbia, protests went on for an entire academic year, with protesters issuing open calls for violence. 'Burn Tel Aviv to the ground!' they screamed and called for the October 7 attack to be repeated 'not one more time, or five or ten, not 100 more times, not 1,000 more times, but 10,000 times!' The central claim of many protesters was that Israel was a terrorist state that needed to be dismantled. But added to that was a conviction that activism of the kind they were now deeply involved in would actually make it happen. Still, it was strange to hear students pick up the slogans and struggles of the most extreme Palestinian groups. 'From the River to the Sea' was one of the most common chants though many of those calling it out didn't seem to know which river they were talking about (the Jordan) or what the sea in question might be (the Mediterranean). But there did seem to be a general awareness that this slogan was a call for the elimination of the Jewish state and that the whole of the land of Israel should be occupied by the Palestinians. Students manning stalls and camping out on the grounds of Leeds University in May 2024 Newcastle University students gathered in front of the university as they protest in solidarity with Gaza on May 1, 2024 And since Hamas had always insisted that there must not be one Jew in such a state that it must be, to borrow a sinister term from history, Judenrein, or cleared of Jews then that meant the Jews must all either be killed or forcibly evacuated. None of the student protest leaders or their followers ever put forward any non-genocidal plan for the removal of the Jews of Israel, so it is not a stretch to say that the chant was genocidal. The same went for the cry of 'Intifada' holy war. There was considerable debate as to whether this was inflammatory. But to anyone who was Jewish, the slogan could not have been clearer. Intifada is not a neutral term, any more than 'Sieg Heil' is a phrase that simply means 'Hail victory'. Since the 1980s, Palestinian leaders and clerics have twice called for an 'Intifada' against the Jewish state, and these turned out to be among the bloodiest periods in Israel's history. For years, terrorist attacks against innocent civilians happened on a weekly, sometimes daily, basis. On a beautiful summer evening in Tel Aviv in 2001, scores of young Israeli women queuing to get into a beach-front nightclub were targeted. A Hamas suicide bomber killed 21 of them. Sixteen were teenagers. Limbs were strewn across the road; bodies lay in piles. A student from the University of Bristol pictured at their pro-Palestine encampment in May 2024 As they called for 'Intifada', did the protesters at American colleges know this? Equally, when they accused Israel of being an 'apartheid state' did they realise that almost a fifth of the population of Israel are Arabs and enjoy the same rights as Jews? Probably not, because two months after the Hamas massacres, an opinion poll revealed that while 81 per cent of respondents of all ages backed Israel in its fight against Hamas, among 18 to 24-year-olds an extraordinary 60 per cent thought the October 7 attacks were justified and 51 per cent in the same age bracket agreed that Israel 'should be ended and given to Hamas and the Palestinians'. It is bewildering that these opinions come from the exact same generation of students who were brought up to believe that words are violence and that silence is violence. Yet calls for genocide appear to be just about the only thing that is not violent. But, though the campus protests made little impression on Western government, one set of leaders was taking a keen interest. In May 2024, a Hamas leader addressed a conference in Istanbul hosted by the Muslim Brotherhood and expressed his thanks for 'the great student flood' that had emerged at American, British and other Western universities. What students on these campuses were doing was all part of Hamas's plan and had been factored in. A plan that led direct from campus demonstrations in America to jihad on the streets of Israel. The endorsements kept coming. The supreme leader of the Iranian revolutionary Islamic government, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, wrote praising the students of America. 'You are now part of the Resistance Front,' he told them, 'and you have begun a dignified struggle under the ruthless police pressure of your government that evidently defends the oppressive and brutal Zionist regime.' There's more than one irony in this, but in the years since the Islamic Revolution in 1979, Khamenei and his predecessor, Ayatollah Khomeini, have killed, tortured and imprisoned thousands of Iranian students, especially when they have come out and protested against their own government as the American students were now doing. In one crackdown in 2009 the government's security forces openly shot student protesters on the streets, then ordered the digging of mass graves for the bodies of those who were murdered and tortured. Students who were detained in the regime's prisons in the aftermath of these protests attested to having been raped with batons and bottles. But the Ayatollah wasn't going to allow something like his own track record to get in the way of destabilising America. In his letter to American students, Khamenei talked about a changing situation, consciences awakening and history turning a new page. He concluded his salutations with citations from the Quran and said: 'I empathise with you, young people, and I respect your steadfastness.' The fact that 2024 saw a record surge in executions inside Iran was left out of his letter, as was the fact that his regime publicly executes people convicted of homosexuality by hanging them from cranes and throwing them off high buildings. Khamenei was clearly pleased with the ignorance of America's students and his own ability to foment dissent in a country he describes as 'The Great Satan'. Adapted from On Democracies And Death Cults, by Douglas Murray (HarperCollins, 25), to be published April 10. Douglas Murray 2025. To order a copy for 22.50 (offer valid to 12/4/25; UK P&P free on orders over 25) go to mailshop.co.uk/books or call 020 3176 2937. When Rachel Reeves, panicked by her own corrosive effect on economic growth, suddenly declared the Government would now back a third runway at Heathrow, Zarah Sultana, the MP for Coventry South, was incandescent with fury. Pointing out that Keir Starmer himself had campaigned against the project in 2018, she raged: Now, in the middle of a climate emergency, his government is backing it. A complete U-turn at the expense of local communities and the planet. Reckless, short-sighted and indefensible. But now Sultana (sitting as an independent, having been elected as a Labour MP) turns out to be an avid advocate of new runways in Pakistan. Last week, she was one of 20 parliamentarians, led by the Labour MP for Bedford, Mohammad Yasin, who wrote a joint letter to the Prime Minister of Pakistan, demanding that he get on with constructing an entirely new international airport in the city of Mirpur. On British parliamentary notepaper, the letter declares: We wish to draw your attention to a very important matter to the Kashmiri diaspora in the UK... the nearest airport to the region is Islamabad International, approximately 80 miles by road from Mirpur. Significant numbers of our constituents have concerns regarding the journey time by road. Fun fact: Mohammad Yasin also voted against the expansion of Heathrow in 2018. And, like Sultana, he is not a London MP so his reasons for opposition could only have been the claimed effect on the planet if we were to increase airport capacity. Yet, somehow, these MPs immediately abandon such concerns about the supposed dire threat to humanity from jet fuel carbon emissions, when their vexed constituents from the Kashmiri diaspora complain about having to drive 80 miles from Islamabad to Mirpur. Its mystifying why MPs who otherwise seem to regard flying as a crime against the environment, want to make it easier to take long-haul flights to and from Pakistan. Or not mystifying, just grotesquely hypocritical. Zarah Sultana (pictured) is one of 20 parliamentarians who wrote to the Prime Minister of Pakistan, demanding that he get on with constructing a new airport in the city of Mirpur They were led by the Labour MP for Bedford, Mohammad Yasin. Fun fact: Yasin voted against the expansion of Heathrow in 2018 Or maybe something else lies behind the egregious double standards the idea that only the UK should be hamstrung economically by an obsession with Net Zero, and that the emissions of formerly colonised countries are above criticism or complaint. For in recent months, prodigious increases in coal production from the worlds two most populous nations, China and India, have passed entirely without comment, let alone censure, in the House of Commons. Last week, the Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, hailed the countrys record-breaking coal output, and the countrys minister for coal and mines, G Kishan Reddy, rejoiced on X: India has crossed a monumental 1 BILLION TONNES of coal production! This achievement will fuel our increasing power demands, drive economic growth and ensure a brighter future for every Indian. In China, coal plant construction surged last year to the highest level in a decade, aided by generous new government terms, which allow 50 per cent of the capital costs to be offset via a levy on consumers bills. The UK, meanwhile, has closed its last coal-fired power station (previously the source of our cheapest energy) and instead gives such incentives to renewables. These environmental levies, according to the Office for Budget Responsibility, will amount to over 12billion this year alone, and are to rise inexorably in the years ahead. This helps to explain why our industrial energy costs are the highest in the world, and in turn why British Steel is about to go out of business, leaving us the only major economy without steel-making capacity. And yes, we will just buy it from China, where it can be made using all that cheap, reliable coal. The craziest aspect is that the imported steel will have led to higher global emissions than if we had produced it ourselves, with a much lower coal element, and no transportation costs. So our de-industrialisation is actually bad for the planet, as global emissions are increasing as a result. This thought had never occurred to the fanatics known as Just Stop Oil, who last week announced that they were ending their campaign of disruption, while adding this is not the end of civil resistance. What? Does that mean they will be taking their protests to China? After all, that is where the vastest growth in emissions will be coming from (the UK is now responsible for little more than 1 per cent of made-made CO2). Obviously not, and partly for the same reason that those MPs criticise UK airport expansion but promote it in Pakistan. It is only the West that is wicked, and former colonisers carbon emissions are infinitely more heinous than those of the formerly colonised. Some tribute here should be paid to the last government, which brought in Serious Disruption Prevention Orders [SDPOs], giving the police added powers to prevent the sort of activity that led to main arterial roads being blocked, resulting in havoc to millions of lives. At that time, Just Stop Oil raged that SDPOs stifle democracy and free speech. No, they did not curtail free speech in the slightest; and if Just Stop Oil wanted to understand the difference, they could try going to China to speak out against the plans for increased coal production there. The truth is that the Just Stop Oil campaign became absurd as well as menacing to the public held hostage by their attempts to close vital infrastructure with the election of a Labour government which had exactly the same policy. That is, to close down all new exploration and development of our untapped oil and gas resources. There was not a sliver of difference between Just Stop Oils objectives and those of Ed Miliband, His Majestys Secretary of State for Energy Security (ha!) and Net Zero. And whats Eds latest brainwave? A maritime decarbonisation strategy, under which all boats would have to become fully electric. And the same for canal barges and pleasure craft, whose owners will have to swap their diesel engines for electric motors and (enormously heavy) batteries. The chief executive of the association representing the smallest fishing boats (less than 10 metres in length) said last week that Milibands scheme would destroy the industry overnight. Now, I want you to guess, roughly, what Milibands spokesman said in response. Yes, the usual fatuous grandiloquence: The Government is committed to decarbonising the shipping industry as part of our mission to tackle climate change and establish the UK as a clean energy superpower. You might also be wondering: how does Rachel Reeves square her Heathrow plans with this doctrine? She says it will all be fine because renewable fuels are a game-changer. Well, thats true, but not in the way she means. According to Paul Johnson of the Institute for Fiscal Studies, one calculation suggested it would take the oil of three million coconuts to fuel one flight from London to Amsterdam. Which may be something for Zarah Sultana and her colleagues to work out on the back of a House of Commons envelope: how many coconuts will be required to fuel all their constituents flights to Mirpur and back? Just to save the planet, of course. A grieving mother whose baby was stillborn has revealed her agonising four decade search to find her daughter's grave after the infant was whisked away and buried in secret. Lesley Elkins, 70, gave birth to her first child Rachael in February 1982 when she was just 27 years old. Her pregnancy had been smooth and Lesley, from the Wirral, carried her infant to full-term - so it came as a devastating blow to learn her infant had not survived labour. But, in a national scandal that has brought shame on hospital trusts in recent years, Lesley was robbed of the chance to spend time with, and even cuddle, her baby because she was whisked away by nurses and buried in an unknown location. Lesley went on to have three more children who are now adults, but she never stopped thinking about Rachael and dedicated her life to finding her late daughter's resting place. Now, after four decades, Lesley has managed to track down Rachael's grave with the help of a group of investigators on a Facebook group - and says she's finally begun the process of 'healing' after visiting the site to mark what would have been Rachael's 43rd birthday. She said: 'I always felt like I was in limbo, and it wasn't until I found Rachael's grave that I finally started to grieve. 'Knowing where she is, and being able to visit her, has brought me peace. Lesley Elkins (pictured) found her stillborn daughter Rachael's grave with the help of a Facebook group, 40 years after she gave birth Lesley has now marked Rachael's grave with plaques and flowers and recently held a memorial service to mark what would have been her 43rd birthday. Lesley went on to have three other children, but she never forgot about Rachael. Here she is pictured with her daughter Emily and her granddaughter Molly 'I have a photo of me at the grave, that first day when I found her, and I treasure that because it was a healing moment.' The practice of taking a stillborn baby away from their mother minutes after birth may seem cruel by today's standards - but throughout the 60s and 70s (and even through to the 80s and 90s) it was common procedure at some UK hospital trusts. Mothers were rarely given time to grieve or even hold their child, who was quickly taken away and cremated or buried in unmarked mass graves. The thinking behind the strategy was that allowing the mother to spend time with her stillborn infant would only prolong her pain - but in the decades that followed, grieving mothers were left in agony as they searched for answers about their missing stillborn children. According to Sands, the Stillbirth and Neonatal Death charity, it wasn't until the mid-1980s that parents of stillborn babies began to be consulted about funeral arrangements for their child. Prior to that, hospitals tended to organise funerals without consulting with parents. Babies were sometimes buried in shared graves and the majority of parents were not told what had happened to their child's body. Lesley found Rachael's grave (pictured) with the help of a Facebook support group called 'Gina's Sleeping Babies Reunited' Lesley (pictured on the day she discovered Rachael's grave) had never been able to grieve her first daughter's death Lesley with her three children (l-r): Philip, 31, Emily, 40, and David, 42 Recalling her traumatic birth and learning that Rachael had not survived labour, Lesley said: 'It was such a shock. There was no sign at all of any problems during the pregnancy and me and my husband were so looking forward to becoming parents. 'In those days, there were no scans, and so I didn't know whether I was having a boy or a girl. I hadn't bought any clothes, but we'd ordered the pram. We couldn't wait to meet our baby. 'The labour seemed to go to plan but afterwards she was whisked away, and I was told she had failed to breathe and that it was just one of those things, that there were no obvious problems with her and no genetic faults. I was heartbroken.' But Lesley's agony was made worse when she tried to see her stillborn infant but was denied access to her. 'I wanted to see her and I asked a nurse who told me it wasn't possible,' Lesley recalled. 'I was sent home, and I never got to see her or cuddle her or say goodbye. 'I was told she'd been buried and that I would never get to know where she was. That was how it was in those days.' Lesley is pictured on a walk with her daughter Emily and her grandchildren Lesley is pictured on her wedding day in 2014 with her daughter Emily and granddaughter Molly Lesley continued: 'Doctors believed it was better for a mother not to see a stillborn child, because it would harm the recovery. We were advised to move on and have another baby as quickly as possible, as though the one I'd lost could be replaced.' A year after Rachael's death, Lesley gave birth again to her healthy baby son David, now 42. The mother-of-four recalled her 'relief to hear him cry and to hold him in my arms'. However it was a bittersweet moment for Lesley, who added: 'All the memories of Rachael came flooding back and I missed her terribly.' Lesley went on to have two more children, Emily, 40, and Phillip, 31. She said: 'I felt blessed with my family, and they all grew up knowing that they had a big sister. But I kept my sadness to myself because I'd been made to feel I shouldn't share it or talk about Rachael. 'On her anniversary, my friends always remembered and as Emily got older, she asked lots of questions. I met my second husband, Mike, and he was supportive too. 'But all through those years, I wondered where Rachael was. There was always a hole inside me and in many ways, I was stuck in that moment of losing her. 'I never grieved because I didn't have answers. I could not come to terms with her death until I knew what had happened to her. Lesley (centre) with her daughter Emily and second husband, Mike, who has supported Lesley throughout her quest to find Rachael's grave Lesley with her family. She says searching for and finding Rachael's grave has been a 'healing journey' and that she has now 'found peace' Lesley's three children. Her daughter Emily started to ask lots of questions about Rachael as she got older 'I wanted to find her, but I just didn't think it was possible, and I didn't know where to start. I had accepted that was how things were and that we weren't really supposed to talk about our babies and dwell on the past. 'I had no record of Rachael ever existing; I hadn't been given a stillbirth certificate. I didn't know there was such a thing.' In 2024, Lesley saw a news article about a support group, Gina's Sleeping Babies Reunited, which helps families to locate still-born babies. Lesley got in touch and to her amazement, Rachael's grave was located in just two weeks. Gina Jacobs, the founder, had herself suffered the loss of a stillborn son, Robert, in February 1969. After a 50-year search to locate his grave, she set up a group to help other families. Gina, 80, currently supports nearly 500 members and has so far located over 70 graves. Lesley said: 'I spoke to Gina and gave her my details and Rachael's birthday. Gina told me to apply for the stillbirth certificate and she had a checklist of places to try, which included the local cemeteries, the hospitals, and the council. 'I didn't hold out much hope to be honest, and I thought it might take years. But just two weeks later, me and Mike were on holiday when she called. 'She told me Rachael was in an unmarked grave in our local cemetery, just a few miles away from our home. It was, co-incidentally, the same cemetery where Gina's son is buried. 'The moment we arrived back off holiday I went immediately to Landican Cemetery in Woodchurch, Wirral. I was given a map of the unmarked graves, and it was a case of pacing out the directions, using other graves as reference. 'That first time I stood by Rachael's grave was so emotional. It was overgrown and unloved but to find her at last was incredible. 'I have a photograph of that moment which I treasure because this was when my grieving process began. 'Now Rachael has a plaque and flowers, and we visit her all the time. It would have been her birthday last month and the whole family was there. 'This has been a healing journey, and I have finally found peace at last. I hope my story can bring hope and comfort to other families who may still be searching. Please don't give up.' Fashion-forward shoppers are obsessing over a $45 item from Kmart that fans claim to be the 'perfect dupe' of a sell-out $525 designer buy. The budget retailer's Long Sleeve Belted Denim Midi Dress looks nearly identical to Australian fashion label Aje's Colorado style. Both collared denim midi dresses feature long blouson sleeves with cuffs, buttons, double belt loops, side pockets and stitching details. Despite the significant price difference, the cheaper dress lacks some key features - including Aje's signature gold accent buttons and double belt. Aje is widely known for its high-quality materials, bold silhouettes, vibrant colors, and luxury pieces with unique prints. Aussie fashion blogger, known as Kmart Insider, shared her excitement over the affordable alternative to the high-end dress, which was so popular that it sold out everywhere. 'Been waiting aje-s for a midi version to land at Kmart and it's finally happening,' she said in an Instagram post. 'Can't get over the likeness and price of this Aje dupe.' Fashion-forward shoppers are obsessing over a $45 item from Kmart (left) that fans claim to be the 'perfect dupe' of Aje's sell-out $525 dress (right) Many customers were impressed with Kmart's offering, with some suggesting it's perfect for those who can't afford to fork out hundreds of dollars on designer labels Many customers were impressed with the similarities, with some suggesting it's perfect for those who can't afford to fork out hundreds of dollars on designer labels. 'Exactly the same,' one shopper pointed out. 'What a dupe,' another raved. 'Love this,' one said. 'Will be keeping an eye for this when it lands,' another added. The new dress comes just weeks after Kmart launched a shorter $38 version of the popular Aje denim dress, which costs upwards of $445. 'Kmart sure Aje'd well. Losing it over this $38 dupe of the sold out Aje Dione Denim Dress that retailed for $445,' the fashion blogger said. Many were amazed with the 'dupe'. Kmart's Long Sleeve Belted Denim Mini Dress, $38, looks almost identical to Australian fashion label Aje's Dione Dione Denim Long Sleeve Dress, $445 'Wow, gorgeous,' one said. 'Unbelievable,' another shared. 'So cute,' one added. Meanwhile, one customer weighed in on the Kmart 'dupe' of Aje. 'It's a dupe, not a fake and while it's nice, it's not the same in a fashion sense. Details are what make something high-end and this just doesn't have the details - but it comes at a cheaper price point,' she explained. Earlier this year, a $25 item from Kmart was flying off the shelves after shoppers discovered it looked similar to a $575 high-end version. The budget retailer has been selling a pair of Buckle Slingback Ballet Flats, available in three colours - red, black and white - that closely resemble Ganni's range of Feminine Buckle Ballerinas. Earlier this year, a$25 item (left) from Kmart Australia was flying off the shelves after shoppers discovered it looked similar to a $575 designer buy (right) Both brands' pointed-toe flats have similar features, including metal eyelet detailing, buckle-strap fastenings and low stacked heels. Upon a closer look, Kmart's shoes have a single row of metal eyelet detailing on each strap, while the Danish fashion brand's off-white version has two rows. 'We can't get enough of this $25 Ganni lookalike from Kmart,' Aussie fashion blogger behind Kmart Insider said on Instagram. Bargain hunters have confirmed the cheaper flats are 'so comfy' while others shared that they were 'running' to Kmart to grab a pair. The budget retailer is now selling a pair of Buckle Slingback Ballet Flats (left) that closely resemble Ganni's Feminine Buckle Ballerina flats (right) 'The Kmart versions are amazing in these shoes. So good in fact they are selling out everywhere,' one said. 'I tried these on, they were really comfy,' one said. 'So cute,' another added. 'OMG I'm running,' one shared. Meanwhile, many were amazed by the colour options. 'I have the white - find them comfy enough so have purchased the black... I may get the red when it's in my Kmart,' one shared. 'What? They come in black and red as well? I only saw white,' another said. 'I wish I knew they were bringing black ones out. My Kmart only had white so I got them but would have preferred black,' one explained. 'Ooo I saw the red and white in store but not the black. Will have to check it out,' another added. The husband of the Norway royal released a statement on Friday Shaman Durek Verrett, the husband of Princes Martha Louise of Norway, has claimed he now has to undergo kidney dialysis three times a week 'just to stay alive'. The American spiritualist, 50, who married into the Norweigan royal family in August, has courted controversy for his beliefs including 'children get cancer because they're unhappy'. The Shaman, who has previously had a kidney transplant, also slammed the Norweigan press and said 'attacks' against him - including an allegation of sexual assault from a male client - had worsened his health. In the statement posted to Instagram, he wrote: 'Ive been relentlessly targeted by Norwegian media, Se og Hr in particular, for the past six years. 'Ive been portrayed in ways that have deeply harmed my health, my character, my reputation, my business, and the people I love, my family and friends.' Durek had reportedly been suffering from a 'severe kidney disease' for almost three decades, with the spiritualist having previously claimed the condition once led him to go into cardiac arrest. In 2023, it was reported that the shaman - whose celebrity following includes Gwyneth Paltrow, Nina Dobrev and James Van Der Beek - was having to go into a US facility up to five times a week for dialysis. Last year, Verrett admitted he 'made a mistake' in sessions with five of his clients, in bombshell audio recordings obtained by Norwegian paper Se og Hor. In the three voice messages, Verrett reveals he performed oral sex on one of his male clients after their session and helped a woman 'clean' her vagina after she had 'violent' sex with her partner. Shaman Durek Verrett, the husband of Princes Martha Louise of Norway, has claimed he now has to undergo kidney dialysis three times a week 'just to stay alive', after being 'targeted' by the press (pictured) The American spiritualist took to Instagram on Friday, claiming in a statement that his health had been 'harmed' due to being 'relentlessly targeted' by a Norwegian news outlet as part of a 'takedown for profit' The recordings were released after Swedish father-of-two Joakim Bostrom claimed he was touched in an 'inappropriate way' by Verrett after attending a spiritual session with him, after he claimed he had a cyst in the area. 'He started touching my penis. I reacted violently and shouted what do you think is going to happen? You want me to get an erection?. I told him to stop, but he wouldn't budge. He seemed determined to persuade me to have sex,' he told Seg oh hor. In a later session, he said he was then sexually assaulted by the Shaman, who didn't stop when he asked. Mr Bostrom didn't report Durek's behaviour at the time - something he now regrets. In a statement given to Se og Hr, Durek's representative Jenni Weinman said Bostrom had been his Swedish agent before being fired for having an inappropriate relationship with a member of staff. Durek has previously denied the allegations and claimed he has a 'legal document' in place to protect him. In the new statement made to Instagram, he said: 'The accusation was false, malicious, and strategically timed to hurt me and those I love.' Continuing the statement, Durek said 'lies' had been told and that the publication had 'handed a megaphone' to his critics. Durek and Princess Martha made headlines for their wedding in August (pictured) - partly due to Verrett's controversial views Princess Martha Louise of Norway and her US groom Shaman Durek delighted crowds lining the streets by sharing a kiss after their wedding Those who he said included: 'Disgraced family, ex-partners, former friends, and wellness guide turned media-hungry opportunist' and 'people with personal vendettas and something to gain.' 'This isnt journalism. This is a takedown for profit,' he slammed. Continuing, he said: 'I lost my kidney transplant several years ago. I now undergo dialysis three times a week just to stay alive. These attacks havent just hurt emotionally. Theyve made that fight harder.' 'To real survivors of abuse, I see you. I stand with you. But what Se og Hr did wasnt advocacy. It was profiting from your pain, and that is dangerous and disgraceful. 'I believe in a free press, but I believe even more in truth, accountability, and ethics. Journalism should serve the public, not manipulate it. 'This post is a public record. Every lie, every violation, every smeardocumented. This is evidence. To the PFUthank you for doing what Se og Hr refused to do: uphold the true values of journalism, truth, fairness, integrity, and public trust. To my lawyer, Geir Lippestad --thank you for honoring human rights and standing by my side through this. To my TRIBEthank you for your unconditional love, for me and this planet. I will continue to walk in truth, with love and purpose.' In 2002, Durek - who has previously spoken about being HIV positive - sensationally claimed he died of renal failure and came back to life, cementing his path to being a shaman The American 'spiritual healer' sparked controversy for his wedding to the Danish royal after a number of media publications pointed to a colourful past shrouded in conflicting claims and outlandish statements. In 2002, Durek - who has previously spoken about being HIV positive - sensationally claimed he died of renal failure and came back to life, cementing his path to being a shaman. A decade later later, the spiritual healer - who flits between describing himself as a 'third and sixth generation shaman' - raised more than $20,000 for kidney transplant surgery, with his sister as his donor. The fundraiser was supported by his fiance, masseur Hank Greenberg, who he was in a relationship with for eight years from 2007. Things came to an end when Durek was arrested in 2015 for attacking him at their California home. Hank would later describe his former fiance as 'not a good man'. The self-proclaimed spiritual leader has previously complained of a number of health battles, namely concerning his kidneys. Speaking to HELLO in August, he said: 'I've had a lot of blood pressure issues and have been prone to infections since I was a kid. I lived in countries such as Israel during wars and suffered physical abuse as a child a lot of these elements broke down my system.' When he was 28-years-old, the Shaman suffered a renal failure that landed him in hospital and led him to suffer a 'near-death experience'. He claimed he 'flatlined' seven times before being brought back to life on the eighth turn. Durek said he has been 'on dialysis' for eight year following the incident and that he his sister, Angela had had to take care for him - even donating one of her kidneys to him in 2012. Durek found himself in hot water in 2022 when claims from his book, Spirit Hacking, published in 2019, resurfaced when he and Martha Louise got engaged. He claimed that children 'can get cancer from being unhappy' and was dropped by his publisher shortly after the couple announced their engagement in June 2022. He previously told Se og Hr, that there is a 'place and time for everything'. Durek and Princess Martha, 53, gathered 300 guests, including many royals, at their wedding in August. Martha, who describes herself as 'spiritual' and claims to be a clairvoyant, got into a relationship with Durek after overcoming the loss of her first husband, Ari Behn, who died by suicide in 2019. But things have not been easy for Martha, as she was forced to leave her role as a working member of the royal family because of her fiance's controversial views. A Brit who left the UK for Thailand has revealed she is 'never going back' because the lifestyle is much better. Claudia, who is from the UK but moved to Koh Samui, Thailand in 2023, often documents her life in the Southeast Asian country on her TikTok account @islandlifewithclaudia. The content creator revealed her main reasons for moving abroad were the weather and to be around 'open minded successful people' who weren't always complaining about the cost of living crisis or the bad weather. Claudia, 31, who runs a social media strategy business, revealed she left the UK when she was 24 after racking up lots of university debt. She first visited Thailand as a tourist seven years ago and knew she would call it home one day. After saving up money and quitting her job in the UK, Claudia moved back to the popular holiday hotspot with her partner. The entrepreneur revealed the cheaper lifestyle allows her to 'outsource' a lot of the household tasks so she can focus on her business. In a video that racked up more than 68,000 views, Claudia explained why she couldn't 'ever imagine' moving back to the UK. Claudia, who is from the UK but moved to Koh Samui, Thailand in 2023, revealed she is 'never going back' to Britain because the lifestyle is much better In the clip she said: 'The biggest reason is the lifestyle, in the UK you get maybe two months of good weather a year if you are lucky, the rest of the time it's grey skies, constant rain and people rushing around in coats complaining.' Claudia revealed that in Koh Samui she wakes up and feels like she is on holiday every day. She added: 'I train outside, go running, paddle board and spend time at the beach, even the restaurants are open air.' Secondly, the business owner revealed the 'community' was a big draw for the expat lifestyle. She explained: 'In the UK conversations revolve around complaining, work stress, bills, the cost of living crisis, the weather but here I'm surrounded by successful open minded people, local and expats from all over the world who are building businesses, creating freedom and are actually excited about life.' Claudia said this lifestyle is 'empowering' and it makes her want to 'level up'. In a video, which racked up more than 300,000 views, she revealed the 'four things we don't do in Thailand that make our lives so much easier.' She said: 'Number one is clean the house, so it is very common in Thailand to have a cleaner or maid that comes and cleans the house at least once a week. The content creator revealed her main reasons for moving abroad were the weather and to be around 'open minded successful people' who weren't always complaining about the cost of living crisis or the bad weather After saving up money and quitting her job in the UK, Claudia moved back to the popular holiday hotspot with her partner 'Secondly, we don't change the bedsheet, when the maid is here doing the house, she will change the bedsheets for us, take it to the laundry, wash it and take it back and make the beds. 'Number three, we don't do laundry and ironing, we do actually have a washing machine, so call me lazy if you want but the laundry people here do such a great job and it's so cheap. 'I will take my laundry down, pick it up the next day and it will be ironed and folded, it would smell amazing, it's so much easier than doing it yourself. 'Number four we don't cook, or barely ever, so we order most of our food out, we either order meal prep, which is a healthy food prep company which cooks calorie controlled meals, or we eat out at restaurants.' However some people rushed to the comments to say Claudia was being 'lazy', while others stood up for her. One person said: 'We call that lazy'. Another added: 'Lazy? Entitled? Maybe both' Claudia replied: 'I use the extra time to scale my business.' Claudia, 31, who runs a social media strategy business, revealed she left the UK when she was 24 after racking up lots of university debt The entrepreneur revealed the cheaper lifestyle allows her to 'outsource' a lot of the household tasks so she can focus on her business However some people rushed to the comments to say she was being 'lazy', while others stood up for the Brit Another said: 'Anyone calling you lazy is funny, because nobody rich is doing these things themselves, it's just a mindset thing and why not as long as u treat the staff really well then it's a good job for them too.' Someone else added: 'We would all do it if we had the chance. Its not lazy its smart, more time for yourself. Time is the most precious commodity, make the most of it if you can..' Another asked: 'So what type of money would it cost to have a cleaner weekly for a day? To which she replied: 'Around 10-20 for a full clean depending on the size of your house / villa'. It comes after a mother revealed how she's moved from Northern Ireland to Vietnam for a much more affordable lifestyle. Celine Diffin, from Armagh, jetted across the world with her husband Matthew, 34, two years ago to the capital city, Hanoi. The couple, who have a six-month-old daughter named Eabha, love the friendly culture and cheaper lifestyle. Celine, 29, revealed their rent is just 432 a month, a weekly shop is only 40 and a tank of petrol and a sandwich is around 1. The pair claimed their money goes much further in Vietnam and they can live off of Celine's kindergarten teacher salary. Celine Diffin, from Armagh, Northern Ireland, jetted across the world with her husband Matthew, 34, two years ago to the capital of Vietnam, Hanoi The savvy mother-of-one also explained that a meal out costs as little as 2 with a beer only costing 40p and spirits and mixers costing 2. Celine, who was paying 650 for student accommodation in Northern Ireland before moving abroad, claimed their two bed apartment is only 432 a month. Speaking to The Sun, she explained: 'There is so much fresh fruit and veg that is a lot cheaper than at home. 'Sometimes just me and Matthew will go for dinner for Vietnamese food and the most we've spent is 2. Very rarely people cook here, everyone goes out all the time for dinner because it is so cheap.' Last year, Vietnam was named as the cheapest country to be an expat in for the third year in a row, according to Swiss-based expat guide InterNations. Overall, 65 per cent of expats say they are satisfied with their financial situation in Vietnam and this isn't just due to the low cost of living. Just under one in five expats in Vietnam say they earn $150,000 (118,000) a year. Celine revealed the lifestyle is also much more laid back, with businesses closing daily for 'lunch time naps'. The mother, who gave birth in Vietnam to her daughter, said she is glad she stayed in the country to have her baby because 'its been fantastic.' A 'transracial' glamour model, who was born white but now 'identifies as Black' after tanning injections deepened her complexion, has revealed she wants to 'build bridges' between races after being baptised in Africa. Speaking from her home in Germany, Martina Big, 36, told FEMAIL she was christened Malaika Kubwa - meaning 'Big Angel' in Swahili - during the religious ceremony at a Kenyan church in 2019. 'This little church was close to a very dangerous river,' Martina said, in a clipped German accent, during our Zoom call. Since the river was experiencing high tide, the pastor advised Martina, who claims to have the biggest breasts in Europe, against a traditional immersion baptism. Instead, he collected the water in a bottle and poured it over her head. 'The pastor said, "You are very special and I want to baptise you, but it's too dangerous to go to this river. Let's do it a little bit differently,"' she recalled the day she received her new identity - one that 'matched' her body. The former air hostess first made headlines in 2017 when she declared 'it's better to be black' as she showed off her jawdropping transformation - that has been widely criticised - during an appearance on The Maury Show. Standing before a horrified studio audience, Martina explained that both she and her husband, Michael Eurwen, had injected themselves with Melanotan - a synthetic hormone to darken their skin - with different results. While Michael came away with a 'medium' tan, Martina claimed that three jabs of the 'special medicine' had turned her skin black. A 'transracial' glamour model, who was born white but now 'identifies as Black' after tanning injections deepened her complexion, has revealed she wants to 'build bridges' between races after being baptised in Africa Speaking from her home in Germany , Martina Big, 36, told FEMAIL she was christened Malaika Kubwa - meaning 'Big Angel' in Swahili - during the religious ceremony at a Kenyan church in 2019. She is pictured above before Martina received the tanning jabs Martina during her baptism ceremony during a visit to Kenya Eight years later, Martina believes her transformation into an 'exotic barbie' is complete and that her physical features align with her 'racial identity' of being Black. 'In the beginning, I only wanted to have a little bit more of a summer tan,' she told FEMAIL. 'But then I noticed this is more than a summer tan, this is special.' Speaking from her living room, which was decorated with 890 owl figurines Martina and Michael have collected during their travels, Martina recalled how the injections altered everything from her skin colour and the colour of her eyes, to her peroxide-blonde hair and her eyebrows. As she began documenting her transformation on social media, Martina was criticised fiercely for cosplaying being Black and doing Blackface - but the model felt she was being guided to her destiny. I thought you have to change your mindset and so I learned, step-by-step, how to match my mindset to being Black and learning more about the culture,' Martina, who has spent nearly 67,000 on altering her appearance, said. Body modification is one step, but being [one] in your mind with your look is very important,' she continued. After three trips to the continent, Martina introduces herself as Black - and sees herself as something of a 'bridge' between races. 'I'm proud that I changed myself in total, and so I try to be a bridge [between white and Black people],' she said. Martina and her partner Michael were both born white but have since darkened their skins with the help of Melanotan injections. Here, they are pictured prior to January 2017, when they started taking the synthetic hormone While Michael came away with a 'medium' tan, Martina claimed that three jabs of the 'special medicine' had turned her skin black When asked whether she worries about offending people who wore born Black, Martina simply said she receives a lot of emails from people who feel uncomfortable in my colour and want her help to achieve a different appearance. 'I know that I'm black,' she said. 'And I know how to live my life and I know how to build bridges between this. 'But I need people who are a little bit interested in what's going on. If they are very, very angry, nobody can help them. 'I'm not attacking you,' she continued. 'You can have your place, I will have my place.' Martina, who has 32T breasts after operations to enhance them, also recently claimed she and her husband have 'received invitations from fans in many African countries' to settle among them. 'Currently, we have Kenya and Namibia on our shortlist,' Martina recently shared the couple's emigration plans, adding it 'hasn't been easy to choose'. She expressed her desire to 'widen her nose' via surgery and undergo a butt augmentation before relocating to Africa from west Germany. 'Since I want my surgeries very extreme, I don't know any surgeons in Africa who can do those,' Martina said at the time. 'I am hoping that we can resolve the remaining issues soon and realise our dream of emigrating as soon as possible.' Martina worked as an air hostess before her partner Michael convinced her to start modellinh When asked whether she worries about offending people who wore born Black, Martina simply said she receives a lot of emails from people who feel uncomfortable in my colour and want her help to achieve a different appearance Martina, who has 32T breasts after operations to enhance them, also recently claimed she and her husband have 'received invitations from fans in may African countries' to settle among them Since 2012, Martina has gone under the knife several times to fulfill her fantasy of looking like a Barbie - including a rhinoplasty to make her nose smaller, liposuction to get 'long legs' like the Mattel doll, veneers for a 'super smile', lip fillers, and implants. Now, she has shared her plans to pump her breasts until they each hold 20,000 cc (or 20 litres) of saline liquid in custom-made implants so that 'when they're filled they will be double the size of the actual record-holder'. It appears Martina has undergone a transaxillary breast augmentation or scarless breast augmentation where saline implants are inserted through a small incision in the armpit. I can watch my boobs growing, she said, proudly. I like the extremes, she added, referring to her 32T chest size and narrow waist. The controversial German model has previously said she will 'pump' her breasts until they are 'as big as the Titanic' in a Facebook post. 'Sometimes I am amazed by my self how much my breasts have grown in the last time,' said Martina, who was a natural 32D bra size but now has 32T breasts after multiple operations to enhance them. 'But that's not enough for me! I will pump my breasts even bigger, Biggger and BIGGGGER until they are as big as the Titanic.' The noral range of breast implant sizes can range from 125 cc (or cubic centimetres) up to 600 cc, with anything larger than this requiring a custom-made implant. Since 2012, Martina has gone under the knife several times to fulfill her fantasy of looking like a Barbie - including a rhinoplasty to make her nose smaller, liposuction to get 'long Barbie legs' like the Mattel doll, veneers for a 'super smile', lip fillers, and implants Now, she has shared her plans to pump her breasts until they each hold 20,000 cc (or 20 litres) of saline liquid in custom-made implants so that 'when they're filled they will be double the size of the actual record-holder' In 2019, she shocked This Morning viewers when she revealed that she expected her future children to be born with dark skin, despite her and husband Michael both being born white Martina's dramatic skin colour change has been well documented in recent years. In 2019, she shocked This Morning viewers when she revealed that she expected her future children to be born with dark skin, despite her and husband Michael both being born white. Then presenter Holly Willoughby asked: 'Doctors have told you that your baby will be be black?' Martina replied: 'Yep, they said they will be black. We have also discussed about breast feeding and if it is safe for me to have a baby.' She later clarified on Facebook, saying: 'Doctors say that I am physically now a black woman and my future children will be black. And I believe the doctors!' However, viewers on Twitter questioned her logic: 'I'm so sorry, but no amount of cosmetic changes will affect your genetics. If you were born white, your children will be white. I think Martina needs to find a new doctor.' On the show, the couple who married in Hawaii in 2018, said they identified as black. 'I can clearly feel that I am black but its hard to find the right words to describe it,' Martina said at the time. A self-proclaimed MAGA woman living in Holland has sparked outrage after declaring it 'harder' to eat healthier in Europe. Lily, who now lives in Amsterdam in Holland, regularly shares her life overseas - and often complains about the biggest differences between the U.S. and her new home. In a recent video, she sparked fury after saying she finds it hard to eat healthy in Holland. 'The reasons why I struggle to eat healthier after moving to Europe as an American expat...,' she wrote on the video. She went on to list the obstacles she has come across in Amsterdam - much to the chagrin of Europeans watching. 'Most fruits and vegetables are sold loose without plastic packaging, meaning people may have already touched it with their hands,' was Lily's first point. She added: 'How is this sanitary?' The furious woman also couldn't believe that is it 'completely normal in Europe for fruits and vegetables to be sold with dirt on them.' Lily, who now lives in Amsterdam in Holland, regularly shares her life overseas - and often complains about the biggest differences between the U.S. and her new home 'How is this not a health hazard?' she wrote on the video, outraged. Her second point was the bread, which she claims go 'bad after one day.' 'You can only eat two slices and then you have to throw away the rest,' Lily said. Thousands of confused - and outraged - users commented on the video, with many questioning if it was 'rage bait.' 'US citizens don't wash their vegetables???' questioned one user. 'You know you can wash it (btw you should always wash them even if it says pre washed),' someone else told Lily. 'The fact that people aren't sure if this is satire or not, says a lot about America,' pointed out another. Someone else shared some more information into fruit and vegetable markers in Amsterdam. In a recent video, she sparked fury after saying she finds it hard to eat healthy in Holland Thousands of confused - and outraged - users commented on the video, with many questioning if it was 'rage bait' 'I see people are really mean about this. So fruits and veggies are sold like this normally, that's why we wash them after we buy them and if you put the bread in the fridge it will last long!' they shared. The difference between food quality and availability between the U.S. and Europe is often documented online - particularly as hordes of Americans head overseas for a European summer. Many people claim they lose weight while vacationing - despite eating and drinking more than they would at home. According to one Boston native, Kayleigh Donahue, she lost 50 pounds in less than a year after she moved to Ireland. She first credited her weight loss to 'easy access to fresh, local food,' saying it was 'not only' better quality better, but also found it to be more affordable. When dining out abroad, she noticed that the portions were half the size of the ones she had grown accustomed to in the US. She noted that eating at a restaurant abroad is more of a 'social experience' in which you take your time to 'slowly digest your meal instead of chowing down without ever being present.' Kayleigh said her live abroad also drastically increased her daily movement by constantly walking and biking - which she tried to incorporate when she moved back to the States. An American Airlines passenger has issued a stark warning after being subject to a creepy act from a fellow traveler as she slept. Danielle, who lives in Virginia, took to TikTok to unravel the details about her unsettling experience in a courtroom-style video. 'To the man that braided my hair while I was asleep on the plane, I need you to come forth immediately,' she said as she banged on a gavel. Danielle then shared a picture of the braid which was small and tight on the back of her head. She had printed out some emails of her trip details which she read aloud. The content creator explained that she took an early flight from Charlotte, North Carolina, to Los Angeles with American Airlines. She detailed where she sat during her time on board as well as her departure time. 'I'm only listing specifics because I want the person to know that I know who you are,' she said. Danielle, who lives in Virginia, took to TikTok to unravel the details about her unsettling experience in a courtroom-style video She explained how she only realized later that there was a braid in her hair because she slept most of the flight. 'When I get on the plane, I don't sleep. I hibernate, okay?' she explained. 'As soon as the plane takes off, I'm knocked out.' Danielle said the only thing that woke her up the whole time was a shuttering sound right behind her of someone taking pictures. However, she acknowledged that both window shades behind and in front of her were down which she said was 'so strange' since fellow passengers would not have been able to see out to the sky. 'So I'm like, "Who's taking pictures?" I don't pay no mind to it, because if you want to take pictures on a plane, that's none of my business,' she added. 'I'm just trying to get to my destination.' Danielle said that it wasn't until she got to her Airbnb that she noticed the braid and it 'dawned on [her]' that the person behind her did it before taking a snap. The content creator explained that she took an early flight from Charlotte, North Carolina, to Los Angeles with American Airlines (stock image) '"Why did you do that?'" she rhetorically asked the passenger. 'I need answers why you did that. I was deeply disturbed.' She added, addressing the passenger again: 'By the way, you braided my hair so tight, I had to take it out with a rat tooth comb.' Danielle took a long pause and looked at the camera in disgust. 'I don't know why you did that. I just need you to come forward and discuss why you thought it was okay to braid a woman's hair while she was asleep,' she said. 'Don't touch people's heads or people while they're asleep. It's weird and it's creepy. Don't touch people in general that you don't know.' The video has amassed 4.6 million views and 567,500 likes as of Monday. People in the comments were just as shocked as Danielle. 'That is absolutely insane. Are we not respecting boundaries anymore??' someone asked. 'This is such a unique experience,' a user wrote. 'Him snapping photos of his work is tearing me apart,' shared another. 'Touching someone without their consent and leaving THEM with a trophy of it is CRAAAAZY,' another acknowledged. 'This is so invasive and yet so funny, but I'm sorry that happened to you,' a comment read. 'This is WEIRD. I hope you're okay,' someone said. Many other commenters weren't sure how to react, joking that it was the 'Midnight Barber' and 'Braid Bandit.' 'This isn't funny, but I can't stop laughing,' a user admitted. 'Sis, I don't know if I should laugh or be concerned,' someone wrote. Another added: 'I'm not able to process this, to be honest.' 'This is the most serious, unserious thing ever,' another TikTok user commented. 'I don't know whether to laugh or scream,' a user shared. She maintained that everything is fine, despite the hefty outstanding tax bill Gia Giudice, 24, has broken her silence on the latest drama to plague her family Teresa Giudice's daughter Gia Giudice has insisted that she's not worried amid her mom and stepdad's outstanding tax bills, despite them both owing millions. Last week, it was revealed that reality star Teresa, 52, and husband Luis Ruelas, 49, had over $3 million in New Jersey state tax liens placed on them. Tax liens are a legal claim made on a person's assets if they fail or refuse to fully pay their taxes. If they fail to pay the amount of the judgment, the government would be able to seize their assets. According to the New Jersey Courts website, Teresa owes $303,889.20 in unpaid taxes in a judgement that was entered on March 20. Luis owes several times that amount, after a judgment saying he owes $2,569,842.06 was entered on March 6. That amount is on top of an earlier lien issued on December 12, 2024, for $163,523.94 in unpaid taxes. Teresa Giudice's daughter Gia Giudice has insisted that she's not worried amid her mom and stepdad's outstanding tax bills The 52-year-old Real Housewives Of New Jersey fixture and her 49-year-old husband had over $3 million in New Jersey state tax liens But Gia, 24, is not panicked. Speaking on the March 30 episode of Casual Chaos, she said: 'So, we have had a lot of positive moments this week and some negative moments. 'I'm sure you all have seen the news and a lot of you have been commenting on the Casual Chaos Instagram wondering if I will comment on this topic. 'I told you guys that I want to be real with you, and I'm commenting on it. So, let's start from the beginning a little bit.' She continued: 'My mom has been the sole provider for my sisters and I since the minute my father left for prison.' She went on to stress that mom Teresa has been 'working her a** off to make sure that my sisters and I live a stable life and that my family is financially stable' since she was freed from prison in December 2015. 'I can't stress enough how much my mom has worked,' Gia said. 'Everything will be resolved. My mom has everything under control and there's nothing to worry about.' Gia said of her mom (pictured): 'Everything will be resolved. My mom has everything under control and there's nothing to worry about' According to the New Jersey Courts website, Teresa owes $303,889.20 in unpaid taxes. Luis owes $2,569,842.06, on top of an earlier lien for $163,523.94 in unpaid taxes 'My stepdad, Louis, is the most amazing stepfather,' she continued. 'He treats my sisters and I like we are his own. He is also working on getting everything resolved as well.' Teresa's former husband Joe Giudice was jailed for 41 months after he plead guilty in 2014 to 41 counts of bank, mail, wire and bankruptcy fraud. He also admitted to not filing a tax return from 2004 through 2008. Following his sentence, Joe was forced to move to Italy ahead of deportation hearings. Teresa was ultimately sentenced to 15 months in federal prison. She met her future husband Luis during a 2020 vacation on the Jersey Shore. The glitzy state dinner took place at France's presidential Elysee Palace Queen Mary of Denmark put on a dashing display as she attended a state dinner at France's presidential Elysee Palace alongside her husband, King Frederik X, tonight. Mary, 53, appeared delighted as she greeted the President of France, Emmanuel Macron, and France's First Lady, Brigitte Macron, with a peck on the cheek outside the Paris venue. Tonight's state dinner took place in honour Denmark's reigning couple, who are currently on the first day of their three-day state visit to France. The Australian-born mother-of-four was dressed to the nines for the occasion, donning a see-through chiffon blouse with cuffed sleeves and floral detailing, which she tastefully layered with a tank top. She matched the blouse with a sophisticated pale blue skirt featuring multi-coloured floral detailing. Mary, who opted for a full face of glamour, added some extra glitz to her outfit with a pair of statement earrings in shades of pink and blue. Frederik, 56, looked equally dapper in a three-piece suit, white shirt, and navy tie for the occasion. Meanwhile, Brigitte, 71, also opted for a navy ensemble and sported a charming beaded frock with sheer long sleeves. Queen Mary of Denmark put on a sophisticated display for a state dinner at France's presidential Elysee Palace on Monday evening Emmanuel, the President of France since 2017, also looked smart in a formal black suit. This evening, Mary's bright display hinted that she had made a recovery from the mystery illness she suffered earlier this month. The Queen was forced to cancel scheduled engagements on March 17 after coming down with an illness. Mary was due to attend the Danish Heart Association event, Together for the Heart, in Copenhagen before an event held by the Mary Foundation at the University of Copenhagen later that week. A statement from the Danish Royal House's Communications Department issued, read, 'Her Majesty the Queen, like many others right now, has become ill, and therefore unfortunately cannot participate in the Heart Association's award ceremony.' Mary shared an additional message to the Royal Family's official Instagram account, 'Thank you for your thoughtfulness,' she wrote in her caption, which was posted alongside a get-well-soon card and flowers sent by twins Alma and Ellen, who Mary had met at the recent Heart Association awards.' French First Lady Brigitte Macron and French President Emmanuel Macron welcomed King Frederik X and Queen Mary of Denmark (pictured from L to R) to the presidential Elysee Palace to attend a state dinner on Monday evening Frederik smiled as he waved to photographers while standing alongside Brigitte, Emmanuel, and Mary 53-year-old Mary smiled as she greeted Brigitte, 71, with a peck on the first day of her state visit to France Mary put on a chic display in a cream chiffon blouse and statement, flowing skirt in pale blue with floral embellishments This evening's state dinner took place at the Elysee Palace in honour of Denmark's reigning couple 53-year-old Mary opted for a glamorous makeup look for the occasion, complete with a pink lipstick Mary and Frederik greeted Brigitte and Emmanuel with a friendly warmth before the state dinner on Monday evening Pictured: French First Lady Brigitte Macron, French President Emmanuel Macron, King Frederik X of Denmark and Queen Mary of Denmark at the presidential Elysee Palace 'What a lovely surprise to receive this bouquet and drawings, even though illness prevented me from participating in the Danish Heart Association's event, Together for the Heart,' she continued. 'I had been looking forward to presenting the Heart Award together with the heart children Alma and Ellen and to meeting some of the young people living with heart disease. Hopefully we can meet another time.' The caption continued: 'As patron of the Danish Heart Association, I would like to congratulate the healthcare staff at Denmark's three largest pediatric cardiac outpatient clinics on receiving the 2025 Heart Award - thank you and to all those who make a difference in the field of heart disease every day'. At the start of the month, Queen Mary and King Frederik of Denmark looked serious as they visited a garrison on the second day of their state visit to Finland. The royal couple's visit came after the two countries sealed a defence deal to strengthen Nordic security amid international tensions. On March 5, Mary, 53, and Frederik, 56, visited the Porkkala Garrison in Upinniemi, where they were welcomed for a tour. Frederik jumped into an armoured tank, taking it for a test drive and getting the opportunity to view the guns in the turret. Though the tanks themselves are made in Finland, their turrets are made by Danish company Sima Innovation. Denmark's royal couple appeared in high spirits as they arrived at the state dinner on the first day of their state visit to France Pictured: French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron, and Denmark's King Frederik and Queen Mary before a state dinner at the Elysee Palace 47-year-old Emmanuel waved as the group stood for photographs before the state dinner in Paris The royal mother-of-four added to her chic ensemble with a stylish yet practical beaded clutch bag Brigitte, Emmanuel, Frederik, and Mary smiled for photographs on the red carpet before entering the Elysee Palace Denmark's reigning couple greeted Emmanuel and his wife Macron with friendly embraces this evening Emmanuel and Mary warmly embraced each other before entering the state dinner on Monday evening French Culture Minister Rachida Dati put on a classy display in a white shirt and flowing black skirt Guests smiled on the red carpet before entering the glitzy state dinner at France's Elysee Palace Pictured: French First lady Brigitte Macron and French President Emmanuel Macron before the state dinner French First Lady Brigitte Macron, 71, completed her ensemble with a pair of striking silver heels French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot smiled as he arrived at the state dinner on Monday evening Frederik looked thoughtful as he entered the turret, listening carefully as he was told all about the armoured vehicle. The couple had wrapped up warm for the visit, with Mary adding a long navy puffer jacket on top of her smart attire. Frederik took a leaf out of his wife's book, himself wearing a smart navy coat over tailored trousers. The base is the largest naval station in the Gulf of Finland and houses the coastal brigade and a special operations unit. During the visit, an example of Finnish-Danish defense cooperation was presented with a Finnish military vehicle equipped with a Danish-produced turret (ringmount). The royal couple enjoyed a state visit to Finland from March 4-5. Four ministers also participated in the visit, which, in addition to official visits, particularly focused on defence and preparedness due to the recent deal signed. Later in the day, Mary and Frederik visited Aalto University in Helsinki and the Arkki School of Architecture for Children and Youth in Helsinki. Denmark's reigning couple heard about the children's projects, with Mary particularly interested in their sustainability, according to Danish media. The monarchs joined Finland's President Alexander Stubb and First Lady Suzanne Innes-Stubb for a seminar on green financing at the Fiskars Group's headquarters in Espoo, bringing together Finnish and Danish investors and companies operating in the value chain of the green transition. Mary showed her fondness for bright tailoring, donning a tailored velvet double-breasted coat, and adding a chic black bag. A boss has been criticised for their unprofessional behaviour A boss has been slammed after trying to force an employee to work while they were on holiday, insisting that a last-minute presentation update was more important than their time off. Screenshots of the exchange, which were shared by career expert Ben Askins, reveal the manager's relentless attempts to get the employee to edit slides for a pitch - despite being repeatedly reminded that they were on leave. The conversation began at 9.51 am, with the boss sending a seemingly casual message: 'Hey just a quick one, can you take a look at the presentation I just sent you? They need tidying up before the pitch tomorrow. Slides 73-78 in particular are the priority.' By 11.43 am, after receiving no response, the boss followed up: 'Did you see this message?' It wasn't until 12.12 pm that the employee responded, explaining that they were on holiday: 'I'm on holiday, remember? We've just got off the plane and we're on the way to our Airbnb now.' But instead of backing off, the boss doubled down. 'Yes, I know, but this is important. The meeting has been brought forward and we need to sort this out.' As the employee pushed back, reminding their boss that they had no laptop and had plans for the evening, the manager became increasingly frustrated. A boss has been slammed online after trying to force an employee to work while on holiday 'You don't have your laptop? Why on earth not? Can you find somewhere to jump online? It won't take long,' the boss said. When the employee suggested the boss ask the team for help instead, the response was dismissive: 'It would take too long to onboard them. Please, I really need you to do this. We have to win this one.' At this point, the employee put their foot down: 'I booked this week off months ago and I'm with my family. I can't just abandon our plans to go looking for somewhere to work.' The boss's final remark sealed their fate in the court of public opinion: 'Right. Good to know where your priorities are.' The employee had the perfect comeback: 'Yes, it's with my family.' The exchange quickly spread online, with people blasting the boss's behaviour. Mr Askins weighed in, criticising the manager for their poor planning. 'When you have other people available to do the work - all you have to do is hand over and onboard. If you haven't arranged that, it's your fault.' Screenshots of the exchange, which have gone viral after being shared by career expert Ben Askins, reveal the manager's relentless attempts to get the employee to edit slides for a pitch He warned that constantly pestering employees during their time off is a surefire way to drive them away. 'They won't be able to switch off, they won't be able to recharge, they won't be able to do good work for you,' Mr Askins said. Others were quick to point out the absurdity of the request, questioning why the boss didn't just make the changes themselves. 'If the boss knows which slides need tidying, then he should just tidy them himself. It could have been done so quickly,' one said. 'So he had time to check the presentation, find where there should be some updates, and time to bother someone else - instead of just doing it himself?' another echoed. Many were also shocked by the sheer length of the presentation. A woman wrote, '78 slides? You are looking at at least four hours of presentation. No one wants to sit through that long a presentation. That's just too many.' The viral post also sparked broader conversations about toxic work culture, with many sharing their own experiences of unreasonable bosses. One person recalled being fired for getting sick. 'I worked at a nursery and told my manager I felt unwell. She didn't let me go home. 'Over the weekend, I developed a kidney infection and was hospitalised. When I called in on Monday, they told me to hand in my uniform because they 'needed reliable staff.' Others urged workers to set firmer boundaries. A woman wrote, 'Stop answering work messages when on holiday.' 'I wouldn't answer in the first place. I am on holiday, that's it,' another agreed. Some pointed out how trivial work concerns are in the grand scheme of things. 'In five years, no one will care about this presentation. In five years, everyone will absolutely remember a family adventure together,' a mum said. A mystery outbreak that is leaving patients coughing up blood and with a severe fever has been reported in Russia. Local media and social media posts say the illness begins with Covid-like symptoms such as weakness or muscle aches. But within five days, these progress to a fever of up to 102.2F (39C) and a persistent, bloody cough. Posts on Telegram, the Russian messaging service, say cases have been reported in multiple cities, but officials have not confirmed how many cases or hospitalizations have been recorded. The posts also claim that patients have tested negative for Covid and the flu, with doctors said to be writing down a diagnosis of 'acute upper respiratory tract infection of unspecified origin.' The outbreak was first reported in the Telegram group SHOT, which allegedly includes members of Russia's federal agencies, and was then reported on by local media. Today, Russian health officials have denied there is an outbreak, saying they have found 'no evidence of a new or unidentified virus circulating [in Russia]'. Local media has reported on warnings over a mystery outbreak of a disease in Russia (stock image) The above shows a woman, identified only as Alexandra, who said she had been infected in the mystery outbreak. The above was posted on Telegram, sparking concerns In the post on the messaging app, revealed on March 29 and viewed more than 430,000 times, there is a warning over a mystery virus outbreak. One post on the app shows a woman, identified only as Alexandra, who said she had been infected in the mystery outbreak. The translated post reads: 'An unknown virus has appeared in Russia. As SHOT has learned, those infected have been suffering from high fever and severe coughing up blood for weeks, while they have negative tests for Covid and flu. 'The symptoms of those who fall ill are the same: it all starts with the usual aches and weakness, but after a couple of days the virus "cuts down" and it is impossible to get out of bed. Accompanied by a temperature of up to 39 degrees, Russians note a severe cough to tears.' Alexandra said that after a week of illness and taking antibiotics, her coughing fits still persisted, and on the fifth day she noticed blood when she coughed. Her tests for Covid and flu were both negative, she said, while doctors had told her they were reporting numerous cases of a strange virus. In the post, it was written that she may be suffering from mycoplasma pneumoniae, which can cause flu-like symptoms and pneumonia in patients. It is also known as 'walking pneumonia', because it sickens patients but not enough to leave them bedridden. It was behind an outbreak in the US late last year affecting children, with parents saying infections were leaving their kids unable to breathe. Rospotrebnadzor, a Russian agency that oversees public health, said it was investigating the reports. But today has denied them, saying in a statement there was 'no evidence of a new or unidentified virus circulating on the territory of the Russian Federation'. It added that cases of Covid and flu were falling in Russia, while cases of pneumonia remained stable. Above is the post on Telegram which has sparked concerns over a mystery disease outbreak in Russia Your browser does not support iframes. Gennady Onishchenko, of the Russian Academy of Sciences, told the Russian news agency TASS: 'In St. Petersburg, we have the Pasteur Institute, which only deals with influenza, and its official report does not contain any information about any new virus. 'Therefore, let's not brush this information aside... [but], most likely, there is no virus, let's not hype it up now.' No infection control measures are reported to have been taken in Russia, while officials are said to be warning that 'spreading unverified information about public health can lead to unnecessary panic'. Experts outside the country have been unable to verify the reports, but have warned online that the situation in Russia is 'very political'. Sharon Sanders, a self-trained disease-tracker who helped track the early days of the Covid pandemic, wrote on her site FluTrackers: 'Just a reminder... the Russia situation is very political. And disease propaganda has been used in the past globally. 'I have no idea if this is a big deal or a typical disease outbreak.' As a father of five I can worry a lot about my children especially the amount of time they spend on their phones and screens. My particular concern is their eyesight that were raising a generation who can swipe before they can walk and, if were not careful, as a result some could go blind before they grow up. Sounds overly dramatic? Look at the numbers and youll realise this isnt a scare story its a slow-burn public health disaster. A study published at the end of last year in the British Journal of Ophthalmology which examined global rates of myopia (short-sightedness) in children and adolescents from 1990 onwards found that these tripled between 1990 and 2023, with 36 per cent of teenagers across the world now short-sighted. Why? The paper makes it crystal clear: although genes are important in determining if you are short-sighted, the real driver of this rising incidence is the way were bringing up our kids. Children today spend far less time outdoors and far more time staring at smart phones and tablets. This near work overload, combined with a lack of daylight, is quite literally reshaping their eyeballs their eyes are growing too long, and that structural change sets them up for serious problems down the line. The reason exposure to natural light matters is that it helps control the steady growth of the eyeball. Its thought that bright outdoor light triggers the release of dopamine in the eye, which stops it becoming too elongated the cause of myopia. Professor Alex Day says we need to start taking children's eye health more seriously as cases of myopia rise among younger generations This concern about rising rates of myopia in children is not new. Its been floated by various small studies for some time. But its now been proven beyond doubt by groundbreaking research published by Jama Network Open last month. When researchers from Seoul National University College of Medicine analysed data from 45 studies encompassing over 335,000 participants (average age of 9.3 years) they found that for each additional hour of daily screen time, the child had a 21 per cent increased risk of developing myopia. Notably, the risk jumps after just one hour of exposure per day, suggesting that limiting screen time to less than an hour daily is what we as parents should be doing. And the reason all this matters isnt simply because these kids will need glasses, but because of the serious complications associated with abnormally shaped eyeballs such as retinal detachment, glaucoma and macular degeneration (when the part of the eye that sees sharp, straight-ahead vision is damaged with age), which are all major causes of blindness. The problem is that as the eyeball elongates, the back part of the eye called the retina which sees the images and sends them to the brain stretches and thins, making it more fragile and vulnerable to tears, which can cause the retina to detach. If the macula is damaged it causes a type of macular degeneration called myopic maculopathy. Meanwhile, the optic nerve which sends the images to the brain is compressed, making the eye much more vulnerable to damage from a build-up of the fluid inside the eyeball the hallmark of glaucoma. As a dad, Ill admit that I often end up giving my toddler my phone to placate him when Im trying to get ready in the morning. Until I read this study. So whats the answer? Well, clearly Ive had to try and stop giving my toddler my phone. But getting your kids outside more is also key. A report from the Education Committee published in 2024 found the amount of time 515-year-olds spent online rose from an average of 9 hours per week in 2009, to 15 hours per week in 2018 Research published in the British Journal of Ophthalmology in 2022 found that the more time children spent outside, the lower the rates of myopia. Similarly, when confronted by rising rates of myopia in school children up to 50 per cent some schools in Taiwan introduced mandatory outdoor time (80 minutes a day) which has halved short-sightedness rates. Yet in the UK, many schools are pushing screens as part of digital learning rather than getting them outside exercising. Though if they are inside, mimicking the outdoors may help. Research from Central South University in China showed that children taught in classrooms decorated with detailed, nature-themed images slowed their short-sightedness over a year. This is because when we look at detailed, high-contrast scenes (such as trees, grass or a cloudy sky) it tells the eye: Youre seeing the world clearly no need to stretch or grow longer. At home, as well as getting kids playing outdoors more, we need to limit screen time, and build habits, such as the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes of screen time, get them to look at something 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds. But there is some good news if your child or grandchild is already short-sighted, with a breakthrough treatment that many parents and many health professionals myself included, until I researched this column dont yet know about. A few weeks ago, The Cochrane Review, an authoritative body that assess evidence for treatments, published a report on kids short-sightedness after examining 64 trials across 11 different countries, involving over 11,000 children. The therapy that actually works? Low-dose atropine eye drops. The drops dont reverse myopia, but they hit the brakes on it. Eye growth is driven by signals in the retina and the sclera (the white outer wall of the eye) activating particular receptors called muscarinic receptors. Atropine is a drug that blocks muscarinic receptors, controlling the growth of the eyeball. More studies are needed, and its not yet available on the NHS, but many parents are turning to private providers. For adults, there are, of course, laser treatments and replacement lenses. Nothing can change the shape of your eyeball but laser eye surgery, such as Lasik (laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis) can reshape the clear layer at the front of the eye called the cornea. Or you can have new lenses inserted to change how light rays are directed on to the back of your eye. I did this seven years ago after I went swimming with my then-three-year-old and my glasses came off in the pool. Being effectively blind without my glasses I couldnt see my little boy and embarrassingly needed the help of a lifeguard. But I was scared about the risks of the procedure. In my job I need to be able to see very clearly to suture wounds and I was anxious that, if anything went wrong, I would not be able to do my job. My anxieties were calmed by talking to Professor Alex Day, one of Europes leading laser eye and cataract surgeons working out of the world-leading Moorfields Eye Hospital in London. One eye was shaped to see things in the distance and one eye for near reading, so I didnt need reading glasses as I aged. Last week, I spoke to Professor Day about the rise in myopia. Were increasingly seeing younger children coming in with significant myopia, he told me. Its a growing problem that will get worse and worse until society starts to truly value childrens eye health. As with most things, when it comes to eye health, prevention is better than cure. But fortunately if prevention fails there are techniques to help you see as clearly as you did when you were a child. Among the stars making up the cast of HBOs White Lotus is Lorazepam, the heavy-duty anti-anxiety medication beloved by Victoria Ratliff, played by actress Parker Posey. The drug, classified as a benzodiazepine and marketed under the name Ativan, has a strong sedative effect that can prevent and stop panic attacks, as well as aid in social anxiety. The drug has helped millions combat what can be crippling anxiety, obsessive thoughts, panic disorder, unease around people and leaving the house. But, like any prescription medication, it isnt perfect, and Lorazepam can be dangerous if used incorrectly or too liberally. At one point, Poseys character says: Theyre not addictive. I just take them when I need it. You make fun of me, but they work. Not a big deal. However, Lorazepam can be habit-forming, particularly when taken long-term and at high doses. Generally, doctors prescribe it for just one month. Dr Holly Schiff, a licensed clinical psychologist, told DailyMail.com: White Lotus makes constant references to Lorazepam and glorifies the casual use of prescription medication, especially for anxiety and sleep. While it can be helpful for those dealing with acute anxiety under a doctor's supervision, the potential for misuse and dependence is very high.' Dr. Holly Schiff, a licensed clinical psychologist in the Northeast, told DailyMail.com that White Lotus frequently mentions Lorazepam and portrays the casual use of prescription medication, particularly for anxiety and sleep, in a glorified manner A significant share of American adults around 50 million suffer from an anxiety disorder, such as generalized anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic disorder, and social anxiety disorder. Victoria Ratliff takes lorazepam for her social anxiety, as she is constantly worried about keeping her children from embarrassing the family and her husband from ruining his career. Poseys character takes the drug often, if not daily. Dr Schiff said: This is problematic because it doesn't accurately represent the potential risk associated with a medication like Lorazepam. The way Lorazepam is shown as almost glamorous or a way to cope with life's problems contributes to a dangerous normalization of self-medicating with prescription drugs. Poseys character says to her husband, who is under extreme stress at work and having trouble sleeping: You should have taken my Lorazepam. I slept like a corpse. Her husband then takes a tablet without a prescription or treatment by a licensed professional, a move that psychiatrists who spoke with DailyMail.com found worrisome and potentially dangerous. Another time, she says: I don't even have my Lorazepam. I'm going to have to drink myself to sleep. Clinical studies into the effects of Lorazepam showed it has a tranquilizing action on the central nervous system, according to the FDAs label on the drug. Doctors prescribe it to treat anxiety disorders for the short-term relief of the symptoms of anxiety or anxiety associated with depressive symptoms. Anxiety or tension associated with the stress of everyday life usually does not require treatment with an [anti-anxiety drug], the label says. Parker Posey's character [right] takes lorazepam for social anxiety, constantly worrying about her children embarrassing the family and her husband jeopardizing his career Your browser does not support iframes. Dr Carole Lieberman, a board-certified psychiatrist based in Beverly Hills, told DailyMail.com: As a psychiatrist, I never prescribe Lorazepam, because anxiety is better treated with talk therapy that gets to the root of what is making the person anxious. There are only rare occasions when it can be temporarily useful, such as panic attacks, but you still risk the patient getting addicted to it. Lorazepam is a Schedule Four controlled substance, meaning it has a lower capacity for addiction compared to lower schedules, including drugs like heroin and cocaine, but still requires a prescription. It works by increasing a calming chemical in the brain called gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). Low levels of GABA, the primary brain chemical that calms the nervous system, can lead to overactive brain circuitry that contributes to anxiety. Even among people who are prescribed the drug and take it as directed, the body can become accustomed to it and require higher and higher doses to reap the same benefits as it did the first time the person took it. Over time, people can become physically dependent on the drug to feel normal. The potent benzodiazepine is particularly risky when combined with other substances, such as alcohol and opiates. When anxiety medications are combined with other depressants, they slow the heart rate and breathing, impair balance, cause difficulty thinking, and can lead to a potentially fatal overdose. About 50 million American adults suffer from anxiety disorders, including generalized anxiety, OCD, panic disorder, and social anxiety Benzodiazepines are involved in around 17 percent of drug overdose deaths. In 2019, the most recent year for which data is available, pharmacies dispensed roughly 92 million benzodiazepine prescriptions. Of that total, one-fifth were for Lorazepam. Dr Lieberman said: On the one hand, we see it reducing a characters anxiety, but, on the other hand, it reflects the problem of addiction. Still, people watching it persuade themselves, I would never get addicted. Dr Schiff added that monitoring oneself and the effects the drug is having, as well as checking in regularly with a licensed psychiatrist is vital for safety. She added: It is important for viewers to understand that relying on medications like this without proper oversight is not a healthy or sustainable coping mechanism. It should be used as part of a comprehensive treatment plan that includes therapy, lifestyle changes, and other coping strategies. Women who use hormonal contraceptives after giving birth are up to twice as likely to develop postnatal depression, a study suggests. Researchers say it is 'important' health workers highlight the increased risk when discussing the use of contraception with new mums so they can make an informed decision. The NHS warns women can get pregnant again as little as three weeks after giving birth, even if breastfeeding and their periods have not restarted. However, many choose to use contraception at this point as waiting less than a year between the end of one pregnancy and the start of another is associated with an increased risk of preterm birth and low birthweight. For the new study, experts at Copenhagen University HospitalRigshospitalet examined data on all 610,038 women who gave birth to their first child in Denmark from 1997 to 2022, with no history of depression in the previous two years. Of these, four in ten started to use hormonal contraception (HC) within a year of giving birth and the others did not. Analysis revealed those who used HC were 49 per cent more likely to receive a hospital diagnosis of depression or file a prescription for antidepressants within that year. This increased the absolute risk from 1.36 per cent to 1.54 per cent, meaning there are expected to be an extra 180 cases of depression for every 100,000 women using HCs. Women who use hormonal contraceptives after giving birth are up to twice as likely to develop postnatal depression , a study suggests The proportion of British women taking oral contraceptives has fallen by more than two-thirds, from 420,600 in 2012/13 to 126,400 in 2022/23, according to NHS data The risk was higher the sooner after birth that they started to take HCs and varied depending on the type they used. New mums taking combined oral contraceptives, such as some types of 'the pill' were 72 per cent more likely to develop depression than those not using HC. This increased to 97 per cent for those using combined non-oral contraceptives, such as some forms of patches or rings, but was only 40 per cent higher for those using progestogen-only nonoral contraceptives, such as an injection or some types of coil. The progestogen-only pill was associated with an instantaneously reduced risk in the early study period, but it was increased late post partum. Writing in the medical journal JAMA Network Open, the researchers said: 'These findings raise the issue of whether the incidence of depression post partum may be inflated by routine HC initiation, which is important information to convey at postpartum contraceptive counseling.' UK Government advice on pregnancy planning says: 'Women should also be advised that an inter-pregnancy interval of less than 12 months between childbirth and conceiving again is associated with an increased risk of preterm birth, low birthweight and small babies for their gestational age.' Commenting on the findings, Dr John Reynolds-Wright, a lecturer in sexual and reproductive health at the University of Edinburgh, said: 'Any small increased risk of being prescribed an anti-depressant or being diagnosed with depression, needs to be balanced against the benefits brought by post-partum contraception. 'This allows women to space births, which improves their and their baby's health in multiple ways, and gives them reproductive freedom in their lives. 'We must cautiously interpret the recommendations and findings of this study, particularly given the current global political climate, where reproductive rights are continually under threat.' The CIA Book Club Charlie English (William Collins 25, 384pp) During the Cold War, millions of banned literary classics were smuggled through the Iron Curtain. Animal Farm arrived by balloon. The Gulag Archipelago went through checkpoints in nappies. Others arrived in hidey-holes on the ParisMoscow Sleeper, yet more were crammed in false-bottomed lorries. Popular classics including Gone With The Wind also made it through, along with Cosmopolitan. Russian satirical cartoon of book banning This book-smuggling business was the bright idea of the CIA, which set out to bring down Communism not through military means, which might provoke nuclear Armageddon, but through the soft power of literature. The theory went that if ordinary citizens in Poland, Bulgaria and Czechoslovakia were exposed to banned books, they would start to grasp the extent of the censorship in their countries. In this gripping book Charlie English concentrates on the way in which the CIAs International Literary Centre (ILC) paved the way for the fall of Communism in Poland. At several points in the 1980s, the Solidarity movement, led by Lech Walesa, had come close to toppling the government and its oppressive regime of martial law. All it would take, believed the CIA boffins (several of whom were themselves Eastern emigres), was one more push and Poland might finally become a liberal democracy. When readers in Warsaw finally got hold of copies of Animal Farm and 1984 courtesy of the CIA they were thunderstruck by their accuracy. One woman remembered, we were living in Orwells world. Everybody was afraid of everybody else. What Orwell wrote came true. Another dissident concurred: It was books that were victorious in the fight They allowed us to survive and not go mad. The CIA Book Club is available now from the Mail Bookshop The plan worked because of the courage of those Poles who risked their freedom, and their lives. They circulated the banned books and also generated newspapers, pamphlets and posters using printing presses the CIA had smuggled in. Otherwise, if you wanted a business card, piece of sheet music or theatre programme, you needed approval from the censor. Although Charlie English has not been granted access to CIA files, he is still able to piece together an extraordinarily detailed account of how the Book Club set about capturing hearts and minds. He tells the story of Helena Luczywo, who launched Mazovia Weekly, a vital source of information when many other progressive publications had been shut down. Luczywo and her female colleagues slept in safe houses, manufactured fake IDs and managed to source spare parts for their banned printing presses. It never crossed the minds of the chauvinistic Polish security services that such resourceful resistance workers might be women. When Communism collapsed in 1989, the CIA reckoned that it had smuggled in ten million items. Whats more, the Book Club offered great value for money, since it cost only $2-4million annually. Compare this to the hundreds of millions that the CIA was simultaneously sending to Mujahideen fighters in Soviet-occupied Afghanistan, and it is clear that a lightweight copy of Animal Farm, attached to a hydrogen balloon and lobbed over the Iron Curtain, represented an absolute bargain. Whit Johnson has opened up about his life changing decision to take a DNA test with 23andMe more than 10 years ago, as customers are urged to delete their data from the ailing site. The Good Morning America anchor revealed on air that his test led to a sensational discovery about his family amid turmoil for the website and its users after it declared bankruptcy. His father, Steve, was adopted but knew nothing about his biological parents or family history. After signing up to 23andMe, Steve was able to use the site to track down siblings he never knew he had. The recent announcement that 23andMe filed for bankruptcy has stirred up old feelings for Johnson and his father, who felt torn about wiping their data entirely despite the urgent warnings. California Attorney General Rob Bonta urged 15 million users of the genetic testing giant to 'delete their data and destroy any samples of genetic material held by the company' amid concerns it could soon be sold off to the highest bidder. The bankruptcy filing saw its stock tank to just 96 cents a share while CEO Anne Wojcicki, who is also the company's co-founder, resigned. 23andMe had 15 million customers who had logged their data on the site, but the bankrupcty announcement led many to rush to wipe their private information. Whit Johnson has opened up about his life changing decision to take a DNA test with 23andMe more than 10 years ago, as customers are urged to delete their data from the ailing site His father, Steve, was adopted - something that nobody in his family knew at the time of the 2014 test. In addition to that bombshell, Steve was able to use the site to track down siblings he never knew he had Johnson was among customers who chose to wipe his data. He said his decision was a 'personal one' that offered him 'peace of mind' amid the looming potential threat of what could happen to his data. Ultimately, Johnston felt he had 'no more questions' that were pending. His father, on the other hand, has chosen to leave his data on the site, meaning he could still track down long lost family members. 'Completely by accident, I found my dad's long lost brother,' Whit revealed. 'That was just the beginning. Over the years, we've learned about his mother and father and connected with a total of four brothers and one possible sister.' 23andMe was founded by entrepreneur Wojcicki and is based in Silicon Valley, meaning it falls under California's Genetic Privacy Act. That allows consumers to access and delete data at will. 23andMe users can purge their files by logging into their account and clicking 'settings,' then 'view' then 'delete data.' That then generates an email which customers must click on to finalize the deletion. 23andMe was a tech darling as recently as 2021, when its share price hit $320. The recent announcement that 23andMe filed for bankruptcy has stirred up old feelings for Johnson and his father, who felt torn about wiping their data entirely despite the urgent warnings Anyone who shared a DNA sample was given a breakdown of their ancestry detailing the ethnic background of their predecessors Users were fascinated to discover which parts of the world their ancestors came from. Oprah Winfrey was among fans and listed the 23andMe test kits in her annual list of her favorite things in 2017. Anyone who shared a DNA sample was given a breakdown of their ancestry detailing the ethnic background of their predecessors. 23andMe was also used by law enforcement to solve high-profile cold cases. Investigators were able to plug a suspect's data into the DNA database to identify possible relatives who'd shared their DNA information for innocent purposes. That enabled them to identify and dramatically narrow down potential suspects whose backgrounds were then checked to see if there was anything that put them at the scene of a crime. Johnson was among customers who chose to wipe his data. He said his decision was a 'personal one' to provide him 'peace of mind' The corporation's implosion was blamed on rapid over-expansion and a 2023 data breach which put people off using the site. Wojcicki, the site's CEO and co-founder, was married to Google co-founder Sergey Brin between 2007 and 2015. She used her contacts to try and drum-up investment for the firm. Wojcicki's most recent buy-out offer valued 23andMe at just $11 million, or 41 cents per share. That is a stunning decline from the company's peak valuation of $46 billion in early 2021. An encouraging aspect of the sudden departure of Paul Marchant from fast-growing, no-frills fashion group Primark is the robust response of parent group ABFs chief executive George Weston. Diversity, Equality and Inclusion (DEI) rules may have been weakened since Donald Trumps return to the White House. But there can be no excuses for bosses abusing the power of their leadership positions for inappropriate behaviour towards colleagues. Unfortunately, retail, business and the financial community have developed a reputation for such incidents. The employers group the CBI has been sullied by such charges. In the fashion arena, Ted Baker was brought low by the antics of its founder Ray Kelvin. Out: Minority investors in ABF might question the lack of transparency over Paul Marchant's severance agreement Harrods only now is coming to terms with the appalling behaviour of the late Mohamed Al Fayed. As for the financial community, the BBC series Industry offers crude insights into abusive practice in investment banking. In the real-world, Crispin Odey recently was fined 1.8million by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) for seeking to frustrate investigations into sexual misconduct. Former Barclays boss Jes Staley is seeking to overturn claims he misled regulators over his relationship to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein at the FCAs Upper Tribunal. As head of a family dynasty which controls some 58 per cent of ABF shares, Weston was in a strong position to deal with Marchants transgression summarily. Weston is clear that high standards of integrity are essential. However, the inquiry by City lawyers Herbert Smith Freehills into the incident, which precipitated Marchants departure, leaves unanswered questions. As chief executive for 16 years, there must be worries at ABF that further allegations will emerge now the lid has been lifted. Indeed, it turns out there was at least one previous complaint about an unsuitable communication. There is much we still dont know. When Bernard Looney was removed as chief executive of BP, after misleading the board about his personal life, he paid a heavy price, forfeiting 32.4million of potential pay and bonuses. As a subsidiary, Primark is not obliged to disclose Marchants pay or the cost of his severance. Minority investors in ABF might question the lack of transparency over the severance agreement for an executive responsible for building Primarks operating profits from 250million to more than 1billion. It is hard to justify privacy given the circumstances. Weston and colleagues have yet to decide on the succession. ABF finance director Eoin Tonge takes interim control. ABF has never been slow to look outside for the appropriate talent, with M&S executives a happy hunting ground. What could be more rewarding than working in low taxation Dublin close to Guinness, great rugby and the finest bloodstock breeding and racing. Tech titans Absent from last weeks Spring Statement was any reference to research and development. If Britain is to become a defence, high-tech and life sciences superpower, the fastest route is to incentivise R&D. Latest data from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development shows that China is prioritising innovation. It increased spending by 8.7 per cent in 2023, against 1.7 per cent in the US and 1.6 per cent in the EU. Start-up nation Israel is top of the league table spending 6.35 per cent of total output on R&D, followed by South Korea at 4.96 per cent with the US at 3.6 per cent. Britain has fallen behind Germany and is at the OECD average with spend at 2.8 per cent of output. The quality of the UKs scientific research is symbolised by Nobel prizes for Cambridge and great companies such as Arm Holdings and DeepMind (both in overseas hands). The extra 400million on drone tech and AI for defence is encouraging but pitiful. Using the tax system to boost R&D and turbo-charge growth and high-quality jobs ought to be a no-brainer. Private grief Thames Water consumers can breathe a sigh of relief! Private equity barons KKR are galloping to the rescue with an offer to fill the 3billion black hole in its balance sheet. More debt-fuelled help for a utility already brought to its knees by crass financial engineering. 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 ... Advertisement The nation's largest electric car charging forecourt opened last week allowing 44 EVs to boost their batteries simultaneously. Officially opened on 25 March, InstaVolt's Superhub is located off the A34 near Winchester and hints at what motorway service stations could look like in the future following the ban on sales of new petrol and diesel cars from 2030. Powered entirely by renewable energy sourced from an on-site solar farm, its 160kW devices can charge an EV's battery to 80 per cent in 20 minutes. The operator says the enormous site, located on the busy junction near the A34 and M3, has been designed to blend in sympathetically with the surroundings of the historic city of Winchester while also offering amenities drivers have come to expect from a motorway-style service station. 'The Winchester Superhub isn't just a charging hub it's a flagship site that sets a new standard for ultra-rapid EV charging,' said Delvin Lane, chief executive of InstaVolt. 'As our largest and most advanced site to date, it delivers industry-leading reliability at an unprecedented scale, ensuring drivers can charge quickly and with confidence.' InstaVolt has opened the UK's largest ultra-rapid charging hub on the A34 near Winchester. It has 44 bays powered by clean energy to charge (many) EVs up to 80% in less than 20 minutes How to charge at InstaVolt's ultra-rapid Superhub The Superhub's 44 bays more than Gridserve's 33-bay offering at Gatwick Airport at the previous biggest EV charging site can charge an EV of speeds of 160kW. This includes models like the Kia EV6, Peugeot e-3008 and Tesla Model 3, all of which can all charge up to 80 per cent in under 20 minutes using one of the devices. The charging points offer contactless payments, meaning no connection charges or subscriptions. EV owners can pull up, plug in and tap their payment card to start the charging. As with a pay-at-pump setup at a conventional fuel station, once you've filled up with what you need, you can stop the charging session and you'll be charged for the electricity you've used. InstaVolt also has a smartphone app that lets users to keep track of how much battery charge their EV has accumulated while they've stepped away from the car for a coffee or toilet break. There's no membership fee for the app but it does allow motorists to accrue 'Volts' credits, which can be redeemed towards free charging. It also provides information about exclusive offers and discounts on food and drinks inside its dedicated service station area. How much does it cost to charge? Ultra-rapid charging is the most expensive way to charge an electric car. This is because these devices add the most miles of range to an EV battery in the shortest period of time. These ultra-rapid chargers are considered vital for the motorway network to provide convenience for those embarking on longer journeys in their EVs. However, this comes at a premium price. InstaVolt's 0.85p per kWh - a flat rate across the network for peak and off-peak times - is significantly more than charging costs away from the motorway network. However, you can significantly reduce costs by charging at off-peak times using the InstaVolt app, which provides a discounted rate of 54p/kWh between 8pm and 7am. And the Winchester superhub offers an exclusive 50p/kWh off-peak tariff from 7pm to 7am for app customers to take advantage of from 1 April; this is possible thanks to the on-site solar panels. EV owners can charge at any of the 44 bays up to 160kW speeds and only have to tap a contactless card to pay. There's no need to download a smartphone application or sign up - though using the InstaVolt app will help bring costs down significantly The 0.85p/kWh flat rate puts InstaVolt about level with Gridserve's ultra-rapid pricing (between 79p and 85p/kWh for contactless charging) but makes it more expensive than Fastned's 74p/kWh flat rate. Gridserve's app discount gives loyal users a flat rate fee of 79p/kWH but no extra discounts for off-peak times. Fastned offers 'Gold Membership' which gives you 30 per cent off tariffs for 9.99 a month. Compared to the average cost of ultra-rapid charging, InstaVolt's flat rate is more expensive: the AA's EV Recharge report for February found the average price per kWH is 78p for 150kW+ charging speeds. This means the typical cost to charge an EV to 80 per cent is 31.20 (or 17.63p per mile). The average off-peak ultra-rapid tariff was 47p/kWh while peak rates were 65p/kWh. Petrol, at 139.80p per litre, cost 44.74 for an equivalent tank but only 12.22p per mile on the other hand. It is also, as expected, much more expensive to ultra-rapid charge at a hub like InstaVolt's Superhub than to charge at home (the least expensive way to charge an EV). The Recharge Report found that domestic charging of speeds up to 7kW cost 25p/kWh on average - just 10 to get to 80 per cent charge (or 5.65p per mile). That said, drivers of petrol and diesel cars who fill up at motorway services already pay a big premium on fuel prices. Motorway service stations commonly charge 20p per litre more than a local fuel forecourt. Crucially the bays are designed in line with Government disability guidelines so disabled customers and larger vehicles can fit in the bays and charge without access issues How the Superhub uses renewable energy that gets EV drivers discounted rates Winchester is InstaVolt's first Superhub to integrate an on-site (500kW) solar farm and battery storage technology which reduces reliance on the grid as well as allowing sites to built without draining the grid of energy at the same time. The farm's 870 solar panels use a mix of solar energy, battery storage and renewable grid power in an advanced energy model that not only provides the ultra-rapid charging capacity with either renewable grid energy or self-generated solar power, but doubles down on InstaVolt's commitment to sustainability. Importantly, it also means that customers can take advantage of cheaper peak tariff prices. The Winchester Superhub offers 50p off-peak tariff charging from 7pm to 7am, due to the onsite solar panels and battery storage from 1 April. While only available for app customers, you don't have to pay a fee for membership, so anyone can save the money by downloading the app. InstaVolt's Superhub is open 24/7 and is equipped with constant LED lighting, state-of-the-art security and around-the-clock loo facilities so people can charge at all times of day and night There's a Starbucks open from 7am to 7pm where you can grab a bite to eat, a hot drink or work while your car charges There's also a play area for kids and a dog walking site with waste disposal so all members of the family (furry or otherwise!) can be entertained The Superhub that's eco and disability-friendly plus you can pick up a Starbucks! Not only does the hub aim to make charging as easy as it is for drivers to fill up with petrol, it's designed to make it as enjoyable as possible. Open 24/7 with around-the-clock toilet facilities, there's also a children's play park, a dog-walking area, and a Starbucks Cafe (open 6am for the early risers and until 7pm for the evening caffeine hit). Particularly impressively, InstaVolt has made sure that the drive-through bays cater for disabled drivers and owners of larger vehicles key groups that are usually overlooked in the transition to electric. In fact, the Winchester Superhub has been designed to PAS 1899:2022 standards these are government guidelines that provide direction on the physical environment, placement and provision of chargers to make it caters to those with disabilities. And with some members of the driving public concerns about safety at charging hubs, the forecourt's low-level LEDs make this a well-lit location, which is also monitored by state-of-the-art CCTV and security services watching over the forecourt 24 hours a day. How the Superhub uses renewable energy - and you can get a discounted rates Winchester is InstaVolt's first Superhub to integrate an on-site (500kW)solar farm and battery storage technology which reduces reliance on the grid as well as allowing sites to built without draining the grid of energy at the same time. The farm's 870 solar panels use a mix of solar energy, battery storage and renewable grid power in an advanced energy model that not only provides the ultra-rapid charging capacity with either renewable grid energy or self-generated solar power, but doubles down on InstaVolt's commitment to sustainability. Importantly, it also means that customers can take advantage of cheaper peak tariff prices. The Winchester Superhub offers 50p off-peak tariff charging from 7pm to 7am, due to the onsite solar panels and battery storage from 1 April. While only available for app customers, you don't have to pay a fee for membership, so anyone can save the money by downloading the app. Three in five charging sessions using the public network in the UK are rapid or ultra-rapid speeds. InstaVolt is using its solar panels, battery storage and clean energy to cut peak prices for app customers Rapid charging is more in demand than ever InstaVolt's new Superhub is opening at a crucial time for electric car ownership. New data from Zapmap, the UK's leading EV charge point mapping service, has revealed that over two million charging sessions are taking place on Britain's public network each month. And nearly 60 per cent of these sessions use rapid or ultra-rapid chargers with a power rating of 50kW or higher - like those at the Superhub. Based on last year's charging report, the EV peak was seen in the summer on the first Friday after the majority of schools in England broke up for the summer holidays. Last year, 66,621 charging events happened on that Friday (2 August 2024). With the A34 near Winchester used by 110,000 vehicles per day - and particularly busy by the junction with the M3 - the Superhub will be ideally situated to cater for this surge in charging demand. US private equity is closing in on a deal to buy troubled Thames Water as it races to avoid renationalisation. Buyout giant KKR dubbed the barbarians at the gate is the frontrunner to take control after it was named as preferred bidder by the water supplier. Thames Water, which serves 16m households in London and the South East, was plunged into crisis last year when its owners refused to provide new funding. The saga brought Thames Water to the brink of collapse and left it facing the prospect of a taxpayer bailout. In the latest blow, finance chief Alastair Cochran last week announced his shock departure. A deal with KKR would result in a material impairment for some lenders, meaning some of the 16billion of debt Thames Water owes would be written off, a spokesman for the firm said yesterday. Washout: Buyout giant KKR dubbed the 'barbarians at the gate' is the frontrunner to take control at Thames Water after the water company named it their preferred bidder Rival suitors included Hong Kongs CKI Infrastructure, UK-based Castle Water and a group of investors led by investment service Covalis. KKR reportedly put forward a 4billion proposal last month and, in contrast to other bidders, vowed not to break up the firm. Thames Water said it hopes to complete the cash injection before the end of June, but it is not guaranteed that the deal will go ahead. KKR, which has a 25 per cent stake in Northumbrian Water, was dubbed the barbarians at the gate for its fearsome reputation after buying out tobacco group RJR Nabisco in 1988, which was turned into a book by journalists Bryan Burrough and John Helyar. A school was thrown into lockdown and police called in following a row with a parent over the 'size of her daughter's blazer'. Officers stormed Harris Academy in Wimbledon, southwest London, last Wednesday after a Year 9 pupil called her mother after being 'aggressively screamed at' and 'forced' into her undersized jacket by a teacher. Following a two-and-a-half hour stand off - which saw the horrified mother locked in the school's reception and pupils held in their classrooms - police interviewed all parties and they were sent home. The mother, 35, whom is not being named, told MailOnline: 'I was treated like a US school shooter. It's not acceptable in anyway, shape or form. It was just disgusting. 'There was no need for a lockdown. I was no threat at any point. My daughter is really overwhelmed by it all. She is terrified I was going to be arrested.' The ordeal began after the 13-year-old mislaid her blazer and was forced to wear her Year 7 uniform to school. But while walking to her second lesson of the day, the child was allegedly confronted by a teacher who questioned why she wasn't wearing a jacket. The mother claimed her daughter had been told by the school to carry the smaller blazer and hold it in her hand, although she did not have to wear it. After protesting her innocence, the girl was reportedly told she was 'lying' and then allegedly ordered to force on the blazer in front of a class full of kids. Police officers stormed Harris Academy in Wimbledon, South West London (file image) 'Being made to put on a very small blazer in front of children is very humiliating', the mother said, adding: 'She was saying to him 'I don't want to put it on' and he was screaming at her aggressively. 'She felt scared and forced to do it while everyone was watching. It doesn't get past the top of her arms and he continues to scream at her as she's trying to explain. It gets to the point where the blazer is ripped like Hulk Hogan, that's how tight it was. 'If my child was a badly behaved child, which she is not, it still wouldn't be acceptable. He's threatened her with detention, threatened to put her in isolation so she ran away and called me immediately in tears.' The mother rang the school saying she was on her way with her partner and wanted a meeting with staff over the incident. After arriving she was allegedly told by a senior staff member her daughter would be taken out of lessons and the commotion investigated but she claimed this offer was quickly retracted. A meeting with the accused teacher was allegedly refused and when a request by the mother for an immediate probe into the incident was turned down, the atmosphere turned sour and the mother refused to leave the premises until the matter was resolved. Staff abandoned the reception area and reportedly locked the mother in as she began live-streaming the stand-off on Facebook to 600 people, with dozens of parents watching the mayhem unfold online. 'I didn't film any students, I didn't film any staff, I didn't name any staff... everyone was very confused as to why the school was handling me like I was doing something wrong', she said of the impasse, which lasted several hours. Pupils were held in classrooms at Harris Academy Wimbledon during the incident (file image) In an extraordinary escalation, the school - which has 1,150 pupils - was plunged into a lockdown as eight police officers stormed the reception at around 10.30am having been informed of a 'disturbance involving a parent'. Children went into meltdown as they were locked in rooms as rumours swirled of a major incident involving a parent armed with a knife. Mothers and fathers began arriving at the school gates demanding answers. Following interviews with all parties, the parents left at around 2.30pm. The mother said: 'Immediately the police said it was 'disgusting' you had been sat here for this long. They actually questioned the teacher as to why they had put the school on lockdown because I hadn't breached anything or posed a threat. 'They said why didn't the school send a member of staff to talk to me, their excuse was because of the live-stream, but they could at any point have said we don't feel comfortable with you live-streaming.' The mother says she recorded the incident as evidence. In an email sent to parents at 12.45pm, seen by MailOnline, headteacher Miss Larizadeh said: 'I would like to inform you due to an incident that occurred at the school today, we briefly implemented our lockdown measures as a precautionary measure. 'During this time, the safety and well-being of all students and staff were our top priority, and I am pleased to report that everyone is safe. 'We have now returned to our normal school procedures, and there is no further cause for concern. We appreciate your understanding and support during this time.' A second email to parents dismissed rumours the mother was armed with a knife. 'The rumour that a weapon was involved is completely untrue. At no point were students at risk', the email read. Reflecting on the incident, the mother said: 'I was so shocked, I was mind blown. I felt I was being abused, I didn't understand why. I hadn't had anything to drink anything to eat, it was just disgusting.' She has issued a formal complaint over the incident and is considering moving her child to another school following the 'trauma' she experienced. A spokesperson for Harris Academy Wimbledon, which is rated 'outstanding' by Ofsted, said: 'We cannot comment on individual students or their parents. 'At Harris Academy Wimbledon, our priority is the safety and security of our students, staff and parents and we are grateful for the police's support in helping us manage this matter.' A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said: 'Police were called at around 10.30am on Wednesday, March 5 to a school in Wimbledon to reports of a disturbance involving a parent. 'Officers attended the scene and spoke with a number of parties including the parent and no further action was taken by police.' Hundreds of survivors were pulled out of the rubble of the bombed-out federal government building in Oklahoma City in April 1995 but only one of them can thank obesity for keeping them alive. Thirty years ago, Amy Downs, was a 28-year-old loan officer in a federal credit union who described herself as an unhappily married college dropout who'd comfort eaten her way to being 355lbs. Speaking with the Daily Mail for the 30th anniversary of America's worst act of homegrown terrorism, Downs reveals how being overweight saved her, and how the tragedy put her on a better path. She has gradually turned her life around these past three decades, adopting a more positive attitude, shedding weight, competing in a triathlon, and working her way to becoming CEO of the credit union. As she celebrates her 58th birthday, Downs is a trim, divorced and remarried motivational speaker living in a stunning home with cathedral ceilings in Medicine Park, an hour's drive from the blast site. She warns against the 'hate' and 'evil' embraced by Timothy McVeigh, the Army veteran who killed 168 people, including 19 children, and shows how survivors can pick up the pieces after a tragedy. 'I had to deal with a lot of trauma because 18 of my 33 coworkers were killed that day,' says Downs. 'It was a little time before I got the traction to say: "Okay, I want to do this. I want to live my life with intention and purpose." But once I did, I got that momentum, and I've just kept going.' When Amy downs was pulled out of the rubble of the Oklahoma City bomb blast, she promised God she would turn her life around Back then, the 28-year-old college dropout had comfort-eaten her way to being 355lbs The morning of April 19, 1995, was slightly chilly but much like any other day, as Downs, her 'family' of credit union coworkers, and federal employees, filed into the Alfred P. Murrah Building in downtown Oklahoma City. But 'everything changed' at 9.02 am, she says. McVeigh had parked a truck in the lot outside, packed with a deadly, explosive cocktail of agricultural fertilizer, diesel fuel, and other chemicals. The anti-government conspiracy theorist lit two fuses and ran. Seconds later, the area looked like a war zone. A third of the building was reduced to rubble, with many floors flattened like pancakes. Dozens of cars were incinerated and more than 300 nearby buildings were damaged or destroyed. Downs' office was on the third floor; her desk was 20ft from the windows. She recalls coming round, three storeys down, upside-down in her chair, gasping for air in the blackness of dust and rubble. 'My weight may have saved my life,' she says. 'I weighed 355lbs, so my chair was stuck to me, and it sort of helped protect me. And when the building's third and fourth floors broke off, the big, heavy pieces of concrete were behind me, creating a little cocoon that protected me.' Downs caught another break that awful day, she says. Her leg was cut through to the bone, but rubble had packed so tight around the limb that it staunched the bleeding, sparing her a surgical amputation. 'My story has a happy ending, and not everybody's did,' she says. A National Geographic documentary, Oklahoma City Bombing: One Day in America, tells the story of Downs, other survivors, and the rescue crews that pulled people out of the rubble over the following three days. It follows the manhunt, McVeigh's arrest and eventual conviction on federal charges and execution. His accomplice Terry Nichols received multiple life prison sentences for his part in the bombing. It features interviews with then-president Bill Clinton, and other officials, who initially wondered which foreign group had planted the bomb, and were then stunned to discover an American and former service member was responsible. Downs relives in the show the six hours she spent 'waiting, waiting, waiting to die' and of telling rescuers she would bake them chocolate chip cookies if they saved her a pledge she later came good on. A third of the Alfred P. Murrah Building was reduced to rubble, with many floors flattened like pancakes Downs' credit union was located on the third floor of the building in downtown Oklahoma City Medical workers run away from the building after being told another bomb device had been found Downs calls bomber Timothy McVeigh a 'narcissist, cold-blooded monster.' He was executed by lethal injection in 2001 She was one of the last people to get pulled out alive. As she was taken away from the wreckage on a gurney, Downs looked upward and told God she would prove her worth and 'never take life for granted' again, she says. After eight days' recovering in hospital, she was soon back at work, rebuilding the credit union as a way to focus on something other than the trauma of losing so many beloved co-workers. She gave birth to a son, went back to college for a degree and MBA, and in 2008 underwent a gastric sleeve surgery to tackle the chronic weight problem that threatened to put her in an early grave. She ran, swam, and cycled to keep the weight off, eventually becoming a buff Ironman triathlete. Her 2020 book, Hope is a Verb, describes her self-styled 'journey of impossible transformation.' Downs ended an unhappy marriage, remarried, and rebuilt her relationship with God. She ultimately became CEO of her Allegiance Credit Union; and stepped down this month to become a motivational speaker full-time. 'It's small, consistent steps over time, one after another, that lead to amazing transformation,' she says. As Downs has moved forward these past 30 years, so has Oklahoma City, where she lived until last year. The bombed-out federal building was later razed and a park and memorial were built on the site. The Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum has 168 stone and glass chairs placed in rows on a lawn, one for each victim. McVeigh was executed by lethal injection in 2001. Nichols, 69, is serving life in a Supermax prison in Colorado with no possibility of parole. A child and woman injured in a truck bomb blast at the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City Dozens of cars were incinerated and more than 300 nearby buildings were damaged or destroyed Firefighter Chris Fields holds one of the 19 infants that died as a result of their injuries in the blast. The federal building had a daycare center on the first floor A National Geographic documentary tells the story of Downs, other survivors, and the rescue crews that pulled people out of the rubble. It screens on April 2 Both men were former US Army soldiers and associated with the extreme right-wing and militant Patriot movement, which rejects the legitimacy of the federal government and law enforcement. McVeigh's hatred was fueled by a government raid on a Christian sect near Waco, Texas, that left 76 people dead, and a standoff in Ruby Ridge, Idaho, that left a 14-year-old boy, his mother, and a federal agent dead. Downs attended McVeigh's trial in Denver, Colorado, in 1997. She calls him a 'narcissist' who succumbed to extremism and hatred and whose execution came as a 'huge relief'. The daughter of a World War II veteran says she still cannot understand how 'an American, one of our people, did this,' she says, but does not dwell on what motivates a 'cold-blooded monster.' 'I choose to focus on how we overcame instead of the evil that caused it,' she says. JD Vance has 'zero contempt' for Europe and its people - but does have a problem with the 'out of touch' EU technocrat leaders who have neglected values and freedoms that make it 'worth defending', his British mentor has said. Cambridge academic Dr James Orr has been dubbed 'JD Vances English philosopher king and Donald Trump's Vice-President fondly calls him his 'UK Sherpa'. Leaked messages revealed Mr Vance has called European nations 'pathetic freeloaders'. Dr Orr has said that far from being anti-European, Mr Vance, his wife Asha and their three children chose the UK as the destination for their family holiday in 2023. He has also spent time with him in France. But the British academic has explained the frustration his friend feels towards Europe's political leaders and having to 'bail out' Ukraine and NATO with US tax dollars. The British professor said: 'I think their view is, look, you know what? What are we paying for? If we're subsidising defence budgets for countries that have forgotten what it is they're defending, forgotten the values that unite Europe and America like free speech, freedom of association, free assembly, free and fair elections, then there's a problem'. Dr Orr and Vice-President Vance are close friends who first met around seven years ago through mutual friends. They were together when the President was shot in Pennsylvania last July. They also dined at the Senate in Washington DC just before Mr Vance was called to Mar-a-Lago and asked to be Mr Trump's running mate. They text and chat on the phone regularly, including, it seems, about him berating Volodymyr Zelensky in the Oval Office in what is one of the most talked about political moments in years. Dr Orr said: 'I can answer that very straightforwardly. There was no planning before that meeting. No pre-meditation. It was spontaneous. A freewheeling meeting that probably shouldnt have happened in front of the cameras'. He also claimed: Donald Trump is not a 'monarchical, tyrannical figure'; JD Vance is no fan of Putin - but wants peace in Ukraine because he is worried about how China and Russia have grown closer since 2022 invasion; The Signal-gate leak of messages will be forgotten 'in a month'. But they do show that Trump's administration are saying the same things in public and private; The extraordinary moment President Trump and US Vice President JD Vance clashed with Volodymyr Zelensky in the Oval Office. His friend Dr James Orr has said it was categorically not planned - and hinted, perhaps, it should not have happened on camera U.S. Vice President and veteran JD Vance at Marine Corps Base Quantico on March 26 Dr James Orr is a close friend of Mr Vance, who calls him his British sherpa Speaking to the BBC's Today Podcast with Nick Robinson and Amol Rajan, Dr Orr was clear he knew it was not a pre-planned attack on Zelensky for a fact - and crucially did not deny it was because JD Vance had told him. 'If Trump was the monarchical, tyrannical figure and JD, the vice president was simply his ventriloquist dummy, then you wouldn't have seen this. He wouldn't have felt permission to be as outspoken as he was in that meeting', he added. Dr Orr, Associate Professor of Philosophy of Religion at the University of Cambridge, has given an interview revealing what his friend really thinks of Europe, Ukraine, Russia and China - and how Donald Trump has empowered him in his role. US Vice President JD Vance and his wife Usha Vance before a working lunch, on the sidelines of the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Action Summit on February 11, 2025 in Paris, France He claims that JD Vance is 'not a fan' of Vladimir Putin and Russia - but is opposed to the 'war-mongering' pushed by some previous White House administrations and their advisors. Peace in Ukraine will make a wider conflict less likely because the Trump White House is most worried about how China and Russia have grown closer since 2022, he says. 'He is not at all a fan of Putin. He is not at all a fan of Russia', Dr Orr told the BBC. 'But one of his great complaints is that the Ukraine War breaks the cardinal rule of American international relations the Ukraine War has brought Russia and China together. That is catastrophic. 'De-escalation will mean him biting his tongue about Putin and Russia. 'But the fact of the matter is that we are closer to getting on that path to peace since the war began in February 2022'. Leaked messages on Monday showed Vance lamenting having to 'bail out Europe again' as US officials discussed military action that would unblock trade routes in the Suez Canal, where 40 per cent of European trade runs through compared to three per cent of US trade. Pete Hegseth, United States Secretary of Defense, subsequently said he shared the 'loathing of European freeloading' and claimed the situation was 'pathetic'. Trump then agreed with the comments, asking why Europe is 'in for $100billion, and we're in for $350billion' on aid for Ukraine. Dr Orr has played down the crisis over the leaked WhatsApp messages. 'In a months time. Nobody will be talking about this', he predicted. Vance and Hegseth branded European nations as 'pathetic freeloaders' in private messages The messages were leaked after a journalist was mistakenly added to a group chat with top Trump officials He went on: 'The interpretation of the group chat, I think, is very consistent with the the Munich speech. The tenor of the Munich speech was that: you leaders are not paying attention to the values that have made you, Europe, worth defending. 'I don't think the Special Relationship has been that great for us, to be honest. But at the same time, you look at the numbers. $1.3 trillion a year, or whatever it is on NATO's annual budget America covers $830billion of it at a time when it is reaching eye watering levels of national debt. There's poverty all over the place, particularly in those places that are close to JD and to the MAGA movement. 'When he talks about Europe, and certainly when he talked about Europe in the group chat, he's not thinking the European people, us Europeans. 'He's thinking specifically of what he thinks of as out of touch EU technocrats who are increasingly unaccountable to their electorate, who are increasingly unpopular with their own voters'. Dr Orr says that Mr Vance is upset at European countries' failure to protect basic democratic freedoms. In fact, he says, that the messages in the so-called Signal scandal, shows how JD Vance and other senior members of the Trump administration are saying the same things in public as they do in private. 'If you noticed from the group chat, it struck me that he came across as thoughtful, independently minded collegiate, not forcing his you know, he was dissenting, respectfully from the position, very subtly', Dr Orr said. 'We often worry about the inauthenticity of politicians. They're saying different stuff behind closed doors. 'Actually, what the group chat told us is that there's total consistency in their approach, in their thinking. It is really hard to put a cigarette paper between their public utterances and what emerged from the group chat'. Five women who allege they were abused by Harrods boss Mohamed Al Fayed have said they are planning to launch a legal claim for personal injury against the late billionaire's estate. Law firm Leigh Day, which represents the claimants, said a pre-action letter has been sent to lawyers for the estate on behalf of the women, who worked as nannies and private air stewards for the former Harrods boss between 1995 and 2012. They were employed by Mr Al Fayed's private airline Fayair, or by the Al Fayed family, and allege they were subjected to 'serious sexual abuse, harassment and mistreatment'. Lawyer Richard Meeran, from Leigh Day, said: 'We have taken this step on behalf of those of our clients who were abused by Al Fayed while working for him or his other businesses outside of Harrods. 'Much of the media reporting around Al Fayed's decades of depraved and predatory behaviour has centred around his work at Harrods but it is important that his estate is also made legally accountable for the widespread abuse he perpetrated against those who may never have had dealings with the famous store. 'Our clients took on roles as professionals and should have been able to expect a safe working environment, instead they were subjected to serious sexual abuse, harassment and mistreatment. 'Some faced further verbal abuse and threats when they tried to raise their concerns or report the abuse.' A spokesperson for Leigh Day added: 'The letters are sent under the pre-action protocol for personal injury claims and mark the first formal step in the legal process prior to the commencement of court proceedings.' Five women who allege they were abused by Harrods boss Mohamed Al Fayed (pictured) have said they are planning to launch a legal claim for personal injury against the late billionaire's estate Al Fayed in 2005 at the unveiling of a memorial to his son Dodi and Diana, Princess of Wales Many of the businessman's alleged victims worked for Harrods in Knightsbridge, London (pictured) Lawyers from Leigh Day are currently representing 27 people in claims relating to alleged abuse by Mr Al Fayed and his brother Salah Fayed. The firm said its legal team has been instructed by its clients to pursue civil compensation claims and to press for an independent public inquiry into the alleged abuse. The Metropolitan Police is currently reviewing a total of 21 allegations that were made before Mr Al Fayed died in 2023, and referred two of these to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) last November. More than 100 alleged victims have contacted police to say they were sexually abused by the tycoon, the youngest of whom is thought to have been 13 at the time. A number of allegations were made against him while he was still alive. Investigators twice sent files for a charging decision to the Crown Prosecution Service - once in 2008 relating to three victims and again in 2015 linked to one other. On another three occasions - in 2018, 2021 and 2023 - the CPS was asked for what is called early investigative advice, but the matters were not pursued further by police. The Faldgate law firm, which represents the Al Fayed estate, has been contacted for comment. A prominent doctor believed his nuclear engineer wife was having an affair in the months before he allegedly tried to kill her by pushing her off a Hawaiian hiking trail. Gerhardt Konig, 46, has been accused of brutally attacking his wife of six years, Arielle Konig, 36, atop the scenic Pali Lookout in Oahu last week and leaving her in serious condition with 'multiple lacerations to her face and neck' and a broken thumb. As she continued to recover at The Queen's Medical Center with her mother by her side, Arielle filed a damning restraining order against her husband on Thursday. It states Gerhardt, a renowned anesthesiologist, accused her of cheating on him in December, and ever since, he had become prone to 'extreme jealousy' and even 'attempted to control and monitor all of my communications,' the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports. They tried to settle their differences at couple's therapy, the petition says, and things were looking up when Gerhardt planned a weekend getaway to Oahu for Arielle's 36th birthday. Following his arrest, Arielle said she learned her husband had called one of his adult children from a previous marriage on FaceTime. He was allegedly covered in blood and told his son, "I just tried to kill Ari, but she got away,"' according to the petition. Gerhardt Konig, 46, has been accused of brutally attacking his wife of six years, Arielle (picture supplied: Honalulu Police Department) Gerhardt had apparently become very jealous of his wife in the months before the attack Arielle's petition was ultimately granted on Friday forbidding Gerhardt from having any contact with his wife or their children and from entering their Maui home. It came as the doctor was officially indicted on second-degree attempted murder charges, Hawaii News Now reports. He is now being held without bail at the Oahu Community Correctional Center in Honolulu and is due back in court on Monday, while Arielle is 'focusing on her recovery at home in Maui with the support of her family,' her attorney said. Many who knew the couple were shocked by the news of Gerhardt's arrest. 'I just did not see this coming,' Christina Ferguson, 53, who has been working for the couple as a cleaner for the last six months, told DailyMail.com in an exclusive interview. 'Nobody saw this coming. People are saying things like, "she probably had an affair, or she was cheating", but she's not like that at all. 'She's the kindest, most caring, patient, generous, loving person. I mean, every perfect attribute you could think of for a person, and that's her,' the cleaner said. 'She worked from home, so she was not running around. And they just came back from a family vacation, just last month.' Arielle, a nuclear scientist, filed a petition for a temporary restraining order from her husband Many who knew the couple were left shocked by the allegations Ferguson went on to describe the doctor as 'nice and kind.' 'Usually, he was quiet when he was home because typically, he'd be at work when I was there,' Ferguson said. 'But the couple times that he was there, he was quiet, polite, and carried a conversation.' She added: 'The way that they talked to each other was admirable. They were loving and so this just came completely out of nowhere. 'Typically, especially here in Hawaii where domestic violence is very common, you can see the signs there's controlling behavior and whatnot. 'There was none of that here.' Arielle's petition for a temporary restraining order, though, tells a different story - as she claims she is afraid for herself, their children and their dog if Gerhardt was to be released on bail. She described how she and her husband arrived on the island on March 23, while their children stayed at their $1.5million home in Kahului on the island of Maui with family members. The next day, Arielle says her husband suggested they hike a trail near Pali Lookout, which she described as having 'narrow ridge sections with steep drop-offs on both sides.' At one point during the hike, Arielle said she became 'uneasy' and said she did not want to go any further. She instead decided to climb a nearby tree so her husband could take a photo of her - but he suggested they instead take a selfie near the edge of the cliff. Arielle said she then asked her husband to move away from the edge 'because I was feeling dizzy,' and he obliged. But when she then approached the doctor, he 'grabbed me by my upper arms and started pushing me back towards the cliff edge.' At the same time, 'he was yelling something to the effect of "Get back over there, I'm so f***ing sick of you,"' Arielle wrote. She said she thought he was joking at first, then 'quickly realized he was seriously trying to make me fall off the cliff.' Arielle recounted that she quickly threw herself onto the ground away from the edge, but her husband climbed on top of her. Desperate, Arielle said she pleaded with him to think about their two young children, ages 2 and 5. Arielle's petition describes how Gerhardt suggested they hike a trail near Pali Lookout, which she described as having 'narrow ridge sections with steep drop-offs on both sides' She said she was afraid to stand near the edge, but Gerhardt started pushing her Still, they continued to tussle - and at one point Arielle said Gerhardt grabbed his bag and took out a syringe, which he tried to inject her with. 'I do not know what was in the syringe, but Gerhardt is an anesthesiologist and has access to several potentially lethal medications as part of his employment,' Arielle noted in her petition for a restraining order. Thinking on her feet, Arielle said she grabbed the syringe and threw it as her husband combed through his bag for what she thought was another syringe, TribLIVE reports. But before he could grab it, Arielle said she bit his forearm. That seemed to calm him down for a moment 'but then grabbed a nearby rock and began bashing me repeatedly on the head with it.' He also grabbed her by the hair and smashed her face into the ground, she claims. Fortunately two women further down the path heard Arielle screaming for help. One then ran ahead and told police she saw a man hitting a woman in the head with a rock, as the woman cried out: 'He is trying to kill me.' The women then warned Gerhardt they were calling 911, at which point he fled the scene, while the women helped Arielle down the trail, where first responders transported her to a local hospital in critical condition. Despite her condition, she was able to tell police that her husband had attacked her, and he was arrested following a six-hour long manhunt. The doctor was officially indicted on second-degree attempted murder charges on Friday He had previously been married to sex worker Jessica Patella; The two married when they they were both just 20 and stayed married for over 15 years, sharing two children. One of their children, a trans man who goes by Kieren, shared details from his difficult childhood in an essay published online and written in second person. 'You dont remember much of your childhood except for that one Christmas morning your brother came into your room and you hid under the covers for an hour, waiting for your parents to stop fighting. They got a divorce the next year.' Kieren wrote about being admitted to psychiatrist hospitals and seeing his mother 'losing blood like trees lose leaves in the fall' as she went through two miscarriages. He also mentioned his stepmother Arielle positively, writing: 'She calls you by the name you want to be called by.' Konig's first wife is a sex worker who goes by Jessie Sage. She shares two children with him Konig has a trans son Kieren, with whom he had a fraught relationship Kieren said that he started talking to his dad again after a period of no contact. 'Hes not screaming at you. Hes calm,' Kieren wrote about Konig. In 2017, Konig shared a picture with Kieran alongside the band Evanescence, writing: 'Evanescence Synthesis Orchestral Tour 2017. What an amazing night with my son!' By then Konig was already in a relationship with Arielle; the two seem to have moved from the Pittsburgh area to Hawaii sometime after 2020. A former judge at the Supreme Court has said he believes convicted serial baby killer Lucy Letby is 'probably innocent'. Jonathan Sumption claimed those questioning her convictions 'are too numerous and too well qualified to be dismissed as troublemakers'. He said that although the summing up by the judge in Letby's trials was 'impeccable' and the Court of Appeal 'meticulously examined the evidence' prior to dismissing her bids to appeal, there were 'serious anomalies' in the case which cast 'doubt' on the safety of the jury verdicts. 'Those who question the verdicts now include many lawyers and scientists,' said Lord Sumption, who sat on the Supreme Court between 2012 and 2018. 'Their reasoning is too cogent to be brushed aside. On the material presently available, I believe Lucy Letby was probably innocent.' Letby, 35, is serving 15 whole life orders for the murder of seven infants and attempted murder of seven more between June 2015 and June 2016 at the Countess of Chester Hospital in Cheshire. But Lord Sumption claimed the case against her was 'circumstantial'. He said the prosecution's theories of how she attacked her victims injecting air into veins or stomachs, poisoning with insulin, overfeeding milk, inflicting throat trauma or dislodging feeding tubes 'seem very speculative'. Lucy Letby (pictured), 35, is serving 15 whole life orders for the murder of seven infants and attempted murder of seven more between June 2015 and June 2016 at the Countess of Chester Hospital in Cheshire Jonathan Sumption (pictured) claimed those questioning her convictions 'are too numerous and too well qualified to be dismissed as troublemakers' Photo issued by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) of a note found in the house of Lucy Letby. The murder-accused nurse said it was 'sickening' when she discovered she was being blamed for a number of baby deaths while doing the job she 'loved' He also said the hospital had a 'poor record', adding: 'The Royal College of Paediatrics carried out a review into the spike in infant deaths and blamed unacceptable standards of neonatal care in the unit over a substantial period.' Lord Sumption also highlighted an international panel of 14 experts who last month said they had examined the medical notes of the babies and found alternative, natural explanations for their sudden collapses or deaths. He added: 'If Letby was wrongly convicted, and there is now a serious case she was, it is horrifying to contemplate this young woman may be locked up without hope until she dies... simply because our system is too rigid to allow a proper review of her case.' His comments come a week after the conclusion of the Thirlwall Inquiry, the public probe into Letby's crimes. In closing submissions, lawyers for the victims' families debunked much of the panel's report, saying it was flawed and simply a re-hash of evidence already heard at her original Manchester Crown Court trial. Focusing simply on the medical evidence and dismissing other factors such as Letby's 'confession' notes, her strange behaviour when the infants collapsed and her alteration of medical notes meant the inquiry panel risked ignoring the 'bigger picture', said Richard Baker KC. Lawyers for the Royal College, in their closing submissions, accepted that although its report identified staffing shortages, they were not to blame for the spike in deaths. Concerns over infection passing from the unit's problematic plumbing was also excluded as a potential source of harm to the babies, said Mr Baker. A fired Catholic school teacher was violently wrestled to the ground and put in handcuffs after he stormed a Kansas church's pulpit to pray for migrants. Jimbo Gillcrist planned to share his own version of the Our Father prayer shortly before the 11am mass at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Overland Park on March 23, according to the Kansas City Star. His goal was to speak out against Donald Trump's mass deportation efforts. But shortly after he paced up to the pulpit at the church he grew up in, Gillcrist was halted by four parishioners - including a deacon. The group then marched him out of the church, and Gillcrist found himself handcuffed by police and questioned in the back of a police vehicle. In dramatic audio of the incident, one churchgoer could even be heard asking if anyone was armed - to which two parishioners replied that their weapons were in the car. 'I thought the worst that could happen is maybe they'd try to shut me down and ask me to leave,' Gillcrist told the Star in the aftermath. 'I in no way thought I'd be tackled in a church.' Jimbo Gillcrist was tackled and thrown out of the church he grew up in on March 23 by four parishioners - including a deacon. Deacon John Williams is pictured during the mass Gillcrist reportedly stormed the pulpit shortly before the 11am mass (pictured) Gillcrist had just started his prayer when a priest approached him and told him: 'Come with me.' The priest could then be heard telling staff members to 'turn the sound off,' before he directed his attention back at Gillcrist, telling him, 'Brother you need to leave.' Sounds of a scuffle could then be heard, after which someone could be heard telling Gillcrist to 'stay still,' promising him, 'we're not going to hurt you.' 'You already used violence against me in a church,' Gillcrist, a former ethics teacher, shot back. At that point, the mob accused him of trespassing - to which he replied that he is a baptized Catholic attending church. He was then told 'it's inappropriate,' and when Gillcrist tried to clarify whether they meant it was inappropriate 'to pray,' they responded 'there's an appropriate time.' 'It is the appropriate time,' Gillcrist cried. 'No, you have to listen to your authorities, which is your pastor,' one of the parishioners then tells him before leading him out of the church building. Gillcrist only raised his voice as he was being led out of the building, telling the congregation to 'Love your neighbor as yourself! And who is my neighbor?' He was thrown out of Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Overland Park, Kansas, handcuffed and thrown in the back of a police vehicle When police then arrived at the scene, an officer could be heard asking those who marched him out whether he did 'anything physical,' according to the Star. One of the tacklers then alleged that 'he pushed our priest off the steps, but he didn't fall or anything' - claims which Gillcrist strongly denied. But when a second cop arrived at the church, he asked, 'Is he the one who pushed the priest? Put him in handcuffs.' The former teacher remained in the back of the police vehicle as the officers then started to ask him questions about what happened. 'They were trying to pull me away from the pulpit. I grabbed the pulpit and just held on. I didn't push anyone,' he insisted. 'They had four guys grabbing me and dragging me off then.' At that point, the cops asked Gillcrist why he wanted to preach. 'I'm worried about human beings, our brothers and sisters who live within our midst and are being targeted by the government,' he replied, later clarifying that he was referring to 'undocumented immigrants.' In the remarks, which Gillcrist shared on X, he intoned that God's Kingdom is not one of 'borders and fixed realms and flags and exclusion'. He would have also urged congregants to 'not merely forgive' those who have 'trespassed in the truest sense of the word' but also 'open our arms to and welcome them' to help heal their trauma. Gillcrist had sought to speak out against President Donald Trump's mass deportations The remarks would go on to mention Gaza and Ukraine. 'They're our brothers and sisters,' he told the cops of his decision to mention the two war zones. 'When we stop seeing people that way it's so easy to start making laws or enacting policies that harm them,' he argued. In the end, another officer said he had spoken with the pastor and agreed Gillcrist would not be charged with any wrongdoing for now 'but if you do return here, you will be charged with trespassing.' This is not the first time the former Catholic school teacher faced backlash for his opinions, however. He was previously arrested in 2020 during a Black Lives Matter protest, and in November, he was fired from Rockhurst High School after telling students that they have a moral obligation to stand up to deportations, the Star reported. He said at the time that when you vote for a candidate promising mass deportations 'you become an accomplice in the violation of the human rights of the asylum seeker and the refugees.' It is against school policy, however, to speak about politics in the classroom. DailyMail.com has reached out to church officials for comment. Tim Walz's daughter has turned down a graduate school offer because she does not want to 'give her money' to an institution which won't support students' right to protest. Hope Walz, whose Democrat father would have been vice president if Kamala Harris won the election, will instead 'take her time' over the next year to find a school which better aligns with her values. She said as a 'privileged white woman', the repercussions of protesting on campus wouldn't necessarily impact her, but she didn't want to give money to an institution that wouldn't also protect her peers. Protesting on campus has become a flashpoint of the Trump administration, after the president signed an executive order describing pro-Palestine activism which swept campuses last year acts of antisemitism. He threatened to cut federal funding to schools which 'allow illegal protests' and vowed to imprison 'agitators' or send them back 'to the country which they came from.' American students who could not be deported faced expulsion and arrest, Trump said, while simultaneously banning masks which shield a protester's identity. Hope's comments sparked outrage among critics who said she was acting 'performatively' and 'setting feminism back 50 years.' 'White women privilege is getting into college but having such rich parents you can decide to not go.. how noble and brave,' another critic said. Hope Walz, whose Democrat father Tim would have been vice president if Kamala Harris won the election , will instead 'take her time' over the next year to find a school which better aligns with her values Tim Walz's daughter has turned down a graduate school offer because she does not want to 'give her money' to an institution which won't support students' right to protest Others questioned whether she truly was accepted to her 'dream school', saying she could have been creating an elaborate excuse when in reality she simply didn't get in. 'She didn't get in lol. I wouldn't be surprised if she didn't even apply to one... it's all theatrics,' one critic said. Another added: 'In other words, I don't want to go to grad school, but I can pose as a social Justice warrior and then get hired by dad's buddies think tank.' A third wrote: 'If virtue signaling paid well, she'd be a millionaire.' Another warned that she was so 'brainwashed' that she was inadvertently 'screwing herself out of an education.' Hope shared her 'life update' on her TikTok account, telling her followers: 'I got into grad school. I will not be attending starting this fall though, and I will no longer be attending the university that I originally applied for. 'I applied for one school. I kind of had my heart set on one school and that's what I wanted to do. 'I'm not going to name the institution but after recent events I decided I am not going to give my money, go into debt for, support institutions that don't support their students and the right to protest and speak out for their communities. 'Students deserve to be protected. I'm not worried about if I were to be protected or not at said institution, I'm a privileged white woman, but I'm not going to put myself in a position where I'm giving money or supporting institutions that don't support their students.' While Hope did not name the school, several Ivy League institutions have been in the spotlight over protesting While Hope did not name the school, several Ivy League institutions have been in the spotlight over protesting. Columbia University agreed last week to put its Middle East studies department under new supervision and overhaul its rules for protests and student discipline, in a move seen as bowing down to to an extraordinary ultimatum by the Trump administration. As part of the sweeping reforms, the university will also adopt a new definition of antisemitism and expand 'intellectual diversity' by staffing up its Institute for Israel and Jewish Studies, according to a letter published Friday by the interim president, Katrina Armstrong. The announcement drew immediate condemnation from some faculty and free speech groups, who accused the university of caving to President Donald Trump's largely unprecedented intrusion upon the school's academic freedom. 'Columbia's capitulation endangers academic freedom and campus expression nationwide,' Donna Lieberman, the executive director of the New York Civil Liberties Union, said in a statement. Earlier this month, the Trump administration pulled $400 million in research grants and other funding over the university's handling of protests against Israel's military campaign in Gaza. As a precondition to restoring those funds - along with billions more in future grants - federal officials last week demanded the university immediately enact nine separate reforms to its academic and security policies. On March 8, federal immigration officials arrested Mahmoud Khalil, a prominent Palestinian activist and permanent resident in his university-owned apartment building. Police look on during pro-Palestinian demonstrations at The City College Of New York He vowed it would be the 'first of many' attempted deportations. The case is ongoing. While Trump has made Columbia the most visible target of his crackdown on higher education, he has put other universities on notice that they will face cuts if they do not embrace his agenda. His administration has announced investigations into 52 universities for their diversity, equity and inclusion programs. And it has suspended approximately $175 million in federal funding for the University of Pennsylvania over a transgender swimmer who last competed for the school in 2022. And in the comment section of Hope's video, she was inundated with current and former students who said their schools' stances 'broke their hearts.' 'It's sad when these institutions don't support their communities,' one former student at John Hopkins said. 'University of Michigan broke my heart,' another added. Pro-Palestinian supporters confront police during demonstrations at The City College Of New York The State Department has revoked more than 300 student visas connected to college students who protested in support of Palestine. Hope said her criticism of the school she had been accepted into 'has nothing to do with students that currently go there, a lot of the faculty.' 'But the people at the top are making these decisions and I decided that I'm not going to do that. 'I'm going to do a little bit more research going forward, making sure I'm going to schools that align with my values and then maybe start in a year, which is okay. I'm not really in a rush.' Transgender and ethnic minority people are being given priority for bail under new guidelines drawn up by the Ministry of Justice. Judges and magistrates are being told to prioritise those groups because they may be at 'disproportionately higher risk' if they are held in custody. The guidelines asks judges to consider that some defendants may have experienced trauma through racism and discrimination. The document, seen by MailOnline, advises this trauma 'may have been experienced personally, by those known to the defendant, inter-generationally and relayed to the defendant, or as a result of important historical events'. It sets out 'key criteria' for identifying 'priority defendant cohorts' which includes women, pregnancy or maternity, young adults aged 18 to 25, people with mental health conditions, and those deemed as 'vulnerable'. The 85-page policy titled 'Probation Court Services Police Framework', states: 'Cases should be prioritised for defendants who may be at a disproportionately higher risk of being remanded into custody or where complex needs are identified that indicate additional support for the bail process might be beneficial.' The guidance, first reported on by The Telegraph last night, was issued by the MoJ in January and are line with new Sentencing Council guidelines that come into effect today. An emergency law is expected to be pushed through the Commons today in a desperate attempt to stop 'two-tier' justice Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood is seeking to 'surgically block' the Sentencing council guidelines which give minorities special treatment in the courts. Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood speaking during the official opening of HMP Millsike - the new Category C jail in Yorkshire -- March 27, 2025 Earlier this month the council published principles for courts to follow when imposing community and custodial sentences, including whether or not to suspend jail time. The guidelines advise judges to consider an offender's race, faith and cultural background when deciding if they should impose a custodial or community sentence. Justice Secretary Ms Mahmood threatened to change the law if necessary after the Sentencing Council rejected her bid to ditch the guidance, which is due to come into effect on Tuesday. Officials have spent the weekend drawing up legislation that would override the controversial elements of the guidance and stop judges from having to consider it. Government sources said tonight it planned to clear the Commons agenda on Tuesday to push through a simple Bill to make the changes, potentially in just one day. Ministers are also looking at more radical proposals known as a ministerial 'lock' so they can veto or amend the quango's recommendations, according to The Sunday Times. 'We think this has raised big questions about the role of the council and the democratic deficit it reveals,' one source said. 'We will be doing more work whatever happens, looking at that question.' Last week Sir Keir Starmer said he was 'disappointed' by the independent body's decision to press ahead with the guidelines. The 85-page policy titled 'Probation Court Services Police Framework' sets out 'key criteria' for identifying 'priority defendant cohorts' It includes women, pregnancy or maternity, young adults aged 18 to 25, people with mental health conditions, and those deemed as 'vulnerable' Ms Mahmood being given a tour during the official opening of HMP Millsike - the new Category C jail in Yorkshire -- March 27, 2025 The Prime Minister said: 'The Lord Chancellor [Ms Mahmood] is obviously continuing to engage on this, and we're considering our response. 'All options are on the table, but I'm disappointed at this outcome, and now we will have to consider what we do as a result.' A spokesman for the MoJ said: 'These guidelines were first brought in under the last government. This Government will ensure equality in the courts. 'We are reviewing current policy that impacts the courts, and will be updating practices accordingly.' An 11-month-old baby boy has been found dead in a home in regional NSW. The baby was discovered unresponsive at a property in Glen Innes, a town in the Northern Tablelands, on Sunday morning. He was rushed to hospital where he was pronounced dead. NSW Police are treating the incident as 'suspicious'. 'An investigation into the circumstances surrounding the child's death is now being conducted by detectives attached to New England Police District,' a spokesman said. A toddler has been kicked out of nursery after being accused of transphobia, new figures reveal. The child, aged either three or four, was suspended for 'abuse against sexual orientation and gender identity', data from the Department for Education shows. The offences took place in the 2022-23 academic year at a state school, according to The Telegraph. Statistics indicate 94 pupils at similar primary institutions were suspended or permanently excluded for transphobia or homophobia in the same year. This included ten pupils from Year 1 and three from Year 2, where the maximum age was seven, and one child was of nursery age. Helen Joyce, director of advocacy at Sex Matters, said: 'Every once in a while, the extremes of gender ideology throw up a story that seems too crazy to believe, and a toddler being suspended from nursery for so-called "transphobia" or homophobia is one such example. 'Teachers and school leaders involved in this insanity should be ashamed of themselves for projecting adult concepts and beliefs on to such young children.' The child, aged either three or four, was suspended for 'abuse against sexual orientation and gender identity' (file image) Statistics indicate 94 pupils at similar primary institutions were suspended or permanently excluded for transphobia or homophobia in the same year (file image) Across all primary schools and state schools, the number of pupils suspended or expelled for homophobic or transphobic behaviour increased from 164 in 2021-22 to 178 in 2022-23. The largest number of suspensions for this reason in 2022-23 was in Essex, with 16, followed by Birmingham, 15, Bradford, 11 and Norfolk, eight. Figures began in the 2020-21 academic year. Lord Young, director of the Free Speech Union, said: 'I would have thought that if your ideology is so rigid it justifies you punishing toddlers for not complying with it, that's a powerful argument for discarding it in favour of something less dogmatic.' The Department for Education said: 'All pupils and staff should feel safe and protected at school and should never face violence or abuse. 'The Education Secretary has been clear that she expects school leaders to enforce good behaviour and we are committed to a comprehensive programme of behaviour support for schools. 'Our Plan for Change sets out our relentless focus on making sure every child gets the best life chances.' In 2022, a Church of England school in the Isle of Wight warned a six-year-old boy's parents that he might be deemed 'transphobic' if he were to question another pupil wearing a dress. Nigel and Sally Rowe have objected to the guidance being given at their two sons' Church of England school Sally and Nigel Rowe, whose sons attended a Church of England school, said they received a letter from the headteacher and chair of governors which declared pupils could be designated the term if they showed 'an inability to believe a transgender person is actually a ''real'' female or male.' They claimed the letter also added that refusing to use a transgender pupil's adopted name or gender appropriate pronouns would be considered 'transphobic behaviour'. Transphobia rows in education came to a head in 2021 when feminist professor Kathleen Stock was 'cancelled' and forced to leave the University of Sussex in 2021. Her offences included stating in 2020 that 'the claim "transwomen are women" is fiction, not literally true' and 'spaces where women undress and sleep should remain genuinely single-sex in order to protect them'. Last week, Sussex was charged 585,000 for its failure to uphold free speech - the largest fine ever given to a university. A councilman from a liberal city where 'Defund the Police' gained significant traction has introduced a bill to completely sever ties with the movement. Seattle Councilmember Rob Saka proposed Resolution 32167, which 'acknowledges the failures' of and 'reverses commitments' made to defunding the city's police, according to a March 25 statement. 'This resolution reverses any prior commitment or pledge by past councils to defund or abolish the police,' the Democratic councilman said in a council meeting, according to Fox News. 'We know that these statements were routinely cited by departing police personnel as a reason for leaving. We also know that they are very divisive.' One of the bill's key provisions is to show gratitude towards the heavily scrutinized Seattle Police Department (SPD) officers, as well as city firefighters and Community Assisted Response & Engagement (CARE) workers. The resolution also 'recognizes the significant reforms' made by the SPD when it comes to use of force, crisis intervention and data analytics. Another included goals are improving the police force's accountability system and diversifying public safety responses across the city's departments. 'This is finally the time to acknowledge the lessons of the past and pivot decisively toward a better, future-focused public safety model,' Saka declared. Seattle, where 'Defund the Police' gained significant traction, is seeing a political shift in favor of police Seattle Councilmember Rob Saka proposed Resolution 32167, which 'acknowledges the failures' of and 'reverses commitments' made to defunding the city's police The resolution 'recognizes the significant reforms' made by the SPD when it comes to use of force, crisis intervention and data analytics 'This Council, in collaboration with the Mayors Office has made improving public safety an absolute priority,' Saka, a Democrat, said. Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell, who is also a Democrat, noted the 'significant' progress made within the SPD over the last ten years. Harrell said in the press release: 'Seattles first responders do amazing and heroic work every day to save lives, stop and solve crimes, and ensure people in crisis get the help and support they need. 'I look forward to working with our police department, accountability partners, and Council members as we move to finalize requirements under the consent decree.' This shocking decision that goes against the blue city's reputation comes as Seattle experiences severe shortages within its police force. In 2017, there were 1,400 sworn officers. That number dropped to 1,050 in 2023 and to 913 in 2024, Fox News reported. 'The problem is still stemming from the defund movement,' radio personality Jason Rantz told Fox News in June 2024. 'You had a movement that was out there calling cops murderers and racists, and unfortunately you had a city council at the time that embraced and amplified those messages. So, people started to leave in huge numbers.' In 2023, the city was saw rampant drug usage and skyrocketing crime rates that only minimally declined the following year, according to the most recent city data. Black Lives Matter activists called upon the politicians of big cities across the country - including Seattle - to cut funding and add reforms to their police departments 'We're in a staffing crisis,' Sue Rahr, the then-interim chief of the SPD, said in July 2024, according to KUOW. 'We're down 400 officers, and we are doing our level best to try and increase our ability to hire more officers more quickly.' But Harrell said he remains confident in the SPD's recruitment numbers despite the staffing crisis. 'We hired more police officers last year than we lost for the first time in years, and applications are soaring,' he stated in the press release. The SPD hired 84 new officers last year, according to Capitol Hill Seattle. SPD interim Chief Shon Barnes has reportedly been prioritizing re-building up the police force. The department is anticipating at least 1,000 officers by 2026. The 'Defund the Police' movement gained momentum in 2020, after George Floyd died at the hands of Minneapolis, Minnesota police officer Derek Chauvin. Black Lives Matter activists called upon the politicians of big cities across the country - including Seattle - to cut funding and add reforms to their police departments. The 'Defund the Police' movement gained momentum in 2020, after George Floyd died at the hands of Minneapolis, Minnesota police officer Derek Chauvin Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell, a Democrat, noted the 'significant' progress made within the SPD over the last ten years In August of 2020 - following a summer of protests and riots stemming from Floyd's murder - the Seattle City Council voted to cut the police department's budget by $3 million. Four council members voted for Resolution 32167 and no one opposed it. The bill is set to be further discussed at a Tuesday meeting. The White House is preparing to take control of its briefing room's seating chart in a brazen power play that could upend decades of precedent and anger the liberal media. At the center of the storm is Karoline Leavitt, the 27-year-old White House press secretary and rising conservative firebrand who finds herself poised to deliver the decisive blow. It will mean that for the first time in modern history, the White House will dictate where reporters sit in the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room rather than the White House Correspondents Association (WHCA). Legacy media outlets such as CNN, NBC, CBS and ABC, who have long been accustomed to a place on the front-row, may find themselves several rows further back. The briefing room contains just 49 seats in very tight quarters. The administration's plan to assume control of the briefing room seating chart will take effect in the coming weeks, stripping the WHCA of a role it has held for generations. The WHCA, a body established to protect journalistic access and independence, has traditionally governed not only seating arrangements but also the daily press pool that shadows the president, but those days appear to be quickly coming to an end. White House officials say the changes are part of a broader effort to modernize media access based on 'metrics more reflective of how media is consumed today.' That means fewer guaranteed seats for institutional heavyweights and more room for rising digital platforms like Punchbowl News, Axios, and even individual online influencers. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt is preparing to seize control of the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room's coveted seating chart It will mean that for the first time in modern history, the White House rather than the press will dictate where reporters sit during official briefings The current seating chart, seen above, was last adjusted in 2023, but now the Trump administration wants to decide where individual media outlets sit 'It's not just about favorable coverage,' a senior official told Axios. 'It's about recognizing the media landscape as it is - not as it was 30 years ago.' Essentially, those media who want a seat in the room need to prove they have an audience. A legacy nameplate simply isn't enough anymore. The change follows a string of maneuvers by the Trump White House that has rattled legacy outlets. Ever since taking office Trump has treated some members of the press as 'an enemy of the people'. In February, the Associated Press, one of the oldest and most respected newswires in the world, was banned from the White House press pool. It came after the AP refused to adopt new terminology declared by President Trump via executive order, substituting 'Gulf of Mexico' with the name 'Gulf of America.' That decision sparked legal action from the AP, which has argued in federal court that its exclusion leaves the organization 'dead in the water', but a judge has so far refused to reinstate them. The WHCA quickly threw its support behind the lawsuit - but the gesture may have only served to further fueled the administration's resolve to restructure access on its own terms. According to Axios one WHCA member privately floated the idea of rewriting the association's bylaws to make the sitting White House press secretary, currently Leavitt, its president. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt walks toward reporters waiting to ask her questions outside the West Wing of the White House in Washington DC earlier this month It is Leavitt who finds herself poised to deliver the decisive blow Two empty seats that traditionally would have been reserved for the Associated Press reporter and photographer are shown in the press cabin of Air Force One during a flight last month The Associated Press was barred access to some of President Donald Trump's events, as well as the Oval Office and Air Force One for continuing to use the term 'Gulf of Mexico' The suggestion was described by administration officials as 'interesting,' though they acknowledged they were 'skeptical the association's board could pull it off.' The WHCA has, for now, remained mostly silent with WHCA President Eugene Daniels not publicly commenting on the looming changes. White House officials insist that traditional news organizations will not be eliminated from the new seating chart, but their privileged front-row positions may be gone for good. 'We want to balance disruption with responsibility,' one senior official explained. Leavitt's decision comes amid a fierce and ongoing power struggle between the White House and the press corps, with Leavitt herself at the center of efforts to reshape White House media access. Leavitt has looked to exclude traditional outlets and favor right-wing platforms that align with Trump's political narrative. Karoline Leavitt, 27, is the youngest White House press secretary in history Critics believe the move is part of a calculated effort to humiliate and sideline media institutions that have frequently clashed with the Trump administration, particularly during President Trump's turbulent return to power. For correspondents used to commanding press conferences and dominating the nightly news cycle, the prospect of being shuffled to the back row might feel like exile. The fight for control over the briefing room is only the latest battle in the war between Trump and the Washington press corps. With Leavitt at the helm of White House communications, the administration's posture has grown more unapologetically combative and more strategic in its planning. Leavitt is fiercely defensive of Trump, always on-message and unafraid to break precedent if it suits the moment. Driver behind Ford Falcon XR6 that crashed into the Richmond River missing EXCLUSIVE The woman behind the wheel of a Ford Falcon XR6 that killed two men after the car veered off a bridge and plunged into a river in northern NSW, has not been seen since the double fatality. Tristan 'Tizzy' English, 26, was killed alongside Jordan Chetcuti, 26, when their lime green sedan veered off Droney Bridge and into the Richmond River at Fairy Hill, near Casino, on Wednesday night. Tarliah Defina, 22, who police say was behind the wheel of the high-powered vehicle, which belonged to her stepfather Adam 'Richo' Richards, managed to escape unharmed before the car went under. Daily Mail Australia can reveal NSW Police are still probing the crash before laying any charges. The mother-of-one had lost her licence one week before the crash after she was caught driving on an expired licence with drugs in her system. Locals have since revealed Defina has not been seen since the tragedy happened. She reportedly ran 2km from the crash scene to raise the alarm at a nearby property to call for help in the wake of the tragedy last week. Tarliah Defina and her stepfather Adam 'Richo' Richardson have gone to ground in the wake of the Fairy Hill crash that killed two men The mother-of-one lost her license one week prior to the crash when she was caught driving on an expired licence with drugs in her system But when emergency services arrived, there was nothing they could do to rescue the men. Since the crash, Defina has vanished. According to locals, Mr Richardson has been in his stepdaughter's life for 18 years. 'She's called him dad since she was six,' one local revealed. 'She's grown very close to him since becoming estranged from her mum.' A family member of one of the deceased men said they alerted police about Ms Defina's disappearance and pleaded for police to move the investigation forward. 'I alerted Casino police...' said one relative who did not wish to be named. '[But] they said any potential charges won't be laid until they get their 'ducks in a row'.' NSW Police confirmed no arrests had yet been made as the investigation continues. Jordan Chetcuti was released from jail a week ago and was set to celebrate his 27th birthday Tristan 'Tizzy' English died in a horrific crash in Fairy Hill, near Casino last Wednesday night 'Inquiries into the circumstances surrounding the crash are ongoing and there are no updates at this time,' a Richmond Police Department spokesperson said. Family members of the deceased men have also spoken out in the wake of their deaths. Chloe O'Halloran, the ex-partner of Chetcuti, and mother of his son, Anarki, said she wants the mysterious circumstances surrounding the crash to be fully investigated. She received a video from her ex just moments before the vehicle is understood to have careened into Richmond River. The video appeared to show a man's dirt-covered and wet, puckered foot while music blared in the background. 'The message came at 9.56pm, then after that he stopped responding.' The mother-of-one said her ex was determined to turn around his life after being released only three days earlier from a stint in prison. 'He was a changed man when he left Clarence [correctional centre] on Sunday, he was ready to be a parent,' she said. The Ford Falcon XR6 veered off Droney Bridge and into the Richmond River at Fairy Hill, near Casino, on Wednesday night 'We met up at the park and he was so patient with Anarki, who is non-verbal autistic... he bought him lunch and a toy from the cheap shop. 'I feel like his life was ripped from my son before he got a chance to even be a dad.' Tristan's mother, Nancy English echoed Chloe's concerns about the crash. Locals said a sharp turn before the bridge gave drivers 'no room for error'. 'There are no guardrails or anything to stop you going over the bridge,' John Miller told the ABC. 'If you go over the bridge, you go straight into the river.' On Thursday, police and SES crews retrieved the men's bodies from the submerged car. On Friday they returned to the site where a police diver was seen scouring the water's edge. On Friday police and SES crews retrieved the men's bodies from the submerged car Tributes for the men have flooded social media, including from Mr Chetcuti's aunt Kiara Piening. 'It's still so surreal that you grew your wings last night. The last thing you said to me was ''not a good time I'll call you back'' and here I am now forever waiting on that call,' she said. Ms Piening said she would miss her nephew's regular phone calls. 'I've gone from having you kill my life by peppering my phone non-stop to just wishing you'd call knowing I'll never hear from you again. 'I'll forever be grateful for all the great memories we shared and our random adventures. 'It was through circumstances I met you, but through loyalties that I came to love you as if you were my own.' Mr Chetcuti was released from behind bars a few days ago and was set to celebrate his 27th birthday. 'Part of me wishes you never got out on Monday coz then I'd still get to see you Saturday... But I know that I have to keep on living holding onto you with our memories,' Ms Piening said. 'I know I'll see you again someday... fly high Jordan.' Tributes have also flooded social media from Mr English's grieving friends. 'Rest in peace Tizzy, we're forever gonna miss your craziness, always in our hearts' one post read. Mr English is understood to have grown up in Casino and spent time living in South Australia. In 2022, Richmond Police issued a public appeal for assistance in tracking down Mr English, then aged 23, who was wanted on an outstanding warrant. Do you know more? tips@dailymail.com Wild footage has captured the moment Jetstar passengers clashed on a flight from Melbourne to Bali over a reclined seat. Two passengers were filmed in a foul-mouthed shouting match before it turned physical in the economy section of the plane. 'Do you think this is enough. Do you think one of us is going to f***ing die?' one of the men asked after turning around in his seat. He went to turn back around before he faced the passenger again and labelled him a 'drunk piece of s***' and questioned why he was 'picking on' him. The second passenger, who was wearing a cap, then got to his feet and leaned over towards the man. Nearby passengers were heard shouting 'no' as tensions flared. A third passenger attempted to de-escalate the situation and tried to prevent the man in the cap from moving any further by holding his arm out. Quick-thinking cabin crew attempted to separate the pair, with more passengers jumping in to restrain the men. Wild footage has captured the moment Jetstar passengers had to be restrained on a flight from Melbourne to Bali after a heated confrontation spiralled out of control Staff urged the men to remain calm. One could be heard yelling 'boys that's enough'. Other staff members then arrived to move one of the men from the area. Daily Mail Australia contacted Jetstar for comment. It is understood the airline is investigating the incident. Social media users slammed the behaviour and said they were sick of unruly tourists. 'Poor Balinese dealing with these ferals,' one said. 'Usually we wait until we've actually gotten off the plane in South East Asia before unleashing our inner moron,' another added. 'Another man child throwing a tantrum with no regard that he's miles in the air in a piece of metal travelling at massive speed,' a third said. The altercation happened on a Jetstar flight that was bound for Bali (stock image) 'Show some respect for the other passengers and the aircrew working to get everyone to another country safely.' Other commenters added they were 'embarrassed' by the incident. 'Yay, more Australians making us all look bad for the world to see, must be so proud of yourselves,' one wrote. 'This is so embarrassing,' another said. Recently re-elected Balinese Governor Wayan Koster last week warned travellers who don't show respect for the island's people, culture and environment will be fined or even jailed. Mr Koster released an updated list of banned acts in Bali in a reminder to tourists to follow the rules, or suffer the consequences. 'We issued a similar regulation before, but as things change we need to adapt. This ensures that Bali's tourism remains respectful, sustainable and in harmony with our local values,' he said. It comes after footage emerged of a tourist being wheeled on a trolley through Bali's streets by security staff with his wrists and ankles tied. The man's nationality was unclear, but the incident followed Australians being caught up in a brawl at the famous Finns Beach Club in nearby North Kuta earlier this year. Five tourists had a fight with about 15 security staff in that incident. The trouble started when a man allegedly harassed a woman inside the club before he was evicted and then turned on security. As anyone who has had the misfortune of dealing with civil service bureaucracy will know, it can be a complicated endeavour. There is the jargon, the minutes that bleed into hours spent on hold on the phone and, of course, the endless form-filling. But mastering this red tape - particularly in relation to Britain's bloated benefits system - can apparently also present extraordinarily lucrative business opportunities. Just ask Charlie Anderson, a YouTube blogger who says her chronic arthritis and fatigue has rendered her unable to work. Thanks to her lengthy experience with the welfare system, she is extremely proficient at filling out forms used to claim the Personal Independence Payment [PIP] allowance disability benefit. So adept has she become in applying for this taxpayer-funded help that she has taken to explaining the 'tricks of the trade' to any prospective benefits claimant - for a hefty fee, of course. A Chinese government ship has been spotted off the South Australian coast following a similar route to a deep-sea submarine communication cable. The Tan Suo Yi Hao, officially a scientific research vessel but widely considered a spy ship, is travelling within Australia's exclusive economic zone. It has the ability to drop a mini submarine that can reach up to 10,000 metres below sea-level. It is feared the vessel could be mapping Australia's submarine cable or even signalling that it has the capability to cut it. Underwater sea cables are vital to Australia's communication systems, carrying much of the country's internet capability. The Tan Suo Yi Hao had been in Wellington on a joint exploration exercise with New Zealand. But instead of following the most direct route back to China, it is circling the Australian coast. It travelled through the Tasman Sea, between New Zealand and Australia, then into the Bass Strait before approaching the South Australian coast. Chinese scientific research vessel Tan Suo Yi Hao is currently off the coast of South Australia Former Home Affairs Department boss Michael Pezzullo said China would be interested in undersea oceanography off the Australian coast When grilled on the presence of the Chinese spy ship, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he would 'prefer that it wasn't there'. 'But we live in circumstances where, just as Australia has vessels in the South China Sea and vessels in the Taiwan Strait and a range of areas, this vessel is there,' he said. 'Our task is to make sure that we represent Australia's national interests. We do that each and every day. 'And I have every confidence... in our Defence Force and our security agencies to do just that.' The ship is following a similar route to that taken by a Chinese warship last month after it conducted live-fire exercises in the Tasman Sea. The Tan Suo Yi Hao is 94metres long and nearly 18metres wide and the China Daily has reported that it has 11 laboratories onboard along with data processing and information centres and 'serves as a base for the submersible, deep-sea expeditions and engineering'. After its maiden voyage in 2016, the President of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Bai Chunli, said it was 'a milestone for China in terms of deep-sea expeditions'. Former Home Affairs Department boss Michael Pezzullo said the mapping conducted by the ship could allow China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy to plan submarine operations. 'All such research is made available to the PLA, and is probably shaped by PLA research priorities,' he said. 'The PLA would be vitally interested in undersea oceanography off the Australian coast (including the Southern Ocean).' Malcolm Turnbull has renewed his attacks on Donald Trump but this time has warned that US Vice President JD Vance could give Western allies more to fear in the future. The former prime minister accused the US President of being more aligned with Russian despot Vladimir Putin than Western allies in a 'sovereignty and security forum' at the National Press Club in Canberra on Monday. The comments, which were heard by government bureaucrats, military chiefs and ambassadors, marked a familiar refrain from Mr Turnbull, who has repeatedly turned his guns on Trump in recent weeks. But perhaps more eye-catchingly, the former Liberal leader warned that Trump's America-first 'MAGA' movement was not a flash in the pan - and might even intensify in years to come. 'Some people in this town, speaking from their heart more than their head, will tell you that this is all just froth and bubble and normal transmission will resume if not soon, certainly in four years. We shouldn't be so sure,' Mr Turnbull said. 'Look at the young men, including the vice president (who is) said to be the future of the modern movement. 'We should not assume that America first, Trump-style is going to evaporate any time soon.' Vance has been widely touted as a frontrunner for the Republican candidacy in 2028 when Trump's second presidency ends. Malcolm Turnbull (pictured) has renewed his attacks on Donald Trump but this time has warned that Vice President JD Vance could give Western allies more to fear in the future The former Liberal leader warned that Trump's America-first, 'MAGA' movement was not a flash in the pan - and might even intensify in years to come under JD Vance (pictured) At just 40 years old, he is almost half Trump's age. In his short time in office, Vance has made headline-grabbing interventions on foreign policy. These include berating European leaders for allegedly failing to defend free speech and for haranguing Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the now-infamous Oval Office stoush. This antagonistic approach now means, according to Mr Turnbull, that Australia cannot rely on the US as it once did on the international stage. 'We cannot allow our affection for America and Americans, our long shared history, to blind us from the objective reality that the United States has political values under this administration more aligned to the "might is right" world view of Mr Putin than they are to ours,' Mr Turnbull said. Asked about Mr Turnbull's recent comments at a press conference on Monday, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he wouldn't 'comment on all of the views of former prime ministers'. 'I speak for Australia and the Australian government's position is that we continue to enjoy a strong relationship with the United States,' Mr Albanese said. Turnbull argued Australia had become more reliant on the US just as the US was becoming a more unreliable ally. Mr Turnbull argued that Australia had become more reliant on the US just as the US was becoming a more unreliable ally 'So how do we in Australia recalibrate? Certainly, we need to do more, be more resilient and independent,' Mr Turnbull said. 'And yet, with an exquisitely bad timing, decisions in recent years have made us far more dependent on America, just as America was becoming less dependable.' The mention of 'decisions' was a thinly-veiled reference to the $368billion AUKUS submarine deal, which Mr Turnbull has regularly criticised. He has previously branded it a 'dumb' deal that is 'one-sided' and 'so advantageous to the US'. It is perhaps no surprise that Mr Turnbull is a critic of AUKUS. The deal, which was signed under Scott Morrison, completely scuttled the Turnbull-brokered deal to purchase submarines from France. But Mr Turnbull doubts the US will ever deliver the promised submarines. 'In my view it is very unlikely Australia will ever receive any Virginia Class submarines regardless of who is President,' Mr Turnbull told Daily Mail Australia earlier this month. 'In fact, the decision would most likely be taken by the President after Mr Trump.' Mr Turnbull's anti-Trump comments follow his explosive intervention in the public debate earlier this month when he accused Trump of being 'chaotic, rude, abrasive and erratic'. Trump hit back, accusing Mr Turnbull of being a 'weak and ineffective leader'. 'Malcolm Turnbull, the former Prime Minister of Australia who was always leading that wonderful country from "behind," never understood what was going on in China, nor did he have the capacity to do so,' President Trump wrote on social media. What is AUKUS? Anthony Albanese has slammed Peter Dutton for showing 'hubris' after the Opposition Leader said he would prefer to live in Sydney over Canberra if elected as Prime Minister. Choosing a main residence is one of the first decisions an elected leader is asked to make after winning government. They can choose to live at The Lodge, a Georgian revival-style manor located in Canberra's leafy southern suburbs, or Kirribilli House, a gothic-style mansion with gun-barrel views of Sydney's gleaming harbour from its wealthy lower north. And Mr Dutton revealed on Monday morning that if the Coalition is victorious on May 3, he will opt for the Emerald City over the national's capital. 'If you've got a choice between Kirribilli or living in Canberra and The Lodge, it takes Sydney any day over Canberra,' he told the Kyle and Jackie O show. 'We love Sydney, love the harbour. It's a great city.' But the Prime Minister has now accused Mr Dutton of showing 'hubris' and of 'measuring up the curtains' when there were still five gruelling weeks of campaigning left to go and the election result still very much on a knife edge. 'A fair bit of hubris behind that comment, I think. Measuring up the curtains,' Mr Albanese told reporters. 'I don't take Australians for granted. As Australia's Prime Minister, my job is to represent the country. Peter Dutton (pictured) revealed on Monday morning that if the Coalition is victorious on May 3, he will opt for the Emerald City over the national's capital But the Prime Minister has now accused Mr Dutton of showing 'hubris' and of 'measuring up the curtains' when there were still five gruelling weeks of campaigning left to go and the election result still very much on a knife edge (pictured: Mr Albanese on the campaign trail in WA on Monday) 'One of the frustrations I think that was felt by people in the west was that previous occupants of The Lodge, of the prime ministership, saw themselves as being prime minister for Sydney.' Despite being a self-described 'Sydneysider', Mr Albanese said he believed 'the prime minister should live in The Lodge'. '[Dutton] says he likes the harbour. You know, everyone likes the harbour. But your job is to be close to where the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet is, where meetings happen almost every day,' Mr Albanese added. A prime minister's main residence has long been viewed as a reflection of their priorities. Although Kirribilli House is traditionally considered the secondary official residence of the prime minister, previous Liberal prime ministers John Howard, Tony Abbott and Scott Morrison used the house as such. The opposition leader's choice appears to mirror the coalition's disdain for the Canberra-based public service, which the party has committed to slashing the sector by as many as 41,000 jobs. Despite being a self-described 'Sydneysider', Mr Albanese said he believed 'the prime minister should live in The Lodge' (pictured: Mr Albanese with his dog Toto, welcoming Finland Prime Minister Sanna Marin, during a visit to Australia at Kirribilli House in 2022) Upon his election in 2022, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese revealed he would live at The Lodge full-time as he felt it was important to spend as much time in Canberra as possible. Meanwhile, Mr Dutton has been warned to keep Sydney's multicultural communities at the heart of his campaign. While the coalition has attacked Labor over the level of post-COVID-19 pandemic immigration, it plans to cut 25 per cent of Australia's permanent intake. Politicians needed to be in touch with all of Australia, former NSW Liberal premier turned Australian ambassador to India Barry O'Farrell said. 'This is heartland modern Australia and you've just got to look around to see different nationalities,' he told AAP at an Assyrian New Year festival in Western Sydney. 'If you ignore multicultural communities, if you don't show an interest in them as you do with everyone else in Australia, you are not going to win.' Prime Ministers can choose to live at The Lodge, a Georgian revival-style manor located in Canberra's leafy southern suburbs(pictured)... ...or Kirribilli House, a gothic-style mansion with gun-barrel views of Sydney 's gleaming harbour from its wealthy lower north (pictured) Mr Dutton leaned on his record as immigration minister - when he committed to resettle an additional 12,000 people displaced by conflicts in Syria and Iraq - to spruik his credentials at an Assyrian festival on Sunday. The move was welcomed by the community and he was relatively well-received at the event, with Assyrian National Council president Hermiz Shahen thankful of Mr Dutton's support. The opposition leader then announced he would give the Al Madinah Mosque in Leppington $25,000 for CCTV and security upgrades so people could practice their faith in peace. Asked whether Mr Dutton's rhetoric on migration would harm the coalition in multicultural communities, Mr O'Farrell said 'his rescuing of a number of ethnic groups at times of conflict just demonstrates that doesn't matter what party you are'. 'We embrace multiculturalism,' he said. Mr Dutton has committed to revealing what migration programs will be cut under his policy before voters hit the polls. The Coalition's plan to slash immigration by 45,000 a year would make housing more affordable, a population expert says. Opposition Leader Peter Dutton will head to the May 3 election with a plan to cut the permanent component of immigration by 25 per cent from 185,000 a year to 140,000. That would see Australia's overall net overseas migration rate, covering skilled migrants and international students, halve to 180,000 in the 2026-27 financial year under a Coalition government. Under Labor, net overseas immigration would be 45,000 higher at 225,000, based on Treasury Budget forecasts for permanent and long-term arrivals, factoring in departures. AMP chief economist Shane Oliver said the Coalition's plan for a lower net overseas arrivals number of 180,000 would take the pressure off house prices. 'From a housing point of view, you'd say yes,' he told Daily Mail Australia. 'It would more quickly balance the housing market - take pressure off rents, house prices. There's no doubt about that.' That 45,000 reduction in overseas migration numbers would also free up 18,000 homes, given an average 2.5 people live in Australian homes. The Coalition's plan to slash immigration by 45,000 a year would make housing more affordable, a population expert says (pictured are pedestrians in the Sydney CBD) This would occur as net overseas migration levels mirrored the annual increase in the supply of new homes. 'It cuts the underlying demand for housing by 18,000 a year - it's quite a big reduction in housing demand,' Dr Oliver said. 'You put that together with student numbers coming down anyway, because of tighter visa requirements under Labor, then it would lead to quite a sharp reduction in underlying demand.' The Coalition Opposition promises to cut permanent migration by 25 per cent to 140,000, from an existing cap of 185,000, which covers skilled migrants, family reunions and those on a humanitarian visa. This is separate to the long-term category covering international students and those on a working holiday visa. 'Under the Coalition, we will cut the migration intake to free up housing and restore the great Australian dream of home ownership,' Mr Dutton told Parliament in his Budget reply speech last Thursday. 'We will cut the permanent migration program by 25 per cent. 'Australians are generous and welcoming people but they want migration to be sustainable and the Government to be in control of it. Opposition Leader Peter Dutton is going to the election with a plan to cut the permanent component of immigration to 140,000 a year 'Labor is neither in control of migration nor has it kept migration at sustainable levels.' If the Coalition wins the May 3 election, Australia's overall net overseas migration rate would fall to 180,000 - the lowest level in 12 years, outside of the Covid pandemic. This would occur as a larger number of international students left Australia in coming years when they graduated, regardless of who was in power. Both major parties are vowing the halve immigration levels from the record-high numbers reached in late 2023, when close to 550,000 foreigners flooded into Australia to live. The Treasury Budget papers forecast net overseas migration falling to 335,000 in 2024-25, before dropping to 260,000 in 2025-26. Treasury in the May 2024 Budget had underestimated population growth, and in December, revised its forecasts for this financial year, to have 340,000 migrants moving in - as opposed to 260,000 predicted just seven months earlier. Dr Oliver said a higher departure rate of students, as more of them graduated, meant Treasury's forecasts were more likely to be accurate this time. 'Now what's happening is we're seeing people who started their degrees back in 2021 and 2022 - some of them are about three-year degrees and they're now leaving,' he said. AMP chief economist Shane Oliver said the Coalition's plan for a lower net overseas arrivals number of 180,000 would take the pressure off house prices (pictured are houses at San Remo south-east of Melbourne) 'We've now got a pool of students back in the country, many of whom will leave and that's a big factor bringing the numbers down.' But he warned cutting immigration below the sweet spot of 200,000 would lead to weaker economic growth and worsen labour shortages. 'From an overall economic growth point of view, you'd grow more slowly if population growth goes down by that amount,' Dr Oliver said. 'And it would also - this is the pros and cons thing - it leads to issues regarding labour shortages. 'There's a lot of jobs that immigrants do that Australians don't want to do in aged care, in healthcare, in hospitality and it would also make it more difficult in Australia to adjust to an ageing population because when the immigrants come in, they tend to be younger people.' Donald Trump has revealed his biggest problem with comedian Bill Maher ahead of their scheduled face-off at the White House. The president has agreed to meet with Maher in a summit brokered by their mutual friend, Kid Rock. But on his Truth Social page, he expressed concerns about the upcoming meeting. 'I got a call from a very good guy and friend of mine, Kid Rock, asking me whether or not it would be possible for me to meet, in the White House, with Bill Maher, a man who has been unjustifiably critical of anything or anyone Trump,' the president lamented Sunday night. 'I really didn't like the idea much, and don't like it much now, but thought it would be interesting,' he continued before revealing what he thought would be the biggest issue. 'The problem is, no matter how much he likes our Favorite President, ME, he will publicly proclaim what a terrible guy I am, etc., very much like the Democrats at my recent Address to the Joint Session of Congress, where I stated, correctly, that no matter what I said or did, they wouldn't stand, they wouldn't applaud, they wouldn't smile or laugh and certainly they wouldn't be in any way "nice."' Still, Trump suggested he is excited for the summit. 'Who knows, though, maybe I'll be proven wrong?' he wrote. 'In any event, I'm doing a favor for a friend. 'I look forward to meeting with Bill Maher, Kid Rock and, I believe, even the Legendary Dana White will be present,' Trump concluded. President Donald Trump has revealed his biggest problem with comedian Bill Maher ahead of their scheduled face-off at the White House The president has agreed to meet with the Real Time with Bill Maher in a summit brokered by their mutual friend, Kid Rock In a Truth Social post Sunday night, Trump expressed concerns about the upcoming summit 'It might be fun, or it might not, but you will be the first to know,' he vowed. The post came shortly after Kid Rock, whose real name is Bob Ritchie, announced he was going to take the Real Time with Bill Maher host for a visit to the White House on Glenn Beck's show. 'I'm actually going to try and unite this country and I'm starting at the end of the month, I'm taking Bill Maher to the White House for dinner,' he said, noting that Maher 'has done nothing but talk smack about the president since day one.' The 'Picture' crooner then went on to say he wanted to broker the meeting to send a message of 'unity' to Americans. Similarly, Maher told fellow comic Andrew Schultz in an episode of his podcast Club Random that debuted on Sunday that the meeting is happening. 'Kid Rock was here a couple of weeks ago, and he said, "I want you to meet Trump." He said, "I'm gonna take you to the White House." So now we're gonna do that,' Maher said. Schultz then asked Maher whether he worried about criticism from other liberals over the meeting. 'There will be lots of people on the left who will be like, "How dare you talk to this man." It's like "f**k you, I'm not playing this game that you mean girls play,"' Maher replied. Kid Rock said he wanted to broker the meeting to send a message of 'unity' to Americans '"Oh, you know what? You can't sit at my lunch table, because I'm just not talking to you." 'Not talking to you? You lost the election,' Maher said he would tell the liberal critics. 'Who the fuck do you think you have to talk to?' The Real Time host has long insulted Trump - even before his formal entry into politics, with a lawsuit launched by the president in 2013 over claims made by the comedian that Trump's father was an orangutan. He also recently ripped into a Trump supporter guest on his show as he pressed her to admit the first seven weeks of his second term have 'gone really badly.' The talk show host got into the fiery argument with journalist and author Batya Ungar-Sargon on his Friday night show, saying her fervent support for Trump 'makes no sense.' 'We don't have time to f*** around, I've got to go right at you,' Maher said to Ungar-Sargon as he began the panel segment of his show. 'When I first read you, you were a conservative Republican, but not crazy,' he said. 'Like I read you in Newsweek, Time magazine, and Im not saying youre crazy now, but you went from just a conservative leaning right to a Trump supporter, someplace I would never go.' The Real Time host has long insulted Trump - even before his formal entry into politics Ungar-Sargon responded, 'the night is young, Bill', to which he said: 'It is not ever going to be that young. 'And Im just wondering what you think now,' Maher continued. 'Were approaching two months in. 'I mean, you must have a feeling in your gut, look me in the eye and tell me you dont (think) that this is really going badly, and I shouldnt have thrown my lot in with this team.' Ungar-Sargon, the deputy opinion editor of Newsweek, responded to Maher's taunt that she felt 'the opposite.' 'I feel proud,' she said. 'I was never a Republican or a conservative. I was a leftist and I am still a leftist. Im just a MAGA leftist now.' 'That makes no sense,' Maher countered. But Maher has also been outraged by the 'woke' excesses of liberals. He even recently expressed support for Trump's decision to get rid of the Department of Education. Meanwhile, Trump hit out at Maher as a 'befuddled mess, sloppy and tired' as recently as late 2024. Elon Musk has directed his team at DOGE to investigate Congress members who have amassed vast fortunes. The world's richest man made the revelation at his town hall in Wisconsin on Sunday evening, where he also handed out two $1 million cash prizes and mocked a protester who tried to interrupt his speech. In a brutal six-word sledge to the protester, whose voice was nearly drowned out by the roaring crowd, Musk said: 'Say hi to George for me!' He was referring to liberal mega-donor George Soros. Musk said: 'It was inevitable that at least a few Soros operatives would be in the audience.' Musk, whose own $343 billion fortune is tied to Tesla and SpaceX, has long been vocal in his suspicions about ultra-wealthy career politicians. 'A lot of strangely wealthy members of Congress, where I just can't, I'm trying to connect the dots of how they became rich,' he told the crowd of about 2,000 people. 'How'd they get $20 million if they're earning $200,000 a year? Nobody can explain that. We're gonna try to figure it out, and certainly stop it from happening.' Members of Congress are entitled to buy and sell stocks and cryptocurrency, as long as they disclose all transactions. The world's richest man made the revelation at his town hall in Wisconsin on Sunday evening, where he also handed out two $1million cash prizes and mocked a protester who tried to interrupt his speech Musk recently set his sights on the upcoming Wisconsin state Supreme Court vote, backing Judge Brad Schimel in an effort to flip the panel from 4-3 Democrat to 4-3 Republican Still, Musk has specifically taken aim at Nancy Pelosi, Mitch McConnell, Chuck Schumer and Elizabeth Warren, whose cumulative net worth is said to total an estimated $439 million in a post shared to Musk's X account. According to public disclosures as recent as 2023, Schumer is realistically worth closer to $2.3 million, while Warren's tax returns suggest she is worth $9 million. DOGE has taken an axe to federal departments since Trump returned to the White House, sparking countless protests and legal challenges. But Musk recently set his sights on the upcoming Wisconsin state Supreme Court vote, backing Judge Brad Schimel in an effort to flip the panel from 4-3 Democrat to 4-3 Republican. 'I feel like this is one of those things that may not seem that it's going to affect the entire destiny of humanity, but I think it will,' Musk said. 'We've got to pull a rabbit out of the hat. We actually have to have a steady stream of rabbits out of the hat, like it's an arc of rabbits flying through the air, and then landing in a voting booth.' He, through his America PAC, has poured upwards of $20 million into this race, conscious that the state high court may take up redistricting congressional districts, which could ultimately affect which party controls the US House. 'They will try to stop all the government reforms we are getting done for you, the American people,' Musk warned. Elizabeth Warren (left) and Mitch McConnell (right) have been at the center of Musk's efforts to investigate Congress earnings Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer could also be under the DOGE investigation Musk, whose own $343 billion fortune is tied to Tesla and SpaceX , has long been vocal in his suspicions about ultra-wealthy career politicians And Musk reverted to a tried-and-tested method he used during the presidential race, offering cash prizes to citizens who registered to vote. In this case, doing so fell afoul of Wisconsin law, which states that people cannot offer 'anything of value' in exchange for encouraging a person to vote. Doing so is a felony offence. Musk quickly removed the initial post and revised his offer, instead offering two people $1 million each to be spokesmen for his petition. On Sunday night, the lucky winners were announced and walked up on stage to collect their checks. 'I should say that the reason for the checks is that it's really just to get attention,' Musk said. 'And somewhat inevitably, when I do these things, it causes the legacy media to kind of lose their minds.' Moments before the town hall was due to begin, the Wisconsin Supreme Court unanimously decided not to hear and 11th hour bid to block the payments. Two lower courts had already rejected the legal challenge by Democrat Josh Kaul. Musk reverted to a tried-and-tested method he used during the presidential race, offering cash prizes to citizens who registered to vote On Sunday night, the lucky winners were announced and walked up on stage to collect their checks Musk's attorneys argued in filings with the court that the billionaire was exercising his free speech rights with the giveaways and any attempt to restrict that would violate both the Wisconsin and U.S. constitutions. The payments are 'intended to generate a grassroots movement in opposition to activist judges, not to expressly advocate for or against any candidate,' Musk's attorneys argued in court filings. The room was packed full of about 2,000 people - all of whom had to sign a petition which declared they were opposed to 'activist judges' in order to receive an invitation. Signing the petition also entitled them to a $100 check. State Supreme Court judges in Wisconsin are elected on a 10-year term. During the presidential election campaign, Musk used a nearly identical tactic, offering to pay $1 million a day to voters in Wisconsin and six other battleground states who signed a petition supporting the First and Second amendments. A judge in Pennsylvania said prosecutors failed to show the effort was an illegal lottery and allowed it to continue through Election Day. Anthony Albanese's attempts to compare Opposition Leader Peter Dutton to the US President Donald Trump are a deliberate tactic designed to frighten voters out of switching support to the Coalition at the election. It is a clever move on a number of levels. Even if it went wrong for Albo, it could still go right. But there are risks too. The PM hasn't specifically drawn the comparison between Dutton and Trump, in part because doing so might elicit a nasty response from the US President if he realises he is being insulted. All Albo says when justifying his shady comparison - calling Dutton a copycat while denying he is using Trump as a political weapon - is that voters can make up their own minds about whether similarities exist. It is clever because Trump isn't overly popular in Australia, and his current tariffs agenda, alongside some of his massive cuts to government departments, are red flags that Dutton wouldn't necessarily want to be associated with. The size of Trump's public sector cuts dwarf any of Dutton's plans. Meanwhile, the tariffs are expected to hurt Australian exporters. Albo's comparison is designed to insulate the PM and Labor from the risk that Trump might come out at some time between now and polling day and endorse a vote for Dutton. Anything is possible - and Trump has proven himself willing to inject his thoughts into the domestic affairs of other nations. If Donald Trump made some supportive noises about Peter Dutton's campaign it could be a big blow for the Liberals, in a country that is not overly supportive of Trump To be fair, plenty of politicians around the world felt free to do the same when it came to Trump's bid to become President, on each occasion. Trump's intervention would not be welcomed be Team Dutton. If Trump did sit down and pen a furious 'Truth Social' post endorsing Dutton, Albo can point back to his recent comparisons. He could note that it isn't a surprising development because the pair have a lot in common. It would be another poke in the eye for the Opposition Leader, whose personal ratings according to the latest Newspoll have now dropped to what Bill Shorten's were ahead of the 2019 election. Why Trump wouldn't happen here While Trump was electorally successful in the US, and voter resentments towards government failures in Australia to some extent echo those in the US before its election, the differences in voting systems suggest a Trump style campaign here would never work. Compulsory voting, alongside compulsory preferencing, as we have federally, would likely have thwarted any attempt by a Trump-like figure to get elected. He preys on voters' disillusionment to lower voter turnout amongst his opponents and to maximise turnout amongst supporters. In Australia's compulsory system the masses in the middle decide elections, and they don't necessarily warm to Trump-style antics. Dutton would therefore do well to distance himself from such an approach. To be fair, Dutton is nothing like Trump, however much Albo implies otherwise. But political campaigns are rarely wedded to the truth, especially scare campaigns. Trump and Melania. Any intervention from the US President in the campaign would likely not be welcomed by Team Dutton Albanese has trickily drawn a comparison between Trump and Dutton - all while denying that was what he was doing This is a bipartisan problem. Like it or not Dutton will have to deal with nearly five more weeks of being compared to Trump. To turn that negative into a positive, he needs to point out that Albo characterising him in that way is an extension of Hillary Clinton's attempt to paint Trump supporters as deplorables. By likening Dutton to Trump and therefore implying he's a villain, Albo risks anyone sympathetic to Trump viewing him as out of touch. It is a somewhat long bow, to be sure, but it is all Dutton really has to throw Albo's insults back at him. The Clive factor The attempt to slur Dutton by comparing him to Trump won't go unnoticed by Clive Palmer, who actually is channeling his new party's campaign as one emulating Trump. Palmer will probably simply dismiss the comparison if for no other reason than he wants his party to be the only Trump-like player in the mix. However, there is also a chance that the use of the insult amplifies Palmer's criticisms of Team Albo, meaning that his enormous advertising spend might increasingly take aim at Albo and Labor. Clive Palmer's 'Trumpet of Patriots' is still a threat to Labor - given the mining billionaire could splurge millions on anti-Labor messaging While Palmer's new 'Trumpet of Patriots' party is unlikely to be electorally successfully or even competitive, that doesn't necessarily mean its ad campaign won't cut through when criticising other parties and politicians. If it focuses more on Labor than the Coalition, that just might give Dutton a small edge in a tight race. Meanwhile, the debate over whether or not Dutton does or doesn't mini-me Trump once again highlights that Australian federal elections have become presidential style campaigns focused on the major party leaders. This is the case even at this election which is likely to throw up a minority government with another record showing for the crossbench. Donald Trump leveled a sharp warning at Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, accusing him of trying to walk away from a critical minerals agreement and hinting at severe consequences if he does. 'Hes trying to back out of the rare earth deal,' Trump said speaking aboard Air Force One on Sunday evening, referring to negotiations over US access to critical minerals in Ukraine. 'And if he does that he's got some problems. Big, big problems.' The agreement would grant American companies expanded access to Ukraine's vast deposits of strategic minerals. Trump and Zelensky 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. Trump suggested on Sunday that Zelensky wanted to 'renegotiate the deal' to get better security guarantees. 'He wants to be a member of NATO,' Trump said. 'Well, he was never going to be a member of NATO. He understands that.' The remarks, delivered during a flight back to Washington following a weekend at Mar-a-Lago, signaled a dramatic turn in Trump's approach to the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Although Trump has long expressed admiration for Russian President Vladimir Putin, he showed irritation toward both leaders on Sunday - blasting Putin for stalling peace negotiations and Zelensky for what he described as bad-faith maneuvering. President Trump leveled a sharp warning at Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accusing him of trying to walk away from a critical minerals deal and hinting at severe consequences if he does. Pictured, Trump speaks to the press while on Air Force One Trump suggested on Sunday that Zelensky, pictured, wanted to 'renegotiate the deal' to get better security guarantees Although Trump has long expressed admiration for President Vladimir Putin, pictured, he appeared irritated by the Russian leader on Sunday The Biden administration had previously supported a framework deal to give Ukraine a pathway to NATO membership post-war, but Trump has repeatedly dismissed that notion, arguing that such promises escalate the conflict without offering meaningful protection to Kyiv. Trump's comments come as Ukraine faces intensified Russian bombardment and as ceasefire negotiations grow more tenuous. Over the weekend, Russian drones struck a military hospital and residential areas in Kharkiv, killing two and injuring dozens. Ukrainian officials have warned that Moscow is using ceasefire talks as a stalling tactic while preparing a new offensive. Despite expressing frustration with Putin's delays, Trump defended his long-standing rapport with the Russian leader. 'I don't think he's going to go back on his word,' Trump said. 'I've known him for a long time. We've always gotten along well.' But his clearest message on Sunday was directed at Kyiv with Trump making it clear that access to Ukraine's mineral wealth is a strategic imperative for the US and one he's unwilling to see slip away. 'He reneges on that deal,' Trump said of Zelensky, 'and we'll see just how tough things can get.' Trump and Zelensy 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 Earlier, Trump expressed his struggle to forge a truce with both the Russian and Ukrainian leaders to end the war. Although Trump insisted to reporters that 'we're making a lot of progress,' he acknowledged that 'there's 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. He said he was 'angry, p****ed off' that Putin questioned Zelensky's credibility. The Russian leader recently said that Zelensky 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. 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 The Republican president rarely criticizes Putin, and he's previously attacked Zelensky's credibility himself. Earlier this year Trump suggested that Ukraine caused the war that began with a Russian invasion three years ago, and he's insisted that Zelensky should hold elections even though it's illegal under Ukraine's 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. 'I don't think he's going to go back on his word,' he said. 'I've known him for a long time. We've always gotten along well.' Asked when he wanted Russia to agree to a ceasefire, Trump said there was a 'psychological deadline.' 'If I think they're tapping us along, I will not be happy about it,' he said. Anthony Albanese has made his first notable gaffe of the election campaign after he mistakenly said he would not rule out doing a deal with the Greens. The Prime Minister was asked at a press conference in WA on day four of the campaign whether he would countenance cutting a deal with the Greens. Mr Albanese, who said it would be a matter for the party's organisational wing, insisted that he would 'not govern in Coalition with anyone, including the Greens'. But then he appeared to catch himself in a double negative. 'If you ask me, "Do you rule out governing in coalition with the Greens?" The answer is no,' Mr Albanese told reporters. The Prime Minister quickly added: 'I don't negotiate with the Greens.' Mr Albanese has repeatedly insisted he would not govern in coalition with the Greens in the likely event of a hung parliament. But Dai Le, independent MP for the Western Sydney seat of Fowler, described Mr Albanese's comments as 'BS'. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (pictured) was asked at a press conference in WA on day four of the election campaign whether he countenance cutting a deal with the Greens Mr Albanese, who said it would be a matter for the party's organisational wing, insisted that he would 'not govern in Coalition with anyone, including the Greens'. But then he appeared to catch himself in a double negative 'I think its very disingenuous of the PM to say categorically that he is not doing deals with the Greens. Thats BS,' she told Daily Mail Australia. 'We know that they go knocking on Greens doors to do deals all the time in federal and state parliaments, to get legislations through. 'Lets start being honest in politics . No more political lies.' Ms Le is being courted by both Labor and the Coalition as she could would be a crossbench powerbroker in the event of a minority government. On Sunday, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton described Ms Le as 'amazing' at an Assyrian New Year festival in Fairfield. Ms Le, a former Liberal candidate before she stood as an Independent, defeated Labor's Kristina Keneally in the 2022 federal election in an astonishing 18-point swing. The tradie neighbour charged with the savage murder of a Melbourne mother-of-two hopes has told a court he was mentally impaired at the time. Milorad Zaric, 47, is accused of killing Vicky Van Aken, 51, in front of three teenagers including the alleged killer's own son, who suffered a hand injury, in November last year. Her body was found outside her Baywater home, in Melbourne's east. Zaric appeared in Melbourne Magistrates' Court on Monday where the court heard his legal team plans to run a mental impairment defence. The court heard Zaric would be assessed by forensic psychiatrist Dr Prashant Pandurangi. His lawyer Giselle Nehma told the court she was concerned about her client's fitness to face trial. The court heard Zaric will remain behind bars until that assessment takes place, with a return date scheduled for June 2. A Melbourne mother-of-two who was allegedly murdered by her tradie neighbour has been identified as Vicky Van Aken (pictured) Dressed in prison greens, Zaric remained silent as he tuned into the hearing via a videolink from jail. When he appeared in court in November, the court heard he carpenter had been withdrawing from drugs and alcohol at the time of the alleged attack. Magistrate Ross Betts rejected a request to extend the time for the delivery of a brief after Victoria Police said they needed extra weeks to go through the large amounts of evidence including forensic material, CCTV and drug analysis. Emergency services had been called to a property in Bayswater at 11.15am after reports that a woman had been stabbed. They arrived to find Ms Van Aken, 51, dead outside the home. 'It's not a family violence incident,' Detective Senior Sergeant Chris Ellway said at the time. 'It is a tragic set of circumstances. Another woman [allegedly] lost at the hands of a man is just horrible.' Shocked neighbours said Ms Van Aken and her family were new to the area, but they had been seen trick or treating for Halloween. Milorad Zaric, 47, has been charged with murdering his neighbour in November in Bayswater, 45km east of Melbourne's CBD. Pictured are police at the scene Vicky Van Aken (pictured) worked at Australia Post according to her LinkedIn profile Ms Van Aken, who worked at Australia Post according to her LinkedIn profile, often posted about her children on social media. Zaric was initially taken to hospital with a 'medical complaint'. 'We're not looking for anyone else. It is an isolated incident,' Detective Ellway said. Neighbour Glenn Rowe said he was 'a bit shaken up' by the incident. 'I've been here for 25 years and I've never seen anything like this,' he said. 'It's a bit surreal. It's terrible, I feel sorry for the kids and the mother.' Virginia Giuffre - who was sex trafficked by Jeffrey Epstein and claims she was sexually assaulted as a teenager by Prince Andrew - says she has been given just four days to live after a car crash. Ms Giuffre, nee Roberts, 41, shared a photograph of herself from her hospital bed, covered in bruises she had said she suffered in a smash with a speeding bus. Posting to Instagram overnight on Sunday, the sex abuse survivor says she has suffered kidney failure and begged to see her children 'one last time' before she dies. 'They've given me four days to live, transferring me to a specialist hospital in urology,' she captioned the photograph. 'This year has been the worst start to a new year, but I won't bore anyone with the details. 'But I think it's important to note that when a school bus driver comes at you driving 110kmh as we were slowing down for a turn, that no matter what your car is made of, it might as well be a tin can.' It is not known where or when the crash happened. Virginia Giuffre, 41, shared a photo of herself from her hospital bed covered in bruises she had apparently sustained from a speeding bus crash Virgina Giuffre, nee Roberts, claimed she was sexually assaulted as a teenager by Prince Andrew after being recruited by Ghislaine Maxwell Virginia Giuffre (pictured with her now-estranged husband Robert Giuffre) found herself at the centre of one of the world's biggest scandals after first launching legal action against billionaire Jeffrey Epstein in 2015 Even Ms Giuffre's father, Sky Roberts, was shocked by his daughter's late night Instagram post and also appeared to be in the dark about the incident. 'Virginia my daughter, I love you and praying you get the correct treatment to live a long and healthy life,' he wrote. 'If there is anything in the world, I can do to help you, please let me know. My spirit is with you now and holding your hand.' A spokesperson for Ms Giuffre said: 'Virginia has been in a serious accident and is receiving medical care in the hospital. She greatly appreciates the support and well wishes people are sending.' Ms Giuffre's last known address was with her estranged husband, Robert Giuffre, and their three children at a $1.9million beachfront property in Ocean Reef, North Perth in Western Australia. American-born Ms Giuffre met her Australian martial arts instructor husband when she was 19 during a trip to Thailand. The pair married 10 days later and later moved to Australia, eventually settling in West Australia in December 2020. Eight months later, she filed court paperwork suing Prince Andrew for sexual assault. Commenting on the post, her father Sky Roberts offered help from America Ms Roberts Giuffre's bizarre late night social media post quickly caused concern amongst her loved ones But the couple, who had been married for 22 years, recently parted ways, with Ms Giuffre claiming she is now estranged from their three teenage children. 'I'm ready to go, just not until I see my babies one last time,' she added in her Instagram post. 'But you know what they say about wishes. S*** in one hand and wish in the other and I guarantee it's still going to be s*** at the end of the day.' She ended the post, on an account which uses her maiden name, by saying goodbye and thanking her followers for being a 'great part' of her life. Ms Giuffre found herself at the centre of one of the world's biggest scandals when she launched legal action against billionaire Jeffrey Epstein in 2015. She alleged she was trafficked for sex at age 16 after his associate and ex-lover, Ghislaine Maxwell recruited her from her job as a locker room attendant at Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida. Ms Giuffre and Maxwell eventually reached an undisclosed settlement over a defamation case in 2017. Epstein took his own life in a jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges, while Maxwell was jailed for 20 years in 2022 for conspiring with him to sexually abuse minors. Epstein took his own life in a jail cell in 2019 while awaiting his sex trafficking trial. Due to the shocking nature of the claims, Prince Andrew lost military titles and royal patronages as well as the use of the title His Royal Highness. Ms Giuffre alleges Epstein forced her to have sex with Prince Andrew on at least three occasions when she was 17 and that she spent two days alone with the royal in New Mexico. In 2022 she received an out-of-court settlement reported to be worth millions from the Duke of York. The settlement accepted no liability and Andrew has always strongly rejected claims. But he agreed to pay the unspecified amount to Ms Giuffre and her charity for victims' rights. In the wake of the scandal, Andrew lost his military titles and royal patronages as well as the use of His Royal Highness title. Her father has previously spoken of his torment knowing he helped his daughter get a job alongside him at the Trump resort, before she was recruited as a masseuse by Maxwell. 'As a parent you kind of ask the question, "How do you not know your children are doing this?",' Mr Roberts said previously. 'But she's a very good actress. When she would come home from these trips she said nothing about it. It must have been killing her inside. 'But for powerful people like that, they can threaten a young girl like that.' French National Rally leader Marine Le Pen has been found guilty in an embezzlement case. The far-right politician and 24 other party officials were 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 bloc's regulations. Le Pen, 56, and other co-defendants denied wrongdoing during the nine-week trial that took place in late 2024, and she claims that was being put on trial as a 'political target'. The defendants also claimed the money had been used legitimately. The presidential hopeful has been found guilty of misappropriating around 397,000, in particular for the contracts of her bodyguard, Thierry Legier, and her former parliamentary attache and ex-sister-in-law, Catherine Griset. According to reports, Le Pen showed no immediate reaction as the chief judge read the verdict but shook her head in the Paris courtroom when she learnt that Griset was found guilty. Le Pen and her co-defendants face up to 10 years in prison. They can appeal, which would lead to another trial. In a hard-hitting judgement, magistrates accused Le Pen of undermining democracy. They wrote: Marine Le Pen has been at the heart of this illegal system since 2009. The events have seriously and lastingly undermined the rules of democracy. This is an enrichment of the party, a circumvention of the rules governing political party financing, and therefore a circumvention of democracy. Prosecutors wanted Le Pen to face an immediate five-year ban from public office - which would stop her from running to replace Emmanuel Macron in 2027 - if found guilty, as well as a five-year jail sentence. President of the parliamentary group of the French far-right Rassemblement National (RN) party, Marine Le Pen (L) arrives her lawyer Rodolphe Bosselut at the Paris courthouse for her trial verdict on suspicion of embezzlement of European public funds, in Paris, on March 31 Le Pen and her co-defendants face up to 10 years in prison. They can appeal, which would lead to another trial Le Pen has been found guilty of misappropriating around 397,000, in particular for the contracts of her bodyguard, Thierry Legier, and her former parliamentary attache and ex-sister-in-law, Catherine Griset Presiding judge, Benedicte de Perthuis said the ineligibility to run for public office should begin straightaway and not be suspended pending the appeal that Le Pen is expected to file if convicted. She has described such a scenario as 'political death'. However, judges could also decide not to impose automatic ineligibility with her conviction, which would leave her free to stand in 2027 during an appeals process. The sentences of Le Pen and eight other MEP's will be reported individually later today, French media have stated. The MEPs and 12 assistants found guilty signed 'fictitious contracts' and there was indeed a 'system' within the party, said Perthuis. 'It has been established that all these people were in fact working for the party, that their MEP had not entrusted them with any tasks' and that they 'moved from one MEP to another', she continued. 'It was not a question of pooling the work of the assistants but rather of pooling the MPs' envelopes. 'Let's be clear: no one is on trial for playing politics, that's not the point. The issue was whether or not the contracts were respected', Perthuis added. The reading of the verdict, which started shortly after 10:00am is expected to take up to two hours. Following the ban request against Le Pen running for president, political opponent Eric Coquerel, MP for radical Left party France Unbowed told French news channel LCI: 'I don't agree that things that should be decided by the ballot box are decided by the courts. 'It will only paint the National Rally as a victim'. Le Pen appeared to be anticipating a guilty verdict, telling the panel of three judges earlier: 'I feel we didn't succeed in convincing you.' During the nine-week trial that took place in late 2024, she argued that ineligibility 'would have the effect of depriving me of being a presidential candidate' and disenfranchise her supporters. '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,' she told the panel of three judges. Following her trial last year, current French Justice Minister Gerald Darmanin posted on X that it would be 'profoundly shocking' if Le Pen were to be barred from elections. She also denied she had committed 'the slightest irregularity'. The sentences of Le Pen and eight other MEP's will be reported individually later today, French media have stated Le Pen appeared to be anticipating a guilty verdict, telling the panel of three judges earlier: 'I feel we didn't succeed in convincing you' Prosecutors wanted Le Pen to face an immediate five-year ban from public office - which would stop her from running to replace Emmanuel Macron in 2027 - if found guilty, as well as a five-year jail sentence Jordan Bardella speaks during a conference on antisemitism in Jerusalem on March 27, 2025 Her young lieutenant and protege Jordan Bardella, 29, who is the RN party chief, was not among the accused in the trial and is also seen as a potential presidential contender should Marine Le Pen fall. In a documentary broadcast by BFMTV late on Sunday, Le Pen for the first time gave her blessing to Bardella becoming president. 'Of course he has the capacity to become president of the republic,' she 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. But it also stressed that it's 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 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. For over a decade, Le Pen has worked at making her party more mainstream, dulling its extremist edge to broaden its appeal to voters. After coming third in the 2012 presidential polls, Marine Le Pen made the run-off in 2017 and 2022 but was beaten by Emmanuel Macron on both occasions. Yet 2027 could be a different opportunity, with Macron not allowed to stand again. Jean-Marie Le Pen gestures during a political meeting at the Palais Omnisports de Paris Bercy (POPB), in Paris, on June 2, 1988 Macron (pictured March 27) will not be able to stand again in 2027, an opportunity for RN Le Pen's life has been marked by the legacy of her openly racist father, a veteran of the long war in Algeria that ultimately led to the former French colony's independence. Le Pen in 2011 took over leadership of the National Front (FN) from her father Jean-Marie, who co-founded France's main postwar far-right movement. Distancing it from the legacy of her father, who openly made anti-Semitic and racist statements, she renamed the party the National Rally (RN) and embarked on a policy she dubbed 'dediabolisation' ('de-demonisation'). The work bore fruit in the snap legislative polls last summer, with the RN emerging as the largest single party in the National Assembly, although without the outright majority it had targeted. That gave Le Pen unprecedented power over French politics, which she used by backing a no-confidence vote that toppled the government of prime minister Michel Barnier later in the year. Critics accuse the party of still being inherently racist, taking too long to distance itself from Russia and resorting to corrupt tactics to ease its strained finances, allegations Le Pen denies. But playing on people's day-to-day concerns about immigration and the cost of living, Le Pen is now seen as having her best chance to win the French presidency in 2027 after three unsuccessful attempts. The longstanding boss of Primark has resigned over an allegation of inappropriate behaviour towards a female colleague. Paul Marchant, 53, stepped down as chief executive of the global fashion giant with immediate effect following an investigation, its parent company, Associated British Foods (ABF), announced on Monday. It said the incident related to his behaviour towards (a woman) in a social environment. The married father-of-two, who joined Primark in 2009, co-operated with the investigation and acknowledged his error of judgement and accepts that his actions fell below the standards expected by ABF. The company added that Marchant had apologised to the individual, the ABF board as well as his Primark colleagues and others connected to the business. The group said it would continue to offer support to the individual who brought this behaviour to its attention. ABFs share price fell by nearly four per cent to 18.64 each after the announcement. Finance director Eoin Tonge will set in as interim CEO, with its group financial controller, Joana Edwards, becoming interim finance director. The discount fashion retailer said CEO Paul Marchant resigned 'with immediate effect' following an investigation into the incident The boss of Primark has quit over an 'error of judgement' in his behaviour towards a female colleague George Weston, Chief Executive of ABF, said: I am immensely disappointed. At ABF, we believe that high standards of integrity are essential. Acting responsibly is the only way to build and manage a business over the long term. Colleagues and others must be treated with respect and dignity. Our culture has to be, and is, bigger than any one individual. Marchant joined Primark as chief operating officer in 2009 and within a year became chief executive, taking over the reins form Primark founder Arthur Ryan. He previously worked for Debenhams, Topman, River Island and New Look. Under his leadership, Primark expanded rapidly, both in the UK and internationally, giving established retailers like Marks & Spencer a run for their money. However, Primarks fortunes were hit during the pandemic due to its lack of an online shopping option. While sales bounced back post-lockdown, in January, Primark reported its first sales dip since the pandemic, with a slowdown partly linked to financial pressures on lower-income households. The first Primark store opened in Dublin in 1969 with stores in Belfast and Cork following soon after, under the name Penneys. The first Primark store opened in Dublin in 1969 followed by stores in Belfast and Cork - all under the name Penneys By 1974, there were 24 Penneys shops including three in Scotland and two in England. Its first store in England opened in Derby in 1974. Back then, it sold budget clothing like tweed coats for 9.50. Last year, Primark marked 50 years on the British high street. Today, the fashion retailer has more than 450 stores across Britain, employs more than 30,000 colleagues and serves millions of customers every week. Germany will have to bring back conscription to be able to fend off an increasingly belligerent Russia, the country's top general has warned. Carsten Breuer, the German Chief of Defence, told Radio 4 that an additional 100,000 soldiers would be needed to ensure the country's ability to defend itself. Defence chiefs have been looking to increase the size of the armed forces since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, but have fallen short of even an initial target of 20,000. Warning that Russia could attack NATO territory in as little as four years, Mr Breuer is calling for five times that target - achievable, he says, only through conscription. 'We won't get this additional 100,000 soldiers without having one or the other, a model of conscription,' he told the programme. Asked whether 'some form' of conscription was 'necessary' for Germany to defend itself, he concurred: 'Absolutely. Absolutely.' Defence Minister Boris Pistorius had suggested in December that Germany could increase the size of its armed forces by 50,000 to 230,000 in total. But the sense of urgency has been ramped up by comments from the Trump administration telling Europe to do more for its own defence. Two weeks ago, lawmakers voted to allow a huge increase in defence and infrastructure spending, exempting spending in those areas from strict debt rules. But after years of cuts and spending lows, Germany finds itself in a desperate recruitment drive, struggling to attract new recruits. File photo shows German troops at the Julius Leber Barracks in Berlin, April 24, 2024 A Leopard 2 main battle tank of the German armed forces Bundeswehr shoots during a training exercise in Ostenholz, Germany on October 17, 2022 Carsten Breuer (L) addresses the media during a water crossing military exercise, March 18, 2024 'We are threatened by Russia,' Mr Breuer acknowledged in his comments to Radio 4. 'We are threatened by Putin, and we have to do whatever is needed to do to deter, and by building up a strong defence line then you deter best.' Asked how much time and money was needed to achieve Germany's defence goals, he said it was 'more about how much time Putin gives us to be prepared'. 'The sooner we are prepared, the better it is.' Mr Breuer acknowledged the Trump administration's pivot away from Europe, with senior officials urging NATO allies to do more to protect themselves. 'We have to step up,' Breuer said. 'We have to do more to really get to the point where we have enough money to defend ourselves and being able to deter any enemy who's trying to do [any] harm against NATO or Germany.' Efforts to strengthen the armed forces have been amplified greatly since the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. But Germany has struggled to meet its own targets on increasing troop numbers. In January, the army said it would establish a new division tasked exclusively with territorial defence from April. German soldiers take part in the international military exercise 'Grand Quadriga 2024' at a training range in Pabrade, in Vilnius, Lithuania on May 29, 2024 Smoke rises following a Russian kamikaze drone attacks on Dnipro, Ukraine on March 29, 2025 Russian army service members target a mortar during drills at the Kuzminsky range in the southern Rostov region, Russia January 21, 2022. Picture taken January 21, 2022 But this reorganisation would come from existing divisions, rather than drawing in new personnel. Military chiefs have said for some time that the figure of 181,000 active service personnel is some 20,000 soldiers short of where it needs to be. It is one of the largest such deficits in Europe, though Britain and France face similar problems. Russia has lost an estimated 250,000 soldiers since the beginning of the invasion, and a total 900,000 casualties, according to the Ministry of Defence. In November last year, Kyiv officials claimed that the Russian army had lost as many as 2,000 in just 24 hours. But in September, the Kremlin announced it would be increasing the size of its army to as many as 1.5 million active soldiers - eclipsing all other European armies. A decree sought to boost troop numbers by 180,000 - the size of the entire armed forces of Germany - to make Russia the second largest in the world by active troop size, after only China. Despite the trend, European business has responded quickly in the pivot towards defence, with Germany's ailing industrial output taking new form to ready for a potential war. Weapons manufacturer Rheinmetall's market capitalisation overtook Volkswagen Group earlier this month, growing to 55.7bn euros. People stand near a burnt car following a drone attack in Kharkiv on March 29, 2025 Putin has sought to increase the size of Russia's army to as many as 1.5 million active soldiers - eclipsing all other European armies (File photo, March 28, 2025) The company's value has more than tripled since Donald Trump came to power and told Europe in no uncertain terms to do more to ensure its own defence. 'An era of rearmament has begun in Europe that will demand a lot from all of us,' Rheinmetall CEO Armin Papperger said in a statement at the time. 'It also brings us at Rheinmetall growth prospects for the coming years that we have never experienced before.' 'It seems that MEGA (Make Europe Great Again) trades are now rapidly replacing MAGA trades, which have lost their appeal,' said Mark Dowding, CIO at RBC's BlueBay fixed income team, referring to U.S. President Donald Trump's Make America Great Again movement. The EU has also sought to mobilise up to 800 billion euros for rearmament as old certainties about U.S. reliability as a security partner were torn up. 'Europe faces a clear and present danger on a scale that none of us have seen in our adult lifetime,' European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen warned in a letter to the EU's 27 leaders, who on Tuesday unveiled an 800bn (669bn) plan to rearm Europe. 'Some of our fundamental assumptions are being undermined to their very core.' Tourists in Bangkok were left scrambling for their lives after swimming in a skyscraper's rooftop pool when a devastating earthquake hit. Shocking footage captured the moment two people were lounging in a pool under the sun before a powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck Thailand and Myanmar on Friday. One man standing by a deckchair looked on as the couple bobbed in the water, when suddenly the water started to lap against the glass barrier. As the water started violently thrashing, the three tourists started panicking as they tried to steady themselves against the shaking building. The couple in the pool can be seen getting thrown from their float into the water while the man on the deck sits down to grip onto the wooden chair. Waves of water spill out from the pool onto the decking area as the pool water crashes against the glass separating the tourists from the top of the city. The couple desperately climb out of the pool as the building shakes, attempting to run for shelter indoors as the decking becomes flooded. They manage to make a lucky escape, along with the other male tourist, as they run down the outdoor platform behind the deckchairs and back into the skyscraper. Shocking footage has emerged showing tourists scrambling from a skyscraper infinity pool as an earthquake hit in Thailand The three tourists were seen scrambling for safety as the water lapped around them The building violently shook, sending pool water sloshing against the glass barrier and onto the decking area One of the loungers was seen being thrown over the building edge A staff member can be seen at the end of the clip skidding along the soaked floor behind them, while the blue lounger the couple had been relaxing on just moments before is tossed over the side of the pool. The scale of the 7.7-magnitude earthquake which hit Myanmar and Thailand on Friday, and the destruction it has caused, has been laid bare in shocking footage of the disaster. Rescuers are still desperately searching for survivors more than three days after the devastating quake hit, with at least 1,700 people now confirmed dead in Myanmar after what was the largest earthquake to hit the war-ravaged country in more than a century, authorities say. Experts fear the exact death toll could take weeks to confirm, but the United States Geological Survey (USGS) estimated that the final death toll could surpass 10,000 people. Widespread damage has been reported after the earthquake caused bridges and buildings to come tumbling down in Bangkok, where authorities are trying to free dozens believed to be trapped under the rubble of an under-construction high-rise. At least 18 people were killed in the Thai capital when the quake hit. Of these, 11 died when an under-construction building collapsed in minutes, leaving dozens trapped under the rubble. Seven fatalities were reported elsewhere in the capital, authorities said. Search and rescue operations are ongoing in Bangkok for around 80 people who remain missing, as families gathered at the site of the collapsed high-rise for any news on their loved ones. 'I've called my husband who's trapped inside countless times. Probably 100 to 200 calls a day, but none of them go through,' Kannika Noommisri told Reuters. A high-rise apartment was shaken so violently that pool water cascaded down the side Rescuers work at the site of a collapsed building after the tremors of a strong earthquake that struck central Myanmar Water cascades down from a rooftop swimming pool in Bangkok as the quake struck Panicked residents stand outside an office building in Bangkok after the earthquake Multiple videos have circulated showing swimming pools atop high-rise buildings in Bangkok being emptied as the earthquake flung water out of them and down onto the street below. Millions of people rushed to get out of buildings as the quake hit the Thai capital, with dramatic footage showing panicked locals and tourists screaming as they pushed past each other to get out of a shopping centre in the city. The tremors forced the suspension of some metro and light rail services in the city, with video showing Bangkok's famous Skytrain being violently rocked as commuters grip on to each other. Defence Minister Phumtham Wechayachai offered no more details about the ongoing rescue efforts but first responders said that seven people had been rescued so far from outside the collapsed building. Terrifying footage shows the moment workers ran for their lives from the building site as the apartment block collapses behind them, sending a huge cloud of dust and debris into the air. The US Geological Survey and Germany's GFZ centre for geosciences said the quake struck at a shallow 6.2 miles below the surface, before a second quake, with a magnitude of 6.4, shook the area 12 minutes later. The force of the tremors caused a mosque in the city of Mandalay, close to the epicentre of the quake, to collapse, with at least ten worshippers said to have been killed. Officials at a major hospital in Myanmar's capital Naypyidaw have declared it a 'mass casualty area', with the death toll in the country expected to rise after buildings were toppled and debris was sent flying. In Naypyidaw, the countrys military capital 257km south of Mandalay, a three-story hospital partially collapsed, trapping patients beneath the rubble, Chinese state media said. Some 40 hours after the quake, Chinas rescue team rescued one person from the debris. Workers were seen walking away from the building slowly when it began to topple as the tremors shook the Thai capital Terrifying footage shows the moment an apartment block under construction collapsed in Bangkok Workers fled in terror as the building gave way after being shaken by the force of the quake People sprinted to get to safety as the earthquake struck Bangkok Large parts of neighbouring Thailand also felt the quake, with a state of emergency declared in the country's capital, which is home to more than 17 million people, many of whom live in high-rise apartments. Alarms went off in buildings as the earthquake hit around 1.30pm local time, and startled residents were evacuated down staircases of high-rise buildings and hotels in densely populated central Bangkok. Witnesses in Bangkok said people ran out onto the streets in panic, many of them hotel guests in bathrobes and swimming costumes as water cascaded down from an elevated pool at a luxury hotel. 'All of a sudden the whole building began to move, immediately there was screaming and a lot of panic,' said Fraser Morton, a tourist from Scotland, who was in one of Bangkok's many malls shopping for camera equipment. 'I just started walking calmly at first but then the building started really moving, yeah, a lot of screaming, a lot of panic, people running the wrong way down the escalators, lots of banging and crashing inside the mall.' Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra said on Friday she had interrupted an official visit to the southern island of Phuket to hold an 'urgent meeting' after the quake, according to a post on X. Tremors were also felt in China's southwest Yunnan province, according to Beijing's quake agency, which said the jolt measured 7.9 in magnitude. Earthquakes are relatively common in Myanmar, where six strong quakes of 7.0 magnitude or more struck between 1930 and 1956 near the Sagaing Fault, which runs north to south through the centre of the country, according to the USGS. A powerful 6.8-magnitude earthquake in the ancient capital Bagan in central Myanmar killed three people in 2016, also toppling spires and crumbling temple walls at the tourist destination. The breakneck pace of development in Myanmar's cities, combined with crumbling infrastructure and poor urban planning, has also made the country's most populous areas vulnerable to earthquakes and other disasters, experts say. The impoverished Southeast Asian nation has a strained medical system, especially in its rural states. Rescuers in the earthquake-devastated city of Mandalay in Myanmar have miraculously pulled a pregnant woman out of the rubble three days on from the disaster. The stunning rescue unfolded as day broke in Myanmar with weary emergency workers having toiled through the night to locate any signs of life within the remains of a collapsed building. Incredible footage captured the moment that rescuers, having clambered atop a mountain of debris to rig up an intricate pulley system, cleared the last pieces of rubble to reach the pregnant victim sealed inside the remains of an apartment. They carefully extracted her from the makeshift capsule, strapped her to a stretcher to stabilise her spine, and attached the stretcher to a rope. She was then painstakingly winched down to a second team of rescuers who stood two storeys below, arms outstretched to receive their charge some 60 hours after she was buried alive. The impressive feat came hours after another pregnant lady was rescued at a second location in Mandalay overnight. But the rescues came as officials in Myanmar and Thailand admitted they were now discovering more corpses than live victims among the debris, with residents complaining that the air was thick with 'the smell of death'. Bodies stuck beneath the remnants of Mandalay's buildings are rapidly decomposing as temperatures in Myanmar soar above 40 degrees Celsius. The official death toll in Myanmar rose is rapidly approaching 2,000 as more bodies were extracted from the piles of concrete and twisted metal, the country's military-led government said this morning. But the US Geological Survey's predictive modelling has estimated Myanmar's death toll could top 10,000 and economic losses could exceed the country's annual economic output. Rescuers in the earthquake-devastated city of Mandalay in Myanmar have miraculously pulled a pregnant woman out of the rubble Incredible footage captured the moment that rescuers, having clambered atop a mountain of debris to rig up an intricate pulley system, cleared the last pieces of rubble to reach the pregnant victim The woman was painstakingly winched down from atop the pile of debris The woman is received by a group of rescuers and rushed away as shocked onlookers snap photos Search and rescue operations continue in the wreckage of a collapsed building where dozens of people are still trapped, following earthquakes that struck neighbouring country Myanmar, in Bangkok Rescue workers carry the body of a victim at the site of an under-construction building collapse in Bangkok on March 31, 2025 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 The 7.7 magnitude earthquake hit at midday Friday, causing widespread damage, including in the capital Naypitaw and the second largest city, Mandalay. The true number of people killed and injured across the regions hit is thought to be possibly many times the official figures, but with telecommunication outages and extreme challenges to movement around the country, little is known about the damage in many areas. Government spokesman Major General Zaw Min Tun told state-run MRTV that another 3,400 had been injured and more than 300 were missing. The earthquake, centred near Mandalay - a city of some 1.5 million - brought down buildings and damaged other infrastructure like the city's airport. Large swathes of land in Myanmar have been damaged, while a skyscraper under construction in neighbouring Thailand collapsed. The 7.7 magnitude quake was felt as far as China and India. Now, three days on, rescuers and officials are working to extract survivors from the worst-hit areas while other teams head for remote rural towns and settlements that were completely cut off after communications went down. The earthquake struck at the time of Friday prayers for Myanmar's Muslim minority during the holy month of Ramadan, and some 700 worshippers were killed when mosques collapsed, said Tun Kyi, a member of the steering committee of the Spring Revolution Myanmar Muslim Network. It was not clear whether they were already included in the official count of casualties. Tun Kyi said some 60 mosques were damaged or destroyed when the earthquake struck, and videos posted on The Irrawaddy online news site showed several mosques toppling during the quake, and people fleeing from the areas. In Mandalay, 270 monks were taking a religious exam at the U Hla Thein monastery when the quake hit, crumpling the building. Rescue workers at the scene Monday said 70 were able to escape, but 50 have already been found dead and 150 are still unaccounted for. 'We're really not clear on the scale of the destruction at this stage,' said Lauren Ellery, deputy director of programs in Myanmar for the International Rescue Committee. There is a state of emergency in six regions, and Ellery said her teams on the ground and their local partners are currently assessing where needs are the greatest while providing emergency medical care, humanitarian supplies and other assistance. 'They were talking about a town near Mandalay where 80% of the buildings were reportedly collapsed, but it wasn't in the news because telecommunications have been slow,' she said. 'Even in areas where there isn't so much impact, our partner reported to us on Saturday that there were landslides stopping them from reaching one of the villages.' Rescuers search for survivors at the site of a collapsed building following an earthquake in Bangkok, Thailand, 31 March 2025 A Buddhist monk walks near a collapsed pagoda after an earthquake in Mandalay, central Myanmar, Sunday, March 30, 2025 Commuters drive past a building that collapsed, in the aftermath of a strong earthquake, in Mandalay, Myanmar, March 30, 202 Astonishing footage shows the moment a man 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 Rescuers work with a K9 dog at the site of a building that collapsed, following a strong earthquake, in Bangkok, Thailand A lack of heavy machinery has slowed search and rescue operations, forcing many to slowly search for survivors by hand in the relentless heat, with daily temperatures above 40 degrees C. International rescue teams from several countries are now on the scene, including from Russia, China, India and several Southeast Asian countries. 'It doesn't matter how long we work. The most important thing is that we can bring hope to the local people,' said Yue Xin, head of the first detachment of the China Search and Rescue Team, according to China's Xinhua news agency. On Sunday, an Indian team jackhammered through slabs of fallen concrete at one site in Mandalay, cutting rebar reinforcement with an angle grinder powered by a portable generator as they sought to reach lower levels. They could be seen bringing out one covered body and loading it into an ambulance. The European Union, Britain, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea and others have announced millions of dollars in aid, either directly or through local partners and international organizations. US President Donald Trump has said Washington would help, but so far there has been no known assistance to Myanmar. A small number of American military personnel were sent to assist in Bangkok, where the earthquake shook the Thai capital and killed at least 18 people, many at a construction site where a partially built high-rise collapsed. Emergency crews using cranes and dog sniffers on Monday continued a desperate search for people believed buried under the remnants of the partially-constructed skyscraper. Besides the 18 people already confirmed dead, another 33 have been reported injured and 78 remain missing in Thailand. Most are believed to be at the construction site near the popular Chatuchak market. Heavy equipment was shut down and authorities urged onlookers to be silent as they used machines to try and detect any signs of life from under the rubble. Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt told reporters at the scene that signs had been detected Sunday night, though experts could not determine whether it had been a machine error. Nonetheless, he said he still had hope survivors would be found. Sittipunt said rescuers are not giving up even as the conventional wisdom 72-hour window for finding people alive is almost closed, referencing survival stories from the brutal earthquakes in Turkey in 2023. 'The search will continue even after 72 hours because in Turkey, people who have been trapped for a week have survived. The search has not been cancelled,' Chadchart said. 'Even if one life is saved, it is worth all the effort,' he said. Relatives and friends of missing workers are comforted by mental health crisis officials during a search operation at the site of a building that collapsed following an earthquake in Bangkok, Thailand, 31 March 2025 Myanmar and Indian rescuers search for victims at the U Hla Thein Buddhist monastery after an earthquake in Mandalay, Myanmar, 31 March 2025 Thai rescue teams work to rescue and recover those trapped in the rubble of a collapsed construction building on March 31, 2025 in Bangkok 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 Myanmar, also known as Burma, 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-kilometre (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. Beyond the earthquake damage, 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. Government forces have lost control of much of Myanmar, and many places are dangerous or impossible for aid groups to reach. More than 3 million people have been displaced by the fighting and nearly 20 million are in need, according to the United Nations. Ellery, of the International Rescue Committee, noted that the area worst hit by the earthquake was already seriously damaged by flooding last year in which many lost homes, and is also where many of the country's internally displaced people have sought refuge. Since the earthquake, many people have been sleeping outside, either because their homes have been destroyed or because they are worried that the continuing aftershocks might bring them down. With the monsoon rains starting in May, finding people shelter was going to be a major challenge going ahead, she said. 'But right now we're focused on the immediate response,' she said. This is US comedian and former talk show host Rosie O'Donnell, pictured for the first time in the exclusive Dublin enclave where she has exiled herself to escape President Donald Trump's bile. Such is the simmering hatred between the pair that their 20-year-old feud even dominated the Irish Taoiseach Micheal Martin's visit to the Oval Office earlier this month. Mr Martin appeared not to know who Ms O'Donnell was when asked by right-wing Trump supporter Brian Glenn: 'Why in the world would you let Rosie O'Donnell move to Ireland?' while Trump interjected: 'You're better off not knowing.' But in contrast to the icy barbs from the White House, 63-year-old O 'Donnell has been warmly welcomed by her new neighbours in what is now something of a celebrity bolthole just 20 minutes from central Dublin. She was photographed with a visiting friend walking near the rented property worth in excess of 1.5 million on a steep hill with stunning views across Dublin Bay and the Wicklow Mountains beyond. Among those living nearby include U2's drummer Larry Mullen, Oscar-nominated actor Brendan Gleason and model and media personality Vogue Williams. Rosie, who moved to her ancestral homeland of Ireland in January, along with her non-binary child Clay, 12, becomes the latest celebrity to move in the wake of Trump being elected to a second term in office. Among the stars to recently jump ship are actor Richard Gere, who sold his $11 million Connecticut home in November and moved to Madrid, Spain, and long-time liberal Ellen DeGeneres, 67, and her wife Portia de Rossi, 52, opted to move to the Cotswolds in December. Rosie O'Donnell has been spotted in Dublin for the first time since she fled the United States for Ireland in January this year. She was photographed with a visiting friend walking near her new home Rosie - a diehard liberal actress and comedian who has a history of speaking out against Trump long before he became President said she couldn't face living in the US under Trump US President Donald Trump and Rosie have had a simmering feud for 20 years now Ms O'Donnell has lost no chance to let her fans on TikTok know that the move to Ireland was primarily to escape the hostility from Trump and his supporters, as well as bringing up her child in a kinder environment. The diehard liberal actress and comedian - who has a history of speaking out against Trump long before he became President said she couldn't face living in the US under Trump, so she packed her bags and moved on January 15 - just days before his inauguration. Ever since, she has been settling into the seaside community with autistic Clay and her autism assistance labrador, Kuma. Last week Rosie appeared on RTE's Late Late Show with Patrick Kielty and received warm applause from the audience when she praised Ireland for 'the sweetness of the people.' She said she appreciated the way no one made a big fuss over her celebrity and told how she'd been helped by an assistant in a Dublin store for two hours, who only at the end of their meeting whispered discreetly: 'I'm a huge fan'. Likewise, staff and locals at a nearby pub told MailOnline of O'Donnell's 'no nonsense' attitude when she and Clay drop in for a drink and buffalo wings. 'She's very happy to enjoy the craic, and speaks her mind,' said one member of staff, 'but she doesn't come in acting the big 'I am', just because she's famous. 'She's pretty much accepted as one of the locals now people are very welcoming here if you're willing to just be yourself and accept other people for themselves.' Rosie admitted in a recent TikTok video that she struggles not to refer to Clay as 'she', since her daughter changed her name from Dakota and changed her preferred pronouns. Ms O'Donnell has lost no chance to let her fans on TikTok know that the move to Ireland was primarily to escape the hostility from Trump and his supporters, as well as bringing up her child in a kinder environment Rosie only has one family member by her side - her non-binary 12-year-old child Dakota 'Clay' O'Donnell (L, pictured last Friday), whom she adopted during her two-year marriage to late ex-wife Michelle Rounds, which ended in 2015 Her mother has even tattooed the pronoun 'THEY' onto her forearm as a reminder. She told fans: 'I know that I say 'she' a lot with Clay, and I really need to use 'they, them' as the tattoo I got right there on my wrists says I'm trying my best.' Residents in the street said they hadn't seen much of their new neighbour since her arrival. 'It's a cliche, but people really do keep themselves to themselves in this road,' one told MailOnline. But by contrast, since arriving in her plush Irish refuge, O'Donnell has been far from anonymous on social media, launching frequent verbal social media salvos at her arch-enemy Trump on TikTok, as well as on Substack. She told her 2.5m followers that leaving the States was something she never expected to do, adding: 'I was never someone who thought I would move to another country, that's what I decided would be the best for myself and my 12-year-old child. And here we are.' She admitted she is already missing many elements of her life in America as she continued: 'You know, I'm happy. Clay is happy. I miss my other kids. I miss my friends. 'I miss many things about life there at home and I'm trying to find a home here in this beautiful country.' Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi at an event in Banbury, Oxfordshire, in 2023. The couple opted to move to the Cotswolds in December as they join the many celebs fleeing Trump's America Richard Gere and his wife Alejandra Silva in Granada, Spain, in February 2025. He moved to Madrid in November after he sold his $11million home in Connecticut She first hinted at her permanent move to Ireland early in March, when she posed for a selfie behind the wheel of a car and said she was struggling to drive on a different side of the road. 'Bought a little used car to tool around the countryside on the wrong side of the road,' she wrote on Instagram confessing: 'Hit the curb three times - thought I hit a cat!!! #newadventures.' Ms O'Donnell also has four other children, all adopted, but they are all past school age. She has become a big backer of the autistic community in Ireland and will participate in a Walk for Autism on April 5, organised by the nationwide charity AsIamIreland, founded by Adam Harris, brother of the Tanaiste, or deputy Prime Minister, Simon Harris. In December, O'Donnell took to TikTok to berate Time magazine for naming Donald Trump its man of the year for 2024. 'Man of the year, Donald Trump. Well, f**k you Time Magazine. F**k you, seriously,' O'Donnell said. 'How about most dangerous man of the year? How about most criminal man of the year? How about the worst president we've ever had of the year.' Despite her anger, she's lost none of her ability to raise a laugh and told the Late Late Show's audience about travelling by train from Dublin to Belfast to meet her cousins, Paula and Margaret. In a lengthy video posted to her TikTok account, O'Donnell said the Irish have been 'so welcoming' since she moved in the wake of the Los Angeles wildfires and Trump's inauguration Vogue Williams (pictured) is among Rosie's new neighbours in Ireland On the journey, she recounted meeting a group of well oiled women on a 40th birthday treat and volunteered to take their group photo. 'They said thanks, and I said 'you're welcome' and one turned round and said, 'There you go, I told you, Lisa, it's feckin' Rosie O'Donnell!'. 'But they were so loving and kind about it, and that's been the biggest thing in Ireland, the sweetness of the people, I have to say.' She also explained the long history of Trump's animus against her, saying: 'I told the truth about him on a programme where it was my job to talk about pop culture and politics. 'I mentioned his company bankruptcies, and I mentioned all of the sexual assault allegations, and I mentioned that he was not, in fact, the businessman everyone thinks he is. 'The Apprentice sold a bunch of lies to America for over 10 years, and half of America believed it. 'And so he was very angry to say the least, and he hasn't let it go. 'So he sort of uses me as a punchline whenever he feels the need.' Another plus for O'Donnell is that mixed martial arts fighter and Trump favourite - Conor McGregor, who recently lost a civil rape trial, has been prevented from developing a 'boutique' hotel. Last year a jury found that McGregor assaulted Nikita Hand in a Dublin hotel in December 2018. Trump with Irish MMA fighter Conor McGregor in the Oval Office earlier this month. Asked about McGregor and Trump's promotion of him as a future President of Ireland, O'Donnell said: 'It seems very strange to me that the President of the United States has so many friends who are sexual abusers' He has been ordered to pay her more than 248,000 (206,000) in damages. Asked about McGregor and Trump's bizarre promotion of him as a future President of Ireland, O'Donnell said: 'It seems very strange to me that the President of the United States has so many friends who are sexual abusers.' In a lengthy video posted to her TikTok account, O'Donnell said the Irish have been 'so welcoming' since she moved in the wake of the Los Angeles wildfires and Trump's inauguration. The former The View co-host lost her Malibu beachfront property in the California wildfires in January. She has confirmed she is 'in the process' of applying for Irish citizenship. 'I'm trying to find a home here in this beautiful country and when it is safe for all citizens to have equal rights there in America, that's when we will consider coming back,' she said. 'It's been heartbreaking to see what's happening politically and hard for me personally as well. The personal is political, as we all know. 'I just felt like we needed to take care of ourselves and make some hard decisions and follow through. And now as we're getting settled, I was ready to post this and to tell everybody what's been going on.' She concluded the video with a message for her American fans: 'Protect your sanity as much as you can, and try not to swim in the chaos if possible, but I know it's nearly impossible when you're there in the middle of it. 'I think about everyone every day and the United States of America. And I am hoping that we can turn things around, counting on you, all of you, to do what's right. And I think deep down inside, we all know what that is.' A business tycoon has won a legal gagging order against a social media influencer accused of threatening to share explicit photos from their affair in a 1million blackmail ploy. The wealthy mogul has taken action at London's Royal Courts of Justice to prevent her sharing online an explicit video as well as images from their time together. The injunction granted by the High Court in London stops her from sending nude photos of the unnamed man to his relatives or workmates. The influencer, a married woman, is said to have already sent some sex-related claims to people he worked with. Now it has been suggested she demanded 1million from him last New Year's Eve to prevent publication of a secretly recorded video in a bathroom as well as a nude photo. The tycoon is said in court papers to be chairman of a large group of firms trading globally. The fling allegedly began in 2022, with the man granting her cash and presents. He is described as a widowed Muslim man, referred to as 'HKZ' in legal documents, and who had not told his family about the woman. The gagging order injunction has been granted at the High Court in central London (pictured) The businessman was referred to as HKZ in court papers (stock image of a male silhouette) She threatened to inform his relatives about their relationship, following an argument in March 2024, unless he paid her 30,000, the High Court heard. Documents say he paid her 5,000 before she then shared online a photo showing him on her bed - which she then took down after receiving 10,000. But she then issued the 1million blackmail threat after the businessman, said to have homes in Britain and Asia, attempted to cool the relationship. He then went to the High Court and secured the injunction under an 'urgent procedure'. Granting it, Mr Justice Ritchie said: 'Once mud is thrown, there may remain some stain whatever the washing powder used to attempt to clean it off.' The full case is expected to be heard at a later date. A former immigration detainee released by the High Court who was shot after allegedly rushing at police with a metal pole will attempt to apply for his sixth bail. Masi Ayiik, 33, made his frustrations known after his matter was adjourned for the second day in a row when he faced Melbourne Magistrates Court on Monday seeking bail. The Doveton man was arrested and charged following an incident where police fired a shot at him during a welfare check on Saturday. Officers were called to a home in Melbourne's south-east twice within 90 minutes, police said. Authorities allege Ayiik, who had multiple outstanding warrants and was on five sets of bail, ran at officers in an aggressive manner while holding a metal pole. The officers deployed capsicum spray before one fired a gunshot which hit Ayiik in the upper body. He is facing four counts of resisting police and one count each of assaulting police, common assault and reckless conduct endangering serious injury. In court, Ayiik expressed his displeasure about the delays after it was adjourned to Tuesday. Masi Ayiik (pictured during his arrest on Saturday) will spend a third night in custody after his matter was adjourned by the court for a second day in a row The former immigration detainee allegedly charged at police with a metal pole, forcing an officer to fire a shot "We just changed the courtroom before for what? Change the courtroom for tomorrow? F***ing hell man," he said on Monday. Ayiik had been facing deportation for serious offences. He was one of 224 immigration detainees released after the High Court's 2023 landmark ruling which said detainees couldn't be held indefinitely if there was no real prospect of their removal from Australia in the reasonably foreseeable future. Opposition home affairs spokesman James Paterson placed the blame for Ayiik's alleged offending at the feet of the government, accusing it of inaction. But Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said his government has introduced laws to ensure community safety and the High Court decision could not be overridden by politicians. Ayiik will return to the court on Tuesday, where he is expected to apply for bail. Victoria Police's Professional Standards Command is overseeing an investigation into the shooting. A toddler who suffered horrific burns has a 'long road to recovery' ahead of him after he accidentally fell into a campfire. Two-year-old Apollo Greenhalgh was running alongside the remains of a fire loaded with hot coals at a campsite in Warwick in south-east Queensland on March 23 when he lost his balance. He had tried to save his fall by extending his arms into the fire, which caused severe burns to his hands, palms and fingers. Apollo was rushed to Warwick Hospital before being airlifted to the Royal Brisbane Hospital, where he remains in the burns unit after undergoing multiple surgeries. It is unknown when the toddler will be able return home as he requires more surgery due to the extreme nature of his injuries. The family has been torn apart with Apollo's mum Rachel forced to return to Warwick with his baby brother Leonardo to return to work while her husband remains in Brisbane. Ms Greenhalgh's aunt Jane Anderssen explained that Apollo was supervised at the time but the accident happened so fast that there was nothing his parents could do to stop it. 'Apollo ran into the remains of a campfire, lost his balance and put his hands down to save his fall as toddlers do,' Ms Anderssen wrote. Apollo Greenhalgh is undergoing treatment at the Royal Brisbane Hospital after he accidentally fell into a bonfire at a campsite in Warwick, in rural Queensland, on March 23 'He wasn't unsupervised, he was just too quick. She started a fundraiser to help her niece keep Ms Greenhalgh had only just returned to work following the birth of Apollo's six-month-old brother. 'This is absolutely heart-wrenching for Rachel and their little family but it is currently the only option available to them,' Ms Anderssen added. 'They still have rent to pay and food to buy, and Rach has only recently gone back to work after maternity leave and doesn't have any leave available to use.' It's currently unknown how much longer Apollo will remain in hospital. Apollo's parents have had to return to work while he is left alone in hospital and a fundraiser has been launched to help them take time off so they can stay with him The family live 160km from the hospital and the long commute has taken a toll on Apollo's parents. Ms Anderssen was hopeful that Apollo could return to his normal life soon. 'Who knows what medical bills lie ahead,' she said. The United States would likely not help Europe in the event of a Russian attack, a leaked Pentagon document has revealed. Secret guidance from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth acknowledged that the Trump administration is unlikely to provide substantial, if any, support to Europe in case of a Russian advance, according to the Washington Post. The 'Interim National Defense Strategic Guidance' document says that the U.S. would support Europe against Russia with its huge nuclear deterrence capabilities, but that allies could only count on troops not already required for homeland defence or deterring China. The admission echoes recent calls from Hegseth and senior administration officials for European allies to do more to invest in their own defence and reduce reliance on the United States. The guidance document argues the importance of recalibrating military focus on China, fearing a potential clash in the Pacific over Taiwan, which is seen as being both geostrategically important and crucial for its niche manufacturing output. Trump's predecessor, Joe Biden, had also committed to defending Taiwan in the event of a Chinese invasion - but it was something Trump signalled he would not do as recently as last summer, arguing the island 'doesn't give us anything'. The stark admission on Europe comes in spite of existing NATO commitments binding members to help each other in their time of need - only previously invoked by the U.S. in the wake of the 9/11 attacks and met by a large European response. A British soldier reloads their firearm on February 17, 2025 in Smardan, Romania A Swedish artillery team fires a projectile from an Archer self-propelled Howitzer during the NATO "Exercise Lightning Strike" on November 20, 2024 near Heinu, Finland Vladimir Putin during a press conference with journalists in Moscow, March 18 2024 British Marines run towards a Taliban position near Kajaki, Afghanistan on March 18, 2007. Allies rallied to help the U.S. following the 9/11 terrorist attacks in 2001 The document seen by the Washington Post outlines the Trump administration's reorientation towards China and away from 'other theatres', the outlet reports. The Washington Post said the memo bore 'the fingerprints' of the Heritage Foundation, including 'some passages that are nearly word-for-word duplications of text published by the think tank last year'. Trump disavowed Heritage's Project 2025 manifesto during his campaign, but the outlet judged there were striking similarities between the guidance and a 2024 report by the foundation. The document consolidates recent comments from administration officials that the U.S. would pressure allies in Europe, the Middle East and East Asia to do more heavy-lifting on defence spending, reducing reliance on the United States. As such, America's allies around the world will be encouraged to lead in deterring aggression from Russia, North Korea and Iran. 'China is the Department's sole pacing threat, and denial of a Chinese seizure of Taiwan while simultaneously defending the U.S. homeland is the Department's sole pacing scenario,' Hegseth wrote. The Pentagon is also expected to deprioritise taking on militant groups in the Middle East and Africa who are 'regionally destabilising' but not carrying out international attacks. The message sets a worrying tone, with the U.S. central in upholding the security of maritime trade and working with international partners to help defuse regional conflicts. Compiling humanitarian consequences, the U.S. and Britain have recently committed to reducing foreign aid. Concerns continue to be aired that concessions to Russia could set a dangerous precedent to bad faith actors hoping to launch wars of aggression with relative impunity. Your browser does not support iframes. U.S. marines participate in an amphibious assault exercise in Thailand, March 3, 2025 Smoke rises following a Russian kamikaze drone attacks on Dnipro, Ukraine on March 29, 2025 Pete Hegseth, US Secretary of Defense, speaks to his Japanese equivalent, Gen Nakatani, in Tokyo on March 30 A conciliatory deal in Ukraine could also give Chinese premier Xi Jinping the impression he can take Taiwan 'and all that he has to do is suffer the wrath of the international community for three years before he'd be allowed to come back into the fold again,' Philip Ingram MBE, retired British Army colonel and military intelligence specialist, told MailOnline last month. The commitment to the defence of Taiwan will be welcomed by Taipei after a shaky start with the Trump administration. President Lai Ching-te, in line with many European leaders, said last week that Taiwan would increase defence spending to more than 3 per cent of its GDP, up from around 2.5 per cent. This falls short of the 10 per cent demanded by the United States. Ukraine, three years into the Russian invasion, plans to spend 26 per cent of GDP on defence this year, officials said. European officials warn that they are currently underprepared to face off a Russian invasion were Putin to carry on past Ukraine. Speaking to BBC's Radio 4, Germany's top general warned that Putin could attack NATO territory in as little as four years. Carsten Breuer said an additional 100,000 soldiers would be needed to ensure the country's ability to defend itself. Russia has lost an estimated 250,000 soldiers since the beginning of the invasion, and a total 900,000 casualties, according to the Ministry of Defence. But in September, the Kremlin announced it would be increasing the size of its army to as many as 1.5 million active soldiers - eclipsing all other European armies. Your browser does not support iframes. British Army soldiers from Badger Squadron, The Royal Tank Regiment part of the 12th Armoured Brigade Combat Team ride Challenger 2 tanks during Exercise Immediate Response as one component of NATO's Exercise Steadfast Defender 2024, in Poland May 15, 2024 President Donald Trump takes questions in the Oval Office on March 28, 2025 File photo shows German troops at the Julius Leber Barracks in Berlin, April 24, 2024 A decree sought to boost troop numbers by 180,000 - the size of the entire armed forces of Germany - to make Russia the second largest in the world by active troop size, after only China. Russia also has no need to resort to conscription, leaning on its extensive veteran community and swell of volunteers to fight in Ukraine. More than a million people reach military age in Russia every year, and all men aged 18-30 are liable to perform one year of national service. This means that Russia would have huge numbers of military-trained and able-bodied fighters in reserve, should it ever come to blows with NATO on the battlefield. Germany and Poland are expected to be among the countries leading Europe's efforts to beef up continental security and are tasked by NATO with providing the bulk of ground forces that would act as first responders to any Russian attack on the alliance's eastern flank. Poland is already far ahead of its European counterparts in terms of defence spending, and Polish President Andrzej Duda announced on Wednesday that his country plans to further increase expenditure up to 4.7% of GDP on defence this year. Last year, German media revealed the nation will transform into a NATO staging ground if the conflict to the East should escalate. According to a leaked 1,000-page document entitled 'Operationsplan Deutschland', Germany would reportedly host hundreds of thousands of troops from NATO countries and serve as a logistics hub for sending huge quantities of military equipment, food and medicine toward the front. A report by Der Spiegel in the summer said as many as 800,000 soldiers from the security bloc could be hosted by Germany as they transit to posts further East. Illegal immigration must be treated like terrorism on a global scale if it to be cut, Sir Keir Starmer warned today. The Labour PM used an international summit in London to demand greater action against criminal gangs profiting from trafficking large numbers of people, including across the Channel. The PM, who is under pressure over record numbers making the journey from the continent so far this year, said the scale of the problem 'makes me angry, frankly, because it's unfair on ordinary working people who pay the price'. He also took a swipe at the Tories, branding the Rwanda deportation scheme a 'gimmick' that would have taken just 300 people out of the UK. He revealed 24,000 foreign nationals have been deported since he became PM - the most for eight years. 'We've got to bring to bear all the powers we have at our disposal in much the same way that we do against terrorism,' he said. 'I simply don't believe that organised immigration crime cannot be tackled. 'So we've got to combine our resources, share intelligence and tactics and tackle the problem upstream at every step of the smuggling journey, from North Africa and the Middle East to the high streets of our biggest cities.' Countries including Albania, Vietnam and Iraq from where migrants have travelled the UK will join the talks, which are the first of their kind, alongside representatives from France, the US and China. The Labour PM used an international summit in London to demand greater action against criminal gangs bringing large numbers of people across the Channel. The PM, who is under pressure over record numbers making the journey from the continent so far this year, said the scale of the problem ' makes me angry, frankly, because it's unfair on ordinary working people who pay the price'. Countries including Albania, Vietnam and Iraq from where migrants have travelled the UK will join the talks, which are the first of their kind, alongside representatives from France, the US and China. The PM called on the 40 countries that are gathering in London on Monday and Tuesday to work together to stop people-smuggling gangs in the same way they would terrorists. 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. 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. Developments aimed at tackling illegal migration ahead of the gathering include: The Government will expand right-to-work checks to cover gig economy workers by making amendments to the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill. Businesses that do not carry out the checks could be fined up to 60,000, or face closures, director disqualifications, and even up to five years in prison. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper signalled she wanted to crack down on the number of people who have arrived in the UK on a student or work visa and have since claimed asylum. The Government is reviewing how Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), the right to family life, applies to migration cases, Ms Cooper said. Several deportation attempts have been halted by how the ECHR clause has been interpreted in UK law. Ministers have looked to a tougher approach in Denmark for inspiration. Some 1 million in UK funding will go towards strengthened efforts to root out people-smuggling kingpins in Iraq's Kurdistan region, the Home Office announced. The UK has launched an advertising campaign on Vietnamese social media and messenger app Zalo, warning people about trusting people-smuggling gangs in an effort to reduce irregular migration from the south-east Asian country. Opening the summit at London's Lancaster House, the Prime Minister said: 'Illegal migration is a massive driver of global insecurity. It undermines our ability to control who comes here, and that makes people angry. 'It makes me angry, frankly, because it's unfair on ordinary working people who pay the price from the cost of hotels, to our public services struggling under the strain. 'And it's unfair on the illegal migrants themselves, because these are vulnerable people being ruthlessly exploited by vile gangs.' The 'copycat' factor is one of the reasons for the growing popularity of Turkish-style barber shops among drug gangs needing to launder money, an expert said today amid a new police crackdown. The National Crime Agency (NCA) has overseen dozens of raids on the stores over the past month, making a series of arrests and seizing tens of thousands of pounds in the process. Officials said the operation had been prompted by an increase in intelligence reports linking barber shops to money laundering and other criminality. More than 750 opened in the UK last year. Drugs expert Gary Carroll, who spent more than 10 years in law enforcement and now gives court testimony on street drug gangs, said there was a 'copycat' aspect to the exploitation of the Turkish barber format by criminals. 'It's a well trodden path that one crime group will just copy another when they see something is working,' he told MailOnline. 'And while we are increasingly moving away from cash as a society, barbers are still predominantly cash based - something they can get away with because the fees they charge are relatively low. 'Then there's the added attraction of this being an unregulated market that isn't monitored by any government body. So there's a lack of enforcement, without the one-off hygiene checks you'd get with food businesses.' Shops marketing themselves as 'Turkish' barbers are often run by other nationalities, including Kurds and Albanians. Tarek Namouz, proprietor of Boss Crew Barbers in West London (pictured), was sentenced to 12 years last year for sending 11,000 to ISIS supporters in Syria Namouz boasted to a prison visitor while on remand awaiting trial that he had managed to send 25,000 to the ISIS supporters that he was financing Your browser does not support iframes. Even so, Mr Carroll drew a link between the rise of Turkish barber shops and the continuing popularity of heroin trafficked by gangs from the country and elsewhere in Asia. 'When we look at money laundering there's the well established affiliation with Turkish heroin, and the demand for that is certainly not decreasing in the UK,' he said. Officers at the NCA have joined forces with local police forces, immigration enforcement officers and HM Revenue and Customs inspectors to carry out raids in towns and cities across Britain. One method has seen tax inspectors monitoring the number of chairs in use at a salon to work out if the profits declared by the business correspond 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. Traditional Turkish-style barbers are known for stylish haircuts - usually completed with a hot towel and cut-throat razor. But the NCA probe points to growing concerns that criminals are infiltrating the trade. Your browser does not support iframes. Barber Hewa Rahimpur, 30, was the lynchpin of a vast cross-Channel people smuggling operation He is seen here being arrested by NCA officers in East London. He was later extradited to Belgium to face trial '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,' a spokesman said. '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, with the option to instead operate as a sole trader. Some shops also let individual chairs to hairdressers. The arrest of people smuggler Hewa Rahimpur in 2022 was one of the early signs of the dark reality behind the barber shop boom. Rahimpur 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. Your browser does not support iframes. Albanian Gul Wali Jabarkhel, 33, used his barber shop in Colindale, North London, as a base for a smuggling racket The 30-year-old, 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 13million 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. In a second high-profile trial, 33-year-old Afghani Gul Wali Jabarkhel 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. 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'. Some salons have also been linked to terrorism, with Tarek Namouz, proprietor of West London hairdresser Boss Crew Barbers, 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 send 25,000 to the ISIS supporters that he was financing. Angry: Reza Jafari, owns a legitimate Turkish barber shop in Kent and has become fed up with allegations of crime Pictured is the street in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, where Mr Jafari's shop is located However, growing allegations of criminality relating to barber shops has prompted a backlash among legitimate traders. Last year, Reeza Jafari told MailOnline that he has had enough of those who harbour suspicions about shops like his. The 31-year-old, who runs Pasha in Tunbridge Wells, said: 'People assume that if you own a Turkish barbers then 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. '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.' The career of a consultant dentist is in tatters after he was caught secretly recording nurses at his hospital stripping to their underwear in their private changing room, a court heard. Depraved Dr Amre Maglad, 51, a highly-qualified specialist in restorative dentistry, endodontics and prosthodontics, deliberately placed his rucksack and iPhone in the corner of the room at Queen Mary's Hospital, Sidcup. The nurses were horrified to discover the phone was filming them and two months later two of them have not returned to the hospital and all three feel 'degraded and violated', leaving some experiencing 'nightmares'. Sudan-born Dr Maglad, of Kenton Bank Foot, in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, pleaded guilty to four counts of observing a person doing a private act for the purpose of obtaining sexual gratification on January 28 and 29. Four female nurses were recorded - one in her underwear is still unidentified - and the remaining three all attended the sentencing hearing at Bromley Magistrates' Court on Friday. Dr Maglad, who spent two nights in custody after his arrest on the day his secret recording was discovered, remained doubled-over in the dock - out of sight of the three nurses - throughout the 90-minute hearing. Described as an 'elite physician', Maglad is a master of clinical dentistry and a member of Edinburgh's Royal College of Surgeons and Glasgow's Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons and has worked in hospitals and clinics all over the UK. Prosecutor Jessica Kang told court: 'Three nurses were in the female changing room and one of them noticed a rucksack in the corner and in the mesh pocket was an iPhone. Depraved dentist Dr Amre Maglad (pictured), 51, secretly filmed nurses in their private changing room A court heard nurses at Queen Mary's hospital in Sidcup had been filmed by Maglad changing 'The phone was pointing towards the female changing area and the nurse realised she had seen the same rucksack placed in the same position a few weeks earlier. 'She looked closer and saw that the phone was recording and informed her manager that day.' The rucksack was identified as belonging to Dr Maglad and he was arrested the same day on January 29. 'Police saw that all three nurse victims had been recorded on the phone, plus a recording of a fourth unidentified nurse in her underwear.' The consultant dentist initially tried to talk his way out of trouble. 'He suggested there was a hole in his rucksack and the whole incident was a mistake. He refused to provide his PIN to officers so they could unlock the phone. 'He said he would have deleted any recordings without looking at them,' added Ms Kang. The first victim stepped into the witness box directly opposite shame-faced Dr Maglad and told the magistrates: 'I have lost faith in the men around me and feel unsafe.' Sudan-born Dr Maglad, of Kenton Bank Foot, in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, pleaded guilty to four counts of observing a person doing a private act for the purpose of obtaining sexual gratification on January 28 and 29 (he is pictured outside court) She told the court she has been negatively effected 'emotionally and psychologically' and is now reluctant to leave her home and struggles to sleep at night. 'He should not have access to images of my body and I fear there are other victims,' she said. 'He has destroyed my confidence and stripped me of my trust. 'We all feel violated and are sickened these videos were viewed for sexual gratification. He thought he had the right to abuse his power. 'He is haunting me in my nightmares,' added the married nurse, who has not returned to Queen Mary's. 'I feel violated and dirty and do not want to be touched or looked at.' The second nurse, who identified the rucksack, said in her victim impact statement she still feels guilty about failing to raise the alarm a few weeks earlier. 'I felt violated at my place at work, where I should have felt safe,' she said, adding she is still stressed and anxious. 'Dr Maglad was trusted in his powerful position as an elite physician.' The third victim wrote: 'It make me feel sick that he has videos of my body,' adding that she has 'lost all faith' in male colleagues. Nurses who were filmed by Maglad (pictured) felt 'disgusted and violated' by his actions She said that she is 'tearful and completely numb, feels constantly sick, disgusted and violated,' and has not returned to the hospital. Dr Maglad's lawyer John Howey told the court the iPhone's password had been forwarded to the police and the dentist's iCloud account could be made available for inspection. On February 24 the General Dental Council (GDC) suspended him for 18 months - the first step in a process that will likely result in the consultant being struck off. 'He has got no previous convictions, he is remorseful, is of positive character and has a background of exemplary conduct,' said the lawyer. 'He has had a very stressful two-month wait since pleading guilty, waiting for the probations's pre-sentence report to be prepared. 'He has taken steps to address some of the issues he is facing and has self-referred himself and paid a not insignificant amount of money to go on that course. 'There is a history of depression and he had medical treatment in relation to that some years ago.' Dr Maglad originally studied in Khartoum and qualified as a dentist in 1996. 'We all know how valued this profession is in this country and that there is a shortage of dentists,' Mr Howey added. Pictured is lawyer John Howe, who was representing disgraced dentist Dr Maglad 'His employment was terminated immediately and the GDC are aware and he is currently suspended. 'He will be struck-off. There is no shadow of doubt about that as the GDC are one of the toughest professional bodies. 'Even if he is allowed to stay on the register he will not get a new job with this conviction. 'He was working three jobs. Queen Mary's, King's College Hospital and another job. These were multiple roles at different sites with management responsibilities. 'Professional colleagues raised concerns with Dr Maglad about his welfare, but he did not appreciate the state he was in and it was only when he was arrested and everything came crashing down that he appreciated the state he was in. 'He found himself isolated from his family home in Newcastle while he was in London by himself,' explained Mr Howey. 'Consultancy roles are few and far between so he came to London for a number of years, living by himself and working many, many hours and going home only once a month. 'He was under huge amounts of stress, added to by the news relatives in Sudan had to flee the troubled country and are now in Egypt. 'This all created a perfect storm. He was isolated and there was a complete lack of intimacy with his wife and he reverted to pornography. 'He has told me he does not think the pre-sentence report shows how remorseful he is.' Dr Maglad was sentenced to six months imprisonment, suspended for 18 months; must complete 40 days of rehabilitation and pay each of the three nurses 500 compensation. Dr Maglad was sentenced to six months imprisonment, suspended for 18 months, during a hearing at Bromley Magistrates' Court (pictured) He must also sign the sex offenders' register for seven years and was ordered to pay 85 costs and a 154 victim surcharge. Bench chairwoman Mrs H East told Dr Maglad: 'Many people experience periods of stress, but they do not seek to record nurses taking their clothes off. 'Hospital hygiene means they undress and change into scrubs and you planned to film these female colleagues and now they do not feel safe working with male staff. 'You have destroyed their trust and they are having counselling for your activity and this will probably stay with them for a long time, perhaps years. 'You planned this and deliberately targeted them changing in their safe space and this was not a one-off offence.' Before leaving the dock Dr Maglad announced: 'I would like to say how sorry I am for all this.' A US armoured vehicle that went missing in Lithuania has been hauled out of a swamp after a six-day search, but officials say there is still no information about the fate of the four American soldiers who were on board. The soldiers and their vehicle went missing early last Tuesday morning at the Pabrade training ground near the border with Belarus, the US Army said. A large search and rescue operation was launched after their disappearance was reported. Their vehicle was located Wednesday at more than 5 metres depth. Rescuers have now recovered the armoured vehicle from the peat bog where it sunk last week, Lithuanian officials confirmed today. 'The armoured vehicle was pulled ashore at 4.40am, the towing operation is complete, Lithuanian Military Police and US investigators continue their work,' Defense Minister Dovile Sakaliene said Monday morning in a post on Facebook. 'Until the investigators have more details, we need to stay calm and focused, and keep in mind the sensitivity of the situation and the concerns of the soldiers' families.' Sakaliene made clear to reporters that the first information about fate of the soldiers will be delivered by the Army. The soldiers, whose identities have not been released, were all from 1st Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division. They were conducting tactical training when they went missing. A US armoured vehicle that went missing in Lithuania has been hauled out of a swamp after a six-day search, officials said today. Pictured are emergency services, US Army and Lithuanian Army soldiers building a makeshift dam from HESCO barrier bags during recovery efforts near Pabadre, Lithuania on Thursday, March 27, 2025 Despite the discovery of the vehicle, officials say there is still no information about the fate of the four American soldiers who were on board. Pictured are soldiers and emergency crews on Thursday, March 27, 2025 discussing their plan to recover the missing US Army M88 Hercules from the swamp near Pabadre where it was submerged under more than 5 meters of water A large search and rescue operation was launched after the four soldiers went missing early on Tuesday during unit training at the massive General Silvestras Zukauskas training ground. Pictured are rescue operations underway at the training ground on Friday, March 28, 2025 The four soldiers went missing early on Tuesday when they were on a mission to recover another Army vehicle during unit training at the massive General Silvestras Zukauskas training ground. Hundreds of Lithuanian and American soldiers and rescuers took part in the search through the thick forests and swampy terrain around Pabrade. The M88 Hercules armoured vehicle was discovered on Wednesday submerged in 4.5 meters (15 feet) of water. A large-scale recovery operation got underway but 'water, thick mud and soft ground around the site have complicated recovery efforts and have required specialised equipment to drain water from the side and stabilise the ground' in order to pull the 70-ton vehicle ashore, the army said. The defence ministry said Lithuanian military police and US investigators are still at work at the site today. 'We will remain patient and focused as they gather more information about the situation,' it said on social media platform X. The M88 Hercules armoured vehicle was discovered on Wednesday submerged in 4.5 meters (15 feet) of water. Pictured are officials building a makeshift dam from HESCO barrier bags as they try to recover the submerged US Army M88 Hercules from a swamp near the military training area in Pabadre, Lithuania on Thursday, March 27, 2025 Soldiers and and emergency services personnel work the scene where an US Army M88 Hercules was submerged under several meters of water in a swamp on March 27, 2025 Cranes, a large-capacity pump and more than 30 tons of gravel were brought in to help drain the water, dig out the mud and pull the M88 Hercules out of the swamp. Soldiers and emergency services personnel are pictured assembling a water pump during recovery efforts for four missing soldiers on March 27, 2025 US Army soldiers from the 1st Armoured Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, along with Lithuanian Army and emergency services personnel, watch as an excavator builds a dam during recovery efforts on Thursday, March 27, 2025 Cranes, a large-capacity pump and more than 30 tons of gravel were brought in to help drain the water, dig out the mud and pull the M88 Hercules out of the swamp, the US Army Europe and Africa said Friday. They also warned that this will be a long operation. A US Navy dive crew is being brought in, and the Polish Armed Forces have volunteered to send engineers, additional equipment and 150 personnel to also assist. 'This will be a long and difficult recovery operation, but we are absolutely committed to bringing our soldiers home,' said Maj. Gen. Curtis Taylor, commander of 1st Armoured Division said Friday. 'I remain incredibly impressed by the discipline, commitment and comradery in this unit as they attempt to recover their missing comrades.' The US military has been performing joint-training exercises with Lithuanian forces amid rising tensions between Baltic nations and Russia. Lithuania, along with neighbors Latvia and Estonia, have often had tense ties with Russia since declaring independence from the Soviet Union in 1990. All are members of NATO. US soldiers and German soldier, center, pray as they attend a Holy Mass for the four American soldiers who went missing during exercises conducted by the United States at the Pabrade training ground, at the Cathedral Basilica in Vilnius, Lithuania, Sunday, March 30, 2025 US Army Europe and Africa on Friday warned that this will be a long operation. Pictured are crews carrying out rescue operations at the General Silvestras Zukauskas training ground on Friday, March 28, 2025 Rescue operations at the General Silvestras Zukauskas training ground as the search for four missing US soldiers continued in Pabrade, Lithuania on March 28, 2025 A US Navy dive crew is being brought in, and the Polish Armed Forces have volunteered to send engineers, additional equipment and 150 personnel to also assist. Pictured are rescue operations at the General Silvestras Zukauskas training ground as the search for four missing US soldiers continued in Pabrade on March 28, 2025 Relations in the region worsened following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, and Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda has been one of the most vocal European leaders supporting Ukraine in its fight against Russian President Vladimir Putins forces. In a press release issued before the soldiers were reported missing, Lt. Gen Charles Costanza said he 'would like to personally thank the Lithuanian Armed Forces and first responders who quickly came to our aid in our search operations.' 'Its this kind of teamwork and support that exemplifies the importance of our partnership and our humanity regardless of what flags we wear on our shoulders,' Costanza added. The family of an eccentric 'recluse' who signed over his 650,000 home to a Ukrainian waitress he met at his local cafe have won a court fight to get it back. History buff and military memorabilia collector Richard Joy died in May 2018 - having lived his entire life in the family home in Harrow, north-west London, where he amassed a 'mountain of books' and left his parents' old room untouched. The 82-year-old - described by his family as a 'recluse' - never married or had children and spent most of his time at the local library or working on his collection of rare coins, medals and millitaria. But less than two years before his death, he gifted his home to Mariia Romanyshyn, 38, a Ukrainian waitress he encountered when she worked at a nearby cafe in 2011. Mrs Romanyshyn said she formed a close bond with Mr Joy, who visited the 'Upper Crust' cafe in Harrow three times a week - with the pensioner eventually inviting her and her family to live with him in his house as his 'adopted family'. She said Mr Joy decided to gift her his home in 2016, 'thrusting' the deeds of the property into her hands and saying: 'The house is yours - I want you to keep the house.' But Mrs Romanyshyn was sued over the house 'gift' by Mr Joy's cousin and executor of his estate Martin Larney, who went to court to get the property back for the family. He claimed Mr Joy was too mentally frail to understand what he was doing but Mrs Romanyshyn fought back. Mariia Romanyshyn (pictured), 38, a Ukrainian part-time waitress, was gifted Richard Joy's 650,000 house in his will Pictured is the 650,000 Harrow property at the centre of a bitter will battle between Mr Joy's family and Mrs Romanyshyn Mrs Romanyshyn was sued by Mr Joy's cousin and executor of his estate, Martin Larney (pictured with his mother Doreen) She insisted he was sharp enough to follow the complex storylines of actor Benedict Cumberbatch in TV series Sherlock and to play chess with her daughter, to whom he was a 'grandfather figure'. After a week in court, the case came to an end when the parties agreed to settle their row, with Mrs Romanyshyn dropping her claim to ownership of the house. In his order, Judge Simon Monty said the parties had agreed her claim to the house would be 'dismissed' and Mr Joy's estate divided up under the terms of a 2011 will. That leaves the bulk of his estate to Mr Larney, his 87-year-old mother Doreen and also a former friend. During the trial at Central London County Court, Judge Monty heard that Mr Joy had never had a family of his own and lived his entire life in his parents' home. Under a will made in 2011, most of his fortune including the house was to be split between Mr Larney, his mother Doreen and a friend not involved in the case. But after Mr Joy's death, it emerged that in 2016 he had signed a document gifting the property to Mrs Romanyshyn. Challenging the gift in court, Mr Larney's barrister Andrew Nicklin claimed that Mr Joy did not have capacity to make such a big decision at that stage of life. Mr Joy met Mariia Romanyshyn when she worked at this cafe in Harrow, north-west London He was 'vulnerable with apparent cognitive impairment' and 'dependent' on Mrs Romanyshyn, who had moved into his home with her family at some point after they became friends at the cafe, the lawyer said. Giving evidence, Mrs Romanyshyn explained how she got to know Mr Joy in 2011 while serving him in the cafe, where she knew him as a 'respectable and reputable customer'. After Mr Joy spent a spell in hospital, she had offered to help him with shopping or casual chores and assisted him on a more regular basis as the years went by. Mr Joy had 'repeatedly encouraged' her and her family to set up house with him, she said, telling her: 'My wish is for this to be your family home.' She told the court she ended up moving in, along with her family, despite her misgivings about such a big step which forced her to abandon previous plans to move out of London and buy a home. Her barrister Lynne Counsell said: 'They and their children became the adopted family of the deceased and they also assisted him and cared for him, but neither of them were ever paid carers and at no time demanded or received any money for their care and assistance.' Mrs Romanyshyn treated the pensioner 'as her uncle', while her daughter viewed him 'as a grandfather figure' - and he was still mentally sharp enough to make major decisions, Ms Counsell continued. The barrister added: 'The deceased played chess with Mrs Romanyshyn's oldest daughter before and after the deed of gift and he also watched and was able to follow episodes of Sherlock on television.' Mariia Romanyshyn (pictured), 38, a Ukrainian part-time waitress, was gifted Richard Joy's 650,000 house in his will - before being sued by Mr Joy's cousin Martin Larney Mrs Romanyshyn told the judge Mr Joy simply told her, 'I have a present for you', before offering her the house deeds, to which she had replied: 'Don't worry, I will look after it very well for you.' She added: 'He received and felt the care, love and affection from me and my family. An extremely high degree of trust was there between us.' But Mr Larney's barrister Mr Nicklin suggested that in 2016 Mr Joy was in no position to sign off complex legal documents. He told the court: 'The deceased was vulnerable with apparent cognitive impairment and, on the face of the medical evidence produced, lacking capacity.' Although accepting that the relationship between Mr Joy and Mrs Romanyshyn's family may have involved 'care and affection', he said she held 'a position of ascendancy' which demanded the utmost care be taken to ensure he knew what he was doing when deciding legal issues. Giving evidence, Mr Joy's 87-year-old cousin Doreen Larney - who now stands to inherit a share of the house under the 2011 will - described her first cousin as a 'a bit of a recluse' who had a tendency to burn through his money. She said his bank manager father had tried to leave him money in trust because he 'got through it so fast'. 'He just wasn't good with money, it had no value for him,' she told the judge, adding: 'He would spend 6,000 on a gold coin and then he wouldn't have any money left.' Mr Larney (pictured) told the High Court the gift of the property in 2016 was invalid because Mr Joy was too mentally frail to fully understand what he was doing at the time Mr Larney went to court to overturn the 2016 gift of the house, so that it could be included in his estate and divided up under the terms of his 2011 will. The court heard that under the will Mr Joy's collection of millitaria was donated to the Imperial War Museum in south London, while part of his coin collection was sold to pay for his funeral expenses. The case was heard in a week-long trial last month, but the warring parties agreed to settle their dispute out of court after negotiations behind the scenes. The settlement is partially confidential, but Judge Monty in his order stated he was 'satisfied on the evidence heard at trial that the last true will of Richard Anthony Joy was the will dated 26 November 2011'. He said Mrs Romanyshyn's counterclaim against Mr Larney, in which she sought a ruling that she owns Mr Joy's old home due to a 2016 deed of gift, would be 'dismissed'. A senior Hamas leader has called for supporters worldwide to pick up weapons and fight Donald Trump's plan to relocate Gazans to neighbouring countries. 'In the face of this sinister plan - one that combines massacres with starvation - anyone who can bear arms, anywhere in the world, must take action,' Sami Abu Zuhri said in a statement on Monday. 'Do not withhold an explosive, a bullet, a knife, or a stone. Let everyone break their silence.' Abu Zuhri's call comes a day after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu offered to let Hamas leaders leave Gaza but demanded that the Palestinian group disarm in the final stages of the war in Gaza. Netanyahu said Israel was working towards a plan proposed by Trump to displace Gazans to other countries, which could include Egypt and Jordan. Netanyahu said that after the war, Israel would ensure overall security in Gaza and 'enable the implementation of the Trump plan' - which had initially called for the mass displacement of all 2.4 million people living in the Palestinian territory - calling it a 'voluntary migration plan'. Trump's plan for the region risks inflaming deep underlying tensions, and has been met with fury from Palestinians and American allies alike. The UN has warned it was tantamount to 'ethnic cleansing'. But the call from Hamas comes at an uncertain time, with thousands of Gazans defying fear of reprisal to march against the group in anti-war demonstrations. One protestor was this week alleged to have been kidnapped, tortured and left at his family's doorstep as a warning. Smoke billows from an Israeli strike at Bureij camp in the central Gaza Strip, on March 27, 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 Days after taking office in January, Trump had proposed that Gazans be removed from the territory with no right of return. He later appeared to backtrack, saying he was 'not forcing' the widely condemned plan for the United States to take over the territory and redevelop it. Trump said that the U.S. should take control of Gaza to ensure its stability, and suggested the population could be relocated elsewhere, where he said they would be 'better off'. 'The Gaza Strip would be turned over to the US by Israel at the conclusion of fighting' he said. On February 9, the American president said he was 'committed to buying and owning Gaza'. Two days later, he told a news conference with Jordan's King Abdullah II: 'We're not going to buy anything.' 'We're going to have it and we're going to keep it and we're going to make sure that there's going to be peace and there's not going to be any problem.' An AI-generated clip of 'Trump Gaza', redeveloped into the 'Riviera of the Middle East', was then posted to his Truth Social social media platform, met with horror. The video showed high-rises and beachside resorts, with a giant gold statue of Trump towering over the enclave. Trump and Netanyahu featured in the AI video, drinking by a pool. The clip was widely condemned as being 'tone deaf'. Palestinians in Gaza argued the proposal ignores their rights and ties to their ancestral land. Palestinian man carries a wounded child to Al-Awda Hospital after an Israeli attack targeted a food distribution point in the Nuseirat Refugee Camp in central Gaza on March 26, 2025 A Palestinian child collects food dropped on a street in Gaza City on March 30, 2025, during Eid al-Fitr which marks the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan The right of return remains a sensitive issue for Palestinian diaspora displaced by the long conflict with Israel. About 750,000 Palestinians fled or were forced from their homes on land which became Israel after the 1948 Arab-Israeli war. As many as 531 Palestinian towns were razed by Israeli militias by 1949, according to the West Bank-based Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, and thousands were killed in clashes. Many refugees today remain in camps in neighbouring countries, unable to return to the places they were born. Outrage at the loss of life in Gaza since Hamas launched its shock October 7, 2023 incursion into Israel saw a rise in support for the group among Palestinians, reflecting anathema towards Israeli policy and lack of progress towards a lasting solution. This was in spite of the 1,170 lives taken during the massacre, and some 250 hostages taken back into Gaza. A group of independent human rights experts warned earlier this month that Israel had resumed weaponising starvation in Gaza with the decision to break from the fragile ceasefire agreement and block aid into the Palestinian enclave. More than 400 Palestinians were killed as Israel resumed its bombardment of the strip on March 18. More than 50,000 Palestinians have been killed in the conflict since October 2023, the Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza reports. Israel warned its attacks were 'only the beginning'. Earlier this month, defence minister Israel Katz also threatened to permanently occupy parts of the Gaza Strip unless Hamas releases the hostages still held in captivity. 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 Since coming to power, Hamas has done little to move towards a lasting solution with Israel, launching attacks across the border that rights groups say have killed civilians and even landed back in Gaza. 'The unpredictable nature of the crude rockets has meant that rockets have struck areas not only inside Israel but also inside Gaza,' Human Rights Watch observed in 2009. The group has also done little to alleviate poverty in the Gaza Strip, despite receiving plenty of money from foreign backers. In 2023, it was estimated to have an investment portfolio of real estate and other assets worth $500mn and an annual military budget of $350mn. But Gaza remains one of the poorest places in the world. In 2023, the GDP per capita for the West Bank and Gaza sat at just $3,372.3 USD. In recent days, Palestinians have expressed their ire towards the governing group with mass protests in the beleaguered enclave. Thousands took to the streets in northern Gaza last weeks for days of anti-war protests, many chanting against Hamas. 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. 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.' Relatives of Palestinians, who lost their lives following the Israeli attack on a house in the Fedus area, mourn as bodies are brought to Indonesian Hospital for funeral procedures in Beit Lahia, Gaza on March 27, 2025 Palestinians gather to perform the last Friday prayer of the holy month of Ramadan at the Bilal bin Rabah Mosque, which was heavily damaged in the Israeli attack, on March 28, 2025 in Khan Yunis, Gaza Ammar Hassan, who gave his name after taking part in a protest on Tuesday, said it started as an anti-war protest with a few dozen people but swelled to more than 2,000, with people chanting against Hamas. '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. Hamas was then accused of torturing a Palestinian protestor to death and leaving him on his family's doorstep as a warning. 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. 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.' A strict headmaster dubbed the 'headteacher from hell', has said he does not care about being called 'old-school' for cracking the whip. Alun Ebenezer, head of Caldicot School in Caldicot, Monmouthshire, was brought in by the county council as an emergency measure in June last year. The state secondary school in the south Wales market town had been struggling. The place was run by its more than 1,300 students, teaching unions had suggested. Teachers were striking over pupil behaviour, with some refusing to teach certain students they saw as especially dangerous to them. Many pupils were terrified too, parents reported. Though Mr Ebenezer was initially appointed as acting head for six months, he is still in post, having agreed to stay until August 2026 - and the school looks rather different. With Saturday detentions, parents asked to accompany their child in lessons if they misbehave, girls sent home over skirt length and what Mr Ebenezer thought could be a record number of exclusions, he has well and truly cracked down on misbehaviour. But the 50-year-old headteacher told WalesOnline he is quite happy to be considered 'old-school': 'There's no school like the old school. Honestly, I don't care what people think of me regarding that... 'There were lots of things that weren't wrong and we've kind of thrown the baby out with the bathwater.' Alun Ebenezer (pictured), head of Caldicot School in Caldicot, Monmouthshire, was brought in by the county council as an emergency measure in June last year The 50-year-old headteacher (pictured) said he is quite happy to be considered 'old-school': 'There's no school like the old school. Honestly, I don't care what people think of me' Caldicot School (pictured) had been struggling. The place was run by its more than 1,300 students, teaching unions had suggested The teacher, who grew up a 'free school meal boy' in the village of Beaufort, Blaenau Gwent, explained: 'You learn from the past. There were things that went on when I was a child which were wrong.' He remembered particularly a teacher who had been bitten by a child biting the child back as punishment: 'Really wrong. 'But there were lots of things that weren't wrong and we've kind of thrown the baby out with the bathwater. 'Part of the problem, I believe, is that the pendulum has swung too far the other way. Now the children are in charge.' Mr Ebenezer, also an author and public speaker, has not hesitated to rectify that at Caldicot School. He said he would not be surprised if he had set a new record for the highest number of exclusions in a year. But he explained he is not just doing this for its own sake - it can be 'inclusive' to include a student causing a lot of disruption. The headteacher continued: 'We put people in prison to make everyone else feel included and safe in our society so why not in schools? It's the same principle.' The teacher (pictured), who grew up a 'free school meal boy' in the village of Beaufort, Blaenau Gwent, explained: 'You learn from the past. There were things that went on when I was a child which were wrong' He recently excluded a 'nice' boy from a 'nice' family - and dubbed it a 'necessary' consequence for his actions. The headmaster said: 'If you've got someone who is disruptive and because of them you've got 29 people in that class who feel uncomfortable and can't get on, then sometimes you exclude to include.' That is not all - Mr Ebenezer, whose surname could see some compare him to a certain grouchy Dickens character, has introduced Saturday detentions too. He is not a fan of having to come in on a Saturday as it is a massive nuisance to him too - but he is committed to the idea that students' poor actions must have consequences. Last weekend, four of the 15 students expected at Saturday detention did not show up - so they were excluded. The head also punishes students for bad behaviour by making their parents come into school to sit next to them during lessons. He had been in post for just weeks when there was uproar among parents, including threats at the school gates, for him sending girls home over skirt length - which he has denied monitoring with a tape measure. While head of another school, in 2022, he sent 50 children home in one day over uniform violations - including wearing too-short black socks and skirts of the incorrect length. While head of another school, in 2022, he sent 50 children home in one day over uniform violations - including wearing too-short black socks and skirts of the incorrect length Furious parents hit out at the school and accused Mr Ebenezer of being 'heavy-handed' and running a 'police state'. But the head - who previously ran Fulham Boys School in London where a Rastafarian boy was asked to shave off his hair if he wanted to attend lessons - defended the zero-tolerance policy at the time, saying any slips in discipline 'leads to carnage'. Mr Ebenezer's efforts have seen him hit the headlines more than a few times throughout his career. But he said he has mainly had a positive reaction to these stories: 'That tells me this has captured the mood of the nation.' Indeed, he said at his more than 1,300-student school, he has fewer than a dozen parents complaining to him about his disciplinary endeavours - which he thinks is telling. But though Mr Ebenezer is known for cracking the whip, Caldicot School's walls are also covered with reminders to, 'Be kind to yourself', and, 'Speak to yourself like you'd speak to your friend'. Perhaps such words are needed, when young people's lives are made chaotic and stressful by social media. The headteacher said: 'They're having to navigate things now that we never had to think about.' Previously, at Caldicot School (pictured), teachers were striking over pupil behaviour, with some refusing to teach certain students they saw as especially dangerous to them. Many pupils were terrified too, parents reported Particularly, social media apps, he said, encourages 'obsession with, "Me, me, me"': 'If we stop being so obsessed with ourselves, maybe we'd be a bit happier... But perhaps the disproportionate focus on happiness, too, is unhelpful, he said: 'We tell young people, "Be whatever you want to be that makes you happy". 'And, "The most important thing is that you're happy". We've rammed this down their throats, this obsession with being really happy. 'And yet, they've never been more entertained but they're bored and they've never been more indulged but they're unhappy. It's not working. 'Equally, I don't believe in beating this generation up for that. We created this generation.' One in five children aged eight to 16 have a 'probable' mental health disorder - up from one in eight in 2017, according to the Centre for Social Justice. It is predicted it could be one in four children by 2030, if we keep moving in the same direction, the thinktank said. Young people in the UK have higher mental health needs than ever, charity Mind has said. But though Mr Ebenezer is known for cracking the whip, Caldicot School's (pictured) walls are also covered with reminders to, 'Be kind to yourself', and, 'Speak to yourself like you'd speak to your friend'. But Mr Ebenezer said we might be 'over-labelling' people as having mental health issues - when actually, it could just be that they are experiencing life's everyday difficulties. He said: 'At the moment, as soon as people feel anxious, it's anxiety and as soon as people feel sad, it's depression. Sometimes, maybe, it's just life.' Though he was quick to emphasise: 'That doesn't mean if young people are struggling, they shouldn't ask for help. Of course they should. Asking for help is a great thing and is about taking responsibility.' Mr Ebenezer also touched on the issue of violent crime in schools, saying it will be a 'very sad day' if schools are asked to conduct security checks on pupils. When working in London, his school only had one CCTV camera on the deliveries area and never used metal detectors or locked classrooms. He said: 'We're trying to create a culture. It's an approach. It's about creating a culture where knife crime isn't even on the agenda.' The issue of violent and gender-based crime in schools has faced greater scrutiny in recent times following smash hit Netflix series Adolescence, about a boy who stabs a female classmate to death after being exposed to online misogyny. The issue of violent and gender-based crime in schools has faced greater scrutiny in recent times following smash hit Netflix series Adolescence (pictured) The show's (pictured) themes are a matter of fact, not just fiction. The number of violent crimes in UK schools has risen by nearly 25 per cent from 2021 to 2024 The show's themes are a matter of fact, not just fiction. The number of violent crimes in UK schools has risen by nearly 25 per cent from 2021 to 2024, according to a Freedom of Information request sent to police by ITV. Almost 100,000 offences were reported, including allegations of stalking and 4,500 instances of students having weapons on them. The National Crime Agency warned earlier this week that 'sadistic and violent' teen boys are committing extreme crimes - like that portrayed in Adolescence - after seeing graphic content online and becoming 'desensitised' to it. Mr Ebenezer said schools need to be 'no-nonsense' about their approach to student violence - with any students involved permanently excluded as a matter of course. But he added: 'At the same time, you have to find out why on Earth a kid feels they have to take a knife into school.' He explained why he thinks young men are being radicalised by online misogyny and violence. He said: 'Young boys are being told masculinity is toxic. I don't believe masculinity is toxic. I believe it can be. But that is the message being fed to these young boys, that it's toxic. And they don't know where to turn.' Mr Ebenezer said we might be 'over-labelling' people as having mental health issues - when actually, it could just be that they are experiencing life's everyday difficulties. Pictured: Caldicot School The head added: 'Boys don't know how to be now. It's an identity issue. Why has Andrew Tate had so many hits on his website? Because society is pushing boys to extremes and it's so dangerous.' Mr Ebenezer is, to a fault, ambitious. Next year's co-curriculum, currently being developed, will include trips to South Africa and Brazil. With 14 per cent of Caldicot students on free school meals - while others are 'pretty affluent', he said - any children who cannot afford the trips will be sponsored or crowdfunded for. By the time he leaves in August, he hopes to have made Caldicot School one of Wales' best comprehensives. His approach is heavily informed by a colleague's advice from when he was assistant head at a school in the town of Treorchy, the best school in Wales at the time. The head there told him: '"Alun, if you're not part of the solution in six months, you're part of the problem". That's always stuck with me.' A rogue butler who stole more than 200,000 worth of jewellery and luxury goods from his employer has been jailed. Andrew Stothard, 42, of Hull, worked as a butler, houseman and valet near Ramsbury in Wiltshire. After admitting theft, fraud by false representation and money laundering, he was jailed for three-and-a-half years at Swindon Crown Court this week. The court had earlier heard that on September 13 last year, only three weeks after he was hired by the victims to live and work from their property, Stothard fled in his employer's company Mercedes. The family initially contacted the police fearing for his welfare after he failed to return to the address or to answer his phone. It was then established that his belongings, plus several high value items such as jewellery and clothes belonging to the family, were unaccounted for, as well as a credit card. Police found Stothard had travelled to London and then to Hull, repeatedly using the credit card to withdraw thousands of pounds in various currencies and buy expensive gold and silver coins, before laundering them at different stores. Andrew Stothard, 42, of Hull, admitted theft, fraud by false representation and money laundering. He was jailed for three-and-a-half years at Swindon Crown Court this week He also repeatedly converted thousands of dollars and euros into pounds and pawned stolen items of jewellery at pawnbrokers in London. Stothard was first arrested on September 17 after handing himself in to police in Hull, denying all offences in interview. The jury heard how the ex-butler had crafted a web of lies to explain his actions, including that he was only getting the items valued to create an inventory. He was subsequently bailed and had continued to pawn further items of jewellery. Over the next two months, the court heard, Stothard repeatedly told lies to both the victims and investigating officers, denying any knowledge of the offences. He then changed his story, admitting taking the items and concocting an elaborate story about owing money from a gambling debt. Stothard was later charged with the offences and many of the items were recovered from pawnbrokers in London and Hull. DC Lawrence Gurney of Wiltshire Police CID said that Sothard had 'targeted' the 'wealth and generosity' of his victims, who were local business owners. The court heard how only three weeks after Stothard was hired by the victims to live and work from their property, he had fled in his employer's company Mercedes (pictured: Swindon Crown Court) DC Gurney added: 'They provided him with steadfast employment, accommodation, and other benefits. They placed a significant amount of trust in him, and he abused this trust in a dishonest and calculated manner. 'He took advantage of his position to gain access to private areas of the house without the victim's knowledge or consent and proceeded to go on the run with hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of items, many of which held significant sentimental value. 'Whilst doing this, he sought to maintain contact with the victims in a manipulative attempt to appeal to their decent nature and assure them that nothing was wrong. 'The array of fabricated stories he produced allowed him more time to spend money on company credit cards, conceal the stolen items and also sell them on.' A man who survived a plane crash in the Andes by eating the bodies of dead fellow passengers has died at the age of 71. Alvaro Mangino, who was one of 16 passengers who survived the now infamous 1972 plane crash, died on March 29 following a bout of pneumonia. The flight, carrying members of Uruguay's Old Christians rugby team, crash-landed at 3,600 metres in the remote Andes mountains. In their 72 days stranded in the freezing cold the survivors ate what little scraps of food they had before they were inevitably forced to turn to cannibalism by eating the remains of the dead. Despite having a broken leg, Mr Mangino survived the disaster and used what little strength he had to crawl through the icy terrain to melt snow to make water for his fellow passengers. Mr Mangino, who died just days before his 72nd birthday, rarely spoke about his horrific ordeal. In the book 'Snow Society', which inspired the hit Netflix Oscar-nominated film 'Society of the Snow', Alvaro described the decision to eat his fellow passengers as the 'hardest decision I made in my life'. The Netflix movie's director J.A. Bayona wrote on Instagram on March 29: 'In the crash, he fractured his leg and spent 72 days crawling through the snow. Alvaro Mangino (left) shortly after he was rescue. Mr Mangino who was one of 16 passengers who survived the now infamous 1972 plane crash, died on March 29 Mr Mangino, who died just days before his 72nd birthday, rarely spoke about his horrific ordeal The survivors wave at their rescuers after spending over two months in the remote Andes 'However, despite his disability, he will be remembered for never stopping working in the mountains, constantly melting snow to supply water to his colleagues.' He added: 'I'm blessed to have known him.' After the crash Alvaro moved to Brazil for years but returned to Uruguay where he became a dad of four and worked as an air conditioning engineer. The Andes flight disaster has become one of the most infamous plane crashes in history mostly because of the horrific conditions the survivors had to endure for over 70 days. In their two months stranded in the freezing Andes, the injured survivors quickly succumbed to their injuries and those who survived had to fashion makeshift shelters from the -30 degrees weather conditions. On top of this, food was scarce with no wildlife to kill and very little food surviving the crash the group were eventually forced to turn to cannibalism. Robert Canessa, a rugby player on board the flight, previously said: 'Our common goal was to survive, but what we lacked was food. We had long since run out of the meager pickings we'd found on the plane, and there was no vegetation or animal life to be found. Mr Mangino (centre) after being rescued. Despite having a broken leg, Mr Mangino survived the disaster and used what little strength he had to crawl through the icy terrain to melt snow to make water for his fellow passengers The survivors of the crash in 2002. The group meet up every year on December 22 to remember the day they were rescued 'After just a few days, we had the sensation that our own bodies were consuming themselves just to remain alive. Before long we would become too weak to recover from starvation. 'We knew the answer, but the answer was just too terrifying to contemplate.' On day 61, Mr Canessa and two other survivors set off on a desperate expedition to find help. After ten days walking in the wilderness, they encountered a group of people and on day 71 and day 72 the remaining survivors were rescued via helicopter. The survivors of the crash still meet up every year on December 22 to remember the day they were rescued. The UK is poised to go ahead with ordering F-35 Lightning jets from America despite fears Donald Trump could effectively turn them off. The government is expected to confirm the purchase of the aircraft instead of Eurofighter Typhoons. The US has denied that there is a 'kill switch' on the fifth-generation fighters. But the president recently fuelled concerns by suggesting capabilities will be reduced 10 per cent on new F-47s supplied to allies 'because someday, maybe they're not our allies'. European capitals have also been alarmed at Mr Trump's conciliatory stance towards Russia, questioning whether Nato's collective defence rules would be honoured. The Unite union has called for a move to Typhoons, made in Lancashire, highlighting the risk 'Trump wakes up in a bad mood and locks us out of using our own fighter jets'. However, defence sources play down the prospect, pointing out the UK had been deeply involved in development and makes 15 per cent of every F-35. The UK is poised to go ahead with ordering F-35 Lightning jets from America despite fears Donald Trump could effectively turn them off. Pictured, an F-35 performing aerobatic manoeuvres The president recently fuelled concerns by suggesting capabilities will be reduced 10 per cent on new F-47s supplied to allies 'because someday, maybe they're not our allies' That is in contrast to Nato allies such as Denmark, where there has been regret about purchasing the fighters amid tensions with the US over Greenland. One defence source told The Times: 'We spent a lot of time and money being a level-one partner on the F-35. 'That means we were involved in testing the plane and understanding it. I would not be so relaxed if I were Danish.' The RAF is seen as short of fighters as dozens of Tranche 1 Eurofighter Typhoons are being retired. The UK has received 37 F-35B fighter jets, which can be deployed on aircraft carriers, from an initial order of 48. But the recent boost in defence spending has opened the door to buying more F-35As, which operate from normal runways. Supporters say the F-35s are cheaper than Typhoons and more effective against Russian air defences. They could also potentially allow the RAF to use US nuclear bombs. Katie Price's ex-husband Kieran Hayler has been cleared by police over allegations he shared an explicit image of an unnamed woman. Sources close to the reality star, 37, have told MailOnline he is 'relieved but frustrated' by the decision, which saw his personal devices seized and scrutinised by investigators before he was ultimately cleared. Hayler was arrested last August over claims he had distributed a shocking picture the woman. But Sussex Police have now confirmed they found no evidence linking him to the image, meaning he will face no charges over the matter. A source said: 'It's been a testing time for Kieran as he's had his privacy invaded over the matter which has brought on intense stress and anxiety. 'He was angry at how he was subjected to such scrutiny despite knowing he did nothing wrong. 'But he's relieved the ordeal is over and he can just move on with his life.' Katie Price 's ex-husband Kieran Hayler has been cleared by police over allegations he shared an explicit image of an unnamed woman (Hayler is pictured in in 2015) Sources close to the reality star, 37, have told MailOnline he is 'relieved but frustrated' by the decision, which saw his phone sezied. He is pictured with Katie in 2017 Hayler has been told his devices will be returned to him in the coming weeks after they were confiscated as part of the investigation. Price was married to Hayler for eight years but their relationship was tainted by accusations of infidelity. They wed in 2013, before renewing their vows three years later in Barbados during a 'make or break' holiday. Hayler allegedly cheated on Price with two of her friends, including her pal of 20 years, Jane Pountney, plus her close associate Chrissy Thomas. In August 2017, Price discovered her Hayler had cheated on her for a third time with their nanny Nikki Brown, a year before calling time on the relationship. They officially divorced in 2011. Last month, Hayler suffered fresh heartache after splitting with fiancee Michelle Penticost, 42, after seven years together. Hayler allegedly cheated on Price with two of her friends, including her pal of 20 years, Jane Pountney, plus her close associate Chrissy Thomas (Price is pictured with new boyfriend JJ Slater on March 25, 2024) The pair, who share a son - Apollo Phoenix, three - remain on good terms, according to Hayler's reps. Penticost had her own legal dispute with Price after taking out a restraining order against the former Loose Woman star following a school playground row in 2019. In June 2022, Price avoided jail after she breached the restraining order. Hayler and Penticost admitted they were 'incredibly disappointed' by the verdict at the time, after Price admitted the breach, when she sent a text to her ex-husband branding Penticost a 'gutter s**g', before later walking free. Price was banned from contacting Penticost directly or indirectly for five years in June 2019 after hurling a foul-mouthed 'tirade of abuse' at her during a row in a school playground. The text message sent to Hayler in breach of the order read: 'Tell your c***ing w***e piece of s**t girlfriend not to start on me. 'She has a restraining order so shouldn't try antagonize me as she is in breach and I'm sure she doesn't want people knowing that she was having an affair with you behind my back. That gutter s**g.' The former glamour model Price, shares son Jett, 11, and daughter Bunny, 10, with ex-husband Hayler Last September, it was revealed Hayler had landed a tell-all book deal in which he will divulge secrets about his marriage to Price. An insider told The Sun: 'Kieran's landed a huge book deal that will cover his whole life, from the early years to his infamous marriage to Katie. 'This is Kieran's chance to set the record straight after so many years of staying quiet. 'It should come as no surprise that being married to Katie was chaotic at times so he's got a lot of stories to tell.' French National Rally leader Marine Le Pen has been banned from standing at the next election and handed a four-year jail sentence after being found guilty of embezzlement. The 56-year-old stunned a court in Paris as she dramatically stormed out without waiting to hear the end of Presiding Judge Benedicte de Perthuis's ruling this morning. Le Pen was also given an 84,000 fine under the sentencing which will see the hard-right leader banned from running in the 2027 presidential race. Her jail sentence will be suspended for two years with the remaining time spent fitted with an electronic bracelet and she is likely to appeal. Le Pen and 24 other officials from the National Rally were accused of having used money intended for European Union parliamentary aides to pay staff who worked for the party between 2004 and 2016, in violation of the 27-nation bloc's regulations. In a hard-hitting judgement, magistrates also accused Le Pen of 'undermining democracy'. They wrote: 'Marine Le Pen has been at the heart of this illegal system since 2009. The events have seriously and lastingly undermined the rules of democracy. This is an enrichment of the party, a circumvention of the rules governing political party financing, and therefore a circumvention of democracy.' Le Pen and other co-defendants denied wrongdoing during the nine-week trial that took place in late 2024, and she claims that was being put on trial as a 'political target'. The defendants also claimed the money had been used legitimately. Following the sentencing, however, several hard-right supporters have already flocked to social media to defend her. President of the parliamentary group of the French far-right Rassemblement National (RN) party, Marine Le Pen (R), walks ahead of co-defendant French member of European Parliament Catherine Griset (C) as they exit the Paris courtroom Before hearing the duration of her ban - which will see the hard-right leader banned from running in the 2027 presidential race - Le Pen stormed out of the Paris court Presiding Judge Benedicte de Perthuis has sentenced Le Pen, 56, to a five-year ban from politics. She has also been sentenced to four years in prison with two under an electronic bracelet and a 84,000 fine Pen (L) arrives her lawyer Rodolphe Bosselut at the Paris courthouse for her trial verdict on suspicion of embezzlement of European public funds, in Paris, on March 31 Marine Le Pen has been banned from entering presidential elections after being found guilty of embezzlement Le Pen has been found guilty of misappropriating around 397,000, in particular for the contracts of her bodyguard, Thierry Legier, and her former parliamentary attache and ex-sister-in-law, Catherine Griset The presidential hopeful has been found guilty of misappropriating around 397,000, in particular for the contracts of her bodyguard, Thierry Legier, and her former parliamentary attache and ex-sister-in-law, Catherine Griset. Griset has been handled a one-year suspended prison sentence and a two-year electoral ban. Louis Aliot, former number two of the National Rally, has been sentenced to 18 months in jail, with ten months suspended. The remainder will be under an electronic bracelet. He has also been slapped with a three year ban but no provisional one 'to preserve the freedom of voters who chose their mayor', the judge has said. Perthuis said the ineligibility to run for public office should begin straightaway and not be suspended. Le Pen has described such a scenario as 'political death'. The MEPs and 12 assistants found guilty signed 'fictitious contracts' and there was indeed a 'system' within the party, said Perthuis. 'It has been established that all these people were in fact working for the party, that their MEP had not entrusted them with any tasks' and that they 'moved from one MEP to another', she continued. 'It was not a question of pooling the work of the assistants but rather of pooling the MPs' envelopes. 'Let's be clear: no one is on trial for playing politics, that's not the point. The issue was whether or not the contracts were respected', Perthuis added. Following the ban against Le Pen running for president, political opponent Eric Coquerel, MP for radical Left party France Unbowed told French news channel LCI: 'I don't agree that things that should be decided by the ballot box are decided by the courts. 'It will only paint the National Rally as a victim'. The Kremlin on Monday also slammed the French court's ruling to bar Pen from running for office over a fake jobs scheme. 'More and more European capitals are going down the path of violating democratic norms,' Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters in a briefing when asked about the decision. Displaying public support to Le Pen, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban posted on X: 'Je suis Marine!', translating to I am Marine!, following her recent ban from French politics. Le Pen appeared to be anticipating a guilty verdict, telling the panel of three judges earlier: 'I feel we didn't succeed in convincing you.' During the nine-week trial that took place in late 2024, she argued that ineligibility 'would have the effect of depriving me of being a presidential candidate' and disenfranchise her supporters. The sentences of Le Pen and eight other MEP's will be reported individually later today, French media have stated Le Pen appeared to be anticipating a guilty verdict, telling the panel of three judges earlier: 'I feel we didn't succeed in convincing you' Prosecutors wanted Le Pen to face an immediate five-year ban from public office - which would stop her from running to replace Emmanuel Macron in 2027 - if found guilty, as well as a five-year jail sentence Jordan Bardella speaks during a conference on antisemitism in Jerusalem on March 27, 2025 '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,' she told the panel of three judges. Following her trial last year, current French Justice Minister Gerald Darmanin posted on X that it would be 'profoundly shocking' if Le Pen were to be barred from elections. She also denied she had committed 'the slightest irregularity'. Her young lieutenant and protege Jordan Bardella, 29, who is the RN party chief, was not among the accused in the trial and is also seen as a potential presidential contender should Marine Le Pen fall. In a documentary broadcast by BFMTV late on Sunday, Le Pen for the first time gave her blessing to Bardella becoming president. 'Of course he has the capacity to become president of the republic,' she said. Bardella has spoken out on Le Pen's recent ban, taking to X to share the message: 'Today, it is not only Marine Le Pen who is being unjustly condemned: it is French democracy that is being executed'. French politician Eric Zemmour similarly said: 'It is not up to judges to decide who the people should vote for. 'Whatever our disagreements, Marine Le Pen is legitimate to present herself to the vote. 'I regret that politicians have voluntarily given this exorbitant power to the justice system. Everything will have to change'. For over a decade, Le Pen has worked at making her party more mainstream, dulling its extremist edge to broaden its appeal to voters. After coming third in the 2012 presidential polls, Marine Le Pen made the run-off in 2017 and 2022 but was beaten by Emmanuel Macron on both occasions. Yet 2027 could be a different opportunity, with Macron not allowed to stand again. Jean-Marie Le Pen gestures during a political meeting at the Palais Omnisports de Paris Bercy (POPB), in Paris, on June 2, 1988 Macron (pictured March 27) will not be able to stand again in 2027, an opportunity for RN Le Pen's life has been marked by the legacy of her openly racist father, a veteran of the long war in Algeria that ultimately led to the former French colony's independence. Le Pen in 2011 took over leadership of the National Front (FN) from her father Jean-Marie, who co-founded France's main postwar far-right movement. Distancing it from the legacy of her father, who openly made anti-Semitic and racist statements, she renamed the party the National Rally (RN) and embarked on a policy she dubbed 'dediabolisation' ('de-demonisation'). The work bore fruit in the snap legislative polls last summer, with the RN emerging as the largest single party in the National Assembly, although without the outright majority it had targeted. That gave Le Pen unprecedented power over French politics, which she used by backing a no-confidence vote that toppled the government of prime minister Michel Barnier later in the year. Critics accuse the party of still being inherently racist, taking too long to distance itself from Russia and resorting to corrupt tactics to ease its strained finances, allegations Le Pen denies. But playing on people's day-to-day concerns about immigration and the cost of living, Le Pen is now seen as having her best chance to win the French presidency in 2027 after three unsuccessful attempts. A woman who allegedly stabbed her three children with a kitchen knife while they were sleeping has been charged. Emergency services were called to a Jamieson Avenue home in Baulkham Hills in Sydney's north-west at about 5.20am on Monday. A boy, 10, two teenage girls aged 13 and 16, and a woman, 47, were found suffering from stab wounds. They were treated at the scene by paramedics and taken to The Childrens Hospital at Westmead and Westmead Hospital, where they all remain in a stable condition. Police established a crime scene and commenced an investigation. The woman, 47, has since been charged with three counts of grievous bodily harm with intent to murder in relation to the alleged domestic violence-related incident. She was refused bail to appear via a bedside hearing in Parramatta Local Court on Tuesday Police allege the woman's husband wrestled a knife from her as she tried to stab their children before turning the weapon on herself inside the family home on Monday morning. Three children and a woman remain in hospital after an alleged stabbing Detectives spent much of Monday at the crime scene gathering evidence The man was woken by the children's screams as his wife allegedly stabbed them, before he was able to snatch the knife from her. It's believed the eldest daughter, 16, is a paraplegic who requires a wheelchair. The mother was allegedly 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. 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 seized a kitchen knife at the scene and arrested the mother over the alleged attempted triple murder and suicide attempt. Police allege the woman was behaving erratically in the days leading up to the alleged attack. It's 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,' Hills Police Area Command Detective Superintendent Naomi 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. Forensic officers remained at the Baulkham Hills home for much of the day A photo inside the family home where a young boy and two teenage girls were allegedly stabbed 'Its tragic, its really sad. We havent dealt with this family before, and I only wish that we had have, and maybe we could have reached out and helped this family sooner had we known there were problems.' The woman 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. One neighbour, who asked not to be identified, described the children as 'friendly and lovely'. Another shocked neighbour couldn't believe the alleged stabbing had happened at the 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. A woman has been charged with three counts of grievous bodily harm with intent to murder over the alleged stabbing at the Baulkham Hills home 'We didn't hear a sound and slept through the whole thing until we heard the police sirens. The Hills Shire 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. An Iraqi asylum seeker fears he will be murdered if he is deported from Britain - after the family of a woman he had an 18-month TikTok fling with 'threatened to kill him'. The unnamed man told a tribunal the family of his mystery female lover vowed to slaughter him back in his home country. The alleged death threat came after he proposed to the woman, having met her in person just three times. A judge initially refused the asylum application because his story seemed 'incredible' and 'fabricated'. But the Iraqi has now won an appeal which means his case will be heard again. The hearing of the Asylum and Immigration tribunal was told heard the man, who was granted anonymity, began to talk to a woman referred to only as 'HD' on TikTok in 2020. 'The contact lasted 18 months, during which they met in person on three occasions,' the hearing was told. ' On the third occasion they were seen by HD's family. 'Thereafter, the [man]'s family asked HD's family for permission to marry. An Iraqi man is fighting against deportation from Britain - by claiming he is facing death in his home country the family of a woman he proposed to threatened to kill him (pictured is the Upper Tribunal Immigration and Asylum Chamber, Field House in London) 'This was refused, as were two further efforts, the last eliciting a threat from HD's family that any further requests would result in [him] being killed. 'A few days later, [he] was approached by HD's cousins who threatened to kill him.' He claimed asylum in the UK in November 2021, having left Iraq the previous month. His application was refused in October 2023 because of 'inconsistencies' in his narrative account. The man's appeal against this refusal was also rejected, meaning he could have been sent back to his home country where he claims he was threatened with death. Details of the ruling - made in July last year - emerged at an appeal he made against the decision. The judge who made the original ruling - who was not identified in the appeal judgement - said: 'There is material in the papers about honour-based crimes. 'I appreciate that these occur. 'However, they generally relate to more significant events, such as resisting marriage and running away with someone. 'I appreciate there are dangers in trying to make findings of what might happen in a different country. The man claims to have met the woman on TikTok where the sparked their 18-month relationship - but he has no proof of this as he 'lost his phone' 'However, given that on his account they were only seen together once it seems incredible that her family would threaten to kill him. 'His family were not on his account so intimidated that it put them off approaching the other family with repeated proposals of marriage.' The judge said there was no evidence of the 'online relationship', that his claim was 'fabricated' and he was not 'credible'. The fact the 'online relationship' went on for a long time was also found to be 'inconsistent with the account of a strict and controlling family'. However, at the Upper Tier Tribunal, Deputy Upper Tribunal Judge Nathan Moxon and Judge Christopher Hanson found this judge did not give the evidence 'a balanced consideration'. This made the conclusion about the credibility of the man's account 'rationally insupportable or at the very least, unsupported', they said. Judge Moxon said the judge didn't acknowledge it was only after the third proposal he was threatened. The judge also 'failed to acknowledge' the man's explanation for the lack of evidence of their online communication, which was he had 'lost his mobile telephone'. Judge Moxon concluded: 'We are therefore satisfied that the identified error of law is material as there are not otherwise sufficient and cogent credibility findings made with reference to the available evidence. 'Further, it would appear reasonable to conclude that the Judge's assessment of the narrative account being incredible then infected his consideration of the [man]'s general credibility. 'For those reasons we are satisfied that the Judge's decision contained a material error of law.' The case was sent back to a First-tier Tribunal in Glasgow, and a fresh hearing to determine whether he faces deportation will take place at a later date in front of a different judge. 2024 - Tuesday January 16 Kate is secretly admitted to The London Clinic and undergoes abdominal surgery. She attends the clinic rather than King Edward VII's Hospital which is usually the go-to establishment for royal medical matters. - Wednesday January 17 2pm - Kensington Palace announces the princess's operation and says she will remain in the private hospital for 10-14 days. She was not expected to return to duties until after Easter, taking up to three months to recover. The Prince of Wales steps back from his official duties temporarily to care of his wife and children. The exact nature of Kate's condition is kept private, but it is not cancerous and Kensington Palace says the planned procedure was successful. 3.25pm - Buckingham Palace announces the King, then 75, is to have treatment for a benign enlarged prostate and will be admitted to hospital in a few days. A source later says the princess is 'doing well'. - Thursday January 18 The Prince of Wales spends time at his wife's bedside, driving himself away from the back entrance during the low-key, private visit. A serious-looking William is seen leaving The London Clinic at about 12.35pm. The Queen says the King is 'fine' and 'looking forward to getting back to work' during a visit to the Aberdeen Art Gallery. - Friday January 19 The King flies back from Scotland with the Queen and heads to his Sandringham estate in Norfolk to rest ahead of the procedure. - Sunday January 21 It is announced that the King's former sister-in-law, Sarah, Duchess of York, has malignant melanoma, a form of skin cancer. It is less than a year since the duchess, 64, was diagnosed with breast cancer and had a mastectomy and reconstructive surgery. - Monday January 22 The Queen tells 86-year-old well-wisher Jessie Jackson that the King is 'fine', and thanks her for asking, while she carries out engagements in Swindon. Sarah, Duchess of York, meanwhile, describes her shock at having skin cancer but says she is in 'good spirits' and 'grateful for the many messages of love and support', in a post on Instagram. - Tuesday January 23 Kate's hospital stay passes the one-week mark. Camilla urges the King to take it easy. An insider told The Sun: 'The Queen has told him he needs to slow down a bit.' - Thursday January 25 The King carries out behind-the-scenes official duties, meeting academics from Cambridge University at Sandringham House. He later arrives back in London from Norfolk ready for his treatment. - Friday January 26 The King, with the Queen at his side, is admitted to the London Clinic for treatment for an enlarged prostate and also visits the Princess of Wales, who is recovering in the same hospital. - Monday January 29 The King is discharged from hospital and waves at well-wishers. Kate leaves the clinic the same day to continue her recovery at home. - Wednesday January 31 Camilla says the King is 'getting on, doing his best' as she opened a Maggie's cancer support centre at the Royal Free Hospital in London. - Sunday February 4 The King and Queen attend church in Sandringham, with Charles waving at well-wishers. - Monday February 5 Kensington Palace confirms the Prince of Wales is returning to official duties this week, beginning with an investiture. 6pm - Buckingham Palace announces the King has a form of cancer, but not prostate cancer, and has started treatment as an outpatient. He will not carry out public-facing duties, but will carry on with behind the scenes state business and official papers. - Wednesday February 7 The Prince of Wales speaks about the King's cancer diagnosis for the first time and thanks the public for their 'kind messages of support'. William's words of praise, delivered during a fundraising gala dinner, also recognise those who wished the Princess of Wales well as she recovers from planned abdominal surgery. He tells the guests: 'It means a great deal to us all.' On the same day, Downing Street and Buckingham Palace confirm the King will hold his weekly audience with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak over the phone rather than face-to-face. - Sunday February 11 The King makes his first public appearance since the announcement of his cancer diagnosis when he visits St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham, Norfolk. Charles, accompanied by the Queen, waves to the public before attending the morning service. - Monday March 4 The Princess of Wales is photographed for the first time since undergoing abdominal surgery. Kate is pictured near Windsor Castle on Monday in the passenger seat of a car, according to TMZ. The news site said she was wearing dark sunglasses in the black Audi which was being driven by her mother, Carole Middleton. The photo is understood to have been taken by paparazzi. - Tuesday March 5 The Army removes a claim on its website that the Princess of Wales will review Trooping the Colour in June. Tickets were being sold on the official website for the June 8 military spectacle, advertising an appearance by Kate, on Tuesday evening. - Sunday March 10 Questions are raised that the first picture of the Princess of Wales to be released after her abdominal surgery may have been manipulated before it was posted on social media by Kensington Palace. The photo of Kate and her children, said by the palace to have been taken by the Prince of Wales in Windsor earlier this week, was posted to mark Mother's Day. The photograph is later withdrawn by international picture agencies because of concerns that the image had been manipulated. - Monday March 11 The Princess of Wales publicly takes the blame for the manipulated family photograph released by Kensington Palace as she issued a personal apology for the 'confusion'. Kate said sorry with a statement on social media which read: '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.' - Monday March 18 Footage emerges of the Princess of Wales alongside her husband during a visit to a farm shop in Windsor over the previous weekend. - Tuesday March 19 An investigation is launched at the London Clinic over claims staff tried to access the Princess of Wales's private medical records. On the same day, the King holds a private audience with four Korean War veterans but does not attend a reception held by the Princess Royal and Duchess of Edinburgh at Buckingham Palace in which Charles, in a speech read by Anne on his behalf, praised the British veterans' 'valiant service'. - Thursday March 21 The King holds audiences with new high commissioners from Tanzania and Singapore. Charles first holds an audience with Tanzania's top diplomat Mbelwa Kairuki at Buckingham Palace. He then meets Singapore's high commissioner to the UK, Ng Teck Hean, and his wife. - Friday March 22 6pm - In a recorded video message broadcast to the nation, the Princess of Wales announces she is having chemotherapy after tests following her surgery found cancer had been present. - Thursday March 28 The King addresses a congregation assembled at Worcester Cathedral for Royal Maundy Service through a pre-recorded audio message, though he does not attend in person. Charles speaks of his 'great sadness' in being unable to partake in the service and highlights his gratefulness for 'those who extend the hand of friendship' to those in need. Queen Camilla attends the service in his place. - Sunday March 31 The King attends an Easter Sunday church service in what marked his most significant public appearance since the announcement by Buckingham Palace in February that he had been diagnosed with an undisclosed form of cancer and is undergoing treatment. Charles joins the Queen and other members of the royal family at St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle on Sunday in a smaller version of the annual gathering. - Tuesday April 30 The King returns to public duties, meeting patients at University College Hospital Macmillan Cancer Centre in central London. His medical team is said to be 'very encouraged' by the progress he has made. - Tuesday May 14 The first completed portrait of the King since his coronation - by Jonathan Yeo - is unveiled, and depicts the monarch bathed in red with, at Charles's suggestion, a butterfly at his shoulder, symbolising his metamorphosis from prince to King. - Friday July 5 Charles plays a central role post-election, inviting Sir Keir Starmer to form a new government as he became the third Prime Minister of Charles' reign and the first Labour one. The King sympathises with his new PM, telling him you must be 'utterly exhausted and nearly on your knees'. Meanwhile, the King writes privately to Donald Trump after the former US president survived an assassination attempt. Charles delivers the second King's Speech of his reign at the State Opening of Parliament. - Sunday September 8 The King reached the second anniversary of his accession to the throne and the death of Queen Elizabeth II, with his health 'heading in a very positive trajectory', a royal source said. The source said Charles had coped with the past year with a 'determination to be as public as he was able' to reassure the nation about how much he could still do. - Friday October 18 The King and Queen Camilla began a landmark tour of Australia. The six-day trip to Canberra and Sydney was to be Charles' first to Australia as its head of state, and came as he was continuing to receive treatment for cancer. Doctors gave Charles permission to briefly halt the weekly cycle in order to fly around the world for his key visit Down Under, followed by a state visit to Samoa in the South Pacific. - Sunday November 10 The Queen watched the moving Remembrance Sunday service from home while she recuperated from a chest infection. Camilla observed the two minutes' silence privately as she followed the proceedings live on television at Raymill, her Wiltshire house, after doctors ordered her to miss the annual ceremony. - Thursday November 14 The King celebrated his 76th birthday, marking the occasion with a visit to a surplus food festival. - Tuesday December 3 Charles welcomes the Emir of Qatar to the UK at a state visit at the start of December, with Kate joining them at Horse Guards Parade - another step in her journey back to her public role, and David and Victoria Beckham appearing at the state banquet. - Tuesday December 3 The Queen told guests at the state visit that her chest infection was a form of pneumonia. Camilla was suffering from post-viral fatigue and missed the outdoor elements of a Qatari state visit after being urged by her doctors to take more time to recover. - Wednesday December 25 The King used his Christmas address to pay tribute to the 'selfless' doctors and nurses who provided 'strength, care and comfort' during cancer treatment for himself and the Princess of Wales. In his annual message to the nation and Commonwealth, Charles offered his 'heartfelt thanks' to the medical teams who supported him and his family 'through the uncertainties and anxieties of illness'. - Monday December 31 The King personally honoured senior staff from his medical team during his treatment for cancer. Charles's GP Dr Douglas Glass, otherwise known as the apothecary to the King, and his physician Professor Richard Leach were recognised for their personal service to the monarch and the royal family. 2025 - Tuesday January 14 Kate returns to the Royal Marsden, the hospital where she was treated for cancer, to thank staff for their care, and announces she is in remission. - Thursday March 27 The King 'required a short period of observation in hospital' after experiencing side effects from his cancer treatment. Charles was due to meet ambassadors in audiences at Buckingham Palace on Thursday afternoon, but these were postponed, as was a trip to Birmingham. A source described it as a 'most minor bump in a road that is very much heading in the right direction'. The King visited the London Clinic, where he was treated for an enlarged prostate in January 2024, and travelled to and from the hospital by car. Elon Musk's alleged baby mama says she's been forced to sell her Tesla after the world's richest man cut her child support in half. Conservative influencer Ashley St. Clair, 26, was spotted handing over the keys to her black Model S outside her Manhattan apartment on Saturday. And she had some choice words for the man she says is father to her son. 'I need to make up for the 60% cut that Elon made to our son's child support,' she told a DailyMail.com reporter who witnessed her handing the $100,000 car over to a representative from the online auto sales giant Carvana. When asked if she felt Musk was being 'vindictive' toward her, St. Clair, responded: 'Well, that's his modus operandi, when women speak out. 'You can check the stocks, I'm not the only one who is cleaning up after his messes. She said of anti-Tesla protests: 'The markets are catching up to what I have known for a long time. St. Clair said the last time she tried to speak to Musk was February 13, but he did not respond. Elon Musk's alleged baby mama Ashley St. Clair says she's been forced to sell her Tesla after the world's richest man cut her child support in half The conservative influencer, 26, was spotted handing over the keys to her black Model S outside her Manhattan apartment on Saturday Sources told DailyMail.com that Musk's behavior toward St. Clair has been 'shocking and shameful' after he cut her child support payments in half St. Clair went public in a bombshell post on Musk's social media site X last month, sensationally revealing the Tesla and SpaceX owner to be the father of her baby boy, born in September last year. She says Musk 'slid into my DMs' in May 2023, and that the child, who has been named publicly only by his initials 'R.S.C.', was conceived early January 2024 on a trip to the island of Saint Barthelemy in the Caribbean. The DOGE head's representatives did not immediately return a call asking for comment. Musk, 53, has not publicly acknowledged the child as his own, but has responded with cryptic emojis to posts on X about St. Clair's claims. St. Clair filed a paternity and a custody lawsuit in a New York court on February 21, claiming Musk told her to keep the baby secret, then ghosted her and their son in the middle of child support negotiations, forcing her to go public and take legal action. A source close to the case told DailyMail.com that since going public, Musk has 'retaliated' by slashing her payments in half 'unilaterally', leaving St. Clair struggling to make ends meet. The source described the billionaire's actions as 'shocking and shameful'. 'Ever since she got pregnant and then had the baby, Elon's been providing support money to her,' the source said. 'But he had a fairly specific list of requirements, including not acknowledging he's the father. According to insiders, St. Clair has been struggling to make ends meet after Musk allegedly slashed her payments in half in 'retaliation' for her going public DailyMail.com witnessed her handing the $100,000 car over to a representative from the online auto sales giant Carvana in New York City over the weekend When asked about the sale of the car, St. Clair told DailyMail.com: 'I need to make up for the 60% cut that Elon made to our son's child support' 'Since the moment she objected to the level of control he demanded, he's withdrawn from her completely. When she went public with the fact that the baby was his, he's never spoken to her again. 'When this thing went into court for custody and paternity, he cut the support payments way back. He cut it by more than half. 'It's a substantial reduction, and he obviously did it as a form of retaliation for her going into court,' the source claimed. St. Clair also has a three-year-old son from a previous partner, New York chiropractor Johnny Alexander. She has been raising the toddler and baby with the help of a full-time nanny at her rented three-bed apartment in downtown Manhattan. 'She bought a Tesla so she'd have a car to transport both the children in. Now she's selling it because she needs to raise money to cover the expenses she has that Elon has simply not paid. 'She's been living on her own. She gets no logistics assistance from Elon. And all of a sudden, she's punitively given much less money to raise this child than she's ever had.' The alleged behavior has given some close to St. Clair a low opinion of Musk. St. Clair went public about their lovechild in a bombshell post on Musk's social media site X last month Musk and St. Clair were photographed together at Twitter's headquarters in May 2023, DailyMail.com revealed in February MAGA influencer St. Clair, 26, had sued the Tesla CEO and X owner, 53, in February, seeking sole custody of their son that she says they share, and that he take a paternity test 'The richest guy in the world, to treat a woman that he made a baby with this way, is shocking and shameful,' the close source told DailyMail.com. Musk's lawyers successfully petitioned the New York judge to seal the case on March 14, keeping its details secret and limiting St. Clair's ability to speak out. 'This guy, who is supposedly dedicated to transparency and accountability in government, the first thing he did when he went into court was to try to gag Ashley so that she couldn't say anything, even as he was unilaterally cutting her support,' the source said. St. Clair's custody petition, obtained by DailyMail.com before the case was sealed, made damning claims against the confirmed father of 12 by three women. She stated she was ready to go all-in on the relationship, agreeing to 'relocate to Austin, Texas upon the child's birth', then switching to remaining in New York at his request from July last year. But the court documents paint a callous picture of Musk, claiming he chose not to be present at his son's birth, that he has only met him three times, and 'has had no involvement in his care and upbringing'. She claimed Musk 'first met R.S.C. on September 21, 2024 in New York City for two hours. He then spent one hour visiting R.S.C. and me the next day, September 22, 2024.' 'The next, and last time that Respondent saw our child was on November 30, 2024 in Austin, Texas, for only thirty minutes,' the February 21, 2025 filing said. 'The richest guy in the world, to treat a woman that he made a baby with this way, is shocking and shameful,' the source, who is close with St. Clair, told DailyMail.com St. Clair also has a three-year-old son from a previous partner, New York chiropractor Johnny Alexander. She has been raising the toddler and baby with the help of a full-time nanny at her rented three-bed apartment in downtown Manhattan The new son with conservative influencer St. Clair would extend Musk's brood to 13 'Respondent has never asked to see our child on any other occasion, he has never communicated to me about our child without my prompting, he has never asked for photos of our child or checked in after doctor's appointments.' Though filings are now sealed, the case dockets are still visible and contain hints that the judge is sympathetic to St. Clair's case. Her attorney Karen Rosenthal filed a proposed 'order to show cause' in St. Clair's custody case on March 20, likely asking the judge to order Musk to provide responses and engage in the case or face a default judgment, along with 12 exhibits. Eight days later, Judge Jeffrey Pearlman appears to have acquiesced, issuing the order. The only filings from Musk's lawyers in the case, Alyssa Rower and Jennifer Isaacman of Rower LLC, are about having it sealed. The Kremlin today declared that President Vladimir Putin was still 'open' to speaking to Donald Trump after the US president said he was 'very angry' with the Russian leader over little progress on a ceasefire in Ukraine. 'This process is time-consuming, probably due to the fact of the complexity of the substance. The president remains open to contact with President Trump,' Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. He added that 'there is no scheduled' phone call between the leaders, but that 'when it is necessary, their conversation will be promptly organised'. It comes shortly after Volodymyr Zelensky implored his American counterpart to 'force Russia into peace', after the Republican admitted he was 'p***ed off' with Putin. Trump took umbrage with his opposite number in the Kremlin after he questioned Zelensky's credibility last week, insisting the current Ukrainian government needed to be ousted and replaced with an interim administration. It was a welcome turnaround for officials in Kyiv given that Trump had labelled the Ukrainian president a 'dictator without elections' only weeks ago and claimed he was 'sick' of handling the war and aiding Kyiv. Speaking with NBC host Kristen Welker over the weekend, Trump warned that Moscow 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.' The Kremlin today declared that President Vladimir Putin was still 'open' to speaking to Donald Trump after the US president said he was 'very angry' with the Russian leader United States President Donald J Trump walks on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky gives a press conference in Kyiv on March 28, 2025 A view shows the frontline city of Pokrovsk, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Donetsk region, Ukraine March 25, 2025 A wounded soldier on a stretcher receives medical attention at a medical stabilization point near the frontline city of Pokrovsk, Donetsk region 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.' Last night, Sir Keir Starmer also spoke to 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 US to stop relying on other countries and bring back business to the home land. 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 Ukrainian rescuers work to extinguish a fire at the site of a drone strike in Kharkiv, northeastern Ukraine, 26 March 2025 Meanwhile, the US is leading peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine in the ongoing war and while it appeared to be heading in the direction for a deal, that might have fallen apart last 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 Zelensky'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. A five-year-old girl was allegedly 'sexually assaulted' by a group of boys in the school playground, sparking an official investigation. Parents were horrified to receive an email from the primary school in north-west Sydney on March 24 detailing the alleged incident that happened two weeks earlier. Confronting details are believed to have been initially shared by the girl's mother in a private WhatsApp group chat before the school principal addressed the alleged incident. It's alleged the boys 'grabbed' the girl, 'forcibly removed' her underwear, and 'touched and scratched' her insides on March 7. 'Her injuries were so severe that we had to take her to the hospital, where she needed local anesthetics to urinate for several days,' the message seen by 7news.com.au read. Further messages in the chat by the mother claimed that staff cleaned up blood from the girl's legs and clothes but didn't inform her parents about the alleged incident. The mum also claimed that she had previously raised concerns about one of the boys repeatedly hitting her daughter and other children but that the school did nothing 'beyond limiting playground time.' The principal has since confirmed the recent alleged incident is being investigated by police and the NSW Department of Education. A five-year-old girl was allegedly 'sexually assaulted' by a group of boys at a Sydney primary school on March 7 (stock image) The school's principal addressed the alleged incident in an email to parents after the girl mum's shared confronting details in a private Whatsapp group chat 'The safety and wellbeing of students are our highest priorities, and any allegations of inappropriate behaviour are promptly investigated,' an email to parents stated. 'Recently an allegation was made around the inappropriate conduct of some of our students. 'This matter has been reported to police, and the Department of Education have been informed of the allegations. 'As these allegations are under investigation by police and the Department of Education, we are not able to provide any further information at this time.' A group of boys were understood to have been absent for several days last week following the principal's acknowledgement of the alleged incident. The education department originally referred the matter to NSW Police, who have spoken with the girl's parents. 'Police continue to work closely with the Department of Community and Justice and the NSW Department of Education,' a police spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia. Concerned parents are now demanding answers from the school. The alleged incident is being investigated by police and the NSW Department of Education (stock image) ''We want to know what happened,' one mum told 7news.com.au. Parents also claim it's not the first time pupils have been left unsupervised in the playground at the school. The Department of Education's investigation will take place under the oversight of the Office of the Children's Guardian. This office monitors how investigations and reported allegations of inappropriate conduct towards children are handled within organisations. Daily Mail Australia has contacted the Department of Education for comment. A couple were horrified to discover their 22,000 car had been seized by bailiffs and sold on for half its value over an unpaid 35 penalty charge they didn't know about. Ravi Oak, 55, and Anu Apte, 53, unwittingly drove through a bus gate in their Mercedes C350E in Chelmsford, Essex, shortly before going to India for a prolonged stay due to a death in the family. Essex County Council sent a 35 fixed penalty notice to their home in Colchester, Essex, but it was left unopened as no one was there. The unpaid fine was later doubled to 70 for non-payment and other related warning letters went unopened during the couple's absence. Five months later, a friend who had been checking in on their house went round and found their car missing from the garage. It was only then that the letters were opened, revealing the silver car, built in 2017, had been repossessed by bailiffs over the unpaid debt. The couple are now considering taking Essex County Council to court because they believe the notice was not properly served. Mr Oak said: 'We feel cheated and we feel let down because we think people have not followed the law. Ravi Oak and Anu Apte's Mercedes C350E was seized by bailiffs and sold on without their knowledge while they were abroad A Mercedes C350E similar to the one owned by Ravi Oak and Anu Apte that was seized and sold over an unpaid fixed penalty notice 'We did not receive the notice, so it was not properly served this is an abuse of power. 'We need other people to know about what has happened and that it is morally wrong.' Mr Oak said he had searched for the car's registration plate online and found it had been sold at auction for 10,500, less than half its estimated value. The couple drove through the bus gate in November 2022 and have spent around two years in a legal dispute with the council over the matter. They are now preparing to take the case to a civil court to claim damages. Ms Apte, who spent six months in India following the bereavement, said: 'It's a lot of emotional stress, that's one thing. Obviously, money is another thing. 'And then the impact it had at the workplace as well - we became the target of criticism. People who didn't know I was out of the country just think 'Why didn't they pay it? Why couldn't you just pay the fine?' 'The issue was not that I wasn't here and was unaware of it. We would have paid the fine if we were in the UK and had known about it.' The unpaid debt was passed to debt collection agency Bristow and Sutor, whose website states they 'pride ourselves on placing social responsibility and customer welfare at the centre of everything we do'. The company was approached for a comment. Debt collector Bristow and Sutor were appointed by Essex County Council over the unpaid 35 fixed penalty notice Essex County Council said it always made repeated attempts to contact vehicle owners over unpaid fixed penalty notices. A spokesman said: 'If an owner breaches a bus gate they are contacted a number of times. 'This is typically over a four-month period and via letters and in-person visits. 'They are given the opportunity to either pay the fine or make representations or appeal. 'For this particular matter, the owner was contacted five times. 'If an owner continues to ignore this repeated correspondence, it is passed to a third-party enforcement agent. 'The agent then follows their own legal process to recover the fines incurred. The vehicle could then be at risk of being removed. 'This is very rare and almost all vehicle owners pay before it gets to this point. 'We follow legal process when contacting owners regarding fines. 'We make considerable effort so they aware of the fine and the options they have.' A horrified landlord has been left with a 30,000 clean up bill after 'nightmare' tenants trashed her property leaving it with 'piles of rubbish' and infested with 'rats'. Galina Manders, 49, decided to put her three bedroom terraced home she had refurbished on the rental market to make some extra cash on the side of her day job. The property in Bolton, Greater Manchester, was rented to a couple for two years who consistently stopped Ms Manders from entering the home every time she tried to organise a visit. It wasn't until a surveyor sent her pictures of the house did she know the full extent of the damage to the property which included blocked toilets, broken walls, mould, a 'rat infestation' and rubbish which is 'up to her knees'. Police are now investigating a case of suspected criminal damage at the property which Mrs Manders had rented out for 695 a month. In January 2024 Manders triggered a section 21 no fault eviction order beginning the process of evicting the individuals after they 'refused' to clean the property. The landlord has been to clean the house herself, which she says will cost a 'fortune'. Ms Manders said: 'The people who did this have no respect for me or for themselves, this is abuse.' Galina Manders, 49, nearly cried when she saw the destruction left behind by her 'nightmare' tenants Slide me The couple who rented the Bolton property repeatedly refused entry to Ms Manders and only realised the scale of their destructive mess until a surveyor sent her pictures The landlord only got access to the house 14 months after she filed section 21, despite the tenants having found a new property five months earlier 'I have no savings, I'm not a massive property tycoon - I can't afford a clean-up job like this.' The accountant bought the house in 2012 and lived inside until 2018 with her husband Michael, 55, and her two children Melanie, 17, and Oscar, 12, up until 2018. Ms Manders spent thousands on a full house renovations including fitting a new kitchen and bathroom alongside redecorating the bedrooms. After moving out and to moving into a bigger four bedroom house, Ms Manders put the property on the rental market in 2018. She said: 'I thought it would be a good idea so we could make some extra money on the side of our day jobs.' Ms Manders had two previous tenants between 2018 and 2022 that caused her 'minimal issues'. She then took on her third tenants in March 2022 saying 'it was the worst decision' she had made in her life. She took on the couple through an agency who she said had done 'all the background checks' on them but she couldn't know who they were until they moved in due to 'GDPR', according Ms Manders. Having pet cats was the first sign that the tenants had violated Ms Manders' rules, with their food and refuse now filling the filthy bathroom The accountant rented the three bed property in 2018 after refurbishing it to make some extra cash on the side of her day job (as seen when she first rented it out) The first time she met them was six months in their residence in August 2022, when she went over for a house inspection and said she found multiple 'red flags'. The landlord said: 'The house was a bit messy but nothing too bad, but then I saw two cats which breached our no pets tenancy agreement. 'I tried to sort out a compromise but never got round to it.' She didn't check up on them for another year until she asked a surveyor to visit so she could get an updated estimate on the house price for a better deal on her mortgage. Ms Manders said: 'The surveyor sent me a text asking when was the last time I visited the house. 'I then received pictures of the house in an absolute mess saying he couldn't even get upstairs to view the bedrooms.' She then asked if they could inspect the property herself, but according to her, the occupants came up with '16 different excuses' to stop her from seeing the property. Ms Manders said seeing the state of the home since the rental has left her 'choked up and in tears'. Renting out her property to the couple was the 'worse decision' in Ms Manders life Tenants came up with '16 different excuses' to block Ms Menders from seeing her property (as seen when she first rented it out) The surveyor said he was not even able to reach upstairs to take pictures of the mess because of the rubbish blocking his way Ms Manders is calling for the law to be changed in order to be able to evict contract-breaking tenants more quickly She gave the tenants 'one week' to clean up the mess stating they had 'violated' the terms and agreements. The landlord said this is when the tenants got aggressive and abusive towards her. She said: 'I had to block him on WhatsApp as every message he sent I started shaking.' Last January, Ms Manders filed a section 21 no fault eviction of the 1988 Housing Act as the couple 'refused' to clean up the mess. Ms Manders said she was not being allowed access to the building by the occupants so she had to pursue this route as there was no way of obtaining proof of the damage, she claims. The landlord only got access to the house 14 months later in March 2025 even though the couple had found a new home in November 2024. She said they didn't move out due to the local council 'not paying' for a removal van to transfer their belongings out of the house. Recalling the first time she entered the house, she said: 'The smell was unbearable - We had to wear masks to stay in there longer than 5 minutes.' After giving tenants a week to clean up their mess, Ms Manders said she was forced to file a section 21 to evict them The landlord said the tenants 'have no respect for me or for themselves, this is abuse' 'I have no savings, I'm not a massive property tycoon - I can't afford a clean-up job like this' 'Everywhere is trashed, there is mould all over the walls broken walls. 'We can't even get upstairs there is that much rubbish - there is also said there is cat poo stuck to the floor.' Ms Manders said a 'full renovation' of the house is needed in order to get it back on the market. Since the occupants left the house in such bad condition the police are currently investigating for criminal damage. Ms Manders is calling for the law to be changed in order to be able to evict contract-breaking tenants more quickly. Since the incident she has spoken to her local MP asking her 'to bring up in Parliament' that the law is one-sided towards tenants and it should be easier to evict people who are damaging your property like this. Bolton South and Walkden MP, Ms Qureshi, said: 'I sympathise with the situation Ms Manders finds herself in, as no-one should have to deal with the appalling conditions this property was left in. 'Landlords who are in dispute with tenants should pursue action through the legal system, and my office has passed on details of organisations who can offer specialist advice to landlords in doing this. Ms Manders said a 'full renovation' of the house is needed in order to get it back on the market Greater Manchester Police said they are investigating the criminal damage left behind When Ms Manders insisted the mess be cleaned up, the tenants began to be 'aggressive' (as seen when she first rented it out) 'The smell was unbearable - we had to wear masks to stay in there longer than 5 minutes' Ms Manders believes that there is cat poo now stuck to the floor upstairs where she has not been able to access (as seen when she first rented it out) Slide me 'Everywhere is trashed, there is mould all over the walls broken walls' (compared with the property when first rented out) 'There is a number of routes available for landlords to recover damages from tenants who have caused damage to a property and this should be a matter for the courts to adjudicate. 'Labour is focused on clearing the backlog in the courts, caused by 15 years of mismanagement by the Conservative government, to ensure that cases like this can be dealt with promptly.' A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Police said an 'investigation is underway' regarding the damage. A veterinary nurse who nearly fell asleep on a dog after taking drugs meant for animals has been struck off. Dayna Johnson injected herself with pain relief meant for a pet undergoing surgery and replaced it with a different liquid, a disciplinary committee has heard. The Bristol-based nurse excused her behaviour with reasons including suffering from 'jet-lag', that it was her 'birthday' the night before and also that she was nervous about starting a new job. She was also found to have taken drugs at four different veterinary practices in the space of a year on five separate occasions. Following the hearing, the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons disciplinary committee found her guilty of misconduct and struck her off the veterinary nurses register. Ms Johnson's negligence was 'sustained and repeated', but in one particularly damning incident while working her first shift at Yatton Vets in Bristol in September 2023, she nearly fell asleep on a spaniel lying on the operating table. During a trial shift the day before, the veterinary nurse had asked an owner of the independent practice about which drugs staff were required to record the use of. Veterinary nurse Dayna Johnson (pictured), of Bristol, injected herself with pain relief meant for a pets and nearly fell asleep on a spaniel lying on the operating table, a disciplinary committee has heard Ms Johnson was informed by a colleague that synthetic opioid buprenorphine was not recorded. Later on, when she was alone with a controlled drugs cabinet, Ms Johnson took methadone and 'concealed it in her clothing'. During her first day on the job, she took controlled drugs in a surgical prep room, stole two boxes of nerve painkiller gabapentin and put an empty bottle of buprenorphine in the bin. When conducting a dental surgery on a spaniel that day, the surgeon asked Ms Johnson if she was alright. She replied that she was 'fine' but 'tired and had not got much sleep the night before, as she had been nervous about starting the job'. But, as time went on, 'she appeared to fall asleep standing up' and 'jumped as if she had been startled awake' when the surgeon asked her a question. When writing the anaesthetic record, Ms Johnson's 'pen was not touching the paper' at points - this turned out to be 'illegible'. The committee heard that her condition even deteriorated 'to the point where she was almost leaning on the spaniel, asleep'. Despite insisting that she was fine to carry on when challenged, she went on a break when she was told to. Ms Johnson had even reported that the spaniel, which was 13 years old, had a normal temperature - but it was actually hypothermic (a dangerous drop in body temperature). Following the incident, she was very apologetic to staff and said that 'she had not slept well and that it had been her birthday the night before'. Her job offer was then rescinded and the practice discovered that 10ml of buprenorphine, 100 tablets of 100mg gabapentin and 116 tablets of 300mg gabapentin were missing. After being interviewed by police about the incident in October 2023, Ms Johnson said in a written statement: 'I KNOW i will NEVER do anything like this again'. But, just the next month, she was found taking a syringe of buprenorphine from vet charity People's Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA), when she was working there as a locum veterinary nurse. In November 2023, Ms Johnson was found taking a syringe of buprenorphine from vet charity People's Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA), when she was working there as a locum veterinary nurse After stealing this, she lied to a veterinary surgeon who questioned her and claimed that another surgeon had authorised her to administer the medication to a spaniel. Moreover, the hearing heard that the two incidents were not the first time the now disgraced veterinary nurse had taken drugs meant for animals. In May 2023, Ms Johnson was interviewed by police after injecting herself with around 5ml of methadone while prepping drugs for pet operations when working a locum shift at Vets4Pets. She was seen swaying when she came out of the toilet, and when a veterinary surgeon asked her what was wrong, she said she'd 'just got back from a holiday', the committee heard. An ambulance was called after Ms Johnson passed out, with a syringe discovered in her pocket. She later admitted to police that she needed to 'stop lying' and 'just fell apart that night'. Ms Johnson was given a conditional caution by police in relation to the theft, under the condition she attend a drug awareness course by October 2023. Between February and August 2023, at the time of the police investigation, she was working as a veterinary nurse at the Langford Small Animal Hospital in Bristol. In August 2023, a syringe of methadone for a cocker spaniel's joint surgery went missing. A fellow nurse noticed that Ms Johnson's behaviour had changed, that she was now 'disinhibited' and 'disclosing inappropriate personal details' to people in the operating theatre. The hospital reported the incident in November 2023. In December 2023 she pleaded guilty to and was convicted of theft of buprenorphine on 26 September 2023, and was also fined. The committee was also told that Ms Johnson was also dismissed due to gross misconduct from her role at a Healthcare Services company in January 2025 after an investigation was launched about 'some codeine tablets that were missing'. The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons said: 'The College submits that [Ms Johnson] has directly breached three of the most fundamental tenets of the profession: the promotion of animal welfare, the responsible use of drugs and behaving with honesty and integrity. 'It is also submitted that she breached the trust of her employer and risked placing her colleagues under suspicion regarding dishonestly taking the drugs. 'The College submitted it was significant that the conduct was sustained and repeated: it took place at four different practices over the period of approximately one year, it involved three different controlled drugs and it took place on five separate occasions. 'The drugs in question were all controlled drugs, and of a type which are associated with misuse and dependency. 'The conduct took place repeatedly despite intervention, warnings and promises that it would not happen again.' A Utah grandmother given just six months to live after she was diagnosed with an aggressive lung cancer has confounded doctors by seemingly beating the disease. Dukhi Hong, 84, was devastated when she was diagnosed with small cell lung cancer in 2019. Medics told her the rare cancer had spread to her brain and her family braced themselves to say their goodbyes. However, last week she defied all expectations to receive her 100th immunotherapy dose. 'It feels like a dream,' the Korea-born patient told ABC4 Utah from the Salt Lake City hospital where she has been receiving treatment for the last six years. The senior has further astounded doctors after her latest lung scan came back cancer-free. 'We certainly don't understand everything,' Dr. Stephan Kendall said, explaining that it could be the grandmother's immune system which has helped her respond so effectively to the drugs. 'I've never had a patient receive 100 doses of any kind of treatment, honestly.' While doctors aren't certain as to how Hong enjoyed such a surprising recovery, research has shown that patients with strong immune systems will reap greater benefits from immune therapy. Utah grandmother Dukhi Hong (center), who was given just six months to live after she was diagnosed with an aggressive lung cancer, has confounded doctors by 'beating' the disease Steps as simple as a good diet and plenty of exercise are known to improve immune health and can help prevent cancer in the first place, although Hong has yet to share her own lifestyle secrets. Immunotherapy is a cancer treatment which uses the body's own immune system to fight carcinogenic cells. It has advanced greatly since it was first discovered in the 19th century. Patients can take drugs that helps attack part of a cancer cell that the body refuses to attack, which can help the disease take hold. Immune cells can be removed, modified, then reinserted to tackle cancer cells, with vaccines also used to help boost patients' immune systems. While the outlook is promising, Hong is not completely in the clear year as small lung cell cancer can reoccur and is harder to treat second time around. The scan also revealed some cancer in the brain, although at an early stage. 'She's doing really well,' Dr. Kendall said. Hong was first diagnosed with cancer after she was hospitalized following a seizure. 'Our whole world crashed,' her daughter, Mitzi Maughan, told KTVX. But Hong has always been a survivor, managing to make a whole new life for herself in the US after emigrating from Korea while seven months pregnant in 1965. Seven years after her arrival, she became a single mom to her four children. 'It was tough, but somehow, I just lived on,' she explained. 'I didn't know how to speak English. I had just learned the ABCs.' Her resilience has stood in her good stead for the tough fight against her cancer, which includes monthly immunotherapy treatments. Hong, 84, was devastated when she was diagnosed with small cell lung cancer in 2019 She began an intensive course of immunotherapy administered every three to four weeks which has proven extremely effective Her latest scans showed that there is no cancer in her lungs and only minimal cancer in her brain While the sessions used to cause her family anxiety, they have learned to live with their new reality and now use it as an occasion to spend time with the beloved matriarch. Her 100th dose was marked with a huge celebration featuring cake and balloons. 'She's our hero,' Maughan added. Lung cancer kills more than 127,000 in the US each year, figures show. Smoking is the most common cause of lung cancer, accounting for more than 70 percent of cases, according to health experts. However, even people who have never smoked can also develop the disease, which mainly affects older people. More than four out of 10 people diagnosed are over 75. There are two main forms of the disease non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and small-cell lung cancer (SCLC). The former accounts for eight in ten cases and is a less aggressive form of the disease. Whereas the latter, small-cell lung cancer, is very aggressive and usually spreads faster. The survival rate tends to be lower for SCLC. Hong arrived in the US while seven months pregnant in 1965 and set up a new life for herself Lung cancer kills more than 127,000 in the US each year, figures show The main warning signs of lung cancer can include having a persistent cough, such as one that doesn't go away after three weeks, or a long-standing cough which gets worse. Breathlessness is another common sign, as well as recurrent or lingering chest infections. Aches and pains when breathing or coughing, pain in your shoulder, or coughing up blood are also signs to watch out for. Canadians who love wintering in Florida are ditching the Sunshine State to protest Donald Trump's treatment of their nation...and going to Cuba instead. Scores of Maple Leaf natives have pledged to boycott US travel - and some are taking it a step further by holidaying in the controversial Caribbean country instead. The American federal government has long placed a ban on citizens traveling to Cuba as tourists, as a result of trade wars between the nations which never ceased. This policy tightened during Trump's first term in the White House. Richard Clavet, who owns a string of Canadian-themed motels in south-east Florida's Hollywood, said snowbirds from the country are even going as far as canceling their trips and forfeiting deposits because of Trump's hostile policies. 'I got one guy that had a $1,000 deposit. You know for sure he's coming. He gave up his deposit,' Clavet, 60, told the Miami Herald. 'And it's not like he decided not to come. But, just to protest, he said he was going to Cuba instead.' Cuba's northern coast sits just 90 miles south of Florida's Key West tip, and offers similar sandy beaches and balmy weather. The Communist country has historically been an enemy of the US, making it a great place for Canadians upset by Trump's policies to invest their holiday money. 'It's terrible,' Clavet said. 'People are canceling reservations left and right. They're not booking. We should be super, super busy right now and we're just basically seeking American business. I think we need to give up on the Canadians.' Canadians are flocking to Cuba for vacations rather than Florida in protest against Donald Trump's aggressive tariffs and annexation threats. (Pictured: Playa Larga in Matanzas, Cuba) Trump has threatened to annex Canada amid bold territorial ambitions which have crippled relations between the countries - with similar rhetoric also leveled against Greenland Richard Clavet (pictured), who owns a string of Canadian-themed motels in south-east Florida's Hollywood, said snowbirds from the country are even going as far as canceling their trips and forfeiting deposits because of US President Donald Trump's hostile policies Clavet, who arrived in Florida from Quebec in 1985 before launching his business in the 1990s, said he feels torn about the situation. 'I would say my heart is on both sides of the border. I think it's terrible what's going on in Canada right now,' he said. 'I guess it depends on how you're looking at things right now. Right now, there's like a mass movement from the Canadians and they're all identifying together as against the US And they're cutting their flights coming down this way.' Just three weeks into the month of March, demand for flights from Canada to South Florida has dropped around 20 percent compared with the same time last year. Stacy Ritter, President and CEO of Visit Lauderdale, said the area normally takes in around 1.1 million Canadian tourists annually - but not this year. 'Visit Lauderdale is deeply concerned about potential travel restrictions on our tourism industry,' Ritter told the Miami Herald. People from Canada, which has a population of more than 40 million, have long been among the top international travelers to the US. Even a 10 percent drop in their travel spending could cost the American economy $2 billion and result in 14,000 job losses, according to the US Travel Association. Canada's Liberal Party Prime Minister, Mark Carney, has hit back against Trump's threats As well as sparking a seismic shift in Canadian attitudes towards the US - which were formerly friendly - Trump's hostile policies also catalyzed a snap election. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, 60, who stepped up to the role after Justin Trudeau resigned last year, called for an early election in the hopes voters would give him a stronger mandate to combat Trump's policies. The Liberal Party leader has been running on an anti-Trump platform after the American president launched a bitter trade war days after returning to the White House in January. Trump, 78, has also threatened to annex the country amid bold territorial ambitions which have crippled relations between the US and Canada - while also leveling similar rhetoric against Greenland and Mexico. Some Canadians said they're boycotting America because they're concerned they'll have issues crossing the border, while for others it's a matter of principle as part of Carney's 'elbows up' campaign against these policies. 'I definitely will not be travelling to the United States for the next four years, if not longer, depending on whos in after this Trump buffoon,' Vancouver resident Natalie Huson, 64, told DailyMail.com. When asked which of Trump's policies had prompted her boycott, Huson said: 'Him as a person, his treatment of immigrants, and all the people that voted for him - the "MAGA" cult following.' Canadians are canceling American vacations in protest against Donald Trump's aggressive policies against their country. Vancouver native Natalie Huson (pictured) said she won't be taking a trip to the US for the next four years despite having close friends in the country Vehicle traffic from Canada into Erie and Niagara County was down 14 percent last month Huson said that despite being a '64-year-old woman who doesn't drink, smoke or have a criminal record' she is concerned about being detained at the border. 'I dont trust that something might not happen to me there,' she said. 'It is not worth taking the chance. 'I will forgo seeing my best friend for four years, and Ive told her not to travel up this way.' 'I also told my two sons, daughter-in-law and my grandchildren not to cross the border,' Huson added. 'They're ok with that. 'Ive also told them if theyre going to fly anywhere in the world they do a direct flight over the United States do not land in the United States. 'That place is a wreck right now and I cant see it getting any better until Trump is out.' Another Canadian who gave her name only as Mary, agreed she would not be traveling to the US 'as long as Trump's in charge'. The Alberta native said the sentiment was shared by her family and friends, who are also opting to vacation elsewhere. Speaking about Trump, she told DailyMail.com: 'I detest the man, and the way hes treating the rest of the world is just the last straw for me.' French detectives believe the remains of little Emile Soleil were likely preserved in a protected, almost sterile environment like a freezer before being moved and found. Analyses of bones found near a river in the sleepy French hamlet of Haut Vernet early last year suggest they had moved before they were discovered, which experts believe could suggest a deliberate staging. Based on the decomposition of the remains, they believe they had been carefully preserved before being exposed to the open air, where they were found. The analyses also suggested that the two-year-old's skull, recovered late last March, was deposited only just before it was stumbled upon by a walker less than a mile from his grandparents' house, from which he disappeared on July 8, 2023. Police said they had already scoured the area during intensive searches. According to the investigation, clothes found near the remains last April were not in a state of decomposition - which they believe suggests he did not get lost alone and did not die where his bones and clothes were found. 'The expert reports suggest the likelihood of third-party involvement in the disappearance and death of Emile Soleil,' prosecutor Jean-Luc Blachon told a press conference late last week. Emile Soleil went missing from a sleepy Alpine village in France in 2023 French gendarmes take part in a search operation for missing Emile Soleil in July 2023 A gendarme stands outside the house of the grandparents of Emile Soleil on March 25 The skull was found with signs of 'violent facial trauma' on one side, Mr Bachon said at the press conference on Thursday. They are yet to establish whether the blow was carried out by an object or a fist, according to Le Parisien, but suggestion of third party involvement has become a major line of inquiry. Investigators have already carried out 287 witness interviews, combed 285 hectares of land and pulled together more than 60 expert missions to analyse the findings, it was revealed last week. Colonel Christophe Berthelin assured some 15 investigators have been working every day since the July 2023 disappearance to understand what happened to the child. But they have not yet conclusively established what happened to little Emile Soleil, or why he was killed. Emile's grandparents, who were looking after him when he vanished from their holiday home in summer 2023, were released from custody last week having been detained on suspicion of voluntary homicide and concealing a corpse this week. Mr Bachon that the line of inquiry involving the family was just 'one among others', while noting that the family trail has 'not yet been closed'. He said that the investigation had reached a stage 'where it became necessary to confront and enlighten the people most affected' by the tragedy. Your browser does not support iframes. Grandfather Philippe Vedovini at the funeral of little Emile in Saint-Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume on February 8, 2025 Anne Vedovini, 59, was arrested with her husband on Tuesday. Emile Soleil had been staying with his grandparents at the time of his disappearance Investigators haul off a horse trailer from the property of the grandparents of Emile Soleil on March 25 The grandparents and two of their 10 children were arrested 'in light of the results of the expert reports', he said. All faced charges of 'intentional homicide' and 'concealing a corpse', said a statement released by Aix-en-Provence prosecutors. In France, people can be placed under arrest for questioning while police investigate. It does not mean that legal proceedings will necessarily be brought against them. The arrests, made last Tuesday, were the result of fact-finding 'over recent months', he told reporters at the time. He said forensic police were still examining 'several spots in the area' and carrying out wide forensic work across the country. Enquiry sources also confirmed that the Vedovinis, who were looking after Emile when he went missing, were arrested following months of police wire taps. Conversations between them and other family members were all secretly listened to, while enquiries were conducted around their lives. Mr Bachon also revealed a set back in the investigation, as a blood-coated planter found near the Saint Martin chapel the Sunday prior 'did not contain any evidence likely to advance the investigations'. Investigators were looking to determine whether the blood was human, and whether it might shed any more light on Emile's story. Emile (pictured) was last seen wearing a yellow T-shirt and white shorts, investigators said at the time Aix-en-Provence prosecutor Jean-Luc Blachon addresses a press conference, March 27 Marie and Colomban Soleil, parents of Emile, who went missing in 2023 and whose remains were found in March 2024, arrive at the funeral ceremony in Saint-Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume, southern France, on February 8, 2025 The mystery deepened as it emerged last week that the family's Roman Catholic priest who baptised Emile before he went missing had 'taken his own life', according to reports. Father Claude Gilliot, 85, is said to have died from a 'massive overdose' at his home in Aix-en-Provence, French media reports. Claims have been made that he fell out with the Vedovinis before his death. Father Gilliot had frequently expressed his emotional angst during the saga. The priest was once very close to Emile's grandparents, along with two of their 10 adult children. The Vedovini family are all devout Roman Catholics, and at one stage relied on Father Gilliot for their spiritual guidance, including celebrating Mass and hearing Confessions. But they fell out after Father Gilliot provided a photo of Emile to the media, in an attempt try and find the little boy. A GCHQ intern who endangered national security by downloading top secret information including the names of spies while on a work placement with the intelligence agency is facing jail. Hasaan Arshad, 25, was on secondment to the communications agency when he took his work mobile phone into a top secret area and connected the device to a workstation. In an embarrassing security incident for GCHQ, the Manchester University student was working as an intern during a year-long university work placement when he managed to obtain top secret information worth millions of pounds and sneak it out on his mobile phone. The computer expert, who is the son of a local councillor from Rochdale, Lancashire, took his work mobile phone into a top secret area in the Cheltenham building and connected the device to a workstation in August 2022. He transferred sensitive data containing the names of GCHQ employees from a secure computer to the phone before taking it home. Arshad then transferred the data to a hard drive connected to his personal home computer. After his arrest, investigators discovered a conversation on Arshads phone when he discussed developed vetting in the cyber sector. Arshad mentioned the term bug bounty which refers to an amount of money that an individual could be paid for providing details of a digital bug to either fix or create a software issue. Arshad stated: You can get like 10k for simple info leaks. Hasaan Arshad, 23, was charged under the Computer Misuse Act GCHQ base in Cheltenham When he was interviewed by the police, Arshad gave officers a prepared statement in which he accepted that he removed data without authorisation. But he insisted he had no intention of providing anybody with the data. I would like to apologise for my actions, he said. I removed the data simply out of curiosity to further develop some of the changes I was unable to complete during the course of my placement. I had intended to use my developments when I hopefully returned to my previous team. Im sorry for my actions and I understand the stupidity of what I have done. He stated that nobody had seen or had access to the sensitive data and no one was aware that he had it in his possession. I understand the potential damage and risk when obtaining the data. I have accepted that I removed the data and the stupidity of doing so. I did take steps to ensure that the data was not compromised, he added. At a previous hearing it emerged that the data removed was classified at top secret and provided a tool used by GCHQ. The investment in the tool was said to amount to a significant amount of taxpayers money. Commercially, the data was potentially worth millions of pounds, prosecutors said. The data contained the names of Arshad's former colleagues and the protection of those names was said to be critical to the safety of GCHQ's employees because of the counter-intelligence risks associated with such employment. It could take many months or even years to develop a comparable tool and its compromise would have an impact on various organisations' abilities and would put lives at risk, it was said. The keen computer gamer had previously attended a ten-week programme at GCHQ in 2019 designed to give participants vocational skills, for which he was screened at the lowest security check level. He went on to study at Manchester University, later graduating with a masters in computer engineering after returning to GCHQ for a one-year placement between September 6, 2021 and August 26, 2022, when he was granted developed vetting (DV) security clearance, the highest level. Two days before leaving his placement, he obtained the secret data. Top secret is the classification for the Government's most sensitive information, where compromise might cause widespread loss of life or threaten the security or economic wellbeing of the country or friendly nations. Prior to his arrest, Arshad boasted on his LinkedIn page that he was a 'skilled software engineer who can see ideas through from design to implementation, saying he had worked as a developer at a government agency and had been tasked with designing, researching and implementing a key software project. His three-week trial was due to start at the Old Bailey today, with parts of the trial due to take place in secret, but Arshad pleaded guilty on the first day. He admitted an offence under the Computer Misuse Act which created a significant risk of serious damage to the national security of the country. Arshad had previously pleaded guilty to making indecent images of children which were found on his phone as part of the investigation. The bearded defendant, dressed in a grey suit, spoke only to enter his guilty plea. Nina Grahame KC, defending, told the court that the plea had been made on on the basis of recklessness as to the damage caused rather than intent to cause damage. Mrs Justice McGowan ordered a pre-sentence report but warned him that he could face a potential jail term when he is sentenced in June. Israeli hostages were forced to watch as Hamas raped and tortured women being held captive in Gaza, a freed hostage has revealed. Keith Siegel, 65, was violently abducted alongside his wife Aviva from their house in Kibbutz Nir Oz when Hamas launched its October 7, 2023 attack on Israel. He revealed how they were 'gasping for breath' and 'feeling life-threatened' as they were forced into a vehicle, driven to Gaza and taken through a tunnel by armed terrorists. But the horror was only amplified once they were in captivity, with Siegel now telling CBS News' 60 Minutes how he was beaten, starved and forced to watch 'very cruel and very violent' terrorists assault other hostages. 'I witnessed a young woman who was being tortured by the terrorists. I mean literal torture, not just in the figurative sense,' he said. 'I saw sexual assault with female hostages.' Yarden Bibas, whose young sons Ariel and Kfir become a symbol of Israeli suffering in the war, echoed the terror that Siegel endured and claimed that his captors repeatedly taunted him over his family's fate. 'They were murdered in cold blood. Bare hands,' he said of his wife Shiri, four-year-old Ariel and baby Kfir, adding: '[Hamas] used to tell me "It doesn't matter. You'll get a new wife, new kids. Better wife, better kids".' Bibas has also called on US President Donald Trump to bring an end to the war in Gaza, claiming that Trump is 'the only one' who can convince Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Hamas to halt the renewed fighting. Keith Siegel, 65, says he was forced to watch as Hamas raped and tortured women being held captive in Gaza. 'I saw sexual assault with female hostages,' he told 60 Minutes yesterday Yarden Bibas - whose sons Ariel, 4, and Kfir, 10 months, become a symbol of Israeli suffering in the war - says Hamas told him 'you'll get a better wife and kids' when his family were murdered. Bibas (left) is pictured with his wife Shiri (right) and their sons Ariel and Kfir Bibas on Sunday gave his first media interview since being freed in a ceasefire last month. He revealed that as a hostage he was mostly held in Hamas' underground tunnels and that the Israeli strikes were terrifying. 'It's scary. You don't know when it's gonna happen, and when it happens, you are afraid for your life,' he said. 'Everything could collapse at any moment.' He learned upon his release that Shiri and his sons had been killed in captivity in Gaza. Ariel and Kfir Bibas had been 'brutally murdered' in captivity in November 2023, the Israeli military said after carrying out forensic checks on their remains. Officials say Hamas killed the brothers 'with their bare hands'. The boys would have been aged 4 and 10 months respectively at the time. Hamas late last month handed over the body of an unknown person in place of Shiri. The terror group claim the remains of Shiri appear to have been mixed with another woman's remains buried alongside her in the rubble after an alleged Israeli airstrike hit where she was being held. Yarden Bibas has now urged Trump to 'Please stop the war and help bring all the hostages back.' Yarden Bibas (pictured Sunday during his first media interview since being freed in a ceasefire last month) also called on US President Donald Trump to bring an end to the war in Gaza, claiming that Trump is 'the only one' who can convince Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Hamas to halt the renewed fighting Keith Siegel (pictured embracing his wife Aviva after his release last month) claimed that hostages were permitted to shower once monthly using a bucket of cold water and a small cup. Hamas also shaved the heads and genital regions of their male captives, Siegel claimed, revealing how he 'felt humiliated' Keith Siegel, who was freed alongside Bibas last month, alleged his circumstances in captivity worsened after his wife Aviva was released during the first temporary ceasefire in 2023. 'The terrorists became very mean and very cruel and violent. Much more so. They were beating me and starving me,' he told 60 Minutes, noting that the terrorists would eat in front of him without offering any food. He claimed that hostages were permitted to shower once monthly using a bucket of cold water and a small cup. Hamas also shaved the heads and genital regions of their male captives, Siegel claimed, revealing that he 'felt humiliated'. He told the programme how he felt 'completely dependent' on his captors and suggested they used that dependency to 'torture me in a psychological way'. Siegel noted that Hamas had left him alone on several occasions, which would leave him feeling 'very, very scared that maybe they won't come back'. He said he would ask himself 'Should I try to escape?' but noted that even his captors knew 'I wouldn't dare to do that because I needed them'. The freed hostage, who broke down in tears as he gave his interview, added that even after his release he spends most of his time worrying about the hostages that are still being held captive in Gaza. An area hit by the Israeli army's attacks on various regions of Gaza on the second day of Eid al-Fitr, on March 31, 2025 in Khan Yunis, Gaza Palestinian children salvage items from the rubble of a house that was destroyed in an Israeli airstrike in Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip on March 31, 2025 Israel has proposed an extended truce in Gaza in exchange for the return of about half the remaining hostages, Israeli officials said today, as the military issued new evacuation orders and said 'intense operations' were planned in the south of the enclave. The latest proposals would leave open a final agreement over ending the Israel-Hamas war that has destroyed wide swathes of Gaza, killed tens of thousands of people and displaced almost the entire population since it began in October 2023. But the proposals foresee the return of half the 24 hostages believed still to be alive in Gaza nearly 18 months after they were seized by Hamas-led gunmen - and about half the 35 assumed to be dead - during a truce lasting between 40 and 50 days, said the Israeli officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity. Netanyahu said Sunday that Israel would step up pressure on Hamas but would continue negotiations 'under fire'. Continued military pressure was the best means of securing the return of the hostages, he said. The Prime Minister also repeated Israeli demands for Hamas to disarm although the terrorist group has rejected such calls as a 'red line' it will not cross. Netanyahu said Hamas leaders would be allowed to leave Gaza under a wider settlement that would include proposals from Trump for the 'voluntary emigration' of Palestinians from the narrow Strip. On Monday, the Israeli military told Palestinians living in areas around the southern city of Rafah to relocate to Al Mawasi, an area on the shoreline. 'The IDF (Israel Defence Forces) is returning to intense operations to dismantle the capabilities of the terrorist organisations in these areas,' the military's spokesperson said in a statement. Members of the Palestine Red Crescent and other emergency services carry bodies of fellow rescuers killed a week earlier by Israeli forces, during a funeral procession at Nasser hospital in Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip on March 31, 2025 Smoke billows from an Israeli strike at Bureij camp in the central Gaza Strip, on March 27, 2025 Hamas said at the weekend that it had accepted proposals made by Qatari and Egyptian mediators which security sources said would entail five hostages being released every week in exchange for a truce. The Israeli military, which has cut off aid to Gaza, resumed operations on March 18 after a two-month truce, during which 33 Israeli hostages and five Thais were released in exchange for around 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees. Efforts to move to a second phase in the ceasefire agreement signed with US backing in January have largely stalled, with no sign of movement to overcome fundamental differences between the two sides over the postwar future. Israel has said Hamas' military and government capacity must be entirely dismantled and says the group, which has controlled Gaza since 2007, can have no role in the future governance of the enclave. Hamas says it is willing to step back to allow another Palestinian administration to take its place but has refused to disarm and says it must play a part in choosing whatever government follows. Israel launched its campaign in Gaza following an attack by Hamas-led gunmen on southern Israeli communities on October 7, 2023 in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 taken as hostages into Gaza, according to Israeli tallies. The military campaign has killed more than 50,000 Palestinians, according to Palestinian health authorities. A quango has allowed staff to work abroad nearly 140 times in the past three years for reasons including family events. Employees of taxpayer-funded NatureScot have worked remotely from countries including Iceland, Chile, Hungary, Spain and India. The public body which receives 89.4million a year from the SNP government to improve the natural environment said overseas working was allowed for up to 30 days each year. Scottish Tory business spokesman Murdo Fraser described the situation as absurd. He said last night: Of all public bodies, youd expect NatureScots staff to be based here unless theres an exceptional reason for distant working. Taxpayers dont expect the civil servants they fund to deal with Scotlands environment to be habitually operating from the Costa del Sol or India. Perthshire-based NatureScot, formerly called Scottish Natural Heritage, is led by chief executive Francesca Osowska. Her total remuneration in 2023-24 was 119,125. In response to a query under freedom of information laws, Nature-Scot said staff travelled abroad to attend conferences. Some staff were in India, home to the Taj Mahal However, they could also work overseas if they were attending family events. There were 137 approvals for employees working abroad between 2022-23 and 2024-25 in countries such as Finland, Denmark, Germany, the US, Croatia, Switzerland and the Czech Republic. Information was withheld about the roles of those who worked abroad where they cannot be sufficiently anonymised, because releasing personal data into the public domain would breach the Data Protection Act 2018. There were 11 approvals in 2022-23, rising to 63 in 2023-24 and another 63 for 2024-25. The figures come amid a growing row over remote working for public sector staff. It emerged in 2023 that the Scottish Government had allowed 32 employees to work from other European countries or even further afield leading to accusations that bureaucrats were spending their days on sun loungers rather than at their desks. It emerged last year that town hall bosses across the UK had approved at least 731 staff requests to work from abroad in 2023-24. A NatureScot spokesman said: Staff working abroad were either attending meetings and conferences such as the Unesco Panel meeting for the Flow Country World Heritage bid, the AEWA European Goose Management working group, World Protected Areas Leaders Forum and World Water Week or due to personal circumstances such as family events and bereavements. Although NatureScots policy allows staff to work abroad for personal reasons for a maximum of 30 working days over a 12-month rolling period, in the vast majority of cases staff are away for less than a week. More than a quarter of Gen Z would prefer to live under a dictator than in a democracy, according to a new poll that shows a majority of under-30s are 'concerned' about the state of the nation. The UK Youth poll found that while democracy beat dictatorship by 57 per cent to 27 per cent. But almost half of those who said they were right wing (48 per cent) said they would rather be ruled by an authoritarian leader, compared to just 17 per cent of those who identified with the left. Support for dictatorships rose with age, and med were more likely to back it than women polled by Focaldata for the University of Glasgow's John Smith Centre. The poll of 2,000 people aged 16 to 29 also found that 63 per cent said they believe democracy is 'in trouble' in the UK and nearly three-quarters (72 per cent) said the nation has become 'too divided'. Dr Elisabeth Loose, who led the survey, said: 'Young people are undoubtedly worried about the future of the UK and they are concerned about the state of democracy. 'However, our poll makes it clear that young people are positive, they support our democratic inheritance and many want to play a part in it if only they were given an opportunity to do so. 'As to what young people want from politics, the answer is a more open, honest political culture which provide answers to their basic needs. Your browser does not support iframes. The UK Youth poll found that while democracy beat dictatorship by 57 per cent to 27 per cent. But almost half of those who said they were right wing (48 per cent) said they would rather be ruled by an authoritarian leader (Vladimir Putin pictured) Dr Elisabeth Loose, who led the survey, said: 'Young people are undoubtedly worried about the future of the UK and they are concerned about the state of democracy. 'This is a generation that thinks our politics is too divided and wants politicians to come up with deliverable solutions. 'Many young people are simply seeking the safety and security of a good job, an affordable home and the comfort of family and friends around them.' Two-thirds (67 per cent) believed social media should be banned for under-16s and the same proportion said toxic masculinity was becoming more common. Nearly three-quarters (73 per cent) said they believe racism is a 'significant issue' in UK society while just more than half (51 per cent) feel immigration has changed communities for the better. Money and work issues were named as the main contributors to feeling 'nervous, anxious or on edge', with financial worries (37 per cent), work pressure (23 per cent) and job security or unemployment (20 per cent) the most commonly cited. Despite these issues, nearly two-thirds (63 per cent) of those questioned said they are optimistic about their personal future and nearly three-quarters (72 per cent) described themselves as 'either rather or very happy'. Support for dictatorships rose with age, and med were more likely to back it than women polled by Focaldata for the University of Glasgow's John Smith Centre. When asked what would make politics feel more relevant, more than a third (36 per cent) of respondents said they wanted to see politicians being 'more open and honest' while just over a quarter (27 per cent) said they wanted to see more young people in leadership roles. Some 27 per cent also said they wanted to see government focusing on issues that affect them, with affordable housing, more investment in the NHS and lower taxes for low earners listed as the top priorities. James Kanagasooriam, chief research officer at Focaldata, claimed the results also showed 16 to 29-year-olds are not a single homogeneous group. He said: 'This poll shows young people are a highly heterodox group and that the old narrative of a monolithic ''generation war'' pitting young people against all older people is becoming obsolete. 'In fact, the differences within the youth generation by class, education, gender, ethnicity and region are often more pronounced than the differences between generations. 'These patterns challenge any simple characterisation of Gen Z they are largely independent-minded, unexpectedly energised in the conservative flank and more willing to participate in civic life than society often assumes.' The poll found young men tend to be more right wing than young women, but that most sit in the centre ground. It also found those in work or with a degree are more optimistic and engaged that those who are long-term unemployed or less well educated. A Paris court has banned French National Rally leader Marine Le Pen from standing in the next election while slapping her with a four-year jail term in a move that has sparked fury among Europe's hard-right. Le Pen, 56, was handed a five-year ban from holding public office after being convicted of embezzlement by a court in France today, preventing her run for president in 2027 against Emmanuel Macron. She was also given an 84,000 fine as well as a four-year jail sentence which will be suspended for two years with the remaining time spent fitted with an electronic bracelet - but she is likely to appeal. The decision is a devastating blow for the presidential hopeful and head of the National Rally (RN) party that is leading polls for the 2027 presidential race. She had previously stated this would be her fourth and final attempt at the French presidency. It comes as Le Pen and dozens of other party officials were found guilty of misappropriating around 397,000, in particular for the contracts of her bodyguard, Thierry Legier, and her former parliamentary attache and ex-sister-in-law, Catherine Griset. Following the announcement of the ban, several hard-right political allies have flocked to social media to share messages of support to Le Pen. National Rally party chief Jordan Bardella, took to X to share a post reading: 'Today it is not only Marine Le Pen who was unjustly condemned: It was French democracy that was killed.' Bardella, 29, was not among the accused in the trial and is also seen as a potential presidential contender should Marine Le Pen fall. Le Pen, 56, was handed a five-year ban from holding public office after being convicted of embezzlement by a court in France today The presidential hopeful stormed out of the courtroom before hearing the details of her ban Le Pen was also given an 84,000 fine as well as a four-year jail sentence which will be suspended for two years with the remaining time spent fitted with an electronic bracelet - but she is likely to appeal In a documentary broadcast by BFMTV late on Sunday, Le Pen for the first time gave her blessing to Bardella becoming president. 'Of course he has the capacity to become president of the republic,' she said. Also taking a public stand against Le Pen's sentence, Eric Ciotti, the former president of centre-right republicans said: 'The democratic destiny of our nation confiscated by an outrageous judicial cabal. 'The favoured candidate in the presidential election prevented from running. This is not a simple dysfunction. It is a system to capture power that systematically throws aside any candidate that is too far on the right and who has a chance of winning.' But Eric Zimmour, president of the far-right Reconquest Party slammed the sentence, saying: 'It is not for judges to decide who the people must vote for. Whatever our disagreements, Marine Le Pen is legitimate to present herself for the vote.' Matteo Salvini, Italy's hard-right deputy prime minister shared a similar message, stating: 'People who are afraid of the judgment of the voters are often reassured by the judgment of the courts. 'In Paris they have condemned Marine Le Pen and would like to exclude her from political life - an ugly film that we are also seeing in other countries such as Romania. 'The ruling against Marine Le Pen is a declaration of war by Brussels, at a time when the warlike impulses of Von der Leyen and Macron are frightening. We will not be intimidated, we will not stop: full steam ahead my friend!' The Kremlin on Monday also blasted the French court's ruling to bar Le Pen from running for office over a fake jobs scheme. National Rally party chief Jordan Bardella, took to X to share words of support to the party leader following her conviction Eric Zimmour, president of the far-right Reconquest Party slammed the sentence, slammed the sentence, claiming 'it is not up to judges to decide who the people should vote for' Matteo Salvini, Italy's hard-right deputy prime minister shared a similar message on X Hungarian Prime Minister Orban Viktor pledged his support to Le Pen 'Well, indeed, more and more European capitals are going down the path of trampling over democratic norms. Of course, we do not want to interfere in France's internal affairs, we have never done so, and this is France's internal affair,' Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters in a briefing when asked about the decision. 'But in general, our observations of European capitals show that they are not at all reluctant to go beyond democracy during the political process,' he added. Also displaying public support to the politician, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban posted on X: 'Je suis Marine!', translating to I am Marine!, following her recent ban from French politics. During the reading of the verdict, which Le Pen stormed out of before hearing the duration of her ban, Judge Perthuis said Le Pen's actions amounted to a 'serious and lasting attack on the rules of democratic life in Europe, but especially in France.' In a hard-hitting judgement, magistrates also accused Le Pen of 'undermining democracy'. They wrote: 'Marine Le Pen has been at the heart of this illegal system since 2009. The events have seriously and lastingly undermined the rules of democracy. This is an enrichment of the party, a circumvention of the rules governing political party financing, and therefore a circumvention of democracy.' Aside from Le Pen, former parliamentary attache and ex-sister-in-law, Catherine Griset was handled a one-year suspended prison sentence and a two-year electoral ban. Louis Aliot, former number two of the National Rally, has been sentenced to 18 months in jail, with ten months suspended. The remainder will be under an electronic bracelet. He has also been slapped with a three year ban but no provisional one 'to preserve the freedom of voters who chose their mayor', the judge has said. In a hard-hitting judgement, magistrates also accused Le Pen of 'undermining democracy' Bardella was not among the accused in the trial and is also seen as a potential presidential contender should Marine Le Pen fall Eric Ciotti, the former president of centre-right republicans said: 'The democratic destiny of our nation confiscated by an outrageous judicial cabal' Matteo Salvini, Italy's hard-right deputy prime minister likened Le Pen's exclusion from political life to similar situations occurring in other countries such as Romania Hungarian prime minister shared words of support to Le Pen on social media During the nine-week trial that took place in late 2024, she argued that ineligibility 'would have the effect of depriving me of being a presidential candidate' and disenfranchise her supporters. '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,' she told the panel of three judges. For over a decade, Le Pen has worked at making her party more mainstream, dulling its extremist edge to broaden its appeal to voters. After coming third in the 2012 presidential polls, Marine Le Pen made the run-off in 2017 and 2022 but was beaten by Emmanuel Macron on both occasions. Yet 2027 could be a different opportunity, with Macron not allowed to stand again. Le Pen's life has been marked by the legacy of her openly racist father, a veteran of the long war in Algeria that ultimately led to the former French colony's independence. The politician in 2011 took over leadership of the National Front (FN) from her father Jean-Marie, who co-founded France's main postwar far-right movement. Distancing it from the legacy of her father, who openly made anti-Semitic and racist statements, she renamed the party the National Rally (RN) and embarked on a policy she dubbed 'dediabolisation' ('de-demonisation'). The work bore fruit in the snap legislative polls last summer, with the RN emerging as the largest single party in the National Assembly, although without the outright majority it had targeted. That gave Le Pen unprecedented power over French politics, which she used by backing a no-confidence vote that toppled the government of prime minister Michel Barnier later in the year. Critics accuse the party of still being inherently racist, taking too long to distance itself from Russia and resorting to corrupt tactics to ease its strained finances, allegations Le Pen denies. But playing on people's day-to-day concerns about immigration and the cost of living, Le Pen is now seen as having her best chance to win the French presidency in 2027 after three unsuccessful attempts. An alleged MS-13 gang leader who was arrested in an upscale Virginia suburb was busted hiding at his mother's home. Henrry Josue Villatoro Santos, 24, was discovered cowering in an alcove leading to a garage, authorities said. The undocumented migrant is accused of leading the bloodthirsty MS-13's east coast operation in the US. The FBI said it found four guns, ammo, and suppressors inside his room at his mom's Woodbridge home. Santos was living in the US illegally according to attorney general Pam Bondi and it has since emerged he has a lengthy criminal past. The Maine Wire reports that SWAT teams stormed the premises on Thursday after realizing Santos was inside. When he saw agents approaching, Santos reportedly ducked into an alcove and then refused to surrender. The agents deployed stun grenades and managed to then drag him out of the house and into custody. Henrry Josue Villatoro Santos, 24, is an alleged MS-13 gang leader who was arrested in an upscale Virginia suburb Santos, 24, was discovered cowering in an alcove leading to a garage at his mom's home, authorities said. Pictured: Attorney general Pam Bondi at the site of the raid Four guns, ammo and a silencer were found inside his room, according to the FBI. He was taken into custody in northern Virginia on an outstanding administrative immigration warrant, according to court papers, and was charged with illegal gun possession. Court documents obtained by NGO Virginians 4 Safe Communities reveal that Santos has a length rap sheet for drugs and driving offences. In 2018 he was arrested for marijuana possession and driving without a license. The next year he was arrested again for marijuana possession and again in 2023 for driving an uninspected, uninsured car without a license. Attorney General Pam Bondi said that Santos had been living in the US illegally. She said Santos was 'very dangerous' and had been recruited by MS-13 when he was 'very young' before rising through the ranks. The administration promoted the arrest as part of its effort to fulfill campaign promises to quash illegal immigration and eliminate gangs. Images of the firearms the FBI and DOJ said they recovered from Santos' residence The FBI says they found a total of four guns, ammo, and suppressors inside his room MS-13, or Mara Salvatrucha, was one of eight Latin American criminal organizations declared foreign terrorist organizations by the US government last month The MS-13 gang, or Mara Salvatrucha, was one of eight Latin American criminal organizations declared foreign terrorist organizations by the Trump administration last month. In the past decade, the U.S. Justice Department has intensified its focus on MS-13, which originated as a neighborhood street gang in Los Angeles, but grew into a transnational gang based in El Salvador. It has members in Honduras, Guatemala and Mexico and thousands of members across the U.S. with numerous branches, or 'cliques.' 'We want to make our streets safer,' Bondi told reporters. The suspected cartel boss' arrest stunned residents of Dale City, a suburban community half an hour outside of Washington, D.C. 'I'm totally surprised to hear that,' one resident told DailyMail.com. '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.' Shocking videos of a law school graduate's dramatic drunken meltdowns have surfaced after police arrested her for fatally mowing down a moped rider this month. Suffolk Law grad Lauren Mullins, 32, has been charged with motor vehicle homicide after allegedly hitting Daniel O'Neil, 73, with her car at around 1.20am on March 21. But the deadly collision - on the campus of MIT in Cambridge, Massachusetts - was far from Mullins' first brush with the law. Records show she has been detained across several states for assault, resisting arrest, speeding, and disorderly conduct dating back to 2014. Disturbing police bodycam footage of her most recent arrest before the Massachusetts crash shows her frenzied reaction as cops tried to detain her in New Jersey on January 31. The clip begins with Mullins claiming she'd had 'two drinks', before screaming 'you're a f***ing idiot' at an officer who said he could smell alcohol on her breath. Boston native Mullins became increasingly aggressive towards the cop. When he asked her name, she replied, 'Lauren,' before threatening him with her law school credentials. 'Your name is, I have a degree and I will f***ing destroy you,' she yelled at the officer while swaying and slurring her words. But her demeanor was very different in court this week as it dawned on her that outbursts like this have destroyed her own chances of climbing the legal ladder. Mullins now faces up to 20 years behind bars if convicted of vehicular homicide. Shocking video of law school graduate Lauren Mullins' dramatic drunken meltdown from January 31 (shown above) has been shared after police arrested her for fatally mowing down an elderly moped rider as he was stopped at a red light two months later Mullins' recent arrests also include a scrape with Hoboken Police Department officers in Garwood, New Jersey, who detained her for drunk and disorderly behavior on October 24, 2024. Footage (shown above) showed her hurling abuse at cops as they tried to handcuff her Daniel O'Neil (pictured), 73, had stopped at a red light when Mullins allegedly plowed into him. His devastated family is demanding justice for him, saying Mullins has not shown remorse In footage from the courtroom, Mullins mentioned her law school credentials before breaking down in tears as prosecutors made their case against her, citing a series of DUI arrests. According to her LinkedIn page, Mullins has worked in several legal roles after graduating from Suffolk Law School in 2019, including as a law clerk at a Boston firm and a legislative aide for the Massachusetts House of Representatives. Her recent arrests also include a scrape with Hoboken Police Department officers in Garwood, New Jersey, who detained her for drunk and disorderly behavior on October 24, 2024. Footage from this arrest shows her slurring her words so badly they're unintelligible as she struggled against cops who tried to handcuff her. She again leveled her law school credentials at them, screeching: 'I know my right to remain silent', before yelling: 'I'm smarter than all of you combined, I have a law degree,' from inside the cop car. Her latest collision, which resulted in the death of O'Neil, unfolded at the intersect of Massachusetts Avenue and Vassar Street in Cambridge around 1.20am on March 21. Mullins allegedly struck moped rider O'Neil before careening into an MIT police cruiser as the two were stopped at a red light. Prosecutors said officers were unable to conduct a sobriety test on Mullins due to her 'belligerent nature and behavior' as shown in the videos. Suffolk Law grad Lauren Mullins (pictured), 32, has been charged with motor vehicle homicide after allegedly hitting Daniel O'Neil, 73, with her car at around 1.20am on March 21 Daniel O'Neil (pictured), 73, had stopped at a red light when Mullins allegedly plowed into him. His devastated family is demanding justice for him, saying Mullins has not shown remorse Mullins (pictured in court) now faces up to 20 years behind bars if convicted O'Neil died in the hospital two days later. His devastated relatives are demanding justice for him. 'My uncle, he was a great guy,' his niece, Meredith O'Neil told CBS News. 'He was on his moped which was his favorite thing to do. Riding around the city and this girl driving drunk hit him.' Meredith O'Neil said the incident is particularly upsetting because of Mullins' DUI history. 'This seems like something that totally could've been avoided had people gotten her help in her life,' she said. Mullins' lawyer, Dan Solomon, argued that her record, though extensive, is relatively recent and her criminal behavior is 'curable'. 'This is not an 18-year-old gang kid. And I suggest that even given the record that you see before you, it is recent. It's not a lifetime of it. And it is curable,' Solomon said. Pictured: Mullins' LinkedIn profile image. According to her LinkedIn page, Mullins has worked in several legal roles after graduating from Suffolk Law School in 2019 Shocking video of law school graduate Lauren Mullins' dramatic drunken meltdown from January 31 (shown above) has been shared after police arrested her for fatally mowing down an elderly moped rider as he was stopped at a red light two months later Pictured: the scene from the aftermath of the deadly crash in Cambridge, Massachusetts Prosecutors hit back, saying Mullins has shown that she is 'dangerous out in the community' while highlighting that her record spans several states. New Jersey records alone show arrests for the likes of assault, resisting arrest, speeding, and disorderly conduct going back to 2014. The judge ordered that Mullins be held in home confinement with a GPS monitoring device before her next court appearance in May. A bizarre KFC advert in which a man is baptised in a lake of gravy has sparked hundreds of complaints over claims it mocks Christianity. The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has received almost 1,000 complaints about the commercial including those from angry Catholics and Protestants. The new KFC UK advert - titled All Hail Gravy - depicts a man being baptised in a lake of gravy before transforming into a human-sized chicken nugget. The ad also features religious language including fried chicken being divinely dunked into gravy and ends with the words: Believe in Chicken. The advertising watchdog said the complaints about the ad include people saying that it mocks Christianity and baptism, glorifies cults and satanism, and even that it promotes cannibalism. The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has received almost 1,000 complaints about the KFC advert titled All Hail Gravy The advert has attracted the ire of Christians who claim it is blasphemy, mocking God and point out that it would not be considered funny to depict other faiths in this way However the ASA has not launched an investigation into KFCs ad and has determined that it does not break advertising rules. As part of its decision, the watchdog said the ad featured a highly stylised and fantastical scenario, and considered that they were likely to have been interpreted as abstract or eerie, rather than overtly distressing. It concluded that the ad was not likely to cause harm to children, cause undue distress or serious or widespread offence and was not irresponsible. However viewers have described it as vile, horrendous, blasphemy and mocking God, according to comments in the Christian Press. Ive never complained about an advert before but this is beyond the pale, said one. Baptism, a profound symbol of death, burial, and the resurrection of Christ, is central to the Christian faith. One comment on the advert says I rebuke this in the name of Jesus Christ while another quotes Christian scripture and adds: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Another described it as disrespectful to Christians and added: Do the same ad but mock other faiths, see how arty and funny it [is] then. The ad features religious language including fried chicken being divinely dunked into gravy and ends with the words: Believe in Chicken' The two-minute advert depicts a man who is lost in the woods before he encounters a chicken and then follows a group of mysterious strangers carrying a giant, golden egg An ASA spokesman said: I can confirm that weve received nearly 1,000 complaints about KFCs All Hail Gravy ad. The nature of the complaints weve received are varied: some people have objected that it's not suitable to be seen by children who might be scared or upset by it; others object that it's distressing, offensive and harmful, as they consider it features scenes of human sacrifice and cannibalism, as well as cultism. Some also believe it mocks Christianity and the baptism. They added: The complaints have been carefully assessed by ASA Council, the jury who decide whether the advertising rules have been broken. ASA Council do not consider there are grounds for a formal investigation. We will continue to assess complaints that raise any new issues, but currently we do not plan to take further action. The two-minute advert depicts a man who is lost in the woods before he encounters a chicken and then follows a group of mysterious strangers carrying a giant, golden egg. He is then led to a gravy lake where a woman immerses him in the gravy, an act that transforms him into a human-sized piece of fried chicken. The woman who baptised him then holds the chicken aloft as the crowd cheers. The man in the ad is led to a gravy lake where a woman immerses him in the gravy, an act that transforms him into a human-sized piece of fried chicken The woman who baptises the man then him then holds the chicken aloft as the crowd cheers KFC has described the ad as a modern-day fable and its chief marketing officer in the UK, Monica Silic, said that it was designed to bring some lightness and levity to the chaotic world. The advertising agency behind the ad, Mother London, said it was aware that the ad might split opinions. We are being polarizing, because we want conversation, Martin Rose, its creative director said when itwas released. It is not the first time that KFC has divided opinion with its advertisements. A 2017 ad featuring a chicken dancing to rap music was the UKs most complained about ad, with the ASA receiving 755 complaints. It is rare for the ASA to ban advertisements on the grounds that it offends Christians although it has happened in the past. In 2008 the ASA banned a number of adverts by beauty brand Ghd which featured lingerie-clad ladies praying for perfect hair from Ghd instead of God, with some of them even holding what appeared to be rosary beads. Three brazen women allegedly skipped out of a restaurant after enjoying a lavish meal of chicken wings, alfredo pasta and drinks to avoid the massive check, but made two fatal mistakes that caught them in their tracks. The birthday celebration at trendy Chicago restaurant Soul Vibez ended when the three women from Rochester, New York, allegedly left without paying their bill of $262.11 - not including tip. Surveillance footage revealed the moment the women exited the restaurant one-by-one within just 30 seconds of their server stepping away from the table. One suspect can be seen wearing a distinctive blue wig during the heist. Chicago police investigating the so-called dine and dash had their jobs made easier after the masterminds failed to conceal their identities. First, they provided their real names and phone numbers when adding themselves to the restaurant's waitlist before being seated-which, as reported by FOX32. The alleged thieves then took to social media to boast about their crime, actually tagging Soul Vibez in posts thanking them for the 'free food.' The owners of Soul Vibez, who operate five locations across the city, claim this incident is just the latest in a troubling trend of increasing dine-and-dash crimes affecting both their bottom line and their staff. The owner shared footage of the dine and dashers to her personal Instagram, calling them out for their 'disgraceful' criminal act. The trio visited Soul Vibez on Chicago's Near North Side over the weekend where they ordered chicken wings, alfredo pasta and a flight of drinks before making their getaway Three brazen women allegedly skipped out of a restaurant after enjoying a lavish meal of chicken wings and alfredo pasta to avoid the $200 check - but made two fatal mistakes that caught them in their tracks 'The Chile yall ain't gone learn by now that im gone POST YALL!!! They done ran up a TABBBB on the server, asked her to print another receipt and RUNN out the door as soon as she got print it,' she wrote. 'This is so disgraceful! My server literally bust her a** for customers and to do this to not just me but my team that bussed they butt to serve yall!' 'If you don't have it just stayyy at home but on the other hand I have they name and phone numbers that used for the waiting list and reported them, they names and they pictures. As a FYI cameras inside and OUTSIDE are def in 4k!' Surveillance footage revealed the moment the women exited the restaurant one-by-one within just 30 seconds of their server stepping away from the table The brazen thieves then took to social media to boast about their crime , actually tagging Soul Vibez in posts thanking them for the 'free food' The owners of Soul Vibez, who operate five locations across the city, claim this incident is just the latest in a troubling trend of increasing dine-and-dash crimes affecting both their bottom line and their staff (Pictured: the owner's mother) The owner shared footage of the dine and dashers to her personal instagram, calling them out for their 'disgraceful' criminal act Then she tagged the alleged dashers, one of whom she said is a business owner herself and wrote: 'Dining and dashing on your birthday is NASTY work! 'Go back to Rochester, NY with that we don't do that in Chicago!!! You're caught! Not only are one of you a chef and business owner yourself so you should know better!' Chicago police have confirmed they are actively investigating the incident. Under Illinois law, theft of services under $500 constitutes a Class A misdemeanor, punishable by up to a year behind bars and a fine of $2,500. Ministers should 'plug' loopholes in election law and restrict the amount foreign 'mega-donors' like Elon Musk can, the head of the Electoral Commission has warned. Vijay Rangarajan said that there was currently 'a problem of trust in political finance' and called for the rules to be tightened up within the next year. The CEO's comments to the BBC came after Mr Musk, the world's richest man and a senior aide to Donald Trump, was last year linked with a $100million donation to Reform UK. Although the donation has yet to materialise, amid a falling out between Mr Musk and Reform leader Nigel Farage, Mr Rangarajan said that a law passed in 2000 to control foreign finance was not up to scratch. Although Mr Musk is a South Africa-born US citizen it was suggested he could funnel cash into a UK party through one of his firms based here. 'I don't think mega-donors help because they can give rise to the perception that politicians aren't acting on behalf of voters, they're acting on behalf of someone who's given them a lot of money, Mr Rangarajan told The Westminster Hour on BBC Radio 4. 'We think that companies should only be able to donate something like the last couple of years' worth of profits that they've made in the UK. Vijay Rangarajan said that there was currently 'a problem of trust in political finance' and called for the rules to be tightened up within the next year. The CEO's comments to the BBC came after Mr Musk, the world's richest man and a senior aide to Donald Trump, was last year linked with a $100million donation to Reform UK. Although the donation has yet to materialise, amid a falling out between Mr Musk and Reform leader Nigel Farage, Mr Rangarajan said that a law passed in 2000 to control foreign finance was not up to scratch. 'We think unincorporated associations need to become much more transparent. 'And we think the parties themselves need to do a bit more in terms of looking at the donors that do come, have a kind of 'know-your-donor' set of regulations.' Asked how urgently the government should act on the Commission's recommendations, Mr Rangarajan said: 'We would like to see them in place as soon as possible, and that means in the next year or so.' At a Reform local election campaign launch on Friday, Mr Farage, who has called Musk is a 'hero', said he wanted to create a British form of Doge, the Department of Government Efficiency. The programme led by Musk is aimed at cutting costs in the American federal government, but critics say it is acting illegally and destroying many key government systems. He is currently sparking outrage in Wisconsin with his latest cash offer attempting to get a conservative judge elected to the state's Supreme Court. The billionaire leader of DOGE kicked-off a new social media campaign on Monday with the apparent aim to boost Republicans' preferred candidate to replace a retiring liberal judge. He is offering $20 to every person who takes an image with another person while holding a picture of Judge Brad Schimel and flashing a 'thumbs up' with the other hand. Both people in the image will get $20, Musk explained in his X post on Monday. 'Easiest money you ever made!' he vowed. But critics have branded the handout a bribe being used to influence the result of the vote. It comes after the Tesla and SpaceX boss visited Wisconsin on Sunday for an event where he rallied support for Schimel and presented a $1 million to two different people. Those sweepstakes required Wisconsinite entrants to sign the 'Petition in Opposition to Activist Judges.' Muslims are celebrating Eid al-Fitr, a festive holiday marking the end of the fasting month of Ramadan. Families gathered for special prayers followed by feasts and holiday sweets starting Sunday after a month of dawn-to-dusk fasting. Muslims typically mark the holiday with family visits and outings, and children get new clothes. Families also visit the graves of loved ones, and the suffering of Muslims in the Gaza Strip and other conflict zones was never far from people's minds. In Gaza, Palestinians prayed among the ruins of mosques destroyed by Israeli strikes. Elsewhere in the Middle East, Syrians are celebrating their first Eid al-Fitr since the overthrow of President Bashar Assad, as the country navigates a troubled transition after his family's half-century autocratic rule. ITALY: Muslims take part in the Eid al-Fitr prayer on the occasion of the end of Ramadan at Piazza del Plebiscito in Naples IRAQ: Muslims eat morning breakfast on the first day of Eid Al-Fitr holiday in Basra GAZA: A Palestinian child collects food dropped on a street in Gaza City on March 30, 2025, during Eid al-Fitr INDIA: Muslims attend an Eid al-Fitr prayer service at the Jama Masjid Mosque in Delhi SYRIA: Muslims gather at a public area at Al Yrmouk camp to perform Eid al-Fitr and congratulate each other in Damascus on March 31 SENEGAL: Muslims take part in prayers to celebrate Eid al-Fitr in a mosque in Yoff district, Dakar MOROCCO: Muslims gather at the musalla of Karima district to perform Eid al-Fitr prayer and congratulate each other in Sale on March 31 SOUTH AFRICA: Worshipers enjoy the peace and quiet after the Eid al-Fitr prayer at the Nizamiye Mosque in Johannesburg INDONESIA: A girl attends mass prayers at Baiturrahman mosque during Eid al-Fitr, marking the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan in Banda Aceh BRITAIN: Members of the Ahmadiyya Muslim community during prayer as they gather at the Baitul Futuh Mosque in Morden, south-west London, as the holy month of Ramadan comes to an end and Muslims celebrate Eid al-Fitr CAMEROON: Muslims gather at the Yaounde Central Mosque to Eid al-Fitr prayer in Yaound IRAN: Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei attends Eid al-Fitr prayers to mark the end of the holy month of Ramadan, in Tehran US: Members of the Muslim community attend prayers outside the Masjid-At-Taqwa Mosque during Eid al-Fitr celebrations in the Brooklyn borough of New York City GERMANY: People gather to perform Eid al-Fitr prayer at Cologne Central Mosque in Cologne INDIA: A Kashmiri Muslim girl wait for congregational Eid-al-Fitr prayers at Hazratbal on Eid-al-fitr, a festival celebrated by Muslims worldwide on March 31, 2025 in Srinagar RUSSIA: Muslims who could not find empty places into mosques gather to offer the Eid al-Fitr prayer on the street set aside for prayer outside mosques in Moscow SRI LANKA: Muslims attend Eid al-Fitr prayers at the Galle Face seafront in Colombo GAZA: Palestinians in Khan Yunis perform the Eid al-Fitr prayer at the Al-Albani Mosque PAKISTAN: Muslims gather to perform the Eid al-Fitr prayer, marking the end of the fasting month of Ramadan, in Karachi TURKEY: Flowers are placed outside the Kocatepe Mosque during the Eid al-Fitr prayer time in Ankara SYRIA: Muslims gather at Umayyad Mosque to perform the first Eid al-Fitr prayer after the overthrow of the 61-year-old Baath regime in Damascus BANGLADESH: Muslims attend Eid al-Fitr prayers at the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque in Dhaka UKRAINE: Children receive gifts as Muslims living in Lviv celebrate Eid al-Fitr LIBYA: People attend an Eid al-Fitr prayer, marking the end of the Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan in a public gathering in Benghazi INDIA: Kashmiri Muslims listen to the sermon after offering congregational Eid-al-Fitr prayers at Hazratba EGYPT: Hundreds gather to stage a pro-Palestinian demonstration after performing Eid al-Fitr prayer at Nasr Mosque in Arish TURKEY: Worshippers pray at the Blue Mosque as muslims celebrate Eid al-Fitr which marks the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan in Istanbul CANADA: Muslim worshippers gather at Masjid Al Fatima, an Ahle Sunnah mosque in Edmonton, Alberta, for Eid al-Fitr prayers marking the end of Ramadan INDONESIA: A number of Indonesian Muslims attend Eid al-Fitr prayer at Baiturrahman Grand Mosque in Banda Aceh NETHERLANDS: A confectioner displays pasteries in a store ahead of the Eid al-Fitr celebrations in Rotterdam GAZA: Palestinians attend Eid al-Fitr prayers in the Nuseirat camp for refugees SYRIA: Muslims gather at a public area at Al Yrmouk camp to perform Eid al-Fitr and congratulate each other in Damascus KYRGYZSTAN: People pray during the Eid al-Fitr Muslim celebration marking the end of Ramadan, in Bishkek SOUTH AFRICA: Volunteers prepare food in 183 large pots to feed people in Cape Town GAZA: Palestinians attend Eid al-Fitr prayers in the Nuseirat camp for refugees SPAIN: Muslims perform the Eid al-Fitr prayer in the Julian Marias Square of Madrid ARGENTINA: Muslim welcome Eid al-Fitr and perform the Eid al-Fitr prayers at the CIIAR Mosque in Palermo, Buenos Aires IRAQ: Muslims greet each other after prayers on the first day of Eid Al-Fitr holiday in Basra PORTUGAL: Muslims gather at Martim Moniz Square to perform Eid al-Fitr prayers in Lisbon PAKISTAN: Muslims attend an Eid Al-Fitr prayer service, in Karachi TURKEY: Worshippers queue to attend prayers at the Haiga Sophia Grand Mosque as muslims celebrate Eid al-Fitr IRAQ: A woman prays on the first day of Eid al-Fitr prayers at the Abdul-Qadir al-Gailani mosque in Baghdad UKRAINE: Muslims living in Lviv celebrate Eid al-Fitr, the end of holy month Ramadan at the Muhammad Asad Islamic Cultural Center A female Arizona lawmaker told officers she was 'racing to get home' because her Tesla battery was about to die after cops caught her doing 71 mph in a 35 mph zone. Justine Wadsack, a Republican GOP senator, was pulled over by the Tucson Police Department around 10pm on March 15, 2024. She immediately introduced herself to officer Ryder Schrage as 'Senator Justine Wadsack', and proceeded to tell the cop she was protected by 'legislative immunity.' Now a year after the incident, Wadsack has lodged a lawsuit claiming that she was purposely pulled over by people that wanted to 'silence her politically.' Police body cam footage obtained by the Tucson Sentinel captured the moment Wadsack was intercepted in her red Tesla Model S 85 by Schrage. After the officer asked if she had her driver's license, registration and insurance, Wadsack replied: 'Yes, I do. My name is Senator Justine Wadsack, and I'm racing to get home because I have four miles left on my charger before I'm about to go down. 'OK, well, Speedway is a 35mph zone,' he informed her, 'and you were going over 70.' 'I was not doing 70,' she told him. 'Yes, you were. I was behind you. I had my radar on,' he replied. Arizona Senator Justine Wadsack told a police officer she was 'racing to get home' because her Tesla battery was about to die after cops caught her for doing 71 mph in a 35 mph zone in March 2024 She immediately introduced herself to officer Ryder Schrage as 'Senator Justine Wadsack', and proceeded to tell the officer she was protected by 'legislative immunity.' (Pictured: Wadsack in police body cam footage when she was pulled over) She was not ticketed immediately for speeding because a provision in the Arizona Constitution states that senators are protected from prosecution while the state legislator is in session. The rule is in place 15 days ahead of the legislative session, and runs until lawmakers adjourn for the year. After the mandated time passed, Wadsack was cited for criminal speeding and failure to provide proof of insurance. In the bodycam footage she was heard telling the officer that she had just switched to a new car insurance provider, and despite trying to locate the insurance card on her phone, Wadsack could not find it. Driving more than 20 miles over the designated speed limit in a residential or business area is a misdemeanor. In September, Wadsack pleaded not guilty at her arraignment hearing, as she thanked her supporters and promised that 'people will know the truth' about the incident. Her case was officially dismissed in January after the lawmaker completed a defensive driving course and proved that she had required car insurance for her vehicle. Despite her case being settled, Wadsack recently decided to build a federal case against the town and police department for allegedly violating her civil rights by pulling her over in the first place, and then later issuing her a citation. The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Arizona on Thursday, claimed she was pulled over as part of a plan to silence her politically. Her case was officially dismissed in January after the lawmaker (right) completed a defensive driving course and proved that she had required car insurance for her vehicle The legal filing, reviewed by DailyMail.com, further claimed that her being stopped was done 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.' Additionally, Wadsack's encounter with police also created a slew of negativity for her, according to her attorney Dennis Wilenchik. According to the lawsuit, because of the backlash Wadsack faced following the incident, Vince Leach - her opponent in the Republican primary who won last year in Legislative District 17 - allegedly received about $9 million worth 'in earned media.' 'The charges were made public just prior to the 2024 primary election. Plaintiff was, in fact, defeated for re-election,' the lawsuit detailed, adding that the town and police department also had an 'additional motivation' to allegedly ruin her reputation because she's a woman, the filing claimed. Wadsack alleged she can prove more than $8 million in damages that were directly caused by the city and its law enforcement officers that are 'not inclusive of emotional distress, psychic trauma and other damages incurred.' She further argued that the police department 'violated' her 'rights to freedom of speech and equal protection under the law as guaranteed by the First and Fourteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution,' the filing said. The lawsuit also noted that several high ranking officers in the police department agreed in the weeks after Wadsack was pulled over that she 'should not have been stopped' because she 'had immunity.' 'Whether they admit or not, she should never have been stopped,' the document said, adding that she 'never believed she would be ticketed after the legislative session ended.' The filing also claimed that she was pulled over that night as part of 'a plan of members of the TPD 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.' Despite her case being all settled, Wadsack has decided to build a federal case against the police department for allegedly violating her civil rights by pulling her over in the first place, and later issuing her a citation Former Pima County Sheriff Mark Napier (pictured) said the senator had 'turned a nothing story into a fiasco' Prior to the incident, she spearheaded two bills in the legislature - one that would have changed the voting location from large centers 'back to precinct-level', and another that 'would have removed Tucsons status as a charter city,' the lawsuit stated. Wadsack has demanded a jury trial for this case. Wilenchik told DailyMail.com: 'We are hopeful the suit will proceed to help root out corruption by a concerted conspiracy used against a politician trying to do the right thing. 'This was a terrible tragedy to our client's career that must not happen again.' When contacted by DailyMail.com, the Tucson Police Department said: 'We are unable to comment on open litigation' DailyMail.com also contacted the City of Tucson for comment. Shortly after she was pulled over, former Pima County Sheriff Mark Napier said the senator had 'turned a nothing story into a fiasco.' 'You did the crime, take your ticket, shut up and move on,' the former Republican sheriff noted. Greenland's new prime minister has a defiant message for President Donald Trump. The island does not 'belong to anyone else,' Jens-Frederik Nielsen said as the White House has got even more aggressive in its desire to annex the island. Nielson, who took office last week after his Demokraatit Party won parliament elections, made it clear Greenland will stand against Trump. 'Let me make this clear: The U.S. is not getting that. We don't belong to anyone else. We decide our own future. We must not act out of fear. We must respond with peace, dignity and unity,' he said in a statement. 'And it is through these values that we must clearly, clearly and calmly show the American president that Greenland is ours. It was like that yesterday. That's how it is today. And that's how it will be in the future.' His message comes shortly after Vice President JD Vance visited Greenland with his wife Usha, stopping at Pituffik Space Base in northwest part of the island, in what many saw an ominous threat from the U.S. Greenland's new Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen said the island does not 'belong to anyone else' Trump, meanwhile, said on Sunday he is '100%' sure the U.S. will annex Greenland and wouldn't rule out using military force to take the island. 'We'll get Greenland. Yeah, 100%,' Trump told NBC's Kristen Welker, adding that there is a 'good possibility that we could do it without military force' but that he wouldn't 'take anything off the table.' The president, when asked what taking the island would mean to the rest of the world, shrugged off the question. 'I don't really think about that. I don't really care. Greenland's a very separate subject, very different. It's international peace. It's international security and strength.' The massive island in the Northern Atlantic is a territory of Denmark. But it's become the center of an international storm as Trump wants it under the American flag and Russia President Vladimir Putin has raised concerns about the president's territorial ambitions. Danish and Greenlandic officials, backed by the European Union, have insisted the United States will not get Greenland. Trump's desire to take over the ice-covered territory, which is seeking independence from Denmark, has been categorically rejected by Greenlanders, their politicians and Danish officials. President Donald Trump said he's '100%' sure the U.S. will get Greenland The Vice President and the second lady eat with soldiers at the Pituffik Space Base Your browser does not support iframes. Vance, during his visit on Friday, said the White House thought it would 'be able to cut a deal, Donald Trump-style, to ensure the security of this territory.' The White House has argued it's a matter of national security. Greenland holds a commanding position in the Arctic, as a buffer between North America and Russia. It is strategically important for the U.S. military and its ballistic missile early-warning system can detect rocket launches from around the world. Known as Thule Air Base until 2023, Pituffik Space Base served as a warning post for possible attacks from the Soviet Union during the Cold War. Putin, last week, declared that Russia is 'watching very closely' for Trump's next move. 'We are talking about serious plans on the American side with regard to Greenland. These plans have long-standing historical roots,' Putin told the International Arctic Forum in the Russian city of Murmansk. His use of the word 'serious' underscored how concerned the Kremlin is by the situation. Putin said Russia has never threatened anyone in the Arctic, but is prepared to defend its interests, and will station more military personnel in the region. Vance, during his visit, echoed Trump's national security message. 'This has to happen, and the reason, I hate to say it, is because our friends in Denmark have not done their job in keeping this area safe,' he said. 'Denmark has not kept pace in devoting the resources necessary to keep this base, to keep our troops, and in my view, to keep the people of Greenland safe,' he added. A dog sled race to determine which contestant attends the national competition in Greenland While all of Greenland's political parties are in favor of independence, none of them support the idea of joining the United States While all of Greenland's political parties are in favor of independence, none of them support the idea of joining the United States. Greenland is believed to hold massive untapped mineral and oil reserves, though oil and uranium exploration are banned. A 1951 agreement between the United States and Denmark established a U.S. right to move around freely and construct military bases in Greenland as long as Denmark and Greenland are notified. A dingey East Hollywood motel with terrible reviews and cheap rates is set to become LA's next historical monument. The Hollywood Premiere Motel, known for its iconic neon sign and mid-century features, has been nominated to the Los Angeles Cultural Heritage Commission, according to KABC. With rates starting around $100 per night, the motel has a 1.5-star rating on Trip Advisor - ranking it number 112 out of 118 motels in the city - and has awful reviews. 'Don't you dare!! Bed bug infested place,' one reviewer said. 'Looks decent in pictures but total opposite in reality, just plain nightmare will never stay again EVER.' 'Trash motel. This is really by far my worst motel experience, carpets are a b******t soup, never cleaned in 50 years. Furniture is broken and unusable, no microwave, no nothing,' said another. A third person said, 'Run-down dirt bag hotel. If the outside appearance is not enough clue, the way you sign up for the hotel should.' Despite travelers' woes, preservationist James Dastoli, who filed the motel's nomination, believes it is a neighborhood icon. 'This, to me, is a landmark that defines the entire neighborhood of East Hollywood,' Dastoli told the Los Angeles Times. The Hollywood Premiere Motel (pictured), known for its iconic neon sign, has been nominated to the Los Angeles Cultural Heritage Commission He called it 'an excellent example of the Midcentury Modern style,' noting its Googie-style sign, 'simple geometric volumes, low-sloped roof, relatively chaste exterior walls and decorative concrete blocks.' Designed by architect Joyce Miller, the motel was built in 1960 with 42 units in a two-story, stucco-clad building, and a tall, Googie-style neon sign facing Hollywood Boulevard. The motel offers guest parking and a fenced-off swimming pool at the corner of the lot. The building has had 'minimal alterations' in its 65 years and made several TV appearances on shows such as 'Twin Peaks,' 'Fargo' and 'NCIS: Los Angeles,' and Justin Timberlake's 2016 'Can't Stop The Feeling' music video. 'I don't want to change it,' Bonnie Xi, who has owned the Hollywood Premiere for 40 years, told the local news station. 'I want to keep it 1960's style. That's going to work.' On March 6, the LA Cultural Heritage Commission voted unanimously to proceed with the motel's nomination as a monument. The next step in the process is a site inspection and another vote, likely in May, according to the LA Times. Then, the nomination would move on to a vote by the City Council. If approved, the motel would join over 1,300 Los Angeles's iconic landmarks including Union Station, the Bradbury Building and the Hollywood sign. The motel was built in 1960 with 42 units in a two-story, stucco-clad building, and a tall, Googie-style neon sign facing Hollywood Boulevard With rates starting around $100 per night, the motel has a 1.5 star rating on Trip Advisor with reviewers slamming the dingy rooms The motel offers guest parking and a fenced-off swimming pool at the corner of the lot 'It's something that is a landmark for anyone who lived in that neighborhood,' Dastoli said. 'You may look at the weathered nature of the sign itself, the sort of rust, that grit, and think that it may need a fresh coat of paint; I would argue... keep the neon burning, but keep that rust on the sign.' A South Korean actor bowed and sobbed as he denied allegations that he once dated an underage actress who later went on to kill herself aged 24. Kim Soo-hyun allegedly had a relationship with Kim Sae-ron when she was just 15 and then his agency - which she was a member of - pressured her to repay a loan she owed to the movie star. The scandal started after a controversial YouTube channel claimed that the two had dated for six years, when she was 15. The claims surfaced after Kim Sae-ron was found dead from a suspected suicide in February. Since then brands including Prada have cut ties with Kim Soo-hyun and a Disney+ show he had was due to star in has been paused. The 37-year-old has continuously denied the allegations, issuing a statement where he said he could not 'admit what is not true'. Kim Soo-hyun admitted to dating the actress five years ago for a year but claims this was not while she was underage - which is 16 in Korea. In his first statement addressing the scandal, he said: 'I did not date the deceased when she was a minor. And it is also not true that the deceased made a tragic choice because of me turning a blind eye.' During the statement, reported by the BBC, he apologised to his fans and expressed remorse for Kim Sae-ron who he said 'isn't able to rest in peace'. Kim Soo-hyun broke down and sobbed during a press conference where denied allegations that he was dating an underage actress The 37-year-old has continuously denied the allegations, issuing a statement where he said he could not 'admit what is not true' Kim Sae-ron was found dead from a suspected suicide in February Kim Sae-ron's family have also claimed that GoldMedalist, Kim Soo-hyun's agency, covered the compensation for her drunk-driving incident. They allege that the agency later pursued legal action for repayment and that, her requests for more time to settle the debt then went unanswered. Lawyers representing Kim Soo-hyun and his agency said on Monday they had sued people involved in the YouTube expose for a total of 12 billion won (6.29million) in damages, and reported them to the authorities for defamation and violation of the information protection act. On top of this, he accused Kim Sae-ron's family of manipulating chat records as evidence. To substantiate his claim, Kim Soo-hyun said that he had submitted his own evidence to the relevant authorities for verification. He urged her family to do the same. Kim Sae-ron was one of South Korea's most promising actresses until her career took a hit after a drunk driving incident in 2022 where she was fined 20 million wons (11,000). The late actress then also faced online hate because of the offence Kim Soo-hyun rose to fame in South Korea and China over his role in hit South Korean drama series 'My Love from the Star' and 'Queen of Tears'. A lawyer representing the relatives of Kim Sae-ron could not immediately be reached for comment. A British sailor snorkelling at a Fiji coral reef on what he called 'the best day of my life' drowned after suffering a seizure when he was stung by sea urchins, an inquest has heard. Super yacht deckhand Christian Bogle, 26, of Newquay, Cornwall, was snorkelling with crewmates at a beach in the city of Nadi, Fiji, last June when he tragically lost his life. He had just told one crewmate he was having 'the best day of my life' - but shortly after, she turned around and could no longer see his snorkel. The next day, his body was found against the coral reef, only three metres below the surface of the water, an inquest at Cornwall Coroner's Court heard. Consultant pathologist Dr Tim Bracey, who carried out the postmortem, said spines from sea urchins were found in the man's skin from a sting he suffered while alive. But they were not themselves toxic enough to have caused his death, the court heard. Dr Bracey said he instead died from drowning after a seizure. The fit may have lead him to get into difficulty in the water, even though it was warm, calm and shallow. Mr Bogle's mother Diane called him 'a beautiful boy' and said it had been his dream to work on super yachts, like the Fijian boat he started on less than a week before his death. Super yacht deckhand Christian Bogle (pictured), 26, of Newquay, Cornwall, was snorkelling with crewmates at a beach in the city of Nadi, Fiji, last June when he tragically lost his life In 2015 and 2017, Mr Bogle went to see his GP because he was suffering 'funny turns' about once a week, the court heard. Lasting for ten to 15 seconds at a time, these episodes would cause him to salivate and make his eyes water. He was prescribed medication for them. The Cornishman had previously worked on several yachts in France. But a chance meeting with an Australian guest at a hotel in Newquay really accelerated his pursuit of his dream of working on a super yacht. The guest offered to put him up in Australia for a few weeks - an ideal place to be to work towards his ambitions of working on one of the opulent boats. Mr Bogle was there for three weeks before he was offered a deckhand job on a yacht in Fiji in late May 2024. He was in daily contact with his mother telling her he was living 'his best life' with his new crewmates - but he died less than a week later. Christian's mother Diane said her son was 'a beautiful boy', who was 'hardworking, fit, active and well-groomed'. He had just told one crewmate he was having 'the best day of my life' - but shortly after, she turned around and could no longer see his snorkel. Pictured: File photo of the beach in Nadi, Fiji Assistant coroner for Cornwall Emma Hillson said the toxicity of the sea urchin stings were not enough to have caused his death. She said that on the balance of probabilities, he drowned due to a seizure - and ruled his death was accidental. Miss Hillson said it was a very tragic set of circumstances, especially when Mr Bogle was thriving in his new career abroad. An airport lorry has smashed into an easyJet plane that was due to transport Brits around Europe. The collision between the yellow truck and the stationary easyJet A320 aircraft happened on the tarmac at Paris Orly airport early this morning, causing travel delays. The plane was set to fly from Paris to Rome but the flight was cancelled following the accident. 'There was no way the plane could take off. It was due to complete six flights today but will now be grounded for rigorous safety checks,' a source told the Sun. 'Bosses were forced to rip up flight plans. It's a major incident and will leave a bill in excess of 100,000.' Pictures show the lorry's crushed windshield as it is lodged underneath the aircraft, with visible damage to the plane's fuselage. No passengers were on board the 146-seater plane when the crash happened. The cause of the collision is not yet known, but investigators are understood to be looking into the possibility of the truck driver accidentally hitting the accelerator rather than the brake, according to the Sun. Pictures show the lorry's crushed windshield as it is lodged underneath the aircraft, with visible damage to the plane's fuselage The collision between yellow truck and the stationary easyJet A320 aircraft happened on the tarmac at Paris Orly airport early this morning, causing travel delays The cause of the collision is not yet known, but investigators are understood to be looking into the possibility of the truck driver accidentally hitting the accelerator rather than the brake The airline said in a statement: 'easyJet can confirm that an airport vehicle struck an aircraft at Paris Orly airport while it was parked overnight and no passengers were onboard. 'The aircraft will undergo the required inspections and repairs in line with manufacturer instructions.' This comes after a catering truck smashed into a plane in Italy earlier this month leaving hundreds of passengers stranded - and hungry. The Boeing 777 was struck by the food van while it was parked at Milan Malpensa International Airport on March 5 at around 11.30am, causing a large dent to the aircraft. The 392-seater plane, operated by Chilean airline LATAM, was refuelling before a 12 hour flight to Sao Paulo's Guarulhos Airport. But damage to the underside of the plane forced the flight's cancellation. Following the collision a gaping hole near the tail appeared, with the skin of the rear underside torn. LATAM Brazil said they cancelled the flight after the catering truck made contact with the fuselage of the aircraft. No injuries were reported. Footage after the crash shows the plane pulling away from the truck, which was supposed to deliver onboard food supplies, as the driver remains seated inside the van. A KLM runway staff member is spotted filming the damage. The Boeing 777 was struck by the food van while it was parked at Milan Malpensa International Airport on March 5 The flight from Milan to Sao Paulo's Guarulhos Airport was cancelled following the crash In 2023, a truck collided with a Ryanair Boeing 737-800 at London Stansted Airport, damaging the vehicle's roof and slicing into the aircraft's wing. Some 103 passengers and six crew were on board the Ryanair plane, which had right of way as it turned across the road towards a different stand following an inbound flight. The crash was caused by the vehicle driver being tired and distracted, an investigation found. 16 Naxals killed, 2 policemen wounded in gunfight in India's Chhattisgarh Xinhua) 11:11, March 31, 2025 NEW DELHI, March 29 (Xinhua) -- At least 16 Naxals were killed and two policemen wounded Saturday in a fierce gunfight in the central Indian state of Chhattisgarh, police said. The gunfights between Naxals and joint contingents of police and paramilitary forces broke out at Keralapal area of Sukma district, about 425 km south of Raipur, the capital city of Chhattisgarh. According to senior police official P Sundarraj, a large number of arms including assault rifles, and a huge quantity of ammunition were recovered from the possession of slain Naxals. "All 16 bodies of Naxals have been recovered and searches are underway in the area," he said. Last week, 30 Naxals and a policeman were killed in two separate fierce gunfights in the state. Reports said with Saturday's action so far 132 Naxalites have been killed in the state since the beginning of this year. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) Hospitality bosses yesterday warned the industry faces a 3.4billion hit over the next year from measures in the autumn Budget causing a chilling effect on investment and job creation. Rises in the national minimum wage and employer National Insurance contributions, and cuts to business rate relief announced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves last October, will all kick in this week. The triple-whammy means individual businesses face tens of thousands of pounds in extra costs and prices have already soared in pubs, restaurants and hotels. Now UK Hospitality representing 130,000 venues says that across the sector, the minimum wage rise will add a 1.9billion burden, while an extra 1billion will have to be paid in NICs after the tax was expanded to take in more part-time workers. Meanwhile, a further 500million of costs will come from business rate relief being lowered from 75 per cent to 40 per cent. The Institute of Directors also revealed yesterday that business leaders are highly concerned about the extra costs with a monthly study of bosses confidence showing levels as low as during the pandemic. Kate Nicholls, chief executive of UK Hospitality, said: The costs hitting hospitality this month are eye-watering, and the impacts it will have on businesses, teams and communities are stark. Weve already seen a chilling effect on investment plans and job creation all of which have been put on hold or shelved. The grim picture for hospitality comes less than a week after Rachel Reevess gloomy spring statement when she revealed Britains growth forecast had halved Rises in the national minimum wage and employer National Insurance contributions, and cuts to business rate relief announced by the Chancellor last October, will all kick in this week As costs begin to bite, well see venues having to tighten their belt even further through restricting trading hours or, in a worst-case scenario, cutting jobs. The grim picture for hospitality comes less than a week after the Chancellors gloomy spring statement when Ms Reeves revealed Britains growth forecast for 2025-26 had halved from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. Ms Nicholls said hospitality the UKs third-largest sector worth 93billion a year, generating 54billion of tax and employing 3.5million people has the ability to generate socially-productive growth but the extra cost burden ties our hands behind our back. She said: None of this helps the Governments ambitions to drive growth or get people back into work I urge the Government to work with us to bring forward a plan for hospitality that addresses these issues and backs the sector. Hospitality UKs research found the cost of employing a full-time worker aged over 21 has increased 10 per cent, or more than 2,500 annually. Meanwhile employing under 18s costs 18 per cent more and costs for 18-20-year-olds have risen 16 per cent. And seven in ten hospitality businesses said cost pressures mean they will have to reduce their employment levels, risking job losses and lost income for workers. A third of businesses said they would reduce trading hours and 15 per cent believe they would have to close at least one site. UK Hospitality called on ministers to urgently bring forward a plan for the sector to unlock growth and jobs by cutting costs and red tape. The trade body also said the Treasury must ensure business rate reforms, to be unveiled in the autumn, offer the maximum discount for hospitality businesses. Separately, Institute of Directors research published yesterday showed business bosses confidence levels were at -60 per cent on its scale, a slight improvement on February, but well below the 10 per cent when Sir Keir Starmers Government was elected. Anna Leach, chief economist at the Institute of Directors, said: The confidence of business leaders across the UK remained depressed in March, with this months improvement still leaving the index around Covid pandemic lows. With the NICs and minimum wage increases now coming into effect, headcount and investment intentions remain well below the average of the last decade. And business leaders are highly concerned about costs with three quarters saying that employment costs are the biggest cost driver they face. Ms Leach said the Government has key opportunities to turn around business confidence through planning reforms, the forthcoming spending review and proposed industrial strategy. But she added: There is still work to be done to ensure that the costs of employment do not impede the UKs growth ambitions. A woman has been arrested after the body of a newborn baby was discovered outside a church last week. Officers from the Met Police were called at 12:46pm last Tuesday to All Saints Church on Talbot Road in Notting Hill after the baby boy's body was found. A council refuse worker made the tragic discovery after spotting the dumped black M&S bag with avocados on it. Following an appeal a woman in her 30s was arrested on Saturday on suspicion of concealing a birth, neglect and infanticide. The woman, who has not been named for legal reasons, was immediately taken to a nearby hospital for treatment, where she still remains today. A forensic post-mortem will take place later this week, to understand more about the child's death. Superintendent Owen Renowden, who leads policing for Kensington and Chelsea said: 'This is an ongoing, fast-paced investigation, with officers working tirelessly to ascertain the circumstances of the baby boy's death. 'We believe that the woman is the baby's mother and I am reassured that she is receiving the support she needs, while officers continue their work to understand what took place. A police tent close to where the body of a newborn baby was found today. Police are now urgently appealing for the mother to come forward for her own welfare Officers from the Met Police were called at 12:46pm today to All Saints Church on Talbot Road in the Notting Hill area after the baby's body was found A Metropolitan Police Officer close to the church where a dead newborn baby was found 'I recognise that the news of this arrest may cause concern among our community, but when dealing with investigations of this nature our priority is to ensure the welfare of all involved and ensure that all lines of enquiry are fully explored. 'I appreciate the high level of attention that this investigation has received, but we politely ask for the public not to speculate. 'Although this is a significant development, we are still appealing for anyone with any information to contact police on 101 or at @MetCC quoting CAD1879 of 26 March.' Last week one local resident, who had been attending All Saints' Church for the last six years, said it was 'incredibly tragic'. Floral tributes have been left at the scene on Talbot Road, where the baby was pronounced dead by paramedics. The deputy warden at All Saints' church in Notting Hill said she had 'never heard anything like this in my life' after the discovery. 'I came here to prepare for the food bank and I just saw loads of police arriving, and when I came out it was all taped over,' said Marcia Haynes. A police handout of a black M&S shopping bag with avocados on it Tributes left outside All Saints' Church in Notting Hill, west London, where a baby's body was found in a bag on Tuesday Flowers and messages of sympathy lie at the entrance to All Saints Church on March 26 Ms Haynes said when she found out a baby had died that 'it just freaked me out, and I just I had to abandon what I was doing and go home because I thought I was going to be ill, to be honest'. 'I've been here since 1966, I've never heard anything like this in my life.' She said she let two female police officers into the church on Tuesday. 'Two women officers asked me if they could come in and search the church, and I let them in, and they searched the toilets and all around the church,' Ms Haynes said. 'I presume they were looking for the mother in case she was hiding somewhere or something.' A scaffolder who was working near the scene, who did not wish to be named, said he saw a couple in their late 50s or early 60s near a black grit bin by the church on Tuesday at around 10am. He said the man appeared to be trying to tie a bag, while the woman said 'come on' to him and they left together. Superintendent Renowden described the case last Wednesday as 'shocking and tragic', but said his priority remains the mother's 'welfare and support'. Speaking to reporters in Notting Hill, he said: 'I know she will likely be feeling very frightened and going through an extremely difficult time. 'If you are the baby's mother and you see this today, I want to appeal directly to you to come forward and receive help. 'My priority is to help you, to make sure that you can receive medical assistance.' President Donald Trump reshared a post on X raising questions about National Public Radio CEO Katherine Mahers role on the board of Signal, the encrypted messaging app used for communications. Katherine Maher, the leftist NPR CEO, is currently the Chair of the Board of Signal! wrote X user Publius on the platform and added, WHAT ARE THE ODDS? The use of Signal by Trump's national security team was uncovered after editor of The Atlantic Magazine was mistakenly added to a group chat discussing an upcoming strike on Houthi rebels in Yemen. Although National Security Advisor Michael Waltz took responsibility for the mistake, Trump has raised questions about the security and reliability of the app since the incident happened. The Publius account added to conversation a May 2024 article by journalist Christopher Rufo, investigating Signals relationship with the United States intelligence community as well as Mahers role as chair of the board. Maher began her career working for the National Democratic Institute, a government funded NGO supporting dissidents in authoritarian regimes, before shifting into media and digital communications. Maher also served at the CEO of Wikimedia, the company that owns Wikipedia before taking the job at National Public Radio. Rufo shared concerns that Mahers belief in internet censorship made her fundamentally unsuited for a role on the board of Signal, an app that supports freedom of communication. President and CEO of National Public Radio (NPR) Katherine Maher A mobile device displays the Signal company logo Mahers role leading National Public Radio has come under further scrutiny Congress began last week conducting hearings the publicly funded institutions bias against Republicans and conservatives. She has a long history of left-leaning biases as the ideology of NPR has drifted further to the left under her leadership. Maher criticized president Trump as a deranged racist sociopath, criticized the country of being founded on black plunder and white democracy and that America was addicted to white supremacy. Republicans also raised questions about Mahers critical comments about the First Amendment being the number one challenge to her desire to censor content online and her efforts to deplatform people she disagrees with have raised concerns from Republicans who believe it is time to stop publicly funding NPR. President and CEO of National Public Radio (NPR) Katherine Maher looks on before a House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Subcommittee on Delivering on Government Efficiency hearing Real Time's Bill Maher Famously liberal talk show host Bill Maher recently endorsed the idea of defunding NPR on his show on Friday. 'Give me a break, lady!' he said, referring to Katherine Maher's assertion that the news outlet was 'completely unbiased.' 'I mean, theyre crazy far left. So, I mean, I think were past, my view, were past the age really, where the government, first of all, why do we need to subsidize why cant we have outlets like this and were so polarized,' he said. 'These outlets became popular at a time when Republicans and Democrats didn't hate each other.' Two parents and their nine-year-old daughter have mysteriously been found dead at their stunning South Carolina home. The bodies of Richard Samarel, 54, his wife Lina, 45, and little Samantha were discovered on Friday morning. Police from Spartansburg County Sheriff's Office arrived at their Greer residence following a 911 call from a concerned neighbor. Upon entering they discovered the three bodies inside the $783,000 five bed, six bathroom home and determined there was no threat to the public. In a statement, police said that other residents of the home were in school at the time of the incident. No further information has been shared on how the three died and if the deaths were the result of a crime or some other circumstance. Spartanburg County Coroner's Office did tell WYFF that they did not believe there was any threat to the public. But they refused to say whether that meant they were investigating the deaths as an accident or murder-suicide. A social media profile for Lina Samarel indicate the couple also has a young son and another daughter, who have likely been orphaned by the terrible tragedy. The bodies of Lina Samarel, 45, and her nine-year-old daughter Samantha were among three discovered at their South Carolina home on Friday morning Richard Samarel, 54, was also found dead at the property after police entered the residence The family were found dead at their $780,000 Greer home after a concerned neighbor called the police The family were identified by the coroner's office which put their time of death between 10:20 am and 11:29 am Friday. 'More information will be released at the appropriate time once both the Coroner's Office and this agency can further their respective investigations of this incident,' the police said in a statement. Richard Samarel's Facebook profile indicates he is originally from Cream Ridge, New Jersey. He previously worked as an equities manager at Bloomberg LP. Spartanburg County Sheriff's Office deputies are pictured at the scene of the disturbing deaths His wife is Colombian and said she used to work for the US Department of Veteran Affairs. The high-flying couple married in December 2009, according to Richard's Facebook profile. They lived in a 5,100 square foot home which was built in 2019, according to Zillow. Family and friends regularly left glowing comments under the young family enjoying their lives and the social media profiles give no indication as to any trouble. The property is in Greer, a city nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains which combines historic buildings and small town charm with city living. According to NextDoor, Greer has a significantly lower crime rate of 17.86 per 1000 people, compared to the national average 33.37 per 1000 people. Elon Musk's DOGE has uncovered Social Security Administration files indicating that millions of migrants were recently added to the benefits program. The DOGE leader showed a graph to a crowd in Green Bay, Wisconsin, highlighting that over two million non-citizens received new social security numbers in FY2024. The same display showed that, according to data from an internal Social Security Administration (SSA) database, over 4.8 million non-citizens have received new SSA numbers since FY2021. Billionaire venture capitalist Antonio Gracias, a close friend of Musk standing on stage close to the Tesla CEO, talked the audience through the findings during an event hosted by the DOGE leader's political group, America PAC. 'This is not political,' Gracias, who has been working with DOGE, said pointing at the chart as the audience clapped and cheered along. 'I have been from D.C. to Social Security offices to the border to track this down.' He shared that of the millions of non-citizens who were recently given Social Security numbers, many of them were set to receive 'max' benefits, which the DOGE worker said was the 'default' output under the previous administration. 'The defaults in the system, from Social Security to all of the benefit programs have been set to max inclusion, max pay for these people, and minimum collection,' Gracias said of the recent migrant enrollees. 'We found 1.3 million of them already on Medicaid, as an example,' he continued. 'We found people here registered to vote in this population.' Antonio Gracias speaks as he stands next to U.S. President Donald Trump's adviser Elon Musk, during a rally in support of a conservative state Supreme Court candidate of an April 1 election in Green Bay, Wisconsin, U.S. March 30, 2025 Musk decked out in a cheese hat pumps up the audience at his America PAC event Migrants seeking asylum from Mexico, India and Ecuador keep warm by a fire while waiting to be apprehended by U.S. Customs and Border Patrol officers after crossing over a section of border wall into the U.S. on January 05, 2025 in Ruby, Arizona 'We found some by sampling that actually did vote, and we have referred them to prosecution at the homeland security investigation service,' Gracias said. Federal laws outlaw non-citizens from receiving social security or Medicare. They also forbid non-citizens from voting in elections. Meanwhile, the Social Security Administration notes on its site that non-citizens can receive benefits. 'Lawfully present noncitizens of the United States who meet all eligibility requirements can qualify for Social Security benefits,' the SSA website states. 'This rule also applies to noncitizens authorized to work in the United States who got a Social Security number after December 2003.' Still, clips of the explanation, and other portions of the Wisconsin event, quickly went viral on Musk's social media app X as users cheered the fraud-finding effort. 'It is absolutely infuriating,' one user wrote in response to the findings. 'Nothing to see here. Just 5x SSNs during the 2024 election year. Using our tax dollars.' 'Thank God for DOGE,' X CEO Linda Yaccarino commented on the findings. 'Biden and team were bringing in millions of immigrants and putting them on benefits,' another user wrote reacting to the SSA numbers. 'I know Elon keeps saying it was for votes but that cant be the only reason.' Billionaire venture capitalist and DOGE worker Antonio Gracias speaks about the cost-cutting groups efforts at the SSA Over 2 million non-citizens received new social security numbers in FY 2024, according to government data presented by Musk and Gracias Musk also handed out million dollar checks for attendees who signed his latest political petition Musk also skewered former President Joe Biden for enabling the jump in social security numbers. 'People sometimes think that under the Biden administration that he was simply asleep with the switch,' Musk said. 'They weren't asleep at the switch.' 'It was a massive, large scale program to import as many illegals as possible, ultimately, to change the entire voting map of the United States and disenfranchise the American people and make it a permanent, deep, blue, one party state from which there would be no escape,' the 53-year-old entrepreneur shared. Another user reacted on X: 'Mind blowing fraud and corruption.' Though some pushed back on the DOGE claims. 'So were just believing every unvetted claim these guys make,' another wrote. The Sunday event was meant to galvanize Wisconsin voters to turn out the vote for a Republican candidate for the state's Supreme Court election on Tuesday. The world's richest man has taken a special interest in the contest since it will certainly impact the state's congressional maps, and therefore the slim GOP majority in the House of Representatives. The billionaire Tesla CEO even handed out million dollar checks to event attendees who signed Musk's latest political petition. Marine Le Pen is set to appeal her four-year jail sentence and presidential election ban after supporters of the National Rally leader slammed judges for anti-right wing bias. France's hard-right leader will appeal her conviction for embezzlement of public funds, her lawyer said Monday, after a court handed her a five-year ban on running for office. An appeal could potentially take place within months. Laurent Jacobelli, a RN lawmaker and party spokesman said in light of the verdict that Le Pen is in a 'fighting mood' with her lawyer adding the move is a 'blow to democracy'. The 56-year-old was dramatically handed an 84,000 fine under the sentencing which will see her banned from running in the 2027 presidential race against Emmanuel Macron. She could technically still run if she is successful in her appeal before the election but experts have warned the process will likely take years. Her four-year jail sentence will be suspended for two years with the remaining time spent fitted with an electronic bracelet. Le Pen and 24 other officials from the National Rally were accused of having used money intended for European Union parliamentary aides to pay staff who worked for the party between 2004 and 2016, in violation of the 27-nation bloc's regulations. Following the sentencing, however, several hard-right supporters have already flocked to social media to defend her. Le Pen, 56, was handed a five-year ban from holding public office after being convicted of embezzlement by a court in France today The presidential hopeful stormed out of the courtroom before hearing the details of her ban Le Pen was also given an 84,000 fine as well as a four-year jail sentence which she is set to appeal National Rally party chief Jordan Bardella, took to X to share a post reading: 'Today it is not only Marine Le Pen who was unjustly condemned: It was French democracy that was killed.' Bardella, 29, was not among the accused in the trial and is also seen as a potential presidential contender should Marine Le Pen fall. In a documentary broadcast by BFMTV late on Sunday, Le Pen for the first time gave her blessing to Bardella becoming president. 'Of course he has the capacity to become president of the republic,' she said. Leader of Reform UK Nigel Farage said Le Pen has been 'cancelled' on what he deemed 'very trumped up charges'. He described the barring of the National Rally leader from public office as a 'trend', calling her 'a candidate that would, without doubt, have won the next French presidential election'. He suggested that Eurosceptic parties have been unfairly targeted with legal action. 'I don't see how it could be possible the only people that have ever been in breach of EU funding rules are Eurosceptics. Just not possible,' he said. Also taking a public stand against Le Pen's sentence, Eric Ciotti, the former president of centre-right republicans said: 'The democratic destiny of our nation confiscated by an outrageous judicial cabal. 'The favoured candidate in the presidential election prevented from running. This is not a simple dysfunction. It is a system to capture power that systematically throws aside any candidate that is too far on the right and who has a chance of winning.' But Eric Zimmour, president of the far-right Reconquest Party slammed the sentence, saying: 'It is not for judges to decide who the people must vote for. Whatever our disagreements, Marine Le Pen is legitimate to present herself for the vote.' Matteo Salvini, Italy's hard-right deputy prime minister shared a similar message, stating: 'People who are afraid of the judgment of the voters are often reassured by the judgment of the courts. 'In Paris they have condemned Marine Le Pen and would like to exclude her from political life - an ugly film that we are also seeing in other countries such as Romania. 'The ruling against Marine Le Pen is a declaration of war by Brussels, at a time when the warlike impulses of Von der Leyen and Macron are frightening. We will not be intimidated, we will not stop: full steam ahead my friend!' The Kremlin on Monday also blasted the French court's ruling to bar Le Pen from running for office over a fake jobs scheme. National Rally party chief Jordan Bardella, took to X to share words of support to the party leader following her conviction Eric Zimmour, president of the far-right Reconquest Party slammed the sentence, slammed the sentence, claiming 'it is not up to judges to decide who the people should vote for' Matteo Salvini, Italy's hard-right deputy prime minister shared a similar message on X Hungarian Prime Minister Orban Viktor pledged his support to Le Pen 'Well, indeed, more and more European capitals are going down the path of trampling over democratic norms. Of course, we do not want to interfere in France's internal affairs, we have never done so, and this is France's internal affair,' Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters in a briefing when asked about the decision. 'But in general, our observations of European capitals show that they are not at all reluctant to go beyond democracy during the political process,' he added. Also displaying public support to the politician, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban posted on X: 'Je suis Marine!', translating to I am Marine!, following her recent ban from French politics. During the reading of the verdict, which Le Pen stormed out of before hearing the duration of her ban, Judge Perthuis said Le Pen's actions amounted to a 'serious and lasting attack on the rules of democratic life in Europe, but especially in France.' In a hard-hitting judgement, magistrates also accused Le Pen of 'undermining democracy'. They wrote: 'Marine Le Pen has been at the heart of this illegal system since 2009. The events have seriously and lastingly undermined the rules of democracy. This is an enrichment of the party, a circumvention of the rules governing political party financing, and therefore a circumvention of democracy.' It comes as the presidential hopeful and dozens of other party officials were found guilty of misappropriating around 397,000, in particular for the contracts of her bodyguard, Thierry Legier, and her former parliamentary attache and ex-sister-in-law, Catherine Griset. Griset was handled a one-year suspended prison sentence and a two-year electoral ban. Louis Aliot, former number two of the National Rally, has been sentenced to 18 months in jail, with ten months suspended. The remainder will be under an electronic bracelet. He has also been slapped with a three year ban but no provisional one 'to preserve the freedom of voters who chose their mayor', the judge has said. In a hard-hitting judgement, magistrates also accused Le Pen of 'undermining democracy' Bardella was not among the accused in the trial and is also seen as a potential presidential contender should Marine Le Pen fall Reform UK leader Nigel Farage described the barring of the National Rally leader from public office as a 'trend' Eric Ciotti, the former president of centre-right republicans said: 'The democratic destiny of our nation confiscated by an outrageous judicial cabal' Matteo Salvini, Italy's hard-right deputy prime minister likened Le Pen's exclusion from political life to similar situations occurring in other countries such as Romania Hungarian prime minister shared words of support to Le Pen on social media During the nine-week trial that took place in late 2024, she argued that ineligibility 'would have the effect of depriving me of being a presidential candidate' and disenfranchise her supporters. '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,' she told the panel of three judges. For over a decade, Le Pen has worked at making her party more mainstream, dulling its extremist edge to broaden its appeal to voters. After coming third in the 2012 presidential polls, Marine Le Pen made the run-off in 2017 and 2022 but was beaten by Emmanuel Macron on both occasions. Yet 2027 could be a different opportunity, with Macron not allowed to stand again. Le Pen's life has been marked by the legacy of her openly racist father, a veteran of the long war in Algeria that ultimately led to the former French colony's independence. The politician in 2011 took over leadership of the National Front (FN) from her father Jean-Marie, who co-founded France's main postwar far-right movement. Distancing it from the legacy of her father, who openly made anti-Semitic and racist statements, she renamed the party the National Rally (RN) and embarked on a policy she dubbed 'dediabolisation' ('de-demonisation'). The work bore fruit in the snap legislative polls last summer, with the RN emerging as the largest single party in the National Assembly, although without the outright majority it had targeted. That gave Le Pen unprecedented power over French politics, which she used by backing a no-confidence vote that toppled the government of prime minister Michel Barnier later in the year. Critics accuse the party of still being inherently racist, taking too long to distance itself from Russia and resorting to corrupt tactics to ease its strained finances, allegations Le Pen denies. But playing on people's day-to-day concerns about immigration and the cost of living, Le Pen is now seen as having her best chance to win the French presidency in 2027 after three unsuccessful attempts. A father has been left arthritic after his limbs almost 'exploded' from a suspected false widow spider bite while he slept. Brian Smith had woken up in bed to a sharp pain on the top of his right hand but went back to sleep because he thought he was dreaming. The 43-year-old spotted two small fang marks the next morning and became increasingly worried when he began struggling to move it. Shocking photos show how his hand, arm, leg and even foot ballooned up as the venom of the arachnid, dubbed Britain's 'most dangerous spider', ravaged his body. An ambulance rushed Brian to hospital where doctors told him he'd had a severe reaction to a spider's venom. They revealed his hand could only swell 20 per cent more before 'exploding' and kept him in hospital for three weeks while the toxin spread from his hand to his shoulders and left leg. The father-of-three's leg ballooned so much it forced the scaffolder to use crutches for weeks and he's still suffering with a limp, an aching hand and even arthritis. 'The skin was going to explode due to the pressure so I would've needed a skin graft. Thank god I didn't lose my hand,' recalled the 43-year-old from Maidstone, Kent. Brian Smith, 43, was forced to go to hospital after suffering a suspected false widow spider bite The scaffolder's limbs ballooned to such a degree he was warned the skin could 'explode' Brian believes he was bitten by a false widow spider, with the arachnid's venom reacting with his blood to cause such a severe effect (file image of a false widow spider) Now four months on from the attack Brian believes he was bitten by a venomous false widow spider - whose bites produce necrosis of the flesh. He now checks his bedsheets for any creatures and is warning others to remain vigilant. 'I was quite shocked a spider in the UK could cause this sort of damage,' Brian said. 'I thought this only happened in Australia and places like that. 'I was asleep in my bedroom when I felt a really sharp pain in the top of my right hand. It woke me up. It felt like someone was putting a fag out in my hand. 'I shook my hand and just went back to sleep because I thought I was dreaming. It wasn't until I woke up in the morning that I realised I could hardly move my hand. I thought I might've slept on it funny but then it started swelling through the day. 'It wasn't until I looked properly at my hand that I saw two little prick marks where its two fangs must've gone in and bit me. Brian's hand ballooned after he was bitten by the spider while he slept The scaffolder was forced to stay in hospital for three weeks as the venom spread to his legs and the rest of his body. Pictured is Brian's swollen knee after How to spot a noble false widow spider Noble false widows are the largest of the three false widow species likely to be found near homes. The front section of their body is dark brown, as are the legs. The abdomen (the large, oval-shaped rear part of the body) can be variable, with patterns of cream and dark brown marks (sometimes described as skull-shaped) though often with very few markings at all. Source: Wildlife Trusts Advertisement 'I couldn't do anything with my hands, the pain was too much. It was a sharp pain and was getting worse and worse through the day.' After Brian's boss sent him home from work he went to Maidstone Hospital where he was sent home with some painkillers. But hours later, Brian returned to A&E in an ambulance as the pain intensified. Doctors told the 43-year-old he had suffered a serious reaction to the spider's venom and may need a portion of his hand cut off. Brian said: '[The doctors] told me I had 20 per cent left of my hand to swell before it would explode like a balloon. 'The poison must've reacted with my blood. It was so swollen and my hand kept changing colours from purple to red. 'I don't know any other spider in this country aside from a false widow that can cause this sort of damage. 'They tied my arm above my head but the poison went down my arm, down the back of my shoulders and went down into my left leg. My leg ballooned. 'The poison travelled across my body and I couldn't walk because my leg ballooned so much. I was on crutches for three weeks. I still have a little limp now. Swelling spread from Brian's hand down his leg and to his feet. Brian says he is still suffering now despite the incident having taken place last November 'My immune system started attacking different parts of my body and I've now got reactive arthritis because of it and I'm on steroids for three months. 'This happened in November and I'm still going through it. My little finger on my right hand won't flatten properly and I still get a dull, constant ache.' After three weeks in hospital, Brian finally began responding to medication and was discharged to return home where he's cautious about what could be sharing his bed. Brian said: 'When I was in hospital, my parents fumigated my bedroom and tried looking for the spider but they couldn't find it. 'Now I always check my bed sheets. I'd tell other people to be very wary of them because they can do a lot of damage. 'I'm slowly getting better but I'm still not 100 per cent.' Washington, DC's famous cherry blossoms are starting to bloom, brightening up the city while sending swarms of admiring tourists to Capitol Hill. But visitors to the picturesque Tidal Basin where the flowers will soon be at their peak may not know that one simple act could land you in jail for an entire year. Picking the precious flowers or climbing the tree branches are an offense under federal law. Various statutes and regulations state that it is unlawful to willfully destroy, cut, break, injure or remove any within a national military park or land of the US. An offender could be 'imprisoned not less than 15 days nor more than one year', and fined at least $10 for each 'monument, statue, marker, guidepost, or other structure, tree, shrub, or plant that is destroyed, defaced, injured, cut or removed, or both'. National Park Service spokesman Mike Litterst urged tourists not to tamper with the foliage. 'Please don't touch the blossoms. Don't break branches off. Don't climb the trees,' Litterst told Fox News Digital. Litterst added that though harsh penalties can be imposed, National Park Service staff usually try to educate people instead. Washington, DC 's cherry blossoms are starting to bloom, brightening up the city while sending swarms of admiring tourists to Capitol Hill National Park Service spokesman Mike Litterst urged tourists not to tamper with the foliage 'There are certainly offenses in the code and federal regulations about the use of natural resources,' he said. 'But if we see people [doing that], we tend to use that as a teachable moment, not an opportunity to throw the book at them.' The cherry blossoms bloomed early in Washington and New York last year, with the flowers flourishing by mid-March. Experts warned that this early florescence was a symptom of warming temperatures worldwide. The famous cherry blossoms in the nation's capital experienced their earliest peak bloom in 20 years on March 17 - tying for their second-earliest peak bloom ever. This means 70 percent of the Yoshino cherry trees along the National Mall and the Tidal Basin have opened their flowers. It came at the heels of one of Washingtons warmest recorded winters, with temperatures soaring to 80 degrees by late January, the earliest occurrence on record. Picking the precious flowers or climbing the tree branches are an offense under federal law The record for earliest peak bloom in history was reported on March 15, 1990. National Park Service data shows that the trees have bloomed earlier and earlier since they were donated by Japan in 1912. In 2021, the trees reached their peak on March 28, the same year Kyoto registered its earliest bloom in over 1,200 years. Winter is the fastest-warming season in the nation's capital, according to Climate Central. An analysis by the nonprofit found that D.C. has added 20 more days to its growing season since 1970. National Weather Service data shows the average spring temperature in D.C. has risen by 3.6 degrees from 1970 to 2023. A Georgia woman who managed to escape her vehicle after a car crash tragically died after she fell down a well just moments later. Mom-of-four Shirley Obert, 67, went missing on Saturday after being involved in a car accident in Monroe County. Authorities and family members frantically searched for Obert, who was last seen wearing a red shirt and black pants - which police described as a Chick-fil-A work uniform. On Sunday police discovered her body at the bottom of a 'deep well that was surrounded by very thick brush' near where her car was found, authorities said. 'Mrs. Obert appeared to have been trying to go for help when this incident occurred. This appears to be a tragic accident,' Monroe County Sheriff's Office said. 'Please keep her family and her co-workers in your thoughts and prayers.' A spokeswoman with the Monroe County Sheriff's Office told DailyMail.com: 'The well was covered under thick brush and would not have been noticeable.' 'We do not know exactly how she ended up in the wooded area, where her car was found. Our fatality Investigator is working on trying to piece everything together. We may never know exactly,' they added. Shirley Obert, 67, went missing on Saturday after being involved in a car crash in Monroe County She was found at the bottom of a well on Sunday. (Pictured: A rescue team at the well) 'She could have looked down or swerved to avoid an animal. Our best guess to how she came to be in the well, is that she was walking trying to make her way out of the woods, when she stepped into it.' Pictures posted by the sheriff's department showed a rescue team using rope to lower down in the well. Another image showed the group using a machine that appeared to help pull Obert's body from the large hole. The mother-of-four has been remembered as a devoted wife to her husband Mike, and a 'friend to many,' according to a GoFundMe page. The page was created to help her family with expenses during this tough time, as Obert 'did not have life insurance and was the sole provider for her husband.' As of Monday morning more than $6,9000 was raised to support her loved ones. On Saturday, Obert's sister-in-law Tanya Obert Pinson, took to Facebook asking people to help locate her after the accident. 'Please pray for my sister in love Shirley Obert she was in car accident and my family looking for we love her so much,' Pinson said. Obert, a mother of four, has been remembered as a devoted wife to her husband Mike, and a 'friend to many.' (Pictured: Obert and her husband Mike) She was last seen wearing a red shirt and black pants, which police described as a Chick-fil-A work uniform A close friend, Vanessa Awtry, also asked the public for help finding Obert. 'Y'all please keep an eye out for Mrs.Shirley Obert and if you see anybody resembling her please call Monroe County!!,' Awtry said. 'PLEASE SHARE THIS!!! HER AND HER FAMILY ARE LIKE PART OF OUR OWN. She was last seen wearing what sounds like her CFA uniform (red shirt black pants).' After news of her horrific death spread, Awtry took to Facebook again, calling Obert an 'awesome lady.' 'She always gave the best, tightest hugs that felt like they could fix whatever was wrong with your day,' she wrote. 'I'll miss our run ins in town and will forever miss those "get together" plans we discussed but life never allowed time for.' Pinson also posted about Obert after she passed, saying: 'We lost my sister n love, my brother lost his soulmate, she believed in the Lord, loved him with her whole being pray my brother Mike Obert and their children, family and friends!!' In December, a Colorado woman who went missing during what was said to be a routine shopping trip was found dead more than a week later. Jayna Lang, 46, had vanished on November 24, and Colorado cops confirmed to DailyMail.com she committed suicide. Due to the nature of the case, officials declined to say more. Another image showed the group using a machine that appeared to help pull Obert's body from the large hole The 'sad update' - as a Jefferson County Sheriff's Office public information officer put it - came just hours after Lang's relatives took to Facebook to issue their own announcement, revealing they had received news about Lang's whereabouts, and that it was 'not good.' Her sister-in-law Stacy Laigo-Horvat, 45, was the one to make the admission - only hours after her husband, Lang's brother Eric Horvat, thanked onlookers for their well-wishes. Horvat, 44, had been one of the last to speak to Lang before she vanished - communicating via text the day she disappeared. Lang had told him she had been headed to a shopping center in Summit County a few miles from the home in Littleton. She never made it back. The following day - in the wake of Laigo-Horvat's cryptic post - a source described only as a 'family member' told FOX31 that Lang was found dead from an apparent suicide. Russia has ordered the largest increase in conscription since the Ukraine war began as a further 160,000 servicemen are called up to the frontline. The planned draft size has increased from 150,000 in 2024 and 134,500 in 2022, when Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine. It comes as Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered Russia to boost the size of its army to 1.5 million active servicemen - an increase of some 180,000 troops over three years. This is despite growing efforts from the United States to bring forward a ceasefire to the three-year-old conflict with Putin being accused of delaying the peace process. Despite the Kremlin's claim that those called-up are not linked to the war in Ukraine, Kyiv has said throughout the conflict that it has taken Russian conscripts captive and Putin previously admitted that some had been sent to fight by mistake. Russian men are eligible to be drafted for mandatory military service through bi-annual call-ups. Apart from its conscription drives, Russia has recruited hundreds of thousands of men for its offensive on Ukraine as paid contract soldiers, offering high salaries and massive sign-up bonuses. Russia traditionally holds waves of conscription in spring and autumn, with men aged 18-30 eligible to be called up. Russian President Vladimir Putin. Putin has Putin ordered Russia to boost the size of its army to 1.5 million active servicemen A Russian conscript getting ready to leave home. Since the war started Russia has increased the draft size for conscripts from 134,500 to 150,000 Russian soldiers in Kursk in March 2025. Despite the Kremlin's claim that those called-up are not linked to the war in Ukraine, Kyiv has said throughout the conflict that it has taken Russian conscripts captive and Putin previously admitted that some had been sent to fight by mistake Putin raised the upper age limit from 27 in 2023. The spring call-ups will run from April 1 until July 15, according to Putin's decree. Despite pledging that conscripts do not get sent to the front, Russia drafted more than 300,000 'reservists' in 2022 for its Ukraine offensive in what it called a 'partial mobilisation.' That triggered hundreds of thousands of men to flee the country to avoid being called up. The increase in conscription comes as President Donald Trump said he was 'p***** off' with his Russian counterpart for the little amount of progress in the peace process. The US has met with delegations from Russia and Ukraine in Saudi Arabia earlier this month to discuss prospective steps towards a ceasefire. Speaking with NBC host Kristen Welker over the weekend, Trump warned that Moscow 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.' The increase in conscription comes as President Donald Trump said he was 'p***** off' with his Russian counterpart for the little amount of progress in the peace process Trump also attacked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Trump claimed that Zelensky wants to back out of a critical minerals deal, warning the Ukrainian leader would face big problems if he did Trump's seemingly-full-throated defense of Ukraine and its leader was short lived as the US president also launched into an attack against Zelensky yesterday. The president claimed that Zelensky wants to back out of a critical minerals deal, warning the Ukrainian leader would face big problems if he did. 'He's trying to back out of the rare earth deal and if he does that he's got some problems, big, big problems,' Trump told reporters. The proposed mineral deal would reportedly see the United States handed control of Ukraine's mineral wealth and infrastructure linked to natural resources in an agreement which would be unparalleled in the history of modern diplomacy. On top of this, the plan hands America unprecedented control over the sale of the war torn nation's resources which could include vetoing sales to China or restricting sales to Europe. Despite the massive economic control handed over to the US it would come with no security guarantee in light of a future Russian invasion. This is the dramatic moment police snared a man who kidnapped an 11-year-old girl as she walked home from school before sexually assaulting her. Depraved predator Adam Baillie abducted the youngster, who he didn't know, and dragged her to his home where he molested her. The primary school pupil managed to break loose of the child abuser's clutches before raising the alarm with neighbours, who then alerted police. Despite her ordeal, the courageous youngster was still able to guide officers to the 39-year-old sex fiend's lair, in the leafy suburb of Harrow, north west London. Heart-stopping body-cam footage, released today by the Metropolitan Police, shows the moment officers stormed Baillie's grotty home before arresting him. The bearded pervert was cuffed on the stained stairwell of his dingy property - with video footage showing trash on the floor and a green wheelie bin on the landing. He was jailed in January for life for kidnap, sexual assault and ABH, with a minimum term of 10 years for his attack on April 19, 2024. He is one of 100 of London's 'most dangerous' male offenders brought to justice by a crack team of Met cops seeking to stamp out violence against women and girls in the capital. Among the other thugs convicted as part of Scotland Yard's 'V100' crackdown included a Brixton drug dealer who battered his mother to death after 'humming too loudly', and a serial sex predator who carried out a 'campaign of rape and attempted rape' across London. This is the dramatic moment police snared paedophile Adam Baillie for kidnapping an 11-year-old girl as she walked home from school before sexually assaulting her Depraved predator Baillie abducted the youngster, who he didn't know, and dragged her to his home where he molested her (he is seen being arrested in his home) Baillie was jailed in January for life for kidnap, sexual assault and ABH, with a minimum term of 10 years for his attack on April 19, 2024 Deputy Assistant Commissioner Ben Russell, the Met's V100 lead, said: 'Every woman and girl in London deserves to feel safe, whether walking home at night, travelling on public transport, at home, or simply going about their daily lives. Yet far too many don't feel that way. 'We are relentlessly focused on those who pose the biggest threat, working hard to intervene before they strike again. 'Reaching 100 convictions is an important milestone, but our work is far from over. This is about more than just statistics or crime reports. It's about ensuring that every woman in London feels seen, heard, and protected.' The V100 campaign sees officers using data to identify and target men who are the biggest threat to women in the capital. Updated every month, the Met said the scheme has almost 'doubled the risk of arrest' for the most violent offenders, with many of those accused of rape, sex attacks and murder. So far, 126 people have been charged with 574 offences including rape, GBH, non-fatal strangulation and attempted murder. Baillie was deemed the 'most significant' success story in the new campaign, the Met said. He was found guilty at Harrow Crown Court on October 16 after being convicted by a jury. Speaking afterwards, PC Georgia Devaney-Brighton - the sexual offences investigative techniques officer in the investigation - said: 'Today we achieved justice for this courageous girl and I hope the severity of the sentence can provide some comfort to her and her family. Footage inside Baillie messy home showed it strewn with rubbish on the floors and stairs Baillie was arrested by Met Police officers on the stairwell of his home. He has since been jailed for life 'This was an appalling crime which sent shockwaves through the local community. This young victim-survivor has shown remarkable bravery throughout this process, her strength and willingness to work with us has been vital in securing this conviction.' Among the other thugs caged as a result of the Met's new campaign is convicted drug dealer Jason Phinn. The 36-year-old beast from Bournville, Birmingham, was jailed for the manslaughter of his mother, Christie Eugene, at their home in Brixton in November 2023. Violent Phinn had a history of criminal damage incidents relating to his mother and was given a 12-month restraining order in 2021 that banned him from seeing her. A court heard Phinn had been high on drugs when he launched into a furious attack against his 64-year-old parent - who had been 'humming too loudly' - on November 2, 2023. She was so savagely beaten that she suffered a fatal bleed to the brain and died hours later. During his trial, the court heard how Phinn had called police after the attack, claiming he had strangled his mother. Jason Phinn, 36, from Bournville, Birmingham, was jailed for the manslaughter of his mother, Christie Eugene, at their home in Brixton in November 2023 But the operator failed to send an ambulance or alert police, with the still-conscious Christie saying she was okay. Phinn later called 999 again to ask for police, sharing concerns about breaking his mother's neck. When police arrived at about 8am, they found Phinn smoking drugs next to his gravely injured mother. Ms Eugene was taken to hospital in a critical condition, with a split lip, bruises inside her cheek and blunt force trauma to the back of her head. She died of a fatal bleed to the brain at 10pm the same day. The exact cause of the fatal injury - the blunt trauma to the back of Ms Eugene's head - is not known, as Phinn said he 'blacked out' during the incident. But Judge Peter Gower KC claimed it was 'more probably' from a wall. Phinn was cleared of murder but jailed for 13 years for manslaughter. Jailing Phinn at Croydon Crown Court, Judge Gower said: 'Early on the morning of November 2, something happened that caused you to lose your temper. There's no clear evidence as to what it was. 'Your defence statement refers to your mother humming loudly and an argument ensuing. There may have been something as trivial as that. Whatever it was provides no form of justification of you behaving the way you did. 'That blunt force trauma [to the back of her head], I am sure you are responsible for, though you have never admitted as much. Maybe because you have no recollection of it. That caused the bleed to the brain. The particular cause of her death.' Also on the Met list is Louis Collins who was given a life sentence with a minimum term of more than 11 years for carrying out a campaign of rape and attempted rape in London. Louis Collins (pictured) who was given a life sentence with a minimum term of more than 11 years for carrying out a campaign of rape and attempted rape in London. Kenneth Ebbah (left), 42, was jailed for 18 years for raping two women. And Aaron Bennett (right), 36, caged for five and a half years for GBH, two counts of non-fatal strangulation and two counts of assault in relation to the two women Collins committed the attacks which included the rape or attempted rape of three different women between August 18 and 21 2023 after leaving Lambeth Hospital in south, where he had been placed for previous sexual assaults. Among the attacks included an attempting to rape a woman at knifepoint in a park and raping another woman after following her home. Aaron Bennett, 36 of Hackney, was also flagged in the V100 list after his offending came to police attention in 2022. Between 2022 and 2024, officers compiled evidence of persistent violent behaviour by Bennett against two women he was in a relationship with. In August 2024, he was found guilty of GBH, two counts of non-fatal strangulation and two counts of assault in relation to the two women. He was jailed for five and a half years. A fifth on the V100 success list is Kenneth Ebbah, from Tower Hamlets. The 42-year-old was caged for 18 years after being found guilty of raping two women between March and November 2023. Speaking last week about the Met's V100 campaign, London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan, said: 'Violence against women and girls has no place in London and I fully support the renewed action being taken by the Met to identify and go after the most dangerous and violent predators.' Sir Keir Starmer has backed the idea of failed asylum seekers being sent from Britain to 'return hubs' overseas - but denied it would be a repeat of the Rwanda scheme. The Prime Minister said he would look at any policies to tackle illegal migration if they were cost-effective and did not breach international law. His comments came after the European Union gave states the green light to pay third countries to take migrants whose asylum claims have been rejected. Britain is expected to approach countries in the Balkans such as Albania and ask them if they want to set up the first centres for arrivals from nations like Iran and Afghanistan, who cannot be returned to their home countries. It would differ from the Tories' flagship policy of putting illegal migrants on one-way flights to Rwanda without first allowing them to claim asylum, which was grounded by courts because judges ruled the east African country was not a safe destination. Asked at his major summit on immigration crime if the UK was looking at return hubs, Sir Keir replied: 'The in-principle approach that we take is that we will look at anything that works. 'Obviously that's got to be consistent with international law and it's got to be cost-effective - the Rwanda scheme was neither of those. 'But we are working with other countries on anything that we think will work.' Sir Keir Starmer's comments came after the European Union gave states the green light to pay third countries to take migrants whose asylum claims have been rejected Britain is expected to approach countries in the Balkans such as Albania and ask them if they want to set up the first centres for arrivals from nations like Iran and Afghanistan, who cannot be returned to their home countries. He added that he had already been to Italy to have an 'in-depth discussion' with its premier Giorgia Meloni about her proposals for tackling illegal migration, which include processing asylum seekers in Albania. She said in a video message played to delegates at the Organised Immigration Crime Summit in Lancaster House: 'A model that was criticised at first, but that then has gained increasing consensus, so much so that today, European Union is proposing to set up return hubs in third countries. This means that we were right and that the courage to lead the way has been rewarded.' The PM also announced that the Home Office has returned more than 24,000 people with no right to be in the UK since Labour took power. There were 24,103 returns between July 5 and March 22 - the highest number for eight years - including 3,594 foreign criminals. However the number of people reaching the UK in dinghies across the Channel is also at record levels with close to 6,000 arriving so far this year. Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp asked in the Commons: 'Will the minister now accept the Government's plan to "smash the gangs" lies in tatters? Crossings are up by 31 per cent since the election, they're about to break 30,000 and the first three months of this year have been the worst on record. 'Does she now accept it was a catastrophic mistake to cancel the Rwanda deterrent before it even started?' Immigration minister Dame Angela Eagle admitted on Times Radio: 'Of course, we're disappointed. Some of that is about having more people per boat, which is also more dangerous and more reckless. 'But what we've got to do - we've been in government for eight months - these people smuggling gangs have been allowed to establish themselves across the Channel and be very sophisticated with their global networks for six years.' A Tesla dealership has gone up in flames in Italy with police investigating possible arson that destroyed at least 17 cars, a security source said. Italy's anti-terrorism police unit Digos is leading the investigation and is looking into the possibility that anarchists set fire to the cars on the eastern outskirts of Rome, the source said. Drone images showed the burnt-out remains of cars lined up in a parking lot, with two rows of vehicles back-to-back and a third row some distance away. The fire brigade said in a statement that the blaze broke out at around 4.30am. The dealership was partially damaged, but nobody was injured. Officials added that they were exploring 'all avenues' in their investigation into the cause of the fire. Tesla cars have become targets for vandalism across several countries, in response to the Right-wing activism of company owner Elon Musk. The tech billionaire, who also owns social media platform X, has joined US President Donald Trump's administration and has come out in support of hard-Right parties in Europe. European sales of Tesla vehicles tumbled 49 per cent in the first two months of the year even as overall sales of EVs grew. Italy's anti-terrorism police unit Digos is leading the investigation and is looking into the possibility that anarchists set fire to the cars on the eastern outskirts of Rome Tesla cars have become targets for vandalism across several countries, in response to the right-wing activism of company owner Elon Musk (pictured with Donald Trump) This handout image taken and released on March 31, 2025, by the Vigili del Fuoco, the Italian Corps of Firefighters, shows firefighters working to put out a fire at a Tesla dealership, in which 17 cars were destroyed or seriously damaged, in Torrenova, on the outskirts of Rome A drone view shows charred cars following the fire at a Tesla dealership This comes after a Tesla dealership in southern France went up in flames during a another suspected arson attack. The showroom in was set ablaze in the early hours of March 3, destroying 12 vehicles worth a staggering 550,000 in what authorities are treating as a deliberate attack. The fire broke out around 3.15am at the dealership in Plaisance-du-Touch, near Toulouse, according to the local prosecutor's office. Officials confirmed they have launched an investigation into 'the destruction and damage of property belonging to others by dangerous means.' In France, Tesla's sales plummeted by 45 per cent in the first two months of this year compared to the same period last year. The vehicles were found with broken wing mirrors, smashed windows and bodywork dents outside a electric car showroom in Belfast. Police first received reports about the vandalised Teslas earlier this month. Drone images of the Rome fire showed the burnt-out remains of cars lined up in a parking lot, with two rows of vehicles back-to-back and a third row some distance away A drone view shows charred Tesla vehicles in Rome on March 31 Firefighter can be seen trying to put out a fire at the Tesla dealership in Rome The fire brigade said in a statement that the blaze broke out at around 4.30am The dealership was partially damaged, but nobody was injured Officials added that they were exploring 'all avenues' in their investigation into the cause of the fire Tesla cars have become targets for vandalism across several countries, A burnt out vehicle with a broken rear window at a vandalised Tesla car dealership Burned Tesla cars are seen at a dealership on the outskirts of Rome In a statement on March 17, Police Service Northern Ireland (PSNI) said: 'The damage is believed to have occurred at some point in the last 24 hours. 'Approximately 20 vehicles have been targeted. Most have had their wing mirrors knocked off, while others have also had windows smashed or received dents to the bodywork. 'Inquiries to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident are ongoing.' Officers have appealed for any witnesses or anyone with information about the vandalism to come forward. In the United States, Molotov cocktails have been thrown at cars and Tesla charging stations have been destroyed. A monster deportation center that could hold up to 10,000 migrants is being built on the US-Mexico border, members of President Donald Trump's administration have confirmed. Trump has selected Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas is as the first of several planned mega migrant centers to carry out the 'largest deportation program of criminals in the of history America.' U.S. Secretary of the Army Daniel P. Driscoll toured the location last week to announce the holding center has been given the 'green light' to begin construction in the coming days. 'The process of preparing it and getting it ready to be built out will start to occur any day,' Driscoll told the El Paso Times.. 'This is such an incredibly important mission. We believe to keep the American people safe.' News of the massive site was first reported on by the New York Times, who added Fort Bliss will be the first of several the Trump administration instead to stand up around the country. Additional facilities could be built in Utah and New York near Niagara Falls. Located on the US-Mexico border in West Texas, Fort Bliss is already being used by the Trump administration as a spot where migrants are loaded on to planes before being flown back to their countries of origin or to third countries. This image released by the Department of Defense shows US Customs and Border Protection agents guide undocumented migrants to board a C-17 Globemaster III aircraft assigned to the 60th Air Mobility Wing for a removal flight at Fort Bliss, Texas, on January 23 U.S. Customs and Border Protection security agents guide illegal aliens to board a removal flight at Fort Bliss, Texas, on Jan. 23, 2025. Under the direction of U.S. Northern Command, U.S. Transportation Command is supporting Immigration and Customs Enforcement removal flights by providing military airlift At first, only about 1,000 migrants would be held at the Army post, however, the location's capacity could be expanded to hold more. While touring the Texas installation, the secretary of the Army did not provide details about who would be held there: criminal aliens, families, single adults or unaccompanied migrant children. In the past, Fort Bliss has housed accompanied migrant children during times when civilian detention centers run by Immigration and Customs Enforcement were full, however, that was meant to be a temporary measure to alleviate overcrowding. The Army post has also held Afghan refugees in 2021 in another temporary situation. Citizens of that country who had helped American forces were airlifted out of Afghanistan by the US military after America pulled its forces out of the nation. Refugees were sent to El Paso for screening and vetting on a short-term basis until they could be resettled permanently. Tents are set up at Fort Bliss' Dona Ana Village, in New Mexico, where Afghan refugees are being housed, Friday, Sept. 10, 2021. The Biden administration provided the first public look inside the U.S. military base where Afghans airlifted out of Afghanistan are screened, amid questions about how the government is caring for the refugees and vetting them Afghan refugees are processed at Fort Bliss where they were being housed in Sept. 10, 2021 A man walks with a child through Fort Bliss where Afghan refugees are being housed in 2021 A soldier stands inside a tent prepared to house Afghan refugees at Fort Bliss in 2021 28,319 migrants were deported in the first seven weeks of the Trump administration, according to Immigration and Customs Enforcement. That averages to around 3,887 per week, or 555 a day - twice last years average under Pres. Joe Biden. However, it's still not a high number to add up to millions of people arrested, like Trump promised. The number of immigrants without criminal records arrested by ICE and detained rose by 500 percent from mid-January to late-March, according to ICE statistics. ICE had nearly 48,000 immigrants in custody as of March 23, agency data showed, well beyond its funded capacity of 41,500. Washington D.C.'s Metro system will be implementing a new tough-on-crime policy to ban riders who have committed sex crimes as President Donald Trump continues to crack down on the capital's problems. The plan, which is set to ban those who have been arrested more than once for a sex crime for up to a year, was approved Thursday in an 8-0 vote by the Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) Board of Directors. That same day, Trump signed an executive order to establish a new 'D.C. Safe and Beautiful Task Force' that would hone in on cleanliness, safety, reducing crime and homelessness and deporting migrants in the capital. The new rule is set to come into play on June 2 or later 'as may be necessary for all administrative processes to be in place,' the WMATA said. Other than those who have committed sex crimes, people who have assaulted Metro employees, contractors or passengers will also have their SmarTrip cards deactivated. The ban would run in three stages - 45 days for a first offense, 90 for the second and an entire year for the third. Offenders who return to any Metro stations will be arrested and could face more charges. 'What were really trying to get at is repeat and violent offenders,' Metro Transit Police Chief Michael Anzallo said during a meeting with the WMATA board's safety and operation committee. 'We have about 40 individuals we think are a problem,' Anzallo said, adding that many of them are adults. Repeat sex offenders will be banned from riding Washington D.C.'s Metro system as part of a new policy implemented by the Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) Board of Directors Other than those who have committed sex crimes, people who have assaulted Metro employees, contractors or passengers will also have their SmarTrip cards deactivated. (Pictured: D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser in March 2024) After a person is arrested by the Metro Police Department they will be sent a ban notice and their information and a photo of them will be uploaded to the database. Metro tried to implement a similar ban in 2021 for individuals arrested for gun-related or sex crimes, but the effort was abandoned. Currently, those that violate Metro's passenger conduct rules can only be banned for up to 24 hours from the train stations. Despite crime being low over the last seven years, 227 employees were assaulted in 2024, the WMATA reported. Those incidents included both aggravated and simple assault, as well as threats. Meanwhile, 76 sexual-related crimes occurred on the Metro this past year, with 61 of them being committed by repeat offenders. 'It's a shocking number,' Tracy Hadden Loh, a D.C. representative on the WMATA board, said. The President's new task force aims 'to ensure effective federal participation' when it comes to immigration laws. Offenders who return to any Metro stations will be arrested and could face more charges. (Picture: A Metro Transit Police officer walking around Metro Center with a K-9) On Thursday, Trump (pictured Friday) signed an executive order to establish a new 'D.C. Safe and Beautiful Task Force' that would hone in on cleanliness, safety, reducing crime and homelessness and deporting migrants in the capital It is also set to help assist in recruiting more police officers, 'increase the speed and lower the cost of processing concealed carry license requests,' and revise current policies to make sure dangerous offenders are detained. The order has also enlisted Interior Secretary Doug Burgum to clean up and remove all homeless encampments located on federal land in the capital. The task force will include not just representatives from the Interior, but also members of the FBI, Marshals Service, the departments of Transportation and Homeland Security, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The group can also request assistance from the Metropolitan Police Department, as well as the United States Park Police, Amtrak Police and the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. 'As the Federal capital city, Washington, D.C., is the only city that belongs to all Americans and that all Americans can claim as theirs. As the capital city of the greatest Nation in the history of the world, it should showcase beautiful, clean, and safe public spaces,' the executive order stated. It further stated that the capital should feel safe, 'clean, well-kept, and pleasant,' while also declaring that is is important to make D.C. 'safe, beautiful, and prosperous by preventing crime, punishing criminals, preserving order, protecting our revered American monuments, and promoting beautification and the preservation of our history and heritage.' The heartbroken father of Jeffrey Epstein victim Virginia Giuffre begged his daughter to 'hang on' after she was involved in a car crash - just weeks before she died by suicide. Sky Roberts told DailyMail.com he was 'sick to my stomach' and would do anything to be able to fly from his home in Florida to be by his daughter's hospital bedside in Australia after she had a horrific car crash. 'I'm sick to my stomach. I feel like crying because I love my daughter more than life,' he said in March. 'If there's anything I could do, I'd do it.' In a gut-wrenching Instagram post in March, Giuffre announced she had been given just four days to live after a school bus plowed into her car, leaving her with kidney renal failure. The 41-year-old - who was sex trafficked by Jeffrey Epstein and his accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell, and accused Prince Andrew of sexually abusing her as a teen - wrote she was 'ready to go' but just wanted to see her children one final time. Sky's son - Giuffre's brother - had been in regular contact with her after the car crash and kept him updated as to her condition. Virginia Giuffre with her father Sky Roberts. He told DailyMail.com he was 'sick to my stomach' after her car crash 'She's in really bad shape,' he said at the time. 'She's very depressed there's everything else she's been going through with the divorce and not being able to see her kids.' Roberts said at the time that his son was 'trying to get her spirits up so she doesn't just give up.' 'I'm hoping she can hang on,' he said. 'She's only 41. She's got a lot of life to live. She's got a lot of things left to do - she's helping people and helping other girls.' Roberts revealed how helpless he felt being stuck at his home in Florida, without the money to be able to hop on a plane to Australia to be with her in this time of need. 'There's nothing I can do from here,' he said. 'I'm on Social Security so I can't fly out. I'd love to be by her side and support her.' In a gut-wrenching Instagram, Giuffre announced that she had been given just four days to live in March Giuffre, who was trafficked by Jeffrey Epstein as a teen, died by suicide after making a series of troubling Instagram posts. Her family said in a statement: 'It is with utterly broken hearts that we announce that Virginia passed away last night at her farm in Western Australia. 'She lost her life to suicide, after being a lifelong victim of sexual abuse and sex trafficking. 'Virginia was a fierce warrior in the fight against sexual abuse and sex trafficking. She was the light that lifted so many survivors. 'Despite all the adversity she faced in her life, she shone so bright. She will be missed beyond measure. 'The light of her life were her children Christian, Noah, and Emily. It was when she held her newborn daughter in her arms that Virginia realized she had to fight back against those who had abused her and so many others.' California's formerly overrun border with Mexico is now virtually empty just months after Donald Trump's election, images show. Aid workers have begun packing up after weeks without seeing any migrants, SF Gate reports. 'To say there has been a dramatic change would be an understatement,' Jeffrey Stalnaker, acting chief patrol agent of the San Diego sector, said. Not long ago, the stretch along southern California was dealing with a record number crossings. December 2024 saw a record 301,981 people caught crossing the border illegally. The number of migrants caught crossing illegally stayed well above 200,000-a-month for much of Biden's time in office. He insisted there was nothing he could do. But during Trump's first month in office the number of illegal migrants intercepted plunged to just 11,709 people, making a mockery of Biden's claims that his hands were tied. Former President Biden's decision to reverse a pandemic-era policy which denied asylum seekers and immediately deported them back to Mexico was largely blame for the spike. President Trump vowed to tackle the border crisis if elected and has since enacted several measures which have seen daily arrests fall from their high of 1,200 to just 30. Among them was deploying 750 US troops to reinforce six miles of the border wall with concertina wire. Adriana Jasso, a human rights lawyer who works for the American Friends Service Committee, said the last time she saw any migrants in the notorious 'Whiskey 8' area near San Diego was February 15. California 's formerly hectic border with Mexico is now virtually empty just months after Donald Trump 's election. The above image shows part of the wall separating San Diego and Mexico on March 21 Another shot from October 2023 showed migrants lining up to be processed at the border, with former President Biden presiding over a historic crisis blamed for ruining Kamala Harris' election hopes A huge concertina metal fence has been erected along the southern border as a deterrent which appears to be working Previously Whiskey 8 has been chocked full of migrants who had scaled the fence out of Mexico and were waiting along the stretch for processing by CBP. Jasso and her colleagues are used to handing out water, food and aid to the migrants but said there is less call for their services these days. After a storm destroyed some of the canopy shelters where Jasso and her team were based, they decided to dismantle the whole operation. Jacumba resident Sam Schultz, a retired aid worker, felt compelled to go and support the humanitarian efforts at the border. But lately, water bottles he puts out for migrants has gone untouched. Recently, his son travelled out to Highway 80 to gather up unused tents. Stalnaker told SF Gate the addition of concertina wire has drastically reduced the number of illegal entries, which has seen arrests plummet by 70 percent so far this fiscal year compared to last. He added that federal prosecutors in San Diego are dealing with more than 1,000 border-related criminal cases so far this fiscal year. Not long ago, the stretch along southern California was dealing with a record number crossings The president vowed to tackle the border crisis as part of his campaign platform A Customs and Border Patrol graphic showing how migrant interceptions surged as high as 301,000-a-month during Biden's tenure. During Trump's first month in office, just 11,000 migrants were caught crossing the border Mexico is also stepping up its border efforts after the president threatened to impost crippling tariffs. Mexican officials vowed to send 10,000 national guard troops north who now meet with US agents a few times per week, according to Stalnaker. Almost immediately upon assuming office, Trump canceled appointments for those who were in Tijuana awaiting meetings with Customs and Border Protection and also removed a phone app which scheduled them. Illegal border crossings at the southern border fell to the lowest levels since 2000 last month. But experts warned that without legal ways to claim asylum, migrants are more likely to place themselves at increased risk to enter the US. Earlier this month, three people died in the Otay Mountains due to harsh terrain and cold weather after trying to cross the border near San Diego. The two men and a woman were found by CBP agents after they put out a distress call. A nine-year-old girl died after going to a San Diego dentist office for a routine surgery. Silvanna Moreno had dental surgery under anesthesia at Dreamtime Dentistry on March 18. The third grader was 'transitioned to a recovery room afterwards' and later discharged to her parents, according to the medical examiner's office. '[Moreno] remained asleep during her transport home. Upon arrival, she stayed sleeping and was transitioned into her bed at home,' said the medical examiner. 'Family checked on her throughout the day to later find her unresponsive in bed and called 911 for emergency services assistance.' She was transported to Rady Children's Hospital Emergency Department, where she was later pronounced dead. It is not clear if the dental procedure played a role, and her cause and manner of death are pending investigation by the San Diego Police Department. No further details on what procedure Moreno underwent before her death have been disclosed. Moreno's family has set up a GoFundMe to raise money to cover the funeral cost of their 'bright and joyful' daughter. Silvanna Moreno (pictured), 9, died after having dental surgery under anesthesia at Dreamtime Dentistry on March 18 'Silvanna was a bright and loving third grader at Sherman Elementary School in San Diego,' the fundraiser said. 'She was the sunshine in every room she entered, always greeting staff and classmates with a big smile and an even bigger hug. 'Her friends describe her as kind, caring, and always happy, a true friend to everyone she met. She was also an amazing big sister to Roberto, showing love and devotion every day.' Dreamtime Dentistry, led by Dr. Ryan Watkins, told Fox 5 that the girl was awake at the time of her release. 'Following the procedure, she was discharged in stable conditionawake, with stable vital signs and protective reflexes intactinto her mother's care, following our standard post-anesthesia protocols,' the dental office said. '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.' Dreamtime Dentistry said Moreno was referred to their office for the procedure because she had anxiety. 'The patient was referred to our office for dental treatment under general anesthesia due to her young age and acute situational anxiety,' Dreamtime Dentistry said. '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.' Dreamtime Dentistry (pictured), led by Dr. Ryan Watkins, said the girl was awake at the time of her release According to the practice website, Watkins (pictured) is the only dentist listed who is trained in anesthesiology According to the practice website, Watkins is the only dentist listed who is trained in anesthesiology. Dreamtime Dentistry offered their condolences to Moreno's family and said they are cooperating with investigators. 'We are deeply saddened by the tragic passing of our young patient, which occurred several hours after her completed dental procedure,' the practice said. '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.' NBC San Diego reported that the Dental Board of California previously investigated Watkins after a patient nearly died in 2016. Investigators said the 54-year-old patient, who was put under anesthesia, was given two drugs, which led to the man's heart-stopping. According to investigators, one of the drugs should have never been administered and Watkins was put on probation from 2020 to 2023. The man ended up filing a civil lawsuit against Watkins, which was later settled. A mother attempted to sell her newborn baby to pay for lessons on baking pastries in a horrifying case of alleged human trafficking, according to police. The Brazilian woman and three other people were arrested after police narrowly saved the 27-day-old baby from the bizarre sale in the city of Goiania, about 560 miles north of Sao Paulo. Police said they were tipped off to the attempted sale by neighbors of the woman, who also planned to use the undisclosed amount of money to help pay rent. The woman, who was reportedly suffering postpartum depression, allegedly set up the deal through her boyfriend, who is not the father of the child. The boyfriend and his roommate set up the sale of the child on behalf of a local businesswoman, who was looking for a child. It was unclear what the buyer planned to do with the child. The business woman, who owns an ice cream shop, has denied the accusations and said she was temporarily babysitting when police took custody of the child. A Brazilian news outlet, however, obtained a text message exchange from the woman outlining what type of baby she was looking for. 'Find a 'big-breasted' woman to give me the child,' the businesswoman wrote. 'If it's a boy, even better. If it's black, even better.' A Brazilian mother and three people are facing human trafficking charges after she sold her 27-day-old baby to an ice cream shop owner. The woman confessed to the police that she was expecting to use the money to pay for rent and a cooking classes A law enforcement official carries the baby boy following a dramatic rescued Sunday, a day after his mother had sold him to a local businesswoman in the southeaster Brazilian city of Goiania Authorities learned that the businesswoman had previously signed up in the past to adopt a child with the National Adoption Registry, but was not on a waiting list. 'The mother confessed, she told the whole story that they actually offered her a sum of money to hand over the baby, because with the money she was going to pay the rent in the other place where she was going to live and she was going to take a cooking course,' Goias Civil Police chief Humberto Teofilo told Brazilian news outlet G1. Teofilo said the mother was expecting to receive payment in the coming days. The baby was turned over to child protection services and later placed under the care shelter. Paulo Wanderson, a counselor at the shelter, said that the boy is doing 'fine.' 'He was very hungry. He drank a whole [three ounce] bottle, a very delicate situation,' he said. Wanderson explained he child could be put up for adoption if no family member comes forward within 24 hours. All four defendants were expected to appear in court Monday. White House national security advisor Mike Waltz set up group chats beyond the one that featured a freewheeling discussion of U.S. military strikes on the Houthis in Yemen, according to a new report. President Donald Trump has agreed that Waltz was the initial cause of the stunning breach that inadvertently included a prominent journalist the security group chat that burst into the open last week when Jeffrey Goldberg wrote about it. But Waltz has kept his role, as Trump seeks to avoid the staff turmoil that characterized his first term, where he forced out national security director Mike Flynn after 23 days on the job. The internal political support from the highest level didn't spare Waltz from ridicule on Saturday Night Live, which did a send-up of Signalgate that focused on Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth accidentally joining a teen group chat where he inserted missives about nuclear subs. The Wall Street Journal reported that Waltz has organized other group chats as well. It described those chats as 'other sensitive national-security conversations on Signal,' an encrypted messaging app that the administration says is approved for sensitive conversations although top officials are supposed to use government devices in highly secure environments to discuss classified information. These include 'separate threads on how to broker peace between Russia and Ukraine as well as military operations President Donald Trump has defended his national security advisor Mike Waltz, and the White House now says it considers the case 'closed' Waltz has said he takes 'full responsibility' for setting up the Signal group chat. The White House went scorched earth last week on Atlantic editor Jeffrey Goldberg as the scandal raged, even attacking his wife. Trump has repeatedly expressed confidence in Waltz and the White House says he is 'firmly behind' his national security advisor. One White House insider called Waltz, a Green Beret veteran of the U.S. Army and National Guard, a 'f***ing idiot' after the group chat became public. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Monday the White House considers the case 'closed', although Republican and Democratic senators have asked the Pentagon's IG to look into it. National Security Advisor Mike Waltz has been able to ride out the scandal even after taking 'full responsibility' for the mishap 'Saturday Night Live' ridiculed Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth accidentally joining a teen group chat The White House also said last week the national security counsel investigating how the journalist got added to the group chat. 'As the president has made it very clear, Mike Waltz continues to be an important part of his national security team,' she told reporters. 'And this case has been closed here at the White House, as far as we are concerned.' 'There have been steps made to ensure that something like that can obviously never happen again,' she added. 'And we're moving forward. And the president and Mike Waltz and his entire national security team have been working together very well, if you look at how much safer the United States of America is because of the leadership of this team.' If you started the week feeling a little bleary-eyed due to the clocks having gone forwards at the weekend, it could be music to your ears. A new workplace movement for those who take what they regard as a non-binary approach to time-keeping is seeing some employees reject the annual switch to British Summer Time enabling them to enjoy an extra hour in bed. Labelling themselves GMBST+, the campaign was inspired by young workers who feel the flexibility of being allowed to work from home doesnt go far enough. And our exclusive picture of Angela Rayner suggests that she may be considering including time zone freedom in her workers rights revolution. The Deputy Prime Minister was seen wearing two wristwatches a habit adopted by many who identify as GMBST+ in order to keep track of their own time zone as well as that being followed by the rest of the country. Changes to the law could prevent workers who clearly display on badges on any given day whether they are following Greenwich Mean Time or British Summer Time from being disciplined for lateness. A logo chosen for the group shows a clock face showing the traditional workplace start time of nine oclock but with a third hand indicating that supporters view it as still only eight oclock. Campaigners for GMBST+ freedom want employees to be told they have a human right to choose which time zone suits them best each morning. Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner wearing two wristwatches seen as a possible sign that she plans to change the law to protect those who take what they regard as a non-binary approach to time-keeping Changes to the law could prevent workers who clearly display GMBST+ badges which state whether they are following Greenwich Mean Time or British Summer Time from being disciplined for lateness Some hope that ultimately that freedom would be extended beyond GMT and BST to enable workers to identify with any of the worlds time zones. Im just not a morning person, said Katherine Napp, 22, a product developer at a software company in east London. She works from home two days a week, coming into the office on the other three. Why should I have to start work an hour earlier just so farmers have more daylight to harvest their crops? he asked. If I fancy a lie-in, or struggle to get up in time, I just put on a GMBST+ badge. Fortunately my boss understands that Im just following a different time zone. But I worry that if I change employer I could face being discriminated against for following a flexible time zone. So it would definitely be a good thing if it was made compulsory for firms to respect peoples right to be GMBST+. However, employer groups fear the change will add to the burden already facing them due to Labours flagship Employment Rights Bill and further risk undermining the Governments attempts to revive Britains economy. Employer groups fear that giving legal protection to workers who choose to opt out of British Summer Time and have an extra hour in bed will add to the burden already facing them due to Labours flagship Employment Rights Bill Workers following the GMBST+ trend often wear two wristwatches in order to keep track of their own time zone as well as that being followed by the rest of the country The GMBST+ logo shows the traditional workplace start time of nine oclock but with a third hand indicating that supporters view it as still only eight oclock Benefits for millions of workers announced last autumn, including the right to claim unfair dismissal on day one of a new job, would cost businesses an estimated 5billion a year, according to ministers own impact assessment. The Bill, championed by Ms Rayner and Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds, aims to boost workers rights through measures such as abolishing zero hours contracts, allowing flexible working and extending statutory sick pay. But 92 per cent of small employers say they are worried about their impact. Mae Dupp, of business organisation the UK Employers Federation, said: This is an incredibly foolish idea. The Victorians revolutionised global commerce by giving the rest of the world an international time standard. Letting todays millennials pick and choose their time zone because they fancy another hour in bed would make us a laughing stock. Since 1972, Britons have been putting the clocks forward by one hour at 1am on the last Sunday in March, then reverting back at 2am on the last Sunday in October. Daylight-saving time was actually first introduced in this country in 1916 with supporters declaring that by sticking to GMT all year round, summer mornings were a waste of daylight. Some experts say the twice-a-year switch is bad for the nations health as it disrupts sleeping patterns. But others say putting the clocks forward at the end of March means our circadian rhythms are more in keeping with the daylight hours over spring and summer. Other claimed benefits of lighter evenings include a reduction in traffic accidents and deterring crime. Women sexually abused by Mohamed Al-Fayed in France have joined forces with alleged victims of a fashion mogul in a high court battle to change the countrys statute of limitations. Kristina Svensson, Al-Fayeds executive assistant at the Paris Ritz hotel, claims the Harrods boss attacked her on multiple occasions between 1998 and 2000. She hoped that some of the former associates who helped enable the deceased billionaire's abuse would be prosecuted. But as the offences fall outside of France's 20-year limit, her claims will not be investigated. She and other alleged victims of the late tycoon face the same challenges as alleged victims of Gerald Marie, 74, who has been accused of a series of historic rapes and sexual assaults. The case is set to go before Frances court of cassation, the equivalent of the British High Court, after initial appeals were rejected due to the statute of limitations. And a landmark decision which could add a sliding statute for victims of sexual abuse will be made on April 3. Harrods has opened a compensation scheme for survivors of alleged sexual abuse by the department stores former boss, Mohamed Al Fayed, pictured. French fashion mogul Gerald Marie has been accused of multiple rapes and sexual assaults but the alleged offences are time-barred by France's statute of limitations Harrods launches compensation scheme for Al Fayed victims Harrods has opened a compensation scheme for survivors of alleged sexual abuse by the department stores former boss, Mohamed Al Fayed. The redress scheme, developed with law firm MPL Legal, opened for applications on Monday and will remain live until March 31 next year. It is funded by Harrods, which has been approached for comment, and is limited to compensate those who have claims of sexual abuse perpetrated by Mr Al Fayed. Lawyers representing survivors of the businessmans alleged abuse 'cautiously welcome the scheme' while victims described their hopes for the justice I feel I deserve. Harrods 'apologises unreservedly' for the sexual abuse people suffered and 'wants everyone who is eligible to receive this compensation', according to documents on the schemes website. Advertisement This would mean that if victims made claims against an abuser that fell within the statutes limits then time-barred claims against the same perpetrator can be heard. Among Maries accusers is journalist Lisa Brinkworth, 57, who claims the fashion boss sexually assaulted her in 1998 while she was working undercover alongside journalist Donal MacIntyre to expose sex crimes in the industry for a BBC documentary. In addition to her alleged abuse falling outside the statute of limitations, Ms Brinkworths quest for justice is further obstructed by the corporations refusal to release footage from the documentary under a secretive settlement made with Marie and his Elite modelling agency. Ms Brinkworth has also reached out to alleged victims of French actor Gerard Depardieu to see if they will join the campaign to change the law. The 76-year-old actor is facing charges of sexually assaulting two women who worked alongside him on a film set. In Britain there is no time limit to bring abuse claims, and Ms Brinkworth said she hopes the cases being brought by herself and other survivors will result in a consistent rule across Europe banning time-barring cases. I couldnt believe when I discovered it in 2020, that I would come up against this archaic law preventing victims of historic abuse from seeking justice, she said. It is so wrong because there are so many reasons why it can take decades for the victims of rape and sexual abuse to come forward. Shame, fear of not being believed and the fear of coming up against a powerful abuser. Former BBC journalist Lisa Brinkworth, pictured outside of the EU Parliament, alleges that Gerald Marie assaulted her while she was filming an undercover documentary Ms Brinkworth said that if the ruling later this week is favourable to survivors then it could mean that Maries alleged victims will be able to bring their case to trial alongside her. It makes a mockery of rape and sexual assault victims that as the law stands, they will be given only witness status when they are very much victims, she said. We have all come up against a judicial system that is very much in favour of the perpetrator and time and time again, fails victims. Marie denies all the allegations. Ms Svensson said 'as many as 50 people' would have been aware of the abuse committed by Al-Fayed but none had been held to account. 'Hopefully all of us working together will help have these laws changed for the better. It could be have a seismic impact,' she added. The developments come as five women who worked as nannies and private air stewards for Al-Fayed launched legal action against the deceased billionaires estate. The law firm representing the alleged victims, Leigh Day, said the women were subjected to serious sexual abuse, harassment and mistreatment. Harrods has opened a compensation scheme for survivors of abuse by Al-Fayed, offering up to 200,000 to victims. The department store apologises unreservedly for the sexual abuse people suffered and wants everyone who is eligible to receive this compensation, according to a statement on its website. An eligible applicant does not need to have been a Harrods employee but their claim must contain a sufficiently close connection to the London department store or to Mr Al Fayeds role there. Prince Andrew's ex Lady Victoria Hervey has lashed out at Jeffrey Epstein victim Virginia Giuffre after she posted a photo claiming she has just 'days to live'. Giuffre - who was sex trafficked by Jeffrey Epstein and claims she was sexually assaulted as a teenager by Prince Andrew - said yesterday she has been given just four days to live after a car crash. Ms Giuffre, nee Roberts, 41, shared a photograph of herself from her hospital bed, covered in bruises she had said she suffered in a smash with a speeding bus. Posting to Instagram on Sunday, the sex abuse survivor says she has suffered kidney failure and begged to see her children 'one last time' before she dies. 'They've given me four days to live, transferring me to a specialist hospital in urology,' she captioned the photograph. This year has been the worst start to a new year, but I won't bore anyone with the details. 'But I think it's important to note that when a school bus driver comes at you driving 110kmh as we were slowing down for a turn, that no matter what your car is made of, it might as well be a tin can.' In the wake of the news, Lady Victoria Hervey, who dated the disgraced Prince Andrew in 1999, took to Instagram to claim 'karma' had reached Giuffre. She added: 'If Virginia Giuffre really does have days to live then a complete confession is needed. Without evidence, the socialite wrote: 'I don't believe it though, the FBI are on her right now and arrest warrants are coming. She's conveniently dying to evade jail. Lady Victoria Hervey, who dated the disgraced Prince Andrew in 1999, slammed Giuffre online Virgina Giuffre, nee Roberts, claimed she was sexually assaulted as a teenager by Prince Andrew after being recruited by Ghislaine Maxwell Without evidence, Lady Victoria Hervey (pictured, right) wrote: 'I don't believe it though, the FBI are on her right now and arrest warrants are coming' She added, again without evidence: 'I think it's time that Robert Giuffre who has custody of their teenage children to speak [sic]. I know he knows the truth of the fake photo and all her con jobs.' '[Giuffre] is the Queen of the fake photo after all. Hence I'm such a sceptic and don't believe in jumping to any conclusions right away from a visual.' A spokesperson for Ms Giuffre said last night: 'Virginia has been in a serious accident and is receiving medical care in the hospital. She greatly appreciates the support and well wishes people are sending.' Ms Giuffre found herself at the centre of one of the world's biggest scandals when she launched legal action against billionaire Jeffrey Epstein in 2015. She alleged she was trafficked for sex at age 16 after his associate and ex-lover, Ghislaine Maxwell recruited her from her job as a locker room attendant at Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida. Ms Giuffre and Maxwell eventually reached an undisclosed settlement over a defamation case in 2017. Epstein took his own life in a jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges, while Maxwell was jailed for 20 years in 2022 for conspiring with him to sexually abuse minors. Ms Giuffre alleges Epstein forced her to have sex with Prince Andrew on at least three occasions when she was 17 and that she spent two days alone with the royal in New Mexico. In 2022 she received an out-of-court settlement reported to be worth millions from the Duke of York. Virginia Giuffre (pictured with her now-estranged husband Robert Giuffre) found herself at the centre of one of the world's biggest scandals after first launching legal action against billionaire Jeffrey Epstein in 2015 Virginia Giuffre, 41, shared a photo of herself from her hospital bed covered in bruises she had apparently sustained from a speeding bus crash Commenting on the post, her father Sky Roberts offered help from America Due to the shocking nature of the claims, Prince Andrew lost military titles and royal patronages as well as the use of the title His Royal Highness (pictured December 2022) The settlement accepted no liability and Andrew has always strongly rejected claims. But he agreed to pay the unspecified amount to Ms Giuffre and her charity for victims' rights. In the wake of the scandal, Andrew lost his military titles and royal patronages as well as the use of His Royal Highness title. Her father has previously spoken of his torment knowing he helped his daughter get a job alongside him at the Trump resort, before she was recruited as a masseuse by Maxwell. 'As a parent you kind of ask the question, "How do you not know your children are doing this?",' Mr Roberts said previously. 'But she's a very good actress. When she would come home from these trips she said nothing about it. It must have been killing her inside. 'But for powerful people like that, they can threaten a young girl like that.' Even Ms Giuffre's father, Sky Roberts, was shocked by his daughter's late night Instagram post and also appeared to be in the dark about the incident. 'Virginia my daughter, I love you and praying you get the correct treatment to live a long and healthy life,' he wrote. 'If there is anything in the world, I can do to help you, please let me know. My spirit is with you now and holding your hand.' He told DailyMail.com that he is sick to my stomach and would do anything to be able to fly from his home in Florida to be by his daughters hospital bedside in Australia following a horrific car crash. Im sick to my stomach. I feel like crying because I love my daughter more than life, he said. Ms Roberts Giuffre's bizarre late night social media post quickly caused concern amongst her loved ones Epstein took his own life in a jail cell in 2019 while awaiting his sex trafficking trial Her father has previously spoken of his torment knowing he helped his daughter get a job alongside him at Donald Trump-owned Mar-A-Lago resort in Florida (pictured) If theres anything I could do, Id do it. Ms Giuffre's last known address was with her estranged husband, Robert Giuffre, and their three children at a $1.9million beachfront property in Ocean Reef, North Perth in Western Australia. American-born Ms Giuffre met her Australian martial arts instructor husband when she was 19 during a trip to Thailand. The pair married 10 days later and later moved to Australia, eventually settling in West Australia in December 2020. Eight months later, she filed court paperwork suing Prince Andrew for sexual assault. But the couple, who had been married for 22 years, recently parted ways, with Ms Giuffre claiming she is now estranged from their three teenage children. 'I'm ready to go, just not until I see my babies one last time,' she added in her Instagram post. 'But you know what they say about wishes. S*** in one hand and wish in the other and I guarantee it's still going to be s*** at the end of the day.' She ended the post, on an account which uses her maiden name, by saying goodbye and thanking her followers for being a 'great part' of her life. Video footage has captured the moment a brazen vandal dressed head-to-toe in black destroyed a Cybertruck parked in a private driveway during a chilling attack in an upscale California neighborhood. Surveillance footage revealed the suspect casing the home around 4:20am on Saturday before returning more than an hour later armed with a concrete rock and duct tape. The suspect covered one of the vehicle's cameras with duct tape before repeatedly smashing its windshield with the rock and slashing all four tires. The suspected vandal even left a taunting handwritten note telling the owner that the tires had been damaged. Jason Bedell, the Cybertruck's owner,w left shaken by the targeted attack that occurred in what he described as a peaceful cul-de-sac. 'I live at the top of a hill, at the end of a cul-de-sac. We don't get much traffic at all,' he told KTVU. 'So for somebody to come up here and do something like that is really unusual and very shocking.' 'To come to my house and plan an attack like that, that person's dangerous and needs to face consequences for what they've done,' Bedell added. A brazen vandal dressed head-to-toe in black destroyed a Cybertruck parked in a private driveway during a chilling attack in an upscale California neighborhood 'I'm a little [shaken] up right now, and I'm concerned that they may possibly come back, and it's not a good feeling, having my family here, my young son.' He said the suspect's anger is midguided and being directed at the wrong people. 'All these people who have frustration against the government and Tesla and DOGE are taking it out on the wrong people,' Bedell said. 'They're taking it out on their neighbors. They're taking it out on just working people. Most of these people are Democrats that even bought these EV vehicles.' Police said they 'want to reassure our community that we are fully committed to investigating these acts.' The shaken up father has announced he will be offering a $25,000 cash reward for information leading to the culprit's arrest. Saturday's incident follows a disturbing pattern of attacks targeting Tesla vehicles across the country, prompting U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi to classify the wave of vandalism as 'domestic terrorism.' 'The swarm of violent attacks on Tesla property is nothing short of domestic terrorism. We will continue investigations that impose severe consequences on those involved in these attacks, including those operating behind the scenes to coordinate and fund these crimes,' Bondi said in a statement. The attack comes amid a surge of anti-Tesla incidents nationwide. Surveillance footage revealed the suspect casing the home around 4:20am on Saturday before returning more than an hour later armed with a concrete rock and duct tape Shocking footage of the attack showed the green car pulling up next to Susan's Tesla , then swerving in front to box her in An Arizona woman claimed she was boxed in on a busy highway and beaten up by another driver who targeted her for driving a Tesla An Arizona woman claimed she was boxed in on a busy highway and beaten up by another driver who targeted her for driving a Tesla. The 61-year-old woman, who goes by Susan, told Arizona's Family that she driving was along Route 66 in Flagstaff on March 18 when another vehicle started chasing her. Shocking footage of the attack showed the green car pulling up next to Susan's Tesla, then swerving in front to box her in.The driver of the green car approached Susan while she was still at the wheel, then allegedly started attacking her. In San Jose, a man was recently arrested after being caught on video keying a Tesla in a Costco parking lot. Suspicious devices were discovered at an Austin Tesla dealership last Monday, that resulted in a bomb squad response. A suspected arson attack in Kansas on March 17 also left two Cybertrucks ablaze at a Tesla shop. Former United States Ambassador to Denmark Carla Sands is urging the countrys leaders to shift their strategy for dealing with President Donald Trump regarding his interest in the island of Greenland or face dire consequences. Well see how things go. But the smartest thing would be to try to work out a deal, Sands said in an interview with DailyMail.coms MAGAland podcast on Monday. Greenland is a territory of Denmark, but as a NATO ally the island depends on the United States for security. Sands, a former United States Ambassador to Denmark said she that when she took the job for the Trump administration, she was told that 80 percent of her time would be spent on the delicate situation in Greenland. She said that Denmark leaders were taking the wrong approach with Trump, by choosing to be combative. The island does not 'belong to anyone else,' Greenland's Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen said. Nielson, who took office after last week's elections, made it clear Greenland will stand against Trump. But Trump's former ambassador says that's the wrong move. 'Heres the Prime Minister, not working with President Trump, but trying to go to war with President Trump, she told DailyMail.com. Former United States Ambassador to Denmark Carla Sands I just dont understand what that government is thinking. They were very combative when I was there, certainly. The United States is taking greater interest in Greenland, as Russia and China working to find a foothold in the territory. The island has significant mineral resources and is strategically valuable for because of its physical location in the northern hemisphere. America has long been interested in acquiring Greenland but no modern president has made it as big of a priority in recent years than President Donald Trump. Well get Greenland. Yeah, 100 percent, Trump told NBC News on Saturday. Trump is exploiting the existing tensions between Denmark and Greenland, as the island wants more independence from their European owners. Vice President JD Vance traveled to a United States military base in Greenland on Friday, criticizing Denmark and urging Greenland to declare its independence. What we think is going to happen is that the Greenlanders are going to choose through self-determination to become independent of Denmark, and then were going to have conversations with the people of Greenland from there, he previewed. U.S. Vice President JD Vance arrives to board Air Force Two after touring the U.S. military's Pituffik Space Base in Greenland Jens Frederik Nielsen, leader of the Democrats, addresses the crowd as around 1,000 Greenlanders gather Sands agreed that the relationship between Denmark and Greenland was not very good, prompting Greenlanders to explore the possibility of independence. Theres so much tension between Denmark and Greenland, she said, describing Denmarks treatment of Greenland frankly cruel over generations. Sands also said that Denmark did not have the wealth or resources to develop the islands economic potential or protect its citizens. Denmark owns an asset they cant afford. You cant own things you cant afford, Sands said. President Trump is right in what hes saying. He says it in his own way. But even though Greenlanders are not fans of their Denmark rulers, many of them are not keen on joining the United States, The newly elected Prime Minister of Greenland Jens-Frederik Nielsen, who was sworn in on Friday, warned Trump Monday that Greenland is not up for grabs. '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,' Nielsen wrote in a Facebook post on Monday. A climber was tragically killed after falling more than 200 feet from Ben Nevis - the UK's highest mountain. The 22-year-old man was climbing in the Moonlight Gully - also known as the Number Five Gully - on the Scottish mountain on Saturday with companion of about the same age when they both fell in 'challenging weather conditions'. Gullies are narrow valleys or channels on a mountain with steep sides, typically formed by the erosion of running water, mass movement, or both, and are often used as climbing tracks. Around 20 members of the Lochaber Mountain Rescue Team (LMRT) scrambled to the north face of the mountain to help the pair after Police Scotland raised the alarm at around 5pm. They were able to treat the companion who had 'serious injuries' and have him carried to an area where a coastguard helicopter could airlift him to Raigmore Hospital in Inverness. His condition is unknown. However, they had to return the following day to recover the body of the 22-year-old man at around 1.30pm. Team leader Iain Murray said the climbers - both from England - were over 3000 feet up on the 4413 feet high mountain. Mr Murray said: 'The climber who survived is very lucky. It is very hazardous terrain and he must have struck the rocky ground on his way down. He had serious injuries. 'He fell a significant distance - as did his companion - over 200 feet. Sadly his friend did not survive and we wish to pass on our condolences to his family and friends. The man, in his 20s, was climbing in the Moonlight Gully - also known as the Number Five Gully - on the Scottish mountain on Saturday with companion of about the same age when they both fell in 'challenging weather conditions' (Pictured: the north face of Ben Nevis) Ben Nevis (pictured) in Scotland is 4413 feet high making it the highest mountain in the UK 'We managed to treat and package the injured man and carry him to a point where the Inverness-based coastguard helicopter could airlift him to hospital. 'We then returned later and also recovered his companion's body for the helicopter to airlift at around 1.30pm on Sunday. We returned to base around 3.30pm. 'It was very hazardous conditions with strong winds and rain and the team did a great job. The ground where the climbers fell was particularly challenging given the conditions. It is a winter climbing route.' A LMRT spokesperson said on social media: 'The team treated and rescued one climber with serious injuries who had managed to move further down the hill. 'Due to some very challenging weather conditions, combined with hazardous ground, the team returned Sunday morning to recover the other casualty who was sadly deceased. 'We send our deepest condolences to the family, and would like to offer thanks to the crew of Coastguard Rescue Helicopter R151 and members of Police Scotland MRT North Division.'. Less than four hours later, the team were out again to a walker who suffered a panic attack on nearby Aonach Mor. Three team members helped him to safety where a coastguard helicopter airlifted him to Fort William. Over the past seven days, the team has been out four times attending incidents in Lochaber. Cryptocurrency legislation in Congress may come to a screeching halt if President Donald Trump and his family continue to launch crypto business ventures. A bill providing a regulatory framework for stablecoins, cryptocurrencies tethered to the price of a fixed monetary asset, like the U.S. dollar, has been breezing over hurdles on Capitol Hill this year. The Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for U.S. Stablecoins Act, also called the GENIUS Act, has received early bipartisan support. It passed out of the Senate Financial Services Committee on March 13 with broad bipartisan support 18 - 6 and could get a full vote on the Senate floor within President Donald Trump's first 100 days. But now a Democrat across the Capitol is threatening to tank the effort if the measure is not rewritten to ensure that Trump and Elon Musk can never get involved in the stablecoin industry. California Democrat Rep. Maxine Waters, the ranking member of the House Financial Services Committee, is planning on voting against the GENIUS Act this week if it does not include language banning Trump and Musk from issuing stablecoins, one of her aides revealed to Politico. It puts her directly at odds with Trump since his family's crypto firm, World Liberty Financial (WLFI), just launched a stablecoin, called USD1, based on the U.S. dollar. 'I cant think of anything quite so damaging to bipartisanship than that happening,' Rep. Jim Himes, D-Conn., who also sits on the Financial Services panel, said of Trump's new venture hindering progress on the GENIUS Act. The top Democrat on the House Financial Services Committee, Maxine Waters, is planning on voting against a bipartisan crypto bill if it does not include language banning Trump from Donald Trump speaks at the Bitcoin 2024 Conference, July 27, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. Trump's family has been involved with World Liberty Financial, which launched a Donald Trump coin and Melania Trump coin earlier this year Wyoming Republican Sen. Cynthia Lummis also noted that the temperature around the GENIUS Act has changed after Trump's WLFI began wading into the stablecoin space. 'It shouldnt make life harder, but it might,' Lummis told the outlet. The bill would charge the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) and Federal Reserve with regulating stablecoins. However, Senate Democrats have taken issue with the OCC overseeing the space and even wrote a letter last week to the agency and the Federal Reserve asking questions about how the organizations will not succumb to Trump's influence. These Democrats argued in the letter that Trump could review any OCC actions taken against USD1 and that the president could implement policies friendly to WFLI's business interests. 'President Trumps involvement in this venture, as he strips financial regulators of their independence and Congress simultaneously considers stablecoin legislation, presents an extraordinary conflict of interest that could create unprecedented risks to our financial system and to the integrity of decisions made by the [OCC and Fed],' the senators wrote. 'The launch of a stablecoin directly tied to a sitting President who stands to benefit financially from the stablecoins success presents unprecedented risks to our financial system.' Though New York Democrat Sen. Kristen Gillibrand has argued that regardless of the Trump family's ventures crypto and stablecoins, she says the bill needs to move forward. Trump posted online earlier this year that the U.S. is launching a strategic reserve of crypto President Donald Trump speaks to David Sacks, Trump's AI and Crypto Czar during The White House Digital Assets Summit in the State Dining Room of the White House on March 07, 2025 in Washington, D.C. The Trump Coin displayed on a smart phone screen with a chart of its value in the background. The Trump Coin, which was launched in January 2025 by Donald Trump 'You need the regulation regardless, but its certainly not helpful,' she said. 'It makes something thats a very serious financial payment system into something that seems non-serious,' Gillibrand added. The GENIUS Act, if passed, would also establish licensing terms and reserve standards. A common criticism of stablecoins has been that though they are pegged to things like the U.S. dollar issuers do not have the amount of cash to back up the assets. For example, every stablecoin pegged 1:1 to the U.S. dollar should have a reserve amount of dollars equal to the number of stablecoins they issue, though that has not historically been the case. Earlier this year, WFLI launched cryptocurrencies for Donald and Melania Trump. The total worth of all the official Trump coins in circulation adds up to over $2 billion, currently each Trump coin costs around $10. Melania's official crypto, meanwhile, is trading around half a dollar per coin. The UK is set to be hotter than Ibiza this week with temperatures predicted to soar to the heady heights of 21C. A bout of dry and sunny weather will see a gradual climb in the heat before it reaches its peak on Thursday in the south of England, the Met Office has said. South Wales and Somerset could be as hot as 20C and may be warmer than Athens and Barcelona, where highs of 17C and 16C are forecast respectively. Meanwhile, the temperature in Ibiza is expected to reach 18C on Thursday at its height. While some rain and cloudiness hit Northern Ireland and north-west Scotland on Monday morning, the weather is generally predicted to remain dry and sunny across the country throughout the rest of the week and into the weekend. Met Office spokesman Stephen Dixon said: 'It is a fine dry and sunny day for many through the day on Monday, with temperatures well above average for the time of year and that theme is set to continue for much of the week. 'There will be a settled period for the UK's weather and temperatures will possibly get as high as 21C on Thursday.' Mr Dixon added high pressure is set to be near or over the UK in the coming week and into the weekend, leading to warm and dry conditions. A jogger runs beside the River Thames today in Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire Florence Hulcup, Jessica Kemp, and Tom Spann (L-R) enjoy the good weather beside the River Thames in Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire He said: 'On Tuesday morning there will be the start of some low cloud in some parts of the Midlands and central England but will clear up quite quickly. 'Through the middle of the week it will be a touch breezier in the South West, but it will still feel much warmer than average. 'On Friday and Saturday we are likely to see a touch of fog in eastern Scotland and north-east England which will subdue temperatures in these areas.' Although temperatures are likely to gradually drop on Saturday, they will still hover around the mid-teens and are forecast to be higher than the average maximum temperature of 12C for the UK in April, forecasters said. The warm weather still falls some way short of the record high in April of 29.4C, which was recorded Camden Square, London, in 1949, Met Office records show. Beachgoers were out in their droves during the mild weekend on the south coast, providing a boost for seasonal businesses. Katy Alston, who has been in the ice cream trade for more than 20 years and runs Pinks Parlour near the beach in Bognor Regis, West Sussex, told the PA news agency business was booming at the weekend. Tom Brumwell (left) and Byron Richards enjoy the good weather beside the River Thames in Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire A couple pleasure boating along the River Thames in Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire People enjoy the warm weather in Weston-super-Mare in Somerset today The Met Office said the dry weather is likely to persist into the weekend and early next week, though there is less certainty when forecasting much further into April 'It's been absolutely wonderful,' 57-year-old Ms Alston said. 'Everything has been so tough and this weekend it's like we have seen light again.' She said the mild weather was 'perfect timing' with Mother's Day on Sunday. The Met Office said the dry weather is likely to persist into the weekend and early next week, though there is less certainty when forecasting much further into April. 'We are really excited and feeling really positive (about the forecast),' Ms Alston added. The director of Adolescence has celebrated after it was announced that the hit Netflix drama will be made available for free at secondary schools across Britain. Philip Barantini posted a celebratory Instagram story saying 'We did it' as the four-part show continues to spark conversation on how to protect young boys from misogny on social media. Netflix's decision comes after Prime Minister Keir Starmer met with creators of Adolescence at Downing Street today. Mr Starmer, who admitted he 'found it really hard' to watch the programme with his teenage children, said he supported the decision to make the 'groundbreaking' series available at schools. 'As a father, watching this show with my teenage son and daughter, I can tell you - it hit home hard,' he said in a statement after the meeting with co-writer Jack Thorne. 'As I see from my own children, openly talking about changes in how they communicate, the content they're seeing, and exploring the conversations they're having with their peers is vital.' Showing the series will 'help students better understand the impact of misogyny, dangers of online radicalization and the importance of healthy relationships,' his office added. Mr Thorne, who has said that children should not be given smartphones until they turn 14, added the show was made to 'provoke a conversation' and 'what we really hope is it'll lead to students talking amongst themselves'. Adolescence director Philip Barantini has celebrated after it was announced that the hit Netflix drama will be made available for free at all schools across Britain Netflix's decision comes after Prime Minister Keir Starmer met with creators of Adolescence at Downing Street today Mr Barantini (pictured) posted a celebratory Instagram story saying 'We did it' as the four-part show continues to spark conversation The drama explores how online influencers, such as self-described misogynist Andrew Tate, can impact children's views and lead them to violence. The four-episode programme follows the Miller family, whose lives are torn apart when their 13-year-old son Jamie is arrested for stabbing a female classmate to death after being influenced by online misogyny. The show's protagonist Jamie Miller is played by Owen Cooper in his acting debut, while his dad Eddie is played by Stephen Graham. Mr Graham previously said he wanted viewers to focus on the supposedly ordinary life of Jamie. Meanwhile, schools are set to give students anti-misogyny lessons in wake of the show. The classes will form part of the government's new relationships, health and sex education (RHSE) guidance, which will be introduced before the end of the academic year. Though Labour's classroom guidance is still being developed, it is understood to include content to 'support healthy relationships', to 'enable schools to tackle harmful behaviour and ensure that misogyny is stamped out and not allowed to proliferate', an insider source said, the Times reported. From as early as primary school, children will be encouraged to 'express and understand boundaries, handle disappointment and pay attention to the needs and preferences of oneself and others', with content modified for older children to reflect the 'real-life complexities of romantic and sexual relationships', the source added. Mr Starmer, who admitted he 'found it really hard' to watch the show with his teenage children, said he supported the decision to make the 'groundbreaking' series available at schools Stephen Graham (pictured), who plays protagonist Jamie Miller's dad, said he wanted viewers to focus on the supposedly ordinary life of Jamie Adolescence made British TV history, becoming the first streaming show ever to become the most-watched programme of the week, and has amassed at least 66.3million views. While the show is already being tipped for a string of BAFTA nominations, figures published by ratings body BARB on Sunday showed that the first episode was watched by 6.45 million people in its first week. Top Boy legend Ashley Walters also featured in the role of DI Luke Bascombe and Erin Doherty plays psychiatrist Briony Ariston. A Louisiana woman has been arrested for the 1970 death of her son, as resurfaced letters revealed she expressed hatred of the baby throughout his short life. Alice Rollinson Bunch Idlett, 75, was charged with second-degree murder on Thursday for killing her 15-month-old baby named Earl Dwayne Bunch III over 55 years ago, reported KFDM. Police said, Idlett, who was 20 years old at the time, claimed Earl had fallen out of a crib when he was taken to the emergency room of West Calcasieu-Cameron Hospital in Sulphur on January 19, 1970. Baby Earl had suffered multiple fractures, but an investigation into his death was ultimately closed due to a lack of evidence. 'Earl Dwayne was limp and gasping for breath. He was immediately transferred to Lake Charles Memorial Hospital where he was x-rayed. The x-rays revealed multiple fractures of the skull and right shoulder,' public records stated. 'An investigation was conducted by the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff's Office. No arrest or charges were levied against Mrs. Bunch as a result of the investigation.' In 2022, the Sulphur Police Department reopened the investigation at request of the childs family, according to KPLC. The investigation led to resurfaced letters between Idlett and the baby's father, Earl Bunch Jr., who was serving overseas during the Vietnam war at the time of his death, where the mother confessed to 'hating' and 'wanting to kill' her son. Alice Rollinson Bunch Idlett (pictured), 75, was arrested for the 1970 death of her son Earl Dwayne Bunch III, as resurfaced letters revealed she expressed hatred of the baby The shocking letters appeared in court documents after the two filed divorced in for divorce in 1983 and fought for custody of their daughter, who was born in 1975. 'I just got through whipping that little basdard (sic). I hate him. That's the honest truth,' Idlett wrote on November 4, 1969. 'Now I know how those people feel that get rid of their kids. I believe I could do it. I'm serious.' On November 19, 1969, she said, 'I honestly wish he had never been born. He knows he won't get his way around me. I'll kill him before he becomes spoilt. I honestly mean that.' 'If he [Baby Earl] starts crying when I put him down to play, I'm going to whip him until his darn seat is red. I can't put up with this mess... I hate your son. I wish he was dead,' Idlett wrote in a letter from November 21, 1969. According to the court filings, the doctor who examined the baby at the hospital did not believe his injuries were consistent with a fall from the crib. Dr. J.M. Thorkelson said the boy was 'brought into the hospital in a comatose condition,' had 'multiple bruises over his body,' had bite marks over his body and burns on his buttocks. 'These were not the type of injuries I would have expected to see from a fall from a crib, for example, or a porch, or something like that, where you get a fairly severe injury,' Thorkelson's summation at custody trial said. Idlett (pictured in her high school year book two years before the baby's murder) was indicted by a grand jury on second-degree murder charges 'It looked more like a child that had been beaten; that perhaps somebody had taken it by the feet, and swung it against a piece of furniture or the wall.' After cops reopened the investigation, the baby's remains were FBI for a forensic autopsy which determined the manner of death as a homicide. Idlett was indicted by a grand jury on second-degree murder charges and is being held at the Calcasieu Parish Correctional Center on a $950,000 bond. There was a chilling despatch in yesterdays Mail from Dr Max Pemberton about the hellscape of Los Angeles. He described a place where people with severe mental health problems were left to suffer in the streets without help. And he linked these dystopian scenes with cannabis - which has been legal for recreational use in California since late 2016. How many readers saw the striking parallels between Dr Pembertons disturbing experience and the reality of everyday life in parts of Scotland? While its true that cannabis remains an illegal drug, it has been effectively decriminalised through the back door by the SNP. The net result is that its acrid reek is virtually ever-present in swathes of the country and its getting worse. In the summer months, it will become more prevalent as the weather improves and smokers openly light up in parks or walking in the street. Its hardly surprising that such flagrant abuse of the law is so widespread, thanks to the soft-touch approach of police and the wider justice system. Cannabis has been effectively decriminalised by the back door by the SNP Recorded Police Warnings (RPWs) a meaningless slap on the wrist can be dished out for people caught in possession of cannabis. Now they can also be issued to users of heroin and cocaine - even though they are fuelling Scotlands spiralling drug deaths crisis. Remarkably (and shamefully), police chiefs say it would be too costly to figure out how many RPWs are handed out to users of hard drugs. We do know that 6,610 RPWs were given out for possession of all drugs (31 per cent of the total) in 2022/23, up from 5,558 the previous year - an increase of about 19 per cent. The SNP government backs the use of RPWs, which are issued on the spot by officers, based on their discretion, and mean the recipient avoids prosecution or even a court appearance, and is spared the inconvenience of a full criminal record. Anyone who has spent more than five minutes in Glasgow city centre will know there are similarities with Dr Pembertons experiences in downtown L.A. Drug-dealing - and consumption together with anti-social behaviour, violence and public urination are commonplace on weekdays, in broad daylight, while cannabis fumes are thick in the air. Its not the ideal backdrop for the Commonwealth Games, which will be hosted by Glasgow next year. Cannabis fumes are often thick in the air in Scotland's cities The harrowing description of people in L.A. in the grip of psychosis something which Dr Pemberton connects with cannabis use will also resonate with many Scots. There is a tangible sense of decline in Glasgow and other cities, and towns, which was accelerated by the lockdown years - and recovery has been either slow or non-existent. Police officers on foot patrol are a relatively rare sight and even if they were around, how likely is it that they would intervene to stop someone smoking cannabis? Theres no doubt that badly depleted manpower and budget cuts mean police now struggle to muster beat officers. More than 12,000 supposedly minor crimes have been written off by cash-strapped Police Scotland under a new proportionate response scheme. So you can guess the response if you were to call in to report the stink of cannabis outside your open window, or in the local park or playground. People are breaking the law by smoking cannabis in the street because they know that in all probability, there will be no legal consequences. If the worst thats likely to happen when youre found with heroin for personal use is an RPW, then most users of cannabis will reckon that being found with the drug, or caught smoking it in public, is a low-risk crime. There arent any cops around most of the time anyway, and even if they did see you, theyd only issue a warning or ignore it entirely. You can now be fined for driving your old diesel banger in Low Emission Zones in cities across Scotland but get off scot-free if youre found with heroin. And an officer knows or suspects that if he or she did report someone for smoking cannabis, the fiscal would bin it. Its not hard to see why its use is out of control and all the signs are that top brass and SNP ministers clearly dont care. A member of the Scottish Police Authority, the civilian oversight body for the single force, raised the issue of cannabis fumes in 2022. He was told by now-retired Deputy Chief Constable Malcolm Graham that the evidence was anecdotal but that hed look into it. One of Mr Grahams last significant acts in the job was to announce that police would stop fully investigating lower-level crimes in cases where there were no credible lines of inquiry (the proportionate response strategy). He never did get round to telling us whether his cannabis inquiries, assuming they took place, had borne fruit. Whatever action was taken to tackle the issue hasnt worked cannabis users can look forward to a summer of smoking it with impunity. Defenders of cannabis argue that its harmless, particularly if consumption is moderate, but thats not a view universally held among the experts. Sir Robin Murray, professor of psychiatric research at Kings College London, has warned there is quite a lot of evidence that starting to use cannabis in ones adolescence increases the risk of psychosis, and it has been linked to several notorious murders. Mail on Sunday columnist Peter Hitchens has painstakingly catalogued any number of atrocities carried out by people, often young men, who had been using cannabis - but the connection, if there is one, is rarely examined by the indifferent authorities. Meanwhile, some studies strongly suggest cannabis is a gateway drug for Class A substances. None of this has made any difference to politicians and police chiefs who argue that drug use is largely a public health matter. Its a way of ignoring the problem but the net result is that its getting worse - and law-abiding Scots are having to contend with the fallout from their refusal to acknowledge its scale. John Swinney and his fellow ministers should get out of their limos now and again - the pungent aroma of cannabis would be unmissable. As for heroin, Glasgow is now home to a trail-blazing shooting gallery for addicts - though there are also plans for a special crack cocaine inhalation room (and for free crack pipes). This is held up by its backers as an innovative game-changer which will help addicts and rid the streets of discarded syringes - even as drugs paraphernalia piles up in open-air drug dens in the surrounding area. So you can take cannabis to your hearts content, indoors or outside, and if you then fall into the clutches of heroin addiction the state will encourage you to shoot up in the comfort of a 2.3million safer consumption room. For now, the fug of cannabis smoke lingers in our high streets - and all the signs are the stench will only intensify as police, prosecutors and their political masters continue to turn a blind eye. Chaotic video captured the disturbing moment a mass catfight erupted at a Texas state fair over the weekend. The dramatic incident occurred Saturday evening at the South Texas State Fair in Beaumont - about 90 minutes outside of Houston. Footage posted to Facebook showed a large group of what appeared to be juveniles gathered near the Ferris wheel as multiple brawls broke out. At one point, a group of young girls were seen throwing and kicking each other to the ground while people shrieked in fear. Officers with the Beaumont Police Department were also seen in the clip quickly responding to the incident, as one of the cops even pulled out a weapon while holding one of the fighters down on the ground. It is unclear if the weapon was a gun or a taser. Haley Morrow with the Beaumont Police Department told DailyMail.com two adults were arrested and three juveniles 'were filed for various charges.' 'There were two arrests made; both individuals had outstanding warrants. In addition, three juvenile cases were filed for various charges,' Morrow said. One of the arrested adults had an outstanding warrant for abandoning/endangering a child, and the other was for theft. A massive catfight broke out at the South Texas State Fair in Beaumont, Texas Saturday night At one point, an officer with the Beaumont Police Department pulled out some sort of weapon after tackling a fighter to the ground Morrow said the 'juveniles were released to their parents later that evening,' while others 'were escorted off the fairgrounds and issued criminal trespass warnings, meaning they are prohibited from returning.' 'Thankfully, no officers were injured during the incident .At this time, we do not have a confirmed cause for the altercation. Unfortunately, it appears that some juveniles intentionally planned to meet at the fair to fight. The video first showed a group of young boys throwing punches at each other as a police officer stepped in and tackled one of them to the pavement. 'Oh, the police there,' a person, who appeared to be recording the video on a cell phone, said. Another angle showed what appeared to be a mix of both boys and girls brawling. A police officer then stepped in between the group and placed both his arms out in an attempt to break up the commotion, but the scene raged on. Soon enough, another officer, with a bike helmet on his head, tackled a boy to the ground and knelt over him before drawing out some sort of weapon. People surrounding the officer and boy quickly ran away after the officer did so. The boy on the ground then rolled over and appeared to run off as more cops joined the scene and further fights broke out. Multiple brawls appeared to break out at the fair as multiple cops tried to get the wild situation under control At one point, a group of girls were seen stomping each other and swinging their arms as blood curdling screams were heard in the background. A group of girls, and what appeared to be an older woman, were seen pulling each other's hair in the clip. One girl fell to the ground, but before she could get up, another ran over to her and punched her repeatedly in the face. The clip ended with cops still trying to get the situation under control as the group appeared to disperse. In response to the now-viral video, Morrow said the South Texas State Fair prohibits any violent or 'disruptive behavior.' 'The YMBL has implemented a strict zero-tolerance policy when it comes to fighting or disruptive behavior,' Morrow said. 'Anyone involved in any altercation will be immediately removed from the fairgrounds and issued a criminal trespass warning. 'Beaumont Police Department officers maintain a strong presence at the event and respond quickly to ensure the safety of everyone in attendance.' A police officer is seen approaching one of the participants from behind during the brawl Morrow said the department cannot comment if the officer in the clip pulled out a taser or a gun due to police procedure. Social media users quickly reacted to the video, as one said: 'This is so freaking sad!' 'Why cant they just go to the fair and have fun,' another wrote. 'Thats ridiculous smh,' a commenter said. Others applauded the police for their quick reaction to the scuffle, as one man said: 'It is not the condition nor the way the fair is operated which has caused these problems to arise. 'In fact the Beaumont Police department has done an incredible job responding to these events quickly and effectively along with the volunteers who are constantly on surveillance.' The fair is currently open to the public from March 27- April 6, according to the website. DailyMail.com contacted the South Texas State Fair for comment. Two lecturers are suing their own union for branding them transphobic on Twitter before dozens of student protesters turned up to block their film screening at a Scots university. Deirdre ONeill, a lecturer at Hertfordshire University, and Michael Wayne, a professor at Brunel University, directed the gender-critical film Adult Human Female. The film examines the clash between womens rights and trans ideology and maintains that sex is determined by biology. However, when they tried to screen it at Edinburgh University the Left-wing University and College Union (UCU) rabble-roused on Twitter, and student protesters blocked it twice - first in December 2022 and again the following April. The two lecturers are now launching a discrimination claim at the Watford Tribunal Hearing Centre, saying their gender-critical beliefs are protected by the Equality Act. Documents submitted to the tribunal by the claimants reveal the Edinburgh branch of the UCU campaigned against the film in the run-up to its screening on December 14, 2022. The branch wrote to the university demanding for the event to be cancelled, and posted on Twitter that the event was transphobic and detrimental to the safety and wellbeing of LGBT+ staff. It also retweeted a post from the universitys LGBT+ society, saying the film endangers trans people and erases their identities, according to the documents. Students wanted to stop Edinburgh University airing Deirdre O'Neil's trans row documentary Adult Human Female On the day of the screening, student protesters blocked the entrance to the venue meaning the 100 guests could not enter. It was rescheduled for April 26, but following more UCU tweets, the event was again blocked by student protesters. The documents say that instead of being able to enter, the guests were subjected to insults about their age and appearance. One protester said over a microphone: Look at the old ladies filming young people. On the same day, the branch tweeted two photographs of the protest, captioned: Its big and weve only just started. No to hate on campus #TransRightsAreHumanRights. That tweet was retweeted by other branches and received over 1.2 million views. According to the documents, two months later, a UCU equalities officer reported to the Edinburgh branch AGM: This year there have been persistent attempts by a small group of colleagues to organise transphobic events, which were cancelled every time as a result of successful protests organised by staff and student groups. The film was eventually shown in November 2023. The claimants are suing for compensation, saying the action amounted to discrimination as their gender-critical beliefs are protected by the Equality Act 2010. They are also saying the union was guilty of harassment. Dr ONeill told the Times: Although UCU claims to uphold academic freedom, it only upholds that freedom for those who agree with their views on gender identity, namely that a man can identify as a woman and thereby should be treated as a woman in law and policy. We respectfully disagree with that view and think it is bad news for women. But apparently, our film is hateful for making that point. Both the claims are denied by the union. The UCU has been contacted for comment. A reality TV star has revealed she was on board a Jetstar plane during a terrifying incident in which a passenger attempted to open the cabin door mid-flight. Survivor All Star alum Brooke Jowett was on flight JQ-34 from Bali to Melbourne, which left about 8.40pm Monday local time with more than 200 passengers on board. A female passenger pulled down the door release lever as the flight cruised at 33,000feet and a speed of 500knots, triggering an alarm which alerted the crew who swiftly stopped the woman with the aid of an off-duty policeman. The incident occurred about two hours into the flight and plane was then turned around and landed back at Denpasar airport. 'Good morning everybody, I had a lovely three hour sleep,' Ms Jowett said in an online post. 'We got back to a hotel at about 1am after our lovely night, and our scare on the flight. 'Turns out the reason behind the lady wanting to open the door is because she wanted to sit in a different row and have a chair that could recline. 'So she decided to try to open the doors, which apparently triggered something to do with the emergency slide and yeah, it was a big bloody big panic, it was very, very scary but we're fine.' Survivor star Brooke Jowett was returning with her fiance Chris Cavanagh (pictured together) and young daughter on the flight from Bali when she was caught up in the terrifying incident Ms Jowett was in Bali for a commitment ceremony for a family member The passengers after they landed back at Denpasar airport late on Monday night She said the woman was arguing with the Jetstar staff about her seat and that it 'escalated'. 'She was very unhappy and decided she wanted to get off, but we were more than an hour into the flight over the ocean and, yeah, we all got told to put our seatbelts on immediately. Very freaky,' she said. 'One of the guys who was sitting in front of us was down near the toilets and he pulled her away from the door as she was trying to open it. 'He was an off-duty police officer apparently, so he saved the day. Thank God for that. 'But yeah, don't know what would have happened otherwise. I know there's a few security measures, but it wasn't fun.' The passenger was removed from the aircraft and taken into custody by local authorities in Bali. 'We had an aircraft return to Denpasar last night after a disruptive passenger attempted to open one of the aircraft doors and was abusive to our crew,' a Jetstar spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia. 'The safety and welfare of our customers and crew is our top priority and we thank them for the way they responded to the situation. 'This sort of unacceptable behaviour will never be tolerated on our flights.' Flight JQ-34 had been in the air for about two hours and was over the Indian Ocean when the passenger attempted to open the door and it was turned around Shaken passengers took to social media after the mid-air catastrophe was narrowly avoided thanks to the swift actions of flight crew The flight was cancelled and Jetstar said it would provide customers with an alternative flight. The woman had been seated towards the back of the aircraft. Once the situation was under control, the flight crew made an announcement to all passengers about what had happened and why the flight had turned around. Dr David Birch, a Senior Lecturer in Aerospace Engineering at Surrey University, said the massive difference in air pressure between the inside of the cabin and outside made it almost impossible to open a door at cruising altitude. Opening a door at that altitude could theoretically cause objects or people to be sucked out of the aircraft and for temperature and oxygen levels to plummet, but that the force required would be far above what a person could manage. 'The pressure-lock only really starts to work at higher altitudes,' he previously told the BBC. The doors are also 'armed' while on a flight as a security measure and must be 'disarmed' by the pilot to allow them to open. An MSNBC panel went to code red after Donald Trump said that he's 'serious' about running for a third term. Trump, 78, said he was 'not joking' about serving another White House term and told NBC News on Sunday that 'there are methods' that could allow him to stay in office. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has confirmed the president is serious about his intentions since he dropped the bombshell. On MSNBC's Alex Witt Reports, analyst David Jolly was apoplectic about Trump attempting to be the first president since Franklin Delano Roosevelt to serve more than two terms. When asked if he really believes Trump would break with tradition and run again, the ex-Republican was deadly serious. 'I believe them. I think the biggest mistake of the last eight years is we somehow fail to give credibility to Donald Trump's whims and his impulses, but we know it's true. And January 6th was a perfect example,' Jolly said. 'If he says that he's not ruling it out, he's not ruling out, then we should consider it a constitutional threat,' the former Florida Congressman added. Susan Del Percio, a GOP political analyst, said that Trump's statement was a tactic to distract from the infamous administration group chat leak. An MSNBC panel went to code red after Donald Trump said that he's 'serious' about running for a third term The president has since suggested he'd be willing to run for a fourth term and Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has confirmed she's serious about the president's intentions since he dropped the bombshell on Meet the Press Sunday 'He's been pushing the envelope on testing the Constitution, so I expect that he'll continue to do that, maybe by seeking out a third term. But more importantly, short term, we're not talking about Signal and that scandal if we are talking about Trump's third term.' David Calloway, a Democrat strategist, agreed that the Democrats would do well to take the president seriously. 'And the mainstream media and all of us on the left kind of blow it off as silly or improbable or unconstitutional,' he said. 'That doesn't matter to these folks. And I think you should take a third term or an effort at a third term as a legitimate campaign promise at this point,' Calloway added. He was then asked by reporters on Air Force One about staying on for a third term and claimed that another term would, in effect, be 'sort of a fourth term' because he believes he was the true victor of the 2020 election. 'The 2020 election was totally rigged, so it's actually sort of a fourth term in a certain way. I just don't want the credit for the second because Biden was so bad,' Trump said last night on the flight from Florida to DC. Trump touted his successes on immigration and border control, and said 'people are amazed'. He added: 'I think we've had the best almost 100 Days of any president'. He said he visited 'some very important people' earlier in the day and that they told him they have 'never seen a turnaround of a country as fast as this'. Trump also claimed that the US is now 'respected as a country again'. On MSNBC's Alex Witt Reports, analyst David Jolly (pictured right) was apoplectic about Trump attempting to be the first president since Franklin Delano Roosevelt to serve more than two terms David Calloway, a Democrat strategist, agreed that the Democrats would do well to take the president seriously A reporter doubled down on the question, citing how the US Constitution limits a president to only serving two terms, but Trump interrupted: 'I don't even want to talk about it. 'I'm just telling you that I've had more people say "please run again." I said, "We have a long way to go before we even think about that",' he added. The 22nd Amendment limits presidents to two terms, but there are possible scenarios in which Trump could remain in the White House beyond that due. A glaring loophole in the amendment paves the 'simple' path for Trump to serve a third term - and potentially a fourth until January 2037 when he would be aged 90 - DailyMail.com exclusively revealed on Saturday. The text of the full 22nd Amendment says the following: '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.' The Amendment was ratified in 1951 and was a direct response to Franklin Delano Roosevelt having been elected four times - on the third and fourth occasions during war time. He was the only president to do so since the convention of only two terms was established by George Washington. 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 loophole in the 22nd Amendment is set out in a 1999 Minnesota Law Review article co-authored by Professor Bruce Peabody and titled 'The Twice and Future President'. It outlines how the Amendment has been subject to 'widespread misunderstanding,' and concludes that the idea any twice-elected president is 'constitutionally prohibited' from serving again is 'decidedly incorrect.' According to the paper: 'We contend that the Twenty-Second Amendment proscribes only the reelection of an already twice-elected President.' The key phrase in the Amendment is - 'No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice...' It is argued that means a twice-elected president would not be barred from later reassuming the office due to the resignation, or death, of another president. Trump could therefore run for Vice President, with Vance as an openly recognised nominal figure at the top of the ticket. Once he is sworn in Vance could then resign, allowing his Vice President - Trump - to step into the office. The same procedure could be used in multiple elections. To win a fourth term Trump would simply have to resign the presidency before the 2032 election and become the running mate of a nominal presidential candidate, be that Vance or someone else. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt addresses reporters outside the White House on Monday after appearing on Fox News. During both she pushed that reporters needed to calm down about Trump floating a third term Opponents could challenge such a move in the courts, arguing it breaches the 22nd Amendment. But Professor Peabody told DailyMail.com it would be 'pretty hard' for the Supreme Court to undo. That would be especially so given the conservative makeup of the current court and its bent toward a textualist interpretation of the Constitution. Any decision would be likely to be based on the definition of the word 'election' rather than what the authors of the 22nd Amendment intended. Also, if the plan was not clandestine but instead revealed openly to the electorate before the vote, it would be difficult to argue it was not democracy in action. Trump on said Sunday that 'I'm not joking' about trying to serve a third term, the clearest indication he is considering ways to continue to lead the country after his second term ends at the beginning of 2029. 'There are methods which you could do it,' Trump said in a telephone interview with NBC News from Mar-a-Lago, his private club. NBC's Kristen Welker asked Trump if one potential avenue to a third term was having Vice President JD Vance run for the top job and 'then pass the baton to you'. 'Well, that's one,' Trump responded. 'But there are others too. There are others.' One potential avenue to a third Trump term is having Vice President JD Vance (pictured with his family as he is sworn in as Vice President in January this year) run for the top job. Once he is sworn in Vance could then resign, allowing his Vice President - Trump - to step into the office 'Can you tell me another?' Welker asked. 'No,' Trump replied. Any attempt to remain in office would be legally suspect and it is unclear how seriously Trump might pursue the idea. Trump, who would be 82 at the end of his second term, was asked whether he would want to keep serving in 'the toughest job in the country' at that point. 'Well, I like working,' the president said. Trump has suggested that Americans would go along with a third term because of his popularity. He falsely claimed to have 'the highest poll numbers of any Republican for the last 100 years.' Gallup data shows President George W. Bush reaching a 90 per cent approval rating after the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. His father, President George H.W. Bush, hit 89 per cent following the Gulf War in 1991. Trump has maxed out at 47 per cent in Gallup data during his second term, despite claiming to be 'in the high 70s in many polls, in the real polls.' Trump has mused before about serving longer than two terms, generally with jokes to friendly audiences. 'Am I allowed to run again?' he said during a House Republican retreat in January. Australians have been dealt another cost-of-living blow with private health insurance premiums to increase in the largest hike since 2018. Costs will increase by a national average of 3.73 per cent, with government data revealing large discrepancies between providers. Police Health Limited will hit policyholders with the most significant hike of 9.56 per cent. AIA Health Insurance and NIB policies will increase by an average of 5.7 per cent and 5.79 per cent, respectively, while BUPA HI policies will jump by 5.1 per cent. Phoenix Health fund customers face a comparatively small increase of 2.43 per cent. St Luke's Medical and Hospital Benefits Association and Teachers Federation Health Ltd will rise by 2.88 per cent and 2.94 per cent, respectively. HIF (Health Insurance Fund of Australia) had the smallest increase of 1.91 per cent. Private health premiums typically increase once per year, but they must be approved by the federal health minister. Major Australian policy providers have raised premiums for the year today, on Tuesday, April 1 This year's 3.73 per cent average increase is the largest since 2018. Health Minister Mark Butler claimed he had whittled down the numbers from what insurers had originally asked. 'In December, I wrote to every single one of the 29 insurers asking that they sharpen their pencils and provide us with an increase that was more in the interests of their members,' he told Nine News. 'Based on the resubmissions, I was not prepared to tick and flick their asks and instead asked them to resubmit again.' Around 15million Australians are covered by private health insurance. The amount by which premiums rise will vary with policyholder's levels of cover. Across the 'big five' insurers Bupa, HBF, HCF, Medibank and NIB 'basic and basic plus' cover will rise by an average of 0.8 per cent, according to Choice. 'Bronze' tiers of cover and equivalents will rise by 2.5 per cent, 'Silver' by about 3.2 per cent, and Gold by 12.6 per cent. Health Minister Mark Butler said health funds had originally fought to increase their policies by a higher amount The latest hikes come after Health Minister Mark Butlers urged the Department of Health to investigate private health funds' exploitation of a regulatory loophole to raise premiums. Yesterday, Mr Butler told ABC he has asked the Department of Health to investigate the practice known as 'product phoenixing' in the health insurance industry. It involves health funds closing policies only to then open almost identical policies at a higher price, or alter policies to previously covered benefits now only come as add-ons or extras. The Commonwealth Ombudsman published a report last December suggesting the practice was widespread. At the time, the health minister warned he would legislate against the 'sneaky practice' if insurers did not cease. President Donald Trump on Monday revealed which top Democrat he'd 'love' to run against as he again hinted at a third term. Trump was in the Oval Office alongside Kid Rock to sign an executive order focused on ticket scalping when he was again asked about recent comments he made about attempting to run for a third term. The Constitution's 22nd Amendment prohibits a U.S. president from serving more than two terms and the Constitution would have to be amended yet again for Trump to run in 2028. Fox News' Peter Doocy asked if there was a thought that the Democrats could run former President Barack Obama, who's just 63 years old, but who already served two terms. 'I'd love that,' Trump replied. 'That would be a good one. I'd like that.' He added: 'I know poeple are asking me to run and there is a whole story about running for a third term. I don't know. I never looked into it. They do say there's a way you can do it, but I don't know about that.' The only way Trump could run for a third term would be to amend the U.S. Constitution. 'But I have not looked into it,' he continued. President Donald Trump (right) on Monday revealed which top Democrat he'd 'love' to run against as he again teased a third term alongside Kid Rock (left) in the Oval Office 'I'd love that. That would be a good one. I'd like that,' President Donald Trump said when asked about the prospect of running for a third term against Democratic President Barack Obama (left). The Constitution prevents either man from running for a third term 'I want to do a fantastic job,' he added. 'We have four years just about. Almost close to four years. Time is flying but it's still clsoe to four years.' Trump's comments came after White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt pushed Monday that reporters needed to calm their reactions to Trump's third term musings. 'You guys continue to ask the president this question about a third term and then he answers honestly and candidly with a smile and then everybody here melts down about his answer,' Leavitt told reporters outside the White House Monday. His comments have prompted concerns in light of Trump's refusal to concede the 2020 election to President Joe Biden - which he still falsely claims was 'totally rigged' - and his role in the January 6, 2021 Capitol attack. Leavitt had just gone on Fox News Channel's America Reports, where she was asked about Trump's third-term comments too, and gave as similar answer. 'It's funny to me that journalists ask the president this question. He gives an honest and candid answer, and then they spiral about his answer,' Leavitt told Fox News Channel's John Roberts. 'He was asked this, and you heard him, and he's right,' she continued. Leavitt said Americans are talking about a Trump third term because 'people love the job this president is doing.' White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt addresses reporters outside the White House on Monday after appearing on Fox News. During both she pushed that reporters needed to calm down about President Donald Trump floating a third term President Donald Trump was asked about his comments to NBC News about serving a third term while on board Air Force One Sunday, returning to Washington, D.C. after spending the weekend at Mar-a-Lago 'We have four more years to go and look at what the president has done in more than 60 days,' she said. Just three days into Trump's second term, Rep. Andy Ogles, a Tennessee Republican, sent out a proposal to amend the 22nd Amendment to open the door for a Trump third term. Ogles' Constitutional amendment would allow for Trump to run for a third term - but prohibit Obama from doing so, because the Democrat had already served two consecutive terms. The other former two-term living presidents, Republican George W. Bush and Democrat Bill Clinton, also wouldn't be eligible if this amendment was passed. 'No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than three times, nor be elected to any additional term after being elected to two consecutive term,' the text of the Ogles' Amendment read. There's an incredibly high bar to pass a Constitutional amendment - as two-thirds of both the House and Senate would need to sign on - as well as three-fourths of the state legislatures. With the current nearly 50/50 split in the country of Republicans and Democrats it's extremely unlikely an amendment of this kind would pass - especially one that only aims to allow Trump to serve thrice. Yet the topic of a Trump third term again came up over the weekend, when the president talked to NBC Meet the Press host Kristen Welker by phone Sunday morning. The Constitution currently prevents both former Presidents Barack Obama (left) and Bill Clinton (right) from serving for a third term. President Joe Biden (center) could run for another term since he only served once, though that's unlikely due to his advanced age White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt was asked about President Donald Trump's third term comments during a Monday afternoon appearance on Fox News Channel. She said that journalists were 'spiraling' over Trump's response 'A lot of people want me to do it,' the 78-year-old president said. A chant of 'four more years' broke out at the White House last week during the president's Greek Independence Day event. 'But, I mean, I basically tell them we have a long way to go, you know, it's very early in the administration,' he continued. 'I'm focused on the current.' When asked why he'd want another term, the president responded, 'I like working.' 'I'm not joking,' he continued. 'But I'm not - it is far too early to think about it.' He was then asked if he'd been presented with plans on how to serve a third term. 'There are methods which you could do it,' he said. He was asked about those comments on board Air Force One Sunday as he traveled back to Washington, D.C. 'I don't want to talk about a third term now because no matter how you look at it, you've got a long time to go,' Trump said. A new two-tier justice row erupted last night as it emerged that police have been told to treat black and white suspects differently. A report by policing chiefs declared that their commitment to 'racial equity' did not mean 'treating everyone the same or being colour blind'. Instead, they called for 'equality of policing outcomes' for different ethnic groups by ending the racial disparity in the 'likelihood of people being criminalised'. The 'Anti-Racism Commitment' also stated that officers must now 'consider cultural impact and community trauma when using their powers'. Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick said the police chiefs' proposal was 'disgraceful', adding: 'Not only is it deeply unjust, it will also put the British public at risk.' But a Labour source said last night there was nothing in the plan suggesting police should give 'preferential treatment to black people compared to white people'. It came after a leaked report revealed that ethnic minority suspects are being given priority for judges considering bail because they may be at a 'disproportionately higher risk' of being held in custody. And last night the Sentencing Council quango was forced to postpone controversial guidelines that could have led to criminals from minority backgrounds avoiding jail, after ministers threatened it with emergency legislation. A new two-tier justice row erupted last night as it emerged that police have been told to treat black and white suspects differently (Pictured: Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer speaking at the Border Security Summit at Lancaster House in London on Monday) Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick (pictured) said the police chiefs' proposal was 'disgraceful' Tommy Robinson supporters march through London in October last year on a 'day of patriotism' as they called for his release after he was remanded into custody for contempt of court for repeating false allegations against a Syrian refugee, in breach of an injunction In the Commons, Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp claimed the new rules would mean officers trying to engineer the same arrest and charging rates across different ethnic groups. He said: 'Has the Home Secretary seen the police's Anti-Racism Commitment... which says that the police do not have to treat everyone the same regardless of race and calls for arrest rates to be artificially engineered to be the same across racial groups? 'Does she agree that this two-tier approach to policing is totally unacceptable?' He urged Yvette Cooper to table an amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill to override the commitments set out by the National Police Chiefs' Council and the College of Policing professional body. Ms Cooper said: 'The police already have to swear an oath on their impartiality and policing without fear or favour. That is the responsibility of every single police officer right across the country.' And she added that the Government's row with the Sentencing Council showed it was 'very clear that there can be no preferential treatment for anyone in the criminal justice system'. Mr Jenrick told the Mail: 'Facing my legal challenge and under immense pressure from the British public, the Sentencing Council have suspended their two-tier guidelines. This is an important victory for common sense. 'But the fight against two-tier justice under Two-Tier Keir continues. It is disgraceful that the police want to treat offenders from minority backgrounds more leniently than their white counterparts.' In the Commons, Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp (pictured) claimed the new rules would mean officers trying to engineer the same arrest and charging rates across different ethnic groups Mr Philp urged Home Secretary Yvette Cooper (pictured) to table an amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill to override the commitments set out by the National Police Chiefs' Council and the College of Policing professional body Chief constables vowed to draw up a Police Race Action Plan in the wake of the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests that swept the world after the killing of George Floyd by a white police officer in America. When their original report was launched three years ago, it descended into farce as senior officers could not agree on whether or not forces were 'institutionally racist'. It also emerged that the chairman of a new board they set up to scrutinise police on race issues, criminal barrister Abimbola Johnson, had once said her 'ultimate aim is to create a societal system that no longer needs the police'. Now the chiefs have triggered a damaging new row in a progress report on their plan. NPCC chairman Chief Constable Gavin Stephens wrote: 'While our anti-racist aspirations extend to all those from ethnic minority and other diverse backgrounds, it is right that this plan continues its focus on black communities. Because it is the scale of trauma and distrust that generations of people from the black community feel towards the police that justify this as a top priority for our service.' Programme director Alison Heydari, a temporary deputy assistant commissioner in the Met and the country's most senior black female officer, said the team had spoken to 'YouTube influencers' as well as black communities and civil society groups. The report said 'the police service of England and Wales is committed to anti-racism and racial equity', going on to say 'it is not enough for us to not be racist or to claim not to be racist', and that instead 'anti-racism demands that we are proactive'. A section on 'commitment to racial equity' stated that chiefs are seeking 'equality of policing outcomes for people from different ethnic groups by responding to individuals and communities according to their specific needs, circumstances and experiences'. It also emerged that the chairman of a new board they set up to scrutinise police on race issues, criminal barrister Abimbola Johnson (pictured), had once said her 'ultimate aim is to create a societal system that no longer needs the police' NPCC chairman Chief Constable Gavin Stephens said 'the scale of trauma and distrust that generations of people from the black community feel towards the police that justify this as a top priority for our service' Programme director Alison Heydari (pictured), a temporary deputy assistant commissioner in the Met and the country's most senior black female officer, said the team had spoken to 'YouTube influencers' as well as black communities and civil society groups It added: 'It does not mean treating everyone 'the same' or being 'colour blind' (racial equality).' Dr Alka Sehgal Cuthbert, of campaign group Don't Divide Us, said: 'The politics of "active anti-racism" damages rather than helps integration and encourages a stronger sense of grievance and victimhood which is ultimately self-defeating.' The Labour source said the police chiefs' proposal 'simply argues that the police should be mindful of their history of difficult relations with black communities in our country when trying to manage those relations effectively today'. The source accused Mr Philp of 'misrepresenting' the report to 'score political points'. A teal candidate has been banned for life from her local hairdresser after making a sexualised comment to a 19-year-old staff member. Nicolette Boele, the independent challenger for the Liberal-held Sydney seat of Bradfield, was banned from the Envy Room salon in Gordon, north west of Sydney, after she allegedly told a 19-year-old female staff member who had washed her hair: 'That was amazing - and I didnt even have sex with you', according to 2GB. A staff member at the salon told Daily Mail Australia that Ms Boele had been banned 'indefinitely'. 'She (the staff member) was in shock and quite upset afterwards,' the staff member added. 'We wrote to her (Ms Boele) last week to tell her that we will no longer have her here.' Ms Boele, who styles herself as the 'Shadow Representative for the People of Bradfield', admitted it was a 'poor attempt at humour and Ive apologised'. 'Everyone deserves to feel respected in their workplace and I will do better,' she said. Ms Boele narrowly lost the last election to Liberal former frontbencher Paul Fletcher in Bradfield, which runs the length of Sydney's North Shore. Nicolette Boele (pictured), the independent challenger for the Liberal-held seat of Bradfield, was banned from the Envy Room salon in Gordon, north west of Sydney , after she allegedly told a 19-year-old female staff member who had washed her hair: 'That was amazing, and I didnt even have sex with you' A staff member at the salon (pictured) told Daily Mail Australia that Ms Boele had been banned 'indefinitely' But Mr Fletcher is retiring and the seat has been redistributed, meaning that Ms Boele is now widely considered to be the odds-on favourite to beat Liberal candidate, Gisele Kapterian. Ms Boele's campaign, which is funded by Simon Holmes a Courts Climate200, has been emboldened by Mr Fletcher's retirement and the recruitment of over 1,000 volunteers. The small army is encouraged to pound the pavements and 'offer doggie bandanas to dog owners as a conversation starter'. But she has been forced to defend her credibility in recent days after the Liberals accused her campaign's 'misleading' use of 'push polling' - a form of telemarketing-based propaganda designed to influence votes. Residents in Bradfield were bombarded with text messages by pollster uComms, which talked up Ms Boele's credentials as a 'clean-energy executive' and her role as 'local mum' The Australian reported. Another question suggested that Ms Boele was 'fed up with her community being taken for granted'. It insisted that she would 'stand as a representative of the people and 'reflect the communitys values'. Residents were then asked: 'Knowing what you do now, which of the following would receive your first preference vote in the House of Representatives if an election was held today?' Ms Boele admitted it was a 'poor attempt at humour and Ive apologised'. 'Everyone deserves to feel respected in their workplace and I will do better,' she said Liberal campaign spokesman James Paterson told the paper that 'Teal politicians talk a big game about integrity and transparency, but their actions tell a different story'. 'From misleading push polling to refusing to say who they would support in a hung parliament, they consistently hide their true agenda from voters,' Mr Paterson said. 'Voters deserve honesty, not political games from a group that claims to be independent while marching in lock-step with the Greens.' Climate200 is bankrolling 35 candidates this campaign, up from 23 in the last federal election, where they managed to elect six candidates. New two-tier sentencing rules were suspended last night just hours before they were due to come into force. In a last-minute climbdown the Sentencing Council agreed to postpone the introduction of guidance which critics said would discriminate against white men. The move came after Cabinet infighting delayed new legislation designed to block the introduction of the controversial new policy. Officials warned the delay would have left judges having to apply the new guidelines while parliament was debating their abolition. The Sentencing Council last night insisted the controversial changes remain 'necessary and appropriate'. But, in a surprise move, the quango agreed to suspend the introduction while parliament considers the new legislation, which is set to be published today. The new guidance said judges should commission pre-sentence reports for offenders from certain minority groups to examine their background and circumstances. Critics warned that the plan could see criminals from minority groups given lighter sentences. Shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick, who launched legal action against the quango, said it appeared to have bowed to pressure and plans 'would have discriminated against men, white people, Christians'. Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood (above) will publish new legislation today designed to prevent the guidance ever coming into force Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick (pictured) said it appeared to have bowed to pressure and plans 'would have discriminated against men, white people, Christians' But he warned there were 'other instances' of a two-tier approach in the criminal justice system that still need to be addressed. Ministers reacted with relief after the Sentencing Council agreed to back down. Earlier, a Ministry of Justice source warned there was 'no world in which those guidelines don't come into effect' on April 1. Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood will publish new legislation today designed to prevent the guidance ever coming into force. Ministers had planned to use emergency procedures which can allow legislation to be passed in a day in certain circumstances. But Whitehall sources said the move was opposed by Commons leader Lucy Powell and Lords leader Baroness Smith. The new law is not now expected to come into force until after Easter at the earliest. Allies of Ms Mahmood also blamed the Whitehall 'Blob' for frustrating progress on the issue. One said: 'I don't entirely understand why we can't just fire anyone who gets in the way.' Ms Mahmood wrote to the Sentencing Council asking it to ditch guidance which she said 'amounts to differential treatment'. But the body refused, with chairman Lord Justice Davis responding last week that the council had decided the guidelines 'did not require revision'. Ministers had planned to use emergency procedures which can allow legislation to be passed in a day in certain circumstances. But Whitehall sources said the move was opposed by Commons leader Lucy Powell (pictured) In a statement last night Ms Mahmood welcomed the change of heart but vowed to press ahead with a change in the law. She said: 'These guidelines create a justice system where outcomes could be influenced by race, culture or religion. 'This differential treatment is unacceptable equality before the law is the backbone of public confidence in our justice system. I will change the law to ensure fairness for all in our courts.' However, the bruising episode could still see ministers axe the quango amid concerns it has overstepped its purpose. The Prime Minister yesterday said he had been 'very disappointed' by the organisation's response to concerns raised by ministers. It sounds like something out of a horror movie but a secluded enclave where spirit communicators live in New York is far from that as the quaint village oozes charm. Lily Dale's Victorian homes, painted in bold, unconventional hues and adorned with crystals and angel statues, lend the town a whimsical, almost storybook-like quality. This unexpected warmth is further enriched by the shared conviction that the 'dead never actually die', a belief that binds the community together. Nestled in rural western New York, Lily Dale has been a center of Spiritualism since its founding in 1879. This religion, rooted in the belief that human souls persist beyond physical death, shapes every aspect of life in the hamlet. As Sage Osa, a medium who has studied extensively at Lily Dale, explains, '[Spiritualists] don't really believe in death, because energy can never be destroyed. So the thought is that we continue to exist even after we pass - we cross to the other side.' Yet, within the tangible reality of Lily Dale, a crucial question arises: Who has the authority to communicate with the dead? According to Spiritualist tradition, this ability is reserved for mediums, and Lily Dale strictly regulates their practice. Visitors are greeted by a 'mediums directory' upon arrival, a list of over 50 certified practitioners authorized to conduct private readings, lead workshops, and connect with 'Spirit' - an all-knowing, infinite presence embodying unconditional love, forgiveness, and the mysteries of existence. Lily Dale acts as a powerful draw for the medium community, not just for certified practitioners but also for those seeking to learn and teach. This global attraction fuels its summer season, the hamlet's economic engine, bringing in thousands of visitors for workshops, readings, and prominent lectures featuring figures like Deepak Chopra and John Edward. Although the idea of visiting Lily Dale - a secluded enclave of spirit communicators -might bring to mind the eerie prelude of a horror film, the village defies such expectations with its undeniable charm Its Victorian homes, painted in bold, unconventional hues and adorned with crystals and angel statues, lend the town a whimsical, almost storybook-like quality History But how did Lily Dale originate, and what factors contributed to its establishment as a Spiritualist center? Lily Dale's emergence as a Spiritualist center in 1879 was shaped by a convergence of religious and social movements in 19th-century New York. The region, known as the 'Burned-Over District,' fostered a wave of new religious ideologies, including Mormonism, Shakerism, and the Oneida Community, alongside the rapidly growing Spiritualist movement. The Fox sisters' widely publicized seances, beginning in 1848, propelled Spiritualism into the mainstream, despite Margaret Fox later admitting to fraud. Meanwhile, the expansion of transportation networks, such as the Erie Canal and railroads, facilitated the spread of these beliefs. The American Civil War (18611865) further fueled Spiritualism's appeal, as widespread grief drove many to seek comfort in the idea of an afterlife. By the 1870s, Spiritualists and Freethinkers were gathering in the area that would become Lily Dale, organizing summer camps featuring lectures and communal meals. Their presence became permanent in 1879 when they formally purchased land. The Fox sisters' widely publicized seances, beginning in 1848, propelled Spiritualism into the mainstream, despite Margaret Fox (far left) later admitting to fraud Nestled in rural western New York, Lily Dale has been a center of Spiritualism since its founding in 1879 Spiritualism, rooted in the belief that human souls persist beyond physical death, shapes every aspect of life in the hamlet Wealthy supporters like Marion and Thomas Skidmore played a key role in the community's development. Marion Skidmore, in particular, founded the library, which now holds an extensive collection of occult and Spiritualist texts. Lily Dale's rise coincided with the women's suffrage movement, attracting figures like Susan B. Anthony. The community's embrace of progressive ideals created a natural alliance with these movements. Mediumship also provided women with rare opportunities for financial independence at a time when such careers were scarce. Considered the spiritual anchors of their households, women found mediumship a socially acceptable profession, and public readings granted them a platform to speak openly. Residency and membership Nestled amid old-growth forest and the Cassadaga Lakes Region, Lily Dale is a quiet, close-knit community of approximately 169 leaseholds within a three-mile radius. A welcoming Spiritualist haven, primarily composed of female and white residents, it boasts a population of Lily Dale also operates under unique principles: traditional homeownership and death are viewed as illusions, and mortgages are nonexistent within its borders The Lily Dale Assembly, the organization governing the community, emphasizes that 'purchasing a home in Lily Dale is not a typical real estate transaction.' Nestled amid old-growth forest and the Cassadaga Lakes Region, Lily Dale is a quiet, close-knit community of approximately 169 leaseholds within a 3-mile radius Lily Dale acts as a powerful draw for the medium community, not just for certified practitioners but also for those seeking to learn and teach Lily Dale also operates under unique principles: traditional homeownership and death are viewed as illusions, and mortgages are nonexistent within its borders Instead, residents acquire leaseholds, granting them occupancy rights for a specified period, but they do not own the land. Residency hinges on membership in the Lily Dale Assembly, which requires affiliation with a Spiritualist church. This practice, while potentially seen as discriminatory, is permitted under exemptions to the Fair Housing Act for housing managed by religious organizations. Prospective members must demonstrate a year of Spiritualist church affiliation, provide references, pay dues, and undergo a board interview to assess their suitability for the community. But earning the title of a Lily Dale-certified medium, however, is no simple feat. Candidates undergo a rigorous testing process, with their evaluation based on how frequently they can demonstrate authentic communication with the spirit world. According to Lily Dale's most recent version of it's 'mediumship guide' (2022), beyond letters of recommendation, training verification, an introduction, and a $175 fee, applicants must complete 25 public demonstrations and two 'Monday Night Circles.' Even then, they undergo graded private readings and public evaluations by assembly members, who judge their ability to communicate with the spirit world. Reverend Simon Caudullo, a Lily Dale-registered medium who served as president a number of years back, said: 'It's a very sacred place, and I feel very privileged to live there, and I feel very privileged to be a medium there.' Alongside individual readings, visitors can participate in ghost walks, workshops, and Inspiration Stump gatherings, where mediums deliver brief messages to select individuals (Pictured: A vintage photo of the Inspiration stump in the early 1900s) The Forest Temple offers a free daily message service at 4 PM (excluding Sundays), where mediums deliver messages from Spirit, providing spiritual, emotional, and mental upliftment In addressing the stringent requirements for registration, Simon asserted: 'We want to know that the mediums have gone through a process that ensures they are not phony. We don't want that reputation, and we certainly want to give our guests the best mediums that we can.' However, this rigorous process has become the center of a legal dispute. Natalie Scobercea, Barbara Robinson, and Linda Struble filed a lawsuit against the Lily Dale Assembly. The plaintiffs alleged they were unfairly denied registration despite completing the required demonstrations and readings. Scobercea, who dedicated over 70 hours to the application, including exceeding the required public demonstrations and Monday Night Circles, was among those rejected. The core of the dispute regarded a discrepancy regarding the passing score. The plaintiffs claimed the 'mediumship guide' specified 82 percent, a mark they met or exceeded. However, the Assembly later asserted the required score was 85 percent. This rejection significantly impacts their livelihoods, as registration is essential for working within Lily Dale, where mediums can earn substantial fees. Scobercea, whose referral-based business relies heavily on in-person readings, told the New York Times that she was forced to step outside of the gates to give a reading. Lily Dale's emergence as a Spiritualist center in 1879 was shaped by a convergence of religious and social movements in 19th-century New York The American Civil War (18611865) further fueled Spiritualism's appeal, as widespread grief drove many to seek comfort in the idea of an afterlife (Pictured: An old photo of people gathering at Lily Dale) Aside from alleging a breach of contract, lack of good faith plaintiffs also claimed confidential legal correspondence was shared at a social event 'to the evident amusement of those present'. The case was settled in January, with all three individuals now registered as mediums. There's a widespread belief among mediums that Lily Dale's endorsement isn't the only measure of genuine ability. 'The reality is, I feel certified by spirit,' said Amy Gary, a practicing medium and intuitive of 15 years who first learned how to hone her psychic abilities at Lily Dale. 'I don't carry a true "certification" but I could stay busy all the time, and that's enough for me.' Scientists are on high alert after spotting a key sign that a US volcano is about to erupt. Huge plumes of steam have been seen rising from Mount Spurr, one of Alaska's largest active volcanoes. Mount Spurr last erupted in 1992 but has been showing escalating activity for months, and the Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO) now thinks a new eruption is likely. The scientists monitoring the volcano believe an explosive eruption in as little as three weeks is the 'most likely scenario'. Mount Spurr, which is about 80 miles (128km) from Anchorage, stands at 3,374 metres (11,070ft) tall and is the highest volcano in the Aleutian mountain range. In an update on March 26, scientists observed a 'robust plume' of steam rising from the summit. Although the plume's sudden formation is likely due to favourable weather conditions, the researchers say other signs point to an imminent eruption. In an update, the AVO writes: 'The increase in gas emissions confirms that new magma has intruded into the Earths crust beneath the volcano and indicates that an eruption is likely, but not certain, to occur within the next few weeks or months.' Scientists are on high alert after observing a huge plume of steam rising from the summit of Mount Spurr (pictured), the highest volcano in Alaska's Aleutian mountain range The Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO) says that the steam alone is not a sign of an impending eruption. However, combined with the emergence of new gas vents, or fumaroles, and increasing activity, scientists now consider an eruption likely Your browser does not support iframes. Mount Spurr consists of a large central summit and a major side vent about two miles (3.5km) to the south called Crater Peak, which has been the site of all major historical eruptions. Over the past weeks, scientists and civilian observers have noticed a large 'volcanic plume' rising from the summit. While this shows that the volcano is active, scientists maintain that this alone is not a sign of increasing risk. According to the AVO, the visible appearance of the plume is most likely due to low wind speeds and cool, wet conditions which allow more steam to form. On March 26, when the plume appeared largest, weather conditions were perfect for a steam plume to form. The scientists write: 'AVOs analysis of satellite remote sensing and geophysical data from March 26 showed no notable changes. 'These observations, in tandem with the favorable atmospheric conditions, suggest the robust plume from Mount Spurr in recent days was not a result of increased volcanic activity.' However, although the visible plume was not a sign of impending danger, other key signals show the volcano could soon erupt. Mount Spurr (pictured) is about 80 miles (128km) from Anchorage and stands at 3,374 metres tall (11,070ft) Mount Spurr last erupted in 1992, producing a cloud of ash that stretched 12 miles (20 km) above sea level, closing airports, offices, and schools and costing nearly $2 million (1.54 million) to clean up. Pictured: Mount Spurr erupting in 1992 Currently, the amount of gas being produced by Mount Spurr (pictured) means that an explosive eruption in the next few weeks is the most likely scenario Will Mount Spurr erupt? The Alaska Volcano Observatory now believes that an explosive eruption at Mount Spurr is the most likely scenario. This does not mean an eruption is certain, but the scientists believe that this is the most probable outcome. Based on gas emissions from the summit and Crater Peak, alongside the formation of a new lake and steam vents, the volcano is close to erupting. When these signs were last observed in 1992, an eruption followed just three weeks later. The Alaska Volcano Observatory has currently issued a yellow warning, but the status could rise to orange or red if more warning signs emerge. Advertisement On March 7 and 11, the AVO flew aircraft over the summit and over Crater Peak to gather samples of gas rising from the volcano. These flights showed that the Mount Spurr summit is now producing about 450 tonnes of sulphur dioxide every day. That is nine times higher than measurements taken in December 2024 when the summit produced less than 50 tonnes per day. The AVO also observed that the CO2 concentrations above the Crater Peak were especially high. The scientists write: 'In the past, such values have been observed prior to eruptions.' Additionally, there are now over 100 earthquakes per week originating from beneath the mountain. Since April 2024, there have been 3,400 earthquakes underneath Mount Spurr, indicating that magma is building up within a buried magma chamber. Likewise, the AVO has observed that steam is now rising from places around the summit and Crater Peak, many of which have not steamed since 2008. During a flight over Mount Spurr on March 7, the AVO recorded levels of sulphur dioxide over nine times higher than in December 2024, as shown in the red region on this graphic. The last time gas output was this high was shortly before a major eruption The AVO has also observed steam emerging from areas around the site of previous explosions which (pictured) have not been active since 2008 The researchers monitoring the volcano now consider an explosive eruption the most likely outcome of this increasing unrest. In 1992, an eruption followed just three weeks after these signs were first detected but the AVO also cautions that 'an eruption could occur with little or no additional warning'. Mount Spurr has been placed on a yellow/advisory warning since October 2024 but the AVO says it could issue an orange/watch or even a red/warning if further warning signs appear. If an eruption were to occur, scientists predict it would be similar to the previous explosions which took place in 1992 and 1953. In this scenario the most significant risk would be created by airborne ash clouds blasted into the atmosphere by the force of the blast. The most recent eruption shot a pillar of ash rising 12 miles (20 km) above sea level, closing airports, offices, and schools and costing nearly $2 million (1.54 million) to clean up. Breathing in falling ash can also harm the airways and Alaskan residents are advised to wear a mask or remain inside in the event of an eruption. Other hazards such as pyroclastic flows or mudflows known as lahars would be localised to the immediate area around Mount Spurr and generally pose little threat to local communities. In recent months, there have been around 100 earthquakes per week beneath Mount Spurr (illustrated in blue). This prompted the AVO to issue a yellow warning (top) in November but this could rise to orange or red in the future If Mount Spurr (pictured) were to erupt, the biggest risk would be posed by floating ash clouds which cause widespread disruption and are dangerous to human health. More lethal risks such as pyroclastic flows will be limited to the area immediately around the volcano In a post on Facebook written on March 19, the AVO advised Alaskan residents on the risks of volcanic activity and how to stay safe in the event of an eruption. The AVO wrote: 'The major hazards to Alaska residents from Spurr would be from ash risk to aviation and possible ashfall. 'The other hazards from a Mount Spurr eruption would only affect the areas immediately surrounding the volcano. 'While there are no residents in the identified hazard areas for pyroclastic flows and lahars, people do visit the area for recreational or subsistence purposes.' A California surfer has been left 'shaken to his core' after being mauled by a sea lion infected with a zombie-like neurotoxin. In a Facebook post, Rj LaMendola described his experience riding the waves at Oxnard State Beach Park before encountering the 'deranged predator'. Out of nowhere, it erupted from the water, hurtling towards him 'at full speed' with its 'mouth gaped wide' and teeth gleaming. After several attempts at an ambush, the crazed animal clamped its jaws down hard on his left butt cheek. Mr LaMendola said he's still dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) from the encounter, which scientists say was caused by a neurological disorder due to an infection by toxic algae blooms. He descried it as 'the most harrowing and traumatic experience of my 20 years of surfing', adding it 'left me shaken to my core'. 'The pain was sharp and immediate, but the terror was worse it shook its head violently, tugging me off my board by my flesh, dragging me into the water,' he sad. 'Its expression was feral, almost demonic, devoid of the curiosity or playfulness I'd always associated with sea lions.' Rj LaMendola descried it as 'the most harrowing and traumatic experience of my 20 years of surfing', adding it 'left me shaken to my core' Sea lions are not typically aggressive towards humans, but scientists say the individual was infected with a terrifying neurotoxin (file photo) 'My wetsuit was shredded where it had bitten me, a jagged tear exposing the puncture wound in my buttock.' The surfer said he eventually stumbled back onto the beach with blood pouring down his leg, but managed to drive to a nearby hospital. After contacting the Channel Islands Marine Wildlife Institute, he was told the sea lion was likely affected by 'domoic acid toxicosis'. This neurological disorder, caused by an infection from toxic algae, drives these creatures into 'aggressive and uncharacteristic behaviour'. Some symptoms of domoic acid poisoning are 'seizures, bobbing head, erratic behavior and lethargy', according to marine scientists. 'This algae bloom produces a toxin called domoic acid and it gets into the food chain,' John Warner, leader of the Marine Mammal Care Center in Los Angeles, told CBS. 'It's a neurological toxin so it affects their brains they'll present with seizures, either extreme lethargy or disorientation and aggressiveness. 'All because they're literally our of their minds to some degree.' What is domoic acid toxicosis? Domoic acid toxicosis is a neurological disorder caused by an infection from toxic algae blooms. For background, an organism called Pseudo-nitzschia can grow into 'algal blooms' in the water. These harmful algal blooms of Pseudo-nitzschia produce a neurotoxin called domoic acid. Domoic acid can accumulate in filter-feeding shellfish, finfish, and zooplankton When ingested by bigger creatures, the DA can cause the neurological disorder - which includes deranged symptoms and aggression. Advertisement Channel Islands Marine Wildlife Institute is dealing with a wave of incidents across Santa Barbara and Ventura County involving sea lions and other marine animals affected by the toxin. According to a report by CBS, sea lion carcasses are lining the beach, suggesting the 'deranged' behaviour soon leads to death. Although there are 'hardly any' reports of sea lion bites, now 'hundreds of animals are being poisoned by a massive toxic algae bloom'. As Mr LaMendola states, the sea lion that attacked him 'wasn't just acting out it was sick, its mind warped by this poison coursing through its system'. 'Knowing that doesn't erase the terror, but it adds a layer of sadness to the fear,' he said. Despite the terrifying ordeal leaving him bedbound and dealing with PTSD, Mr LaMendola said he is 'lucky, all things considered'. 'The bite was deep, the pain lingering, but it hit my buttock not an artery, not my face, not something worse,' he added in his post. 'Still, I can't shake the memory of its quivering lips, the relentless pursuit, the feeling of being hunted in a place I've always loved. I won't be paddling out again anytime soon unfortunately.' An organism called Pseudo-nitzschia (pictured) can grow into large algal blooms. They produce a neurotoxin called domoic acid, which can accumulate in filter-feeding shellfish, finfish and zooplankton When ingested by bigger creatures, the domoic acid can cause the neurological disorder - which includes deranged symptoms and aggression Sea lion attacks aren't unheard of; back in 2020, a 25-year-old needed 20 stitches when attacked while swimming underwater in Western Australia. Elena Precillia was swimming underwater with a raft of sea lions when one of them lunged for the bottom of her leg resulting in stitches, a course of antibiotics and a medical bill of more than 2,000. Locals had told her that the sea lions were 'friendly' and that 'many [tourists] went there without a tour guide or anything like that', she said. According to the International Fund for Animal Welfare, sea lions are not typically aggressive towards humans, but even without an infection such as this they may attack. Experts are urging the public to stay at least 50 feet away from any individual marine mammal showing signs of distress. California Wildlife Center said in a statement: 'Signs in marine mammals include seizures, a craning head motion known as stargazing and highly lethargic or comatose states. 'These animals are suffering and confused; do not interact directly with animals such as sea lions in distress as they may lunge and bite without warning.' READ MORE: Britain set to be hit with cold snaps, floods and storms by 2100 In the 2004 film 'The Day After Tomorrow', most of Earth's northern hemisphere is smothered in a blanket of snow when Earth's system of ocean currents collapses. Although consigned to the world of sci-fi for now, scientists fear that this disastrous event could actually one day be possible. A new study by experts at University of Gothenburg and the German Alfred Wegener Institute reveals that rapidly melting freshwater ice in the Arctic could be one cause. This melted ice could weaken or even cause a collapse of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) Earth's vast system of ocean currents. Described as 'the conveyor belt of the ocean', AMOC transports warm water near the ocean's surface northwards from the tropics up to the northern hemisphere, keeping Europe, the UK and the US east coast temperate. If and when AMOC does collapse, much of the northern hemisphere, including Europe and North America, could experience harsh, freezing cold winters. But study author Dr Celine Heuze, senior lecturer in climatology at the University of Gothenburg, said it's 'scary' that the exact effects of weaker global ocean circulation are as yet unknown. 'The results of this study make us concerned that the reduction of sea ice in the area could lead to a tipping point where the AMOC collapses,' said Dr Heuze. Your browser does not support iframes. The Beaufort Gyre in the Arctic Ocean holds large amounts of freshwater. If the gyre weakens due to climate change, it will release freshwater that could flood the North Atlantic and have an impact on the AMOC For their study, the researchers made projections using global climate models that accurately represent the Beaufort Gyre. The Beaufort Gyre is a massive wind-driven circular ocean current in the Arctic Ocean, located north of the Alaskan and Canadian coasts. It transports liquid freshwater naturally occurring water containing very few salts in a clockwise direction near the ocean's surface, blown by wind. But due to warmer temperatures over the last few decades, the Beaufort Gyre is currently losing large amounts of sea ice. Usually, this sea ice helps keep the ocean cool, acting as a lid or a wall, according to Dr Heuze. 'Without it, the atmosphere can drag the ocean around and make the ocean move the way the atmosphere "wants",' she told MailOnline. Without the sea ice, the Beaufort Gyre would stop circulating and excess freshwater in the region would travel southwards into the North Atlantic. There, it could negatively impact the AMOC potentially causing its collapse, the team fear although it's as yet unclear exactly how. In the Hollywood blockbuster The Day After Tomorrow (pictured), ocean currents around the world stop as a result of global warming, triggering a new ice age on Earth 'The Day After Tomorrow' is based on the 1999 book The Coming Global Superstorm by Art Bell and Whitley Strieber Why could the AMOC collapse? Scientists think melting glaciers could cause the collapse of the AMOC, the system of ocean currents. Described as 'the conveyor belt of the ocean', the AMOC transports warm water near the ocean's surface northwards from the tropics up to the northern hemisphere. Prior studies have already shown that due to climate change, the AMOC is slowing down. The engine of this conveyor belt is off the coast of Greenland, where, as more ice melts from climate change , more freshwater flows into the North Atlantic and slows everything down. Advertisement 'If the Beaufort Gyre were to disappear, this fresher water would no longer be accumulated and stored in its centre,' first author Dr Marylou Athanase at the Alfred Wegener Institute in Bremerhaven told MailOnline. 'This fresher water would have to be distributed elsewhere, and can eventually exit the Arctic and reach the North Atlantic.' AMOC brings enough warmth to the northern hemisphere that without it, large parts of Europe could enter a deep freeze, scientists have previously speculated. If the AMOC were to collapse, temperatures could plummet in northwest Europe and there would be more winter storms caused by stronger westerly winds. Jonathan Bamber, a professor of Earth observation at the University of Bristol who was not involved with the study, said that if the AMOC were to collapse, the climate of northwest Europe would be 'unrecognisable compared to what it is today'. 'It would be several degrees cooler so that winters would be more typical of Arctic Canada,' he previously told MailOnline. People, whether old and young, would be 'vulnerable to the very cold winter temperatures', added Professor David Thornalley, a climate scientist at University College London. Worryingly, prior studies have already shown that due to climate change, the AMOC is slowing down and its abrupt shutdown could happen in the next few decades. In the Beaufort Gyre, northeast of Alaska, 'perennial ice' (ice that survives from one year to another) used to last for years. But this changed at the beginning of the 21st century when warmer waters made it less likely that ice would survive its passage though the south of the gyre Scientists think melting glaciers could cause the collapse of the AMOC, the system of ocean currents. Described as 'the conveyor belt of the ocean', the AMOC transports warm water near the ocean's surface northwards from the tropics up to the northern hemisphere. This map indicates surface currents (solid curves) and deep currents (dashed curves) that form a portion of the AMOC. Colours of curves indicate approximate temperatures The new study, published in Journal of Geophysical Research Oceans, predicts a 'decline or disappearance' of the Beaufort Gyre by the end of the century. And the more greenhouse gas emissions that humans pump into the atmosphere, the more likely it is to disappear sooner. 'Future changes in the strength and size of the Beaufort Gyre could have important implications in the Arctic and beyond,' the team conclude. The exact link between the more freshwater at the Beaufort Gyre and a suspected weakening of the AMOC is something the team now want to study more closely. NASA astronauts Barry Wilmore and Sunita Williams have spoken out for the first time since they returned from their more than nine-month-long space mission. The pair sat down for a joint interview on Monday with Fox News, in which they admitted NASA, Boeing and even the astronauts themselves had a role to play in its unexpected outcome. Wilmore said that he, who was the commander of crew flight test, was partly 'culpable' for not asking necessary questions for the crew launched on June 5. 'I'll admit that to the nation. There's things that I did not ask that I should have asked. I didn't know at the time that I needed to ask them,' he added. But in hindsight, the signals, some of the signals were there.' Wilmore also said that Boeing and NASA were to blame for the 'shortcomings in tests and shortcomings in preparations' that they all did not see. 'Everybody has a piece in this because it did not come off,' he said in the Fox News interview. Wilmore also made a shocking admission about President Donald Trump's claims that the Biden administration 'abandoned' him and his crewmate in space, saying he had 'no reason not to believe anything they say because they've earned my trust.' 'And for that, I am grateful,' he said, adding that it is 'refreshing,' 'empowering' and 'strengthening' to see national leaders taking an active role in NASA's human spaceflight program, which he described as globally significant. NASA astronauts Sunita Williams (L) and Barry Wilmore (R) are finally back on Earth after being stuck on the International Space Station for more than nine months Wilmore and Williams were only supposed to spend eight days on the International Space Station (ISS) when they launched aboard Boeing's Starliner last June. But technical issues with their spacecraft left them stuck up there for more than nine months. By the time they returned to Earth on March 18, they had spent 288 days in space. Williams and Wilmore shared their reactions to learning that they would be in space longer than they had expected. 'My first thought was we just gotta pivot,' Williams told Fox News. 'If this was the destiny, if our spacecraft was gonna go home based on decisions made [by NASA] and we were gonna be up there until February, I was like 'okay, let's make the best of it.'' 'We were ready to just jump into it and take on the tasks that were given to us,' she added. Wilmore admitted he thought about his family the moment he heard about the extended stay. Wilmore and Williams (pictured) were only supposed to spend eight days on the International Space Station when they launched aboard Boeing's Starliner on June 5 The pair finally returned from more than nine months in space on March 18, splashing down off the coast of Florida inside a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft 'It's not about me,' he said. It's about what this human spaceflight program is about. It's our national goals. 'And did I think about not being there for my daughter's high school year? Of course. But compartmentalize. We've trained them to be resilient.' But both astronauts have repeatedly said they did not feel stranded, stuck or abandoned on the ISS, and they doubled-down on these statements during the Fox News interview. 'Any of those adjectives, they're very broad in their definition,' Wilmore said. 'So okay, in certain respects we were stuck, in certain respects maybe we were stranded, but based on how they were couching this that we were left and forgotten and all that we were nowhere near any of that at all. 'We didn't get to come home the way we planned. So in one definition we're stuck. But in the big scheme of things, we weren't stuck. We were planned, trained.' When asked if they felt Boeing had failed them, Williams said: 'I wouldn't really characterize it as that.' Both astronauts said Starliner uses new, highly-advanced technology, and launching such a complex system into space comes with challenges. 'The spacecraft is pretty complicated in the way they've integrated all the different types of systems together,' Williams said. 'This is the most robust spacecraft we have in the inventory. There's nothing that can do everything that Starliner can do,' Wilmore added. He said he does not want to 'point fingers' at those who played a role in their significantly delayed return. But others have been pointing fingers for the last several months, including Trump and his senior advisor, Elon Musk. Trump and Musk alleged in February that the Biden administration left the astronauts on the ISS for 'political reasons.' Last week, NASA spokeswoman Bethany Stevens credited the Trump administration with the astronauts' safe return, telling Fox News 'it would not have happened without President Trump's intervention.' This was not the first time NASA representatives had voiced their gratitude to President Trump. After Williams and Wilmore splashed down off the coast of Florida inside SpaceX's Crew-9 Dragon capsule, acting NASA administrator Janet Petro released a statement saying that the Trump administration influenced the timing of their return. 'Per President Trump's direction, NASA and SpaceX worked diligently to pull the schedule a month earlier,' Petro said. 'This international crew and our teams on the ground embraced the Trump Administration's challenge of an updated, and somewhat unique, mission plan, to bring our crew home,' she added. President Donald Trump and his senior advisor, SpaceX Chief Executive Elon Musk, alleged in February that the Biden administration left the astronauts on the ISS for 'political reasons' The extended space mission first entered the political spotlight in January, when Trump said he told Musk to 'go get' the astronauts who had been 'virtually abandoned' by the Biden administration. Trump and Musk participated in a joint Fox News interview in February, during which the president said he gave the directive to accelerate the Starliner crew's return. 'They didn't have the go-ahead with Biden. He was going to leave them in space. I think he was going to leave them in space. He didn't want the publicity. Can you believe it?' he said. NASA has not directly commented on Trump or Musk's claims with respect to the Biden administration, but the agency previously denied that politics played any role in their decision-making around the Starliner crew's return. During a March 4 press conference, agency officials said safety, budget concerns and the need to make sure the ISS was continuously manned were driving the decision to have Williams and Wilmore return with SpaceX's Crew-9 mission. The Starliner astronauts have now been back on Earth for almost two weeks. They look like a dish of lentils, or a mass of spider eggs on a leaf. But whatever they are, these tiny little brown blobs, newly-found on the surface of Mars, have left scientists baffled. New images captured by NASA's Perseverance rover this month show an alien-like mass comprised of hundreds of the millimeter-sized spheres. However, scientists are unsure what 'quirk of geology' could've made the strange shapes, which are unlike anything they've seen before. Whatever they are, they look totally out of place compared with the surrounding rusty red Martian dust. They could hint at the rich volcanic and geologic history of the Red Planet, which is about 4.6 billion years old. Mars was once dotted with thousands of huge volcanoes which saw 'super eruptions', according to NASA the most powerful type of volcanic blast there is. It follows stunning images of 'araneiforms' dark cracks in the Martian soil, completely different to anything on Earth. This image from NASAs Mars Perseverance rover reveals hundreds of strange, spherical-shaped objects comprising the rock. Perseverance acquired this image on March 11, 2025, or sol 1442 (Martian day 1,442 of its mission) A rock that has no earthly business in a Martian crater: Perseverance acquired this image on March 13, 2025 - sol 1444, or Martian day 1,444 of the Mars 2020 mission NASA's new images were found by Perseverance along the rim of the Jezero Crater, a 28-mile-wide region on Mars that may have once been flooded with water. Alex Jones, a PhD student from Imperial College London's department of earth science, described the rock as 'strange' and 'shocking'. 'The Perseverance Science Team were astonished by a strange rock comprised of hundreds of millimeter-sized spheres,' he said in a blog post on NASA's website. 'Placing these features in geologic context will be critical for understanding their origin, and determining their significance for the geological history of the Jezero Crater rim and beyond.' Technically, the mass is made up of 'spherules' roughly spherical pebbles, ranging 0.01mm to 4mm in diameter (up to 0.15 inches). Some of these spherules are more elongate, elliptical shapes, while others have angular edges, perhaps representing broken spherule fragments. Others even have miniscule holes as if they'd been pricked with a pin but how or why they show such variety is a mystery. On Earth, spherules are formed by rapid cooling of molten rock droplets during a volcanic eruption, or by the condensation of rock vaporized by a meteorite impact. The Jezero Crater is a 28-mile-wide region on Mars that may have once been flooded with water The Red Planet (pictured) is an average of 140 million miles (225 million km) away from Earth Did Mars have volcanoes? Mars was once dotted with thousands of huge volcanoes which saw 'super eruptions', according to NASA. The eruptions shot water vapor, carbon dioxide and sulfur dioxide into the Martian atmosphere, resulting in a significant change to Mars' climate. In 2021, scientists said some volcanoes on Mars may still be active, raising the possibility there were microbes on the planet as recently as 30,000 years ago. Advertisement 'Each of these formation mechanisms would have vastly different implications for the evolution of these rocks, so the team is working hard to determine their context and origin,' Jones said. Dr Matthew Chojnacki, a planetary geologist at the Planetary Science Institute, said they could be 'frothy lava' that rapidly cooled might lead to such a deposit. 'But it's hard to tell without chemistry or mineralogy, especially given it's a float rock (a piece of rock that is not part of the bedrock),' he told MailOnline. Dr Joel Davis, planetary geologist at Imperial College London, said they may have been formed by water circulating through the Martian ground billions of years ago. '[This was] potentially when conditions were too cold for liquid water to exist on the surface,' Dr Davis told MailOnline. 'Findings like this help geologists build a picture of how and when Mars might have changed, from a warm, wet planet 3-4 billion of years ago, to the cold, very dry environment we see today.' This isnt the first time strange spheres have been spotted on Mars, which is an average of 140 million miles (225 million km) away from Earth. In 2004, the Opportunity rover active on Mars from 2004-2018 spotted 'Martian Blueberries' at Meridiani Planum, a large plain straddling the equator of Mars. These marble-sized objects, named for their similar appearance to the fruit, are remnants of small meteorites that broke up in the Martian atmosphere. A full scale test model of the Perseverance rover currently on Mars is displayed during a press conference for the Mars Sample Return mission in the Mars Yard at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, California on April 11, 2023 In June last year, Perseverance spied popcorn-like textures in sedimentary rocks exposed in the Jezero crater inlet channel, Neretva Vallis Then in 2012, the Curiosity rover, which is still exploring Mars after more than a decade, observed spherules in the rocks of Yellowknife Bay at Gale crater. Meanwhile, Perseverance spied 'popcorn-like textures' in sedimentary rocks exposed in the Jezero crater inlet channel, Neretva Vallis, last year. Perseverance acquired the two new images on March 11 and March 13 on sol (Martian day) 1442 and 1444 of its mission. A Martian day (a 'sol') is 24 hours, 39 minutes and 35 seconds long so about 40 minutes longer than a day on Earth. Perseverance touched down on Mars' Jezero Crater believed to be the home of a lush lakebed and river delta billions of years ago in February 2021 after a nearly seven-month journey through space. It is tasked with seeking traces of fossilised microbial life from Mars' ancient past and to collect rock specimens for return to Earth through future missions to the Red Planet. A mysterious 'complex' about 25 miles south of Egypt's Giza pyramids has sparked theories of a hidden 'Stargate' in the desert. Google Map users spotted a horseshoe-shaped structure with another within its two-pointed ends, surrounded by oddly shaped buildings at the top and on each side. The site is located at 2954'23"N 3108'02"E, but it does not have an official identifier on Google Maps. 'What in the Stargate is this?' a Google Maps user shared online, referring to the fictional device that allows travel to distant points in space. The images have been shared worldwide, sparking speculation that the structure could be a spaceship or a 'desert kit' an ancient prehistoric trap believed to have been used for mass hunting. Many people suggested the complex is likely 'a modern military facility,' such as a military bunker or Surface to Air Missile Defense site. 'Looks like what our fighter jet bunkers, or missile launchers, look like when they are in storage (you can find similar shapes in Iran, for example),' one user shared on Reddit. 'Based on the shape, it very well could have been a launch point with those dunes around it to act as blast walls.' A mysterious 'complex' about 25 miles south of Egypt 's Great Pyramid has sparked theories of a hidden 'Stargate' in the desert The site is located at 2954'23"N 3108'02"E, but it does not have an official identifier on Google Maps 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. The plateau consists of three pyramids, Khufu, Khafre and Menkaure, located on a rocky plateau on the west bank of the Nile River in northern Egypt. Each was constructed in the name of a pharaoh. The northernmost and oldest of the group was built for Khufu. Also known as the Great Pyramid, this structure is the largest, at 480ft tall and 750ft wide at its base. The middle pyramid was built for Khafre and Menkaure is the southernmost and last built of the group. Google Maps shows that the mysterious complex is just a 24-minute drive from the Great Pyramid that sits to the north, sparking calls online for someone to make the journey. However, Egypt is littered with similar sites built between the 1950s and 1970s. The air defense sites were originally developed to protect strategic locations, such as military bases, airfields, and infrastructure, from aerial threats. The complexes also housed Soviet-made, high-altitude surface-to-air missiles (SAMs) designed to target enemy bombers and reconnaissance planes. Google Maps shows that the mysterious complex is just a 24-minute drive from the Great Pyramid that sits to the north, sparking calls online for someone to make the journey Another strange image from Google Maps of a similar complex took the internet by storm in 2016. It features two long, pointed buildings surrounded by mysterious circles. And the futuristic design prompted a range of suggestions over what it is used for, with some even believing it has links to UFO research. The existence of the building was highlighted by Secureteam10, which describes itself as a source for 'UFO sighting videos' as well as 'government cover-up and the alien activity happening on and off our planet.' However, Egypt is littered with similar sites built between the 1950s and 1970s. The air defense sites were originally developed to protect strategic locations, such as military bases, airfields, and infrastructure, from aerial threats Commenting on a YouTube video posted by the group, one user said: 'This reminds me of Star Wars.' Another asked whether it was the Egyptian government's 'secret UFO base.' Egypt has long been the center for theories about aliens, specifically that extraterrestrials built the pyramids. In 2020, billionaire Tesla boss Elon Musk drew the scorn of experts when he took to Twitter - the social network he bought in 2022 for $44 billion - to write: 'Aliens built the pyramids obv'. Musk's comment 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 & SpaceX 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.' Musk took the claim back in a follow-up social media post linking to an article describing how the pyramids were more likely built by humans living in an Egyptian settlement. China has gone up against the US in an aerospace race as its state-owned aircraft manufacturer unveils blueprints for a new supersonic jet that can fly further and more quietly than Concorde. The Comac C949 will fly 1.6 times faster than the speed of sound and at a range that is 50 per cent greater than that of retired Concorde, aerodynamicists detailed in an research paper published earlier this month, the South China Morning Post reports. Engineers are working to make the jet significantly quieter than its predecessor, with its sonic booms measuring at only 83.9 perceived level in decibels (PLdB) - the noise level that a standard hair dryer typically operates at. But Comac will have to compete against NASA and several American start-ups that are also racing to create a jet to replace the Anglo-French Concorde supersonic jet, which could cross the Atlantic Ocean in just three hours. Massachusetts based Spike Aerospace is working to develop its own 1.6-mach jet - the S-512 Supersonic Diplomat jet - which can fly 300miles further than the C949. Boom Supersonic, headquartered in Denver, successfully carried out a test flight of its Overture XB-1 jet, which can fly 1.7 faster than the speed of light but only has a range of 4,888 miles. Comac hopes to have the C949 in service by 2049, coinciding with the 100th anniversary of the People's Republic of China, according to reports. The company also has plans to create 'space-air hybrid vehicles' as explores new possibilities in both air and space travel, something that is likely to upset US President Donald Trump. He created America's Space Force during his first presidential term and continues to view space as being vital to national security. China has gone up against the US in an aerospace race as its state-owned aircraft manufacturer unveils blueprints for the Comac C949, which will fly 1.6 times faster than the speed of sound and at a range that is 50 per cent greater than that of retired Concorde The final British Airways Concorde flight lifts off from John F. Kennedy Airport in New York on its final voyage to London, 24 October 2003 Your browser does not support iframes. Concorde's first, non-stop transatlantic flight in 1973 was the stuff of science fiction. The jet's sprint from Washington DC to Paris took three and-a-half hours. Today's Boeings cover that distance in more than twice that time. The sleek, supersonic, 203-foot tailless bird burned 6,771 gallons (25,629 litres) of fuel every hour, meaning that it could reach a cruising velocity of twice the speed of sound, or 1,350mph. The 100-seater planes were one of the most advanced aircraft ever to fly passengers around the world with just 20 built over a 15-year period. But in July 2000 an Air France Concorde en route from Paris to New York crashed shortly after take-off due to an engine fire, killing all 109 people on board as well as four people on the ground. About three-years later it was announced that Concorde would be taken out of service due to a sharp dip in passenger numbers amid global economic problems and the aftermath of the 9/11 terror attacks. Aircraft manufacturers are looking to design Concorde's replacement with American officials now racing against China to do so. Boom Supersonic CEO Blake Scholl officially declared an aerospace race with Beijing in a tweet over the weekend, saying: 'A'ight folks, it's no surprise, but China has now officially entered the supersonic race. Game on. Let's beat 'em.' Scholl's company successfully launched a test flight of its XB-1 aircraft on January 28 this year, reaching speeds of 850mph, Boom Supersonic reports. Boom Supersonic, headquartered in Denver , successfully carried out a test flight of its Overture XB-1 jet, which can fly 1.7 faster than the speed of light but only has a range of 4,888 miles Massachusetts based Spike Aerospace is working to develop its own 1.6-mach jet - the S-512 Supersonic Diplomat jet - which can fly 300miles further than the Comac C949 It broke the sound barrier three times without once generating a sonic boom that reached the ground. Scholl, at the time, touted that the test flight confirmed that 'supersonic travel can be affordable, sustainable, and friendly to those onboard and on the ground'. The 201-foot XB-1, which will be able to accommodate 64 to 80 passengers, flew at a top speed of Mach 1.12 during it's test flight - but is reportedly able to reach speeds of 1.7-Mach. Boom Supersonic has already secured 130 Overture orders and pre-orders with American Airlines, United Airlines and Japan Airlines. But the company is still in competition with Spike Aerospace, which is working to develop its own superson jet, the 122-foot S-512 Supersonic Diplomat. The S-512 is expected to fly at speeds of 1.6-Mach and travel up to distances of 7,100 miles, the company reports. This means the jet could travel from New York City to London in just 3.3 hours. In addition to being able to travel further than its XB-1 competitor, the S-512 offers travellers a crafted cabin experience, only accommodating up to 18 passengers. Spike touts its the 'ultimate in comfort' experience with passengers enjoying 'fully-reclining seats, panoramic windows, and a noise-cancelling interior that ensures a serene environment at any speed'. The S-512 is able to travel the furthest of the three jets, but Comac's C949 may give the jet a run for its money. Passengers board Concorde at Heathrow airport in preparation to view the solar eclipse at 55,000 feet over the Atlantic Ocean in August 1999 Passengers on board a Concorde during its first public flight in August 1975 The C949 will be able travel at the same speed as the C949, according the research paper reviewed by the South China Morning Post. But it will be able to accommodate 168 passengers - 40 more than Concorde's maximum capacity - and be able to top distances of 6,800 miles at a time, the report states. If true, the C949 could travel nonstop from Britain to Malaysia. The C949's design reportedly features a shape-shifting fuselage with a curved 'reverse-camber' midsection that engineers claim 'weakens shock waves' and helps reduce noise. By reducing the noise and sonic booms, officials hope to be able to 'bypass regulatory barriers' that have banned supersonic flights overland. The Chinese government started Comac in 2008. The company is currently subject to sanctions from the US government over its links to Beijing. From trudging through long queues, to organising liquids and electronics, to awaiting your bag getting the all-clear after it's scanned, we can collectively agree getting through airport security can be a stressful experience. But if you come to notice a secret four-letter code on your boarding pass, it could spell bad news for those who hope for a brisk, seamless airport experience. Holidaymakers across the globe are beginning to realise what 'SSSS' means on their boarding pass - and some have even dubbed it the 'kiss of death.' One jetsetter, Jordyn Verzera, was left scratching her head after spotting the cryptic code on her boyfriend's ticket during a recent airport run. In a video posted to her TikTok account, @themobilehomie, Verzera found herself separated from her partner after they passed through security, before she captured the moment he was cleared after undergoing further questioning at passport control. In an accompanying caption, the American content creator detailed: 'On flights to/from the US, you can get "randomly" selected to undergo a much higher level of security. 'For my partner, this meant separating all of his things from mine, pulling absolutely everything out of his bag, swabbing everything, and then making sure that his laptop turned on (so that they could inspect it).' In short, SSSS stands for 'Secondary Security Screening Selection,' an extra-thorough security check enforced by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) in the US. SSSS stands for 'Secondary Security Screening Selection,' an extra-thorough security check enforced by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) in the US Those who discover the code on their boarding pass should expect an 'enhanced' screening, which can take longer than standard security procedures and, in turn, potentially cause delays. According to The Points Guy, the screening typically involves a 'full-body pat-down, an additional metal-detecting wand wave and explosive-detecting swabs rubbed on your baggage and at least your hands.' Some travellers have even reported having their feet swabbed, as well as being asked to turn on and present all of their electronic devices for inspection. Bags are subject to a complete search, with the lining of luggage and its exterior pockets prodded, scanned and swept for narcotics and other contraband. A TSA agent will also most likely ask you questions regarding your reason for travel, your trip itinerary, destination information whether you packed your bags yourself. Some passengers may be subject to a more invasive search, which involves additional steps, and a private screening room is offered to those who request privacy while undergoing this process. While there's no specific allotted time for completion of SSSS checks, travellers leaving and travelling to the US are warned to arrive early to the airport to avoid delays in the event they are selected for screening. On TikTok, some holidaymakers shared their thoughts on the 'violating' process, while others expressed their shock over the real meaning of the code. The screening typically involves a 'full-body pat-down, an additional metal-detecting wand wave and explosive-detecting swabs rubbed on your baggage and at least your hands' One person wrote, 'I know what sss stands for but not ssss. I got super suspicious suspect,' while another said, 'I thought it meant like super super super safe so you don't get selected again or something.' A third shared: 'I never understood this algorithm- I got SSSS and Im a Veteran and 20 year federal employee,' as another commented, 'I was flagged all the time because I used to fly solo before I turned 18.' Finally, one person recalled: 'This happened to me the last time I flew out to see my best friend, the TSA scanned my phone and made a copy of all my texts, app messages, pictures etc. 'The whole thing was weird and violating, but I guess the TAS can enjoy all the close up shots of weird pimples I can't regularly see lol.' Meanwhile, a British man has issued a warning to fellow travellers after he was charged 400/$518 for a very simple booking mistake. Will Hobson, 32, told MailOnline Travel, the 'nightmare' experience unfolded at New York JFK when he was attempting to fly to Munich for work. But it wasn't until the traveller arrived at the airport for his Lufthansa flight that he realised something was wrong. More than two decades ago when I came to live in Portugal, a surprising number of people asked: Do you speak Spanish already? Sardines and fado music were known associations to the well-travelled, but many people still thought of Portugal as a region of Spain. Few had heard of the Alentejo, a region of dolmens and vineyards, olive trees and storks that takes up more than a third of the country. Portugal was often called Europes best kept secret. Fast forward to today and the country is on just about every travellers lips, with Lisbon usually featuring in the top ten of favourite city break lists. Pictures of pasteis de nata flood Instagram and enticing, white-washed hotels have opened up and down the country offering a taste of simple, authentic Portuguese life (albeit with all the luxurious mod-cons). What hasnt changed is people asking where to go, where to stay or what to visit. And having spent 23 years seeking off-the-radar, medieval hilltop villages, trying little-known Douro Valley wines, searching for the best designer hotels in Lisbon and secret spots by the sea in the Algarve Ive got more than a few ideas. So here are my favourite places, whether budget or big-ticket, urban or rural; the one thing they have in common is the ability to get you under the skin of Europes most westerly nation. Lisbon and the coast Hilltop charm... Obidos Obidos, a stonewalled city with a medieval fortress, was a present from King Dinis to Isabel of Aragon This hilltop town of whitewashed houses, enclosed within 14th-century castellated walls, was among the presents that King Dinis gave Isabel of Aragon for their wedding in 1282. Then it was an important port now its forever pretty, with a reputation for its cherry liqueur, Ginja. MY TIP: Another 30 minutes north up the coast is Nazare, an old fishing village backed by steep cliffs. While the fish market bustles with women in traditional dress selling their fare, it is the waves that have made this area famous. Many world records for surfing have been recorded here. BOOK IT: Areias do Seixo is a charming hotel with a surf school and easy access to many nearby historical sites including Obidos (areiasdoseixo.com); has doubles from 216 B&B. Fly to Lisbon from Birmingham with Ryanair from 127 return (ryanair.com). Royal approval... Cascais/Estoril The idyllic beach town of Cascais, located just west of the capital and the former home of James Bond writer Ian Fleming Sometimes called the Portuguese Riviera, this coast west of Lisbon has long been synonymous with royalty. From the days when Ian Fleming lived in the Palacio in Estoril which inspired his first James Bond novel, Casino Royale to the exiled last King of Italy, Umberto II adopting Cascais as his home, this was considered the place to be. Estoril, described as a glorious Eden by Lord Byron, offers a cluster of palaces and castles to explore, while Cascais is a must for the freshest of seafood. MY TIP: Feast on traditional seafood at Mare in Cascais (marejoseavillez.pt). BOOK IT: The stylish Farol Hotel has doubles from 126 B&B (farol.com.pt). Fly to Lisbon from Gatwick or Luton from 159 (easyjet.com); Manchester-Lisbon return from 92 (ryanair.com); Edinburgh-Lisbon returns from 231 (easyjet.com). Historical delights... Lisbon A tram passing in Baixa, Lisbon, with the Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Encarnacao in the background Beautiful Lisbon with its bougainvillea-filled cobbled streets, yellow trams and red roofs is a delight. Resolutely Portuguese, it brims with heritage from the warren of narrow streets in ancient Moorish Alfama to the imposing Monastery of Jeronimos in riverside Belem. The latter was built from the riches of Portugals Golden Age Of Discovery. Start in the magnificent Praca do Comercio, an arcaded plaza where foreign dignitaries once alighted from their boats to meet the king. MY TIP: More than anything I get asked where to find the best pasteis de nata (traditional custard tarts). My favourites are at Manteigaria, which has nine Lisbon outlets (manteigaria.com). BOOK IT: Palacio Principe Real offers a leafy oasis in the city centre with a large pool and soaring jacaranda tree; has doubles from 409 B&B (palacioprincipereal.com). Fly to Lisbon from Gatwick or Luton from 159 return (easyjet.com); Manchester-Lisbon return from 92 (ryanair.com); Edinburgh-Lisbon returns from 231 (easyjet.com). The North Dramatic peaks... Peneda-Geres Peneda-Geres, Portugal's only national park, is home to mountains, waterfalls and wooded valleys Portugal's only national park stretches from the Spanish border in the north to the Geres mountains, offering a dramatic landscape of windswept peaks, waterfalls and wooded valleys. Here, wild horses gallop through forests of pine and oak, granite ruins of ancient monasteries and old Roman milestones dot the landscape, and honey buzzards and short-toed eagles soar above. MY TIP: Head to the villages of Lindoso or Soajo to see the extraordinary espigueiros (granaries), tomb-like in appearance, which are found in large quantities here. Constructed mainly of granite, they are raised on columns and slatted for ventilation. BOOK IT: An eight-night guided tour including e-bike riding, canyoning and being a shepherd for a day, is from 1,900pp excluding flights, with some nights in the little Casa do Afonso guest house in the well-preserved mountain villages of Brufe (welovesmallhotels.com). Fly to Porto from Bristol, Glasgow, Gatwick, Luton and Manchester from 57pp return (easyjet.com). Tipples and tiles... Porto The Capella das Almas, meaning the Chapel of Souls, is located in the country's second city of Porto The countrys second city is young and vibrant, never more so than on the night of June 23 when fireworks illuminate the Douro River and residents celebrate the feast of St John The Baptist, the citys patron saint. JK Rowling once lived here, drawing her inspiration for Hogwarts from the spectacular staircase at bookshop Lello (livrarialello.pt). Seek out the beautiful blue and white tiles that lighten the citys granite buildings on churches like Capella das Almas, in the cloisters of the cathedral or lining the walls in Sao Bento railway station. MY TIP: Sign up to a guided tour of one of the Port Lodges, such as Taylors, to learn about the history of this fortified wine, and ancient link between the UK and Portugal. BOOK IT: Doubles from 132 B&B at the stylish Rebello (therebello.com). Fly from London to Porto from 245 return (ba.com); or from Stansted, Bristol and Liverpool from 47 return (ryanair.com). By the riverside... Douro Valley The vineyards of the Douro Valley, which is the oldest demarcated and regulated wine region in the world dating back to 1756 The worlds oldest demarcated and regulated wine region, dating from 1756, is also one of the loveliest. Steep vine terraces tumble to the wide, bottle-green Douro River in a landscape where winding roads pass impressive old quintas (manor houses) built on the wealth of port production. Dotted along the river are tiny railway stations adorned with hand-painted blue and white tiles. Then there is the magnificent Douro River itself, where port barrels were once transported downstream to the lodges in Vila Nova de Gaia. MY TIP: Stop for lunch on the river at DOC, reopening next month after a major renovation (docrestaurante.pt). BOOK IT: Doubles from 274 at Six Senses Douro Valley (sixsenses.com). Fly from London to Porto with British Airways from 254 pp return (ba.com); or from Stansted, Bristol and Liverpool from 47 return (ryanair.com). For nature... Serra da Estrela The sheep in Serra da Estrela are an integral part of the region, providing waterproof wool for burel fabric and milk for the acclaimed Serra da Estrela cheese Wool is to the mountains of Serra da Estrela what wine is to the Douro. The shaggy Bordaleira sheep found there sustain the production of the acclaimed Serra da Estrela cheese as well as the important burel fabric for which they give their waterproof wool. The highest mountains in mainland Portugal, these are a nature lovers dream. Expect to see golden eagles and black kites above you, otters, wild boar, genets and rabbits around you, and bellflowers, sage-leaved rock roses and juniper beneath your feet. MY TIP: Visit the fascinating Burel Factory to see the process from sheep to shelves before indulging in one of their brightly coloured designs in the shop next door (burelfactory.com). BOOK IT: Casa de Sao Lourenco is a cosy boutique hotel with interiors by Portuguese designer Maria Keil overlooking a glacial valley; doubles from 211 B&B (casadesaolourenco). Fly to Porto from London with British Airways from 254 pp return (ba.com); or from Stansted, Bristol and Liverpool from 47 return (ryanair.com). Oysters in... Arrabida Just 30 minutes south of Lisbon, Arrabida takes its name from the Arabic word for place of prayer. Its a peaceful region of undulating vineyards and golden coves that fringe the blue waters, home to a community of bottlenose dolphins. Worth visiting is the pretty little town of Azeitao, famous for its strong sheeps cheese and muscatel wines. MY TIP: Go to Mercado Livramentos, the main food market in nearby Setubal, and try the exquisitely good local oysters at the Exporsado stand. BOOK IT: Hotel Casa Palmela has doubles from 182 B&B (hotelcasapalmela.pt). Fly to Lisbon from Gatwick or Luton from 159 return (easyjet.com); Manchester-Lisbon return from 92 (ryanair.com); Edinburgh-Lisbon return from 231 (easyjet.com). Enchanting walled city... Evora Rising out of the Alentejan plains is the bewitching walled city of Evora, offering between its Roman, medieval and 17th-century walls a plethora of interesting sights. Theres an impressively well-preserved Roman Temple, a 13th-century cathedral and the famous 17th-century Chapel Of Bones complete with skulls and corpses. Handicrafts flourish here too, from painted furniture to pottery, to clay figures and carved cork, especially on Rua 5 de Outubro. MY TIP: Just 10 kilometres outside Evora is the Fitapreta winery set in a contemporary cork building within the shadow of a beautiful 14th-century palace. Boasting wines which reflect this fusion of past and present, tastings are not to be missed. BOOK IT: Housed in a 15th-century monastery with beautiful cloisters and overlooking the Roman Temple, Pousada Convento, Evora offers doubles from 109 B&B (pousadas.pt). Fly to Lisbon from Gatwick or Luton from 159 return (easyjet.com); Manchester-Lisbon return from 92 (ryanair.com); Edinburgh-Lisbon return from 231 (easyjet.com). Pretty White City... Estremoz I love Estremoz. It has the feel of a friendly local town (with a wonderful weekly market) yet is also full of history. The medieval upper town is set within ramparts and dominated by a 13th-century marble keep, which rises to 89ft. Take time to explore the shops, where you can find objects in the towns typical red clay such as the figurines, known as bonecos, which date back to the 17th century and have Unesco intangible cultural heritage status. There are charming nativity scenes and figures of typical Alentejano artisans, too. MY TIP: Gadanha Mercearia restaurant, with shelves of enticing food and wine in its entrance, serves excellent local fare (merceariagadanha.pt). BOOK IT: Doubles from 376 B&B at Da Licenca with a two-night minimum stay (dalicenca.pt). Fly to Lisbon from Gatwick or Luton from 159 return (easyjet.com); Manchester-Lisbon returns from 92 (ryanair.com); Edinburgh-Lisbon return from 231 (easyjet.com). Classy coastline... Comporta Considered The Hamptons of Portugal, Comporta is where the iykyk (if you know you know) crowd go. Turquoise waters fringe beaches which stretch into infinity. Green rice fields dot the landscape between reed-lined, thatched cabanas, once the traditional homes of fishermen and rice farmers, now frequented by famous creatives. Its all about barefoot luxury. MY TIP: A little shop in Comporta sells the most desirable clothes and homeware, books and jewellery curated with impeccable taste (thelifejuice.com). BOOK IT: Doubles from 239 B&B at Quinta da Comporta, with views across the rice fields (quintadacomporta.com). Fly to Lisbon from London Gatwick or Luton with Easyjet for 158.63 pp return. (easyjet.com). Medieval marvel... Marvao This beautiful medieval hamlet, perched up high at almost 3,000ft, is reason enough itself to come to Portugal. Its 13th-century walls blend seamlessly into the granite mountains which stand facing Spain, enclosing a collection of little white-washed houses and a 15th-century church, as they sweep round to meet the 13th-century castle dominating the village. MY TIP: Take your time to drive here through the Serra de Sao Mamede mountain range, where you should see Bonellis Eagles and dolmens. BOOK IT: Doubles from 105 B&B at the tiny little Pousada Marvao within the villages walls (pousadamarvao.com). Fly to Lisbon from Gatwick or Luton from 159 return (easyjet.com); Manchester-Lisbon return from 92 (ryanair.com); Edinburgh-Lisbon return from 231 (easyjet.com). The Algarve Dreamy views... Sagres The lighthouse of Cabo Sao Vicente, Sagres, on the southwester tip of Europe On the wild, western edge of the Algarve, Sagres was where Prince Henry opened a navigation school in the 15th century. Today you can still see the wind compass used by the ancient mariners. Now popular with surfers, it makes a great base to explore excellent nearby beaches. MY TIP: In the little harbour of Baleeira, just next door to Sagres, you can hop on a Rigid Inflatable Boat to spot dolphins in the wild (marilimitado.com). BOOK IT: Doubles from 99 B&B at the Memmo Baleeira hotel (memmobaleeira.com). Fly from London Stansted to Faro from 85pp (ryanair.com). Tranquil history... Tavira Houses reflected off the quiet waters of the Gilao river in Tavira. The town was one of the most important Moorish settlements. Considered the regions loveliest town with its endless churches, terracotta-tiled roofs and mansions with filigree balconies, Tavira was one of the Algarves most important Moorish settlements. MY TIP: Take the ferry from the town centre to the beautiful island of Ilha de Tavira. BOOK IT: Doubles from 209 B&B at Casas da Quinta de Cima, with great sea views (casasdaquintadecima.com). Fly to Faro from Gatwick from 180 return (ba.com); Edinburgh-Faro return from 168 (ryanair.com); Manchester-Faro return from 106 (easyjet.com). Secret beaches... Lagos The Church of Santo Antonio in Lagos, one of the town's main attractions that neighbours the Museu de Lagos Lagos today is a hugely popular tourist town, but its easy to escape the crowds if you know where to go. First up should be the Church of Santo Antonio, a national monument with ornate, gilded interiors and a neighbouring museum (museu.cm-lagos.pt). Then check out the beaches including Praia do Camilo (with lots of steps down) and pretty Praia Dona Ana. MY TIP: Start your evening at Travia Wines & Food, a great little restaurant specialising in natural wines and traditional dishes. BOOK IT: Doubles from 193 B&B at the stylish Palmares hotel overlooking the bay (palmaresliving.com). Fly to Faro from Gatwick from 180 return (ba.com); Edinburgh-Faro return from 168 (ryanair.com); Manchester-Faro return from 106 (easyjet.com). Michelin stars... Porches Vila Vita beach in the Algarve, just one of the many beautiful beaches in Portugal's southern region The Algarve varies enormously from east to west, not only in water temperature (the nearer the Mediterranean, the warmer it gets) but in character, too. The centre is the most built up which means the most facilities, but inevitably the greatest number of tourists too. Here, you are still on the edge but within easy reach of places such as Silves, once a Moorish stronghold, and many lovely beaches such as Praia de Benagil and Praia da Marinha, with their postcard-pretty limestone caves and rock formations. MY TIP: Visit the family-run Porches Pottery for a wonderful range of attractive homeware, which can be shipped home (porchespottery.com). BOOK IT: Doubles from 255 at Vila Vita Parc Resort, which has a Sisley Spa and a two-Michelin-star restaurant (vilavitaparc.com). Fly to Faro from Gatwick from 180 return (ba.com); Edinburgh-Faro return from 168 (ryanair.com); Manchester-Faro return from 106 (easyjet.com). And give these spots a miss... It's best to skip some of the built-up areas in the Algarve in the peak summer months. The beaches are too busy, parking is impossible and restaurants overflow. Typically, these are Albufeira - once a charming fishing town now the tourist capital, whose strip is well known for British stag weekends - and Vilamoura, which is raising its game and moving upmarket but is still exceedingly busy in high season. However, Albufeira should be avoided as the town has become a hotbed for British stag dos and restaurants that overflow in the summer months On the way up to the north is Fatima. Famous as the place where the Virgin Mary appeared to three shepherd children in 1917, it is now a huge pilgrimage site dominated by tourist shops. And even further north Aveiro, often called 'the Venice of portugal', never fails to disappoint. Get all Daily Mail Australia's latest MAFS stories on WhatsApp here Advertisement To no one's surprise, Married At First Sight couple Jacqui Burfoot and Ryan Donnelly entered splitsville during their Final Vows on Monday night. In some of the most bizarre scenes the Nine series has ever seen, Jacqui, 29, accused Ryan, 36, of organising 'a gang attack' on her. She then tore the groom down with several pages of lengthy vows before leaving him cussing her out at the altar while she promised to return with a new man. 'There has been a lack of romance, a lack of effort from you, poor communication, no compromise, and dominance,' Jacqui said in her lengthy speech. 'You crossed a majority of my boundaries and your conduct fell well below the standard of what I'm willing to accept in a marriage. 'If this experiment taught me anything, it's that you shouldn't try and fix your husband. He needs to do the work on his own. I'm not a rehabilitation centre.' Married At First Sight couple Jacqui Burfoot and Ryan Donnelly entered splitsville during their Final Vows on Monday night In some of the most bizarre scenes the Nine series has ever seen, Jacqui, 29, accused Ryan, 36, of organising 'a gang attack' on her At this point, Ryan burst out laughing, clearly having had enough of listening to Jacqui tear him a new one. 'That's ridiculous, but go on,' he said. Jacqui, sporting a smirk as she watched her now ex-husband talk down on her vows, said: 'Don't call my final vows ridiculous, that's not nice.' She continued with, 'I don't want to be spoken over when I try to speak,' to which of course Ryan responded by immediately speaking over her with snide comments. 'My only tip for you is to look into how pride might affect your openness and growth and from there, lean into humility,' Jacqui continued. 'Tolerating your behaviour is isolating. The way you speak and control the people and animals you love scares me. 'You've allowed your friends to scold me - yelling at and scolding adults is disgusting. You planned a gang attack on me.' Once again, Ryan laughed at this comment, saying: 'Good lord, a gang attack.' She then tore the groom down with several pages of lengthy vows before leaving him cussing her out at the altar while she promised to return with a new man 'There has been a lack of romance, a lack of effort from you, poor communication, no compromise, and dominance,' Jacqui said in her lengthy speech Jacqui went on to say: 'Your complete lack of self reflection, apologies, pride and ego are the reason we couldn't deal with our key issues in this relationship. 'I was always open and willing to listen and fix. It's not me, your pride is the problem.' Ryan couldn't let the blame slide, prompting the two of them to get into an argument over who was at fault for their relationship failing. After a few moments of back and forth, Jacqui managed to finish her vows. 'As a man, you're not perfect. It's not the 1920s any more. I don't want to be the wife to a man. I want to be a wife to a husband,' she said. 'So, today, I choose peace and to walk away from this relationship. Ryan, in a world of red flags, you are the red carpet.' As Jacqui left Ryan at the altar, he called out to her: 'Thanks for all the criticism. You really haven't grown. Not one bit. Be gone with you, you horrible woman.' But as producers pulled Ryan aside to listen to him trash talk his former TV wife, Jacqui was telling producers she had a feeling a new man would come her way soon. Ryan couldn't let the blame slide, prompting the two of them to get into an argument over who was at fault for their relationship failing 'I'm hopeful I will find my person, I just don't know when it's going to be. I have a feeling it's going to happen sooner than I think,' she said with a smile. Those who follow along with Daily Mail Australia will know that shortly after Jacqui and Ryan split at Final Vows, the jewellery maker did indeed find a new romance. In a shocking 'couple swap' moment, Jacqui shacked up with fellow co-star Clint Rice, who was originally paired up with Lauren Hall. The pair currently live in Tasmania together and are expected to attend the reunion hand-in-hand. Bruce Parry suffocated a goat to death with his bare hands before repeatedly vomiting on hallucinogenic drugs in new episode of the BBC's Tribe. The show, hosted by the former Royal Marines commando, 55, first hit our screens in 2005 on BBC Two and went on to air 15 episodes across three seasons. Making its stomach-churning return, Bruce experienced on of the 'most gruesome' things he's ever done during his trip to Africa. Visiting an indigenous tribe called The Mucubal in Angola, the presenter is presented with a goat and told he must kill it. Bruce is told that he has to strangle the goat so not to waste its blood and is shown how to do it by the tribe. Speaking to the camera, he admitted: 'This is the most gruesome thing I have ever done.' Bruce Parry suffocated a goat to death with his bare hands before repeatedly vomiting on hallucinogenic drugs in new episode of the BBC's Tribe The show, hosted by the former Royal Marines commando, 55, first hit our screens in 2005 on BBC Two and went on to air 15 episodes across three seasons Bruce added: 'I wasn't given any time to consider it or anything, it's like they held it and said you have to hold this now...so I did. 'It's a very odd feeling, feeling the life force of an animal disappear in your own hands...not a feeling I'd necessarily want to have again.' In another episode he meets The Waimaha deep in the Colombian Amazon, were he takes psychedelic drugs and cant stop being sick. After drinking a psychoactive drink called Yage he celebrates with the tribe before violently throwing up in the sea. Bruce explained: 'It's five in the morning and there was a moment I lost myself, I needed to go to the toilet and I couldn't stand up. 'I had an extraordinary blissful connection to the community. The dancers have been going for 18 hours and there's no end yet in sight.' Tribe follows the former British Royal Marine as he visits remote tribes in various locations around the world. Over those three years, Bruce met The Adis in Northeast India, The Suri in Ethiopia and The Kombais in West Papua. Making its stomach-churning return, Bruce experienced on of the 'most gruesome' things he's ever done during his trip to Africa Visiting an indigenous tribe called The Mucubal in Angola, the presenter is presented with a goat and told he must kill it The series wrapped up in 2007, but now fans will be happy to know that it's going to be back very soon - and viewers can watch it on BBC Two and iPlayer. Tribe will be returning for a new three-part series, which will see Bruce visit three different communities. The first episode is based on Waimaha people, who live on a tributary of the Amazon, followed by a visit to Namib desert in the second instalment, and the third based on the island of Sumba in Indonesia. Speaking about the upcoming series, Bruce said: 'Its been over twenty years since Tribe first aired. 'Living with people who experience the world in such profoundly different ways was eye-opening then, but today it feels vital. 'I believe we have so much to learn from those who still live in deep connection with the world around them. 'It feels a huge privilege that the BBC has allowed me to explore these places and themes once again.' In another episode he meets The Waimaha deep in the Colombian Amazon, were he takes psychedelic drugs and cant stop being sick After drinking a psychoactive drink called Yage he celebrates with the tribe before violently throwing up in the sea While Commissioning Editor, Specialist Factual, Tom Coveney, said: 'The original trailblazer of immersive documentary-making is back. 'Im thrilled Bruce will once again entertain and inspire our viewers with his unquenchable thirst for adventure and infectious curiosity; this series is both a great watch and a chance to learn invaluable lessons at this critical time for our planet.' Frank Films Creative Director, Jamie Balment said: 'Im not sure how, but the years and too many litres of jungle intoxicants have not dimmed Bruce's passion and curiosity for those living lives vastly different from our own. 'The energy and willingness to have a go remains - however extreme the task. 'Yet his time away has brought a new wisdom, his return has a greater urgency as these communities become ever more precious.' EastEnders' original Penny Branning actress looked worlds away from her BBC alter-ego as it was revealed she had bagged a role on a new ITV drama. Mia McKenna-Bruce, 27, who played the character in 2008, is next set to star in four-part drama series, The Lady. In an update shared to ITV's Instagram, the broadcaster released a stunning new photo and gave details of the show. The caption read: 'Mia McKenna-Bruce, Natalie Dormer, and Ed Speleers will lead an all-star cast in The Lady. 'A new 4-part drama series about Jane Andrews, a former royal aide whose rags to riches fairy tale fell apart when she was convicted of murder.' The series is based on the real life, Jane, now 57, who beat her wealthy partner Tom Cressman, 39, in bed and stabbed him in the chest with a kitchen knife at their flat in Fulham, West London, in 2000. EastEnders' original Penny Branning actress looked worlds away from her BBC alter-ego as it was revealed she had bagged a role on a new ITV drama Mia McKenna-Bruce, 27, who played the character in 2008, is next set to star in four-part drama series, The Lady She was Sarah Ferguson's dresser for nine years until 1997, with Mia set to take on the lead role. ITV commissioner Helen Ziegler said in a statement to Deadline: 'Debbie OMalley's compelling and brilliant scripts re-evaluate what we think we know of Jane Andrews and the events that led to the tragic end of Thomas Cressmans life.' Robert Schildhouse President, BritBox North America and General Manager, BritBox International, added: 'Inspired by true events, The Lady is a riveting exploration of ambition, desire, and the pursuit of social mobility. With a brilliant script penned by Debbie OMalley, and with the creative partnership of Left Bank Pictures and ITV, we are intent on portraying this true crime drama with nuance and depth.' After her stint as Penny, Mia went on to play Tee Taylor on the CBBC drama and Tracey Beaker spin-off The Dumping Ground for eight years. It August last year, she tied the knot with her actor boyfriend Tom Leach at a country house in Somerset a year after they welcomed their son Leo. It's been a whirlwind few years for the actress after she gave birth to her son Leo and then unexpectedly won BAFTA's Rising Star award . Mia hired out the entirety of the 31 bedroom estate, Brympton House, in Yeovil for her family and many actor friends to stay in and celebrate her wedding. The caption read: 'Mia McKenna-Bruce, Natalie Dormer, and Ed Speleers will lead an all-star cast in The Lady. A new 4-part drama series about Jane Andrews, a former royal aide' The series is based on the real life, Jane, now 57, who beat her wealthy partner Tom Cressman, 39, in bed and stabbed him in the chest with a kitchen knife at their flat in 2000 After her stint as Penny, Mia went on to play Tee Taylor on the CBBC drama and Tracey Beaker spin-off The Dumping Ground for eight years (pictured far right) It August last year, she tied the knot with her actor boyfriend Tom Leach at a country house in Somerset a year after they welcomed their son Leo The soapstar wore a veil and tiara with her floor-length ivory gown which hit a large black medical boot that is currently protecting a broken foot. She danced to Sweet Caroline on the gravel front of the Grade I listed manor with her friends and new husband who she met in 2019 on the set of the Rebels. The house was featured in Netflix's adaptation of Jane Austen's Persuasion in 2022 where Mia starred opposite Dakota Johnson's Anne Elliot as her younger sister, Mary Elliot. In attendance was the Hollyoaks star and fellow BAFTA winner, Emily Burnett, who Mia met on the set of the CBBC Tracey Beaker spin-off, the Dumping Ground, in 2013. EastEnders airs on BBC One and is available to stream on iPlayer. Advertisement Gogglebox fans were left raging after two of the show's stars took a shock swipe at Adolescences Stephen Graham during Friday's episode. As couple, Giles Wood and Mary Killen, tuned in to watch the hit Netflix drama, Mary's comments had some viewers less than impressed. Adolescence which aired on the streaming service on March 13, has smashed more records with 66.3 million viewers - making it the most-watched UK title ever for Netflix. The series follows the story of a young boy called Jamie Miller (Owen Cooper), who gets accused of killing his female classmate Katie (Emilia Holliday). Explaining the show to Giles, Mary said: 'This is incredible because Stephen Graham - you know that actor who always plays short northerners - he has also co-written it.' Sharing their thoughts on X, fans wrote: 'He always plays short Notherners Really?? Sheesh Mary.' Gogglebox fans were left raging after two of the show's stars took a shock swipe at Adolescences Stephen Graham during Friday's episode As couple, Giles Wood and Mary Killen, tuned in to watch the hit Netflix drama, Mary's comments had some viewers less than impressed (Stephen pictured) They added: '"Always plays short northerners" Cheeky f***ing cow I'll never stop praying for you to get rid of Giles and Mary. Unbearable'; 'Mary on #Gogglebox is not nice at all.' But, other's found the comment funny and added: 'Only going to refer to Stephen Graham as that actor who always plays short northerners from now on'; 'Well I think Giles & Mary are ok theyre just eccentric bit different- dont deserve the hate towards them from some'; 'I know some people really dont like Giles and Mary, but they crack me up.' Meanwhile, Adolescence left some of the stars of Gogglebox in tears as they tuned into watch the hit Netflix drama. The hard-hitting storyline very much affected the cast of the Channel 4 programme, with many shocked and saddened while watching the scenes unfold. While fan favourites Jenny and Lee looked visibly moved, newcomers Michael and Sally were seen wiping away tears as they watched with sons Jake and Harry. As she sat alongside brother Simon, Jane admitted that she 'stopped breathing' while taking in the programme - which explores themes of misogyny, incel culture and the dangers of the online world. Elsewhere, as the police burst in to arrest Jamie, Mary asked: 'How can a little chap like that murder anyone?', with Julie Malone remarking that her 'heart is absolutely hammering!' Explaining the show to Giles, Mary said: 'This is incredible because Stephen Graham - you know that actor who always plays short northerners - he has also co-written it.' Sharing their thoughts on X, fans wrote: 'He always plays short Notherners Really?? Sheesh Mary' But, other's found the comment funny and added: 'Only going to refer to Stephen Graham as that actor who always plays short northerners from now on' Meanwhile, Adolescence left some of the stars of Gogglebox in tears as they tuned into watch the hit Netflix drama The show, which aired on the streaming service on March 13, has smashed more records with 66.3 million viewers - making it the most-watched UK title EVER for Netflix It comes as Stephen Graham has issued a shock update on a second series of Adolescence after the overwhelming response to the record-breaking Netflix hit. The four-part series has received rave reviews over the past three weeks and many are desperate to know if there will be a second series. Speaking with Variety, Stephen, who plays Jamie's dad Eddie Miller, said: 'Possibly, lets see how the figures are. 'But yeah, theres the possibility of developing another story.' Meanwhile Stephen's wife Hannah Walters, who plays Mrs. Bailey in the show, added of the positive reviews: 'Its been overwhelming.' She also said: 'A prequel to Adolescence, thats certainly not going to happen. 'But theres so much mileage in the one-shot and so much mileage in investing into human nature again and looking at something else. It appears the hard-hitting storyline very much affected the cast of the Channel 4 programme, with many shocked and saddened while watching the scenes unfold While fan favourites Jenny and Lee looked visibly moved, newcomers Michael and Sally were seen wiping away tears as they watched with sons Jake and Harry Elsewhere, as the police burst in to arrest Jamie, Mary asked: 'How can a little chap like that murder anyone?' Adolescence follows the story of a young boy called Jamie Miller (Owen Cooper, pictured), who gets accused of killing his female classmate Katie (Emilia Holliday) 'But yeah, everythings looking good everyones happy, shall we say?' Stephen, who created and wrote the show alongside Jack Thorne, has admitted that he didn't expect Adolescence to be so popular. He added to the publication: 'I suppose what Im trying to say is that we had no idea that it would impact socially the way it has... 'But it seems to have cut through all the race, creed and hierarchical structures of society with the message that its carrying about our youth.' Over the weekend Adolescence made British TV history, becoming the first streaming show ever to become the most-watched programme of the week. The drama has captivated audiences and critics since it hit Netflix earlier this month, with each episode filmed in a single continuous take. It comes as Stephen Graham issued a shock update on a second series of Adolescence after the overwhelming response to the record-breaking Netflix hit The actor, 51, pictured with his co-star Hannah Walters - who thinks that a prequel to the show 'is not going to happen' Since launch, the show has amassed 66.3 million views, making it the most-watched limited series and most-watched UK title ever through its first two weeks (pictured Owen Cooper) Adolescence cast (L to R) Ashley Walters, Owen Cooper, Stephen Graham, Erin Doherty, Christine Tremarco While the show is already being tipped for a string of BAFTA nominations, figures published by ratings body BARB on Sunday showed that the first episode was watched by 6.45 million people in its first week. The number makes it the biggest audience for any streaming show in the UK in a single week, beating the 6.3 million who watched Fool Me Once on Netflix last year. The four-episode programme follows the Miller family, whose lives are torn apart when their 13-year-old son Jamie is arrested for stabbing a female classmate to death after being influenced by online misogyny. The show's protagonist Jamie Miller is played by Owen Cooper in his acting debut, while his dad Eddie is played by Stephen Graham. Top Boy legend Ashley Walters took on the role of DI Luke Bascombe and Erin Doherty plays psychiatrist Briony Ariston. All four episodes of Adolescence are available to stream on Netflix now. A Jewish TikTok creator has accused Blake Lively of bringing a 'wave of hate' upon her after she was inadvertently dragged into the legal drama involving the actress and her It Ends With Us co-star Justin Baldoni. Nikki Lieberman, 26, tells Daily Mail in an exclusive interview that she's been subjected to online vitriol, false accusations, anti-Semitism, and even troubles involving her work, after she posted a TikTok video calling out Lively for staying silent on domestic violence during the promotion of the film last summer. Lively had appeared to shy away from some of the tougher topics dealt with in the movie - which is an adaptation of the best-selling Colleen Hoover romance novel that includes domestic violence plot lines. Lieberman, under her TikTok handle, 'ThickJewishGirl', weighed in on the controversy in a video expressing disappointment that Lively wasn't raising awareness about domestic abuse to the same extent that Lieberman felt Lively's co-star and director Justin Baldoni had. 'I am flabbergasted that, with the huge audience that Blake Lively has and all of the press interviews that she's had, she doesn't once talk about domestic violence,' Lieberman said in a video posted last August. Just a few months later, in December, Lieberman, a tech saleswoman, would find her video cited within Lively's bombshell legal complaint accusing Baldoni and his company Wayfarer Studios of defamation and sexual harassment. TikTok creator Nikki Lieberman has accused Blake Lively of bringing a 'wave of hate' upon her after she was inadvertently dragged into the never-ending It Ends With Us legal drama Lieberman found one of her TikTok videos cited within the dozens of pages of Lively's legal complaint against Justin Baldoni, and his company Wayfarer Studios, when the actress accused him of defamation and sexual harassment Lively's suit alleges, among other things, that Baldoni sexually harassed her on set and that he and other company bosses created a hostile work environment and orchestrated a campaign to destroy her reputation. Baldoni has denied the allegations. Lieberman was surprised to learn that Lively's lawyers claimed Baldoni had circulated her TikTok video within the production company and that another executive flagged it to the studio's digital team. The insinuation: That her video was either made as part of Wayfarer Studios' alleged effort to smear Lively's reputation or was going to be used to do so. As Lively's allegations made headlines, Lieberman's TikTok audience quickly skyrocketed as scores of social media commenters concluded that she had been paid to make Lively look bad. The online hate became increasingly hostile and personal, with some Lively defenders branding Lieberman a woman-hater and hurling anti-Semitic slurs. 'You're the reason people don't believe women,' one wrote. 'You'll eat your words when they find him guilty.' Lieberman, under her TikTok handle, ThickJewishGirl, had weighed in on Blake Lively's controversial film promotion after attending the August 2024 movie premiere where she posed with Justin Baldoni In December, Lieberman was shocked to see Lively's lawyers had alleged that Baldoni and his team had helped circulated her TikTok video to publicly smear his co-star Others, taking cues from Lieberman's TikTok username, accused her of plotting with Baldoni, whose mother was Jewish, in some sort of Jewish conspiracy against the actress. 'He's Jewish and your Jewish doesn't take a rocket scientist. Especially how Jews in Hollywood threated [people] over Gaza,' one commenter wrote. Lieberman told the Daily Mail she deleted hateful comments calling for Hitler's return and hoping to incite 'another Holocaust.' But she shared screenshots of other anti-Semitic comments, including one that read: 'I hope you had an NDA [because] if so you just violated it in the name of gossip. Typical Jewish behavior.' 'It felt like a wave of hate crashing down on me,' she said, adding that her online association with the Baldoni-Lively legal battle also hindered her efforts to find work in the tech industry after she was laid off, for unrelated reasons, from her job in October. In the August 17 TikTok in question, Lieberman called out Lively for staying silent on the isse domestic violence during the promotion of the film last summer She later addressed the news in a TikTok video admitting she only learned she had been mentioned in Lively's complaint after journalists began contacting her 'I had two potential employers that I reached out to after being rejected. Both said to be honest, they'd Googled me and it was the first thing to pop out,' she said. 'They told me, "We don't need the drama. It's not a great look".' Lieberman had attended a premier of It Ends With Us alongside her mother in Highland Park, a northern Chicago suburb where she grew up, in August last year. Baldoni made a special appearance after the showing and Lieberman says she was moved by his careful discussion of abusive relationships. She was particularly impressed that, to prepare for the role of an abusive husband, Baldoni had spent time with both victims and perpetrators of spousal violence, as well as mental health workers who counsel them, to, as he said at that premier, 'have the ability to shed a truthful light on the situation that is kept in the dark.' 'The way he talked about the movie and domestic violence was just beautiful to me,' Lieberman now says. The film, which is based off Colleen Hoover's novel of the same name, follows a woman named Lily Bloom who becomes embroiled in an abusive relationship with a man named Ryle Kincaid A week after that premier, on August 17, Lieberman gushed about the film on TikTok. 'I truly believe it is one of the best movies ever made. It touches on a very sensitive topic of domestic violence in the best way possible,' she said in her video, before expressing her dismay that Lively wasn't leveraging her stardom to raise awareness about the problem. It was a one-off for Lieberman, who typically used the social media platform to talk, sometimes with painful honesty, about issues more personal to her. In one video, she describes how she was bullied in high school for being fat. In another she shares an admission: 'That I'm in my 20s and have no idea what I'm doing.' Lieberman has since found a new job, which she started earlier this month. She is the first to admit she has no special insight into the Lively-Baldoni feud or what Lively faced when working with Baldoni and others at Wayfarer Studios. 'I don't know what she went through and I don't know what he went through,' she acknowledges. Still, she believes she has been treated cruelly by some of Lively's fans. 'I'm just a random girl with an opinion. You'd think they'd have someone else to go after but me. They're really just grasping at straws,' she said. Lieberman points to the irony that, in attempting to discredit her, the pro-Lively camp has only managed to make her TikTok audience skyrocket. She says she aims to leverage that attention to discuss issues affecting women. 'It's given me the opportunity to use my platform in a way that Blake could have, but never did to create a community of women who are empowering each other, and to turn a negative experience into something that's actually positive,' she said. 'I think they thought I was just a small figure in Chicago who wouldn't stand up for herself' when falsely accused. But here I am: Don't mess with ThickJewishGirl.' Brave Kate Beckinsale has shared a tearful Mother's Day tribute to her mum who is currently battling with stage four cancer. The British actress, 51, celebrated the special occasion a day early on Saturday with beloved mum Judy Loe due to work commitments on Sunday. She reassured her mum that 'any journey you are on, I'm on it with you,' in an Instagram post dedicated to her, revealing just how much she idolises her mum. Describing Judy as her 'partner in crime,' Kate posted a carousel of photos from throughout her mum's cancer treatment, as well as memories that hold a special place in her heart. Kate - who revealed that her mum was sick last year - admitted they have been 'through some s**t together' and that her mum has her heart. The Fool's Paradise star further offered her advice to others who are grieving. Brave Kate Beckinsale, 51, has shared a tearful Mother's Day tribute to her mum who is currently battling stage four cancer Kate - who revealed that her mum was sick last year - admitted they have been 'through some s**t together' and that her mum has her heart She said: 'My heart is with you,' on a day that is 'joyful for so many and painful for so many.' In recent days, Kate returned to social media and asked for good wishes to be sent to her 'extraordinary' mother who she called a 'warrior' in her post. Kate penned in the caption of the post about her mum: 'I wasn't going to come back to Instagram but anyone who has a spare prayer or magic or miracle or sunbeam please send it to my mama, my most extraordinary, warrior, generous, humble, loving, unique, irreplaceable Mama. 'Thank you - Lord, keep her safe this night, secure from all her fears, may angels guard her while she sleeps till morning light appears, amen.' Kate mysteriously deleted all of the posts from her Instagram account last month after she was trolled with cruel comments about her weight. The daughter of late Porridge star Richard Beckinsale, didn't elaborate on the state of her mother's health in the post. It was flooded with well wishes from her fans. Last year Kate spent weeks in hospital with a stress-related tear in her oesophagus after her stepfather, Roy died and her mother developed cancer. Describing Judy as her 'partner in crime,' Kate posted a carousel of photos from throughout her mum's cancer treatment, as well as memories that hold a special place in her heart She reassured her mum that 'any journey you are on, I'm on it with you,' in an Instagram post dedicated to her, revealing just how much she idolises her mum The Fool's Paradise star further offered her advice to others who are grieving Kate's photo dump included sweet photos of moments she's shared with her mum amid her heartbreaking cancer battle Last July she gave an update on how she was coping, saying: 'I just think people go through things in their life and we all face difficulties and I've been quite transparent about mine. 'I've just been mainly dealing with my mother and she's doing OK.' At the time she revealed her weight loss was down to the 'stress and grief' of the death of her stepfather and her mother's cancer diagnosis as she hit back at trolls. The actress slammed some of her 'a**hole' followers, who told her she needed to put on weight in the comments section of an Instagram post at the time. After sharing a video clip in a crop top and bikini bottoms, one follower queried where her 'a**' had gone and encouraged Kate to 'do some squats'. However, Kate fired back at the cruel comments ands explained that there were several reasons for her changed figure, including a six-week hospital stint. She replied: 'No, actually, I watched my stepfather die quite shockingly, my mother has stage 4 cancer and I lost a lot of eight from stress and grief... 'Quite quickly and then I was in hospital for six weeks because the grief had burned a hole in my oesophagus, which made me vomit copious amounts of blood, and I found eating very hard... 'And I just worked very very hard on a movie that was actually quite triggering because it also involved the theme of the death of my father so I'm not really concerned about what you think about my a**. 'Maybe you should worry about your own f***ing a**. I suggest shoving something up it, like a large pineapple or a brick.' Celebrity hairstylist Jesus Guerrero was laid to rest in his native Houston, TX on Sunday over a month after his shocking death, at age 34, which was announced on February 22. Jesus' devoted clients Kylie Jenner and Jennifer Lopez were both in attendance at their loyal glam squad member's celebration of life alongside his family and colleagues - according to TMZ. Guerrero's younger sister Gris Guerrero confirmed in a GoFundMe update on February 25 that the 27-year-old Kylie Cosmetics founder offered to cover his 'funeral expenses and offering up all her help and support.' 'She has told us anything we need. Jesus was family to her, and she was family to him,' Gris told Us Weekly the same day. Celebrity hairstylist Jesus Guerrero was laid to rest in his native Houston, TX on Sunday over a month after his shocking death, at age 34, which was announced on February 22 (pictured in 2018) Jesus' devoted clients Kylie Jenner and Jennifer Lopez were both in attendance at their loyal glam squad member's celebration of life alongside his family and colleagues 'She has kept an open line. Anything we need, any questions we have, she has been there for us. She wants his memory to be honored and wants to do as much as she can so he gets the farewell he deserves.' As for the $96K the family raised from an $80K goal, Guerrero said the GoFundMe money 'will go toward the costs associated with securing his belongings home as well as other unexpected expenses to settle his assets.' Kylie called Jesus 'a true artist' whom she 'loved so much' in her tribute, gushing: 'Jesus was more than my friend - he was a light in my life, a source of laughter, comfort, love, and unwavering support. I don't know how I would have made it through the last almost decade without him by my side. He had a way of making even the heaviest days feel lighter.' Gris also confirmed that the 55-year-old pop diva reached out and 'talked us through everything that she could, along with others that were there. I am very grateful for everything she did [for him], to go to the doctor and not to work and to get rest' during their recent work trip to Dubai. 'Brokenhearted' Jennifer wrote in her tribute that Guerrero 'never demanded the spotlight' because he never needed to make a sound to be recognized as 'your heart and your talent did that as effortlessly as [your] artistry did.' 'I know wherever you are there is beauty and light. And the beauty and light you left here will live on forever. Rest in peace, sweet angel,' Lopez wrote. The son of immigrant parents' client Katy Perry is currently hard at work rehearsing for her 83-date The Lifetimes Tour, kicking off April 23, and she was unable to attend his funeral. TMZ reported that the 40-year-old pop star 'has been in touch with his family.' Katy wrote in her tribute that she knew Jesus was 'ok' because he's 'in the light that you shined so brightly back here on Earth' giving 'the other Jesus a choppy feather or an octopus cut up there.' Guerrero's younger sister Gris Guerrero confirmed in a GoFundMe update on February 25 that the 27-year-old Kylie Cosmetics founder offered to cover his 'funeral expenses and offering up all her help and support' Gris told Us Weekly the same day: 'She has told us anything we need. Jesus was family to her, and she was family to him' 'She has kept an open line. Anything we need, any questions we have, she has been there for us. She wants his memory to be honored and wants to do as much as she can so he gets the farewell he deserves' (pictured January 31) As for the $96K the family raised from an $80K goal, Guerrero said the GoFundMe money 'will go toward the costs associated with securing his belongings home as well as other unexpected expenses to settle his assets' Kylie called Jesus 'a true artist' whom she 'loved so much' in her tribute, gushing: 'Jesus was more than my friend - he was a light in my life, a source of laughter, comfort, love, and unwavering support. I don't know how I would have made it through the last almost decade without him by my side' Gris also confirmed that the 55-year-old pop diva reached out and 'talked us through everything that she could, along with others that were there. I am very grateful for everything she did [for him], to go to the doctor and not to work and to get rest' during their recent work trip to Dubai 'Brokenhearted' Jennifer wrote in her tribute that Guerrero 'never demanded the spotlight' because he never needed to make a sound to be recognized as 'your heart and your talent did that as effortlessly as [your] artistry did' The son of immigrant parents' client Katy Perry is currently hard at work rehearsing for her 83-date The Lifetimes Tour, kicking off April 23, and she was unable to attend his funeral (pictured Sunday) TMZ reported that the 40-year-old pop star 'has been in touch with his family' Katy wrote in her tribute that she knew Jesus was 'ok' because he's 'in the light that you shined so brightly back here on Earth' giving 'the other Jesus a choppy feather or an octopus cut up there' Jesus had reportedly shed 20lbs and was complaining of chills and hot flashes leading up to his unexpected death (pictured June 29) Gris told Us: 'We have been able to track every one of his steps, but we don't know what got him sick or what was [the] sickness. It all happened suddenly and no one knows why. [He was in the hospital at the time of his passing] and that's part of why there are so many unanswered questions because nothing they had done was able to prevent this from happening' Guerrero also handled the tresses of celebs like Jessica Alba (L), Casandra 'Cassie' Fine, Rosalia, Demi Moore, Charli xcx, Camila Cabello, Dua Lipa, LISA, Jessica Alba, and Shay Mitchell 'It's just us that are left with a dimmer world without you,' Perry wrote. 'I found a quote that sums up the feelings I've had this past week that youve been gone: "Grief, I've learned, is really just love. It's all the love you want to give, but cannot. All that unspent love gathers up in the corners of your eyes, the lump in your throat, and in that hollow part of your chest. Grief is just love with no place to go."' Jesus had reportedly shed 20lbs and was complaining of chills and hot flashes leading up to his unexpected death. 'We have been able to track every one of his steps, but we don't know what got him sick or what was [the] sickness,' Gris told Us. 'It all happened suddenly and no one knows why. [He was in the hospital at the time of his passing] and that's part of why there are so many unanswered questions because nothing they had done was able to prevent this from happening.' Guerrero also handled the tresses of celebs like Jessica Alba, Casandra 'Cassie' Fine, Rosalia, Demi Moore, Charli xcx, Camila Cabello, Dua Lipa, LISA, Jessica Alba, and Shay Mitchell. Jinger Duggar and Jeremy Vuolo have officially welcomed their third child, a baby boy. The couple, already parents to daughters Felicity, 6, and Evangeline, 3, shared the joyful news on Sunday with their fans. Hes here!, Duggar, 31, and Vuolo captioned a YouTube video. Finallyour baby boy has arrived! In todays vlog, we share the beautiful moment our girls & family met him for the first time. She added, Were overwhelmed with joy and cant wait to introduce him to all of you! Along with the announcement, the couple revealed their sons name: Finnegan Charles Vuolo. Duggar and Vuolo, who tied the knot in November 2016, previously welcomed Felicity in July 2018 and Evangeline in November 2020. Their babys arrival comes just weeks after Jinger reflected on her upbringing, admitting she later realized it was cult-like in many ways under the strict rules of her parents, Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar. Jinger Duggar and Jeremy Vuolo have officially welcomed their third child, a baby boy. The couple, already parents to daughters Felicity, 6, and Evangeline, 3, shared the joyful news on Sunday with their fans When then couple announced their pregnancy in October, Jeremy, 37, admitted he had a feeling theyd be expectingbut that didnt make the news any less surprising. I was expecting [her to get pregnant], but I was still shocked, he told People at the time. Jinger chose a memorable way to break the news, revealing the surprise on their daughter Felicitys birthday. She got me good. It was on Felicitys birthday. Jinger says, I've got a gift for you. It was in an Amazon bag. So I'm thinking, What did she get from Amazon for me? Then I open it up and it's the positive result, and I'm actually speechless. Speaking with Fox News Digital in January, Jinger said she realized as an adult she had an upbringing that was 'cult-like in many ways' under Jim Bob and Michelle's watch. Jinger previously penned the 2023 book Becoming Free Indeed, which detailed her 2017 defection from the church she was raised in, the Institute for Basic Life Principles (IBLP). 'I exposed the harmful teachings I was raised under, but then I began to realize that I was so entrapped by what people think about me that I was almost unwilling to speak on this topic,' she told Fox. 'I was so afraid of losing my community, my friends, my family, those who I love so dearly.' She added, 'I thought if I spoke up against them, then I would be putting everything on the line - and as a people pleaser, it was the disapproval that I faced that I feared the most.' Along with the announcement, the couple revealed their sons name: Finnegan Charles Vuolo Duggar and Vuolo, who tied the knot in November 2016, welcomed Felicity in July 2018 and Evangeline in November 2020 The Duggars rose to national fame on the TLC reality series 19 Kids and Counting, with people tuning in to marvel at the dynamics of a 21-person nuclear family Jinger told ET that she has a 'complicated' relationship with her parents amid her outspokenness: 'There are definitely difficulties, things that we dont see eye-to-eye on.' The Duggar family's TLC reality series 19 Kids and Counting was canceled in July of 2015 after Josh Duggar's past history of molestation surfaced. A probe of Josh was conducted in 2006 after an associate of the family tipped them off, but officials cited the statute of limitations in deciding against pursuing charges at that time. Josh Duggar is currently serving a 12 1/2-year prison sentence in connection with his 2021 conviction for downloading images of child sexual abuse. Michelle Keegan was every inch the doting new mum as she celebrated her first Mother's Day with her newborn daughter Palma on Sunday. The actress, 37, and her husband Mark Wright, 38, announced the birth of their first child earlier this month and have been enjoying the first few weeks of being parents. Stepping out in the sunshine with her gorgeous tot, Michelle enjoyed a swanky beachside lunch at the Roslin Beach Hotel in Essex with Mark's family. The former soap star looked incredible as she flashed her midriff in a cream knit cardigan and tan tailored trousers. She captioned her post: 'Such a special day from start to finish. Happy Mothers Day'. Michelle shared snaps holding little Palma, who was wearing her personalised cardigan, while another showed her sweetly clutching the baby's hand. Michelle Keegan, 37, was every inch the doting new mum as she celebrated her first Mother's Day with her newborn daughter Palma on Sunday (pictured with Katie Fearnehough) The actress and her husband Mark Wright, 38, announced the birth of their first child earlier this month and have been enjoying the first few weeks of being parents Stepping out in the sunshine with her gorgeous tot, Michelle enjoyed a swanky beachside lunch at the Roslin Beach Hotel in Essex with Mark's family (pictured with her nephews) Mark's sister Natalya shared adorable snaps with her baby niece Palma as the family celebrated the special day together. Natalya, 24, took to Instagram to share snaps with baby Palma, gushing that her family were already 'obsessed' with the newborn. 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_.' 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'. Michelle shared snaps holding little Palma, who was wearing her personalised cardigan, while another showed her sweetly clutching the baby's hand Michelle and Mark's family were treated to a lavish lunch at the Roslin Beach Hotel in Essex The former soap star looked incredible as she flashed her midriff in a cream knit cardigan and tan tailored trousers Mark's sister Natalya shared adorable snaps with her baby niece Palma as the family celebrated the special day together The Wright family headed to the Roslin Beach Hotel in Essex for lunch, with Mark's sister Jess also sharing snaps of their parents Carol and Mark Snr from the outing on Instagram 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 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. 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. Mark and his wife Michelle Keegan welcomed their first child together, daughter Palma Elizabeth on March 6 '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. March 31, 2025: The southeast Asian city-state of Singapore is responsible for security of the 223 kilometers long and 19 kilometers wide Singapore Strait that connects the Strait of Malacca and the South China Sea. Over a thousand ships a day traverse this seaway. Until recently security consisted of shore based sensors and offshore patrol ships. Recently Singapore added some Maritime Security Unmanned Surface Vessels or MARSEC naval drones. These 30-ton drones are 16.9 meters long and 5.2 meters wide. Top speed is nearly 50 kilometers an hour and endurance is up to 40 hours at sea. A two man team ashore or in a nearby vessel controls the MARSEC drones. They are equipped to identify a ship by reading its mandatory transponder and track its movement through Singapore controlled waters. The drones electronics handles avoiding obstacles. Additional equipment includes a strobe light, siren, an LRAD/ Long Range Acoustics Device for interrogating people on small boats that lack a radio, and a 12.7mm machine-guns that includes a non-lethal laser dazzler to temporarily blind suspicious subjects. MARSEC has been successful at increasing security at a lower cost and using less manpower. MARSEC is not the first such drone. For years America and China have been competing to develop more drones similar to MARSEC. So far China has produced the Zhu Hai Yun, a 2,000-ton ship that carries up to fifty drone submarines, surface and airborne vehicles. Zhu Hai Yun is operated remotely to get it out to the high seas, where the ship operates autonomously to carry out a variety of missions it is capable of. China is depending on its Artificial Intelligence/AI software to effectively carry out its mission and then signal that it is returning. The U.S. Navy has similar but smaller 145-ton unmanned surface ships that do not carry and operate other drones, but can stay at sea for up to sixty days carrying out Anti-Submarine Warfare/ASW missions. The navy has also developed larger autonomous cargo ships to move supplies long distances. Smaller armed and unarmed autonomous vessels have been in service for decades to patrol ports and coastal areas. China believes it has a lead in AI control software and the Zhu Hai Yun is an effort to test that. The Americans are depending on less ambitious technologies that have produced impressive results so far, and a new Orca autonomous submarine takes those proven concepts further than ever before. A month before China presented the Zhu Hai Yun, the Americans received the first of 24 Orca 80-ton Extra-Large drone/XLUUV drones that can carry and deploy a variety of naval mines and evade enemy detection due to their small size. Orca was the U.S. Navy solution to the difficulties with deploying offensive mobile naval mines and a robotic submarine in enemy controlled waters, like the South China Sea. Orca could even operate as an offensive weapon against Chinese submarines seeking to block access to the South China Sea and Taiwan. China is considered the major submarine threat in the Pacific and the South China Sea is seen as a major future battleground. Currently China has about 55 diesel-electric subs of recent design in service versus 42 operated by Japan and South Korea, each with 21. Malaysia and Indonesia each have two and Australia has six. The United States has about 30 nuclear attack subs in the Pacific. The anti-China coalition also has a large array of surface and aerial ASW forces. To even the odds China has built a network of underwater sensors in the South China Sea that is complemented by ASW aircraft and surface ships. South Korea and Japan have similar technology monitoring their coastal waters. The only nation capable of blocking Chinese subs from moving out of the South China Sea is the United States, which has underwater sensors and a large fleet of ASW aircraft. The problem is defeating the Chinese diesel-electric submarine force. China has been trying to build effective SSNs for decades and that is still a work-in-progress. Chinese non-nuclear subs are another matter and they have become world-class. The U.S. Navy believes robotic subs carrying mobile mines would be an effective new ASW asset because the U.S. is already developing some of the new ASW technology needed for this. This includes underwater drones and mobile mines. Over a decade ago the navy adopted civilian underwater drones used for monitoring the oceans, and has been using them to do that as well as collect data useful for wartime submarine operations. With a growing number of civilian and military customers, American drone developers and manufacturers have been coming up with new ocean research drones that also have military applications. The latest example of this is the new class of XLUUV with the ability to go deeper, carry a cargo bay for other research gear to be stored and deployed from, and operate autonomously for up to six months. The first of these XLUUV was the Echo Voyager, which Boeing developed from a research project and had the first one ready for testing in 2016. The tests were successful and have involved more complex and completely autonomous operations. In 2019 the navy ordered four militarized Orca versions of the Echo Voyager for $11 million each. Both models are diesel-electric powered autonomous subs that are 16 meters long with a payload compartment 9.1 meters long and 2.6 meters in diameter, and is located within the pressure hull. Propulsion is by battery powered electric motors and diesel generators to recharge the batteries when on or near the surface. This XLUUV has no topside sail and can stay underwater for days at a time because there is no crew on board to sustain. While submerged these drones can move at 14 kilometers an hour and have sufficient generator fuel to travel 10,500 kilometers. The main difference between Echo Voyager and Orca is that Echo Voyager is built to dive to extreme 3,400 meter depths. Endurance is over 60 days. Orca does without that but adds additional passive sensors and signal processing computers to detect other submarines or surface ships. There is also an underwater communications system for arming the dozen Hammerhead mobile mines Orca is designed to carry and place on the ocean floor in areas like the South China Sea. These Hammerhead bottom mines carry a Mk 54 lightweight torpedo, which is normally carried by ASW helicopters and aircraft. Mk 54 has a range of ten kilometers and a guidance system that is regularly updated. Hammerhead is being used in a similar fashion to a larger version of this used during the Cold War that deployed a larger Mk 48 torpedo. Hammerhead is an encapsulated system equipped with passive sensors to detect and identify submarines and surface ships and attack specific types of targets, like diesel-electric subs larger than Orca. The first Orca was delivered on time in 2022 and entered service in 2024. The navy plans to buy as many as 24 Orcas and use them for a variety of tasks while trying to avoid Chinese efforts to accidentally or deliberately capture one. Advertisement Kanye West made a shocking admission during his interview with DJ Akademiks about his past marriage with Kim Kardashian and the children he shares with her. During a wildly offensive and unhinged hour-long conversation, which was uploaded on YouTube on Sunday, the 47-year-old rapper, who now goes by Ye, said he regrets getting ex-wife Kim 44, pregnant. 'That was my fault,' he said. 'I didn't want to have children with this person after the first two months of being with her, but that wasn't God's plan.' 'I don't got the name and likeness ownership, or at least 50-50 with my kids,' he said at one point, referring to the 'nuclear' war between them over their two sons and two daughters. 'So how's it joint custody?' West and Kardashian were previously married for six years from 2014 to 2021 and share four children: North, 11, Saint, nine, Chicago, seven, and Psalm, five. This comes as a source exclusively told DailyMail.com that his wife Bianca Censori has concocted a plan to have a baby to save their marriage, amid ongoing divorce rumors, even though others fear she may have an ulterior motive. Kanye West made a shocking admission during his interview with DJ Akademiks about his past marriage with Kim Kardashian and the children he shares with her. In a shocking display, he wore a swastika around his neck The interview was even more unhinged as West stoked more controversy by deciding to wear a KKK hood talk to DJ Akademiks During their hour-long chat, which was uploaded on YouTube on Sunday, the rapper, 47, said he regrets getting his ex-wife Kim Kardashian pregnant; pictured February in New York City 'My kids are celebrities and I don't have the say so,' West said in the Akademiks interview. 'So this white woman and this white family have the control of these highly influential black kids that are half the children of Ye.' Recently, the Chicago native took aim at Kardashian in a series of tweets over a week ago, in which he said that he was put off by a white woman being in control of his black children. The 24-time Grammy winner's comments directed at Kardashian came in reaction to a planned musical collaboration between their daughter North, 11, and rapper Playboi Carti, 28, which he opposes. Meanwhile, the weekend before that, West had dropped a new song featuring North and Diddy a project that has become a source of furious contention between West and Kardashian. Reports later claimed Kardashian abruptly ended one of North's visits with West upon learning that Andrew Tate, who is facing human trafficking charges in Romania, was set to be present. During the chat, he also doubled down on his vitriolic tirade on X, formerly Twitter, last month, including his most controversial post about Jay-Z's kids among many other offensive comments about other people. When Akademiks asked him why he also dissed the late Virgil Abloh in a tweet, telling West that it isn't fair since 'he's not here to defend himself,' the rapper responded: 'I'm evil. I'm an evil person.' At one point, West also brought up Iggy Azalea, who shares four-year-old son Onyx with her ex-boyfriend Playboy Carti, and said she watches her kid closely around Kris Jenner before making a pointed accusation about the KarJenner momager and 'signed-for' sex tapes. The interview was even more unhinged as West stoked more controversy by deciding to wear a shocking get-up to talk to DJ Akademiks. At one point, he got up and changed out of his already scandalous outfit a T-shirt from disgraced rapper Sean ' Diddy ' Combs and a Swastika chain into a black, KKK-inspired garb At one point, he got up and changed out of his already scandalous outfit a T-shirt from disgraced rapper Sean 'Diddy' Combs and a Swastika chain into a black, KKK-inspired garb. Elsewhere the interview, he also defended his 'twin' Diddy despite the embattled rapper's ongoing legal battles and serious allegations. While DJ Akademiks and his crew were setting up for the interview, West walked out of the living room in the hotel suite to go change into his outfit. He reemerged in a black leather hood and cape, leaving them speechless as he said he had the outfit custom-made in addition to an identical, white one. When asked if he had yet to wear the outfit in public, he said he wanted to wear it 'yesterday' but was worried that people would 'put me in a hospital for my outfit.' Wests latest unhinged interview follows reports that he recently flew to Tokyo, while much of his inner circleincluding longtime manager John Monopolyhas abandoned him. Among those who have cut ties is talent agent Daniel McCartney of 33 & West, who announced in February that his working relationship with West was over 'effective immediately... due to his harmful and hateful remarks.' In the same month, West made headlines for a series of antisemitic posts after being reinstated on X by Elon Musk. On February 11, he wrote: 'I tour for the money. I'd rather be playing (video games) Last Of Us part one and two, which was made by Jewish people. Good job. Thank you.' Recently, the Chicago native took aim at Kardashian in a series of tweets over a week ago, in which he said that he was put off by a white woman being in control of his black children; pictured 2013 in New York City West and Kardashian were previously married for six years from 2014 to 2021 and share four children: North, 11, Saint, nine, Chicago , seven, and Psalm, five This comes as a source exclusively told DailyMail.com that his wife Bianca Censori has concocted a plan to have a baby to save their marriage , amid ongoing divorce rumors, even though others fear she may have an ulterior motive His social media spree only escalated from there. In dozens of tweets to his 32 million followers, West praised Hitler, called himself a Nazi, and dismissed antisemitism as 'just some bulls**t Jewish people made up.' Amid the backlash, Shopify shut down the store on Wests Yeezy website on February 11just hours after he ran a costly Super Bowl ad promoting it. The site had been selling a white T-shirt featuring a black swastika at its center. West later doubled down, tweeting on February 20 that he planned to wear the shirt onstage at next years Super Bowl: 'Next year Im performing at the superbowl wearing my wittle T shirt. People with money bought my wittle t shirt.' He also claimed that Shopify had reinstated his account after initially removing it, but added that he was 'not going to use it.' The Anti-Defamation League condemned Wests actions, posting on X/Twitter on February 10: 'As if we needed further proof of Kanye's antisemitism, he chose to put a single item for sale on his website a t-shirt emblazoned with a swastika. If that wasn't enough, the t-shirt is labeled on Kanye's website as "HH-01," which is code for "Heil Hitler."' The organization also criticized West for using the Super Bowl to amplify his rhetoric: 'Even worse, Kanye advertised his website during the Super Bowl, amplifying it beyond his already massive social media audience.' Helen Mirren slammed the James Bond franchise, despite her deep admiration for the actors who have played 007. The 79-year-old Oscar winner recently shared her candid thoughts on Amazon's takeover of the iconic spy saga in an interview with The Standard. I have to say I was never a great ward [of Bond], Mirren admitted. Im a huge fan of Pierce Brosnan. He also happens to be one of the nicest people youll ever have the pleasure to work with,' she continued. 'And indeed Daniel Craig, who Ive met and know a little bit. Again, a very lovely gracious person. But while she holds Brosnan and Craig in high regard, Mirren has little affection for the Bond franchise itself. The whole series of James Bond was actually not my thing, she said. Helen Mirren slammed the James Bond franchise, despite her deep admiration for the actors who have played 007 I have to say I was never a great ward [of Bond], Mirren admitted, adding, Im a huge fan of Pierce Brosnan . He also happens to be one of the nicest people youll ever have the pleasure to work with' (Izabella Scorupco, Pierce Brosnan Goldeneye - 1995) 'I never liked James Bond. I never liked the way women were in James Bond;' (Sean Connery in You Only Live Twice) It really wasnt. I never liked James Bond. I never liked the way women were in James Bond.' She also said she is 'opposed' to a female 007. 'The whole concept of James Bond is drenched and born out of profound sexism. Mirren insisted espionage stories centered on real-life women deserve the spotlight. Women have always been a major and incredibly important part of the Secret Service, they always have been, she explained. And very brave. If you hear about what women did in the French Resistance, theyre amazingly, unbelievably courageous. 'So I would tell real stories about extraordinary women whove worked in that world. Mirrens outspoken criticism of the James Bond franchise comes in the wake of fans expressing concerns that Amazons new control could tarnish the legacy of 007. 'The whole concept of James Bond is drenched and born out of profound sexism'; (Carey Lowell, Timothy Dalton, Talisa Soto Licence To Kill - 1989) Mirren insisted espionage stories centered on real-life women deserve the spotlight; (Sean Connery and Swiss actress Ursula Andress on the set of Dr. No) I have to say I was never a great ward [of Bond], Mirren admitted; (Daniel Craig in Skyfall - 2012) Many fear the streaming giant will flood the market with countless spin-offs, following a similar path to what Disney did with Star Wars. Amazons acquisition of MGM Studios in 2022 gave the company distribution rights to the 007 films but, until now, creative control remained with longtime producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilsonthe daughter and stepson of Albert Cubby Broccoli, who launched the iconic spy franchise in 1962. However, the new agreement hands Amazon the reins for any upcoming films, leading to a backlash from Bond fans. On Reddit, one user lamented,'Its clearly the end of the franchise for long-time Bond fans. 'Amazon will churn out mediocre spin-offs and flood the market to boost Prime subscriptions.' Another expressed a similar sentiment: 'RIP James Bond. Amazon will destroy a great franchise, just like Disney destroyed Star Wars.' With James Bond now in new hands, rumors continue to fly over who will take up the 007 mantle. While nothing is official, Aaron Taylor-Johnson remains the frontrunner, with names like Henry Cavill, Idris Elba, and Rege-Jean Page still in the mix. Ben Fogle has opened up on how his love of the sauna helped him recover from his 'mental health wobble', admitting it has brought him 'tremendous healing and happiness'. The TV presenter, 51, candidly revealed last year that he had endured a mental health storm' in 2023, which saw him battle 'crippling paranoia and anxiety'. And having come through that difficult period, he has now credited his time in the sauna as important to his 'recovery'. Ben has his own sauna in his home and has been visiting as many as he can around the country while touring with his one-man show, Wild, already hitting 20 so far - a fifth of the estimated public ones in the UK. In a new piece for The Times, he detailed his obsession with saunas, recalling the many different places he has tried them all over the world, from Sweden and Russia, to the likes of Antarctica and even the Chernobyl exclusion zone. But while he had first only enjoyed saunas for being contemplative and relaxing experiences, Ben revealed that when his mental health suffered they also became 'my medicine'. Ben Fogle has opened up on how his love of the sauna helped him recover from his 'mental health wobble', admitting it has brought him 'tremendous healing and happiness' The TV presenter, 51, candidly revealed last year that he had endured a mental health storm' in 2023 , which saw him battle 'crippling paranoia and anxiety' (seen in November) He wrote: 'When I had a mental health wobble 18 months ago, the sauna switched from meditative to therapeutic. It really was my medicine and I credit my recovery in part to hot and cold therapy (dont take my advice on this, always ask a professional).' He went on to detail how the small heated rooms help him, explaining: 'To sweat feels like releasing all the anxiety, irritation, worry and fear. I feel lighter, happier and calmer after one. I sleep better and think clearer. I am a sauna purist. I like to sit in silence. It is a meditation for me. My brain zones out and I think of nothing.' The adventurer explained he makes sure to go into his sauna every day when he's home and gushed about the benefits it has wrought. He concluded: 'I have found tremendous healing, comfort and happiness in a sauna. In Nordic nations they say it is the poor mans pharmacy. They really are natures medicine.' It comes after Ben admitted that he didn't listen to the warning signs his body gave him ahead of his mental breakdown as he reflecting on the tough time. In an honest and open interview on the High Performance podcast last month, he detailed his struggle through the 'chaotic period' in his life, before remarking how he's since become 'stronger and happier'. Ben explained: 'I have always considered myself pretty strong of mind, strong of character. I've always had a strong work ethic, worked quite hard. 'I think what happened in 2023 is that I overdid it, I didn't listen to some of the little warning signs that I think we all have. The body is an amazing thing, the brain is an amazing thing and I don't think I listened entirely to what I was doing to myself. n a new piece for The Times , he detailed his obsession with saunas, recalling the many different places he has tried them all over the world, from Sweden and Russia, to the likes of Antarctica and even the Chernobyl exclusion zone (pictured filming in Antarctica in 2023) While he had first only enjoyed saunas for being contemplative and relaxing experiences, Ben revealed that when his mental health suffered they also became 'my medicine' (seen last year) The adventurer explained he makes sure to go into his sauna every day when he's home and gushed about the benefits it has wrought (pictured with wife Marina) 'I was being overstimulated, I was absorbing too much, I was doing too much, I was expecting too much of myself and I eventually popped, burst.' Ben continued: 'It was a form of breakdown, what is a breakdown? I don't really know. But it was definitely a chaotic period that I have completely got over, I think that is one of the most important things.' The adventurer added that there's a 'taboo' around mental health as people believe that if one admits to a 'fragility or vulnerability', then you're perceived to be a 'very fragile egg'. He went on to add that he's 'got through' the storm he endured, and it's since made him 'stronger and happier'. Ben noted that he didn't know if there was a 'clinical definition' of what actually happened to him, but described the feeling of losing control of his emotions and his reaction to things, which led to a point when he was forced to 'press pause'. Elsewhere, he also admitted he turned into a 'control freak' after the death of his stillborn son Willem in 2014. The broadcaster said his struggle to deal with grief is eventually what led him to a 'mental health breakdown'. Ben's wife Marina was rushed to hospital in Austria and delivered their stillborn son at just 33 weeks while he was Canada. It comes after Ben admitted that he didn't listen to the warning signs his body gave him ahead of his mental breakdown as he reflecting on the tough time (seen) In an honest and open interview on the High Performance podcast last month, he detailed his struggle through the 'chaotic period' in his life, before remarking how he's since become 'stronger and happier'. The couple had already been heartbroken by a miscarriage in 2008, before having their son Ludo, 15, in 2009 and daughter Iona, 14, in 2011. He said: 'A number of years ago, my wife and I lost a son, who was stillborn and it's amazing how you deal with a loss like that. My wife Marina was very raw with her emotions. 'Mine were much more measured, it doesn't mean I felt it any less, but I probably kept them within, and one of the big things that happened to me was that I became obsessed about control, because I'd lost control there. 'I was actually in Canada when it happened, and I had to take a flight to get back. I didn't know if my wife was going to survive. It was like one of the periods in my life, I've had a few, when I had lost all control.' Last year, Ben candidly shared he battled 'crippling paranoia and anxiety,' during his 'mental health breakdown', as he offered insight into the various methods he used to aid in his recovery. Ben, who was diagnosed with ADHD in the wake of the crisis, said he used cognitive behavioural therapy and medicine' to help him heal from the 'storm,' as well as 'doing less and simplifying his life.' In a lengthy Instagram post, the travel presenter said that he decided to share his struggles as it felt it was vital to be as open about his mental health woes as he has been about physical ones. Ben wrote: 'A year ago I suffered a mental health wobble. An episode. A storm. A blip. I don't know if there is a specific term for it but it was basically a burnt out, break down. Elsewhere, he also admitted he turned into a 'control freak' after the death of his stillborn son Willem in 2014, who was delivered at just 33 weeks while he was Canada He and Marina had already been heartbroken by a miscarriage in 2008 before having their son Ludo, 15, in 2009 and daughter Iona, 14, in 2011 (pictured together) In a lengthy Instagram post last year, the presenter said that he decided to share his struggles from 2023 as it felt it was vital to be as open about his mental health woes 'I've been on quite a journey since. I've learnt a lot about my neurological uniquenesses. And I've navigated the storm. 'Through a mix of CBT, medicine, and now some alternative therapies I feel like my old self. Gone is the crippling paranoia and anxiety, replaced by my calm old self. 'I'm telling you this firstly because I believe as someone who shares my successes it's important to also share our vulnerabilities. 'It is not to jump on some trend or for sympathy. It's because if it happened to me, I can happen to you. 'But just like a broken bone or a pneumonia ravaged lung or even a flesh eating bug (all of which I have had) 'We can heal. They don't define us or make us weak. They prove that we are human. Vulnerable to the pressures of modern life. 'A mental health trauma should not be a stigma but a reality check for the increasingly complicated world in which we live. 'What's helped me is doing less and simplifying my life. Less social media. Less work Less pressure to be perfect The results are that I worry less. Stress less. Anger less Fixate less. 'Giving me more time has helped me back to reality. To being me. Exactly the same person I have always been. Simple. Love, peace and simplicity.' Get all Daily Mail Australia's latest MAFS stories on WhatsApp here Advertisement Married At First Sight bride Beth Kelly has revealed she is no longer on speaking terms with her on-screen husband Teejay Halkias following their brutal break-up just days before Final Vows. In an interview with Daily Mail Australia, the hair salon operations manager, 28, admitted she has cut ties with Teejay after feeling rejected, humiliated and blindsided by his behaviour both on and off camera. 'At the moment, no we're not on talking terms,' Beth confessed. 'I actually did think about messaging him this morning, but he's seen me cry and seen how hurt I am, and he's not taking any accountability.' Beth explained she felt she never had the opportunity to get things off her chest. 'He actually doesn't know how angry I am and the things I never really got to say,' she continued. Married At First Sight bride Beth Kelly has revealed she is no longer on speaking terms with her on-screen husband Teejay Halkias following their brutal break-up just days before Final Vows In an interview with Daily Mail Australia, Beth, 28, admitted she has cut ties with Teejay after feeling rejected, humiliated and blindsided by his behaviour both on and off camera 'I am in two minds I want to have a conversation with him, but at the same time, I don't know if I ever want to speak to him again.' The Brisbane-based bride sensationally quit the show at the eleventh hour, telling Teejay she would not be going through with Final Vows after weeks of feeling unwanted. 'I don't see a future with you. I'm not gonna put my energy into it. I'm not wasting my time anymore,' she declared during their emotional farewell. Beth told Daily Mail Australia she had seen red flags in their relationship long before it imploded, admitting Teejay's decision to write 'leave' during a previous commitment ceremony was the final straw. 'My reason for leaving was purely because TJ wrote "leave". He was obviously completely checked out,' she said. 'I don't think you can tell a person you don't wanna be with them any more than that.' Beth revealed she regretted trying to salvage the relationship after that moment. 'If I knew he was going to write "leave", I absolutely would have written "leave" as well. Definitely.' 'At the moment, no we're not on talking terms,' Beth confessed Beth went on to slam Teejay's 'hypocritical' behaviour after it was revealed he had followed fellow bride Tara Lee on Instagram and liked several of her photos despite berating Beth for going on a date with another man during the show's controversial partner-swap 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.' 'But 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 hypocritical.' Beth admitted participating in the date week challenge only compounded her heartbreak. 'To be honest, going made me feel worse,' she said. '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 Teejay the entire time.' She had hoped the experiment would make Teejay appreciate their connection, but was left crushed when he confessed the date had done nothing for him. 'I thought maybe he'd realise we had great banter, great chemistry. But he said it did nothing for him. That was sad.' Reflecting on their split, Beth said the writing had been on the wall for weeks. 'There were many situations where I felt he wasn't attracted to me or into me at all, but I swept them under the rug,' she said. Ahead of the final dinner party, Beth made the decision to walk in alongside Teejay but now admits she regrets trying to save face. 'I wish I did walk in by myself because I think it would have made a bold statement,' she said. 'But at the time, I wanted him to feel comfortable. We started this experiment together, and I wanted to end it together.' Ultimately, Beth says she has no regrets about doing the show but is now focusing on moving forward without Teejay in her life. '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.' Ivanka Trump was a vision of style for an outing with family in Miami on Saturday night. The First Daughter, 43, opted for a white mini dress that clung to her statuesque figure and a trusty pair of kitten heels she has worn previously. The ruched dress featured a dainty keyhole on the side of her torso and was additionally paired with a boxy, silver clutch with a marble shine. The 5ft11in heiress kept her hairstyle simple and sleek along with a radiant coat of makeup. She headed towards Papi Steak restaurant with her son Joseph, 10, trailing close behind. The duo recently went fishing together, and Ivanka shared snaps from their adventure to her Instagram. Ivanka Trump spent some quality time with her family in Miami on Saturday night Not pictured during the outing was her husband Jared Kushner, 44, whom she shares Joseph with, and their two other children - 13-year-old daughter Arabella and eight-year-old son Theodore. Ivanka, who is the eldest daughter of President Donald Trump, has been married to Jared since 2009. Back in January, Ivanka went in-depth on her various health and beauty routines, explaining that combining weight lifting and eating high protein really helped change how she looked. 'Something that I think has been a massive change for me since I moved to Miami, I started prioritizing exercise,' she revealed on The Skinny Confidential Him & Her podcast. 'Initially, that took the form of yoga and Pilates, these things that I had done at various points of my life, but now I had the ability, because I was on my own schedule, to make them more consistent and a more regular part of my life,' Ivanka said. 'Gradually, I started doing more resistance and weight training, and that's when I saw a massive difference,' she continued. 'My whole body changed. But that's when I really noticed a massive change for me, and my body composition fundamentally changed. I got stronger, I got leaner, and I could kind of get away with it because I'm really tall, so I can look lean even if I wasn't strong,' Ivanka said. However, she admitted that while yoga and Pilates are definitely activities that she enjoys more than resistance training, she has noticed that they're not as effective for her body. 'Yoga and Pilates, while I enjoy them a lot more, to be honest, than resistance training, I was not able to develop muscle through them. I really needed this... it's been life-changing,' she admitted. The First Daughter, 43, opted for a white mini dress that clung to her statuesque figure and coordinating strappy kitten heels Ivanka was seen wearing the same white kitten heels back in 2022 She said what really works for her are the simple exercises, like 'pushes,' 'pulls' and 'deadlifts.' 'I don't really enjoy doing it, I enjoy going for walks, I enjoy playing sports, I really enjoy Pilates and yoga, but I have seen such a transformation in terms of my health,' Ivanka said. 'But I can't mention that without saying the protein element, because it's that pairing of protein and resistance training and weight lifting... for a while I was doing weight lifting and I still was not consuming nearly enough protein, and I was not seeing the change,' the former Presidential advisor continued. 'It's when I married those two things that I started noticing a difference.' Ivanka and her husband share son Joseph, Theodore, and daughter Arabella together In addition, Ivanka and her whole family enjoy the practice of jiu-jitsu, a type of self-defense marital arts. In fact, it was her daughter, Arabella, who wanted to take the class - so Ivanka signed her up to work with The Valente brothers, which includes Joaquim Valente, who is Gisele Bundchen's boyfriend. 'It is good for everyone,' she said. When it comes to food, every morning, Ivanka will make a shake that's full of protein, banana, cacao, and creatine - a compound that helps to aid your muscles. She joked that she was a 'morning alchemist.' Blake Lively shrugged off the ongoing legal battle with Justin Baldoni as she baked doughnuts in her 'happy place' over the weekend in another attempt to appear wholesome and down-to-earth. On Saturday, the 37-year-old actress took to her Instagram Story to share a photo of pastry dough being mixed in an industrial kitchen machine in a new public relations stunt. 'Baking with genius food friends and their kitchen mixer the size of a car,' she wrote over the snapshot. 'This is what my happy place looks like...' Another photo showed Lively with a big smile on her face as she leaned over the pastries, via the outlet. A source told People that she 'was in a really happy mood' while visiting her friend, who is the owner of Rise Doughnuts in Wilton, Connecticut. The Gossip Girl alum also seemed to have friendly and fun conversations with customers while working behind the counter, according to the outlet, which comes after a slew of Hollywood insiders opened up about their negative encounters with the star. Blake Lively baked doughnuts in her 'happy place' over the weekend; pictured February in New York City Here Blake is seen making the sweet treats with her sister Robyn the background Her wholesome day baking sweets comes amid her ongoing legal battle with her It Ends With Us co-star and director Justin Baldoni. Late last year, Lively filed a lawsuit against him as well as film producer Jamey Heath, Wayfarer Studios co-found Steve Sarowitz and more from Baldoni's team. In her complaint, she accused Baldoni and company of sexual harassment and orchestrating a smear campaign to ruin her reputation. In response, Baldoni filed a $400 million defamation lawsuit against Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds and their publicist Leslie Sloane, accusing them of shutting him out of his own film and ruining his career. He also filed a lawsuit against The New York Times' reporting on Lively's allegations. Over a week ago, Lively filed to dismiss Baldoni's $400 million defamation lawsuit, slamming it as 'vengeful and rambling.' In court documents obtained by DailyMail.com, Lively's attorneys slammed Baldoni's lawsuit as a 'profound abuse of the legal process that has no place in federal court' as they asked for all claims against her to be dropped. In a shocking twist, the documents also state that Wayfarer's legal efforts against Lively may end up costing Baldoni's team $100 million due to a mandatory fee shifting provision in California Civil Code Section 47.1, which provides protections to individuals with claims of sexual harassment and similar allegations. Her wholesome day baking sweets comes amid her ongoing legal battle with her It Ends With Us co-star and director Justin Baldoni; pictured August 2024 in New York City On Saturday, the 37-year-old actress took to her Instagram Story to share a photo of pastry dough being mixed in an industrial kitchen machine. A source said she 'was in a really happy mood'; pictured March in Austin Late last year, Lively filed a lawsuit against him as well as film producer Jamey Heath, Wayfarer Studios co-found Steve Sarowitz and more from Baldoni's team In her complaint, she accused Baldoni and company of sexual harassment and orchestrating a smear campaign to ruin her reputation; pictured December 2024 in Los Angeles In response, Baldoni filed a $400 million defamation lawsuit against Lively, her husband Ryan Reynolds and their publicist Leslie Sloane, accusing them of shutting him out of his own film and ruining his career All parties have denied the allegations against them, and Reynolds and Sloane have also filed to be dismissed from the lawsuit; pictured May 2014 in New York City Over a week ago, Lively filed to dismiss Baldoni's $400 million defamation lawsuit, slamming it as 'vengeful and rambling'; pictured December 2024 in New York City The former co-stars' trial date is set for March 9, 2026; pictured in movie still It's the latest update in the messy legal ordeal between Lively and Baldoni, which officially began in December 2024 after Lively filed her complaint and Baldoni countersued in February. All parties have denied the allegations against them, and Reynolds and Sloane have also filed to be dismissed from the lawsuit. In the introduction and summary of their argument, Lively's legal team argues the lawsuit against her has 'no place in federal court' due to legal protections for individuals who have spoken out about sexual harassment or filed legal claims. 'The law prohibits weaponizing defamation lawsuits, like this one, to retaliate against individuals who have filed legal claims or have publicly spoken out about sexual harassment and retaliation,' the documents state. The former co-stars' trial date is set for March 9, 2026. She has remained out of the spotlight since her last acting gig in 2023. But former Home and Away star Sharni Vinson certainly turned heads as she hit the beach on the Sunshine Coast over the weekend. The actress, 41, showed off her super ripped figure in a tiny G-string bikini while frolicking in the water with a buff surfer. Sharni flaunted her ripped abs and incredibly muscular physique in the two-piece, which comprised of a green halter neck top and bronze skimpy bottoms. Meanwhile, her date looked buff in a pair of patterned board shorts. The toned and tanned twosome looked happy and content in each other's company, chatting and holding hands as they exited the water. Home and Away star Sharni Vinson turned heads as she hit the beach on the Sunshine Coast over the weekend The actress showed off her super ripped figure in a tiny G-string bikini as she frolicked in the water with a buff surfer Sharni flaunted her ripped abs and incredibly muscular physique in the two-piece, which comprised of a green halter neck top and bronze skimpy bottoms Sharni threw on a brown hat and a matching sarong as she headed home as her male companion clutched his surfboard. Daily Mail Australia has reached out to Sharni for comment. Beaches and bikinis have been a running theme on Sharni's Instagram as she splits her time between Australia and Indonesia. Sharni appears to frequent Bali often and shares several moments from her travels to her social media account. Earlier this year, she uploaded several photos of herself posing in a skimpy bikini beside landmarks in Nusa Lembongan - an island south east of Bali. Sharni rose to fame on Channel Seven soap opera Home and Away, first appearing as minor characters in 2001 and 2003. She then landed a permanent role, starring as Cassie Turner from 2005 to 2008. The actress was just 22 years old when she debuted on the long-running drama. The toned and tanned twosome looked happy and content in each other's company, chatting and holding hands as they exited the water Meanwhile, Sharni's date looked buff in a pair of patterned board shorts Beaches and bikinis have been a running theme on Sharni's Instagram as she splits her time between Australia and Indonesia Sharni threw on a brown hat and a matching sarong as she headed home as he clutched his surfboard There have been whispers of a return to Summer Bay for a while, but Sharni has not confirmed any news. In 2010, Sharni got her first big break in Hollywood in the hugely successful feature film Step Up 3D. She has also made appearances on popular U.S. crime shows such as NCIS and CSI. Most recently, Sharni starred in the Netflix series The Guardians of Justice and Australian Survivor in 2023. Simon Pegg's new film Angels in the Asylum has reportedly been forced to stop amid claims production has run out of money. The 5million project has allegedly been stopped for weeks amid a payment dispute, with crew reportedly owed 600,000 in unpaid wages. Hollywood actress Minnie Driver, 55, is set to star in upcoming drama alongside an all-star cast, with the film being the directorial debut of British director Rob Sorrenti. The film, which is produced by Stephen Daldry, is also set to star Simon, who is also said to have been owed money. Filming is thought to have been halted just 15 days into a month-long shoot amid the money issues. A source told The Sun: 'They were told they would be paid. But this has gone on for weeks now and there is no pay. Simon Pegg's (pictured) new film Angels in the Asylum has reportedly been forced to stop amid claims production has run out of money Hollywood actress Minnie Driver (pictured), 55, is set to star in upcoming drama alongside an all-star cast, with the film being the directorial debut of British director Rob Sorrenti 'Its chaos. Patience is wearing thin now, but really for most of the crew it wore out weeks ago.' A spokeswoman said Minnie is still committed to appearing in the film - despite production being halted. Keal Productions are behind the project, while UK-based Parkland Productions are thought to be the the distribution company for the film. MailOnline have contacted representatives of Keal Productions, Parkland Pictures and Minnie Driver for comment. The film is inspired by a BBC report on 50 women who were deemed to be typhoid carriers who were kept locked away in isolation at a psychiatric hospital in Surrey in the 1930s. Angels in the Asylum's stellar cast also includes Katherine Waterston, Rose Williams and Miriam Margolyes. A statement released to The Sun by the Managing Director of Keal Productions suggests that producers have desperately been attempting to raise the cash needed to pay the crew and get the film back on track. It is said that up to 70 crew members have been affected by payment issues. The 5million project has allegedly been stopped for weeks amid a payment dispute, with crew reportedly owed 600,000 in unpaid wages A spokeswoman said Minnie is still committed to appearing in the film - despite production being halted Co-producer Heather Greenwood and the film's director Rob added that they were 'determined to find a solution', adding that the producers have also not been paid for the work. Meanwhile, a representative of Parkland added that they are 'determined to find a way to complete the film with everyone paid'. Aside from the financial drama of the upcoming film, Minnie has been throwing herself into another project after she was was spotted filming in Liverpool with James Nesbitt for Netflix's latest Harlan Coben series, Run Away. The British-American actress, who stars as Ingrid Greene in the new series, donned a chic purple coat and beige trousers with white stripes down the sides as she got to work filming. Joining her on set was James, 60, who is leading the new thriller as Simon Greene, after previously having guest roles in the last two Harlan adaptations. The actor cut a smart casual figure in a stylish brown suede jacket, shirt, and blue jeans as they strolled down the street. The Cold Feet star was first spotted on the set of the highly-anticipated series last month, filming dramatic scenes with Minnie in Manchester. Jessica Alba wowed in a skimpy bikini as she shared snaps from her sun-soaked trip to Mexico this weekend - amid her divorce from her longtime husband Cash Warren. The actress, 43, looked stunning in an orange and white patterned number which showed off her toned figure just days after sharing a cryptic post amid the split. The former couple tied the knot in 2008 and welcomed three children together - daughters Honor, 16, and Haven, 13, and son Hayes, seven. In January, Jessica announced that she and her husband had separated after she embarked on a 'journey of self realisation and transformation for years - both as an individual and in partnership with Cash.' Taking to her Instagram Story on Sunday she shared snaps from Mexico as she topped up her tans and played on the beach with son Hayes who she called her 'little prince'. She accessorised with a sun hat and huge dark shades as she told he followers she was now in 'vacay mode'. Jessica Alba wowed in a skimpy bikini as she shared snaps from her sun-soaked trip to Mexico this weekend - amid her divorce from her longtime husband Cash Warren The actress, 43, looked stunning in an orange and white patterned number which showed off her toned figure just days after sharing a cryptic post amid the split (seen with son Hayes) Jessica filed for divorce on February 7 and is represented by Laura Wasser, whose celebrity clientele has included such A-list names as Kim Kardashian, Jennifer Lopez, Kevin Costner and Angelina Jolie. Now, as she and Cash embark on the legal proceedings to dissolve their marriage, Jessica has taken her mind off her woes with the vacation abroad. Although she recently ignited romance rumors with comedy writer Alex Edelman, 35, he was not pictured in the Instagram album she shared from the holiday last week. 'Forever memories made - feeling connected, satiated and nourished,' wrote Jessica, whose paternal great-grandparents were from Mexico. '#CDMX might just be my new home away from home,' she added, using an abbreviation for the capital. Late in the Instagram album, she posted a cryptic meme that indicated that her vacation had acted as an emotional balm for her. The meme read: 'Healing wounds as a child,' with a picture of a Band-Aid, and then: 'Healing wounds as an adult,' with the phrase: 'Trip to Mexico.' No doubt the dissolution of her marriage to Cash is going to get complicated as they have no prenup and there is plenty of money at stake. In 2016, Forbes estimated Alba's net worth was around $340 million due to the success of The Honest Company, which she founded in 2011. She accessorised with a sun hat and huge dark shades as she told he followers she was now in 'vacay mode' Taking to her Instagram Story on Sunday she shared snaps from Mexico as she topped up her tans and played on the beach with son Hayes who she called her 'little prince' She relaxed on the sand during the day out at the beach and shared a video looking out over the waves She recently posted a cryptic meme that indicated that her vacation had acted as an emotional balm for her Jessica, who is pictured with her husband this past November, announced their separation in January and then filed for divorce in February Five years later, they retracted the report and said with her '6% stake (including options)' in the brand, she 'would only be worth just under $100 million.' 'That is far less than the $340 million Forbes estimated she was worth when we estimated her stake to be 20% and put her on our 2016 list of America's most successful self-made women,' the publication explained in their correction. Like his wife, Warren has found success as an entrepreneur after launching his underwear and sock company, Pair of Thieves, valued at around $100 million. In January, a legal expert told DailyMail.com that the couple's split could get 'complicated' as various factors come into play. Alba's money comes not just from her high-profile acting career which includes films such as Into The Blue, Honey and Sin City. But it also is from her success as the founder of Honest Company. The Honest Company, Inc. is a consumer goods company based in Los Angeles and founded by Alba, Christopher Gavigan, and Brian Lee. The company is valued at roughly $640 million. Among their assets is a $10M Beverly Hills mansion that they bought in 2017. The former couple tied the knot in 2008 and welcomed three children together - daughters Honor, 16, and Haven, 13, and son Hayes, seven She announced her separation from Cash on January 16. 'I'm proud of how we've grown in our marriage over the last 20 years and it's now time for us to embark on a new chapter of growth and evolution as individuals. We are moving forward with love, kindness, and respect for each other and will forever be family. Our children remain our highest priority and we request privacy at this time.' Alba and the 46-year-old nepo baby of Hill Street Blues alum Michael Warren - who didn't sign a prenup - are said to be 'extremely amicable' amid the divorce and they both requested joint physical and legal custody of their kids. On February 26, the Honest Company founder enlisted tattoo artist Daniel 'winterstone' Winter to ink the fine-line phrase: 'Life is transformation is life.' Love Island star Ollie Williams has confirmed he will be contesting a Cornwall council seat for Nigel Farage's Reform UK. The aspiring politician, 29, appeared on the 2020 edition of the dating show but was only in the villa for three days before he realised he still had feelings for another girl. The series six singleton will run in the Lostwithiel and Lanreath ward in a local election on May 1 and looks set to campaign on the platform of freedom of speech, which he believes has been 'eroded for far too long'. Ollie said: 'I am proud to announce I will be running in May's local elections for the Reform Party in Lostwithiel and Lanreath. 'Our freedom of speech and society has been eroded for far too long and it's time to act. 'I am not prepared to standby and hope someone else sorts it out while I watch it all burn - so I'm taking my first baby steps into politics.' Love Island star Ollie Williams has confirmed he will be contesting a Cornwall council seat for Nigel Farage 's Reform UK The series six singleton will run in the Lostwithiel and Lanreath ward in a local election on May 1 and looks set to campaign on the platform of freedom of speech, which he believes has been 'eroded for far too long' (pictured Nigel on Friday) He added: 'If you've followed me thus far I hope you'll trust my judgement, when I say I believe this to be the best course of action for the protection of your free way of life.' 'If you support Reform and our beliefs then please make sure you get down to the polls or apply for a postal or proxy vote and.vote for Reform UK.' On his campaign poster, Ollie brands himself as a 'countryside steward and farmer' who aims to 'focus on community led projects' and can be seen wearing a pair of wellies while sitting on a muddy country path. The aristocrat will be be competing against incumbent Liberal Democrat councillor Colin Martin who won the 2021 election with 42.1 per cent of the vote, narrowly beating the Conversative candidate by 38 votes. Reform might fancy themselves as having an outside chance in Cornwall, given they gained large vote shares in the county in the 2024 General Election. In 2023, Ollie got engaged to the woman he left Love Island for, Cornish aristocrat Laura Nofer. He had been dating her for 18 months before doing the show and after exiting the villa, Ollie quickly took his relationship with Laura to the next level. The former contestant posted: 'Strange things happen up on the Moor!', along with a ring emoji. Ollie, who was coupled up with eventual winner Paige Turley before quitting the show, said: 'I have to be honest with myself, and everyone, that I do still love someone else' The aspiring politician, 29, appeared on the 2020 edition of the dating show but was only in the villa for three days before he realised he still had feelings for another girl Explaining his reasons for leaving, Ollie, who was coupled up with eventual winner Paige Turley at the time, said: 'I have to be honest with myself, and everyone, that I do still love someone else. 'I have to follow my heart in this scenario and it would be wrong for me to ignore these feelings. 'At the end of the day, this is Love Island and it's about finding love. If I carried on anything with Paige, or any other girl that might come into the villa, it wouldn't be fair on them.' Since his appearance on the show, Ollie has come under fire for posting pictures of hunting and culling trips, often showing him posing next to dead animals. Shortly before the engagement news, the reality star shared a bloody image to Instagram with a dead deer. Following his post, animal rights group PETA slammed the 'cold-hearted' viscount-in-waiting, in a statement shared with MailOnline. In the caption of his post, Ollie had written: 'A fantastic morning with @paulchilderley on the Chinese Water Deer. They are prolific breeders with a hell of an appetite for seedling crops! 5/6 for the Grand Slam, Sika to go! '@fieldsportschannel @benelli_armi @steiner_hunting @seelanduk @gmk_ltd @gateway1_footgear #deerstalking #deercull #deerhunting.' In 2023, Ollie got engaged to the woman he left Love Island for, Cornish aristocrat Laura Nofer (pictured) He had been dating her for 18 months before doing the show and after exiting the villa, Ollie quickly took his relationship with Laura to the next level In response to PETA's statement, James Aris, a spokesman for the Countryside Alliance said: 'All serious conservationists are agreed that we need to be culling deer to protect the environment and other wildlife. 'There are more deer in the United Kingdom than at any time since the Norman Conquest, and in many places, densities are far too high. 'Overgrazing by deer has been having a huge impact on other species, as well as the biodiversity of our environment due to the excessive browsing of vegetation, including shooting shrubs and sapling trees, that must be protected so they grow to soak up carbon and help fight climate change. 'With a minuscule carbon footprint and probably the largest variety of environmental benefits of any meat venison as a food source is hard to argue with. 'It is packed with protein, zinc and iron, as well as having the added bonus of being good for the climate. It is irresponsible of PETA or any other animal rights group to criticise those conducting this vital service.' Ollie - who has denied he is a trophy hunter - previously left fans 'traumatised' as he posed with dead deer, which he killed while taking part in a cull in Dartmoor. While he often mentions his days out hunting on Instagram posts, the former islander last posted a picture of a dead animal back in October in an upload which saw his dog carrying a pheasant. In March 2020, Ollie shocked fans by taking to social video with a video of himself shooting a deer and boasting about his kill, labelling it: 'My kind of stockpiling!' amid the coronavirus pandemic sweeping the globe. Since his appearance on the show, Ollie has come under fire for posting pictures of hunting and culling trips, often showing him posing next to dead animals MailOnline contacted Ollie's representatives for comment at the time. Earlier that year, the aristocrat caused outrage after images of him posing next to slaughtered animals in Africa emerged, with his family being forced to employ security to keep a 24-hour watch on their Cornish home from animal activists. In 2020, it was reported that Ollie tried to sell a buffalo head for 8,000 online - five months before the star denied he is a trophy hunter after quitting the ITV2 reality show. A photo obtained by The Sun shows a now-deleted listing for a Taxidermy Cape Buffalo Shoulder Mount with an asking price of 8,000 and allegedly posted by the star. According to the website Ollie bought the buffalo head - described as used - at an auction for 648.70 and had hoped to make a healthy profit from the sale, putting the item on eBay in August. A source told The Sun: 'Ollie had gone to Holts auctioneers in Norfolk in June and spotted this cape buffalo shoulder mount. 'He thought it would be an investment and hoped he'd be able to sell it and make a profit but nobody ever bought it.' The website also confirmed the buffalo head was taken down from eBay. Shortly before the engagement news, the reality star shared a bloody image to Instagram with dead deer The Cape Buffalo is one of the dead animals Ollie was seen posing with in photos that sparked a furious viewer backlash and a petition calling for him to be axed. Ollie said in a statement at the time: 'Having left the Love Island house I have become aware of the press stories circulating in the UK. I would like to make a number of comments on the various claims and accusations. 'I had no knowledge of the stories until I had left the Love Island villa and all cast members are unaware of any news stories while they are on the programme. My reasons for leaving Love Island are as communicated on the show. 'I did not shoot any of the animals shown in the photographs nor have I ever shot as a trophy hunter. 'I did volunteer to take part in the conservation and anti-poaching programme in Mozambique, a part of which involves old or sick animals being culled. I was there as an observer. 'The Cornish Sporting Agency was set up in 2017 and has never traded. I feel very passionately about conservation and will continue to support sustainable conservation causes around the globe. 'These benefit the natural world and the animals which live within it, even if certain elements appear controversial when viewed out of context. As I am no longer in Love Island, I will comment no further on this issue.' March 31, 2025: During January 2025 Chinese and Filipino coast guard ships collided ships in the South China Sea near Second Thomas Shoal. Four Filipino crewmen were injured. China also employed 40 fishing trawlers and other ships to block Filipino coast guard operations. In February 2025, Chinese ships interfered with Filipino coast guard vessels trying to carry out a medical evacuation. China deployed about 40 ships during this effort to capture and destroy a Filipino LST that had long been used as an outpost to establish the Filipino claim to Second Thomas Shoal. During early 2024 there were several clashes between the Chinese and Filipino coast guard ships. During December 2024 there were several collisions and clashes between Chinese and Filipino boats. During November 2024 there clashes between Chinese and Filipino coast guard ships over who controlled the Spratly Islands. There was more of the same in October and September. During July and August 2024 China used 40 ships to block Filipino access to Second Thomas Shoal. In July there was also another ruling by the International Court in The Hague affirming Filipino rights in the South China Sea. China ignored a similar ruling made in 2016. In June 2024: There was a clash in the South China Sea between naval forces of China and the Philippines. The cause of this largely non-lethal battle was a Filipino attempt to resupply Filipino marines stationed on an old Landing Ship Tank/LST deliberately run aground on Second Thomas Shoal in 1999 to asset Filipino ownership of the Shoal and much of South China Sea. There have been several similar clashes in the last year. The most recent ones in May and June involved a large number of Chinese ships that physically blocked Filipino Coast Guard and supply ships from reaching the grounded LST. Several of the Filipino RIBs (Rigid Inflatable Boats) were sunk by Chinese sailors in speedboats who came alongside and used knives to puncture the RIBs hulls and cause them to sink. A Filipino sailor lost a thumb when his boat collided with a fast moving Chinese speedboat. China seized materials meant for the LST and used loud sirens and strobe lights to disorient Filipino sailors trying to get their boats close to the LST. Among the seized materials were additional weapons for the LST crew. China has refused to return the weapons or any other cargo they seized. Technically this is piracy but even if an international court agrees with that, the Chinese will ignore the courts as they did several years earlier when a court ruling confirmed that portions of the South China Sea were under the control of the Philippines. China is one of the many nations that signed agreements governing the law of the sea, but the Chinese later ignore any agreements they signed if these agreements get in their way. This is what continues to occur in the South China Sea. The Chinese Navy and Maritime Militia musters dozens of Coast Guard and commercial fishing trawlers that are paid by the Chinese to serve as a naval militia and, when called upon by the government, cease fishing and assemble for whatever the navy wants them to do. Usually it is to congregate in large numbers near disputed, with the Philippines, islands, reefs and shoals to keep Filipino fishing boats out and claim these areas for the exclusive use by Chinese fishing trawlers. In one recent case Chinese ships equipped with water cannon hit Filipino fishing boats with large quantities of sea water to keep them from operating in traditional Filipino fishing areas. The June clashes were the largest and most violent yet. In one case a Filipino helicopter dropped supplies near the LST and as the marines were retrieving them, Chinese speedboats arrived and seized some of the air dropped parcels and ripped open the waterproof packaging and scattered the contents on the ocean surface. Apparently, the Chinese government has ordered its naval forces to use any means necessary to deprive the grounded LST of any supplies and try to starve out the marines stationed on the LST. Increasingly more Chinese coast guard ships are patrolling Second Thomas Shoal, First Thomas Shoal, and Half Moon Shoal, all within the Filipino EEZ or Exclusive Economic Zone, waters 380 kilometers from the coast but now claimed by China. The Philippines EEZ in the South China Sea is where Filipinos have been fishing the reefs and other shallow waters for centuries, long before there was a Philippine state and without interference from Chinese fishermen, who only occasionally showed up. Thats because fishing boats with refrigeration, a 20th century invention, only recently made it possible for Chinese fishermen to scour the entire South China Sea for fish to profitably catch, refrigerate and carry back to China. The 20th century also meant the possibility of finding oil or gas deposits in the South China Sea as well as controlling key shipping routes via the Malacca Strait. Aerial and satellite photos indicate that Chinese military construction efforts on Woody Island, one of the disputed Paracel Islands closer to China, are complete. The garrison consists of a battalion of naval infantry and a 2,300 meter long air strip. This is long enough to support warplanes and commercial transports as large as Boeing 737s, which China has a lot of. A school building was completed in 2013 for the 40 children of officials and their families stationed there. There is an artificial harbor that can handle ships of up to 5,000 ton displacement. This harbor is heavily used because there is no local water supply and much of the water still has to be brought in along with fuel for all the land, sea and air vehicles as well as the generators. While there is some recreational fishing going on, the two thousand people on the island require regular food deliveries from the mainland. In addition to the military garrison there is also a civilian rescue detachment equipped with helicopters and small boats. This detachment is largely for the waters around Woody Island and a few smaller islands that amount to about 13 square kilometers of land. China recently used dredging to increase the land area by about 20 percent. Construction is largely complete for facilities in the capital of Sansha, a new Chinese municipality or city. Sansha is actually Woody Island and dozens of smaller bits of land, some of them shoals that are under water all the time, in the Paracels and the Spratly Islands to the south. In fact, the new city lays claim to two million square kilometers of open sea, which is 57 percent of the South China Sea. China has completed similar construction projects in the South China Sea and satellite photos reveal this to be true. China claims the South China Sea and all islands and near islands like reefs as Chinese property. To reinforce these claims of sovereignty China is occupying uninhabitable islands and creating new ones by dredging sand from reefs and shoals to create new uninhabitable islands. Like Woody Island, these new islands are staffed with troops and government employees and supplied, at great expense, from the mainland. China even built two special supply ships to make regular deliveries to their many island bases in the South China Sea. Dylan Sprouse and his model wife Barbara Palvin cut a casual display in tracksuit bottoms as they stepped out to the LA Studio City Farmers Market on Sunday. The actor, 32, and the model, 31, have been together for almost seven years after the actor first contacted her via DM in 2017. And they appeared happier than ever as Barbara was spotted smiling while she helped carry the bags of food after a morning of shopping. For the outing, Dylan was seen in a pair of brown cargo trousers, which he paired with a crisp white T-shirt and a fur-lined suede biker jacket. He finished his relaxed ensemble with white chunky trainers and kept a low profile behind a pair of black sunglasses. Meanwhile, Barbara looked comfortable in a black cropped bomber jacket, which she paired with matching trousers and white trainers. Dylan Sprouse, 32, and his model wife Barbara Palvin,31, cut a casual display in tracksuit bottoms as they stepped out to the LA Studio City Farmers Market on Sunday The actor, 32, and the model, 31, have been together for almost seven years after the actor first contacted her via DM in 2017 The couple reportedly tied the knot in her native Hungary, just one month after confirming their engagement in June, 2023. Bors Online claimed the couple said 'I do' nearby the Hungarian capitol of Budapest and published photos a fan had taken of the bride in her wedding dress. The photos show the Hungarian supermodel in an exquisite white wedding dress with a flowing veil, sheer gloves, and a huge smile on her face. The couple confirmed their betrothal in the July 2023 issue of V Magazine, following months of speculation. In March of that year, Barbara flashed a diamond engagement ring at the Mammoth Film Festival but did not confirm she was ready to wed. Confirming their engagement to V, the model posted to her Instagram account: 'With the power invested in V I am a Sprouse to be, @dylansprouse.' In a video she is seen in a wedding dress as she holds the face of her groom. She told the magazine she was thrilled with the news. 'I knew we were building this story up,' Barbara told the outlet. 'So, I'm very happy that we ended up doing it our way.' And they appeared happier than ever as Barbara was spotted smiling while she helped carry the bags of food while shopping at home For the outing, Dylan was seen in a pair of brown cargo trousers, which he paired with a crisp white T-shirt and a fur-lined suede biker jacket She raved about him in 2019. 'I feel like I found the perfect guy,' she told Vogue Australia. 'He's very kind and gentleThat's what I do on my day off: I spend it with the people I love and I'm very much in love right now.' A source told ET that the Hungarian supermodel was engaged and had 'been showing off her ring to people.' The insider continued: 'They're always very in love with one another and by each other's sides, but they're even happier than usual. The couple reportedly tied the knot in her native Hungary , just one month after confirming their engagement in June, 2023 (pictured March 2022) They confirmed their betrothal in last month's issue of V Magazine, following months of speculation 'They can't wait to start this new chapter together.' Speaking to W Magazine in 2019, Dylan talked about how they met. He recalled messaging the beauty on Instagram after she randomly followed him on the app. 'She followed me, so I was like, I guess I'll give her something. And I slid into her DMs,' he told the outlet. He tried to organize a meetup with the Victoria's Secret model but it took longer than expected for her to respond. 'I was like, "Hey, I don't know if you're in New York for very long, but we should hang out if you want to. Here's my number." And she didn't message me for six months,' he recalled. But Barbara made a major move by flying out to China in 2018, where Dylan was having six-month movie shoot, in order to have their first official date. She told PEOPLE that Dylan was instantly ready to go steady, but that she had some reservations. 'And then I was like, "OK, let's do it." I just sat down, took a deep breath, and I'm like, "What am I waiting for? There's no other guy I would love more than I love him, and he's got everything that I need,"' she recalled to the outlet. Confirming their engagement to V back in June 2023, the model posted to her Instagram account: 'With the power invested in V I am a Sprouse to be, @dylansprouse' Barbara later admitted to PEOPLE that she knew she was in love with Dylan the 'first minute we met.' They made their relationship Instagram official in August 2018 and made their red carpet debut during New York Fashion Week that September. They reportedly moved in together in January 2019 and Barbara was introduced to Dylan's twin brother Cole the following month. Barbara and Dylan have not been shy about showing their love for one another on social media, as well as at the number of events they've attended together over the years. Advertisement Married At First Sight's worst kept secret is now in the open after the Reunion Finale trailer confirmed a controversial couple swap. Jacqui Burfoot, originally paired with Ryan Donnelly, and Clint Rice, originally paired with Lauren Hall, made their relationship MAFS official as they put on a loved up display in this season's final trailer. The clip opened with the pair sharing multiple kisses as the obvious was declared by the former groom. 'Since the experiment, we've been in touch,' Clint, 44, told the camera. 'And we've touched each other...' he said, as his new beau laughed hysterically beside him. While it's long been known that the couple have been romantically involved, with Jacqui, 29, confirming on Instagram that she had moved into Clint's Tasmania home, it is not known when the pair began their tryst. Jacqui Burfoot, originally paired with Ryan Donnelly, and Clint Rice, originally paired with Lauren Hall, made their relationship MAFS official as they put on a loved up display in this season's final trailer In a piece to camera, Clint served a devastating blow to his girlfriend's former husband: 'Jacqui's gone from a Kia to a Ferrari.' It's this fact that Ryan, 36, was very quick to hypothesise on at the sit-down dinner. 'You guys started this whole connection while we were still married,' he sensationally claimed in the clip, as the other participants reeled in shock. Then, in a piece to camera, Clint served a devastating blow to his girlfriend's former husband: 'Jacqui's gone from a Kia to a Ferrari.' Jacqui, who delivered the most brutal and bizarre breakup speech in the show's history in Monday night's episode, could be seen telling Ryan to 'zip it' from across the table. She then proceeded to lose her cool as her shouts towards her former husband turned into uncomfortable shrieks. 'I tried my a** off. My literal a**. I did,' she screamed, as the trailer expertly cut to a loud thunder strike and then to comedic relief Jamie Marinos. 'Appreciate Jacqui like a work of art,' she told the camera in the wake of the reality star's meltdown. Elsewhere in the trailer, Sierah Swepstone could be seen yelling 'stop' repetitively across the dinner table, fan favourite Jamie was in tears as she covered her face and Paul Antoine was given a serious talking to by love expert John Aiken while on the couch. Jacqui proceeded to lose her cool as her shouts towards her former husband turned into uncomfortable shrieks. 'Appreciate Jacqui like a work of art,' Jamie told the camera in the wake of the reality star's meltdown 'I'm gonna tell you the way it is,' John told the groom. 'And look at me when I'm talking to you because I won't get another chance to give this to you straight,' he sensationally instructed Paul, before the trailer cut him off. To no one's surprise, up-and-down MAFS couple Ryan and Jacqui entered splitsville during their Final Vows on Monday night. In some of the most bizarre scenes the Nine series has ever seen, Jacqui accused Ryan of organising 'a gang attack' on her. She then tore the groom down with several pages of lengthy vows before leaving him cussing her out at the altar while she promised to return with a new man. 'I'm hopeful I will find my person, I just don't know when it's going to be. I have a feeling it's going to happen sooner than I think,' she said to the camera with a smile, hinting at her controversial relationship with former groom Clint. The Married At First Sight Reunion will take place on Monday and Tuesday next week, with Nine airing the drama-packed finale episodes over two nights. Tommy Fury showed off some incredibly poor parking skills on Monday after he was spotted positioning his 200,000 Mercedes G-Wagon across two parking spaces in Sale, Greater Manchester. Despite having returned from a reconciliation trip to Dubai with Molly-Mae Hague just days ago, the boxer, 25, nipped into a nearby tanning salon. However, he was seemingly in a hurry to get to his treatment as he failed to check how he'd parked his luxury 4x4. Images of his huge dark grey vehicle show the wheels positioned either side of the parking lines, meaning that cars would be unable to park either side of it. As he walked away from his motor, Tommy cut a casual figure sporting a crisp white T-shirt beneath a black zip-up jacket. He added black trousers and white and pink trainers to his relaxed look. Tommy Fury showed off some poor parking skills on Monday after he was spotted positioning his 200,000 Mercedes G-Wagon across two parking spaces in Sale, Greater Manchester Images of his huge dark grey vehicle show the wheels positioned either side of the parking lines, meaning that cars would be unable to park either side of it Tommy's bad parking comes after he reportedly caught speeding just days after his split from fiancee Molly-Mae was revealed last August. The former Love Island star was caught by a speed camera doing 41mph in a 30mph zone on the A50 while in his swanky Mercedes G-Wagon, reports The Sun. The publication claims that he was charged with speeding in the Cheshire area near his home and the allegation was found proven by Warrington magistrates. He had to pay a 220 fine, 88 in surcharges and 90 in prosecution costs and had three points added to his previously clean licence, they report. MailOnline contacted representatives for Tommy for comment at the time. He reportedly wasn't required to attend the short hearing on February 13. Meanwhile, his ex-fiancee Molly-Mae's track record with driving isn't the best either as in December, she was slapped with her sixth parking ticket of the year as she departed her office in Cheshire. The star was greeted with the fine on her 200,000 Mercedes G Wagon after a long day at work. Despite having returned from a reconciliation trip to Dubai with Molly-Mae Hague just days ago, the boxer, 25, nipped into a nearby tanning salon However, he was seemingly in a hurry to get to his treatment as he failed to check how he'd parked his luxury 4x4 Tommy failed to position his car within the lines The huge vehicle took up plenty of space in the car park As he walked away from his motor, Tommy cut a casual figure sporting a crisp white T-shirt beneath a black zip-up jacket He added black trousers and white and pink trainers to his relaxed look Tommy was seen leaving a tanning salon days after returning from Dubai It marked her sixth parking ticket as of late after she was already met with one earlier in December and another two in November. It comes after Tommy shared a gushing tribute to Molly-Mae to celebrate Mother's Day, marking her first appearance on his social media since their split last year. The influencer and the boxer, both 25, shocked fans when they announced they had separated in August, after five years and welcoming daughter Bambi, two. However, in recent months they have sparked rising speculation that they have rekindled their romance, but have yet to publicly confirm they are back together. But in the biggest hint to their reconciliation yet, Tommy took to his Instagram Stories on Sunday night to share a photo of Molly-Mae cuddling Bambi and voice his gratitude to her. He penned: 'Happy Mother's Day, thank you for being the best mummy I could've asked for our girl' with a heart emoji. It comes after Tommy shared a gushing tribute to Molly-Mae to celebrate Mother's Day , marking her first appearance on his social media since their split last year The influencer and the boxer, both 25, shocked fans when they announced their split in August, but recently sparked rising speculation that they have rekindled their romance The sweet snap, showing Molly-Mae beaming up at the camera with Bambi in her lap, significantly is the first snap of the Maebe founder on Tommy's socials since their split, despite the pair recently returning from holiday together. The two stars only arrived back in the UK last weekend, after jetting to Dubai with their daughter for a reunion holiday earlier this month. And while both shared a slew of photos from the lavish trip with their little girl, they made sure not to include each other. Molly-Mae's pals are now reported to be saying the couple are in the honeymoon phase all over again and that the reality star has made it very clear she 'doesn't care who knows' they are back together. Georgia Harrison looked nothing short of sensational in a plunging blue bikini as she posed for sizzling Instagram snaps on Sunday during a Dubai getaway. The former Love Island star, 30, showed off her amazing figure in the halterneck top which she teamed with matching bottoms and a pair of white lace trousers. Georgia looked happier than ever as she cosied up to her shirtless new boyfriend Jack at the beach. The TV star accessorised her beach ensemble with a chunky blue beaded necklace and shielded from the sun behind a pair of sunglasses. Styling her long blonde tresses in neat curls, Georgia wore a glamorous palette of makeup and was seen pulling on an oversized white shirt. The reality star flashed her gorgeous smile as she held hands with her new partner while posing for photos together. Georgia Harrison looked nothing short of sensational in a plunging blue bikini as she posed for sizzling Instagram snaps on Sunday during a Dubai getaway The reality star looked happier than ever as she cosied up to shirtless new boyfriend Jack at the beach She quipped in the caption: 'Good to be back , sand in the crack'. Fans and Georgia's famous Love Island pals including Olivia Attwood, Kaz Crossley and Millie Court, all took to the comments to say she looked 'gorgeous'. In January, Georgia revealed her hunky boyfriend on Instagram for the first time, sharing a gallery of loved-up snaps of the pair on holiday in Columbia. The reality TV star revealed in October that she had sparked up a relationship with someone who is not in the public eye. Previously Georgia, who found love again eight months after dating Anton Danyluk on Love Island All Stars, had kept her new man's identity covered as she posed for photos hiding his face. Discussing her new man, she previously told The Sun that he is 'out of the public eye', explaining: 'It's really refreshing and he's very grounded.' 'It's not something I've been shouting from the rooftops yet but it's going really, really well, and I'm really enjoying my time with him.' The former Love Island star, 30, showed off her amazing figure in the halterneck top which she teamed with matching bottoms and a pair of white lace trousers The TV star accessorised her beach ensemble with a chunky blue beaded necklace and shielded from the sun behind a pair of sunglasses The reality star flashed her gorgeous smile as she held hands with her new partner while posing for photos together Styling her long blonde tresses in neat curls, Georgia wore a glamorous palette of makeup and was seen pulling on an oversized white shirt Georgia pulled back her long tresses to keep cool as she walked along the beach Fans and Georgia's famous Love Island pals including Olivia Attwood, Kaz Crossley and Millie Court, all took to the comments to say she looked 'gorgeous' Adding that she feels she can be 'completely and utterly myself' when she's around him, Georgia concluded: 'For the first time in a while, I've met someone that I do think is a really good person and I enjoy being around.' Georgia's last known relationship was a brief fling with Anton Danyluk, whom she met on Love Island: All Stars in January. They split in April. Prior to that, she admitted that she had also dated Jake McLean, who died in a car accident in 2022. The reality star also famously dated Celebrity Big Brother winner Stephen Bear. She was left devastated after Bear secretly filmed them during an intimate moment and shared the video online. After being found guilty of voyeurism and two counts of disclosing private, sexual photos and films, Bear was sentenced to 21 months in prison in March 2023. He was released in January. In January, Georgia revealed her hunky boyfriend on Instagram for the first time, sharing a gallery of loved-up snaps of the pair on holiday in Columbia She famously dated Celebrity Big Brother winner Stephen Bear who was sentenced to 21 months in prison in March 2023 after secretly filming them having sex and posting it online (Stephen pictured last year) Georgia's last known relationship was a brief fling with Anton Danyluk, whom she met on Love Island: All Stars in January. They split in April (pictured last year) Georgia has since become a political campaigner to fight revenge porn incidents. She was recently crowned champion of Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins alongside pro boxer Lani Daniels and revealed the gruelling experience helped her overcome trauma. Experts gushed the pair had 'outshone the men' as they were the last two standing following gruelling weeks of SAS winter warfare training. Georgia told The Mirror: '[The experience] made me a lot stronger and it was almost like an actual turning point in my life to really overcome all the trauma and challenge I've been through the year before'. She continued: 'I'm like 'Right this is my time to come back fighting, come back stronger and move into a whole new era of my life''. Maura Higgins enjoyed a boozy lunch with a Love Island superfan on Monday, sharing shots with Hollywood A-lister Margot Robbie at Flute in Broadwick, Soho Hotel. Margot has made no secret of her love for the ITV2 reality show and when she heard Love Island icon Maura was nearby, she sent over an invite. The event was held to celebrate the launch of Fever-Tree x Papa Salt Blood Orange Gin Spritz ready to drink can. Posing for a sunny selfie, Maura, 34, told her Instagram followers: 'When Margot Robbie invites you to lunch... you go.' The next post saw a beaming Margot pouring shots of her Papa Salt Coastal gin and toasting Maura as the delighted Irish star declared: 'Got me on shots at 2pm WHAT A WOMAN!!!!' Other attendees included Margot's husband Tom Ackerley, Laura Jackson, Annie Doble, Max Hurd, Poppy Jamie, Creed McKinnon and more. Maura Higgins enjoyed a boozy lunch with a Love Island superfan on Monday, sharing shots with Hollywood A-lister Margot Robbie at Flute, Broadwick Soho Hotel in London The next post saw a beaming Margot pouring shots of her Papa Salt Coastal gin and toasting Maura as the delighted Irish star declared: 'Got me on shots at 2pm WHAT A WOMAN!!!!' Margot, 34, was later spotted out in Soho with husband Tom, 35, following her boozy lunch event. The Oscar-nominated star cut an understated figure in an oversized denim jacket with her long blonde hair styled poker straight. While producer Tom was ever the gentleman as he helped carry the couple's bags to their car, looking stylish in a black T-shirt and linen trousers. Margot looked to be enjoying a well earned break from the UK set of the anticipated adaptation of Wuthering Heights. The Aussie actress is a very vocal fan of Love Island, revealing that the love affair started when she lived in a house share in Clapham, London. Unlikely as it may sound for a woman whose home is now a 2.1 million Los Angeles mansion, Margot was until 2016 a resident of Clapham, South London, living with six friends, including her future husband Tom Ackerley, in a ramshackle, four-bedroom flat ironically dubbed The Manor. 'Love Island reminds me of living in London watching it with my girlfriends when everybody was home from work,' she previously gushed. 'Those were the best days of my life. For me, where you live and what you do have to be simplistic and comfortable, otherwise how are you possibly going to relax?' Margot, 34, was later spotted out in Soho with husband Tom, 35, following her boozy lunch event The Oscar-nominated star cut an understated figure in an oversized denim jacket with her long blonde hair styled poker straight While producer Tom was ever the gentleman as he helped carry the couple's bags to their car, looking stylish in a black T-shirt and linen trousers Margot took her love for the ITV2 show to new heights in 2021 when she bagged Islander, and Maura's ex Chris Taylor, a role in her smash hit Barbie movie. Having kept the cameo a secret for two years, Christold LadBible at the 2023 movie's premiere: 'There is a bit of a backstory. The lads went to a premiere.' 'They met Margot [Robbie], and then afterwards Margot shouted them and said "Come to the after party!", cause shes obsessed with Love Island right. 'So then, I was living with the boys at the time, so I was like "Im coming" and she knew who we all were. She watches the show. 'So she comes up to me like "Chris!" and Im like "what the f**k is going on?" I dunno, she must have just remembered me from then.' Chris met Margot when the Hollywood star bought 2019 Love Island contestants Lucie Donlan, Michael Griffiths and Jordan Hames back to her apartment after the 2020 London premiere of Birds of Prey. Margot has invited a string of Love Island icons to her premieres over the years, seen here posing with Ekin-Su Culcologlu at the 2023 Barbie premiere Love Island contestant Jordan Hames (pictured) with the actress in 2021 Margot took her love for the ITV2 show to new heights in 2021 when she bagged Islander, and Maura's ex Chris Taylor, a role in her smash hit Barbie movie Margot took her love for Love Island to new heights in 2020 as she brought Lucie Donlan, Michael Griffiths and Jordan Hames back to her apartment after a London premiere Just joined by her close friends, the surfer, the former firefighter and the model bonded over longboarding and were even invited to hang out with the actress in Los Angeles in the future. Detailing their fun-filled outing, reality star Lucie shared: 'After the film, we got a video message via an Instagram DM of Margot saying, "Please come to the after-party!" We got ready really quickly and joined her at The Oxo Tower. 'Michael and Jordan got tequila shots in, then we went back to her apartment with a few of her close friends. We chatted about surfing, because she's Australian, and she loves longboarding. It was so relaxed - she was just chilling in her slippers! 'She said, "If you're ever in LA, hit us up and we'll hang out." I just couldn't believe it', she added to The Sun. Ditching Barry Island for Liverpool, Ruth Jones could barely contain her excitement as she arrived at the northern city to film Netflix's RunAway on Monday. After starring in the final episode of Gavin and Stacey in December, the Welsh actress, 58, will now take on a new role for a Harlan Coben thriller. And Ruth seemed excited to get filming this week as she was spotted sporting a huge smile and waving her hands excitedly. For her scene, Ruth can be seen wearing a bright red cardigan, which she matched with her socks and layered under a green rain mac. Showcasing her quirky socks, Ruth folded the bottoms of her dark blue denim jeans and slipped into a pair of practical white trainers. To finish her practical ensemble, she accessorised with a silk red scarf and a pair of gold hoop earrings. Ditching Barry Island for Liverpool, Ruth Jones, 58, could barely contain her excitement as she arrived at the northern city to film Netflix's RunAway on Monday After starring in the final episode of Gavin And Stacey in December, the Welsh actress, 58, will now take on a new role for a Harlan Coben thriller The new twist-filled crime thriller is set to be another huge hit and will also star James Nesbitt, Minnie Driver, Alfred Enoch, Ellie de Lange and Lucian Msamati. The eight-episode series, based on the bestselling book, follows Simon (played by James Nesbitt) as he searches for his daughter Paige (Ellie de Lange). Ruth will star as private investigator Elena Ravenscroft who is looking for a missing young man. Harlan told Netflix's Tudum: 'Run Away is about family - about what we will do to keep our family intact, what secrets we keep within our family, and what secrets we keep as a family.' He added: 'Every time you walk past the house, there's a whole universe that goes on behind that door and none of us have a clue what it is.' Run Away comes following the success of Harlan's thriller Fool Me Once in 2024, starring Michelle Keegan in a lead role. The show became the most-watched series for the first half of the year, racking up an impressive 108 million views. And Ruth seemed excited to get filming this week as she was spotted sporting a huge smile and waving her hands excitedly For her scene, Ruth can be seen wearing a bright red cardigan, which she matched with her socks and layered under a green rain mac Showcasing her quirky socks, Ruth folded the bottoms of her dark blue denim jeans and slipped into a pair of practical white trainers It saw the British actress, 37, spot her presumed dead husband on a baby camera as her niece and nephew struggled to get to the bottom of the murder of their mother. The drama, which aired in January 2024 to positive reviews, also starred Joanna Lumley and Richard Armitage. More recently, Harlan's mystery series Missing You filled Fool Me Once's big boots after it was well-received by viewers following its release at the end of December. The five-part series followed Missing Persons detective Kat Donovan (Rosalind Eleazar) who was shocked to see her ex fiance Josh (Ashley Walters) on a dating app 11 years after he disappeared from her life without a trace. Josh's reappearance forced her to dive back into the mystery surrounding her father's (Lenny Henry) murder and led her to uncover long-buried secrets from her past. Run Away's James and Fool Me Once actor Richard joined lead actress Rosalind in the cast which also included Steve Pemberton and Jessica Plummer. Elsewhere, almost 20million viewers sat down to watch Gavin and Stacey on Christmas Day, making it one of the BBC's most-watched scripted dramas ever. Viewers had been waiting for five years to learn the fate of the BBC sitcom's beloved characters and see if Smithy had accepted Nessa's proposal. Elsewhere, almost 20million viewers sat down to watch Gavin and Stacey on Christmas Day, making it one of the BBC's most-watched scripted dramas ever (Ruth pictured as Nessa) The final episode was hailed 'perfect' by viewers, who were left in tears as the long-running show finally aired its last episode after 17 years. The series, which debuted back in 2007 after being created by stars James Corden and Ruth , concluded with on/off lovers Smithy and Nessa finally declaring their love for one another and tying the knot, but not without a few hiccups along the way. Despite ruling out a return to the series, James has said he wants to work with Ruth again. He said: 'We don't know if we have another idea in us but I can honestly say that if we didn't attempt to try and even explore the idea of writing together then I'd be so disappointed.' Louis Theroux has shared a candid update on his ongoing battle with hair loss condition alopecia, admitting he will soon be forced to shave his head bald. The documentarian, 54, took to Instagram on Monday after his trip to the barbers and posted a glimpse of his 'patchy AF' hair, saying he had opted to cut it short in a bid to make the condition less obvious. Louis admitted that he was preparing himself for the overhaul before quipping that his new look will also see him undergo a body makeover to resemble fellow bald stars Dwayne Johnson, as well as pair of bigger specs to be like Stanley Tucci. He also shared posted a throwback snap from 1994 when his hair was much darker but admitted the condition had 'always been an issue' for him. Louis wrote: 'Latest from Alopecia-land. Ive cut the hair short because I realised the longer it was the worse it looked. But its patchy AF and Im basically preparing the way for a full head shave some time in the next 12 months'. 'Big glasses a la Tucci, big muscles a la Dwayne Johnson, plus a year round tan. Thats the formula'. Louis Theroux has shared a candid update on his ongoing battle with hair loss condition alopecia, admitting he will soon be forced to shave his head bald Louis said that he's preparing himself for the overhaul before quipping that his new look will also see him undergo a body makeover to resemble fellow Dwayne Johnson (pictured) The documentarian, 54, took to Instagram on Monday after his trip to the barbers and posted a glimpse of his 'patchy AF' hair (L) Dwayne Johnson pictured (R) Before adding: Ive included a last photo from 1994 that I stumbled on yesterday as a reminder that the hair was always a problem, which I will have to worry about less and less as it disappears. Its like when your house burns down. At least I dont have to hoover!. Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disorder that causes hair to fall out, often in clumps the size and shape of a 50p coin. The amount of hair loss can vary, some lose it in a small areas while others have large patches of baldness. The hair can grow back but sometimes falls out again. In July Louis revealed that his alopecia had 'slightly improved' as he finally shared a snap of one of the 'scalp lesions'. He took to Instagram to reveal that after shaving off his eyebrows in March 2024, hair on his scalp had slowly begun to grow back. Joking that he'd 'found a solution to the problem of neck wrinkles,' Louis showed in one snap that he was using a clothes peg to tighten his skin. And after previously refusing to share an image of his 'scalp lesions,' the broadcaster revealed a glimpse of one such patch, right at the front of his head. Sharing four snaps of his improving hairline, Louis captioned his post: 'Not only is my Alopecia maybe slightly improving - I have also found a solution to the problem of neck wrinkles. See if you can guess what it is!!! Louis said he had opted to cut it short in a bid to make the condition less obvious He also shared posted a throwback snap from 1994 when his hair was much darker but admitted the condition had 'always been an issue' for him Louis wrote: 'Latest from Alopecia-land. Ive cut the hair short because I realised the longer it was the worse it looked. But its patchy AF and Im basically preparing the way for a full head shave some time in the next 12 months' He said: 'Big glasses a la Tucci, big muscles a la Dwayne Johnson , plus a year round tan. Thats the formula' (Stanley Tucci pictured) 'In picture four I've shared a glimpse of one of my Alopecia patches - at the front of my scalp. The medical term is lesions. 'Not gonna lie - the goth in me is slightly enjoying the sudden appearance of patches and stripes of grey and white hair in my barnet. Google ''Marie Antoinette Syndrome'' for more on the lineage of this.' Louis had previously revealed he'd had his eyebrows tattooed on after shaving them off during his battle with the condition. In his caption, Louis detailed his choice to undergo the treatment, writing: 'I realise there are much bigger things to worry about in the world but a while ago I shared that my eyebrows had basically disappeared due to alopecia... 'I received a lot of nice messages, some suggesting I try microblading, a form of temporary tattoo. So thats what I did! It took two sessions of a couple of hours... 'Im happy to have my old face back. The new brows are neater and more shapely than my real ones were. But there are a couple of wisps of my remaining hair in there which help make them look more natural.' He then shed light on how his scalp is transforming and confessed some of the alopecia is 'weird and depressing', so he is yet to share images. In July Louis revealed that his alopecia had 'slightly improved' as he finally shared a snap of one of the 'scalp lesions' He also announced he'd had his eyebrows tattooed on after shaving them off during his battle with the condition Louis continued: 'Meanwhile more gaps - or lesions to use the technical term - have appeared on my scalp. I have photos of those which I may share at some point or I may not - they are a bit weird and depressing to look at tbh... 'Life goes on. I am happy and healthy in every other way and I feel very grateful.' After shaving off his eyebrows he took to Instagram with a slew of selfies showing off his transformation including a video depicting the moment he opted to remove the facial hair, having previously been candid about his battle with the condition. He had previously shared with fans he was considering having his expressive eyebrows tattooed to save his career - and even debated microblading - a semi-permanent form of cosmetic tattooing. The acclaimed journalist took the first step as he completely shaved off his eyebrows, showing the changing look in different angles in the three selfies. He added a caption reading: 'Can you tell whats different? Ive shaved off my eyebrows! Im also thinking about getting micro blading soon. In the meanwhile I figure no eyebrows is better than patchy eyebrows. Do you agree?' Lisa Rinna shared the harrowing details of her mother's near deadly encounter with a prolific serial killer. The 62-year-old media personality - who revealed her dad died by assisted suicide - discussed the time her mother, Lois Rinna, was brutally attacked by a man who went on to be come an infamous serial killer in the San Francisco area. Lois - who died aged 93 in November 2021 - had encountered David Carpenter AKA The Trailside Killer in 1960 which led to his arrest and seven years in prison. She opened up about the terrifying incident on the Friday, March 28 episode of her podcast with husband Harry Hamlin titled Let's Not Talk About The Husband. Lisa - who previously opened up about the encounter on RHOBH - explained: 'My mom, when she was 30 years old, was brutally attacked by a serial killer. We didnt know he was a serial killer at the time, but he turned out to be a serial killer.' The mother to Amelia and Delilah Hamlin said that she had been thinking about the incident again as her Pilates teacher recently told her that another one of their clients is a producer and is considering doing a project on Carpenter. Lisa Rinna shared the harrowing details of her mother's near deadly encounter with a prolific serial killer The 62-year-old media personality - who revealed her dad died by assisted suicid e - discussed the time her mother, Lois Rinna, was brutally attacked by a man who went on to be come an infamous serial killer in the San Francisco area; the mother and daughter are seen in Beverly Hills back in April 2008 Lois - who died aged 93 in November 2021 - had encountered David Carpenter AKA The Trailside Killer in 1960 which led to his arrest and seven years in prison The Trailside Killer was convicted of seven murders and confirmed to be the killer in an eighth murder in addition to being suspected in two additional killings. Lisa described her mother's dangerous encounter as she said: 'She worked with him. He stuttered, so she felt sorry for him but was always nice to him. Heres what happened. She was at the bus stop. They lived in San Francisco. She didnt have a car so she took the bus, and she was going to the dentist in the morning, maybe before work. 'David Carpenter drives up and says, "Hi, Lois, can I give you a ride? Id love for you to come see my new baby." He had a baby. He was married!' Lois had initially declined the offer but he kept on pushing until she eventually accepted it. The reality star continued: 'They start driving, and all of a sudden, shes starting to feel weird, of course, because it didnt feel right, and all of a sudden, hes talking to her and hes not stuttering. Thats when she knew. 'And she said, "David, whats going on?" He said, "I dont know, Lois. Sometimes, something funny comes over me." And she knew she was f***ing cooked.' Lisa went on to explain that Carpenter drove her mother on a deserted road in the park and former US Army post called The Presidio where he began brutally attacking her. The star said: 'He straddles my mom, my moms in the passenger seat, grabs a knife out of the glove box all of a sudden he goes at her with a knife. She opened up about the terrifying incident on the Friday, March 28 episode of her podcast with husband Harry Hamlin titled Let's Not Talk About The Husband as she explained: 'My mom, when she was 30 years old, was brutally attacked by a serial killer. We didnt know he was a serial killer at the time, but he turned out to be a serial killer' The Trailside Killer was convicted of seven murders and confirmed to be the killer in an eighth murder in addition to being suspected in two additional killings; Carpenter pictured in Jun 1984 'She grabs it with her hand, so the knifes coming at you and she grabs it, so she slices her two fingers, so theyre, like, dangling.' That was when a military policeman started coming up the road leading to Carpenter to attack Lois with a hammer. Lisa explained that if it weren't for the officer, her mother would likely have died as she said: 'The military policeman shoots David Carpenter in the stomach. 'This is the creepiest, weirdest part of it all. [Lois is] in full-on shock. He hit her at least five times on the head with a hammer. Her fingers are dangling. Her purse spills out, she opens the car door somehow, her purse spills out and shes so busy picking up the items to put back in her purse. Her head is, like, gushing blood. Shes totally in shock, but all she wants to do is put her things back into her purse.' Lisa's mother spent three months in the hospital as she recovered from her injuries . Meanwhile Carpenter was convicted for the attack and spent seven years in prison then after another prison stint for kidnapping, he began his killing spree in 1979 and when he was put on trial for those murders, Lois had testified as Lisa went to watch. Lisa described: '[It] was freaky. I saw him!' She had to look at him. It was really f***ing trippy.' Lisa also opened up about the deeply personal circumstances surrounding her father Frank Rinnas 2016 death at age 94, revealing he passed away through assisted suicide. Meanwhile Carpenter was convicted for the attack and spent seven years in prison then after another prison stint for kidnapping, he began his killing spree in 1979 and when he was put on trial for those murders, Lois had testified as Lisa went to watch as Lisa described: '[It] was freaky. I saw him!' She had to look at him. It was really f***ing trippy' The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills alum shared the emotional revelation during the latest episode of her Lets Not Talk About the Husband podcast, which she co-hosts with husband Harry Hamlin. Frank died in Oregon, where the states 1997 Death with Dignity Act allows terminally ill patients to end their lives with medical assistance, including help from so-called death doulas. 'In Oregon, youre permitted to check out when you want to check out, said Harry, 73. He was 94, and his quality of life had diminished to the point where he wanted to transition. You can do that in Oregon if you follow the right guidelines and the protocols and talk to the right number of doctors. Lisa added, 'You have to have two doctors that sign off on your terminal illness, so to speak, noting that the process took her father about three to six months to complete. I never told this story at the time, she admitted. I had started the [RHOBH] show, and I think it was just too painful at the time. Rinna described the moment she watched her father die at a hospice as 'surreal.' With her half-sister and a 'death doula' by his side, she recalled feeling detached from reality: I didnt feel like I was in my body, she said. She explained that under Oregon law, the person choosing assisted death must physically take the medication themselves. Rinna also recently opened up about the deeply personal circumstances surrounding her father Frank Rinnas 2016 death at age 94, revealing he passed away through assisted suicide; (seen in 2024) The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills alum, 61, shared the emotional revelation during the latest episode of her Lets Not Talk About the Husband podcast, which she co-hosts with husband Harry Hamlin Frank died in Oregon , where the states 1997 Death with Dignity Act allows terminally ill patients to end their lives with medical assistance, including help from so-called death doulas'; (Lisa with dad Frank and mom Lois) 'The person thats dying has to be able to pick up the juice, or whatever, to drink it themselves. You cant administer it to somebody. According to Rinna, her father was 'so mad' when his death was postponed by two days due to a delay in receiving the medication. 'He was in pain and he was really unhappy, she said. Calling the moment a surreal position to be in, the RHOBH alum admitted the emotional toll of watching a parent die by choice. 'You want to support what they want to do, but youre going to watch your parent kill themselves,' she said. 'Thats what were doing. But he wanted it so badly.' I never told this story at the time, Lisa admitted, adding, I had started the [RHOBH] show, and I think it was just too painful at the time. 'You want to support what they want to do, but youre going to watch your parent kill themselves,' she said, adding, 'Thats what were doing. But he wanted it so badly;' (pictured Lisa and Frank) 'In Oregon, youre permitted to check out when you want to check out, said Harry, 73. He was 94, and his quality of life had diminished to the point where he wanted to transition. You can do that in Oregon if you follow the right guidelines and the protocols and talk to the right number of doctors' (seen in 2024) Lisa said Frank passed away about 45 minutes after drinking the medication. 'They just go to sleep, by the way. Its not anything gruesome, she said, adding that his death was very peaceful. It was a very humane way to go, she added. In that aspect, it didnt feel awful, but it felt awful.' Rinna famously left RHOBH in 2023 while grappling with the loss of her mother Lois, making her return to such raw family memories all the more poignant. Oregon became the first US state to allow physician-assisted suicide in 1997, allowing terminally ill adult Oregonians, with less than six months left to live, to ask doctors for a fatal dose of drugs they then administer themselves, typically at home. In 2023, it became the first US state to allow non-residents to travel to the West Coast state to end their lives. Physician-assisted death, also known as medical aid in dying, is currently legal in 10 US states and Washington, D.C.: California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Vermont, and Washington. Hollywood action star Tom Cruise has some clever advice for people who suffer from social anxiety. His Mission: Impossible costar Hayley Atwell shared the words of wisdom last week. The British beauty said that the 62-year-old A-list actor told her exactly what to do when getting nervous as she appeared on the show Reign With Josh Smith Podcast. The tip Cruise gave her was surprisingly simple. 'If you walk into a room and you feel the anxieties coming, and it makes me want to retreat into myself, and I start to overthink and I start to go, "Do I look weird? Do I seem awkward? I'm not speaking, I'm just muffling my words or I need something to do to numb me from this," we go into ourselves,' Atwell said. 'And he said, "Try doing the opposite."' Hollywood action star Tom Cruise has advice for people who suffer from social anxiety. And it is only four words long. Seen in 2023 His Mission: Impossible costar Hayley Atwell said Cruise told her: 'If you walk into a room and you feel the anxieties coming, and it makes me want to retreat into myself' do the opposite And she added, 'Try to look out, look around the room and go "Where is it? Where is the thing that I have attached on to my insecurity,"' Atwell recalled of Cruise's advice. '"Is it that person over there that reminds me of my school bully? Is it that person over there that didn't give me a job once? '"That person over there that I think was mean to me once? Where does it live outside of me and where do I feel like the source of it might be coming from?"' she added. Atwell was in Tom's 2023 film Dead Reckoning Part One. And she will also pop up in 2025's The Final Reckoning. 'It can also be more contained instead of a free-floating one where I'm just in a total struggle internally with my own anxiety,' Atwell said. 'And I try and do that now more... If I'm scared of something, if I keep looking at it long enough, it tends to not sort of be the monster under the bed anymore.' Haley also said that if she understands her anxieties then she 'has an opportunity to do something about it.' She can then look at what insecurities she has. 'Try to look out, look around the room and go "Where is it? Where is the thing that I have attached on to my insecurity,"' Atwell recalled of Cruise's advice. Tom in 2012 Britain's Prince William, Duke of Cambridge (R) talks with Cruise (L) at the UK premiere of the film Top Gun: Maverick in London in 2022; Kate is in the background Hayley and Tom at the UK Premiere of Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One at Odeon Luxe Leicester Square in 2023 in London Atwell, Lily James and Keeley Hawes attend the ERDEM show during London Fashion Week February 2025 in February in London 'Like, if I maybe go up to that person and go, Hi. Or I go up to that person and go, "I'm really jealous of how amazing you are." It tends to just dissipate,' Atwell said. 'Being able to call it, to name the demon out loud and leave it on the floor, means that it's not living in me.' '... [Cruise] was just like, "If you're scared of something, keep looking at it. Try not to close your eyes or turn away, just keep looking at it,'" she said of Cruise's message. 'It will often give you information about what to do to overcome it.' The Final Reckoning will premiere in theaters on May 23, 2025. The movie also stars Ving Rhames, Simon Pegg, Vanessa Kirby, Shea Whigham, Pom Klementieff and Henry Czerny. Saskia Joss, the daughter of veteran television and radio presenter Vannesa Feltz, broke down in tears talking about her childhood raised in the shadow of an overexcitable celebrity mother. Hosted by national treasure, the Reverend Richard Coles, The Apple & The Tree podcast invites parents and their adult children to sit for an intimate chat in their family homes. Parent and child are encouraged to ask the awkward questions about their shared history they've always wanted answered. The first celebrity episode features seasoned TV and radio presenter Vanessa, 63, and her youngest daughter Saskia, 35. Saskia, who works as a therapist helping to treat children suffering from depression and anxiety, became emotional after reflecting on the impact her mothers bubbly and infectious personality had on her choice of career. In my job, I see children that are depressed. Depression is this state where you dont feel anything: you're kind of in a low, bleak, and grey place. One of the things I find that Im good at is pepping them back up, getting them to make some dopamine, to be excited about something again. I definitely got that from you. I feel so lucky that I have a parent that is so starry, so funny and so colourful. Saskia Joss: 'I feel so lucky that I have a parent that is so starry, so funny and so colourful. Saskia described how she and her sister never really had a rebellious teenage phase as Vanessa (seen on Monday) was always encouraging of any naughty thing they wanted to do There was time, Vanessa interrupted. There was a time I sent you a text saying, Ill meet you in Ibiza, dont forget your fake ID Saskia described how she and her sister never really had a rebellious teenage phase as Vanessa was always encouraging of any naughty thing they wanted to get up to. She said: We have always just gotten on really well and hung out. Me and mum did a bit of clubbing in our teen years together.' There was time, Vanessa interrupted. There was a time I sent you a text saying, Ill meet you in Ibiza, dont forget your fake ID. You cant really rebel against a mum that reminds you to bring your fake ID. Asked whether Vanessas celebrity was a help or a hindrance during her adolescence, Saskia spoke highly of the security and connections provided by her mothers career in the spotlight. She said: Being able to live with you and not be worried about money, that was very good. There was also a lot of excitement about having you as a mum all the interesting places we went to. Being on a helicopter with Bob Geldof, for example. A party for the Borrowers film where everything was massive in size, and youd walk through a giant keyhole. Some truly incredible experiences. Saskia noted however that during private family moments, like the death of a grandparent, Vanessas presence in the public eye could prove grating. When things were difficult, they were also very public. When sad things happen, like the death of a family member most people get to turn inwards, grieve, and not be seen doing it. But when you have a famous parent, people will come up to you and say: Oh I heard about your grandmother maybe that grieving process is not as private or organic as it should be. She also said at times it felt like people would try befriending her to get close to Vanessa. You are famous and that is interesting to people. Sometimes people were more interested in you than I thought they would be. You know, I would say, Im not asking questions about your mum what does it matter what my mum is doing this evening? Once I got married and had a different surname, that made that noise got a bit quieter I could just get on with what I was doing a little bit more. Listen to the full episode of the 'Apple & The Tree' wherever you get your podcasts. Every Thursday a new celebrity family will be put under the spotlight. Full House star Dave Coulier revealed he became a grandfather amid his battle with stage 3 non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The actor, 65, confirmed that his son and his wife, Alex, welcomed their first child together, a baby boy, on March 27 during a recent interview with Parade. 'We're so excited,' he gushed to the outlet. 'My son and his wife live in California, so we'll be making multiple trips to see that little boy.' The comedian, best known for his role as Joey Gladstone, went on to credit his grandson for helping him maintain a positive outlook on life. 'I don't know how else to view this other than with a positive attitude, especially because I'm in a position where I can inspire others,' he explained. 'A negative attitude doesn't inspire anybody. Positivity, though, can take you a long way.' In November, Coulier revealed he was diagnosed with a 'very aggressive' cancer and that the journey has been 'pretty overwhelming.' Full House star Dave Coulier revealed he became a grandfather amid his battle with stage 3 non-Hodgkin's lymphoma; seen in November 2024 Couliers wife, Melissa Bring revealed to Parade that her husband revealed he was 'prepared' to die following his fifth round of chemo. 'Those conversations were obviously so tough,' she added. Earlier this year, she revealed the news to a local Detroit reporter for WYXZ that her spouse has 'some really tough days.' 'As the chemo has been accumulating it gets a little tougher and more difficult,' she admitted in the interview, which took place in January. Despite this difficult battle, she added, 'He has such a positive attitude, and you need that in order to really fight it.' 'Every morning, if he's feeling up for it, we try to put on a song and do a little dance party with the dogs, because when you do feel good, you have to celebrate that too,' she said. She added that, 'everyone is really rallying around Coulier, and that he gets his strength from the losses he's suffered in the past. 'I think it's just innately in him. He has had a lot of loss in his life when it comes to having to deal with cancer,' she said, adding he lost his mother, sister and niece. The actor, 65, confirmed that his son and his wife, Alex, welcomed their first child together, a baby boy, on March 27 during a recent interview with Parade Coulier previously revealed that he shared the news of his diagnosis with his Full House co-stars via a group text. The chat includes series creator Jeff Franklin and castmates John Stamos, Lori Loughlin, Candace Cameron Bure, Jodie Sweetin, Andrea Barber, and Scott Weinger. Coulier portrayed the fun-loving Uncle Joey on Full House from 1987 to 1995 and returned for its Netflix sequel, Fuller House, which ran from 2016 to 2020. The St. Clair Shores, Michigan-born actor told People, 'I didn't want them to hear it from someone else, so I sent a text message out.' 'It was just this outpouring of, "I will be there. You just name the time, and I know you're in great hands with [wife Melissa Bring] but what can we do?"' he said. In November, Coulier revealed he was diagnosed with a 'very aggressive' cancer and that the journey has been 'pretty overwhelming' Coulier, who's also worked on popular shows such as Robot Chicken, How I Met Your Mother and It's Garry Shandling's Show, said of the show's inner circle: 'It really is overwhelming the love that we have for each other. 'We've been there for so many years for each other and it's pretty remarkable.' Coulier said that the bonds of the cast have been strong in the near-three years since the January 2022 death of Bob Saget at the age of 65. 'I think we value not only our lives together, but we value our lives,' he said. 'We value those good times and the positive moments that we've gotten to share. And I think that that spills over to other people, and it's just positive. 'There's not many negatives when I'm with that group of people. It's really just laughter and positivity, and we appreciate so much what we have in our lives and the people around us.' Coulier portrayed the fun-loving Uncle Joey on Full House from 1987 to 1995 and returned for its Netflix sequel, Fuller House, which ran from 2016 to 2020; seen in 1989 Coulier previously revealed he was diagnosed with cancer after dealing with an upper respiratory infection. 'I went from, I got a little bit of a head cold to I have cancer, and it was pretty overwhelming,' Coulier told the outlet. 'This has been a really fast roller coaster ride of a journey.' Coulier told People that cancer runs throughout his family, with the star losing his mom, sister and niece to breast cancer. His older sister Karen is also going through cancer at the moment. 'I saw what those women in my family went through, and I thought to myself, "If I can be just 1/10th of a percent as strong as they were, then I'm going to be just fine,"' he said. Rosie O'Donnell's estranged daughter Chelsea was sentenced after being arrested on multiple drug charges. The 27-year-old was sentenced to just six years probation during a hearing Monday in Oconto County, Wisconsin and faces a possible jail sentence if that probation is violated. Last month, Chelsea had pled guilty to charges of Possession of Methamphetamine, Bail Jumping-Felony, and Resisting or Obstructing an Officer. She had faced other charges but they were dismissed despite being read during the plea hearing in February. Chelsea had also faced charges in two different charges in Marinette County but the cases were all combined and settled with a plea as she has already been sentenced to probation for those charges. The daughter of Rosie must also compline with all the conditions that had been set forth in n her Marinette County cases. Rosie O'Donnell 's estranged daughter Chelsea was sentenced after being arrested on multiple drug charges as she just got six years probation during a hearing Monday in Oconto County, Wisconsin and faces a possible jail sentence if that probation is violated. Last month, Chelsea had pled guilty to charges of Possession of Methamphetamine, Bail Jumping-Felony, and Resisting or Obstructing an Officer; Rosie and Chelsea are seen together in New York back in June 2016 Those conditions include that Chelsea must comply with Marinette Drug Court programming, obtain a high school diploma or GED, and maintain absolute sobriety according to the online court records. This came months after Rosie spoke out after her daughter's latest arrest in connection with drug charges back in December. In an Instagram post shared to her account on December 3, 2024, the 62-year-old comedian and actress acknowledged for the first time her daughter Chelsea O'Donnell's arrest the previous month. O'Donnell adopted Chelsea with her first wife Kelli Carpenter (who she separated from in 2007) and the motherdaughter duo have been estranged on and off throughout much of Kelli's teens and adulthood. Chelsea was arrested for the third time in less than three months in connection with drug charges. She was most recently arrested on November 18, following previous arrests on September 10 and October 11 in connection with allegations of drug-related offenses. 'So yes this is true after being bailed out by her birth mother chelsea was arrested again,' O'Donnell wrote on Instagram. The League Of Their Own star included the admission alongside a screenshot of an email requesting comment from a Fox News Digital writer. In an Instagram post shared to her account on December 3, 2024, the 62-year-old comedian and actress Rosie acknowledged for the first time her daughter Chelsea O'Donnell's arrest the previous month The League Of Their Own star admitted Chelsea had been arrested and said she 'hope[s]' her daughter will be 'able to get the help she needs to turn her life around' Shortly after posting her somber update, O'Donnell shared a closeup selfie of herself in which she beamed while wearing sunglasses O'Donnell went on to acknowledge that her daughter 'is facing many charges related to her drug addiction.' 'we all hope she is able to get the help she needs to turn her life around,' she wrote, adding the hashtags '#drug-addiction,' '#tragic,' '#sadness' and '#truth.' O'Donnell didn't share if she had taken any recent steps to either bail out her daughter or to get enrolled in a drug abuse treatment program. Chelsea previously complained to DailyMail.com that her mother was more interested in advocating for freedom for the Menendez brothers than getting her out of jail. Shortly after posting her somber update, O'Donnell shared a closeup selfie of herself in which she beamed while wearing sunglasses. Chelsea had been out on $4,000 bail (posted by her birth mother on November 13) at the time of her most recent arrest, Us Weekly reported Monday after reviewing court documents. Authorities said in legal documents that Chelsea was arrested on November 18 in Niagara, Wisconsin, after a vehicle she was riding in had been pulled over by police over a loud exhaust system. Police detected 'pick marks' synonymous with illegal drug abuse on Chelsea's face, and requested her to provide identification, which she didn't have on her, according to the legal docs. Rosie was taking a tough love approach to the legal situation with her, Chelsea told Dailymail.com last month. Pictured last year in Pasadena, California Chelsea did submit to the officer her name and birthdate, the legal docs stated, after which the officer determined she was out on bond in connection with her prior two arrests. Police then cleared the vehicle and implemented a K9 search, at which time it was determined there were narcotics in the vehicle, according to the legal docs. Naloxone, a medication to reverse opiate overdose was retrieved from the vehicle's trunk, police said. Police searching Chelsea found a 'clear smoking device' hidden in her bra during a search of her person, according to legal docs, with residue on the pipe later testing positive for traces of methamphetamine. Officials said in court docs that Chelsea had been 'argumentative' with officers who sought to search her and wound up handcuffed, later 'calming down and becoming cooperative,' at which point the handcuffs were taken off. Authorities at the Marinette County Jail conducted a strip search on Chelsea in which 'officers found a prescription bottle in Chelseas vagina,' InTouch reported, citing court docs. The bottle contained a mix of hydrocodone, lamotrigine and Alprazolam pills, legal docs stated; and a bag containing a 'crystal-like substance,' according to legal docs reviewed by Us Weekly. Chelsea subsequently received five new charges, three of them felonies, including two counts of methamphetamine possession; and felony narcotic drug possession, per legal docs. Chelsea was also charged with misdemeanor counts of drug paraphernalia possession and resisting an officer, legal docs stated. Chelsea O'Donnell was most recently arrested on November 18, following previous arrests on September 10 and October 11 (pictured) in connection with allegations of drug-related offenses; pictured after her November 18 arrest Chelsea was arrested in Amberg, Wisconsin onSeptember 10 after a search warrant was executed, and charged with felony child neglect, methamphetamine possession, THC possession and overseeing a place where drug trafficking was taking place Chelsea remains in custody after a hearing Monday, and is slated to report to court for a December 12 in the matter, Us Weekly reported. Chelsea had been bailed out of jail by her birth mother Deanna Micoley Rosie previously refused to bail her out on November 13 after more than a month in custody following an arrest on child abuse and drug charges. Conditional to her release, authorities stipulated Chelsea remain sober and not possess any drugs or alcohol, US Weekly reported last month after reviewing court docs. Chelsea was arrested in Amberg, Wisconsin on September 10 after a search warrant was executed, and charged with felony child neglect, methamphetamine possession, THC possession and overseeing a place where drug trafficking was taking place. Chelsea also faces misdemeanor charges of drug paraphernalia possession, disorderly conduct and having medication she didn't have a prescription for. Chelsea was subsequently released from custody after a $2,000 bond was posted later on in September. She subsequently placed back into custody at the Oconto County Jail in Oconto, Wisconsin after an October 11 arrest in which she had a meth pipe on her. Chelsea faced additional charges of felony bail jumping, meth possession and drug possession, in addition to misdemeanor counts of drug paraphernalia possession and resisting or obstructing an officer, the outlet reported. Rosie attended ELLE's 2024 Women in Hollywood Celebration in LA on November 19, a day after her daughter's most recent arrest Rosie posed with Rita Wilson and Melanie Griffith at the event at the Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills Chelsea told Dailymail.com earlier this month that Rosie, 62, was taking a tough love approach to the legal situation with her. 'When I called Rosie to ask her to bail me out, she told me flat out, "You belong in there,"' Chelsea said November 4. 'She said, "I really can't help you get out of there; I don't want you to kill yourself. I don't want to be responsible for you killing yourself."' Chelsea told Dailymail.com from the jailhouse she was upset that the Emmy-winning entertainer appeared to be more invested in the freedom of convicted killers Erik and Lyle Menendez than her own. 'My mother is more interested in getting the Menendez Brothers released from prison than getting me out,' Chelsea said. 'I have a drug problem. I need to go to rehab, but I never killed anyone like the Menendez brothers.' Chelsea told Dailymail.com that the A League of Their Own star 'has turned her back on' her. The American Gigolo star's rep told US Weekly of Chelsea Tuesday that their 'family hopes that she gets the help she needs.' Rosie, a longtime critic of President-elect Donald Trump, is mother to five adopted children: son Parker, 29, Chelsea, 27, Blake, 24, Vivienne, 22, and Dakota, 11. The L Word: Generation Q performer last month spoke candidly about Chelsea's ongoing drug and legal problems in an Instagram post, saying that the family was hopeful she could achieve sobriety moving forward. Rosie and Chelsea were seen at a 2016 event in NYC 'Sadly this is not new for our family - Chelsea has struggled with drug addiction for a decade - we r all hopeful she will find her way out of this deadly disease,' the Long Island, New York native said October 19 on Instagram. Chelsea told Dailymail.com that she felt there was a chance she could 'end up in prison' due to the arrests, and wanted 'to spend time with' her four children if that was the case. Chelsea added at the time, 'I'm trying to get bailed out of here.' Under the terms of her former release, Chelsea was permitted to see her children with Vicki Bourassa as the court-appointed supervisor, The Blast reported Tuesday. (Vicki is the mother of Chelsea's ex Jacob Bourassa, the father of three of Chelsea's four kids.) She was was ordered by the court to 'not possess/consume any illegal drugs, drug paraphernalia/controlled substances without a valid prescription,' according to legal papers reviewed by the outlet. Chelsea is also mother to one-year-old son Atlas, whose father is her boyfriend Jacob Nelund. American Pickers Danielle Colby stripped off as she revealed her saucy burlesque alter-ego this week. The reality star, 49, has rebranded herself as Dannie Diesel and shocked fans by posting a tasteful but completely naked photo alongside an announcement on March 29. 'She's back folks.. or something like that. you know where to find me,' she teased. 'Links in my link tree in my bio.' In the days since she's posted more sexy shots and revealed she's opening a museum of stripping in Davenport, Iowa. Colby deactivated her Instagram in January, saying she was taking a break. At the time, she had family issues and needed the space to deal with it. American Pickers Danielle Colby stripped off as she revealed her saucy burlesque alter-ego this week Her new look involved very little clothing 'Had some very serious health issues happening within my family; I really don't want to get too much in detail,' she wrote in December. She added: 'It's not my health I'm speaking of.' Colby continued, 'I'm OK, I'm fine, but my family needs me right now. For the foreseeable future, I will not be traveling for performances. 'I will only be traveling for American Pickers and outside of that, being here with my family.' In her new Instagram posts Colby talks about launching the Ecdysiast Arts Museum which celebrates the history of stripping. On Monday, she shared a snap of herself sitting on the floor in a white tank top and red panties smoking a joint. 'Happy Monday world Im having a little smoke session this morning, thinking on things. I have the heart feels today. So much happening. Lots of feels. Opening the brick and mortar @ecdysiastartsmuseum in Davenport Iowa,' her caption began. The star is pictured modelling a more demure look on the show In the days since she's posted more sexy shots and revealed she's opening a museum of stripping in Davenport, Iowa 'She's back folks.. or something like that.you know where to find me,' she teased. 'Links in my link tree in my bio.' Seen here at Lollapalooza in Chicago in 2015 Colby deactivated her Instagram in January, saying she was taking a break 'Its a huge undertaking Feeling thankful for this opportunity and the comforts of my life. Embracing my freedoms and deeply connecting with my intuition. 'Remembering that restful moments are of utmost importance these days. 'Sometimes I have to force myself to rest, sometimes I actually succeed in doing it. Learning and growing is so important but so is stillness,' she wrote. 'I love hot baths and smoke sessions but I also appreciate sleep these days. Aaaand a heating pad 'How do you regulate and rest or refresh your spirit when you feel overwhelmed or overworked?' Before her self-imposed social media hiatus, the reality TV star who is also a talented burlesque performer and OnlyFans star, shared a risque video showcasing her dance routine in a time-lapse format. While Danielle has been familiar face on television for 15 years thanks to her role on the much-loved reality series American Pickers, she also works as a burlesque star. On social media, the mother-of-two is no stranger to posting sultry snaps and loves to model her burlesque attire, including nipple tassels, elaborate headwear and cut-out lingerie. In her new Instagram posts Colby talks about launching the Ecdysiast Arts Museum which celebrates the history of stripping. Seen here in 2020 In a 2018 interview with Fox News, Danielle revealed that she had learned about Burlesque over 10 years earlier in Chicago, where she saw comedienne Margaret Cho perform in her variety show The Sensuous Woman. 'The interesting thing is I grew up a Jehovah's Witness and I had a very, very strict upbringing,' she explained. 'So burlesque wasn't something that was really around for me. I couldn't be around it. It was new and taboo. The burlesque journey has really been an interesting one for me.' 'It's part of my life journey, my relationship with my body and my relationship with sexuality.' 'It's deep and it really started from a place of anxiety and depression.' The stars were out in force for the premiere of the second season of Doctor Who in London on Monday. Ncuti Gatwa, 32, who plays Time Lord, led the stars arriving on the red carpet to celebrate the show's new series. Other celebs who showed up to lend their support to the sci-fi show included Queen guitarist Brian May, his wife Anita Dobson and TV presenter Kate Garraway. Doctor Who follows the character's continued adventures around time and space. The second season is said to feature more dangers to planet Earth, with the trailer suggesting that the whole of reality is also at risk. Ncuti, who wore one of the doctor's characteristic blue jackets along with dazzling Boucheron Jewellery, was joined at Leicester Square by a host of famous faces. Ncuti Gatwa, 32, who plays Time Lord, led the stars arriving on the red carpet to celebrate the Doctor Who season two Queen guitarist Brian May and Eastenders actress Anita Dobson looked delighted to be watching the new season of Doctor Who ahead of the general public These included Varada Sethu, also 32, who plays the doctor's latest companion in the long-running show. The star-studded premiere comes amid rumours that the show, which has been an on-and-off staple of British TV since 1963, could soon be shelved. Rumours circulated claiming that Ncuti, who rose to fame in Netflix's Sex Education, was planning a move stateside to focus on other acting projects. A source told The Sun: 'Ncuti doesn't want to be tied to the series beyond this and plans to relocate to Los Angeles with several Hollywood projects standing by for him. 'His team also see a lot of fan backlash from the series, and don't want the perception of him still being The Doctor to get in the way of any future work.' They continued: 'The show has been poorly managed in recent years. 'There's a lot of people who've been working on this show for years and now being cast aside due to poor leadership. 'People warned some episodes were getting too caught up on an agenda rather than telling a story and those people got shouted down, ignored.' Ncuti was all smiles as he posed with the show's creator Russell T Davies (L) and Varada Sethu (R) Other celebs who showed up to lend their support to the sci-fi show included TV presenter Kate Garraway Jemma Redgrave (L) and Millie Gibson (R), who have both starred in Doctor Who, also attended the premiere on Monday following rumours that the show is on the verge of being shelved Freddie Fox, 35, is set to step into the shoes of a villain in the upcoming series of Doctor Who Clara Amfo (L) and Juno Dawson (R), while not in the show, are both huge fans of the Whovian universe Varada Sethu turned heads in a red mini dress, teamed with black pointed heels and accessorised with jewellery from The Diamond Store This prompted the BBC to issue a statement denying the possibility that Doctor Who could once again be shelved, as it was between 1989 and 2005. A spokeswoman for Doctor said: 'Doctor Who has not been shelved. 'As we have previously stated, the decision on season 3 will be made after season 2 airs. 'The deal with Disney+ was for 26 episodes and exactly half of those still have to transmit.' Disney+ bought the show's international distribution rights from the BBC in 2022 for a reported 80 million. The deal is said to have massively increased Doctor Who's budget at a time when many popular British shows such as Coronation Street are struggling financially. MailOnline contacted representatives of BBC and Ncuti for comment at the time. Rami Malek looked as dashing as ever as he joined his co-stars Caitriona Balfe and Laurence Fishburne at the European premiere of their film The Amateur at the Odeon Luxe Leicester Square on Monday. The Oscar winner, 43, plays the main role of Charles Heller in the action thriller and looked every inch the leading man as he arrived. Rami exuded charm and charisma in a black and white checked blazer teamed with a pair of tailored black trousers. He stood out from the crowd by adding a clashing striped print shirt underneath, completing the dapper look with a black tie and dress shoes. While Caitriona, 45, ensured all eyes were on her at the glitzy premiere, sporting an attention-grabbing fluorescent yellow gown. She showcased her svelte figure in the bold number, which boasted a draped neckline and a cutout to flash a glimpse of her toned midriff. Rami Malek (left) looked as dashing as ever as he joined co-star Caitriona Balfe (right) at the European premiere of their film The Amateur at the Odeon Luxe Leicester Square on Monday The Oscar winner, 43, plays the main role of Charles Heller in the action thriller and looked every inch the leading man as he arrived Rami exuded charm and charisma in a black and white checked blazer teamed with a pair of tailored black trousers and a clashing striped print shirt underneath Caitriona boosted her height with a pair of black high heels and accessorised with a pair of simple diamond earrings. The Irish actress completed her striking look by slicking her dark hair back and sporting a dramatic dark purple lip. Laurence, 63, pulled out all the stops for the premiere, opting for the most eye-catching outfit of the night. The Matrix star looked sharp in an emerald green waistcoat and matching trousers, compete with a coordinating polka dot bow tie. The Oscar nominee gave his look extra dramatic flair with a bright purple collared shirt underneath and a smart grey patterned coat. Laurence finished his fashion forward ensemble with shiny brown leather shoes and a pair of oversized sunglasses. Also in attendance at the screening were Made In Chelsea stars Kimberley Garner and Sophie Hermann. Kimberley set pulses racing in a figure-hugging brown dress with an off-the-shoulder design and quirky plaited straps that hung all the way down to the floor. While Caitriona, 45, ensured all eyes were on her at the glitzy premiere, sporting an attention-grabbing fluorescent yellow gown She showcased her svelte figure in the bold number, which boasted a draped neckline and a cutout to flash a glimpse of her toned midriff Caitriona boosted her height with a pair of black high heels and accessorised with a pair of simple diamond earrings The Irish actress completed her striking look by slicking her dark hair back and sporting a dramatic dark purple lip Laurence, 63, pulled out all the stops for the premiere, opting for the most eye-catching outfit of the night The Matrix star looked sharp in an emerald green waistcoat and matching trousers, compete with a coordinating polka dot bow tie The Oscar nominee gave his look extra dramatic flair with a bright purple collared shirt underneath and a smart grey patterned coat While Sophie put on a leggy display in a black and white tulle minidress with a corsetted bodice and tutu-style skirt, teamed with a choker adorned with a rose. They were joined by television presenters Katie Piper and Ria Hebden, who both stepped out in glamorous ensembles. Katie looked nothing short of sensational in a black PVC halterneck jumpsuit, that clung to her slender frame. The Loose Women star was joined by her husband Richard James Sutton, who complemented his wife in a black velvet suit and navy turtleneck. Ria nailed spring chic as she arrived in a strapless floral gown made of layers of floaty chiffon, with a matching belt to cinch her in at her tiny waist. Alongside Rami, Caitriona and Laurence, The Amateur also stars the likes of Rachel Brosnahan, Jon Bernthal, Julianne Nicholson and Michael Stuhlbarg. The action flick is based on the 1981 novel of the same name by Robert Littell and the premise follows Rami's character taking revenge against his wife's killers. The official synopsis reads: 'A CIA cryptographer manages to blackmail his agency into training him to let him go after a group of terrorist who killed his wife'. After being pushed back from its original release date of November 8, 2024, the film is now set to premiere on April 11. Also in attendance at the screening were Made In Chelsea stars Kimberley Garner (left) and Sophie Hermann (right) Kimberley set pulses racing in a figure-hugging brown dress with an off-the-shoulder design and quirky plaited straps that hung all the way down to the floor While Sophie put on a leggy display in a black and white tulle minidress with a corsetted bodice and tutu-style skirt, teamed with a choker adorned with a rose They were joined by television presenters Katie Piper (pictured) and Ria Hebden, who both stepped out in glamorous ensembles Katie looked nothing short of sensational in a black PVC halterneck jumpsuit, that clung to her slender frame The Loose Women star was joined by her husband Richard James Sutton, who complemented his wife in a black velvet suit and navy turtleneck Ria nailed spring chic as she arrived in a strapless floral gown made of layers of floaty chiffon, with a matching belt to cinch her in at her tiny waist (seen) Tabitha Willet looked lovely in a flowing baby pink gown Tabitha posed for a snap alongside Sophie Hermann, who rocked a quirky black and white dress Love Island's Teddy Soares looked dapper in a dark grey suit Ashley McKenzie kept things casual on the carpet Chip rocked an unusual pair of black ruched trousers at the event Jazmin Sawyers took out in a bright blue slip dress teamed with metallic heels Anthony Yarde flashed peace signs while posing for snaps Kori Sampson and Emily Hughes cut stylish figures at the premiere Miah Carter cut a very glamorous figure in a one-shouldered patterned gown as she posed at the glitzy premiere Melly Myers looked glamorous in a glittering black co-ord paired with thigh high boots Rami recently completed his run in the latest adaptation of Sophocles tragedy, Oedipus at the Old Vic Theatre in the heart of London. The actor starred as the titular role opposite Indira Varma in the production, co-directed by Matthew Warchus and Hofesh Shechter, from January until his final performance on Saturday. The premise followed: 'King Oedipus who is tasked by his subjects to avenge the murder of the old King Laius in hopes that it will fulfill an oracle's prophecy,' per Playbill. The production - which was adapted by playwright Ella Hickson - marked Rami's debut on the London stage and return to treading the boards after 18 years. Ahead of his first show in January, he admitted in an interview with Vogue he had not retuned to the stage for nearly two decades due to 'a little bit of fear.' He continued: 'I can get quite hands-on with the work in all iterations of the production. I'll be with my partner and they're like, "Leave it. Just take a beat. You don't have to produce and try to direct everything on your own. Allow things to evolve..."' 'I consider myself an intuitive person. I collaborate. There's no greater feeling than a collective feeling of success, or if it's s**t that we feel it together and laugh about it.' Rami added: 'But if there's an opportunity to lift something, I leave no stone unturned. And I think sometimes that could be a detriment.' Rami recently completed his run in the latest adaptation of Sophocles tragedy, Oedipus at the Old Vic Theatre opposite Indira Varma, with the last show on Saturday (pictured His co-star, Indira, cut in to add that with theatre there can be a lack of control and shared: 'Ultimately we'll put it on and there will be people who go, "This is the best thing I've ever seen."' 'And there will be people who say, "What a load of rubbish." It's out of our hands. That's what is so exciting about making and telling stories: the audience members have to bring so much of themselves to fill in those gaps.' However, Rami's performance and the production itself received several scathing reviews. The Telegraph said the star was 'almost entirely at sea with Oedipus' and questioned his decision to opt for a 'tic-ridden delivery' that strangled his lines. 'But his relationship with Varma, who outclasses everyone on stage, is consistently jarring,' added the review. 'Theirs is a marriage we are required to believe is founded on love; instead it resembles a confused arrangement between two people of almost entirely different species.' Meanwhile, The Daily Mail's Patrick Marmion said: 'Making his UK stage debut, Maleks mask-like features are a good fit for a great king from antiquity, but his inward-looking method acting doesnt suit the ritualistic staging thats meant to evoke ancient Greek religious cults.' When tickets went up for sale, they sold out almost instantly and any that were left went up for exorbitant prices (210 for a seat in the stalls). But the i Paper suggested that more than a few fans might well have wanted their money back after watching the stiff production and noted that it simply couldn't compare to Lesley Manville and Mark Strong's performance last year. Advertisement Former A Current Affair star Seb Costello has revealed the real reason he walked away from Channel Nine. The reporter formally resigned from the network in March following a three-month investigation into a wild on-camera chase that ended in the ladies toilets of a upmarket Melbourne hotel. Speaking to TV Blackbox, Costello revealed that the 'time was right' for him to leave Nine. 'I thought, at some stage, I'm going to have to think of a future after television,' he explained. 'I've just had a daughter, a two-year-old Annabelle who's beautiful. The time just seemed right to decide to make that transition.' Costello added that the changing nature of the industry had also made him reconsider his career trajectory. A Current Affair star Seb Costello has revealed the real reason he walked away from Channel Nine. Pictured 'Our industry is moving so fast. Television isn't that protected industry it was in the 20th century,' he said. 'I had to be realistic that I wasn't going to get from 38 to retirement age in linear television.' Costello continued, hinting that he may be looking for a new career path outside of broadcast television. 'I think after 13 years, I saw the best of free to air TV reporting,' he said. 'I got to be part of an overseas bureau, I got to travel the world. I got to cover Federal elections, international summits, Olympics. 'After 13 years doing my job as a tv reporter, I'm ready for something new.' Nine launched an internal probe after the star journalist - who is the son of the network's former chairman and ex-federal Treasurer Peter Costello - was accused of assaulting a finance executive during the wild 'bounce' last November. Costello and his cameraman were stood down by Nine pending the outcome of the investigation, which dragged on over the summer break. 'I thought, at some stage, I'm going to have to think of a future after television,' Seb explained to TV Blackbox 'Our industry is moving so fast. Television isn't that protected industry it was in the 20th century,' he said. 'I had to be realistic that I wasn't going to get from 38 to retirement age in linear television.' But he told Daily Mail Australia in March that he had ultimately decided to step down. The decision comes after Daily Mail Australia spotted the award-winning journalist meeting with the network's former chief and Millionaire Hot Seat host Eddie McGuire for advice over coffee in the Melbourne suburb of Toorak. 'After more than a decade at Nine, I have resigned from my role to seek a fresh challenge,' he said. 'I would like to thank Nine and wish the team all the best.' It is unclear whether Nine had formalised the findings of its investigation before Costello decided to resign. However, a Nine spokesman confirmed it was Costello's decision to part ways with the media company. The alleged clash at the centre of the saga unfolded when Costello took property developer Peter Aquino to Oak Capital's headquarters in Melbourne's exclusive Rialto tower on Monday. They were there to confront the executives Mr Aquino blames for the collapse of his Construct Homes business as part of as long-running investigation into the firm. 'I got to be part of an overseas bureau, I got to travel the world. I got to cover Federal elections, international summits, Olympics. 'After 13 years doing my job as a tv reporter, I'm ready for something new.' But when Costello and Aquino spotted Oak Capital case manager Mo Ahmed, in the foyer of the opulent office block, the finance boss was not taking questions. Instead, he ran off along the city's bustling Collins Street and into the nearby Intercontinental Hotel, where he tried to hide from Costello and ACA's cameras in the women's loos. Costello and his crew allegedly followed Mr Ahmed into the toilets where they continued to pepper him with queries about his company's lending practices. Oak Capital has since levelled serious allegations against Nine and Costello, accusing the high-profile reporter of assaulting Mr Ahmed after following him into the toilets - while Costello has steadfastly denied any wrongdoing whatsoever. Advertisement Pete Evans announced a shock career change on Saturday as he continues to search for opportunities in the US after being forced off Aussie TV screens in 2020. The disgraced celebrity chef, 52, was axed by Channel Seven and dumped by his book publisher Pan MacMillan following a string of controversies at the time. Now, the anti-vaxxer is shifting into the crypto currency sphere, as he revealed on Instagram he will be a speaker at a Las Vegas Bitcoin convention in May. He said he was invited to talk at the world's largest Bitcoin convention, with tickets selling anywhere from USD$500 (AUD$793) to USD$3,000 (AUD$4,760). 'I am honoured and excited to be speaking at Bitcoin Vegas in May on the marriage of long term regenerative health and wealth for ALL,' he said. The former My Kitchen Rules host is expected to speak alongside the likes of US senators and tech billionaires. Pete Evans announced a shock career change on Saturday as he continues to search for opportunities in the US after being forced off Aussie TV screens in 2020. Pictured The former TV star, who is a very open supporter of US President Donald Trump, appears to be setting roots down in the US of late. The cancelled chef met with Trump, 78, and billionaire Elon Musk as part of the Make America Healthy Again program earlier this month. The trio gathered at the president's Florida residence Mar-a-Lago after it was announced he will be joining the program and working with Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Pete had previously posted photos of himself alongside RFK Jr while wearing the infamous MAGA hat. At the time, he boasted to his Instagram and X followers he had met with Trump and 53-year-old Musk. 'Beautiful evening at [Mar-a-Lago] with some wonderful friends who invited me for dinner,' Evans said on X, formerly known as Twitter and now owned by Musk. 'Got to meet and shake hands with the legendary DJ that was spinning the tracks all night for his guests the President as well as [Musk] and [James O'Keefe].' The post was another sign Pete was making a comeback after he was 'cancelled' for his controversial views on Covid and the vaccine. The disgraced celebrity chef, 52, was axed by Channel Seven and dumped by his book publisher Pan MacMillan following a string of controversies at the time Pete previously told US outlet Newsmax TV he's 'back from being cancelled' and would be collaborating with RFK Jr. after recently publishing his new book Healthy Food for Health Kids. 'It's such an honour to work with Children's Health Defence and Bobby's [RFK Jr] team,' he said. 'Bobby is one of the most miraculous, brave, beautiful individuals that I've had the pleasure of meeting and speaking with over the last four or five years and he inspires me daily as he no doubt inspires a lot of people. 'I just want to congratulate him for the tenacity, determination and for what he is about to change, and I believe, bring to the fore. I think sometimes health is pushed to the side of the news so thanks for having me on.' Pete had both his Facebook and Instagram accounts deleted by the social media giant after it accused him of 'repeatedly sharing debunked claims about the coronavirus or vaccines' at the height of the pandemic. He went on to court more controversy when he posted a cartoon on Instagram featuring a Nazi 'black sun' symbol. A prankster slipped an NSFW joke into a local news broadcast and now TV audiences splitting their seams. During coverage of a new Publix grocery store opening in Walton, Kentucky, a local television station interviewed an eager customer. He had claimed he lined up at 4am to get one of the stores signature deli sandwiches. But the man didnt give his real name. Instead, he introduced himself as 'Jack Mehof' a not-so-subtle innuendo. And somehow, the joke made it past editors and onto the air. 'I'm a Florida resident so I know Publix,' the supposed Mister Mehof told the station. 'Nothing compares to the Publix subs. I brought my friend out this morning, he hasn't been to a Publix before.' It didnt take long for viewers to catch the sexual gag. A Publix shopper got away with making a lewd joke on local television Clips of the broadcast began circulating online, with users on X formerly Twitter roasting the station for missing the obvious setup. 'Brilliant,' one person responded on the social media app. Another X-user asked: 'How in the world did this get by the editors?' The viral moment happened during the opening of Publixs newest store. The company is trying to capitalize on its increasing popularity and expend beyond its Florida stronghold. Publix's growing following Publix, founded in 1930 and headquartered in Florida, has become a regional powerhouse across the Southeast. The brand's infamous 'pub subs' customizable sub sandwiches are a classic in South East American culture. The sandwiches have earned a devoted fanbase, inspiring its own subreddit. Publix is one of the most popular grocery stores in Florida The Florida-based company has gained popularity because of its customizable sandwiches 'The best part of Florida is the chicken tender pub sub,' one fanatic shopper said in a post. Publix's offerings have catapulted it the list of national chains: it recently beat out major players like Meijer, BJ's Wholesale, and Kroger in a survey of grocery customer satisfaction. Currently, the chain has nearly 1,400 locations. Florida is home to 877 Publix stores. But the brand is expanding further north. So far, it has opened locations in Virginia and Kentucky. Americans are bracing for higher car prices as President Donald Trump's 25 percent automotive tariffs take effect. According to Trump, the tax aims to incentivize American factory production. Industry experts warned DailyMail.com that the policy could have devastating effects on some of Americas favorite car brands. One Japanese automaker, in particular, faces the biggest threat: Mazda, which assembles only one model in the US. Its other seven cars, including its best-selling CX-5 which accounts for a third of sales are made abroad. 'Mazda does appear to be most exposed given their lack of US assembly', Erin Keating, a Cox Automotive analyst told DailyMail.com. The company which built recent sales successes on cheap but fun-to-drive SUVs has built an extremely loyal fanbase in the US. Mazda just rode that customer goodwill into a record-breaking year selling 424,382 vehicle in 2024, up 16 percent on 2023. But with the new tariffs, the automaker could struggle to compete with rivals that produce more cars domestically. President Trump has announced 25 percent import taxes on all cars shipped to the US In 2024, Mazda built seven of its eight US models outside the country. Its best-selling car, the CX-5 crossover SUV, saw 134,088 sales last year, thanks to its upscale interior and agile handling. But after April 3, the CX-5 will see a steep price hike from its current base price of $28,770. If Mazda passes the tariff to buyers, the base CX-5 could jump to $35,962. And the CX-5 isnt the only model facing a price hike. Mazda builds the CX-5, CX-90, CX-70, Miata, and Mazda3 Hatchback in Japan, while the CX-30 and Mazda3 Sedan come from Mexico. Together, these seven models made up 80.6 percent of Mazdas US sales last year putting much of the companys lineup in the tariffs crosshairs. There is one sliver of hope for the company. Its one American-built model, the CX-50, might see a sales bump, especially since Mazda launched a new version last year. President Trump's tariff policy will increase costs on all US vehicle consumers, experts said Mazda's CEO, Masahiro Moro, oversaw a record number of US sales for the automaker in 2024 But every other model in its lineup remains susceptible to 25 percent tariffs. 'It's not looking good,' one Mazda fan wrote on Reddit. 'Our only hope is Trump realizes what a stupid idea this is and squashes it.' A representative for Mazda didnt immediately respond to DailyMail.coms request for comment. Mazda is not alone multiple other companies that have recently struggled with American sales have lineups of internationally-made vehicles. Nissan, Volkswagen, and Stellantis all companies with recent sales slumps have huge manufacturing plants in Mexico. But all three companies also have plants in the US. VW builds its popular ID. 4 electric SUV out of a plant in Tennessee. Nissan's best-selling Rogue also comes from Tennessee. Stellantis' top-selling American cars the Ram 1500 and Jeep Wrangler are built in Michigan and Ohio. Meanwhile, President Trump might be looking to push the automakers to absorb the costs instead of placing them on consumers. Behind the scenes, Trump has reportedly been pressuring automakers not to raise prices despite the tariffs, according to the Wall Street Journal. But analysts believe this is impossible. 'We have no history to study for this, but there will be implications,' Jonathan Smoke, the chief economist for Cox Automotive said. 'It is not even clear if the US government has a way to efficiently track the movement of goods and impose duties, but set that aside: Production will be disrupted, supply will be restricted, and prices will go up.' A serious labeling mistake has led to a recall for a snack sold in vending machines in two states. Cromer Food Services is desperately tracking down its Chicken Salad On White sandwiches after noticing that it failed to declare milk as an ingredient. The error means those with 'an allergy or severe sensitivity to milk run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction' if they inadvertently eat the sandwiches. The products being recalled were distributed to vending machines and mini markets across Georgia and South Carolina. The snacks, which also contain egg yolks, celery and corn syrup, were sent out between December 26 2024 and 24 March. After a routine inspection by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) the mistake was caught and Cromer - which sells prepared sandwiches salads and prepackaged snacks such as potatoes chips - issued a recall on March 25. The sandwiches are sold in clear plastic packaging, are 4.3oz and have a use by date of between March 1 and April 1. Consumers who have bought the affected sandwiches have been urged by the FDA not to eat them. A popular vending machine snack has been recalled in Georgia and South Carolina They can either throw the product away or return it to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with questions may contact Cromer Food Services, Inc. at 1-800-922-3174 which has a 24/7 phone line available. Chet Cromer told DailyMail.com the family business has been operating for 34-years and this is the first recall they have had to issue. 'This is a highly localised issue, affecting likely around 500 sandwiches,' Cromer explained. 'We have provided a list of all the vendors affected to the FDA, so they are aware.' No illnesses have been reported to date, according to the FDA's notice. Labelling errors commonly prompt need for food and drink recalls in the US. Earlier this month 692 cases of decaffeinated coffee were pulled from shelves across the Midwestern and Great Lakes after testing revealed several were full-strength coffee and had been mislabeled. Cromer Food Services are desperately tracking down its Chicken Salad On White sandwiches The recall affects Massimo Zanetti Beverage USA's own-band Our Family Traverse City Cherry decaf coffee. It is sold in 12-ounce bags and is lightly roasted Accidentally consuming caffeine could pose a health risk to those with a heart condition, high blood pressure or are pregnant. Also this month 10,000 cans of Coca-Cola were recalled in Illinois and Wisconsin after plastic was found inside the soda cans. A Class II recall, as was issued for the sodas, is initiated when impacted products could cause temporary or medically reversible health consequences. Consumers who use these affected items will usually have a low risk of being seriously harmed, but there is still the chance that they could be seriously hurt. India has pledged to reduce the health impacts of air pollution by 2040, aligning its actions with the National Clean Air Programme at the concluding session of the second World Health Organisation (WHO) conference on air pollution and health here. Speaking at the conference organised in Colombian city of Cartagena, Ministry of Health and Family Welfareas Aakash Shrivastava said that the Indian government is acommitted to supporting the health sectora and will apromote cleaner cooking energy, particularly for vulnerable populations.a aThe Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, India, is committed to supporting the health sector with actions in alignment with the National Clean Air Programme to reduce the health impacts of air pollution by 2040. We will strengthen air pollution and noncommunicable disease surveillance, promote cleaner cooking energy, particularly for vulnerable populations, and support clinicians in protecting at-risk patients,a Shrivastava said. However, a report presented to the Rajya Sabha by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Science and Technology, Environment, Forests, and Climate Change revealed that a substantial ` 858 crore allocated for pollution control in 2024-25 remains unutilised. This budget represents 27.44 per cent of the Indian ministryas revised annual allocation. More than 50 countries, cities and organisations announced major commitments to tackle air pollution and safeguard health at the concluding session of the WHOas global conference. Over 700 participants including government representatives, UN agencies, civil society, scientists, and health societies, came together at the conference organised jointly with the government of Colombia by the WHO. A shared goal to reduce the health impacts by 50 per cent by 2040 was agreed upon to save millions of lives every year, the WHO said. Urging the participants to respond to a global call to action, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said urgent actions are needed on all fronts to achieve clean air. He emphasised the need for financial investment in sustainable solutions such as clean energy and sustainable transport, technical enforcement of WHO global air quality guidelines, and social commitment to protect the most vulnerable in the most polluted regions. Air pollution claims more victims than violence itself and poisoning our air costs lives in silence, said President of Colombia Gustavo Petro, who was also present at the concluding session of the conference. aThis conference reinforces our determination to implement policies for both the environment and the health of our people,a he added. At the conference, Spain assured that they are acommitted to achievea a carbon-neutral health-care system by 2050 through emission reduction, multi-sectoral collaboration and promoting innovation.The United Kingdom and Northern Ireland reiterated their commitments to tackling air pollution by chairing the Forum for International Cooperation on Air Pollution (FICAP), setting health-based PM2.5 (fine particulate matter 2.5) targets, and publishing an Air Quality Strategy, which will review existing targets and consider how to increase public awareness on air pollution and address inequalities. The UK also committed to supporting the Africa Clean Air Programme. Brazil pledged to strengthen interministerial cooperation, advance key initiatives, establish the National Air Quality Policy, update air quality standards in line based on WHO guidelines as a Legal Framework, and monitor their impact on reducing pollution-related mortality. China, on the other hand, stated that they are acommitted to stronger air quality standards, smarter health protection systems, and enhanced international cooperation.a aThe country will continue its efforts to achieve national environmental and climate goals for 2030, 2050, and 2060,a Chinese government official said at the conference. On behalf of the co-chairs of C40 cities, representing almost 100 of the worldas biggest cities, the Deputy Mayor of London Mete Coban assured supporting WHOas 2040 target and roadmap. Coban further called on other governments to expand investments in clean air solutions, strengthen air quality monitoring systems, and recognise cities as key partners in developing and implementing clean air strategies. Meanwhile, the Clean Air Fund stated they will allocate an additional USD 90 million over the next two years for climate and health efforts. Responding to the commitments made at the concluding session of the conference, WHO Director Maria Neira said that the aWHO remains dedicateda to supporting countries in translating these commitments into concrete actions. China to ban cameras in locations like B&Bs to protect privacy Xinhua) 13:04, March 31, 2025 BEIJING, March 29 (Xinhua) -- China will ban the installation of image-collecting devices in locations such as bed-and-breakfasts, dormitories and fitting rooms, with the aim of protecting privacy more effectively, according to a set of new regulations to take effect on April 1. The regulations standardize the management of video systems and complement laws to safeguard public safety, as well as citizens' rights and interests, legal experts say. Though video and image collection in public spaces has become vital to ensuring public safety, concerns over data security and personal privacy have drawn increasing public attention in China in recent years. The new regulations clearly define where recording devices can be installed and who is authorized to install them, said Jin Ying, a professor at the school of politics and public administration with the Southwest University of Political Science and Law in Chongqing. Those who install image-collecting devices illegally, or share or disseminate video footage unlawfully will face penalties, which could involve the confiscation of equipment, the forced deletion of video footage, or the imposition of fines, according to the regulations on the management of video-image information systems for public safety. Individuals caught spying, filming covertly, or eavesdropping on the privacy of others will be subject to administrative penalties in accordance with the law, per the regulations. As these regulations concern various stakeholders, further efforts are needed to realize the goal of protecting public safety, national security, and individual rights and interests, Jin said. These efforts will include the early introduction of standards for relevant video-image systems -- covering their registration, construction and technology -- and the enhancement of transparency in the collection, storage and use of videos and images. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) PICTURED ABOVE: Anna Doherty, Chief Executive, Derry Chamber; Andrew Fleming, President, Derry Chamber; Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Hilary Benn MP; Minister for the Economy, Dr Caoimhe Archibald MLA; Professor Paul Bartholomew, Vice-Chancellor, Ulster University (Event sponsor). In speeches given at the Derry Chamber of Commerces Presidents annual lunch the Minister for the Economy, Dr Caoimhe Archibald MLA and Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Hilary Benn MP, have both backed the vision of the North West as an ambitious region at work set forth by Chamber President Andrew Fleming. Speaking as keynote speaker at the lunch, Dr Archibald pointed to the compelling economic proposition emerging in the North West including the work of the Ulster University Magee taskforce, the All-Island Strategic Rail Review, the development of local economic plans, the Derry City and Strabane City Deal, and the recent growth of City of Derry Airport as evidence of the ambition of the region and the plans already underway to deliver upon that ambition. The lunch gathered over 200 business leaders, political representatives, members of the media, and invited guests from across the North West and Northern Ireland. Following the Ministers keynote address was a panel discussion between Professor Liam Maguire of Ulster University, John Kelpie, Chief Executive of Derry City and Strabane District Council, and Steven Lindsay, Partner with Cavanagh Kelly and Derry Chamber Vice-President. IN PICTURES: Derry families celebrate having fun with numbers The event was opened by a short address from Secretary of State Benn, who also commented upon the economic development happening in Derry and expressed the UK Governments backing, as seen through the funding of initiatives such as the City Deal. In his address, Derry Chamber President Andrew Fleming set expanded upon the vision of an ambitious region at work, calling for the private sector to now match the significant investment currently taking place in the North West in order to fully deliver upon the potential of this economic development. Andrew Fleming, President, Londonderry Chamber of Commerce said: Todays (Thursday) lunch not only serves as a celebration of the entrepreneurial spirit in the North West, but to also set forward our stall as an ambitious region that will, over the next decade or so, deliver upon a transformative vision to give us the city and region the people of the North West have always deserved. The feeling among Derry Chamber members is now that we have these ambitious plans in place, it is time to start delivering in earnest. We know that this delivery cannot only be left up to the public sector, and that the private sector will have to at least match the level of public investment for us to fully deliver upon this new future for the North West. That both the Northern Ireland Executive and the UK Government were represented by senior figures here today is evidence that the North West is now being listened to in a way that it perhaps hasnt always been. The business community of the North West looks forward to working with both in tandem to deliver upon our vision for an ambitious region at work. Minister for the Economy, Dr Caoimhe Archibald MLA, said: This is a region of great ambition, and this is a very exciting time for the North-West. Work is progressing rapidly to expand the Magee Campus to 10,000 students. The new 15 million North-West Regional College will provide modern education and training facilities to improve skills across the region. The A6 dualling scheme has improved connectivity, with investment in the City of Derry Airport also opening up access to the North-West. The Derry and Strabane City Deal is set to deliver transformational change for this region, and for its people. We are on the cusp of making significant, positive change in a region that, for too long, has been neglected. Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Hilary Benn MP, said: It was a privilege to attend todays Chamber of Commerce event and to speak with local businesses about the UK Governments new, modern Industrial Strategy. Investing in and supporting the industries of the future here in Northern Ireland including in areas like cyber security, defence, and clean energy is a key part of that. Along with our investment in the four Northern Ireland City Deals, and funding to support the Executives transformation of public services, this is a UK Government committed to fostering economic growth, job creation and opportunities right across Northern Ireland. Professor Paul Bartholomew, Vice-Chancellor, Ulster University, said: This is an incredibly exciting time for Ulster University and for the entire North West region. The ambition for economic growth and development is being matched by a commitment to delivery through genuine partnership and collaboration that is resulting in tangible benefits for this place and its people. Ulster University is playing a central role in this, not only through the growth of our campus, our work with the Magee Expansion Taskforce and the development of our City Deal projects, but also through our partnership with organisations like the Londonderry Chamber of Commerce, the Department for the Economy, and the UK Government to drive meaningful change. We look forward to continuing to work with the Chamber and all of our partners to make our shared ambitions for the region a reality. The potential economic benefits of Irish Unity are vast and cannot be ignored, Sinn Fein MLA Padraig Delargy has said. Commenting as Derry Sinn Fein launched a new leaflet on the benefits of Irish Unity, the Foyle MLA also urged the public to get involved in the discussion about Irelands future. A United Ireland will provide a vast economic boost to the entire island and that simply cannot be ignored, Mr Delargy said. Independent international studies predict a 23.5 billion increase in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) across the island in the event of reunification. In the Northern counties alone, GDP would increase by 17.9 billion - over 9000 for every citizen. Wages would increase and living standards would improve. Irish Unity is our opportunity to build an economy, public services and infrastructure that are world leading. In the south, economic performance, wage levels, living standards and even life expectancy far surpass what we experience in the North where we remain linked to a British economic system that has been in free fall since Brexit. We will soon face a choice on which future we want and the question is no longer can we afford to unite Ireland, it is can we afford not to? A 19-year-old man who daubed sectarian graffiti on a wall inside a mother and baby feeding room in Altnagelvin Hospital last month has been jailed for four months at Derry County Court after he appealed against a nine month suspended sentence originally imposed for the offence at the local Magistrates' Court. Jailing Darragh McGrath from Dacre Terrace, Judge Neil Rafferty K.C. said while the nine month suspended sentence was too long he believed it merited an immediate custodial sentence. "It is audacious to appeal against a suspended sentence but people have the right to do that", Judge Rafferty said. The court was told that on February 12 of this year staff in Altnagelvin Hospital noticed that entry had been forced into the mother and baby feeding room. Inside they discovered that sectarian graffiti had been daubed on one of the walls. CCTV footage was examined and McGrath was seen entering the room. A barrister for the Public Prosecution Service said McGrath committed the offence just five days after he had been released from custody. Appealing against the suspended sentence, a defence barrister said McGrath had been a looked after child in the care of the Western Trust for most of his teenage years. He said in January of last year McGrath's care was withdrawn by the Trust after which he was homeless for most of 2024. The barrister said McGrath, who has been an alcohol since the age of 16, spent three months in custody last year for an offence which was eventually withdrawn. He said McGrath was currently in custody awaiting sentencing for another offence. "A centre has been identified in England for teenagers who have alcohol addiction. He hopes to attend that centre and an immediate custodial sentence today will impact on that", the barrister said. Judge Rafferty said the sentence imposed in the Magistrates' Court "should not have been suspended". He said McGrath, who had 107 previous criminal convictions, had vandalised with sectarian graffiti a mother and baby feeding room. "Places of refuge such as schools and hospitals, places like that, are entitled to the full protection of the law. Those who commit offences in a hospital setting must expect to go to jail", he said. A climate commissioner for Northern Ireland will be appointed, despite the deputy First Minister saying one is not needed. Emma Little-Pengelly said the appointment will be made because it is a legal duty, as she was asked about the post during questions for the Executive Office on Monday. She said a timescale has not yet been agreed, the draft Northern Ireland climate commissioner regulations were still to be approved, and further work included putting in place infrastructure to support the commissioner. Asked whether she had concerns about the cost of the post, Ms Little-Pengelly said it would cost at least 1 million per year, and she did not think it was needed. In light of the spending statement of last week by the Chancellor, everyone around this chamber will be aware of the difficulty and the financial challenge that we face in terms of the huge amount of work that we need to do to invest in our public services and the limited public funds that we have to do so, she said. The costings of this office initially are estimated to be 1 million per year. I know this issue was articulated at the time of the legislation that there was concern, and those are concerns that I do share about what role a commissioner will in fact play. We, of course, can draw on the Climate Committee, a UK-wide body, for that advice, and I think there is a risk of some duplication in this role. This role was included in the legislation that was passed by this House, but I have to say it wouldnt be my preferred way forward. I dont think that there is a particular need for a climate commissioner at this time, but it is a legal duty that falls to the First Minister and myself, and thats why we are moving forward at this time. The Hope College community is in mourning over the tragic loss of its Junior college student who was hit and killed by a train on Saturday night near 10th Street in Holland, Michigan. Jennifer Kasunick, a 20-year-old blind student, had been walking on the sidewalk when the train signals activated. According to the Holland police, as shared by WZZM 13, she did stop for the signals, but apparently never realized just how close she had gotten to the tracks. The passing train clipped her and then she succumbed to her injuries in Holland Hospital. Sunday evening, the campus community held a service at Dimnent Memorial Chapel to honor the memory of Jennifer. Many remembered her as one of the bright and kind students who always managed to bring smiles everywhere she was. Campus social networks are filled with warm tributes reflecting the tremendous influence she left in the campus community. Jennifer was an active member of the Hope College community. She played in the orchestra and served as a Resident Assistant (RA) in Phelps Hall alongside her service dog, Rowdy, who survived the incident. College President Matthew Scogin took to social media to express his condolences. Will the Train Operator Be Charged? Based on the description given in the account, the train cannot be charged with the accident. Kasunick was blind and stopped at the train signals, probably miscalculating the distance away from the tracks. The train was running according to plan, and the signals were also given that warned the pedestrians and vehicles. It is critical, at this point, that such incidents call for accessible infrastructure so that visually impaired individuals might have alternative ways of detecting warnings with the aid of a tactile device or supplemented by additional auditory signals to possibly prevent similar tragedies in the future. CSX, the company that owned the train, already issued condolences to everyone and promised support to the investigating authority. Save my User ID and Password Some subscribers prefer to save their log-in information so they do not have to enter their User ID and Password each time they visit the site. To activate this function, check the 'Save my User ID and Password' box in the log-in section. This will save the password on the computer you're using to access the site. Note: If you choose to use the log-out feature, you will lose your saved information. This means you will be required to log-in the next time you visit our site. Subscriber content preview WASHINGTON (AP) The founder of an electric car start-up sentenced to prison for exaggerating the potential of his technology has been pardoned by President Donald Trump, potentially wiping out hundreds of millions of dollars in restitution that prosecutors were seeking for bamboozled investors. Nikola founder Trevor Milton was sentenced last year to four years in prison, though he had not been incarcerated pending an appeal. . . . Subscriber content preview Tariffs could drive new car prices up by several thousand dollars, industry analysts say. By ALEXA ST. JOHN Associated Press DETROIT President Donald Trump's 25% tariffs on autos not made in the U.S. and certain auto parts are sending more tremors through an industry already being pummeled by steel and aluminum import duties and on-again, off-again 25% levies on Canada and Mexico. The new tariffs, announced Wednesday, are likely to jack up new vehicle prices and will also impact the used car market. Trump has been itching to tax foreign autos for years. In his first term, he declared auto imports a threat to national security giving him the authority to impose tariffs on them. . . . All Irish motorists looking to renew their motor insurance, or take out a new motor insurance policy must provide their driver number from now on, the Motor Insurers Bureau of Ireland (MIBI) has warned. From March 31, 2025, it is an offence for any insurance provider or broker to issue a motor insurance policy where the driver number has not been supplied. This means that anyone who does not provide the driver numbers for all named drivers on their respective policy will not be legally able to receive motor insurance. Every motorist has their own unique Driver Number which stays with them for life, regardless of changes to their vehicle, insurance policy and even when they renew their drivers licence. It is listed under section 4(d) of every persons drivers licence. This road safety measure was included in the Road Traffic and Roads Act 2023 and is aimed at further enhancing road safety. The driver number details the entire country will be added to the Irish Motor Insurance Database (IMID), the tool already used by the Gardai to detect and apprehend uninsured drivers. READ NEXT: 3,000 cars disappear after failing NCT leaving testers and drivers wondering Already An Garda Siochana receive insurance details for more than 3 million vehicles and 5 million drivers which are updated on a daily basis. The addition of the Driver Number will act as a unique identifier for each specific driver. This will provide An Garda Siochana with a more comprehensive insight into any offences individuals may have committed and make it even more difficult for drivers who act illegally on Irish roads to evade detection. The addition of the Driver Number will represent the final data phase of the Irish Motor Insurance Database project, a joint initiative between the Department of Transport, An Garda Siochana, Insurance Ireland, the MIBI and insurance providers. The project was established to help clamp down on the high levels of uninsured driving in the State, with figures from the MIBI showing there were approximately 188,000 uninsured private vehicles on Irish roads in 2022, representing one in every 12 private vehicles. The MIBI is a not for profit organisation that was established to compensate the victims of road traffic accidents caused by uninsured and unidentified vehicles. From March 31 onwards this legislative requirement will be a necessity for anyone in Waterford who is looking to renew their motor insurance or to take out a new policy, said David Fitzgerald, CEO of the MIBI. For most people this will just mean they will have to take a quick look at their drivers licence and provide the correct number, listed under point 4(d) on their licence as part of their renewal process. If they have additional drivers listed on their policy, then the driver numbers for those individuals will also have to be provided. This is an important measure that will help bring more safety to Irish roads and greater accountability to anyone who breaks the law. Every licensed driver has their own unique driver number which stays with them regardless of the vehicle they are using. This new legal requirement provides An Garda Siochana with a more comprehensive insight into any offences a driver may have committed, making it even more difficult for drivers who act illegally on Irish roads to evade detection. When combined with the impact the database is already making, allowing the Gardai to identify uninsured drivers in seconds, this will further enhance the policing of Irish roads. We all want safer roads across this country. This adds another layer of effectiveness to IMID, aiding the battle against illegal driving activity, Mr Fitzgerald concluded. Further information on Driver Numbers and the new requirements are available here. A number of people taking part in a protest against Israels war against Hamas were arrested after the entrance to Leinster House in Dublin was blocked. A group of women had gathered for a vigil organised by the Mothers Against Genocide group on Sunday. It was to mark Mothers Day and to remember the children and mothers killed in Gaza. The group held an overnight protest calling on the Government to do more about the conflict in the Gaza Strip. Gardai forcibly removing mothers protesting against genocide at the Dail. pic.twitter.com/E3R4KXwkgr Paul Murphy (@paulmurphy_TD) March 31, 2025 Protesters who staged a sit-down protest in front of the Leinster House gates were forcibly removed. They had been due to read out a letter calling on the Government to enact the Occupied Territories Bill, and to prevent the use of Irish airspace to carry weapons to Israel. The group placed photographs of Palestinian children killed by Israeli forces along the gates and railings of Leinster House. Gardai said they told protesters who were blocking the gates to clear the entrance. Megan Ni Ghabhlain, a member of Mothers Against Genocide, said: Eight of us were removed and arrested by gardai. Eight mothers who had obligations today, school runs that they were going to be collecting their children from, and the aim of those mothers was to prevent the slaughter of innocent children. Last night we came together to honour the 18,000 children who have been brutally murdered with a beautiful vigil. We had displays of the gorgeous children who we wanted to humanise, that they are not just numbers to become desensitised to. These are children who had bright hopes and dreams, just like our own, and were loved as much as we love our own. Unfortunately the gardai decided to come down and remove these precious faces of these children in the most disrespectful manner, so we decided we would sit with our pillow babies in solidarity with these women, whose children have been murdered. In a statement, a garda spokesman said: Gardai were aware of a public gathering on Kildare Street, Dublin 2, which commenced last night. Any garda response in relation to evolving events is in keeping with a community policing model and graduated policing response, taking into account relevant legislation and public safety. This morning a number of individuals continued to block the entrance to Dail Eireann at Kildare Street. Following engagement with the individuals, a direction was given under the Public Order Act. As this direction was not complied with, following a period of time, a number of individuals were arrested for offences contrary to the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994 and are currently detained at Garda stations in the Dublin metropolitan region. No further details are available at this time. Over 25 employers from across the Engineering sector recently attended the annual School of Engineering Careers Fair Engineering the Future. The careers fair was organised by the School of Engineering in collaboration with the Careers and Employability Team at Dundalk IT. Employers heard from Dr Breda Brennan, Head of School of Engineering and Heads of Department, Dr. Paul MacArtain and Denise Quigley, about the range of Engineering courses available in DkIT and the variety of experiences and work ready attributes which students and future graduates can offer to employers. The focus this year was on how the School is responding to feedback from employers and the CPD and upskilling opportunities that the School can provide to local industry and businesses. A lunch-time information session was provided collaboratively by Ibec and DkITs Department of Electronic and Mechanical Engineering, focusing on the new Manufacturing Engineering apprenticeship, which will commence in DkIT in September 2025. Students had the opportunity to meet with a variety of companies in sectors such as biopharmaceuticals, construction, industrial equipment, design and engineering, IT solutions, healthcare and renewable energy. Visiting companies included; Tusker, WuXi Biologics Ireland Ltd, Walls Construction Limited, ASEE LTD, Elliott Group, Cargotec Engineering, ECC Design & Engineering, McArdle Doyle, Digital Design and Consultancy Limited, Controlsoft Automation, Timoney Dynamic Solutions Ltd, MTM Engineering Ltd, Obelisk Communications, LPI, Abbott Ireland, Combilift, Activ8 Solar Energies, Terex, Suretank, Meath County Council, John Tinnelly & Sons Ireland Ltd T/A Tinnelly Group, Amey Consulting, EliteForm manufacturing, Anord Mardix, Murphy Group, HBE and Ganson Building & Civil Engineering. Dr Breda Brennan, Head of School of Engineering, said: It was fantastic to see so many employers at the fair, ready to share advice with our students and collaborate with them in relation to placement and graduate opportunities. We are so proud of our graduates, and we really value the feedback from employers around how we can continue to ensure that they are work ready. One of the highlights of the careers fair is seeing so many of our graduates coming back as employers and hearing just how far they have come. The future looks very bright for Engineering graduates. Read Next: Tributes paid to the late Captain Noel Royston Williams from Dundalk Claire Fallon from DkITs Careers and Employability Team said: This event was a true testament to the broad variety of career paths available to our students from the School of Engineering. It was amazing to see such a diverse range of organisations in attendance, each giving our students valuable insights into what next steps they can take towards securing their future careers. In addition, employers comments on the high calibre of DkIT student and graduate talent is always great to hear! I want to thank all of the organisations for their engagement with our students and their willingness to help us maintain our strong record of employability. Friends of the Earth Dundalk is due to receive funding from the Climate Actions Work Engagement fund to support their work to bring people together and share information on climate action. The fund is focused on climate engagement, awareness and communications - helping communities to reach new audiences in their locality. It will also provide opportunities for community groups to promote their work and spread the message of community-led climate action. The fund is administered by Community Foundation Ireland which as part of its mission of Equality For All in Thriving Communities has been empowering local groups, researchers and advocates to take action on climate and nature since 2000. The foundation's work in this space is informed by its 25 years' experience of partnering with 5,000 voluntary, community and charitable groups as a philanthropic hub. A network which continues to grow. Congratulating Friends of the Earth, Denise Charlton, Chief Executive of Community Foundation Ireland said: Partnership is key to meeting the climate challenge. At Community Foundation we are proud to have contributed knowledge and insights from our network of local community groups to inform and deliver this Government initiative. A network which underpins all our work as a philanthropic hub. We look forward to seeing the impact of these imaginative projects. The fund is a core component of the Climate Actions Work Programme. This programme has built on engagement with community groups through the National Dialogue on Climate Action over the last few years. The engagement showed that many community groups and organisations are supported through volunteers who often have to give up nights and days to undertake engagement and communications activities. The fund is intended to provide support to promote the incredible work already underway, and to encourage new participation. The fund supports groups to work with audiences who have not previously engaged in climate action at a local level or beyond. Read Next: Louth students reach finals of prestigious Irish Angus Beef Competition Friends of the Earth is an international organisation which calls not just for for faster climate action but for action that is fair and based on justice for humans and nature. A branch was established in Dundalk in Feb 2024 when local people got together determined to take action on climate. The focus of the group has been on the restoration and care of the Ramparts River and addressing housing needs by addressing vacancy, dereliction and affordable retrofitting so that all homes are climate resilient. The group have organised walks, host a book club and Cuppa for Climate events. Friends of the Earth Dundalk are looking forward to hosting conversations on biodiversity, water, sustainable homes and articulating the future we want to see. We are thrilled that our first conversation will be on the Rights of Nature with Dr Peter Doran of Queens University Belfast and Grant Wilson Director of the Earth Law Centre USA in mid May in Dundalk town. Louth People Before Profit representative James Renaghan, has said that Independent TD Michael Lowry's two fingers gesture to the opposition in the Dail last week, is the expression of contempt towards ordinary people, and claimed that the biased Ceann Comhairle, Lowrys lackeys and this Government are a self serving bunch and need to be ousted. Slamming what he has described as an authoritarian move by the Government, Mr Renaghan said that the Government has forced through changes to Standing Orders to dilute and weaken the Dail opposition, by giving the Lowry Group and other Government backbenchers speaking opportunities previously reserved exclusively for the opposition, and that in the process Deputy Lowry, and the Government, gave two fingers to the people of Ireland. Describing it as an authoritarian move that will continue to meet resistance, the local activist said that People Before Profit will be supporting the no confidence motion in the Ceann Comhairle this Tuesday as a necessary step in holding the Government to account. Mr Renaghan said: We will not accept the government's latest stroke in the service of the Lowry Group. For the Dail to function, there must be a robust opposition. The Government is taking action to dilute the opposition so they can hide from criticism over the extremely unpopular decisions they have their sights on, from housing, to the triple lock to water charges. The role of the Ceann Comhairle in ramming through this grubby deal was grossly impartial [sic]. Anyone watching the proceedings could see there was no agreement but the Ceann Comhairle forced the vote through regardless. People Before Profit will therefore vote no confidence in the Ceann Comhairle next week. The changes forced through last week mean that the opposition lose 69.5 minutes Dail speaking time and Government TDs gain 56 minutes speaking time each week. This restricting of the oppositions ability to hold the Government to account comes after the government has lied about housing delivery during the elections and when they are lying daily about the triple lock. Read next: ASL Dundalk students attend 'very important event' with newcomers encouraged We all know there will be more falsehoods that the government will inevitably peddle about the multiple crises they have created. There is a clear picture emerging of an increasingly arrogant government. Being quiet with people actively trying to rob you, be it through water charges or the right to a proper opposition and a functioning Dail, doesnt get you far. Therefore, People Before Profit will continue to fight passionately to build power for ordinary people beyond the Dail. 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. 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. 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. Make-A-Wish Ireland will be collecting funds in Cork next week as part of their annual Wish Week campaign. Wish Week 2025, running from today to Friday, will see the charity put an even greater focus on community fundraising efforts nationwide, with supermarket and on-street bucket collections throughout the week. Make-A-Wish Ireland receives no government funding and relies entirely on public donations and corporate support to continue its work. This year, its4women Insurance will be sponsoring the national fundraising. In Cork, bucket collections will be held in Dunnes Stores in both Charleville and Douglas on Friday. Conor Stone from Make-A-Wish said that any support would be appreciated. The people of Cork have been a massive support to Make-A-Wish through the years and we are delighted to be back in multiple locations across the county for Wish Week 2025. Bucket collections will take place in Dunnes Stores Douglas and Charleville on Friday, April 4. Any support from the public at these locations would be incredible and will help to grant magical wishes during 2025. Every year in Ireland, it is estimated that 650 children are diagnosed with a life-threatening illness, but only 33% apply for a wish. A spokesperson for the charity explained that hundreds of children are not coming forward, either because families dont know about the charity, or they feel others are more deserving. Susan McQuaid-ODwyer, CEO of Make-A-Wish Ireland, encouraged people to support the campaign: The psychological and medical benefits of wish-granting are backed by research, and we hear daily how wishes can reduce stress, improve emotional well-being, and even aid medical recovery. We are thrilled to be working with its4women this year, making it possible to increase bucket collections and engage local communities in this vital campaign. People can contribute via https://makeawish.ie/ or Revolut to help Make-A-Wish reach more children in need. Nineteen Cork claims have been paid out for stage one of the humanitarian assistance scheme for Storm Eowyn, at an average of just over 220 per claim, new data has shown. Social protection minister Dara Calleary provided information on the number of applications per county in response to parliamentary questions from Sinn Fein TDs in the Dail last week. In Cork, 102 claims are registered, and just 19 of these have been paid, with 4,259 paid out in total, an average of 224.16 per claim. The humanitarian assistance scheme, administered by my department through the local Community Welfare Service, was activated on January 23, 2025, to assist householders affected across the country by Storm Eowyn, said Mr Calleary. In the context of the particular circumstances of Storm Eowyn, and as an exceptional measure, additional flexibility has been applied to the time-frame for stage one of the scheme. Up to Saturday, March 22, the Community Welfare Service have registered almost 72,358 claims for stage one of the humanitarian assistance scheme, with just over 26,700 claims awarded totalling over 6.12m being paid in respect of Storm Eowyn-related claims. The TDs also asked for the number of applications that were refused. Mr Calleary replied: As all decisions positive and negative have a right of review, therefore, the total number of disallowed claims will not be known until all requests for review are completed. Sinn Fein TD for Cork South Central, Donnchadh O Laoghaire, told The Echo: While we know the storm damage wasnt as widespread in Cork as in other counties, right across the board the level of pay-outs is too low. Other counties were hit very hard but definitely parts of West and North Cork were very badly damaged, and people definitely would have been expecting to get more. Its still the case that some of those who suffered the greatest losses, business, community groups, and sporting clubs, still have no avenue to make any claim. That is wrong, and I am going to continue raising it. Weve also heard of people with very legitimate claims that have not been evaluated or gotten any pay-out. Given that this was one of the biggest storms in generations, it seems that impact hasnt properly been compensated. The next president of the Irish National Teachers Organisation (INTO), Cork teacher Anne Horan, has said the countrys primary and special education school system is in jeopardy due to unqualified people replacing teachers in classrooms and the shortage of teachers to fill full-time and long-term substitute vacancies. Ms Horan, who hails from Ballineen and will become INTO president during the unions annual conference next month, was speaking to The Echo after the revelation on TG4s current affairs programme, 7La, that 98% of Irish schools had employed unqualified individuals in the 2023/24 school year. This amounted to 8,883 unqualified individuals being hired to stand in for teachers who were off due to illness or other reasons during the school year. The disclosure, which followed a Freedom of Information request to the Department of Education, reflects the findings of a survey carried out in the first five weeks of this school year the four weeks in September and the first week of October in which it was found there was a staffing shortage then of 951 teachers. Ms Horan said this was projected to get a great deal worse by this point of the school year. In the September survey, which generated a response rate of 40% from schools across Ireland and was conducted jointly by the INTO, the Irish Primary Principals Network, and the Catholic Primary School Managers Association, it was found 107 schools in Cork, out of 138 schools responding in the county, reported it took up to five calls to get a substitute, with 14 citing it takes up to 19 calls. Four school principals suggested it took up to 39 calls or emails to secure a substitute. Asked how recruiting and retaining teachers compares to last year, 62% of Cork principals felt it was as bad as last year (the same), while 8% of respondents in Cork found it more stressful this year, compared to last. In terms of unqualified people standing in for teachers in schools, the incoming president of the INTO said the scarcity of qualified substitute teachers posed challenges for principals as in some cases they had to redeploy special education teachers to other classes or, in other instances, they had to divide the children between the remaining teachers. In our survey, 83 schools in Cork reported they had to redeploy their special education teachers, she said. It sounds very good because the children went home and they had a teacher in front of them, but what about all of the children with special education needs who needed their teachers, the people that needed the extra bit of help every day, they didnt have teachers even though the classes did. In that survey, we also found that there were 1,103 posts filled nationally by people that werent registered as teachers with the Teaching Council and in the month of September last, 77 of those posts were in Cork. Thats a lot of children that didnt have a qualified person standing in front of them that day. She said that more teachers need to be trained and the profession needs to be made more attractive if the situation is to be turned around. We need an extra 300 places a year on the initial teacher training courses weve been looking for this until this crisis has been overcome. We need a national teacher supply commission, we need long-term solutions for teacher supply. The Government needs to respond very quickly to claims lodged by the union under the local bargaining process within the current pay agreement. Ms Horan said the issue regarding teachers working in schools abroad should have this counted as experience in terms of pay calculation when they return home. She also expressed concern that for 8,883 unqualified people to be hired as stand-ins for teachers, it would mean completely unqualified people, with no teaching experience whatsoever, were being brought into schools. You cant come up to 8,883 otherwise, she said. At the end of the day, yes, the teachers have extra work, its an extra burden but its the children who are suffering and that is it, thats the problem. Department In a response from the Department of Education, a spokesperson told The Echo that ensuring every childs experience in school was positive and that they had qualified, engaged teachers available to support them in their learning, was a priority area of action for the Government. It is a legal requirement for a teacher to be registered with the Teaching Council to receive a salary paid by the State, said the departments spokesperson. To register, a teacher must have a recognised teaching qualification. A person who is not a registered teacher with the Teaching Council may be employed under specific, limited circumstances, for up to five days. The spokesperson said this equated to over 8.1m days of instruction during March last year. At some point in any given school year, vacancies occur due to qualified teachers taking statutory leave, for example, sick leave, said the spokesperson. These vacancies can be filled by substitute teachers, such as student teachers, teachers registered to teach in primary or post-primary, and others. Substitution by those not registered with the Teaching Council accounts for approximately 0.7% of all days of instruction. A breakdown of substitute teachers provided by the department disclosed that 4% were student teachers while 1.19% were post-primary teachers. The majority of teaching provided in schools, over 99%, is provided by teachers registered with the Teaching Council. The spokesperson also said that several measures had been implemented to tackle teacher shortages, including an increase of 20% in initial teacher education graduates, a 30% uptick in teachers registered with the Teaching Council, and a significant increase of 5,621 primary teachers. Measures introduced in recent budgets included a Stem bursary, a PME fee refund scheme, and an expansion of upskilling programmes, which are in addition to workforce planning for teachers and SNAs, reflecting the commitment to ongoing investment in the education system to address teacher supply, said the spokesperson. Analysis of CAO applications spanning from 2017 to 2024 indicates a sustained and robust demand with, on average, 6% of first preference applications either for primary or post-primary teaching programmes. First preference data from the CAO published recently showed increases in primary first preferences of 9% and in post-primary of 5%. Teaching is an attractive career choice evidenced by the 3,700 newly qualified teachers registered with the Teaching Council in 2024, with over 126,000 now on the register. The community around Mallow is numb following a fatal two-car collision in which two women died and two children were injured yesterday. The incident occurred at about 3.45pm at Navigation road on the N72 Killarney to Mallow road. The female driver of one of the cars, who was aged in her 60s, was pronounced dead at the scene. The female driver of the second car, aged in her 40s, was also pronounced dead at the scene. The bodies of both of the women have been taken to the mortuary at Cork University hospital where a postmortem examination will take place in due course. The children, a boy and a girl, aged eight and five who were passengers in the second car are being treated at Cork University Hospital for treatment of injuries believed to be non-life-threatening at this time. Garda collision scene investigators will try to determine the exact cause of the crash by examining the section of roadway involved. The emergency services attended the crash site within minutes. A number of passing motorists also stopped to offer help at the scene. The Millstreet-based air ambulance was also on standby to support emergency services involved in treating persons injured in the incident. Gardai have issued a statement asking for witnesses to the collision to come forward. Any road users who may have camera footage, including dash-cam, and were travelling in the area between 3pm and 4pm are asked to make this footage available to investigating Gardai. Anyone with any information is asked to contact Mallow Garda Station on (022) 31450, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station. 'The whole area is numb' Speaking to The Echo, Fine Gael councillor Tony OShea said his condolences are with the families of the deceased. He added: I hope the injured make a full recovery. The whole area is numb, and on Mothers Day for these families, its horrific, he said. Cork North West Fine Gael TD John Paul OShea said the incident was a terrible tragedy. I am very saddened to hear we have a number of fatalities and also a number of people seriously injured, he said. My thoughts are with all those affected. Fianna Fail councillor Pat Hayes added: It is a shock, really, that this could happen, an accident like this, and it is very traumatic really. Hopefully, the people that are injured will make a full recovery, Mr Hayes added. N25 collision Separately, gardai are appealing for witnesses to a fatal three-vehicle collision that occurred on the N25, close to the Cork border at Moonameen, Co Waterford. Gardai and emergency services attended the scene of the collision, involving cars, which occurred at approximately 2.10pm yesterday. A passenger of one of the cars, a woman aged in her 60s, was pronounced dead at the scene. Her body was removed to the mortuary at University Hospital Waterford, where a postmortem 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. They are believed to be non-life-threatening. 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. The road was closed for technical examination by garda forensic collision investigators, and gardai are appealing for any witnesses to the incident to come forward. 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. A meeting will take place on Wednesday, April 9 at 7pm at Douglas Community Centre to discuss proposed garda changes for Douglas and Carrigaline greater areas. The public meeting is to discuss the An Garda Siochana proposals for the Douglas and Rochestown area and all are welcome to attend. Commenting on the plans Seamus McGrath TD said: Unfortunately, there are proposals put forward by garda management to amalgamate the garda units serving Carrigaline (and Harbour) with Douglas. I do not believe this will be in the best interests of our garda service locally for either the Harbour or Douglas areas. Both areas should have dedicated garda units serving them. I think this needs to be resisted strongly and the upcoming meeting provides an opportunity to express your views to the garda management. As well as Mr McGrath other public representatives have raised concerns about the possible amalgamation of the garda. The Garda Representative Association (GRA) warned that a lack of manpower could mean the amalgamation of garda units currently covering Carrigaline and Douglas. Fine Gael minister of state and Cork South Central TD, Jerry Buttimer, said that while the plan was an operational issue for garda management, the minister for justice and the Garda Commissioner needed to address it with local management. I know from talking to local gardai that it is something theyre very unhappy about, and its something that needs urgently to be clarified, said Mr Buttimer. Padraig OSullivan, Fianna Fail TD for Cork North Central, said that the plan was a matter of great concern, and highlighted a lack of understanding of Corks policing needs. I believe its high time that acknowledgement needs to be given to the fact that areas like Carrigaline, Glanmire, Ballincollig, large new suburbs like that, dont get their fair share of garda resources devoted by central command, and thats something that has to be reviewed, he said. Independent councillor for Cork South-East and former lord mayor, Kieran McCarthy, said there had long been calls to increase garda numbers in the Douglas area, and pointed out that to call it a neighbourhood did not do it justice. It also has all of Rochestown, and parts of Grange, with Donnybrook itself having large population numbers. The district has more than 20,000 people living in it, said Mr McCarthy. Commissioner Harris must take an interest in Cork and allocate gardai to city units as a matter of priority, said Mr Horgan. Colm Kelleher, Fianna Fail city councillor for the South-West ward and former lord mayor, said the plan was alarming, and he intended to raise it with justice minister Jim OCallaghan. Labour Party Cork City Councillor Peter Horgan has written to the minister for justice Jim OCallaghan TD to meet with local representatives on the proposal that an amalgamation of garda units is on the cards for Douglas and Carrigaline because of ghost units. The Cork City divisions is continuously now being treated as the poor relation for Garda allocations by this Commissioner, said Cllr Horgan. I have written to the minister for justice on the specific issue that we are facing amalgamation of the Douglas and Carrigaline units because of ghost units. There is clear community opposition to this and cross-party opposition to this proposal. The area of Douglas continues to grow as does Carrigaline and we need more gardai, not less. We are sleepwalking into a situation that will be very hard to walk back from and ultimately the commissioner needs to prioritise Cork based on this proposal, he needs to prioritise Douglas and Carrigaline. I would hope the Minister would come to the area to see for himself the issues that frontline Gardai are dealing with. All are welcome to attend the meeting on April 9. Douglas Comhaltas members perform at Fleadh launch Lord Mayor of Cork Dan Boyle along with Ger ODriscoll, chairman of Fleadh Cheoil na Mumhan, and musicians Michaela Flynn and Roisin Noonan of Douglas Comhaltas, at the launch of Fleadh Cheoil na Mumhan 2025 at the MTU Campus. Picture: David Keane Cllr McCarthys historical walking tours return for 2025 Former Lord Mayor and current independent Cllr Kieran McCarthy is to restart his free historical walking tours during the month of April. Tours will be of the Barrack Street/ Friars Walk area, the Shandon quarter, the old Cork City workhouse site on Douglas Road at St Finbarrs Hospital, and Fitzgeralds Park respectively. Having an opportunity to show people around the heritage of Cork city has always been an important job of work for me, said Cllr McCarthy. I have pursued more research than ever in recent years. As more and more old newspapers and books are digitised it has allowed greater access to material and hence more material to create historical walking trails of some of Corks most historical suburbs and heritage set pieces. I am also trying to sharpen the tours I have and to create new ones in a different suburb. The four areas I am re-starting with for the 2025 all have their own unique sense of place, their own cultural and built heritage, their own historic angles, some really interesting set pieces and add their own stories to how the city as a whole came into being. They also connect to the upcoming 2025 Cork Lifelong Learning Festival and its motto of Investigate, Participate and Celebrate, concluded Cllr McCarthy. Full details of Kierans April tours are: Saturday, April 5: The Friars Walk Tour: Discover Red Abbey, Elizabeth Fort, Barrack Street, Callanans Tower and Greenmount area. Meet at Red Abbey Tower, off Douglas Street, 1pm. This tour is in association with the Cork Lifelong Learning Festival. Sunday, April 6: Shandon Tour: Explore Corks most historic quarter. Meet at North Main Street/ Adelaide Street Square, opposite Cork Volunteer Centre, 1pm. Saturday, April 26: The Cork City Workhouse Tour. Learn about Cork Citys workhouse created for 2,000 impoverished people in 1841, meet just inside the gates of St Finbarrs Hospital, Douglas Road, 1pm. Sunday, April 27: Fitzgeralds Park: The Peoples Park Tour, from stories on the Mardyke to the Cork International Exhibition, meet at the band stand, 1pm. All tours are free, two hours, and no booking is required. Arts office free event Robyn Power Cork City Council Cork City Councils Arts Office is set to host a free event at Douglas Community Centre on April 8 at 10am. The event, titled Developing Partnerships and Collaborations for Creative Community Projects forms part of the councils 2025 Creative Communities Roadshow series. It has upcoming events in Bishopstown, Glanmire and The Glen also. It will consist of short talks and presentations, as well as a creative taster for attendees on developing manifestos for community-led projects, which will be run by artists Marilyn Lennon and Sean Taylor. Attendees can reserve tickets for the event free of charge on Eventbrite.ie. The event will discuss funding opportunities that are available from the Councils Arts Office for creatives in Cork, through a presentation delivered by Siobhan Clancy and Louise Tangney. There will also be an insight into the creative work of local community group, Douglas Young atHeart, in a talk from its founder Phil Goodman. The group was set up by Goodman in 2001 to help alleviate isolation and loneliness in older people. It is based in Douglas village with members from surrounding areas also, and weekly events are advertised on their website. The event is set to last for three hours, with breaks for discussion in between. The councils last roadshow series took place in October 2024, with a focus on networking for people interested in the arts. More information about the event can be found on the Arts Office website, at www.corkcity.ie. Have Douglas news to share? Contact rory.noonan@theecho.ie Renowned cerebral palsy advocate Lily Collison has received an honorary doctorate from University College Cork in recognition of her pioneering work. Motivated by her son Tommys diagnosis of spastic diplegia, Ms Collison has been dedicated to improving outcomes for those affected by cerebral palsy. A member of the board of the Cerebral Palsy Foundation, she has played a pivotal role in securing funding for CP initiatives in Ireland. Author Ms Collison is also one of the authors of the Gillette Childrens Healthcare Series of books designed to aid the parents of children with childhood-acquired physical and/or neurological conditions. Speaking at the ceremony, Ms Collison asked the new medical and health graduates present not to forget children and those with disability. Success is not about personal achievement; its about impact, she said. Use your power of one to uplift others, challenge the status quo, and contribute to a better world. UCC president Professor John OHalloran said: Lilys work continues to influence the lives of individuals with disabilities worldwide, empowering families, shaping research, and improving the care available to people with CP. Lilys advocacy has led to transformative partnerships, including a significant collaboration with us here in UCC, where we established the Elevate programme to improve early detection and treatment of brain injury and CP. Her many years of tireless advocacy makes her a very worthy recipient of an honorary doctorate. The husband of the woman found dead with her throat cut at their home in Wilton made Google searches about a carving knife in the days before her death. Evidence of analysis of his phone and computer devices was given today at the murder trial at the Central Criminal Court sitting in Cork where 43-year-old Regin Parithapara Rajan, denies the single charge of murdering 38-year-old Deepa Paruthiyezhuth Dinamani at their home at Cardinal Court, Wilton, Cork, on July 14 2023, contrary to common law. The expert who gave evidence of phone analysis today also gave evidence of analysis of the deceased womans phone. Phone analyst Susan Cronin testified that Deepas phone showed searches in the following terms: What happens when you clear chat on WhatsApp? How do you know if someone is tracking your WhatsApp? Ms Cronin produced records of some of the data analysed on Regin Rajans phones. On July 6 2023 there was a Google search, What is a carving knife used for? on July 12 2023, the words, carving knife were searched. On July 10 2023, there was a Google search, Jail in Ireland. Later that date, there was a search, prison conditions, followed by, prison facilities in Ireland. There was a cookie on a website on the accused mans phone, How can I stop my wife from cheating on me at home? It was explained to the jury that cookie is not a search but is a computer prompt generated on a users device. On the day of Deepas death the last entry on a WhatsApp conversation with a person called Jay came from Deepas phone at 5.50 p.m. and the message was, Yups. Sean Gillane prosecution senior counsel suggested to the phone analyst that this word was never before used on Deepas phone. Ms Cronin agreed. Mr Gillane said the word, Yups, had appeared 115 times on Regin Rajans phone previously. Ms Cronin confirmed this, according to her phone analysis. In another WhatsApp conversation, the message on Deepas phone was, There was this divorce thing going on and all this drama at home so I cried a lot. The reply from Jay was, Oh dear, poor you. Cross-examining, defence senior counsel Brian McInerney, suggested that Ms Cronin consulted with the garda investigation team and certain searches were suggested, including the word, knife. Ms Cronin agreed and said that was how the searches relating to carving knife were discovered. She agreed with Mr McInerney that she searched under the words, kill and murder, and that no searches were found under those words. Detective Garda Rachel OMahony testified that a palm print on the handle of a knife at the scene matched that of the accused. The trial continues before Ms Justice Siobhan Lankford and a jury of seven women and five men. A semi-automatic pistol and ammunition and slam-bang improvised shotgun were found at the home of a man under investigation for allegedly selling drugs to undercover gardai, it was claimed today. Detective Garda Patrick OSullivan testified that there would be a danger to the community if the accused man, 46-year-old Pranas Motriuk of 13 Manor Grove, Thornbury View, Rochestown, Cork, was given bail. Judge Mary Dorgan refused bail and remanded Pranas Motriuk in custody until April 7. He was charged with three counts under the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act related to the improvised shotgun, the 9mm Zoraki semi-automatic pistol and ammunition. He was charged with having two false IDs, namely a Lithuanian drivers licence and a personal ID card, allegedly carrying his picture but someone elses name. All of those charges relate to March 25 at his home in Rochestown. The shotgun was allegedly found in a utility room, and the pistol and ammunition in his attic. He was also charged with money-laundering in relation to sums of 470 and 1,050 at North City Link Road on September 25 2024, and at Kyrls Street on October 3 2024, respectively. EVIDENCE The evidence given by Det. Garda OSullivan was that these sums of money were found on the accused when he was searched following the alleged sale by him of drugs to undercover gardai making controlled purchases as part of an investigation into an alleged organised crime gang from Lithuania operating in Cork for the supply of heroin. I arrested him for directing/supervising the activities of an organised criminal group. He was brought to Gurranabraher garda station and detained. In relation to the improvised shotgun he stated that he had this for protection. He elaborated that a friend of his had been stabbed and slashed recently and that this was for their protection as a group. He stated he was afraid these savages would return and a stick would not suffice. During examination of his mobile phone, there were voice recordings of him looking to source bullets for a weapon. When asked about the two false IDs he stated that he got them on the internet as a joke but agreed the picture on them was him. He said he found the pistol while exploring a castle outside Carrigaline and brought it home for protection of himself and his family if anyone broke into his home. He would not say why it was hidden the way it was in his attic, Det. Garda OSullivan said. Eddie Burke solicitor said the accused was in Ireland for seven years with his wife and child. Detective Garda Jeremy Murphy arrested and charged a second man, Karolis Guzauskas, with 12 counts of possession of Diamorphine (heroin) and 12 counts of having heroin for sale or supply. The detective said that on five dates, the defendant allegedly sold heroin to 12 undercover gardai in the Fitzgeralds Park and Mardyke area. The detective agreed that the accused was in Ireland for five years and in a relationship with a woman from Cork, and that on March 19 he was the victim of a serious assault. The 33-year-old had his right arm in a plaster-cast in Cork District Court. The detective objected to bail being granted in his case because of concerns for the safety of the community. He also was remanded in custody until April 7. Two co-accused, who were also alleged to be trusted members of an organised crime gang from Lithuania operating in Cork, were refused bail on March 28. When friends Feile Butler, of Sligo, and Mohammed Timraz, of Gaza, began swapping images of childrens art over WhatsApp in June last year, they could not have known that what began as a simple exchange of paintings and drawings between the children of both families was soon to become an international phenomenon. Struck by an image drawn by seven-year-old Shahed Al-Zaqzouq, of her pet cat bleeding outside her home after a missile attack, Feile knew instantly that this insight into daily life for Gazas youngest and most vulnerable inhabitants had to be shared. In collaboration with Mohammed, just four weeks later, the exhibition HeART Of Gaza debuted in The Weir Gallery, Sligo. Featuring 55 framed pieces by 14 Palestinian artists, ranging in age from 3 to 17, the success of this first exhibition led to an invitation to exhibit at Electric Picnic, attracting international attention. From there, HeART of Gaza has continued to tour both internationally and nationwide throughout Ireland. Now, Home: The HeART Of Gaza is on exhibition at Dance Cork Firkin Crane. Yvonne Coughlan, chair of the board at the arts centre, describes the project as a profoundly moving exhibition in Crane Visual that speaks to the resilience, creativity, and spirit of its young artists. She added: It invites everyone to experience its depth and beauty, offering a space for reflection, connection and conversation. All are welcome to come and engage with this work at Dance Cork Firkin Crane. Curated by Feile, Mohammed, and Dermot Browne, the exhibition features installation design by Eman Alkarajeh of Corks renowned Palestinian restaurant, IZZ Cafe. Dermot included the word Home in the title of HeART Of Gaza for the Cork showing, explaining: I added the Home aspect because I wanted to feel like these childrens artworks were arriving home and being safe there. Since its first showing to the public, the exhibition has expanded and Dermot says the Cork version is the most expansive version of the exhibition to date. He notes: There are a number of elements that come together here in this exhibition space inside Dance Cork Firkin Crane. There are approximately 50 of the original (printed) pieces of the childrens art from Gaza, but there are 11 of a larger format series of prints where we enlarged and paired double images of those same art pieces. Across the room, there are a series of objects that create the feeling and mood of a home. Were these objects from a previous time in Palestinian life, or are they the remaining objects of a domestic life now underneath the rubble? Added to this, we are privileged to have the first showing in Ireland of the works of Tayseer Barakat, one of Palestines best-known artists. These two printed works of the Gazan- born Barakat lend weight to, and blend beautifully with, the innocence of the childrens art. Stories of the childrens lives accompany the pieces, and even before I had finished hanging the show, the emotional impact of the whole space was apparent. The curator tells us this project is primarily a celebration of these young artists and their work, but poignantly points out that those walking through the exhibition will see that not all of the children whose work is on display have survived the bombardment of Gaza. Dermot is very proud to be involved in bringing this exhibition to the people of Cork, but stresses that full credit must go to Feile and Mohammed, who brought HeART Of Gaza to life and whose continuous efforts keep the project going. He also expresses much gratitude to Dance Cork Firkin Crane for their support and accommodation in hosting the exhibition in this extended seven-week showing. For his own part, Dermot speaks warmly about his experience of bringing the voices and lived experiences of these young Palestinian artists to Cork. I have enjoyed building and cherishing new friendships and relationships both across Cork city and from Cork to Gaza, he said. A special mention goes to Eman and Izzadeen Alkarajeh, of IZZ Cafe, who both helped design the space and also provided some of their stellar food for the opening. Bringing Eman, a trained interior designer, on board to help design the look and feel of the gallery space just tied the whole project together. Home: The HeART Of Gaza is open to the public free of charge and runs until Saturday, May 3. Further details can be found at www.dancecorkfirkincrane.ie. Those wishing to donate aid to the children of Gaza can do so at We Are Not Alone - A GoFundMe campaign, set up by Mohammed Timraz to provide for his community and artists in Gaza: https://gofund.me/f8b3a47a Visitors to the exhibition will also find A4 prints available to purchase for 20, the proceeds of which will also go to The Artists Tent in Gaza. High Court Reporters A Co Louth man has claimed in the High Court that he was fired from his job as an IT engineer contractor at Dublin Airport for telling an Aer Lingus employee to f*** off. Colm Dunne, from St Laurences Park, Drogheda, claims his dismissal last month from his post at ESP Global Services Ltd, an IT support services firm, was extremely harsh and not proportionate. Mr Dunne was allegedly dismissed after a disciplinary process determined his use of inappropriate language towards the Aer Lingus employee constituted gross misconduct. Mr Dunne does not accept his use of the swear word justifies a charge of or constitutes gross misconduct. It is Mr Dunnes case that it has never been explained how his use of the obscenity amounts to gross misconduct. Mr Justice Brian Cregan last week granted a number of short-term injunctive orders sought by Mr Dunne, including that ESP restrain from taking steps to give effect to his purported dismissal. The orders were granted with only Mr Dunnes side represented. Mr Justice Cregan also gave permission to Conor Power SC, for Mr Dunne and instructed by Feran & Co solicitors, to serve the proceedings on ESP. In a sworn statement to the court, Mr Dunne says that during the course of a shift on January 27th, he had an unfortunate interaction with a member of Aer Lingus check-in team. Mr Dunne says the Aer Lingus employee approached Mr Dunne about a malfunctioning self-service kiosk, used by passengers to check-in baggage prior to a flight. Mr Dunne was tending to another faulty kiosk at the time of the interaction. During the course of this interaction, Mr Dunne admits that he regrettably told the employee to go away and f*** off." Mr Dunne says the Aer Lingus employee raised a formal complaint regarding the interaction. On January 31st, Mr Dunne says he was informed by ESPs human resource (HR) department that he was to be suspended from work pending the outcome of an investigation into an allegation of gross misconduct namely, that he used inappropriate language towards an Aer Lingus employee. On February 4th, Mr Dunne says, he was told by his HR department that the investigation had concluded. It is Mr Dunnes case that he had no communication with his employer during the purported investigation. At a disciplinary hearing on February 7th, Mr Dunne says he was informed that, by reason of [his] action having been considered to be gross misconduct, he was to be dismissed immediately. He says that his offer to apologise to the Aer Lingus employee in person was turned down. Mr Dunne says his job was advertised on ESPs vacancies webpage on February 12th. Mr Dunne says that he appealed his dismissal to his employer on a number of grounds, including that the punishment was extremely harsh and not proportionate. However, the appeal process and hearing failed to address the very serious defects of fairness of procedure and due process in the disciplinary process, Mr Dunne claims. Mr Dunne, who has worked at ESP since October 2021, says he has enjoyed an unblemished disciplinary record prior to the incident in question. The case returns to court this week. A pair of cult classics from Sony's PlayStation Portable library are heading to Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5 and PC. As part of the Nintendo Direct showcase this March, Bandai Namco announced Patapon 1 + 2 Replay, a package that brings together brand new remasters of 2007's Patapon and 2008's Patapon 2. Originally developed by Pyramid and Sony Japan Studio, which shuttered in 2021, the two games combine elements from strategy and rhythm games. As the player, you must guide a tribe of anthropomorphic eyeballs to victory over their foes through a combination of drum beats. Patapon and Patapon 2 were well-received on release and went on to define the PSP's library of quirky but fun games. In addition to HD graphics, Patapon 1 + 2 Replay includes quality of life changes that should hopefully make this the best way to play these two gems. Update, March 31, 1:15PM ET: Bandai Namco confirmed that Patapon 1 + 2 Replay is coming to PS5 and PC as well as Switch, and this information has been included in the article. Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, is reportedly finding himself ever more isolated from his family as he adapts to life in California with his wife, Meghan Markle, and their two small children. As per The Mirror, the prince has not only been distanced from his father, King Charles III, but also from other members of the royal family, including his cousin, Princess Eugenie. Harry found out his father had been hospitalized from cancer treatment side effects at the same time as everyone else. This revelation has highlighted the challenges of living 5,000 miles away from his family. According to sources close to the prince who spoke with the outlet, Harry had only a brief half-hour visit with his father after returning to the UK last year for the king's initial cancer diagnosis. "It's not a great look," a source told The Sun, referring to Harry's evolving role within the royal family. "First he was a spare to William, now he's increasingly looking like a spare to Meghan." Reports suggest that Harry has barely spoken to his family in years. He reportedly spends most of his time in the couple's Montecito mansion and feels a growing sense of loneliness. A close friend mentioned that Harry misses his family but feels cut off, stating, "No one is speaking to him anymore." Prince Harry's Condition For UK Return Despite this isolation, Harry has made it clear that he will not return to the UK with Meghan and their children unless he can secure 24-hour armed security, which was removed when he stepped back from royal duties. Harry and Eugenie's relationship has also reportedly soured in recent years. They were previously said to be close, but their friendship is said to have soured after Eugenie posed with Piers Morgan, who is a notoriously vocal critic of Harry and Meghan. Sources indicate that this incident caused tension, leading to a cooling of their previously supportive relationship. The rift between Harry and his brother, Prince William, remains evident as well. At a recent funeral service for their uncle, Lord Robert Fellowes, guests reported palpable tension between the brothers, who left without exchanging any words. In February, shortly after visiting his father, Harry expressed gratitude for the opportunity to see him during a challenging time. "Any illness brings families together," he remarked. However, it seems that distance and ongoing family tensions continue to pose significant hurdles for the Duke of Sussex as he seeks to reconnect with his roots. Renowned actor Richard Chamberlain, celebrated for his iconic roles in Shogun and Dr. Kildare, has passed away at the age of 90. Chamberlain died on Saturday, March 29, 2025, at 11:15 p.m. local time in Waimanalo, Hawaii, due to complications following a stroke. His death was confirmed by his publicist, Harlan Boll, and longtime partner Martin Rabbett. "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," Rabbett said in a statement to Variety. Chamberlain was widely regarded as the "King of Miniseries" for his starring roles in television blockbusters such as "The Thorn Birds" and "Shogun." His career spanned decades, beginning with his breakout role as Dr. James Kildare in the 1960s NBC medical drama Dr. Kildare. The show catapulted him to stardom, earning him recognition as a teen idol and one of the most popular male stars of the era. He also earned Golden Globe awards and multiple Emmy nominations for these roles. While his early career focused on television, he later transitioned to more diverse roles in theater and film, including performances in "Hamlet," "The Three Musketeers," and "The Towering Inferno." Despite his professional success, Chamberlain struggled with personal insecurities tied to his sexuality. Growing up in an era when being gay was stigmatized, he felt compelled to hide this aspect of himself to protect his career as a romantic leading man. In interviews, he revealed that he often deflected questions about marriage and family during his early years in Hollywood. Chamberlain described this period as one of deep self-disapproval, stating that societal pressures made it "impossible" for him to live openly as a gay man. It wasn't until 2003, at nearly 70 years old, that Chamberlain publicly came out as gay in his memoir "Shattered Love." Veteran "Gossip Girl 'actress Blake Lively isn't making it out of 2025 unscathed, with negative stories from fans and ex-colleague tabloid reports piling up against her. The most recent incident involves Kaitlyn Cooper, a 27-year-old fan who approached Lively at a luxury hotel in Waco earlier this month. Cooper shared her thoughts and feelings on the matter in a DailyMail report from Alison Boshoff. She shared in her story that she saw the actress in the hotel lobby and took a short video to commemorate the moment. However, her excitement quickly turned to shock when Lively allegedly followed her out to her car and began recording her on her own phone. According to Cooper, Lively then handed her phone to a security guard, who circled Cooper's vehicle, taking note of her license plate. The experience frightened Cooper and rattled him to the core. The incident has reignited discussions about Lively's behavior, particularly in light of previous reports detailing tensions between her and co-star Justin Baldoni during the filming of their upcoming movie "It Ends With Us." The tensions surfaced last August amid claims of behind-the-scenes drama on set. Lively sued Baldoni for sexual harassment and for a conspiracy to defame her. In response, Baldoni countersued, claiming that Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, effectively sidelined him and undermined his career. Such lawsuits have emerged as a centerpiece of discourse about Lively's character. With events playing out as they have, social media has been flooded with input from fans and those in the industry. TikTok videos dissecting the controversies have gained traction, with some users likening the discussions to a "#MeToo movement for Hollywood's little people." Snarky Behavior Adding to the chorus of voices speaking out against Lively is Kjersti Flaa, a Norwegian journalist who interviewed the actress in 2016 while promoting the film "Cafe Society." Flaa described her experience as excruciating, noting that Lively and her co-star Parker Posey spoke over her during the interview and largely ignored her questions. Flaa remembered one of the most painful moments was when she validated Lively on her pregnancy, Lively replied mock in a sarcastic fashion: Flaa, who has struggled with infertility issues, described Lively's comment as "like a bullet," leaving her emotionally wounded. Boshoff says that since Flaa went public, a number of others have come forward with similar accounts of negative experiences with Lively. Many of these stories come from low-level industry workersextras and internswho describe feeling belittled or disrespected by the actress. One former extra from "Gossip Girl" expressed regret over her experience working alongside Lively, stating it made her reconsider a future in acting altogether. Film producer Barbara Szeman, who worked with Lively on the 2018 film "A Simple Favor," described her as "the worst actor" she had ever encountered, further alleging that Lively's behavior was often unprofessional and dismissive. Another stylist who once worked with Lively described her as someone who looks down on those she considers below her and said that Lively largely ignored her after they finished their shoot. In stark contrast to these accounts is the support Lively receives from her loyal fan base. Her more misbehaving and sarcastic moments are defended by many fans, who say it's all normal considering the amount of fame on her shoulders. They argue that being constantly pursued by fans and paparazzi can lead to defensive reactions from celebrities. Lively's representatives have issued statements to DailyMail defending the actress against the wave of negative press. They argue that the ongoing coverage serves to perpetuate harmful narratives about women who speak out against harassment in Hollywood. They said that this kind of attention makes other people less willing to come forward with similar stories of being mistreated in the industry. Lively is set to appear in several high-profile projects in the coming year, including "It Ends With Us," which is expected to be released amid ongoing legal disputes. Prince Harry's departure from the UK and subsequent split from the royal family have had lasting effects, including on the charity he co-founded, Sentebale. The organization, which provides support to young people affected by AIDS in southern Africa, has been at the center of controversy after the Duke of Sussex and all five trustees resigned on Tuesday. Now the charity's chairwoman, Dr. Sophie Chandauka, is speaking out, accusing Harry of pitting his PR machine against her and branding him as "toxic." "The only reason I'm here is because at some point on Tuesday, Prince Harry authorized the release of a damaging piece of news to the outside world without informing me or my country directors, or my executive director," Chandauka told Sky News on Sunday. She added, "And can you imagine what that attack has done for me, on me and the 540 individuals in the Sentebale organizations and their famil[ies]? That is an example of harassment and bullying at scale." A close friend of the former Sentebale trustees described Chandauka's claims as "completely baseless," adding in a statement to Sky News that the resignations were always expected and made for the best interest of the charity. Pressure and Internal Struggle Allegations Chandauka alleged that Prince Harry made efforts to have her ousted from the charity and pressured the organization to issue a public statement backing Meghan Markle following an unsuccessful polo fundraiser she planned. "I said I wouldn't," Chandauka stated. "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." She also said that several donors and sponsors for the charity also pulled support around the time Harry and Meghan left the UK. When she inquired why, she was told, "It was an uncomfortable conversation to have with Prince Harry in the room." Chandauka, however, said in a Financial Times interview that both Prince Harry and co-founder Prince Seeiso had tried to "force a failure" at Sentebale in Lesotho and then "come in and save the day." Perhaps the most damning of all her claims was that the charity's most significant issue was "the toxicity of its lead patron's brand." The comments come after Harry and Seeiso said that their departure on Tuesday was due to an "untenable situation" with the charity. "The relationship between the charity's trustees and the chair of the board broke down beyond repair," the statement read. "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. Since then, the UK Charity Commission has announced that it is investigating the situation. A spokesman said, "We can confirm that we are aware of concerns about the governance of Sentebale," a spokesperson said. "We are assessing the issues to determine the appropriate regulatory steps." (Informacion remitida por la empresa firmante) Isomorphic Labs will utilise the funding to further power its AI drug design engine through frontier AI research and development and to scale and progress its drug candidate pipeline. LONDON, March 31, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Isomorphic Labs, an AI-first drug design and development company, today announced it has raised $600 Million in its first external funding round. The financing round is led by Thrive Capital, with participation from GV, and follow-on capital from existing investor, Alphabet. Isomorphic Labs was founded with the ambition to leverage the power of AI to reimagine and accelerate drug discovery to bring much-needed treatments to millions of patients globally. The company aims to apply its pioneering AI drug design engine to deliver biomedical breakthroughs and is advancing drug design programs across multiple therapeutic areas and drug modalities. "We're excited to bring together a top-tier investor group with deep AI and life sciences expertise as we aim to transform this industry through an interdisciplinary approach," said Isomorphic Labs founder and CEO, Sir Demis Hassabis. "This funding will further turbocharge the development of our next-generation AI drug design engine, help us advance our own programs into clinical development, and is a significant step forward towards our mission of one day solving all disease with the help of AI." Since its founding, the company has developed a number of next-generation AI models that come together to form its unified AI drug design engine that works across multiple therapeutic areas and drug modalities. One example breakthrough model is AlphaFold 3, developed and released in May 2024 by Isomorphic Labs together with Google DeepMind, with the ability to accurately predict the structure and interactions of all of life's molecules. Leveraging these state-of-the-art AI technologies, Isomorphic Labs has established a drug discovery portfolio consisting of partnered programs with pharmaceutical industry leaders Eli Lilly and Novartis, as well as internal programs primarily focused in oncology and immunology. Novartis and Isomorphic Labs recently expanded the scope of their original collaboration just over a year after initiating the relationship. "At Thrive, we aim to invest in category-defining companies with singular conviction, and that has led us to Isomorphic Labs," said Joshua Kushner, Founder and CEO of Thrive Capital. "We believe Isomorphic has earned a rare position to define a new age of drug discovery and design, and we are deeply inspired by their mission and the extraordinary progress they have made to date." The investment will accelerate Isomorphic Labs' frontier AI research and development, to rapidly advance the company's next-generation AI drug design engine. Isomorphic Labs will consequently be expanding its team of world-class talent as part of its next phase of growth. "AI and machine learning have long held the promise of transforming drug discovery, yet few companies over the past decade have unlocked their full potential. After witnessing the extraordinary pace of innovation at Isomorphic Labs, we believe their pioneering approach will redefine AI-powered drug discovery," said Dr. Krishna Yeshwant, Managing Partner at GV. "With Sir Demis Hassabis at the helm, Isomorphic has assembled an exceptional team at the intersection of life sciences and technology. We're proud to support them as they advance the development of new treatments for patients." ABOUT ISOMORPHIC LABS Isomorphic Labs was founded in 2021, with a mission to transform drug discovery with the power of artificial intelligence, ushering in a new era of biomedical breakthroughs. Isomorphic Labs is led by AI pioneer Sir Demis Hassabis, and its founding was built on the Nobel-winning AI breakthrough, AlphaFold. Isomorphic Labs, together with Google DeepMind, developed and released AlphaFold 3 in May 2024, a revolutionary AI model that can predict the structure and interactions of all of life's molecules with unprecedented accuracy. Isomorphic Labs has built a world-leading AI drug design engine comprising foundational AI models that are capable of working across multiple therapeutic areas and drug modalities. The company is continually innovating on model architecture and developing cutting-edge capabilities to advance drug design. Isomorphic Labs is headquartered in London and has an office in Lausanne, Switzerland. Isomorphic Labs is advancing a broad and ambitious drug design portfolio through partnered programs and wholly-owned internal programs. For more information, go to www.isomorphiclabs.com and follow us on LinkedIn and X. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/isomorphic-labs-announces-600-million-funding-to-further-develop-its-next-generation-ai-drug-design-engine-and-advance-therapeutic-programs-into-the-clinic-302415534.html You Might Also Like The U.S. Department of Defense released video of the search for four U.S. soldiers in Lithuania. The U.S. Army says three of the soldiers who went missing have been found dead in an armored vehicle that was pulled from a swampy area early Monday. The other soldier is still missing. You Might Also Like Rescue efforts intensified three days after a massive earthquake in Southeast Asia that killed at least 2,000 people. Survivors were pulled out of rubble in Myanmar and signs of life were detected in the ruins of a skyscraper in Bangkok. Montana lawmakers are addressing income tax-related bills as recent polling shows over half of Montanans are dissatisfied with the state government's handling of income taxes. The Montana Free Press poll surveyed over 900 residents. A Hertfordshire farmer has been forced to pay out thousands of pounds after clearing 40 tonnes of illegally dumped waste from her land. Eveey Hunter had to pay 6,000 for lorries to remove the rubbish, which she believes was dumped over several weeks by individuals who used her fields as a free tipping site. Speaking to the BBC, Ms Hunter said that she rarely visits her fields at this time of year, allowing the waste to accumulate unnoticed. She told the broadcaster: "Theyve been effectively using it as a free tip and going through the effort of shutting the gate every time so we wouldnt notice." Councils dealt with well over 1 million fly-tipping incidents on public land alone last year, a rise of 6%, with calls for the government to act tougher on the crime. However, the official figures only account for waste illegally dumped on public land that has been reported to the authorities. Rural campaigners frequently point out that many fly-tipping incidents occur on private land, painting an even more damaging picture of the financial burden and environmental impact it brings. Ms Hunter said to the BBC: "We're going to have to foot that bill and farmers all over the country will feel my frustration on that." After inspecting the litter, she found addresses linked to various building companies and construction sites, suggesting the waste originated from them. She visited these locations and discovered that some had failed to properly vet the contractors hired to dispose of their waste. "I think the education really needs to start back at the source of where the rubbish is coming from," Ms Hunter said. The Country Land and Business Association (CLA) recently warned that the countryside was increasingly being targeted by organised gangs, who often dumped rubbish on farmland. Its not just litter blotting the landscape, but tonnes of household and commercial waste which can often be hazardous even including asbestos and chemicals," noted CLA President Victoria Vyvyan. "People, communities and businesses deserve to feel safe and protected, and the first place to start must surely be ending the chronic under-funding of rural police forces." As Energy Storage holds a key role in the support of the grid and energy transition efforts, Sungrow's ESS Experience Day in Munich was a insightful opportunity for leading experts across Europe to exchange thoughts on this crucial topic towards a sustainable future. The event was followed by almost 300 attendees and covered a broad range of topics, relevant to the technological, business and safety implications of ESS. MUNICH, March 31, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Reconfirming its commitment to supporting its partners and driving the transition to a clean and sustainable future, Sungrow successfully hosted the ESS Experience Day in Munich on the 20th of March, bringing together industry experts, partners, and stakeholders to explore the latest advancements in Energy Storage Systems (ESS). The event underscored Sungrow's devotion to driving the transition towards a more resilient, stable, and renewable-powered energy landscape across Europe. Energy Storage: A Cornerstone for Europe's Renewable Future As Europe accelerates its shift to renewable energy, the need for grid stability and flexibility has never been greater. Energy Storage Systems play a critical role in balancing supply and demand, enabling a higher penetration of renewables into the grid. By 2030, Europe aims to generate at least 45% of its energy from renewable sources, according to the European Commission's REPowerEU plan[1]. However, intermittent generation from solar and wind requires advanced storage solutions to maintain grid stability and prevent curtailment. The deployment of ESS projects requires advanced technologies, but also strong collaboration between involved parties and devoted teams of experts that secure the swift and efficient operations, as Mr. Shawn Shi, Vice President of Sungrow and President of Sungrow Europe emphasized in his speech that opened the event. "The outstanding result that made possible the commercial operation of the BW ESS Bramley 331MWh project in just 12 days after the grid energization, reflects not only the technical innovation of PowerTitan 2.0, It is also a reflection of our excellent delivery management capabilities and close collaboration with our partners." An Evening Full of Insights and Meaningful Discussions The event in Munich acted as a platform to exchange in-depth knowledge and thoughts by experts of the industry, case studies, while the almost 300 attendees had also the opportunity to experience hands-on demonstrations of Sungrow's state-of-the-art latest battery storage systems, the liquid-cooled PowerStack 200CS and PowerTitan 2.0. One of the highlights of the event was the presentation, "Policies & Trends of Battery Storage" by Mr. Antonio Arruebo, Market Analyst at SolarPower Europe (SPE), which included an exclusive preview of preliminary figures from the SPE Battery Outlook, the leading report about the current and future development of the field, that will be officially published at Intersolar in May 2025. Mr. Arruebo underlined the need for flexibility of the grid, predicting that EU power flexibility needs to increase five-fold by 2030 and batteries & demand response can meet 2/3 of the flexibility requirements. At the same time, the forecast beyond 2024, is that the European BESS market is expected to expand by 30-40% year on year to reach 260 GWh by 2028, while the high scenario by SPE foresees that this figure could reach up to 400 GWh by the same year. The agenda of the event covered a broad range of issues related to the ESS and energy transition, including the latest developments on Grid Forming Capabilities by Dr. Ivan Volodin, ESS Product Manager at Sungrow Europe, and the impressive PowerTitan 2.0 Large-scale Burn Test presented by Mr. Yang Ye, Senior Technical Marketing Manager at Sungrow OSKA, showcasing the latest developments on the BESS safety. Moreover, Mr. Andres Doebel, Head of ESS for the DACH region at Sungrow Europe emphasized in his speech the crucial aspect of the one-brand solution in securing a successful ESS project and Mr. Robert Von Wahl, Director of Sungrow EV Charging Europe, analysed the opportunities that ESS holds also for the crucial role of EV charging infrastructure and operation in Europe. The event hosted also the presentation of two case studies, showcasing two milestone ESS projects in the region, the Bramley 100MW/331MWh ESS project by BW ESS in the UK and the Vilvoorde 200MW/800MWh ESS project by Engie in Belgium. Dr. James Li, ESS Director Europe of Sungrow, highlighted the successful delivery story of the Bramley BESS project, while Mr. Dries Herman, Technical Project Manager of the Vilvoorde project draw attention on the key factor of flexibility to deploy more renewable energy and fight negative prices and price volatility. Finally, the panel discussion, with the ESS Analyst Mrs. Starry Ce, the Vice President of Strategy and Development of the Griffin Group Energy Mr. Adam Zalewski, the Director of Product and Supply Chain of Kyon Energy Mr. Florian Diehm, the CCO of Entrix Mr. Lars Lohle and Dr. Stefan Zhao, Director of Sungrow European Research Institute, conclude the main part of the event, with a valuable debate on the challenges and opportunities that the present and future holds on ESS development and energy transition. As the global energy storage market is bolstered by an annual growth rate of 21% to 137GW/442GWh by 2030 (BloombergNEF[2]), the Europe emerging as a key driver of growth. Events like the ESS Experience Day in Munich serve as crucial platforms for knowledge-sharing and fostering partnerships that accelerate the deployment of storage technologies. The success of the ESS Experience Day in Munich marks another milestone in Sungrow's mission to lead the renewable energy transition with reliable, efficient, and sustainable storage technologies and services. https://energy.ec.europa.eu/topics/renewable-energy/renewable-energy-directive-targets-and-rules/renewable-energy-targets_en https://about.bnef.com/blog/global-energy-storage-market-records-biggest-jump-yet/ About Sungrow Sungrow, a global leader in renewable energy technology, has pioneered sustainable power solutions for over 28 years. As of December 2024, Sungrow has installed 740 GW of power electronic converters worldwide. The Company is recognized as the world's No. 1 on PV inverter shipments (S&P Global Commodity Insights) and the world's most bankable energy storage company (BloombergNEF). Its innovations power clean energy projects in over 180 countries, supported by a network of 520 service outlets guaranteeing excellent customer experience. At Sungrow, we're committed to bridging to a sustainable future through cutting-edge technology and unparalleled service. For more information, please visit: www.sungrowpower.com Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2653329/Sungrow_ESS_Experience_Day_Munich_2025__1.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1344575/Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/sungrow-ess-experience-day-munich-accelerating-to-a-sustainable-future-for-europe-302415180.html BioVersys AG / Key word(s): Patent BIOVERSYS ANNOUNCES IMPORTANT BV100 PATENT GRANTED BY CHINESE PATENT OFFICE 31-March-2025 / 07:00 CET/CEST Release of an ad hoc announcement pursuant to Art. 53 LR The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. Ad hoc announcement pursuant to Art. 53 LR Basel, Switzerland. March 31, 2025, 7am CET Important patent around BioVersys' BV100 drug candidate has been granted, protecting the proprietary rifabutin IV formulation technology in China BV100 patents have now been granted in over 25 countries, including in US, Europe, UK and China BioVersys AG (SIX: BIOV), a multi-asset, clinical stage biopharmaceutical company focusing on research and development of novel antibacterial products for serious life-threatening infections caused by multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria, announced today, that the company was granted important patent claims in China for its BV100 technology. BV100 is a novel formulation of rifabutin which is suitable for intravenous administration. BV100 is based on the newly identified mode of action for the active uptake of rifabutin into the Acinetobacter baumannii-calcoaceticus complex and is being developed for resistant hospital infections caused by Acinetobacter baumannii, including carbapenem resistant strains (CRAB). There is a serious lack of effective and safe treatment options for CRAB infections and mortality rates in hospitals can be as high as 50%. CRAB has been designated a priority pathogen by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). While CRAB infections are a serious health threat throughout the world, incidence rates for Acinetobacter infections are particularly high in China and Asia, combined with very high resistance rates of 60-80%. Based on recent epidemiology data, BioVersys expects > 1 million patients annually in China alone suffering from severe CRAB pneumonia and blood stream infections. Dr. Marc Gitzinger, Chief Executive Officer: "With the addition of China, we now have patents protecting BV100 granted in all the major markets, covering more than 25 countries. In our commitment to bring BV100 as life-saving medicine to patients as fast as possible, this addition to our patent coverage is key due to the absolute numbers of patients affected by Acinetobacter infections in China. We are preparing to start a Phase 1 clinical trial in China soon, which will enable us to include China in our BV100 Phase 3 registration trial which is planned to start in H2 2025. Accessing the Chinese market will allow BV100 to target a global peak sales potential of USD 800 million and tackle unacceptably high carbapenem resistance rates and associated high mortality rates of up to 50%, from Acinetobacter baumannii hospital infections." About BV100 BV100 is a novel formulation of rifabutin suitable for intravenous administration, with a recently discovered novel mode of action showing an active uptake of rifabutin into the Gram-negative bacterial species, Acinetobacter baumannii. For the first time, the lead candidate allows for the targeting of the RNA-polymerase enzyme in Gram-negative bacteria with a human-suitable dose. BV100 is being developed for the treatment of infections caused by Acinetobacter baumannii calcoaceticus complex (ABC), including Carbapenem-Resistant ABC (CRAB) in critically important indications of ventilator associated bacterial pneumonia (VABP), hospital-acquired bacterial pneumonia (HABP) and bloodstream infections (BSI). BV100 was granted QIDP Designation by the U.S. FDA in May 2019 for use in the treatment of VABP, HABP and BSI, making BV100 eligible for priority FDA review, Fast Track designation, and a five-year extension of market exclusivity upon approval of the first QIDP indication. About Acinetobacter baumannii Acinetobacter baumannii calcoaceticus complex (ABC) are Gram-negative bacteria found in the environment (e.g., in soil and water) and an opportunistic pathogen in humans, typically infecting critically ill and immunocompromised patients, that can result in severe pneumonia and bloodstream infections in addition to affecting other parts of the body. ABC is considered a significant worldwide threat in the healthcare setting given its ability to survive for prolonged periods on surfaces, combined with its ability to develop or acquire resistance to standard of care antibiotics, e.g. carbapenems. Carbapenem-resistance as well as multidrug-resistance (MDR) rates for ABC are among the highest recorded for any bacteria in current times (The Lancet 2022; 399: 629-55). Incidence and resistance rates for ABC are trending upwards and COVID-19 has exacerbated this significantly. BioVersys forecasts the annual number of carbapenem-resistant A. baumannii infections in hospitals to have surpassed one million globally and due to the limited treatment options, such infections come with high (up to 50%) mortality rates. About BioVersys BioVersys is a multi-asset, clinical stage biopharmaceutical company focused on identifying, developing and commercializing novel antibacterial products for serious life-threatening infections caused by multi-drug resistant ("MDR") bacteria. Derived from the company's two internal technology platforms (TRIC and Ansamycin Chemistry), candidates are designed and developed to overcome resistance mechanisms, block virulence production and directly affect the pathogenesis of harmful bacteria towards the identification of new treatment options in the antimicrobial and microbiome fields. This enables BioVersys to address the high unmet medical need for new treatments against life-threatening resistant bacterial infections and bacteria-exacerbated chronic inflammatory microbiome disorders. The company's most advanced research and development programs address nosocomial infections of Acinetobacter baumannii (BV100, Phase 3 ready), and tuberculosis (alpibectir, Phase 2a, in collaboration with GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) and a consortium of the University of Lille, France). BioVersys is located in the biotech hub of Basel, Switzerland. BioVersys contact Hernan Levett, CFO, Tel. +41 61 633 22 50; Mail: hernan.levett@bioversys.com For Media: media@bioversys.com Website: www.bioversys.com End of Inside Information Ende Mai leitete US-Prasident Donald Trump mit der Unterzeichnung mehrerer Dekrete eine weitreichende Wende in der amerikanischen Energiepolitik ein. Im Fokus: der beschleunigte Ausbau der Kernenergie. Mit einem umfassenden Manahmenpaket sollen Genehmigungsprozesse reformiert, kleinere Reaktoren gefordert und der Anteil von Atomstrom in den USA massiv gesteigert werden. Ausloser ist der explodierende Energiebedarf durch KI-Rechenzentren, der eine stabile, CO-arme Grundlastversorgung zwingend notwendig macht. In unserem kostenlosen Spezialreport erfahren Sie, welche 3 Unternehmen jetzt im Zentrum dieser energiepolitischen Neuausrichtung stehen, und wer vom kommenden Boom der Nuklearindustrie besonders profitieren konnte. Holen Sie sich den neuesten Report! Verpassen Sie nicht, welche Aktien besonders von der Energiewende in den USA profitieren durften, und laden Sie sich das Gratis-PDF jetzt kostenlos herunter. Dieses exklusive Angebot gilt aber nur fur kurze Zeit! Daher jetzt downloaden! BWA Group Plc - Positive Results from Preliminary Kyanite Testwork PR Newswire LONDON, United Kingdom, March 31 31 March 2025 BWA Group PLC ("BWA", or the "Company") (AQSE: BWAP) Positive Results from Preliminary Kyanite Product Specification Testwork at the Dehane Heavy Mineral Sands Project, Cameroon BWA Group plc [AQSE: BWAP], which has mineral exploration licences in both Cameroon and Canada and is quoted on London's AQSE Growth Market, provides an update on recently completed preliminary kyanite processing testwork carried out on kyanite sieved concentrates from the Nyong river, Western Cameroon ("Dehane" or the "Dehane Project"). An enhanced version of this announcement, including figures, maps and tables can be viewed on the link below. The Dehane group of three (3) licences cover an area of 430 km2 comprising part of the prospective Nyong river system, estuary, and coastal zone, located approximately 166 km to the west of the capital, Yaounde and 70 km from the deep seaport and industrial zone of Kribi. The Company is pleased to announce the findings of the preliminary kyanite product specification testwork on sieved coarse kyanite samples taken from locations along the lower Nyong river system within the Dehane licences area, undertaken by Grinding Solutions Limited, UK ("GSL") and ALS Global ("ALS"), Ireland in line with industry best practice guidelines. The objective of the preliminary test work was to determine whether via simple processing methods the kyanite met with chemical specifications in line with benchmark saleable kyanite products from the Kyanite Mining Corp operations in Virginia, USA ( Kyanite Mining Corporation | Virginia Kyanite | US Kyanite ), to demonstrate likelihood of comparable saleable product(s) and for consideration in Reasonable Prospects of Eventual Economic Extraction ("RPEEE"). The process would evaluate whether achieving current product specifications could be matched with initial size reduction to 100% passing 425m followed by the separation trials The results of the test work has proven highly satisfactory and delivered comparable chemistry results to Virginia Kyanite ( Virginia Kyanite - Kyanite Mining Corporation ) via a simple milling, scrubbing and low-intensity magnetic separation process route. Results of the test work and key chemical parameter comparison tables can be viewed on the link below. Kyanite has many uses in refractory and ceramic products. Monolithic refractories are the largest user of Kyanite. Coarser grades are used for expansion to counteract shrinkage associated with cement and binders. Finer mesh Kyanite is used to reduce porosity and is a source of mullite in the matrix. Kyanite is also used in kiln furniture to offset shrinkage from clays, reduce creep and provide an economical source of mullite at higher temperatures. Other uses include brake shoes, grinding wheels, pottery, sanitaryware, ovenware, tiles, and ceramic parts (modified from Kyanite Mining Corp). Current supply of high quality kyanite product is limited to just a handful of operations worldwide. Highlights and Commentary Preliminary testwork demonstrated excellent total yield of 77.74% of total sample received for +45um - 425um sample size fraction which meets chemical specification via simple scrub, milling and magnetic separation and excellent removal of iron, the main detrimental element observed in primary alluvial kyanite sample analysis. BWA sample processed material returned higher key parameter aluminium (Al2O3) and lower silica (SiO2) compared to the Virginia Kyanite saleable product chemical specifications. The Dehane group of licences cover significant parts of the lower Nyong river system is underlain by kyanite and heavy mineral Gneissic source rocks. Although exact location of the sample collected is unknown to Competent Persons, location descriptions, observations of underlying basement lithology, characteristics and chemistry of kyanite samples of known locations across the BWA licences indicate the sieved preliminary sample to be representative. Jonathan Wearing, Chairman of BWA, commented: "At a time when the international trade of niche industrial and critical minerals is in a state of flux, we are delighted to have identified a potentially high-grade alternative to the traditional American market. Having successfully benchmarked the lower Nyong sample against the Virginia Kyanite specification, we look forward to reporting this commodity alongside rutile, ilmenite and zircon for following or updated Mineral Resource Estimates along the course of the river system." Outlook On the basis of these encouraging results, BWA consider there to be sufficient evidence and support of potential saleable product and will proceed with next step thermal refractory testing of the sample to confirm suitability for use in industrial and ceramic applications, and further confirmation of saleable product, leading to market studies. Further studies will also include an update to recent initial Mineral Resource Estimates for the Dehane 2 licence heavy mineral sand deposit as announced on 22 January 2025 ( 2025.01.21-Dehane-2-MRE-FINAL-2.pdf ), conversion of the 4 mt to 6 mt tonnes at 1.4 to 1.6% kyanite Exploration Target with inclusion of Kyanite in line with Reasonable Prospects of Eventual Economic Extraction criteria and calculations, and in accordance with the JORC (2012) reporting code. For further information on the Company, please visit www.bwagroupplc.com/index.html or contact: BWA Group PLC James Butterfield Managing Director +44 (0) 7770 225 253 enquiries@bwagroupplc.com Allenby Capital Limited Corporate Adviser +44 (0)20 3328 5656 Nick Harriss/Lauren Wright Oberon Capital Broker +44 (0)20 3179 5300 Nick Lovering/Adam Pollock Summary of Preliminary Kyanite Test Work In accordance with industry best practice, a summary of the material information used is set out below. The scope of works entailed: Nyong riverbank and floodplain kyanite rich heavy mineral sand accumulations sieved and hand sorted sample collection to represent potential HMS plant pre-sorted bulk kyanite sample. 30 kg clean coarse kyanite sample obtained and despatched to GSL Ltd UK. Stage milling of sample to 100% passing 425m with aim to minimise fines generation. Dry milled product at 60C Rotary split out 2kg sub-sample for sizing tests and store remaining for bulk test 2kg scrubbing test at 70% solids w/w Wet screen scrubbed product at 300m, 150m and 45m to produce 4 products for downstream testing Submit sub-sample from each fraction for XRF chemical analysis Analytical review and compositing within target specification limits Further details on test work methodology and interim results will be provided in the Dehane 2 MRE JORC Report currently in preparation. Implications for Future Exploration The positive test work to obtain sample with demonstrable saleable product chemical specifications are highly encouraging to BWA and open up the opportunity for significant contribution to the target HMS potentially economic mineral suite, potential mineral resources and potential project economics, and BWA is planning to conduct follow-up work in the near future across the licence holding. Competent Person's Statement The technical information in this release which relates to the BWA Dehane 2 Project is based upon and fairly represents information and data collected, supervised, reviewed and compiled by Mr Lewis Harvey, MSc., Principal Consulting Geologist for Addison Mining Services, who is a Member of the Australian Institute of Geoscientists. The initial Mineral Resource Estimate supervised, and results reviewed by Mr J. N. Hogg, MSc. MAIG, Principal Geologist for Addison Mining Services (AMS). Mr Harvey and Mr Hogg have sufficient experience relevant to the style of mineralisation, the type of deposit under consideration and the activity undertaken to qualify as a Competent Person as defined in the JORC Code 2012 edition of the Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves, and Qualified Persons under the AIM rules. Mr Harvey and Mr Hogg have reviewed and verified the technical information that forms the basis of and has been used in the preparation of this announcement, including all sampling and analytical data, and analytical techniques where applicable. Mr Harvey and Mr Hogg consent to the inclusion in this announcement of the matters based on the information, in the form and context in which it appears. Forward Looking Statement This announcement contains forward-looking statements which involve a number of risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements are expressed in good faith and believed to have a reasonable basis. These statements reflect current expectations, intentions or strategies regarding the future and assumptions based on currently available information. Should one or more of the risks or uncertainties materialise, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary from the expectations, intentions and strategies described in this announcement. No obligation is assumed to update forward looking statements if these beliefs, opinions and estimates should change or to reflect other future developments. Launch of Share Buyback Programme Gaming Realms plc (AIM:GMR), the developer and licensor of mobile-focused gaming content, announces the commencement of a share buyback programme to purchase ordinary shares of 0.1 pence each in the capital of the Company ("Ordinary Shares") up to a maximum aggregate consideration of 6 million (the "Share Buyback Programme"). As referenced in the Company's final results for the year ended 31 December 2024, announced today, the Company is debt free and has a strong cash position of approximately 13.5 million. The Share Buyback Programme reflects the Company's directors' continued confidence in its future prospects. The Company remains committed to continuing to invest in the business to deliver organic growth and returning surplus cash to shareholders. Details of the Share Buyback Programme Gaming Realms has given irrevocable and non-discretionary instruction to Peel Hunt LLP ("Peel Hunt") and Investec Bank Plc ("Investec") (together the Brokers) to conduct the Share Buyback Programme on its behalf, which will commence today and will end no later than 31 August 2025 or, if earlier, the conclusion of the Company's annual general meeting ("AGM") to be held in May 2025 unless the requisite authority is renewed at the AGM in May 2025. The Brokers will act as "riskless" or "matched" principals for the purposes of the Share Buyback Programme, within certain parameters, and will make their trading decisions concerning the purchases of Ordinary Shares independently of the Company. Ordinary Shares purchased under the Share Buyback Programme will take place in open market transactions and in accordance with the general authority to purchase Ordinary Shares granted to the directors of the Company (the "Directors") by its shareholders at the Company's AGM in 2024 (the "2024 Authority", or as subsequently granted to the Directors at its AGM in 2025). The maximum number of Ordinary Shares which the Company is authorised to purchase under the 2024 Authority is 29,477,644. The Share Buyback Programme will be conducted in accordance with Article 5(1) of Regulation (EU) 596/2014, as it forms part of UK domestic law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 (as amended) ("UK MAR") and the provisions of Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/1052, as it forms part of UK domestic law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 (as amended), which deal with buyback programmes. The maximum price (excluding any expenses) which may be paid for each Ordinary Share shall not be more than the higher of (i) an amount equal to 105 per cent. of the average of the middle market quotations for an Ordinary Share, as derived from the AIM Appendix to the London Stock Exchange Daily Official List, for the five business days immediately preceding the day on which the Ordinary Share is contracted to be purchased, and (ii) an amount equal to the higher of the price of the last independent trade of an Ordinary Share and the highest current independent bid for an Ordinary Share as derived from the trading venues on which the purchase is carried out. Gaming Realms will announce any purchase of its Ordinary Shares under the Share Buyback Programme no later than 7.30 a.m. on the business day following the calendar day on which the purchase occurred. The Company will cancel any Shares purchased or hold them in treasury to meet obligations arising from share option programmes. The Company will make further regulatory announcements in respect of any repurchases of its Ordinary Shares as required by UK MAR and the AIM Rules. The Company is satisfied that it is not currently in a closed period, nor is it in possession of any inside information which has not previously been disclosed via Regulatory Information Service. For further information, please contact: Gaming Realms Plc Michael Buckley, Executive Chairman Mark Segal, CEO Geoff Green, CFO 0845 123 3773 Peel Hunt - NOMAD and Joint Corporate Broker 020 7418 8900 George Sellar Lalit Bose Investec - Joint Corporate Broker 020 7597 4000 Ben Farrow Lydia Zychowska Yellow Jersey Charles Goodwin Annabelle Wills 07747 788 221 This information is provided by RNS, the news service of the London Stock Exchange. RNS is approved by the Financial Conduct Authority to act as a Primary Information Provider in the United Kingdom. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution of this information may apply. For further information, please contact rns@lseg.com or visit www.rns.com. SOURCE: Gaming Realms PLC LIBOURNE, France, March 31, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Ceva Animal Health (Ceva), the world's fifth-largest animal health company, announces the restructuring of its capital. All investors, whether "Friends of Ceva" or pure investors led by Temasek, have renewed their investment, demonstrating their confidence in the company's ability to continue its sustained growth. Ceva's management, led by Dr. Marc Prikazsky, has reinforced its participation and still retains the majority of voting rights, reaffirming the company's commitment to remaining independent. It is supported by a core group of long-term investors, known as "Friends of Ceva" ensuring a stable and committed shareholding structure for the group's development. With 7,000 employees, Ceva is a global leader in animal health, particularly in vaccination. Operating directly in 47 countries, the company delivers its products, services and equipment's worldwide to veterinarians, livestock professionals, and pet owners. To support innovation in animal health, the Bettencourt-Meyers and Merieux, have increased their stake through the investment holding Tethys Invest and Merieux Institute that joined forces with investment fund Merieux Equity Partners. Canadian pension investor PSP Investments, a long-term investor in Ceva, has also significantly increased its ownership in the group. Other companies participating in the "Friends of Ceva" include Sofiproteol, the investment branch of the French group Avril, the Japanese company Mitsui & Co., as well as some local investment funds and the Klocke family. The long-standing minority investors have renewed their commitment, demonstrating their confidence in Ceva's future. Leading this group of partners is the Singapore-based global investment firm Temasek, joined by French investors EMZ and Sagard, Asia-based HOPU Investments, and U.S.-based Continental Grain Company. This sixth funding round also welcomes the addition of the French investment fund ARCHIMED, led by veterinarian Dr. Denis Ribon. Specializing in the healthcare sector, ARCHIMED focuses on supporting companies in expanding internationally and accelerating their research programs. Since its founding in 1999, Ceva has grown its revenue fourteenfold, reaching 1.77 billion last year. Driven by innovation and deeply committed to preventive medicine, Ceva was the first veterinary company to develop and commercialize a cutting-edge nucleotide vaccine and invest in gene therapy for companion animals. Aware of its responsibility in addressing major global challenges, Ceva is strongly committed to reducing its environmental impact and promoting the preservation of animal biodiversity. "I am delighted to see that in this new round of financing, the management's participation, supported by the 'Friends of Ceva', is being strengthened alongside our historic financial investors and new entrants. Ceva plays a major role in animal health, particularly in the fight against emerging diseases, sometimes zoonotic, and in the treatment of chronic diseases affecting our loyal four-legged companions. At Ceva, we are convinced that we must continue to create bridges between different health sectors to protect the health of ecosystems and humans as well as global food security," said Dr. Marc Prikazsky, Chairman and CEO of Ceva Animal Health. Ceva would like to thank its advisors, Lazard, Rothschild, Weil, and Callisto, and their teams for their support. About Ceva Animal Health Ceva Animal Health (Ceva) is the 5th global animal health company, led by experienced veterinarians, whose mission is to provide innovative health solutions for all animals to ensure the highest level of care and well-being. Our portfolio includes preventive medicine such as vaccines and animal welfare products, pharmaceutical solutions for farm and companion animals, as well as equipment and services to provide the best experience for our customers. With more than 7,000 employees located in 47 countries, Ceva strives daily to bring to life its vision as a One Health company: "Together, beyond animal health". 2024 turnover: 1.77 billion Contact: Emilie Barrail, Head of external communication, emilie.barrail@ceva.com Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2014922/Ceva_Sant_Animale_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/ceva-animal-health-renews-its-shareholding-structure-with-all-its-long-standing-partners-and-opens-its-capital-to-merieux-institute-and-archimed-to-accelerate-its-growth-302414779.html Conversion of 385,499 class C shares (one tenth of a vote) to ordinary shares (one vote) Conversion was made pursuant to EQT's previous Share Program As of 31 March 2025, there are 1,180,641,810 shares outstanding in EQT STOCKHOLM, March 31, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The total number of votes in EQT AB (publ) ("EQT") changed during March 2025 as a result of a conversion of 385,499 class C shares to 385,499 ordinary shares. The conversion was made pursuant to EQT's previous Share Program. The total number of votes has increased by 346,949.1, while the total number of shares issued and total number of shares outstanding are unchanged as a result of the conversion. The number of shares and votes in EQT as of 31 March 2025 is set out in the table below. Ordinary shares Class C shares1 Total Number of issued shares2 1,241,510,911 (1,241,510,911 votes) 496,056 (49,605.6 votes) 1,242,006,967 (1,241,560,516.6 votes) Number of shares owned by EQT AB3 61,365,157 - 61,365,157 Number of outstanding shares 1,180,415,754 (1,180,415,754 votes) 496,056 (49,605.6 votes) 1,180,641,810 (1,180,465,359.6 votes) 1) Carry one tenth (1/10) of a vote 2) Total number of shares in EQT AB, i.e. including the number of shares owned by EQT AB 3) EQT AB shares owned by EQT AB are not entitled to dividends or carry votes at shareholders' meetings This press release is published for regulatory reasons. Contact Olof Svensson, Head of Shareholder Relations, +46 72 989 09 15 EQT Press Office, press@eqtpartners.com, +46 8 506 55 334 This is information that EQT AB (publ) is obliged to make public pursuant to the Swedish Financial Instruments Trading Act. The information was submitted for publication, through the agency of the contact person set out above, at 08:00 CET on 31 March 2025. This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com https://news.cision.com/eqt/r/number-of-shares-and-votes-in-eqt,c4127727 The following files are available for download: https://news.cision.com/eqt/i/eqt-stockholm,c3393004 EQT Stockholm View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/number-of-shares-and-votes-in-eqt-302415332.html Die Finanzwelt ist im Umbruch! Nach Jahren der Dominanz erschuttert Donald Trumps erratische Wirtschaftspolitik das Fundament des amerikanischen Kapitalismus. Handelskriege, Rekordzolle und politische Isolation haben eine Kapitalflucht historischen Ausmaes ausgelost. Milliarden stromen aus den USA und suchen neue, lukrative Ziele. Und genau hier kommt China ins Spiel. Trotz aller Spannungen wachst die chinesische Wirtschaft dynamisch weiter, Innovation und Digitalisierung treiben die Markte an. Im kostenlosen Spezialreport stellen wir Ihnen 5 Aktien aus China vor, die vom US-Niedergang profitieren und das Potenzial haben, den Markt regelrecht zu uberflugeln. Wer jetzt klug investiert, sichert sich den Zugang zu den neuen Wachstums-Champions von morgen. Holen Sie sich den neuesten Report! Verpassen Sie nicht, welche 5 Aktien die Konkurrenz aus den USA outperformen durften, und laden Sie sich das Gratis-PDF jetzt kostenlos herunter. Dieses exklusive Angebot gilt aber nur fur kurze Zeit! Daher jetzt downloaden! A leader set to drive expansion and elevate brand presence in the US and global markets. LONDON, March 31, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- JK Tech, a leading provider of new-generation Gen AI and data transformation services, proudly announces the appointment of Sameer Nagpal as its new President & CEO. Aloke Paskar, the current President & CEO, moves to the Advisory Board of the company. This significant move comes as JK Tech continues its mission to transform businesses with its Generative AI platform, JIVA, and drive innovation across the Retail, CPG, and Financial Services industries. With over 25 years of experience in the US market, Sameer brings a proven track record of driving revenue growth through consultative selling, digital transformation, and cloud enablement. His deep expertise and strategic vision align perfectly with JK Tech's focus on delivering scalable, AI-driven solutions powered by strong partnerships with hyperscalers. Under Sameer's leadership, JK Tech is set to expand its market footprint during a pivotal time in the Gen AI era. His role will emphasise leveraging JIVA to unlock data-driven insights and create transformative value for clients. By harnessing the power of Gen AI and JK Tech's industry-focused approach, Sameer aims to shape the next chapter of the company's success. Aloke Paskar, former President & CEO of JK Tech, expressed his enthusiasm: "We are thrilled to welcome Sameer Nagpal as our new President & CEO. His exceptional leadership, deep industry relationships, and ability to foster innovation make him an ideal partner for JK Tech's next phase of growth and innovation. Sameer's expertise will play a pivotal role in enhancing our US market presence and driving transformative outcomes for our clients in the Gen AI era, establishing JK Tech as a unique platform-driven services company in the disruptive world of AI." Sameer Nagpal, now President & CEO of JK Tech, shared his vision, "I am honored to join JK Tech during such an exciting phase of its growth. The company's commitment to innovation and client success is inspiring. Together, we will build on JK Tech's momentum, delivering groundbreaking solutions that empower enterprises to thrive in a competitive, AI-driven landscape." About JK Tech JK Tech is a Gen AI-focused data services organisation dedicated to empowering enterprises in the Retail, CPG, and Financial Services industries. Through its strategic partnership with Google Cloud, JK Tech helps clients unlock the full potential of their data, enabling actionable insights, automation, and sustainable growth. JK Tech's flagship platform solution, JIVA, serves as a cornerstone for transforming business operations and achieving measurable ROI. To learn more, visit www.jktech.com . Find JK Tech on Twitter, LinkedIn Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2088130/4059438/JK_Tech_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/jk-tech-appoints-sameer-nagpal-as-president--ceo-to-propel-growth-in-the-gen-ai-era-302414197.html TORONTO, March 31, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Orvana Minerals Corp. (TSX: ORV) (the "Company" or "Orvana") is pleased to announce the release of BTV - Business Television's ("BTV") latest CEO Clips featuring Orvana, offering a dynamic visual summary of the Company's strategic vision. Orvana is a growing mining and exploration company focused on delivering value through the development of gold, copper, and silver assets in Europe and South America. With a producing mine in Spain, a near-term development project in Bolivia, and an exploration property in Argentina's Andean belt, Orvana offers multi-asset leverage to rising precious metal prices and strong exploration upside. The CEO Clips featuring Orvana is now available on Orvana's website and at BTV's website, providing investors and stakeholders with a general overview of the Company's core assets and growth strategy. Watch the CEO Clips featuring Orvana here: www.orvana.com www.b-tv.com/post/ceo-clips-orvana-minerals-expanding-gold-silver-copper-production-across-key-global-regions-btv-60 ORVANA PROPERTY HIGHLIGHTS Orvana's properties consist of: El Valle Boinas and Carles mines and the El Valle processing plant (collectively, " El Valle "), located in Asturias, Northern Spain. El Valle is an operating underground gold-silver-copper operation in with stable production since 2011. In addition to production at El Valle, the Company is focused on brownfield and greenfield exploration to expand the resource base; processing plant (collectively, " "), located in Asturias, Northern Spain. El Valle is an operating underground gold-silver-copper operation in with stable production since 2011. In addition to production at El Valle, the Company is focused on brownfield and greenfield exploration to expand the resource base; Don Mario Operation (" Don Mario "), located in San Jose de Chiquitos, Southeastern Bolivia. Don Mario is a past-producing gold-copper-silver operation with established infrastructure. Don Mario is currently expanding its plant to process its oxides stockpile accumulated from previous years of mining activity. The Company expects to complete the construction for the plant expansion by the end of calendar year 2025, conditional on securing the remaining required balance of the financing during the first half of 2025. The goal is to resume production in Bolivia in 2026; and (" "), located in San Jose de Chiquitos, Southeastern Bolivia. Don Mario is a past-producing gold-copper-silver operation with established infrastructure. Don Mario is currently expanding its plant to process its oxides stockpile accumulated from previous years of mining activity. The Company expects to complete the construction for the plant expansion by the end of calendar year 2025, conditional on securing the remaining required balance of the financing during the first half of 2025. The goal is to resume production in Bolivia in 2026; and Taguas Property ("Taguas"), located on the eastern flank of the Andes Mountain range in the Province of San Juan in northern Argentina. The Andean belt area is known for its favorable geology with epithermal mineralization. Taguas' neighboring projects include Barrick's Pascua-Lama and Veladero's properties in Argentina, Barrick's El Encierro property in Chile, and Atex's Valeriano property in Chile. The Company is repositioning its long term strategy for Taguas, now potentially including current sulphides resources, plus deep copper-gold porphyry opportunities. The planned geophysical survey, along with the updated geological model, is expected to deliver key data that will inform strategic decision-making and enhance the project's long-term value proposition. Additional information is available at Orvana's website (www.orvana.com). LOOKING AHEAD Orvana continues to assess growth opportunities across its portfolio, with a near-term focus on optimizing operations at El Valle, unlocking value at Don Mario by processing the oxides stockpile located onsite, and advancing Taguas toward exploration milestones. About BTV - Business Television: For over 25 years, BTV has been a capital markets focused TV production and Digital Marketing Agency. BTV helps companies increase their brand awareness to a national retail and institutional investor audience, combining unique content creation and major distribution services on top tier networks including Bloomberg, CNBC, FOX Business News and financial sites. The BTV suite of strategic products include: BTV- Business Television Show, CEO Clips, TV Branding Ads, Digital, Lead Gen, Social and Direct Email Marketing Campaigns that reach investors where they research and live on-air and online. About CEO Clips: CEO Clips are short company video profiles broadcast to a large audience of investors on TV and 15+ financial sites including Reuters, Yahoo!Finance, and Wall Street Journal. The CEO Clips interview is a paid promotional communication and is not, nor should it be construed as, an offer to sell or a solicitation to buy securities. Orvana has paid a fee to BTV to appear in this segment. Cautionary Statements - Forward-Looking Information Investors are advised to consult with a registered investment advisor and to review all publicly filed disclosure documents of the Company available at www.sedarplus.ca before making any investment decisions. Certain statements in this presentation constitute forward-looking statements or forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws ("forward-looking statements"). Any statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, potentials, future events or performance (often, but not always, using words or phrases such as "believes", "expects", "plans", "estimates" or "intends" or stating that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might", "will", "are projected to" or "confident of" be taken or achieved) are not statements of historical fact, but are forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements herein relate to, among other things, Orvana's ability to achieve improvement in free cash flow; the ability to maintain expected mining rates and expected throughput rates at El Valle Plant; the potential to extend the mine life of El Valle and Don Mario beyond their current life-of-mine estimates including specifically, but not limited to, Orvana's ability to optimize its assets to deliver shareholder value; estimates of future production (including without limitation, production guidance), operating costs and capital expenditures; mineral resource and reserve estimates; statements and information regarding future feasibility studies and their results; future transactions; future metal prices; the ability to achieve additional growth and geographic diversification; and future financial performance, including the ability to increase cash flow and profits; future financing requirements; mine development plans; the possibility of the conversion of inferred mineral resources to mineral reserves. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by the Company as of the date of such statements, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies, which includes, without limitation, as particularly set out in the notes accompanying the Company's most recently filed financial statements. The estimates and assumptions of the Company contained or incorporated by reference in this news release, which may prove to be incorrect, include, but are not limited to the various assumptions set forth herein and in Orvana's most recently filed Management's Discussion & Analysis and Annual Information Form in respect of the Company's most recently completed fiscal year (the "Company Disclosures") or as otherwise expressly incorporated herein by reference as well as: there being no significant disruptions affecting operations, whether due to labour disruptions, supply disruptions, power disruptions, damage to equipment or otherwise; permitting, development, operations, expansion and acquisitions at El Valle, Don Mario and Taguas being consistent with the Company's current expectations; political developments in any jurisdiction in which the Company operates being consistent with its current expectations; certain price assumptions for gold, copper and silver; prices for key supplies being approximately consistent with current levels; production and cost of sales forecasts meeting expectations; the accuracy of the Company's current mineral reserve and mineral resource estimates; labour and materials costs increasing on a basis consistent with Orvana's current expectations; and the availability of necessary funds to execute the Company's plan. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, this news release also contains certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities legislation, including, without limitation, references to the results of the Company's exploration activities, including but not limited to, drilling results and analyses, mineral resource estimation, conceptual mine plan and operations, internal rate of return, sensitivities, taxes, net present value, potential recoveries, design parameters, operating costs, capital costs, production data and economic potential; the timing and costs for production decisions; permitting timelines and requirements; exploration and planned exploration programs; and the Company's general objectives and strategies. A variety of inherent risks, uncertainties and factors, many of which are beyond the Company's control, affect the operations, performance and results of the Company and its business, and could cause actual events or results to differ materially from estimated or anticipated events or results expressed or implied by forward looking statements. Some of these risks, uncertainties and factors include: the potential impact of global health and global economic conditions on the Company's business and operations, including: our ability to continue operations; and our ability to manage challenges presented by such conditions; the general economic, political and social impacts of the continuing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, our ability to support the sustainability of our business including through the development of crisis management plans, increasing stock levels for key supplies, monitoring of guidance from the medical community, and engagement with local communities and authorities; fluctuations in the price of gold, silver and copper; the need to recalculate estimates of resources based on actual production experience; the failure to achieve production estimates; variations in the grade of ore mined; variations in the cost of operations; the availability of qualified personnel; the Company's ability to obtain and maintain all necessary regulatory approvals and licenses; Orovalle's ability to complete the permitting process of the El Valle Tailings Storage Facility increasing the storage capacity; Orovalle's ability to complete the stabilization project of the legacy open pit wall; the Company's ability to use cyanide in its mining operations; risks generally associated with mineral exploration and development, including the Company's ability to continue to operate the El Valle and/or ability to resume operations at the Carles Mine; the Company's ability to successfully implement an acid leaching circuit and ancillary facilities to process the current oxides stockpiles at Don Mario; the Company's ability to successfully carry out exploration and development plans at Taguas; sufficient funding to carry out exploration and development plans at Taguas and to process the oxides stockpiles at Don Mario; EMIPA's ability to finalize the OSP financial model and subsequently complete the required funding for the OSP; the Company's ability to acquire and develop mineral properties and to successfully integrate such acquisitions; the Company's ability to execute on its strategy; the Company's ability to obtain financing when required on terms that are acceptable to the Company; challenges to the Company's interests in its property and mineral rights; current, pending and proposed legislative or regulatory developments or changes in political, social or economic conditions in the countries in which the Company operates; general economic conditions worldwide; the challenges presented by global health conditions; fluctuating operational costs such as, but not limited to, power supply costs; current and future environmental matters; and the risks identified in the Company's disclosures. This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect any of the Company's forward-looking statements and reference should also be made to the Company's Disclosures for a description of additional risk factors. Any forward-looking statements made herein with respect to the anticipated development and exploration of the Company's mineral projects are intended to provide an overview of management's expectations with respect to certain future activities of the Company and may not be appropriate for other purposes. Forward-looking statements are based on management's current plans, estimates, projections, beliefs and opinions and, except as required by law, the Company does not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements should assumptions related to these plans, estimates, projections, beliefs and opinions change. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements made in this information are intended to provide an overview of management's expectations with respect to certain future operating activities of the Company and may not be appropriate for other purposes. Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2653557/Orvana_Minerals_Corp__ORVANA_SHOWCASES_STRATEGIC_GROWTH_AND_PROJ.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/orvana-showcases-strategic-growth-and-project-portfolio-in-new-ceo-clips-interview-with-btv-302415252.html Oscillate Plc - JV Partnership with Evolution Energy Minerals PR Newswire LONDON, United Kingdom, March 31 Oscillate PLC ("Oscillate" or the "Company") 31 March 2025 JV Partnership with Evolution Energy Minerals The Company is pleased to announce that it has entered into a non-binding Heads of Terms ("HoTs") forming a Joint Venture Partnership and earn-in agreement with Evolution Energy Minerals Plc ("Chikundo JV Partnership") to develop the Chikundo Prospect, ("Chikundo") a volcanic hosted massive sulphide (VHMS) Copper (Cu)-Lead (Pb)-Zinc (Zn) prospect located within the Chilalo Graphite Project in Tanzania. Through the terms of an earn-in agreement to be entered into post an exclusivity period, Oscillate will commit funding to advance exploration and development at the Chikundo Prospect. The Chikundo Prospect is a base metals exploration play, with the key characteristics of a VHMS Cu-Pb-Zn prospect, including the expected host geology and key lithogeochemical associations. These associations include a strong pathfinder relationship between the economic metals (Cu-Pb-Zn) and pathfinder[1] elements such as Bismuth (Bi) and Tellurium (Te). Previous drill results especially NRD11047 show very encouraging results that indicate that the target is worth significant further exploration. Terms Oscillate has been offered a 6-month exclusivity period to complete due diligence and enter into final binding Chikundo JV Partnership documentation ("Exclusivity Period"). In return for entering into the non-binding HoTs, the Company has committed to pay a non-refundable amount of AU$300,000 in cash. Immediately on entering into binding documentation, the Company will pay a further AU$100,000 in cash ("Signing Fee"). The Exclusivity Period amount and the Signing Fee will both be secured against the Chikundo Prospect exploration permit. Upon payment of the Signing Fee, the Company will enter into a Phase 1 Earn-in Period whereby the Company will have 18-months to earn up to 51% ownership interest of the Chikundo Prospect. Subject to completing the Phase 1 Earn-in Period, the Company will have the right but not the obligation to enter into a Phase 2 Earn-in Period that will allow 24 months for the Company to earn the remaining 49% interest in the Chikundo Prospect not already owned by the Company. As part of the Phase 1 Earn-in Period, the Company will be required to spend a minimum of AU$ 1,500,000. The Phase 2 Earn-in Period will require a minimum additional spend of AU$ 3,000,000 to acquire the remaining 49% interest of Evolution Energy Minerals. Should the Phase 2 Earn-in Period complete, the Company will enter into a pre-agreed additional royalty agreement. On or before the Phase 2 Earn-in Period starting date, the Company may elect to acquire the remaining 49% interest of Evolution Energy Minerals for a consideration of AU$3,000,000. Strategy of the business going forward: With the support of the board and key large shareholders in the Company, the Company is now entering an exciting phase of its development. The plan going forward is to transition the business to an energy transition metals business primarily focussed on copper. This first JV partnership is planned to be the first of several transactions which will add additional projects to the Company's portfolio. The board believes that Chikundo is an ideal asset for the Company, given the significant level of exploration undertaken on the project to date, its prospectivity and attractive commercial terms achieved. The Company plans to build a portfolio of Copper exploration and development projects through which it can build significant shareholder value. In addition, it is the Company's intention to use these assets to graduate to a more senior Stock Exchange to allow the Company better access to capital going forward and to give shareholders access to better liquidity. The Chikundo Project: Specifically in relation to the Chikundo Project, the Company will be rapidly developing an initial work programme, further details of which will be announced to shareholders in due course. The Company intends to deploy its geological team to site in the near future to develop the initial exploration programme. Chikundo benefits from previous geophysical surveys, grab sampling, soil geochemistry, and exploration drilling programmes enabling the Company to build a sophisticated initial exploration model for the deposit which can be used in the planning of the exploration programme. Related party transaction Robin Birchall is a director of Evolution Energy Minerals. The Chikundo JV Partnership is therefore considered to be a related-party transaction pursuant to the Aquis Growth Market Access Rulebook. The directors of the Company who are independent of the transaction, having considered the terms of the Chikundo JV Partnership, and having exercised reasonable care, skill and diligence, consider that the Chikundo JV Partnership is fair and reasonable insofar as the Company's shareholders are concerned. Oscillate CEO, Robin Birchall, commented: "I am delighted to announce this exciting joint venture with Evolution Energy Minerals and to be advancing exploration for these critical metals at the Chikundo Prospect in Tanzania.This is the first step in an exciting new path for the Company. We hope to be able to advance this project rapidly given the large amount of work that has already been completed to date. Early stage field reconnaissance suggests strong mineral anomalies, consistent with VHMS mineralogy, and we will now look to carry out a systematic exploration programme to delineate the potential of this asset, and thereby define a maiden mineral resource estimate. In addition, we are excited about commencing the process of graduating to a more senior Stock Exchange. I look forward to keeping you, the shareholders and the market appraised of the progress we make on all of our strategic goals." Information on the Chikundo Project is extracted below. The Directors of the Company accept responsibility for the contents of this announcement. Enquiries: Company Oscillate PLC John Treacy https://oscillateplc.com Robin Birchall, CEO robinbirchall@oscillateplc.com Telephone: + 44 (0) 7711 313 019 Corporate Adviser Peterhouse Capital Limited Telephone: 020 7220 9795 We refer to the recent announcement of 10 February by Evolution Energy Minerals ("EV1"), extracted: "Chikundo is a recently discovered Copper (Cu)-Lead (Pb)-Zinc (Zn) prospect located within the Chilalo Graphite Project tenements: A recent field visit and sampling programme has identified gossanous material over 1km along strike from the original workings supporting the potential for an extensive Volcanic Hosted Massive Sulphide (VHMS) style Cu-Pb-Zn system New soil and rock chip sampling from the original workings has confirmed highly anomalous base metal values A review of historical drilling data, targeting graphite, has identified over 5% Cu in samples near surface Three new VHMSprospects with highly anonymous base metal and pathfinder geochemistry have been identified within the Company's tenements Evolution Energy Minerals Limited (Evolution or the Company) (ASX: EV1, FSE: P77) is pleased to provide a further update on the Chikundo VHMS prospect, within the Chilalo Graphite Project area (the Project) in southeast Tanzania, previously announced on the 28th of October 2024. The location of the Chikundo VHMS prospect within PL 12590/2023 is shown in Figure 1 Figure 1: Location of the Chikundo Cu-Pb-Zb Prospect in relation to the Chilalo Graphite Project planned infrastructure Chikundo has the key characteristics of a VHMS Cu-Pb-Zn prospect, including the expected host geology and key lithogeochemical associations. These associations include a strong pathfinder relationship between the economic metals (Cu-Pb-Zn) and pathfinder[2] elements such as Bismuth (Bi) and Tellurium (Te). Figure 2 shows that the pathfinder elements indicate an increase in tenor to the southwest over more than 1.5km. This suggests that the potential mineralisation extends to the southwest. Figure 2: Bismuth Pathfinder chemistry indicating the possible extension of the anomaly to the southwest RECENT ACTIVITY Surface Sampling and Analysis During recent field reconnaissance at Chikundo, eight rock chip samples were collected near the original workings ("Malachite Pit") to confirm both visual evidence of copper carbonate (Malachite) at surface, as well as values from historical sampling. These locations and a GPS trace are shown in Figure 3. Significant results[3] from samples collected in and around the Malachite Pit include: MAL-PT-01 - 2753ppm Cu , 616ppm Zn , 25ppb Pd, 10ppb Pt, 13ppb Au - , , 25ppb Pd, 10ppb Pt, 13ppb Au MAL-PT-02 - 31ppb Pd, 405ppm Cu - 31ppb Pd, Cu MAL-PT-03 - 277pm Cu, 153ppm Ba - 277pm Cu, 153ppm Ba MAL-PT-04 - 24ppb Pd, 371ppm Cu - 24ppb Pd, 371ppm Cu MAL-PT-05 - 53ppm Ag , 167ppb Au , 63ppb Pd, >1% Cu [4] , 1194ppm Z n, >15% Fe, >5% S - , , 63ppb Pd, , n, >15% Fe, >5% S MAL-PT-06 - 713ppm Cu , 126ppm Zn - , 126ppm Zn MAL-PT-07 - 3324ppm Cu , 125ppm Zn, 256ppm Ba - , 125ppm Zn, 256ppm Ba MAL-PT-08 -1832ppm Cu, 324ppm Zn, 263ppm Ba The key findings from these results are: Sample MAL-PT-05 is a highly anomalous consistent with a strong VHMS-style sulphide occurrence (high Cu (>1%), Zn (0.12%), Fe (15%), S (>5%), plus notable Ag (53g/t) and Au (167ppb)). is a highly anomalous consistent with a strong VHMS-style sulphide occurrence (high Cu (>1%), Zn (0.12%), Fe (15%), S (>5%), plus notable Ag (53g/t) and Au (167ppb)). Several other samples ( MAL-PT-01, -07, -08 ) confirm that copper mineralization is not isolated. ) confirm that copper mineralization is not isolated. Elevated barium in MAL-PT-06 and -07 suggests possible barite or exhalite layers-again, typical in VHMS systems. A sample was also collected approximately 1km to the southwest of the Malachite Pit (Refer Figure 3 - "Gossan Sample"), where a historical soil sample had returned a highly anomalous value of 71ppm Te. On initial inspection, this location had abundant in situ ferricrete (Figure 4). Further investigation showed compelling evidence, including remnant weathered sulphides, that this material represents a gossan. A gossan is the oxidised, weathered remnant of mineralisation originally rich in sulphide minerals. When these sulphides oxidise, they produce iron oxides/hydroxides and release trace elements into the weathering zone. Gossans act as "pathfinders" because the oxidation process concentrates or mobilizes metals (e.g., Cu, Zn, As) that may indicate a primary sulphide body at depth. A sample was sent to ALS laboratories in Perth and the significant assays results are shown below: 1039805[5] - 5340ppm Cu, 34ppm Pb, 1610ppm Zn, 66pm As, 49.6% Fe, 0.18% S, 279ppm Ni, 23.7ppm Mo, 6ppm Bi, 4 ppm Sn, 240ppm Se Figure 3: Confirmatory soil samples collected at the Malachite Pit and 1km southwest at a sample site showing highly anomalous Tellurium (Te). This figure also shows anomlous Cu values in historical RC drilling. Beyond the markedly anomalous Cu and Zn values observed in the assay results, the geochemical signature of this sample provides compelling evidence of its classification as a gossan. Notably, key oxyanion-forming elements-molybdenum (Mo), bismuth (Bi), tin (Sn), and selenium (Se)-which remain immobile under acid-rich weathering conditions, serve as critical discriminants between primary hydrothermal mineralisation and secondary Cu-Zn remobilisation. The elevated concentrations of these elements in this sample further substantiate its interpretation as a gossan, reinforcing its significance as a pathfinder for mineralisation. Figure 4: Gossonus sample and ferricrete out crop from recent field inspection Analysis of Historical Drilling Nine drill holes including three Reverse Circulation (RC) holes and five Diamond Core holes were completed proximal to Chikundo by the IMX Resources Ltd (IMX) and Continental Nickel Ltd (CNI). The exploration results from this drilling were announced IMX Resources (now Indiana Resources Ltd) on the 28th March 2012. The location of these drill holes is shown in Figure 3, and the significant intercepts[6] are summarised below: RC Holes[7] NRC12110- 18m from 21m @ 0.6g/t Ag, 814ppm Cu, 947ppm Zn, 2% S, includes 1m from 31m @ 1930ppm Cu, 6,480ppm Zn and 5.5% S NRC14135 - 34m from surface @ 5,046ppm Cr, 2,443ppm Ni, 151ppm Zn, 1% S, includes 4m from 30m @ 10,897ppm Cr, 1,344ppm Cu, 30% Fe, 4,095ppm Ni, 3% S and 140ppm Zn NRC14136- 65m from surface @ 1,963ppm Cr, 427ppm Cu and 1.5% S Diamond Core Holes[8] NRD11046 - 3m from 49m @ 1,002ppm Cu, 6% S, includes 0.3m from 50.3m @ 1250ppm Cu, 21% Fe and 22% S NRD11047 - 1.2m from 27.7m @ 27,365ppmCu, 14% Fe,14.5% S includes 0.4m from 28.5m @ 52,700ppm Cu, 24% Fe and 26% S NRD11048 - 2.6m from 82.4m @ 177ppm Cu, 413ppm Ni, 4.5% S - 2.6m from 82.4m @ 177ppm Cu, 413ppm Ni, 4.5% S NRD11049 - 6.3m from 62.7m @ 2,059ppm Cu, 3% S, includes 0.6m from 63.3m @ 8,950ppm Cu, 10% Fe and 9% S NRD11050 - 6m from 49m @ 0.1g/t % Au, 5,034ppm Cu, 8% Fe, 5% S includes 0.6m from 49m @ 13,450ppm Cu, 14% Fe and 13% S, and includes 1.0m from 53m @ 10,300ppm Cu, 7% Fe and 5% S It is of particularly interest that holes NRD11047, NRD11049 and NRD11050, which are located either within, or very close to, the surface Bi anomaly, also contain the highest Cu intercepts of between 1% and 5.3% Cu. These samples also contain very high levels of Fe and sulphur. For the remaining holes, the fact that NRC12-110, which is located over 300m northwest of the Bi anomaly and has 0.2% Cu and 0.6% Zn, continues to reinforce the probability of VHMS style of system." Oscillate plc OSCILLATE PLC is an investment issuer listed on the Aquis Growth Market Stock Exchange with the ticker AQSE: MUSH. Oscillate is focussed on advancing exploration and development-stage strategic metals opportunities to deliver compellingand long-term value for shareholders. [1] Pathfinder elements, such as Bismuth and Tellurium, are chemically correlated with Cu-Pb-Zn but remain relatively immobile in weathered soils. As a result, they preserve a reliable geochemical signal even when the main target metals have been leached or dispersed. Their stability and strong association with the target minerals make them an effective tool for pinpointing prospective zones in base metal exploration. [2] Pathfinder elements, such as Bismuth and Tellurium, are chemically correlated with Cu-Pb-Zn but remain relatively immobile in weathered soils. As a result, they preserve a reliable geochemical signal even when the main target metals have been leached or dispersed. Their stability and strong association with the target minerals make them an effective tool for pinpointing prospective zones in base metal exploration. [3] These sample was assayed using Fire Assay (for Au & PGE's) and Aqua Regia Digest - ICPES for the remaining elements. Full results are included in Appendix 1 [4] ">1% Cu" - indicates that the result was greater than the upper level of detection for the assay method used. [5] This sample was assayed using ALS's 51 element 4-acid digest ICPMS. Gold and PGE's cannot be determined using this method. Full results are included in Appendix 1 [6] The complete drillhole data set are provided in Appendix 1. All data represent apparent thicknesses, and may not be true thickness, eg for angled holes. [7] Not all elements were assayed for each hole (N/A = Not Assayed) [8] Not all elements were assayed for each hole (N/A = Not Assayed) Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 31, 2025) -South Pacific Metals Corp. (TSXV: SPMC) (OTCQB: SPMEF) (FSE: 6J00) ("SPMC" or the "Company") is pleased to report the successful completion of the Warden's Hearing for the renewal of Exploration License EL 2310, covering the 253 km2 concession comprising the Kili Teke Copper-Gold Project (the "Project"), located in Papua New Guinea. The Project currently hosts an Inferred Mineral Resource defined on only a portion of the system: the Central Porphyry hosts 1.81 Moz Au, 802 kt Cu & 40 kt Mo contained metal, in 237 Mt at 0.34% cu, 0.24 g/t Au &, 168 ppm Mo1 (see January 12, 2023, press release and technical report available on SEDAR+ under the Company's profile at www.sedarplus.ca). The Warden's Hearing for EL 2310, which is a mandatory part of the renewal process for all exploration licenses in Papua New Guinea, took place on March 11, 2025, with principal landowners present. The meeting was conducted by senior Mineral Resources Authority Mining Warden Mr. Kopi Wapa and attended by community stakeholders and landowners who were supportive of EL 2310's renewal and plans for exploration programs under new SPMC management. Renewals of exploration licenses are for two-year terms. With road access to the tenement and a nearby airfield, the Project is situated in the Western Highlands of Papua New Guinea within the world-class producing Papuan Fold Belt and just 40 km west of Barrick/Zijin's Porgera Gold Mine and only 20 km northwest of the Mt. Kare Project, a historic gold mine. The Project was acquired from Harmony Gold Exploration Limited ("Harmony Gold") in 2023, having completed extensive exploration in and around a copper porphyry deposit (the "Central Porphyry"). This included extensive diamond drilling of approximately 36,000 m at an estimated cost if US$20 million within the deposit. Most recently, results from the latest targeting exercise (see October 1, 2024, press release) have revealed 10 new exploration targets proximal to the Central Porphyry with at least three mineralization styles identified (see Figure 1), including bulk-tonnage copper-rich targets (Ieru Porphyry), Porgera-style gold-rich targets (Ridge Gold Area), and high grade skarn as evidenced by historical drilling that returned 12.98% Cu, 11.75 g/t Au and 21.07 g/t Ag over 7.8 m within 54 m @ 2.1% Cu, 1.82 g/t Au, 3.87 g/t Ag (from 878 m depth down hole)2. The Company is currently focused on landowner mapping and community engagement with the intention of commencing on-ground exploration that prioritizes additional discoveries of high-grade skarn and Porgera-style gold. The Company remains committed to responsible exploration, ensuring that all activities are conducted in a safe, ethical, and environmentally sustainable manner. Figure 1: Map illustrating the Kili Teke Cu-Au Porphyry Complex, recently identified sub-surface targets and the 2.5 km x 1.5 km Au-Te-As surface geochemical footprint. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10890/246516_db4e4fe4d4dfd995_001full.jpg About the Kili Teke Project The Kili Teke Project consists of a 253 km2 land package located approximately 40 km west of the Porgera Gold Mine, in the Western Highlands of Papua New Guinea. The Project is 100% owned by the Company and was acquired from Harmony Gold in late 2023. The majority of the previous exploration work completed by Harmony Gold focused on advancing the Central Porphyry to resource stage. This deposit hosts an Inferred Mineral Resource of 1.81 Moz Au, 802 kt Cu & 40 kt Mo contained metal, in 237 Mt at 0.34% cu, 0.24 g/t Au &, 168 ppm Mo1. Harmony Gold also conducted regional exploration on the wider intrusive complex including mapping, rock chips, soil geochemistry, airborne geophysics (magnetics and radiometrics) and a small amount of trenching and drilling. There remains exciting potential for further Cu-Au porphyry, skarn and alkalic-epithermal mineralization on the Project. Qualified Person The scientific and technical information disclosed in this release has been reviewed and approved by Darren Holden, Ph.D., FAusIMM, a "Qualified Person" as defined under the Canadian Institute of Mining National Instrument 43-101, 2014 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. Dr. Holden is a Technical Advisor to the Company. About South Pacific Metals Corp. South Pacific Metals Corp. is an emerging gold-copper exploration company operating across Papua New Guinea's proven gold and copper production corridors. With an expansive 3,100 km land package and four transformative gold-copper projects contiguous with major producers K92 Mining, PanAust and neighbouring Barrick/Zijin, new leadership and experienced in-country teams are prioritizing thoughtful and rigorous technical programs focused on boots-on-the-ground exploration to prioritize discovery across its portfolio projects: Anga, Osena, Kili Teke, and May River. Immediately flanking K92's active drilling and gold producing operations to the northeast and southwest, SPMC's Anga and Osena Projects are located within the high-grade Kainantu Gold District - each having the potential to host similar-style lode-gold and porphyry copper-gold mineralization as that present within K92's tenements. Kili Teke is an advanced exploration project situated only 40 km from the world-class Porgera Gold Mine and hosts an existing Inferred Mineral Resource with multiple opportunities for expansion and further discovery. The May River Project is located adjacent to the world-renowned Frieda River copper-gold project, with historical drilling indicating potential for a significant, untapped-gold mineralized system. SPMC common shares are listed on the TSX Venture Exchange (TSXV: SPMC), the OTCQB Marketplace (OTCQB: SPMEF) and Frankfurt Stock Exchange (FSE: 6J00). For further information please contact: Neither the TSX-V nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX-V) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Disclaimer and Forward-Looking Information Statements contained in this release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements that involve various risks and uncertainty affecting the business of SPMC. In making the forward-looking statements, SPMC has applied certain assumptions that are based on information available to the Company, including SPMC's strategic plan for the near and mid-term. There is no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Forward-looking statements may involve various risks and uncertainty affecting the business of the Company. These forward-looking statements can generally be identified as such because of the context of the statements, including such words as "believes", "anticipates", "expects", "plans", "may", "estimates", or words of a similar nature. Forward-looking statements or information in this news release relate to, among other things, future exploration or development programs, and any results therefrom and effect thereof. These forward-looking statements and information reflect the Company's current views with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions that, while considered reasonable by the Company, are inherently subject to significant operational, business, economic, regulatory or other unforeseen uncertainties and contingencies. These assumptions include, without limitation: success of the Company's projects, prices for metals remaining as estimated, currency exchange rates remaining as estimated, availability of funds for the Company's projects, capital, decommissioning and reclamation estimates, prices for energy inputs, labour, materials, supplies and services (including transportation), no labour-related disruptions, no unplanned delays or interruptions in scheduled construction and production, all necessary permits, licenses and regulatory approvals are received in a timely manner, and the ability to comply with environmental, health and safety laws. The foregoing list of assumptions is not exhaustive. The Company cautions the reader that forward-looking statements and information involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results and developments to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or information contained in this news release and the Company has made assumptions and estimates based on or related to many of these factors. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Such factors include, without limitation: fluctuations in gold prices, fluctuations in prices for energy inputs, labour, materials, supplies and services (including transportation), fluctuations in currency markets (such as the Canadian dollar versus the U.S. dollar), operational risks and hazards inherent with the business of mineral exploration, inadequate insurance, or inability to obtain insurance, to cover these risks and hazards, the Company's ability to obtain all necessary permits, licenses and regulatory approvals in a timely manner, changes in laws, regulations and government practices, including environmental, export and import laws and regulations, legal restrictions relating to mineral exploration, increased competition in the mining industry for equipment and qualified personnel, the availability of additional capital, title matters and the additional risks identified in the Company's filings with Canadian securities regulators on SEDAR+ (available at www.sedarplus.ca). Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated, described, or intended. Investors are cautioned against undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and, except as required under applicable securities legislation, the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances. Mineralization hosted on adjacent and/or nearby properties is not necessarily indicative of mineralization hosted on the Company's property. 1For more information on the Kili Teke mineral resource please refer to the independent National Instrument 43-101 Technical Report for the Kili Teke Cu-Au Project, Papua New Guinea, prepared by Graeme J Fleming, B. App. Sc., MAIG, and dated 18 November 2022. Mr. Fleming is a "qualified person" under NI 43-101 and is an independent consultant to the Company. Reference should be made to the full text of the Technical Report, which is available for review on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. 2 Refer to Harmony Gold news release dated April 13, 2016 To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/246516 SOURCE: South Pacific Metals Corp. Future Fuels Inc. (TSXV:FTUR)(FSE:S0J) ("Future Fuels" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the commencement of a fully integrated exploration strategy for its 100%-owned Hornby Basin Uranium Project (the "Project" or "Hornby Project"), located in Nunavut Territory, Canada. This multi-phased program is designed to significantly advance the understanding and potential of the Hornby Basin through comprehensive data digitization, advanced geological modeling, remote sensing, and artificial intelligence. This initiative marks a critical step toward unlocking the full potential of one of Canada's most underexplored yet geologically promising uranium basins. Comprehensive Data Compilation is Underway: Including digitization of over 200 historical assessment reports, integration of geochemical data (rock, soil, lake samples), and modernizing the Mountain Lake drill hole database. Geological Model and Exploration Target Development: Industry-leading consultants are engaged to deliver a 3D geological model of the Mountain Lake Deposit contained in the Project, evaluate the potential for an exploration target and commence drill hole planning. Modern Geophysics and Remote Sensing: Reprocessing of historical geophysical datasets to produce a basin-wide harmonized geophysical database. Undertake satellite spectral analysis including helium emission mapping to identify areas of potential uranium occurrences under sediment cover. AI-Driven Target Generation: Instigation of VRIFY's advanced machine learning platform to be used for property-wide data integration, deposit-scale target learning, and increased-probability uranium discovery mapping. Field Season Preparation: Planning exploration activities including ground truthing, potential infill drilling, airborne/ground geophysical surveys, and permitting activities. "This is a foundational program for Future Fuels," stated Rob Leckie, President & CEO. "We're digitizing decades of inherited exploration data, building advanced geological models, and leveraging AI to guide our next steps. With the Hornby Basin now under single ownership for the first time, we're positioned to apply the full suite of modern technologies to seek new uranium discoveries and build long-term value for shareholders." Hornby Geologic Overview The Hornby Project is located approximately 100km NE of the historic Port Radium Uranium Mine, a significant site in Canada's uranium mining history. Port Radium was one of the world's first uranium mines, responsible for a major source of uranium during the mid-20th century. Uranium produced from Port Radium contributed to the development of the worldwide nuclear energy industry. The geological similarities and regional proximity to this historic mine emphasize the potential for exploration upside within the Hornby Basin. The Hornby Project has the potential to host both primary and secondary uranium deposits. Primary deposits in the region are typically associated with basement-hosted hydrothermal systems, where uranium is concentrated along structural features such as faults and shear zones and deposited at certain horizons such as unconformities. Secondary uranium deposits, on the other hand, form through the redistribution of uranium by groundwater, leading to the precipitation of uranium minerals within porous sedimentary units. These secondary deposits are commonly found in roll-front settings and paleochannel environments, the relatively large extent and predictability of deposits of this style makes them an attractive exploration target. Additionally, modern extraction techniques developed for this type of sedimentary-hosted uranium further adds to the exploration rational. Both primary and secondary uranium deposit styles are common in Canada and located in areas such as Saskatchewan's Athabasca Basin, Nunavut's Thelon Basin and Newfoundland and Labradors Central Mineral Belt. Despite the Hornby Basin's strong geological potential, no current state-of-the-art exploration technology has been utilized to fully delineate its uranium potential. One reason for this is the fact that no single entity/corporation has ever controlled the entire basin until now. Modern geophysical techniques, high-resolution geochemical analysis, and advanced 3D modeling have yet to be applied, leaving significant opportunities for new discoveries. Additionally, there is considerable potential to leverage artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning algorithms (MLA) to enhance exploration targeting. AI can assist in analyzing complex geological datasets, identifying subtle patterns, and predicting high-probability uranium mineralization zones with greater accuracy and efficiency. Given the extensive historical data that has been collected across the district, and the presence of a historical deposit, Future Fuels believes the Project has excellent potential to be an effective use case for this modern tech. The Hornby Project is geologically located within the Bear Structural Province of the Canadian Shield, an area historically known for hosting highly productive uranium deposits. The Project's geology is dominated by sedimentary units of the Helikian Hornby Bay Group and the overlying Dismal Lakes Group, both of which are known to host significant uranium mineralization. The Hornby Bay Group consists primarily of fluvial sandstones and minor marine carbonates, whereas the Dismal Lakes Group represents a sequence of continental clastics with fine-grained marine sediments, all conducive to uranium deposition. Historical geological mapping and geophysical surveys have highlighted key structural features, such as fault intersections and basement highs, which are essential controls for uranium mineralization. The combination of structural complexity, favorable lithologies, and historical exploration success increases the Project's significant discovery potential. Figure 1: Future Fuels Hornby Project with known uranium occurrences shown. Historical Significance and Uranium Occurrences The Hornby Basin, Athabasca Basin, and Thelon Basin are believed to be remnants of a larger single Proterozoic basin (Smith, 2003). Historical exploration has identified over 140 anomalous uranium assay results in sandstone rock samples, multiple uranium showings, and many significant radioactive occurrences (Figure 1). Readers are encouraged to refer to the Company's technical report in respect of the Hornby Project, available under its profile at www.sedarplus.ca (the "Future Fuels Report"), for greater detail in respect of the occurrences. Uranium exploration in the Hornby Basin dates back to the early 1970s when regional airborne radiometric surveys first identified significant radioactive anomalies. Subsequent detailed exploration campaigns by various operators confirmed extensive uranium mineralization associated with both sedimentary and basement-hosted settings. "The most notable discovery in the area is the Mountain Lake Uranium Deposit, which was first identified in 1976 through airborne geophysical surveys and follow-up drilling" (Future Fuels Report). There are over 200 annual assessment reports documenting the historical exploration completed on licences enclosed or intersected by the current Project mineral tenure. The vast amount of work completed by multiple different operators has an estimated replacement cost of over $30 million CAD in today's dollar terms. One company, Hornby Bay Exploration Ltd., alone conducted over $10 million CAD in exploration efforts, including several geophysical surveys that identified graphitic conductors and structural disturbances at the unconformity contact, further reinforcing the basin's uranium potential (Hornby Bay Exploration Ltd., 2004). Future Fuels has found no evidence that a complete, district wide compilation has been undertaken, and much of the reports have only been scanned with an abundance of data still left to digitize. The Company believes substantial insight can be gathered from compiling all the available data into a powerful database that can be used to narrow down on highly prospective areas in a cost-effective manner and drive further discoveries in the basin. Marketing Update The Company also wishes to announce that it has increased the maximum budget of its engagement with MCS Market Communication Service GmbH ("MCS") for the continued provision of a range of on-line marketing services, including campaign creation, production of marketing materials, as well as research and analytics, by up to an additional 250,000 EUR. The services are expected to run until July 7, 2025, or until budget exhaustion. No securities have been provided to MCS or its principals as compensation. References Future Fuels Inc. (2025). NI 43-101 Technical Report on the Hornby Basin Uranium Project. Future Fuels Inc. (the Future Fuels Report) Hassard, F.R. (2005) - Triex Minerals Corporation, Mountain Lake Property, Nunavut (NTS 86N/7)", Technical Report for NI 43-101. Hornby Bay Exploration Ltd. (2004). Technical Report on the Uranium Resources at Hornby Bay Basin, Nunavut. Hornby Bay Exploration Ltd. Jefferson, C.W., & Delaney, G.D. (2006). Uranium Deposits of Canada. Geological Association of Canada, Mineral Deposits Division, Special Publication No. 5. Smith, J.P. (2003). Geophysical Survey Data and Uranium Assay Analysis in the Hornby Basin. Canadian Geological Survey Bulletin No. 315. Thomas, D.J. (2004). Comparative Geological Frameworks of the Hornby, Athabasca, and Thelon Basins. Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences, 41(4), 475-490. National Instrument 43-101 Disclosure Nicholas Rodway, P. Geo, (NAPEG Licence L5576) is a consultant of the Company and is a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101. Mr. Rodway has reviewed and approved the technical content in this press release. About Future Fuels Inc. Future Fuels' principal asset is the Hornby Uranium Project, covering the entire 3,407 km Hornby Basin in north-western Nunavut, a geologically promising area with over 40 underexplored uranium showings, including the historic Mountain Lake Deposit. Additionally, Future Fuels holds the Covette Property in Quebec's James Bay region, comprising 65 mineral claims over 3,370 hectares. On behalf of the Board of Directors FUTURE FUELS INC. Rob Leckie CEO and Director info@futurefuelsinc.com 604-681-1568 X: @FutureFuelsIn www.futurefuelsinc.com Forward Looking Statements Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Service Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release contains forward-looking statements and other statements that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as "will", "may", "should", "anticipate", "expects" and similar expressions. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this news release are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations include but are not limited to market conditions and the risks detailed from time to time in the filings made by the Company with securities regulators, including the Future Fuels Report. The reader is cautioned that assumptions used in the preparation of any forward-looking information may prove to be incorrect. Events or circumstances may cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted, as a result of numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking information, the prospects of the mineral claims forming the Project, which are not at an advanced stage of development, the Company's anticipated business and operational activities, and the Company's plans with respect to the exploration or advancement of the Project. Factors that could cause actual results to vary from forward-looking statements or may affect the operations, performance, development and results of the Company's business include, among other things, the Company's ability to generate sufficient cash flow to meet its current and future obligations; that mineral exploration is inherently uncertain and may be unsuccessful in achieving the desired results; that mineral exploration plans may change and be re-defined based on a number of factors, many of which are outside of the Company's control; the Company's ability to access sources of debt and equity capital; competitive factors, pricing pressures and supply and demand in the Company's industry; and general economic and business conditions. Such information, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release and the Company will update or revise publicly any of the included forward-looking statements as expressly required by applicable law. SOURCE: Future Fuels Inc. Settlement Terms Approved; Company to Exit Chapter 11 on or Before June 2, 2025 Gaucho Group Holdings, Inc. (OTC:VINOQ), a company that includes a growing collection of e-commerce platforms with a concentration on fine wines, luxury real estate, and leather goods and accessories (the "Company" or "Gaucho Holdings"), announced that on March 28, 2025, the United States Bankruptcy Court approved a settlement agreement between the Company and a major creditor in connection with its pending Chapter 11 case. The Court's approval of the settlement allows the parties to satisfy the terms required before closing of the settlement, which shall be no later than May 22, 2025, unless extended by the consent of both parties. The Court found the terms of the settlement to be fair and negotiated in good faith, with no objections raised by other parties in interest. Under the agreement, Gaucho Holdings and 3i, LP will exchange mutual releases, formally resolving any outstanding claims between the parties. Pursuant to the terms of the settlement, Gaucho Holdings is required to file a motion with the Court to seek dismissal of the Chapter 11 case by no later than June 2, 2025. The Court has retained jurisdiction to oversee the implementation of the agreement and to resolve any potential disputes related to its execution. With the Court's approval now in place, Gaucho Holdings is pleased to move positively forward from this chapter and return its focus to operating, managing, and growing its portfolio of businesses in Argentina. The Company views this as an important step toward stabilizing its foundation and continuing to explore opportunities that may build value for its stakeholders. At the macro level, recent economic reforms and pro-market developments in Argentina have created a more favorable business climate. Gaucho Holdings remains encouraged by these changes and anticipates participating in what it believes could be a period of meaningful expansion in the years ahead. The full terms of the settlement agreement and related court documents are available in the Company's Form 8-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, accessible at https://ir.gauchoholdings.com/sec-filings/all-sec-filings. About Gaucho Group Holdings, Inc. For more than ten years, Gaucho Group Holdings, Inc.'s (gauchoholdings.com) mission has been to source and develop opportunities in Argentina's undervalued luxury real estate and consumer marketplace. Our company has positioned itself to take advantage of the continued and fast growth of global e-commerce across multiple market sectors, with the goal of becoming a leader in diversified luxury goods and experiences in sought after lifestyle industries and retail landscapes. With a concentration on fine wines (algodonfinewines.com & algodonwines.com.ar), hospitality (algodonhotels.com), and luxury real estate (algodonwineestates.com) associated with our proprietary Algodon brand, as well as the leather goods, ready-to-wear and accessories of the fashion brand Gaucho - Buenos Aires (gaucho.com), these are the luxury brands in which Argentina finds its contemporary expression. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements The information discussed in this press release includes "forward looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included herein concerning, among other things, changes to exchange rates and their impact on the Company, planned capital expenditures, future cash flows and borrowings, pursuit of potential acquisition opportunities, our financial position, business strategy and other plans and objectives for future operations, are forward-looking statements. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, they do involve certain assumptions, risks and uncertainties and are not (and should not be considered to be) guarantees of future performance. Refer to our risk factors set forth in our reports filed on Edgar. The Company disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statement made here. Media Relations: Gaucho Group Holdings, Inc. Rick Stear Director of Marketing 212.739.7669 rstear@gauchoholdings.com SOURCE: Gaucho Group Holdings, Inc. Esker's e-invoicing solution helps businesses navigate expanding e-invoicing mandates and ensure compliance Esker, the global authority in AI-powered business solutions for the Office of the CFO, today announced that it has been named a Leader in the IDC MarketScape: European Compliant e-Invoicing 2024 Vendor Assessment (doc EUR151806424, September 2024). Esker believes this recognition highlights its strong position in the European market and beyond, as compliant e-invoicing is essential in today's evolving regulatory landscape. The IDC MarketScape report provides an in-depth analysis of e-invoicing providers, focusing on the essential role these solutions play in ensuring businesses adhere to constantly changing regulations. "In our view this recognition highlights our commitment to providing innovative and compliant e-invoicing solutions that help businesses navigate Europe's complex and evolving regulatory landscape," said Anna Mevellec, Product Manager at Esker. "Our focus on customer success, combined with our expertise in managing regulatory challenges, has solidified our position as a trusted partner for businesses seeking seamless e-invoicing solutions." E-invoicing regulations are rapidly expanding, with over 50 mandates already in place for both the B2B and B2G markets. More than 10 new mandates are set to take effect within the next three years and many countries are actively proposing new legislation. The EU's VAT in the Digital Age (ViDA) directive is set to make e-invoicing the standard for B2B transactions. By streamlining digital reporting and requiring e-invoicing, ViDA intends to help combat tax fraud and improve VAT collection. Implementation begins in 2030, marking a major step toward a more efficient and transparent VAT system across the EU. Esker helps companies navigate this continually evolving regulatory landscape to ensure compliance. By being officially registered with France's General Directorate of Public Finance (DGFiP) as a Partner Dematerialization Platform (PDP) for e-invoicing, Esker can deliver secure and compliant solutions and support businesses in navigating France's e-invoicing regulations. Esker already has successes to show in this sphere. Saint-Gobain, a worldwide leader in light and sustainable construction, successfully transitioned to e-invoicing in its subsidiaries in multiple countries, minimizing manual processes and ensuring full compliance with local regulations. "With Esker's support, we successfully implemented a compliant solution that also optimized our invoicing processes," said Dominique Petitjean, Director of Information Systems at Saint-Gobain. "Esker's expertise and adaptability in navigating the complexities of diverse European regulations proved invaluable. As we look ahead at future regulatory changes in Europe, we can do so with confidence, knowing that Esker will continue to deliver on expertise and reliability." About IDC MarketScape IDC MarketScape vendor assessment model is designed to provide an overview of the competitive fitness of technology and service suppliers in a given market. The research utilizes a rigorous scoring methodology based on both qualitative and quantitative criteria that results in a single graphical illustration of each supplier's position within a given market. IDC MarketScape provides a clear framework in which the product and service offerings, capabilities and strategies, and current and future market success factors of technology suppliers can be meaningfully compared. The framework also provides technology buyers with a 360-degree assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of current and prospective suppliers. About Esker Esker is the global authority in AI-powered business solutions for the Office of the CFO. Leveraging the latest in automation technologies, Esker's Source-to-Pay and Order-to-Cash solutions optimize working capital and cashflow, enhance decision-making, and drive better collaboration and human-to-human relationships with customers, suppliers and employees. Esker operates in North America, Latin America, Europe and Asia Pacific with global headquarters in Lyon, France, and U.S. headquarters in Madison, Wisconsin. For more information on Esker and its solutions, visit www.esker.com. Follow Esker on LinkedIn and join the conversation on the Esker blog at esker.com/blog. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250331638897/en/ Contacts: Press Contact: Brian Jaeger Tel: (352) 682-7636 eskerpr@walkersands.com DELRAY BEACH, Fla., March 31, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The global US Biomarkers Market is expected to reach US$34.3 billion by 2029 from US$20.5 billion in 2024, at a CAGR of 10.8% during the forecast period. The growing significance of biomarkers in drug discovery and development, and the growing importance of companion diagnostics are the major driving factors of the US biomarkers market. However, high capital investments and lengthy timelines for biomarker development can hamper market growth. Download PDF Brochure: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=43 Browse in-depth TOC on "US Biomarkers Market" 150 - Tables 53 - Figures The consumables segment accounted for the largest share by product & service segment in the US biomarkers market in 2023. By product & service, the US biomarkers market is categorized into consumables, services, and software. The consumables are further sub-segmented into assay kits, reagents & chemicals, columns & filters. The consumables accounted for the largest share of the US biomarkers market in 2023. The large share of consumables is due to the necessity for high-quality products to ensure accurate test results, coupled with the repetitive need for these consumables due to ongoing sample testing in research and clinical settings. Additionally, the continuous advancements in biomarker research and increasing funding for precision medicine are further driving the demand for consumables. The safety biomarkers segment accounted for the largest share by type segment in the US biomarker market in 2023. By type, the US biomarkers market is categorized into safety biomarkers, efficacy biomarkers, and validation biomarkers. The efficacy biomarkers are sub segmented into predictive biomarkers, surrogate biomarkers, pharmacodynamics biomarkers, and prognostic biomarkers. The safety biomarkers segment is expected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period. This is due to their importance in ensuring the safety of pharmaceuticals and healthcare interventions. Safety biomarkers are designed to assess the safety profiles, potential adverse effects, and toxicity levels of drugs and treatments during clinical trials and post-marketing surveillance. The NGS segment is expected to grow at a higher rate during the forecast period. Based on technology, the US biomarkers market has been segmented into immunoassays, NGS, PCR, mass spectrometry, chromatography, and other technologies. The immunoassay technology is sub segmented into ELISA, western blot, and protein microarray. In 2023, the immunoassays segment accounted for the largest share of the biomarkers market, and the NGS segment is expected to grow at a higher growth rate during the forecast period of 2024-2029. The immunoassay segment's growth is driven by its extensive use in clinical settings for diagnosing diseases, monitoring treatment effectiveness, and predicting patient outcomes. The need for advanced therapies due to the increased prevalence rate of cancer has contributed to the growth of the US biomarkers market. Request Sample Pages: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestsampleNew.asp?id=43 Key players in the US biomarkers market are Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (US), Abbott (US), Revvity (US), Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings (US), Charles River Laboratories (US), Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. (US), Agilent Technologies, Inc. (US), Quanterix (US), MESO SCALE DIAGNOSTICS, LLC. (US), Celerion (US), Standard BioTools (US), BioAgilytix Labs (US), NorthEast BioAnalytical Laboratories LLC (US), Signosis, Inc. (US), Serimmune (US), and Singulex, Inc. (US). Study Coverage The scope of the report covers detailed information regarding the major factors, such as drivers, challenges, opportunities, and restraints influencing the growth of the US biomarkers market. A detailed analysis of the key industry players has been done to provide insights into their business overview, product/service portfolio, key strategies such as collaborations, partnerships, expansions, agreements, and acquisitions, and recent developments associated with the US biomarkers market. Competitive analysis of top players and upcoming startups in the biomarkers market ecosystem is covered in this report. For more information, Inquire Now! Related Reports: Cancer Biomarkers Market Cancer Profiling Market Exosome Research Market Next Generation Sequencing Market Multiplex Assays Market About MarketsandMarkets: MarketsandMarkets has been recognized as one of America's Best Management Consulting Firms by Forbes, as per their recent report. MarketsandMarkets is a blue ocean alternative in growth consulting and program management, leveraging a man-machine offering to drive supernormal growth for progressive organizations in the B2B space. With the widest lens on emerging technologies, we are proficient in co-creating supernormal growth for clients across the globe. Today, 80% of Fortune 2000 companies rely on MarketsandMarkets, and 90 of the top 100 companies in each sector trust us to accelerate their revenue growth. With a global clientele of over 13,000 organizations, we help businesses thrive in a disruptive ecosystem. The B2B economy is witnessing the emergence of $25 trillion in new revenue streams that are replacing existing ones within this decade. We work with clients on growth programs, helping them monetize this $25 trillion opportunity through our service lines - TAM Expansion, Go-to-Market (GTM) Strategy to Execution, Market Share Gain, Account Enablement, and Thought Leadership Marketing. Built on the 'GIVE Growth' principle, we collaborate with several Forbes Global 2000 B2B companies to keep them future-ready. Our insights and strategies are powered by industry experts, cutting-edge AI, and our Market Intelligence Cloud, KnowledgeStore, which integrates research and provides ecosystem-wide visibility into revenue shifts. In addition, MarketsandMarkets SalesIQ enables sales teams to identify high-priority accounts and uncover hidden opportunities, helping them build more pipeline and win more deals with precision. To find out more, visit www.MarketsandMarkets.com or follow us on Twitter , LinkedIn and Facebook . Contact: Mr. Rohan Salgarkar MarketsandMarkets INC. 1615 South Congress Ave. Suite 103, Delray Beach, FL 33445 USA: +1-888-600-6441 Email: sales@marketsandmarkets.com Visit Our Website: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/ Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1868219/MarketsandMarkets_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/us-biomarkers-market-worth-us34-3-billion-by-2029-with-10-8-cagr--marketsandmarkets-302415397.html Alta Equipment Group Inc. (NYSE:ALTG) today announced the appointment of Jonathan Hesener as President of Alta Material Handling, effective immediately. Hesener will report directly to CEO Ryan Greenawalt and assume responsibility for Alta's enterprise-wide material handling operations, including PeakLogix, the company's engineered systems business. Hesener joins Alta with a diverse leadership background, including senior roles at General Electric, service as an officer in the United States Marine Corps, and most recently as Chief Sales Officer at Equipment Depot. His experience spans mergers and acquisitions, sales strategy, and large-scale operational integration, areas that remain a core focus of Alta's growth strategy. "Jonathan brings a thoughtful, disciplined approach to leadership, informed by experience across both private and public organizations," said Ryan Greenawalt, CEO of Alta Equipment Group. "In addition to his track record in corporate development initiatives and commercial execution, what stood out is how closely he aligns with the values we hold at Alta. His leadership style reflects the guiding principles that define our culture-Invest in the Best, Passion for Excellence, One Team, Mutual Respect, and Customers for Life. Jonathan brings a strong sense of trust, accountability, and a high level of energy to everything he does. We're pleased to have him join the team." As President of Material Handling, Hesener will focus on strengthening performance across Alta's regional operations, supporting OEM and customer relationships, and advancing the company's integration and growth priorities. "I'm excited to be joining Alta and contributing to a business with a strong sense of purpose and culture," said Jonathan Hesener. "Alta has made significant strides in building a scalable platform with an emphasis on people, process, and customer relationships. I look forward to partnering with the team to build on that foundation and continue delivering value." About Alta Equipment Group Inc. Alta owns and operates one of the largest integrated equipment dealership platforms in North America. Through our branch network, the Company sells, rents, and provides parts and service support for several categories of specialized equipment, including lift trucks and other material handling equipment, heavy and compact earthmoving equipment, crushing and screening equipment, environmental processing equipment, cranes and aerial work platforms, paving and asphalt equipment, other construction equipment and allied products. Alta has operated as an equipment dealership for 40 years and has developed a branch network that includes over 85 total locations across Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Maine, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Vermont, Rhode Island, New York, Virginia, Nevada and Florida and the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Quebec. Alta offers its customers a one-stop-shop for their equipment needs through its broad, industry-leading product portfolio. More information can be found at www.altg.com . Contact Information Glenn Moore VP Marketing & Corporate Communications glenn.moore@altg.com (248) 305-2134 SOURCE: Alta Equipment Group u-blox AG / Key word(s): Personnel u-blox appoints Helen Xu as Chief Growth Officer 31.03.2025 / 19:00 CET/CEST Thalwil, Switzerland - 31 March 2025 - u-blox (SIX:UBXN), a global leader in positioning and short-range communication technologies for automotive, industrial, and consumer markets, announces that its Board of Directors has appointed Helen Xu as Chief Growth Officer and member of the Executive Committee, effective April 1, 2025. She succeeds Markus Schaefer, who will be leaving u-blox to pursue new opportunities. With a distinguished 30-year career in the automotive and semiconductor industry, Helen brings extensive global experience spanning North America, Asia, and Europe. Between 2019 and 2024, she served as Senior Vice President and Executive Committee member at Gentherm Inc., a Tier 1 automotive supplier, where she was Managing Director for Asia and in her global role, she also led the strategic development of comfort product solutions. Prior to Gentherm, she led Infineon's Automotive business in China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan as Vice President, driving significant business growth between 2012 and 2019. Earlier in her career, she held senior leadership roles at International Automotive Components (IAC) Group and Lear Corporation. Helen is a U.S. citizen and holds a Master of Business Administration from Walsh College, a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Oakland University, and a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Kettering University. Stephan Zizala, u-blox's CEO, commented: "The Board of Directors, the Executive Committee and the whole u-blox team would like to thank Markus Schaefer for his contribution to u-blox. Under his six- year tenure, u-blox achieved record-breaking revenue, expanded its customer base, and secured major business wins across key market segments. We wish him all the best in his future endeavors." "We are happy to welcome Helen Xu as Chief Growth Officer. We are looking forward to her contribution to u-blox based on her broad industry, sales and cultural experience." For further information, please contact: Investor Relations Rafael Duarte Phone: +41 43 547 0693 rafael.duarte@u-blox.com u-blox (SIX:UBXN) is a global leader in automotive, industrial, and consumer markets, driving innovation through our cutting-edge positioning and short-range communication technologies. We are the pioneers behind high-precision technologies, providing smart and reliable solutions that enable people, vehicles, and machines to determine their precise position and communicate wirelessly. With headquarters in Thalwil, Switzerland, and offices across Europe, Asia, and the USA, we are making a global impact. Join us on social media - X, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram - to shape a precise future. ( www.u-blox.com ) Join us on social media - X , Facebook , YouTube , LinkedIn and Instagram . Disclaimer This release contains certain forward looking statements. Such forward looking statements reflect the current views of management and are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements of the u blox Group to differ materially from those expressed or implied. These include risks related to the success of and demand for the Group's products, the potential for the Group's products to become obsolete, the Group's ability to defend its intellectual property, the Group's ability to develop and commercialize new products in a timely manner, the dynamic and competitive environment in which the Group operates, the regulatory environment, changes in currency exchange rates, the Group's ability to generate revenues and profitability, and the Group's ability to realize its expansion projects in a timely manner. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in this report. u blox is providing the information in this release as of this date and does not undertake any obligation to update any forward looking statements contained in it as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. End of Media Release The Everen Group is pleased to announce the promotion of Karyn Peixoto to the role of Senior Vice President, Chief Human Resources Officer, based in the Bermuda office, effective April 1, 2025. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250331475520/en/ Karyn Peixoto, Everen Group Since joining the Everen Group in December 2022 as VP HR Administration, Karyn has been instrumental in shaping the Group's people strategies, building a strong company culture, and leading initiatives to attract, develop, and retain top talent. In her expanded role as part of the Executive Leadership Team, Ms. Peixoto will continue to lead the company's HR function with a focus on aligning people strategies with the Group's business objectives, working with the Executive Leadership Team to develop and deliver strategic initiatives, driving employee engagement, and fostering a high-performing workplace. Commenting on her promotion, Robert Foskey, President CEO of the Everen Group, said: "Karyn's promotion is a well-earned recognition of her leadership and significant contributions to the Group, positioning us well for long-term success in the energy insurance market. "Her considerable experience, together with her sound judgment and leadership skills, have been pivotal in building a strong team at the Everen Group. She brings a strategic mindset and tremendous energy to her role, as well as a deep commitment to creating a positive work environment for our employees." About Everen Group: The Everen Group a group of leading energy insurance companies based in Bermuda includes two distinct operating companies providing complementary products: Everen and Everen Specialty. Everen is the largest energy insurance mutual company in the world, operating for over 50 years and acting as a pure mutual owned by its member shareholders. Its underwriting is 100% supported by its own balance sheet with no third-party capital and it offers up to $450 million of per occurrence limits. Everen Specialty is an industry owned commercial (re)insurer offering property and casualty insurance and reinsurance for members and non-members. Everen Specialty also has a subsidiary, OCIL Specialty, Ltd (OSL), writing U.S. surplus lines business through OSL Insurance Services (OISI), a managing general agent based in Houston, Texas. For further information about the Everen Group, please visit www.everengroup.bm View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250331475520/en/ Contacts: For inquiries regarding this press release, please contact: Elizabeth Deacon, Communications Manager on elizabeth.deacon@everengroup.bm China launches new communication technology test satellite Xinhua) 13:19, March 31, 2025 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. (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. (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. (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. (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. (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. (Photo by Sun Yucheng/Xinhua) (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) The aim of the procedure is to optimize the Company's financial structure in order to adapt it to the needs of its future growth The procedure will also provide a protective framework favorable to the progress of ongoing discussions with strategic and financial partners The Company's liabilities prior to the proceedings are frozen during the proceedings Regulatory News: Mauna Kea Technologies (Euronext Growth: ALMKT), inventor of Cellvizio, the multidisciplinary probe and needle-based confocal laser endomicroscopy (p/nCLE) platform, today announced that the Tribunal des activites economiques de Paris (Paris Business Court) has granted its request to open safeguard proceedings, in view of its financial situation. The Company's financial horizon is currently secured until the end of June 2025. This initiative is part of a proactive determination by Mauna Kea Technologies' management to create the most favorable conditions for the success of its transformation, and to maximize the unique value of its technology. During this observation period, the Company will continue to operate under the legal protection offered by the procedure, while benefiting from more favorable conditions to conclude its strategic and financial negotiations. As such, the Company's liabilities prior to the proceedings are frozen for the duration of the proceedings. In this context, Mauna Kea Technologies intends to finalize ongoing discussions with several strategic partners and long-term financial investors. At the same time, the Company will engage in negotiations with its creditors to reach a balanced financial structure, reducing its indebtedness and securing the necessary liquidity to enable it to deploy its strategic plan towards profitability. To date, the Company's liabilities stand at 36 million, including 31 million in financial debt. In this context, the Paris Business Court has appointed SELARL THEVENOT PARTNERS, in the person of Aurelia Perdereau, as administrator with monitoring responsibility for Mauna Kea Technologies, and SCP BTSG, in the person of Stephane Gorrias, as judicial representative. The Company will keep the market informed of developments in the proceedings and, more generally, of the financial situation of Mauna Kea Technologies. About the safeguard proceedings The safeguard proceedings can last up to twelve months and protect companies that are not in cessation of payments, enabling them to resolve their difficulties and continue their activities. About Mauna Kea Technologies Mauna Kea Technologies is a global medical device company that manufactures and sells Cellvizio, the real-time in vivo cellular imaging platform. This technology uniquely delivers in vivo cellular visualization which enables physicians to monitor the progression of disease over time, assess point-in-time reactions as they happen in real time, classify indeterminate areas of concern, and guide surgical interventions. The Cellvizio platform is used globally across a wide range of medical specialties and is making a transformative change in the way physicians diagnose and treat patients. For more information, visit www.maunakeatech.com. Disclaimer This press release contains forward-looking statements about Mauna Kea Technologies and its business. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this press release, including, but not limited to, statements regarding Mauna Kea Technologies' financial condition, business, strategies, plans and objectives for future operations are forward-looking statements. Mauna Kea Technologies believes that these forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions. However, no assurance can be given that the expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements will be achieved. These forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, including those described in Chapter 2 of Mauna Kea Technologies' 2023 Annual Report filed with the Autorite des marches financiers (AMF) on April 30, 2024, which is available on the Company's website (www.maunakeatech.fr), as well as the risks associated with changes in economic conditions, financial markets and the markets in which Mauna Kea Technologies operates. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are also subject to risks that are unknown to Mauna Kea Technologies or that Mauna Kea Technologies does not currently consider material. The occurrence of some or all of these risks could cause the actual results, financial condition, performance or achievements of Mauna Kea Technologies to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements. This press release and the information contained herein do not constitute an offer to sell or subscribe for, or the solicitation of an order to buy or subscribe for, shares of Mauna Kea Technologies in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. The distribution of this press release may be restricted in certain jurisdictions by local law. Persons into whose possession this document comes are required to comply with all local regulations applicable to this document. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250331483075/en/ Contacts: Mauna Kea Technologies investors@maunakeatech.com NewCap Investor Relations Aurelie Manavarere Thomas Grojean +33 (0)1 44 71 94 94 maunakea@newcap.eu PRESS RELEASE SOCIETA EDITORIALE IL FATTO S.P.A: The Board of Directors approves the draft annual financial statements and the consolidated financial statements as at 31 December 2024 The community company's journey continues successfully: clear improvement of key economic indicators Ordinary Shareholders' Meeting convened for April 29, 2025 Key consolidated results as at 31 December 2024 Revenues from sales and services amounting Euro 30,522 thousand , up from Euro 29,273 thousand as at 31 December 2023 amounting , up from Euro 29,273 thousand as at 31 December 2023 EBITDA of Euro 3,712 thousand , up from Euro 2,261 thousand as at 31 December 2023 of , up from Euro 2,261 thousand as at 31 December 2023 EBITDA Margin of 10.33% , up from 6.55% as at 31 December 2023 of , up from 6.55% as at 31 December 2023 Net result of Euro -1,731 thousand , an improvement over the loss of Euro -2,388 thousand as at 31 December 2023 of , an improvement over the loss of Euro -2,388 thousand as at 31 December 2023 Net Financial Indebtedness of Euro 3,422 thousand compared to Euro 3,117 thousand as at 31 December 2023 Rome, 31 March 2025 - The Board of Directors of Societa Editoriale Il Fatto S.p.A. (the "Company" or "SEIF" and jointly with Loft Produzioni S.r.l, the "Group") media content provider and publisher of various editorial and multimedia products, a company whose shares are traded at Euronext Growth Milan, a multilateral system organised and managed by Borsa Italiana S.p.A. and at Euronext Growth Paris, met today and approved the draft financial statements the year ended 31 December 2024 and the consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024. Cinzia Monteverdi, President and CEO of SEIF, said: "The financial year 2024 ended for the Group with main economic indicators improving, with the media content sector representing a strategic asset. The results achieved have confirmed the effectiveness of the path that we embarked on in November 2022 with preparation of the business plan and that we will continue to pursue, also continuing with our investment plan for the innovation of the technological infrastructure, to further strengthen the Group's competitiveness." Key consolidated results as at 31 December 2024 The consolidated results as at 31 December 2024 represent the consolidated annual figures of the Group formed by SEIF and its wholly-owned subsidiary Loft Produzioni S.r.l., which is active in the production audio-video content, primarily television. A) Production value (in Euro thousands) 31.12.2024 % V.o.P. 31.12.2023 % V.o.P. 1) revenues from sales and services 30.522 84,96% 29.273 84,76% 2) Changes in inventories of work in progress, semi-finished and finished products 120 0,34% 14 0,04% 4) Increases in fixed assets for internal work 4.506 12,54% 3.990 11,55% 5) other revenues 775 2,16% 1.259 3,64% Total (A) Production value 35.923 100% 34.536 100% Production value increased by K/Euro 1,388 or 4.02% compared to 31 December 2023, of which K/Euro 1,249 was attributable to revenue from sales and services. The main items shown in the V.o.P. underwent the following percentage changes compared to the previous year: (i) revenue from sales and services amounting to K/Euros 30,522 increased by 4.27%; (ii) fixed assets for internal work amounting to K/Euros 4.506, of which K/Euros 3,502 referred to TV content and K/Euros 1,004 to investments in technological innovation and digital transition, the new website ilfattoquotidiano.it and the new format of the magazine MillenniuM and development of the related website, showed an increase of 12.94%. An analysis of Revenues from sales and services by segment shows the following: A.1) Revenues from sales and services (in Euro thousands) 31.12.2024 % of revenue 31.12.2023 % of revenue Var. Var % Publishing sector 23.791 77,95% 23.626 80,71% 165 0,70% Media content sector 3.374 11,05% 2.514 8,59% 860 34,19% Advertising sector 3.356 11,00% 3.132 10,70% 224 7,15% Total 30.522 100,00% 29.273 100,00% 1.249 4,27% Publishing sector: revenues in the publishing sector recorded an overall growth of K/Euro 165 (+0.70%) despite the difficulties in the traditional market, particularly for print products. The decline in newsstand sales was offset by growth in revenues from books and subscriptions to digital publishing products. Total revenues from products in the digital version, mainly consisting of subscriptions, increased by around 13.5%. Revenues from the publishing segment mainly consisted of revenues from (i) newsstand sales of the daily newspaper in the amount of K/euros 13,963; (ii) print sales of the magazine MillenniuM in the amount of K/Euros 316; (iii) sales of Paper First books in the newsstand and bookstore channel in the amount of K/Eurosk 2,461; (iv) sales of subscriptions to publishing products and digital content in the amount of k 7,051. Media content segment: the media content segment's revenues show a total increase of K/Euro 860 (+34.19%). Specifically, in 2024, revenues are composed of: (i) exploitation of TV content of K/Euro 2,223; (ii) sales of theatre shows and events of K/Euro 503; (iii) TVLOFT App subscriptions of K/Euro 648. Advertising segment : advertising revenue amounted to K/Euro 3,356, showing an increase of K/Euro 224 (+7.15%) compared to the year ended 31 December 2023. Revenues in 2024 essentially consist of (i) advertising sales on the daily newspaper in the amount of K/Euro 513; (ii) advertising sales on the website in the amount of K/Euros 2,828. (in Euro thousands) 31.12.2024 % V.o.P. 31.12.2023 % V.o.P. Value of Production 35.923 100,00% 34.536 100,00% EBITDA 3.712 10,33% 2.261 6,55% EBIT (1.546) -4,30% (3.054) -8,84% EBT (1.911) -5,32% (3.309) -9,58% Net result (1.731) -4,82% (2.388) -6,91% Total production costs amounted to K/Euros 37,469, down K/Euros 121 compared to the year ended 31 December 2023, resulting in a recovery of margins, which is reflected in the growth of EBITDA, which reached 10.33% of V.o.p.. Costs for services decreased by about 2.58% or K/Euro 248 as a percentage of V.o.p.. In particular, recorded a reduction in the industrial costs of printed publishing products also as a result of the streamlining and optimisation of print runs for the newspaper, magazine and books. This consequently led to a reduction in paper costs of K/Euro 246 and distribution costs of K/Euro 382. The increase in other costs for services, which partially reduce the aforementioned savings, is attributable to higher costs for the production of books and related royalties to be paid to authors as a result of the growth in volumes sold, as well as other costs for the acquisition of services relating, in particular, to the production of original television content. As a result, the higher EBITDA value of K/Euros 3,712 as at 31 December 2024 (K/Euros 2,261 in 2023) and a decrease in production costs also had a positive effect on the negative EBIT value, which decreased to K/Euros -1,546 from K/Euros -3,054 in 2023, as a result of depreciation and amortisation of K/Euros 4.780, mainly referring to the amortisation portion of the investments related to the production of the content and television programmes "Loft productions", and accruals of K/Euros 479, inherent to the prudential estimates for restoring the Legal Risks Fund and the Provision for future sales of Books distributed by 31.12.2024 The EBT (K/Euros -1,911 compared to K/Euros -3,309 in 2023) and the Net result (K/Euros -1,731 compared to K/Euros -2,388 in 2022) improved compared to the year ended 31 December 2023. As at 31 December 2024, Fixed Assets amounted to K/Euro 10,105. Gross investments amounted to K/Euros 5,134, mainly attributable to intangible fixed assets in the amount of K/Euros 5,055 and were essentially due to: (i) the production of television content; (ii) overall investments for digital and technological innovation; (iii) those dedicated to the development, realisation and innovation of new websites. The Net Working Capital shows a negative value of K/Euro -5,735, as a result of the historicised difference between average collection and payment days related to ordinary operations and is composed exclusively of assets and liabilities related to ordinary operations. In particular, the change in the amount compared to the previous year (K/Euros -4,413 in 2023) is due to the increase in Other Liabilities, the increase in deferred income for more season subscriptions sold in 2024 and for the difference on payables for taxes and employee contributions for the month of December 2024, compared to 2023, paid in full in January 2025 as required by law. All components forming this value are due within the next financial year. Equity shows a negative balance of K/Euros -3,829 (K/Euros -2,082 in 2023) and includes the loss for the period of K/Euros -1,731. The total value is affected by the elimination of intercompany items and the consequent elimination of values related to the contribution of the business unit known as Loft Produzioni. The impairment analysis carried out by Loft Produzioni S.r.l. assessed and confirmed the existence of the values of intangible fixed assets in the subsidiary and financial fixed assets in the parent company SEIF. It is specified that the value of the consolidated shareholders' equity has no relevance for the purposes of civil law regulations on share capital, for which only the values of the individual financial statements of the Group companies, which are positive, are relevant. Net Financial Indebtedness amounted to K/Euros 3,422, slightly worse than K/Euros 3,117 in 2023 due to the increase in the Unicredit loan granted to the subsidiary in 2024, the outstanding balance of which at the balance sheet date was K/Euro 247. Net Financial Indebtedness essentially consists of: (i) current liquidity of K/Euros 263 and (ii) current financial debts of K/Euros 2,700 repayable in the 12 months following year-end, net of the portion due "beyond the year" of bank loans of K/Euros 986. This amount shown under "Non-current financial payables" refers to the instalments repayable starting from January 2026 of the loans granted in 2020 and 2024 by Unicredit S.p.A. and the loans granted by Intesa San Paolo in August 2023 Main results of SEIF as at 31 December 2024 With reference to SEIF's results for the year ended 31 December 2024, the following is reported. Revenues from sales and services amounted to Euro 28,343 thousand , up from Euro 27,614 thousand in 2023. amounted to , up from Euro 27,614 thousand in 2023. Production value amounted to Euro 30,125 thousand , up from Euro 29,490 thousand in 2023. to , up from Euro 29,490 thousand in 2023. EBITDA amounted to Euro 719 thousand , up from Euro 19 thousand in 2023. amounted to , up from Euro 19 in 2023. EBIT amounted to Euro -607 thousand , an improvement from Euro -842 thousand in 2023. amounted to , an improvement from Euro -842 thousand in 2023. The Result for the Year was Euro -985 thousand compared to Euro -707 thousand in 2023 compared to Euro -707 in 2023 Net Financial Indebtedness was Euro 3,224 thousand compared to Euro 3,238 thousand as of 31 December 2023. was compared to Euro 3,238 as of 31 December 2023. Equity amounted to Euro 5,388 thousand compared to Euro 6,390 thousand as at 31 December 2023. Allocation of the result The Board of Directors resolved to propose to the Ordinary Shareholders' Meeting to carry forward the loss for the year of Euro 984 thousand by partially covering it through the utilisation of the retained earnings recorded under shareholders' equity. Significant events during the year The industrial plan that the Group is implementing, the update of which for the three-year period 2025 - 2027 was approved by the Company's Board of Directors on 4 December 2024 and whose strategic guidelines that envisage the transition from media company to community company are confirmed, has as its main objective that of overcoming the crisis of the traditional publishing market by creating value with the integration of projects that look to the future, enhancing the information offer of Fatto Quotidiano with the digital push that is being fully realised and at the same time creating alternative revenues linked to the brand. The Group's strategic plan focuses all its efforts on strengthening and expanding the Community of Il Fatto, giving more and more substance to the definition of Community Company. Analysing the trends of the financial year, it can be seen that the second half of 2024 also showed solid signs of growth in subscriptions, book sales and also in advertising sales. The theme of increasing views and thus maximising the monetisation of digital revenues, subscriptions and advertising, is at the heart of the investment objectives. Always in line with developments towards technological innovation, SEIF on 9 December 2024, signed an investment contract for the acquisition of 10% of the share capital of Kikero Inc., a US start-up company founded by neuroscientist, researcher and SEIF Director Giulio Deangeli, owner of application aimed at enhancing learning speed through use of artificial intelligence and focused on the development of an application mainly dedicated to the Education branch. The investment in Kikero Inc. also aims to stimulate additional revenues in SEIF in addition to asset enhancement, and is aimed at both a national and international market. Internationalisation and innovation are therefore the key points of the choice of the Kikero Inc. operation. The production and distribution activities of television content and theatrical performances, managed by the subsidiary Loft Produzioni S.r.l., also consolidated the growth already shown in the first half-year. Significant events occurring after the end of the After the end of the financial year, there were no significant events to report, and management and sales activities continued as normal. The sales trend continues smoothly in all areas (publishing, advertising and training). The investment plan for the innovation of the technological infrastructure is also proceeding as planned, which in this first quarter of the year was focused in particular on the new website ilfattoquotidiano.it., launched on 20 March 2025. The activities of the subsidiary Loft Produzioni S.r.l. are regular and in line with those planned. The production of television content is being expanded and subscriptions to the TVLOFT proprietary platform are being consolidated, in addition to the production and distribution activities of theatrical shows. Commercial relationships with several television stations are being solidly structured, as are co-production relationships with important national players with whom more ambitious production projects are being developed, both in terms of budget and growth in new segments being explored such as series and films. There are therefore no particular facts to report that could restrict the smooth running of production and management activities and the implementation of programmes. Foreseeable development of operations Given the performance of the first two months of operations in 2025, in line with management's expectations for the current financial year, the regularity of operating cash flows, the near completion of the investment programmes relating to the two pillars of the strategic revolution envisaged in the 2025-2027 industrial plan, and the availability of usable credit lines, it is expected that production and commercial activities will be regularly managed and therefore that business continuity will be operational. The forecasts of the results included in the Group's 2025-2027 industrial plan show an ability to increase revenues and overall margins, which will make it possible to recover the negative result of shareholders' equity, also influenced by the negative reserve for treasury shares in portfolio. Convocation of the Shareholders' Meeting On today's date, the Board of Directors resolved to call the Ordinary Shareholders' Meeting for 29 April 2025, the Board of Statutory Auditors having waived the longer term provided for by the Italian Civil Code, at the time and place that will be communicated in the relevant notice of call that will be published in accordance with the procedures and terms provided for by applicable laws and regulations, in order to (i) viewing the consolidated financial statements and approving the financial statements as of 31 December 2024; (ii) resolving on the allocation of the result for the year; (iii) appointing the independent auditors for the period 2025-2027 and determining the fee pursuant to Legislative Decree 39/2010 Filing of documentation The documents relating to the items on the agenda, including the draft financial statements and the consolidated financial statements as at 31 December 2024, the management report, the directors' explanatory report on the items on the agenda of the ordinary shareholders' meeting, the report of the Board of Statutory Auditors and the independent auditors' report, will be made available to the public at SEIF's registered office, on the website www.seif-spa.it under Investor Relations/Assemblies as well as on the website www.borsaitaliana.it, section "Shares/Documents", within the terms set forth by the regulations in force. *** For the dissemination of regulated information, SEIF uses the 1INFOSDIR dissemination system (www.1info.it), managed by Computershare S.p.A. with registered office in Milan, Via Lorenzo Mascheroni no. 19 and authorised by CONSOB. This press release is available in the Investor Relations/Press Releases section of the website www.seif-spa.it and at www.1info.it. *** SOCIETA EDITORIALE IL FATTO S.P.A. (SEIF) is an independent media company, founded in Rome in 2009 and led by Cinzia Monteverdi, President and CEO. The company is the publisher of several editorial and multimedia products, including Il Fatto Quotidiano, a newspaper founded by Antonio Padellaro and directed by Marco Travaglio, the news website ilfattoquotidiano.it and the monthly magazine MillenniuM, directed by Peter Gomez, and the publishing house Paper First, directed by Marco Travaglio. Recently SEIF undertook a diversification process to become more and more an all-round media content provider, launching a digital and data-driven product development strategy and TV production with its subsidiary Loft produzioni Srl. For more information: Press Office Community Marco Rubino +39 335 6509552 Serena Tiseo +39 346 8747834 mail: marco@community.it Euronext Growth Advisor Integrae SIM S.p.A. Piazza Castello, 24 - 20121 Milan tel. +39 02 80 50 61 60 mail: info@integraesim.it SEIF - Investor relations 06 32818514 Cinzia Monteverdi (CEO) ir@seif-spa.it Luigi Calicchia (CFO) l.calicchia@seif-spa.it Attached: -Consolidated Profit and Loss Account as at 31/12/2024 vs. 31/12/2023 -Consolidated Balance Sheet as at 31/12/2024 vs 31/12/2023 - Consolidated Net Financial Debt as at 31/12/2024 vs 31/12/2023 - Consolidated Cash Flow Statement as at 31/12/2024 vs 31/12/2023 - SEIF S.p.A. income statement as at 31/12/2024 vs 31/12/2023 - Balance Sheet SEIF S.p.A. as at 31/12/2024 vs 31/12/2023 - SEIF S.p.A. Net Financial Indebtedness as at 31/12/2024 vs 31/12/2023 - Statement of Cash Flows SEIF S.p.A. as at 31/12/2024 vs. 31/12/2023 Consolidated Income Statement as at 31/12/2024 vs 31/12/2023 Consolidated Profit and Loss Account (Euro) 31/12/2024 31/12/2023 Revenues from sales and services 30.521.795 29.272.823 Changes in inventories 120.387 14.470 Miscellaneous income 775.119 1.258.654 Total Revenues 31.417.301 30.545.947 Increases in fixed assets 4.506.175 3.989.867 Value of Production 35.923.476 34.535.814 External Operating Costs (19.206.711) (19.662.412) Added Value 16.716.765 14.873.402 Personnel Costs (12.485.489) (12.114.838) Other operating charges (518.908) (497.224) Gross Operating Margin (EBITDA) 3.712.368 2.261.340 Depreciation and Provisions (5.258.358) (5.315.578) Operating Profit (EBIT) (1.545.990) (3.054.238) Atypical charges (101.497) (128.477) Result of the financial area (263.365) (126.371) Profit before tax (1.910.852) (3.309.086) income tax 180.206 921.046 Net result (1.730.646) (2.388.040) Consolidated Balance Sheet as at 31/12/2024 vs. 31/12/2023 Consolidated Balance Sheet (Euro) 31/12/2024 31/12/2023 Intangible Fixed Assets 9.250.069 8.867.130 Tangible fixed assets 100.624 130.168 Financial Fixed Assets 753.971 747.579 Fixed Capital 10.104.664 9.744.877 Inventories 282.147 152.464 Trade receivables 2.651.775 2.663.394 Other Credits 4.083.396 4.054.633 Accrued income and prepaid expenses 363.627 212.694 Short-term operations 7.380.945 7.083.185 Trade payables (5.859.340) (5.299.407) Other debts (4.411.664) (3.864.695) Accrued expenses and deferred income (2.845.341) (2.332.192) Short-term operating liabilities (13.116.345) (11.496.294) Net working capital (5.735.400) (4.413.109) Provisions for risks (775.627) (662.143) Severance pay (4.000.863) (3.634.854) Medium- and long-term liabilities (4.776.490) (4.296.997) INVESTED CAPITAL (407.226) 1.034.771 Net assets (3.829.408) (2.082.159) Medium-/long-term financial position 985.740 1.073.859 Short-term financial position 2.436.443 2.043.071 EQUITY AND DEBT NET FINANCIAL (407.226) 1.034.771 Consolidated Net Financial Debt as at 31/12/2024 vs 31/12/2023 Consolidated Net Financial Debt (Euro) 31/12/2024 31/12/2023 A - Cash and cash equivalents (263.114) (465.127) B - Cash Equivalents C - Other current financial assets D - Liquidity (A+B+C) (263.114) (465.127) E - Current financial debt 513.959 412.566 F - Current part of non-current debt 2.185.598 2.095.632 G - current financial debt (E+F) 2.699.557 2.508.198 H - Net current financial debt (D-G) 2.436.443 2.043.071 I - Non-current financial debt 985.740 1.073.859 J - Debt instruments K- Trade and other non-current payables L - non-current financial debt (I+J+K) 985.740 1.073.859 M - Net financial debt (H-L) 3.422.183 3.116.930 Consolidated Cash Flow Statement as at 31/12/2024 vs 31/12/2023 Financial Flows Consolidated Cash Flow Statement, Indirect Method (Euro) 31.12.2024 31.12.2023 Profit (loss) for the year before income tax, interest, dividends (1.649.491) (3.186.017) Adjustments for non-monetary items 5.667.864 5.793.863 Changes in net working capital 1.502.494 218.947 Other corrections (621.175) (355.036) Cash flow from operations (A) 4.899.692 2.471.757 Cash flow from investing activities (B) (5.204.945) (4.372.396) Cash flow from financing activities (C) 103.240 1.566.991 Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents (ABC) (202.013) (333.648) Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year 465.127 798.775 Cash and cash equivalents at year-end 263.114 465.127 Change in cash and cash equivalents (202.013) (333.648) SEIF S.p.A. income statement as at 31/12/2024 vs 31/12/2023 Value of Production and Value Added Income Statement (Euro) 31.12.2024 %vdp 31.12.2023 %vdp Revenues from sales and services 28.342.737 94,08% 27.613.777 93,64% changes in stocks of finished goods and work in progress 120.387 0,40% 14.470 0,05% in-house production of fixed assets 1.004.234 3,33% 631.956 2,14% other revenues 657.602 2,18% 1.229.794 4,17% Value of production 30.124.960 100,00% 29.489.997 100,00% purchases of raw materials -1.037.034 -3,44% -1.257.427 -4,26% change in raw material stocks 9.295 0,03% -16.860 -0,06% expenses for services -15.259.351 -50,65% -15.440.680 -52,36% use of third party assets -1.316.881 -4,37% -1.257.023 -4,26% Added Value 12.520.989 41,56% 11.518.007 39,06% personnel expenses -11.349.312 -37,67% -11.026.529 -37,39% other operating charges -452.182 -1,50% -472.299 -1,60% Gross operating margin - EBITDA 719.495 2,39% 19.179 0,07% amortisation and depreciation -847.614 -2,81% -842.799 -2,86% provisions -478.541 -1,59% -18.828 -0,06% Operating income - EBIT -606.660 -2,01% -842.448 -2,86% financial income 1 0,00% 4.706 0,02% financial charges -250.274 -0,83% -127.785 -0,43% exchange rate gains - losses -1.466 0,00% -3.302 -0,01% write-downs of financial assets -101.497 -0,34% -128.477 0,00% Profit before tax - EBT -959.896 -3,19% -1.097.306 -3,72% income tax -24.817 -0,08% 390.521 1,32% Net result -984.713 -3,27% -706.785 -2,40% Balance Sheet SEIF S.p.A. as at 31/12/2024 vs 31/12/2023 (in thousands of Euros) 31.12.2024 31.12.2023 Intangible fixed assets 4.299 3.538 Tangible fixed assets 99 129 Financial fixed assets 13.491 13.569 Fixed assets 17.890 17.236 Inventories 282 152 Trade receivables 2.214 2.603 Trade payables -5.142 -4.569 Net operating working capital -2.645 -1.813 Other current assets 4.361 4.123 Other current liabilities -6.492 -5.852 Net working capital -4.777 -3.543 Provisions for risks -776 -662 Severance pay -3.726 -3.402 Net invested capital 8.612 9.628 Net assets 5.388 6.390 Bank deposits, cash and valuables on hand 214 344 Other titles - - Due to banks -3.438 -3.582 Other Financial Payables - - Net financial position (excluding liquid financial receivables) -3.224 -3.238 Equity - net financial position 8.612 9.628 SEIF S.p.A. Net Financial Indebtedness as at 31/12/2024 vs 31/12/2023 Net financial debt (Euro) 31.12.2024 31.12.2023 Current financial receivables Liquidity - cash and cash equivalent -213.958 -343.585 Current financial debts Current financial debts 2.602.962 2.508.198 Net current financial debt 2.389.004 2.164.613 Non-current financial payables Non-current financial payables 835.289 1.073.860 Net financial debt - NFI 3.224.293 3.238.473 Statement of Cash Flows SEIF S.p.A. as at 31/12/2024 vs. 31/12/2023 Financial Flows Cash flow statement, indirect method (Euro) 31.12.2024 31.12.2023 Profit (loss) for the year before income tax, interest, dividends -709.623 -974.226 Adjustments for non-monetary items 1.591.849 1.315.722 Changes in net working capital 1.208.516 -824.162 Other corrections -610.088 -355.047 Cash flow from operations (A) 1.480.654 -837.713 Cash flow from investing activities (B) -1.466.474 -1.081.260 Cash flow from financing activities (C) -143.806 1.566.991 Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents (ABC) -129.626 -351.982 Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year 343.584 695.566 Cash and cash equivalents at year-end 213.958 343.584 Change in cash and cash equivalents -129.626 -351.982 PRESS RELEASE SOCIETA EDITORIALE IL FATTO S.P.A: The Board of Directors approves the draft annual financial statements and the consolidated financial statements as at 31 December 2024 The community company's journey continues successfully: clear improvement of key economic indicators Ordinary Shareholders' Meeting convened for April 29, 2025 Key consolidated results as at 31 December 2024 Revenues from sales and services amounting Euro 30,522 thousand , up from Euro 29,273 thousand as at 31 December 2023 amounting , up from Euro 29,273 thousand as at 31 December 2023 EBITDA of Euro 3,712 thousand , up from Euro 2,261 thousand as at 31 December 2023 of , up from Euro 2,261 thousand as at 31 December 2023 EBITDA Margin of 10.33% , up from 6.55% as at 31 December 2023 of , up from 6.55% as at 31 December 2023 Net result of Euro -1,731 thousand , an improvement over the loss of Euro -2,388 thousand as at 31 December 2023 of , an improvement over the loss of Euro -2,388 thousand as at 31 December 2023 Net Financial Indebtedness of Euro 3,422 thousand compared to Euro 3,117 thousand as at 31 December 2023 Rome, 31 March 2025 - The Board of Directors of Societa Editoriale Il Fatto S.p.A. (the "Company" or "SEIF" and jointly with Loft Produzioni S.r.l, the "Group") media content provider and publisher of various editorial and multimedia products, a company whose shares are traded at Euronext Growth Milan, a multilateral system organised and managed by Borsa Italiana S.p.A. and at Euronext Growth Paris, met today and approved the draft financial statements the year ended 31 December 2024 and the consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024. Cinzia Monteverdi, President and CEO of SEIF, said: "The financial year 2024 ended for the Group with main economic indicators improving, with the media content sector representing a strategic asset. The results achieved have confirmed the effectiveness of the path that we embarked on in November 2022 with preparation of the business plan and that we will continue to pursue, also continuing with our investment plan for the innovation of the technological infrastructure, to further strengthen the Group's competitiveness." Key consolidated results as at 31 December 2024 The consolidated results as at 31 December 2024 represent the consolidated annual figures of the Group formed by SEIF and its wholly-owned subsidiary Loft Produzioni S.r.l., which is active in the production audio-video content, primarily television. A) Production value (in Euro thousands) 31.12.2024 % V.o.P. 31.12.2023 % V.o.P. 1) revenues from sales and services 30.522 84,96% 29.273 84,76% 2) Changes in inventories of work in progress, semi-finished and finished products 120 0,34% 14 0,04% 4) Increases in fixed assets for internal work 4.506 12,54% 3.990 11,55% 5) other revenues 775 2,16% 1.259 3,64% Total (A) Production value 35.923 100% 34.536 100% Production value increased by K/Euro 1,388 or 4.02% compared to 31 December 2023, of which K/Euro 1,249 was attributable to revenue from sales and services. The main items shown in the V.o.P. underwent the following percentage changes compared to the previous year: (i) revenue from sales and services amounting to K/Euros 30,522 increased by 4.27%; (ii) fixed assets for internal work amounting to K/Euros 4.506, of which K/Euros 3,502 referred to TV content and K/Euros 1,004 to investments in technological innovation and digital transition, the new website ilfattoquotidiano.it and the new format of the magazine MillenniuM and development of the related website, showed an increase of 12.94%. An analysis of Revenues from sales and services by segment shows the following: A.1) Revenues from sales and services (in Euro thousands) 31.12.2024 % of revenue 31.12.2023 % of revenue Var. Var % Publishing sector 23.791 77,95% 23.626 80,71% 165 0,70% Media content sector 3.374 11,05% 2.514 8,59% 860 34,19% Advertising sector 3.356 11,00% 3.132 10,70% 224 7,15% Total 30.522 100,00% 29.273 100,00% 1.249 4,27% Publishing sector: revenues in the publishing sector recorded an overall growth of K/Euro 165 (+0.70%) despite the difficulties in the traditional market, particularly for print products. The decline in newsstand sales was offset by growth in revenues from books and subscriptions to digital publishing products. Total revenues from products in the digital version, mainly consisting of subscriptions, increased by around 13.5%. Revenues from the publishing segment mainly consisted of revenues from (i) newsstand sales of the daily newspaper in the amount of K/euros 13,963; (ii) print sales of the magazine MillenniuM in the amount of K/Euros 316; (iii) sales of Paper First books in the newsstand and bookstore channel in the amount of K/Eurosk 2,461; (iv) sales of subscriptions to publishing products and digital content in the amount of k 7,051. Media content segment: the media content segment's revenues show a total increase of K/Euro 860 (+34.19%). Specifically, in 2024, revenues are composed of: (i) exploitation of TV content of K/Euro 2,223; (ii) sales of theatre shows and events of K/Euro 503; (iii) TVLOFT App subscriptions of K/Euro 648. Advertising segment : advertising revenue amounted to K/Euro 3,356, showing an increase of K/Euro 224 (+7.15%) compared to the year ended 31 December 2023. Revenues in 2024 essentially consist of (i) advertising sales on the daily newspaper in the amount of K/Euro 513; (ii) advertising sales on the website in the amount of K/Euros 2,828. (in Euro thousands) 31.12.2024 % V.o.P. 31.12.2023 % V.o.P. Value of Production 35.923 100,00% 34.536 100,00% EBITDA 3.712 10,33% 2.261 6,55% EBIT (1.546) -4,30% (3.054) -8,84% EBT (1.911) -5,32% (3.309) -9,58% Net result (1.731) -4,82% (2.388) -6,91% Total production costs amounted to K/Euros 37,469, down K/Euros 121 compared to the year ended 31 December 2023, resulting in a recovery of margins, which is reflected in the growth of EBITDA, which reached 10.33% of V.o.p.. Costs for services decreased by about 2.58% or K/Euro 248 as a percentage of V.o.p.. In particular, recorded a reduction in the industrial costs of printed publishing products also as a result of the streamlining and optimisation of print runs for the newspaper, magazine and books. This consequently led to a reduction in paper costs of K/Euro 246 and distribution costs of K/Euro 382. The increase in other costs for services, which partially reduce the aforementioned savings, is attributable to higher costs for the production of books and related royalties to be paid to authors as a result of the growth in volumes sold, as well as other costs for the acquisition of services relating, in particular, to the production of original television content. As a result, the higher EBITDA value of K/Euros 3,712 as at 31 December 2024 (K/Euros 2,261 in 2023) and a decrease in production costs also had a positive effect on the negative EBIT value, which decreased to K/Euros -1,546 from K/Euros -3,054 in 2023, as a result of depreciation and amortisation of K/Euros 4.780, mainly referring to the amortisation portion of the investments related to the production of the content and television programmes "Loft productions", and accruals of K/Euros 479, inherent to the prudential estimates for restoring the Legal Risks Fund and the Provision for future sales of Books distributed by 31.12.2024 The EBT (K/Euros -1,911 compared to K/Euros -3,309 in 2023) and the Net result (K/Euros -1,731 compared to K/Euros -2,388 in 2022) improved compared to the year ended 31 December 2023. As at 31 December 2024, Fixed Assets amounted to K/Euro 10,105. Gross investments amounted to K/Euros 5,134, mainly attributable to intangible fixed assets in the amount of K/Euros 5,055 and were essentially due to: (i) the production of television content; (ii) overall investments for digital and technological innovation; (iii) those dedicated to the development, realisation and innovation of new websites. The Net Working Capital shows a negative value of K/Euro -5,735, as a result of the historicised difference between average collection and payment days related to ordinary operations and is composed exclusively of assets and liabilities related to ordinary operations. In particular, the change in the amount compared to the previous year (K/Euros -4,413 in 2023) is due to the increase in Other Liabilities, the increase in deferred income for more season subscriptions sold in 2024 and for the difference on payables for taxes and employee contributions for the month of December 2024, compared to 2023, paid in full in January 2025 as required by law. All components forming this value are due within the next financial year. Equity shows a negative balance of K/Euros -3,829 (K/Euros -2,082 in 2023) and includes the loss for the period of K/Euros -1,731. The total value is affected by the elimination of intercompany items and the consequent elimination of values related to the contribution of the business unit known as Loft Produzioni. The impairment analysis carried out by Loft Produzioni S.r.l. assessed and confirmed the existence of the values of intangible fixed assets in the subsidiary and financial fixed assets in the parent company SEIF. It is specified that the value of the consolidated shareholders' equity has no relevance for the purposes of civil law regulations on share capital, for which only the values of the individual financial statements of the Group companies, which are positive, are relevant. Net Financial Indebtedness amounted to K/Euros 3,422, slightly worse than K/Euros 3,117 in 2023 due to the increase in the Unicredit loan granted to the subsidiary in 2024, the outstanding balance of which at the balance sheet date was K/Euro 247. Net Financial Indebtedness essentially consists of: (i) current liquidity of K/Euros 263 and (ii) current financial debts of K/Euros 2,700 repayable in the 12 months following year-end, net of the portion due "beyond the year" of bank loans of K/Euros 986. This amount shown under "Non-current financial payables" refers to the instalments repayable starting from January 2026 of the loans granted in 2020 and 2024 by Unicredit S.p.A. and the loans granted by Intesa San Paolo in August 2023 Main results of SEIF as at 31 December 2024 With reference to SEIF's results for the year ended 31 December 2024, the following is reported. Revenues from sales and services amounted to Euro 28,343 thousand , up from Euro 27,614 thousand in 2023. amounted to , up from Euro 27,614 thousand in 2023. Production value amounted to Euro 30,125 thousand , up from Euro 29,490 thousand in 2023. to , up from Euro 29,490 thousand in 2023. EBITDA amounted to Euro 719 thousand , up from Euro 19 thousand in 2023. amounted to , up from Euro 19 in 2023. EBIT amounted to Euro -607 thousand , an improvement from Euro -842 thousand in 2023. amounted to , an improvement from Euro -842 thousand in 2023. The Result for the Year was Euro -985 thousand compared to Euro -707 thousand in 2023 compared to Euro -707 in 2023 Net Financial Indebtedness was Euro 3,224 thousand compared to Euro 3,238 thousand as of 31 December 2023. was compared to Euro 3,238 as of 31 December 2023. Equity amounted to Euro 5,388 thousand compared to Euro 6,390 thousand as at 31 December 2023. Allocation of the result The Board of Directors resolved to propose to the Ordinary Shareholders' Meeting to carry forward the loss for the year of Euro 984 thousand by partially covering it through the utilisation of the retained earnings recorded under shareholders' equity. Significant events during the year The industrial plan that the Group is implementing, the update of which for the three-year period 2025 - 2027 was approved by the Company's Board of Directors on 4 December 2024 and whose strategic guidelines that envisage the transition from media company to community company are confirmed, has as its main objective that of overcoming the crisis of the traditional publishing market by creating value with the integration of projects that look to the future, enhancing the information offer of Fatto Quotidiano with the digital push that is being fully realised and at the same time creating alternative revenues linked to the brand. The Group's strategic plan focuses all its efforts on strengthening and expanding the Community of Il Fatto, giving more and more substance to the definition of Community Company. Analysing the trends of the financial year, it can be seen that the second half of 2024 also showed solid signs of growth in subscriptions, book sales and also in advertising sales. The theme of increasing views and thus maximising the monetisation of digital revenues, subscriptions and advertising, is at the heart of the investment objectives. Always in line with developments towards technological innovation, SEIF on 9 December 2024, signed an investment contract for the acquisition of 10% of the share capital of Kikero Inc., a US start-up company founded by neuroscientist, researcher and SEIF Director Giulio Deangeli, owner of application aimed at enhancing learning speed through use of artificial intelligence and focused on the development of an application mainly dedicated to the Education branch. The investment in Kikero Inc. also aims to stimulate additional revenues in SEIF in addition to asset enhancement, and is aimed at both a national and international market. Internationalisation and innovation are therefore the key points of the choice of the Kikero Inc. operation. The production and distribution activities of television content and theatrical performances, managed by the subsidiary Loft Produzioni S.r.l., also consolidated the growth already shown in the first half-year. Significant events occurring after the end of the After the end of the financial year, there were no significant events to report, and management and sales activities continued as normal. The sales trend continues smoothly in all areas (publishing, advertising and training). The investment plan for the innovation of the technological infrastructure is also proceeding as planned, which in this first quarter of the year was focused in particular on the new website ilfattoquotidiano.it., launched on 20 March 2025. The activities of the subsidiary Loft Produzioni S.r.l. are regular and in line with those planned. The production of television content is being expanded and subscriptions to the TVLOFT proprietary platform are being consolidated, in addition to the production and distribution activities of theatrical shows. Commercial relationships with several television stations are being solidly structured, as are co-production relationships with important national players with whom more ambitious production projects are being developed, both in terms of budget and growth in new segments being explored such as series and films. There are therefore no particular facts to report that could restrict the smooth running of production and management activities and the implementation of programmes. Foreseeable development of operations Given the performance of the first two months of operations in 2025, in line with management's expectations for the current financial year, the regularity of operating cash flows, the near completion of the investment programmes relating to the two pillars of the strategic revolution envisaged in the 2025-2027 industrial plan, and the availability of usable credit lines, it is expected that production and commercial activities will be regularly managed and therefore that business continuity will be operational. The forecasts of the results included in the Group's 2025-2027 industrial plan show an ability to increase revenues and overall margins, which will make it possible to recover the negative result of shareholders' equity, also influenced by the negative reserve for treasury shares in portfolio. Convocation of the Shareholders' Meeting On today's date, the Board of Directors resolved to call the Ordinary Shareholders' Meeting for 29 April 2025, the Board of Statutory Auditors having waived the longer term provided for by the Italian Civil Code, at the time and place that will be communicated in the relevant notice of call that will be published in accordance with the procedures and terms provided for by applicable laws and regulations, in order to (i) viewing the consolidated financial statements and approving the financial statements as of 31 December 2024; (ii) resolving on the allocation of the result for the year; (iii) appointing the independent auditors for the period 2025-2027 and determining the fee pursuant to Legislative Decree 39/2010 Filing of documentation The documents relating to the items on the agenda, including the draft financial statements and the consolidated financial statements as at 31 December 2024, the management report, the directors' explanatory report on the items on the agenda of the ordinary shareholders' meeting, the report of the Board of Statutory Auditors and the independent auditors' report, will be made available to the public at SEIF's registered office, on the website www.seif-spa.it under Investor Relations/Assemblies as well as on the website www.borsaitaliana.it, section "Shares/Documents", within the terms set forth by the regulations in force. *** For the dissemination of regulated information, SEIF uses the 1INFOSDIR dissemination system (www.1info.it), managed by Computershare S.p.A. with registered office in Milan, Via Lorenzo Mascheroni no. 19 and authorised by CONSOB. This press release is available in the Investor Relations/Press Releases section of the website www.seif-spa.it and at www.1info.it. *** SOCIETA EDITORIALE IL FATTO S.P.A. (SEIF) is an independent media company, founded in Rome in 2009 and led by Cinzia Monteverdi, President and CEO. The company is the publisher of several editorial and multimedia products, including Il Fatto Quotidiano, a newspaper founded by Antonio Padellaro and directed by Marco Travaglio, the news website ilfattoquotidiano.it and the monthly magazine MillenniuM, directed by Peter Gomez, and the publishing house Paper First, directed by Marco Travaglio. Recently SEIF undertook a diversification process to become more and more an all-round media content provider, launching a digital and data-driven product development strategy and TV production with its subsidiary Loft produzioni Srl. For more information: Press Office Community Marco Rubino +39 335 6509552 Serena Tiseo +39 346 8747834 mail: marco@community.it Euronext Growth Advisor Integrae SIM S.p.A. Piazza Castello, 24 - 20121 Milan tel. +39 02 80 50 61 60 mail: info@integraesim.it SEIF - Investor relations 06 32818514 Cinzia Monteverdi (CEO) ir@seif-spa.it Luigi Calicchia (CFO) l.calicchia@seif-spa.it Attached: -Consolidated Profit and Loss Account as at 31/12/2024 vs. 31/12/2023 -Consolidated Balance Sheet as at 31/12/2024 vs 31/12/2023 - Consolidated Net Financial Debt as at 31/12/2024 vs 31/12/2023 - Consolidated Cash Flow Statement as at 31/12/2024 vs 31/12/2023 - SEIF S.p.A. income statement as at 31/12/2024 vs 31/12/2023 - Balance Sheet SEIF S.p.A. as at 31/12/2024 vs 31/12/2023 - SEIF S.p.A. Net Financial Indebtedness as at 31/12/2024 vs 31/12/2023 - Statement of Cash Flows SEIF S.p.A. as at 31/12/2024 vs. 31/12/2023 Consolidated Income Statement as at 31/12/2024 vs 31/12/2023 Consolidated Profit and Loss Account (Euro) 31/12/2024 31/12/2023 Revenues from sales and services 30.521.795 29.272.823 Changes in inventories 120.387 14.470 Miscellaneous income 775.119 1.258.654 Total Revenues 31.417.301 30.545.947 Increases in fixed assets 4.506.175 3.989.867 Value of Production 35.923.476 34.535.814 External Operating Costs (19.206.711) (19.662.412) Added Value 16.716.765 14.873.402 Personnel Costs (12.485.489) (12.114.838) Other operating charges (518.908) (497.224) Gross Operating Margin (EBITDA) 3.712.368 2.261.340 Depreciation and Provisions (5.258.358) (5.315.578) Operating Profit (EBIT) (1.545.990) (3.054.238) Atypical charges (101.497) (128.477) Result of the financial area (263.365) (126.371) Profit before tax (1.910.852) (3.309.086) income tax 180.206 921.046 Net result (1.730.646) (2.388.040) Consolidated Balance Sheet as at 31/12/2024 vs. 31/12/2023 Consolidated Balance Sheet (Euro) 31/12/2024 31/12/2023 Intangible Fixed Assets 9.250.069 8.867.130 Tangible fixed assets 100.624 130.168 Financial Fixed Assets 753.971 747.579 Fixed Capital 10.104.664 9.744.877 Inventories 282.147 152.464 Trade receivables 2.651.775 2.663.394 Other Credits 4.083.396 4.054.633 Accrued income and prepaid expenses 363.627 212.694 Short-term operations 7.380.945 7.083.185 Trade payables (5.859.340) (5.299.407) Other debts (4.411.664) (3.864.695) Accrued expenses and deferred income (2.845.341) (2.332.192) Short-term operating liabilities (13.116.345) (11.496.294) Net working capital (5.735.400) (4.413.109) Provisions for risks (775.627) (662.143) Severance pay (4.000.863) (3.634.854) Medium- and long-term liabilities (4.776.490) (4.296.997) INVESTED CAPITAL (407.226) 1.034.771 Net assets (3.829.408) (2.082.159) Medium-/long-term financial position 985.740 1.073.859 Short-term financial position 2.436.443 2.043.071 EQUITY AND DEBT NET FINANCIAL (407.226) 1.034.771 Consolidated Net Financial Debt as at 31/12/2024 vs 31/12/2023 Consolidated Net Financial Debt (Euro) 31/12/2024 31/12/2023 A - Cash and cash equivalents (263.114) (465.127) B - Cash Equivalents C - Other current financial assets D - Liquidity (A+B+C) (263.114) (465.127) E - Current financial debt 513.959 412.566 F - Current part of non-current debt 2.185.598 2.095.632 G - current financial debt (E+F) 2.699.557 2.508.198 H - Net current financial debt (D-G) 2.436.443 2.043.071 I - Non-current financial debt 985.740 1.073.859 J - Debt instruments K- Trade and other non-current payables L - non-current financial debt (I+J+K) 985.740 1.073.859 M - Net financial debt (H-L) 3.422.183 3.116.930 Consolidated Cash Flow Statement as at 31/12/2024 vs 31/12/2023 Financial Flows Consolidated Cash Flow Statement, Indirect Method (Euro) 31.12.2024 31.12.2023 Profit (loss) for the year before income tax, interest, dividends (1.649.491) (3.186.017) Adjustments for non-monetary items 5.667.864 5.793.863 Changes in net working capital 1.502.494 218.947 Other corrections (621.175) (355.036) Cash flow from operations (A) 4.899.692 2.471.757 Cash flow from investing activities (B) (5.204.945) (4.372.396) Cash flow from financing activities (C) 103.240 1.566.991 Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents (ABC) (202.013) (333.648) Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year 465.127 798.775 Cash and cash equivalents at year-end 263.114 465.127 Change in cash and cash equivalents (202.013) (333.648) SEIF S.p.A. income statement as at 31/12/2024 vs 31/12/2023 Value of Production and Value Added Income Statement (Euro) 31.12.2024 %vdp 31.12.2023 %vdp Revenues from sales and services 28.342.737 94,08% 27.613.777 93,64% changes in stocks of finished goods and work in progress 120.387 0,40% 14.470 0,05% in-house production of fixed assets 1.004.234 3,33% 631.956 2,14% other revenues 657.602 2,18% 1.229.794 4,17% Value of production 30.124.960 100,00% 29.489.997 100,00% purchases of raw materials -1.037.034 -3,44% -1.257.427 -4,26% change in raw material stocks 9.295 0,03% -16.860 -0,06% expenses for services -15.259.351 -50,65% -15.440.680 -52,36% use of third party assets -1.316.881 -4,37% -1.257.023 -4,26% Added Value 12.520.989 41,56% 11.518.007 39,06% personnel expenses -11.349.312 -37,67% -11.026.529 -37,39% other operating charges -452.182 -1,50% -472.299 -1,60% Gross operating margin - EBITDA 719.495 2,39% 19.179 0,07% amortisation and depreciation -847.614 -2,81% -842.799 -2,86% provisions -478.541 -1,59% -18.828 -0,06% Operating income - EBIT -606.660 -2,01% -842.448 -2,86% financial income 1 0,00% 4.706 0,02% financial charges -250.274 -0,83% -127.785 -0,43% exchange rate gains - losses -1.466 0,00% -3.302 -0,01% write-downs of financial assets -101.497 -0,34% -128.477 0,00% Profit before tax - EBT -959.896 -3,19% -1.097.306 -3,72% income tax -24.817 -0,08% 390.521 1,32% Net result -984.713 -3,27% -706.785 -2,40% Balance Sheet SEIF S.p.A. as at 31/12/2024 vs 31/12/2023 (in thousands of Euros) 31.12.2024 31.12.2023 Intangible fixed assets 4.299 3.538 Tangible fixed assets 99 129 Financial fixed assets 13.491 13.569 Fixed assets 17.890 17.236 Inventories 282 152 Trade receivables 2.214 2.603 Trade payables -5.142 -4.569 Net operating working capital -2.645 -1.813 Other current assets 4.361 4.123 Other current liabilities -6.492 -5.852 Net working capital -4.777 -3.543 Provisions for risks -776 -662 Severance pay -3.726 -3.402 Net invested capital 8.612 9.628 Net assets 5.388 6.390 Bank deposits, cash and valuables on hand 214 344 Other titles - - Due to banks -3.438 -3.582 Other Financial Payables - - Net financial position (excluding liquid financial receivables) -3.224 -3.238 Equity - net financial position 8.612 9.628 SEIF S.p.A. Net Financial Indebtedness as at 31/12/2024 vs 31/12/2023 Net financial debt (Euro) 31.12.2024 31.12.2023 Current financial receivables Liquidity - cash and cash equivalent -213.958 -343.585 Current financial debts Current financial debts 2.602.962 2.508.198 Net current financial debt 2.389.004 2.164.613 Non-current financial payables Non-current financial payables 835.289 1.073.860 Net financial debt - NFI 3.224.293 3.238.473 Statement of Cash Flows SEIF S.p.A. as at 31/12/2024 vs. 31/12/2023 Financial Flows Cash flow statement, indirect method (Euro) 31.12.2024 31.12.2023 Profit (loss) for the year before income tax, interest, dividends -709.623 -974.226 Adjustments for non-monetary items 1.591.849 1.315.722 Changes in net working capital 1.208.516 -824.162 Other corrections -610.088 -355.047 Cash flow from operations (A) 1.480.654 -837.713 Cash flow from investing activities (B) -1.466.474 -1.081.260 Cash flow from financing activities (C) -143.806 1.566.991 Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents (ABC) -129.626 -351.982 Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year 343.584 695.566 Cash and cash equivalents at year-end 213.958 343.584 Change in cash and cash equivalents -129.626 -351.982 ------------------------ This publication embed "Actusnews SECURITY MASTER ". - SECURITY MASTER Key: yGydlptmlZmUyZtpksmaZpVoa5dix2KdmGPIyGSdY8eVnWthlpmUZ5ydZnJhnGpt - Check this key: https://www.security-master-key.com. ------------------------ Copyright Actusnews Wire Receive by email the next press releases of the company by registering on www.actusnews.com, it's free Full and original release in PDF format:https://www.actusnews.com/documents_communiques/ACTUS-0-90757-cos_seif-31032025_def.-en-gb.pdf L3Harris Technologies (NYSE: LHX) has signed a long-term agreement with the Dutch Ministry of Defence for delivery of advanced Falcon IV radios for the FOXTROT program. The agreement is valued up to 1 billion euros. "Our battle-proven communication systems will improve secure military communications by facilitating interoperability with other European and NATO forces to address current and future threats," said Sam Mehta, President, Communication Systems, L3Harris. "These resilient devices will enable enhanced capability to strengthen homeland defenses, deter regional conflicts and provide direct support to coalition and security cooperation efforts." The Falcon IV radios will allow immediate interoperability with more than 1 million tactical devices already fielded globally. L3Harris Technologies' in-country leadership known as L3Harris Technologies' Netherlands B.V. has made a commitment to the long-term growth of the Dutch defense industry. It is investing in European technology partnerships; developing in-country technical maintenance and support facilities; and recruiting and training Dutch talent. About L3Harris Technologies L3Harris Technologies is the Trusted Disruptor in the defense industry. With customers' mission-critical needs always in mind, our employees deliver end-to-end technology solutions connecting the space, air, land, sea and cyber domains in the interest of national security. Visit L3Harris.com for more information. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements that reflect management's current expectations, assumptions and estimates of future performance and economic conditions. Such statements are made in reliance upon the safe harbor provisions of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The company cautions investors that any forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results and future trends to differ materially from those matters expressed in or implied by such forward-looking statements. Statements about agreement values are forward-looking and involve risks and uncertainties. L3Harris disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250331904252/en/ Contacts: Media Contacts Jason Simpson Communication Systems Jason.Simpson01@L3Harris.com 603-400-9285 Sara Banda Corporate Media@L3Harris.com 321-306-8927 Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 31, 2025) - AJN Resources Inc. (CSE: AJN) (FSE: 5AT) (AJN or the Company) is pleased to announce that further to the Company's March 21, 2025 news release, the Company has closed the final tranche of a non-brokered private placement of units (each, a Unit) in the capital of the Company at a price of $0.12 per Unit to raise additional gross proceeds of $124,000 via the issuance of a total of 1,033,333 Units. Each Unit is comprised of one common share and one share purchase warrant (Warrant), where each Warrant entitles the holder to purchase one additional common share (Warrant Share) at an exercise price of $0.15 per Warrant Share for a four year period. The securities issued pursuant to this tranche of the private placement, and any Warrant Shares to be issued on the exercise of Warrants are restricted from trading until July 29, 2025. The net proceeds of the private placement will be used for due diligence in connection with possible property acquisitions, property acquisitions, exploration on the Company's properties and for working capital purposes. The issuance of the Units did not result in a change of control or materially affect control of the Company. AJN also announces that with respect to the Dabel Gold Project, it is still in the due diligence phase and that upon completion of satisfactory due diligence and, if applicable, the incorporation of a new Kenyan subsidiary to hold the Dabel Gold Project, AJN intends to make the next property payment. About AJN Resources Inc. AJN is a junior exploration company. AJN's management and directors possess over 75 years of collective industry experience and have been very successful in the areas of exploration, financing and developing major mines throughout the world, with a focus on Africa, especially the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements The information in this news release may include certain information and statements about management's view of future events, expectations, plans and prospects that may constitute forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based upon assumptions that are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Because of these risks and uncertainties and as a result of a variety of factors, the actual results, expectations, achievements or performance may differ materially from those anticipated and indicated by these forward-looking statements. Although AJN Resources Inc. believes that the expectations reflected in forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurances that the expectations of any forward-looking statements will prove to be correct. Except as required by law, AJN Resources Inc. disclaims any intention and assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, whether as a result of new information, future events, changes in assumptions, changes in factors affecting such forward-looking statements or otherwise. Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Not for distribution to United States newswire services or for dissemination in the United States. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/246788 SOURCE: AJN Resources Inc. PUNE, India, March 31, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Point of Purchase (POP) Display Market is witnessing substantial growth, driven by evolving retail strategies and increasing brand competition. As companies seek innovative ways to capture consumer attention, POP displays have become a vital component of in-store marketing, enhancing product visibility and influencing purchasing decisions. The rise of organized retail, particularly in emerging markets, is further propelling demand for these displays. Technological advancements such as digital and interactive POP displays are also transforming the industry, providing brands with new opportunities to engage customers effectively. Additionally, the growing preference for eco-friendly and sustainable display materials is shaping market trends, as retailers and manufacturers align with global sustainability goals. The Point Of Purchase (POP) Display Market is projected to expand significantly, from USD 14,630 million in 2024 to USD 30,482.16 million by 2032, reflecting a CAGR of 9.61% over the forecast period. This growth is fueled by the increasing adoption of POP displays across various sectors, including food & beverage, cosmetics, electronics, and pharmaceuticals. The shift toward experiential retail and omnichannel marketing strategies is further reinforcing the demand for dynamic and customizable display solutions. North America and Europe remain key markets, supported by high retail penetration and a strong focus on brand differentiation, while Asia-Pacific is emerging as a lucrative region due to expanding retail infrastructure and rising consumer spending. Browse the report and understand how it can benefit your business strategy - https://www.credenceresearch.com/report/point-of-purchase-pop-display-market Key Growth Determinants Rising Demand for Retail Merchandising and Brand Differentiation The increasing need for effective in-store marketing strategies is a primary driver of the Point of Purchase (POP) Display Market. As brands compete for consumer attention, retailers are leveraging visually appealing and strategically placed POP displays to enhance product visibility and drive impulse purchases. The rapid expansion of organized retail, particularly in emerging markets, is further fueling demand. Additionally, the adoption of digital and interactive displays is transforming traditional merchandising, offering brands innovative ways to engage shoppers and influence purchasing behavior. Technological Advancements and Customization Trends The integration of advanced display technologies, such as digital screens, augmented reality, and motion-sensor displays, is significantly boosting market growth. Brands are increasingly investing in customized and interactive POP displays that enhance customer engagement and improve sales conversion rates. The demand for modular and reusable displays is also rising, allowing retailers to adapt marketing campaigns dynamically. These innovations are not only improving consumer experience but also driving higher returns on marketing investments. Growing Preference for Sustainable and Eco-Friendly Displays The shift toward environmentally sustainable retail solutions is shaping the POP display market, with brands and retailers prioritizing eco-friendly materials like recycled paper, biodegradable plastics, and sustainable wood. Stricter environmental regulations and increasing consumer awareness of sustainability issues are encouraging manufacturers to develop greener display solutions. This trend is expected to accelerate as companies align their retail strategies with global sustainability goals and corporate social responsibility initiatives. Expansion of E-commerce and Omnichannel Retailing While traditional brick-and-mortar stores remain the primary users of POP displays, the integration of omnichannel strategies is creating new opportunities for market expansion. Retailers are leveraging in-store displays to complement digital marketing efforts, offering seamless shopping experiences that connect physical and online channels. The rise of direct-to-consumer (DTC) brands and e-commerce-driven experiential retail is further driving demand for innovative and immersive in-store displays, ensuring continued market growth. Key Growth Barriers High Initial Investment and Maintenance Costs One of the primary challenges in the Point of Purchase (POP) Display Market is the significant initial investment required for customized, digital, and interactive displays. While traditional cardboard and plastic displays remain cost-effective, advanced solutions incorporating LED screens, augmented reality, and motion sensors come with high production, installation, and maintenance expenses. Small and medium-sized retailers often struggle to allocate budgets for such high-end display solutions, limiting widespread adoption. Additionally, frequent updates and the need for technological integration add to operational costs, impacting market penetration. Limited Shelf Space and Retail Constraints Retailers, particularly in highly competitive markets, face space limitations that restrict the placement of large or elaborate POP displays. Supermarkets, hypermarkets, and convenience stores prioritize maximizing product assortment and stock availability, making it difficult for brands to secure prime display locations. Moreover, retailers often have strict guidelines on display placement and duration, which can hinder flexibility for brands looking to execute long-term promotional strategies. These constraints pose a challenge for manufacturers aiming to expand their footprint in high-traffic retail environments. Environmental Concerns and Regulatory Compliance The growing emphasis on sustainability and waste reduction is creating hurdles for the POP display market, particularly for single-use and non-recyclable materials. Governments worldwide are enforcing stricter regulations on plastic waste, carbon emissions, and sustainable sourcing, prompting brands to invest in eco-friendly alternatives. However, sustainable materials such as biodegradable plastics, FSC-certified wood, and recycled paper often come with higher production costs, which can limit affordability for mass adoption. Additionally, the transition to green solutions requires supply chain adjustments and compliance with evolving regulations, creating challenges for manufacturers. Rising Shift Toward Digital Retail and E-commerce The accelerated growth of e-commerce and direct-to-consumer (DTC) models is reducing foot traffic in physical retail stores, impacting the demand for in-store POP displays. Consumers increasingly prefer online shopping for its convenience, discounts, and personalized recommendations, leading retailers to shift their marketing investments toward digital advertising, influencer marketing, and AI-driven promotions. As omnichannel retailing evolves, brands are required to balance physical and digital marketing strategies, making traditional in-store displays less central to consumer engagement. This shift may slow the market's expansion, particularly in regions with strong e-commerce penetration. Segmentation By Product Type Counter Display Floor Display Gravity Feed Display Pallet Display Full Pallet Display Half Pallet Display Quarter Pallet Display Side Kick Display Dump Bin Display Clip Strip Others By Material Type Corrugated Board Foam Board Plastic Sheet Expanded PVC Acrylic Polycarbonate Others Glass Metal By Sales Channel Hypermarket & Supermarket Departmental Store Specialty Store Convenience Store Others By Application Food & Beverages Cosmetics & Personal Care Pharmaceuticals Printing & Stationary Electronics Automotive Others Based on region North America The U.S. Canada Mexico Europe Germany France UK. Italy Spain Rest of Europe Asia Pacific China Japan India South Korea South-east Asia Rest of Asia Pacific Latin America Brazil Argentina Rest of Latin America Middle East & Africa GCC Countries South Africa The Rest of the Middle East and Africa Preview the report with a detailed sample and understand how it can benefit your business strategy. Request a free sample today -https://www.credenceresearch.com/report/point-of-purchase-pop-display-market Regional Analysis North America: Established Market with High Brand Investments North America remains a dominant player in the Point of Purchase (POP) Display Market, driven by the region's well-established retail sector and high consumer spending. The presence of leading brands, coupled with the growing focus on experiential retail and in-store marketing, is boosting demand for innovative display solutions. The United States and Canada have a strong presence of supermarkets, hypermarkets, and specialty stores, where retailers invest heavily in customized and digital POP displays to enhance brand visibility. Additionally, sustainability regulations in the region are pushing companies to adopt eco-friendly materials for display production. The rising shift toward omnichannel strategies and interactive shopping experiences is further fueling market growth. Europe: Strong Sustainability Focus and Retail Modernization Europe's POP display market is experiencing steady growth, supported by strict environmental regulations and the region's commitment to sustainable retailing. Countries like Germany, France, and the United Kingdom are seeing increased demand for biodegradable and reusable POP displays, as retailers align their strategies with green marketing initiatives. The expansion of organized retail, particularly in Central and Eastern Europe, is also contributing to market expansion. Additionally, the integration of digital screens, AR-based displays, and AI-powered solutions in department stores and malls is enhancing customer engagement. However, high compliance costs for sustainability measures could pose a challenge to small retailers. Asia-Pacific: Rapid Retail Expansion and Growing Consumer Base Asia-Pacific is emerging as the fastest-growing region in the POP Display Market, fueled by rising urbanization, increasing disposable incomes, and the expansion of modern retail formats. Countries like China, India, and Japan are witnessing a surge in demand for cost-effective and visually appealing display solutions, particularly in the food & beverage, cosmetics, and consumer electronics sectors. The region's rapidly growing e-commerce industry is also influencing the adoption of phygital (physical + digital) strategies, where brands use POP displays to bridge the gap between offline and online shopping experiences. However, price sensitivity and logistical challenges in developing economies may impact the adoption of premium POP display solutions. Latin America: Emerging Market with Growth Potential Latin America's POP display market is gradually expanding due to increasing investments in the retail sector and the rise of modern shopping malls and supermarkets. Countries like Brazil, Mexico, and Argentina are witnessing growing demand for low-cost, reusable, and eco-friendly display solutions. The region's retail sector is evolving, with international brands entering the market and local retailers embracing in-store promotions to drive sales. However, economic fluctuations, high import tariffs, and currency volatility may pose challenges for the market's growth, particularly for advanced and tech-driven POP displays. Middle East & Africa: Expanding Retail Infrastructure and Luxury Branding The Middle East & Africa (MEA) region is witnessing an increase in demand for luxury retail displays and high-end brand promotions, particularly in countries like the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Saudi Arabia, and South Africa. The expansion of shopping malls, hypermarkets, and specialty stores is driving investments in customized POP displays to enhance customer engagement. Additionally, the region's growing tourism industry and rising disposable income levels are boosting demand for premium retail marketing solutions. However, challenges such as limited retail penetration in rural areas and high dependence on imports for display materials could impact market growth in certain regions. Credence Research's Competitive Landscape Analysis Credence Research's competitive landscape analysis of the Point of Purchase (POP) Display Market highlights the presence of key global and regional players focusing on innovation, sustainability, and digital transformation to gain a competitive edge. Leading companies such as Menasha Packaging, Sonoco Products, Smurfit Kappa, WestRock, Georgia-Pacific, Pratt Industries, and FFR Merchandising dominate the market by offering customized, high-impact, and eco-friendly display solutions. The industry is witnessing a strong shift toward sustainability, with companies investing in biodegradable and reusable materials to comply with environmental regulations. Additionally, technological advancements, including digital signage, AR-based displays, and motion-sensing technologies, are reshaping in-store marketing strategies. Players are expanding into emerging markets like Asia-Pacific and Latin America, where retail infrastructure is growing rapidly. Mergers, acquisitions, and strategic partnerships are common as companies seek to strengthen their market positioning. However, high production costs, limited retail space, and increasing e-commerce penetration pose challenges, requiring businesses to balance physical and digital marketing investments. The market's future growth will be driven by innovation, sustainability efforts, and omnichannel retail strategies. Tailor the report to align with your specific business needs and gain targeted insights. Requesthttps://www.credenceresearch.com/report/point-of-purchase-pop-display-market Key Player Analysis DS Smith Plc Smurfit Kappa Group International Paper Company WestRock Company Sonoco Products Company Menasha Packaging Company, LLC Pratt Industries, Inc. Georgia-Pacific LLC Mondi Group Fujifilm Holdings Corporation Recent Industry Developments October 2023: Ricola and Tetley, two leading Canada-based brands, announced a marketing collaboration to introduce innovative point-of-purchase (POP) displays featuring products from both companies. These pop-ups include Tetley's 'Super Teas' canisters alongside Ricola's fast-acting cough drops. November 2024: Royal Containers Ltd., a provider of premium corrugated packaging and retail display solutions, established a strategic partnership with Proprint Services, a marketing print, merchandising, and packaging solutions provider. This collaboration aims to enhance both companies' capabilities in corrugated packaging, POP displays, retail displays, and folding carton manufacturing, delivering greater value to clients. September 2024: L'Occitane Travel Retail launched a Sol de Janeiro pop-up at London Heathrow Airport as part of its summer campaign in global travel retail. The immersive 360-degree activation transformed the space into a tropical-themed experience celebrating summer and inclusivity. June 2024: SPAR China opened a new supermarket at Zhanjiang World Trade Center, covering a 4,000m area. The store offers competitive pricing across various product categories. Additionally, the Asia-Pacific region is witnessing an increasing influx of international brands entering the market. Reasons to Purchase this Report: Gain a comprehensive understanding of the market through qualitative and quantitative analyses, considering both economic and non-economic factors, with segmentation and sub-segmentation details provided in terms of market value (USD Billion). Identify regions and segments expected to experience the fastest growth or dominate the market, with a detailed analysis of geographic consumption patterns and the factors driving or hindering market performance in each region. Stay informed about the competitive environment, with rankings of major players, recent product and service launches, partnerships, business expansions, and acquisitions from the past five years. Access detailed profiles of major market players, including company overviews, insights, product benchmarking, and SWOT analysis, to understand competitive advantages and market positioning. Explore the present and forecasted market landscape, with insights into growth opportunities, market drivers, challenges, and constraints for both developed and emerging regions. Benefit from Porter's Five Forces analysis and Value Chain insights to evaluate various market perspectives and competitive dynamics. Understand the evolving market scenario, including potential growth opportunities and trends expected in the coming years. Browse the report and understand how it can benefit your business strategy - https://www.credenceresearch.com/report/point-of-purchase-pop-display-market Discover additional reports tailored to your industry needs Point of Sale (POS) Printers Market - https://www.credenceresearch.com/report/point-of-sale-pos-printers-market Convertible Shipper Display Market - https://www.credenceresearch.com/report/convertible-shipper-display-market Light Emitting Diode (LED) Backlight Display Market - https://www.credenceresearch.com/report/light-emitting-diode-led-backlight-display-market AMOLED Display Market - https://www.credenceresearch.com/report/amoled-display-market Interactive Display Market - https://www.credenceresearch.com/report/interactive-display-market Glasses Free 3D Display Market - https://www.credenceresearch.com/report/glasses-free-3d-display-market Industrial Display Market - https://www.credenceresearch.com/report/industrial-display-market Commercial Display Market - https://www.credenceresearch.com/report/commercial-display-market Outdoor LED Display Market - https://www.credenceresearch.com/report/outdoor-led-display-market Follow Us: https://www.linkedin.com/company/credenceresearch/ https://x.com/CredenceResearc https://www.facebook.com/CredenceResearch MRAAS Consulting - https://www.mraasconsulting.com/industry-updates/green-hydrogen-unlocking-a-sustainable-future-market/ Credence Turbine - https://credenceturbine.com/ About Us: Credence Research is a viable intelligence and market research platform that provides quantitative B2B research to more than 2000 clients worldwide and is built on the Give principle. The company is a market research and consulting firm serving governments, non-legislative associations, non-profit organizations, and various organizations worldwide. We help our clients improve their execution in a lasting way and understand their most imperative objectives. Contact Us Mitul Dean Tower C-1105 , S 25, Akash Tower, Vishal Nahar, Pimple Nilakh, Haveli, Pune - 411027, India sales@credenceresearch.com www.credenceresearch.com Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2562161/Credence_Research_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/point-of-purchase-pop-display-market-to-reach-usd-30-482-16-million-by-2032--growing-at-a-9-61-cagr--credence-research-302416019.html Salt Lake City, Utah--(Newsfile Corp. - March 31, 2025) - ReadyWise, a leader in high-quality emergency food solutions, is excited to announce that its 120 Serving Emergency Food Supply has been recognized as the Best Overall Emergency Food Supply by Forbes. Additionally, their 3-Day Dry Bag was highlighted as the Best Emergency Food Supply for the Car, reinforcing the brand's reputation as a go-to solution for preparedness. Forbes praised the ReadyWise 120 Serving Emergency Food Supply for its large serving sizes, up to 25-year shelf life, and variety of meals. This bucket provides 120 servings, sufficient to sustain one person for 13 days. With meals like stroganoff, tomato basil soup, and teriyaki rice, these convenient and nutritious options are ideal for long-term emergency storage. Each meal is packaged in pouches sealed to protect against moisture and stored in stackable, grab-and-go buckets for ultimate convenience. "We're honored to be recognized by Forbes and understand the importance of being prepared," said Norm Ramos, Marketing Director at ReadyWise. "Our products are designed to provide peace of mind for families and individuals, whether for long-term storage or on-the-go preparedness." This recognition comes at a pivotal time for global preparedness. Last week, the European Union advised citizens to stock up on emergency supplies for at least three days. This call for preparedness is echoed worldwide, highlighting the growing need for self-sufficiency in the face of increasing natural disasters and other global challenges. Americans should take proactive steps to ensure they are ready, as help during emergencies can often be delayed. Prepare now with 120 servings of emergency food at a limited-time special price. As the world continues to face unpredictable challenges, having the right emergency supplies is more important than ever. Whether looking to build a long-term food supply or need quick and portable options for emergencies, ReadyWise has this covered. For more information, visit https://readywise.com/. **About ReadyWise** Based in Salt Lake City, Utah, ReadyWise is a global leader in food manufacturing, specializing in high-quality, shelf-stable food solutions. They offer a range of branded products including ReadyWise Emergency Food Kits, trusted for long-term food storage, ReadyWise Outdoor, featuring convenient meals for camping and adventure, and Simple Kitchen, their line of ready-to-eat meals and snacks. Beyond their own brands, they provide private label and co-manufacturing services in their USDA- and SQF-certified facility in Utah, ensuring top-tier quality and safety for partners. At ReadyWise, they are committed to innovation, reliability, and making food security accessible for all. ReadyWise Emergency Food To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/9483/246777_cba4c2d014326933_001full.jpg To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/246777 SOURCE: ReadyWise, Inc. Market Expansion Driven by Aging Population, Rising Chronic Diseases, and Technological Advancements REDDING, Calif., March 31, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- According to a new market research report titled Hospital Beds Market Size, Share, Forecast, & Trends Analysis by Product (Bed {Manual, Powered, Smart}, Accessories), Type of Care (Curative, Long Term, Med-Surg), Healthcare Facility (Critical, Homecare), Application, Sector - Global Forecast to 2031, the global hospital/medical beds market is expected to grow from $4.58 billion in 2024 to $7.09 billion by 2031, at a CAGR of 6.4% during the forecast period from 2024 to 2031. Key Market Growth Drivers and Trends: The global hospital beds market is witnessing steady growth due to the increasing geriatric population, rising prevalence of chronic diseases, and growing demand for technologically advanced medical facilities. The expanding healthcare infrastructure, particularly in emerging economies, is also fueling market growth. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the global population aged 60 years and older is expected to reach 2.1 billion by 2050, significantly driving demand for hospital beds in acute care and long-term care settings. Additionally, advancements in smart hospital beds with integrated patient monitoring systems are transforming patient care and hospital efficiency. Governments across various regions are investing in hospital infrastructure and expanding intensive care unit (ICU) capacities, particularly in response to the COVID-19 pandemic's lasting impact on healthcare preparedness. The increasing adoption of home healthcare services is also propelling demand for specialized beds suitable for home settings. For more comprehensive insights, download the FREE report sample of the Hospital Beds Market: https://www.meticulousresearch.com/download-sample-report/cp_id=5091 Rising Elderly Population : By 2030, one in six people globally will be over 60 years old, according to the World Health Organization. By 2050, this population is expected to reach nearly 2.1 billion. : By 2030, one in six people globally will be over 60 years old, according to the World Health Organization. By 2050, this population is expected to reach nearly 2.1 billion. Increasing Chronic Disease Prevalence : Nearly 10 million cancer deaths occurred in 2020, and an estimated 244.1 million people worldwide were living with ischemic heart disease. : Nearly 10 million cancer deaths occurred in 2020, and an estimated 244.1 million people worldwide were living with ischemic heart disease. Technological Advancements : Innovations such as Turtle Shell Technologies' AI-integrated smart beds and Stryker Corporation's wireless ProCuity hospital beds are transforming patient care. : Innovations such as Turtle Shell Technologies' AI-integrated smart beds and Stryker Corporation's wireless ProCuity hospital beds are transforming patient care. Growing Surgical Procedures : The Lancet projects cancer cases requiring surgery will increase by 52% from 9.1 million in 2018 to 13.8 million by 2040. : The Lancet projects cancer cases requiring surgery will increase by 52% from 9.1 million in 2018 to 13.8 million by 2040. Medical Tourism Expansion: The medical tourism market is projected to reach $273 billion by 2027, up from $104.68 billion in 2019. The medical tourism market is projected to reach $273 billion by 2027, up from $104.68 billion in 2019. Smart and Robotic Beds: Advanced beds with remote monitoring systems tracking patient vitals are gaining popularity in developed countries and becoming more affordable in developing regions. Advanced beds with remote monitoring systems tracking patient vitals are gaining popularity in developed countries and becoming more affordable in developing regions. Home Healthcare Growth: Increased demand for home care services is creating new market opportunities. Hospital Beds Market Growth Opportunities and Challenges: The rise in demand for electric and semi-electric beds, coupled with the increasing penetration of smart hospital beds integrated with IoT and AI capabilities, presents significant growth opportunities for market players. Additionally, a surge in healthcare infrastructure investments in Asia-Pacific and Latin America is expected to create lucrative opportunities for manufacturers. Despite strong growth potential, the market faces challenges such as high costs associated with technologically advanced hospital beds, stringent regulatory compliance for medical devices, and supply chain disruptions impacting raw material availability. Moreover, the shortage of hospital beds in developing nations continues to pose a challenge to market expansion. Get Insightful Data on Regions, Market Segments, Customer Landscape, and Top Companies (Charts, Tables, Figures and More) - https://www.meticulousresearch.com/product/hospital-beds-market-5091 Segment Insights: By Type: The electric hospital beds segment is expected to hold the largest market share in 2024, driven by their ease of use, enhanced patient comfort, and growing adoption in critical care settings. By Usage: Acute care beds dominate the market, accounting for a significant share due to their widespread use in hospitals and emergency care facilities. By End User: Hospitals remain the largest end users, benefiting from government funding, healthcare infrastructure expansion, and rising patient admissions globally. Request a customized research analysis tailored to your specific requirements: https://www.meticulousresearch.com/request-customization/cp_id=5091 Regional/Geographic Analysis North America: The region holds a significant share of the global hospital/medical beds market, driven by advanced healthcare infrastructure, strong government support for hospital bed procurement, and high healthcare spending. The presence of leading market players and continuous investments in smart hospital beds further contribute to growth. Europe:Europe is witnessing steady demand for hospital beds due to its aging population and increasing incidence of chronic diseases. Countries such as Germany, France, and the U.K. are at the forefront, investing heavily in hospital modernization and digital healthcare solutions. Asia-Pacific: The fastest-growing region, Asia-Pacific is experiencing high demand for hospital beds due to rapid urbanization, rising healthcare expenditures, and government-led initiatives to expand hospital facilities. Countries like China, India, and Japan are key markets, benefiting from a growing elderly population and increased investment in healthcare infrastructure. Latin America: The Latin American market is growing due to improvements in healthcare access, rising investments in hospital infrastructure, and government efforts to enhance public healthcare facilities. Brazil and Mexico are the major contributors to market expansion in this region. Middle East & Africa: This region is witnessing increasing demand for hospital beds due to rising healthcare investments, expansion of private hospitals, and government programs aimed at improving hospital capacities. The UAE and Saudi Arabia are leading the market with significant investments in advanced medical facilities. Competitive Insights The global hospital beds market is highly competitive, with key players focusing on technological advancements, product launches, and strategic partnerships. Leading companies such as Stryker Corporation, Hill-Rom Holdings Inc., Invacare Corporation, Paramount Bed Holdings Co., Ltd., Medline Industries, Getinge AB, LINET Group SE, and Stiegelmeyer GmbH & Co. KG are at the forefront of market innovation. Recent Developments in the Industry December 2024: Stryker Corporation launched a new AI-powered smart hospital bed designed to improve patient monitoring and reduce fall risks. Stryker Corporation launched a new AI-powered smart hospital bed designed to improve patient monitoring and reduce fall risks. July 2024: Hill-Rom Holdings Inc. introduced an advanced ICU hospital bed with integrated wireless monitoring capabilities. Hill-Rom Holdings Inc. introduced an advanced ICU hospital bed with integrated wireless monitoring capabilities. March 2024: LINET Group SE expanded its manufacturing facility in Europe to meet the growing demand for high-tech hospital beds. Immediate Delivery Available | Buy this Research Report (Insights, Charts, Tables, Figures and More)- https://www.meticulousresearch.com/view-pricing/393 Scope of the Report: Market, by Product Beds Powered Beds Electric Beds Semi-electric Beds Manual Beds Smart Beds Accessories Market, by Type of Care Curative Care Long-term Care Rehabilitative Care Market, by Healthcare Facility Critical Care Units Bariatric Care Units Long-term Care Units Home Care Settings Med-surg Care Units Pediatric Care Units Maternal Care Units Market, by Application Intensive Care Non-intensive Care Market, by Sector Private Public Market, by Geography North America (U.S., Canada), Europe (Germany, France, U.K., Italy, Spain, Bulgaria, Romania, Belgium, Austria, Slovakia, Rest of Europe), Asia-Pacific (China, India, Japan, Australia, South Korea, Singapore, Rest of Asia-Pacific), Latin America (Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Rest of Latin America), and the Middle East & Africa About Meticulous Research We are a trusted research partner for leading businesses worldwide, empowering Fortune 500 organizations and emerging enterprises with market intelligence designed to drive revenue transformation and strategic growth. Our insights reveal future growth opportunities, equipping clients with a competitive edge through a versatile suite of research solutions-including syndicated reports, custom research, and direct analyst engagement. Each year, we conduct over 300 syndicated studies and manage 60+ consulting engagements across eight major sectors and 20+ geographic markets, all to deliver targeted business insights that help our clients lead in a rapidly evolving global market. With a strong focus on problem-solving for complex business challenges, our research enables organizations to navigate change with assertion, aligning it with strategic pathways for sustainable growth. By identifying innovative and effective solutions, we empower leaders to make impactful decisions that drive operational excellence and fuel innovation. We are committed to crafting insights that enhance business performance and help our clients unlock new revenue opportunities, positioning them for long-term success in the competitive global marketplace. Contact: Meticulous Market Research Pvt. Ltd. 1267 Willis St, Ste 200 Redding, California, 96001, U.S. USA: +1-646-781-8004 Europe: +44-203-868-8738 APAC: +91 744-7780008 Email- sales@meticulousresearch.com Visit Our Website: https://www.meticulousresearch.com/ Connect with us on LinkedIn- https://www.linkedin.com/company/meticulous-research Top Market Research Reports Blog - https://meticulousblog.org/ Content Source: https://www.meticulousresearch.com/product/hospital-beds-market-5091 Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1757980/Meticulous_Research_Logo_1.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/hospital-beds-market-to-reach-7-09-billion-by-2031--growing-at-a-cagr-of-6-4--exclusive-report-by-meticulous-research-302416049.html Dubai , United Arab Emirates--(Newsfile Corp. - March 31, 2025) - LF Holding, owner of London Foods that is known for its partnerships with top brands, has secured a substantial investment in 7 figure USD from a strategic Saudi investor to accelerate its global growth. The company's flagship brand, "It's a Boom," is redefining how consumers experience their favorite products by offering top-tier brands in a fresh and affordable way. In less than three years, LF Holding has expanded its operations to over 20 markets worldwide, including the USA, Europe, and the Middle East, revolutionizing the way products are delivered to consumers. It's a Boom To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/9578/246705_122b85f464494924_001full.jpg "It's a Boom" partners with some of the world's most renowned brands to create high-quality, innovative products. By combining these iconic ingredients through its unique business model, LF Holding delivers extraordinary taste experiences at competitive prices, making premium products accessible to all. Founder and CEO Ahmed Albakary is excited about the disruptive potential of "It's a Boom." He believes the brand perfectly aligns with the tastes and preferences of younger generations, offering a combination of exceptional experiences and top-notch quality. "We're not just offering products; we're providing a new way for younger consumers to experience the brands they love in an exciting, unique format," Albakary explains. At the core of "It's a Boom" is a commitment to business innovation and strong partnerships. Through collaborations with established global brands, LF Holding blends trusted ingredients into innovative products that surprise and delight consumers. "Seeing well-known names on our packaging not only assures consumers of quality but also demonstrates our dedication to delivering new and exciting trends that younger generations crave," Albakary adds. Ash Kora, Chief Growth Officer of LF Holding, emphasizes the company's mission to push the FMCG industry into new dimensions. "By leveraging the expertise of industry giants and blending it with our own creative vision, we've created a product line that delivers unmatched experiences and exceptional value," Kora says. Mohamed Fahim, LF Holding Board Member, also highlights the importance of affordability, credibility, and quality in today's consumer market. "Consumers want products that are tasty, reliable, and affordable, and LF Holding's model delivers on all fronts. By partnering with well-known international brands and using an efficient manufacturing process, we're able to provide exceptional taste and value," Fahim explains. As "It's a Boom" continues to expand, the team remains committed to pushing the boundaries of innovation. Albakary envisions a future where the brand becomes synonymous with unforgettable taste and extraordinary experiences. "This is just the beginning," he says. "With the support of our talented board and advisors, we're poised to introduce even more groundbreaking concepts in collaboration with top industry players to delight our customers." By combining premium ingredients with accessible price points and a focus on innovation, "It's a Boom" is not just a brand-it's a movement. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/246705 SOURCE: Elite Discoveries Digital Inc. Regulatory News: The Document d'enregistrement universel of TotalEnergies SE (Paris:TTE) (LSE:TTE) (NYSE:TTE) for the year 2024 was filed with the French Financial Markets Authority (Autorite des marches financiers) on March 31, 2025. It can be consulted and downloaded from the Company's website (totalenergies.com/investors/publications-and-regulated-information/regulated-information/annual-financial-reports). The English translation of the Document d'enregistrement universel (Universal Registration Document) is also available on the Company's website under the same heading. The following documents are included in the Document d'enregistrement universel the 2024 annual financial report, - the Board of Directors' report on corporate governance required under Article L. 225-37 of the French Commercial Code, - the description of the share buy-back program, - the report on the payments made to governments required under Article L. 22-10-37 of the French Commercial Code, - the sustainability reporting under the CSRD and the report on the certification of this information - the reports from the statutory auditors. TotalEnergies SE's Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2024 was filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on March 31, 2025. It can be consulted and downloaded from the Company's website (totalenergies.com/investors/publications-and-regulated-information/regulated-information/annual-financial-reports) or from the SEC's website (sec.gov). Printed copies of the Document d'enregistrement universel, Universal Registration Document and Form 20-F are available free of charge and on demand at the Company's registered office at 2, place Jean Millier, La Defense 6, 92400 Courbevoie, France. In addition, in preparation for the Combined Shareholders' Meeting to be held on May 23, 2025, the proposed resolutions are available on the Company's website (totalenergies.com, under the heading investors/shareholders-meetings). About TotalEnergies TotalEnergies is a global integrated energy company that produces and markets energies: oil and biofuels, biogas and low-carbon hydrogen, renewables and electricity. Our more than 100,000 employees are committed to provide as many people as possible with energy that is more reliable, more affordable and more sustainable. Active in about 120 countries, TotalEnergies places sustainability at the heart of its strategy, its projects and its operations. X @TotalEnergies LinkedIn TotalEnergies Facebook TotalEnergies Instagram TotalEnergies Cautionary Note The terms "TotalEnergies", "TotalEnergies company" or "Company" in this document are used to designate TotalEnergies SE and the consolidated entities that are directly or indirectly controlled by TotalEnergies SE. Likewise, the words "we", "us" and "our" may also be used to refer to these entities or to their employees. The entities in which TotalEnergies SE directly or indirectly owns a shareholding are separate legal entities. TotalEnergies SE has no liability for the acts or omissions of these entities. This document may contain forward-looking information and statements that are based on a number of economic data and assumptions made in a given economic, competitive and regulatory environment. They may prove to be inaccurate in the future and are subject to a number of risk factors. Neither TotalEnergies SE nor any of its subsidiaries assumes any obligation to update publicly any forward-looking information or statement, objectives or trends contained in this document whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Information concerning risk factors, that may affect TotalEnergies' financial results or activities is provided in the most recent Registration Document, the French-language version of which is filed by TotalEnergies SE with the French securities regulator Autorite des Marches Financiers (AMF), and in the Form 20-F filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250331774082/en/ Contacts: TotalEnergies Media Relations: +33 (0)1 47 44 46 99 l presse@totalenergies.com l @TotalEnergiesPR Investor Relations: +33 (0)1 47 44 46 46 l ir@totalenergies.com Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - March 31, 2025) - Aurania Resources Ltd. (TSXV: ARU) (OTCQB: AUIAF) (FSE: 20Q) ("Aurania" or the "Company") announces that its directors have agreed to receive their quarterly director fees in the form of stock options in lieu of cash for each quarterly period during 2025. On March 31, 2025, each director was granted 16,000 stock options at an exercise price of $0.36 in lieu of their director fees for the first quarter of 2025. An aggregate of 64,000 stock options were granted. All such stock options will be exercisable for a period of three years from the date of grant and vested immediately upon grant. In the event a director intends to exercise such stock options, such director shall be solely responsible for paying the entirety of the exercise price. The Company also announces that it has filed all the appropriate documentation for the renewal of its 42 mineral exploration concessions in southeastern Ecuador, and it has filed a request to enter into an agreement for payment of the associated annual concession fees. The request has been accepted, and the Company is working with various departments of the Ecuadorian government to negotiate the agreement. The Company considers that by filing the concession renewals prior to the March 31st deadline, it maintains its property in Ecuador in good standing while a payment agreement is being finalized. About Aurania Aurania is a mineral exploration company engaged in the identification, evaluation, acquisition, and exploration of mineral property interests, with a focus on precious metals and copper in South America. Its flagship asset, The Lost Cities - Cutucu Project, is located in the Jurassic Metallogenic Belt in the eastern foothills of the Andes mountain range of southeastern Ecuador. Information on Aurania and technical reports are available at www.aurania.com and www.sedarplus.ca, as well as on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/auranialtd/, Twitter at https://twitter.com/auranialtd, and LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/aurania-resources-ltd-. For further information, please contact: Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release contains forward-looking information as such term is defined in applicable securities laws, which relate to future events or future performance and reflect management's current expectations and assumptions. The forward-looking information includes statements regarding Aurania's objectives, goals or future plans, statements, exploration results, potential mineralization, the corporation's portfolio, treasury, management team and enhanced capital markets profile, the estimation of mineral resources, exploration, timing of the commencement of operations, and estimates of market conditions. Such forward-looking statements reflect management's current beliefs and are based on assumptions made by and information currently available to Aurania, including the assumption that, there will be no material adverse change in metal prices, all necessary consents, licenses, permits and approvals will be obtained, including various local government licenses and the market. Investors are cautioned that these forward-looking statements are neither promises nor guarantees and are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause future results to differ materially from those expected. Risk factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results expressed or implied by the forward-looking information include, among other things, an inability to settle a schedule for the payment of annual concession fees on terms which are satisfactory or all with the result that the mineral concession renewals may be of no effect and the property interests are jeopardized, a failure to obtain or delays in obtaining the required regulatory licenses, permits, approvals and consents, an inability to access financing as needed, a general economic downturn, a volatile stock price, labour strikes, political unrest, changes in the mining regulatory regime governing Aurania, a failure to comply with environmental regulations, a weakening of market and industry reliance on precious metals and copper and the additional risks identified in our filings with Canadian securities regulators on SEDAR+ (available at www.sedarplus.ca). Aurania cautions the reader that the above list of risk factors is not exhaustive. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated, described, or intended. Investors are cautioned against undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and, except as required by applicable securities regulations, the Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update the forward-looking information. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/246799 SOURCE: Aurania Resources Ltd. IONIC GOES GREEN WITH AZRA TECH ULTRA LOW FRICTION BIOCIDE-FREE HULL PAINT Ionic Tankers has adopted an innovative revolutionary Azra Tech hull coating solution for their tanker IONIC ANAX, as part of their sustainability goals to protect the OCEAN with ZERO chemical release to the water supporting the U.N.'s 14th SDG "Life below the water". Ionic Tankers introduces revolutionary and eco-friendly ultra-low friction biocide-free coating Ionic Tankers (Ionic) is one of the first shipping companies to protect the ocean by adopting new zero-impact green coating solutions, technologies which improve the vessels' energy efficiency, with a focus on improving the Annual Efficiency Ratio (AER) and CII indicators. Ionic is committed to the global initiatives, in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): the primary focus is placed on Goal 14, "life below the water" and Goal 13 "climate action" for emission reduction. The company is dedicated to the preservation of the sea life and water quality through the use of eco-friendly coating solutions. Moreover, this solution preserves the air quality and reduces VOCs up to 70% during drydock coating application, protecting people's health and making the environment healthier, in line with the Goal 3, "Good health and well-being". Ionic announced the successful application of an ultra-low friction biocide-free coating on an Aframax class Ionic Anax (115,000 DWT) at Sentierul Naval de Constanta (Romania) drydock. The unique coating system, supplied by Azra Tech was applied to the ship's underwater hull in May 2022. Ionic has commissioned this revolutionary coating technology as part of its strategy to embrace higher standards of efficiency and sustainability, supporting the decarbonization efforts throughout the value chain and emphasizing innovative new products. The unique cross-patented solution doesn't release any chemicals or other pollutants into the ocean and while simultaneously the extreme smoothness of the hull has a significant impact on performance by reducing drag with a FIR (%) of 0.012, which increases fuel efficiency therefore reducing carbon emissions. Ionic is fully satisfied with the choice after seeing the impressive performance benefits in the past 29 months making a significant difference in environmental sustainability and fuel saving above 5 %. The Blue Race guarantee has been fully implemented with hull performance monitoring, and preventive hull cleaning. Despite extreme environmental conditions which cause fouling, Azra Tech's coating has demonstrated its capability to regenerate the initial performance following the original application of the coating. The remarkable performance has resulted in a 6% in power reduction with sea trial certified by class and up to 20% in fuel savings and low emission based on non-degradation of coating system. Azra Tech is the world's only biocide-free hull coating system which can be cleaned by regenerating its performance properties to the initial level due to its outstanding mechanical and abrasion resistance properties. Based on cross-patented technologies, the system provides an effective barrier to corrosion thanks to the innovative use of nanotechnology which is essential to ensuring energy savings and lowered carbon emissions. In addition, the ultra-low friction biocide free technology provides anti-corrosion and anti-abrasion, as well as anti-stick and anti-friction properties resulting in lowered maintenance requirements. Ionic is keen to embrace new technologies and it places a strong emphasis on the adoption of innovative products, as it firmly believes in fostering progress and mitigating environmental challenges in all sectors of the economy, ultimately contributing to long-term sustainability. About Ionic Tankers: Ionic Tankers (Mgt) Inc. manages a modern fleet of Japanese built Aframax tankers with an average age of 8 years. Extending its commitment to service excellence, the company's continuous efforts to provide value added maritime transportation solutions to its end-users has earned it a high reputation for service, quality and efficiency. The entire fleet is operated to a first-in-class standard of technical maintenance so as to minimize down-time and the risk of a maritime incident. Safety, Health, Quality and Environment responsibilities extend throughout the organization whilst Ionic's high ethical standards are, and always will be its core value. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250331058067/en/ Contacts: Paul Moore media@azratech.us 1933 Industries Inc. (the "Company" or "1933 Industries") (CSE:TGIF(OTC PINK:TGIFF), a Nevada-focused cannabis cultivator and producer, is pleased to announce its second quarter financial results ("Q2 2025") for the three and six months ended January 31, 2025 and 2024 ("Fiscal 2025"). All amounts expressed are in Canadian dollars. The Company owns 91% of Alternative Medicine Association (AMA), the Company's cultivation and production subsidiary centred on the medical and adult-use cannabis market. Focusing on quality and value offerings, the Company wholesales cannabis flower, pre-rolls and boutique concentrate products under its proprietary AMA brand to retail accounts in the state of Nevada. AMA branded products consistently rank as top sellers based on volume in the state and the Company is a key supplier in the Las Vegas market. Q2 2025 Highlights Revenue of $4.4 million Gross profit of $1.5 million Gross margin of 35% Net loss of $0.3 million 2 nd place ranking in the Nevada flower category FISCAL 2025 AND FISCAL 2024 CONSOLIDATED OPERATING FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS Revenue During Q2 2025, the Company recorded revenues of $4.4 million, an 11% increase over Q1 2025, reflecting an uptick in the Nevada cannabis market and demonstrating the strength of the AMA brand and its position as one of the top 5 selling brands in the state. Total revenues for Fiscal 2025 were $8.4 million and $9.8 million for Fiscal 2024. The decrease is attributed to slower retail sales in Nevada during Q1 2025. Gross Profit The Company generated gross profit of $1.5 million in the current period compared to gross profit of $1.4 million in the prior year comparable period. Gross profit was $2.8 million for Fiscal 2025 and gross profit of $3.0 million for Fiscal 2024. The decrease in gross profit was primarily due to slower sales in Q1 2025. Gross Margin Gross margin calculated as gross profit divided by revenue was 35% in Q2 2025 and 30% in Q2 2024 and 34% in Fiscal 2025 and 31% in Fiscal 2024. The increase is attributed to operational efficiencies in cultivation and production. Expenses During the reporting period, expenses decreased to $1.8 million from $2.0 million in the prior year comparable period. Expenses were $3.7 million for Fiscal 2025 compared to $4.0 million for Fiscal 2024. The decrease from the prior year was primarily due to reduced wages and benefits. Net Loss Net loss for Q2 2025 was $0.3 million compared to $0.6 million in Q2 2024. Company-wide, Fiscal 2025 net loss was $0.89 million and comprehensive loss was $0.7 million, compared to Fiscal 2024 net loss of $1.0 million and comprehensive loss of $0.6 million in the prior year comparable period. Management Commentary Overall, Nevada cannabis retail sales rebounded from the previous quarter, reflecting higher top line sales. AMA flower and pre-rolls gained market share and growth over the reporting period, ranking second as one of the most sold brands by volume. [1] AMA's solid position in the market highlights its ability to gain shelf space in dispensaries across the state and demonstrates increased consumer preference due to its consistent quality and value. AMA's ranking in the cannabis flower and concentrates category remains robust where it has maintained its second position, despite declining flower pricing and market contraction. Financial statements are prepared in accordance with IFRS Accounting Standards issued by the International Accounting Standards Board ("IASB") and the IFRIC Interpretations of the IFRS Interpretations Committee. Detailed information regarding the Company's financial results as well as management's discussion and analysis can be found at https://sedar.com/ and https://1933industries.com/investors/financial-information About 1933 Industries Inc. 1933 Industries is a Nevada-based licensed producer, focused on the cultivation and extraction of a large portfolio of cannabis consumer products in a variety of formats under its flagship brands, Alternative Medicine Association (AMA) and Level X. Its product offerings are cultivated at the Company's 68,000 sq. ft. indoor facility and marketed directly to retail dispensaries. AMA branded flower, infused pre-rolls, and in-house boutique concentrates consistently rank as the top products sold in Nevada. For more information, please visit www.1933industries.com For further information please contact: Alexia Helgason, VP, Investor Relations 604-728-4407 alexia@1933industries.com Brian Farrell, Chairman and CEO brian@1933industries.com Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Notice regarding Forward Looking Statements: This news release contains forward-looking statements. The use of any of the words "anticipate", "continue", "estimate", "expect", "may", "will", "project", "should", "believe" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that the expectations and assumptions on which the forward-looking statements are based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements because the Company can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Since forward-looking statements address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. These statements speak only as of the date of this news release. Actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors and risks including various risk factors discussed in the Company's disclosure documents, which can be found under the Company's profile on www.sedar.com . 1933 Industries undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. [1] https://www.headset.io/brands/alternative-medicine-association-ama SOURCE: 1933 Industries Inc. Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - March 31, 2025) - Prospect Media Group (Prospect/PMG), a division of Ciscom Corp. (CSE: CISC) (OTCQB: CISCF), a leader in data driven integrated omni-channel services, is pleased to announce the appointment of Karrie Werny as VP Media, effective March 24th, 2025, marking a critical expansion of operations in Western Canada. "We're excited to welcome Karrie, who brings over 20 years of leadership experience and a strong analytical mindset that aligns perfectly with our advanced analytics capabilities", said Sheri Rogers, EVP Managing Director of Prospect. "Her expertise across various verticals is vital for connecting our analytical insights with media activations, enabling us to continue driving exceptional results in a landscape often dominated by legacy volume agreements." This move also expands Prospect's physical presence into Western Canada. While Prospect has always partnered with clients across the country, this strategic expansion enables Prospect to better serve its clients with localized insights and solutions. Karrie most recently served as the VP Business Solutions at Horizon Media. She brings a wealth of experience to Prospect, stemming from her work in both full-service and media agencies across Canada, and more specifically in the Alberta and Ontario markets. Her unique perspective supports a client centric media approach, rooted in data-driven insights. Karrie has seen firsthand how client needs and audience behaviours can differ across Canadian markets, leading to strategic approaches that create high value growth opportunities for clients. In her new role, Karrie will focus on strategically implementing Prospect's advanced data solutions to enhance the precision and effectiveness of our media strategies, ensuring campaigns are innovative and aligned with client objectives to improve their Return on Ad Spend (ROAS). "I'm very excited to join the Prospect team, an agency known for being extremely successful at recognizing the importance of properly mining first party data," said Werny. I will be focused on digging deep to understand our client's true customers and distilling first party data into clear, actionable insights. In today's complex landscape, media planning and activation needs to be rooted in advanced analytic modeling, informing smart media strategies, to ultimately drive sales for our clients. I'm thrilled to be part of the Prospect team who is equipped to redefine the future of media and its constant state of transformation." About Prospect Media Group: Prospect is a commerce focused, data-driven, integrated media agency serving a wide range of major retail, QSR, financial, B2B and pharma clients across Canada. With expertise in consumer data analytics, media planning and buying, Prospect optimizes both digital and traditional media channels. Leveraging 26 years of experience, the agency provides clients with crucial insights to build effective integrated media strategies and maximize marketing expenditures. For more information, visit www.prospectmedia.com Cautionary Statement Certain statements in this disclosure may constitute "forward-looking" statements which involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company, or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. When used in this presentation, such statements use such words as "may", "would", "could", "will", "intend", "expect", "believe", "plan", "anticipate", "estimate", and other similar terminology. These statements reflect the Corporation's current expectations regarding future events and operating performance and speak only as of the date of this presentation. Forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties, should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results, and will not necessarily be accurate indications of whether or not such results will be achieved. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/246800 SOURCE: Ciscom Corp. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 31, 2025) - Group Eleven Resources Corp. (TSXV: ZNG) (OTC Pink: GRLVF) (FSE: 3GE) ("Group Eleven" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that Franz Bollmann has been appointed to the Board of Directors. Mr. Bollmann has been nominated by Glencore Canada Corporation (which owns 16.1% of the Company) and will replace Gatlin Smeijers, who has stepped down from the Board, effective March 31, 2025, to pursue another opportunity. Bart Jaworski, CEO of Group Eleven, commented: "We are delighted to welcome Franz to the team and look forward to working with him to further grow shareholder value. On behalf of the Company, I would also like to thank Gatlin for his valuable insights and guidance during his tenure as director and wish him the very best on his new endeavour." Mr. Bollmann currently serves as Finance Manager at Glencore Zinc and as a Director of Glencore Servicios Corporativos Spain. Mr. Bollmann joined Glencore in 2014, working across finance, commercial, and business development roles in the Latam region. He also served as a director of Volcan Compania Minera. Prior to joining Glencore, Mr. Bollmann worked in sales and trading at Raymond James in the United States. He holds a degree in Finance and a minor in Mathematics from the University of Arkansas. About Group Eleven Resources Group Eleven Resources Corp. (TSXV: ZNG) (OTC Pink: GRLVF) and (FSE: 3GE) is a mineral exploration company focused on advanced stage zinc exploration in the Republic of Ireland. Group Eleven announced the Ballywire zinc-lead-silver discovery in September 2022. Ballywire is located 20km from Company's 77.64%-owned Stonepark zinc-lead deposit1, which itself is located adjacent to Glencore's Pallas Green zinc-lead deposit2. The Company's two largest shareholders are Glencore Canada Corp. (16.1% interest) and Michael Gentile (16.0%). Additional information about the Company is available at www.groupelevenresources.com. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS Bart Jaworski, P.Geo. Chief Executive Officer Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Such statements include, without limitation, statements regarding the future results of operations, performance and achievements of the Company, including the timing, content, cost and results of proposed work programs, the discovery and delineation of mineral deposits/resources/ reserves and geological interpretations. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as: believe, expect, anticipate, intend, estimate, postulate and similar expressions, or are those, which, by their nature, refer to future events. The Company cautions investors that any forward-looking statements by the Company are not guarantees of future results or performance, and that actual results may differ materially from those in forward looking statements as a result of various factors, including, but not limited to, variations in the nature, quality and quantity of any mineral deposits that may be located. All of the Company's public disclosure filings may be accessed via www.sedar.com and readers are urged to review these materials, including the technical reports filed with respect to the Company's mineral properties. 1 Stonepark MRE is 5.1 million tonnes of 11.3% Zn+Pb (8.7% Zn and 2.6% Pb), Inferred (Apr-17-2018) 2 Pallas Green MRE is 45.4 million tonnes of 8.4% Zn+Pb (7.2% Zn + 1.2% Pb), Inferred (Glencore, Dec-31-2024) To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/246842 SOURCE: Group Eleven Resources Corp. Gross profit increases 18.6% in 2024 vs 2023 1847 Holdings LLC ("1847" or the "Company") (NYSE American:EFSH), a holding company specializing in identifying over-looked, deep value investment opportunities in middle market businesses, today provided a business update and reported financial results for the year-ended December 31, 2024. Key Financial Highlights from Continuing Operations Total Revenue was $15.7M for the year-ended December 31, 2024 compared to $14.2M for the year-ended December 31, 2023, a 10.7% year-over-year increase Gross profit was $7.8M for the year-ended December 31, 2024 compared to $6.6M for the year-ended December 31, 2023, an 18.6% year-over-year increase Gross margin increased 330 basis points to 49.5% for the year-ended December 31, 2024, compared to 46.2% for the same period last year 2024 Operational Achievements and Subsequent Events Exploring strategic alternatives for CMD Inc. ("CMD") due to significant inbound interest from both strategic and financial sponsors Reported CMD Inc. strong revenue growth and profitability for fiscal year 2023 and nine months ended September 30, 2024 Engaged Two Roads Advisors to facilitate sale of Wolo Mfg. Corp. Completed acquisition of CMD, a Las Vegas-based cabinetry, millwork and door manufacturer Sold High Mountain Door & Trim Inc. ("High Mountain"), a division of 1847 Cabinets for approximately $17 million, more than double the original purchase price Disposition of ICU Eyewear; eliminated $4.5 million of net liabilities from the balance sheet Mr. Ellery W. Roberts, CEO of 1847, commented, "2024 was a transformative year marked by a series of strategic initiatives that served as a significant turning point for our company. We recorded revenue of $15.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2024, with gross profit increasing by 18.6% over the prior year. Toward the end of 2024, we completed the acquisition of CMD, a highly accretive addition to our portfolio. Notably, on a pro forma basis for the year-ended December 31, 2024, CMD reported revenues of $30.8 million-a 13.5% increase compared to the previous year. During the year, CMD's gross profit increased by 25.9% to $13.6 million, while income from operations increased by 26.0% to $7.5 million. Net income grew by 28.9% to $7.5 million, a clear indication of CMD's strong financial trajectory and continued market demand. A key element of our growth strategy involves selectively refining our portfolio to maximize returns. In late September 2024, we finalized the sale of High Mountain, a Reno, Nevada-based provider of finished carpentry products and services. Originally acquired in October 2021, High Mountain was sold to a strategic buyer for $17.0 million, valuing the business at nearly seven times adjusted EBITDA. This sale price was almost double our estimated purchase price from three years prior, underscoring our ability to enhance portfolio value through strategic oversight and operational improvements. While our reported net loss for the year may appear significant, it's important to emphasize that a substantial portion of this loss is driven by non-cash and one-time items-particularly the change in fair value of our warrant liabilities. Due to features in the Series A and Series B warrants that allow the exercise price to decrease (subject to a floor) and the number of shares issuable to increase upon certain events (e.g., reverse stock splits, registration resets, or lower-priced financings), as well as the alternative cashless exercise option in the Series A warrants, these warrants provide added value to the holders beyond a standard fixed-for-fixed arrangement. As a result, we classify the warrants as liabilities and remeasure them at fair value each reporting period. Over time, upon exercise or expiration, the warrant liabilities will be reduced to zero, with changes reflected as an increase to shareholders' equity and net income. Excluding these non-cash charges, our core performance remains firmly in line with our long-term objectives, positioning us to capitalize on future growth opportunities. Looking ahead, we expect to generate net income, projecting approximately $1.3 million in 2025 with revenue exceeding $45 million. This profitability milestone is expected to accelerate in 2026, with anticipated net income of $5.0 million and revenue surpassing $60 million-underscoring the success of our strategic vision and disciplined execution. With a strong pipeline of acquisition opportunities and a relentless focus on high-margin, scalable businesses, we believe we are positioned for exponential growth. We are also exploring the potential strategic sale of Wolo, as well as strategic alternatives for CMD. The substantial inbound interest we have received is a testament to CMD's strong market presence and financial performance. Given CMD's impressive growth and the strategic value it presents, we believe this is the right time to explore opportunities that could unlock significant value for our shareholders. Our future has never been brighter, and we remain more confident than ever in our ability to drive sustained value for our investors," concluded Mr. Roberts. 2024 Financial Highlights Total revenues were $15,710,330 for the year ended December 31, 2024, as compared to $14,190,135 for the year ended December 31, 2023. Revenues from the construction segment increased by $2,321,335, or 24.1%, to $11,960,884 for the year ended December 31, 2024 from $9,639,549 for the year ended December 31, 2023. The increase in revenues was primarily attributed to an increase in new multi-family projects and an increase in the average customer contract value. Revenues from the automotive supplies segment decreased by $801,140, or 17.6%, to $3,749,446 for the year ended December 31, 2024 from $4,550,586 for the year ended December 31, 2023. The decrease in revenues was primarily attributed to working capital constraints on inventory. Total cost of revenues was $7,937,588 for the year ended December 31, 2024, as compared to $7,637,496 for the year ended December 31, 2023. Cost of revenues for the construction segment increased by $956,944, or 21.3%, to $5,439,723 for the year ended December 31, 2024 from $4,482,779 for the year ended December 31, 2023. Cost of revenues for the automotive supplies segment decreased by $656,852, or 20.8%, to $2,497,865 for the year ended December 31, 2024 from $3,154,717 for the year ended December 31, 2023. Total personnel costs were $6,538,872 for the year ended December 31, 2024, as compared to $4,990,561 for the year ended December 31, 2023. Total general and administrative expenses were $5,000,843 for the year ended December 31, 2024, as compared to $3,272,333 for the year ended December 31, 2023. Total professional fees were $6,896,438 for the year ended December 31, 2024, as compared to $2,378,190 for the year ended December 31, 2023. Total operating expenses were $27,708,574 for the year ended December 31, 2024, as compared to $29,896,962 for the year ended December 31, 2023, resulting in a loss from operations of $11,998,244 for the year ended December 31, 2024, as compared to $15,706,827 for the year ended December 31, 2023 Total other expense, net, was $95,508,010 for the year ended December 31, 2024, as compared to $8,490,576 for the year ended December 31, 2023. Such change was primarily due to a loss on change in fair value of warrant liabilities of $77,638,662, amortization of debt discounts of $9,047,721, a loss on extinguishment of debt of $4,709,793, interest expense of $4,262,224 and other expense of $1,263,983, and offset by a gain on change in fair value of derivative liabilities of $1,401,373. Net loss from continuing operations was $106,804,254 for the year ended December 31, 2024, as compared to $23,988,403 for the year ended December 31, 2023. Adjusted EBITDA was a loss of approximately $3,309,879 for the full year ended December 31, 2024, compared to a loss of approximately $3,455,112 for the same period last year. The Company also advises that its audited consolidated financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024 included in the Company's Annual Form on 10-K will contain an audit report from its independent registered public accounting firm with a going concern. The Company is required to make public disclosure about this pursuant to NYSE American Company Guide Sections 401(h) and 610(b)). EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA The Company reported Adjusted EBITDA of $(3,309,879) in FY 2024, as compared to Adjusted EBITDA of $(3,455,112) for FY 2023. The Company defines EBITDA as earnings before interest, taxes and depreciation and amortization. Adjusted EBITDA is defined as EBITDA before other income (expense), gain on disposal of property and equipment, amortization of debt discounts, loss on extinguishment of debt, loss on change in fair value of warrant liabilities, gain on change in fair value of derivative liabilities, impairments of goodwill and intangible assets, certain non-recurring professional fees and management fees. Both EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are not measures of performance calculated in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles in the United States of America ("GAAP"), and should not be considered in isolation of, or as a substitute for, earnings as an indicator of operating performance or cash flows from operating activities as a measure of liquidity. The Company believes the presentation of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA is relevant and useful by enhancing the readers' ability to understand the Company's operating performance. The Company's management utilizes EBITDA as means to measure performance. The Company's measurements of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA may not be comparable to similar titled measures reported by other companies. The table below reconciles EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA, both non-GAAP measures, to GAAP numbers for net loss for years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023. Year Ended December 31, 2024 2023 Net loss from continuing operations $ (106,804,254 ) $ (23,988,403 ) Interest expense 4,262,224 4,628,194 Income tax benefit (702,000 ) (209,000 ) Depreciation and amortization 655,658 1,162,295 EBITDA (102,588,372 ) (18,406,914 ) Other (income) expense 1,263,983 (12,611 ) Gain on disposal of property and equipment (13,000 ) - Amortization of debt discounts 9,047,721 4,232,231 Loss on extinguishment of debt 4,709,793 - Loss on change in fair value of warrant liabilities 77,638,662 27,900 Gain on change in fair value of derivative liabilities (1,401,373 ) (385,138 ) Impairment of goodwill and intangible assets 679,175 10,456,087 Professional fees 5,086,532 - Management fees 2,267,000 633,333 Adjusted EBITDA $ (3,309,879 ) $ (3,455,112 ) About 1847 Holdings LLC 1847 Holdings LLC (NYSE American:EFSH), a publicly traded diversified acquisition holding company, was founded by Ellery W. Roberts, a former partner of Parallel Investment Partners, Saunders Karp & Megrue, and Principal of Lazard Freres Strategic Realty Investors. 1847 Holdings' investment thesis is that capital market inefficiencies have left the founders and/or stakeholders of many small business enterprises or lower-middle market businesses with limited exit options despite the intrinsic value of their business. Given this dynamic, 1847 Holdings can consistently acquire businesses it views as "solid" for reasonable multiples of cash flow and then deploy resources to strengthen the infrastructure and systems of those businesses in order to improve operations. These improvements may lead to a sale or IPO of an operating subsidiary at higher valuations than the purchase price and/or alternatively, an operating subsidiary may be held in perpetuity and contribute to 1847 Holdings' ability to pay regular and special dividends to shareholders. For more information, visit www.1847holdings.com. For the latest insights, follow 1847 on Twitter. Forward-Looking Statements This press release may contain information about 1847 Holdings' view of its future expectations, plans and prospects that constitute forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements are based on our management's beliefs, assumptions and expectations of our future economic performance, taking into account the information currently available to it. These statements are not statements of historical fact. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of factors, risks and uncertainties, some of which are not currently known to us, that may cause our actual results, performance or financial condition to be materially different from the expectations of future results, performance or financial position. Our actual results may differ materially from the results discussed in forward-looking statements. Factors that might cause such a difference include but are not limited to the risks set forth in "Risk Factors" included in our SEC filings. Contact: Crescendo Communications, LLC Tel: +1 (212) 671-1020 Email: EFSH@crescendo-ir.com SOURCE: 1847 Holdings LLC Growth round is led by EQT Growth and existing investors KKR and FTV Capital The round values US-based ReliaQuest at USD 3.4 billion STOCKHOLM, March 31, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- EQT is pleased to announce that the EQT Growth fund ("EQT"), as well as existing investors KKR and FTV Capital, have led a growth funding round in ReliaQuest (the "Company"), a leader in AI-powered security operations. The round brings the Company's valuation to USD 3.4 billion and is also joined by Ten Eleven Ventures and Finback Investment Partners. This new funding will support ReliaQuest's continued growth, fueling further innovation in agentic AI-driven cybersecurity automation and supporting the Company's ongoing international expansion. ReliaQuest has established itself as a global cybersecurity leader, delivering a differentiated, AI-driven approach to security operations for large enterprises. The company's technology platform, GreyMatter, seamlessly integrates with over 200 different cybersecurity tools, allowing security teams to leverage their current or future technology stack to drive greater visibility and AI-driven automation. This enables security teams to detect, contain, investigate and respond to cyber threats across a variety of cyber solutions within minutes, all while eliminating the most mundane cybersecurity work and delivering more value from existing investments. This latest round comes at a time of accelerating growth for ReliaQuest. Since the Company's last funding round in 2020, it has grown Annual Recurring Revenue more than 4x - recently surpassing USD 300 million - and is currently growing more than 30 percent year-over-year while operating profitably. "Everything we have done at ReliaQuest has always been driven by the problem we solve for our customers. Enterprise security teams have more data in more places than ever before, and the speed of the threat is rapidly increasing. CISOs need a way to contain threats within minutes without added cost or technical overhead, leveraging the latest innovations in Agentic AI," said Brian Murphy, ReliaQuest founder and CEO. "This new investment is a key step along our growth trajectory as a company, but most importantly it will allow us to deliver better security outcomes for even more CISOs around the world." "Brian's passion and dedication to building a world-class, mindset-driven organization is at the core of ReliaQuest's success and sets a strong foundation upon which to build a category-defining cybersecurity company," said Kirk Lepke, Partner in the EQT Growth advisory team. "By enriching GreyMatter with AI and automation capabilities, ReliaQuest has accelerated ahead of the pack, and now stands out as one of the only software vendors capable of managing security operations for the most complex enterprise environments. We are delighted to lead this funding round and look forward to supporting the company with our global platform as they continue to deliver solutions needed to push the industry forward." EQT Growth was advised by Piper Sandler and Freshfields US LLP. Contact EQT Press Office, press@eqtpartners.com This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com https://news.cision.com/eqt/r/eqt-leads-funding-round-exceeding-usd-500-million-in-reliaquest--a-leader-in-ai-powered-security-ope,c4128282 The following files are available for download: https://mb.cision.com/Main/87/4128282/3357743.pdf PR_EQT Growth invests in ReliaQuest_31.03.25 https://news.cision.com/eqt/i/drone-tampawaterstreet-4,c3393615 Drone TampaWaterStreet-4 View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/eqt-leads-funding-round-exceeding-usd-500-million-in-reliaquest-a-leader-in-ai-powered-security-operations-302416250.html Regenera CleanTech Inc. ("Regenera" or the "Company") (CSE:RGEN)(FRA:66C). Regenera is pleased to announce that it has entered into a share exchange agreement dated March 26, 2025 ("SPA") with EmissionTech RX Corp. ("EmissionTech"), pursuant to which, and conditional upon Special Shareholders' Approval (as defined below), EmissionTech will acquire all the issued and outstanding shares ("Purchased Shares") of Carbon RX Inc. ("CarbonRX"), a majority owned subsidiary of Regenera. Upon completion of the transaction, CarbonRX will be a wholly owned subsidiary of EmissionTech (the "Proposed Transaction"). CarbonRX navigates the complexities of carbon crediting origination and streaming in the voluntary carbon market. Through long term land agreements to measure, report and verify carbon, CarbonRX aims to add value to farms, and forest initiatives in the Canadian carbon economy. EmissionTech is a full-service carbon company, dedicated to greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction and removal, through a variety of technology applications. EmissionTech is in the process of negotiating the acquisition of other assets, that, along with Carbon RX assets and expertise, will set EmissionTech in a very advantageous position, with a multifaceted approach to GHG reduction and removal, through the added applications of Regenerative Agriculture, CO2 capture, improved forestry management, and the strategic use of feed and feed additives in livestock. Pursuant to the SPA, EmissionTech will acquire CarbonRX for a value of approximately $7,500,000. The consideration for the Purchased Shares ("Consideration") consists of the issuance of 7,500,000 Class A common shares of EmissionTech, at an imputed value of $1/Class A common share ("Consideration Shares"). Prior to the Proposed Transaction, EmissionTech has 4,500,000 Class A common shares, 1,500,000 warrants and 100,000 stock options ("Stock Options") issued and outstanding, with each warrant entitling the holder to purchase a Class A common voting share for $3.00, expiring on May 2, 2027. Upon closing of the Proposed Transaction, EmissionTech will assume all the outstanding share purchase warrants of CarbonRX, and accordingly, in addition to the Stock Options, EmissionTech will have 12,000,000 Class A common voting shares and 2,777,500 Warrants issued and outstanding. The newly acquired warrants will entitle the holder to purchase a Class A common share of EmissionTech, at a price of $0.75; 275,000 of which will expire on August 1, 2025, with the remaining warrants expiring on May 31, 2028. Upon closing of the Proposed Transaction, Regenera will own 5,567,890 Consideration Shares and Nil Warrants, which amounts to 46.4% of the then issued and outstanding share capital of EmissionTech. The board of directors ("Board") of Regenera has approved the Proposed Transaction and management of Regenera believes that it is in the best interest of Regenera's shareholder to proceed with the Proposed Transaction as it will offer Regenera and the remaining CarbonRX shareholders an opportunity to benefit from a diverse, high-growth entity with enhanced strategic opportunities, improved financial structures, and a stronger market position, specifically: (i) EmissionTech has the opportunity to excel as a leader in emissions management, through the acquisition and application of incinerators and other technologies used to meet increasing ESG reporting requirements and regulatory thresholds associated to fugitive gas management; (ii) EmissionTech offers access to new markets, such as the EU, for expanded business opportunities, (iii) EmissionTech offers an enhanced value proposition with a diverse offering of services and technologies, which could open the door to more strategic partnership and investment attraction opportunities, which could increase the value of Regenera's common stock trading on the Canadian Securities Exchange; and (iv) Carbon RX stands to benefit from a pipeline of hydrocarbon based carbon credits with its direct affiliation with EmissionTech opening the door for a diversified portfolio of carbon offsets. Under the Articles of Incorporation of EmissionTech, the Consideration Shares may not be transferred or otherwise alienated, whether by sale, hypothecation, devise or otherwise, without the prior written consent of the directors. Pursuant to the Policies of the CSE, the sale of CarbonRX is subject to shareholders' approval. In addition, as the sale of CarbonRX constitutes substantially all of the assets of Regenera, Section 190(1) of the Business Corporations Act Alberta ("Act") applies, which stipulates that approval by special shareholders resolution is required for the Proposed Transaction. Also, any dissenting shareholder is entitled to be paid the fair value of the shareholder's shares in accordance with Section 191 of the Act. For a "special resolution" of shareholders to be approved, a resolution requires to be passed by a majority of not less than 2/3 of the votes cast by the shareholders who votes in respect of that resolution ("Special Shareholders' Approval"). For this purpose, amongst others, Regenera will call its annual general and special shareholders' meeting for May 30, 2025. Mr. Seymour, the CEO of Regenera, is also a director, officer and shareholder of CarbonRX and EmissionTech, which makes Mr. Seymour a related party to Regenera. Accordingly, as Regenera is a public company, Regenera is subject to Multilateral Instrument 61-101 ("MI 61-101") governing, among other things, transactions between listed issuers and related parties of such issuers. In accordance with MI 61-101, the sale of CarbonRX by Regenera to EmissionTech constitutes a "related party transaction" for the purposes of MI 61-101 due to the fact that, pursuant to the SPA, Regenera will sell an asset to EmissionTech, while Mr. Seymour is a control person, director and officer of EmissionTech, a senior officer of Regenera. In accordance with MI 61-101, absent an exemption, MI 61-101 would require Regenera to receive a formal valuation of the subject matter and "majority of the minority" shareholder ("Disinterested Shareholders") approval to proceed with the Proposed Transaction. Regenera is relying on the exemption in Section 5.5(b), in that Regenera's shares are not listed on the specified markets and according is exempt from the "valuation" requirement under MI 61-101. Furthermore, Regenera is relying on the exemption in Section 5.7(1)(c), in that the Proposed Transaction is supported by an Arm's Length Control Person (as the term is defined in MI 61-101), and accordingly is exempt from Disinterested Shareholders approval. The Board of Regenera recommends that the Corporation's shareholders vote in favour of the Proposed Transaction. No finder's fee is payable in respect to the Proposed Transaction. Regenera is a 19-year ESG-driven company and a historically recognized global technology leader in post combustion CO2 Capture, Solvent & Glycol Reclamation, Blue Hydrogen Production, and Car-bon Credit Aggregation and Management. Regenera will provide solutions to clients globally through technologies and processes that reduce the CO2 footprint in the decarbonization of oil, gas, and electricity. The Corporation continues to be highly active in biodiversity, nature-based carbon credit certification, tokenization, and streaming. For more information contact: Marty Seymour, CEO Phone: 306-352-6132 E-mail: marty.seymour@carbonrx.com Forward Looking Statements This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation, which are based upon Regenera's current internal expectations, estimates, projections, assumptions and beliefs and views of future events. Forward-looking information can be identified using forward-looking terminology such as "expect", "likely", "may", "will", "should", "intend", "anticipate", "potential", "proposed", "estimate" and other similar words, including negative and grammatical variations thereof, or statements that certain events or conditions "may", "would" or "will" happen, or by discussions of strategy. Forward-looking information include estimates, plans, expectations, opinions, forecasts, projections, targets, guidance, or other statements that are not statements of fact. Specifically, this news release contains forward looking information relating to Special Shareholders' Approval of the Proposed Transaction, the successful completion of the Proposed Transaction, EmissionTech's ability to successfully implementation and utilization CarbonRX assets, in order to generate revenue to create value for Regenera and the remaining shareholders of CarbonRX, and Regenera's ability to implement a successful business plan post the Proposed Transaction and meet CSE listing requirements. The CSE does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. SOURCE: Regenera Insights Inc. Paris, France--(Newsfile Corp. - March 31, 2025) - Obedir, the innovative compliance technology firm, today announced its sponsorship of renowned French-British sculptor Sophie Ryder at the prestigious Art Paris exhibition. This strategic partnership with Gowen Contemporary and Sophie Ryder marks Obedir's first major arts patronage initiative. It underscores the company's commitment to supporting female representation in the arts while extending its core values of precision and innovation beyond the technology sector. Release 1 To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10373/246363_01eee7e674e589ab_001full.jpg The exhibition, which runs from April 3-6, 2025, at the Grand Palais des Champs-Elysees, will feature Ryder's monumental sculptures that have earned international acclaim for their meticulous craftsmanship and emotional resonance. This sponsorship establishes Obedir as a corporate patron dedicated to bridging the worlds of technology and artistic excellence. Peter Kindt, CEO of Obedir, emphasised the company's strategic vision behind the sponsorship: "Obedir has always been committed to promoting equal opportunity and the advancement of women in particular. Sophie Ryder's work resonated profoundly with our founder, creating an emotional connection that perfectly aligns with our company's values of precision and innovation." The partnership between Obedir and Ryder emerged from a recognition of shared values. While Obedir's technology provides precise compliance solutions, Ryder's sculptures demonstrate similar attention to detail and technical mastery. This connection exemplifies how excellence transcends industry boundaries. "We are fascinated by Ryder's handmade work, which uses centuries-old processes," said Kindt. While Obedir's cutting-edge AI technology is a tool for doing business, we are devotees of art and humanity." The exhibition will showcase several of Ryder's signature pieces, including her iconic hare and minotaur figures that explore themes of transformation and duality. These works, characterised by their intricate detail and emotional depth, reflect the same commitment to precision that drives Obedir's technological innovations. The logistics of bringing Ryder's monumental sculptures from England to Paris highlighted another connection to Obedir's expertise. "The shipment of these remarkable pieces was fraught with the usual import-export challenges between countries," noted Kindt. "This is precisely the type of complex cross-border transaction that Obedir's e-document solutions streamline for our clients." As part of the sponsorship, Obedir will host an exclusive viewing event for stakeholders and media representatives on April 2nd, creating a unique networking opportunity that celebrates artistic innovation. "We aim to entertain our customers, forge new partnerships, and provide a thrilling environment to network while promoting a leading female sculptor," Kindt explained. The company sees this sponsorship as the beginning of a broader arts patronage initiative. "We have invited key stakeholders to participate in this inaugural event and are exploring options to sponsor future art exhibitions that align with our values," said Kindt. "This reflects our commitment to supporting cultural innovation alongside technological advancement." Obedir's BAT Platform, which provides efficient administration and transaction infrastructure for businesses across industries, offers solutions that could benefit the art world as well. "Artists and galleries face many of the same administrative and compliance challenges as other businesses," Kindt observed. "Our platform can provide the efficient administrative and transactional backbone that artistic enterprises need to thrive in today's complex regulatory environment." The sponsorship also reflects Obedir's vision for the future of AI-enabled business models across different sectors. "Through this initiative, we want to highlight how our AI-enabled solutions can transform operations across diverse industries, including the arts," said Kindt. "We see tremendous potential for technology to support and enhance creative enterprises without diminishing their essential humanity and artistic vision." Art Paris is one of Europe's premier contemporary art fairs, showcasing over 170 galleries from over 25 countries. The 2025 exhibition will emphasise France's art scene and focus on female artists, making it an ideal venue for Obedir's international outlook and commitment to diverse perspectives. Media representatives interested in attending the exclusive viewing event or scheduling interviews with Sophie Ryder should contact Alexia Green, Gowen's Head of Communications, at alexia@gowencontemporary.com or +41 78 674 83 21. About Sophie Ryder Sophie Ryder is a British sculptor known for her imaginative and expressive works that blend human and animal forms, particularly her signature hybrid creatures featuring hares, dogs, and mythical figures. Born in 1963, she studied at the Royal Academy of Arts in London, where she developed her distinctive style using wire, bronze, and other mixed media. Her large-scale sculptures, often depicting human-animal hybrids, explore themes of mythology, emotion, and connection, evoking a sense of mystery and storytelling. Ryder's works have been exhibited internationally, gracing public spaces, galleries, and sculpture parks, captivating audiences with their raw texture and dynamic presence. About Obedir Through its innovative BAT platform, Obedir transforms compliance from a burden into a strategic advantage. Our AI-enhanced solutions ensure clean, auditable, and traceable data governance, empowering companies to meet regulatory requirements precisely and efficiently. Founded in 2024, Obedir serves clients across Europe and North America, providing the infrastructure for a sustainable global economy through meticulous data management. For more information, visit www.obedir.com. About Gowen Founded in 2009 as Faye Fleming & Partner, the gallery became Gowen Contemporary in 2010. In 2021, a new 200 sqm space was opened in Geneva at Grand-Rue 23. GOWEN aims to showcase pioneering and cutting-edge artists engaged in experimental and critical approaches, often alongside significant works by historical and critically acclaimed artists, including loans from private collections. The gallery welcomes all forms of medium and artistic expression. Contact the Gallery's Laura Gowen by writing info@gowencontemporary.com or call +41 79 330 17 54. Release 2 To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10373/246363_01eee7e674e589ab_002full.jpg To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/246363 SOURCE: Pressmaster DMCC Mahe, Seychelles, March 31st, 2025, Chainwire Astherus, a multi-asset liquidity hub backed by YZi Labs (formerly Binance Labs), today announces its official rebrand to Aster, marking a significant strategic shift toward becoming the leading decentralized perpetuals exchange (perps DEX). The rebrand also introduces Asters future token ticker $AST, which will replace the current $APX token. This follows the earlier merger between Astherus and decentralized perp protocol APX Finance. APX and Astherus have collectively processed over $258 billion in decentralized perpetual trading volume to date. Building on this foundation, Aster introduces two seamless trading modes: Simple Mode : On-chain, one-click, MEV-resistant perpetual trading : On-chain, one-click, MEV-resistant perpetual trading Pro Mode: Advanced order book interface with deep liquidity, extremely low trading fees, and advanced trading tools Aster is now strategically positioned to challenge industry leaders like Hyperliquid, with a roadmap that includes the integration of zero-knowledge proofs, a purpose-built Layer 1 blockchain, and intent-based architecture to simplify the DeFi trading experience. The rebrand is central to our ambition of leading the DeFi perps market. Our strategic focus on perpetual trading will also ensure Asters long-term sustainability, said Dust, a Core Contributor of Aster. Our roots in APX and YZi Labs gave us a strong foundation in both trading infrastructure and yield strategies. Aster will continue to prioritize top-tier user experience, liquidity, and security. In line with its rebrand, Aster has significantly upgraded its platform, including: A fully redesigned homepage reflecting its new identity Enhanced trading UI and UX with seamless switching between modes New fee structure: Maker 0.01% , Taker 0.035% , Deep liquidity provided in partnership with top-tier market makers provided in partnership with top-tier market makers A referral program offering 20% commission , with a tiered system in the works offering , with a in the works Rh Points Program , launching within the next 2 weeks, where traders earn points redeemable for future airdrops , launching within the next 2 weeks, where traders earn points redeemable for future airdrops Welcome all traders to try the platform just like CZ did with a special $10,000 trading campaign targeting users from other leading perp DEXs In the long term, Aster is building toward the launch of its own Layer 1 blockchain, optimized for trading performance, and will introduce Aster-native blockchain explorers to bring transparency and insight to on-chain trading activity. As part of the rebrand, Aster is introducing a new token ticker, $AST, to represent the platforms evolving identity. While the token listing is planned for the future, Asters top priority is building world-class product infrastructure. $AST will play a central role in the ecosystem once the foundation is in place. Aster will continue to support Astherus popular yield products under Aster Earn, including the BNB liquid staking derivative asBNB and yield-bearing stablecoin USDF. Further ecosystem partnerships, airdrop details, and token mapping timelines will be announced in the coming weeks and months. About Aster Aster is a next-generation decentralized perpetual exchange built for everyone. It offers MEV-free, one-click trading with up to 1001x leverage in Simple Mode (BNB Chain, Arbitrum), and full-featured, pro-grade tools in Pro Mode (BNB Chain, Ethereum, Solana). Backed by YZi Labs, Aster is building the future of DeFi: fast, flexible, and community-first. Multi-chain. Liquid. Secure. Users can learn more at https://asterdex.com, or connect with the team on the official X account Contact Marketing Lead Kathy Aster [email protected] This is a paid press release and is distributed for general information only and is not intended to constitute investment advice. GridPoint, a Reston, VA-based energy management technology company, raised $45M in funding. The round was led by Marunouchi Innovation Partners (MIP), a climate tech fund sponsored by Mitsubishi Corporation. Marunouchi made a $20M investment. Other investors included Goldman Sachs, I Squared Capital, Shell Ventures, TOMS Capital, Fortress Investment Group, Olympia Group, and QVT Financial. The company intends to use the funds to accelerate its growth and international expansion into Japan and South Korea. GridPoint is an energy management technology company that decarbonizes commercial buildings and drives grid modernization. Its technology platform is deployed in 20,000+ commercial buildings across multiple industries, optimizing energy and sustainability goals for commercial enterprises and electric utilities at the same time, leveraging data analytics, machine learning, and intelligent automation to deliver visibility into complex building operations, reducing energy costs, optimizing decarbonization, and increasing resiliency. FinSMEs 31/03/2025 Infosys CFO and advocate of conservative causes, Mohandas Pai has slammed the film for its fake narrative and propaganda. Heres his tweet that has gone viral read more Mohanlal and Prithviraj Sukumarans L2: Empuraan has landed in a major controversy over its depicton of the Gujarat riots of 2002. Infosys CFO and advocate of conservative causes, Mohandas Pai has slammed the film for its fake narrative and propaganda. Heres his tweet that has gone viral: Big shame. A big propaganda film based on fake narratives! @Mohanlal should be ashamed not gloat! https://t.co/n61bQqfP5p Mohandas Pai (@TVMohandasPai) March 29, 2025 Advertisement Running fake narratives is not about courage! Who got burnt in Godhra? Who burnt the Kar Sevaks? Who were prosecuted and sentenced? People have to be honest not lie through their teeth if they want to show courage, added Pai. Mohanlal breaks silence Mohanlal then issued a statement that read- I have learnt that some of the political-social themes that have emerged in the expression of the movie Empuraan, the second part of the Lucifer franchise, have caused a lot of disappointment to many of my lovers. As an artist, it is my duty to ensure that none of my movies harbours hatred towards any political movement, idea or religion. Therefore, I and the Empuraan team sincerely regret the mental pain caused to my loved ones, and with the realisation that the responsibility lies with all of us who worked behind the film, we have decided together to compulsorily remove such parts from the movie, he added. What the film is about? L2: Empuraan begins where the first part (Lucifer) concluded. Its been five years since Kingmaker Stephen Nedempully, aka Lucifer (Mohanlal), left Kerala, handing over the political responsibilities to Jathin (Tovino Thomas), the states CM. In the flashback, the 2002 Hindu-Muslim riot is shown where Gajendra Patels gang (Abhimanyu Singh) are killing Muslim people, including children and women, mercilessly. The level of cruelty chills down your spine, where Gajendras brother Munna is shown raping a Muslim woman, who is pregnant. Advertisement Four Chinese nationals have been detained in Bangkok for unlawfully entering the site of an 33-storey building that collapsed after the powerful earthquake struck Myanmar on Friday. This comes after the countrys Deputy PM Anutin Charnvirakul ordered an immediate inquiry into the building collapse, which has links with a Chinese firm read more Rescue personnel work at the site of a building that collapsed, following a strong earthquake, in Bangkok, Thailand, March 30, 2025. Reuters Tremors from the 7.7-magnitude earthquake centred in Myanmar hit Thailands Bangkok on Friday afternoon. Consequently, an under-construction 33-storey high-rise building in Chatuchak weekend market that is a magnet for tourists collapsed in seconds. Thailands Deputy Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has now ordered an immediate inquiry into the collapse. A committee of experts has been established and given seven days to identify the cause. But why did this building collapse under scrutiny? Lets take a closer look. Advertisement The collapsed Bangkok Scraper The unfinished high-rise structure collapsed in a matter of seconds, trapping hundreds of people beneath the debris and throwing a cloud of dust and debris into the air. As of Sunday, as per an AFP report, 17 people were confirmed dead, 32 others were injured, and 83 others were unaccounted for, the majority of whom were construction workers. Rescuers use dust settling machine at the damaged construction site of a high-rise building in Bangkok, Thailand, Saturday, March 29, 2025, as rescuers search for victims following its collapse after Fridays earthquake. AP Search and rescue teams are still searching for potential survivors in the sweltering heat. At least 15 persons who might still be alive have been found by thermal imaging drones. So far, eight bodies have been recovered from the wreckage. Even though several high-rise structures were being built in Bangkok, no other projects experienced the same level of devastation. Officials and experts are increasingly criticising the high-rise buildings strong foundation. Rescuers carry the body of a victim during search and rescue operations, following a strong earthquake, in Bangkok, Thailand, March 30, 2025. Reuters Its link with Chinese firm It is reported that the collapsed structure was part of a project for Thailands State Audit Office (SAO) and had been under construction for three years at a cost of over two billion baht. It was a joint venture between China Railway Number 10 (Thailand) Ltd. and Italian-Thai Development Plc (ITD). According to Telegraph UK, the latter is a subsidiary of China Railway Number 10 Engineering Group Company, which owns a 49 per cent share, the highest amount of foreign ownership permitted by Thai law. People stand outside an office building in Bangkok on March 28, 2025 after an earthquake. A powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake hit central Myanmar on March 28, with tremors felt south into Thailand, with residents in the capital Bangkok running into the streets as buildings shook. AFP According to the report, China Railway Number 10 Thailand was founded in 2018 and has since worked as a contractor on major infrastructure projects, such as public highways, office buildings, and railroads. Advertisement In 2023, the business had a net loss of 199.66 million baht, with 206.25 million baht in revenue and 354.95 million baht in expenses. Among its Thai owners are Sophon Meechai (40.80 per cent), who also owns shares in five other businesses; Prachuab Sirikhet (10.20 per cent), who has investments in six businesses; and Manas Sri-anant (less than one per cent), who has shares in 10 other companies. Investigation ordered An expert panel has been given seven days to ascertain the cause of the collapse by Thailands Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, who also called for an urgent probe. An expert from China has been dispatched to examine the collapse site. A team of seasoned engineers from the Department of Public Works and Town & Country Planning, along with trustworthy specialists, were assembled to conduct the inquiry, according to Bangkok Post. Thailand will quickly find out why the building collapsed. It was just built and should have been designed to withstand earthquakes, the interior minister said, adding, The earthquake caused a seismic magnitude of 7.8 but more than 95 per cent of buildings withstood it. Collapse happened only to the State Audit building. This building was newly constructed. So, it should have endured an earthquake." Advertisement According to Anutin, the probe will concentrate on builders, architects, and construction supervisors. The construction consortiums Chinese and Thai partners would have to share responsibility. A search and rescue dog climbs on the rubble as recovery teams try to find trapped people at the site of an under-construction building collapse in Bangkok on March 29, 2025, a day after an earthquake struck central Myanmar and Thailand. The death toll from a huge earthquake that hit Myanmar and Thailand passed 1,000 on March 29, as rescuers dug through the rubble of collapsed buildings in a desperate search for survivors. Source: AFP Chinese nationals arrested Four Chinese nationals were arrested by Thai police on Sunday for breaking into the location of the collapsed skyscraper. According to a National Thailand report, which quoted Police Major General Nopasin Poolswat, Deputy Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Bureau, four Chinese nationals were apprehended for unlawfully removing 32 files of documents from the back of the collapsed State Audit Office (SAO) building without authorisation. Notably, the governor of Bangkok designated the area where the building collapsed as a disaster zone following the strong earthquake, making it a restricted area that no one was permitted to access without permission. Rescue personnel work at the site of a building that collapsed, following a strong earthquake, in Bangkok, Thailand, March 30, 2025. Reuters One of the Chinese men said he was in charge of a building construction project. He had valid work permit, and his company was working in a joint venture with the buildings contractor, Italian-Thai Development Public Company Limited. The documents confiscated from the men were various types of paperwork, according to the National Thailand report. Advertisement They told the police they had gone into the area to collect documents, kept in a container at the companys temporary office, required for an insurance claim. The suspects were temporarily released by the police when the interrogation was over. However, later on Sunday, Chatuchak District Office officials filed a complaint against five Chinese nationals for visiting the construction site and taking blueprints and other documents from the SAO building that had collapsed, in violation of the public statement. The four mens employer, the fifth person, is also being investigated. Myanmar earthquake The 7.7-magnitude quake, one of Myanmars 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, according to Reuters. Originating northwest of Sagaing, the tremors destroyed infrastructure and buildings throughout Mandalay, one of the biggest cities in Myanmar. Power shortages hindered rescue attempts in Mandalay, where many people are still buried in building wreckage, according to Al Jazeera. Moreover, anti-coup fighters in Myanmar declared a two-week ceasefire to aid earthquake victims. 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. The country has declared a state of emergency across six regions, and hospitals are overwhelmed with casualties. Advertisement India, China and Thailand are among Myanmars neighbours that have sent relief materials and teams, along with aid and personnel from Malaysia, Singapore and Russia. 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. With inputs from agencies US President Donald Trump has not ruled out the possibility of serving a third term, despite the constitutional two-term limit. In a recent interview, he stated there are methods to make it happen. The US Constitutions 22nd Amendment prohibits any individual from being elected president more than twice, but it does not explicitly ban someone from assuming the presidency through succession read more US President Donald Trump looks on before he departs for Washington, from West Palm Beach, Florida, US, March 30, 2025. File Image/Reuters United States President Donald Trump is reportedly exploring the possibility of serving a third term, despite the constitutional ban set by the 22nd Amendment. In a recent interview with NBC News, Trump was asked directly about the prospect, and while he acknowledged that it was too early to make any firm decisions, he also stated that there are methods which you could do it. Trump, who began his second term in 2025 after defeating Joe Biden in the 2024 election, has been known to raise the idea of extending his presidency. Advertisement While his previous references to serving beyond two terms have often been dismissed by Republicans as jokes, this time, he made it clear that he was serious. Im not joking, he stated emphatically. A lot of people want me to do it, Trump said. But, I mean, I basically tell them we have a long way to go, you know, its very early in the administration. When pressed for details, Trump mentioned that one possible method could involve his vice president, JD Vance, running for president in 2028 and then stepping down after taking office. Thats one, he acknowledged before adding, But there are others, too. However, he refused to elaborate further. What constitutional roadblocks does Trump face? The 22nd Amendment to the US Constitution, ratified in 1951, explicitly limits a president to two terms in office. This amendment was introduced after Franklin D Roosevelt won four consecutive terms, serving from 1933 to 1945. Under the amendment, no person can be elected to the presidency more than twice, and no one who has served more than two years of another presidents term may be elected more than once. To repeal the 22nd Amendment would be an arduous process requiring either a two-thirds majority vote in both the House and the Senate or a constitutional convention initiated by two-thirds of US states. In either case, any proposed amendment would then need to be ratified by three-quarters of the states a scenario that experts say is highly unlikely given the current political landscape. Advertisement Despite this, there has been some support within the Republican Party for extending presidential term limits. In early 2025, Representative Andy Ogles of Tennessee introduced a resolution proposing an amendment that would allow a president to serve up to three terms, provided they were not consecutive. Under this proposal, former Presidents Barack Obama, George W Bush, and Bill Clinton would still be ineligible to return to office, while Trump who served non-consecutive terms would qualify to run again in 2028. However, this resolution has little chance of gaining the bipartisan support necessary for passage. What is the vice-presidential loophole? Some legal experts have pointed out a potential loophole in the wording of the 22nd Amendment. While it explicitly states that a president cannot be elected more than twice, it does not prohibit a former two-term president from assuming the office through succession. This has led to speculation that Trump could return to power by running as a vice-presidential candidate in 2028. If his running mate were to win and then resign shortly after taking office, Trump could ascend to the presidency once again. However, constitutional scholars argue that this approach would likely face legal challenges. The 12th Amendment states that no person constitutionally ineligible to the office of president shall be eligible to that of vice-president of the United States. Advertisement This suggests that if Trump is barred from serving a third term as president, he may also be ineligible to run for vice president. Notre Dame law professor Derek Muller has weighed in on the issue, telling AP, I dont think theres any one weird trick to getting around presidential term limits. He and other legal experts believe that any attempt to use the vice presidency as a backdoor route to a third term would almost certainly be challenged in court. The conservative-leaning Supreme Court would likely have the final say on the matter. If Trump were to pursue this strategy, the Court would be forced to interpret whether the constitutional prohibition against being elected applies to an individual assuming the presidency through succession. Some legal analysts believe the Court could uphold the strict wording of the 22nd Amendment, while others argue that it might focus on the intent behind the amendment preventing any president from serving beyond two terms. Advertisement Trumps remarks have sparked a strong response from both supporters and critics. Some within his base have embraced the idea of extending his presidency, while others within the Republican Party have distanced themselves from any notion of altering the Constitution. Former White House strategist Steve Bannon recently predicted that Trump would find a way to run again in 2028. Well have a couple of alternatives, Bannon said in an interview with News Nation, suggesting that pathways exist for Trump to remain in power beyond his current term. However, other Republicans have publicly dismissed the idea. Senator Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma has stated that he would not support amending the Constitution to allow a third term. Im not changing the Constitution, first of all, unless the American people choose to do that, Mullin told NBC. Meanwhile, Trump has continued to make references to extending his presidency, often in ways that appear to blur the line between humour and serious political ambition. In February, he posted a message on Truth Social celebrating his executive order that reversed New York Citys congestion pricing plan, writing: LONG LIVE THE KING! Shortly after, the White House amplified his statement by sharing an image of Trump wearing a golden crown on a fake magazine cover, reinforcing the perception that he sees himself as a leader without term limits. Advertisement Also Watch: The debate over a third term comes at a time when Trumps presidency has already defied many political norms. After losing re-election in 2020, he returned to power in 2024, making him only the second US president in history to serve non-consecutive terms, after Grover Cleveland. With inputs from agencies A New York doctor reportedly lost her job after she shared a controversial post earlier this month on social media. In a series of posts, Lila Abassi, 46, hailed the Hamas as noble resistance and freedom fighters, and even added, Long live Hamas and Hezbollah read more Lila Abassi wrote a series of posts, mentioning, Long Live Hamas and Hezbollah, according to the report. Facebook A New York doctor reportedly lost her job after she shared a controversial post earlier this month on social media. Lila Abassi was a medical assistant professor at the Upper East Side hospital of Mount Sinai. She was sacked due to her support of Hamass atrocities and her hailing of the group as noble resistance and freedom fighters, according to a New York Post report. Lets take a closer look. The controversial post Lila Abassi wrote a series of posts, mentioning, Long Live Hamas and Hezbollah, according to the report. Hamas is a Palestinian militant group that controls Gaza, while Hezbollah is an Iran-backed militant group based in Lebanon. The United States, Israel, and others have designated both as terrorist organisations. Advertisement The 46-year-old doctor allegedly hailed Hamas as noble resistance and freedom fighters, called the Israeli army a plague, accused Israel of slaughtering babies, and dismissed reports of sexual violence during the October 7, 2023 attack that left 1,200 Israelis dead and thousands injured. Protesters gather at the gates of Columbia University, in support of student protesters who barricaded themselves in Hamilton Hall, despite orders from university officials to disband or face suspension, during the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, in New York City, US last year. File image/Reuters Please show me actual rape video, Abassi wrote in a Facebook doctors group, using the pseudonym Kluver Bucy, the name for a rare brain disorder that affects memory and behaviour and may cause eating disorders, hypersexuality, seizures and dementia. Furthermore, she claimed that Israel was accountable for massacr(ing) more people on 10/7 than (were) killed by Hamas. Abassi graduated from St. Georges University School of Medicine in 2011 and went on to SUNY Downstate to do her residency, as per NY Post. Also read: Why Indian student, who self-deported from US, says Columbia betrayed her Expulsion and criticism Abassi was fired following weeks of pressure from Inna Vernikov (R-Brooklyn), a councilwoman in New York City, who claimed that removing her social media accounts was insufficient because it would not reduce her support for terrorists or increase the safety of her Jewish patients. Our most basic expectation of doctors is that they will perform their duties in an unbiased manner - especially a doctor serving a city as ethnically and religiously diverse as ours, Vernikov told The Post. Advertisement According to a Mt. Sinai spokesperson, the hospital launched a probe that ultimately led to her dismissal. Amid Trumps immigration crackdown, over 1 lakh dependent Indians in the US fear self-deportation. These individuals arrived in the US as children with their NRI parents on H-4 dependent visas. Image for Representation. Reuters In the medical community, Abassis opinions were already well known. Shes known as one of the more outspoken and egregiously antisemitic physicians in the community, a fellow Mount Sinai doctor told The NY Post. Physicians Against Antisemitism, a watchdog group that exposed Abassis posts, said, No longer will any Jewish patient feel confident that they will receive safe care from that individual, and by extension, at the facility that employs them. Students asked to self-deport Moreover, a single like, share, or comment on a social media post can also trigger deportation. That is the unpleasant reality for hundreds of overseas students in America, especially Indians, who are receiving emails from the State Department abruptly repealing their visas. According to immigration lawyers cited in a Times of India report, students are being singled out for harassment for participating in online activities as well as on-campus demonstrations. This effort is part of the Catch and Revoke initiative, which is led by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and uses AI to require social media assessments of both new and current visa applications. Advertisement If officers discover any potentially derogatory information, they are to take screenshots and mark it as grounds for ineligibility. Even if they find nothing, they still have to document that a review was conducted. The initiative, which was first reported by Axios, is to revoke the visas of foreign nationals who are thought to be supporting Hamas or other terrorist organisations that have been labelled as such. More than 300 student visas have already been cancelled in three weeks. According to the most recent Open Doors report, there are now about 1.5 million international students studying in the US, with over 331,000 coming from India. Your F-1 visa was revoked in accordance with Section 221(i) of the United States Immigration and Nationality Act, as amended." Remaining in the United States without a lawful immigration status can result in fines, detention, and/or deportation Deportation can take place at a time that does not allow the person being deported to secure possessions or conclude affairs. Advertisement According to the TOI report, the email also reminds students to use the CBP Home App to show that they intend to leave and cautions them against trying to re-enter until they have been granted a new visa. In most cases, foreign students on F-1 and J-1 visas are accepted for the duration of status, which allows them to stay in the US for as long as they continue to fulfil the requirements of their visa. Previously, they wouldnt start accruing unlawful presence until immigration authorities made a formal determination. But, according to a January update posted on the USCIS website, if a student remains in the country after their status expires, their unlawful presence begins the day after that. Gave you visa to study, not become social activist Rubio strongly defended the Catch and Revoke strategy at a press conference in Guyana, while he was responding to a query concerning a Turkish student who was being held at Tufts University. He said, We gave you a visa to come and study and get a degree, not to become a social activist that tears up our university campuses Once your visa is revoked, youre illegally in the country, and you have to leave. Why would any country in the world allow people to come and disrupt? I dont care what movement youre involved in If weve given you a visa and then you decide to do that, were going to take it away. Advertisement With inputs from agencies US Donald Trump has stopped USAID activities in Myanmar. This comes at a time when more than 1,700 people have died while thousands of others have been injured as the country struggles from one of the worst earthquakes of all time read more 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. AP In early 2021, after a decade of political and economic reforms, Myanmar looked like it was finally beginning to shake off the hangover of decades of military rule. Foreign investment was growing, and standards of living were gradually improving. In February that year, however, the military again grabbed power after ousting Aung San Suu Kyis democratically elected government in a coup. This sent the country spiralling towards civil war and social and economic collapse. Advertisement In the latest addition to the daily misery of Myanmars long-suffering people, a huge 7.7-magnitude earthquake hit the centre of the country on Friday. Its epicentre was just outside Mandalay, the countys second-largest city. The Thai capital of Bangkok, more than 1,000 kilometres from the epicentre, experienced extensive damage too. Video images showed a under construction and sloshing rooftop infinity pools causing down high-rise condominiums. Information on the extent of the damage in Myanmar was slower to emerge, given the junta has largely banned social media and communications apps, such as Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Signal and X. The death toll has now passed 1,000 at the time of writing. US Geological Survey modelling, however, suggests there could be more than 10,000 deaths and economic losses potentially exceeding the countrys gross domestic product (GDP). Unusually for the isolationist military juntas of Myanmar, its leader, Min Aung Hlaing, immediately issued a call for international assistance. The junta, however, has full control of as little as 21 per cent of the country in the ongoing civil war, with the rest contested or controlled by ethnic armed groups and resistance fighters. This indicates some hard-hit areas of the country may be inaccessible to international aid. Advertisement Compounding these difficulties, the Trump administration has decimated the US Agency for International Development (USAID) activities in the country. This will make it far more challenging to determine the areas most in need and distribute any aid on the ground. Natural disasters in Myanmar Along with its history of brutal and authoritarian military rule since gaining independence in 1948, Myanmar is also regularly afflicted by natural disasters. At least 430 people are believed to have died in floods last September due to the remnants of Typhoon Yagi. In 2023, Cyclone Mocha reportedly killed about 460 of the Rohingya ethnic minority, who are largely confined to government camps in Rakhine state in inhuman conditions. Cyclone Nargis wrecked havoc in Western Myanmar. File image/Reuters The worst natural disaster in living memory, however, was Cyclone Nargis in 2008, which left at least 140,000 dead. On that occasion, the military junta resisted international assistance, likely resulting in many unnecessary deaths. At that time, there was no independent media in Myanmar and it was almost impossible to find out what was actually happening on the ground. Fortunately, the proliferation of mobile phones in the last decade has allowed information to spread much more widely, even with the juntas internet blocks and other methods of censorship currently in place. Advertisement When Cyclone Nargis occurred the year after the iPhone was launched only around 1 per cent of Myanmars population had mobile phones. By the time of the coup in 2021, Myanmar had a smartphone penetration rate of 114 per cent. (This means the country has more smartphones than people.) Foreign assistance has been compromised While Min Aung Hlaing has gone farther than his predecessor in 2008 in asking for international help, US President Donald Trumps actions have ensured that any aid will be far less effective than it would have been two months ago. On Friday, the same day the earthquake hit, the Trump administration told Congress it would cut nearly all remaining jobs at USAID and shut the agency, closing all USAID missions worldwide. Jeremy Konyndyk, the president of Refugees International and a former USAID official, called the move a total abdication of decades of US leadership in the world. He argued the firings would cut the last remnants of the team that would have mobilised a USAID disaster response to the earthquake. In 2024, USAID spent US$240 million (A$380 million) in Myanmar, around one-third of all multilateral humanitarian assistance to the country. However, since Trumps inauguration in January, the number of USAID programs in Myanmar has shrunk from 18 to just three. Several NGOs and at least seven US-funded hospitals operating along Myanmars border with Thailand have been shut down. Advertisement Myanmars exiled independent media outlets, which shine a light on the militarys atrocities, have also seen their funding slashed by the Trump administrations USAID cuts. What happens now? The day before the earthquake, Min Aung Hlaing addressed troops at the 80th anniversary of the Armed Forces Day Parade. He announced national elections would go ahead in December a vote that human rights groups are already calling a sham. There is no conceivable way elections of any integrity can be held in the country under military rule or while the civil war continues to rage. Military-backed parties have been overwhelmingly rejected by Myanmars electorate in every remotely free or fair election over the last four decades. This includes the most recent elections held in 2020, won by the National League of Democracy (NLD), led by Aung San Suu Kyi. While the world should welcome and urgently respond to Min Aung Hlaings invitation for international assistance, this doesnt mean the past is forgotten. Thousands of innocent lives have been lost as a result of the militarys unnecessary and destructive 2021 coup. If the NLD had remained in government, the country would be infinitely more prepared to deal with the consequences of this earthquake. Once again, the militarys brutal rule and Trumps draconian aid cuts will no doubt cause more unnecessary suffering and deaths. Advertisement Adam Simpson, Senior Lecturer, International Studies, University of South Australia This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. French far-right leader Marine Le Pen has been convicted of embezzling EU funds, receiving a five-year ban from public office and a four-year prison sentence, partially suspended. The ruling, which she has vowed to appeal, bars her from the 2027 presidential race, raising critical questions about the future of the National Rally and French democracy read more French far-right leader Marine Le Pen, member of parliament of the Rassemblement National (National Rally - RN) party, leaves the courthouse on the day of the verdict of her trial alongside 24 other defendants (party officials and employees, former lawmakers and parliamentary assistants) and the RN party itself, over accusations of misappropriation of European Union funds, in Paris, France, March 31, 2025. File Image/Reuters Marine Le Pen, leader of Frances far-right National Rally (RN), has been convicted of embezzling European Parliament funds in a case that has dramatically altered the political landscape. The court ruling bars Le Pen from running for public office for five years, effectively preventing her from contesting the 2027 presidential election. The court also handed down a four-year prison sentence, of which two years are suspended, and the remainder to be served under electronic surveillance at home. Advertisement Additionally, she was fined 100,000 ($108,000). This decision is a major setback for Le Pen, who has long been a dominant figure in French politics. Having run for president three times, she twice reached the final round against Emmanuel Macron and was widely seen as a front-runner for 2027. Her party emerged as the largest single party in parliament following the 2024 snap elections, highlighting her influence in the countrys political sphere. What is Le Pens embezzlement case? The charges stem from an alleged long-term scheme involving Le Pen and 24 other party members, including European Parliament lawmakers and their assistants. Prosecutors argued that the accused misused European Parliament funds allocated for parliamentary assistants, redirecting them instead to pay party staff in France. The investigation covered contracts between 2004 and 2016, with judges determining that these funds, amounting to 4.5 million ($4.8 million), were systematically misappropriated. Prosecutors maintained that these assistants were employed as party workers rather than fulfilling their intended European parliamentary roles. While the accused were not charged with personal enrichment, the court ruled that the funds were diverted to benefit the party rather than their designated legislative purpose. During the trial, Le Pen denied any wrongdoing, asserting, I have absolutely no sense of having committed the slightest irregularity, or the slightest illegal act. Her legal team argued that the prosecution had misinterpreted the role of parliamentary assistants and that the 2016 law enabling an automatic ban on public office should not be applied retroactively. Advertisement However, the judges ruled in favour of an immediate ban, meaning she cannot participate in elections until her appeal process is concluded. Who will replace Le Pen in 2027? The ruling has sent shockwaves across the French political spectrum. Le Pens ban from public office means that, for the first time in nearly four decades, a presidential election could be held without a Le Pen on the ballot. The RN now faces the challenge of selecting an alternative candidate for 2027, with party president Jordan Bardella emerging as the likely choice. Bardella, who at 29 is seen as Le Pens protege, has gained popularity but lacks extensive experience in national governance. He expressed outrage over the courts decision, stating, Today it is not only Marine Le Pen who was unjustly condemned. It was French democracy that was killed. While he is viewed as the natural successor, questions remain over whether he can command the same level of support as Le Pen, who spent years mainstreaming the party. Several political figures have voiced concerns over the implications of judicial intervention in electoral politics. Justice Minister Gerald Darmanin previously remarked, Madame Le Pen must be fought at the ballot box, not elsewhere. His concerns are echoed by figures across the political spectrum, including Prime Minister Francois Bayrou and some left-wing opponents, who fear the decision could set a precedent for using legal mechanisms to sideline political adversaries. Advertisement What does this mean for Le Pens political future? Despite the severity of the ruling, Le Pens political career may not be entirely over. She has vowed to appeal, and while the legal process could take months or even years, an overturned ruling would allow her to re-enter the 2027 race. However, the timeline remains uncertain, and if the appeal is not resolved before the election, she will remain disqualified. The RNs strategy moving forward is crucial. With Macrons departure due to term limits, France is entering a new political phase, with multiple candidates vying for leadership. If Le Pen remains sidelined, Bardella will likely step in, but his ability to unify the party and appeal to a broad electorate remains in question. The RNs expansion into mainstream politics has been largely driven by Le Pens leadership, and without her, the party faces an uncertain trajectory. What does this mean for French-EU politics? The verdict has not only affected French politics but has also drawn international attention. Some critics, particularly among right-wing movements in Europe and the United States, see the ruling as an effort to suppress nationalist political forces. US Vice President JD Vance has been among those raising concerns over what he perceives as judicial overreach in European politics. The broader debate over so-called lawfare the use of judicial proceedings to target political opponents has intensified, with some arguing that such measures undermine democratic principles. Meanwhile, others contend that the ruling underscores the importance of accountability and upholding the rule of law, regardless of political affiliations. Advertisement In recent years, European politics has seen a surge in nationalist movements, with right-wing parties gaining momentum in countries such as Italy and Hungary. Le Pens conviction could have ripple effects, influencing how populist parties position themselves and how judicial systems respond to allegations of financial misconduct within political organisations. With inputs from agencies After a 7.7-strong earthquake struck Myanmar on Friday (March 28), India rushed to provide aid in the form of Operation Brahma. This isnt the first time that India is a first responder. It continues to help countries that have been hit by natural disasters from Operation Sadbhav after Typhoon Yagi to Operation Dost after the Turkey-Syria earthquake in 2023 read more Indian Navy personnel loading relief material on to INS Karmuk before it heads to Yangon as part of Operation Brahma. Image Courtesy: @DrSJaishankar/X When in need, look to India. In the aftermath of the powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake that rocked Myanmar on Friday (March 28), with tremors even shaking Thailand, India emerged as one of the first countries to respond by initiating its relief and rescue efforts in the country under the banner Operation Brahma. As the death toll continues to mount in Myanmar at last count, it was pegged at nearly 2,000 New Delhi immediately has extended its helping hand to the country, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi even telling Myanmars military chief, Min Aung Hlaing, that India stands in solidarity with the people of Myanmar in this difficult hour. Advertisement This isnt the first time that India has come to the rescue of another country. It has a history of offering humanitarian assistance to countries when struck by natural disasters. We take a look at some of the most successful ones. Operation Brahma Soon after the junta-ruled country was hit by the strong earthquake on Friday, India announced that it would offer all necessary humanitarian assistance to Myanmar through Operation Brahma. On Saturday, New Delhi deployed two naval ships and began the deployment of an army field hospital with 118 medical personnel to provide immediate assistance to the injured. This 118-team from the elite Shatrujeet Brigade Medical Responders will be led by Lieutenant Colonel Jagneet Gill, reported The Economic Times. The Indian Army has said that it would set up a 60-bed medical treatment centre to provide care to those injured in the disaster. Indias Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, said on the same, Today we launched Operation Brahma. Brahma is a god of creation, at a time when we are extending a helping hand to the Government of Myanmar, and to the people of Myanmar to rebuild their country in the wake of the devastation. This particular name of the operation has a special meaning. Jaiswal added that when India says Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, India also means it. When we say the world is one family, Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, we also want to mean it. We want to prove that by action and therefore, you know, we are very humbled when we have this opportunity to respond to a crisis such as what has happened in Myanmar and extend our support to people, he said. As part of the assistance, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) deployed an 80-member team equipped with concrete cutters, drill machines, plasma cutters, and other rescue tools. Moreover, the first batch of relief supplies, including essential medicines, sleeping bags, blankets, and food, was flown to Yangon early Saturday morning. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar also added that as part of Operation Brahma, INS Satpura & INS Savitri carrying 40 tonnes of humanitarian aid is heading to the port of Yangon. And thats not all; two more ships will follow with additional aid. Advertisement Operation Sadbhav Operation Brahma, however, isnt a one-off programme. When Vietnam, Laos, and Myanmar were hit by Typhoon Yagi in September last year, India launched Operation Sadbhav to provide aid and urgent supplies to the devastated countries. As part of the mission, India sent 10 tonnes of aid, comprising dry rations, clothing, and medicines to Myanmar aboard the Indian naval ship INS Satpura. Also, 35 tonnes of aid were sent to Vietnam, including water purification items, water containers, blankets, kitchen utensils, and solar lanterns, through the Indian Air Forces C-17 military transport aircraft. India loads relief materials on to a plane to deliver to Myanmar as part of Operation Sadbhav, which was aimed to provide aid to the country after Typhoon Yagi. File image/@MEAIndia/X Indias foreign ministry said in a statement, Operation Sadbhav is part of Indias broader effort to contribute to HADR (humanitarian assistance and disaster relief) within the ASEAN region, in line with its longstanding Act East Policy. Typhoon Yagi was one of the most powerful typhoons to hit Southeast Asia in decades. The storm led to over 220 deaths in Vietnam and over 70 in Myanmar. Moreover, Myanmars military government said that the typhoon displaced nearly 2,40,000 people, adding to the 3.4 million already displaced due to the ongoing civil conflict. Operation Dost When Turkey and Syria were hit by a 7.7-magnitude earthquake in February 2023, it led to unprecedented levels of destruction. Over 21,000 people died and countless others were injured. Within days of the quake, though, India announced Operation Dost to extend humanitarian aid to Turkey. Under this programme, New Delhi sent search and rescue teams, including those from the NDRF. Moreover, Indias canine squad was airlifted to the quake-hit regions to search for survivors under the tonnes and tonnes of rubble. Advertisement India also set up an Army field hospital in Iskenderun, Hatay, Turkey, offering all sorts of medical aid to those injured. NDRF personnel, accompanied by their sniffer dogs who were part of Operation Dost meet with PM Narendra Modi. File image/PIB As part of Operation Dost, India even sent aid and relief materials to Syria. When asked about sending relief to a country that was facing US sanctions, MEA secretary Sanjay Verma said that India is following the G20 mantra of One Earth, One Family, One Future. Sanctions dont cover such humanitarian assistance, he said. In fact, more than six tonnes of emergency relief assistance was flown to Damascus. Operation Karuna Later, in May 2023, India also launched Operation Karuna to provide humanitarian assistance for people in Myanmar, who were affected by Cyclone Mocha. As part of its relief efforts, India sent four ships carrying emergency food items, tents, essential medicines, water pumps, portable generators, clothes, sanitary and hygiene items to Yangon, Myanmar. #Operation Karuna continues: INS Gharial brought 10 medical pallets as HADR supplies for the people affected by #Cyclone Mocha. The medical supplies include antibiotics, anti-infectives, anti-inflmmatory/analgesics, anti-histamines, bronchodilators, pro-kinetic, oral pic.twitter.com/7Y0LCB2uPm India in Myanmar (@IndiainMyanmar) May 19, 2023 Advertisement External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had said, India continues to be the first responder in the region. Operation Karuna came in the aftermath of super cyclone Mocha, which hit Bangladesh and Myanmar. In Myanmar, Rakhine state was the worst-hit while in Bangladesh the cyclone destroyed shelters in the worlds largest refugee camp at Coxs Bazar which houses a million Rohingya refugees from Myanmar. Operation Maitri In the aftershock of the 2015 Nepal earthquake measuring 7.9 on the Richter Scale India launched Operation Maitri to extend help to the Himalayan kingdom. In fact, India was one of the first countries to respond to the devastating earthquake and launched the largest-ever relief operation in response to a natural disaster on foreign soil. In the aftermath of the 2015 Nepal earthquake, India launched its biggest ever relief operation, titled Operation Maitri. File image/PTI As part of the operation, India sent 33 Air Force aircraft with 520 tonnes of materials such as tents, blankets, medicines, cooking material, food, water, heavy engineering equipment, ambulances, RO plant and oxygen generators. Eight Mi-17 and five ALH helicopters of the Indian Army also ferried more than 207 tonnes of relief materials and evacuated over 900 injured and transported over 1,700 stranded people of various nationalities. With inputs from agencies A 7.7-magnitude earthquake hit Myanmar on Friday (March 28), claiming the lives of more than 1,700 people and causing widespread damage and destruction. Several countries, including India, the US and Hong Kong among others, have launched rescue missions to help the Asian nation read more The ruins of Sky Villa Condo that collapsed in Friday's earthquake in Mandalay, Myanmar. AP Myanmar is witnessing one of its hardest times after a devastating earthquake of 7.7 magnitude hit the country on Friday (March 28). So far, more than 1,700 people have been reported dead in the incident while more than 3,000 have been reported injured. As the country faces widespread damage, nations from around the world are helping Myanmar fight and rebuild itself. India has launched Operation Brahma to assist the nation with widespread rescue and relief operations which includes rescue teams, medical aid and relief supplies. Advertisement Let us take a look at how countries from around the world are helping Myanmar get back on its feet. India India initiated relief and rescue work under Operation Brahma after the deadly earthquake struck Myanmar. On Saturday (March 29), the country deployed two naval ships that began the deployment of an army field hospital with 118 medical personnel to provide immediate assistance to the injured. Two additional naval vessels, currently stationed at Sri Vijaya Puram under the Andaman and Nicobar Command, will be deployed in the coming days to augment Indias aid operations. Indian Navy ships INS Karmuk and LCU 52 are headed for Yangon with 30 tonnes of disaster relief and medical supplies. X/@DrSJaishankar Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal confirmed that multiple aircraft have been deployed under Operation Brahma. The first aircraft, carrying 15 tonnes of relief material, took off at 3 am from Hindon Air Force Base in Uttar Pradeshs Ghaziabad, reaching Yangon by 8 am, reported news website NDTV. Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with Myanmars military chief, Min Aung Hlaing, expressing solidarity. In a post on X, he said, Spoke with Senior General H E Min Aung Hlaing of Myanmar. Conveyed our deep condolences for 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. China The Peoples Republic of China deployed an 82-person rescue team to Myanmar on Saturday, as announced by Beijing. Subsequently, on Sunday, the state-run Xinhua news agency reported the arrival of a 118-member search and rescue team. Furthermore, a separate rescue team reached Myanmars commercial hub, Yangon, on Saturday, as conveyed by state media. The Chinese government will also provide Myanmar with 100 million yuan ($13.8 million) in emergency humanitarian assistance, with shipments to begin Monday, its international aid agency said Saturday. Hong Kong A 51-person team from Hong Kong has arrived in Myanmar, the financial hubs government said Sunday. The city also sent two search and rescue dogs and equipment, including life detectors. The city has earmarked HK$30 million ($3.8 million) for emergency relief support to Myanmar, it said in a statement. United States US President Donald Trump on Friday vowed Washington would assist Myanmar, describing the quake as terrible. Its a real bad one, and we will be helping. Weve already spoken with the country, Trump told reporters. European Union The European Union said it was providing 2.5 million euros ($2.7 million) in initial emergency aid and assessing the needs on the ground in order to mobilise further assistance. Britain Britain pledged 10 million ($12.9 million) in humanitarian aid, with development minister Jennifer Chapman saying UK-funded local partners were already mobilising on the ground. Ireland Ireland announced it would contribute an initial six million euros in aid, with half going to Red Cross organisations and the other half to UN agencies. Malaysia Malaysias foreign ministry said it would send a team to Myanmar consisting of one commander and 49 rescue personnel to support ongoing humanitarian and disaster relief operations. Indonesia Indonesia said Sunday it will send a search and rescue team, medical team and logistical aid to Myanmar starting Monday. The Indonesian military will send a hospital ship, three Hercules aircraft and four helicopters to assist emergency response, local media reported military spokesman Kristomei Sianturi as saying. Philippines The Philippines said Saturday it is sending a team of 114 people, including medics, firefighters and members of the armed forces. The teams tentative deployment date is Tuesday. Vietnam Vietnam said Sunday it would send 80 rescuers to help with search and recovery efforts. The Public Security Ministry said it will send a team of police officers and medics, a ministry-run newspaper reported. All were to be deployed on Sunday. South Korea South Korea said it would send $2 million in humanitarian assistance to support urgent rescue and relief efforts after the earthquake. New Zealand New Zealand said it would give NZ$2.0 million ($1.1 million) to the International Red Cross for the emergency response. WHO The World Health Organization has mobilised its logistics hub in Dubai to prepare trauma injury supplies and triggered its emergency management response. On Sunday it said the quake was a top-level crisis and announced it was urgently seeking $8 million to save lives and prevent disease outbreaks over the next 30 days. Red Cross The local Myanmar Red Cross Society has mobilised trained volunteers to provide help, launching search and rescue efforts, administering first aid, distributing emergency relief items and deploying mobile health teams. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies launched an emergency appeal Sunday for more than $100 million to help 100,000 people with life-saving relief. United Nations The UN humanitarian agency Ocha is mobilising emergency response efforts, alongside its partner organisations. 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, Ocha said in a statement on Saturday. With inputs from AFP A red speeding Lamborghini rammed into two labourers seated on a pavement close to a building that was still under construction in Noidas Sector 94 on Sunday. While the luxury car reportedly belongs to popular YouTuber Mridul Tiwari, the car was driven by a car dealer named Deepak Kumar, who hails from Rajasthan read more hile the luxury car reportedly belongs to popular YouTuber Mridul Tiwari, the car was driven by a car dealer named Deepak Kumar, who hails from Rajasthan. Image Courtesy: X Two people were seriously injured on Sunday after being rammed by a speeding Lamborghini in Noidas Sector 94. While the luxury car reportedly belongs to popular YouTuber Mridul Tiwari, the car was driven by a car dealer named Deepak Kumar, who hails from Rajasthan. A video has also taken over the internet where Kumar is asking if anyone had died when confronted by bystanders at the scene. Many people are outraged by the video and are questioning the casual attitude towards reckless driving. Advertisement Heres all we know about the incident. What happened? A red coloured Lamborghini reportedly rammed into two labourers in Noida, both of whom suffered serious injuries to their arms and legs. Two others narrowly escaped, as per The Times of India. A heated argument between the driver and a bystander was captured in a 51-second video of the aftermath that went viral on social media. Locals rushed to the car after hearing a loud thud and asked the driver to step out. #Noida News: A #Lamborghini car hit two labourers due to careless driving on Sunday evening in Sector 94 of Noida, breaking their arms and legs. #Police have arrested the driver and seized the car and are investigating the case.#NoidaCarAccident #Accident pic.twitter.com/24GZtfxlcy Urmila (@Urmila_95) March 31, 2025 In the clip, a man can be heard confronting the driver, asking, Are you practicing stunts? To which, the driver responds, Is anyone dead? What else? Just look there. Somebody please call the police, another man said. After the locals alerted the police, one of them accused the driver of over-speeding. The driver was heard saying that he was pressing on the accelerator very softly. Was that soft? the local countered. Advertisement The injured labourers, who hail from Chhattisgarh, were rushed to a nearby hospital, and police said they are out of danger and have fractures in their legs. The injured said they werent able to run as the car charged towards them at a high speed. Also read: Pune Porsche crash: How a night out turned tragic for two young techies Who was the man behind the wheel? Deepak Kumar, an Ajmer-based car dealer, was test-driving the expensive vehicle when it veered off the road and crashed into workers seated on a pavement close to a building that was still under construction. According to the police, Deepak had travelled to Noida to assess the Lamborghinis performance. Bhupendra Singh, in charge at Sector 126 Police Station, told PTI that during questioning, Kumar told them that the accident happened due to a fault in the vehicle. Police from Sector 126 station took Kumar into custody and registered an FIR under Sections 281 (rash driving), and 125 (a) (causing hurt by an act endangering life or personal safety of others) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The vehicle was also seized. Police admitted that the incident had rekindled worries about speeding automobiles being driven carelessly on congested city streets, especially by inexperienced drivers exceeding speed restrictions. Who owns the car? The red Lamborghini is registered in the name of YouTuber Mridul Tiwari in Pondicherry. The owner, Mridul Tiwari, a resident of Noida and a YouTuber with over 18 million subscribers, was selling the car and Deepak had come to check its condition, Noida ADCP Sumit Shukla said, as per Hindustan Times. Advertisement Tiwari is known for his comedy videos, with first YouTube video titled Sister vs Girlfriend, being released in October 2018. He has more than 3.5 million Facebook followers and more than 536,000 Instagram followers, demonstrating his fame apart from YouTube. Tiwari was recently listed among the Top 10 Indian YouTube Creators on YouTube. According to reports, Tiwari acquired a Lamborghini Huracan in 2023. Mridul Tiwari claimed to be the owner of the Worlds 1st Lamborghini with Jai Shree Ram in an Instagram post on August 14, 2023. He has been called in by the police for questioning as they look into who gave permission for the car to be used at the time of the incident. Why is the incident compared to the Pune Porsche car crash? Notably, the incident comes a year after the fatal Porsche accident case in Pune, where two IT engineers were killed. The victims, Aneesh Awadhiya and his friend Ashwini Koshta, both 24 and from Madhya Pradesh, were killed early on May 19, 2024, when their motorbike was struck by a speeding Porsche driven by a 17-and-a-half-year-old teenager who was reportedly intoxicated at Punes Kalyani Nagar intersection. Advertisement The minor was initially granted bail by the Juvenile Justice Board with the condition of writing a 300-word essay on road safety. Netizens were quick to draw similarities between the two incidents. Repeat of Pune Incident in Noida, Uttar Pradesh. Speeding Lamborghini ran over 2 Labourers And when people confronted the RICH BRAT, he shamelessly asked, Koi mar gaya kya idhar? one user posted with a video of the Noida accident on X. Repeat of Pune Incident in Noida, Uttar Pradesh. Speeding Lamborghini ran over 2 Labourers And when people confronted the RICH BRAT, he shamelessly asked, Koi mar gaya kya idhar? pic.twitter.com/L8efXTg8Ms Rosy (@rose_k01) March 30, 2025 Accident today evening in Noida's Sector 94: Lamborghini crashes & runs over 3 people at 140 kmph speed. Driver asks "Koi Mar Gaya Kya?" These rich people know that they wil come out easily with Money Power & by writing an Essay. Shameless People.#Accident #NoidaAccident #Noida pic.twitter.com/zcvkyDVTUi Prof Shrinath Rao K (@ProfSRK) March 30, 2025 Owning a 50 lakh+ car in India now seems to mean owning the road too. A Lamborghini mows down two labourers, and the driver reacts casuallyno guilt, no remorse. When bail is just a few lakhs and a legal essay away, why would they care? another user wrote. Advertisement Owning a 50 lakh+ car in India now seems to mean owning the road too. A Lamborghini mows down two laborers, and the driver reacts casuallyno guilt, no remorse. When bail is just a few lakhs and a legal essay away, why would they care? #Noida pic.twitter.com/c99U4kmiiP Nikhil saini (@iNikhilsaini) March 30, 2025 With inputs from agencies Social media is flooded with ChatGPT-generated Studio Ghibli-inspired images. However, not everything is as it seems. Digital experts note that this could be a ploy to gain access to personal images, which could be used for AI training. Some even note that users are unknowingly handing over their facial data, compromising their privacy read more An AI-generated image of PM Modi in the Ghibli style uploaded on X. Celebrities and brands have climbed on to the bandwagon, but security experts note that there's a security risk. Image Courtesy: @mygovindia/X Ghibli-style art here, Ghibli-style art there, Ghibli-style art everywhere. Everywhere you look on social media, theres a flood of photos turned into cutesy images after Open AI launched its Ghibli AI art generator. Everyones jumped on the Studio Ghibli bandwagon from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to US First Buddy Elon Musk, who posted a Ghibli-style image of himself as Rafiki from The Lion King, holding up Doge like a future ruler. Advertisement But amid this deluge of Ghibli-style images, theres a debate brewing: is ChatGPT stealing your face without your consent? Heres the truth about it. What is ChatGPTs Ghibli-style trend all about? Last week, Sam Altmans OpenAI rolled out its image-generation feature as part of its GPT-4o. This tool has amazed users with its ability to recreate the signature Ghibli aesthetic. For the unaware, it borrows inspiration from Japans animation studio, Studio Ghibli, which was founded in 1985 by noted directors Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata. After the launch, social media users took a liking to the images that the AI company created and soon after, a viral trend emerged. Everything from famous movie scenes to personal memories, proposals, and even moments of tragedy transformed into Ghibli-style art, with users embracing the trend wholeheartedly. Such has been the virality of the trend that on Thursday (March 27), OpenAI CEO Sam Altman even said that due to the demand for these images, our GPUs are melting. And on Sunday (March 30), he asked users to please chill on generating images, calling the demand insane and saying that the team needs sleep. can yall please chill on generating images this is insane our team needs sleep Sam Altman (@sama) March 30, 2025 What are the privacy concerns over ChatGPTs Ghibli-style images? But while everyone is excited, some concerns have emerged, especially on the safety and privacy of people who are using this AI tool. Many digital privacy activists have raised alarm bells over OpenAIs latest Ghibli-style AI art generator with some arguing that it could be a clever ploy for OpenAI to gain access to thousands of personal images, potentially compromising user privacy. As Proton, a platform that believes that the internet can only be better where privacy is a default, noted on X, Once you share personal photos with AI, you lose control over how they are used since those photos are then used to train AI. Advertisement The group also added on X that data could be used for personalised ads and/or sold to third parties. Think this is a fun trend? Think again. While some don't have an issue sharing selfies on social media, the trend of creating a "Ghibli-style" image has seen many people feeding OpenAI photos of themselves and their families. Here's why that's a problem: 1/4 pic.twitter.com/o9VqS3Teoe Proton (@ProtonPrivacy) March 27, 2025 Experts also note that there is a possible risk of ones images being misused by AI. For instance, uploaded photos of individuals might be used to generate misleading or defamatory content. Elle Farrell-Kingsley, who is a British futurist, journalist and advocate for AI ethics, also issued a word of caution on using personal images for these Ghibli-style portraits. She wrote on X, Uploading photos/thoughts to AI tools risks exposing metadata, location, even sensitive data especially for kids. Advertisement If its free, you (& your data) are the price. If youre fine with that, great but its good to be aware, she wrote. Ghibli-style AI art is everywhere, but some concerns: 1Privacy: Uploading pics/thoughts to AI tools risks exposing metadata, location, even sensitive dataesp for kids. If its free, you (& your data) are the price. If you're fine with that, great but it's good to be aware pic.twitter.com/l6HxjP3vtO Elle Farrell-Kingsley (@ellefkingsley) March 28, 2025 And Farrell-Kingsley isnt alone in having this concern. Others have also noted that theres a risk that these images, which are uploaded to the servers, are then freely accessible to countless others. Luiza Jarovsky, co-founder of the AI, Tech & Privacy Academy, also noted that people who voluntarily upload these images give their consent to OpenAI to process them. OpenAIs privacy policy explicitly states that the company collects personal data input by users to train its AI models when users havent opted out, she wrote on X. Advertisement She added that OpenAI is gaining free and easy access to personal or private images, and only they will have the originals. Social media platforms and other AI companies will only see the Ghiblified version. Even Himachal Cyber Warriors, which claim to be a team of cyber security experts, warn of the dangers that come with using ChatGPTs image generator. Think before you #Ghibli That cute Ghibli-style selfie? It might cost more than you think. Your photo could be misused or manipulated. AI may train on it without your consent. Data brokers might sell it for targeted ads. Stay cyber smart. Your privacy matters. pic.twitter.com/aEjT3sHtTN Himachal Cyber Warriors (@hpcyberwarriors) March 29, 2025 Experts have also stated that unlike a password, which can be changed, a compromised facial identity remains exposed permanently. Bollywood actor Amitabh Bachchan too, joined the bandwagon, sharing his own Ghibli-inspired edits. Image Courtesy: Amitabh Bachchan/Tumblr Are there copyright issues too? But the issue of privacy isnt the only one that has been flagged since OpenAI launched this tool. The viral Studio Ghibli-style AI images have also raised concerns about copyright infringement. Legal experts say what OpenAI has done falls in a grey area. Evan Brown, an intellectual property lawyer at the US-based law firm Neal & McDevitt, told TechCrunch that style is not explicitly protected by copyright laws. This means that OpenAI does not technically appear to be violating laws by generating images that look like Studio Ghibli movies. But Josh Weigensberg, a partner at law firm Pryor Cashman was quoted as saying that while style cant be copyrighted, specific elements of an artwork could infringe copyright laws if too similar to the original. And it seems that the founder of this style himself is not a fan of AI or generating images akin to his style of animation. In a 2016 video, Studio Ghibli co-founder Hayao Miyazaki described AI-generated art as an insult to life itself. Advertisement I am utterly disgusted, he said in the video. If you really want to make creepy stuff, you can go ahead and do it, but I would never wish to incorporate this technology into my work at all. With inputs from agencies Donald Trump has issued his biggest threat against Iran, warning of bombing the likes of which they have never seen before. Why? Its the US presidents latest attempt of getting Tehran to the negotiating table over the nuclear deal, which America pulled out of in 2018. What comes next? read more US President Donald Trump is angry. Hes so angry that on Sunday (March 30), the US president threatened to bomb Iran if the Islamic Republic doesnt reach a new deal with Washington on its nuclear programme. This has now led to concerns: concerns of a looming war between the two countries, especially after it was reported that Irans armed forces have readied missiles with the capability to strike US-related positions. So, whats going on? How did the two countries get here? And what could be the repercussions if Trump actually went ahead and bombed Iran? Heres what we found out so far. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Trumps big, big warning to Iran On Sunday, Trump didnt hold anything back as he spoke about Iran and his next steps with the Islamic Republic. In an interview with NBC News, he threatened Iran with bombings and secondary tariffs if the country did not come to an agreement with his administration about its nuclear programme. If they dont make a deal, Trump told NBC News Kristen Welker, There will be bombing. It will be bombing the likes of which they have never seen before. The US president further added: Theres a chance that if they dont 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. His remarks come as the Trump administration is working on a new agreement with Tehran that would lead to the total shutdown of Irans nuclear weapon programme. To this effect, Trump sent a letter to Irans supreme leader, Ayatollah Khamenei , on March 12 reportedly urging the Iranian government to begin negotiations. Speaking on the same, Trump had told Fox News, 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. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has ruled out direct negotiations with the administration of US President Donald Trump over the countrys nuclear programme. File image/Reuters But, on Sunday (March 30), Iran President Masoud Pezeshkian said that the Islamic Republic rejected direct negotiations with the United States over the nuclear deal. We dont avoid talks, Pezeshkian said in televised remarks during a Cabinet meeting. Its the breach of promises that has caused issues for us so far. They must prove that they can build trust. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD However, Irans response, which was sent through the Omani government, has left a small window open for continued indirect negotiations between the two hostile nations. We responded to the US presidents letter via Oman and rejected the option of direct talks, but we are open to indirect negotiations, Pezeshkian said. He stressed that while Iran is not against negotiations in principle, Washington must first rectify its past misconduct and rebuild trust. Iran ups the ante Trumps threats, if reports are to be believed, havent gone down well in Tehran. According to a report in Tehran Times, Iran has placed its missiles in ready-to-launch mode within underground facilities across the country, designed to withstand airstrikes. Moreover, in a recently released video, the Islamic Republic also showed off its underground missile facility. Termed missile city by Irans Revolutionary Guards, the clip displayed the countrys advanced weaponry and its troops stepping on an Israeli flag painted on the ground. Iran's 'Underground Missile City': IRGC Reveals Tunnels Stacked With Thousands Of Precision-Guided Missiles pic.twitter.com/baaoddv5Kg RT_India (@RT_India_news) March 26, 2025 STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Also, Press TV, the English-language arm of Iranian state television, published a report last week that listed US bases in West Asia as possible targets of attack. The list included Camp Thunder Cove on Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean, where the US is basing stealth B-2 bombers likely being used in Yemen. Iranian missiles on display in Tehran. It is reported that Iran is readying its missile arsenal to retaliate against the US. File image/Reuters The Iran nuclear deal at the centre of it all The threats from Trump and Irans reported reaction all stem from the nuclear programme, which Trump first pulled out of in his first term. Negotiated in 2015, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action , which was commonly known as the Iran nuclear deal, saw Iran agreeing to dismantle much of its nuclear programme and open its facilities to more extensive international inspections in exchange for billions of dollars worth of sanctions relief. Many believed that this deal would help prevent a revival of Irans nuclear weapons programme and thereby reduce the prospects for conflict between Iran and its regional rivals, including Israel and Saudi Arabia. However, Trump withdrew from the deal in 2018 and re-imposed sweeping sanctions. Since then the Islamic Republic has far surpassed the agreed limits in its escalating programme of uranium enrichment. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Since his return to the White House, this year, he has restarted his maximum pressure campaign on Tehran with his officials repeatedly insisting that Iran cannot acquire a nuclear weapon. Trump, in his letter to Iran, also cited a two-month deadline for reaching a new nuclear deal, reported Axios. However, isnt clear whether the two-month clock begins from the time the letter was delivered or from when negotiations start. But Iran is also firm in its stance that it cant hold direct negotiations, as Washington maintains its heavy sanctions on Tehran. Irans Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also said earlier, We will not enter any direct negotiations with the US so long as they continue their maximum pressure policy and their threats. A woman walks with children past a mural depicting a US Air Force unmanned drone, painted on the outer walls of the former US embassy in Tehran. File image/AFP Concerns loom large As the two countries refuse to back down, many worry that it could result in military strikes, endangering the security situation in West Asia and nearby regions. While Iran doesnt have a nuclear weapon yet, it does possess the knowledge and infrastructure to produce a nuclear weapon in fairly short order should its leaders decide to do so. Moreover, Iran is known for its missile programme as evidenced by its airstrikes on Israel last year. Iran has varied capabilities, including deep and diverse arsenals of cruise and ballistic missiles, as well as drones. US intelligence analysts say that Iran has the largest ballistic missile inventory in West Asia. In fact, Irans longest-range missiles have the capability of striking targets over 2,000 kilometres away, covering all of West Asia and big parts of Europe. Combine all of this, and its a big concern to Washington. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Mahsa Rouhi, a research fellow at National Defense Universitys Institute for National Strategic Studies, told Foreign Policy that a strike on Iran would carry a heavy price tag for the US. US airstrikes on Iran would likely escalate into a wider conflict, given the higher probability of retaliatory strikes. She further noted that it would likely push Irans leadership to accelerate its nuclear ambitions covertly increasing the risk of an undetectable breakout. Iranian leaders may conclude that becoming a nuclear-armed state is the only viable long-term safeguard against future attacks. Moreover, it could lead to Iran turning to its network of proxy militias the Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen. It is left to be seen what comes next, but we hope for cooler minds to prevail. After all, who needs to see another war in 2025? With inputs from agencies For India to truly become a global leader in sustainability and achieve its Viksit Bharat vision, integrating green skill development into the national agenda is imperative read more The Green Skill Development Programme is playing a transformative role in equipping Indias youth with industry-relevant expertise in renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, and clean technologies. Image: Moneycontrol As India marches towards its vision of Viksit Bharata developed, self-reliant nationgreen skill development emerges as a crucial enabler. With a rapidly expanding renewable energy sector and a strong governmental push for sustainability, the demand for a skilled workforce in green technologies is higher than ever. The Green Skill Development Programme, driven by the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) under the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, is playing a transformative role in equipping Indias youth with industry-relevant expertise in renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, and clean technologies. Advertisement To streamline and standardise skill development, NSDC has established 36 Sector Skill Councils (SSCs), each led by industry leaders in their respective sectors. Among these, the Skill Council for Green Jobs (SCGJ) is at the forefront of identifying skill gaps and designing competency standards for the renewable energy and green hydrogen sectors. SCGJ has projected a massive surge in employment opportunities, with the green hydrogen sector alone expected to generate 315,000 job opportunities across various roles in renewable energy plants. Additionally, a joint assessment by SCGJ and the Council on Energy, Environment, and Water (CEEW) estimates a million job openings by 2030 in the solar and wind energy sectors as India moves towards achieving its ambitious 500 GW non-fossil fuel capacity target. The Government of Indias Skill India Mission (SIM) has been instrumental in delivering skill training, reskilling, and upskilling initiatives through an extensive network of skill development centres and institutes. Key government schemes such as the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) offer short-term training and certification in renewable energy, while Jan Shikshan Sansthan (JSS) empowers marginalised communities with skill development opportunities. Other programmes like the National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS) facilitate industry-led skill training through apprenticeships, and the Craftsman Training Scheme (CTS) through ITIs imparts structured vocational training. Additionally, the Directorate General of Training (DGT), under MSDE, is implementing the skill component of the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, ensuring a steady supply of trained professionals to support Indias solar energy expansion. Recognising the need for world-class training, SCGJ has signed a tripartite MoU with the Australian government and ReNew Pvt. Ltd. This partnership will establish a cutting-edge training centre in India with technical support from Australian experts. The initiative aims to develop specialised training modules and train 2,000 workers on solar rooftop installationa key area in Indias clean energy transition. Such collaborations underscore the importance of global expertise in shaping a workforce that is equipped with advanced technical knowledge and best practices in sustainability. Advertisement To ensure a structured and high-quality skill development ecosystem, SCGJ has developed 37 qualifications in renewable energy and green hydrogen. These qualifications are aligned with the National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF), approved by the National Council for Vocational Education and Training (NCVET), and developed in adherence to globally benchmarked standards. This structured approach guarantees that skill development programmes meet industry requirements and enhance the employability of the youth entering the green workforce. Skill training in the renewable energy and green hydrogen sectors is an ongoing nationwide effort. SCGJ has already trained and certified over 158,000 people, not just fostering employment but also ensuring that India has the skilled manpower needed to achieve its ambitious renewable energy targets. For India to truly become a global leader in sustainability and achieve its Viksit Bharat vision, integrating green skill development into the national agenda is imperative. The synergy between government policies, industry collaborations, and training programmes is laying the foundation for a skilled workforce that will drive Indias clean energy revolution. With a proactive approach to equipping youth with cutting-edge green skills, India is not just preparing for the futureit is shaping it. Advertisement Anil Agrawal is an ex-Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha, and Akash Balyan is studying economics at Symbiosis School of Economics. The views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the authors. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views. The US president wants the US hostages back and his Riviera plan to fructify while the Israeli PM intends to prolong the war perpetually for political survival read more Trump got what he wanted from the ceasefire: limelight. He colluded with Netanyahu for Phase 1, with both leaders not bothered about the remaining phases. (Source: Reuters) The guns fell silent. The media was euphoric. The optics were excellent. Donald Trump had achieved what Joe Biden couldnt after the Hamas carnage and Israels devastating retaliation on October 7, 2023. On the eve of Trumps second inauguration, Hamas handed three Israeli women hostages to the Red Cross after holding them captive for 471 days. The hostages were released under phase one of an elusive three-phased ceasefire of 42 days each brokered by Qatar and Egypt but led by Team Trump. Hamas released 25 living Israeli hostages and the bodies of 8 dead ones. Israel freed around 1,900 Palestinian prisoners in return. Displaced Palestinians returned to their homes in north Gaza. Hundreds of aid trucks were allowed into the enclave daily. Advertisement Most importantly, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) pulled out of the enclaves populated areas and the Netzarim Corridora military zone that divided north and south Gazaand only remained in the border areas, including the southern Philadelphi Corridor. A hollow ceasefire with an Israeli-US plan The ceasefire was Trumps The Art of the Deal moment. His Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff had sealed the deal and Hamas and Benjamin Netanyahu, who had dug their heels, were toeing Trumps line. This EPIC ceasefire agreement could have only happened as a result of our Historic Victory in November he posted on Truth Social on January 15, the day Qatar announced the deal. However, a careful analysis of the ceasefire reveals that it was never intended to go beyond Phase 1. Israel-Gaza ceasefire: Read the full text of the agreement The plan will see the release of both Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners over the coming weekshttps://t.co/HeBz5CGwk8 Middle East Eye (@MiddleEastEye) January 15, 2025 Phase 2 depended on negotiations meant to start on Day 16 of Phase 1. Hamas was supposed to release the remaining hostages with Israel freeing more Palestinian prisoners in return. Phase 2s most contentious part was the complete withdrawal of Israeli soldiers from Gaza and a permanent ceasefire conditions Netanyahu would have never agreed to with Trump back in power. Advertisement Trump got what he wanted from the ceasefire: limelight. Four episodes show that he colluded with Netanyahu with both leaders not bothered about the remaining phases. First, before his inauguration and during Phase 1, Trump kept the option of reattacking Hamas open by threatening hell if the group didnt release the remaining hostages. He threatened Hamas a third time after Phase 1 despite the release of 33 hostages. Second, both Trump and Netanyahuand possibly Bidenkept the window open for resuming the fighting knowing that Phase 2 would not start. On January 18, a day before the ceasefire was implemented, the Israeli PM said in a statement that Israel would resume fighting if the second-stage negotiations are ineffectual. Both President Trump and President Biden have given full backing to Israels right to return to the fighting, he said adding that Trump rightly emphasised that the first stage of the agreement is a temporary ceasefire. Third, Trump announced his outlandish plan to turn Gaza into a US-run riviera of the Middle East by displacing the 2.1 million Gazans with a beaming Netanyahu by his side at the White House on February 4. He didnt even rule out sending American troops to Gaza. Advertisement Fourth, Trump is concerned only about the release of Edan Alexander and the bodies of four other American-Israeli hostagesOmer Neutra, Judi Weinstein Haggai, Gad Haggai and Itay Chen. If he fails to bring them back, it will dent his image of a strong and uncompromising president. On March 4, Trumps hostage envoy Adam Boehler engaged directly with Hamas about releasing Edan Alexander and the bodies of four other American-Israeli hostages in Doha. Boehler was ecstatic after the talks with Hamas, which, according to him, had proposed a five-to-10-year ceasefire and a full prisoner exchange. He told Israeli public broadcaster Kan News that Hamas would eventually lay down arms and leave power in Gaza. He also told CNNs Jake Tapper on the State of the Union that theyre [Hamas] actually pretty nice guys. Boehler had riled Netanyahus hard-line ministers like strategic affairs adviser Ron Dermer and ultranationalist finance minister Bezalel Smotrich, whose National Religious PartyReligious Zionism is part of the coalition. Smotrich had threatened to resign if a ceasefire was reached and Netanyahus other coalition partner, Otzma Yehudit party chief and national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, had quit on day one of Phase 1. Advertisement Trump immediately sidelined Boehler. On March 10, secretary of state Marco Rubio said that Witkoff would lead the negotiations. On the same day, Witkoff demanded a deadline for Hamas to depart Gaza with its arms indirectly tying it to an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. Witkoff offered Hamas a new proposal on March 12 that proposed to extend the ceasefire for Ramazan and Passover (till April 20) and asked Hamas to release five living hostages and return the bodies of nine hostages in exchange for extending the truce. When Hamas, which instead stressed implementing Phase 2, rejected the offer, Israel stopped the aid trucks and halted electricity to Gaza. On March 14, Hamas agreed to release Alexander and the bodies of four dual national hostages, in line with Boehlers proposal. Israel rejected the offer as manipulation and psychological warfare and the US said that Hamas was claiming flexibility. Now, the US has offered another proposal to Hamas via Qatar similar to Witkoffs which calls for Alexanders release and a statement by Trump calling for resuming ceasefire talks. However, Hamass military leader Mohammed Sinwar has rejected the proposal since it doesnt offer anything concrete in return. Advertisement Bibis survival, Trumps Riviera and Hamass elimination What followed reveals a careful Israeli-US plan as hell was unleashed on Gaza. There are three aspects of the plan. First, Israel resumed airstrikes on Gaza on March 18 killing more than 700 Palestinians, taking the toll to more than 50,000 since October 7, 2023. Thirty-six hours later, Israel launched a limited ground operation in north, central and south Gaza and to retake the Netzarim Corridor. Israel's prime minister is warning that resumed combat in Gaza will continue until all hostages are released. More than 400 people have been killed in the ongoing airstrikes which were fully co-ordinated' with the United States. @jacquelinrobson #7NEWS pic.twitter.com/6ZKJdVgmJU 7NEWS Sydney (@7NewsSydney) March 19, 2025 Israel and the US blamed Hamas for the new assault, but extending Phase 1 wasnt part of the ceasefire agreement. Israel also rejected an Egyptian ceasefire proposal post-airstrikes under which Hamas would release five living hostages, including Alexander, and Israel would halt fighting and allow aid trucks. After a week, Israel would implement Phase 2 of the earlier agreement, release hundreds of Palestinian prisoners and withdraw completely from Gaza under a timeline. Hamas, which agreed to the proposal, would release the remaining living hostages and bodies of the dead ones under a timeline. However, Israel favoured Witkoffs March 12 proposal. Netanyahu said that the new offensive would continue until is achieved over Hamas and the 59 remaining hostagesof which only 24 are aliveare released. The Israeli PM has miserably failed to bring back the hostages despite the massive military operation in Gaza. Of the 251 hostages, several are dead. The IDF has been able to rescue only eight hostages alive. The remaining hostages released alive by Hamas33 this year, 105 in late November 2023 and 4 hostages before thatwere only due to a short truce and Phase 1. The initial assault and the latest strikes were never about the hostages or Hamas. It was Netanyahus tactic for political survival. The longest-serving Israeli PM knows its his last term. Although his Likud and alliance partners won only 48.4 per cent of the vote in the 2022 election, he still formed the government in alliance with the most extreme right-wing parties. Netanyahu is highly unpopular with an Israel Democracy Institute earlier survey this month showing that 73 per cent of Israelis want him to resign either now or after the war and 87 per cent want him to take responsibility for the October 7 massacre. The PM wants to drag the war to ensure he serves his full term and possibly beyond. The next legislative election is slated for October 2026. Israel postponed legislative elections in 1948 due to the Arab-Israeli War and in 1973 following the Yom Kippur War. Netanyahu is also embroiled in three corruption cases involving charges of fraud, breach of trust and briberythe first PM to take the stand as a criminal defendant in Israels history. He introduced a judicial reform Bill in January 2023 to weaken the Supreme Court triggering nationwide protests. One year later, the Supreme Court struck the Bill down. On the day of the airstrikes, two incidents showed how the renewed attack favoured Netanyahu. First, his corruption trial hearing was postponed as the IDF pounded Gaza. Second, hours after the airstrikes, Ben-Gvir rejoined the government. With Netanyahus coalition strength back to 68 seats, the Knesset passed the 2025 Budget on March 25. Failing to pass the Budget by March 31 would have triggered an early election. Second, Trump approved the airstrikes, indicating that his Gaza Riviera plan, termed bizarre and shocking, is very much intact. In February, he told Fox News that relocated Palestinians wouldnt have the right to return. Palestinians will have no right of return says Trump, with the excuse theyll have better housing. Better than the luxury real estate for Israelis/Jews/elite 1%? Doubt it. This is Ethnic Cleansing legalized & justifed as humanitarian aid, NO different than liberals. pic.twitter.com/StHgqTF7Ph Fiorella Isabel (@FiorellaIsabelM) February 10, 2025 In the same month, in the presence of Jordans King Abdullah, Trump reiterated his plan of relocating Gazans. Witkoff told CBS News this month that the US was exploring all alternatives and options to relocate Gazans. Moreover, the US and Israel rejected an alternative $53-billion plan proposed by Egypt and other Arab League that called for Gazas reconstruction without relocating Gazans in a clear indication of supporting Trumps Riviera plan. Under the three-phase plan, $3 billion will be spent on building 200,000 temporary housing units and urgent relief operations in Phase 1 in six months to one year. In Phase 2, $20 billion will be spent on building 200,000 permanent housing units and re-establishing vital infrastructure in two years. In the final phase, $30 billion will be spent on constructing another 200,000 permanent housing units and an airport and reconstructing ports in two years. According to the plan, an administrative panel comprising independent Palestinian technocrats will oversee the operations and administer Gaza for six months before the Palestinian Authority returns to rule the enclave. Rejecting the plan, the White House backed Trumps contention that Gaza is uninhabitable and its residents cannot humanely live in a territory covered in debris and unexploded ordnance. Israel said that the proposal continues to rely on the Palestinian Authority and UNRWA. Both have repeatedly demonstrated corruption, support for terrorism and failure in resolving the issue. Trumps plan is being implemented gradually. Israel plans to occupy the whole of Gaza and establish military rule in a few months by launching a massive ground invasion, according to an analysis in Haaretz. Netanyahu has warned Hamas of seizing territory in Gaza, including other things. Israeli PM Netanyahu, speaking at the Israeli Knesset, reiterates Israel's threat to seize parts of Gaza. "The more Hamas persists in its stubbornness and refuses to release our captives, the stronger and harsher the pressure we will apply. And I say to you, members of the pic.twitter.com/rPaKLObOLB The Cradle (@TheCradleMedia) March 26, 2025 Israeli defence minister Israel Katz has warned Hamas that the IDF will be permanently deployed in Gaza if the hostages arent released. The IDF has been instructed to seize additional areas in Gaza while evacuating the population and to expand the security zones around Gaza to protect Israeli communities and IDF soldiers through permanent maintenance of the territory by Israel. Israel also plans to evacuate Gazans to the south, a clear signal of implementing the Generals Plan, designed by retired Major General and former National Security Council chief Giora Eiland in 2024 to pressure Hamas to release the remaining hostages. The plan was presented to the Knesset by several retired Israeli Generals. Israels war tactics mirror the plan though the IDF didnt officially adopt it. For example, Israel designated north Gaza as a combat zone and asked residents to evacuate on October 6, 2024, Under the plan, Gazans in the north would be evacuated, the area would be declared a military exclusion zone, the remaining population would be declared combatants and aid trucks would be barred. Israels security cabinet has established a new administration in the defence ministry, as proposed by Katz, that will help Palestinians to voluntarily leave Gaza by land, sea and air for third countries. Moreover, the IDF has removed the designated humanitarian zone from its maps issued to Gazans and asked them to evacuate recognised humanitarian shelters in the enclave. The Generals Plans most important feature is Israels control over the north indefinitely, splitting Gaza into two and creating a new administration without Hamas, which will either have to surrender or starve. People will not be able to live there. The water will dry up. The idea is to deprive Hamas of money, manpower, supplies and motivation. The complete siege would block the supply of medicine, fuel, food and water until Hamas surrendered. Third, Israel also wants to eliminate the Hamas political leadership to control Gaza. Unless Hamas politicians are killed, Israel cant rule the enclave. The IDFs plan to assassinate senior Hamas politicians started in the wars first year. These are the Hamas leaders who fled and who have been killedhttps://t.co/DuyjcvqsvT Ynetnews (@ynetnews) March 27, 2025 Hamas economy minister Jawad Abu Shamala, who managed the groups finances in Gaza and overseas, was assassinated within a few days of the October 7 terrorist attacks. Zakaria Abu Maamar, who headed Hamass national relations office within the political bureau, was killed the same day as Shamala. Osama Mazini, chairman of the Shura Council in Gaza and former education minister in the Hamas government, was eliminated in the early days of the war in 2023. In 2024, Rawhi Mushtaha, who headed the Gaza government and was Yahya Sinwars right hand, was killed in an Israeli airstrike. In the same year, Hamas Political Bureau chairman Ismail Haniyeh was killed in Tehran, his deputy Saleh al-Arouri in Beirut and Haniyehs successor and Gaza leader Sinwar in the enclave. Israel has killed, at least, four senior Hamas politicians/military strategists in the renewed assault. Former Hamas PM Essam al-Daalis, justice ministry director general (DG) Ahmed Amar Abdullah Alhata, interior ministry DG Mahmoud Abu Watfa, Al-Daaliss successor Ismail Barhoum and Salah al-Bardawil, head of the planning and development ministry and led strategic and military planning. Hamas spokesperson Abdel-Latif al-Qanoua was the latest to have been killed in an Israeli airstrike. The changed IDF tactics are being implemented by new Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir, who replaced Herzi Halevi earlier this month and has Netanyahus trust. On the other hand, Halevi opposed the Generals Plan and agreed with former defence minister Yoav Gallant regarding the course of the war. Bibi replaced Gallant with Katz, whose total victory strategy against Hamas was against Halevis thinking. The writer is a freelance journalist with more than two decades of experience and comments primarily on foreign affairs. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the writer. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views. The Yunus-China axis is a significant threat for India, not because it guarantees conflict but because it shifts the regional balance at a time when New Delhi can ill afford distractions read more In the ever-changing geopolitics in South Asia, the interim leadership of Bangladesh under Muhammad Yunus has embarked on a bold diplomatic journey that is raising eyebrows in New Delhi. Since assuming power following the ouster of Sheikh Hasina in August 2024, Yunus has wasted no time in signalling a recalibration of Bangladeshs foreign policy. Yunus recent high-profile visit to China in March 2025complete with meetings with President Xi Jinping and pitches for Chinese investmentmarks a significant departure from the India-centric approach that defined Hasinas 15-year tenure. This move, cloaked as a pragmatic outreach for economic collaboration, carries deeper strategic undertones. Analysts see it as a calculated effort to leverage Chinas growing influence in the region to pressure India, a neighbour with whom relations have grown frosty since Hasinas exit. Advertisement For India, this development is more than a diplomatic slightits a potential game-changer. Under Hasinas regime, New Delhi enjoyed a privileged relationship with Dhaka, underpinned by security cooperation, economic ties, and a shared cultural legacy. Hasinas government was a reliable partner, cracking down on anti-India insurgent groups and aligning with Indias regional vision. Yunuss interim administration, however, appears intent on diversifying its alliances, with China emerging as a key player. This shift comes at a time when India is already grappling with Chinas expanding footprint in South Asiafrom Pakistans China-Pakistan Economic Corridor to Sri Lankas debt-laden ports. The prospect of Bangladesh, a nation sharing a 4,000-kilometre border with India, tilting toward Beijing is a strategic nightmare for New Delhi. Yunuss overtures to China, coupled with his lukewarm engagement with India, suggest a deliberate attempt to reshape regional power dynamics. A Strategic Shift The timing and tenor of Yunuss visit to China in March 2025 speak volumes about his intentions. Accompanied by advisers on infrastructure, energy, and sustainable development, Yunus pitched Bangladesh as a manufacturing hub for Chinese firms, a move aimed at tapping into Beijings economic might. This wasnt a mere trade mission; it was a diplomatic statement. Reports indicate that Yunus sought to deepen ties in areas like renewable energy and healthsectors where China has global leverage. His participation in the Boao Forum for Asia and acceptance of an honorary doctorate from Peking University further underscore the symbolic weight of this outreach. For decades, Bangladeshs foreign policy leaned heavily on India, a relationship cemented by New Delhis support during the 1971 Liberation War and sustained through economic and security partnerships. Under Hasina, Dhaka balanced its ties with China but never at Indias expense. Advertisement Yunus, however, appears to be charting a different course. His administrations request for a meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi went unanswered, prompting the China visita sequence that suggests a deliberate pivot. This shift isnt just about economics; its about gaining leverage. By cosying up to China, Yunus is signalling that Bangladesh has options beyond India, a message intended to force New Delhi to rethink its approach to the interim government. This strategic recalibration comes against the backdrop of strained India-Bangladesh ties. Hasinas presence in India since her ouster, coupled with Dhakas demands for her extradition, has fuelled tensions. Yunuss public criticism of India for not engaging opposition parties during Hasinas rule has added to the friction. In this context, his China outreach reads as a pressure tactican attempt to remind India that Bangladesh can turn to a rival power if its concerns are ignored. Chinas Growing Influence and Indias Concerns Chinas interest in Bangladesh is hardly new, but Yunuss leadership offers Beijing a fresh opportunity to deepen its foothold in Indias backyard. As Bangladeshs largest trading partner, China has long supplied infrastructure loans and military hardware to Dhaka. Projects like the Padma Bridge and power plants bear Beijings imprint, part of its broader Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) to encircle India with economic dependencies. Yunuss visit has elevated this relationship, with talks of expanded collaboration raising the spectre of Chinese naval presence in the Bay of Bengala region India considers its strategic sphere. Advertisement For India, this is a red flag. The 2020 border clash with China in Ladakh underscored Beijings willingness to challenge New Delhi militarily. Since then, India has faced a two-front security dilemma, with China and its ally Pakistan exerting pressure from the north and west. A Bangladesh more aligned with China adds a third dimension to this threat. Analysts warn that Chinese investments could translate into political influence, potentially turning Dhaka into a proxy in Beijings rivalry with India. The memory of Sri Lankas Hambantota Port, ceded to China after debt default, looms largecould Bangladeshs ports follow a similar path? Moreover, Chinas diplomatic warmth toward Yunus contrasts sharply with Indias cautious stance. Beijing has called Yunus an old friend, a nod to his global stature as a Nobel laureate. This personal rapport could cement a long-term partnership, especially as Yunus seeks to stabilise his interim rule amid domestic unrest and calls for early elections. For India, the stakes are high: a Bangladesh drifting into Chinas orbit undermines New Delhis regional leadership and security architecture, amplifying the deadly combo of Yunuss ambitions and Chinas opportunism. Advertisement A Deadly Combo The Yunus-China axis is a significant threat for India, not because it guarantees conflict but because it shifts the regional balance at a time when New Delhi can ill afford distractions. With the US and China locked in a global rivalry, India has positioned itself as a counterweight to Beijing through alliances like the Quad. Yet, a Bangladesh tilting toward China undermines that narrative, portraying India as unable to manage its own neighbourhood. This perception could weaken Indias credibility on the world stage, just as it seeks a permanent UN Security Council seat. New Delhi must respond with urgency and ingenuity. First, it should engage Yunus directly, offering economic incentivestrade deals and infrastructure aidto counter Chinas largesse. A Modi-Yunus summit, perhaps at the upcoming BIMSTEC meeting in Thailand, could reset the tone. Second, India must bolster its security cooperation with Bangladesh, emphasising shared threats like terrorism to rebuild trust. Third, New Delhi should accelerate its own regional connectivity projects, like the India-Myanmar-Thailand trilateral highway, to outpace Chinas Belt and Road Initiative in influence. Finally, India must rally like-minded partnersJapan, Australia, and the USto invest in Bangladesh, diluting Chinas dominance. Advertisement Ignoring Yunuss gambit is not an option. His China pivot is a pressure play, but its also an opportunity for India to reassert its leadership. The alternativea Bangladesh tethered to Beijingthreatens to unravel decades of strategic gains. In this high-stakes game, India must act decisively to neutralise the deadly combo before it takes root. Muhammad Yunuss expanding diplomatic relationship with China is more than a footnote in South Asian politicsits a challenge to Indias regional dominance. By leveraging Beijings economic and strategic clout, Yunus is pressuring New Delhi to rethink its approach to Bangladesh. For India, the stakes are high: a neighbour overly aligned with China could compromise its national security, economic stability, and global influence. The Yunus-China combo is deadly not because its invincible but because it exploits Indias complacency. New Delhi must respond with a blend of diplomacy, investment, and resolve to reclaim its influence. In a region where power is increasingly contested, India cannot afford to blink. Advertisement The author, a columnist and research scholar, teaches journalism at St. Xaviers College (autonomous), Kolkata. His handle on X is @sayantan_gh. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views. The timing of the fines is politically charged. Last month, US President Donald Trump signalled a hardening stance towards the regulation, describing it in a memo as a potential trade barrier and warning that it could trigger reciprocal tariffs on European goods read more The European Commission is expected to fine Apple and Meta this week for breaching the EUs sweeping digital competition law, in a move that risks drawing Big Tech further into the brewing economic standoff between Brussels and Washington. The penalties will be the first issued under the EUs landmark Digital Markets Act (DMA), which came into force last year and sets strict new obligations for how large online platforms must operate in the European market. Advertisement The Commission has been investigating Apple and Meta for over a year and is now poised to announce the outcome of two probes into Apple and one into Meta, with decisions expected as soon as the end of the week, Politico reported. Apple is expected to be fined for policies that restrict app developers from informing users of alternative purchasing options outside its ecosystem. A second investigation into Apples restrictions on browser defaults may be closed, with officials satisfied that recent changes by the company have addressed the concerns of rival browser makers. Meta will face penalties for imposing terms and conditions that breach the DMAs rules on the use of personal data, according to people briefed on the decision. READ MORE: EU accuses Apple, Google of unfairly blocking out smaller competitors amid tension over Trump moves Fine geopolitics Although the DMA enforcement falls under the Commissions competition directorate, the broader geopolitical context has influenced how and when decisions are communicated, according to people familiar with the matter. The Commission is said to be coordinating its messaging more closely than usual amid the deteriorating trade climate. While the DMA is officially a competition tool, the timing of the fines is politically charged. Last month, US President Donald Trump signalled a hardening stance towards the regulation, describing it in a memo as a potential trade barrier and warning that it could trigger reciprocal tariffs on European goods. Advertisement This is not just about fines its about the Commission kneecapping successful American businesses simply because theyre American while letting Chinese and European rivals off the hook, Politico quoted a person close to the Meta investigation as saying. The United States is preparing to roll out a fresh round of trade tariffs on April 2, and sources say the White House is examining EU digital regulations, including the DMA, as potential examples of non-tariff barriers that could come under scrutiny. Sources familiar with the Commissions internal deliberations say that while the pressure from Washington is noted, it is not the primary driver of enforcement action. Instead, the novelty of the DMA and the need to set clear precedents for future cases are seen as more critical. Despite the escalating rhetoric, EU officials have stressed that enforcement of the DMA is rooted in shared concerns about the power of Big Tech. China and Bangladesh on Friday signed nine agreements after Yunus meeting with President Xi Jinping during which the Bangladesh Chief Adviser highlighted student protests that led to regime change in Dhaka and urged Beijing to play a greater role in establishing peace and stability. read more Bangladeshs interim government chief adviser, Muhammad Yunus, during his four-day visit to China, invited Beijing to expand its economic presence in the region, highlighting that Indias seven north-eastern states remain landlocked. In a widely circulated video on social media, Yunus urged China to establish an economic base in Bangladesh, emphasising that Dhaka is the sole guardian of the ocean in the region. Encouraging deeper Chinese economic engagement, Yunus said, The seven states of India, known as the Seven Sisters, are landlocked. They have no way to reach the ocean. We are the only guardians of the ocean in this region. This opens up huge possibilities. This could be an extension of the Chinese economybuild, produce, and market things, bring them back to China, and export to the rest of the world. Advertisement Sanjeev Sanyal, currently a member of PM Narendra Modis economic advisory council, shared the video on X and wrote: Interesting that Yunus is making a public appeal to the Chinese on the basis that 7 states in India are land-locked. China is welcome to invest in Bangladesh, but what exactly is the significance of 7 Indian states being landlocked? Interesting that Yunus is making a public appeal to the Chinese on the basis that 7 states in India are land-locked. China is welcome to invest in Bangladesh, but what exactly is the significance of 7 Indian states being landlocked? https://t.co/JHQAdIzI9s Sanjeev Sanyal (@sanjeevsanyal) March 31, 2025 Yunus said it is important 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. Our relationship has been very strong over the years. Our business is very strong and we benefit from our collaboration with China, Yunus said. Advertisement Hong 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 post on X by Yunus official handle said. Yunus was conferred an honorary doctorate degree by Peking University (PKU) here on Friday. The Chief Adviser met Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday and sought stepped up investments from China to revive Bangladeshs flagging economy, hit by political and economic crisis. Its very important that we see China as our good friend, 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. Advertisement 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 Delhis sensitivities, the previous Sheikh Hasina government wanted India to do the Teesta river basin project. Yunus highlighted last years July-August students mass protests in Bangladesh leading to the ouster of Hasina government in his talks with Xi, adding that the students 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 Bangladeshs Adviser for Foreign Affairs Touhid Hossain and hardline Islamic parties such as the Jamaat-e-Islami and opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). Advertisement 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 Beijings perspective, an opinion piece in Chinas state-run Global Times said, for Bangladeshs interim government, it is urgent to boost the economy and address employment issues, especially youth employment. In Bangladesh, unemployment among young people is a big challenge. The country has abundant human resources; however, nearly 40 percent of young people are unemployed, it said. Yunus himself knows that reinvigorating the economy requires harnessing global resources. With Americas strategic contraction, Bangladesh is uncertain about the extent of assistance the West can provide. China remains a viable option for enhancing cooperation in various fields, such as industry transfer and agriculture technology improvement, it said. After Yunus talks with Xi, the two countries signed nine agreements enhancing economic and technical cooperation between the two governments and cooperation in the areas of development, translation and publication of classical literary work, exchange and cooperation on cultural heritage. Advertisement Bangladesh and China have also agreed to strengthen cooperation in areas such as hydrological forecasting, flood prevention and disaster reduction, river dredging, integrated management of water resources, water resources development and related technology. In the interview Yunus gave to Xinhua, Yunus said that at present, there are nearly 1,000 Chinese enterprises operating in Bangladesh. Bangladeshs imports from China are increasing. The bulk of our industrial-use products come from China. Looking ahead, Yunus emphasized the economic complementarities between the two countries and their huge cooperation potential. He also pitched for increasing cooperation in the health sector between Bangladesh and China to reduce high flows of Bangladesh patients to India for medical treatment. Recently, the first group of Bangladeshi patients, doctors, and travel agencies went to Kunming in Chinas Yunnan province for medical check-ups and treatment, exploring the potential for the medical tourism market. Meanwhile, Chief Advisers Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder said China planned to operate flights from Chittagong to Kunming to enable Bangladesh people to travel to China to seek medicare instead of India. Advertisement China has dedicated four Kunming hospitals for the treatment of Bangladeshi patients, but the high cost of air ticket remains as a major impediment to travel to the Chinese city, state-run news agency Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) reported. Chinese authorities said they would open up more healthcare facilities in the country for the Bangladeshi people, the BSS said, adding, In April, Bangladesh would also send a big team of journalists to Kunming to see for themselves the treatment facilities there. Pakistan plans to expel 3 million Afghans from the country this year, as a deadline for them to voluntarily leave the capital and surrounding areas expired on Monday. read more In a refugee settlement on the outskirts of Karachi, Afghan families gathered on Sunday for Eid al-Fitr, not in celebration but in quiet anxiety. On Monday, millions who have lived in Pakistan for generations faced a deportation deadline and an uncertain, possibly dangerous future. Since the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979, millions of Afghans have fled to Pakistan to escape violence and instability. While many have returned over the years, ongoing conflict and political turmoil have forced hundreds of thousands to seek refuge once again. Advertisement Its the latest phase of a nationwide crackdown launched in October 2023 to expel foreigners living in Pakistan illegally, mostly Afghans. The campaign has drawn fire from rights groups, the Taliban government, and the UN. The latest wave of displacement followed the Talibans takeover in August 2021, after the collapse of Ashraf Ghanis U.S.-backed government. Among those fleeing were refugees promised resettlement in the United States. Now, many face forced repatriation, with a deadline of March 31a decision announced just last month, triggering widespread fear among Afghan communities. While arrests and deportations were initially scheduled to begin on April 1, they have been postponed until April 10 due to the Eid al-Fitr holidays, according to government documents reviewed by The Associated Press. The International Organization for Migration reports that around 845,000 Afghans have left Pakistan in the past 18 months. Authorities estimate that 3 million Afghans remain in the country, with 1.34 million holding Proof of Registration cards and 807,000 possessing Afghan Citizen Cards. An additional 1 million Afghans are undocumented. Pakistan has said that it will ensure deported Afghans do not return. Afghan Citizen Card holders were required to leave Islamabad and Rawalpindi by March 31 or face deportation. Advertisement Those with Proof of Registration can stay in Pakistan until June 30, while Afghans bound for third-country resettlement must also leave Islamabad and Rawalpindi by March 31. Authorities have said they will work with foreign diplomatic missions to resettle Afghans, failing which they will also be deported from Pakistan. Tens of thousands of Afghans fled after the Taliban takeover in 2021. They were approved for resettlement in the US through a program that helps at-risk people because of their work with the American government, media, aid agencies and rights groups. However, President Donald Trump paused US refugee programs in January and 20,000 Afghans are now in limbo. No Afghan officials to be made part of any committee or formal decision-making process, one of the documents said about the expulsion plans. A spokesman for Afghanistans Refugee Ministry, Abdul Mutalib Haqqani, told The Associated Press that Pakistan was taking decisions arbitrarily, without involving the U.N. refugee agency or the Taliban government. Advertisement We have shared our problems with them, stating that unilaterally expelling refugees is neither in their interest nor ours, said Haqqani. It is not in their interest because expelling them in this way raises hatred against Pakistan. For us, it is natural that managing so many Afghans coming back is a challenge. We have requested they should be deported through a mechanism and mutual understanding so they can return with dignity. It is not clear what will happen to children born in Pakistan to Afghan parents, Afghan couples with different document types, and families where one parent is a Pakistani citizen and the other is Afghan. But officials indicated to the AP that social welfare staff will be on hand to help with such cases. Omaid Khan, 30, has an Afghan Citizen Card while his wife has Proof of Registration. According to Pakistani government policy, he has to leave but his wife can stay until June 30. Their two children have no documents, including passports or identity cards from either country. Advertisement I am from Paktia province but I have never been there and I am not sure about my future, he said. Nazir Ahmed was born in the southwest Pakistani city of Quetta and has never been to Afghanistan. His only connection to the country was through his father, who died in Quetta four years ago. How can we go there? said Ahmed, who is 21. Few people know us. All our relatives live in Quetta. What will we do if we go there? We appeal to the Pakistani government to give us some time so we can go and find out, at least get some employment. With inputs from agencies In response to a warning from US President Donald Trump, Iran has threatened to attack the US-UK military base at Diego Garcia in the Chagos Islands in the Indian Ocean read more Within hours of US President Donald Trumps warning, Iran on Sunday threatened to attack the US-UK military base at the Diego Garcia island in the Indian Ocean. Earlier in the day, Trump had warned Iran that it would be bombed like never before if it would not reach a deal with the United States regarding its nuclear programme. In his first term in 2018, he had exited the United States out of a deal reached by the previous Barak Obama administration in 2015. The US withdrawal prompted Iran to quit the deal as well and ramp up its nuclear programme. Currently, its believed to be at the brink of developing weapons-grade nuclear fuel. Advertisement ALSO READ: Trump wants a verified nuclear peace agreement with Iran. But how different itd be from 2015 deal? Trump on Sunday warned that Iran will be hit with bombing the likes of which they have never seen before if no deal is reached. Earlier this month, he said he had sent a letter to Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei to start negotiations regarding Irans nuclear programme. While Iran has maintained its nuclear programme is entirely civilian, it has so far not accepted Trumps offer for talks publicly. Irans threat in response to Trumps warning Just hours after Trump warned Iran, a senior Iranian official as well as Iranian state media said the regime would attack the US-UK military base at Diego Garcia island in the Indian Ocean in response to any US attack. The Diego Garcia is the largest island in the Chagos Islands archipelago in the Indian Ocean. The United Kingdon maintains a military base on the island that the British and US militaries jointly operate. Lately, the Trump administration has deployed long-range bombers to the base in the wake of rising tensions in West Asia. A senior Iranian official told The Daily Telegraph that there will be no distinction in targeting British or American forces if Iran is attacked from any base in the region. The official further said, When the time comes, it wont matter whether youre an American, British, or Turkish soldier you will be targeted if your base is used by Americans. Separately, Iranian state media reported that the regime would attack the Diego Garcia base with ballistic missiles and suicide drones in response to any hostile action by the United States. It mentioned newer versions of Khorramshahr missile and Shahed drones as weapons that could be used in such attacks. Advertisement The Iranian state media also said that other US and British facilities in the region could also be attacked, such as a naval base in Bahrain. ALSO READ: Can Starmers Chagos deal lead to China shooting down UK, US planes? Ex-Royal Navy officer says A British government spokesperson condemned Irans threat and said it looked forward to de-escalation of tensions, according to The Telegraph. Very bad things will happen if Iran refuses a deal, warns Trump In recent weeks, Trump has repeatedly warned Iran of consequences of not making a deal. Last week, Trump said that very bad things will happen if Iran would not reach a nuclear deal with the United States. 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. 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, said Trump. Advertisement Earlier this month, Trump said in an interview that he had sent a letter to Khamenei regarding talks for a nuclear deal and warned that Iran had to be prevented one way or another from developing a nuclear weapon. I would rather negotiate a deal. Im not sure that everybody agrees with me, but we can make a deal that would be just as good as if you won militarily, but the time is happening now the time is coming up. Somethings going to happen one way or the other. We have to do something because you cant let them have a nuclear weapon, said Trump in an interview with Fox Business. India exports around $7 billion worth of automobile parts to the United States and imports automobile parts worth around $1.5 billion read more India is considering reducing or even ending customs duties on US automobile parts to blunt the effect of US President Donald Trumps automobile tariffs. Last week, Trump announced 25 per cent tariffs on all automobiles. The tariffs will come into effect on April 2 the same date he is expected to start rolling out reciprocal tariffs. Trump has repeatedly singled out India while talking about tariffs. His sectoral tariffs as well as reciprocal tariffs in the making, in the absence of a broader understanding, may hit India hard. Advertisement To blunt the effect from Trumps automobile tariffs, India is considering reducing or even ending customs duties on imported US auto part, which currently ranges from 10 to 15 per cent, according to The Economic Times. There is consensus that the domestic industry will not be impacted by imported US auto components, an official told ET. The idea driving the approach is that high-cost US parts would not be able to replace cheaper India-made parts even if duties are eliminated, according to the newspaper. It is part of the broader approach where India is considering reducing duties on products that India exports to the United States in large quantities but does import at scale. India exports around $7 billion worth of auto parts to the United States but imports auto parts worth just around $1.5 billion. The newspaper further reported that Indian and US officials have have so far discussed auto parts and not vehicles in their discussions. The two sides are currently engaged in talks to reach a bilateral trade agreement to reach a middle ground in the midst of Trumps tariff war on the world. India has conveyed to the United States that outstanding issues in trade should be addressed by the trade deal in the making and not by tariffs, according to the newspaper. A person aware of the matter was quoted as saying that India has argued that as the two sides are engaged in trade talks, there is no requirement of hitting India with reciprocal tariffs set to be rolled out starting April 2. Advertisement As Pakistan is set to start the expulsion of nearly 3 million Afghans in the coming days, the rift between Pakistanis and Afghans is set to widen read more People from Afghanistan walk with their belongings as they cross into Pakistan in the Pakistan-Afghanistan border town of Chaman, Pakistan, September 7, 2021. (Photo: Reuters) Even as they mark the festival of Eid, the rift between Afghans and Pakistanis is set to widen today. As the deadline of March 31 for Afghan refugees to leave the country has come, Pakistani authorities are set to mount nationwide efforts in the coming days to deport nearly 3 million Afghan residents who fled war and persecution in their homeland over the decades. This is latest chapter in Pakistans crackdown on Afghan refugees that first began in November 2023. In the two phases of crackdown, Pakistan has so far expelled 840,000 Afghans into Afghanistan where they face an uncertain future amid fears of persecution at the hands of the Taliban regime. Advertisement Following the Talibans takeover of Afghanistan in 2021, hundreds of thousands of Afghans, includes activists, journalists, and members of the now-toppled Western-backed Afghan government and military, took refuge in Pakistan. Upon expulsion into Afghanistan, they face the risk of persecution by the Taliban, particularly women and gender rights activists, as the Taliban has essentially erased women from public view after banning them from education and work opportunities. Pakistan to expel 3 million Afghans Pakistan had set multiple deadlines for various classes of Afghan refugees for leaving the country. Around 800,000 Afghans who fled to Pakistan without valid papers after the Taliban takeover of the country were supposed to leave the country by March 31. Their arrests and deportations were scheduled to start April 1, but have been postponed to April 10 because of Eid holidays, according to The Associated Press. Another 1.4 million Afghans who are formally registered with the Pakistan government and hold a Proof of Residence card issued by the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) have to leave for Afghanistan by June 30, according to RFE/RL. The outlet further reported that around 40,000 Afghans awaiting resettlement in Western countries have to leave by June 30 or face deportation to Afghanistan. Authorities wanted Afghan Citizen cardholders to leave the capital Islamabad and Rawalpindi city by March 31 and return to Afghanistan voluntarily or be deported. Separately, around 800,000 refugees with Afghan Citizen Cards (ACC) had the deadline to leave the capital Islamabad and Rawalpindi city by March 31 and return to Afghanistan voluntarily or face deportation, according to AP. Advertisement Hina, 25, who lives in Peshawar, told RFE/RL that her familys plans to settle in the United States have been shattered as a result of US President Donald Trump temporarily suspending US Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) and Pakistan forcing deportation upong them. She said that her family had even booked tickets for the United States but they now face deportation to Afghanistan. We are left in a deep despair. Our dreams of building a safe future [in the United States] have been shattered. We cant return to Afghanistan where our lives will be at risk, nor can we build a stable life in Pakistan, said Hina. Women rights activists face persecution upon deportation Among those set to be expelled to Afghanistan are more than 50 prominent womens rights activists who fled to Pakistan after Afghanistans takeover by the Taliban, according to Guardian. Upon their forced return to the Taliban, they face persecution, imprisonment, and possible even death. Humaira Alim, who worked as a womens rights and education activist in Afghanistan for seven years, fled the country when Talibans took over. She told the newspaper that she fled in December 2022 after facing dire warnings and direct threats to her life from the Taliban. Advertisement Now, Alim is at the risk of being thrown into that fearful place again thanks to Pakistans expulsion programme. If they send me back to Afghanistan, it only means death. The Taliban have records on me and my activism. There is no place for women like me. They only arrest and torture us. I cant go back there with my children, said Alim. Experts agree that the main question facing Canadians when they cast their ballot on April 28 will be who current Prime Minister Carney or Poilievre can push back against Trump read more Former Bank of Canada and Bank of England governor Mark Carney makes a "W" gesture to signify his win in the race to become leader of Canada's ruling Liberal Party, and will succeed Justin Trudeau as prime minister, in Ottawa, Canada. Reuters Four weeks before Canadians vote in a general election where threats by US President Donald Trump have taken center stage, Mark Carney has led a Liberal resurgence to take the lead in polls over his main rival, Conservative Pierre Poilievre. Since coming to office in January, the US leader has threatened the Canadian economy with high tariffs and repeatedly called for the country to surrender its sovereignty and become a part of the United States. Advertisement Experts agree that the main question facing Canadians when they cast their ballot on April 28 will be who current Prime Minister Carney or Poilievre can push back against Trump. The economy is the biggest issue for me in this election, including the whole free trade thing with the United States, Ottawa voter Carol Salemi told AFP. We need some sort of negotiation (with the US) and we need a strong leader to do that, she said. Danielle Varga, 22, echoed that viewpoint, saying Canada needs someone thats strong against America. It feels like everyones on that same page, which is good. At the moment, former central banker and political novice Carney, who took over from Justin Trudeau as PM in mid-March, appears to fit the bill. The 60-year-old has taken the country by storm, completely reversing the fortunes of the Liberals who under a beleaguered Trudeau were headed for an electoral wipeout. He is now leading in the polls and, observers say, has a good chance of forming a majority government. This is the most important election of our lifetime, Carney told campaign volunteers in Ottawa on Saturday. Its critical in redefining our relationship with the United States (and) redefining our economy on our own terms. Advertisement Carney interrupted his campaign this week after Trump announced plans to impose 25 percent tariffs on car imports, coming on the heels of levies on steel and aluminum. Trump said he had an extremely productive first call with Carney on Friday, adding that the two leaders agree on many things. That was a stark change in tone from a US president whose dealings with Trudeau had been frosty, and it was immediately picked up on north of the border. Exceptional time for Canada Conservative leader Poilievre launched his campaign with an emphasis on tax cuts, affordable housing and development of Canadas resource riches. The 45-year-old career politician has sought to dispel comparisons with Trump both right-wing populists that have dimmed his appeal in Canada. President Trump has said he wants the Liberals back in power. We know why, because they will keep Canada weak and keep our investment flowing out of this country, to the US, he said at a campaign stop in Toronto on Sunday. Other parties such as Jagmeet Singhs leftist New Democratic Party and the separatist Bloc Quebecois led by Yves-Francois Blanchet have struggled to be heard, as voters focus on the two frontrunners in this time of crisis. Advertisement This is truly an exceptional time for Canada, said Ottawa University politics professor Genevieve Tellier, adding: Canada is looking for a savior. In a sign of the tensions, Carney declared on Thursday after Trumps latest tariffs announcement that the era of deep economic, security and military ties between Canada and the United States is over. Tellier said Carneys firm tone and explanation that relations with the United States would never be the same again seem to be resonating with voters. Those remarks have captured the current mood in Canada, she said. Voters are turning to Carney because they want security and a reassuring figure in times of crisis, added Daniel Beland of McGill University in Montreal. In a country of 41 million people, 343 seats are at stake in this years snap election. The party that wins a majority will form the next government, and its leader will become prime minister. If no party gains a clear majority, the party with the most seats will be invited to attempt to form a coalition government with the help of smaller parties. Advertisement The increase in factory activity was driven by a rebound in new orders, indicating that recent fiscal measures are beginning to lift domestic demand read more Chinas manufacturing activity grew at its fastest pace in a year in March, offering a rare sign of optimism for the worlds second-largest economy amid mounting pressure from a deepening trade conflict with the United States. The official purchasing managers index (PMI) rose to 50.5 in March from 50.2 in February, reaching its highest level since March 2024. A reading above 50 indicates expansion. The non-manufacturing PMI, which covers the services and construction sectors, also improved to 50.8 from 50.4. Advertisement China maintains optimistic outlook The increase in factory activity was driven by a rebound in new orders, indicating that recent fiscal measures are beginning to lift domestic demand. Some analysts say the improvement is partly due to foreign buyers rushing to make purchases ahead of potential new US trade restrictions. Despite the growing pressure, China has kept its economic growth target for the year unchanged at around 5 per cent. The government is relying on increased fiscal spending, debt issuance and further monetary easing to stabilise the $18 trillion economy. More emphasis is also being placed on boosting domestic consumption as exports come under threat. The new orders sub-index climbed to 51.8, its strongest reading in 12 months. While new export orders remained in decline, the pace of contraction slowed and came close to the neutral 50 mark. Performance among small and medium-sized enterprises improved in March, according to Zhao Qinghe, a senior official at the National Bureau of Statistics, although larger firms reported more challenges than they did in February. Concerns over economy remain But the boost may prove short-lived. US President Donald Trump is expected to announce a new wave of reciprocal tariffs on Wednesday (April 2), aimed at correcting what he sees as persistent trade imbalances with China. Trump has already imposed a 20 per cent cumulative tariff on all Chinese imports since returning to the White House in January. He has accused Beijing of failing to stop the flow of chemicals used to make fentanyl into the United States. Concerns about the sustainability of the recovery persist. The wider economy has had an uneven start to the year. While retail sales have shown tentative signs of recovery, deflationary pressures and a rise in unemployment are weighing heavily. President Xi Jinping last week met with a group of multinational company leaders, urging them to help protect global supply chains as tensions with Washington escalate. Beijing is also pushing a consumer goods trade-in scheme to stimulate spending at home. Under the cash for clunkers programme, households are being encouraged to upgrade their appliances and electronics. Advertisement But economists warn that the recent gains may not last. We doubt the rest of the year will be much better, said Julian Evans-Pritchard, head of China economics at Capital Economics. The budget does allow for more fiscal support in the coming months. But US tariffs, which look set to escalate this week, will start to weigh on exports before long. Wang is scheduled to meet with Lavrov on Tuesday, days after Ukraine and Russia agreed in principle to a limited ceasefire after Trump spoke with the two countries leaders. It remains to be seen when such a truce might take effect, how long it might last and what targets would be off-limits. read more Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi arrived in Moscow on Monday for talks with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov as Russia and Ukraine discuss US President Donald Trumps proposal to end the three-year war. Wang is set to meet Lavrov on Tuesday days after Kyiv and Moscow agreed in principle to a limited ceasefire following Trumps discussions with both sides. The details of the truce, including its timeline, duration and scope, remain unclear. Advertisement Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Guo Jiakun reiterated Beijings neutral stance on the conflict, stating, We always believe that dialogue and negotiation are the only viable way out of the crisis. Chinas cooperation with Russia does not target a third party and should not be affected by any third party. China did not mention Ukraine in its official announcement of Wangs visit, instead emphasising efforts to deepen back-to-back strategic coordination with Russia and expand cooperation across multiple sectors. A Foreign Ministry statement said Beijing is prepared to work with Moscow on international and regional issues of common concern. China has provided strong diplomatic support for Russia in the more than three years since it launched a full-scale invasion of its neighbor, along with an economic lifeline through the trade in energy and consumer goods. However, it has not knowingly provided Russia with weapons or military expertise and has put forward a vague peace plan that was swiftly dismissed by most observers. 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 Zelenskiys leadership, the television network reported, citing a telephone interview early on Sunday. 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 Moscows three-year-old war in Ukraine. Advertisement 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. 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. Advertisement 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. 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 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 Indias 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. With inputs from agencies Le Pen, the RN and two dozen party figures are accused of diverting over 3 million euros ($3.3 million) of European Parliament funds to pay France-based staff read more French far-right leader Marine Le Pen faces one of the defining days of her political career on Monday, when a court rules whether she is guilty of embezzlement in a trial that could see her barred from the 2027 presidential race. The verdict threatens to upend French politics, with Le Pen, head of the far-right National Rally (RN), a front-runner in polls ahead of the 2027 vote. Her party has called the trial a witch hunt and her removal from the race would intensify debate about how judges police politics. Advertisement A tough sentence would cause considerable disruption since the main opposition leader would be prevented from running by the judges, said Arnaud Benedetti, a political analyst who has written a book on the RNs rise. Le Pen, the RN and two dozen party figures are accused of diverting over 3 million euros ($3.3 million) of European Parliament funds to pay France-based staff. The defendants say the money was used legitimately and the allegations define too narrowly what a parliamentary assistant does. Prosecutors have asked that Le Pen face an immediate five-year ban from public office if found guilty, regardless of any appeal process, using a so-called provisional execution measure. Acquittal would boost a far-right leader who has tacked towards the mainstream and transformed the RN into the biggest single party in Frances parliament. However, a guilty verdict with an automatic five-year ban would hammer Le Pen, 56, a three-time presidential contender who has said 2027 will be her final run for top office. She would retain her parliamentary seat until the end of her mandate. Judges can adopt, modify or ignore the prosecutors request. Political fate in courts hands Le Pen accuses prosecutors of seeking her political death, alleging a plot to keep the RN from power that echoes claims made by U.S. President Donald Trump about his legal woes. In an interview with La Tribune Dimanche, published on Saturday, Le Pen said she wasnt nervous, and expected mercy from the judges. Advertisement With provisional execution, the judges have the power of life or death over our movement, she said. But I dont think theyll go that far. Some of her rivals, including Prime Minister Francois Bayrou and Justice Minister Gerald Darmanin, as well as some left-wing politicians, worry about judges deciding who can run for office. Prosecutors and a judge involved in the trial have received online death threats, Reuters reported, part of a growing international backlash against judges seeking to rein in political wrongdoing. Senior RN figures do not expect Le Pen to be barred. Her protege, 29-year-old party president Jordan Bardella, will take her place if she is, they say. Far-right expert and political scientist Jean-Yves Camus said a five-year ban could anger Le Pens supporters. RN voters are quite prone to thinking they are victims of the elite, he said. An immediate ineligibility verdict could reinforce this sentiment of being ostracised. French far-right leader Marine Le Pen was banned by a French court from holding public office for the next five years. The verdict quickly drew criticism from Le Pens allies at home and abroad read more Prominent far-right and nationalist leaders from across Europe and beyond voiced support for Marine Le Pen on Monday (March 31) after a French court handed the far-right politician a four-year prison sentence half of it suspended and a five-year ban from holding public office over a long-running embezzlement case. The ruling effectively bars Le Pen, 56, from standing in Frances 2027 presidential election, a contest she had been widely expected to enter. Her lawyer has said she will appeal the conviction. Advertisement Le Pen, a three-time presidential candidate and one of Frances most recognisable political figures, was found guilty of misusing European Parliament funds by employing staff members under the guise of parliamentary aides while they were in fact working for her National Rally (RN) party. The verdict quickly drew criticism from Le Pens allies at home and abroad. International support pours in Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban expressed his support by posting Je suis Marine! (it translates to I am Marine) in French on X, echoing the slogan Je suis Charlie used in solidarity with the victims of the 2015 Charlie Hebdo terror attack in Paris. In Moscow, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said the case reinforced Russias long-held view that more and more European capitals are going down the path of violating democratic norms. Other European far-right figures joined the chorus of support. Jordan Bardella, president of the National Rally and Le Pens political protege, called the ruling unjust and claimed that French democracy is being executed. Dutch far-right leader Geert Wilders said on social media that he was shocked by the incredibly tough verdict, voicing full confidence in Le Pen and expressing hope she would overturn the ruling on appeal and become President of France. Spains Vox party leader Santiago Abascal, who hosted Le Pen and other nationalist figures at a summit in Madrid earlier this year, also denounced the ruling, writing: They will never succeed to silence the voice of the French people. A widening battle for the far-right The fallout from Le Pens sentencing adds to a growing narrative among nationalist leaders who argue that legal and electoral institutions are being weaponised to curb their political rise. Milorad Dodik, the Bosnian Serb leader recently convicted for defying the international envoy overseeing the Dayton peace agreement, compared Le Pens case to his own, claiming: The verdict was not about the law it was about politics. Advertisement Italys Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini also weighed in, calling the courts decision a declaration of war by Brussels and warning that such judicial action was becoming a pattern across the continent. A bad film that we are also seeing in other countries like Romania, Salvini wrote, referring to the controversial disqualification of Romanian far-right politician Calin Georgescu. The countrys electoral bureau blocked Georgescu from running in a presidential re-run earlier this year after a court annulled his first-round victory amid allegations of Russian interference and an orchestrated online campaign. Georgescu has denied any ties to Moscow and called the disqualification a direct blow to the heart of democracy. With inputs from agencies Greenlands residents and politicians have reacted with anger to Trumps repeated suggestions, with Danish leaders also pushing back read more Jens-Frederik Nielsen, leader of the Demokraatit party participates a TV debates before the upcoming elections in Nuuk, Greenland. AP Greenlands prime minister responded on Sunday to U.S. President Donald Trumps claims that America will seize control of the island country. Greenland, a vast, resource-rich island in the Atlantic, is a self-governing colony of Denmark, a NATO ally of the US. Trump wants to acquire the land, citing national security concerns. 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 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. The enmity from the US and Israel has always been there. They threaten to attack us, which we dont think is very probable, but if they commit any mischief they will surely receive a strong reciprocal blow, said Khamenei read more Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Monday warned that the US would receive a strong blow if it follows through on President Donald Trumps threat to bomb unless Tehran agrees to a new nuclear deal. Trump reiterated his threat on Sunday, stating that Iran would be bombed if it does not accept his offer for negotiations, which was detailed in a letter sent to Iranian leaders in early March, giving Tehran a two-month timeframe to respond. Advertisement On Monday, Iran conveyed a warning through Switzerlands embassy, which represents US interests and acts as an intermediary between Washington and Tehran, according to state media. In this warning, Tehran asserted its commitment to respond decisively and immediately to any threats. The enmity from the US and Israel has always been there. They threaten to attack us, which we dont think is very probable, but if they commit any mischief they will surely receive a strong reciprocal blow, Reuters quoted Khamenei as saying. And if they are thinking of causing sedition inside the country as in past years, the Iranian people themselves will deal with them, he added. Iranian authorities attribute recent unrest, including the 2022-2023 protests following the death of Mahsa Amini a young woman detained for allegedly violating hijab rules and the nationwide protests in 2019 over fuel price increases, to the West. Last week, Iran addressed the US letter, with President Masoud Pezeshkian stating on Sunday that Tehran would not engage in direct negotiations with Washington but was open to continuing indirect talks as directed by Khamenei. An open threat of bombing by a head of state against Iran is a shocking affront to the very essence of international peace and security, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei tweeted on Monday. Violence breeds violence, peace begets peace. The US can choose the course and concede to consequences. Revolutionary Guards Aerospace Commander Amirali Hajizadeh warned US forces in the Middle East, stating, Americans have at least 10 bases and 50,000 troops in the region. They are in a glass house and should not throw stones. Advertisement During his first term from 2017 to 2021, Trump withdrew the US from a 2015 nuclear deal with Iran and reinstated sweeping sanctions. Since then, Iran has significantly exceeded the deals uranium enrichment limits. Western powers accuse Iran of secretly aiming to develop nuclear weapons by enriching uranium to levels they claim exceed what is necessary for a civilian energy programme. Tehran insists its nuclear activities are solely for peaceful purposes. With inputs from agencies India mounted its relief mission named Operation Brahma as a swift response to the devastation caused by the earthquake that hit Myanmar as well as Thailand on Friday. read more India on Monday delivered 50 tonnes of relief materials to Myanmar to aid victims of the 7.7-magnitude earthquake that killed over 2,000 people and injured 3,900. Two Indian Navy ships, INS Satpura and INS Savitri, transported the supplies to Yangon, while three more shipsINS Karmukh, INS Gharial, and LCU-52are en route with over 500 tonnes of additional aid, officials said. India launched its relief mission, Operation Brahma, as a rapid response to the disaster that struck Myanmar and Thailand on Friday. On Saturday, New Delhi dispatched relief supplies, rescue teams and medical equipment aboard five military aircraft to assist in the emergency efforts. Advertisement Another C-130 aircraft of the Indian Air Force is expected to land in Mandalay on Tuesday with over 15 tons of relief materials, according to the Indian embassy in Myanmar. We will stay engaged with Myanmar authorities and stakeholders for continuing our support in the weeks ahead, as Myanmar assesses the full extent of the damage and begins its rehabilitation and recovery efforts, it said. The massive earthquake and its aftershocks have affected people across Myanmar including in Sagaing, Mandalay, Nay Pyi Taw, Shan and Bago regions. Under its rescue mission, New Delhi dispatched an 80-member search and rescue team from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and military field hospitals to Myanmar. A specialised rescue team from Indian Armys 50 (I) Para Brigade has also been swiftly deployed to Myanmar. India shares age-old, spiritual and civilizational people-to-people ties with Myanmar, also known in ancient India as Brahmadesh. Operation Brahma is therefore, an embodiment of Indias offering of hope, support, and assistance for long-term recovery to the people of Myanmar, the Indian embassy said. Advertisement As first responder to natural disasters in the region, India has swiftly mobilized emergency assistance, a team of rescue and medical professionals, relief materials including food, water, tents, medicines, and essential supplies to assist Myanmar and its people, during this difficult and critical hour of need, it said in a statement. On Saturday, an Indian Air Force (IAF) aircraft delivered the first tranche of 15 tons of humanitarian assistance in Yangon. On that night, two C-130 and two C-17 aircraft landed in Nay Pyi Taw transporting an 80-member NDRF search and rescue team, and over 120 medical personnel, together with a total of 85 tonnes of HADR (humanitarian assistance and disaster relief) assistance. These were the first international assistance flights to Nay Pyi Taw. This HADR aid brought by these four aircraft was handed over by Ambassador Abhay Thakur in Naypyitaw in the presence of Ambassador Maung Maung Lynn of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Myanmar, the embassy said. Advertisement The NDRF team and the Indian Army medical team departed for Mandalay immediately thereafter. The NDRF team has been deployed to over a dozen affected sites in Mandalay since March 30. The Indian Army medical team has set up a field hospital at the old airport in Mandalay, the Indian mission added. Further augmenting our substantial assistance, two Indian Navy ships, INS Satpura and INS Savitri, carrying 31 tons and 19 tons of HADR aid respectively, arrived in Yangon on Monday, it said. The aid was immediately handed over at the Thilawa port by Ambassador Abhay Thakur for distribution among the affected areas. Three more Indian Navy ships INS Karmukh, INS Gharial and LCU-52 are enroute to Yangon with over 500 tonnes of additional aid material. Another IAF C-130 aircraft is also expected to land directly in Mandalay tomorrow with over 15 tons of HADR, the embassy said. Indias extensive, swift and efficient response has once again reaffirmed its role as the first responder in the region, consistently offering immediate humanitarian aid to neighboring countries struck by natural disasters, it added. Advertisement With inputs from agencies As the Kremlin remains adamant about getting a pro-Russia government in Ukraine, the delays in the ceasefire deal pushed by US President Donald Trump are making POTUS impatient. So is Russia risking too much? read more As Kremlin doubles down on getting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy fired from his role, US President Donald Trump is getting frustrated by Russias delay in implementing the so-called ceasefire deal in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war. Experts are now warning that the longer Moscow drags the peace talks on Ukraine, the more Russia risks losing Trumps favour. Even before returning to the White House, Trump was often seen claiming that he would end the Russia-Ukraine war in 24 hours. After assuming the role of the countrys president, Trump faced the harsh reality of the complex conflict. Despite this, he pushed a 30-day ceasefire plan and put Zelenskyy under his first, forcing the Ukrainian leader to agree to the deal. Advertisement After an ugly public spat between the two leaders in the White House and the risk of losing Washingtons support, Ukraine did say yes to the proposal. Trump then kept on saying that the ball is in Russias court and Putin eventually laid out his conditions in a 90-minute phone call with Trump. During the call, Putin and Trump agreed that Russia would not hit Ukraines Energy infrastructure (This was what was mentioned in the Russian press release. Trump on the other hand, claimed that Moscow wouldnt hit Ukraines energy and infrastructure). Regardless of what was agreed, Ukraine claimed that Russia hit the countrys energy infrastructure shortly after the Trump-Putin call, a move which has the potential to upset Washington. Kremlin wants Zelenskyy out of the picture While delivering an address at the northern port of Murmansk, Putin suggested that Ukraine could be placed under a form of temporary administration to allow fresh elections in the country. The Russian leaders call for the establishment of a temporary administration in Ukraine appeared to support his longtime assertion that Ukrainian authorities are not a legitimate negotiating partner since the countrys President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has remained in power beyond his mandated deadline to call for elections, which was passed on May 24, 2024. In principle, of course, a temporary administration could be introduced in Ukraine under the auspices of the UN, the United States, European countries and our partners, the Russian leader said in his Friday address. However, elections in Ukraine are not as easy as it seems. During an exclusive conversation with Firstpost, Dr. Hanna Shelest, Security Studies Program Director at Prism UA and Editor-in-Chief of Ukraine Analytica, laid out the challenges of holding elections at the time of war. Two hundred Ukrainian NGOs, including all, the biggest watchdog organisations, those who monitor elections, signed a letter saying that elections during the war are impossible. Not that we dont want them, we are ready, she told Firstpost. Advertisement One million soldiers, how they are going to vote? Four million refugees, how they are going to vote? If you have each hour shelling of our territory, how do you organise the security of the place where people vote? How do you organise the campaign in the territories that are close to the battlefield? Or we have MPs from certain territories, like constituencies, if now 20 per cent of territories are occupied, do we elect these people or not? Its not that we dont want a change of power, its nothing about dictatorship or authoritarianism, she furthered. Despite the logistical issues of holding polls, the Kremlin remains adamant about its demands. Several sources close to the Russian president told The Moscow Times that the Kremlin envisions two possible scenarios for achieving its goals. Regime change in Ukraine, ensuring the country remains under Russian influence. See Russia solidify its control over the four occupied Ukrainian regions. These demands can be reflected in Moscows usual propaganda. If you negotiate with Ukraines current leadership, you cannot keep calling it a Nazi regime, because you would have to engage with that regime," a Russian diplomat said. Two Russian diplomats also told The Moscow Times that the Kremlin is trying to discredit Zelenkyy in front of Trump. But theres one issue in that regard. Is Trump patient enough to take it? Trump is losing patience On Sunday, Trump sat down with NBC News and gave his take on the ongoing situation. In a Sunday morning phone call, the American leader mentioned that he is very angry and pissed off by these delays. 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 all oil coming out of Russia, Trump said. The president also told NBC News that he was very angry, pissed off over Putins recent comments about Zelenskys credibility and talking about new leadership in Ukraine. Advertisement However, Trump mentioned that his Russian counterpart 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. But how long will Trump take it? Since a delay in the ceasefire is also affecting his reputation. Since he frequently claimed that he wanted the war to end as soon as possible. Now only time will tell, how long can Russia test Trumps patience. If the Kremlin remains adamant, it loses chances to strike attractive deals with Washington and might receive more sanctions from an angry Trump administration. Since 1984, the PKK struggle has killed over 40,000 people and injured tens of thousands more, including Turkish security forces, militants, and civilians read more A man holds a flag with an image of jailed Kurdish militant leader Abdullah Ocalan as people gather to celebrate spring festival of Newroz in the southeastern town of Kiziltepe in Mardin province, Turkey. Reuters Cihan Sincar is hopeful that Turkeys efforts to resolve a decades-old Kurdish insurgency would result in the peace her lawmaker husband desired before his death - one of hundreds of political executions throughout the conflict. Mehmet Sincar, one of Turkeys earliest pro-Kurdish party MPs, was assassinated in the southern city of Batman in 1993 while investigating unsolved murders. His wife has been waiting in vain for the criminals to be brought to justice. Advertisement His is one of tens of thousands of dead in a battle over which imprisoned militant leader Abdullah Ocalan is urging his Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) to halt. Many Kurds, including Cihan, are divided between scepticism of the government and hope for peace. We want to see those days. He really gave his life for peace, for the struggle for peace and democracy, she said in the city of Kiziltepe, near the Syrian border, where she has served as mayor since her husbands murder. But I also have doubts. They (the Turkish state) have deceived me many times, she said before visiting the cemetery where her husband is buried, caressing the gravestone bearing his picture. Human rights groups allege that clandestine paramilitary groups committed extrajudicial executions in the 1990s, most of which were tied to the PKK war. Since 1984, the PKK struggle has killed over 40,000 people and injured tens of thousands more, including Turkish security forces, militants, and civilians. Major Mehmet Bedri Aluclu, a Turkish military veteran from the conflict, lost his vision and both forearms when a PKK mine he was defusing exploded in Siirt region in 2007. Aluclu, with volumes he has subsequently authored about the PKK on the table behind him, is pessimistic about peace chances. If only the PKK would dissolve itself The probability of such a thing is zero, he said at his home in Ankara. It has a history of 50 years. These things dont happen in one day. Advertisement Mothers of PKK recruits In Diyarbakir, main city in Turkeys predominantly Kurdish southeast, mothers of youths believed to have joined the PKK have protested in recent years against Turkeys main pro-Kurdish party, accusing it of helping the PKK recruit their children. The party denies this. Guzide Demir said her son, Aziz, left home in Diyarbakir nine years ago when he was 17. She said he called six years ago, saying he was in hospital with a wounded leg in Syria, where the Kurdish YPG militia which Turkey says is part of the PKK has fought against both Islamic State militants and Turkey-backed forces. Since then she has not heard from him again, but said God willing this peace will happen and all our children will come. Rahime Tascis son Faruk was 15 when he left home in Kars province 11 years ago to go to the market and did not return. Surrender to justice. Do something Faruk. Put down that gun, she said, clutching a photo of her only child. These children must be brought home. God willing, with the power of the state, there will be peace. Advertisement While the teams from China, India, and Russia are rushing to assist, the US response appears muted, especially following President Donald Trumps drastic cuts to foreign aid programmes, according to a report read more Indian and Myanmar rescuers try to carry a dead body at U Hla Thein Buddhist monastery that collapsed in Friday's earthquake in Mandalay, Myanmar, on Monday. AP Even as the death toll from a 7.7-magnitude earthquake in Myanmar surpassed 1,700, a figure that is expected to rise, the absence of US team at the scene of the quake in the Southeast Asian country has raised significant concerns. According to an NBC News report, while the teams from China, India, and Russia are rushing to assist, the US response appears muted, especially following President Donald Trumps drastic cuts to foreign aid programmes. Advertisement The earthquake in Myanmar took place on the same day the State Department informed thousands of employees of the US Agency for International Development, which administers civilian foreign aid, that nearly all of their roles were being eliminated. These cuts to foreign aid programmes, which had previously accounted for less than 1% of the annual federal budget, could create an opening for authoritarian regimes like China to expand their influence, reported NBC News, citing critics. While the US Embassy has pledged $2 million in assistance through local organisations and announced the deployment of a USAID emergency response team, the timeline for their arrival remains unclear. This delay is particularly alarming, as the critical 72-hour window for rescuing survivors is drawing to a close, added the report. Last week, the State Department said that the cuts to foreign aid had not impacted the US governments ability to respond to the earthquake. However, the absence of US support is being felt in Myanmar, a country of 54 million people that, in addition to the earthquake, has been embroiled in a civil war for four years. Weve seen a broad cut in humanitarian aid, thats undeniable, NBC News quoted Trevor Clark, UNICEFs regional chief of emergency, as saying in Bangkok on Monday. Advertisement What were focused on right now is just the immediate stuff. Weve been able to mobilise some internal resources, and were confident that other sort of partners will step up, Clark added. Meanwhile, China has been at the forefront of an international rescue effort from which the US has been largely absent. According to Xinhua, Chinas state-run news agency, Beijing has announced $14 million in assistance for Myanmar, including 1,200 tents, 8,000 blankets and 40,000 first aid kits. A team of 118 Chinese rescuers arrived in the country Sunday along with six rescue dogs and two vehicles, in addition to 82 who arrived on Saturday. India on Monday announced that National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams have commenced rescue efforts for approximately 170 monks trapped at the U Hla Thein monastery in Myanmar as part of Operation Brahma. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) confirmed that India has deployed NDRF teams along with military field hospitals to Myanmar to assist in the rescue operation. Advertisement Officials confirmed that a specialised rescue unit from the Indian Armys 50 (I) Para Brigade was swiftly deployed to Myanmar. The contingent, comprising 118 personnel skilled in medical and communications support, arrived in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmars capital, on Saturday night. In addition, Indian Navy vessels are transporting relief supplies to Yangon. Russia has dispatched 20 rescuers, including dog handlers and drone operators, along with three planes that feature an airmobile hospital, as reported by the Russian state news agency Tass. The international response to the earthquake is further complicated by the ongoing civil war, with the World Health Organization noting that aid delivery is hindered by damaged roads, collapsed bridges, unstable communications, and the challenges of civil conflict. Myanmars military government, which took power in a 2021 coup, tightly controls access to the country and has continued airstrikes against rebel forces even amid ongoing aftershocks. Nevertheless, it has called for international assistance, inviting any country to help. Advertisement Thailand has also sent a rescue team to neighboring Myanmar while managing its own casualties from the quake, which caused buildings in Bangkok, hundreds of miles from the epicenter, to sway alarmingly. In Bangkok, rescue efforts focus on a 33-story construction site that collapsed during the quake, trapping numerous workers. On Monday, rescuers recovered the 12th body from the wreckage, with a total of 19 fatalities reported across the city. Nine survivors have been located, but more than 70 individuals remain unaccounted for at the site. With inputs from agencies Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu named former Navy commander Eli Sharvit as the next head of Shin Bet. However, Sharvits appointment is marred with controversies since his predecessor is not willing to leave his post read more Commander of the Israeli Navy, Vice Adm. Eli Sharvit, speaks at a graduating ceremony for new Israel Navy Officers in Haifa Naval Base on March 6, 2019. Israel GPO As the Israel-Hamas war continued to rage on, Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu decided to appoint former Navy commander Vice Adm. (res.) Eli Sharvit is the next head of Shin Bet. On Sunday, Israels Prime Ministers office confirmed the news and said Sharvit will be replacing Ronen Bar, whom the cabinet voted to formally dismiss earlier this month. Bar remains on the post for the time being, with a temporary injunction imposed on his dismissal by the Israeli High Court of Justice. According to The Times of Israel, the court froze Bars firing but allowed Netanyahu to take interviews and swiftly find his replacement. Advertisement As per the PMO statement, Sharvit led the design of naval capabilities to defend Israels territorial waters and oversaw complex operations against Hamas, Hezbollah and Iran. The Shin Bet is an organization with much credit to its name, says the PMO, which underwent a severe trauma on October 7. Netanyahu said he is convinced that Sharvit is the right person to lead the Shin Bet on a path that will continue the organisations glorious tradition. But there is a catch It is pertinent to note that in Israel, the last time a navy chief became head of the Shin Bet was Ami Ayalon, who was appointed after the assassination of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin. Earlier this month, the Israeli government voted to fire Bar despite mass protests against the move. Netanyahu went on to state that he had lost his faith in the Shin Bet chief following the Hamas onslaught of October 7, 2023, which led to the death of 1,200 people with 251 people taken as hostages. Meanwhile, Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara, who the government is also working to dismiss warned that the ouster of the Bar might face legal difficulties due to an ongoing Shin Bet probe of alleged ties between Netanyahus top aides and Qatar, which backs Hamas. Bar, on the other hand, has pledged to stay in the Shin Bet until the return of all the hostages still stuck in Gaza. He also called for the formation of a state commission of inquiry into the Hamas onslaught, which the government opposes. In light of this, the Israeli court has scheduled an April 8 hearing on the petitions against his firing. After the news of Sharvits appointment to the post was announced, Opposition leaders said that while the former Navy chief was an excellent commander, he would need to prove he was loyal to the law and the state rather than to the Israeli premier. Mohammad Jawaid Aziz (67) was arrested on March 21 in the Western District of Washington while attempting to cross into the United States from Canada read more A Pakistani-Canadian national has been arrested for running a years-long scheme to circumvent US export control laws and smuggle millions of dollars worth of American technology to entities associated with Pakistans military and weapons programmes. Mohammad Jawaid Aziz (67) was arrested on March 21 in the Western District of Washington while attempting to cross into the United States from Canada. He remains detained, pending transfer to the district of Minnesota. Aziz has been charged with conspiracy to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) and Export Control Reform Act, which carries a maximum statutory penalty of five years in prison; and violating the Export Control Reform Act, which carries a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison. Advertisement The indictment alleges that from 2003 through approximately March 2019, Aziz operated an illicit procurement network through his Canada-based company Diversified Technology Services. The purpose of the network was to obtain US-origin goods on behalf of prohibited entities in Pakistan that were associated with the south Asian countrys nuclear, missile, and Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) programmes. Aziz, while operating through Diversified Technology Services, procured various goods, including sensitive and restricted items subject to export administration regulations (EAR) and those on the Commerce Control List, from US companies on behalf of the restricted entities in Pakistan. As alleged, Siddiqui and his co-conspirators worked to conceal the true end-users of the goods from US companies, often using front companies and transshipping goods through third countries to evade detection, a statement from the Department of Justice said. The Patriot is a surface-to-air missile system developed by the US defense contractor Raytheon. It is designed to intercept and destroy incoming threats such as ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and advanced aircraft read more Poland will sign a $2 billion contract with the United States on Monday to provide critical logistical and technical support for its Patriot missile-defence systems, marking the final step in making the countrys air-defence network fully operational. The deal, announced by Defence Minister Wadysaw Kosiniak-Kamysz in Krakow, points to Warsaws determination to fortify its airspace as Russias war in Ukraine enters its third year and European leaders debate how best to strengthen the continents defences, Bloomberg reported. Advertisement Air-defence is the biggest investment into the Polish army, requiring the largest funds, Kosiniak-Kamysz told broadcaster Polsat. This is the protection of the Polish sky, this is within Polish airspace so it is an absolute priority for us and it is very good that there is a Polish-American cooperation in this area. The deal comes as Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, alongside other European leaders, pushes for a broader, European-wide sky shield to deter potential aggression from hostile actors. Poland has emerged as one of Europes most hawkish defenders of increased military readiness, particularly in light of its proximity to Ukraine and history of tensions with Russia. Since the Russia-Ukraine war began in 2022, Warsaw has ramped up defence spending and procurement, including the acquisition of US-made F-35 fighter jets, South Korean howitzers and German Leopard tanks. What are Patriot missiles? The Patriot is a surface-to-air missile system developed by the US defense contractor Raytheon. It is designed to intercept and destroy incoming threats such as ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and advanced aircraft. The system uses a sophisticated phased-array radar to track targets and guide interceptor missiles to their destination. Patriot batteries are mobile and modular, consisting of a radar set, control station, power plant and launcher. The system first gained prominence during the Gulf War and has since been deployed in multiple theatres, including the war in Ukraine, where they have been credited with shooting down Russian hypersonic missiles. Patriot missile systems form part of Polands medium- and long-range air-defence capability. With inputs from agencies Of the countrys 9,472 temporary wildfire monitors, more than 73 per cent are over the age of 60, according to the Korea Forest Service. There is no age limit for the position, which pays around $50 a day and is active during high-risk fire seasons read more Firefighters extinguish a fire at a factory building that has been engulfed in a wildfire in Uiseong, South Korea. AP A lethal combination of an ageing population and over-reliance on temporary workers has left elderly South Koreans disproportionately exposed to the countrys worst wildfires in recent memory both as victims and as frontline responders. Authorities say most of the 28 people killed in the recent fires in North Gyeongsang province were older residents. The final tally of casualties is still being confirmed, but among the dead were three firefighters in their 60s and a 73-year-old helicopter pilot. On Thursday, a 68-year-old seasonal wildfire monitor was found dead, reportedly caught in the flames as he tried to return home after days of battling the blaze. Advertisement Three nursing home residents in their 80s died when their evacuation vehicle exploded, while others perished in their homes or while attempting to flee on foot, according to local reports. A greying frontline South Koreas rural areas are ageing fast, and many towns have few younger residents left to staff seasonal firefighting teams. Of the countrys 9,472 temporary wildfire monitors, more than 73 per cent are over the age of 60, according to the Korea Forest Service. There is no age limit for the position, which pays around $50 a day and is active during high-risk fire seasons. Come and look around here, said Kang Won-gok, a local official in Yeongdeok county, where one elderly monitor died. Theres barely any young people in this rural town. And even if there were, who would want to do this low-paying, temporary job? Of the towns 11 wildfire workers, 10 are over 60. The fires that broke out in Uiseong county before sweeping 70km eastward destroyed an area roughly two-thirds the size of Singapore significantly larger than the wildfires that hit Los Angeles in January. During major fires, the Korea Forest Services temporary workers are joined by military and professional firefighting teams, but they often form the first line of response. As of Friday, 2,105 of the 5,587 personnel fighting the North Gyeongsang wildfires were forest service staff and local contract workers, highlighting just how reliant the country remains on a vulnerable and ageing volunteer force. Advertisement A call for structural reform The disaster has prompted renewed calls for urgent reform. Lee Cheol-woo, governor of North Gyeongsang province, has demanded a complete overhaul of wildfire policy. After meeting with Acting President Han Duck-soo on Friday, Lee said the country must prepare more seriously for the growing threat of fires driven by climate change. Han agreed, pledging to look into comprehensive reform of wildfire measures to prepare for climate change. Experts say the disaster has exposed long-standing weaknesses in South Koreas emergency response system, from ageing equipment to a chronic lack of investment in full-time staff. A new structure is needed to bring in more people, more young people to work on wildfires and more regular staff for better preparations, said Lee Chang Woo, a fire and disaster management professor at Korea Soongsil Cyber University. But that would require a higher budget, and the government needs to earn public understanding for that, he added. With inputs from Reuters Taiwan runs a large trade surplus with the United States, which surged 83% last year, with the islands exports to the U.S. hitting a record $111.4 billion, driven by demand for high-tech products such as semiconductors read more Taiwan President Lai Ching-te met senior officials on Sunday night to discuss the possible impact of U.S. tariffs and receive an update on contingency plans, his office said on Monday. Trump administration officials, including Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, have said that much of the reciprocal U.S. tariff focus will be on 15 countries that have the highest trade surpluses with the United States. Bessent has referred to the countries as the Dirty 15 but has not named them. According to U.S. Census Bureau data, Taiwan is one of the 15, along with countries such as China and South Korea plus the European Union. The tariffs are due to be announced on April 2. Advertisement Taiwans presidential office said that Lai had met with Premier Cho Jung-tai and other members of a working group on Taiwan-U.S. trade at Lais official residence on the latest situation, the governments assessment and preparation of various contingency plans. The official reported on different scenarios for the tariffs the United States is about to introduce, simulated and estimated the possible impact, and prepared contingency plans, Lais spokesperson Karen Kuo said in a statement. Lai asked Cho and National Security Council Secretary-General Joseph Wu to make the best possible responses to ensure Taiwans interests and economic and financial stability, as well as to provide strong support and assistance to industries that may be affected, Kuo added. Taking lawmaker questions on Monday, Taiwan Deputy Finance Minister Frank Juan said he thought the chances the electronics industry would face tariffs was relatively low given chipmaker TSMCs new $100 billion investment in the United States announced earlier this month. Taiwan runs a large trade surplus with the United States, which surged 83% last year, with the islands exports to the U.S. hitting a record $111.4 billion, driven by demand for high-tech products such as semiconductors, a sector Taiwan dominates. Taiwans benchmark stock index dropped more than 3% on Monday morning on fears about the upcoming tariffs. Advertisement Trump said on Sunday that reciprocal tariffs he is set to announce this week will include all nations, not just a smaller group of 10 to 15 countries with the biggest trade imbalances. The incident took place at 9:32 am local time (0732 GMT) when a machine malfunctioned inside the mine in Degana, according to a report read more A view of the cordoned entrance of a coal mine after an accident that resulted in several casualties, in Degana, Spain, on Monday. Reuters Five miners were killed and four others injured in a coal mine accident in the northern Spanish region of Asturias, the regional emergency services said. Two more workers were unharmed. The incident took place at 9:32 am local time (0732 GMT) when a machine malfunctioned inside the mine in Degana. Emergency services dispatched three helicopters and two ambulances to the site. According to The Guardian, officials had earlier said two people were missing but they now believe everyone has been accounted for. While the cause of the explosion has not been confirmed, emergency services said they had been alerted to an incident involving a problem with a machine. Advertisement The injured were transported to hospitals in nearby cities, with two being airlifted by helicopter. They sustained burns and, in one case, a head injury. Spains Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez expressed his sincere condolences to the victims families and wished the injured a speedy recovery in a message on X. Adrian Barbon, the head of the regional government of Asturias, announced two days of mourning as a sign of respect for the deceased. Mining has been a significant industry in Asturias, a densely forested mountainous region, for centuries. In 1995, an explosion at a mine near the town of Mieres resulted in the deaths of 14 people. With inputs from agencies Saudi Arabia has been taking a more prominent role in US foreign policy. The country has hosted talks between the US, Russia and Ukraine as Trump seeks a ceasefire to the war and the White House has singled out the country as a possible participant in the Abraham Accords. read more US President Donald Trump is planning to visit Saudi Arabia in mid-May on his first foreign trip of his second term, Axios reported on Sunday, citing two U.S. officials and a source with knowledge of the presidents travel. Saudi Arabia has been taking a more prominent role in U.S. foreign policy. The country has hosted talks between the US, Russia and Ukraine as Trump seeks a ceasefire to the war and the White House has singled out the country as a possible participant in the Abraham Accords. Advertisement Trump said earlier this month he would likely make his first trip abroad to Saudi Arabia to seal an agreement for Riyadh to invest upwards of $1 trillion in the U.S. economy, including purchases of military equipment. He said on March 6 he would probably travel there in the next month and a half. He noted the first overseas trip of his first term was to Riyadh in 2017 to announce Saudi investments estimated then to be worth $350 billion. Axios reported the potential trip was discussed in recent weeks between senior U.S. officials and their Saudi counterparts, including on the sidelines of talks about the war in Ukraine, according to sources. One source said April 28 was discussed as a potential date for the visit but was postponed, while an official and a source familiar said the current plan is for Trump to travel to Saudi Arabia in mid-May, according to Axios. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Last week, Trump vowed more countries will be added to the Abraham Accords, the series of normalization his administration negotiated between Israel and some Gulf countries during his first term. 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. Advertisement Since the US launched airstrikes on March 15, the Houthis have targeted the USS Harry S. Truman, an aircraft carrier stationed in the Red Sea, using missiles and drones. On Thursday, they claimed responsibility for another attempted attack on the carrier. read more This grab from footage shared by the US Central Command (CENTCOM) on March 15, 2025 shows a US F/A-18 fighter aircraft taking off from an aircraft carrier at sea reportedly amidst operations launched against Houthis in Yemen. AFP President Donald Trump said on Monday that U.S. attacks on the Iran-backed Houthis, an armed movement that has taken control of the most populous parts of Yemen, will continue until they are no longer a threat to freedom of navigation. The choice for the Houthis is clear: Stop shooting at U.S. ships, and we will stop shooting at you. Otherwise, we have only just begun, and the real pain is yet to come, for both the Houthis and their sponsors in Iran, Trump said in a Truth Social post. Advertisement The Houthi rebels attacked over 100 merchant vessels with missiles and drones, sinking two vessels and killing four sailors, from November 2023 until January this year. Their leadership described the attacks as aiming to end the Israeli war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. The campaign also greatly raised the Houthis profile in the wider Arab world and tamped down on public criticism against their human rights abuses and crackdowns on dissent and aid workers. With inputs from agencies Western powers accuse Iran of having a clandestine agenda to develop nuclear weapons capability by enriching uranium to a high level of fissile purity, above what they say is justifiable for a civilian atomic energy program read more U.S. President Donald Trump threatened Iran on Sunday with bombing and secondary tariffs if Tehran did not come to an agreement with Washington over its nuclear program. In Trumps first remarks since Iran rejected direct negotiations with Washington last week, he told NBC News that U.S. and Iranian officials were talking, but did not elaborate. If they dont make a deal, there will be bombing, Trump said in a telephone interview. It will be bombing the likes of which they have never seen before. Advertisement 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. Iran sent a response through Oman to a letter from Trump urging Tehran to reach a new nuclear deal, saying its policy was to not engage in direct negotiations with the United States while under its maximum pressure campaign and military threats, Tehrans foreign minister was quoted as saying on Thursday. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian reiterated the policy on Sunday. Direct negotiations (with the U.S.) have been rejected, but Iran has always been involved in indirect negotiations, and now too, the Supreme Leader has emphasized that indirect negotiations can still continue, he said, referring to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. In the NBC interview, Trump also threatened so-called secondary tariffs, which affect buyers of a countrys goods, on both Russia and Iran. He signed an executive order last week authorizing such tariffs on buyers of Venezuelan oil. Trump did not elaborate on those potential tariffs. In his first 2017-21 term, Trump withdrew the U.S. from a 2015 deal between Iran and world powers that placed strict limits on Tehrans disputed nuclear activities in exchange for sanctions relief. Advertisement Trump also reimposed sweeping U.S. sanctions. Since then, the Islamic Republic has far surpassed the agreed limits in its escalating program of uranium enrichment. Tehran has so far rebuffed Trumps warning to make a deal or face military consequences. Western powers accuse Iran of having a clandestine agenda to develop nuclear weapons capability by enriching uranium to a high level of fissile purity, above what they say is justifiable for a civilian atomic energy program. Tehran says its nuclear program is wholly for civilian energy purposes. US President Donald Trump lambasted the media for their coverage of the Signal chat leak scandal, calling the story old and boring. read more US President Donald Trump chastised the media for their never-ending" coverage of the Signal chat leak scandal, involving top officials from his administration. In a post on TruthSocial on Sunday, Trump lauded Senator Markwayne Mullin, a Republican senator and member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, after he pushed back on questions from NBC News over the matter. A GREAT job by Senator Markwayne Mullin on beating back Kristen Welkers, and the Radical Lefts Witch Hunt, on the never-ending Signal story, Trump said in his post. They just dont stop Over and over they go! the president wrote in the post. Last week, Trump and his allies were sharply criticized after it was revealed that The Atlantics editor-in-chief, Jeffrey Goldberg, was added to a group chat on Signal with agency heads discussing a forthcoming attack on the Houthi rebels in Yemen. Advertisement Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth along with other Trump officials have maintained that no classified information was shared on the group chat. However, the second round of screenshots released by The Atlantic showed Hegseth detailing the time, location and weapons the US planned to use in the attack. Trump believed it was not a big deal' The president has dismissed the incident as not a big deal and is looking for the news to move on to something new. However, Democrats are calling for a thorough investigation of the matter. This story and narrative is so old and boring, but only used because we are having the most successful First One Hundred Presidential Days in the history of America, and they cant find anything else to talk about, Trump wrote. The Fake News Media has the lowest Approval Ratings in history, and for good reason, he concluded. Trumps remarks came a week after a Politico report suggested that US Vice President JD Vance and other top advisers of Trump suggested the POTUS fire National Security Adviser Mike Waltz over the scandal. Waltz was the one, who accidentally added The Atlantic editor to the Signal group chat. With inputs from agencies. Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) CEO Kirill Dmitriev has said that the United States and Russia are engaged in talks to collaborate on rare earth minerals projects in Russia read more US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin hold a bilateral meeting at the G20 leaders summit in Osaka, Japan June 28, 2019. (Photo: Reuters) The United States and Russia are holding discussions for collaborating on rare earth minerals projects, according to a top aide to Russian leader Vladimir Putin. The development comes at a time when US President Donald Trump has upended decades of foreign policy by aligning the country with Russia. While he had always been friendly with Putin, he has in his second term taken steps that essentially turn the longstanding adversary into a partner if not an outright ally immediately. Advertisement In an interview to Russian newspaper Izvestia, Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) Fund CEO Kirill Dmitriev has said that the United States and Russia are in talks regarding collaboration over rare earth minerals projects. Dmitriev is a top aide to Putin and is part of ongoing US-Russia talks that seek to address not just the ongoing war in Ukraine but also reset the US-Russia relationship, bringing to end the longstanding adversarial relationship and starting a partnership based on transactionalism. He also serves as Putins Special Representative for Investment and Economic Cooperation with Foreign Countries. US companies interested in projects in Russia, says Dmitriev Dmitriev told Izvestia that some US companies have already expressed interests in projects involving rare earth minerals in Russia. Dmitriev said that officials from the two countries are expected to meet in mid-April in Saudi Arabia to discuss the matter. Rare earth metals are an important area for cooperation, and, of course, we have begun discussions on various rare earth metals and projects in Russia, said Dmitriev, according to an English translation of his remarks. Earlier this month, Dmitriev said that he would soon hold talks with billionaire Elon Musk, who has emerged as the principal ally of Trump in his second term. He said that Russia would want to collaborate with Musk in spacefaring and nuclear energy domains. Our vision for cooperation with Musk goes beyond just Mars its about leveraging the strong expertise within Roscosmos [Russian space agency] and Rosatom [Russias nuclear agency], which could contribute to making a Mars mission more efficient and safer. I believe this dialogue will continue, said Dmitriev. Advertisement Putins rare earth pitch to Trump Last month, Putin had proposed collaboration with the United States on rare earth minerals. We undoubtedly have, by an order of magnitude I want to emphasize this an order of magnitude more resources of this kind than in Ukraine. Russia is one of the undeniable leaders in reserves of these rare and rare earth metals. We have them in the North in Murmansk, in the Caucasus in Kabardino-Balkaria, in the Far East in the Irkutsk region, and in Yakutia in Tuva, said Putin at the time. Putins pitch to Trump was seen as part of an attempt to convince the US leader that a partnership with Russia would be much more beneficial to the United States than Europe or Ukraine. Trump has made the pursuit of rare earth minerals central to his agenda. Trump and his allies have dubbed the need to secure rare earth minerals as a key reason for the United States to annex Denmarks Greenland island. Separately, he is also seeking a deal with Ukraine regarding the countrys minerals, including critical and rare earths, oil, and gas. Advertisement The women student protest leaders of Bangladesh will be honoured with the Madeleine Albright Honorary Group Award, named after the first woman to serve as US Secretary of State read more Women student leaders, who were key drivers" in the protest against the Sheikh Hasina government in Bangladesh last year, are among the women from around the world who will be awarded by the Donald Trump administration for their exceptional courage, strength, and leadership. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and First Lady Melania Trump will host the annual International Women of Courage (IWOC) Awards ceremony at the Department of State on Tuesday. Advertisement The women student protest leaders of Bangladesh will be honoured with the Madeleine Albright Honorary Group Award, named after the first woman to serve as US Secretary of State. A valiant group of women were key drivers in the student protest movement against violent repression in Bangladesh in July-August 2024. They demonstrated extraordinary bravery, including standing between security forces and male protestors in spite of threats and violence, the State Department said in a statement. When their male counterparts were arrested, these women found innovative ways to continue communication and lead the protests, defying censorship efforts, even during the complete shutdown of the Internet. The bravery and selflessness of these women amid uncertainty was the very definition of courage, it said. Now in its 19th year, the Secretary of States IWOC Award recognizes women from around the world who have demonstrated exceptional courage, strength, and leadership often at great personal risk and sacrifice. Since 2007, the Department of State has recognised more than 200 women from over 90 countries with the IWOC Award. US diplomatic missions overseas nominate one woman of courage from their respective host countries, and the finalists are selected and approved by senior department officials, the statement added. The honorees also include Namini Wijedasa from Sri Lanka, an award-winning journalist who has chronicled the human toll of the south Asian island nations civil conflict. Advertisement Over time, her focus shifted to combating corruption through investigative reporting, bringing critical accountability issues to the forefront and inspiring the next generation of journalists, the statement added. Through her work, Wijedasa has consistently championed accountability, emphasising that meaningful change can only be achieved when the people demand transparency from those in power, urging them to address the nations long-standing challenges. Despite restrictive legislation that had a chilling effect on many reporters and freedom of expression in Sri Lanka, she remains undeterred in her pursuit of positive change, it added. Among the awardees is Amit Soussana of Israel, who uses her voice to courageously advocate for survivors by using her own lived example to describe the trauma she suffered as a hostage of the October 7 attack by Hamas in Israel. Soussana has raised awareness of the conditions faced by the women, men, girls, and boys who remain hostages of Hamas. An attorney and a licensed member of the Israel Bar Association since 2014, Soussana is an advocate for the hostages that remain under Hamas control following the October 7, 2023, attacks. Advertisement Since taking office in January, US President Donald Trump has initiated a crackdown on immigration, deporting hundreds of individuals to Latin America whom his government refers to as gangsters read more In this photo provided by El Salvador's presidential press office, a prison guard transfers deportees from the U.S., alleged to be Venezuelan gang members, to the Terrorism Confinement Center in Tecoluca, El Salvador. AP Venezuelan officials announced the arrival on Sunday of a fresh flight of 175 migrants ejected by the US, including a gang leader the first time Caracas has verified a criminal was among the deportees. Since taking office in January, US President Donald Trump has initiated a crackdown on immigration, deporting hundreds of individuals to Latin America whom his government refers to as gangsters. For the first time, in these flights someone of weight arrives who has been claimed by the Venezuelan justice system, Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello stated. Advertisement The minister stated that the individual was not from Tren de Aragua, alluding to the Venezuelan gang that Washington has labelled a foreign terrorist organisation and alleges many of the deported Venezuelan migrants are members of. Cabello received the migrants at the Maiquetia International Airport that serves Caracas. He belongs to a gang from Trujillo state, the gang El Cagon, Cabello added, without offering further details on the criminals identity. Cabello said that of the migrants received by Venezuela so far, none were members of Tren de Aragua. Venezuela and the United States broke off diplomatic relations in 2019, but had a rapprochement in January to agree on deportation flights. That cooperation was interrupted for a month after Washington cracked down on Venezuelas oil sector, but flights resumed a week ago. Sundays flight was the third to land since the resumption. In total, 918 people have arrived in Venezuela after being deported from the United States. Another 553 migrants have returned from Mexico, although it was unclear whether they were originally deported from US soil. On Saturday, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said that 324 Venezuelan migrants had been sent by the United States to a maximum security prison in El Salvador, adding that no official list had been provided. Advertisement According to the United Nations, almost eight million Venezuelans have left their country fleeing an economic crisis that began to show signs of recovery in 2021. The government claims that more than 1.2 million have returned. 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' read more A view shows debris next to a damaged building after a strong earthquake struck central Myanmar, in Mandalay. Reuters The World Health Organization declared the Myanmar earthquake a top-level emergency on Sunday, urgently requesting $8 million to save lives and avoid disease epidemics in the coming 30 days. The WHO stated that the large number of victims and trauma injuries were at high risk of infection owing to the countrys poor surgical capability, and that the underlying circumstances in Myanmar meant the quake was likely to exacerbate the risk of illness. 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. Advertisement On Friday, a 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck in Mandalay, central Myanmar, and was followed by a 6.7-magnitude aftershock minutes later. The earthquake killed over 1,700 people in Myanmar and at least 18 in nearby 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 stated. 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. Advertisement 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. Days after revising the minerals deal proposal, US President Donald Trump has warned Ukraine of consequences if it is not accepted read more US President Donald Trump shouts at Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy during their interaction with the press at the White House in Washington, DC, on February 28, 2025. (Photo: Reuters) US President Donald Trump has warned of big problems if Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy would not accept the new minerals deal proposal. The Trump administration has proposed a new minerals deal to Ukraine in which the United States seeks near-total control of all critical minerals, oil, and gas projects in the country and a veto on how the countrys natural resources are managed. The proposals maximalist objectives go even further than the initial proposal that Zelenskyy had rejected in February over concerns that it amounted to the countrys economic colonisation by the United States. Advertisement In remarks to the media on Air Force One, Trump on Sunday said he felt that Zelenskyy wanted to reject the current proposal. Trump said, I think Zelenskyy, by the way, hes trying to back out of the rare earth deal, and if he does that, hes got some problems big, big problems. We made a deal on rare earths, and now hes saying, Well, you know, I want to renegotiate the deal. He wants to be a member of Nato. Well, he was never going to be a member of Nato. He understands that, so, if hes looking to renegotiate the deal, hes got big problems. Trump has falsely claimed that Zelenskyy is renegotiating the deal that had been reached. Its the United States that has come up with a new proposal to replace the one that was agreed upon in February and was set to be signed during Zelenskyys visit to the White House before Vice President JD Vance and Trump started berating Zelenskyy and kicked him out without signing the deal. While the deal that was set to be signed during Zelenskyys visit to the White House on February 28 was a sober version that was seen as the two sides reaching a middle ground, the deal currently on the table not just reverts to the initial maximalist objectives but goes even further. For example, in the deal set to be signed on Feb. 28, only revenue generated from projects started after the signing of the deal would be covered but the new proposal covers all projects public and private. In the new proposal, the United States not just seeks to be repaid for nearly $100 billion it has provided to Ukraine, but seeks an interest of 4 per cent, converting aid into loan retrospectively, according to The New York Times. The newspaper has reported that all profits from the projects overseen by the joint investment fund under the deal would go to the United States until around $100 billion plus 4 per cent interest have been paid. Then, the profits may be shared with Ukraine. Advertisement With three of the five members of the board nominated by the United States, the Trump administration would also essentially control the board, as per The Times. The United States would also retain the right of first offer on all new projects to be started in Ukraine and veto over any projects that Ukraine may want to start. BOULDER Colorado regulators are issuing licenses for providing psychedelic mushrooms and are planning to authorize the states first healing centers, where the mushrooms can be ingested under supervision, in late spring or early summer. The dawn of state-regulated psychedelic mushrooms has arrived in Colorado, nearly two years since Oregon began offering them. The mushrooms are a Schedule I drug and illegal under federal law except for clinical research. But more than a dozen cities nationwide have deprioritized or decriminalized them in the past five years, and many eyes are turned toward Oregons and Colorados state-regulated programs. In Oregon and Colorado, were going to learn a lot about administration of psychedelics outside of clinical, religious, and underground settings because theyre the first to try this in the U.S., said William R. Smith, an assistant professor of psychiatry at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine. Psychedelic mushrooms and their psychoactive compound psilocybin have the potential to treat people with depression and anxiety, including those unresponsive to other medications or therapy. The National Institute on Drug Abuse, part of the National Institutes of Health, says the risk of mental health problems caused by ingesting mushrooms in a supervised clinical setting is low, but may be higher outside of a clinical setting. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said in a social media post last year, before his nomination as U.S. health secretary, that his mind is open to the idea of psychedelics for treatment. MORE RESEARCH NEEDED Medical experts say more research is needed, particularly in people with a diagnosis or family history of psychotic or bipolar disorder. Adverse effects of psilocybin, including headache and nausea, typically resolve within one to two days. However, extended difficulties from using psychedelics can last weeks, months, or years; anxiety and fear, existential struggle, social disconnection, and feeling detached from oneself and ones surroundings are most common. After the decriminalization and legalization in Oregon and Colorado, psychedelic mushroom exposures reported to poison control centers ticked up in these states and nationally. In February, about 40 people organized by the psychedelic advocacy group the Nowak Society gathered in Boulder to talk about the coming changes in Colorado. They included Mandy Grace, who received her state license to administer psychedelic mushrooms, and Amanda Clark, a licensed mental health counselor from Denver, who both praised the therapeutic power of mushrooms. You get discouraged in your practice because the current therapies are not enough for people, Clark said. Colorado voters approved Proposition 122 in 2022 to legalize natural psychedelics, after Oregon voters in 2020 approved legalizing psilocybin for therapeutic use. Colorados program is modeled after, but not the same as, Oregons, under which 21,246 psilocybin products have been sold as of March, a total that could include secondary doses, according to the Oregon Health Authority. As of mid-March, Colorado has received applications for at least 15 healing center licenses, nine cultivation licenses, four manufacturer licenses, and one testing facility license for growing and preparing the mushrooms, under rules developed over two years by the governor-appointed Natural Medicine Advisory Board. Psychedelic treatments in Oregon are expensive, and are likely to be so in Colorado, too, said Tasia Poinsatte, Colorado director of the nonprofit Healing Advocacy Fund, which supports state-regulated programs for psychedelic therapy. In Oregon, psychedelic mushroom sessions are typically $1,000 to $3,000, are not covered by insurance, and must be paid for up front. The mushrooms themselves are not expensive, Poinsatte said, but a facilitators time and support services are costly, and there are state fees. In Colorado, for doses over 2 milligrams, facilitators will screen participants at least 24 hours in advance, then supervise the session in which the participant consumes and experiences mushrooms, lasting several hours, plus a later meeting to integrate the experience. Facilitators, who may not have experience with mental health emergencies, need training in screening, informed consent, and postsession monitoring, Smith said. Because these models are new, we need to gather data from Colorado and Oregon to ensure safety. Facilitators generally pay a $420 training fee, which allows them to pursue the necessary consultation hours, and roughly $900 a year for a license, and healing centers pay $3,000 to $6,000 for initial licenses in Colorado. But the up-front cost for facilitators is significant: The required 150 hours in a state-accredited program and 80 hours of hands-on training can cost $10,000 or more, and Clark said she wouldnt pursue a facilitator license due to the prohibitive time and cost. To increase affordability for patients in Colorado, Poinsatte said, healing centers plan to offer sliding-scale pay options, and discounts for veterans, Medicaid enrollees, and those with low incomes. Group sessions are another option to lower costs. NO RETAIL SALES Colorado law does not allow retail sales of psilocybin, unlike cannabis, which can be sold both recreationally and medically in the state. But it allows adults 21 and older to grow, use, and share psychedelic mushrooms for personal use. Despite the retail ban, adjacent businesses have mushroomed. Inside the warehouse and laboratory of Activated Brands in Arvada, brown bags of sterilized grains such as corn, millet, and sorghum and plastic bags of soil substrate are for sale, along with genetic materials and ready-to-grow kits. Co-founder Sean Winfield sells these supplies for growing psychedelic or functional mushrooms such as lions mane to people hoping to grow their own at home. Soon, Activated Brands will host cultivation and education classes for the public, Winfield said. Winfield and co-founder Shawn Cox recently hosted a psychedelic potluck at which experts studying and cultivating psychedelic mushrooms discussed genetics, extraction, and specialized equipment. A man in a yellow sweatshirt and black beanie-type hat holds a cluster of mushrooms in his palm. Psychedelic mushrooms have a long history in Indigenous cultures, and provisions for their use in spiritual, cultural, or religious ceremonies are included in Colorado law, along with recognition of the cultural harm that could occur to federally recognized tribes and Indigenous people if natural medicine is overly commercialized or exploited. Several studies over the past five years have shown the long-term benefits of psilocybin for treatment-resistant major depressive disorder, and the Food and Drug Administration designated it a breakthrough therapy. Late-stage trials, often a precursor to application for FDA approval, are underway. Smith said psilocybin is a promising tool for treating mental health disorders but has not yet been shown to be better than other advanced treatments. Joshua Woolley, an associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the University of California-San Francisco, said he has seen the benefits of psilocybin as an investigator in clinical trials. People can change hard-set habits. They can become unstuck. They can see things in new ways, he said of treating patients with a combination of psilocybin and psychotherapy. Colorado, unlike Oregon, allows integration of psilocybin into existing mental health and medical practices with a clinical facilitator license, and through micro-healing centers that are more limited in the amounts of mushrooms they can store. Still, Woolley said, between the federal ban and new state laws for psychedelics, this is uncharted territory. Most drugs used to treat mental health disorders are regulated by the FDA, something that Colorado is taking into its own hands by setting up its own program to regulate manufacturing and administration of psilocybin. The U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of Colorado declined to comment on its policy toward state-regulated psychedelic programs or personal use provisions, but Poinsatte hopes the same federal hands-off approach to marijuana will be taken for psilocybin in Oregon and Colorado. Winfield said he looks forward to the upcoming rollout and potential addition of other plant psychedelics, such as mescaline. Were talking about clandestine industries coming into the light, he said. European clinicians and scientists are to receive 5.5m in funding to form a world-leading research team tasked with making personalised medicine a reality for people with bowel cancer. The CRC-STARS (Colorectal Cancer - Stratification of Therapies through Adaptive Responses) initiative will bring together 40 research experts from across the UK, Spain, Italy and Belgium to find kinder, better treatments for the disease, which kills 16,800 people in the UK every year. Joining forces will enable them to use their combined expertise across multiple research areas, and pair clinical trial data with cutting-edge technology. Bowel cancer, also known as colorectal cancer, is the second most common cause of cancer deaths in the UK. Despite this, treatment options remain limited, particularly for patients who are diagnosed at later stages of the disease. CRC-STARS is jointly funded by Cancer Research UK (2m), the Bowelbabe Fund for Cancer Research UK (2m), philanthropic support from Bjorn Saven CBE and Inger Saven (1m), and the Scientific Foundation of the Spanish Association Against Cancer (FCAECC, 600,000 [~500,000]). The CRC-STARS team will be co-led by Professor Owen Sansom, Director of Cancer Research UK Scotland Institute, which is based at the University of Glasgow, alongside Professor Jenny Seligmann (University of Leeds) and Professor Simon Leedham (University of Oxford). The team also includes experts from the University of Glasgow School of Cancer Sciences Professor Crispin Miller, Professor Joanne Edwards and Professor Campbell Roxburgh. Chief Executive of Cancer Research UK, Michelle Mitchell, said: For over 100 years, Cancer Research UK-funded scientists have been working to beat bowel cancer, and this project is one of the most comprehensive for bowel cancer that we have ever supported. Together with our funding partners the Bowelbabe Fund, Bjorn and Inger Saven and the FCAECC we can empower the CRC-STARS team to speed up the development of personalised treatment for people living with bowel cancer, bringing us closer to a world where people live longer, better lives, free from the fear of cancer. The team of researchers will build on the tools, resources and discoveries developed by existing bowel cancer research collaborations and Cancer Research UKs National Biomarker Centre. They will also analyse data from colorectal cancer studies such as the University of Glasgow/NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde-led PRIME-RT clinical trial, and the FOxTROT and TREC trials. The researchers aim to better understand how different bowel cancers respond to current treatments, why certain bowel cancers spread, and whether they can predict which treatments will work for individual patients. Personalised medicine involves using detailed information about a persons cancer not just the part of the body where the cancer started - to help with decisions about diagnosis and treatment. While some patients are already benefitting from this type of treatment, such as people with certain types of breast cancer, it is an area still very much in development. The CRC-STARS team will work together to learn even more about how bowel cancer behaves so that it can potentially be treated in a more personalised way in the future. Director of the Cancer Research UK Scotland Institute and CRC-STARS research co-lead, Professor Owen Sansom, said: Step by step, day by day, were discovering new ways to prevent, detect and treat bowel cancer and save lives. The support weve received from our funders will allow us to take bold steps towards better understanding bowel cancer and how to beat it. Professor Campbell Roxburgh, Professor of Colorectal Surgical Oncology at the University of Glasgow and lead investigator on the PRIME-RT trial, said: We are delighted to support the fantastic CRC Stars consortium here in the School of Cancer Sciences at the University of Glasgow. This exciting programme of work brings together state of the art discovery science and expertise from across the UK and Europe. We are planning to study samples collected from modern clinical trials in colorectal cancer here in the UK, including our own PRIME RT rectal cancer trial, developed in Glasgow. We are extremely grateful to the patients in the trials who allowed extra biopsy samples to be taken for these research purposes. This research will add significantly to the results from these important trials, and we will be able to learn why some patients respond better than others. This exciting research will ultimately support the development of new treatments for a more individualised approach to colorectal cancer treatment. The Bowelbabe Fund for Cancer Research UK was set up to continue the inspiring legacy of Dame Deborah James who was diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2016 at the age of 35. Launched in the last few weeks of her life and now stewarded by her family, together with Cancer Research UK, it works to fund cutting-edge research, raise awareness of signs and symptoms of cancer with the aim of helping give more people affected by cancer more time with the people they love. Additional financial support for CRC-STARS includes a 1m commitment from Bjorn Saven CBE and Inger Saven. Bjorn is an industrialist, investor, philanthropist and Cancer Research UK supporter. Inger is a Trustee of The Mentor Foundation, an international non-profit development organization working to help young people find a path towards a promising future. The FCAECC is also contributing 600,000 (~500,000) to specifically support the work of the researchers based in Spain. The team of researchers will work on combining experimental, pre-clinical and clinical data to predict cancer progression and tailor new therapeutic approaches specific to each patient's characteristics. The aim is to prevent the development of drug resistance and improve the response to treatments such as chemotherapy and immunotherapy, hopefully improving the effectiveness of colorectal cancer treatments. Enquiries: ali.howard@glasgow.ac.uk or elizabeth.mcmeekin@glasgow.ac.uk No: 67, 29 March 2025, Regarding Israel's Attacks on Lebanon Republic of Turkey Ministry of Foreign Affairs We condemn Israel's airstrikes against Lebanon in violation of the ceasefire agreement. We stand firmly by the people of Lebanon. These attacks have once again exposed Israel's flagrant disregard for international law and its ongoing threat to the region's security and stability. The international community must stand united against Israel's efforts to create a perpetual state of conflict in the region. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address March 30, 2025 By Matthew Olay, DOD News Defense Secretary Announces U.S. Forces Japan's Upgrade to Joint Force Command During a joint press conference in Tokyo today, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that the Defense Department has started phase one of upgrading U.S. Forces Japan to a joint force headquarters. The department originally announced in 2024 that USFJ would be upgraded from a primarily administrative command to a joint force headquarters, meaning it would have more warfighting and operational responsibilities. Hegseth said the USFJ upgrade will help improve the command's ability to operate with Japan's Joint Operations Command, which was just established March 24, 2025, and is responsible for commanding branches of the Japan Self-Defense Forces. "We certainly welcome JJOC's establishment this past week," Hegseth said during his opening remarks. "It's more urgency [and] it's more cooperation in real time. It also increases our readiness to respond to [any] contingency or crisis, support U.S. operations and help Japan and U.S. forces defend [Japan's] territory," he added. As part of the USFJ's upgrade, Hegseth said DOD will soon add additional personnel to both Tokyo and USFJ headquarters at Yokota Air Base to conduct activities aimed at strengthening bilateral bonds with the U.S. military's Japanese counterparts, as well as deepening operational cooperation. Hegseth also said reorganizing USFJ into a warfighting headquarters would necessitate increased staff and the empowerment of USFJ's commander with the authority needed to accomplish new missions. "America and Japan ... we seek peace," Hegseth said. "But, as my first platoon motto says, 'Those who long for peace must prepare for war.' We must be prepared, [and] we look forward to working closely together [with Japan] as we improve our warfighting capabilities, our lethality and our readiness," he added. Regarding China's growing threat in the Indo-Pacific region, Hegseth said America is committed to sustaining a ready, robust and credible deterrence throughout the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command area of operations, including across the Taiwan Strait. Reestablishing deterrence is one of the three core pillars Hegseth listed in his message to the force Jan. 25, 2025, with restoring the warrior ethos and rebuilding the military being the other two. "Our job at the Defense Department ... is to build an alliance so robust that both the reality and the perception of deterrence is real and ongoing so that the Communist Chinese don't take the aggressive action that some have contemplated they will," Hegseth said. "Japan would be on the front lines of any contingency we might face in the Western Pacific, and we stand together in support of each other." Hegseth's visit to Japan represents the last stop during a weeklong trip throughout the Indo-Pacific region. Having already traveled to Hawaii, Guam, the Philippines and the island of Iwo Jima, Hegseth spent the week meeting with senior U.S. military and civilian leadership. He also interacted with troops from all branches of service at multiple stops and participated in a series of international bilateral meetings, with the goal of strengthening U.S. alliances and partnerships, as well as achieving a shared vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific region. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Yemen targets Israel's Ben Gurion Airport with ballistic missile IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Mar 30, 2025 The Yemeni Armed Forces have targeted Israel's Ben Gurion Airport in the occupied Yafa region with a Zulfiqar ballistic missile. Brigadier General Yahya Saree, a spokesperson for the Yemeni Army, said on Sunday that the military operation was executed using a Zulfiqar ballistic missile, which successfully achieved its objective. He emphasized that the strike was carried out in support of the Palestinian people and their resistance. Following the missile strike, sirens reportedly sounded across the central occupied territories in several towns near occupied al-Quds and some West Bank settlements. Saree said the daily airstrikes on Yemen will not deter the armed forces from fulfilling their responsibilities, underscoring that Yemeni operations against the Israeli regime will continue until the aggression in Gaza stops and the blockade on the enclave is lifted. Earlier on Sunday, Saree said that the Yemeni Armed Forces had targeted the U.S. aircraft carrier, USS Harry S. Truman, and several hostile warships in the Red Sea three times in the past 24 hours. 3266**4353 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Commentary: For separatist agenda, Lai Ching-te resorts to "green authoritarianism" Xinhua) 13:35, March 31, 2025 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. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) Hezbollah chief: No compromise on Palestine, no tolerance for Israeli aggression IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Mar 30, 2025 Tehran, IRNA -- Hezbollah Secretary-General Sheikh Naim Qassem has reaffirmed the Lebanese resistance movement's unwavering commitment to the Palestinian cause, warning that Hezbollah will respond decisively if Israel escalates. Sheikh Qassem said in a speech on Saturday that reversing course against the occupying regime is not an option, as the region undergoes a significant transformation with direct and tangible effects. "We believe that the Palestinian cause is that of justice, we stand firm in our commitment, and we believe in the liberation of the holy sites," he said, according to Al-Mayadeen news network. He also warned that Israel is an "expansionist enemy" with no boundaries, saying that resistance remains a legitimate and natural response to the regime's plots and ambitions. "The Israeli enemy, with the support of ruthless US tyranny, has set goals for itself: Expansion, ending the resistance, and controlling the future of Lebanon," said the Hezbollah chief. Addressing Israel's continued aggression against Lebanon, Sheikh Qassem made it clear that the Lebanese government must act decisively to protect its sovereignty. "If Israel thinks it can establish a new equation by attacking the southern suburbs, the south, and the Bekaa, this will not be accepted," he said, warning that Hezbollah will not tolerate any Israeli actions aimed at destabilizing Lebanon. 4354**9417 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address There is no military solution to the Yemeni crisis: Deputy foreign minister IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Mar 30, 2025 Tehran, IRNA -- Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht-e-Ravanchi says that there is no military solution to the current crisis in Yemen. Takht-e-Ravanchi said in a post on his X page on Saturday that he had met with Hans Grundberg, the UN Special Envoy to Yemen, in Tehran to discuss the dangerous situation in Yemen. "The continuous U.S. heavy attacks against Yemen resulting in injuries and martyrdom of many civilians and the destruction of Yemen's infrastructures must stop," he wrote. "There is no military solution to the current crisis in this country," the senior diplomat said. Takht-e-Ravanchi further said that all efforts should be made to strengthen the ceasefire and implement the roadmap agreed upon before. "Iran is supportive of such endeavors," he added. U.S. warplanes hit Yemen's Sa'ada Governorate Meanwhile, Yemeni media reported on Saturday that seven U.S. airstrikes targeted the country's northern Sa'ada Governorate. "An American aggression targeted the east of Sa'ada city with three airstrikes, and the Al Salem district with four more," Al-Masirah TV reported. The attacks came a day after American warplanes bombed the Yemeni regions of Sana'a, Sa'ada, Amran, Marib, Al-Jawf, and Al-Hudaydah 72 times. Yemen says the U.S. airstrikes on its soil are another measure by Washington to support the Israeli regime in its genocidal war on Gaza. 4354**9417 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address U.S. cannot claim to restore regional stability while slaughtering Yemenis: Araqchi IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Mar 30, 2025 Tehran, IRNA -- Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi says the United States cannot claim to restore stability in West Asia while slaughtering innocent Yemeni people. In a meeting with United Nations Special Envoy to Yemen, Hans Grundberg, in Tehran on Saturday, Araqchi said American policymakers must come to the realization that the root cause of insecurity in the region is the continued Israeli occupation and genocide in Palestine. He said that the United States cannot claim to restore stability in the region by attacking Yemen and killing innocent Yemeni people, whose only crime is expressing solidarity and support for the oppressed people of Palestine. The foreign minister added that the U.S. military aggression against Yemen, along with the escalation of the Zionist regime's genocide in Gaza and its aggressions against Lebanon and Syria, is yet another sign of America's complicity in Israel's lawlessness and compliance with this regime in spreading insecurity and instability in the region. Criticizing the U.N. Security Council's inaction in response to the gross violations of the principles of the Charter and international law by the United States and the Israeli regime, Araqchi underscored the need for immediate and effective action by the U.N. to stop lawbreaking and disrespect for international norms. U.N. envoy thanks Iran for continued support in Yemen peace efforts Grundberg, for his part, extended his congratulations on Nowruz and Eid al-Fitr and expressed appreciation for Iran's continued support of the U.N.'s role in advancing peace efforts in Yemen. Providing an update on his recent visit to Brussels and talks with EU officials, the U.N. envoy stressed that achieving peace in Yemen is an urgent necessity for regional stability. 4354**9417 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address PM Netanyahu's Remarks at the Start of the Government Meeting Israel - Prime Minister's Office Media Statements The 37th Government 30.03.2025 Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, today, at the start of the Government meeting: "This morning, I am going to going to discuss the three H's: First of all Hamas, then Hezbollah and then the Houthis. Regarding Hamas in Gaza - the military pressure is working. It is working because it is simultaneous: 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. This is exactly what we are doing. Last night, the Security Cabinet convened and decided to increase the pressure, which was already increased, in order to further pound Hamas and create the optimal conditions for releasing our hostages. While on the subject of Hamas, I would now like to comment on three false claims that are constantly being directed at us in a one continuous lie: One - that we are not holding negotiations. This is incorrect. We are holding them under fire; therefore, they are also effective. Suddenly we see that there are cracks. The second claim - that we are unwilling to discuss the final stage. This is also incorrect. We are willing. Hamas will lay down its weapons. Its leaders will be allowed to leave. We will see to the general security in the Gaza Strip and will allow the realization of the Trump plan for voluntary migration. This is the plan. We are not hiding this and are ready to discuss it at any time. The third lie is that we do not care about the hostages. This is incorrect for the ministers here who regularly meet with the families of the hostages, and for my wife and I. Last week we met and talked with four families. We speak in depth and feel their pain, which is immense. This claim - that we do not care - echoes Hamas propaganda. This is what Hamas puts into its videos with the goal of creating internal dissension and a false picture. We are committed to returning the hostages and we are working to return them. As of today, the combination of military and diplomatic pressure is the only thing that has returned the hostages, and not any of the empty claims and slogans that I hear in the studios from the self-professed experts. Regarding Hezbollah: In Lebanon there is very aggressive enforcement, without compromise. This is the directive that I, the Defense Minister and the Security Cabinet, have given to the IDF, which the IDF is implementing in the optimal manner. We will not allow a trickle, discounts or considerations. The Lebanese state is responsible for what emanates from its territory and it needs to see to it that nothing does, that attacks against the State of Israel do not emanate from its territory. We respect the Lebanese state and its military; therefore, we demand from them the things that you demand from someone you respect. Regarding the Houthis: I greatly appreciate the actions of our ally the US. They are dealing with them very forcefully. Of course, we are acting to defend ourselves, as has happened recently. But the fact that the US has gone in there vigorously is a major change. We always appreciate alliances. We have an alliance with the greatest superpower in the world, which is lining up behind us there, and in other arenas, without NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address 14 Gaza medics killed by Israeli military fire found in Rafah: Red Crescent Iran Press TV Sunday, 30 March 2025 8:51 PM The Palestinian Red Crescent says it has recovered the bodies of 14 paramedics killed in Israeli military fire on ambulances in the southern Gaza Strip one week ago. In a statement released on Sunday, the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) said that eight of the bodies have been identified as PRCS members, five as members of the Civil Defense, and one as a UN agency employee. One PRCS first responder is still missing. "PRCS was devastated today by the loss of eight of our paramedics in Rafah who were targeted by the occupation forces while performing their humanitarian duty, responding to the wounded and injured in the Hashashin area of Rafah," the organization said. "The ninth paramedic is still missing and is believed to have been detained." PRCS President Younis al-Khatib strongly condemned Israel for targeting its paramedics as they "fulfill their humanitarian mission." "Those souls are not mere numbers. If this incident [happened] anywhere else, the whole world would have moved heaven and earth to expose this war crime," al-Khatib said. Two days prior, a joint team from the PRCS and the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) was able to reach the site where the medics were last seen and recovered a buried body. A group of 15 paramedics and rescue workers from PRCS and Gaza's Civil Defense "vanished" on March 22 in the besieged region following an incident in which Israeli forces fired on ambulances and fire trucks. 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." Naim slammed the attack on the ambulance and said the "targeted killing of rescue workers constitutes a flagrant violation of the Geneva Conventions and a war crime". The PRCS killings come amid Israel's continued assault on Gaza, where over 50,300 Palestinians have been killed since 7 October 2023. Aid workers from organisations, including World Central Kitchen and the UK-based Al-Khair Foundation, are among those killed in recent Israeli strikes. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran FM: 'Coordinated' move among regional states needed to end Israeli, US crimes Iran Press TV Sunday, 30 March 2025 5:51 PM Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says a "coordinated" action among regional countries is essential to end the crimes of the Israeli regime and the US against the countries in the region. In a phone conversation on Sunday, the Iranian foreign minister and his Egyptian counterpart, Badr Abdelatty, exchanged views about the latest developments in the region, particularly in the Gaza Strip. Araghchi said the continuation of a coordinated move among regional countries is necessary to stop the Israeli regime's genocide in Gaza and its aggression against Lebanon and Syria. He added that the Tel Aviv regime's acts of aggression in the region pose a serious threat to regional and international peace and security. Israel ended a fragile two-month-old ceasefire with the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas as it resumed its savage campaign of death and destruction in Gaza on March 18. It has since killed hundreds of Palestinians, mostly women and children, and has allowed no food, fuel, or humanitarian aid to enter the coastal enclave. The genocidal war, which began in October 2203, has claimed the lives of more than 50,000 Palestinians, destroyed vast areas of Gaza, and displaced around 90% of the 2 million population there. Women and children were among at least 20 people who were killed in Israeli airstrikes that hit the Gaza Strip as Palestinians observe the first day of Eid al-Fitr on Sunday. Following significant losses incurred over nearly 14 months of war and failure to achieve its goals, Israel had to agree to a ceasefire agreement with the Lebanese resistance movement Hezbollah. The ceasefire took effect on November 27. Since the commencement of the agreement, the occupying forces have been carrying out near-daily assaults on Lebanon, breaching the ceasefire, which includes airstrikes throughout the Arab nation. The top Iranian diplomat also stressed the importance of putting an end to the US airstrikes against Yemen. 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. The Egyptian foreign minister, for his part, elaborated on his country's diplomatic efforts to re-establish the ceasefire agreement in Gaza. Abdelatty stressed the importance of making more diplomatic efforts by regional countries to prevent further escalation of insecurity. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Israeli army plans to wipe out refugee camps from occupied West Bank Iran Press TV Sunday, 30 March 2025 5:06 PM The Israeli army has announced plans to dismantle the Palestinian refugee camps in the cities of Jenin and Tulkarm as the regime forces press ahead with a large-scale offensive in the northern occupied West Bank. Israeli media quoted military sources as saying that plans are underway to completely wipe out the Jenin, Tulkarm, and Nur Shams refugee camps across the occupied region. The sources confirmed that the demolitions were fully carried out after receiving approval from the Central Command and legal advice. A ban was then issued on the reconstruction of the demolished buildings and roads. On the ground, demolition operations are being carried out on daily basis. The Israeli military is issuing repeated warnings to hundreds of Palestinian families about the impending destruction of their homes. Saleh al-Zuhairi, a member of the Popular Committee for Services in Nur Shams camp, said that Israel's plan is already being implemented. The demolition of homes doesn't just concern those directly impacted. "When we are notified of the intention to demolish 30 homes, it actually means demolishing at least 100, because all the homes are built vertically. Similarly, when they tell us they will demolish 10 homes, they end up demolishing 40, without accounting for the significant damage to the neighboring homes," Zuhairi was quoted as saying. According to reports, so far, at least 500 homes in the camp have been completely leveled, along with hundreds more partially damaged. The camp's 13,000 residents were all forced to leave, and everyone in the surrounding area was displaced. The situation is not much different in other camps. Many homes were demolished to open up and widen roads to allow easier access for Israeli military vehicles. Faisal Salama, the coordinator of the camp's popular committee, said that the Israeli army demolished entire blocks and residential units in order to change the "geographical and demographic landscape." Salama said that another goal Israel seeks to achieve is reducing the population by demolishing homes and creating a hostile environment until the camp becomes uninhabitable. Yedioth Ahronoth newspapers reported that the army has prepared similar plans for the remaining 18 camps in the West Bank. The Israeli army in recent months has desperately struggled to maintain control over the camps, which it described as "strategically vital" areas for resistance activity. UN has warned that the forced displacement of Palestinian communities in the northern part of the West Bank is escalating at an alarming pace. Dozens of Palestinians have been killed and hundreds more arrested since the military offensive began in January. Tensions have continued to escalate across the occupied West Bank. Since Oct. 7, 2023, at least 939 Palestinians have been killed and nearly 7,000 injured in attacks by Israeli forces and settlers, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Yemeni army 'successfully' strikes Israel's Ben Gurion Airport after targeting US aircraft carrier Iran Press TV Sunday, 30 March 2025 10:51 AM The Yemeni army says it has successfully targeted the Ben Gurion Airport in the Israeli-occupied region of Yafa in support of the oppressed people of Palestine, hours after targeting an American aircraft carrier in the Red Sea. In a statement on Sunday, the Yemeni Armed Forces said it used the Zulfiqar ballistic missile in the operation, which "successfully achieved its objective." Earlier in the day, the Israeli military claimed that the missile was shot down before it crossed the occupied territories' borders. Sirens had reportedly sounded across the central occupied territories, in several towns near al-Quds, and some West Bank settlements. "Through this operation, the Yemeni Armed Forces confirm the failure of the American aggression to prevent Yemen from continuing its support operations for the oppressed Palestinian people," the Yemeni Armed Forces said. "The dozens of daily raids will not deter the Armed Forces from fulfilling their religious, moral, and humanitarian duties," it said, adding that the Yemeni fighters will continue their operations against the Israeli enemy until the aggression against Gaza stops and the siege is lifted. On Sunday morning, Brigadier General Yahya Saree, spokesperson for Yemen's military, said the country's armed forces had three military confrontations with US vessels, including the USS Harry S. Truman, over the past 24 hours. Saree noted that the retaliatory operations involved the missile force, the drone unit of the air force, as well as the naval force of the Yemeni military, and were conducted with multiple domestically-developed cruise missiles and combat drones. Yemenis have been hitting Israeli and American targets in support of Palestinians in Gaza since the regime launched its devastating war on Gaza on October 7, 2023, and in response to the American-British aggression on their homeland. The operations have effectively shut down the Eilat port south of the occupied territories, causing significant economic setbacks for the Israelis. The Yemeni Armed Forces have said they will not stop their attacks until Israel's ground and aerial offensives in Gaza end. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Yemeni army targets US warships, chiefly aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman, in Red Sea Iran Press TV Sunday, 30 March 2025 8:06 AM The Yemeni Armed Forces have claimed responsibility for a series of precision strikes against US warships, including the USS Harry S. Truman, in the Red Sea, in response to American aggression against their homeland. Brigadier General Yahya Saree, spokesperson for Yemen's military, stated on Sunday morning that the country's armed forces had three military confrontations with US vessels over the past 24 hours. Saree noted that the retaliatory operations involved the missile force, the drone unit of the air force as well as the naval force of the Yemeni military, and were conducted with multiple domestically-developed cruise missiles and combat drones. The senior Yemeni military official reiterated that the armed forces of the Arab country will continue to develop their defense capabilities and will confront escalation with escalation. Saree underlined that Yemeni forces will not back down from supporting oppressed Palestinian people until the ongoing bloody onslaught against Gaza ceases, and the crippling siege on the coastal sliver is completely lifted. He went on to salute heroic Yemeni military forces across all their ranks, stating they are performing their religious, humanitarian, and moral duties in defense of a free and independent Yemen and in support of oppressed Palestinians. On behalf of the Yemeni Armed Forces, Saree also paid homage to the leader of the Ansarullah resistance movement, Abdul-Malik al-Houthi, alongside all walks of the steadfast and courageous Yemeni society. He also paid tribute to Palestinian resistance fighters in the Gaza Strip and the free and honorable Palestinian nation. Yemenis have been hitting Israeli and American targets in support of Palestinians in Gaza since the regime launched its devastating war on Gaza on October 7, 2023, and in response to the American-British aggression on their homeland. The operations have effectively shut down the Eilat port south of the occupied territories, causing significant economic setbacks for the Israelis. The Yemeni Armed Forces have said they will not stop their attacks until Israel's ground and aerial offensives in Gaza end. Houthi reaffirms support for Palestine on Eid al-Fitr Ansarullah's leader, Abdul-Malik al-Houthi, reaffirmed Yemen's unwavering support for Palestine and vowed continued resistance against US-led aggression on Yemen, asserting it would not weaken the country's military capabilities or its operations in solidarity with Gaza. In a message on the occasion of Eid al-Fitr, he said that Yemen's resilience is rooted in its faith-based identity, Quranic principles, and trust in Allah. He urged Muslims to remember the suffering of Palestinians in Gaza, who face "starvation and genocide," as well as the hardships of those in the West Bank and the desecration of Al-Aqsa Mosque by "criminal Zionist Jews." Houthi also extended Eid al-Fitr congratulations to the Yemeni people, the armed and security forces, government institutions, and the families of martyrs, as well as to the Islamic nation, particularly the Palestinian people and resistance. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Israeli warplanes target two buildings in southern Lebanon in new violation of ceasefire Iran Press TV Sunday, 30 March 2025 6:21 AM Israeli warplanes have carried out an airstrike against two buildings in southern Lebanon, marking yet another violation of the fragile ceasefire agreement between Israel and the Arab nation. Lebanese media outlets reported that an Israeli drone fired guided missiles at the residences in the southern town of Kfar Kila early on Sunday. No immediate reports were available on possible casualties or the extent of damage caused. Earlier, Lebanon's official National News Agency reported that several cars and homes were damaged as Israeli military forces launched an offensive in the eastern flank of the occupied Kfar Shuba region. No casualties were reported. Israeli warplanes also broke the sound barrier twice in the skies over the Western Bekaa area in southeastern Lebanon. The sonic boom was heard in the Chouf and Aley regions of Mount Lebanon. Moreover, an Israeli helicopter dropped two sound bombs on a gathering of ordinary people in Yaroun town of the Bint Jbeil district. UN peacekeepers targeted Separately, a United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) patrol came under fire from the Israeli army on Saturday afternoon along the Blue Line, which separates Lebanon from the northern side of the Israeli-occupied territories. "UNIFIL peacekeepers reported that the Israeli army fired warning shots from a machine gun across the Blue Line," according to a statement from UNIFIL spokesperson Andrea Tenenti. The incident occurred during a scheduled reconnaissance patrol near the village of Rmeish in southern Lebanon. UNIFIL said "no one was harmed" and called the incident "a violation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701." Moreover, UNIFIL peacekeepers reported that an Israeli army patrol directed laser beams at them, targeting their bodies and eyes. Tenenti denounced the actions, stating, "Any action that endangers the safety of UN peacekeepers while they carry out their mandated duties is unacceptable ... We are following up on these incidents with the Israeli army." Israel had to agree to a ceasefire with Hezbollah following significant losses incurred over nearly 14 months of conflict, failing to achieve its goals in the offensive against Lebanon. The ceasefire took effect on November 27. Since the commencement of the agreement, the occupying forces have been carrying out near-daily assaults on Lebanon, breaching the ceasefire, which includes airstrikes throughout the Arab nation. On January 27, Lebanon declared its decision to prolong the ceasefire with Israel until February 18. Despite the February 18 deadline having passed, Israel persists in its occupation of five critical areas in southern Lebanon, which include Labbouneh, Mount Blat, Owayda Hill, Aaziyyeh, and Hammamis Hill, located near the border. Lebanon has denounced the ongoing presence of Israeli military personnel, which constitutes a breach of the ceasefire agreement and the stipulated withdrawal timeline. High-ranking officials in Beirut have stated their intention to "employ all measures" necessary to expel the occupying forces from the Arab country. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address NZ Army soldiers at forefront of future military tech New Zealand Defence Force Just over 200 kilometres outside Los Angeles in the Mojave Desert, the US Army's Fort Irwin National Training Centre has once again played host to the largest military experimentation exercise of its kind, Project Convergence Capstone 5 (PCC5). 31 March, 2025 Led by the US Army it included all branches of the US military (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Special Forces and Space Force) as well as personnel representing our Five Eyes partners and France. The New Zealand Army had a contingent of around 30 personnel participating in the first scenario of PCC5, predominantly across information, communication and fires roles. The first scenario of the activity focused on the next generation of Command and Control, and Fire Control Systems in a simulated environment and included a particular focus on human-machine integration. New Zealand's Senior National Officer at the exercise, Lieutenant Colonel Richie Appleton says our participation at these sorts of activities is vital. "Threats to our region are now present from greater ranges than ever before due to the proliferation of new technologies, the extended reach of lethal fires and ubiquitous surveillance. It means the need to be armed with the latest military knowledge and capabilities is more important than it has been for decades," said Lieutenant Colonel Appleton. PCC5 is a critical proving ground for emerging technologies and concepts that are crucial to enabling a data-centric and networked fighting force, and offers the NZDF the chance to observe and learn from our partners and take those lessons learned back home. "Whether it's on the tools, or as observers, our presence at PCC5 is well-received by all our partners, and we are respected by militaries the world over as having highly-trained personnel who can add value to these multi-national efforts." The New Zealand Defence Force's (NZDF) Land Component Commander, Brigadier Jason Dyhrberg, says Project Convergence also provides an invaluable opportunity to keep testing our interoperability and partnerships with other nations. "Continually testing and enhancing our interoperability with Australia across all areas of our forces in turn supports our commitment to each other's security in the South Pacific, and our shared focus on the security and stability of our wider region," Brigadier Dyhrberg said. "To that end, PCC5 is also a great build-up and test of that level of partnership ahead of Exercise Talisman Sabre later this year, which will see a significant contingent of NZDF personnel and platforms deployed." The New Zealand Defence Force's (NZDF) Land Component Commander, Brigadier Jason Dyhrberg, says Project Convergence also provides an invaluable opportunity to keep testing our interoperability and partnerships with other nations. "PCC5 is an opportunity for us to further enhance our interoperability with our ally Australia, particularly as it relates to communications and electronic warfare," Brigadier Dyhrberg said. "Continually testing and enhancing our interoperability with Australia across all areas of our forces in turn supports our commitment to each other's security in the South Pacific, and our shared focus on the security and stability of our wider region. To that end, PCC5 is also a great build-up and test of that level of partnership ahead of Exercise Talisman Sabre later this year, which will see a significant contingent of NZDF personnel and platforms deployed." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address American warplanes bomb Yemeni capital 13 times Iran Press TV Monday, 31 March 2025 2:24 AM The United States has carried out fresh acts of aggression against Yemen to force the Arab country to stop its support for Palestinians in Gaza. American warplanes conducted thirteen intense airstrikes on the Yemeni capital, Sana'a, on Sunday night. The Yemeni media reported eight attacks on Sana'a's Al-Malikah area and five strikes on the Sarf area. The attacks followed earlier strikes that left one civilian dead and twelve wounded in two districts of Sana'a. Most of the US attacks target civilian buildings in the Yemeni capital. Washington claims the attacks are a means to protect freedom of navigation in nearby waters. Yemen rejects the claim, saying its naval operations solely target Israel-linked ships in an attempt to stop the regime's genocide in Gaza. The latest US strikes followed Yemen's earlier attacks, which targeted an American aircraft carrier in the Red Sea and Israel's Ben Gurion airport near Tel Aviv. The attack on Ben Gurion airport triggered air raid sirens in several parts of the occupied territories. On Sunday morning, Brigadier General Yahya Saree, spokesperson for Yemen's military, said the country's armed forces had had three military confrontations with US vessels, including the USS Harry S. Truman, over the past 24 hours. Saree noted that the retaliatory operations involved the missile force, the drone unit of the air force, as well as the naval force of the Yemeni military, and were conducted with multiple domestically developed cruise missiles and combat drones. Yemenis have been hitting Israeli and American targets in support of Palestinians in Gaza since the regime launched its devastating war on Gaza on October 7, 2023, and in response to the American-British aggression on their homeland. The operations have effectively shut down the Eilat port south of the occupied territories, causing significant economic setbacks for the Israelis. The Yemeni Armed Forces have said they will not stop their attacks until Israel's ground and aerial offensives in Gaza end. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russo-Ukraine War - 30 March 2025 - Day 1131 Su M Tu W Th F Sa 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While GlobalSecurity.org takes utmost care to accurately report this news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos. On 24 February 2022, Ukraine was suddenly and deliberately attacked by land, naval and air forces of Russia, igniting the largest European war since the Great Patriotic War. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a "special military operation" (SVO - spetsialnaya voennaya operatsiya) in Ukraine in response to the appeal of the leaders of the "Donbass republics" for help. That attack is a blatant violation of the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine. Putin stressed that Moscow's goal is the demilitarization and denazification of the country. The military buildup in preceeding months makes it obvious that the unprovoked and dastardly Russian attack was deliberately planned long in advance. During the intervening time, the Russian government had deliberately sought to deceive the world by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace. "To initiate a war of aggression... is not only an international crime; it is the supreme international crime differing only from other war crimes in that it contains within itself the accumulated evil of the whole." [Judgment of the International Military Tribunal] The UK Ministry of Defence reported that the Russian state is likely confronting an increasingly significant shortage of police. In March 2025 Interior Minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev reportedly stated there to be 172,000 vacancies in the Ministry of Internal Affairs, an increase of 33,000 in the last year. Some Russian civilians have been reported as forming armed self-defence units as a result. Decreased police sign-up and retention rates have likely been caused by a combination of: the relatively low salaries on offer; higher salaries and notable sign-up bonuses in the military and related industries; and concerns that joining the police may result in being sent to Ukraine, where Russia has likely sustained more than 900,000 casualties. The Russian senior leadership highly likely considers the issue to be a matter of concern, with rising violent crime rates expected to increase further with the return of Russian military personnel, widely accused of atrocities, from the war against Ukraine. The leadership will highly likely continue prioritising funding and resource for the war against Ukraine over the police in the short-medium term. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that Ukrainian defenders continue to decisively give a block to the Russian enemy's attempts to advance deep into Ukrainian territory, giving him an effective fire effect. Since the beginning of this day, there have been 147 combat clashes. The Russian invaders launched one rocket and 64 air strikes using one rocket and 120 cab. In addition, the Russians have engaged about 750 kamikaze drones and carried out almost four thousand shells on the positions of Ukrainian troops and settlements. In the Kharkiv direction, Ukrainian troops repelled three Russian attacks in the areas of the settlements of Vovchansk, Kamyanka, Krasne Pershe, until now one of them is ongoing. In the Kupyansky direction, Russian forces conducted six assaults of the positions of Ukrainian defenders in the direction of Radkivka, Pi ,any, Boguslavka, Petropavlivka and nearby Zagrizovoye. Ukrainian defenders stopped all Russian attacks. In the Lyman direction during the day Russian zagarbniki 14 times attacked the positions of Ukrainians near hope, yampolivka, kolodaziv, in the direction of new and novomikhailivka. So far, four confrontations remain incomplete. In the Sivers komu direction, Russian forces carried out five assaults of the positions of Ukrainian units near Verkhnyokamiansky and Ivano-Daryivka. Two attacks have already been stopped by Ukrainian defenders. In the Kramators komu direction, there are currently two combat clashes, Russian forces attacked near Stupocok and towards the White Mountain. In the Toretsky direction Russians 14 times attacked the positions of defense forces. The main efforts of the attack were concentrated near Crimea, Toretsk and towards Diliyivka. There is currently one fight. In the Pokrovsky direction, Russian Zagarbnicki units 61 times tried to break through Ukrainian defense in the areas of settlements Oleksandropil, Kalinove, Vodyane Second, Elizabeth, Ray, Fox, Zelene, Kotline, Udaachne, Andriyivka, as well as in the direction of Malinivka, Kotlyarivka, Bogdanivka, Oleksiyivka. Six clashes are ongoing so far. The Russian enemy suffers significant losses - today in this direction Ukrainian warriors zneszkodili 281 Russian occupiers, 134 of them - irrevocably. Also destroyed a tank, seven cars, three motorcycles, mortar, five antennas communication, bpla "Lightning" and the trench station of radioelectronnoi battle. In the novopavlivs komu direction, Russian forces 11 times attacked near konstantinopol and in the direction of rozlivu and veselogo. Ukrainian defenders have already successfully stopped five attacks of the Russian opponent, sharpened fighting in six locations. In the Gulyajpil s komu direction, Ukrainian defenders repelled two attacks near Privilny and towards the Free Field. In the Orihiv direction, Russian forces attacked the positions of Ukrainian defenders four times, trying to advance to the settlements of Mali Sherbaki and Stepovo. In the Pridniprovsk direction, the Russian aggressor carried out two offensive actions in the direction of Sadovoye, unsuccessful. In the operational zone in Kurshchini, units of the Defense Forces of Ukraine repelled 20 attacks of Russian invaders within a day, one confrontation is ongoing. In addition, Russian forces launched 19 air strikes using 27 guided bombs and carried out 317 artillery shells to positions of Ukrainian troops and settlements, five including from reactive salvage systems. In other directions, the situation has not changed significantly. The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continue the special military operation. Units of the Sever Group of Forces in Belgorod direction engaged AFU manpower and hardware concentration areas of three mechanised brigades, one unmanned aerial vehicle brigade, two assault regiments of the AFU, and two territorial defence brigades close to Krasnopolye, Ugroyedy, Petrushevka, Prokhody, Miropolskoye (Sumy region), and Slatino (Kharkov region). In Kharkov direction, Russian troops hit formations of one AFU motorised infantry brigade close to Volchansk (Kharkov region). The AFU losses were up to 70 troops, one armoured fighting vehicle, five motor vehicles, and two field artillery guns. The Zapad Group of Forces' units improved the situation along the front line, inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of two mechanised brigades, one assault brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and one territorial defence brigade close to Kupyansk (Kharkov region), Nadiya (Lugansk People's Republic), and Redkodub (Donetsk People's Republic) as well as Serebryansky forestry. The AFU losses were up to 240 troops, two U.S.-made M113 armoured personnel carriers, one UK-made Dingo reconnaissance vehicle, six pickup trucks, four field artillery guns, including three foreign-made ones and one Verba multiple-launch rocket system. In addition, Nota and Zakhist-AF electronic warfare stations, one Israeli-made RADA radar station, and one ammunition depot were neutralised. The Yug Group of Forces' units improved the tactical situation and inflicted losses on formations of one tank brigade, seven mechanised brigades, one motorised infantry brigade, one assault brigade, one airmobile brigade, one mountain assault brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and one special operations brigade near Chasov Yar, Stupochki, Alekseyevo-Druzkovka, Seversk, Konstantinovka, Nikolayevka, Pleshcheyevka, Ulyanovka, Novoolenovka, and Katerinovka (Donetsk People's Republic). The AFU losses were up to 300 troops, two tanks, two infantry fighting vehicles, three U.S.-made M113 armoured personnel carriers, four armoured fighting vehicles, eight pickup trucks, two artillery guns, and one ammunition depot. As a result of successful offensive actions, units of the Tsentr Group of Forces completed the liberation of Zaporozhye (Donetsk People's Republic). Russian troops hit four mechanised brigades, one jaeger brigade, two assault brigades, one unmanned aerial vehicles brigade, one assault regiment, one assault battalion of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, one marine brigade, and one National Guard brigade close to Zverevo, Udachnoye, Peschanoye, Kotlino, Mirolyubovka, Shevchenko, Uspenovka, Alekseyevka, Novosergeyevka, Petrovskoye, Krasnoarmeysk, and Novotoretskoye (Donetsk People's Republic). The AFU losses were up to 510 troops, seven motor vehicles, and four field artillery guns. Units of the Vostok Group of Forces continued advancing into the depth of enemy defences. Russian troops delivered strikes at manpower and hardware of two AFU mechanised brigades, one airmobile brigade, one marine brigade, and one National Guard brigade close to Poddubnoye, Karla Marksa, Volnoye Pole, Razliv, Yalta, Vesyoloye, Zelenoye Pole (Donetsk People's Republic), and Maliyevka (Dnepropetrovsk region). The AFU losses were more than 140 troops, one motor vehicle, and three field artillery guns. Three electronic warfare stations were destroyed. Units of the Dnepr Group of Forces engaged formations of three mechanised brigades and three coastal defence brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine close to Novoandreyevka, Stepovoye (Zaporozhye region), Dneprovskoye, Sadovoye (Kherson region), and Kherson. The AFU losses were up to 65 troops, one U.S.-made M113 armoured personnel carrier, four motor vehicles, one field artillery gun, one electronic warfare station, one ammunition depot, and one POL depot. Operational-Tactical Aviation, attack unmanned aerial vehicles, Missile Troops and Artillery of the Russian Groups of Forces engaged the military airfield infrastructure, ammunition depots, an unmanned aerial vehicle assembly and storage enterprise as well as clusters of enemy manpower and hardware in 140 areas. As a result of a missile strike against a temporary deployment area of units of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) and special operations forces of the Main Directorate of Intelligence (GUR) of Ukraine, up to 170 Ukrainian militants and foreign mercenaries were neutralised. Air defence systems shot down two U.S.-made JDAM guided aerial bombs and 78 fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles. In total, since the beginning of the special military operation, the AFU losses amounted to: 660 aircraft, 283 helicopters, 49,030 unmanned aerial vehicles, 601 anti-aircraft missile systems, 22,596 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,533 MLRS combat vehicles, 23,109 field artillery guns and mortars, 33,530 units of special military vehicles. The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation also reported that the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continue the operation to neutralise AFU formations on the territory of Kursk region. During offensive actions, units of the Sever Group of Forces defeated formations of one mechanised brigade, two air assault brigades, and one territorial defence brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine close to Gornal, Guyevo, and Oleshnya. Operational-Tactical, Army aviation, and artillery strikes engaged AFU manpower and hardware close to Gornal, Guyevo, and Oleshnya as well as Basovka, Belovody, Velikaya Rybitsa, Vladimirovka, Vodolagi, Zhuravka, Zapselye, Loknya, Malaya Rybitsa, Miropolye, Mogritsa, Sadki, Khrapovshchina, Yunakovka, and Yablonovka (Sumy region). Over the course of the day, the AFU losses were more than 160 troops, one armoured fighting vehicle, six motor vehicles, one ATV, and four UAV command posts. Since the beginning of hostilities in Kursk direction, the AFU losses amounted to: more than 71,050 troops, 402 tanks, 329 infantry fighting vehicles, 290 armoured personnel carriers, 2,235 armoured fighting vehicles, 2,575 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-battery warfare radars, ?ten air defence radars, 56 units of engineering and other materiel, including 23 counterobstacle vehicles, one UR-77 mine clearing vehicle, five bridge launchers, one engineering reconnaissance vehicle as well as 15 armoured recovery vehicles, and one command post vehicle. The operation to neutralise the AFU units is in progress. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Australia supports Pacific partners to maintain security at sea Issued by Defence Media 31 March 2025 The Australian Defence Force (ADF) has completed this year's first maritime and aerial surveillance activity for Operation Solania in the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI). Under Operation Solania, the ADF is assisting the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) to detect and deter illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing activities. ADF assets provide intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance support to Pacific Island countries that contribute to regional security. The FFA is an advisory and coordinating body established to assist member nations to manage and enhance their fisheries' resources. FFA members work together to coordinate maritime and aerial surveillance patrols in their Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ). The FFA is supported by Australia's Pacific Maritime Security Program, along with ADF assets and personnel. In this iteration of Operation Solania, the ADF deployed a Royal Australian Air Force C-27J Spartan from 35 Squadron and supporting personnel to Kwajalein to support the maritime surveillance of RMI's EEZ. Australia remains committed to working with the RMI against the threat to territorial sovereignty and economic development caused by transnational crime and the illegal, unreported, and unregulated exploitation of natural resources. The Chief of Joint Operations, Vice Admiral Justin Jones said the ADF is committed to working with Pacific partners to respond to the illegal exploitation of fisheries and national resources. "A strong and prosperous Pacific region is in our interests, and Australia is proud to work alongside the Republic of the Marshall Islands to address shared priorities and challenges. Australia and the Republic of the Marshall Islands have a long-standing partnership in maritime security, built on a shared ambition for a peaceful, prosperous and resilient region," Vice Admiral Jones said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address China's upgraded JL-9 naval trainer jet featured in official report Global Times By Liu Xuanzun Published: Mar 30, 2025 05:43 PM Updated: Mar 30, 2025 06:02 PM An upgraded version of China's JL-9 naval trainer jet was featured in a recent official report, revealing newly added wingtip split rudders. A Chinese military affairs expert said on Sunday that the technology will enhance carrier pilot training and could be applied to future stealth aircraft. A regiment affiliated with the Naval Aviation University of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) recently organized pilots to conduct an aerial maneuvering exercise under combat scenarios, China Bugle, an official media account affiliated with the PLA News Media Center, reported on Saturday evening. By putting a red team and a blue team against each other in close-range combat training, the exercise tested the pilots' comprehensive combat capabilities in complex battlefield conditions. The video report showed JL-9 trainer jets in action, with one deploying wingtip split rudders during landing. Public reports indicate that wingtip split rudders are a new feature to an upgraded version of the JL-9 that made its maiden test flight in May 2020. Compared to the original JL-9, the upgraded version of the aircraft removed the drogue parachute installation located at the vertical tail, and added wingtip split rudders, aiming to improve stability and low-speed performance, eastday.com, a Shanghai-based news website, reported at the time. The JL-9 trainer aircraft is used to train pilots for aircraft carrier-based fighter jets, which do not use drogue parachutes, so it is normal for the trainer to remove this design. The new split rudders act as air brakes, helping pilots practice carrier landings more effectively, Song Zhongping, a Chinese military affairs expert, told the Global Times on Sunday. Using split rudders instead of drogue parachutes can also help lowering the weight of the aircraft, improving overall performance, Song said. The appearance of the upgraded JL-9 in an official report is an indication that the aircraft has technically matured, Song said. Beyond the JL-9, Song noted that wingtip air brake and split rudder technologies have potential in future stealth aircraft. To achieve better stealth, next-generation aircraft tend remove vertical wings, so they need to use other types of stabilizers to control the aircraft, and this is when alternative control surfaces like wingtip rudders become relevant. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address INDIAN AIR FORCE TO PARTICIPATE IN MULTI-NATION AIR EXERCISE INIOCHOS-25 India - Press Information Bureau Ministry of Defence Posted On: 30 MAR 2025 11:29AM by PIB Delhi The Indian Air Force (IAF) will be participating in Exercise INIOCHOS-25, a prestigious multi-national 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. 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 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. 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 *** VK/JS/SM (Release ID: 2116710) NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Trump threatens Iran with 'bombing' if no deal is reached IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Mar 30, 2025 U.S. President Donald Trump has warned that he might order military strikes against Iran if Tehran fails to reach an agreement with Washington on its nuclear program. "If they don't make a deal, there will be bombing," Trump said in an interview with NBC News. However, he added that he could instead impose "secondary tariffs" on Iran if no deal is reached, as he did during his first term in office. Trump also claimed, without providing details, that U.S. and Iranian officials were in communication. On March 12, Trump sent a letter to Iran via an emissary from the United Arab Emirates (UAE). While the content of the letter has not been disclosed, Trump said he urged Iran to open negotiations for a "new deal" and warned of potential military action if Tehran refused. Iran has confirmed that its response to Trump's letter was delivered through Oman. On Sunday, President Masoud Pezeshkian said that Iran, in its response, rejected direct negotiations with the U.S. but indicated that indirect diplomacy remained an option. He emphasized that the U.S.'s behavior would determine whether indirect negotiations could progress, noting that the U.S.'s history of violating its commitments had eroded trust between the two sides. In 2018, Trump withdrew the United States from the 2015 deal with Iran and re-imposed harsh economic sanctions on the country. Shortly after returning to the White House for a second term in January, Trump reinstated his maximum pressure campaign against Iran, but has since signaled a willingness to engage in diplomacy. Iranian officials, however, say that the Islamic Republic will not engage in direct negotiations with the United States under pressure or threats. They say that while Iran does not seek war, it is prepared for any scenario. 4353 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address U.S. behavior will determine the course of negotiations: President IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Mar 30, 2025 Tehran, IRNA -- President Masoud Pezeshkian says Iran has told the United States that it is open to indirect negotiations, adding that the course of talks will depend on Washington's behavior. Pezeshkian said on Sunday that Iran had written in its response to a letter by U.S. President Donald Trump that the Islamic Republic has never shied away from negotiations, and it is only the broken promises of the other side that have damaged trust, which must be restored. "While the response rules out the possibility of direct talks between the two sides, it says that the door remains open to indirect negotiations," the president said during a cabinet meeting. "It's the behavior of the Americans that will determine the continuation of the negotiation process," he said. Trump sent a letter to Iran via an emissary from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on March 12. While the content of the letter has not been made public, Trump has said he has asked Iran to open negotiations to make a new deal and warned of possible military action if Tehran refuses. The U.S. president pulled the United States from a previous agreement with Iran in 2018. Iranian officials have since ruled out direct negotiations with the United States as long as Washington continues to engage in "maximum pressure" and threats against Iran. Elsewhere in his remarks, Pezeshkian said the catastrophic crimes of the Israeli regime against Palestinians must be stopped, adding that dropping bombs on innocent civilians despite a ceasefire deal is unacceptable. He called on Muslim nations to stand united against Israel. 3266**4353**4482 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US behavior will determine if 'indirect talks' can move forward: Iran president Iran Press TV Sunday, 30 March 2025 2:26 PM Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian says the Islamic Republic's response to a letter from US President Donald Trump leaves open the possibility of indirect talks with Washington, stressing that the continuation of the negotiation process depends on the Americans' behavior. Pezeshkian made the remarks during a cabinet session on Sunday, as he confirmed that Iran's response to Trump's letter has been delivered via the Sultanate of Oman. "While Iran's response rules out the possibility of direct talks between the two sides, it states that the path for indirect negotiations remains open," Pazeshkian said. He said, "As we have stated before, Iran has never closed the channels of indirect communication. In its response, Iran reaffirmed that it has never shied away from engaging in negotiations, but rather, it has just been the United States' repeated violations of agreements and commitments that have created problems on this path." Pezeshkian further noted that the broken promises by the US have damaged trust, which must be restored, adding that "It's the behavior of the Americans that will determine whether the negotiations can move forward." On March 7, Trump announced he had written to Iran to call for nuclear negotiations and threaten military action. The letter was delivered to Tehran on March 12 by UAE presidential adviser Anwar Gargash. Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei said on March 21 that US threats "will get them nowhere" and warned of reciprocal measures "if they do anything malign" against Iran. Ayatollah Khamenei also dismissed Trump's outreach for talks, which he said was an attempt to deceive global public opinion by portraying the United States as willing to negotiate while framing Iran as unwilling to engage. On Thursday, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Iran's official response to a letter from Trump has been sent through Oman. Araghchi said the response was sent through a letter that elaborated Iran's viewpoints on the current situation and Trump's letter. The Trump administration recently restored the so-called maximum pressure policy, first introduced during Trump's initial term in office in 2016. Under this policy, Trump withdrew the United States from a landmark agreement on Iran's nuclear program in 2018 and reimposed harsh economic sanctions on Tehran. Under the 2015 agreement between Tehran and world powers, Iran agreed to confidence-building restrictions on its nuclear activities in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iranian Armed Forces vow 'harsh response' to any threat, warmongering Iran Press TV Sunday, 30 March 2025 2:00 PM The General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran says it will give a harsh and strong reaction to any threat, aggression, and warmongering by enemies. In a statement on the 46th anniversary of the establishment of the Islamic Republic, the Armed Forces said on Sunday that Iran has always defended its principles and nation vigorously and has been a herald of regional and international peace and security. It warned all enemies, who might have miscalculated, that any threats, aggression, warmongering and invasion of Iran's territory will be met with a severe and strong response with an aggressive approach. Iran has always pursued defense and support for the oppressed people in the world, particularly the oppressed people of Palestine, as its "unchangeable and absolute" strategy, the statement read. It said the Islamic Republic has reached a level of dynamic and sustainable defensive military deterrence and would never hesitate to pursue its sacred ideals and goals in the face of any excessive demands, threats, or nonsense remarks by the hegemonic system. Since the very first years of its establishment, Iran faced the most complicated hostilities and plots, as well as the most malicious schemes of global arrogance led by the United States, the statement noted. It emphasized that the Islamic Republic has turned into a resilient and strong system in terms of national power and sovereignty, as well as a powerful and leading force in the global and international arena. More than 98.2 percent of eligible Iranians voted 'yes' in the landmark 1979 referendum, approving the establishment of an Islamic Republic. The Islamic Republic was established in Iran in line with the popular motto of the 1979 Islamic Revolution that called for "Independence, Freedom and the Islamic Republic" for the country. Since then, the nation has annually celebrated Farvardin 12 on the Iranian calendar as the Islamic Republic Day. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran's President Publicly Rejects Trump's Letter Calling For Nuclear Negotiations By RFE/RL's Radio Farda March 30, 2025 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 Trump's letter. While high-ranking Iranian officials had previously spoken against the idea of holding nuclear talks with the United States, Pezeshkian's comments mark Iran's 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 Trump's outreach. Pezeshkian's remarks now help set the stage for a further rise in tensions between Tehran and Washington over the country's 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 Israel's war against Iran-backed Hamas, which is deemed a terrorist organization by the United States and the EU. A report in February by the UN's 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 Trump's "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 don't avoid talks; it's 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. Iran's 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 Trump's 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 Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-trump-nuclear-weapon -uranium-letter-deal/33364539.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 Iran's president rejects direct negotiations with Washington People's Daily Online (Xinhua) 09:27, March 31, 2025 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. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address PM Netanyahu Meets with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis Israel - Prime Minister's Office Events and Speeches The 37th Government 30.03.2025 Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, this evening (Sunday, 30 March 2025), in Jerusalem, met with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. They first met privately and then held an expanded meeting. Prime Minister Netanyahu: "Welcome Prime Minister Mitsotakis, my good friend Kyriakos. This is two blue and whites that meet. We're two ancient peoples. Our free civilizations started in Athens and Jerusalem. They have common values, and we share a common interest today and also common challenges. I think that we face many opportunities, I look forward to discussing them with you. You are changing Greece's economy. We went through a similar process. Our ties are constantly increasing. I know of many Israelis that are going to Greece, investing in Greece, which is a vote of confidence. I look forward to having this opportunity to discuss the security challenges, the economic opportunities and the ways that we can increase the chances for a lasting peace in our region, something that I know that you want. So, from one democracy in the Eastern Mediterranean to another democracy in the Eastern Mediterranean, welcome friend." Greek Prime Minister Mitsotakis: "Thank you, Prime Minister. Always a pleasure to be here and to discuss with you. This is a strategic partnership that has significant depth, as you pointed out, and many security challenges that we need to address in order to return our common region to a state of peace. I want to focus also on our economic cooperation, but also on our defense cooperation, which is particularly important to us in Greece. So I'm really looking forward to the discussion that we will have. We always have very frank and open interactions and thank you so much for receiving me in Jerusalem today." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address March 29, 2025 Transcript Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth Joint Press Conference With Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani in Tokyo MODERATOR (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): I would like to start the joint press conference by the Japanese Defense Minister and the US sector Secretary of Defense First, we will have opening remarks From Defense Minister Nakatani. DEFENSE MINISTER GEN NAKATANI (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): I'm honored to be able to welcome Secretary Hegseth to the Ministry of Defense today. We were able to welcome the secretary with a guard of honor and also with cherry blossoms in full bloom across the honor guard square. It was just like as if the flowers were celebrating with us the bright future of the alliance ahead of us. Earlier today, we held a candid and a fruitful meeting of progress approximately 85 minutes. We shared recognition on the increasingly severe and complex security environment and confirmed our resolution to move forward with a sense of urgency on initiatives to strengthen our respective defense capabilities and to re-import the alliance capabilities to the target and respond. During the ministerial meeting, we welcome progress on our respective command and control structures, including all year establishment of the Japan Self Defense Force Joint Operation Command, or JJOC, we will continue to accelerate our efforts to improve interoperability and conduct further effective bilateral joint activities across the spectrum, from peacetime to contingency. The expansion of our bilateral presence in southwestern region of Japan is the one of the top priorities for the Alliance. At Japan's own initiative, we will continue to strengthen our defense posture in the southwestern region and strive to conduct more sophisticated and realistic bilateral trainings and exercises while gaining their standing local communities. It is a wider task for us, for both defense industries to support each other, to complement each other through co-development, co-production, co-sustainment and other initiatives, especially the stable delivery of missiles, is crucial for both sides. Under the framework of defense industrial cooperation, acquisition and sustainment forum, DICAS for short, we affirm to expedite efforts to start co-production of advanced mid-range air to air Missile or AMRAAM, as early as we can in action. And I conveyed my intention to pursue the possibility of co-production of surface to air missile SM-6 as well. We also affirm to advance multilateral cooperation with regional partners, including Australia, the Republic of Korea and the Philippines, in order to prevent any attempts to change the status quo by force of origin and to realize a free and open Indo Pacific. In addition, we confirmed the importance of the steady implementation of the realignment U.S. Forces Japan, in accordance with Okinawa conservation plan, including total return of Marine Corps Air Station, (inaudible), excuse me, including the return of Marine Corps Air Station Futenma. And we also confirmed the importance of gaining understanding of local communities for strengthening and maintaining the Alliance. In addition, we affirm to balance the cooperation in order to prevent recurrence of incidents and accidents involving U.S. forces. I share with Secretary Hegseth the experience of serving as a soldier in an infantry unit. I said, as a ranger instructor, I used to live with the service members and train with them. And Secretary Hegseth has experience in Iraq and Afghanistan as a platoon leader and has a warrior spirit. I look forward to continuing to proceed forward down the road to a strong alliance with Secretary Hegseth while carrying heavy burden, which is our solemn mission of national defense. And I look forward to working together for the Alliance and for the peace across the world, as well as for the stability in the region. And I believe this meeting was a great success. We were able to share, as defense ministers, our spirit as a leader of defense authorities, and also we share our recognition of the international security environment, and we could have been able to share our understandings. So I believe it was a great success. Thank you MODERATOR (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): So then we would like to welcome Secretary Hegseth for his opening remarks. SECRETARY OF DEFENSE PETE HEGSETH: Well, Minister Nakatani, I agree, it was a great success. Thank you. It's great to be here. We had a chance early in my tenure to speak over the phone. We've met a number of times and quickly developed a great relationship, like two long lost infantrymen. It doesn't surprise me, we speak the same language. Understand...we don't speak the same language, but we speak the same language. And we understand what threats look like, what camaraderie means, what brotherhood means and standing shoulder to shoulder. So thank you again for hosting us in Tokyo. Thank you. And it was a privilege to be with you at the Reunion of Honor ceremony yesterday. As we said, clearly, today's meetings have affirmed the extraordinary strength of America's alliance with Japan. After today's discussion, it is clear to me that our alliance is the cornerstone of peace and security in the Indo Pacific. As you know President Trump has said, America will reestablish peace through strength. President Trump has also made it very clear, and we reiterate, we are going to put America first. But America first does not mean America alone. America's warriors stand shoulder to shoulder every day with their Japan Self Defense Force counterparts. Our forces operate and train together across all domains to uphold deterrence. America and Japan stand firmly together in the face of aggressive and coercive actions by the Communist Chinese. America is committed to sustaining robust, ready and credible deterrence in the Indo Pacific, including across the Taiwan Strait. Japan would be on the front lines of any contingency we might face in the western Pacific and we stand together in support of each other. That's why today, Minister Nakatani and I talked about the severe and urgent security environment around Japan. And we discussed what we're going to do about it. We have a robust alliance agenda that will strengthen our deterrence posture, keep the enemy guessing, creating dilemmas for them, and ensure that we achieve peace through strength. As I mentioned, this means ensuring that we have the right posture in Japan and the right capabilities forward deployed here, whether permanent or temporary. It also means expanding access to key terrain here in the first island chain, such as Japan's southwest islands. And certainly it means exercising together at those critical locations. And with that, I want to announce 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, and we certainly welcome JJOC establishment this past week. It's more urgency. It's more cooperation in real time. It also increases our readiness to respond to contingency or crisis, support U.S. operations and help Japan and U.S. forces defend this territory. Soon, we will add additional personnel in Tokyo and at U.S. Forces Japan Headquarters to conduct activities that will strengthen our bilateral bonds and deepen our operational cooperation. This also means reorganizing U.S. Forces Japan into a war fighting headquarters. Increasing its staff and giving its commander the authorities needed to accomplish new missions. As I mentioned in our meeting America and Japan, we seek peace. But as my first platoon motto says, "those who long for peace must prepare for war." We must be prepared. We look forward to working closely together as we improve our war fighting capabilities, our lethality and our readiness. And just for a moment, before we take questions, one other thing I'd be remiss in not mentioning publicly is that at the Defense Department, our heart and prayers continue in an unrelated but powerful matter, continue to go out to the soldiers and families impacted by the ongoing recovery operation for four missing U.S. soldiers in Lithuania. We continue to monitor the situation very closely, and it's a reminder, no matter whether it's an actual combat situation, whether it's training or exercises, nothing in the world of soldiering is routine. It all comes with danger and with risks, and we're thinking about those soldiers and their families today, and with that welcome questions. MODERATOR: Thank you, Mr. Secretary. Now we will be take questions. I ask for your kind understanding that we have a limited time for the question and answers as the ministers have another engagement today. For those who will asking a question, please wait to be acknowledged. Also, please state your name and affiliation and indicate for whom your question is intended. We will be taking Japanese press first. Q (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): This is Nakatani from Nikkei newspaper. My question is intended both for Defense Minister Nakatani and Secretary Hegseth. First for Minister Nakatani, during the meeting, was the subject of Japan's defense planning and host nation support, or (illegible), was raised. Then for Secretary Hegseth, as the security environment innovation is increasingly severe by when, and to what extent do you think Japan should increase its defense spending? Also, the chair conveys specific figures to Defense Minister Nakatani during today's meeting. Moreover, there were media reports about the halt to your operating of USFJ. What did you discuss during the meeting of command and control, and what is the desirable state of command and control structure for you? Thank you. MINISTER NAKATANI (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): During today's meeting, Japan and the U.S. discussed strategic matters, and we discussed a lot of practical matters, and we gained concurrence on many of those points. As we were discussing about the severe security environment facing Japan, both sides confirmed the need to strengthen Japan, U.S. Alliance, deterrence and the response capabilities. And during our discussions, I steered how Japan is through our own part making strong efforts to drastically strengthen our defense capabilities. And I conveyed our efforts to fundamentally strengthen defense capabilities. And within that, what mattered the most is the content of the capabilities, and it is important that Japan is responsible and proceeds forward at its own discretion. This the most severe security environment that Japan has encountered since the end of the war. Japan will continuously assess and take any steps based on its national security strategy and other policies to strengthen its deterrence and response capabilities. I have explained those points during today's meetings and gain understanding, understanding from the U.S. side. There were no discussion about this specific figures and concerning the host nation support, it was not discussed during today's meetings. With that being said, the Ministry of Defense is going to communicate closely with the Trump administration, including Secretary Hegseth, this in order to further strengthen allies, capabilities to deter and respond. MODERATOR: Secretary Hegseth, the floor is yours. SECRETARY HEGSETH: Thank you. I agree with the minister's characterization. We certainly agreed...well, we agreed across the board, but most urgently about the strategic situation, about the severe nature of the threat. Both of us understand the urgency of it and the importance of reestablishing deterrence. It's something I talk about all the time with our own military. Reviving the warrior ethos, rebuilding our military and restoring deterrence. Those are the three pillars of what President Trump's Pentagon is trying to do to make sure we're prepared as much as possible. So no, we did not talk specific numbers about Japanese defense spending. We're confident that Japan will make the correct determination of what capabilities are needed inside our alliance to make sure we're standing shoulder to shoulder. And there are they have been a model ally, and we have no doubt that will continue. But we also both recognize everybody needs to do more. We all need to do, not just by... every single metric, our cooperation, our exercises, every aspect of this relationship should draw stronger and more robust, and that makes it more likely we're able to deter which makes it more likely that we have peace. Which is certainly what President Trump wants, what I want, what The American people want and what this alliance is built up. Q: Bill Gertz with the Washington Times, my question too is for both leaders. China's leader has ordered his forces to be ready to annex Taiwan by 2027. For Secretary Hegseth how important is preventing Chinese attack on Taiwan to your policy of restoring deterrence? And for Mr. Minister, if China does attack, will Japan join us and other allies in the campaign? MODERATOR (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): We'd like to welcome the secretary to answer first. SECRETARY HEGSETH: Well, it's great question. It's the right question. There's a reason we use the phrase reestablished deterrence, because the Trump administration arrived after four years of deferred maintenance on deterrence. What happened with the invasion in Ukraine never would have happened if President Trump was in that position. October 7, what happened in Israel never would have happened. The tragedy, the travesty that was 13 soldiers, as well as the collapse in Afghanistan and the shame that came with it, never would have happened. Those incidents and others, including the nature of our relationships with our allies, created a vacuum, a perception that America was not strong and wasn't prepared to deter conflicts from starting. Now, those things may not have occurred in this part of the world, however, the signals we're seeing in capitals around the globe. Our job now, at this moment, here with our allies, is to say we are reestablishing deterrence. Peace through strength with America in the lead is back. And we will ensure in every way that we are leaning forward in that deterrence posture. Because we don't want to live in a day where an action like that is taken. President Trump has a lot of great relationships with world leaders. He will leverage those. He will leverage other economic relationships as he does so well. Our job at the Defense Department, with our friends and on the military side, is to build an alliance so robust that both the reality and the perception of deterrence is real and ongoing. So that the Communist Chinese don't take the aggressive actions that some have contemplated they will. So our job is to maintain peace by being strong, and I think with President Trump in the lead and with our alongside our allies and partners, that's something we can do. MINISTER NAKATANI (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): Japan's position remains the same, that peace and stability across Taiwan Strait is important for Japan's national security and for the stability across the international community. And that we expect peaceful resolution of cross-trade issue through dialog during the summit meeting in February and during today's meeting as well, both sides shared that cross-Strait, peace and stability is important. Self Defense Forces and Ministry of Defense has been conducting various trainings and exercise assuming response to every possible situation. And we have been conducting Japan, U.S. bilateral training to this end. We will continue our consideration and take the utmost efforts to safeguard depends territorial land, sea and airspace. For this specific response, decision would be made based on the respected and specific situations. Therefore, it will be difficult to give you a general answer. In any case, we will be considering this specific response based on the constitution, international law and our domestic legislation. Thank you. MODERATOR (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): As we are running out of time I would have to close the joint press conference now. https://www.defense.gov/News/Transcripts/Transcript/Article/4139247/ NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UN averts drastic food aid cuts for Rohingya in Bangladesh Human rights advocates appeal to the international community to ensure aid continues for the Muslim minority refugees. By Kamran Reza Chowdhury for BenarNews 2025.03.30 DHAKA, Bangladesh -- The United Nations food agency said it managed to avoid drastic food aid cuts to Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh in the face of concerns that their monthly rations would be reduced by more than half. Earlier this month, the U.N.'s World Food Program, or WFP, said it might be forced to reduce the monthly rations for the over 1 million Rohingya refugees from Myanmar, from US$12.50 per person to $6, beginning in April. Instead, the ration for Rohingya living in camps in and around Cox's Bazar is to be set at $12, while the ration for those living in Bhashan Char, an island in the Bay of Bengal, would be adjusted to $13, a WFP official told BenarNews on Thursday. The Bangladesh government has encouraged Rohingya to relocate to Bhashan Char, in a bid to alleviate overcrowded conditions at the 33 camps in the Cox' s Bazar region. Since 2021, about 35,000 refugees have relocated to the island, according to the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees. On Thursday, the United States announced it would give millions in fresh funding through the WFP. "The United States is providing $73 million in new assistance for Rohingya refugees," U.S. State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said in a post on X. "This food and nutrition support through @WFP will provide critically needed food and nutrition assistance for more than 1 million people. "It is important that our international partners engage with sharing the burden with life-saving assistance such as this." Since 2017, Washington has been the biggest aid donor to the Rohingya refugees, contributing nearly $2.4 billion, according to the State Department. The administration of interim Bangladesh leader Muhammad Yunus thanked the American government for the influx of funds. More is needed The latest plight of the Rohingya came to light two weeks ago when the head of the United Nations appealed to the international community for help after the WFP had announced the planned food rations cuts. "I can promise that we'll do everything to avoid it [a humanitarian crisis], and I will be talking to all the countries in the world that can support us in order to make sure that funds are made available," U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said during his first trip to the refugee camps in southeastern Bangladesh in nearly seven years. A WFP official welcomed the news on Friday while warning that more was needed. "While April ration cuts are averted, given the immense needs, we still need continued funding support or we will soon run out of funds again," said Kun Li, WFP's head of communication and advocacy in Asia and the Pacific. Human rights advocates also expressed concerns about the ongoing plight of the Rohingya, a stateless Muslim minority group, many of whom were forced from their homes in Myanmar's Rakhine state following the August 2017 crackdown by government forces. Last-minute support from donors had prevented "a worst-case scenario," said Daniel Sullivan, the director for Africa, Asia and the Middle East at Refugees International. "Renewed donor funds, including $73 million for WFP announced by the United States, will maintain rations at near the same levels," he said in a statement. "However, broader aid cuts are already negatively affecting refugees and we remain deeply concerned that failure to renew more than minimal aid will lead to increased hunger, disease and avoidable deaths." A human rights advocate who lived in a Rohingya camp for six years spoke out about the plight of the refugees. "I appreciate and thank the United States for stepping in to respond to the food reduction crisis and request other donor countries to continue funding the much-needed lifesaving assistance programs in the camps," Refugees International Fellow Lucky Karim said in a statement. "As past smaller cuts have shown, the drastic cut in rations would have accelerated malnutrition, disease, and negative coping mechanisms, including child marriage and human smuggling," she said. Back in Cox's Bazar, a Rohingya expressed relief. "We were worried, but now relieved," Mohammad Nur, a leader of the Jadimura camp in the Teknaf sub-district, told BenarNews. "How can a person live with only $6?" BenarNews is an RFA-affiliated news service. 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 Myanmar Earthquake Death Toll Tops 1,700 As Fears Mount Of Rising Casualties By RFE/RL March 30, 2025 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 country's 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 country's 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 quake's 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. Myanmar's 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 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 Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/myanmar-earthquake-2025-death- toll-rises-1700-rescue-damage-thailand-/33364553.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 Kurdish-led SDF forces reject legitimacy of new 'transitional government' Iran Press TV Sunday, 30 March 2025 7:07 PM The so-called Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a US-sponsored, Kurdish-led militant group, has rejected the legitimacy of the "new transitional government" in Syria, saying it fails to reflect the diversity of the country. The SDF made the remarks in a statement on Sunday, a day after Abu Mohammad al-Jolani announced a new transitional government that replaced the caretaker authorities in place since the overthrow of former President Bashar al-Assad. "Any government that does not reflect the country's diversity and plurality cannot ensure proper governance of Syria," the SDF said. "As a result, we do not consider ourselves bound by the implementation or enforcement of decisions made by this government," it added. On Saturday, Jolani swore in a new transitional government dominated by close allies, nearly four months after the fall of President Assad's government. "The formation of a new government today is a declaration of our joint will to build a new state," he said in a speech at the presidential palace as the ministers were sworn in. The 23-member cabinet, which is religiously and ethnically mixed, includes one Kurdish member who is not from the territory under the control of SDF forces. Last month, the SDF struck a deal to integrate into state institutions, with the Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) administration seeking to unify the country after more than 13 years of conflict. The latest announcement, initially scheduled for earlier this month, comes amid international calls for an inclusive Syrian transition following the recent mass killing of civilians, particularly among the Alawite religious minority, in the conflict-ridden country. Jolani, the commander of the HTS militant group, was named the country's new "president" for a "transitional period" in January, igniting fierce criticism, with many calling it a blatant violation of constitutional principles. On December 8, militants, led by the HTS, took control of Damascus and declared an end to President Bashar al-Assad's rule in a surprise offensive that was launched from their stronghold in northwestern Syria, reaching the capital in less than two weeks. The HTS administration has repeatedly claimed it would respect the rights of all sects and religions in Syria. The situation, however, remains very fluid and fragile, with a potential risk of further clashes as sectarian sentiments continue to boil over amid the ongoing political instability and pressures on minority groups. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Saudi Arabia Welcomes Formation of New Syrian Government Saudi Press Agency Riyadh, March 30, 2025, SPA -- The Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's welcoming of the announcement of the formation of the Syrian government and its hope that this government will fulfill the aspirations of the Syrian people. The ministry affirmed the Kingdom's aspiration to cooperate and work with the new Syrian government in a manner that embodies the fraternal and historical relations between the two countries and strengthens relations in all fields. The ministry also expressed its wishes for the new Syrian government's success in achieving security, stability, and prosperity for Syria. -- SPA 11:10 Local Time 08:10 GMT 0024 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address No: 68, 30 March 2025, Regarding the Formation of a Transitional Government in Syria Republic of Turkey - Ministry of Foreign Affairs We welcome the formation of a transitional government in Syria. This step, which follows the convening of the National Dialogue Conference and the announcement of the Constitutional Declaration, demonstrates the Syrian administration's commitment to advancing the political transition, led and owned by the Syrians, in an inclusive manner. Turkiye will continue to support comprehensive and inclusive political process, which remains one of the cornerstones of establishing security and stability in Syria. In this critical period, it is important for the international community to focus its efforts on the stabilization of Syria, and in this context, it is essential that sanctions are lifted without preconditions and reconstruction of Syria is initiated. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address U.S., Japan defense chiefs take note of PLA activities around Taiwan ROC Central News Agency 03/30/2025 06:56 PM Tokyo, March 30 (CNA) The defense ministers of the United States and Japan said Sunday they "took note" of military activities by China's People's Liberation Army's (PLA) around Taiwan and reiterated their long-held support for maintaining peace across Taiwan Strait. In his first trip to Asia since taking office, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth was in Japan on Sunday after having visited Hawaii, Guam, and the Philippines over the past week. During his meeting with Japanese counterpart, Defense Minister Gen Nakatani, at Japan's Ministry of Defense (MOD), the two sides pledged to enhance their alliance and discussed China's growing military threats, an English-language press release issued by the MOD said. On China, "the ministers confirmed their opposition to any unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force or coercion including in the East and South China Seas," it said. "The ministers took note of activities by the People's Liberation Army (PLA) including the military situation around Taiwan, and emphasized the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait," it said. Meanwhile, in a press event held after the 85-minute meeting in Tokyo, Nakatani told reporters that the two "confirmed a resolution to move forward with a sense of urgency" on initiatives to reinforce the alliance's capabilities to deter and respond to aggression. Hegseth said the United States is committed to sustaining "robust, ready and credible deterrence in the Indo-Pacific, including across the Taiwan Strait" and that the U.S. stands together with Japan" in the face of aggressive and coercive actions by the Communist Chinese," according to Kyodo News. On Saturday, the two defense chiefs visited the Pacific island of Iwo Jima to attend a ceremony marking the 80th anniversary of a World War II battle there between the Japanese and U.S. forces. (By Yang Ming-chu and Joseph Yeh) Enditem/ls NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan ROC Ministry of National Defense 2025/03/30 PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan 1.Date 6 a.m. Mar. 29 (Sat.) to 6 a.m. Mar. 30 (Sun.) (UTC+8) 2.PLA activities 1 sortie of PLA aircraft and 7 PLAN ships operating around Taiwan were detected as of 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 1 sortie crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered Taiwan's southwestern ADIZ. ROC Armed Forces have monitored the situation and employed CAP aircraft, Navy ships, and coastal missile systems in response to detected activities. 1140330_PLA activities 1140330_PLA air activities in the vicinity of Taiwan NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address British Army returns from NATO exercise as UK strengthens alliance deployment capabilities The UK's commitment to NATO and ability to respond at pace and at scale strengthened as the British Army successfully returns from Exercise Steadfast Dart 30 March 2025 The UK's commitment to NATO and ability to respond at pace and at scale has been strengthened as the British Army successfully returns from Exercise Steadfast Dart - the largest NATO deployment this year, so far. Hundreds of military vehicles and equipment from 7 Light Mechanised Brigade Combat Team will arrive back in the UK through the Port of Immingham, the first operational use of a new strategic agreement between the British Army and Associated British Ports (ABP). This new agreement allows the UK Armed Forces to use multiple ports across the country, enhancing flexibility in deploying and bringing home military assets. Previously only being able to use the to the Sea Mounting Centre at Marchwood, this new approach delivers significant strategic advantages, reducing transit times, improving efficiency, and enabling a faster and more sustainable military response in support of NATO operations. It's another example of the government ensuring that the UK is secure at home and strong abroad for decades to come. The UK supplied the largest contribution of forces to exercise Steadfast Dart with over 2600 personnel, and 730 vehicles deploying to NATO's eastern flank, reaffirming the UK's unshakeable commitment to our NATO allies. 730 vehicles including Foxhound and Jackals were deployed by road, air, and sea to Eastern Europe where they conducted two exercises reinforcing the alliance's eastern flank. Minister for the Armed Forces, Luke Pollard said: The success of Exercise Steadfast Dart demonstrates the strength of NATO's collective defence and the UK's unwavering commitment to the Alliance. The ability to deploy and recover our forces more efficiently is a game-changer, ensuring we remain ready to deter and respond to threats at pace and continue to make Britain secure at home and strong abroad for decades to come. The arrival of the MOD's strategic RO-RO vessel, Eddystone, at the Port of Immingham this weekend, marks a major step forward in the UK's ability to deploy at pace and at scale globally. The use of additional port infrastructure strengthens military readiness and enhances the UK's contribution to NATO's rapid response capabilities. The successful completion of Exercise Steadfast Dart reaffirms the UK's role as a leading NATO ally, ready to respond rapidly to emerging threats and contribute to the security of Europe and the wider world. Steadfast Dart was an exercise which included the deployment of the new Allied Reaction Force, which can rapidly reinforce NATO's eastern flank. These important exercises showcased the Alliance's readiness, capability, and commitment to defend every inch of NATO territory. Keeping the country safe is the Government's first priority, and an integral part of its Plan NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Trump threatens secondary tariffs on Russian oil if Moscow does not agree to ceasefire Iran Press TV Sunday, 30 March 2025 6:33 PM US President Donald Trump has threatened to slap secondary tariffs on Russian oil if Moscow is unable to make a peace deal with Washington over Ukraine. Delegations from the United States and Russia met in Saudi Arabia last week to discuss a rapid ceasefire in Ukraine. However, the Kremlin downplayed any expectations of a quick end to the war. Trump said on Sunday he will impose secondary tariffs of 25 percent to 50 percent on all Russian oil if he feels Moscow is hindering his efforts to end the war in Ukraine, and they could start within a month if there is no ceasefire. The US president told NBC News by phone that he planned to speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin again this week. Earlier this month, Trump and Putin had agreed in a phone call conversation that the "movement to peace will begin" with a 30-day pause in attacks on the energy sites. However, soon after, Russia said that Ukraine President Vladimir Zelensky had ordered the Kiev forces to launch a "deliberate" attack on an oil depot in the country in an attempt to sabotage the agreement between Trump and Putin. Putin on Friday suggested replacing Zelensky with a form of temporary administration. The Russian leader said removing Zelensky would allow for a peace deal to hold and for presidential elections postponed due to the war to be held. Trump, who himself has dubbed Zelensky a dictator and called for new elections in Ukraine, told NBC News he was angry with Putin's suggestion. During his 2024 presidential campaign, Trump promised his supporters that he would rapidly end what he described as the "ridiculous" war in Ukraine. And, since taking office on January 20, he has been making pretentious efforts to end it. "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 ... 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 can't 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." He said the tariffs on Russian oil would come within a month without a ceasefire deal. President Trump said the Russian leader was aware that he was angry with him, but said he had "a very good relationship with him" and "the anger dissipates quickly... if he does the right thing." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Trump Threatens Putin With Oil Tariffs If Unable To Reach Ukraine Cease-Fire By RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service March 30, 2025 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 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. "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 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 military's 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. Zelenskyy's 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, Ukraine's state emergency service said. 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 The President of Ukraine Had a Phone Conversation with President of Finland President of Ukraine 30 March 2025 - 22:06 President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy had a phone conversation with President of Finland Alexander Stubb. They discussed cooperation with the United States, steps to achieve a just peace, and necessary pressure on Russia. The Ukrainian President expressed his gratitude for all the assistance and support provided by Finland. The leaders discussed ways to strengthen joint efforts with partners to establish a lasting peace and ensure security. Alexander Stubb shared the details of his meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump. Ukraine is ready to work with its American partners as meaningfully and quickly as possible to bring peace closer. There is a common understanding that the ceasefire must be unconditional and reliable. Only Russia continues looking for excuses to drag this war out even further. Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized that there should be an appropriate response to this from the United States, Europe, and all global partners who seek peace. The Presidents of Ukraine and Finland also agreed on common positions and further contacts. In particular, the parties focused on security guarantees, which must be among the next steps after the ceasefire. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Trump Threatens Putin With Oil Tariffs, Pressures Zelenskyy On Minerals Deal By RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service March 31, 2025 US President Donald Trump threatened Russia with new tariffs on oil products if Moscow blocks his cease-fire initiatives, while he also said Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy faces "big, big problems" if he doesn't sign a key minerals deal with Washington. "He's trying to back out of the rare earth deal, and if he does that, he's got some problems, big, big problems," Trump told reporters on March 30 in reference to the Ukrainian president. "We made a deal on rare earth. And now he's saying, well you know, I want to renegotiate the deal." "He wants to be a member of NATO, but he's never going to be a member of NATO. He understands that," Trump added. On March 28, the Ukrainian government said it was still considering a draft agreement from the United States on the country's rare earth minerals amid media reports Washington had changed the terms of the deal several times. Ukrainian Economy Minister Yulia Svyrydenko announced at a government meeting that Kyiv was forming its position on the agreement, but lawmakers would only state their stance once there was consensus. Before then, she said, public discussion would be harmful. Ukraine possesses significant deposits of critical minerals, including rare earths, although their exact size remains uncertain. Rare earth minerals are highly valued for their use in defense technologies, as well as in devices such as computers, smartphones, and batteries. Ukraine and the United States earlier this month agreed to conclude a comprehensive agreement for developing Ukraine's critical mineral resources. Efforts to seal the deal had earlier fallen apart on February 28 after a heated exchange between Trump and Zelenskyy at the White House. Meanwhile, earlier on March 30, Trump said he would impose secondary tariffs of 25-50 percent on all Russian oil if he feels President Vladimir Putin is blocking his efforts to end the war in Ukraine. During a phone interview with NBC news, Trump said he was "very angry" and "pissed off" when Putin 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. "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 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. 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. Tougher Tone Towards Putin 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. 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 military's 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. 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." With reporting by Reuters Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-russia-zelenskyy- putin-oil-tariffs-minerals/33364668.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 Schiltigheim, March 31th 2025 08:00, Tonner Drones (the Company) is pleased to announce that it was able to agree on a final amendment to the settlement contract with former management to hold its original number of 11,4% Elistair shares. In September 2024 Tonner Drones and former management decided to split ways. At that moment, the cash position of the company was low, and it was decided to sell 50% of its stake in Elistair to Ott Heritage and Bradley Taylor in exchange for 800.000 in receivables they had against the company. Today, Tonner Drones has a strong cash position and, in the meantime, the transfer of shares of Elistair was not yet finalized. This opened up an opportunity to unwind the transaction. Tonner drones will pay 471,463 and will keep its original stake of 11,4% of the shares in French Drone-company Elistair. With this payment the Settlement Agreement has been fully finalized. Management was able to make the decision to keep the stake of Elistair with Tonner Drones because the cash position (cash equivalents included) of the Company after this transaction remains strong at more than 1.500.000 at the end of March. Im excited that we were able to reach this agreement Diede van den Ouden, CEO, said. It is good to see that we can close things from the past more and more. The time of intensive restructuring is over, we are now working towards a promising future. [End of Press-Release] About Tonner Drones : Tonner Drones develops technologies for the logistics sector. Tonner Drones holds valuable stakes in some promising French drone manufacturers like Elistair and Donecle. Tonner Drones strategy is to increase the value of its shareholdings in these companies through active asset management. Additional revenues can be achieved through royalties from patents held by Tonner Drones. Tonner Drones does not plan on owning a factory; however, it is determined to retain R&D for its products and systems in France. Tonner Drones shares are listed on Euronext Growth Paris (ISIN code: FR001400H2X4). More information at www.tonnerdrones.com / contact@tonnerdrones.com Warning Regarding the merits of any transaction or the making of any investment decision. It does not constitute or include any confirmation or commitment by Tonner Drones (or any other person) regarding the present or future value of Tonner Drones ' business, its securities, its subsidiaries or any other assets of Tonner Drones . This press release contains forward-looking statements based on current beliefs and expectations regarding future events. These forward-looking statements may include projections and estimates and their underlying assumptions, statements regarding plans, objectives, intentions and/or expectations regarding future financial results, events, operations and services. and product development, as well as statements regarding performance or events. These statements are generally identified by the terms "expect", "anticipate", "believe", "intend", "estimate", "plan", "project", "may", "should" or the negative form of these and other similar expressions. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to inherent risks, uncertainties and assumptions regarding Tonner Drones and its subsidiaries and investments, trends in their businesses, future capital expenditures and acquisitions, developments relating to contingent liabilities, changes in global economic conditions or Tonner Drones ' principal markets, competitive market conditions and regulatory factors. The realization of these events is uncertain; their outcome could turn out to be different from that envisaged today, which is likely to significantly affect the expected results. Actual results may differ materially from those anticipated or implied in these forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date of this press release. Except as required by applicable law, Tonner Drones undertakes no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements, taking into account new information or future events. Attachment TravelPerk marks its 10-year anniversary with a bold rebrand, to fuel its rapid growth and ambitious expansion plans, and to recognize its extended category focus on travel and expense management The new brand identity, developed with Wolff Olins, introduces a vibrant color palette and identity, set to disrupt and break away from the current sea of blue within the corporate travel management category The rebrand has been spearheaded by Jada Balster, TravelPerks VP of Global Marketing BARCELONA, Spain, March 31, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- TravelPerk, the hyper-growth company transforming travel and expense management, marks its 10-year anniversary with a bold rebrand designed to reflect its ambitious expansion and evolving vision. Developed in collaboration with global brand consultancy Wolff Olins, the new identity reflects TravelPerk's status as a disruptor in the corporate travel space, offering a simpler, smarter travel experience for businesses and their employees. The rebrand, which introduces a vibrant new color palette with a standout Perk Green, moves away from the sea of corporate blue that dominates the industry. This change reflects TravelPerks shift from a traditional business travel provider to a forward-thinking platform that integrates both travel and expense management. Jada Balster, TravelPerk's recently appointed VP of Global Marketing, spearheaded the rebrand. We felt it was the perfect time for a fresh, new brand that better embodies our bold vision and unstoppable momentum building the future of integrated travel and expense management. This isnt just a rebrand - its the mark of the next chapter. The new TravelPerk brand is bold, human, flexible, and deeply connected to our customers, moving away from the stereotypical view of the business traveler. Jada adds: Evolving our brand and visual identity has been no small task, but it perfectly reflects the collective ambition and collaboration of our entire team at TravelPerk. We cant wait to see how our customers and the wider market react to it. The rebranding comes as TravelPerk continues to scale, with a growing focus on dominating the U.S. market. Over the past decade, the company has made several market-shaping acquisitions, including ClickTravel, AmTrav, and Yokoy, and earlier this year announced $200 million in Series E funding. Were proud of what weve built over the last 10 years, and this new brand represents the next phase of our journey, says Avi Meir, CEO and Co-Founder of TravelPerk. Business travel is changing and so are we. Our new brand reflects our commitment to shaping the future of travel and expense managementmaking the experience simpler, smarter, and more seamless. The new identity is designed to resonate with a wide range of customers. Whether its the employee booking travel, the CFO managing budgets, or the travel managers overseeing policy, TravelPerks rebrand aims to connect with everyone involved in the travel and expense process. The shift from business travel to travel for work underscores the companys expanded mission to serve the evolving needs of todays diverse workforcefrom builders to bankers, scientists to sales managers, executives to engineers, and accountant executives to architects. Claire Stuart, Senior Engagement Director at Wolff Olins, commented: We were excited to help TravelPerk reimagine its brand identity. By moving away from the traditional corporate blue, we created a fresh, dynamic visual language that positions TravelPerk as a leader in the travel and expense management space, both in Europe and the U.S. The rebrand also aligns with the changing landscape of business travel. With the rise of hybrid work models, advancements in AI, and evolving employee expectations, TravelPerk has continuously invested in its platform to meet these shifts. The new identity reflects this ongoing transformation, reinforcing TravelPerks role as a partner to businesses looking for smarter, more efficient ways to manage travel and expenses. The refreshed look will be visible across all of TravelPerks platforms, including those from its recent acquisitions, Yokoy, ClickTravel, and AmTrav. Customers will begin seeing the new identity on March 31, 2025, with a full rollout across digital channels, marketing materials, and a brand campaign launching in April. About TravelPerk TravelPerk is a category-defining travel and expense management platform. Since its founding in 2015, it has been reshaping the way companies manage travel for work, combining cutting-edge technology with a human touch. Trusted by global brands like Red Bull, Fujifilm, and Nord Security, TravelPerk offers a seamless all-in-one platform that simplifies travel booking, streamlines expense management, and boosts productivity for businesses of all sizes. With a commitment to flexibility, cost control, and efficiency, TravelPerk helps businesses save time, reduce costs, and focus on what matters most. Visit www.travelperk.com for more information. For media inquiries, please contact: press@travelperk.com A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/15bf43aa-d61e-4814-a01d-2803ef381227 Dublin, March 31, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Leveraging GenAI for Value Creation, Innovation and Sustainability in Luxury Goods" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. In a highly volatile marketplace, GenAI is revolutionizing the luxury landscape by enhancing consumer experiences and unlocking new revenue opportunities for brands and retailers. It enables seamless, data-driven collaboration across the supplier network to support sustainability goals. Luxury sectors - including fashion retail, travel, automotive, and hospitality - are transforming through advancements in customer experience, brand marketing, new product development, and innovation. Leveraging GenAI for Value Creation, Innovation and Sustainability in Luxury Goods offers an insight into the size and shape of the luxury goods industry, highlights buzz topics, emerging trends as well as pressing industry issues, their effects on luxury goods retailing in markets around the world and on the development of consumers' shopping patterns. Forecasts illustrate how the market is set to change and criteria for success. In short, it identifies the opportunity zones within luxury goods industry Product coverage: Experiential Luxury, Fine Wines/Champagne and Spirits, Personal Luxury, Premium and Luxury Cars. Data coverage: Market sizes (historic and forecasts), company shares, brand shares and distribution data. Why buy this report? Get a detailed picture of the Luxury Goods market; Pinpoint growth sectors and identify factors driving change; Understand the competitive environment, the market's major players and leading brands; Use five-year forecasts to assess how the market is predicted to develop. Key Topics Covered Executive summary Introduction Harnessing GenAI in customer experience GenAI-driven marketing opportunities Sustainability through GenAI innovations Navigating key challenges with GenAI Conclusion Appendix For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/5ffzlf About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Dublin, March 31, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Vendor Sustainability: Ciena Leads the Green Charge Among NEPs; Chip, Fiber, and Chinese Vendors Lag" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. This report addresses energy consumption, use of renewables, and carbon emissions among key vendors to the telecommunications operator (telco) sector. The publisher views climate change as an urgent crisis that is being ignored by too many of the world's wealthiest countries & companies. This report is part of an ongoing coverage of the issue, and an attempt to call greater attention to the subject. This brief is a follow-up to two pioneering reports on sustainability in telecom: the 2023 study, "Vendors need green credentials to win telco business," and 2024's "Operators take baby steps towards sustainability as climate change worsens rapidly". The former report analyzed the role of vendors' climate practices in the carbon footprint of their key customers, the telcos. It also provided a framework for understanding the data and the relevant industry organizations and standards (e.g. GRI, SBTi, CDP, TCFD, JAC, GHG Protocol, GeSI, and SASB/ISSB). In the latter report, the publisher reported on a disappointing lack of progress among telcos in their carbon footprints. Telco emissions were basically flat in 2023 YoY. That report's analysis considered only Scope 1 & Scope 2 emissions, and used the "market-based" standard for Scope 2 calculations. This approach should bias the numbers downwards, as it allows companies to reduce reported emissions based on things like renewable energy credits, but the results were nonetheless disappointing for the climate. Since the publisher did not include Scope 3 in our analysis, which captures upstream and downstream emissions, it's important to examine how vendors (i.e. the "upstream" for telcos) are progressing in their sustainability programs. Unfortunately, the news is not good. For a large sample of 26 vendors selling to telcos, total emissions (Scope 1 + Scope 2 market-based + Scope 3, or "S1-3m") amounted to 481 million metric tons of CO2-equivalent in 2023, down just 3% YoY. Relative to revenues, S1-3m emissions were 254.7 metric tons per US$1M in revenues in 2023, from 271.9 in 2022. Use of renewables rose a bit in 2023, to 68%, from 61% in 2022. All three results indicate some progress, but very slow. The progress is certainly not in line with the urgency of the climate crisis, or the stated carbon neutrality goals of telcos & much of the tech sector. One factor is that there are a few companies in the telco supply chain with notoriously high carbon footprints. Nearly all companies in China fall into this bucket, including top 5 Telco NI vendors Huawei, ZTE, and China Comservice. In addition, cabling & connectivity vendors like Corning and CommScope are behind the times in the march to green energy, as are chip companies further upstream such as Intel. More needs to be done, and quickly, in order for telecom to begin to be part of the solution rather than part of the problem. There are some leaders in the sector, based upon a relatively high level of renewable energy and low carbon emissions relative to revenues. Within the group of 26, the leaders are: Accenture, Alphabet, Ciena, IBM, and Oracle. Notably, only one of these - Ciena is a traditional "network equipment provider" or NEP. In general, NEPs tend to consume more energy and have higher carbon footprints than software & services specialists. Two other NEPs, Ericsson and Nokia, should get honorable mention, as they are making good progress and are relatively transparent in their reports. Key Topics Covered: Summary Introduction Analysis Overview of the vendors included Results from 2023 sustainability reports Energy consumption Energy intensity Greenhouse gas emissions Leaders and laggards Conclusion Appendix Companies Featured Accenture plc Alphabet Amazon Amdocs Arista Networks Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) Celesticc China Comservice Chunghwa Telecom Ciena Cisco Systems CommScope Corning EcoVadis Ericsson Flex Fujikura Fujitsu Limited GHG Protocol Global Enabling Sustainability Initiative (GeSI) Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Huawei IBM IFRS International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) Infinera Intel Jabil Joint Alliance for CSR (JAC) Juniper Networks KDDI Korea Telecom (KT) Microsoft NEC Corp Nokia Oracle Orange Ribbon Samsung Electronics Science-Based Targets Initiative (SBTi) Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosure (TCFD) Tech Mahindra ZTE For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/i672qz About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Attachment Dublin, March 31, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Czech Republic Life Insurance: Key Trends and Opportunities to 2029" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The report provides in-depth market analysis, information, and insights into the Czech Republic's life insurance segment. It provides a detailed outlook by product category for the Czech Republic's life insurance segment. It provides values for key performance indicators such as gross written premium, penetration, and premium ceded and cession rates during the review period (2020-24) and forecast period (2025-29). The report also analyzes distribution channels operating in the segment, gives a comprehensive overview of the Czech Republic's economy and demographics, and provides detailed information on the competitive landscape in the country. The report brings together research, modeling and analysis expertise, giving insurers access to information on segment dynamics and competitive advantages, and profiles of insurers operating in the Czech Republic. The report also includes details of insurance regulations, and recent changes in the regulatory structure. Key Highlights Key insights and dynamics of the Czech Republic's life insurance segment. A comprehensive overview of the Czech Republic's economy, government initiatives and investment opportunities. The Czech Republic's insurance regulatory framework's evolution, key facts, taxation regime, licensing and capital requirements. The Czech Republic's life insurance segment's market structure giving details of lines of business. The Czech Republic's life reinsurance business' market structure giving details of premium ceded along with cession rates. Distribution channels deployed by the Czech Republic's life insurers. Details of the competitive landscape and competitors' profiles. This report provides a comprehensive analysis of the life insurance segment in the Czech Republic: It provides historical values for the Czech Republic's life insurance segment for the report's 2020-24 review period, and projected figures for the 2025-29 forecast period. It profiles the top life insurance companies in the Czech Republic and outlines the key regulations affecting them. Reasons to Buy Make strategic business decisions using in-depth historical and forecast market data related to the Czech Republic's life insurance segment. Understand the demand-side dynamics, key market trends, and growth opportunities in the Czech Republic's life insurance segment. Assess the competitive dynamics in the life insurance segment. Identify growth opportunities and market dynamics in key product categories. Key Topics Covered: Executive Summary Economy Overview Regulatory and Compliance Key Market Trends Trends and KPIs Line of Business Competitive Landscape Deals and Jobs Reinsurance Company Coverage Includes: Kooperativa Pojistovna Generali Ceska Pojistovna Komercni Pojistovna NN Zivotni Pojistovna CSOB Pojistovna Allianz Pojistovna Uniqa Pojistovna Ceska Podnikatelska Pojistovna MetLife Europe Simplea Pojistovna Youplus Zivotni Pojistovna BNP Paribas Cardif Pojistovna SV pojistovna Maxima Pojistovna Hasicska Vzajemna Pojistovna For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/x2gz37 About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Dublin, March 31, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Convenience Retailers in Hong Kong, China" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. Despite a marginal decline in 2024, driven by the dominant convenience stores, value sales through convenience retailers in Hong Kong remained significantly higher than pre-pandemic levels, while the number of outlets continued to rise. The channel is appreciated for offering products at more competitive prices than other retail formats in the city, including packaged sandwiches for on-the-go consumption. The Convenience Retailers in Hong Kong, China report offers insight into key trends and developments driving the industry. The report examines all retail channels to provide sector insight. Channels include hypermarkets, supermarkets, discounters, convenience stores, mixed retailers, health and beauty retailers, clothing and footwear retailers, furniture and furnishing stores, DIY and hardware stores, durable goods retailers, leisure and personal goods retailers. There are profiles of leading retailers, with analysis of their performance and the challenges they face. There is also analysis of non-store retailing: vending; homeshopping; internet retailing; direct selling, as available. Product coverage: Convenience Stores, Forecourt Retailers. Data coverage: Market sizes (historic and forecasts), company shares, brand shares and distribution data. Why buy this report? Get a detailed picture of the Convenience Retailers market; Pinpoint growth sectors and identify factors driving change; Understand the competitive environment, the market's major players and leading brands; Use five-year forecasts to assess how the market is predicted to develop. Key Topics Covered: KEY DATA FINDINGS 2024 DEVELOPMENTS Despite marginal decline amid significant pressures, value sales remain above pre-pandemic levels 7-Eleven and Circle-K maintain overall dominance due to strength in convenience stores New players enter following success in other retail channels PROSPECTS AND OPPORTUNITIES Future challenges due to rising labour costs and rise in outbound tourism Change in payment methods and expanding product ranges to help drive growth Tourist spending patterns will be a boon for convenience retailers RETAIL IN HONG KONG, CHINA EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Retail in 2024: The big picture Changing consumer behaviour influences spending patterns E-commerce regains strong growth momentum, recording dynamic performance What next for retail? OPERATING ENVIRONMENT Informal retail Opening hours for physical retail Seasonality China National Day (also known as Golden Week) Chinese New Year (Spring Festival) Christmas and New Year For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/g3v5jj About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. TORONTO, March 31, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Seneca Polytechnic has announced a new partnership with Indias GLS University that will provide students with a unique pathway to an international education and a world-recognized bachelor's degree. The partnership will give students the opportunity to enrol in GLS Universitys Global Programme, begin their studies at GLS Universitys campus in Ahmedabad, India and after their first year, transfer credits so they can continue the program in Canada. Bachelor of Business Administration and Bachelor of Computer Science degrees will be available to students through the partnership. "We are excited to continue bringing polytechnic education to students worldwide through our new partnership with GLS University," said David Agnew, President of Seneca Polytechnic. "This collaboration will open doors for more students to access high-quality polytechnic education and global opportunities. Students will also be eligible to apply for a three-year Post Graduation Work Permit upon graduation, benefiting from the exceptional learning these programs will provide." Students enrolling in the Global Programme through GLS University can save significantly on their first year's tuition and living costs by studying in India. After earning a certificate for completing the first year of the Global Programme, students will continue their studies on campus at Seneca Polytechnic in Toronto. Alternatively, if a student prefers not to continue at Seneca, they can complete their second and third years at GLS University and be awarded a degree by the Faculty of International Studies at GLS University. This program is ideal for students who may not meet traditional university admission criteria but are otherwise qualified and motivated to succeed academically. Additionally, GLS University offers students exposure to foreign education in a short time span while offering a world-recognized bachelor's degree, enhancing their career prospects globally. "At GLS University, we are proud to formalize our collaboration with Seneca Polytechnic, Canada, as part of our commitment to offering world-class education and global opportunities for our students. This partnership aligns with our vision of Global, innovative education for the betterment of society and the nation. GLS University is dedicated to fostering international academic partnerships, providing students with unique learning opportunities that enhance their skills, confidence, and career prospects. Through this collaboration, students can pursue an education model, starting at GLS University and completing their degree at Seneca Polytechnic, thus gaining invaluable global exposure. This partnership exemplifies our ongoing dedication to shaping future leaders in an interconnected world," said Sudhir Nanavati, President of GLS University. The Global Programme is designed to expose students to experiences that prepare them for global success. Now with this new Seneca partnership, even more students will be able to benefit from this unique education experience. About Seneca Polytechnic Seneca Polytechnic provides a great education to prepare our students for great careers. Combining academic rigour with practical, professional and career-focused learning, we offer our students a seamless transition from education to employment. Expert faculty, excellent staff, outstanding campuses, awesome technology, deep connections with industry: This is Seneca Polytechnic. Learn more: senecapolytechnic.ca. About GLS University GLS University, established in 2015, upholds the rich legacy of the Gujarat Law Society, founded in 1927, with a dedication to excellence in education. The university promotes international education standards by offering globally recognized programs that prepare students for the international workforce. With an emphasis on global education, GLS University actively promotes global programs, fostering cross-cultural exchanges and partnerships with international institutions. Students gain hands-on experience through corporate collaborations and an industry apprenticeship program. GLS University is committed to research-driven education, enhancing global competitiveness and addressing societal challenges. Its progressive approach equips students with the knowledge and skills needed to thrive in a globalized world. Contact Cam Gordon Director of Communications 647-615-1756 media.relations@senecapolytechnic.ca Dr. Hima Trivedi Media Co-ordinator, +91 9426848890 media@glsuniversity.ac.in A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/88deb413-d0e0-40a0-9a34-b92bc0ae4b06 SAN FRANCISCO, March 31, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Momentum has emerged from stealth mode to launch the worlds first ve(3,3) decentralized exchange (DEX) combined with a token launch platform on the Sui blockchain. Inspired by the success of Aerodrome and purpose-built to turbocharge the growth of Sui, Momentums ve(3,3) DEX will leverage the $500M total value locked (TVL) in Momentums multi-signature liquidity layer to drive the next wave of DeFi innovation and user adoption. Trading is now live on https://app.mmt.finance/ , with greater volume and liquidity set to coincide with the launch of an upcoming LFG Ramp-Up Liquidity Phase and WAGMI Trading Competition. (details below). Unlike traditional DEX models that prioritize liquidity providers, the ve(3,3) tokenomics model ensures perfect alignment among all stakeholders liquidity providers, traders, and protocols by structuring incentives so that 100% of emissions, trading fees, and rewards flow directly to Momentum users creating a flywheel effect. We believe Sui is now entering a hyperbolic growth phase driven by BTCFi, says Momentum CEO and co-founder ChefWEN (@ChefMMT_X), a founding engineer of Metas Libra project. Momentum is excited to kick off the new phase of DeFi on Sui. Traders and liquidity providers will soon gain access to the lowest fees and highest APRs, powered by the ve(3,3) liquidity model. The ve(3,3) system was created to align incentives so that all participants benefit: Protocols boost liquidity and optimize APR by offering token incentives Voters receive 100% of trading fees and bribes Liquidity providers earn 100% of MMT emissions Traders enjoy lower trading fees and reduced slippage Positioned as a cornerstone Sui ecosystem public good, Momentums launch of the ve(3,3) DEX will make on-chain trading more accessible to traders, retail investors, and institutions seeking deeper liquidity, less slippage and lower fees for superior user experience. Suis on-chain TVL has soared to over $2.08 billion between December 1, 2023, and January 5, 2025 reflecting an impressive 1,261% growth in just 13 months. This explosive momentum is supported by a growing ecosystem of stablecoin integrations, including Agora USD (AUSD), First Digital USD (FDUSD), and Ondo Finance (USDY). Notably, Momentum is responsible for minting 100% of the supply for these stablecoins on the Sui blockchain, positioning it as a key infrastructure player. As DeFi on Sui accelerates, Momentum is poised to lead the next wave of adoption and liquidity expansion across the ecosystem. To accelerate the DEX debut, the LFG Ramp-Up Liquidity Phase launches on 31 Mar with a target of $50M TVL, followed by a 12 weeks WAGMI Trading Competition. Backed by key liquidity providers from Momentums investor networks, as well as protocols integrated with Momentums multi-sig solutions, the competition will reward early adopters with veMMT based on trading volume and liquidity provisioning ahead of the Token Generation Event (TGE). Over the past two years, Momentum has forged deep ties with Sui ecosystem partners, collaborating with the Sui Foundation, Agora Finance, AlphaFi, Bluefin, Bucket Protocol, Cetus Protocol, First Digital, Navi Protocol, Ondo Finance, Scallop, SpringSui, Suilend, Turbos Finance, Volo and more. In a recent strategic funding round led by Varys Capital, Momentum received support from well known institutional investors bringing the total raise to $10M, among them Coinbase Ventures, Circle Ventures, Sui Foundation, Aptos Foundation, Gate Ventures, Amber Group, Selini Capital, Jump, Arcanum Capital, WAGMI Ventures, DeWhales, MonkeVentures and Mysten Labs cofounder Adeniyi Abiodun. The Sui ecosystem is at an inflection point, and we see Momentum as a key player in pushing its adoption forward, said Darius Askaripour, Managing Partner at Varys Capital. Their work is building the foundation for transparent liquidity mechanisms, allowing markets to be more accessible and fluid, and were thrilled to support them in this journey. Varys Capitals latest fund is backed by MBS Global, the family office for H.H. Sheikh Nayef Bin Eid Al Thani of Qatars ruling royal family, and Aquanow Ventures, Canadas most prominent digital integration provider. About Momentum Momentum is the leading Move Central Liquidity Engine with solutions including Multi-Sig Treasury Management, Token Vesting, and Liquidity Provisioning. With over 35,000 active wallets, $500M in Total Value Locked (TVL), and $1.8B in Transaction Volume, Momentum is set to redefine the landscape with the launch of the first Move ve(3,3) DEX. Momentum was co-founded by ChefWEN (@ChefMMT_X), one of the founding engineers contributing to the Libra project at Meta. About Sui Sui is a first-of-its-kind Layer 1 blockchain and smart contract platform designed from the ground up to make digital asset ownership fast, private, secure, and accessible to everyone. Its object-centric model, based on the Move programming language, enables parallel execution, sub-second finality, and rich on-chain assets. With horizontally scalable processing and storage, Sui supports a wide range of applications with unrivaled speed at low cost. Sui is a step-function advancement in blockchain and a platform on which creators and developers can build amazing user-friendly experiences. For more information about Sui, please visit https://sui.io . For more information about Momentum, visit: Website | X | Linkedin | Telegram For media inquiries, please contact: team@mmt.finace and media@sui.io . Disclaimer: This press release is provided by Momentum. 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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/2395ab7f-3801-4ed8-95ee-a72bda67d298 Mobile, AL , March 31, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Wise Builders Roofing and Renovations, an expert commercial roofing company, offers special roof maintenance plans for commercial roofs in Mobile, Baldwin County, and the Mississippi Gulf Coast. With Gulf Coast storms causing severe damage each year, businesses often face costly emergency repairs and unexpected disruptions. Wise Builderss team of trusted local commercial roofers provides early problem detection, year-round monitoring, and customized solutions to keep commercial roofs storm-ready, structurally sound, and built to withstand the next weather hit. Designed to withstand the Gulf Coasts unpredictable weather, Wise Builders Roofing and Renovations maintenance plans provide comprehensive protection for commercial properties. Rather than a one-size-fits-all approach, Wise Builders tailors each plan to meet the specific needs of the property and its roofing system. Wise Builders Roofing and Renovations Its process begins with a thorough inspection to assess the roofs condition. Based on the findings, its team of experienced local commercial roofers creates a customized maintenance schedule, which includes regular inspections, preventative measures, and timely repairs. To accommodate different needs and budgets, Wise Builders offers three service levelsBasic, Standard, and Premiumallowing property owners to choose the right plan for their business. Wise Builders is equipped to handle all types of commercial roofing systems, ensuring long-term durability and reliability. Whether the roof is flat, TPO, or metal, the program is tailored to suit any commercial property, from industrial sites to office complexes. Our goal is to shift the mindset from reactive to proactive maintenance, said a representative from Wise Builders Roofing and Renovations, an expert commercial roofing company. By catching small issues early, we help business owners avoid interruptions, reduce risk, and maximize the life of their roofing systems. As a leading roofing contractor in Mobile, AL, Wise Builders Roofing and Renovations emphasizes the importance of preventative maintenance in protecting commercial properties from costly damage and downtime. With over two decades of experience, the company has earned a strong reputation for delivering reliable roof repairs and long-term solutions using top-quality materials and skilled workmanship. Unlike other roofers in the area, Wise Builders Roofing and Renovations goes beyond temporary fixes. It combines deep industry knowledge with local expertise to provide lasting value to commercial clients. Prioritizing safety and quality assurance in every project, the team ensures businesses receive dependable roofing solutions. With Wise Builders, commercial property owners searching for a top commercial roofing Mobile AL company or a responsive roofer in Mobile Alabama can enjoy peace of mind, knowing their investments are well-protected. To learn more about Wise Builders Roofing and Renovations and maintenance plans, visit https://wisebuildersrnr.com. About Wise Builders Roofing and Renovations Wise Builders Roofing and Renovations is a trusted roofing and renovation contractor based in Mobile, Alabama. With years of experience, its dedicated team of professional roofing contractors combines the latest roofing materials with exceptional attention to detail in every project. Wise Builders has redefined how property owners approach roofing by prioritizing maintenance. Committed to quality, safety, and customer satisfaction, it ensures clear communication, transparent pricing, and excellent workmanship. ### Media Contact Wise Builders Roofing and Renovations Address: 4053 Todd Blvd, Mobile, AL 36619 Phone: (251) 305-7282 Website: https://wisebuildersrnr.com Wise Builders Roofing and Renovations Attachment Riverdale, NJ, March 31, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Camfil, an industry leader in air filtration systems, has launched a comprehensive resource examining how air quality impacts emotional intelligence and cognitive functions. Camfil's team of air quality specialists explain recent research, highlighting the profound connections between indoor air quality and our brains ability to focus, make decisions, and recognize emotional cues effectively. A 2025 study published in Nature Communications reveals that exposure to particulate matter (PM) pollution can impair key cognitive functions, including selective attention and emotion recognition, essential for workplace productivity and social interactions. With concentrations of air pollutants often up to fifty times higher indoors than outdoors, poor air quality in facilities poses a serious yet overlooked health risk. Its not unreasonable to ask the facility manager to explain what steps are taken to maintain acceptable indoor air quality, says Mark Davidson, Manager of Marketing and Technical Materials at Camfil, Ask your employer or facility manager at your school if theyve appointed a CAO, Chief Airgonomics Officer. This is the person in an organization with the responsibility to ensure all reasonable steps are being taken to protect the employee, visitor or occupants health from poor indoor air quality. The article also explores actionable strategies for improving air quality in professional environments. Practical solutions include leveraging advanced HVAC systems, utilizing premium air filters, and conducting regular maintenance schedules. These steps enable facility managers to reduce particulate exposure, promote healthier indoor environments, and enhance building occupants' overall well-being. Key areas covered in the article include: The connection between air quality and emotional intelligence Insights from recent studies on air pollution and cognitive performance The impact of clean air on productivity and well-being The role of advanced filtration systems in reducing airborne pollutants Practical tips for facility managers to promote healthier environments With this resource, Camfil aims to elevate awareness of the underestimated effects of air pollution on mental functions while empowering building and facility managers to take actionable steps to address these challenges. Learn more about the effects of IAQ on emotional intelligence by reading Camfils full article. About Camfil Camfil USA Air Filters For over 50 years, Camfil has been developing clean air solutions that enhance well-being, improve productivity, and minimize environmental impact. As a global manufacturer of commercial and industrial air filtration systems, Camfil is committed to conserving resources while benefiting both businesses and the planet. Headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden, Camfil operates 30 manufacturing sites, six R&D centers, and has a presence in over 35 countries with 5,600 employees worldwide. Learn more about creating cleaner, healthier indoor air at www.camfil.us. Media Contact Lynne Laake Camfil USA Air Filters Phone: 888-599-6620 Email: Lynne.Laake@camfil.com Press release Paris, March 31, 2025 17h35 Annual Results Section HOPSCOTCH GROUPE 2024 Annual Results An ambition : reaching 200 Million in Gross Margin by 2030 HOPSCOTCH (Euronext Growth FR0000065278), a communications consulting group and a key player in digital, public relations, and events, announces the publication of its annual accounts as of December 31, 2024. These accounts were approved by the Executive Board and validated by the Supervisory Board on March 31, 2025, along with the Groups strategic vision for the next five years. A vision made possible by: A successful growth strategy: 104.8 million in Gross Margin, +12.8% compared to 2023; 104.8 million in Gross Margin, +12.8% compared to 2023; An organizational structure designed to create value: 9.2 million in Operating Profit, representing 8.7% of Gross Margin; 9.2 million in Operating Profit, representing 8.7% of Gross Margin; A solid financial structure: 34.1 million in Shareholders' Equity and 7.7 million in net cash; 34.1 million in Shareholders' Equity and 7.7 million in net cash; Strong growth levers to surpass 200 million in Gross Margin by 2030, targeting an Operating Profit Margin of 12%. Frederic Bedin states: The Hopscotch brand is establishing itself as a key player in the market, with a clear ambition for consolidation and growth. In 2024, we fully capitalized on this recognition, strengthened our leadership, and accelerated our international expansion. The coming years will be marked by expansion for Hopscotch. Thanks to our international scale and unique positioningwhich makes us the only agency combining communication consulting, influence, and event production in growing marketsas well as our proven acquisition strategy, we confidently affirm our ambition to reach 200 million in Gross Margin by 2030, with a 12% Operating Profit Margin. Consolidated Income Statement In thousands of euros 2024 2023 Change Revenue 319 054 271 373 +47 681 Gross Margin 104 783 92 934 +11 849 of which Labor Costs of which Freelance of which Business Development Costs Other Expenses (71 338) (3 407) (2 543) (14 789) (62 414) (2 674) (2 393) (14 411) +8 924 +733 +150 +378 Operating Profit 9 163 9 927 (764) Share of profit from Associates Financial Result Taxes (476) (1 641) (2 144) (85) (2666) (1 992) (391) (1025) (152) Net Profit Attributable to the Group 4 824 4 568 + 256 A Successful Growth Strategy In 2024, the Group's consolidated revenue reached 319.1 million (+17.7%), and the consolidated Gross Margin stood at 104.8 million (+12.7%). This new record confirms the growth trajectory initiated by the Group through strong organic growth levers and a dynamic external growth strategy. Regarding acquisitions, the successful integration of Interface Tourismnow Hopscotch Tourismaccounts for 9% of the Group's Gross Margin. In addition to incorporating solid expertise in the tourism industry, this acquisition strengthens Hopscotchs international presence, particularly in Europe, and fosters significant commercial synergies. This acquisition complements the Groups organic growth, which stands at +4% for the year, excluding the decline in North American operations. An Organizational Structure in Place to Deliver Value Personnel expenses amounted to 71.3 million, representing 68.1% of Gross Margin. External expenses totaled 18.8 million, or 17.9% of Gross Margin, with a limited increase given the integration of Interface Tourism. EBITDA/AL (excluding the IFRS 16 accounting impact of lease capitalization) stood at 9.1 million in 2024, an increase of 2.2 million compared to 2023. Depreciation and amortization expenses for 2024 amounted to 5.0 million, including 4.0 million in IFRS 16 lease amortization. The year also recorded a provision reversal of 1.5 million, a decrease of 1.7 million compared to the previous year. This explains the apparent decline in Consolidated Operating Profit and the increase in EBITDA/AL. For 2024, Consolidated Operating Profit reached 9.2 million, compared to 9.9 million in 2023. As expected, the integration of Interface TourismHopscotch Tourismpositively contributes to the Groups results. Hopscotch Tourism reported 9.5 million in Gross Margin for the year and generated 1.2 million in Operating Profit, representing 12.2% of its Gross Margin. Within the Groups historical scope, North American operations negatively impacted results with a Gross Margin shortfall of approximately 1.5 million and non-recurring reorganization costs of about 1 million. The financial result stood at -1.6 million. After the share of net profit from equity-accounted companies (-0.5 million) and corporate tax (-2.1 million), Net Profit Attributable to the Group for the year amounted to 4.8 million. A Solid Financial Structure with Over 7.6 Million in Net Cash As of December 31, 2024, the Group relied on a strong financial structure with shareholders' equity of 34.1 million, compared to 31.5 million as of December 31, 2023. This includes the acquisition of minority stakes in Sopexanow Hopscotch Seasonand the dividends paid for the previous year (1.9 million). Cash flow from operations, excluding IFRS 16 effects, stood at 9.3 million, compared to 5.9 million the previous year. The change in working capital at December 31, 2024, amounted to -7.5 million, compared to 5.7 million the previous year. In 2024, Hopscotch Groupe continued repaying its state-guaranteed loan (PGE) for 4.8 million. Excluding this loan, the Groups overall debt increased by 7.9 million to finance acquisitions, reaching 20.3 million as of December 31, 2024. Active cash amounted to 37.9 million, including 28 million excluding the PGE, resulting in a positive net financial position of 7.7 million. The Executive Board will propose at the General Meeting on May 27, 2025, the payment of a dividend of 0.65 per share, unchanged from last year (ex-dividend date: July 3, payment: July 7, 2024). Strong Growth Levers Hopscotchs established reputation, which peaked during the Paris 2024 sporting celebrations, reaffirms its growth and development ambitions in event production and communications consulting. Already present in strategic regions (Europe, Gulf countries, Asia), Hopscotch intends to continue its international expansion through regional structures that ensure proximity to a high-potential global clientele. Following successful integrations in strategic sectors like tourism, which bring new expertise and talent, Hopscotch is ready to accelerate in promising markets such as major international eventsexemplified by the SuperCoppa Italia semi-finals and finals held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from January 2 to 6, 2025. Over 2025 and beyond, Hopscotch aims to adopt a targeted acquisition strategy to strengthen its geographical, sectoral, and business positioning, penetrate new high-potential markets, create synergies, and generate long-term value. Backed by these growth levers, the Groups ambition for 2030 is to reach 200 million in Gross Margin, with a 12% ROC. Upcoming Publications: H1 2025 Activity: Wednesday, July 30, 2025 Wednesday, July 30, 2025 H1 2025 Results: Tuesday, September 30, 2025 Tuesday, September 30, 2025 Full-Year Revenue: Tuesday, February 3, 2026 ________ Investor relations contact Pierre-Franck MOLEY Managing Director - Tel. 01 41 34 20 56 - pfmoley@hopscotchgroupe.com Press contact Jodie KNOEPFLER CONSCIENCE Assistant to the Management Board - Tel. 01 41 34 20 51 - jodiekc@hopscotchgroupe.com ________ About HOPSCOTCH HOPSCOTCH is an international communications group founded in France, driven by an entrepreneurial vision and the complementary nature of its talents and expertise. HOPSCOTCH is a unique combination of expertise, driven by the belief that the value of a company or organization lies in the quality of its relational capital. With more than 1,000 employees, half of whom are based internationally (40 offices across 5 continents), HOPSCOTCH covers all areas of communication: influence, events, public relations, activations, digital, internal communication, public affairs, and marketing services. HOPSCOTCH organizes its agencies around its areas of expertise: Event: Hopscotch Event, Hopscotch Congres, Hopscotch Moments, Sagarmatha. Public Relations: Hopscotch PR, Le Public Systeme PR, Human to Human, Hopscotch Decideurs. Digital and Marketing: heaven, AD Crew, Hopscotch Digital Studio. Sectorial expertise: Hopscotch Cinema, Hopscotch Luxe, Hopscotch Season, Hopscotch Sport, Hopscotch Tourism. HOPSCOTCH has been committed to ambitious ecological and societal initiatives for over 15 years, validated by internationally recognized CSR certifications, including RSE Agences Actives, ISO 20121, and the EcoVadis Platinum medal. Listed on Euronext Growth Paris (ISIN code: ALHOP FR 00000 6527 8), the group represents a turnover of 319,1 million and a gross margin of 104,8 million in 2024. Follow us: www.hopscotchgroupe.com and on LinkedIn / X / Instagram / Bluesky @HOPSCOTCHgroupe Eligible PEA PME Attachment Boise, Idaho, March 31, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hearts Across the Valley, a growing community art movement connecting people, is gaining serious momentum across the Treasure Valley. With 17 heart partners already on boardand more lining upthis community initiative is now on the lookout for 10 local artists to bring the next wave of installations to life and get paid to do so. Each heart installation is a one-of-a-kind piece, designed by Idaho-based artists and placed in highly visible community locationsfrom local businesses to parks and public spaces. For up and coming artists this is a great opportunity to get your art out there and be seen by the public, said Jay Smith, the artist for the Calling All Dreamers heart along with Push & Pours The Last Train to Boise heart. These larger-than-life hearts spark joy, conversation, and connection, serving as both public art and a love letter to the Treasure Valley. Locations like Lowe Family Farmstead, Indian Creek Plaza and Ford Idaho Center are looking for artists to apply. Artists can apply here for this paid opportunity and see the full list of current organizations looking for artists. Join the Hearts Across the Valley Kickoff Party The community is invited to celebrate the movement in person at the first-ever Hearts Across the Valley Kickoff Party, happening Thursday, April 11th 6-8pm at Push & Pour off Latah. The event will feature the unveiling of one of the newest heart installations, and plenty of good vibes. At Pushs core we love supporting art and community. So when we were approached with the idea of having a Heart Across The Valley Heart at one of our locations we were all in! said Lucas Erlebach, owner of Push & Pour. New partners are being added daily and more Hearts Across the Valley Kickoff Parties are being scheduled. New partners helping fuel the projects growth include: Caffe Lucianos | College of Western Idaho | City of Mountain Home | Ford Idaho Center | Telaya Wine Co. | Valley View Chevron in Horseshoe Bend | Boys & Girls Club of Canyon County | Boys & Girls Club of Ada County | SCHEELS | Caldwell Night Rodeo | Expo Idaho & Western Idaho Fairgrounds | Lowe Family Farmstead | Destination Caldwell - Indian Creek Plaza | City of Caldwell - Mallard Park | City of Jerome Want to get involved? CBH Homes is currently seeking local artists to design the hearts, as well as businesses and locations who want to be part of this unique project. Whether you're an artist, a community supporter, or someone who simply loves the Treasure Valley, there are plenty of ways to join in. Artists: Submit your heart design HERE for a chance to be part of this massive art installation. Businesses: Showcase your brand by sponsoring a heart and supporting local artists. Community Members: Stay updated by following CBH Homes on social media to see all event announcements, new heart locations and behind the scenes. For more details on how to submit artwork, sponsor a heart, or explore the upcoming installations, visit: https://cbhhomes.com/hearts-across-the-valley/. About Hearts Across the Valley: CBH Hearts Across the Valley celebrates the special connection our communities have in Idaho and will attract visitors, promote and honor businesses and cities, showcase local artists, and encourage friends and families to explore, connect and get outside. About CBH Homes: CBH Homes has been building new homes for sale in Idaho for over 33 years, and for 19 of those, CBH Homes has been Idahos #1 Builder, a Best Place to Work in Idaho, ranked #42 in the nation, and proudly working with over 26,000 happy homeowners. Visit cbhhomes.com. Attachment ATHENS, Greece, March 31, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Okeanis Eco Tankers Corp. (the Company or OET) (NYSE:ECO / OSE:OET), announced today that its Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024 (the Annual Report) has been filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC). The Annual Report may be downloaded from the SECs website (http://www.sec.gov) and is also available under the Investor Relations section (Financial Reports and Webcasts) of the Companys website (www.okeanisecotankers.com). Hard copies of the Companys complete audited financial statements can be obtained, free of charge, upon request by contacting the Company at ir@okeanisecotankers.com or by writing to Okeanis Eco Tankers Corp., Ethnarchou Makariou av. & 2 D. Falireos st., 18547 Neo Faliro, Greece. Contacts Company: Iraklis Sbarounis, CFO Tel: +30 210 480 4200 ir@okeanisecotankers.com Investor Relations / Media Contact: Nicolas Bornozis, President Capital Link, Inc. 230 Park Avenue, Suite 1540, New York, N.Y. 10169 Tel: +1 (212) 661-7566 okeanisecotankers@capitallink.com About OET OET is a leading international tanker company providing seaborne transportation of crude oil and refined products. The Company was incorporated on April 30, 2018 under the laws of the Republic of the Marshall Islands and is listed on Oslo Brs under the symbol OET and the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol ECO. The sailing fleet consists of six modern scrubber-fitted Suezmax tankers and eight modern scrubber-fitted VLCC tankers. Forward-Looking Statements This communication contains forward-looking statements, including as defined under U.S. federal securities laws. Forward-looking statements provide the Companys current expectations or forecasts of future events. Forward-looking statements include statements about the Companys expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, intentions, assumptions and other statements that are not historical facts or that are not present facts or conditions. Words or phrases such as anticipate, believe, continue, estimate, expect, hope, intend, may, ongoing, plan, potential, predict, project, should, will or similar words or phrases, or the negatives of those words or phrases, may identify forward-looking statements, but the absence of these words does not necessarily mean that a statement is not forward-looking. Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties and are based on potentially inaccurate assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expected or implied by the forward-looking statements. The Companys actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in forward-looking statements for many reasons, including as described in the Companys filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC). Accordingly, you should not unduly rely on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this communication. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include, but are not limited to, the Companys operating or financial results; the Companys liquidity, including its ability to service its indebtedness; competitive factors in the market in which the Company operates; shipping industry trends, including charter rates, vessel values and factors affecting vessel supply and demand; future, pending or recent acquisitions and dispositions, business strategy, areas of possible expansion or contraction, and expected capital spending or operating expenses; risks associated with operations; broader market impacts arising from war (or threatened war) or international hostilities; risks associated with pandemics, including effects on demand for oil and other products transported by tankers and the transportation thereof; and other factors listed from time to time in the Companys filings with the SEC. Except to the extent required by law, the Company expressly disclaims any obligations or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in the Companys expectations with respect thereto or any change in events, conditions, or circumstances on which any statement is based. You should, however, review the factors and risks the Company describes in the reports it files and furnishes from time to time with the SEC, which can be obtained free of charge on the SECs website at www.sec.gov. This information is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to section 5 -12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act. TORONTO, March 31, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- First Quantum Minerals Ltd. (First Quantum or the Company) (TSX: FM) provides an update regarding two arbitration proceedings related to the Cobre Panama mine. In November 2023, First Quantum initiated arbitration proceedings before the International Chamber of Commerces (ICC) International Court of Arbitration and filed a notice of intent of arbitration under the Canada-Panama Free Trade Agreement (FTA). Following engagement with the Government of Panamas legal counsel, First Quantum has agreed to discontinue the ICC arbitration proceedings. The Company has also agreed to suspend the FTA arbitration. The Company reiterates that it remains committed to dialogue with the Government of Panama and to being part of a solution for the country and the Panamanian people. For further information, visit our website at www.first-quantum.com or contact: Bonita To, Director, Investor Relations (416) 361-6400 Toll-free: 1 (888) 688-6577 E-Mail: info@fqml.com SUDBURY, Ontario, March 31, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- (Web version) With a network of 37 sites in 27 communities across Ontario, College Boreal has been a key driver of the development, growth, and influence of the Franco-Ontarian community over the past 30 years. With todays unveiling of its new strategic plan, Horizon 2030: Succeeding Together, Boreal is reaffirming its leadership commitment to serving Francophones across the province. Mission | Vision | Motto College Boreals mission defines the shared goal that the institution and its staff strive to achieve: Boreal is a Francophone leader that offers high-quality training and services to a diverse clientele. It catalyzes the sustainable development of communities, from the local to the international. The Colleges vision is the driving inspiration that steers our decisions and actions in a common direction: Boreal is known for its enduring impact on communities through its educational programs and support services centred on the socioeconomic integration of its clientele. Our motto succinctly conveys College Boreals primary motivation: Nurturing knowledge and invigorating culture Areas of Focus and Objectives Through its range of services, College Boreal provides tailored programming built on an inspiring model of socioeconomic integration. Its areas of focus and objectives are grouped into four categories: Supporting Success Community Impact Agility Sustainability Values These values are aligned with our culture and reflected in both individual and organizational behaviours: Collaboration Commitment/Passion Accountability Respect Openness Decision-Making Principles These principles ensure consistency in decision-making at all levels of the College, supporting long-term goals and maintaining Boreals strategic directions: Quality Financial Viability Flexibility and Innovation Social Responsibility Efficiency Quote As College Boreal celebrates its 30th anniversary this year, we must live up to the expectations of the Franco-Ontarian community, whose support and dedication were instrumental in the creation of our institution. Building on this acquired maturity and supported by a high-performing business model, Boreal is committed to strengthening collaboration with our community and government partners so that our expertise continues to benefit Francophones and Francophiles across the province. Daniel Giroux President of College Boreal Quick Facts College Boreal offers a wide range of programs and services, including post-secondary education (up to the bachelors level), employment services, literacy and apprenticeship programs, corporate training, immigration services, and applied research. Among Ontarios 24 English- and French-language publicly funded colleges, College Boreal has the highest graduate satisfaction rate (for the 18th time in 24 years) and reaches the top of the podium for the 5th time in regard to employer satisfaction. Related Links Read College Boreals 20252030 strategic plan on our website: collegeboreal.ca/strategic-plan. Follow our new strategic plans community presentations on social media with the hashtag #PlanStrat2025Boreal2030. Information Benoit Clement Manager Communications and Media Relations 705-560-6673, ext. 2722 benoit.clement@collegeboreal.ca About College Boreal Created in Sudbury in 1995, College Boreal is a French-language post- secondary education and training institution committed to the development and growth of the various Ontario communities it serves. Through its 37 sites including 8 campuses in 27 communities, College Boreal offers a high level of expertise in post- secondary education, basic training, apprenticeship, immigrant services, employment services, customized training and applied research. Learn more: To find out more about College Boreals programs and services, please visit our website at collegeboreal.ca or follow us on Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn and X . A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/a7475155-9297-4c74-adf1-1af323e6af41 ANNOUNCEMENT TO THE TORONTO STOCK EXCHANGE AND AUSTRALIAN SECURITIES EXCHANGE HIGHLIGHTS RTG Mining Inc. has received firm commitments to raise approximately A$19.5 million via a two-tranche institutional placement The placement received strong support from a number of leading institutional investors including both existing shareholders and a number of new investors Placement strengthens RTG's balance sheet enabling the Company to advance the Mabilo Project towards start-up together with other business development opportunities Placement follows recently secured partnership with one of the largest natural resource companies in the world, Glencore International AG, to finance Stage 1 start-up of the high-grade Copper and Gold Mabilo Project Secured Financing Facility from Glencore provides for a total of up to US$30m in three-tranches covering 100% of the estimated capex for Stage 1 SUBIACO, March 31, 2025 - The Board of RTG Mining Inc. ("RTG", the "Company") (TSX Code:RTG)(ASX Code:RTG) is pleased to announce that the Company has received commitments to raise approximately A$19.5 million (circa US$12.3 million) in a placement to institutional and sophisticated investors ("Placement"). As recently reported (see ASX announcement dated 6 March 2025), the Secured Financing Facility with Glencore International AG ("Glencore"), provides for a total of up to US$30 million (in three-tranches), on attractive terms, for the development of Stage 1 of the high-grade copper and gold Mabilo Project in the Philippines. Subsequent to securing binding finance and offtake arrangements with Glencore, the Placement has received strong institutional demand, demonstrating the considerable support for RTG's high-grade copper and gold strategy. The Placement will result in the issue of approximately 783 million Chess Depository Instruments ("New Securities") to be listed on the ASX at an issue price of A$0.025 per Security ("Issue Price"), representing a 3.8% discount to RTG's last closing price on the ASX of A$0.026. Net proceeds of the Placement will be used to provide working capital to advance the Mabilo Project towards start-up and operations to unlock the early and strong cashflows of the project, with the first phase being a Direct Shipping Operation. RTG will also be well funded to progress plans for additional exploration at the Mabilo Project to expand the current reserve in the oxide layer, including additional high grade supergene chalcocite copper material and further drilling to then expand the reserves in the primary skarn material for Stage 2. In addition to this drilling, RTG will commit to a 5,000m drill program at the Chanach Project, including 3,000m into the potential high grade porphyry target identified in the recent 3DIP programs. This will run from late May through to October/November depending on the available field season. Other work plans include continuing the pursuit of new potential business development opportunities, including the Panguna Project in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville and general working capital purposes. Placement Details: The Placement consists of 783 million New Securities to be issued at the Issue Price of A$0.025 per Security to raise total funds of circa A$19.5 million. The Placement will be conducted in two tranches. The first tranche of approximately 169,297,750 New Securities is expected to be issued on or around 9 April 2025 using the Company's 15% placement capacity under ASX Listing Rule 7.1 to raise ~A$4.2 million (before costs). The second tranche of New Securities, being the balance of the Placement (~613.7 million New Securities), will be issued as follows: subject to receiving shareholder approval under ASX Listing Rule 10.11, the issue of up to 7 million New Securities to the RTG Directors and up to 241 million New Securities to Equinox Partners LP, which is deemed to be a 'related party' of the Company by virtue of Non-Executive Director Mr Sean Fieler's position as a controlling member of Equinox Partners GP, the General Partner of Equinox Partners LP; and subject to receiving shareholder approval under ASX Listing Rule 7.1, the further issue of a total of up to 365 million New Securities to institutional and sophisticated investors (including existing shareholders of RTG). Shareholder approval for the issue of the New Securities under the second tranche of the Placement will be sought at a General Meeting of the Company expected to be held in May 2025. Settlement and allotment of New Securities under the second tranche of the Placement are expected to occur shortly after approval is obtained at the General Meeting. Furter details relating to the issue of these New Securities will be set out in a Notice of Meeting to be sent to shareholders in due course. Foster Stockbroking Pty Ltd ("FSB") acted as lead manager and bookrunner to the Placement ("Lead Manager"). The Placement will be conducted under exemptions from prospectus and registration requirements of securities laws in relevant countries. The Placement is subject to approval of TSX. ABOUT RTG MINING INC RTG Mining Inc. is a mining and exploration company listed on the main board of the Toronto Stock Exchange and the Australian Securities Exchange. RTG is currently focused primarily on progressing the Mabilo Project to start-up having now received a mining permit for the Project, with a view to moving quickly and safely to a producing gold and copper company. RTG also has several exciting new opportunities including the Panguna Project in Bougainville, which it remains committed to while also considering further new business development opportunities. RTG has an experienced management team which has to date developed seven mines in five different countries, including being responsible for the development of the Masbate Gold Mine in the Philippines through CGA Mining Ltd.. RTG has some of the most respected international institutional investors as shareholders including Equinox Partners and Franklin Templeton. ENQUIRIES President & CEO - Justine Magee Tel: +61 8 6489 2900 Email: jmagee@rtgmining.com Australian Investor and Media Contact Sam Burns: +61 400 164 067 Email: sam.burns@sdir.com.au COMPLIANCE STATEMENT Date: 31 March 2025 Authorised for release by: By the Board of Directors CAUTIONARY NOTE STATEMENT The Toronto Stock Exchange has not reviewed nor does it accept responsibility for the accuracy or adequacy of this press release, which has been prepared by management. This announcement includes certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation. All statements in this announcement, other than statements of historical facts are forward-looking statements, including statements made or implied relating to the anticipated timing, closing, size, structure of and exemptions utilized under the Placement, the use of the net proceeds from the Placement, the timing of the shareholder meeting to approve Tranche 2 of the Placement, the Company's opportunities to diversify its Philippine interests and to participate in the redevelopment of the Panguna Mine in Bougainville, the Company's objectives, strategies to achieve those objectives, the Company's beliefs, plans, estimates and intentions, and similar statements concerning anticipated future events, plans for further exploration. Forward-looking statements involve various risks and uncertainties and are based on certain factors and assumptions. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from RTG's expectations include uncertainties related to market conditions and demand for the Placement, the receipt of requisite shareholder and regulatory approvals, fluctuations in gold and other commodity prices and currency exchange rates; uncertainties relating to interpretation of drill results and the geology, continuity and grade of mineral deposits; uncertainty of estimates of capital and operating costs, recovery rates, production estimates and estimated economic return; the need for cooperation of government agencies in the development of RTG's mineral projects; the need to obtain additional financing to develop RTG's mineral projects; the possibility of delay in development programs or in construction projects and uncertainty of meeting anticipated program milestones for RTG's mineral projects and other risks and uncertainties as discussed in RTG's annual report for the year ended December 31, 2024 and detailed from time to time in our other filings with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities available at www.sedar.com. The forward?looking statements made in this announcement relate only to events as of the date on which the statements are made. RTG will not release publicly any revisions or updates to these forward?looking statements to reflect events, circumstances or unanticipated events occurring after the date of this announcement except as required by law or by any appropriate regulatory authority. NOT FOR RELEASE OR DISTRIBUTION IN THE UNITED STATES This announcement has been prepared for publication in Canada and Australia and may not be released to US wire services or distributed in the United States. This announcement does not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, securities in the United States or any other jurisdiction. Any securities described in this announcement have not been, and will not be, registered under the US Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "US Securities Act"), or any state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold in the United States or to or for the account or benefit of a U.S. Person (as defined in Regulation S under the US Securities Act), except in transactions exempt from, or not subject to, registration under the US Securities Act and applicable US state securities laws. SOURCE: RTG Mining Inc. View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire Luca Mining Corp. ("Luca" or the "Company") (TSXV: LUCA) (OTCQX: LUCMF) (Frankfurt: Z68) is pleased to announce it has achieved commercial production at its Tahuehueto operation. Additionally, the Company is announcing its production guidance for 2025, outlining expectations for its Campo Morado and Tahuehueto operations. The Company also provides details on its consolidated forecasts, budgeted capital, and exploration expenditures. All figures are presented in U.S. dollars unless otherwise stated. Commercial Production at Tahuehueto In March 2025, the Company has successfully achieved commercial production at its Tahuehueto mine, consistently operating at a throughput rate above 800 tonnes per day ("tpd"). Ramon Perez, President of the Company, commented "This milestone marks a significant step in the mine's development, reflecting the operational team's dedication and the effectiveness of recent optimization efforts. Achieving this sustained production level demonstrates the mine's ability to generate stable output, supporting the Company's growth strategy and long-term value creation. The Company remains focused on further enhancing efficiencies and maximizing the mine's full potential." 2025 Production and Free Cash Flow2 Guidance Highlights For the year ahead, Luca anticipates producing between 85,000 and 100,000 gold equivalent ounces1 with payable ounces ranging between 65,000 and 80,000. Free cash flow2 before working capital adjustments is anticipated to be between $30 million and $40 million. The Company remains focused on key strategic initiatives designed to enhance shareholder value and drive operational efficiencies across its two producing mines. At Campo Morado, efforts will continue to ramp up operations with the goal of achieving a consistent and sustainable mill feed while targeting an increase in throughput above 2,000 tonnes per day towards the end of 2025. Optimization work remains ongoing to improve metal recoveries and maintain grade consistency, including refining grinding techniques and reagent dosing. Additionally, the development of a third copper concentrate is expected to enhance payability of precious metals with improved concentrate grades. The Company has also outlined plans for a minimum 5,000-metre exploration program, which aims to expand mineral resources and sustain long-term production. At Tahuehueto, the Company is prioritizing infrastructure enhancements, including the construction of a spare parts warehouse to minimize downtime and improve operational resilience. Increasing mill throughput remains a key objective, alongside continued exploration efforts to assess both near-mine and regional targets within the property's extensive epithermal vein system. In-line with its broader financial strategy, Luca is committed to eliminating the Company's debt by July 2026. Strong operational free cash flow, combined with the potential exercise of outstanding warrants, may allow for an accelerated repayment timeline. CEO Dan Barnholden commented, "Luca is entering an exciting phase of growth, underpinned by a commitment to operational excellence and exploration success. In 2025, we anticipate a significant increase in production, strengthened cash flow, and the advancement of highly strategic initiatives. With two operating mines generating robust free cash flow, we are well positioned to enhance our performance while identifying new growth opportunities, including potential M&A activity. Our long-term vision is to establish Luca as a leading mid-tier mining company with a production target exceeding 200,000 gold equivalent ounces annually." 2025 Production Guidance Produced Metal Campo Morado Tahuehueto Consolidated Gold production oz 11,000 - 13,000 22,000 - 26,000 33,000 - 39,000 Silver production oz 997,000 - 1,173,000 247,000 - 291,000 1,244,000 - 1,464,000 Lead production lbs 5,000 - 6,000 3,600 - 4,200 8,600 - 10,200 Zinc production lbs 40,000 - 47,000 6,000 - 7,000 46,000 - 54,000 Copper production lbs 8,000 - 9,000 1,400 - 1,700 9,400 - 10,700 Gold Equivalent production1 oz 54,000 - 64,000 31,000 - 36,000 85,000 - 100,000 Payable Metal Campo Morado Tahuehueto Consolidated Gold production oz 7,000 - 9,000 20,000 - 25,000 27,000 - 34,000 Silver production oz 722,000 - 889,000 219,000 - 270,000 941,000 - 1,159,000 Lead production lbs - 3,000 - 4,000 3,000 - 4,000 Zinc production lbs 32,000 - 40,000 4000 - 5000 36,000 - 45,000 Copper production lbs 6,000 - 7,000 - 6,000 - 7,000 Gold Equivalent payable1 oz 40,000 - 49,000 25,000 - 31,000 65,000 - 80,000 At Tahuehueto, our processing plant has an installed capacity of 1,000 tpd, with demonstrated instantaneous production rates of up to 1,200 tpd. As operations transition into commercial production, plant availability is currently at 82%, reflecting the typical phased approach to ramp-up as operations stabilize. This results in an average processing rate of 820 tpd, with a clear plan to systematically increase availability to 85%-90% as the plant continues to perform well. Our focus remains on optimizing efficiencies to enhance long-term reliability and maximize throughput. Free Cash Flow2 The Company anticipates generating between $30 million and $40 million in free cash flow2 before working capital adjustments for the year, reflecting the strength of its core mining operations. This metric, which excludes short-term fluctuations in receivables, payables, prepaids and inventory, provides a clear measure of the Company's ability to generate cash from operations net of capital expenditures. Strong free cash flow2 supports key initiatives, including debt repayment, reinvestment in growth opportunities, and potential shareholder returns. The Company's anticipated cash generation underscores its operational efficiency and financial resilience as it continues to execute its long-term strategy. 2025 Budgeted Capital Expenditures and Exploration Mine Development - Sustaining2 Other Capital - Sustaining2 Total Sustaining2 Exploration Total Campo Morado $ 10 million 3 million 13 million 1.3 million 14.3 million Tahuehueto $ 6.5 million 4 million 10.5 million 2.6 million 13.1 million Consolidated $ 16.5 million 7 million 23.5 million 3.9 million 27.4 million In 2025, Luca plans to invest a total of $27.4 million into its projects, $23.5 million in sustaining capital expenditures and $3.9 million in exploration across its two operating mines. These expenditures are expected to be fully funded through operational cash flow. At Campo Morado, a total of $13 million will be allocated to capital projects, with the primary investment being the development mine workings estimated at $10 million. Additional funds will support mine infrastructure, equipment acquisitions, and improvements to the processing plant and tailings storage facility. The exploration program will include 5,000 metres of drilling for $1.3 million, marking the first such initiative in several years. This campaign will focus on increasing high-grade resources near existing operations while also evaluating regional targets for future development. At Tahuehueto, planned capital expenditures amount to $10.5 million, with $6.5 million allocated to mine workings. Additional investments will be directed toward infrastructure upgrades, plant enhancements, and camp improvements. The 2025 exploration program for $2.6 million is expected to involve 5,000 metres of drilling, primarily targeting resource expansion and mine life extension. Luca may extend exploration efforts to assess regional targets across the broader property. Technical Disclosure The scientific and technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Ramon Mendoza, P.Eng., Chief Technical Officer, a Qualified Person as defined under National Instrument 43-101. Production in Campo Morado Production at the Campo Morado is not currently based on the result of a feasibility study of mineral reserves demonstrating economic and technical viability, instead is supported by historical and actual mine and processing performance. Readers should consider that increased uncertainty exists until such viability is supported by a study at least at a pre-feasibility study level. The Company is currently working with independent consultants to complete a Mineral Resource update and provide an estimation of the Mineral Reserves at Campo Morado. About Luca Mining Corp. Luca Mining (TSX-V: LUCA, OTCQX: LUCMF, Frankfurt: Z68) is a diversified Canadian mining company with two 100%-owned producing mines within the prolific Sierra Madre mineralized belt in Mexico which hosts numerous producing and historic mines along its trend. The Company produces gold, copper, zinc, silver and lead from these mines that each have considerable development and resource upside. The Campo Morado mine, is an underground operation located in Guerrero State. It produces copper-zinc-lead concentrates with precious metals credits. It is currently undergoing an optimization program which is already generating significant improvements in recoveries and concentrates grades, efficiencies, and cashflows. The Tahuehueto gold-silver mine is an underground operation in Durango State, located along a trend that hosts numerous producing and historic mines. The Company has successfully commissioned its mill and is now in commercial production. On Behalf of the Board of Directors (signed) "Dan Barnholden" Dan Barnholden, Chief Executive Officer For more information, please visit: www.lucamining.com Endnotes The Company has included certain performance measures that are not defined under International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS"). The Company believes that these measures, in addition to conventional measures prepared in accordance with IFRS, provide investors an improved ability to evaluate the underlying performance of the Company. The non-IFRS measures are intended to provide additional information and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with IFRS as an indicator of performance. These measures do not have any standardized meaning prescribed under IFRS, and therefore may not be comparable to other issuers with similar descriptions. 1 Gold equivalent is calculated using an 90.32:1 (Ag/Au), 0.0005:1 (Au/Zn), 0.0015:1 (Au/Cu) and 0.0003:1 (Au/Pb) ratio 2 Non-IFRS Financial Measures Free cash flow Free cash flow before working capital adjustments is a non-IFRS liquidity measure that reflects operating cash flows before changes in working capital, less capital expenditures. Management uses this measure as a key indicator of the Company's underlying liquidity, as it provides a clearer view of cash generated from core operations, excluding short-term fluctuations in working capital. This metric is used alongside related IFRS amounts when assessing available cash for decision-making purposes, including dividends and discretionary investments. It also assists management, the Board of Directors, and investors in evaluating the Company's ability to generate sustainable liquidity from operating activities. Sustaining capital Sustaining capital is defined as the capital required to maintain operations at existing levels. This measurement is used by management to assess the effectiveness of an investment program. For further information on reconciliations of Non-IFRS measures, refer to the Non-IFRS financial measures section of the Company's Management Discussion & Analysis for the three and nine months ending September 30, 2024, beginning on page 26. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements Statements contained in this news release that are not historical facts are "forward-looking information" or "forward-looking statements" (collectively, "Forward-Looking Information") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward Looking Information includes, but is not limited to, estimated production guidelines for 2025 and other possible events, conditions or performance that are based on assumptions about the proposed exploration program and its anticipated results; the timing and costs of future activities on the Company's properties, such as production rates and increases and sustaining capital expenditures; success of exploration, development, and metres to be drilled in exploration on the Tahuehueto project site. In certain cases, Forward-Looking Information can be identified using words and phrases such as "plans", "expects", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or variations of such words and phrases. In preparing the Forward-Looking Information in this news release, the Company has applied several material assumptions, including, but not limited to, that the Company will be able to raise additional capital as necessary; the current exploration, development, environmental and other objectives concerning the Tahuehueto Project can be achieved; that consistent and sustainable mill feed at Campo Morado will be achieved; the continuity of the price of gold and other metals and economic and political conditions. Forward-Looking Information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the Forward-Looking Information. There can be no assurance that Forward-Looking Information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on Forward-Looking Information. Except as required by law, the Company does not assume any obligation to release publicly any revisions to Forward-Looking Information contained in this news release to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. SOURCE Luca Mining Corp. Contact Information: Sophia Shane, Director of Investor Relations, sshane@lucamining.com, +1 604 306 6867; Glen Sandwell, Corporate Communications Manager, ir@lucamining.com Gold Terra Resource Corp. (TSX-V:YG) (Frankfurt:TX0) (OTCQB:YGTFF) ("Gold Terra" or the "Company") is pleased to announce a non-brokered financing of C$2,400,000 consisting of hard dollar and charitable flow-through (together the "Financing"). The Company expects to raise gross proceeds of C$1,000,000 from the issuance of 20,000,000 common shares of the Company (the "Shares") at an issue price of $0.05 per Share, and gross proceeds of C$1,400,000 from the issuance of 20,000,000 charitable flow-through common shares of the Company (the "CFT Shares") at an issue price of $0.07 per CFT Share. The CFT Shares will qualify as "flow-through" shares (within the meaning of subsection 66(15) of the Income Tax Act (Canada)). In addition to the closing of the Financing of C$2,400,000, Osisko Gold Royalties Ltd. has elected to early exercise the first tranche of its royalty option for a 2% NSR royalty on Gold Terra's Yellowknife Property in exchange for a cash payment of C$2,000,000. Gold Terra's cash balance will then increase to C$4,400,000 less some finders' fees. The Financing is expected to close on or about April 11, 2025, and is subject to certain conditions including, but not limited to, the receipt of all necessary regulatory and other approvals including the acceptance of the TSX Venture Exchange. Insiders of Gold Terra are expected to participate in the Financing by purchasing an aggregate of 2,160,000 Shares. Such participation in the Financing constitutes a "related party transaction" as defined in Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("61-101"). The Financing is exempt from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of 61-101 as neither the fair market value of the securities issued to related parties nor the consideration for such securities exceed 25% of the Company's market capitalization. The Company did not file a material change report 21 days prior to closing of the Financing as the participation of insiders of the Company in the Financing had not been confirmed at that time. All securities are subject to a four-month hold period from the date of closing. The Company will use an amount equal to the gross proceeds from the sale of CFT Shares, pursuant to the provisions in the Income Tax Act (Canada), to incur eligible "Canadian exploration expenses" that qualify as "flow-through mining expenditures" as both terms are defined in the Income Tax Act (Canada) (the "Qualifying Expenditures") related to the Company's projects in the Northwest Territories, on or before December 31, 2026, and to renounce all the Qualifying Expenditures in favour of the subscribers of the CFT Shares effective December 31, 2025. Gerald Panneton, Chairman & CEO commented, "We are pleased to offer this opportunity to investors to participate in this proposed financing for a total of C$2,400,000 and thank the continued support of existing shareholders such as Eric Sprott, and Ingalls Snyder, and many others. Moreover, concurrent with this financing, the decision by Osisko Gold Royalties to early exercise its first 2% NSR, is a huge endorsement of our strategy of advancing our high-grade gold assets in the Northwest Territories towards potential production. The proceeds raised will allow us to continue our drilling program on the Con Mine Option property. The former Con Mine produced 5.1 Moz of gold at an average grade of 16 g/t and was historically one of the richest high-grade gold mines in Canada." The current drill program at the Con Mine is aimed at increasing our current Indicated and Inferred resource (MRE October 2022) near surface and south of the Con Mine, targeting the prolific Campbell Shear structure which produced 14 Moz of gold at an average grade of 16-22 g/t Au. The current drilling is targeting below the existing underground workings, where the potential exists to add significant free milling high grade ore. The Con Mine property has excellent infrastructure including the Robertson shaft, water treatment plan (2015), warehouse and offices, etc. The Con Mine closed in 2003, with approximately 650,000 ounces at 11-12 g/t Au in historic reserves and combined resources. Please refer to the October 21, 2022 technical report, titled "Initial Mineral Resource Estimate for the CMO Property, Yellowknife City Gold Project, Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada" with an effective date of September 2, 2022, by Qualified Person, Allan Armitage, Ph. D., P. Geo., SGS Geological Services, which can be found on the Company's website at https://www.goldterracorp.com and on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. *Note: The Historic Reserves and Resources quoted above are historical in nature and are not NI 43-101 compliant. They were compiled and reported by MNML during its operation and closure of the Con Mine (2003). The historical estimates are historical in nature and should not be relied upon, however, they do give indications of mineralization on the property. The Qualified Person has not done sufficient work to classify them as current Mineral Resources or Mineral Reserves and Gold Terra is not treating the historical estimates as current Mineral Resources or Mineral Reserves. The technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Joseph Campbell, a Qualified Person as defined in National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects and Senior Technical Advisor for the Company. About Gold Terra The Yellowknife Project (YP) encompasses 918 sq. km of contiguous land immediately north, south and east of the City of Yellowknife in the Northwest Territories. Through a series of acquisitions, Gold Terra controls one of the six major high-grade gold camps in Canada. Being within 10 kilometres of the City of Yellowknife, the YP is close to vital infrastructure, including all-season roads, air transportation, service providers, hydro-electric power, and skilled tradespeople. Gold Terra is currently focusing its drilling on the prolific Campbell Shear, where approximately 14 Moz of gold has been produced, (refer to Gold Terra Oct 21, 2022, Technical Report) and most recently on the Con Mine Option (CMO) property claims immediately south of the past producing Con Mine which produced 6.1 Moz between the Con, Rycon, and Campbell shear structures (1938-2003). The YP and CMO properties lie on the prolific Yellowknife greenstone belt, covering nearly 70 kilometres of strike length along the main mineralized shear system that hosts the former-producing high-grade Con and Giant gold mines. The Company's exploration programs have successfully identified significant zones of gold mineralization and multiple targets that remain to be tested which reinforces the Company's objective of re-establishing Yellowknife as one of the premier gold mining districts in Canada. Visit our website at www.goldterracorp.com. For more information, please contact: Gerald Panneton, Chairman & CEO gpanneton@goldterracorp.com Mara Strazdins, Investor Relations Phone: 1-778-897-1590 | 604-689-1749 ext 102 strazdins@goldterracorp.com Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information Certain statements made and information contained in this news release constitute "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities legislation ("forward-looking information"). Generally, this forward-looking information can, but not always, be identified by use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events, conditions or results "will", "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved" or the negative connotations thereof. All statements other than statements of historical fact may be forward-looking information. Forward-looking information is necessarily based on estimates and assumptions that are inherently subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. In particular, this news release contains forward-looking information regarding the expected closing date of the Offering and use of proceeds from the Offering, including allowing the Company to continue its drilling program on the Con Mine Option property, the endorsement of the Company's assets by Osisko Gold Royalties and the Company's objective of re-establishing Yellowknife as one of the premier gold mining districts in Canada. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as the Company's actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in this forward-looking information as a result of the factors discussed in the "Risk Factors" section in the Company's most recent MD&A and annual information form available under the Company's profile at www.sedarplus.ca. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that would cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. The forward-looking information contained in this news release is based on information available to the Company as of the date of this news release. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. All of the forward-looking information contained in this news release is qualified by these cautionary statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information due to the inherent uncertainty thereof. Except as required under applicable securities legislation and regulations applicable to the Company, the Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update this forward-looking information. Information Concerning Estimates of Mineral Resources Mineral Resources that are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. Therefore, investors are cautioned not to assume that all or any part of an Inferred Mineral Resource could ever be mined economically. It cannot be assumed that all or any part of "Measured Mineral Resources," "Indicated Mineral Resources," or "Inferred Mineral Resources" will ever be upgraded to a higher category. The Mineral Resource estimates contained herein may be subject to legal, political, environmental or other risks that could materially affect the potential development of such mineral resources. Refer to the Technical Report, once filed, for more information with respect to the key assumptions, parameters, methods and risks of determination associated with the foregoing. SOURCE: Gold Terra Resource Corp Dynacor Group Inc. (TSX: DNG) ("Dynacor" or the "Corporation"), is pleased to announce that it has executed a conditional letter of offer and indicative terms ("The Offer") with Pelorus Minerals Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Arkham Metals Limited Australia, to acquire 100% of the shares of Arkham Metals SAS (Ecuador) ("The Assets") for a purchase price of $9.75 million. All amounts are in US dollars unless otherwise specified. The Offer is subject to a due diligence review and final approval from Dynacor's Board of Directors. Background The Assets consist of a permitted carbon-in-pulp processing plant, situated on a 36.5-hectare land concession in Portovelo, El Oro in southern Ecuador and with permitting for up to 1,500 tpd. Starting over a year ago, the Corporation has carried out multiple visits, an in-house technical evaluation and mandated an external audit by an engineering consultancy firm. Dynacor believes that The Assets offer significant potential to enhance its global operational capacity and support its strategic plan goal of producing 500,000 AuEq ounces and $1 billion in sales by 2030. Dynacor estimates refurbishing costs of between $6 to $8 million to bring the plant into operation and an initial $8 million in ore inventory for plant start-up. The Corporation expects initial production from a 300-350 tpd processing plant as of 12 months from closing of the transaction. In sum, Dynacor estimates $25 million in total project costs over the coming 12 months, comprising capex, plant refurbishing and working capital investment. The Corporation recently closed a $22.1 million financing (CA$31.6 million), with proceeds to be used for business opportunities in other jurisdictions and working capital. Highlights of The Offer Purchase price of $9.75 million is less any dollar value of net liability included in The Assets' financial statements and is conditional on Dynacor's full satisfaction with respect to legal, environmental, technical, financial and fiscal due diligence and to final approval from the Dynacor Board of Directors. Purchase assets include the non-operating processing plant and all assets and necessary permits to pursue operation of the plant under the following settlement conditions: A non-refundable $0.15 million exclusivity payment to be completed upon execution of the letter. A balance cash payment of $9.45 million will be due at the final settlement date following the closing of the proposed transaction. An amount of $0.15 million will be withheld by the purchaser at the final settlement date following the closing and for a period of 60 days to cover any additional liabilities or unforeseen expenses discovered in the due diligence process. The purchase price is not conditional on any financing. About Dynacor Dynacor Group is an industrial ore processing company dedicated to producing gold sourced from artisanal miners. Since its establishment in 1996, Dynacor has pioneered a responsible mineral supply chain with stringent traceability and audit standards for the fast-growing artisanal mining industry. By focusing on fully and part-formalized miners, the Canadian company offers a win-win approach for governments and miners globally. Dynacor operates the Veta Dorada plant and owns a gold exploration property in Peru. The company plans to expand to West Africa and within Latin America. The premium paid by luxury jewellers for Dynacor's PX Impact gold goes to Fidamar Foundation, an NGO that mainly invests in health and education projects for artisanal mining communities in Peru. Visit www.dynacor.com for more information. Forward-Looking Information Certain statements in the preceding may constitute forward-looking statements, which involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements of Dynacor, or industry results, to be materially different from any future result, performance or achievement expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These statements reflect management's current expectations regarding future events and operating performance as of the date of this news release. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250331888060/en/ Contact For more information, please contact: Ruth Hanna Director, Investor Relations T: 514-393-9000 #236 E: investors@dynacor.com Website: http://www.dynacor.com Vancouver, March 31, 2025 - Leopard Lake Gold Corp. (CSE:LP) commends the efforts of U.S. authorities to accelerate domestic production of critical minerals, including tungsten, to strengthen the country's economic and industrial security. This initiative, which includes measures to fast-track project approvals and establish a secure supply chain, aligns perfectly with Leopard Lake Gold Corp's strategic vision and represents a major opportunity for the North American mining industry. Leopard Lake Gold Corp owns the historic St-Robert Metals mines, located just 30 km from the U.S. border. With an estimated resource of 1.2 million tonnes of tungsten grading 0.59%, 129,000 tonnes at 0.6%, 110,000 tonnes at 0.15%, and 147,000 tonnes at 0.128%, this project is a key asset in ensuring a reliable North American supply of critical minerals. Tungsten is classified as a critical mineral due to its strategic applications in defense, aerospace, and high-performance manufacturing industries. As both the Canadian and U.S. governments seek to strengthen their critical metal supply chains, Leopard Lake Gold Corp is well positioned to become a key player in North American tungsten production. The St-Robert Metals mines benefit from a strategic location and significant redevelopment potential, offering a unique opportunity to contribute to the global effort to secure essential mineral resources. About Leopard Lake Gold Corp. Leopard Lake Gold Corp. is a Canadian exploration company focused on acquiring and developing high-potential critical mineral projects in Quebec. The company is committed to supporting the growing demand for essential minerals required for green energy, technology, and strategic industries. Leopard Lake Gold Corp's flagship project, the St-Robert de Bellarmin project, consists of 251 contiguous mining claims in the Appalachian geological belt of Quebec, Canada. Through a structured option agreement, the company holds the right to acquire a 100% interest (subject to a 2% royalty) in the St-Robert tungsten mine project, a former underground tungsten mine located south of Saint-Georges-de-Beauce, just 30 km from the U.S. border. For Leopard Lake Gold Corp. Daniel Belanger President & CEO For more information, please contact: Daniel Belanger President & CEO (418) 933-3443 Forward-Looking Statements: This press release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian and U.S. securities laws. Forward-looking statements include forecasts, projections, and expectations and are often, but not always, identified by the use of terms such as "seek," "anticipate," "believe," "plan," "estimate," "expect," "potential," "target," "schedule," "budget," and "intend," as well as variations of such words and phrases or statements that an event or result "may," "could," "should," or "might" occur, including their negative forms. All statements other than those relating to historical facts included in this press release, including, but not limited to, statements regarding the exercise of incentive stock options, are forward-looking statements that involve various risks and uncertainties. There is no assurance that such statements will prove accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Forward-looking statements are based on a number of material factors and assumptions. Key factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations include actual exploration results, changes in project parameters as plans evolve, future resource estimate results, future metal prices, availability of capital and financing on acceptable terms, general economic, market, or business conditions, uninsured risks, regulatory changes, title defects, availability of personnel, materials, and equipment on a timely basis, equipment failures or breakdowns, delays in obtaining governmental approvals, unexpected environmental impacts on operations and associated costs to remedy them, and other exploration or operational risks, as detailed in this press release and in the company's regulatory filings. While the company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events, or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, other factors may also cause material differences, including, but not limited to, risks related to epidemics or pandemics. There is no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove accurate, and readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such statements. Copyright (c) 2025 TheNewswire - All rights reserved. Kelowna, March 31, 2025 - Corcel Exploration Inc. (CSE: CRCL) (the "Company" or "Corcel") announces that it has closed its previously announced non-brokered private placement (the "Offering") issuing 9,560,000 units (the "Units") at a price of $0.15 per Unit for gross proceeds of CAD$1,434,000.00. Each Unit consists of one common share of the Company (each, a "Share") and one common share purchase warrant (each, a "Warrant"). Each Warrant will entitle the holder thereof to acquire one additional Share (each, a "Warrant Share") at a price of $0.30 per Warrant Share for a period of 24 months, subject to an acceleration clause. If the ten-day weighted average closing price of the Shares as quoted on the Canadian Securities Exchange (the "CSE") is equal to or greater than $0.40, then the Company may, at its option, accelerate the expiry date of the Warrant by issuing a press release (a "Warrant Acceleration Press Release") announcing that the expiry date of the Warrants will be deemed to be on the 30th day following the issuance of the Warrant Acceleration Press Release (the "Accelerated Expiry Date"). All Warrants that remain unexercised following the Accelerated Expiry Date will immediately expire and all rights of holders of such Warrants will be terminated without any compensation to such holder. The Company intends to use the net proceeds of the Offering for exploration at its projects and for working capital purposes. In connection with the Offering, the Company paid the finders fees of $27,418.50 cash and issued 182,790 finders warrants of the Company (the "Finders Warrants"). Each Finders Warrant entitles the finder to purchase one Common Share at a price of $0.30 per Common Share until March 28, 2027. All securities issued in connection with the Offering will be subject to a statutory hold period expiring July 29, 2025. Insiders of the Company participated in the Offering subscribing for in aggregate 164,234 Units, or gross proceeds of $24,635.10. The participation of insiders in the Offering constitutes a "related party transaction" within the meaning of Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). The Company completed the Offering in reliance on exemptions available under MI 61-101 from the formal valuation and minority approval requirements of MI 61-101. Specifically, the Offering is exempt from the formal valuation requirement in Section 5.4 of MI 61-101 in reliance on Section 5.5(b) of MI 61-101 as the Company is not listed on a specified market within the meaning of MI 61-101. Additionally, the Offering is exempt from the minority approval requirement in Section 5.6 of MI 61-101 in reliance on Section 5.7(1)(a) of MI 61-101 insofar as neither the fair market value of the subject matter of, nor the fair market value of the consideration for, the Offering insofar as it involves "interested parties" exceeds 25% of the Company's market capitalization. The Company did not file a material change report more than 21 days before the expected closing date of the Offering as the details of the Offering and the participation therein by each "related party" of the Company were not settled until shortly prior to closing, and the Company wished to close the Offering on an expedited basis for sound business reasons. The securities described herein have not been, and will not be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), or any state securities laws, and accordingly, may not be offered or sold within the United States except in compliance with the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities requirements or pursuant to exemptions therefrom. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation to buy any securities in any jurisdiction About Corcel Exploration Inc. Corcel Exploration is a mineral resource company engaged in the acquisition and exploration of precious and base metals properties throughout North America. The Company has entered a long-term lease agreement to acquire the Yuma King Copper-Gold project in Arizona, which spans a district-scale land position of 3,200 hectares comprising 515 unpatented federal mining claims in the Ellsworth Mining District; including the past-producing Yuma Mine which saw underground production of copper, lead, gold and silver between 1940 and 1963. The Company also holds an option to acquire a 100% undivided right, title, and interest in and to the Peak gold exploration project and holds a 100% interest in the Willow copper project. For more information, please visit our website at https://corcelexploration.com/. Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Information This news release contains "forwardlooking information" and "forward-looking statements" under applicable Canadian and U.S. securities laws (collectively, "forwardlooking statements"). These statements relate to future events or the Company's future performance, business prospects or opportunities that are based on forecasts of future results, estimates of amounts not yet determinable and assumptions of management made in light of management's experience and perception of historical trends. Assumptions may prove to be incorrect and actual results and future events may differ materially from those anticipated. Any statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives or future events or performance (often, but not always, using words or phrases such as "seek", "anticipate", "plan", "continue", "estimate", "expect", "may", "will", "project", "predict", "forecast", "potential", "target", "intend", "could", "might", "should", "believe" and similar expressions) are not statements of historical fact and may be "forwardlooking statements". Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to materially differ from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including but not limited to: material adverse changes, unexpected changes in laws, rules or regulations, or their enforcement by applicable authorities; the failure of parties to contracts with the company to perform as agreed; social or labour unrest; changes in commodity prices; and the failure of exploration programs or studies to deliver anticipated results or results that would justify and support continued exploration, studies, development or operations. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. The Company believes that the expectations reflected in these forwardlooking statements are reasonable, but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forwardlooking statements included herein should not be unduly relied upon. These statements speak only as of the date hereof. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable laws. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/246761 Russell-Verstappen lineup wouldn't work says Albers Despite his highly impressive current form, George Russell could be racing for his career at Mercedes. Max Verstappen, George Russell Red Bull It is notable that, while 18-year-old rookie Kimi Antonelli is clearly on a long-term deal under Toto Wolff's wing, established star Russell's contract is up for renewal. Team boss Wolff appears to be grappling to handle the situation - hailing Russell as within the top three talents in Formula 1 today, whilst carefully not ruling out snapping up Max Verstappen for 2026. Russell, 27, is also capturing attention and ruffling feathers off the track, describing McLaren's current advantage as even bigger than Red Bull's in the recent past. Right, Lando Norris replied in the Telegraph. "I thought he was a bit smarter than that, but clearly not. George thinks he can play a lot of games but I don't fall for any of them. Until this year, Russell has been in Lewis Hamilton's shadow at Mercedes, but he is now earning the plaudits of the pundits. I don't think Russell is very cool, but he is doing really well, former F1 driver Christijan Albers told De Telegraaf. "He is reasonably consistent, and in qualifying he is always there. He is still Mr Saturday. In China he was really good again, he added. De Telegraaf journalist Erik van Haren, however, wonders: "What is Mercedes going to do with him? "If they were so convinced about him, and think he is a superstar, they would have extended his contract a long time ago. If you look at the other teams, you see that their top drivers are tied up for the long term. I have the feeling that Wolff will wait a few more races to see what happens next door at Red Bull. It could very well be that Verstappen becomes available after all, and Wolff doesn't want to miss that chance. It is rumoured that Wolff actually offered Verstappen an eye-watering 100 million euros per year to switch to Mercedes over the winter - which was turned down. If it doesn't work out again, van Haren says, he will of course extend Russell's contract. But if he can get Verstappen, and that is a realistic scenario, then I think Toto will want to do that. And I don't think Toto will want to lose Antonelli after one year. Another issue for Russell, Albers argues, is that he does not get along at all with quadruple world champion Verstappen. That wouldn't work out, he said. "You can tell that Toto is already busy with Zak Brown to poke around everywhere. He also uses Zak for certain statements. They are at least busy making life difficult for Christian Horner. So if Mercedes heads into 2026 with a Verstappen-Antonelli lineup, van Haren predicts: Then Russell can go to Red Bull. (GMM) Tsunoda says Red Bull handling right fit for him Dr Helmut Marko admits Max Verstappen opposed the "unanimous" decision of Red Bull team management to oust Liam Lawson after just two races of 2025. Yuki Tsunoda, Chinese GP 2025 Red Bull Last week, as Lawson's demise and return to Racing Bulls became official, the quadruple world champion 'liked' an Instagram post that likened the move to bullying . Marko confirmed Verstappen's disagreement in conversation with formel1.de, admitting the Dutchman does not think swapping out Lawson with Yuki Tsunoda will change anything about the 2025 car's problems. That is correct, and that is how Max expressed it, he said. The Austrian also told De Telegraaf newspaper: "Max argued that the car is very difficult to drive and that if it was better, Lawson's performance would also improve. We are of course working on development, but it is not yet possible to say how fast that will go. Interestingly, even Lando Norris is complaining about the difficult handling of his field-leading McLaren, raising suspicions that it is a hallmark of the work of Rob Marshall. I think there is clearly a connection there, Marko said. "The upward trend at McLaren started immediately after he left us to go there. That our DNA is in that car is very likely. Interestingly, at a Honda event in Tokyo over the weekend, Tsunoda admitted that after spending about two days with the RB21 in the simulator since the decision was taken, he is dreaming of a home podium finish at Suzuka this weekend. I realised that the RB21 is not that difficult to drive, although my car setup will probably be different from Max's, said the Japanese. I didn't have any particularly strange feelings, at least on the simulator. Marko admits that Tsunoda's better feeling at the wheel of the 2025 Red Bull compared to Lawson could indicate a change of team strategy. We are considering using a different setup for the second car, he said, so that it is less aggressive and easier to handle. Tsunoda commented: I think my idea of what kind of car I want is different from Max's. I want to understand Red Bull's car first and then build a good car for myself. When the 24-year-old tested Red Bull's 2024 car late last year, Tsunoda explained that it suited his driving style. Well, that was a bit of a sales pitch, Tsunoda laughed, but I was able to drive normally then too, so I think it's the right fit for me. (GMM) Next article: No single artiste can take Ghana to the top, we need collaboration Edem NFA's leadership holds key talks with Kwaw Ansah on film industrys future Graphic Showbiz Showbiz News Mar - 31 - 2025 , 14:23 2 minutes read The leadership of the National Film Authority (NFA) paid a courtesy visit to Ghanas legendary filmmaker, Kwaw Ansah, to discuss the future of the industry and draw insights from his wealth of experience. Kwaw Ansah, a celebrated pioneer in Ghana's film industry, welcomed the delegation and shared his thoughts on the power of the audiovisual media in shaping the socio-cultural and economic transformation of the country. He emphasized the crucial role that film plays in preserving Ghanas heritage, influencing societal values, and driving national development. The Executive Secretary of the NFA, Kafui Danku-Pitcher, reiterated the significance of this engagement and highlighted the need for a collaborative approach to leadership. She stressed that learning from industry legends like Kwaw Ansah is essential to the Authoritys strategic agenda and underscored the NFAs commitment to positioning Ghanas film industry for growth, global competitiveness, and sustainability. The Deputy Executive Secretary, James Gardiner, expressed deep appreciation for the opportunity to interact with Mr. Ansah. He stated that transformation through the audiovisual media starts from home and emphasized the need to be intentional about inculcating and projecting the Ghanaian language in content. Gardiner acknowledged the immense contributions Mr. Ansah has made to the industry and the importance of preserving the legacy of Ghanaian film pioneers while fostering an environment that nurtures emerging talents. This visit marks the beginning of a broader consultative approach by the NFA to strengthen collaborations, harness institutional knowledge, and ensure that the Ghanaian film industry continues to evolve while staying true to its rich cultural heritage. Other key industry veterans such as King Ampaw, Rev. Chris Hesse, and Prof. Abequaye are also expected to be part of this ongoing dialogue. More pictures: No single artiste can take Ghana to the top, we need collaboration Edem Graphic Showbiz Showbiz News Mar - 31 - 2025 , 13:11 2 minutes read Ghanaian artiste Edem has noted the importance of collaboration among musicians, stating that no single artiste can elevate Ghana's global standing alone. Speaking on the need for teamwork on Daybreak Hitz recently, Edem stressed that collaboration is essential for Ghana's music success so there was the need for them to encourage one another and support each other, particularly in a competitive global era. "Artistes like Burna Boy, Wizkid, Davido, Rema, and Ayra Starr have contributed to Nigeria's success in the music industry. And so if one man thinks that I can be the only one to take Ghana, that would not work. So it has to be, we support each other, we collaborate, we push everybody, he noted. Edem explained why he made a surprise visit to Stonebwoy's concert in Boston, noting that the venue was only a four-hour drive from where he was, making it an opportunity he couldn't miss. "So I was in the US for the Grammy weekend. Gambo and I performed at the Grammy pre-party. Then I flew back to Ghana in January and was supposed to return to the US in February. When I saw Stonebwoy's tour dates, I congratulated him and decided to attend one of his shows. I informed my team and US handler, and we drove to the venue. Stonebwoy was thrilled to see me, and we spoke at his hotel," Edem said. Prof. Lade Wosornus The Casebook of Dr. O. P. Asem launched to mark World Theatre Day 2025 Graphic Showbiz Showbiz News Mar - 31 - 2025 , 16:40 3 minutes read On Thursday, March 27, was World Theatre and in celebration of the day was the unveiling of a literary work of renowned playwright, Professor Lade Wosornu at the Ghana Academy of Arts Sciences in Accra. The event which was organised by the Pan African Writers, Ghana Association of Writers and the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences with support from the Creative Arts Agency, was a healthy environment to review Prof. Wosornus collection of short plays The Casebook of Dr. O. P. Asem. The collection first published in 1981 (Sedco) and reprinted in 2024 (by Adwinsa Publications Ghana Ltd) uses the power of literature (drama) to address relevant and sensitive health/social topics ranging from reproductive health issues to addiction. The event, dubbed The Unveiling and Review of Dr. O.P. Asem hosted dramatic reading from the book, panels review, conversation with Professor Lade Wosornu and unveiling of the book of focus. Panelists were Dr. Wale Okediran (Secretary General, Pan African Writers Association; Melody Esiawonam Boateng (National Professional Officer, Natural Sciences Sector, UNESCO Office in Accra); Adjoa Yenyi (Programme Specialist, Adolescent & Youth, UNFPA); and Linda Ampah (Author, Pieces of the Portrait). In a presentation, Mr. Carl Ampah, the National Programme Officer (culture) at UNESCO Ghana, who represented the Country Representative of UNESCO, Edmond Moukala said, This event, coinciding with World Theatre Day, not only pays tribute to an exceptional literary figure but also recognizes the transformative power of storytelling and literary writing in shaping societies, preserving cultural heritage, and fostering sustainable development. According to him, Professor Lade Wosornu exemplifies the harmonious integration of science and the arts. As a distinguished surgeon, poet, essayist, and educator, his career embodies the principles of STEAM education (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics), demonstrating the innovative potential that emerges when diverse disciplines intersect. He added that Prof Wosornus collection of dramatic works, interspersed with his ability to weave intellect with creativity, leaves an indelible mark on generations of readers and thinkers. His literary works, much like his medical practice, delve into the complexities of human experience, ethics, and justice, bridging analytical rigor with profound emotional and philosophical insights. His rich poetry, including classics such as Desert Rivers, enriches both Ghanaian and global literature, offering reflections on identity, morality, and the human condition. According to the Executive Secretary of Creative Art Agency of Ghana, Mr Gideon Aryeequaye, pledged his outfits commitment to the development, support and promotion of the Ghanaian creative space. We are particularly aware that the core mandate to preserve and promote our indigenous cultural values is a critical responsibility of art, obviously the playwright not exempted: as he or she as a creative god, is able to create a world with fiction to tell a story. It is in this light, that in commemorating the 2025 World Theatre Day, we are happy to be part of this all-important event, Unveiling of The Casebook of Dr. O.P.Asem, to celebrate one of Ghanas greatest legends who has defied the myth to prove that art is science and science is art this emphasized in an ode to African poets Dear Wind by one of Ghanas young poets that I am Lade Wosornuthe gate between the arts and sciences!, he stated. The event was graced by hundreds of participants including prominent personalities such as Hon. Hackman Owusu Agyemang, Professor Wellington, Dr. Mensah, Mr. Oppong Amponsah (CEO of Adwinsa Pubblications), Rex Marfo aka Rex Omar, Presidential Staffer of Black Star Experience and Mr. Wakefield Wisdom Ackuaku, the Ag. Executive Director of National Commission on Culture (NCC). Some of the participants were students from Korle Bu Nursing and Midwifery Training College; English Department of the University of Ghana; Presbyterian Boys Secondary School; Accra Girls SHS; Holy Trinity Cathedral and some selected basic schools. Rot, the rotten Kobina Ansah Life Mar - 30 - 2025 , 23:34 5 minutes read Within the last decade, my team and I have committed ourselves to the vision of impacting society through storytelling. We have tackled very sensitive issues from LGBT to corruption. Our stories are intentionally written to mirror life and contemporary society as a whole, and we have been consistent with our mission of transforming society one play at a time. One would assume that it has been a jolly ride on this journey. Presumably, as long as our purpose benefits society at large, it should be a decade of no hurdles at all. We should have had little or no resistance. On the contrary, it is not so. For example, many brands would want to have nothing to do with fighting a social canker. Rot could be abused. It could be misappropriation. Any action or inaction that causes harm directly or indirectly to others is a rot. Throughout this decade, one lesson I have learnt with ease is that fighting rot in society is a very hard thing to do. Besides, the smell of every rot is what others live on. Any attempt to clean such rot means trampling on many toes. Rot exists because it fills other peoples pockets. Have you ever wondered if Africa would ever have enough wealth to share with the rest of the world? That would only be possible if we were willing to clean the rot of greed. Wars, for example, may have caused so much wreck to society. However, not everybody wants these wars to end. Even though they may have caused the death of many, they are the reason some people live. Look at poverty in Africa. Some of our leaders are not interested in kicking this canker out. They may promise to do so whenever they want power. They soon forget all those promises when they assume office because, without poverty, they cannot siphon more money into their pockets. Some foreign donors, on the other hand, wish we would always be poor because that is what makes them relevant. Without our vulnerability, they have no power. Life will allow everyone to stop some rot. When that opportunity comes, be bold to stand with the truth and not with the majority. Be bold to defend what is right, even if what is wrong is the trend. The rot in our nation is what is to be blamed for our brokenness. Our systems will continue to be broken if we are not intentional about being fighters of the rot we see around us. They may call you names, but in their closets, they will reflect and understand why they cannot win alone with their selfishness. People may despise you, but they will trust your honesty. They will live forever to remember that you were the difference. There will always be rot in our politics, churches, judiciary and everywhere. This is why the world needs you and me to fight rot with everything we have. When you see men and women promoting rape, for instance, life has presented an opportunity to fight rot. You may not know the victim today but the victim tomorrow may be somebody you know. It is hard to fight rot. However, it is even harder when rot is not fought. That rot soon consumes everybody. Everybody soon becomes a victim. Like a spark, it soon becomes a wildfire that consumes an entire nation. It is a dangerous thing to fight corruption. When peoples illegal livelihood is threatened, they will do anything to bury the fighter of the rot. They will go to any length to ensure that the rot is not cleaned, even if it means badmouthing the fighter. Anyone who dares to make society a better place should know that they have put their lives on the line. It is inclusive in the package of their vision. They must be ready to die for what is right. No matter the burden of wrong that is laid on them, they must not bow. Anyone who wants to fight rot should gear themselves up to square off with the rotten. Fighting rot comes at a cost because wherever there is rot, there are rotten people. They are beneficiaries of that plague of corruption. One needs a tough skin to fight rot of any kind because the rot benefits will fight back. When you fight rot, the rotten will fight you. They will protect their interests their selfish interests. However, we should always be reminded that any interest that is not in the interest of the masses should be of no interest to anybody. Dont be silent about any wrong you observe. The silent ones are as guilty as the perpetrator. In this life, you are either part of the rot, or you are not. If you are not, you should be fighting it wherever life places you in your school, workplace, etc. You cannot sit on the fence! Our world is what it is today because righteous people yesterday made a firm decision not to be on the side of the rotten. Despite the abundance of wrong, some people swore never to stain their clothes. It may have cost them so much, but the joy of seeing a prosperous posterity was enough of a reward. Today, it is our turn. We were the posterity of yesterday. Will the posterity of tomorrow count us as being part of the righteous or the rotten? I invite you to come see my new original musical play, THE SAINT IN THE DEVILS SHOES. It is an experience of a lifetime. The writer is a playwright and Chief Scribe of Scribe Communications (www.scribecommltd.com). His new play, THE SAINT IN THE DEVILS SHOES, is a one-cast original musical play slated for the National Theatre on April 18 and 19, 2025. For further inquiries, kindly call 0546098082. Next article: President Mahama calls for national unity and inclusive development at Eid-ul-Fitr celebration President Mahama pledges tough action on illegal structures, reckless driving during Eid Gertrude Ankah Mar - 31 - 2025 , 13:04 2 minutes read President John Dramani Mahama has vowed to crack down on illegal structures obstructing water channels, blaming the practice for recurrent flooding and widespread destruction of property. Speaking at Eid-ul-Fitr prayers on Monday, March 31, Mahama warned that all unauthorised structures built in waterways would be demolished, with offenders facing legal action. We cannot allow a few selfish individuals to endanger the lives and livelihoods of countless others. The law will be enforced, he declared. He expressed deep concern over reports of private businesses colluding with some chiefs to develop water retention areas, calling the practice reckless and a severe threat to public safety. With the rainy season approaching, Mahama called for urgent, collective action to mitigate preventable disasters. Crackdown on reckless driving Mahama also addressed concerns over road safety during the Eid celebrations, warning against reckless driving and motorbike riding, which have previously resulted in tragic accidents. No one must die as a result of reckless celebration. I have asked the police to be on high alert, and anyone caught endangering lives will be arrested, he stated. He urged young people to celebrate responsibly, stressing that the joy of the occasion should not be overshadowed by preventable loss of life. Empowering Muslim communities Mahama commended Ghanas Muslim communities for their contributions to national development, particularly in education, business, and governance. However, he stressed the need for further investment to ensure balanced progress. We must invest in quality education for our children, improve healthcare facilities, and create opportunities that will help our youth achieve their full potential, he noted. Encouraging Muslim youth to prioritise education, he added, Islam teaches us that seeking knowledge is a lifelong duty for every Muslim. Social responsibility Underscoring the role of charity in Islam, Mahama urged Ghanaians to extend kindness to orphans, widows, and the elderly. He called on Muslims to continue their acts of generosity beyond Ramadan, describing charity as both an Islamic and national responsibility. True wealth is not measured by how much we accumulate, but by how much we give to help those in need. Let us reach out to those who are struggling, he said. Reaffirming his commitment to national development, Mahama assured Ghanaians that his leadership would prioritise education, healthcare, job creation, and infrastructure. He praised the introduction of an additional public holiday to accommodate all Muslim denominations during Eid prayers, noting its success in fostering inclusivity. My promises are not just words. They represent a solemn commitment to enhance the lives of every Ghanaian, irrespective of background or faith, he stated. President Mahama urges compassion, education, and unity during Eid-ul-Fitr celebration GraphicOnline Mar - 31 - 2025 , 13:27 4 minutes read President John Dramani Mahama has called on Ghanaians to extend kindness and support to the vulnerable as Muslims across the country mark Eid-ul-Fitr. Speaking at a national celebration organised by the National Chief Imam at the Black Star Square in Accra, the President emphasised the importance of compassion, unity, and social responsibility. As we mark the end of Ramadan, let us not forget the vulnerable in our communities. This is a time for reflection, kindness, and support. We must look out for those who are struggling and extend a helping hand, President Mahama stated. He urged all Ghanaians, particularly Muslims, to use the occasion as an opportunity to demonstrate generosity by assisting those affected by poverty, illness, and hardship. Stressing the significance of community leadership, he called on religious and community heads to set an example in fostering a culture of care. The true essence of this celebration lies in our ability to uplift one another. Let us use this occasion to strengthen the bonds of brotherhood and ensure that no one is left behind, he added. Education as a tool for empowerment In his address, President Mahama also underscored the transformative power of education, particularly among Muslim youth. He encouraged them to embrace learning as a pathway to personal and national development. Education remains the most powerful tool for change, and I want to encourage our Muslim youth to embrace it fully. Education is our opportunity for social mobility. Islam itself teaches us that seeking knowledge is a lifelong duty for every Muslim, he said. Commending the contributions of Muslim communities to the countrys progress, he acknowledged their impact on education, healthcare, business, and governance. Our Muslim communities have made remarkable contributions to Ghanas development, and I would like to take this opportunity to commend you for your efforts. From education and healthcare to business and governance, the impact of our Muslim brothers and sisters is evident everywhere, he noted. The President also called for equitable development in Zongo communities, highlighting the need for investments in education, healthcare, and job creation to ensure balanced progress. Our Zongo communities remain centres of entrepreneurship, trade, and cultural enrichment. However, we must do more to ensure that development in our Muslim communities is balanced and catches up with the rest of our country, he urged. Call for responsible celebrations President Mahama issued a stern warning against reckless motorcycle riding and driving during the Eid-ul-Fitr festivities, emphasising the dangers such behaviour poses to lives. Ramadan is a period of togetherness, not recklessness, he stated, urging young people to celebrate responsibly and avoid endangering themselves and others. To curb the menace, he directed law enforcement agencies to be vigilant and take action against offenders. In past times, we have seen the needless loss of lives as a result of reckless riding of motorbikes and driving, which is mostly associated with the Ramadan celebration. I urge our brothers who engage in this to stop, he cautioned. Reaffirming his stance, he added, I have asked the police to deal with you if you flout this, and you will be arrested. Call for national unity Reiterating his vision for national unity, President Mahama stressed that Ghanas progress hinges on collective efforts rather than divisions. He urged religious leaders, community elders, and the youth to embrace peace, tolerance, and mutual respect in the quest for a prosperous nation. I urge all Ghanaians, especially our religious leaders, community elders, and the youth, to keep fostering peace and understanding amongst us, he said. Let us reject division, let us reject hatred, and let us reject intolerance. The Ghana we desire can only be built through collaboration and mutual respect, he added. The President reaffirmed the importance of an inclusive approach to national development, ensuring that all communities, including those in the northern regions and Zongo settlements, receive equal opportunities for growth. We must ensure that the development in our Muslim communities is balanced and catches up with the rest of the country, he urged. As the country joins the Muslim community in celebrating Eid-ul-Fitr, President Mahamas message resonated as a call for generosity, responsibility, and national unity, reinforcing the values of peace, education, and inclusivity for a brighter Ghana. Next article: We can't keep driving luxury cars while widows continue to suffer - McDan President Mahama calls for national unity and inclusive development at Eid-ul-Fitr celebration Jemima Okang Addae Mar - 31 - 2025 , 13:00 2 minutes read President John Dramani Mahama has emphasised that Ghanas future prosperity will be determined by the unity of its people, not by divisions. Speaking at the Eid-ul-Fitr event in Accra on Monday, he urged all Ghanaians, particularly religious leaders, community elders, and the youth, to embrace peace, understanding, and mutual respect to build a prosperous nation. I urge all Ghanaians, especially our religious leaders, community elders, and the youth, to keep fostering peace and understanding amongst us. Let us reject division, let us reject hatred, and let us reject intolerance. The Ghana we desire can only be built through collaboration and mutual respect, he stated. President Mahama acknowledged the Muslim communitys significant contributions to national development, highlighting their impact in sectors such as education, healthcare, business, and governance. Our Muslim communities have made significant contributions to our development, and I must commend them for this, he said. From education and healthcare to business and governance, the influence of our Muslim brothers and sisters is evident throughout the country. He also emphasised the vital role of Muslim communities, particularly in the northern regions, in driving entrepreneurship and enriching Ghanas cultural heritage. Our Zongo communities remain centres for entrepreneurship and cultural enrichment, he added. However, the President stressed the need for greater efforts to ensure that development in Muslim-majority areas keeps pace with the rest of the country. We must ensure that the development in our Muslim communities is balanced and catches up with the rest of the country, he urged, advocating for an inclusive approach to national progress. President Mahama encouraged all Ghanaians to work together in building a prosperous, united, and forward-thinking nation. Apple has been diversifying its iPhone assembly in the last few years in order to reduce its reliance on China as the main manufacturing hub. India is one of the main beneficiaries of this move, and a new report from The Economic Times suggests that Foxconn is planning to double down on its iPhone assembly in the country. The report suggests Foxconn will assemble 25-30 million iPhones in India by the end of this year. Based on estimates provided by an unspecified source, Foxconn assembled around 12 million iPhones in India last year, meaning that the 2025 figures would more than double production. The key for Foxconn is its brand-new facility in Bengaluru, which when finished, would be the second-largest iPhone assembly plant in the contract manufacturer's portfolio. The new report suggests that Foxconn has already set up trial iPhone production runs over the last few months. Both Apple and Foxconn have declined to comment on this development. Source (paywall) These are the best offers from our affiliate partners. We may get a commission from qualifying sales. Senators on Monday voted to pass a $5.7 million bailout for the cash-strapped University of Guam, a ban on sunscreens and other products harmful to coral reefs, and a $100,000 payout to families of law enforcement and public safety officers killed in the line of duty. The first Republican-led Guam Legislature in 16 years passed a total of nine bills during its first regular session. Also passed were bills to fine government officials who fail to submit financial records on time, allow construction and rental of accessory dwelling units, and to ease restrictions on GovGuam agencies for leasing out land. Lawmakers also voted to confirm Gov. Lou Leon Guerreros three nominees for the CHamoru Land Trust Commission, which has been without a quorum since January. However, Sen. Will Parkinsons Resolution 7-38, which would urge the U.S. government to build air raid shelters and other emergency response infrastructure for the island, was rejected in a vote by senators. UOG will get $5.75 million to keep running through the end of the fiscal year, if Sen. Vince Borjas Bill 58-38 is signed into law. Senators passed the measure by a vote of 14-1, with Sen. Telo Taitague dissenting. Bill 58-38 would give UOG about $5.7 million from excess taxes and fees collected by GovGuam so far in fiscal year 2025. Most of the money, about $4.7 million, will go towards staff salaries, according to testimony from UOG President Anita Borja Enriquez. But the measure comes with strings attachedfor a year after the money goes through, UOG will have to justify any tuition increases to senators, based on conditions set in an amendment from Sen. Chris Barnett. Sunscreen ban Senators unanimously passed Vice Speaker Tony Adas Bill 35-38, which would ban the import of products like sunscreens that contain chemicals oxybenzone, octinoxate, or octocrylene, known to be harmful to marine and coral life. Violations of the ban would be punishable by fines of between $100 and $5,000. Testimony submitted for the bill suggests that most, if not all, sunscreen available on Guam contain the chemicals. Sunscreens that dont contain harmful chemicals, like mineral-based products, wont be covered if the ban is enacted. Also passed unanimously was Sen. Shawn Gumataotaos Bill 10-38, which seeks to bump up the government-paid life insurance benefit for law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty, from $10,000 to $100,000. Chief of Police Stephen Ignacio, at a February public hearing, supported the bill, noting that it would extend coverage to officers doing law enforcement duty, regardless of whether the officer was on duty or off duty at the time of his or her death. $250 fine Agency heads could get slapped with a $250 a month fine for failing to turn in financial or program information on time to the Office of Public Accountability, if Sen. Telo Taitagues Bill 14-38 is enacted. It passed with unanimous support, enough to overcome any veto from the governor, who previously vetoed similar legislation from Taitague. Passing with some controversy was Sen. Chris Duenas Bill 57-38, which would allow families to have a standalone unit as an extension to their home, and even rent it out. The measure is meant to encourage construction of more housing, amid the local shortage, but drew concern from Sen. Sabina Perez and others about increased housing density over the northern aquifer, and potential groundwater contamination. Duenass Bill 57-38 passed by a vote of 11-4. Sens. Borja, Shelly Calvo, Duenas, Gumataotao, Jesse Lujan, Tina Muna Barnes, Parkinson, Sabrina Salas Matanane, Joe San Agustin, Vice Speaker Ada and Speaker Frank Blas Jr. voted for the bill. Sens. Barnett, Perez, Taitague and Therese Terlaje voted against the bill. 15-year lease Finally, GovGuam will be able to lease its property out for up to 15 years without approval from lawmakers if San Agustins Bill 8-38 becomes law. The measure would extend the current five-year limit on leases that arent OKd by senators. But the measure would also remove any requirement for lawmakers to approve leases past the 15-year mark, only requiring approval from the governor. Bill 8-38 passed with a vote of 10-5. Sens. Borja, Calvo, Duenas, Gumataotao, Lujan, Barnes, Parkinson, Salas Matanane, San Agustin, and the vice speaker voted to pass the bill. Sens. Barnett, Perez, Taitague, Terlaje, and the speaker voted against it. Other bills passed include: Bill 25-38, to allow publishing of government notices on digital media platforms. Bill 34-38, which would forfeit reemployment rights for GovGuam employees who quit instead of consenting to a drug test. Bill 46-38, allowing the Guam Council of Arts and Humanities to grant eight master awards for the years 2018 and 2022. Chief Kepuha stands tall in the village of Hagatna once more, with the unveiling of a new statue of the ancient CHamoru chief and the restoration of a huge sinahi necklace on Monday morning. The unveiling came on the very last day of Mes CHamoruand nearly two years after Typhoon Mawar snapped the old Kepuha statue off at the ankles. After a ceremonial ribbon cutting for the restored park, Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero and Lt. Joshua Tenorio pulled the cover off of the new statue, which has sat under a sheet since being welded in place earlier this month. The governor and lieutenant governor then climbed into a mechanical lift with master carver Greg Pangelinan to restore Kepuhas sinahi, which is a half-moon necklace made of hima clam, and a symbol of CHamoru heritage. Though the statue itself is a replacement, the sinahi is the same one worn by the old Kepuha, according to Department of Parks and Recreation Director Angel Sablan. After Mawar toppled the old statue in May 2023, the Guam Police Department recovered its necklace, he said. Im glad that we put the sinahi up again, and we have a new statue, said master carver Pangelinan, who created the necklace. If they dont return that Im gonna make another one regardless. I promised that to myself, he told the Pacific Daily News. Chief Kepuhas place in history Chief Kepuha was the first CHamoru to be baptized in the Catholic faith. Guam Museum curator Michael Lujan Bevacqua shared some history about Kepuha, just before the sheet was pulled off on Monday morning. Some point to Magalahi Kepuha today looking back and say atan este sellout, hes like a sellout, he sold out his people at that time, but the truth is so much more complicated, Bevacqua said. Bevacqua shared some of the known history of Kepuha, who had to navigate a new religion and, and sometimes the threat of violence, when Spanish explorers first came to Guam. He was not somebody who stayed quiet. He made his choice. He chose a new religion. He chose to convert his family. He chose to support that religion. It did not mean, though, that he stayed quiet. He was still willing to stand up for what he believed in, Bevacqua said. The governor shared her own opinion on the ancient chief. I really believe the chief was a good negotiator. He saw the opportunity. He saw these people from outside bringing lots of gifts, and he said, how can I make my people benefit from that? Leon Guerrero said. She added that the situation was not so different now, with CHamorus still working to negotiate influence and resources from outside to aid the island. Thats our CHamoru insight. Thats the CHamoru people. We are smart, we are very strategic. We may be quiet, but we are strong, resilient, she said. Were here after 4,000 years. We were almost annihilated as a race. We were separated from our Marianas brothers and sisters. But what do we do? We continue. In many ways, Chief Kepuha is a symbol of us and our mission to thrive, said the lieutenant governor, who chairs the Islandwide Beautification Task Force that had helped push for the restoration of the statue. Tenorio noted that the original Kepuha statue and the park surrounding it was a little controversial, costing $200,000 when former Governor Ricardo Ricky Bordallo commissioned it in 1977. That original statue was made by renowned Filipino sculptor Anastasio Caedo, Tenorio added. Though early estimates for the cost of the restoration project were as high as $400,000, GovGuam did not go out to procure for the replacement, according to Adelup spokesperson Krystal Paco-San Agustin. The statue and its installation were a joint donation from various organizations recognized at the Monday unveiling. Tenorio on Monday said the local business community had come together to get the project off the ground, with notable lift from Bob Salas, owner of Landscape Management Systems. The following private organizations and businesses received certificates of recognition from the office of the governor for their support to replacing the statue: Guam Chamber of Commerce Guam Hotel and Restaurant Association Sen. Sabrina Salas Matanane, who worked for LMS prior to getting elected into office Guam Contractors Association Guam Tourism Trades Association Chinese Chamber of Commerce Sister companies Landscape Management Systems, Pacific Federal Management, Proferre Inc., and The Pit LLC Guam Marine Services Inc. Smithbridge Guam Master carver Greg Pangelinan Also recognized were: Sen. Vince Borja on Friday said the Guam Department of Education has already fronted about $11 million to keep the ball rolling on federally-funded school refurbishments following Trump White House policy changes, while Del. James Moylan said it will take some time to get an exemption for Guam. Guam education officials wrote the U.S. Department of Education on March 20 for an exemption to new requirements that federal American Rescue Plan funds cant be drawn down from USDOE until local money is put up. A $125 million refurbishment of 12 public schools is GDOEs biggest ARP-funded project. Contractor Core Tech International has already started refurbishment work. Borja, chairman of the education committee, said at a legislative session on Friday that GDOE has identified local money to front the cost. They have submitted $11 million, theyve got $2 million back within the last 10 days, Borja said. As of Friday, there was no request for the Legislature to support GDOEs contracts with more funding, according to Borja. The senator previously introduced a bill to put up $30 million for GDOE, though a request for an emergency session on the bill was backpedaled earlier this month. The invoices have been submitted as theyve come in to USDOE, Borja said Friday. Department of Administration Director Ed Birn, also present Friday, said there were a whole lot of payments involved, possibly around $51 million, but more details from GDOE were pending on his end. Guam Education Board Chairman Angel Sablan last week said Education Superintendent Erik Swanson was in Washington, D.C. to meet with the USDOE secretary. Meanwhile, Moylan on Thursday said he remains working on an exception to the new requirements for Guam. Weve already been working on that with the U.S. Department of Education, Moylan told the Pacific Daily News. Its going to take some time, but were following up to make sure. Asking Guam to put an upfront of all that kind of money, it doesnt work. We dont have the economy to do that. So this is important for the education of the children, said Moylan, who sits on the House Education and Workforce Committee. Swanson, in his letter to USDOE earlier this month, said the inability to draw federal funds in a timely manner means essential projects such as structural repairs and upgrades to ensure health and safety compliance are at risk of being delayed or abandoned. ARP funds allotted to GDOE must be spent by Dec. 31, 2026, or else they expire. Its coming closer, yes, but we still have some breathing, slight breathing room, but were going to make sure that it does happen on time, Moylan said on Thursday. He stressed that the money was already here, and he was set to ensure federal officials would leave it alone. Moylan also commented on Trumps March 20 executive order, which aims to shut down USDOE. The delegate said funding for the local school district will continue, despite the closure, which will still require approval from Congress. What President Trump is doing is handing it down to states and territories. I think as long as we have the objective on what we want to doand, of course, we have our governor, we have our Legislaturethe money still comes, we can spend it in the correct way, Moylan said. Im saying, weve got to be prepared to do it. Were given the power to do it. What better way? Moylan said. Besides uncertainty at GDOE, University of Guam President Anita Borja Enriquez on Friday said the dismantling of the USDOE would impact the handling of student loans and federal Pell Grants for college students. Enriquez said student loans may be shifted to the U.S. Small Business Administration, while Pell Grants could be handed back to the states and territories. A six-session workshop series focused on embracing aging and cooking healthy meals will be returning to the University of Guam in April. Back by popular demand for its third iteration, the series combines the curriculum of the Nihi ta Fanmamatinas (Lets Cook) and the Keys to Embracing Healthy Aging programs taught by UOG Cooperative Extension and Outreach. The classes will take place from 4 to 7 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays from April 15 to May 1 on the UOG campus. Led by family and consumer science extension associates Clarissa Barcinas and Elaine De Leon and human services specialist Tim de La Cruz, PhD, each class will cover a cooking topic and a topic on healthy aging according to the following schedule: Tuesday, April 15 Cooking theme: Lets Chesa! Wellness topic: Positive attitude and eating smart Thursday, April 17 Cooking theme: Lets Bake! Wellness topic: Physical activity and brain activity Tuesday, April 22 Cooking theme: Lets Make Soup and Salad! Wellness topic: Social activity and tuning into the times Thursday, April 24 Cooking theme: Lets Cook on a Budget Wellness topic: Practice being safe and know your health numbers Tuesday, April 29 Cooking theme: Lets Cook Breakfast! Wellness topic: Stress management and financial affairs Thursday, May 1 Cooking theme: Lets Cook Local! Wellness topic: Sleep and taking time for you Each session has a registration fee of $10, which covers workshop materials and food samples. Participants are encouraged to sign up for all six sessions. To register, visit https://url.uog.edu/nihi-apr25 or contact Jane Mendiola or Clarissa Barcinas at (671) 735-2020/41 or email csnbarcinas@triton.uog.edu Follow UOG Cooperative Extension and Outreach on Facebook and Instagram to stay posted on upcoming workshops, or subscribe to the email list at www.uog.edu/extension/#Subscribe. The Guam Police Department's Dededo Precinct Command hosted a March 28 meet-and-greet with about a dozen youths, aged 12-14, from the Gifu Prefecture of Japan. Sgt. II Christopher Dawson of the Dededo Precinct Command said the field trip was intended for the youth to learn about police precincts. This is the third visit from a group of youths from Japan this year, and a previous visit to the Dededo Precinct Command was made by a high school class that had a curriculum focused on law enforcement. The educational visits are aimed at helping students to decide what career paths they want to take by the time they graduate from high school, GPD said. We want the tour and the discussions with the officers to create a positive outlook on law enforcement for these students. We want these youths to know that joining the police force is a viable career path, Dawson said. The name of the visiting group is Kagamihara Kokusaikyouryokukai and their visit was sponsored by the Japanese government, according to GPD. GPD, in a release, said the students were excited to sit inside a police vehicle, tour the Dededo Precinct, and look at the equipment that police use in the course of their duty. They were also able to engage in a Q&A session with police officers. The Guam Community College campus will be closed from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. today. That's because GCC will be holding its Spring 2025 College Assembly to provide professional development training for all faculty, staff and administrators. GCC, in a release, said postsecondary classes will resume as scheduled beginning at 4 p.m. The Guam Department of Labor will host the 2025 Guam Apprenticeship Forum on April 29 at Hyatt Regency Guam Grand Ballroom. This one-day, free event is open to businesses interested in saving money through tax credits offered by the Guam Registered Apprenticeship Program, GRAP, while developing a skilled workforce, GDOL said in a release. GRAP is a workforce development program that helps businesses train employees through structured, on-the-job learning and classroom instruction. Participating employers are entitled to tax credits against their gross receipts tax liability equal to 50% of the eligible training costs paid or incurred by the business. The Guam Apprenticeship Forum will feature expert panel discussions, industry insights, and everything one needs to know about Registered Apprenticeship programs, including GRAP. Attendees will also hear from actual GRAP employers about how the program has helped their businesses and how it can benefit others looking to build a stronger workforce. Participants will gain valuable knowledge on how apprenticeships can provide hands-on training opportunities and financial incentives. Our goal is to bridge the gap between employers and job seekers by promoting apprenticeships as a key pathway to workforce development, Guam Labor Director David DellIsola said. Whenever I speak to GRAP employers, they are amazed that this program isnt more widely used. DellIsola said this forum will provide businesses with the tools they need to build a strong, skilled team while maximizing available tax credits. Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero said her administration continues to invest in long-term solutions that strengthen Guams economy and create opportunity for its people. Apprenticeship programs are a win-winthey help businesses grow and give our people a direct path to quality careers. I encourage employers across all industries to take advantage of this forum and be part of building Guams skilled workforce, she said. Attendees can expect engaging discussions with industry leaders, networking opportunities, and firsthand information on how to start or participate in an apprenticeship program. Whether an employer is looking to establish an apprenticeship pipeline or seeking cost-saving strategies for workforce development, this forum will provide essential resources. Guam Labors Workforce Programs and Services are funded in part by U.S. Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration grants, as well as non-federal funded grants. For event details and registration, visit dol.guam.gov/gaf. Space is limited to two registrants per business and will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis. The Le Soleal, operated by luxury French cruise line Ponant, arrived on Guam Monday morning with 136 cruise ship passengers and 159 crew members. Its the third cruise ship to visit Guam this year. The Le Soleal docked at the Port of Guam at 7:39 a.m. and was scheduled to depart at 5 p.m. The vessel arrived from Yap. The arrival of Le Soleal highlights the growing appeal of Guam as a premier destination in the cruise industry, Port Authority of Guam General Manager Rory J. Respicio said in a statement. Each cruise call not only contributes to our local economy but also gives us the opportunity to showcase Guams unique culture and warm hospitality to international visitors. Respicio also commends dedicated Port employees, whose hard work and coordination make it possible to safely convert our busy container yard into a secure terminal for every cruise ship arrival. The arrival of the Le Soleal reflects Guams growing momentum in the regional cruise industry following record-breaking sea arrivals in 2024, the Port said. It said it remains committed to supporting the tourism industry and ensuring smooth, efficient operations for visiting passenger vessels. Currently, four additional cruise ships are scheduled to arrive on Guam this year: Melanie Mendiola has bid her goodbye as administrator of the Guam Economic Development Authority for the last six years, while GEDA board chair David John and vice chair Ernesto Jun V. Espaldon Jr. announced during Thursdays board meeting that theyd also be stepping down. Mendiola marked her final day with GEDA during Thursdays board meeting. John said he would step down in April, citing evolving priorities and family commitments. Hes served on the board for 14 years. Espaldon said he will be departing GEDA in the coming months due also to increased professional commitments. At the board meeting, officials said financial challenges remain a primary concern for GEDA, citing the potential loss of tax-exempt status for municipal bonds, which could have severe implications for Guams debt management. If it does, this could be a really bad thing, John warned, adding that taxable bonds could increase the cost of debt by 200 basis points. Despite this, the board remains cautiously optimistic that the situation can be managed. An immediate concern is the risk of a technical default on GEDAs current hotel occupancy bond. If we dont get this bond audit done correctly within a very short window, we are going to have a technical default, John cautioned. While the situation doesnt involve material default, it poses a risk to GEDAs standing in the market, he said. Thank you Mel GEDA board members and others took turns thanking Mendiola for her leadership. Mel, thank you for your hard work over the last six years. I think the team will miss you much. No tears, only happiness, John said. Mendiolas departure follows key developments at GEDA, including the reactivation of the real property abatement for Don Don Donki, which had previously stalled. During the board meeting, members thanked Sen. Telo Taitague for moving things along. Taitague, who joined the meeting via Zoom, also thanked Mendiola and her team at GEDA. Mel, thank you so much for being such a great administrator and CEO for so many years, and appreciate all your hard work. I know youre not far away. Youre just a phone call away, so we get to still pick your brain. I hope so, the senator added. During the meeting, the board also reviewed four recent requests for capital through the City Program, focusing on tourism, revitalization, and technology. We look forward to seeing these projects evaluated in the next coming months or two, John said. In the past month, GEDA attended FoodX Tokyo, where buyers from across Asia participated. It also hosted its fourth annual virtual Taking the Lead conference, attended by nearly 100 individuals eager to learn about exporting from Guam to markets like Japan. GEDA also completed Round 7 of the Qualifying Certificate Community Grant Program. Leadership changes at GEDA also come amid expectations that Mendiola will lead GEDAs efforts in building the new Guam Memorial Hospital in Mangilao. Despite Mendiolas departure and the continued absence of a designated successor, the governor earlier expressed confidence that the hospital project would continue under new leadership. Mendiola reflects on her time at GEDA In her emotional farewell, Mendiola reflected on the accomplishments of her tenure at GEDA. I was incredibly grateful that Governor Leon Guerrero had the foresight to set aside money from CARES for the very first pandemic Assistance Grant Program, she said. That initial $20 million allocation led to over $100 million in distribution to support the local economy. Mendiola shared her pride in the medical campus project, which has encountered opposition but is now advancing with utility work from the Guam Power Authority and the Guam Waterworks Authority. It has brought me a great deal of joy to see both GPA and GWA are now engaging in the utility work for the site, she said. She also spoke about GEDAs bond management efforts, which have saved the people of Guam over $100 million in bond payments and secured an upgrade to Guams overall credit rating. Ive been saying for the last six years, and other direct assistance programs, especially our venture capital arm, Mendiola said, acknowledging GEDAs role in supporting the local economy. Mendiola expressed gratitude for her colleagues. Id like to thank all the team members who burned the midnight oil during the grant programs, who worked weekends to process approvals, who showed up at the mall to do outreach, and who sat next to me when dealing with difficult situations at the Legislature, she said. As she wrapped up her remarks, Mendiola looked ahead. Im taking the leap to try to make a dent in this world again, she said. The finances of the people of Guam are just that...a big old mess and a burning house. She pledged to tackle these challenges in the next phase of her career. Ill be around if you need me or have any questions, she assured the board. Thank you to everyone, to the board, to you, Mr. Chair, Mr. Vice Chair, and to the rest of the board members, to Governor Leon Guerrero, Lieutenant Governor Tenorio, who have supported me professionally, but beyond this personally in the last six years. As the meeting ended, Mendiola received a standing ovation from board members, and the outgoing GEDA administrator could no longer hold back her tears. This is very, very touching on behalf of me, and, of course, my girls and Ray, its been a pleasure with all of you, and I cant believeI mean, I always tell you guys, dont do this. If I dont go, dont you go get me one of those resolutions. Those are terrible, she joked. I always tell them, I say, if I die on the job, dont let them give me a posthumous resolution, because they probably drove me to my death. More leadership changes John, in announcing his departure from GEDA this April, said the evolving priorities and team development of the new leadership require a new chairperson with capacity for full commitment. I wish to express my profound appreciation to all who shared this journey with me. My sincere gratitude extends to the dedicated management and all you guys, my esteemed board members with me and the ones before me. Its been a good ride, 14 years, he said. He thanked the governor and the lieutenant governor for their support throughout his tenure. For the trust they placed in me to serve during this role in their administration. Im confident that he will be in good hands with her leadership, he said. So lets move on. Mendiola also delivered a lighthearted farewell to John. I dont think the general public expected you to say that youd be stepping down as chair, but hearing about all your commitments over the years, I know that Im actually kind of surprised you didnt do it sooner, Mendiola said. Espaldon, meanwhile, said there have been additional professional commitments that have been going on and some additional focus he needs to work on. Having said that, I mentioned it right now because I plan to be around and available for the meetings that I can make, so that I can work with whoever steps into the position that Im in, he said. Espaldon has served on the GEDA board for over a decade, he said. Ive been very proud and thankful to work with the people that I have truly seen work very hard and care for our community very much, he added. CHalan Deskubre Hub officially opened on Friday, providing Guam an interactive science learning center designed to ignite curiosity and foster a love for STEM or science, technology, engineering, and mathematics among the youth. The hub is located at the University of Guams Dean Circle, above the post office at the UOG campus. It brings the colorful and engaging pages of the place-based childrens magazine, CHalan Deskubre, to life. The UOG Center for Island Sustainability and Sea Grants official launching of CHalan Deskubre Hub on March 28 was met with enthusiasm from community members eager to explore the hubs exhibits. This hub is more than just a science center; its a gateway to understanding our islands unique ecosystem, said UOG CIS and SG Director Austin Shelton, PhD. We wanted to create a space where children can explore, discover, and connect with the science that surrounds them every day. The CHalan Deskubre Hub aims to provide a hands-on, immersive learning experience, inspired by place-based material with the natural wonders and environmental challenges specific to Guam. Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero, at the opening, said Guam needed new and innovative ideas to bring education to the students of today, and acknowledged the UOG CIS and SG for finding methods that continue to attract new participants and for thinking outside the box. The hub features a variety of interactive exhibits designed to engage young learners. Visitors can explore displays highlighting Guams diverse native and local plants, learn about the life cycle and conservation of sea turtles, and delve into the intricate world of coral reefs. Interactive displays illustrate the importance of healthy watersheds and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, emphasizing the interconnectedness of environmental and human well-being. One of the most popular features of the hub is the microscope station, where children can examine specimens up close and discover the microscopic world around them. This hands-on experience allows them to witness the intricate details of nature and encourages a deeper understanding of scientific observation. CHalan Deskubre has always been about making science accessible and engaging for our children, UOG CIS and SG associate director for communications and community engagement Kyle Mandapat said. This hub takes that mission to the next level, providing a dynamic space for learning and discovery complete with awesome visuals from our science communications team and amazing research from our partners at the UOG Marine Laboratory, Guam NSF EPSCoR and here at the UOG CIS & SG including our GROW, Natural Resources, Fisheries and Turtle teams. The CHalan Deskubre Hub is open to school groups and the general public on a reservation basis, offering guided tours and educational programs designed to complement classroom learning. UOG said it hopes the hub will serve as a valuable resource for educators and families, inspiring the next generation of scientists, environmental stewards, and community leaders. The university invites everyone to visit the CHalan Deskubre Hub and embark on a journey of scientific discovery, fostering a deeper appreciation for the unique natural heritage of Guam. To schedule a tour, email Gabby Topasna, outreach coordinator, at topasnag15513@triton.uog.edu. Pay-Less Community Foundation's Circle of Care will feature FHP medical oncologist Dr. Samir Ambrale and Sen. Chris Barnett during its in-person Saturday morning cancer support groups in April. From 9:30 to 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 5, FHPs Ambrale will join the support group for a questions and conversations corner, an opportunity for cancer patients, survivors, and family members to talk informally with a medical oncologist about cancer and cancer treatment. The following Saturday, April 19, also from 9:30 to 11 a.m., Barnett will join the support group for another questions and conversations corner, also a great opportunity for cancer patients, survivors, and family members to talk informally with one of Guam's senators about government support and funding for cancer care. Cancer patients and survivors living on Guam and members of their support team, including family and friends, are invited to participate in the Circle of Care program, which provides cancer support and psycho-oncology services to the Guam community. Pay-Less Community Foundation established the Circle of Care program through a grant from the Guam Cancer Trust Fund. All services are provided free of charge. Online cancer support group Circle of Cares weekly online cancer support group is held every Tuesday evening at 6 to 8 p.m. on Zoom. The group is facilitated by community educator Marie Benito, licensed clinical psychologist Dr. Iain Twaddle, and clinical psychology associate Camarin Meno, PhD. In the first half of each group session, guest speakers will give presentations on cancer support services available in Guam. The online support group Zoom link: Zoom Meeting ID: 893 8497 7616; Passcode: 590035. April sessions April 1 - Guest speaker: Dr. Edwin Supit, MD, FHP April 8 - Guest speaker: Dr. Mo-Ping Tham, DO, FHP April 15 - Guest speaker: Angelina Mummert, Ella Macatugal and Lauren Villanueva, research associates, University of Guam Cancer Research Center April 22 - Guest speaker: Dr. John Reinier Narvaez, MD, general and trauma surgeon, Guam Regional Medical City April 29 - Guest speaker: Former Sen. Dennis Rodriguez and Lena Rodriguez, co-founders, Todu Guam Foundation In-person cancer support group Circle of Cares in-person cancer support group is held every first and third Saturday, from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Pay-Less Corporate Office, HR Training Room (Building B), 116 W Chalan Santo Papa in Hagatna, across from Calvos Insurance. The group is facilitated by Twaddle and Benito, as well as cancer care specialists from the community. A nutritional light lunch and snacks will be provided. April 5, from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Support group Twaddle, Benito and Ambrale Restorative yoga Linda Frank, yoga for cancer certified instructor Art for healing Arlene Diaz, PhD April 19, from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Support group Twaddle, Benito and Barnett Restorative yoga Linda Frank Oncology nutrition Tanisha Aflague, PhD Field trip to Buddhist temple Circle of Care will be holding a tour of Guams Buddhist temple, plus meditation and mindfulness classes for cancer patients, survivors, and caregivers by the Venerable Miao Du on April 12, from 10 a.m. to noon. Activities will include meditation classes for beginners, tea meditation and a calligraphy class. Individual counseling Cancer patients and members of their support team can meet with Twaddle, Meno, or one of the associate or assistant facilitators for individualized support as they go through their cancer journey. To schedule psycho-oncology counseling or patient navigation services, contact Twaddle by emailing circleofcareguam@gmail.com. Tai chi, qi gong Circle of Care offers tai chi and qi gong for cancer patients, survivors, and caregivers with instructor Tina Cruz every Wednesday morning from 9 to 10 a.m. at Synergy Studio II (436 Marine Corps Drive, next to Dial Rent-to-Own in East Hagatna). Sessions will be held April 2, 9, 16, 23, and 30. To register for the program or for more information, contact Marie Benito at (671) 687-5723 or mariebenit@yahoo.com, or Dr. Iain Twaddle at circleofcareguam@gmail.com. In todays fast-paced political world, many people feel like hopeless romantics when it comes to their elected officials. We place our hopes and dreams in politicians, believing they will make our lives better and keep their promises. However, over time, this relationship can face some tough challenges. So, why do we keep trusting these leaders, and how can we build a healthier connection with our government? At the start of an election, there is often a feeling of excitement and hope. People want change, progress, and a brighter future. This is known as the honeymoon period, where voters are filled with optimism. A study by the Pew Research Center shows that voters usually have positive feelings toward newly elected officials, especially right after the election (Pew Research Center, 2020). But these hopes can fade quickly as reality hits. Once in office, politicians may face difficulties in keeping their promises because of things like political gridlock, tight budgets, and different interests competing for attention. When these issues arise, the relationship between the public and the government can start to weaken. As time goes on, people might begin to feel like their leaders arent listening to them. This sense of disconnection can lead to feelings of betrayal, frustration, and even anger. When this happens, citizens often look for ways to fix the situation, hoping their leaders will address their concerns and rebuild trust. Unfortunately, this cycle can create even more problems. As the saying goes, never let a good crisis go to waste. Politicians may use crises to gain support, distract from their mistakes, or push through policies that are controversial. This can leave people feeling manipulated rather than genuinely cared for. So, when will we finally have a stable relationship with our politicians? Many people hope for a partnership with their elected officials that feels real and lasting. For that to happen, politicians need to be accountable and transparent, and citizens need to stay involved and well-informed. One way to improve this relationship is by encouraging open communication between leaders and the people they serve. Town hall meetings, community forums, and social media can provide spaces for citizens to express their concerns and for politicians to respond. Educating the public about political processes and getting them more involved can also help people hold their leaders accountable. There are several things we can do to improve this relationship. First, we should stay informed about political issues that matter to us and keep track of what our representatives are doing. The more we know, the better choices we can make when voting. Second, we can engage with our representatives by attending town halls, writing letters, or using social media to share our thoughts. Third, we should demand transparency from the government, pushing for open meetings and clear communication from elected officials. Lastly, we can participate in the political process beyond voting by volunteering for campaigns and supporting community efforts that align with our values. The relationship between the public and politicians often feels like a rollercoaster, full of ups and downs, hopes and disappointments. However, by understanding the situation and taking an active role in politics, we can work toward a more lasting and meaningful connection with our government. In the end, we all deserve a political relationship that feels trustworthy and fulfilling. In a world where many people feel disillusioned by politics, its important to remember that change is possible. By encouraging open communication and holding leaders accountable, we can turn our hopes into a reality that works for everyone. Haiti - FLASH : Weapons and ammunition in abundance for gangs... The United Nations imposed an arms and ammunition embargo on Haiti on October 21, 2022, targeting individuals and entities that engage in or support criminal activities. However, the gangs terrorizing Haiti are ignoring this embargo and have no shortage of weapons or ammunition. Experts estimate that approximately twenty well-armed groups operate in Port-au-Prince, some of which are equipped with AR-15 assault rifles, AK-47s, Galil rifles, UZI submachine guns, shotguns, Glock pistols, and a very small number of 50mm Barrett rifles. A recently widely circulated video shows a shirtless Joseph Wilson, alias "Lanmo San Jou," leader of the "400 Mawozo" gang, whose head is subject to a $1 million price from the United States. https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-38106-haiti-usa-infos-of-joseph-wilson-alias-lanmo-sanjou-how-to-submit-your-information.html displaying .50 caliber ammunition that can penetrate any armor not rated at least III or IV 90% of the weapons and ammunition destined for the Caribbean between 2016 and 2023 were purchased by individuals posing as legitimate customers who repeatedly purchase weapons on behalf of others (an illegal practice). "That's where it can be stopped," says Jonathan Lowy, founder of Global Action on Gun Violence. "It's very difficult to stop them once the weapons are in the hands of the trafficker. They can be taken apart and put in a cereal or juice box..." Most of these weapons come from South Florida, including the ports of Miami and Fort Lauderdale (a major cruise and cargo port). These weapons and ammunition are then smuggled to Haiti, among other destinations, by sea, cleverly concealed among the goods, as traffickers become more inventive, according to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). Gangs also acquire weapons from the Haitian National Police (PNH) following looting or assaults, or by purchasing weapons from corrupt police officers on the black market. Over the past four years, the UN estimates that approximately 1,000 PNH weapons have passed into the hands of bandits. Critics say the measures taken in the United States to regulate the sale of firearms to phantom buyers are insufficient. SL/ HaitiLibre Haiti - Haitian-Colombian Cooperation : Signing of a MoU on the environment and climate Friday, March 28, 2025. Jean Pierre Moise Fils, Minister of the Environment, signed a bilateral Memorandum of Understanding for environmental and climate protection with the Colombian Head of Mission to Haiti, Ms. Vilma Velasquez, representing the Colombian Minister of the Environment, Susana Muhamad. This ceremony took place under the auspices of Ketleen Florestal, Minister of Planning and External Cooperation, with the participation of diplomatic representatives from Chile and Mexico in Haiti. "As Minister of Planning and External Cooperation, I welcome the close ties of cooperation that are developing in various fields on the basis of the Joint Declaration of Their Excellencies, the Presidents of Colombia and Haiti Gustavo Petro and Leslie Voltaire https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-44129-haiti-jacmel-joint-declaration-of-the-axes-of-cooperation-between-haiti-and-colombia.html . Signed in Jacmel in January 2025, this protocol is part of the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations 2030 Agenda," said Florestal. In his speech, Minister Jean Pierre explained, "With this cooperation framework, we aim, above all, to integrate the Environment Sector into the fight against violence, emphasizing the importance of environmental issues, natural resources, and climate change in the construction of a Peace Agenda," adding, "By deciding, by mutual agreement, to address Haitis extreme environmental vulnerability from the perspective of deforestation, the erosion of biodiversity, waste management and pollution control, the critical lack of access for all to affordable, sustainable and modern energy, as well as water insecurity, we are looking ahead to a number of Sustainable Development Goals outlined in the 2030 Agenda of the United Nations." For her part, Ms. Vilma Velasquez emphasized that the main benefits of this agreement between Haiti and Colombia include "ecological restoration and regeneration of vegetation cover in the Port-de-Paix River watershed; unconventional sources of renewable energy in the Artibonite department ; the circular economy and strengthening of electronic and household waste value chains in Jacmel and Ile-a-Vache; integrated water management in the binational Massacre River watershed and the promotion of hydro-diplomacy for peace; marine protected areas, the interconnection of protected areas, and the conservation of ecosystems and species of interest; damage assessment and analysis of continental post-disaster environmental needs." The memorandum also includes, among other things, exchanges of researchers and experts, data, information, knowledge, best practices, experiences, and technologies, as well as the search for technical and financial partners who can collaborate in mobilizing resources and technical expertise, in accordance with the practices and clauses of the cooperation. HL/ HaitiLibre Haiti - News : Zapping... Negotiations to recover the body of the Kenyan police officer Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja broke his silence regarding the case of Kenyan police officer Benedict Kabiru, reported by the Mission as "missing," stating that the search was still ongoing. He assured that information would be shared with the public once the officer was found. The family of the slain officer stated that the Kenyan government had not yet informed them, only stating that he was missing. Breaking News : Negotiations have reportedly been opened with the gang believed to be holding the body of the Kenyan police officer killed in combat, in order to recover it https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-44563-icihaiti-insecurity-a-second-kenyan-killed-in-the-fight-for-peace-in-haiti.html Violence must no longer be the norm Violence must no longer be the norm. Restoring peace by rebuilding social cohesion through dialogue in communities like Tabarre is a priority. With the support of local authorities and groups, and thanks to the United Nations Peacebuilding Program, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) is actively working to reduce community violence. The survival of 30,000 people depends on aid Every month, more than 30,000 people depend on access to clean water, sanitation, and hygiene services to survive in displacement sites and communities in Haiti. Providing vital support to families fleeing the United Nations CERF, IOM can continue to assist the most vulnerable. Recruitment of Nursing Graduates The Ministry of Public Health announces the recruitment and appointment of the 70 national graduates of the state nursing exams (2023-2024 exams) for obtaining a license to practice. This decision aims to integrate the best trained talents in the field into the public health network, in order to ensure quality care for the population. The graduates concerned are invited to follow the guidelines of the Nursing Directorate (DSI) in monitoring this process. Thus, the Ministry values academic and professional excellence as a fundamental pillar in strengthening our health system. Nationalist March, Haitians Spared With flags in hand and placards with messages rejecting Haitian immigrants, the march of several hundred nationalists from the Old Dominican Order fulfilled its mission and marched 1 km in the community of Friusa (permitted route). However, hooded ultra-nationalist elements attempted to march towards the community of "Mata Mosquito," the area with the largest Haitian presence, an area excluded from the march authorization, forcing law enforcement to disperse these radical elements with tear gas and water cannons. Several protesters were arrested. No injuries were reported. Note that the police security detail, with more than 1,000 men, outnumbered the protesters. Arrest : Prison Escapee Arrested by the Southeast Police Actively wanted by the police, Brutus Simson, an escapee from the National Penitentiary, was arrested on the night of March 26-27, 2025, in the communal section of Fond Jean-Noel, in the commune of Marigot. Brutus Simson had been imprisoned for murder, illegal possession of a firearm, and criminal conspiracy. According to police information, Brutus Simson was preparing to establish a gang in the Fond Jean-Noel community. HL/ HaitiLibre New privacy nightmare for users of dating apps: Several iOS apps distributed via the Apple Store, which are aimed at the LGBTQ+ community and lovers of sugar dating and BDSM, have leaked highly sensitive content on a large scale. A total of almost 1.5 million private user photos from the BDSM People, Chica, Translove, Pink and Brish apps have been compromised, reports the research team from the Lithuanian portal Cybernews. These included explicit images that users had sent to each other in private messages. This exposes those affected, who are dependent on increased protection of their privacy, to an increased risk of hostility, for example. Anzeige According to the report, the developer of the applications, the company M.A.D. Mobile Apps Developers, published information that should have been kept secret, such as keys for application programming interfaces (APIs), passwords or encryption keys, together with the source code of the apps. This is dangerous, as login information stored in client applications is accessible to everyone. Attackers could easily misuse them to gain access to systems. In this case, according to Cybernews, some of the leaked secrets granted access to user photos in storage buckets in the Google Cloud. These storage buckets were accessible without password protection. According to the team, the publicly accessible photos included not only those from direct messages but also profile photos, public posts, profile verification images and photos removed due to rule violations. In the BDSM People app alone, 541,000 private images are said to have been visible, including 90,000 from messages that users sent to each other. The sugar daddy app Chica is said to have leaked 133,000 images, also partly from private chats. According to the researchers, the three other LGBTQ+ dating apps with the same architecture exposed over 1.1 million images. M.A.D. has not yet responded to a request for comment. The applications have download figures in the tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands. M.A.D. is not an isolated case Malicious actors often use highly sensitive leaked content for blackmail, social engineering and attempts to damage a person's professional reputation, the authors point out. Furthermore, those affected could be exposed to an increased risk of harassment. As homosexuality is illegal in some countries, the risk of app users being persecuted is greatest there. The treacherous memory buckets do not contain any specific identity data such as user names, emails or messages. Nevertheless, malicious actors could use openly available techniques such as reverse image search with biometric facial recognition to track down people behind the photos. The researchers discovered the leak after a large-scale investigation. The team downloaded 156,000 iOS apps around 8 percent of all applications in the Apple Store. They discovered that developers often leave hard-coded login information in the source code that is accessible to everyone: 71 percent of the apps analyzed revealed "at least one secret", with the code of an average app revealing 5.2 such "secrets". Stiftung Warentest criticized the often inadequate data protection of dating apps such as Tinder, Lovoo, Parship, Lesarion and Grindr some time ago. The operator of the latter platform has been fined millions in Norway for passing on personal information to third parties for targeted advertising. (nen) Don't miss any news follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn or Mastodon. This article was originally published in German. It was translated with technical assistance and editorially reviewed before publication. The Swiss canton of Uri does not want to support the electronic patient dossier (EPD) any further at present. This was decided by the government of the small canton of Central Switzerland. The reason given by the government council for the decision is that demand for the EPR in the canton of Uri has been very low to date. Therefore, there is currently no need for active support, whereby the main issue is likely to be funding. Anzeige Many healthcare professionals and institutions are critical of the EPR in its current form, according to the Uri cantonal government. They criticize "in particular structural and functional weaknesses" of the EPD. The "strained financial situation of the canton" was another important factor in the government council's decision. No additional funds for the EPD "In view of the existing savings targets, no additional funds are to be invested in the introduction of the EPD at present," writes the cantonal government in a statement. The government of the economically weak canton now wants to wait for the upcoming revision of the Federal Act on the Electronic Patient Record (Elektronisches Patientendossier, EPDG). For years, the Swiss government and the Federal Council have also been planning a comprehensive revision of the EPDG law due to a number of technical compatibility problems and interoperability issues between the EPD players. This was originally announced for summer 2024. So far, however, only a partial revision of the EPDG with only a few changes has emerged, which came into force on October 1, 2024. Opt-out to come The bill for the complete revision, which is intended to "improve the dissemination of the EPR and make its financing more sustainable", will be submitted to Parliament this spring, according to the federal government. Among other things, the Federal Council wants to introduce the so-called opt-out system. This means that all people living in Switzerland will continue to have compulsory health insurance and will automatically receive an EPR free of charge. Anyone who does not wish to receive a dossier must object to it being opened. Anzeige In addition, it was decided to standardize the different technical infrastructures of the so-called parent communities in the future. This is to be achieved by means of a central technical platform provided by the federal government. However, a complete revision of the EPR is not scheduled to come into force until 2028 at the earliest. "The cantonal government considers it sensible to wait for developments at federal level before taking further steps at cantonal level," emphasizes the Uri government. The EPD has been on the health policy agenda of the cantons and the federal government in Switzerland since 2007. The corresponding federal law (EPDG) came into force in 2017 and legislators have been gradually introducing the EPD since the end of 2020. However, the electronic patient record has yet to be introduced across the board. At the end of February 2025, 104,407 EPRs had been opened in Switzerland. Finally, the cantonal government of Uri points out that, despite its decision, it is still possible to open an EPR. Interested parties can do so online at the Post Sanela Health AG parent company at a self-pay price of CHF 15. In other cantons, the parent communities receive up to CHF 30 per EPD opened, with the federal government and cantons sharing the funding. () Don't miss any news follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn or Mastodon. This article was originally published in German. It was translated with technical assistance and editorially reviewed before publication. We're a family of eight living in Georgia where Andrew's a professor at GSU and Nancy is a PhD student at UGA. You can read more about us here Only a third of Finlands spring high school graduates will gain a university or polytechnic place this autumn, according to education advocacy group Sivistysala ry, which is now calling for a legal change to improve access for first-time applicants. The final exams for Finlands matriculation qualification end this week, and around 26,000 new graduates are expected. Yet despite nearly 55,000 available higher education places, two-thirds of them will be left without a place this autumn. Of these, 77 percent have already applied for further studies. Competition has intensified. In the latest joint application round, 148,000 people applied to higher education institutions up 3,700 from last year. The association argues that existing graduates applying for a second equivalent degree are blocking access for those without any qualifications. Last year, around 7,000 study places were filled by people already holding a university or polytechnic degree. Finlands level of education lags behind other OECD countries. Young people are waiting years to get into university. For national resilience, we need faster access to studies, said Susanna Niinisto-Sivuranta, CEO of Sivistysala ry. The share of new graduates not entering further study has increased by 12 percentage points in the last decade. While intake has been temporarily expanded to ease application backlogs, this has often occurred without full state funding. Niinisto-Sivuranta said the current system allows repeat degrees to displace first-time students. Those already holding a degree reduce opportunities for young people. Finland aims to raise its higher education attainment to 50 percent of each age cohort. Were still below 40 percent, said Heikki Kuutti Uusitalo, Director of Policy at Sivistysala ry. Sivistysala ry is proposing that universities and polytechnics be permitted to charge tuition for second degrees at the same level. Such a change would require an amendment to current legislation. The Ministry of Education and Culture has drafted a proposal to prevent applicants from holding multiple study places at once, but Niinisto-Sivuranta said this step is insufficient. In its vision for higher education until 2040, the ministry is also examining issues around changing study fields. Niinisto-Sivuranta said this discussion must be broadened. The fear of starting studies in the wrong field and missing a better option keeps many applicants waiting, she said. Sivistysala ry proposes that adult learners changing careers should be selected through separate admissions and offered greater use of open university studies. Under current rules, completing a full degree via open studies is not possible. Removing price caps on open university courses would enable institutions to offer more content. There are already many existing ways to upskill in higher education. Additional places can be targeted to sectors with labour shortages or high social demand, as has been done before, said Niinisto-Sivuranta. HT Monday brings unstable weather, including light rain in southern and central parts of the country and mixed precipitation in Lapland. Temperatures across Finland will rise sharply early this week, with southern areas expecting highs of up to 17C on Wednesday, according to forecasts from the Finnish Meteorological Institute and broadcaster MTV. Temperatures in rainy areas will stay below 10C. If the sun breaks through clouds, the southeast could see highs of 14C. The freezing line sits near central Lapland. Tuesday will see a noticeable improvement. Most of the country will remain dry and sunny, though some cloud cover and isolated showers may appear in central regions. Conditions will be warmer than average for early spring. Wednesday is expected to be the warmest day of the week. Meteorologist Elias Paakkanen said temperatures in southern Finland could reach 17C, with highs of 1314C in Ostrobothnia and up to 10C even in Lapland. The dry and sunny weather will continue into Thursday, with similar highs in southern Finland. However, meteorologists warn of a sharp drop in temperatures starting Friday. This will be a total collapse, said Paakkanen, noting that daytime highs could fall by more than 10C nationwide. In southern Finland, the temperature may fall from 17C on Thursday to just 4C on Friday. Lapland may see sub-zero daytime temperatures again. The change will follow a shift in the direction of airflows over Finland and the wider region. Meteorologist Markus Mantykannas said the cold front will extend across much of Europe, bringing freezing nights and snowfall as far south as Greece. This is a brutal drop, Mantykannas said in an interview on Sunday. The map will turn blue across the continent. Thursday will be the last warm day before the cold weather sets in. Rain is expected in the south on Monday, helping to reduce high dust levels. Sleet and snow could return to the eastern and northern parts of Lapland on Thursday. By Saturday, daytime temperatures may stay close to freezing across the country. The coming cold spell is not unusual for early April, according to Paakkanen. Current conditions are unseasonably warm, which makes the drop feel more severe. Data from the Finnish Meteorological Institute shows that March rainfall was slightly below average, leading to early brush fire warnings in some regions. MTVs weather team confirmed that overnight frost is expected throughout the country by the weekend. In some coastal regions, snowfall could briefly cover the ground. Temperatures are expected to recover slightly around Easter, but forecasts remain uncertain. HT In addition to traditional voting sites such as town halls, libraries and shopping centres, ballots can this year be cast in venues ranging from swimming halls and fire stations to museums and theatres. Advance voting for Finlands municipal and county elections begins on 2 April, with nearly 1,000 polling stations open across the country. Ski resorts and ferry routes in the archipelago also serve as polling locations. Mobile voting buses will cover areas beyond municipal centres. Advance voting has been in use since 1972. Its popularity has increased, with 33.1% of eligible voters casting advance ballots in the 2021 municipal elections. Of those who voted, 60% did so in advance. Elderly voters remain the most active group, comprising 45.1% of all advance voters in the last municipal election. Advance voting participation varies widely between municipalities. In 2021, turnout ranged from 14.3% in Korsnas to 58.2% in Lestijarvi. This year, there are 958 advance voting stations. Helsinki has the most, with 35. In contrast, 114 municipalities have only one. The number of residents per station ranges from 26,699 in Espoo to 379 in Utsjoki. On average, there are 4,365 residents per advance voting site. Eighteen municipalities have at least ten advance voting stations, nearly all of them cities with over 50,000 residents. An exception is the island city of Parainen, with a population of just over 10,000, which has 11 polling sites, including ferry services. Advance voting is possible anywhere in Finland or abroad. Unlike on election day, voters do not need to be in their home municipality when casting an advance vote. A valid ID is required. Libraries account for 220 voting locations across 112 municipalities. Commercial sites such as shopping centres provide 165 sites in 67 municipalities. Town and city halls host 154, while schools and educational institutions provide 100. Other municipal offices and service centres account for an additional 110 sites. There are also 79 mobile polling stations in 73 municipalities. Most are voting buses, with ferry voting offered in Parainen and Kemionsaari. The highest number of mobile stations is found in Kymenlaakso and Kainuu. Lapland ranks third, followed by North Karelia and Ostrobothnia. No mobile polling services are available in Central Ostrobothnia or South Karelia. Advance voting runs from 2 to 8 April in Finland and from 2 to 5 April abroad. On election day, 13 April, voting is only permitted at the voters designated polling station, as notified by post or through the Suomi.fi service. Polling locations and opening hours are listed at www.vaalit.fi and on municipal websites. HT We Are China Another Chinese rescue team arrives in Myanmar's quake-hit Mandalay city Xinhua) 13:46, March 31, 2025 A member of the China Search and Rescue Team (L) conducts rescue work in Mandalay, Myanmar, March 30, 2025. (Xinhua/Cai Yang) YANGON, March 30 (Xinhua) -- 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. The Chinese rescue team, upon arrival, reviewed the disaster situation with the Chinese consular mission and the local government. The team immediately sent an emergency squad to carry out field survey in the area where people were buried. Seismic experts in the team also conducted a safety assessment of the damage to the buildings of the Chinese Consulate General in Mandalay. Three civilian rescue teams organized by the Ministry of Emergency Management had arrived in Myanmar ahead of Sunday's arrival of the China Search and Rescue Team. Members of the China Search and Rescue Team conduct rescue work in Mandalay, Myanmar, March 30, 2025. (Xinhua/Cai Yang) A member of the China Search and Rescue Team conducts rescue work in Mandalay, Myanmar, March 30, 2025. (Xinhua/Cai Yang) Members of the China Search and Rescue Team conduct rescue work in Mandalay, Myanmar, March 30, 2025. (Xinhua/Cai Yang) A member of the China Search and Rescue Team conducts rescue work in Mandalay, Myanmar, March 30, 2025. (Xinhua/Cai Yang) A member of the China Search and Rescue Team conducts rescue work in Mandalay, Myanmar, March 30, 2025. (Xinhua/Cai Yang) (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) City's Storm Sweep is a final push to clear Helene debris The Hendersonville City Council is launching a Storm Sweep throughout April in a final push to clear remaining debris from Hurricane Helene in the city. Related Stories May 1 is the final day to place storm debris in the right-of-way for collection within the city limits. After this deadline, crews will conduct a final sweep to complete debris collection in the municipality. We want this to be a communitywide effort to restore Hendersonville to pre-storm conditions, City Manager John Connet said. Were asking property owners, neighborhoods, HOAs, and civic groups to join us in this final cleanup push. Connet also stressed the importance of residents cleaning up storm debris away from their homes and into the right-of-way as an important way to better protect their homes from the threat of wildfires. Residents are encouraged to take this final opportunity to clear their properties of remaining storm debris and to ensure they are sorted correctly by type and placed in the right-of-way by May 1. To participate, residents should sort and place storm debris into separate piles in the right-of-way in front of their property, ensuring it doesnt block roadways, sidewalks, drainage ditches or utility infrastructure. Residents are encouraged to place final storm debris out as soon as possible to help crews efficiently track and collect remaining debris. This Storm Sweep is a key part of wrapping up debris collection from Hurricane Helene, Connet said. We are supplementing the countywide cleanup by dedicating additional resources and mutual aid assistance to make a final debris push within the city limits. Sort debris into these categories: Vegetative debris Tree limbs, logs, and branches. Construction & demolition debris (C&D) Building materials, drywall, lumber, carpet, furniture, roofing, plumbing. Storm-related household hazardous waste Paint, oil, batteries, chemicals, cleaning supplies. Storm-damaged electronics TVs, computers, DVD players, stereos, phones. Storm-damaged appliances Refrigerators, washers, dryers, air conditioners, stoves, water heaters, dishwashers. Appliance doors must be secured. Other details: Only Hurricane Helene-related storm debris will be collected. Do not bag storm debris leave it loose for collection. Keep piles at least 5 feet away from hydrants, utility poles, meter boxes, sewer clean-outs, mailboxes, garbage carts or structures. Keep piles at least 5 feet away from hydrants, utility poles, meter boxes, sewer clean-outs, mailboxes, garbage carts or structures. Avoid placing debris directly under trees, power lines, or in areas that may obstruct collection vehicles. Storm debris should be placed in the right-of-way within ten feet of the roadside. Do not place debris where it could wash into waterways or storm drains. Regular household garbage and recyclables should go in the usual carts for routine collection. Non-storm vegetative yard waste collection may be delayed during the storm sweep. Residents do not need to contact public works as crews have already mapped and will continue to map and track debris piles for collection. For property owners who cant move debris to the right-of-way or lack debris removal insurance, visit https://www.hendersoncountync.gov/em/page/private-property-debris-removal-program for information on Henderson Countys Private Property Debris Removal Program. Property owners must place sorted storm debris in the right-of-way by May 1 to ensure collection by the city. Debris set out after this deadline will be the property owner's responsibility to dispose of and will be subject to code enforcement action. Four major Chinese state banks to raise 520 bln yuan via A-share issuance Xinhua) 08:11, March 31, 2025 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. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) Feature: Chinese medical team helps South Sudanese students fight heatstroke, cholera Xinhua) 13:52, March 31, 2025 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. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) 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. The Mannheimer Hof, a historic hotel in Mannheim, has officially reopened its doors after undergoing significant renovations. Now part of the Leonardo Limited Edition brand, the hotel combines its classic heritage with modern amenities. Revitalized with a nod to tradition The Mannheimer Hof, located in central Mannheim, has been completely revamped while respecting the building's listed status. The hotel's 192 rooms, suites, and bathrooms have been redesigned, evoking a design reminiscent of the 1920s. The hotel's new design is the result of the work of renowned interior designer Andreas Neudahm, who sought to bring the glamour of the early 20th century into the modern age. In addition to its updated accommodations, the hotel offers a variety of new amenities. The Twist a la carte restaurant serves Asian fusion cuisine, while the Joy Bar offers a selection of cocktails and signature drinks. Guests can alos enjoy The Patio, an inner courtyard, a sauna and fitness facilities cater to those seeking wellness. A unique highlight is the "Schatzkistl," a cabaret and variety theatre located in the hotel's cellar. The Mannheimer Hof is also equipped to host business meetings with nine newly renovated meeting rooms, offering the latest conference equipment. The hotel's central location and accessible inner courtyard make it an ideal venue for both corporate events and social gatherings. Part of the Leonardo Limited Edition brand This marks the second Leonardo Limited Edition hotel to open in Germany, following the success of the Alden Splugenschloss Hotel in Zurich. The brand is known for its collection of distinctive hotels with individual character, and the Mannheimer Hof fits perfectly into this portfolio. Other properties in the pipeline include The Posthouse in Berlin and the Badischer Hof in Baden-Baden, set to open in 2025. Hotel website Maestro PMS announces that Warren Dehan will step down as President and transition to an advisory role effective immediately. While stepping back from daily operations, Dehan will continue to provide strategic product guidance and industry expertise, ensuring Maestro's ongoing success. Dehan has been a driving force behind Maestro's success, dedicating more than four decades to shaping the company into a trusted leader in hospitality technology. Under his leadership, Maestro has continually evolved, helping independent hoteliers optimize operations with innovative, integrated solutions. To ensure a seamless transition, Tim Major, vertical President of PMS for Fullsteam and a senior leader in hospitality, will take on an expanded role, ensuring continuity for Maestro and driving its strategic vision forward. With 15 years of experience leading PMS companies, Major brings deep industry knowledge and a strong commitment to innovation. Fullsteam, which acquired Maestro in 2023, is a leader in integrated payments and software solutions and has been instrumental in supporting Maestro's continued growth. With Fullsteam's resources, strategic guidance, and commitment to innovation, Maestro remains well positioned for the future. With a capable leadership team in place and Fullsteam's ongoing support, Maestro remains committed to empowering hoteliers with cutting-edge technology and exceptional service. Customers, partners, and employees can expect a seamless transition and a continued focus on innovation. For more information on this leadership transition and Maestro's future plans, visit www.maestropms.com. NORTHWIND-Maestro Markham, Ontario Canada Website Trump threatens to impose "secondary tariffs" on Russian oil Xinhua) 13:59, March 31, 2025 U.S. President Donald Trump walks on the South Lawn upon his return to the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States, March 30, 2025. Trump said Sunday he may impose "secondary tariffs" on Russian oil if he believes Russia is at fault for not reaching a ceasefire with Ukraine. (Xinhua/Hu Yousong) WASHINGTON, March 30 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump said Sunday he may impose "secondary tariffs" on Russian oil if he believes Russia is at fault for not reaching a ceasefire with Ukraine. In a phone interview with NBC News, Trump said he was "very angry" and "pissed off" when Russian President Vladimir Putin criticized the credibility of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's leadership, adding that the 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 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. "That would be that if you buy oil from Russia, you can't do business in the United States," he said. "There will be a 25 percent tariff on all oil, a 25- to 50-point tariff on all oil." Trump noted that the tariffs on Russia would come within the next month if Moscow does not sign up to a ceasefire with Ukraine. Trump said Putin knows he is angry, but he has "a very good relationship" with Putin and would speak to the Russian leader again this week. During a phone conversation on March 18, Trump and Putin agreed that the peace in Ukraine "will begin with an energy and infrastructure ceasefire." U.S. President Donald Trump steps off Marine One upon arrival on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States, March 30, 2025. Trump said Sunday he may impose "secondary tariffs" on Russian oil if he believes Russia is at fault for not reaching a ceasefire with Ukraine. (Xinhua/Hu Yousong) U.S. President Donald Trump walks on the South Lawn upon his return to the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States, March 30, 2025. Trump said Sunday he may impose "secondary tariffs" on Russian oil if he believes Russia is at fault for not reaching a ceasefire with Ukraine. (Xinhua/Hu Yousong) (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) W Abu Dhabi - Yas Island appoints Spencer Wadama as its new general manager. Wadama moves from SLS Dubai Hotel & Residences, where he has been general manager since its pre-opening phase, and was instrumental in the hotels successful launch. He also played a pivotal role in high-profile collaborations at the hotel, collaborating with well-known artists including Akon and will.i.am, which helped elevate the hotels status as a leading lifestyle and experiential brand. In addition, Wadama facilitated collaborations with brands such as Operation Smile, Fresh on Table Farm, and the Zayed Higher Organisation for People of Determination, reinforcing his commitment to sustainability and community. With nearly thirty years in the industry, Wadama brings a wealth of luxury hospitality experience across some of the world's most prestigious hotel brands to the role. He has a proven track record of improving operations, enhancing guest experience, and leading high-performing teams. He has held key leadership positions at renowned brands including, The Ritz-Carlton, Emaar Hospitality, Armani Hotel, and Jumeriah Group. As general manager at W Abu Dhabi - Yas Island, Wadama will elevate the hotel through strategic leadership, innovative guest offerings, and a deep commitment to service excellence, leveraging his extensive expertise in the luxury hospitality sector. MARKHAM, Ontario Maestro PMS announces that Warren Dehan will step down as President and transition to an advisory role effective immediately. While stepping back from daily operations, Dehan will continue to provide strategic product guidance and industry expertise, ensuring Maestros ongoing success. To ensure a seamless transition, Tim Major, vertical President of PMS for Fullsteam and a senior leader in hospitality, will take on an expanded role, ensuring continuity for Maestro and driving its strategic vision forward. With 15 years of experience leading PMS companies, Major brings deep industry knowledge and a strong commitment to innovation. Fullsteam, which acquired Maestro in 2023, is a leader in integrated payments and software solutions and has been instrumental in supporting Maestros continued growth. With Fullsteams resources, strategic guidance, and commitment to innovation, Maestro remains well positioned for the future. I am honored to step into this role and continue building on the strong foundation that Warren has established. With his continued guidance, Fullsteams support, and Maestros talented team, we remain committed to delivering the innovative solutions and exceptional service our clients rely on. Tim Major Dehan has been a driving force behind Maestros success, dedicating more than four decades to shaping the company into a trusted leader in hospitality technology. Under his leadership, Maestro has continually evolved, helping independent hoteliers optimize operations with innovative, integrated solutions. As I step into this new advisory role, I do so with immense pride in what we have built together. Maestro is in great hands with Tim at the helm as he comes from PMS and can align the product and mission backed by Fullsteam. I look forward to supporting the company in an advisory capacity and watching its continued success. Warren Dehan With a capable leadership team in place and Fullsteams ongoing support, Maestro remains committed to empowering hoteliers with cutting-edge technology and exceptional service. Customers, partners, and employees can expect a seamless transition and a continued focus on innovation. For more information on this leadership transition and Maestros future plans, visit www.maestropms.com. About Maestro PMS Maestro is the preferred Web Browser based cloud and on-premises all-in-one PMS solution for independent hotels, luxury resorts, conference centers, vacation rentals, and multi-property groups. Maestro's embedded payments system offers a PCI-compliant and EMV-ready enterprise system with 20+ integrated modules on a single database. This includes mobile and contact-free apps designed to enhance profitability, encourage direct bookings, centralize operations, and empower operators to engage guests in a personalized and secure manner. Maestro's Support Service further enhances the experience, providing unmatched 24/7 North American-based live support and education services. Barb Worcester In a world of dynamic change, the international tourism industry remains on course. At the close of ITB Berlin 2025, the travel world presented itself in an optimistic mood and robust shape. The order books of most companies are well-filled, and global travel demand has not been this high in a long time. At the same time, the industry is facing a series of complex challenges and tasks that require new strategies and ways of thinking. The need to invest in one's own IT infrastructure, the challenges of sustainable business practices, the opportunities offered by artificial intelligence, and the search for suitable personnel require decisive answers and new concepts. Eleven trends and insights from ITB Berlin 2025 that will occupy the travel world in the coming months - and beyond. 1. Growing demand The importance of vacations is growing worldwide. This applies to consumer decisions in mature customer markets such as Europe and North America, but even more so to growing markets such as Asia, where the number of tourist trips is increasing dynamically. Even the sometimes significant price increases of recent years have hardly been able to curb global demand. 2. Greater resilience After the dramatic slumps of the Corona years, the travel industry made an impressive comeback in the successful year of 2024, demonstrating its resilience. Once again, it has been shown that tourism can quickly recover even from severe crises. Against this background and with a view to future crises, investing in the resilience of one's organization is more important than ever. 3. More flexibility Geopolitical changes and ongoing climate change are creating uncertainty and new risks, meaning that even successful business models offer no guarantee for the future. Change management is becoming the order of the day. Functioning early warning systems and the ability to adapt quickly to changing conditions in destinations and customer markets are important for surviving in an increasingly dynamic environment. 4. Destinations with new responsibilities Phenomena such as over-tourism and the overuse of natural resources in holiday destinations require new forms of regional and local cooperation. Local tourism organizations are needed to reconcile tourism offers, ecological standards and the interests of the local population. The development of the housing market, the management of visitor flows and the preservation of the environment are becoming core issues in destination management. 5. AI as a game changer Artificial intelligence is set to revolutionize the tourism business. The future of the industry will be defined by the availability of data. The digital transformation through AI requires the development of new business models. Extensive investments in automation, data management and data analysis are essential to remain competitive. 6. Revolution in customer communication The use of AI and autonomous agents from chatbots to voice-controlled booking assistants is making natural, interactive travel planning more and more the norm. Personalized real-time travel recommendations, customized itineraries and individual price recommendations will increasingly dominate the market. Companies must adapt their marketing to these requirements without losing credibility. 7. Trust as a competitive advantage The digital travel world is becoming increasingly confusing for travellers. With the multitude of travel information available via platforms and networks, the influence of purchased reviews and manipulative algorithms is also growing. Anyone who wants to establish themselves as a credible source online must maintain a dialogue with customers and build trust. Verifiable information, the transparent use of travel data and reliable security protocols are important to maintain trust within AI-centered customer communication. 8. established providers under pressure The large international tech platforms now have a significant competitive advantage in terms of experience, expertise and specialist personnel when it comes to AI. As a result, the traditional business models of medium-sized tour operators and distribution companies are increasingly falling behind. While large corporations have fully integrated AI, medium-sized companies often stick to pilot projects or isolated applications. 9. Sustainability as a challenge Tackling climate change and introducing and complying with sustainability standards remain long-term tasks. Increasing travel activity and changing political priorities in some countries are exacerbating the problem. Where state actors withdraw, NGOs and private sector initiatives are gaining in importance. AI can provide important support in achieving sustainability goals. 10. Longing for authenticity The travel needs and interests of younger target groups in particular have changed. Content, encounters and experiences are becoming more important than holiday destinations, routes or the type of accommodation. The growing need for authenticity and unique holiday experiences can be met through individualized customer dialogue using AI. 11. Workers urgently wanted The industry will continue to face a shortage of suitable personnel. The shortage of skilled workers and labour, especially in the hotel and restaurant industry and in tourism-related training occupations in general, continues. Creating a corporate culture that is attractive to employees, offering flexible working hours, and recruiting young talent remain fundamental tasks. About ITB Global Brand Family For more than 50 years the name ITB has stood worldwide for the travel industry knowledge 365 days a year, networking and trendsetting events - in a virtual, in-person, or hybrid format alike. As the travel industry resurges, the ITB brand family is among the first to come back to offering on-site in-person events. ITB Asia will be held in Singapore from 15 to 17 October 2025, covering the broader regional market. ITB China, the premier marketplace for China's travel industry, is scheduled for 27 to 29 May 2025, in Shanghai. ITB India will take place in Mumbai from September 2 to 4, 2025. ITB Berlin, the world's leading B2B trade show for the travel industry, will take place in Berlin from March 3 to 5, 2026. The inaugural ITB Americas will be held in Guadalajara, Mexico, from 10 to 12 November 2026, covering the American market. View source The Hyatt Centric brand saw growth in 2024 with openings in destinations such as Cairo, Shanghai, San Jose, and Santo Domingo. Building on this success, the brand plans to add over 35 new hotels by 2028, expanding its portfolio by 50 per cent and reaching over 100 hotels globally by 2029. This expansion is expected to include significant growth in Asia-Pacific, with a 75 per cent increase in the regions footprint, alongside new openings across the Americas, Europe, and the Middle East. Hyatt Centric hotels are tailored to their destinations, incorporating elements that reflect the local vibe through interpretations of culture, art, and attractions. Planned openings following the 2024 debut in new markets will drive further growth, including Hyatt Centric San Jose Escazu (the first in Costa Rica), Hyatt Centric Malta (the first in Malta), Hyatt Centric Santo Domingo (the first in the Caribbean), and Hyatt Centric Zhongshan Park Shanghai (the first in Shanghai). In 2026, the brand will expand further in Asia-Pacific with openings including Hyatt Centric East Taipei (the first in Taiwan), Hyatt Centric Shanghai Jinqiao and Hyatt Centric Todtown Shanghai, Hyatt Centric Tianxin Changsha in Hunan province, Hyatt Centric Vrindavan in northern India, and Hyatt Centric Sapporo (the first in Hokkaido, Japan). This year will also see the brands first hotel in southwest China, Hyatt Centric The Ring Chengdu. Hyatt Centric hotels offer curated programming, such as locally inspired art, pop-up events, social spaces, and dining options. Each hotel reflects its location, with Egyptian statues at Hyatt Centric Cairo West and textiles at Hyatt Centric Guatemala City. Social spaces like the recording studio at Hyatt Centric Gran Via Madrid and the House of Music at Hyatt Centric Ocean Front Xiamen encourage guest interaction. Dining options range from modern Asian cuisine at Hyatt Centric Victoria Harbour Hong Kong to rooftop views at Spaceman in Atlanta. The brands recent growth, including openings and planned developments, meets the rising demand from guests and members, especially millennial and Gen Z travellers, for more contemporary accommodation with playful details, sophisticated furnishings and socially connected spaces. Emily Wright, vice president, global brand leader for Hyatts Classics & Essentials Portfolios About Hyatt Hotels Corporation Hyatt Hotels Corporation, headquartered in Chicago, is a leading global hospitality company guided by its purpose to care for people so they can be their best. As of June 30, 2024, the Company's portfolio included more than 1,350 hotels and all-inclusive properties in 78 countries across six continents. The Company's offering includes brands in the Timeless Collection, including Park Hyatt, Grand Hyatt, Hyatt Regency, Hyatt, Hyatt Vacation Club, Hyatt Place, Hyatt House, Hyatt Studios, and UrCove; the Boundless Collection, including Miraval, Alila, Andaz, Thompson Hotels, Dream Hotels, Hyatt Centric, and Caption by Hyatt; the Independent Collection, including The Unbound Collection by Hyatt, Destination by Hyatt, and JdV by Hyatt; and the Inclusive Collection, including Impression by Secrets, Hyatt Ziva, Hyatt Zilara, Zoetry Wellness & Spa Resorts, Secrets Resorts & Spas, Breathless Resorts & Spas, Dreams Resorts & Spas, Hyatt Vivid Hotels & Resorts, Alua Hotels & Resorts, and Sunscape Resorts & Spas. Subsidiaries of the Company operate the World of Hyatt loyalty program, ALG Vacations, Mr & Mrs Smith, Unlimited Vacation Club, Amstar DMC destination management services, and Trisept Solutions technology services. For more information, please visit www.hyatt.com. Forward-Looking Statements Forward-Looking Statements in this press release, which are not historical facts, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by the use of words such as "may," "could," "expect," "intend," "plan," "seek," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "predict," "potential," "continue," "likely," "will," "would" and variations of these terms and similar expressions, or the negative of these terms or similar expressions. Such forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable when made, are inherently uncertain, and are subject to numerous assumptions and uncertainties, many of which are outside of Kiraku, Inc. or Hyatt's control, which could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by such statements. Forward-looking statements made in this press release are made only as of the date of their initial publication and neither party undertakes an obligation to publicly update any of these forward-looking statements as actual events unfold, except to the extent required by applicable law. If one or more forward-looking statements is updated, no inference should be drawn that any additional updates will be made with respect to those or other forward-looking statements. View source As we see time again, the story of a hotel is the story of the people working at the hotel. This is especially true for the luxury hospitality segment where service excellence, exclusive amenities and personalization are hallmarks of an experience worthy of the term luxury. With so much buzz around personalization these days, what is often missed is the precision of service delivery necessary to execute this attention to detail at scale, for which theres no truer form of expressing this precision than through customization of the guest journey in a seamless blend of meticulously curated experiences. Offering an exemplary lesson on how to craft a truly personalized and customized! guest experience comes from none other than the city thats renowned for its hospitality: Las Vegas. With 332 exquisitely furnished rooms and suites, Crockfords Las Vegas is a hotel within a hotel; its a member of Hiltons LXR Hotels & Resorts collection, sharing the Resorts World Las Vegas campus alongside the Las Vegas Hilton at Resorts World and Conrad Las Vegas at Resorts World, altogether totaling 66 floors and over 3,500 hotel keys. At the helm for Crockfords Las Vegas is General Manager Aleksandra Kotle, who leads a team over 100 service professionals that encompass both front-of-house and heart-of-house roles. This is a team that functions as a single, tight-knit unit immersed in a company culture that emphasizes caring about all the details to attain service excellence. Focusing on this level of precision as well as committing to lifelong learning gives opportunity to ensure the Crockfords Las Vegas team is always one step ahead of dynamically changing guest expectations. The results are evident, right from the moment you set foot in the expansive and pristine lobby adorned with perfectly manicured orchids, Chinese evergreens, and a captivating aroma titled Serenity that had us longing for more. Indeed, were hardly the only ones to notice just how special Crockfords is, with this property having the prestige of hosting The Summit the annual awards gala for Forbes Travel Guide twice in a row (this past February 2024 as well as in 2023). Theres a lot that everyone can learn from Koltes example or by visiting yourself! Rising Above Fierce Competition Kotle represents not only a consummate hotelier but also a real American success story, having immigrated from Bosnia in 1998 at a young age, hustling to build her career. Growing up and being exposed to war and political unrest, Aleksandra recognized the value of a dream and hard work; she possessed a relentless dedication to making this dream become a reality. Now, a wife and mother of two young girls, Kotle ushers in a new era of empowerment, identity and adaptability in service and leadership, thus setting the stage for the next generation. Attending college at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas, and with over a decade of prior experience at the JW Marriott Las Vegas Resort & Spa and ARIA Resort & Casino, she understands all too well that competition for guests in this city is more intense than anywhere else on the continent. With more than 89,000 rooms the most in North America Las Vegas visitors have a myriad of options and are more than willing to take their business elsewhere should their hotel of choice not deliver on its service promise. Kotle is an avid believer that, Although this is Las Vegas, exceptional service shouldnt be a gamble. With luxury competitors who happen to be next-door neighbors like Wynn Las Vegas and the recently opened Fontainebleau, personalization in name only no longer cuts it for luxury guests. If you are only meeting expectations, then you arent excelling at real luxury. What Kotle stressed is that we are in a new era of luxury where those guests that can afford hotels and travel of this caliber have already experienced or have seen vicariously through social media numerous examples of service that can be deemed as personalized. And before you think that this been-there-done-that crowd is exclusive to only millionaires, billionaires and gamings high rollers, Kotle was quick to remind us that many luxury hotel guests nowadays are firmly middle class but have prioritized splurging on travel versus other discretionary spend. Oftentimes, you wouldnt know either way, so the first step in curating a bespoke experience is acknowledging that every stay should be special and working with the team to ensure that the hotel is never resting on its laurels by consistently striving to deliver the unexpected. For the two of us, this started with the lobby experience. Immediately struck by the shimmering Samurai Cat statue by artist Hiro Ando, enchanted by Serenitys alluring scent. With wonder ignited in all of our senses, we shifted our gaze to Crockfords three-story marble finishes, the ivory hide furniture, and the versicolor bar off to the right of the aforementioned flora. These moments of marvel didnt even impress us most. Instead, it was that Kotle was already there warmly waiting for us by the front desk, even though we hadnt taken the resort up on its offer of a chauffeur airport pickup a simple yet profound and difficult to execute service. This required expert timing to schedule the personal greeting in between meetings (GMs definitely have a lot of these!), which was coordinated in tandem with a member of Koltes concierge team, Linni Chia Matsuo. Growing up in Singapore, and a 20-year concierge veteran having worked at Marina Bay Sands, The Venetian, Mandalay Bay and others, Matsuo had reached out to us over a month prior to arrival to ask for flight details and to inquire if we sought anything different from our previous visit to Crockfords (yes, we were there previously in late 2023). That alone is impressive, especially when so many other midscale or even upscale hotels are still asking guests during check-in, Is this your first time staying with us? With all the technology available in 2024, they should already know! Crockfords Las Vegas leverages their guest experience by their use of profiling and historical data to surprise and delight their guests at every turn. Beyond this remarkable service note, the attention to detail at Crockfords hardly stopped there. On a quick tour to show us whats new, even Kotle, a senior leader, was ever vigilant in scanning the corridors for garbage and picking it up whenever sighted to ensure the premises remained totally pristine. And throughout our two-night stay, Matsuo went out of her way to find us in lobby, ask about we had planned next and if she could be of any assistance, all while recalling details from our previous stay as unaided by ready access to our guest profile data. Source: Hotel Mogel Consulting Limited Customization is the New Personalization The phrase personalization in name only belies the trend of every property as well as other customer service businesses like retail and car dealerships using this term. Its become homogenized, and no guest is more sensitive to lackluster effort than the luxury traveler. Instead, Kotle touched on the term customization as an alternative to framework the dynamic because this word inscribes more creativity in the execution and the sequencing of the service delivery. Like a snowflake or fingerprint, Crockfords is committed to crafting moments that are as unique and as individual as every guest experience. As Crockfords demonstrates, modern luxury must bring together immaculate amenities with strong SOPs, meticulous service timing, continuous retraining and expert leadership. On that last note, as avid readers ourselves, it was refreshing to hear that Kotle and other members of the senior team lead by Shannon McCallum at Resorts World Las Vegas have their own book club where they discuss recent publications that are applicable to the industry such as Unreasonable Hospitality by Will Guidara and Be the Unicorn by William Vanderbloemen, and then workshop how they can use the lessons to improve operations at the resort. We saw this customization firsthand when we came down to the lobby one other time during this past visit and there was a wedding photoshoot in progress all with professional lighting, flagging and outfit changes as one of many services that the Crockfords team can arrange. Koltes ethos about committing to continuous improvement requires her and her team to constantly evaluate the competition and other hotel brands from around the world to see what they are doing right, what theyre doing wrong, and applies their assessment of said data to elevate their guest experience to new heights. Next, for every event or stay that may hint that customization is in order, the team meets to brainstorm ideas before they design the details, BEOs or sequence of service that will wow guests, transforming them from leisure guests into loyal, legacy guests. To give you a sense of what this customization has included for past guest stays: Custom-printed napkins, engraved liquor or perfume bottles, and custom embroidered or monogrammed robes; Rearranging all the furniture in a suite or villa to accommodate a specific setup or celebration such as an in-suite wedding ceremony plus reception; Arrive in style in Resort Worlds very own private charter thus ensuring a seamless experience between the jet, the notorious fleet of Resorts World Bentleys in bright red, and the finely appointed room by having all custom-labeled materials and monograms matching throughout every turn. During our time together, Kotle listed off over a dozen others like these from memory. But truth be told, they wouldnt necessarily be relevant going forward because her team will continue to update, tweak and refine these customizations to ensure that each stay is unique and not just different from an individual guests past stays at Crockfords but distinct from all other guests past stays and from what other casinos on The Strip are doing. Thats certainly a high bar to pass, especially when all these creative inventions must be preceded by proficiently timed and often invisible service. And the main reason these types of once-only customizations can occur is because of the team synergy, and how well they work together to execute on whatever the assignment requires. Applause to Crockfords for a fantastic and unparalleled luxury experience. Those looking to elevate, redefine, and curate bespoke experiences can take note when it comes to personalization or true customization for each guest, as Crockfords continues to set the standard for service excellence. Adam Mogelonsky Hotel Mogel Consulting Limited I have been teaching with metrics for a long time. Before teaching, I worked for a consulting firm and was immersed in the world of hospitality metrics. Prior to that, as a restaurant manager on both coasts, I focused, for managers and owners, on food and labor costs. In the old days, restaurants were very food-cost oriented. I can calculate food cost percentage, but it reminds me that unless you lock the front doors of your restaurant and serve no one, the restaurant will incur food costs as a function of the food they sell. The questions for metrics are, what do cost percentages mean? Similarly, on the lodging side, what do occupancy percentage, REVPAR, and ADR mean? and how does it help a manager, leader, or owner, make decisions? The premise here is that there are standards set on costs and revenues that enable the creation of metrics. Therefore, the use of metrics requires planning and standard setting to enable managers to be aware of the success of their efforts. I thinking that lowering food costs for any restaurant is achievable, but will the action plan to accomplish this be the right way to do it? For example, if a standard was set for a 35 percent menu food cost percentage, then how can food cost be lowered? Start by thinking about purchasing and portion sizes. Smaller portion sizes can create less food costs. If managing by menu, what does the food specification say about product quality? Would a less expensive cut of meat make the same entree, in terms of quality? Are the standards and decisions in the best interest of the guest and the restaurant? Keeping metrics reasonable, attainable, honest, and transparent allows everyone on the team to work towards a great price and quality combination that produces value, a value that is driven by understanding guest behavior and preferences and booking trends. Additionally, there are also opportunities for integrating hotel operations, from room bookings to guest services. Metrics can also support marketing decisions and the creation of decision-making tools for targeted campaigns, promotions, and loyalty programs. The argument is that by tracking your metrics, you will dramatically improve your business results. In general, a framework for your KPI and or metric goals should focus on: big priorities measurement methods specific targets or standards accurate data appropriate analysis techniques operational activities reports that incorporate online review scores that includes customer feedback forms/surveys, social media. What Do You Want to Measure? Plan your metrics and or KPI program. Define what is being measured for your operation and focus on key targets. The question is, are you using all your data? Was it collected effectively and efficiently? More is not always better; it is sometimes just more. If you are not operationally efficient, what can you measure? How precisely can you measure it and get results that will help you make effective and efficient decisions? Operationally, what efficiencies for energy, water, health and safety, control of room costs, and labor costs can be implemented? In a marketing focus, looking at campaign data, guest satisfaction scores, and relevant social media?. If you dont analyze the data you have, then what is the point? For marketing, remember the end goal is likely to be effective and efficient in all its efforts and ultimately increase your hotels image, brand, and social media presence. Hospitality Metrics Key performance indicators, or KPIs, are quantifiable metrics used to evaluate a companys financial and operational effectiveness. Hospitality metrics can help companies identify trends, spot inefficiencies, maximize revenue and stay ahead of the competition. KPIs are metrics that business executives and managers, analysts, lenders, investors, and other interested parties use to gauge a companys financial health, operational efficiency, and success. By tracking and analyzing KPIs, organizations are able to quantify their performance and gain data-driven insights that help them make better-informed decisions, boost productivity, reduce costs, increase profitability, and improve customer service. How you measure your success depends on what targets are set. Hospitality KPIs are focused on the unique features and goals of the hospitality industry, such as the average cost, revenue, and profit of an occupied hotel room. For example, by regularly monitoring KPIs, hospitality businesses can optimize whats working, identify areas in need of improvement and benchmark their performance against that of competitors. Modern businesses also leverage advanced technologies and integrated platforms to track, analyze and report KPIs in real-time, empowering them to strategically adapt to changing market conditions and evolving customer expectations. KPIs can measure efficiency, productivity, and customer loyalty. Decision-makers use these findings to better understand demand patterns, decide resource allocation, schedule staff, and develop marketing campaigns. I constantly tell my students to return to the original equations: occupied room nights / available room nights = occupancy percentage, ADR = room revenues / occupied room nights. These are direct measures of the number of rooms sold over a period of time and, on average, what the rate was charged. You also use metrics to create other metrics, REVPAR= Room Revenues / Rooms available. or Occupancy % X ADR. Additional metrics assembled from multiple sources might include: Average Length of Stay (ALOS)= Total occupied room nights / Number of bookings. Cost Per Occupied Room (CPOR) = Total costs of room operations / Number of rooms sold. Gross Operating Profit Per Available Room (GOPPAR) = Gross operating profit / Total number of available room nights Total Revenue Per Available Room (TRevPAR) = Total net revenue / Number of available rooms Transient Segment Mix Group Mix (revenue) = Group revenue / Total revenue x 100 Loyalty Mix (bookings) = Loyalty program bookings / Total bookings x 100 Channel Mix (bookings) = Bookings from channel / Total bookings x 100 The number of metrics and KPIs appears to be unlimited. Included here are more metrics that are discussed throughout the lodging periodicals and journals . Listed here by category: Guest Satisfaction: Net Promoter Score (NPS) and online reviews, gauge guest experiences and areas of improvement. Cost per acquisition (CPA) helps in understanding the cost involved in acquiring a customer, essential for budgeting and marketing strategies. Distribution channel performance is vital to know which channels (like OTAs and direct bookings) are most profitable. Demographic segmentation grouping by age, gender, ethnicity, occupation, income, religion, etc.; Psychographic segmentation grouping by lifestyle, interests, values, etc. Geographic segmentation grouping by geographic location, city vs rural origin, etc. Behavioral segmentation grouping based on the previous customer behavior. Revenue Metrics: TrevPEC - Total revenue per client NRevPAR - Net revenue per available room considers the expenses incurred by you in order to fill your rooms RevPOR - Revenue per occupied room. Also, by department e.g., food and beverage ReRTI - RevPAR Room Type Index RevPAM - Revenue per available mete r or in the U.S. per square foot. Sales volume o Daily sales o Sales per employee Profit metrics: GOP - Gross operating profit is simply a calculation of your profits after acquisition costs have been deducted NOI - Slightly different to GOP, Net operating income calculates your income after operating expenses have been deducted but before interest and taxes have been applied CPOR - Cost per occupied room lets you identify the average cost per occupied room to give you an idea of how healthy your cost of acquisition is. How much are you spending to secure a booking? Operations: MPI - Market penetration index. ARI - Average rate index for rates instead of your occupancy. Divide your ADR by the competitive markets ADR Cost of Goods Sold (COGS) Cost per customer Reduce and properly dispose of food waste (Sustainability Factors) Inventory turnover rates Marketing: MCPB (marketing cost per booking) Sentiment score on TripAdvisor DRR (direct revenue ratio): This metric measures the percentage of online revenue coming in directly vs expensive third-party channels. Website conversion rate: This calculates the number of unique website visitors that convert into bookings. Segmentation: Group, Business, Tourist and Leisure, etc. Labor costs Employee effectiveness Employee hours: ensure you allocate the right number of hours to each task. Thoughtful staff scheduling: plan employee schedules carefully to match demand. High employee satisfaction: a content and motivated team tends to perform better. Their satisfaction levels also influence staff turnover. Employee turnover rate. A Sample: Advanced Metrics Hoteliers Should Track Guest Acquisition Cost (GAC) measures the cost of acquiring new guests. Repeat Business Rate indicates the percentage of guests who return to the hotel. Net Promoter Score (NPS) measures customer loyalty and satisfaction. Cost Per Available Room (CPAR) measures the total cost of operating a hotel per available room. Customer Lifetime Value (CLTV) estimates the total revenue a customer will generate. Social Media Engagement Rate measures the level of interaction with a hotels social media content. Online Reputation Score reflects a hotels overall online reputation. Labor Cost Percentage(s): Demand forecasting accuracy Labor Staffing Guides per department Monitor overtime for all Housekeeping- the largest department per number of employees. Streamline Room Assignments: Group room assignments by location to reduce time spent moving between rooms. Monitor Energy Usage: Think about sustainability Monitor Water Usage: Think Sustainability Plus other metrics to consider. Bounce rate that shows the percentage of visitors who leave your website quickly without doing anything. CTR or click-through rate is the percentage of users who actually clicked on your link after seeing it in the search results or an online ad. New visitors vs returning visitors shows the ratio of first-time visitors and the ones that have already visited before. Conversion rate is the most important measurement of success as it shows the share of people that actually made a booking through your site. Time on site or Average session duration is how much time visitors spend on your website. Link sharing when the link to your website is shared on social media, blogpost, or other sites, is the ultimate stage of engagement and is a sign that youre doing a good job! Why metrics? Because not only is the old saying If you cant measure it, you cant improve it true, but visibility into your metrics allows you to identify WHERE you can make the easiest and most impactful improvements. By tracking your metrics, you will dramatically improve your business results. The old saying is ABCD Always be collecting data! There is a reason for that. Data can drive decision direction and provide the justifications needed for decisions made. If the use of data across the board in all departments seems daunting, then start the KPI and metric management programs in smaller and specific content chunks. A little bit at a time and then more as you hone your sophistication with metric management. Teaching & Training with Metrics for Decision Making I have previously noted some of the projects in which our students are engaged. This past fall, they worked extensively on hotel feasibility studies that examined the supply and demand for lodging in a rural locations/destination. That destination is looking to have a commercial room supply to support their area tourism and keep tourism dollars spent in their county. We have generally labeled these efforts as regional transformation. The implication is that a lodging development could be a catalyst for business. The student projects are hospitality data and metric-driven. To help illustrate their metric education, a couple of sample graphs utilized in this process are shared below. These graphs detail multiple metrics that were researched, analyzed, and applied in teaching scenarios and in the student preparation and delivery of their feasibility study projects. The intent is to enhance student decision-making skills and enable them to enhance their familiarization with data analysis to create metrics and set standard KPIs. These skills help prepare students and soon-to-be graduates to transition into the hospitality leadership workforce. For example, below is a Competitive Set typically selected by student groups based on a destination market and land identified as zoned for commercial development. This example includes five competitors and the number of available rooms, the days open to express available room nights on an annual basis, occupancy percentage, average daily rate, calculated room revenues, REVPAR, and market segment mix for commercial, group and tourist segments. For the student groups, they are charged with selecting the competitors based on a set of criteria, and then research the occupancy percentage and other figures both by online search and interviews. When the table is completed for each hotel, market totals are then created for the same metrics. These totals are often weighted averages as they are weighted by the number of rooms in each competitive hotel and the number of days they are open. Also, when the totals are complete, the indices for each metric are calculated, illustrating how each hotel is performing in relationship to the market as a whole. In this example, the metrics researched and assembled include the number of rooms, daily and annually, occupancy percentage, average daily rate, and mix of segment demand (Commercial, Group and Tourist). Metrics that are calculated also include all market totals and indexes. Students are made aware that the competitive set table provides the base of supply and demand for the feasibility project. This emphasizes the importance of selecting a comp set and researching the data shared by operators and sales personnel. Another key item to note is that all the analysis is connected, and a change in the first table will impact future analysis on this project. A students metric adventure is off and running. Competitive Set Source: East Carolina University Example 2: Forecast Penetration Also, further into the feasibility analysis process, students assemble a Forecast Penetration table, as displayed below. Source: East Carolina University At this juncture, students have estimated growth rates and forecasted annual demand through the first five years of operation for a proposed hotel. On the table below, the table is assembled starting with the years of operation and the fair share of supply, noting that room supply from the Comp Set is brought forward and adjusted to add the newly proposed hotel. The example below is for a new 50-room property. Fair share of supply is calculated to be 10.2 percent, indicating the number of rooms the new hotel represents in the market. Then the table is populated with the room night demand for each year in each segment. The key for the student researchers is to estimate the penetration rate for the new hotel in each segment in each year. This requires knowledge of market performance, a comparison of each hotel in the market and identifying who the leaders are in the market in each segment. The analysis integrates historical penetration data and estimates of the competitiveness of the proposed hotel versus the market. For example, in the commercial segment penetration rate is 110 percent in year one and climbs to 125 percent in year five, illustrating a strong and aggressive business segment for the hotel. Also noted is the market share for each segment to compare with the segment percentages for the new hotel (mix of demand). Finally, based on the total demand captured and total market demand, market occupancy and new hotel occupancy are forecasted. Additionally, the occupancy indices are calculated to compare hotel performance with the market. Additionally, some studies are inclusive of other revenue streams and segments that are, in some cases, atypical. One course project was set in a small (14 rooms) rural location and involved the renovation of a historic site that added to the complexity of the project. In addition to a small number of rooms, students created and recommended other revenue streams that included rental, retail, and camping. The point here is that students become metric literate and also begin to think about justifications for their decisions, as well as what other data, KPIs and metrics they can create, find and use. There is obviously more to a feasibility study that engages the students and enhances their analytical skills. Going Forward Performance is paramount in the hospitality industry, and whether measuring success against yourself, the competition or a specific segment of the market, the process involves foundational historical metrics. STR Global states that benchmarking is the foundation of any decision making. The focus on historical data centers you to what is working and where opportunities exist. Hotel benchmarking involves three key top-line performance metrics: occupancy, average daily rate (ADR) and revenue per available room (RevPAR). STR Global shares some examples of the use and application of this process. General managers use day-of-week splits to gain a holistic view of the market. General managers and individual owners work with their revenue managers to set a strategy for segmentation and rate mix. Revenue managers inform their pricing approach based on historical occupancy and competitive market trends. Ownership representatives assess the competitiveness of their portfolio. Finance departments track daily/weekly/monthly changes in performance across all KPIs and their relative impact to profitability. Portfolio representatives evaluate property success, combine historical metrics with forward-looking to approve property pricing strategies, set property budget targets, and measure portfolio competitiveness. Marketing teams build and adjust promotional campaigns. This article has shared a variety of metrics for use in decision making and the following link 40 Essential Hotel Metrics to Monitor for Success lists some of these and more. Data is everywhere and managers, leaders and owners of hospitality operations will benefit from utilizing metrics and all KPIs. A process recommendation is to plan your metric and KPI program, decide what you will measure, set standards and measurement methods, and decide the array of metrics (research) that will be optimally useful to a lodging or hospitality operation. Robert O'Halloran Professor & Director +1 252 737 1604 East Carolina University View source Powerscourt Hotel in County Wicklow, Ireland According to data to be presented at the International Hospitality Investment Forum EMEA, hotel occupancy rates in the UK and Ireland have reached and surpassed pre-pandemic levels. Despite varying performances, the global hotel industry sees overall positive growth, with Northern Africa recording the highest growth rate. The hotel industry in the United Kingdom and Ireland has significantly recovered, with occupancy rates now matching or exceeding pre-pandemic levels, as per data from CoStar. To be presented at the International Hospitality Investment Forum (IHIF) EMEA in Berlin, the data revealed that as of February 2025, Ireland's 12-month occupancy was 102% of the 2019 comparison, with the UK following closely at 100%. Mediterranean countries such as Spain, Italy, and Greece were not far behind, each reporting 99% occupancy compared to 2019. The global hotel performance levels have been increasing overall. Europe's occupancy rate for the three months ending February 2025 was 60%, marking a 2% year-on-year increase. The average daily rate (ADR) was US$137, a 3% increase from the previous year. In the Middle East, occupancy was 77%, with an ADR of US$205, both showing growth. Northern Africa experienced the highest growth rates, with occupancy at 59% and an ADR of US$127, marking increases of 11% and 37%, respectively. Sub-Saharan Africa, however, saw a slight dip in occupancy to 57%, but achieved an 11% increase in ADR to US$164. STR representatives will present these details at the IHIF EMEA forum, where they will further discuss the hotel industry's current state and future prospects. STR Weekly Insights: U.S. Hotel Industry Thrives on Spring Break, Global ADR Growth Continues - Image Credit Unsplash U.S. hotel RevPAR grows due to spring break and major events, with significant gains in markets outside the Top 25. Global Average Daily Rates (ADR) maintain a growth streak, contributing to RevPAR increases. For the week ending 22 March 2025, the U.S. hotel industry experienced a boost in Revenue per Available Room (RevPAR) thanks to spring break and major events. The RevPAR rose by 2.8%, primarily due to a 1.8% Average Daily Rates (ADR) increase. The growth was particularly strong from Sunday to Thursday, with a 5.6% rise in RevPAR, attributed to ADR growth. Markets outside the Top 25 saw a slightly higher RevPAR growth rate than those within the Top 25. However, all markets experienced a weekend RevPAR decline, with the Top 25 markets reporting the largest decrease. Two markets, Chicago and Anaheim (Orange County), saw RevPAR growth soar by over 20% due to key conferences. Luxury hotels, particularly those outside the Top 25 markets, recorded the highest RevPAR gain, lifted primarily by ADR. However, group demand in Luxury and Upper Upscale hotels decreased for the third consecutive week, while transient demand increased. ADR continued its remarkable growth streak on a global scale, with year-over-year ADR gains in 58 of the past 60 weeks. This led to a 6.3% increase in RevPAR. Most countries experienced RevPAR gains almost entirely due to ADR. Hurricane-affected markets from 2024 continue to see elevated performance, with RevPAR for the week up 9.1%. Similarly, markets impacted by California's January wildfires posted strong RevPAR gains. In the upcoming weeks, U.S. hotel results are expected to remain strong due to the continuation of spring break holidays until Easter 2025, though at a slower pace. Globally, the Easter calendar shift is also expected to impact performance in Europe and Central/South America. InterContinental Presidente Monterrey Hotel - Image Credit IHG Hotels & Resorts IHG Hotels & Resorts, in collaboration with Grupo Presidente, opens the InterContinental Presidente Monterrey, located in the bustling San Pedro Garza Garcia neighborhood. The hotel is IHG's fifth InterContinental to open in the Americas in the past two years and the sixth property operated by Grupo Presidente in alliance with the InterContinental brand. IHG Hotels & Resorts has joined forces with Grupo Presidente to open the InterContinental Presidente Monterrey. The hotel is nestled in the heart of Monterrey's San Pedro Garza Garcia neighborhood. The property, designed by Francesc Rife Studio in Barcelona, beautifully blends contemporary style with decadent touches and modern amenities, set against a stunning mountain backdrop. The hotel's eye-catching facade, crafted from metal and mobile wooden panels, shields the property from the intense sun while still allowing for an abundance of natural light. InterContinental Presidente Monterrey offers 293 guestrooms, including 25 expansive suites thoughtfully designed to provide guests with tranquil, harmonious spaces. Quality finishes, including solid walnut and Gris Rochelle marble from Italy, adorn the rooms, while the bathrooms feature luxury amenities and rainfall showers. The hotel has three dining venues that offer a mix of national and international flavors. These include Lilu, an all-day dining restaurant serving elevated international dishes; Epicentro, a gin and tonic-focused cocktail bar reminiscent of its original counterpart in Mexico City; and Chapulin, set to open in April, which celebrates the history and flavors of Mexico. Advertisement Monterrey, Mexico's second-largest economy, is an international business hub amidst the breathtaking Cerro de la Silla, Sierra Madre de Chipinque, and Cerro de las Mitras mountains. Guests can enjoy a variety of on-site offerings, including the Ikal Spa, a 24-hour fitness center, a business center equipped with the latest technology, a dry cleaning service, and a Club InterContinental lounge. The hotel also features over 1,600 square meters of modern and versatile meeting and event spaces, accommodating up to 1,500 guests. These spaces have LED architectural lighting, high-speed internet, and state-of-the-art audiovisual equipment. This opening marks the fifth InterContinental to open in the Americas in the past two years, following properties in the Caribbean, Seattle, San Antonio, and Indianapolis. It is the sixth property operated by Grupo Presidente in alliance with the InterContinental brand. op left: Kimpton BEM Budapest, Top Right: voco London Marylebone, Bottom right: Garner Hotel Preston Samlesbury, Bottom left: Ruby Louise Hotel & Bar, Frankfurt - Image Credit IHG Hotels & Resorts IHG has debuted nine of its hotel brands in 13 European countries since the start of 2024, with open and pipeline hotels surpassing 1,100. IHG Hotels & Resorts has successfully launched nine of its individual hotel brands across 13 European countries since the beginning of 2024. This expansion includes brands from its four segments: Luxury & Lifestyle, Premium, Essentials, and Suites. The company's European business, encompassing the UK and Ireland, now boasts more than 1,100 open and pipeline hotels. This growth is largely attributed to the trust from owners in IHG's enterprise and the increasing demand from guests for the unique experiences offered by its brands. Karin Sheppard, SVP and Managing Director, Europe, IHG Hotels & Resorts, expressed that their focus on high-growth markets is reflected in the number of country entries made by their brands in recent months. The burgeoning portfolio, with over 1,100 hotels open or in development across 39 countries, signifies an exciting future for their business in Europe. IHG's six brands in the Luxury & Lifestyle segment continue to expand across Europe, representing 12% of current Europe open hotels and 27% of its development pipeline. The company's collection brand, Vignette Collection, made its debut in the UK and Hungary in 2024, with a new signing in Greece scheduled soon. The company's Premium segment, including the voco, Crowne Plaza, and Ruby brands, witnessed record conversion activity globally in 2024. IHG acquired the Ruby Hotels brand in February 2025 and announced its first two signings shortly after. In the Essentials segment, which makes up almost 70% of IHGs European footprint, the company marked the European debut for its new midscale conversion brand, Garner Hotels, in 2024. The growing demand for extended stays is reflected in IHGs Europe pipeline for its Suites portfolio of brands, which surpasses the current system size, indicating healthy future growth prospects. As of the end of 2024, IHG has 878 open hotels across 39 countries in Europe, with 260 more in development. Its largest markets include the UK, Germany, France, and Spain. Wait! Before you go Please sign up for our Evening Digest and Breaking Newsletters Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Error! There was an error processing your request. * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. 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We also offer combined rates with MusicThinkTank. iciHaiti - Vietnam : Closing of the 15th Francophone Film Festival at the Embassy of Haiti The 15th Vietnam Francophone Film Festival had a memorable closing ceremony at the Embassy of Haiti in Hanoi, bringing together film enthusiasts, diplomats, and fans of Francophone culture. Other embassies, such as those of Canada, Switzerland, Morocco, and many others, had the opportunity to screen their films at the National Cinema Center, offering the public an immersive experience of a variety of works. The closing ceremony featured the screening of the acclaimed Haitian film Freda by director Gessica Geneus, which captivated the audience with its emotional power and authentic portrayal of contemporary Haitian society. The audience also had the opportunity to sample traditional Haitian cuisine. Typical dishes such as griot, tasso, and banane pesee delight the taste buds, offering a complete immersion in Haitian culture beyond cinema. Darlier Dorval, Charge d'Affaires of the Embassy of Haiti, took the opportunity to present the famous Haitian Barbancourt rum, a convivial moment that allowed guests to taste an emblematic Haitian drink while chatting in a warm and relaxed atmosphere. During the evening, a plaque of honor was awarded to the eminent Haitian designer Do Tri Nam, in recognition of his ongoing commitment to honoring Haiti through his creations and activities. The designer, who promotes Haiti's name through his works, was praised for his hard work and passion for Haitian culture. IH/ iciHaiti realme is officially launching the realme C75x on March 30a new variant of its Waterproof, Worry-proof smartphone that keeps the best features of the realme C75 but at a more affordable price. This latest edition offers an unbeatable combination of performance, storage, and fresh new colors at only P7,999 SRP. The Squad can enjoy another "Waterproof, Worry-proof" device at a more affordable price For a limited time only, the Squad can grab the realme C75x at an incredibly discounted price during its first-selling period. From March 30 to April 6, the realme C75x is dropping exclusively first on realmes TikTok Shop for as low as P6,067a deal thats too good to miss. Designed for those who demand smooth multitasking, the realme C75x comes with 8GB of RAM, which can be expanded up to 24GB with Dynamic RAM Expansion. Whether handling multiple apps simultaneously or switching between intense gaming sessions and work tasks, the realme C75x ensures seamless performance. Meanwhile, the 128GB ROM provides enough space to store essential files, photos, and favorite apps without worrying about running out of storage. Just like its predecessor the realme C75, the realme C75x boasts three IP certifications: IP69, IP68, and IP66 Ingress Protection ratings, ensuring resistance against dust, high-pressure water jets, and full water submersion, so the Squad can stay relaxed even when the device is caught in the rain or dropped into a pool of water. And since summer is coming, the realme C75x has a 50MP Underwater Camera that lets the Squad take stunning photos and videos underwater, turning poolside hangouts and beach vacations into picture-perfect memories. The Squad also needs a phone that can keep up with them and the realme C75x is equipped with a 5600mAh battery combined with 45W SUPERVOOC Charge, which provides fast charging capabilities, up to 12 hours of video playback, and almost 8 hours of mobile gaming. Plus, even after years of use, the battery maintains 80% of its health, ensuring longevity. The Squad needs a smartphone that keeps up with their pace, and the realme C75x delivers with a 5600mAh battery and 45W SUPERVOOC Charge for long battery life and lightning-fast charging. It offers up to 12 hours of video playback and nearly 8 hours of mobile gaming. Plus, the battery maintains 80% health retention even after years of use, ensuring its built for the long run. Adding a fresh touch to its sleek design, the realme C75x debuts in two stylish new shades, Coral Pink and Oceanic Blue, offering a trendy, cool-toned finish. With its unbeatable combination of durability, performance, and affordability, the realme C75x proves that a high-quality smartphone doesnt have to break the bank. Keep posted on the latest news and announcements from realme, visit the brands official website, and follow its Facebook page. Get the latest entertainment news, reviews and star-studded interviews with our Independent Culture email Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice John Boyega has hit out at prejudiced Star Wars fans following the racism he experienced when he starred in the franchise in 2015. The 33-year-old British actor debuted as former Stormtrooper Finn in The Force Awakens, but was almost instantly targeted by bigoted online fans of the sci-fi epic, who also criticised women in the cast. His co-stars Daisy Ridley and Kelly Marie Tran the latter of whom became the first woman of colour to have a leading role in the franchise received a huge amount of abuse from fans who were angry with the inclusive casting choice. Speaking in a new documentary called Number One on the Call Sheet: Black Leading Men in Hollywood, Boyega condemned the fans that rallied against his role in the films. He said: Lemme tell ya, Star Wars always had the vibe of being in the most whitest, elite space. It's a franchise that's so white that a Black person existing in [it] was something." Continuing, Boyega explained that one of the biggest problems with some Star Wars fans was that they tried to make a big deal out of having just a few Black actors in the films. open image in gallery Boyega in Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens ( Lucasfilm Ltd & TM ) You can always tell it's something when some Star Wars fans try to say, 'Well, we had Lando Calrissian and had Samuel L Jackson!, he said. It's like telling me how many cookie chips are in the cookie dough. It's like, they just scattered that in there, bro! They're okay with us playing the best friend, but once we touch their heroes, once we lead, once we trailblaze, it's like, 'Oh my God, it's just a bit too much! They're pandering,'" he added. Boyega isnt entirely critical of his time on Star Wars, calling it a fundamental moment in his career. We waited months for that. When that big call came in, that's that call that all those stars talk about that changed their life and stuff. It's like, 'That's it? That's the call!' It's such an attack on reality. Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 day New subscribers only. 8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled. Try for free ADVERTISEMENT. If you sign up to this service we will earn commission. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent. Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 day New subscribers only. 8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled. Try for free ADVERTISEMENT. If you sign up to this service we will earn commission. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent. I got in a taxi and told the driver. That was the first person I told. My mom's not here, my dad's not here, we're sharing in this moment, bro. 'Bro, I just got Star Wars!' He was like, 'Oh, yeah, congratulations mate. Great, that'll be 45 pounds, please.' It was that kinda moment. But I had to share. I know the rules were like, 'Don't share.' But come on, man, you just offered me the opportunity of a lifetime!" open image in gallery John Boyega in 2022 ( Getty Images ) The Attack the Block star has previously criticised Star Wars by suggesting that the white characters in the sequel trilogy, played by Ridley and Adam Driver were given more nuance and attention. In a 2020 interview with GQ magazine, Boyega said: You get yourself involved in projects and youre not necessarily going to like everything. What I would say to Disney is: do not bring out a Black character, market them to be much more important in the franchise than they are and then have them pushed to the side. Its not good. Ill say it straight up. Get the inside track from Roisin O'Connor with our free weekly music newsletter Now Hear This Get our free music newsletter Now Hear This Get our free music newsletter Now Hear This Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Kanye West has sparked uproar once again after wearing a black Ku Klux Klan outfit during an interview released on Rumble by internet personality DJ Akademiks. During the hour-long conversation, West, 47, made several controversial comments about other individuals in the music industry while wearing the black leather garment with the infamous pointed hood. West had started the interview in a t-shirt designed by disgraced rapper Sean Diddy Combs and a necklace complete with a swastika medallion, which he had previously worn in a video with white supremacist Nick Fuentes. The rapper claimed that he had the outfit custom-made along with an identical white one. When asked if he had worn the controversial attire in public, West claimed that he wanted to wear it yesterday but was worried that people would put me in a hospital for my outfit. Condemnation of West for his latest stunt has been swift, with one person on X/Twitter writing: This dude just needs to go away. A second said: I wouldve ended the interview right there. An absolute clown. Quoting one of Wests songs, a third person added: That's enough Mr West, please no more today. The Independent has contacted Wests representatives for comment. open image in gallery Kanye West wears a black KKK outfit during an interview with DJ Akademiks ( DJ Akademiks/Rumble ) In recent weeks, West has displayed an infatuation with the swastika and other Nazi imagery. In another now-deleted post, West claimed to be teasing a new artwork for his Sunday service choir that bore a striking resemblance to the logo of the SS. Last month, the rapper appeared in a 60-second ad at the Super Bowl, in which he directed viewers to his website to sell T-shirts bearing a swastika. The shirts cost $20, though the sales website yeezy.com later stated that the store was unavailable. Earlier this month, West shared an Instagram post of a person wearing a white Ku Klux Klan outfit, which he branded outfit of the day, The post was removed for violating community guidelines. WOW INSTAGRAM TOOK MY POST DOWN, he wrote in a since-deleted tweet, alongside a screenshot of his empty Instagram profile, as well as a screenshot of a message from Instagram informing him that the photo had been removed. Enjoy unlimited access to 100 million ad-free songs and podcasts with Amazon Music Sign up now for a 30-day free trial. Terms apply. Try for free ADVERTISEMENT. If you sign up to this service we will earn commission. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent. Enjoy unlimited access to 100 million ad-free songs and podcasts with Amazon Music Sign up now for a 30-day free trial. Terms apply. Try for free ADVERTISEMENT. If you sign up to this service we will earn commission. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent. open image in gallery Kanye West's recent Instagram post of a person in a Ku Klux Klan outfit was removed for violating community guidelines ( Getty Images for The Recording Academy ) According to Instagram, posts that are deemed credible threats of violence, hate speech and the targeting of private individuals will be removed as we do not allow attacks or abuse based on race, ethnicity, national origin, sex, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, disability or disease. The latest stunt from West comes after a string of controversies over his antisemitic statements. In 2022, he made a series of remarks, including a tweet that said he was going death con 3 On JEWISH PEOPLE You guys have toyed with me and tried to black ball anyone whoever opposes your agenda. In a later appearance on right-wing conspiracy theorist Alex Joness show Infowars, he claimed he likes Hitler and insisted: Weve got to stop dissing the Nazis all the time. Sports and leisurewear brand Adidas cut ties with West after his comments, which wiped his billionaire status overnight. In a statement at the time, Adidas branded the remarks unacceptable, hateful and dangerous, adding that they violate the companys values of diversity and inclusion, mutual respect and fairness. 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 Bruce Parry has been heralded a hero of modern documentary TV by fans for his wild exploits in the reboot of his Noughties adventure series, Tribe. The former Royal Marine, 56, first starred in the BBC2 documentary series from 2004 to 2007, which saw him live with various tribal groups to better understand their culture. For the 2025 edition, the show has been rebranded as Tribe with Bruce Parry and sees the explorer projectile vomit after doing psychedelics with the Waimaha people in the Colombian Amazon rainforest. Elsewhere in the show, Parry visited The Mucubal tribe in Angola where he suffocated a goat with his bare hands, describing the incident as the most gruesome thing Ive ever done. Fans were ecstatic to see Parrys escapades return to screens after a near two-decade hiatus, with memes of the former Royal Marine vomiting going viral on social media. Great to see Bruce Parry back doing psychedelics and shoving scorpions up his a*** to impress tribesmen, one viewer wrote on X/Twitter. These undiscovered tribes must see him coming, another person added. open image in gallery Bruce Parry has been heralded a 'TV hero' after returning to screens for a new series of 'Tribe' ( BBC ) Theyve put chillies up his nose, made him eat cold boiled frogs and are now making him puke his guts out. And he remained cheerful! Meanwhile, a third fan praised Parry for his deep immersion into indigenous cultures dubbing the series both eye opening and humbling. Whats a Sunday night without watching Bruce Parry being sick on the telly? another person asked, while further fans dubbed the explorer f****** bonkers for taking part in the tribes rituals. 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 new series of Tribe is a three-episode mini series in which Parry visits communities who face threat in todays modern world. Speaking about the comeback, Parry said: Its been over twenty years since Tribe first aired. open image in gallery Fans were delighted by footage of the explorer vomiting after taking psychedelic drugs in the Amazon ( BBC ) Living with people who experience the world in such profoundly different ways was eye-opening then, but today it feels vital, he added. I believe we have so much to learn from those who still live in deep connection with the world around them, the explorer continued. It feels a huge privilege that the BBC has allowed me to explore these places and themes once again. The Tribe reboot has received largely positive reviews with The Guardians Jack Seale awarding the mini-series four stars, despite the repetitive nature of the shows format. It is the same old same old, Seale writes of Parry vomiting in the jungle. But it feels good to reconnect. A group of Buddhist monks in saffron robes are gathered beside a shrine lying collapsed on the ground but seemingly intact, as if someone has pushed it over. They are not looking at this but at a mid-rise, primrose-yellow building a few hundred yards away. As the monks film on their phones the building, seemingly solid one moment, suddenly collapses into itself, the upper storeys disappearing in a cloud of dust as the monks flinch, crouch and then quickly resume filming again. One can only hope that everyone inside had already got out. Meanwhile, the top of the spire of Shwe Sar Yan pagoda near Mandalay, near the epicentre of the earthquake, snaps off as onlookers scream and weep at the demise of this thousand-year-old pagoda. In Mandalay, the exquisite royal palace, built in the 1850s, has suffered damage too. Buildings across the country, from apartment blocks in cities to bamboo homes in refugee camps, have collapsed, with thousands of casualties likely trapped inside. It could not come at a worse time for Myanmar with the repressive military regime engaged in a brutal war against the population. Since the coup in 2021, five million people have been forced to flee their homes, and at least 6,000 have been killed by the countrys military, who have carried out bombing campaigns on villages, schools and hospitals, executed prisoners, and carried out massacres. Mark Farmaner, the director of Burma Campaign UK, says: Theres a feeling in Myanmar of: Not this, after everything else that we have suffered. Myanmar has indeed faced tragedy after tragedy in the last 80 years. The leader of its independence movement, Aung San, was assassinated in 1947, just as he was poised to become Burmas first post-independence prime minister. Then in 1962, just as Burmas ethnic minority groups were about to get greater autonomy, the military staged a coup, renamed the country Myanmar, and so began decades of repressive military rule that continues today. Aung Sans daughter, Aung San Suu Kyi, has been imprisoned by the military on and off since 1989. In 2020, she led the National League for Democracy (NLD) to election victory, but the military prevented the NLD from taking power. In December 2022, they sentenced Aung San Suu Kyi to 30 years in prison, later reduced to 27, under trumped-up charges of corruption and treason, meaning that she will not be released until she is over 100. Myanmar is also one of the countries most severely affected by the climate crisis. In 2008, Cyclone Nargis caused devastating floods, as inland tsunamis ripped children from their parents arms, and destroyed villages, towns and crops. With 2.4 million in desperate need of aid, the military regime preferred to let the survivors die from disease and starvation rather than allow aid agencies in. open image in gallery Some of the devastation in Mandalay, central Myanmar, after the earthquake ( Reuters ) Convoys were turned back, and much aid was confiscated. We will never know the death toll, but it was estimated at 200,000, many preventable. Will things be different this time? The regime has unusually requested international aid. However, simultaneously, there are reports that they are taking advantage of the tragedy to bomb Shan State, one of the regions liberated from the regime. In the past, international aid agencies have routed their aid through Yangon. The danger is that if they do this, it wont get to where its needed as the government will prevent it from reaching areas it doesnt control, warns Farmaner. With the military government only in full control of around 20 per cent of the country, even if they are willing to allow international aid in, they will likely be unable to get the aid to the remote regions where it is needed. The charity Advance Myanmar has been providing emergency aid to tens of thousands of people in remote areas who have fled attacks by the military and where local administrations are working heroically to rescue people from collapsed buildings and treat the injured. They warn: The Myanmar military impose some of the most severe restrictions on humanitarian aid anywhere in the world ... We cant have another situation where international aid for a crisis in Myanmar is blocked or delayed by the Myanmar military. open image in gallery Buildings across the country have collapsed, leaving thousands still trapped ( Reuters ) Both the UK and US governments have recently announced savage cuts to international aid, which are already badly affecting the people of Myanmar, making their plight even worse. Because the earthquake struck during prayers on the last Friday of Ramadan, many of Myanmars Muslim minority were trapped inside mosques that collapsed: the repair or building of mosques has been largely banned by the anti-Muslim military government since 1962. There is one glimmer of hope amid tragedy: the military regime is deeply superstitious. The fact that the earthquake happened hours after Armed Forces Day was celebrated may be another blow to the dictator, General Min Aung Hlaing, whose support among even the military is crumbling. Could the earthquake help hasten his fall? Burma is one of the most beautiful countries in the world. But it is also one of the most benighted. Denied democracy, devastated by natural disaster, its suffering but stoic people surely deserve our support in what may yet be their greatest hour of need. You can donate here 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 Four more people have been rescued from the rubble in Myanmar three days after a powerful earthquake devastated parts of the country, as fears grew that the true death toll could climb above 10,000. In Mandalay, a Chinese search and rescue team pulled a woman alive from the rubble of the Great Wall Hotel in the early hours of Monday, nearly 60 hours after the earthquake struck. The woman had been trapped under heavy debris, and rescuers worked for hours to free her. A video shared by local media showed onlookers applauding as she was lowered down from a mountain of rubble in the bucket of a large excavator, before being carried away on a stretcher. She was reported to be in stable condition, according to the Chinese embassy, which confirmed the rescue in a statement. China is among several countries, including India, Thailand and Russia, that have sent rescue teams and aid to assist in the ongoing search for survivors. Another video showed a child being pulled out to safety after 60 hours. Survivors were also pulled out from a collapsed school in the northern Sagaing region, according to Myanmars fire department, which recovered one body from the site. In another rescue attempt on Sunday, a pregnant woman was pulled from the rubble of a collapsed 12-storey apartment complex in Mandalay after being trapped for more than two days. Rescuers were forced to amputate one of her legs to extricate her, according to The Guardian. However, she was pronounced dead shortly after being freed. Across central Myanmar, rescue teams and volunteers were scrambling to save lives, hampered by a lack of equipment, with some rescuers using their bare hands to search for the missing. The official death toll in Myanmar rose to more than 2,000 on Monday, according to the military junta. Hundreds remain missing, and many communities are yet to be reached due to blocked roads, damaged bridges and the countrys ongoing civil conflict. open image in gallery Rescue teams work to save residents trapped under the rubble of the destroyed Sky Villa Condominium development in Mandalay ( AFP via Getty Images ) On Saturday night, an elderly woman was rescued in Myanmar's capital, Naypyidaw, after being trapped for 36 hours under the rubble of a hospital. A 27-year-old who was trapped beneath the rubble of the eight-storey hotel where she worked, said she relied on the light from her mobile phone for hours to maintain a sense of orientation. My phone was in my hand and I focused on the light from it, and that helped to ease my fear, Mut Naung told The Times. The US Geological Survey (USGS) has estimated that the final death toll could exceed 10,000, based on predictive modelling that accounts for the countrys infrastructure, building types and access to rescue services. open image in gallery A person goes through rubble at a Buddhist monastery building that has collapsed following an earthquake in Naypyitaw, Myanmar ( AP ) In Bangkok, the death toll from the collapse of an under-construction skyscraper rose to 12 on Sunday, with the total death toll at 19. At least 76 workers are still believed to be buried under the debris as authorities say the. Thai authorities said signs of life were detected at the site over the weekend, but the chances of survival were narrowing with each passing hour. In Bangkok, deputy governor Tavida Kamolvej said rescuers were racing to reach an area beneath a collapsed high-rise where signs of life had been detected, three days after the quake. Realistic chances of survival diminish after 72 hours, she told reporters. We have to speed up. Were not going to stop even after 72 hours. open image in gallery Thai rescue teams speed up their efforts after the 72 hour rescue window passed, at a collapsed construction building on Monday in Bangkok, Thailand ( Getty Images ) Fridays 7.7-magnitude quake, which struck near Mandalay just 10km below the surface, was the most powerful to hit Myanmar in more than a century. More than 23,000 people have been affected across central Myanmar, according to the United Nations, which has rushed relief supplies to the region. Humanitarian groups have warned that many quake-hit areas remain inaccessible, particularly those in conflict zones where military airstrikes continue despite international appeals for a ceasefire. The UNs refugee agency said its teams in Mandalay were working despite going through the trauma themselves. open image in gallery Russian Emergency Ministry employees gather to board one of two planes with rescuers to Myanmar following Friday's earthquake, from a Moscow airfield, Russia. ( Russian Emergency Ministry Press Service via AP ) Meanwhile, aid has begun to arrive from China, India, Russia, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore and other countries. The US has pledged $2m in support and deployed an emergency response team from USAID. Health facilities have been severely damaged and are facing shortages of trauma kits, blood bags and essential medicines, according to the UNs humanitarian agency. Many rescues in the early hours relied on local residents digging through rubble by hand before international teams arrived. Myanmar has been engulfed in a civil war since the military seized power in 2021, displacing over 3.5 million people and deepening an ongoing humanitarian crisis. The National Unity Government, representing the ousted civilian administration, has announced a two-week pause in offensive military operations in areas affected by the earthquake. open image in gallery Patients lie on beds in the compound of Mandalay General Hospital in Mandalay on Monday, three days after the deadly Myanmar earthquake ( AFP via Getty Images ) But a rebel group said the military was still conducting airstrikes on villages in the aftermath of the quake, actions that were condemned by the UNs special rapporteur for Myanmar, Tom Andrews, as outrageous and unacceptable. Singapore's foreign minister called for an immediate ceasefire to help relief efforts. Critical infrastructure like bridges, highways, airports and railways lie damaged across the country of 55 million, slowing humanitarian efforts. Satellite imagery showed the air traffic control tower at the capitals Naypyidaw International Airport had completely collapsed. With the monsoon season approaching in April, aid groups have warned that many displaced communities face heightened risks of flooding and disease in the weeks to come. On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake turned high-rise buildings to rubble and sent people rushing out of their homes in Myanmar and Thailand on Friday. At least 1,700 have been killed, 3,400 people have been injured and 300 are missing in Myanmar, the countrys ruling military junta said amid warnings that the toll is expected to rise. In Thailand, Bangkok authorities reduced the death toll to 18. Some 26 people have been injured and 76 others are missing at sites including at a high-rise building which collapsed, authorities said. The quake struck at a depth of 10km, about 17.2km from Myanmars second-largest city of Mandalay, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS). open image in gallery The powerful earthquake struck about 17.2km from Myanmar's second-largest city of Mandalay ( The Independent/Datawrapper ) The midday temblor was followed by a strong 6.4 magnitude aftershock, and people in Bangkok evacuated from their buildings were cautioned to stay outside in case there were more. Shauna-Rose, an Irish backpacker in Bangkok, recalled scenes if chaos in the hours following the quake. She told The Independent: The city was at a standstill, all the metros were stopped, malls were closed, people were frantically buying water from any shops that were still opened, the streets were jammed and there were people everywhere that you could barely even move. Three people died in Myanmar after a mosque partially collapsed, according to reports. The quake destroyed multiple buildings and damaged palaces in popular tourist areas of Myanmar a country already affected by the ongoing civil war between the military and the armed rebel forces. The scale of infrastructural damage is severe in the country, with the UNs humanitarian agency saying on Saturday that aid access was being impeded by damaged roads and collapsed structures. open image in gallery People stand near the site of a collapsed building after a strong earthquake struck central Myanmar on Friday ( Reuters ) Social media posts from Mandalay showed collapsed buildings and debris strewn across streets of the city. The colonial era Ava bridge which connected the Mandalay and Sagaing regions, collapsed into the Irrawady River shortly after the first jolt. A rescue worker from Amarapura, an ancient city and now a township of Mandalay, told Reuters that the bodies of 30 people had been recovered from collapsed multi-story apartment blocks. I have never experienced anything like this before our town looks like a collapsed city," he told the news agency, estimating that about a fifth of the buildings had been destroyed. The quake also brought down a skyscraper under construction in Bangkok, where at least eight people are reported to have been killed, with scores more missing. A rescue operation in underway to save dozens of trapped workers. open image in gallery Impacted area of the massive 7.7 earthquake ( USGS ) Witnesses in Bangkok said people ran out onto the streets in panic, many of them hotel guests in bathrobes and swimming costumes as water cascaded down from an elevated pool at a luxury hotel. open image in gallery ( AFP/Getty ) Water from high-rise rooftop pools sloshed over the side as they shook, and debris fell from many buildings as the long-lasting earthquake rattled the city. According to Chinese media reports, the earthquake was also felt in Chinas Yunnan and Sichuan provinces, and caused damage and injuries in the city of Ruili which sits on the border with Myanmar. Footage reported to have been captured in Ruili showed building debris littering a street and a person being wheeled in a stretcher toward an ambulance. The shaking in Mangshi, a Chinese city some 60 miles northeast of Ruili, was so strong that people couldn't stand, one resident told The Paper, an online media outlet. Additional reporting by agencies On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake devastated Myanmar early Friday, with its tremors felt as far away as Bangkok, some 800 miles (1,300 kilometres) distant. The quake inflicted widespread damage in two of Myanmars key cities, Mandalay and the capital, Naypyidaw, leaving a trail of destruction and claiming numerous lives. Rescue efforts are ongoing, with teams still working tirelessly to find survivors amid the rubble of collapsed buildings. The death toll has climbed to more than 2,000. The earthquakes impact extended beyond Myanmars borders. In Bangkok, fatalities were confirmed at three construction sites, including a high-rise building where the death toll climbed to 18 on Sunday. Here is what to know about earthquakes and why experts cant predict when they will strike. open image in gallery Rescue teams work to save people trapped under the rubble of a building in Mandalay, Myanmar ( AFP via Getty Images ) What are earthquakes and why do they happen in certain parts of the world? The Earth's crust is broken up into several pieces called tectonic plates, which fit together like a jigsaw puzzle. This formation is mostly stable, but along the edges they are moving, Columbia University geophysicist Michael Steckler said. Pressure builds up when sliding plates get stuck, increasing very slowly for decades or for hundreds of years, and then all of a sudden the rock plates will jump", triggering shaking that causes an earthquake, Mr Steckler said. Earthquakes typically occur along edges of tectonic plates. But their impacts may be felt in a broader region. Earthquakes that occur in the ocean don't always attract attention, but those that occur close to where people live can cause deaths and injuries, most often from collapsed buildings. open image in gallery Myanmar has declared a state of emergency after the 7.7 magnitude earthquake ( EPA ) What do scientists know about earthquakes in advance? Scientists have a good idea of where earthquakes are likely to strike, "but we can't predict when they'll occur, USGS seismologist Will Yeck said. However, after the initial big earthquake, researchers are able to project that other smaller earthquakes nearby, called aftershocks, are likely. Aftershocks are triggered because of changes to stress in the Earth from the main shock, Mr Yeck said. Given the magnitude of the quake in Myanmar, you will probably see aftershocks for the next several months, Mr Steckler said. open image in gallery A building under construction collapsed in the quake ( AP ) What should you do if you're in a building when earthquake shaking begins? In regions of the world with known active fault lines, including California and Japan, building codes are often designed to withstand earthquakes. But that's not true everywhere. If you feel shaking, the guidance depends on where you are in the world, Mr Yeck said. In many countries, if you're inside when an earthquake occurs, it's advisable to drop to the ground, cover your head for example, by crawling under a desk or other sturdy structure and hold onto that structure, he said. Try to avoid areas near glass windows and don't use building elevators. If you're outside, try to remain in an area away from buildings or trees that could fall. Depending on the location, there may be secondary hazards triggered by earthquakes, such as landslides, fires or tsunamis, he 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 Colombian authorities released former Medellin Cartel boss Carlos Lehder on Monday after a judge ruled that a drug trafficking sentence issued in Colombia against the 75-year-old had expired. Lehder was arrested Friday night shortly after he landed in Bogota's airport, with immigration officials saying he was still wanted in the South American country on drug trafficking charges and weapons smuggling. Lehder became the first Colombian drug trafficker extradited to the United States after he was arrested during a party at his ranch. The former drug trafficker was extradited to the U.S. in 1987, where he served more than 30 years in prison. In 2020, Lehder was released after serving two-thirds of his U.S. sentence. He was deported to Germany, where he is also a citizen. Lehder had not returned to Colombia since his extradition to the United States. His lawyer, Sondra Macollins said he was attempting to visit relatives when he arrived Friday. He is recovering from cancer, and has high blood pressure problems, Macollins told Colombias Blu radio. We are talking about someone who spent years in dark cells. Pablo Escobar and Carlos Lehder ( American Heroes Channel ) Colombian authorities convicted Lehder for drug trafficking in 1995, while he was serving the separate sentence at a U.S. prison. The cartel boss was sentenced to 24 years in prison in Colombia, meaning his sentence expired in 2019, according to Colombian law. The son of a German immigrant who arrived in Colombia in the 1920s, Lehder began his criminal career in the 1970s when he lived with relatives in New York City. He used his contacts and his knowledge of English to open cocaine markets for the Medellin Cartel and became a key ally of its boss Pablo Escobar. Lehder bought land in the Bahamas that became a crucial stopover point for cocaine flights. In Colombia, he owned a luxurious rural hotel known as the Posada Alemana, which had caged lions on its grounds and a large statue of Lehders favorite musician, John Lennon. In the U.S., Lehder was initially sentenced to life in prison but managed to reduce his sentence by providing U.S. investigators with information that was used to prosecute Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega. 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 The government has insisted Britains food standards would not be compromised after the UK and the US agreed on a trade deal to eliminate a series of tariffs. Agriculture is a key part of the new trade deal announced on Thursday by Sir Keir Starmer and Donald Trump. Tariffs have been reduced on US products, including beef and ethanol, in return for moves that help British cars and steel. After the deal was announced, government sources insisted imports of hormone-treated beef or chlorinated chicken, previously described as red lines for the UK in any agreement, would remain illegal. The agreement on beef provides a tariff-free quota for 13,000 tonnes of US exports, but the government said there would be no drop in food standards as a result of the deal. It also includes access to British beef exports to the US. Chlorine-washed chicken a controversial method of cleaning farmed animals to kill bacteria was a major product being touted as part of the deal. While evidence suggests the chlorine wash itself is not harmful, critics argue treating chicken with the chemical will allow for poorer hygiene earlier on in the production process. However, Liz Webster, founder of Save British Farming, told The Independent: The British public is rightly appalled by chlorinated chicken and hormone-fed beef. We are an animal-loving nation that values high standards, and we must not trade them away. Packs of Brexit Selection Freshly Chlorinated Chicken sit on display at Costupper Brexit Minimart pop-up store, set up by the Peoples Vote campaign group, in November 2018 ( Getty ) But what exactly does the evidence on chlorine-washed chicken show? What is chlorinated chicken? Chlorinated chicken or chlorine-washed chicken refers to chicken carcasses that have been washed or dipped in water containing chlorine dioxide. This is done to kill organisms that could make you ill, such as E coli, campylobacter and Salmonella. Is it bad for me? If you ate a large amount of chlorinated chicken the equivalent to 5 per cent of your body weight in one day you could potentially be exposed to harmful levels of the chemical compound known as chlorate, according to the European Commission. Long-term exposure to chlorate in food, particularly in drinking water, is a potential health concern for children, especially those with mild or moderate iodine deficiency, according to the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). A high intake of chlorate on a single day could be toxic for humans as it can limit the bloods ability to absorb oxygen, leading to kidney failure, while chronic exposure to chlorate can inhibit iodine uptake. However, there is no proof that eating chlorinated chicken would put health at risk. The EFSA has said that chemical substances in poultry meat are unlikely to pose an immediate or acute health risk for consumers. Is it cleaner than non-chlorinated chicken? A 2014 report by US non-profit Consumer Reports found that 97 per cent of 300 American chicken breasts tested contained harmful bacteria including Salmonella, campylobacter and E.Coli. Around half of the chicken breasts tested also contained at least one type of bacteria that was resistant to three or more antibiotics. In general, you are over seven times more likely to get food poisoning in the US than in the UK, according to data from the UKs Food Standards Agency (FSA) and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Moreover, a 2018 study from the University of Southampton found chlorine-washing was not totally effective in killing pathogens on fresh vegetables. The research also suggested that chlorinating foods "can make foodborne pathogens undetectable", rather than eliminating them. Why arent British farmers allowed to use this technique? Chlorinated chicken was first banned by the EU in 1997. The EU stipulates that chicken can only be washed in water or substances explicitly approved by the European Commission. Those who are against chlorine washing claim that, rather than the chlorine itself being the problem, its what the chlorine is hiding. Treating the carcasses this way can enable lower standards of hygiene and animal welfare farmers can rely on chemicals to kill off harmful bacteria at the end of the process, rather than maintaining high standards at every stage. However, Ken Isley from the US Department of Agriculture, said: I think the concerns and fear are unfounded. I would stack US food safety and our food safety record against anywhere in the world. How can I tell if chicken has been chlorinated? In the US, chickens are not labelled as having been washed in chlorine. Some of those lobbying for the UK to accept US imports of chlorine-washed chicken have argued that it should be up to consumers to decide, as long as its clearly labelled. However, according to Sustain, an organisation that campaigns for better food and farming, there is currently no requirement for food producers to inform UK consumers about whether or not chlorine was used, neither are restaurants nor caterers required to say where their meat is from. Unless the limitations of current UK food labelling legislation are addressed, it is hard to see how British consumers would know whether their chicken had been treated with chlorinated water. The US also regards specific labelling of country of origin as an illegitimate barrier to its exports and pushes to have the practice banned as part of trade agreements it signs with other countries. Is chlorinated chicken part of a trade deal with the US? Chlorinated chicken was not included in the trade deal announced by Sir Keir and Mr Trump on Thursday. Farming leaders welcomed the governments efforts to maintain high standards and secure reciprocal access for beef but raised concerns about the inclusion of bioethanol, a fuel made from crops, in the deal. According to the most recent significant polling on the subject, which was carried out in 2020, 80 per cent of the British public are against allowing imports of chlorinated chicken, and the same percentage are against permitting chicken products that have been raised with hormones. Following pressure from the British public, former prime ministers Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak were compelled to rule out compromises on hormone-fed beef and chlorinated chicken in future trade deal negotiations with the US. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A woman has been arrested on suspicion of concealing a birth, neglect and infanticide after her newborn baby boy was found dead outside a church inLondon. The mother, aged in her 30s, was taken to a nearby hospital to ensure all necessary medical care was provided to her, Metropolitan Police said. She remains in hospital. The body of the newborn boy was discovered in a black Marks & Spencer bag by a council refuse worker outside All Saints Church, off Talbot Road in Notting Hill, at 12.46pm on Tuesday. open image in gallery Tributes outside All Saints Church in Notting Hill, west London, where a babys body was found in a bag on Tuesday (Yui Mok/PA) ( PA ) Scotland Yard said a forensic post-mortem on the baby will take place later this week with detectives remaining open-minded about the circumstances that led to his death. Superintendent Owen Renowden, who leads policing for Kensington and Chelsea said: We believe that the woman is the babys mother and I am reassured that she is receiving the support she needs, while officers continue their work to understand what took place. I recognise that the news of this arrest may cause concern among our community, but when dealing with investigations of this nature our priority is to ensure the welfare of all involved and ensure that all lines of enquiry are fully explored. open image in gallery Metropolitan Police Superintendent Owen Renowden speaking to the media outside All Saints Church in Notting Hill, west London ( PA ) He added: I appreciate the high level of attention that this investigation has received, but we politely ask for the public not to speculate. Detectives are still appealing for anyone with any information to contact police on 101 or at @MetCC quoting CAD1879 of 26 March. 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 Five women who allege they were abused by Mohamed Al Fayed have said they are planning to launch a legal claim for personal injury against the late billionaires estate. Law firm Leigh Day, which represents the claimants, said a pre-action letter has been sent to lawyers for the estate on behalf of the women, who worked for the former Harrods boss between 1995 and 2012. They allege they were subjected to serious sexual abuse, harassment and mistreatment. Lawyer Richard Meeran, from Leigh Day, said: We have taken this step on behalf of those of our clients who were abused by Al Fayed while working for him or his other businesses outside of Harrods. Much of the media reporting around Al Fayeds decades of depraved and predatory behaviour has centred around his work at Harrods but it is important that his estate is also made legally accountable for the widespread abuse he perpetrated against those who may never have had dealings with the famous store. Our clients took on roles as professionals and should have been able to expect a safe working environment, instead they were subjected to serious sexual abuse, harassment and mistreatment. Some faced further verbal abuse and threats when they tried to raise their concerns or report the abuse. open image in gallery More than 100 alleged victims have contacted police to say they were sexually abused by Mohamed Al Fayed (PA) ( PA Archive ) A spokesperson for Leigh Day added: The letters are sent under the pre-action protocol for personal injury claims and mark the first formal step in the legal process prior to the commencement of court proceedings. Lawyers from Leigh Day are currently representing 27 people in claims relating to alleged abuse by Mr Al Fayed and his brother Salah Fayed. The firm said its legal team has been instructed by its clients to pursue civil compensation claims and to press for an independent public inquiry into the alleged abuse. The Metropolitan Police is currently reviewing a total of 21 allegations that were made before Mr Al Fayed died in 2023, and referred two of these to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) last November. More than 100 alleged victims have contacted police to say they were sexually abused by the tycoon, the youngest of whom is thought to have been 13 at the time. A number of allegations were made against him while he was still alive. Investigators twice sent files for a charging decision to the Crown Prosecution Service once in 2008 relating to three victims and again in 2015 linked to one other. On another three occasions in 2018, 2021 and 2023 the CPS was asked for what is called early investigative advice, but the matters were not pursued further by police. The Faldgate law firm, which represents the Al Fayed estate, has been contacted for comment. 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 An 84-year-old man who was viciously attacked by two XL bully dogs has died over a month after he was rushed to hospital with serious injuries. Police were forced to shoot the dogs 19 times in Warrington, Cheshire, after they escaped an owners house and attacked the pensioner while he was walking home. A 30-year-old man has been charged for owning a dangerously out of control animal that caused seriously injury, and possession of an illegal dog. Since February last year, it has been a criminal offence to own an XL bully dog in England and Wales without an exemption certificate. It was introduced under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 after 16 deaths by dog bites in 2023 - more than double the six fatalities in 2022. open image in gallery Since February last year, it has been a criminal offence to own an XL bully dog in England and Wales without an exemption certificate ( PA Wire ) Former prime minister Rishi Sunak declared the XL Bully dog a danger to communities, placing it on the list of prohibited breeds that include the Pit bull terrier, Japanese Tosa Dogo Argentino and Fila Braziliero. Accorded to Defra, around 60,000 certificates were issued before 1 February, while compensation was paid out to owners for euthanasia in 326 cases. More than 800 XL bully dogs were also put down by police forces, according to the National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC). Detective Inspector Simon Mills, of Cheshire Police, said: This was a tragic incident, and our thoughts are with the family of the victim at this difficult time. The victim has fought so hard since the attack but sadly his injuries were too much, and despite the best efforts of the specialist medical teams who have supported him since the attack, he has now passed away. To endure such pain and anguish at the hands of an animal is unimaginable, and I cannot begin to comprehend the distress that his family are currently suffering following such an horrific incident. Nobody should have to go through what they have experienced, and our specialist officers are providing them with the support they need at this truly awful time." Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice The last four goats living on an English beauty spot have reportedly been culled by the National Trust. The goats, regularly seen scaling the dramatic cliffs in Brean Down in Somerset, were put down due to poor health including tuberculosis (TB), the charity said. The site is a small peninsula jutting out into the Bristol Channel that features an abandoned fort built to defend the country against a possible Napoleonic invasion. Today, it is popular with walkers for views across the surrounding area, including the seaside town of Weston-super-Mare. It had also been known for its small population of wild goats that grazed on the rocky terrain. However, National Trust South West, which owns the site, said a difficult decision had been taken to cull the goats after health concerns led to tests showing the animals had TB. open image in gallery Brean Down, which is popular with dog walkers, had four remaining goats ( Supplied ) A spokesperson told The Independent the charity only undertook wildlife management when absolutely essential. The spokesperson said: The number of goats on Brean Down has dwindled in recent years to only four goats. This raised significant welfare issues including poor health as a result of the restricted gene pool. Tests confirmed they were also carrying TB. Unfortunately, the goats have had to be culled. We are passionate about caring for special places and the wildlife that lives there, but occasionally have to make difficult decisions. Our approach is guided by the requirement for control interventions to be humane and informed by evidence. Locals had become increasingly concerned about the welfare of the goats in recent years after some had fallen to their deaths from the cliffside. Some had demanded the animal charity RSPCA take action to rehome them after reports they were unwell. It is not unusual for the National Trust to take action in a bid to protect other animals. Four years ago, at Dyrham Park in South Gloucestershire, the charity put down a herd of deer after an outbreak of bovine tuberculosis (bTB). However, as part of a nationwide strategy by the government to reduce the spread of bTB in cattle, the charity has not allowed the culling of badgers on its land. 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 King Charles is set to resume his public duties this week, following a brief hospital stay. The King's schedule includes a blend of public appearances, state duties, and private meetings, commencing at Windsor Castle. A few appointments have been adjusted to accommodate his recovery, ensuring he is prepared for the upcoming state visit to Italy with the Queen next week. On Friday, Charles was seen leaving Clarence House in London, accompanied by the Queen, after spending the night there. This followed what was described as a "minor bump" in his cancer treatment journey. He experienced temporary side effects after a treatment session at the London Clinic on Thursday morning, which necessitated a short period of observation in the hospital. King Charles will resume public engagements this week ( Toby Melville - Pool/Getty Images ) The King then had to cancel a planned visit to Birmingham on Friday to focus on his recovery. Buckingham Palace said the cancellation was a precautionary measure taken on medical advice. His Majesty would like to send his apologies to all those who may be inconvenienced or disappointed as a result. Diagnosed with an undisclosed form of cancer in February 2024, Charles returned to public-facing duties in April, while continuing his weekly treatment. It is understood the side effects, of which specifics have not been disclosed, were not uncommon with many medical treatments. The King was said to be in good spirits on Friday, working on state papers and making calls from his study at Clarence House. He is due to visit Italy with the Queen in early April. Part of the trip was meant to include a visit to the Vatican, but this has been postponed due to medical advice issued to the Pope, who himself has recently been released from hospital following a lengthy stay for pneumonia. The King and Queen will celebrate their 20th wedding anniversary while in Italy. Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice An 11-year-old girl, who is missing after she entered the River Thames, had been paddling on a day off school, residents near the scene have said. The Metropolitan Police said officers were called to reports that the girl had entered the river close to Barge House Causeway, near London City Airport, at about 1.15pm on Monday. Emergency services launched a large-scale response to the incident, the force said, but the search was later scaled down, with London Ambulance Service (LAS), London Fire Brigade (LFB) and the RNLI saying crews had been stood down. The child had been playing near the water with a young boy and girl, residents said. Shaleen Rajaendram, 59, who lives next to Kerry Benadjaoud on Barge House Road near where the incident occurred, said: I heard upstairs a guy was screaming wait there, wait, the police is coming. Ms Rajaendram said he later told her he had been alerted by the children shouting, screaming. The mother continued: Then I saw suddenly two kids were coming out to the top of the bridge, I said what happened? open image in gallery A police helicopter has been dispatched in the search off Barge House Road, east London ( X/IG1IG3 ) Then they said one of my friends was playing in the water, one of my friends has gone into the water and shes gone underneath and we cant find her. Another mother said she carried a life ring to the shoreline to try and save the girl but was unable to find the child. Lifelong area resident Kerry Benadjaoud, 62, said: [A neighbour] said at the time he could see her hands going down. So, by the time I got down there with the ring I couldnt find her. Ms Benadjaoud said she found shoes, a sock, a coat and a phone near the river, and handed the items to the police. Apparently she was paddling, so her socks and shoes were off, her coat, then she must have slipped and gone down, she added. The two women live on a residential street that leads onto Barge House Causeway a concrete slope that goes directly into the River Thames and is used to transport boats. The rescue operation also involves RNLI, a Border Force Viper boat and a search and rescue helicopter, according to news agency UKNIP. open image in gallery The girl entered the water close to the Woolwich Ferry in east London ( Google Maps ) An RNLI spokeswoman said their lifeboat has been stood down after being called to Woolwich. A Scotland Yard spokesperson said: Police were called at around 1.15pm on Monday, 31 March to reports of an 11-year-old girl who had entered the River Thames near to Barge House Causeway, E16. A large scale response is ongoing, supported by all emergency services, working together to conduct an extensive search in efforts to locate her. Her next of kin have been made aware and are being supported by officers. The London Fire Brigade deployed drones and its fire boat to help a systematic search of the area. A London Ambulance Service spokesperson said their crew arrived at the scene but have since been stood down. We sent resources to the scene, including an ambulance crew, an advanced paramedic, an incident response officer and members of our hazardous area response team (HART), they said. 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 Once a sleepy fishing village on the banks of the Camel estuary, Rock has become one of Cornwalls most sought-after destinations and its not hard to see why. With its dune-backed sandy beaches, luxury homes and world-renowned restaurants, Rocks popularity has exploded over the past 20 years, and so has demand for properties, with the wealthy snapping up second homes to cater for relaxing getaways from the city. Take a glimpse in the window of the local estate agent, and youll be forgiven for believing that last weeks downgrading of UK growth was a dream. The cheapest property, priced at 350,000, is a nondescript two-bedroom lodge marketed as an ideal holiday home. At the other end of the scale, five of 18 homes up for sale have asking prices above 1m. No wonder the village is often dubbed Cornwalls Saint-Tropez or Kensington-on-Sea. open image in gallery Cornwall Council estimated in 2021 that 42 per cent of properties in Rocks parish of St Minver Lowlands were second homes ( Getty/iStock ) Further confirmation is found at a high-street deli called Fees, where smartly dressed men discuss financial markets while smart saloon cars are parked outside. Inside, sourdough bread costs 5, a latte 3.60. Yet more than a quarter of people in Cornwall earn under the real living wage, while around 40 per cent of jobs are part time, according to research by the Cornwall Community Foundation. More than one in five of the working population is economically inactive, reports the Office for National Statistics. And herein lies the problem. To buy or rent here, you got to be joking havent you, says local Adrian Rickard, who has recently returned to the village to live with his 76-year-old mother. The father-of-two cannot afford to go to many of the pubs and restaurants in the area the exception being the Rock and District Social Club, where a pint cost members 3.50. open image in gallery Adrian Rickard says hes given up hope looking for somewhere to live in Rock due to rising prices ( The Independent ) The second home ownership thing was increasing, but then Gordon Ramsay bought his 4m home [in Rock] and it went crazy, he adds. In the summer this place is so busy you cant move. At the last official count, Cornwall Council estimated that 42 per cent of properties in Rocks parish of St Minver Lowlands were second homes. The biggest reason for owning a second home, the authority said, was to have a holiday home or a weekend cottage, followed by long-term investment or income. Critics claim such figures show second home ownership is turning once-thriving villages into ghost towns while forcing locals away through a lack of affordable homes. But from Tuesday (1 April), second home owners in Cornwall will see their council tax increase by 100 per cent under a government-supported move that it is hoped will release more properties and ease the areas housing crisis. The county has the highest number of second homes in the country around 13,000, according to the council. The strategy, however, does not go far enough for many. I just dont see it making a difference, says Rickard. If they [second home owners] have got the money to buy a second home, they will have the cash to spend a couple of thousand more on council tax each year. What is needed here is more affordable homes. His fears are shared by fellow lifelong villager Frankie Weatherlong. Ive lived here 75 years, but now [the problem of second home ownership] is really getting bad, he says. The 78-year-old has two sons living abroad, aged 38 and 42, whom he would love to see return to the village, but he says they cant afford it. The prices are terrible, says the retired taxi driver. The governments have done sod all, and now were in this situation its too little, too late. open image in gallery Report published by Cornwall Council in 2021 showing 42 per cent of properties in St Minver Lowlands were second homes ( Cornwall Council ) Inside the newsagent, worker Irene Buckley says shes been on a village housing waiting list for months, while living 11 miles away in Delabole. Any designer homes sold by second home owners will never be within her price bracket, she says. Her friend Helen Richards, who rents in the village with her son, says the answer is to allocate affordable housing in new developments for local people, while lifelong resident Jake Walton says the balance toward second homes has gone too far. But not everyone in Rock agrees and there are those who support preserving the villages dynamic, at least in part. There are also signs of a fairly typical village community, despite the concerns of some locals. Noticeboards highlight a pub quiz night, a digital history group meeting, pallets or firewood wanted, and an electric tricycle for sale. open image in gallery Helen Richards and Irene Buckley say more needs to be done to help locals get on the housing ladder in Rock ( The Independent ) Of course, theres also a flyer for a seaside cottage to let with a brand new state-of-the-art gym, as well as a four-bedroom holiday home with a sauna. Donna Caswell is painting the walls to the outside terrace of her restaurant, The Dining Room. A native of the village, Caswell opened the smart diner with her husband, cook Fred Beedles, 15 years ago. It is open four nights a week, and is set to increase to six in the summer, serving up a three-course meal of local ingredients for 70. But Caswell is worried about the impact of the council tax premium. Someone who has been coming here for years came in the other day, she explains. They always have a pre-drink, a three-course meal with a bottle of wine, and a liquor after. They said We must be careful what we are spending now, because from next month we will be paying double the council tax. It made me worry what impact it could have on small businesses that rely on second home owners. Outside Fees, two women dismiss the second home levy, claiming that politicians are missing the point. One of the women, aged 66, who did not want to be named, owns a second home near Rock. She says local traders depend on holiday lets and second home owners for business, and is quick to point out that properties have been improved through second ownership. She also highlights the low drain on council services, such as schools, from second home owners, and claims that some villages in the area arent suitable for residents to live in all year round because of the poor state of roads and a lack of parking. But are second home owners selling up as a result of the additional tax? Its not that clear cut, says Josephine Ashby, managing director of John Bray Estate Agents. She says there are several factors, including the economy and the lifecycle of second home ownership, behind an increase in the number of second homes on the market. Not for all, but for some who are in two minds, [the council tax increase] is maybe a tick for them to go Lets get it on [the market] now, but it depends who they are and what bracket they are in; it might not be as significant [for some] as it is for others. Ashby adds that there is still significant interest in buying second homes, despite the situation. Amid concerns that the rise in tax will not be enough to restore the balance in Rock, there are some who still welcome the move. Kim Conchie, a former chief executive of Cornwall Chamber of Commerce, says the current ratio of second homes in some villages is having a devastating impact, with recently built hideaways not forming part of the village community. I think it is a realistic approach to ensuring communities get at least some financial benefit from owners, he 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 Protest group Youth Demand has risen to prominence after announcing its members planned to shut down London for an entire month. The news came after six supporters of the protest group were arrested by police at a Quaker meeting house on suspicion of conspiracy to cause a public nuisance Youth Demand, which splintered from environmental group Just Stop Oil, said raid took place as members shared plans for non-violent civil resistance actions across April. As a result of the publicity following the arrests, the group says hundreds of young people have expressed interest in joining the protests to highlight Israels actions in Gaza. Now The Independent asks: Who are Youth Demand? The group emerged from the youth wing of the Just Stop Oil, which last week announced an end to disruptive protests. A spokesperson told The Independent: A significant portion of young people in the movement were deeply concerned about the scale of the crimes being undertaken against the population of Gaza by Israel, and felt in order to begin to deal with the crisis effectively, it needed its own campaign. open image in gallery Youth Demand block Parliament Square as UK falls silent on Armistice Day ( Youth Demand ) The protesters claim to have mobilised over a thousand people to take part in around 60 actions. But it's hard to be certain about the number of people who have joined Youth Demand as the group admits to having fuzzy edges on the data. The spokesperson said: We don't have a membership roster or anything of that nature. We don't have a leader, although we do have a strategy team to guide decision-making, and there are a number of different spokespeople. The group say its core aims are that the UK government enact a total trade embargo on Israel and that those most responsible for the damage wrought on our communities from continued fossil fuel burning pay damages to those most affected by rapidly accelerating climate breakdown. What action is planned in April? open image in gallery Youth Demand stormed the National Portrait Gallery in October last year ( Youth Demand/Instagram ) After pasting a photo of a mother and child from Gaza over Picassos Motherhood, spraying red paint over Ministry of Defence offices and targeting Sir Keir Starmers London home, the group promised to take its actions to a whole new level in April. They posted a plan to shut down London using non-violent tactics including swarming to block roads day after day similar to Just Stop Oil. The group will hold open rallies every Tuesday throughout April and will be holding an event alongside pro-Palestine groups in front of Senate House Library in central London on Tuesday night. What does group want to achieve? Introducing themselves to the world in March last year, the group was clear on their aims, saying: We are launching a campaign of nonviolent resistance against the government and the Labour Party in the face of the crimes you are committing. Young people demand an end to the killing. They asked political parties to commit to: Imposing an immediate two-way arms embargo on Israel, Stopping the development of new oil and gas It added: Your betrayal of our generation will result in the most unimaginable outbreak of collective power, creativity, love and defiance. So we cant say we have nothing to thank you for. See you on the streets. Yours sincerely, Youth Demand. 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 has said there is no simple solution to stop boys from being dragged into a whirlpool of misogyny, as he spoke to writers of the television drama Adolescence. The prime minister said he wanted to talk about what can we do as a society to stop and prevent young boys being dragged into this whirlpool of hatred and misogyny, as he hosted creators of the four-part Netflix series at Downing Street. Writer Jack Thorne and producer Jo Johnson, and representatives from the NSPCC and Childrens Society, joined Sir Keir for a roundtable discussion. It comes as Netflix said it would make the series free to stream for all secondary schools across the UK. The TV drama, which examines so-called incel involuntary celibate culture, has prompted a national conversation about online safety. open image in gallery Adolescence writer Jack Thorne and producer Jo Johnson at Downing Street ( 2025 Getty Images ) Sir Keir said he and his wife had watched it with his 14-year-old daughter and 16-year-old son, and that as a dad, I have not found it easy viewing. As a father, watching this show with my teenage son and daughter, I can tell you it hit home hard, he added. The series centres around a teenage boy who is accused of killing a girl from his school. Sir Keir referred to real-life cases such as that of Kyle Clifford, the crossbow killer who watched misogynistic content before he murdered his ex-girlfriend and her mother and sister in July last year. This type of violence against women isnt new, the prime minister said. open image in gallery Stephen Graham stars in Adolescence Its pernicious and persistent. But what Adolescence shows is that its now taken on a different form, or different characteristics, said Sir Keir. He said the online world and social media means ideology can be pumped directly into the minds of our children. The show shines a light on issues that people do not know how to respond to, he said. There may not be a single response or policy lever to be pulled to adequately address the issue, he added. Its actually much bigger than that, almost a cultural issue, the devastating effect of misogyny on our society, said Sir Keir. There is also a sense that there is no safe space for children when they can access content whether they are in the home or outside it, he said, adding: And I do think there is a sense of isolation going on here, and therefore we cant deal with these challenges just with the old tools that we have. I dont think theres a simple solution. Mr Thorne said he hopes a solution can be found to the issues raised by the series. Its about other people being given the opportunity to have conversations they havent had before and that they should have had that might lead to policy change and things being made better for our young people, he told Sky News after the meeting. A new survey has suggested three-quarters of parents are concerned about what their children are seeing, hearing or doing online, with 87 per cent saying they are not confident they know what content is being viewed. The exclusive snapshot survey of 622 British parents of five to 16-year-olds by Ipsos for the PA news agency, showed 65 per cent said their child has a screen with access to the internet in their bedroom. The proportion rose to 78 per cent for parents with a child aged between 11 and 16. Most parents some 80 per cent said they think children should be at least 11 years old before getting a smartphone for their own personal use, and more than half 54 per cent said they would support a complete ban on smartphones in schools. In Adolescence, This Is England star Stephen Graham plays Eddie Miller, the father of 13-year-old Jamie, played by newcomer Owen Cooper, who sees armed police burst into his home to arrest his son. Mr Thorne recently rejected accusations of race-swapping in the series. Social media posts, amplified by Elon Musk, suggested the story, which features a white actor, is based on Southport killer Axel Rudakubana. The series is not based on a true story and is making a point about masculinity and not race, Mr Thorne told the News Agents podcast. Its absurd to say that [knife crime] is only committed by black boys. Its absurd. Its not true. And history shows a lot of cases of kids from all races committing these crimes, he added. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A deal worth hundreds of millions has finally broken a year-long deadlock between the government and community pharmacies over providing key health services across England. Ministers hope that it will allow pharmacists to deal with many medical issues and, as a result, free up GP time for more serious problems, although the National Pharmacy Association (NPA) warned the funding fell a long way short of the NHSs own estimates of the true cost of providing pharmacy services. Speaking exclusively to The Independent, health minister Stephen Kinnock described the contract agreed between the government and Community Pharmacy England as an important step to fixing a broken pharmacy sector. open image in gallery Health minister Stephen Kinnock ( Stefan Rousseau/PA ) He praised The Independents coverage of the pharmacy crisis highlighting a tsunami of closures. The deal will mean that the morning-after pill for women will be free of charge across the whole country for the first time in history, ending the postcode lottery. Pharmacies have been threatening to work to rule over funding. Added to that, late last year the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) revealed there were 1,200 fewer pharmacies than in 2017. With a growing crisis in pharmacy provision in England, the previous Community Pharmacy Contractual Framework (CPCF) ran out in March last year, but Rishi Sunaks Tory government had been unable to agree a new one before the election. After nine months of further talks, Sir Keir Starmers government finally agreed a deal worth an extra 617m over two years following a six-week consultation with the organisation. On top of this, the government is writing off 193m of debt for community pharmacy owners to give them confidence going into the new financial year on 1 April. Nick Kaye, chairman of the NPA, told the PA news agency: After a decade of 40 per cent cuts to their funding that has left the pharmacy network on its knees, it is good to see a concrete sign that ministers want to support pharmacies. No one wants to reduce services through protest action so well look carefully at the detail and consult our members, who are facing substantial cost increases from April 1, to understand what this means for the future of their services so we can recommend next steps. The government inherited an intolerable situation after more than a decade of real-terms cuts and todays settlement is a step forward. However, the truth is that because of a decade of neglect, it also falls a long way short of the NHSs own estimates of the true cost of providing pharmacy services. Mr Kinnock who led the talks hailed the breakthrough for providing certainty and being a key part in tackling health provision in England. He told The Independent: Today marks an important next phase for our vital community pharmacies and the millions of Independent readers that rely on them every day. Were committing a record 3bn to help patients access vital new services in convenient locations closer to home. This important investment is backed by crucial reforms delivering real benefits for patients. Its all part of our ambitious drive to move care away from overloaded hospitals and into our communities, making it easier for people to get the support they need right on their local high street. It means that, from later this year, women will be able to get the morning-after pill free of charge over the counter for the first time, ending the postcode lottery of access and charges of up to 30. He noted that patients on newly prescribed antidepressants will have better access to important follow-up care as a result of the deal, improving their chances of recovery and, in many cases, getting back into work whilst also easing pressure on GP surgeries. He added: People needing treatment for a range of common conditions will find it easier to get help on their local high street. But, importantly, it is a first step on our mission to revive a vital cornerstone of community healthcare left on the brink of collapse by a decade of underfunding and neglect. open image in gallery Community pharmacies will play a major role in healthcare under the new contract ( Julien Behal/PA ) He claimed that Labour inherited a broken pharmacy sector as laid bare by The Independent over previous years. Closures have been rife, patients forgotten, and pharmacy owners left buried in red tape and bureaucracy. But since taking office, we have been working to turn that situation around. Were shifting the focus of healthcare out of hospitals and back into the community through our Plan for Change to rebuild the health service and improve living standards for everyone across the country. Weve started by resetting the governments relationship with community pharmacies, delivering today the first funding package approved by the sector in over three years. Mr Kinnock insisted: We are determined to continue working closely with our pharmacists as they deliver more services for patients, freeing up GP appointments and cutting NHS waiting times. The investment comes alongside reforms to deliver a raft of patient benefits, as part of the governments agenda to shift the focus of care from hospitals into the community, so people can more easily access care and support on their high streets. The greater range of services provided is not only meant to improve access for patients but also cut waiting lists by reducing the need for people to see their GPs. Other measures include: Close Starmer vows UK won't be cowed by Trump's tariffs 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 Donald Trump has confirmed that the US will not be pausing tariffs, stressing that they were not looking at that. The president said many countries have been negotiating with Washington and they will try and make "fair deals" with each of them. It comes as Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to eliminate the trade deficit with the U.S, while Trump also accused the EU of being formed to create a unified force against the United States for trade. Londons FTSE 100 stock index plunged a further 4.3 per cent on Monday to a value last seen in March 2024, as Donald Trumps tariffs continue to wreak havoc on the global markets. After the US president announced his sweeping tariffs last week, Wall Street sank again, with the S&P 500 briefly approaching bear market territory on Monday, coming off its worst week since Covid-19 began crashing the global economy in March 2020. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 2.3 per cent, and the Nasdaq composite 1.5 per cent lower. The continued volatility came as Mr Trump threatened China with a further tariff of 50 per cent and said all talks with China concerning their requested meetings with us will be terminated unless Beijing withdraws its planned 34 per cent retaliatory levy. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice The UK and other countries affected by people smuggling must not allow the "vile trade" to pit them against one another, the prime minister will tell a summit aimed at cracking down on illegal migration. Sir Keir Starmer will call on 40 countries gathering in London this week to join his plans to launch a counter terror-style crackdown on people-smuggling gangs. Countries including Albania, Vietnam and Iraq - from where migrants have travelled the UK - will join the talks, which are the first of their kind, alongside representatives from France, the US and China. Ministers and enforcement staff will discuss international co-operation on illegal migration, as well as supply routes, criminal finances and online adverts for people smuggling during the meeting. Officials from social media companies Meta, X and TikTok will also join discussions on how to crack down on the online promotion of irregular migration. open image in gallery The prime minister and home secretary have vowed to crack down on people smugglers like terrorists ( PA Archive ) The PM will announce 33m of funding to set up an international arm of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), which will target criminal gangs facilitating small boat crossings from abroad, The Times reported. The approach, paying foreign prosecutors to hunt down people smugglers around the world, mirrors the approach he used to combat Islamist terrorism as leader of the CPS. The summit comes as the PM faces mounting pressure over small boats, with a record 6,642 migrants having crossed the Channel in 119 boats this year, a 43 per cent jump from this time last year. Sir Keir is expected to call for unity among the nations involved when he addresses the summit on Monday afternoon. "This vile trade exploits the cracks between our institutions, pits nations against one another and profits from our inability at the political level to come together," he will say. The prime minister will point to his time working across borders to foil terrorists when he was director of public prosecutions. He will add: "I believe we should treat organised immigration crime in the same way. "I simply do not believe organised immigration crime cannot be tackled. We've got to combine our resources, share intelligence and tactics, and tackle the problem upstream at every step of the people-smuggling routes." The summit will deliver "concrete outcomes" for nations in Europe, Asia, Middle East, Africa, and North America, according to the Home Office. open image in gallery More than 5,000 migrants have crossed the channel this year ( PA Wire ) Developments aimed at tackling illegal migration ahead of the gathering include: The Government will expand right-to-work checks to cover gig economy workers by making amendments to the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill. Businesses that do not carry out the checks could be fined up to 60,000, or face closures, director disqualifications, and even up to five years in prison. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper signalled she wanted to crack down on the number of people who have arrived in the UK on a student or work visa and have since claimed asylum. The Government is reviewing how Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), the right to family life, applies to migration cases, Ms Cooper said. Several deportation attempts have been halted by how the ECHR clause has been interpreted in UK law. Ministers have looked to a tougher approach in Denmark for inspiration. Some 1 million in UK funding will go towards strengthened efforts to root out people-smuggling kingpins in Iraq's Kurdistan region, the Home Office announced. The UK has launched an advertising campaign on Vietnamese social media and messenger app Zalo, warning people about trusting people-smuggling gangs in an effort to reduce irregular migration from the south-east Asian country. Speaking ahead of the summit, the Home Secretary said law enforcement needed to "work together across borders" to bring down people smuggling gangs. She added: "Only a co-ordinated international response across the whole irregular migration route can effectively dismantle these networks. "The Organised Immigration Crime Summit is the first of its kind and will reinforce the UK's position as a leader by securing international commitments to disrupt Organised Immigration Crime at every stage of the business model. "The summit demonstrates mine and the Prime Minister's absolute dedication to disrupting the callous organised criminal gangs, strengthening our borders and ultimately save countless lives." On Sunday, senior Tory shadow minister Alex Burghart said Labour should never have scrapped the Rwanda deportation plan. "It was ready to go, and Labour came in, they won a majority, and they scrapped it. There is now no deterrent programme," he said. The prime minister has taken the opportunity of another international summit on migration to try to build international cooperation on the issue, talk tough on illegal (ie irregular) migration, and announce a new law that penalises companies for evading legal checks on peoples right to work in the UK (which asylum seekers are not permitted to do). Some 40 countries, along with tech giants such as Meta, X (formerly Twitter) and TikTok, are represented at the meeting. Also notable by their presence were representatives from Vietnam, Albania and Iraq prime sources of migration. It signals a continuing emphasis on meeting the publics concerns, and a shift to the right in rhetoric and policy... Whats new? Keir Starmers more aggressive rhetoric and, more specifically, a new law that promises penalties for outfits that dont check on the right to work of their often casual employees, particularly in construction. In Starmers words: We have to be honest here. For too long, the UK has been a soft touch on this ... Too many dodgy firms have been exploiting a loophole to skip this process: hiring illegal workers, undercutting honest businesses, driving down the wages of ordinary working people. For those found guilty, theres a fine of up to 60,000, a maximum prison term of five years, and the closure of their business. Is Starmer sounding more like... Nigel Farage? Unmistakeably. Its more carefully done, so that, for example, its unscrupulous British bosses rather than the immigrants themselves who are blamed for driving down wages, and targeted by the harshest words but theres no mistaking the shift. Starmers latest activity on X is another example of the blunter language: If you dont have the right to be in this country, then you shouldnt be here. Its that simple. Theres also a slightly unnerving official pride in the numbers being deported, sometimes accompanied by grim videos on social media. By contrast, you now never hear Labour politicians talk about safe and secure routes for refugees, as they did so much in opposition. What about action? Its changing. At the weekend, the home secretary, Yvette Cooper, said: Weve had a 40 per cent increase in illegal working raids since the elections. So some of the changes that we have made, that are having an impact already, are a 20 per cent increase in returns over 19,000 people returned who have no right to be in the UK. She added that there would be many more police and Border Force raids on places of work where illegal migrants are thought to be employed a strongly Trumpian move. Whats next? Almost incredibly, given Starmers background as a progressive lawyer, its virtually an open secret that he is thinking about ways to avoid the use of Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights in criminal deportations. This has been the subject of some lurid reportage, and as a result, the public has gained the impression that the courts block deportation of sometimes serious criminals because of trivial family rights complications. Beyond that, there are also well-supported rumours that the government wants to send irregular or economic migrants to the western Balkans, where overseas hubs would be established. The idea is to house failed asylum seekers from countries that are clearly unsafe for them to be returned to, such as Iran and Somalia. Other rejected claimants would also be lodged there before being returned to their safer home countries. Under similar populist political pressure in Europe, the EU Commission wants to endorse the use of return hubs by member states as an innovative solution for migration management. The main benefit to the UK would be faster and cheaper processing. Its not clear whether refugees with a valid claim would still be able to settle in the UK or, if not, where they would go instead. What does the opposition say? The Conservatives argue that the government lacks a deterrent to migration, and that smashing the gangs isnt working. They defend their Rwanda plan, saying it was just about to yield its benefits when Labour abolished it. Even so, they are not committed to bringing the Rwanda plan back. Kemi Badenoch is open to leaving the Convention in certain circumstances: When it comes to the ECHR [European Court of Human Rights], I have always been very clear that the ECHR should not stop us from doing what is right for the people of this country and what is right in our national interest. And if it continues to do so, at some point we will probably have to leave. What I have not agreed with is deciding that we should leave without having a plan for what that looks like, and how to do so in a way that makes sense. Reform UK is committed to leaving the Convention and removing all illegal migrants. The Liberal Democrats say immigration is too high, but want the UK to take its fair share of refugees. Whos winning on migration? Reform UK, who have managed to move up in the polls to first or second place. The problem for Starmer and Badenoch is that they can never outflank Nigel Farage on migration. The good news for them is that the now former Reform MP Rupert Lowe has found a way to outdo his former leader with his simple slogan of Detain. Deport and with his enthusiasm for the deportation of migrants who have settled in the UK, and of some from a recent migrant background who were born in the UK and hold British citizenship. If Lowe divides the extreme right and picks up momentum, he could inflict damage on Farage. Meanwhile, without enough migrants, the UK economy continues to struggle, and public services dont improve while the migrants, who could build houses and staff care homes, are victimised. Starmer may be trying to neutralise the populist challenge, but this is becoming an increasingly toxic, and viciously Islamophobic, debate. 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 has said he is angry at the number of migrants crossing the English Channel as he revealed deportations under Labour have topped 24,000 since the general election. The prime minister said ordinary working people pay the price of illegal migration, through strained public services and taxpayer-funded hotel places, calling for decisive action to deal with the issue. Addressing a summit of leaders from 40 countries around the world aimed at tackling organised immigration crime, Sir Keir said returns under Labour were running at their fastest for eight years. open image in gallery Sir Keir Starmer said he was angry about the scale of illegal migration (Stefan Rousseau/PA) ( PA Wire ) And, lashing out at the Conservatives Rwanda plan, he said Labours 24,000 returns would have taken 80 years under the deportation scheme pursued by Rishi Sunak. At the immigration crime summit, Sir Keir called for countries to pursue smuggling gangs like terrorists, unveiling 33m of funding for foreign prosecutors to hunt down smugglers around the world - mirroring the approach he used to combat Islamist terrorism as leader of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS). And, in an appeal to voters frustrated at the continuing flow of migrants across the Channel in small boats, Sir Keir said: That makes people angry it makes me angry, frankly. The PM said: Its unfair on ordinary working people who pay the price from the cost of hotels to our public services, struggling under the strain, and it's unfair on the illegal migrants themselves, because these are vulnerable people being ruthlessly exploited by vile gangs. The summit comes as the PM faces mounting pressure over small boats, with a record 6,642 migrants having crossed the Channel in 119 boats this year, a 43 per cent jump from this time last year. And while Sir Keir said each country must take its own decisive action to deal with the problem, he told the gathered countries we can only smash these gangs once and for all if we work together. open image in gallery Sir Keir Starmer said there is nothing progressive about ignoring the small boat crossings ( PA Wire ) Enver Solomon, chief executive of charity the Refugee Council, welcomed the PMs efforts to work with other countries to tackle the vicious smuggling gangs. But he said enforcement strategies alone will never work, and said nor will criminalising men, women and children who have fled conflicts. When a refugee is clambering into a boat with an armed criminal threatening them, they are not thinking about UK laws but are simply trying to stay alive, he warned. Mr Solomon said a properly reformed asylum system would offer safe and legal routes to seek asylum in Britain, while quickly determining who is a refugee and who has no right to stay when migrants arrive in the UK. Steve Smith, CEO of refugee charity Care4Calais, said the government should offer safe routes for refugees to claim asylum in their countries, saying that this was a solution so simple, effective and low cost it shouldnt take an international summit for these expert delegates to come up with. Natasha Tsangarides, from Freedom from Torture, said that summit was a wasted opportunity to do what is really needed. She said that criminalising refugees wont stop people putting their own lives at risk to seek safety on our shores. The PM sought on Monday to paint his illegal migration crackdown as a compassionate and progressive approach to the issue. He warned there is nothing compassionate about turning a blind eye to the evil of the people smuggling businesses. There were 24,103 returns between 5 July and 22 March, the highest period of any nine-month period since 2017. The figures came as Labour saw a 21 per cent increase in enforced returns and a 16 per cent jump in the number of foreign national offenders being removed from the UK. The government has also carried out the four biggest chartered return flights in UK history, with a total of more than 850 people on board. 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 For the first four years of his life, William Asfour lived in Gaza, near the Israeli border in Khan Younis, a region his family has called home for generations. Surrounded by aunts, uncles, and cousins, his childhood was filled with sun-drenched days at the beach, lively market strolls, and hours spent outdoors with neighbors and relatives. His earliest memories are set within the walls of his grandfathers house a place that still feels like home in his heart, even after two decades in America. Asfours parents moved the family to the U.S. following the unrest of the second intifada in 2000, when he was kindergarten age. After the uprising, everything had changed. I couldnt go outside. I couldnt play, he recalls. We had to be locked in our houses all day, every day. There [were] tanks literally outside of our homes. You would hear gunshots, you would see the missiles in the sky. He spent the rest of his childhood in Chicago, and he dreamed of visiting his grandfathers house again as an adult. In September 2023, it seemed like the optimum time to realize that dream. Things had been stable in Gaza for a while, and Asfour who was by then 26 years old began working out the logistics of crossing the border in Egypt en route to Khan Younis. He imagined either September or December would be the best time to take the trip. He started making tentative plans. He was still working on those plans when October 7th happened. open image in gallery People walking surrounded by buildings destroyed during the Israeli air and ground offensive in the Gaza Strip are seen from southern Israel on March 20, 2025 ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. ) Now, Khan Younis lies in ruins. All the houses of Asfours early memories are gone, reduced to rubble in a town that lost more than 90 percent of its buildings to Israeli bombardment. Asfour will never get to visit the houses he ran through as a toddler, will never wander through the streets he played games in with his cousins. And there are numerous members of his family he will never get to meet again, either. His uncle a father of five, who was working as a doctor during the war was killed in an airstrike. His mothers cousin lost six of his children, as well as his wife and his father. That cousin has just one child left, a daughter who was gravely injured by shrapnel. Its like: How do you go on from this? says Asfour. You see this constant cycle of pain and pain and pain. Rebuilding Gaza, Asfour knows, will take many years. But hes adamant that the strips residents are better off living amid a building site for a decade than never being allowed to return. The infrastructure situation in Gaza, however, is grave. According to Yale Environment360, the official publication of Yales School of the Environment, the war in Gaza has resulted in water supplies contaminated, raw sewage pouring into the Mediterranean, once-fertile soils ruined, and the land stripped of trees. Destroyed buildings replete with asbestos and other chemical contaminants, and likely mixed in rubble with unexploded bombs, have wreaked havoc on the ecosystem and contaminated groundwater. Soil that was once fertile is now at risk of permanent desertification. The Wadi River which before the war had just been recognized as Palestines only nature reserve and where the U.N. was working to restore its ecology and reduce pollution is now a dumping ground and an open sewer. Without refuse collection, huge piles of trash are being burned in the streets. The amount of trees that have disappeared is particularly concerning to environmental experts. At least 80 percent of Gazas trees were lost during the 15 months of war, according to satellite imagery most destroyed in bombings, but more now being chopped down and used for firewood as people struggle to survive through cold nights. Without trees, air and water quality continues to decline, and the land could struggle to ever recover. Meanwhile, the shells of buildings that are left are unstable and littered with debris just under 90 percent of schools have been destroyed, and more than 90 percent of residential units. This is an unrecognizable landscape. When John*, a senior U.N. diplomat in New York, heard what Donald Trump had said about Gaza in mid-February, he put his head in his hands. After a short meeting with Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump had gone in front of the press to tell them that the U.S. would now own Gaza, displace all its citizens, and turn it into a Middle East Riviera. Over the next couple weeks, he would reiterate that claim numerous times. The outcry from many sections of the world was swift; the United Nations campus in Manhattan was stunned into a bemused silence. The first thing John felt, however, was not anger or shock. It was the sting of personal failure. John who spoke on condition of anonymity, as he is not officially authorized to speak on the issue has worked in a number of conflict zones across the world. He has attended numerous meetings between states that are sworn enemies, most of which are held in small rooms with a handful of people rather than in the showy, large arenas that some might expect. Sometimes, those states come to resolutions that stick. Each time anyone got close to a resolution on Gaza, however, a veto would come, or an argument would break out. open image in gallery Laila ElHaddads daughter on the promenade in Gaza. The sign is now destroyed ( Laila ElHaddad ) As an institution, I thought we should have been able to work this out, says John. But as he watched deals get stymied again and again, he realized that everything hed believed about the United Nations when he first joined was wrong. What happened? Though John is not a fan of Donald Trump, he says Trump had a point when he talked about the U.S. paying much more into the United Nations fund than others. So long as the U.S. is the biggest financial contributor, issues will always lean in their favor. And that means little to no progress on issues like Gaza, for two main reasons. open image in gallery Laila ElHaddad visiting Roman ruins in Old Gaza City ( Laila ElHaddad ) Firstly, the U.S. holds a unilateral veto in the U.N., meaning they can kibosh any deal, even if numerous other member states sign on to it (Palestine is a non-member observer state, with the same status as the Vatican.) The same is true of the other countries who comprise the Permanent Five China, France, Russia and the U.K. all of whom have played their part in preventing progress over the years, John adds. Secondly, the American and Israeli governments have both shifted toward far-right populism, meaning that the diplomats they send are often concerned more with grandstanding and speechifying than they are with the nuanced back-and-forth of diplomatic debate behind the scenes. To solve an issue after war, you have to sit down at a table with someone you really, really dont like. You have to break bread with people youd rather kill, says John. In 2025, there is less willingness to do that over Gaza than ever before at least among the states that can actually do something about it. John told me in February that he believed Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Egypt, and Russia had all decided amongst themselves about what they want the future of the Gaza Strip to look like. The US has already played its hand, he adds. They want Mar-Gaza-Lago. Russia or the Arab states will be next, he predicted. In early March, thats exactly what happened. Arab states led by Egypt released a plan that agreed with figures from a joint UN-EU-World Bank report stating it will cost $53 billion to rebuild Gaza. The 100-page plan detailed how Gaza could be built back up by 2030, if a six-month period of rubble removal is started immediately, followed by two years of building up basic housing and facilities, and then another two-and-a-half years of adding to those. It envisions Palestinian Authority control of the strip at the end of this ambitious process, and doesnt go into detail about who will provide this huge amount of funding, though its presumed richer Gulf states like Saudi Arabia will step in. The plan has already been rejected by the White House. John was unsurprised by these developments. Hes not even entirely sure that the plan was meant to be enacted, as opposed to simply being a gesture of goodwill. Because so many countries are now focused on short-term political victories at home, its actually in several of the actors best interests not to allow any progress, John says. A costly rebuild that will probably take generations to complete 2030 is simply not a realistic timeline, he adds isnt going to tempt that many states, even if they feel compelled to publicly express that they want to see a future for Gaza. open image in gallery A famous falafel and hummus shop, now destroyed, in Old Gaza City ( Laila ElHaddad ) The U.N. has been working in the background in response to a number of Trumps claims. Whether the president can actually displace Palestinians, decide that the U.S. owns Gaza, and build his promised Riviera is still up in the air. Because the U.S. is just one of a handful of countries that pays large sums of money into the U.N. fund which goes directly to U.N. staffers salaries and U.N. aid distribution after natural disasters, among other things most diplomats are likely to turn a blind eye. Effectively, its either work out a way to agree to what Trump says with minimal damage to the international order, or risk the financial destruction of the U.N. and ultimately cease to exist as an organization at all. The toolkit weve had [at the U.N.] since World War Two hasnt been updated, says John. Utopian-ideal systems that imagined fascism was gone forever and believed in global dialogue are still in place, and they are woefully inadequate for todays world, where the far right is so emboldened. When that war ended, nobody was really thinking countries would be the bad actors any more. The tools that were designed off the back of that assumption guarantee inertia in the modern world, adds John, and thats exactly what theyre doing now. By the way, he adds, even if the entire world agreed on Trumps plan for a Middle East Riviera, the logistics of rebuilding that area are so complex that if they got to work tomorrow, theyd be cutting the ribbon in a couple of decades. Mikhail Chester, a professor at Arizona State University, urban geography specialist and director of the Metis Center for Infrastructure and Sustainable Engineering, agrees that the timeline on rebuilding Gaza is much longer than the public might think. Gaza still is to some extent an active war zone, he says. Youve got military conflict, youve got different foreign nations vying for authority in the region that you have to negotiate between. You obviously have local governance, so to speak, right? So multiple layers of governance that have to interact and build consensus Putting a pipe in the ground is one thing that generally is the easy part. Building that consensus to put the pipe in the ground is going to be the wicked and complex part of this problem. open image in gallery From Abed Ajramis summer 2022 trip to Gaza ( Abed Ajrami ) But even the pipes in the ground part is tricky. Engineers and architects working on rebuilding Gaza will first have to assess what state the existing infrastructure is in, which might mean doing more demolition, not less: You cant turn on the water treatment plant if it isnt functional, and let the water vent open into bombed-out pipes in the road, says Chester. And even if the water system and all the pipes were fully functioning and could simply be turned back on, that still wouldnt solve a lot of problems, because energy systems are interdependent: So its not as simple as which would you bring online first? My answer might be electricity, because electricity gives you access to lots of different human capabilities air conditioning, refrigeration, machinery, things like that to build stuff But in many ways, you dont have electricity without water. You dont have water without electricity. You dont have transportation fuel without electricity You actually have to bring these systems online in a somewhat concurrent manner in order to make sure that you can bring any of them online in the first place. Sometimes, looking at a much less complex example helps to convey the magnitude of the problem. Cities like Tuscaloosa in Alabama, Greenburg in Kansas or San Francisco in California have all seen sudden destruction due to natural disasters and had to put together plans to quickly rebuild. Tuscaloosa saw 12.5 percent of its buildings destroyed and thousands of people displaced in just six minutes during a tornado in 2011. Rebuilding took years, and required a complex process of community planning, rubble clearance and red-tape navigation. Federal funds were applied for and then delayed; meetings were held where tens of thousands of people wanted to have their say. Construction on a recreation ground and replacement residential buildings didnt begin for over a year. In Gaza, so much more needs to be rebuilt, and so much more consensus needs to be worked towards. People on the ground have to be committed to working together and, ideally, familiar with each other and the environment theyre building in. It cant just be that somebody is like: All right, youve got the job of bringing the power system back online. Go do it, and let me know when youre done, says Chester. Thats not going to work. That group is going to have to be in coordination with the teams that are bringing the other services back online. Because if I cant get a pipe out to the water treatment plant because the road is destroyed, well, Ive got to repair that road first. Various countries might want to try and dictate where roads are built, while engineers from the region will have the best idea of where they should go logistically. Those conversations are unlikely to be easy, and could easily stretch out for years. open image in gallery From Abed Ajramis summer 2022 trip to Gaza ( Abed Ajrami ) Locals wont wait for all of that to be worked out over multiple years by many engineers, either, Chester points out: Youre going to see locals who have more intimate knowledge of the system start hacking things to bring themselves services sooner rather than later. Chester was on the ground in Puerto Rico shortly after the destruction of Hurricane Maria, and recalls remote communities that were at the end of the list for the power company or transportation company to get them back online [who] basically hacked together services. One group set up an informal water infrastructure to bring water down from a mountain stream into the community of, like, 50 people. They rebuilt a bridge, not to any engineering standard whatsoever, but it was the one bridge that they needed to get in and out of their community. Nobody was coming in to help, and they said: Were going to do it ourselves. And they happened to have something like four solar panels, so they put those solar panels up on a community building, and that was enough to, for example, charge phones and run a couple of refrigerators, which they could then share for communications, food storage, medicine storage. These innovative, temporary solutions to a permanent problem are inevitable and necessary some water pipes have already been constructed in Gaza City by enterprising individuals. But they can also pose an extra issue for people seeking to rebuild permanent infrastructure in their place. In a region that is likely to see continuing instability, its also important to give infrastructure experts the time and space to think creatively about how to rebuild, Chester adds: When you have a system where its likely to experience serious hazards and threats it could be Gaza and warfare, it could be hurricanes in Florida it becomes really important to ask how you would do things differently when, not if, when the next disaster plays out. In the U.S., there is an excessive focus on efficiency, efficiency, efficiency, he adds. But the infrastructure plans that most Americans adhere to were drawn up in a much less chaotic world. Against the backdrop of an increasingly chaotic planet whether its climate change, warfare, cyber-security [issues], cyber warfare, asymmetric warfare, even infrastructure disrepair, the current accepted model is out-of-date and doesnt necessarily speak to how we need to govern our infrastructure to be able to respond to these challenges. open image in gallery Abed Ajramis trip to Gaza in the summer of 2022 ( Abed Ajrami ) John, the diplomat, believes that the U.N. has a role to play in all this but it can only contribute meaningfully if it changes its structure, which is just as outdated as the infrastructure model Chester describes. The best solution for the U.N. would be to get rid of veto and re-evaluate the mandates of the U.N. to be more responsive to the people of the world, not the member states, John believes. If the United Nations is to be a force for good, it cant rely on politicians or diplomats having the best interests of their populations in mind. It now has to develop a new heuristic for how to address the needs of actual groups of people on the ground. Thats especially pertinent to bear in mind when considering the example of Grozny in Chechnya. In 2005, the capital city of the separatist state was flattened by Russian bombardment and subsequently described by the U.N. as the most destroyed city on earth. It was then reconstructed, over the following two years, by a Putin loyalist president. By 2007, the airport had reopened with daily flights to Moscow and an NPR journalist who visited in 2009 noted that there were hardly any destroyed buildings left. It was a stunning achievement. By 2012, the BBC described a city of sushi bars, beauty parlors, skyscrapers and a new mosque which was said to be the largest in Europe. The political cost paid by the residents of Grozny for this rebuild, however, was grave. As many here say, Grozny looks better than most Russian cities. But it feels like Big Brother is watching you, wrote NPR reporter Gregory Feifer, who went on to interview people who professed their unwavering support for the president in public before saying in private: Putin launched his war saying he'd kill us in our outhouses. Tens of thousands of us have been abducted, killed and have disappeared. And now were forced to say things we dont believe. open image in gallery From Abed Ajramis trip to Gaza in summer 2022 ( Abed Ajrami ) Few know the urgency of the situation on the ground in Gaza better than Dr. Thaer Ahmad, an emergency medicine physician based in Chicago who has spent over 15 years traveling back and forth to the region in order to provide humanitarian relief. During his first assignment, in 2009, he says he was mainly concerned with gravely ill people who needed to be transported outside of the Gaza Strip for specialist care unavailable in the region pediatric oncology, advanced heart disease, urology and ophthalmology were top of the list. Applying to transfer those patients outside of Gaza and into East Jerusalem or the West Bank was a long and arduous process, as was applying to bring in medical supplies like spare parts for CT scanners and oxygen delivery systems. The spare parts had about a 70 percent denial rate by Israeli authorities, Ahmad estimates, while he says 68 percent of patients asking to be transferred out would be approved. But children and elderly patients with little mobility also needed to apply for a companion to travel with them and the companions only had a 50 percent success rate, meaning that the patient many times wouldnt end up traveling at all. It was clear that hospitals and services needed to be built to a good standard inside Gaza in order to stop this situation from worsening. And Ahmad says that was happening. A multi-use interventional suite was built in Gazas largest hospital, Al-Shifa, by the Palestinian American Medical Association in August 2023, and the idea was that you could do all sorts of these really specialized procedures there, like for strokes or heart attacks. The expensive suite was given state-of-the-art machinery and equipment. Less than six months later, Ahmad says, it was burned to a crisp. The corridors that doctors were relying on to transport out the most needy patients have all but disappeared. And now, physicians like Ahmad are trying to assess the damage to the remaining hospitals and medical centers from afar. Now what were seeing is images of the ultrasound scanners, of the medical equipment, and theyre just riddled with bullets, he says. And for me, I know how hard it is to get those ultrasound machines in there, and youre just like: Holy s**t, what are we supposed to do now? How are we supposed to get this back in? And then how many pregnant women are not going to be able to get ultrasounds during their pregnancy to see if the baby is healthy or that theyre in the right position when theyre close to delivery? open image in gallery Abed Ajrami in Gaza ( Abed Ajrami ) Even if the machinery left is functional, Ahmad adds, it is under enormous strain: In the north of Gaza, there is only one CT scanner, and right now it is doing 80 scans per day. And I work at one of the busiest hospitals in the United States, in Chicago, and we dont do 80 scans per day. And the concern is the more that youre using it, the more that youll need a repair or a spare part or software update, and one of the main concerns here is that thats one of the most difficult things to be able to do, is to bring in a spare part for a CT scanner or an MRI machine. Frankly, he says, this is a recipe for disaster. The real-time treatment of wartime injuries obviously became harder as hospitals were destroyed during the war. But Ahmad now worries for those people who were able to access care but are living with amputations or other injuries that require regular physical therapy to be functional. And then there are the fundamental health needs that have nothing to do with the war. There are about 1,000 people in Gaza who have kidney failure, and they need dialysis three times a week, Ahmad says. And we know that if you look at all of Gaza in terms of dialysis machines, were not able to necessarily accommodate that. Humanitarian organizations have been working round the clock to try and bring back dialysis machines, and theyve just passed the 100-person mark. That fact alone tells you that this [urgent but routine care] is a really tough thing to bring back. And thats just kidney failure patients. Ahmad pauses. The reason I use that example is because if people dont get the appropriate dialysis, they die. The toxins build up in their bloodstream and they die. According to the National Kidney Foundation, a person with kidney failure who does not receive daily dialysis can only survive for a few days. Even if all the equipment was returned tomorrow and the hospitals were rebuilt, Ahmad worries for the future of medical infrastructure in Gaza. The universities and centers for training have been destroyed, with hundreds of doctors killed in the line of duty and many others displaced. Are we going to be able to graduate medical students? he says. Are they going to do some sort of telemedicine for the years that theyll need to before they get into clinical experience? Are telecommunications going to be reliable? I mean, I really dont know, but the task is so massive. open image in gallery ( Abed Ajrami ) Laila ElHaddad lives in Maryland with her four children: three daughters and a son. She grew up in Kuwait, spending summers and winters in Gaza as her Palestinian mother took them back and forth from the territory. I hated those trips as a child, she remembers, because we were strip-searched at the border. It was horrible. Her earliest memories are of the First Intifada and its effects on Gaza: the curfews, the fact that nobody was allowed to raise a Palestinian flag or wear Palestinian colors, her brother hiding in the chicken coop from IDF soldiers arresting boys for throwing rocks at tanks. These days, ElHaddad says she understands why her mother worked so hard to keep them connected to their heritage. Over the past 10 years, she has taken her children back to Gaza regularly, too even though she is required to fly into Cairo, take an arduous journey across Egypt to the border, and then wait, sometimes for days, to be processed. Although she is an American citizen, ElHaddad is not allowed to use the easier border with Israel because she holds an Israeli-issued Palestinian ID card. And her husband a talented Palestinian American eye surgeon at Johns Hopkins who grew up in the Wavel Palestinian refugee camp in Baalbeck, Lebanon was never given the requisite ID card while living in the camp, so he cant visit Gaza at all. ElHaddad is pragmatic and straightforward, and she speaks with passion about her familys Palestinian roots that, like Asfours, go back generations. She was thinking of moving to Gaza permanently in 2023, buoyed by reports from family that things were looking up. She didnt end up going. Her last visit was in 2019, and her photos from that trip are bursting with color and joy: in them, she drinks shots of fresh olive oil, samples falafel, strolls along the beach promenade with her daughter, poses in front of date palms, and sits on a Roman pillar outside the historic Omari Mosque in the Old City of Gaza. There is, of course, a poignancy to these photos. The mosque and the Roman ruins were destroyed early in the war. The flagship falafel and hummus restaurant is now rubble. The big, red I Love Gaza sign on the promenade that her toddler daughter grins in front of was smashed to pieces by bombs, as were most of the palm trees. Many cultural relics of historical significance are also gone museums with thousand-year artefacts, Turkish baths, sites of religious worship and of community gathering. open image in gallery A mosque in Gaza in 2022, as taken by Sami Malfouh, who is in the same Whatsapp group for Gazan Americans as Leila ElHaddad and Abed Ajrami ( Sami Malfouh ) During the 15 months of war, it seemed like bad news about people and places ElHaddad cared about would come in every day. But then, all of a sudden, some good news: as the first stage of the ceasefire got underway, she heard that her favorite ice cream store was somehow still standing. Not only that, but it was fully operational. Its a little place on the corner of the street, she says. And even though a lot of modern, fancy ice cream places opened, everybody likes to go to that one It only has, like, three flavors, and these yellow slushies that are very popular in Gaza. And then in the winter, they serve what theyre serving now, which is kind of a milky pudding, thickened with the root of a flower, with some nuts and cinnamon on top. ElHaddad is still reckoning with the loss of so many of her favorite places in a group conversation, she tells her friend Abed Ajrami that shes jealous he managed to visit them in the summer of 2022. Ajrami and ElHaddad met in a Whatsapp group for Gazan Americans that grew throughout the war between Israel and Hamas, connecting people across the US who were desperate for news about their friends, their relatives and their towns during an information blackout. Ajrami a beaming, positive force of a person who is charismatic, thoughtful and quick to laugh often goes by Abe these days. He has a beautiful house on a lake in the US, he says. His children are born-and-bred Americans. When he visited Gaza in 2022, he was surprised: The supermarkets looked great, the beaches and the buildings everything was alive and bustling. He was so taken aback by the modernity of the grocery stores that he FaceTimed a European friend to show him. It was a memorable trip: Ajrami shared large meals with family and friends on the beach while children in inflatables played on the shoreline and watched live music on the grass around swimming pools, surrounded by greenery, on nice evenings. A year and a half later, Ajrami received photographs of the remains of his multi-storey family home, which had been leveled in an airstrike. In Gaza, buildings go upwards, he says, because the area is so densely populated. Thats why entire generations of families were wiped out [during the war] the usual thing is when you get married, you build upwards and have another floor on top of your parents house, and so on. His family had one of these such buildings. When his Gaza-based nephew returned to their home to see the pile of rubble for himself, his reaction was extreme, says Ajrami. He was totally disoriented and simply stood in shock, staring at the destruction. Seeing it on a photograph was one thing; experiencing the complete annihilation of his home was another. open image in gallery A Palestinian doctor inspects the damage inside Nasser Hospital in southern Gaza, which was targeted by an Israeli airstrike in March 2025 ( EPA ) Like Mikhail Chester, Dr. Thaer Ahmad underlines the need for the rebuilding to be done by local people. It needs to be led by Palestinians on the ground, he says, ... Im sorry, but I dont have a lot of confidence in a bunch of international NGOs showing up, each trying to carve out their own piece, put their branding on it and expect them to be there for the long haul and not understand that ultimately, that is sort of meaningless. The second you lose funding, or the second you get distracted with something else, the people there will suffer. Theres been a lot of talk of thinking outside the box when it comes to Gaza, Ahmad adds. Its a phrase that sounds flippant, especially when deployed by politicians, but, he says: All right, hold that thought for a second. Think outside the box. The way [politicians are] thinking right now is pretty stupid, but theres a chance now to move away from all of the mistakes of the past. I think the responsibility for us as Americans here is: this is one of the worst things that weve seen since World War Two, with respect to the human suffering thats taken place, he says. Theres a chance now for us to at least do something different and not try to repeat the same mistakes that weve done in the past. And I think theres a small opportunity Im not optimistic, but for me, as somebody who is very much pragmatic, and many Palestinians are I want to use this as a chance to bring some good out of it. Sahar Abuimara, who spent most of her life in Gaza and recently moved to the U.S., tells me that she couldnt face going back to see the rubble of the school where her mother spent her career teaching. Sahars sister wanted to see what had happened for herself. She says she told her sister that shed rather avert her eyes. For many who are still processing what theyve lost, trying to imagine how to rebuild from the ruins will take its own psychological toll. Abed Ajrami knows that, despite their firm attachment to the land, some Gazans will end up leaving in order to live more normal lives. But that shouldnt be seen as them leaving voluntarily, he says. You cannot bomb people, destroy their homes, destroy the infrastructure, prevent the food supplies and rebuilding supplies from coming in, and then you say: Well, what do you think, we can get you a ticket and a visa to Europe to Oman or to Cairo? Gazans are not superhumans, he adds. They are just as likely as anyone else to flee in pursuit of a better life for their families. Ajrami and Thaer Ahmad agree on one thing: the rebuilding may be complex, but the needs of the Palestinian people can be understood simply. Everybody wants a chance at life, Ahmad continues. Everybody wants their kids to grow old. Everybody wants them to be able to graduate from high school and college, and watch them do so, and not have to worry about fighter jets or bombs or abductions. To me, the quicker that you can realize that is the quicker that youre going to have real peace. And real peace is only through coexistence. Ajrami hopes to see Gaza rebuilt to a standard even better than it was before and he believes it can be done, because of the level of expertise of Palestinians, so long as theyre not sidelined during the redevelopment of the land. After all, he says, its the Palestinian construction worker who built the high-rises of Tel Aviv. A combination of cheap and abundant labor and specialized technical knowledge means that many construction workers who helped build up modern Israel came from the Palestinian territories. Ajrami compares it to the huge number of Hispanic construction workers who construct the buildings in the U.S., adding that it was just the same when he commissioned his beautiful American house on the lake. The point is that we have the expertise, Ajrami adds. We built Tel Aviv and we built Haifa and other places. We rebuilt Gaza multiple times. We can do it again if were given the chance and the materials to do it. 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 medical director for a health insurance company who was lambasted on TV by John Oliver is suing the comedian-turned-talk-show-host for allegedly misconstruing his remarks about the level of care disabled Medicaid recipients should receive after using the toilet. Dr. Brian Morley thinks its okay if people have s**t on them for days, Oliver said on the air last year, referring to previous comments by the former AmeriHealth Caritas medical director about the necessity and frequency of in-home nursing visits versus the cost of such services. [F]**k that doctor with a rusty canoe, Oliver said on the air. I hope he gets tetanus of the balls. This, according to a federal defamation lawsuit filed Friday , subsequently damaged Morleys reputation and personal well-being. Morley did not equate wiping poorly with leaving anyone sitting in their own feces for days, and actually testified to the opposite, the lawsuit says. According to Morleys suit, he never said that it is okay or medically appropriate for individuals wearing diapers or who are otherwise immobile to have s**t on them for days, nor did he say that it is okay or medically appropriate for anyone to sit or lay in their own feces, for days at a time or otherwise. Instead, the suit contends, Morley was trying to explain that there are everyday people who may not wipe perfectly, but that theyre mobile and theyre not laying in it. It was [Oliver] who knowingly and falsely conveyed that Dr. Morley testified that it is okay to leave someone who is incontinent, wears diapers, or otherwise sits in their own bowel movements in their s**t for days. Morleys attorneys declined on Monday to comment, and told The Independent that Morley left AmeriHealth Caritas several years ago. A lawyer for Oliver and his production company, who are named as defendants in the case, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. A spokeswoman for Max, which carries Olivers show, said the network does not comment on pending litigation. (Max is not named as a defendant in the suit.) In an April 2024 episode of Last Week Tonight titled Medicaid, Oliver told viewers that there was a nearly 900 percent increase in members being illegally denied services or care and some of the cost cutting was absolutely enraging. open image in gallery Dr. Brian Morley is hauling John Oliver into court over comments the health insurance medical director made in 2017 ( Getty Images ) He then showed video footage of a wheelchair-bound cerebral palsy patient in Iowa named Louis Facenda, Jr. , who had gone for six weeks without medication or daily nursing visits during which the 25-year-old would be bathed and have his diaper changed after AmeriHealth Caritas, a so-called managed care organization advising the states Medicaid program, halted payments for the crucial services. He wasnt getting changed like he would normally get changed two or three times a day, Facendas mother said in the snippet. Oliver then ran an audio clip of AmeriHealth Caritas medical director Dr. Brian Morley testifying during a 2017 administrative hearing about a similar patient, 32-year-old policyholder Nathan McDonald. AmeriHealth Caritas had cut McDonalds in-home visits by nurses who helped him bathe and get dressed, from twice-daily, down to five times a week, the Des Moines Register reported at the time . People have bowel movements every day where they dont completely clean themselves, and we dont fuss over [them] too much, Morley testified, according to the Register and audio of Morleys testimony played by Oliver. People are allowed to be dirty You know, I would allow him to be a little dirty for a couple of days. Although McDonald was unable to fully wipe himself, according to the Register, Morleys suit takes aim at the notion he was similar to Facenda, alleging he was not confined to a wheelchair, was not incontinent, did not wear diapers, independently toilet transferred, was independently mobile, could change his or her own clothes, bathed him or herself, and did not require in-home diaper changing or assistance to bathe generally. Morleys suit insists he was referring to the average individual who is independently mobile but may not wipe perfectly not someone who is wearing diapers or otherwise laying in their own bowel movements. open image in gallery Medicaid has become a hot-button issue under Donald Trump's second term as president ( Middle East Images/AFP via Getty ) In this hypothetical, Morleys suit goes on, if feces are left on the skin for several hours, or even a day, and the feces are removed the next day in someone thats mobile and is not confined to a bed, then it would just be a matter of washing the feces off. Morley, according to the lawsuit, believed it was necessary for Facenda to have multiple in-home visits per day, but did not think McDonald needed everything he was asking for. He explained, according to his lawsuit, that there are likely people running, you know, walking around in society today that have, you know, bowel movements that arent clean and they have feces on their skin for whatever reason, but theyre, you know, for the most part, theyre mobile and theyre not laying in it like someone who might be elderly, whos immobile with concomitant medical problems like diabetes. In that case, someone who is incontinent or immobile (i.e., wearing diapers) would develop skin breakdown if feces were not promptly removed from their skin, it states. Yet, the suit continues, the producers of Last Week Tonight knew, contradicted, and otherwise failed to disclose that Dr. Morley did not testify, at all, that it is okay or medically appropriate for individuals wearing diapers or who are otherwise immobile to have s**t on them for days. McDonald and Facenda later won their appeals and their full nursing services were restored. Morley is demanding a retraction, removal of the episode from all platforms, and compensatory damages, special damages, and punitive damages to be determined by a jury. 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 CEO of a Texas health insurance company was fired after admitting before a DOGE panel of state lawmakers that he hired private investigators to spy on customers and obtain sensitive details about their lives. Mark Sanders was dismissed from his duties as chief executive of Austin-based Superior HealthPlan after he testified before the Texas House Delivery of Government Efficiency Committee in a hearing on Medicaid procurement last week. Sanders acknowledged Wednesday that private investigators were hired to surveil and glean background information on state lawmakers, journalists, healthcare providers, and patients. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced Thursday that his office was launching an investigation into the company after Sanders remarks. The allegations concerning Superiors actions, such as actions that were characterized as potentially blackmailing lawmakers to secure state contracts and surveilling private citizens to avoid paying legitimate claims, are deeply troubling, he said in a statement. open image in gallery Abortion Pills Lawsuit ( Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved ) I will get to the bottom of this, uncover any illegal activity, and hold bad actors responsible. Sanders was subsequently dismissed on Thursday, Superior Healthplans parent company told The Dallas Morning News. The conduct highlighted yesterday during the course of the Texas House Committee hearing is not reflective of our values nor is it a practice Centenes current leadership condones, the company said in a statement. While the embattled health insurance firm was already facing lawsuits for declining coverage, a series of private investigations allegedly started in 2017 when Sanders took over as CEO. Sanders told committee members that the company had since abandoned the practice of so-called routine background checks on customers. Weve done what I would call general research, he said. Anything thats publicly available. open image in gallery Mark Sanders testified before the Texas House Delivery of Government Efficiency Committee in a hearing on Medicaid procurement Wednesday ( Texas House of Representatives ) According to documents obtained by the Morning News, State Representative Giovani Capriglione, state Senator Charles Schwerner, and former state Senator Dawn Buckinghamall Republicansare among the victims. Why would you go and run a background check, hire a private investigator to follow, to dig into the records of people who are your customers? Capriglione asked. I dont think what any of us expected was for a health insurance company, funded mostly by Texas taxpayer dollars, to use some of those funds to hire private investigators, he added. The state representative accused the company of likely having known about Sanders actions before Wednesdays hearing. Capriglione said that legislation has been filed to prevent similar incidents in the future, adding: If any company does something like this again, they will never get a government contract again. State Representative Tony Tinderholt said he was appalled after reviewing a folder of alleged email correspondences between Sanders and firms hired to conduct the investigations stating he initially thought they were a joke. When asked if he was embarrassed about what was in the folder, Sanders replied: Yeah, I am. It could be illegal. I dont know, Tinderholt said before asking Paxton to investigate the matter and hold Superior Healthplan accountable. The Independent has contacted Superior Healthplan for more information. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice An executive at a major American bank may be dead following a plane crash in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota over the weekend. Officials at U.S. Bank told local broadcaster KARE 11 that they believe the company's vice chair and chief administration officer, Terry Dolan, died in the crash. On Saturday, a small plane leaving from Des Moines International Airport in Iowa was on its way to Anoka County-Blaine Airport when it crashed into a house in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, according to the FAA. A body was removed from the wreckage. The Hennepin County Medical Examiner is still working to identify the remains. The small plane was registered to Dolan. U.S. Bank officials issued a statement saying they believe Dolan was killed in the 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," the statement said, according to People. Terry Dolan, 63, the vice chair and chief administrative officer at U.S. Bank. Bank officials said on Monday, March 31, 2025 that they believe Dolan may have died in an airplane crash that took place the previous Saturday in Minnesota. ( U.S. Bank ) The statement continues: "Our thoughts and prayers are with him, his family and friends, and anyone who may have been affected by yesterday's tragic incident," the bank officials said. "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." Two people lived at the house, and one was at home at the time of the plane crash. The collision set the house on fire, but the occupant was able to escape. The pilots remains are the only remains that have been found. Tim Marx, the former CEO of Catholic Charities, knew Dolan and said the 63-year-old had a passion for flying and his plane. Dolan served on the board of directors for Catholic Charities Twin Cities between 2012 and 2017. [Learning about the crash] just really hit me hard," Marx told CBS News. "It was a real sad shock." The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the crash and said it should have a preliminary report ready sometime in the next few weeks. According to U.S. Banks website, Dolan became the CAO in 2023. Prior to that he had served as an executive vice president at the company and as its chief financial officer. 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 U.S. Bank says it fears its vice chair, Terry Dolan, may have been killed after a plane registered to him crashed into a home in Minnesota over the weekend. The small aircraft crashed into a home in Brooklyn Park, near Minneapolis, on Saturday, setting the building alight. Emergency services said one person in the plane was feared dead, although their identity was not immediately released. No one in the house was injured, Brooklyn Park Fire Chief Shawn Conway said in a press conference. In a statement, U.S. Bank said: 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. The plane, which authorities believe had only one person on board, was registered to bank executive Terry Dolan ( Mike Deyo ) At this time, the medical examiners office has not been able to confirm whether he was on board, but we believe he was. Dolan, 63, who had been with the bank for 26 years, was named its chief administration officer in 2023. His profile page on the banks website says Dolan was involved in community organizations helping the homeless, arts and culture, and higher education including serving on the boards of directors for Catholic Charities, the Minnesota Opera, Artspace, The Minneapolis Foundation, the College of Saint Benedict and Saint Johns University. In a statement posted online on Saturday, the Federal Aviation Administration confirmed that a SOCATA TBM7 aircraft had crashed just before 12.30 p.m. local time. 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. On Sunday Bloomberg reported that Timothy Sorensen, an accident investigator with the National Transportation Safety Board, said an investigation into the cause had been opened. The investigation will consider whether pilot experience, weather conditions and the state of the aircraft played a part in the crash. A preliminary report will be published in the next few weeks. Television station KARE 11 reported that Mary Butler, who lived in the house, was out walking her dog at the time of the crash. Her husband, Kenneth Tobacman, was in the house but was able to escape unharmed through the kitchen door. However, their cat did not survive. Butler told the outlet: I heard the plane from several blocks away," adding she heard a boom" when the plane hit her house. Sign up for the Independent Women email for the latest news, opinion and features Get the Independent Women email for free Get the Independent Women email for free Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Date after date, 33-year-old Kelsey Grist was left disappointed and drained. The production manager from Rhode Island kept hoping her dating apps experience would improve, but it didnt. So, around two years ago, she deleted them. I decided I was going to stop waiting to start my life with somebody and just start pursuing the goals that I had intended with a partner, Kelsey told The Independent. Now she is a homeowner, sharing her home with friends, a married couple who rent one of her rooms. She values her financial independence, ability to travel anywhere at the drop of a hat and has learnt she is happier single. I found that I just have access to so much peace and joy in my life when I'm not being made to feel the ways that these men have made me feel, she said. Kelsey represents a growing number of American women shunning dating and embarking on life without a romantic relationship. Single women are, on average, more content with their relationship status than men, a 2024 study found, and the number of single women looking for love has declined. In 2019, 38 percent of single women were looking for a romantic relationship. By 2022, that had dropped to 35 percent, a Pew Research survey found. By comparison, 50 percent of single men were looking for a romantic relationship in 2022, down from 61 percent in 2019. Women are also outpacing men when it comes to college education 47 percent aged between 25 and 34 have a bachelors degree, compared with 37 percent of men, according to Pew Research. And homeownership among single women is also ticking upward. In 2022, 50 percent of single women without children owned their homes compared to 47 percent of single men, Pew also found. Women are finding they dont need a partner or the traditional norms. The moderator of the subreddit /SingleAndHappy community, who asked not to be named for privacy reasons, told The Independent the community has grown from 10,600 subscribers to 17,400 in the last 12 months. open image in gallery Kelsey Grist, 33, had enough of feeling disappointed and shot down on dating apps. She no longer wanted to wait for someone to start living her life, she told The Independent. ( Kelsey Grist ) I created it because there's so much stigma around not being in a couple, not being married, and it always bothers me. I've never wanted the traditional white picket fence life, the mod said. So I was like, all right, let me create a community for people like me who also don't want to be pigeon-holed into these conventional expectations. Single women, many who belong to that Reddit community, told The Independent that the decision to actively stop searching for the one was liberating. Instead, some have pursued becoming homeowners, prioritized their high-flying careers, traveled the world and become mothers. All say they have cherished the life-affirming friendships and relationships formed outside the traditional romantic ones. Like many women in their 30s, Kelsey was daunted by the idea of declining fertility. But not anymore. Once I realized the biological clock is not the be all and end all of my ability to love and have relationships with children, I was like, You know what? I could meet somebody in my 50s or in my 60s, she said. It ain't over till it's over. For 28-year-old civil engineer Phoebe Glazko, originally from Chicago and now living in suburban Detroit, a relationship ending amicably brought her clarity on the role of romantic relationships in her life. open image in gallery Phoebe Glazko, 28, pictured in Japan on one of her solo trips. The civil engineer who lives in suburban Detroit has learned she is happier single. ( Phoebe Glazko ) He was really special, she told The Independent. He was wonderful in many ways. But I realized that I'm still happier single, she said, adding that she is not looking to get married ever. I think relationships in general are a series of compromises, Phoebe continued. And I'm not a compromising person. I like to be able to decide on a whim, go somewhere or I don't want to go somewhere. Phoebe is also a homeowner. It's really comforting that I, alone, can afford somewhere and I don't need to rely on someone financially, she said. Independence takes on many forms. Vicki Eberts, a 33-year-old coffee shop manager from Ohio, previously hoped she would find that grand, romantic love, but stepping back from the dating scene gave her perspective. Looking back, I now see a little kid with some attachment issues not knowing how to be fulfilled without the attention of others, she said. Knowing that now, I can understand that it wasn't romantic love I was actually looking for, but something else. After a three-year relationship came to an end in 2023, Vicki found herself becoming more content as each day passed. I feel whole, she said. I don't have to play-act or placate anyone else. Vicki, who studied history in the U.K. for five years, said she never dreamt of marriage or having children but instead sought a life of travel and adventure. open image in gallery Vicki Eberts, 33, from Ohio, once hoped to find grand, romantic love as sold to women from a young age. But now she has a new perspective. ( Vicki Eberts ) I realized recently that I love being single for the same reasons I am permanently childfree by choice: I feel free, she said. And the decline of dating isnt just in heterosexual relationships. San Diego native Sofie Champassak, 38, who is gay, decided to stop dating around two years ago and has been celibate since October 2023. Ive dated, had several long-term relationships, been monogamous and poly, was married, tried again and have accepted that we never know where a relationship may go, as hard as you try and as much as you love, the clinical psychologist said. The outcome of whether it works out or not isnt up to you. After her marriage ended in 2018, Sofie said she entered into a monogamous relationship in 2021 that has since ended. I think being married, trying again in my mid-late 30s, and not having things work out just allowed me to let go of control, she said. Ive learned that were continuously growing as individuals and sometimes the person youre with isnt growing with you or alongside you. As Ive poured a lot into my relationships and my previous partners, I am happy to pour so much more into myself. open image in gallery Sofie Champassak, 38, is a clinical psychologist and was married to a long-term partner. When she split from her ex-wife, Sofie dated again but knew it wasnt for her. She has been celibate since October 2023 and says she is happier than ever. ( Sofie Champassak ) There is also a growing movement of women who are choosing to become mothers without finding a partner first. Casey Alexander, originally from Minnesota, is 41 and expecting her first child in June. She had previously been on the fence about having kids, but after becoming an egg donor for her sister, and her mother dying just over a year ago, her priorities became clear. It became very clear to me that I did not want to delay becoming a mother, she said. About the same time, I decided to get off the dating apps. Like many women, Casey said she felt she was putting in a lot more effort into men and dating than she was getting back. Stepping back from the apps was a relief. I think I knew, even before I stepped away from it, that it was something that I needed to cut out for my life, Casey said. Casey bought a home in upstate New York with two friends. The three have their own space and its where she will raise her child. open image in gallery Casey Alexander, 41, is about to welcome her first child after ditching dating apps. She found support from the group Singles Mothers by Choice and has an extremely close network of friends and family. ( Tim Moore/Casey Alexander ) The gallery director said she is still experiencing much of life the same as couples do, citing a deep and strong network of friendships and family bonds. I'm just doing it with these other people in my life. We think about single people being solo, but it's just different interests, she said. The mom-to-be is being supported by the Single Mothers by Choice group, who advocate for women who want to have children without a partner, and have helped over 40,00 women. Each year we get more new members than the previous year, said the organizations executive director, Kat Curtin. The stigma has changed, Kat said, citing advances in fertility and better career options for women. There's more awareness about being able to do this. Being a single mother by choice doesnt mean raising your child alone. Before she became president, Kat joined as a member in 2014 when she abandoned the premise that she needed to find a husband before having a child. I knew that I could live without ever having a partner or husband, she said. But I really didn't think I could without being a mother. That gave me the freedom to stop dating because I was dating in a way that felt like a job. It wasn't fun. open image in gallery Kat pictured with her daughter Nora, who is now five. Kat, president of Single Mothers by Choice, said: Being a single mother by choice doesnt mean raising your child alone. ( Kat Curtin ) After enduring six years of fertility struggles, Kat gave birth to her now 5-year-old daughter Nora. Shes also in a relationship again, which she credits to being possible because the pressure to find a co-parent was removed. I'm confident and comfortable that if my partner and I don't work out, he'll have a role in Nora's life, Kat said. But I fully define myself as a mommy and me family to Nora. We are the core and I'm raising her by myself. Casey, meanwhile, is focusing on the imminent arrival of her baby and said it has been empowering to see women before her buck the trend and go it alone although she is open to the possibility of a future relationship. I think the more we see other women do things on their own, the more emboldened we are to know that we can do it ourselves and we don't have to wait around for things to conventionally happen, Casey said. The more that we talk about these things, the easier it is for people to realize that there are other ways that you can make your life, 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 A wildfire raging through California's Eastern Sierra region has scorched 1,000 acres and triggered evacuations across multiple counties. The Silver Fire, which ignited on Sunday afternoon near Highway 6 and Silver Canyon Road in Inyo County, is currently zero percent contained, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire). The blaze has prompted mandatory evacuations for several communities, including Laws in Inyo County, Chalfant in Mono County, and the White Mountain Estates neighborhood. Authorities have also closed a 30-mile stretch of U.S. Highway 6. There were no immediate reports of injuries or structural damage so far. What caused the California fires? The cause of the fire remains under investigation, according to Cal Fire. More than 200 firefighters were battling the blaze, but gusts reaching 35 miles per hour at Bishop Airport grounded some firefighting aircraft and complicated containment efforts, Cal Fire said in a Facebook update late Sunday. The National Weather Service has forecasted southwest winds of 25 to 35 mph and gusts up to 65 mph on Monday for the region. Earlier this year, California's biggest city Los Angeles suffered the worst fires in its history, killing 29 people and damaging or destroying more than 16,000 structures. The devastating wildfires were made more likely due to the impact of climate change, researchers said. The blazes were worsened by dried-out vegetation, low rainfall in the region and the overlap between drought conditions and hurricane-force Santa Ana winds, according to the group World Weather Attribution. In 2025, the choices facing world leaders remain the same to drill and continue to burn oil, gas and coal and experience ever more dangerous weather, or transition to renewable energy for a safer and fairer world, Dr. Friederike Otto, World Weather Attributions co-lead and Senior Lecturer in Climate Science at Imperial College London, said at the time. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Newly released body cam footage shows a New Jersey Democratic mayor stumbling and crying during her arrest for allegedly driving her toddler home from daycare drunk on St. Patricks Day. Lumberton Mayor Gina LaPlaca, 45, was arrested and charged with a DUI, child endangerment and neglect, driving with an expired license, and other related offenses, according to a police complaint in Lumberton Township - a small city 25 miles east of Philadelphia. Police approached her outside of her home around 5.40 pm on March 17 after a resident reported her erratic driving, police footage shows. As LaPlaca took her two-year-old son out of his car seat in her BMW Sedan, one officer asked: Are you OK?. Yes, I am, replied LaPlaca, before losing her balance and staggering. open image in gallery The mayor later admitted to police that she had been drinking ( Lumberton Police ) When asked about her damaged side-view mirror, LaPlaca said she had hit something but vaguely said, I dont know. LaPlaca stumbled again when asked to stand on one leg as part of DUI tests before crying as officers handcuffed her, the footage shows. Im sorry, LaPlaca said to the officers, who allegedly found a small liquor bottle and an alcohol-filled water bottle in her car. The mayor later admitted to police that she had been drinking before she went to collect her son from daycare, according to court documents seen by The Philadelphia Inquirer. In a statement posted on social media, her husband Jason Carty, who is a firefighter and political activist, claimed his wife had been grappling with addiction and is now getting the treatment she needs. open image in gallery LaPlaca had been sworn in to serve a second term as mayor in January 2025 ( Lumberton Police ) The incident came after a spat LaPlaca was involved in on March 5 in her other role as the Neptune Township business administrator a job she has since resigned from, citing a "changing political environment," reports the Asbury Park Press. She had been escorted out of a Mount Holly Fire Commissioners meeting after a heated exchange with audience members - shouting, "You have no idea what Ive been through" as she walked away. In 2023, she was arrested for assaulting Carty, who was also arrested and later accepted responsibility. Charges against LaPlaca were later dropped. LaPlaca had been sworn in to serve a second term as mayor in January 2025. She was first elected in 2020 and re-elected in 2023. Among her major projects is ending a homeless encampment in the area around Lumberton. LaPlaca was released shortly after her arrest and is scheduled to appear in court on April 28. 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 Interior Secretary Doug Burgum told Fox News host Lara Trump that he certainly believes theres room on Mount Rushmore for President Trumps face, in an interview that aired on Saturday. Speaking on her show My View with Lara Trump, President Trumps daughter-in-law told Burgum a lot of people wonder whether his face will be added to the South Dakota monument. The Department of Interior is in charge of the National Park Service, Lara Trump said. The National Park Service 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? Well, they certainly have room for it there, replied Mr Burgum, who was brought on the show to discuss his accomplishments since President Trump returned to office and topics related to his department. He also confirmed that fireworks will be held at Mount Rushmore around July 4th as part of celebrations across the country to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the countrys founding in 2026. The interview comes days after President Trump gave Burgum the power to decide whether public monuments, statues, or memorials removed under Biden give a false construction of American history. If President Trumps face is added, he will join former Presidents Abraham Lincoln, Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, and Theodore Roosevelt. Trump previously floated the idea at a 2017 rally, where he asked a cheering crowd: Id ask whether or not you think I will someday be on Mount Rushmore. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, then running for South Dakota governor, also said in a 2018 interview that President Trump told her it was his dream to be placed alongside former presidents on the monument. The movement to engrave his face gained momentum when a panel of Fox News contributors on Outnumbered supported the idea as a commemoration of the countrys founding. If you did, like, the 250th anniversary of the country at Mount Rushmore with President Trumps face, it would be epic, the Presidents former press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said on Outnumbered. In January this year, Republican congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna introduced a bill seeking to carve President Trumps face into the monument. His remarkable accomplishments for our country and the success he will continue to deliver deserve the highest recognition and honor on this iconic national monument. Let's get carving, Florida Rep. Anna Paulina Luna said on X, formerly Twitter. When Donald Trumps former chief strategist Steve Bannon said Im a firm believer that President Trump will run and win again in 2028, last week, it should have been a surprise, but wasnt. Were working on it. Well see what the definition of term limit is,the dishevelled Bannon told NewsNation. It wasnt the first time he had mentioned it either. The presidents adviser, who went to prison for refusing to testify before a congressional committee about the 6 January insurrection, suggested it in December. Then, he argued that Trump could circumvent the 22nd amendment, which codifies the two-term limit, because the word consecutive is not in the text of the document. Trump has been making his feelings clear too. In an interview with NBC over the weekend, the president said he was not joking about seeking a third term and that there are methods to staying in office despite a constitutional ban on presidents serving more than two terms in office. He has form. Shortly after his election victory last November, the president told congressional Republicans: I suspect I wont be running again unless you say, Hes so good weve got to figure something else out. Then, in January, during the annual House Republican retreat in Florida, he joked with speaker Mike Johnson: Am I allowed to run again, Mike? In February, he asked supporters at the White House: Should I run again? You tell me. Offhand musings about a third term in office sound less like bluster and more like a blueprint. The safeguard of the two-term president emerged in direct response to Franklin D Roosevelts unprecedented four-term presidency during the Thirties and Forties. Before Roosevelt, the informal precedent set by George Washington stepping down after two terms had been respected by every president. Today, the 22nd amendment leaves little room for interpretation: 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. Earlier this year, Republican congressman Andy Ogles introduced a House resolution to amend it to enable a president to be elected for up to three terms. Ogles wrote: President Trumps decisive leadership stands in stark contrast to the chaos, suffering, and economic decline Americans have endured over the past four years. He has proven himself to be the only figure in modern history capable of reversing our nations decay and restoring America to greatness, and he must be given the time necessary to accomplish that goal. To that end, I am proposing an amendment to the constitution to revise the limitations imposed by the 22nd amendment on presidential terms. This amendment would allow Trump to serve three terms, ensuring that we can sustain the bold leadership our nation so desperately needs. It certainly wouldnt surprise constitutional law professor Michele Goodwin if Trump did actively try to seek a third term by any means necessary: There has already been a display of lawlessness in the executive orders and other actions taken by the Trump administration, she says. Indeed, Goodwin, a professor from Georgetown Law, says Trump is making history for things that are anti-democratic and anti-constitutional. For example when the president said he wants to do away with birthright citizenship, he cant do away with it with the stroke of his pen. Its in the American constitution. In the kidnapping of people who have green cards and then secreting them away, making history in mass deportations these things have been wrongfully reported as if these are just people who are just illegals, but these are people who are in a legal process for refugee status or towards immigration status. So the fact that they may not have a green card does not mean that theyre not in an appropriate legal status and process. open image in gallery Trump looks down from the presidential box in the Opera House at the John F Kennedy Centre earlier this month ( Getty ) Birthright citizenship is protected in the 14th amendment and courts have blocked its loss for now. A Ronald Reagan-appointed judge issued an emergency order initially halting Trumps executive order, saying, I have been on the bench for over four decades. I cant remember another case where the question presented was as clear. Other legal scholars have dismissed the idea of running for a third term as impossible, but for Trumps most ardent supporters, constitutional roadblocks have rarely been a concern. In fact, the mere suggestion that he might seek to extend his grip on power has already energised his base. And there is little political opposition in sight. Robert Reich, who was labour secretary under president Bill Clinton and served in the Ford and Carter administrations, headlined a recent Substack post: Where the HELL are the Democrats? It should be the Democrats moment, he wrote, Democrats are nowhere Almost invisible. Theyre squandering this opportunity. Reich points out that some Democratic operatives are telling Democrats to play dead; to give the Trump administration and congressional Republicans who support him enough rope to figuratively hang themselves. The midterm elections arent until November of 2026. Keep your powder dry. Rubbish, says Reich. Tens of millions of Americans believe theres no real Democratic opposition to Trump. They feel demoralised and defeated. open image in gallery JD Vance has been tasked with removing improper ideology from the National Museum of African American History and Culture ( Getty ) Goodwin says the Trump administration is moving in coercive ways into legal spaces. Universities have been pressured to change their curriculum (Columbia University is placing its Middle Eastern, South Asian and African studies departments into academic receivership at the insistence of the Trump administration), and this week vice-president JD Vance was put in charge of removing improper ideology from the National Museum of African American History and Culture, which comes under the Smithsonian Institute. Whether it is a threat against law schools, or banning major law firms who have worked for his enemies from receiving government contracts, as of this month there are now 60 universities under investigation by Trumps Department of Education for antisemitic discrimination and harassment. When people feel threatened, as some people are, Goodwin says, they begin making concessions unnecessary concessions. In the past, she says, we could rely on the unbiased, fair judiciary to take care of things, but even successful lawsuits hold little weight with the new administration. The difference now is theres a certain level of defiance [on the part of the Trump administration]. And that becomes a problem. A house set aflame can be decimated in no time ... This dismantling, the firing of people, the gutting of various institutions, may take decades in some instances to rebuild and to restore. Michele Goodwin Law professors are fearful, she says. There are those in the legal profession who saw in the first week of his presidency there had already been sufficient unconstitutional executive orders that caused concern that there was a crisis of democracy. With the help of his henchman Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency, Trump is also attempting to shut down agencies created by Congress, placing 4,200 staff at the Agency for International Development on leave in February, and firing 1,600 from their jobs. Lawyers said Congress would be able to stop Doge but that clearly didnt happen. There are people afraid right now. The problem, she says, is its much easier to destroy something than it is to build it. A house set aflame can be decimated in no time. And its not just about recreating the physical structure. Its the character. Its remembering how people who respected each other worked together. This dismantling, the firing of people, the gutting of various institutions, may take decades in some instances to rebuild and to restore. And it will mean a commitment from our government to do so at a time when the government will be economically distressed. Goodwin says the US is in a thought experiment right now. She says Steve Bannon spoke a while back about flooding the zone. Bannon was talking to writer Michael Lewis in 2018 when he said: The Democrats dont matter. The real opposition is the media. And the way to deal with them is to flood the zone with s***. open image in gallery Trumps advisers have hinted theyll be trying to get their leader a third term ( Getty ) Goodwin reckons theres a psychological component to this. One analogy that comes to mind is domestic violence. In a family environment where somebody is flooding the zone with physical and mental abuse various forms of coercion so you dont know what to expect when that person comes home at night its destabilising; youre fearful; youre so overwhelmed by it. But the overwhelming aspect of it works and thats what its intended to do. [What Trump is doing] is meant to destabilise people; to cause a kind of paralysis. People are so overwhelmed they lose sight of what to work on, what to do. While Goodwin calls the current situation dystopic, she believes help might come from a somewhat unlikely source the Supreme Court. At the beginning of the month, chief justice John Roberts and justice Amy Coney Barrett, nominated by Trump during his first term, joined the liberal wing of the court in denying the administrations efforts to freeze $2bn to pay foreign aid organisations for work they had already completed. In response, alt-right Maga activist Jack Posobiec said that Barrett was a DEI hire. Those who had worried the Supreme Courts lurch to the right, and its contentious ruling that presidents are immune from criminal liability for actions taken in office, would mean Trump would be given carte blanche to run roughshod over the constitution might be proved wrong. In mid-March, Roberts again defied Trump in his calls to remove a judge, in what the Associated Press called an extraordinary display of conflict between the executive and judiciary branches. In a democracy under siege, the Supreme Court is the last line of defence. The question is, considering its make-up, whether it will be up to the task hit after hit. Or, when the time comes for a third-term run, will so much have gone up in flames that people will forget where the hosepipe is or even where to point 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 The arrival of two recent documentaries about how the Gaza crisis unfolded on U.S. college campuses, October 8 and The Encampments, could not be more timely. The war in Gaza rages on, and so too does the campus crisis it inspired. Trump has begun following through on a vow to deport all non-citizen university activists with ties to the pro-Palestine faction. This week, masked ICE agents apprehended a Tufts student, for the apparent offense of writing a pro-Palestine op-ed. The history of how we got here, at least according to these documentaries, remains highly contested. As October 8, which is in theatres now and executive produced by Debra Messing, tells it, the explosion of pro-Palestine protest that immediately followed the Hamas attack came from a combination of latent antisemitism and mass misunderstanding of the Israel-Palestine situation. The former undoubtedly exists the stratospheric over-representation of Jews in FBI hate crime data, for example, cannot be ignored while the latter is more debatable. Director Wendy Sachs assembles professors, extremism researchers, Israeli officials, and right-leaning commentators who blame the leftward tilt of the protests on a fog of social media algorithms, Hamas propaganda, what they see as an anti-Israel press and a compromised human rights community, and, perhaps most strikingly, the social justice and diversity movement itself. Viewers are told that within these left-learning spaces, the snake started eating its own tail and developed an orthodoxy thats unhealthy singling out Israel and Jews, according to interviewee New York University professor Scott Galloway. open image in gallery The Trump administration has begun arresting students who led the pro-Palestine protests, making the insights of both documentaries more timely than ever ( The Encampments ) Theres not a lot of nuance, he adds, though this statement comes in a documentary where the only Palestinian who speaks is a former Mossad asset. The Encampments, which debuted in New York this week and has rapper Mackelmore as a producer, features more contemporaneous interviews during the protests as well as more historical analysis. The film suggests that students were motivated by their own experiences, beliefs and education. It notes, for example, that Palestinian refugees and Palestinian-Americans with direct ties to those being annihilated by U.S.-made armaments were among those leading the protests. Both documentaries also omit seemingly relevant parts of the record, too. open image in gallery Encampment protests, which were often met with pro-Israel demonstrations, cropped up at some 60 U.S. universities over the last two years ( Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved ) October 8 doesnt bother trying to reckon with (or even interview) any of the hundreds and likely thousands of Jewish students who helped carry out the encampment protests, many of whom cited the Jewish tradition of social justice activism as their inspiration. Their absence is all the more glaring given the very real violence the protesters, including the Jewish ones, faced because of their activism. At UCLA, for example, police largely stood by as a gang of masked vigilantes, some draped in Israeli flags, attacked students with fireworks and blunt objects, then fled before officers regained control or made arrests. Counter protestors clash with pro-Palestinian demonstrators at UCLA If all the encampment protesters were Jew-haters, what does that make the Jews inside the barricades, who ended up in handcuffs or at the hospital for their beliefs? What does that make the people who attacked them? People like Trump have one response. On the campaign trail, he wondered aloud how anti-Israel Jews even exist in America and suggested they needed to get their head examined. October 8, understandably, doesnt quote that, but it does not address the question any other way. open image in gallery The Columbia encampment prompted mass arrests on campus for the first time since Vietnam War protests ( Getty Images ) And speaking of Trump, the president and his political influence apparently didnt warrant a mention either, despite the Republican standard-bearer dining with neo-Nazis, allying closely with the GOPs pro-Israel megadonors, and using rhetoric on the 2024 campaign trail that non-Americans were poisoning the blood of the nation, comments that wouldnt have been out of place at a Nazi rally. The Encampment ignores outer edges of its own. There were, undoubtedly, some within the larger student movement who specifically celebrated Hamass attack on Israeli civilians and soldiers alike. Others directly used the groups imagery and language and condoned violence against Jewish Zionists. Directors Michael T. Workman and Kei Pritsker interview students and faculty in The Encampments who paint the movement as essentially pacifist and, indeed, the students stated demands for divestment, and their central tactic of using camp-outs on the quad, have obvious ties to the methods of the Civil Rights and anti-apartheid movements. Still, some reckoning with the movements understanding of Hamas Are they a laudable anti-colonial resistance force? Religious fanatics? would have been illuminating. Instead, the group goes largely unmentioned. open image in gallery The Trump administration threatened to pull $400 million in federal funding from Columbia over alleged antisemitism, and has warned scores of other top universities they could be next ( Getty Images ) So too do the Biden-era civil rights probes, lawsuits, and university taskforces regarding campus antisemitism, as well as the instances of overtly violent campus vandalism singling out Zionists and Jews. As a reporter, I can assure you there are very real challenges with trying to define and describe antisemitism, a force as ethereal as a cultural shift or as physical as shattered glass. Further muddying the picture, some of the most widely cited organizations tracking antisemitism, like the Anti-Defamation League, consider criticism of Zionism to be inherently antisemitic. But its still worth trying to unpack the extent of the phenomenon sincerely. Insofar as The Encampment addresses the apparently widespread anxieties of some Jewish students at universities who did not support the encampments, it suggests many were just pro-Israel activists themselves mistaking reasoned critique for violent hate. The film also paints Columbia University leaders as equal parts callous and cunning, banning activists while allowing mass arrests on campus for the first time since the anti-Vietnam war movement. The administration is only heard obliquely, through then-president Minouche Shafiks awkward congressional testimony and video statements, rather than given the same direct-to-camera hearing as the protesters. By their conclusions, both films smash up against a grimmer reality just off-camera. Tufts student Rumeysa Ozturk is grabbed off street by masked ICE agents The final moments of October 8 feature billionaire ex-Meta executive Sheryl Sandberg wondering if her non-Jewish friends would hide her if present-day antisemitism morphed into outright fascism. MIT alum Talia Khan, a pro-Israel campus activist who grew up in a mixed Muslim-Jewish household, visits the site of the Nova festival massacre in Israel. She shudders at the sound of bombs being dropped on Gaza nearby, as she tells the camera, We want to just live in peace. The end credits of The Encampments, meanwhile, inform viewers that two of the main activists profiled in the film are facing down forms of exile and disempowerment. Grant Miner, a Jewish PhD student and union leader, was expelled, while Columbia protest leader Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian refugee whose family fled ethnic cleansing in 1948, was arrested by immigration agents and had his legal permanent resident status revoked by the State Department. If the films agree on one thing, it is that the young people at their center are haunted by generational trauma, and a feeling that the institutions around them are ill-equipped to protect them, while the larger media and political culture does not understand them. 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 Glenn Thompsons cardboard cutout took some real abuse on Saturday, as a room full of Pennsylvania Democrats let out their frustrations. A few other members of the states congressional delegation might be thankful that his likeness was the only one on display. Thompson, on his fourth term in the House of Representatives, is just one of dozens of Republican lawmakers who have scaled back public events or avoided them completely amid nationwide outrage from Americans set to see steep cuts to funding for programs in their communities and their own personal safety nets under a Trump 2.0 agenda. Town hall events have become raucous gatherings where Republicans like Victoria Spartz, Chuck Edwards and others have been forced to confront angry voters demanding Congress take action to stop Elon Musks DOGE firing spree affecting the Social Security Administration, USAID and other agencies. The Peoples Town Hall event Saturday just off the campus of Penn State was no gathering of college-age radicals as conservatives often imagine their opponents to be. A crowd that skewed post-retirement asked a panel of state and local Democratic electeds about everything from Social Security to safeguarding international students from efforts by the federal government to deport visa holders who engage in protected First Amendment protest and dissent. A moderator began the event by noting that all county, state and congressional leaders representing Centre County had been invited to attend most had declined. open image in gallery Conor Lamb, with a cardboard cutout of Congressman Glenn Thompson looming behind him, speaks to voters in Thompson's district outside of Penn State University ( John Bowden - The Independent ) As a result the events headliner was Conor Lamb, the former congressman who ran unsuccessfully against now-Senator John Fetterman for the latters seat in 2022. Lamb was easily the biggest crowd-drawer of the bunch, which also included two state representatives, two county officials, a former congressional candidate and a former State Department official. The ex-congressman, who took the stage in jeans and a plain long-sleeve shirt, spoke to residents as a private citizen with only his past background in Congress and the Marine Corps informing his responses. He previewed no future run for Congress or elected office at the event, though one attendee told The Independent that the ex-congressman had hinted to her: Im not going away. Another resident attending the event was informed that Lamb had no people running his comms any longer. It was still more than enough for those in attendance, many of whom had no questions for the panel and merely wanted their concerns to be heard and shared by others in the crowd in the days following. Lamb spoke several times, but was more interested in listening; he stayed until the venue emptied, and spoke to The Independent after the last voters cleared out. These people want to be doing something, and we just have to channel it, Lamb said in an interview. I think people who are elected, senators and representatives, should be at these things themselves. But if they're not, I have a feeling these people are gonna keep going, he said, while offering a semi-warning: People should [] not lose sight of the fact that you know, if you create some energy in politics, and you get people organized and talking about their basic values, you don't always know exactly what that's going to produce, but the side with more energy tends to win elections. open image in gallery Participants in a March 10 protest in Washington, D.C. hold anti-DOGE signs critical of Donald Trump and Elon Musk ( Getty Images ) Nearing the three-month mark of his presidency, Donald Trump has overseen an unprecedented slash-and-burn of the federal government, while whole agencies being ripped apart and tens of thousands ousted from their jobs. Around the country, the effects are already obvious as Americans struggle to receive aid with longstanding federal programs like Social Security and universities drastically scale back Ph.D programs as research funding is cut. Meanwhile, the White House and Department of Homeland Security are pressing ahead with a full-scale assault on the First Amendment rights of noncitizens and seeking to accelerate deportation initiatives. Lamb and others who listened to voters on Saturday said afterwards that many Democrats and even some independents and ex-Trump supporters were in many cases looking for a more concrete strategy of resistance than many in the partys leadership were able to offer. Mark Pinsley, controller for Lehigh County, was one of them. One of the things that I see on the stage, which I'm worried about, is and you heard it from a couple of the women that were speaking they're looking for something that's more aggressive, Pinsley said. The Democratic base, he argued, was looking for leaders ready to punch [Republicans] in the face. Pinsley added that neither Chuck Schumer in the Senate nor Hakeem Jeffries in the House were the leaders for the moment. He urged members of the party to ramp up the pressure on Elon Musks Tesla, and other brands that become linked with Trumps. open image in gallery Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman is facing protests in his home state over his lack of public events and recent votes on Republican-led legislation ( Getty Images ) These are the kinds of things that I think the public is looking for, Pinsley explained. Look: we need the billionaires to be afraid of us. So what can we do? We start going after their money. One unifying complaint voiced by every resident who spoke to The Independent was the apparent abdication of the responsibility felt by Washington lawmakers to come and hear out their constituents. Thompson was the only one booed by name, given his Republican background and lack of public events. But the feelings about Fetterman, Lambs former opponent, were just as evident. Voters and community organizers who declined to speak about the senator did so through gritted teeth and strained expressions; one woman simply said he wasnt doing a lot. The senator hasnt hosted his own town hall-style event since Trumps inauguration in January and his own heel-turn to support the Laken Riley Act, his embrace of a crackdown on college student protesters, and vote to break a filibuster on a Republican bill to fund the government. The Independent reached out to the senators office for comment. Nebraska Republican booed during heated town hall Fettermans only planned public event in recent weeks was a joint event with his states Republican US senator, Dave McCormick. The joint appearance at a Pittsburgh winery was aimed at promoting a book on mentorship written by McCormick and his wife; it has been postponed, following news that Indivisible and other groups would protest the venue. Demonstrations are set to go forward. Lamb, recalling his House days, said the pressure was working even if it was met with silence. GT [Glenn Thompson] and our senators aren't here to answer our questions, the people with votes in Washington right now, but trust me, they hear it, he told attendees on Saturday. I've been where they are. I've sat in the seats that they sit in. I've had congressional offices that people protest outside of from the left and from the right. I've had people ratio me on social media before, because of some vote that I took. More than once, Lamb said. It works. It influences them, and so you're not going to see the fruits of your action today or next week or next month, but you will see [them]. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Donald Trump 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. 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. 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. 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. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Donald Trump Jr.s new girlfriend has hit out at a recent magazine op-ed that referenced him as an a*****e [and] a spoiled heir. In the New York Magazine article, journalist Nina Burleigh disclosed an insider's view of the Trump Organization exec-VP, who claimed Jr. is the most despised member of the family; hes an a*****e, a spoiled heir. Taking to Instagram to voice her outrage, Bettina Anderson, who went public with Jr. in January, scorned the articles critique of her partner, which slated him as a spurned nepo boy. Thats my guy! Anderson wrote in a post on her Instagram Story while also laughing off the anonymous source at the center of the piece. DEFINITELY an insider VERY familiar with Donald Trump Jr, she typed on her page, followed by two laughing emojis, as screenshotted by The Daily Mail. Trump Jr. also leaped to defend himself online, writing: Dont get me wrong. I can totally be an a*****e when I need to be... if youre adversarial to my friends, my family, my country, MAGA, etc. Donald Trump Jr. pictured with Anderson at Trump's joint address to Congress at the US Capitol in March ( AFP via Getty Images ) But I think youd be hard-pressed to find a regular person who actually knows me that thinks that. Theres no wonder why these sources are always anonymous, he added. Firing back at the articles claims, he attacked the source, demanding: Man up, put your name to it, but we know you wont because youre cowards. President Trump previously threatened journalists who failed to name their sources in articles about him with possible lawsuits branding the anonymity use as defamatory and dishonest. The 38-year-old and the MAGA heir first made their debut as a couple at Trumps inauguration in January and have since been spotted attending Trumps joint address to Congress and a Palm Beach gala. According to her LinkedIn page, Anderson is the founder and executive director of the wildlife conservation nonprofit Project Paradise. She was first sighted in Trump's orbit at the Republican National Convention in July, and according to a People source, she and Trump Jr. have been together since June 2024. Trump Jr., a father of five, was formerly engaged to Kimberly Guilfoyle, 56, a former Fox News host, for four years, who now serves as Trumps U.S. ambassador to Greece. However, Anderson has reportedly been disdainful of the ex-fiance and her continued association with Trumps latest presidency. Bettina wanted [Guilfoyle] out of the area in Florida, reported The Daily Mail previously. The Independent contacted Anderson and Trump Jr. for comment. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Elon Musk is pouring money into key elections across the country in support of Republican and conservative candidates, while at the same time complaining about the influence of fellow billionaire George Soros. Musk and political action committees he funds have spent more than $20 million to help elect a conservative judge to the Wisconsin Supreme Court in a crucial contest on Tuesday that will decide the balance of a court that will rule on key issues in the battleground state. The worlds richest man is also spending tens of thousands to help two Florida Republicans in House special elections also taking place on Tuesday all of this after he donated more than $290 million to Republican candidates in the 2024 election cycle. Speaking at a town hall event he organized in Green Bay on Sunday evening in support of the conservative candidate Brad Schimel, where he handed out $1 million checks to two Wisconsin voters who signed a petition, Musk revived a long-running and one-way feud with Soros after he was heckled by someone in the crowd. It was inevitable that at least a few Soros operatives would be in the audience...give my regards to George! Musk said in response to the hecklers, repeating a common conspiracy theory that Soros pays protesters. Musk has repeatedly attacked the 94-year-old philanthropist and Democratic donor over the years for his support of liberal causes, claiming that he fundamentally hates humanity and accusing his family of being puppeteers of elected Democratic officials for their contributions to the party. But Musks financial involvement in politics has now easily surpassed that of Soros. The Tesla CEO has taken on a role in American political life that arguably eclipses that of any billionaire in the modern era. open image in gallery Elon Musk tosses a cheesehead during a town hall Sunday, March 30, 2025, in Green Bay, Wis. ( AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps ) Musk donated more than $291 million to Republican candidates in the 2024 election cycle , by far the highest single contributor. He also played a key role on the campaign trail in support of Donald Trump, appearing at his rallies and holding his own political events. Following the election, Musk was appointed as a special adviser by President Trump, who gave him unprecedented access to government data to carry out his mission of cutting government spending in a manner that some judges have called unconstitutional. Musk now regularly appears at cabinet meetings and holds sway over government departments that regulate his businesses. Now, he is simultaneously using his immense wealth to tip elections in the Republican Partys favor. In addition to pumping millions into the Wisconsin race, Musks political action committee, America PAC, is donating to two GOP candidates running for Congress in Florida to help the Republican Party keep its slim majority in the House. Musks America PAC has donated $20,000 for texting services to boost Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis in the 1st Congressional District and state Senator Randy Fine in the 6th District, according to a report filed with the Federal Election Commission last week. Musks primary focus in recent weeks, however, has been Wisconsin. The Supreme Court race in the state has become the most expensive judicial election in American history. More than $90 million has already been spent on the race, according to the Brennan Center, and some expect the total amount to reach $100 million by election day on Tuesday. The election pits former Republican Attorney General Brad Schimel against Susan Crawford, a former prosecutor and current circuit court judge. open image in gallery George Soros, founder and chairman of the Open Society Foundations, attends the European Council on Foreign Relations Annual Council Meeting, May 29, 2018, in Paris. ( AP/Francois Mori ) Crawford has received support from billionaires of her own. George Soros has given a reported $2 million to the state Democratic Party, while Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, another billionaire, gave $1.5 million. She also received a large donation of $6 million from A Better Wisconsin Together Political Fund, a union-backed group. But Musk has earned attention for the scale and unusual methods of his financial support. America PAC and Building Americas Future, two political action committees funded largely by Musk, have disclosed some $17 million in spending as of March 25, in addition to $3 million Musk has personally donated to Wisconsins Republican Party this year. Common Cause, a non-partisan election integrity group, has repeatedly criticized Musks outsized role in the race. By pouring millions into this election, Musk has a chance to boost his business and expand his political power, shaping the courts and state governments to serve his own interests, at the expense of Wisconsinites and the American people at large, the group said . Musk did not respond to a request for comment. The Open Society Foundations, the philanthropic network founded by Soros, said in a statement to The Independent that it does not pay protesters. We never, and will never, coordinate, train, or strategize with protest organizers or participants. In the final stretch of the election, Musk has gotten even more creative with his donations. His America PAC started offering $100 to any Wisconsin voter who signs a petition against so-called activist judges. At his town hall on Sunday evening, in a move he had publicized in the days prior, Musk handed out two $1 million checks to two Wisconsin voters who had signed the same petition. In an ironic twist, the Wisconsin Supreme Court at the center of the election, which currently has a liberal majority, rejected an emergency motion to block the giveaways. Musks lawyers said the checks were "intended to generate a grassroots movement in opposition to activist judges, not to expressly advocate for or against any candidate." At the same event, Musk told attendees at his town hall that they could earn $20 by signing up at America PAC's website to be a block captain to help with canvassing for Judge Schimel. The election will decide the ideological makeup of a court that will decide on key issues such as redistricting, voting access, and abortion in the key swing state. Speaking on stage on Sunday evening, Musk who appeared earlier wearing a hat in the shape of a block of cheese in a nod to Wisconsins dairy industry said the stakes couldnt be higher. I think this will be important for the future of civilization. It's that significant, he said. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Senator Chuck Grassley is introducing a bill to stop judges from issuing nationwide injunctions, which experts say are an essential part of the judicial branchs ability to check the power of the executive branch. Grassley, a 91-year-old Republican from Iowa and president pro tempore of the Senate, is introducing a bill to end nationwide injunctions because they have become a favorite tool for those seeking to obstruct [President Donald Trumps] agenda, according to an op-ed he wrote for the Wall Street Journal. Grassley says his bill will ensure lower courts could no longer block legitimate executive action by issuing orders to nonparties to the lawsuit. Federal judges have issued at least a dozen nationwide injunctions against Trumps policies since he took office in January, temporarily blocking a range of orders, including those seeking to ban transgender people from military service and end the Constitutional right to birthright citizenship. open image in gallery Senator Chuck Grassley, a Republican for Iowa, wants to end nationwide injunctions issued by judges, according to a new op-ed ( AP ) Grassleys bill would also make temporary restraining orders against the government immediately appealable to make sure that prudence wins out over rash decisions handed down in the heat of a political moment. Temporary restraining orders are a type of injunction that can be issued when a party in a lawsuit convinces a judge that they will suffer immediate and irreparable harm without the judges intervention. One judge used a temporary restraining order earlier this month to pause Trumps attempt to invoke the Alien Enemies Act to justify his deportation of migrants to Venezuela. Grassley isnt alone. Trump and other Republicans have called for nationwide injunctions to end. STOP NATIONWIDE INJUNCTIONS NOW, BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE," Trump wrote earlier this month on Truth Social. "If Justice Roberts and the United States Supreme Court do not fix this toxic and unprecedented situation IMMEDIATELY, our Country is in very serious trouble!" open image in gallery President Donald Trump has also called for an end to nationwide injunctions - as several have slowed his agenda ( REUTERS ) Republican Rep. Darrell Issa of California introduced a similar bill to restrict judges ability to impose nationwide injunctions. The Houses Rules Committee is set to vote Monday night to advance the bill, and lawmakers could vote on it later this week. It is likely to pass given the Republicans majority in the lower chamber. But experts say these nationwide injunctions are essential parts of the checks and balances laid out in the U.S. Constitution. University of Michigan law professor Barbara McQuade wrote an op-ed for Bloomberg last week arguing these orders can slow down a presidential administration from rapid, drastic change, but notes that the orders are the very point of checks and balances. McQuade admitted there are problems with nationwide injunctions but warned that getting rid of them all together isnt the solution. Ending nationwide injunctions would create more problems than it solves, she added. Without them, a federal judge who finds a substantial likelihood that an executive order violates the law could block its implementation only in that district, leading to a patchwork of rulings across the country. One possible change could include limiting nationwide injunctions to only situations where nationwide uniformity is essential, such as cases involving border enforcement, McQuade writes. The Independent has contacted Grassley 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 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 Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice New Mexicos Senate Republicans appear to have laid the blame for a weekend arson and vandalism attack on their headquarters in Albuquerque at the feet of the Democrats. In the wake of a prominent Democrat official calling for her supporters to be agitators, it appears some unhinged supporters took the message to heart and acted out in a violent manner. Democrats must turn down the rhetoric and restore civility to our political process, a press release said. The headquarters were targeted by vandals who spraypainted ICE = KKK at the entrance and also set a fire inside. The Republican Party said it is working closely with federal investigators, local law enforcement, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF). Crews arrived at the building just before 6.00 am and contained Sundays fire within five minutes, Albuquerque Fire Rescue (AFR) said. The GOP claimed the fire was caused by arson. AFR is still investigating the incident. No injuries have yet been reported. Its very early in the investigation. I know they are reviewing our camera footage and neighboring camera footage as well, said party chairwoman Amy Barela. Political leaders across the state shared statements on the alleged arson online. Political violence is unacceptable, including the arson attack on New Mexicos GOP (Grand Old Party) headquarters. The perpetrators must be held accountable. Every American should be able to freely and safely participate in our democracy, Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez posted to X, formerly Twitter. At my town hall yesterday, I spoke about love in action about the importance of showing respect and listening. That is what we need right now. Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller said: We do not yet know the full details of the fire early this morning at the Republican Partys headquarters, but let me be clear, arson is a violent and cowardly act that has no place in our city... Politically motivated crimes of any kind are unacceptable. District councilors also condemned acts of political violence and said they were grateful no one was harmed. 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 Multiple Democratic lawmakers have invested in Tesla in recent months despite public criticisms of its CEO, Elon Musk, and his role in the White House leading the Department of Government Efficiency. Democratic Representatives Josh Gottheimer, Vicente Gonzalez and Gil Cisneros have all purchased Tesla stock since President Donald Trumps inauguration despite repeatedly criticizing Musks involvement in the administration. New Jerseys Gottheimer called Musk and the DOGE cuts just pure chaos on Sunday. He has bought and sold Tesla stock several times since Trump took office, according to his 2025 periodical financial disclosure filings. Gottheimer purchased Tesla stock three times between January 28 and March 5, each totaling between $1,001 and $15,000. He partially sold Tesla stock valued between $1,001 and $15,000 twice between February 13 and March 5. open image in gallery Democratic Representative Josh Gottheimer has purchased Tesla stock this year despite railing against Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency ( Getty Images ) Gonzalez, representing Texas, also purchased Tesla stock at least twice in March after calling DOGE incredibly concerning. Once purchase was between $15,001 and $50,000, while another was between $50,001 and $100,000. Californias Cisneros similarly bought Tesla stock valued between $1,001 and $15,000 in late February or early March after repeatedly labeling Musk a shadow president and criticizing his role in the administration. Shadow President Musk has no security clearance and should not be involved in decisions that affect our national security, period, Cisneros wrote earlier this month on X. Cisneros employs outside financial advisors and does not manage the day-to-day trading of his investments, according to his spokesperson. Unlike President Trump who held an impromptu Tesla infomercial for Elon Musk on the White House lawn and Secretary Lutnick who violated the law when he implored people to buy Tesla stock during a television interview, Congressman Cisneros has never abused his official position to benefit a private entity, the spokesperson told The Independent. Both before and after the stock transaction in question, Congressman Cisneros has repeatedly been critical of Elon Musk, and he will continue to speak out against him or anyone else who does not do right by the American people, the spokesperson added. The Independent has contacted Gottheimer and Gonzalez for comment. Congressional Democrats have continued to blast Musk and DOGE since Trump took office, calling for an end to the massive cuts to the federal workforce and budget. Last month, several Democratic lawmakers held a demonstration outside the Treasury Department to protest Musks hostile takeover of the federal government. Connecticut Representative John Larson also railed against the House DOGE subcommittees GOP leadership earlier this month, accusing them of blindly following whatever Trump and Musk ask them to do. open image in gallery Representative Vicente Gonzalez purchased Tesla stock at least twice in March ( House of Representatives ) open image in gallery Representative Gil Cisneros bought Tesla stock once in recent weeks, then labeled Musk a 'shadow president' ( Getty Images ) Musks DOGE is also under legal scrutiny. A federal judge blocked Musk and DOGE from their fishing expedition in search of a fraud epidemic based on little more than suspicion inside the Social Security Administration in a March 20 temporary restraining order. This comes after government lawyers argued DOGE employees currently have access to Social Security data or personally identifiable information. The anger over Musk and his DOGE cuts has also spread to impacting his car business. Tesla shares have fallen in recent weeks as sales slow, particularly in Europe, where they fell 49 percent in the first two months of 2025 compared to last year. In the U.S. on Monday, Tesla stock was down another 4 percent in morning trading, sitting at $250.75 a share. On December 17, the stock was valued at $479.86 a share. There have also been reports of vandalism and arson attacks on Teslas and dealerships in the weeks since the tech mogul began helping the Trump administration. Attacks have been reported around the world, from Las Vegas to Boston to France. On Monday morning, Italian police announced theyre investigating a possible arson attack after a fire destroyed sixteen Tesla cars at a dealership outside Rome. open image in gallery Tesla dealerships have become targets of vandalism by those upset with Musk and his effort to cut the federal budget ( EPA ) Trump and other administration officials have vowed to label attacks on Tesla vehicles and showrooms as domestic terrorism. Attorney General Pam Bondi announced earlier this month the Justice Department is bringing severe charges against three individuals accused of targeting Teslas with arson attacks. The days of committing crimes without consequence have ended, she said in a statement. 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. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Republican 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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 top DC lawyer quit her job in protest of her firms decision to provide $100 million worth of pro-bono work to President Donald Trumps administration. Brenna Trout Frey, a former attorney at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, took to LinkedIn on Saturday to voice her concerns and announce her resignation. Just 24 hours earlier, Trump announced that the multinational law firm agreed to a deal that would see it provide legal services to veterans, public servants, members of the military, law enforcement, and on and on, according to The Hill. Today, the executive partner of my former firm sent us all an "update" that attempted to convince some of the best minds in the legal profession that he did us a solid by capitulating to the Trump administration's demands for fealty and protection money, Frey wrote. Frey went on to justify her resignation for reasons of not wanting to work for a firm that actively engages in "illegal DEI discrimination and ignores "politically disenfranchised groups, as she claimed in her post. She then urged others to do some soul-searching over the weekend and join me in sending a message that this is unacceptable (in whatever way you can). Skaddens controversial move to provide legal services followed Trumps executive order on March 22, which lambasted top U.S. firms that previously filed lawsuits or fought against his administration. One firm to suffer from the order was Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP (WilmerHale), the home of former FBI director Robert Mueller III, who served as the special counsel investigating alleged Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election on behalf of Trump, as reported by The New York Times. Mueller worked at WilmerHale before retiring in 2021. open image in gallery Trump announced Friday that Skadden agreed to provide at least $100 million in pro bono legal services to his administration ( REUTERS ) There is only one acceptable response from attorneys to the Trump administration's demands: The rule of law matters. The rule of law matters. As an attorney, if my employer cannot stand up for the rule of law, then I cannot ethically continue to work for them, Frey added. A week before Freys decision, her former colleague Rachel Cohen resigned on LinkedIn in a similar fashion. If being on this career path demands I accept that my industrybecause this is certainly not unique to Skaddenwill allow an authoritarian government to ignore the courts, I refuse to take it any further, Cohen wrote. In the executive order, the White House said it would enforce sanctions against attorneys and law firms who engage in frivolous, unreasonable, and vexatious litigation against the United States or in matters before executive departments and agencies of the United States. It warned that firms seeking to violate the terms of the order would face punitive executive actions, including a reassessment of security clearances. Democratic Party lawyer and founder and chair of Elias Law Group LLP Marc Elias was also named for being 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 claimed that Elias intentionally sought to conceal the role of his client failed Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton in the dossier. open image in gallery Former FBI director, Robert Mueller III served on the special counsel that investigated Russias alleged interference in the 2016 presidential election ( Getty Images ) Following the announcement, Elias fired back at the White House, drafting a statement that read, Today's White House Memo targets not only me and my law firm, but every attorney and law firm who dares to challenge his assault on the rule of law. "President Trump's goal is clear. He wants lawyers and law firms to capitulate and cower until there is no one left to oppose his Administration in court, his statement continued. Since the memo, the Trump administration has attacked several firms, including Jenner & Block LLP (Jenner) and WilmerHale, in two separate memos for abandoning the professions highest ideals and [abusing] its pro bono practice to engage in activities that undermine justice and the interests of the United States. The Independent approached Skadden 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 will not rule out using military force to seize Greenland. Trump said during an interview with NBC News on Saturday, Well get Greenland. Yeah, 100 percent. During the quick-fire telephone interview, he added, "There's a good possibility it could be done without military force," but "I don't take anything off the table." His remarks came a day after Vice President JD Vance arrived in Greenland alongside his wife, Second Lady Usha Vance. He attacked the Danish government for failing to invest in vital security measures while urging an alternative approach for the country. Our message to Denmark is very simple: You have not done a good job by the people of Greenland, Vance told reporters at the Pituffik Space, a U.S. base on the northwestern coast of Greenland, as per The Associated Press. Vances diatribe came just hours after Greenlands youngest leader was sworn into power. open image in gallery President Donald Trump made his remarks during an interview with NBC News this weekend ( Win McNamee/Getty Images ) Trump and Vance have been adding fuel to the fire ever since Trump first revealed his plans to obtain control of the Danish territory just days into his second term. However, Greenlands newly sworn-in prime minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen has since retaliated against the U.S. in a fiery social media post that read: 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, as per a statement posted to Facebook. open image in gallery Our message to Denmark is very simple: You have not done a good job by the people of Greenland, Vance said while visiting the territory Friday ( AP ) The 33-year-old former minister of industry and minerals was voted in to serve as Greenlands PM Friday. Lars Lkke Rasmussen, the Danish foreign minister, condemned Trump and Vance's delivery tone, declaring: This is not how you speak to your close allies, and I still consider Denmark and the United States to be close allies. Trump has frequently expressed his desire for the island territory, claiming it is a vital resource for U.S. economic and national security. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Donald Trump has once again floated the prospect of serving an unconstitutional third term, arguing that there are avenues through which he could stay in office another four years. The president told NBCs Kristen Welker in late March that he was not joking when he proposed a third term, claiming there are methods [by] which you could do it. A lot of people want me to do it, Trump told Welker. But, I mean, I basically tell them we have a long way to go, you know, its very early in the administration. This comes after the president basked in chants of four more years just one month into his second term while at a White House reception celebrating Black History Month. Since early in his 2024 campaigning, Trump repeatedly mused about a third term. He has raised the idea over and over again since his first term in office. The 22nd Amendment of the Constitution says that presidents can only serve up to two full terms (eight years). Trump has said he may feel entitled to more while also suggesting he doesnt want to run again after his next term ends in January 2029. Congressional Democrats have proposed a measure to clarify that the 22nd Amendment expressly forbids a third term in office, and 78-year-old Trump, the oldest U.S. president at the time of election in history, has at times admitted defeat to the constitutional guardrails hes up against, despite his rhetoric. What else has Trump said about a third term? open image in gallery President Donald Trump continues to float the idea that he could serve another term - despite what the Constitution says ( AP ) Just days after winning the 2024 election, Trump told House Republicans: I suspect I wont be running again unless you say Hes so good, we got to figure something else out. At the House Republicans annual retreat in Florida, he joked about whether he was allowed to run again. Days later at a Las Vegas rally, he pondered serving not once, but twice... or three or four times. At a prayer breakfast at the Washington Hilton on February 6, Trump mulled another four years, despite the fact that they say I cant run again. You know, FDR 16 years almost 16 years he was four terms. I dont know, are we going to be considered three-term? Or two-term? he told a National Rifle Association convention in May last year, referencing Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Trump also referred to himself as a king and quoted Napolean Bonaparte in a social media post on February 15, unsubtly stating that he was above the law. Trumps former White House strategist Steve Bannon similarly said leaders like him come along once or twice in history while on stage at the Conservative Political Action Conference in February. We want Trump in 28... We want Trump! We Want Trump!, Bannon said before later gesturing, what critics say, a salute that resembled a Sieg Heil. open image in gallery Trump, photographed in Mar-a-Lago in August, has also referred to himself as a king on more than one occasion ( Getty Images ) It wasnt just the most recent election cycle where Trump seemingly eyed a third term in office. Were going to win four more years in the White House, he said in 2022. And then after that, well negotiate, right? Because were probably based on the way we were treated we are probably entitled to another four after that. In 2018, he praised Chinese President Xi Jinpings potential lifetime term in office as great, saying maybe well give that a shot someday. By 2020, while campaigning for reelection in Reno, Nevada, Trump told his followers that he was going to win the state and win four more years in the White House, before adding: Were probably based on the way we were treated were probably entitled to another four after that. When Trump was pressed on whether he believes he can serve a third term, the president said he doesnt want one. I wouldnt be in favor of it. I wouldnt be in favor of a challenge [to the 22nd Amendment]. Not for me, Trump told TIME in April last year. I wouldnt be in favor of it at all. I intend to serve four years and do a great job. What is the 22nd Amendment? open image in gallery Trump met with Joe Biden at the White House during the transition. No president, except for Franklin Roosevelt, has served more than two terms ( AP ) The 32nd U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelts four terms in office helped inspire the 22nd Amendment. Ratified in 1951, the amendment came after Roosevelt had been elected four consecutive times, from 1932 to 1944. He died in office in April 1945, shortly into his fourth term. The amendment states that presidents can serve a maximum of two terms. If a vice president becomes president during the term of their predecessor, which has occurred nine times in U.S. history due to death or resignation, they can still serve two full terms as long as they serve less than half of their predecessors remaining term. Before Roosevelt, whose time in office coincided with the crises of the Great Depression and World War II, presidents had observed an unofficial tradition of not serving more than two terms. Trump would face a tall order in getting a constitutional amendment through Congress to try to secure a third term. A proposal for a constitutional amendment requires a two-thirds majority in both the House of Representatives and the Senate, despite Republicans holding a slim majority in both chambers. Ratifying an amendment would require approval from three-fourths of all state legislatures. How are Democrats responding? open image in gallery Rep. Dan Goldman has introduced a resolution to clarify the 22nd Amendment that explicitly prevents presidents from running for a third term ( REUTERS ) In response to Trumps interview with Welker, New York Representative Dan Goldman said Trump is carrying out yet another escalation in his clear effort to take over the government and dismantle our democracy. If Congressional Republicans believe in the Constitution, they will go on the record opposing Trumps ambitions for a third term, the Democrat added. In November, Goldman introduced a resolution affirming that the 22nd Amendment would bar Trump from a third term. He called on legislators from both parties to stand by the oath we all took to support and defend the Constitution of the United States and confirm the Congress commitment to this principle. Goldmans resolution would make clear that the 22nd Amendment applies to two terms in the aggregate, even if they are non-consecutive, such as Trumps. Only one previous president, Grover Cleveland, has served two non-consecutive terms beginning in 1884 and 1892. However, it is unlikely that Goldmans resolution will make it to a vote in the Republican-dominated House. 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. 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 Three of the U.S. Army soldiers who went missing in Lithuania have been found dead in their armored vehicle that was pulled from a swap on Monday, according to the U.S. Army. Another soldier is still missing. The bodies of the three soldiers were recovered after a massive six-day effort by U.S., Polish and Lithuanian armed forces and authorities to dig the M88 Hercules vehicle out of a peat bog at the expansive General Silvestras training ground in the town of Pabrad. The soldiers were on a tactical training exercise when they and their vehicle were reported missing early Tuesday, the Army said. The command in a statement said the identities of the 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division soldiers are being withheld pending family notifications. "We stand in grief with the families and loved ones of these extraordinary 'Dogface Soldiers' during this unimaginable time," said Maj. Gen. Christopher Norrie, 3rd Infantry Division commander. "But the search isn't finished until everyone is home. Words cannot express our gratitude to those still working around the clock during these extensive search and recovery efforts and your unwavering commitment not to rest until all are found." open image in gallery Army Missing Soldiers ( Public Domain ) Hundreds of Lithuanian and U.S. soldiers and rescuers took part in the search through the thick forests and swampy terrain around Pabrad, just 10 kilometers (6 miles) west of the border with Belarus. The armored vehicle was discovered on Wednesday submerged in 4.5 meters (15 feet) of water. Lithuanian armed forces provided military helicopters, fixed wing aircraft, unmanned aerial systems and search and rescue personnel. They brought in additional excavators, sluice and slurry pumps, other heavy construction equipment, technical experts and several hundred tons of gravel and earth to help the recovery. U.S. Navy divers were able to maneuver through thick layers of mud, clay and sediment "with zero visibility" to reach the 63-ton vehicle Sunday evening and find two points to attach steel cables, according to the command.The command said that during the effort to pull out the vehicle, it began to lose traction, so additional heavy dozers were brought in and attached to provide additional grip. The vehicle was pulled free after about two hours, the command said. "The armored vehicle was pulled ashore at 4:40 a.m., the towing operation is complete, Lithuanian Military Police and US investigators continue their work," Defense Minister Dovil* *akalien* said Monday morning in a post on Facebook. The Navy dive team is now searching the area using radar for the fourth soldier who is still missing. Maj. Gen. Curtis Taylor, commander of Task Force Iron and the 1st Armored Division, thanked the "heroic efforts" of those involved in the search and recovery. The U.S. Army and Lithuanian authorities are investigating what caused the incident. 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 Virginia Giuffre, who accused Prince Andrew and Jeffrey Epstein of sexual abuse, claims she has four days to live after a brutal car crash. Giuffre, who was most recently living in Australia, posted a photo of her bruised face lying on a hospital bed on Instagram, explaining that doctors told her she had four days to live due to kidney failure following the wreck. This year has been the worst start to a new year, but I wont bore anyone with the details but I think it important to note that when a school bus driver comes at you driving 110km as we were slowing for a turn that no matter what your car is made of it might as well be a tin can, the 42-year-old wrote in a post on Sunday. Ive gone into kidney renal failure, theyve given me four days to live, transferring me to a specialist hospital in urology, she continued. Im ready to go, just not until I see my babies one last time, but you know what they say about wishes. S*** in one hand and wish in the other & I guarantee its still going to be s*** at the end of the day, she wrote. Dini von Mueffling, Giuffres representative, told The Independent: Virginia has been in a serious accident and is receiving medical care in the hospital. She greatly appreciates the support and well wishes people are sending. In 2021, Giuffre alleged in a civil suit that Jeffrey Epstein forced her to have sex with Queen Elizabeths second son on at least three occasions in London, New York and the U.S. Virgin Islands when she was 17 years old and he was 41. On one of these occasions, she told the court that she had been paid $15,000 for having sex with the Duke of York. He has vehemently denied these claims. open image in gallery Virginia Giuffre, who accused Prince Andrew and Jeffrey Epstein of sexual misconduct, says she has four days to live ( Virginia Giuffre/Instagram ) During each of these incidents, she was compelled by express or implied threats by Epstein, [Ghislaine] Maxwell, and/or Prince Andrew to engage in sexual acts with Prince Andrew, and feared death or physical injury to herself or another and other repercussions for disobeying Epstein, Maxwell, and Prince Andrew due to their powerful connections, wealth, and authority, her suit says. Her complaint included a photo of the duke with his arm around Giuffre as Maxwell, Epsteins associate and former girlfriend, smiles at the camera in the background. Despite the fact that the photo had already surfaced years earlier, in 2019, he told the BBC: I have no recollection of ever meeting this lady. Giuffre previously accused Epstein and Maxwell of grooming her and has claimed the pair had introduced her to Prince Andrew in 2001. Giuffre, who was born in California, had moved to Florida to rebuild her life. She had a rough childhood; she was sexually abused by a family friend at age 7 and wound up in and out of foster care homes later in childhood, she told the BBC. By age 14, she was living on the streets, where she found hunger and pain and [more] abuse. By 16, she found a job at Donald Trumps Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach as a locker room attendant when Maxwell recruited her to become a massage therapist, according to court documents. Giuffre and Epstein settled in 2009 for $500,000, which included an agreement that Giuffre not take legal action against anyone connected to Epstein that could be described as a potential defendant. Lawyers for the Duke of York argued that Giuffres sexual assault case against him should be dismissed, citing this document, but the judge rejected that request. open image in gallery Virginia Giuffre pictured with Andrew along with Ghislaine Maxwell (right) ( PA ) The pair settled in February 2022 for an undisclosed amount. A month earlier, Buckingham Palace stripped the duke of his military roles and HRH title. In a joint statement confirming the settlement, the duke said he regretted his association with late pedophile Epstein whom he acknowledged trafficked countless young girls over many years. Prince Andrew intends to make a substantial donation to Ms Giuffres charity in support of victims rights. Prince Andrew has never intended to malign Ms Giuffres character, and he accepts that she has suffered both as an established victim of abuse and as a result of unfair public attacks. The statement continued: It is known that Jeffrey Epstein trafficked countless young girls over many years. Epstein was charged with sex trafficking and conspiracy, but died by suicide in his jail cell in July 2019 before facing trial. Maxwell was convicted for her role in the scheme and sentenced to 20 years behind bars in 2022. In response to her post, Giuffres father Sky Roberts commented: Virginia my daughter, I love you and praying for you to get the correct treatment to live a long and healthy life. If there is anything in this world I can do to help you, please let me know. My spirit is with you now and holding your hand. 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 One year after the government banned cellphones from schools to help students focus and reduce distractions in class, were beginning to see how it has been implemented and how successful its been. As part of that process, our new research asked young people about the ban. Unsurprisingly, they had a lot to say. Schools around the world, including in Australia, France, the United Kingdom, Italy, China and parts of the United States, have implemented similar bans. The guiding principle everywhere has been to help students do better in school. When New Zealands ban came into effect in April 2024, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said it was time to cut the distractions so kids could learn and achieve. open image in gallery New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon ( Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved ) But studies have shown these bans often dont work as planned. For example, recent research from the UK involving over 1,200 students found no significant difference in academic grades or wellbeing between schools with strict phone bans and those with more relaxed policies. With so many questions at the time of the ban about how it would be enforced, we wanted to hear what was going on in schools and what young people really thought. We spoke to 77 young people aged 12 to 18 from 25 schools around the country. Some liked the bans, some didnt and some werent sure. Mixed feelings Many students had mixed feelings about the bans. Some admitted the bans helped reduce distractions and gave them a break from using their phones. As one explained: otherwise, well be on our phone all day, all afternoon, all night, and it wont be healthy for our minds. But other students said the ban had created new problems. First, some students felt stressed and anxious when they couldnt contact their parents or caregivers during the day. Second, they said the rules werent always clear or fair. Some teachers were strict, others werent. And sometimes, teachers used their phones in class, but students couldnt. That perceived double standard where teachers can use phones but students cant left many of our respondents feeling frustrated and unfairly treated. In some cases, it even made them more secretive about their phone use. One student said: Even though were not allowed to use our phones, everyone is sneaky and uses it anyway. A lack of consultation A lot of students said they werent asked what they thought before the bans were introduced. They felt as if adults made the rules without asking them or listening to them. One of our interviewees said: It feels like they just ban everything, thinking it will fix the problem. Many didnt understand the purpose of the ban, especially since they still have to use laptops and other technology in class. Recent research found more than 80 per cent of students in Aotearoa New Zealand say technology in class is distracting not just phones. open image in gallery Debate continues over whether mobile phones should be banned in schools in England ( PA Wire ) Already, some students have found clever ways around the phone ban. At one Auckland school, students started using walkie-talkies instead of phones to stay connected with their peers. Examples like this show bans dont always change behaviour the way theyre intended to. It can simply make students feel as though adults underestimate how tech-savvy they really are. Young people as active problem solvers The young people in our research offered some alternatives to the ban. Many suggested allowing phones at break and lunch times. That way, they could stay connected without interrupting class. They also said adults needed to model healthy digital habits, not just set the rules. Based on student responses, it does appear that learning and teaching how to use phones in healthy ways would be more helpful than banning them altogether. Research from the Digital Wellness Lab supports this balanced approach, emphasising skill building over restriction. But for this to work, adults need support too. Teachers and parents need training and resources to help guide young people and should also be surveyed on how they feel about the ban. Banning phones doesnt fix the bigger issue of helping young people to use technology safely and responsibly. If schools really want to support students, they need to move beyond one-size-fits-all rules. Our research shows young people arent just passive users of technology. Theyre active problem solvers. They want to be part of the conversation and part of the solution. This would involve replacing top-down bans with meaningful conversations involving young people and adults to build fair and practical digital guidelines, where everyone benefits. Cara Swit is an Associate professor in the School of Health Sciences at University of Canterbury. Aaron Hapuku is a Lecturer in School of Health Sciences at University of Canterbury. Helena Cook is a Lecturer in the School of Social and Cultural Studies at University of Canterbury. Jennifer Smith is a Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of Education at the University of Canterbury. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. 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 Marine Le Pen was convicted of embezzlement on Monday and handed a five-year ban from public office. The verdict bars the French far-right leader from running in the 2027 presidential race - unless she successfully appeals the judgment. The judge also gave Le Pen a four-year prison sentence - of which two years are suspended and the rest served under home detention. She was also given a 100,000 euro fine. She is almost certain to appeal, and neither of those penalties would be applied until her appeals are exhausted. How did we get here? And what is at stake? Marine Le Pen ( AP ) What was Le Pen accused of? Le Pen, her National Rally party (RN) and some two dozen party figures were accused by prosecutors of diverting over 4.1 million euros ($4.44 million) of European Parliament funds to pay staff working for the party in France. The defendantssaid the money was used legitimately and that the allegations incorporated too narrow a definition of what a parliamentary assistant does. Judge Benedicte de Perthuis ruled that Le Pen, along with eight other people who were EU lawmakers at the time and 12 parliamentary assistants, were guilty of embezzling EU funds. The defendants were not accused of pocketing the money, but rather of using EU funds to the benefit of their party. The court later sentenced Le Pen to a jail sentence of four years, suspended for two years. She would spend the two-year sentence in home detention, not behind bars. It also fined the RF two million euros ($2.16 million), half of which was suspended. What does the verdict mean for Le Pens presidental hopes? The verdict delivers a massive blow to Le Pen, a three-time presidential contender who has previously said the 2027 vote would be her final tilt at top office. Polls have shown Le Pen to be a frontrunner in the race after she successfully moved her party towards the mainstream. The RN is the biggest single party in parliament thanks to broadened support amongst younger and blue-collar voters. Prosecutors had asked judges to impose an immediate five-year ban on Le Pen regardless of any appeal, via a so-called "provisional execution" measure. Typically in most cases in France, sentences are not applied until any appeals process has run its course. However, if judges apply a provisional execution - as they have now done - the sentence begins immediately. The provisional execution ban will not see Le Pen removed from her seat in parliament until her mandate ends, though it will prevent her from running in any fresh electoral contest. The five-year provisional execution ban will block her 2027 run. Has the conviction killed Le Pens presidental hopes? Not necessarily. Le Pen's best hope of running will rest on the sentence being overturned on appeal before the 2027 election. The appeals process in France can take months or even years. What have Le Pen and others said of the trial? Le Pen has accused the prosecutors of seeking her "political death", arguing the provisional execution request was "completely disproportionate". She and her allies allege a witch-hunt to keep the RN out of power, echoing claims made by U.S. President Donald Trump over his legal woes. It is not just Le Pen and her allies who have expressed concern over what they see as judicial overreach. Prime Minister Francois Bayrou and Justice Minister Gerald Darmanin, as well as some left-wing rivals, have signalled discomfort with judges - rather than voters - deciding who can run for office, underlining a backlash against "lawfare". That has led to the prosecutors and a judge receiving online death threats, Reuters reported, part of a growing international blowback over perceived judicial efforts to police politics. What does the RN do now? RN leaders had said they did not expect Le Pen to be barred but that if she were,then 29-year-old party president Jordan Bardella would be their 2027 candidate. Bardella slammed Monday's court ruling, saying: "Today it is not only Marine Le Pen who was unjustly condemned. It was French democracy that was killed." On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Marine Le Pen has attacked a courts decision that bans her from standing for election after she was found guilty of embezzling funds from the European parliament. The leader of the far-right National Rally (RN) maintained she was innocent and vowed to appeal against the ruling in a television interview just hours after her conviction on Monday. After Le Pen was found guilty, judges barred her from public office for five years in a dramatic move that means she will not be able to stand for Frances presidential election in 2027. Le Pen, who was a frontrunner in the polls for the presidency, was also fined $100,000 and given a four-year prison sentence, of which two years will be suspended and another two served with an electronic tag. "If that's not a political decision, I don't know what is," Le Pen said in the TF1 interview. open image in gallery Marine Le Pen she she would fight the ruling against her during an interview on TF1 ( AFP via Getty Images ) Describing the court ruling as "a political decision", she said she would appeal the verdict "as soon as possible" and insisted she will not let herself be "taken out". She said: "There are millions of French people who believe in me. I've been fighting for you for 30 years. Im telling you tonight, Im not demoralised. Like you, Im scandalised, indignant, but this indignation, this feeling of injustice, is an additional push to the fight that I fight for them [the voters]. "Let's be clear, I am eliminated but in reality its millions of French people whose voices have been eliminated. While the ban from public office is effective immediately, it is understood that the jail sentence and fine will not take effect until Le Pen has exhausted her appeals against the judges ruling. And unless Le Pen gets the sentence overturned before the presidential election, she will not be able to stand. open image in gallery Marine Le Pen storms out of the courtroom before the judge finished reading her sentence ( Getty Images ) Jordan Bardella, who could replace Le Pen on the ballot in 2027 if she cannot run, said on X that Le Pen "is being unjustly condemned" and that French democracy "is being executed". Earlier in the day, in a moment of high drama, a furious Le Pen stood up and stormed out of the court midway through the verdict in court before being driven away to the RNs Paris headquarters. The ruling marked an extraordinary moment in French politics, with potentially seismic implications. While Le Pens domestic and international allies including the likes of Italys Matteo Salvini and Hungarys Viktor Orban condemned the verdict, some of her political opponents also expressed unease. A very heavy weight on our democracy, said the republican deputy of Frances National Assembly, Laurent Wauquiez, after the ruling. The prosecution said Le Pen was among a number of party officials accused of diverting close to 3m (2.5m) of European parliament funds to pay France-based staff between 2004 and 2016. open image in gallery Jordan Bardella, president of the RN, could replace Le Pen on the ballot in 2027 ( Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. ) The RN, it was said, used the parliament as a cash cow. But Le Pen and her co-defendants had said the money had been used legitimately. All denied wrongdoing. At Mondays hearing, judge Benedicte de Perthuis said: It was established that all these people were actually working for the party, that their [EU] lawmaker had not given them any tasks. The investigations also showed that these were not administrative errors ... but embezzlement within the framework of a system put in place to reduce the party's costs. For more than a decade, Le Pen has worked at making her party more mainstream, trying to dull its extremist edge to broaden its appeal to voters. She led the RN 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, Jean-Marie, ran it and it carried a heavy stigma of racism and antisemitism. She had positioned herself as a candidate to succeed Mr Macron, having twice finished runner-up to him. In 2022, Mr Macron won with 58.5 per cent per cent of the vote to Le Pens 41.5 per cent significantly closer than when they first faced off in 2017 and the best score ever of the French far right in a presidential bid. The future of the party, and its chances at the election in 2027, now hang in the balance following the court ruling on Monday. 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 Marine Le Pen has been banned from running in Frances 2027 presidential election, after being found guilty of embezzling funds from the European parliament. The leader of the far-right National Rally (RN), a frontrunner in the polls for the presidency in 2027, was among a number of party officials accused of diverting close to 3m (2.5m) of European parliament funds to pay France-based staff. A judge on Monday granted prosecutors request that Le Pen face an immediate five-year ban from public office, regardless of any appeal process, using a so-called provisional execution measure. The far-right leader was fined $100,000 and handed a four-year jail sentence of which two years will be a suspended sentence, and another two served under house arrest. While the ban from public office is effective immediately, it is understood that the jail sentence and fine will not take effect until Le Pen has exhausted her appeals against the judges ruling. In a moment of high drama, Le Pen stood up and stormed out of the court midway through the verdict on Monday. She was then driven away from the courthouse, and is reported to have since arrived at RNs Paris headquarters. Le Pen is scheduled to give a television interview at 8pm local time on Monday. The ruling marks an extraordinary moment in French politics, with potentially seismic implications. While Le Pens domestic and international allies including the likes of Italys Matteo Salvini and Hungarys Viktor Orban condemned the verdict, some of her political opponents also expressed unease. The Republican deputy of Frances National Assembly, Laurent Wauquiez, said the court ruling put a very heavy weight on our democracy, while Jean-Luc Melenchons far-left France Unbowed party said that despite the particularly serious facts of the trial it had never expected to use the courts as a way to get rid of the National Rally, adding: We fight them at the ballot box and in the streets. The prosecution had alleged that Le Pens party, the National Rally, had treated the European Parliament as a cash cow. She had been accused both as a former member of the European parliament and as the National Rally party leader during the period in question between 2004 and 2016. Le Pen and her two dozen co-defendants had insisted the European Union funds were used legitimately and that the allegations against them defined the role of a parliamentary assistant too narrowly. open image in gallery French far-right leader Marine Le Pen arrived for the verdict of her trial alongside 24 other defendants on Monday ( Reuters ) But judge Benedicte de Perthuis ruled on Monday: It was established that all these people were actually working for the party, that their [EU] lawmaker had not given them any tasks. The investigations also showed that these were not administrative errors ... but embezzlement within the framework of a system put in place to reduce the party's costs. The judge also handed down guilty verdicts to eight other current or former members of her party National Rally who like Le Pen previously served as elected legislators in the European Parliament, along with 12 parliamentary assistants. Ms de Perthuis said Le Pen had been at the centre of a system put in place by the party to use EU funds to pay France-based staff, telling the court: At the heart of this system since 2009, Marine Le Pen has placed herself with authority and determination in the system established by her father. Prosecutors had recommended handing her a five-year sentence, three of which would be suspended, a fine of 300,000 and a five-year ban on running for public office. Le Pen has accused prosecutors of seeking her political death, alleging a plot to keep the RN from power that echoes claims made by US president Donald Trump about his own legal woes. In an interview with La Tribune Dimanche, published on Saturday ahead of the verdict, Le Pen said: With provisional execution, the judges have the power of life or death over our movement. For more than a decade, Le Pen has worked at making her party more mainstream, trying to dull 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, Jean-Marie, ran it and it carried a heavy stigma of racism and antisemitism. Now a legislator in the National Assembly, the French parliament's powerful lower house, she has already positioned herself as a candidate to succeed Mr Macron, having twice finished runner-up to him. In 2022, Mr Macron won with 58.5 per cent per cent of the vote to Le Pens 41.5 per cent 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. Le Pens natural successor is Jordan Bardella, 29, who took over the helm of the party when Le Pen stepped back from that role in 2021. He would likely have become her prime minister if she had succeeded in becoming president. open image in gallery Marine Le Pen hopes to install National Rally leader Jordan Bardella as Frances prime minister ( AP Photo/Thomas Padilla ) Yet observers say theres no guarantee he would be able to convince as many voters as she does. In recent months, some inside the party have criticised 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. Following the verdict on Monday, Mr Bardella wrote on social media: Today, it is not only Marine Le Pen who is unjustly condemned: it is French democracy that is being executed. 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 Marine Le Pen has been handed a four year jail sentence and banned from running in Frances 2027 presidential election after she was found guilty of embezzling millions of euros from the European parliament. The leader of Frances National Rally (RN) party was sentenced to four years - two of which will be suspended - and prevented from standing from public office after it was ruled she and 24 other party officials diverted more than 3m (2.5m) of European parliament funds to pay France-based staff. The claims date from the period between 2004 and 2016 and accuse Le Pens party of treating the European Parliament as a cash cow, though she insisted the funds were used legitimately. open image in gallery Marine Le Pen is France's most controversial politician. ( REUTERS ) On Monday, judge Benedicte de Perthuis ruled against Le Pen and said: It was established that all these people were actually working for the party, that their [EU] lawmaker had not given them any tasks. The investigations also showed that these were not administrative errors... but embezzlement within the framework of a system put in place to reduce the party's costs. It is understood any jail time would not come into effect until she has exhausted the appeal process, which she is expected to start imminently. As the French politician is banned from public office with immediate effect, The Independent takes a closer look at her rise and fall: Who is Marine Le Pen? Marine Le Pen, 56, is best known for being the daughter of Jean-Marie Le Pen, the French far-right politician who founded the National Front party. In 2011, she took over from her father and has since taken it from a marginalised voice in French politics to one of its biggest parties. After four years at the helm, she expelled her father after he repeated a previous remark that the Holocaust was a detail of history words that had brought a conviction for Holocaust denial. open image in gallery Marine Le Pen has angled herself to succeed Emmanuel Macron as president in the next election. ( AP ) During her tenure she changed the partys name to the National Rally party in an effort to distance it from her fathers racist and antisemitic reputation - but the partys right-wing sentiments remain controversial in France. She stood down as the partys official leader in 2021 and is now a legislator in the National Assembly, the French parliament's powerful lower house. Though Le Pen is described as more democratic than her father, she has held a number controversial political opinions including her support for a referendum on the death penalty. She has also been accused of being racist and Islamophobic, having proposed to ban hijabs in public spaces. She holds hard-line views on immigration and favours a French first policy with regard to employment, welfare and accommodation. She has now angled herself as a candidate to succeed Mr Macron, who cannot run for the presidency again, having twice finished runner-up to him. Her own successor is Jordan Bardella, 29, who took over the helm of the party when Le Pen stepped back from that in 2021. He would likely be her prime minister if she were to become president, but doesnt have the widespread appeal of Le Pen. Though she is front and centre on the political stage, she largely keeps her personal life out of the spotlight. She has three children which were born during her first marriage to Franck Chauffroy who she married aged 27 in 1995. The couple divorced in 2000 and she later married the former national secretary for the National Dront, Eric Loiro, in 2002 until they divorced in 2006. She was then in a ten-year relationship with the National Front general secretary Louis Aliot until 2019, though they never married. What could the guilty verdict mean for her? A judge on Monday granted prosecutors request that Le Pen face an immediate five-year ban from public office, regardless of any appeal process, using a so-called provisional execution measure. open image in gallery The National Rally party was initially founded by her father as the National Front party ( Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. ) This means she cannot run in Frances 2027 presidential election, in which she was a frontrunner in the polls. In a moment of high drama, Le Pen stood up and stormed out of the court midway through the verdict. She was then driven away from the courthouse. Le Pen has accused prosecutors of seeking her political death, alleging a plot to keep the RN from power that echoes claims made by US president Donald Trump about his own legal woes. 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 One of the worlds most popular Catholic pilgrimage sites is covering up a series of mosaics made by a priest accused of sex abuse. The artworks, by Rev. Mark Rupnik, adorn the facade of the Rosary Basilica in Lourdes near the France-Spain border. Mr Rupnik was expelled from the Catholic Jesuit order in 2023, but remains a priest. He has been accused by about 25 people of various types of abuse. Most of his accusers are former Catholic nuns. In 2023, the Vatican reopened an investigation into the allegations. That is still ongoing. open image in gallery The covering of the mosaics has been described as a symbolic step ( AFP/Getty ) About five million Catholics visit the Lourdes basilica every year to experience the spring water of the area, which is said to have healing properties. On Monday, workers placed large coverings over many of the mosaics, Lourdes Bishop Jean-Marc Micas said. "A new symbolic step needed to be taken to facilitate entry into the basilica for all the people who today cannot cross its threshold," the bishop said, in an apparent reference to clergy abuse victims. He had previously declined to cover the images but ordered in July 2024 that they no longer be illuminated at night. Laura Sgro, a lawyer representing five of Mr Rupnik's alleged victims, welcomed the move on Monday. open image in gallery About five million faithful visit the basilica every year ( AFP/Getty ) "Every believer, and not just every victim of abuse, must have an open heart when praying, and this cannot happen if they have to kneel before a work of art that was likely the place where abuse was experienced," she said in a statement. Mr Rupnik's artwork is thought to adorn some 200 churches and chapels around the world, and is also known to adorn at least one chapel at the Vatican. Vatican officials have largely declined to comment on the allegations, citing the ongoing investigation into Rupnik. Cardinal Victor Fernandez, the Catholic Church's chief doctrine official, said earlier this month that he was starting to contact lawyers who could serve as judges in a likely church trial against Rupnik. Last week, the Jesuit order began reaching out to some of Rupnik's alleged victims to start a process of offering reparations on a case-by-case basis. Ms Sgro called the letters a "clear, strong and concrete gesture" and "an important step forward". On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A fire that destroyed more than a dozen Tesla electric vehicles at a dealership on the outskirts of Rome is being investigated as a possible arson. The fire, which started early on Monday, seriously damaged or destroyed 17 cars. Tesla Italy said it was cooperating with police, and that it had turned over surveillance video from the vehicles themselves. The cars internal video operates even when they are off. open image in gallery Firefighters work to put out the blaze ( AFP/Getty ) Tesla has been the target of protests around the world against owner Elon Musks affiliation with the Trump administration. Protesters swarmed a Tesla showroom in San Francisco on Saturday as part of global demonstrations targeting Tesla dealerships. Crowds, ranging from dozens to hundreds, blocked Tesla locations across the U.S. in an attempt to surround all 277 of the automakers showrooms and service centres. open image in gallery Tesla has been the target of protests around the world ( EPA ) Prosecutors in Colorado charged a woman last month in connection with attacks on Tesla dealerships, including Molotov cocktails thrown at vehicles and the words Nazi cars spray-painted on a building. And federal agents in South Carolina have arrested a man they say set fire to Tesla charging stations near Charleston In Florida, footage from a Tesla camera appeared to capture a Florida man damaging the electric vehicle with a sharp object. Drivers are also turning away from Tesla. Data from Australias Electric Vehicle Council reveals a 35 per cent drop in Tesla sales in the four months following Trump's election compared to the same period the previous year. European sales of Tesla vehicles tumbled 49 per cent in the first two months of the year even as overall sales of EVs grew. Tesla sales are falling globally, however. The company posted its first annual sales drop in more than a dozen years in January. Tesla's new Cybertruck has had multiple recalls including last week, when the company recalled nearly all of them because panels that run along the left and right side of the windshield can fly off when driving. 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 Greenlands new prime minister has rejected Donald Trumps latest threat to take control of the huge, resource-rich island territory. President Trump claimed the US needed to annex the self-governing region of Denmark 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. The prime ministers statement comes a day after President Trump told NBC News he would not rule out military force to control Greenland. Well get Greenland. Yeah, 100 per cent, President Trump said interview on Saturday. I think there's a good possibility that we could do it without military force... This is world peace, this is international security, he said, but added: I don't take anything off the table. The interview was the latest in a series of threats made by President Trump since returning to office, including one in an address to US congress. Both Greenlandic and Danish politicians have reacted with anger to Trumps repeated suggestions. Greelands youngest prime minister called for political unity in his first press conference as head of the country. open image in gallery Mr Nielsen, 33, was sworn into office on Friday just hours before a high-profile US delegation led by vice-president JD Vance arrived on the island. ( Getty Images ) At a time when we as a people are under pressure, we must stand together, the former minister of industry and minerals said at the conference in his hometown, Nuuk. Mr Nielsen, 33, was sworn into office on Friday just hours before a high-profile US delegation led by vice-president JD Vance arrived on the island. Our message to Denmark is very simple: you have not done a good job by the people of Greenland, Mr Vance said. You have underinvested in the people of Greenland and you have underinvested in the security architecture of this incredible, beautiful landmass. The Danish foreign minister, Lars Lokke Rasmussen, said on Saturday: We are open to criticisms, but let me be completely honest, we do not appreciate the tone in which its 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. Denmark is a Nato ally of the United States. When asked what message his threats sent to Russian President Vladimir Putin, given the invasion of Ukraine and annexation of regions, Trump replied, I dont care. On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Donald Trump has threatened to impose huge secondary sanctions on all buyers of Russian oil if Vladimir Putin continues to delay a ceasefire agreement in Ukraine, a move that would significantly impact major importers India and China. Mr Trump said he was very angry and pissed off at Putins suggestion that the government in Kyiv would have to change before any peace deal can be signed. He said there would be a 25 to 50-point tariff on all oil if a deal is not made between Russia and Ukraine and if I think it was Russias fault. China and India are the countries most likely to be affected if the US president follows through with the threat, having emerged as the biggest buyers of discounted Russian oil since the start of the Ukraine war. Until now, limited sanctions on Russian oil have reduced the amount of money flowing into Putins war chest without putting a stop to the trade altogether, a move that would have a devastating impact on the global market. Mr Trumps sharp comments on Sunday represented a notable shift in his tone towards Russia since starting his second term. 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, Mr Trump said. That would be, that if you buy oil from Russia, you cant do business in the United States. There will be a 25 per cent tariff on all oil, 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. Secondary tariffs function similarly to secondary sanctions, which are financial penalties imposed on countries or individuals for engaging in business with a sanctioned entity. William Reinsch, a former senior Commerce Department official now at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said the haphazard way Mr Trump was announcing and threatening tariffs leaves many questions unanswered, including how US officials could trace and prove which countries were buying Russian oil. Rory Johnston, a Toronto-based oil market researcher, said the secondary oil tariff would be an immensely bullish shift from the White House, adding that it would mostly impact India. India alone imports [around] 1.7 MMbpd (million barrels per day) of Russian crude and has proven extremely sensitive to secondary sanctions on Iranian and Venezuelan oil, he added. India has benefited from the Western world shunning Russian crude and setting a cap on prices for other countries, with the Modi government snapping up discounted barrels and justifying it by saying it is keeping fuel costs down for Indian consumers. At the same time, India has deepened ties with the US in recent years, and Narendra Modi has tried to appease Mr Trump by promising to lower tariffs and working on deals to avoid reciprocal tariffs. From importing a mere 1 per cent of its total oil requirements from Russia in 2021, India the worlds third-largest oil importer guzzled nearly 60 MMbpd of Russian oil in 2022, compared to just 12 MMbpd in all of 2021, according to Kpler. Imports continued to grow, averaging around 1.78 MMbpd or 40 per cent of Indias total crude imports in 2023. And in 2024, imports peaked at a record 2.07 MMbpd in July, making up 44 per cent of India's total oil imports. India surpassed Chinas imports in July as Beijing bought 1.76 MMbpd via pipelines and shipments. China was already a significant buyer of Russian oil, importing an average of 1.6 MMbpd in 2021, split evenly between pipeline and seaborne routes, even before the war started. To reach India, tankers bringing oil from Russia can either go from the Baltic Sea through the Danish Straits, Gibraltar and the Suez Canal, or from the Black Sea through the Bosphorus Strait and Suez Canal ( Datawrapper/The Independent ) Clyde Russell, an Asia commodities and energy columnist at Reuters, argued that Mr Trumps tariff threat might just achieve limited success in its Ukraine aims. If Putin believes Trump will go ahead and massively boost what are effectively sanctions on Russias main export, he may be inclined to back down at least far enough to allow Trump to appear to have won in negotiations, he said. But he adds that India and Chinas responses must also be taken into account in judging whether the gambit has paid off. Mr Trump appears to be following the template of his threatened secondary sanctions against Venezuela. In a 24 March order, the president said any country importing oil from Venezuela, directly or indirectly, could face an extra 25 per cent tariff on their exports to the US. It means the US could penalise countries like China or Spain by imposing higher tariffs on their exports to the US. The order gave secretary of state Marco Rubio the authority to impose the tariff at his discretion. On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Ukraines minerals have become central to global geopolitics, with the US president, Donald Trump, seeking a deal with Ukraines president Volodymyr Zelensky to access them. On April 30, Ukraines prime minister Denys Shmyhal said a minerals deal could be signed within the next 24 hours after the final details were worked out. Earlier in the month, Ukrainian economy minister, Yulia Svyrydenko, took to X and shared photos of her and US treasury secretary, Scott Bessent, signing the outline of the preliminary minerals deal separately. What are these minerals exactly and why are they so sought after? Ukraine is often recognised for its vast agricultural lands and industrial heritage, but beneath its surface lies one of the worlds most remarkable geological formations, the Ukrainian Shield. This massive, exposed crystalline rock formed over 2.5 billion years ago, stretches across much of Ukraine. It represents one of Earths oldest and most stable continental blocks. The formation has undergone multiple episodes of mountain building, the formation and movement of magma and other change throughout time. These geological processes created favourable geological conditions for forming several mineral deposits including lithium, graphite, manganese, titanium and rare earth elements. All these are now critical for modern industries and the global green energy transition. Ukraine has deposits containing 22 of 34 critical minerals identified by the European Union as essential for energy security. This positions Ukraine among the worlds most resource-rich nations. International race As the world races to decarbonise, demand for critical minerals is skyrocketing. Electric vehicles, wind turbines, solar panels and energy storage systems all require lithium, cobalt and rare earth elements which Ukraine has in abundance. The price of lithium has surged from US$1,500 (1,164) per ton in the 1990s to around $20,000 per ton in recent years. Demand is expected to increase nearly 40-fold by 2040. open image in gallery Lithium is used in electronics the world over ( Getty Images ) According to the International Energy Agency, the number of electric vehicles is projected to exceed 125 million by 2030. Similar growth is expected for other battery metals. Each electric vehicle requires significantly more lithium than conventional electronics. For example, a Tesla Model S battery requires approximately 63kg of high-purity lithium. Ukraine has three major lithium deposits. These include Shevchenkivske in the Donetsk region as well as Polokhivske and Stankuvatske in the centrally located Kirovograd region all within the Ukrainian Shield. Despite the significant mineral potential, many of Ukraines mineral deposits have remained largely unexplored due to the war with Russia, which has disrupted mining operations and damaged infrastructure. The Shevchenkivske lithium deposit contains high concentrations of spodumene the primary lithium-bearing mineral used in battery production. Its reserve is estimated as 13.8 million tonnes of lithium ores. That said, extracting it requires an estimated US$1020 million in exploration investment before mining can begin. Meanwhile, the Polokhivske deposit at is approximately 270 thousand tonnes of lithium is considered one of the best lithium sites in Europe. Thats because of its favourable geological conditions, making extraction more economically viable. But lithium represents just one element of Ukraines mineral resources. According to the US geological survey, Ukraine ranks globally as the third-largest producer of the mineral rutile making up 15.7 per cent of worlds total output. It is the sixth-largest producer of iron ore (3.2 per cent of total output) and titanium (5.8 per cent), as well as the seventh-largest producer of manganese ore (3.1 per cent). open image in gallery Wind turbines at a solar energy plant in Germany ( AP ) Ukraine also has Europes largest uranium reserves, crucial for nuclear power and weapons. It boasts significant deposits of rare earth elements, including neodymium and dysprosium, which are needed for manufacturing everything from smartphones to wind turbines and electric motors. In addition, Ukraine is home to the worlds largest proven reserves of manganese ores. Theres approximately 2.4 billion tonnes of it concentrated primarily in the Nikopol Basin on the southern slope of the Ukrainian Shield. The strategic significance of Ukraines minerals has gained recognition in international diplomacy. Recent bilateral negotiations between Ukraine and the US highlight the geopolitical importance of these resources. A proposed minerals deal would involve Ukraine contributing 50 per cent of future proceeds from state-owned mineral resources, oil and gas and other extractable materials to a reconstruction investment fund for Ukraines post-war rebuilding. The fund would be jointly managed by Kyiv and Washington. What about the USs own minerals? The USs interest in Ukrainian minerals reflects a broader geopolitical concern over increasing demand, volatile price movements and supply chain vulnerabilities. While the US has many of the same critical minerals as Ukraine, it has historically outsourced mining and refining due to environmental regulations, high labour costs and more attractive foreign markets. This has led to a reliance on imports, particularly from China, which dominates critical mineral production and processing. Getting access to Ukraines minerals in exchange for military protection means the US can avoid having to buy these minerals from China. open image in gallery A man holds a lithium stone found in a mine ( AP ) The US federal strategy in fact states it will prioritise diversification through mineral security partnerships aiming to establish a more stable and resilient supply chain. The USs critical minerals are distributed across various geological provinces including the Appalachian Mountains, the Cordilleran Belt and the Precambrian Shield exposed in parts of the midwest. While the US has developed substantial lithium resources, particularly in Nevadas Clayton Valley and North Carolinas Kings Mountain, much of its current lithium production comes from brine operations. This is the extraction from salt solutions, such as seawater or saline lakes, which can be more expensive than hard-rock mining. The global shift toward green energy and electric transportation is accelerating, and minerals are at the heart of this transition. Around 80 per cent of the lithium produced globally is used for battery production. Major automakers are investing billions in electric vehicle production, driving unprecedented demand for the minerals that power this technology. Ukraines mineral wealth positions it as a potential leader in the clean energy revolution. Once stability returns, Ukraine will have a golden opportunity to reshape the global supply chain for critical minerals. Even with a 50 per cent allocation to the US, Ukraine would still be able to fund domestic infrastructure, industry growth, jobs and economic recovery. Munira Raji is a Research Fellow of Geology at the University of Plymouth This article was originally published by The Conversation and is republished under a Creative Commons licence. Read the original article 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 Vladimir Putins efforts to end its three-year war with Ukraine are a drawn-out process, the Kremlin has claimed despite Donald Trumps anger at the Russian leader dragging his feet over a ceasefire, and Moscows repeated aerial assaults on Ukraine. "We are working to implement some ideas in connection with the Ukrainian settlement. This work is ongoing," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters It comes after the US president told NBCs Kristen Welker that he was p***** off after Putin called for elections in Ukraine and again questioned the credibility of Volodymyr Zelenskys government, despite the Ukrainian leader being his nations elected leader. Russia rejected a US proposal for an immediate and full 30-day halt in the fighting and set tough conditions for a partial ceasefire in the Black Sea, through which both countries ship grain and cargo. Mr Trump had promised to end the conflict on his election trail last year. When asked about President Trumps anger, Mr Peskov said: "There is nothing concrete yet that we could and should announce. This is a drawn-out process because of the difficulty of its substance." Mr Trumps escalating criticism of Russia followed weeks of being accused of taking Putins side in Europes largest conflict since World War II. While Mr Peskov did not directly address President Trumps criticism of Russia, he said Putin "remains absolutely open to contacts" with the US president. But both analysts and Western and Ukrainian officials have said the countries are still preparing for a spring-summer battlefield campaign. President Zelensky said on Sunday that Russia's relentless attacks showed its unwillingness to seek a settlement. "The geography and brutality of Russian strikes, not just occasionally, but literally every day and night, show that Putin couldn't care less about diplomacy," Mr Zelensky said in his daily address. "And almost every day, in response to this proposal, there are Russian drones, bombs, artillery shelling, and ballistic strikes," he added. Mr Zelensky also said international pressure on Moscow and fresh sanctions are needed to get Russia to negotiate an end to the invasion which started in February 2022. President Trump said he would consider further sanctions and use tariffs to undermine oil exports. Russia launched a drone attack on Kharkiv overnight which injured three people and fired two ballistic missiles along with 131 drones, Ukrainian Interior Ministry said Monday. For its part, Russia's Defence Ministry said air defences shot down 66 Ukrainian drones three Russian regions early Monday. "The continuing attacks by the Ukrainian armed forces on Russia's energy facilities show the complete lack of respect for any obligations related to the settlement of the conflict in Ukraine by the Kyiv regime," Russias Defence Ministry said. On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice The Red Cross has condemned the killing of eight Palestinian medics in southern Gaza, calling it a heartbreaking violation of international humanitarian law, after their bodies were recovered following a week-long delay. The medics were part of a nine-person ambulance crew from the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) and were killed on duty in the al-Hashashin area of Rafah on 23 March. Their bodies were retrieved on Sunday after days of restricted access to the area. One crew member remains missing. The Red Cross did not apportion blame for the attack, while Hamas has accused Israel of killing the PRCS aid workers. Israel has not directly responded to the allegation but confirmed in a statement that its forces fired upon suspicious vehicles that later turned out to be ambulances and fire trucks. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) said all eight were wearing visible emblems and travelling in clearly marked ambulances. "I am heartbroken. These dedicated ambulance workers were responding to wounded people. They were humanitarians," IFRC secretary-general Jagan Chapagain said. "They wore emblems that should have protected them; their ambulances were clearly marked. "Even in the most complex conflict zones, there are rules. These rules of international humanitarian law could not be clearer civilians must be protected; humanitarians must be protected. Health services must be protected." open image in gallery First responders embrace each other at Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip on Sunday as the bodies of Palestinian first responders who were killed a week before in Israeli military fire on ambulances arrive at the facility ( AFP via Getty Images ) Among the dead were ambulance officers Mostafa Khufaga, Saleh Muamer and Ezzedine Shaath, as well as first responder volunteers Mohammad Bahloul, Mohammed al-Heila, Ashraf Abu Labda, Raed al-Sharif and Rifatt Radwan. The PRCS said the bodies were found alongside six members of Gazas Hamas-run civil defence agency and a United Nations staff member. In a statement to AFP on Saturday, the Israeli military said its troops had "opened fire toward Hamas vehicles and eliminated several Hamas terrorists" in southern Gaza. "A few minutes afterward, additional vehicles advanced suspiciously toward the troops... The troops responded by firing toward the suspicious vehicles, eliminating a number of Hamas and Islamic Jihad terrorists." The military added that "after an initial inquiry, it was determined that some of the suspicious vehicles... were ambulances and fire trucks". Israel has previously accused Palestinian armed groups of using medical vehicles for terrorist purposes". open image in gallery Ambulances carrying the bodies of Palestinian first responders who were killed a week before in Israeli military fire on other ambulance vehicles arrive at Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip on Sunday ( AFP via Getty Images ) Senior Hamas official Basem Naim called the killings a war crime and a breach of the Geneva Conventions. "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. The attack came after Israel resumed its military offensive in Gaza on 18 March, following the breakdown of a ceasefire agreement. Since then, more than 900 people have been killed in Israeli strikes, according to Gazas Hamas-run health ministry. The war, now nearing its 17th month, began after Hamas launched a surprise assault on southern Israel on 7 October, killing around 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages. The Gaza health ministry says more than 50,000 Palestinians have been killed since the war began. open image in gallery Palestinians attend Eid al-Fitr prayer in Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip ( AP ) Meanwhile, US airstrikes continued around the Houthi-held Yemeni capital of Sanaa early on Monday, killing at least one person and injuring four others, according to Houthi officials. The new wave of attacks followed a warning by the rebel group that it would resume targeting Red Sea vessels over Israels blockade on Gaza. The strikes appear to be part of a broader shift in the US campaign, with American forces now targeting personnel and command sites in addition to missile launch positions. Houthi media reported that 59 people have been killed since the current round of strikes began on 15 March. The US says its actions are aimed at protecting commercial shipping in the Red Sea, where renewed Houthi attacks have already sunk two vessels and killed four sailors. 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 Israel has issued sweeping evacuation orders covering most of the southern Gaza city of Rafah, indicating it could soon launch another major ground operation. Palestinian officials say at least 921 people have been killed in the 12 days since Israel effectively ended a two-month ceasefire by launching some of its deadliest strikes so far of the war, which was sparked by Hamass attack on 7 October 2023. Just days after issuing evacuation orders for Gaza City, the Israeli military did the same on Monday during the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr for much of the city of Rafah, which lies on the border with Egypt. The military ordered Palestinians to head to Muwasi, a sprawl of tent camps along the coast. Israel was reported to have widened its ground operations in the Rafah over the weekend. Israel previously launched a major military operation in Rafah last May, where many of Gazas more than 2 million inhabitants had fled to in a search for relative safety after being displaced by bombings and clashes elsewhere in the 25-mile strip. Large parts of Rafah were left in ruins. The war was triggered by an attack by Hamas inside Israel on 7 October 2023, during which around 1,200 people were killed and 250 taken hostage. Israels retaliatory offensive has killed more than 50,000 Palestinians, according to Gazas health ministry, which does not say how many were civilians or combatants. At its height, the war had displaced some 90 per cent of Gazas population, with many fleeing multiple times. open image in gallery Displaced Palestinians who fled from Rafah amid ongoing Israeli military operations there arrived in Khan Younis on Sunday ( AP ) The ceasefire deal struck with Hamas in January called for Israel to withdraw from a strategic buffer zone its forces had seized along Gazas southern border, as well as the Rafah crossing with Egypt, Gazas only gateway to the outside world that was not controlled by Israel. However, Israel later refused to, citing the need to prevent weapons smuggling. After restarting airstrikes earlier this month, alleged by Palestinian officials to have killed more than 400 people, prime minister Benjamin Netanyahus office said that Israels army had been instructed to take strong action after Hamass repeated refusal to release our hostages, as well as its rejection of all proposals it has received from US presidential envoy Steve Witkoff and from the mediators. A total of 59 hostages just two dozen of whom are still believed to be alive continue to be held captive by Hamas. open image in gallery Large protests have taken place in Tel Aviv to demand the immediate release of hostages held by Hamas in recent weeks ( AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo ) Israel has vowed to escalate the war until Hamas returns the hostages, along with demands for Hamas to give up power, disarm and send its leaders into exile. Before breaking the truce, Israel also cut off all supplies of food, fuel, medicine and humanitarian aid in a bid to pressure Hamas to accept changes to the ceasefire agreement. On Sunday, Mr Netanyahu claimed that Israel would take charge of security in Gaza after the war and implement US president Donald Trumps proposal to resettle Gazas population in other countries, describing it as voluntary emigration. That plan has been universally rejected by Palestinians, who view it as forcible expulsion from their homeland, and human rights experts say it would likely violate international law. open image in gallery Yarden Bibas, a hostage held in Gaza since the deadly 7 October 2023 attack, was released by Hamas last month ( Reuters ) It came after Yarden Bibas a former Israeli hostage, who learned upon his release that his wife and two young children had been killed in captivity in Gaza urged Mr Trump to bring an end to the war. In his first interview since being freed in a ceasefire last month, Mr Bibas told CBSs 60 Minutes on Sunday that Mr Trump is the only one who can convince Mr Netanyahu and Hamas to halt the renewed fighting. Describing being held in tunnels under Gaza during Israeli strikes, he said: Youre afraid for your life. Everything could collapse at any moment. Associated Press contributed to this report Sign up to our free weekly IndyTech newsletter delivered straight to your inbox Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Formerly stranded NASA astronauts Sunita Suni Williams and Barry Butch Wilmore reflected on their extended stay in space and noted their respect and trust for President Donald Trump and Elon Musk in their first interviews since returning to Earth. After being unexpectedly stuck on the International Space Station for nine months after their return flight went awry, the pair landed on Earth earlier this month on the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft alongside Crew-9 mission members Nick Hague and Russian Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov. Their stay was nine months longer than expected after technical issues forced their first return craft made by Boeing to leave without them. In an interview with Fox News, the astronauts praised the president and the Space X founder for their safe return. "I respect you, I trust you. Youve given me no reason not to trust you, either one of them," Wilmore said. "I am grateful that our national leaders actually are coming in and taking part in our human spaceflight program, which we see is hugely important global significance, and they take an active role, he continued. I think it's a good thing for our nation when the national leaders, especially something that's high visibility, are involved in the process. I'm grateful for that." Williams similarly said that she was touched that so many people were paying attention and taking their journey very seriously. "[It allows them to] understand that our involvement as a country, as a spacefaring nation, is really important throughout the world. It sets an example, and it shows our ability to be able to do the hard things, put people in space, operate in space, work in space, and then bring us back. It's important, and I appreciate that," she said. open image in gallery Astronauts Nick Hague (left), Suni Williams (center) and Butch Wilmore (right) speak at a press conference at Johnson Space Center. On March 18, Williams and Wilmore returned from an unexpected nine-month stay in space ( AP ) In January, Trump blamed Joe Biden for abandoning the astronauts in space while Musk, a White House senior adviser, said it was terrible his administration left them there so long. Neither astronaut blamed the Biden administration for their extended stay. Instead, when asked who they hold accountable, Wilmore said first pointed the finger at himself. Ill start with me. There were questions as a commander that I should have asked, he said at a Monday press conference. Responsibility with Boeing? Yes. Responsibility with NASA? YesWe all own this. He said theres much to learn from this incident: Were going to look forward. As far as U.S. politics reach, they dont seem to extend to outer space, the astronauts said. When were in there operating in space, you dont feel the politicsWere focused just on the mission, Hague said. You get in that operational environment and the politics they dont make it up there. We are working as part of an international teamand we just figure out how to make it happen. Thats the magic of human space flight: we focus on something so positive that pulls people together. Wilmore and Williams were both asked if they would go up again in the Starliner, Wilmore immediately replied: yes. Because were going to rectify all the issues weve encountered, he said. I would get on in a heartbeat. Williams agreed, saying: There are a couple of things that need to be fixedbut its a great spacecraft and it has a lot of capability that other spacecraft dont have and to see that be successful and be part of that program is an honor. open image in gallery NASA's Butch Wilmore, Russia's Alexander Gorbunov, NASA's Nick Hague, and NASA's Suni Williams (left to right) wait to exit the SpaceX capsule after splashing down on March 18 ( AP ) Although being left behind in space sounds like a nightmare to some, the astronauts spoke positively about their time at the space station and are looking forward to seeing what comes next for the industry. We had a plan. The plan went way off from what we had planned. We planned for any number of contingenciesWe pivoted to this other preparation and thats what makes your human space flight program special, Wilmore said. Theres lessons learned, Williams noted. Were learning from every mistake potentially and every decision made and how we can do that better next time. Im a little envious of the guys behind us, she said later. Im not worried about the aerospace industry. Theres a lot going on and its a great time to be in it. Wilmore said theyre meeting with Boeing engineers this week to discuss their experience. The astronauts also discussed their descent back to earth, splashing down off the coast of Florida where they were unexpectedly first greeted by dolphins. Returning from space to Earth through the atmosphere inside a 3,000-degree fireball of plasma is weird, Wilmore said. Its a thrilling ride like no other you can imagine. I had requested dolphins as a joke, Hague quipped. Somehow somebody pulled it off. Kanye West arrived in a black Ku Klux Klan outfit for an interview released by DJ Akademiks on Rumble on Sunday, 30 March. The rapper, 47, was filmed wearing all-black clothes and the infamous pointed hood. In the video, titled "The Kanye West Experience," West claimed that the outfit was custom-made along with an identical white one. It comes after earlier in March, West shared an Instagram post of a person wearing a white Ku Klux Klan outfit, which he called outfit of the day. The post was removed for violating community guidelines. The Independent has contacted West's representatives for comment. Rescuers have pulled a US army vehicle from a swamp in Lithuania, but four soldiers remain unaccounted for. Footage of the recovery efforts showed Lithuanian military personnel working alongside emergency workers to retrieve an M88 Hercules armoured recovery vehicle found submerged in 15ft of swamp water last Wednesday (26 March), after going missing during a training exercise. Lithuanias defence minister Dovile Sakaliene confirmed the vehicle had been pulled ashore at 4:40am on Monday morning, but did not comment on the status of the soldiers on board, confirming any details would be issued by the US army. In a statement, US defence secretary Pete Hegeseth said: Nothing in the world of soldiering is routine, it all comes with dangers and with risks. Such is the Trump Tower-sized self-conceit of Donald J Trump that for weeks if not months he could not see what virtually the whole of the rest of the world could: Vladimir Putin was playing him like a cheap violin. Trump, seemingly mesmerised by the Russian leader, gave his friend everything he wanted: dominance in Ukraine, aside from a carve-out for US mineral interests; a Russian zone of influence in Europe; the abandonment of Nato and other allies. All of that in return for the Russians scaling back their nuclear arsenal and giving the Americans a free run at acquiring Greenland and Canada (even if they are not Russias to give away and wont ever happen). That looked to be the kind of grand bargain Trump was looking for, but Putin overplayed his hand. In this gangsterish carve-up of the world, albeit one where the Chinese are yet to assert themselves, Trump somehow realised that it is Putin and not Volodymyr Zelensky who is taking him for a ride. The reaction when this obvious truth dawned on him was typically Trumpian: intemperate, foul-mouthed and public. In an unusual phone briefing to an NBC journalist, Trump said he was angry and p***ed off with Putin, and hell be having words with him later this week. Surprise, surprise, Putin has broken every promise hes made to Trump, and the so-called peace conference in Saudi Arabia (in reality, an elongated proxy surrender ceremony for Ukraine). Putin has obfuscated, tricked and duped his way to gaining further advantage on the battlefield by exploiting Trumps childlike naivety. It has been pitiable to observe. Trump, infamously, even called Zelensky a dictator with no elections, hinting at a willingness to jettison the democratically elected leader of Ukraine as readily as he might primary a troublesome RINO (Republican in Name Only) congressman. But when Putin pushed his luck and called for a UN-controlled temporary administration in Kyiv to sign up to the humiliating peace, for some reason, Trump finally lost his temper. Will things change? Probably not. The Russians know theyve gone too far and are already slyly rowing back but preserving their freedom of movement in the negotiations. Soviet throwback Dmitry Peskov has told the worlds media that Russia is continuing to "work with the American side" on peace in Ukraine and that Putin remained "open to contact" with Trump. I bet he is looking forward to manoeuvring his "mark" back where he wants him in this grand game of deception. A fresh, even more lucrative, deal on Ukrainian natural resources seems to be the fresh bait, and maybe a guarantee that even if Russia does invade Ukraine later on, US interests will be sacrosanct and continue to operate under Russian rule of what used to be independent Ukraine. Needless to add, that would render entirely worthless any security aspect to the minerals deal. The American staff and executives getting the lithium and the cobalt out of the Ukrainian chernozem will be able to carry on regardless. It is, sadly, not unlike the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact that divided up Poland between Stalin and Hitler in 1939 an historical comparison Putin and Trump might privately enjoy. The idea of a UN administration of Ukraine that so enraged Trump will be quietly dropped. There will be no tougher sanctions on Russian oil, and the Kremlin will continue to use the Americans to gain what they cannot win on the battlefield. Putin will placate his victim; the long, painful extinction of Ukraine will drag on; and Europe will be left to wonder why the Americans despise us and ask, Whos next? The answer, of course, is Europe, because Putins territorial ambitions have no limits. Only Trump seems not to comprehend that. Dublins key workers should get paid a special allowance because of the high costs of living and working in the capital compared to any other part of the country, according to businessman Paschal Taggart. Police officers in the City of London are to be paid a special 6,588 (7,877) London allowance from next week and the veteran businessman believes that Dublin-based gardai and other frontline workers such as teachers and nurses are in crisis due to the cost of living in the capital and deserve similar payments. People in Ireland yet to apply for UK pension top-up warned they have just days left to act People in Ireland warned they have days left to apply for UK pension top-up Charlie Weston Mon 31 Mar 2025 at 03:30 People in this country who have yet to apply to top up their UK pension have been warned they have just days left to act. This farmer celebrated when milk quotas ended he never thought hed be retired from farming within a decade A decade after the end of milk quotas, one former dairy farmer reflects on expansion, exit, and finding a new purpose beyond the farm. Walter Power retired from dairy farming on the Kilkenny-Tipperary border and now works as a tour guide. Photos: Cian Dalton Ciaran Moran Mon 31 Mar 2025 at 08:45 Ten years ago this week, farmers in the small Tipperary village of Nine Mile House celebrated like it was the early 1980s. Ten women, aged in their 20s, 30s, 40s and 50s were among those arrested The protesters from Mothers Against Genocide staged a sleep-out at the gates to mark the ongoing violence in Gaza and to coincide with Mother's Day. (Stephen Collins) A total of 14 people have been arrested at a protest against the ongoing violence in Gaza after the entrance to Leinster House in Dublin was blocked. Ten women, aged in their 20s, 30s, 40s and 50s, and one man aged in his 20s were arrested under section eight of the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994. Gardai confirmed that all 11 have received adult cautions. Three other men, aged in their 20s and 30s, were also arrested for alleged offences under sections six, nine and 19 of the Criminal Justice (Public Order Act) 1994. The three men have been charged and are due before court. It comes after a group of women had gathered for a vigil organised by the Mothers Against Genocide group on Sunday. It was to mark Mothers Day and to remember the children and mothers killed in Gaza. The group held an overnight protest calling on the Government to do more about the conflict in the Gaza Strip. Protesters who staged a sitdown protest in front of the Leinster House gates were forcibly removed. They had been due to read out a letter calling on the Government to enact the Occupied Territories Bill and to prevent the use of Irish airspace to carry weapons to Israel. The group placed photographs of Palestinian children killed by Israeli forces along the gates and railings of Leinster House. Gardai said they told protesters who were blocking the gates to clear the entrance. Megan Ni Ghabhlain, a member of Mothers Against Genocide, said: Eight of us were removed and arrested by gardai. Eight mothers who had obligations today, school runs that they were going to be collecting their children from, and the aim of those mothers was to prevent the slaughter of innocent children. Last night we came together to honour the 18,000 children who have been brutally murdered with a beautiful vigil. We had displays of the gorgeous children who we wanted to humanise, that they are not just numbers to become desensitised to. These are children who had bright hopes and dreams, just like our own, and were loved as much as we love our own. Unfortunately the gardai decided to come down and remove these precious faces of these children in the most disrespectful manner, so we decided we would sit with our pillow babies in solidarity with these women, whose children have been murdered. In a statement, a garda spokesman said: An Garda Siochana was aware of a public gathering taking place on Kildare Street, Dublin 2 which had commenced last night Sunday. As is the case with all evolving events that require a garda presence in order to maintain full public safety, An Garda Siochana adopts a response based on the community policing model, all relevant legislation and human rights. Following garda engagement with a number of individuals who were blocking the entrance to Dail Eireann, Kildare Street this morning, gardai gave the individuals a direction under the Public Order Act and were given a period of time to adhere to this direction. The direction given by gardai was not complied with and a number of individuals were subsequently arrested for offences contrary to the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994 and conveyed to garda stations in Dublin. The protesters from Mothers Against Genocide staged a sleep-out at the gates to mark the ongoing violence in Gaza and to coincide with Mother's Day. (Stephen Collins) Today's News in 90 seconds - 31st March 2025 Jason Poole, brother of Jennifer Poole who was murdered by her partner in 2021, has set up a petition urging Minister for Justice Jim OCallaghan to take immediate action to protect people in Ireland from known domestic abusers. Mr Poole is calling on the Department of Justice to introduce Jennies Law and create a register of those with a history of coercive control and abuse. The petition, which has gained over 15,000 signatures in the past four days, follows the exclusion of a commitment to such legislation within the Programme for Government despite inclusion in the Fianna Fail manifesto in last years general election. Mr OCallaghan had backed such legislation and supported a private members bill with the same aim during the last Dail. Mr Poole is calling for features of the legislation to include: registering repeat offenders and those with convictions, a right-to-ask policy, so individuals can check if a partner has a history of abuse, a right-to-know system, allowing Gardai to proactively warn those at risk, criminal penalties for abusers who deceive new partners about their past and improved protections and legal aid for survivors. According to Mr Poole, his sister Jennifer believed she had met a kind and loving partner. He said: What she didnt know was that he had a history of domestic violence and had served time in prison. By the time she found out, she was trapped in a cycle of control, violence and fear - a cycle that could have been prevented. A spokesperson for the Department of Justice said: The Programme for Government commits to working with An Garda Siochana to ensure a person in an intimate relationship can be informed of a serious risk to them where a new partner has a history of domestic violence. Minister OCallaghan has requested his officials to examine proposals to establish a register or mechanism that would allow for the disclosure of information in respect of an offenders prior convictions where there is a risk of harm. "This would apply to individuals convicted on indictment of an offence against an intimate partner, or former intimate partner, subject to court discretion and victim consent. Department officials are currently consulting with a range of relevant stakeholders to examine the legal and policy implications of how the register would work in practice. It is understood the Attorney General had previously cautioned against a domestic violence register, citing concerns about fair procedures and whether such a law would be constitutional. China: a global economic anchor via high-quality development 14:06, March 31, 2025 By He Yin ( People's Daily A vessel unloads containers at an automated terminal at Qingdao Port of Shandong Port Group in Qingdao, east China's Shandong province. (People's Daily Online/Zhang Jingang) The China Development Forum (CDF) 2025 convened in Beijing from March 23 to 24, bringing together global leaders to address the theme "Unleashing Development Momentum for Stable Growth of Global Economy." Participants examined the challenges and opportunities facing the global economy while observing China's economic dynamism and its role as a stabilizing force. Amid growing international recognition of China's growth engine potential, "expanding investments in China" has emerged as a key priority for global businesses. Executives from multinational corporationsincluding Apple, Siemens, and BMW, joined industry leaders from Global South countries such as Malaysia and Brazil, representing industries spanning manufacturing, finance, and services. This diverse participation underscores heightened interest in China's market opportunities. Attendees emphasized their confidence in China's market potential, optimism about the opportunities it offers, and commitment to long-term cooperation with China. Workers assemble a massive wind turbine blade at a marine wind power industrial base in Rongcheng city, east China's Shandong province. (People's Daily Online/Yang Zhili) Ola Kaellenius, chairman of the board of management at Mercedes-Benz, stated that the company has greatly benefited from China's rapid economic growth and reaffirmed its commitment to long-term investment in China. He pledged to accelerate innovation and product localization at "Chinese speed," underscoring Mercedes-Benz's dedication to mutual growth within China. Georges Elhedery, group chief executive of HSBC Holdings, highlighted the expanding opportunities in global trade and investment, expressing enthusiasm for supporting China's future prosperity. He reiterated HSBC's role in fostering deeper integration between China and the global economy.. Roland Busch, foreign co-chair of the CDF 2025 and president and CEO of Siemens AG. said China has found the answer to the question of where growth will come from. This year's forum showcased notable highlights that reinforce the resilience, potential, and vitality of the Chinese economy. Thriving consumer markets in film, winter sports, and tourism exemplify the vast potential of domestic economic circulation. Concurrently, technological breakthroughsepitomized by Hangzhou's innovative startups, often dubbed the "Six Little Dragons" highlight China's burgeoning innovation capabilities. Meanwhile, the rapid expansion of green home appliance and new energy industries underscores the transformative opportunities driving sustainable development. New momentum across diverse industries continues to gain strength, positioning itself as a sustainable and powerful driver for China's long-term economic advancement. Dilma Vana Rousseff, president of the New Development Bank, commended China's transformative economic evolution, highlighting its shift from the "world's factory" to a "global innovation powerhouse." Through deliberate strategic planning and sustained investment, China has solidified its leadership in renewable energy and artificial intelligenceachievements underpinned by forward-looking policies and proactive governance. Amid escalating global uncertainties and instability, China's steadfast commitment to high-quality development ensures it remains an anchor of stability for the global economy, reinforcing its role as a reliable engine for global growth. Engineers debug a humanoid robot at the data collection training base of Miracle Automation in Wuxi city, east China's Jiangsu province. (People's Daily Online/Zhu Jipeng) As the global economy grows increasingly fragmentedmarked by rising unilateralism, protectionism, and resistance to economic globalizationhistorical lessons reaffirm that openness and collaboration remain the only path to shared prosperity. As a responsible major power, China remains unwavering in its support for the multilateral trade system and is committed to advancing inclusive economic globalization. Significant strides have been made in rebalancing the economy, evidenced by the current account surplus-to-GDP ratio stabilizing at approximately 1% a marked reduction from its peak of around 10% in 2007. Amid shifting global dynamics, China continues to champion openness and international cooperation, advocating for fair competition anchored in universally recognized rules. This approach safeguards the stability of global trade flows and industrial supply chains while fostering shared growth through mutually beneficial partnerships with nations worldwide. Oliver Zipse, chairman of the board of management of BMW Group, emphasized that tariff wars yield no victors, only losses. He reiterated confidence in China's economic trajectory and its strategic focus on deepening market engagement. BMW, he noted, is accelerating investments in localized production, R&D capabilities, and long-term partnerships with Chinese stakeholders to strengthen its foothold in this critical market. Development is the eternal theme of human society. China has consistently aligned its own development with global progress, steering economic globalization toward the right direction, practicing true multilateralism, and striving to serve as a force for stability and certainty in global peace and development. China remains committed to working with all parties to counter risks and challenges, achieving shared prosperity through collective efforts. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Du Mingming) Paschal Donohoe tells CNN all EU finance ministers agreed on need for 'unified' response to changing trade policy Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe has appeared on CNN to discuss the upcoming meeting between EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic and US president Donald Trump. Mr Donohoe has just completed chairing a meeting of EU Economic and Financial Affairs Ministers in Warsaw. He said: The tone that came out of our meeting in Warsaw was a commitment to engage with the United States, to bring certainty to global trade by trying to avoid a path of lower growth, less jobs and higher prices and a determination of all member states of the European Union to approach this negotiation in a unified way and engage in a way that reflects the scale of the economy of the European Union." The European Trade commissioner will travel to the US on Sunday to negotiate tariffs levels with president Trump. Mr Donohoe said: We are willing to engage with president Trump to identify an alternative trade arrangement to where we are at the moment that would cover off many parts of our economy and aim to find ways to lower barriers to trade." While Mr Donohoe did not reveal the propositions the negotiation team will bring forward, he did reference the need to define the status of VAT. He said: There are dangers engaging with negotiations in public given the sensitivity of these issues. But if you look at the issue of VAT, it is an important tax within the European Union and critically treats all goods the same. "I don't accept that VAT in someway differentiates between products that are created within the European Union and products that are brought into the European Union because they tax both of them in the same way." European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen has also spoken of the potential for the European Union to tax tech giants such as Meta, X and Facebooks revenue from digital advertising. In response to this Mr Donohoe said: We support the work commission is doing on our behalf, but these are potential countermeasures - we must do all we can to avoid these measures. "The commission has also referred to the need to respond back in a graduated, proportionate , careful manner. However, we must leave all measures on the table and they must be available to use if our negotiations turn out unsuccessful. "We want the negotiations to be successful but accept that in scenarios that things get even harder difficult measures must be considered." He added: I will not spare any effort in reaching an agreement. The EU is not the cause of the global uncertainty that we are now facing." Sarah O'Mahony Ex-partner of gun murderer proclaims innocence after jury convicts her of impeding investigation When the 12 jurors left the courtroom, Rachel Redmond (34) shouted from the dock: "I didn't do it though, I didn't do anything" Wayne Cooney, Jordan Davis and Rachel Redmond Alison O'Riordan Mon 31 Mar 2025 at 21:40 The ex-partner of "an extremely dangerous" killer who gunned down a young drug dealer on Dublin's northside proclaimed herself innocent this afternoon, despite a jury finding that she impeded the garda investigation by collecting the murderer from a bus stop just minutes after the shooting and later checking him into a hotel. A student who assaulted a man at an anti-immigrant protest has been told by a judge to bring his forthcoming Leaving Cert results to court to show he was making progress. At Ennis District Court, Judge Alec Gabbett said he would finalise the case of Ross Culligan (20), of Connolly Villas, Ennis, Co Clare, in September after the results were handed out. Overnight I lost my reputation and now they are playing for time in the hope I die comedian Sil Fox (92) on suing the State Veteran entertainer launched High Court proceedings against the Director of Public Prosecutions, the Garda Commissioner, the Justice Minister, the Government and the Attorney General after he was wrongly accused of sexual assault Comedian Sil Fox, who recently fractured his spine, says he will keep fighting for justice until the last breath leaves his body. Photo: Johnny Brew Paul Williams Mon 31 Mar 2025 at 03:30 Comedian Sil Fox, who is suing the State after being wrongly accused of sexually assaulting a fan, has accused the State of playing for time in the hope that I die soon and it goes away. What its like to become a millionaire in your 20s: The biggest challenge was the feeling of separation from people my age Widow of murdered mob boss Andy Connors told to demolish mobile homes or go to jail The court heard that Ann Connors, was in breach of court orders directing her to remove two chalets and four mobile homes An aerial view of 'The Ranch'. Inset: Ann Connors Ray Managh Mon 31 Mar 2025 at 16:35 The widow of murdered mob boss Andy Connors was told by a judge today that unless she demolishes and reinstates the grounds around an unauthorised chalet and mobile home development at Boherboy, Saggart, Co Dublin, she would be jailed. Ten arrested as almost 16,000 in cash and drugs seized in Cork raids A number of Rolex watches, a range of power tools and a new caravan were also recovered during the garda operation Cillian Sherlock Mon 31 Mar 2025 at 21:13 Ten people have been arrested during a large-scale garda operation in Cork Jobseekers can now apply for benefit worth up to 450 a week for three monthsPay-related parents benefit may be launched early next year, minister says Parents could see a new pay-related benefit early next year, following the roll-out of a scheme for jobseekers today. People who lose their jobs can now apply for jobseekers benefit worth up to 450 a week for three months, depending on their previous earnings. The rate falls gradually after this. The Government is now considering the introduction of more pay-related benefits including those targeting parents. A spokesperson for Social Protection Minister Dara Calleary said pay-related parents benefit is most likely to be introduced next. He said the ambition is to have it in place early next year. The timeline for that is looking like there will be a consultation in the coming months, and it may be part of the budget negotiation with a view to launching it early next year, he said. Mr Calleary said the roll-out of the jobseekers scheme and its success will be kept under review. Parents benefit is paid while you are on parents leave from work if you have enough social insurance (PRSI) contributions. It is worth 289 a week and paid to workers and the self-employed with young children. The payment allows them to take up to nine weeks off before their childs second birthday. The Government committed to introducing pay-related parents benefit in the Programme for Government. And a number of other pay-related benefits may be coming down the track. The Government is also examining the introduction of a pay-related carers benefit for people who have to give up work suddenly to provide full-time care for a loved one. It said it would explore other payments where a similar model could be applied in the Programme for Government. The Irish Congress of Trade Unions (Ictu) is calling for maternity and paternity benefits to be linked to salaries. A department spokesperson said it is exploring the roll-out of a pay-related model to other benefit schemes, including those supporting parents, as set out in the Programme for Government. The experience from the implementation of the Jobseekers Pay-Related Benefit scheme will assist in the development and roll-out of the model across other schemes as may be approved by Government, he said. Under the latest developments, jobseekers can now apply for benefit payments that are based on their previous pay. According to department officials, the scheme is designed to better insulate people who become unemployed from the income shock of moving from an average income of about 800 a week after tax to a net income of 244 a week. It is available to those whose first day of unemployment is on or after March 31, once they have paid PRSI contributions for a certain number of years. The rate of payment is directly linked to a persons previous earnings and there is a maximum rate of 450 and minimum rate of 125 a week. For those who have paid PRSI for at least five years, it is set at 60pc of previous earnings up to a maximum of 450 for the first three months. The payment drops to 55pc of earnings, up to 375 a week, for the next three months, and then 50pc of earnings, capped at 300, for another three months. For those with lower contributions of between two and five years, the rate is up to 300 a week for six months. In an Instagram post, Mr Calleary said the new payment would help people at challenging times in their lives. We recognise the costs dont stop when youre made unemployed, he said. The move to a pay-related jobseekers payment aims to provide a more effective cushion against the income shock when a person loses their employment, according to briefing documents for the minister. The notes prepared by department officials said the scheme will ensure people with a strong work history receive a higher level of payment if they lose their job. Ictu social policy spokeswoman, Laura Bambrick said unions welcome todays move to strengthen the social safety net for workers. Up to now, she said, they have been left to face a collapse in income and living standards after losing their jobs. She said that seven in 10 people will get a new job within three months of losing their old job. For us, this must just be the beginning of a shift toward a more European-style social insurance system, she said, adding that pay-related family leave benefits must be next. It is encouraging that the Programme for Government includes a commitment to move from paying parents benefit at a flat 289 rate to a pay-related payment, and to explore extending to maternity, paternity and carers benefit. She said unions have stressed the link between a low payment rate for family leave benefits and a low take-up by men. If we are serious about closing the gender pay and pensions gaps, we have to remove the financial barriers for men to do a fairer share of caring for their babies and other family members in need of care, she said. Penneys boss Paul Marchant resigns after allegations of inappropriate behaviour towards woman Penneys boss steps down over allegation about behaviour towards a woman Henry Saker-Clarke Mon 31 Mar 2025 at 12:07 The boss of Primark, which trades as Penneys in Ireland, has resigned after an allegation over his behaviour towards a woman. Taoiseach Micheal Martin has highlighted the importance of Irish food, drink and pharmaceutical industries during a call with European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen as the threat of US president Donald Trumps tariffs looms large over the EU. Mr Martin said that there had been a useful and constructive call with Ms von der Leyen, 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 exports. Mr Trump and US 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 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. She said the EU would continue to protect its workers and its own interests, but it was braced for further announcements this week. Tanaiste Simon Harris issued an appeal for calm and measured EU co-operation before the expected tariffs announcement. Mr Harris is due to hold calls with Dutch trade minister Reinette Klever and Danish foreign minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen this morning. The Tanaiste who is also Foreign Affairs, Trade and Defence Minister will also host Croatian foreign minister Gordan Grlic-Radman in Dublin this afternoon. He is expected to emphasise the importance of the EU working closely together in a calm, strategic and measured fashion while continuing to engage positively with the US. 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, he will say. Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe has 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. However, yesterday, 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, theres a huge amount of uncertainty surrounding April 2. We dont know, as of this point in time, what the shape or form of the package will be, he said. 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 did not expect pharma companies to move out of Ireland as a result of tariffs. Theyre not telling me they will. So I want to put that firmly on the record, he added. Secondly, in relation to the market, if you look in terms of the pharma footprint that we have here, about 96bn 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 thats where we need to be very strong. Gardai and emergency services at the scene of the Cork crash A woman who was one of two people killed in a two-car crash in Cork on Sunday was on her way home after visiting her mother on Mothers Day, it has emerged, as the weekend death toll on the roads rose to four. Two women died and two children were injured after the collision in Cork on the N72 Mallow-Killarney road on Sunday. Both deceased were the drivers of the vehicles involved in the incident on the Navigation Road a short distance from Cork Racecourse. Gardai and emergency services at the scene of the Cork crash Today's News in 90 seconds - 31st March 2025 The two women have been named locally as Mary Coughlan (63) from King's Square in Mitchelstown, Co Cork and Susan O'Sullivan (41) from Beechwood Park in Mallow, Co Cork. Ms O'Sullivan was on her way from a Mother's Day visit to her own mother when the tragedy occurred near the junction with the Drommahane Road, less than 4km from Mallow town. Two children, aged eight and five years, were also injured in the collision. Both were taken to Cork University Hospital (CUH) for treatment of serious but non-life threatening injuries. One child is understood to have suffered serious leg injuries and undergone surgery. Their father is maintaining a vigil by their hospital bedside. Ms OSullivans maiden name was Heelan, and she originally came from Boherbue in Cork. Her family are well known and respected for being hard-working people. Local sources said Ms OSullivan worked with the homeless as a social worker and had been promoted in the position just last week. Local councillor Bernard Moynihan paid tribute to her. The whole community of Duhallow and north Cork is shocked by her tragic death and our sympathies are with her hard working and lovely family, he said. They are exceptional people, and decent people, and her loss is a tragedy for her family and the community in which she worked, he added. Councillor Tony O'Shea said the entire north Cork area was left shocked by the loss of life. "It is horrific - the entire area is numb. The thoughts and prayers of everyone are with the families involved," he said. Councillor Patrick Hayes admitted the local community was reeling from the Mother's Day tragedy. "Everyone is shocked by the loss of life involved," he said. "All we can do is keep the families in our thoughts and hope that all those injured make a full recovery." Weather conditions described as clear at the time in Mallow with good visibility. Local parish priest Fr Jim Kennelly said the crash has devastated the area. There is a gloom over the whole place. It is really tough here, especially for it to happen on Mothers Day. Its a terrible tragedy, he said. Gardai have conducted a full forensic examination of the scene and have appealed for anyone who witnessed the collision or who may have passed the area in a vehicle equipped with a dash-cam to contact them. Four women have died in three separate road traffic tragedies in the space of just 48 hours. The latest fatality involved a pedestrian in her 30s who lost her three-day battle for life after she was seriously injured in a road traffic collision on Friday. Her deaths bring to 40 the number of people who have died on Irish roads so far this year. It is 15 deaths fewer than the total number of deaths (55) for the same period last year. The young woman was injured following a collision on the N76 at Westcourt Demesne, Callan, Co Kilkenny around 9pm last Friday. She was rushed to St Luke's Hospital in Kilkenny but died early on Monday from her injuries. Kilkenny Gardai have appealed to anyone who was on the N76 at the time between 8.45pm and 9.15pm last Friday to contact them. Meanwhile, the woman in her 60s who died after a three-vehicle collision in Waterford on Mother's Day is understood to be a Polish national. The collision occurred on the N25 at Moonameen, Co Waterford at 2.10pm on Sunday. The deceased was a passenger in one of the vehicles. Despite desperate attempts to assist her, she was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver and passenger of the second car, a man and woman in their 50s, were conveyed to University Hospital Waterford (UHW) for treatment of serious but non-life threatening injuries. The driver of the third car, a woman in her 60s, was brought by air ambulance to Cork University Hospital for treatment of serious but non-life threatening injuries. Local councillor John Pratt said everyone in west Waterford was left shocked by the road traffic tragedy. "She (the deceased) would be well known to lots of people in the community. Obviously it is a shock. It is terrible. It is another family that is left distraught. It affects the extended family and community as well, he said. Scout master who abused 10 boys walks free after less than four years One complainant said that the bar was an attraction in the home and that Barry gave youths in the scout troop alcohol before abusing them David Barry. Picture: Provision Patrick O'Connell Mon 31 Mar 2025 at 10:20 Former scout master David Barry has been freed from prison after serving just three years and nine months for the sexual abuse of 10 boys. We need to talk about suicide more openly we have to talk about it in order to prevent it When Sharon Ledwith lost her beloved brother Colin to suicide, she was devastated and it took her many years to come to terms with her loss. She is now passionate about raising awareness of mental health and suicide prevention Sharon Ledwith: I was dealing with life the best I could, but I was just going through the motions. Photo: Ray Ryan Erin McCafferty Mon 31 Mar 2025 at 03:30 Sharon Ledwith will never forget receiving a phone call in 2001, just seconds after shed been informed that her brother, Colin, who was just 18 at the time, had died by suicide. Somebody rang me and asked if it was true, but Id had no time to process the news, says the now 44-year-old grief counsellor and hypnotherapist, from Athenry, Co Galway. For years afterwards, I would panic every time the phone rang. Even now, when the phone rings, it fills me with dread Another mojito, madam?' My solo trip to an adult-only resort made of Crete dreams Why not jet off without the endless WhatsApps about where or when or with whom? The Nema Design Hotel & Spa is the location of (Deirdre's) dreams Deirdre Reynolds Mon 31 Mar 2025 at 03:30 Twos company - but, bathed in glittery sunshine while cradling an ice-cool cocktail and people-watching by the pool, Ive learned that one can be even better. David W Higgins: Irelands economy is heading for a tariff-shaped iceberg, but heres why we can stay afloat The Titanic sank because too many of its compartments flooded but the impact of Trumps tariffs on Ireland should be limited enough to prevent disaster Irelands economy is bracing for impact this week with tariff announcements expected. David W Higgins Mon 31 Mar 2025 at 17:00 On the night of April 14, 1912, the Titanic sailed through the north Atlantic on its maiden and final voyage. The Belfast-built cruise liner had stopped at Southampton, Cobh and Cherbourg days earlier. Having gathered more than 2,200 passengers and crew, Irish among them, it was heading at pace towards New York. The funding, confirmed by Minister for Housing James Browne includes 111 million for the construction of over 1,300 new social homes and 325 million for the Second-Hand Social Housing Acquisitions Programme, which supports purchases such as Tenant-in-Situ homes for families at risk of homelessness. Fine Gael TD for Cork North West John Paul OShea said 234 new social homes will be delivered in Cork as part of the national funding initiative. Substantial funding will address the urgent social housing needs across the country said Deputy OShea. The challenges are real and the demand is urgent, but we are committed to delivering real and practical solutions to increase housing supply. The Cork TD continued: The funding announced for Cork, where 234 new social homes will be built is a vital part of our ongoing efforts to address housing shortages across the country. The delivery of these new homes in Cork will be facilitated by an investment of 35 million ensuring that local communities have the necessary resources to address housing needs, he added. Deputy OShea also highlighted the 325 million being allocated to the second-hand social housing acquisitions programme, aimed at speeding up the provision of homes for those in urgent need. Alongside new builds, we are also prioritising the acquisition of second-hand homes, enabling local authorities like Cork County and City Council to quickly bring additional homes into the social housing stock. This strategy is about acting swiftly to address immediate housing needs in Cork, said Deputy OShea. Mr OShea said the funding will also support initiatives that help prevent homelessness, with a focus on tenant-in-situ acquisition. It will support the most vulnerable, including older people, those with disabilities, and those transitioning from homelessness services. We will continue to pursue every avenue to increase the supply of homes and provide practical solutions for families, ensuring that more people in Cork will be able to live in affordable, sustainable homes in the years ahead, added Deputy OShea. They are due before Cork District Court this morning Two men, aged in their 30s and 40s, have been charged in connection with a major drugs operation across Cork city. Its part of an ongoing operation, led by Gardai, into a major criminal gang with ties to Eastern Europe, involved with the sale and distribution of heroin around the city, which has been ongoing for the past several years. This morning, Gardai have confirmed that another man in his 30s has been charged and is due to appear before court this morning, while another man in his 40s has also been charged. Meanwhile, a female in her 40s was arrested last Saturday afternoon (March 29), and is currently being detained under Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act at a Garda station in the city. Last Friday (March 28), 38-year-old Aleksandras Kuznecovas and 36-year-old Jonas Pavilionis, both of Lithuanian nationality and of no fixed abode, were denied bail by Judge Mary Dorgan, and remanded in custody to appear again before Cork District Court via video link on Wednesday, April 2. Mr Kuznecovas faces three charges under the Misuse of Drugs act, while Mr Pavilionis was charged under section 3 and 15 of the Misuse of Drugs act, and section 9 of the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act. Daragh Fleming says that boys are being encouraged to resist change A leading Cork-based mens mental health campaigner says that the hit Netflix show Adolescence has shone a light on how toxic male influencers are manipulating young boys views on the world by weaponising an innate human resistance to change. Daragh Fleming is an author, writer, poet, performer and award-winning mental health blogger, whose latest collection of essays A Brief Inhalation releases today. Fleming took up his work following the death by suicide of a close friend at 18 and says that teenage boys are vulnerable to the challenges of a rapidly changing society and social media space. He says that influencers like Andrew Tate are creating a space where young men arent challenged to rethink their masculinity and instead are encouraged to double down on traditionally held beliefs. Art paints a picture of a thousand words, Daragh Fleming said about the series, produced and starring Stephen Graham. Social media is so complex now, and the information youre getting, the different influencers both good and bad youre getting all of it. For adults its completely overwhelming, so I can only imagine its at least double if not triple that for kids, and then not having the critical thought capacity, because the brains arent developed, and they dont know how to disseminate between whats good and bad information. And thats how you have your Andrew Tates and your Conor McGregors, having such a pull on these kids, because theyre saying things that are interesting and curious, and maybe re-affirming certain things, if you learn in boyhood naturally can be dangerous. The last stat I read on the reach of Adolescence is that it has been the top show in 79 countries for a number of weeks. This is resonating in more places that just the UK, Ireland, or the States. This is something thats meaningful and impactful and harrowing across the world. We have our own battles here specifically in Ireland with people like McGregor, who is being backed by the likes of Tate, who are forming this cohort of male role models who effectively manipulate boys into seeing the world a certain way. The reason I think those types of people have quite a hold on young men is because, for the last 20 years weve entered this phase of transition where were encouraging men to reflect on masculinity and what that means, and what their definition of a man is. Were encouraging men to embrace their emotions, process their emotions, and allowing them to be vulnerable, which is positive change. But its change nonetheless, and change makes people very uncomfortable. The reason why the likes of Tate and McGregor have such a hold on young men is because theyre saying dont change. Embrace the traditionally held beliefs around masculinity, you can be the same, you can talk about your emotions, its actually weak if you talk about your emotions. Theyre really embracing this sense of you dont have to grow as a person, you can just be the same. I think that is a sense of comfort for young people. Fleming also pointed out how the me too movement, where women have been encouraged to stand up and speak out about sexual assault, can also make some men feel threatened. I was talking to a girl called Molly (Smith) from The Healing Gals Podcast, and it came up that often when these conversations come up, when women talk about sexual assault or domestic violence, that they have to condition all of that conversation by saying well Im not talking about all men. Because as soon as men comes into the conversation, a certain cohort of men get their backs up and feel threatened because they think youre saying all men are bad, which is not whats going on. If a woman is saying negative stuff about men because of sexual assault or domestic violence, and you feel threatened by that, I feel like that tells me that you need to reflect inwards and ask why do I feel threatened by this? Fleming himself was a victim of a sexual crime, when nude pictures he shared privately to whom he believed to be a female, were then used in an attempt to extort money from the Cork native. That story, and many more, are included in his new essay collection A Brief Inhalation. My last book Lonely Boy was a collection of essays all about mental health, but this new book is much broader than that, explained Fleming about his sixth publication. Its an exploration of life, and the different experiences we have. It covers scary situations, times where we feel threatened, but also the lighter side of life, and the bizarre or funny interactions we have. I have everything from the time I got blackmailed to nudes, to emails I got from people claiming to be the Illuminati and trying to recruit me! My writing, for most of my career, has been to enforce this idea that youre never going through something alone. Although we live in a world where individuality is being pushed and we all feel isolated, we are in this together, despite how it feels. Daragh will be launching his latest book A Brief Inhalation at Waterstones in Cork at 6.30pm on Tuesday April 15. Historic buildings in Macroom and Castletownbere will receive conservation funding through the Historic Towns Initiative 2025. The Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr Joe Carroll has welcomed Heritage Council grants totalling 450,000 for conservation works on two historic buildings in Cork County. Cork County Council successfully applied for funding for Macroom Castle Gate Lodge and St Peters Church, Castletownbere through the Historic Towns Initiative 2025. Macroom Castle Gate Lodge has been awarded 200,000 towards sensitive restoration and conservation works to weatherproof the structure for the future. Located in the heart of Macrooms main square, the Gate Lodge is of significant culture and historical importance to the local community and is a symbol of the town. St Peters Church is set to receive 250,000 to refurbish and preserve the building, transforming it into a dedicated community centre. The former Church of Ireland facility dates back to 1841 and was acquired by the Castletownbere Development Association in 2018. Mayor Carroll said the two buildings are of great architectural and historical interest. The works being undertaken are a wonderful example of heritage-led regeneration delivering for and enhancing our county towns. I would like to acknowledge the significant community investment and effort in both towns, in particular Castletownbere Development Association, whose vision to acquire St Peters Church to develop a community centre will soon come to fruition. A flagship heritage attraction could be created in Macroom Castle Gate Lodge and I look forward to Cork County Council and Macroom Castle Demesne working together to achieve this in the years to come, he added, The Historic Towns Initiative is a joint undertaking by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and the Heritage Council which aims to promote the heritage-led regeneration of Irelands historic towns. Kanturk became the second Cork town to avail of the policy last year, as Skibbereen did the year prior. Kanturk Tidy Towns group pictured in front of the derelict building (formerly Isobel's) and former library (both rear right) street on Main Street. Photos by Sheila Fitzgerald Kanturk Tidy Towns association photographed outside the derelict former library in the town. The plan for Kanturks inclusion in the Town Centre First scheme has been completed and should be launched by the end of this summer, in a welcome move set to help rejuvenate the appearance of the town. In welcoming the news, Fine Gael TD John Paul OShea acknowledged the frustrations of Kanturk locals who have yet to see the benefits of the Town Centre First scheme come to fruition. Town Centre First is a cross-government policy that aims to tackle vacancy, combat dereliction and breathe new life into town centres across Ireland. Kanturk became the second Cork town to avail of the policy last year, as Skibbereen did the year prior. The plan was launched late last year and there was a big consultation phase to get the views of the public in, Mr OShea said. Now, that has been completed, and the plan is being created and should be launched by the end of the summer. We should have a similar plan to Skibbereen. We are waiting for the plans to be published, and there will be some recommendations and follow-ups from that then, he continued. Dereliction has blighted Kanturk for decades, and the Chairperson of Kanturk Tidy Towns Eddie Walsh said some properties along the Main Street have been derelict for almost 40 years. We have a few derelict sites in town and the first place that comes to mind always is Isobels on Main Street, it was a sweet shop apparently. That has been derelict for almost as long as Ive been in town, and thats almost 40 years. Its an eyesore really, Mr Walsh said. The Kanturk Tidy Towns painted the derelict building recently, but Mr Walsh said it looks awful from the side view, especially for citizens and visitors. Speaking of the Town Centre First scheme, Mr Walsh said the feeling locally is the scheme has gone dead. We have been selected as a town in county Cork for Town Centre First. Skibbereen has it as well, but we were selected last year. This is not strictly about dereliction, but it would be part of it. Citizens of the town have made 300 submissions regarding this scheme but its kind of gone dead. We would be hoping to get much more out of it, he added. Mr OShea said a huge amount of work has been done on dereliction in the town and owners of the derelict buildings have a duty to respond with their plans for the premises. There are very visible signs of dereliction notices being put up on buildings over the last couple of months and the owners of those buildings have a duty to respond to the council and outline what their plans are for that. There has been huge engagement in the last number of weeks and work has started on two properties in particular. While the progress might appear to be slow there is a lot of work going on in the background, he concluded. Cian O'Callaghan, Sarah Kelleher, Louise Cremin, and David O'Donnell of Cool Running Events pictured at the CBA Presidents Dinner and Cork Business of the Year Awards at Corks Vienna Woods. 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. Cork Business Association (CBA) Executive Team pictured at the CBA Presidents Dinner and Cork Business of the Year Awards at Corks Vienna Woods. Photos: Joleen Cronin Kilkenny Design captured the top honour at the Cork Business of the Year Awards which were held at Vienna Woods Hotel on Saturday, March 29. Cork Business Association (CBA) announced the winners of its prestigious Cork Business of the Year Awards, with Kilkenny Design taking home the top honour of the evening. 12 additional awards were presented, celebrating the outstanding contributions of businesses and organisations that drive Cork's commercial, cultural, and community spirit. The event took place at the CBA President's Dinner at Vienna Woods Hotel where guests were treated to a stunning taste of Cork chef collaboration dinner. On the night Taoiseach Micheal Martin and European Commissioner Michael McGrath made keynote speeches to more than 350 people in Cork's business community. Matt Cooper acted as the MC and the charity partner was Parentline. The winners were: Cork Business of the Year: Kilkenny Design Business Champion of Cork: Dino Cregan Best VFI Pub: Costigan's 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 O'Connell Fishmongers Best Cafe: Ruairi's Kitchen Best Restaurant: Farmgate Cafe Best Family Business: Neville Jewellers Best New Business: RHEA Funeral Care Sustainable Business Innovation: Old Oak The Cork Business of the Year Awards shine a spotlight on innovation, customer service, employee commitment, community engagement, sustainability, and growth while honouring the owner/managers and teams who make Cork City a dynamic and vibrant hub for business. They were independently judged by a panel of Cork City business and civic leaders, including Lord Mayor Cllr Dan Boyle, Deirdre Cole (Failte Ireland), Dr Niall O'Keeffe (Local Enterprise Office Cork City), Evelyn O'Sullivan (Visit Cork), Alan Healy (Irish Examiner), Martin O'Brien (JCD Group), Terence McSweeney (Elis), and CBA President Dave O'Brien (Xeinadin). Taoiseach Micheal Martin said: "These awards showcase the passion and dedication of Cork City's thriving business community, recognising businesses that demonstrate outstanding leadership, customer service, and innovation. I would like to congratulate all the winners and nominees for their achievements." CBA President Dave O'Brien added: "The winners were selected through a rigorous evaluation process, ensuring they meet the highest standards of excellence in their respective fields. 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 Cork's economy and culture." Images of how the outside of the swimming pool in Balbriggan might look. Pic: Fingal Co Co The 10m swimming pool will be a six-lane, 25-metre pool. Pic: Fingal Co Co Fingal County Council has announced plans to build a new 10m public swimming pool in Balbriggan. Located on the north Dublin coast, Balbriggan holds the distinction of being the countrys youngest large town, with an average age of just 33.6 years, according to the latest census data. The six-lane, 25-metre pool will be located at Castlelands, south of the town centre, and has now entered the preliminary design and planning stages. It is expected that the planning application will be submitted by the end of this year, with construction potentially beginning by the end of 2026, subject to securing funding. The new swimming pool will include a changing village, reception area with a cafe, and a viewing gallery. It will be situated south of the Link Road, opposite the site of a proposed new school. An integrated design team, led by UK-based ReCreation, has already developed preliminary plans for the facility. The project is part of Fingal County Councils broader 54-57m Our Balbriggan Rejuvenation Programme, aimed at transforming the town and addressing the needs of its diverse, growing population. The 10m swimming pool will be a six-lane, 25-metre pool. Pic: Fingal Co Co The call for a public swimming pool was highlighted in a 2019 survey by Balbriggan.ie, which sought to prioritise developments for the towns future. This was further reinforced by a 2024 study that reached out to local teenagers, emphasising the demand for such a facility. Dr David Begg, Chairperson of the Our Balbriggan Leadership Group, which oversees Fingal County Councils Our Balbriggan Rejuvenation Programme, welcomed the announcement. As we know, Balbriggan is home to one of the youngest, fastest growing and most diverse populations in Ireland, he said. There is an unmatched determination across the community of Balbriggan to build a bright future for the area and this initiative will assist in doing just that. This project is a symbol of the progress being made in Balbriggan - informed and shaped by the community - and which will provide a well-designed public facility for people to not only enjoy, but feel proud of, he added. Images of how the outside of the swimming pool in Balbriggan might look. Pic: Fingal Co Co AnnMarie Farrelly, Chief Executive of Fingal County Council, described the facility as a major step forward in the towns ongoing transformation. Fingal County Council has long been aware of the need for a public swimming pool in Balbriggan, she said. We will plan well to deliver a very significant facility for the people of the town and surrounding areas. The announcement is another significant milestone in our ambition to redevelop Balbriggan and represents further significant investment in the town by Fingal County Council, she added. In addition to the new indoor swimming pool, Fingal County Council is also exploring the possibility of a tidal swimming pool for the area, though that project is expected to take five to seven years to complete. The council commissioned a 50,000 feasibility study for the coastal pool in 2022, but further reports and environmental studies are needed before a clear timeline can be established. TD calls on Transport Minister to fast-track plans for extending Luas to Ringsend and Irishtown A TD has called for the expansion of the Luas to Ringsend and Irishtown. Photo: Getty It would be madness not to integrate a Luas extension into Dublin Ports 3FM expansion project, it has been claimed. The 3FM project is a 1.1bn development plan, which includes a new bridge over the River Liffey as part of a wider strategy to improve infrastructure and essential transport links. Fine Gael TD James Geoghegan has highlighted a once-in-a-generation opportunity arising from this project. He believes it opens up the potential integration of a Luas extension into the bridges construction, which could connect Ringsend and Irishtown to the wider transport network. Deputy Geoghegan said the Minister for Transport must fast-track plans for the extension of the Luas Red Line from the Point through Ringsend and Irishtown. We need some common sense and joined-up thinking when it comes to delivering public transport in Dublin, he said. A major new bridge is already planned as part of Dublin Ports 3FM expansion, with construction expected to begin by 2027. It would be madness not to integrate the Luas extension into this project rather than trying to retrofit a solution years later at a far greater cost to the taxpayer. The Southern Port Access Route (SPAR), a key element of the 3FM plan, will provide a crucial new link across the Liffey and presents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to deliver the Luas extension in a cost-effective and efficient manner. We know that up to 10,000 more people will be moving into the Poolbeg area in the coming years. Infrastructure must come first, not last, and the Minister should act now to ensure taxpayers arent footing a far higher bill down the line when this extension inevitably has to be built anyway, he added. He also highlighted that the expansion of the Luas in this direction would provide a key transport connection to Heuston Station. Transport Minister Darragh O'Brien It would also be a short walk from the Grand Canal Dock Dart station, enhancing overall connectivity across the city, which aligns with Dublin City Councils overall City Centre Transport Plan. Although the 3FM project, which includes the proposed new bridge over the River Liffey, has been outlined as part of Dublin Ports development plans, it has not yet been approved. The project is currently undergoing the necessary planning and approval processes, with Dublin Port Company awaiting final decisions on the extensive infrastructure improvements, including the Southern Port Access Route. In 2024, the Luas was set to surpass 50 million passengers for the first time, marking a significant milestone in its 20-year history. This growth reflects the increasing demand for the light rail service, which has expanded significantly since its inception in 2004 and now spans 43km with 67 stops across Dublin. The next major expansion will be the extension of the Green Line to Finglas, with work currently under way on its final design. This is part of broader plans to continually enhance the Luas network, which is seen as a key component of the Greater Dublin Area Transport Strategy. A spokesperson for Dublin Port said: The Southern Port Access Route (SPAR) bridge will provide a dedicated transport route for heavy goods vehicles accessing the South Port directly to and from the Port Tunnel, whilst also including active travel. This will remove heavy goods traffic from the Tom Clarke (East Link) bridge and improve public traffic flows across it. The SPAR bridge has been designed in consultation with the NTA so that it can be easily modified in the future to facilitate the potential extension of the LUAS from The Point to the Poolbeg Peninsula - should the NTA choose such a route. This planning application is currently before An Bord Pleanala, they added. The Department of Transport has been contacted for comment. Tributes have flowed for Galway crime writer Ken Bruen who died at the weekend, with the author being remembered as a pioneer. The 74-year-old was well known for his large repertoire of hardboiled and noir crime stories, many of which are set in the west of Ireland. The Trinity College alumnus passed away on Saturday evening, March 29, leaving the Irish literary community heartbroken. His popular Jack Taylor series was previously adapted into a TV series which was largely filmed in Galway. Another of his popular novels, London Boulevard, was adapted into a 2001 film starring Colin Farrell. Bruen has been remembered as a pioneer and a great friend by Charlie Brynes Bookshop in Galway city, who paid tribute to him in a heartfelt social media post on Sunday. We were shocked and saddened at Charlie Byrnes to hear the news that our great friend and pioneering Irish crime writer, Ken Bruen, died last evening, they said. Ken, the author of the series featuring iconic Galway detective, Jack Taylor, has been a great friend of the shop since we first opened our doors in 1989. He was a great crime writer, (over 45 novels over a prolific career) and a great and generous encourager of younger talent. He will be sadly missed. RIP Ken. Our sympathies to his wife and lifetime companion, Phil and his cherished daughter, Grace. Meanwhile Irish-American poet Susan Millar DuMars added her own tribute, saying: Ive just heard of the death of Galway-based author Ken Bruen. What a great loss. Kevin and I got to work with him a good few times through OTE, and on each project he managed to do something surprising and joyful and supportive of our community. We started out in awe of him and wound up pretty much adoring him. Kevin was so honoured when Ken quoted one of his poems in a Jack Taylor novel. Ken was a great talent, an original, and a good man. May he rest in peace. Follow Independent Galway on Facebook He is survived by his wife Phyl Kennedy and daughter Grace. His funeral details are as follows: Reposing in Irwins Funeral Home, Bothar Irwin, on Wednesday April 2 from 5:30pm. Removal at 7:30pm to St. Patricks Church, Forster Street. Kens Requiem Mass will take place on Thursday April 3 at 12 noon. Funeral afterwards to The New Cemetery Bohermore. One of the worlds leading health data platform companies is set to make its mark in Ireland as the company opens a base in Galway. Health information technology giant Datavant has today announced its expansion with the opening of its global R&D centre in Galway city centre. The company plans to initially hire up to 125 people at its Global Development Centre in Galway by the end of 2027 with recruitment already under way and a range of diverse engineering roles now open. Datavant Ireland will be working out of the Portershed initially with plans to open a city centre location before the end of the year. The project is supported by the Irish Government through IDA Ireland. Datavant CEO Kyle Armbrester made the announcement at an event in Galways Portershed this morning, March 31, which was attended by Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment Peter Burke T.D. and IDA CEO Michael Lohan. Members of Datavants Executive Leadership Team also in attendance include Matt Vail, Chief Technology Officer; Arnaub Chatterjee, General Manager and President of Life Sciences, Ecosystem and Public Sector; and Susan Yun, Chief People Officer. The company is also announcing the appointment of its new Vice President, Engineering and Galway Technical Lead, Ciaran OToole, who will be based out of the Galway office. Ciaran will lead the effort to build the Datavant engineering team in Ireland with a focus on building the companys life sciences technology roadmap and integration with the enterprise technology organisation. Prior to joining Datavant, Ciaran was VP of Software Engineering for Globalization Partners, a Boston-based global recruitment and talent company, where he led the build-out of the companys Irish engineering team and launched its Galway site. Throughout his career, Ciaran has worked on building out and maintaining multifunctional, high-performing engineering teams. Datavant is the world leader in secure, compliant healthcare data exchange and has more than 8,000 employees. It is making the worlds health data secure, accessible and actionable. Datavants vast and diverse health data exchange in the U.S. serves as a network of networks, enabling seamless, privacy-preserving data exchange between life sciences, payers, and providers through its platform. By connecting disparate patient-level datasets EHRs, claims data, lab results, clinical trial data, consumer data, social determinants of health data, and more in a privacy-compliant manner, Datavant helps each stakeholder in healthcare unlock insights and opportunities that werent previously possible. Datavant's new Irish-based Global Development Centre will support the companys overall global development approach to product development and will operate as an integrated part of Datavants tech and product development team. The decision to create a Global Development Centre outside of the U.S. was influenced by a desire to tap into top tech talent and to follow around-the-clock productivity. Two of the key reasons why Datavant chose Galway specifically were because of the rich talent pool in Galway and Ireland especially highly-experienced people in the area of health tech and because of its proximity to Datavant customers in the EU. Hiring has already begun for the new roles which will initially be in engineering, the majority of which will focus on building Datavants Privacy and Linkage technologies to support its Life Sciences, Ecosystem and Public Sector business. The company is also recruiting for technology roles to support security and corporate systems. The Galway-based team will significantly expand upon Datavants established presence of UK-based professionals, including engineers, data scientists, privacy experts, and product management specialists. Minister for Enterprise Tourism and Employment, Peter Burke, T.D., congratulated Datavant on the opening of their R&D Centre in Galway, saying: This great news comes with plans to hire 125 people in Galway over the next two years and is another vote of confidence in the Government and IDAs Regional Development focus. Recruitment is already underway for engineering roles and with the West Region strongly supported by third level education providers, the University of Galway (UG), and the Atlantic Technological University (ATU), there will be an abundance of qualified professionals available for the roles. A highly-skilled workforce is one of the features that make Ireland an attractive location for Mobile FDI. On behalf of the Irish Government, I would like to thank Datavant for choosing Ireland and I wish the Datavant team the very best with the important work they will undertake in the years ahead. Datavant CEO Kyle Armbrester says: At Datavant, we are solving one of the biggest challenges in healthcare fragmented data. Data is hard to move, protect and use because across life sciences, payers and providers, critical insights remain siloed in a fragmented healthcare system. This makes it difficult to create a full, real-time picture of patient and member health and results in inefficiencies, high costs and poor outcomes. Our platform securely and compliantly moves health data from where it sits to where it needs to be. Our new Global Development Centre in Galway is going to be a critical part of achieving our vision that every health decision is powered by the right data at the right time in the right format. We are excited to have Ciaran OToole come on board as our first team member in Ireland and look forward to a long and fruitful collaboration with him and the team in Ireland. Michael Lohan, CEO, IDA Ireland says: Datavants decision to open a Global Development Centre in Galway city is terrific news and exemplifies IDA Irelands success in winning new name investments in every region of Ireland. Datavants arrival to Galway, is a welcome addition to the regions established healthcare technology cluster. I welcome Datavant to Ireland and wish them every success. Datavant VP Engineering & Galway Technical Lead, Ciaran OToole, says: It is a great honour for me to be the first team member of Datavant in Ireland and I am looking forward to building a strong tech team here. Beyond 2027, we plan to continue to build out our Galway-based team with various technology roles and corporate functions in addition to technology. What Datavant is bringing to the Galway and Irish tech scene is incredible, especially at a time where the secure transfer of data is such a crucial component of an increasingly connected world. We are excited that the software we will be building here in Galway will be solving real-world problems and directly impacting healthcare decision-making globally. Kerry Sinn Fein Deputy slams government for postcode lottery system for home care. Over 1,000 people in Kerry and Cork are being denied access to essential home care services due to exorbitant waiting times. Thats according to Sinn Fein Deputy Pa Daly. He called on the government to address the issue citing the backlogs in the southwest as being among the worst in the country for home care waiting times. Deputy Daly referenced the publication of a new report for Home & Community Care Ireland that shows 1,018 people on a waiting list for home care in Kerry and Cork. He described as totally unacceptable a situation where people are left languishing on a waiting list for an essential service. Deputy Daly said this is not just impacting those on the list, but also friends and families who are left devastated by the backlogs as they must carry the burden of care that should be the responsibility of the state. I have seen just how devastating this can be up close. Too many of my constituents get in touch to express their deep frustration and desperation at this situation, Deputy Daly said. Despite having been approved months and months previously the home care they desperately need is still denied to them because Fianna Fail and Fine Gael fail to admit that their strategy is not working, he added. Deputy Daly explained that backlog in home care is reflective of the rural/Dublin divide. Those outside of Dublin are forced to wait five times as long as those in the capital. Parts of Dublin, Kildare and Wicklow have 33 per cent of Ireland's population but only eight per cent of the waiting list. Outside of Leinster, almost all counties face high waiting lists, he said. This postcode lottery clearly demonstrates that Fianna Fail and Fine Gaels policies are failing the people of rural Ireland, and Kerry in particular. As the only opposition TD in Kerry, I am calling on the four government supporting Kerry TDs, including two ministers, to address this situation and to reduce the numbers of people on waiting lists, Deputy Daly added. Two stranded dolphins successfully rescued in Co Mayo on Mothers Day A community in Co Mayo came together on Mothers Day to help successfully rescue two stranded common dolphins. On Sunday morning, two common dolphins an adult and a juvenile were found stranded in Carn, Belmullet on the Mullet Peninsula, Co Mayo. The Mullet peninsula is one of Irelands key hotspots for live stranding of pelagic common dolphins, along with Cloghane in Co Kerry. When locals saw the stranded dolphin in the little inlet across from them, they sprang to action. Thanks to Mary, who lives in the area and quickly googled what to do, the dolphins were kept cool and calm while help was on the way. The Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IWDG) was contacted, and the Live Stranding Coordinatorbased locallyborrowed a trailer, packed it with equipment, and headed straight to the scene. While enroute, word came in that there were actually two common dolphins, not just one. A number of local people assisted in the rescue. Photos: Mayo IWDG Thankfully, enough kit had been packedexperience has shown that strandings inside the peninsula often involve more than a single animal. With the tide still going out and the risk of re-stranding extremely high in that area, the decision was made to transport the adult and juvenile dolphin by road to Port Mor, at the southwest tip of the peninsula. This spot gave them immediate access to deep, open water and was sheltered from a heavy swell. A spokesperson for the IWDG Mayo branch expressed their appreciation too all who were involved in the rescue and said they were a tremendous help. "Malachy Gaughan, Callum Gaughan, Patrick Reidy, Micheal Shevlin, Sean Shevlin, Kellie Gaughan, Mary Kate Gaughan, Mary and Emer Quigley, Claire O'Boyle, Megan and Lilly O'Boyle, Mary Kate Fallon, Molly May and Bridget Smart, Anthony Padden, Allen Murray Ballyglass RNLI, Anthony Ballyglass Coast Guard Search and Drone Unit, Ronan Leonard and thanks to Belmullet Boat Charter, who assisted Gemma and Cillian in Port Mor with the refloat. Also, a special thank you to Cillian O Mongain for sharing his local surf knowledge and helpful advice on choosing a suitable and safe beach for today's surf conditions. It was a true team effort, and were so grateful to everyone who helped give these dolphins a second chance. The dolphin rescue in Co Mayo. Photos of the rescue were captured by Nora NI Mhongain, Malachy Gaughan, Mary Kate Fallon, Gemma OConnor. A spokesperson for the group explained that the dolphins were refloated in an area of deeper water. In areas like Carn, Belmullet, Elly bay or Tarmon, refloated dolphins would have to swim south along the inside of the peninsula to reach open Atlantic waters and after the stress of stranding, it's more likely they may get into further difficulty on the other shallow beaches along the peninsula. "That would have been close to a 15km swim, for two stressed dolphins. "Thats why, through years of experience on the Mullet peninsula and the same for Cloghane in Co Kerry, the IWDG volunteers now uses road transport with plenty of padding under the dolphins, to bring animals directly to deeper water, a method also used by IFAWs Marine Mammal Rescue team in Cape Cod. The decision was made to transport the adult and juvenile dolphin by road to Port Mor, at the southwest tip of the peninsula. The local group has been trying to raise funds for their own rescue trailer for the area for a while while they are also raising funds as part of an all Ireland project with University College Dublin to study the health of live stranded dolphins. The spokesperson continued, Sunday again highlights the need for a box trailer, ready packed with all our equipment so volunteers can quickly respond to live strandings in the Erris area. We're also raising funds as part of an all Ireland project with University College Dublin to study the health of live stranded dolphins by collecting blow samples from those unfortunate enough to be on our shore. "If you can help, even just pledge the price of a coffee, please do here." Every year, Mayo IWDG volunteers respond to live-stranded dolphins in hotspots along the Mullet Peninsula, working alongside dedicated community members who brave all conditions to help these animals. For more information on their fantastic work, visit iwdg.ie/ Bishop Doran being congratulated by Apostolic Nuncio His Excellency Most Rev Luis Mariano Montemayor after Bishop Doran was led to his chair during the Mass on Sunday. Pic John Mc Elroy. Bishop of Elphin Kevin Doran became responsible also for the Diocese of Achonry on Sunday following his installation as Bishop of the latter on Sunday at the Cathedral of the Annunciation and Saint Nathy, Ballaghaderreen, County Roscommon. Since Bishop Kevin Doran is already a bishop, he was installed rather than ordained. The installation liturgy took place during Mass for the Fourth Sunday of Lent. The installation liturgy also marked the moment when the Diocese of Achonry and the Diocese of Elphin were united in persona episcopi (in the person of the bishop). The principal celebrant and homilist was Bishop Doran. His Excellency, Archbishop Luis Mariano Montemayor, Papal Nuncio to Ireland, Archbishop Francis Duffy and Bishop Michael Duignan, were the principal concelebrants. Attendance also included bishops, clergy of the dioceses of Achonry and Elphin, and family members and friends of Bishop Doran. Every parish in the Diocese of Achonry had representatives present. There were also representatives from Catholic schools and various diocesan bodies and organisations in the Diocese of Achonry. Staff and representatives from the Diocese of Elphin were in attendance as were epresentatives of other Christian Churches. At the beginning of the Liturgy, Bishop Doran was greeted at the door of the Cathedral by Archbishop Francis Duffy, Metropolitan Archbishop of Tuam and Apostolic Administrator of Killala; Father Padraig Costello and the College of Consultors of the Diocese of Achonry; Father Paul Kivlehan, Administrator of the Cathedral; and Ms Sheelagh Dillon, Chairperson of the Castlemore and Kilcolman Parish Pastoral Council (the Cathedral Parish). The Apostolic Letter of Appointment from Pope Francis was read by the Diocesan Chancellor, Father Vincent Sherlock. Archbishop Francis Duffy invited Bishop Doran to take his place at the Cathedra (Chair). Bishop Kevin was then be entrusted with the Book of the Gospels. Following this, Bishop Doran was greeted by representatives of the clergy of the Diocese of Achonry, representatives of people from each of the clusters of the diocese, religious women, representatives from other Christian Churches and other members of the congregation. Mass then continued in the usual way. The chalice used during the celebration of the Eucharist dates from 1688. It was commissioned by Friar Anton McDonogh, in his capacity as Guardian of the Franciscan Friary in Ballymote. Despite Penal Laws, the chalice survived over the centuries and was found again in the priests house in Bellanagare, County Roscommon by Bishop Dominic Conway (Bishop of Elphin 1971 1994). Since then, it has been held in safe keeping by the Diocese of Elphin. On 16 February this year, Pope Francis appointed Bishop Doran as the 55th Bishop of Achonry in addition to being Bishop of Elphin. On Sunday he was installed as Bishop of Achonry with the two dioceses now united in persona episcopi. The Catholic population of Achonry is approx. 38,000, there are 34 priests in ministry, 2 permanent deacons and 23 parishes in the diocese. The Catholic population of Elphin is approx. 81,500, there are 60 priests in ministry, 7 permanent deacons and 38 parishes in the diocese. Bishop Kevin Doran was born in Dublin in 1953 and ordained a priest of the Archdiocese of Dublin in July 1977. During his thirty-six years as a Dublin priest, he served in six parishes around the diocese, as well as working in educational administration, university chaplaincy and in the accompaniment of candidates for ordained ministry. He was Secretary General of the 50th International Eucharistic Congress which was held in Dublin in 2012. He was appointed Bishop of Elphin in May 2014 and ordained Bishop on 13 July 2014. In his Homily, Bishop Doran said that over the past twelve months, he had begun to learn a bit more about the Diocese of Achonry, its history and its culture. I was particularly interested in the story of Saint Attracta. Growing up in the early part of the sixth century, as you know, she is associated with Killaracht, where she established a monastery and a pilgrim hostel. When she was still in her teens, she met with resistance when she discerned that she was called to religious life. In that challenging time, she went to stay close to the monastery at Drum, near Boyle in County Roscommon, where her brother Conal was the Bishop. This, for me, has become a symbol of the close connections between our two Dioceses of Achonry and Elphin, and of our shared tradition of faith. The preparatory document for the second session of the recent Universal Synod expresses this balance nicely, reminding us that: the gift of the Gospel is offered to people and communities living in particular times and places, not closed in on themselves but bearers of stories that must be recognised, respected, and opened to broader horizons. Without that openness, there is no possibility of mission. We have spent the past twelve months working more closely together and getting to know one another. Today, Pope Francis has, once again, given the Diocese of Achonry a Bishop. Today also, with the joining of our two dioceses in the person of the Bishop, we are a bit like the people of Israel crossing the River Jordan. We have entered into a new space, which presents us with all sorts of possibilities to grow together as the people of God. Looking back over the past year, we can see that many good things have happened: We have been listening to one another and learning from one another. We are joining together for our Diocesan pilgrimages to Lourdes, Rome and Knock. Our leadership teams are working more closely together. We have one Synodal team instead of two/ The people of Israel needed to put structures in place to enable them to live in the land that God had given them. They now had a place, but in another sense they were still called to be pilgrims from one generation to the next. In much the same way, we will need to review our structures to make sure that they are appropriate to the needs of the 21st Century, and of our new relationship. But we also need to remember that the whole reason for undertaking this journey is so that we can more effectively carry out the mission that is entrusted to us by Jesus himself. That mission is to turn our parishes into communities which, as well as baptising babies, form people to be life-long disciples. All our structures must serve that purpose. We need to have hearts for mission. Our parishes need to be communities of welcome, and not just service providers We need on-going formation in faith, and we cannot expect a life-time of discipleship to be sustained simply by what we have learnt at school. We need to find ways to facilitate the active involvement of young adults in the liturgical and pastoral life of the Church. We need to recognise the gifts of lay women and men, to invest in forming them for mission and ministry and to facilitate their full participation. We need to rediscover the social mission of the Church; the outreach to those who are on the margins, and the work of justice. We will continue to need priests for the Eucharist and for the celebration of the Sacraments Any bishop or priest who thought he had all the gifts necessary for this mission would be making a big mistake. Bishop Doran also asked for the prayers of parishioners. So, as I renew my commitment today to serve you, the people of our two dioceses, I ask your prayers and your practical support in being the bishop I am called to be. I thought it might be no harm, finally, to recognise that Moses himself never made it into the promised land. He only got a glimpse of it from Mount Nebo, on the far side of the Jordan. As Bishop of Achonry and Bishop of Elphin, I am delighted to be able to see the promised land, even if it is still a bit in the distance. While I look forward to finishing the job, that is really in Gods hands and in yours. The more important thing for all of us to remember is that, while Bishops come and go, it is the Spirit of God who leads us and if we walk with Jesus, we will eventually get to where God wants us to be. Karl Bonner, Cluster Manager Killybegs Marine Cluster, Katy McNeil, Head of Scottish Government Representation in Ireland, Teresa Hooks Regional Development Executive, Western Development Commission, Chris Thomson, Programme Director for Green Freeports at the Scottish Government, Patrick Makin Scottish Government Representation in Ireland, Emma Sheils, Scottish Development International, Anne McTernan Northwest Regional Enterprise Plan Manager, Allan Mulrooney CEO Western Development Commission Scotland is leading the charge in offshore wind, and at the Exploring Wind Connections: Ireland & Scotland event at the AIM Centre in Sligo, stakeholders from across the West and Northwest of Ireland heard how we can learn and collaborate. Hosted by the Western Development Commission (WDC) in partnership with the Scottish Government in Ireland Representation and the North-West Regional Enterprise Plan, the event brought together key regional actors including government departments, Udaras na Gaeltachta, the Northern and Western Regional Assembly (NWRA), Local Authorities, the Atlantic Technological University (ATU), Regional Skills Forum, private investors among others. The event, the first of its nature, explored how the West and North West of Ireland can seize the once-in-a-generation opportunity that offshore renewables present, taking inspiration from Scotlands experience. It focused on long-term planning and identified major areas for collaboration and alignment: policy, supply chain and infrastructure, education and skills development. Allan Mulrooney, CEO of the Western Development Commission, commented: Theres no doubt that the opportunity renewables and offshore wind in particular brings for Ireland, and especially the West, is once in a generation. However, constraints within our grid capacity, particularly in the North West, remain the main barrier to realising that opportunity. This isnt just about energy. Its about creating long-term, sustainable jobs, driving balanced regional development, and building community wealth. Its about planning for a region that can support its young people, offer them a future here, and add real value to the wider Irish economy. The event was about bringing the right people around the table from skills to infrastructure, from education to enterprise to learn from Scotland and begin planning in a coordinated way. The WDC is proud to play an orchestrating role in that, focused on long-term regional development. The day also explored supply chain and workforce needs, with insights from both Scottish and Irish contributors. As Ireland scales up its offshore wind ambitions, the West must be ready to train and retain welders, electricians, engineers and other key specialists, the gathering heard. ATU was part of the discussion around preparing the next generation of talent to power the green transition. Katy McNeil, Head of the Scottish Government Office Ireland, said: Scottish offshore wind directly employed an estimated 3,900 people in 2022, generating 5,242GWh of electricity, 15% of all renewable energy generation in Scotland. Scottish offshore wind had an estimated turnover of 4.2 billion in 2022. This event was a fantastic opportunity to connect with key agencies and stakeholders across the West of Ireland to explore shared challenges and opportunities. Under the bilateral agreement between our governments, there is a huge opportunity to work together to share learning, to align policy, and to plan for the long term. The scale of the opportunity for Ireland is vast, and by working together, Ireland can follow in Scotlands footsteps and shape a future that delivers jobs, investment, and real value for communities. The event marks the beginning of a continued engagement between the West and North West of Ireland and Scotland two peripherally located, but strategically aligned regions, ready to lead in renewables through cooperation, shared learning and regional ambition. After a challenging competition against eight other spelling enthusiasts, Teddy, a student at Gaelscoil Cnoc Na Re triumphed in the County Sligo final. Teddy will now represent County Sligo in the Provincial Spelling Bee in May. A keen reader, Teddy is currently enjoying The Percy Jackson Series. Celebrating its 12th year, the Eason Spelling Bee is a key part of Easons broader literacy initiative, designed to encourage and inspire children to develop their spelling and pronunciation skills. Over the years, the competition has fostered a greater appreciation for words, vocabulary growth, and self-confidence among participating children. Lisa OBrien, Group Head of E-Commerce and Marketing at Eason, commented: We are delighted to launch the 2025 Eason Spelling Bee with such talented children participating in County Sligo. They are a testament to the bright young minds of Ireland. We are confident that this year we will build on the success of 2024 and inspire communities to support their local schools and, especially, their spelling bees! The All-Ireland winning bee will secure a selection of books for their school library valued at 7,500, along with the coveted title of Eason Spelling Bee 2025 Champion. The winner will also receive a goodie bag filled with books worth 500. This year, over 450 schools nationwide will compete for this coveted prize. The Eason Spelling Bee team will travel across the country to host County Final Spelling Bees, followed by Provincial Spelling Bee contests. The champions from each province will then compete head-to-head in the All-Ireland Final Bee in June 2025, where the ultimate King or Queen Bee will be crowned. Hopes that McDonalds will open in New Ross moved a step closer last week after the company submitted additional documents to Wexford County Council. In early January Wexford County Council requested further information from the global fast food franchise in respect of its initial application. While the company had six months to fulfil this request it submitted the requested information on March 19. As it stands, the planning department within the council will now liaise with the relevant officials such as those from the departments of roads and environment as the newly submitted information includes: a revised site layout showing the required sightlines; the proposed entrance with consideration of traffic volumes; surface water design; a nature-based surface water plan, and a valid Irish Water Confirmation of Feasibility for the proposed mains water and wastewater connection. Should the application be granted, the site for the family restaurant will be located at Portersland Ring Road roundabout on the outskirts of New Ross town. The development plans include a single storey drive-thru restaurant with a car park to accommodate for accessible parking, EV parking and bicycle parking. An outdoor seating area with parasols is also planned while the entry of the premises will see a dedicated right turn lane with footpath works and a pedestrian crossing accommodated for. Following a review of the information, a final decision is likely to be made on the application by the Wexford County Council planning department in the coming weeks. Site layout plans for McDonald's in New Ross Meanwhile, its understood that the application for the opening of the restaurant in New Ross is part of a wider plan to expand across the nation, with restaurants also planned for Waterford, Cork, Tipperary and Westmeath. However, two of the applications have been met with objections in Waterford and Westmeath and those applications are now with An Bord Pleanala. The single objection submitted against the New Ross application by four local business owners still remains on file, and TJ Bellas, Tonys Take Away, Pizza Palace and Il Primo Restaurant have the opportunity to appeal, should the decision be in favour of granting the application. Although, its understood not all four of the businesses are in agreement around pursuing the objection further. Footage broadcast on a Houthi-run TV channel in Yemen appears to show former TD and MEP Mick Wallace issuing a rallying cry to a massive gathering expressing solidarity with the people of Palestine and Yemen. Wearing a Palestinian keffiyeh and flanked by two heavily armed soldiers, the Wexford man stood in front of around 30 microphones from broadcasters in the region. He raised his fist to the thousands of people gathered, shouting: Power to the people of Yemen! This drew chants from the crowd of tens of thousands, some of whom seemed to be armed themselves. Some of the crowd Mick Wallace seemed to be addressing at a huge event in Yemen. "We are very humbled to be here with such amazing people, the former MEP said. It is an incredible honour for us to be here. For many, many years, you have stood up to the aggression and brutality of Western Empire. In 2015, they decided that they couldnt subdue you, so they decided to bomb you. The forces of the Western world colluded with Saudi and the Emirates to destroy you. "But they couldn't destroy Yemen, Wallace said, raising a fist in the air once again. Theres a rule in Western Asia. Dont f**k with the people of Yemen. The second rule is do not f**k with the people of Yemen! You are a people united. You will win. Western empire is in decay. The future will be yours. The huge event the former MEP, TD and property developer was speaking at was an annual pro-Palestinian event held on the last Friday of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan to express support for Palestinians and oppose Israel and Zionism. It was broadcast on Yemeni TV channel Al-Masirah. "We stand here today in solidarity as well with Palestine, Mr Wallace said. In Europe, weve watched the genocide on our telephones. Not one EU member state has broken business links with Israel. But the people of Europe are different. Our politicians and media are rotten and are subservient to US empire. But the people of Europe are with the Palestinians and the Yemenis. "We will up the effort for the truth to spread across Europe about whats really happening in Yemen. We will stand with Yemen and we will stand with Palestine. He concluded by holding a Palestinian flag aloft and shouting: Free Yemen and free Palestine! Once again this lead to a cacophony of cheering and chants from the enthusiastic crowd. The crowd Mick Wallace seemed to be addressing at the huge event in Yemen. Backed by Iran, Houthi rebels in Yemen have launched repeated attacks on Israel as well as sustained attacks on shipping in the Red Sea in direct response to attacks by Israel on Gaza. This has led to suspected US airstrikes on the rebel-held capital of Sanaa in recent days. An Associated Press review has found the new US operation under President Donald Trump appears more extensive than those under former President Joe Biden, as the US moves from solely targeting launch sites to firing at ranking personnel as well as dropping bombs in cities. Mr Wallace was contacted for comment. The Wicklow Pride Festival has announced renowned Irish comedian and podcaster Gearoid Farrelly as the grand marshal for the 2025 Wicklow Pride Parade, which is scheduled to take place in Wicklow town on Saturday, July 5, at 2 pm. The Dublin native has established himself as a prominent figure in the Irish comedy scene, with his career taking off after becoming a finalist in the So You Think Youre Funny? competition at the Edinburgh Festival and winning the Bulmers Nuthin Butt Funny Newcomer award. Gearoid has since supported esteemed comedians such as Joan Rivers, Sarah Millican, and Patton Oswalt, and has performed at major festivals, including the Cat Laughs Festival in Kilkenny. He is also the host of the popular podcast Fascinated, where he interviews notable figures from various industries, and co-hosts Agony Rants with Eurovision winner Niamh Kavanagh, discussing personal anecdotes and offering advice with a comedic twist. Expressing his excitement at having secured Gearoid as grand marshal, Wicklow Pride chairperson Patrick Bracken said: His wit, warmth, and unwavering support for the LGBTQ+ community make him the perfect choice. Wicklow Pride is all about celebrating inclusivity, joy, and visibility, and we know that Gearoid will bring his trademark humour and energy to the occasion. We cant wait to welcome everyone to Wicklow Town for what promises to be an unforgettable celebration! The Wicklow Pride Festival invites everyone to join the celebration on July 5 to honour diversity, inclusion, and the vibrant spirit of County Wicklow. Comedian Gearoid Farrelly. Meanwhile, west Wicklow recently played host to their second Wicklow Pride event with a coffee afternoon at Brew Twenty One in Blessington. Organised by Deirdre McCormick, the event was one of many planned to take place this year in west Wicklow to help establish Wicklow Pride on that side of the county. The coffee morning went really well, and we were very happy with the crowd at it, Deirdre said. Community gardai Bernard Cloney and Shane Carbery came down, and some of the committee had travelled over from Wicklow Pride. It was our second ever event over this side of the county, and it was just to try to establish Wicklow Pride over here and create a safe space where people can come together to show their support for the LGBTQIA+, but also for members of the community here to know that events are going on. We have more events coming up, and we hope to host a gig, which will be a fundraiser, in the Blessington Barbers. We hope to have a few more events over the summer, too. Rescuers search for survivors at a collapsed building in the aftermath of an earthquake in Mandalay, Myanmar (Cai Yang/Xinhua via AP) Rescue workers, sniffer dogs, paramedics and millions of dollars in aid began arriving in Myanmar after a massive earthquake ravaged much of the war-torn country. About 2,000 people have so far been reported dead in Friday's magnitude 7.7 earthquake where millions were already displaced by a civil war triggered by the 2021 military coup. French far-right leader Marine Le Pen banned from running for public office and faces four years in jail after being found guilty of embezzlement Le Pen and others found guilty of misusing EU fundsLe Pen is front-runner in opinion pollsNow banned from public office for five years, sentenced to four years in jail of which two will be suspended - and received 100,000 fineLe Pen is almost certain to appeal, and none of those penalties would be applied until her appeals are exhausted Marine Le Pen barred from seeking public office for embezzlement Elizabeth Pineau and Juliette Jabkhiro Mon 31 Mar 2025 at 13:01 A French court has convicted Marine Le Pen of embezzlement and barred her from seeking public office for five years - a hammer blow to the far-right leader's presidential hopes and an earthquake for French politics. LATEST | Trump and Starmer agree to keep pressure on Putin after US president says he is p***ed off as Ukraine peace talks drag on US president warned he will impose a 25-50 point tariff on Russian oil if a deal isnt reached Trump admits his disappointment with Putin over Zelensky comments David Lynch and John Bowden Mon 31 Mar 2025 at 07:40 British prime minister Keir Starmer and US President Donald Trump have agreed on the need to keep up the collective pressure on Putin during a phone call, Downing Street said. LATEST | Elon Musk hands over million-dollar cheques to voters at rally Musk gives away two $1 million cheques to Wisconsin voters in high profile judicial race Elon Musk enters the stage wearing a cheesehead during a town hall Sunday, March 30, 2025, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps) Andy Sullivan Mon 31 Mar 2025 at 09:55 Billionaire Elon Musk on Sunday handed out million-dollar cheques to two voters in Wisconsin and promised smaller payments to others who help elect a conservative candidate to the state's top court in a closely watched election. US president Donald Trump threatened Iran yesterday with bombing and secondary tariffs if Tehran did not come to an agreement with Washington over its nuclear programme. In Mr Trumps first remarks since Iran rejected direct negotiations with Washington last week, he told NBC News that US and Iranian officials were talking, but did not elaborate. Get ready, Netflix bingers! This weeks lineup is coming in hot with everything from crime-thriller chaos to heart-thumping reality drama. Whether you're in the mood for a rap showdown, a scandalous medical crisis, or a comeback-fueled DJ battle, Netflix is serving up all the spice, action, and heartbreak you could ever ask for. So grab your snacks, silence those notifications, and lets dive into this weeks absolute must-watch releases! 1. Rhythm + Flow Italy (Season 2) - March 31 Because Italy's rap game is about to explode, and you dont want to miss it. Hip-hop fans, assemble! Fabri Fibra, Geolier, and Rose Villain are back, hunting down Italys next rap superstar in the ultimate showdown of bars and beats. With 100,000 on the line, these judges are taking no prisoners. From urban streets to the farthest corners of Italy (and even London!), the talent search is fierce. The competition unfolds over three phases, resulting in a jaw-dropping finale on April 14. If you loved the original U.S. and French versions, Italys take promises nothing less than pure fire. 2. Promised Hearts - March 31 The heartbreak is real, and were here for all the dramatic tears. Niyala finally became the doctor she always dreamed of, only for her father to sell her off to the wealthiest businessmans son to pay off family debt. Meanwhile, the love of her life, Faiq, has already moved on. If you thrive on painful, slow-burn love triangles, societal pressures, and tragic fate, buckle up because this ones going to hurt in the best way possible. 3. Gone Girls: The Long Island Serial Killer - March 31 Real crime, real horror, real-time chills. True crime junkies, prepare for another night of just one more episode. Directed by Emmy-winner Liz Garbus, this chilling docu-series unpacks the twisted case of the Long Island Serial Killer. With a crime scene that rocked New York, years of corruption, and a shocking breakthrough in 2023, this is your next dark and binge-worthy obsession. 4. Banger - April 2 Vincent Cassel is here to remind you why hes a legend, and this time, as a DJ on a mission. Meet Scorpex, a washed-up DJ who refuses to accept that his time in the spotlight is over. When French intelligence agent Rose (Laura Felpin) offers him a chance to take down his young rival, Vestax, he jumps on the opportunity. But is this a last hurrah or a spectacular self-destruction? Expect betrayal, beats, and a whole lot of messy ambition. 5. Love on the Spectrum (Season 3) - April 2 Because love is beautiful, complicated, and heartwarming for everyone. The Emmy-winning docu-series is back to follow new and returning hopeful romantics on the autism spectrum as they navigate love and relationships. Get ready for the most wholesome, feel-good show that will make you laugh, cry, and cheer for every date, awkward moment, and victory. 6. Pulse - April 3 Hurricane, ER drama, forbidden romance? Say less. Dr. Danny Simms just got an unwanted promotion at Miamis busiest trauma center right before a hurricane hits. Her mentor, Dr. Xander Phillips, is suspended, the hospital goes into lockdown, and oh yeah, their secret (and scandalous) romance is about to explode. If Greys Anatomy met The Day After Tomorrow, it would be Pulse. Expect intense ER action, heart-stopping moments, and love under pressure. 7. Devil May Cry - April 3 Demon-hunting? Check. Stylish action? Check. Netflix anime hype? Double check. Adi Shankar brings the legendary Devil May Cry video game to life with this highly anticipated animated series. The fate of humanity rests on the shoulders of Dante, a badass demon-slaying mercenary. With Studio Mir handling the animation, expect jaw-dropping action sequences, slick visuals, and an adaptation that promises to do justice to Capcoms cult-favorite franchise. 8. Karma - April 4 When you make bad choices, the universe claps back. Hard. In this high-stakes thriller, six people find themselves trapped in a karmic loop, each choice dragging them deeper into chaos. Secrets, lies, and dark pasts cross paths, creating an endless spiral of consequences. If Black Mirror and Money Heist had a love child, it would look something like Karma. So, whats it going to be? A rap battle for the ages? A steamy hospital scandal? A crime mystery that will keep you up at night? Netflix is throwing down this week, and the only rule is: pick wisely, binge fiercely. For more news and updates from the world of OTT, and celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment. Former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for his contributions to human rights and democracy. The nomination, put forth by the Pakistan World Alliance (PWA) and members of the Norwegian political party Partiet Sentrum, has sparked mixed reactions online. While some hail it as a well-deserved recognition, others criticize it as controversial and undeserving. Imran Khans nomination Partiet Sentrum announced on X (formerly Twitter) that they, in alliance with an eligible nominator, have put forward Imran Khans name for the prestigious award. The 72-year-old leader, who is currently jailed, was previously nominated in 2019 for his efforts to promote peace in South Asia. Each year, the Norwegian Nobel Committee receives numerous nominations before selecting a winner through an extensive eight-month process. Netizens divided: Supporters cheer, critics mock Social media erupted with mixed reactions following Imran Khans Nobel Peace Prize nomination. Some users strongly opposed it, with one sarcastically commenting, Former Pakistan PM Imran Khan nominated for Nobel Peace Prize. Next, is Osama Bin Laden nominated for a Nobel? Former Pakistan PM Imran Khan nominated for Nobel Peace Prizehttps://t.co/H1h6MhvZCj Next is osama bin laden nominated for noble #NobelPeacePrize2025 Dakshay Desai (@dakshaydesai) March 31, 2025 Another criticized Khan, calling him a Taliban terrorist sympathizer and arguing, He should be nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for being a friend to terrorists and terrorism. Imran Khan is a Taliban terrorists sympathiser. He should be nominated for Noble Peace Prize for being friend to terrorists & terrorism (@Kh99153791) March 30, 2025 On the other hand, Khans supporters celebrated the recognition. One user praised him, stating, Imran Khan Sb, a leader who has dedicated his life to noble causes, has been nominated for the Nobel Prize. A fitting recognition for his unwavering commitment to humanity, justice, and peace. Imran Khan Sb, a leader who has dedicated his life to noble causes, has been nominated for the Nobel Prize. A fitting recognition for his unwavering commitment to humanity, justice, and peace.#___600_#ImranKhanForPeace https://t.co/XBmlLKhwzG Dehatee (@SaleemKHI_PK) March 29, 2025 Another supporter defended him against his legal troubles, writing, Imran Khan, a living legend, unfortunately, in Pakistan facing illegal and fake cases of terrorism and corruption! While the world recognizes him and nominates him for the Nobel Peace Prize due to the efforts of the diaspora! Imran khan a living legend, unfortunately, in Pakistan facing illegal and fake cases of terrorism and corruption! While the world recognise him and nominated him for the Noble Peace Prize due to efforts of diaspora! Thanks #____ @TM__SOW https://t.co/Sy2QzZH29p syeda Aliya Shirazi (@alliyaiimc) March 29, 2025 Meanwhile, another user backed his nomination, saying, Imran Khan has been nominated for the Nobel Prize because he is a strong voice for peace in the whole world. Imran khan has been nominated for noble prise because Imran khan are strong voice for peace in the Whole world.#____@LegacyLeavers_ pic.twitter.com/4Thji1IGn3 Imrankhan (@1mran_khan_) March 30, 2025 A controversial recognition? As discussions continue, Khans nomination remains a topic of debate. Supporters see it as a testament to his leadership and vision, while critics view it as an undeserved honour. With the Nobel Committee set to review all nominations, it remains to be seen whether Khan will move forward in the selection process. For more news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News. Donald Trump, the current President of the United States, has once again hinted at the possibility of serving a third term, despite the constitutional limit. On Sunday, he reiterated his stance, saying he is exploring "ways" to make it possible. His comments have sparked a debate over whether a US President can legally serve beyond two terms. Speaking to the media, Trump stated, I am not joking about trying to serve a third term. There are methods which you could do it, as reported by NBC News. His statement has drawn widespread reactions, with legal experts pointing to the US Constitution and social media users questioning his motives. What does the US Constitution say about a third term? As per the 22nd Amendment to the US Constitution, ratified in 1951, no person can be elected as President more than twice. It was introduced after Franklin D. Roosevelt served four consecutive terms from 1933 to 1945, breaking the two-term tradition set by George Washington. The amendment allows a Vice President who assumes the presidency due to the death or resignation of a sitting President to serve up to 10 years if they take over with less than two years remaining in the original term. However, for Trump to secure a third term legally, the 22nd Amendment would have to be repealed. This would require a two-thirds majority in both the House and Senate and ratification by three-fourths of the state legislatures, making it an extremely difficult process. Trump suggests alternative ways to secure a third term During a media interaction, Trump was asked whether he might attempt a third term by having Vice President JD Vance elected first and then stepping in later. He responded, Well, thats one, but there are others too, but declined to elaborate on his other possible strategies. I dont want to talk about a third term now because no matter how you look at it, weve got a long time to go, Trump added. He also repeated his claim that the 2020 election was rigged, stating, 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. Social media reactions to Trumps third-term comments Trumps statements have ignited a firestorm on social media, with users divided on the issue. Many have condemned his comments, while some supporters state that he deserves another term. One user wrote, Trump seeking a third term would validate every liberals positionhe is a self-loathing narcissist who puts himself over the law. Trump seeking a third term would validate every liberals position : he is a self loathing narcissist who puts himself over the law. The constitution is pretty clear and while there are several things that America should be talking about, your President is hinting at a 3rd term Jared Silver (@JaredPolitics3) March 31, 2025 Another user suggested that former President Barack Obama should step in if Trump attempts to change the Constitution, saying, Obama should make a public statement declaring that he will be a candidate for president in 2028 if Trump could somehow amend the Constitution to run for a third term. Obama should make a public statement declaring that he will be a candidate for president in 2028 if Trump could somehow amend the Constitution to run for a third term. Of course it's all unserious but Dems should find ways to inject themselves into these absurd news cycles. Mark Raymond (@markraymond) March 31, 2025 Others have taken a firm stance against any President serving more than two terms. Trumps third term shouldnt be allowed. No president should get three, IMO, one user stated. Trump third term shouldnt be allowed . No president should get three IMO Bas (@VintageJets) March 31, 2025 Even some Trump supporters disagreed with his suggestion, with one commenting, Love Trump but guys, this is a horrible, horrible idea. And something everyone should be very against. You all would be yelling if a Democrat wanted a third term as President. Were trying to get term and age limits for all politicians, not extend them. Hard pass on this. Love Trump.... but guys, this is a horrible, horrible idea. And something everyone should be very against. You all would be yelling if a democrat wanted a third term as President. We're trying to get term and age limits for all politicians, not extend them. Hard pass on this. Justin Schroeder (@SCHROED_JUSTIN) March 31, 2025 Despite the criticism, some users supported Trumps desire for another term, with one saying, President Trump should be given a third term to make up for the 2020 stolen election! President Trump should be given a third term to make up for the 2020 Stolen Election! Linda M. (@LuvTheUSA) March 31, 2025 Another user pointed out a potential legal loophole, warning, Trump already had two terms. If something should happen to JD Vance in his term in office as President, then Donald Trump would be having a third term, and thats illegal. Trump already had two terms. If something should happen to JD Vance in his term in office as president, then Donald Trump would then be having a third term, and that's illegal. Rugged Rick (@RealRuggedRick) March 31, 2025 Can Donald Trump actually serve a third term? While Trump has hinted at ways to extend his presidency, the legal barriers make it almost impossible. The US Constitution would have to be amended, which requires strong support in Congress and across states. Historically, no US President has successfully removed term limits. However, Trumps repeated claims about a third term indicate that he might try to test the system. Whether he finds a legal loophole or just uses this idea to keep his supporters engaged, the discussion around his potential third term is unlikely to fade anytime soon. For more news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News. Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powell are reportedly pulling off an Anyone but You with their latest endeavours. The rumour has it that Powell took Sweeney to his sister's wedding right after she called off her engagement with Jonathan Davino, her fiance of over two years. Sydney Sweeney spotted with Glen Powell after calling off her engagement Last week, the internet was abuzz with rumours that Sydney Sweeney had called off her wedding with Jonathan Davino after she was spotted sans her wedding ring. Shortly after, Deuxmoi, a pop culture page dedicated to reporting high-profile celebrity gossip, shared images of the pair dining at a Mexican restaurant called Joe Leo Fine Tex Mex in Dallas, Texas. While it might usually be seen as two former co-stars simply sharing a meal after a heartbreak, the complex history between Sweeney and Powell makes it impossible to dismiss this as just a casual encounter. During the press tour for their film Anyone But You, the undeniable chemistry between Sweeney and Powell fueled dating rumors, even though the Euphoria star was engaged at the time. She later attempted to downplay the speculation as a joke during her SNL appearance, but the internet has remained unconvinced that they were merely co-stars. Their latest sighting has only intensified the speculation. Did Sydney Sweeney attend Glen Powell's sister's wedding? According to TMZ, Sydney Sweeney and Glenn Powell were attending a rehearsal dinner for the latter's sister Leslie Powell's wedding. The report claimed that the Madame Web actress was in town to attend Powell's sister's wedding the next day. Despite attending the wedding, a source close to the situation clarified to the publication that Sweeney didn't attend as Glen Powell's date. Instead, she had RSVP'd months earlier with her best friend, as she's reportedly close friends with the Powell family, particularly Leslie. [Sydney is] very good friends with the Powell family and has been very close with Leslie for a long time," the insider claimed. Netizens react to Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powell's reunion Fans were quick to draw similarities between Sweeney's real-life situation and their 2023 movie Anyone But You. For those who may not know, in the movie, Bea (Sweeney) and Ben (Powell) end up getting invited to the same wedding after a chance encounter gone wrong. "The fact that anyone but you started with Bea being broken up with her boyfriend and meeting Ben at her sisters wedding oh, Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powell are about to give us the REAL movie." the fact that anyone but you started with bea being broken up with her boyfriend and meeting ben at her sisters wedding oh sydney sweeney and glen powell about to give us the REAL movie pic.twitter.com/oNbAMw91Tx Sarah (@sydglenx) March 30, 2025 Another wrote, "Glen Powell bringing Sydney Sweeney to his sisters wedding?!??! Welcome back, 'Anyone But You (2023)". Glen Powell bringing Sydney Sweeney to his sisters wedding?!??! Welcome back Anyone But You (2023) pic.twitter.com/uwdLjjJeW9 sylvia (@newromantics02) March 30, 2025 A third commented, "Glen Powell taking Sydney Sweeney as his plus one to his SISTERS wedding after she left her fiance is crazy work, but I actually love them." Glen Powell taking Sydney Sweeney as his plus one to his SISTERS wedding after she left her fiance is crazy work but I actually love them Sophie (@yung_ancestor) March 30, 2025 Meanwhile, Sydney Sweeney has yet to confirm whether she has ended her engagement with Jonathan Davino. The couple began dating in 2018 and got engaged in 2022. Beyond their romantic relationship, they also collaborated as executive producers on several projects, including Anyone But You. For more news and updates from the world of OTT, and celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment. Kim Soo Hyun has broken his silence on the allegations levelled against him by Kim Sae Ron's family. On March 31, 2025, the actor held a press conference, addressing the media for the first time since the tragic passing of his former girlfriend. During the emotional session, the Queen of Tears actor denied dating Kim Sae Ron when she was a minor and admitted to dating her for a year after she reached legal age. He also held her family responsible for her death, accusing them of making her work while she was still a minor. Kim Soo Hyun breaks down during his press conference Kim Soo Hyun holds Kim Sae Ron's family accountable for her death "I feel like Im being accused of something I didnt do," Kim Soo Hyun said, tearing up during the conference. "But the family of the late actor, just because I am the ex-boyfriend of the late actor, is asserting that I pushed her to death. They are demanding that I confess to something that I didn't do. [They said] you played with her even from when she was a minor. You threatened her with money. So you are a murderer." The actor also reflected on the time he spent with Kim Sae Ron, explaining the difficulties he faced during the aftermath of her DUI incident. "We were both well-known actors, and when we were together in the agency, we knew each other. I couldnt contact her easily when the DUI incident happened," he said. "I heard that the former CEO of the agency was having a hard time because of me when that happened, but I knew that Kim Sae Ron was involved with someone else, so I was very careful about contacting her." Kim Soo Hyun denies that Gold Medalist forced Kim Sae Ron to repay debt Kim Soo Hyun then addressed the recent claims made by Kim Sae Rons family, particularly the leaked phone calls and KakaoTalk messages. "The family of the deceased released a phone call recording where they tried to make it sound like the agency pressured her by sending a second debt repayment letter. But the phone call they revealed was from a year ago, and the conversation was entirely different," he explained. He also questioned alleged texts leaked by the late actress's family. "This KakaoTalk message has so many things wrong that it makes me question whether [Kim Sae Ron] really wrote it. She got my and her age difference wrong, as well as the agency's name and contract period," Kim Soo Hyun clarified. "She was only contracted as an actor at our agency and had no involvement in casting or visual directing." Kim Soo Hyun refuses the allegations of grooming. Kim Soo Hyun also slammed Kim Sae Ron's family for portraying him as a predator and accusing him of grooming Kim Sae Ron through KakaoTalk chats. "They are framing me as a paedophile, accusing me of grooming her based on chats from 2016," he said. "But Ive requested a thorough analysis of the KakaoTalk chats from 2016, 2018, and this year. Our agency has proven that the chats from 2016 and 2018 were from different people. Theres evidence that these photos and videos, along with the KakaoTalk messages, have been manipulated." Actor threatens legal actions Kim Soo Hyun expressed his intention to clear his name and ensure that the truth comes to light. "I will take any criticism for my choices. But that doesnt mean everything becomes fact. I will take action to thoroughly investigate the evidence that the family of the deceased is presenting as if its all verified," he asserted. "If everything they claim is true, I hope it can be verified legally after a thorough investigation." He also shared his fear of the ongoing pressure and the toll it has taken on him. "I have people who depend on me, and I see them suffering every day. Im scared of what they will reveal next and distort to make me look like a killer." 'I will not ask for trust; I will prove it.' Kim Soo Hyun concluded his statement by reaffirming his commitment to proving his innocence. "I will not ask for trust; I will prove it," he said firmly. "If I surrender to such pressure and accept something false as the truth, I would be betraying not only myself but all of those who have believed in me and supported me. I cannot live with that. No matter how much I wear a mask as a celebrity, I will not betray them." "Ive done what Ive done. I will take any criticism for that," he added. "But the things I havent done, I havent done. I want to clear my name. I will not ask for trust; I will prove it." How did it all begin? The controversy began on March 10 when Kim Sae Ron's family, through the YouTube channel Garosero Research Institute, accused Kim Soo Hyun of dating Kim Sae Ron when she was just 15, while he was 27. In a phone call, Kim Sae Ron's alleged aunt also blamed the actor and his agency, Gold Medalist, for pushing her to take her own life. In response, Kim Soo Hyun's agency denied the allegations of a relationship with a minor but confirmed they dated for a year once Kim Sae Ron reached legal age. Following this, Kim Sae Ron's family held a press conference, releasing 'restructured' messages exchanged between the former couple from 2016 to 2018 that appeared to support the minor relationship claims. Kim Soo Hyun has since questioned the authenticity of these messages. Previously, Garosero had also released intimate photos reportedly taken in 2016. Meanwhile, the Seoul Police have launched an investigation into defamation claims against members of Kim Sae Ron's family and Garosero. Kim Sae Ron tragically died by suicide on February 16, on Kim Soo Hyuns birthday. She was known for her roles in Bloodhounds, A Brand New Life, A Girl at My Door, and Manhole, among others. For more news and updates from the world of OTT, and celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment. It was clearly not the day for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on March 30, 2025. Thousands of yellow fans were just glued to their television screens on Sunday evening, but CSK lost against the Rajasthan Royals at the Barsapara Stadium in Guwahati. The chase for Chennai Super Kings was reduced to 20 runs for the final over with MS Dhoni on strike. But in no time, it all ended in sheer heartbreak for the CSK fans after Shimron Hetmyer grabbed a stunner at long-on. On the other hand, Sandeep Sharma, who has encountered MS Dhoni several times in his T20 career and even triumphed over the legend in a final-over showdown before, bowled a low, wide, full toss. The former Indian captain, as expected, swung hard across the line, sending the ball racing towards the boundary. Credit: X CSK fangirl's angry expression caught the cameraman's attention Following this, Hetmyer, who was positioned at cow corner, sprinted in, launched himself into a full-length dive, and pulled off a stunning catch. The catch came as a complete silence in the stadium. Amid all this going on, when Dhoni walked out slowly to the dugout, the cameraman's attention caught a CSK fangirl, who looked infuriated but held back from 'scolding' the legend. The moment quickly went viral on social media, and netizens say, 'New meme just dropped' from IPL 2025. Netizens share their reaction to the CSK fangirl As soon as the video surfaced on social media, netizens couldn't keep calm and started sharing it as a meme picture. One wrote, "Wake up babe new meme template just dropped" "The Viral girl is getting 100+ followers per minute," another wrote. The Viral girl is getting 100+ followers per minute#RRvCSK pic.twitter.com/21uQ3ZNNmv Abhijeet (@TheYorkerBall) March 31, 2025 "Csk girl angry Meme" "Girl be like: Kya karu me ye Csk ki batting ka " Girl be like: Kya karu me ye Csk ki batting ka #IPL pic.twitter.com/G5pmKjG2Dw refier (@refier007) March 30, 2025 "She represented the whole CSK fanbase when Dhoni got out " For more news and updates from the world of OTT, and celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment. South Korean actress Seo Yea Ji has finally spoken out for the first time since the 2021 gaslighting controversy, which significantly affected her career. During her first variety show appearance in years, she opened up about her career and personal life, indirectly addressing the allegations of mistreating her staff. Seo's comments come just days after she was once again dragged into controversy involving Kim Soo Hyun. For those unfamiliar with the situation, the actress, who was previously signed under Gold Medalist, sparked romance rumors with the actor after they starred together in the 2020 K-drama It's Okay to Not Be Okay. Seo Yea Ji makes her Variety Show return after eight years Seo Yea Ji made a guest appearance on TV CHOSUN's Gourmet Huh Young-man's Table Tour on March 30, where she went on an outing in Wonju, Gangwon Province. This marks her return to variety shows after an eight-year hiatus. She was last seen on JTBC's Knowing Bros in 2017. Yeongman: Do you eat two or three meals a day? Yeaji: I eat four meals a day Yeongman: Four meals a day? Yeaji: I went to bed late so I was hungry even in the middle of the night She's so relatable, food is life . Stay healthy, glowing and happy baby #SeoYeaJi # pic.twitter.com/SWmUvsK0Ww nicoley (@sincethesky) March 30, 2025 'I have many scars': Seo Yea Ji on her dark roles During her appearance, she went candid about various aspects of her acting career, revealing her debut was by a chance encounter with renowned sitcom director Kim Byung Wook, who extended an offer to her, leading to her debut in the sitcom Potato Star 2013QR3. With 12 years of experience and 22 projects under her belt, the 34-year-old reflected on her dark roles, noting that she plays revenge-driven roles as a way to cope with her own emotional scars. However, she admitted that taking on malicious characters has sometimes led to people mistaking her on-screen persona for her real-life personality. "There were a few stress-inducing aspects. When I played malicious roles, people's perceptions that I was like that in reality were a bit difficult for me. Meeting people became challenging," she said. Seo Yea Ji in It's Okay to Not Be Okay| Credit: X When asked by Huh Young Man if she's ever felt frustrated with acting, the actress confessed that it's happened "many times". She tried to accept and move forward but found that keeping quiet about her struggles led to greater misunderstandings and eventually became a significant source of stress. Seo Yea Ji's gaslighting controversy Seo Yea Ji faced intense backlash in 2021 following allegations of gaslighting against her former boyfriend Kim Jung Hyun, which led to a flurry of other rumours, including claims of academic credential forgery, school violence, and staff mistreatment. The Save Me actress vehemently denied these allegations, asserting that there was no truth to the claims of school violence, gaslighting, and staff mistreatment. Despite her denials, the controversy led to a significant setback in her career, prompting her to take a two-year hiatus. Seo Yea Ji on the Kim Soo Hyun controversy Seo Yea Ji expressed her frustration on her fan cafe after being linked to the scandal surrounding Kim Soo Hyun, his cousin Lee Sa Rang, and GOLD MEDALIST. Seo Yea Ji and Kim Soo Hyun| Credit: X In a late-night post on March 13, 2025, Seo Yea Ji admitted to deleting a response she made to a hateful comment. When asked by a fan about the rumours of her dating Kim Soo Hyun, she simply stated, "I wish people would... please... stop." Addressing her fan cafe, she noted, I'm only human So this has been overwhelming, stressful And Im so sick and tired of it all. It saddens me and suffocates me Ive been holding back and back But I ended up responding to this comment. I deleted it, though. I wish people would please stop. I am in no way affiliated with him and his cousin. I dont even know why I have to explain myself But Im just extra frustrated tonight Good night, yeyes." For more news and updates from the world of OTT, and celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment. Okeanis CEO Aristidis Alafouzos tried to give assurances that the company was not carrying sanctioned Russian oil Recently published data point to the opposite The Church of Greece is breaking into fintech with a fully digital lender set to rival neobanks like Revolut and N26. The move signals a broader transformation within the Church of Greece, seeking new revenue streams amid declining state subsidies and shifting social dynamics. Its choice of name, Phos Bank, is symbolic, meaning light in Greek, carrying, also, deep spiritual and symbolic significance in Greek culture and Orthodox Christianity, often representing divine illumination, truth, and guidance. The venture, spearheaded by the Church-owned Financial Innovation Holding S.A., aims to establish a fully digital bank mirroring neobanks like Revolut and N26. The Church of Cyprus and private investors are expected to join the project. The initiative is led by Archimandrite Nikodimos Pharmakis, director of the Churchs financial affairs, following a proposal by Angelos Philippidis, former chairman of the defunct Hellenic Postbank. The Church is finalizing its business plan for submission to regulatory authorities. Phos Bank, expected to secure its banking license by years end, will offer loans, deposits, and digital financial services. Church officials dismiss concerns about religious institutions entering banking, emphasizing its modern digital focus. Bank of Greece Governor Yannis Stournaras is said to have signaled cautious approval, welcoming increased competition. The Church, which previously held shares in the National Bank of Greece, and the Church of Cyprus, which was a major shareholder in the collapsed Laiki Bank, are re-entering the financial sector. The headquarters of Financial Innovation Holding has been relocated to Athens' central Syntagma area, signaling the project's seriousness. Church insiders say Phos Bank aims to attract the global Greek diaspora. It remains unclear whether the bank will creep into crypto currency tradings, currently under the spotlight Greeces financial authorities. iefimerida.gr Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced a new scholarship program to honor Ionas Karussis, a 26-year-old Greek student killed in a shooting attack in Jaffa, Tel Aviv. The initiative, revealed during Mr. Mitsotakis visit to Jerusalem, aims to bolster academic and cultural ties between Greece and Israel by offering educational opportunities to students from both countries. Mr. Mitsotakis met with Israeli President Isaac Herzog on Sunday to strengthen the strategic partnership between Greece and Israel. Their discussions focused on regional security, bilateral cooperation, and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. During the meeting, Mr. Mitsotakis called for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages and expressed hope for a swift ceasefire in Gaza, viewing it as crucial for a long-term resolution. Mr. Herzog underscored Israels deep concerns regarding the hostages and emphasized the international communitys responsibility to secure their return. With the upcoming Eid al-Fitr celebrations, Mr. Herzog expressed hope that the occasion could facilitate a humanitarian breakthrough. He described the release of hostages as a moral imperative and a necessary act of goodwill. Reflecting on the loss of Karussis, Mr. Herzog expressed appreciation for Greeces solidarity and Mr. Mitsotakis personal support for the victims family. He characterized the young student as a symbol of the enduring bond between the two nations and welcomed the scholarship as a fitting tribute. Mr. Mitsotakis reaffirmed Greeces commitment to its alliance with Israel, emphasizing the importance of regional stability and humanitarian assistance. He is scheduled to continue discussions with Mr. Herzog and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, reinforcing Greeces active role in promoting peace and cooperation in the region. iefimerida.gr A teenager was injured in a violent robbery over the weekend in the Kifisia suburb of Athens. According to police, a group of approximately 10 masked individuals attacked two minors, aged 15 and 16, on Kassaveti Street. When the teenagers resisted, the 16-year-old sustained head injuries and collapsed. The 15-year-old was unharmed. The injured teen was taken by ambulance to Evangelismos hospital for treatment. Police arrived at the scene after the attackers had fled. An investigation is underway to identify and apprehend the perpetrators. The incident has caused alarm in the local community, as it follows other similar attacks reported in recent weeks. iefimerida.gr Deputy Prime Minister Kostis Hatzidakis spoke of a national success, referring to Chevrons interest in hydrocarbon exploration south of Crete. In his post, he noted: This national success has very Hatzidakis on Chevron: It recognizes the Greek EEZ in the region - This London edition of Rebrain Greece saw the largest turnout yet, with over 1,300 attendees expressing interest in job opportunities in Greece. Participants focused their questions on salary, career development, and the overall work environment. Suspended Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has expressed his confidence over the ongoing political crisis in the state, saying that no amount of storm can break him and his people down. The Governor led this out on Monday when he hosted Muslim leaders from 20 Islamic groups, including the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, at his residence in Port Harcourt as part of the Eid-el-Fitr celebrations. Fubara encouraged them and his supporters to remain steadfast and trust in Gods plan. Advertisement He said: This season represents love, sharing, and sacrifice. You have come to share in our pain and have made great sacrifices through your prayers. READ MORE: Emergency Rule: Dont Kill Democracy In Nigeria Dele Momodu Tells Tinubu As Christians, we believe everything happens for a purpose, and I strongly believe this situation is guiding us toward a greater one. If God could be patient with Noah, allowing even the snail to enter the Ark, then patience remains essential in our struggle. Their goal is to create problems and deny people their livelihoods. We will not allow that. We will continue to operate peacefully and respect constituted authority to ensure Rivers remains a model for others in Nigeria. Recall that President Bola Tinubu had announced the suspension of Governor Fubara, his Deputy, Ngozi Nma and the states House of Assembly over rising political tension facing the oil rich state. Tinubu also declared a State of Emergency during his nationwide broadcast. A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, Dele Momodu, has condemned the recent declaration of State of Emergency in Rivers State by President Bola Tinubu. Speaking in an interview with Channels Television on Monday, Momodu described the Presidents decision as an Anti-Democratic act. Recall that INFORMATION NIGERIA had reported that President Tinubu, in a nationwide broadcast announced the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, of Rivers State, his Deputy, Ngozi Nma and the state house of assembly. Advertisement Tinubu noted that his decision was necessary due to rising political tension facing the oil rich state. Reacting to the development on Monday, the PDPs chieftain said that him, including other Nigerians who fought for democracy during the military era were very embarrassed about Rivers crisis. He said: I think it is very unfortunate. I know President Tinubu very, very, very well. READ MORE: Emergency Rule: Nigerians Must Stop Tinubu For Breaching Constitution In Rivers Falana Though Ive not been in the same party [with him] and all that, we were together in exile, and he fought gallantly for this democracy. So a lot of us, co-comrades at that time, are actually very embarrassed that we have a pro-democracy leader in government, and yet what we are witnessing is worse than dictatorship. Im pleading with President Bola Tinubu, Please dont kill democracy in Nigeria. Everybody who loves him will tell him this. I dont; Ive not asked him for anything or anything, but we love him for his contributions to the motivation in the back, which is what is going down the drain. Im saying it now openly to millions of Nigerians that people are deceiving President Tinubu, and he should not allow people to deceive you. He should just do his job. The only thing that can guarantee a second time is to do your job well. You do not need to intimidate anybody. Human Rights Lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN, has tasked Nigerians to stand against what he described as violation of the countrys constitution by President Bola Tinubu, over declaration of Emergency Rule in Rivers State. Speaking over the weekend in a virtual meeting with some Nigerians in diaspora, co-hosted by popular columnist, Farooq Kperogi, Falana acknowledged that a state of emergency may be necessary to restore law and order in any part of the federation threatened by a breach of peace. The legal icon also noted that President Tinubu has no right under the 1999 Constitution, as amended, to suspend or remove an elected officer. Advertisement Recall that Tinubu, few weeks ago, during a nationwide broadcast, announced the suspension of Governor Sim Fubara, his Deputy, and the states House of Assembly. The former governor of Lagos State also suspended the elected officers for six months. READ MORE: Amaechi Knocks Wike, Says Dispute With Fubara Is About Sharing Rivers Money Reacting to the development, Falana stated that Tinubus decision over the oil rich state was unconditional, adding that Nigerians- must rise against it. He said: Section 305 of the Constitution provides that (1) Subject to the provisions of this Constitution the president may by instrument published in the official Gazette of the Government of the Federation issue a proclamation of a state of emergency in the Federation or any part thereof. Falana argued that even if the Constitution allows the president to employ extraordinary measures in sub section 3, to address threat to the country, that does not require him to suspend or remove elected officials in the state. There is no such provision in the constitution and the president and his backers cannot import what is not in the constitution. Federal Government has announced a two- month closure of the Independence Bridge (Marina-bound) starting from April 1 for essential maintenance and rehabilitation work. This was disclosed in a statement by Federal Controller of Works, Lagos State, Mrs. Olukorede Kesha on Monday. She explained that the bridge would remain closed until the end of May 2025. READ MORE: Lagos Govt Considers Constructing Additional Pedestrian Bridges In Oshodi Mrs. Olukorede also apologised for any inconvenience the development might cause and thanked the public for their understanding and cooperation as the government worked to ensure the safety and stability of the road infrastructure. The statement reads: The closure will affect traffic traveling from Ahmadu Bello Way and Adeola Odeku towards Marina, Eko Bridge, and Onikan by Zone 2. Kesha advised motorists to plan their journeys accordingly and use alternative routes to avoid traffic congestion during the repair period. President Bola Tinubu has narrated how he almost gave up on his presidential race and the motivation he received from a close ally, Aminu Massri, to make him remain in the race. Tinubu led this out on Saturday at a special Iftar held in his honour at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa, Abuja, where he also thanked Nigerians for their overwhelming goodwill and prayers on his 73rd birthday. The former governor of Lagos State, recognised the difficulties encountered along the path to the presidency and reaffirmed his commitment to advancing Nigerias progress. Advertisement He said: I was amazed. At that moment, I almost dropped the idea of running for President. But thanks to Aminu Masari and all of you who encouraged me. When I came to Abuja, Masari told me, I am the Chairman of the North West Group; dont look back Those close to me know that the odds were against me. During the campaigns. One came to my living room around 3:30 a.m. and said he needed just N50,000 to buy foodstuff for our uncle. He told me, The currency is gone because of you. People are jumping over bank counters because there is no cash. Our uncle, a wealthy man, doesnt even have N10,000 in cash. What are you running for? I told him, I am running for President, not for you and our uncle. I gave him the N50,000. As he walked out, he turned to me and said, I dont think you will make it. I replied, I will make it. READ MORE: Itll Take Decades For Nigerians To Appreciate Tinubus Efforts Keyamo On the day of my inauguration, I had to decide on something not originally in my speech, and that was the fuel subsidy removal. The hallmark of a great leader is the ability to make the right decision at the right time. That was the day I declared that the subsidy was gone. The following day, I was hounded and thoroughly abused in the media. But I stood firm, knowing it was the right thing to do for our nations future. Senator Onyekachi Nwaebonyi has expressed displeasure over a recent fall out between him and former minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili. Recall that Senator Nwaebonyi clashed with the former minister during a Senate disciplinary committees hearing of a case involving Senate President Godswil Akpabio and suspended lawmaker representing Kogi Central, Natasha Apoti-Udaghan. INFORMATION NIGERIA had reported how Mrs. Ezekwesili shouted at Senator Nwaebonyi to shut up during a heated argument between lawyers of Mrs. Natasha the Red Chambers committee. Advertisement Speaking during an interview with AIT on Monday, the lawmaker announced his plans to report the former minister to Igbo traditional leaders. He said: As a person, I cant talk to my wife like that in public. I cant talk to my driver like that in public. I cant talk to any woman like that, I have never done that in my life. I respect women. READ MORE: You Cant Be Here, Youre A Disgrace To Womanhood Senator Nwebonyi Clashes With Ezekwesili Over Natasha-Akpabio Case I am one of the people that has been championing the rights and privileges of women. As a legal practitioner, I won so many cases for women that were denied their rights of inheriting their fathers properties because their father had no male child. I won so many cases pro bono. But, for a woman to get up in public, and tell me to shut up my mouth and call me a hooligan, a red cap chief in Igboland that has made his mark. And for somebody who has never won a ward councillorship election to come to my office and tell me to shut up my mouth and call me a hooligan. This is unacceptable. I am going to take her up within the Igbo traditional leadership because it has never happened. Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ola Olukoyede, has charged Nigeria that achieving a zero- corrupt nation is possible. Olukoyede noted that with collective determination and commitment of all citizens, the anti-graft agency will make it happen. The EFCCs boss led this out in a statement on Sunday to Muslims celebrating Eid-el-Fitr across the country. Advertisement He said: Tackling economic and financial crimes and other acts of corruption is achievable through courageous readiness and corporate commitments of Nigerians. READ MORE: EFCC Arraigns 20 Foreigners Over Alleged Cybercrime Nigerians are stronger than corruption. No corrupt act can break our common resolve and determination. We have all it takes to confront and conquer economic and financial crimes. I congratulate Muslims and charge them to allow lessons of self-denial, discipline, sacrifice, love and purity of the Ramadan season imbued in them greater readiness and commitment to shun corrupt practices. At Eid-el-Fitr, Allahs benevolence and sacrifice are greatly magnified. May the lessons of love, peace, joy, and celebration of the festival abide in us and imbue in us a greater desire to reject corruption. The anti-corruption war is on course, maintaining that the EFCC is gaining more strength and speed in bringing economic and financial crimes to a halt. At least one herder and 12 cows have been killed by lightning in Matuak Giwa, Bondon District, Moroa Chiefdom in Kaura Local Government Area of Kaduna State. Speaking with newsmen on Monday, the Village Head of Matuak Giwa, Simon Ayuba, disclosed that the incident occurred around 4:30 pm on Sunday. READ MORE: Nasarawa Police Arrest Two Suspected Armed Robbers, Recover Rustled Cows Advertisement He added that the young herder was taking shelter from the rain alongside his cattle when the thunderstrike hit and killed them instantly. Mr. Ayuba said: The herder, along with 12 cows, died on the spot. It was a tragic occurrence that has left the community in shock. Tanko expressed sadness over the incident and called for prayers and support for the bereaved family as the victim was laid to rest according to Islamic rites. Hellen Ati, the controversial woman claiming to have a child with celebrity barman Cubana Chief Priest, has called on Imo State Governor Hope Uzodinma to intervenein her ongoing paternity battle. After accusing Cubana Chief Priest of being the father of her child, Hellen has been embroiled in a DNA dispute with him for months. The socialite has however refused to take accountability or confirm the childs paternity despite repeated requests for a DNA test. Advertisement Hellen shared an emotional Instagram post on Sunday, lamenting the difficulty of raising her baby alone in Kenya, alleging financial issues and a lack of help from the purported father. READ MORE: With Tinubu, I Dont Think Nigeria Is In Trouble Daddy Freeze She appealed to Imo State Governor Hope Uzodinma and his wife, Chioma Uzodinma, to leverage their influence in urging Cubana Chief Priest to take responsibility and submit to a DNA test. Please @he_hopeuzodimma of Imo State, I need your help. Talk to Pascal Okechukwu a.k.a. Cubana Chief Priest to please help his son in Kenya and for the DNA to be done. @he_chiomauzodimma bikonu, the baby is struggling here in Kenya, no food or anything to feed the boy, she wrote in her post. The unfolding drama has stirred reactions across social media, with many urging a swift resolution to the issue. Watch her speak below https://www.instagram.com/p/DH0-TnKsZ86/?igsh=b3N6NjlmM3VmbTIw The Lagos State Police Command has rescued two kidnapped victims and commenced a manhunt for their abductors. CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, the commands public relations officer, confirmed this in a statement made in Lagos on Sunday. Hundeyin revealed that the suspected kidnappers took the victims on Wednesday in Ijede, within the Ikorodu area of the state. Advertisement READ MORE: Navy Foils Kidnap Attempt, Rescues 15 Passengers In Rivers He said the command received information that some kidnappers invaded the Ijede community and kidnapped two people. He stated that after receiving the report, operatives were deployed to the scene, where they found that the criminals had broken into the home of a 40-year-old man, killed his dog, and abducted him. The kidnappers also forced their way into a nearby house and abducted the landlords 25-year-old daughter, he added. The police PRO stated that the victims were rescued on Saturday, 29 March, by the police in collaboration with a joint task force. Ruling All Progressives Congress has tasked Nigeria Muslims to pray and rededicate themselves to national peace and development in the country. In a statement on Sunday APCs National Publicity Secretary Felix Morka commended Muslim faithful for their devotion during Ramadan, including prayers, sacrifice, charity, and dedication to peace and unity. APC said: The All Progressives Congress celebrates with Nigerians, especially the Muslim Ummah, on the joyous occasion of Eid-el-Fitr. Advertisement A very symbolic event in the Islamic calender, Eid-el-Fitr is celebrated by Muslims worldwide to mark the end of the month-long dawn-to-dusk fast of Ramadan. We commend our Muslim faithful for their utmost devotion to Almighty Allah expressed in fervent prayers, sacrifice, charity and commitment to peace and unity of our dear country throughout the holy month of Ramadan. READ MORE: Ganduje, Senator Lado Will Deliver Kano For APC In 2027 Akpabio As we celebrate, we implore our Muslim faithful to continue to exemplify the virtues and essence of Ramadan by sustaining their supplications, sacrifice, generosity, and tolerance as espoused by the Holy Quran and the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (SAW). We also urge them to use the occasion of Eid-el-Fitr to further pray for our leaders and rededicate themselves to the collective task of achieving sustainable peace, progress and development of our dear country. Former Senator Shehu Sani has announced his intention to contest the Kaduna Central senatorial seat in the 2027 elections. Sani, who previously represented the district in the Senate, aims to return to continue his advocacy for good governance, social justice, and the rights of the people. He expressed his commitment to addressing key issues affecting his constituents, including security, infrastructure, and economic development. Sani, a vocal critic of bad governance, believes his experience and dedication make him the right choice for the role. Advertisement Speaking on Sunday during his Eid-el-Fitr address at his Kaduna residence, Sani revealed his political plans, stating: Any politician contesting an election depends on the political equation that determines the position to vie for. If the conditions are right and the equations are favourable, I will offer myself to contest specifically for the Kaduna Central senatorial district. Sani clarified in his Eid speech that his primary focus remains the re-election of Governor Uba Sani for a second term. For now, our priority is to see that the incumbent governor, Uba Sani, is re-elected. We will work with all our might and strength to achieve this. We know there will be challenges and opposition, but we are well prepared for all forces, he asserted. Sani urged Muslims to use the Eid-el-Fitr period to pray for national harmony and stability. He also condemned the recent killing of hunters in Edo State, calling on security forces to track down and prosecute the culprits. If citizens cannot move freely across the country, then we are not truly a nation. If individuals take the law into their hands for any reason, it means there is no government or authority, he remarked. US President Donald Trump has expressed confidence that a deal will be reached regarding TikTok ahead of the looming deadline. The Chinese-owned video-sharing app, operated by ByteDance, faces an April 5 deadline to be sold or risk being banned in the United States. The US government has raised concerns over national security, citing potential data access by the Chinese government. While speaking to reporters on Sunday Donald Tump disclosed: We have a lot of potential buyers. Theres tremendous interest in TikTok, he said. Advertisement We have a lot of people that want to buy TikTok. Were dealing with China also on it, because they may have something to do with it, he said, adding Id like to see TikTok remain alive. China on Thursday, rebuffed Trumps suggestion that he might offer to reduce tariffs to get Beijings approval for the sale of TikTok to a non-Chinese firm. Earlier this month, Trump claimed they were in talks with four groups who want to acquire the platform, which has 170 million American users. A US law has ordered TikTok to divest from ByteDance due to concerns that China could exploit the app to spy on Americans or covertly influence US public opinion. The law took effect on January 19, a day before Trumps inauguration. But he quickly announced a delay that has allowed TikTok to continue to operate. Therell be a deal with TikTok, Im pretty certain, Trump said when asked if he would extend the deadline if there was no deal. President Bola Tinubu has commended the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, for his contributions to infrastructural development in Abuja Despite being a member of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Wike has played a crucial role in implementing key development projects in the capital city. His collaboration with the APC-led administration has fueled speculations about his political alignment and future intentions. Speaking at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Sunday, President Bola Tinubu disclosed: I could see the diversity of men and women here, I must thank the Honorable Minister of FCT. Its worth it. Advertisement It is nothing other than a privilege to be the landlord of every one of us in Abuja, Federal Capital Territory. And when we started, he came up with a lot of good ideas to liberate the bureaucracy, bring forward-looking, progressive thinking to the administration, and giving the opportunity to many of you that would have still been hindered by property rights. The independent Civil Service Commission solution and all of that that we discussed give opportunity for upward mobility and promotions that is consistent with the civil service structure, the Area Councils structure, and the indiscriminate development in the face of dwindling resources. I remember the day Nyesom Wike came to me and said please, take us out of this problem of Treasury Single Account (TSA), so that I can do more work, and I achieve more. Then I said, okay, tell me what youre about to do. And he presented it, and I threw in my own political guide: Would that give me any opportunity for my party (APC) to win the election in FCT? I said I know where you are coming from, your own party (PDP) or my party. If this thing goes too much in your own favour, you will lose your job. Then he said, okay, we settle that, Oga. And things started changing rapidly, and I started looking at the opening up of the rural areas, of abandoned projects, and the residence of the Vice- President that has been abandoned for years came alive. The health centers are being rehabilitated. The health facilities of the residents of FCT are being upgraded. Our teachers at schools are being rehabilitated, buildings are furnished. Thank you Wike. Continuing, Tinubu said: We wouldnt have been able to open our mouths to even celebrate, if not, because of the progressive ideas you have given. Today, we are living in peace and security is improving. There is satisfaction in our output. The hunger is coming down. Food prices lowering. We are able to go to the market and do business. Our people are looking for results. They are looking for comfort. They are praying for good health. They are looking for a fairer, somebody with the heart. It is not about me, its about every one of us, and the diversity of Nigeria is being proved by Nyesom Wike. Strengthen that diversity to develop prosperity, seeing that we are all members of one family living together in the same house but we are staying in different rooms. We belong to one family of hope and belief in Nigeria. I thank all of you for believing in that. For the cooperation collaboration, and believing in thee positive idea that we can live in peace and harmony with one another, regardless of ethnic, religious diversity and faith. I thank you. The President further stated: Surprisingly, Nyesom Wike is not from the North. Hes not a Hausa man. Hes from the southern part of Nigeria, and his ability to work in the centre of the northern part of Nigeria is yielding fruits. That is a very good reflection of our diversity that we must use for our prosperity. Rackspace Managed Kubernetes (MPK) Rackspace Managed Platform for Kubernetes (MPK) is powered by Platform9, providing a unified control plane for cluster deployment, monitoring, incident response, and upgrades. MPK supports three environmentsRackspace bare metal, AKS, and EKS. Unique benefits include an SLA guaranteeing Kubernetes upgrades within 120 days of end of life and dedicated support, with a pod of Kubernetes-certified engineers assisting each customer. Highly Kubernetes-conformant, MPK integrates CNCF-backed tools like Prometheus, Fluentd, Helm, and Istio. However, MPK lacks a native container registry, IAM, and storage, requiring public cloud or bring-your-own solutions. MPK is a solid choice for teams using Rackspace for bare-metal hosting who want hands-on support and a centralized platform to manage AWSs and Azures Kubernetes services. Rancher Rancher, by SUSE, is a Kubernetes-as-a-service solution for on-premises and cloud. Rancher can manage clusters for several Kubernetes platforms including Rancher Kubernetes Engine (RKE), K3s, AKS, EKS, and GKE. Developers tend to find Ranchers unified web UI easy to get started with. Rancher also provides an API and CLI and supports Terraform with its own slice of GitOps. It ships with secure administrative controls, including OAuth and other login options. Rancher has a large user base and Slack groups, making it easy to find community and support. SUSE has introduced price hikes in recent years. Engineers have also reported performance and scalability challenges with Longhorn, SUSEs native storage solution, and often recommend alternatives for backup storage. Rancher also supports K3k, Kubernetes in Kubernetes, which allows you to run isolated K3s clusters within a larger Kubernetes environment. All in all, Rancher is comparable to OpenShift, but less opinionated and more modular, with a different approach to multi-tenancy. If you need multi-cloud, multi-cluster management with fewer vendor restrictions, Rancher is a solid choice. Portainer is a comparable alternative. Red Hat OpenShift Kubernetes Engine Red Hat OpenShift is a hybrid cloud platform that streamlines Kubernetes with a developer tool chain, simplifying cluster management. It includes built-in observability, networking, security, and GitOps, making upgrades and patches easier than stand-alone Kubernetes. Unlike cloud-specific services, OpenShift is portable, running on-prem, in data centers, or across clouds. OpenShift OpenShift Kubernetes Engine is a more pared-down version of OpenShift, offering a managed Kubernetes environment without the higher-level platform-as-a-service (PaaS) layer. It also supports Kubernetes Operators and running virtual machines alongside containers. A potential downside is that OpenShift is much more opinionated compared to other services like AKS. It favors its own oc CLI over kubectl, and some Helm charts and Operators may need adjustments due to its stricter security model. OpenShift is suitable for on-prem deployments, hybrid teams managing VMs and containers, and Red Hat customers. If a portable, enterprise-ready Kubernetes distribution with built-in security and automation is what you seek, OpenShift is a strong contender. Scaleway Kubernetes Kapsule Scaleway, an EU-based cloud provider, offers Kubernetes Kapsule, a managed Kubernetes service focused on autoscaling and resilience. Scaleway also provides Kosmos for multi-cloud Kubernetes deployments. Kapsule features a sleek UX, strong customer support, and flexible cluster management via API, CLI, and Terraform. You pay only for the nodes you use, making it cost-effective for personal clusters or experimentation. Scaleways application library includes pre-configured images for common add-ons. Kapsule is also CNCF-certified, ensuring compliance with standard Kubernetes APIs. A major drawback with Scaleway is the few regions it supportsonly France, the Netherlands, and Polandhindering a truly global reach. Some find the lack of certain features, like advanced load balancing and DNS, to be a deal breaker. Users also report slow provisioning times, outages, and reliability issues. Due to its limited feature set and geographic distribution, Kapsule seems best-suited to side projects and EU-based startups needing an affordable option that aligns with European data protection regulations. VMware Tanzu Kubernetes Grid (TKG) VMwares Tanzu Kubernetes Grid (TKG) is a Kubernetes platform that streamlines networking, authentication, monitoring, logging, and ingress control. Built partially on open source, it leverages Cluster API to manage multiple clusters. TKG performs well and offers both CLI and UI options. However, TKG is no longer multi-cloudsince v2.5, TKG dropped support for AWS and Azure workloads. Now focused almost entirely on VMware vSphere, its unsuitable as an agnostic Kubernetes control plane. Managing Kubernetes across clouds requires Tanzu Mission Control (TMC) alongside native services like EKS, AKS, or GKE. Another challenge is Tanzus convoluted branding and documentationeven VMware employees struggle to explain its SKUs. Meanwhile, Broadcoms takeover of VMware resulted in steep price hikes. VMware has also deprecated a handful of Tanzu packages, raising questions about VMware Tanzus long-term viability. If youre deeply invested in vSphere and virtual machines, you can absorb higher costs, and you dont need a true multi-cloud solution, TKG may be a fit. Otherwise, more flexible and more future-proofed alternatives exist. Honorable mentions There are countless other managed Kubernetes platforms, and more continue to emerge alongside niche clouds, like Hetzner or Spectro Cloud. Other comparable, fully-faceted Kubernetes managed platforms include OVHCloud Managed Kubernetes and Civo Kubernetes. Tencent Kubernetes Engine (TKE) and Huawei Cloud Container Engine (CCE) are other options for those in the Asia-Pacific region. The big players also offer their own stripped-down flavors of Kubernetes management. For instance, AKS Automatic and EKS Auto Mode provide frictionless developer experiences to automate cluster deployments and operations. And Google Cloud Anthos is emerging as a hybrid multi-cloud solution. Plenty of other solutions specialize in more niche Kubernetes management functions. For instance, other managed services focus on universal control for multi-cluster, multi-cloud management, such as Portainer, Rafay, Omni, Liquo, and Kube Clusters. For the edge or small container deployments, slim options include MicroK8s, K3s, and K0s, while Vultr Kubernetes Engine provides a more managed experience. Kubespray, a developer favorite, provides an open-source toolset for deploying Kubernetes clusters in slim configurations. The right tool for the job Plug-and-play Kubernetes services take a lot of the hassle out of cluster management. But it all depends on scalemanaged services may not be necessary if youre not running many clusters simultaneously. Smaller deployments often opt for simpler container runtimes, like Docker Compose or Nomad. Others turn to platform-as-a-service alternatives, like Heroku, Fly.io, or Cloud Run. Depending on your needs, you may only require specific tools. For instance, Karpenter is a popular open-source tool strictly for autoscaling cluster nodes. Or, perhaps you only need a dashboard like Devtron or a UI like Aptakube or Octant. Alternatively, building may be better than buying if you anticipate needing more granular control at the infrastructure level and you have the wherewithal. With the right technical chops, you might consider sticking with built-in kubeadm and hosting Kubernetes yourself for ultimate control. Evaluating managed Kubernetes services boils down to two main factors: how much you want to manage and what third-party services you need, says Michael Levan, principal consultant and advisor. While automated services can remove infrastructure management, they may not always integrate well with certain third-party tools. It really comes down to, like anything in the cloud, how much control you want to give away, he says. QVC, shown here in November 2023, announced plans to lay off hundreds of employees in Florida as it works toward a reorganization. Read more QVCs parent company is laying off 900 employees as its home-shopping networks QVC and HSN consolidate their headquarters in West Chester. The company, which recently rebranded as QVC Group, said in a statement last week that it would be eliminating these positions in conjunction with the closure of HSNs studio in St. Petersburg, Fla. Advertisement QVC Group today reorganized teams across our company as part of our strategy to grow by becoming a live social shopping company, executives said Thursday. As a result of this reorganization, we made the very difficult decision to eliminate a number of roles. The cuts represent about 5% of the companys 17,000 employees. They impact Florida employees of HSN, QVC U.S., and Global Shared Services, including 145 workers who are losing their jobs in a first round of cuts, according to a layoff notice filed in Florida pursuant to the WARN Act. Two additional rounds of layoffs are planned for later this year, HSN director Alicia Keane wrote in the notice. Ultimately, QVC Group is set to lay off all St. Petersburg employees with the exception of a group of corporate support-related team members who will continue their employment in Florida in a remote status, according to the notice. No layoff plans for Pennsylvania employees were posted on the states WARN notice site as of Monday. By law, companies with 100 or more full-time employees are required to give written notice within 60 days of worksite closures impacting 50 or more employees; layoffs of 50 or more employees and a third of the sites workforce; or layoffs of 500 or more workers at one location over a three-month period. READ MORE: West Chester-based QVC steps into the TikTok age as its parent company rebrands with social media in mind QVC, which pioneered home shopping in the pre-internet age, has been based in West Chester for more than three decades. Its live hosts and celebrity guests peddle clothes, beauty products, household items, and other goods on live TV at all hours. But as of late, the company has been up against stiff competition from online- and social-media-based shopping platforms. QVC Groups revenue declined in 2024, according to its latest earnings report, as did its total number of customers. About 7.6 million people made a purchase on QVC or HSN in 2024, according to the report, down from 8.1 million in 2023. To meet customers where they are, QVC Group has vowed to lean more heavily into live social shopping and streaming. The company said the layoffs are part of this new growth strategy, which includes creating a live social shopping content engine and funding expansion to new platforms. Workers placed a Philly Proud banner on the window of a TD bank in South Philadelphia in February 2023. Read more TD Bank is shuttering dozens of locations across several states, and outposts in Pennsylvania and New Jersey are among those expected to close in the coming months. The bank anticipates closing 38 locations by June 5, according to a company statement. Advertisement As part of our normal business practices, we regularly evaluate existing TD Bank stores, which may result in some closures, consolidations or relocations as we look for opportunities to better align our network of stores with customer needs and preferences, the company said in a statement. In the Philadelphia region, expected closures include branches in Chester County, Marlton, and Chestnut Hill. TD Bank is the second largest bank in the Philadelphia region by deposit after Wells Fargo, the Philadelphia Business Journal has reported, citing the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. TD Banks U.S. operations are headquartered in Cherry Hill. The South Jersey and greater Philadelphia metro market has been TD Banks home in the United States for more than 30 years and we are proud of our commitment to the region, the company statement said. A layoff notice filed in New Jersey indicates that the company expects to terminate some 52 positions in the state. The layoffs are expected to start on March 31, and run through June 26 in eight rounds of terminations. TD regularly reviews our operations to ensure continued strength and flexibility as we evolve our business for the future, reads the company statement. Weve made the difficult decision to eliminate some roles that are no longer aligned with our business model. Recent legal issues The branch closures and layoffs come on the heels of a high-profile settlement between TD Bank and federal prosecutors. The company says workforce reductions are largely due to branch closures and are unrelated to that case. In 2024, TD Bank pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering and agreed to pay $3 billion as part of a settlement. TD Bank created an environment that allowed financial crime to flourish, former Attorney General Merrick Garland said at the time. By making its services convenient for criminals, it became one. The bank was also recently found to be reporting inaccurate and negative information to credit reporting services, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau found in an investigation last year. The issue affected over 50,000 customers and happened over several years, the bureau announced in September. TD Bank was ordered to pay $7.76 million to victims as well as a $20 million fine toward a general victims fund. Expected branch closures Connecticut 1289 Foxon Rd., North Branford, 06471 215 High St., Torrington, 06790 Florida 1590 South Nova Rd., Daytona Beach, 32114 160 NW Main Blvd., Lake City, 32055 500 Collins Ave., Miami Beach, 33139 Massachusetts 860 South Main St., Bradford, 01835 465 North Main St., East Longmeadow, 01028 420 Franklin St., Framingham, 01702 50 Holyoke St., Holyoke, 01040 547 Broadway, Methuen, 01844 2345 Main St., Tewksbury, 01876 New Jersey 85 Pompton Ave. # 107, Cedar Grove, 07009 670 Laurel Ave., Holmdel, 07733 191 E. Route 70, Marlton, 08053 145 Skyline Dr., Ringwood, 07456 1 Royal Rd., Flemington, 08822 555 Warren Ave., Spring Lake Heights, 07762 New York 125 Park Ave., New York, 10017 451 Lexington Ave., New York, 10017 156 Dolson Ave. #A-B, Middletown, 10940 460 Pulaski Rd., Greenlawn, 11740 136 Margaret St., Plattsburgh, 12901 Maine 112 Main St., Fairfield, 04937 62 West Main St., Fort Kent, 04743 95 Main St., Gorham, 04038 6 North St., Houlton, 04730 New Hampshire 10 N. Main St., Bristol, 03222 884 Main St., Contoocook, 03229 40 High St., Hampton, 03842 905 Elm St., Wilton, 03086 Pennsylvania 8600 Germantown Ave, Philadelphia, 19118 101 Lancaster Ave., Frazer, 19355 346 W. Trenton Ave., Morrisville, 19067 South Carolina 1501 Main St., Columbia, 29201 6 Elmshorn Dr., Greer, 29650 Virginia 6200 Multiplex Dr., Centreville, 20121 1750 North Hampton Ave., Reston, 20194 Washington, D.C. More than a third of all Pennsylvania schools had vacancies in the 2024-25 school year. Read more Pennsylvania teacher vacancies dipped slightly over the last year, but more than a third of all districts in the state still reported at least one vacancy this school year meaning thousands of kids lacked a permanent teacher, or were placed in larger classes for all or part of the term. The numbers were starker in schools that educate larger proportions of children living in poverty and kids of color, according to a new research brief by Penn State Universitys Center for Evaluation and Education Policy Analysis. Advertisement Students most in need of well-qualified teachers tend to be the least likely to have access to them, wrote the briefs authors, Ed Fuller and Emily Walsh. In the 2023-24 school year, 44% of Pennsylvania schools reported at least one vacancy; that dipped slightly to 38% in 2024-25. Heres what to know about the latest research: Special education teachers are needed most Amid a continuing national shortage, special education teachers represent the greatest area of need. One in four systems said they had at least one vacant special ed teaching job. Our most vulnerable students are children in special education. These students deserve our very best, yet we cannot even ensure every special education teaching position is filled with a qualified teacher. The depth and breadth of vacancies in this important area should shock our commonwealth and spur immediate action to rectify this issue, the authors wrote. The next most significant area of need is teachers qualified to work with English language learners, another vulnerable population. There were also gaps in teachers certified to instruct technology classes, world languages, computer science, science, math, and business. Continued vacancies (as well as the hiring of teachers on emergency permits) ensure that not every child will have an adequate level of preparation in these areas, thus locking them out of the very types of careers that will be the economic engine of the commonwealth in the foreseeable future, the brief said. Cyber charters have the most vacancies Cyber charter schools were the most likely to have unfilled teaching jobs 92% in 2024-25, up from almost 77% in 2023-24. More than 50% of charters that operate brick-and-mortar schools reported vacancies in both years. The number was lower for traditional public school districts 41% in 2023-24 and 37.5% this school year. Whiter and wealthier districts are less likely to have unfilled jobs Fuller and Walshs analysis found that districts and schools that educate more students living in poverty and students of color were more likely to have vacancies. More than half 61.5% of the Pennsylvania districts that educate the most students of color had vacancies. Teacher vacancy rates for the districts that educate the highest concentration of students living in poverty were more than 10 times higher than those in the lowest three quintiles of districts. Why does it matter? Teacher vacancies are typically covered by a long-term substitute or a series of substitute teachers, or are handled by merging classes, leading to less attention on students. In other cases, vacancies are filled by emergency-prepared teachers who lack full credentials. On average, teachers on an emergency permit have lower student achievement growth than certified teachers, the analysis found. Again, students are harmed because they are likely to fall behind their peers academically and will have greater difficulty entering a post-secondary major in that field as well as a career in that field. How should Pennsylvania fix the problem? Fuller and Walsh suggested several fixes, including bolstering and expanding a state program that pays student teachers. Pennsylvania ought to incentivize would-be teachers pursuing certification in high-needs areas like special education, ELL, math, science, and world languages, they argued. They also believe convening a group to review the states teacher certification process and supporting grow-your-own teacher recruitment programs and teacher retention programs would help correct the problem. Ama, an ambitious restaurant project helmed by chef Frankie Ramirez, is on the cusp of opening in Fishtown. The decorative pottery, custom-made by artisans in Oaxaca, has arrived, one year after being ordered. The terracotta light fixtures are hung, and the comal in the open kitchen has been installed. The other week, Ramirez sat down to price out his menus. In the basement prep kitchen, he gestured at the growing pantry of peppers and spices, some rare, some common, but all imported from Mexico: clear plastic bins of chile casbel, which resemble enormous black cherries, papery yellow chile meco, crinkled morita chiles, and many others. Advertisement My favorite chile is double the price, he said, pointing at the chile cascabel bin. On March 12, a week after a 25% tariff was imposed on imports from Mexico and Canada then quickly delayed until April 2 Ramirez was already feeling the pinch. I asked my guy in Brooklyn [importer Mi Barrio] for hoja santa and he said he cant get it. Theyre not bringing it in. READ MORE: A South Philly produce distributor is girding for pain from Trumps tariffs on Mexico If the chiles Ramirez currently sources from Mexico become cost prohibitive, he is looking for other options, including persuading farmers in Lancaster to grow varieties specifically for Ama. Most of Amas menu will, in fact, rely on locally grown or sourced produce and seafood, but there are certain items that are hard to find outside of Mexico. Ramirez tried to get the Mexican scallops he was used to getting in Mexico City, which are firmer and milder than what is normally available stateside, but distributor Samuels Seafood told him it was not possible with the political situation. We used to be able to have whatever we wanted, but now its scary, especially opening a new restaurant, he said. Stockpiling before the tariffs kick in isnt necessarily an option for the chef, either. I like to keep my inventories short, Ramirez said. From my experience as a chef, the more you buy, the more people will use. If you have a 50-pound bag of flour, people dont care and theyll spill it everywhere. But if you buy a five-pound bag of flour, people will watch what they use. Even businesses that deal in less-perishable goods that can be stockpiled, like spirits, are reeling over the potential impact of tariffs. Philadelphia-based importer Siembra Spirits started in 2005 by producing tequilas made in Mexico under its own label. In later years, it expanded its portfolio to include 48 different labels, from mezcal to Oaxacan rum to ponches (Mexican punches) from Jalisco. We wanted to be very diverse and not just carry our own spirits, owner David Suro Sr. said. READ MORE: Tequilas founder David Suro finds inspiration in Mexican mezcal to bring back to Philly Siembra works with numerous distributors stateside to sell its spirits to restaurants, stores, and bars in 42 states, including the recently reopened Tequilas, which is owned by Suros son, David Suro Jr., and daughter Elisa Suro. (Suro Sr. legally renounced his ownership when he started Siembra.) As many people did, we started to get inventory ready and try to bring them in before the tariffs take place, Suro Sr. said. But this created a nightmare at the border and has a huge impact on our cash flow. Were bringing in more product to be prepared, but we have to subsidize that inventory. Suro has spent more money moving and storing product that he hasnt yet raised prices on. But if the tariffs, currently scheduled to be implemented April 2, take place, itll have a huge impact on our prices, he said. Its tough for him to estimate what the immediate effect will be, but he expects that the 25% tariff will eventually be passed on to the consumer. As soon as the tariffs were announced, this affected the prices of perishable goods, he said. In the case of tequila and mezcal, this is a product that depends on inventory. There are other consequences besides higher prices. Suros most recent container of agave spirits took nearly a month to travel from Mexico to his warehouse in northern New Jersey, a journey that typically takes 10 days. This might not have as much impact on Mexico, but more so on the U.S. and the hundreds of people who work in warehouses, the salespeople, and many thousands of people depend on these sales, Suro said. I feel like the punishment is on this end of the distribution chain, and not for Mexico. READ MORE: How a 200% tariff on European wine would affect bars Philadelphia Stockpiling alcohol is almost never ideal for a bar, according to Jill Weber, the owner of Sojourn Philly, the restaurant group behind Sor Inez. On one hand, Weber is deeply concerned for the survival of the small producers of tequila and mezcal she purchases from, as the U.S. is by far their biggest customer base. On the other, as a restaurateur, she said, money on-hand needs to go toward goods to be sold, payroll, rent, maintenance, and so one generally does not want to devote too much to inventory that will sit. Sitting on goods also creates risks restaurateurs potentially cant afford to bear. Disasters and break-ins happen, Weber said. Jared Adkins, the founder and distiller of Bluebird Distilling, said that even locally distilled alcohol is intertwined with our neighbors to both the south and north. In 2017, during the first Trump administration, which set more narrowly targeted tariffs, he saw a 25% increase in the price of his corks. The problem is, even though we buy from all American companies, they buy from outside of the U.S., said Adkins. Our cork manufacturer is based in the U.S. but was making their corks in Mexico. One of Bluebirds specialties is a Salvaji blanco agave spirit a tequila-like product made from Mexican agave, but distilled and bottled in Pennsylvania, so it can be more easily distributed in state. To produce the blanco agave spirit, for the last six years, Bluebird has imported agave syrup, which can be finicky and delicate, from Oaxaca, Adkins said. The resulting liquor tastes like tequila with rum notes and an extra sugary note. He also makes a reposado product aged in whiskey barrels, to give a distinctly Pennsylvanian character. In anticipation of tariffs, we bought a lot of agave in the last two months. The pinch is not restricted to Mexican imports. Contrary to what everybody thinks, a large portion of United States grain comes from Canada, Adkins said. Even if you buy from mills in the U.S., a lot of their rye will come from Canada. Its like the farms that function as co-ops. And if the prices of U.S. grain go up, the U.S. farms will charge more as well. Adkins once had goals of exporting his spirits, but tariffs, he said, put a lid on those ambitions. We were getting ready to export to Canada and Europe in 2016 and 2017, but when those tariffs hit, that all fell apart, he said. We saw an increase in the price of glass. Almost all U.S. companies buy their glass from Italy or China. Our glass prices have gone up almost 100% since 2015 and glass and grain are our two basic expenses. Its fine if you want to bring production back to the U.S., but you cant say that tomorrow you want everyone to go back to the factories. It would be better if there were a four- or five-year plan. Now if you tell everyone to just buy from here, its just going to raise prices because theres nowhere to buy. Inglis House residents protest the proposed sale of the Inglis House to a for-profit group in Sept. 2022. The board of the Philadelphia nonprofit canceled the sale in early 2023 after a bigger-than-expected Medicaid increase improved the nursing home's financial picture. Read more Inglis House nursing home is reducing its count of licensed beds by 50, which the nonprofits officials say will giveit a better opportunity to capture more payments from Medicaid. The number of licensed beds in the facility will fall to 202 from 252 on April 1. Advertisement The beds in question have not been used in at least year, said Dyann Roth, president and chief executive of Inglis Foundation, which owns the nursing home for people with physical disabilities and operates accessible apartments. During the pandemic, they were used to isolate people during outbreaks. The empty beds hurt Inglis Houses finances because occupancy rate was not high enough to collect about $500,000 a year in supplemental Medicaid payments. Those payments are tied to an occupancy rate of at least 85%, Roth said. The facilitys occupancy rate has ranged from 69% to 72% in the last two years, according to data in a letter Roth sent to residents and their families. We do not anticipate ever reaching 85% of 252 beds, Roth said in an interview. The prevailing winds against placements in long-term skilled nursing facilities, particularly for younger people, are pretty powerful from the federal and state levels. The Inglis House Family Council and residents have criticized the decision to relinquish the 50 bed licenses as part of a long-term strategy to reduce its footprint in long-term care. Council members told The Inquirer that Inglis was not doing enough to market itself to families who need the services available at Inglis. The organization traces its roots to 1877 and specializes in caring for people with complex medical needs. This isnt the first time the council and residents have pushed back against a board decision and advocated for the preservation of their institution. In July 2022, the Inglis Foundation board announced its intention to sell the nursing home at 2600 Belmont Ave. in West Philadelphia to a for-profit firm from New Jersey, citing years of substantial losses that threatened to deplete the organizations endowment that was worth about $240 million at the time. A resident and a donor challenged the sale in court because of fears that some of the endowment funds would be used to support the proposed for-profit owner. The Inglis board decided to cancel the sale after the facility received a bigger-than-expected increase in Medicaid rates in early 2023. That increase didnt solve the financial problems at Inglis House, Roth said last week, but it did give the organization more time to figure out how to achieve financial sustainability in the nursing facility, so that institutional option remains available to families, she said. Inglis Houses Medicaid financial report for fiscal 2024 is not yet available. In fiscal 2023, Inglis House reported a nearly $10 million loss on $42 million in annual revenue. A birthday cake for the Philadelphia Daily News in 1975, celebrating the People Paper's 50th anniversary. Read more The People Paper was born Jewish. One hundred years ago today, on March 31, 1925, the first edition of the Philadelphia Daily News was printed on the presses at the old Jewish World plant on Fifth Street near Locust. Advertisement The first edition of the Philadelphia Daily News, a pictorial tabloid paper, made its appearance on the streets here at noon, wrote the International News Service. A forty page paper was the initial offering of the Philadelphia Tabloid Publishing Company, publishers of the paper. The paper covered crime, sex, celebrities, sports, and politics. It emphasized its coverage with oversize photos. And it was a bargain, costing readers just two cents. Radio was still in its infancy as an effective tool for spreading information, and television wasnt around. The newspaper was a lifeline. In 1925, there was also The Inquirer, Evening Bulletin, Morning Record, Evening Ledger, Morning Ledger, and Morning North American. And scores of dailies for nearly every community, from Italians to Jews. From the beginning, the Daily News put a little mustard on its coverage. It celebrated the concept of a tabloid, and not just because it was easy to hold at lunch counters and on buses. As with most news operations, the editorial objectives of the People in charge of the Paper have varied with each ownership shift, starting with its first. Lee Ellmaker Jr., who had been associated with a number of dailies by that time, was named in that birth announcement distributed by the wire services as the publisher and manager of the company. But that was only part of the story. William Scott Vare was a kingmaker at the top of the citys Republican machine, which held most of the citys elected offices at that time. His name does not appear in the wire story, but it was his millions from the contracting business that bankrolled the birth of the Daily News. It seemed unlikely that his bid for a U.S. Senate seat would win the endorsement of any of Philadelphias five daily newspapers, wrote legendary Daily News editor Gar Joseph in 2015. So he started his own. The paper was sold not even a year after its founding, after Vares bid for the Senate seat was interrupted by a voter-fraud investigation. Then, as now, newspapers remain the explanatory medium, even as paper readers migrate to internet-laced devices. Financial malnutrition killed the rest of those newspapers that were still in operation when the Daily News published its first edition. Now were down to two nondenominational dailies, owned by one company, and written by one newsroom. But after 100 years, as in its first-ever edition, it remains a paper for, and by, Philadelphians. This ad appeared in the Philadelphia Inquirer and five other daily newspapers on April 1, 1996, to announce that Taco Bell had bought the Liberty Bell. Read more Ann Marie DiSerafino sat down at her breakfast table on the morning of April 1, 1996, sipping from a cup of coffee and paging through that days Inquirer when a full-page advertisement featuring a photo of the Liberty Bell caught her eye. In an effort to help reduce the national debt, the ad read, Taco Bell is pleased to announce that we have agreed to purchase the Liberty Bell. Advertisement It will now be called the Taco Liberty Bell, the ad proclaimed. DiSerafino, then a spokesperson for the National Park Services Philadelphia office that maintains the historic treasure, panicked. I believe I started hyperventilating, she told The Inquirer in 1996. Outrage spread across the country, as the ad also appeared in the New York Times, Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, Dallas Morning News, and USA Today. Angry callers flooded The Inquirer and the other newspaper offices, as well as the National Park Service, talk radio stations, and the fast-food giants California headquarters. Taco Bell, they howled, had crossed the border. The American people, however, had failed to notice the days date. Got em: Scores of Americans fell for the restaurant chains April Fools Day joke. People became even angrier. Some even accused the fast-food giant, widely known for producing a high-quality dining experience at an affordable price (at least in this esteemed Taco Bell connoisseurs estimation), of displaying bad taste. I think its in poor taste, said George Veal, 49, who was videotaping his family at Independence Mall that day in 1996. Even if its a joke, I dont think that they should take that symbol and use it in an advertisement. I dont think its right. The restaurant chains marketing people were pumped. The goal was to appeal to younger people with a rebellious streak, The Inquirer reported. Mission accomplished. Afterward, people thought it was the coolest thing ever, David Paine, whose public relations firm helped with the campaign, later told The Inquirer. I think young people like the fact that we pulled a fast one on the establishment. Taco Bells sales reportedly spiked a few days after the ad ran. Then-Mayor Ed Rendell, who was never one to miss a fundraising opportunity, asked the company to kick in for a new Liberty Bell pavilion. He convinced the company to cough up a $50,000 donation. Rendell was no fool. The Delaware County District Attorneys Office has charged 20 workers at a Chester-based charter school with child abuse-related offenses, alleging that some employees and contractors used painful physical techniques to restrain children at the school, while others failed to report the mistreatment. An investigation launched in January identified 26 children at Chester Community Charter School who had allegedly been abused by nine school workers. The children, who ranged from kindergarten to fifth grade, were all part of an emotional-support program at the school known as the Team Approach to Achieving Academic Success. Advertisement This case is every parents nightmare, District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer said in a statement. We send our children to school expecting the adults will keep them safe, not abuse them physically and emotionally. Authorities launched their investigation after receiving a complaint from two parents of children at the schools West Campus in Chester Township in January, the Delaware County District Attorneys Office said. The complaint indicated that the children said they were scared to attend school over the possibility of staff members placing them into holds. School workers allegedly used techniques such as pinching, pressure points, physical restraints, and threats of shoulder work as punishments, the district attorneys office said. Shoulder work, the office added, included placing children in holds by crossing their arms in front of them and placing a knee on their back until they were on the ground. Much of the alleged abuse took place in 2024, the DAs office said. But despite a state law requiring reporting the usage of so-called safety holds, no such incidents were reported by the school that year, school officials reportedly told investigators. Many instances of alleged abuse were captured on surveillance camera footage, the DAs office said. Police reviewed surveillance footage dating to early November 2024 and identified approximately 100 instances of physical abuse, typically involving physically restraining children without any visible threat to themselves or others, according to an affidavit. The affidavit also described the alleged abuse at the school as systemic and deliberate, with those committing it acting with calculated intent, using excessive force as a means of control. The investigation into the alleged abuse remains ongoing, and additional charges may be filed as police continue to review surveillance footage, Stollsteimer said at a Monday news conferences. It was not yet clear how many more victims might emerge as the investigation progresses, he added. This is just unacceptable behavior to happen anywhere particularly in a school setting for children who are supposed to be getting emotional support, Stollsteimer said. A statement signed by school CEO David E. Clark. Jr. said that the school had cooperated with local authorities on the investigation and that families of affected students were notified immediately. Stollsteimer said Monday that most of the individuals charged in the case were contracted to work at the school through a Chester-based company called Peak Performers Staffing LLC, which assured authorities that staff members had been trained in safety techniques, officials said. Authorities, however, said they later learned that none of the business employees had received the required updated training. Peak Performers provides behavioral management and support services to schools, according to a company website. The firm was cofounded by Jennifer Woodhouse and Emmanuel Gilbert in 2021. Gilbert was a former supervisor at Philadelphia-based education and disability nonprofit Elwyn, according to an online resume. Neither Woodhouse nor Gilbert immediately responded to requests for comment. In a follow-up statement, the school said it previously worked with Elwyn to contract for certain behavioral supports that Elwyn later discontinued. Peak Performers took over that role for Chester Community Charter School, in part because of the cofounders time at Elwyn, the school said. The statement posted to the schools Facebook page said that it had terminated the contractor as soon as school administrators learned that there was any possible violation of approved methods. The school added that three of its employees were charged in the case and are accused of failing to report the alleged abuse. All three have been suspended pending the ongoing investigation, the school said. These employees were the victims of Peak Performers, the school said. The nine workers accused of abusing children at the school were charged with offenses including simple assault, unlawful restraint, false imprisonment, and related charges. The workers charged with those offenses are Raymond Harris, Kabree Daniels, Christian Denny, Martin Mincey Jr., Harry Woodhouse Jr., Amaru Mohammed, Leroy Campbell, Adrian Hospedale, and Monica Griffin. Authorities charged 11 other workers with at least one count of failure to report the endangerment of the welfare of a child in connection with the case, authorities said. Those individuals are Daemon Pierce, DonNeisah King Pierce, Arijah Clements, Cyrus Barlee, Neanne Edmonds, Breshonna Belgrave, Deja Bennett-Allen, Ryan Ridley, Maggie Moloney, Dahkeem Williams, and Asia Pena. All 20 employees are mandated reporters of incidents of suspected child abuse according to Pennsylvania law, the district attorneys office said. Three people charged in the case had turned themselves in to authorities as of Monday afternoon, Stollsteimer said, and additional surrenders are expected. Staff writer Ryan Briggs contributed to this article. Muhammed Emanet (right) keeps the line moving as his mother, Emine Emanet, (rear, at right) serves patrons with family friends Katie Wister (left) and Aysu Ozbay (center) inside their Jersey Kebab restaurant Sunday. The family threw a party for their neighbors who helped them through the fear of ICE arrests and detention. The party was a festive mix of welcoming the couple home, thanking supporters, and marking the end of Ramadan. Read more It was a line of love, made up of hundreds of people who collectively stretched halfway down the block from the front door of the reopened Jersey Kebab restaurant on Sunday. Advertisement One man drove all the way from New Brunswick, bringing dates as a gift. Others brought flowers. And hugs, handshakes, and words of care as Celal and Emine Emanet joyfully reopened their Haddon Township restaurant, closed since the Turkish couple was arrested by ICE agents last month. The couple and their family worked on Sunday to thank a community that has rallied and raised money on their behalf, offering all comers free meals of falafel, rice, salad, and baklava. People insisted the family accept donations for the food, and green bills soon filled an aluminum serving tray. I was so upset when they broke up the family, said Mark Forrester, who stood in line outside the restaurant, taking the nice lady away in handcuffs. Until last month the Emanets were known mostly to their customers. But on Feb. 25 they became national news, after ICE agents appeared at the restaurant and arrested Celal Emanet, 52, and his wife, Emine Emanet, 47. He was fitted with an ankle monitor and released, while she spent two weeks and a day in ICE detention before being freed on bond. Both now face federal deportation proceedings. I need to be back at the restaurant, Emine Emanet said on Sunday, as she delivered vats of rice to the serving line. We are a small business, but we have a big heart. An outraged South Jersey community initiated a GoFundMe drive that raised more than $327,000 for the family, with donations coming from across the country and around the world, including Ireland, Germany, and England. Ive never seen anything like it, said lead organizer Lori Leonard, who initially had hoped to bring in $15,000. Its a reflection of whats going on in the world. People feel helpless and hopeless and that they cant do anything. This gives them a chance to do something. Boris Rybalko drove to the restaurant from New Brunswick, his gift of dates a way to help the family mark the end of the Ramadan month of fasting. The familys suffering at the hands of Immigration and Customs Enforcement touched me very deeply, he said. The outpouring of community support is also deeply touching. The popular restaurant is defined by its corner setting and big windows, now covered in paper hearts posted by friends and neighbors. Inside on Sunday, people wrapped their arms around Emine and shared a hearty Welcome back! with Celal, who worked behind the grill. Eldest son Muhammed, who manages the restaurant, made sure to personally thank everyone for their help and kindness as they departed with their food. Rashaad Jorden, who stood outside in line, said hes been following the familys story in the news. He was excited to see hundreds of people come to the restaurant on a sunny afternoon, and expected more would return as paying customers. The Emanet family needs our love and support, he said. I cant imagine what they went through. People missed them. They missed going to Jersey Kebab. He said he worries what will happen next. Celal faces an Immigration Court hearing on May 27, while no date has been set for his wife. Their attorney, Joseph Best of Best Law Associates, is attempting to combine the cases. The couple entered the country legally in 2008, established a popular local business and paid taxes, and have no criminal record. Their visa expired in 2013, and as a result they have no legal permission to live in the United States. Their two adult children also are undocumented, while their two younger kids are American citizens by birth. The Emanets have repeatedly applied for legal permanent residency. They have been waiting nine years for a government decision on their most recent application. ICE issued a statement last month saying the couple were illegally in the U.S. and had been placed in deportation proceedings but has since declined to comment. Im for the little guy, and I think what they did to her was outrageous, said Sue Cohen, who came to the restaurant from her home in Cherry Hill. Im all for them, and hope they stop this crap about deporting them. Celal Emanet is a scholar of Islam and the author of 10 books, an expert on Alexander Russell Webb, the 1880s American consul to the Philippines who left his Presbyterian faith to become one of the first prominent white converts to Islam. About 386,000 Turkish immigrants and people of Turkish ancestry live in the United States, according to Inquirer computations of U.S. Census figures. That includes about 15,000 in Philadelphia and its suburban Pennsylvania and New Jersey counties. Celal Emanet cited two main reasons for wanting to live in the United States. First, a better life for his children. And, second, a chance to pursue his scholarship in a diverse environment. Im excited, he said, as people began lining up outside before the start of the celebration on Sunday. I hope were going to make everybody happy. He comes from a family of restaurateurs, and started Jersey Kebab because he needed a means to support his family. The Haddon Avenue eatery served its first meal in March 2021 but had been closed since the arrests. Jersey Kebab will resume its normal hours starting at 11 a.m. Tuesday. On Sunday, as reporters spoke to the family at the restaurant, Muhammed Emanet agreed that the future is uncertain. But hes focusing on our business, our community, our family, he said. Every single day is going to be a better day. Emerging: The Stedman Gallery 50th Anniversary Show brings together 87 works from the Rutgers-Camden Collection of Art that numbers about 760 pieces. Read more In 1975, Angelo J. Errichetti, the mayor of Camden, who was later convicted in the Abscam scandal, vowed to turn the city mired in a downward spiral around. Promoting his hometowns revitalization, Errichetti, in the New York Times, proudly cheered Rutgers Universitys newly constructed multimillion-dollar Fine Arts Building (site of the former North Baptist Church on Linden Street) with a gallery and performing arts auditorium as a long-needed cultural center. The Stedman Gallery is now celebrating its 50th anniversary. The art gallery on the Camden campus was established by a foundational gift of $104,000 in 1968 (approximately $950,000 today) made possible by Alonzo Weir Stedman (1921-2002), a civic leader and plumbing supply manufacturer in Camden. The funds were earmarked to furnish the gallery, acquire a range of fine arts objects for a permanent collection, and support a national drawing competition. Advertisement In 1976, with the arrival of full-time curator Virginia Steel, the gallery emerged as a significant exhibition venue in South Jersey offering regularly changing shows that are always free. To bring some attention to the campus, we decided to put together the Rutgers National Drawing exhibition [in 1975] and received over 1,800 hand-delivered entries from all over the country. The gallery was covered with drawings, said sculptor and Rutgers professor emeritus John Giannotti at a gallery talk last month, while reminiscing about his teaching days in a nascent art department and the early years of the gallery. That show became the much-lauded biennial Rutgers National Works on Paper. Over the years, artists like Louise Bourgeois and Faith Ringgold have served on the jury. Ten years after opening in the Fine Arts Building, the Stedman Gallery was described, in an April 1985 Courier-Post article, as a cultural oasis in the middle of an urban desert. The gallerys profile was substantially raised by its first large-scale exhibition that celebrated Louis Armstrong with coordinated programming and concerts during a run from August to October 1995. Noreen Scott Garrity, former associate director of programming for 33 years, remembers Louis Armstrong: A Cultural Legacy, presented in partnership with the nearby Walt Whitman Cultural Arts Center. There were too many objects for the approximately 2500-square-foot art gallery space, she said. The opening reception started at Stedman and then went down to the steps of the WWCAC for dessert and coffee. And, we were all led by jazz musicians! Gold trumpets were painted on the sidewalks that directed people from us to the Walt Whitman Center. Those stayed on for years after. During his 16 years at Rutgers-Camden, Martin Rosenberg, professor emeritus of art history, worked with the staff at Stedman. Any crazy idea that I brought to them, they said: Lets do it! he said. With the gallerys enthusiastic support, he co-curated Visions of Place (2015), a group show of leading contemporary Jewish and Arab artists working in Israel, which toured nationally after. By the way, not a single protest at any single site, Rosenberg noted. The gallerys robust arts education program developed to focus on art and hands-on activities serving Camdens school-age population. During a discussion of an exhibition of Russian abstract art with a group of school children, Garrity remembered, a young boy being just unsatisfied why an artist did certain things. Well, you know, its artistic license; artists can make up their own rules, she said to him. At the end of the class, he asked: Where can I get one of those artistic licenses? A 1997, a summer project called Click! (Camden Life Interpreted by Camden Kids) gave disposable cameras to approximately 600 children. With a limited budget, Garrity remembers the pilgrimage looking for cameras around South Jersey. A local gas station chain was offering single-use box cameras for one dollar each. With an assistant, she fondly remembers: We drove around to every gas station that had the camera deal and bought as many cameras as they would let us buy. The currently ongoing Emerging: The Stedman Gallery 50th Anniversary Show brings together 87 works from the Rutgers-Camden Collection of Art that numbers about 760 pieces. Jackie Neale, guest curator and photographer, was invited to curate the show with a strong focus on photography, which comprises a significant portion of the gallerys permanent collection. Neale has included several prints and paintings that spoke to the work in the photography collection with pieces that provide a journey through visions of our host city of Camden. William M. Hoffman Jr., member of the initial art department faculty, is represented by two plein air paintings from a series of Camden portraits done during the late 1970s and early 80s. View of Camden is a light-filled aerial view of the citys skyline looking toward the landmark City Hall tower. Despite the seemingly spontaneous and loose brushwork, the cityscape is carefully observed under a bright cloud-filled sky. Additionally, there are fascinating historic images like the black-and-white archival photos showing the Benjamin Franklin Bridge under construction from the Camden side and dating from the 1920s, as well as a group of photographs taken along the Admiral Wilson Boulevard, including a few of the Oasis Motel prior to its demolition ahead of the 2000 Republican National Convention in Philadelphia. Digital color prints by Eric Porter (1946-2014) form a quarter of the show. His 22 abstract images deal with formal elements of design that can be discovered by looking at the details of color and texture in the ever-changing urban environment. The arts are at the heart and soul of our city, said Camden Mayor Victor G. Carstarphen, a lifelong resident. For 50 years, the Stedman Gallery on the Rutgers University Camden-campus has been a staple in the cultural life of Camden. Carstarphens father, he said, was active in the arts as a musician and songwriter. Music and creative expression have always surrounded me and play an important role in my life. Now that I am mayor, I am pleased to see the arts in Camden are still helping to mold future generations. Philadelphia Police reported that three teenage boys have been hospitalized following a shooting in the Cedarbrook/Stenton neighborhood Read more Three teenage boys have been hospitalized following a shooting in East Mount Airy Saturday afternoon, and police said all were being held at Jefferson Einstein Philadelphia Hospital as prisoners. The gunfire took place just after 5 p.m. on the 900 block of East Upsal Street. One of the victims, an unidentified 15-year-old shot in the chest, was in critical condition, police said. The youngest, a 14-year-old, was in stable condition with a gunshot wound in his right thigh. A 16-year-old grazed in the face with a bullet was in stable condition, police said. No motive was given for the shooting and no weapons were recovered, police said. A Bucks County voter drops off a ballot at the County Administration Building (Old Court House) on East Court Street in Doylestown on Oct. 30, 2023. Read more A federal judge ruled Monday that Pennsylvania counties cannot reject mail ballots simply because a voter failed to write the correct date on the ballots outer envelope. Judge Susan Baxter of Pennsylvanias Western District found that the states dating requirement for mail ballots violated voters First and 14th Amendment rights and therefore could not be enforced. Advertisement In a 21-page ruling, Baxter said Pennsylvanias law served no governmental purpose for the state. Since there is no evidence that the date requirement serves any state interest, even a slight burden on voting rights cannot withstand constitutional scrutiny, she wrote Baxters ruling, though significant, is all but certain to be appealed to a higher court as part of a yearslong battle over some of Pennsylvanias most extensively litigated ballots. An appeal may mean the ruling is not enforced in upcoming elections. Under current Pennsylvania law, voters must sign and date the outer envelope of their mail ballot in order for it to be counted. Election officials across Pennsylvania have persistently said the date on the ballot serves no practical purpose as they rely instead on postmarks to confirm receipt of the ballot. But to follow state law, county officials have rejected thousands of ballots each year cast by otherwise eligible voters. Democrats and voting rights activists have spent years working to throw out the requirement, arguing it needlessly disenfranchises voters. Republicans, however, have defended the law, arguing that the Pennsylvania General Assembly included it for a reason and that the legislative intent should be respected. The Pennsylvania Department of State celebrated the decision as a victory for Pennsylvanias voters. A voters fundamental right to vote should not be burdened by a meaningless technicality, a spokesperson for the department said in statement. County elections officials already confirm every ballot was sent and received within the legal voting window Over the last four years, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court has repeatedly rejected efforts to overturn the date requirement on procedural grounds and federal appeals court judges upheld the requirement in a previous case. Earlier this year, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court announced that they would review yet another case on the matter. Adam Bonin, an attorney who represented voters and Sen. John Fettermans 2022 campaign in the case before Baxter on Monday, said the judges ruling was a good step forward. But he would not yet tell voters to stop writing dates on their ballots as appeals remain possible. The court got it right, Bonin said. Especially finding that there is no purpose in this requirement, there just isnt. The Pennsylvania Republican Party and Republican National Committee and have repeatedly appealed rulings in state and federal court that overturned the state law. In a statement, a spokeswoman for the RNC said it expects to appeal again, meaning Baxters ruling could be blocked before it is applied in Mays primary elections. The RNC has been successfully fighting this case for more than two years, and we fully expect to appeal this decision. Requiring mail-in ballots to be dated is a commonsense safeguard which the Pennsylvania Supreme Court previously upheld as legal and required by state law, said Abigail Jackson, a spokeswoman for the RNC. EPA workers gather outside for a solidarity march around City Hall on March 25. Read more Philadelphia received $2.2 billion from the federal government in the last full budget year, and a vast majority of the aid funded health and social services programs for the citys most vulnerable residents, illustrating the stakes as President Donald Trump has threatened to cut aid to cities. Its not yet certain whether Trump will attempt to dramatically reduce or cut federal programs that benefit Philadelphia and, if so, whether his cuts will withstand legal challenges. City officials have said they are taking measures to prepare for the loss of federal dollars, and Mayor Cherelle L. Parker has proposed a $95 million reserve in the city budget for unanticipated federal funding losses. Advertisement So far, only one small federal grant a $1 million environmental justice grant from the Environmental Protection Agency to the city Office of Sustainability has been terminated in Trumps second term, city officials said last week. But Trump, his billionaire adviser Elon Musk, and other administration officials have indicated they want to go much further. Trump has said he would like to stop federal funds from going to so-called sanctuary cities, which are local jurisdictions including Philadelphia that decline to assist federal immigration enforcement, and he recently said an executive order to end sanctuary cities was coming soon. Parker has attempted to steer clear of direct confrontation with the White House, and her office has generally declined to respond directly to the presidents threats. But in a recent interview, she acknowledged that losing federal aid would be dire for the city. Were just a little old city of Philadelphia, Parker said, and so the potential impacts of federal cuts and what they could mean to the city of Philadelphia are grave and extremely concerning to this administration. Heres what you need to know about federal funding for Philadelphia. How reliant is Philadelphia on federal money? When people talk about the size of Philadelphias city budget, they are usually referring to the citys general fund, which is primarily funded by local taxes and pays for a majority of the costs of the citys day-to-day operations. For instance, when Parker in early March proposed a $6.7 billion budget for the fiscal year that begins July 1, that referred to the general fund. Only $61 million, or 1%, of that would be federally funded under her proposal. READ MORE: Mayor Cherelle Parker pitches her $6.7 billion budget plan as Trumps grave threat to cut aid to cities looms But the city maintains several other massive funds that serve specialized purposes, including the Grants Revenue Fund, which takes in money from state and federal governments and other sources that can be distributed to city agencies. Other funds include the Aviation Fund, which is sustained by fees from airport operations, and the Sinking Fund, which holds money set aside to pay off debt. The total city budget, known as the all funds budget, was $10.7 billion in the last fiscal year, which ended July 1, 2024. The $2.2 billion Philly received from the feds accounted for about a fifth of the total. (The city previously said it received $2.8 billion during the 2024 fiscal year, but the Finance Department clarified Friday that the correct sum is $2.2 billion.) Of that $2.2 billion, $379 million were one-time funds from former President Joe Bidens American Rescue Plan Act, a pandemic relief package. The city used all of its ARPA money to replace the estimated local tax revenue lost as a consequence of the coronavirus pandemic. READ MORE: Federal cuts, staffing struggles, homeless services: Philly City Council probes Mayor Parkers $6.7B budget proposal Many expenditures for traditional city services such as salaries for police officers, firefighters, and trash collectors are less vulnerable to federal cuts because they are primarily funded by money from local taxpayers. But public health and social services programs, many of which were launched by Washington in the middle of the 20th century but are administered by state and city agencies, could be crippled if the federal funding spigot were shut off. Federal funding is heavily concentrated in health and human services agencies, city Budget Director Sabrina Maynard said. Maynard also noted that Philadelphia benefits from federal aid that does not directly touch city government, from the eds and meds that fuel much of Phillys economy to subsidies for other government agencies to direct aid to individuals, such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or food stamps. In addition to [city] governmental operations, we have the eds and meds sector that gets funding directly, she said. The school district, PHA, SEPTA they all get federal funding streams. Many of those funding streams are also under attack by Trump, and those cuts could negatively impact city tax revenue. The president, for instance, has already paused $175 million in grants for the University of Pennsylvania. Which city agencies get the most federal money? The city Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual disAbility Services HealthChoices program, which provides mental health and substance abuse treatment for people who qualify for Medicaid, received $1.2 billion from Washington in 2024, by far the largest pot of federal money in the city budget. Losing that funding could cripple Parkers high-profile effort to clean up Kensingtons open-air drug market, in part by funneling people experiencing addiction into a wellness ecosystem that includes federally supported drug treatment services. When I think about potential cuts to Medicaid and Community Development Block Grant funding, how do you think we will be able to treat the people were building a wellness ecosystem with? Parker asked. The Department of Public Health, which operates Federally Qualified Health Centers across the city, received $193 million from the federal government in 2024. And the Department of Human Services, which administers child welfare services, juvenile justice programs, and the foster care system, received $162 million. The Office of Community Empowerment & Opportunity, home to anti-poverty efforts, received $18 million in 2024, and the Department of Streets took in $38 million. Some federal money goes to independently elected branches of city government. In 2024, $18 million in federal funding went to District Attorney Larry Krasners office, and $10 million went to the First Judicial District, Philadelphias court system. A New York-based insurance and financial services firm managing more than $12 billion in assets, A-CAP is in the hot seat after contending the departments filing attempts to circumvent the February order and exerts undue pressure on the company. Industry groups and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis oppose the repeal, warning it could lead to increased insurance premiums. Michael Carlson, president of the Personal Insurance Federation of Florida, stated that the shift could result in more uninsured drivers and a rise in litigation due to the new bodily injury coverage requirements. DeSantis previously vetoed a similar repeal in 2021, and subsequent efforts have failed to pass. The insurer, part of Berkshire Hathaway Insurance Group, currently employs nearly 3,800 workers across Florida, primarily in Jacksonville and Lakeland. GEICO said the expansion is part of its ongoing commitment to modernize operations and grow its business. UniCredit SpAs role in the vote has drawn attention after CEO Andrea Orcel revealed that the bank has acquired a significant stake in Generali. While Orcel has described the holding as a financial investment, it could provide leverage in other banking transactions involving the Del Vecchio and Caltagirone families. MSI president and CEO Shinichiro Funabiki said the investment aligns with the insurers strategy. Their first-class track record in the U.S. specialty market attracted us in making an investment, and we look forward to bringing our network in Japan, Asia and other selected markets to lead to sustained growth and increased value for both the company and MSIs investment, Funabiki said. The FAIR Plan is a consortium of private insurance companies operating under state oversight. While not government-funded, it is regulated by the Department of Insurance and supported by mandatory participation from admitted carriers. Over time, it has shifted from a last resort to a vital tool for coverage in vast stretches of the state - particularly in areas like Los Angeles County, where the 2025 Palisades Fire reignited debate over the insurability of entire communities. City Walk: Tracing the fading dreams of Wuzhou in south China 14:08, March 31, 2025 By Su Yingxiang, Zhang Wenjie, Cai Hairuo, Zhou Linjia, Alvaro Lago, Yan Lizheng, He Shanquan ( People's Daily Online Wuzhou is a port city in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. The city's Qilou Block, known for its iconic arcade buildings, is home to 22 historic Qilou streets, stretching over 7 kilometers and featuring 560 buildings in total. The arcade buildings represent a fusion of Eastern and Western architectural styles, embodying the unique cultural essence of southern China. It's a place of more than just captivating architecture though, as it's full of the city's special treats! Herbal tea, a popular summer drink to diffuse internal heat; pickled fruits and vegetables, famous for their unique sweet, sour, spicy and salty flavor; and "Tortoise-herb jelly," a traditional jelly-like Chinese dessert made from herbs, are among their most famous local treats. Follow Spanish host Alvaro Lago as he snacks and wanders through the ancient Qilou buildings, tracing the fading dreams of Wuzhou. (Web editor: Zhang Wenjie, Wu Chengliang) Sanders admitted the company had conducted such activities but described them as general research using publicly available information. When pressed on the rationale, Sanders said the company just really wanted to have information on those individuals, and really nothing beyond what was publicly available to us. He added that the practice ended several years ago. Before his arrest Wednesday, Paul Steed was a respected sugar market expert for a subsidiary of famed candymaker Mars Inc. He served on a U.S. trade advisory committee for sweeteners as well as on industry group boards, while giving presentations at conferences. Now Steed, of Stamford, Connecticut, is accused in a federal indictment of stealing more than $28 million from Mars since about 2013 through various schemes, including diverting funds to companies he set up. He is charged with seven counts of wire fraud and two counts of tax evasion. Steed, 58, a dual U.S. and Argentine citizen, pleaded not guilty in federal court in Bridgeport on Wednesday and was ordered detained pending trial. A U.S. magistrate judge said Steed was a flight risk and noted that while the government has seized $18 million of the allegedly pilfered funds, several million dollars remain unaccounted for and Steed has strong connections to family in Argentina. Steeds lawyer, federal public defender Phoebe Bodurtha, did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment Thursday. His wife, Martina Steed, told The Associated Press in a brief phone call that she did not know all the facts of the case and declined further comment. Mars Inc. said in a statement that the case involves the action of a single individual who sought to exploit the organization for personal gain. We fully cooperated with law enforcement to see this matter quickly brought to justice and always remain committed to maintaining the highest ethical standards and integrity in all our operations, it added. Steed worked remotely from his Stamford home as global price risk manager for Mars Wrigley, according to federal prosecutors. The company is a subsidiary of McLean, Virginia-based Mars Inc., the maker of M&Ms, Snickers, Skittles, Altoids mints and Doublemint gum, as well as other food products and pet food. Steed and his wife appeared to be living beyond their means, according to the judges order authorizing his pretrial detention. Steeds annual salary was about $200,000 while his wife was making $40,000 to $50,000 a year as a hair stylist, Magistrate Judge S. Dave Vatti said in the order. Yet they paid $2.5 million in cash in 2023 for a property in wealthy Greenwich, Connecticut, and own a mortgage-free home in Stamford worth $1 million, he wrote. Steed also sent $2 million over the past several years to relatives, other people and entities in Argentina, where he apparently owns a cattle and tea ranch, according to the order. In July 2012 he set up a company, Ibera LLC, and a year later he began submitting false invoices from it to Mars, according to the federal indictment. The scheme allegedly went on until December 2020, with Steed stealing nearly $580,000 with the bogus invoices. A bigger scheme beginning in 2016 would result in the diversion of millions of dollars from Mars through another Steed-created company, MCNA LLC, the indictment said. Prosecutors say Steed told certain sugar refineries who were buying re-export credits from Mars to send the money to MCNA instead. Steed also used MCNA in other scams including one involving the theft of more than $11 million from the sale of Marss shares in a financial services company, according to the indictment. Steed was appointed in early 2021 by then-U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue and U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer to serve on an agricultural trade advisory committee for sweeteners and sweetener products. In a LinkedIn posting previewing a commodities conference in New York City last year, Steed was listed as serving in several sugar industry groups, including being a former president of the New York Sugar Club. He also was a member of the Intercontinental Exchanges Sugar Contract Committee and a board member of the U.S. Sugar Users Association. Copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Fraud The New York utility provider Con Edison has agreed to pay $750,000 and implement a host of anti-harassment reforms to settle a lawsuit claiming it routinely ignored discrimination complaints brought by female field workers. The settlement, announced Tuesday, comes after a multiyear investigation by the New York Attorney Letitia James found a broad culture of harassment and discrimination, particularly directed toward women employees in the traditionally male-dominated field workforce. When female field workers complained of harassment, the company which provides electricity to more than 10 million customers in New York City and Westchester County failed to take those claims seriously, the settlement states. In one instance, Con Ed offered to relocate a woman who had complained about a traumatizing incident involving a male coworker, but it did not offer to transfer the man or limit his interaction at the womans workplace. Female field workers also reported being blocked by their supervisors from applying for promotions and hearing exclusionary comments, such as women dont belong in this department. The investigation also found female employees were disciplined at higher rates than their male counterparts. Con Ed failed to protect its workers, allowing toxic, dangerous, and unlawful behavior to persist for years, James said in a statement. The companys inaction is unacceptable, and today we are ensuring this illegal and discriminatory behavior is never tolerated again. A statement from Con Ed said the company was committed to creating an environment free of harassment and discrimination for each and every one of our employees, including women in underrepresented roles in the field. While this settlement is not an admission of wrongdoing by Con Edison, it is in the best interest of our employees and an opportunity to learn from the experiences raised, and to evolve our processes, the statement continued. In addition to paying $750,000, Con Ed has also agreed to hire an independent consultant to oversee its investigative procedures and establish an employee resource group to discuss workplace conditions. Copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. The family of Stephane Roy, a Canadian entrepreneur killed in a helicopter accident in 2019, has filed a C$50 million ($35 million) lawsuit against manufacturer Robinson Helicopter Co. Roy and his 15-year-old son Justin disappeared that summer while returning from a fishing trip on a Robinson R44 helicopter. After two weeks, authorities discovered the helicopter had crashed, killing them both. Roys family filed a lawsuit against Robinson in 2021 in California, where the company is headquartered. A judge ruled earlier this year that the case should proceed in Quebec. Robinson Helicopter sought to move the case to Quebec, viewing it as a more favorable jurisdiction, the family said in a news release Friday, announcing it had filed a new lawsuit in the Canadian province. Roy founded Quebec tomato producer Savoura in 1995. The Transportation Safety Board of Canada concluded the accident resulted from the failure of a main rotor blade. The report said a preexisting manufacturing defect is likely to have contributed to the incident, but the issue may have been visible and detectable before takeoff. An emailed statement from David Smith, president and CEO of Robinson Helicopter, said the company takes all accidents very seriously, including the tragic 2019 Lac Valtrie accident that took the lives of Mr. Roy and his son. Smith called the TSBs report highly flawed and said the TSB ignored critical evidence and dismissed the likelihood of carburetor icing, which multiple experts and investigators found to be highly likely. The company believes carburetor icing caused the helicopters engine to fail. Without accountability, tragedies like this could happen again, Daniel Roy, Stephanes brother, said in the family statement. Investigations by the Transportation Safety Board and independent experts have uncovered significant negligence by Robinson Helicopter. RHC welcomes a full reevaluation of the evidence, examining the importance of carburetor icing prevention, Smith said. Photograph: The shadow of a Robinson R-44 helicopter is viewed as it lifts off from Charles M. Schulz Santa Rosa Airport on November 5, 2017, in Santa Rosa, California. (Photo by George Rose/Getty Images) Copyright 2025 Bloomberg. Topics Lawsuits Canada The collapse of a skyscraper under construction in Bangkok the lone building to crash during the massive earthquake last week has become the center of Thai investigations as questions swirl around the construction and quality of the materials used by a joint venture of Thai-Chinese contractors. The 30-story building, which was set to be a new location for Thailands State Audit Office, crumbled within minutes of the 7.7-magnitude earthquake, killing 11 workers and trapping nearly 80 people. Last-ditch efforts are ongoing to find survivors, with the massive piles of concrete rubble making the task difficult even after 72 hours of the quake. Thailands Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul on Sunday set up a panel of experts to probe the collapse and report its findings to the government within seven days. Separately, the Ministry of Industry has collected samples of steel bars found at the site to test the quality of the material. Read more: War-Torn Myanmar Struggles With Quake Rescue as Toll Rises Two companies in particular have drawn public scrutiny. The building was being constructed by ITD-CREC, a joint venture between Italian-Thai Development Pcl and China Railway Number 10 Thailand Co. The venture was awarded the 2.14 billion baht ($63 million) contract through competitive bidding in 2020, with construction starting later that year, according to the State Audit Office. The top of the building, which was about 45% complete, was seen crumbling first, before the entire structure came down, sending rubble and debris flying everywhere. Bystanders were heard screaming in disbelief in the videos that went viral on social media. Weve never seen anything like this in Thailand, said Suchatvee Suwansawat, a civil engineer who ran for Bangkok governor during the 2022 election, at the site of the collapse on Sunday. The way it collapsed, like there was an explosion, isnt normal. The question is how do we identify the abnormality to find the cause? While the contractors havent offered any explanation yet for the collapse, Italian-Thai said it was committed to taking corrective actions to restore normalcy as soon as possible. The company, one of the biggest Thai contractors, was in the news last year as it faced a cash crunch and frequent accidents at some of its project sites. It was also under fire earlier this month for the collapse of an under-construction highway in Bangkok which killed six people. China Railway Number 10 couldnt immediately be reached for comment. The firm is a subsidiary of state-owned China Railway Group Ltd.. The joint venture with Italian-Thai was also listed as a contractor for one part of the Thailand-China high-speed railway project, according to a government website. Chinese Support As the companies drew heat, Chinas ambassador to Thailand Han Zhiqiang met with Anutin and pledged to support the government in its investigation, the minister said. The probe will focus on the designer, construction supervisor and contractor, Anutin said. If its proven that the builder strayed from the design plan and used other material than what was specified, they will be punished under the law, he told reporters. Although Myanmar was hit much worse, with the death toll set to climb from more than 1,700, the incident in Bangkok stood out in a city that withstood much of the impact of the temblor. About 13,000 buildings have reported some form of damage to Bangkok authorities, according to Thanes Weerasiri, president of the Council of Engineers Thailand. Only two of them were categorized as critical, while about 2,000 others still needed inspection, Thanes said on Monday. The collapse of the tower raised more questions as the crack first happened at the top as opposed to the usual pattern of foundations giving way under the impact of earthquakes, according to Watanapong Hiranmarn, secretary-general of Thailand Structural Engineers Association. It also didnt help that Bangkok, as a concrete jungle built on top of soft clay, felt the tremor harder than other parts of Thailand, as alluvial soil amplifies and lengthens seismic waves in a way that affect taller structures more, he said. Some of the answers may lie in paper-trail evidence. Thai police arrested four Chinese men on Sunday, who had trespassed into the crash site to take away documents, raising suspicions of a cover-up. Police said they had confiscated the documents, related to contracts and tenders. This was the worst case of a building collapse caused by an earthquake that I have seen in my lifetime, Watanapong said. Photograph: Rescue workers search for survivors in the rubble of a building that collapsed following an earthquake in Bangkok on March 29, 2025; Photo credit: Andre Malerba/Bloomberg Copyright 2025 Bloomberg. The death toll from Myanmars biggest earthquake in a century is set to climb from more than 1,700 following the end of a critical 72-hour rescue window, with aid efforts hampered by the ongoing civil war and sweltering heat. About 3,400 are injured in the war-torn country and the death toll may rise further, junta chief Min Aung Hlaing said. More than 300 people are still missing after the 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck Myanmars second largest city of Mandalay at a little before 1 p.m. on March 28. Myanmar declared a week of national mourning from Monday. The quake and subsequent aftershocks devastated swathes of a civil war-stricken country that has been controlled by a military junta since 2021. Even before the temblor, some 19.9 million people or around a third of the population needed humanitarian assistance, according to the United Nations. Read more: Myanmar Junta Asks for Aid as Death Toll From Massive Quake Nears 150 On Sunday, Myanmar rebels declared a two-week ceasefire in quake-hit areas to allow aid to reach victims. The junta hasnt said if it will join, while local media reported the military government continues to conduct airstrikes near areas affected by the tremor. Quake-hit Sagaing and Mandalay are affected by ongoing conflict and remain partially inaccessible, the World Health Organization said in a flash appeal seeking to raise $8 million. Crematoriums in Mandalay are overwhelmed, according to the Myanmar Now website, which reported that the military junta has barred international journalists from quake-stricken areas. The ruling military government is busy with rescue efforts, and thus has difficulties in issuing visas to foreign journalists, spokesman Major General Zaw Min Tun said. Local media reported that a 50-member Malaysian rescue team with specialized heavy equipment is the first foreign group to reach Sagaing, the epicenter of the quake. Chinas embassy said its rescuers have saved several people in Mandalay. The team worked for more than five hours to rescue a woman trapped in a Mandalay hotel for about 60 hours, the junta said in a statement. Her vital signs are good, it added. One issue is the summer heat, with the US Climate Prediction Center forecasting above-normal minimum temperatures for much of the country through early next week, with maximum temperatures in the 30-40C (86-104F) range. People are still trapped inside collapsed buildings including a big hotel. Some of them may still be alive, but there is not enough machinery to remove all the debris, according to Myo Min Soe, a resident of Mandalay. International rescue teams arrived in Mandalay but they cant save everyone. In neighboring Thailand, where at least 18 people died in the quake, efforts continue to find dozens missing after the collapse of a building under construction. On Monday, at least a couple of office buildings in Bangkok were evacuated on suspicion of fresh tremors. Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has said the situation is under control. Offices and financial markets reopened today, and most small and medium-sized factories resumed operations. The benchmark stock index fell as much as 1.7% on Monday. In Myanmar, United States Geological Survey modeling indicates that more than 10,000 people may have died, with economic losses more than total gross domestic product. Millions of children are at risk, UNICEF said. Roughly 138,000 people died in Myanmar in 2008, when Cyclone Nargis swept across the countrys coastal belt, according to the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction. The latest disaster comes after fighting between opposition groups and the junta displaced more than 3.5 million people, with the UN refugee agency UNHCR estimating that some 1.6 million of internally displaced people are in quake-hit areas. Still, the shadow National Unity Government said its guerrilla Peoples Defence Force paused offensive military operations for two weeks from Sunday. Made up of allies of deposed leader Aung San Suu Kyi, the NUG said it has allocated $1 million initially for emergency rescue and medical operations. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations called for a safe and conducive environment to allow delivery of aid after a virtual emergency meeting on Sunday. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies launched an emergency appeal for more than $100 million to assist 100,000 people with life-saving relief and early recovery support over the next 24 months. This is not just a disaster; it is a complex humanitarian crisis layered over existing vulnerabilities, said Alexander Matheou, regional director for the organization. Photograph: Rescue workers search for survivors in the rubble of a building that collapsed in Bangkok, on March 29, 2025. Photo credit: Andre Malerba/Bloomberg Related: Copyright 2025 Bloomberg. Conduit Res Chief Executive Officer Trevor Carvey has a decided to step down and retire with effect on April 11, according to the reinsurers parent company CHL. At the same time, the company announced a trading update with a stated plan to buy more retrocessional cover to smooth earnings volatility. Carveys retirement is a result of a change in personal circumstances that require his return to the UK, the Bermuda-based company said. Neil Eckert, executive chairman, will assume the responsibilities of interim chief executive officer with immediate effect. CHL has begun a search to find a new CEO. In a trading update included in the same announcement, Conduit reiterated its previously stated preliminary loss estimate from the California wildfires of between US$100 million and $140 million, net of reinsurance recoveries and reinstatement premiums. In response to this hit, the company announced it intends buy additional reinsurance to protect it from further earnings volatility through this current financial year specifically with regards to secondary perils (which include wildfires, floods and severe convective storms). The cost of the additional reinsurance cover, plus other adjustments we intend to make to the portfolio, will reduce our previous guidance of potential forecast RoE for the year to between high single digits and low double digits, Conduit said. We believe securing the additional protection in a year with such a significant loss event so early in the year is a prudent measure. We maintain our cross-cycle mid-teens RoE guidance target. Related: Secondary Perils Responsible for Growing Share of Disaster Claims: RMS Eckert went on to thank Carvey for his dedication and contribution. He led the business through its start-up phase and significant premium growth, and we wish him well in the future. Since its formation in 2020, Conduit Re has become a quality business with a sizeable and growing income stream, Eckert commented. The balance sheet is strong, with ample capacity for further growth. We look forward to driving Conduit forward into the next phase of its development, he continued. It has been an honour to lead Conduit Re over the last four years and I am confident that the company is well-positioned for future success, Carvey said. CHLs remuneration committee has exercised its discretion, following standard process, to treat Trevor as a good leaver pursuant to the terms of its management incentive plan and deferred share bonus plan, the company continued. Topics Mergers & Acquisitions MS Amlin, the Lloyds global re/insurer, announced the opening of an Australian branch office in Sydney, subject to Lloyds approval. Leading the branch office is Matt Botfield who has been named head of Australia and New Zealand. The office will be a branch of MS Amlins Asia Pacific Reinsurance business, MS Amlin Pacific Pte.Ltd. Botfield joins MS Amlin from Aon Reinsurance China, where he was chief operating officer for Greater China and CEO of Alternate Insurance Authority Hong Kong, a role he held since 2016. Prior to this, Botfield spent 14 years at Aon Benfield, in several senior roles, including head of Property Australia and New Zealand. MS Amlin has a strong and growing reinsurance presence in the Asia Pacific market, the company said. Under regional CEO Will Ho and his team, MS Amlin offers reinsurance solutions across the majority of its product lines including casualty, property and speciality covers. These solutions are already available through conventional reinsurance structures as well as via its Phoenix ILS offering. A growing proportion of risks written by the Asia Pacific team stem from Australia and New Zealand. As part of its growth strategy, the company is setting up a branch office to give it on-the-ground presence and impact. Botfield will support the existing client portfolio in Australia and New Zealand and ongoing broker relationships managed by the Asia-Pacific team in Singapore. As well as overseeing new business development to help further facilitate growth, he will utilize MS Amlins broader underwriting capabilities to develop solutions for clients in the region. The operations in Australia will be accretive and not disruptive to the current portfolio written from London, the company said. Were excited to expand our presence in the Asia Pacific region, with the launch of a dedicated branch in Australia, where we see significant untapped potential, commented Will Ho, CEO of MS Amlin APAC. Matts appointment highlights our ambition to grow in this dynamic region and secure new high quality business including domestic risks that typically wouldnt come into Lloyds, Ho added. With his extensive local market knowledge and well-established relationships, Matt will play a key role in helping us capture these opportunities in Australia and New Zealand. We look forward to leveraging the full strength of MS Amlins underwriting and claims expertise to support the markets growing reinsurance needs. About MS Amlin Underwriting Ltd. London-based MS Amlin Underwriting is part of the global top-10 insurance group MS&AD, with operations in Lloyds of London, the Middle East and Asian markets. Source: MS Amlin Topics Australia Aon Mississippi Budget woes, combined with cuts to the federal wildfire-fighting workforce and President Donald Trumps tariff and sovereignty threats against Canada, have made it more difficult for state officials to plan for the upcoming wildfire season. In Washington, a $12 billion budget shortfall prompted majority Democrats in the Legislature this week to propose slicing spending on wildfire prevention and fighting by one-third to two-thirds. These massive cuts to wildfire prevention and response increase the threat to public safety putting lives and homes at greater risk, state Department of Natural Resources Commissioner Dave Upthegrove told The Associated Press in an email. The cuts make Washington more likely to experience the kind of horrific scene we saw recently in Southern California. As Elon Musks Department of Government Efficiency slashes federal spending, the Trump administration withheld money for wildfire mitigation in several states and then fired thousands of workers involved in firefighting from various agencies. Those included rangers in the Forest Service and weather forecasters with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Some were rehired under a court order, but many were then immediately placed on administrative leave. Washington State Forester George Geissler, who has decades of wildland firefighting experience, said the officials who fired federal workers dont understand the roles they play in fighting fires. Although they dont have firefighter listed as their job title, they all undergo special wildland firefighting training that enables them to respond to a fire when needed, he said. Meanwhile, tensions between the U.S. and Canada over Trumps proposed tariffs and calls to make the country the U.S.s 51st state have also complicated wildfire planning, especially in border states, Geissler said. Washington state has maintained a solid relationship with British Columbia for decades, but its unclear how firefighting will work if the borders are closed due to federal tensions, he said. In wildfire, we like to say we can bring order to chaos, he said. But the hard part has been that things are changing so quickly and doing such dramatic swings, its hard to anticipate and plan. State and local budget woes have compounded those concerns. Wildfire season in the West can run as early as April through November, while drier and hotter conditions linked to climate change have increased their intensity. These conditions have also sparked recent wildfires burning in the Carolinas, New Jersey, Florida and Texas. Oregon and California lawmakers boost wildfire spending Lawmakers in Oregon held a special session in December to approve $218 million in emergency wildfire funding. The 2024 wildfire season was the states most expensive on record, and the funds paid contractors who helped fight the blazes. Lawmakers have said finding new revenue sources for combating wildfires is a key issue in this years legislative session. California Gov. Gavin Newsom has proposed spending $325 million on wildfire mitigation efforts next year. Many lawmakers have signaled their support for more investments in wildfire mitigation programs after the deadly fires in Los Angeles earlier this year. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and the city council appealed to Sacramento this week for nearly $2 billion in disaster recovery aid at a time when City Hall is facing a nearly $1 billion projected deficit. The request included over $56 million for fire suppression and safety. Washington state officials grapple with a budget shortfall Washington state had made fighting wildfires a priority in recent years passing a bill in 2021 that permanently authorized spending $125 million each two-year budget cycle on response, forest restoration and communities. Those projects ensured that 95% of the states wildfires were held to 10 acres (4 hectares) or less, officials said. Thats some of the best money that we can spend, said Sen. Sharon Shewmake, D-Bellingham. Oregon and Washington had about the same number of fires last year, but while 2 million acres (810,000 hectares) burned in Oregon, only about 300,000 acres (120,000 hectares) burned in Washington, she said. When newly elected Gov. Bob Ferguson took office, he told lawmakers that state agencies needed to reduce spending by at least $4 billion and asked each department, including Natural Resources, to find ways to reduce spending by 6%. A budget proposal from Washington House Democrats this week came in $85 million short of the $125 million that had been allocated for the previous two two-year budget cycles, while the Senates was $40 million short of that target. The Washington State Council of Firefighters said the budget proposals would make it less safe for their members. Any cuts to funding for wildfire suppression and forest resiliency is going to be detrimental to the response to wildfire incidents for both the DNR and all fire service firefighters across the state of Washington, Jeff Wainwright, a council spokesperson, told the AP. The House and Senate proposals exceed Fergusons request, and instability at the federal level will magnify the shortages, said Michael Kelly, a DNR spokesperson. Our federal partners are behind on training and theyre behind on funding and theyre cutting staff, Kelly said. Knowing that were dealing with federal partners who cant bring as much to the table this year, we hoped the Legislature would be able to give us the full amounts. Deputy Majority Leader Larry Springer, who authored the 2021 bill that allocated $125 million for wildfires, said he understands the need for funding, but the states fiscal challenges forced lawmakers to focus the money on one part of firefighting the initial attack and try to refocus on things like forest thinning and prescribed burns that help prevent fires in the next few years. Given the fact that we dont have enough money to do all of that now, its a matter of which ones are the most important right now in the short term, he said. Washington Rep. Tom Dent, a Moses Lake Republican who has authored many wildfire-fighting bills over the years, said the state needs to ensure that it funds its initial attack and frontline firefighting programs. Im relatively fiscally conservative, Dent told the AP. But you have to recognize there are times when you spend money to save money. This is one of those times. Photo: Washington Department of Natural Resources firefighter Chris Werner, of Chehalis, works the south fire line of the Archer Mountain fire in Skamania County, Wash., Sept. 6, 2017. (Alisha Jucevic/The Columbian via AP, File) Copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Catastrophe Natural Disasters Wildfire About a year into the litigation between American International Group and startup Dellwood Insurance Group, a federal judge will allow much of AIGs lawsuit to proceed against its newest potential competitor in the excess and surplus market. Judge Evelyn Padin in U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey ruled AIG can amend its complaint and go ahead with allegations of misappropriation of trade secrets and unfair competition by Dellwood. Padin dismissed with prejudice AIGs allegations of tortious interference, aiding and abetting breach of fiduciary duty, and computer fraud abuse. On the matter of taking trade secrets, AIG can proceed with claims that former employee Thomas Connolly now with Dellwood as chief financial officer acted as a double agent for Dellwood while still employed with AIG. AIG has alleged Connolly emailed himself information related to AIGs E&S business plans, pricing, and strategy. Padin said courts within the district routinely find that the types of information alleged to have been taken by Connolly to Dellwood constitute trade secrets. She further ruled the information alleged to have been taken has independent economic value. Connolly as well as former AIG executives Michael Price and Kean Driscoll were originally named in a lawsuit filed against Dellwood in April 2024 about a month after New Jersey-based Dellwood was launched. Price was AIGs CEO of North America General Insurance before leaving the company at the end of June 2023. Driscoll was AIGs global chief underwriting officer of General Insurance. Driscoll and Connolly left AIG in March 2024. Price and Driscoll are now CEO and CUO, respectively, of Dellwood. AIG later dropped the three executives from the lawsuit, but continued its claims against Dellwood, which then filed a motion to dismiss the case based on the res judicata doctrine. Dellwood asserted the lawsuit couldnt go on because AIGs allegations against it included similar allegations against the individual executives who had been dropped from the case. However, Padin in this latest ruling said the doctrine is almost always applied to subsequent lawsuits based on a final judgement from an earlier suit. To the extent there are situations where res judicata may apply within the same case, this is not one of them, Padin said. The use of the doctrine, she continued, is not for a game of gotcha for parties to try and escape claims based on voluntary dismissals of other defendants. The case is American International Group Inc. v. Dellwood Insurance Group, U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey, No. 24-04456. Topics Fraud AIG Drenching rain along the Texas-Mexico border let up Friday, but rescues were still ongoing a day after severe storms trapped residents in their homes, forced drivers to abandon their vehicles on flooded roads and shut down an airport. Local officials also reported at least three people died from the rainstorm. Hidalgo County officials said there was no immediate information on the three deaths, only that they involved law enforcement. U.S. Customs and Border Protection reported one death involving U.S. Border Patrol agents. Agents approached a vehicle suspected of being involved in human smuggling that was stopped at a flooded road in Edcouch. As the agents approached, the driver attempted to cross the flooded street, plunging the vehicle into a canal. In Harlingen, officials said their city received a record-breaking 21.5 inches of rain this week, beating its all time two-day total rainfall record set in 1912. The heaviest rainfall arrived on Thursday causing severe flooding that had authorities rescuing more than 200 residents, with another 200 people still waiting to be rescued. This of course has been a historic and challenging event for the city. But Harlingen is strong. We have faced adversity before and we will get through this together, Mayor Norma Sepulveda said at a Friday afternoon news conference. In Alamo, the police and fire department responded to more than 100 water rescues, including people stranded in their vehicles and trapped in their homes, Fire Department Chief R.C. Flores said at a news conference Friday afternoon. Officials estimated a couple hundred homes in Alamo were flooded by the heavy rainfall. Flores said Alamo was one of many cities in the Rio Grande Valley in South Texas that were flooded and had damage from Thursdays thunderstorms but that all were working to help their residents. I assure the public that we are assessing the situation on the hour, every hour. Were constantly going out, not just in our city, Flores said. Just because the storm is over, it doesnt mean that the emergencies and the disaster is over. We are going to continue to work as long as we need to. Weslaco Mayor Adrian Gonzalez said his city was inundated with about 14 inches of rain, prompting 30 to 40 water rescues of stranded motorists and residents trapped in their homes by rising floodwaters. Its a historic rainstorm and its affecting all the Valley, not just Weslaco. Its just so much water in a short period of time, Gonzalez told reporters at a news conference. Television news footage from flooded communities in South Texas showed multiple waterlogged cars abandoned on streets on Thursday and drivers waiting on sidewalks for the floodwaters to recede. Between 6 inches and 12 inches of rain fell in many parts of South Texas in the past 24 hours, according to the National Weather Service.In neighboring Cameron County, officials asked Gov. Greg Abbott to declare a disaster for the county after more than 17 inches of rain caused significant flooding. The rainfall amounts we received have been record-setting, and not in a good way. All county resources are being utilized right now, and we are assisting in all ways possible, Cameron County Judge Eddie Trevino Jr., the countys top elected official, said in a Facebook post. Valley International Airport in Harlingen was closed on Friday and all flights were canceled due to area flooding.We are working tirelessly to reopen and focused on ensuring safety, airport officials said in a statement. More than 3,400 in several counties in South Texas remained without power on Friday afternoon, according to AEP Texas. A flood warning was still in effect for portions of South Texas, including Cameron, Hidalgo and Willacy counties, through early Friday afternoon, according to the National Weather Service. Theres a break from the rain this morning, which will allow flood waters to gradually recede, but well still need to keep an eye on the development of isolated showers and thunderstorms once again this afternoon, the National Weather Service said on social media. Any additional rainfall will be quick to cause flooding issues given the heavy rainfall that has already fallen. One middle school in Alamo was scheduled to remain open as a shelter for residents through Friday. One shelter had been opened in Weslaco and officials in Harlingen had opened the citys convention center as a shelter. More than 20 South Texas school districts and college campuses canceled classes on Friday due to the severe weather and flooding. Associated Press writer Juan Lozano in Houston contributed. Disclosure: Facebook has been a financial supporter of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribunes journalism. Find a complete list of them here. This article originally appeared in The Texas Tribune at https://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/28/south-texas-march-storm-flood/. The Texas Tribune is a member-supported, nonpartisan newsroom informing and engaging Texans on state politics and policy. Learn more at texastribune.org. Topics Texas Windstorm Contractors insurance groups say worker injuries are being faked at an unprecedented rate across New Yorks construction sites in hopes of receiving workers compensation benefits and liability insurance payouts, according to court filings and an ABC News report. Worker advocates and attorneys said the concerns are overblown and that the court system would catch most fraudsters. The ABC report quoted Don Orlando, with Tradesman Program Managers, a managing general agent and insurance underwriter, who said he has seen evidence of a widespread conspiracy to orchestrate fake falls and injuries. More and more of those actions have been caught on surveillance cameras, and he recommended that job sites and property owners invest in the cameras. Some insurers have been taken in by the schemes, with one paying out more than $3 million on a worker even after doctors determined that the man was not really injured, ABC reported. Court records show that one apartment building in the Bronx was home to 30 plaintiffs claiming construction injuries of the same type and with the same employer, something the director of the Coalition Against Insurance Fraud said was suggestive of orchestrated fraud. Tradesman and two reinsurance companies recently filed lawsuits against dozens of defendants, including claimants, lawyers and doctors who may have participated in the fake-injury schemes. Defendants orchestrated a widespread fraud scheme to defraud Plaintiffs and others by (i) unlawfully grooming and recruiting construction workers into staging and perpetuating fake construction accidents that occurred in New York and/or transforming legitimate minor or localized injuries into lucrative full-body claims; (ii) preparing and collecting documentation as well as submitting, filing, prosecuting and asserting fraudulent workers compensation claims and personal injury lawsuits on behalf of such construction workers; (iii) providing or alleging to have provided medically unnecessary and excessive healthcare services to such construction workers; (iv) providing monies directly or indirectly to Defendants and to Claimants to fund the fraud scheme; and/or (v) using the fraudulent diagnoses and medically unnecessary and excessive healthcare services to inflate settlement value, the complaint reads. The defendants have yet to file an answer to the suit. Photo: Adobe Stock images Related: Insurance Fraud: Brazen and Big Topics Lawsuits New York Training Development Construction A notorious public adjuster, already in prison for scamming Louisiana and Texas residents out of insurance proceeds, last week pleaded guilty to defrauding Brotherhood Mutual Insurance Co. and a Georgia church out of millions of dollars after the church was damaged by Hurricane Michael in 2018. Andrew Aga, also known as Andrew Mitchell, of Kemah, Texas, now faces as much as 30 years in prison, plus restitution and a $1 million fine, according to his plea agreement in federal court in Georgia. The adjuster faced similar charges of scamming Louisiana and Texas homeowners, churches and others of millions of dollars in insurance payments, and in 2023 he was sentenced to 20 years in prison for some of those scams. It is disheartening to see someone willing to defraud a place of worship in the wake of a major natural disaster, especially when its congregation trusted the defendant and all those involved to act lawfully and help them repair their historic downtown facility after Hurricane Michael, Acting U.S. Attorney Shanelle Booker, of the Middle District of Georgia, said about the Georgia church fraud. After Category 5 Hurricane Michael made landfall in the Florida Panhandle in 2018 then moved across Georgia, Friendship Missionary Baptist Church in Albany was left with extensive wind and water damage, court documents show. Brotherhood Mutual, based in Indiana, paid the church $183,208 on the claim in late 2018. A few days later, a construction company representative showed up and convinced church leaders to hire his company and a public adjuster to maximize the insurance settlement and make repairs, Agas 2024 indictment explains. Aga has said he was associated with Loss Consultants of Texas, Texas Claim Consultants and his own Mitchell Adjusting International. Brotherhood Mutual ended up sending three checks to the adjuster, totaling more than $6 million. Aga forged the church leaders names on the check and forwarded only about a third of the total to the church, the court records note. On top of the fraud, the construction firm left much of the repair work unfinished. When church leaders challenged Aga about the work, he claimed that the insurance company was withholding complete payment. The court papers and a press release from the Georgia Insurance Commissioners Office did not explain how investigators from the office came to be involved. At a time when victims were still reeling from the devastation of Hurricane Michael, Andrew Mitchell took advantage of that vulnerability for his own personal gain, Commissioner John King said in a statement. The offices license page shows that Andrew Joseph Mitchell, of Clear Lake Shores, Texas, was licensed as a non-resident public adjuster in Georgia. The license expired in 2022. Read more about Mitchells fraudulent work: Louisiana Police Arrest Public Adjuster Accused of Pocketing Checks Amended Complaint Says Texas Public Adjuster Losses Near $8 Million Topics Georgia ATLANTA (AP) The second part of Georgia Republican Gov. Brian Kemps top priority to limit lawsuits and large verdicts won approval Thursday from the House. The full package, also called tort reform, is set to hit his desk in the coming weeks. The bill, which seeks to limit predatory activity from third parties and foreign adversaries who invest in litigation, got overwhelming approval in the Senate and bipartisan support in the House, passing 98-69. But those moves come as lawmakers grapple with the fallout from political disputes over the first half of the proposal. Senate Bill 69 requires third-party entities that invest in litigation to register with the Department of Banking and Finance and bans foreign adversaries and governments from investing in litigation, among other reforms. It also limits how much the funders of litigation can influence civil litigation proceedings and the people involved. What this bill does is puts regulation and parameters around an industry that is, frankly, wide open at this point, House Republican Majority Whip Rep. James Burchett said Thursday. The first part of the package, Senate Bill 68, won narrow final approval in the House last week and contains a series of changes that will overhaul Georgias litigation landscape, including limiting when property and business owners can be held accountable for injuries on their property. Kemp said businesses are struggling to keep up with the costs of frivolous lawsuits and that insurance rates would stabilize with a balanced legal landscape, although the evidence for that assertion is uncertain. Kemp promised the Georgia Chamber of Commerce, a top ally, that he would take action to limit lawsuits in 2023. Senate Bill 68, which passed this year, generated an uproar from lawyers and survivors of sexual abuse, human trafficking and violence who said the bill would stop them and wronged Georgians from getting justice in court. Still, the bill picked up support from one Senate Democrat and three House Democrats. State Rep. Stacey Evans, an Atlanta Democrat and lawyer, saw the bill as a handout to insurance companies and businesses, as did many of her Democratic colleagues. She said after it passed that she was disappointed in her colleagues who voted for it. Hard decisions are hard because you have to look people in the eye that you disappoint. I dont want to disappoint those victims, Evans said. But guess what? Those victims wont be here every day. But the Chamber will be here. Insurance companies will be here. And I think too many of my colleagues are worried about walking down the halls looking them in the eye and not worried about the people back home. A day later, Democratic state Rep. Mack Jackson, a Black Democrat who grew up in the 1960s and has previously split with his party, voted against the bill. He compared an unnamed Democratic colleague who donated to his reelection campaign with segregation-era figures George Wallace and Theophilus Eugene Bull Connor. I realized that somewhere in her subconscious mind, she thought that she had bought me and my freedom to choose, Jackson said, adding that he returned her money because he doesnt want anyone to think that they own me. The chains and shackles that she thought that she had on me had to be broken, Jackson said. Because in that very instance, I realized that she only tolerated me as long as I went along to get along. He then said other colleagues had approached him about money they donated to his campaign, and he plans to refund them. On the other side, Republican state Rep. Vance Smith lost his job as the CEO of the Harris County Chamber of Commerce after voting against the first part of Kemps package, although he voted for the second part. Smith teared up on the House floor Tuesday as he talked about what happened. Democrats gathered behind him in support. I want to thank you. This is a family in here, and you wont believe the calls and texts Ive had, Smith said. Before the Senate vote on the first part of his proposal, Kemp threatened Republican detractors that he would fund primary opponents against them. Topics Lawsuits Legislation Georgia The boss of Primark - which operates as Penneys in Ireland - Paul Marchant has resigned after an allegation over his behaviour towards a woman. Primark's parent firm, Associated British Foods (ABF), said Paul Marchant has stepped down as chief executive of the high street fashion brand with immediate effect following an investigation. It said the incident related to "his behaviour towards (a woman) in a social environment". The company said Mr Marchant co-operated with the investigation, "acknowledged his error of judgment and accepts that his actions fell below the standards expected by ABF". "He has made an apology to the individual concerned, the ABF board and also to his Primark colleagues and others connected to the business," the firm added. ABF stressed that it will continue to offer support to the individual who brought the incident to its attention. Mr Marchant had led the fast fashion chain, which runs more than 450 shops, since 2009, when he took over as chief executive from the company's Irish founder Arthur Ryan. He was previously chief operating officer at rival New Look and had held roles at Debenhams, Topman and River Island. George Weston, chief executive of ABF, said: "I am immensely disappointed. At ABF, we believe that high standards of integrity are essential. Acting responsibly is the only way to build and manage a business over the long-term. Colleagues and others must be treated with respect and dignity. Our culture has to be, and is, bigger than any one individual." ABF's Irish finance director Eoin Tonge will now act as interim boss of Primark, working with the brand's senior executives and strategic advisory board, ABF said. Mr Tonge has previously had roles at M&S and Greencore. With chronic absenteeism doubling since the pandemic, the first Irish toolkit to combat the phenomenon of school avoidance will be launched on Monday. Developed by the Childhood Development Initiative (CDI), the free online toolkit, the first of its kind here, includes evidence-based resources for educators and parents and practical strategies for supporting children and young people struggling with school attendance. School avoidance is now a "noticeable issue" across the country, according to St Dominics National School, Tallaght principal Seamus Vaughan. As educators, we see it every day. Students falling behind, struggling to keep up with their peers, and missing out not just academically, but socially too. The longer a child is out, the harder it is to transition them back to school, and the knock-on effects can last well beyond school. It is important to recognise that schools are doing their best; but we need more specialist training, resources, and proper guidance to support the mental health of these students. School inspectors have raised the alarm about school attendance, with more than a quarter of all primary school students, and more than a fifth of all post-primary students, missing out on 20 or more school days during the 2022/23 school year. The problem is particularly marked in disadvantaged schools, where 43% of primary school students, and 30% of post-primary school students, missed 20 school days or more. Without timely intervention, school avoidance may escalate to school refusal and disengagement from education. The potential consequences are significant, according to CDI, with clear implications for academic achievement, future employment prospects, tertiary education opportunities, and social inclusion. While school avoidance is a growing issue, solutions exist, according to Ombudsman for Children Dr Niall Muldoon. "This toolkit is a valuable resource for educators, parents, and policymakers alike, providing practical strategies that can make a real difference." CDIs chief executive Marian Quinn said the toolkit ensures that evidence-based strategies are accessible to those who need them most. Our goal is to empower schools, families, and professionals with the tools to create lasting change. Developed in collaboration with education and mental health experts, the School Avoidance Online Toolkit includes step-by-step guidance for educators, as well as research-backed strategies for re-engagement. Establishing a toolkit and tackling school avoidance head-on will make a "tangible difference", according to Tusla Educational Support Services senior educational welfare oficer Amanda Cullen. "The targeted work with identified young people, focusing on mental health and school attendance, is particularly commendable. This project is not just about education; it's about empowering our youth and promoting positive mental health." Two women, one in her 40s and another in her 60 have died in a collision on the main Mallow to Killarney Road the N72 on Sunday afternoon. Both women were pronounced dead at the scene. Two children, a boy and a girl aged five and eight years who were passengers in one of the cars were rushed by ambulance to Cork University Hospital. The other woman was the sole occupant of the other car. A man intercepted at Dublin Airport with 12,000 worth of potentially dangerous "skinny pen" weight loss injections following a trip to Turkey has escaped a jail sentence. Patrick Fay, Fitzgerald Park, Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin, who was thwarted when he tried to bring home a five-year supply, pleaded guilty to three charges. The offences were under the Irish Medicines Board Acts for unlawfully importing Saxenda injections, nicknamed skinny pens, keeping them for supply, and placing them on the market without authorisation. Dublin District Court heard earlier that the building maintenance worker was stopped at Terminal 1 arrivals on November 13, 2023, leading to the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) prosecution. The offence carries a maximum 4,000 fine or 12 months imprisonment per charge. On Monday, Judge Anthony Halpin noted that a "glowing" pre-sentence Probation Service report said Fay was suitable for community service. Imposing that sanction, he ordered Fay to perform 100 hours of work instead of a three-month prison sentence. The court heard that the medication used without proper supervision has the potential to kill people with certain conditions. Ciaran Wright said: "It is extremely worrying to the authorities, and it appears to be a more common factor now these pens are more available on the streets outside the legal supply chain". In evidence, Mr Wright, an HPRA-authorised officer, told Judge Anthony Halpin that customs officers stopped Fay, who had just flown back from Kusadasi. The witness agreed with Brian Gageby, BL, prosecuting, that Fay's bag had 60 pens labelled Saxenda. He had claimed the product was for himself, three family members, and two friends. He said he had bought them before through Instagram or Facebook, but in this case, he had got them over the counter while on his trip to Turkey. Medication risk Mr Gageby told the court that Saxenda was authorised for supply through pharmacies only with a prescription. However, Fay's skinny pens did not have European marketing authorisation, and there was no English or Irish translation. Mr Wright added that there was no patient information leaflet on how to use the product or warning about side-effects and dangers for users taking Saxenda if they had certain medical conditions. The pre-filled Saxenda pens in Fay's luggage were for the Turkish market. Each pen contained multiple doses. "There would be severe risks for persons who would not be under medical supervision," Mr Wright explained. The accused, a father of three, had a five-and-a-half-year supply, and the pen had a street value of 150 to 200. Fay had 40 injections for himself, valued at approximately 8,000, and the rest for family and friends. The judge noted that the medication was generally for people clinically overweight, with diabetes and other similar medicinal conditions. It is injected daily in the thigh, abdomen, and/or arm, which a doctor should explain. The court heard there was a "severe risk" to patients with heart failure, diabetes, and people aged over 75. It could also cause a severe allergic reaction and inflammation of the pancreas: the most common side-effects affecting one in 10 people were nausea, vomiting, headaches and diarrhoea. The HPRA witness said it was unusual for a pharmacy, even in Turkey, to supply that quantity without a prescription. The witness agreed that when questioned, Fay maintained he did not realise he was doing anything wrong, and he apologised and co-operated. The court heard he had no prior convictions. His barrister said he worked full-time and showed clear remorse. Judge Halpin did not accept a defence proposition that it was like buying paracetamol in a supermarket, saying: "One jab of this could kill you". However, the judge said he would give him the benefit of the doubt about his account to the HPRA. The Taoiseach has said the introduction of tariffs by the United States could have knock-on effects for Ireland's budget in October. Micheal Martin said the overriding objective of the Government was to protect Irish jobs, as US president Donald Trump prepares to announce widespread tariffs on the EU this coming Wednesday. The entire world will suffer from tariffs and a move to protectionism, Mr Martin said, speaking on Newstalk. Its also slowing down investment because many companies are deciding not to invest at the moment with all of the uncertainty. Its a very, very grave threat, its a serious threat. The Taoiseach said companies did not have certainty at the moment, and this was leading to investment decisions being suspended. He added the EU would not make a knee-jerk reaction to US tariffs, but outline its general position on Thursday. It is expected tariffs will be universal across all European exports to the US and could be in the region of 20%. There is also an expectation there will be further tariffs on key sectors, including pharmaceuticals. Mr Martin said tariffs could very well impact on budgetary decisions later this year, but the Government would need to assess that. He said the focus in Octobers budget would be on capital spending, citing the need to invest in infrastructure like water, housing and the electricity grid. We do have to try and preserve space for capital investment in those sectors that will improve the productivity of the economy into the future, Mr Martin said. Meanwhile, Tanaiste Simon Harris will on Monday speak to a number of EU foreign ministers to discuss tariffs, while coalition leaders are to meet later on Monday evening. Speaking on Newstalk, Mr Harris said the world was preparing to enter a period of extraordinary economic turbulence. What we need to do in the days ahead is stay calm, stay measured, work at a European level and be strategic and coordinate in how we respond because tariffs are not good for anybody, Mr Harris said. I think the laws of economic gravity will prove that. Mr Harris said he understood the view of the Trump administration wanting to bring US companies home, but it misses a number of realities. We live in a very globalised world and actually a lot of what were producing in Europe is actually going back to American factories for value added, Mr Harris said. Pharma companies based in Ireland are paying royalties to the United States. Mr Harris said the goal was to get the US to the negotiating table and to secure a new agreement on trade. In any negotiation and in any engagement around trade policy, there should never be winners and losers in negotiations. Everyone needs to feel that they get a fair outcome, Mr Harris said. The European Union wants to do more trade with the United States. We want to buy more products from the United States. We want to do things that are good for the US economy as well as the EU economy. However, Mr Harris said there was a need for clarity and certainty and all countries had heard so far was rhetoric. He said that, during his call with US commerce secretary Howard Lutnick, there must be a grace period where negotiations can take place. Later this week, the Government is due to convene its trade forum to take soundings from sectoral interests over the tariff threat. It was meant to herald a new era in Corks water infrastructure. A 40m investment in a purpose-built state of the art water treatment plant to replace an ageing Victorian-era facility that was at risk of being placed on an environmental watchlist. But instead, the Lee Road treatment plant, commissioned in 2022 and which supplies some 70% of the drinking water to Irelands second city, has become inextricably linked to one of the biggest regional headaches facing Uisce Eireann today, with discoloured, dirty water pouring from taps in thousands of homes across the citys northside and in parts of the southside supplied by the plant. And if that wasnt bad enough, raw sewage flooded Monahan Road and Centre Park Road in January after equipment failure at an Uisce Eireann pumping station at the Atlantic Pond, forcing the closure of both roads for several hours while up to 20 tankers were drafted in to clean up the mess. Both incidents highlight why the utility has been in the crosshairs of politicians in Cork City in recent months. There have been issues in the county too, where Uisce Eireann is struggling to deliver timely upgrades to over-stretched wastewater treatment plants, where capacity issues are preventing the delivery of housing in the teeth of a housing crisis, where leaks and discharges from ageing plants have forced the closure of beaches in tourism hotspots, impacting on the tourism sector, and where it has been fined for major fish kills on once-pristine fisheries. Drinking water treatment began at the Lee Road site in 1879. There had been several upgrades to the facilities over the years, but no major upgrades since the 1950s. The new water treatment plant came on stream in the summer of 2022, and it is operating as it should, producing an average of 30m litres of clean drinking water a day in full compliance with strict guidelines. But problems emerged within weeks of its opening, with a spike in complaints about discoloured water flowing from taps. Tweaks to the water production process at the new plant, as well as pipe replacement works elsewhere, all on the back of the usual breaks, bursts, and repairs, combined to create the perfect storm for consumers, who have been unable to rely on that most basic of services a reliable supply of clean drinking water. The Uisce Eireann Water Treatment Plant on the Lee Road, Cork. File picture: David Creedon The problem has been persistent, affecting thousands of homes, preventing the use of domestic showers and washing machines, and disrupting cafes, pubs, hotels, and laundry businesses. Hundreds of people in affected areas have opted to buy bottled water instead. Calls for vouchers to cover their costs have fallen on deaf ears because Uisce Eireann insists the water is safe to drink once running clear. The investment in the plant represents a major chunk of the 100m plus that has been invested by Uisce Eireann in water and wastewater infrastructure improvements across Cork City in recent years. But taxpayers in affected areas have yet to see the benefit of that investment. The utility has been struggling for almost three years now to ensure that the clean water produced at the plant remains clear and safe to drink by the time it flows from consumers taps. The key problem is that of the 600km of water pipe in Cork City, 300km is ageing Victorian-era cast-iron pipes, which have become lined with sediment. Water pipes, which remain settled in the ground for decades, are very sensitive to change either a change to the water treatment process, in ground conditions, or to any kind work on the network itself. And there has been a lot of that happening in Cork City in recent years. A taskforce set up early last year to address the issue has introduced new treatment steps at the plant, including a step to remove manganese a naturally occurring mineral that has been found in elevated levels in the River Lee and to condition the final water being produced. It has also overseen the flushing of the pipe network in areas with the most discolouration complaints. But Uisce Eireann says while these will work in the short- to medium-term, the only long-term solution is to replace all the old cast-iron pipes all 300km. Pipe replacement work is slow, complicated, disruptive and expensive. City centre residents got a taste of just how disruptive last year when work, much it done at nighttime, was under way on a major water main replacement project on the citys South Quays, which saw over 4.2km of old cast-iron mains dating back to the 1930s replaced with modern pipes. The project, completed in February, will provide a more reliable water supply, reduce high levels of leakage, support growth and development, and help address the discolouration issues that some customers in the city have been experiencing, Uisce Eireann said. However, following a recent media tour of the Lee Road treatment plant, its experts gave a sobering assessment of the scale of the task ahead. Aluminium Sulphate tanks at the Uisce Eireann Water Treatment Plant on the Lee Road, Cork. File picture: David Creedon They said the cost of replacing the citys cast-iron mains would require an investment of at least 500m and would take several decades a signal of the scale of investment required following decades of underinvestment in the States water supply network. Several county towns have their own water issues. In some places, it means that thousands of people are living under extended boil water notices, or that new homes cant be built because of the lack of capacity in the wastewater infrastructure. In others areas, pristine fisheries have been wiped out by spills from ageing sewage treatment plants. The Whitegate public water supply in East Cork, which serves approximately 10,000 customers in areas including Aghada, Churchtown, Ballycotton, Saleen, Shanagarry, Ballinacurra, and parts of Cloyne, has been under a boil water notice since October 2023, blamed on infrastructural deficiencies and contamination risks. Last July, work began on a 22m upgrade at the Whitegate water treatment plant, with a new facility being built to replace the old plant, and due for completion in 2026. The new plant will be able to treat about 6m litres of water per day. The utility says the investment will address the frequent boil water notices that the people of East Cork have experienced over the last number of years. Elsewhere, a do not consume notice issued when not even boiling the water will make it safe to consume has been in effect on Whiddy Island since August 2022 due to low water levels at the islands raw water extraction point and high levels of colour and turbidity in the treated water, and on Dursey Islands public water supply since August 2024, due to elevated levels of manganese in the water entering the public water supply. The notice here does not apply to everyone on the island only to those in receipt of a hand delivered notice and who are on the islands public water scheme. Water issues are particularly acute in Dunmanway, a key town in the strategic heart of West Cork. House building has been effectively halted in the town because its wastewater treatment plant is operating at capacity. The problem is so bad that it has been enshrined as an objective into the latest county development plan that no new developments requiring a connection to the treatment plant will be permitted until the necessary plant upgrades are in place, despite the same plan saying the town needs 126 new homes by 2028 to cope with population growth. Uisce Eireann says the upgrades are several years away. The plant has leaked too, with one incident last July involving a discharge into a special area of conservation in the River Bandon, noted for its inland delta and presence of the freshwater pearl mussel. A local action group says the lack of capacity in its wastewater treatment plant is like a noose around the towns neck, strangling its potential, and preventing the delivery of new homes in the midst of a housing crisis. Whitegate village Co Cork. File picture: Larry Cummins In Rosscarbery, the Warren Beach and nearby Owenahincha Beach have both been forced to close several times during recent peak tourist seasons due to high E coli readings in the water, with many locals blaming leaks from nearby wastewater treatment plants for the problem. Local action groups in Rosscarbery, Shannonvale, and Goleen have been told they may have to wait until 2030 before they are even considered for funding. In North Cork, the discharge of a highly corrosive chemical from poorly maintained pipes at a water treatment plant last June killed tens of thousands of fish on the River Allow a pivotal Munster fishery, and a significant spawning and nursery catchment for salmon and trout. The discharge from the Freemount water treatment plant undid years of superb environmental work by local landowners and farmers in the catchment to protect and enhance the fishery. The leak occurred just days before a major international angling competition and forced the cancellation of the event, resulting in a significant economic loss to the area. In a constraints to development report last year, the Construction Industry Federation (CIF) identified constraints in water and wastewater treatment plants as among a number of key factors threatening the delivery of housing on a number of key sites around metropolitan Cork. The Southern Regional Assembly pointed out that metropolitan Cork achieved only 58.5% of its projected population growth between 2016 and 2022, while, in stark contrast, the non-metropolitan area achieved 80% of its projected growth while the Dublin Metropolitan Area grew by 166% over the same period. CIF said the latest city development plan envisages the delivery of just over 17,000 new homes up to 2028, while the county development plan envisages just over 10,500 units in the same period targets likely to be underestimates based on a higher national housing need requirement to 2040 of 50,000 units annually. CIF said it is clear that Cork requires substantial inward investment, including in water infrastructure, to both reverse these trends and cater for planned population increases. In Blarney and Tower, where almost 2,000 new homes have been earmarked to accommodate a population increase of just over 6,200 by 2028, the local wastewater treatment plant will only have the capacity to serve a further 500 homes over the next two years or so. Uisce Eireann has only recently secured planning to increase wastewater treatment capacity in Midleton, where almost 1,300 new homes have planning, with hundreds of new homes set to be delivered in the Water-Rock area alone. There are other signs of progress, however. Uisce Eireann completed the Lower Harbour main drainage project, a massive 144m engineering project to end the discharge of thousands of tonnes of raw sewage into Cork Harbour. In Macroom, it is halfway through the 21m upgrade of the towns wastewater treatment plant, due to become fully operational in 2026. The towns old water treatment plant, where a boil water notice was in effect from last September to early February, and where operational issues later that month led to overnight restrictions on supply, is also being upgraded. A near-500,000 investment in the Mitchelstown water treatment plant has led to its removal from the Environmental Protection Agencys list of vulnerable water supplies. And an 11m wastewater treatment plant has been completed in Castletownshend, eliminating raw sewage discharges into Castlehaven Harbour. But with continued population growth against a background of intense housing demand, these investments are the minimum of whats required. Renovating and moving into his grandmothers one-time residence has been a dream come true for Kerry native Kieran Cotter. The 27-year-old Knocknagoshel man has an attitude thats curiously old-world but ultra-modern. These houses are so lovely, he says. I think long ago, in my parents generation, those old houses were maybe associated with poverty, with a history of living off the land but for us young people, we have a romantic view of self-sufficiency, its kind of coming back. Kieran is beguiled by the fact that, although his home is almost now complete to his satisfaction (you can watch its progress on The Great House Revival on RTE One on Sunday, March 30, and on RTE Player), as was the case in generations gone by, there is (as yet) no TV in situ. Talking to Irish Examiner Home from the kitchen, he describes the surroundings: Inside the house now theres no straight walls or hard edges, its very kind of organic and its very warm, he says. And Ive the phone on the windowsill theres zero [mobile phone] coverage. If were all in here, in the kitchen, all the phones are on the windowsill, but thats good too it means you engage more in conversation. Kieran Cotter. Kieran has repointed the cottage with lime mortar. All these houses were coated in cement, and we know now, after 30 years, that lime mortar is the way to go, he says. The rendering also uses lime mortar. The work aligns with what I stand for. But this whole project aligns with what Kieran stands for, he adds. I believe in reviving rural Ireland, he says. "Even if you look up my road, there are at least 10 houses that are vacant from here to the village. If those 10 houses were brought back into use, we could bring back the school teacher we lost, we could reopen the shop and the pub and bring back GAA numbers. "And if all of that is not enough to justify it, I think, just looking at the current demographics, Kerry football could be in big trouble in 10 years time. Kieran, an engineer, moved back to his native Knocknagoshel after living in Germany and the Netherlands. In a village that has seen some decline, Kierans dedication to reviving this old home represents a wider hope shared by his friends to bring some renewed energy to Knocknagoshel. Rebuilding this cottage engaged the entire community in the spirit of meitheal over the past two years. The exterior before. The traditional stone cottage had lain empty since his grandmother passed away 13 years ago, and Kieran wanted to renovate the house as authentically as possible. Having little building experience, Kieran tackled this project for the most part on his own, though he could rely on a close band of family and friends to help when needed. The exterior of the Knocknagoshel property. Community, family and friends are hugely important to Kieran. He has witnessed firsthand the effects of an aging population and emigration on his community. The shops and pubs on the main street have closed down, and the school and GAA team are struggling to keep up numbers. Kieran is part of an active group that gathered to draw up a community plan for the area over the past year. We want to attract new people, new families, he says. Its great to travel, but there are people here who are aged 35 and going away for five or 10 years, so youre losing a generation of young families. Kieran is chairperson of the local tidy towns group and also involved in the Knocknagoshel Halloween celebrations. It would be wonderful if there were more incentives for people to come back. There is fantastic community spirit here local businesses and anyone living around the village have been very supportive, and so many people were offering me help. Ill be honest, I only accepted half of it. Kierans brothers and father were key to the build, as were friends and cousins. Id worked with a traditional builder before, in Listowel in Kerry in 2022, and one of those projects was a 300-year-old house made of mud, which was very cool, all with natural materials so that definitely inspired me and led me in this direction, he says. But a lot of it is about having confidence and self-belief. He is hoping to go into the business of training others in the craft. Kieran wanted to get stuck in with the build after returning from the Netherlands. I had a few bob saved up, and working on the cottage was always on my mind. Historically, this cottage was our neighbours farm, owned by a family called the Nolans. The Cotters, my family, and the Nolans have been neighbours going back to the 1800s. When the Nolans were selling the farm in the 1990s, Kierans dad, Richard, bought it. My parents and my three brothers were living in the small cottage then I was born, says Kieran. I was the straw that broke the camels back six people in a small cottage? My grandparents were living in the home house, a short walk over from our farm, so it was decided that my parents and my grandparents would swap houses. My grandmother lived here in this cottage until 2008 or 2009. The kitchen after. Sadly, the house fell into disrepair in recent years. Now that its been renewed, what is his favourite spot? The fireplace. Im mad about the fireplace. Weve no telly in the house, so the fireplace is really like another person in the room, he says. Hugh Wallace and Kieran Cotter. The house is split into four parts, and Kieran has finished the open-plan kitchen/living area, bathroom, bedroom and a sleeping area under the eaves. A workshop where he plans to teach his lime-rendering skills is also to be completed. I dont want to stop here; I want to help other people renovate other buildings, he says. The Nolans, who were the previous owners of the cottage, were a well-known family in Castleisland and Knocknagoshel, he adds. They started a construction company in London, Toureen named after the townland Toureenard. During the show, Kieran spoke to a family member now living in England, Sr Teresa Nolan, 96: She grew up in the house and it was amazing to hear her recall her experience. Im looking out into the small shed where they kept the pony and trap, and thats how they went to Mass. The layout of the house is more or less the same as they had it was then. Work on his house will have cost Kieran around 30,000 or 35,000 estimates architect and presenter of The Great House Revival Hugh Wallace, factoring in the 70,000 Kieran will get back via the vacant property grant. Elon Musk gave out $1m cheques to two Wisconsin voters on Sunday, declaring them spokespeople for his political group. The move came ahead of a Wisconsin Supreme Court election that the tech billionaire cast as critical to president Donald Trumps agenda and the future of civilisation and follows a late legal challenge to stop him. Taking the stage in Green Bay wearing a yellow foam cheesehead hat synonymous with Wisconsin and the Green Bay Packers American football team Mr Musk painted the judicial race he has pumped more than $20m into as pivotal for the country. Noting the likelihood the state high court will take up redistricting that could give Democrats a chance at winning two additional US House seats. Elon Musk speaks at a town hall in Green Bay, Wisconsin (Jeffrey Phelps/AP) Its a super big deal. Im not phoning it in. Im here in person. Mr Musk told the rally in Green Bay: The House majority is now razor thin. And if the (Wisconsin) Supreme Court is able to redraw the districts, they will gerrymander the district and deprive Wisconsin of two seats on the Republican side. Then they will try to stop all the government reforms we are getting done, for you the American people. Wisconsins Supreme Court refused to hear a last-minute attempt by the states Democratic attorney general to stop the giveaway, the ruling coming minutes before the planned start of the rally . Two lower courts had already rejected the legal challenge by Josh Kaul, who argues that Mr Musks offer violates a state law. Wisconsin law prohibits offering anything of value to induce anyone to vote, he argued in his filing. Yet, Elon Musk did just that. But the state Supreme Court, which is controlled 4-3 by liberal justices, declined to take the case as an original action. The court gave no rationale for its decision. Protesters yell at a man with an American flag as people begin to arrive for the rally (Jeffrey Phelps/AP) Mr Kaul had no immediate comment on the courts order. Mr Musks lawyers argued he was exercising his free speech rights with the giveaways and any attempt to restrict that would violate both the Wisconsin and US constitutions. The payments are intended to generate a grassroots movement in opposition to activist judges, not to expressly advocate for or against any candidate, Mr Musks attorneys argued in court filings. Wisconsins tightly contested Supreme Court election, where ideological control of the court is at stake, is on Tuesday. The courts four liberal justices have endorsed Dane County Judge Susan Crawford, the Democratic-backed candidate. Mr Musks lawyers, about four hours before the rally was to begin, asked that two liberal justices who have campaigned for her Jill Karofsky and Rebecca Dallet recuse themselves from the case. Both justices rejected the request and said they would spell out their reasons why at a later date. One of the courts conservative justices has endorsed Waukesha County Judge Brad Schimel, who also has the backing of Mr Trump and Mr Musk. Protesters hold signs as people arrive for a town hall with Elon Musk (Jeffrey Phelps/AP) Mr Musk promised to hand over a pair of $1m cheques who signed an online petition against activist judges. Mr Musk and groups he supports have spent more than 20 million dollars (15.4 million) to help Mr Schimel get elected. Mr Schimel said in a national television interview that he does not control any of the spending from any outside group, whether its Elon Musk or anyone else and that all Mr Trump asked was whether he would reject activist judges and follow the law. Thats exactly what Ive committed to anybody, whether its President Trump, Elon Musk or any donors and donors or supporters or voters in Wisconsin. Thats my commitment, he told Fox News Sunday. The contest has shattered national spending records for a judicial election, with more than $81m in spending. Mr Musks political action committee used a nearly identical tactic before the presidential election last year, offering to pay one million dollars (772,000) a day to voters in Wisconsin and six other battleground states who signed a petition supporting the First and Second Amendments. A judge in Pennsylvania said prosecutors failed to show the effort was an illegal lottery and allowed it to continue until Election Day. Mr Musk on Friday initially said in a post on his social media platform X that he planned to personally hand over$2m to a pair of voters who have already cast their ballots in the race. He later posted a clarification, saying the money would go to people who will be spokesmen for an online petition against activist judges. After first saying the event would only be open to people who had voted in the Supreme Court race, he said attendance would be limited to those who have signed the petition. Also on Friday, Musks political action committee identified the recipient of its first $1m giveaway a Green Bay man who had donated to the Wisconsin Republican party and the conservative candidate in the court race, and who has a history of posting support for Mr Trump and his agenda. The judicial election comes as Wisconsins highest court is expected to rule on abortion rights, congressional redistricting, union power and voting rules that could affect the 2026 midterms and the 2028 presidential election in the state. The death toll from the earthquake which hit Myanmar has risen to more than 1,700 as more bodies have been pulled from the rubble, the countrys military-led government said on Monday. Government spokesman Major General Zaw Min Tun told state-run MRTV that another 3,400 have been injured and more than 300 were missing. A New Mexico court is weighing whether to block the disclosure of records from an investigation into the deaths of actor Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa, at the request of the couples estate. Santa Fe-based Judge Matthew Wilson scheduled a hearing on Monday to consider a request from estate representative Julia Peters to seal photos, video and documents to protect the familys constitutional right to privacy. The court put a temporary hold on the release of records pending the hearing. The partially mummified remains of Hackman and Arakawa were found in their Santa Fe home on February 26, when maintenance and security workers showed up at the home and alerted police. Authorities have confirmed Hackman, 95, died of heart disease with complications from Alzheimers disease about a week after his wifes death. He may have been unaware Arakawa, 65, was dead. The house owned by actor Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa in Santa Fe, New Mexico (Roberto E Rosales/AP) Her cause of death was listed as hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, which is a rare, rodent-borne disease. New Mexicos open records law blocks public access to sensitive images, including depictions of dead bodies. Experts also say some medical information is not considered public record under the state Inspection of Public Records Act. Peters has emphasised the possibly shocking nature of photographs and video in the investigation and potential for their dissemination by media in the bid to block them from being released. The Hackman family estates lawsuit also seeks to block the release of autopsy reports by the Office of the Medical Investigator and death investigation reports by the Santa Fe County Sheriffs Office. The bulk of death investigations by law enforcement and autopsy reports by medical investigators are typically considered public records under state law in the spirit of ensuring government transparency and accountability. Authorities unravelled the mysterious circumstances of the couples deaths and described their conclusions at a March 7 news conference without releasing most related written and photographic records. One of the couples three dogs, a kelpie mix named Zinna, was found dead in a crate in a bathroom closet near Arakawa. Two other dogs survived. The written request to seal the records notes the couple placed a significant value on their privacy and took affirmative vigilant steps to safeguard it during their lives, including after they moved to Santa Fe and Hackman retired. The state capital is known as a refuge for celebrities, artists and authors. Arakawa had no children, while Hackman is survived by three children from a previous marriage. Privacy likely also will play a role as the couples estate is settled. According to probate court documents, Hackman signed an updated will in 2005 leaving his estate to his wife, while the will she signed that same year directed her estate to him. With both of them dying, management of the estate is in Peters hands. A request is pending to appoint a trustee to administer assets in two trusts associated with the estate. Without trust documents being made public, it is unclear who the beneficiaries are and how the assets will be divided. Attorneys who specialise in estate planning in New Mexico say it is possible more details could come out if there were any legal disputes over the assets. Even then, they said, the parties likely would ask the court to seal the documents. The Israeli military has issued sweeping evacuation orders covering most of Rafah, indicating it could soon launch another major ground operation in the southernmost city in the Gaza Strip. Israel ended its ceasefire with the Hamas militant group and renewed its air and ground war earlier this month. At the beginning of March it cut off all supplies of food, fuel, medicine and humanitarian aid to the territorys roughly two million Palestinians to pressure Hamas to accept changes to the truce agreement. The evacuation orders appeared to cover nearly all of the city and nearby areas. The military ordered Palestinians to head to Muwasi, a sprawl of squalid tent camps along the coast. The orders came during Eid al-Fitr, a normally festive Muslim holiday marking the end of the fasting month of Ramadan. Israel launched a major operation in Rafah, on the border with Egypt, last May, leaving large parts of it in ruins. The military seized a strategic corridor along the border as well as the Rafah crossing with Egypt, Gazas only gateway to the outside world that was not controlled by Israel. Israel was supposed to withdraw from the corridor under the ceasefire it signed with Hamas in January under US pressure, but it later refused to, citing the need to prevent weapons smuggling. Israel has vowed to intensify its military operations until Hamas releases the remaining 59 hostages it holds 24 of whom are believed to be alive. Israel has also demanded that Hamas disarm and leave the territory, conditions that were not included in the ceasefire agreement and which Hamas has rejected. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday that Israel would take charge of security in Gaza after the war and implement US President Donald Trumps proposal to resettle Gazas population in other countries, describing it as voluntary emigration. That plan has been universally rejected by Palestinians, who view it as forcible expulsion from their homeland, and human rights experts say it would likely violate international law. Hamas, meanwhile, has insisted on implementing the signed agreement, which called for the remainder of the hostages to be released in exchange for a lasting ceasefire and an Israeli pullout. Negotiations over those parts of the agreement were supposed to have begun in February but only preliminary talks have been held. The war began when Hamas-led militants stormed into Israel on October 7 2023, rampaging through army bases and farming communities and killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians. The militants took another 251 people hostage, most of whom have since been released in ceasefires or other deals. Israels retaliatory offensive has killed more than 50,000 Palestinians, according to Gazas Health Ministry, which does not say how many were civilians or combatants. At its height, the war had displaced some 90% of Gazas population, with many fleeing multiple times. Large areas of Gaza have been completely destroyed, and it is unclear how or when anything will be rebuilt. A US armoured vehicle that went missing in Lithuania has been retrieved from a swamp after a six-day search but there is still no information about the fate of the four American soldiers who were on board, Lithuanian officials said. The armoured vehicle was pulled ashore at 4.40 am, the towing operation is complete, Lithuanian military police and US investigators continue their work, defence minister Dovile Sakaliene said on Monday morning in a post on Facebook. The soldiers were on a training exercise at the General Silvestras Zukauskas training ground in the town of Pabrade when the group and their vehicle were reported missing in the early hours of Tuesday morning, the US army said. Lithuanian army and emergency services personnel build a makeshift dam during recovery efforts near Pabrade, Lithuania (AP) Until the investigators have more details, we need to stay calm and focused, and keep in mind the sensitivity of the situation and the concerns of the soldiers families, Ms Sakaliene posted on Facebook. She made clear to reporters that the first information about fate of the soldiers will be delivered by the US army. The soldiers, all from 1st Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, were conducting tactical training when they went missing. Hundreds of Lithuanian and US soldiers and rescuers took part in the search through the thick forests and swampy terrain around Pabrade, which lies just 10 kilometres (six miles) west of the border with Belarus. The M88 Hercules armoured vehicle was discovered on Wednesday submerged in 4.5 meters (15 feet) of water. A large-scale recovery operation got under way but water, thick mud and soft ground around the site have complicated recovery efforts and have required specialised equipment to drain water from the side and stabilise the ground in order to pull the 70-tonne vehicle ashore, the army said. Pakistan plans to expel three million Afghans from the country this year, as a deadline for them to voluntarily leave the capital and surrounding areas expired. It is the latest phase of a nationwide crackdown launched in October 2023 to expel foreigners living in Pakistan illegally, mostly Afghans. The campaign has drawn fire from rights groups, the Taliban government and the UN. For us, it is natural that managing so many Afghans coming back is a challenge. We have requested they should be deported through a mechanism and mutual understanding so they can return with dignity Arrests and deportations were due to begin on April 1 but were pushed back to April 10 because of the Eid al-Fitr holidays marking the end of Ramadan, according to government documents seen by The Associated Press. About 845,000 Afghans have left Pakistan over the past 18 months, figures from the International Organisation for Migration show. Pakistan says three million Afghans remain. Of these, 1,344,584 hold Proof of Registration cards, while 807,402 have Afghan Citizen Cards. There are a further one million Afghans who are in the country illegally because they have no paperwork. Pakistan said it will make sure that Afghans do not return once deported. Authorities wanted Afghan Citizen cardholders to leave the capital Islamabad and Rawalpindi city by March 31 and return to Afghanistan voluntarily or be deported. Those with Proof of Registration can stay in Pakistan until June 30, while Afghans bound for third-country resettlement must also leave Islamabad and Rawalpindi by March 31. Authorities have said they will work with foreign diplomatic missions to resettle Afghans, failing which they will also be deported from Pakistan. Tens of thousands of Afghans fled after the Taliban takeover in 2021. They were approved for resettlement in the US through a programme that helps people at risk because of their work with the American government, media, aid agencies and rights groups. However, President Donald Trump paused US refugee programmes in January and 20,000 Afghans are now in limbo. Taliban want Afghan refugees to return with dignity No Afghan officials to be made part of any committee or formal decision-making process, one of the documents said about the expulsion plans. A spokesman for Afghanistans Refugee Ministry, Abdul Mutalib Haqqani, told The Associated Press that Pakistan was taking decisions arbitrarily, without involving the UN refugee agency or the Taliban government. We have shared our problems with them, stating that unilaterally expelling refugees is neither in their interest nor ours, said Mr Haqqani. It is not in their interest because expelling them in this way raises hatred against Pakistan. For us, it is natural that managing so many Afghans coming back is a challenge. We have requested they should be deported through a mechanism and mutual understanding so they can return with dignity. Two transit stations will be set up in the northwest province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to help with deportations. One will be in Nasir Bagh, an area in the Peshawar suburbs. The second will be in the border town of Landi Kotal, some seven kilometers from the Torkham crossing. Afghans are unsure of their future in a country they do not know It is not clear what will happen to children born in Pakistan to Afghan parents, Afghan couples with different document types, and families where one parent is a Pakistani citizen and the other is Afghan. But officials indicated to the AP that social welfare staff will be on hand to help with such cases. Omaid Khan, 30, has an Afghan Citizen Card while his wife has Proof of Registration. According to Pakistani government policy, he has to leave but his wife can stay until June 30. Their two children have no documents, including passports or identity cards from either country. I am from Paktia province but I have never been there and I am not sure about my future, he said. Nazir Ahmed was born in the southwest Pakistani city of Quetta and has never been to Afghanistan. His only connection to the country was through his father, who died in Quetta four years ago. How can we go there? said Ahmed, who is 21. Few people know us. All our relatives live in Quetta. What will we do if we go there? We appeal to the Pakistani government to give us some time so we can go and find out, at least get some employment. Suspected US airstrikes struck around Yemens rebel-held capital overnight, attacks that the Iranian-backed Houthis said killed at least three people. The full extent of the damage was not immediately clear. The attacks into Monday followed a night of airstrikes early on Friday that appeared particularly intense compared to other days in the campaign that began on March 15. A Yemeni girl visits the graves of Houthis during Eid al-Fitr marking the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan in Sanaa, Yemen (Osamah Abdulrahman/AP) The strikes around Sanaa, Yemens capital held by the Houthis since 2014, and Hajjah governorate also wounded 12 others, the rebels said. Their Al-Masirah satellite news channel aired footage of broken glass littering homes in Sanaa after the concussive blast of the bombs, but continued not to show the targets of the attacks suggesting the sites had a military or intelligence function. Strikes there killed one person, the rebels said. Another strike targeting a pickup truck in Hajjah killed two people and wounded a child, the Houthis said. It marked the first, publicly known time the American strikes targeted a vehicle in this campaign. An Associated Press review has found the new American operation against the Houthis under US President Donald Trump appears more extensive than those under former president Joe Biden, as the US moves from solely targeting launch sites to firing at ranking personnel as well as dropping bombs in cities. Yemenis pray the mass Eid al-Fitr prayers marking the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan in Sanaa, Yemen (Osamah Abdulrahman/AP) The new campaign of airstrikes, which the Houthis now say have killed at least 61 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 loosely defined what constitutes an Israeli ship, meaning other vessels could be targeted. The Houthis had targeted over 100 merchant vessels with missiles and drones, sinking two vessels and killing four sailors from November 2023 until January of this year. They also launched attacks targeting American warships, though none has 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 decade-long stalemated war that has torn apart the Arab worlds poorest nation. Monday, Mar 31st, 2025 (9:00 am) - Score 2,320 The Governments Building Digital UK (BDUK) agency has today tweaked the language on the information page for their Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme (GBVS) in a number of key ways. This sees the removal of rural specific language and the introduction of language stating that some areas are open for urban voucher projects. The GBVS usually offers grants worth up to 4,500 to help rural premises (homes and businesses) get a gigabit-capable broadband (1Gbps) ISP service installed, which is available to areas with speeds of less than 100Mbps assuming there are also no near-term plans for a gigabit deployment in the same area (either via private investment or state-aid). Until now, this has been almost exclusively focused upon helping poorly served rural areas. NOTE: The GBVS is currently being supported by an investment of 210m via the wider The GBVS is currently being supported by an investment of 210m via the wider 5bn Project Gigabit programme. The value of the vouchers it offers can sometimes also be boosted by top-up funding from local authorities. However, ISPreview has previously reported that BDUK were also exploring the possibility of expanding the GBVS to cater for poorly served parts of urban areas too (here), which may otherwise sit neglected as patches of poor service, typically dotted about like small islands inside major cities and towns. Advertisement The latter problem can be caused by all sorts of challenges (e.g. high build costs, issues with securing wayleave / access and permits or road closures etc.), while state aid and competition laws often make it very difficult to use direct public funding in such areas (i.e. locations where private investment should be able to resolve without intervention). The easiest solution to the aforementioned legal and competition dilemma has typically been to use a voucher scheme, which was tried before (Connection Vouchers) and eventually morphed into todays more rural-focused scheme. But not everybody is a fan of expanding vouchers to urban areas and some opposition MPs have criticised the idea, which is despite it first being proposed under the previous government (here). Whats changed today? In short, the government has today updated the GBVS scheme so that its no longer using rural-specific language and is also open to urban voucher projects. At present the urban side of this is only open to several regions, including Birmingham and the Black Country (suppliers: E-volve Solutions, Exascale, Openreach), Merseyside and Greater Manchester (suppliers: B4RN, Freedom Fibre, Openreach, PXC), Greater London (suppliers: Openreach, Trooli) and the following parts of Scotland Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Glenrothes (suppliers: Highland Broadband, Openreach). According to a related supplier briefing, there is 2m available for projects to bring gigabit broadband to urban homes and business that have thus far been left excluded by commercial deployments. The eligibility criteria for all this remains largely unchanged, albeit with some tweaks for businesses and the exclusion of premises that are not vacant/unoccupied or derelict and have not been built in the last two years. Advertisement Who is eligible? Homes and businesses must meet the following criteria to be considered for a voucher project: existing available broadband download speeds are less than 100Mbps a gigabit-capable network is unlikely to be built to the area commercially in the near future there is no government-funded contract planned or in place to improve the network the premises are not vacant/unoccupied or derelict and have not been built in the last two years BDUK makes available to suppliers an indicative list of eligible premises in areas that are open to voucher projects. Suppliers conduct further eligibility checks and are then responsible for developing project proposals and requesting vouchers. A project must cover at least two eligible premises, with two or more eligible residents and/or businesses using their vouchers towards the shared cost of installation. Single connections are not eligible for the scheme. All projects are subject to BDUK commercial and value for money assessments. New connection speeds must reach: at least double the existing speed if the current speed is less than 50Mbps at least 100Mbps if the current speed is more than 50Mbps Business eligibility In addition to the above, in order to qualify for a business voucher, beneficiaries will be asked to self-certify as a Small or Medium size Enterprise (SME), as defined by sections 465 to 467 of the Companies Act 2006 which can be summarised as: up to 249 employees and annual turnover no greater than 36 million; and/or an annual balance sheet total not exceeding 18 million SME beneficiaries in designated high competition locations, defined by Ofcom as Central London and High Network Reach Areas, must also establish the following to qualify for a voucher: The relevant organisation is no larger than a micro-sized company under sections 384A to 384B of the Companies Act 2006 which can be summarised as: not more than 10 employees and annual turnover no greater than 632,000; and/or an annual balance sheet total not exceeding 316,000 Beneficiaries will be asked to provide evidence of their status as a SME or sole trader and self-certify that the organisation will have received less than 325,000 Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) in public grants over any period of three fiscal years including the current year, including the voucher contribution. The Special Drawing Rights amount has replaced the 200,000 de minimis grant limit following the UKs exit from the European Union on the 31st December 2020. The SDR to GBP exchange rate can be found here. Not-for-profit and charitable undertakings which qualify as SMEs are eligible in the same way that for-profit enterprises are. BDUK is also known to have been seeking expressions of interest for projects to cover premises in specific urban areas in certain other regions, which is intended to support their plans for achieving nationwide gigabit broadband coverage by 2030. Further urban areas are also expected to be added to the voucher list in due course. Overall, we think this is a positive development, although it remains to be seen whether expanding the voucher scheme in this way will be enough to overcome some of the complex challenges that building in the remaining urban pockets of poor connectivity can often present (i.e. its not always just a money problem). On the other hand, 2m doesnt seem likely to go very far, so if this proves to be a successful change then the government may need to allocate more funding. Monday, Mar 31st, 2025 (10:36 am) - Score 1,120 The long-running pan-European battle over video streaming-related technology between Nokia and Amazon (Prime) has this morning been settled with the announcement of a new license agreement Nokias first patent license deal with a major streaming platform. But the terms of the agreement remain confidential. Nokia originally filed several legal challenges against Amazon in 2023 for the allegedly unauthorised use of their video-related technologies in Amazons services and devices, which focused upon the Amazon Prime Video service and Amazons streaming boxes. Several related cases were also launched in the USA, Germany, India, the UK and the Unified Patent Court (UPC). Since then Amazon has suffered some setbacks, such as in the USA and Germany. For example, in a ruling of September 2024, the Munich Regional court in Germany found that Amazon had infringed one of Nokias patents. The good news is that Nokia today announced it has signed a patent agreement with Amazon covering the use of Nokias video technologies in Amazons streaming services and devices. Advertisement The agreement resolves all patent litigation between the parties, in all jurisdictions, said the announcement Arvin Patel, Chief Licensing Officer New Segments at Nokia, said: We are pleased to have reached agreement on the use of Nokias video technologies in Amazons streaming services and devices. Nokias multimedia technologies include video processing, coding, storage, display, user interface, and much more. This work continues today. Last year Nokia filed over 140 video-related patent applications, more than 50% related to the proposed H.267 core codec, with additional filings in areas such as the complementary standard VSEI (versatile supplemental enhancement information) and MPEG video standards. Nokia states that it has invested over 150bn in R&D since 2000 (including over 4.5 billion in 2024 alone) for cutting edge technologies, including cellular and multimedia. Monday, Mar 31st, 2025 (8:17 am) - Score 6,640 The Hong Kong conglomerate behind mobile operator Three UK and several other operators in different countries, CK Hutchison Holdings (CKH), has confirmed that theyre currently engaged in talks that could see them spinning off their global telecommunications network in the near future. But an agreement is not yet certain. At present CKH operates both mobile and fixed telecommunications (broadband and phone) networks in over ten global markets, including the Three brand in the UK (Three UK), Austria, Denmark, Ireland and Sweden, and under its namesake brand in Hong Kong, Macau, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Vietnam. According to Reuters, Hong Kong tycoon Li Ka-shing, who founded CKH, has reportedly already begun preparations to spin off CKHs global telecommunication assets and list the business valued at around 10bn to 15bn in London. The new entity would host CKHs telecoms businesses in Europe, Hong Kong and Southeast Asia. Advertisement The listing could reportedly be ready this year, but nothing is currently certain. In addition, CKH wouldnt be able to make much progress on this until after the full finalisation of the recently approved merger between Vodafone and Three UK (here), which could make it difficult to proceed with a listing in 2025. CKH initially declined to comment on this news, but has today confirmed the following. 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 Five Dead and Four Injured in Explosion at Spanish Coal Mine Tragically, five individuals lost their lives, and four others sustained serious injuries due to an explosion at a coal mine in the Asturias region of northern Spain, marking the countrys most devastating mining accident in decades. Local emergency services confirmed that two additional workers at the Cerredo mine in Degana, located approximately 450km northwest of Madrid, emerged unscathed from the incident. This incident represents the deadliest mining accident in Spain since 1995, when an explosion at a mine near Mieres in Asturias claimed the lives of 14 people. Preliminary reports indicate that the explosion was triggered by firedamp, which refers to the dangerous combination of methane and air in coal mines, as stated by Adriana Lastra, the central governments representative in Asturias, during a press conference at the site. Family members congregated at the location, anxiously awaiting updates on their loved ones. The explosion took place underground at approximately 9:30 am (8:30 am Irish time), and as news broke, families of the workers rushed to the scene, which was cordoned off by police and emergency response teams. Its outrageous. Companies used to ensure safety, but this is happening less frequently, expressed Jose Antonio Alvarez, a relative of one of the deceased miners, in an interview with the regional newspaper El Comercio. According to the regional government of Asturias, the deceased were aged between 32 and 54 years old. The injured individuals were transported to hospitals in nearby cities, with two being airlifted by helicopter. They suffered from burns and, in one case, a head injury. Emergency responders at the scene of the explosion. The mine is owned by a newly established local company named Blue Solving, which was attempting to convert the site for the extraction of high-performance minerals for industrial applications, as reported by the local daily newspaper La Voz de Asturias. During her visit to the explosion site, Labour Minister Yolanda Diaz asserted that the full force of the law will prevail if any individuals are found accountable for this tragedy. No one should perish like this in the 21st century, Ms. Diaz emphasized. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez expressed his sincere condolences to the victims families and hoped for a swift recovery for the injured in a message shared on X. Adrian Barbon, head of the regional government of Asturias, announced two days of mourning as a mark of respect for those who have passed away. For centuries, mining has been a pivotal industry in Asturias, a region characterized by its dense forests and mountainous terrain. With flags waving and slogans resonating, hundreds of thousands of anti-government demonstrators gathered in Istanbul, demanding the preservation of democracy following the arrest of Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, which incited Turkeys most severe street unrest in over a decade. Under a clear blue sky, substantial crowds amassed in Maltepe on the Asian side of Turkeys largest city, coinciding with the eve of the Eid al-Fitr celebration beginning on Sunday to mark the conclusion of Ramadan. Ozgur Ozel, leader of the main opposition party CHP that organized the rally, claimed there were 2.2 million attendees, although AFP could not independently verify this number. Im not afraid. I have only one life, and Im willing to sacrifice it for this country, stated an 82-year-old woman in a headscarf, holding a photograph of Imamoglu and the Turkish flag. He is an honest man, the one who will save the Turkish republic, she said regarding the mayor, who was arrested and subsequently jailed amid a corruption investigation perceived by many as unfounded. The large-scale protests, sparked by Imamoglus detention on March 19, have resulted in a stern government reaction, heavily criticized by human rights organizations and international observers. Recognized as the only Turkish politician potentially capable of confronting President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the polls, Imamoglu was nominated as the CHPs candidate for the 2028 presidential election on the very day he was imprisoned. He was triumphantly re-elected as mayor last year for the third time. The outrage over his arrest quickly spread from Istanbul to other parts of Turkey. Nightly demonstrations outside Istanbul City Hall attracted vast numbers and frequently erupted into clashes with riot police, who utilized tear gas, pepper spray, and rubber bullets to disperse the crowds. We are here today for our homeland. We, the people, choose our leaders, declared 17-year-old Melis Basak Ergun, asserting that the demonstrators would not be intimidated by violence or tear gas. We support our mayor, Imamoglu. Keep fighting! On their way to the rally, protesters aboard ferries traversing the Bosphorus were heard chanting: Everywhere is Taksim, resistance is everywhere! This echoed a reference to Istanbuls iconic Taksim Square, the focal point of the last major wave of protests in 2013. I participated in the protests outside City Hall for four days alongside university students. I urged them not to surrender, protester Cafer Sungur, 78, told AFP. There is no alternative but to persist in our fight, he stated. I was imprisoned in the 1970s when there was justice. Today, we can no longer speak of justice. Among the protest attendees were Imamoglus wife, Dilek, their children, and his parents, as noted by an AFP correspondent. Opposition leader Ozel informed French newspaper Le Monde that the Saturday rallies would henceforth occur weekly in cities throughout Turkey, along with a weekly Wednesday night demonstration in Istanbul. If we do not halt this attempted coup, it will signify the end of the ballot box, he asserted. Student groups continue to hold their own protests, mostly masked, despite a police crackdown that has led to nearly 2,000 arrests. The authorities have also restricted media coverage, apprehending 13 Turkish journalists within just five days, deporting a BBC correspondent, and detaining a Swedish reporter who arrived in Istanbul to report on the unrest. Eleven journalists were released on Thursday, including AFP photographer Yasin Akgul. Swedish journalist Joakim Medin, who arrived in Turkey on Thursday to cover the demonstrations, was imprisoned on Friday, according to his employer Dagens ETC. Reporters Without Borders Turkey representative Erol Onderoglu stated that Medin has been charged with insulting the presidenta common accusation used to silence critics of Erdogan. The judicial pressure routinely exerted on domestic journalists for a long time is now being applied to their foreign counterparts, he told AFP. Turkish authorities held BBC journalist Mark Lowen for 17 hours on Wednesday before deporting him for allegedly posing a threat to public order, according to the broadcaster. Turkish officials attributed this to a lack of accreditation. Baris Altintas, co-director of MLSA, a legal NGO assisting many of the detainees, told AFP that the authorities appear to be very determined to restrict media coverage of the protests. He added, We are concerned that the crackdown on the press will not only persist but may also escalate. Russia Claims Capture of Village Near Dnipropetrovsk Region in Ukraine Russian forces have taken control of a village located just seven kilometers from the border of Ukraines central Dnipropetrovsk region, according to statements from Moscow. The Kremlins military has not crossed into the region since their offensive began three years ago, but they have been making gradual advances for months, aiming for a significant breakthrough. Capturing territory in the Dnipropetrovsk region would be perceived as a significant propaganda win for Russia, although military analysts suggest that such a move would lack substantial strategic importance. The Russian defense ministry announced that army units have liberated the village of Zaporizhzhia within the eastern Donetsk region, which borders Dnipropetrovsk to the east. US President Donald Trump has been advocating for a swift resolution to the conflict since assuming office; however, his administration has struggled to achieve a breakthrough despite numerous negotiation attempts with both parties involved. Russian President Vladimir Putin has dismissed a joint US-Ukrainian proposal for a 30-day ceasefire, suggesting this week that President Volodymyr Zelensky be ousted as a condition for any peace agreement. Ukraine accuses Russia of war crime following Kharkiv assault Ukraine has charged Russia with committing a war crime during a large-scale attack on Kharkiv, which included strikes on a military hospital that injured personnel receiving treatment. The hospital structure and adjacent residential buildings were damaged by a Shahed drone, reported the Ukrainian army in a statement. Preliminary findings indicate casualties among military personnel who were receiving care at the medical facility, they added. Ukraine generally refrains from disclosing details on military casualties and did not specify how many soldiers were harmed. It accused Russia of committing a war crime and breaching the principles of international humanitarian law. The Ukrainian emergency services reported that the massive attack on the northeastern city also led to the destruction of residential and office buildings. Governor Oleg Synegubov stated that two individuals lost their lives: a 67-year-old man and a 70-year-old woman, while another 25 people were injured, including children. Click here to donate via PayPal. Personal checks should be made out to Juan Cole and sent to me at: Juan ColeP. O. Box 4218,Ann Arbor, MI 48104-2548USA(Remember, make the checks out to Juan Cole or they cant be cashed) ( Tomdispatch.com ) The news of Rodrigo Dutertes arrest surprised me. Its not that I doubted the former leader of the Philippines was guilty of the horrific crimes detailed in his International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant. Duterte himself boasted quite openly of the mass killings hes been accused of. But I always thought that the prospects of bringing that brutal, outspoken politician to justice were remote indeed. After all, Dutertes daughter Sara is currently the vice president of the Philippines and that country is no longer a member of the ICC. On top of that, Duterte himself was so sure of his immunity that he was running for mayor of the city of Davao. In mid-March, after returning from campaigning in the Filipino community in Hong Kong, he suffered the indignity of being arrested in his own country. Forgive me for saying this, but I just hadnt thought the ICC was still truly functioning, given that the leaders of the most powerful countries on this planet the United States, China, and Russia dont give a fig about human rights or international law. Sure, the ICC did issue high-profile arrest warrants for Russian leader Vladimir Putin and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on war crimes charges, but no one expects those rogues to be taken into custody anytime soon. And the impunity for the powerful has only become more entrenched now that a convicted felon squats in the White House. The specialty of the ICC has, of course, been arresting human-rights abusers in truly weak or failed states like Laurent Gbagbo, former president of Cote dIvoire, and Hashim Thaci, former president of Kosovo. With the worlds 31st largest economy, however, the Philippines is no failed state. Still, without nuclear weapons or a huge army, its no powerhouse either. Indeed, it was only when the Philippines became ever weaker because of a feud between President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte (accused of threatening to assassinate him) that the ICC had a chance to grab its target and spirit him away to The Hague to stand trial. The arrest of Rodrigo Duterte might, in fact, seem like the exception that proves the (new) rule. After all, the international community and its institutions are currently facing a crisis of global proportions with violations of international law becoming ever more commonplace in this era of ascendant right-wing rogue states. In 2014, Russia first grabbed Ukrainian territory, launching an all-out invasion in 2022. Israel has committed genocide in Gaza, sent troops into southern Lebanon, and expanded its footprint in Syria. President Trump has spoken repeatedly of seizing Greenland, absorbing Canada as the 51st state, and retaking the Panama Canal, among other things. Small countries like Taiwan cant sleep for fear of a late-night visit from jackbooted thugs. But then theres Europe. Transatlantic Divergence In the wake of Donald Trumps dramatic return to the stage as a bull in the global china shop, European leaders have hastened to replace the United States as the voice of liberal internationalist institutions like the ICC. Of course, the U.S. was never actually a member of the ICC, which suggests that Europe has always been more connected to the rule of law than most American politicians. After all, if Duterte had been sent to Washington today not to mention Beijing, Buenos Aires, Cairo, Moscow, or New Delhi he would undoubtedly have been feted as an exemplary law-and-order politico rather than, as in The Hague, placed behind bars and put on trial. This transatlantic divergence was only sharpened in mid-February when Vice President J.D. Vance berated an audience of Europeans at the Munich Security Conference, singling out for criticism Europes support of feminism and pro-choice policies, its rejection of Russian election interference (by overturning a Kremlin-manipulated presidential election in Romania), and its refusal to tolerate fascist and neo-fascist parties (shunning, among others, Germanys Alternative fur Deutschland, or AfD). By urging them to worry more about internal challenges to democracy in Europe than the challenges presented by either Russia or China, Vance was effectively siding with illiberal adversaries against liberal allies. In a certain sense, however, he was also eerily on target: Europe does indeed face all-too-many internal challenges to democracy. But they come from his ideological compatriots there like Hungarys Viktor Orban and Slovakias Robert Fico, and far-right political parties like Germanys AfD, as well as ultra-conservative cultural movements that target immigrants, the LGBTQ community, and secular multiculturalists. Vance opposes mainstream European opinion, which has directly or indirectly challenged Donald Trumps MAGA proposals and policies, as well as his rejection of the reality of climate change. Europe has, of course, been stepping up its defense of Ukraine, remains committed to promoting human rights, and adheres to democratic principles in the form of regular electoral checks and balances, as well as safeguards for civil society. Above all, unlike the Trump administration, it continues to move forward on the European Green Deal and a program to leave behind fossil fuels. These were, of course, fairly uncontroversial positions until Trump reentered the White House. Can Europe sustain that fragile plant of liberalism during this harsh winter of right-wing populism? Much depends on some risky bets. Will U.S. foreign policy swing back in favor of democracy, human rights, and transatlantic relations in four years? Will the weight of a never-ending war, in the end, dislodge Vladimir Putin from the Kremlin? Will Ukraine overcome its own internal divisions to become part of a newly enlarged European Union (EU)? Will Bibi Netanyahu someday become Dutertes cellmate? At the moment, unfortunately, it seems more likely that Europe will be the last powerful holdout in a world entering a new political Dark Age. A dismal scenario lurks on the horizon in which democracy and human rights cling to existence somewhere within the walls of the European Union, much as monasteries managed to preserve classical learning a millennium ago. Europe Steps Forward After Trump and Vance humiliated Volodymyr Zelensky during his White House visit in February, an ideologically diverse range of European leaders raced to support the Ukrainian leader and his country. But defending democracy means all too little if that defense remains largely verbal. So, no longer being able to count on U.S. power or NATO security guarantees in the age of Trump, European Union leaders have decided to visit the gym and muscle up. Shortly after Zelenskys meeting, the EU readied a large military spending bill meant to contribute to the security of Europe as a whole, in particular as regards the EUs eastern border, considering the threats posed by Russia and Belarus. About $150 billion more would be invested in the military budgets of member states. The EU will also relax debt limits to allow nearly $700 billion in such additional spending over the next four years. Of course, in the past, Europes vaunted social democracy was largely built on low defense spending and a reliance on Washingtons security umbrella. That peace dividend saved EU member states a huge chunk of money nearly $400 billion every year since the end of the Cold War that could be applied to social welfare and infrastructure expenses. Forcing NATO members to spend a higher percentage of their gross domestic product on their militaries is a dagger that both Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin are holding to the throat of Europes social democracy. Germany can still afford to engage in deficit spending for both guns and butter, but it presents a distinct problem for countries like Belgium, France, Greece, Italy, and Spain with high levels of government debt. And when it comes to Europes future, its not just a military affair. While some European leaders have used intelligence assessments to focus on Putins territorial ambitions, others are more anxious about Russias assault on their values. Fearful of the way the illiberal values of Putin and Trump seem to overlap, Europeans have cast the fate of Ukraine in the loftiest of terms: the defense of democracy against fascism. However, given the connections between the European far right and the Kremlin thanks to Germanys AfD, the two French far-right parties (National Rally and Reconquest), and Bulgarias Revival among others the fight against fascism is now taking place on the home front as well. Europe is also defending democratic values in other ways. It has long promoted DEI-like programs, beginning with Frances diversity charter in 2004, while the European Commission is committed to equality for the LGBTQ community. In 2021, to promote universal values, the EU even launched a program called Global Europe Human Rights and Democracy, which was meant to support human rights defenders, the rule of law, and election monitors across the planet. Typically, on the controversial topic of Israel-Palestine, European countries have condemned the Israeli governments actions in Gaza and several have even recognized the (still-to-be-created) state of Palestine. Semi-socialist, DEI-loving, human-rights-supporting, Israel-skeptical, Europe is everything Donald Trump hates. Think of the EU, in fact, as the global equivalent of his worst nightmare, a giant liberal arts campus. No wonder the MAGA crowd has the urge to cut the transatlantic cable as a way of targeting its opponents both at home and abroad. Europe Divided But wait: the MAGA crowd doesnt hate Europe quite as thoroughly as it does Columbia University. After all, not all European leaders are on board with social democracy, DEI, human rights, and Palestine. In fact, in some parts of the continent, Trump and Vance are heroes, not zeros. Hungarys leader Viktor Orban, for instance, has long been a friend and inspiration for Donald Trump. After all, hes managed to translate the illiberalism of Vladimir Putin anti-democratic, anti-LGBT, uber-nationalist into a semi-democratic vernacular of great appeal to an American far right that must negotiate a significantly more complex political landscape than the one that surrounds the Kremlin. As Putins greatest acolyte, Orban has worked overtime to undermine a common European approach to Ukraine. He initially opposed aid to Ukraine, a stance ultimately overcome by the pressure tactics of other European leaders. He pushed for a watered-down version of the most recent EU statement in support of that country, only to watch the other 26 EU members pass it without him. And hes rejected Ukrainian membership in the EU. Still, with elections scheduled for 2026 and the opposition now outpolling Orbans Fidesz party, the days of one man holding the EU hostage may soon be over. While Orban does have allies, most of them like AUR in Romania and the National Alliance in Latvia are sniping from the sidelines as part of the opposition. Several other far-right parties like the ruling Fratelli dItalia in Italy dont share Orbans odd affection for Putin. But if the AfD in Germany or the National Rally in France were to win enough votes to take over their respective governments, Europes political center of gravity could indeed shift. Such divisions extend to the question of EU expansion. Serbias pro-Russian slant makes such a move unlikely in the near term and Turkey is too autocratic to qualify, while both Bosnia and Georgia, like Ukraine, are divided. Its hard to imagine Ukraine itself overcoming its internal divisions or its war-ravaged economy to meet Europes membership requirements, no matter the general enthusiasm inside that country and elsewhere in Europe for bringing it in from the cold. Nonetheless, EU expansion is what Putin fears the most: a democratic, prosperous union that expands its border with his country and inspires Russian activists with its proclamations of universal values. No small surprise, then, that hes tried to undermine the EU by supporting far-right and Euroskeptical movements. Yet the combination of the war in Ukraine and the reelection of Donald Trump may be undoing all his efforts. The experience of feeling trapped between two illiberal superpowers has only solidified popular support for the EU and its institutions. In a December 2024 poll, trust in the EU was at its highest level in 17 years, particularly in countries that are on the waiting list like Albania and Montenegro. Moreover, around 60% of Europeans support providing military aid to Kyiv and future membership for Ukraine. For increasing numbers of those outside its borders, Europe seems like a beacon of hope: prosperous democracies pushing back against the onslaught of Trump and Putin. And yet, even if Europe manages to stave off the challenges of its home-grown far right, it may not, in the end, prove to be quite such a beacon. After all, it has its own anti-migrant policies and uses trade agreements to secure access to critical raw materials and punish countries like Indonesia that have the temerity to employ their own mineral wealth to rise higher in the global value chain. Although, unlike Putins Russia and Trumps America, its doing its best to shift to a clean-energy economy, its done so all too often by dirtying the nests of other countries to get the materials it needs for that shift. Whatever its resemblance to a liberal arts college, Europe is anything but a non-profit institution and can sometimes seem more like a fortress than a beacon. As was true of those medieval monasteries that preserved the classical learning of the ages but also owned land and serfs, supplied markets with addictive products like chartreuse, and subjected their members to torture and imprisonment, saving civilization can have a darker side. Exiting the Dark Age The International Criminal Courts arrest of Rodrigo Duterte should be a powerful reminder that justice is possible even in the most unjust of times. Brutal leaders almost always sow the seeds of their own demise. Putins risky moves have mobilized virtually all of Europe against him. In antagonizing country after country, Trump is similarly reinforcing liberal sentiment in Canada, in Mexico, and throughout Europe. If the world had the luxury of time, holing up in the modern equivalent of monasteries and waiting out the barbarians would be a viable strategy. But climate change cares little for extended timelines. And dont forget the nuclear doomsday clock or the likelihood of another pandemic sweeping across the globe. Meanwhile, Trump and his allies are destroying things at such a pace that the bill for reconstruction grows more astronomical by the day. The gap between the fall of the Roman Empire and the first glimmers of the Renaissance was about 1,000 years. No one has that kind of time anymore. So, while long-term strategies to fight the right are good, those standing up to the bullies also need to act fast and forcefully. The world cant afford a European retreat into a fortress and the equivalent of monastic solitude. The EU must unite with all like-minded countries against the illiberal nationalists who are challenging universal values and international law. The ICC set a good example with its successful seizure of Duterte. Lets all hope, for the good of the world, that The Hague will have more global scofflaws in its jail cells and soon. Copyright 2025 John Feffer Via Tomdispatch.com Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian met with his cabinet on Sunday, according to the presidents website, and announced that Trumps offer of direct negotiations had been rejected. Iran replied through Oman, which has often served as a conduit for communication between Washington and Tehran. Trump had announced that he wrote to Iran on March 7, with the letter being delivered through the good auspices of the United Arab Emirates. On Sunday, as well, Trump said in a telephone interview, If they dont make a deal, there will be bombing. It will be bombing the likes of which they have never seen before. Pezeshkian said that his government remains open to indirect negotiations between the two sides. He underlined that Iran has never rejected negotiating in principle. He said that, however, the past breaches of its commitments by the United States have posed obstacles to direct talks. That record of broken promises, he insisted, has to be rectified and trust must be rebuilt. He concluded, it is the character of American behavior that will determine whether the process of negotiations continues. Iran directly negotiated the 2015 nuclear deal, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), with the United States. Iran went on to abide scrupulously by its provisions, scrapping 80 percent of its civilian nuclear enrichment program. Iran does not have a military nuclear program. Iran gave up so much in order to get sanctions relief. Because the Republican Congress refused to lift third-party sanctions on Iran, however, European companies such as Frances TotalEnergy were unable to invest in Iran, and so the GOP largely forestalled the promised sanctions relief. Then in May 2018 Trump ripped up the JCPOA and, even though Tehran had upheld its side of the bargain, imposed the most severe economic blockade on Iran that had ever been imposed by one country on another in peace time. So President Pezeshkian is saying that Iranians would have to have their heads examined to go back into direct talks with the US, given that they had been repeatedly lied to and stabbed in the back by the American government. The Iranian president went on to say that the catastrophic crimes of the Zionist regime [Israel] must be stopped. He added, It is absolutely unacceptable that despite the declaration of a ceasefire, they continue to drop bombs on innocent people, relying on combat instruments and technology. No honorable person would accept this inhumane behavior, and I ask God to help Muslim nations stand against it with unity and cohesion. The ongoing Israeli genocide against the Palestinians of Gaza, which is fully backed and enabled by the Trump regime, is another obstacle to direct talks, though Pezeshkian did not link the two. It is simply the case that members of the Iranian government can hardly be seen to be hanging around with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and other diehard supporters of the genocide, red in tooth and fang, while they are enabling the Israeli massacre of Palestinian civilians and children. The government of Benjamin Netanyahu killed 64 Palestinians on Eid al-Fitr, the festival for breaking the month-long Ramadan daytime fast, including children. In all, the Israeli military has killed some 17,500 Palestinian children that we know about many are dead undiscovered beneath rubble by dropping 2,000-lb. bombs on inhabited apartment buildings. There is also a disturbing pattern of children showing up in hospital with gunshot wounds from Israeli sniping, suggesting that Israelis are hunting the children for sport the way some people hunt deer. Some families in Gaza had somehow managed to get their children new clothes to wear on the Eid, but I saw pictures on satellite news of those childrens lifeless bodies, still wearing new jeans and sneakers, victims of Israeli bombing. There will be bombing, Digital, Dream / Dreamland v3 / Clip2Comic, 2025. Hard to imagine backslapping, laughing and sharing meals with the monsters enabling this ongoing set of egregious war crimes. It would sort of be like exhuming the corpse of Vice Admiral Tadashige Daigo of Imperial Japan and drinking champagne with him. He was executed for war crimes that involved abducting, torturing and killing 21,000 people, including women and children, by Japanese troops at Pontianak in what is now Indonesia during WW II. The head of an Arab research institute studying Iran published what he said was the text of Trumps initial letter to Iran. It sought direct negotiations, but went on to threaten Tehran if it continued to support what Trump termed terrorist organizations that menaced the US and its allies and continued to pursue military adventures. Iran backs Shiite militias in Iraq such as the League of the Righteous and the Organization of the Party of God that have used mortars, drones and missiles against US troops in Iraq and Syria, and killed three US service personnel in Jordan. It also supports Hezbollah in Lebanon, which has been involved in hostilities with Israel over the latters total war on Palestinian civilians in Gaza. Finally, Iran gives some support to the Helpers of God or Houthis in Yemen, which have been attacking shipping in the Red Sea and have fired missiles at Israel itself. The likelihood of Iran ceasing to back these groups is slim to none, and no amount of Trump bluster is going to produce that outcome. There is some reason to think, however, that Iran has tried to rein in its allies in the region, though not always with much success. HIGHLIGHTS RTG Mining Inc. has received firm commitments to raise approximately A$19.5 million via a two-tranche institutional placement The placement received strong support from a number of leading institutional investors including both existing shareholders and a number of new investors Placement strengthens RTG's balance sheet enabling the Company to advance the Mabilo Project towards start-up together with other business development opportunities Placement follows recently secured partnership with one of the largest natural resource companies in the world, Glencore International AG, to finance Stage 1 start-up of the high-grade Copper and Gold Mabilo Project Secured Financing Facility from Glencore provides for a total of up to US$30m in three-tranches covering 100% of the estimated capex for Stage 1 SUBIACO, AU / ACCESS Newswire / March 31, 2025 / The Board of RTG Mining Inc. ("RTG", the "Company") (TSX Code:RTG) (ASX Code:RTG) is pleased to announce that the Company has received commitments to raise approximately A$19.5 million (circa US$12.3 million) in a placement to institutional and sophisticated investors ("Placement"). As recently reported (see ASX announcement dated 6 March 2025), the Secured Financing Facility with Glencore International AG ("Glencore"), provides for a total of up to US$30 million (in three-tranches), on attractive terms, for the development of Stage 1 of the high-grade copper and gold Mabilo Project in the Philippines. Subsequent to securing binding finance and offtake arrangements with Glencore, the Placement has received strong institutional demand, demonstrating the considerable support for RTG's high-grade copper and gold strategy. The Placement will result in the issue of approximately 783 million Chess Depository Instruments ("New Securities") to be listed on the ASX at an issue price of A$0.025 per Security ("Issue Price"), representing a 3.8% discount to RTG's last closing price on the ASX of A$0.026. Net proceeds of the Placement will be used to provide working capital to advance the Mabilo Project towards start-up and operations to unlock the early and strong cashflows of the project, with the first phase being a Direct Shipping Operation. RTG will also be well funded to progress plans for additional exploration at the Mabilo Project to expand the current reserve in the oxide layer, including additional high grade supergene chalcocite copper material and further drilling to then expand the reserves in the primary skarn material for Stage 2. In addition to this drilling, RTG will commit to a 5,000m drill program at the Chanach Project, including 3,000m into the potential high grade porphyry target identified in the recent 3DIP programs. This will run from late May through to October/November depending on the available field season. Other work plans include continuing the pursuit of new potential business development opportunities, including the Panguna Project in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville and general working capital purposes. Placement Details: The Placement consists of 783 million New Securities to be issued at the Issue Price of A$0.025 per Security to raise total funds of circa A$19.5 million. The Placement will be conducted in two tranches. The first tranche of approximately 169,297,750 New Securities is expected to be issued on or around 9 April 2025 using the Company's 15% placement capacity under ASX Listing Rule 7.1 to raise ~A$4.2 million (before costs). The second tranche of New Securities, being the balance of the Placement (~613.7 million New Securities), will be issued as follows: subject to receiving shareholder approval under ASX Listing Rule 10.11, the issue of up to 7 million New Securities to the RTG Directors and up to 241 million New Securities to Equinox Partners LP, which is deemed to be a related party' of the Company by virtue of Non-Executive Director Mr Sean Fieler's position as a controlling member of Equinox Partners GP, the General Partner of Equinox Partners LP; and subject to receiving shareholder approval under ASX Listing Rule 7.1, the further issue of a total of up to 365 million New Securities to institutional and sophisticated investors (including existing shareholders of RTG). Shareholder approval for the issue of the New Securities under the second tranche of the Placement will be sought at a General Meeting of the Company expected to be held in May 2025. Settlement and allotment of New Securities under the second tranche of the Placement are expected to occur shortly after approval is obtained at the General Meeting. Furter details relating to the issue of these New Securities will be set out in a Notice of Meeting to be sent to shareholders in due course. Foster Stockbroking Pty Ltd ("FSB") acted as lead manager and bookrunner to the Placement ("Lead Manager"). The Placement will be conducted under exemptions from prospectus and registration requirements of securities laws in relevant countries. The Placement is subject to approval of TSX. ABOUT RTG MINING INC RTG Mining Inc. is a mining and exploration company listed on the main board of the Toronto Stock Exchange and the Australian Securities Exchange. RTG is currently focused primarily on progressing the Mabilo Project to start-up having now received a mining permit for the Project, with a view to moving quickly and safely to a producing gold and copper company. RTG also has several exciting new opportunities including the Panguna Project in Bougainville, which it remains committed to while also considering further new business development opportunities. RTG has an experienced management team which has to date developed seven mines in five different countries, including being responsible for the development of the Masbate Gold Mine in the Philippines through CGA Mining Limited. RTG has some of the most respected international institutional investors as shareholders including Equinox Partners and Franklin Templeton. ENQUIRIES President & CEO - Justine Magee Tel: +61 8 6489 2900 Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Australian Investor and Media Contact Sam Burns: +61 400 164 067 Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. COMPLIANCE STATEMENT Date: 31 March 2025 Authorised for release by: By the Board of Directors CAUTIONARY NOTE STATEMENT The Toronto Stock Exchange has not reviewed nor does it accept responsibility for the accuracy or adequacy of this press release, which has been prepared by management. This announcement includes certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation. All statements in this announcement, other than statements of historical facts are forward-looking statements, including statements made or implied relating to the anticipated timing, closing, size, structure of and exemptions utilized under the Placement, the use of the net proceeds from the Placement, the timing of the shareholder meeting to approve Tranche 2 of the Placement, the Company's opportunities to diversify its Philippine interests and to participate in the redevelopment of the Panguna Mine in Bougainville, the Company's objectives, strategies to achieve those objectives, the Company's beliefs, plans, estimates and intentions, and similar statements concerning anticipated future events, plans for further exploration. Forward-looking statements involve various risks and uncertainties and are based on certain factors and assumptions. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from RTG's expectations include uncertainties related to market conditions and demand for the Placement, the receipt of requisite shareholder and regulatory approvals, fluctuations in gold and other commodity prices and currency exchange rates; uncertainties relating to interpretation of drill results and the geology, continuity and grade of mineral deposits; uncertainty of estimates of capital and operating costs, recovery rates, production estimates and estimated economic return; the need for cooperation of government agencies in the development of RTG's mineral projects; the need to obtain additional financing to develop RTG's mineral projects; the possibility of delay in development programs or in construction projects and uncertainty of meeting anticipated program milestones for RTG's mineral projects and other risks and uncertainties as discussed in RTG's annual report for the year ended December 31, 2024 and detailed from time to time in our other filings with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities available at www.sedar.com. The forwardlooking statements made in this announcement relate only to events as of the date on which the statements are made. RTG will not release publicly any revisions or updates to these forwardlooking statements to reflect events, circumstances or unanticipated events occurring after the date of this announcement except as required by law or by any appropriate regulatory authority. NOT FOR RELEASE OR DISTRIBUTION IN THE UNITED STATES This announcement has been prepared for publication in Canada and Australia and may not be released to US wire services or distributed in the United States. This announcement does not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, securities in the United States or any other jurisdiction. Any securities described in this announcement have not been, and will not be, registered under the US Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "US Securities Act"), or any state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold in the United States or to or for the account or benefit of a U.S. Person (as defined in Regulation S under the US Securities Act), except in transactions exempt from, or not subject to, registration under the US Securities Act and applicable US state securities laws. ANNOUNCEMENT TO THE TORONTO STOCK EXCHANGE AND AUSTRALIAN SECURITIES EXCHANGE MONTREAL / Mar 31, 2025 / Business Wire / Dynacor Group Inc. (TSX: DNG) (Dynacor or the "Corporation"), is pleased to announce that it has executed a conditional letter of offer and indicative terms (The Offer) with Pelorus Minerals Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Arkham Metals Limited Australia, to acquire 100% of the shares of Arkham Metals SAS (Ecuador) (The Assets) for a purchase price of $9.75 million. All amounts are in US dollars unless otherwise specified. The Offer is subject to a due diligence review and final approval from Dynacors Board of Directors. Background The Assets consist of a permitted carbon-in-pulp processing plant, situated on a 36.5-hectare land concession in Portovelo, El Oro in southern Ecuador and with permitting for up to 1,500 tpd. Starting over a year ago, the Corporation has carried out multiple visits, an in-house technical evaluation and mandated an external audit by an engineering consultancy firm. Dynacor believes that The Assets offer significant potential to enhance its global operational capacity and support its strategic plan goal of producing 500,000 AuEq ounces and $1 billion in sales by 2030. Dynacor estimates refurbishing costs of between $6 to $8 million to bring the plant into operation and an initial $8 million in ore inventory for plant start-up. The Corporation expects initial production from a 300-350 tpd processing plant as of 12 months from closing of the transaction. In sum, Dynacor estimates $25 million in total project costs over the coming 12 months, comprising capex, plant refurbishing and working capital investment. The Corporation recently closed a $22.1 million financing (CA$31.6 million), with proceeds to be used for business opportunities in other jurisdictions and working capital. Highlights of The Offer Purchase price of $9.75 million is less any dollar value of net liability included in The Assets financial statements and is conditional on Dynacors full satisfaction with respect to legal, environmental, technical, financial and fiscal due diligence and to final approval from the Dynacor Board of Directors. Purchase assets include the non-operating processing plant and all assets and necessary permits to pursue operation of the plant under the following settlement conditions: A non-refundable $0.15 million exclusivity payment to be completed upon execution of the letter. A balance cash payment of $9.45 million will be due at the final settlement date following the closing of the proposed transaction. An amount of $0.15 million will be withheld by the purchaser at the final settlement date following the closing and for a period of 60 days to cover any additional liabilities or unforeseen expenses discovered in the due diligence process. The purchase price is not conditional on any financing. About Dynacor Dynacor Group is an industrial ore processing company dedicated to producing gold sourced from artisanal miners. Since its establishment in 1996, Dynacor has pioneered a responsible mineral supply chain with stringent traceability and audit standards for the fast-growing artisanal mining industry. By focusing on fully and part-formalized miners, the Canadian company offers a win-win approach for governments and miners globally. Dynacor operates the Veta Dorada plant and owns a gold exploration property in Peru. The company plans to expand to West Africa and within Latin America. The premium paid by luxury jewellers for Dynacors PX Impact gold goes to Fidamar Foundation, an NGO that mainly invests in health and education projects for artisanal mining communities in Peru. Visit www.dynacor.com for more information. Forward-Looking Information Certain statements in the preceding may constitute forward-looking statements, which involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements of Dynacor, or industry results, to be materially different from any future result, performance or achievement expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These statements reflect managements current expectations regarding future events and operating performance as of the date of this news release. Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - March 31, 2025) - STLLR Gold Inc. (TSX: STLR) (OTCQX: STLRF) (FSE: O9D) ("STLLR" or the "Company") is pleased to announce infill drilling results using artificial intelligence technology ("AI") at the Tower Gold Project ("Tower") in the Timmins Mining Camp in Ontario, Canada. Table 1: 2025 Tower Infill Drilling Highlights - 903 Deposit (For more information, see Tables 2 & 3 and Figures 1-4): Zone Hole ID Assay Result 903 MGA25-224 9.01 grams per tonne gold ("g/t Au") (uncut) over 19.0 metres ("m") (including 124.50 g/t Au over 1.25 m) 903 MGA25-226 1.30 g/t Au over 22.65 m (including 2.10 g/t Au over 11.50 m) Keyvan Salehi, P.Eng., MBA, President, CEO, and Director of STLLR, commented: "We are encouraged by the infill drilling results at the 903 Deposit. Using AI, we designed the drill holes to optimize the conversion of mineralization to higher confidence levels. The program intersected near-surface mineralization with grades exceeding the 903 Deposit's current Mineral Resource Estimate1." "We are on track to deliver an updated Mineral Resource Estimate and Preliminary Economic Assessment for Tower in the first half of 2025. Additionally, our Hollinger Tailings Project characterization program is progressing well, with assay results expected in the coming weeks." 903 Deposit Infill Drilling The 903 Deposit, part of the Garrison Area at the Tower Gold Project, features gold mineralization linked to quartz veining within syenites hosted in highly deformed, carbonatized ultramafic volcanics of the Kidd-Munro assemblage. It lies along the Destor-Porcupine Fault Zone, with meta-sediments of the Porcupine assemblage located to the north. Using AI to optimize drill meterage and mineral resource conversion, STLLR's infill program intersected near-surface mineralization with grades higher than the current 903 Deposit Mineral Resource Estimate1, potentially enhancing confidence in the targeted areas. The Company has completed 3,500 m of a 5,000 m program and will release the remaining results when they become available. Figure 1: Tower Gold Project - Drill Location Map1 Figure 2: 903 Deposit - Infill Drilling Results Map1 Figure 3: 903 Deposit - Infill Drilling Cross Section "B-A" Looking Northeast1 Figure 4: 903 Deposit - Infill Drilling Cross Section "D-C" Looking Northeast1 Table 2: Exploration Drilling Intercepts*,** Target Hole ID From (m) To (m) Interval (m) Grade (g/t Au) Metal Factor (g/t Au x m) 903 MGA25-224 87.00 89.00 2.00 2.10 4.20 903 and uncut 97.00 116.00 19.00 9.01 171.19 cut 97.00 116.00 19.00 2.46 46.81 903 including 110.80 112.05 1.25 124.50 155.63 903 and 126.00 130.10 4.10 1.56 6.39 903 and 144.75 153.00 8.25 0.52 4.27 903 and 179.00 182.00 3.00 0.37 1.12 903 and 272.50 277.25 4.75 0.33 1.58 903 and 307.38 312.00 4.62 0.35 1.64 903 MGA25-225 115.00 118.90 3.90 0.37 1.43 903 and 171.50 176.00 4.50 1.42 6.41 903 and 181.50 184.50 3.00 0.46 1.38 903 and 189.00 196.50 7.50 0.35 2.62 903 MGA25-226 17.85 40.50 22.65 1.30 29.45 903 including 29.00 40.50 11.50 2.10 24.13 903 and 54.55 55.48 0.93 1.47 1.37 903 and 66.00 72.00 6.00 1.28 7.66 903 and 140.00 142.00 2.00 0.64 1.27 903 MGA25-228 107.50 115.70 8.20 0.56 4.61 903 and 148.20 159.45 11.25 0.47 5.28 903 MGA25-230 78.00 81.00 3.00 0.89 2.68 903 and 86.30 91.00 4.70 1.75 8.24 903 and 95.00 105.00 10.00 0.92 9.19 903 and 121.00 123.00 2.00 1.51 3.03 903 and 133.00 138.00 5.00 1.13 5.65 903 and 140.00 152.35 12.35 1.35 16.63 903 including 144.00 147.00 3.00 3.76 11.27 903 and 252.30 257.00 4.70 0.61 2.86 903 and 265.00 275.00 10.00 0.84 8.42 *Note: All intercepts are calculated using a 0.30 g/t Au cut-off, a maximum of 5 m internal dilution and 25 g/t Au cap applied. **True width is estimated to be between 40% to 85%. Table 3: Exploration Drill Hole Details Zone Hole ID Easting Northing Elevation Azimuth Inclination End of Hole Depth (m) 903 MGA25-224 577091.10 5373394.11 297.17 325.08 -75.03 312.00 903 MGA25-225 577131.68 5373544.80 297.50 181.90 -49.00 258.00 903 MGA25-226 577117.91 5373643.60 299.75 314.90 -65.00 165.00 903 MGA25-228 577786.00 5373355.35 290.04 340.00 -45.00 165.00 903 MGA25-230 577753.26 5373268.45 290.89 345.00 -65.10 321.00 Quality Control Procedures NQ drill core is oriented and cut with half sent to ALS Laboratories Inc. (ALS) for drying and crushing to -2 mm, with a 1.00 kg split pulverized to -75 m (200#). ALS is an ISO 17025 accredited laboratory. A 50 g charge is Fire Assayed and analyzed using an AAS finish for Gold. Samples above 10.00 g/t Au are analyzed by Fire Assay with a gravimetric finish and selected samples with visible gold or high-grade mineralization are assayed by Metallic Screen Fire Assay on a 1.00 kg sample. STLLR inserts independent certified reference material and blanks with the samples and assays routine pulp repeats, as well as completing routine third-party check assays at Bureau Veritas Commodities Canada Ltd. True widths were calculated in Leapfrog Geo, perpendicular to the interpreted plane of mineralization using the dip and dip azimuth of the mineralized zones. Qualified Person John McBride, MSc., P.Geo., Vice President of Exploration for STLLR, who is the "Qualified Person" as defined by NI 43-101 for this project, has reviewed and approved of the technical disclosure contained in this news release. About STLLR Gold STLLR Gold Inc. (TSX: STLR) (OTCQX: STLRF) (FSE: O9D) is a Canadian gold development company actively advancing two cornerstone gold projects in Canada: The Tower Gold Project in the Timmins Mining Camp in Ontario, and the Colomac Gold Project located north of Yellowknife, Northwest Territories. Each of these two projects has the potential for a long-life and large-scale operation and are surrounded by exploration land with favourable upside potential. STLLR's experienced management team, with a track record of successfully advancing projects and operating mines, is working towards rapidly advancing these projects. Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to the potential conversion of the Tower Mineral Resource Estimate to higher confidence categories, the timing of the completion of the updated Tower Mineral Resource Estimate and PEA, the timing of the results from the Hollinger Tailings Project, the completion and release of the remaining infill drilling at the 903 Deposit, the long-life and large-scale potential of the Tower and Colomac Gold Projects and exploration upside of the land packages. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "accelerate", "add" or "additional", "advancing", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "appears", "believes", "can be", "conceptual", "confidence", "continue", "convert" or "conversion", "deliver", "demonstrating", "estimates", "encouraging", "expand" or "expanding" or "expansion", "expect" or "expectations", "fast-track", "forecasts", "forward", "goal", "improves", "increase", "intends", "justification", "leading", "plans", "potential" or "potentially", "pro-forma", "promise", "prospective", "prioritize", "reflects", "re-rating", "robust", "scheduled", "stronger", "suggesting" or "suggests", "support", "updating", "upside", "will be" or "will consider", "work towards", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might", or "will be taken", "occur", or "be achieved". Forward-looking information is based on the opinions and estimates of management at the date the information is made, and is based on a number of assumptions and is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of STLLR to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including risks associated with required regulatory approvals, the exploration, development and mining such as economic factors as they effect exploration, future commodity prices, changes in foreign exchange and interest rates, actual results of current exploration activities, government regulation, political or economic developments, the ongoing wars and their effect on supply chains, environmental risks, pandemic risks, permitting timelines, capex, operating or technical difficulties in connection with development activities, employee relations, the speculative nature of gold exploration and development, including the risks of diminishing quantities of grades of reserves, contests over title to properties, and changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined as well as those risk factors discussed in the Company's Annual Information Form for the year ended December 31, 2024, available on www.sedarplus.ca. Although STLLR has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. STLLR does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. 1For more information on the current Tower Gold Project Mineral Resource Estimate and PEA effective September 7, 2022, please refer to the NI 43-101 technical report titled "NI 43-101 Report & Preliminary Economic Assessment of the Tower Gold Project Northeastern Ontario, Canada" dated November 29, 2022, which is available on STLLR Gold's profile on SEDAR+ www.sedarplus.ca and www.stllrgold.com. Until mineral deposits are actually mined and processed, Mineral Resources must be considered as estimates only. Mineral Resource estimates that are not Mineral Reserves and have not demonstrated economic viability. The estimation of Mineral Resources is inherently uncertain, involves subjective judgement about many relevant factors and may be materially affected by, among other things, environmental, permitting, legal, title, taxation, socio-political, marketing, or other relevant risks, uncertainties, contingencies and other factors described in the Company's public disclosure available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. PEA is preliminary in nature and includes inferred mineral resources that are considered too speculative geologically to have the economic considerations applied to them that would enable them to be categorized as mineral reserves, and there is no certainty that the PEA will be realized. Mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. Scout Drilling Confirms the Extension of the High-Grade Merten Vein Creating Potential to Expand the DPB Resource up to 1,200 Metres to the East Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 31, 2025) - Blackrock Silver Corp. (TSXV: BRC) (OTCQX: BKRRF) (FSE: AHZ0) ("Blackrock" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the results from the reverse circulation ("RC") Scout Drilling Program completed on the southeastern side of the DPB M&I Conversion area on its 100% owned Tonopah West project located in Nye and Esmeralda Counties, Nevada, United States. Starting in late December 2024 and finishing in late January 2025, the Company completed ten exploration RC drillholes in the eastern portion of the DPB area and the adjacent Ohio target to test for gold and silver along a structural zone and beneath a felsic sill. A total of 3,857 metres (12,655 ft) was drilled. The program was very successful with silver and gold being returned from all targets. SCOUT PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS: Assays from our reverse circulation scout drill program have returned significant gold & silver values in 7 drillholes that have successfully expanded the footprint of mineralization up to 1,200 metres to the east of the existing DPB resource toward the historic Ohio mine; These intercepts cover a new zone of mineralization not included in the 2024 resource that may impact the upcoming DPB South resource update (Q3, 2025) ; TW25-128 which returned 9.6 grams per tonne (g/t) gold and 1,198 g/t silver over 1.52-metres (2,063 g/t silver equivalent (AgEq)) from 292 metres in the Ohio area; TW25-133 returned multiple thick zones of mineralization including 10.46 g/t gold and 10.6 g/t silver over 4.57-metres (952 g/t AgEq) including 1.52 metres grading 21.45 g/t gold and 15.7 g/t silver (1,948 g/t AgEq) from 309 metres and 3.05 metres grading 270 g/t AgEq (129 g/t silver and 1.57 g/t gold) from 280 metres; TW25-130 cut 1.52 metres of 587 g/t AgEq (3.3 g/t gold and 290 g/t silver) from 189 metres Assays from multiple drillholes have extended the Merten vein system by 540 metres along strike to the east of the main DPB South resource. With the inclusion of discovery hole TW25-128, targeting an area historic miners referred to as the Ohio vein, the mineralized trend could extend up to 1,200-metres in length; Additional drilling has been deployed to this area and assays for three core holes, TXC25-133, -134 and -135 are pending. Andrew Pollard, Blackrock's President and CEO, stated, "Results from our RC Scout drilling program confirm the discovery of a new high-grade gold and silver structural zone extending 1.2 kilometres (km) east from our existing resource shell. Historic miners referred to this eastern target area as the Ohio Vein, a substantial producer in the early 1900's, but until now, its mineralization had remained elusive. With every drillhole in this program returning elevated grades across the trend, the scale of the project has increased dramatically, with the results suggesting significant new high-grade tonnage potential. Coupled with our recently released expansion results (see February 24, 2025 news release), where we successfully stepped out 500 metres to the northwest, we have increased the footprint of high-grade mineralization along the vein corridor by over 65% this year, adding an additional 1.7km of drill-defined strike. We have already deployed additional drilling to this new zone, with assays for three core drillholes pending." TW25-133 returned significant silver and gold with values starting at 309-metres grading 10.46 g/t gold and 10.6 g/.t silver over 4.57 metres (952 g/t AgEq). This mineralization extends the Merten vein 540 metres to the east-southeast of the main DPB South resource. With the inclusion of TW25-128 which returned 9.6 g/t gold and 1198 g/t silver over 1.5-metres (2,063 g/t AgEq), the zone could be up to 1,200-metres in cohesive strike. Table 1 summarizes the assay results (150 g/t AgEq cutoff). Table 1: Scout Drilling Program results above 150 g/t AgEq Drillhole ID Hole Type Area From (m) To (m) Drill Interval (m) Ag g/t Au g/t AgEq g/t TW25-125 RC DPB East 220.98 222.50 1.52 76.41 2.010 257.3 TW25-127 RC DPB East 390.15 391.67 1.52 8.00 1.750 165.5 TW25-130 RC DPB East 188.98 190.50 1.52 290.00 3.300 587.0 TW25-132 RC DPB East 245.36 246.89 1.52 78.58 1.180 184.8 TW25-133 RC DPB East 280.42 283.47 3.05 129.08 1.575 270.8 TW25-133 RC DPB East 309.37 313.95 4.57 10.65 10.456 951.8 Including 309.37 310.90 1.52 15.73 21.467 1,948.0 TW25-128 RC Ohio 292.61 294.13 1.52 1,198.00 9.610 2,063.0 TW25-128 RC Ohio 297.18 298.71 1.52 219.00 1.720 373.8 TW25-131 RC Ohio 269.75 271.27 1.52 89.10 2.630 325.8 AgEq gpt=(Au gpt*90)+Ag gpt; True thickness unknown at this time; Cut-off grade is 150 gpt AgEq; RC = Reverse Circulation Drilling Drilling suggests the Merten vein extends eastward and is arched and dips southward. This orientation suggests multiple ring structures associated with the Fraction caldera. An inner structure hosting the Victor and DPB North (Denver and Paymaster) resources, and an outer, more southern, ring structure hosting DPB South (Merten and Bermuda) and the NW Stepout resources. The arching geometry of the Merten vein is similar to that described from the historic Ohio vein which was 15 metres thick when mined in the early 1900s1. Given the geometry and location, the Merten is potentially the extension of the Ohio vein. The mineralized zone traced by these assay results is new and not included in the 2024 resource. These results may have a substantive impact on the planned DPB South resource update scheduled for Q3 2025. Drillholes TW24-124, TW25-126 and TW25-129 did not return assay values above 150 g/t AgEq. TW24-124 and TW25-126 were in the DPB area while TW25-129 was collared in the Ohio area. These drillholes had mineralization which ranged between 49 to 60 g/t AgEq. Assays for three core holes, TXC25-133, -134 and -135 are pending. Figure 1: Tonopah West expansion potential Figure 2: Drillhole location map for Scout Drilling Program Figure 3: Geologic cross section along 478540E Table 2: Drillhole location information for Scout Drilling Program (UTM NAD1927, Zone 11) Drillhole ID Area Type UTM_NAD27 E UTM_NAD27 N Elevation (m) Depth (m) Azimuth Inclination TW24-124 DPB South RC 478302.85 4213183.18 1791.54 411.48 180 -60 TW25-125 DPB South RC 478405.39 4213117.90 1797.06 304.80 0 -90 TW25-126 DPB South RC 478400.97 4213055.72 1799.52 409.96 0 -90 TW25-127 DPB South RC 478529.61 4213096.32 1804.59 422.15 180 -60 TW25-128 Ohio RC 479078.57 4213217.73 1841.08 330.71 120 -50 TW25-129 Ohio RC 478672.26 4213471.00 1805.18 335.28 180 -73 TW25-130 DPB South RC 478408.03 4213388.75 1792.68 403.86 0 -90 TW25-131 Ohio RC 478781.26 4213164.87 1826.77 342.90 120 -50 TW25-132 DPB South RC 478309.51 4213188.54 1791.67 464.82 0 -70 TW25-133 DPB South RC 478525.85 4212989.45 1808.48 431.29 0 -90 Quality Assurance/ Quality Control All sampling is conducted under the supervision of the Company's project geologists, and a strict chain of custody from the project to the sample preparation facility is implemented and monitored. The RC samples are hauled from the project site to a secure and fenced facility in Tonopah, Nevada, where they are loaded on to American Assay Laboratory's (AAL) flat-bed truck and delivered to AAL's facility in Sparks, Nevada. A sample submittal sheet is delivered to AAL personnel who organize and process the sample intervals pursuant to the Company's instructions. The RC samples are lined out at the lab and logged into AAL's system. The samples are dried, crushed to 85% passing 10 mesh (2mm) and a 250-gram sub-sample split is collected and pulverized to 200 mesh (74 micron) in a ring and puck pulverizer. Then the pulverized material is digested and analyzed for gold using fire assay fusion and an Induced Coupled Plasma (ICP) finish on a 30-gram assay split (FA-PB30-ICP). Silver is determined using five-acid digestion and ICP analysis (ICP-5AM48). Over limits for gold and silver are determined using a gravimetric finish (GRAVAU30 and GRAVAG30). Data verification of the assay and analytical results are completed to ensure accurate and verifiable results. Blackrock personnel insert a blind prep blank, lab blank or a certified reference material approximately every 15th to 20th sample. Qualified Persons Blackrock's exploration activities at Tonopah West are conducted and supervised by Mr. William Howald, Executive Chairman of Blackrock. Mr. William Howald, AIPG Certified Professional Geologist #11041, is a Qualified Person as defined under National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. He has reviewed and approved the contents of this news release. About Blackrock Silver Corp. Backed by gold and silver ounces in the ground, Blackrock is a junior precious metal focused exploration and development company driven to add shareholder value. Anchored by a seasoned Board of Directors, the Company is focused on its 100% controlled Nevada portfolio of properties consisting of low-sulphidation, epithermal gold and silver mineralization located along the established Northern Nevada Rift in north-central Nevada and the Walker Lane trend in western Nevada. Additional information on Blackrock Silver Corp. can be found on its website at www.blackrocksilver.com and by reviewing its profile on SEDAR at www.sedarplus.ca. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements and Information This news release contains "forward-looking statements" and "forward-looking information" (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of Canadian and United States securities legislation, including the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this news release relate to, among other things: the Company's strategic plans; the Company's drill program at Tonopah West and the anticipated objectives and results therefrom; the Company's objective to connect the DPB and NW step-out areas; the Company's de-risking initiatives at Tonopah West; estimates of mineral resource quantities and qualities; estimates of mineralization from drilling geological information projected from sampling results; and the potential quantities and grades of the target zones and the potential addition of new high-grade tonnage to the Company's existing mineral resource estimate. These forward-looking statements reflect the Company's current views with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions that, while considered reasonable by the Company, are inherently subject to significant operational, business, economic and regulatory uncertainties and contingencies. These assumptions include, among other things: conditions in general economic and financial markets; accuracy of assay results; geological interpretations from drilling results, timing and amount of capital expenditures; performance of available laboratory and other related services; future operating costs; the historical basis for current estimates of potential quantities and grades of target zones; the availability of skilled labour and no labour related disruptions at any of the Company's operations; no unplanned delays or interruptions in scheduled activities; all necessary permits, licenses and regulatory approvals for operations are received in a timely manner; the ability to secure and maintain title and ownership to properties and the surface rights necessary for operations; and the Company's ability to comply with environmental, health and safety laws. The foregoing list of assumptions is not exhaustive. The Company cautions the reader that forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results and developments to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements contained in this news release and the Company has made assumptions and estimates based on or related to many of these factors. Such factors include, without limitation: the timing and content of work programs; results of exploration activities and development of mineral properties; the interpretation and uncertainties of drilling results and other geological data; receipt, maintenance and security of permits and mineral property titles; environmental and other regulatory risks; project costs overruns or unanticipated costs and expenses; availability of funds; failure to delineate potential quantities and grades of the target zones based on historical data; general market and industry conditions; and those factors identified under the caption "Risks Factors" in the Company's most recent Annual Information Form. Forward-looking statements are based on the expectations and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made. The assumptions used in the preparation of such statements, although considered reasonable at the time of preparation, may prove to be imprecise and, as such, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date the statements were made. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements included in this news release if these beliefs, estimates and opinions or other circumstances should change, except as otherwise required by applicable law. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. 1 All historic production information from Nevada Bureau of Mines & Geology, Bulletin 51 TORONTO, March 31, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Revival Gold Inc. (TSXV: RVG, OTCQX: RVLGF) (Revival Gold or the Company) is pleased to announce compelling results from a Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) on the Companys Mercur Gold Project (Mercur or the Project) in Utah, U.S.A. Furthermore, the Projects favorable mineral tenure, straightforward design and existing infrastructure endowment are expected by Revival Gold and the Companys consultants to support a relatively short permitting timeline of approximately two years, putting Mercur on the fast track for potential re-development. Mercur Heap Leach PEA Highlights1 Life-of-mine (LOM) production of 65.6 million tonnes (MT) of mineralized material at 0.60 grams per tonne (g/T) and 75% average recovery generating an average of 95,600 ounces of gold per year over a 10-year mine life ; (g/T) and generating an average of over a ; After-tax NPV at a 5% discount rate (NPV 5% ) of $294 million and after-tax IRR of 27% at a gold price of $2,175 per ounce increasing to a $752 million NPV 5% and 57% IRR at a gold price of $3,000 per ounce; and at a gold price of $2,175 per ounce increasing to a at a gold price of $3,000 per ounce; After-tax payback period of 3.6 years at $2,175 per ounce of gold decreasing to 1.7 years at $3,000 per ounce of gold ; decreasing to ; Pre-production and working capital of $208 million and additional LOM sustaining capital of $110 million; and additional LOM sustaining capital of $110 million; LOM average cash cost of $1,205 per ounce of gold and all in sustaining cost of $1,363 per ounce of gold ; and ; PEA mine plan developed from Indicated Mineral Resources of 35.3 MT grading 0.66 g/T gold containing 746,000 ounces of gold and Inferred Mineral Resources of 36.2 MT grading 0.54 g/T gold containing 626,000 ounces of gold 2 ; and, and ; and, Expected timeline to complete applicable baseline studies and mine permitting of approximately two years. Completion of this PEA highlights the potential economic value of Mercur and more than doubles Revival Golds underlying net asset value from gold, said Hugh Agro, President & CEO. Mercur presents a unique opportunity for relatively near-term U.S. gold production from a low-risk, low capital project at a logistically superior domestic mine site. The Project features robust economics including a $294 million after-tax NPV and a compelling 27% after-tax IRR at $2,175 gold increasing to $752 million and 57% at $3,000 gold. Over the course of the next two years, Revival Gold intends to focus on low-risk resource conversion and expansion, additional engineering studies and the completion of Project permitting, added Agro. As a brownfield site, Mercur offers significant historical exploration and operational data, excellent logistics including paved access, water supply system, electrical power line and substation, and close proximity to a large, skilled workforce, with the added benefit of exemplary historical environmental performance that should translate into a shorter permitting schedule and lower technical and execution risk, noted John Meyer, Vice President, Engineering & Development. This PEA is preliminary in nature. In addition to Indicated Mineral Resources, it includes Inferred Mineral Resources that are considered too speculative geologically to apply economic considerations that would enable categorization as Mineral Reserves, and there is no certainty that the PEA will be realized. Mineral Resources are not Mineral Reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability. The PEA was prepared in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (NI 43-101) guidelines by Kappes, Cassiday & Associates (KCA) of Reno, Nevada and RESPEC Company LLC (RESPEC) of Reno, Nevada (the Study Authors) with an effective date of March 25th, 2025. The Company will file a technical report summarizing the PEA on www.revival-gold.com and on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca in accordance with NI 43-101 within 45 days. Conference Call Management will host a conference call later today to discuss the results of the Mineral Resource update and PEA. Call-in information is as follows: Scheduled Start: March 31st, 2025, 10:00 am EST Call-In Number: 289-514-5100 Toll Free in North America: 800-717-1738 A playback of the conference call will be available for one week at 289-819-1325 or toll free in North America at 888-660-6264. Playback passcode 20300#. Further Details Mineral Resource Estimate The Mineral Resource estimate is reported in accordance with NI 43-101 and was prepared by RESPEC with an effective date of March 13th, 2025. Table 1 summarizes the pit optimization input parameters used to develop the Mineral Resource estimate and Table 2 presents the Mineral Resources for the Main and South Mercur deposits, which were estimated at a gold price of $2,000 per ounce. Table 1: Mineral Resource Estimate Pit Optimization Input Parameters Mineral Resource Pit Optimization Parameters Units Main Mercur South Mercur General Mineral Resource Gold Price $/oz Au $2,000 Mining/Heap Leaching Rate tonnes/day 18,144 Average Leach Recovery % 74% 79% Operating Expenditures Mining Rock $/tonne Mined $2.76 Mining Fill $/tonne Mined $2.36 N/A Incremental Haul to Crusher $/tonne Processed $0.35 $0.90 Heap Leaching $/tonne Processed $4.46 General & Administrative Costs $/tonne Processed $0.90 Other Costs Refining & Freight $/oz Au Recovered $5.00 Royalties Net Smelter Return 2.1%1 Note: 1. Royalties for the property are variable and were calculated on a block-by-block basis. This value represents the block-weighted average net smelter return royalty for the Main and South Mercur PEA pits. Table 2: Mineral Resource Estimate Project Area Indicated Mineral Resources Inferred Mineral Resources Tonnage (kT) Gold Grade (g/T) Gold (koz) Tonnage (kT) Gold Grade (g/T) Gold (koz) Main Mercur 28,629 0.63 581.0 33,179 0.53 567.0 South Mercur 6,670 0.77 165.0 3,066 0.60 59.0 Total Mercur 35,299 0.66 746.0 36,246 0.54 626.0 Notes: 1. The Mineral Resource estimates were developed by Michael S. Lindholm, CPG of RESPEC in Imperial units, and the results and optimization parameters were converted into metric units. 2. In-situ Mineral Resources are classified in accordance with CIM Standards. 3. Mineral Resources for all model blocks were calculated within optimized pits at a cut-off gold grade of 0.005 oz/ton (0.17 g/tonne). 4. The average gold grades of the Mineral Resources are comprised of the weighted average of block-diluted grades within the optimized pits. Alluvium and historical waste rock and backfill materials are not included in the Mineral Resources. 5. Mineral Resources that are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. 6. Mineral Resources potentially amenable to open pit mining methods are reported using a gold price of US$2,000/oz, a throughput rate of 20,000 tons/day (18,144 tonnes/day), variable metallurgical gold recoveries that average 74% for Main Mercur and 79% for South Mercur, variable net smelter return royalties with a block-weighted average of 2.1%, mining costs of US$2.50/ton (US$2.76/tonne) mined, heap leach processing costs of US$4.05/ton (US$4.46/tonne) processed, and general and administrative costs of US$0.82/ton (US$0.90/tonne) processed. The gold commodity price was selected based on an analysis of the three-year trailing average at the end of February 2025. 7. The effective date of the Mineral Resource estimate is March 13, 2025. 8. Rounding may result in apparent discrepancies between tons, grade, and contained metal content. Table 3 illustrates the sensitivity of the Main and South Mercur Mineral Resources to changes in the gold price from $1,600 per ounce up to $2,400 per ounce. All sensitivity cases are tabulated at a cutoff gold grade of 0.005 oz/ton (0.17 g/tonne). All tabulations at gold prices lower than the base case of $2,000/oz represent subsets of the current Mineral Resources. All tabulations at gold prices higher than the base case reflect potential future increases in Mineral Resources and are provided for information only. Table 3: Mineral Resources Sensitivity to Gold Price Mineral Resource Category & Gold Price Resource Tonnage (kT) Contained Gold Grade (g/T) Contained Gold (koz) Mineral Resource Sensitivity at $1,600/oz Gold Total Indicated 28,641 0.69 636 Total Inferred 27,611 0.58 514 Mineral Resource Sensitivity at $1,800/oz Gold Total Indicated 31,560 0.67 683 Total Inferred 31,507 0.55 562 Base Case Mineral Resource $2,000/oz Gold Total Indicated 35,299 0.66 746 Total Inferred 36,246 0.54 626 Mineral Resource Sensitivity at $2,200/oz Gold Total Indicated 37,089 0.65 779 Total Inferred 39,022 0.52 654 Mineral Resource Sensitivity at $2,400/oz Gold Total Indicated 40,238 0.64 822 Total Inferred 43,901 0.53 743 Notes:1. The Mineral Resource estimates were developed by Michael S. Lindholm, CPG of RESPEC in Imperial units, and the results and optimization parameters were converted into metric units. 2. In-situ Mineral Resources are classified in accordance with CIM Standards. 3. The base case reported Mineral Resources at a gold price of $2,000/oz Au is shown in bold and has an effective date of March 13, 2025. 4. Tabulations at gold prices higher and lower than the base case are presented to demonstrate sensitivities to fluctuating gold prices. 5. Tabulations comprise all model blocks at a cutoff gold grade of 0.005 oz/ton (0.17 g/tonne) for all material within optimized pits at variable gold prices. Pit optimizations used a throughput rate of 20,000 tons/day (18,144 tonnes/day), assumed variable metallurgical gold recoveries that average 74% for Main Mercur and 79% for South Mercur, variable net smelter return royalties with a block-weighted average of 2.1%, mining costs of US$2.50/ton (US$2.76/tonne) mined, heap leach processing costs of US$4.05/ton (US$4.46/tonne) processed, general and administrative costs of $0.82/ton (US$0.90/tonne) processed. 6. Tabulations at gold prices lower than the base case of $2,000/oz Au represent subsets of the current Mineral Resources. 7. Tabulations at gold prices higher than the base case reflect the potential for increased Mineral Resources and are provided for information only. 8. The average grades of the tabulations are comprised of the weighted average of block-diluted grades within the optimized pits. Alluvium, dump and backfill materials are not included in the tabulations. 9. Mineral Resources that are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. 10. Rounding may result in apparent discrepancies between tons, grade, and contained metal content. Figure 1 presents an overview map for the Mercur Project area and the location of reported Mineral Resources, exploration targets, key existing infrastructure, and proposed new facilities on the property. Figure 1: Overview Map Open Pit Heap Leach PEA The PEA was developed using conventional open pit hard rock mining methods at a nominal rate for mineralized material of 18,144 tonnes/day. The PEA mine fleet is conventional with loading accomplished by a 22 m3 hydraulic shovel and a 23 m3 front loader matched to up to sixteen 136-tonne class haul trucks. During the initial four years of operations, mining would be expected to be undertaken concurrently at both the Main Mercur and South Mercur pits. The run-of-mine (ROM) mineralized material would be hauled to the proposed West Mercur plant site area then crushed, conveyor stacked and leached on a dedicated leach pad. During the last six years of operations, mining would be expected to be undertaken at Main Mercur only. The LOM average strip ratio for the Project is 2.8. ROM mineralized material from the open pits would be processed in a conventional stationary three-stage crushing circuit to achieve a particle size of 100% passing 13 mm (0.5 inch). Crushed-product would be stacked in 10-meter-high lifts on a heap leach facility located at West Mercur and leached with a low-concentration cyanide solution using a buried drip irrigation system. The resulting pregnant leach solution would be processed in an adsorption-desorption-recovery (ADR) plant for the recovery of gold resulting in the production of a final dore product. LOM average metallurgical recovery for the Project is approximately 75% of contained gold and the estimated average annual gold production would be 95,600 ounces per year. The estimated average recovery reflects average recoveries of 74% for Main Mercur and 79% for South Mercur. Table 4 presents the mine and gold production schedule. Table 4: Mining and Heap Leaching Schedule Parameter Units Yr -1 Yr 1 Yr 2 Yr 3 Yr 4 Yr 5 Yr 6 Yr 7 Yr 8 Yr 9 Yr 10 Totals Mineralized Rock Pit to Stockpile M tonnes 0.9 2.5 2.7 2.6 2.9 3.7 2.8 2.6 3.5 2.3 1.6 28.2 Pit to Crusher M tonnes - 4.3 4.0 3.9 4.2 5.4 2.8 4.8 3.8 3.0 1.2 37.5 Total Mined M tonnes 0.9 6.8 6.7 6.5 7.2 9.2 5.6 7.4 7.3 5.3 2.8 65.6 Crusher to Heap M tonnes - 6.3 6.6 6.6 6.6 6.6 6.6 6.6 6.6 6.6 6.3 65.6 Gold Grade g/tonne - 0.58 0.52 0.57 0.59 0.43 0.57 0.64 0.66 0.87 0.72 0.60 Contained Gold k oz - 128 124 110 121 125 91 122 136 141 177 1,275 Recovery % - 84 % 79 % 76 % 77 % 76 % 74 % 80 % 78 % 71 % 58 % 75 % Recoverable Gold k oz - 107 98 84 94 95 68 98 106 100 102 951 Waste Rock Rock to Dumps M tonnes 0.9 18.7 17.2 17.0 14.3 17.2 19.6 16.6 15.9 15.2 3.8 156.3 Fill to Dumps M tonnes 0.6 3.1 - - 0.1 0.4 0.4 1.7 10.6 7.5 0.2 24.5 Total to Dumps M tonnes 1.4 21.8 17.2 17.0 14.4 17.6 20.0 18.3 26.4 22.7 4.1 180.8 All Rock Total Mined M tonnes 2.3 28.6 23.9 23.5 21.5 26.8 25.6 25.7 33.7 28.0 6.9 246.5 Strip Ratio wr:mr 1.7 3.2 2.6 2.6 2.0 1.9 3.6 2.5 3.6 4.3 1.4 2.8 Notes: 1. This PEA mine production schedule shows Mineralized Rock based on the contained Indicated and Inferred Resources. This is meant only to allow calculation of the cash-flow value and does not imply that any economics will be realized from the mining of the leachable material. 2. Tabled figures may not add due to rounding. Infrastructure Some of the infrastructure from the original Mercur mining operation remains in serviceable condition. Wherever possible, refurbishment and reuse of the existing infrastructure is planned, including the following: Site access and onsite roads; Water supply system; Fencing and gates; Groundwater monitoring wells; Stormwater management systems; Office building; and, Power substation and overhead power distribution lines. All other major infrastructure from the previous operations were removed as part of prior site reclamation efforts and would need to be replaced for future operations. The primary new infrastructure that would be required to support the PEA plan include: Crushing and conveyor stacking systems; Process solution distribution and collection systems; Heap leach pad; Process solution and overflow ponds; ADR plant/laboratory; Main and South Mercur haul roads; Water and power supply to the West Mercur area; Truck shop and warehouse; and, Administration and additional office buildings. Capital and Operating Cost Estimates Processing, infrastructure and general and administrative (G&A) capital and operating cost estimates for the Mercur PEA were developed by KCA. Mining equipment, mining preproduction and mine operating cost estimates were developed by RESPEC. Capital and operating costs were estimated based on first quarter 2025 US dollars. Capital costs for most major equipment were estimated from one or more new supplier quotes or recent quotes for similar items. Table 5 provides a summary of the PEA capital costs. The estimating cost accuracy for the study is +/-35% (AACE Class 5). Rows and columns may not be added precisely due to rounding. Table 5: Capital Cost Estimate Description Costs ($,000) Pre-Production Capital Process & Infrastructure (including spare parts) $115,036 Mining Capital & Mining Pre-Production $32,586 Indirect & Owner's Costs $4,258 Engineering, Procurement & Construction Management $13,804 Contingency $28,753 Total Pre-Production Capital $194,439 Working Capital & Initial Fills Mining Working Capital $9,343 Process Working Capital $3,782 G&A Working Capital $567 Initial Fills $201 Total Working Capital $13,893 Total Pre-Production & Working Capital $208,331 Sustaining Capital Process & Infrastructure $13,496 Indirect & EPCM $2,024 Mining $87,132 Contingency $7,461 Total Sustaining Capital $110,113 Reclamation & Closure Allowance (Gross) $39,790 LOM Total Capital Costs (Excluding Working Capital) $344,342 Processing and G&A costs were estimated by KCA from first principles. Labor costs were estimated using project-specific staffing, salary, wage, and benefit requirements. Unit consumption of materials, supplies, power, water and delivered supply costs were also estimated. The operating costs are based upon the ownership of all process production equipment and site facilities, including the onsite laboratory. Revival Gold would employ and direct all process operations, maintenance, and support personnel for all site activities. Mining costs provided by RESPEC are based on owner mining costs using leased mining equipment. Leases are based on a five-year term; consequently, all leased equipment would be owned by Revival Gold before the end of mining operations. Economic Analysis Based on the estimated production schedule, capital costs and operating costs, a cash flow model was prepared by KCA for the economic analysis of the Project. All information used in this economic evaluation was derived from work completed by KCA and RESPEC, with support by Revival Gold. Project economics were evaluated using a discounted cash flow method that measures the before-tax and after-tax Net Present Value (NPV) of future cash flow streams. The PEA economic model was based on the following key assumptions: A gold price of $2,175 per ounce. The mine production schedule developed by RESPEC with a nominal mining and processing rate of 18,144 tonnes per day. A period of analysis of 15 years that includes one year of investment and pre-production, 10 years of production, and four years for reclamation and closure. Capital and operating costs as summarized in Table 6 and described in the preceding section. Project economics are based on criteria from the cash flow model that are summarized in Table 6. Table 6: Economic Analysis Summary Financial Parameters Results Internal Rate of Return (IRR), Pre-Tax 30.8% Internal Rate of Return (IRR), After-Tax 26.5% Average Annual Cashflow (Pre-Tax) $83 million NPV @ 5% (Pre-Tax) $373 million Average Annual Cashflow (After-Tax) $71 million NPV @ 5% (After-Tax) $294 million Gold Price Assumption (US$/ounce Au) $2,175 /ounce Au Pay-Back Period (Years based on After-Tax) 3.6 years Capital Costs (Sales Tax Included) Initial Capital $194 million Working Capital & Initial Fills $14 million LOM Sustaining Capital $110 million Reclamation & Closure (Gross) $40 million Operating Costs (Average LOM) Mining $11.44 /tonne processed Processing & Support $4.63 /tonne processed G&A $0.69 /tonne processed All-in Sustaining Cost $1,363 /ounce Au Cash Cost $1,205 /ounce Au Production Data Life of Mine 9.95 Years Process Throughput, average 18,144 tonnes/day Metallurgical Recovery Au (Overall) 75% Average Annual Gold Production 95,600 ounces Au Total Gold Produced 951,000 ounces Au LOM Strip Ratio (Waste Rock : Mineralized Rock) 2.8 Figure 2 presents the estimated annual gold production and cumulative after-tax cash flow from pre-production through mine closure at $2,175 per ounce of gold. Figure 2: Annual Gold Production and Cumulative After-Tax Cash Flow A sensitivity analysis was performed using the PEA economic model. Figure 3 and Figure 4 provide the after-tax IRR and after-tax NPV 5% sensitivities to gold price, capital cost, and operating cost, respectively. Figure 3: After-Tax IRR Sensitivity Analysis Figure 4: After-Tax NPV 5% Sensitivity Analysis Mine Permitting The primary mine permitting activity for the Project would be managed by the State of Utah Department of Natural Resources Division of Oil, Gas and Mining (DOGM) in the form of a Notice of Intention to Commence Large Mining Operations and Reclamation Plan (R647-4-103). DOGM specialists would coordinate baseline studies and determine project impacts and mitigation measures beyond those proposed and carried out by the proponent. Baseline studies that would be required for the Project include cultural, wildlife and plant special status species, and noxious weed surveys and desk top analysis. DOGM would interact with other agencies including the Utah Department of Environmental Quality, who oversees Air Quality and Water Quality permits and approvals, the Utah Division of Water Rights and Water Quality (underground discharge permits), and the Utah Trust Lands Administration who manages School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration (SITLA). DOGM would provide analyses of sensitive resources on SITLA lands subject to leasing or royalty interests. The critical path permitting activities for the Project would be associated with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) for limited rights-of-way (ROWs) on BLM-administered land. The water supply pipeline and haul road ROWs would be analyzed with an Environmental Assessment (EA). State of Utah permits would be completed concurrently with the ROWs and the mine permitting process is expected to be completed in approximately two years. Key Opportunities & Risks Key opportunities identified by the Study Authors include: Low-risk infill and step-out exploration drilling at Main and South Mercur to upgrade and potentially expand the Mineral Resources. New potential discoveries from exploration targets within the highly prospective 6,628-hectare land position could extend the Projects mine life. Specific targets include South Mercur en echelon structures (where an adit into the favorable Lower Great Blue unit returned anomalous mercury and gold), the Porphyry Ridge target area (including an extension of the Rover Fault), and various targets in the West Mercur area including West Dip (where previous drilling intersected 2.87 g/T gold over 13.7 meters), Silverado and West Pediment. Crushing and heap leaching the historical Main Mercur Barrick ROM heap leach material and historical South Mercur underground tailings. Potential to increase the production rate with the discovery of additional mineral resources amenable to heap leach recovery. Review and extraction of additional historical data to potentially improve the geological, geotechnical, metallurgical, and hydrogeological understanding of the site. Likewise, the Study Authors identified several risks that could negatively impact Project economics: Samples used for the column leach tests were derived from a limited number of core holes that do not represent the full range of metallurgical behavior of the Mercur mineral resources. Additional drilling, sampling and testing will be required to increase confidence in the heap leach recovery estimates to support a Preliminary Feasibility Study (PFS) and continued Project development. Although not considered significant, the tonnage of material mined from the historical underground mining activity has not been accounted for in the Mineral Resource estimate. Subsequent drilling and modeling near the historical underground working areas is required and may negatively impact the size and grade of the mineral resources. The Mercur mine pits have known carbonaceous material that could impact overall heap performance if this material is not well understood and managed in any future operation. Steps have been taken to identify this material, and the PEA mine schedule was developed such that the material is stockpiled and leached at the end of mine life. Some uncertainty remains in the post-mining surface in areas that were backfilled with waste rock and reclaimed during the prior operation. Additional drilling and geophysical data will be required to convert associated Mineral Resources in these areas from the Inferred to the Indicated category. Geotechnical studies are required to verify the pit slope assumptions for both Main and South Mercur. The Mercur land position includes claim interests optioned from Barrick Resources (USA) Inc. and others and require future lease fees and earn-in payments. Next Steps The Study Authors have recommended additional work to increase the level of detail, potentially improve the PEA economics, and de-risk certain aspects of the Project. These recommendations have been separated into core items that support moving the Project forward by completing a PFS, and discretionary items such as some exploration and Project permitting activities. A summary of the recommendations include: Completing additional RC drilling, core drilling, and geophysics in the Main and South Mercur Inferred Mineral Resource areas to increase confidence in and expand the existing resource and collect samples for metallurgical and geotechnical testing. Explore for potential new discoveries from exploration targets within the highly prospective 6,628-hectare land position that could extend the LOM. Undertake additional heap leach metallurgical testing including column leach and compacted permeability tests to determine the optimum crush size, increase confidence in the recovery model for a range of rock types including potentially carbonaceous and sulfidic materials, and validate the reagent requirements. Complete foundation geotechnical studies in the key infrastructure areas at West Mercur. Initiate wildlife and cultural baseline studies to supplement existing data and compress the permitting schedule. A PFS should be completed on the Project once supporting lab and field studies referenced above have been sufficiently advanced, and the Mineral Resource estimate has been updated. Table 7 provides a cost estimate for these activities. Table 7: Estimated Costs for Recommended Next Steps Recommendations Estimated Costs Core Items ($ millions) Discretionary ($ millions) Resource Conversion Core Drilling Phase 1 (4,600 m) $3.09 - Resource Conversion Core Drilling Phase 2 (800 m) $0.54 - Resource Conversion RC Drilling Phase 1 (10,200 m) $1.73 - Resource Conversion RC Drilling Phase 2 (5,600 m) $0.95 - Geophysics to Define Bedrock/Backfill Contact $0.20 - Resource Expansion Core Drilling (2,300 m) - $1.55 Resource Expansion RC Drilling (2,600 m) - $0.44 Exploration RC Drilling (3,700 m) - $0.63 Mineral Resource Estimating $0.20 - PFS Open Pit Geotechnical Program $0.50 PFS Metallurgical Program $0.30 - PFS Foundation Geotechnical Program $0.30 - PFS Design & Financial Analysis $1.00 - Baseline Environmental Studies $0.15 $0.30 Totals $8.96 $2.92 Independent Qualified Persons The PEA was prepared for Revival Gold by independent Qualified Persons (QPs) under NI 43-101 from KCA of Reno, Nevada and RESPEC of Reno, Nevada. The independent QPs have reviewed and approved the economic and technical information of this news release derived from sections of the PEA that they are responsible for preparing, and are named below: Mr. Caleb Cook, P.E. KCA Mr. Michael S. Lindholm, C.P.G. Principal Resource Geologist RESPEC Mr. Jordan Anderson, RM SME RESPEC Other technical information included in this news release was reviewed and approved by Mr. John Meyer, P.Eng., a QP and Vice President, Engineering and Development for the Company, and Mr. Dan Pace, RM SME, a QP and Chief Geologist for the Company. All QPs have conducted site visits of the Mercur property. Further details on the PEA and the complete PEA study document can be found on the Companys website www.revival-gold.com or www.sedarplus.ca within 45 days of this news release. About Revival Gold Inc. Revival Gold is one of the largest, pure gold mine developers in the United States. The Company is advancing development of the Mercur Gold Project in Utah and mine permitting preparations and ongoing exploration at the Beartrack-Arnett Gold Project located in Idaho. Revival Gold is listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the ticker symbol RVG and trades on the OTCQX Market under the ticker symbol RVLGF. The Company is headquartered in Toronto, Canada, with its exploration and development office located in Salmon, Idaho. For further information, please contact: Hugh Agro, President & CEO or Lisa Ross, Vice President & CFO Telephone: (416) 366-4100 or Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Cautionary Statement Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (collectively, "forward-looking statements"). Forward-looking statements are not comprised of historical facts. Forward-looking statements include estimates and statements that describe the Companys future plans, objectives or goals, including words to the effect that the Company or management expects a stated condition or result to occur. Forward-looking statements may be identified by such terms as believes, anticipates, expects, estimates, may, could, would, will, or plan. Since forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Although these statements are based on information currently available to the Company, the Company provides no assurance that actual results will meet managements expectations. Risks, uncertainties, and other factors involved with forward-looking statements could cause actual events, results, performance, prospects, and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the results of the PEA on the Project, such as future estimates of internal rates of return, net present value, future production, estimates of cash cost, proposed mining plans and methods, mine life estimates, cash flow forecasts, metal recoveries, estimates of capital and operating costs, timing for permitting and environmental assessments, timing, completion and results of feasibility studies, and the size and timing of phased development of the Project. Furthermore, forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by the Company as of the date of such statements, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. With respect to this specific forward-looking information concerning the development of the Project, the Company has based its assumptions and analysis on certain factors that are inherently uncertain. Uncertainties include: (i) the adequacy of infrastructure; (ii) geological characteristics; (iii) metallurgical characteristics of the mineralization; (iv) the ability to develop adequate processing capacity; (v) the price of gold, silver and other commodities; (vi) the availability of equipment and facilities necessary to complete development; (vii) the cost of consumables and mining and processing equipment; (viii) unforeseen technological and engineering problems; (ix) natural disasters and/or accidents; currency fluctuations; (xi) changes in regulations; (xii) the compliance by and/or key suppliers with terms of agreements; (xiii) the availability and productivity of skilled labour; (xiv) the regulation of the mining industry by various governmental agencies, including permitting and environmental assessments; (xv) the ability to raise sufficient capital to develop such projects; (xiv) changes in project scope or design; and (xvi) political factors. This release also contains references to estimates of mineral resources. The estimation of mineral resources is inherently uncertain and involves subjective judgments about many relevant factors. Mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. The accuracy of any such estimates is a function of the quantity and quality of available data, and of the assumptions made and judgments used in engineering and geological interpretation (including estimated future production from the Project, the anticipated tonnages and grades that will be mined and the estimated level of recovery that will be realized), which may prove to be unreliable and depend, to a certain extent, upon the analysis of drilling results and statistical inferences that may ultimately prove to be inaccurate. Mineral resource estimates may have to be re-estimated based on: (i) fluctuations in commodities prices; (ii) results of drilling, (iii) metallurgical testing and other studies; (iv) proposed mining operations, including dilution; (v) the evaluation of mine plans subsequent to the date of any estimates; and (vi) the possible failure to receive required permits, approvals and licenses or changes to existing mining licenses. Forward-looking statements and information involve significant known and unknown risks and uncertainties, should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results and will not necessarily be accurate indicators of whether or not such results will be achieved. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from the results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or information, including, but not limited to: the Company's ability to finance the development of its mineral properties; assumptions and discount rates being appropriately applied to the PEA, uncertainty as to whether there will ever be production at the Company's mineral exploration and development properties; risks related to the Company's ability to commence production at the Project and generate material revenues or obtain adequate financing for its planned exploration and development activities; uncertainties relating to the assumptions underlying resource and reserve estimates; mining and development risks, including risks related to infrastructure, accidents, equipment breakdowns, labour disputes, bad weather, non-compliance with environmental and permit requirements or other unanticipated difficulties with or interruptions in development, construction or production; the geology, grade and continuity of the Company's mineral deposits; the uncertainties involving success of exploration, development and mining activities; permitting timelines; government regulation of mining operations; environmental risks; unanticipated reclamation expenses; prices for energy inputs, labour, materials, supplies and services; uncertainties involved in the interpretation of drilling results and geological tests and the estimation of reserves and resources; unexpected cost increases in estimated capital and operating costs; the need to obtain permits and government approvals; material adverse changes, unexpected changes in laws, rules or regulations, or their enforcement by applicable authorities; the failure of parties to contracts with the company to perform as agreed; social or labour unrest; changes in commodity prices; and the failure of exploration programs or studies to deliver anticipated results or results that would justify and support continued exploration, studies, development or operations. For a more detailed discussion of such risks and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, refer to other risks and uncertainties disclosed in the Companys public filings with Canadian securities regulators, including its most recent annual information form and managements discussion and analysis, available at www.sedarplus.ca. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date of this press release. Except as required by law, the Company disclaims any intention and assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Additionally, the Company undertakes no obligation to comment on the expectations of, or statements made by, third parties in respect of the matters discussed above. Non-IFRS/Non-GAAP Financial Performance Measures The Company has included certain terms or performance measures in this news release that commonly used in the gold mining industry that are not defined under International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS") or United States Generally Accepted Accounting Principles ("US GAAP"). This includes: all-in sustaining costs per ounce and cash cost per ounce. Non-IFRS/Non-GAAP financial performance measures do not have any standardized meaning prescribed under IFRS or US GAAP, and therefore, they may not be comparable to similar measures employed by other companies. The data presented is intended to provide additional information and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures prepared in accordance with IFRS or US GAAP and should be read in conjunction with the Company's financial statements. Because the Company has provided these measures on a forward-looking basis, it is unable to present a quantitative reconciliation to the most directly comparable financial measure calculated and presented in accordance with IFRS or US GAAP without unreasonable efforts. This is due to the inherent difficulty of forecasting the timing or amount of various reconciling items that would impact the most directly comparable forward-looking IFRS or US GAAP measure that have not yet occurred, are outside of the Company's control and/or cannot be reasonably predicted. Definitions "All-in sustaining costs" is a non-IFRS or US GAAP financial measure calculated based on guidance published by the World Gold Council ("WGC"). The WGC is a market development organization for the gold industry and is an association whose membership comprises leading gold mining companies. Although the WGC is not a mining industry regulatory organization, it worked closely with its member companies to develop these metrics. Adoption of the all-in sustaining cost metric is voluntary and not necessarily standard, and therefore, this measure presented by the Company may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers. The Company believes that the all-in sustaining cost measure complements existing measures and ratios reported by the Company. All-in sustaining cost includes both operating and capital costs required to sustain gold production on an ongoing basis. Sustaining operating costs represent expenditures expected to be incurred at the Project that are considered necessary to maintain production. Sustaining capital represents expected capital expenditures comprising mine development costs, including capitalized waste, and ongoing replacement of mine equipment and other capital facilities, and does not include expected capital expenditures for major growth projects or enhancement capital for significant infrastructure improvements. "Cash cost per gold ounce" is a common financial performance measure in the gold mining industry but has no standard meaning under IFRS or US GAAP. The Company believes that, in addition to conventional measures prepared in accordance with IFRS or US GAAP, certain investors use this information to evaluate the Company's performance and ability to generate cash flow. Cash cost figures are calculated in accordance with a standard developed by The Gold Institute. The Gold Institute ceased operations in 2002, but the standard is considered the accepted standard of reporting cash cost of production in North America. Adoption of the standard is voluntary, and the cost measures presented may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures of other companies. 1 The PEA economic analysis was developed using a gold price of $2,175 per ounce. See Table 6 for additional details. All amounts shown in this news release are in United States dollars and metric units of measurement unless otherwise stated. 2 Mineral Resources were estimated based on a gold price of $2,000 per ounce. See Table 1 for additional Mineral Resource modeling input parameters. VANCOUVER, BC, March 31, 2025 /CNW/ - Vizsla Silver Corp. (TSX: VZLA) (NYSE: VZLA) (Frankfurt: 0G3) ("Vizsla" or the "Company") is pleased to announce a new discovery from its ongoing exploration drill program at its 100%-owned, flagship Panuco silver-gold project ("Panuco" or the "Project") located in Mexico. The discovery was made in hole AM-25-90, marked by several high-grade intervals contained within a broader envelope of precious metals mineralization. AM-25-90 is located approximately six kilometers to the northeast of the Copala resource area, situated along the Animas Vein system below known historic mine workings. Highlights AM-25-90 returned 897 grams per tonne (g/t) silver equivalent (AgEq) over 5.85 metres true width (mTW) (653 g/t silver, 4.26 g/t gold, 0.02 % lead and 0.04 % zinc) Including 1,379 g/t AgEq over 1.31 mTW (1,190 g/t silver, 4.00 g/t gold, 0.02 % lead and 0.04 % zinc) And 2,256 g/t AgEq over 1.13 mTW (1,398 g/t silver, 14.10 g/t gold, 0.04 % lead and 0.09 % zinc) (653 g/t silver, 4.26 g/t gold, 0.02 % lead and 0.04 % zinc) And 568 g/t AgEq over 2.60 mTW (457 g/t silver, 2.00 g/t gold, 0.08 % lead and 0.18 % zinc) Including 1,000 g/t AgEq over 1.09 mTW (814 g/t silver, 3.42 g/t gold, 0.11 % lead and 0.24 % zinc) (457 g/t silver, 2.00 g/t gold, 0.08 % lead and 0.18 % zinc) "This new discovery underscores the strong potential for new wide, high-grade silver and gold mineralization in the Panuco district, which has historically seen limited systematic exploration," commented Michael Konnert, President & CEO. "Applying the same thesis we used to discover the Napoleon Vein in 2020, historic workings at Animas were used to vector this new mineralization. To date, drilling in the area has been limited, however ongoing geologic interpretation of the localized system suggests both grade and widths may increase at depth. We will evaluate plans to follow up on this exciting discovery with further details to be provided in due course." The Animas vein-system is located approximately six kilometres to the northeast of the Copala resource area, emplaced on reactivated northwest- to west-northwest-trending normal fault that dips to the southwest. The Animas system hosts the largest number of historical workings, including the Rosarito and Cuevillas veins with a current inferred resource of 7.01 Moz AgEq (see News Release from January 6, 2025). Animas has a mapped strike length of over 7.2 km and extends from the San Carlos mine in the southeast to the claim boundary in the northwest. To date, ten main mineralized shoots have been exploited along this corridor down to the present water table, with the oldest known workings dating back to the 1500s. Historical references note that the corridor extends beyond the San Carlos mine in the southeast and preliminary interpretations by Vizsla geologists using LiDar and satellite imagery, suggest that the Animas structural trend extends further south into the recently acquired San Enrique prospect (see News Release from April 16, 2024). The Hunt for Project 2 In late 2024, Vizsla commenced its fully funded +10,000 metre ongoing exploration drill program designed to test multiple veins in five high-priority target areas: Camelia-San Dimas, Animas-Triunfo, Galeana, San Fernando-Nacaral and Jesusita-Palos Verdes. Hole AM-25-90 reported in this news release was drilled at La Pipa target along the Animas vein system (Figure 2). Previous structural interpretations done by Starling in 2019 combined with further work done by Vizsla's geologists, suggested that Animas is emplaced along a reactivated, Laramide age fault zone that flattens at depth (Figure 3). Further interpretations by Vizsla geologists indicate that silver and gold mineralization may be telescoped (common in other Mexican epithermal vein systems) and that high-grade mineralized shoots could repeat/re-open at depth. Hole AM-25-90 was planned to test that hypothesis and has now confirmed the reappearance of broad high-grade mineralization at depth. The hole intercepted a 14.90 mTW vein package from 118.70 to 138.55 down the hole, that contains the two high grade zones and two low grade subzones with samples reporting 20 to 70 g/t AgEq. Results from this hole confirmed that great potential still exists along the Animas vein system below the historic mines and below the current water table that consistently prevented the historic miners from going deeper. The Company plans to follow up on the La Pipa discovery with additional exploration-delineation stage drilling subject to ongoing exploration success. Drillhole From To Downhole Length Estimated True width Ag Au Pb Zn AgEq Vein (m) (m) (m) (m) (g/t) (g/t) % % (g/t) AM-25-90 118.70 126.50 7.80 5.85 653 4.26 0.02 0.04 897 Animas Includes 119.75 121.50 1.75 1.31 1,190 4.00 0.02 0.04 1,379 Includes 124.35 125.85 1.50 1.13 1,398 14.10 0.04 0.09 2,256 AM-25-90 131.20 134.30 3.10 2.60 457 2.00 0.08 0.18 568 Animas Includes 132.00 133.30 1.30 1.09 814 3.42 0.11 0.24 1,000 Note: AgEq = Ag g/t x Ag rec. + ((Au g/t x Au Rec x Au price/gram)+(Pb% x Pb rec. X Pb price/t) + (Zn% x Zn rec. X Zn price/t))/Ag price/gram. Metal price assumptions are $24.00/oz silver, $1,800/oz gold, $2,424.4/t lead and $2,975.4/t zinc. Metallurgical recoveries assumed are 93% for silver, 90% for gold, 94% for lead and 94% for zinc. Metallurgical recoveries used in this release are from metallurgical test results of the Napoleon vein (see press release dated February 17, 2022). Table 1: Downhole drill intersections from hole AM-25-90. Drillhole Easting Northing Elevation Azimuth Dip Depth AM-25-90 409,080 2,589,578 810 76.6 87.0 201 Table 2: Drillhole details for hole AM-25-90. Coordinates in WGS84, Zone 13. About the Panuco Project The newly consolidated Panuco silver-gold project is an emerging high-grade discovery located in southern Sinaloa, Mexico, near the city of Mazatlan. The 7,189.5-hectare, past producing district benefits from over 86 kilometres of total vein extent, 35 kilometres of underground mines, roads, power, and permits. The district contains intermediate to low sulfidation epithermal silver and gold deposits related to siliceous volcanism and crustal extension in the Oligocene and Miocene. Host rocks are mainly continental volcanic rocks correlated to the Tarahumara Formation. On January 6, 2025, the Company announced an updated mineral resource estimate for Panuco which includes an estimated in-situ combined measured and indicated mineral resource of 222.4 Moz AgEq and an in-situ inferred resource of 138.7 Moz AgEq (please refer to Vizsla's press release dated January 6, 2025). About Vizsla Silver Vizsla Silver is a Canadian mineral exploration and development company headquartered in Vancouver, BC, focused on advancing its flagship, 100%-owned Panuco silver-gold project located in Sinaloa, Mexico. The Company recently completed a Preliminary Economic Study for Panuco in July 2024 which highlights 15.2 Moz AgEq of annual production over an initial 10.6-year mine life, an after-tax NPV5% of US$1.1B, 86% IRR and a 9-month payback at US$26/oz Ag and US$1,975/oz Au. Vizsla Silver aims to become the world's leading silver company by implementing a dual track development approach at Panuco, advancing mine development, while continuing district scale exploration through low-cost means. Quality Assurance / Quality Control Drill core samples were shipped to ALS Limited in Zacatecas, Zacatecas, Mexico and in North Vancouver, Canada for sample preparation and for analysis at the ALS laboratory in North Vancouver and rock samples were shipped to SGS Lab in Durango Mexico for sample preparation and analysis. The ALS Zacatecas, North Vancouver facilities and SGS lab are ISO 9001 and ISO/IEC 17025 certified. Silver and base metals were analyzed using a four-acid digestion with an ICP finish and gold was assayed by 30-gram fire assay with atomic absorption ("AA") spectroscopy finish. Over limit analyses for silver, lead and zinc were re-assayed using an ore-grade four-acid digestion with AA finish. Control samples comprising certified reference samples, duplicates and blank samples were systematically inserted into the sample stream and analyzed as part of the Company's quality assurance / quality control protocol. Qualified Person In accordance with NI 43-101, Jesus Velador, Ph.D. MMSA QP, Vice President of Exploration, is the Qualified Person for the Company and has reviewed and approved the technical and scientific content of this news release. Information Concerning Estimates of Mineral Resources The scientific and technical information in this news release was prepared in accordance with NI 43-101 which differs significantly from the requirements of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). The terms "measured mineral resource", "indicated mineral resource" and "inferred mineral resource" used herein are in reference to the mining terms defined in the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum Standards (the "CIM Definition Standards"), which definitions have been adopted by NI 43-101. Accordingly, information contained herein providing descriptions of our mineral deposits in accordance with NI 43-101 may not be comparable to similar information made public by other U.S. companies subject to the United States federal securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder. You are cautioned not to assume that any part or all of mineral resources will ever be converted into reserves. Pursuant to CIM Definition Standards, "inferred mineral resources" are that part of a mineral resource for which quantity and grade or quality are estimated on the basis of limited geological evidence and sampling. Such geological evidence is sufficient to imply but not verify geological and grade or quality continuity. An inferred mineral resource has a lower level of confidence than that applying to an indicated mineral resource and must not be converted to a mineral reserve. However, it is reasonably expected that the majority of inferred mineral resources could be upgraded to indicated mineral resources with continued exploration. Under Canadian rules, estimates of inferred mineral resources may not form the basis of feasibility or pre-feasibility studies, except in rare cases. Investors are cautioned not to assume that all or any part of an inferred mineral resource is economically or legally mineable. Disclosure of "contained ounces" in a resource is permitted disclosure under Canadian regulations; however, the SEC normally only permits issuers to report mineralization that does not constitute "reserves" by SEC standards as in place tonnage and grade without reference to unit measures. Canadian standards, including the CIM Definition Standards and NI 43-101, differ significantly from standards in the SEC Industry Guide 7. Effective February 25, 2019, the SEC adopted new mining disclosure rules under subpart 1300 of Regulation S-K of the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "SEC Modernization Rules"), with compliance required for the first fiscal year beginning on or after January 1, 2021. The SEC Modernization Rules replace the historical property disclosure requirements included in SEC Industry Guide 7. As a result of the adoption of the SEC Modernization Rules, the SEC now recognizes estimates of "measured mineral resources", "indicated mineral resources" and "inferred mineral resources". Information regarding mineral resources contained or referenced herein may not be comparable to similar information made public by companies that report according to U.S. standards. While the SEC Modernization Rules are purported to be "substantially similar" to the CIM Definition Standards, readers are cautioned that there are differences between the SEC Modernization Rules and the CIM Definitions Standards. Accordingly, there is no assurance any mineral resources that the Company may report as "measured mineral resources", "indicated mineral resources" and "inferred mineral resources" under NI 43-101 would be the same had the Company prepared the resource estimates under the standards adopted under the SEC Modernization Rules. Website: www.vizslasilvercorp.ca SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS This news release includes certain "ForwardLooking Statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and "forwardlooking information" under applicable Canadian securities laws. When used in this news release, the words "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "target", "plan", "forecast", "may", "would", "could", "schedule" and similar words or expressions, identify forwardlooking statements or information. These forwardlooking statements or information relate to, among other things: the exploration, development, and production at Panuco, including plans to follow up on the discovery at hole AM-25-90 with additional exploration-delineation stage drilling. Forwardlooking statements and forwardlooking information relating to any future mineral production, liquidity, enhanced value and capital markets profile of Vizsla Silver, future growth potential for Vizsla Silver and its business, and future exploration plans are based on management's reasonable assumptions, estimates, expectations, analyses and opinions, which are based on management's experience and perception of trends, current conditions and expected developments, and other factors that management believes are relevant and reasonable in the circumstances, but which may prove to be incorrect. Assumptions have been made regarding, among other things, the price of silver, gold, and other metals; costs of exploration and development; the estimated costs of development of exploration projects; Vizsla Silver's ability to operate in a safe and effective manner and its ability to obtain financing on reasonable terms. These statements reflect Vizsla Silver's respective current views with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon a number of other assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by management, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties and contingencies. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forwardlooking statements or forward-looking information and Vizsla Silver has made assumptions and estimates based on or related to many of these factors. Such factors include, without limitation: the Company's dependence on one mineral project; precious metals price volatility; risks associated with the conduct of the Company's mining activities in Mexico; regulatory, consent or permitting delays; risks relating to reliance on the Company's management team and outside contractors; risks regarding mineral resources and reserves; the Company's inability to obtain insurance to cover all risks, on a commercially reasonable basis or at all; currency fluctuations; risks regarding the failure to generate sufficient cash flow from operations; risks relating to project financing and equity issuances; risks and unknowns inherent in all mining projects, including the inaccuracy of reserves and resources, metallurgical recoveries and capital and operating costs of such projects; contests over title to properties, particularly title to undeveloped properties; laws and regulations governing the environment, health and safety; operating or technical difficulties in connection with mining or development activities; employee relations, labour unrest or unavailability; the Company's interactions with surrounding communities and artisanal miners; the Company's ability to successfully integrate acquired assets; the speculative nature of exploration and development, including the risks of diminishing quantities or grades of reserves; stock market volatility; conflicts of interest among certain directors and officers; lack of liquidity for shareholders of the Company; litigation risk; and the factors identified under the caption "Risk Factors" in Vizsla Silver's management discussion and analysis. Readers are cautioned against attributing undue certainty to forwardlooking statements or forward-looking information. Although Vizsla Silver has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be other factors that cause results not to be anticipated, estimated or intended. Vizsla Silver does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forwardlooking statements or forward-looking information to reflect changes in assumptions or changes in circumstances or any other events affecting such statements or information, other than as required by applicable law. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 31, 2025) - Astra Exploration Inc. (TSXV: ASTR) (OTCQB: ATEPF) (FSE: S3I) ("Astra" or the "Company") is pleased to announce a non-brokered private placement of up to 5,000,000 common shares of the Company (the "Shares") at a price of $0.20 per Share (the "Offering"), for gross proceeds of up to $1,000,000. Astra's CEO, Brian Miller commented: "This financing gives us the ability to proceed with a Phase II drill program at La Manchuria later this year, in addition to the fully-funded Phase I drill program which is mobilizing this week. It further de-risks our exploration strategy, provides discovery potential from two drill programs, and builds on our recent momentum - all while preserving Astra's tight capital structure. Also noteworthy are the approximately $1.7 million of in-the-money warrants held by management and key shareholders, that if exercised by their November 2025 expiry, would sufficiently fund the Company well into 2026 including both drill programs at La Manchuria." Subject to compliance with applicable regulatory requirements and in accordance with National Instrument 45-106 - Prospectus Exemptions ("NI 45-106"), the Shares will be offered for sale on a private placement basis: (i) in each of the provinces and territories of Canada, other than Quebec, in reliance on the "listed issuer financing exemption" from the prospectus requirements (the "LIFE Exemption") available under Part 5A of NI 45-106; and (ii)(A) in each of the provinces and territories of Canada pursuant to available exemptions from the prospectus requirements under NI 45-106 (other than the LIFE Exemption), (B) in the United States pursuant to available exemptions from the registration requirements of the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), and applicable U.S. state securities laws, and (C) in such other jurisdictions outside of Canada and the United States provided it is understood that no prospectus filing or comparable obligation, ongoing reporting requirements or requisite regulatory or governmental approval arises in such other jurisdictions. The Shares issued pursuant to the LIFE Exemption to Canadian resident subscribers under the Offering will not be subject to a hold period pursuant to applicable Canadian securities laws. The Shares issued to Canadian resident subscribers pursuant to prospectus exemptions under NI 45-106 other than the LIFE Exemption will be subject to a hold period expiring four months and one day after the closing of the Offering. There is an offering document related to the Offering that can be accessed under the Company's profile at www.sedarplus.com and at www.astra-exploration.com. Prospective investors should read the offering document before making an investment decision. The Offering is expected to close on or about April 11, 2025, or other such date as decided by the Company. The Offering remains subject to certain conditions customary for such transactions, including the receipt of all necessary approvals, including the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange. The Company intends to use the net proceeds for exploration at the La Manchuria gold-silver project located in the prolific Deseado Massif of southern Argentina and for general corporate and working capital purposes. In connection with the Offering, the Company may pay cash finder's fees to eligible arm's length parties. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of any of the securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful, including any of the securities in the United States of America. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act or any U.S. state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. Persons (as defined in Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act) unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable U.S. state securities laws, or an exemption from such registration requirements is available. About the Company Astra Exploration Inc. is a precious metals exploration company based out of Vancouver, BC that is actively building a portfolio of high-quality projects in some of the most important mining jurisdictions in Latin America. The La Manchuria gold-silver project in Santa Cruz, Argentina, over which Astra has an option to acquire 90% interest, is a high-grade gold and silver low sulphidation epithermal (LSE) deposit located in the prolific Deseado Massif which hosts multiple world-class LSE precious metals deposits including Cerro Vanguardia and Cerro Negro.Santa Cruz, Argentina. The 100% owned Pampa Paciencia gold and silver project in northern Chile is located in the Paleocene mineral province in proximity to such major operating mines as Spence and Sierra Gorda. The project shares several important geological similarities to other Paleocene LSE gold-silver deposits including Faride and El Penon. The 100% owned Cerro Bayo project in northern Chile is located in the Maricunga belt approximately 20 km from the Refugio Mine. The project hosts a high sulphidation epithermal (HSE) +/- porphyry gold system with similarities to the Salares Norte deposit to the north in the same belt. The Maricunga belt is one of the most endowed regions in the world for gold and copper deposits. Qualified Person The technical data and information as disclosed in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Darcy Marud, who is an Independent Director of Astra. Mr. Marud is a Practicing Member of the Association of Professional Geoscientists of Ontario and is a qualified person as defined under the terms of National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release may contain certain "Forward-Looking Statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and applicable Canadian securities laws. When or if used in this news release, the words "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "target, "plan", "forecast", "may", "schedule" and similar words or expressions identify forward-looking statements or information. These forward-looking statements or information may relate to the Company's business activities; exploration on the Company's properties; the closing date of the Offering and intended use of proceeds of the Offering. Such statements represent the Company's current views with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by the Company, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social risks, contingencies and uncertainties. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, without limitation: development of the industry in which the Company operates; risks associated with the conduct of the Company's business activities; risks relating to reliance on the Company's management team and outside contractors; currency fluctuations; risks regarding the failure to generate sufficient cash flow from operations; laws and regulations governing the industry in which the Company operates; employee relations, labour unrest or unavailability; stock market volatility; conflicts of interest among certain directors and officers; lack of liquidity for shareholders of the Company; litigation risk; and other risk factors disclosed in the Company's public disclosure documents available on the Company's profile at www.sedar.com. Readers are cautioned against attributing undue certainty to forward-looking statements or forward-looking information. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be other factors that cause results not to be anticipated, estimated or intended. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements or information to reflect changes in assumptions or changes in circumstances or any other events affecting such statements and information other than as required by applicable laws, rules and regulations. NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES Highlights: Permit issued for the Sherridon Property Engaged Mira Geoscience for 3D Inversion study on Sherridon Drilling planned for summer 2025 at Sherridon Spring drill campaign at the Gold Rock Camp Begins Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 31, 2025) - Dryden Gold Corp. (TSXV: DRY) (OTCQB: DRYGF) ("Dryden Gold" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that the Ontario Ministry of Mines has issued the exploration permits needed for drill testing the Sherridon Property ("Sherridon"). The Company is now fully permitted to drill test the near surface high-grade areas at Sherridon, where historically surface samples were reported as high 617.00 g/t gold with several samples over 100 g/t gold (link). Prior to drill testing the Company has completed geological mapping at Sherridon. With this new data, coupled with interpretations from previous drill and surface data, the geology team has built a geological and mineralization model for Sherridon. The Company has also engaged Mira Geoscience to initiate a 3D inversion study which will help improve and expand the geological model prior to initiating the 2025 drill program. The Company is planning an initial approximately 1,000-2,000-meter drill program to test Sherridon. The Company is currently drilling at the Gold Rock Camp, where it is following up down plunge on the Elora Structure as well as along strike to the northeast towards the historic Laurentian Mine and Mud Lake targets (link). This marks the start of the Company's approximately 15,000-meter drill program for 2025 with the goal of showing the depth potential at Elora, testing additional high-grade structures at Gold Rock and regional testing. "This permit along with our new permit at Gold Rock are major milestones for the Dryden Gold team. These permits will enable us to systematically explore and drill test new targets on our large strategic property. We are delighted to receive this support from the First Nations Communities and the Ontario Ministry of Mines for the two permits. The historical results have been very promising at Sherridon. We are confident that our fully funded 2025 exploration will reveal the potential extent of the high-grade gold across the Dryden Gold District," stated Trey Wasser, CEO of Dryden Gold. Mira Geoscience 3D Inversion Study A similar 3D inversion study was used on the Gold Rock and Hyndman exploration areas. The study creates a geophysical model that helps inform the 3D geological interpretation for the area. Geophysical anomalies from these studies have proven to be successful exploration targets at Gold Rock and Hyndman. The geology team will use the outcome of this study to assist in mapping and sampling and to inform the drill targets at Sherridon. "I am very excited to complete the 3D inversion study on Sherridon. We have completed this type of study on Gold Rock and Hyndman, which have both resulted in favourable new exploration targets (link). We now have exploration permits for Gold Rock and Sherridon which allows us to test our theories for high-grade controls on these targets and expand their footprints," stated Maura Kolb, President of Dryden Gold. Figure 1: Dryden Gold Exploration Targets and Geological Map Sherridon Geological Overview The property comprises mainly mafic greenschist facies metavolcanic rocks with minor discontinuous gabbro, pyroxenite, and diorite intrusions in the centre of the property. To the east of the property, there are folded porphyritic pillowed basalts that host centime-scale discontinuous barren quartz veins. Known mineralization on the property is spatially related to a strongly developed east-west trending, steeply dipping foliation that defines an approximately 4km along-strike "strain corridor". The known mineralization is spatially associated with the presence of magnetic medium-grained pyroxenite dykes that carried up to 5% disseminated sulphides, including pyrite and arsenopyrite throughout their matrix. The geophysical study will help the geology team to interpret areas under surficial cover and further refine the structural model for the Sherridon. The Company has expanded the land position at Sherridon since the field program of 2024. The Mira Geophysical study will encompass the entire new land package looking for similar geophysical signatures to the know mineralization and other highly favourable geological settings for high-grade gold mineralization. UPCOMING MARKETING EVENTS Dryden Gold is pleased to announce that it will be participating in the upcoming Capital Events conference in Scottsdale, Arizona that is taking place on April 11-13, 2025. CEO, Trey Wasser will be meeting new investors through a day of scheduled one-to-one meetings and networking activities. President, Maura Kolb, P. Geo. will also be giving a corporate presentation at the Ontario Prospectors & Explorers Sympsium in Thunder Bay, Ontario that is taking place on April 15-16, 2025. Maura will be presenting to a full room of industry experts, prospectors, contractors and peers. On May 9-10, 2025, Dryden Gold will be participating in the Metals Investor Forum conference in Vancouver on a new newsletter writer's panel of companies - Jeff Clark, The Gold Advisor. President, Maura Kolb, P. Geo. Will be giving a 10-minute corporate presentation followed by a short Q&A. Management will be available to meet in person and answer questions at the booth, so please register for this free event, here. Qualified Person The technical disclosure in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Maura J. Kolb, M.Sc., P.Geo., President of Dryden Gold and a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 of the Canadian Securities Administrators. Analytical Laboratory and QA/QC Procedures All sampling completed by Dryden Gold Corp. within its exploration programs is subject to a Company standard of internal quality control and quality assurance (QA/QC) programs which include the insertion of certified reference materials, blank materials, and a level of duplicate analysis. Drill samples from the 2023 program were sent to Activation Laboratories, with sample preparation and analysis in Thunder Bay, where they were processed for gold analysis by 50-gram fire assay with an atomic absorption finish and over limits determined by Fire Assay with a gravimetric finish. Activation Laboratories systems conform to requirements of ISO/IEC Standard 17025 guidelines and meets assay requirements outlined for NI 43-101. ABOUT DRYDEN GOLD CORP. Dryden Gold Corp. is an exploration company focused on the discovery of high-grade gold mineralization listed on the TSX Venture Exchange ("DRY") and on the OTCQB marketplace ("DRYGF"). The Company has a strong management team and Board of Directors comprised of experienced individuals with a track record of building shareholder value through property acquisition and consolidation, exploration success, and mergers and acquisitions. Dryden Gold controls a 100% interest in a dominant strategic land position in the Dryden District of Northwestern Ontario. Dryden Gold's property package includes historic gold mines but has seen limited modern exploration. The property hosts high-grade gold mineralization over 50km of potential strike length along the Manitou-Dinorwic deformation zone. The property has excellent infrastructure, enjoys collaborative relationships with First Nations communities and benefits from proximity to an experienced mining workforce. For more information go to our website www.drydengold.com. CONTACT INFORMATION Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements The information contained herein contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to : the acquisition of the Property, receipt of corporate and regulatory approvals, issuance of common shares; future development plans; future acquisitions; exploration programs; and the business and operations of Dryden Gold. Forward-looking statements relate to information that is based on assumptions of management, forecasts of future results, and estimates of amounts not yet determinable. Any statements that express predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as "expects", or "does not expect", "is expected", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans", "budget", "scheduled", "forecasts", "estimates", "believes" or "intends" or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results "may" or "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be "forward-looking statements." Forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual events or results to differ from those reflected in the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation: risks related to failure to obtain adequate financing on a timely basis and on acceptable terms; risks related to the outcome of legal proceedings; political and regulatory risks associated with mining and exploration; risks related to the maintenance of stock exchange listings including receipt of TSX Venture Exchange approval for the acquisition of the Property; risks related to environmental regulation and liability; the potential for delays in exploration or development activities; the uncertainty of profitability; risks and uncertainties relating to the interpretation of drill results, the geology, grade and continuity of mineral deposits; risks related to the inherent uncertainty of production and cost estimates and the potential for unexpected costs and expenses; the possibility that future exploration, development or mining results will not be consistent with the Company's expectations; risks related to commodity price fluctuations; and other risks and uncertainties related to the Company's prospects, properties and business detailed elsewhere in Dryden Gold's and the Company's disclosure record. Should one or more of these risks and uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned against attributing undue certainty to forward--looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and Dryden Gold and the Company do not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances. Actual events or results could differ materially from Dryden Gold's and the Company's expectations or projections. Plans Initial Drill Test of the Frisco Graben Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 31, 2025) - West Point Gold Corp. (TSXV: WPG) (OTCQB: WPGCF) (FSE: LRA0) ("West Point Gold" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it plans to expand the current reverse circulation ("RC") drill program at its Gold Chain Project in Arizona. The Company has elected to expand the program as the successful results returned to date continue to confirm the model. The expanded program will be funded by proceeds received from recent warrant exercises. The expanded program plans to continue drilling the northern extension of Tyro and complete an initial test of the Frisco Graben target. Press Release Highlights: The Frisco Graben is a large-scale, covered, low-sulphidation epithermal gold target. The Frisco Graben is approximately 4km in length and 1km wide. The ongoing drill program has been expanded to 5,000 metres from 3,000 metres. Assays are pending from 2,113 metres of completed drilling (13 holes). "We would like to thank our current shareholders for their continued support. Through their warrant exercises, we have been able to expand the ongoing drill program at our Gold Chain project in Arizona. The expanded program will allow us to complete an initial test at the Frisco Graben that bears geologic similarities to AngloGold's Silicon-Merlin deposit," stated CEO Quentin Mai. Frisco Graben Target at Gold Chain The Frisco Graben is a large-scale, low-sulphidation epithermal gold target at the Company's Gold Chain project Arizona (Figure 4). The Frisco Graben is bounded on the southwest by the Frisco Mine Fault and the northeast by the Union Pass Fault. The target area is approximately 4 kilometres in length and 1 kilometre across. The Frisco Graben is bounded by structures hosting altered rhyolite dikes, flow domes and associated flows and debris aprons extending into a narrow basin, i.e., a graben filled with volcanic tuffs and sediments. Strong hydrothermal alteration along the extent of the graben, especially at the intersection with the Tyro vein system (Figure 1), argues for concealed potential, as presented in Figure 3. Figure 1: Plan View of Gold Chain Project Showing Tyro Main Zone (with drilling) and drill pad locations for the Tyro NE Extension and Frisco Graben (see Figure 4 for location within the broader project). Sampling to date has not revealed anomalous gold in the Frisco Graben, which is expected in vapour-driven alteration. A hyperspectral survey was completed in 2020, an aeromagnetic survey in 2021 and geologic mapping of the graben and beyond provide additional evidence for a deeper epithermal gold system (Figure 2). The magnetic signature along Section 7000E, roughly parallel to the Tyro vein, reveals the shallow floor to the graben at about -300m in the hanging wall of the Frisco Mine fault. The section also reveals magnetite destruction along the Tyro vein to about -500 metres. A strong magnetic 'quiet' zone is positioned immediately beneath the graben and may reflect a felsic stock at depth. Figure 2. Annotated Section 7000 3D Magnetic Susceptibility Model Across the Gold Chain Project and the Frisco Graben. Note: Annotated by Rob Johansing, VP of Exploration. Airborne geophysics was conducted by a third-party contractor, and the interpretation was performed by Simcoe Geoscience Limited. The structures bounding the Frisco Graben merge to the northwest to form a fault zone referred to as the Union Pass fault zone (Figure 4). As observed elsewhere, the structure hosts rhyolite dikes and widespread quartz veining in the footwall Precambrian rocks and the rhyolite. As seen elsewhere, volcanic rocks in the hanging wall are altered, providing additional targets for future exploration programs. Figure 3. Schematic diagram of the Frisco Graben showing the 'boiling zone' (Tyro Vein) in the FW of the rhyolite dike (Frisco Mine fault) and vapour-dominated alteration in the hanging wall and capping the volcanic section of the graben. Note: Prepared by Rob Johansing, VP of Exploration. Figure 4: Gold Chain Project Claim Map with Geology Figure 5. Exploration model for low-sulfidation epithermal gold-silver vein systems illustrating vertical variations in quartz textures, structure, alteration and geochemistry along with the estimated vertical positions of the several structural segments of the Tyro vein system. Diagram adapted from: Buchanan (1980), Hollister (1985), Berger & Eimon (1983), Anaconda Corp. (1983), Guoyi (1992) and Corbett & Leach (1996). Drill Program Update The Company has elected to expand the ongoing RC drill program from 3,000 metres to 5,000 metres based on early warrant exercises by existing shareholders. To date, 2,450 metres have been completed in the current drill program, with assays pending for 2,113 metres (13 holes). The expanded drill program is expected to focus on the Frisco Graben (described above). Qualified Person Robert Johansing, M.Sc. Econ. Geol., P. Geo., the Company's Vice President, Exploration is a qualified person ("QP") as defined by NI 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the technical content of this press release. Mr. Johansing has been responsible for all phases of work conducted at Gold Chain by West Point Gold to date. About West Point Gold Corp. West Point Gold Corp. (formerly Gold79 Mines Ltd.) is a publicly listed company focused on gold discovery and development at four prolific Walker Lane Trend projects covering Nevada and Arizona, USA. West Point Gold is focused on developing a maiden resource at its Gold Chain project in Arizona, while JV partner Kinross is advancing the Jefferson Canyon project in Nevada. Stay Connected with Us: LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/west-point-gold X (Twitter): @westpointgoldUS Facebook: facebook.com/westpointgold Website: westpointgold.com/ FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS: Certain statements contained in this press release constitute forward-looking information. These statements relate to future events or future performance. Forward-looking statements include estimates and statements that describe the Company's future plans, objectives or goals, including words to the effect that the Company or management expects a stated condition or result to occur. The use of any of the words "could", "intend", "expect", "believe", "will", "projected", "estimated" and similar expressions and statements relating to matters that are not historical facts are intended to identify forward-looking information and are based on the Company's current belief or assumptions as to the outcome and timing of such future events including, among others, assumptions about future prices of gold, silver, and other metal prices, currency exchange rates and interest rates, favourable operating conditions, political stability, obtaining government approvals and financing on time, obtaining renewals for existing licenses and permits and obtaining required licenses and permits, labour stability, stability in market conditions, availability of equipment, availability of drill rigs, and anticipated costs and expenditures. The Company cautions that all forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain, and that actual performance may be affected by a number of material factors, many of which are beyond the Company's control. Such factors include, among other things: risks and uncertainties relating to West Point Gold's ability to complete any payments or expenditures required under the Company's various option agreements for its projects; and other risks and uncertainties relating to the actual results of current exploration activities, the uncertainties related to resources estimates; the uncertainty of estimates and projections in relation to production, costs and expenses; risks relating to grade and continuity of mineral deposits; the uncertainties involved in interpreting drill results and other exploration data; the potential for delays in exploration or development activities; uncertainty related to the geology, grade and continuity of mineral deposits; the possibility that future exploration, development or mining results may vary from those expected; statements about expected results of operations, royalties, cash flows, financial position may not be consistent with the Company's expectations due to accidents, equipment breakdowns, title and permitting matters, labour disputes or other unanticipated difficulties with or interruptions in operations, fluctuating metal prices, unanticipated costs and expenses, uncertainties relating to the availability and costs of financing needed in the future and regulatory restrictions, including environmental regulatory restrictions. The possibility that future exploration, development or mining results will not be consistent with adjacent properties and the Company's expectations; operational risks and hazards inherent with the business of mining (including environmental accidents and hazards, industrial accidents, equipment breakdown, unusual or unexpected geological or structural formations, cave-ins, flooding and severe weather); metal price fluctuations; environmental and regulatory requirements; availability of permits, failure to convert estimated mineral resources to reserves; the inability to complete a feasibility study which recommends a production decision; the preliminary nature of metallurgical test results; fluctuating gold prices; possibility of equipment breakdowns and delays, exploration cost overruns, availability of capital and financing, general economic, political risks, market or business conditions, regulatory changes, timeliness of government or regulatory approvals and other risks involved in the mineral exploration and development industry, and those risks set out in the filings on SEDAR made by the Company with securities regulators. Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking information in this corporate press release are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such information, which only applies as of the date of this news release, and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed time frames or at all. The Company expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, other than as required by applicable securities legislation. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. EIRA THOMAS APPOINTED PRESIDENT AND CEO KEN ARMSTRONG APPOINTED CHAIRMAN VANCOUVER, BC, March 31, 2025 /CNW/ - North Arrow Minerals Inc. (TSXV: NAR) ("North Arrow" or the "Company") is pleased to announce changes in the executive management of the Company, effective May 1, 2025, with Eira Thomas appointed President and CEO of the Company, and current President and CEO Ken Armstrong transitioning to Chair of the Board of Directors. Ms. Thomas has served as the non-executive Chair of North Arrow since February 2024. This change is intended to recognize Ms. Thomas' expanded, more direct role in managing the Company's exploration activities in southern Africa, including the Kraaipan Gold Project in Botswana. Ken Armstrong commented, "This change in North Arrow's management structure will allow the Company to take full advantage of Eira's existing relationships and operational experience in southern Africa, and Botswana in particular, as the Company advances the Kraaipan Gold Project and pursues additional exploration opportunities in this area. I look forward to continuing to support Eira, North Arrow and our partner and operator of the Kraaipan Project, Rockman Resources, as we pursue new gold discoveries in southern Botswana." Ms. Thomas has more than 30 years of experience in the mining industry, particularly in the diamond, gold and energy spaces. She has held executive and board positions with several companies over that period, including Kaminak Gold Corp. and Lucara Diamond Corp. In addition, she served as a director of Suncor Energy for 17 years. Eira Thomas commented, "I am pleased to be taking on increased responsibilities as North Arrow works to expand its portfolio of gold projects focused on southern Africa, and Botswana in particular, following a change in the Company's focus in 2024. Importantly, North Arrow will also continue to benefit from Ken Armstrong's history and experience with the Company as he steps into the role of Chairman of the Board of Directors. The Board would like to acknowledge Ken's long and successful service to the Company as President and CEO and looks forward to continuing to work with Ken as the new Chair." Rockman's highly experienced in-country team continues to capably implement ongoing exploration programs at the Kraaipan Project with Remote Mapper high resolution magnetic surveys and structural mapping surveys currently underway. Both surveys are expected to be completed in early April. As part of the mapping program, approximately 80 prospecting rock samples have been collected to date for the purpose of providing a geochemical profile of outcropping altered and unaltered iron formation and associated rock types. The geochemistry of these samples, including gold assays, will aid in the characterisation of bedrock samples collected as part of a planned three-month RC drill sampling program scheduled to start in May. This drill program is intended to test priority targets located beneath Kalahari overburden cover. For additional details on planned exploration work at Kraaipan, please see the Company's news release dated February 27, 2025). About the Kraaipan Gold Project, Botswana The Kraaipan Gold Project is comprised of three mineral concessions covering the 60 km strike extent of the Kraaipan Greenstone Belt (the "KGB") in Botswana. The KGB is a highly prospective Archean greenstone belt that straddles the Botswana - South Africa border, with proven mineral endowment including Harmony Gold's multi-million-ounce Kalgold mine in South Africa, approximately 40 km south of the Project. Past exploration of the northern extent of the KGB has been challenged by the presence of Kalahari overburden, impacting approximately 80% of the KGB within Botswana. The Kalahari overburden comprises unconsolidated sand as well as gravel, silcrete, calcrete and minor clay-rich horizons. While laterally extensive, this cover material is typically less than 20m over much of the Project but can locally reach depths of up to 70m. Limited past exploration of the KGB in Botswana has identified local gold mineralization in shallow drilling of exposed banded iron formation ("BIF") targets. An area of focus for new exploration is to identify BIF-related gold mineralisation beneath the sand cover. To do this, North Arrow is working with Rockman Resources Limited's highly experienced Botswana-based exploration team, who are deploying cost-effective, proprietary exploration solutions including unmanned aerial vehicle geophysics, truck-mounted drilling and, potentially, deep machine learning technologies to rapidly advance the Project. North Arrow can earn a 60% interest in the Project from Rockman by investing US$5 million by June 30, 2027, including a firm commitment to invest US$1 million by June 30, 2025. To date, the Company has invested approximately US$500,000. About North Arrow Minerals North Arrow is a Vancouver, BC-based exploration company focused on the evaluation of the Kraaipan Gold Project in Botswana. North Arrow's management, board of directors and advisors have significant successful experience in the global exploration and mining industry. North Arrow continues to maintain its Canadian diamond interests in the Naujaat (NU), Pikoo (SK), and Loki (NWT) Projects. North Arrow's exploration programs are conducted under the direction of Kenneth Armstrong, P.Geo. (NWT/NU, ON), President and CEO of North Arrow and a Qualified Person under NI 43-101. North Arrow Minerals Inc. /s/ "Kenneth A. Armstrong" Kenneth Armstrong President and CEO Website: www.northarrowminerals.com Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release contains "forward-looking statements" including but not limited to statements with respect to North Arrow's plans, the estimation of a mineral resource and the success of exploration activities. Forward-looking statements, while based on management's best estimates and assumptions, are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including but not limited to: risks related to the successful integration of acquisitions; risks related to general economic and market conditions; closing of financing; the timing and content of upcoming work programs; actual results of proposed exploration activities; possible variations in mineral resources or grade; failure of plant, equipment or processes to operate as anticipated; accidents, labour disputes, title disputes, claims and limitations on insurance coverage and other risks of the mining industry; changes in national and local government regulation of mining operations, tax rules and regulations. Although North Arrow has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. North Arrow undertakes no obligation or responsibility to update forward-looking statements, except as required by law. Guinea's ex-dictator Moussa Dadis Camara, jailed for 20 years over a 2009 massacre, was pardoned for "health reasons" by the west African country's junta leader, with a rights body Saturday saying he has left prison. "Upon the proposal of the minister of justice, a presidential pardon is granted to Mr Moussa Dadis Camara for health reasons," said a decree read out on television by presidential spokesperson General Amara Camara late Friday. A source in the Guinean human rights federation OGDH told AFP Dadis Camara had left jail late Friday and had arrived in the capital Conakry. "He made a brief stop-off at his home then was driven to a villa in a chic Conakry district where he is being monitored by police," the source added. Relatives and supporters of the former leader gathered near his house to show their support. Following a landmark trial permitted by the junta after it took power in 2021, a court found Dadis Camara guilty of crimes against humanity and sentenced him in July to 20 years behind bars. On September 28, 2009, at least 156 people were killed by gunfire, knives, machetes, or bayonets in a massacre at an opposition rally, according to a UN-mandated international commission of inquiry. Hundreds more were wounded and at least 109 women were raped. The abuses continued for several days against women who were held captive, and detainees were tortured. Only 57 bodies of the victims were recovered, according to families and human rights organisations, and the toll is believed to be far higher. Dadis Camara was found responsible for the massacre and for failing to punish its perpetrators, a judge ruled. Seven other people were also sentenced to terms of up to life imprisonment for their role in the massacre. 'Abject politicking' The Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) had welcomed the verdict, calling it a "landmark moment in establishing the truth... and bringing to account those bearing the greatest responsibility for the atrocities committed". Camera's younger brother Jean Dadis Camara told AFP he was delighted to hear the news of the pardon. "Everyone is happy. We thank the president," he said. "We are extremely grateful to President Mamadi Doumbouya for this pardon. It is the greatest gift for the entire family," said Marcus Olivier Thea, a close friend and confidant of the former dictator. General Doumbouya, the junta chief, announced Wednesday that compensation ordered by a judge would be paid to the victims of the September 28, 2009, massacre. Victims are due reparations ranging from 200 million Guinean francs ($23,100) to 1.5 billion Guinean francs ($173,300). One of the country's few dissident groups, the National Constitution Defence Front, denounced the pardon for Dadis Camara and the compensation decree, however. In a statement, it called the move "the most cynical manipulation and abject politicking". "Mamadi Doumbouya is playing games with Guineans' intelligence with the aim of holding onto power," it said. Some former victims of the 2009 crackdown criticised the release. A victim of sexual violence, who asked not to reveal her full name, said measures should have been taken to warn and protect other victims. "Many people testified in public, and now with Dadis's release, their lives are in danger," she said. "I am not against the pardon in the name of national reconciliation, but it's the way it was done that bothers me." This week's decrees came amid severe restrictions on freedom in Guinea. Many opponents of the junta have disappeared or are being questioned by prosecutors, demonstrations against the military are regularly banned, and several media outlets across the country have been shut down. JUSTICE INFO: What do we know today about sexual violence in the Catholic Church in Africa? What work, research or commissions can give us an idea of its scale? STEPHANE JOULAIN: I was once asked this question: when will there be a CIASE [Independent Commission on Sexual Abuse in the Church, which sat in France between February 2019 and October 2021] for Africa? I replied that France is a small country that undertook to conduct this commission at a cost of several million euros, and Africa is a continent of 54 countries. We cant expect something of the same magnitude, which would require a huge investment -- especially on a continent struggling with war, malnutrition, endemic and systemic poverty. Combating sexual violence in the Church is not a priority for most African countries. There is no global data on victims of sexual assault in the Church in Africa. There are journalistic investigations into this or that case, but not on a large scale. Theres a lack of data, because African countries are faced with both a lack of resources and a lack of will to study the phenomenon. With regard to violence against children, governments have ratified the Charter on the Rights of the Child. Development aid is conditional on respect for childrens rights, so some countries have made efforts to address the issue of sexual violence in society. There are many studies on this subject. But investigating the Church itself is far more difficult for various reasons, the main one being the weight of the Church in African societies. What are the obstacles to tackling this issue? There are several powerful obstacles. First of all, in Africa the Church is perceived as a major centre of power, and even as a political counterweight in some countries. In many African cultures, clerics are untouchable figures of authority. Theres pressure on victims and families from society itself not to sully the name of the institution, because it defends rights, for example. In some African countries where the Church has a political dimension, any media coverage of sexual crimes involving clerics will be seen as a political attack. As a result, many people dont say what has happened to them, because they wont be believed or listened to. Secondly, in many countries, if a man claims to have been sexually assaulted by a priest, it is very taboo. The man would be accused of being homosexual. African sexual morality is deeply marked by heterosexuality, machismo and patriarchalism. Abusing a child doesnt fit with this image. To put it simply: it is just not done. And, in fact, it leads to deep denial in entire societies. I have observed that the polymorphism and idealization of the African family hinders disclosure. The African family structure is not the mononuclear family of Europe, but polymorphic, extended by definition; the family includes cousins, uncles, aunts and so on. If things arent going well at home one day, you can go knock on your cousins door, they say. From a very early age, children develop the idea of belonging to this extended family which, depending on the culture, may be matrilineal or patrilineal and it becomes a safety net in fragile societies. The African family remains the place where people belong, where they develop great respect for seniority and learn very quickly to submit to adult authority. In other words, elders are not criticized, even when they are abusive. This adds layers of denial. In addition, Catholic theology has developed the idea that the Church in Africa is the family of God. This means that when youre a priest, others have to submit and say nothing. Finally, Id say there are geopolitical reasons, with the emergence of new pan-Africanisms impacting religious life and the life of the Church. Im thinking of Cardinal Ambongos statements in Kinshasa, for example, to the effect that homosexuality does not exist in Africa. When this same cardinal of the Church, a very close advisor to the Pope, says publicly that he shares values with Vladimir Putin [President of the Russian Federation], we can see that there is this desire to radically sever colonial ties with Europe. You provide a lot of sexual abuse prevention training to religious congregations on the African continent. Do you feel that things are progressing? I can see that the word is slowly getting out. Six months ago, in Nairobi, I had 125 trainers in front of me. Those who spoke up all said yes, abuses exist here. Its already a big change to no longer be in denial. In Kenya, its difficult for priests to go to the police to report something. I explain to them that the Sexual Offence Act and the Child Protection Act, two laws in Kenya, include an obligation to report to the legitimate authorities. But they are afraid. Why are they afraid? Because going to the police in Kenya isnt necessarily the best solution, you risk ending up in prison yourself because you have filed a report. Its worth noting that recently a bishop in Eldoret (western Kenya) reported one of his priests to the police for allegedly abusing a 10-year-old girl. Criminal proceedings are underway. I can see that, little by little, prevention training is bearing fruit. What is the Church putting in place in Africa? The Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa (Amecea) has done a great deal to raise awareness on the issue of victims. At the Vatican, a drive has been made to get churches on the African continent to take a close look at these issues. For example, an effort is being made via the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors to ensure that episcopates are equipped with prevention policies, protocols for intervention and codes of conduct. In the Kenyan bishops conference, for example, Kenyan bishops have been asked to draw up their own diocesan policies. Anglophone countries are increasingly equipping themselves with these tools. In French-speaking countries, its a bit slower. I recently went with my Central Africa congregation to Burundi, where we drew up a policy, protocols and codes of conduct for the DRC, Burundi and Rwanda. Well be doing the same for southern Africa in the summer of 2025, and then for West Africa next year. When the silence starts to break, what is your intuition about the scale of abuse on the continent? When it comes to sexual abuse of under-age boys by priests, Africa wont be on the same scale as we have seen in Europe or North America. That is my humble opinion, in view of the sexual morality I mentioned earlier. Or it could be the result of European missionaries who came to work in Africa. This is not anecdotal, by the way, and the floor needs to be opened on the issue. On the other hand, I think the real subject concerns young girls, children and teenagers, as well as adult women and nuns. Sister Mary Lembo (a Togolese nun from the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Catherine of Alexandria, based in Rome) wrote her thesis on the abuse of nuns. This is a very important piece of work that could get things moving. This subject also requires societies to evolve, because as long as telling what happened remains a source of shame for victims, people will not speak up. Monday, March 31, 2025 - A house help who pulled off a bold heist vanishing with Sh 2.2 million from her employers home has been arrested, thanks to coordinated efforts by detectives from DCI Nairobi Regional Headquarters and their Crime Research and Intelligence Bureau counterparts. On March 16th, 2025, in what seemed like an ordinary day, the employer left Muhonja at home as she went about her daily errands, unaware that betrayal was about to happen. A few hours later, a security guard called her with a peculiar report, Muhonja had been seen leaving with a large carrier bag. On being questioned, she claimed she was delivering something for her boss. Sensing something was not right, since she had not given such instructions, she quickly tried to reach her house help, only to find the phone switched off. Rushing back home, panic turned into horror when she discovered that Sh2.2 million she had kept safely in her bedroom had vanished, just like her househelp. Investigation kicked off, and through forensic leads, the hunt paid off, as Muhonja was cornered and arrested in Malava, Kakamega County. Upon interrogation, she led detectives to Kapsoi, Vihiga County, where Sh700,000 was recovered from her grandmothers house. The operation then continued to her rural home in Kipkaren, Uasin Gishu County, where detectives recovered three chain links bought using the stolen cash. Muhonja further led detectives to Nairobis South B, Fuata Nyayo area, where an additional Sh800,000 was recovered from her rented house. Now in custody at Capitol Hill Police Station, Muhonja is undergoing processing as she awaits her day in court. The Kenyan DAILY POST Just recently, towards the end of 2024, Business Daily Africa released a report claiming that Kenya appeared in the list of the top six African countries with significant stablecoin adoption. This came after other experts previously placed the country fifth in terms of global crypto ownership. While crypto has been criticized over the years, its impact has not ceased to be felt in different regions, including Kenya. As a result, there has been a growing interest in Bitcoin and other digital currencies across different sectors and demographics in this country. According to triple-a.io, there are more than six million people owning crypto. Additionally, Kenya led the world in peer-to-peer crypto trade about four years ago. But what are the factors fuelling these trends? Well, continue reading to find answers. The regulatory landscape Crypto regulations in Kenya have been significantly evolving. For instance, about a decade ago, the CBK issued warnings to financial institutions against dealing with crypto. But a few years later, in 2023, the country introduced a digital asset tax (DAT) during the amendment of the Finance Act. A 3% tax on gross income was to be imposed on digital assets trading. The main concern with the tax was that it was to be imposed without regard to whether the assets were being moved between exchanges or exchanged at a loss or profit. Fast-forwarding to early 2024, the National Assemblys Departmental Committee on Finance and National Planning mandated the Blockchain Association of Kenya (BAK) to develop the first draft of the crypto bill. BAK recently appeared to the committee to share its recommendations on how it could help the government come up with proper crypto regulations. According to a January 2025 report by Fintech News Africa, the Kenyan National Treasury launched a draft policy to help come up with regulations governing assets and service providers. As part of the process, the organization called for the public to share their opinions as well. This initiative could help clarify regulatory uncertainties and boost investor confidence. The age of instant payments With the rapid advancement of technology, consumers now expect faster and more efficient payment solutions. A study by PYMNTS.com reveals that 78% of customers rank instant payments as an important part of their customer experience. Businesses looking to stay competitive must adapt to these shifting preferences. ,At the same time, customer acquisition costs are rising, with research suggesting that acquiring a new customer can be at least five times more expensive than retaining an existing one. This, coupled with increasing operational expenses, has led many businesses in Kenya to explore alternative payment solutions. Cryptocurrency offers a solution by eliminating intermediaries, reducing transaction costs, and enabling near-instant cross-border payments. For small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), adopting crypto payments could provide a cost-effective way to streamline financial transactions while enhancing customer satisfaction. The need for secure transactions According to TransUnion Africa, 4.8% of digital account login attempts in the country were suspected to be fraudulent. Hence, the need to ensure online security has become very apparent. Cybercriminals are exploiting tech advancements to illegally access customer data. Cyberattacks not only lead to financial losses but also severely impact brand reputation. A study by Spiceworks found that only 21% of customers trust established global brands to safeguard their information. This erosion of consumer confidence presents an opportunity for businesses to differentiate themselves by implementing more secure financial solutions.. Cryptocurrency provides a decentralized and highly secure alternative to traditional financial systems. Unlike most traditional platforms with centralized databases, blockchain technology distributes data across multiple nodes, making it nearly impossible for hackers to alter or manipulate transactions.Additionally, blockchain transactions are immutable, meaning once data is recorded, it cannot be changed or tampered with. This level of security, combined with strong cryptographic encryption, significantly reduces the risk of fraud and unauthorized access. A safer financial future with Crypto With rising concerns over digital security, Kenyan businesses are increasingly exploring cryptocurrency as an alternative means of protecting transactions and enhancing consumer trust. The governments ongoing efforts to regulate the sector further indicate growing institutional recognition of cryptos role in modernizing the financial landscape. As security threats evolve, businesses and consumers must stay ahead by adopting resilient, tamper-proof financial technologies. With its robust security, decentralization, and efficiency, cryptocurrency is poised to play a transformative role in securing Kenyas digital economy. By embracing crypto-based solutions, businesses can leverage this critical advantage in todays evolving digital world. Monday, March 31, 2025 - Police in Migori County have launched investigations after a General Service Unit officer, Constable Dan Ayoo Obura, was buried within the compound of St Joseph Missions of Messiah in Africa church in Kamagambo under unusual circumstances. Obura reportedly fell ill at home on March 27th, prompting his wife to take him to the church for prayers but he passed away on the way and his body arrived at the church that night. The next day, his wife secured a burial permit from a local Assistant Chief, who was unaware of the burial location. Family members claim the officer had been influenced by the churchs teachings, which they had previously reported to authorities. Police suspect occult practices and may seek a court order to exhume the body for an autopsy. There has been no response from the church leadership as detectives continue to probe the circumstances surrounding Oburas death and burial. The Kenyan DAILY POST Niamh ODonoghue A man who threatened to burn down his partners house has been jailed for two years at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Gerard Tier (34) of Casement Drive, Finglas, Dublin, pleaded guilty to threatening to kill or cause serious harm on August 21st, 2021. Two other counts of possession of an explosive substance and a threat to kill or cause serious damage were taken into account. A petrol bomb was found at the house, and Tier threatened to burn the house down, the court heard. Garda Paul Higgins told the court Tier was extremely violent and resisted arrest. It took four gardai to restrain him. Tier started to headbutt the floor and said he would make the place look like a murder scene. He said to gardai, Ill have you killed and that hed gotten a garda sacked before. While he was in hospital, he continued to be violent. He said he was drinking and made admissions to taking cocaine on the night, the court was told. Im coked off my head, Im going to have a heart attack, he told gardai. Gardai said there was a distinct smell of petrol when they entered the house. They found a bottle with petrol in it and a rag in the top - a Molotov cocktail as its also known. When asked about the homemade bomb the following day, he denied ownership of it at the time. The woman said she did not want him arrested as he was the father of her children, but she was in shock when she saw the Molotov cocktail. Tier said he consumed eight cans of beer and drank foreign whiskey. An empty bottle of Seadog rum was used for the Molotov cocktail. Justin McQuade BL defending, said his client was on disability benefits since he was the victim of a stabbing. I dont know what General Molotov would say about this device, said Mr McQuade. Some people put sugar in them and its not to sweeten them, he added. He has 12 previous convictions, including one for robbery. Judge Martin Nolan said Tier behaved very badly and noted it took four gardai to restrain him, his animus continued. He had taken certain substances. The incendiary device, although primitive, was very dangerous, the judge said. Possession of this device is a serious matter, said the judge. He said he had to impose a custodial sentence and jailed Tier for two years. Aspiring entrepreneurs will have an exciting opportunity to kickstart their business journey with the Exit 4 Competition, which opens for applications on April 4. Kilkenny County Council, Local Enterprise Office Kilkenny, South East Technological University (SETU), and the Urlingford Town team have announced details of the START Exit 4 Competition 2025. START Exit 4 is open to anyone with an innovative business idea in the early stages of trading (within the first 18 months of trading or pre-trading) If you have an original and innovative idea within the technology sector (eg Agri-Tech, AI, Ecommerce, FinTech, Gaming, Healthcare, ICT, IOT, Robotics, etc) and intend on setting up a business in Kilkenny, or are already in the early stages of development, check out this competition. READ NEXT: SPECIAL GUEST IS KEY SPEAKER AT KILKENNY CHAMBER CHAT The initiative will involve availing of LEO Kilkenny and SETU training and mentoring where appropriate, and will culminate in a final comprising of an investor ready pitch for an investment fund worth 6,000. The prize fund will include access to office space to the value of 1,500 at the newly opened Exit 4, conferencing and remote working hub located in Urlingford. To encourage budding entrepreneurs to come forward, LEO Kilkenny will run a START/Exit 4 workshop and Start Your Own Business Course at Exit 4, Urlingford during spring/summer 2025. South East Technological University (SETU) will also be onsite to support applicants in the area. The competition will be open for applications from Friday, April 4 through the Local Enterprise Office Kilkenny website at www.localenterprise.ie/ kilkenny . In conjunction with this competition, The Local Enterprise office will also be holding a workshop and Start your Own Business course in Exit 4 on the below dates along with mentoring sessions with SETU. It is not a requirement to take part in the workshop and course if you enter the competition, however it is recommended as this will prepare you for the competition pitch. Mentoring will also be provided for competition entrants who do not take part in workshop and course. Key Dates and What to Expect The initiative begins with an introductory workshop on April 9 at Exit 4, setting the stage for participants to refine their ideas. From April 30 to June 4, a six-week Start Your Own Business course will take place at Exit 4 each Wednesday morning. These sessions will be followed by advice clinics run by LEO (Local Enterprise Office) and SETU (South East Technological University), helping participants develop business plans and pitches with mentorship support. The competition closes for entries on May 30, and shortlisted applicants will receive one-on-one mentoring from June 2 to June 6 to fine-tune their proposals and pitches. Final business proposals and electronic presentations must be submitted by June 9, leading up to the grand finaleinterviews and pitches before the judging panel on June 13. The Local Enterprise Office is the first stop for any entrepreneur who is looking to start or grow their business," said Cathaoirleach of Kilkenny County Council Michael McCarthy. "This competition aims to encourage and support people starting out on their entrepreneurial journey. We are delighted to partner with Exit 4 and the Urlingford Town Team and highlight this exceptional facility that is here at Exit 4 as a workplace hub and centre for businesses to thrive and grow. "Exit 4 is a fully serviced and professionally managed range of office spaces and conference facilities, designed for diverse users. Housed within the impressive former Bank of Ireland building on Main Street, Urlingford, North Kilkenny, this national heritage building has been repurposed by the Urlingford Town Team in partnership with Kilkenny County Council, so that the space seamlessly blends its historical charm with high quality amenities. Dympna Hayes, Chair of the Urlingford Town Team, said that they are delighted to team up with the Local Enterprise Office and SETU through the Start/Exit 4 competition. This initiative will open our hub to entrepreneurs and business owners and will kick start a thriving enterprise ecosystem within the town. Dympna pointed out that Urlingfords strategic location just off the M8 corridor at Exit 4 is ideal for this competition. Our centrally located venue is a perfect fit for conferences or training sessions. We look forward to welcoming you to our hub. Brian Ogilvie, Head of Entrepreneurship and Rural Engagement at South East Technological University, said SETU was delighted to be partnering with Kilkenny Local Enterprise Office and the Urlingford Town Team. "As part of its mission, SETU is dedicated to promoting economic development in the region and engaging with businesses, particularly those in rural areas, to support their growth and embed innovation at the heart of their operations. We firmly believe that working with businesses in their locality through partners such as Exit 4 and Kilkenny LEO plays a vital role in helping our communities to grow," he said. At the first stage of the competition, applicants are invited to submit their entries via an online application form on www.localenterprise.ie/ kilkenny . The closing date for entries is Friday, May 30. Participants will then by supported to refine and finalise their business proposal and the winners will be announced at the end of June 2025 following a competitive pitch process. Please allow ads as they help fund our trusted local news content. Kindly add us to your ad blocker whitelist. If you want further access to Ireland's best local journalism, consider contributing and/or subscribing to our free daily Newsletter . Support our mission and join our community now. A recent post on the An Garda Siochana Kilkenny Facebook page, wishing our local Muslim Community 'Eid Mubarak' has received some negative reaction online, raising concerns that gardai ignore other religious faiths. The Facebook post, published on Sunday, March 30 read; "Our Community Engagement Unit were delighted once again to be guests of the local Islamic Community as they celebrate the end of Ramadan with Eid celebrations. Thank you for your hospitality." Some social media users reacted unfavourably to their post. One person commented, "I don't remember An Garda Siochana Kilkenny ever making posts celebrating Christian holidays," while another person, questioned, "assuming ye will be visiting the Catholic church at Easter Sunday?" PICTURES: Take a peek at this brand new Kilkenny housing estate! However, many posters to the site welcomed the local gardai's well wishes. "Thank You for accepting us as #Islam is a religion of peace. THANKS Once Again." "Sadly, racist bigots are going to do what racist bigots do. It's a shame you've felt you needed to post this, anyone that actually follows this page knows you do lots of community engagement stuff." Meanwhile, Kilkenny gardai reacted themselves to the controversial post, stating: "Our Community Engagement Unit interacts with those of all faiths and none. "Every Good Friday, we take pride in leading the Way of the Cross Procession from St John's," they added. "We enter a tree into St Canice's Cathedral Christmas Tree Exhibition and read a lesson in their Carol Service. "Our community bus has been used to bring a group to Knock Basilica and our members are involved in what our Community is involved in," they continued. "It may not suit some but we will continue to interact with the whole community. Today, after a Mother's Day post, itself derived from Mothering Sunday, a traditionally Christian celebration we greeted our friends from a large cohort in our Community on one of their most significant days of celebration. "One day in 65. It makes you think," the post concluded. A leading figure in Kilkenny politics was met with warm applause upon her return to the Kilkenny County Council chambers last week, where she provided an update on her work in Brussels and reflected on her political journey. As MEP Kathleen Funchion addressed her former colleagues, one question in particular sparked intrigue - would she consider a run for the Irish presidency? With a wry smile, Cllr Pat Fitzpatrick put the question to her. That I can deny with 100% certainty, MEP Funchion replied, putting any speculation to rest. READ NEXT: 'The mistakes we have made in Kilkenny are almost unforgivable' The Kilkenny MEP also spoke about her role in the European Parliament, where she serves on three key committees: the Committee on Regional Development (REGI), the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs (EMPL), and the Committee on Womens Rights and Gender Equality (FEMM). She highlighted the need to simplify elements of EU Parliament procedure and cut through bureaucracy for more effective governance. Cllr Mary Hilda Cavanagh welcomed MEP Funchion back, praising her work and noting the historic nature of her election. You have written yourself into the history books, she remarked. As she looks ahead to the next four years in Brussels, MEP Funchions focus appears to remain firmly on her parliamentary work - rather than any bid for Aras an Uachtarain. FOR MORE LOCAL NEWS, CLICK HERE The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, James Browne TD, has confirmed that he has allocated 436m to meet social housing needs. This includes capital funding allocations totalling 325m which have now been notified to local authorities in respect of the second-hand social housing acquisitions programme for 2025. In County Kilkenny, 30 new social homes will be delivered as part of this national funding initiative. READ NEXT: Kilkenny figure breaks silence amid speculation on bid for Aras Commenting on the news, Deputy John McGuinness (FF) stated government is committed to housing and has a diverse list of plans which they are currently rolling out across Ireland. Fellow Carlow-Kilkenny TD stated that 'alongside new builds, we are also prioritising the acquisition of second-hand homes, enabling local authorities like Kilkenny County Council to quickly bring additional homes into the social housing stock'. "This strategy is about acting swiftly to address immediate housing needs in Kilkenny County and for the people of County Kilkenny," she added. The approvals issued in recent weeks provide funding in 2025 to progress 82 projects which will deliver 1,325 homes over the period 2025 2027, 575 of which will be delivered this year. The approvals are in respect of the following locations: 542 homes in Dublin 234 homes in Cork City and County 60 homes in Westmeath 58 homes in Meath 59 homes in Limerick 56 homes in Kerry 55 homes in Wicklow 30 homes in Kilkenny; and 231 homes cumulatively across Mayo, Clare, Donegal, Galway City & County, Roscommon, Cavan, Longford, Tipperary, Roscommon, Carlow, Waterford, Kildare and Laois. READ NEXT: New facility confirmed 'beyond doubt' for Kilkenny's James Stephens Barracks, says McGuinness Under revised arrangements for 2025, local authorities have received a capital funding allocation for the acquisition of second-hand dwellings. The authorities can target this funding at their discretion whether on tenant in situ purchases or other purposes allowing them the flexibility to respond to local needs and demand within the categories of acquisitions being supported. FOR MORE LOCAL NEWS, CLICK HERE A popular shop on High Street in Kilkenny City is temporarily closed from today (Wednesday) to facilitate renovation works. Oxfam Kilkenny, a well-known city charity shop, have posted the following notice on the premises: "Sorry, we are closed for a refit! For updates follow @OxfamKilkenny. See you in a few weeks!" On their social media, the shop stated: "Please note that our Kilkenny store will be closed for refurbishment starting March 26. We are making improvements to enhance your shopping experience. READ NEXT: 'Drive-thru' coffee plans lodged for busy Kilkenny area View this post on Instagram A post shared by Oxfam Kilkenny (@oxfamkilkenny) "In the meantime, we invite you to visit our other locations in Portlaoise, Waterford, Wexford and Tullamore. Donations are also welcome at these stores. "Thank you for your understanding. We look forward to welcoming you back soon." The shop are also asking people not to leave donations while they are closed. "Thank you for thinking of us though," staff said. "In the meantime, Vision Ireland is up the road, Cancer Research down the road, and Samaritans around the corner. See you soon." FOR MORE LOCAL NEWS, CLICK HERE Hes a legend and an icon, a revolutionary and an immortal - and he's coming to Kilkenny. John Lydon aka Johnny Rotten changed the face of music and sparked a cultural revolution. The frontman and lyricist of the Sex Pistols and Public Image Ltd (PiL) caused a political earthquake and transformed music for good. In his new spoken word show, I Could Be Wrong, I Could Be Right, Lydon is touring the UK and Ireland. READ NEXT: Kilkenny designer making waves in the world of fashion As part of his tour, he will be making an appearance in The Watergate Theatre in Kilkenny City on Tuesday, September 16, 2025. He will talk about how he sees life, along with his unique and extraordinary career, and take audience questions during a pyrotechnic, one-off tour. Lydon will be sharing his thoughts with audiences. As the title suggests, he could be wrong, he could be right. Full ticket details available on watergatetheatre.com FOR MORE LOCAL NEWS, CLICK HERE The Minister for Housing has refused to set out the Governments social housing targets for the year ahead, saying he did not want to get into guessing numbers. James Browne said he did not want to get into predictions or estimates, adding that he wants to maximise the delivery of homes. Government said it would build 9,300 social homes in 2024, however question marks remain over whether the target will be reached. The Governments previous targets for building social homes in 2020, 2023, 2022 and 2023 were all missed. The target for this year in the Programme for Government and Fianna Fails general election manifesto is for the state to directly build at least 12,000 social homes a year. Senior government figures have been criticised for claiming during the election campaign that close to 40,000 new homes would be built in 2024, which would have been far in excess of its own targets. This was despite the Central Bank projecting in its September Quarterly Bulletin that completions would hit around 32,000. Data published by the Central Statistics Office earlier this year revealed that only a total of 30,330 new homes were completed last year, below the target in the Housing for All plan of 33,450 new-builds in 2024. Asked what is the Governments estimate in building social homes for 2025, Mr Browne told RTE Morning Ireland programme: Oh, look, Im not going to get into guessing numbers. You know figures are really important. Im a new Minister for Housing. My view is, I dont get into predictions. I dont get into estimates. What matters are the real numbers. My aim is to maximise the delivery of homes in this country, whether that be social, affordable or private. We need all different mix, and thats what Ill be doing. Rather than getting into this kind of, I suppose, endless discussions about predictions, I want to maximise delivery of homes. The only way we will solve the housing crisis is supply, supply, supply, and thats what I intend to do over my period as Minister for Housing. Defending the Governments stance on social housing, the Fianna Fail minister claimed that this government and the previous government has delivered the largest amount of social homes for decades. And we are are going to continue that work and effort to deliver and maximise the number of social homes, he added. I think we need to be clear here. The strongest delivery social homes since 1975 was recorded in 2022, when 10,250 homes were delivered, and that record was exceeded again in 2023 with 11,938 homes. On Friday, it was confirmed that a record 15,378 people were living in emergency accommodation last month. The latest figures from the Department of Housing show that of those living in emergency accommodation in February, a total of 4,653 were children. Mr Browne said the numbers were disappointing. What were also trying to do is maximise the people coming out of homelessness as well so that people are not spending an order amount of time in emergency accommodation, he added. We dont want people spending any amount of time in emergency accommodation, so we dont. A group of sixth class children in Scoil Phadraig, Ballyhale have won an award for designing and making a plastic reinforcement for the back of their chairs - one of only two such awards presented nationwide. The device makes the chairs stronger and prevents them from breaking or cracking. They were printed on the 3D printer in school, and are now used in the class to prolong the life of the classroom chairs. Three engineers recently came from Dublin to visit as part of the Taiscealai programme 2024/25 to mark the achievement. The award was actually printed on a 3D printer in UCD, and was presented by Michael Golden, a UCD lecturer to the class. Michael also had two PhD students with him. Deeksha Hota, from India, and Ozgun Umut Tukac, from Turkey, spoke to the class about their PhD projects. CLICK HERE FOR MORE KILKENNY SCHOOLS NEWS Both engineers are working on how to make hip and knee replacements from titanium. Ozgun explained to the children how he mixes metals with titanium in an effort to make a more long lasting and sustainable product. Michael finally set the children an engineering task. They were given 30 minutes to build the highest free standing tower using only sticky tape, scissors and white sheets of paper. There were four groups in total. The structure had to be strong enough to hold up a small yellow trophy. Michael tested the highest tower and awarded a prize to the winners in the class. The visit was very informative and it was very interesting to hear about other engineering projects. All students agreed it was a very enjoyable day with the engineers. Written by Kate Fitzpatrick, Cade Drennan and Odhran Shefflin from sixth class at Scoil Phadraig, Ballyhale CLICK HERE FOR MORE SOUTH KILKENNY NEWS Chinese rescuers save 4 lives in 7 hours in quake-stricken Myanmar Xinhua) 14:15, March 31, 2025 Members from the China Search and Rescue Team and the civilian rescue team of RAMUNION RESCUE jointly transfer a survivor at a quake site in Mandalay city, Myanmar, March 31, 2025. (Photo by Myo Kyaw Soe/Xinhua) MANDALAY, Myanmar, March 31 (Xinhua) -- Chinese rescuers successfully pulled out another survivor at the Sky Villa residential area in Mandalay, Myanmar, at about 7:20 local time on Monday. Chinese rescuers have rescued four survivors within seven hours in earthquake-hit Myanmar. Earlier, the China Search and Rescue Team and a civilian rescue team of RAMUNION RESCUE pulled out a girl and a pregnant survivor at the Sky Villa quake scene at 05:37 and 06:20 local time, respectively, on Monday. In addition, Chinese rescuers successfully rescued a female survivor at the Great Wall Hotel rescue site in Mandalay, Myanmar, at 00:40 local time on Monday. Since Sunday, Chinese rescue teams have been conducting search and rescue efforts in the earthquake-hit areas of Myanmar. A team from China's Yunnan province rescued an elderly man who had been trapped for nearly 40 hours under the rubble of a hospital in Nay Pyi Taw, another severely affected city, on Sunday. Members of the Blue Sky Rescue Team from China's Hunan Province rescued a survivor at the Mandalay Buddhist Hall in Mandalay city on the same day. Members from the China Search and Rescue Team and the civilian rescue team of RAMUNION RESCUE jointly transfer a survivor at a quake site in Mandalay city, Myanmar, March 31, 2025. (Photo by Myo Kyaw Soe/Xinhua) Chinese rescuers transfer a survivor at a quake site in Mandalay city, Myanmar, March 31, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhang Dongqiang) Members from the China Search and Rescue Team and the civilian rescue team of RAMUNION RESCUE jointly transfer a survivor at a quake site in Mandalay city, Myanmar, March 31, 2025. (Photo by Myo Kyaw Soe/Xinhua) Chinese rescuers transfer a survivor at a quake site in Mandalay city, Myanmar, March 31, 2025. (Photo by Myo Kyaw Soe/Xinhua) Chinese rescuers transfer a survivor at a quake site in Mandalay city, Myanmar, March 31, 2025. (Photo by Myo Kyaw Soe/Xinhua) (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) 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. 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. EXO's Kai is set to make his highly anticipated return as a solo artist with the release of his fourth mini album, "Wait on Me." The album is scheduled to drop on April 21 at 6 p.m. KST, marking his first solo comeback in two years following the release of Rover in March 2023. The new album will feature seven tracks, including the title song "Wait on Me" and the pre-released single "Adult Swim." The song "Adult Swim" is described as an upbeat pop track characterized by an energetic drum loop and lyrics that liken deep emotions to two people swimming fearlessly underwater. This comeback follows Kai's discharge from mandatory military service in February 2025. Since then, the idol has been steadily preparing for his return, including filming music videos. Pre-orders for "Wait on Me" began on March 31 across online and offline music stores. Kai will perform "Adult Swim" on Mnet's M Countdown on April 3. Fans can also look forward to teaser content and promotional activities leading up to the album launch. Following the album's release, Kai will launch an extensive solo concert tour titled 2025 KAI SOLO CONCERT TOUR . The tour will kick off with performances in Seoul on May 17 and 18 before traveling to nine additional cities across Asia, including Kuala Lumpur, Macau, Jakarta, Singapore, Taipei, Manila, Bangkok, Yokohama, and Hong Kong. Kai debuted as a member of EXO in 2012 and has since established himself as one of K-pop's most dynamic performers. His previous solo albums have achieved significant success, with Rover topping iTunes charts in 48 regions and earning multiple awards on music shows. It is worth noting that fellow EXO member D.O. previously confirmed that a full-group comeback is unlikely for 2025 while Sehun is still serving in the military. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. FOR the first time ever in Ireland, an initiative aimed at people with physical disabilities to skydive in tandem, will be launched by Portlaoise and Naas Rotary Clubs. The launch of the Handitandem initiative takes place at Clonbullogue Airfield in Offaly on Wednesday 2 April at 2pm. The launch will be attended by some of those intending to jump, members of the parachute club as well as leading representatives of both rotary clubs, the Irish Wheelchair Association, Laois County Council and the head of Rotary Ireland. The event will be hosted by the President of Portlaoise Rotary Club Maeve Furey and the Head of Rotary Ireland Seamus Parle. The idea of Handitandem originated with a French Rotary Club whose members were invited to visit Portlaoise Rotary Club. After describing the initiative and the positive effects it has on participants, members of Portlaoise Rotary Club then decided to run the initiative here in Ireland. Members of the club have been liaising with the Irish Wheelchair Association and Laois Sport Partnership and the plan is to put up to 10 people in the air in early May. Niamh ODonoghue A woman jumped from a Dublin city centre balcony the week before Christmas to escape a talented boxer who was her then partner, a court has heard. Michael Ward (44) was jailed at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for four-and-a-half years after pleading guilty to assault causing harm at an apartment on Parnell Street on December 16th, 2023. The court heard the woman was aged 19 at the time and was so afraid of Ward, who had locked her into the apartment and wouldnt let her escape, that she jumped from the first-floor balcony. Part of the incident was recorded on a phone by a witness who heard a woman shouting. Ward, of Parnell Street, Dublin 1, was also sentenced for another assault on the same woman and was on bail at the time of the offence. Ward has 53 previous convictions. He got his first job in 2019 working in security, the court heard. Garda Cian Rochford told Fiona McGowan BL, prosecuting, that on December 16th, 2023, gardai were alerted to a disturbance between a man and a woman on the balcony of an apartment on Parnell Street in the inner city. He hit the woman, and when she tried to get out, he tried to stop her leaving by hitting her on the legs. She jumped from the first-floor balcony. She managed to get up and was hiding under a parked car on Gardiner Street. She had a seizure, which was unrelated to the assault, and was taken to the Mater Hospital. The court heard the pair had been drinking. The court heard the couple had been in a relationship since summer 2023. Her parents lived outside the city and she had been spending more and more time with Ward in his apartment where he lived with his son. She said she was trying to leave, but he put away the keys and pushed her down. He was punching her in the face and then put his forearm around up to her throat, and she said it went on for up to a minute. She was banging on the door and shouting and screaming. She made one or two attempts to get out and jumped out onto the street. She said she remembers landing out onto the road and had pain to the right side of her body. Garda Jennifer Hyland gave evidence of a second assault on March 3rd, 2024 in which a witness heard a female screaming. The witness identified the apartment and when gardai knocked on the door, he said he couldnt find the key. Ward said hed had a fight with his teenage son and denied there was a woman present. Gardai saw a mattress blocking the door of the bedroom. They went in and found the woman unconscious, and she was having an epileptic fit. She managed to come around and had red marks to her neck and chin. He had headbutted her and had his hands around her neck during the assault. Despite his bail conditions, she continued to see him. She said she was going to leave the next day and then sustained the prolonged assault. He threatened her with a pliers and said he was going to kill her. He then got on top of her started to choke her, the court heard. Ward was arrested but was so intoxicated he was unfit for questioning. Mr Pieter Le Vert BL defending said Ward was a talented boxer. He left school at 14 and his parents wanted him to box rather than to go to school. Counsel said his client had grown up in extreme poverty. He started using cannabis when he was 12, moved to the UK and lived a nomadic life. He became addicted to cocaine at 16, and by 1,8 he was a full-blown poly-substance abuser. He obtained sobriety and in 2019 started working for the first time, taking up employment as a security guard. He did an addiction course in Carlow IT. In July 2023, he fell back into addiction. He has been in custody since March 2024. Hes devastated about what he did to this lady, Mr Le Vert said. Judge Nolan said the woman was badly attacked when he headbutted her, tried to strangle her and probably kicked her so badly she jumped off the balcony. Mr Ward has his own history, said the judge. He said he is a talented and intelligent man with the ambition of educating himself. He said an assault of that nature would usually carry a penalty of 10 years, and an aggravating factor was that they were in a relationship. Judge Nolan noted his remorse and his plea of guilty. He imposed a global sentence of seven years for the two assaults, but having heard mitigation, he reduced it to four-year-and-half years and backdated it for time spent in custody. Amazon has cut 25% off this Sony 2 channel soundbar with a built-in bass reflex speaker to give you that big theater sound right in the comfort of your own home. Amazon If youre looking for theater-quality sound at home, you can grab a big discount on this Sony S100F Soundbar on Amazon to make it happen. The Sony S100F 2 Channel Soundbar is on sale for only $98, instead of $130, for a savings of 25% off. Sony S100F 2 Channel Soundbar Sale Price: $98, instead of $130 on Amazon Buy Now This $32 discount drops the Sony S100F Soundbar back to its lowest price in over two years on Amazon. Featuring 120 watts of power, the Sony S100F Soundbar has a bass reflex speaker built into it, so youll experience cinema-style sound right at home. Its S-Force Pro technology also fills the room with sound to provide a high fidelity listening experience. Offering simple setup, the soundbar uses an HDMI ARC connection with Bluetooth available to stream your favorite music. It also has a compact size to fit any type of living space, is wall mountable and comes with a remote control. Amazon is including free one-day Prime delivery with the Sony S100F Soundbar so it will arrive ASAP. Shop for this Sony S100F Soundbar deal on Amazon here. You can also check out more soundbars on sale from Amazon during its Big Spring Sale, including these popular models: SAMSUNG HW-C450 2.1ch Soundbar & Subwoofer for $178, instead of $198 Bose Smart Dolby Atmos Soundbar for $399, instead of $99 Sony HT-S400 2.1ch Soundbar & Subwoofer for $258, instead of $300 VIZIO V-Series 2.1 Home Theater Sound Bar for $130, instead of $160 Hisense A620 2.1ch Allin-one Sound Bar for $86, instead of $100 Find more discounts on surround sound systems on Amazon here. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Dawn Magyar can be reached at dmagyar@njadvancemedia.com. Have a tip? Tell us at nj.com/tips/. Verde, corner of East Broad and Linden streets, officially closed on March 1, 2025. The store opened early August 2022 in the 1,100-square-foot building that was previously occupied by Wyandotte Cleaners. Verde owner Shawnnah Drey told WFMZ-69 News family-health issues factored into the brick-and-mortar closure. A Bethlehem store aimed at making sustainable living more accessible for environmentally-conscious shoppers has closed just as a botanist plans to take over the space in May. Verde, corner of East Broad and Linden streets, officially closed on March 1. The store opened early August 2022 in the 1,100-square-foot building that was previously occupied by Wyandotte Cleaners. The cleaners closed and then the site sat vacant for more than a decade. A Northampton County judge threw out a case against a former Lehigh University student from Ghana accused of stealing more than $212,000 in financial aid. Judge Jennifer Sletvold granted the motion for judgment of acquittal after prosecutors rested their case Monday against Otis Opoku. Defense attorney Evan T.L. Hughes of Philadelphia said the judge didnt receive enough evidence to convict Opoku at the nonjury trial. I respect the judges decision, said Northampton County Assistant District Attorney Michael Weinert. Karen Read is going on trial again for the alleged murder of John O'Keefe. AP Karen Read will soon face a jury for the second time. Reads second trial for the alleged murder of John OKeefe will begin with jury selection on Tuesday, April 1. Her first trial was declared a mistrial in July 2024 due to a hung jury. Just as she did the first time around, Read has pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder, manslaughter while operating under the influence, and leaving the scene of a crash resulting in death. Read is accused of hitting OKeefe with her car and leaving him to die in a snowstorm in January 2022. During her first trial, Reads legal team claimed that Read is the victim of a coverup. Karens attorneys alleged that witnesses used their resources as law enforcement officials to cover up what really happed to OKeefe before he was found dead outside fellow police officer Brian Alberts home in Canton, Massachusetts. Leading up to Reads second trial, her legal team made multiple attempts to get two of the charges against her second-degree murder and leaving the scene of a crash resulting in death dropped: READ MORE: Was Karen Read having an affair? Her relationship with Brian Higgins explained The attorneys argued that the charges should be dropped on double jeopardy grounds, noting that multiple jurors from the first trial came forward to say they had all agreed Read was not guilty of murder or leaving the scene, but were deadlocked on the manslaughter while operating under the influence charge. On Thursday, March 27, the first circuit court of appeals sided with a federal judge who refused to dismiss the two charges against Read. Reads lead attorney is David Yannetti, who represented her during her first trial as well. Alan Jackson will also continue to represent her. Earlier this week, Read added attorney Victoria George, an alternate juror from her first trial, to her legal team. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Have a tip? Tell us at nj.com/tips/. Stories of High-Quality Development | Wu Xiaoyan: Hangzhou's formula to market success 16:14, March 31, 2025 By Qu Yuan ( People's Daily Online Since the beginning of 2025, Hangzhou's "Six Little Dragons," each with their unique strengths, have emerged and sparked a wave of technological innovation. Why does Hangzhou keep generating standout startups? It's all about striking the right balance giving just enough support without overstepping, creating a vibrant ecosystem where innovation thrives. By easing burdens and empowering businesses, the market becomes more vibrant, said Wu Xiaoyan, director-general of the Center for the Promotion of Doing Business Environment at the National Development and Reform Commission, in People's Daily's recent video series "Stories of High-Quality Development." She said that the government work report of this year highlighted that the country will stay committed to both unswervingly consolidating and developing the public sector and unswervingly encouraging, supporting, and guiding the development of the non-public sector. It also stated that the government will engage in regular communication with enterprises to help resolve their practical difficulties and problems, and launch special initiatives to regulate enterprise-related law enforcement. These clear and practical steps tackle pain points and provide real solutions. "Accelerating the implementation of landmark reform measures and better leveraging the leading role of economic structural reform," as the government work report pointed out, offers clear guidance for building a fairer and more dynamic market environment. "Optimizing the business environment requires aligning an efficient market with a well-functioning government. This involves constantly refining the systems underpinning the market economy, enhancing resource allocation efficiency, and addressing business pain points in enterprises' operation and development to achieve flexible and effective governance," Wu said. (Web editor: Hongyu, Wu Chengliang) The island of Ireland is set to bask in well above average temperatures and sunshine this week. The mercury was expected to hit 17C in the Republic of Ireland on Monday, and up to 16C in Northern Ireland on Thursday, above the maximum average temperature of 12C for April. The sudden climb in temperatures has been attributed to a patch of high pressure across the UK and Ireland this week. Met Eireann has forecast sunny spells, and just a small chance of an isolated light shower across Monday with temperatures expected to reach 17C. A spokesperson for the Met Office said in Northern Ireland, warm weather is expected to continue across the week with a high of 16C forecast in the west of the region on Thursday. A dry, fine and sunny week is likely for Northern Ireland, and a good deal of sunshine with high pressure the dominant force for the UKs weather which will lead to largely fine, dry and sunny conditions through the week, he said. Temperatures will be well above average for the time of year. In Northern Ireland throughout the week, temperatures could be in the mid to high teens, possibly getting up as high as 16C on Thursday, which is well above average for this time of year, Northern Irelands average maximum temperature in April is 12C. A Portlaoise student has won an educational trip to Strasbourg for her undertaking of a national citizenship programme against Drugs and Alcohol. Portlaoise College student Clodagh Fitzpatrick attended the Radisson Hotel in Athlone on Friday March 28, where she was presented with a trophy and her prize. Clodagh will travel to Strasbourg in November and spend one full day at the European Parliament where she will have the opportunity to take part in a Youth Parliament (Euroscola) with students from other EU member states. During her stay she will also be visiting other places of educational interest around the city of Strasbourg and surrounding areas. Photo Laois student & MRDATF Co-ordinator (L-R Antoinette Kinsella, Co-ordinator, Midland Regional Drug & Alcohol Task Force & Clodagh Fitzpatrick, student Portlaoise College) Organised and funded by the Midland Regional Drug & Alcohol Task Force (MRDATF), the Graduate.ie programme is an online citizenship & democracy programme for second level students in Ireland. The programme commenced in September 2024 and lasted for a total of 20 weeks. During this period a total of 1,926 students registered to take part in the programme and of these an average of 728 students took part in the programme on a weekly basis. Each week for 20 weeks of the academic year students logged onto www.graduate.ie where they had to answer a number of questions on a range of issues to include drugs and alcohol, health and safety, environmental awareness and climate action, democracy and participation, financial literacy, EU affairs, consumer protection, tourism and regional development. Students were then directed by hyperlinks to the relevant sponsors website where they researched the correct answer and then submitted their answers to Graduate.ie. Computer randomly selected weekly winners from all the correct entries. There was at least one winner selected each week from across the country. The overall prize which was sponsored by the MRDATF was for one selected student from Laois who participated fully in the initiative to attend a 3-day educational trip to Strasbourg. In attendance at the event and presenting the prizes to the winning students was Antoinette Kinsella, Co- ordinator MRDATF, who praised the students for their hard work. I am delighted to be here today presenting the winning students with their prizes," Ms Kinsella said. "This is such a worthwhile initiative allowing the participants to develop active citizenship, an understanding of the workings of democracy and intercultural understanding and awareness. I would like to acknowledge the Midland Regional Drug & Alcohol Task Force for sponsoring the prizes and all the schools who participated in the Graduate.ie Programme 2024, this was a great opportunity to research and learn more about the dangers associated with drug and alcohol misuse," she said. "The MRDATF were very happy to support the roll out of the Graduate.ie initiative across the midlands area. "The uptake and participation received from schools who took part in the initiative was very encouraging and I would like to thank all the students and teachers for their support. "While taking part in the weekly quiz students had a fantastic opportunity to learn about various organisations and important topics to include; democracy & participation, environment & waste management, climate change, health & wellbeing, drugs & alcohol education/awareness, entrepreneurship, careers, courses, etc. It is hoped that this initiative will assist in developing life skills such as preparing for the world of work, teamwork, collaboration and valuable insights into the vocational dimensions of life after school. "I am sure the winning candidate will also appreciate having the opportunity to experience how the European Parliament works by partaking in the Euroscola Youth Parliament and having the opportunity to pose a question in the European parliament," Ms Kinsella finished. Laois people are being invited to information events to help support people to put planning arrangements in place to ensure their Will and preferences get implemented. The Portlaoise Lions Club has teamed up with the State-backed Decision Support Service (DSS) on a two-day event in Killeshin Hotel in Portlaoise on Tuesday 8 and Wednesday 9 April 2025 to help local people find out more about advance planning. The service says it can help all adults who have difficulties with decision-making capacity now, including people with an intellectual disability, mental illness or acquired brain injury, as well as neurodegenerative conditions such as dementia. It is also a key service for all adults who wish to ensure that their wishes are understood, protected and respected should they ever lose capacity in the future and includes two key advance planning tools an enduring power of attorney, and an advanced healthcare directive. The organisers say the event has been arranged to introduce more people, and relevant professionals, to the new service for adults, young and old, who are keen to ensure their will and preferences are protected now and into the future. Over the course of the two-days, the DSS will meet with members of the public to support them to set up a DSS account and to start their own individual decision support or advance planning arrangement. Portlaoise Lions Club President, Sean Cruise, spoke about the event in a statement to the Leinster Express / Laois Live. Our club recognises the importance of this event and is delighted that the Decision Support Service has accepted our invitation to come to Portlaoise on the 8th and 9th April to help support people to put advance planning arrangements in place to ensure their will and preferences are implemented. We look forward to meeting people at the event, he said. In total, there are 3,000 arrangements on the DSS online register, with almost 66% of those arrangements being EPAs. This legal arrangement can be set up by an adult with the capacity to appoint someone they know and trust to look after their property and financial affairs, and/or personal welfare decisions if they lose the capacity to make those decisions in the future. We are very encouraged to see the uptake in EPAs, which cost 30 to register with us, said the Director of the Decision Support Service, Aine Flynn. Apart from the 2,000 EPAs that are now registered on our system, there are several thousand applications working their way through the submission and registration process, allowing for statutory notice periods and reviews by our team of these important legal instruments. When you consider the heightened interest - and that somewhere between just 6-11% of Irish adults have made an EPA - applications will likely only increase. This is why we established an EPA one-stop-shop helpdesk, where 10 members of staff deal exclusively with the public - and legal professionals if they are involved - in the making and registration of EPAs. The Chief Executive of the Mental Health Commission, John Farrelly, said that the Mental Health Commission had worked hard to put the DSS in place and was especially glad that more and more people are using its services to plan ahead. We have made every effort over the past number of years to engage proactively and positively with all stakeholders to ensure we can implement this groundbreaking law into a modern and progressive society and our lines of communication remain open. READ ALSO: Memorial fundraising event for Laois woman Ultimately, however, we are here for the ordinary person, be it someone putting a decision support arrangement in place, or someone looking to plan ahead at whatever stage of life they find themselves at. The DSS was established under reforming legislation, and evidence that more and more people are using our services is proof that they are seeing the benefits of the Act - and a service - that was always intended to promote the rights and interests of the individual, he said. The two-day event in Portlaoise will begin with an open information evening for anyone interested in learning about advance planning at 6pm at the Killeshin Hotel. The following morning (Wednesday 9 April) from 9.30am-10.30am the DSS team will work with individual legal professionals with pre-arranged appointments to support them in helping their clients. From 10.30am-5.30pm the team will work with members of the public on a one-to-one basis with pre-arranged appointments to support them to start their own EPA. To book your place at these events contact Freephone (01) 211 9750 and ask for the EPA helpdesk; or email EPAhelpdesk@decisionsupportservice.ie. EVENT DETAILS Evening information session: Tuesday 8 April 2025 Where: The Killeshin Hotel & Leisure Club, Portlaoise Time: 6-7pm Partners: The Lions Club, Portlaoise EPA helpdesk day: Wednesday 9 April 2025 Where: The Killeshin Hotel & Leisure Club Time: 9.30-10.30 (limited availability for professionals etc), and 10.30-5.30pm for the public Partners: The Lions Club, Portlaoise What you need to think about and bring with you Information services and registration teams will be on hand to show applicants how to register with the DSS online and to start your own individual EPA application. Attendees must bring along their MyGovID login details or, if you do not have a verified MyGovID account, our teams can verify your identity manually. Please bring the following required support documents: One photo ID (current and in date) Two proofs of address (dated within the last six months) Should you require further information on which support documents to bring to verify your identity manually, our Identity Verification form on our website lists accepted documents and the criteria these documents must meet. In preparation for starting your own EPA application, you will also need to consider some important questions and have some information with you on the day. Please click on the link Checklist to make you EPA ready. You are welcome to bring your own laptop if you wish and our teams will show you how to access the MyDSS portal on your own device. A man told his chilld he had attempted suicide because their mother was mean to him. This was the claim made by the mother and the mans partner at a family law hearing in Naas District Court. READ NEXT BREAKING: Gardai found woman seriously assaulted in residence in Dublin The man was not present or represented for the hearing. The woman said the child is very bright. She also said he had convinced her that everybody would hate her because of the school the child attends. The woman also claimed he had sent threatening and abusive texts. The woman also claimed that man is on psychiatric treatment and she said she is permanently stressed. She further claimed he had said that if the child switches school he will buy them a pony. She also said the child is stressed and got up at night recently. Judge John Brennan granted an interim protection order and he said the man can only communicate with the woman about the child via whatsapp. Kildare Wildlife Rescue (KWR) has officially announced its third annual Biodiversity Conference, which will take place in Newbridge. Revealing the news via a social media post, KWR said that it is "delighted" to bring the information event (which follows the first two conferences in 2023 and 2024 respectively) back to the people of Kildare. "The last few years have been a huge success, uniting groups and individuals in the fight for biodiversity," the group said. "This year, we are adding a second day dedicated to wildlife rehabilitation and veterinary care of Irish Wildlife. "We are thrilled to bring this opportunity together for wildlife rehabilitators and veterinary professionals from around Ireland." KWR added: "We thank Kildare County Council for their partnership and support for this wonderful event with funding from the Local Biodiversity Action Fund. Stay tuned for more details." The third annual Biodiversity Conference featuring KWR will take place over Saturday, October 18 and Sunday, October 19, 2025. It will once again be held inside the Keadeen Hotel. The event will also be supported by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. READ NEXT: Massive 20m solar farm development given go ahead for Celbridge, Kildare Separate investigations are underway following two fatal crashes which claimed three lives on Mother's Day. In the first incident, a woman, in her 60s, died following a multi-vehicle collision on the N25 at Moonameen, County Waterford at around 2.10pm on Sunday. "A passenger of one of the cars, a woman aged in her 60s, was pronounced deceased 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," said a garda spokesperson. The driver and passenger of the second car, a man and a woman aged in their 50s, were also conveyed to University Hospital Waterford for treatment of serious injuries while the female driver of the third car, aged in her 60s, was conveyed by air ambulance to Cork University Hospital for treatment of serious injuries. The road was closed for technical examinations following the collision and gardai in Dungarvan are appealing for any witnesses to this incident to come forward. READ ALSO: UPDATE: 3 week missing person search stood down as gardai issue update Separately, gardai are appealing for witnesses following a head-on collision that occurred on the N72 at Navigation Road, Mallow, County Cork later on Sunday. "Gardai and emergency services attended the scene of the collision, involving two cars, which occurred at approximately 3.50pm. The female driver of one of the cars, aged in her 60s, was pronounced deceased at the scene," said a garda spokesperson. The female driver of the second car, aged in her 40s, was also pronounced deceased at the scene. Gardai say the passengers of the second car, two children, one male and one female, were conveyed to Cork University Hospital for treatment of injuries believed to be non-life-threatening at this time. Gardai in Mallow are investigating and they are appealing for any witnesses to the incident to come forward. The Irish premier has said the European Union will be strategic in its response if Donald Trump sparks a trade war, saying the bloc does not want to invite more damage. The US president is expected to target some of Irelands major employers, including pharmaceutical companies, and Micheal Martin said he wants to see negotiations emerge from the EUs response. Speaking in Dublin on Monday, Mr Martin also said he wants to see a landing zone agreed to enable companies and the economy to enjoy a bit of stability. Mr Trump has announced a 25% import tax on all cars imported into the US, a measure expected to hit car makers across the EU. The levy is on top of a series of tariffs set to come into effect on Wednesday. Mr Martin said there will be competing interests across EU countries who will want to protect their own industries. It would be challenging to try and get a negotiating platform at European level in response to these tariff positions, he said. First point, Europe doesnt want tariffs. (The) European Union doesnt but (the) US seems intent on imposing tariffs with a view to reshoring a lot of manufacturing to the US. That is the stated aim. But on the other hand, I think Europe will not immediately respond but take its time, and its in that period that the member states, working together, can be strategic in terms of how it responds. So a strategic response is very important, in other words, that we dont invite more damage in response, and that we do in a way that maximises Europes leverage here. Ultimately, one would like to see negotiations emerge as a result of Europes response to the US position of tariffs, and that we could get some reasonable landing zone that could enable companies and the economy to enjoy a bit of stability in some sense of what the future holds. Mr Martin said the pharmaceutical industry in Ireland is particularly strong, and has been the hub for a lot of US manufacturing companies to access European and Asian markets. He said countries across the EU will suffer to different degrees. Its been very successful for everybody, including the US, including US companies and including Ireland, but also countries like Belgium, Denmark, also have significant US pharmaceutical presence. Finland and others. Its not just Ireland, but other countries, then if you look at the automotive industry and the car industry, really big impact on countries like Slovakia, Germany and others. A lot of countries are going to suffer differently and will be impacted negatively by the tariffs, because it crosses about five to six sectors that (the) US looks like imposing tariffs, so to different degrees countries will be impacted. He said Ireland will intensify its bilateral contacts with the US, both with the government and with companies which would be severely impacted by tariffs. Well be using every avenue at our disposal, but primarily with (the) European Union and bilaterally, and also then with companies, Mr Martin added. Irelands deputy premier urged the public to be calm and measured in their response to threatened tariffs. Simon Harris said the country is entering a time of extraordinary economic turbulence, but added that the Government is not complacent about what that means. Were working around the clock on that, but what weve got to do here is be calm and be measured, he added. Weve got to work at a European level. Were part of a market of 450 million people in Europe. We will have this announcement what President Trump calls liberation day on Wednesday, and we will survey that situation then, and then next Monday we will have an EU trade council meeting in which I represent this country, and we will work at an EU level to see how best to respond. The aim here has to be simple: to navigate and negotiate, to get the United States around a table, not get into tit for tat, but to try and sit down and find a way forward. The speaker of the parliament is to face a confidence motion as part of an unprecedented row between opposition and government. A vote on Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy was tabled after the opposition accused her of partisanship over her handling of their protest in the Dail last week. Ms Murphy categorically denied the accusations and said she fully intends to continue in the role. It was set to be the first time a no confidence vote in a Ceann Comhairle was held in the history of the state. The Government now intends to bring a confidence motion in the speaker instead. Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald said Ms Murphys position had become untenable as part of a row over changing Dail speaking time. The deepening dispute has convulsed parliament since the new government was formed in January, preventing committees from being established and hindering legislative work. How did we get here? The row began with how the coalition government was formed in January. The Regional Group of Independents and two Kerry brothers, Michael and Danny Healy-Rae, struck a coalition deal with Fianna Fail and Fine Gael. The Regional Group were led by Independent Tipperary TD Michael Lowry, who was a communications minister with Fine Gael in the 1990s. It emerged that he had suggested Verona Murphy, a Wexford TD who was part of the Regional Group, be put forward as the government candidate for Ceann Comhairle. Five independents were appointed junior ministers. The remaining independents sought to form a technical group a mechanism that gives opposition TDs speaking time during high-profile Dail slots such as Leaders Questions. This was strongly rejected by most opposition parties who argued that the independents who helped form the incoming government should not be treated as opposition TDs. They argued this would dilute the role of opposition in the Dail to hold government to account. On January 22, the nomination of Micheal Martin as Irish premier was delayed by the oppositions disruptive protest against the governments proposals. The nomination of the Taoiseach was allowed to proceed the following day while a proposal satisfactory to both government and opposition was worked on by the Dail reform committee. But these efforts stalled after the opposition and government accused one another of not compromising. We have gone backwards, People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy said on January 31. On February 3, Ms Murphy said she was not satisfied that government-affiliated independent TDs, including Mr Lowry, could be in opposition. Despite this intervention, the Government proposed an other members grouping, arguing that a modern Irish parliament was not necessarily made up of Government and opposition members. A vote of the Dail reform committee held on February 26 approved the Government proposals; although the Government has a majority on that committee to reflect its Dail majority. Farcical Dail scenes Disorder broke out in the Dail on the day a vote was due to be held to approve the change of rules. Before the vote took place, opposition TDs repeatedly disrupted Mr Martin during Leaders Questions. Opposition TDs then took to their feet and raised their objections in an attempt to derail the vote. During the lengthy standoff, Ms Murphy ordered TDs to sit down, saying their actions were an absolute disgrace and they were making a holy show of yourselves. Amid the shouting and interruptions, and allegations of misogyny from Ms Murphy, the motion to change Dail rules was announced as passed by the speaker. Later that day, seven opposition parties failed to express confidence in Ms Murphy over how Dail procedures and rules were handled during the disruption in the chamber. Ms McDonald said that opposition leaders were troubled by Ms Murphys actions and suggested that she had rushed through Dail procedure in a way that was orchestrated. The opposition then drafted a motion of no confidence against Ms Murphy and asked her to consider her position. Ms Murphy categorically rejected accusations of partiality and collusion and said she fully intends to continue in her role. Prolonged disorder and obstruction is utterly unacceptable in any democratic parliament, she said in a statement. So too is making false accusations of partiality and collusion against its officials and chair. The vote The Cabinet is expected to sign off on a confidence motion for Ms Murphy on Tuesday morning, ahead of a vote later that day. She is expected to survive the vote due to the Governments majority. The opposition has not clarified if they will continue to disrupt the Dail if Ms Murphy remains as Ceann Comhairle, or if they will legally challenge the way the motion to change the Dail speaking-time rules was passed. The Taoiseach issued a stark warning the day after chaotic scenes in the Dail. New precedents have been set. I do not believe this Dail will ever be the same again because of what has transpired over the past few weeks. It will never be the same again, he said. Pet owners have been warned that April is the riskiest month of the year for Irelands pets. Allianz Ireland has reminded pet owners nationwide to realise the financial implications of what happens should their beloved pets become ill or injured - something that is riskier this month than any other. Vet Fionnuala Fallon delivered advice on five hazards that could seriously injure or even kill your beloved pet in April. Pesky Parasites: Pet owners need to be on high alert for bugs like bees, ticks, and fleas, which can cause pets discomfort and transmit multiple diseases. Easter: Many people celebrate Easter in April with chocolates and flowers - both of which can be dangerous for animals! Lilies are toxic and can be fatal to certain animals like cats, and chocolate ingestion can cause vomiting and even seizures. Plant Protection: Pet owners should be wary of ALL plants with stings, thorns or sharp edges and exercise extreme caution when exploring unfamiliar areas with their pets in spring. Outdoor Hazards: As people spend more time outdoors in April, pets may be more likely to encounter dangers like traffic or aggressive animals off-lead. Allergies: April and May mean an increase in pollen, mould, and other allergens that can cause respiratory issues or skin irritation in pets. READ NEXT: Social Welfare boost for thousands across Ireland as 450 weekly payment now available Allinaz shared the tips above as they introduced The Allianz Pet Project, an innovative new campaign from Allianz Ireland highlighting the importance of pet insurance in safeguarding Irelands pets and alleviating financial stress for owners. Data collected as part of the campaign reveals that more than a fifth (21.5%) of pet insurance claims in Ireland exceed 750, with 15% surpassing 1,000 - The Allianz Pet Project aims to put these statistics into perspective for pet owners around Ireland. Tapping into the insight that many pet owners who dont have pet insurance turn to crowdfunding to cover life-saving veterinary care, The Allianz Pet Project was created to highlight the relief and reassurance felt by pet owners who have Allianz Pet Insurance when their pets require urgent medical care. So one night, Allianz took to GoFundMe, identifying pet owners raising funds to cover their pets healthcare, and completed the total target of each chosen fundraiser's goal helping pets across Ireland receive the life-saving treatment. Allianz Ireland is urging pet owners nationwide to take proactive steps to protect their beloved pets and avoid unexpected financial burdens. Paddy Comyn, Corporate Communications Specialist at Allianz Ireland, commented: Although our pets mean the world to us, many pet owners dont fully realise the potential cost of veterinary care until faced with a hefty bill. Through The Allianz Pet Project, we wanted to raise awareness of this issue showing pet owners the value of pet insurance, preventing unnecessary financial stress, and ultimately providing peace of mind. Further data from the campaign has identified April as the peak month for pet-related claims, making it the most hazardous time of the year for Irelands beloved companions. In light of this, Allianz has partnered with veterinarian Fionnuala Fallon, who has shared her expert advice and essential tips to help pet owners protect their furry friends throughout April and beyond. Commenting on this finding, Fionnuala Fallon, Veterinarian at Park Pets Veterinary Clinic, Kinnegad says, April typically is when we see a significant change in the weather. While seasonal changes bring plenty of outdoor activities and quality time with our pets, they also present some unique hazards that pet owners need to be aware and mindful of. To learn more about The Allianz Pet Project campaign, the amazing pet journeys, and their road to recovery, visit Allianz Irelands Instagram or allianz.ie/petproject Members of the environmental group Save Leitrim have voiced their disappointment over what they perceive as the minister Healy-Raes indifference to local communities' concerns around forestry, following their meeting last week. He is the industrys minister, and thats it, said Leitrim Councillor Justin Warnock, who, along with another member, Brynn Smyth, and Edwina Guckian, met the minister last week. Government policy is 'plant, baby, plant,' and that is it. No concern at all for local communities or the environment. The group has led a campaign strongly opposing the level of afforestation that has taken place in the county, which they feel is harming local residents and endangering communities in the area. The joke was that we couldnt field a team the other week, but we arent even being given the chance to live and stay in our own county. Even farmers or young people who want to stay on the land cant compete with the forestry companies. Theres something very wrong with that in 2025. The group raised concerns about afforestation and requested that it be made clear that Leitrim had reached capacity in terms of forestry cover, with 20.1% of the county covered, according to a 2023 Forestry Statistics Ireland report. Save Leitrim has long sought reform of forestry policy to give local communities a bigger say in where forests are planted and to apply stronger consideration for the environment. Companies can easily get around making environmental impact statements when planning to plant forests in Leitrim, according to Cllr Warnock. The meeting came a day after a delegation of representatives from Leitrim County Council, including Cathaoirleach Paddy ORourke, as well as councillors Gary Prior, Maeve Reynolds, Eddie Mitchell, and Brendan Barry, met with Minister Healy-Rae to discuss their concerns around forestry. The flurry of meetings comes on the back of the damage caused by falling forestry during Storms Darragh and Eowyn, which left thousands in the county without electricity for weeks. Cllr Warnock said that the next step for the group is to continue with their campaign of appealing forestry licenses. We will be relentless in our pursuit of justice for the people and environment of Leitrim, he said. The office of Michael Healy-Rae was contacted for comment for this article but did not respond. READ MORE: Goal mad Antrim too strong as Leitrim crash out in League semi-final Leitrim County Council has received 2 million in funding for its Social Housing Second-Hand Acquisitions Programme. The Government announced 436 million in funding today to address social housing needs. Of this, 325 million has been allocated to local authorities for the second-hand social housing acquisitions programme for 2025. The 2025 second-hand acquisitions programme will facilitate the purchase of second-hand homes for Tenant-in-Situ Acquisitions, older persons and persons with a disability, exits from homeless services; and buy and renew acquisitions which tackle vacancy. Additionally, 111 million has also been allocated for 82 new social housing projects, set to deliver over 1,300 newly built homes with a total development cost value of 517 million across 21 counties. However, none of these projects will be in Leitrim, or Sligo. News of this funding comes following the revelation on Friday, March 28 that Irelands homelessness figures reached a record high, again. Last month, homelessness figures surpassed 15,300 people including over 4,600 children. In January, Cllr Padraig Fallon sought an update on housing acquisitions, asking whether the local authority could acquire more housing. The Council responded that it could not consider additional acquisitions under the programme until receiving confirmation from the Department of Housing. Now that funding has been confirmed, progress on social housing acquisitions in Leitrim is expected. Commenting on the funding, Sligo-Leitrim TD Frank Feighan said, I am delighted to see the tenant in situ scheme well-funded also for 2025, which I am sure will provide opportunities for long term renters to stay in their home with the local authority as their landlord for the long term. READ MORE: From the Leitrim border to the Paris Runway: Dowra woman's dream come true AITB Director General, Abraham Billy (second from right) and his team along with FAO officials L-r: United Islamic Mosque of Liberia (UIML), Deputy Imam Mohammed Saidu (3rd from left) and Chief Imam Osman Jalloh of the Fish Market Mosque, speaking through his spokesperson, Kalilu Jalloh, expressed deep appreciation for GTMSs outreach (5th from right). Yin Chengwu, Ambassador of the People's Republic of China to Liberia and H.E. Sara Beysolow Nyanti, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Liberia A damning police investigation uncovered serious criminal issues of mismanagement that led to the permanent revocation of the orphanages operating permit. Acting Director General of NaFAA Cyrus Saygbe, UL President, and others cut the ribbon to the facilities. Paynesville City Mayor Bestman, and Imam Layee Kamara and other at the ceremony. FIREFIGHTERS rushed to a house fire in Limerick city this Monday afternoon. Three Limerick and Fire Rescue Service appliances responded to the blaze at a property in Kileely at 12.51pm. No injuries have been reported at this time. The extent of the damage to the house is not known. Gardai also attended the scene to lend their assistance. A garda spokesperson said: "Gardai are currently assisting emergency services with an incident of fire that occurred in the Kileely area, Limerick city this Monday afternoon, March 31. "As this is an ongoing incident no further information is available," said a garda spokesperson. It is understood technical examination will be carried out to determine the course of the garda investigation. READ MORE: Darkness Into Light returns to Limerick this May with Limerick blogger as ambassador Firefighters were at the location in Kileely for approximately one hour and 30 minutes. They returned to their base in Mulgrave Street at 2.15pm after putting out the fire. It is not known how the blaze started. LOCAL artists from Limerick are among those that gathered at the Limerick Maternity Hospital for an art exhibition launch. Building community through the power of art is the focus of the powerful new collaboration at the University Maternity Hospital Limerick. "Handled with Care" gathered 100 artists from across the Mid-West and held a focus on family, shared experiences, and support. The idea for the project came to an Italian-born artist now living in Patrickswell, Giulia Coli, after she gave birth to her daughter Maeve and a deep need for connection with other parents emerged. Giulia is an active member of the local Limerick art scene and knew the power and strength that thrived within the community. "The idea for Handled with Care was born alongside my daughter, Maeve. During my own stay at the hospital, I realized how much a visually engaging, complex artwork could help both staff and patients offering them a moment of reflection, distraction, and appreciation for art," she explained. "I didnt want to do this alone. I know so many mothers who have given birth at this hospital, and I felt that a community project would be the best way to give something back," she continued. "I conceived and led this project with the invaluable support of Eimear Laffan and Maria Quirke, who secured funding and trusted me to bring this vision to life." READ MORE: New working group to plan centenary remembrance for Dromcollogher Cinema Disaster Eimear Laffan is the Healthy Ireland Project Manager, HSE Midwest Acute Service and Maria Quirke is the Operational Services General Manager Acute Hospitals Mid-West. The collaboration brought together artists from the former Art Limerick group, Art Collective Club, Tralee Art Group, Nenagh Art Collective and photographers from the Limerick Camera Club together with other artists from across the country. Art has an unparalleled ability to connect us, providing solace and strength in times of uncertainty. This project embodies the spirit of community and collaboration, showcasing how creativity can illuminate our shared experiences and foster a greater sense of support," explained Eimear Laffan, Healthy Ireland Project Manager, HSE Midwest Acute Service. The exhibition was officially opened on March 25th at the University Maternity Hospital Limerick. Members of the public can view the exhibition at the hospital's shop when visiting the hospital. STUDENTS from three Limerick schools have reached the national final of an All-Ireland Olympiad. Students from Colaiste Chiarain, Croom, Salesian Secondary College, Pallaskenry and Villiers School (pictured above) located on the North Circular Road in Limerick city attended the final of 18th All-Ireland Linguistics Olympiad (AILO), hosted by the ADAPT Centre at Dublin City University (DCU). This finale brought together 104 students from 47 schools spanning 18 counties, all vying for a chance to compete on the international stage this July in Taipei, Taiwan. 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. READ ALSO: Darkness Into Light returns to Limerick this May with Limerick blogger as ambassador Director of ADAPT, Professor John D Kelleher said: 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 innovators. The 104 national finalists came through preliminary rounds held in schools all over the island in January. Over 3,500 students registered for this years contest. DARKNESS Into Light is set to return to Limerick this May with tens of thousands expected to partake in the sunrise walk once again this year. Pietas biggest fundraising event, which is proudly supported by Electric Ireland, returns at dawn on Saturday, May 10, aiming to surpass last years incredible total of 4.5m. Limerick blogger and entrepreneur Louise Cooney is the Munster ambassador for the event, said: Darkness Into Light is more than just a walk its a powerful statement of hope and solidarity. Every step taken helps fund Pietas lifesaving services, ensuring that no one has to face their darkest moments alone. The incredible support in Munster last year showed the strength of our communities, and the importance of Pietas services in Munster - we encourage even more people to join us in 2025 to bring light into the lives of those in crisis. READ ALSO: Limerick artists create connection in Maternity Hospital Every registration directly funds Pietas crisis support, therapy sessions, and suicide prevention initiatives. If you sign up for 22 for adults or 5 for teens before Wednesday, April 30, youll be able to purchase one of the new official 2025 Darkness Into Light T-shirts and receive it ahead of the walk. Pieta chief executive, Stephanie Manahan, said: The funds we raise each year through Darkness Into Light are essential in sustaining Pietas free, professional, and accessible support services. Every lifesaving conversation, every lifesaving counselling session, and every moment of suicide and self-harm prevention we provide is made possible by the generosity of those who sign up, show up, and walk. In 2024, Pieta delivered 13,512 hours of therapy and assisted 1,806 people in Munster. Pieta and Electric Ireland urge people to sign up at darknessintolight.ie, reminding communities across the country that their participation directly supports essential therapy and support services for those affected by suicide and self-harm. Lisa Browne, head of marketing and customer insights, Electric Ireland, said: Electric Ireland is delighted to continue our 13-year partnership with Pieta and Darkness Into Light. We are committed to making a difference in the communities we serve. This sponsorship is vital to our customers and staff, who actively participate each year to raise funds for Pieta and show solidarity with those affected by suicide and self-harm. Despite progress, significant challenges remain, making Pieta's work invaluable and necessary. By Iain Withers LONDON, March 31 (Reuters) - Germany's Allianz Global Investors has dropped two exclusions blocking its sustainable funds from investing in defence, becoming one of the first major European asset managers to change their policies to help finance the region's rearmament. AGI wrote to its clients late last week to advise that its sustainable funds could now buy into companies that earned more than 10% of their revenue from military equipment and services. Removal of a second exclusion means they can also now invest in nuclear weapons activities as long as they are within the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, which seeks to stop the spread of nuclear weapons-making capabilities. The investor had recognised the restrictions were too "onerous", said Matt Christensen, AGI's global head of sustainable and impact investing, in an accompanying blog post published online. "Nuclear weapons are a critical and credible deterrent to large-scale conflict and, in Western countries, the production of nuclear weapons is fully integrated into the industry and cannot be separated," Christensen added. AGI, part of insurer Allianz, manages about 570 billion euros ($615.77 billion) in assets. The changes come amid a broader drive by European investors to reconsider their policies on investing in defence, under pressure from clients and some politicians to loosen restrictions. Funds badged as sustainable have come under particular scrutiny, as they often have stricter exclusions. Few asset managers have actually changed their policies so far. Defence stocks have soared in value this year as European countries, under pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump, have vowed to increase military expenditure, with Germany unveiling a massive ramp-up in defence and infrastructure spending. AGI's changes apply to funds classified as 'Article 8' under the European Union's Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation, and would apply in most cases, the investor said in its letter to clients. Article 8 is the broadest category for sustainable funds under the EU rules, while the higher Article 9 category refers more directly to sustainability. AGI said several exclusions would still apply, including to companies that severely violated international rules and to manufacturers of chemical and biological weapons. (Bloomberg) -- Sterling Bay is being forced to hand over a portion of its $6 billion Lincoln Yards development in Chicago to its lender after years of delays and challenges obtaining long-term financing. The developer will turn the northern portion of the 53-acre project to Bank OZK, Sterling Bay wrote in a letter to investors. Sterling Bay Chief Executive Andy Gloor told the projects investors the move was an unfortunate pause in the development but said all parties remain committed to the project. Like cities across the country, the Chicago commercial real estate market is facing unprecedented pressures that are preventing the financing of projects at every scale and inhibiting the economic opportunities these projects bring, he wrote in the letter, which was first reported by Crains Chicago Business. The initial $126 million mortgage had been written down twice by the lender and was considered at high risk of default, said a Bank OZK spokesperson. We will commence efforts to patiently market this property to a new sponsor with sufficient capital and development expertise to achieve its significant potential, the bank said. Lincoln Yards sits in an industrial zone on the north bank of the Chicago river between two of the citys wealthiest neighborhoods: Lincoln Park and Wicker Park. The project initially broke ground in 2021 with construction meant to last a decade. Instead, it has faced stops and starts with Gloor saying in 2023 that former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot delayed the project by three years. The development was set to include 14 million square feet of development, with office, life sciences and laboratory space, as well as 6,000 residential units. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com Elon Musk just acquired the social network formerly known as Twitter for the second time in three years. Musk, the worlds richest person, on March 28 used his artificial intelligence startup, xAI, to purchase his social media platform in an all-stock deal that values X at $33 billion, not including debt. The new joint entity, which will be called XAI Holdings, has a value of more than $100 billion, again excluding debt, Bloomberg News reported. The deal was a surprise, but not necessarily shocking: The two businesses have worked together closely since xAIs founding in 2023, including on data licensing and product distribution for xAIs chatbot, Grok. They also share many of the same investors, and in some cases, employees even share office space in Palo Alto, California. The transaction valued xAI at $80 billion, Musk said a jump from a valuation of about $50 billion in November, the last time the company raised money from investors. The $33 billion equity value of X in the deal is about the same as its valuation in a recently closed funding round, and also close to Musks take-private price in 2022, which also counted $12 billion in debt. Musks decision to merge the businesses is a win for X investors, who have endured more than two years of uncertainty since his takeover as advertisers and users abandoned the social network. The company has struggled to grow its advertising business or generate meaningful revenue from subscriptions. For most of that time, investor Fidelity had marked down its equity stake in X between 60% and 70%. The combination with xAI means X investors now own shares in a nascent artificial intelligence startup with much more perceived upside. XAI and Xs futures are intertwined, Musk posted on X in announcing the transaction. Today, we officially take the step to combine the data, models, compute, distribution and talent. This combination will unlock immense potential by blending xAIs advanced AI capability and expertise with Xs massive reach. But the deal also raises a number of questions, including the most basic one: Was this deal actually necessary? Here are some of the most pressing unknowns about the new arrangement. Why do this deal? Posts from Musk and other X or xAI shareholders this week praised the merger, citing the ways both companies will help one another. People have mostly focused on the proprietary dataset that xAI will have via X and its billions of user posts. It also gives xAI total control over that dataset and means the company can refuse to license that data to any other artificial intelligence competitors. X, meanwhile, can help xAI distribute its Grok chatbot and other products to millions of consumers. The problem with this logic, though, is that all these purported benefits were seemingly already in place. XAI has been using the social networks data to train Grok for well over a year, and Musk has been pitching Grok to users on X and selling advanced versions of the product to X users via its premium subscription. Given Musks role running both companies, there should have been no reason to worry any of those benefits were in jeopardy, or that X would suddenly start working with an xAI competitor. What is the real value of X and xAI? Musk says the deal values X at $33 billion, not including $12 billion in debt. He also said it values xAI at $80 billion. This is a deal in which Musk is buying one of his private companies with another one of his private companies, both of which were represented by the same bank, Morgan Stanley. This unique arrangement means that Musk could theoretically assign any value he wants to X and xAI, so long as none of the investors revolted. It doesnt seem like a coincidence that xAI purchased X for roughly the same amount Musk paid for it in October 2022, which means that X investors are simply shifting their stakes from one company to another. Its also interesting that xAIs most recent valuation before the deal was about $50 billion, but now the company is valued at $80 billion even though there was no new financing involved in the transaction, according to a person familiar with the arrangement. Musk, it seems, increased the value as part of the acquisition. A spokesperson for X declined to comment on details of the deal when it was announced. Who will run XAI Holdings? One of the deals biggest cheerleaders last week was X Chief Executive Officer Linda Yaccarino, who posted, the future could not be brighter. Its less clear what the merger means for her future atop the company. Musk didnt announce any kind of corporate structure for XAI Holdings, and its not known who will run the new joint entity, though Musk himself seems like the most likely choice. Its possible Yaccarino stays on to continue running X as a business unit within the new company, but mergers are often messy and can require significant role changes. Well have to wait and see how much more tightly Musk merges the operations of X and xAI to better understand how things will be run. Also Read | Richest US President in history! Donald Trump makes Hurun List top 500 debut How will this change Xs social networking product? Its not immediately known how this acquisition will impact X, if at all, in part because the two businesses have long been deeply intertwined. Grok is already available on X, for example, and users can pay extra for premium features associated with the AI chatbot. It seems likely there will be even more Grok integration into X as time goes on, including tools like photo editing or a voice assistant. Still, this was already likely to happen given the direction Musk was headed with the two businesses. Will other social networks get acquired now, too? AI companies have been thirsty for any and all proprietary data sets as they train their AI systems and look for ways to differentiate their chatbots from rivals. Reddit Inc., for example, has licensed its trove of user content to Alphabet Inc.s Google and makes hundreds of millions of dollars per year on AI licensing. Its possible that other AI companies like OpenAI, Anthropic and Perplexity AI will look into acquiring other social networks to secure their own unique datasets, according to Bloomberg Intelligence analyst Mandeep Singh. Perplexity did propose a merger with TikTok US as a solution to keeping the ByteDance Ltd.-owned service in America. We believe smaller social-media players will actively seek alliances with providers of large language models, given the premium valuation for xAI at $80 billion, which is more than the combined market values of Snap, Pinterest and Reddit, Singh wrote. The governments fresh equity-for-debt in Vodafone Idea is expected to provide the telecom operator with a 40,000 crore cash flow relief over the next three years and reduce the operators net debt by 18%, analysts said, adding that concerns over the companys survival remain. This is because, with the government converting spectrum dues worth 36,950 crore, the telecom operator would now have to pay a total of over 66% less in statutory dues over the next three years after the expiry of the current moratorium later this year. However, analysts said the company must meet a yearly 43,000 crore payment obligation (spectrum and adjusted gross revenue dues) to the government over FY28-31. Without equity conversion, Vodafone Ideas payable spectrum dues to the government would have been 11,000 crore for FY26. For FY27 and FY28 each, the spectrum-related outgo would have been 25,000 crore. However, with the conversion, the companys dues outgo for the pre-2021 spectrum will reduce to 500 crore in FY26, 5,000 crore in FY27, and 15,000 crore in FY28, according to estimates from brokerage Citi Research. The brokerage, however, said the company would have to make annual spectrum payments of 2,200 crore for post-2021 spectrum acquisitions and yearly adjusted gross revenue (AGR) payments of 16,500 crore. Overall, we view this as a major display of support by the government in a very timely manner, which should provide significant cash flow relief to Vi (Vodafone Idea) in the next 3 years and help it complete its bank debt raise," said Saurabh Handa and Prerna Goenka, analysts at Citi Research in a note on Monday. This should help Vi move one step closer to completing its long-delayed debt raise from banks," the analysts added. Notably, the company has been trying to raise bank debt of 25,000 crore. More govt help However, some analysts have observed that the government might have to convert more dues into equity at the end of FY26 owing to higher spectrum and AGR payments of around 29,000 crore in FY27 and around 40,000 crore dues in FY28. They said this because the companys annual revenue would not be able to service the pending dues. The structural concerns around the companys long-term survivability remain as transforming it to a sustainable player will require multiple significant tariff hikes that can boost Arpu (average revenue per user) to over 380 by FY28 (vs Arpu of 163 in 3QFY25)," said Dayanand Mittal and Shivam Gupta, analysts at JM Financial in a note on Monday. According to the brokerage, the tariff hikes would be needed to meet the government's annual 43,000 crore payment obligation over FY28-31 and internally fund capex to help the company get subscribers. If the government decides to go for another round of equity conversion, the telecom operator will become a public-sector undertaking (PSU). At 49% stake, currently, the government has not asked for a board seat in Vodafone Idea," a government official said, adding that it does not want to interfere in the companys operations. After the equity conversion, Vodafone Group's stake will reduce to 16.07% from 24.39%, and Aditya Birla Groups stake will fall to 9.5% from 14.41%. Further, non-government minority shareholding will reduce to 25.44% from 38.6% after this conversion. As of December 2024, Vodafone Ideas total debt was around 2.3 trillion. Of this, 77,000 crore was AGR (adjusted gross revenue) liability, and 1.4 trillion was the spectrum liability. Govt support positive for sector Proxy advisory firms said the conversion from the government is positive and will avoid any duopoly in the sector. From a holistic scenario analysis, if the breather would not have been given to Vodafone Idea, then it would not have been viable, and a duopoly would have hurt consumers," said J.N. Gupta, founder and managing director of Stakeholders Empowerment Services (SES). Had the government not converted, it would have lost the chance of recovering pending dues. The banks would have lost, and the overall consumers would be hurt. At least, there is a possibility of reviving the company now," Gupta said, adding that it is unlikely that the government will go above 49% as it will not want to create a second competitive PSU in the same sector. Shriram Subramanian, founder and MD of InGovern Research Services, said, "The equity conversion, while positive, does not mean that the company is out of the woods. It will have to raise more funds or bank debt to service the upcoming pending statutory dues and remain competitive." Citi Research has retained a Buy/high-risk rating for Vodafone Idea with a share price target of 12. JM Financial has maintained a sell rating on the companys shares. (Bloomberg) -- ArcelorMittal SAs South African unit will postpone the planned closure of two key steel mills by six months after a local state development-finance institution agreed to provide a 1.683 billion-rand ($91 million) facility and the government pledged to address problems plaguing the industry. The loan from the Industrial Development Corp. will enable ArcelorMittal South Africa Ltd. to defer the winddown of its Newcastle and Vereeniging mills until at least Aug. 31, the company, known as Amsa, said in a statement Monday. The funds will stave off the immediate loss of about 3,500 jobs, with the producer suspending consultations on those cuts, it said. The plants, which produce so-called long products, also supply grades of steel crucial to the countrys automotive, mining equipment and construction sectors that local rivals cant currently make. The South African government will use the deferral to expeditiously address structural problems Amsa has raised for years, such as the flood of cheap imports, surging electricity costs, erratic rail services and government regulations that discount the scrap metal that smaller local rivals use to make steel, the company said. Amsa will also receive more than 400 million rand from the governments Unemployment Insurance Fund to cover the wages of workers, it said. In return the steel producer will allow the IDC, which has urged Amsa to consider offers for its mills, to conduct a due-diligence exercise on its operations. Among demands Amsa said the government will meet is the review of a scrap steel export tax and a forced discount on scrap prices that the company said has given an unfair advantage to local competitors who recycle steel to make their products. Amsa uses iron ore instead. Its also reviewing steel import tariffs with a view to protecting the company. The IDC funds follow more than 1.38 billion rand of support that the state finance institution provided in June and February. Sign up here for the twice-weekly Next Africa newsletter More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com Ajay Piramal, head of the eponymous $10-billion pharma-to-financial services conglomerate, said for a succession plan to succeed, the control of businesses should be passed on to the children only if they are passionate about it. Piramal, 69, chairman of the Piramal group, was discussing the groups business succession plan with his daughter Nandini Piramal, chairperson, Piramal Pharma Ltd, in the Mint India Investment Summit in Mumbai on Friday. Allocation of businesses (among children) should be done on the basis of their interest areas," Piramal said. I dont know if there is a specific time or age. Its just that when you find that if you are having a succession with your family, they are ready to take up the responsibility. And I find that over time both Nandini and Anand (his son) were getting more and more responsibility, and they were taking it on." Piramal added that its more important for people like him who are used to running the business, to know when to step away. Learn from mistakes Also, Piramal believes that while passing the baton of the group's business, it is important that scions of the succeeding generation are allowed to make mistakes. "So what? Even if they do make mistakes, it's fine. We all have made them in our life, so it's better to, I think it's more important yourself to know that you have to step aside and actually do it," said Ajay Piramal. Decision-making approaches Even though both Ajay and Nandini Piramal believe that it is important to stick to values such as integrity and trusteeship while passing on the control of family business to the next generation, the two have different approaches when it comes to decision-making and succeeding as a leader. Ajay Piramal said his leadership style is to get more people involved in decision making and give young people opportunities even if that means letting them make mistakes. Nandini, on the other hand, said she believes in going by data and numbers and engaging in collaboration with various teams as businesses get more complex. I tend to be very structured. I like lots of data and I like to understand and build a framework in my mind, but I think it's also about collaboration and trusting people who are experts in their area because as businesses become more complex, there's no way a generalist can really understand and get into the nitty-gritties of manufacturing," said Nandini. I think that trusting the people, giving them freedom but also encouraging collaboration are important when it comes to leadership." She added that she believes in the necessity of purpose, and the necessity of living life according to your own personal values. I would agree with dad (Ajay Piramal) on integrity and trusteeship amongst the two that I think make a big difference". Balancing family and professionalization Family-run corporate groups often face the challenge of balancing between family legacy and professionalization of business affairs while drawing succession plans. However, Ajay Piramal believes there is no conflict when it comes to this balancing act. "I think there is no conflict between the two. First of all, if I look at my own kids, both of them are well qualified. Okay, just because you have been to a Harvard or a Stanford doesn't make you a good, successful person. But they (Nandini and Anand) have also got the right experience," said Ajay Piramal. He added that when it comes to professionalism, employee stock options are key. Who has the biggest stock option in a company is the family. And if you are a smart family (business) owner, you will realize that it is in your own vested interest to see that you have the best talent. Because who gets the most benefit? The family gets it because you have the largest shareholding. So, I don't find there is any conflict between professional and family.," said Ajay Piramal. For making a company successful, Nandini, who joined the family business in 2006 and took charge as the pharma business's chairperson in 2022, believes it's important to have not just a board of advisors, but the right set of people who can be trusted and with whom one can afford to be vulnerable with. It may not be your public company board, because they also have other responsibilities, but you have to have mentors, friends, and family that you can be completely honest with. And they can therefore give you good advice. And they have to know you, they have to understand your business, and they have to then also say like, look, this is what you kind of have to put your head to the ground and do," said Nandini. Values and trusteeship Ajay Piramal said it is crucial that every business should be done with a purpose and is able to make a positive difference to the world. As far as values are concerned, one is the concept of trusteeship," he said, adding that family business owners are mere trustees for the benefit of certain beneficiaries. And who are our beneficiaries? Our beneficiaries are our customers, our employees, shareholders as well as society, so everything we do as trustees to ensure that we work to the maximum long-term benefit of all these stakeholders." Nandini said that for a successful business, it is important to assess how people treat each other how one makes values come to life. One example is when we talk about integrity in pharma companies, what it means ideally is that the regulators should know and your patients should know the data (that is being relied upon)," she said. "We have probably hundreds of customer audits, double-digit or at least 40-50 regulator audits across our plants, and we've never had a warning letter from the FDA (the US Food and Drug Administration) and I think that's a record that we stand by. And it is because of the intent and the values," said Nandini. Facing up to challenges To become a successful leader, Ajay Piramal said it is important that everybody goes through their own challenges. When I began my business career, we had a textile business, and I was thrust into leadership at a very young age because of certain family tragedies. My father passed away when I was very young and so did my eldest brother who was the chairman of the group and the textile business was going through a difficult time but that was a different time. I could get into pharma and so on but each one has their own challenges," said Piramal, adding that in the current succession plan he is not deliberately passing on anything to his kids. Passing on the baton Ajay Piramal said his advice to family businesses is to give the choice to their children and that each one must do what they are passionate about. In his case, Nandini was always interested in the pharma business, and son Anand was interested in real estate, so it worked out well for him. Fortunately, (Nandinis) husband is also somebody who she met at Stanford who also worked in McKinsey in pharma, so he also had a particular knowledge of pharma and an inclination for pharma, so it just worked out," he said. On the other hand, Anand wanted to do real estate. He started with real estate and then real estate financial servicesto some extent they are very closely relatedso that's how he's got interest in that." The Piramal Group, with interests in pharmaceuticals, financial services, and real estate, operates in over 30 countries with workforce of over 10,000 people. Piramal Pharma alone operates 17 global manufacturing facilities and a vast distribution network. In October 2022, PPL demerged from Piramal Enterprises and was listed on the stock exchanges. Also Read: Sebi can't adopt a sledgehammer approach for F&O trading: Tuhin Kanta Pandey Three years into her tenure, Nandini Piramals leadership at Piramal Pharma somewhat indicates a balance of innovation and continuity from her father Ajay. Nandini has set a target to make PPL a $2 billion company by 2030 with a 25% Ebitda margin. Ebitda refers to earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization. As part of its expansion strategy, Piramal Pharma is investing $80 million to more than double its sterile injectables capacity in Lexington, Kentucky, by Q1 2027. Nandini, after her graduation from Oxford University, completed her MBA from Stanford before joining the family business in 2006. President Donald Trump said the reciprocal tariffs he plans to impose on April 2 would include "all countries", not just those with the largest trade imbalances with the United States. Donald Trump's Liberation Day tariffs are likely to impact several countries, including India, China, the European Union, Mexico, Vietnam, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, and Canada. However, an S&P analysis suggests that India, South Korea, and Thailand could be the most vulnerable to these tariffs. Speaking aboard Air Force One, just 48 hours before what he termed Liberation Day on April 2, Trump confirmed that these tariffs would be applied universally, breaking away from earlier plans to target only select nations. We would start with all countries, so lets see what happens, Trump told reporters mid-flight. Also Read | World braces for impact as Trumps reciprocal tariffs take effect on April 2 While Donald Trump refused to put a number to the countries that are likely to be affected by his upcoming tariff salvo, it is expected to affect 15 per cent of US trade partners that have persistent trade imbalances with the United States, a group Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent called a "Dirty 15." Further, Japan and South Korea's carmakers were disproportionately affected by measures announced by Trump last week. Also Read | Explainer: Possible impact of Trumps reciprocal tariffs on India Tariffs already imposed by Trump President Donald Trump has already slapped tariffs on steel and aluminium imports and additional levies on imports from China. Tariffs on imported autos are also due to take effect on April 3. Trump's top trade aide, Peter Navarro, said the tax on auto imports could raise $100 billion a year. "And in addition, the other tariffs are going to raise about $600 billion a year, about $6 trillion over a 10-year period," Navarro told Fox News. What is reciprocal tariff? A reciprocal tariff is a trade measure in which one country imposes import duties that match or counteract the tariffs applied by another country on its exports, aiming to promote balanced trade and protect domestic industries. Taking a look at how other countries will be affected: India India is poised to bear consequences as US President Donald Trump announces reciprocal tariffs that take effect on April 2. With an average weighted tariff of 9.5 per cent on US exportsamong the highest globallyIndia has become a focal point of Trumps trade strategy. Key sectors such as pharmaceuticals, gems and jewellery, automobiles, and food products are expected to face higher duties, potentially costing India up to $7 billion annually. S&P Global Ratings also said that the low exposure will help India reduce the impact of the tariffs. Indias exports to the US account for just 2.3 per cent of its GDP, the agency added. India is actively seeking to appease the Trump administration and is open to cutting tariffs on over half of US imports worth $23 billion, Reuters reported last week. However, the trade imbalance remains a contentious issue, with India exporting $120 billion worth of goods to the US in 2023 against $70 billion in imports. China China, long embroiled in trade disputes with the US, is no stranger to tariffs under Donald Trumps administration. The US president has long railed against the gaping trade deficit between the worlds two largest economies and on the campaign trail threatened upwards of 60 per cent duties on all Chinese goods coming into the US. With a weighted average tariff rate of 7.1 per cent on US exports, China is among the nations most affected by this new measure. Also Read | Reciprocal tariffs are just what the US needs to fix its manufacturing decline China has already hit back swiftly though modestly on the two tranches of additional 10 per cent tariffs Trump has imposed on Chinese imports to the US so far, while sharpening a toolbox of other countermeasures. Chinese Premier Li Qiang signed an order strengthening Chinas anti-sanctions law, which allows Beijing to take action against foreign countries that contain or suppress China or discriminate against its entities and individuals. European Union The European Union (EU) faces similar challenges under Donald Trumps reciprocal tariff regime. As one of the largest trading partners of the US, the EU imposes relatively high tariffs on American goods compared to what it receives. Sectors like automobiles, agriculture, and machinery are expected to be hit hardest by these measures. The EU is identifying concessions it is willing to make to Donald Trumps administration to secure the partial removal of the US tariffs that have already started hitting the blocs exports, reported Bloomberg. Also Read | EU Plans Concessions for Trump After Reciprocal Tariffs Hit Mexico and Canada Trumps reciprocal tariffs have ignited significant backlash from Canada and Mexico, two of Americas closest trading partners. Effective April 2, these tariffs impose a 25 per cent duty on imports from both nations, targeting a wide range of goods. While Donald Trump claims the measures are necessary to address trade imbalances and combat the flow of illicit drugs such as fentanyl, leaders in Canada and Mexico have sharply criticised the move as unjust and economically disruptive. Also Read | Trump says he is willing to cut deals on reciprocal tariffs In Mexico, President Claudia Sheinbaum has denounced the tariffs as baseless, citing data showing a decline in fentanyl seizures at the border. Sheinbaum has promised retaliatory tariffs and rejected Trumps allegations of inadequate cooperation on border security. (Bloomberg Opinion) -- As seen from Europe, the threat of global warming has plenty of competition these days. With Washington causing geopolitical disorder, Russia still waging its war of conquest and far-right populism on the rise, distractions from the fight against climate change are everywhere. So its impressive that the European Union is maintaining its efforts. Encouraging as this might be, the bad news is that the EU is still nowhere near on track to meet its stated climate goals. Its target is net-zero greenhouse-gas emissions by 2050. To this end, the bloc manages the worlds largest and most effective cap-and-trade system, imposing a carbon price of more than 60 per ton on power plants and heavy industry, sectors that account for about 40% of the blocs total emissions. It has also introduced a border-adjustment tax on carbon-intensive imports, to create a level playing field for competition within its single market. These policies have already run into strong resistance. Populist parties have exploited peoples legitimate concerns about the expense of clean technologies. Businesses have pushed back against regulatory burdens amid high energy costs, intense Chinese competition and looming US tariffs on EU exports. Yet for crucial industries such as steel and cement, even the EUs relatively high carbon price isnt enough to reduce emissions quickly. The European Commissions new Clean Industrial Deal aims to pick up momentum while reducing some of the burdens. The goal is still net zero by 2050. The plan is to harness government credit and procurement to boost supply of, and demand for, green products such as low-carbon steel and electricity-grid components. And therell be tens of billions of euros in subsidies to cut industrial emissions. Most controversially, its aiming to free many smaller businesses from environmental reporting and accountability requirements, and from compliance with the carbon border tax. This is messy but defensible. By focusing on the larger enterprises that account for most emissions and are best equipped to comply, the EU can expect to make more progress on emissions, create space for the competitive revival that its leaders also hope to achieve, and soften the mounting political resistance. But theres a trade-off: This approach surrenders some of the efficiencies that a straightforward carbon tax, applied to a broader base and set at a higher rate, would deliver. Also, the Clean Industrial Deal addresses only part of the needed green transition. Installing new grid and renewable-power capacity is essential. This will require epic EU-wide coordination and trillions of euros in public and private investment. Without major initiatives such as a much larger EU budget, joint borrowing and a true European capital market, the 2050 net-zero goal will remain out of reach. The blocs own environmental agency recognizes that current policies arent enough. Germanys new leadership has promised to devote hundreds of billions of euros to upgrading energy and other infrastructure. Some of its partners will follow this lead, but others will be unwilling or unable. Fiscal cooperation could help to put this right but, for the moment, moving political power upward from national governments to Brussels is likely to be about as popular in Europe as higher energy bills. Europes fundamental predicament in addressing both the clean energy transition and its new security challenges is political. Its centrist leaders must demonstrate to voters that closer cooperation and deeper integration can deliver results. If they dont succeed now, they might not get another chance. More From Bloomberg Opinion: The Editorial Board publishes the views of the editors across a range of national and global affairs. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com/opinion The CCI raids on Indias top media agencies have dominated the headlines in the past couple of weeks. Agency head-honchos are in silent mode. The AAAI meanwhile has put out a Competition Advisory that interestingly states that member agencies must continue to conduct their business independently. They should continue to ensure that there is no formal/informal communication between members on the way their independent businesses are conducted. Members have been requested not to discuss (through any mechanism, including emails, WhatsApp groups, documents, any informal, or formal meetings, etc.), any commercially sensitive information, including the prices or pricing strategies, market allocation (e.g., territories, customers), output restrictions or quotas, pitches or tender collusion or terms of sale, remuneration, discounts, or credit terms. Also read | Advertising sentiment remains subdued during festive quarter Members have also been advised to exit any existing WhatsApp groups and cease communication with each other, with immediate effect. Additionally, communication among members regarding business matters, AAAI says, should not occur through WhatsApp, either individually or collectively or through any other means. It is a sad state of affairs. An entire 1 trillion+ industry is on back-foot defensive because of the supposed collusion by a handful of big players who have always dominated the AAAI, and been the movers and shakers of the advertising business in India. While the antitrust watchdogs actions have focused the spotlight on the media end of the business, it is the creative part of the advertising business that needs even more discussion and debate. Because it is there that the heart and soul of client brands are actually nurtured. It is there that big ideas are birthed, and big brands are born. Good old days In the good old days (25-30 years back), advertising in India was a comfortable 15% commission-business. Then when the media function was dismembered into independent buying entities for better efficiencies, and creative agencies became stand-alone businesses, most clients decided to delink media spends from creative fees. And, without exception, all creative agencies agreed. Hence, started the slow but sure ruin, and possible demise, of the creative business. Global clients first introduced a cost-plus model they were imposing in every other country, in conjunction with their network agencies. A mutually agreed upon organogram and resource structure; each man-head bought out (read dedicated to brand) for 1600 manhours a year; CTC of each team member topped up by an overhead (varying between 100 to 160%) and finally a pre-agreed agency profit of 15% or thereabouts, plus a possible variable bonus. I myself put these global templates into effect on Colgate-Palmolive and Citibank at Rediffusion (we were part of Young & Rubicam then) in the late 90s. Every other ad agency did the same. Indian clients emulated the global brands, and soon that became the new remuneration model. Also read | Leo seeks to preserve creative legacy amid advertisings digital shift But the tracking of time-sheets, collation of man-hours etc. were too cumbersome and time-consuming. So clients switched to a retainer format for remunerationnumber of yearly projects were estimated along with manpower cost and a revenue formula was hammered out. About 90% creative agency relationships today are on monthly retainer. Inadequate to define Monthly retainer agreements rarely defined the entire gamut of work that a brand actually requires. And do not normally provide for late-nights, weekends and holidays. A retainer today invariably means 24x7 service. And servility. If not slavery. With brand strategy, and artworks, and lots more thrown in for free. Then clients started squeezing the retainers too while concurrently loading on more and more deliverables. The threat of a pitch was/is held out every other day. There is always a hungrier agency who will quote cheaper. The big network agencies can still take the pressure of dwindling incomes; the smaller agencies are hurting to the point of many shutting shop. Most clients dont flinch in paying a celebrity Rs. 5-7 crore for an endorsement, dont grudge the celebrity agency a 15-30% handling fee and readily pay for a TVC production where everyone knows there is a 50-60% margin, but no, they will not pay an extra rupee to the creative agency for round-the-clock service and winning ideas. Creative agencies will die. Soon. If clients dont kill them, AI will. Most agencies are constantly in cost-cutting mode. They just cant fight back be it client uncertainty or technological obsolescence. There is just no money in the business. Help! In an industry known for controlling narratives, Indian advertising is now grappling with one it cant spin. Just days before the Indian Premier League (IPL) kicked offIndias single biggest ad moment of the yearthe Competition Commission of India (CCI) launched a sweeping investigation into the heart of the media-buying ecosystem. On March 18, CCI officials raided the offices of Indias biggest media agenciesGroupM, IPG Mediabrands, Publicis, Dentsu, and Madisonalongside top industry bodies, including the Advertising Agencies Association of India (AAAI), the Indian Broadcasting and Digital Foundation (IBDF), and the Indian Society of Advertisers (ISA). The allegation: price collusion and anti-competitive arrangements that may have distorted how ad rates and media inventories were negotiated, especially around marquee events like the IPL. Since then, the silence has been deafening. Queries sent to the CEOs of the top agencies yielded no responses. AAAI, too, has not issued a comment. But a confidential advisory from the association to its members reveals the tension. The note seen by Mintinstructed agencies to avoid any form of coordination: no price sharing, no informal chats, and definitely no WhatsApp groups. The mood across the industry is somewhere between damage- control and denial. Theres discomfort, not panic. But everyone knows this is serious," said a senior executive at a media agency. You dont see the CCI walk in with court orders and forensic teams unless theyre convinced somethings off." Fallout could reshape Indian advertising Behind the scenes, the forensic arm of the CCIthe office of the Director Generalis poring over emails, contracts, rebate structures, and pricing templates. If a prima facie case is established, the fallout could be severe. Agencies could face penalties of up to 10% of their average turnover over the last three years. Senior executives may be held personally liable. Civil suits from clients who feel misled about pricing or discounts could follow. But beyond the legal implications lies a much larger reckoning. For years, the Indian ad industry has tiptoed around the uncomfortable truth that media buying is dominated by a handful of global networksnone bigger than GroupM, which alone is estimated to command 4550% of the media market. That scale has brought operational efficiency, but also opacity. Rate cards are often not what they seem. Rebates are poorly understood by clients. And much of the actual pricing power sits with intermediaries rather than the brands spending the money. Its difficult for buyer behaviour alone to remedy extensively collusive supply-side conduct. Thats exactly why competition law exists," said Ambar Bhushan, Partner at Bharucha & Partners. A cartel, simply put, is an agreement between competitors that prevents prices from fallingand that hurts consumers." Bhushan calls this a first-of-its-kind moment in Indian advertising. The law has always been there. Whats different now is its application. This probe may be the first real test of how competition law can reshape the business of advertising," he added. Monopoly concerns Raj Nayak, veteran media executive and founder of House of Cheers a media consulting firm and a SaaS platform, believes the investigation has laid bare a structure that has long favoured the biggest players at the cost of diversity and fairness. Three to four media buying groups control almost 80% of the business, which is not healthy for the industry," he said. This concentration puts smaller agencies at a significant disadvantage and limits innovation. If the CCIs intervention leads to meaningful reform, it could shift how media is priced and negotiated in India." Nayak also noted how monopoly-driven volume deals can undermine client interests. Agency-wide volume discounts often dont benefit large advertisers proportionally. In some cases, they may end up subsidising smaller clients without even knowing it." The timing of the raidsjust before IPLhas only sharpened focus. JioHotstar, now part of the Disney-Reliance media behemoth, reportedly priced digital ad slots at 8.5 lakh for 10 seconds. With the CCIs glare on how these rates were brokered, advertisers have begun quietly auditing deals, rechecking contracts and rebate disclosures. Some insiders believe the probe is also about market power. Its not just about law, its about control," said a veteran media planner. Broadcasters want more direct access to advertisers. Agencies want to protect their cut. And the advertisers? They just want clarity on where their moneys going." In Raj Nayaks view, this moment isnt likely to accelerate automation, as some may expect. Its doubtful this will lead to more programmatic media buying, especially in TV and print. In fact, advertisers may seek more traditional, hands-on approacheswhere relationships and direct negotiations ensure clearer accountability," he said. This is an opportunity to reassess ethical standards, not just adopt tech for the sake of it." On whether this was IPL-specific or a broader structural issue, Nayak was clear: This was bound to surface. IPLs visibility may have amplified the scrutiny, but the underlying dynamics were always there. Media owners and smaller agencies have been losing leverage for years." Reckoning for opaque practices And thats the heart of it. This isnt just a story about potential collusion. Its about trust. In a business built on creativity, relationships, and perception, the trust deficit is growing. Everyone brands, agencies, platforms wants accountability, but no one wants to go first. As one senior executive at a large network agency bluntly put it, Lets not pretend this came out of nowhere. For years, weve operated in a grey zonerebates, opaque pricing, backroom deals. Everyone knew, but no one challenged it because the system worked for those at the top. Now that someones finally lifting the hood, were all scrambling." From the other end of the spectrum, smaller and independent agencies are watching with a mix of vindication and cautious optimism. This industry has long been a closed club. If youre not a holding company or dont control 500 crore in media spend, youre invisible," said the founder of a boutique agency. Weve been priced out of pitches, strong-armed on margins, and made to feel irrelevant. If this investigation opens up the field even a little, its good for creativity and great for clients." For now, the IPL continues. Ads are airing. Celebrities are endorsing. But the ecosystem that makes all this possible has been cracked openand its unclear what will crawl out. Whether this becomes a transformative moment or just another crisis absorbed and forgotten depends on what the regulator findsand how the industry chooses to respond. Because this time, the problem isnt just that the emperor has no clothes. Its that everyones known it for yearsand chosen to look the other way. Bank holidays today: Public and private banks across the country are closed today for Ramzan Eid (also known as Ramadan Eid or Id-ul-Fitr) and tomorrow for the yearly bank account closing day, in an extended holiday since Sunday (weekly off). Take a look at the details and bank holiday schedule for April 2025 here. Banks across Indian states could have different holidays listed due to local festivities and religious celebrations. These are in addition to the common national and gazetted holidays. Thus, we look at what customers can expect during the bank holidays on March 31 and April 1; and Mahavir Jayanti, Ambedkar Jayanti, and Good Friday, among others, during the month of April. Notably, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) releases its annual, official bank holiday list in January. You are advised to check with your nearest local bank branch for their confirmed holiday schedule for 2025. Also Read | Bank holidays in April 2025: Banks to remain closed on THESE days in your state Bank Holidays on March 31 and April 1, 2025 March 31, Monday Ramzan Eid (Id-Ul-Fitr) Most states except Mizoram and Himachal Pradesh April 1, Tuesday Banks' Yearly Account Closing/Sarhul All banks across India will be closed for the final yearly account finalisation. In Jharkhand, banks will also be closed for the tribal festival of Sarhul, which marks the start of a new year. Also Read | Sikandar BO Collection Day 1: Salman Khan starrer mints THIS amount on Sunday Check Full Bank Holidays List for April 2025 April 5, Saturday Banks in Telangana will be closed for Babu Jagjivan Rams birth anniversary. April 6, Sunday Weekly off for all banks across India. April 10, Thursday Banks will be closed in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, and Telangana for Mahavir Jayanti to celebrate the birth of Lord Mahavir. April 12, Saturday Second Saturday weekly off for all banks across India. April 13, Sunday Weekly off for all banks across India. April 14, Monday Banks will be closed in many states for the birth anniversary of Dr BR Ambedkar, aka Ambedkar Jayathi, including Mizoram, Madhya Pradesh, Chandigarh, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, New Delhi, Chhattisgarh, Meghalaya, and Himachal Pradesh. The day also marks various regional New Year celebrations such as Vishu, Bihu, Tamil New Year, etc. April 15, Tuesday Banks will remain closed in Assam, West Bengal, Arunachal Pradesh, and Himachal Pradesh to observe state-specific festivals, including Bengali New Year, Himachal Day, and Bohag Bihu. April 18, Friday Banks will remain closed for services in states including, Tripura, Assam, Rajasthan, Jammu, Himachal Pradesh, and Srinagar on this day to mark Good Friday, commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. April 20, Sunday Weekly off for all banks across India. April 21, Monday Banks will remain closed in Tripura for Garia Puja, a tribal festival observed in the state. April 26, Saturday Fourth Saturday weekly off for all banks across India. April 27, Sunday Weekly off for all banks across India. April 29, Tuesday Banks will remain closed for services in Himachal Pradesh on this day to celebrate Bhagwan Shri Parshuram Jayanti, the birth anniversary of Lord Parshuram, the sixth incarnation of Vishnu. April 30, Wednesday Banks will be closed in Karnataka to observe Basava Jayanti, honouring Basavanna, the founder of the Lingayat sect, and Akshaya Tritiya, considered an auspicious day for wealth and prosperity. Also Read | Is Indian stock market closed on March 31 or April 1 for Eid-ul-Fitr? Can You Use ATMs, Online Banking During Bank Holidays? Yes, you can use ATMs, mobile banking, online banking, and bank apps for daily transactions even during holidays, unless a bank sends specific notification regarding maintenance timings or technical issues. However, the Negotiable Instruments Act deals with the issuance of cheques and promissory notes and transactions involving these instruments will not be available during the holidays. New Delhi: The government is preparing to decriminalize more than 100 offences under various laws by the end of this year to improve investor confidence and unlock potential for faster economic growth, three persons familiar with the development said. The Jan Vishwas Bill 2.0 that seeks to decriminalise such provisions will be tabled during the monsoon or winter sessions of Parliament, they said. Indias decriminalization drive announced by finance and corporate affairs minister Nirmala Sitharaman on 1 February entails removing criminality from minor violations and procedural lapses, dropping outdated provisions in the law, and making the regulatory regime more suited to current economic realities. In effect, such offences would no longer lead to arrests, a court trial, or a jail term, but would be adjudicated by regulators, with the possible levy of a fine. The aim is to amend certain labour, securitization, consumer, banking, and financial laws, and provisions specific to sectors like mining, transportation, and petroleum in one go under the proposed legislation, said the first of the three people mentioned above. Provisions that were not decriminalized in the previous driveJan Vishwas Act of 2023will be included in the new bill," this person said. In the 2023 law, more than 180 offences were decriminalised. Also read | India to drop Google tax from 1 April amid US tariff threats The department for promotion of investment and internal trade (DPIIT), which is spearheading the legislative work on Jan Vishwas Bill 2.0, has already reviewed over 900 provisions across 129 laws administered by more than 30 ministries or departments. Among these, 82 provisions have been marked as priority areas for decriminalization or modification, a second person said. The DPIIT has reviewed the provisions submitted by various ministries to identify those that need revision or removal for improved industry functioning," this person said. The bill is currently in the preparation stage and is expected to be introduced in an upcoming session of Parliament." Separately, there would be another round of amendments to the Companies Act to give relief to companies from violations of technical breaches. This will be taken up independent of Jan Vishwas Bill 2.0 as the Companies Act is a major law for the corporate sector, said the third person. A review of the Companies Act is underway in light of the budget announcement, this person added. All three people mentioned here spoke on condition of anonymity. Queries emailed on 25 March to the ministries of finance and corporate affairs and on 28 March to DPIIT seeking comments remained unanswered. Also read | New accounting norms to be introduced for overseas biz operations Beyond decriminalisation The previous round of decriminalisation under Jan Vishwas Act of 2023 offered significant relief for industry, said Chandrajit Banerjee, director general of the Confederation of Indian Industry. For the next round, CII has submitted a comprehensive list of provisions, covering 39 centrally enforced legislation in areas such as labour, environment, consumer, securitization, foreign exchange, securities, banking, and financial laws, Banerjee said. In an overarching principle across statutes, we believe that technical or procedural violations such as failure to file annual returns, maintain statutory records, or comply with procedures, should be decriminalized," said Banerjee. Beyond decriminalization, Jan Vishwas Bill 2.0 also aims to repeal redundant laws, eliminate duplicate provisions, and remove regulations that have outlived their relevance. The ministry of road transport and highways has lined up over 25 provisions for amendmentsthe highest, said the second person quoted above. Additionally, 21 provisions under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 are to be revised. Also read | Law changes on the cards for quick CCI nod for distressed asset sales The ministry of skill development and entrepreneurship has identified 13 provisions, while the consumer affairs ministry is expected to address 12. The ministries of textiles and commerce will work on modifying nine and six provisions, respectively. The department of school education and literacy has been tasked with reviewing four provisions, some of which relate to teacher education institutes, the second person said. The health ministry and the ministry of micro, small and medium enterprises will work on three provisions each, while the power ministry and the department of financial services have two provisions each under review. There is a need to replace fines, which require court trials, with monetary penalties, said Banerjee of CII. This, besides improving ease of doing business, would have an enormous effect in bringing down pendency of cases in the courts, especially if applied retrospectively," he said. Also read | Tax officers told to give relief to businesses on GST interest, penalty India's top two IT services firms expanded their global market share in the years since the covid outbreak, marking a spot of relief in a world upended by artificial intelligence. Tata Consultancy Services Ltd and Infosys Ltd sharply outpaced the global IT services industry in the four years beginning 2020, as they worked with hyperscalers and adapted to the post-pandemic world. While the global IT industry expanded 14% between 2020 and 2024 to touch $1.04 trillion, the two companies grew at more than double this rate, according to Pierre Audoin Consultants, a Paris-headquartered IT advisory firm. TCS and Infosys grew at 32% and 45% respectively to end the 12 months through March 2024 with $29.1 billion and $18.6 billion in revenue, gaining market share. Their growth came at the expense of foreign companies like DXC Technology, International Business Machines Corp and Fujitsu, each of which lost market share due to internal restructuring and currency depreciation. Accenture and Infosys were the biggest beneficiaries in these four years, according to PAC. Dublin-headquartered Accentures market share jumped 120 basis points to 5.7% at the end of 2024, whereas Infosys grew faster than each of the countrys four largest IT service providers in these four years. Also read | How Accenture leapt ahead of Indian IT firms with large deals Infosyss revenue growth of 45% was higher than that of TCS, HCL Technologies Ltd, and Wipro Ltd, which grew 32%, 34%, and 33%, respectively. PAC listed 10 companies including Accenture Plc, International Business Machines Corp, Capgemini SE, Fujitsu Ltd and NTT Data as part of its market share rankings. Taking global share Accenture rose to the first spot (from previous No.2), while previous No.1 IBM fell to the third position. TCS and Infosys held over 2.8% and 1.7% in 2024, in comparison to 2.2% and 1.3% four years ago. TCS jumped to second place from third whereas Infosys moved up two places to the eighth spot. If you focus on comparable vendors, Infosys and Accenture reported substantial growth over the last four years, slightly higher than TCS and HCL, then Capgemini and Wipro, finally Cognizant. Accenture was extremely successful with its ecosystem strategy, positioning the company as the #1 partner for all the leading technology providers (AWS, Google, Microsoft, SAP, Salesforce, ServiceNow...), and thus took advantage of the massive post-covid wave of digitization and cloud transformation," said Christophe Chalons, chief analyst at PAC. Infosys managed to massively revamp its sales approach and to land numerous large deals, especially in Europe," said Chalons. Also read | Indian IT's AI conundrum: What model to useready-to-build or build-from-scratch HCLTech and Wipro also increased their shares, although much lower than the others. For now, Accenture, TCS, IBM, Deloitte, and NTT Data are the worlds five largest IT service providers with market shares of 5.7%, 2.8%, 2.8%, 2.5%, and 2.2%, respectively, according to PAC data. New approach A second analyst attributed the increase in market share for homegrown IT service providers to a more aggressive approach following the covid pandemic. The major four India-heritage providers all took full advantage of the pandemic to drive cloud-centric deals with the Global 2000 firms. A lot of this was driven by the sheer speed with which they adapted to delivering work from remote locations and their nimbleness to respond to client needs," said Phil Fersht, chief executive of HFS Research, a Massachusetts-based tech advisory firm. The covid-19 pandemic was beneficial for these companies as they could win more deals to digitize operations for companies that required employees to mandatorily work from their systems in office. To be sure, the countrys IT service providers had a dream run after the pandemic. TCS, Infosys, HCLTech, and Wipro reported double-digit revenue growth in the year ended March 2022. Also read | Mid-sized Indian IT companies lead AI charge with new investments Since the pandemic ended, these same firms have increased market share and the ability to win deals aggressively at scale, while many of the legacy services firms have struggled to be as agile in the market," said Fersht. A third analyst attributed this to their growing presence in Europe and cost efficiency. Indian IT service companies will more likely make their employees fly economy to save costs than their foreign counterparts," said a Mumbai-based analyst working at a domestic brokerage on condition of anonymity. Also, each country in Europe functions like an individual business unit, and European IT service providers find it difficult to serve clients outside of their home country due to cultural issues, which makes it easier for homegrown IT companies to make inroads," the analyst said. For TCS and Infosys, both of which increased their market share within the top 10, Europe business was a big booster. TCS and Infosyss business from Europe grew faster than their total revenue between 2020 and 2024. Business from Europe grew at a CAGR of 7.95% and 14.27% for TCS and Infosys, whose overall CAGR in this four period came in at 7.2% and 9.8%, respectively. Also read | Attrition costs are catching up with IT companies The countrys four largest software service providers earn between $3 billion and $9 billion in revenue from Europe. However, the post-pandemic dream run was stymied by the Russia-Ukraine conflict that began in February 2022. Clients of IT services companies had to increase costs due to supply chain disruptions and hold-back their tech spending. TCS ended March 2024 with $29.1 billion in revenue, up 4.1% on a yearly basis. This was its slowest growth in three years. For Infosys, which ended FY24 with $18.6 billion in revenue, a 1.9% full-year revenue growth was its slowest. Third-largest HCLTech grew 5.4% to $13.3 billion, its slowest growth in three years. Fourth-largest Wipro reported a full-year revenue decline, after it ended last fiscal with $10.8 billion in revenue. Also read | Many Indian IT companies now station their CEOs where the grass is greenest Even as there were green shoots at the start of FY25 with central banks across the world looking to lower lending rates, decisions brought in by US President Donald Trump and the impact of Gen AI again poses uncertainty for the growth of homegrown IT service providers. Low lending rates by banks increases the spending capacity of Fortune 2000 companies, which can in-turn increase their tech spending and give more business to IT service providers. Users could face service quality issues as telecom operators struggle to expand networks, with about 13 states yet to align with the Centres updated Right of Way (RoW) rules to deploy telecom infrastructure, three executives aware of the matter said. The department of telecommunications (DoT) notified the RoW rules in September last year and mandated states to implement them starting January, 2025. The rules govern how telecom infrastructure, which includes mobile towers, poles, common ducts, small cells and street furniture, can be installed over public and private property. Also Read | The ambitious and ambiguous rise of Huawei as a telecom giant The delays are primarily due to the reluctance and complex processes of some state governments over the implementation of uniform RoW regulations. The lack of a standardized approach across states is causing significant hurdles in the timely installation of telecom infrastructure, such as towers and fiber optic cables, according to telecom operators. As a result, telecom companies are increasingly concerned about potential delays in the rollout of 4G, 5G services, and fiber-based broadband, which could impact both consumers and the broader digital ecosystem amid increase in data consumption," an executive at a telecom operator said. Also Read | Telecom Q3 review: Airtel triumphs in Arpu battle, but Jio could win the war States and union territories that are yet to implement RoW rules include Arunachal Pradesh, Bihar, Karnataka, Mizoram, Nagaland, Haryana, Jharkhand, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Puducherry, Tripura, and Lakshadweep, according to data shared by telecom operators and infrastructure providers with the DoT last week. Challenges the operators flagged to DoT include exorbitant rates charged by some of the states for giving approvals to deploy infrastructure, multiple levels of approvals involving different departments, high rental charges for towers by municipal corporations, coercive actions on operators and untimely clearances. Also Read | Mint Quick Edit | Relief for telecom operators is good for the Indian market Even those states/UTs, which have issued notification on implementation of RoW norms have some of the provisions, which is making it difficult for us to lay the infrastructure. For example, in Delhi, DDA (Delhi Development Authority) allots tower locations through auctions, DISCOMs (power distribution companies) charge very high pole rates to lay infra such as fiber," an executive at a tower company said. The executive added that the government also needs to expedite on rollout of the new RoW portal as they are facing issues in submitting applications. "It is essential for all states and agencies to align with the Acts provisions and implement the RoW Rules 2024, in true letter and spirit, to enable swift approvals and cost-effective infrastructure deployment which would further pave the way for seamless 5G expansion and enhanced Quality of Service (QoS) for the customers," said S.P. Kochhar, director general of Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI). "We are hopeful that with the right efforts from the Centre and the States/UTs, in collaboration with the industry, the RoW norms across India can be regularized, to bring in progressive changes for the essential telecom infrastructure," Kochhar added. COAI represents major telecom operators such as Bharti Airtel, Vodafone Idea and Reliance Jio. A government official said, Such uniform rules are crucial as earlier the states had their own charges, which were significantly higher, and there were inconsistent timelines for permissions. The rules will help ease 4G/5G rollout, simplify approval processes, uniform charges, and enable digital management of applications." The department, he added, was constantly following up with states for alignment with RoW rules. Notably, to streamline the process, DoT is expected to soon launch a centralized RoW portal, where different states will be listed, and operators can submit the applications to them via the portal. Till now, the applications were managed via the GatiShakti Sanchar Portal. Currently, out of 36 states/UTs, atleast 21 have aligned. There are 11 states that are already live on the Central portal, which is capable of handling as many levels of permissions required from authorities of the respective states. For example, Maharashtra wants a seven-level approval layer," another official said, adding that states have been asked to create awareness among local bodies on RoW rules so that there are no permission delays and charges are aligned. The official added there are certain procedural delays from states on sharing of data of their respective authorities in a specific format, which is key to their onboarding and smooth management of applications. As per the rules, the facility provider has to pay 300 per year to deploy small cells on each street furniture, such as lamp posts and benches, in urban areas and 150 per year in rural areas. For telecom lines, the fee will be 100 per year per street furniture. There will be no charge for placing small cells on buildings or structures owned by the public entity. Small cells are compact, low-power wireless base stations used to improve network coverage, crucial for 5G deployment and for minimizing network rollout costs. For tower installation application, a company will have to pay 10,000 per tower and for overground telecom lines the application fee has been kept at 1,000 per km. IPO Watch: Gujarat Kidney & Super Speciality, a regional healthcare company, has filed its draft red herring prospectus (DRHP) with the stock market regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) for an initial public offer (IPO). The proposed public offer, consists entirely of fresh sale of 2.2 crore equity shares with no offer for sale (OFS) component. The company plans to use the funds raised via the IPO for funding acquisitions, equipments and working capital requirements. According to the DRHP filed by the company, proceeds from the fresh issue to the extent of 77 crore will be used for proposed acquisition of Parekhs Hospital at Ahmedabad, 12.4 crore for part-payment of purchase consideration for the already acquired Ashwini Medical Centre, 30.2 crore for funding of capital expenditure requirements towards setting up of a new hospital in Vadodara, 7.3 crore for buying robotics equipment for the hospital in Vadodra, and 1.5 crore for part repayment and/or prepayment of certain outstanding secured borrowings availed by the company. Additionally, it said the remaining funds will be used to fund inorganic growth through unidentified acquisitions and general corporate purposes. In the IPO, 75% of the issue is being reserved for the qualified institutional buyers, and not more than 15% and 10% for non-institutional investors and retail individual bidders, respectively. About Gujarat Kidney & Super Speciality Gujarat Kidney & Super Speciality is one of the regional healthcare companies located in Gujarat. It operates a chain of mid-sized multispeciality hospitals, providing integrated healthcare services, with a focus on secondary and tertiary care. As of March 20, 2025, on a consolidated basis, it operates six multispeciality hospitals, with a total bed capacity of 400 beds, approved bed capacity of 355 beds and operational bed capacity of 250 beds. Additionally, it has three pharmacies operating within its hospitals. The company is led by promoter and managing director, Dr Pragnesh Yashwantsingh Bharpoda, who has more than a decade of experience in the medical industry and is an established name in the field of urology. Also Read | Upcoming IPO: SIS Cash Service files DRHP with SEBI to raise funds via IPO Gujarat Kidney and Super Speciality Limiteds revenue from operations on a proforma consolidated basis grew from 34.01 crore in Fiscal 2023 to 41.04 crore in Fiscal 2024. Profit after tax grew from 2.80 crore in Fiscal 2023 to 4.34 crore in Fiscal 2024. Nirbhay Capital Services Private Limited is the sole book-running lead manager and MUFG Intime India Private Limited is the registrar of the issue. The equity shares are proposed to be listed on the National Stock Exchange of India and BSE. Indian snacks manufacturer Haldiram announced on Monday, March 31, the confirmation of two new investors, the Abu Dhabi-based International Holding Company (IHC) and New York-based Alpha Wave Global, as part of its equity financing round, reported the news agency Reuters. Also Read | Temasek confirms investment in Haldiram Snacks Haldirams, India's leading snack and food brand, is pleased to announce the addition of two new investors, IHC (International Holding Company) and Alpha Wave Global, to its ongoing equity round, following Temasek's recent participation, said the company in the official statement cited in a PTI report. The company did not disclose any financial details of the deal. The announcement comes after the Singapore-headquartered global investment firm Temasek agreed to acquire a 10 per cent stake for 8,500 crore in one of the largest snack makers in India. The partnership represents patient capital and long-term support to Haldirams' growth plans, a company spokesperson told the news agency Reuters. Also Read | Haldiram's promoters now offer a smaller bite to investors Haldiram Temasek Deal Haldiram Temasek deal's financial advisor, PwC's investment banking team, on Sunday, March 30, announced that the investment giant has agreed to acquire a 10% stake for 8,500 crore in Haldiram Snacks Food Pvt. Ltd, reported Mint citing people who were aware of the development. The Temasek deal values Haldiram's business at $10 billion or 85,000 crore. As per the report, the investment giant will acquire an equity stake from existing shareholders of Haldirams. This positions Haldiram for its expansion plans for increasing the brand's business in both the domestic and the international markets. However, the financial details were not officially revealed. We are thrilled to welcome Temasek as an investor and partner in Haldirams. We look forward to working with them to harness the value they bring from their experience in the consumer space to accelerate our growth and strengthen our ability to meet evolving consumer demands. We also extend our gratitude to PwC and Khaitan & Co for their dedicated support during this transaction, a spokesperson from Haldiram's told the news portal. The transaction is also subject to regulatory approval and is expected to close soon. ITC Ltd on Monday announced the acquisition of Century Pulp and Paper from Aditya Birla Real Estate Ltd for 3,498 crore, expanding its own paper capacity by half, and gaining a foothold in the north. While ITCs paperboards and specialty papers business has an annual capacity of over 1 million tonnes, Century Paper has an installed capacity of 480,000 mt per annum. All of ITC's four paper facilities are located in South India, while the Century paper factory is at Lakuan in Uttarakhand. The acquisition will immediately add significant scale and economies to existing operations with potential for further capacity expansion, provide locational advantage for efficient customer servicing and proximity to key raw material sources, mitigate operational risks through multi-site operations and enhance resilience across industry cycles through portfolio diversification, ITC said in an exchange filing. Out of ITC's overall FY24 revenue of 69,446 crore, the paperboards, paper and packaging segment contributed 8,344 crore, while Aditya Birla Real Estate's pulp and paper division had revenue of 3,375 crore. In a separate filing, Aditya Birla Real Estate said the sale of the pulp and paper business will help it further pursue growth opportunities in its core real estate business. The acquisition aligns with the companys strategy of driving the next horizon of growth in the paperboards and specialty papers business by expanding capacity at a new location, considering that the existing facilities are already saturated, said B. Sumant, executive director, ITC. Also read | Company Outsider: ITCs pivot to FMCG giant has been a strategic tour de force R.K. Dalmia, managing director, Aditya Birla Real Estate, said the sale is a strategic portfolio choice. The company has embarked on a transformational growth phase, and this move will further sharpen its focus on real estate to drive sustained value creation, he said in the filing. Century Paper makes and sells writing paper, printing paper, tissue paper, paper board, rayon grade pulp, paper grade pulp etc. Subject to approvals The transaction is subject to necessary regulatory approvals and is expected to close in six months. India is the world's fifth-largest producer of paper and paperboards, with an estimated production of around 23 million MT per annum and an annual industry turnover of over 80,000 crore, per estimates by ITC. The country is one of the fastest-growing markets, with demand for paper and paperboards growing at 6%-7% per annum. The acquisition is positive for ITC, and gives it ITC access to greater installed capacity as well as influence in markets beyond south India, an analyst said. The company is also flush with cash, helping it invest in acquisitions. We see this as a positive development for ITCthis will be EPS-accretive in year one i.e. FY27, following approvals. This is also a large-scale acquisitionadding almost 50% to the ITC's paper business in a full year. ITC has almost 30,000 crore on its books; from there, this is a 3,400 crore outlay for this acquisition, said Abneesh Roy, executive director, Nuvama Institutional Equities. Also read | What should investors expect from the ITC Hotels demerger? The acquisition also gives ITC greater access to markets in north India. Currently, ITC's paper factories are concentrated in South India. ITC's paper business is currently seeing weak margins due to imports from China that have impacted Indian pulp prices. We expect that to ease out as steps are being taken by different players, Roy added. ITC said its paperboards and packaging segment expected to continue generating free cash flow. The acquisition is expected to be EPS accretive in the first full year of operations. The acquisition will also offer ITC new opportunities in the domestic and international markets. Between FY20 and FY24, ITCs paperboards, paper and packaging segment generated cumulative free cash flow of over 4,000 crore. Paper is widely used in sectors such as fast moving consumer goods, fast food chains, pharmaceuticals, e-commerce, education and stationery. (Bloomberg) -- Municipal bonds are heading for their worst month compared to US Treasuries since the asset classs pandemic-fueled rout in March 2020. Munis are track for a 2% loss this month, while US Treasury returns were flat as of March 30, according to Bloomberg index data. Though, the rout is poised to ease on Monday, as both asset classes are rallying as stock-market weakness sparks demand for safe-haven investments. Muni yields have dropped by as much as 4 basis points across the curve. March is generally a tough month for the US state and local debt market. Sales of new debt tend to be higher issuance this month has surged 20% year-over-year, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. But fewer bonds mature around this time, so investors may not have the money to reinvest. Some investors even sell their holdings to pay their tax bills due in April, adding to the pressure. Lighter redemptions in each month can be combined with average to heavier supply to create headwinds, Kim Olsan, senior fixed-income portfolio manager for NewSquare Capital LLC, wrote in a email. This March, these dynamics are exacerbated by policy-related uncertainty. Investors are assessing whether Republicans effort to extend the 2017 tax cuts could pose a threat to the tax-exempt status of muni bonds. These considerations have weakened demand, with investors yanking about $573 million from municipal-bond funds in the week ended Wednesday the third straight week of outflows, according to LSEG Lipper Global Fund Flows. The underperformance has meant that munis have cheapened compared to Treasuries. A key gauge of relative value in the market a percentage of AAA muni yields versus Treasuries shows that state and local debt is at its cheapest level since November 2022. Despite this recent weakness Bank of America Corp. strategists said on Friday that they expect the backdrop to improve a bit by the second half of April, after taxes are due. Still, supply looks like it will stay elevated even as demand teeters. JPMorgan Chase & Co. strategists said in a note on Monday that the $10 billion of sales slated for this week could pressure the muni market. Last weeks underperformance in munis was chiefly the result of onerous net supply, UST rate volatility, exchange-traded fund outflows, and tax-loss trading, they added. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com As a thumb-rule for stock market investing, doing less is more. The stock market is designed to transfer money from the active to the patient," Warren Buffet famously said. However, exchange rules require you to make some transactions in your broking account to keep it active. To be sure, the activity need not just be in stocks; it could be in any segment of an exchange and for the smallest possible value. But if there is no activity for 24 consecutive months, the account will be flagged as inactive and no new transaction will be allowed in the broking account. Once a broking account turns inactive, you have to follow the re-KYC (know your customer) process, which can be done online in most cases. Here is a look at how this process works, what happens to your holdings if an account turns dormant and hacks to keep the account active. View Full Image Graphic: Mint When an account turns inactive The no-activity window, initially set for 12 months, was extended to 24 months in October last year. The rules stem from market regulator Securities and Exchange Board of Indias 2009 directions to increase transparency in brokers dealings with clients. Exchanges have widened the scope of transactions beyond just stock trading activity. Bidding in an IPO, and buying or selling sovereign gold bonds and mutual funds would also be considered. Any transaction in any segment of the exchange will help keep the account active. Also Read: How to withdraw funds from PPF or even close the account prematurely Non-financial transactions such as modifying your e-mail ID, mobile number and address through the same broker are also considered now. While you cant place fresh buy and sell orders once the broking account turns inactive, the demat account and holdings remain intact. You continue to receive credit in your bank account from dividends. If there is a bonus issue, the shares get credited to your demat account. Re-KYC process To complete the re-KYC process, log into your brokers account. Verify your KYC details, including address, name, and contact information. Then, submit your Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) declaration by selecting your income range and income source. To access the futures & options (F&O) segment, you have to also disclose income proof. You can submit a six-month bank statement, Form 16, and income tax return acknowledgement, among other documents. The next step is your video in-person verification (IPV). This can be done through a webcam or a mobile phone camera. You will be asked to write down a code on a piece of paper, display it on your camera, along with your face being visible. Some brokers may ask clients to answer standard questions asked by their executives. After a successful IPV, account reactivation typically takes 24-72 hours. A couple of more steps are required if you need to update your address as mentioned in the Aadhaar ID. In this case, you will need to link your DigiLocker with the broker. Once done, the new address will show up in your KYC details. The next steps are similar FATCA declaration and a video IPV. As a last step, you would need to eSign your KYC with your Aadhaar. The reactivation of the broking account, along with the updated address, can take 24-72 hours. For seniors who arent tech-savvy, the re-KYC process can be a bit challenging. However, the relationship managers of brokers can assist and guide them," said a broking official. After reactivation, the next 24 months to determine client inactivity start from the last reactivation date. If the mobile number is not linked to your Aadhaar, you must update the address offline. You can courier the KYC and account modification form, a self-attested copy of your PAN, along with a self-attested copy of your address proof Aadhaar, passport, drivers licence, voter ID, etc. to the broker. You can also do this by visiting the nearest broker branch. Keeping it active Vishal Dhawan, founder and chief executive officer of Plan Ahead Wealth Advisors, says investors can make a small trade with a low-cost gold ETF or equity index ETF to keep the broking accounts active. Gold ETFs currently trade at 70-80 per unit as fund houses peg these ETFs to 0.01 gram of gold. Several Nifty 50 Index ETFs trade around 250-270 as the fund houses have pegged the unit size to 1/100th of the Nifty 50 Index. While re-KYC can be a friction point, it is now widely required. Banks, too, require it at regular intervals if there is no activity in the account. It is better to just place a small trade with the broker to avoid the hassle. The good part is that re-KYC can be done online in most cases. Exceptions to online KYC are Hindu Undivided Family (HUF) accounts, partnerships and corporate accounts. These have to be done offline and can be tedious," pointed out Kavitha Menon, founder of Probitus Wealth. Also Read: How you can get a loan against an insurance policy Rules prevent brokers from sending alerts to clients asking them to make a trade to prevent the account from going dormant. Hence, clients need to monitor their own activity. Advisors can encourage clients to keep the account active by doing a small SIP," said Dilshad Billimoria, founder of Dilzer Consultants. The Central government's Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has decided to likely increase the auto settlement of the advanced claim (ASAC) limit to 5 lakh, compared to its current levels of 1 lakh, reported the news agency ANI, citing people aware of the development on Monday, March 31. Also Read | EPFO claim processing via UPI to become a reality soon? All you need to know Sumita Dawra, Secretary of the Ministry of Labour and Employment, reportedly approved the proposal to increase the withdrawal limit in the 113th meeting of the Executive Committee (EC) of the Central Board of Trustees (CBT), held last week, reported the news agency. Ramesh Krishnamurthi, Central Provident Fund Commissioner of EPFO, also attended the meeting held in Srinagar on March 28, as per the report. The recommendation will need to go for approval of the CBT, and after the approval, the EPFO members will be eligible to claim their provident fund (PF) up to 5 lakh through the ASAC. Auto EPFO Claim EPFO introduced the auto claim settlement in April 2020 with a claim limit of 50,000 for advance eligibility in case of an illness. In May 2024, auto settlement of the advanced claim limit was increased to 1 lakh. The EPFO members were able to withdraw their provident fund for illness or hospitalisation purposes only, but the organisation has also introduced the auto-mode settlement of advance claims for three categories: education, marriage, and housing. The rejection of the EPFO claims has dropped to 30 per cent from its 50 per cent levels last year, reported the agency, citing people aware of the development. Now in the auto-claim solution, the EPFO claims are processed automatically by an IT system without any human intervention. The sources also told the news agency that the validation formalities for withdrawing PF have also been reduced to 18 per cent, compared to its previous levels of 27 per cent and in the meeting last week, it was further decided to be brought down to 6 per cent. The central government is also working towards simplification and centralization of the member databases under the Centralized IT Enabled. Currently, any claims with KYC, eligibility, and bank validation are processed automatically by the IT tools, as a result of which, the period of claim settlement has dropped to 3 to 4 days compared to its previous levels of 10 days settlement. LiveMint couldn't independently verify the report. Two people were injured after a speeding Lamborghini hit pedestrians on a footpath adjacent to an under-construction building in Noida's sector 94 on Sunday, police said. The injured, labourers from Chhattisgarh, were rushed to a nearby hospital and are said to be out of danger. They have suffered a fracture in their legs, police said. A purported video surfaced online showing that after the accident, a man was heard asking the accused if he knew how many people died here. To this, the accused asked the locals "koi mar gaya idhar? (did anyone die here?)" and came out of the car. "The car driver has been identified as Deepak, a resident of Ajmer and the car has a Puducherry registration. He has been arrested and the car has been seized," Bhupendra Singh, In-charge at Sector 126 Police Station told PTI. During questioning he told the police that the accident happened due to a fault in the vehicle. Further investigation is underway, Singh said. The injured said they weren't able to run as the car charged towards them at a high speed. Essay time: Netizens react to accident Netizens were quick to draw similarities with last year's fatal Pune Porsche accident case. Two IT engineers Aneesh Awadhiya and his friend Ashwini Koshta, both 24 and from Madhya Pradesh, were killed after the speeding Porsche car driven by the 17-and half-year-old boy allegedly in an inebriated state hit their motorcycle at Punes Kalyani Nagar junction early on May 19, 2024. "Repeat of Pune Incident in Noida, Uttar Pradesh. Speeding Lamborghini ran over 2 Labourers And when people confronted the RICH BRAT, he shamelessly asked, Koi mar gaya kya idhar? one user posted with a video of the Noida accident on X. Owning a 50 lakh+ car in India now seems to mean owning the road too. A Lamborghini mows down two laborers, and the driver reacts casuallyno guilt, no remorse. When bail is just a few lakhs and a legal essay away, why would they care? another user wrote. Authorities have banned the sale of all non-vegetarian foods in BJP-ruled Madhya Pradeshs Maihar town during the nine-day Navratri festival. Maihar is home to revered Maa Sharda Mandir, a Shaktipeeth for Hindus. Tens of thousands of devotees visit the town during the annual nine-day Maa Shardey Chaitra Navrati Fair. The Navratri festivities commenced on Sunday. Besides, meat shops in Bhopal and Indore have been ordered to remain closed on the festivals of Chaiti Chand (March 30), Ram Navami (April 6), Mahavir Jayanti (April 10) and Buddha Purnima (May 12), civic officials said. To enforce the ban in the two cities, municipal authorities have warned that shops will even face cancellation of their licence if they flout the orders. Authorities have warned that shops will face cancellation of their licence if they flout the orders. Several BJP lawmakers, including former party whip in the Lok Sabha and MP Public Works Department minister Rakesh Singh, had demanded that meat shops in the state be ordered to remain shut during Navratri. Maharashtra Navanirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray on Sunday slammed attempts to incite communal tension over Aurangazebs tomb and said history shouldnt be viewed from the prism of caste and religion. He also asked people not to rely on WhatsApp forwards for historical information. Addressing his annual Gudhi Padwa rally at Shivaji Park in Mumbai, Thackeray said the Mughal ruler wanted to kill a thought called Shivaji but failed and died in Maharashtra. Raj Thackeray's speech at Mumbai rally Afzal Khan, the Bijapur general, was buried near the Pratapgadh Fort and it couldnt have been done without Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharajs permission, he said. Thackerays comments came amid demands by right-wing outfits for the removal of Aurangzebs tomb located in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district. Protests over the issue had also triggered violence in Nagpur earlier this month. Dont we want to let the world know that these people sought to destroy the Marathas but were wiped out instead. Stop reading history on WhatsApp and rather delve into history books, he said. Urging people not to get provoked and distracted, he said that socio-political situations were different in pre-Shivaji and post-Shivaji eras. We have forgotten the real issues of the present time. Hindus who feel awakened after a movie are of no use. Did you learn about Sambhaji Maharajs sacrifice because of Vicky Kaushal and about Aurangazeb because of Akshaye Khanna, he asked. Thackeray was referring to the recently released period drama Chhaava, based on the life of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, who was tortured and executed by Aurangzeb. He said Aurangzeb was born in Dahod, Gujarat. Those who provoke people for their selfish political aspirations are not concerned with history, he asserted. Thackeray said a country cannot progress on the basis of religion and cited the example of Turkey and how it reformed itself. Religion should remain within the four walls of your home. A Hindu identifies as a Hindu only when Muslims take to the streets or during riots; otherwise, Hindus are divided by caste, he said. The MNS chief claimed that the BJP-led governments popular Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin scheme would be scrapped. I told you earlier, but you believed them and not me, he said. Opposition attack Mahayuti government Opposition parties have been attacking the Mahayuti government of BJP, Shiv Sena and NCP in the state for not raising the monthly financial assistance under the Ladki Bahin programme from 1,500 to 2,100 as promised in their poll manifesto before last years assembly elections. Thackeray reiterated his partys stand on the use of the Marathi language being made mandatory for official purposes. If you live here and dont speak the language, you will be dealt with appropriately, he warned. He also slammed the pollution of rivers in the name of religion and showed a purported video claiming that bodies were being burnt and dumped into the river Ganga. What kind of religion is this if we destroy our natural resources. 33,000 crore has been spent on cleaning the Ganga and it is still going on. Shouldnt we reform ourselves, he asked. Thackeray claimed that Maharashtras rivers are also extremely polluted. Of the 311 most polluted river patches in the country, 55 are from Maharashtra, he said. Around 50 students from the University of Hyderabad were detained by Cyberabad police after staging a protest on the East campus, on Sunday, March 30. The protest was against the clearing of land, part of the 400 acres of Kancha Gachibowli, which the Telangana government plans to auction for the development of multi-infrastructure and IT parks. The plot of land also borders the University of Hyderabad. The clashes at the varsity campus has spurred a massive political row with the opposition BRS accusing the police of dragging the protesting students by their hair and thrashing them, stated multiple reports. Here are the top 10 updates: The protesting students were taken into preventive custody for causing a lot of nuisance and obstructing TGIIC authorities from carrying on the work," Cyberabad police commissioner Avinash Mohanty told The Indian Express. The commissioner also claimed that some students had assaulted police officers. Reportedly, scores of students stormed into the grounds after they spotted bulldozers approaching the land. They climbed atop the heavy demolition machines while raising 'go back' slogans. Some students were also seen raising police raj murdabad slogans. The opposition party in claimed that girls were forcibly taken away, and a total of 200 people have been arrested because of the protests. One female student claimed that girls were forcibly taken away" by the police when they tried to ask why the bulldozers" had been brought in, stated multiple reports. The videos of the clashes have now gone viral on social media: 5. Girls were crying that their clothes were torn, but they ignored them and took them to the police station. About 200 people were arrested, Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leader K Chandrashekhar Rao told reporters. 6. On Sunday, 28 students were released from Madhapur Police Station after the BRS leaders staged a protest demanding immediate release of all detainees, reported Telangana Today. 7. Condemning the police action, the Hyderabad University students' union asserted that they had only organised a peaceful rally in the area. They emphasised that students have a democratic right to protest and accused the police of forceful detentions and "manhandling" the students. 8. Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy had earlier rejected the students' claims, alleging that they were being instigated. He stated that the 400 acre land parcel falls within the citys IT hub and has no connection to the university. 9. According to NDTV, a university official also added that the land's ownership has been with the government since 1974. Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) or Shiv (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut on Monday claimed that Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) would decide the successor of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He added that PM Modi's successor would be from Maharashtra. While addressing a press conference in Mumbai, Raut said that PM Modi visited RSS headquarters in Nagpur to discuss retirement plans, according to an ANI report. "Modi's successor will be from Maharashtra, and RSS will decide on that," Sanjay Raut said and added, PM Modi visited RSS headquarters to discuss his retirement plans. Maharashtra CM Fadnavis responds to Raut Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday dismissed speculation about Prime Minister Narendra Modis successor, asserting that Modi would continue to lead the country for many more years. Responding to Shiv Sena UBT leader Sanjay Rauts claim that Modi went to the RSS headquarters in Nagpur on Sunday to convey the message to Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat that he is retiring, Fadnavis told reporters in Nagpur, In 2029, we will see Modi as the prime minister again. There is no need to search for his successor. He (Modi) is our leader and will continue, Fadnavis said. Discussing succession while the leader is active is inappropriate in Indian culture, the CM added. In our culture, when the father is alive, it is inappropriate to talk about succession. That is Mughal culture. The time has not come to discuss it, he said. PM Modi's visit to RSS office Narendra Modi on Sunday became the first Prime Minister of India to visit the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) headquarters in Nagpur, Maharashtra. PM Modi visited the memorial of RSS founder Keshav Baliram Hedgewar at the Sanghs headquarters in Reshim Bagh. He was accompanied by RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis at RSS headquarters. RSS chief Bhagwat also paid tribute to RSS founder Keshav Baliram Hedgewar. Sangh Member Seshadri Chari has dubbed the Prime Minister's visit a "very important and historic" one. The RSS member said that there is "no difference of opinion" between the RSS and the BJP. Sanjay Raut talks about his time in jail Speaking on his recent experience of being lodged in jail, Raut said that a book on his experiences would be published in the next 15 days. United States President Donald Trump has threatened Ukraine with some big, big problems, if President Volodymyr Zelensky reneges from the country's rare earth minerals deal with the US, according to multiple reports. Speaking to reporters aboard the Air Force One on March 30, Donald Trump warned Zelensky from backing out of the deal that includes Ukraine giving the US access to its critical mineral reserves in exchange for resources in the fight against Russia. Hes Trying to Back Out, Alleges Donald Trump, Threatens Speaking about Zelensky and the rare earth minerals deal, Reuters reported that Donald Trump alleged, He's trying to back out of the rare earth deal and if he does that hes got some problems, big, big problems. The US President went on to add that Zelensky cannot use the deal to leverage a NATO membership, adding, He wants to be a member of NATO, but he's never going to be a member of NATO. He understands that. What is the US-Ukraine Rare Earth Minerals Deal? Earlier on March 20, Donald Trump claimed that the US would sign a rare earth minerals and natural resources deal with Ukraine shortly and claimed that his efforts towards a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine were going pretty well. Donald Trump made the comments at a White House event after signing an order to increase US production of critical minerals. We're doing very well with regard to Ukraine and Russia. And one of the things we are doing is signing a deal very shortly with respect to rare earths with Ukraine, he said. What About The Russia-Ukraine Ceasefire? According to an AP report, Donald Trump lashed out at Vladimir Putin and Zelenskyy on March 30 over struggles to reach a ceasefire agreement between the two. He insisted that were making a lot of progress, but acknowledged theres tremendous hatred between the two leaders. Speaking to NBC News while he was at his Florida residence, Mar-a-Lago, Donald Trump said he was angry, pissed off that Putin questioned Zelenskys credibility. In a rare criticism against Vladimir Putin, Donald Trump said he would consider adding new sanctions on Russia. Then, on his flight back to Washington he was still annoyed, but softer, the report added. I dont think hes going to go back on his word. Ive known him for a long time. Weve always gotten along well. If I think theyre tapping us along, I will not be happy about it, Donald Trump said. US President Donald Trump vowed on Monday that military strikes against Yemens Houthi rebels will persist until they are no longer a threat to shipping. In a strong warning to the Houthis and their Iranian backers, Trump declared that real pain is yet to come if attacks on U.S. and allied vessels continue. "We have only just begun" Trump made his stance clear in a statement on Truth Social, emphasizing that military action will not cease until the Houthis halt their hostilities. The choice for the Houthis is clear: Stop shooting at U.S. ships, and we will stop shooting at you. Otherwise, we have only just begun, and the real pain is yet to come, for both the Houthis and their sponsors in Iran, he warned. The president claimed that US forces have significantly weakened the Houthis through sustained airstrikes since March 15. The Iran-backed Houthi Terrorists have been decimated by the relentless strikes. We hit them every day and nightHarder and harder, Trump stated. He made it clear that the Houthis must make a choice: Stop shooting at U.S. ships, and we will stop shooting at you. Otherwise, we have only just begun, and the real pain is yet to come, for both the Houthis and their sponsors in Iran. Escalating tensions in the Red Sea The US and its allies have launched repeated airstrikes against Houthi targets in Yemen in response to attacks on commercial and military vessels in the Red Sea. The Houthis, who control large parts of Yemen, claim their actions are in support of Palestinians in Gaza. Also Read | Jeffrey Goldberg mocks NSA Mike Waltzs excuse for Signal chat leak Signalgate scandal overshadows strikes Trumps remarks come as his administration grapples with a scandal involving a leaked discussion among senior US officials about the Yemen strikes. Dubbed "Signalgate," the controversy erupted after The Atlantic magazine revealed that its editor was mistakenly included in a chat on the Signal app, where top officials discussed airstrike timings and intelligence. The leak involved National Security Advisor Mike Waltz and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, raising concerns over operational security. Despite mounting pressure, Trump dismissed the controversy. Trump escalates rhetoric against Iran Beyond the conflict in Yemen, Trump has intensified his warnings to Iran, amid the ongoing nuclear negotiations. Elon Musk, the worlds richest man and CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, at a recent town hall in Wisconsin, announced that his team at the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) would be investigating how certain members of Congress have become strangely wealthy despite their relatively modest public salaries. Focus on "Strangely Wealthy" Congress members Elon Musk, addressing a crowd of approximately 2,000 attendees, commented on the wealth disparities among some lawmakers: "How'd they get $20 million if they're earning $200,000 a year? Nobody can explain that. Were going to try to figure it out, and certainly stop it from happening." Alleged circuitous route Musk expanded on his suspicions about the financial activities of certain politicians, alleging that money may be funneled through complex networks before reaching the pockets of lawmakers. He speculated that funds sent by the US Agency for International Development (USAID) to NGOs overseas could ultimately be redirected back to the US and enrich politicians. During the town hall, one attendee asked Musk if DOGE had found any evidence of funds being transferred from the US Agency for International Development (USAID) to Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.), Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY). Theyll send the money overseas to one NGO, then theyll go through a bunch of them...and Im highly confident that a bunch of that money then comes back to the United States and lands in the pockets of the people you just mentioned. Musk's political activities in Wisconsin During his Wisconsin visit, Musk also threw his support behind conservative judge Brad Schimel in the highly competitive race for the states Supreme Court. In a show of support, Musk gave away $1 million in cheques to local voters who signed his petition opposing activist judges. He stated, The reason for the checks is that its really just to get attention...and somewhat inevitably, when I do these things, it causes the legacy media to kind of lose their minds. Legal challenges and controversies Musks actions have not gone without legal challenges. Before the town hall began, a Wisconsin court decided not to block Musks financial giveaways. His legal team argued that the giveaways were a form of free speech and intended to generate grassroots opposition to what Musk views as activist judges, not to explicitly influence elections. Also Read | Elon Musk heckled during speech at Wisconsin. He smiles and says THIS NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore shared their reactions to the unexpected extension of their mission, days after returning to Earth following their nine-month-long stay on the International Space Station (ISS). They also thanked SpaceX CEO Elon Musk and US President Donald Trump for their involvement in ensuring their safe return. Wilmore, in an interview with Fox News, stated that he trusts and respects Musk and Trump, calling their involvement "empowering and strengthening." When asked what he would like to say to Musk and Trump, he responded, "I respect you, I trust you. You've given me no reason not to trust you, either one of them. What they say, I can't say what they say, I haven't lived that." "I am grateful that our national leaders actually are coming in and taking part in our human spaceflight program, which we see is hugely important global significance, and they take an active role. Based on the past and what we see now, with them doing that, it's refreshing, not just refreshing, it's empowering. It's strengthening, for our nation. I think it's a good thing for our nation when the national leaders, especially something that's high visibility, are involved in the process. I'm grateful for that," Wilmore told the news outlet. Sunita Williams echoed a similar sentiment, speaking wih the news outlet, saying that she is glad to see them "involved and taking notice." She said that their nine-month-long stay allowed a lot of people, including Musk and Trump, to see what is happening at the ISS and "take it very seriously." She further said, "[It allows them to] understand that our involvement as a country, as a spacefaring nation, is really important throughout the world. It sets an example, and it shows our ability to be able to do the hard things, put people in space, operate in space, work in space, and then bring us back. It's important, and I appreciate that." Williams and Wilmore spent over 280 days in space after their eight-day mission, which began in June last year, was prolonged due to technical issues with their Boeing Starliner spacecraft. Williams said, "My first thought was we've just got to pivot," recalling the moment when the two astronauts were told that their return would be delayed "If our spacecraft was going to go home based on decisions made here, and we were going to be up there 'til February, I was like, 'Let's make the best of it,'" she added. Williams, who has been to the ISS before, said she loved the experience of living in space, witnessing "scientific experiments" unfolding around them, and observing the changes made to the station since her last visit. "We planned, we trained, that we would be there for some part of a time, so we were ready to just jump into it and take on the tasks that were given to us," she said. Meanwhile, Wilmore spoke about coming to terms with the delay. "It's about what this human spaceflight program is about. It's our national goals," he said. He also mentioned how his family has been trained to be resilient. "And I have to wrap... my mind around, what does our nation need out of me right now? That's going back to when we're in the fleet, and we're operating from the pointy end of the spear... We're an instrument of our nation, of our national goals," he said. "Did I think about not being there for my daughter's high school year? Of course. But... we've trained them to be resilient, my daughters and my family," he added. Wilmore acknowledged the uncertainty of space missions. "We don't know what's going to happen. We might not be back in eight days or whatever the plan was. Focus on that; focus on the mission. Certainly [we] deal with the personal side of it, but I can't let that interfere with what I'm called to do at the moment," he said. NASA Crew-9 astronauts Sunita Williams, Nick Hague, Butch Wilmore, and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov touched down on earth after nine months in space, on March 18 after the successful splashdown of SpaceX's Dragon capsule. Following their return, the White House highlighted President Trump's role in prioritising their rescue. It stated that the astronauts had safely landed in the Gulf of Mexico and credited Musk for their return. In a post on X, the White House wrote, "PROMISE MADE, PROMISE KEPT: President Trump pledged to rescue the astronauts stranded in space for nine months. Today, they safely splashed down in the Gulf of America, thanks to Elon Musk, SpaceX, and NASA!" US President Donald Trump announced that he plans to begin his reciprocal tariff strategy with all countries, dismissing speculation that the initial tariffs, set to be unveiled on April 2, would target only 10 to 15 nations. Youd start with all countries, so lets see what happens, Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One. I havent heard a rumor about 15 countries, 10 or 15. Were going to be much nicer than they were to us, but its substantial money for the country, he said. Trump is set to launch so-called reciprocal tariffs on April 2, a centerpiece of his plan to rebalance global trade and boost US manufacturing while collecting tariff payments to fund his domestic policy priorities, including an extension of tax cuts from his first administration and additional tax promises made during the 2024 campaign. White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett recently told Fox Business that the administrations tariff targets would focus on 10 to 15 countries with the most significant trade imbalances, though he did not specify which ones, Reuters reported. The White House hasnt yet outlined what tariffs are coming, how theyll be calculated, or what the targeted countries need to do to secure coveted exemptions. Trump has also said his tariffs will account for other countries non-tariff barriers, though he hasnt detailed how those calculations will be made. The administration also hasnt specified when these new tariffs will take effect. Asked by Sky Newss Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips programme how damaging she thought the tariffs could be, UK Secretary of State for the Home Department Yvette 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. Trump sees tariffs as a way to safeguard the US economy from unfair international competition and a bargaining tool to secure better trade deals. However, the threat of a trade war is causing market instability and fueling worries about a potential recession in the U.S. He has pledged to impose reciprocal tariffs on countries that levy fees on U.S. exports, aiming to match their duties. In February, Trump signed a memorandum instructing U.S. trade officials to craft customised countermeasures for each targeted country. We're going to be much nicer than they were to us, but it's substantial money for the country. How prepared is India? India and the US have agreed to initiate sectoral talks under the proposed bilateral trade agreement (BTA) in the coming weeks, the commerce ministry informed last Saturday. This decision followed four days of negotiations between senior officials from both countries, which concluded on Saturday. The ministry stated, Sectoral expert-level engagements under the BTA will begin virtually in the coming weeks, setting the stage for an early in-person negotiating round. During these discussions, the two sides held a productive exchange of views on deepening bilateral cooperation in priority areas, including increasing market access, reducing tariff and non-tariff barriers and deepening supply chain integration in a mutually beneficial manner, it added. India and the US aim to finalise the first phase of their trade agreement by the fall of 2025 (September- October) and have set a goal to more than double bilateral trade to USD 500 billion by 2030, up from the current USD 190 billion, AFP reported. The US has requested duty concessions in sectors such as certain industrial goods, automobiles, wines, petrochemicals, dairy, and agricultural products like apples, tree nuts, and alfalfa hay. In return, India may push for duty reductions in labor-intensive industries like textiles. Earlier, Trump said, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is a very smart man and a great friend of mine while emphasising that tariff talks would work out very well between India and our country. Indian industries and exporters have urged the government to safeguard them from the US's reciprocal tariffs, requesting exemptions as such tariffs could severely impact them, given the US is Indias largest trading partner. The US is pushing for a comprehensive bilateral trade agreement while seeking greater access for American businesses in Indias agriculture sector. Experts believe India is unlikely to include dairy and agriculture in the trade talks, as these sectors are politically sensitive. India-US trade hits $119.71 billion in 2023-24 In 2024, US agricultural exports to India touched USD 1.6 billion, with key export items being almonds (USD 868 million), pistachios (USD 121 million), apples (USD21 million), and ethanol (USD 266 million). In 2024, India's key exports to the US included drug formulations and biologicals (USD 8.1 billion), telecom instruments (USD 6.5 billion), precious and semi-precious stones (USD 5.3 billion), petroleum products (USD 4.1 billion), gold and other precious metal jewellery (USD 3.2 billion), ready-made cotton garments with accessories (USD 2.8 billion), and iron and steel products (USD 2.7 billion). India's imports from the US included crude oil (USD 4.5 billion), petroleum products (USD 3.6 billion), coal and coke (USD 3.4 billion), cut and polished diamonds (USD 2.6 billion), electric machinery (USD 1.4 billion), aircraft, spacecraft, and parts (USD 1.3 billion), and gold (USD 1.3 billion). In 2023-24, the US was India's largest trading partner, with bilateral goods trade totalling USD 119.71 billionUSD 77.51 billion in exports and USD 42.19 billion in imports, resulting in a trade surplus of USD 35.31 billion. Since April 2000, India has received USD 67.8 billion in foreign direct investments (FDI) from the US till September 2024. After threatening to bomb Iran, Donald Trump on Sunday wrote to Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, to start talks on ending Tehran's nuclear weapons programme. Reacting to it, the supreme leader said, any attack by the US or Israel would be met with a firm retaliatory strike,. Meanwhile, Iran is said have loaded all launchers in its underground missile cities and is ready to attack Here's look at top 10 developments in the US, Iran conflict: Iran has reportedly armed all launchers in its underground missile sites. The country is getting battle-ready after President Trump threatened to bomb Iran if it refused a nuclear deal, The Tehran Times reported. reported. The report said on X said, Information received by the Tehran Times indicates that Iran's missiles are loaded onto launchers in all underground missile cities and are ready for launch. Opening the Pandora's box will come at a heavy cost for the U.S. government and its allies. Meanwhile reactiong to Trump's threat, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Monday any attack by the US or Israel would be met with a firm retaliatory strike. However, Khamenei downplayed the likelihood of such an outcome, characterizing it as highly unlikely. Trump told NBC on Saturday If they don't make a deal, there will be bombing. But 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. On Sunday, President Masoud Pezeshkian said in televised remarks that Iran has informed Trump the country wont engage in direct negotiations with the US, Bloomberg reported. 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. Also Read | US Sanctions First Chinese Teapot Refinery Over Iran Links Pezeshkian still noted in Iran's response that indirect negotiations with the Trump administration were still possible. They must prove that they can build trust regarding their decisions, and I hope this will happen, Pezeshkian said. Its the behaviour of the Americans that determines the future path of negotiations. 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 sceptical of Trumps intentions As per an AFP report, 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. Here's all about Trump-Iran conflict over nuclear program In 2018, Trump pulled the US 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. Also Read | Fresh US air strikes target Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen Trump revealed in early March that he had sent a letter proposing talks to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Meanwhile, he has pushed ahead with his "maximum pressure" program of additional sanctions and the threat of military action. Deeply suspicious of the US administration after Trump's withdrawal from the original nuclear deal, Iran has refused to negotiate directly with Washington. Rescue operations are in progress across Myanmar following a powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake that claimed at least 1,700 lives and caused extensive damage throughout the country. Here are the top ten updates: 1. The earthquake, which was felt as far away as Bangkok and several Chinese provinces, has left many people injured or trapped under debris. According to Myanmar's military government, at least 1,700 people have died, around 3,400 are injured, and nearly 300 remain missing. 2. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) estimates that the final death toll could exceed 10,000, based on preliminary models. 3. An armed resistance group opposing Myanmar's military-led government condemned the junta on Sunday for carrying out airstrikes on villages despite the country grappling with an earthquake, Reuters reported. 4. The Karen National Union, one of Myanmar's oldest ethnic armed organizations, stated that the junta continues to launch airstrikes on civilian areas, even as the people endure immense suffering from the earthquake. 5. The group criticized the military for prioritizing attacks on its own citizens instead of focusing on relief efforts, which would be expected in such circumstances. 6. The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the Myanmar earthquake a top-level emergency on Sunday, urgently requesting $8 million to help save lives and prevent disease outbreaks over the next 30 days. 7. The WHO warned about a large number of casualties and trauma injuries and said thousands are at significant risk of infection due to the country's limited surgical capacity. Additionally, Myanmar's existing conditions are expected to worsen the risk of the spread of diseases following the earthquake. 8. "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. 9. WHO stated that it requires $8 million to address the urgent health needs over the next 30 days, aiming to save lives, prevent disease, and stabilize and restore essential health services. WHO has classified this crisis as a Grade 3 emergency -- the highest level of activation under its Emergency Response Framework. 10. The WHO emphasized that without immediate funding, lives will be at risk, and fragile health systems could collapse. Hospitals are overwhelmed, and the full extent of the deaths, injuries, and the magnitude of the damage to health facilities is still unclear. Imran Khan, the jailed former Prime Minister of Pakistan, has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. Imran Khan is nominated for Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts for human rights and democracy. Members of the Pakistan World Alliance (PWA) an advocacy group founded last December who also belong to the Norwegian political party Partiet Sentrum, announced the nomination of 72-year-old Imran Khan. "We are pleased to announce on behalf of Partiet Sentrum that in alliance with somebody with the right to nominate, have nominated Imran Khan, the former prime minister of Pakistan, to the Nobel Peace Prize for his work with human rights and democracy in Pakistan," Partiet Sentrum said on X on Sunday. In 2019, Imran Khan was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts in promoting peace in South Asia. According to The Express Tribune, the Norwegian Nobel Committee receives hundreds of nominations each year and selects the winner through a rigorous eight-month process. Imran Khan, also the founder of Pakistan's main opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, has been incarcerated since August 2023. This January, the former Pakistan prime minister was sentenced to 14 years in prison in a case related to the misuse of authority and corruption. It was the fourth major case in which the former premier has been convicted. Three earlier convictions related to selling state gifts, leaking state secrets, and unlawful marriage were overturned or suspended by courts. Khan lost power after a no-confidence vote in April 2022. He denies all charges against him, calling them politically motivated. oscow has downplayed US President Donald Trumps frustration with Russian President Vladimir Putin, insisting that diplomatic efforts to end the war in Ukraine remain active. Despite Trump saying he was pissed off over Putins remarks about Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, the Kremlin emphasised that discussions are ongoing. Russia considers efforts to end its war in Ukraine a "drawn-out process," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Monday, following US President Donald Trumps frustration with both nations' leaders as he seeks to broker a truce. "We are working to implement some ideas in connection with the Ukrainian settlement. This work is ongoing," Peskov told reporters during a conference call. "There is nothing concrete yet that we could and should announce. This is a drawn-out process because of the difficulty of its substance." His comments came after Trump criticised Russian President Vladimir Putin for questioning Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyys legitimacy in negotiations. Putin open to talks, says Kremlin Peskov reiterated that Putin is willing to engage in dialogue. "[Putin] remains absolutely open to contacts with the U.S. president and is ready to speak to him," Peskov said. Russia has effectively dismissed a US proposal for an immediate 30-day ceasefire. Kremlin negotiators have imposed conditions that cast doubt on the feasibility of a partial ceasefire in the Black Sea, a crucial corridor for grain and cargo shipments. Zelensky denounces continued Russian attacks Zelensky said Sunday that Russia's military actions show no sign of easing despite calls for peace. "The geography and brutality of Russian strikes, not just occasionally, but literally every day and night, show that Putin couldnt care less about diplomacy," he stated in his daily address. He added, "And almost every day, in response to this proposal, there are Russian drones, bombs, artillery shelling, and ballistic strikes." Zelensky urged international partners to intensify pressure on Moscow through additional sanctions. Trump weighs additional sanctions on Russia Trump said he is considering further sanctions against Russia, including using tariffs to weaken its oil exports. Russia already faces significant financial penalties imposed by Western nations. Also Read | Zelensky calls for stronger pressure on Russia amid continued strikes Fresh attacks in Ukraine and Russia Ukraines second-largest city, Kharkiv, suffered another Russian drone attack overnight, leaving three people injured, according to Ukraines Interior Ministry. Ukraine's air force reported that Russia launched two ballistic missiles and 131 Shahed and decoy drones. Taliban leader, Hibatullah Akhundzada, recently said there was no need for Western laws in Afghanistan and that democracy was dead as long as sharia laws are in effect. There is no need for laws that originate from the West. We will create our own laws, Akhundzada said, speaking in Pashto, while emphasising the importance of Islamic laws, reported AP. Also Read | Pakistan: 11 people killed in military drone strikes on Taliban hideouts Hibatullah Akhundzada made the comments in a sermon during Eid Al-Fitr, in the southern city of Kandahar's Eidgah Mosque. The Taliban government's chief spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, shared the 50-minute audio message on X. Taliban rule in Afghanistan Ever since the Taliban seized control over Afghanistan in 2021, Akhundzada took a stronger hand in directing policy despite some officials initially promising a more moderate rule. Also Read | Afghanistan: Taliban claims Pakistan airstrike killed 27 women and children The Taliban's version of sharia has resulted in bans on Afghan women and girls, restricting their access to education, many jobs, and most public spaces. These measures have isolated the Taliban internationally, despite their diplomatic connections with countries like China and the United Arab Emirates, recent reports show. US united in hostility towards Islam Akhundzada on Sunday criticized the West, saying non-believers had united against Muslims and that the US and others were united in their hostility toward Islam, citing the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, reported AP. Democracy had come to an end in Afghanistan and sharia was in effect, the Taliban leader added, stating that supporters of democracy were trying to separate the people from the Taliban government. The Taliban have no credible opposition inside or outside the country, but some senior figures within the administration have criticised the leadership's decision-making process and concentration of power in Akhundzada's circle. Some Taliban want greater engagement with the international community and scrapping harsher policies to attract more outside support. In recent months, however, there has been increased engagement between the Taliban and the U.S. under President Donald Trump, mostly because of prisoner exchanges and releases, reported AP. Taliban's Islamic rule Following a brutal civil war, the Taliban established strict Islamic rule but were ousted by a US-led invasion in 2001. They quickly regained power, seizing nearly all of Afghanistan following the US withdrawal in 2021. Also Read | UK couple being held in separate prisons by Taliban says daughter Here is how US representative Marjorie Taylor Greene responded to Sky News television correspondent Martha Kelner from the UK when the latter raised a question regarding the Signal chat leak at a press conference: Okay, we dont give a crap about your opinion and your reporting. Why dont you go back to your country where you have a major migrant problem?...You should care about your own borders." No one would have expected such harsh, divisive, and disgraceful utterances from a powerful representative of the US. But this is the new America ruled by Donald Trump and confidantes. Trump and colleagues are not only causing geopolitical upheavals but also trying to impose their will within their country. The biggest example is Trumps threat to impeach judges. Their crime? They have dared to pass rulings against his executive orders. Also read | The judiciary cannot turn into a haven for the corrupt Nobel laureate Prof. Joseph Stiglitz has said the US now is an exclusive elito-cracy" and that its democratic values are on the decline. It is exemplified by the intense debates raging among various state school systems over deleting the subject of climate change from science books and over abridging chapters related to racial persecution. Today the richest man in the world, Elon Musk, is hogging the limelight alongside US president Donald Trump. He heads DOGE (Department of Government Efficiency), which gives him power to interfere with every government policy decision. Democracy-loving Americans and people around the world look in dismay at the way Trump pampers him. For instance, when the sales of Musk-led Tesla started to plummet, Trump termed it a conspiracy and backed him by buying a Tesla S model car. What conclusions can we draw from such stunts? Just go through Trumps statements over the last two months. He termed Gaza beautiful real estate" and said people of the land should seek refuge in neighbouring countries. He said the Ukrainian president neednt be part of a Russia-Ukraine deal. Hes not bothered if Russia annexes Ukrainian territories and wants control over rare earth minerals and nuclear power plants in Ukraine to broker a ceasefire with Russia. Without consultation Its the first time since World War II that the worlds two most powerful nations are determining the fate of a phenomenally weak sovereign nation without even consulting its people. In Gaza, another theatre of conflict, the way Israel conducting air strikes and threatening to launch a ground offensive leaves us with a lot of uncomfortable questions. Is this the beginning of a new cycle of war and violence? Earlier, Trump had made his intentions of grabbing the Panama Canal and Greenland very clear. Many countries are seeing a surge in tendencies that go against democratic values. In Pakistan, the wealth of leaders is raising brows. National Accountability Bureau of Pakistan claims the ruling Sharif family owns assets in excess of 730 crore. According to Financial Express, opposition leader Imran Khans worth is estimated at 450 crore. Pakistan army, too, stands neck deep in allegations amassing wealth. Even Bangladeshs current ruler Mohammed Yunus is a billionaire. Also read | Before universal kinship becomes a relic of the past India, too, is witnessing such changes. According to Association of Democratic Reforms (ADR), of the 543 members of 18th Lok Sabha, 93%, or 504, are millionaires (crorepati according to Indian parlance) and 75% on average have assets in excess of 3 crore. In 2009, close to 58% of MPs were millionaires. This figure has only risen over the past three successive Lok Sabha elections, from 82%, to 88%, to 93%. At this rate, every member of the Lok Sabha would be a millionaire in the next Lok Sabha. Inequality in financial status between an average Indian and its elected leaders is widening. Currently, the income gap between voters and leaders stands at 2,700%, and the gap is only widening. We shouldnt forget that Donald Trump, Shahbaz Sharif, Georgia Meloni, and Friedrich Merz have been elected by the majority of their electorate. Though the American dreamland" offers material wealth, the feelings of general well-being and a positive outlook for life if offers are on a downward trajectory. Trust in social institutions is at an all-time low and rabble-rousers and demagogues are having a field day. If Karl Marx, who coined the slogan, workers of the world unite" was alive in todays neo-capitalist world of transitioning democratic framework, what would he have said? Maybe: Democracy lovers of the world unite, the institution is in danger." Shashi Shekhar is editor-in-chief, Hindustan. Views are personal. Also read | Hatred thrives in forgetfulness of a countrys past India has emerged as the worlds fastest-growing major economy . Its macroeconomic fundamentals are sound, corporate balance sheets have strengthened and the health of its financial sector has improved. Despite these promising trends, private investment growth has not taken off and Indias share of global foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows has fallen. To be fair, private investment in India has been solid compared to peer countries, at about 23% of gross domestic product (GDP). But investment in machinery and equipment, critical for expanding Indias productive capacity, has remained sluggish. Perhaps more importantly, Indias private sector capital stock sits at a mere one-third of the average emerging market, when adjusted for population size. Building it is crucial for Indias economic development. As our recent International Monetary Fund (IMF) country report argues, to achieve its vision of becoming Viksit Bharat, India needs to re-energize private investment through trade integration and structural reforms to unleash Indias vast entrepreneurial talent. While the corporate sector is financially healthier than before and rising public investment has helped narrow Indias infrastructure deficit, the handover from public to private investment has not yet happened. In fact, firms remain cautious about committing to large-scale investments. But whats keeping private investment in India from taking off? This million-dollar question has been debated extensively, with the answer involving, in part, that firms foresee insufficient demand, discouraging them from expanding, even as supply-side factors such as regulatory and financing hurdles remain impediments. One indicator for investment appetite is capacity utilization. When firms operate closer to full capacity, they are more likely to invest. For India, there is no broad-based evidence of capacity constraints yet, with capacity utilization in manufacturing at almost 75%, in line with pre-pandemic levels. Nearly 86% of firms expect production capacity to be adequate to meet demand over the next six months, suggesting a soft investment appetite in the near term. That said, supply-side factors matter significantly. Our analysis shows that providing strong and predictable policies to foster a stable economic environment is important for catalysing investment. In fact, a one-standard-deviation increase in policy uncertainty is associated with an 11% drop in new investment projects per quarter and an 8% increase in abandoned projects. Structural reforms are also key drivers of manufacturing investment. We can see this at the state level. States like Gujarat and Tamil Nadu, for example, which attract disproportionate amounts of manufacturing investment, are also among those that are active in business-climate reforms. Our state-level analysis shows that a 10-percentage-point increase in reform intensity leads to higher manufacturing investment of around 0.1% of Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP). Moreover, trade openness and the populations educational attainment are predictors of stronger investment. All this suggests that healthy competition among states can be leveraged to drive better outcomes. Trade restrictions remain a key impediment to domestic private investment in India and also undercut FDI. For companies to compete in export markets, they should be allowed to import without being subjected to large trade restrictions. Despite the tariff reductions announced in the Union budget, India still maintains significant trade restrictions, which do not compare favourably with other emerging economies and are both complex and unpredictable, potentially stifling investment. This is a notable hurdle for smaller firms, which find it hard to navigate the countrys complex web of regulations. The recent imposition of quality control orders appears to be particularly burdensome, as evidenced by the collapse of Indias share in global exports of apparel made from man-made fibres. Lowering tariff and non-tariff barriers could increase inward FDI by 8% over the medium term, while greater trade openness would further integrate India into global value chains, making it a more attractive destination for multinational investment. Bilateral Investment Treaties (BITs) may also help attract FDI by offering protection to foreign investors. Not all multinational corporations lay store by BITs, but survey results show that a significant number of executives find them relevant to their business prospects. Hence, there is a need for India to continue negotiating BITs with potential investment partners. Beyond trade liberalization, business climate reforms are critical to unlock Indias immense investment potential. Our analysis highlights judicial and credit market reforms as key. Moving 25% closer to the best-performing emerging markets in these areas could increase private investment by nearly 10% over the medium termequivalent to additional investment of more than 26 trillion over three years. Enhancing judicial capacity to reduce case backlogs and improve contract enforcement would provide businesses with greater legal certainty. Also, strengthening the implementation of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code and reducing the public sector footprint in financial markets would improve the efficiency of capital allocation. Also Read: Tribunal reforms hold the key to efficient dispute resolution in India Indias corporate sector is in a strong position to invest, and policy action can convert this into tangible capital formation. Fuelling private investment growth will require comprehensive efforts to enhance business confidence and increase trade openness. By providing stable policy frameworks, revitalizing foreign investment and strengthening the business climate, India can reinforce its position as a top global investment destination. This agenda could unlock several trillion rupees in additional private investment, and thus help accelerate Indias journey towards becoming an advanced economy. The authors are, respectively, director for the Asia and Pacific Department, and chief for India, at the International Monetary Fund. With Myanmar devastated by an earthquake that has claimed more than 1,600 lives, India has initiated efforts to assist it in relief and rescue missions. Under Operation Brahma, two naval ships with relief supplies were despatched. Two others will follow. Also, the Air Force has been deployed to send aid material as well as search and rescue teams, even as a 118-member army field hospital unit is being sent for medical assistance. New Delhis swift response is laudable from both a humanitarian and strategic perspective. Though India has had trouble with insurgents in the Northeast being trained in Myanmar, broader ties with the eastern neighbour have been positive. Helping Myanmar in its hour of grief should help generate goodwill. Moreover, its important for India to stay active in its neighbourhood, where China is trying to deepen relations and encircle India. New Delhis recent efforts to help Turkey and Syria were noted around the world, as with its pandemic-time supply of covid vaccines. India must keep up its soft diplomacy. Good neighbourly relations are a long-term asset, especially as they undergo reversals elsewhere around the globe. If hard proof were needed of the digital dominance of Indian eyeballs, then the latest Ficci-EY report on media and entertainment supplied it. In 2024, it says, digital media finally displaced TV as the top revenue-generator of this industry, notching up 80,200 crore, almost a third of its overall pie. As estimated, over 40% of the time spent on phones in India is on social media platforms. Anecdotal evidence would suggest individuals aged under 18 are glued even harder to hand-held devices. This, in itself, does not shock parents of teenagers. What has left many of them stunned lately, however, is the plausibility of a takeover that their first instinct is to deny: that their kids are being raised not by them, but by unseen forces online. The messenger, already shot, is now a must-watch: Adolescence. This four-part Netflix series, drawn from real cases, is about a 13-year-old boy accused of killing his female classmate. Its an extreme case, of course, but as the story unfolds, it confronts viewers with the disturbing depths to which teen influences may have sunk. From a coded emoji labelling someone an incel to outright misogyny arising from toxic masculinity, the series has a visceral impact. The triumph of its narrative, brought out in the final episode, lies in the big questions it raises. To what extent are parents responsible for the acts of their children? Are algorithms shaping their values and attitudes? If so, what can we do about it? The idea that teenagers can be kept off the internet is way too wishful. Age-gating, as Australia is trying with a law banning children under 16 from using social media, is unlikely to work. While such measures expect platforms to bar under-age access, critics argue that it only shifts the burden of vigilance onto families, which have no foolproof way of stopping teens from faking their age or using proxies to get around barriers. Also Read: Private companies can use Aadhaar infrastructure for identity checks again Complex mechanisms of parental approval, like Aadhaar-verified age gates, not only remain untested, they may need credible privacy assurances to succeed; for this, centrally issued age tokens could be explored that mask the identities of kids and their parents from websites. Yet, theres no getting away from putting the incentives at play to scrutiny. As social media networks thrive on finely aimed advertising messages, they are driven to keep users engaged. And since thats best done by feeding people with what interests them most, tech algorithms are often designed to do exactly that. If this sends teenagers down rabbit holes that lead to ghastly spaces, then, from a software point of view, thats just the way it is. As the Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen alleged in 2021, internal studies had revealed the perils of extreme views, suicidal thoughts and much else being fanned, but the business priority seemed to be profit over safety." The company responded to the scandal with a mix of public denials and algo tweaks aimed at damage control. But the efficacy of its response remains in doubtas with other players in this space. To be sure, we cannot absolve parents of some blame for the misdeeds of their kids, nor point a finger only at online social lives. But we must reflect on the profit motive of businesses, especially where the liability of shareholders is largely limited to the money they invested. Board oversight is supposed to ensure ethics. But if power is concentrated at the top, and profit reigns, that might be wishful thinking too. Meanwhile, the social impact of digital dominance is crying out for help. In his two months in office, US President Donald Trump has given a new meaning to the term disruption. Before he took his second presidential avatar, the term was discussed mostly in hypothetical terms in seminar rooms and conference circuits. But eight weeks plus of Trump 2.0 have made disruption the operational reality for the global order. There may be no strategic coherence in Trumps daily pronouncements as he moves from one issue to the next and from one geography to another. But that does not preclude new constraints from reshaping the global reality for others. The Russia-Ukraine war is moving towards another stage, with ceasefire talks speeding ahead in Saudi Arabia. The two sides have agreed to ensure safe navigation, eliminate the use of force and prevent the use of commercial vessels for military purposes in the Black Sea" as well as to develop measures for implementing... the agreement to ban strikes against energy facilities of Russia and Ukraine." This in itself is a major achievement for Trump, as it is easy to start wars but incredibly difficult to end them. For the past three years, the message from Washington was in favour of escalation. Now Trump seems to have put his reputation on the line to address a festering sore at the heart of Europes security architecture. By shocking primarily Ukraine and Europe, the Trump administration has been able to move the United States away from its open-ended commitment to war that the previous Joe Biden administration had put in place. The end-game of a Ukrainian victory over a much more powerful Russian military industrial complex was a chimera that Trumps predecessor was peddling without in any way ensuring the provision of massive resources needed to achieve that outcome. Ukraine, for all the challenges it faces, has managed to retain most of its territory and has been able to give Russia a bloody nose, but President Volodymyr Zelenskys claim of a total victory over Russia was never a serious possibility. By not acknowledging this and by not forcing Europe to take greater responsibility, Biden made it politically impossible to sustain the war effort. And eventually, it is Trump who is now having to reconfigure the Ukraine-Russia entanglement. Russia, with its battlefield advantages growing, is still to fully reconcile to the demands of a ceasefire and is linking it to the rollback of sanctions on Russian banks, insurers, companies, ports and ships, thereby allowing it to export more agricultural goods and fertilizers. But clearly, a war that was open-ended till two months ago is finally moving to some sort of a denouement. This is related to the second big shift that Trump has been able to unleash in Europe. He has been able to convince European leaders that the post-1945 terms of the trans-Atlantic partnership will have to be renegotiated. For all the talk about a crisis in Europe-US ties, even the Russian invasion of Ukraine was not a big enough shock for Europeans to start rethinking their security priorities. Trumps open disdain for Europe and his Ukraine policy seem to be doing the trick. For the first time, European leaders seem serious about reorienting their defence policies and thinking about their own responsibility in managing their threat perceptions without drawing the US into the picture. What Germany is saying is the real deal. Olaf Scholz, its now-outgoing chancellor, had talked of a zeitenwende"or turning pointafter the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Presumptive Chancellor Friedrich Merz is pushing hard for greater investment in the nations military, with some estimates suggesting that Germany is likely to spend more than $650 billion over the next decade on defence. This will have a transformative effect on the European defence landscape, and the long-term consequences of a strategically-reawakened Germany for Europe and rest of the world would be something to watch out for. Trump may not be saying it, but some of his advisors arethat the US of today is not the United States of the 1990s. The unipolar moment at the end of the Cold War has long been over and the US cannot take on multiple adversaries at the same time. The economic basis of American power is depleting and unless Washington recalibrates its approach, it wont be able to retain its pre-eminent position in the global order. Elbridge Colby, Trumps nominee for under secretary of defence for policy and the Pentagons chief strategist, has been categorical that while China is the biggest, most powerful rival [the US has] faced in probably 150 years," a mismatch has emerged between Americas global commitments and its current military capabilities. By arguing that Taiwan should be raising its defence budget to 10% of GDP, he is also alerting other US partners in the Indo-Pacific that greater security burden-sharing will be the new reality in this region too. Trump is rolling the dice in ways that most nations in the world, including India, seem unprepared for. But they also dont have the luxury of ignoring policy shifts in Washington. Today, we may be at the cusp of a new world order. Its exact contours, however, will depend on how others respond to Trumps world-view. The author is professor of international relations, Kings College London, and vice president for studies at Observer Research Foundation, New Delhi. If you had a vision of the future where the global car industry wasnt dominated by China, you can kiss those dreams goodbye. Thats because US President Donald Trump s promised 25% tariff on auto imports, announced last week, takes an axe to the only bits of the emerging electric vehicle (EV) supply chain that arent dominated by China. The biggest losers when this levy takes effect will be Japan and South Korea. They account for a third of the cars imported to the US, and as much as two-thirds of those imported from outside North America. Mexico and Canada will be partially exempt. Theyre also crucial to the development of EVs because South Korean and Japanese companies produced more than a quarter of all EV batteries last year, making them the only big challengers to Chinas market dominance. US and European businesses barely figure, especially since the bankruptcy of Swedens Northvolt. If the US wants to bring manufacturing jobs back to heartland America, landing a blow against these two Asian allies is a strange way to go about it. South Korea was the biggest foreign investor in new projects in the US in 2023, signing off on $21.5 billion of greenfield plants. Japan has spent decades assembling the largest portfolio of FDI in the US, with $783 billion of assets, about 15% of the total. Former US president Joe Bidens push to establish a non-China clean energy supply chain had turbocharged that relationship. South Koreas LG Energy Solution Ltd, Samsung SDI and SK have promised $54 billion to set up a constellation of 15 battery factories stretching from Michigan south to Georgia. EV batteries have accounted for more than half of jobs brought back to the US since 2021, according to a report last year by the Reshoring Initiative. General Motors, Ford Motor Company and Stellantis have all tied up with one or other of the three South Korean companies to build their EV batteries, while Tesla is working with Japans Panasonic. If the US auto industry is to have an electric future, as its top executives insist, its going to need these Asian businesses to succeed. As we saw during the covid pandemic and its aftermath, however, global supply chains are held together with threads of gossamer. With the latest tariffs, Trump has driven a monster truck straight through this one. Korean and Japanese battery makers, after all, arent just making cathodes and anodes for Detroit. Instead, theyre integrated into domestic auto industries that will struggle to survive without exports. Hyundai and Kia make more money in the US than in their home market and their US plants are capable of assembling barely a third of the two million cars they sold in North America last year. Devastate the profits of Korean and Japanese automakers, and the battery makers who depend on them for revenue will be the next to suffer. Those companies usually have profit margins in the single digits at best. Whats more, theyre already struggling as their larger Chinese competitors such as Contemporary Amperex Technology and BYD extend their lead in LFP, a better-value type of lithium-ion battery that is rapidly taking over the EV industry, and announce breakthrough innovations such as five-minute charging. Ill-considered trade restrictions have a nasty habit of coming back to bite their instigators. Trumps March 2018 tariffs on steel and aluminium were costing the US $4.6 billion a month in higher costs and tax losses by the end of the year they were introduced. Former President Barack Obamas 2012 levies on Chinese solar panel makers sparked a retaliation that killed off US production of solar polysilicon, a crucial raw material that American companies had once dominated. Were about to see that scenario play out again. To Trump, smashing up the remnants of one of Bidens signature clean energy policies is a feature, not a bug, of these tariffs. Among his first executive actions were moves to tear up rules pushing carmakers to electrify their fleets, pull funding for EV charging, rescind car fuel-economy standards and roll back environmental regulations on tailpipe emissions. Analysts and shareholders in Detroit might even welcome the shift in the short term. Pulling back on the billions of capital spending and research and development still required for electrification will mean more money for investors over the next three years or so. Protectionism is a great way to boost short-term profits. However, it is not a route to win the long-term game. Right now, the US and its allies are far behind as the global auto industry goes electric. By smashing up the links that hold the delicate non-Chinese supply chain together for EVs, Donald Trump is guaranteeing the world a future where China rules the road. Bloomberg The author is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering climate change and energy. Tamil Nadu BJP chief K Annamalai said the partys central leadership will take an appropriate call on the shape and form of the alliance to be forged in the run up to the state assembly polls next year. Annamalai, whose controversial statements were considered a reason for AIADMK leaving the BJP-led NDA in 2024, seems to have changed tracks on the alliance ahead of the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly Elections. Last week, AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami (EPS) and Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi. Did Annamalai Change Stance on AIADMK? Annamalai, known for his firm stance against the AIADMK, recently clarified that he harboured no personal grievances against any party or leader. Addressing reporters, he emphasised his openness about his position, stating, "I have always been clear about my stand. When I spoke in Delhi, I said I am ready to even work as a cadre. Please understand the meaning of that." He further asserted that he would never go back on his words. Also Read | Annamalai whips himself in dramatic protest against Anna University rape case What Did Annamalai Say About BJP- AIADMK Alliance? Annamalai is expected to meet Amit Shah on Saturday and will be discussing the party's political strategy in the state as it prepares for the assembly polls next year amid heightened speculation of a tie-up with the AIADMK. With respect to the shape and form of the alliance in 2026 and the nature of the NDA, our leadership will take a call at an appropriate time and naturally the media will be briefed, Annamalai told reporters on Friday. With respect to the alliance, you have to understand that for a national party like the BJP, a disciplined party, it is our national leadership that will decide. So, we have committees, we have parliamentary boards which look into a lot of angles before they make the decision, the BJP leader said. Also Read | Tamil Nadu BJP President Annamalai to be inducted into Union Council of Minister We respect our national leadership and they will make sure and look into everything. They will decide how the further course will go, he added. What is AIADMK's Stance on Alliance With BJP? When EPS was asked about a possible alliance with BJP, the former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu had replied, "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? "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." EPS added. Why Did AIADMK quit NDA? How was Annamalai Involved? The AIADMK officially left the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) on 25 September 2023. The party cited persistent insults and defamatory remarks by the BJP's Tamil Nadu leadership, particularly targeting AIADMK icons such as CN Annadurai, MG Ramachandran, and J Jayalalithaa, as key reasons for severing ties. Also Read | Broke alliance as BJP wanted Annamalai as Tamil Nadu CM candidate: AIADMK leader Annamalai alleged that after the demise of J Jayalalithaa, EPS made the highest bid for the post of chief minister and hence was chosen for the post at Koovathur. Tamil Nadu BJP President K Annamalai's controversial comments further strained relations, with AIADMK demanding his apology or replacement, which the BJP leadership refused to entertain. Sanjay Raut, leader of Shiv Sena (UBT), on Monday claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the RSS headquarters in Maharashtra's Nagpur on Sunday to announce his retirement. Raut also claimed that a closed-door meeting happened to discuss PM Modi's successor, adding that the next PM will be from Maharashtra. This is not the first time speculations around PM Modi's retirement have made it to the news. Will PM Modi retire as he turns 75 on September 17 this year? What did Sanjay Raut claim? Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut claimed that PM Modi had visited the RSS headquarters in Nagpur to announce his retirement. He noted that Modi had not visited the RSS headquarters in the past 10-11 years, suggesting that this visit was significant and related to his political future. Sanjay Raut also mentioned that PM Modi might retire at the age of 75, which he will reach in September 2025. No need to search for Modis successor Maharashtra Chief Minister and BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis dismissed Raut's claim. Fadnavis said that there is no need to search for PM Modis successor as he will continue to hold the top post again in 2029. CM Fadnavis added: In our culture, when the father is alive, it is inappropriate to talk about succession. That is Mughal culture. The time has not come to discuss it. Meanwhile, senior RSS leader Suresh Bhaiyyaji' Joshi, who was also in Nagpur, said he was not aware of any talk of (PM's) replacement. Does BJP have a retire at 75 rule? In May 2024, as India was gearing up for the Lok Sabha elections, speculations arose about whether PM Modi, who was then seeking a third term, would retire upon turning 75 in September 2025. However, several key BJP leaders, including Amit Shah and Rajnath Singh, dismissed these rumours. Opposition parties had been reminding voters about the BJP's internal no ticket above 75 rule. The policy has been in place for several years, with Amit Shah even noting ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections that the BJP had decided not to field any candidates above the age of 75. No one above 75 has been given tickets. This is the partys decision, Shah had told The Week while campaigning for the 2019 elections. It was also reported in 2019 that during a Parliamentary board meeting, BJP leadership was ready to sacrifice policies like denying seats to candidates over 75 years old to prioritise winnability. However, Amit Shah changed his stance in May 2024 and said, I want to clarify that there is no such provision in BJP's constitution and Modi ji will lead the country till 2029 and Modi ji will also lead the coming elections." Union Minister Rajnath Singh was asked about the no ticket above 75 rule that was reportedly established when he was the BJP president. To this, the senior BJP leader had replied: "It was never decided. You can write in bold letters that no such decision was taken I was party president, and I am saying it forcefully that there was no such decision at all. Had it been decided, it would have been mentioned in the party constitution," said Singh. It's not a threat: Rahool Kanal, the leader of the Shiv Sena Yuva Sena (Shinde Faction), who was held for Habitat vandalism, said comedian Kunal Kamra will be welcomed to Mumbai in a good Shiv Sena style. Kunal Kamra had made a gaddar (traitor) jibe at Eknath Shinde during his comedy show, leading to vandalism of the venue of his show. Speaking to news agency ANI, Rahool, the General Secretary of Shinde Sena's youth wing, welcomed the Madras High Court's verdict, granting the comedian interim anticipatory bail amid FIRs against him. However, Rahool said the relief is limited until April 7 and in Tamil Nadu. We welcome the Court's verdict that gives him relief, but it is only until April 7. He should come and face the law... No matter what protection he has there (in Tamil Nadu), whenever he comes to Mumbai, he will be welcomed in a good Shiv Sena style, the Sena leader said. It's not a threat, he said, adding that Mumbai has this culture of Atithi Devo Bhava and Kunal considers himself a guest here (in Mumbai) now. What is there to get scared of? He should face the law and follow the procedure, Rahool added. He also told ANI that following the procedure of law, Yuva Sena members come to the police station for attendance every Monday and Thursday. Also Read | Kunal Kamra gets anticipatory bail from Madras High Court Maharashtra ministers threatening Kunal Kamra openly Earlier today, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut accused Maharashtra's cabinet ministers of making serious threats against Kunal Kamra. Ministers in the state cabinet are threatening Kunal Kamra openly, demanding that he be shot and hanged immediately. This lawlessness continues under the watch of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who has remained silent on this matter, Raut claimed. The senior Shiv Sena (UBT) leader also criticized the state government's lack of action, asserting that the comedian, like other controversial figures, such as actress Kangana Ranaut, should be given special protection. "Just as the Maharashtra government provided security to Kangana Ranaut during her rift with Shiv Sena, I demand the same level of protection for Kunal Kamra," Raut said during a press conference. Kunal Kamra row This new wave of complaints against Kunal Kamra follows the filing of three additional cases at the Khar police station. Among the complainants are the Mayor of Jalgaon, a hotelier, and a businessman from Nashik. These complaints pertain to Kunal's alleged derogatory comments targeting Shinde, which have drawn considerable attention. On March 27, the Mumbai Police had issued a summons to Kamra for questioning, ordering him to appear at the Khar police station by March 31. This marks Kamra's third summons in connection with a case filed by Shiv Sena MLA Murji Patel after Kamra failed to comply with the first two summons. During the legal proceedings, the Madras High Court granted Kamra interim anticipatory bail on March 27, providing him relief until April 7. Kamra approached the court seeking transit anticipatory bail, claiming that he had received various threats following his satirical remarks. West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC Supremo Mamata Banerjee's hum ganda dharam nahin manta (I don't follow dirty religion) remark at an Eid-Ul-Fitr event on Monday, 31 March, in Kolkata , sparked backlash from BJP, and leader of Opposition in Bengal Assembly Suvendu Adhikari. Kaun sa Dharm ganda hai Ms. Mamata Banerjee?, the BJP leader asked in a post on X (formerly Twitter). Here's what happened What Did Mamata Banerjee Say at Eid-Ul-Fitr event? Mamata Banerjee on Monday criticised the BJP for attempting to incite "communal riots through divisive politics" in the state and asserted that the saffron camp's "ganda dharma" was contrary to the true principles of Hinduism. Speaking at an Eid prayers event on Red Road in Kolkata, CM Banerjee said, "I follow the religion followed by Shri Ramakrishna Paramahansa and Swami Vivekananda. I don't follow the 'ganda dharam' made by them (BJP), they are even against the Hindu dharma." "Provocations are being made to fuel riots, but please don't fall into these traps. The West Bengal government stands with the minorities. No one can provoke tensions in the state," CM Mamata Banerjee added, according to PTI report. The CM also targeted the BJP, questioning, "If they (BJP) have problems with the minorities, will they change the Constitution of the country?" Mamata Banerjee reaffirmed her commitment to respecting all religions, expressing her opposition to the BJP's "divisive politics," which she called jumla politics. Also Read | Viral Video | Mamata Banerjee heckled during Oxford speech The TMC chairperson said all Hindus are not against Muslims, but only certain political leaders who engage in "saudagiri" (business) under the guise of religion. She added, "If we stand together, I will put an end to this." BJP Asks Kaun sa Dharm Ganda Hai BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari shared a video clipping of CM Mamata Banerjee on his X profile and attached a long post attacking the Bengal CM. "Appeasing the Muslim Community at the Red Road with your almost incomprehensible gibberish Urdu dialect, you made a statement that you don't follow the 'Ganda Dharm' or 'Dirty Religion'. Which religion were you specifically referring to? Sanatan Hindu Dharma? Adhikari accused Mamata Banerjee of repeatedly using the word Danga (riot) during her speech and questioned whether the event was intended to be religious or politically motivated. Furthermore, he alleged that her remarks were an attempt to incite animosity between communities, cautioning that such divisive tactics would ultimately backfire on her. BJP leader Amit Malviya echoed similar sentiments, saying, Is Sanatan Dharma a 'Ganda Dharam' for Mamata Banerjee? Despite numerous anti-Hindu riots under her rule, she mocks Hindus and derides their faith. She has once again given Muslims a free pass to target Hindus -- this time from a platform meant to celebrate Eid. Shame on her. Kunal Ghosh Defends Mamata Banerjee TMC state general secretary Kunal Ghosh dismissed BJP's allegations and claimed that the chief minister never said anything against the Hindu religion but was vocal against the communal politics of the BJP. Waqf Amendment Bill: The Catholics Bishop Conference of India on Monday released an official statement seeking permanent resolution to the long-standing land disputes within the proposed amendments to the Waqf Law. As the Waqf Amendment Bill is set to be introduced in Parliament, CBCI urges political parties and legislators to adopt an unbiased and constructive approach to this issue, the official statement read. The Waqf issue has come to prominence in Kerala after the Munambam land row emerged last year with residents starting an open protest against the Waqf board's claim over the 400-acre land in Ernakulam district. Also Read | Waqf Bill will be introduced in ongoing Budget session of Parliament: Amit Shah The statement by CBCI comes hours after Kerala Catholic Bishops Council (KCBC) asked MPs from the state to vote in favour of the Waqf Amendment Bill, which has faced opposition from both the Congress and the Left. The KCBC is a powerful organisation of Catholic bishops in Kerala belonging to the Syro-Malabar, Latin and Syro-Malankara Churches. What Did CBCI Say On Waqf Amendment Bill? CBCI in their official statement wrote, "It is a reality that certain provisions in the existing Central Waqf Act are inconsistent with the Constitution and the secular democratic values of the country. In Kerala, the Waqf Board has invoked these provisions to declare the ancestral residential properties of more than 600 families in the Munambam region as Waqf land. Over the past three years, this issue has escalated into a complex legal dispute. Seeking a permanent resolution, the organisation said, "The fact remains that only a legal amendment can provide a permanent solution, and this must be recognized by the people's representatives. The CBCI urged politicians and MPs to adopt an unbiased and constructive approach as the Waqf Amendment Bill is set to be introduced in Parliament. The rightful ownership of land must be fully restored to the people of Munambam, CBCI demanded. What is the Munambam Row? The Munambam land dispute in Kerala has gained significant attention, with over 600 families, predominantly Christians and Hindus, protesting against the Kerala State Waqf Board's claim over 404 acres of land in Ernakulam district. The controversy has sparked political and communal tensions, as residents argue that they have lived on the land for generations and hold rightful ownership. Keralas ruling CPI(M) and the Opposition Congress have expressed support for the occupants, promising that those with valid documents will not face eviction. However, both parties have opposed the Centres proposed Waqf Amendment Bill, which seeks to address such disputes. Also Read | Cabinet approves revised Waqf Amendment Bill: Report The state government had appointed a judicial commission led by former High Court Justice CN Ramachandran Nair to protect the rights of the occupants, but the Kerala High Court recently nullified the commissions appointment, leaving the issue unresolved. Cybersecurity startups in India have attracted capital in the past couple of months, indicating that the sector might be on its way to maturing, led by the growth of new threats brought about by advancements in artificial intelligence. In addition, foreign cybersecurity firms are opening shop here or expanding their offerings in a market that is poised for growth. At least nine cybersecurity startups have raised funding since August last year, according to startup data intelligence platform Tracxn. Six were seed rounds and three were Series-A. Equal, an identity management platform, raised the most at $10 million, followed by Protectt.ai, a mobile app security platform at $8.7 million, and Astra, a cloud-based penetrating testing platform at $2.7 million. The investors included high-profile firms Blume Ventures and Bessemer Venture Partners. Till 2023, cybersecurity was considered a cost centre as the AI space was still maturing," said Munish Vaid, vice president (digital transformation & technology) at Primus Partners India. It was considered a backroom IT function. It's not the case any longer. Now its a priority for companies." Indian companies are expected to spend $3.3 billion this year on network security, security services and security software, a 16.4% uptick from the year prior, according to a Gartner forecast. The highest growth in spending is expected on security services, at $1.6 billion. Gartner points out that that two trends are likely to play out over the course of the year: generative AI's impact on data security, and the transition to a focus on cyber resilience, acknowledging that cyber incidents are a matter of when, not if." Beyond firewalls Cybersecurity is no longer just about setting up countermeasures, firewalls and lines of malware-detecting code. It's moved into the realm of AI, where cloning voices, creating deepfakes and manipulating text is becoming more common. Last year, Bharti Enterprises CEO Bharti Mittal narrated at the NDTV World Summit how scammers cloned his voice in an attempt to get his assistant to transfer a large amount of money. Newer threats are emerging, newer solutions, and needless to say, new investment opportunities," said Vikram Ramasubramanian, partner at Inflection Point Ventures, which led the $600,000 pre-seed investment round in Neural Defend, a deepfake detection company. Some of the pick-up in funding can be attributed to the government's Digital Personal Data Protection Act. While the law has been passed, the rules are being finalised and are expected to be out this year. With the law's very India-centric thinking where there is a fundamental rethinking of data governance and data privacy, that creates a lot of opportunities for local players," said Krishna Mehra, AI partner at Elevation Capital. For these cybersecurity startups, the competitive edge lies in building out technologies that the larger companies aren't focusing on. There are new use-cases like red teaming, model poisoning prevention, agent governance and more that are AI-first use-cases which are emerging and giving Indian founders new categories to play in and not necessarily compete with existing vendors," said Prayank Swaroop, a partner at Accel. The bottom line is that companies are now looking at enhancing security for their AI-led operations primarily because user data hangs in the balance. For organisations, the primary concern is staying ahead of malicious actors using generative AI for phishing attacks and injecting malware into systems. That's why, at least in India, machine learning, generative AI security, and cloud security top the list of priorities for cybersecurity companies, according to a joint Nasscom-Data Security Council of India report. It's why Protectt.ai is building its own AI security platform, which is slated for an August-September launch, as Mint previously reported. Enter the foreigners While Indian companies are working to enhance their capabilities and enter the growing market, foreign firms too have sniffed out the opportunity. Arctic Wolf, Rubrik, ESET, Operant AI and Check Point Software have either announced expansion into India or are deepening their partnerships within the country. What drew us to India was, initially, conversations with security leaders working for US companies out of India. But we soon realised Indian enterprises themselves, especially in fintech and banking, face the same challenges around secure AI deployment," said US-based Operant AI's co-founder and chief executive Vrajesh Bhavsar. The company recently announced it will expand operations into India. US-Israeli cybersecurity firm Check Point Software, which has been in India since 2003, opened its second-largest global office in Bengaluru last year which will focus on R&D, it's first in the Asia-Pacific region. With the increasing demand for advanced cybersecurity solutions, India will continue to be a significant growth driver," said managing director for India and South Asia Sundar Balasubramanian. US cybersecurity firm Arctic Wolf also set up its global capability centre in Bengaluru last year. At the time, the India GCC was meant to accelerate the development of advanced ML models and AI-driven cybersecurity detections within its platform," a company executive told Hindu Businessline. Arctic Wolf has now expanded its GCC operations in the country to tap the talent pool here. What is common for cybersecurity startups and larger companies is their market. Both operate primarily in the banking, financial services, and insurance (BFSI) sector, where attacks have the most direct and fastest impact on money. Our primary targets are sectors where AI adoption is critical to business performance but must comply with data privacy mandateslike banking, fintech, insurance, and enterprise SaaS," said Bhavsar of Operant AI. President Donald Trump has said a deal with TikTok's Chinese parent ByteDance to sell the short video app would be struck before the April 5 deadline, news agency Reuters reported on Sunday. Trump had set the April 5 deadline in January for TikTok to find a non-Chinese buyer or face a US ban on national security grounds, under a 2024 law. "We have a lot of potential buyers," Trump told reporters on Air Force One late on Sunday. "There's tremendous interest in TikTok," adding, "I'd like to see TikTok remain alive," he said, as reported by Reuters. According to reports, 170 million Americans use TikTok. President Donald Trump had previously signalled that he might extend the April 5 deadline if a sale cannot be completed in time. TikTok was briefly taken offline in the United States due to a bipartisan law called the Protecting US Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act. But soon after assuming office, Trump signed an executive order giving the app a 75-day reprieve to comply with the law. Will TikTok be banned after April 5? According to existing federal law, TikTok will be banned unless ByteDance divests its American business before the April 5 deadline. Trump said earlier that he would give another extension if the sale is not completed, as mentioned in a report by USA Today. The law enabling the TikTok ban allows President Trump to make a 90-day extension of the divestment beyond April 5. President Trump can still grant another extension, if he wishes. The Trump administration has yet to indicate whether it plans another executive order. I'd like to see TikTok remain alive. Last week, President Trump told reporters that he would consider lowering tariffs on China to encourage Beijing, where ByteDance is based, to support a sale of TikTok's US assets. However, the president ultimately said he would just extend the ban again if a deal isn't finalised by the deadline, USA Today reported. TikTok ban on January 19 TikTok was banned on January 19 over concerns about its link with China. Trump, however, gave TikTok 75 days to find a new buyer based in the US. Whether ByteDance is open to selling the popular video app remains unclear. "I guess I have a warm spot for TikTok that I didn't have originally, but I went on TikTok and I won young people," Trump said while signing the executive order. Two new accessibility features have been installed at Riverview Park. Chattanooga Parks and Outdoors said in a Facebook post that they've added an adult changing table and wheelchair charging stations. Tennessee State Parks announce four more parks with adult-sized changing tables Tennessee State Parks announced on Tuesday the installation of adult-sized changing tables at four parks, increasing accessibility for all visitors. "Everyone deserves to play," the post about the playground said. Chattanooga Mayor Tim Kelly applauded the recent upgrades. "Parks are for everyone," he said. "This just elevates this park to the next level for us" one commenter posted. "This is life changing for so many individuals. Thank you for investing in people with different disabilities," said another commenter. "It means the world!" Tennessee State Parks also recently announced the addition of adult-sized changing tables at parks across the state. UPDATE: Dad arrested after 7 kids found in hot, filthy conditions in U-Haul truck in Hamilton Co. UPDATE: Whitwell Dairy Bar says owner arrested for child sex crimes was a "sickness among us" Families relying on food pantries could soon see fewer nutritious options as the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has paused $500-million in shipments to food banks across the country. The Chattanooga Area Food Bank is one of many organizations facing a significant loss in government food assistance. Food banks scramble after USDA halts $500 million in deliveries The US Department of Agriculture has halted $500 million in deliveries to food banks nationwide that the Biden administration announced last year, multiple food banks told CNN. The food banks CEO, Melissa Blevins, recently announced that more than $1-million in USDA support has been cut, meaning truckloads of groceries that were expected to arrive will not be coming at all. We anticipated the cuts coming, Blevins said. We have been preparing for these announcements to happen. President and CEO of Chattanooga Food Bank responds to federal funding cuts In her letter, Blevins says she has received numerous phone calls, emails, and messages expressing concern over the decisions made in DC. She writes that the concerns are valid, and the threats are real. The funding freeze stems from the USDAs Commodity Credit Corporation, which purchases food from American farmers to distribute to food banks. With the program now on hold, rural communities that heavily depend on government-supplied food are among those most affected. Theres a lot of uncertainty over whats going to happen and how we will continue to meet the need in the community, Blevins said. As food costs remain high and demand grows, the Chattanooga Area Food Bank is working to find solutions. The organization is collaborating with Feeding America and nearly 200 other food banks nationwide to fill the gap left by the USDAs halted shipments. Thats what we do, Blevins said. We take a step back and say, How might we navigate this type of disruption to our services, and what can we do to make sure the neighbors who are counting on food banks and food pantries continue to be served? The food bank is calling on the community to step up and help. Every donation, whether it is food, money, or time, can make a difference in ensuring that families have access to the nutrition they need. And we know that the way we meet the need for some of our rural communities might look vastly different than the need for our Chattanooga neighbors, Blevins added. For now, local food banks are adjusting to the loss, but without the USDAs support, providing fresh, nutritious food is becoming increasingly difficult. The Chattanooga Area Food Bank and others across the country are urging community members to help in any way they can during this critical time. A close call between a Delta Air Lines Airbus A319 taking off from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and a US Air Force T-38 jet, often used by the military for training, sounded alarms in the cockpit of the passenger plane Friday. Delta 2983 was departing Reagan Airport around 3:15 p.m. and heading to Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport for a regularly scheduled flight. Is flying still safe? Heres what experts say This weeks close call at Chicago Midway Airport between a Southwest aircraft and a private jet is the latest in a string of incidents that have many air travelers on edge. Delta did not identify the other jet involved, but a review of tracking data from FlightRadar24 shows an Air Force T-38 jet flying past the Delta plane and DCA airport going more than 350 miles per hour at 800 feet. The military jet took off and landed at Langley Air Force Base, in Hampton, Virginia. CNN has asked the Air Force for comment. A fiery upside-down landing and hanging like bats: Witnesses recount a Delta jet crash in Toronto All on board the Delta flight from Minneapolis survived the collision, but it is still unclear how the aircraft was upended, leaving it belly-up, streaked with black residue and shorn of a wing tip. Inside, seat-belted passengers were suspended from their seats. The Delta aircraft was cleared for takeoff at around 3:15 p.m. ET, while four U.S. Air Force T-38 Talons were inbound to Arlington National Cemetery for a flyover, the FAA said in a statement. The Delta aircraft received an onboard alert that another aircraft was nearby and air traffic controllers issued corrective instructions to both aircraft, the FAA reported. The FAA and the NTSB are investigating the incident. A preliminary NTSB report will be issued within 30 days. The close call happened just south of DCA airport, close to the spot where an American Airlines regional jet and an Army Black Hawk helicopter collided, killing 67 people, on January 29. At a congressional hearing on Thursday Senators demanded to know why close calls between military helicopters and passenger planes went unchecked for so long at DCA. The NTSB said investigators uncovered more than 15,000 occurrences for close proximity events between commercial airplanes and helicopters between 2021 and 2024 where aircraft were within one nautical mile and 85 cases where two aircraft were separated by only 1,500 feet vertically and 200 feet laterally. Passengers evacuate onto wing of American Airlines plane after engine catches fire at Denver airport Dozens of passengers were forced to stand on the wing of an American Airlines plane at Denver International Airport as they evacuated the aircraft after one of its engines caught fire Thursday evening, sending thick black smoke billowing into the air. The FAA has since closed a helicopter route by the airport and Thursday vowed to required military aircraft near DCA to fly with specific collision avoidance equipment turned on. But that wasnt enough to prevent todays close call as the Delta plane was taking off. On that departure was there an actual aircraft about 500 ft below us as we came off of DCA, the Delta pilot asked air traffic controllers on audio captured by website LiveATC.net. Delta 2983, affirmative, the Departure controller responds. The pilot also noted they received a warning in the cockpit, called a resolution advisory from the planes Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System. The system tells a pilot what to do to avoid a collision. Nothing is more important than the safety of our customers and people, said Morgan Durrant, a spokesperson for Delta Air Lines. Thats why the flight crew followed procedures to maneuver the aircraft as instructed. Two pilots, three flight attendants and 131 passengers were on board the Delta aircraft. The-CNN-Wire & 2025 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved. Uisce Eireann is working to restore water supply to customers in Granard, Co Longford following a burst water main. The affected areas include Granard Town, Moat, Bunlahy, Springtown, Aughnagarron, Tonywarden, Granardkille and surrounding areas in Co Longford. Homes and businesses in Granard and the surrounding areas may experience low water pressure, temporary water discolouration or intermittent disruptions to water supply. Expert water service crews have been dispatched and are working to minimise disruption and carry out repair works, with every effort being made to complete this work as quickly as possible. Also read: Alert: Several Longford road closures and diversions for motorists to contend with this week David Gibbons, Water Operations Lead for Longford said he regrets the inconvenience for customers, adding: We understand how disruptive unplanned outages are. We thank impacted customers in Granard and the surrounding area for their patience while we carry out repairs and restore the water supply as quickly as possible. Following repair works, it typically takes three to four hours for normal supply to be fully restored to all areas as the water refills the network, but it may take longer for those on higher ground or at the end of the network. Also read: Digital Queen: Longfords Christine Collins wins prestigious Women in Digital Award Vulnerable customers who have registered with Uisce Eireann receive direct communications from us for planned and unplanned outages lasting more than four hours. Also read: Longford Harriers Ballinalee Family Run hailed a great success Uisce Eireann continues to provide detailed, real-time, and local information about water service and supply issues on our website please use ref LON00091155. Updates are available on X @IWCare and via our customer care helpline, open 24/7 on 1800 278 278. Uisce Eireann has a free text service, providing real-time updates for local issues. Customers can sign up with their Eircode and mobile number on the Water Service Updates page. Also read: Clear rounds: Longford students sparkle at leading showjumping event in Mullingar Local News By Chris Boyle Published: March 31 2025 To be considered as a Fellow, AAAS members must be nominated by the Steering Committee of their respective sections by three Fellows or the CEO of AAAS. Stony Brook Universitys Gordon T. Taylor, Katherine B. Aubrecht, and Michael A. Bender were recently named 2024 American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Fellows. The AAAS Fellows program was first established in 1874. To be considered as a Fellow, AAAS members must be nominated by the Steering Committee of their respective sections by three Fellows or the CEO of AAAS. Nominations are reviewed by the AAAS Council, which then votes on the nominations. To become an AAAS Fellow is a lifetime honor. This years class of Fellows are the embodiment of scientific excellence and service to our communities, said Sudip S. Parikh, Ph.D., AAAS chief executive officer and executive publisher of the Science family of journals. At a time when the future of the scientific enterprise in the U.S. and around the world is uncertain, their work demonstrates the value of sustained investment in science and engineering. I warmly congratulate our newest AAAS fellows for this well-deserved and impressive recognition of their work and its importance to society, said Carl W. Lejuez, executive vice president and provost. We are proud that over the years about a dozen of our current faculty have been named AAAS fellows in a broad range of fields, including political science, psychology, creative writing and math and of course marine science and chemistry. Honors like these underscore our flagship status and Stony Brook's value to our region and our nation. As AAAS Fellows, Taylor, Aubrecht, and Bender join a class of 471 scientists, engineers, and innovators. Together, they make up the ranks of distinguished scientists, engineers, and innovators who have been recognized for their contributions in the areas of academia, research, and science communications. Notable AAAS Fellows include Maria Mitchell, Steven Chu, Ellen Ochoa, Irwin M. Jacobs, Alan Alda, Mae Jemison, and Ayanna Howard. Taylor, Aubrecht, and Bender will be recognized for their achievements at the Fellows Forum on June 7, an event held during the AAAS Annual Meeting, where they will be presented with a certificate and a blue and gold rosette. Gordon T. Taylor Gordon T. Taylor is a professor in the School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences. He also serves as head of SoMAS Marine Sciences Division and as director of the NAno-Raman Molecular Imaging Laboratory (NARMIL). His alma mater is University of Southern California, where he earned his PhD in 1983. I am truly honored and humbled by this recognition, said Professor Taylor. I am indebted to all my talented, hard-working students and colleagues who were so instrumental in the achievement of my scientific goals. My sincere gratitude to AAAS for this acknowledgement. It means a great deal to me to join the ranks of AAAS Fellows. Professor Taylor is being honored for his distinguished contributions to furthering understanding of microbial mediation of marine biogeochemical processes, ecological interactions among microorganisms in marine food webs, and technical advances in Raman microspectrophotometry. Katherine B. Aubrecht Katherine B. Aubrecht is an associate professor in the College of Arts and Sciences department of Chemistry and in the School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences division of Sustainability Studies. Her alma mater is Cornell University, where she earned her PhD in 1999. The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) works to advance science for the benefit of all by focusing on research, education, engagement with the public, and the use of science to inform policy, said Professor Aubrecht. I am grateful to be nominated and elected as an AAAS Fellow. I am also grateful for the opportunities at SBU for cross-disciplinary discussions and collaborations. Professor Aubrecht is being honored for her contributions to advancing chemistry education by incorporating green chemistry, sustainability, and systems thinking to foster more connected and relevant teaching and learning. She has worked with the American Chemical Societys Green Chemistry Institute and Committee on Environment and Sustainability to further these objectives. Michael A. Bender Michael A. Bender is the John L. Hennessy Chaired Professor of Computer Science in the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences Department of Computer Science, where he runs the computer science honors program. He has won several awards, including an R&D 100 Award, a Test-of-Time Award, a Distinguished Paper Award, two Best Paper Awards, and five awards for graduate and undergraduate teaching. His alma mater is Harvard University, where he earned a PhD in 1998. Bender has also held Visiting Scientist positions at both MIT and Kings College London, and is a co-founder of the software company Tokutek, which was acquired by Percona in 2015. "I am deeply honored to be recognized as an AAAS Fellow," said Professor Bender. Im especially grateful for the collaborative efforts of many brilliant students, colleagues, and industry partners who have contributed to advancing our field." Professor Bender is being honored for his distinguished contributions to the foundations of data structures and their applications. About AAAS The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) is the worlds largest general scientific society and publisher of the journal Science, as well as Science Translational Medicine; Science Signaling; a digital, open-access journal, Science Advances; Science Immunology; and Science Robotics. AAAS was founded in 1848 and includes more than 250 affiliated societies and academies of science, serving 10 million individuals. The nonprofit AAAS is open to all and fulfills its mission to advance science and serve society through initiatives in science policy, international programs, science education, public engagement, and more. For additional information about AAAS, visit www.aaas.org. About Stony Brook University Stony Brook University New Yorks flagship university and No. 1 public university is going far beyond the expectations of todays public universities. It is part of the State University of New York (SUNY) system. With nearly 26,000 students, more than 2,900 faculty members, more than 220,000 alumni, a premier academic healthcare system and 18 NCAA Division I athletic programs, Stony Brook is a research-intensive distinguished center of innovation dedicated to addressing the worlds biggest challenges. The university embraces its mission to provide comprehensive undergraduate, graduate and professional education of the highest quality, and is ranked as the #58 overall university and #26 among public universities in the nation by U.S. News & World Reports Best Colleges listing. Fostering a commitment to academic research and intellectual endeavors, Stony Brooks membership in the Association of American Universities (AAU) places it among the top 71 research institutions in North America. The universitys distinguished faculty have earned esteemed awards such as the Nobel Prize, Pulitzer Prize, Indianapolis Prize for animal conservation, Abel Prize and the Breakthrough Prize in Mathematics. Stony Brook has the responsibility of co-managing Brookhaven National Laboratory for the U.S. Department of Energy one of only eight universities with a role in running a national laboratory. In 2023, Stony Brook was named the anchor institution for The New York Climate Exchange on Governors Island in New York City. Providing economic growth for neighboring communities and the wider geographic region, the university totals an impressive $7.23 billion in increased economic output on Long Island. Follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/stonybrooku/ and X@stonybrooku. Study: 15.0% of New York State Residents Receive SNAP benefits, 10th Most in U.S. Local News By Chris Boyle Published: March 31 2025 41.7 million Americans (12.3% of the population) rely on SNAP, with total annual costs at $93.8 billion. House Republicans recently adopted their budget resolution, the first step towards a possible large scaling back of SNAP benefits to millions of Americans. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, plays a vital role in reducing food insecurity, providing essential support to over 41 million Americans each month. A new analysis from Trace One explores which states rely most heavily on SNAP benefits, analyzing the latest USDA and Census Bureau data to uncover the role of food assistance across the country. Key Takeaways, With Data for New York State Current SNAP Participation: 41.7 million Americans (12.3% of the population) rely on SNAP, with total annual costs at $93.8 billion, down from pandemic highs but still historically high. Age & Sex of Recipients: Children (33%) and adults aged 30 to 49 years old (25.1%) make up the largest share of SNAP recipients, with women (54%) slightly outnumbering men (46%). Racial & Ethnic Breakdown: Non-Hispanic Whites represent 36.1% of recipients, while Black (22.7%) and Hispanic (29.1%) individuals are disproportionately represented compared to their share of the general population. SNAP Participation in New York State: In New York State, 21.9% of households and 15.0% of individuals receive SNAP benefitsthe 10th highest rate in the nation. More New York State Stats: Households in New York State receive an average of $359 per month in benefits, while individuals receive an average of $209. The full report covers all 50 states, with a detailed breakdown of SNAP participation rates, average monthly benefits, total annual benefits, poverty rates, and more. Local News By Chris Boyle Published: March 31 2025 AG James and 17 Attorneys General Argue Federal SAVE Act Disproportionately Impacts Vulnerable Communities and Dangerously Limits Voting Access. New York Attorney General Letitia James and a coalition of 17 other attorneys general today sent a letter urging congressional leadership to reject the so-called Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act. The SAVE Act would amend the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) by placing new requirements on Americans to provide documentary proof of their citizenship when registering to vote, even though it is already illegal for noncitizens to vote in state and federal elections, and states already have methods to exclude noncitizens from the voter rolls. Attorney General James and the coalition argue that the proposed legislation would create unnecessary and burdensome requirements that could effectively disenfranchise millions of eligible voters across the country. The coalition emphasizes that this proof of citizenship requirement would reverse three decades of progress made under the NVRA, which was designed to remove barriers to voter registration and promote greater participation in the democratic process. "The right to vote is the very foundation of our democracy, but with this bill, Congress is threatening that right for millions of eligible voters," said Attorney General James. "The so-called SAVE Act would disproportionately impact communities of color, low-income individuals, and other vulnerable populations to create a dangerous precedent. It is nothing more than a thinly veiled attempt to suppress voter participation and I urge Congress to reject this bill and protect every Americans fundamental right to vote." In the letter to Speaker Michael Johnson and Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Attorney General James and the coalition warn that the proposed legislation would create significant obstacles for eligible voters, including: Requiring expensive documentation such as passports or birth certificates and jeopardizing the franchise for those whose documents may not perfectly match their current names, such as married women and trans people; Mandating in-person presentation of citizenship documents, effectively eliminating online voter registration systems currently available in 42 states; and Threatening to undermine the franchise for active-duty service members who cannot return to their local election offices. In their letter, the attorneys general highlight that 21 million voting-age citizens do not have ready access to a passport, birth record, or naturalization record, and that 80 percent of married women would not have a valid birth certificate under the SAVE Act because they chose to adopt their partner's last name. Attorney General James and the coalition also express concerns about the substantial administrative and financial burdens the SAVE Act would place on state election systems. The legislation would require states to fundamentally restructure their voter registration procedures and create new systems for document verification, while criminalizing mistakes made by election officials with penalties of up to five years in prison. Attorney General James and the coalition also assert that non-citizen voting is extremely rare. Studies show that in jurisdictions with high immigrant populations, only 0.0001% of votes cast were by non-citizens. Despite this negligible risk, the SAVE Act would impose substantial burdens on eligible voters, particularly affecting poor and minority communities. With this letter, Attorney General James is urging congressional leadership to oppose the SAVE Act and protect the right to vote for all eligible Americans. Maintaining the integrity of our elections need not, and should not, come at the cost of disenfranchising eligible voters. Attorney General James has been a leader in protecting voting rights in New York and throughout the nation. In January 2025, Attorney General James successfully defended New York's Voting Rights Act. In August 2024, Attorney General James successfully defended New Yorks Early Mail Voter Act. In April 2024, Attorney General James secured up to $1.25 million from two conspiracy theorists who intimidated Black voters in New York with menacing robocalls. Before every general and primary election, Attorney General James issues alerts to ensure New Yorkers are aware of their voting rights and encourages New Yorkers to contact OAGs Election Protection Hotline for assistance with voting. In November 2022, Attorney General James issued a statement supporting the Appellate Division, Third Departments decision upholding New York's absentee ballot reforms to increase access to the polls. Joining Attorney General James in sending this letter are the attorneys general of California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and the District of Columbia. Crime By Chris Boyle Published: March 31 2025 In addition to seeking information about the driver, officers are seeking video surveillance and witnesses of the crash. Suffolk County Crime Stoppers and Suffolk County Police Seventh Precinct Investigative Unit officers are seeking the publics help to identify and locate the driver of a vehicle who was involved in a hit-and-run crash in Mastic Beach earlier this year. A female pedestrian was struck by a vehicle that fled the scene at the corner of Neighborhood Road and Flower Road on January 1 at 1:45 a.m. The woman, 40, was transported with injuries to a hospital. The vehicle sustained front-end damage and one of the rearview mirrors is believed to have been damaged. In addition to seeking information about the driver, officers are seeking video surveillance and witnesses of the crash. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) conducted numerous activities and operations throughout Lebanon against Hezbollah between March 24 and 30, 2025. On Friday, unknown actors again fired rockets at northern Israel from an area of south Lebanon where Hezbollah is dominant. While the rockets targeted Kiryat Shmona, sounding warning sirens in the area, one was intercepted in midair, and the other fell on Lebanese territory. In response, the IDF launched an extensive series of operations in Lebanon for the second week in a row, including striking a Hezbollah target in the Hadath neighborhood of south Beirut for the first time since the November 27 ceasefire went into effect. Israeli operations in central and south Lebanon between March 24 and March 30, 2025. Green: Israeli outposts. Red: Israeli ground operations. Gray: Israeli artillery attacks. Light gray: Smokescreen shelling. White: Surveillance balloon. Lighter blue: Israeli airstrikes. Orange: Reference points. Darker blue: Partial course of the Litani River. (Google Earth annotated by LWJ) Lebanons posture on Hezbollah Last weeks continued Israeli operations in Lebanon again highlight the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) and Lebanese states inaction against Hezbollah. Beiruts official position is that it is fulfilling its responsibilities under the November 27 ceasefire terms and UN Security Council Resolution 1701. Simultaneously, Lebanese officials insist that disarming armed groups, including Hezbollah, will take more time and support for LAF. Nevertheless, they also stress that Israels operations inside Lebanon are unjustified, regardless of the continued presence and activities of armed groups and individuals, including Hezbollah. Last week, Lebanese security sources speaking to Al Joumhouria denied Hezbollahs responsibility for the March 22 rocket attack on northern Israel, despite admitting finding a Hezbollah flag and a picture of former Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah near the launchers. Those sources insisted the attack was an Israeli false flag operation. Lebanese Finance Minister Yassine Jaber seconded this view, in part, during an interview with Al Arabiya. The LAFs statement on Fridays rocket fire echoed the position of Lebanese officials from last week, stating Israel was using the excuse of two rockets fired from Lebanese territory to attack Lebanon in a blatant and repeat violation of Lebanons sovereignty. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun likewise said Israels actions in Lebanon, including its Friday strikes, were unjustified and quickly moved to exonerate Hezbollah of responsibility for the rocket fire, before LAF had located the launchers or investigated the incident. Recent statements from several high-ranking Lebanese officials continue to demonstrate Beiruts reluctance to act against Hezbollah. In a recent interview with Al Hurra, Deputy Prime Minister Tarek Mitri insisted on Lebanons commitment to monopolizing the possession of arms in the hands of the state: The stance of the Lebanese government and all its members, and the parliament, which granted us its confidence with [a majority] 95 [of 128] votes on the basis of what we declared in the policy statement is that the state must assert its control over all its territory through the army and the lawful security agencies. We said it is the states right, indeed its obligation, to monopolize carrying arms and the decision of war and peace. We said this all. Nonetheless, Mitri offered caveats to this stance: [However,] we did not say when and how we will accomplish all of this. Because enabling the security agencies is the precondition to beginning asserting the states control over all its territory, strengthening their capabilities. This hasnt happened yet because the support the Lebanese Army receivesfrom the United States or other Western countries remains limited. Mitri agreed with his interviewer that this effort could take many years. He said, Were not going to have an army ten times its current strength, and that in any case, the issue of disarming Hezbollahthough he didnt explicitly name the groupis primarily a political question, depending on us agreeing politically, which he claimed was easier today than in the past. The question of Hezbollahs arms, he said, would also be discussed as part of the governments proposed national defense strategy. Mitri continued: However, its impossible for us to have a timetable or to claim disarming Hezbollah by force during a [short] period We are committed to enabling the Lebanese Army and security forces to carry out their duties completely by spreading their control over all Lebanese territory. But the means which the security agencies will use are open to discussion. Theres no ready recipe for how to enact these principles upon which we agreed. These are dynamic matter. Theres a technical aspect related to the armys strength. And theres a political side connected to governmental consensus and gaining the support of a sufficient number of Lebanese. This isnt the time to undertake uncalculated, risky moves that could set Lebanon years back. When asked if any donor countries were preconditioning post-war reconstruction aid on disarming Hezbollah, Mitri said no self-respecting state would agree to such terms. He stated that foreign partners need to understand that we cannot accomplish all we promised in the blink of an eye, and Lebanon hoped its foreign partners wouldnt create such a linkage. We need some time we will put all our commitments on the path to implementation. It could take months. It could take a year or two years to be fully implemented. So, Mitri concluded, foreign countries should link aid to Lebanon to beginning to seriously implement its commitments, rather than full implementation. Prime Minister Nawaf Salam took a firmer stance than his deputy in a subsequent interview with Al Arabiya, possibly cognizant of the criticism Mitri received over his Al Hurra interview. The premier insisted on the states monopoly on force, deciding war and peace, and controlling all its territory. No one can go back to the Army, People, Resistance equation, which granted Hezbollah a degree of legal imprimatur to maintain its private arsenal, Salam said. He insisted this was part of the past, and all his ministers were likewise committed to these principles. All are headed in this direction, he said. However, Salam included his own caveat, saying that his cabinets members were doing so at different speeds. The prime minister was attempting to explain the apparent opposition of some of his ministers to his stance. Days before Salams Al Arabiya interview, Environment Minister Tamara Al Zein expressed her opposition to disarming Hezbollah by force or on a fixed timetable. Zein also insisted that the fate of the groups arms north of the Litani River would be decided by dialogue and consensus as part of a national defense strategy. Finally, she alleged the cabinet policy statements clause affirming Lebanons right to self-defense in case of any aggression pursuant to the Charter of the United Nations could be used to justify armed resistance. However, Mohammad Raad, who heads Hezbollahs Loyalty to the Resistance parliamentary bloc, found this flexible stance by the Lebanese government objectionable. The Loyalty to the Resistance bloc granted Salam, his cabinet, and its policy statement a vote of confidence on February 26. During Raads Quds Day speech at the Iranian Embassy in Beirut, he said: Whoever claims, in our country, that they alone possess the decision of war and peace or seeks the exclusivity of this decision in the hands of the state or any other party, avoids reality and truth. Because the Zionist enemy, in our days, is alone who launches wars and continues aggression and occupation. The state alone lacks the ability to defend its country or protect its people. To whomever is led by their delusions into thinking that the resistance is part of the past and that its tripartite equation [of Army, People, Resistance] is over and can never returnI advise them to be wary of being drunk on temporary power. For governments, normally, are the ones that become part of the past. But the equations that the martyrs set with their pure blood and the loftiness of their sacrifices are immortalized until even after the end of history. Summary of Israeli Operations Against Hezbollah, March 24-March 30 The Israel Defense Forces targeted 29 Lebanese locales over the week, all in south Lebanon except for an airstrike in the Hadath neighborhood of south Beirut. Twenty-one areas were hit by airstrikes, artillery targeted nine others, and four areas witnessed IDF ground operations. The IDF targeted Hezbollah military infrastructure, rocket launchers, and operativesincluding targeted assassinationsthroughout Lebanon. During its wave of strikes on Friday, the IDF also struck a Hezbollah drone-storage facility in Hadath. Mount Lebanon Governorate Baabda District: Hadath Nabatieh Governorate Bint Jbeil District: Ayta Ash Shaab, Beit Yahoun-Haddatha-Tayri, Braasheet, Rmeish, Yaroun Hasbaya District: Kfarshouba, Shebaa Marjayoun District: Houla, Kfar Kela, Khiyam, Markaba, Taybeh, Wazzani. Nabatieh District: Kfar Tebnit, Mlita, Mount Al Rafia, Qaaqaaiyeh, Yohmor. South Lebanon Governorate Jezzine District: Aiyshiyyeh-Mahmoudiyeh, Aramta, Jabbour Pond, Kfar Houna, Al Lwayzeh, Mount Safi, Rihan, Sujod. Tyre District: Maaroub, Naqoura Total Lebanese casualties from the Israeli operations, per the Lebanese Health Ministry, tallied up to 12 or 13 people killed, including seven to eight Hezbollah operatives, and 19 to 22 wounded. March 24, 2025: 1 Hezbollah operative killed 1 Hezbollah operative killed March 25, 2025: No casualties reported No casualties reported March 26, 2025: N/A N/A March 27, 2025: Six Hezbollah operatives killed, another possibly only wounded Six Hezbollah operatives killed, another possibly only wounded March 28, 2025: Five people killed, eighteen to twenty wounded Five people killed, eighteen to twenty wounded March 29, 2025: No casualties reported No casualties reported March 30, 2025: No casualties reported Chronology of Israeli operations against Hezbollah: March 24-March 30 March 24 At 3:32 pm, NNA Lebanon reported an Israeli artillery strike on the outskirts of the village of Shebaa in the Nabatieh Governorates Hasbaya District, approximately 2.5 kilometers from the Blue Line. The IDF did not comment on the incident. NNA Lebanon reported that at approximately 11:20 pm, an Israeli drone fired a missile at a vehicle near the Husseiniyeh (Shiite religious community center) of the town of Qaaqaaiyeh in the Nabatieh District of the Nabatieh Governorate. One unidentified casualty was reported. The next day, the IDF announced the target of the strike was Hasan Kamal Halawi, whose nom de guerrewas Osama, the commander of Hezbollahs southern front anti-tank forces. The IDFs statement said, During the war, Halawi advanced several terrorist plots against the State of Israel, was responsible for transporting operatives, and for obtaining arms for the organization in south Lebanon. The statement noted that in recent months, Halawi has continued to advance terrorist plots against the Israeli Home Front. While official Hezbollah outlets have yet to confirm his death, municipal social media accounts confirmed his death and affiliation with the group. Hassan Kamal Halawis death announcement. (Sons of Qaaqaaiyet al Jisr Charitable Foundation) March 25 At 7:27 pm, NNA Lebanon reported that Israeli forces were firing flares in the western sector of the frontier between Israel and Lebanon, particularly over the village of Rmeish. March 27 At 12:27 am, Lebanese media outlets reported an Israeli airstrike on a car on the outskirts of Maaroub in the South Lebanon Governorates Tyre District. NNA Lebanon reported that one person was killed and another was wounded. Official Hezbollah or Hezbollah-linked channels have yet to identify the strikes casualty. However, several social media accounts identifiedHezbollahoperative Hassan Neemeh Sabra, who was born in Qantara but residing in Maaroubs neighboring Srifaas the target. However, the IDF later stated that its strike, directed by the 91st Division, assassinated Hezbollah Radwan Force battalion commander Ahmad Adnan Bjayjeh and placed the location of the strike in Dardaghiyeh, just east of Maaroub. The IDFs statement noted that, in addition to directing operations against the citizens of the State of Israel and the IDF during the recent war, in recent months, [Bjayjeh] continued to work on promoting terror activities against the Israeli Home Front and posed a threat to the State of Israel and its citizens. Bjayjeh was the nephew of Hezbollah commander Abu Hassan Bjayjeh. Sabras fate remains unknown. Hassan Neemeh Sabra (L) and Ahmad Adnan Bjayjeh (R). (Facebook) NNA Lebanon reported that at 7:15 am, Israeli artillery shelled the Debsh neighborhood of Yohmor in the Nabatieh Governorates Nabatieh District. The IDF later commented it was targeting several Hezbollah terrorists identified transferring weapons near Yohmor. At 8:44 am, while artillery shelling was ongoing, NNA Lebanon reported an Israeli drone targeted a vehicle in the same area of Yohmor. Social media accounts sympathetic to Hezbollah said three Hezbollah operatives were killed in the Israeli operations in Yohmor: Hussain Ali Hallal from Deir Al Zahrani, and Fawzat Noureddine and Mohammad Sultan from Kfarreman. Fawzat Noureddine (L), Mohammad Sultan (C), and Hussain Hallal (R). At 12:49 pm, NNA Lebanon reported that an Israeli drone dropped an explosive in the town of Houla in the Nabatieh Governorates Marjayoun District, wounding one unidentified individual. 5:10 pm, Lebanese media outlets reported that an Israeli drone targeted a vehicle in Braasheet in the Nabatieh Governorates Bint Jbeil District. The Lebanese Health Ministry said two individuals were killed. The IDFs brief statement at 6:16 pm said it had attacked two terrorists from the terror organization Hezbollah operating near Braasheet in south Lebanon without elaborating. Hezbollah-linked channels have yet to identify the fatalities. However, personal social media accountsidentifiedthem as Ahmad Mohammad Abuzeid, whose nom de guerre is Gharib Al Zahraa, from the town of Jarjouaa in south Lebanon, and Maher Taan Kalakesh, whose nom de guerre is Ammar Hammoud, from the town of Shaqra. Death announcements of Ahmad Mohammad Abuzeid (L) and Maher Taan Kalakesh (R). (Facebook) March 28 Note on times: On March 28 at 2:00 am, Israel set its clock forward for daylight saving time and is currently running on GMT+3 Time. Lebanon has yet to do so and is still running on GMT+2. Events are listed sequentially in order of occurrence, but time stamps are based on the country where the event occurred. At 7:50 am, Red Alert rocket warning sirens sounded in northern Israels Margaliot, Misgav Am, Kiryat Shmona, and Tel Hai near the frontier line with Lebanon. Two rockets had been fired from Lebanonone intercepted in midair and the other landing in Lebanese territory. No casualties or property damage were reported inside Israel. It was the first time Red Alert sirens sounded in Kiryat Shmona in three months. NNA Lebanon reported that at approximately 7:20 am, heavy Israeli artillery bombardment targeted the outskirts of Qaayqaaiyeh in the Nabatieh Governorates Nabatieh District, toward the side facing the Litani River. At 8:03 am, NNA Lebanon reported Israeli artillery and smokescreen shelling on the village of Khiyam in the Nabatieh Governorates Marjayoun District. The artillery targeted Khiyams Birkeh neighborhood, igniting fires in a house and the public school. The smokescreen shells targeted Khiyams public square, Al Husseini Club, and eastern neighborhood. Israeli forces at the Tel Hamames outpost also targeted Khiyam with gunfire and Israeli artillery targeted nearby Kfar Kela. At 8:08 am, NNA Lebanon reported an Israeli artillery strike on Taybeh in the Nabatieh Governorates Marjayoun District. At 8:15 am, NNA Lebanon reported that Israeli forces used stun grenades in Markaba in the Nabatieh Governorates Marjayoun District to disperse congregated crowds. No injuries were reported. At 8:30 am, NNA Lebanon reported that Israeli artillery shelled Qaaqaaiyeh and the outskirts of Yohmor in the Nabatieh Governorates Nabatieh District. NNA Lebanon reported that at approximately 8:45 am, Israeli forces launched grenades at a cafe in the middle of the village of Houla, which had also been targeted the day prior, and another grenade near an inhabited house by the police station. An Israeli drone subsequently dropped explosives on two houses in Houla and destroyed them. At 10:06 am, schools were dismissed in the city of Tyre in the South Lebanon Governorates Tyre District due to the security escalation. At 10:21 am, an unnamed official source in Hezbollah was quoted in the groups newspaper Al Ahed denying Hezbollahs responsibility for the rockets fired at northern occupied Palestine [Israel]. The source stressed the groups commitment to the ceasefire deal. The source also said that these incidents, referring to the rockets fired at Israel that day and last week, are part of creating suspicious excuses for the continuation of the Israeli aggression against Lebanon. Hezbollah has yet to issue an official denial of its responsibility for the rocket fire. At 10:26 am, NNA Lebanon reported Israeli artillery shelling on the outskirts of Naqoura in the South Lebanon Governorates Tyre District and Ayta Ash Shaab in the Nabatieh Governorates Bint Jbeil District. At 11:55 am, the IDF announced that it had started targeting Hezbollah positions inside Lebanon. NNA Lebanon reported that at 10:55 am, Israeli airstrikes targeted the area between Zawtar and Yohmor in the Nabatieh Governorates Nabatieh District. It was followed by an airstrike in Sujod. At 11:18 am, NNA Lebanon reported a series of Israeli airstrikes on Kfar Houna, Rihan-Jabbour, Aramta, Al Lwayzeh, and Sujod in the South Lebanon Governorates Jezzine District. Israel also launched three airstrikes on Yohmor, one of which destroyed a house but caused no casualties, and Mount Al Rafia in the Nabatieh District. At 11:33 am, NNA Lebanon reported an Israeli airstrike on Mount Safi in the South Lebanon Governorates Jezzine District. At 11:49 am, NNA Lebanon reported a second Israeli airstrike on Jabbour Pond. In January 2024, the IDF bombed a Hezbollah airstrip in the area of Jabbour Pond used to launch drones. At 12:00 pm, NNA Lebanon reported that an Israeli airstrike targeted and destroyed the villa of retired Internal Security Forces Captain Ali Sharafeddine in Kfar Tebnit in the Nabatieh Governorates Nabatieh District, near the municipal building. The strike killed three people, including Sharefeddine, his wife Shadia Bdeir, and another woman named Fatima Haydar. The strike wounded 15 to 18 others, including three children and eight women, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry. At 1:20 pm, the IDFs Arabic Spokesman Avichay Adraee issued a warning to the residents of Dahiyehthe southern suburbs of Beirut that serve as a Hezbollah strongholdof an incoming strike on a specific building in the areas Hadath neighborhood. Adraee stated residents should remain at least 300 meters from the targeted area. An IDF warning to vacate the highlighted building in Dahiyeh, Beirut. (Avichay Adraee on Telegram) Location of the IDF strike (blue mark) in Dahiyeh, Beirut. (Google Earth annotated by LWJ) At 12:25 pm, in response to Adraees warnings, Lebanese Education Minister Rima Karami canceled classes and ordered evacuations of Lebanese Universitys Hadath Campus and all public, private, and vocational schools in the Hadath area. At 12:55 pm, NNA Lebanon reported the Israel Air Force conducted a warning airstrike in Dahiyehs Hadath neighborhood a practice the IDF calls knocking on the roof by dropping a non-explosive or low-device on the roof of a targeted civilian building to war its occupants of an imminent airstrike. At 1:14 pm, NNA Lebanon reported a second Israeli warning of an airstrike in Dahiyehs Hadath neighborhood. At 1:19 pm, Mohammad Raad, the head of Hezbollahs Loyalty to the Resistance parliamentary bloc, insisted that Hezbollah agreed to the ceasefire [and] remains committed to it and will not violate it and called on the [Lebanese] state to carry out its duties and deter Israel. At 1:43 pm, NNA Lebanon reported a third Israeli warning of an airstrike in Dahiyehs Hadath neighborhood. At 1:52 pm, NNA Lebanon reported that an Israeli airstrike targeted and destroyed the highlighted building and an adjacent structure in Dahiyehs Hadath neighborhood. It was the first Israeli action in the area since the November 27 ceasefire deal. At 2:53 pm, the IDF released a statement on its strike in Dahiyeh, saying it had targeted infrastructure used to store drones used by the terror organization Hezbollahs aerial unit (Unit 127). At 2:21 pm, Hezbollahs Media Relations office issued an official statement canceling Quds Day events in Dahiyeh due to Israeli strikes in the area. At 1:40 pm in France, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, in a joint press conference with his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron in Paris, insisted Hezbollah was not responsible for the rockets fired at Israel that morning. Prior experience and the evidence on the ground indicate this wasnt Hezbollah, and Hezbollah is not responsible, Aoun said. NNA Lebanon reported that at approximately 2:45 pm, Israeli airstrikes targeted the forested area between Mahmoudiyeh and Aiyshiyyeh in the South Lebanon Governorates Jezzine District, intermittent artillery shelling on Yohmor, and an airstrike on the outskirts of Kfar Houna. At 2:56 pm, the LAF issued a statement claiming it had located the launchers used to fire rockets at northern Israel. The statement, which echoed the earlier one issued by an unnamed Hezbollah source, accused Israel of using the excuse of two rockets fired from Lebanese territory towards the occupied Palestinian lands [Israel] to attack Lebanon. The statement said the LAF had successfully located the launch site of the two rockets in Qaayaayieh and stressed that this area is north of the Litani, which suggests the rockets presence was not a direct violation of the November 27 ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel. The LAF said it had begun investigations to determine the identity of the party responsible for launching the rockets. At 3:33 pm, NNA Lebanon reported Israeli artillery shelling on the outskirts of Yohmor in the Nabatieh Governorates Nabatieh District. NNA Lebanon reported that at approximately 3:45 pm, an Israeli airstrike targeted the road to the Litani River in Yohmor, killing two individuals, Ashraf Al Mohammad and Abdallah Al Mohammad. NNA Lebanon reported that at approximately 4:15 pm, an Israeli airstrike targeted Mlita in the Nabatieh Governorates Nabatieh District. At 4:28 pm, NNA Lebanon reported a third Israeli airstrike on Jabbour Pond. At 4:58 pm, NNA Lebanon reported an Israeli airstrike between the towns of Beit Yahoun, Haddatha, and Tayri in the Nabatieh Governorates Bint Jbeil District. The strike wounded two people. At 5:01 pm, NNA Lebanon reported that Israeli forces had launched a surveillance device over western and central villages of south Lebanon adjacent to the Lebanon-Israel frontier. At 6:55 pm, NNA Lebanon reported that an Israeli drone dropped an explosive on a building in Yaroun in the Nabatieh Governorates Bint Jbeil District. At 7:33 pm, NNA Lebanon reported that Israeli forces fired flares over the western and central sectors villages on the Lebanon-Israel frontier. At 8:23 pm, NNA Lebanon reported that an Israeli drone dropped a stun explosive in Kfar Kela in the Nabatieh Governorates Marjayoun District. March 29 At 12:02 pm, NNA Lebanon reported that an Israeli drone dropped stun grenades to disperse crowds in Yaroun in the Nabatieh Governorates Bint Jbeil District. At 3:52 pm, NNA Lebanon reported that Israeli troops directed heavy gunfire at the eastern neighborhood of Kfarshoubafacing the Israeli side of the Blue Linedamaging several houses and vehicles. March 30 At 4:42 pm, NNA Lebanon reported that an Israeli drone dropped a stun explosive in Houla to disperse crowds. At 4:45 pm, NNA Lebanon reported that Israeli artillery targeted an orchard on the outskirts of Wazzani in the Nabatieh Governorates Marjayoun District. At 9:30 pm, NNA Lebanon reported that Lebanese General Security arrested two suspects behind Fridays rocket fire at Israel. Security sources later gave Al Arabiya what appeared to be an updated number, saying there were four detaineestwo Palestinians and two Syrians. David Daoud is Senior Fellow at at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies where he focuses on Israel, Hezbollah, and Lebanon affairs. An illustration circulated on a Telegram channel linked to the Popular Mobilization Units shows missiles raining down on Jerusalem on Quds Day. Pro-Iranian militias from the Popular Mobilization Units (PMU) took part in Quds Day events in Iraq on March 28. The annual event, part of Irans attempt to mobilize opposition to Israel, takes place on the last Friday of Ramadan, is widely covered by Iranian state media, and is backed by pro-Iranian organizations in the Middle East. In Iraq, the turnout for Quds Day events took place amid continuing controversy in Baghdad over the future role of the PMU. There have been calls to rein in various militias that are linked to Iran. Iraqs Shafaq News reported that the days observance saw significantly lower turnout, fewer venues, and a notable absence of senior figures from armed factions and political blocs. Videos posted online showed hundreds of men marching in Quds Day events. One of the videos purportedly showed a gathering in Diyala Governorate and another in Kadhimiya, a neighborhood in Baghdad. It is unclear from photos and videos if the turnout was widespread, though most images do not appear to show large numbers of people. A Telegram channel linked to the PMU put out several posts to commemorate the day. One stated, Jerusalem will remain the capital of [our] hearts. It also declared that Jerusalem, which is known as Al Quds in Arabic, is on the path of martyrs. A second post on the PMU-linked Telegram channel shows missiles raining down on Jerusalem, with the citys Dome of the Rock in the background. On International Quds Day, we renew our pledge of loyalty to the sacrifices of the martyrs who gave their lives in defense of Jerusalem and its holy sites, the message read. The image appears to show the back of the late Kataib Hezbollah leader Abu Mahdi al Muhandis as he looks down on Jerusalem. Muhandis was killed in January 2020 by a US drone strike that also killed Iranian Islamic Revolution Guard Corps Quds Force (IRGC-QF) leader Qasem Soleimani. Iran encouraged Iraqis to turn out for Quds Day. Shafaq News noted that on March 27, Mojtaba al Husseini, the representative of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Iraq, called on Iraqis to take part in massive rallies with the participation of men and women from all social segments on Friday, in observance of International Quds [Jerusalem] Day. In addition, Iraqi cleric and politician Ammar Hakim and Hadi al Amiri, the leader of the Badr Organization, issued statements to commemorate the day. Amiri used a similar background for his statement as other pro-Iranian figures. Badr has numerous armed militias that make up a number of brigades within the PMU. Iran held a naval drill in the Persian Gulf to mark Quds Day, and Iranian state-linked media claimed that Iraqi vessels took part in the exercise. It was unclear which Iraqi vessels participated. The Quds Day events in Iraq took place amid continued discussions in Iraqs parliament about the future of the PMU. Shafaq News reported on March 31 that informed sources revealed on Sunday that all Shiite forces have agreed to discuss the details of the process of integrating all armed factions of the Axis of Resistance in Iraq into the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF). A meeting is planned for after the Eid al Fitr holiday, which took place on March 30. Qais Khazali, secretary-general of the Asaib al Haq movement, gave a speech for Eid al Fitr in which he called for Baghdad to pass a law that would provide PMU more rights. For more than seven years, no law has been enacted to guarantee equality for Popular Mobilization Forces fighters with their counterparts in the Ministries of Interior and Defense. Asaib al Haq runs an armed militia that is part of the PMU. Khazali was sanctioned in 2019 by the US Department of the Treasury for his militias role in killing Iraqi protesters. It remains to be seen if Baghdad will pass a law that integrates more units into the PMU and standardizes the militias or reins them in. Reporting from Israel, Seth J. Frantzman is an adjunct fellow at FDD and a contributor to FDDs Long War Journal. He is the senior Middle East correspondent and analyst at The Jerusalem Post, and author of The October 7 War: Israel's Battle for Security in Gaza (2024). A US MQ-9 Reaper drone. The Trump administration is significantly increasing the rate of American strikes inside Somalia. In just the first three months of President Donald Trumps second term, his administration has already launched at least 16 manned aircraft or drone strikes inside Somalia, according to numbers compiled by FDDs Long War Journal. For comparison, the Biden administration only launched 10 such strikes in 2024. The number of total strikes conducted so far this year may be an undercount, as the US militarys Africa Command (AFRICOM) no longer provides specific details of such operations. The vast majority of these strikes targeted the Islamic States local Somali wing and were conducted in partnership with Puntland forces that are currently fighting the group in a major offensive in northern Somalia. Other strikes targeted Shabaab, Al Qaedas East African branch, in central and southern Somalia in conjunction with federal Somali troops. This increased rate follows reports from earlier this year that the Trump White House eased restrictions on such strikes, allowing military commanders to authorize firing at targets without explicit approval from Washington. Somalia is not the only country to see such an increased tempo of operations following these new orders, as the US militarys Central Command also increased its rate of drone strikes against Al Qaeda in Syria. In 2024, the Biden administration launched just 10 strikes in Somalia, predominantly targeting Shabaab in so-called collective self-defense strikes conducted in defense of Somali troops on the ground. In 2023, the Biden administration launched 19 strikes in the country and a special operations raid against a senior Islamic State Somalia leader. In contrast to Trump authorizing military commanders to take offensive actions, the Biden administration kept close control over operations. In increasing the tempo of airstrikes, the second Trump administration is returning to its former posture in Somalia during Trumps first term. Between January 20, 2017, and January 20, 2021, the US launched at least 185 strikes in Somalia, or roughly 46 strikes per year. In total, the Biden administration launched just 48 strikes during Bidens time in office. List of all reported US strikes inside Somalia as of March 30, 2025 March 29, 2025: AFRICOM said it conducted an airstrike against multiple Islamic State Somalia targets in the Cal Miskaad Mountains of Puntland, reportedly killing several militants. March 25, 2025: AFRICOM said it conducted multiple airstrikes against Islamic State Somalia in the Cal Miskaad Mountains of Puntland, reportedly killing several militants. AFRICOM did not specify how many airstrikes took place, but at least two were conducted. March 15, 2025: AFRICOM conducted a collective self-defense strike 150 kilometers northeast of Mogadishu, reportedly killing several Shabaab fighters. AFRICOM did not specify where this strike took place, but the timing and general location point to areas in the Middle Shabelle region where significant fighting between federal forces and Shabaab is taking place. March 1, 2025: AFRICOM said it conducted airstrikes in Ceelbaraf in Middle Shabelle, killing an unclear number of Shabaab militants. AFRICOM did not specify how many airstrikes took place, but at least two were conducted. February 25, 2025: AFRICOM said it launched a collective self-defense strike against Shabaab near Al Kowsar in the Middle Shabelle region, though it did not provide details on the results. February 20, 2025: AFRICOM said it conducted collective self-defense airstrikes in Buulobarde in the Hiraan region, killing an unknown number of Shabaab militants. AFRICOM did not specify how many strikes took place, but at least two were conducted. February 16, 2025: AFRICOM said it killed at least two Islamic State members in a strike in the Cal Miskaat Mountains of Puntland. February 1, 2025: AFRICOM stated it conducted multiple airstrikes against Islamic State Somalia in the Cal Miskaat Mountains of Puntland. At least 14 militants were killed, including Ahmed Maeleninine, an Islamic State Central leader who had relocated to Somalia and was responsible for plots in Europe and the United States. AFRICOM did not specify how many strikes took place, but Puntland officials reported that the Americans conducted at least six such strikes. Caleb Weiss is an editor of FDD's Long War Journal and a senior analyst at the Bridgeway Foundation, where he focuses on the spread of the Islamic State in Central Africa. If theres a marquee feature for iOS 18.4, its the expansion of Apple Intelligence into the EU, along with Vision Pro compatibility and new language support for French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, Japanese, Korean, and Chinese. Thats tens of millions of iPhone 16 owners who can finally use the feature Apple says the newest iPhones were built for. (However, we should point out that this release does not enable Phone Mirroring on Macs in the EU due to issues over Digital Markets Act compliance.) For everyone else, there isnt one standout feature. Rather, iOS 18.4 brings lots of little tweaks, improvements, and changes. Maybe one will stand out for you as the thing youve been waiting for, or maybe the sum of them taken together just makes your iPhone a little more pleasant to use. Heres a by-no-means-complete list of the little things you may come to appreciate about this update. iOS 18.4: 15 minor improvements that make a major impact Visual Intelligence can be triggered in the Control Center or the Action Button. This makes it available on the iPhone 15 Pro, and it means you can add the control to your lock screen. If youve got AirPods Max, youre getting an upgrade (via a firmware update) to allow audio over USB-C, which will include 24-bit, 48 kHz lossless audio and ultra-low-latency audio. If youre a CarPlay user, youll appreciate the new third row of app icons on the home screen (if your display size is large enough) and a new API for sporting events will allow for custom experiences during live sporting broadcasts. Speaking of driving, Apple Maps will now include the location of NACS chargers (thats the so-called Tesla connector appearing on many new EVs). Got a Vision Pro? Along with support for Apple Intelligence on the headset, theres a new Vision Pro iPhone app that lets you discover spatial experiences, download apps and games, and get tips. If youre a fan of making Shortcuts, youll love that there are now lots of Shortcut options to change app settings. So you can make apps behave differently based on location or time of day or whatever, if youre good at making Shortcuts. Youll notice that Safari now shows recent searches when you select the search/address bar, making it easy to repeat that search you just did earlier today. You can clear this at will, or prevent it from showing at all by going to Settings > Safari > Show recent searches. Foundry There are several tweaks to Control Center. Buttons that have more options when you select them show chevrons, the cellular data toggle shows real signal strength, and so on. There are new controls, too, including four options for Ambient Music: Sleep, Chill, Productivity, and Wellbeing. Each one has multiple playlist options or you can select one of your playlists. Because theyre Control Center controls, you can add them to the lock screen or trigger them with the Action Button, too. Foundry Theres an all-new Apple Intelligence feature: Prioritize Notifications. Go to Settings > Notifications > Prioritize Notifications to enable or disable it, and you can select which apps it works with. When enabled, AI will try to determine if a notification is especially important and show it to you in a separate group on top of all your other notifications. Foundry Tweaks to the Photos app include a new Key Photo view mode for your Albums, two new filters for viewing your Photos library (Shared With You and Not in an Album), and the ability to edit the order of the Media Types list. Finally, I can select Screenshots without swiping three pages over! Foundry Image Playground is still a pretty bad experience, but at least it now has the Sketch style that was demonstrated back at WWDC. For certain kinds of drawings, its the best choice. We all love emojis, and there are seven new ones in iOS 18.4: Face with bags under eyes, Fingerprint, Harp, Leafless tree, Root vegetable, Shovel, and Splatter. If youre an Apple News+ subscriber youll want to check out the new Food section, which does an excellent job presenting recipes from popular food publications. Look under the Following tab to find the Food section. Note that this is not yet available in the Apple News app on Macs. You know how you can set up a new iPhone or iPad by bringing another iPhone or iPad near it? Well, now that works for setting up a new Mac, too! Youll need to update the Mac to macOS 15.4 or later, of course. To update your iPhone to iOS 18.4, head over to the Settings app, then tap General, Sofware Update, and follow the prompts. Dear Annie: I have two sons. My older one was always a source of difficulty growing up. He loved to read encyclopedias and science-related books. This led him to correct his teachers at times. Needless to say, this did not go well for him and made him an object of bullying in public school. I sent him to private school where they recognized his gifts, and he blossomed. Fast-forward 40 years. He is married (no children) and has a good job. Recently, he scolded me for forwarding items on Facebook that I found interesting. He said they were not factual and that I should fact-check before I pass something on. I agreed. The last straw occurred when I asked if the birthday check I sent to his wife two months ago had arrived. I asked because it had not been cashed. I received no answer. After three more phone calls, all of which went straight to voicemail, his wife texted me that my son did not want any more contact with me because (she says) I have disrespected him. I have been unfriended from all social media contact with them, and calls to him or her go straight to voicemail. My other son has been cut off also. I wonder if my older son is sick, and I dont know if this is truly coming from him. He lives 3,000 miles away. What can I do to find out if he is OK and if there is a chance to be reconciled? Mother Missing Son Dear Mother Missing: I am very sorry that you have been cut out of their lives. Obviously, whatever you forwarded from Facebook really bothered him, so you might consider writing him and his wife a letter of apology. Social media can be dangerous if we unintentionally embarrass or anger loved ones. You might have to wait it out for a while, but in the meantime, I would stay clear of social media, especially any messages that involve your son or daughter-in-law. Cultivate your relationship with your second son, and invite your oldest son and his wife to visit during the holidays. They might say no for a while, but if you keep telling them how much you love them, there is a possibility they will change their minds eventually. How Can I Forgive My Cheating Partner? is out now! Annie Lanes second anthology featuring favorite columns on marriage, infidelity, communication and reconciliation is available as a paperback and e-book. Visit http://www.creatorspublishing.com for more information. Send your questions for Annie Lane to dearannie@creators.com. COPYRIGHT 2024 CREATORS.COM Facts on human rights advancements in Xizang, China 10:28, March 31, 2025 By Zamir Ahmed Awan ( People's Daily Online In March 2025, the State Council Information Office of the People's Republic of China released the white paper "Human Rights in Xizang in the New Era." This document provides a comprehensive and factual account of the significant advancements in human rights within the Xizang Autonomous Region, commonly known as Tibet, since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) in 2012. These developments starkly contrast with the misleading narratives propagated by certain Western nations, notably the United States, which have consistently misrepresented China's efforts in the region to suit their geopolitical agenda. Economic development and poverty alleviation Over the past decade, Xizang has witnessed unprecedented economic growth. The region's gross domestic product (GDP) surged to 213.26 billion yuan ($29 billion) in 2022, a 128 percent increase from 2012. Xizang ranks among China's fastest-growing regions, with an average annual growth rate of 8.6 percent. Such economic progress has been pivotal in eradicating absolute poverty. By the end of 2019, all 628,000 registered impoverished people in the region had risen from poverty. In 2024, the per capita net income of those lifted out of poverty in Xizang increased by over 12.5 percent. This accomplishment is a testament to China's commitment to ensuring the right to development for all citizens, empowering them to lead dignified and prosperous lives. Advancements in education Education is a cornerstone of sustainable development and human rights protection. Recognizing its importance, Xizang became the first provincial-level region in China to implement a 15-year publicly funded education system, spanning kindergarten to senior high school. This initiative has significantly expanded access to education, particularly benefiting children in remote areas while reducing financial burdens on families. By 2024, there were 3,618 schools at various levels and of different types, 96,600 faculty and staff members, and 970,000 students on campus, accounting for more than 25 percent of Xizang's total population. The average length of education among new workforce entrants has increased to 13.1 years, reflecting a strong emphasis on cultivating a knowledgeable and skilled population. Health care improvements Xizang has made remarkable strides in health care infrastructure, ensuring that the right to health is effectively protected. In 2023, there were 5.9 hospital beds per 1,000 people, up from 3.29 in 2012; 8.05 health care professionals per 1,000 people, up from 3.67 in 2012; and 3.34 practicing physicians or physician assistants per 1,000 people, up from 1.53 in 2012. The subsidy on basic public health services per capita increased from 25 yuan in 2012 to 115 yuan in 2024, with 80 percent funded by the central budget, to provide urban and rural residents in the region with free basic health services. Additionally, traditional Tibetan medicine institutions have flourished, extending services to all townships and preserving the region's rich medical heritage. These improvements have contributed to a significant rise in average life expectancy to 72.19 years in 2020 from 68.17 years in 2010, demonstrating the tangible benefits of China's regional health care policies. Cultural preservation and religious freedom Contrary to baseless accusations of cultural suppression, China has undertaken extensive efforts to preserve and promote Tibetan culture and heritage. Xizang is home to over 1,700 sites for Tibetan Buddhism, providing ample space for the spiritual practices of the Tibetan people. Furthermore, monks and nuns are now included in comprehensive social security programs, including medical insurance, pensions and accident insurance an unprecedented development in Tibetan Buddhism. The government has also enacted policies to ensure that traditional Tibetan customs, language and religious practices are respected and integrated into the broader societal framework. These measures affirm China's commitment to upholding the cultural and religious rights of all ethnic groups within its borders. Political participation and civil rights The people of Xizang actively engage in the governance of their region, exercising their political rights in accordance with China's Constitution and legal framework. Of the 25 deputies from Xizang in the 14th National People's Congress, 17 are from ethnic minority groups. These deputies, making up 68 percent of the delegation, include Tibetans and members of smaller ethnic minority groups like the Monba and Lhoba peoples. A total of 42,153 deputies to peoples congresses at four levels in the autonomous region have been elected, 89.2 percent of whom are from the Tibetan or other ethnic minority groups. Moreover, the chairperson position of the People's Government of Xizang has consistently been held by a member of the Tibetan ethnic group. This inclusive political structure ensures that all ethnicities have a voice in governance and decision-making processes. Addressing Western criticisms Despite these substantial achievements, certain Western nations, particularly the United States, continue to distort the reality of human rights in Xizang. Allegations of "forced labor," cultural suppression and religious restrictions are not only unfounded but also disregard the region's substantial progress. For instance, the implementation of boarding schools in Xizang has been mischaracterized as an attempt at cultural assimilation. In reality, these schools provide quality education to children from remote areas, ensuring equal access to educational resources and providing opportunities for personal and professional growth. The curriculum respects and incorporates Tibetan language and culture, disproving claims of cultural erosion. Similarly, accusations of "forced labor" ignore the proactive employment policies implemented in Xizang. The regional government has expanded employment opportunities for farmers and herders, encouraging entrepreneurship and self-employment. These voluntary initiatives aim to improve livelihoods, reflecting China's dedication to enhancing the economic well-being of all its citizens, regardless of ethnicity or region. Conclusion The publication of "Human Rights in Xizang in the New Era" provides an authoritative account of the significant progress made in the region across various domains, including economic development, education, health care, cultural preservation, and political participation. These achievements are a testament to China's unwavering commitment to upholding and advancing human rights for all its citizens. The international community must approach discussions on Xizang with objectivity and respect for facts, rather than being swayed by baseless accusations and politically motivated narratives. The improved quality of life of Xizangs residents stands as the strongest evidence against the smear campaigns propagated by certain Western nations. By focusing on tangible progress and fostering constructive engagement, the world can contribute to a more accurate and just understanding of the reality in Xizang. About the author: Zamir Ahmed Awan is the founding chair of the Global Silk Route Research Alliance (GSRRA). He is a sinologist and former diplomat. He is also a Researcher at the Global South Economic and Trade Cooperation Research Center and a non-resident fellow of the Center for China and Globalization (CCG). (E-mail: awanzamir@yahoo.com). (Web editor: Hongyu, Wu Chengliang) Plainclothes federal agents whisked away a Boston man outside a courthouse in the middle of his trial last week as startled onlookers questioned what happened. Wilson Martell-Lebron, on trial related to charges of providing false information on a license application, appeared for the first day of his trial on Thursday, but Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents detained him and drove him off. Video of the incident was shared with MassLive by his lawyers. The specific charges were making a false statement on an RMV application and possessing a forged RMV document, according to his lawyers. Federal records did not show any results for Martell-Lebrons whereabouts on Monday afternoon. Martell-Lebrons lawyers from Erkan & Sullivan, PC, released a video showing the aftermath of the mans arrest by ICE outside the courthouse. The nearly minute-and-a-half-long video takes place on New Chardon Street in Boston outside the Edward W. Brooke Courthouse. Just ask where they are taking him, thats all you can do, a man is heard telling a woman as they walk towards the group of federal agents, who are in plainclothes standing in front of an unmarked black SUV. What was that? What was that? Another mans voice can be heard asking repeatedly. Theyre coming to get people. It starts like that, another passerby said. Where are you taking him? a woman asked the agents. The agents ignore the woman and say to one another, All good? Lets get out of here, before the SUV peels off. Its a kidnapping, a few people are heard saying. Was that a kidnapping? Youre not going to tell us where hes going? a man asked the federal agents who walked away. Cowards, (expletive) cowards, another man yelled. It isnt clear from the video how many agents were involved, but four men standing together near the SUV start to walk away together as the person filming the video approaches the car. What was that? the man continued to yell at the agents as they walked away. After a contentious hearing on Monday, presiding Judge Mark Summerville dismissed the case against Martell-Lebron, citing prosecutorial misconduct, and found an ICE agent in contempt of court after he ordered federal authorities to return Martell-Lebron to stand trial. A spokesperson for Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Haydens Office said prosecutors were surprised when ICE arrested Martell-Lebron last week. We were dismayed and surprised when our prosecution of [Wilson] Martell-Lebron was interrupted by ICE apprehending him in the middle of our case, Tina Nguyen, a district attorney spokesperson, said in a statement. " As soon as we were made aware of the detention we contacted ICE and requested his return to court ... Federal authorities should not have detained him and interfered with our efforts to hold him accountable." ICE did not immediately return a request for comment. Irene Rotondo contributed to this report. Water bottles spilled over the highway following a crash between two tractor-trailers between Interstate 95 and Route 128 south, which prompted the brief closure of two lanes and an off-ramp, the Weston Fire Department said. Two left lanes and the off-ramp were closed at exit 39B, the Massachusetts Department of Transportation stated in a post on X at 8:12 a.m. on Monday. The fire department shared a photo on Facebook of several dozen Polar Spring water bottles swept to the far side of the highway next to the 39B off-ramp. Companies on scene of this accident involving 2 Tractor Trailer trucks 95/128 south at the Mass Pike exit, exit is closed extended cleanup #MATraffic Posted by Weston Fire Dept on Monday, March 31, 2025 By around 9:20 a.m., the crash site was mostly cleared and the two lanes and off-ramp were reopened, though the right lane was closed for ongoing cleanup, MassDOT spokesperson John Goggin confirmed with MassLive. The two drivers were taken to Newton-Wellesley Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, Weston Fire Department Fire Chief Justin Woodside told MassLive. MassLive has reached out to the Massachusetts State Police for more information. Growing up, American Idol hopeful Samantha Ray always had a duet partner in her sister, Taylor. And even though the Georgia artist had to audition for the singing competition alone, her sibling was in her thoughts the whole time - and the judges could tell. Rays audition aired during Sunday nights episode of American Idol, which also marked the final auditions of Season 23. As she soared through a cover of I Hope You Dance by Lee Ann Womack, judges Lionel Richie, Carrie Underwood, and Luke Bryan were impressed by Rays voice and emotionality. From the first note, I was trying to compose myself, because every once in a while we just run across some people who have the absolute trigger on emotions, Richie said. You did it perfectly. When Bryan asked what Ray been thinking about during the performance, she shared that her sister - who had recently died from a drug overdose - was on her mind. Losing her hurts a lot because she was a year younger than me, she told the judges. We were very close. We didnt know what you were thinking about, but you were thinking about something, and thats being a storyteller, Underwood said, fighting back tears after the audition. That pulls people in. That was really special. After the vulnerable moment, all three judges voted to send Ray to Hollywood. Losing my sister felt like I lost a big part of me, Ray said. She was everything. I wish she was here, but I know I have her watching over me, she added. People walk between buildings, Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024, on the campus of Harvard University in Cambridge, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne) AP The Trump administration is reviewing more than $8.7 billion in multi-year grant commitments to Harvard University and $255.6 million in federal contracts and grants, according to a Monday announcement. Harvard has served as a symbol of the American Dream for generations the pinnacle aspiration for students all over the world to work hard and earn admission to the storied institution, U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon said. Despite the expectation that a prominent Boston real estate developer would be launching his campaign for mayor this week, he announced Monday that he would not be running. Tom OBrien, CEO of HYM Investments and former city planning chief under then-Mayor Tom Menino, released a statement Monday afternoon saying he had given thoughtful consideration to joining the race but ultimately opted against it. I care deeply about this city and have always looked for meaningful ways to serve, OBrien said. The value of service to others and to community is something my parents instilled in me, a core part of my faith and a guiding force in both my professional life and personal life." Boston police arrested a Roxbury man in connection with a shooting at South Bay Mall that left one person hurt, the police department said. Juan Mejia Caminero, 21, faces the charges of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon (firearm) and three counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, Boston police said in a statement on Monday. Officers on Sunday, March 23, received a radio call about an incident at 908 Dorchester Ave., police said. They arrived to find a man with a non-life-threatening gunshot wound. The man was hospitalized and an investigation commenced. Jury selection for Karen Reads second murder trial in the death of her then-boyfriend, Boston Police officer John OKeefe, begins Tuesday, April 1, at 9 a.m. EST. Those eager to follow the highly publicized and controversial trial in real time can click here for NBC10 Bostons live stream when court begins to watch live. MassLive will provide updates to key developments throughout the day, as well. Read, 45, is charged with second-degree murder, manslaughter while operating under the influence and leaving the scene of an accident causing death in connection with OKeefes death on Jan. 29, 2022. Prosecutors say she intentionally backed her SUV into her then-boyfriend in a drunken rage amid turmoil in their relationship, then left him to die in the snow outside the Canton home of a fellow Boston police officer. Her defense claims she was railroaded, even framed for OKeefes death. Reads first trial ended in July 2024 in a mistrial when the jury failed to reach a unanimous verdict after days of deliberation. A Boston judge found an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent in contempt of the court, and he may face charges, after federal immigration agents arrested a Boston man amid his criminal trial last week. Presiding Judge Mark Summerville announced the finding in a highly unusual and extremely contentious hearing at Boston Municipal Court on Monday morning. Wilson Martell-Lebron, on jury trial for charges that he provided false information on a license application, was arrested by plainclothes ICE agents and driven off in an unmarked SUV on the first day of his trial on March 27, according to his defense attorney Murat Erkan and a video of the incident. Martell-Lebrons lawyers said federal officials claim their client is a Dominican Republic national and in the U.S. without authorization. Defense attorney for Wilson Martell-Lebron, a Boston man detained by ICE agents on March 27, at the Edward W. Brooke Courthouse in Boston on March 31. (Irene Rotondo/MassLive) On Monday, Judge Summerville said ICE agent Brian Sullivan committed intentional and egregious violations of the defendants rights to a fair trial and due process by detaining him before his criminal trial had concluded. He referred the case to the Suffolk County District Attorneys Office for an investigation. When asked if the district attorneys office intends to bring charges against ICE agent Sullivan, spokesperson Jim Borghesani told reporters outside the courtroom that his office will take [Summervilles] request to investigate seriously. Sullivan did not appear at Mondays hearing. ICE did not immediately return a request for comment. Borghesani added the situation was unprecedented, and said, I cant remember a single time that weve had a defendant removed during criminal proceedings. James Borghesani, spokesperson for the Suffolk County District Attorney's Office, at the Edward W. Brooke courthouse in Boston on March 31. (Irene Rotondo/MassLive) Summerville also found that two Massachusetts State Police troopers knew of ICEs plans to detain Martell-Lebron on March 27 and indirectly helped ICE, but neither was held in contempt. As in any situation where a member becomes aware of federal immigration enforcement, the Troopers responded appropriately by neither assisting nor obstructing the federal action, a state police spokesperson said. State police troopers testifying in Martell-Lebrons case learned of federal officials intention to detain the man during the proceeding, the spokesperson said. While Summerville did not find prosecutors had intentionally obstructed justice, he suggested the district attorneys office needs to better train its prosecutors on ethics. The young prosecutors were put into a situation they probably couldnt even imagine theyd be in, when ICE agents were at the courthouse last week, he said. Summerville also dismissed with prejudice the criminal case against Martell-Lebron of falsifying RMV records, based on finding prosecutorial misconduct. During Monday mornings hearing, Martell-Lebrons attorney Erkan had harsh lines of questioning for Suffolk Assistant District Attorney Jack Lucy when the prosecutor took the witness stand. Lucy testified that ICE agent Sullivan had told him the agency planned to detain Martell-Lebron at the end of the trial, but that Sullivan had made no mention of taking Martell-Lebron into custody before his criminal proceedings officially concluded. But Erkan argued Lucy and two other prosecutors knowingly withheld the information of ICEs plans to deport Martell-Lebron from Summerville and the defense team. In his closing arguments, Erkan said he hopes this man never practices law again, which elicited an interrupting objection from the courtroom gallery. The man who yelled out, I object, identified himself as Lucys representative in the courtroom, but declined to speak with reporters. A spokesperson for Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Haydens Office previously said prosecutors were surprised when ICE arrested Martell-Lebron. We were dismayed and surprised when our prosecution of [Wilson] Martell-Lebron was interrupted by ICE apprehending him in the middle of our case, Tina Nguyen, a district attorney spokesperson, said in a statement. As soon as we were made aware of the detention we contacted ICE and requested his return to court ... Federal authorities should not have detained him and interfered with our efforts to hold him accountable. As of Monday afternoon, Martell-Lebrons whereabouts were unclear. Federal records did not show any results for where he is being detained. Im hopeful that the rule of law will continue to prevail even in the federal immigration context, Erkan told reporters on Monday. But of greatest concern to me is whether or not the constitutional right of a jury trial still matters in this Commonwealth, and Judge Summerville fitted unequivocally that it does, he said. A man who previously served as the mayor of Lawrences chief of staff was sentenced to prison on Monday for transporting and possessing child sexual abuse material, United States Attorney Leah Foleys office said. Jhovanny Martes-Rosario, 50, was sentenced to 43 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, Foleys office said in a statement. He pleaded guilty in December 2024 to one count of transportation of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography. Martes-Rosario previously worked for Lawrence Mayor Brian DePena. Law enforcement identified Martes-Rosario as the user of Yahoo and Apple accounts that contained child sex abuse material, Foleys office said. After a search of Martes-Rosarios home in February 2023, and investigators found an iPad with child sex abuse files on it, the statement read. Martes-Rosario admitted he owned the email address and that he searched for and downloaded the child sex abuse material to his personal iPad, and sent it to his email address for storage. Martes-Rosario also admitted that he searched for and stored child sex abuse material for years, Foleys office said. He was first arraigned on Feb. 7, 2023. In court, Martes-Rosario said he was fired from his position the day before, according to the sentenced A man was killed in a car fire on a Hanson roadway early Monday morning, according to the Massachusetts Fire Marshals Office. Hanson police and firefighters responded to Union Street shortly before 3 a.m. for a report of a car on fire in the roadway, the fire marshals office said. At the scene, they found a 2012 Chevrolet Impala with an engine compartment fully engulfed in flames. Firefighters freed the driver from the car and provided medical aid, but he was later declared dead at a local hospital, the fire marshals office said. The Chief Medical Examiners Office is working to identify the man, as well as his manner and cause of death. Hanson police and firefighters, the state fire marshals office, Massachusetts State Police fire investigators and the Plymouth County District Attorneys Office are investigating the origin and cause of the fire, the fire marshals office said. No further information has been released. After 52 years of marriage, a Massachusetts woman raised three children and treasured six grandchildren. But her family was much bigger than that. "Margaret was everyones favorite Aunt, Margaret Ann (Bowden) Hammersleys obituary read. She was everyones best friend, and thanks to her example, the number of close friends surrounding her grew exponentially to become a vast network of extended framily. Hammersley, born in Lowell, was found was found dead on March 21 in the waters of Forge Pond in the New Hampshire woods, the Westford Police Department said. The 73-year-old, who lived in Nashua, New Hampshire, had gone missing and authorities first started searching for her on March 20 in the area of Bradford Street and Pleasant Street. Her vehicle was found empty Thursday evening in a parking lot near Pleasant Street. The Westford Police Department sends its deepest condolences to the family and friends of Margaret Hammersley and asks that members of the public and media respect the familys privacy during this tragic time, police said. Friends called her Margieand she loved creating memories with those she cherished, including going to the theater, fancy tea rooms, craft fairs, chatting with her girlfriends during lunch and shopping at the Paper Store. She also loved to travel with her husband, Ed, and would often share photos from their vacations and from adventures with their family. Regardless of where she was, though, Margarets favorite way to spend her time was with her treasured grandchildren, her obituary stated. Friends and family gathered for a visitation on March 27. NASA astronaut Suni Williams gives a thumbs-up after being helped out of a SpaceX capsule onboard the SpaceX recovery ship Megan after landing in the water off the coast of Tallahassee, Fla., Tuesday, March 18, 2025. (Keegan Barber/NASA via AP) AP Back on Earth after several months orbiting the blue planet, Needham native Sunita Suni Williams and fellow astronaut Butch Wilmore spoke Monday for the first time since their return. At a press conference at NASAs Johnson Space Center in Houston on Monday, the two were joined by astronaut Col. Nick Hague. He was the commander of NASAs SpaceX Crew-9 mission and, along with crewmate Aleksandr Gorbunov, worked to and succeeded in bringing Williams and Wilmore back. Thanks to Nick and Alex for coming up and bringing us home, Williams said at the start of the press conference. Thanks to so many who prepared us for our mission ... Our teams here are getting us ready to get rehab and take on new challenges. Overall, the astronauts are feeling good, Williams said about readjusting to Earths gravity after nine months in space. She added that on Sunday, she ran 3 miles and, for that, will give myself a pat on the back. Williams and Wilmore bid farewell to the International Space Station, departing aboard a SpaceX capsule alongside two other astronauts on March 18. Their SpaceX capsule parachuted into the Gulf of Mexico in the early evening, just hours after departing the ISS. Splashdown occurred off the coast of Tallahassee in the Florida Panhandle, bringing their unplanned odyssey to an end. Within an hour, the astronauts were out of their capsule, waving and smiling at the cameras while being hustled away in reclining stretchers for routine medical checks. Wilmore and Williams plight captured the worlds attention, giving new meaning to the phrase stuck at work and turning Butch and Suni into household names. While other astronauts had logged longer spaceflights over the decades, none had to deal with so much uncertainty or see the length of their mission expand by so much. Then life goes on up there, Williams said. I mentioned yesterday, we pivoted and we were International Space Station crew members and we were doing what all of our other friends in the astronaut office do is go and work and train and do amazing science experiments ... Both had lived on the orbiting lab before and knew the ropes, and brushed up on their station training before rocketing away. Williams became the stations commander three months into their stay and held the post until earlier this month. In this image provided by NASA, a SpaceX capsule splashes down in the Gulf of Mexico, Tuesday, March 18, 2025, as it lands off the coast of Florida with NASA astronauts Suni Williams, Butch Wilmore and Nick Hague, and Russian cosmonaut Alexander Gorbunov. (Keegan Barber | NASA via AP) AP With the work they were able to do on the space station, youre not really aware of what else is going on down here, I hate to say that, Williams said. Maybe the world doesnt revolve around us, but we revolve around the world, something like that, she laughed. While in space, they learned of how their plight became news on Earth and it left them honored and humbled when we came home ... very thankful ..., Williams said. Just thankful for a nation that cares, a nation that prays and a nation that is involved in the processes that are important to all of us, Wilmore added. They were asked by reporters what the first thing was they wanted to do back on Earth and what they ate once back. I wanted to hug my husband and hug my dogs, Williams said with a smile. And Ill say in that order. No, Im just joking. Her father is a vegetarian, so Williams first ate a good grilled cheese sandwich when I got home. That reminded me of him. Wilmore embraced his family and again thanked people for their support. When asked by NBC 10 Boston about her message to students at Sunita L. Williams Elementary School in Needham, she cried out, Go Sox! Williams had a similar reaction to a question from Worcester Magazine. Upon hearing the Heart of the Commonwealths name, she said away from the microphone, Woostah! Were back to share our story to so many people because like you all mentioned, its unique and theres some lessons learned to it, and part of that is just resilience and being able to take a turn that was unexpected and make the best of it, she answered. That is the biggest thing that I want to pass down to kids who think that their life should be the straight arrow to get there ... Other doors might be open to you. Asked about the failed attempt by Boeings Starliner spacecraft to bring Williams and Wilmore back to Earth in August 2024, Wilmore said, We all own this. He named all the companies involved in that attempt, including NASA and Boeing. Were not going to look back and say this happened or that happened, or that entitys to blame, he said. Were going to look forward and say, What are we going to use from our lessons learned from this whole process and make sure that we are successful in the future. Its a tough business. While separated from their families and communities, both kept their ties to home strong. Wilmore said he still remotely joined in on services at his local church from space and it reinvigorated him each day, even though its fellowship from afar. Being apart from their families was difficult, Wilmore said. But in his family, this was something he trained his daughters given their fathers unique occupation. This is not the norm leaving the planet. Upon their return in a 3,000-degree fireball of plasma, as Wilmore referred to their SpaceX capsule, they acknowledged being greeted by dolphins. I had requested dolphins as kind of a joke, Hague said, which made Williams and Wilmore laugh. Somehow, they pulled it off. Williams recalled the plummet down to Earth, where they both could look out the windows of the capsule. Though dolphins were there, Williams said she wished she had seen a fin. Towards the end of the press conference, the two were asked about what life lesson they learned from their extended stay in space after the failed attempts to bring them back. I think every flight is a little bit different than what you go in planning it to be, Williams said. ... The go-to thought is, What is the opportunity in front of me? Its not a missed opportunity, its actually another opportunity that I didnt really think about, and wow, that opens up a lot of doors or a lot of things to learn. Its about taking the blinders off and look around you and see what other great things are waiting for you, she continued. And then just take advantage of that, learn as much as you can wherever you are and whatever your situation is, and move on from there. And share that lesson. Wilmore took solace in his faith in Jesus Christ, and thats contentment. It doesnt mean always happy. It doesnt means theres no pain. But content that knowing Gods in control. Before the press conference concluded, the two astronauts were asked if they had any special conversations with family since they returned. Wilmore again thanked the support, especially from his home state of Tennessee and wants to go back to thank people there. For Williams, those conversations were about making plans. We have a house up in New England and my husbands been talking about when were going to get up there and do a lot of fun stuff up there, she said. I think thats appropriate when it gets hot and humid [in Houston] in the summer ... Just like, whats next? Whats next on the list, what else do you want to do? Where else in the world would you like to go see? ... Theres a bigger bucket list than what I had when I left, which is unfortunate for my family or fortunate for my family," she laughed. Were all going to be taking some trips. I think thats mostly the conversations about, just being home and enjoying each others company and seeing new things. Reporting from the Associated Press was used for this story. One resilient puppy recently transported to Massachusetts from Mississippi where he experienced animal cruelty is ready to find a loving home in the Bay State. Nutella is an 11-month-old mixed-breed pup who was rescued from a property in Mississippi in early February along with seven other dogs, according to The Animal Rescue of League of Boston (ARL) the group helping Nutella locally. When Nutella was rescued from the unsanitary conditions he and the other dogs were living in, he was severely dehydrated and malnourished, weighing just 12 pounds, ARL said. The dogs former owner was then charged with cruelty to animals, ARL added. Nutella has since put on weight and now weights over 20 pounds. ARL plans to neuter him and give him intense dental care before placing him for adoption. The group said it was honored to help this young dog heal and find the home and life he deserves. ARL is additionally spotlighting Nutellas story as a part of its efforts to transport animals from overcrowded shelters in other areas of the country, where this issue is prevalent. ARL credits its long list of community resources to keep local pets out of shelters and inside homes with owners who love them. By keeping the shelter population low, ARL is able to extend its reach to give these animals a second chance and also helping decrease shelter overcrowding in other regions of the country, ARL said. ARL helps more than 20,000 animals annually according to the group. It is reliant upon the generosity of its benefactors to support its programs and initiatives for animals in need. An 18-year-old woman, who was one of two teenagers fatally shot at a Brockton mall last weekend, was remembered in her obituary as a devoted big sister to her three brothers and two sisters. Cevannah Alvarez, of New Bedford, was shot at Westgate Mall in Brockton on March 22. She was among a group of teenagers and families gathered at the mall for the opening of a new indoor trampoline park, Plymouth County District Attorney Tim Cruz said. Alvarez was taken to Massachusetts General Hospital after the shooting, where she was pronounced dead. Another teenager, Tymari Albertson, 15, was pronounced dead at Good Samaritan Hospital. A lifelong resident of New Bedford, Alvarez attended the South Coast citys public high school. Her laughter was like music to your ears and her smile was everything and would light up a room, her obituary reads. Cevannah loved her friends, social media, taking pictures and spending time on her phone. Alvarez loved to be at home, sleeping all day, then staying up all night to cook something special. The obituary remembers her as the best big sister to her three brothers and two sisters. Visiting hours for Alvarez were held from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday at Aubterine-Lopes Funeral Home in New Bedford. A service was held at 4 p.m. In a series of social media posts, Alvarezs mother, Caitlin, vowed to get justice for her daughter. Ahead of her daughters funeral, Caitlin Alvarez said, Im not ready to see her for the last time! Cevannah, mommy loves you with everything I have!!!! she wrote. Cevannah, how do I get through this? Auditor Diana DiZoglio is pictured on her victorious election night in 2022. (Chris Lisinski/State House News Service) Its no secret that Massachusetts state Auditor Diana DiZoglio has a habit of bursting into song in public. The Methuen Democrat, whos already sung the praises of the legislative audit voters approved last fall and entertained the crowd at a must-attend St. Patricks Day bash in Southie, was at it again over the weekend. DiZoglio strode on stage at this weekends Teamsters Local 25 Gala for Autism at the Encore in Boston, and, as one does, belted out the Whitney Houston classic I Wanna Dance With Somebody. You can watch a video of the performance on Facebook or on X, depending on your social media preferences. The crowd, about 1,500-strong, can be seen dancing along. Thank you @Teamsters25 for another successful Light Up the Night Gala!" DiZoglio wrote on her X account. In a statement, the Teamsters thanked DiZoglio, a former state lawmaker, for her support, crediting her for [lighting] up the night at the event. The union said its raised more than $7 million for autism research since 2008. Not to be overlooked, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu and her infant daughter, Mira, also were in attendance, according to a spokesperson. In this image taken from security camera video, Rumeysa Ozturk, a 30-year-old doctoral student at Tufts University, is detained by Department of Homeland Security agents on a street in Sommerville, Mass., Tuesday, March 25, 2025. (AP Photo) AP Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey said her office is continuing to press for the release of a Tufts University graduate student who was taken into custody by federal immigration officials in a stunning incident on the streets of Somerville last week. Speaking to WCVB-TVs On The Record program on Sunday, the Democratic governor said she doesnt know much more about the detention of Rumeysa Ozturk, a Turkish national with a visa, than has already been reported by most media outlets. Read More: ACLU demands court order release of Tufts grad student in ICE custody Obviously, the video is disturbing. And, you know, there are questions about this, real questions about this. We dont know the circumstances under which this woman was taken, Healey told the station. We havent had any information provided to us by the Department of Homeland Security. So all I can tell you right now is I continue to be in touch with the attorney general, who is looking at this, and wish we had more information to offer the public. On Friday, a federal judge in Boston ruled that Ozturk, who was rendered to a U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement facility in Louisiana, cannot be deported without a court order. Her arrest by masked, plainclothes officers, was captured on video, and has since been repeatedly shared and rebroadcast scores of times. Read More: Boston judge orders Trump administration not to deport Tufts student The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has said, without providing details, that Ozturk engaged in activities in support of Hamas, a foreign terrorist organization that relishes the killing of Americans. Secretary of State Marco Rubio last week suggested Ozturks detention was due at least in part to her allegedly having helped destabilize the Tufts campus as part of a pro-Palestinian movement last year. Speaking to WCVB-TV, Healey said the Ozturk situation and the announcement last week that a law enforcement arm of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement recently apprehended 370 people in Massachusetts call into question the Trump administrations true aims. Im not sure what is going on here, to be honest, because I thought that -- and again, we dont know the circumstances of this -- but Donald Trump said that he was going to target criminals and that that was going to be the activity of ICE and Department of Homeland Security, Healey, a former two-term state attorney general said. And increasingly, were seeing instances that really call that into question here on the ground in Massachusetts. Last week, the Legislatures Black and Latino Legislative Caucus issued a statement, saying the ICE raids had deeply unsettled communities of color, particularly Black and Latino populations in Massachusetts. Initially framed as part of a federal initiative targeting criminals, terrorist supporters, and members of transnational organized criminal groups, these actions have quickly expanded beyond their stated intent, the 26-member caucus said in its joint staetment. These arrests go beyond the original scope and have evolved into a tactic to intimidate marginalized communities of color, regardless of immigration status. The lawmakers went on to say that they [stand] united in condemning the egregious lack of due process she, and countless others like her, are enduring ... This Caucus condemns these actions that do not enhance public safety and instead force immigrant communities, victims, and survivors to distrust law enforcement and authorities. State Rep. Manny Cruz, D-7th Essex, condemned the federal action in a post to X, calling it a gross abuse of the powers of the executive branch. Ms. Ozturk had a student visa removed without due process, was unfairly targeted for protected speech, and was ambushed and transported to a different state to subvert our circuit court, Cruz wrote. The slippery slope this creates and our increasing descent towards authoritarianism should alarm every American. First they will come for their political opponents, immigrants, and then they will justify the false imprisonment of any American who speaks out. In a post to X, state Rep. John Moran, D-9th Suffolk, a Tufts alum, said he was appalled by the anti-American behavior of Trump and his cronies. In America, we engage in dialogue, not totalitarian suppression. Healey told WCVB-TV on Sunday that she is very comfortable removing violent offenders from the streets, including those who should not be here, who are here unlawfully. But she also suggested the states laws where immigration and public safety overlap are sufficient. I also want to say, though, in Massachusetts, you know, the facts are that were among the safest states in the country. We were rated recently, we have the lowest rate of gun deaths, of traffic deaths, we are second in life expectancy nationwide, and we are, I think, third lowest in property thefts. So in this discussion about public safety and whats going on, I just want to level set with the folks in Massachusetts to let them know whats actually going on in terms of public safety. The governor reiterated in Sundays appearance that we are not a sanctuary state. She also made clear that she does not see it as her role to get involved in efforts to reshape state law in response to a court ruling that effectively limits cooperation between state officials and federal immigration authorities. The states Supreme Judicial Courts 2017 Lunn ruling determined that state law provides no authority for Massachusetts court officers to arrest and hold an individual solely on the basis of a Federal civil immigration detainer. We have a law in place thats similar to many laws in place around this country, and it basically says, Look, state law enforcement, you work on crimes, you work on criminal investigations. We regularly do investigations with local and federal authorities, Healey said. She added, I support anything to get criminals off the street and to ensure the safety of our communities and our residents. That will be for the Legislature to decide in terms of the Lunn decision. But I just want to be clear about the model that we have right now, and that I think its working. Republicans on Capitol Hill are eyeing cuts to health care to pay for tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans, U.S. Rep. Jake Auchincloss said Monday. Republicans are trying to cut health care for people who need health care to pay for tax cuts for people who do not need tax cuts. That is the core of their agenda in Congress, Auchincloss, D-4th District, told reporters Monday after addressing the Charles River Regional Chamber in Newton. Auchincloss and U.S. Rep. Lori Trahan, D-3rd District, both sit on the Houses Energy and Commerce Committee, whose chairperson, U.S. Rep. Brett Guthrie, R-Ky., is widely viewed as interested in changing Medicaid in a way that would cap or reduce aid to the states. State House News Service asked whether Auchincloss, of Newton, was talking with state lawmakers about that committees possible decision as lawmakers in Massachusetts are working to craft the state budget. Auchincloss didnt say if he was, replying that Congressional Democrats would be united in fighting Medicaid cuts. What that does is it takes away primary, preventative care for kids. Forty percent of kids in this country get access to health care through Medicaid, and its going to cut at-home care for seniors, he said. A third of seniors on Medicare get out-of-home care through Medicaid. And so were going to protect health care for kids and seniors in this country. State legislators are writing a plan for state spending due by July 1, while coping with uncertainty about how much they will receive from the federal government. Medicaid reimbursements account for the majority of the $16 billion of federal dollars baked into Gov. Maura Healeys $62 billion budget blueprint. BALTIMORE, MD - Red Sox' Rafael Devers throws his bat back to the dugout after being walked in the first inning Monday. (Photo by Paul Kim/MLB Photos via Getty Images) MLB Photos via Getty Images BALTIMORE Instant reactions from the Red Sox 8-5 loss to the Orioles on Monday here at Camden Yards: 1) DH Rafael Devers historically bad start continued. Devers entered 0-for-16 with 12 strikeouts and two walks. He went 0-for-3 with three strikeouts and two walks. Hes now 0-for-19 with 15 strikeouts and four walks. He put up a tough first at-bat. He fouled off four pitches and drew a nine-pitch walk. But he struck out in his other three at-bats. He foul tipped a 92.4 mph sinker into the catchers mitt in the second inning. He was called out on strikes on a low-and-outside 91.1 mph sinker that clipped the edge of the zone in the fifth. He struck out swinging on an 84.5 mph changeup in the seventh inning. He walked in the ninth. 2) A feel-good story took a quick turn. Lefty starter Sean Newcomb won a spot on Bostons roster out of camp and became just the 28th Massachusetts born pitcher to start a game for the Red Sox. But after allowing just one earned run in 14 innings during spring training, he allowed two earned runs before recording an out Monday. The Orioles ended up scoring four runs on five hits against him in the first inning. All five hits came against his cutter. He gave up four runs and eight hits in four innings. Newcomb is the temporary fifth starter as Brayan Bello and Lucas Giolito are nearing returns from the IL. Bello will make a rehab start for Triple-A Worcester at Jacksonville on Tuesday. Giolito will make a rehab start for the WooSox on Wednesday. 3) Speedster Jarren Duran finished tied with Arizonas Corbin Carroll for the MLB lead in triples (14) last year. He recorded his first of 2025 with a two-run triple to cut it to 4-2 in the second inning. 4) Good situational hitting by rookie Kristian Campbell with runners in scoring position and one out in the third inning. He fell behind 0-2 and then laid off a changeup in the dirt before hitting an RBI groundout to second base. That cut it to 4-3. 5) Trevor Story is struggling. He went 1-for-4 with a bloop single and three strikeouts. He is 2-for-15 with six strikeouts this season. 6) Again, not enough offense for Boston, which has just 16 runs in five games. The Sox had three runs and six hits entering the bottom of the ninth. They scored two in the ninth after the Orioles had just scored four runs in the bottom of the eighth. 7) Alex Bregman cut his face in the bottom of the eighth inning diving for a ball. His wild throw to second base allowed two runners into scoring position. Baltimore ended up scoring four runs to turn a 4-3 lead into an 8-3 advantage. 8) The Red Sox and Orioles have Tuesday off. They will play the second game of this three-game series Wednesday at 6:35 p.m. Lefty Garrett Crochet (0-0, 3.60 ERA) will start opposite Os righty Zach Eflin (0-0, 3.00 ERA). 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combinaison gagnante du Loto Vert du 11 mars 2025[Video News] Les numeros gagnants du tirage du Loto et Loto Plus du 8 mars 2025[Video news] Le MMM Celebre la Journee Internationale de la Femme[Video News] Jean-Luc Chane-Kane a anime un seminaire sur la socialisation des chiens[Video News] La combinaison gagnante du Loto Vert du 7 mars 2025[Video News] Seance parlemantaire du 7 mars 2025[Video News] Nouvelle identite de la Turbine: au-dela dun incubateur, un partenaire strategique de linnovation responsable [Video News] Grays celebre son expertise et son heritage lors de son second Corporate Media Breakfast[Video News] Rebranding de La Turbine[Video News] Conference de presse de lUnion of Artists[Video News] 2e Corporate Media Breakfast de Grays a Villebague[Video News] Les numeros gagnants du tirage du Loto et Loto Plus du 5 mars 2025[Video News] La combinaison gagnante du Loto Vert du 4 mars 2025[Video News] Conference de presse du MSM[Video news] Seance parlementaire du 4 mars 2025 en Live[Video News] Message du ministre des Affaires Etrangeres[Video News] La combinaison gagnante du Loto Vert du 28 fevrier 2025[Video News] Les numeros gagnants du tirage du Loto et Loto Plus du 28 fevrier 2025[Video News] Seance parlementaire du 28 fevrier 2025Garance: Treizieme bulletin de cyclone pour Maurice (27-02-2025 : 04h10)Garance: Onzieme bulletin de cyclone pour Maurice (26-02-2025 : 22:10)[Video News] La combinaison gagnante du Loto Vert du 25 fevrier 2025Garance: Septieme bulletin de cyclone pour Maurice ( 26-02-2025 @ 4h10)[Video News] Elsa Wolinski, Clementine Galey, Shakti Callikan et Cristele de Speville font du podcast un vecteur de proximite et dauthenticiteGarance: Sixieme bulletin de cyclone pour Maurice ( 25-02-2025 @ 22h10)[Video news] Point de presse du NCC du 25 fevrier 2025Garance : Cinquieme bulletin de cyclone pour Maurice (25-02-2025 : 16 h 10)Communique du National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management CentrePremier bulletin de cyclone pour Maurice (24-02-2025 : 16:10)[Video News] Dimans politik[Video News] Les numeros gagnants du tirage du Loto et Loto Plus du 22 fevrier 2025[Video News] Attitude Talk Series No 7[Video News] La combinaison gagnante du Loto Vert du 21 fevrier 2025[Video News] Coup denvoi de Pepcity No 2 avec le concert de Atif Aslam, le 5 avril 2025[Video News] Seance parlementaire du 21 fevrier 2025 en Live[Video News] Vernissage de Cendrine Bolaram[Video news] QBL annonce le concert dAtif Aslam a Cote dOr et Pepcity @ Bagatelle[Video news] Bilan des 15 ans de Lottotech[Video News] Expo peinture a loccasion abolition de l esclavage a Quatre Bornes[Video News] La combinaison gagnante du Loto Vert du 18 fevrier 2025[Video news] Nando Bodha a dit[Video News] Les numeros gagnants du tirage du Loto et Loto Plus du 15 fevrier 2025[Video News] Dimans Politik[Video News] Pravind Rughoo : Fair attention kan sorti dan Sud Moris [Video News] La combinaison gagnante du Loto Vert du 14 fevrier 2025[Video news] Atelier de travail de PILS sur la sexualite[Video News] Les numeros gagnants du tirage du Loto et Loto Plus du12 fevrier 2025[Video news] Lancement du livre de Jeremie Brousse de Gersigny[video News] Edition Speciale[Video News] Attitude Foundation offre deux fontaines a eau a lecole Sir Pierre Dalais de Trou dEau Douce[Video News] Conference de presse du Kolektif 420[Video News] Dimans Politik[Video News] MCB Talk Thierry Hebraud [Video News] Action de la Fondation Attitude pour leau potable et moins de plastique a lEcoleTrou dEau Douce[Video News] Les numeros gagnants du tirage du Loto et Loto Plus du 8 fevrier 2025{Video news] Atelier de travail An update of the Labour Legislation in Mauritius [Video news] Seance parlementaire du 7 fevrier 2025 en Live[Video News] Les numeros gagnants du tirage du Loto et Loto Plus du 5 fevrier 2025[Video News] Collaboration essentielle face au changement climatique[Video News] Pou Mwa Ou SpesialEn Route Vers le Made in Moris : Presentation de la cohorte 2025[Video News] La combinaison gagnante du Loto Vert du 4 fevrier 2025[Video news]Seance parlementaire du 4 fevrier 2025[Video News] Les numeros gagnants du tirage du Loto et Loto Plus du 1er fevrier 2025[Video News] La combinaison gagnante du Loto Vert du 31 janvier 2025[Video News]Reneworld : Apres 5 000 installations photovoltaiques residentielles, cap sur les entreprises et lindustrie[Video News] Lancement officiel de la Cohorte 2005 dEn Route vers le Made in Moris AN ambitious plan to renovate the 19th century Church of Ireland church in Louisburgh to incorporate a new visitor experience dedicated to the story of Clew Bay Pirate Queen Grace O'Malley has been given the green light by Mayo County Council. The Louisburgh Development Company Limited submitted plans for the restoration and refurbishment of St Catherine's Church to accommodate the community library and archival material as well as demolish an existing Granuaile Centre to allow for the construction of a new 'architecturally ambitious' two-storey visitor experience building including exhibition, event and refreshment spaces. READ: Mayo students do 'Famine Walk' in memory of those who died in Doolough Tragedy itor experience will also consist of the local Great Famine Story, the Louisburgh Story, the Louisburgh Climate Centre, Community Library and a Hub to provide space for community activities. The proposed development has been driven by the Failte Ireland Clew Bay Destination and Experience Development Plan which calls for the development of 'tracks and trails' including an experience dedicated to the story of Grace OMalley. The Plan called for investment in the Louisburgh Centre to develop an all year allweather asset and in 2022 the Louisburgh Development Company received a grant from the Department of Rural and Community Development under the Town and Village Renewal Scheme to assist with the planning of the proposed project. The Louisburgh Development Company commissioned Tandem Design to examine what the locality and wider region had to offer in addition to the Granuaile/Grace OMalley story. Tandem produced an Interpretive Strategy for the centre based on a fresh look at the existing offering and all that the area has to offer. The strategy focused on the centre as a threshold experience providing a gateway to 'this special corner of West Mayo' and to position Louisburgh as an essential stop along the Wild Atlantic Way. The existing extension to the church building was constructed in the 1990s and the decision was taken to demolish it and construct a new centre. 'Architecturally ambitious' In the design statement for the 'architecturally ambitious' new centre prepared by Taylor McCarney Architects, the groundfloor footprint was described as taking inspiration from the orientation of navigation lines that would have been used at the time of Granuaile while the visitor journey will be orientated around this central semi-circular column, including a continuation of the staircase core onto roof level to capture higher views. The layout has been 'carefully considered to bring the visitor on a journey through detailed design of interior spaces allowing them to pause and reflect' while interactive interventions will be included to 'enhance the experience throughout the building'. St Catherine's Church located on Church Street dates back to 1828 and is a protected building as a result a comprehensive archaeological assessment report was prepared which outlined it is unlikely that the proposed development will have any significant extra visual impact on its setting. There were no objections to the project from members of the public and Mayo County Council's senior archaeologist stated he had no objection to the proposed development subject to conditions. As a result, Mayo County Council granted planning permission subject to eight planning conditions. by Les Luchter , March 30, 2025 Macho Man, the Village Peoples 1978 hit, becomes Quattro Dog in Elanco Animal Healths launch campaign for Credelio Quattro, a once-monthly chewable tablet whose four ingredients (hence, Quatro) fight six different parasites (tapeworms, roundworms, hookworms, heartworms, ticks, fleas). The video spot can be seen in :06, :15 and :30 lengths. When launching a new product, name recognition -- and more importantly, memorability -- is key, Bobby Modi, executive vice president for U.S. Pet Health at Elanco, tells Marketing Daily. The team looked for an audio hook to make the name stick and kept coming back to the phrase Quattro Dog, a dog other dogs would aspire to be. Or, more precisely, a dog their owners would aspire their dogs to be. advertisement advertisement When choosing parasite protection, says Modi, those owners care most about product effectiveness, parasite coverage and duration of protection. The campaign -- which includes linear and streaming TV, social media, radio, in-store, search, and veterinarian trade pubs -- launched on World Parasite Day, March 20, leading into Aprils Active Dog Month, a seven-year-old designation launched initially by the Om Shanti Pups blog. What those active dogs are doing can include eating grass, drinking from rain puddles or going off leash -- everyday behaviors reported by 95% of dog owners in Elanco research that Modi says could put them at risk for parasites. After April, the campaign will continue year-round, Modi says. Theres no longer a single season for parasites, it explains, due to the geographic spread of parasites and increasing disease pressure. The Credelio Quattro creative campaign is designed to grab attention, educate, and entertain, but with a serious underlying message about the importance of protecting all dogs from seen and unseen parasites. This isnt the songs first use in advertising: with lyrics changed to nacho man, it was used 30 years ago for General Mills Old El Paso brand of Mexican foods. The Organic agency handled strategy, insights, creative development, production and post-production for the Quattro campaign. by Laurie Sullivan @lauriesullivan, March 31, 2025 SimilarWeb, a digital data intelligence company, has acquired The Search Monitor, an ad-monitoring company that supports affiliate compliance for paid search, for an undisclosed sum. The companies have independently supported data, optimization and advertising. Together they have the capability to protect brand assets, optimize digital marketing strategies and strengthen the ability for brands, retailers, and agencies to maximize return on investment (ROI). Global ad spending in search advertising is projected to reach approximately $351.5 billion in 2025, with an anticipated annual growth rate of 7.7% from 2025 to 2030, according to Statista. By acquiring The Search Monitor, Similarweb addresses the need for brands and partners to protect brand integrity, ensure compliance with advertising agreements, and enhance governance of business and trademark policies. advertisement advertisement We are thrilled to welcome The Search Monitor to Similarweb, stated Or Offer, CEO and founder of Similarweb. Their technology and domain expertise in paid search and affiliate compliance complement our platform perfectly, helping us deliver even greater value to marketers who rely on accurate, real-time insights to drive results." Offer believes that this acquisition is another step in the company's strategy to make digital data more actionable. Lori Weiman and Shaun Martinec founded The Search Monitor in 2007. In its early days, Weiman spoke at the Search Insider Summit, sharing her knowledge on a variety of search topics. When asked if she will remain in the role of CEO for The Search Monitor, Weiman told MediaPost, "Yes and same role, leading The Search Monitor into continued greatness." The Search Monitor has build a strong reputation for helping top brands and agencies monitor ad visibility, enforce brand compliance, and gain in-depth competitive insights managing paid search closely. Their platform's advanced monitoring technology enables advertisers to implement keyword tracking, enforce affiliate compliance, and brand protection measures such as automated alerts and keyword scanning, to prevent unauthorized brand bidding. This acquisition will allow brands to make more informed, data-driven decisions, enhance campaign efficiency, and safeguard brand integrity. by Laurie Sullivan @lauriesullivan, March 31, 2025 Google CEO Sundar Pichai took to X during the weekend to crowdsource opinion whether AI platforms should use the open standard Model Context Protocol (MCP). To MCP or not to MCP, that's the question, Pichai wrote. Lmk in comments. In the comments section of his X thread, many people shared their opinions on the open standard developed by Anthropic in 2024. It allows AI models to connect to a variety of data sources and apps. The technology connects AI assistants to systems where data lives, including content repositories, business tools, and development environments. Its aim is to help frontier models produce better, more relevant responses. Do it for the developers, Adam Holt, founder and CEO of Rapido in New Zealand, wrote. advertisement advertisement Imagine you have one universal plug that fits all your devices that's essentially what the MCP is for AI, wrote Addy Osmani, engineer at Google working on Chrome, in a blog post. Corey Coto, chief executive and co-founder at Kaizen Insights, thought the idea would move AI into the next generation of interoperability. Anthropic, Microsoft, OpenAI, and Google would create a massive step-function increase in developer impact, Coto wrote. The substrate or Web 2.0 and the Social Web can be wired together. We just have to convince AMZN and META to join too. An engineer that goes by the tag Kache on X believes Google could come up with a better way to connect the agents and models. Come up with a better interface. He wrote, and please let your guys cook, and then Google could name it something that isnt an acronym. Some thought MCP insufficient and not very enlightening. Another said its a good step, but ultimately the by-product of a chat host wanting to maintain center focus and control. we need a third option, agnostic tools, authorization, and context you take with you from vendor to vendor. Using MCP would give Google a head start, but about half of the comments suggested the company start with something new. The post shows how Google is preparing to allows AI models to connect to many different apps and data sources consistently. by Colin Kirkland , March 31, 2025 Over the weekend, U.S. President Donald Trump told Reuters that the White House will strike a deal with ByteDance by Saturday to sell TikTok, the short-form video app used by over 170 million Americans. We have a lot of potential buyers, Trump told Reuters on Sunday. There's tremendous interest in TikTok. Trump added that hed like to see TikTok remain alive. Despite lawmakers urging the president to extend the sell-off deadline by an additional six months, continuing to keep TikTok on the app store until October 16, Trump continues to issue statements about completing the deal by April 5. However, as the deadline looms, the public has received little information about the logistics of a potential deal, including which company is most likely to prevail, whether ByteDance will support new ownership in the region, and how it will impact American users' in-app experience and data privacy. advertisement advertisement Blackstone -- the private equity firm -- is the most recent contender to join the pool of potential buyers. On Friday, Reuters reported that the company was considering making a small minority investment in TikTok's U.S. operations, joining ByteDance's non-Chinese shareholders. This would be led by Susquehanna International Group and General Atlantic. It is possible that Blackstone has surpassed Oracle as the most promising candidate for a selloff, especially since Oracle's proposed deal violated key security concerns posed in the Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, which demands that foreign-owned entities do not own more than 20% of the app, do not possess direction or control over the platform, and do not have an operational relationship with regard to its content recommendation algorithms or data sharing. Perplexity AI -- a free AI-powered search engine -- has also outlined a plan to rebuild TikTok in the U.S., including its algorithm, revising its initial takeover offer for the app that would allow the U.S. government to own up to 50% of NewCo, the new company Perplexity proposed upon a future IPO. Trump's extension of the deadline has been deemed unlawful by U.S. senators who have argued that Congress is the appropriate body to revise the deadline set out in the recently passed bill. The path to saving TikTok should run through Capitol Hill, they say. Trump says he will consider giving China a little reduction in tariffs or something to finalize a deal by the proposed deadline. Nine drug users in Malappuram, Kerala, contract HIV from shared syringes. Keralas HIV Alarm: Needle Sharing Sparks Outbreak Did You Know? Nine lives altered by shared needles in Kerala's Malappuram district. #hivawareness #medindia Nine lives altered by shared needles in Kerala's Malappuram district. #hivawareness #medindia Trusted Source HIV among people who inject drugs in India: a systematic review Go to source Trusted Source Stopping the Spread: Safe Practices and Prevention Strategies "Share Awareness, Not Needles, Stop HIV Spread!" HIV among people who inject drugs in India: a systematic review - (https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9367073/) After nine drug users in Kerala's Malappuram district tested positive for HIV, a recent incidence has sparked serious public health worries. Sharing of tainted needles was linked to the illnesses, underscoring the critical need for harm reduction, education, and intervention.Authorities in the Malappuram town of Valanchery discovered a cluster of HIV infections connected to intravenous drug usage. Users are at a significant risk of contracting HIV through the well-established method of sharing needles. In an attempt to stop the spread, local health officials have stepped up their efforts, starting awareness programs and offering afflicted people medical support. They also highlight the significance of safe syringe practices and access to harm-reduction programs.).Improved drug rehabilitation facilities, needle exchange programs, and extensive HIV testing are all necessary in light of the outbreak. Public health professionals emphasize that the danger of further transmission can be considerably reduced by early identification and preventative actions.The Malappuram case is a clear warning of the risks associated with drug abuse. To stop such epidemics in the future, authorities and medical experts must collaborate to inform communities and offer easily available healthcare options.Source-Medindia Goblin It would be a sin to start this list of Lee Dong-wooks best Korean dramas without keeping Goblin on the top rank, where he plays a stoic yet humorous Grim Reaper with a mysterious past. Unfortunately disappointed. By Mahony | on 3.0 These are the issues that I experienced : Tight Legroom, comfort, entering and exiting the car,Adaptive Cruise control issue, No spare tire, Lane departure, touch sensitive button on the steering wheel, and the wiper noise. If you need more details please read my review. I bought a 2025 E350. I am 5 foot 10 inch, and 210 pounds. Unfortunately the 2024-2025 E Class is hard to get in and out, I have tried so many seat positions to make it easy but with No help. Even with the easy exit my seat moves forward which makes it tighter to get in or out. I have plenty of room for my legs, and as well for the front passenger, but with the rear seat is a different story, yes you will have plenty of room from your knees to the back of the front seats but you wont have enough room to move your feet under the front seat so you wont be able to to stretch your leg ( I had a 2024 Camry and it had a very comfortable rear seat ) with the E Class a 1 hour trip in the back seat is a nightmare. There is No seat extension on the front seats for tall driver and front passenger. Adaptive cruise control for some reason with No warning it will apply brakes on the highway and drops your speed from 65 miles down to 35 miles, it happens more if you are on the right lane and there is a HWY exit, but even on a left lane still it will do it. I know if you are using Mercedes Navigation and you are exiting the HWY it will slow down for you, but my car does slow down without using the Navigation and as I said on the left lane. No spare tire, so if you are on a road trip during weekends or holiday, or after 5 pm then good luck with the run flat tires, you have to wait 2 days til the shops or Mercedes dealers open to replace your tire. Lane departure you will get a very minor steering vibration barely noticeable, and it WILL NOT bring you back to your lane like Toyota, Hyundai, or Volkswagen ( my family cars )! The control on the steering for Middle Gauge Cluster in your dash is very sensitive any little touch it changes the page, it is a touch sensitive, again very annoying. The right wiper makes a loud disturbing noise on light rain, the noise sounds like turning the wipers on a dry windshield, I thought its just my car, but it has the same problem with my friend car. If you are into Music and you wanted to have it louder then you may need to consider a $1000 option Burmester 4D Surround Sound System, for me I am very happy with the standard speakers. The 4 cylinder has enough power I am very happy with the engine performance, at the speed of 65 MPH the engine RPM is about 1300 RPM, and the cabin is very quiet. HWY MPG I get 42 MPG with 2 people in the car, full fuel tank, and cruise control is set to 65 MPH very impressive. The air flow distribution from the air condition vents is a state of the art, you wont feel the air hitting your face or arm. Hey Mercedes voice command is a great help, but sometimes it activates and it might be a little annoying. Will I spend $72,000 to buy a 2025 E class, for me I wont do the mistake again. Read More KYIV, Ukraine -- "Skunk" found himself pinned down in a trench, outnumbered and under relentless close-range fire. It was Christmas Eve 2024, and the 38-year-old U.S. Air Force veteran was serving with a unit in Eastern Ukraine as that country goes into its fourth year of repelling Russia's full-scale invasion. He didn't speak Ukrainian or Russian, and it had been 15 years since he'd served in the U.S. military, but he felt compelled to try to help defend an ally. He'd arrived in Ukraine only two months before, shortly after submitting his 2024 election ballot. It was the first time he had voted in his life and, recalling a sense of better times during President Donald Trump's first term, he cast his ballot to return him to office. He cheered when he found out he'd picked the winner. But when he turned his head in that trench in the hours before Christmas, a round tore through his thermal vision goggles and ripped into his face. "It blew up in my eye," Skunk said, pointing to the scars over his right eyelid. He spoke to Military.com via a video interview earlier this month from Izium -- a formerly occupied area in the Kharkiv region that was liberated in 2023 but that remains on the front line under constant attack. Like other troops fighting in this war, Skunk asked to be referred to by his nom de guerre, a wartime nickname, for fear of his family being targeted by Russia. The bullet shattered his collarbone and clavicle. Two others in his unit were killed on the same mission: One dismembered by a shell, another captured by the Russians and executed a day later, he was told. It was while he was recovering from his wounds last month that what he considered to be his worthy sacrifice was being called into question by the president he had voted for. Seeing Trump label Zelenskyy -- a wartime leader Skunk was risking his life for -- as a dictator felt like a gut punch. Hearing him dismiss Ukraine's will to continue defending itself felt even worse. "Fear went through me," he said. It made him reconsider the American flag patches he's worn proudly on his uniform while fighting in Ukraine. "Maybe it's time to take off this f---ing flag, sitting next to the Ukrainian one," he said. "I have a northern Illinois accent -- I'd rather people think I am Canadian." Hundreds of Americans have fought in Ukraine since Russia's full-scale invasion began. At least 50 have been killed, 40 of whom were former U.S. service members. Military.com talked to half a dozen American veterans who have fought for Ukraine and are currently in the country about how their perspectives have changed since Trump took office. For some foreign fighters, the battlefield in Ukraine is only one front in a larger war for justice and freedom. But watching Washington's political infighting from the trenches has led their faith in America's righteousness -- once unquestioned -- to begin slipping away. For Skunk, this realization has stung, but it has also sharpened his resolve to support Ukraine. Whatever was happening in the U.S., he knew what he had sworn an oath to almost 20 years before. And he wasn't done fighting for it, even if it's changed his relationship with American democracy. "I am never going to vote again." 'They hope I come home as ashes in a box' While the sudden diplomatic crisis between the Ukrainian and U.S. governments was unfolding in Washington, foreign fighters have been feeling the fallout, along with their Ukrainian brothers in arms. "Tiger," a 39-year-old former Marine from Michigan fighting and training troops in Ukraine since early 2022, said earlier this month that he was also appalled by the dispute between the U.S. president and Zelenskyy. He supported Trump in the last election, too. "Honestly, it made me sick to see officials in the U.S. government act that way," he told Military.com by video while with his unit on the eastern front. Tiger has received awards from the Armed Forces of Ukraine for his service and is wanted by the Kremlin for the "crime" of fighting against Russian forces. He has lost dozens of friends over the last three years -- including several American veterans -- as he helped hold the line in Bakhmut, Zaporizhzhia and, most recently, Pokrovske. He was preparing for a risky mission to retrieve the body of a fallen brother -- another American veteran and volunteer fighter who was killed on a mission weeks before. Russian forces had overrun the area, Tiger explained, dooming previous retrieval efforts. Now, his cheeks flushed in anger as he watched what he described as the White House's lack of respect toward the sacrifices already made by his friend and countless others killed in Ukraine. "If you were behind closed doors, not in the public eye, and wanted to behave that way, that's different," he said. "But to do that in front of millions of people, and berate [Zelenskyy], a man who's only trying to save his country, it was not only foolish, it was f---ing disgusting." President Donald Trump, right, meets with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the Oval Office at the White House, Friday, Feb. 28, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/ Mystyslav Chernov) In the weeks following the White House spat, Trump temporarily froze military aid and intelligence-sharing with Ukraine -- leaving troops like Skunk and Tiger even more exposed on the front lines. Russia launched hundreds of drones and missiles across the border during that period, with one attack in Dobropillia, near where Tiger was stationed in the Donetsk region, resulting in 14 deaths and dozens of injuries, according to The Guardian. America's stepping back from its support of Ukraine means that Tiger now has to defend himself both on and off the front, he said. He has seen an increase in hate mail and death threats from Russians and self-described MAGA Republicans in the U.S. since he began publicly criticizing Trump's approach to ending the war in Ukraine. "I get harassed all the time," he said. "Guys that say I'm a traitor, and if I ever come back to the States, they'll kill me. Telling me they hope I die here. ... They hope I come home as ashes in a box." For some veterans, America's alliance with Russia is inherently nonsensical. "The thing I find most distressing is that you have some voices within the U.S. and in positions of power that can't seem to come to the realization that Russia -- no matter what it says -- is diametrically opposed to the American way of life," said "Mexico," a former Marine from Washington, D.C., and veteran of the war in Afghanistan currently living in Kyiv. The 34-year-old first fought with the International Legion for about six months in 2022 before he transitioned to trying to build partnerships between Ukrainian and American companies. He linked the dangers presented by the current situation in Ukraine to the consequences of the failed 2021 withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan. Several of the veterans who spoke with Military.com for this article referenced the botched retreat as a nightmare scenario that they feared could repeat itself in Ukraine if Trump were to permanently sever support for the country. "On a personal level, I will not suffer the humiliation of Afghanistan again. I lost friends there," Mexico said, briefly recalling the first time he "had seen a man ripped to pieces" in front of him. "I will not abandon another country, not one more time." Resolved to Keep Fighting But the higher risk and diplomatic acrobatics have only reinforced Tiger's, and other American veterans', determination to fight for Ukraine's future. And they say Ukrainians aren't going to quit either, especially those who have family members trapped behind Russian lines. "I wouldn't just hand over my family and call it a day because some f---ing rat bastard politicians told me to," Tiger said. "I'm going to continue to fight until I can get my aunt and uncle back, or my f---ing sister. They're not going to stop." Tiger had fought in Iraq and with the Peshmerga in Kurdistan before arriving in Ukraine, but said that this war is unlike any he has ever experienced -- both in terms of brutality and ideological clarity. "A huge thing I've seen here, personally on the front line, is the heart that [Ukrainians] have," he said. It could be difficult to work with undisciplined and uncommitted soldiers in the Middle East, but things were different here. "Every time I've instructed, 99% of the students were ears open, eyeballs watching. ... They want to learn." Skunk, who had never seen combat before coming to Ukraine, had a simpler way of putting it. "This is pretty much World War I on steroids," he said, only partially kidding. Humor has been a secret weapon for Ukrainians, wielded by exhausted soldiers who crack jokes at even the darkest moments to keep from breaking. Now, the punch line is the U.S. "Hey, American -- what the f---?" Skunk said he's often asked these days, usually with a smirk or a shrug, like they're half-joking. Mostly. "They know I do not represent [the U.S. government] as a sh-- show. I represent [the U.S.] as a free country." Tiger said the calculus of whether the U.S. should continue wholeheartedly supporting Ukraine should be even clearer, for civilians and politicians alike. "I didn't like [Biden]. I don't like f---ing Trump. I don't like Harris. I don't like any of the f---ing presidents I've had in my lifetime," he said. "But that doesn't mean if they do something that's right, I have to oppose it, right? I understand what's right." For the hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians still enduring in bunkers and trenches across the front lines of Ukraine, the high politics of Kyiv, Washington and Moscow can seem like a world away with little impact on their day-to-day lives. After all, the bombs have yet to stop falling. "They're like, f--- it. ... We will do this on our own if we have to," Skunk recalled his Ukrainian buddies telling him after Zelenskyy's last trip to the U.S. "And every single one of them will f---ing die fighting if they have to. That's the way the mentality of it is." -- Katie Livingstone is a freelance correspondent currently reporting from Ukraine and Eastern Europe. A graduate of Medill and Wellesley, her work has appeared in Foreign Policy Magazine, Rolling Stone Magazine, USA Today, UPI and more. Katie speaks five languages and lives in Washington, D.C. The bodies of three American soldiers who had been missing since last week after their armored vehicle became trapped in deep mud during a military exercise in Lithuania have been recovered, the U.S. Army said Monday. A search for the fourth soldier remained underway. The soldiers were aboard an M88A2 Hercules, a hulking armored recovery vehicle designed to tow tanks and other heavy machinery, when it became submerged in a bog last Tuesday, military officials said. The troops were believed to have been unable to escape as the vehicle was swallowed by the mire. Following an arduous multinational recovery operation involving some 200 U.S., Lithuanian and Polish forces, the vehicle was extracted Sunday evening, Lithuania's Defense Ministry said. The effort required excavators and construction machinery, as well as hundreds of tons of gravel and sand to reinforce the unstable terrain. U.S. Navy divers secured cables to the submerged vehicle, enabling crews to pull it from the mud. Read Next: American Veterans Fighting in Ukraine Struggle with the Politics of Abandonment "The soldiers we have lost in this tragedy were not just soldiers -- they were a part of our family," Maj. Gen. Christopher Norrie, 3rd Infantry Division commanding general, said in a statement. "The search isn't finished until everyone is home." The operation was fraught with challenges. The swampy terrain complicated efforts to drain water and excavate mud from around the vehicle. Over the weekend, the recovery effort suffered a major setback when a landslide further destabilized the ground, Lithuania's defense minister, Dovile Sakaliene, said on social media. "It is highly complex trying to get to the vehicle itself with the terrain out here and where the M88 is sitting in a bog swamp-like area, below the waterline. 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 it's 70 tons that we're 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. All four soldiers were from 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, based out of Fort Stewart, Georgia. The division deployed to Europe in January as part of the Pentagon's bolstering of NATO's front lines amid Vladimir Putin's war on Ukraine. The troops were a part of a relatively routine training exercise near Pabrade, a city near the border of Belarus -- a key Russian ally. The identities of the soldiers had not been released Monday. The Army and other military services typically wait to release that information until the next of kin has been notified. Related: Army, US Allies Battling Swampy Terrain to Find 4 Soldiers Missing Since Tuesday in Lithuania Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Sunday ordered a sweeping review of military fitness standards for combat roles -- but before the Pentagon can tighten requirements, he wants clarity on which jobs to raise the bar for. It's a move that underscores Hegseth's broader push for higher standards in the military, but also one that reflects the long-running debate over gender integration in the ranks. Before the Pentagon can raise the bar, he argues, the military must first define what, exactly, constitutes a combat role -- a question that has long defied simple answers. On Sunday, he directed the services to effectively inventory what they consider to be conventional ground combat roles, special operations and other unique roles such as divers that may warrant more demanding fitness standards. Read Next: Bodies of 3 US Soldiers Recovered from Swamp in Lithuania; Search for Last Missing Soldier Ongoing "I am directing the secretaries of the military departments to develop comprehensive plans to distinguish combat arms occupations from non-combat arms occupations," Hegseth wrote in a memo. "This effort will ensure that our standards are clear, mission-focused, and reflective of the unique physical demands placed on our service members in various roles." Each of the services has 60 days to submit reports to Hegseth's office, at which point he will decide the next steps. At the center of Hegseth's push is a familiar talking point: gender-neutral fitness standards for combat arms. That potential shift has served as something of a policy North Star for the defense secretary, who served in the National Guard and as a Fox News host. "We need to have the same standard, male or female, in our combat roles," Hegseth declared in a video posted to the social media platform X. "Soon, we'll have nothing but the highest and equal standards for men and women in combat." Officials at the Pentagon told Military.com that the memo's push to increase standards for what Hegseth sees as close combat roles will consider physical fitness, body composition and even grooming standards. Hegseth had already put all three of those areas under a broader review earlier in March with another memo. However, officials did not immediately answer questions about whether the move was an effort to push women out of combat roles. Hegseth has repeatedly disparaged female service members and said that he doesn't believe they should serve in combat. In a podcast weeks before his nomination, he said that he was "straight up just saying we should not have women in combat roles." Yet, defining combat roles has proven more complicated than it sounds. In 2022, after more than a decade of debate, the Army formally adopted the Army Combat Fitness Test, or ACFT, which was originally conceived as a job-specific assessment with tailored requirements for different military occupations. However, that plan was abandoned when the service determined that mapping physical standards to occupational specialties was too complex. One soldier may hold an infantry designation but be assigned to a non-combat role like recruiting, while another may work in an administrative role in a front-line unit. Gender-neutral standards, once central to the ACFT, were also scrapped -- much to the chagrin of some senior Army officials. Hegseth's memo may cause further complications because it applies an Army-focused approach to other services, particularly the Air Force, Navy and Space Force, which do not have ground combat roles outside of their respective special operations units such as the Navy SEALs. Those units already have their own grueling fitness expectations. Meanwhile, services like the Navy could struggle to articulate combat roles in the same way as the Army. Setting aside the SEALs, the sea service doesn't have jobs that can uniformly be described as combat or non-combat since even support roles like cooks or logistics specialists are expected to pitch in should their ship come under attack. Many ships also designate sailors from a variety of jobs to man groups like "small craft attack teams" -- a team that is tasked with temporarily manning .50 caliber machine guns to help defend the ship in the event of an attack from boats smaller than a traditional warship. That dynamic of everyone on the crew being part of the ship's combat performance was evident when the Navy awarded the rare Combat Action Ribbon -- a prestigious award that signifies a sailor took and returned enemy fire -- after skirmishes with Yemen's Houthi rebels in the Red Sea. The Navy awarded the ribbon to entire crews, not individuals. Perhaps the closest thing the Navy has to a classic combat role is its submarine service, which is all-volunteer and, until 2010, all male. However, submarine sailors are not only subject to stricter screening and training ahead of receiving a posting on a submarine, they also face a far stricter culture of qualification standards once aboard as well. Meanwhile, Army planners are also weighing yet another overhaul of fitness standards. Officials are considering rebranding the ACFT and dropping events such as grading soldiers on how far they can yeet a 10-pound ball, according to four officials familiar with the discussions. Adjustments to baseline combat arms standards are also on the table, following congressional mandates to tighten those requirements by June, though the service was working toward that before the mandate. Behind the scenes, officials have argued that changes to fitness assessments need to be more agile, and shifts to testing cannot be stuck in the mud for a decade. The ACFT itself has become a paradox by being widely criticized for its low baseline requirements while simultaneously setting near-elite benchmarks for top scores, which can significantly impact promotions and career progression. One glaring example: One event on the test demands male soldiers complete a minimum of just 10 hand-release push-ups, a standard many view as laughably insufficient. "Quite frankly, as a 50-year-old woman, I'm insulted that they think I need [12] minutes to run a mile," Command Sgt. Maj. JoAnn Naumann, the top enlisted leader for Army Special Operations Command, said on the Mops and Moes podcast in March. Meanwhile, to achieve a top score, younger male soldiers must deadlift 340 pounds and run two miles in 13 minutes and 22 seconds. Related: Ranger School Is Getting a New Fitness Assessment DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip Palestinians held funerals Monday for 15 medics and emergency responders killed by Israeli troops in southern Gaza, after their bodies and mangled ambulances were found buried in an impromptu mass grave, apparently plowed over by Israeli military bulldozers. The Palestinian Red Crescent says the slain workers and their vehicles were clearly marked as medical and humanitarian personnel and accused Israeli troops of killing them in cold blood. The Israeli military says its troops opened fire on vehicles that approached them suspiciously without identification. The dead included eight Red Crescent workers, six members of Gazas Civil Defense emergency unit and a staffer from UNRWA, the U.N.s agency for Palestinians. The International Red Cross/Red Crescent said it was the deadliest attack on its personnel in eight years. Since the war in Gaza began 18 months ago, Israel has killed more than 100 Civil Defense workers and more than 1,000 health workers, according to the U.N. Here is what we know about what happened. Missing for days The emergency teams had been missing since March 23, when they went at around noon to retrieve casualties after Israeli forces launched an offensive into the Tel al-Sultan district of the southern city of Rafah. The military had called for an evacuation of the area earlier that day, saying Hamas militants were operating there. Alerts by the Civil Defense at the time said displaced Palestinians sheltering in the area had been hit and a team that went to rescue them was surrounded by Israeli troops. The available information indicates that the first team was killed by Israeli forces on 23 March, the U.N. said in a statement Sunday night. Further emergency teams that went to rescue the first team were struck one after another over several hours, it said. All the teams went out during daylight hours, according to the Civil Defense. The Israeli military said Sunday that on March 23, troops opened fire on vehicles that were advancing suspiciously toward them without emergency signals. It said an initial assessment determined that the troops killed a Hamas operative named Mohammed Amin Shobaki and eight other militants. Israel has struck ambulances and other emergency vehicles in the past, accusing Hamas militants of using them for transportation. However, none of the dead staffers from the Red Crescent and Civil Defense had that name, and no other bodies were reported found at the site, raising questions over the militarys suggestion that alleged militants were among the rescue workers. The military did not immediately respond to requests for the names of the other alleged militants killed or for comment on how the emergency workers came to be buried. After a ceasefire that lasted roughly two months, Israel relaunched its military campaign in Gaza on March 18. Since then, bombardment and new ground assaults that have killed more than 1,000 Palestinians, according to Gazas Health Ministry. The ministrys count does not distinguish between militants and civilians, but it says over half those killed are women and children. Aid workers say ambulance teams and humanitarian staff have come under fire in the renewed assault. A worker with the charity World Central Kitchen was killed Friday by an Israeli strike that hit next to a kitchen distributing free meals. A March 19 Israeli tank strike on a U.N. compound killed a staffer, the U.N. said, though Israel denies being behind the blast. Mass grave For days, Israeli forces would not allow access to the site where the emergency teams disappeared, the U.N. said. On Wednesday, a U.N. convoy tried to reach the site but encountered Israeli troops opening fire on people. The convoy saw a woman who had been shot lying in the road. The dashboard video shows staff talking about retrieving the woman. Then two people are seen walking across the road. Gunfire rings out and they flee. One stumbles, apparently wounded, before he is shot and falls onto his face to the ground. The U.N. said the team retrieved the body of the woman and left. On Sunday, the U.N. said teams were able to reach the site after the Israeli military informed it where it had buried the bodies, in a barren area on the edges of Tel al-Sultan. Footage released by the U.N shows workers from PRCS and Civil Defense, wearing masks and bright orange vests, digging through hills of dirt that appeared to have been piled up by Israeli bulldozers. The footage shows them digging out multiple bodies wearing orange emergency vests. Some of the bodies are found piled on top of each other. At one point, they pull out a body in a Civil Defense vest out of the dirt, and it is revealed to be a torso with no legs. Several ambulances and a U.N. vehicle, all heavily damaged or torn apart, are also buried in the dirt. Their bodies were gathered and buried in this mass grave, said Jonathan Whittall, with the U.N. humanitarian office OCHA, speaking at the site in the video. Were digging them out in their uniforms, with their gloves on. They were here to save lives. Its absolute horror what has happened here, he said. Funerals A giant crowd gathered on Monday outside the morgue of Nasser Hospital in the southern city of Khan Younis as the bodies of the eight slain PRCS workers were brought out for funerals. Their bodies were laid out on stretchers wrapped in white cloth with the Red Crescent logo on it and their photos, as family and others held funeral prayers over them. Funerals for the seven others followed. They were killed in cold blood by the Israeli occupation, despite the clear nature of their humanitarian mission, Raed al-Nimis, the Red Crescent spokesperson in Gaza, told the AP. Israeli troops have killed at least 30 Red Crescent medics over the course of the war. Among them were two killed in February 2024 when they tried to rescue Hind Rajab, a 5-year-old girl who was killed along with six other relatives when they were trapped in their car under Israeli fire in northern Gaza. From Geneva, the head of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, Jagan Chapagain, said the staffer killed last week wore emblems that should have protected them; their ambulances were clearly marked. All humanitarians must be protected, he said. ___ Keath and Khaled reported from Cairo Two military retirees have sued the Department of Veterans Affairs for allegedly denying them GI Bill benefits in accordance with a Supreme Court decision last year that extended eligibility for an estimated 1.7 million veterans. Attorneys for retired Army Lt. Col. Paul Yoon of Virginia and retired Air Force Col. Toby Doran of Oregon say the case, Rudisill v. McDonough, "unequivocally affirmed the rights of veterans" who accrued benefits under both the Montgomery and Post-9/11 GI Bills to receive up to 48 months of benefits instead of the 36-month cap provided under the individual programs. The VA argues that, under the ruling, only veterans with a break in service, as was the case with plaintiff James Rudisill, are eligible for the extra 12 months of benefits under both programs. Read Next: Bodies of 3 US Soldiers Recovered from Swamp in Lithuania; Search for Last Missing Soldier Ongoing The Supreme Court ruled last April that Rudisill, who served as an enlisted soldier and later as an Army officer, was entitled to benefits under both programs and should not have been limited to the time requirements of each individual program. "The bottom line is this: Veterans who separately accrue benefits under both the Montgomery and Post-9/11 GI Bills are entitled to both benefits," wrote Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson in the decision. At the time, attorneys from the firm Troutman Pepper Locke, which represented Rudisill pro bono, said the decision would help an estimated 1.7 million receive additional benefits. Now representing Yoon and Doran, they say the VA's interpretation of the decision would greatly limit the number eligible for the extra coverage. They added that the department also has not established any mechanisms for helping eligible veterans receive their extra Post-9/11 benefits retroactively. "It is clear error for the secretary to deny petitioners their full suite of educational benefits," the attorneys wrote in a petition for relief to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims. Both Yoon and Doran served more than 23 years in their respective services, where they earned education benefits under the Montgomery GI Bill and the Post-9/11 GI Bill. Yoon used 34 of 36 months of his Montgomery GI Bill for graduate degrees but later, under the Post-9/11 GI Bill, requested a transfer of benefits to his children and, in return, agreed to stay in the service -- a condition of the benefit, developed in the mid-2000s as a retention incentive. When he sought to transfer what he thought was 14 months of benefits to his daughter to attend Harvard Law School, Yoon was awarded less than two months' benefits -- the amount left under his Montgomery GI Bill. Doran served four years as an airman and used nearly 34 months of his Montgomery GI Bill to attend college afterward. He later served as an officer, qualifying for the Post-9/11 GI Bill. When he set out to transfer his remaining GI Bill benefits to his son for use at Oregon State University, he was awarded two months' worth of benefits rather than the 14 he expected. The families have filed for emergency relief, arguing that their clients will likely prevail and, without receiving the benefits, face extensive bills and loans. The attorneys general of all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Northern Mariana Islands filed a friends-of-the-court brief March 19 supporting Yoon and Doran, saying that the Rudisill ruling should apply to all veterans who earned education benefits under both programs, regardless of split service. "For years, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has denied veterans rightfully earned education entitlements under a cramped reading of the two GI Bills," they wrote in their amicus brief. "The VA's denial of petitioners' claims here cannot be squared with Rudisill's clear reasoning. Rudisill compels the VA to honor the full 48 months of education benefits that petitioners were promised." In a news release Jan. 3, VA officials stipulated that those eligible for the retroactive additional benefits included those who had at least two periods of service, which includes reenlistments. They estimated that 1.04 million veterans may be eligible for the extra benefits and said they would automatically review claims for 660,000 veterans who qualified. Attorneys for Yoon and Doran say that, in that effort, the VA already has wrongly denied veterans their benefits in addition to just the two who have filed suit. "The court's intervention is needed urgently," they wrote. A VA spokesman said the department does not comment on "pending or ongoing litigation." Related: Supreme Court Hears Arguments on Education Entitlements Under Different GI Bills Nearly 300 alumni from across the military service academies are offering their support to transgender cadets and Midshipmen amid the Trump administration's attempts to ban transgender people from the military -- efforts that have gotten tied up in an increasingly complicated legal battle. Alumni representing every academy and a broad spectrum of generations have signed onto an open letter aimed at providing transgender and other gender-nonconforming students with encouragement as the administration disparages transgender service members, according to a copy of the letter shared with Military.com ahead of its wider release. "As you know, our academies hold dear and promote specific virtues and values, including honor, integrity, duty, courage, country, service, respect, commitment and excellence," the letter says. "And we firmly believe that the simple fact of being transgender is in no way incompatible with any of our academies' cherished virtues and values. Rather, we understand that living authentically as a trans person, especially at our academies, is often a profound expression of them." Read Next: Bodies of 3 US Soldiers Recovered from Swamp in Lithuania; Search for Last Missing Soldier Ongoing In January, President Donald Trump signed an executive order directing the Pentagon to come up with a policy on transgender troops that reflects the administration's stance that being transgender "is not consistent with the humility and selflessness required of a service member." Last month, the Pentagon followed Trump's order with a policy that repeated the idea that gender dysphoria is "incompatible with the high mental and physical standards necessary for military service." Gender dysphoria is the medical term for the feeling of distress caused by someone's gender identity differing from their sex assigned at birth. Transgender individuals are "subject to separation from a military service academy" and "will not be subject to monetary repayment of educational benefits" if the only reason for their separation is their gender identity, the Pentagon's February memo added. It's unclear exactly how many transgender cadets and Midshipmen are at the academies right now or whether the academies issued formal policies to implement Trump's executive order and the Defense Department policy. Spokespeople for the Air Force Academy and Merchant Marine Academy did not respond to requests for comment by Military.com's deadline. A spokesperson for the U.S. Military Academy at West Point declined to comment, citing ongoing lawsuits against the ban. A Navy spokesperson responded to Military.com's request for comment for the Naval Academy by saying only that, on Saturday, the service paused "the implementation of all directives pertaining to sailors with a current diagnosis or history of gender dysphoria, including the involuntary and voluntary separation of sailors." A spokesperson for the Coast Guard confirmed that there is one transgender cadet at the Coast Guard Academy and added that, "as a result of ongoing litigation, and in coordination with the Department of Defense, the Coast Guard has not initiated action to separate transgender service members." There is also at least one transgender cadet at the Air Force Academy who is one of the plaintiffs in a lawsuit that has resulted in the Trump administration's transgender military ban being blocked from taking effect, at least temporarily. The cadet, Hunter Marquez, is a senior who transitioned during his time at the academy, according to a sworn statement Marquez filed as part of the lawsuit. Because of the uncertainty about whether Marquez will be allowed to stay at the academy until graduation in May, he has had to accelerate his coursework to finish all his credits this month so at the very least he can still get his undergraduate degree even if he is forced to leave, according to the declaration. He was also informed he won't be allowed to commission as an officer and that his post-graduation combat systems officer slot has been withdrawn. "These changes have occurred despite my successful academic and military performance at the U.S. Air Force Academy over the past four years, creating significant disruption and uncertainty at what should be the culmination of my education and the beginning of my military career," Marquez wrote in the statement. "My command has assured me that, from their perspective, my being transgender has had no negative impact on my ability to meet academy standards." Amid anecdotes like that and the administration's rhetoric around transgender service members, several service academy alumni felt the need to speak out and let cadets and Midshipmen know there are people who know what it's like to attend an academy who support them, one of the organizers of the letter told Military.com. The organizer spoke on condition of anonymity because, in addition to being an alum, they also currently work at one of the academies. "Unfortunately, because there are so few trans and non-binary cadets and Midshipmen, there's a lot of fear right now at the moment about speaking up," the organizer said. "We thought, in terms of what we could do, was just spread this message of support on behalf of alumni with something really having this personal lived experience that could speak to: 'We know what this takes. We've all been there. We've gone through this. And there's really nothing about you that is incompatible with this.'" While the letter writers got some help distributing it for signatures by the Modern Military Association of America, an LGBTQ+ military advocacy group, the letter was not organized by advocacy groups and was mostly passed around through informal alumni networks for signatures, the organizer told Military.com. As of Monday, there were 273 signatures on the letter. Signatories on the letter include alumni from all five service academies. The oldest alums on the letter are from the class of 1968, and the youngest graduated just last year. "Whatever happens, please know: So long as you continue to demonstrate the courage, integrity, discipline and commitment that you have thus far, we will always be proud to count you among us and the long line of those who have gone before," the letter says. "Thank you for your commitment to our country, and for being who you are." Emily Elledge, who graduated from the Naval Academy in 2012, said she signed the letter so that cadets and Midshipmen who "may feel right now as if they are under attack by the administration ... know that there are people who have also served this country who support them." Having been at the academy when "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" was repealed, Elledge said she has seen firsthand the difference that being able to live authentically makes for Midshipmen. "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" was the policy that banned gay, lesbian and bisexual troops from serving openly and was repealed in 2011. "They don't have to constantly be worrying about someone finding out something that's extremely important to them as a person, and I think that that allows people to then fulfill the mission better," Elledge told Military.com in a phone interview. "And then them living authentically didn't detract from anyone else's personal experience." Another signatory on the letter, Jennifer Bower from the Air Force Academy Class of 2006, said she was shocked by the "hurtful" language in Trump's executive order and hopes that cadets and Midshipmen feel heartened by the support from alumni. "For them to receive that recognition and support from people who know exactly what they are going through, from the perspective of what it takes to succeed at a service academy and to survive it, I know that that would have been very meaningful to me as a cadet," Bower said in a phone interview. For now, transgender cadets and Midshipmen, along with other transgender service members, are in a state of limbo as the ban is being challenged in court. Earlier this month, a federal judge issued a preliminary injunction to block the ban from taking effect while a lawsuit works its way through the court system. Last week, a second federal judge issued a separate injunction that also blocked the ban from taking effect. The Justice Department appealed the first injunction, and the appeals court last week paused that injunction from taking effect while it more thoroughly considers the administration's motion to overturn the injunction. But the appeals court also warned that, if "any action occurs that negatively impacts service members" while it is deliberating, it would reconsider pausing the injunction "expeditiously." Related: Trump's Ban on Transgender Service Members Temporarily Halted by Judge's Order Jennifer Barnhill is a columnist for Military.com writing about military families. Rules that had prevented some military spouses from holding jobs while stationed overseas have been relaxed, a parting gift from the Biden administration that should alleviate some concerns for those trying to continue careers while their military member serves. On Jan. 17, 2025, on their last day before leaving office, members of the Biden administration drafted and released a memo directing senior military leaders that, "No international agreement to which the United States is a party regarding legal status protections for DoD military and civilian personnel, and their dependents, deployed or otherwise assigned overseas, specifically prohibits the employment of DoD-authorized dependents in the country where they are located." The memo goes on to say that military spouses and children would not lose their sponsorship under these agreements because of their employment. This memo in black and white provides clarity for military spouses: Status of Forces Agreements (SOFA) do not prohibit military spouses from working abroad. That had been an issue for many spouses who have had to jump through arduous hoops in the past to avoid potentially jeopardizing their ability to stay with their service member. Military.com reached out to the Defense Department for comment on this last-minute Biden administration-issued memo, but did not receive an on-the-record response ahead of publication. The U.S. maintains approximately 120 Status of Forces Agreements (SOFAs) -- agreements between the U.S. and host nations where American military and diplomatic personnel are stationed. Negotiated by the Department of State, these agreements define how local laws apply to American service members and their families living abroad. However, how these SOFAs have been interpreted has historically fallen to the DoD. For instance, if a military family is stationed in Italy, the same rules that apply to them do not apply if they are later stationed in Japan. The agreements are individually drafted: Some mention spouses and employment status; others do not. When Rachelle Chapman's spouse received orders to move to Belgium in 2017, she was faced with a difficult decision: To walk away from her dream job with the Adecco Group, or spend three years living geographically separate from her husband. Local military offices repeatedly warned her that Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) restrictions for Belgium would prevent her from working, some even suggesting she might risk deportation if she pursued employment. Undeterred, Chapman worked closely with her supportive employer, who went to extraordinary lengths -- including hiring an immigration attorney -- to help her maintain her professional role. But because of a DoD memo, that kind of bureaucratic hoop-jumping should no longer be necessary. Prior to this update, guidance provided by the DoD was limited to Military OneSource websites that directed families to "Check the Status of Forces Agreements" or "Check with your military command." But military spouses report the information they are provided by their command doesn't seem reliable. This clarification may not seem like a big deal, but for some spouses it's a huge relief. "We've all been told for decades that we can't work under SOFA," said Beth Conlin, who has been working with the DoD for the past 12 years to help reduce the barriers military spouses face to working abroad. Conlin took up this effort after having been personally impacted by the SOFA while her spouse was stationed in Germany. The lack of clarity surrounding the SOFA cost her her job, something she says she didn't want to have happen to other military spouses. So she asked officials to show her where in the SOFA it prohibited spouses from working. "Nobody could produce that because you can't prove a negative." And Conlin wasn't the only one to ask questions about the SOFA, only to be given a lackluster response. In April 2023, I requested information about who at the DoD was working on this issue. I was told, "The deputy assistant secretary of defense for military community and family policy (MC&FP) routinely communicates the status of family readiness programs and policies, along with the concerns they represent among military families, to the highest levels of the Defense Department to help inform decisions on such matters. Additionally, MC&FP has engaged with the Department of State in the past on spouse employment overseas matters. MC&FP also routinely discusses overseas military spouse employment issues with the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, who communicates with State on a more routine basis." I was not given the name of a subject-matter expert, just assured the MC&FP office was handling it. "After literally 10 years of begging for clarity, I was finally connected with the DoD policy office, and I spoke to the policy team and their lawyers and asked them, 'Can we just put out a memo that is just very simply in black and white?;" shared Conlin. And that is exactly what they did. Because of the long-standing impression that the SOFA prohibited spouse employment, many spouses have assumed they can't work, regardless of what the SOFA actually said, or didn't say. Research by the Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF) indicates this confusion is widespread. A 2019 Blue Star Family report found that, of the 26% of military spouse survey takers who tried to find work overseas, 88% reported difficulty finding a job, with 23% citing issues with a SOFA. While the DoD reports military spouse employment data, it does not publish the number of military spouses living outside the continental United States, or OCONUS, making it unclear how many spouses will be positively impacted by this memo. Conlin hopes that this memo will provide a bit of clarity, but admits it is not an easy button that solves all issues related to military spouse employment overseas. There are additional challenges, like being subject to local taxes that hover around 40% or overcoming an employer's hesitation to allow a military spouse to work abroad, and navigating employment law and new time zones. Military spouses working overseas certainly have their work cut out for them, but this memo removes the largest hurdle: uncertainty. "A military spouse can never again be told you cannot work under SOFA," said Conlin. "That's the message that just needs to be blasted through the rooftops." Disabled veterans with "marked and severe" functional limitations may not realize they qualify for tax-free savings or investment accounts -- or that many more veterans and others will qualify starting in 2026. In a webinar in February presented by the Military Officers Association of America, Navy veteran and tax pro Kevin Matthews highlighted ABLE accounts -- short for Achieving a Better Life Experience -- among the "often overlooked" tax benefits that some veterans and military families may qualify to receive. ABLE accounts are a way that people with disabilities can save money on taxes, or even invest money for tax-free gains, to help pay for their care. About a million veterans are estimated to currently qualify to open an ABLE account, according to the nonprofit ABLE National Resource Center (NRC), and that number should more than double in 2026. Read Next: Taxed or Not Taxed? These Are the Military and Veteran Pay and Allowances You Do and Don't Need to Report For now, a person may open an ABLE account if they became disabled before age 26, meaning not only some veterans may benefit but also military families who have children with special needs, Matthews said. "This is a great way to have people save money for the benefit of the child, and they can do it in a tax-efficient way that allows them to spend the money to meet [the child's] needs," Matthews said. Here's what veterans and military families need to know, according to the ABLE NRC: Who Can Benefit from an ABLE Account? To qualify during the remainder of 2025 ,a person's disability must have begun before age 26. On Jan. 1, 2026, the age limit goes up to 46, meaning many more veterans will qualify. For individuals who receive need-based assistance such as Supplemental Security Income, or SSI, up to $100,000 of funds in an ABLE account won't count against their qualification to receive the need-based benefit. Disabled veterans who are in the workforce and/or receive military retirement and, therefore, don't qualify for SSI can use the accounts to pay for certain expenses with pre-tax income. Children with disabilities may also have ABLE accounts to which parents or others contribute for their care. In addition to $100,000 of ABLE funds not counting against eligibility for SSI, no amount of money in an ABLE account will count against: Veterans benefits, including the income-limited Veterans Pension Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) Housing assistance received under Housing and Urban Development programs Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) benefits Medicare Parts A, B, C or D and other Medicare programs Any Medicaid programs Do I Qualify for an ABLE Account? A VA disability rating doesn't ensure ABLE eligibility, but a disabled veteran may still qualify. Individuals automatically qualify for an ABLE account who already receive SSI payments or Social Security Disability Insurance benefits. Those who don't receive those benefits may ask a doctor to sign a document confirming "marked and severe" functional limitations. How Do I Sign Up for an ABLE Account? The states administer ABLE accounts like they do 529 college savings plans. ABLE accounts include savings, checking and investment options. It's possible to open an account by selecting one option and adding others later. Individuals may have one ABLE account. They can choose a plan from any state based on costs and features. Choosing the plan in the state where they live may come with additional benefits, such as a state tax deduction, which isn't guaranteed, so check there first, the ABLE NRC advises. The ABLE NRC maintains a comparison tool of state plans. States may or may not require applicants to file the documentation proving they qualify. How Much Can I Contribute to an ABLE Account? The owner of an ABLE account, friends and family members can contribute to an ABLE account. Funds from a special needs trust or a rollover from a 529 college savings plan also qualify as contributions. Michael Meese, president of the American Armed Forces Mutual Aid Association, told Military.com that military retirees with incapacitated adult children should make the beneficiary of their Survivor Benefit Plan a special needs trust. A forthcoming article will address that in detail. The annual maximum contribution to an ABLE account is $19,000, although adults who work but don't contribute to an employer-sponsored retirement account may contribute an additional $15,060 ($18,810 in Alaska and $17,310 in Hawaii). Plan limits range from $235,000 to $596,925. How Can I Use the Money in an ABLE Account? ABLE account holders can receive distributions at any time for qualified disability expenses (QDEs). If an expense enhances "the health, independence and quality of life of the account owner," it's a QDE, according to the ABLE NRC. Categories of expenses include: Education Housing Transportation Employment training and support Assistive technology and related services Personal support services Health Financial management Legal fees Basic living expenses Matthews' only criticism of the program was what he considered the low annual contribution limit, because $19,000 in the kind of care covered under the program "is not hard to go through in a year." "I'm hoping this goes up," he said. "It's a good start, but we can do more on that." Get the Latest Financial Tips Whether you're trying to balance your budget, build up your credit, select a good life insurance program or are gearing up for a home purchase, Military.com has you covered. Subscribe to Military.com and get the latest military benefit updates and tips delivered straight to your inbox. Being a military history buff is a blessing and a curse. Understanding how we got where we are creates a pretty well-informed worldview, if you ask me. But most of our favorite vehicles, aircraft and equipment seem out of reach. Some of them are more attainable than others. Sure, you can fill a shopping cart at an Army & Navy surplus store. You can visit air museums and tour old ships. You can also buy a surplus military vehicle and -- apparently -- put a tank in your garage. It's perfectly legal and more common than you might think. Allow me to be the bad influence that convinces you that getting a tank is the responsible and, dare I say, charitable thing to do. Read Next: Velocity Restorations: The Submarines, Struggles and Triumph Behind These Iconic Vehicles States Where You Can Legally Own a Tank OK, not all trim levels are available to the public. (Sgt. Mason Cutrer) Want to know which states let you have a tank? All of them. That's right: Americans are free to own a tank. It can even be armed, although that involves about as much red tape and paperwork as you're imagining. You probably didn't know tank ownership was possible, simply because the idea doesn't occur to most people. Writer John Blumenthal has seen a thing or two, yet even he penned an article describing his dismay that such a thing is possible. "I can't imagine how disquieting it would be to wake up to the sight of a military tank on a neighbor's lawn," Blumenthal wrote for Cleveland.com in 2023. "Any vehicle that can flatten my barbecue into a metal area rug is frightening. Moreover, the presence of a tank in the neighborhood would probably affect real estate values and not in a good way. If you manage to get one of the U.S. militarys old tanks, expect it to be in rough shape. (Bianka Lathan) "Clearly, serious collectors of military paraphernalia find tanks appealing. Not being one of these people, I don't get it -- given the scrutiny, the cost and the limitations, why would anyone want such a behemoth? They don't even make attractive lawn ornaments." Let's give Blumenthal the benefit of the doubt and assume he asked out of genuine curiosity because I'm happy to answer. To own one of these tanks is to preserve a piece of history. Support or condemn the political justifications for using them in their day; young lives were changed and lost in these hunks of metal. I wish more B-17s had gone to civilian owners than scrap yards following World War II. Boeing built more than 12,000 of the incredible aircraft during the war. According to Smithsonian Magazine, more than 26,000 Americans died in them in the 8th Air Force alone. The surviving aircraft were hacked up for scrap metal by the thousands as soon as it ended. In 2022, Fox 4, a Dallas television station, reported that only 45 remained in existence and only nine could fly. But if you're not passionate about history, old tanks just look like big, green eyesores threatening your property value (as if any of them are going to residential lawns). Meet America's Biggest Tank Dealer Hey, pal, you cant never mind, park that Stuart wherever you want. (Bring a Trailer) Critics of civilian tank ownership might view the people who buy them as backwoods kooks in tinfoil hats, skirting the laws of polite society. In reality, they're just taxpayers going to the source, because most tanks come straight from the U.S. Army. According to the U.S. Army Tank-automotive and Armaments Command, the U.S. military needs a way to offload equipment that outlives its wartime usefulness. "TACOM's Army Donations Program office is responsible for 407,595 pieces of property valued at $2.6 billion across 33,000 organizations in 14 countries," the command's website reads. "These artifacts range from revolutionary war cannons to M1 Abrams tanks. Proudly placed at historical museums, sites of remembrance and more, each piece stands to commemorate those who served, educate those who will serve and provide the public a piece of military history they can touch and see." This M4A3 Sherman is on display in Harrodsburg, Kentucky, to honor the tankers who liberated American prisoners of war in the Pacific during World War II. (1st Lt. Cody Stagner) The most surprising part? The tanks aren't sold; they're donated. If you can get approval to receive one and pour a satisfactory concrete pad to display it, the Army will send you a tank. There's just one catch: It won't technically be yours. The tanks donated by TACOM remain U.S. government property, so the recipients are more like custodians than owners. For those interested in preserving history, that's enough. There are rules and regulations, too. In 2024, Peter Suciu wrote an article for ClearanceJobs that addresses Blumenthal's concern directly. "Organizations must meet qualifications under Title 10, USC 2572, as well, which means that private property can't simply be designated a memorial," Suciu wrote. "In other words, you can't claim your front lawn is a World War II memorial and then ask the Army to loan you a tank." Buying Tanks on the Private Market Oi, you can even own a foreign military tank like this 1972 Alvis Sabre from the United Kingdom! (Bring a Trailer) The Army may be the biggest player in the used tank game, but there are private sellers, too. This is America, dammit. Bring a Trailer, one of my favorite places to lust after unobtainable cars, also has listings for privately owned tanks. An adorable little 1941 M3 Stuart went for $176,000 in 2021. They have imports, too, such as the 1972 Alvis Sabre from the United Kingdom that sold for $55,000 in 2020. This is a replica of a 1917 Renault FT, but Im sure the fun of owning it is real. (Bring a Trailer) If you're not a stickler for matching numbers vehicles or want something you can daily guilt-free, there's even the occasional replica. A modern recreation of a 1917 Renault FT sold for $105,000 just a few weeks ago. Unfortunately, it appears that even bargain tanks are out of reach for most consumers. If that's you, fear not. You can always fly to Texas (of course, right?) and rent a tank at the aptly named Drive Tanks. You can even drive a Sherman that appeared in "Fury" and shoot the main gun -- just remember to scream, "On the way!" like Shia LaBeouf before you do. So You Bought a Tank. Now What? I always tell car enthusiasts to look up their local cars and coffee meetups to find like-minded people and swap stories. Unfortunately, the pool for tank owners is a bit limited. Tanks always make for patriotic display pieces. (Lance Cpl. Timothy R. Smithers) The most common use for decommissioned tanks is public display. You could share yours with a local military museum, veterans memorial or charitable organization. If your tank is roadworthy, you can participate in parades and volunteer with Make-A-Wish. I bet if you volunteered to give rides at retirement homes and VA hospitals, you'd probably get to hear some pretty incredible stories from real tankers. Don't forget to use your blinkers. Owning a tank is a big responsibility. Even if the Army donates it, you still have to stay in compliance with state and local laws. If it runs, you'll undoubtedly spend most of your free time greasing bearings and chasing down oil leaks. Either way, you'll be in charge of keeping a real piece of military history alive for future generations to learn from. It's a heavy responsibility. Not as heavy as a tank, but still pretty heavy. Want to Know More About the Military? Be sure to get the latest news about the U.S. military, as well as critical info about how to join and all the benefits of service. Subscribe to Military.com and receive customized updates delivered straight to your inbox. Disclosures The university provides public disclosure information to every employee and student of Missouri State University out of concern for their welfare and in compliance with federal laws. Accessibility See our accessibility resources. Privacy Missouri State University recognizes and respects your need for privacy. See the Privacy Policy for more information. Copyright Individuals or organizations outside of the university who wish to use the university marks for commercial purposes must first obtain licensing clearance through Learfield Licensing Partners. For more information, please review the supporting guidelines. If you perceive a copyright violation on an Missouri State webpage, please contact Missouri State's designated agent for receiving notifications of claimed copyright infringement. The upgrades at Hoffmaster State Park's Gillette Sand Dune Visitor Center is part of the park's $6.4 million renovations. Lindsay Moore MUSKEGON COUNTY, MI -- Construction has started at P.J. Hoffmaster State Parks visitor center, which will receive a $1.6 million upgrade. Construction crews at Gillette Sand Dune Visitor Center have a long to-do list during their eight week project. Improvements include: Roof and siding replacement Elevator repairs Replace flooring Brickwork Interior railings The building was originally constructed in the 1970s and remodeled in the early 2000s. Since then, the exterior of the building began the leak and fall into disrepair, said Pat Whalen, Plainwell District supervisor for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. In addition to bringing the building back up to code, Whalen said the renovation will make way for new exhibits. Gillette Sand Dune Visitor Center within P.J. Hoffmaster State Park is under construction. The $1.6 million renovation includes roof and siding replacement along with elevator repairs, flooring, brickwork, interior railings and other improvements. (Photo Courtesy of Gillette Nature Association at Hoffmaster State Park) Gillette Nature Association at Hoffmaster State Park During construction the visitor centers parking lot will be closed to the public. This entrance includes access to the Dune Overlook trailhead. Visitors are directed to use the auxiliary parking lot, the first parking lot on the left. This will be the only beach access to the parks three miles of lakeshore until June. This beach area has also active work sites as a new bathhouse is constructed. Whalen emphasized visitors cannot go beyond the fenced off area during active construction. RELATED: Hoffmaster State Park reopens road to popular Lake Michigan beach A large part of the visitor center project, including the roof, flooring and exhibit improvements, were funded through American Rescue Plan Act allocations. In addition to the $650,000 in ARPA money, additional funds were added from the Marketing and Outreach Division who administer the visitor centers, Whalen said. RELATED: With $273M in hand, Michigans DNR is racing to complete 202 backlogged projects Hoffmaster has been going through a $6.4 million checklist of upgrades since 2023. The new bathhouse, which will replace two toilet buildings, is also funded through $900,000 in ARPA funds. The state legislature and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer allocated $273 million in federal funding to parks and campgrounds. Hoffmasters projects are part of the 202 state park upgrades the Michigan DNR is working through with the ARPA funds. RELATED: 1940s Lake Michigan beach house demolition amid $5.25M state park upgrades A tree lies fallen between two vehicles at a residence near the intersection of Beech Street and Division Street on Sunday, March 30, 2025 after severe thunderstorms and high winds in East Lansing, Mich. Arthur H. Trickett-Wile | MLive.com Crews were working to restore power to 307,000 Michigan customers during the closing hours of Sunday, March 30, the end of a weekend that saw the state battered by severe weather. As of 9:30 p.m., online outage maps showed Consumers Energy reported 195,000 customers were impacted by outages across the state, Great Lakes Energy reported 45,000 outages along western Michigan, DTE reported 35,000 outages along eastern Michigan, and Presque Isle Electric & Gas Co-op reported 32,000 outages in the northeast corner of the states lower peninsula. This storm is unlike anything we have experienced, Presque Isle Electric & Gas Co-op President Allan Berg said in a statement. While we diligently prepare for any weather event, this event is extreme. It only takes a quarter of an inch of ice to cause damage, and we have areas with over half an inch of ice or more. Berg said returning power to his companys customers could extend through several days. Sunday afternoon, Consumers Energy officials predicted most of its customers would remain without power until Tuesday, April 1. Some residences could stay in the dark until Wednesday, April 2. Due to the level of destruction, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer activated the State of Emergency Operations Center, which means state personnel will work with local officials and private-sector partners to ensure the local areas are assessed and have what they need and can coordinate with emergency management officials. A line of storms continues to march across Michigan this evening. Reports from earlier in the day indicated the weather produced damaging winds topping 95 mph in some areas, according to the National Weather Service. The storm system came into Michigan in the southwest corner of the state and moved east toward Ann Arbor, Detroit and The Thumb, producing a string of severe thunderstorm and tornado warnings as it spun across the state. The winds even ripped the roof off an elementary school near Muskegon. Some of the outages reported Sunday evening were the result of a widespread ice storm that sent trees toppling and downed power lines in Northern Michigan one day earlier, on Saturday, March 30. GRAND RAPIDS, MI Over 262,000 utility customers remain without power Monday, March 31, after deadly thunderstorms hit lower Michigan following an ice storm in the north. The severity of the weather we saw over the weekend - from ice-coated branches entangling lines up north to high winds uprooting trees in the south - has been a test not only for our lineworkers, but our customers as well, Consumers Energy spokesperson Norm Kapala said. Sundays severe weather, with wind gusts of 95 mph, led to the deaths of three children in Kalamazoo County. A 4-year-old boy, his 2-year-old sister and a cousin, an 11-year-old girl, all from Calhoun County, died when a tree fell on the vehicle they were riding in. Related: Children, 2, 4 and 11, killed when tree falls on vehicle during Michigan storm Three others were injured, one critically. Kalamazoo County was among areas that sustained significant damage from the thunderstorms. Consumers Energy reported 155,000 customers in Michigan without power as of 2 p.m. Monday. Related: Out of fuel, out of power: Michigan counties hit by ice storm seek local emergency declarations Genesee County had the most outages, with 15,000, followed by the counties of Kent (14,000), Shiawassee (9,300), Kalamazoo (7,100) Otsego (6,800), Ingham (6,600) and Jackson (6,000). The utility expects to have power restored to most customers by Tuesday, with those in hardest-hit areas restored by Wednesday. Up north, residents could be without power for days. Related: Mackinac Bridge closes for falling ice in aftermath of ruthless ice storm Presque Isle Electric & Gas said 35,000 customers primarily in Northeast Michigan - are without power and internet access. Heavy damage affected trees, power lines, poles and infrastructure. The utility said the outage could extend to five days or more and urged residents to find alternate shelter. Our team and emergency support are working as quickly and safely as possible to remove debris and make repairs, but the damage is widespread, and full restoration of all members will take an extended period of time, Allan Berg, president and CEO, said in the statement. Great Lakes Energy reported 44,000 customers, in Northwest Michigan, without power. Restoration efforts will continue all week, and were committed to bringing everyone back online as safely and quickly as possible, Great Lakes said in a statement. Hundreds of poles have broken, while downed wires, fallen trees and impassable roads are hampering workers efforts. DTE Energy, on the east side of the state, has 15,000 outages. Indiana Michigan Power reported several thousand Southwest Michigan customers without power, including 3,300 in the Three Rivers area, 2,800 in the Buchanan area and 1,100 in the Benton Harbor area. Midwest Energy and Communications reported another 5,800 customers in Southwest Michigan without power. Protesters demonstrating in support of DEI outside Ruthven Hall in this file photo. Twenty University of Michigan staff members are likely to be laid off as a result of the universitys recent decision to close two equity-focused offices and end a campuswide diversity, equity and inclusion initiative, the universitys Faculty Senate said in a release sent Saturday, March 29. Jacob Hamilton | MLive.com ANN ARBOR, MI - Twenty University of Michigan staff members are likely to be laid off as a result of the universitys recent decision to close two equity-focused offices and end a campuswide diversity, equity and inclusion initiative, the universitys Faculty Senate said in a release. The release came after thousands of staff, students and faculty members showed up as community members spoke out against the changes in an online meeting Friday, March 28. UM officials have not said exactly how many employees will be impacted. In its announcement, UM reported student-facing services in the closing Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion will shift to other offices focused on student access and opportunity. Other details remain unclear at this time. Spokespeople for the university did not immediately respond Monday to a request for comment. In the meeting, Rob Sellers, formerly the vice provost for equity and inclusion, called the universitys new policy a severe disappointment, according to the release, sent Saturday, March 29, by Professor and Faculty Senate Chair Rebekah Modrak. Many of us have worked for years to make the university more diverse, more equitable and more inclusive, he said. This was a strategy that led toward excellence. Thursday, the university said it is closing the DEI office and its Office for Health Equity and Inclusion, effective immediately, and discontinuing its DEI 2.0 Strategic Plan. The move comes amid threats from President Donald Trumps administration to cut federal funding over DEI programs at colleges and universities across the country. Trump contends such programs amount to illegal discrimination. The meeting, organized with the help of faculty leadership, allowed people to voice their concerns. Attendance was capped at 1,000, but many faculty, staff and students hosted watch parties or broadcasted the conversation online, according to the release. Read more: University of Michigan curbs DEI initiatives amid Trump threats The meeting was the first step in the organization of strategic protest, the release stated. There have been conversations of rallies taking place on UMs campus, but nothing appeared to be set as of Monday, March 31. UM student Aidan Rozema, co-president of University of Michigan College Democrats, said the group is postponing its rally for now as it spends time building a coalition. Attendees who joined Fridays online discussion listened as the University Staff Union, the Black Students Union, faculty government and other organizations shared their reactions to the changes. A reporters request last week to join the meeting was denied. Related: What we know so far about the University of Michigan axing DEI initiatives Others who spoke out at Fridays meeting urged faculty to consider a work stoppage or students to walk out to show UM administrators their feelings about the decision. Related: University of Michigan decision to curb DEI is sharp turn after decade of work Some speakers encouraged the disruption of university operations since petitions and letter-writing dont seem to be enough, according to the release. Several other student activists criticized the university decisions and linked them to the universitys response to pro-Palestinian activism on campus, according to the release. A representative of the American Civil Liberties Union Undergraduate Chapter highlighted the complete erasure of groups such as Students Allied for Freedom and Equality, according to the release. In January, the university pro-Palestine group, was suspended for two years for alleged violations of conduct in a pair of 2024 demonstrations. The group had frequently demonstrated on campus since the start of the Israel-Hamas war in 2023. Related: Completely caved: University of Michigan DEI purge draws fire In the coming weeks, Modrak said there are several other events, including a seminar that features a prominent attorney of the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center, a film screening and panel discussion about the Senator McCarthy era at UM and a webinar with legal and policy experts about DEI. The committee behind the discussion is drafting a list of demands and working with groups across the university regarding DEI at the university, according to the news release. The committee will share more online or on social media. If you would like more reporting like this delivered free to your inbox, click here and signup for our weekly newsletter: Michigan Schools. Want more Ann Arbor-area news? Bookmark the local Ann Arbor news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Ann Arbor daily newsletter. Several schools in the Ann Arbor area are closed Monday, March 31 due to severe weather damage. (J. Scott Park | MLive.com) MLive Media Group WASHTENAW COUNTY, MI - Storm damage and power outages have led several schools in the Ann Arbor area to cancel classes Monday, March 31. A Sunday ice storm caused damage in Northern Michigan and parts of the Upper Peninsula, with downed trees and power lines contributing to widespread power outages. The storms moved to southern Lower Michigan in the afternoon in the region including Kalamazoo, Three Rivers, Jackson, Ann Arbor and Detroit. The area was under a severe weather threat Sunday from roughly 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. You can read more about Michigan weather here. Some school districts were returning from spring break last week Monday. The following schools have been listed closed for Monday. This story will be updated as more announcements are made. Ann Arbor Public Schools - Mitchell Elementary and Pattengill Elementary are closed due to power outages. Before and after-school activities are also canceled today. All other AAPS buildings have power and are open, school officials said. Dexter Community Schools - prescheduled spring break closure through today, classes resuming Tuesday, April 1. Lincoln Consolidated Schools - district to provide updates with power outages across campus. Pittsfield Acres Academy - prescheduled spring break closure through today, classes resuming Tuesday, April 1. South Arbor Charter Academy If you would like more reporting like this delivered free to your inbox, click here and signup for our weekly newsletter: Michigan Schools. Want more Ann Arbor-area news? Bookmark the local Ann Arbor news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Ann Arbor daily newsletter. Several schools in the Jackson area are closed Monday, March 31 due to severe weather damage. (J. Scott Park | MLive.com) MLive Media Group JACKSON COUNTY, MI - Storm damage and power outages have led several schools in the Jackson area and surrounding counties to cancel classes Monday, March 31. A significant ice storm Sunday, March 30, caused damage in Northern Michigan and parts of the Upper Peninsula, with downed trees and power lines contributing to widespread power outages. The storms moved to southern Lower Michigan in the afternoon in the region including Kalamazoo, Three Rivers, Jackson, Ann Arbor and Detroit. The area was under a severe weather threat Sunday from roughly 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. You can read more about Michigan weather here. The following schools have been listed closed for Monday. This list includes districts from Jackson, Calhoun and Hillsdale counties. This story will be updated as more announcements are made. da Vinci Schools Hillsdale Community Schools Hillsdale Preparatory School Jackson Public Schools - Jackson High School and Jackson Pathways are closed due to a power outage. All other JPS schools are open. Jonesville Community Schools Leslie Public Schools Litchfield Community Schools Mason Public Schools Northwest Community Schools - Phone systems will also be unavailable until power has been restored, school officials announced on Facebook. Anyone wishing to reach a district representative is advised to send an email to nw.media@nwschools.org. North Adams-Jerome Public Schools Springport Public Schools Stockbridge Community Schools Webberville Community Schools Williamston Community Schools If you would like more reporting like this delivered free to your inbox, click here and signup for our weekly newsletter: Michigan Schools. Want more Jackson-area news? Bookmark the local Jackson news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Jackson daily newsletter. KALAMAZOO COUNTY, MI Three family members were killed and several others were injured when a tree fell on their vehicle during severe weather Sunday, March 30. The storm caused damage across the state. Related: Unlike anything we have experienced: Michigan storms leave 307K in dark The incident happened on East S Avenue, just west of South 47th Street in Kalamazoo Countys Climax Township. The names of the victims have not been released pending notification of family. Kalamazoo County sheriffs deputies responded at 5:41 p.m. to a report of a traffic crash on East S Avenue. Police found that a tree had struck a vehicle, causing the fatalities and multiple injuries. Related: Severe winds rip roof off Michigan school gymnasium The three victims are family members. Police said three others were taken to local hospitals. One of the injured is in critical condition. The other two are stable, police said. Related: Winds possibly topping 95 mph rip across Michigan with massive line of thunderstorms The incident is under investigation. Police said additional details would be provided after family members have been notified. Sheriffs deputies were assisted by Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety, firefighters from Pavilion and Climax townships and Life EMS. Severe winds ripped off the roof at Beach Elementary in Fruitport Community Schools on Sunday, March 30 in Muskegon County. NOAA FRUITPORT, MI Severe winds lifted the roof off the gymnasium at Beach Elementary School, about 10 miles south of Muskegon. The roof on the gym at Beach has blown off and there is significant flooding throughout the building, Jason J. Kennedy, superintendent of Fruitport Community Schools, said in a statement. He said classes at the school were canceled for Monday, March 31. The closure at Beach may extend beyond tomorrow as our team and contractors work to mitigate the damage, Kennedy said. The superintendent said, as of about 7 p.m. Sunday, he expected the rest of the buildings in the Muskegon County-based school district would open for classes Monday. That could change if the weather continues to batter the districts facilities, Kennedy added. The district Facebook page displayed photos of the elementary school roofs damage. A massive line of storms marching across Michigan late this afternoon and early this evening has produced damaging winds topping 95 mph, according to the National Weather Service. The storm system that came into Michigan in the southwest corner of the state and moved east toward Ann Arbor, Detroit and The Thumb produced a string of severe thunderstorm and tornado warnings as it spun across the state. UPDATE: Police release name of Saginaw man killed in suicide by cop SAGINAW, MI Saginaw shot and killed a 33-year-old man in a standoff officials labeled as a suicide by cop encounter on Sunday, March 30. At 7 p.m. on Delaware, near the State Street intersection, Saginaw police responded to a call relating to a man with a knife, threatening suicide by cop, Saginaw Deputy Chief Matthew Gerow said in a statement. Suicide by cop is a term that describes when an individual engages law enforcers in an effort to force them to use deadly force against that individual. Officers attempted to (defuse) the tense situation with the man and ultimately fired multiple taser shots that were not successful, Gerow said. Officers were then forced to fire their handguns in self-defense. After the man was shot, officers attempted to administer life-saving measures and summoned medical assistance, Gerows statement read. The Saginaw man was transported to a hospital, where he died, Gerow said. Saginaw Police Chief Robert Ruth requested state police investigate the shooting, Gerow said. No officers were injured during the shooting. Officials didnt immediately release the name of the deceased man. 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. Scattered debris recovered from a fatal hit-and-run in Buena Vista Township the morning of March 31, 2025. The collision left a 20-year-old man from Au Train Township deceased. Police believe the striking vehicle was a 2010 to 2015 GMC Terrain. Cole Waterman BUENA VISTA TWP, MI Police are looking for answers after a man from the Upper Peninsula was found dead on the side of a Saginaw County road, the victim of a hit-and-run. About 3:50 a.m. on Monday, March 31, Buena Vista Township police responded to an area of M-13/ Veterans Memorial Parkway about a half-mile south of the Zilwaukee Bridge for a reported body in the road. The civilian who called 911 could not initially tell if the body was that of a man or woman, according to dispatch recordings on Broadcastify.com. Officers arrived to find the body of a 20-year-old man from Au Train Township, located in the Upper Peninsulas Alger County, according to Detective Russ Pahssen. Scattered around the body was debris from the vehicle police say struck him. Police collected the broken parts, including a fog light assembly and radiator components. Investigators believe the striking vehicle was a 2010 to 2015 GMC Terrain, Pahssen said. It should have extensive damage to its front passenger side, he added. Deer and wildlife are often hit by vehicles in the area and its conceivable the striking motorist thought they hit an animal, Pahssen said. Pahssen did not release the deceased mans name, saying he is trying to locate next of kin. Its unknown what brought him to the Saginaw County area or why he would be walking along that stretch of road in the dark of early morning. Pahssen is asking anyone with information to call him at 989-529-1940. 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. House Republicans forced a vote on and defeated a proposed law to allow undocumented immigrants in Michigan to obtain drivers licenses. (MLive file photo) House Republicans forced a vote on and defeated a proposed law to allow undocumented immigrants in Michigan to obtain drivers licenses. Six Democrats joined with Republican representatives in the 39-64 vote against the bill on March 20, marking yet another failed bid for the long-sought protections. State Rep. Cam Cavitt, R-Cheboygan, said Michigan voters last fall made clear their stance on immigration issues by electing President Donald Trump and flipping the state House to Republican control. Having a drivers license in our state is a privilege. You cant illegally cross our border and break our laws and then expect to receive the same privileges afforded to U.S. citizens, Cavitt said. This radical Democrat drivers license plan was so unpopular last year that it couldnt even get a vote during a Democrat trifecta. Yet, either out of dedication to far-left activism or devotion to bad policy ideas, Democrats made the mistake of trying this again. Although Democrats controlled both legislative chambers and the governorship last year, then-House Speaker Joe Tate, D-Detroit, never allowed a vote on a similar bill affording undocumented residents the opportunity to obtain a drivers license. The bill last year lacked a few key Democratic votes needed to pass, according to former state Rep. Rachel Hood, D-Grand Rapids. Related: Democrats failure to pass drivers licenses for undocumented immigrants leaves advocates devastated It was Tate who reintroduced the bill this session. Tate said House Republicans in forcing the vote used the bill as political theater to divide people rather than making Michiganders lives better. The Book of Matthew talks about how are we taking care of the least of these, Tate told his colleagues before the vote. How are we taking care of Michigan residents as a whole in this chamber? Madam speaker, I wanted to speak on the merits of this but unfortunately, as a former speaker speaking to the current speaker, this is nothing but a political ploy. Near the conclusion of his speech, Tate said instead of forcing the vote, the chamber should be talking about economics and taking care of Michigan residents. His microphone was cut off, but he continued to yell that the chamber should be talking about cuts to veterans services and healthcare. The Democrats who joined Republicans in defeating the bill are state Reps. Jasper Martus, D-Flushing, Denise Mentzer, D-Mount Clemens, Reggie Miller, D-Van Buren Township, Amos ONeal, D-Saginaw, Angela Witwer, D-Delta Township, and Mai Xiong, D-Warren. Advocates and supporting lawmakers last year said letting immigrants without legal documentation obtain a drivers license would allow them to travel safely to work or the grocery store or take their children to school without fear of being unnecessarily detained or deported. Advocates previously told MLive they had little hope similar bills would pass in the Republican-controlled House. House Speaker Matt Hall, R-Richland Township, has long been opposed to the proposal, claiming last year that it jeopardizes public safety and incentivizes criminal invaders. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, both Democrats, have previously backed similar bills. Similar legislation has been introduced every session since 2016. Before 2008, Michigan was one of a handful of states that issued drivers licenses to undocumented immigrants. The legislature passed a law banning the practice following an opinion issued by former Attorney General Mike Cox, a Republican. Advocates say 20 states and Washington, D.C. currently allow undocumented immigrants to receive drivers licenses. The forced vote on the bill comes amid the continued crackdown on immigration by the Trump administration. A swath of Northern Michigan counties are in the throes of recovery today after a devastating ice storm swept through the area over the weekend, leaving thousands without power and some roads impassable. Several impacted counties are seeking local declarations of emergency. Crawford County Emergency Management announced Monday morning that it intended to file for a local emergency. RELATED: Whitmer declares emergency in 10 Michigan counties impacted by brutal ice storm At the time, the local hospital was operating on generators, the road commission was working to clear trees and ice from roadways, and to CCEMs knowledge, there was no fuel available in the county. Officials are requesting that all unnecessary travel ... be restricted at this time. RELATED: Destructive spring ice storm debilitates Northern Michigan, see videos Meanwhile, Charlevoix and Montmorency counties have already declared local emergencies. In Charlevoix, thousands are without power and officials estimate it will take days and weeks to clear downed trees and brush. Montmorencys situation is similar with local government and schools shut down, except as warming and charging stations for residents. RELATED: Over 265K without power after devastating weekend storms In Otsego County, Gaylord Community Schools are closed until Thursday. This morning, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer declared a state of emergency for 10 counties: Otsego, Oscoda, Montmorency, Presque Isle, Emmet, Charlevoix, Cheboygan, Crawford, Mackinac and Alpena. Sleet, heavy and long-lasting freezing rain and a line of severe storms struck the area between Friday night and Sunday afternoon. There were countless reports of ice-covered trees and large branches down over roads, sagging onto power lines, making some routes impassable. Power lines snapped, power poles were downed, and power outages topped 90,000 homes and businesses at their peak. A shelter-in-place order was issued in some areas. RELATED: Colder temperatures, more freezing rain for Up North ice storm area: Its kind of ruthless out there Todays cold snap wont help clean-up efforts. Because there are so many hazards, keeping people off the roads and at home - if they are able to stay in their homes - is the safest thing to do, authorities have said. A destructive ice storm has caused widespread damage in Northern Michigan. This photo was taken in Spruce, in Alcona County. Photo provided by Barb Halazon GAYLORD, MI - At least one Northern Michigan county has declared a state of emergency and others are continuing their shelter in place warnings for residents after a hugely destructive ice storm hit the region this weekend. Stay Safe and Stay Home - thats the message authorities across Northern Michigan are repeating in an attempt to keep people off the roads and away from downed trees and downed power lines as a massive clean-up effort continues. It may take several days for power to be restored and for some roads to be cleared. Sleet, heavy and long-lasting freezing rain and a line of severe storms struck the area between Friday night and Sunday afternoon. There were countless reports of ice-covered trees and large branches down over roads, sagging onto power lines, making some routes impassable. Power lines snapped, power poles were downed, and power outages topped 90,000 homes and businesses at their peak. Utility crews say it will likely be Wednesday before the hardest-hit areas have their power restored. Some entire communities reported they were largely without power, including Charlevoix, Petoskey and parts of Gaylord. A cold snap coming on Monday wont help clean-up efforts. Because there are so many hazards, keeping people off the roads and at home - if they are able to stay in their homes - is the safest thing to do, authorities have said. Many schools have closed for Monday across the region, and more local warming centers are opening for those without power. A destructive ice storm has caused widespread damage in Northern Michigan. This photo shows tree damage near Johannesburg. Photo provided by Cindy Paris Due to the level of destruction, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer activated the State of Emergency Operations Center, which means state personnel will work with local officials and private-sector partners to ensure the local areas are assessed and have what they need and can coordinate with emergency management officials. My heart is with everyone who has been hit hard by the recent ice stormand with those facing ongoing severe weather across the state," Whitmer said in a statement. Ive activated the State Emergency Operations Center to coordinate our response. Were assessing the damage, working with local officials, and ensuring every resource is available to help impacted communities recover. If youre in an area affected by todays storms or under a weather advisory, please stay safe, stay home if you can, and check on your loved ones. A massive ice storm caused destruction across Northern Michigan. In this photo, ice-covered trees are down across a road near Gaylord. Photo provided by Dane Farver State of Emergency: Montmorency County - one of the hardest-hit areas between Gaylord and Alpena, declared a local state of emergency beginning tonight. All individuals are requested to shelter in place due to hazardous down power lines and debris for the next 24 hours. Only travel if you have an emergency. For the safety of their personnel the Montmorency County Road Commission has pulled their drivers off the road until the morning hours. If you need to go to a shelter, there are 3 established: Lewiston St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, Hillman Fire Hall, Atlanta County Court building (until 9pm/ reopening 9am). All area schools have closed for Monday, March 31st. The Montmorency County Court House is also closed Monday, March 31st. A destructive ice storm has caused widespread damage in Northern Michigan. Some places saw an inch or more of ice build up on trees and powerlines. This photo shows ice in Lewiston. Photo provided by Sue Delmotte McLean Shelter in Place warnings: At 2 p.m. today, Otsego County, where Gaylord is located, put a Shelter in Place guideline into action: The Otsego County Office of Emergency Management has issued a shelter in place order for all persons in Otsego County due to hazardous down power lines and debris for the next 24 hours. Only travel if you have an emergency. Crawford County has also asked its residents to stay home: Due to the Major ice storm please stay home and off the roads. There are trees and power lines down all over the county. Every fire department is out dealing with the down trees. Please stay home if you can. Alpena County has asked its residents to shelter in place and only call 911 if there is a medical emergency. From Downtown Harbor Springs: URGENT: PLEASE DO NOT DRIVE IN THE CITY OF HARBOR SPRINGS. MANY IMPASSIBLE ROADS DUE TO POWER LINES AND TREES. THANK YOU FOR UNDERSTANDING! Emmet County, where Petoskey is located, has asked its residents to remain off the roads: Sheriff Matt Leirstein of the Emmet County Sheriffs Office reports that several warming shelters have been established across the county in response to the ongoing ice storms. However, as temperatures continue to drop and weather conditions worsen, the Sheriffs Office is strongly advising residents to remain sheltered in place and to avoid all travel unless it is an absolute emergency. The Emmet County Sheriffs Office, the Emmet County Road Commission, all local Fire Departments and Emmet County EMS have been working diligently to clear roadways. Unfortunately, the worsening storm conditions have made cleanup efforts exceedingly challenging. First responders are committed to answering calls for service, but due to the severe conditions, response times may be significantly delayed. The City of Cheboygan and the Cheboygan County sheriffs office is asking residents to stay home: City of Cheboygan residents please stay at home! There are trees and power lines down through out the City. City personnel are addressing the issues as fast as possible. It may be a couple of days before things are back to normal. Stay safe and stay at home. Hania Aamir's Eid look steals the show, netizens call her 'chand' as she shares pics of her ethnic attire M Snehanjali USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. 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I Accept Ashwin Mohan is Editor (Deals) at Moneycontrol and leads the M&A, private equity and equity capital market transactions coverage. He anchors the video show 'Deal Central ' and tweets at @ashwinmohansays. He has previously worked with ET NOW, CNBC TV-18 and The Times of India. 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 Guangxi's Sanyuesan festival lights up the night 10:49, March 31, 2025 By Sheng Chuyi ( People's Daily Online In recent days, diverse cultural events have been held across south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region to celebrate Sanyuesan festival, showcasing vibrant ethnic customs and enriching nightlife experiences. 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By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Shishir Tripathi is a journalist and researcher based in Delhi. He has worked with The Indian Express, Firstpost, Governance Now, and Indic Collective. He writes on Law, Governance and Politics. Views are personal, and do not represent the stand of this publication. Aurobindo Das USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. 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Invite your friends and family to sign up for MC Tech 3, our daily newsletter that breaks down the biggest tech and startup stories of the day Aabhas Sharma USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Why Google continues to lose out on the viral game in AI Invite your friends and family to sign up for MC Tech 3, our daily newsletter that breaks down the biggest tech and startup stories of the day Aabhas Sharma USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. 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By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Pragya Trivedi USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept US absent from Myanmar quake response as rivals fill the vacuum Pragya Trivedi USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept The Le Soleal sits dockside at the Port Authority of Guam on March 31, 2025. Yosemite in view - CA 175 anniversary View Photo View Video Sacramento, CA The State of California is celebrating its 175th anniversary this year, and the United States is celebrating 250 years. We reported earlier that Tuolumne, one of the original 27 counties, recently unveiled a commemorative logo for its 175th anniversary. Governor Gavin Newsom and First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom announced today that there will be a coordinated effort to encourage communities up and down the state to celebrate the 175th anniversary of Californias statehood, on September 9. Newsom says a working group is being launched, supported by an Ambassador Circle of state and external leaders, to encourage and highlight efforts by communities across the state to celebrate 175 years. Newsom says, Throughout American history, California has been a beacon of innovation, shaping the very essence of the American Dream. The state has played a monumental role in igniting movements that have redefined industries, expanded rights, and shaped society. From the farmworker revolution that championed labor rights to the free speech movement that set new democratic standards, California has consistently been at the forefront of progress. Californias milestone comes as the country gears up to celebrate 250 years this July. The working group will lead commemorations of both California 175 and America 250, with state agencies and departments celebrating efforts that reflect upon and honor the state and countrys history, and also building on efforts to better communities into the future. A short video was unveiled this morning, and you can watch it by clicking on the video box. Harare Controversial businessman Wicknell Chivayo has launched a scathing attack on planned protests against President Emmerson Mnangagwas government, branding them as terrorism and accusing expelled Zanu-PF member Blessed Geza of inciting violence from exile. Chivayos outburst has also laid bare the simmering factional tensions within the ruling party, with President Mnangagwa himself issuing a stern warning to party members backing Geza. Chivayo, who has been a target of Gezas threats and accusations of benefiting from government corruption, took to social media to voice his strong condemnation of the planned demonstrations. Zimbabwe is a peaceful nation, known for its educated and responsible citizens, most of whom carry Christian values and are law-abiding, Chivayo stated. The reckless call for an illegal uprising and incitement to violence is totally unZimbabwean and must be rejected by every peace-loving citizen. He singled out Geza, a former Zanu-PF central committee member, for particular criticism. At the centre of this chaos is an individual who no longer deserves the respected title of Cde but a chap called Blessed Geza, a useless, failed politician and fugitive from justice, whose only remaining strategy is to provoke instability from his self-imposed exile, Chivayo declared. Expelled from Zanu PF for his dishonourable conduct, Geza has become a political nonentity, desperately trying to stay relevant by leading a criminal cartel of fugitives and bitter opposition remnants, he added, further denouncing Gezas motives and influence. Chivayo himself has been embroiled in controversy, having been accused of directly benefiting from government contracts through corrupt means. Last year, he faced scrutiny after it emerged that a company he fronted was awarded a US$100 million tender by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) to supply materials for the 2023 general elections. He was also included on a list of individuals, including Kudakwashe Tagwirei, who were warned by Geza. In a suspicious turn of events, cars were torched on Thursday night at the premises of both Chivayo and Tagwirei. Chivayo equated the planned March 31 protests to acts of terrorism against the government. To shift from legal and peaceful demonstrations and start burning vehicles, destroying property belonging to innocent individuals, and calling for the violent removal of a government is illegal, treasonous, and easily qualifies as terrorism, he asserted. No serious, patriotic Zimbabwean should entertain this. I urge all citizens to ignore the empty call to protest tomorrow or on any other day called for by anarchists such as Geza. Let us all continue normally with our lives tomorrow and beyond, Chivayo urged, calling on citizens to reject the call for protests and maintain normalcy. The call to protest against Mnangagwa has exposed the factional battles simmering within the ruling Zanu-PF party. At Thursdays Zanu-PF Central Committee meeting, Mnangagwa addressed the issue directly, issuing a stern warning to party members who are allegedly backing Geza. This public rebuke underscores the depth of the divisions within the party and the potential threat posed by Gezas actions. Chivayo further stated that those harbouring leadership ambitions should bide their time and wait for Mnangagwa to step down at the end of his term in 2028. President Mnangagwa still has three full years remaining in his term, and he has publicly pledged to step down at the end of itas a true constitutionalist. If anyone has ambitions, they must respect party processes and wait for the next congress, he said. When that time comes, I personally will support whoever has been democratically elected, with every prayer and every cent I have saved, to ensure we keep Zanu PF as the ruling party forever and ever, Chivayo pledged, vowing to support the democratically elected leader at the next congress. Breaking News via Email Related Pin Share Share 0 Shares Harare In a dramatic move, the Zimbabwean government has recalled all security forces from leave and placed them on 100% standby for a five-minute move just hours before todays planned protests. The demonstrations, spearheaded by expelled Zanu-PF central committee member and war veteran Blessed Bombshell Geza, are aimed at President Emmerson Mnangagwa, with protesters demanding the 82-year-old leaders resignation over allegations of corruption, tribalism, and economic mismanagement. Sources within the military told NewsDay that soldiers were given a strict deadline of 9am yesterday to report for duty after being recalled via phone calls. The order to return to base came with the instruction that they be ready to deploy within five minutes of receiving a call. This means that everyone will be on duty and ready to react within five minutes if there is a call, a source said. Several officers, who were on leave, were this morning called and ordered to report for duty. Some had ignored the calls which were made about a fortnight ago. But today (yesterday) everyone has been ordered to cut short their leave and report for duty. In addition to the recall of security forces, the government has also tightened security measures across the country. Police have increased patrols and established roadblocks on major roads leading to Harare, the capital, in an effort to deter protesters from gathering. Motorists have reported significant delays and disruptions to traffic flow as a result of the increased roadblocks. At some locations, traffic queues stretched for over a kilometre, leaving commuters frustrated. Adding to the tension, reports have emerged that security forces received an advance salary, with police officers allegedly receiving US$50 and soldiers receiving US$100. Despite the heightened security presence, national police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi has urged the public to carry on with their daily activities. Members of the public should ignore social media messages that are being circulated because some of them border on criminality, Nyathi said. Police are investigating and action will be taken against those identified. We urge members of the public to continue with their day-to-day activities because the police are there to ensure that peace in maintained. Law and order security is there, so, people are free to go about their activities without any interference and intimidation. If members of the public have concerns, they are free to address them to the commissioner-general of the police. Over the weekend, government ministers and police officers held a series of press conferences, warning citizens against participating in the planned protests. They maintained that the demonstration was unauthorised and would be met with force, urging the public to remain calm and go about their business as usual. Home Affairs minister Kazembe Kazembe went as far as describing the protest as acts of terrorism. The government of Zimbabwe unreservedly denounces acts of terrorism and violence which unruly elements, supported by a fringe group living outside the country, intend to perpetrate on individuals and properties thereby threatening the safety of the general public, Kazembe said in his address. The countrys security services firmly stand on the side of law and order and will not hesitate to take decisive action. Meanwhile, Minister of State for National Security, Lovemore Matuke, addressing citizens in Gutu South yesterday, warned against any actions threatening public order and potential disruptions by agitators, emphasising that protecting citizens safety remained the Governments top priority, with all necessary measures implemented to ensure communities remained secure and daily activities continue uninterrupted. I want to assure every citizen that your security is our top priority. Comprehensive measures are in place to safeguard our society. Our security forces are well-prepared to handle any potential disruptions while ensuring that people going about their daily business are respected and protected, said Minister Matuke. While acknowledging citizens right to lawful protest, the minister firmly opposed any actions endangering public safety. In the spirit of promoting calm and resilience, I encourage all citizens to continue with their daily business as usual. There is no need for undue anxiety or panic, he said. We must collectively focus on our national priorities that enhance welfare and progress, rather than be distracted by rogue elements. The minister warned that security forces would respond decisively to any threats posed by malcontents. Our security apparatus is equipped to handle the situation, and anyone attempting to incite violence or chaos will be dealt with swiftly and decisively. We call upon every citizen to show restraint. On Saturday, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Dr Jenfan Muswere said Zimbabweans should go about their business as usual as law enforcement agents will be vigilant and on high alert to guarantee security and ensure peace across the country. As official Government spokesman, I would like to assure the nation that peace and stability will continue to prevail in our country in terms of the Constitution, including on the 31st March 2025, and all Zimbabweans should disregard misinformation and disinformation being peddled on social media platforms by cyber terrorists, said Dr Muswere. We also like to assure the people that law-enforcement agencies have more than enough capacity to deal with any illegal activities that might take place in our country. As a Government, we have taken note of artificial intelligence-generated videos and messages from comedian-cum-terrorists who seek to misinform and dis-inform the public. Those who want to create despondency, alarm and anarchy will be dealt with in terms of the law. No one has the right to overthrow a constitutionally elected Government. Last Thursday, the Minister of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage, Kazembe Kazembe, said security services were on high alert to ensure the safety and security of the public and everyone, including visitors to the country, should feel secure and continue engaging in their socio-economic activities. Yesterday, police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi also assured the nation that it will be business as usual across the country today. The police have made adequate deployments throughout the country. Those using public transport or private vehicles should not fear. Businesses and schools should operate normally. Despite Gezas calls for action, there is widespread scepticism among ordinary citizens about participating in the protests, with many fearing violent clashes between protesters and security forces. Tension has been palpable in the lead-up to the planned demonstrations. Last week, vehicles were torched at premises or offices owned by former central bank governor John Mangudya, businessman Kudakwashe Tagwirei, and tenderpreneur Wicknell Chivayo, in what Geza described as a signal of what was to come. The ruling Zanu-PF party has vowed to thwart the protest, which it claims is intended to destabilise the country. Your Excellency, no demonstration will take place. We will not be swayed and frightened by social media, the partys deputy secretary for youth affairs John Paradza said at the launch of the youth empowerment fund in Harare about a fortnight ago. Breaking News via Email Related Pin Share Share 0 Shares Harare Bishop Andrew Wutawunashe, the founder and leader of the Family of God Church (FOG), has made a surprising appeal to his congregation, urging them to pray for outspoken war veteran Blessed Runesu Bombshell Geza. This call comes amidst rising tensions in Zimbabwe, with Gezas planned protests prompting a strong response from both the government and religious leaders. Just last week, Wutawunashe publicly denounced the growing calls for protests, warning that people would be attempting to crucify their own liberator, referring to President Emmerson Mnangagwa. However, in a shift of focus, Wutawunashe used his Sunday service to highlight Gezas potential role in the nations future. There is one man we left out, and today I want you to pray for him. This man fought for the liberation of this country, amen, and at some point, when he saw the problems which pained him, he decided just like his namethat this country needs a bath, Wutawunashe told his congregation. He continued, Deep in the heart of that man is something that just says this country needs a bath, thats why his name is Geza. And today, Comrade Geza, we want you to know that we appreciate all the sacrifices you did for our nation and the desires you have that the wrongs to the things that are negative, may be righted in our nation. MaCdes, nyaya ndiyo ndiyo tomorrow, no looking back. Lets fill up the streets. Mnangagwa Must Go. This has been blessed by God. thank you Rev Wutaunashe for your solidarity statement. Its for every Zimbabwean. Lets stand up against corrupt rule. pic.twitter.com/lU1J2iChcy Blessed Geza (@BlessedGeza) March 30, 2025 Gezas calls for protests have sparked alarm across Zimbabwe, leading state security agencies to deploy officers, water cannons, and patrol trucks in anticipation of potential unrest. President Mnangagwa has also appealed for peace during these trying times, which are perceived as a direct threat to his leadership. Meanwhile, the planned protests have also drawn the attention of international religious figures. Renowned Nigerian televangelist Pastor Chris Oyakhilome has called for a special prayer and fasting programme in Zimbabwe ahead of the March 31 demonstrations. Speaking during a Global Day of Prayer, Pastor Chris urged his followers to pray for Zimbabwe, emphasising its importance in Africa. Zimbabwe is an important country in Africa. It may not be very large. It is not a very big country, but its a very important country. And we are not going to let the devil tear it down or take over it. That is our interest. We will expel the demons that are trying to do it and break their powers in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Let there be peace in Zimbabwe, and with peace, there will be prosperity, Pastor Chris declared. However, Pastor Chris cautioned against participating in the demonstrations, labelling them as satanic protests. Dont allow those who are deceiving you or deceiving the people, convincing anyone that they have solutions. They dont have solutions. They just want power. So far, you have had relative peace in your country. They dont like it. But there is a greater power than the one they know about. Dont destroy the country. Dont listen to those who are telling you go out in the streets, but where are they? Will they go in the streets? They wont. Refuse this satanic protest! he added. Adding to the atmosphere of religious fervour, Pastor Chris Oyakhilome has called for a nationwide fast in Zimbabwe on Sunday, March 31, 2025. Oyakhilome claims the country is under threat from Satans modus operandi due to the planned demonstration on the same day, which he warns will not be peaceful and risks plunging the nation into chaos. Adding another layer of intrigue to the unfolding events, Zimbabwean preacher and diplomat Prophet Uebert Angel cancelled his much-hyped Prophetic Service just hours after rescheduling it. The cancellation sparked speculation that Angel may be reacting to mounting pressure following a blistering address by Geza. Earlier in the day, Angel had taken to X (formerly Twitter) to update followers that the serviceoriginally slated for Thursdaywould instead be held on Friday, 28 March at the Harare Hippodrome. However, hours later, the very same event poster resurfaced online with a large red banner stamped CANCELLED. Social media influencer @LynneStactia posted the update with the caption: Ichi Chigananda chatiza nechimwe chacho chiye Branson! He is now Ambassador At Large 4 sho!! suggesting Angel, alongside fellow preacher Ed Branson, is evading scrutiny under the cover of diplomatic immunity. Breaking News via Email Related Pin Share Share 0 Shares Harare As Zimbabweans awoke on Monday to a heavy police presence and eerily quiet city centres, the much-anticipated anti-government protests called for by war veteran Blessed Geza, widely known as Cde Bombshell, failed to materialise. While police mounted checkpoints on roads leading to major cities and towns, searching vehicles for dangerous weapons, the streets remained largely empty, with many choosing to stay home, schools deserted, and large supermarkets remaining closed. There is no need to spin anything. Geza made a call for peaceful demonstrations & people shut down their shops to allow for the demonstrations but police, acting as ED's militia, teargassed those that turned up for the demonstration. This is captured on video. #GezaEffect https://t.co/xhkv4T0DMf pic.twitter.com/2Tc3iKpS5D mawarire mbizvo jealousy (@mawarirej) March 31, 2025 Traffic into the centre of Harare and Bulawayo was noticeably reduced, creating a ghost town atmosphere. A ZimLive correspondent in Bulawayos CBD described the scene: Its like Sunday morning. Not many people or cars around. A truckload of police patrolled an emptied Joshua Mqabuko Street, a stark reminder of the security forces readiness. From Today Onwards No one will believe This clown Geza Haana Power Zvake pic.twitter.com/G7sqMOSIw2 Joice Runaida Mujuru (@JoiceMujuru1) March 31, 2025 The planned uprising against President Emmerson Mnangagwa, whom Geza accuses of leadership failures and paying lip service to corruption, had been building for weeks. Geza, who has been charged with treason but remains at large, had urged Zimbabweans to fill up the streets on Monday, declaring, Mnangagwa must go. Its for every Zimbabwean. Lets stand up against corrupt rule. Truth is, if Blessed Geza and war veterans dont come out to lead the demonstration or protest the streets are going to be empty for the rest of the day. No one wants to risk their lives for someone whos hiding pic.twitter.com/aE5DZGii0F Smokey (@Yak_Smokey) March 31, 2025 However, at 8AM across Zimbabwe, there were no signs of protests. The call was for people to flood the streets but it appears so far Geza has achieved the opposite with many staying at home perhaps out of fear of what could happen, a ZimLive correspondent in Harare reported. Geza will claim a partial victory one man causing so much chaos and potential harm to the economy which will no doubt take a hit from the industries that wont open. #dandarostreets A strong message to Blessed Geza from a ZANU PF supporter. pic.twitter.com/TQ2qlyQXqc Dandaro Online (@DandaroOnline) March 31, 2025 Adding to the sense of anti-climax, Geza has been noticeably silent in the lead-up to the planned protests. The nation was anticipating another address from Geza last night where he would tell the nation how the protests would take place, what would happen next, and other logistics-related details regarding the protests. However, since the day Geza published a 1-and-a-half minute long video, two days ago, where he seemed to be indirectly claiming responsibility for the vehicles that were torched at some of Mnangagwas allies offices like Wicknell Chivayo, Kuda Tagwirei and John Mangudya, Geza has not said a word. This silence has left citizens who had begun regarding him as a Moses leading the nation out of Egypt to lose their hope and simply take the day like a normal public holiday. Police in Harare fired tear gas to disperse a few protesters who had gathered at an open space near Rainbow Towers, sometimes called Freedom Square. A faction of war veterans led by Blessed Geza had called for an uprising against President Mnangagwa. Many stayed at home pic.twitter.com/kDArBxXv49 ZimLive (@zimlive) March 31, 2025 In contrast to Gezas silence, police had called on Zimbabweans to go about their business as usual, promising sufficient security. Leave was cancelled for all police officers, who were also surprised when the government deposited US$50 into their individual accounts last Saturday. Police detectives were also made to sign a document under the Official Secrets Act committing to remain loyal to the government, to carry out any instruction given by the police commissioner, and never to divulge information on arrested suspects. what if Geza wacho ari content creator? pic.twitter.com/Yma8fCHDMn Babe reManCity (@BabereManCity) March 31, 2025 The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) sought to reassure the public, stating on X that the situation in [the] country is peaceful. The statement emphasized that police officers are actively conducting patrols to maintain order and ensure public safety, encouraging citizens to go about their daily activities without fear. This is YOU tomorrow if youre foolish enough to listen to Geza. pic.twitter.com/27jDS6ye0U Dereck Goto (@dereckgoto) March 30, 2025 Meanwhile, the Police has refuted social media reports alleging that they have sanctioned illegal demonstrations. Police Spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi clarified that the ZRP has not issued any such authorization, dismissing the circulating claims as false and attributing them to individuals attempting to disrupt national peace. Commissioner Nyathi urged the public to disregard the misleading information and continue with their daily routines without concern, warning that legal action will be taken against those spreading falsehoods to incite unrest. This is what Geza Said and you think iwe juriyasi na Geradini you matter to this guy Beware of the ides of March where misfortune and doom will befall you as an individual Geza was a mafia in the midlands and chiyadzwa. This guy is not fighting for anything more than a Raptor pic.twitter.com/KHoIcRqbnH Conspiracy Theorist (@drvajali) March 31, 2025 Adding to the sense that Gezas call for an uprising had failed to resonate, young people across Harare have vehemently rejected calls to support the planned demonstrations, labelling them as economically disruptive and politically motivated. Plan ya Geza ikasabudirira tichawedzera kubatwa rough kutanga April pic.twitter.com/r3bUOeRSiU Mface we Zambezi (@Nashienashe) March 30, 2025 In interviews, youths from various suburbs dismissed the demonstrations as a reckless ploy that would only bring instability, vowing not to be used as pawns in what they described as Gezas personal vendetta. Tafadzwa Moyo, a 26-year-old entrepreneur from Highfield, said the youth would not allow themselves to be manipulated into acts of violence. We are not fools. These demonstrations are not for us; they are for Gezas own agenda. We wont be used to commit treason, arson, or terrorism just because he has a political grudge. Zimbabwes future is more important than one mans anger, Moyo declared. Kudzai Chikomo, a university student from Mbare, urged Geza to seek peaceful solutions instead of inciting unrest. If he has a grievance, let him address it through proper channelsnot by turning his personal issues into a national crisis. We need maturity, not chaos. The youth are tired of being used for political games, Chikomo said. But mukoma Geza musadaro, tingori 2 mu town, inini ne Banner rangu.. pic.twitter.com/vhS94JVj7m Tinazee (@tinazeeZW1) March 31, 2025 With young people making up nearly 60 percent of Zimbabwes population, many emphasised that their future was at stake and refused to let it be jeopardised by unnecessary unrest. We are the majority, and we refuse to let Geza ruin the progress we are making. Tomorrow is a day to work, to hustle, to buildnot to waste time in the streets just to massage his political ego, said Tanaka Muzenda, a mechanic from Epworth. Another youth, Farai Dube from Kuwadzana, questioned the timing of the protests, arguing that Zimbabweans were more focused on earning a living than engaging in destructive demonstrations. People are facing some challenges, yes, but burning tyres and blocking roads wont put food on the table. Geza should find better ways to push his agenda instead of dragging desperate youths into trouble, Dube said. Geza announced 31 March as a public holiday in Zimbabwe. I knew it, Shona people can't do demonstrations against Shona Government. they are brothers & sisters. pic.twitter.com/31ee3l0p6q Nkayi Centre (@NkayiCenter) March 31, 2025 The overwhelming rejection of Gezas planned protests highlights growing frustration among Zimbabwes youth, who are increasingly wary of being manipulated for political gain. Many young people are choosing productivity over protest, signalling a clear message to political actors that the youth will no longer be tools for destabilisation. LIVE UPDATES AT ROBERT SQUARE WHERE GEZA MADE SOME CALLS TO CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS THAT THEY SHOULD RESIST A POLICE ORDER. NOW THEY KEEP ON APPEARING AT THE VENUE WHERE THEIR MEETING POINT IS. POLICE IRIKUITA BASA RAYO IVO VARIKUTIZA VODZOKA FUTI CHANTING MA SLOGAN AVO. pic.twitter.com/t2sg3ALRKp Christine Charumbira (@chrissy10charu) March 31, 2025 As the day wore on, it became clear that Gezas call for an uprising had largely fizzled out. While the heavy police presence and the fear of potential unrest undoubtedly played a role in deterring participation, the lack of support from key demographics, particularly the youth, and Gezas own sudden silence, suggest a deeper disconnect between his message and the realities of everyday Zimbabweans. Breaking News via Email Related Pin Share Share 0 Shares Harare John Zvivi and Alista Sibanda, a married couple accused of the brutal murder of their four-year-old niece in 2023, made a dramatic appearance in a Harare court over the weekend after being extradited from South Africa. The couple allegedly fled across the border after the childs death, sparking a manhunt that culminated in their arrest and return to face justice in Zimbabwe. The two accused, John Zvivi (36) and Alista Sibanda (35), were brought back into the country on March 27, 2025, after their story circulated widely on social media, prompting their arrest and eventual extradition. They appeared before Harare magistrate Mr Isheunesu Matova on Saturday, who remanded them in custody and advised them to approach the High Court for bail. Their next court appearance is scheduled for April 11, pending their indictment. The tragic events unfolded in April 2023 when Nomsa Sibanda, Alistas sister, brought her two daughters, Princess Shoko (4) and Susan Mandaza (6), from South Africa to be cared for by the couple in Zvimba. Nomsa Sibanda returned to South Africa on May 19, 2023, leaving her children in the care of her sister and brother-in-law. According to the prosecution, led by Mr Takudzwa Jambawu, the couple began to ill-treat the children, subjecting them to assaults and denying them access to food. The abuse allegedly escalated, and in July 2023, Princess Shoko succumbed to injuries sustained from the severe assault, passing away on July 23, 2023. In a desperate attempt to conceal their crime, Zvivi and Sibanda allegedly placed the childs remains in a sack and stashed it in the boot of a red Honda Fit with Botswana number plates. They then drove from their homestead to Kuwadzana Extension, where they dumped the body in a stream in Dzivaresekwa. The court heard that the couple informed Nomsa Sibanda of her daughters death but failed to provide her with a satisfactory explanation. Troubled by their vague account, Nomsa returned to Zimbabwe and, on August 1, 2023, reported a missing persons case to ZRP Dzivarasekwa. The very next day, the body of Princess Shoko was discovered in the Dzivarasekwa stream. Nomsa identified the remains of her daughter, and the body was taken to Parirenyatwa Hospital for a post-mortem examination. While a pathologist conducted the examination, the cause of death was inconclusive as toxicology results were still pending. Fearing arrest, the couple fled to South Africa. However, their alleged crime came to light after the story gained widespread attention on social media. Authorities in South Africa apprehended the couple, and after months of legal proceedings, they were extradited to Zimbabwe to face justice. Breaking News via Email Related Pin Share Share 0 Shares Yves here. Richard Murphy below works out the implications of his hypothesis, that Trumps grand visions is rule by broligarch. The wee problem is it fails to explain big parts of Trumps agenda, such as his lawless approach to deportation, his aggressive suppression of anti-Zionist speech, climate change denialism, his destruction of an already weak public health system, his love of tariffs even as their implementation damages US companies and with that, his naive approach to restoring manufacturing in the US. And lets not get started on annexing Greenland. I would argue that the broligarchs are big force multipliers for implementing an extreme libertarian agenda, and with it, asset grabs as prices crash. The wee problem is that between climate change, resource scarcity, and distress in other countries if Trump policies are not reversed, many of those bargains will prove to have been correctly priced. Many viable enterprises that Trump reduces to junk will remain junk. Its not as if this crowd is good at dealing with complicated real world problems like turning businesses around. Theres a sour note in Murphys discussion of Ukraine. The US is pulling out because Ukraine has lost and there is nothing, ex a nuclear war, that the US can do to turn that around. Yes, Trump may separately relish kicking the Europeans after they repeatedly snubbed and attacked him during Trump 1.0. But the question of NATO remains. The US was willing to carry most of the costs to assure that Europeans would remain good vassals and to contain the USSR. The US is overextended militarily given its bizarre fixation on mess with what had been a very long-term Chinese plan to reintegrate Taiwan. US war games have repeatedly shown we cant win in a hot conflict. Nevertheless, the US feels the need to project power against China, and normalizing relations with Russia reduces US deployment needs. Former US ambassador Chas Freeman has said Europe needs to grow up and stop operating under US policy domination (which is stumbling towards now). Part of that is controlling its own defense, which means paying for it. Amusingly, Boris Johnson has just come out in the Daily Mail (paywalled) defending Trump in his intent to make NATO members eat most of their military costs: Americans know freeloading when they see it and ours can't go on for everhttps://t.co/lHSxxk8zkr Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) March 28, 2025 By Richard Murphy, Professor of Accounting Practice at Sheffield University Management School and a director of the Corporate Accountability Network. Originally published at Funding the Future Trump appears random, haphazard and out of control. But thats not true. The Tech Bros who stand behind him have a plan and that is to preserve their wealth by destroying the power of the governments that might oppose them. This is the audio version: This is the transcript: What is Trumps grand plan? Ive been trying to work this out ever since Trump got into office in January because there must be a reason for the mayhem that he is creating. I simply do not believe that he arrived in the Oval Office without some sort of meta-narrative or explanation of what it is that hes trying to achieve. But, he certainly didnt lay that out in advance of becoming President, and he hasnt even now made it very clear since being in the White House. So, Ive had to stand back and have a think about this, and Ive come up with one explanation, which to me seems to tie together all the disparate themes that we are seeing with regard to his administration. Its my opinion that Donald Trump is the willing agent for or representative of the Tech Bros, as we will call them. Thats Musk with X, or Twitter. Thats Zuckerberg with Facebook. And thats Jeff Bezos with Amazon and, of course, hes also now a media mogul as well. These people are terrified of one thing. That is having their power clipped. Their power comes from their control of data the data that they can collect from you and from me as a result of us using their services. They know more about us in some ways than we know about ourselves. They can predict our preferences. They can direct advertising at us. They can decide what our political preferences probably are. They can decide when and where we might wish to go on holiday based on what weve looked at in terms of advertising. And on and on, and on. As a result, they believe they can help others to maximize their profit by exploiting us. And, lets be blunt, thats what I think they do, because I think that advertising is manipulative, and as a result, they want to maximize their power over that data because it is the source of their wealth. This is why we saw those people lined up at the inauguration in the White House in a way that was unprecedented. Business had not previously been seen at such an event in that way before, and that was the signal that this is the administration of Big Tech. And Big Tech is really frightened of two things, both of which were represented by Joe Biden and both of which are represented by the European Union. Those two things are the power to bust monopolies and the power to control data. The state has both those powers, and remember that if we go back into US history at around the turn of the 19th century into the 20th century, we had a not dissimilar situation of there being some oligarchs who basically controlled a great deal of the US economy. They were, at the time, the railroad chiefs, and they were the chiefs of the iron and steel industries, plus some bankers, and between them, they pretty much had America sewn up and in their pockets until they came across President Teddy Roosevelt, who was in office in the first decade of the 20th century in other words, just after 1900. And he used something called antitrust legislation to smash their power. He brought 43 legal actions against these banks and railroads and iron and steel companies to require that they split up their operations so that the power of competition was restored, because these people had removed that power of competition by creating monopolies, which were extracting supernormal profits from the people of the USA in a way that was deeply manipulative and was going to continue to let them exploit those people forever unless action was taken. And Teddy Roosevelt was the man who said, this is not the American way, and he succeeded using the antitrust legislation that he created then, plus legislation that was created in the 1930s after the Wall Street Crash, which provided a framework which ensured that America was at least an approximately competitive economy for nearly another century. But now it isnt. Nobody anticipated the power of the internet. Nobody anticipated the ability of the tech world to collect data from us in the way that it has. Nobody realised that when we went shopping, we might pass over our Club Card, or whatever it might be called in your supermarket, that will let that store know precisely what your shopping preferences are and so on. And this is what the basis of valuation of the companies that the Tech Bros own really is, but which Biden was threatening using antitrust legislation. And, he was trying to control the power of data. They didnt want that. They saw that their immense wealth running to trillions could be challenged by this. And there is one thing that the wealthy want above all else, and that is to remain wealthy. Nothing frightens them more than moving from being a trillionaire to only being a billionaire again. This is the sort of thing that gives them sleepless nights because status is everything to them. When you have enough money to do anything you want, and these people very clearly have that way beyond any requirement that they will ever have, then status is king and they want the status of being the rulers of the world, and Donald Trump has provided them with that opportunity. So, what has happened is this. Musk as agent for Trump, or Trump as agent for Musk with Musk also acting on behalf of the other Tech Bros, in effect is trying to do a power grab. Everything that hes doing is trying to claim for the DOGE, as he calls it the Department of Government Efficiency the control of the data of the US government. He is trying to get his hands on social security data, IRS data, the data that is available with regard to veterans and armed services, and, of course, medicine, which is an immensely powerful source of information to the big pharma companies. And he and his colleagues no doubt want to claim this data, whether legally or illegally and I dont think that really matters to them any more because as we can see, Trump is basically suspending the rule of law in the USA. He is trying to claim that data in a way that either he or he and the other big tech companies can licence in the future to those who want to use it, whether they be big pharma or even government itself. And lets be clear what they think about government. They do not want to see the perpetuation of the federal government. To them, the federal government is the enemy because it was the federal government that brought the antitrust legislation. It was the federal government that Joe Biden and Kamala Harris wanted to use to stop their power. They want to devolve power from the federal government to the states of the USA, and were seeing this with regard to education, where the Department of Education is being abolished. Were seeing it with regard to the undermining of those things that are clearly federal responsibilities, like USAID, and even to some degree in foreign policy. We are seeing it with regard to the devolution of Social Security powers to the states. So we are seeing a destruction of the federal government because it is the power that could challenge their prosperity, and this also drives the foreign policy that Trump is doing. Why is Trump pulling out of Ukraine? Because if he does, the EU is in a mess, in the opinion of those people who are heading the administration. Weve seen this. Weve seen JD Vance saying he hates the pathetic Europeans and others, including the Secretary of State, appear to agree with him. They are actually opposed to Europe, viscerally. They hate it. And what theyre trying to do is create an imbalance inside Europe so that Europe has to turn to an internal focus so that it does not look at how it will control the operation of US tech companies in Europe, which is the goal that the Tech Bros have, and therefore theyre willing to sacrifice Ukraine to Putin if necessary to achieve this goal of destabilising the power that is in Europe, which is the European Commission, which is the one agency that can threaten them outside the USA. This, I believe, is what explains what is going on. There is a grand plan to Trump, after all, in my opinion. Its taken me weeks and a couple of months even to try to work out what it might be. But as a political economist, what I look at is how relationships of power are used to reallocate resources within society. What these tech people know is that data gives them power. Their challenge is to preserve that power against the authorities that might have had the ability to challenge it the federal government and the EU, and to claim more of the data that they can in the process so that they will actually reinforce their ability to earn in the future because they will licence information previously held by the federal government back to the states and to big pharma and to medicine and everyone else. This, I think, is what theyre about. Always follow the money is the golden rule in political economy. These people believe they can make money by destroying the US federal government, and thats why theyre trying to do it. Three weeks ago, Trump sent a letter through intermediaries to Irans Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Kahmeni, which was a prettied up Agree to a more draconian version of the JCPOA or else and demanded that Iran negotiate within two months. Middle-East conflict watchers have speculated that the US having moved roughly half of its operation-ready fleet of B2 stealth bombers to Diego Garcia, believed to be just out of range of both the Houthis and Irans longest range missiles, may be pre-positioning an operation against Iran, as opposed to the Houthis. Nevertheless, Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi had previewed the answer on March 27: that Iran would not negotiate under threat and it would also not engage in direct negotiation with the US. That response became official on Sunday: Iran REJECTS direct talks with Trump Prez Pezeshkian says response to Trumps letter already delivered 'We do not avoid negotiations; rather, its breaches of promises that have caused problems' https://t.co/rLIoKes10w pic.twitter.com/7CB5tWycAW RT (@RT_com) March 30, 2025 Some top Iranians were not so polite: #Iran Parliament Speaker: #Trumps letter contains no serious words about lifting sanctions. US behavior in the letter is that of a bully. US President treats even its allies with demeaning behavior, speaking from a master-servant position. Iran cannot be deceived or coerced. https://t.co/IFc09fHShL pic.twitter.com/6EhE3jV1eG Iran Nuances (@IranNuances) March 28, 2025 The Iranians politely offered indirect negotiations.which is the current footing for engaging with the US. As well discuss, the prospects for a war with Iran look all too high, due to the same reasons as for our disastrous Project Ukraine: a great over-estimation of the effectiveness of our tech heavy and otherwise flabby military to take on a serious power on the other side of the world, plus an abject failure to take a good measure of Iran and its capabilities, amped up by Israels and Trumps sense of urgency. But first, the immediate backstory. On March 7, Trump told the press he had sent a letter1 to the Supreme Leader of Iran, with the pretext being to negotiate an end to Irans development of a nuclear weapon. As most readers know well, it was Trump that took the US out of the JCPOA, whose inspection regime was designed to do just that, and Biden refused to rejoin the JCPOA. But the press write-ups skip over those pesky details. From Reuters: U.S. President Donald Trump said he wants to negotiate a nuclear deal with Iran and sent a letter to its leadership this week suggesting talks with the Islamic Republic, which the West fears is rapidly nearing the capability to make atomic weapons. I said I hope youre going to negotiate, because its going to be a lot better for Iran, Trump said in an interview with Fox Business Network broadcast on Friday We have a situation with Iran that somethings going to happen very soon Hopefully we can have a peace deal. You know, Im not speaking out of strength or weakness. Im just saying Id rather see a peace deal than the other, but the other will solve the problem.. There are two ways Iran can be handled: militarily, or you make a deal, Trump told Fox Business. I would prefer to make a deal, because Im not looking to hurt Iran. Theyre great people. The following week,, after a much-ballyhooed ceasefire in Gaza when Trump took office, Ansar Allah (aka the Houthis) said it would resume attacks on Israel-related shipping in the Red Sea, Arabian Sea, Bab al-Mandeb Strait, and the Gulf of Aden if Israel did not resume food supplies to Gaza.1 As most readers know, the earlier Houthi attacks, which started in November 2023, resulted in most commercial shippers rerouting their cargoes to avoid the Red Sea area, through which about 15% of sea traffic had formerly passed. Trump made hyperbolic claims that Biden had not acted forcefully enough against the Houthis and authorized new air strikes. Key sections of the BBC write-up: The US has launched a decisive and powerful wave of air strikes on Houthi rebels Funded by Iran, the Houthi thugs have fired missiles at US aircraft, and targeted our Troops and Allies, Trump said on social media, adding that their piracy, violence, and terrorism had cost billions and put lives at risk. He added: We will use overwhelming lethal force until we have achieved our objective. Trump said that it had been more than a year since a US-flagged ship had sailed safely through the Suez Canal which the Red Sea leads to and four months since a US warship had been through the body of water between east Africa and the Arabian peninsula. The Suez Canal is the quickest sea route between Asia and Europe, and is particularly important in the transportation of oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG). Addressing the Houthis directly, Trump wrote that if they did not stop, HELL WILL RAIN DOWN UPON YOU LIKE NOTHING YOU HAVE EVER SEEN BEFORE. Trump urged Iran to cease its support for the Houthis, warning that Washington would hold Tehran fully accountable and, we wont be nice about it. He also accused the previous White House administration, under Joe Biden, of being pathetically weak and allowing the unrestrained Houthis to keep going. Irans Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the US government had no authority, or business, dictating Iranian foreign policy. So far, as the Signal leak indicated, the US seems mainly to be killing civilians in the dozens or so per day, mainly in the Saana area where the Houthis hang out. The logic seems to be to attempt decapitation strikes. By all accounts, that was not effective against Hamas or Hezbollah; what appears to have gotten Hezbollah to dial down its campaign was Israel engaging in what looked set to be Gaza-level destruction of Beirut (and perhaps secondarily, increased difficulty of getting supplies from Syria, although experts claim that the level of disorder and need in the area means workarounds are not that hard). After Trump sent his missive, the just-released National Threat Assessment, reconfirmed that Iran is not developing a nuclear bomb: We continue to assess Iran is not building a nuclear weapon and that Khamenei has not reauthorized the nuclear weapons program he suspended in 2003, though pressure has probably built on him to do so. In the past year, there has been an erosion of a decades-long taboo on discussing nuclear weapons in public that has emboldened nuclear weapons advocates within Irans decisionmaking apparatus. Khamenei remains the final decisionmaker over Irans nuclear program, to include any decision to develop nuclear weapons. Over the past weekend, before the official accounts that Iran was rejecting the Trump call for direct negotiations, Trump added Iranian drones to his list of beefs: Q: Iranian drones are killing Ukrainians every day. Why arent you doing something about that? Trump: Iran makes a lot of drones. Very effective drones. I sent them a letter: Talkor face bad, bad things. 1/ pic.twitter.com/jkPBM2ybXO Tymofiy Mylovanov (@Mylovanov) March 28, 2025 The segment below from PressTV makes clear why even if US would agree to the cumbersome mechanism of indirect negotiations, talks would go nowhere. The US does not merely want a supposedly better JCPOA inspection regime; it does not merely want Iran to stop supporting other members of what has come to be called the Axis of Resistance, such as the Houthis, Hezbollah, Hamas, and Kataib Hezbollah in Iraq; it wants Iran to prostrate itself and give up its missiles (see the slide at 1:46, admittedly not apparently based on the demands in the early March letter but in the text of the February 4 Executive Order restoring maximum pressure sanctions on Iran from Trump 1.0 after he exited the JCPOA). Explainer: Iran responds to Trump's letter Follow Press TV on Telegram: https://t.co/boCY50qfi9 pic.twitter.com/FYMqhr2KBV Press TV (@PressTV) March 30, 2025 As Alastair Crooke said in a talk with Larry Johnson, which we have embedded below, Iran might as well join a monestary. US Bad Assumptions About Iran Trump is exhibiting his signature sense of urgency, which when he runs into real world impediments, produces, as we have seen with his attempts to negotiate a Ukraine ceasefire with Russia, results in shifting deadlines with more hurry up bluster. We pointed out that Trump got himself into his Ukraine time pickle all on his own. He could have dumped Project Ukraine as Project Biden as soon as he took office, announced hed send all of the remaining goodies committed by Congress as soon as possible, and added that Ukraine was on its own.3 But Trump was caught up in his self-image as a negotiator extraordinaire and his loud and repeated promises that he could talk his way to ending the conflict. But what is the basis for giving Iran a two-month deadline in early March, before Israelis re-upped their genocide campaign via blocking food supplies, leading the Houthis to resume strikes? Misguided opportunism about Irans economy. The US believes Iran is particularly weak now. The Iran economy has been suffering due to the long duration of Western sanctions; Trump likely believes that the resumption of his maximum pressure sanctions will create more pain. The US and Israel may also believe that the execution of so-called snapback sanctions provisions in the JCOPA, which can be triggered only through October 2025, hence the need to Do Something. The West seems to regard them as a major source of economic leverage over Iran. The Iran-hawkish Washington Institute disagreed in a 2022 article. Key sections: Threatening to reimpose old UN sanctions would likely have little practical effect on Tehrans ability to trade oil and export drones, while the plethora of other potential complications suggest that it should be treated as a tool of last resort. The snapback process is designed to avoid the need for consensus among the five permanent members of the Security Council (the United States, Britain, China, France, and Russia). Once the measure is triggerednamely, by one or more JCPOA participants lodging a formal complaint regarding alleged violationsIrans relief from UN sanctions would expire within thirty days unless the council passes a resolution to continue it. And any permanent member can veto said relief resolution, making snapback difficult to halt except by the parties that triggered it (though as will be discussed below, the U.S. decision to withdraw from the JCPOA complicates its potential role in this process). The snapback mechanism itself expires in October 2025 Western governments may hope to use the mere threat of snapback as negotiating leverage. For example, the E3 could trigger the thirty-day snapback process and demand that Iran back off of its hardline negotiating position before that deadline arrives. But this is unlikely to be effective given that the economic consequences of snapback are not very significant (see below), while the threat itself would probably extinguish any remaining Iranian interest in a deal. Underestimating Irans military. The US dismissal of Irans capabilities has the same feel as the Western take on Russia in the runup to the Special Military Operation. The US and its allies also see Iran as diminished. from the March 7 Reuters article quoted earlier: Trump may be seeking a diplomatic opening to take advantage of what U.S. officials see as weakened Iran. Iran-backed groups in the Middle East Palestinian Hamas militants in Gaza and Hezbollah fighters in Lebanon have been heavily degraded by Israeli forces and Syrias Bashar al-Assad, who was closely aligned with Tehran, was overthrown by rebels. Even if Irans allies in its neighborhood seem to be on their back feet, this line of thinking takes an unduly blinkered view of Irans capabilities. First, even though the press has spun hard otherwise and the Administration seems blinded by its own PR, Iran has demonstrated, using its own forces, that it has escalatory dominance over Israel and the West. To make a long story short, Iran and the West negotiated a time and targets for Iran to retaliate against Israel for the assassinations of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and Hamas political leader/negotiator Ismail Haniyeh. Even with being given advanced warning textbook perfect conditions for Israel to parry the strikes, Iran hit its targets with pinpoint precision3 Western media also, later, fessed up that the cost to the West to try to defend against these attacks, across Israel, the US, the UK, and France, was over $2.2 billion, while the cost to Iran was about $90 million. Israel then retaliated against Iranor tried to. It reportedly intended to send in three waves of air strikes. But the first apparently only got within range of Iran and detected it was being caught on Iran air defenses (one assumes these planes were at least somewhat stealthy for this to have been a surprise; forgive me for not running down this detail). So they fired their missiles from afar and turned back. Israel nevertheless, with no corroborating satellite photo evidence, claimed to have done great damage to Irans nuclear enrichment program, which already seems like a howler (its believed to be so deeply bunkered as to be able to withstand even a nuclear attack). Later reports indicating the damage done to Iran was comparatively minor got little traction. Ignoring the implications of Irans recent pact with Russia. The US and Israel appear not to have digested the implications of the IranianRussian Treaty on Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, signed on January 17, 2025. It is primarily an economic alliance and so will offset the impact of any intensification of sanctions. It is also believed to have at least two significant military aspects: to increase Irans use of and integration into Russias air defenses (both detection and the provision of more weaponry, particularly S-400 systems) and include cooperation provisions that facilitate Russia backing Iran if attacked. Israel internal dynamics. Without belaboring details, schisms within Israel keep growing. Many of the settlers who hoped to return to the Lebanon border have retreated, regarding the area as unsafe. Protests confirm that many Israelis are unhappy with the continuation of the campaign in Gaza, now adding starvation into the mix, since that increases the odds that the remaining hostages will not survive. Netanyahu has gone into full rogue mode with his persistence in trying to remove the head of the domestic spy agency, Shin Bet. Netanyahu tried firing its leader last week, only to have the Israel Supreme Court block the move. From the Guardian: Benjamin Netanyahu is locked in a fierce battle with Israels judicial system after the supreme court blocked his attempt to fire the head of the Shin Bet domestic intelligence agency. Amid protests against ministers vote to sack Ronen Bar, the top court on Friday froze the decision, with the order remaining in place until the court can hear petitions filed by the opposition and an NGO against the dismissal of the chief of the Shin Bet The Shin Bet has been investigating Netanyahus close aides for alleged breaches of national security, including leaking classified documents to foreign media, and allegedly taking money from Qatar, which is known to have given significant financial aid to Hamas. In the last few hours, Netanuyahu has doubled down on his defiance by appointing a replacement for Ronan Bar, despite the fact that the appeal of the court order do not start until April 8. From Jerusalem Post in Netanyahu stuns Shin Bet, appoints ex-Navy chief Sharvit as new head: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stunned the Shin Bet and the country early Monday morning appointing former naval chief Vice-Admiral (res.) Eli Sharvit as the new head of the agency In initial reactions from Shin Bet sources, V.-Adm. Sharvit was so unknown that most of them had little to say, despite a clear sense of shock that Netanyahu had not only not appointed a deputy Shin Bet chief to the role (which has been customary in recent decades), but took someone outside of the agency and even outside of IDF ground forces. Netanyahu can name Sharvit, but Sharvit cannot take office before the April 8 High Court hearing. The High Court may allow Sharvit to take office, may block his appointment due to Qatargate, or may seek a compromise allowing Bar to conclude the Qatargate probe, while allowing Sharvit to move into office as quickly as possible. Needless to say, wars rally citizens around the flag, as in the incumbent government, so a hotter conflict would be very much in Netanyahus interest right now. But bolstering the wily and constitutionally intransigent Netanyahu is of questionable benefit to the US. Timing Issues Events are often more path dependent than deterministic. On the one hand, despite the afore-mentioned strategic agreement between Iran and Russia, Trump may have such faith in his negotiation prowess that he fancied he could get Russia to minimize its support of Iran in the event of an Israel attack because it would be reluctant to jeopardize a thaw with the US. Putins recent sharp (for him) statements that Russia is prepared to finish the job in Ukraine by force confirms that Russia has concluded the Ukraine negotiations are an empty exercise. That does not mean they wont go though the motions to indulge Trump, but theyve otherwise written them. In other words, the US may have to recalibrate their plans in light of the high odds of Russia supporting Iran militarily. But that could merely amount to timing them to coincide with the now-widely expected big Russian offensive in May. Note, however, for Israel to get a break, Russia would need to commit substantial air assets. Russia has pretty much wiped out Ukraines air defenses. The differences in the type of material used in each operation would be so different that its a mistake to assume Russia cant walk and chew gum at the same time. And Russia could simply grind harder rather than launch the big punch that the impatient would like to see (if we can see that Israel and the US are gunning for a fight with Iran, so too can the Russians). Alternatively, there have been some hopes that this threat display might lead to Russia acting as a mediator with Iran. Aside from the fact that the strategic pact with Iran means Russia is not a neutral party, Alastair Crooke dismisses the idea flatly below in his talk with Larry Johnson, saying that Iran would reject it. Yet another complicating factor for the US is that it still regards China its big military priority. It may admittedly think Iran is an appetizer it can finish off before turning to the main course. A leaked Pentagon memo reaffirmed the status of China as prime baddie. From the Washington Post yesterday: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has reoriented the U.S. military to prioritize deterring Chinas seizure of Taiwan and shoring up homeland defense by assuming risk in Europe and other parts of the world The document, known as the Interim National Defense Strategic Guidance and marked secret/no foreign national in most passages, was distributed throughout the Defense Department in mid-March and signed by Hegseth Hegseths guidance is extraordinary in its description of the potential invasion of Taiwan as the exclusive animating scenario that must be prioritized over other potential dangers reorienting the vast U.S. military architecture toward the Indo-Pacific region beyond its homeland defense mission. The Pentagon will assume risk in other theaters given personnel and resource constraints, and pressure allies in Europe, the Middle East and East Asia to spend more on defense to take on the bulk of the deterrence role against threats from Russia, North Korea and Iran, according to the guidance. Despite this directive, it is inconceivable that the US would not run to Israels defense if attacked. That suggests that if Israel cannot use the expiration of the snapback provisions (mentioned by Crooke as a timing factor above) to bring the Iran to heel before the US repositions its forces in a big way, Israel would be highly motivated to state a false flag.potentially in the US. Again, the Crooke talk is close to fatalistic about the odds of an attack relatively soon. Other experts see signs of a hotting up, including the afore-mentioned B-2 redeployment: We only have 19 of them and its normal to have 1/3 of any fleet of aircraft in maintenance at any given time. So, 7 represents more than half the active force. And the Carl Vinson carrier group is relocating from the South China Sea, to the Middle East. Hes bombing Iran. pic.twitter.com/CXCOgWeTFK Hey, Dave! (@davegreenidge57) March 26, 2025 Channel 14 Israeli: The Israeli army is predicted to soon begin bombing Iran. pic.twitter.com/WyNOzHzCTO Sprinter Observer (@SprinterObserve) March 27, 2025 Why I think an American attack on Iran is virtually a done deal: 1. Israel has been pushing for this with all its power and influence in Washington for 30 years. Every meeting of every senior Zionist figure includes pressure on Iran. Netanyahu mentioned it a million times: Alon Mizrahi (@alon_mizrahi) March 26, 2025 IRAN ESCALATING Iran has placed Air Defences in the busiest waterway in the world, threatening the US Here's my video covering it: pic.twitter.com/OMdCo3pDcg Alex Barnicoat (@AlexBarnicoat_) March 27, 2025 Having said that, Trump also engaged some fierce-looking threats against North Korea, only for that in the end not to translate into action. So as Hegseths memo suggests, the US might be recognizing that its forces arent as dominant as they were decades ago, and it will need to avoid overextension. Well see in due course. _____ 1 On Sunday, Iranian media reported that Sky News Iran had published the text of the letter. I have no idea whether this tweet is a translation of that or not, but it does seem to hew pretty well to the general description PressTV provided, so this would seem to be at least in the ballpark: Unconfirmed: Trumps Letter to Irans Khamenei Your Excellency Ayatollah Khamenei, With respect for your position and the people of Iran, I write this message to you with the aim of opening new horizons for our relations, far from the years of conflict and misunderstandings we pic.twitter.com/ojcehleRWI Globe Eye News (@GlobeEyeNews) March 29, 2025 2 Ansar Allah had set a four day deadline. 3 In this scenario, I assume the US would have continued supplying intel, if nothing else to extract some intel back about Russia actions and capabilities, but would have made a big show of ceasing all activities that required more money from the US. Not that Trump would evah go to Congress for more commitments; the point would be to formalize where things stood and make it unambiguous that Trump was out of the Ukraine game. 4 The Western press misled audiences by focusing on Iran leading its salvo with 300 slow moving drones, which were intended to draw fire, provide information about air defense operations, and deplete weapons. They werent expected to get through and if any did, that would have been gravy. The heavy, fast missiles followed. U.K. unveils controversial pandemic preparedness tool: A double-edged sword? The U.K. government has introduced a tool to map vulnerable groups (based on age, disability and care status) to provide "targeted support" during crises. Critics warn it risks privacy violations and overreach. The tool is part of a broader effort to address gaps exposed by the COVID-19 Inquiry, including the largest national pandemic exercise in a decade, involving 4,000+ emergency workers. Critics, like healthcare entrepreneur Jonathan Engler, cite past harms to vulnerable groups (e.g., restrictive 2020 measures) and fear the tool could enable similar outcomes under the guise of "support." The tool aligns with the Declarations "focused protection" approach but raises concerns about balancing targeted aid with autonomy and privacy. The government faces demands to clarify how "targeted support" will work, ensure accountability and avoid marginalizing groups, especially with a 2025 emergency alert test looming. In a move that has sparked both praise and concern, the U.K. government has announced the creation of a Risk Vulnerability Tool designed to map and identify vulnerable groups across the country. This tool, developed by the Cabinet Office in collaboration with the Office for National Statistics, is part of a broader national pandemic response exercise scheduled for this fall. While the government claims it is a measure to provide "targeted support" during future crises, critics argue that such measures could undermine personal privacy and freedom of choice. A nation on high alert The announcement follows the U.K. COVID-19 Inquiry's Module 1 report, which highlighted significant gaps in the country's preparedness for the pandemic. The government has pledged to learn from these mistakes and is rolling out a series of measures to enhance resilience and response capabilities. Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, The Rt Hon. Pat McFadden MP, said, "We must learn lessons from the COVID pandemic as we cannot afford to make the same mistakes again. However, we will plan in a way that recognizes the next crisis may not be the same as the last. We agree with the Inquiry that more needs to be done, and we are announcing measures to make sure that we are as prepared as possible for future pandemics." One of these measures is the largest national pandemic response exercise in nearly a decade, set to involve over 4,000 resilience and emergency workers trained through the U.K. Resilience Academy. The exercise will test the country's capabilities, plans, protocols and procedures in the event of another major pandemic, with participation from all government departments, local resilience forums and devolved governments. A bold but controversial step The Risk Vulnerability Tool is perhaps the most controversial aspect of the government's new pandemic preparedness strategy. The tool creates a detailed map of the U.K., identifying vulnerable groups based on data including age, disability and whether an individual is receiving care. The stated aim is to improve the government's understanding of where disproportionately impacted groups are located ahead of and during crises, enabling targeted local support where needed. However, this tool has raised significant privacy concerns. Jonathan Engler, a British healthcare entrepreneur, noted, "What sort of support will these targeted people receive? Theres plenty of evidence that 'vulnerable' individuals were subjected to protocols which ended their lives prematurely, with such deaths being classified as 'COVID deaths.'" This concern is not unfounded. During the 2020 pandemic, there were instances where vulnerable groups were subjected to measures that some argue shortened their lives. Engler points to testimonies from the Scottish COVID Inquiry, which have been widely shared on platforms like Biologyphenoms Substack, highlighting the harrowing experiences of many individuals. Historical context and modern implications The idea of "targeted support" is not new. It is a central tenet of the Great Barrington Declaration, a document advocating for "focussed protection" to manage pandemics without widespread lockdowns. Engler, who has written extensively on the topic, urges readers to revisit this document, which he describes as "an essential read for anyone interested in understanding the nuances of pandemic management." However, the implementation of such ideas in a government tool raises significant ethical and practical concerns. The Great Barrington Declaration emphasizes the importance of protecting the most vulnerable while minimizing the economic and social impacts of broad restrictions. The Risk Vulnerability Tool, while aiming to achieve similar goals, may inadvertently overstep the boundaries of personal privacy and autonomy. A call for transparency and accountability As the U.K. prepares for its largest pandemic response exercise, the need for transparency and accountability has never been greater. The government must clearly define what "targeted support" entails and ensure that it does not lead to the marginalization or harm of vulnerable groups. Engler emphasizes, "We must be vigilant to ensure that these tools are used to genuinely help those in need, not to impose unnecessary or harmful interventions." The national test of the Emergency Alert System, scheduled for later in 2025, will also be a critical moment to assess the government's preparedness. With approximately 87 million devices in the U.K. set to receive a test message, the exercise will provide valuable operational insights and help identify any issues before an actual emergency. Conclusion The U.K. government's efforts to enhance pandemic preparedness are commendable, but they must be balanced with a commitment to protecting personal privacy and freedom of choice. As we move forward, it is essential to engage in open dialogue and ensure that the lessons learned from the past are applied in a way that truly serves the best interests of all citizens. The Risk Vulnerability Tool and the upcoming national pandemic response exercise are significant steps, but they must be implemented with care and transparency. The future of our resilience and preparedness depends on it. Sources include: TheExpose.com Wired-gov.net Columbia University yields to Trump administrations demands to restore $400M in federal funding Columbia University has conceded to a series of sweeping demands from the Trump administration including ending mask mandates; expanding campus police powers; and appointing a senior vice provost to oversee Middle East, South Asian and African Studies (MESAA) following the suspension of federal grants over allegations of inadequate protection for Jewish students during pro-Palestinian protests. The Trump administration cited Columbia's failure to address alleged antisemitism during protests after the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attacks on Israel as the reason for withholding funding. Faculty and students have criticized the heightened scrutiny of MESAA and other reforms, arguing they represent an unprecedented federal intrusion into academic independence and set a dangerous precedent for government influence over universities. Beyond MESAA, the university has agreed to ban disruptive protests, require protester identification, review admissions for bias, adopt a specific definition of antisemitism and launch educational programming in Tel Aviv to promote intellectual diversity. Columbia's reliance on federal funding for critical research projects forced the decision, but the agreement has broader implications, with the Trump administration warning 60 other universities of similar scrutiny. In a stunning turn of events, Columbia University has capitulated to a series of sweeping demands from the Trump administration in exchange for the restoration of $400 million in federal funding. The move, first reported by the Wall Street Journal, marks a dramatic shift in the relationship between the federal government and one of the nations most prestigious academic institutions. Earlier in March, the Trump administration suspended the institution's federal grants. The administration cited the university's failure to adequately protect Jewish students during pro-Palestinian protests that erupted in the wake of the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attacks on Israel. The protests, which included controversial slogans like "from the river to the sea," were criticized by some as antisemitic and led to accusations that Columbia had turned a blind eye to harassment of Jewish students. (Related: Arrest of a Columbia University graduate participating in campus protests against Israel ignites widespread outrage online.) In response, the university has agreed to a laundry list of demands including ending mask mandates on campus and granting 36 campus police officers expanded arrest powers. It has also agreed to appoint a senior vice provost to oversee its Middle East, South Asian, and African Studies (MESAA) program. The new vice provost will have broad authority to review curriculum, faculty hiring and leadership to ensure "comprehensive and balanced" educational offerings. The decision to place the MESAA program under heightened scrutiny has sparked outrage among faculty and students, who argue that it represents an alarming intrusion into academic independence. Critics warn that allowing the federal government to dictate how universities operate their academic departments sets a dangerous precedent. However, Columbia officials have defended the move. According to them, the reforms are necessary to address legitimate concerns about antisemitism and ensure a safe and inclusive environment for all students. Student groups condemn the deal The universitys concessions go beyond the MESAA department. Columbia has also agreed to ban disruptive protests, require protesters to identify themselves and review its admissions process to ensure it is free from bias. Additionally, the university will adopt a specific definition of antisemitism and launch educational programming at its Tel Aviv hub to promote intellectual diversity. Katrina Armstrong, Columbia's interim president, has framed the agreement as a step toward "uninterrupted academic activities." But not everyone within the university community shares her view, with many seeing it a surrender to federal pressure. Student groups, including Columbia University Apartheid Divest, have condemned the deal, accusing the university of "selling out" its community to appease the Trump administration. Faculty members, particularly in the history department, have warned that such government interference threatens the very foundation of academic freedom. The financial stakes for Columbia are undeniably high. Despite its $15 billion endowment, the university relies heavily on federal funding to support its research programs. The sudden loss of $400 million in grants has already disrupted critical projects, including the development of an AI tool to improve patient care and research on uterine fibroids. For Columbia, the choice was clear: comply or risk losing the resources that fuel its academic mission. Head over to EducationSystem.news for more similar stories. Watch this clip about colleges facing backlash and potentially losing funding over allegations of antisemitism on campus. This video is from the NewsClips channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Columbia University student self-deports following visa revocation over pro-Hamas protests. Columbia University suspends three deans for "antisemitic" speech in private text messages. The Wests support for Israel: A free speech crisis in the making. Sources include: ZeroHedge.com NBCNews.com Reuters.com Brighteon.com Emory University suspends PhD-MD student after Gaza protest interview Umaymah Mohammad, an Emory University Ph.D./M.D. student, was suspended after publicly criticizing a faculty member who volunteered as an Israeli military medic, accusing him of complicity in Gaza's healthcare crisis. Despite claiming her remarks were protected by free speech, Emory ruled she violated conduct codes. After a contentious hearing where faculty argued she shouldn't practice medicine she received a one-year suspension. There are also other cases, like an Iranian professor barred from Yale based on AI-generated allegations and a Georgetown postdoc detained over unproven ties to Hamas. Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia graduate, was detained and later self-deported after his visa was revoked following pro-Palestine protests. In several cases, accusations against scholars and activists lacked substantiation, raising concerns about free speech and discriminatory targeting. A graduate student from Emory University has been suspended after criticizing a medical faculty member who had volunteered as an Israeli military medic. Umaymah Mohammad, a 28-year-old dual-degree student pursuing a PhD in sociology and a medical degree, had an interview with Democracy Now! during the 2024 pro-Palestine student encampment at Emory in April. In her interview, Mohammad criticized a medical faculty member who had volunteered as an Israeli military medic, questioning how Emory could employ someone who "participated in aiding and abetting a genocide" in Gaza. She accused the professor of complicity in the destruction of Gaza's healthcare system and the deaths of over 400 medical workers, adding that he was now teaching future doctors. Mohammad believed that her remarks about the professor, who was not named in the interview, were protected under the free expression policies of the school. However, the professor filed a complaint and demanded an investigation, alleging her comments made him feel unsafe. By July, Emory's medical school ruled that Mohammad had violated its conduct code by "disparaging an individual" publicly. Despite objections from faculty, including the chair of Emory's open expression committee and the faculty senate president, the school pressed forward. Mohammad was given a choice: accept the findings and face punishment or attend a disciplinary hearing in November. She chose the latter, later telling the proceeding was "one of the most dehumanizing two hours of my life." Three attendees the professor, a dean and the professor's faculty advisor reportedly argued she should never be allowed to practice medicine. At one point, the advisor shouted, "Who are you to decide whats a genocide?" A week after the hearing, Mohammad received a one-year suspension from Emory's medical program. Muslim scholars and activists are being targeted in the United States The case of Mohammad is not isolated. Earlier in March, a prominent Iranian professor of international law was blocked from entering Yale University after a pro-Israeli website, using artificial intelligence, accused her of links to a terrorist organization. The professor, whose identity has not been publicly disclosed, was reportedly invited to speak at the university before being denied entry based on unverified claims. Meanwhile, Badar Khan Suri, an Indian post-doctoral fellow at Georgetown University's Alwaleed Bin Talal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding, was detained by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents. His research focuses on interfaith cooperation, but the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) accused him of "actively spreading Hamas propaganda and promoting antisemitism on social media." DHS claimed Suri had "close connections to a known or suspected terrorist," a senior Hamas advisor, and cited a March 2025 determination by the Secretary of State that rendered him deportable. However, no evidence was provided to substantiate the allegations. Similarly, Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian activist, green card holder and Columbia University graduate, was detained after reporting threats to his safety to university administrators. Khalil was later arrested by federal authorities, placed in detention in Louisiana and had her F-1 student visa revoked before leaving the U.S. using a self-deportation app. (Related: Columbia University student self-deports following visa revocation over pro-Hamas protests.) Follow WWIII.news for more news about Israel and Palestine. Watch this video of pro-Palestine mobs who rebranded themselves as anti-ICE protesters. This video is from the Rick Langley channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Trump Administration targets pro-Palestine activist for DEPORTATION, citing "foreign policy threat" in free speech crackdown. Jewish students endangered not because of anti-Israel protests, but because of police involvement and third-party doxing of participants. Arrest of a Columbia University graduate participating in campus protests against Israel ignites widespread outrage online. Wealthy Zionist donors behind NYPD crackdown on Columbia U protests. NYC Mayor Eric Adams wrongly accuses Columbia University visitor of being an outside agitator during Gaza solidarity protest. Sources include: MiddleEastEye.net 1 MiddleEastEye.net 2 Breitbart.com Brighteon.com Tesla sales in Europe plunge by 40% as Musks political gamble backfires Tesla's European sales plummeted 40 percent year-over-year in February with only 16,888 units sold, lagging behind the broader EV market's 31 percent growth. Teslas outdated Model Y and Model 3 struggle against newer, cheaper rivals like BYD (which surpassed Tesla in global EV sales) and subsidized European automakers. Elon Musks endorsement of Germany's far-right AfD party alienated European buyers, exacerbating sales drops in key markets like Germany. Tesla faces declining sales in China (-87 percent in February) and the U.S., with Goldman Sachs cutting Q1 delivery estimates to 375,000 (below Wall Street expectations). Cathie Woods bullish $2,600/share Tesla prediction hinges on unproven robotaxis and humanoid robots, while analysts remain skeptical amid falling stock prices and reduced Ark Invest holdings. Tesla, once the undisputed king of electric vehicles, is facing a full-blown crisis in Europe. Sales have cratered for the tenth time in twelve months, with February's numbers plunging a staggering 40 percent year-over-year. The European Automobile Manufacturers' Association (ACEA) reports just 16,888 Teslas sold last month a devastating collapse even as the broader EV market surges by 31 percent. This isn't just a bad quarter; it's a trend. The reasons for this collapse are clear: An aging lineup, brutal competition and Tesla CEO Elon Musk's increasingly polarizing political crusade against the radical leftists running Brussels into the ground. Europe's auto market is in trouble, with overall sales down 3.1 percent as consumers tighten their belts. Nevertheless, Tesla's decline is far worsea 40 percent freefall while rivals gain ground. Even in China, Tesla's sales (excluding exports) crashed 87 percent in February, hitting their lowest point since 2022. Goldman Sachs analysts have slashed their first-quarter delivery estimates, citing weak demand in Europe, China and even the United States. They now expect just 375,000 deliveries, down from an earlier forecast of 399,000well below Wall Street's expectations. While Musk has never been shy about his political views, his recent endorsement of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party may have crossed a line with European buyers. AfD, a nationalist party surging in popularity as Germans revolt against open borders and economic decline, was praised by Musk as the "best hope for the future" of Germany. U.S. Vice President JD Vance echoed that support during the election campaign. But in Europe's corporate-media-dominated landscape, such statements are heresy. Tesla's sales cratered hardest in Germany, where AfDs rise has triggered panic among the political establishment. The backlash suggests that European elites would rather punish a disruptive American innovator than tolerate dissent from their failing policies. While Tesla stumbles, China's BYD is eating its lunch. BYD overtook Tesla in global EV sales last year, posting $107 billion in revenue $10 billion more than Tesla. European automakers, backed by heavy subsidies, are also rolling out cheaper, newer models leaving Tesla's aging Model Y and Model 3 looking stale. Even in the U.S., Tesla faces headwinds. The Cybertruck has been a niche product at best and the Model 3 refresh hasn't reignited demand as hoped. Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump's administration has slashed federal subsidies, cutting off another lifeline for Tesla's growth. Lone voice remains optimistic for Tesla Amid the wreckage, one voice remains stubbornly optimistic: Cathie Wood, CEO of Ark Invest. Despite Teslas stock collapsing 31 percent this year, Wood insists the company is headed for $2,600 per share a tenfold increase within five years. Her argument? Robotaxis. Wood claims Tesla's future lies not in selling cars but in autonomous taxis, which she believes will generate 90 percent of Tesla's value. Shes also betting on Musks humanoid robots, a moonshot project with zero commercial viability today. (Related: Tesla moves a step closer toward its goal of operating a fleet of autonomous robotaxis in California.) It's a bold prediction, but analysts aren't buying it. UBS and Evercore ISI have already cut delivery forecasts, warning that Tesla's growth story is faltering. Even Ark Invest has reduced its Tesla holdings by 16 percent since December, hardly a vote of confidence. Wood's robotaxi dreams may keep the faithful hopeful, but the numbers don't lie: Tesla is losing ground. Unless Musk can reinvigorate demand with real innovation not just hype the EV pioneer risks becoming just another casualty of Europe's economic decline and China's relentless rise. Visit RoboCars.news for more similar stories. Watch this video of Elon Musk discussing his future projects autonomous taxis and a humanoid robot. This video is from the Thrivetime Show channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Toronto cuts financial incentives for Tesla vehicles used as taxis, ride shares amid U.S. trade tensions. Tesla owners targeted in alleged doxxing campaign as anti-Musk sentiment escalates. Jimmy Kimmel faces backlash for justifying Tesla vandalism, Musk calls him an "unfunny jerk." Trump to purchase a new Tesla Model S in support of Musk following a 15% stock price drop. Sources include: SHTFPlan.com OilPrice.com LiveMint.com Brighteon.com Trump administration ends legal status for 500,000 migrants, orders self-deportation or arrest The Trump administration is revoking legal status for over 500,000 migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela (CHNV) who entered under a Biden-era parole program. The revocation effectively ends the work permits and deportation protections for migrants from the aforementioned nations. The move aligns with Trump's strict enforcement approach, contrasting Biden's expansion of legal pathways. Public polling shows majority support for deportations, but mass removals may pose logistical and humanitarian challenges. Affected migrants have until late April to self-deport or secure alternative legal status (e.g., asylum or TPS); those who remain risk arrest and removal. The CHNV parole program launched in 2023 allowed vetted migrants with sponsors to enter legally, aiming to reduce illegal border crossings. Trump officials call it exploitative and harmful to U.S. workers. The administration of President Donald Trump is revoking the legal status of more than 500,000 migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela (CHNV) who entered the U.S. under a Biden-era parole program, marking one of the most aggressive immigration enforcement actions since Trump returned to office. The policy shift, effective in late April, terminates work permits and deportation protections for these migrants The decision, announced Friday, March 21, targets individuals admitted under the CHNV parole program, a Biden administration initiative designed to curb illegal border crossings by offering legal migration pathways. Critics, including Trump officials, have dismissed the program as an attempt to "make illegal immigration legal," while supporters argue it successfully reduced chaotic border surges. Launched in early 2023, the CHNV parole program allowed migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela to enter the U.S. legally if they had a financial sponsor and passed a background check. The policy was part of a broader Biden administration strategy to discourage dangerous border crossings by providing regulated alternatives. (Related: Trump administration defies court order to halt deportation of Venezuelan gang members, sparks constitutional showdown.) According to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), parole allows individuals who might otherwise be inadmissible to temporarily stay in the country, without granting formal immigration status. A total of 532,000 migrants entered under CHNV before the program was paused following Trump's inauguration. However, the Trump administration argues the program was poorly vetted and exploited. "These programs do not serve a significant public benefit, are not necessary to reduce levels of illegal immigration, and are inconsistent with the Administration's foreign policy goals," the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) stated in a notice. Self-deport or face arrest, DHS warns Migrants affected by the policy change have 30 days (until late April) to leave the U.S. or secure another legal status, such as asylum or Temporary Protected Status (TPS). Those who remain could face arrest and deportation. DHS is directing migrants to use the CBP Home smartphone app to arrange self-deportation. But officials warn that enforcement could begin before the deadline for those who haven't sought alternative protections. "The termination of the CHNV parole programs, and the termination of parole for those who exploited it, is a return to common-sense policies, a return to public safety, and a return to America First," said DHS spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin, who claimed the program undercut American workers. The move is the latest in a series of immigration rollbacks by the Trump administration, which has already announced plans to phase out TPS for Haitians and Venezuelans and suspend pending CHNV-related applications over fraud concerns. The Biden administration had previously stopped renewing CHNV work permits, directing migrants to apply for other benefits. But Trump's election abruptly closed those avenues. Immigration advocates warn the policy will create chaos. "Revoking protections for half a million people with no clear alternative is cruel and counterproductive," said Aaron Reichlin-Melnick, policy director at the American Immigration Council. "Many have built lives here suddenly forcing them out will only destabilize communities." Republicans, however, argue the program was an end-run around Congress. "The CHNV parole was a backdoor amnesty," said Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR). "President Trump is restoring order to a broken system." The revocation of CHNV parole underscores the stark contrast between the Biden and Trump immigration agendas. While Biden expanded legal pathways to manage migration flows, Trump is dismantling them in favor of strict enforcement. With 63 percent of Americans supporting deportations (per a recent Fox News poll), the administration appears to have public backing. Bookmark InvasionUSA.news for updates on Trump's tough immigration policies. Watch the video below where Deputy Chief for Policy and Homeland Security Advisor Stephen Miller reveals Trump got celebrity Rosie O'Donnell to "self-deport." This video is from the TrendingNews channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Trump Administration targets pro-Palestine activist for DEPORTATION, citing "foreign policy threat" in free speech crackdown. Columbia University student self-deports following visa revocation over pro-Hamas protests. Trump's aggressive immigration raids spark controversy and praise. Sources include: Modernity.news CBSNews.com Brighteon.com Trump imposes 25% tariffs on auto imports President Donald Trump announced 25 percent tariffs on all foreign-made cars and auto parts (excluding U.S.-built vehicles) to boost domestic manufacturing, effective April 3 (May 3 for key components like engines). Trump claims the policy will restore U.S. industrial independence, create jobs and generate $100 billion annually, criticizing reliance on cross-border supply chains. The tariffs exclude U.S.-made content under the USMCA, maintaining exemptions for Mexico and Canada (temporarily). Part of a wider economic agenda, including 20 percent tariffs on Chinese imports (blaming fentanyl production), 25 percent on steel/aluminum and proposed levies on chips, drugs and lumber. Despite foreign criticism, Trump expanded tariffs on allies and plans new ones (e.g., 25 percent on Venezuelan oil importers), potentially disrupting global trade and energy markets. President Donald Trump has imposed 25 percent new tariffs on all foreign-made cars and auto parts imported into the U.S. to strengthen domestic manufacturing and restore U.S. industrial independence. In a press conference at the Oval Office on March 26, Trump announced that the new tariffs, set to take effect April 3 at 12:01 a.m. ET, target vehicles and components shipped from abroad, excluding those built domestically, to bolster U.S. auto production. The policy also imposes tariffs on critical parts like engines and transmissions, with those levies beginning by May 3. "Frankly, friend has been oftentimes much worse than foe," Trump said before signing the executive proclamation in the Oval Office that day. "What we're going to be doing is a 25 percent tariff on all cars that are not made in the United States. If they're made in the United States, its absolutely no tariff." (Related: Trump grants one-month tariff exemption for auto imports from Mexico, Canada amid industry concerns.) Moreover, Trump, who campaigned on lowering prices ahead of his 2024 re-election, insisted the tariffs would ultimately create jobs. "This is permanent," he declared, criticizing what he called a "ridiculous" supply chain where parts and vehicles are manufactured across the U.S., Mexico and Canada. He even believes that this will generate $100 billion in annual revenue. "This will continue to spur growth," Trump said. "We'll effectively be charging a 25 percent tariff." The tariffs apply to both finished vehicles and parts, with exemptions for U.S. content under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) trade agreement with Mexico and Canada. The move relies on a 2019 Commerce Department investigation that justified tariffs on national security grounds during the first Trump administration. Trump has been imposing tariffs across various sectors since taking office in January These auto tariffs are part of a broader plan to reshape global relations. For instance, Trump slapped a 20 percent tariff on all Chinese imports due to China's role in the production of fentanyl, a deadly opioid fueling America's addiction crisis. Meanwhile, Canadian energy products face a lower 10 percent duty, though broader trade disputes remain unresolved. He also reinstated and expanded his 2018 metals tariffs, imposing a 25 percent duty on all steel and aluminum imports, removing exemptions that had previously spared some allies. Now, Trump is eyeing additional levies on critical goods, including computer chips (25 percent), pharmaceutical drugs (25 percent) and lumber and copper (25 percent). Additionally, Trump intends to impose 25 percent tariffs on countries that import oil from Venezuela, despite the U.S. itself being a buyer of Venezuelan crude. The policy appears to further isolate President Nicolas Maduro's regime but risks complicating global energy markets. Follow Trump.news for the latest updates, exclusive insights and in-depth coverage on this topic and similar stories. Watch the full episode of the "Health Ranger Report" with Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, and Maxime Bernier as they discuss the Canada-U.S. trade war, immigration policies and calls for a populist revolution in Canada amid post-Trudeau political shifts. This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: TARIFF WAR LOOMS: Trump warns Trudeau of more tariffs following Canada's retaliation. INSANE TARIFFS over TWO HUNDRED PERCENT are actually coming from Canada's exports to USA imposed on milk, whey, cheese and butter. Trump stands firm on tariffs: Mexico, Canada, and China face new trade measures over fentanyl crisis. Apple announces $500 billion U.S. investment, including Texas AI server facility, amid Trump tariff pressure. Mexico extradites notorious cartel leaders to U.S., including Rafael Caro Quintero, amid Trump tariff threats. Sources include: YourNews.com MSN.com APNews.com Brighteon.com Trump imposes 25% tariff on nations buying Venezuelan oil President Donald Trump announced a 25 percent "secondary tariff" on all U.S. imports from countries that buy Venezuelan oil or gas, set to take effect on April 2, Liberation Day in America. The order aims to cut off revenue for Venezuela's government, which relies heavily on oil exports and indirectly pressures China, a major buyer of Venezuelan crude. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has broad authority to impose these tariffs on top of existing duties and can decide which countries face the levy. Venezuela condemned the move as "arbitrary, illegal and desperate," accusing the U.S. of violating WTO rules (e.g., non-discrimination clauses) and vowing legal action. Trump's "secondary tariffs" function similarly to secondary sanctions, marking a novel use of trade policy to penalize third-party nations engaging with Venezuela. President Donald Trump has announced another executive order authorizing a 25 percent "secondary" tariff on all goods imported from any country that purchases oil or gas from Venezuela. In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump framed the measure as retaliation against Venezuela's "hostility" toward the United States. "Any Country that purchases Oil and/or Gas from Venezuela will be forced to pay a Tariff of 25 percent to the United States on any Trade they do with our Country. All documentation will be signed and registered and the Tariff will take place on April 2, 2025, LIBERATION DAY IN AMERICA, Trump wrote on Truth Social on March 24. (Related: Trump grants one-month tariff exemption for auto imports from Mexico, Canada amid industry concerns.) "Venezuela has been very hostile to the United States and the Freedoms which we espouse," he added. The executive order, dubbed "Liberation Day in America," aims to choke off a critical revenue stream for Venezuela's government, which has long relied on oil exports despite U.S. sanctions. The move also indirectly targets China, a top buyer of Venezuelan crude, which already faces existing U.S. tariffs. This grants Secretary of State Marco Rubio the power to impose 25 percent tariffs on top of any existing or proposed duties on all U.S. imports from countries that purchase Venezuelan oil, whether directly or through intermediaries. However, it also gives Rubio significant discretion in enforcing these tariffs. It explicitly authorizes him to decide "at his discretion" whether to apply the additional levy on nations importing Venezuelan crude oil. Trump labeled the new charges as "secondary tariffs," an unprecedented application of the trade measure, akin to so-called secondary sanctions that penalize firms or individuals engaging with targeted entities. Venezuela denounces the decision as "arbitrary, illegal and desperate" Shortly after the announcement, the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela denounced the decision as an "arbitrary, illegal and desperate" act of aggression. In a strongly worded official statement, the Venezuelan government accused the U.S. of violating international trade laws and attempting to enforce an "economic dictatorship" against sovereign nations. The communique described the move as part of a long-standing campaign by the "fascist right-wing" a reference to U.S.-backed opposition forces to destabilize Venezuela through sanctions. Venezuela's government argued that the U.S. measure breaches multiple World Trade Organization (WTO) principles, including: the most-favored-nation principle (GATT 1994, Article I), which prohibits discriminatory trade practices; the ban on quantitative restrictions (GATT 1994, Article XI), aimed at preventing disguised trade barriers; and the Marrakesh Agreement's non-discrimination clause, which mandates fair treatment in global commerce. "Far from affecting our resolve, it confirms the resounding failure of all the sanctions imposed against our country," the statement read. It also warned that Venezuela would pursue legal action in international bodies to challenge what it called a "blatant violation of the global economic order." Follow Trump.news for more stories like this. Why does Trump want to tariff Canada and Mexico? Watch this video. This video is from the NewsClips channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: TARIFF WAR LOOMS: Trump warns Trudeau of more tariffs following Canada's retaliation. INSANE TARIFFS over TWO HUNDRED PERCENT are actually coming from Canadas exports to USA imposed on milk, whey, cheese and butter. Canada-U.S. trade war escalates: Maxime Bernier warns against tariffs, calls for free trade revival. Trump's new tariff threats force Ontario to back down on U.S. electricity tax. Canada refuses to lift tariffs despite Trump's postponement. Sources include: RigZone.com Telesurenglish.net Brighteon.com At least 75 percent of Americans are unknowingly MEDICATED FOR STUPIDITY by fluoridated water Utah now banning it Utah Gov. Spencer Cox signed a bill to remove fluoride from public water systems, effective May 7. This makes the Beehive State the first U.S. state to implement such a ban. Critics argue fluoride in water supplies is linked to cancer, lowered IQ, brittle bones, and calcification of the pineal gland, with studies suggesting risks to fetal and child brain development. Cox noted the lack of drastic health differences between fluoridated and non-fluoridated areas, stating its a "high bar" to mandate government medication via water. While public health agencies endorse fluoride for cavity prevention, skeptics like RFK Jr. highlight potential harms, including arthritis, as Utahs move sparks debate over forced medication. Did you know that the sodium fluoride the U.S. government drips into the public water supply causes cancer, brittle bones, kidney and gall stones, lowered immune system function, leaky brain syndrome, lowered IQ, and a calcified pineal gland in the brain? Do you believe the ads on TV for prescription drugs will help you tackle your illnesses? You must have fluoride brain. Do you think vaccines are created to prevent the contraction and spread of disease? You must be suffering from leaky brain syndrome caused by fluoridated tap water. Utah is Banning Fluoride in Public Water Systems so their citizens wont be stupid for life and dying of cancer and brittle bones Effective May 7th, a new bill BANNING FLUORIDE in tap water takes effect in the whole state of Utah, saving millions of people from cancer, dementia, brittle bones and a calcified pineal gland. Governor Cox has questioned the necessity of this known neurotoxin and IQ destroying chemical and drug dripped into the municipal water supply for decades by Big Pharma. No, fluoride does NOT prevent cavities in teeth, that was all a huge lie. There is NO SCIENCE behind that and there never was. There are no statistics anywhere for benefits of fluoride intake for teeth health. None. Utah will be the first U.S. state to eliminate toxic fluoride from the public water supply. Many dentists in Utah agree that they have not seen any differences in teeth quality for patients from counties where there is fluoride versus patients from counties where there is no fluoride in water. Go figure. Mountains of research show fluoride impacts intelligence levels in children, so every other state in the union should follow suit immediately. What about pregnant women? Are we going to protect their innocent babies from deadly fluoride? Ever since WWII, U.S. cities started dripping poison into tap water to dumb down the population so they would succumb to other pharma drugs for the symptoms of medicated illness. Hitler used fluoride in the concentration camps of the Holocaust to weaken the Jews so they wouldnt be able to escape. Is the United States one huge medicated prison? Tune your food news frequency to FoodSupply.news and get updates on more toxic foods, fluoridated water, and other known neurotoxins that cause cancer and stupidity in America. Sources for this article include: NaturalNews.com TheNationalPulse.com We are closer to all-out war in Europe, in Asia, and in the Middle East than most people realize We really are at one of the most pivotal moments in human history. Decisions that are being made now will have very serious implications for every man, woman and child on the entire planet. We have entered a time of wars and rumors of wars , and we have seen so much death and destruction over the past couple of years. But now a new administration is in control in Washington and we have reached a fork in the road. Will global leaders take advantage of this small window of opportunity to establish peace, or will they choose all-out war? (Article by Michael republished from EndOfTheAmericanDream.com) The good news is that for the first time in a long time, U.S. officials are talking with the Russians. On Monday, Marco Rubio traveled to Saudi Arabia, and it is expected that he will be talking with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov about Ukraine while he is there U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived in Saudi Arabia on Monday and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov was on his way to the country, amid expectations that peace talks on ending the war in Ukraine are about to begin. This is a very positive development, but negotiations with the Russians will certainly not be easy. For one thing, the Ukrainians and our European allies are demanding that the Russians make territorial concessions, and the Russians are completely ruling that out Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Monday ruled out territorial concessions to Ukraine, setting out a tough opening stance on the eve of talks on Tuesday with U.S. President Donald Trumps team in Saudi Arabia. Trump said after a call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday that the two sides would begin talks aimed at ending the war in Ukraine. The Russians are winning the war and having been steadily moving forward in recent months. They see absolutely no need to give any territory that they have captured back. The longer the Ukrainians wait to make a deal, the more territory they will lose. The Russians have all the leverage, and they know it. The Ukrainians and our European allies are also adamant that Ukraine must be allowed to join NATO and that western troops must be allowed to serve as peacekeepers in Ukraine once the war is over. In fact, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer just admitted that he is ready and willing to deploy British troops for such a purpose Europe is growing more hawkish in its rhetoric, seeing the need for a counterbalance against Trump efforts to secure lasting peace in Ukraine, which recently included Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announcing that the US does not see future NATO membership for Ukraine as a realistic possibility. The latest shot across the bow is British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announcing that the UK is ready and willing to put British peacekeeping troops on the ground in Ukraine, and stressing its essential that the West backs Kyiv toward securing a lasting peace in Ukraine that safeguards its sovereignty for the long term which essential to deter Putin from further aggression. There is as yet no framework for negotiated peace in place, and yet Starmer is talking boots on the ground. Over and over again, the Russians have rejected the idea of Ukraine joining NATO. And over and over again, the Russians have rejected the idea of western peacekeepers in Ukraine once the war is over. Peacekeepers from neutral nations might work. If I was negotiating this deal, I might suggest that. But from my perspective, it will be nearly impossible for the Trump administration to come up with a deal that will be acceptable for both sides. Of course Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is already sabotaging the peace talks between the United States and Russia before they have even started. He just told Meet The Press that he will never accept any decisions between the United States and Russia about Ukraine. Zelenskyy refuses to talk to Vladimir Putin, and he doesnt want anyone else talking to him either. Instead, Zelenskyy just continues to try to come up with new ways to drag western powers directly into the conflict. His latest scheme would result in the creation of an armed forces of Europe Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called for the creation of an armed forces of Europe to guard against Russia, appearing to suggest that the United States may no longer come to the continents aid. Zelensky, speaking on the second day of the Munich Security Conference, said Ukraines three-year fight against an invading Russian army has proved that a foundation exists for the creation of a European army that has long been discussed among some continental leaders. I really believe that time has come, he said. The armed forces of Europe must be created. There already is an armed forces of Europe. It is called NATO. And Zelenskyy has been trying over and over again to drag NATO into the war, because that is Ukraines best chance of winning. At this point, I think that Zelenskyy is deeply frustrated with the Trump administration. Earlier this month, the Trump administration sent him a contract that would give the U.S. a tremendous amount of control over the natural resources in Ukraine The Telegraph has obtained a draft of the pre-decisional contract, marked Privileged & Confidential and dated Feb 7 2025. It states that the US and Ukraine should form a joint investment fund to ensure that hostile parties to the conflict do not benefit from the reconstruction of Ukraine. The agreement covers the economic value associated with resources of Ukraine, including mineral resources, oil and gas resources, ports, other infrastructure (as agreed), leaving it unclear what else might be encompassed. This agreement shall be governed by New York law, without regard to conflict of laws principles, it states. The US will take 50pc of recurring revenues received by Ukraine from extraction of resources, and 50pc of the financial value of all new licences issued to third parties for the future monetisation of resources. There will be a lien on such revenues in favour of the US. That clause means pay us first, and then feed your children, said one source close to the negotiations. Once they understood what this agreement said, officials in Kyiv started freaking out. Just like the Biden administration did, the Ukrainians wanted the Trump administration to hand over giant piles of money with no strings attached. Clearly that is not going to happen. The Ukrainians are holding a losing hand. They should make peace with the Russians while they still control most of their country. If no peace deal materializes within the next few months, I believe that the Russians will strongly consider sending a massive force at Kyiv from the north in an attempt to end the war by force by the end of 2025. At this stage the Ukrainian armed forces have deteriorated so badly that I think such a move would be successful. Of course if the Russians did take Kyiv, that wouldnt cause the Trump administration and the Europeans to back down. Instead, that would just push us to the brink of nuclear war. Meanwhile, U.S. relations with China just took another turn for the worse China accused the United States on Monday of a serious regression in its position on Taiwan, after the State Department updated the Taiwan section of its website to remove a reference to the independence of the Beijing-claimed island. The State Department fact sheet on U.S.-Taiwan relations continues to state Washingtons opposition to any unilateral changes to the status quo from either China or Taiwan, a self-ruling democracy that rejects Beijings sovereignty claims. But the phrase we do not support Taiwan independence appears to have been removed Thursday in what the State Department says was a routine update. The change was cheered by Taiwan, while China said it sends a wrong signal to the Taiwan independence forces and urged the U.S. to immediately correct this mistake. We are far closer to war with China than most people realize. A trade war between our two nations has already erupted, we are headed for a showdown with China over control of the Panama Canal, and the Chinese have been preparing for the day when they will invade Taiwan. But the most imminent threat of all-out war is in the Middle East. The Trump administration and the Israeli government are in full agreement that Irans push for nuclear weapons must end. Earlier this month, President Trump indicated that making a deal would be preferable to bombing the hell out of Iran US President Donald Trump said he would prefer to make a deal with Iran rather than bombing the hell out of it, in a media interview published Saturday, adding that Israel would not carry out a strike if there were an agreement. I would like a deal done with Iran on non-nuclear. I would prefer that to bombing the hell out of it, he told the New York Post aboard Air Force One on Friday. They dont want to die. Nobody wants to die. If we made the deal, Israel wouldnt bomb them, he predicted, though he also said he would not discuss potential negotiations with Tehran. The Trump administration has decided to impose maximum economic pressure on Iran in a last-ditch attempt to force the Iranians to make a deal. But it wont work. The Iranians have no intention of making a deal. So it wont be too long before the Trump administration and the Israelis are faced with a decision. Either they will choose to allow Iran to build nukes, or they will choose the bombing the hell out of it option. I have a feeling that the second alternative will prevail. So enjoy this little bubble of relative calm while you still can, because it is not likely to last for too much longer. Read more at: EndOfTheAmericanDream.com Health Ranger Report: Ashton Forbes discusses TELEPORTATION ORBS and their role in MH370 disappearance Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 vanished in 2014 with 239 people aboard, defying conventional explanations. No debris field was found, contradicting official crash theories. Two classified videos (from a drone and satellite) show three glowing orbs encircling the plane before it vanishes without a heat signature, suggesting advanced spacetime manipulation. Investigators propose the orbs are U.S. hypersonic drones using gravity-based tech (e.g., inertial mass reduction), possibly linked to secret programs like the Philadelphia Experiment. The plane carried engineers from defense contractor Freescale Semiconductor, hinting at a covert interception to prevent quantum computing tech from reaching China. The plane may have been teleported to Diego Garcia, supported by Maldives sightings, debris and a cryptic 4chan post. If true, this tech could revolutionize energy, travel and warfarebut remains suppressed. Nearly a decade after Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 mysteriously disappeared, newly surfaced footage and expert analysis suggest an unthinkable possibility: The plane may have been teleported using classified U.S. military technology. In an exclusive "Health Ranger Report" interview with investigative researcher Ashton Forbes, the Health Ranger Mike Adams explored shocking evidence that challenges conventional explanations for the missing Boeing 777. The discussion centered on two leaked videos one from a military drone and another from a U.S. spy satellite showing three orbs encircling the aircraft before it vanishes into thin air. On March 8, 2014, MH370 departed Kuala Lumpur for Beijing with 239 people on board. Forty minutes into the flight, the plane went dark, vanishing from civilian radar. Initial search efforts focused on the South China Sea, but days later, U.S. intelligence claimed the jet had turned back, crossed Malaysia and crashed in the remote southern Indian Ocean. Yet, no debris field was ever founda critical red flag. "Planes don't crash without leaving a massive debris," Forbes explained, noting that the official narrative contradicts physics. According to the citizen journalist and consultant, satellites would have detected wreckage within 24 hours if MH370 had crashed in the ocean. The footage in question allegedly leaked by a U.S. intelligence insider shows three glowing orbs executing precise maneuvers around the airliner before it disappears in what appears to be an endothermic (cold-energy) event, not an explosion. Key anomalies in the videos include: The orbs move in a 120-degree sinusoidal pattern, consistent with advanced electromagnetic propulsion. The plane's vanishing act leaves no heat signature, suggesting a spacetime distortion rather than destruction. Satellite data (NROL-22) matches classified coordinates released only after the video surfaced. Forbes said these orbs are hypersonic U.S. military drones utilizing gravity-manipulation technology, possibly derived from classified programs like the Philadelphia Experiment or Salvatore Pais' patents (e.g., inertial mass reduction and high-frequency gravitational wave generation). (Related: Former NASA astronaut's close encounter with mysterious metallic orbs in airplane raises questions.) Was MH370 intercepted in a covert operation? Forbes theorizes MH370 was intercepted to prevent espionage. The plane carried 20 engineers from Freescale Semiconductor, a defense contractor specializing in microchips critical for quantum computing and radar-jamming. "China hacked Malaysia's government the next day," Forbes noted. He pointed out that if this was a counterintelligence operation, teleporting the plane sends a message to their adversaries that the U.S. can make anything disappear anywhere. Using gravitational physics, Forbes suggests the aircraft was slingshot through a wormhole to Diego Garcia, a secretive U.S. military base in the Indian Ocean. Three key details support this theory. First, eyewitnesses in the Maldives reported seeing a low-flying jet matching MH370's description. Second, a fire suppression bottle from a Boeing 777 washed ashore in the Maldives weeks later which would be impossible if the plane crashed in the southern Indian Ocean. Lastly, a cryptic post on the message board 4chan allegedly from passenger Philip Wood referenced being held at Diego Garcia. The implications: Free energy, warp drives and a hidden technological revolution If true, this technology would revolutionize energy, transportation and warfare. Free energy extraction (zero-point energy) could end fossil fuel dependence; faster-than-light travel would make interstellar colonization feasible; and weapons of mass spacetime destruction could render nukes obsolete. Forbes warned that this technology has been suppressed because it destabilizes global power structures. If the public had free energy, governments couldn't control economies. While skeptics dismiss the videos as CGI, Forbes insists the evidence from radar anomalies to suppressed science points to a classified U.S. operation. Whether MH370's passengers survived remains unknown, but one thing is clear: The truth is stranger than fiction. For now, the mystery endures. But as more researchers dig into the science behind the videos, the veil of secrecy may finally lift. Watch the full interview between Ashton Forbes and the Health Ranger Mike Adams about the disappearance of Malaysian Airlines Flight MH370 below. This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: U.S. spy planes mysterious flight to UFO hotspot sparks questions. CIA document reveals 1950s plan to manage UFO sightings and public perception. Timothy Alberino and Mike Adams shed light on a growing concern: Are mysterious orbs over US bases a national security threat? Sources include: Brighteon.com CoastToCoastAM.com Civil war is here Multiple events, from conservatives being swatted, to attacks against Telsa owners, happening across America as Dem politicians are telling supporters to fight in the streets Before the November presidential election we saw multiple articles from a variety of outlets regarding the potential of a second civil war with NPR citing a researcher convinced the American government is not adequately prepared for the event. (Article republished from AllNewsPipeline.com) The New Yorker stated in November 2024, before the election, "Many now believe that the U.S. could descend into political violence. Some are joining survivalist communities, canning foodand buying guns." In July 2024, American Military News stated "A new study shows that concerns of a potential U.S. civil war have spread to Americas neighbors, as Canada considers the possibility of a civil war in the United States as an underanticipated disruption. In August 2024, a study titled "Another Civil War in America? Comparing the Social Psychology of the United States of the 1850s to Today," offers an abstract which states the following: Scholars warn that another American civil war is increasingly plausible, if still unlikely; professional political commentators express greater concerns. This study examines the likelihood of another U.S. civil war by comparing perspectives of the 1850s with those of today by using a negative social capital framework as the analytic lens. The analysis finds striking similarities between the two periods. Yet, civil war is a relatively rare phenomenon in developed countries, and the analysis also points to contemporary mitigating examples. At least for the foreseeable future, more likely are trajectories moving toward other types of social unrest short of civil war: ongoing civil strife, additional insurrections, decades-long intraregional political gridlock causing widespread administrative dysfunction, and even a failure to relinquish power. The negative social psychology has already had an extraordinary impact on public administration and is unlikely to decrease in the near term; it may yet increase exponentially as it did in the 1860s. CSUSB summarizes the study by stating "Overall, the authors found deep similarities, such as the demonization of opponents, ideological narrowing of news sources, and the success of champions of polarization. While they find the likelihood of a hot civil war still low based on the comparative study barring a trigger event, they find the likelihood of other types of social and political upheaval to be very high for the foreseeable future." As we jump forward to 2025, as we see multiple events leading up to the "trigger," that could set the entire nation, divided by the two political parties, to war with each other, but as the actual violence since President Trump took office has come from the left, in protest of his policies, the media has suddenly switched directions to the "democrat civil war from within." Suddenly the media doesn't want to discuss the true civil war between Democrats and Republicans, now that only one group, the liberal faction of the Democrat party, are out there shooting up Telsa dealerships, fire bombing Tesla cars, in protest of Elon Musk pushing the Department Of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to find waste and fraud in government spending, then suggest massive cuts, and protests are being planned against the Trump administration. As we remember from the past Trump term, when the George Floyd riots were seeing buildings vandalized, businesses destroyed, some even set on fire leading to a massive spread in some liberally run cities, the media did their best to convince the public the "protests," which were actually full on riots, were "mostly peaceful." The MSM made it very clear back then what "side" they were on, and did their level best to protect the arsons, vandals and criminals destroying the cities. They are following that same power now trying to distract from the actual liberal violence, which could in fact trigger fighting across the nation into a true civil war, to focus on the democrat infighting between the centrists and the radical liberal extremists within the Democrat party. They could report on both, but suddenly the liberal news outlets would rather focus on one, rather than acknowledge the potential for fighting in the streets between the two parties, because at some point, conservatives are going to stand up and say enough and deal with it themselves. Read more at: AllNewsPipeline.com Joseph Farrells The Cosmic War: Did an interplanetary conflict reshape the solar system? Joseph Farrell's "The Cosmic War" proposes that myths of godly battles may reflect a real interplanetary conflict fought with advanced technology, altering the solar system. The asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter could be remnants of a Saturn-sized planet deliberately destroyed 3.2 million years ago, with evidence in Mars' Valles Marineris and Saturn's moon Iapetus. Farrell cites controversial physics (scalar waves, pulsar networks) to suggest ancient civilizations wielded gravity- or energy-based weapons, possibly explaining apocalyptic myths. Structures like the Great Pyramid, the "Face on Mars," and Iapetus' unnatural features may be relics of a lost civilization's technology or wartime infrastructure. While skeptics dismiss the theory, Farrell argues that geological, mythological and astrophysical anomalies warrant reconsideration of humanity's past and solar system history. Could the myths of ancient gods battling in the heavens be more than just stories? What if they were echoes of a real, cataclysmic war fought with unimaginable technologyone that shattered planets and altered the solar system forever? This is the provocative theory explored in Joseph Farrell's "The Cosmic War: Interplanetary Warfare, Modern Physics, and Ancient Texts," which weaves together ancient legends, planetary anomalies and cutting-edge physics to propose a startling hypothesis: Earth and its neighboring worlds may have once been the battlegrounds of an advanced civilizations devastating conflict. Farrell's theory hinges on the idea that the solar system was once far more unstable, with planets positioned differently and wracked by violent electrical discharges. Central to his argument is the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiterlong theorized by astronomers to be the remnants of a destroyed planet. But Farrell goes further, suggesting this destruction was no accident. Citing the work of the late astrophysicist Dr. Tom Van Flandern, who proposed the Exploded Planet Hypothesis, Farrell posits that a massive planetpossibly as large as Saturnwas obliterated in a deliberate act of war roughly 3.2 million years ago. The aftermath, he argues, left scars across the solar system, from Mars colossal Valles Marineris canyon to the strange, artificial-looking features of Saturns moon Iapetus. If such a war occurred, what kind of technology could have caused such destruction? Farrell points to speculative physics, including the work of researchers like Lt. Col. Tom Bearden and Paul LaViolette, who theorize about scalar waves and pulsar-based communications networks. These concepts, while controversial, suggest the possibility of weapons capable of manipulating gravity, weather, or even stellar energytechnologies that could explain the apocalyptic battles described in ancient Sumerian, Babylonian and Vedic texts. The Great Pyramid of Giza, Farrell speculates, may have been more than a tombit could have been a scalar-wave weapon, a device designed to harness and direct energy across vast distances. Meanwhile, anomalies like the "Face on Mars" and Iapetus' unnatural geometry, as highlighted by researchers like Richard C. Hoagland, hint at artificial structures built by a lost civilization. Ancient myths frequently describe conflicts between deities over powerful artifacts, such as the Sumerian Tablets of Destinies, said to grant control over cosmic forces. Farrell suggests these stories may be distorted accounts of a real struggle over advanced technology, possibly even a civil war within an interplanetary civilization. The moon itself, with its hollow-like seismic reactions and peculiar orbit, could be another relican artificial construct or battle station repurposed after the conflict. Mainstream science remains deeply skeptical of such claims, dismissing them as fringe speculation. Yet Farrell insists the evidencescattered across geology, mythology and physicsdemands a closer look. If nothing else, his theory challenges conventional narratives about humanity's past. As space exploration advances, new data from Mars and distant moons like Iapetus may provide answers. Until then, the Cosmic War hypothesis remains a tantalizingif unprovenreminder that history, both human and planetary, may be far stranger than people imagine. Watch this video about Joseph Farrell's book "The Cosmic War: Interplanetary Warfare, Modern Physics, and Ancient Texts." This video is from the BrightLearn channel on Brighteon.com. Sources include: Brighteon.ai Brighteon.com Europes space ambitions crumble as German rocket explodes Isar Aerospaces Spectrum rocket exploded just 30 seconds after liftoff from Norway, marking a major setback for Europes commercial space ambitions. The failure highlights Europes struggle to compete with Elon Musk's SpaceXs rapid innovation and near-flawless launch record. Europes bureaucratic, state-driven approach contrasts sharply with Americas private-sector dominance in space. Delays in Europes Ariane 6 and Vega-C rockets are further widening the gap with SpaceXs weekly launches. Overregulation and political infighting are hindering Europes space sovereignty, while SpaceX thrives on free-market efficiency. In a humiliating setback for Europes struggling space program, German startup Isar Aerospace watched its highly anticipated Spectrum rocket explode just 30 seconds after liftoff from Norways Andya Spaceport on Sunday. The fiery failure, which was broadcast live for the world to see, underscores a widening gap between Europes bureaucratic, state-driven space ambitions and the relentless innovation of American private enterprise led by Elon Musks SpaceX. While Brussels officials dither over regulations and climate mandates, the U.S. is dominating the modern space race, deploying satellites at an unprecedented pace and leaving Europe scrambling to catch up. A spectacular failure The mission, billed as Europes first commercial orbital launch attempt from the mainland, ended in disaster when the rocket malfunctioned mid-flight, erupting into a fireball before crashing into the Arctic Sea. Isar Aerospace, which had cautiously framed even a 30-second flight as a "success," insisted the test yielded valuable data. But the optics were damning. "This allowed the company to gather a substantial amount of flight data and experience to apply on future missions," Isar said in a statement. Yet the contrast with SpaceXs near-flawless launch record couldnt be more dramatic. While European startups struggle to get off the ground, SpaceX has completed more than 300 successful missions, deploying thousands of Starlink satellites and revolutionizing global communications. Bureaucracy vs. free market innovation The failure highlights a fundamental divide in space exploration: Europes reliance on slow-moving, government-backed initiatives versus Americas embrace of private-sector dynamism. SpaceX, founded in 2002, has achieved what European agencies have spent decades failing to accomplishreusable rockets, cost efficiency, and rapid scalability. "Europe urgently needs to ensure its sovereignty in space. Elon Musks Starlink is not without alternativesnor should it be," insisted Marie-Christine von Hahn of Germanys BDLI aerospace association. But such rhetoric rings hollow when Europes flagship Ariane 6 rocket remains delayed and the Vega-C launcher is grounded after a 2022 failure. Meanwhile, SpaceX launches nearly every week, servicing both commercial clients and NASA. The cost of overregulation While European officials continue to tout "autonomy" and "sovereignty," their space programs remain shackled by red tape and political infighting. The European Space Agency (ESA) has poured millions into startups like Isar Aerospace, yet their progress remains sluggish. In contrast, SpaceX operates with minimal government interference, driven by profit incentives and a relentless focus on results. Even Europes would-be spaceports in Norway, Sweden, and Britain are facing a series of setbacks. The UKs SaxaVord Spaceport suffered an engine explosion last year, while Virgin Orbits failed 2023 launch from Cornwall forced the company into bankruptcy. Meanwhile, SpaceXs privately funded Starbase in Texas continues to expand, with plans for Mars missions already underway. The explosion of Isar Aerospaces rocket is more than a technical mishapits a symbol of Europes declining competitiveness in an era defined by private-sector innovation. While Brussels prioritizes green regulations and centralized planning, the U.S. is reaping the rewards of free-market ingenuity. If Europe hopes to remain relevant in the space race, it must slash bureaucracy, empower entrepreneurs, and embrace the lessons of SpaceXs success. Otherwise, it risks becoming a footnote in the next chapter of human exploration. Sources for this article include: ZeroHedge.com TheGuardian.com Reuters.com Bill Gates predicts AI will replace humans in most roles within a decade Bill Gates predicts AI will make humans unnecessary for most tasks within a decade, revolutionizing fields like medicine, education and agriculture by providing "free intelligence"high-quality services currently requiring human expertise. AI is expected to drive significant economic growth but will fundamentally alter work dynamics, with Gates acknowledging the changes could be "profound and a little scary" due to rapid advancements and labor displacement. While Gates sees AI as augmenting human capabilities, others like Mustafa Suleyman warn of its "hugely destabilizing" effects on jobs, arguing AI will eventually replace rather than just assist human labor. Gates recognizes AIs risks (e.g., job loss, misinformation) but opposes calls to pause AI development, advocating instead for targeted solutions to mitigate challenges while harnessing its benefits for global issues. Gates stresses the need for coordinated efforts to ensure AI is developed safely and equitably, emphasizing thoughtful regulation to maximize its positive impact on society. Bill Gates, the co-founder of Microsoft and renowned philanthropist, has made a bold prediction that artificial intelligence (AI) will render humans unnecessary for most tasks within the next decade. During an interview with comedian Jimmy Fallon on NBCs "The Tonight Show" in February, Gates outlined a future where AI will revolutionize fields such as medicine, education and even agriculture. This forecast comes amid a growing debate about the role of AI in society and its potential impacts on the workforce and economy. The dawn of "free intelligence" Gates envisions a new era of "free intelligence" where advanced AI technologies will provide high-quality services that are currently the domain of specialized human expertise. "With AI, over the next decade, that will become free, commonplace great medical advice, great tutoring," Gates told Fallon. He further elaborated on this vision in a conversation with Harvard University professor Arthur Brooks, noting that AI will permeate daily life, transforming healthcare, education and other critical sectors. According to Gates, the impact of AI will be "profound and even a little bit scary" due to its rapid development and the lack of an upper bound on its capabilities. He believes that AI will unlock enormous amounts of economic growth but acknowledges that it will fundamentally change the nature of work. The debate on AI's impact The debate over how AI will shape the future of work is intensifying. Some experts, like Gates, see AI as a tool that will augment human capabilities and create new opportunities. "Its very profound and even a little bit scary because its happening very quickly, and there is no upper bound," Gates told Brooks. However, others are more skeptical. Mustafa Suleyman, CEO of Microsoft AI, argues that AI will have a "hugely destabilizing" impact on the workforce. In his 2023 book, "The Coming Wave," Suleyman writes, "These tools will only temporarily augment human intelligence. They will make us smarter and more efficient for a time, and will unlock enormous amounts of economic growth, but they are fundamentally labor replacing." Gates himself acknowledges the potential for disruption, particularly in terms of job stability and the spread of misinformation. However, he remains optimistic about the overall benefits of AI, citing its potential to address some of the world's most pressing challenges, such as climate change and global health inequities. A call for responsible development Despite his optimism, Gates is not blind to the risks associated with AI. He has been a vocal critic of calls to pause AI development, as advocated by figures like Elon Musk and over 10,000 AI experts. In an interview with Reuters, Gates argued that a pause would not effectively address the challenges of AI development. "I dont think asking one particular group to pause solves the challenges," he said. "Clearly, there [are] huge benefits to these things what we need to do is identify the tricky areas." Gates suggests a more targeted approach to mitigating the risks of AI, focusing on identifying and addressing the most significant issues. He has also emphasized the need for a global effort to ensure that AI development is safe and beneficial for all. "There are a lot of different opinions in this area," Gates told Reuters, highlighting the complexity of the issue. Conclusion Bill Gates's prediction that AI will replace humans in most roles within a decade underscores the transformative power of this technology. While the potential benefits are vast, from breakthrough medical treatments to innovative climate solutions, the challenges are equally significant. As the debate on AI's role in society continues, it is clear that responsible development and thoughtful regulation will be crucial in shaping a future where AI serves to enhance, rather than diminish, human capabilities. The future that Gates envisions is both exciting and daunting, and it will be up to society to navigate the complexities and ensure that the benefits of AI are realized in a way that benefits everyone. Sources include: Technocracy.com TheEpochTimes.com NYPost.com EPA banned chemical linked to cancer, Parkinsons and fatal heart defects in babies now industry is lobbying to get it reinstated The EPA banned trichloroethylene (TCE) in December 2024 due to its carcinogenic and neurodegenerative effects, but industry groups and some lawmakers are pushing to repeal the ban, risking public health. TCE exposure is linked to cancers (liver, kidney, non-Hodgkin lymphoma), Parkinsons disease, and life-threatening heart defects in infants, with documented cases in contaminated areas like Camp Lejeune. The ban faces challenges, including Congressional Review Act repeal efforts, lawsuits from companies, and EPA delays under the Trump administration, prolonging exposure risks for millions. Despite decades of evidence, TCE regulation has been slow due to opposition from industry (e.g., chemical lobbyists) and government agencies like the Department of Defense, which oversees many contaminated sites. Over 100 health and environmental groups are urging the EPA to uphold the ban, citing preventable deaths and economic benefits, while affected individuals (e.g., veterans, workers) demand action to end TCEs harm. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) took a significant step in December 2024 by banning trichloroethylene (TCE), a chemical known for its carcinogenic and neurodegenerative effects. However, this victory for public health is now under threat as industry groups and some members of Congress push to repeal the ban. This reversal could have dire consequences for millions of Americans already suffering from the health impacts of TCE exposure. The dangers of TCE Trichloroethylene, or TCE, has a long history of use in various industries, including dry cleaning, manufacturing and degreasing machines. Independent studies and the EPA have linked TCE exposure to several serious health issues: Cancer: TCE is a known carcinogen, causing liver cancer, kidney cancer and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. TCE is a known carcinogen, causing liver cancer, kidney cancer and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Parkinsons disease: Studies have shown that TCE exposure significantly increases the risk of developing Parkinsons disease. Studies have shown that TCE exposure significantly increases the risk of developing Parkinsons disease. Heart defects: TCE can cause a potentially fatal heart defect in babies, leading to holes in the heart that can be life-threatening. Daniel Kinel, a former law office worker in Rochester, New York, was diagnosed with Parkinsons disease at the age of 43. He and three of his colleagues, who all worked in an office next to a dry cleaner that had dumped TCE into the soil, have since developed severe health issues. Kinel's three colleagues have died, and at least 15 of the firms partners developed cancers related to TCE. It felt good that we were finally getting rid of this terrible chemical, Kinel said. My children and grandchildren would be protected. The ban and its challenges The EPAs ban on TCE was a hard-fought victory, but it is now facing multiple challenges. Since President Donald Trumps second inauguration in January, the ban has been attacked on several fronts: Legislative efforts: Republicans in the Senate and House have introduced resolutions to repeal the TCE ban using the Congressional Review Act. Legal battles: Companies and trade groups have filed lawsuits to stop the ban from taking effect. Administrative delays: The EPA, under the Trump administration, has requested multiple delays in the implementation of the ban. The latest request to a federal appeals court would push the implementation deadline to the end of May. These delays mean that people will continue to be exposed to TCE, which is already present in the drinking water of over 17 million Americans, according to data from the Environmental Working Group. Dangerous plumes of TCE have been found in Woburn, Massachusetts; Wichita, Kansas; and Camp Lejeune Marine Corps base in North Carolina, where hundreds of service members have developed Parkinsons disease and cancer. Jerry Ensminger, a retired Marine Corps master sergeant whose daughter Janey died from leukemia at age 9, is an outspoken advocate for military families exposed to TCE. This chemical needs to go away, Ensminger said. Its already caused enough harm. Historical context and industry influence Concerns about TCEs toxicity have been raised for nearly a century. In 1987, the EPA deemed TCE a probable human carcinogen. However, the agencys efforts to regulate the chemical were slow and often met with resistance from industry and some government scientists. The U.S. Department of Defense, which is responsible for hundreds of TCE-contaminated sites, has been a significant opponent of stricter regulations. In 2001, a draft EPA assessment found TCE to be highly likely to cause cancer, but this conclusion was attacked by industry and government scientists. Two independent reviews supported the EPAs findings, but the agency did not begin drafting stricter regulations until the end of President Barack Obamas administration. During Trumps first term, the EPA weakened its report on TCEs effects on fetal heart abnormalities and halted work on new regulations. Nancy Beck, a former high-level lobbyist for the American Chemistry Council, played a key role in these efforts and has since returned to the EPA as the principal deputy assistant administrator in the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention. The same industry lobbyist who was in charge of EPAs chemical program before is in charge of it again, said Daniel Rosenberg, director of federal toxics policy at the Natural Resources Defense Council. That appears to be where this is headed again. Public and environmental advocacy More than 100 groups representing public health, environment and community interests have sent a letter to EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin, urging him to reinstate the TCE ban. The letter emphasizes the health benefits of the ban, estimated at $20 million, and warns that delaying implementation will lead to preventable deaths and increased medical costs. Environmental and labor groups have also filed a court brief opposing the EPAs efforts to delay the implementation of the TCE ban. Dr. Sara Whittingham, a retired United States Air Force flight surgeon diagnosed with Parkinsons disease at 46, is among those pushing for the ban to remain in place. We signed up to go fight for our country, Whittingham said, but now the attitude seems to be, We dont care about your health, youve already signed on the dotted line. Its a kind of a kick in the face. Conclusion The fight to protect Americans from the dangers of TCE is far from over. As industry groups and some members of Congress push to reverse the EPAs ban, the health and safety of millions of people remain at risk. The long history of TCEs harmful effects and the recent efforts to regulate it highlight the critical importance of robust environmental protections. The public and environmental advocates must continue to raise their voices to ensure that TCE is permanently banned and that the health of future generations is safeguarded. Sources include: ChildrensHealthDefense.gov WVIK.org A MAGA siege of the Democrats deep state There is now a great MAGA siege of the fortified Deep State. Based on the horrified reactions coming from the news media cartel, it would seem that President Trump has taken the whole rotten Establishment by surprise. (Article republished from AmericanThinker.com) To be sure, the commander in chief did not hide his battle plans for conquering Americas out-of-control bureaucracy. Between mandatory court appearances over the last two years (during which Trump patiently withstood Democrat lawfare from all directions), the president dedicated large portions of his campaign rally speeches to outlining how he would starve and dismember the most offending parts of the federal government. Democrats and their Deep State friends surely heard his message. After all, lawfare mercenaries were working hard to send Trump to prison for decades, and federal law enforcement agencies appeared curiously uninterested in either preventing or investigating attempts on Trumps life. Still, after prosecuting him for imaginary crimes, slamming him with ridiculous civil lawsuits, and rhetorically inciting would-be assassins to remove him from the 2024 race, Democrats are today shocked that Trump is fighting back against his enemies. For a political party obsessed with denouncing the perceived privilege of groups at the bottom of the woke hierarchy, Democrats never recognize their own. They assumed that they could wage a war of attrition against President Trump without any blowback. They assumed that they could abuse the criminal justice system to target political adversaries without ending up in the dock themselves. They assumed that their agents inside the federal bureaucracy could sabotage a duly elected president without suffering any consequences. They were wrong. While watching Dementia Joe stumble off into the sunset, traitorous Democrats and their presstitute friends felt pretty secure inside the Deep State castle. They detested how President Trump routed their lawfare legions on his way to a resounding re-election victory, but they had been on this battlefield before. Last time around, they managed to sink Trumps national security adviser, General Michael Flynn, in three weeks. The FBI and DOJ parlayed Hillary Clintons fake Russia collusion dossier into a baseless criminal investigation that drained two years from Trumps first term. One of the egg-shaped Tweedle-Vindmans successfully conspired with other national security turncoats to turn Joe Bidens Ukraine corruption into a nonsensical Trump impeachment. And the corporate news cartel pumped out a dizzying spectacle of ludicrous lies including the absurd allegation that President Trump has long been a Russian spy. For that ridiculous bit of Democrat fan fiction, the most prestigious propagandists even won the Pulitzer Prize! Why should Democrats have expected Donald Trumps second term to be at all different? After all, over 90% of federal bureaucrats vote Democrat even when the Democrat up for election has lost his wits and pervertedly sniffs women and children. Over 90% of mainstream news prevaricators vote Democrat even when the Democrat party openly calls for government fact-checkers to censor the press. Over 90% of university professors vote Democrat even when the Democrat party imposes politically correct speech codes, punishes merit, criminalizes dissent, and rewards mindless groupthink. When the bureaucracy, press, and academia are wholly owned subsidiaries of the Democrat party, why would Deep State Democrats worry about Donald Trumps return? Hes just one man sitting atop a mountain of Democrats eager to stab him in the back (figuratively, yes, and perhaps even literally). In the space of two short months, however, everyone now understands that Trumps second term will be fundamentally different. In 2017, he arrived in Washington looking to cut deals and build bureaucratic consensus. In 2025, he understands that compromises cant be struck with liars, saboteurs, and thieves. One either crushes the Deep State or is crushed by it. The president has chosen to become crusher-in-chief. I would have enjoyed being a fly on one of the Deep State castles walls when it became clear that Donald Trump was surrounding and preparing to lay siege to its various estates. What do you mean hes suing fake news reporters for slander? He cant do that! How will we force-feed lies to the public? Hes withholding federal funds from universities that allow Islamic supremacists to terrorize Jewish students and brawny men to beat up women in sports? But thats Islamophobic and trans-phobic! The Science is settled! Islamic violence is free speech, and biological sex is just a social construct! Hes removing security clearances for leftist law firms that work to undermine elections and misuse federal surveillance systems to spy on political opponents? Thats not fair lawfare is our favorite weapon! We cant win without rigged elections! Whats the MAGA despot going to do next start firing federal workers and exposing how we use taxpayer dollars to fill our own personal piggy banks? Stop, dont tell me! I dont want to know! I cant take it anymore! For a siege to be effective, an enemy must be cut off from necessary supplies. On a battlefield, the most crucial supplies are food and water. In the political sphere, survival depends upon a continuous flow of taxpayer dollars. You close an agencys access to its bank accounts, and you starve the bureaucratic beast! If you shut down its internal email system, you block those bureaucrats from communicating quickly with outside allies. If you send in a detachment of DOGE soldiers to bust up an agencys organizational structure, then the bureaucratic group under siege finds it particularly difficult to arrange defenses and resist the onslaught. Hunger (for taxpayer dollars) and wariness (over when DOGE might attack next) can drive a bureaucrat under siege to the brink of insanity! Last week, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt responded to reports that the fired head of an agency called the United States Institute of Peace barricaded himself in USIPs office building and organized a rebellion against DOGE employees attempting to gain entry. A reporter for The Daily Wire asked Leavitt whether it was true that USIPs old president refused to leave after he was removed from his position ... barricaded himself in his offices, had to be escorted out by police, left the building without WiFi, telephones, elevators, and more. In confirming the story, Leavitt noted that USIP employees even distributed flyers internally encouraging each other to basically prevent DOGE personnel from accessing the building. She described it as another instance of resistance from the bureaucrats who dont want to see change in this city. It sounds like a scene straight out of Stanley Kubricks Dr. Strangelove: the president of the Institute of Peace waged war to save his job! Bureaucratic sieges definitely break people (or as Mitt Romney might say, bureaucracies are people, too!). Alas, the Deep State brought this craziness on itself. Its true that the usual gaggle of Democrat partisans posing as federal judges continue to issue temporary restraining orders and injunctions wherever they possibly can. But lets be honest those judicially enforced ceasefires cant save the Deep States castle walls. President Trump is firing too many artillery shells at the bureaucracy for black-robed charlatans to save the Democrats. Every day, Elon Musk and DOGE expose another money-laundering scheme that exists to transfer taxpayer dollars into Democrat-run organizations. As The New York Times admits, Mr. Trump and his allies are aggressively attacking the players and machinery that power the left, taking a series of highly partisan official actions that ... threaten to hobble Democrats ability to compete in elections for years to come. President Trump is giving Deep State Democrats a lesson in bureaucratic shock and awe. He ended USAIDs censorship scheme. He highlighted the crimes of leftist NGOs. He is demolishing the Department of Education. He is defunding Planned Parenthood. Now hes set his sights on NPR and PBS. The ongoing bombardment during this MAGA siege is so unrelenting that soon Democrats will have nothing left to eat...except one another. Read more at: AmericanThinker.com The high cost of green: Massachusetts struggles with soaring utility bills Massachusetts climate groups sent a letter to Governor Maura Healey and state officials urging immediate action to address rising utility costs, citing financial strain on residents but omitting the role of costly green energy projects in driving up prices. The states ambitious renewable energy initiatives (e.g., offshore wind farms) and its 2050 net-zero emissions goal have contributed to higher consumer costs, though activists blame utility profits and infrastructure spending. Rising bills stem from expensive gas system expansions ($160M in 2023) and pipeline replacements, with critics noting residents face high delivery fees even before gas usage. The letter calls for reduced infrastructure spending, ending gas line extensions, and curbing utility lobbying costs. Governor Healey has pledged short-term bill relief ($220M) and long-term savings ($6B over five years). Critics argue green policies are the root cause of price hikes, with national and European examples showing renewable transitions often lead to higher energy costs, forcing a trade-off between sustainability and affordability. A coalition of Massachusetts climate activist groups has sent a letter to state officials, urging them to take immediate action to address surging utility costs. The letter, sent on March 18 to Democratic Governor Maura Healey and Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper, underscores the financial strain on residents and the need for swift solutions. However, the letter fails to acknowledge the role of expensive green energy projects in driving up these costs. A history of expensive green initiatives Massachusetts has a long history of supporting ambitious green energy projects, including offshore wind farms like Vineyard Wind and the now-defunct Cape Wind project. These initiatives, while well-intentioned, have come at a significant cost to consumers. The state aims to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, a goal that aligns with the Biden administration's $3 trillion climate agenda. "The sharp spikes in heating bills throughout the Commonwealth in January and February have been a financial shock and burden to customers," the letter begins. "This spike has caused real pain and has been seized upon by climate deniers and opponents of clean energy." The financial burden on consumers The letter highlights several areas where utility costs have spiraled. In 2023 alone, Massachusetts gas customers were charged $160 million to connect additional buildings to the gas system, an average cost of nearly $10,000 per new customer. These infrastructure projects, while necessary, have significantly increased utility bills. "The Mass Save rate goes toward reducing our energy consumption and reliance on gas, the distribution rate is where the profits are for the utility companies," said Vick Mohanka, chapter director for Sierra Club Massachusetts. "Its 100% on our bills and were paying more profits on this than other states." Calls for action The letter outlines several steps to reduce energy costs, including: Reducing infrastructure spending unless it is financially appropriate. Ending ratepayer-funded gas line extensions that benefit a limited number of customers. Reining in utility spending on lobbying, advertising and other non-essential expenses. A spokesperson for HEETlabs added, "Each year, gas utilities spend more than 1 billion to replace aging methane gas pipelines in Massachusetts, costs that are increasingly passed on to consumers in the form of rising delivery rates, meaning some residents are stuck with a 400+ bill even before they use any gas." The governor's response Governor Healey has recognized the need to address high energy costs. "Energy costs are too high in Massachusetts and Governor Healey is focused on bringing them down," a spokesperson for Healeys office told Boston 25 News. "Governor Healey has already taken action to lower peoples bills by $220 million in March and April, and her plan would save nearly $6 billion for electric and gas customers over the next five years." However, critics argue that these measures are insufficient and that the state's aggressive green energy policies are the root cause of rising utility bills. The Institute for Energy Research estimates that achieving 100% clean energy by 2050, as advocated by the Sierra Club, would cost trillions of dollars and is both unrealistic and expensive. The broader context: Renewable energy and economic impact The challenges faced by Massachusetts are not unique. Across the country, the transition to renewable energy is leading to higher costs for consumers. National Grid, a major energy supplier in the Northeast, plans to invest heavily in wind, solar and renewable natural gas, a move that will likely result in higher energy bills. "Residential customers energy bills increased 4.3% in 2021, the largest annual increase since 2008," noted Dan Kish, a senior fellow at the Institute for Energy Research. "Youre forcing more and more demand for electricity because the environmentalists want everything to be electric, yet the sources youre allowing to be used to make the electricity are getting more expensive." In Europe, countries that have heavily invested in renewable energy are experiencing significant cost increases. Benny Peiser, the director of the U.K.-based Global Warming Policy Foundation, points to the surge in natural gas prices, which are about 10 times higher than in the U.S., due to the phase-out of coal and nuclear power. "Millions of British households are expected to see energy bills increase by $1,000 per year," Peiser said. "The situation has changed significantly for the worse." Conclusion While the push for renewable energy is driven by noble environmental goals, the economic toll is evident. Massachusetts residents and policymakers must carefully consider the trade-offs between environmental ambitions and financial sustainability. As Governor Healey and her administration work to address these issues, the balance between green energy and affordable utility costs will be a key focus. The letter from climate activists is a clear call to action, but it also underscores the complex and challenging landscape of energy policy in the 21st century. As the state continues to navigate these issues, the well-being of its residents hangs in the balance. Sources include: YourNews.com DailyCaller.com DailyCaller.com Boston25News.com Musk targets strangely wealthy lawmakers in DOGE probe, names Pelosi, McConnell, Schumer Elon Musk has announced he will be launching a DOGE investigation into how wealthy lawmakers like Pelosi and McConnell amassed their multimillion-dollar fortunes on relatively modest salaries. Musk questions financial discrepancies, alleging there could be potential hidden money flows through NGOs. The probe targets leaders on both sides of the political aisle, including Schumer and Warren, over stock trades and wealth accumulation. Musks Wisconsin event doubled as a political rally, where he clashed with protesters. The investigation could spark debates over congressional ethics and transparency ahead of the 2026 midterms. Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk has turned the spotlight on Washingtons wealthiest lawmakers, announcing a sweeping Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) investigation into how members of Congressincluding high-profile figures like Nancy Pelosi, Mitch McConnell, Chuck Schumer, and Elizabeth Warrenhave amassed multimillion-dollar fortunes despite modest government salaries. The Tesla and SpaceX CEO made the revelation Sunday at a packed town hall in Wisconsin, where he also waded into state politics, handed out $1 million prizes, and sparred with protesters. Musks move taps into long-simmering public skepticism about congressional stock trades and opaque wealth accumulation. "A lot of strangely wealthy members of CongressIm trying to connect the dots of how they became rich," Musk told the crowd of 2,000. "Howd they get $20million if theyre earning $200,000 a year? Nobody can explain that. Were gonna try to figure it out, and certainly stop it from happening." Focus on establishment figures The DOGE probe zeroes in on bipartisan leaders whose net worths far exceed their $174,000 annual salaries. Public disclosures peg Schumer's wealth at $2.3 million and Warren's at $9 million, but Musk's team questions discrepancies in financial trails. Pelosi, with an estimated $250 million net worth, and McConnell, whose fortune is tied to his wife's family wealth, have faced scrutiny for years over stock trades coinciding with legislative actions. Musk singled out the potential "circuitous route" for money flows, alleging funds sent overseas by agencies like USAID could circle back to lawmakers via NGOs. "Theyll [the government] send the money overseas to one NGO [non-governmental organization], then theyll go through a bunch of them, and then Im highly confident that a bunch of that money then comes back to the United States and lands in the pockets of the people you just mentioned, he said when asked about Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) and Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.). The Wisconsin event doubled as a political rally for conservative state Supreme Court candidate Brad Schimel. At the event, a protester attempted to heckle Musk, who immediately accused him of being sent there by liberal mega-donor George Soros. "It was inevitable that at least a few Soros operatives would be in the audience," he said. A crusade against "corrupt" systems Musks DOGE, empowered under the Trump administration, has slashed federal budgets and probed inefficiencies. But this investigation marks its most direct clash with Congress. While lawmakers are permitted to trade stocks, Musks team appears poised to scrutinize undisclosed conflicts or illicit enrichment. The pushback is already brewing. Progressive protesters rallied outside Tesla stores nationwide this weekend, accusing Musk of overreach. Yet Musks base is cheering the disruption and hopeful that he can help Trump clean up the corruption in Washington, D.C. As Musks DOGE digs deeper, the probe could reignite debates over congressional ethics and transparency. Whether it yields any degree of accountability or simply amounts to political theater remains unclear, but it is abundantly clear that the worlds richest man is not about to shy away from a fight with Washingtons wealthiest. Musk vowed to stop this type of corruption from happening in a promise that could reshape the 2026 midterms and beyond. Sources for this article include: DailyMail.co.uk NYPost.com LiveMint.com Oncologist warns of terrifyingly aggressive cancers in children, linked to immune suppression from COVID vaccines Top oncologists sound alarm: Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong and Dr. Angus Dalgleish warn of unprecedented cancer spikes in children and young adults. mRNA vaccines implicated: Experts claim COVID shots may be accelerating aggressive "turbo cancers" by integrating into cell DNA. Global cover-up? Medical establishment ignores crisis after mandating experimental vaccines, leaving families in the dark. Forced compliance backfires: Millions coerced into taking shots now face devastating health consequences. The rise of "turbo cancers" and a medical betrayal For the first time in modern medical history, children as young as eight are being diagnosed with aggressive colon cancera phenomenon so rare it was virtually unheard of before 2021. But now, elite oncologists are breaking ranks, exposing what they call a "global epidemic" of fast-moving cancers directly linked to COVID-19 vaccines. The same medical authorities who once demanded blind faith in these shots have gone eerily silent as the bodies pile up. Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong, a pioneering cancer researcher who developed the FDA-approved drug Abraxane, recently dropped a bombshell during an interview with Tucker Carlson. "We have to face reality," he said, bluntly connecting the dots between mRNA vaccines and the surge in deadly cancers. His warning follows a flood of reports from frontline doctors witnessing bizarre, rapid-onset tumors in young patientscases that defy decades of medical understanding. Meanwhile, Dr. Angus Dalgleish, a renowned oncologist from the University of London, has called for an outright ban on mRNA vaccines, declaring they have no place in medicine outside of terminal cancer cases. "The fact that mRNA can integrate [into DNA], even if it doesnt most of the time, makes it unjustifiable to use on young people, especially children," Dalgleish told the Vaccine Safety Research Foundation. His research found mRNA fragments inside tumors, suggesting the shots may be fueling cancer growth. The scientist elaborated further, explaining that the mRNA from COVID-19 vaccines has been observed to incorporate into cancerous cells. Dr. Dalgleish highlighted that researchers have identified traces of mRNA within cancerous tumors, noting that this genetic material plays a role in their rapid growth and the aggressive spread of these cancers. He asserted, Cancer caused by mRNA vaccines is a known outcome. Dr. Dalgleish issued a cautionary note, emphasizing that mRNA vaccines should not be utilized as a preventive measure against cancer, as they are implicated in its causation. A manufactured crisis and the silencing of dissent The timing of these cancers is undeniable. Before 2021, childhood cancers like glioblastoma and advanced colon cancer were statistical anomalies. Now, pediatric oncology wards are filling with cases that progress at terrifying speedswhat doctors now call "turbo cancers." Yet instead of investigating, public health agencies and pharmaceutical giants have doubled down on censorship, smearing dissenting experts as "conspiracy theorists" while quietly updating vaccine injury compensation programs to include cancer claims. The term "turbo cancer" isn't even a recognized medical term, yet doctors continue to report terrifyingly aggressive cancer cases, in adults and young children without a history of medical issues. The parallels to past medical scandals are chilling. Just as Big Tobacco buried evidence linking smoking to lung cancer for decades, the COVID vaccine pushersfrom the FDA to Pfizerare gaslighting the public while children suffer. "We know [the cancer] is caused by [mRNA vaccines]," Dalgleish stated unequivocally. History repeats itself when profit outweighs ethics. The same institutions that lied about opioids, asbestos, and Agent Orange are now dismissing vaccine injuries as "anecdotal." But with elite doctors like Soon-Shiong and Dalgleish risking their careers to speak out, how long can the facade hold? As grieving parents demand answers, one question burns: If vaccines are safe, why are the architects of this experiment refusing to debate their critics in the open? Sources include: Revolver.news X.com Slay.news Rogue LEFTIST JUDGES defying and dismantling the U.S. Constitution may be COMMUNISTS in black robes seeking the downfall of America Judicial Overreach Allegations: The article accuses "leftist judges" of undermining the U.S. Constitution, suggesting they may be ideologically driven ("communists in black robes") to weaken America, particularly by blocking Trump-era immigration enforcement efforts. Hamiltons Federalist No. 78: Alexander Hamilton argued in The Federalist Papers that the judiciary is the "weakest branch" with no enforcement power ("neither force nor will"), implying that executive and legislative branches can resist judicial overreacha justification for ignoring activist rulings. Case Example: Judge James Boasberg (an Obama appointee) temporarily halted deportations of alleged Venezuelan gang members under the Alien Enemies Act, demanding individualized hearingsa move criticized as judicial activism and venue-shopping by the ACLU. Originalist Defense: The article contends that Hamiltons framework supports the Trump administrations defiance of such rulings, arguing that the judiciary lacks constitutional authority to unilaterally enforce its judgments, especially in matters of national security. Trump has the simplest solution to all these Leftist Judges in America undermining his authority and mission to save America. Simply declare the majority of his executive orders as matters of national security. Start by labeling the criminal aliens as domestic terrorists and theres nothing these judges can do to stop him from deporting them or locking them in prison for indeterminable periods of time. Ban the Covid vaccines nationally and declare it a matter of national security, since theyre injuring and killing soldiers, pilots, and captains in the military. Overturn decisions judges make restricting gun laws so U.S. citizens 18 and older can help protect the nation and themselves from criminals, rogue government agents, and foreign threats. Its all constitutional and Alexander Hamilton wrote all about it. Alexander Hamilton told America 250 years ago how to handle anti-American judges Leftist Judges across America are trying to wreck the country as they too suffer from Trump Derangement Syndrome. Judges are demanding that illegal immigrants who rape and murder children be returned to our country AT ONCE! We must have more of these psychopaths, they declare. Leftist Judges across America are trying to wreck the country as they demand that gender fluid perverts make key decisions for our military, schools and government agencies. Leftist Judges across America are trying to wreck the country as they demand patriots who are old enough to fight in the military surrender their legally-owned guns (in California) and get outlawed from buying new ones. Our founding fathers knew this could and probably would happen, so Hamilton wrote that the courts have neither FORCE nor WILL, but merely judgment and cannot effectuate those judgments on its own. Whoever attentively considers the different departments of power must perceive, that, in a government in which they are separated from each other, the judiciary, from the nature of its functions, will always be the least dangerous to the political rights of the Constitution; because it will be least in a capacity to annoy or injure them. And The Executive not only dispenses the honors, but holds the sword of the community, Hamilton wrote. In California, judges are saying 18 to 20-year-olds cant buy guns, but then why are they allowed to serve in the military? That doesnt even make sense. Its all just communism in black robes pretending to be protecting Americans from themselves. How about protecting Americans from psychotic Democrats who are firebombing Tesla owners and dealerships? How about HELPING deport criminal alien rapists and murderers, instead of demanding they be returned here? Tune your apocalypse dial to Preparedness.news for updates on real news about surviving the Democrat-led government aggression, lies, and propaganda that comes at us every day now. Sources for this article include: Censored.news NaturalNews.com TheGatewayPundit.com Russia accuses U.K. and France of inciting a bloodbath Russia accused the U.K. and France of inciting a "bloodbath" in Europe during a Paris summit of over 30 nations discussing military and economic support for Ukraine, framing Western efforts as a hostile "Anglo-Saxon plot." The "Coalition of the Willing" explored NATO-backed peacekeeping forces for Ukraine, though divisions emerged France and Britain supported troop deployments, while Greece and Italy opposed them. European leaders dismissed Russia's claims, with Macron calling them "stories and untruths" and Zelensky rejecting Moscow's ceasefire accusations, stating, "Moscow always lies." While the coalition seeks strong U.S. backing, Macron acknowledged that Europe may need to act independently. Military planners assessed troop numbers (10,000 to 30,000), but doubts persist about Europe's capacity to lead. Ceasefire talks remain fragile, with mutual accusations of violations. Macron accused Russia of "playing games," highlighting deep distrust and an uncertain path to ending the war. Russia escalated its rhetoric on Thursday, March 27, accusing the U.K. and France of inciting a "bloodbath" in Europe as leaders from more than 30 nations gathered in Paris to discuss military and economic support for Ukraine. The "Coalition of the Willing" summit, led by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron, explored proposals for NATO-backed peacekeeping forces in Ukraine, a move Moscow vehemently opposes. Amid stalled ceasefire negotiations and mutual accusations of bad faith, the summit underscored deepening divisions between Russia and the West over how to end the war. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova framed Western efforts as an "Anglo-Saxon" plot to provoke war, claiming the U.K. seeks to manipulate Europe from outside the EU. "They need to provoke Europe into a bloodbath [with Russia]," she said. Kremlin-aligned lawmaker Sergey Mironov further warned that Western arms shipments to Ukraine could backfire, alleging weapons might eventually fuel terrorism in Europe. (Related: Ukraine violates partial ceasefire agreement with Russia, attacks energy infrastructure as peace talks collapse.) European leaders dismissed these claims. Macron accused Moscow of spreading "stories and untruths," while Starmer called Russia's tactics "a classic from the Putin playbook." Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also rejected the Kremlin's claims about ceasefire terms, stating, "Moscow always lies." The coalition's proposal: A NATO-backed reassurance force The summit focused on sustaining military aid and forming a multinational "reassurance force" to secure a future peace deal. While France and Britain championed troop deployments, other nations, including Greece and Italy, publicly opposed sending soldiers. Macron acknowledged the lack of unanimity but insisted, "We do not need unanimity to achieve it." A key uncertainty is U.S. support. Starmer stressed the need for "strong U.S. backing," but Macron admitted Europe must prepare for scenarios where Washington does not participate. Military planners are reportedly assessing troop numbers (potentially 10,000 to 30,000) and logistical needs, though skepticism remains over Europe's capacity to lead such an effort. U.S. President Donald Trump, mediating ceasefire talks, acknowledged the challenges: "Russia would like to see it end, and I think Zelensky would too." However, Russia's UN envoy accused Kyiv of undermining negotiations through continued strikes, while Ukrainian officials blamed Moscow for violating recent Black Sea and energy-sector ceasefires. The summit highlighted the fragility of diplomatic progress. As Macron noted, "They are playing games and playing for time."This sentiment is echoed by European leaders who doubt Russia's commitment to peace. The Paris summit revealed both resolve and division among Ukraine's allies. While Western leaders seek to deter Russia through military and diplomatic pressure, Moscow's warnings of escalation and Europe's uneven commitment to troop deployments complicate the path forward. With ceasefire talks stalled and trust in short supply, the war's endgame remains uncertain. Head over to WWIII.news for updates on the ongoing war in Ukraine. Watch the video below where Trump says "We're getting close" pertaining to the ceasefire talks on the Ukraine war. This video is from the NewsClips channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Zelensky's arrogance and entitlement cost Ukraine more territory and lives as RUSSIA ADVANCES, taking Constantinople. U.S. resumes military aid to Ukraine after Kyiv agrees to 30-day ceasefire, but Russia holds the cards. Trump weighs heavy SANCTIONS and tariffs on Russia to end Ukraine war. Sources include: YourNews.com KyivIndependent.com APNews.com Brighteon.com Rubio: State Department has REVOKED over 300 visas of foreign students The U.S. Department of State has revoked over 300 visas of foreign students accused of disruptive actions, including vandalism, harassment or occupying university buildings. Rumeysa Ozturk, a Turkish student near Boston, was detained after her visa was revoked, possibly linked to her pro-Palestinian op-ed calling for Tufts University to divest from Israel. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has arrested multiple foreign students, including Alireza Doroudi of the University of Alabama) and Mahmoud Khalil from Columbia University, with unclear or disputed grounds for detention. Some arrests, like that of Leqaa Kordia (also from Columbia), are tied to alleged pro-Hamas activism, though visa violations are cited as the official reason. Rubio emphasized the administration's daily efforts to identify and revoke visas of individuals deemed threats to public order, calling them "lunatics" disrupting campuses. The U.S. Department of State has revoked more than 300 visas of foreign students accused of disruptive activities. On March 25, federal immigration authorities detained Rumeysa Ozturk, a Turkish student near Boston, and revoked her visa. Friends believe her arrest could be linked to a doxxing campaign after she co-authored an opinion piece in Tufts Daily in 2024, calling for Tufts University to acknowledge the "Palestinian genocide," apologize for statements by its president and divest from companies tied to Israel. This case marks the first known immigration-related arrest of a Boston student under Trump's recent enforcement actions. Speaking at a press conference in Guyana on March 27, Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed that the Trump administration is actively identifying and revoking visas of individuals involved in protests or actions deemed harmful to public order. "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 visas," Rubio said. "At some point, I hope we run out because we've gotten rid of all of them, but we're looking every day for these lunatics that are tearing things up." ICE has been arresting foreign students for alleged pro-Hamas involvement Alireza Doroudi, a mechanical engineering doctoral student at the University of Alabama, was reportedly taken into custody by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers on March 25 from his home. The reason for his detention remains unclear. Doroudi, who previously studied metallurgy at Iran's prestigious Amirkabir University of Technology, an institution that admits only the top one percent of students in the country's competitive entrance exams, arrived in the U.S. on a student visa in January 2023. However, The Crimson White, the university's student newspaper, reported that his visa was revoked just six months later. Despite this, Doroudi had reportedly been assured by university officials that he could legally remain in the U.S. as long as he maintained his student status. Earlier this month, Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia University graduate and permanent U.S. resident, was arrested by ICE in New York without criminal charges and is currently being held in Louisiana. (Related: Columbia University student self-deports following visa revocation over pro-Hamas protests.) Leqaa Kordia, a Palestinian national from the West Bank, had a similar case. ICE agents arrested her for overstaying her expired student visa. Though her visa was terminated in January 2022 due to lack of attendance, Kordia remained in the U.S. and was ultimately arrested in April 2024 over alleged involvement in pro-Hamas activities at Columbia University. Meanwhile, Yunseo Chung, a permanent resident and another Columbia student, narrowly avoided deportation after a federal judge issued a temporary restraining order against the government. Head over to Revolt.news for similar stories. Watch the video below that talks about a pro-Palestinian protest outside the NYC Nova Exhibit. This video is from the GalacticStorm channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Trump Administration targets pro-Palestine activist for DEPORTATION, citing "foreign policy threat" in free speech crackdown. Jewish students endangered not because of anti-Israel protests, but because of police involvement and third-party doxing of participants. Arrest of a Columbia University graduate participating in campus protests against Israel ignites widespread outrage online. Wealthy Zionist donors behind NYPD crackdown on Columbia U protests. Pro-Palestine protesters burned American flag during Gaza solidarity march on Independence Day. Sources include: MiddleEastEye.net Breitbart.com Brighteon.com Trump administration CUTS FUNDING to Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance a major blow to the Bill Gates-backed entity The Trump administration cut taxpayer funding to Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, a global health organization heavily backed by Bill Gates citing a review of foreign aid programs deemed "inconsistent with the national interest." Gavi has faced criticism for mismanagement, including its role in a 2016 polio vaccine "switch" that triggered outbreaks in Africa, paralyzing over 3,300 children. The U.S. had pledged $2.53 billion from 2022 until 20030, with $880 million already disbursed before the grant was terminated. Gavi and the Gates Foundation warned of dire consequences, predicting millions of preventable child deaths. Internal reports condemned Gavi's leadership failures in the Africa polio crisis, yet the organization continues mass vaccination campaigns with little transparency or redress for harm caused. The funding cut was framed as both fiscally responsible and ethically necessary, challenging Gavi's unchecked influence and signaling a shift away from blind trust in global health elites. The Trump administration has delivered a decisive blow to Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance an organization heavily funded and influenced by billionaire Bill Gates by cutting U.S. taxpayer funding to the controversial global health entity. This move comes as a long-overdue reckoning for an organization with a troubling track record, including its role in a catastrophic polio outbreak in Africa that paralyzed thousands of children. Since its founding in 2000, Gavi has received billions in taxpayer dollars, with the U.S. contributing 13 percent of its funding. The Biden administration had pledged an additional $2.53 billion from 2022 through 2030. Of this amount, $880 million has so far been dispersed. But the U.S. Department of State turned off the tap on that grant. According to a 281-page memo from the department, the Gavi grant was axed as part of a sweeping review of foreign aid programs. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended the memo, pointing out that the grants to be cut as per the memo were "inconsistent with the national interest." Predictably, officials at Gavi and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation expressed outrage over the move. Gavi CEO Sania Nishtar warning of "disastrous" consequences, including "the deaths of over a million children over five years." Meanwhile, Gates Foundation CEO Mark Suzman claimed the decision would lead to "hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of preventable deaths. (Related: Bill Gates in panic mode as USAID scrutiny threatens GAVI Alliance funding.) The polio disaster: Gavi's deadly mismanagement exposed Gavi is now scrambling with the Trump administration's funding cut. But given the organization's history of mismanagement, one cannot help but ask: How many of those "preventable deaths" are actually caused by the reckless policies of Gates and his allies? What Nishtar, Suzman and other Gavi allies won't admit is the entity's own culpability in past vaccine disasters. In 2016, Gavi was a key player in the disastrous "switch" from a trivalent oral polio vaccine (OPV) to a bivalent version, a move that backfired spectacularly. Instead of eradicating polio, the decision unleashed vaccine-derived poliovirus (VDPV) outbreaks across Africa. The outbreaks paralyzed more than 3,300 children a catastrophe Gavi has never fully acknowledged or atoned for. An internal report commissioned by the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), of which Gavi is a core partner, called the switch an "unqualified failure." It cited "management and leadership errors" that allowed VDPV outbreaks to spiral out of control. Even Roland Sutter, former head of polio research at the GPEI, admitted the program failed to act with urgency. Yet Gavi and its allies, including the Gates Foundation, have continued to push mass vaccination campaigns with little accountability for the collateral damage. Gavi operates with near-total impunity, shielded by its powerful backers. While it boasts of vaccinating 1.1 billion children, it refuses to reckon with its failures whether the African polio disaster or the untold injuries from other rushed vaccination campaigns. The Trump administration's decision to defund this unaccountable entity is not just fiscally responsible; its a moral imperative. As globalist elites panic over losing their taxpayer-funded gravy train, Americans should celebrate this move. With this funding cut, the era of blind trust in Gates and Gavi may finally be coming to an end. Watch this clip about Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance being immune from any prosecution. This video is from the Kla.TV - English channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: POLIO was 98% eradicated BEFORE THE VACCINE was ever invented and put into circulation, beginning the BIGGEST MEDICAL FARCE in history. GAVI Vaccine Alliance: The source of terror behind global lockdowns and vaccine coercion. Bill Gates and his globalist cabal are about to WRAP UP their worldwide takeover. Sources include: InfoWars.com IdeaStream.org Science.org Brighteon.com Trump signs sweeping executive order mandating proof of citizenship for voter registration Trump signed an executive order requiring proof of citizenship for voter registration and Election Day ballot receipt. Order aims to align U.S. election security with stricter practices used by countries like India and Brazil. Federal agencies will assist states in prosecuting non-citizen voting and deny funding to states that accept late mail-in ballots. Democrats and voting rights groups vow legal challenges, claiming the rules could disenfranchise millions. Order also targets foreign election interference and mandates paper trails for ballots. President Donald Trump has signed a sweeping executive order requiring proof of citizenship for voter registration and mandating that all ballots be received by Election Day. The order, titled "Preserving and Protecting the Integrity of American Elections," aims to close vulnerabilities in the electoral system by aligning U.S. practices with security measures long employed by nations like India and Brazil. The action underscores Trumps commitment to ensuring that only eligible citizens determine election outcomesa principle he called "fundamental to our Republic." Flanked by aides in the Oval Office, Trump declared, "Its an honor to sign this one... We think well be able to end up getting fair elections." The order directs federal agencies to assist states in identifying and prosecuting non-citizens who attempt to vote illegally, while also cutting off federal funding to states that count mail-in ballots received after Election Day. Critics, however, swiftly condemned the measures as restrictive, setting the stage for legal battles over states rights and voter access. Closing loopholes The executive order highlights glaring gaps in U.S. election security compared to other democracies. While countries like India use biometric verification and Germany relies on paper ballots counted publicly, the U.S. has long depended on "self-attestation" for voter eligibilitya system the order calls "outdated and insecure." Under the order, federal voter registration forms must now require documentary evidence, such as a U.S. passport, REAL ID, or military identification. In addition, states must tabulate all ballots by Election Day, ending the practice of accepting late-arriving mail-in votes. Homeland Security and the Justice Department will help states audit voter rolls and prosecute non-citizen voting. "Maintaining accurate voter registration lists is a fundamental requirement in protecting voters from having their ballots voided or diluted by fraudulent votes," the order states. Legal and political firestorm erupts Democrats and voting rights groups immediately vowed to challenge the order. Marc Elias, a prominent Democratic attorney, tweeted: "This will not stand. We will sue." The Brennan Center for Justice claimed the rules could "disenfranchise millions," citing estimates that 21 million citizens lack immediate access to citizenship documents. Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold called the move "unlawful" while Republicans praised it as long overdue. House elections committee chair Bryan Steil (R-WI) said it was a "welcome action to secure our elections and prevent foreign influence." The order also targets foreign interference, directing the Attorney General to crack down on non-citizen campaign contributions and closing loopholes that allow NGOs to funnel foreign funds into U.S. elections. Additionally, it mandates voter-verifiable paper trails for ballotsa direct rebuke to electronic systems using QR codes, like those in Georgia. Trump framed the action as the first step in a larger effort: "There are other steps that we will be taking in the coming weeks." With this order, Trump has reignited a national debate over election security versus access. Supporters argue it safeguards the sanctity of every legitimate vote, while opponents warn of voter suppression. For now, the administrations message is unequivocal: "Free, fair, and honest elections unmarred by fraud... are fundamental to maintaining our constitutional Republic." Whether the courts agree will shape elections for years to come. Sources for this article include: InfoWars.com FoxNews.com APNews.com WhiteHouse.gov "Strides serves the most difficult and the most vulnerable individuals in the homeless population. These are the people who will die without shelter. Those who cannot or will not cooperate to the extent necessary to stay at the shelter will end up in jails or institutions or risk death," Gil Terriberry writes. 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. Sheldon Ekirch spends a lot of time on hold with her health insurance company. Sometimes, as the minutes tick by and her frustration mounts, Ekirch, 30, opens a meditation app on her phone. It was recommended by her psychologist to help with the depression associated with a stressful and painful medical disorder. In 2023, Ekirch was diagnosed with small fiber neuropathy, a condition that makes her limbs and muscles feel as if they're on fire. Now she takes more than a dozen prescriptions to manage chronic pain and other symptoms, including insomnia. "I don't feel like I am the person I was a year and a half ago," said Ekirch, who was on the cusp of launching her law career, before getting sick. "Like, my body isn't my own." Ekirch said specialists have suggested that a series of infusions made from blood plasma called intravenous immunoglobulin IVIG, for short could ease, or potentially eradicate, her near-constant pain. But Ekirch's insurance company has repeatedly denied coverage for the treatment, according to documents provided by the patient. Patients with Ekirch's condition don't always respond to IVIG, but she said she deserves to try it, even though it could cost more than $100,000. "I'm paying a lot of money for health insurance," said Ekirch, who pays more than $600 a month in premiums. "I dont understand why they wont help me, why my life means so little to them." For patient advocates and health economists, cases like Ekirch's illustrate why prior authorization has become such a chronic pain point for patients and doctors. For 50 years, insurers have employed prior authorization, they say, to reduce wasteful health care spending, prevent unnecessary treatment, and guard against potential harm. The practice differs by insurance company and plan, but the rules often require patients or their doctors to request permission from the patient's health insurance company before proceeding with a drug, treatment, or medical procedure. The insurance industry provides little information about how often prior authorization is used. Transparency requirements established by the federal government to shed light on the use of prior authorization by private insurers haven't been broadly enforced, said Justin Lo, a senior researcher for the Program on Patient and Consumer Protections at KFF, a health information nonprofit that includes KFF Health News. Yet it's widely acknowledged that prior authorization tends to disproportionately impact some of the sickest people who need the most expensive care. And despite bipartisan support to reform the system, as well as recent attempts by health insurance companies to ease the burden for patients and doctors, some tactics have met skepticism. Some insurers' efforts to improve prior authorization practices aren't as helpful as they would seem, said Judson Ivy, CEO of Ensemble Health Partners, a revenue cycle management company. "When you really dive deep," he said, these improvements don't seem to touch the services and procedures, such as CT scans, that get caught up in prior authorization so frequently. "When we started looking into it," he said, "it was almost a PR stunt." The 'tipping point' When Arman Shahriar's father was diagnosed with follicular lymphoma in 2023, his father's oncologist ordered a whole-body PET scan to determine the cancers stage. The scan was denied by a company called EviCore by Evernorth, a Cigna subsidiary that makes prior authorization decisions. Shahriar, an internal medicine resident, said he spent hours on the phone with his father's insurer, arguing that the latest medical guidelines supported the scan. The imaging request was eventually approved. But his father's scan was delayed several weeks and multiple appointments were scheduled, then canceled during the time-consuming process while the family feared the cancer would continue to spread. EviCore by Evernorth spokesperson Madeline Ziomek wrote in an emailed statement that incomplete clinical information provided by physicians is a leading cause of such denials. The company is "actively developing new ways to make the submission process simpler and faster for physicians," Ziomek said. In the meantime, Shahriar, who often struggles to navigate prior authorization for his patients, accused the confusing system of "artificially creating problems in people's lives" at the wrong time. "If families with physicians are struggling through this, how do other people navigate it? And the short answer is, they cant, said Shahriar, who wrote about his father's case in an essay published last year by JAMA Oncology. "Were kind of reaching a tipping point where were realizing, collectively, something needs to be done." The fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson on a New York City sidewalk in December prompted an outpouring of grief among those who knew him, but it also became a platform for public outrage about the methods insurance companies use to deny treatment. An Emerson College poll conducted in mid-December found 41% of 18- to 29-year-olds thought the actions of Thompson's killer were at least somewhat acceptable. In a NORC survey from the University of Chicago conducted in December, two-thirds of respondents indicated that insurance company profits, and their denials for health care coverage, contributed "a great deal/moderate amount" to the killing. Instagram accounts established in support of Luigi Mangione, the 26-year-old Maryland suspect accused of murder and terrorism, have attracted thousands of followers. "The past several weeks have further challenged us to even more intensely listen to the public narrative about our industry," Cigna Group CEO David Cordani said during an earnings call on Jan. 30. Cigna is focused on "making prior authorizations faster and simpler," he added. The first Trump administration and the Biden administration put forth policies designed to improve prior authorization for some patients by mandating that insurers set up electronic systems and shortening the time companies may take to issue decisions, among other fixes. Hundreds of House Democrats and Republicans signed on to co-sponsor a bill last year that would establish new prior authorization rules for Medicare Advantage plans. In January, Republican congressman Jefferson Van Drew of New Jersey introduced a federal bill to abolish the use of prior authorization altogether. Meanwhile, many states have passed legislation to regulate the use of prior authorization. Some laws require insurers to publish data about prior authorization denials with the intention of making a confusing system more transparent. Reform bills are under consideration by state legislatures in Hawaii, Montana, and elsewhere. A bill in Virginia approved by the governor March 18 takes effect July 1. Other states, including Texas, have established "gold card" programs that ease prior authorization requirements for some physicians by allowing doctors with a track record of approvals to bypass the rules. No one from AHIP, an insurance industry lobbying group formerly known as America's Health Insurance Plans, was available to be interviewed on the record about proposed prior authorization legislation for this article. But changes wouldn't guarantee that the most vulnerable patients would be spared from future insurance denials or the complex appeals process set up by insurers. Some doctors and advocates for patients are skeptical that prior authorization can be fixed as long as insurers are accountable to shareholders. Kindyl Boyer, director of advocacy for the nonprofit Infusion Access Foundation, remains hopeful the system can be improved but likened some efforts to playing "Whac-A-Mole." Ultimately, insurance companies are "going to find a different way to make more money," she said. 'Unified anger' In the weeks following Thompson's killing, UnitedHealthcare was trying to refute an onslaught of what it called highly inaccurate and grossly misleading information" about its practices when another incident landed the company back in the spotlight. On Jan. 7, Elisabeth Potter, a breast reconstruction surgeon in Austin, Texas, posted a video on social media criticizing the company for questioning whether one of her patients who had been diagnosed with breast cancer and was undergoing surgery that day needed to be admitted as an inpatient. The video amassed millions of views. In the days following her post, UnitedHealthcare hired a high-profile law firm to demand a correction and public apology from Potter. In an interview with KFF Health News, Potter would not discuss details about the dispute, but she stood by what she said in her original video. "I told the truth," Potter said. The facts of the incident remain in dispute. But the level of attention it received online illustrates how frustrated and vocal many people have become about insurance company tactics since Thompson's killing, said Matthew Zachary, a former cancer patient and the host of "Out of Patients," a podcast that aims to amplify the experiences of patients. For years, doctors and patients have taken to social media to shame health insurers into approving treatment. But in recent months, Zachary said, "horror stories" about prior authorization shared widely online have created "unified anger." "Most people thought they were alone in the victimization," Zachary said. "Now they know they're not." Data published in January by KFF found that prior authorization is particularly burdensome for patients covered by Medicare Advantage plans. In 2023, virtually all Medicare Advantage enrollees were covered by plans that required prior authorization, while people enrolled in traditional Medicare were much less likely to encounter it, said Jeannie Fuglesten Biniek, an associate director at KFF's Program on Medicare Policy. Furthermore, she said, Medicare Advantage enrollees were more likely to face prior authorization for higher-cost services, including inpatient hospital stays, skilled nursing facility stays, and chemotherapy. But Neil Parikh, national chief medical officer for medical management at UnitedHealthcare, explained prior authorization rules apply to fewer than 2% of the claims the company pays. He added that "99% of the time" UnitedHealthcare members don't need prior authorization or requests are approved "very, very quickly." Recently, he said, a team at UnitedHealthcare was reviewing a prior authorization request for an orthopedic procedure when they discovered the surgeon planned to operate on the wrong side of the patient's body. UnitedHealthcare caught the mistake in time, he recounted. "This is a real-life example of why prior authorization can really help," Parikh said. Even so, he said, UnitedHealthcare aims to make the process less burdensome by removing prior authorization requirements for some services, rendering instant decisions for certain requests, and establishing a national gold card program, among other refinements. Cigna also announced changes designed to improve prior authorization in the months since Thompson's killing. "Brian was an incredible friend and colleague to many, many of us, and we are deeply saddened by his passing," Parikh said. "It's truly a sad occasion." The final denial During the summer of 2023, Ekirch was working full time and preparing to take the bar exam when she noticed numbness and tingling in her arms and legs. Eventually, she started experiencing a burning sensation throughout her body. That fall, a Richmond-area neurologist said her symptoms were consistent with small fiber neuropathy, and, in early 2024, a rheumatologist recommended IVIG to ease her pain. Since then, other specialists, including neurologists at the University of Virginia and Virginia Commonwealth University, have said she may benefit from the same treatment. There's no guarantee it will work. A randomized controlled trial published in 2021 found pain levels in patients who received IVIG weren't significantly different from the placebo group, while an older study found patients responded "remarkably well." "Its hard because I look at my peers from law school and high school theyre having families, excelling in their career, living their life. And most days I am just struggling, just to get out of bed," said Ekirch, frustrated that Anthem continues to deny her claim. In a prepared statement, Kersha Cartwright, a spokesperson for Anthem's parent company, Elevance Health, said Ekirch's request for IVIG treatment was denied "because it did not meet the established medical criteria for effectiveness in treating small fiber neuropathy." On Feb. 17, her treatment was denied by Anthem for the final time. Ekirch said her patient advocate, a nurse who works for Anthem, suggested she reach out to the drug manufacturer about patient charity programs. "This is absolutely crazy," Ekirch said. "This is someone from Anthem telling me to plead with a pharmacy company to give me this drug when Anthem should be covering it." Her only hope now lies with the Virginia State Corporation Commission Bureau of Insurance, a state agency that resolves prior authorization disputes between patients and health insurance companies. She found out through a Facebook group for patients with small fiber neuropathy that the Bureau of Insurance has overturned an IVIG denial before. In late March, Ekirch was anxiously waiting to hear the agency's decision about her case. "I don't want to get my hopes up too much, though," she said. "I feel like this entire process, I've been let down by it." People with heart failure have long been advised to limit the amount of fluids they consume each day to help reduce congestion, or the buildup of fluid in the lungs and extremities, but that advice provides no benefit, according to a study presented at the American College of Cardiology's Annual Scientific Session (ACC.25). Heart failure occurs when the heart becomes too stiff or too weak to effectively pump blood throughout the body. Congestion is a common symptom that can cause swelling and shortness of breath. To help reduce this, U.S. and European medical guidelines recommend limiting daily fluid intake to about six cups (1,500 milliliters). However, evidence for this recommendation is lacking and experts have debated whether restricting fluid intake is necessary. This study is the first large randomized controlled trial to evaluate how liberal versus restricted fluid intake impacts health status in patients with heart failure. The results showed a trend toward improved health status for those with unrestricted fluid intake but the difference between study groups was not statistically significant for the study's primary endpoint. Thirst was higher in those with fluid restriction, while there was no difference in any of the exploratory safety outcomes. Our conclusion is that in patients with stable heart failure there is no need for fluid restriction. This is an important message to heart failure patients all over the world and can be implemented immediately." Roland van Kimmenade, MD, cardiologist at Radboud University Medical Center in Nijmegen, Netherlands, and study's senior author The trial, called FRESH-UP, enrolled 504 people with heart failure at seven medical centers in the Netherlands. Study participants were 69 years old on average, about two-thirds were men, and all had heart failure with mild to moderate symptoms but were comfortable at rest. About half of the participants had heart failure with reduced ejection fraction and half had preserved ejection fraction, representing the two types of heart failure. Most participants were taking standard heart failure medications and about half were taking loop diuretics, a type of drug that helps to manage swelling and fluid retention. Half of the participants were assigned to limit their daily fluid intake to 1,500 mL and half were instructed to drink as much as they wished. At three months, researchers assessed participants' health status using the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire (KCCQ) and found no statistically significant difference between groups. Researchers said that several factors may have affected the results. One unforeseen finding was that about half of the patients had not been advised to limit their fluid intake before enrolling in the study. Second, participants had higher scores for health status at baseline than expected. Given that the study population had a relatively high baseline health status and many were already on a regimen of liberal fluid intake, it was challenging for the study to demonstrate a significant benefit from liberal fluid intake versus fluid restriction. According to the researchers, this may have led to the non-significant results of the primary outcome. Overall, the difference in fluid intake between the two groups was relatively modest. Patients assigned to fluid restriction consumed an average of 1,480 mL per day and those assigned to unrestricted fluid intake consumed an average of 1,760 mL per day, an average difference of less than 10 ounces. Participants assigned to restrict their fluid intake reported more thirst. Importantly, there were no differences between groups in terms of death, heart failure hospitalizations, need for intravenous diuretics or acute kidney injury at six months. "We did not find any signal in the primary or safety outcomes that fluid restriction contributes to anything or that liberal fluid intake would lead to any harm," van Kimmenade said. "Accordingly, our results question the need for fluid restriction in patients with stable heart failure." Although the study was conducted in a single country, researchers said that the findings would likely be generalizable to other developed countries where some clinicians routinely advise fluid restriction for patients with heart failure and others do not. The study was funded by the Dutch Heart Foundation and a Radboud UMC /Maastricht UMC inter-university grant. This study was simultaneously published online in Nature Medicine at the time of presentation. Montana's small, independent pharmacies say they're getting increasingly squeezed on reimbursements by pharmacy benefit managers and are pushing an ambitious bill to rein in what they say are unfair practices by the powerful industry negotiators known as PBMs. "Who in their right mind would subject themselves to this sort of treatment in a business relationship?" said Mike Matovich, a part owner of eight small-town pharmacies in Montana. "It's such a monopoly. We can be the best pharmacy in the world, and they can still put us out of business." The bill, which sailed through the Montana House 98-1 in early March and is now before the state Senate, would set a price floor that PBMs must pay pharmacies for each prescription. Currently, there is no mandated minimum rate in contracts with pharmacies, and independent drugstores said the rates are often below what they paid for the drugs. The measure includes a half-dozen restrictions on other PBM practices the smaller pharmacies call anticompetitive. Pharmacy benefit managers, employed by health insurers, are powerful intermediaries in the drug-pricing chain. They determine which drugs are covered by health plans, arrange rebates from drugmakers, and dictate payments that pharmacies receive when selling covered drugs. The six largest PBMs manage more than 90% of the nation's drug sales. Most are owned by or affiliated with health insurance giants like UnitedHealth Group, Cigna, Humana, and Aetna. About 90 Montanan-owned pharmacies are not affiliated with national companies or PBMs, and 10 have closed in the past year, according to Josh Morris, who owns several small-town pharmacies in the state. Morris said his pharmacies lost $30,000 on underpaid drug claims last year and that they lose money on 90% of the brand-name drugs they dispense. Representatives of independent Montana pharmacies say that without the changes provided by the legislation, more of their ranks will close, because they can't make ends meet on drug reimbursement prices imposed by what they say are "take-it-or-leave-it" contracts from PBMs. "We're filling more prescriptions than ever before, but my employees haven't had a raise in three years," Morris said. "Our reimbursements are down 60% since 2019." PBMs are mounting a concerted effort in the Montana Senate to kill House Bill 740, arguing it could throw a huge wrench into drug pricing in Montana that would increase consumer costs. "Not only is it going to cost people, it's going to change fundamentally how prescription drugs are paid for in the state," said Tonia Sorrell-Neal of the Pharmaceutical Care Management Association, a trade group representing PBMs. "It takes away the options for employers who are paying for these health plans" to keep drug prices low. The bill restricts mail-order options for drugs, limits when PBMs can audit claims, and imposes excessive reimbursements, she said. This battle between PBMs and independent pharmacies isn't playing out just in Montana it has roiled statehouses across the country, drawn the attention of Congress, and could end up before the U.S. Supreme Court. Last summer, the federal House Oversight and Accountability Committee and the Federal Trade Commission issued highly critical reports saying PBMs use pricing tactics that keep drug costs high, help pad PBM profits, and harm independent pharmacies. New federal regulations to crack down on PBMs had been included in a 2024 post-election budget bill before Congress but were stripped out at the last minute after a lobbying push by pharmacy benefit managers. At least 20 states have passed laws regulating PBM payments to pharmacies and several other states, including California, are considering legislation this year. Oklahoma passed one of the most expansive laws in 2019. But PBMs sued and won a federal court ruling that said the law does not apply to self-funded health plans, thus removing about two-thirds of the insured population from the law's jurisdiction. Oklahoma's insurance commissioner last year asked the U.S. Supreme Court to overrule the decision, but the court hasn't decided whether to take the case. Attorneys general from 31 states and the District of Columbia have asked the high court to rule in Oklahoma's favor; Montana's AG is not one of them. In Montana, HB 740's regulations would apply to PBMs managing self-funded plans, said the state insurance commissioner's office, which so far supports the bill. The key element of HB 740 is setting requirements on what PBMs must reimburse pharmacies for each prescription they fill, when that prescription is covered by a health plan using the PBM. It says the reimbursement can be no less than 106% of the National Average Drug Acquisition Cost, or NADAC which is determined by a survey of wholesale prices paid by pharmacies plus a "dispensing fee" for each prescription. The dispensing fee would be the same as what Montana's Medicaid program pays pharmacies $12 to $18 per prescription, depending on the size of the pharmacy. The state Medicaid program also pays the 106% minimum reimbursement. Montana pharmacies say the dispensing fee covers their basic costs and enables them to make a profit on most sales. Under contracts with most PBMs, the pharmacies say they get no dispensing fee. The bill also requires other changes in PBM business practices that pharmacies say benefit PBMs and make it harder for independent pharmacies to stay in business. For example, HB 740 says PBMs cannot offer better prices to pharmacies that they own, cannot charge after-the-fact fees that lower reimbursement rates, cannot slow-walk approval of contracts, and cannot lower payments for drugs sold past a "sell-by" date imposed by the PBMs. PBM and health plan lobbyists have attacked the bill for its breadth and detail, saying it's so extensive that nobody truly knows how it may affect prescription-drug markets and prices in Montana. "This bill has too much," Bruce Spencer, an attorney for the Mountain Health Co-Op, told the House Business and Labor Committee at the bill's first hearing in February. "It has unintended consequences that are severe in the financial world." Laura Shirtliff, a spokesperson for the state auditor's office, said the bill's provisions should be narrowed, to target assistance for smaller pharmacies. PBM lobbyists are telling lawmakers to kill HB 740 and instead pass a bill to study the prescription-drug market in Montana, with an eye toward possible solutions to help rural pharmacies. "I would say there are a lot of elements and factors that are impacting rural pharmacies' business," said Sorrell-Neal of the PBM trade group. Supporters, however, said HB 740 needs to closely define exactly what's happening in the field, between PBMs and pharmacies, so those practices can be regulated. As for waiting two years for a study? Pharmacy owners say that's too late, and that the time to fix the problem is now. "The amount of damage that would be done in two years will never be able to be recovered from, in these communities," Matovich said. "Ten years ago, we maybe lost money on five prescriptions a month. Now, it's thousands of prescriptions a month." Researchers have developed a virtual reality-based system that shows promise in improving the differentiation between common mental health conditions, potentially paving the way for earlier and more personalized treatment. The work is published in the March edition of the peer-reviewed journal European Neuropsychopharmacology, with a subsequent (31 March) comment also being published in the same journal. Accurate diagnosis remains one of the biggest challenges in psychiatry, with more than half of psychiatric patients changing their diagnosis within 10 years. Most psychiatric diagnoses rely on patients reporting their symptoms, but many mental health conditions share overlapping features. For example, apathy, hallucinations, and cognitive problems may be present in both schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, making it difficult to distinguish between the two. Misdiagnosis can lead to suboptimal treatment and poorer outcomes. Now, a group of Danish scientists have combined virtual reality with physiological measurements (such as skin conductivity) to explore a more objective method for identifying different mental health conditions. Lead researcher Professor Kamilla Miskowiak (University of Copenhagen) said, "This is an important step forward. Until now, diagnosis has largely depended on self-reporting of symptoms, but our findings suggest that virtual reality scenarios combined with physiological measures may help differentiate between similar conditions. This is an area where psychiatry has long faced difficulties." The researchers recruited 100 participants, including individuals with bipolar disorder, borderline personality disorder, schizophrenia, and healthy controls. Participants were exposed to various immersive virtual reality scenarios designed to elicit emotional and physiological responses, such as a video of a crying baby, a discussion in a canteen, and a cramped elevator scenario. The researchers measured emotional responses and skin conductivity during these scenarios. Their results indicate that these responses differed systematically between diagnostic groups, suggesting that this approach has the potential to enhance diagnostic accuracy. However, larger studies are needed to confirm these findings and to explore how such methods might be used in clinical practice. Professor Miskowiak said, "This study is part of the VIRDIS project, which aims to develop objective tools to support psychiatric diagnosis. Our initial findings are promising, but further large-scale research is needed to validate this approach and develop it into a practical clinical tool. We are now launching a follow-up study with 300 participants and implementing machine learning methods to improve individual-level diagnostic predictions. Our long-term goal is to improve early and personalised treatment for patients with mental health disorders." The European Neuropsychopharmacology paper has attracted attention since it was placed online, including a published commentary from Dr Sijia Liu at the Liaoning University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shenyang, China, stating: "This study offers a groundbreaking approach to addressing the persistent challenges in psychiatric diagnosis and treatment by leveraging virtual reality (VR) technology. I suggest that future research should consider integrating artificial intelligence algorithms to analyse the extensive data generated from these VR scenarios. I believe this work holds significant promise for advancing our understanding and clinical practices in mental health care". This project is a collaboration between the Copenhagen Mental Health Centre, Khora Virtual Reality and EXP360. This study was supported by the Ivan Nielsen Foundation. DUSU Offers Scholarship Of Rs 99,000 For Female Students On Navratri; Check Details Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 31, 2025, 18:25 IST Students of DU can submit their certificates of achievements through the DUSU scholarship Google Form till the March 31 The selection process for this scholarship will take into account the academic merit, leadership potential and talent of these students (File) Delhi University Students Union (DUSU) has announced scholarships for female students who have achieved excellence in various fields on the occasion of Navratri. Under this initiative, a total scholarship of Rs 99,000 will be awarded, where Rs 11,000 will be provided to a female student on each day of Navratri Festival. Students of DU can submit their certificates of achievements through the Google Form till March 31. This initiative of ABVP-led DUSU is part of its commitment to empower women and promote academic excellence. The scholarship will be awarded to female students who have achieved exceptional achievements in their respective fields and have made significant contributions to society. Recommended Stories The selection process for this scholarship will take into account the academic merit, leadership potential and talent of these students, the official notice said. These scholarships will be awarded to girl students in fields such as academics, sports, NCC, dance, singing, debate/quiz, literary writing, painting, and also to the specially abled (PWD) girl students. Mitravinda Karanwal, Secretary, Delhi University Students Union said, We are proud to have the opportunity to recognise and honour the exceptional achievements of our female students on this auspicious occasion of Navratri. These scholarships are a testimony to our commitment to promote women empowerment and academic excellence among the university community." Delhi University Students Union Vice President Bhanu Pratap Singh said, We believe that education is the key to unleash students potential, and we are committed to providing them with the necessary resources and support to achieve success." top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all ALSO READ | DU Admission 2025: What Happens When Two Candidates Get Same Marks in CUET UG? Know The Rules Meanwhile, the education ministry has recently informed the Parliament that in the past three years, close to five lakh applicants could not secure a seat at Delhi University. The university saw a surge in the number of applications received each year against the limited number of seats, Minister of State (MoS) for Education Sukanta Majumdar said in a written reply in the Lok Sabha. A total of 464,870 students could not secure admission to DU over the past three years (2022, 2023, and 2024). 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 31, 2025, 18:06 IST From UP To Andhra Pradesh, States Where School Timings Have Been Changed Due To Heatwave Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 31, 2025, 09:48 IST The increasing heatwave conditions across the country in March 2025 have forced several schools to change their timings. Check list here Several states have urged schools to hold morning classes due to heatwave (Representative image/File) Recently, the temperature crossed 40 degrees Celsius in several states, including Delhi, Maharashtra, UP, MP, and Rajasthan. There is a risk of deteriorating health during heat waves, and it especially affects children. The increasing heatwave conditions across the country in March 2025 have forced several schools to change their timings. In Which States Have School Timings Changed? Recommended Stories Uttar Pradesh: The usual school timings are from 8 am to 2 pm, but in some places, it has been suggested to change it to 7:30 am to 12:30 pm, as was implemented in the summer season last year. Maharashtra: The education department has issued instructions to change the timings for all schools. All schools in the state will be operated between 7 am to 11.15 am. Odisha: Orders have been given to hold morning classes in all schools in the state. The government has also changed the timing for the Anganwadi centres and they will function from 7 am to 9 am during the summer, State Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari had said. Andhra Pradesh: Orders have been given to keep half day in all schools from class 1 to 9 in the state. Here, from April 15 to April 23, schools will operate from 7.45 am to 12.30 pm. Heatwave Safety Tips For Children Some easy and effective measures can be taken to protect children from heatwave: Give water to children frequently during the day, even if they are not thirsty. Give them drinks like lemonade, buttermilk, coconut water, or ORS. These help in removing water deficiency in the body. Prevent children from playing or roaming outside between 11 am and 4 pm as this is the time when the heat is the highest. While going out, cover the head and body with a hat, umbrella, or light cotton clothes. Apply sunscreen (SPF 30+) on childrens skin, especially on the face, hands and neck. Dress children in loose, cotton, and light-coloured clothes, which absorb sweat and reduce heat. Avoid thick or synthetic clothes in summer. Use fans, coolers, or AC in the house, but keep the temperature between 24-26 degrees Celsius. This will prevent sudden colds from causing harm. Put curtains on the windows so that sunlight does not come in. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all If the child feels dizzy, vomits, has a headache, sweats excessively, or feels tired, then immediately bring him to a shaded area. Give him cold water to drink and contact a doctor. These symptoms can be early signs of heat stress or heat stroke. 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 31, 2025, 09:42 IST IIM Ahmedabad To Set Up International Campus In Dubai, First Programme From September Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 31, 2025, 11:46 IST IIM Ahmedabad will be the first IIM in the country to open an international campus. The first programme in the Dubai campus will commence on September 2025 IIM Ahmedabad's 60th convocation was held on Sunday (Image: @IIMAhmedabad) The countrys number one management college IIM Ahmedabad will set up its first international campus in Dubai. It will be the first IIM in the country to do so. The first programme in the Dubai campus will commence on September 2025. Director Professor Bharat Bhaskar announced the same while addressing the 60th convocation of the institute. The IIM director also announced the establishment of a new Madan Mohanka Centre for Excellence in Case Method of Learning. It will be started in collaboration with Man Mohanka, a PGP 1967 alumnus of IIM Ahmedabad. Former ISRO chairman S Somnath was present as the chief guest at this convocation. More than 1200 students of the IIM were awarded degrees during the convocation ceremony on Sunday. Recommended Stories While addressing the convocation, former ISRO Chairman S Somnath shared his journey and emphasised the importance of innovation and collaboration for the countrys progress. He said that innovation does not happen alone. It requires a culture of curiosity, the strength to face failure, and an insatiable hunger to find answers. ALSO READ | IIM Ahmedabad Introduces IT Management Programme: Course Duration, Fee & Other Details top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all He said that at ISRO, they faced many challenges. Whether it was the initial struggle to launch our first satellite Aryabhata or the perseverance required for Chandrayaan-3, which made India the first country to land near the south pole of the Moon, each failure strengthened their resolve to try again, find better solutions, and reach greater heights, he added. He advised MBA students to be prepared for important decisions in life. He said that opportunities come only once. One must train their mind to recognise them. If they study the stories of great leaders, they will see that they prepared themselves thoroughly while waiting for the right time. This magic happens to those who wait, dream, prepare and prepare themselves well. 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 31, 2025, 11:38 IST 'Move Over IIT': Sanjeev Bikhchandani Praises DU's SSCBS Students For Gold Medal Feat At IIM Ahmedabad Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 31, 2025, 11:48 IST Shaheed Sukhdev College of Business Studies (SSCBS) is a prominent institution for management studies under University of Delhi SSCBS studentsAbhi Bansal, Ishaan Jain, and Aanchal Chadareceived gold medals for their academic excellence at the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad. (Image via X/@IIMAhmedabad) Sanjeev Bikhchandani, the founder and executive vice chairman of Info Edge India, on Monday took to social media to celebrate the academic achievements of three students from Shaheed Sukhdev College of Business Studies (SSCBS) who were awarded gold medals at the prestigious Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIMA) 60th convocation. Info Edge India, the parent company of brands such as Naukri.com, Jeevansathi.com, and 99acres, was founded by Bikhchandani, who is also the co-founder of Ashoka University. Recommended Stories Bikhchandani shared a message he received from a colleague in an internal WhatsApp group, highlighting the achievement of the three SSCBS studentsAbhi Bansal, Ishaan Jain, and Aanchal Chadawho all received gold medals for their academic excellence. I received the following message from a colleague on an internal WhatsApp group. All three gold medallists at IIMA in the class of 2025 are from Shaheed Sukhdev College of Business Studies," Bikhchandani wrote in his post. I received the following message from a colleague on an internal WhatsApp group. All three gold medallists at IIMA in the class of 2025 are from Shaheed Sukhdev College of Business Studies. Quite remarkable. Well done SSCBS. Move over IIT. Make way for the new kid on the block pic.twitter.com/CIZHMGvs4o Sanjeev Bikhchandani (@sbikh) March 31, 2025 He praised SSCBS, a prominent institution for management studies affiliated with the University of Delhi, for producing these outstanding students and added, Quite remarkable. Well done SSCBS." Bikhchandani also playfully challenged the long-standing dominance of the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) in the field of education in the country, saying, Move over IIT. Make way for the new kid on the block." top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The IIMA convocation, which took place on March 29, celebrated the graduation of 630 students, including the three gold medalists from SSCBS. Dr. S. Somanath, former Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) was the chief guest for the event. IIMA also congratulated the three SSCBS students on their success, sharing their names and achievements on social media. In a post on X, the institute wrote, Hearty congratulations, Abhi Bansal, Ishaan Jain, and Aanchal Chada on receiving Gold Medals in recognition of your outstanding academic achievements in the PGP Class of 2025 at the 60th Convocation of #IIMA!" 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 31, 2025, 11:48 IST School Holidays In April 2025: How Many Days Will Educational Institutions Remain Closed Next Month? Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 31, 2025, 15:46 IST Schools are closed every Sunday. This time April 6, 13, 20, and 27 are Sundays. Some schools are also shut on second and fourth Saturdays which next month falls on April 12 and 26. Know how many days the schools will remain closed in April 2025. (Representative Image/File) April School Holiday List 2025: The dates of closure of schools in April 2025 will be based on national, regional, and religious holidays. The list of holidays in the next month will apply to most of the schools in India. Be it, children or adults, everyone starts checking the details of all the holidays before the beginning of the new month. Know how many days the schools will remain closed in April 2025. April 6, 2025 (Sunday) Ram Navami Recommended Stories This Hindu festival is celebrated as the birthday of Lord Rama. Being a Sunday, there will already be a holiday, but some schools may also give a holiday on April 5 (Saturday) by combining it with the end of Chaitra Navratri. April 10, 2025 (Thursday) Mahavir Jayanti The birth anniversary of Lord Mahavir, the 24th Tirthankara of Jainism. There will be a holiday on this day in many states including Delhi, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh. April 13, 2025 (Sunday) Baisakhi Baisakhi is celebrated as the Sikh New Year and harvest festival in Punjab and northern India. Being a Sunday, it will coincide with a general holiday. April 14, 2025 (Monday) Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Jayanti / Vishu / Tamil New Year Ambedkar Jayanti is celebrated across the country and is a national holiday. Also, schools in South India will remain closed due to Vishu in Kerala and Tamil New Year in Tamil Nadu. April 18, 2025 (Friday) Good Friday The Christian community celebrates Good Friday to commemorate the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. On this occasion, there will be a holiday in schools across the country. Other likely holidays (regionally) April 5, 2025 (Saturday) Babu Jagjivan Ram Jayanti: Holiday in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. April 11, 2025 (Friday) Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Jayanti: Likely in Maharashtra and some other states. April 15, 2025 (Tuesday) Bengali New Year/ Bohag Bihu: Holiday in West Bengal and Assam. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all April 29, 2025 (Tuesday) Maharishi Parshuram Jayanti: Likely in states like Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, and Rajasthan. Apart from the above holidays, schools are closed every Sunday. This time April 6, 13, 20, and 27 are Sundays. Some schools are also shut on second and fourth Saturdays which next month falls on April 12 and 26. 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 31, 2025, 15:11 IST Can You Trust Signal After US Security Leak? How Safe Is The Messaging App | Explained Curated By : News18.com Edited By: Shilpy Bisht Last Updated: March 31, 2025, 10:06 IST Signal does not collect user data except for the phone numbers, the date a user joined the service and the last login information. Though WhatsApp is end-to-end encrypted but it logs your activity Signal does not use US government encryption or that of any other governments, and is not hosted on government servers. The recent news of an Atlantic journalist being accidentally" added to a Signal group used by US officials to deliberate the bombing in Yemen has raised doubts about the security of the app, whether government officials having top-secret military conversations should at all be using the app. Atlantic editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg was inadvertently added to the group where US officials were planning a military attack on Houthis rebels of Yemen. Recommended Stories According to the Atlantic article, Goldberg was seemingly added to a Signal group chat that included sensitive national security discussions among Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Vice President JD Vance, National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard and national security adviser Mike Waltz. Goldberg said the discussions continued for six days before he removed himself. All this while, the group members appeared to be unaware that Goldberg was in the chat. Signals creator Matthew Rosenfeld joked the great reasons" to join the platform now included the opportunity for the vice president of the United States of America to randomly add you to a group chat for coordination of sensitive military operations". Under US law, it can be a crime to mishandle, misuse or abuse classified information, though it is unclear whether those provisions might have been violated in this case. What Is Signal? Signal is an open-source and fully encrypted messaging service that runs on centralised servers maintained by Signal Messenger. It can be installed in both Android phones and iPhone or on the computer. It lets you send secure texts, images, and phone or video chats with other people or groups of people, just like iMessage, Google Messages, WhatsApp, and other chat apps. Signal has estimated 40-70 million monthly users which is pretty less when compared to WhatsApp and Messenger, which have billions of customers. What Data Does The App Collect? The only user data Signal stores on its servers are phone numbers, the date a user joined the service, and the last login information. Users contacts, chats and other communications are instead stored on the users phone, with the possibility of setting the option to automatically delete conversations after a certain amount of time. The company uses no ads or affiliate marketers, and doesnt track users data, as stated on its website. Signal also gives users the possibility to hide their phone number from others and use an additional safety number to verify the safety of their messages, it adds. Signal does not use US government encryption or that of any other governments, and is not hosted on government servers. How Safe Is The App? Signals source code is available online and, because of its popularity as a security tool, is frequently audited by experts, as per MIT Technology Review. Signal has a stellar reputation and is widely used and trusted in the security community", Rocky Cole, whose cybersecurity firm iVerify helps protect smartphone users from hackers, told Reuters. The risk of discussing highly sensitive national security information on Signal isnt so much that Signal itself is insecure," Cole added. Actors who pose threats to nation states, he said, have a demonstrated ability to remotely compromise the entire mobile phone itself. If the phone itself isnt secure, all the Signal messages on that device can be read." Are Other Apps Safe Over Signal? Though many apps offer end-to-end encryption, but Signal is a gold standard" for private communication as it is secure by default. This means, unless you add someone you did not mean to, it next to impossible for a chat to accidentally become less secure. In case of iMessage, despite end-to-end encryption, your chats are not encrypted in iCloud backups by default unless they have blue bubbles". With Google Messages, chats are sometimes end-to-end encrypted, but only if they show a lock icon. WhatsApp is end-to-end encrypted but logs your activity, including how you interact with others using our Services." On the contrary, Signal does not record who you are talking to, and offer options to reliably delete conversations, and to keep messages secure even in online phone backups. The worst option of all is regular SMS text messages (green bubbles" on iOS)those are sent unencrypted and are likely collected by mass government surveillance, as per MIT Technology Review. What Happened With US Govt Communication System? Data expert Caro Robson, who has worked with the US administration, told BBC it was very, very unusual" for high ranking security officials to communicate on a messaging platform like Signal. Reports suggest that the US government has historically used a sensitive compartmented information facility (Scif pronounced as skiff") to discuss internal security matter. The scif is an ultra-secure enclosed area in which personal electronic devices are not allowed. Scifs can be found in places ranging from military bases to the homes of officials. The whole system is massively encrypted and secured using the governments own highest standards of cryptography," Robson told BBC. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The UK was embroiled in a row with Apple this year to protect certain files in cloud storage. Apple ended up pulling the feature in the UK altogether after the government demanded access to data protected in this way by the tech giant. The case is currently ongoing. But it shows no level of security or legal protection matters if you share confidential data with the wrong person. About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d... Read More The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d... Read More First Published: March 31, 2025, 10:05 IST How Trump's Tariff War Could Leave Millions Of Americans Without Toilet Paper | Explained Curated By : News18.com Edited By: Shilpy Bisht Last Updated: March 31, 2025, 09:38 IST New tariffs imposed on Canada may hit the availability of northern bleached softwood kraft pulp (NBSK), a key component in making toilet paper and paper towels. US imported 2 million tonnes of Canadian NBSK last year Economists view Donald Trump's new tariffs on April 2 as a move that culminates his 'America First Trade Policy', aimed at boosting domestic manufacturing. (Photo: White House) A new round of Trump tariffs on Canadians softwood lumber could disrupt the supply chain, leaving many Americans without toilet paper. The Trump administration plans to almost double duties on Canadian softwood lumber to 27%, with the possibility of additional taxes pushing the rate to more than 50%. Recommended Stories While the new tariffs may partly help boost US manufacturing, they may also hit the availability of northern bleached softwood kraft pulp (NBSK), a key component in making toilet paper and paper towels. How Much Is The US Dependent On Canada For Tissues NBSK takes up about 30% of standard US bathroom tissue and half of a typical paper towel, and is currently sourced primarily from Canada, Brian McClay, chairman of TTOBMA, which tracks the global pulp market, told The Financial Post. The US imports around 10% of its toilet paper, with half of it imported from Canada, Dino Bianco, chief executive of Kruger Products, Canadas largest toilet paper producer, said. The US imported about 2 million tonnes of Canadian NBSK last year, highlighting the how much American paper-goods producers rely on pulp from their northern neighbour. Some of these mills in the United States, some of the big branded products, not only want softwood pulp from Canada, they want softwood pulp from this particular mill theyve been using it for 30 years and they will not change," McClay told The Financial Post. If Canadian pulp mills close because they dont have the fibre supply, I cant think of any other option for them they just cant switch the recipe around," he said. How Bad Could Be The Shortage? The increase in lumber import tariffs would reduce the availability of fewer wood chips used to make pulp, which will force some sawmills out of business. This will result in short-term closures and reduced ingredient production, which could lead to pandemic-style shortages of the final products and potentially higher prices. On April 2, when 25% tariffs on Canadian and Mexican goods were postponed and were scheduled to take effect, Trump is expected to declare reciprocal" tariffs on foreign goods. Twenty-five per cent tariffs on all imported vehicles, trucks, and auto parts, including those produced in Canada by American businesses, have already been announced by him. This year, the 14% import tax on Canadian softwood lumber is expected to increase to nearly 27%. The duties would increase to roughly 52% due to the 25% tariffs on the majority of Canadian goods, and a national security" investigation into lumber imports might result in even higher fees, as per The Feed. Although Trump has always insisted that tariffs would help increase US manufacturing, industry experts, however, say Canadian softwood pulp has different properties that cannot be easily replaced by American alternatives, Bloomberg reported. This shortage could drive up production expenses for tissue manufacturers, potentially leading to supply shortages. How Global Supply Chain Will Be Hit The new tariffs could see sawmills running out of business. Sawmills are not easily adaptable, typically operating either at full capacity or shutting down entirely, said Jean-Francois Samray, head of the Quebec Forest Industry Council. He explained that the softwood sector functions within a pure and perfect competition market." So, in a market like that, there will be temporary closures, reduced production," which will have an effect on continental supply and demand," he told Bloomberg. Amid an ongoing trade war, the US currently imposes duties exceeding 14% on Canadian lumber. One of these levies is set to rise this year, pushing the total rate close to 27%. Trump said on Friday in a social media post that he had an extremely productive call" with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. Without specifying a final decision on how he will implement new lumber tariffs, Trump said he would meet with Carney after Canadas elections on April 28 to work on elements of Politics, Business, and all other factors that will end up being great for both the United States of America and Canada." New Tariffs In Effect From April 2 The Trump administration is set to introduce a new wave of tariffs on April 2, a date the US president has labelled Liberation Day". top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Economists view the move as the culmination of his America First Trade Policy," an executive order he signed on his first day in office, aimed at boosting domestic manufacturing. Lori Wallach, director of the think-tank Rethink Trade, told The Financial Times that the US balancing trade with its partners could mean some logical combination of sectoral tariffs applying to all countries for particular goods the US thinks are important, and some application of country-specific tariffs on countries that have the highest chronic surpluses in their global trade". 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 31, 2025, 08:30 IST Centre Fully Prepared To Table Waqf Bill, Some Parties Seeking To Stoke Tensions In Society: Rijiju Last Updated: March 31, 2025, 19:05 IST The government has indicated that it will discuss with leaders of different parties on Tuesday the timing of the Bill's introduction. It is likely to be first introduced in the Lower House, probably on Wednesday The ongoing Budget session of Parliament is scheduled to end on April 4, and the bill will have to be passed by both the Lok Sabha as well as the Rajya Sabha to become a law. (IMAGE: PTI FILE) Minority Affairs and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju asserted on Monday that the government is fully prepared to table the amended Waqf bill in Parliament, as he accused some political parties and organisations of seeking to foment unrest in society and mislead people over its provisions. With Parliament reconvening on Tuesday following the weekend and Eid holiday, he said the timing of the bills introduction will be decided following consultations after Parliament meets but he wants it passed as soon as possible. Recommended Stories The ongoing Budget session of Parliament is scheduled to end on April 4, and the bill will have to be passed by both the Lok Sabha as well as the Rajya Sabha to become a law. The government has indicated that it will discuss with leaders of different parties on Tuesday the timing of the Bills introduction. It is likely to be first introduced in the Lower House, probably on Wednesday. Opposition parties are strongly opposed to the bill, slamming it as unconstitutional and against the interest of the Muslim community. Several leading Muslim organisations have been rallying support against the bill, which was scrutinised by a Joint Committee of Parliament and approved with several amendments. Speaking to reporters, Rijiju accused some political parties and organisations, a clear reference to the opposition and Muslim bodies, of resorting to lies to mislead society and stoke tensions, while insisting that the bill is in the interest of Muslims. Muslims were urged to wear black armbands during Ramzan and Eid to express their opposition to the proposed law, he said, asserting that inciting them to hit the streets is not good for the country. Rijiju said it is being alleged that the government will snatch Muslim properties like mosques and graveyards if the bill becomes a law, dismissing it as propaganda and noting that the bill to regulate Waqf has been in existence since the British era. He said a similar campaign was started against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act and asked if a single Muslim has lost citizenship since the law came into existence. He urged the opposition to study the bill in detail and then engage in discussions with the government. Asked if all the NDA parties support the bill, he claimed that not only the ruling alliance but also many MPs of the opposition INDIA bloc have urged him to table the proposed law quickly. The bill is in the interest of a majority of Muslims and only a few leaders who have exploited Waqf properties for personal gains are against it, he claimed and also noted the support of the Kerala Catholic Bishops Council to it. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Asserting that no other bill has passed through such an extensive consultation process, he accused its critics of resorting to falshoods and stressed that minorities are safest in India and enjoy the best rights of freedom". First Published: March 31, 2025, 19:05 IST Woman Naxal With Rs 25 Lakh Bounty Killed In Chhattisgarh Encounter, Arms Recovered Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 31, 2025, 13:01 IST A woman Naxalite, Renuka alias Banu, carrying a Rs 25 lakh bounty, was killed in an encounter with security forces in Chhattisgarh's Bastar region. Security personnel after an operation against Naxalites in Chhattisgarh (Photo: PTI) A woman Naxalite was killed in an encounter with security personnel in Chhattisgarhs Bastar region on Monday. According to the details, the Naxalite bore a reward of Rs 25 lakh and was identified as Renuka, alias Banu. An Insas rifle along with other arms and ammunition were recovered from the spot. Recommended Stories The gunfight broke out at around 9 am in a forest along the border of Dantewada and Bijapur districts, located in the Bastar region, when a team of security personnel was out on an anti-Naxalite operation, news agency PTI quoted Dantewada Superintendent of Police Gaurav Rai as saying. He said the operation was still underway. The bodies of 119 Naxalites have so far been discovered this year after various encounters. On Sunday, a 40-year-old tribal woman was killed after an improvised explosive device (IED) planted by Naxalites went off in Chhattisgarhs Bijapur. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The blast occurred around 5.30 pm on Bottamarka Hills under the Usoor police station limits, where the victim had gone to collect fruits. She sustained serious injuries and was rushed to Usoor Community Health Centre, where she died during treatment. About the Author Vani Mehrotra Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has nearly 10 years of experience in both national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks. Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has nearly 10 years of experience in both national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks. First Published: March 31, 2025, 12:53 IST 'Factually Incorrect & Misleading': India Slams New York Times Report On HAL's Russia Link Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 31, 2025, 21:21 IST As per The New York Times, the Indian firm received equipment from the British aerospace manufacturer H.R. Smith Group and sent parts to Russia "with the same identifying product codes" News18 India has dismissed a report by The New York Times that alleged Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) supplied sensitive technology to a Russian arms agency, government sources said. The sources said that the state-owned HAL has scrupulously followed all its international obligations on strategic trade controls and end-user commitments. Recommended Stories We have seen a report published by The New York Times. The said report is factually incorrect and misleading. It has tried to frame issues and distort facts to suit a political narrative. The Indian entity mentioned in the report has scrupulously followed all its international obligations on strategic trade controls and end-user commitments. Indias robust legal and regulatory framework on strategic trade continues to guide overseas commercial ventures by its companies. We expect reputed media outlets to undertake basic due diligence while publishing such reports, which obviously was overlooked in the instant case," sources added. As per The New York Times, the Indian firm received equipment from the British aerospace manufacturer H.R. Smith Group and sent parts to Russia with the same identifying product codes". The New York Times report, citing documents", claimed that one of the biggest corporate donors to the populist Reform UK party has sold almost USD 2 million worth of transmitters, cockpit equipment, antennas and other sensitive technology to a major supplier of Moscows blacklisted state weapons agency. From 2023 to 2024, the company, part of the British aerospace manufacturer H.R. Smith Group, shipped the equipment to an Indian firm that is the biggest trading partner of the Russian arms agency, the report claimed. In December 2023, the UK issued a red alert to companies about sensitive equipment being redirected to Russia via intermediaries. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The US and the majority of European countries have imposed sanctions on Russian entities after Moscow launched an all-out war against Ukraine. However, India has always maintained that the conflict should be resolved through diplomacy. Last year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Moscow and Kyiv and called for a cessation of hostilities. About the Author Saurabh Verma Saurabh Verma covers general, national and international day-to-day news for News18.com as a Senior Sub-editor. He keenly observes politics. You can follow him on Twitter --twitter.com/saurabhkverma19 Saurabh Verma covers general, national and international day-to-day news for News18.com as a Senior Sub-editor. He keenly observes politics. You can follow him on Twitter --twitter.com/saurabhkverma19 First Published: March 31, 2025, 18:45 IST Sonia Gandhis Article Critical Of Centres NEP Draws Sharp Rebuttal From BJP Curated By : News18.com Edited By: Karishma Jain Last Updated: March 31, 2025, 15:07 IST Accusing the Centre of using the NEP to push centralisation, commercialisation, and communalisation, the Congress MP said the government was dismantling public education a charge the BJP rejected as baseless, calling the NEP a bold and inclusive reform Gandhis critique comes at a time when some Opposition-ruled states have continued to oppose aspects of the NEP, despite the Centres efforts to implement uniform and modern education reforms across the country. (PTI) The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday hit back at Congress MP Sonia Gandhi after she launched a scathing attack on the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, accusing the Modi government of being profoundly indifferent" to the education of Indias children and youth. In a strongly worded opinion piece published in The Hindu, Gandhi claimed the policy masks a broader push by the Centre to centralise power, promote privatisation, and reshape the education system along ideological lines a characterisation the BJP called politically motivated and out of touch with the reforms on the ground. Recommended Stories Gandhis intervention comes at a time when some Opposition-ruled states have continued to oppose aspects of the NEP, despite the Centres efforts to implement uniform and modern education reforms across the country. CENTRALISATION: A FLAGELLANT VIOLATION OF CONSTITUTIONAL MORALITY In her op-ed titled The 3Cs that haunt Indian education today," Gandhi accused the government of excluding state governments from key decisions on the NEP rollout. She highlighted that the Central Advisory Board of Education, which includes Union and state education ministers, had not met since September 2019, despite significant changes in education policies. She alleged the Centre used financial pressure to push states into implementing the PM-SHRI scheme by withholding Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan grants, which support the Right to Education (RTE) Act. Gandhi called this a bullying tendency," stating it shows a government more interested in publicity than in upholding the Right to Education. She referenced the 363rd Report of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education, which recommended the unconditional release of SSA funds to states. Gandhi criticised the University Grants Commissions draft 2025 guidelines for excluding state governments from appointing Vice-Chancellors and giving control to Governors instead. She argued this undermined federalism by converting a subject in the Concurrent List into Union Government control. COMMERCIALISATION: THE SYSTEMATIC RETREAT OF THE STATE Gandhi painted a bleak picture of public schooling under the Modi government, accusing it of neglecting its constitutional responsibility and allowing private sector expansion at the expense of government schools. She argued the NEPs school complexes" concept undermines the RTEs neighbourhood school principle and leads to public school closures and increased privatisation. Citing data, she noted over 89,000 public schools have closed or merged since 2014, while 42,944 private schools have opened, forcing the poor into costly private schools. On higher education, she criticised the Higher Education Financing Agency (HEFA) for encouraging universities to take loans that must be repaid from their own revenues, with a Parliamentary Standing Committee finding that 78% to 100% of such loans are repaid through student fees. She linked recent irregularities, such as the NAAC bribery scandal, to the growing commercialisation and politicisation of public education. COMMUNALISATION: CONTENT AND APPOINTMENTS UNDER SCRUTINY Gandhi accused the government of communalising education, alleging it pursues an ideological agenda of indoctrination and hatred. She criticised the removal of key content from NCERT textbooks and the temporary exclusion of the Preamble to the Constitution until public pressure reversed the decision. She also alleged that appointments at institutions like IITs and IIMs are influenced by ideological considerations, with leadership roles reserved for compliant individuals. She argued the UGCs attempt to revise qualification norms for senior academic roles aims to favour ideologically driven educationists over academic ideals. In conclusion, Gandhi stated that over the last decade, education policies have been stripped of public service spirit and concerns about access and quality. She called for an end to what she described as the destruction of Indias public education system. BJP HITS BACK: CR KESAVAN ACCUSES CONGRESS OF HYPOCRISY Responding to the op-ed, BJP leader and national spokesperson CR Kesavan accused the Congress of political opportunism and selective memory. Posting on X (formerly Twitter), Kesavan pointed to what he called inconsistent and confused" education reforms during the UPA years, including the rollback of the Class X board exam delinking policy. 1. Smt Sonia Gandhi is shockingly insulting & mocking our people preaching about Constitutional morality in context of Centralization of Education. Sonia Gandhi should be reminded that it was during the dictatorial Emergency of Indira Gandhi that Education which was originally C.R.Kesavan (@crkesavan) March 31, 2025 top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Kesavan defended the NEP as a forward-looking and inclusive policy aimed at aligning Indian education with global standards while also respecting linguistic and cultural diversity. He said the NEP equips students with contemporary skills, encourages foundational learning in mother tongues, and promotes autonomy in institutions while preserving Indias educational heritage. The BJP has consistently positioned NEP 2020 as a transformative initiative that moves beyond rote learning to promote holistic, skill-based education. Party leaders argue that much of the Opposition criticism ignores both the consultation process and the structural goals the policy aims to achieve. 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 31, 2025, 12:56 IST Nirmala Sitharaman To Visit London From April 8-10; FTA Talks May Figure In Meetings Published By : PTI Last Updated: March 31, 2025, 22:22 IST The minister will attend a host of meetings, including the India-United Kingdom Economic and Financial Dialogue, in London. Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman (Image/PTI) Issues related to the proposed free trade agreement (FTA) and bilateral investment treaty between India and the UK are expected to figure during the three-day visit of Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to London from April 8-10, official sources said. The minister will attend a host of meetings, including the India-United Kingdom Economic and Financial Dialogue, in London. Recommended Stories Sitharaman is likely to hold a bilateral meeting with the UKs Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves and other British ministers. "Issues pertaining to the trade agreement and bilateral investment treaty (BIT) may also come up for discussions between the two," the official said. Though negotiations for a free trade agreement fall under the domain of the Union Commerce Ministry, issues like the investment treaty and norms related to financial services come under the Finance Ministry. In the proposed trade pact between New Delhi and London, these issues are still not resolved. On February 24, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and UK Secretary of State for Business and Trade Jonathan Reynolds announced the resumption of negotiations for the proposed FTA between the two countries. The India-UK negotiations are resuming after a gap of over eight months. The talks were launched on January 13, 2022. So far, 14 rounds of talks have been completed. The two countries are actively negotiating on three different fronts FTA, a bilateral investment treaty (BIT), and a Double Contribution Convention Agreement. In the BIT, the sticking point between the two nations is with regard to the resolution of disputes. BITs help promote and protect investments in each others countries. One key difference in these negotiations is the mechanism for settling disputes. India wants foreign firms to exhaust local judicial remedies before resorting to international arbitration, but its partners resist due to the lengthy nature of Indian judicial proceedings. The model BIT text of India requires investors to resolve disputes through Indias legal system for at least five years before seeking international arbitration. In the BIT with the UAE, India has reduced the local remedies exhaustion period from five years to three years. The India-UAE Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) came into force on August 31 last year. India negotiates these treaties with other countries based on the Model BIT text. The government on February 1 announced to revamp of the current model Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) to make it more investor-friendly and attract foreign players. The announcement assumes significance as only a few countries have accepted the existing model tax treaty, and most of the developed nations have expressed their reservations on the tax with regard to provisions like the resolution of disputes. These pacts are important as India has earlier lost two international arbitration cases against British telecom giant Vodafone and Cairn Energy plc of the UK over the retrospective levy of taxes. In the trade agreement, India is looking for greater access for its students and professionals in the UK market, besides market access for several goods at nil customs duty. On the other hand, the UK is seeking a significant cut in import duties on goods like scotch whiskey, electric vehicles, lamb meat, chocolates and certain confectionary items. Britain is also looking for more opportunities for UK services in Indian markets in segments like telecommunications, legal and financial services, including banking and insurance. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The bilateral trade between India and the UK increased to USD 21.34 billion in 2023-24 from USD 20.36 billion in 2022-23. Britain is the sixth-largest investor in India. The country received USD 35.3 billion in FDI between April 2000 and September 2024. The talks may get a boost as India has announced to raise the foreign direct investment cap in the insurance sector to 100 per cent from the existing 74 per cent. First Published: March 31, 2025, 22:22 IST Devendra Fadnavis Rejects Sanjay Raut's 'PM Modi Retiring' Claim: 'He'll Lead The Country Again In 2029' Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 31, 2025, 15:06 IST Devendra Fadnavis dismissed speculation about PM Modi's retirement, saying he would continue leading in 2029, after Sanjay Raut claimed PM's RSS visit signaled his possible retirement at 75. Devendra Fadnavis (L)/Sanjay Raut (R) (Photos: PTI) Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday asserted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi would continue to lead the country for many more years to come. The Chief Ministers remark came as he responded to Shiv Sena UBT leader Sanjay Rauts claim that PM Modi went to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) headquarters in Nagpur on Sunday to convey the message to Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat that he is retiring. Recommended Stories Speaking to reporters in Nagpur, Fadnavis said, In 2029, we will see Modi as the Prime Minister again." There is no need to search for his successor. He (Modi) is our leader and will continue," Fadnavis said. Discussing succession while the leader is active is inappropriate in Indian culture, the Chief Minister added. In our culture, when the father is alive, it is inappropriate to talk about succession. That is Mughal culture. The time has not come to discuss it," he said, referring to Rauts claim that Modis successor would come from Maharashtra. SANJAY RAUTs CLAIM On Monday, Raut claimed that the RSS wants a change in the political leadership in the country. He (Modi) probably went to RSS headquarters to write his retirement application in September," Raut claimed, alluding to some leaders in the ruling dispensation retiring at 75. VIDEO | Addressing a press conference in Mumbai, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut says, PM Modi went to the RSS office (PM Modis visit to Nagpur) to announce his retirement. As per my knowledge, he has never visited the RSS headquarters in 10-11 years. RSS wants change in pic.twitter.com/YCcjYR5MEX Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) March 31, 2025 top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all PM Modi turns 75 in September this year. In his first visit to the RSS headquarters in Nagpur after becoming the Prime Minister 11 years ago, Modi on Sunday described the Sangh as the banyan tree of Indias immortal culture. About the Author Vani Mehrotra Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has nearly 10 years of experience in both national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks. Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has nearly 10 years of experience in both national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks. First Published: March 31, 2025, 13:32 IST Noida Lamborghini Crash: Car Belonged To YouTuber; Driver At The Wheel Blames 'Faulty Vehicle' Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 31, 2025, 14:30 IST The driver of the car told the officials during interrogation that the accident happened due to a fault in the vehicle. Lamborghini owner after accident (Image/News18) One of the victims of the Lamborghini car crash that took place in Noida, claimed that the car was running at a speed of 300 km/hour. Two labourers from Chhattisgarh were injured after a Lamborghini hit them on a footpath adjacent to an under-construction building in Noidas sector 94 on Sunday. The victim told Republic TV that the Lamborghini that hit them was travelling apparently at a speed of 300 km/hour. Recommended Stories A car was coming at a speed of 300 kmph. All three of us fell inside the drain after getting hit by the car. He was driving at 300 kmph," the labourer was quoted as saying by Republic TV. The victims were taken to hospital following the accident. They have suffered a fracture in their legs, according to police cited by PTI. Meanwhile, the police arrested the car driver, identified as Deepak, a resident of Ajmer, and seized the car. A probe found that Deepak, a car dealer, had visited Noida to test drive a Pondicherry-registered car. The owner, Mridul Tiwari, a resident of Noida and a YouTuber with over 18 million subscribers, was selling the car and Deepak had come to check its condition," Noida ADCP Sumit Shukla informed HT. While the police are yet to release any official statement on the issue, the driver of the car told the officials during interrogation that the accident happened due to a fault in the vehicle. Bhupendra Singh, In-charge at Sector 126 Police Station told PTI, In the car accident two labourers were injured and they were from Chhattisgarh. They are out of danger and have fractures in their legs." #WATCH | Noida, UP | DCP Noida Ram Badan Singh says, A reckless car driver injured two people in Sector 126. The injured persons are admitted to a hospital. The car involved in the accident has been seized and the driver has been arrested. Case registered in the matter." pic.twitter.com/M10iW98ati ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) March 31, 2025 The accident happened adjacent to an under-construction building, he said. Notably, the accused in the car accident, Deepak, was arrested by the Noida police. However, his name has not been mentioned in the FIR, which was filed based on the complaint by an eyewitness, who is also the relative of one of the injured labourers. Meanwhile, the owner of the car, Mridul, has been asked by police to appear for questioning. Father Of YouTuber Claims Technical Fault Meanwhile, Jai Kishan, the father of the Lamborghini driver has claimed that the vehicle had technical fault and his son Deepak had informed him about the same minutes before and after the accident. Video Of Accident Going Viral Online A video from the incident is also going viral online. In the clip, a man can be heard asking the accused if he knew how many people died there. To this, the accused asked the locals koi mar gaya idhar? (did anyone die here?)" and came out of the car. Moments later someone in the video could be heard saying, Police ko bulao (call the police)". top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all A further investigation into the case is underway. First Published: March 31, 2025, 10:52 IST 'Not The End Of The Road': How India Plans To Fight The Tariff War As April 2 Deadline Closes In Reported By : News18.com Edited By: Oindrila Mukherjee Last Updated: March 31, 2025, 07:00 IST India does not want to encounter shocks and has been working to ensure that there is maximum absorption. As the countdown to April 2 begins, the figures of a potential impact on Indian exports and economy cannot be ignored Highlighting a positive outlook for the India-US tariff talks, President Donald Trump has said it is going to work out well between New Delhi and Washington. (Image: Reuters/File) The US-India delegation level tariff talks may have ended with the Union commerce minister Piyush Goyal heading for more talks to push Indias case, but the backroom work and a plan is already in the works. India does not want to encounter shocks and has been working to ensure that there is maximum absorption. As the countdown to April 2 begins, the figures of a potential impact on Indian exports and economy cannot be ignored. Recommended Stories India exports coffee, tea, and other beverages worth approximately $390 million annually to the United States, along with shrimp and fish exports amounting to about $2 billion. Experts agree that a massive tariff on Indian imports to the US could be problematic but not the end of the road. So, whats the behind-the-scenes plan? LOOKING AT NEW MARKETS First, India is looking at other countries for potential increase in its export market, like Mexico and Canada, which is likely to be hit the most with ties with the US at their lowest. This rules out the possibility of further negotiation and concession. Sources in the know told News18: We dont see the tariff war as the end of the road. Its actually opening opportunities for us with newer markets and competitive products." According to the central government and commerce ministry figures, Indian exports have witnessed a steady growth. Indias exports have seen a historic rise, reaching $778.21 billion in 2023-2024. This marks a 67% increase from $466.22 billion in 2013-2014. The growth reflects Indias expanding role in global trade, driven by strong performances in both merchandise and services exports." Even the countries where our exports are headed have diversified to include those in North and South America, Middle East, East Asia. This is one of the plans of the government to target new markets. INCREASING AGRICULTURAL EXPORTS TO OTHER MARKETS The sources said the agricultural ministry has not yet assessed the potential losses and damage in case the tariff talks do not soften. But, the bulk of our exports to the US are of tea, coffee, shrimps, and fish products. While finished automobiles could take a hit, India is fighting back with concessions to the US and also a focus on Indian brands and electric vehicles, but agriculture could be a problem area; this especially as the sector is the Indian economys mainstay and a political point as well. The sources further said one of the major reasons why India agreed to concessions to the US on some imports like cashew, pistachio, cranberries is because they will not hurt the country; also, India is looking at a quid pro quo from the US, but it will not yield on some items like maize and wheat, they said. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The plan is also to increase agricultural exports to newer markets and increase it to countries like Mauritius, the Arab countries, Canada and Mexico. With this, India hopes to offset some of the damage. But experts argue that the US could be hurt by reduced agricultural imports as their produce is limited and does not match the quality of some items from India. For now, it is a wait-and-watch situation. Come April 2, the agriculture and commerce ministries will reassess the situation and take steps. About the Author Pallavi Ghosh Pallavi Ghosh has covered politics and Parliament for 15 years, and has reported extensively on Congress, UPA-I and UPA-II, and has now included the Finance Ministry and Niti Aayog in her reportage. She has als... Read More Pallavi Ghosh has covered politics and Parliament for 15 years, and has reported extensively on Congress, UPA-I and UPA-II, and has now included the Finance Ministry and Niti Aayog in her reportage. She has als... Read More First Published: March 31, 2025, 07:00 IST On Cam: Tragedy Hits Delhi Family's Eid Festivities As Car Driven By 15-Year-Old Runs Over Toddler Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 31, 2025, 17:15 IST The initial probe revealed that the vehicle involved belonged to a neighbour of the victim's family, and his son was driving at the time of the accident Incident occurred when a 15-year-old driving a black Hyundai car ran over a minor who was playing on the street | Image/X A Delhi familys Eid celebration ended in tragedy when their two-year-old daughter was fatally run over by a car driven by their neighbour in central Delhis Paharganj area, an official said on Monday. The incident occurred when a 15-year-old driving a black Hyundai car ran over a minor who was playing on the street outside her home. Recommended Stories CCTV footage of the incident showed the car slowly approaching the minor, stopping about a metre away. It then started moving again, crushing the child under its left front wheel. Local residents rushed to the car and pulled the child out from under the wheel. However, she succumbed to her injuries while being taken to the hospital, officials said. The incident took place around 6.15 pm on Sunday at Ram Nagar in Paharganj. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The initial probe revealed that the vehicle involved belonged to a neighbour of the victims family, and his son was driving at the time of the accident, a senior police officer said. A case has been registered under sections 281 (rash and negligent driving) and 106(1) (causing death by negligence) of the BNS, and further investigation is underway, he added. Location : Delhi, India, India First Published: March 31, 2025, 17:15 IST PM Modi Extends Eid-Ul-Fitr Greetings To Bangladesh's Muhammad Yunus Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 31, 2025, 21:27 IST Relations between India and Bangladesh declined after Sheikh Hasina's government was ousted last year amid reports of attacks on minorities. Yunus has also been reaching out to China and Pakistan. PM Modi writes to Muhammad Yunus on Eid-ul-Fitr. (Reuters Image) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday extended his greetings to Bangladesh chief adviser Muhammad Yunus on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr, amid strained relations between the two countries over atrocities against religious minorities. In his letter, PM Modi wrote, As the blessed month of Ramadan comes to a close, I take this moment to extend warm greetings and felicitations to you and the people of Bangladesh on the joyous occasion of the festival of Eid al-Fitr." Recommended Stories Over the holy month, 200 million Indians of Islamic faith joined their brothers and sisters across the world in spending pious time in fasting and prayer. The joyous occasion of Eid al-Fitr is a time of celebration, reflection, gratitude and unity. It reminds us of the values of compassion, generosity and solidarity that bind us together as nations and as members of the global community," he added. Modi further wished for peace, harmony, health and happiness for the world and expressed hope for the friendship between India and Bangladesh to grow stronger. This letter came days after the Prime Minister wrote to Yunus on Thursday, extending wishes on National Day of Bangladesh, while also affirming commitment to advancing the partnership between the two nations based on mutual sensitivity to each others concerns". Excellency, I extend my felicitations to you and the people of Bangladesh on the occasion of the National Day of Bangladesh, a testament to our shared history and sacrifices that have built our bilateral partnership, with the spirit of the Liberation War guiding our flourishing relationship across multiple domains, bringing tangible benefits to our peoples," he wrote in a letter to Yunus. India-Bangladesh Relations Tensions have been on the rise between India and Bangladesh after Sheikh Hasinas Awami League government was ousted following a nationwide movement. She fled to India, while an interim government led by Nobel laureate and economist Muhammad Yunus has taken charge. Amid reports of attacks on minorities, including Hindus, India has repeatedly expressed its concerns to Bangladesh. Dhaka, however, claims that the violence is politically motivated and not communal. Both PM Modi and Yunus are scheduled to take part in the BIMSTEC Summit in Bangkok on April 3-4. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all As relations between India and Bangladesh remain in limbo, Yunus has now started reaching out to China and Pakistan. Bangladesh has already removed restrictions on Pakistani exports, helping boost trade between them. Yunus also wrapped up a visit to China and sought closer economic ties with Beijing. He invited Chinese officials to Bangladesh, sparking a controversy by saying that Indias northeastern states were landlocked and that Bangladesh was the only guardian" of the ocean. India has strongly objected to these remarks, describing them as a push for Chinese expansionism. 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 31, 2025, 20:45 IST Sadhus On Train Say 'No Money For Ticket', TC Points Out Their Expensive Smartphones Curated By : Translation Desk Last Updated: March 31, 2025, 09:27 IST The two saints were fined for travelling without tickets on a train in Jhansi. They initially attempted to evade the issue with various excuses but eventually paid the fine after the inspector firmly insisted The Indian Railways regularly conducts operations to prevent ticketless travel or travel with irregular tickets. (Representative/News18 Telugu) Two saints were caught travelling without tickets on a train passing through Dabra station in the Jhansi division. When confronted by a ticket inspector, they claimed they had no money. However, the official was surprised to see them holding expensive smartphones. After failing to justify their actions, they paid the fine. When the ticket inspector approached them and asked to see their tickets, the saints, donned in saffron robes with long beards and meditative garlands in hand, responded with a smile, Baba, we are saints. Where is the money for the tickets?" Recommended Stories The ticket inspector, initially serious, soon noticed that both saints were holding expensive smartphones. The ticket inspector questioned them, How can you afford such costly mobile phones but not have money for tickets?" Although the saints initially tried to deflect the matter with various excuses, they eventually paid the fine after the inspector insisted. The Indian Railways regularly conducts operations to prevent ticketless travel or travel with irregular tickets. Such operations are frequently carried out on trains passing through Dabra station in the Jhansi division, where strict surveillance is maintained on about 11 trains. According to some reports, passengers often try to evade inspectors by moving to different compartments or hiding in the toilets, but these attempts are rarely successful. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Following this incident, the search continued, and numerous passengers were fined for travelling without tickets, carrying unbooked luggage, or littering on the platform. In total, 155 passengers were fined Rs 74 each. Indian Railways officials stated that these operations are conducted to ensure the convenience of reserved ticket holders and to increase railway revenue. The drives are not limited to trains but also extend to stations, resulting in many individuals being caught while attempting to exit without tickets. Location : Jhansi, India, India First Published: March 31, 2025, 09:27 IST 7 Killed After Blast Rips Through House Where Firecrackers Were Kept In West Bengal Reported By : News18.com Last Updated: April 01, 2025, 00:03 IST A loud explosion was heard in a house used to make firecrackers in Patharpratima area of South 24 Parganas, causing a fire that quickly spread. Firefighters and police reached the spot. A loud blast ripped through a house where firecrackers were kept in West Bengal. At least seven people, including four children, have been killed in an explosion at a firecracker factory in the Patharpratima area of West Bengals South 24 Parganas district, according to police. Several police personnel were deployed in the area. As per reports, a house in the Dholaghat police station area was used to make firecrackers, and a loud explosion was heard on Monday evening. The explosion caused a fire, which quickly spread throughout the building. Firefighters and police reached the spot. Recommended Stories While making firecrackers, there was a sudden explosion. The entire house caught fire," said South 24 Parganas MLA Sameer Kumar Jana. Two women and fourchildren, were killed in the blast. A woman also suffered injuries in the explosion. Preliminary investigation suggested that the fire was triggered by a cylinder blast, killing seven people and injuring several others. Sunderban Police District SP Koteswara Rao told news agency PTI that there were two gas cylinders in the house, and the blaze spread after firecrackers stored inside went up in flames. All the bodies have been recovered. The injured woman was rescued from the house and admitted to hospital," he said. Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar slammed the TMC government over the blast. Under Failed CM @MamataOfficials lawless rule, Bengal is turning into a ticking time bombliterally! A massive explosion in an illegal firecracker factory in South 24 Parganas Dhola area has claimed more than six lives, with numbers possibly rising (As per local sources) But was it really just a firecracker factory? Or yet another @AITCofficial-backed bomb-making den?" Another Deadly Explosion! Another TMC Made Disaster in Diamond Harbour! Under Failed CM @MamataOfficials lawless rule, Bengal is turning into a ticking time bombliterally! A massive explosion in an illegal firecracker factory in South 24 Parganas Dhola area has claimed pic.twitter.com/P5d8TWNzqZ Dr. Sukanta Majumdar (@DrSukantaBJP) March 31, 2025 top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Bengal today stands at the crossroads of anarchy and terror! On one side, rampant appeasement & illegal infiltrations are threatening Indias sovereignty. On the other, Bengal is being flooded with illegal arms & explosives, all under the protection of the ruling party," he added. Last month, an explosion at a firecracker factory in Nadia district killed four people, including two women, according to police. The deceased in the explosion were employees of the factory, according to residents. About the Author Kamalika Sengupta Kamalika Sengupta, Editor, Digital East of News18, is a multilingual journalist with 16 years of experience in covering the northeast, with specialisation in politics and defence. She has won UNICEF Laadli Awar... Read More Kamalika Sengupta, Editor, Digital East of News18, is a multilingual journalist with 16 years of experience in covering the northeast, with specialisation in politics and defence. She has won UNICEF Laadli Awar... Read More First Published: March 31, 2025, 23:29 IST 'Stop Reading History On WhatsApp': Raj Thackeray Reacts To Aurangzeb Tomb Row Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 31, 2025, 09:37 IST Referring to the newly released film Chhaava, which depicts the life of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, Raj Thackeray said that those who provoke people for their selfish political aspirations are not concerned with history. MNS chief Raj Thackeray (File) Maharashtra Navanirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray on Sunday called for unity among Marathi people amid the tensions in Maharashtra over Aurangzebs tomb. He asked people to read history from books and not from WhatsApp. Dont we want to let the world know that these people sought to destroy the Marathas but were wiped out instead? Stop reading history on WhatsApp and rather delve into history books," he said, addressing his annual Gudhi Padwa rally in Mumbai. Recommended Stories Thackerays remarks came in response to demands from right-wing groups calling for the removal of Aurangzebs tomb in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district. The row has sparked protests and violence in Nagpur earlier this month. We have forgotten the real issues of the present time. Hindus who feel awakened after a movie are of no use. Did you learn about Sambhaji Maharajs sacrifice because of Vicky Kaushal and about Aurangazeb because of Akshaye Khanna," he asked. Calling for unity among the Marathi population, Thackeray said, Look at how Tamil Nadu fights for its pride when the central government tries to impose Hindi," he said. But we are a surrendered society. I have not seen anyone as confused as the Marathi manoos ever." Referring to the newly released film Chhaava, which depicts the life of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, who was tortured and executed by Aurangzeb, he mentioned that Aurangzeb was born in Gujarats Dahod. Those who provoke people for their selfish political aspirations are not concerned with history, he said. Religion should remain within the four walls of your home. A Hindu identifies as a Hindu only when Muslims take to the streets or during riots; otherwise, Hindus are divided by caste," he said. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Launching a scathing attack on the Mahayuti government, he claimed that the BJP-led governments popular Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin scheme would be scrapped. I told you earlier, but you believed them and not me," he said. The Mahayuti government has come under fire from opposition parties for not increasing the monthly financial assistance under the Ladki Bahin programme from Rs 1,500 to Rs 2,100, despite the promise made in their election manifesto before last years assembly polls. First Published: March 31, 2025, 09:37 IST University Of Hyderabad Students Detained Over Protest Against Telangana Govt's Land Auction Plan Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 31, 2025, 12:12 IST The land, which borders the university, is part of the state government's plan to develop multi-infrastructure projects, including IT parks Some university students and others oppose the reported proposal to auction the land, citing environmental conservation concerns. (Screengrab via X) Several students from the University of Hyderabad were detained by the police on Sunday after protesting against the Revanth Reddy-led Telangana governments decision to clear a 400-acre land parcel in Kancha Gachibowli for auction. The land, which borders the university, is part of the state governments plan to develop multi-infrastructure projects, including IT parks. The Telangana government, led by the Congress party, is reportedly aiming to auction this land to attract investment and promote the establishment of IT parks. However, the proposal has sparked opposition, with many students and local residents raising concerns about the environmental impact of such developments. Recommended Stories The Sundays protest began when students noticed bulldozers clearing the site. In response, some climbed onto the machines, shouting slogans against the police and demanding they leave the area. The protest quickly escalated, resulting in the detention of 13 students, including the general secretary of the University of Hyderabad Students Union (UoHSU), who were taken into custody by the police. Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy has defended the proposed land development, stating that it will help promote investment and create large-scale employment, particularly in the IT sector. In the Telangana Assembly, Reddy had accused university students of being provoked and said that public interest litigations (PILs) were being indirectly filed in courts concerning the land auction. The 400-acre land is situated in the citys Financial District, which is part of Hyderabads thriving IT hub. Reddy had stated that the governments plans is to boost economic growth by promoting infrastructure projects and attracting businesses to the region. BRS, Congress Lock Horns The issue has sparked political debate, with the opposition Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) criticising the ruling Congress for its handling of the situation. The BRS pointed out the contradiction in Congresss stance, referring to party leader Rahul Gandhis Mohabbat ki Dukaan" slogan and accusing the government of betraying the principles of transparency and fairness. The Congresss Mohabbat ki Dukaan has now reached Hyderabad Central University. Students protesting against the Congress governments decision to sell off 400 acres at Kancha Gachibowli, along with journalists, were arrested by the Telangana Police," the BRS posted on X. The Congress Mohabat ki Dukaan" has now reached the Hyderabad Central University.Students who were protesting against the Congress governments decision to sell off 400 acres at Kancha Gachibowli and journalists were arrested by the Telangana Police. @RahulGandhi goes pic.twitter.com/WLI9bnX4SC BRS Party (@BRSparty) March 30, 2025 top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Rahul Gandhi goes around holding a copy of the Constitution and preaching, but his government is doing exactly the opposite, the party alleged. Mohabbat ki dukaan nahi, ye Congress dhoke ka bazaar hai" (This is not a shop of love but a market of deception by Congress)," the BRS added. (With inputs from PTI) About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d... Read More The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d... Read More Location : Telangana, India, India First Published: March 31, 2025, 10:30 IST 'Waste Of Time': Kunal Kamra Reacts After Mumbai Cops Visit His Dadar Home Amid Shinde Joke Row Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 31, 2025, 19:56 IST 'Waste Of Time': Kunal Kamra Reacts After Mumbai Cops Visit His Dadar Home Amid Shinde Joke Row Comdedian Kunal Kamra | Image/X Hours after a team of Mumbai Police on Monday arrived at the residence of Kunal Kamra in connection with a case related to his remarks about Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, the Comedian reacted by saying that its waste of time and public resources." The Khar Police sent multiple summons to Kamra after registering a First Information Report (FIR) on March 24 based on Shiv Sena MLA Murji Patels complaint. However, the comedian failed to appear before the officials. Recommended Stories Going to an address where I havent lived for the last 10 Years is a waste of your time & public resources" Kamra said in an X post. Going to an address where I havent lived for the last 10 Years is a waste of your time & public resources pic.twitter.com/GtZ6wbcwZn Kunal Kamra (@kunalkamra88) March 31, 2025 Sources told CNN-News18 that the cops had gone to verify if Kamra, who lives in Tamil Nadu, was home, as he had been issued multiple summons. Upon finding no one at his Dadra residence, the team left the scene, they added. Three separate cases have been filed against the stand-up comedian at Khar police station, with one complaint lodged by the Mayor of Jalgaon city and the other two by a hotelier and a businessman from Nashik, according to the Mumbai Police. #WATCH | Comedian Kunal Kamra row: A team of Mumbai Police arrives at the residence of Kunal Kamra in MumbaiMore details awaited pic.twitter.com/oSdph3kKOh ANI (@ANI) March 31, 2025 Kamra stoked a row after giving a spin-off to a popular Hindi song in which he took a veiled dig at Shinde, calling him a gaddar" (traitor). He allegedly referred to the 2022 Maharashtra political crisis in which Shinde led the collapse of Uddhav Thackerays state government. Recorded in February, the programme called Naya Bharat was uploaded on Kamras YouTube channel on March 23, drawing strong reactions from the Shiv Sainiks. Shiv Sena leaders condemned his remarks, demanding an unconditional apology from him. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Meanwhile, the Madras High Court on Friday granted interim anticipatory bail to Kamra in connection with multiple FIRs filed against him. Justice Sunder Mohan approved the bail with conditions, effective until April 7. Kamra had moved the Madras High Court seeking transit anticipatory bail, citing numerous threats he had received following his recent satirical comments. First Published: March 31, 2025, 19:36 IST Who Is Nidhi Tewari? Young IFS Officer Appointed As PM Modi's Private Secretary Reported By : News18.com Edited By: Ashesh Mallick Last Updated: March 31, 2025, 14:10 IST Nidhi Tewari, a 2014 batch IFS officer, has been appointed as the new Private Secretary to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, according to an official memorandum. Nidhi Tewari, in 2016, being given the Award of Ambassador Bimal Sanyal Memorial Medal for being the Best Officer Trainee and the Medal for Best Dissertation (Photo: File, PTI) Nidhi Tewari, a young IFS officer, has been appointed as the Private Secretary to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. She is an Indian Foreign Services officer from the 2014 batch. The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet approved her appointment with immediate effect, according to the memorandum issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) on March 29. Recommended Stories Nidhi Tewari appointed as Private Secretary to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. pic.twitter.com/erpTlJfjfn Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) March 31, 2025 Who Is Nidhi Tewari PM Modis New Private Secretary? Tewari had secured the 96th rank in the Civil Services Examination, 2013. She hails from Mehmurganj in Varanasi that happens to be the Prime Ministers Lok Sabha constituency since 2014. In 2016, she was given the Award of Ambassador Bimal Sanyal Memorial Medal for being the Best Officer Trainee and the Medal for Best Dissertation. Tewari has been serving as a Deputy Secretary in the Prime Ministers Office since January 6, 2023. She joined as an Under Secretary in the PMO in 2022. In her stint at the Ministry of External Affairs earlier, Tewari served in the Disarmament and International Security Affairs Division. Tewari has hence served over three years at the PMO. Before clearing the Civil Services Examination in 2013, she was working as Assistant Commissioner (Commercial Tax), Varanasi and prepared for the examination along with her job. At the PMO, so far, she has worked as Deputy Secretary in the Foreign and Security vertical that reports to National Security Advisor Ajit Doval. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all She specifically took care of areas such as External Affairs, Atomic Energy and Security Affairs, as well as the state of Rajasthan. The Prime Minister has had two Private Secretaries so far Vivek Kumar and Hardik Satishchandra Shah. About the Author Aman Sharma Aman Sharma, Executive Editor - National Affairs at CNN-News18, and Bureau Chief at News18 in Delhi, has over two decades of experience in covering the wide spectrum of politics and the Prime Ministers Office.... Read More Aman Sharma, Executive Editor - National Affairs at CNN-News18, and Bureau Chief at News18 in Delhi, has over two decades of experience in covering the wide spectrum of politics and the Prime Ministers Office.... Read More First Published: March 31, 2025, 11:01 IST Woman Pilot Injured After Trainer Aircraft Of Private Aviation Academy Crashes in Gujarat Published By : PTI Last Updated: March 31, 2025, 21:54 IST Airport as well as aviation authorities were informed about the crash in pursuant of further investigation into the incident. A trainer aircraft from a private aviation academy crashed in Gujarats Mehsana | Image/X A woman trainee pilot was injured after a trainer aircraft belonging to a private aviation academy crashed in Gujarats Mehsana district on Monday evening, a police official said. The single-engine aircraft crash-landed into an open field at Ucharpi village near Mehsana town due to some technical reasons, said Inspector of Mehsana taluka police station, DG Badva. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Recommended Stories "After taking off from the Mehsana airport with a woman trainee pilot, the trainer aircraft of an aviation academy crashed into a field at Ucharpi. The trainee pilot received minor injuries in the accident. She is undergoing treatment at a hospital," said the inspector. Airport as well as aviation authorities were informed about the crash in pursuant of further investigation into the incident, Badva added. Location : Gujarat, India, India First Published: March 31, 2025, 21:50 IST Eid Al-Fitr Vs Eid Al-Adha: Differences, Significance And How Both Eids Are Celebrated Published By : Trending Desk Last Updated: March 31, 2025, 08:00 IST Eid al-Fitr ends Ramadan with prayers and feasts, while Eid al-Adha honours Prophet Ibrahim's devotion with ritual sacrifices. Both are major Islamic celebrations. Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha are the two biggest celebrations in Islam. (Image: Shutterstock) Eid 2025: Two joyous occasions, with two distinct meanings. Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha are the two biggest celebrations in Islam. Both are called Eid, but their significance, timing and traditions set them apart. While the festivities may share common rituals, their origins tell two very different stories. ALSO READ: Happy Eid ul-Fitr 2025: Best Eid Mubarak Wishes, Images, Quotes And Messages For WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook Recommended Stories Though both Eids are deeply spiritual and celebrated with great enthusiasm, one marks the end of a month of fasting, while the other signifies sacrifice and devotion. As the world prepares for Eid al-Fitr, expected to fall on 31st March or 1st April this year, lets dive into what makes these two Eids unique. Eid al-Fitr Eid al-Fitr, often referred to as the festival of breaking the fast, is the first of the two. It arrives with the sighting of the new moon, marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan. During Ramadan, Muslims fast from dawn to dusk, dedicating themselves to prayer, self-discipline, and acts of charity known as Zakat. When Eid al-Fitr arrives, its a time of joy and gratitude. The celebrations typically last for three days, filled with prayers, gatherings and of course, delicious food. On this special occasion, people wake up early, perform the Eid prayer, and seek blessings. Dressed in new clothes, they visit family and friends, exchanging warm wishes and gifts. A delightful sweet dish, sawaiyan (vermicelli pudding), is prepared and shared among loved ones. Its not just about indulging in food; generosity is a key part of the celebration. Elders give gifts to children, and a portion of their wealth is donated to those in need, ensuring everyone can partake in the festivities. Eid al-Adha Eid al-Adha arrives two months later, on the 10th day of Dhu al-Hijjah. Known as the feast of sacrifice, it honours the faith of Prophet Ibrahim called Abraham in Hebrew texts who was willing to sacrifice his son to prove his devotion to God. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all To commemorate this act of obedience, Muslims across the world perform Qurbani, the ritual sacrifice of a lamb, goat, or another permissible animal. The meat is then divided into three partsone for the family, one for relatives and friends, and one for those less fortunate. Eid al-Adha is also closely tied to the Hajj pilgrimage. Every year, millions of Muslims travel to Mecca in Saudi Arabia to complete this sacred journey to the Kaaba. It is believed that once a pilgrim successfully performs Hajj, their sins are washed away, and they earn the honourable title of Hajji. 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 31, 2025, 08:00 IST Lakme Fashion Week x FDCI: 32 Designers, 60 Models Pay Ode To The 25-Year Legacy Through Iconic Looks Written By : News18.com Edited By: Snigdha Oreya Last Updated: March 31, 2025, 19:15 IST Lakme Fashion Week, in partnership with FDCI, Mumbai edition, may have come to a close, but the celebrations have only just begun. Lakme Faces Over the Years: (L-R) Shimona Nath, Indrani Dasgupta, Lisa Ray, Lisa Haydon, Sarah Jane Dias and Roshni Sharma. Lakme Fashion Week, in partnership with FDCI Mumbai edition, may have come to a close, but the celebrations have only just begun. It was a gala night where the best in the fashion industry came under one roof to celebrate the legacy of Lakme Fashion Week and the people who have been associated with it for 25 years. A sit down gala hosted at the Lotus Ballroom at the iconic Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai, saw renowned comedian and actor Kal Penn take to the stage to start the celebrations. Indulging everyone in the audience including fashion designers Manish Malhotra, Tarun Tahiliani in some fun fashion banter, Kal Penn shared a couple of his own fashion moments with the members of the audience, leaving everyone in splits. Recommended Stories View this post on Instagram A post shared by Lakme Fashion Week (@lakmefashionwk) Keeping it sassy and cool, Kal Penns humorous opening act was indeed the highlight of the evening, to be honest,better than most Bollywood stars who opened shows this season at fashion week. Kal, dont be surprised if you get offered to open for a fashion show next season. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Lakme Fashion Week (@lakmefashionwk) Lakme Fashion Week is incomplete without Sunil Sethi, chairman, Fashion Design Council of India. A force of nature, Sethi shared a heartfelt message on Lakme Fashion Week completing 25 years and in the process expressed his gratitude towards Jaspreet Chandok, group vice president, Reliance Brands Limited, for being supportive and for the balancing act throughout this partnership. I find myself a bit emotional and overwhelmed with nostalgia as I stand in a room full of designers who have been my co-passengers all the time in this journey. We extend our deepest gratitude to Lakme and Reliance for their unwavering support to us. A special mention to my partners Lakmes Sunanda [Khaitan, Lakme Innovations Lead] and Reliance Brands Jaspreet [Chandok]. JC, you are the balancing act of this partnership and both of you for this platform. I look forward to us standing together for the 50th anniversary," expressed Sunil Sethi, chairman, FDCI. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Lakme Fashion Week (@lakmefashionwk) As the night was gearing up to celebrate the past while looking into an innovative fashion forward future, the stage lit up as Kal brought the OG Face of Lakme, Kareena Kapoor Khan. Kareena who has been the face of brand for 13 years and then took a four year hiatus, is finally back home. Looking like royalty in a Manish Malhotra saree, Kareena beamed with joy as she walked down memory lane sharing her magical runway moments with Kal Penn. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Lakme Fashion Week (@lakmefashionwk) 25 Years of Lakme Fashion Week is incomplete without fashion and its designers, models, stylists, hair stylists, makeup artists, choreographers, light and sound engineers, set designers and many more. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Lakme Fashion Week (@lakmefashionwk) The Lakme Fashion Week x FDCI Gala Night runway looked like going through an old photo album featuring the archival creations of esteemed designers including Tarun Tahiliani, Gauri Nainika, Ritu Beri, Varun Bahl, Monisha Jaisingh, Ashish Soni, Falguni Shane Peacock, Narendra Kumar Ahmed, Rohit Gandhi and Rahul Khanna, Rajesh Pratap Singh, Raw Mango, Pankaj Nidhi, Alpana Neeraj, Namrata Joshipura, Shantnu & Nikhil, Bibhu Mohapatra, Rina Dhaka, Amit Aggarwal, Rahul Mishra, Anshu Arora, Bodice, Gaurav Gupta, Anamika Khanna, Suneet Varma, Malini Ramani, Manish Malhotra, Anita Dongre, JJ Valaya, Ritu Kumar, and the late Rohit Bal. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Lakme Fashion Week (@lakmefashionwk) Each archival piece was celebrated by renowned Indian fashion models. The highlight was Carol Gracias who looked stunning in an Anamika Khanna 2004 archival piece and Lakshmi Rana exuding elegance in a Manish Malhotra showstopper look from 2001 and Manish also recreated the iconic black and gold sling designed for Shah Rukh Khan. Each archival and recreated piece not only celebrated the designer but their journeys and how far have they come. The fashion show ended with the OG faces of Lakme over the years making an entrance as the audience cheered along. The runway saw Lisa Ray in Ritu Kumar, Indrani Dasgupta in Rohit Bal, Lisa Haydon in Anamika Khanna, Sarah Jane Dias in Tarun Tahiliani, Shimona Nath in Rahul Mishra and Roshni Sharma in Malini Ramani. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all As the curtain drew on the 25 years of Lakme Fashion Week, each and every designer came up on stage to celebrate with their fellow designers who have been a part of their journey on the prestigious runway. Heres to an unforgettable night of Indias fashion history! 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! Location : Delhi, India, India First Published: March 31, 2025, 18:42 IST Lakme Fashion Week x FDCI: 5 Designers Who Redefined Pret On The Runway Written By : News18.com Edited By: Snigdha Oreya Last Updated: March 31, 2025, 22:15 IST Heres how ready-to-wear women's wear was celebrated on the Lakme Fashion Week x FDCI runway. Pret wear had its show-stopping moment at Lakme Fashion Week x FDCI. The fashion runway is not anymore limited to just couture and Lakme Fashion Week x FDCI understands that! As part of the 25 years celebrations, the platform saw an array of designer pret labels take centrestage. OTT by Tarun Tahiliani, AK|Ok Anamika Khanna, AFEW Rahul Mishra, Amit Aggarwal and Stoique redefined ready-to-wear in womens wear on a whole new creative level. Recommended Stories The Mumbai edition saw a beautiful amalgamation of silhouettes come alive through intricate craftsmanship and celebratory colours perfect for your summer wardrobe. Heres a look at the collections created by the esteemed designers. Amit Aggarwal Amit Aggarwal is redefining the future of ready-to-wear with his new pret collection. With a continuing focus on easy-to-wear dressing, fashion intersects with heritage in new experiments with form and texture. The latest collection is all about versatilityclothing that is effortless and made to be styled your way. This collection is about freedomclothes that move with you, adapt to you, and evolve with your style. Fashion should be effortless yet expressive. These pieces are designed to be worn your way, mixed with what you already love, and styled to feel uniquely you," says Amit Aggarwal. Think wardrobe essentials with a statement edgestructured yet fluid silhouettes, easy layering pieces, and bold details that can be mixed and matched with anything, bringing together fashion and function in a seamless way. The collection featured cropped jackets, asymmetric hems, and lightweight separates which you can pair with favourite denim or luxe accessories. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Tarun Tahiliani (@taruntahiliani) OTT by Tarun Tahiliani Staying true to its philosophy of reimagining dressing as an act of daily reinvention, OTT continues to offer multi-wear separates that allow the modern woman to shape her own aesthetic narrative. This collection speaks to the multifaceted urban womanher wardrobe evolving as she moves through life, accumulating pieces that reflect her journey and achievements. The act of buying fashion transforms into a deeply personal statement of self-expression," says Tarun Tahiliani. The collection blended Indian and Western silhouettes in a distinctly Indian Modern manner. Draped gilets, fluid dresses, structured jackets, and layered separates exuded a sensual, romantic, and bohemian charm, catering to both young and mature wearers. The Singh Twins signature geometric prints, first introduced in Tarun Tahilianis 2015 collaboration, made a comeback in a delicate summer palette of ecru, blush, sage, and taupe, rendered on linen, Chanderi, georgette, organza, and jersey. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Lakme Fashion Week (@lakmefashionwk) STOIQUE by Arshana Raj The latest collection, called Echo The Silhouettes, from Stoique runway collection Echo moved effortlessly from structured to fluid, projecting duality that was either grounded and strong or light and relaxed. The colour selection matched the mood of the show, as deep immersive hues came in unison with more playful tones to present a fine balance. Like water that inspired Arshna, the collection adapted, reshaped and reclaimed its fashion offering with great elegance and ease. Also visualised were stripes of upcycled textiles that were crafted into floral motifs that made quiet statements of renewal. Embellishments also included embroidered blooms that blossomed on layered garments, creating at times a delicate yet bold impact. View this post on Instagram A post shared by AFEW Rahul Mishra (@afew.rahulmishra) AFEW Rahul Mishra AFEWs Fall Winter 2025 collection, The Silk Route, drew inspiration from the rich history of the ancient trade routes that connected the East and West. With The Silk Route, AFEW explored the intersection of traditional craft and contemporary design with influences from the flora, folklore, and textile traditions along the trade routes blended with elements of European art, notably the work of long-standing inspiration Henri Rousseau. The collection reflected the parallel evolution of Indias Bandhani alongside Japans Shibori, reminding us that creativity transcends borders, shaped by time, culture, and exchange. View this post on Instagram A post shared by AK | OK Anamika Khanna (@akok.in) top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all AK|OK Anamika Khanna AK|OK Anamika Khanna curated a line that exuded power, poise, and effortless charmperfectly balancing strength and grace. Her signature style, known for its intricate craftsmanship and modern sensibility, found new expression through designs that redefined power dressing in a world where beauty and confidence go hand in hand. Redefining work wear, the collection can easily go from day to night. Monochrome shades elevated with silver jewellery and accessories are one way to sparkle under the sun this summer! 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! Location : Delhi, India, India First Published: March 31, 2025, 22:15 IST Amitabh Bachchan Embraces Ghibli Trend, Shares AI-Generated Edits Of Sunday Fan Meet | PHOTOS Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 31, 2025, 16:59 IST Amitabh Bachchan brings his Sunday fan meet into the world of Studio Ghibli with AI-generated art, delighting fans with a whimsical take on his iconic tradition. Amitabh Bachchan joins viral Ghibli trend with AI-generated photos of his Sunday fan meet at Jalsa, blending nostalgia with digital art. Legendary actor Amitabh Bachchan has embraced the internets latest fascinationthe Ghibli trendwith his signature style and charm. On Sunday, March 30, the Bollywood icon surprised fans by sharing stunning AI-generated illustrations of his beloved Sunday tradition, where he greets hundreds of admirers outside his Mumbai residence, Jalsa. Taking to his blog, Big B posted a series of Ghibli-style images that transformed his weekly meet-and-greet into a dreamy animated universe, reminiscent of Studio Ghiblis storytelling magic. In one illustration, hes seen signing autographs, while another captures the powerful image of him waving to the sea of fans gathered outside his gates. Recommended Stories Reflecting on the phenomenon, Bachchan wrote, and Ghibli.. invades the world in the reality of the realm of communication .. and the making of the reel .. another now popular concept .. one which demands attention .." His words signal not just an appreciation for the trend, but a recognition of how AI-generated art is reshaping modern expressions of memory and fandom. Accompanying the visuals was a heartfelt video montage showing fans chanting his name, waiting with eager faces outside Jalsa. The clip also includes a quiet moment of the actor offering prayers at his home temple before stepping outadding a deeply personal touch to the otherwise fantastical reinterpretation. The Ghibli trend has swept across platforms like Instagram and X, with users recreating real-life scenes through the soft, nostalgic aesthetic of Studio Ghibli. Celebrities and fans alike have joined in, but Big Bs participation has taken the trend to a new levelblending legacy, emotion, and modern digital art in one thoughtful gesture. At 81, Amitabh Bachchan continues to move effortlessly with the times, proving that his connection with fans transcends age, medium, or moment. On the professional front, he remains busy hosting Kaun Banega Crorepati and recently appeared in Vettaiyan alongside Rajinikanth and in the futuristic epic Kalki 2898 AD. He will next be seen in Ribhu Dasguptas legal drama Section 84 and is set to reprise his role in the Kalki sequel directed by Nag Ashwin. 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 31, 2025, 16:59 IST Barkha Bisht Says Ex-Husband Indraneil Sengupta Cheated On Her: 'The Worst Thing You Can Do To A Woman Is...' Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 31, 2025, 08:47 IST Barkha Bisht revealed Indraneil Sengupta cheated during their 15-year marriage. Barkha Bisht and Indraneil Sengupta got married in 2008. Barkha Bisht and Indraneil Sengupta, who were married for 15 years after tying the knot in March 2008, separated four years ago. Recently, Barkha spoke about their split, revealing that Indraneil cheated on her during their marriage. Despite this, she stayed for two years trying to save their relationship, but he eventually decided to leave. In an interview with Siddharth Kannan, Barkha admitted she still doesnt know what went wrong in their marriage. Alleging that the actor cheated on her, Barkha said, Indraneil chose to move out of the marriage for reasons best known to him. If it were in my hands, I would still be married. We had a good marriage. For four years, I have constantly felt that I wish I was lesser in everythingmaybe things could have been okay. Infidelity, cheating, is a choice. The second choice is what you do after that." Recommended Stories Barkha said she has no regrets about trying to save her marriage. While some questioned her efforts, she felt it was easier for others to judge from the outside. She also talked about rumours of Indraneils affair with Bengali actress Ishaa Saha. When asked if she confronted him, she said his answer wasnt satisfying. Indraneil made a choicemaybe he can justify it now. He can give a hundred reasons, as he has to justify his actions," she said. The actress shared that her confidence was shaken after the episode. She said, Jo dil ka tootna kehte hainheartacheI felt it. It feels like physical pain. It was an experience I had to go through. My belief in humanity broke at that time, not my faith in marriage or love and it is still somewhere broken. The worst thing you can do to a woman is break her trust because she cannot take betrayal." About the Author Shreyanka Mazumdar Shreyanka Mazumdar is Chief Sub Editor of the entertainment team at News18. With an unbridled passion for all things Bollywood, she loves deep-diving into the glitz and glamour of the entertainment world, bring... Read More Shreyanka Mazumdar is Chief Sub Editor of the entertainment team at News18. With an unbridled passion for all things Bollywood, she loves deep-diving into the glitz and glamour of the entertainment world, bring... Read More First Published: March 31, 2025, 08:47 IST Karan Kundrra Says Tejasswi Prakash Stays At His Place After Shoots; Salman Khan To Remake Sholay, Seeta Aur Geeta? Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 31, 2025, 21:55 IST Karan was all praise for Tejasswi's work ethic. Salman Khan revealed which of Dharmendra's films he would remake. Karan-Tejasswi and Salman Khan had everyone's attention today. Karan Kundrra and Tejasswi Prakash, who started their love story on Bigg Boss 15, have been together for five years and are rumored to be getting married soon. In a recent podcast with Bharti Singh, Karan talked about Tejasswi and his first meeting with her parents. He also mentioned how Tejasswi is often misunderstood and revealed that she stays over at his place sometimes after MasterChef shoots. Read More: Karan Kundrra Says Tejasswi Prakash Stays Back At His Place After Shoots: In The morning I Search For Her Recommended Stories Director Sanoj Mishra had earlier grabbed headlines for offering a film to Maha Kumbh sensation Monalisa. In the latest update, he has been arrested in Delhi on rape charges, according to reports. A young woman from a small town has accused him of repeatedly exploiting her, allegedly luring her with false promises of making her a film star. Read More: Maha Kumbh Girl Monalisas Director Sanoj Mishra Arrested For Rape, Blackmailing An Actress South Korean actor Kim Soo Hyun, who is embroiled in a public scandal amid reports alleging a past romantic involvement with the late actress Kim Sae Ron, has finally broken his silence on the matter. Kim Sae Ron was reportedly a minor at the time of the alleged relationship, leading to major controversy. However, Kim Soo Hyun held a press conference on Monday and personally addressed the matter for the first time. Read More: Kim Soo Hyun BREAKS Silence On Past Relationship With Kim Sae Ron: Theyre Framing Me As A Pedophile The ongoing cold war between Ekta Kapoor and Ram Kapoor has taken a fresh turn as the latters wife, Gautami Kapoor, has also stepped into the conversation now. Earlier this month, the producer had seemingly taken a dig at Ram after he denied undergoing Ozempic treatment for weight loss. While Ram chose to keep things diplomatic, Gautami has now responded more directly. Read More: Ram Kapoors Wife Gautami Fires Back At Ekta Kapoor For Dig At Her Husbands Weight Loss | Watch Salman Khan shares a close bond with Dharmendra and his sons, Sunny Deol and Bobby Deol. Over the years, Salman has maintained his friendship with the Deols and has even helped and guided Bobby Deol in Bollywood. In a recent interview, Salman said he follows Dharmendra more than Bobby or Sunny do in their careers. Read More: Salman Khan To Remake Sholay, Seeta Aur Geeta? Sikandar Star Says He Follows Dharmendra More Than His Sons About the Author Kashvi Raj Singh Kashvi Raj Singh is a News Trainee at News18. She extensively covers Bollywood, Hollywood and television. She not only keeps an eye out for interesting news angles but also often writes social commentary in lon... Read More Kashvi Raj Singh is a News Trainee at News18. She extensively covers Bollywood, Hollywood and television. She not only keeps an eye out for interesting news angles but also often writes social commentary in lon... Read More First Published: March 31, 2025, 21:55 IST Maha Kumbh Girl Monalisa's Director Sanoj Mishra Arrested For Rape, Blackmailing An Actress Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 31, 2025, 12:50 IST Filmmaker Sanoj Mishra, known for offering a film to viral girl Monalisa, was arrested in Delhi for allegedly raping a small-town girl under the pretense of making her a heroine. Maha Kumbh sensation Monalisa's film director Sanoj Mishra has been arrested now. Director Sanoj Mishra had earlier grabbed headlines for offering a film to Maha Kumbh sensation Monalisa. In the latest update, he has been arrested in Delhi on rape charges, according to reports. A young woman from a small town has accused him of repeatedly exploiting her, allegedly luring her with false promises of making her a film star. According to reports, the victim informed the police that she first connected with Sanoj Mishra in 2020 through TikTok and Instagram while living in Jhansi. Over time, they spoke frequently, and on June 17, 2021, Mishra allegedly called her, claiming he was at Jhansi railway station. When she refused to meet him, he reportedly threatened to take his own life if she didnt come. Recommended Stories Fearing his threats, the victim agreed to meet him the next day. On June 18, 2021, Mishra allegedly took her to a resort, where he gave her intoxicants and assaulted her. According to her complaint, he also recorded obscene videos and threatened to leak them if she resisted. The victim further claimed that Mishra continued to exploit her on multiple occasions, making false promises of marriage and offering her roles in films to manipulate her. For those who missed the buzz, Sanoj Mishra recently made headlines for offering a film to Monalisa, the young woman who went viral during the Maha Kumbh Mela 2025. Selling bread at the event, Monalisa became an overnight internet sensation after her pictures and videos captured hearts across social media. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sanoj Mishra (@sanojmishra) Soon after Monalisas viral moment, reports emerged that she had landed a film offer. A few days later, Sanoj Mishra confirmed that he was casting her in his upcoming project, The Diary of Manipur. He had also started giving her acting lessons. Sanoj was seen taking her to several events. Mishra has helmed several films over the years, including Gandhigiri, Ram Ki Janmabhoomi, Lafange Nawab, Dharm Ke Saudagar, and Kashi To Kashmir, among others. First Published: March 31, 2025, 12:49 IST Shabana Azmi Says Actresses Once Had A 'Very Short Shelf Life': 'Actors Like Alia Bhatt Broke That Mould' Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 31, 2025, 19:56 IST Shabana Azmi praised Netflix's Dabba Cartel and discussed better treatment of female actors in modern times. Shabana Azmi was last seen in Dabba Cartel. Shabana Azmi received rave reviews for her performance in Netflixs Dabba Cartel. As a closer observer of the evolution of Hindi cinema, Azmi recently drew comparisons on how female actors are treated better than bygone days. She credited stars like Alia Bhatt for breaking taboos by continuing to work after marriage. Shabana Azmi revealed how marriage ended many actresses glorious careers in old Bollywood. Earlier, especially for women, their shelf life was very short. It was once unthinkable for an actress to consider acting after getting married and having children. But people like Alia Bhatt and others have broken that mould. Things are definitely changing, and roles are being made available for senior actors, which, given their experience, is a very good thing," she told India Today. Recommended Stories She also spoke about the evolution of content, which is bifurcated in two vast forms OTT and the big screen. Like many stars, Azmi, too, admitted to the phase of transition" that is currently taking place. She said, We are definitely going through a phase of transition. We are still figuring out the advent of OTT platforms," the Makdee actor said. She further explained that while the rise of OTT has been of great help, it has also led to a fall in revenues as people have reduced going to theatres as they feel it will soon be out on streaming platforms. The National Award-winning actor said that dialogues are of utmost importance, but its all in vain if one doesnt have a strong story in place. She recalled a conversation with husband Javed Akhtar, and told the same portal, Javed told me, It is fine if you want to change the way a story is told, but for that, you need to have a story. It is like starting the interior decoration of your house without making sure that the pillars are in the right place. What will you do with the decoration if the structure itself is not right?" At the age of 74, Shabana Azmi is still experimenting with varied roles. In 2023, she was the talk of the town for breaking taboos with her momentary liplock scene with Dharmendra in Karan Johars Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani. This year, her portrayal of Sheila in Dabba Cartel was lauded by fans. First Published: March 31, 2025, 19:52 IST Opinion | Mothabari, Jhaubona Signal Another Blood Storm In West Bengal Before 2026 Elections Written By : News18.com Last Updated: March 31, 2025, 14:46 IST Almost every year, Ram Navami and other Hindu festivals invite fresh waves of jihadist violence in West Bengal. But just about a year ahead of the 2026 West Bengal elections, this round portents a much bigger and sinister plan With a law and order machinery widely accused to be weaponised against the dwindling majority, demography is fast turning out to be Bengal's destiny. (Representative photo/PTI) A toto van winded through the dusty streets of Mothabari in West Bengals Malda announcing the upcoming Ram Navami celebrations on March 27. It approached a mosque which stood on its designated route. It was 9.30 pm, long after the Ramzan prayers had ended. A whisper campaign had reportedly been carried out on social media that the group would pass the mosque to deliberately provoke Muslims. It did not matter that the organisers had prior police permission for that route and that cops were present near the procession. Recommended Stories Violence broke out. Shops and houses were destroyed, Hindus were beaten up. The police were seen on video arresting the Ram Navami organisers. It did not stop there. Within 48 hours, jihadis launched two more attacks on Hindus and their property: one in Jhaubona in Murshidabad district and another in Dakshin Barbaria village, Purba Medinipur district. Just like in Mothabari, Malda district, Hindu-owned shops were vandalised in Jhaubona and Trimohani Bazar under Naoda Police Station in Murshidabad. Bombs were thrown indiscriminately. A betel plantation farm was set ablaze. The police watched. Another horrifying attack on Hindus under Mamata Banerjees appeasement regime! Jihadi mobs unleashed terror in Jhaubona, Naoda (Murshidabad), after the Mothabari rampage. Under the cover of darkness, they deliberately set fire to Hindu-owned betel farms, looted shops in Jhaubona & Trimohini Bazaar, and launched violent assaults on innocent Hindus," former BJP state president Sukanta Majumdar posted on X. Another horrifying attack on Hindus under Mamata Banerjees appeasement regime!Jihadi mobs unleashed terror in Jhaubona, Naoda (Murshidabad), after the Mothabari rampage. Under the cover of darkness, they deliberately set fire to Hindu-owned betel farms, looted shops in pic.twitter.com/zVLQZKOLmn Dr. Sukanta Majumdar (@DrSukantaBJP) March 29, 2025 In Dakshin Barbaria village of Purba Medinipur, local devotees had organised a Maa Chandi puja. A Muslim mob reportedly stormed the pandal and brutally assaulted worshippers. At least 10 Hindus sustained severe injuries, inflicted with sharp weapons that left deep wounds. The victims have been rushed to Mugberia Hospital for treatment. Mamata Banerjee is pushing West Bengal toward a dangerous transformationone that mirrors Bangladeshs past. The BJP will not allow her to succeed," head of the BJPs National Information and Technology Department and co-incharge of West Bengal, Amit Malviya, posted on X. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has completely lost control over the states law and order. The situation is rapidly spiraling toward civil unrest, with Hindus being systematically targeted while the state police either remain silent spectators or actively collude with pic.twitter.com/KeVx0fHPTq Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) March 29, 2025 Almost every year, Ram Navami and other Hindu festivals invite fresh waves of jihadist violence in West Bengal. But just about a year ahead of the 2026 West Bengal elections, this round portents a much bigger and sinister plan. Mamata Banerjees TMC will use every trick in the book to corner the Muslim vote, which looked shaky during the protests against the RG Kar doctors rape and murder. A section of Muslims also took part in the statewide agitations, which were mainly organised by the Left. Mamata would not want to cede any ground to the Left when it comes to Muslim votes. Already, while visiting a mosque on Eid-ul-Fitr on Monday, CM Banerjee said: Aaj all our gerua ek ho gaya." It is her dog-whistle to Muslims that the Left is on the BJPs side, so do not go with it. Also, the turmoil in Bangladesh and the TMC repeatedly soliciting votes of illegal Bangladeshis and Rohingyas here, assuring them that their names will be pushed into the electoral rolls, will only get more intense as the polls approach. Violence and intimidation against Hindus are likely to rise. A fresh round started in November 2024. Communal clashes broke out in Beldanga town and surrounding areas in Bengals Murshidabad district, injuring at least 50 people from both communities. More than 30 houses were ransacked or set on fire. The clashes started during the celebration of Kartik puja by community clubs at Beldanga. An offensive comment was created with bulbs on an electrical display board. And behind this gratuitous communal violence lies West Bengals changing demography. Murshidabad has the highest Muslim population of 66.28 per cent, according to the 2011 Census. Adjacent Malda has the states second highest: 51.27 per cent. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all With a law and order machinery widely accused of being weaponised against the dwindling majority, demography is fast turning out to be Bengals destiny. Yet again. Abhijit Majumder is a senior journalist. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views. First Published: March 31, 2025, 14:46 IST Opinion | PECA And The Dangers Of State Overreach Written By : News18.com Last Updated: March 31, 2025, 12:15 IST Experts have critiqued the new Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) as a violation of personal freedoms. However, what they fail to recognise is that this law also silences those calling on the state to fulfil its constitutional duties A member of the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists holds a banner during a protest against amendments in the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) in Islamabad. (AFP) It is frequently asserted that Pakistans internal challenges will remain unresolved until the country improves its domestic conditions and decisively defeats its internal enemies. This straightforward statement, while simple in theory, is much more complex when it comes to execution. The central question that arises is: who will implement this? According to the Constitution, legislative bodies are tasked with creating the framework that allows the states governance to function. Under the legal system, institutions created by the state are supposed to carry out their duties through their designated officials. On paper, this is a practical and standard principle, yet it is effective only in states that do not assume responsibility for repairing the beliefs and ideologies of their citizens. Recommended Stories Many would quickly ask: What, then, is the role of the state? The answer is straightforward: the states responsibility is in matters concerning public welfare, ranging from public health to ethical governance. While these issues remain in the hands of individuals, they are executed in accordance with state law, both individually and collectively. This distinction, however, is often overlooked in weak states, where there is a greater focus on creating laws rather than enforcing them. In Pakistan, for instance, an abundance of laws exists, but the responsibility for enforcement remains largely absent. Enforcement and interpretation of laws are often left to powerful institutions or, in some cases, militant groups. Take the example of blasphemy laws. Historically, these laws were designed to prevent the sacred figures and beliefs of different faiths from being publicly defiled. Looking beyond the framework of Pakistani historiography, these laws were not intended to target any particular religious group, nor was division a goal of the British colonial administration. Instead, the colonial authorities sought to protect the diverse religious populations from religious conflict. However, the interpretation of these laws has shifted, and many now view them as a tool of exploitation. Still, one must understand that the colonial administration was operating in a region where divergent beliefs, ideas, and practices could easily escalate into social unrest or even anarchya reality that occurred with alarming frequency. This reality, however, is far from what was witnessed under British rule. The current situation in India and Pakistan, where religious majorities often mistreat minorities, is a far cry from the colonial era. In these two newly formed nations, one religious group frequently exercises its dominance over another. In such a context, states appear either biased or passive, unwilling to take decisive action. The state of Pakistan, when it comes to protecting its religious minorities from majority oppression, has failed to take any meaningful legislative action. Instead, the constitutional framework now allows for the creation of laws that suppress the very voices advocating for justice. Experts have critiqued the new PECA (Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act) law as a violation of personal freedoms. However, what they fail to recognise is that this law does not just curb individual freedomit also silences those calling on the state to fulfil its constitutional duties. The misuse of Pakistans blasphemy laws has inflicted immense suffering on thousands of citizens, and the states failure to act is glaring. In the past year alone, nearly 500 young people have lost their lives due to the exploitation of legal loopholes by opportunistic extremists. When these individuals are convicted in lower courtsoften under severe external pressurethey may face years before their appeals are heard, and by then, they are often dead, victims of vigilante justice or even clerical exploitation. At this point, the state is conspicuously silent, with its governance structures paralysed by inertia. But when voices are raised in protest, it is highly likely that the new PECA law will stifle them further. In fact, those organisations that advocate for human rights may become the first casualties of this law. However, one can be certain that this law will never be used against the violent extremists who continue to assault religious and sectarian minorities. Consider that Pakistans Constitution guarantees the protection of religious minorities places of worship, yet over 150 attacks on Ahmadi mosques and cemeteries occurred in Punjab alone last year. In many of these cases, law enforcement agencies, including the police, have aided and abetted the attackers. Social media has even shown police officers leading such attacks in uniform. While certain police officers may be hailed as social media heroes offering miraculous assistance, the question remains: can these officers stand before the ruins of a demolished religious site in a Punjab village and declare their support for the oppressed? In such situations, both the officers and the state remain mute. What, then, will the laws do? The media in Pakistan may appear free, but it is free only to disseminate government press releasesnot to question or challenge the government. The media can publish government advertisements, but it cannot question the actions of the state. Citizens may technically be free, but those whose beliefs differ from the majority are silenced. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all As more laws like PECA are enacted, there may be attempts to protect the freedoms of these minorities. However, until such laws are enacted, the state will continue to rely on the PECA framework and overlook the growing power of these extremist groups, whose numbers and influence are only expanding. May we hope that this reality changes, but the signs are not promising. The author is a seasoned research journalist, author, and writer with extensive experience in media. Currently associated with HumNews TV, he has built a reputation for his in-depth analysis. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views. Location : Islamabad, Pakistan First Published: March 31, 2025, 12:14 IST Opinion | The Concern Over Delimitation In Tamil Nadu Is A Political Ruse Written By : & News18.com Last Updated: March 31, 2025, 15:59 IST The alarm over delimitation in Tamil Nadu is a ruse. The real objective is neo-feudalism through soft-secessionism DMK MPs wearing t-shirts emblazoned with the slogan - Fair Delimitation, Tamil Nadu will fight, Tamil Nadu will win - protest during the Budget session of Parliament, in New Delhi, Thursday, March 20, 2025. (PTI Photo) The shrillness of Tamil Nadus Chief Minister on the issue of delimitation is attracting considerable attention from the commentariat. Speeches are being made, and articles are being writtena torrent of spilt ink and words everywhere. Even the Rupee symbol, a creation of a DMK MLAs son and once enthusiastically endorsed by former Union Finance Minister P. Chidambaram, has not been spared. Yet we must ask ourselveswhy, and why particularly Tamil Nadu? Recommended Stories Those familiar with the history of the British project known as Dravidianism will easily recognise that the Chief Ministers so-called concerns are a smokescreen. As the Dravidian movement enters its terminal phase, these are frustrated last-ditch attempts to revive the same tired divisions that once propelled it, so that the family and business interests of the current regime may be artificially prolonged. First, there is a calculated attempt to rectify the very first failure of the Dravidian movementits eradication from all of India except Tamil Nadu. One must recall that the DMKs predecessor, the Justice Party, once included a sizeable number of leaders who were not Tamil, and who allied with intermediate castes in Tamil Nadu to assert social and economic dominance. Yet this multi-caste alliance ultimately faltered. Much like the breakup of Pakistan in 1971, the limited commonalities they shared were insufficient to hold these disparate groupings together. Thus, the dream of De Nobili, Caldwell, Pope, and Grant-Duffthat the South could somehow be convinced it was not Sanatani, not Bharatiya, and that it did not belong within a unified Bharatcame to an end. Only Tamil Nadu held out. The present clarion call to other southern parties is an invitation to those wandering in political wilderness: to once again weaponise hatred for Sanatana Dharma, stoke ethnic anxieties, and claw back some semblance of power and relevancea reversion to the original Dravidian formulation. Secondand closely related to the foregoing pointis the ritual invocation of the word federalism." India is not a federation. The word appears nowhere in the Constitution, and Parliament retains the unilateral authority to create or dissolve states as it sees fit. A federation is a union of multiple, previously distinct countries or peoples coming together under one framework. Bharat is, therefore, not a federation. It was, is, and will remain a unitary entity, with states existing solely for administrative convenience and to better reflect the myriad ways in which Bharatiyata manifests. The talk of a federation" or a supposed federal structure" is an attempt to sanctify the fiction that Tamil Nadu is a separate country. Before dismissing this as far-fetched, one must recall that EV Ramaswamy Naickera declared Sanatani hater who called for Brahmin genocide, desecrated murtis of Lord Ganesha, and garlanded Lord Rama with slipperswas an open British collaborator. His party, the Dravidar Kazhagam (DK), one of the DMKs ideological predecessors, repeatedly demanded Tamil Nadus secession from India. What, then, can one expect from his ideological successors who today lead the state, when he himself attempted to form a union between the Madras Presidency and Pakistana proposal so bizarre that even Mohammad Jinnah found it incredulous and dismissed it outright? Thirdly, premised on the fiction that Tamil Nadu is somehow separate from Bharat, the Chief Minister has called for yet another disastrous freeze on delimitation to protect" the state. Tamil Nadu is currently overrepresented in Parliament by approximately five Lok Sabha seats or around 12 per cent. A resident of Tamil Nadu, therefore, already enjoys 12 per cent more influence than the states population warrants, while, say, a resident of Uttar Pradesh is effectively penalised with an 11 per cent reduction in representative weight. For a party that touts itself as an anti-caste crusader, the Chief Ministers vitriol suggests a different caste system altogether one where the value of a Bharatiyas vote depends on which state he resides in. The much-reviled Inthi-wallahs are to have votes of diminished worth, while the ever-so-supreme Dravidar must possess the most powerful ballot. We affirm that every single Bharatiya, without exception, must have the same vote; that was the very basis on which this Republic was founded, and any vitiation of this principle is a death knell to democracy. There has never been a direct link between family planning and economic growth. Indira Gandhis ill-conceived delimitation freeze was a convenient cover for the spectacular failure of her economic policies and a tactical manoeuvre to restrict the emerging anti-Congress forces across the north. To extend that freeze further is to ratify a regime in which all citizens are not equal one where multiple classes of citizenship exist, each with differential voting rights. If that is to be our direction, then let us end the pretence of democracy and formally hand over the Republic to recalcitrant tantrum-artists and professional troublemakers. The most important question, though, is this: why must this be the chosen hill to die on? The answer is quite simple. There are satraps in parts of this country who believe they are entitled to be heard and accommodated. Having grown accustomed to wielding disproportionate influence as kingmakers in fragile coalitions, their present irrelevance is beginning to puncture their strongman aura. It was precisely this kingmaker status that once enabled them to twist the Centres arm and extract all manner of excessive concessions. The former Chief Minister of Tamil Naduthe current incumbents fathereven prevented the then Prime Minister from attending the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting because it was being held in Sri Lanka. This decline in negotiating power with the Centre has made them anxious, for it was the very foundation of their political business model. With indiscriminate central funding drying up, operating their machinery and sustaining the largesse of their egos has become increasingly difficult. In todays milieu, it is no longer easy for a family-run, neo-feudal, caste-based outfitone that controls only a single stateto hold the entire nation to ransom. The very existence of such outfits is now under threat. Their modus operandi has long been to capture state institutions through manufactured identities and to siphon off resourcesespecially central funds, which they treated as their pound of flesh in return for political support. This, in truth, is why the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu appears so apoplectic. The writing on the wall is clearmene mene tekel upharsin, to borrow from the Book of Daniel in the Old Testament. The problem with delimitation is, in fact, a question of state reorganisation masquerading as something else. Whether it is regional imbalance, the perceived dominance of the North, or specific issues such as the stagnation of Karnataka (with the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike now bankrupt), Dr BR Ambedkar had foreseen it all as early as 1955. His publication that year was a scathing critique of the States Reorganisation Commission, which submitted its report in 1956. The Commissions nostrum of One Language, One State" created an artificial linguistic identityunprecedented in our historywhich pitted one Bharatiya against another. At the same time, the vast population disparities between the resulting states meant each had significantly different bargaining power vis-a-vis the Centre. As a result, the Chief Minister of undivided Andhra Pradesh could easily overshadow the concerns of the Chief Minister of Goa. The solution, as Ambedkar pointed out, lay in the creation of smaller, roughly equally populated states. Before we are drowned out by the wails and foghorns of Tamil Eelam sophists who cannot abide the idea of subdividing Tamil Nadualong with other historically, economically, and culturally incoherent statesit is worth revisiting Tamil history. Under the imperial Cholas, the Tamil peoples ruled far and wide and symbolically wore three crowns, representing the three distinct regions that, in modern terms, ought to constitute separate states within the Tamil lands. Indeed, the notion of a unified Tamil Nadu did not exist until the Telugu-speaking regions were separated in 1956. It is also worth recalling that all Chola kings bore Sanskrit titles and were ardent patrons of Sanatana Dharma through and through. Tamil Nadu is not a country. Bharat is not a federation. All voters must be equal. All citizens must be equal. These are foundational tenets of the Bharatiya social contract. Any deviation from these red lines would spell the formal end of democracyand leave Bharat with far greater problems to confront in the future. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The alarm over delimitation in Tamil Nadu is a ruse. The real objective is neo-feudalism through soft-secessionism. Gautam R. Desiraju and Deekhit Bhattacharya are authors of Delimitation and States Reorganization: For a Better Democracy in Bharat. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views. First Published: March 31, 2025, 15:59 IST 'Build Consensus On One Nation One Election': What Nadda Told BJP MPs Before Foundation Day Reported By : CNN-News18 Edited By: Oindrila Mukherjee Last Updated: March 31, 2025, 21:12 IST BJP national president JP Nadda discussed vital issues concerning the BJP. A detailed programme for Foundation Day week has been given to party MPs, including celebrations ending on April 14, which is the birth anniversary of Dr BR Ambedkar Sources said the biggest push by BJP national chief JP Nadda is on building consensus for legislation like One Nation One Election, which is being examined by a JPC. (Image: PTI/File) Foundation Day celebrations of the BJP and raising awareness on One Nation One Election was the focus of national president JP Naddas video conference meeting with party MPs in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, on Monday. Nadda discussed vital issues concerning the BJP. The detailed programme for the entire week beginning April 6 has been given to party MPs, including the celebrations ending on April 14, which is the birth anniversary of Dr BR Ambedkar. Recommended Stories According to sources, the biggest push by him is on building consensus for legislation like One Nation One Election (ONOE), which is currently being examined by a joint parliamentary committee (JPC). While the committee is summoning witnesses for this, it is the public that is the largest stakeholder and must be taken into confidence, he has said. Several BJP leaders, including union ministers, have been holding gatherings to educate the public about the benefits of this legislation and how it will help. As per the available report with the BJP, so far, more than 300 programmes have been conducted across India. Constitutional authorities in the past, like former vice president M Venkaiah Naidu, have also taken part in some conferences to highlight the benefit of this poll reform. It has been learnt that the BJP will like consensus being built across society, including holding debates and discussions with students in schools and colleges, professionals, homemakers, senior citizens and celebrities alike. On behalf of the party, general secretary Sunil Bansal will be coordinating these meetings while it will be managed by Union agriculture minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan for the central government. The sources said the national president has reiterated to the MPs the importance of the foundation day of the BJP, which is the worlds largest party. Among other programmes given to them, it is important for each of them to install the party flag in their homes and offices. Members have also been advised to share pictures or selfies on social media, so that other party workers can be inspired. This year, the Centre has notified that Ambedkars birth anniversary will be a gazetted holiday and, a day before, all MPs will be required to light a lamp at his statue in their constituencies. On the day of the birth anniversary, they will be interacting with people from the backward classes. They need to drive home the point about work done by the Narendra Modi-led government to give Ambedkar his due credit, the sources said. The leaders will also be going to Dalit settlements and interacting with residents to distribute sweets and understand if they need to enrol in any welfare schemes, they added. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The sources further said all leaders have been told to drive home the point that this government works for the welfare of all strata of society. From supporting legislation, like ONOE to the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, this party has constantly worked towards big infrastructure projects right from Kashmir to Kanyakumari, they said. They also said the party has a distinct reputation of providing due credit to unsung heroes and freedom fighters, which has never happened before. The victories that the party has been able to register in Haryana, Maharashtra, and Delhi as well as many local body elections, including in Gujarat and Telangana, are proof that the public has faith in Modis leadership. First Published: March 31, 2025, 21:12 IST Is Sanatan A Ganda Dharma?: BJP Lambasts Mamata Banerjee Over Provocative Speech On Eid Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 31, 2025, 16:13 IST Mamata Banerjee, who recently made headlines for her visit to London, sparked controversy during an Eid prayer in Kolkata by saying that she "doesn't follow Ganda Dharma." BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari and West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee | File Image/PTI The West Bengal BJP on Monday launched a blistering attack against Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee over her Ganda Dharma" remark, accusing her of making a provocative speech" during an Eid-ul-Fitr event. Mamata Banerjee, who recently made headlines for her visit to London, sparked controversy during an Eid prayer in Kolkata by saying that she doesnt follow Ganda Dharma." Recommended Stories Taking to X, West Bengal leader of the opposition and BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari questioned Banerjees remarks, accusing her of making provocating statements during a religious event held in Kolkata. Kaun sa Dharm ganda hai Ms Mamata Banerjee? Appeasing the Muslim Community at the Red Road with your almost incomprehensible gibberish Urdu dialect, you made a statement that you dont follow the Ganda Dharm or Dirty Religion. Which religion were you specifically referring to? Sanatan Hindu Dharma?" he wrote. He further accused Banerjee of repeatedly using the word Danga" (riot) and questioned whether the event was intended to be religious or political. He claimed she was trying to stir animosity between communities, warning that such tactics would ultimately backfire on her. Hum Ganda Dharm ko nahi manta hai". Mamata BanerjeeKaun sa Dharm ganda hai Ms. Mamata Banerjee? Appeasing the Muslim Community at the Red Road with your almost incomprehensible gibberish Urdu dialect, you made a statement that you dont follow the Ganda Dharm or Dirty pic.twitter.com/JpLWYV5JYG Suvendu Adhikari (@SuvenduWB) March 31, 2025 TMC Defends Mamata Banerjee TMC leader Kunal Ghosh defended Banerjees statement, saying that whatever the Chief Minister said during the Eid event was right." Whatever Mamata Banerjee has said is right. The BJP uses Hindu dharma for vote marketing. We believe in Ramakrishna, Vivekananda, and true Hinduism, but the BJP is distorting it. They are trying to create a fake narrative," the Ghosh remarked. Banerjee on Monday also urged people not to fall for provocations that could fuel communal riots and stressed that her government would stand with the residents, ensuring that no one could stir up tensions in the state. Provocations are being made to fuel riots, but please dont fall into these traps. The West Bengal government stands with the minorities. No one can provoke tensions in the state," she said. BJP Mounts Attack Amit Malviya, head of the BJPs IT cell, backed Adhikari in criticizing Mamata Banerjee, accusing her of mocking Hinduism and disrespecting the faith. Is Sanatan Dharma a Ganda Dharm for West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee? Despite numerous anti-Hindu riots under her watch, she has the audacity to mock Hindus and deride their faith," he wrote in an X post. Once again, she has given Muslims a carte blanche to target Hindusthis time from a religious platform meant to celebrate Eid. Shame on her," he added. During her address, Banerjee particularly hit out at the BJP, asking, If they (BJP) have problems with the minorities, will they change the Constitution of the country?" She reaffirmed her belief in respecting all religions and reiterated her opposition to the BJPs divisive politics", which she described as jumla politics". top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all 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 First Published: March 31, 2025, 16:08 IST 'Powerful Example Of Global Leadership': Shashi Tharoor Praises PM Modi's Covid-19 'Vaccine Diplomacy' Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 31, 2025, 09:12 IST Tharoor, in his column, wrote how, by sending India-made Covid-19 vaccines - Covishield and Covaxin - to over 100 countries in the time of a global crisis, "India emerged as a key player in global health diplomacy, showcasing its capacity to address global challenges." Congress MP Shashi Tharoor (PTI Image) Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has once again praised the Narendra Modi government, this time for Indias vaccine diplomacy" during Covid-19 pandemic. In a fresh column Covids silver lining for India, Tharoor highlighted how Modi governments Vaccine Maitri programme stood out from amid the horrors of that time as a powerful example of international leadership rooted in responsibility and solidarity." Tharoor, in his column, wrote how, by sending India-made Covid-19 vaccines Covishield and Covaxin to over 100 countries in the time of a global crisis, India emerged as a key player in global health diplomacy, showcasing its capacity to address global challenges." Recommended Stories India did what more affluent countries did not. The vaccine shipments enhanced our countrys global image; Indias efforts were widely appreciated, enhancing its reputation as a responsible global leader," Tharoor added. While Tharoor didnt name PM Modi in his column, he praised his leadership, saying, Indias vaccine diplomacy embodied and contributed to the very spirit of its soft power. It carried the values of compassion, cooperation, and global partnership to the world, building goodwill, strengthening diplomatic ties, and elevating Indias global stature." The column by Tharoor comes days after he endorsed PM Modis stand on the Russia-Ukraine war. Russia-Ukraine peace is absolutely important for the world but as our PM said peace can not be found on the battlefield. It will have to require some negotiation. We are glad that some process has started already but these are early days. We dont know if they are only talking about a ceasefire or whether there is going to be an enduring peace settlement We have to wait and watch, I think the speculation here is very premature," Tharoor had said. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Tharoor had conceded that he was left with an egg on his face" in opposing Indias stance when the Russia-Ukraine war broke out and said due to the policy that was adopted, the country is now in a position where it can make a difference for lasting peace. The BJP has been taking digs at Congress over Tharoors praise of PM Modi. Amid rumours of a rift with the Congress over his praise for PM Modi and the LDF government in Kerala, Tharoor had earlier said that he is available for the party, however, also warned that he had options" if the party did not require his services. However, Tharoor dismissed talks of switching parties, stating that he did not believe in jumping ships even if he had differences in opinions in the party. 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 31, 2025, 09:12 IST Waqf Amendment Bill Likely To Be Tabled After Eid: Is It A Much-Needed Reform Or Draconian Law? Reported By : News18.com Edited By: Oindrila Mukherjee Last Updated: March 31, 2025, 08:00 IST The AIMPLB has launched countrywide protests saying the new legislation is against the community. Multiple opposition-ruled states have passed resolutions against the bill, while opposition in Parliament are united against it The Waqf Amendment Bill is arguably the most politically contentious legislation to come up so far in the BJPs new term. (Image: PTI/File) The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) has launched countrywide protests saying the new law is against the community. Multiple opposition-ruled states have passed resolutions against the bill, while opposition parties in Parliament are united against it. Some like AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi are even saying Muslims will never forgive NDA allies like Janata Dal (United), Telugu Desam Party (TDP), Chirag Paswan and Jayant Chaudhary, if they back it. Recommended Stories All this has raised a big question is a protest on the scale of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act being planned? Is this even justified after a joint parliamentary committee (JPC) produced a 944-page report, including 300 pages of dissent from opposition parties, after nearly six months. Also, will the central government bring and pass the bill in the current budget session or put it off for now, given the upcoming Bihar assembly elections? The Waqf Amendment Bill is arguably the most politically contentious legislation to come up so far in the BJPs new term. WHAT IS WAQF? A Waqf is a permanent dedication of movable or immovable property for religious, pious, or charitable purposes. The management of Waqf properties is governed by the Wakf Act, 1995, and is overseen by state waqf boards and the Central Waqf Council. There are 8.72 lakh registered Waqf properties, spanning an area of 37.39 lakh acres in the country. However, only 1,088 properties have registered Waqf deeds, and 9,279 others have ownership rights establishing documents. WHAT ARE THE DRAWBACKS OF WAQF? There is a lack of inclusivity, with marginalised Muslim communities like Aghakhanis, Bohras, backward Muslims, women as well as non-Muslims getting little representation. This is even though Waqf properties are endowed by various Muslim sects. It raises questions if Waqf is working for the welfare and upliftment of disadvantaged communities and the poor, who are excluded from its benefits and remain excluded from decision-making. Women, the Pasmanda community, and non-Muslims are entirely excluded from Waqf governance. Another big drawback Section 40 of the Wakf Act allowed the Waqf Board to declare any property as Waqf based on information collected by it that it has reason to be. This has led to big disputes as one can challenge this before a tribunal whose decision will be final one cannot go to the courts. There is also widespread encroachment nearly 60,000 Waqf properties are encroached upon. WHAT IS THE GOVERNMENT PLANNING TO DO? Lets break it down to five massive changes: Waqf deeds have been made compulsory. All property details must be uploaded on a portal within six months. Any government property declared as Waqf before or after the Waqf Amendment Act, 2025, will not be considered Waqf property. An officer above the rank of collector will conduct an inquiry as per law to determine whether a Waqf property is government property or not. All this will provide clarity on ownership and avoid unnecessary litigation. To ensure creation of Waqf is genuine, only individuals practising Islam for at least five years will be able to dedicate property to Waqf. The person must legally own the property and be competent to transfer or dedicate it. Section 40 that allowed the Waqf Board to declare any property as Waqf will no longer exist, to rationalise the power of the Waqf Board. Also, tribunal decisions will no longer be final; appeals can be filed in the high court within 90 days. A district collector will verify the genuineness of registration applications There will be at least two Muslim women in the Central Waqf Council and state Waqf boards, and one member each from the Bohra and Aghakhani communities in state/UT Waqf boards. Muslims belonging to backward classes will be part of the boards as well, which will have two non-Muslim members. State governments can also establish separate Waqf boards for Bohra and Aghakhani communities. All this is with the idea of promoting inclusivity and diversity in Waqf property management. A highly important provision is that long-standing Waqf properties like mosques and graveyards are being given protection. Some properties in the past became Waqf based on their long-term use for religious or charitable purposes, even without formal documentation. While this provision will no longer be there as Waqf deeds are becoming compulsory, protection will be given to Waqf properties like mosques and graveyards already registered with the Waqf Boards on or before the commencement of this Act, unless they are disputed or classified as government property. But, this has neither satisfied the AIMPLB, or the opposition parties who say the law is being brought in with communal intentions. WHY THE PROTESTS? The board has called for nationwide protests saying the new Waqf law is against Muslims and a conspiracy to usurp Waqf properties. There was a protest at Jantar Mantar attended by opposition leaders from the Congress and Samajwadi Party, as well as Owaisi. The AIMPLB protests in Bihar and Andhra Pradesh are aimed at pressuring the state governments led by Nitish Kumars JD(U) and N Chandrababu Naidus TDP, both NDA allies. The AIMPLB also asked Muslim men to offer the Alvida Jumma Friday prayers last week with black armbands and, in many mosques, it was used to alert the community to the repercussions if the Bill is passed by Parliament. The line from the Board is clear if this bill is passed, hundreds of mosques, eidgahs, madrasas, graveyards, and charitable institutions will be taken away from Muslims. The most vociferous voice against the Bill inside the JPC, and now outside, is Owaisi. He calls the new law akin to firing bullets at Muslims chest, and targeting mosques and dargahs. He has questioned how non-Muslims could become members of the Waqf Board when only Hindus and Sikhs can be members of temple and gurdwara boards. He has gone to the extent of saying this law is part of the Hindutva agenda to prevent Muslims from following their shariat and religion. Muslims cannot stay silent" on the Bill, he has said. Some prominent Hindu voices are also unhappy with the new law, saying, in fact, it is too weak and does not address the real drawbacks of the existing Wakf Act. Advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain, who is behind major causes like the Gyanvapi dispute in Varanasi or the one in Sambhal, said the JPC did not incorporate many of his key suggestions when he deposed before it. Jain advocates that the Acts provisions should not apply to private properties of Hindus, too, and those under the charge of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). The new law only puts government properties out of the Waqf. He also wants sections 28 and 29 of the Waqf Act repealed these provide for the district administration carrying out orders of the Waqf Board and empowers it to see government records. WHAT IS THE GOVERNMENT STRATEGY? So, what is the government strategy as it prepares to bring the Waqf Amendment Bill before Parliament? The government has defended the new law, saying some are trying to instil fear in and misguiding Muslims. It has described the new law as a crucial reform to enhance transparency, ensure gender equality, and streamline Waqf administration while addressing concerns related to misuse and unauthorised occupation. Ministers have said the amendments reflect a balanced approach, incorporating diverse perspectives and protecting the rights of beneficiaries, particularly women and marginalised communities. By strengthening governance and accountability mechanisms, the amendments aim to modernise Waqf management while preserving its religious and charitable intent. The new law will also ensure that adequate potential of Waqf properties is used, significantly benefiting the poor and women, as well as establishment of essential institutions such as hospitals, schools, colleges, and orphanages. The government also intends to provide financial security and end social marginalisation of widows, divorced women, and orphans in the Muslim community. The government feels that without these reforms, Waqf governance will continue to face inefficiencies, legal conflicts, and public grievances. Ensuring inclusivity is essential for Waqf institutions to fulfil their intended purpose and maximise their impact on society this is what the governments stand is. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The Narendra Modi-led government has denied any communal tone in the new law. The fact remains that Waqf Boards are administrative bodies, not religious institutions. In fact, the core function of Waqf Boards is regulatory, not religious. The government, in fact, has said it is mostly poor Muslims who are suffering from the mismanagement of Waqf boards, and that the Waqf property crisis is affecting even Muslims. It has said the new law is a progressive shift in Indias approach to Waqf governance, and a progressive precedent for Waqf administration globally. About the Author Aman Sharma Aman Sharma, Executive Editor - National Affairs at CNN-News18, and Bureau Chief at News18 in Delhi, has over two decades of experience in covering the wide spectrum of politics and the Prime Ministers Office.... Read More Aman Sharma, Executive Editor - National Affairs at CNN-News18, and Bureau Chief at News18 in Delhi, has over two decades of experience in covering the wide spectrum of politics and the Prime Ministers Office.... Read More First Published: March 31, 2025, 08:00 IST 'Will Get Slap On Face': Raj Thackeray Warns Those Refusing To Speak Marathi In Maharashtra Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 31, 2025, 09:56 IST Raj Thackeray cited Tamil Nadu's language row and said that they "dared to say no to Hindi". He warned to "slap" those refusing to speak Marathi in Maharashtra. MNS chief Raj Thackeray (PTI Image) Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray on Sunday said that his party would not refrain from slapping" people in the state if they refuse to speak Marathi in the state. He cited the Tamil Nadu language row and said that they dared" to say no to Hindi". Recommended Stories In our Mumbai, they tell us that they cannot speak Marathi. They will get a slap on the face. Dont tell me about the country and all. Every state has its language, and it must be respected. In Mumbai, Marathi should be respected," Thackeray said while addressing the MNS annual Gudhi Padwa rally at Shivaji Park in Mumbai. He asked the party workers to check every bank and establishment" from today to ascertain if Marathi is being used". All of you should stand firmly for Marathi. Look at Tamil Nadu. It dared to say no to Hindi. Even Kerala," he said. Notably, Tamil Nadu and the central governments have been at loggerheads over the National Education Policy, as the former accused the latter of attempting to impose" Hindi on the southern state. The Centre, on the other hand, accused the MK Stalin government of trying to mislead the people of the state on the issue of NEP. He further appealed to the people not to get divided on the basis of caste and said that the leaders are doing so to stop you from coming together as Marathis". I appeal to the youngsters of Maharashtra to first stop reading history on WhatsApp and from the caste point of view. This is being done to politically divide you, stop you from coming together as Marathis. It diverts our attention and works like giving lands to Adani are done silently," Thackeray said. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Commenting on the recent controversy over Aurangzebs tomb, the MNS chief said, We shouldnt destroy the structures of those defeated by the Marathas. The world should know that we buried them." He questioned the sudden focus on Aurangzeb, saying, A Hindu who wakes up after watching a film is of no use. History cant be learned through WhatsApp; you need to read books." Thackeray added. About the Author Ashesh Mallick Ashesh Mallick is a Sub-Editor with over three years of experience in news writing, video production. He primarily covers national news, politics and global affairs. You can follow him on Twitter: @MallickAshes... Read More Ashesh Mallick is a Sub-Editor with over three years of experience in news writing, video production. He primarily covers national news, politics and global affairs. You can follow him on Twitter: @MallickAshes... Read More First Published: March 31, 2025, 09:46 IST Arctic Faces Devastation As Heat Melts Ice, Forests Also At Risk, Warn Scientists Curated By : Translation Desk Last Updated: March 31, 2025, 17:15 IST A study warns Earth's temperature could rise by 4.9F by century's end, even with pollution curbs. The Arctic, warming four times faster, faces irreversible changes. Scientists urge clean energy In response to the Arctic's intense heat, scientists are employing a new AI tool capable of predicting changes in Arctic sea ice up to a year in advance. (Representative/AP File) The havoc wreaked by heat on Earth is rapidly on the rise. A recent study has stated that if current trends continue, Earths temperature could rise by 4.9 degrees Fahrenheit above pre-industrial levels by the end of the century. This alarming threshold will be breached even if countries uphold their pledges to curb pollution. The Arctic is bearing the brunt of this warming and will undergo irreversible changes. Recommended Stories Dirk Notz, a polar research professor at Hamburg University and co-author of the study, remarked, Today we have the power to erase entire landscapes from the Earth." He emphasised that understanding this power and responsibility places the Arctics future in our hands. The Arctic is warming four times faster than the global average, with dire consequences. The study indicates that daily temperatures in the Arctic will surpass pre-industrial peaks, the Arctic Ocean will lose its ice cover for several months each summer, Greenlands melting area will quadruple, and permafrost areas will shrink by half. These changes will not be limited to ice and water; forests, wildlife, and entire ecosystems are at risk of destruction, alongside significant damage to human settlements and infrastructure. Published in the journal Science, the study suggests that intensifying efforts to combat global warming could mitigate some of these losses. The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrations (NOAA) 2024 Arctic Report Card has revealed another troubling development: the Arctic is now emitting carbon dioxide instead of absorbing it. This alarming news has set off alarm bells among scientists. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all In response to the Arctics intense heat, scientists are employing a new AI tool capable of predicting changes in Arctic sea ice up to a year in advance. This model aims to assist policymakers in devising strategies to protect this fragile region. However, significant measures are required to halt this warming by the centurys end. Transitioning to clean and affordable energy sources is imperative. Scientists stress the importance of public participation in this endeavour, advocating for the installation of solar panels, the adoption of induction stoves, and the use of electric vehicles (EVs). These changes not only contribute to cooling the Earth but also reduce electricity bills. News18's viral page features trending stories, videos , and memes, covering quirky incidents, social media buzz from india and around the world, Also Download the News18 App to stay updated! First Published: March 31, 2025, 17:15 IST This Girl Visited 3 Countries In Just 3 Seconds. Here's How You Can Too | Watch Curated By : Translation Desk Last Updated: March 31, 2025, 15:25 IST A recent viral video appears to show a girl visiting three countries in just three seconds without the hassle of different visas. At first, this may seem unbelievable, but it is true, and the video has garnered more than 6 lakh likes on Instagram In the footage, Samrangy stands at a unique point where the borders of Germany, the Netherlands, and Belgium meet. (News18 Hindi) There is no shortage of people who love to explore the farthest corners of the world. Such individuals often venture to different parts of their country and the globe. Within a country, there are no restrictions on movement, nor are any documents or permits required. However, when travelling abroad, everything from a passport to a visa is necessary. Some countries offer a visa-on-arrival facility, making the journey slightly easier, while others require a visa permit in advance. If you wish to visit multiple countries at once, the documentation process alone can be time-consuming and expensive. Recommended Stories A recent viral video appears to show a girl visiting three countries in just three seconds without the hassle of different visas. At first, this may seem unbelievable, but it is true, and the video has garnered more than 6 lakh views on Instagram. The video, shared by Samrangy Sadhu Jhilik (jhilik.sadhu), is captioned, Famous three-country point near the city of Aachen." In the footage, Samrangy stands at a unique point where the borders of Germany, the Netherlands, and Belgium meet. With a simple jump, she moves between all three countries in a matter of seconds. Interestingly, this location has no military presence from any of these nations. The spot is divided among Germany, the Netherlands, and Belgium, allowing travellers to step into any of the three with ease. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Samrangy Sadhu (Jhilik) (@jhilik.sadhu) This raises the question of whether one can visit these countries without a visa. The answer is yes. European nations offer a Schengen visa, which allows free movement across 27 European countries. These include Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland. Although Norway and Switzerland are not part of the European Union, they still accept the Schengen visa for entry. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Thousands of people have liked and shared it, with hundreds of comments pouring in. One user, Feroze Vellukuzhi, asked, Where is the passport control?" Another wondered, Can we travel there by train?" Gerard Macbella requested the exact location, while Carlos Carrion posed an intriguing question: If a pregnant woman gives birth at this three-country point, what would be the childs nationality?" Another comment humorously noted, We could try this with India, Pakistan, and China, but sadly, we wouldnt live to see it." News18's viral page features trending stories, videos , and memes, covering quirky incidents, social media buzz from india and around the world, Also Download the News18 App to stay updated! First Published: March 31, 2025, 15:25 IST 5 Chinese Men Arrested In Bangkok For Trying To Remove Critical Documents From Quake-Hit Site Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 31, 2025, 10:16 IST The five Chinese nationals allegedly entered the restricted zone in the building that collapsed due to earthquake last week, according to reports. Chinese nationals arrested in Thailand (Photo: X/ @The_PattayaNews) Five Chinese nationals were arrested in Thailands Chatuchak district for entering a restricted area and removing critical documents from the site of a collapsed building after two powerful earthquakes had rocked the city last week. The police said that they violated an official directive and tried to remove documents, including blueprints and other paperwork, from the premises, according to local media reports. Recommended Stories The incident was reported after an under-construction 33-storey office building in Bangkoks Chatuchak district collapsed on March 28 due to the earthquake, which originated in Myanmar, killing over 1,700 people. The site was declared a restricted disaster zone by the authorities after the tragedy. According to Thai media reports, the five Chinese nationals entered the site without due permission and were observed by witnesses taking the documents out of the restricted zone. The documents allegedly contained architectural blueprints and other building project materials, raising concerns about their intent. A legal officers complaint, filed on March 30, 2025, seeks to hold them accountable for violating the emergency order issued by Bangkoks Governor. The collapsed building was being constructed by a joint venture involving a Chinese firm and a prominent Thai construction company. The police said that at least one of the arrested persons claimed to be a project director linked to the construction company, holding work permits and documents proving their link to the joint venture. They said that no attempts were being made to cover up anything and the documents were only being taken away for routine insurance purposes. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Authorities have not confirmed whether this justification exempts them from the entry ban. The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) insisted that only those with explicit approval from the Bangkok Governor can access the site, as reinforced by posted warnings and legal notices. The investigation is underway as police and district officials work together to investigate the full extent of the violation and the importance of the removed documents that have now been recovered. 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 : Bangkok, Thailand First Published: March 31, 2025, 10:02 IST 84-year-old Man Dies After Attack By XL Bully. How Dangerous Is This Dog Breed? Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 31, 2025, 19:47 IST An 84-year-old man attacked by an XL bully dog in Warrington, UK, on February 24 has died. The dog was destroyed. A 30-year-old man faces charges. A 30-year-old man has been charged with owning a dangerously out of control dog causing serious injury and two counts under the Dangerous Dogs Act. (Photo: X) A man who was attacked by an XL bully dog in Warrington, UK, last month has passed away. The incident occurred on 24 February while the 84-year-old was walking along Bardsley Avenue. The XL bully is believed to have escaped from a nearby house. Armed officers destroyed the dog and another dog inside the property. Officers fired 19 shots, all of which hit their targets, according to police. Cheshire Police reported that the man died in hospital on Sunday, Sky News reported. Recommended Stories Detective Inspector Simon Mills said that the victim fought valiantly since the attack, but unfortunately, his injuries were too severe. A 30-year-old man has been charged with owning a dangerously out-of-control dog causing serious injury and two counts under the Dangerous Dogs Act. Following the mans death, the Crown Prosecution Service will now decide if the charges will be upgraded. In February 2024, it became a criminal offence to own the XL bully breed in England and Wales without an exemption certificate. Owners must have the dogs neutered, microchipped, and kept muzzled and on a lead in public, among other restrictions. Dog Attacks The government banned the breed following a series of attacks on people and other dogs. Pit Bull Terriers, Japanese Tosas, Dogo Argentinos, Fila Brasileiros, and XL Bully dogs are among the breeds banned in the UK. In 2023-24, there were nearly 11,000 hospital admissions due to dog bites in England, according to NHS England. In Wales, dog attacks led to over 600 hospital admissions, while Scotland saw more than 1,100, BBC reported. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) recorded seven fatalities from dog attacks in England and Wales during 2023-24, noting that this figure might be underestimated due to delays in registration. Official data does not specify the number of attacks or deaths by dog breed. When the previous government announced the XL Bully ban in England and Wales, it stated that the breed had been disproportionately involved" in recorded deaths since. There have been several cases where XL Bully dogs have fatally attacked their owners and children. How Dangerous Are XL Bully Dogs? An XL bully is the largest type of American bully dog. The UK government has issued guidance to help identify XL bullies, which are not recognised as a distinct breed. They are characterised as large dogs with a muscular build and a blocky head, indicating significant strength and power. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Male XL dogs are at least 20 inches (51 cm) tall at the shoulder, with females being slightly smaller. Dogs are classified as XLs if they meet the minimum height and many other characteristics. In 2023, XL Bullies comprised less than 1% of the dog population in Britain, yet according to Bully Watch UK, they were responsible for 44% of dog attacks on people. Estimates suggest this breed is 270 times more dangerous than all other dog breeds combined. Their lineage contributes to their aggressive behaviour. About the Author Saurabh Verma Saurabh Verma covers general, national and international day-to-day news for News18.com as a Senior Sub-editor. He keenly observes politics. You can follow him on Twitter --twitter.com/saurabhkverma19 Saurabh Verma covers general, national and international day-to-day news for News18.com as a Senior Sub-editor. He keenly observes politics. You can follow him on Twitter --twitter.com/saurabhkverma19 Location : London, United Kingdom (UK) First Published: March 31, 2025, 19:36 IST Who Are The Dirty 15 Nations In Donald Trumps Reciprocal Tariff Crosshairs? Published By : AFP Last Updated: March 31, 2025, 16:19 IST The Dirty 15, as US President Trumps Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, are a group of countries who have large trade imbalances with the US. US President Donald Trump holds an executive order about tariffs increase, flanked by US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, US. (IMAGE: REUTERS) The clock is ticking down to Donald Trumps Liberation Day" when the US president has threatened to unleash a wide range of tariffs against countries running persistent trade imbalances with the United States. The move which comes as Trump has been making unprecedented use of presidential powers is driven by his insistence that the worlds biggest economy has been ripped off by every country in the world" and his conviction that reciprocal tariffs are needed to restore parity. Recommended Stories But critics warn that the strategy risks a global trade war, provoking further retaliation by major trading partners like China, Canada and the European Union. The size of the levies to be announced on Wednesday will vary from country to country and the precise plans remain murky. Expect the unexpected," said Ryan Sweet, chief US economist at Oxford Economics. He expects the Trump administration to take aim at some of the largest offenders." But what matters ultimately is how broad-based the tariffs are and whether the tool is merely a negotiating tactic or part of a regime shift, he said. Trump on Sunday dashed hopes he might scale back, saying his tariffs would include all countries." Youd start with all countries, so lets see what happens," the president told reporters onboard Air Force One. Weve been talking about all countries, not a cutoff," he said, insisting however that his tariffs would be far more generous" than those levied against the United States. US trade partners have been rushing to minimize their exposure ahead of Trumps deadline, with reports suggesting India might lower some duties. Besides the reciprocal country tariffs, Trump could also unveil additional sector-specific levies on the likes of pharmaceuticals and semiconductors. These would come on top of new auto levies due to take effect Thursday. Already, China and Canada have imposed counter-tariffs on US goods in response to Trumps earlier actions, while the EU unveiled its own measures due to start in mid-April. European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde said Monday that Europe was facing an existential moment." He calls it Liberation Day in the United States. I see it as a moment when we must collectively decide to take greater control of our destiny and I think it is a step towards independence," she told France Inter radio. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney told Trump his government would impose retaliatory tariffs after Washingtons action Wednesday. Dirty 15 Before Trumps comments on Sunday, the upcoming salvo had been expected to target the 15 percent of partners that have persistent trade imbalances with the United States, a group that US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent called a Dirty 15." The United States has its biggest goods deficits with parties including China, the EU, Mexico, Vietnam, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, Canada and India. With countries seeking compromise, it is entirely possible" for fresh tariffs to be swiftly reduced or put on hold, said Greta Peisch, partner at law firm Wiley Rein. In February, she noted, steep levies on Mexican and Canadian imports were paused for a month as the North American neighbors furthered negotiations. There are many different scenarios: delays while talks continue, potential reductions or tariffs being put in place immediately," said Peisch, a former official at the US Trade Representatives office. Dark cloud Sweet of Oxford Economics warned that a dark cloud of uncertainty" hangs over the economy. Some domestic steel manufacturers and union leaders have welcomed Trumps recent tariff hikes on metals and autos. But while his proposals are meant to revitalize US industry, they have alarmed many other industries. The American Automotive Policy Council, which represents carmakers Ford, General Motors and Stellantis, cited a report Friday by economist Arthur Laffer, which noted that 25-percent auto tariffs stand to raise US vehicle costs and disrupt supply chains. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all While stressing its commitment to Trumps economic vision, the council urged for a fair and predictable trade environment." In a letter Thursday, the International Fresh Produce Association cautioned that proposed US tariffs and other countries retaliation threaten the stability of farmers and businesses. About the Author Shankhyaneel Sarkar Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has covered sev... Read More Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has covered sev... Read More Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA) First Published: March 31, 2025, 15:42 IST Cant Blame Anybody: Sunita Williams Says Spacecraft Needs Minor Fixes After Delayed Return Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: April 01, 2025, 00:52 IST Originally intended as an eight-day mission, Williams and her fellow Crew-9 astronaut Butch Wilmore's stay aboard the ISS was unexpectedly delayed to eight months NASA astronaut Sunita Williams (File image) NASA astronaut Sunita Williams opened up on Monday about her extended stay at the International Space Station (ISS), saying that there is nobody to blame and noting that a few issues with the spacecraft need to be resolved. Originally intended as an eight-day mission, Williams and her fellow Crew-9 astronaut Butch Wilmores stay was unexpectedly delayed to eight months due to technical issues with the Boeing Starliner spacecraft they launched on June 5, 2024. Recommended Stories The spacecraft is capable of space programmes. Its a great spacecraft and has a lot of capabilities that others dont have. There are a couple of things that need to be fixed and our folks are actively working on that," she said. Adding to the statement, Wilmore said, We all are responsible. We need to look forward, cannot sit and blame anybody. We are going to rectify the issues." The duo splashed down off the Florida coast on March 18 aboard the Crew Dragon spacecraft by Elon Musks SpaceX, nine months after being stranded in space. Williams, who was joined by fellow Crew-9 astronauts Nick Hague and Butch Wilmore during the post-flight press briefing hosted by NASA, further shared her insights on their historic journey to space. We werent aware of what was going on down there on Earth. The world does not revolve around us but (actually) we were revolving around the world," Williams said. She further added that up there in space she and her colleague Butch Wilmore were focused on the job at hand in a tunnel vision" mode. Williams further added that she was honoured" that people were paying attention. I am very thankful for people paying attention. It is good for space exploration," she said. I want to say thanks, SpaceX really got us ready to go", she further added. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Their extended mission marks the sixth-longest spaceflight by a US astronaut. However, the record is still held by Frank Rubio, who spent 371 days in orbit after a coolant leak in the Russian Soyuz spacecraft led to an unexpected extension of his mission. He eventually returned to Earth in September 2023 aboard a replacement Soyuz. 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 : United States of America (USA) First Published: April 01, 2025, 00:46 IST Saudi Arabia To Join Abraham Accords? Trump Plans Riyadh Trip As First Foreign Visit: Report Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 31, 2025, 14:22 IST Donald Trump is planning to visit Saudi Arabia in mid May as his first foreign trip in the second term, according to a report. Donald Trump to visit Saudi Arabia in May (Reuters Image) US President Donald Trump is planning to visit Saudi Arabia in May this year which will be his first foreign trip in his second term at the White House, Axios reported, citing two officials. This comes as the White House has singled out Saudi Arabia as a possible participant in the Abraham Accords a series of agreements initiated in 2020 to normalise ties between Israel and several Arab and Muslim-majority countries. Recommended Stories Saudi Arabia has been taking a prominent role in the USs attempts to end the war between Russia and Ukraine as it hosted a dialogue between the US and Russia and then the US and Ukraine. Will Saudi Arabia Join Abraham Accords? According to the report, plans to normalise Israel-Saudi relations are currently on the back burner" due to Riyadhs condition that the plan must include Palestinian statehood which is a non-starter for Israel. However, last week, Trump said more nations would join the Abraham Accords, which were negotiated during his first term. Israel, UAE, Bahrain, Morocco, and Sudan were among the signatories of the Accord on September 15, 2020. Earlier this month, Trump said that he would likely travel to Saudi Arabia as his first foreign trip in this administration to seal an agreement for Riyadh an investment of $1 trillion in the US economy, which also includes procurement of military equipment. He said on March 6 that he would likely visit within the next month and a half. He also recalled that his first overseas trip in 2017 was to Riyadh, where he announced Saudi investments estimated at $350 billion. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The report also said that the trip was discussed in recent weeks between senior US officials and their Saudi counterparts. A source told Times of Israel that April 28 was discussed as a potential date for Trumps visit, however, it was postponed. The current plan is for his travel to Saudi Arabia in mid-May, Axios reported. 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 31, 2025, 14:03 IST 'They Ripped Us Off': Donald Trump Renews Reciprocal Tariff Warning As April 2 Deadline Nears Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 31, 2025, 08:20 IST Donald Trump announced plans to impose reciprocal tariffs on all nations, expanding beyond the initial focus on 1015 countries with trade imbalances. US President Donald Trump (Photo: Reuters) Donald Trump has said he is set to announce reciprocal tariffs to include all nations, not just a smaller group of 10 to 15 countries with the biggest trade imbalances, and said the tariffs would be far more generous" than the countries were to the United States. They will be kinder, than those countries were to the United States of America over the decades. They ripped us apart, like no country has ever been ripped off in history," Trump said on being asked about tariffs while speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One. Recommended Stories Youd start with all countries," he told reporters, adding, Essentially all of the countries that were talking about." Boom Town USA- President Donald Trump answered questions from reporters Sunday while aboard Air Force One. He discussed tariffs and was asked to clarify previous remarks on the idea of a third term in office. pic.twitter.com/QTG4ejdLOH Karli Bonne (@KarluskaP) March 31, 2025 Earlier, Trump said the reciprocal tariffs could be announced this week, possibly Wednesday, which he previously dubbed Liberation Day. He has already imposed tariffs on aluminium, steel and autos, along with increased tariffs on all goods from China. Last week, speaking in Washington, DC, Trump said, We have been very nice to a lot of countries for a long time. But I call April 2 a Liberation Day. We will be announcing some additional tariffs over the next few days related to automobiles, cars, chips, and more." April 2 will be a big day, and we will be bringing back some of the money that has been taken from us," Trump had said. VIDEO | Washington DC: US President Donald Trump (@realDonaldTrump) says, We have been very nice to a lot of countries for a long time. But I call April 2 a Liberation Day We will be announcing some additional tariffs over the next few days related to automobiles, cars, pic.twitter.com/UsojFEVd0z Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) March 24, 2025 According to Reuters, White House economics adviser Kevin Hassett recently told Fox Business that the administrations tariffs focus would be on 10 to 15 countries with the worst trade imbalances, though he did not list them. Trump sees tariffs as a way of protecting the domestic economy from unfair global competition and a bargaining chip for better terms for the US. However, concerns about a trade war are unsettling markets and creating fears of a recession in the US. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Trump has said he will impose a suite of reciprocal tariffs against nations that charge fees on US exports, promising to match those countries duties. In February, Trump signed a memorandum that directed US trade officials to go country by country and put together a list of tailored counter-measures. About the Author Vani Mehrotra Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has nearly 10 years of experience in both national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks. Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has nearly 10 years of experience in both national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks. First Published: March 31, 2025, 07:56 IST Future Looks Bright For Pak-Bangladesh Ties: Shehbaz Sharif Dials Yunus, Invites Him To Islamabad Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 31, 2025, 14:52 IST Shehbaz Sharif dialled Muhammad Yunus and reaffirmed "shared commitment" to strengthen relations between Pakistan and Bangladesh. Shehbaz Sharif and Muhammad Yunus (Photo: X/ Shehbaz Sharif) Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday had a telephonic conversation with Bangladesh chief adviser Muhammad Yunus to exchange Eid greetings and invited him to Islamabad at his convenience". Mentioning the scheduled visit of Pakistans Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar to Dhaka on April 22 the first Bangladesh visit by a Pakistani FM since 2012 Sharif said that the future looks bright" for the ties of both the countries. Recommended Stories He also said that both leaders reaffirmed shared commitment" to strengthen ties between the two nations. Had a pleasant telephone conversation with H.E. Prof. Dr. Muhammad Yunus, Chief Adviser of Bangladesh @ChiefAdviserGoB. Exchanged Eid ul Fitr greetings and reaffirmed our shared commitment to further strengthen Pakistan-Bangladesh ties. Looking forward to DPM/FMs visit to Dhaka on 22 April accompanied by a trade delegation," Sharif posted on X. Had a pleasant telephone conversation with H.E. Prof. Dr. Muhammad Yunus, Chief Adviser of Bangladesh @ChiefAdviserGoB. Exchanged Eid ul Fitr greetings and reaffirmed our shared commitment to further strengthen Pakistan-Bangladesh ties. Looking forward to DPM/FMs visit to Dhaka Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) March 31, 2025 Reiterated my cordial invitation to Dr. Yunus to visit Pakistan at his convenience and invited a cultural troupe from Bangladesh to come to Pakistan, with the legendary Ms. Runa Laila. The future looks bright for Pakistan-Bangladesh ties," he added. Notably, Hina Rabbani Khar was the last Pakistani foreign minister to have travelled to Dhaka to invite then PM Sheikh Hasina for the D-8 Summit. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The relationship between the two countries remained strained during the 15-year term of Hasina; however, since her ouster from Bangladesh in August last year, they have worked to amend ties and grow proximity. The top leaders of both countries have had several meetings. Bangladesh has also removed restrictions on Pakistani exports, helping boost trade between them. They have also started direct sea trade. 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 : Islamabad, Pakistan First Published: March 31, 2025, 14:51 IST Hamas Begins Brutal Crackdown On Gaza Protesters; 6 Executed, Others Tortured, Kidnapped Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 31, 2025, 17:37 IST Thousands of Palestinians protested in northern Gaza to demand an end to the war, chanting "Hamas out" in a rare dissent towards the militant group responsible for the 15-month war. Palestinians protest to demand an end to war, chanting anti-Hamas slogans in northern Gaza. (Reuters/File) After 15 months of war led to the largest anti-Hamas protest in the Gaza Strip recently, the Palestinian militant group has begun cracking down on these demonstrations by executing, torturing and kidnapping several Gazans, according to reports from Israeli media. Hamas, deemed as a terrorist organisation in several countries, has reportedly executed at least six Gazans and publicly beaten others, including 22-year-old Odai Rubai. This came after thousands of Gazans protested against Hamas for three days. Recommended Stories A Gaza City resident told Sky News that Odai al-Rubai was dragged by a rope around his neck, beaten with clubs and metal rods in front of passersby. A video went viral showing more than a dozen Hamas operatives opening fire on three men. Mazen Shat, a senior police official affiliated with Hamas rival Fatah, said another protester was kidnapped and returned dead to his familys home days later. 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," he told the UKs Telegraph.. More chilling details include 17 other Palestinians being shot in the feet for allegedly raising prices, according to The Times of Israel. Hamas has regularly issued death sentences for people it says were found guilty of collaboration" with Israel, executing dozens of Palestinians in recent years. Massive Anti-Hamas Protests In Gaza Last week, thousands of Palestinians protested in northern Gaza to demand an end to the war, chanting Hamas Out" in a rare public show of opposition to the group, which sparked the war by raiding Israel on October 7, 2023, and killing 1,200 people. Out, out, out, Hamas get out," people are heard chanting in this clip. One witness said it was a spontaneous rally against the war, because people are tired and they have no place to go". More than 50,000 Palestinians have been killed, 20 million have been displaced and most of the enclave has been reduced to rubble. WATCH: Hundreds of Palestinians in northern Gaza, one of the most devastated areas due to conflict, have publicly protested Hamas, demanding an end to war. This is a rare show of opposition to the militant group https://t.co/ACARKpxH0h pic.twitter.com/XrTkRTrQEs Reuters Asia (@ReutersAsia) March 26, 2025 Israel resumed its strikes on Gaza last week after talks on a ceasefire fell through, saying its goal was to completely dismantle Hamas. Since then, more than 900 people, mostly women and children, have been killed, according to Palestinian health officials. Tired and homeless, many Palestinians have demanded an end to the war and have organised several anti-Hamas protests across Gaza. If Hamas leaving power in Gaza is the solution, why doesnt Hamas give up power to protect the people?" said Majdi, a protester. Sam Habeeb, a Gazan who now lives in London and is a former parliamentary candidate for Ealing North, told The Telegraph that it was the first time Gaza witnessed such large-scale protests" since Hamas violently took control of the Strip in 2007. Protests in Gaza have occurred over the years and have usually been suppressed quickly by Hamas. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Late last week, Hamas and other terror groups in Gaza published a statement promising to crack down and punish protest organisers. These suspicious individuals are as responsible as the occupation for the bloodshed of our people and will be treated accordingly," the statement read. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was quick to say the protests showed his renewed military offensive was working. On Wednesday, he told lawmakers that Israel would seize territory in Gaza if Hamas refuses to release all remaining hostages. 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 31, 2025, 17:37 IST Indian Intelligence Agencies Raise Alarm Over Nepals Demographic Shift | Exclusive Reported By : CNN-News18 Edited By: Apoorva Misra Last Updated: March 31, 2025, 11:21 IST The change in population has expanded terror routes into India, with ISI utilising Nepal to fund terrorism in India, particularly in Jammu and Kashmir, with cash transfers via local youth The Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) played a crucial role in creating favourable conditions for Muslim settlement, establishing legal environments with job quotas and funding for madrasas in 2015. (AFP) Intelligence agencies in India are wary of the demographic shift in Nepal where the Muslim population has significantly increased from 4.2 per cent in 2001 to 5.09 per cent in 2021, especially after the monarchys abolition. The Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) played a crucial role in creating favourable conditions for Muslim settlement, establishing legal environments with job quotas and funding for madrasas in 2015. According to sources, politicians have been manipulating the situation to retain power and amass wealth, leading to a notable rise in the Muslim population near the Indo-Nepal border. The proliferation of madrasas and mosques in these regions is causing demographic shifts and raising security concerns. Recommended Stories Muslim migrants, including Rohingyas from Myanmar, have settled in Nepal as part of a larger strategy. Post-monarchy, Muslim communities have organised initiatives like community radio stations, schools, and charities in cities such as Nepalgunj. In Kapilvastu district, Muslims constitute 18 per cent of the population, and Islamic influence is prominent. Over the past decade, more than 400 mosques and madrasas have been constructed near the Nepal-India border in areas like Uttarakhand and UP, the sources told CNN-News18. In Krishnanagar, multiple madrasas, including Darul Salaam, educate students from both India and Nepal. Reports indicate that Hindu symbols on homes in border villages are being replaced with Islamic markings like 786. This demographic shift has expanded terror routes into India. The ISI has utilised Nepal to fund terrorism in India, particularly in Jammu and Kashmir, with cash transfers occurring via local youth in 2021. Nepalese businessmen have facilitated cash handovers to conduits in India. Organisations like the Indian Mujahideen, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and Jaish-e-Mohammad have also used Nepal as a hub, as noted in a 2019 US State Department report. Districts such as Banke, Parsa, and Rautahat have significant numbers of madrasas, nearly 4,000, mostly near the border. Muslim populations in Banke (16 per cent), Parsa (17 per cent), and Rautahat (17.2 per cent) are notably concentrated. Key madrasas and mosques include Aisha Banaat Madrasa in Nepalgunj (Banke district), Jama Masjid Rahmaniya in Bhairahawa (Rupandehi district), and Shreepur Mosque Madrasa in Birgunj (Parsa district). top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all These 4,000 madrasas near the Indo-Nepal border are under scrutiny for foreign funding, particularly from Pakistan and Gulf countries. The porous border between the two countries facilitates cross-border movement and institutional growth. In Nepals Dang district, Muslim leaders dominate village councils and government schemes, disproportionately benefiting Muslim residents. In the Garhwa area, 602 out of 839 beneficiaries of government schemes are Muslims. About the Author Manoj Gupta Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18 Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18 Location : Nepal First Published: March 31, 2025, 11:21 IST Iran Prepares Launch-Ready Missiles For Potential Response After Trump's 'Bombing' Threat: Report Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 31, 2025, 07:15 IST Iran has readied launch-ready missiles in underground facilities designed to withstand airstrikes, following Trump's threats of bombing and additional tariffs, a report has claimed. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian (L)/ US President Donald Trump (R) (Photos: Reuters) Hours after US President Donald Trump on Sunday threatened Iran with bombing and secondary tariffs, the armed forces in Iran have reportedly readied missiles for a potential response. According to a report with the Tehran Times, a significant number of launch-ready missiles have been located in underground facilities scattered across the country, designed to withstand airstrikes. Recommended Stories Trump, had threatened Iran with bombings and secondary tariffs if Tehran did not come to an agreement with Washington over its nuclear program. In his first remarks since Iran rejected direct negotiations with Washington last week, he told NBC News that the US and Iranian officials were talking, but did not elaborate. If they dont make a deal, there will be bombing," Trump said in a telephone interview. It will be bombing the likes of which they have never seen before." 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. In response, Iran sent a letter to Trump through Oman, urging Tehran to reach a new nuclear deal, saying its policy was to not engage in direct negotiations with the United States while under its maximum pressure campaign and military threats, Tehrans foreign minister was quoted as saying on Thursday. In the interview, Trump also threatened so-called secondary tariffs, which affect buyers of a countrys goods, on both Russia and Iran. He signed an executive order last week authorizing such tariffs on buyers of Venezuelan oil. Trump did not elaborate on those potential tariffs. In his first 2017-21 term, Trump withdrew the US from a 2015 deal between Iran and world powers that placed strict limits on Tehrans disputed nuclear activities in exchange for sanctions relief. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Trump also reimposed sweeping US sanctions. Since then, the Islamic Republic has far surpassed the agreed limits in its escalating program of uranium enrichment. Tehran has so far rebuffed Trumps warning to make a deal or face military consequences. About the Author Vani Mehrotra Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has nearly 10 years of experience in both national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks. Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has nearly 10 years of experience in both national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks. First Published: March 31, 2025, 07:09 IST 'You'll Get A New Wife, Better Kids': Freed Israeli Hostage Who Lost Family Recalls Hamas Horror Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 31, 2025, 14:18 IST Yarden Bibas, a freed Israeli hostage, revealed that his Hamas captors taunted him about his family's fate, only for him to later learn his wife and two young children were killed in captivity. Hamas fighters escort Israeli hostage Yarden Bibas on a stage before handing him over to a Red Cross team in Khan Yunis on February 1, 2025 (Photo: AFP) Yarden Bibas, one of the hostages released from Gaza captivity in early February, has revealed his captors used to taunt him over his familys fate and told him he would get a new and better wife and better kids. In his first media interview since being freed in a ceasefire last month, Yarden Bibas told CBS 60 Minutes on Sunday that he was held in Hamas underground tunnels, and defined the Israeli strikes as terrifying". Recommended Stories Youre afraid for your life," he said. Everything could collapse at any moment." He said his captors, who had taunted him over his familys fate, told him Youll get a new wife. New kids. Better wife. Better kids." Bibas, upon his release, learnt that his wife and two young children were killed in captivity in Gaza. Later, in a Facebook post, Bibas mentioned that Israels return to fighting brought him back to Gaza, where he feared for his life. Military pressure endangers hostages, an agreement brings them back," he said. The bodies of Bibass two young children Ariel and Kfir Bibas, were returned a day before their mother Shiri Bibass remains were returned by Hamas. According to the Associated Press, Hamas said the three were killed in an Israeli airstrike, while Israel says forensic testing showed the boys were killed in captivity in November 2023. While Ariel was four years old, Kfir was nine months old at the time of the abduction, making him the youngest captive taken by Hamas. Kfir, the infant with red hair and a toothless smile, became a symbol across Israel for the feelings of helplessness and anger over the hostages captivity, AP stated. As on March 17, an Israeli campaign to support Yarden had raised around $1.7 million in just 24 hours, after the grandfather of the children launched the All for Yarden Bibas fundraiser, to help his 35-year-old son rebuild his life physically, emotionally and financially", AFP reported. Yarden buried his wife and children on February 26. Hamas-led militants took 251 hostages during their October 7, 2023, attack that launched the war in Gaza. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Fifty-nine hostages remain in Gaza, roughly half of whom are believed to be dead. The others were released in previous agreements, rescued, or their bodies were recovered. Israels military campaign has killed over 48,000 Palestinians, according to Gazas Health Ministry, which does not say how many were fighters but says more than half were women or children. About the Author Vani Mehrotra Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has nearly 10 years of experience in both national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks. Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has nearly 10 years of experience in both national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks. First Published: March 31, 2025, 14:18 IST Musk Runs On Stage Wearing A Cheesehead Hat, Then Signs And Throws It To The Crowd | Watch Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 31, 2025, 08:05 IST Elon took the stage in Green Bay ahead of a Wisconsin Supreme Court election, and highlighted the importance of the judicial race, into which he has invested over USD 20 million. Elon Musk wearing a Cheesehead hat (Screengrab of video shared on X) Elon Musk, on Sunday (US local time), was spotted wearing a cheesehead hat while speaking to a crowd in Wisconsin. The Tesla owner, who notably also gave out $1 million cheques on Sunday to two Wisconsin voters, declaring them spokespersons for his political group, threw his hat into the crowd after signing it. A video of the same is also making the rounds on the internet. The short clip shows Musk waving on stage as the crowd cheers loudly for him. Recommended Stories Thanks for coming," says Musk. What do you think of my hat?" he asks the crowd, which responds with loud cheers. I am gonna sign the hat, I am gonna throw it out," Musk adds before tossing the hat into the crowd. BREAKING: Elon Musk takes the stage in Wisconsin and throws a signed Cheesehead hat into the crowd pic.twitter.com/h48NKA0Bi1 America (@america) March 31, 2025 Musk took the stage in Green Bay ahead of a Wisconsin Supreme Court election, and highlighted the importance of the judicial race, into which he has invested over $20 million. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all He noted that the state Supreme Courts involvement in redistricting could help Democrats gain two more US House seats. The House majority is now razor thin," Musk stated. And if the (Wisconsin) Supreme Court is able to redraw the districts, they will gerrymander the district and deprive Wisconsin of two seats on the Republican side. Then they will try to stop all the government reforms we are getting done, for you the American people," he added. Location : United States of America (USA) First Published: March 31, 2025, 07:55 IST Myanmar Earthquake: Before-And-After Satellite Images Show Widespread Destruction Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 31, 2025, 14:13 IST Rescuers search for survivors after a 7.7-magnitude earthquake hit Myanmar, causing over 1,700 deaths. The quake damaged buildings and bridges, including the Mahamuni Pagoda and Inwa Bridge. Meanwhile, satellite images released by Maxar Technologies show that the earthquake caused widespread damage to buildings and a bridge in Myanmar.(Photo: Maxar Technologies) Rescuers are still searching for survivors more than three days after a devastating 7.7-magnitude earthquake hit Myanmar. The quake toppled buildings as far away as Bangkok and sent tremors through nearby Chinese provinces. The first 72 hours after a quake are considered the golden" window for rescuing victims buried under rubble, as survival chances diminish rapidly without a water source after this period. Recommended Stories Explained: Why Is Myanmar Earthquake-Prone And What Is The Sagaing Fault? Authorities confirm at least 1,700 deaths in Myanmar, with the largest earthquake in over a century to strike the war-torn country. Experts fear the true death toll could take weeks to emerge. Meanwhile, satellite images released by Maxar Technologies show that the earthquake caused widespread damage to buildings and a bridge in Myanmar. Mahamuni Pagoda In Mandalay A satellite image showed significant damage to the Mahamuni Pagoda, one of the countrys most sacred Buddhist sites. The top image shows the structures in ruins after collapsing due to the March 27 earthquake, while the bottom image, taken on March 23, depicts the area intact. Inwa Bridge In Mandalay Satellite images highlight the collapse of the Inwa Bridge over the Irrawaddy River near Mandalay, Myanmar. The top image, taken after the March 27 earthquake, shows the damaged structure, while the bottom image, captured on March 23, displays the bridge intact. Myanmar Buildings Several buildings in the vicinity of the earthquake epicentre collapsed in Mandalay. Myanmar Earthquake The epicenter was in Myanmars central Sagaing region, near Mandalay, home to around 1.5 million people and multiple historic sites. Fridays quake is the deadliest natural disaster to hit Myanmar in years, further exacerbating the issues caused by the ongoing civil war, which has damaged communication networks, health infrastructure, and left millions without adequate food and shelter. Myanmar Earthquake: 5 Strongest And Deadliest Quakes Ever Recorded Worldwide The US Geological Survey (USGS) estimated that the final death toll could surpass 10,000 people based on early modeling. In Bangkok, hundreds of miles from the epicenter, 18 people were killed, including 11 who died in a building collapse. Search and rescue operations continue for around 80 missing people. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Thousands of people are spending nights on the streets or in open spaces due to the destruction of homes and fear of further quakes. A hospital in Naypyidaw partially collapsed, trapping patients. Nearly 1,700 houses, 670 monasteries, 60 schools, and three bridges were reported damaged, with concerns for the structural integrity of large dams. About the Author Saurabh Verma Saurabh Verma covers general, national and international day-to-day news for News18.com as a Senior Sub-editor. He keenly observes politics. You can follow him on Twitter --twitter.com/saurabhkverma19 Saurabh Verma covers general, national and international day-to-day news for News18.com as a Senior Sub-editor. He keenly observes politics. You can follow him on Twitter --twitter.com/saurabhkverma19 Location : Myanmar (Burma) First Published: March 31, 2025, 14:10 IST Myanmar Earthquake: Trapped For More Than Two Days, Woman Rescued From Rubble | Watch Last Updated: March 31, 2025, 11:30 IST Mandalay is near the epicentre of the 7.7-magnitude earthquake on Friday that wreaked mass devastation in Myanmar and damage in neighbouring Thailand Myanmar earthquake rescue operation is underway (AP Image file) Rescuers freed a woman from the ruins of a hotel in Myanmar, officials said on Monday, a glimmer of hope three days after a massive earthquake that killed around 2,000 as searchers in Myanmar and Thailand raced against time to find more survivors. The woman was pulled from the rubble after 60 hours trapped under the collapsed Great Wall Hotel in the city of Mandalay after a 5-hour operation by Chinese, Russian and local teams, according to a Chinese embassy Facebook post. It said she was in stable condition early on Monday. Recommended Stories Russian rescuers saved a woman who had been trapped under the rubble for more than two days following an earthquake in the city of Mandalay, Myanmar.Rescue workers from Russia have been operating in Myanmar for two days now. https://t.co/ik4Fa2NKFE pic.twitter.com/psjnGEyqYc Sputnik (@SputnikInt) March 31, 2025 Mandalay is near the epicentre of the 7.7-magnitude earthquake on Friday that wreaked mass devastation in Myanmar and damage in neighbouring Thailand. In Bangkok, Thailands capital, emergency crews using cranes and dog sniffers on Monday continued a desperate search for 76 people believed buried under the rubble of an under-construction skyscraper that collapsed. Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt said rescuers are not giving up despite the conventional-wisdom window for finding people alive fast approaching. The search will continue even after 72 hours because in Turkey, people who have been trapped for a week have survived. The search has not been cancelled," Chadchart said. He said machine scans of the rubble indicated there may still be people alive underneath, and dog sniffers are being dispatched to try to pinpoint their locations. Weve detected weak life signs and there are many spots," he said. Thailands official death toll was at 18 on Sunday, but could shoot up without more rescues at the collapsed building site. In Myanmar, state media said at least 1,700 people have been confirmed dead. The Wall Street Journal, citing the ruling military junta, reported the death toll had reached 2,028 in Myanmar. Reuters could not immediately confirm the new death toll. The United Nations said it was rushing relief supplies to estimated 23,000 quake-hit survivors in central Myanmar. Our teams in Mandalay are joining efforts to scale up the humanitarian response despite going through the trauma themselves," said Noriko Takagi, the U.N. refugee agencys representative in Myanmar. Time is of the essence as Myanmar needs global solidarity and support through this immense devastation." India, China and Thailand are among Myanmars neighbours that have sent relief materials and teams, along with aid and personnel from Malaysia, Singapore and Russia. The United States pledged $2 million in aid through Myanmar-based humanitarian assistance organizations". It 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 quake 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. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all One rebel group said Myanmars ruling military was still conducting airstrikes on villages in the aftermath of the quake, and Singapores foreign minister called for an immediate ceasefire to help relief efforts.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. Location : Myanmar (Burma) First Published: March 31, 2025, 11:30 IST France's Le Pen Sentenced To 4 Years Prison For Embezzling EU Funds, Banned From Contesting Polls Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 31, 2025, 16:55 IST Marine Le Pen was convicted of embezzlement of public funds, jeopardizing her 2027 presidential hopes. Prosecutors seek a five-year jail term and ban from public office. Le Pen denies wrongdoing. Le Pen took over as head of the then-National Front (FN) in 2011. (Photo: AFP) A French court on Monday convicted far-right leader Marine Le Pen on charges of embezzlement of public funds over a fake jobs scam at the European Parliament and sentenced her to four years prison. The court also banned Pen from running for office for five years after her conviction, specifying that the sanction should come into force with immediate effect even if an appeal is lodged. Recommended Stories The ruling could mean that Le Pen will not be able to stand for president in 2027 elections. She left the courtroom after her conviction and this sanction were announced, but before the judge announced rulings on a potential prison sentence and fine Prosecutors last year asked the court to impose against Le Pen a five-year jail term but also a five-year ban on holding public office to be imposed with immediate effect. Besides Le Pen, eight leaders from her National Rally (RN) party were convicted for a scheme where they took advantage of European Parliament expenses to employ assistants who were actually working for the party. Twelve assistants were also convicted of concealing a crime, with the court estimating the scheme was worth 2.9 million euros. Three-time presidential candidate Le Pen, who scents her best-ever chance of winning the French presidency in 2027, has vehemently denied any wrongdoing. Le Pen said in a piece for the La Tribune Dimanche newspaper published on Sunday that the verdict gives the judges the right of life or death over our movement". Le Pen took over as head of the then-National Front (FN) in 2011 but rapidly took steps towards making the party an electoral force and shaking off the controversial legacy of its co-founder and her father Jean-Marie Le Pen, who died earlier this year and who was often accused of making racist and anti-Semitic comments. She renamed it the National Rally and embarked on a policy known as dediabolisation" (de-demonisation) with the stated aim of making it acceptable to a wider range of voters. Kremlin, Orban Back Le Pen Meanwhile, the Kremlin slammed a French courts ruling to bar far-right leader Marine Le Pen from running for office over a fake jobs scheme. More and more European capitals are going down the path of violating democratic norms," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters in a briefing when asked about the decision. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban voiced support for Marine Le Pen her conviction. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Je suis Marine!" the nationalist leader posted in French on X after Le Pens conviction, which has seen her hit with a four-year prison sentence, to be served with an electronic tag, and a five-year ban from running for office. (with inputs from AFP) About the Author Saurabh Verma Saurabh Verma covers general, national and international day-to-day news for News18.com as a Senior Sub-editor. He keenly observes politics. You can follow him on Twitter --twitter.com/saurabhkverma19 Saurabh Verma covers general, national and international day-to-day news for News18.com as a Senior Sub-editor. He keenly observes politics. You can follow him on Twitter --twitter.com/saurabhkverma19 Location : Paris, France First Published: March 31, 2025, 14:47 IST 'This Will Backfire': Elon Musk On Marine Le Pens Five-Year Ban From French Elections Published By : AFP Last Updated: March 31, 2025, 21:44 IST Marine Le Pen was convicted of embezzlement of public funds, jeopardising her 2027 presidential hopes. Many far-right leaders from across the world, including Musk, criticised the ruling. Elon Musk responded to Marine Le Pen's conviction and election ban. (Reuters) Prominent European far-right and nationalist figures as well as Elon Musk on Monday rallied around Marine Le Pen after a French court sentenced her to a five-year ban on running for office. Le Pen was convicted over a scheme to take advantage of European Parliament expenses to employ assistants who were actually working for her far-right party in France. Recommended Stories Le Pen as well as the other officials from her party were banned from running for office, with the judge specifying that the sanction should come into force with immediate effect even if an appeal is lodged. Teslas billionaire owner Elon Musk, who has backed a far-right party in Germany and plays a major role in US President Donald Trumps administration, said the move would backfire, like the legal attacks against President Trump". This will backfire, like the legal attacks against President Trump Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 31, 2025 Je suis Marine!" (Im Marine") Hungarian nationalist leader Viktor Orban posted in French on X, echoing the cry Je suis Charlie" widely used to denounce a 2015 Islamist attack on the Charlie Hebdo satirical newspaper in Paris. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the verdict reinforced the view that more and more European capitals are going down the path of violating democratic norms". On Monday, Le Pen received a four-year prison sentence for embezzling European parliament funds. Her lawyer said she will appeal. Le Pen will not serve time in prison. Two years of her sentence was suspended, and the other two are to be served outside jail with an electronic bracelet, the court ruled. Jordan Bardella, leader of Le Pens National Rally (RN) party, said on X that French democracy was being executed". Dutch far-right politician Geert Wilders also voiced shock at the incredibly tough verdict". Marine Le Pen Will Be French President I support and believe in her for the full 100 percent and I trust she will win the appeal and become President of France," Wilders posted in English on X. Spains far-right Vox leader Santiago Abascal also offered his support, saying They will never succeed to silence the voice of the French people". Abascal hosted Le Pen, Orban and other far-right leaders in Madrid in February. Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik said on X that just like in my case, the verdict was not about the law it was about politics". Dodik was convicted last month for defying the international envoy tasked with overseeing the peace accords that ended Bosnias civil war in the 1990s. Germanys far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) declined to comment when contacted by AFP. Le Pens National Rally has distanced itself from the AfD after the German party was caught up in several controversies, including accusations of illicit ties to Russia and China. Declaration Of War Italys Deputy Prime Minister and leader of the League party Matteo Salvini called the courts ruling a declaration of war by Brussels". A bad film that we are also seeing in other countries like Romania," wrote Salvini on social media. We dont let ourselves be intimidated, we dont stop: full speed ahead my friend!" Far-right Romanian politician George Simion, who is running for president in May, said: Targeting or annihilating your political opponent by any means is straight out of the instruction manual of totalitarian regimes". Romanias electoral bureau in early March rejected the candidacy of far-right politician Calin Georgescu for a re-run of presidential elections in May. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The fierce EU and NATO critic shot to prominence last November, when he unexpectedly topped a first round of presidential voting before the constitutional court annulled the election after claims of Russian interference and a massive" social media promotion. Georgescu, who denies any links to Moscow, has slammed the vote annulment as a formalised coup detat". 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 31, 2025, 21:44 IST Whom Did Sunita Williams, Butch Wilmore Blame For Extended Stay In Space? NASA Astronauts Break Silence Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 31, 2025, 23:13 IST Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore returned to the Earth after spending 286 days in space, for which President Donald Trump and Elon Musk blamed the Biden administration. Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore were stranded at the International Space Station (ISS) for nine months. NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore finally reached the Earth after spending 286 days at the International Space Station (ISS), after the Boeing Starliner spacecraft that was supposed to bring them back after eight days experienced technical issues. The duo splashed down off the coast in Florida on March 18 aboard the Crew Dragon spacecraft by Elon Musks SpaceX, nine months after being stranded in space. US President Donald Trump and Musk had long blamed the previous Biden administration for leaving the astronauts stranded for political reasons". Recommended Stories Hours after the astronauts returned, the White House once again blamed Bidens lack of urgency" to bring home the stranded astronauts. However, the astronauts themselves have ruled out politics as the reason behind their prolonged stay. More than a week after their return, the astronauts finally broke their silence on who is to really blame for their extended stay in space. Whom Did They Blame? In their first interview since their return to Earth, the veteran astronauts told Fox News about their reactions to learning that they would be staying at the ISS longer than initially planned, the future of space exploration and how they spent their time in orbit. My first thought was weve just got to pivot," Williams told Fox News co-anchor Bill Hemmer. If our spacecraft was going to go home based on decisions made here, and we were going to be up there til February, I was like, Lets make the best of it." Wilmore said he thought about his family the moment he heard about the extended stay. Both astronauts dismissed the notion that Boeing failed" them, with Butch Wilmore saying that everyone, including himself, was culpable to some extent for not asking necessary questions and oversights in preparations. There are many questions that, as the commander of CFT, I didnt ask, so Im culpable Ill admit that to the nation. Theres things that I did not ask that I should have asked. I didnt know at the time that I needed to ask them, but, in hindsight some of the signals were there," Wilmore said. NEW: The rescued Astronauts give a message to Trump and Elon I respect you. I trust you. Youve given me no reason not to trust youI have no reason not to believe anything they say because theyve earned my trust. And for that I am grateful."pic.twitter.com/tvdHzn29ZZ Autism Capital (@AutismCapital) March 31, 2025 Is Boeing to blame? Are they culpable? Sure. Is NASA to blame? Are they culpable? Sure. Everybody has a piece in this There were some shortcomings in tests and shortcomings in preparations that we did not foresee," he added. The astronaut further said he did not want to point fingers" and instead wants to look forward" and learn from past mistakes. During their approach to the ISS, five of the 28 thrusters of the Starliner spacecraft carrying Williams and Wilmore failed, which extended their trip from days to months in space. Wilmore, Williams Grateful To Trump, Musk Wilmore said he was grateful to Trump and Musk for their involvement in the space programme. I have no reason not to believe anything they say, because theyve earned my trust. And for that, I am grateful that our national leaders actually are coming in and taking part in our human space flight program, which we see is hugely important global significance, and they take an active role," he said. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all I think its a good thing for our nation when the national leaders, especially something thats high visibility, are involved in the process. Im grateful for that," Wilmore continued. Sunita Williams also echoed that sentiment, saying she is glad to see them involved" and taking notice." She added that their nine-month orbit allowed a lot of people, including Musk and Trump, to see what is happening at the ISS and take it very seriously." 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 31, 2025, 22:50 IST Will Trumps America Be A Fence-sitter If Putin Attacks Europe? Pentagon Leak Suggests... Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: March 31, 2025, 21:44 IST Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has been urging European allies to boost their defense spending. US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin arrive for a joint news conference after their meeting in Helsinki. (IMAGE: REUTERS FILE) A leaked Pentagon document has indicated that the United States might not aid Europe in the event of a Russian attack. The confidential guidance from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reveals that the Trump administration is unlikely to offer significant support to Europe if Russia advances, as reported by the Washington Post. The Interim National Defense Strategic Guidance states that while the U.S. would back Europe with its nuclear deterrence capabilities, European allies could only rely on troops not already assigned to homeland defense or deterring China. Recommended Stories This disclosure aligns with recent statements from Hegseth and other senior officials urging European allies to bolster their own defense spending and reduce dependence on the US. The document stresses the necessity of refocusing military efforts on China, highlighting concerns over a potential conflict in the Pacific, particularly regarding Taiwan, which holds significant geostrategic and manufacturing value. Former President Joe Biden had pledged to defend Taiwan in case of a Chinese invasion, a stance Trump recently indicated he would not support, arguing that Taiwan offers no substantial benefit to the US. Despite NATO commitments requiring mutual defense among members, which have only been invoked by the US. after 9/11, the document underscores a shift in the Trump administrations focus towards China and away from other regions. The Washington Post noted the documents similarities with previous texts from the Heritage Foundation, pointing out nearly identical passages to those published by the think tank last year. Although Trump distanced himself from Heritages Project 2025 manifesto during his campaign, the report suggests notable resemblances between the guidance and a 2024 Heritage report. The document consolidates the administrations strategy to press allies in Europe, the Middle East, and East Asia to increase their defense spending and lessen reliance on the US. Consequently, Americas allies will be encouraged to take the lead in deterring aggression from Russia, North Korea, and Iran. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Hegseth emphasized that China is the Departments primary pacing threat, with the prevention of a Chinese takeover of Taiwan and the defense of the US homeland being the top priorities. Furthermore, the Pentagon is expected to deprioritize efforts against militant groups in the Middle East and Africa that, while locally destabilizing, are not conducting international attacks. About the Author Shankhyaneel Sarkar Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has covered sev... Read More Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has covered sev... Read More Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA) First Published: March 31, 2025, 21:44 IST World Doesn't Revolve Around Us But: Sunita Williams Humbled By Continuous Coverage On Her Space Plight Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: April 01, 2025, 00:39 IST Astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore said she was humbled and full with gratitude after knowing that they were covered extensively by news agencies. Astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore (R) attend a press conference. (IMAGE: YouTube) Astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore on Monday met reporters and said that they were surprised and humbled knowing that their plight in space was given extensive coverage by news media outlets globally. We werent aware of what was going on down there on Earth. The world does not revolve around us but (actually) we were revolving around the world," Williams said. She further added that up there in space she and her colleague Butch Wilmore were focused on the job at hand in a tunnel vision" mode. Recommended Stories The news conference featured Williams alongside Crew-9 astronauts Nick Hague and Butch Wilmore. The team returned to Earth on March 18 after completing a groundbreaking science mission in space. Williams further added that she was honoured" that people were paying attention. I am very thankful for people paying attention. It is good for space exploration," she said. I want to say thanks, SpaceX really got us ready to go", she further added. She said there are several goals that the space industry wants to achieve with respect to space exploration. Their prolonged stay ranks as the sixth-longest spaceflight by any US astronaut. However, the record remains with Frank Rubio, who spent 371 days in orbit after a coolant leak in the Russian Soyuz spacecraft forced an unexpected extension of his mission. He eventually returned to Earth in September 2023 aboard a replacement Soyuz. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all While Rubios unprecedented stay in space went largely unnoticed in the media, the technical issues surrounding Boeings Starliner, which carried Wilmore and Williams, garnered widespread attention in the US and was also covered extensively by global media. Williams said that she wanted to hug her husband and her dogs after returning from space and ate a grilled cheese sandwich. About the Author Shankhyaneel Sarkar Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has covered sev... Read More Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has covered sev... Read More Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA) First Published: April 01, 2025, 00:15 IST " " This caterpillar will grow into a yellow imperial moth. Special Beauty / Shutterstock There is a fascinating world of animals that start with "I." Some animal names are likely more familiar, like the mighty Indian elephant, while others are a little more obscure looking at you, Iriomote cat. From endangered species to wading birds, here's an introduction to a global sampling of the animal kingdom, including critters from South and Southeast Asia and the Americas. A couple accused of the brutal murder of their four-year-old niece in 2023 before escaping to South Africa has been extradited to face justice in the country. John Zvivi (36) and Alista Sibanda (35) were brought back into the country on March 27, 2025, after their story circulated on social media, prompting their arrest and eventual extradition. The two appeared in court on Saturday before Harare magistrate Mr Isheunesu Matova who remanded them in custody and advised them to approach the High Court for bail. They return to court on April 11 pending their indictment. The tragic events date back to April 2023 when the deceased Princess Shoko and her six-year-old sister, Susan Mandaza, were left in the care of Sibanda and her husband in Zvimba. The childrens mother is Nomsa Sibanda, sister to Alista. When Nomsa returned to South Africa she left the children in the care of Zvivi and her sister Alista. Prosecuting, Mr Takudzwa Jambawu, told the court that the couple began to abuse the two children, subjecting them to assaults and depriving them of food. In July 2023, the abuse took a deadly turn as Princess Shoko succumbed to injuries inflicted on her and passed away on July 23, 2023. In a bid to conceal their crime, Zvivi and Sibanda allegedly placed the childs remains in a sack, stashing it in the boot of a red Honda Fit with Botswana number plates. The couple then drove to Kuwadzana Extension, where they dumped the body in a stream. The court heard how the accused persons informed Nomsa Sibanda of her daughters death but failed to provide her with a satisfactory explanation. Troubled by their vague account, Nomsa returned to Zimbabwe and, on August 1, 2023, reported a missing persons case to ZRP Dzivarasekwa. The very next day, the body of Princess Shoko was discovered in the Dzivarasekwa stream. Nomsa identified the remains of her daughter, and the body was taken to Parirenyatwa Hospital for a post-mortem examination. While a pathologist conducted the examination, the cause of death was inconclusive as toxicology results were still pending. Fearing arrest, the couple fled to South Africa. However, their alleged crime came to light after the story gained widespread attention on social media. Authorities in South Africa apprehended the couple, and after months of legal proceedings, they were extradited to Zimbabwe to face justice. Herald Prof Jonathan Moyo Dear Dunderheads & Malcontents, While it is in the nature of dunderheads and malcontents to compare oranges with apples, the comparison is always exhausting not least because it is, by definition, senseless and invariably leads to meaningless outcomes based on fantasies. In light of the mindless taunts and mockery of some targeted government and ZanuPF officials, especially @nickmangwana, that they should learn from the zete moment I shared in these streets on 13 November 2017, there are four things that dunderheads and malcontents fantasizing about tomorrow 31 March 2025 clearly don't understand. Firstly, in 2017, there was no one who had foreseen and who had privately as well as publicly foretold in bold detail the military situation that unfolded from 13 November 2017 to 28 November 2017 as or better than this writer, including on this Handle in these streets, and particularly through a widely distributed documentary whose contents have withstood the test of time, which was first presented to the ZanuPF politburo in July 2017, well ahead of the historic events of November 2017. In the circumstances, those who know better would be aware that the zete moment tweet, which was posted in these streets from the office at work and not from the bedroom, was propaganda tweeted to give desperate cover for various exit plans that were being considered to jump the border, as soon as possible. This was because by that time on 13 November 2017 it was clear even to fools that some military action - whose extent was not known - was in fact underway, and that some targeted individuals who definitely included this writer were by then under some surveillance of one sort or another. Playing the "zete kuvata" fool was an attempted decoy, even if feeble, and not an expression of blissful ignorance of what was actually going on. Many dunderheads and malcontents have a lot to learn about politics. In politics, many things that are said are not what they seem to mean or to be. Secondly, many dunderheads and malcontents keep mocking public officials like @nickmangwana with nonsensical taunts that they should be very careful and should learn from the "zete moment referred to above, and my experience since then. To begin with, only dunderheads and malcontents find it useful to repeatedly use a solitary tweet as a basis of some serious warning to anyone about anything. One swallow does not make a summer. A credible warning would have to be based on several or many examples; not on only one bad example which, to make it worse, happens to be irrelevant. It is common cause, for example, that @nickmangwana, the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting, is a senior civil servant. I was not a civil servant in government during the time in question; I was a politician, a member of the governing ZanuPF's politburo. For the record, the only time I was a civil servant in Zimbabwe was for a short stint way back from September 1981 to February 1982 when I worked in the Ministry of Justice as a trademark officer; after which I returned to the University of Southern California for my graduate and doctoral studies that I completed in 1988. Between 2000 and 2017, I variously worked as a government minister and a member of the ZanuPF politburo, as a politician and not as a civil servant, like @nickmangwana is. To compare a civil servant like @nickmangwana and a politician like me is not insightful at all, it is like comparing oranges with apples. It is therefore utterly foolish, meaningless and futile to ask or challenge a civil servant like @nickmangwana to take a leaf from a politician like me. The two roles of a politician and a civil servant are substantively and functionally different. As a senior civil servant who is heading the government's information portfolio and who is charged with managing it, @nickmangwana has a professional and ethical obligation to loyally serve and speak for the government of the day. His remit or job is not to speak for opposition politics; or to speak for malcontents who seek to overthrow the government of the day and who shamelessly and amateurishly advertise their intention. In this connection, it is folly to reduce the leadership or composition of the government of the day to a political faction. The leadership or composition of the government of the day has constitutional and statutory authority, responsibilities, and obligations that political factions do not and cannot have. Full stop. Anything else is mumbo jumbo. As for my experience since the "zete moment" tweet, it has nothing to do with @nickmangwana or anyone else. The experience is entirely mine and mine alone. It so happens that - even though it happened as a result of circumstances of political history and not personal plans - my experience since November 2017 has been the best and most productive time of my life in personal terms. But that is a story for another day. Thirdly, the notion that history repeats itself or that what happened in 2017 can or will happen today in 2025 - for the same reasons and in the same way it happened 2017 - is a dunderhead idea which can only be purchased by desperate malcontents or people who are downright stupid. It is a truism which is some 25 centuries or a little over 2,500 years old, apropos the Heraclitean dictum, that "no man ever steps in the same river twice, for it's not the same river and he is not the same man." This old-age wisdom has many equivalences in African proverbs. As such, the notion that history repeats itself or that history should repeat itself is neither a progressive nor a revolutionary idea. In a widely referenced critical commentary on the cyclical nature of history and human folly - in his 1852 book titled, The Eighteenth Brumaire of Louis Bonaparte, which critiqued the French coup of 1851 in which Louis-Napoleon Bonaparte (Napoleon III) seized power - Karl Marx trenchantly wrote that "history repeats itself, first as tragedy, second as farce." The clear takeaway from this is that Marx was reflecting on how historical events like the French coup of 1851 and figures such as Napoleon I (the tragedy), are reproduced in a diminished in comical forms by later iterations or imitations, such as Napoleon III (the farce). Similarly, any iteration or imitation of November 2017 in 2025 would be a tragedy. Progressive or revolutionary socioeconomic transformation or change is of course good and necessary, but an iteration or imitation of history as a tragedy or a farce cannot be progressive or revolutionary; it's a disaster. Fourthly, and precautionary speaking, it is better for any authority or any state anywhere in the world to err on the side of total and adequate preparation for any advertised insurrection or uprising; so as to be able to deal decisively with any eventuality, than to be lackadaisical about it and be found wanting in the event of an unpalatable consequence. In situations of advertised insurrections or uprisings, the idea must always be to prepare for the worst and hope for the best! He was writing on X A 78-year-old and his family has been staying by the roadside after being evicted by the owner of land they had set-up their home in Epworth. Fanuel Moyo who is a catheter user and was arrested by Domboramwari Police Station in Epworth last Wednesday for allegedly using a toilet from where he was evicted by Christine Bettina Singini. He has been crying for help from the community since he has nowhere to stay. The challenge arose from a dispute with Singini, who claims that she owns the whole space, including where Moyo had built his house in Tadzikamidzi Rushinga branch Ward 7 of Epworth. Singini claims that Moyo should not be staying there and has been trespassing. Affectionately known as Sekuru Moyo, he was given an eviction order by the court after he refused to vacate the premises he had lived in for decades. Singini reported the case to the police, prompting his arrest. His son, Norest Moyo, 32, who arrived at the scene around 4 am on Wednesday said, a misunderstanding resulted in the eviction. Misunderstandings started recently despite us having a good relationship for years. We previously occupied old squatting house numbers before receiving stand numbers from the Epworth Local Board. Recently, it was claimed that the house was on her stand at a time the government is moving to regularise the Epworth stands. He expressed concern over the arrest of his sick father. I am worried that the police arrested my elderly father, who is not feeling well and relies on a catheter. Norest contemplated confronting the Singini family that night but was stopped by a group of concerned neighbours monitoring their properties along the roadside. George, son to Singini, said there was a need for an out of police engagement. It is time our parents reach an understanding rather than resorting to police intervention. I am often away from home, but we are one family. We both received our residential stand numbers from the same council, and the council must allow the Moyo family to retain their rightful land, he said. Meanwhile, Moyo is a member of the Muslim community and has since received the backing of the Zimbabwe Council of Churches Sheikh Ishmael Duwa. There is no sense that someone evicts a 78-year-old. As the Zimbabwe Council of Churches, we need to look into this issue and see how we can assist this man. H Metro The Zanu PF Harare provincial executive has recommended the co-option of businessman Cde Kudakwashe Tagwirei into the ruling partys Central Committee. The Central Committee is the principal organ of Congress which acts on its behalf when it is not in session. Among other things, it implements all policies, resolutions, directives, decisions and programmes enunciated by Congress. Cde Tagwirei is one of Zimbabwes most prominent businesspersons with interests in several sectors, including energy, mining, transport, construction and agriculture. He is the founder and chief executive officer of the petroleum giant, Sakunda Holdings Group, and over the years, has expanded his business empire to cover key sectors of the economy. Speaking at the Zanu PF Harare Provincial Co-ordinating Committee (PCC) meeting at the partys offices in the capital yesterday, provincial chair Cde Godwills Masimirembwa said members of the Central Committee in Harare had proposed that Cde Tagwirei be recommended for co-option into the Central Committee of Zanu PF. Cde Tagwirei is a party member in the Harare Metropolitan Province. He is a well-known business strategist, he said. According to Cde Masimirembwa, Cde Tagwireis forward-thinking business leadership will bring immense value to the party. He described Cde Tagwirei as an indispensable force, destined to spearhead a new era of economic prosperity for the party. So, the proposal was put forward by members of the Central Committee and the PCC unanimously agreed to recommend him for co-option into the Central Committee of Zanu PF. We are going to submit this recommendation to the partys Secretary General Dr Obert Mpofu stating that this is the recommendation from Harare Province, said Cde Masimirembwa. He also revealed that President Mnangagwa had encouraged the province to hold two PCC meetings: one for economic issues and one for political issues. Zanu PF Harare province deputy secretary for Economic Development Cde Andy Mhlanga said Cde Tagwirei has been a long-time benefactor of the party and as such, the moment is opportune for him to assume a leadership position. Zanu PF Harare Youth chairman, Cde Emmanuel Mahachi, commended the decision taken by the province and said Cde Tagwirei has been instrumental in mobilising resources for the party. We are happy that Cde Tagwirei will give advice and direction in the growth of the party. He is always available in times of need for the party. We support the co-option of Cde Tagwirei into the highest party organ, said Cde Mahachi. The PCC also co-opted Cde Voyage Dambuza as the Harare province Political Commissar taking over from Cde Kudakwashe Damson, who is now an ordinary card-carrying member. Meanwhile, Cde Masimirembwa also revealed that the PCC conducted its meeting peacefully, as the majority of Zimbabweans shunned calls for street protests by fugitive ex-Zanu PF Central Committee member Blessed Geza. The province, he said, is fully behind the visionary leadership of President Mnangagwa to continue working towards fulfilling Vision 2030 of an upper-middle-income economy. Herald Two people arrested Thursday in connection with a series of train robberies targeting Nike sneakers are Mexican citizens believed to have been in the US illegally, according to police in Arizona. The Hualapai Nation Police Department announced the arrests in a Friday Facebook post , saying a maroon Chevy Tahoe "suspected to be involved in train robberies in the area" was stopped around 2:40am Thursday before eight people fled the vehicle, per NBC News . Officers, who discovered stolen Nike shoes nearby, arrested the male driver, who they said is from Mexico. In the same post, officers said a woman from Mexico was arrested in a separate incident Thursday after leading officers on a high-speed chase. Officers had pulled over a white Toyota 4Runner for failing to yield to an emergency vehicle, but when they approached, they "observed evidence of criminal activity" related to the train robberies, officers said. The driver exited the vehicle at officers' request, but then got back inside and drove away, hitting a patrol officer, who was uninjured, police said, per NBC. The woman was chased for 80 miles until she lost control, hit a guard rail, was ejected from the SUV, and was taken to a hospital with minor injuries, police said. Both man and woman were booked into the Mohave County Adult Detention Center. Eleven others have been charged in a January train robbery near Perrin, Arizona, per the Independent. Of those, 10 are Mexicans who were in the US illegally, police say. A suspect is in custody in Dallas after a bride-to-be who traveled from Oklahoma to Texas for her bachelorette party ended up in the hospital with a bloody face. Canada Rinaldi, 27, said a stranger punched her in the face a month before her wedding, as she and friends left a club and walked to their ride-share in the early hours of March 23, per NBC News . She was knocked unconscious and landed in a hospital with a concussion, broken nose, and three broken teeth. She also required eight stitches to her forehead, per KXAS-TV . A woman with Rinaldi's group said they were blindsided by a man who came at the bride-to-be from behind. "He punched Canada, and she went straight down, and I turned to push him away, and that's when he got me," Kelly Peralta tells KXAS, noting she walked away with a black eye. Another friend says it was a "heartbreaking" end to what "was supposed to be one of the best trips of [Rinaldi's] life." The bride-to-befor whom nearly $20,000 has been raisedtells CBS News she "will have scarring" from what she views as "a freak incident." Dallas Police said a suspect, Trevon Woodards, was arrested Friday by Bedford Police, whose jurisdiction includes the suburbs outside of Dallas. Woodards pleaded guilty to misdemeanor assault in 2021 after allegedly attacking a police officer and spent 10 days in jail in February for a probation violation, NBC reports. A clean-up crew have called out campers who dump their rubbish while off-roading. Alcohol cans and food wrappers were found among 440 kilograms worth of waste removed from Crangan Bay, NSW. Source: Clean4Shore A volunteer group who tirelessly remove waste from Aussie waterways every weekend has slammed 4WD campers for adding to their clean-up efforts, after retrieving piles of discarded beer cans and food wrappers near tyre tracks left in the sand. The Clean4Shore team, headed by founder Graham Johnston, removed 440 kilograms worth of rubbish from Crangan Bay along the NSW Central Coast on Sunday. Despite the large quantity of waste being no surprise with the team easily collecting double this amount in a single day it was clear that "poor camping practices" are increasingly contributing to the waste found in the water. "Some off-road campers think it's okay to dump their beer cans and rubbish in the bush rather than taking it home," Graham told Yahoo News. "I had a group of volunteers there who are recreational campers and they just shook their heads... there was so much." Graham said more and more soft plastics are being found bobbing along in rivers and waterways, and it has only worsened recently with Cyclone Alfred "flushing stuff out the gutters" and revealing litter often hidden away. Clean-up crew continue to clear oyster baskets from Aussie river The group of volunteers also hauled heavy oyster baskets out of the water alongside soft plastics and other debris like fishing equipment and tyres. ADVERTISEMENT Oyster baskets that are damaged during storms or simply break free from the currents continue to clog the waterways. Yahoo News previously reported on Clean4Shore's constant battle with the items and oyster farmers have been accused of doing little to collect their property when it no longer is serving it's commercial purpose. "Farmers aren't showing diligence in getting their baskets back, and it's a consistent problem," Graham said. Fishing equipment including commercial oyster baskets continue to clog up Aussie waterways. Source: Clean4Shore Persistent pollution creates 'disheartening' issue around Australia More and more litter is sprouting up in Aussie waterways as volunteer groups across the country are desperately doing their bit to reduce it. Further north in Queensland, a similar organisation to Clean4Shore called Ocean Crusaders cleans waterways and foreshores in a bid to limit the impact on the local environment and wildlife. ADVERTISEMENT Ocean Crusaders have been cleaning up the Brisbane River and nearby waterways since 2017. Volunteer Ian Thomson told Yahoo News previously he has seen an increase in the amount of mess littering the riverbank, believing the landscape would be "spectacular" if it were left untouched. "[With the] amount of rubbish, it's not that pretty... it's disheartening," he said. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube. Most employees at the US Institute of Peace, a congressionally created and funded think tank now taken over by Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency , have received email notices of their mass firing, the AP reports. The emails, sent to personal accounts because most staff members had lost access to the organization's system, began going out about 9pm Friday, sources said. One former senior official at the institute said among those spared were several in the human resources department and a handful of overseas staffers who have until April 9 to return to the United States. The organization has about 300 people. Others retained for now are regional vice presidents who will be working with the staff in their areas to return to the US, an employee says. An executive order last month from President Trump targeted the organization, which seeks to prevent and resolve conflicts, and three other agencies for closure. Board members, who are nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate, and the institute's president were fired. Later, there was a standoff between employees who blocked DOGE members from entering the institute's headquarters near the State Department. DOGE staff gained access in part with the help of the Washington police. A lawsuit ensued, and US District Judge Beryl Howell chastised DOGE representatives for their behavior but did not reinstate the board members or allow employees to return to the workspace. Also Friday, a federal appeals court on Friday lifted an order blocking Musk's DOGE from further cuts at the US Agency for International Developmentand even before the ruling, the Trump administration took some of the last remaining steps in breaking up USAID, the AP reports. Almost all of the 900 staffers who still remained at the agency were terminated Friday, sources tell NPR. That same day, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the administration had formally notified Congress of its plans to cut most USAID programs and move surviving functions under the State Department. The administration's aim is to eliminate the agency's "independent operation" by September, according to the Trump-appointed current head of the agency. The view of the White House is going to look a bit different in the near future: a giant southern magnolia linked to Andrew Jackson is coming down, reports the Hill. President Trump announced on Truth Social Sunday that the tree will be taken down next week because it's in "terrible condition" and presents a safety hazard. A new tree will be planted in its place, and the "Historic wood from the tree will be preserved by the White House Staff, and may be used for other high and noble purposes!!!" Trump wrote. An American woman detained for weeks in Afghanistan by the Taliban has been released from custody, according to a person familiar with the matter and a social media post from a longtime US diplomat. Faye Dail Hall, who was detained in February on charges of using a drone without authorization, was released as part of a deal that Qatari negotiators helped broker, said the person, who spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the negotiations. The person said that Hall was taken to the Qatari Embassy in Kabul, the Afghan capital, and was in good health, and that arrangements were being made for her to return to the US. In a post on X, a former US ambassador to Afghanistan, Zalmay Khalilzad, said Hall would "soon be on her way home." Few details about Hall's case or the release were immediately available, including why she was in Afghanistan or how long or the circumstances of her detention. Hall is believed to be the fourth American released from Afghanistan since January. Earlier this month, George Glezmann, an airline mechanic, was freed after more than two years in custody. That release follows a separate deal, executed on the final day of the Biden administration and also mediated by the Qataris, that secured the release of Ryan Corbett and William McKenty. Officials in Kabul said recently that the US had lifted bounties on three senior Taliban figures, including the interior minister, who also heads a powerful network blamed for attacks against Afghanistan's former Western-backed government. A Foreign Ministry official, Zakir Jalaly, has said the Taliban's release of Glezmann and the removal of bounties showed both sides were "moving beyond the effects of the wartime phase and taking constructive steps to pave the way for progress" in bilateral relations. With President Trump preparing a sweeping new round of tariffs to be unveiled Wednesday, his administration is looking at ways to blunt some of the damage a trade war will do to farmers. Insiders tell the New York Times that administration officials have already held meetings with farm industry lobbying groups about a possible farm bailout. During Trump's first administration, the government paid out more than $23 billion in aid to compensate farmers for losses after China hiked tariffs on American farm exports in retaliation for US tariffs. US Department of Agriculture economists estimate the trade war caused a $27 billion drop in agriculture exports. Trump plans to hit a lot more countries with tariffs this time around, potentially causing much heavier losses for American farmers, and it's not clear whether the USDA will be able to access enough funds to compensate farmers, the Times reports. Sources told Politico last month there is only around $4 billion left in the USDA fund that Trump tapped to compensate farmers during his first term. China has already imposed new tariffs on a variety of American agricultural exports, including corn and chicken. A big worry for farmers is the long-term loss of markets after retaliatory tariffs make American exports more expensive. During the trade war with China that started in 2018, China started buying more soybeans from countries including Brazil and Argentina, and US exports of the crop to China never returned to the pre-2018 level. "When the Trump administration imposes tariffs on China, China says, 'Well, we're not going to purchase soybeans from you, or we won't buy as many,'" Nick Levendofsky, executive director of the Kansas Farmers Union told NPR earlier this month. "That's the problemthey have alternatives." The Public Safety Report is compiled from criminal complaints filed in state and federal courts, as well as some police blotter information, trooper dispatches, fire department reports and interviews with public safety officials. Individuals named as arrested and/or charged with crimes in this report are presumed innocent until proved guilty in a court of law. OTTAWA, ON, March 31, 2025 /CNW/ - The Public Policy Forum (PPF), the Rideau Hall Foundation (RHF) and the Michener Awards Foundation (MAF) are launching a timely, non-partisan granting initiative to support journalists at small- and medium-sized media outlets in covering the 2025 federal election. The Covering Canada: Election 2025 fund seeks to enhance journalistic coverage by providing financial resources to ensure high-quality information is produced for Canadians during this campaign. Rideau Hall Foundation (CNW Group/Michener Awards Foundation) Public Policy Forum (CNW Group/Michener Awards Foundation) Up to $500,000 will be distributed through grants of up to $35,000. Grants will facilitate election-related travel and in-depth reporting that would not otherwise be possible. Applications will be judged by the Michener Awards Foundation and a minimum of 15 grants will be awarded. "This unique initiative offers local journalists a chance to get out and cover the issues and perspectives Canadian citizens truly need at this time," said Margo Goodhand, President of the Michener Awards Foundation. "In an age of social media, disinformation and gossip, Covering Canada aims to help fund strong public service journalism journalism that strengthens our communities, our country and our democracy." "The Covering Canada: Election 2025 fund addresses a critical challenge: As journalism business models collapse, particularly among small and medium-sized media, high-quality, fact-based election coverage is no longer guaranteed," said Inez Jabalpurwala, PPF president and CEO. "We are pleased to be helping to address this problem by working with leading philanthropists who recognize that journalistic coverage of issues important to Canadian voters is key to a strong democracy." The Covering Canada: Election 2025 fund has been made possible through the generous contributions of Echo Foundation, The Gordon Foundation and The Rossy Foundation. "Enabling a better-informed citizenry is a non-partisan priority that benefits all Canadians," said Teresa Marques, President and CEO of the Rideau Hall Foundation. "The philanthropic sector has an important role to play in ensuring a wide variety of voices and perspectives contribute to covering the election, providing Canadians with access to relevant, unbiased reporting that can help them make informed decisions. This project will help to cover stories that otherwise might not have been told. It will support smaller local newsrooms, public service journalism, and Canadian democracy - all at the same time." Key application details: Grants will support Qualified Canadian Journalism Organizations (QCJOs) with fewer than 20 editorial staff. Non-QCJO applicants with strong journalistic credentials may also be considered. with fewer than 20 editorial staff. Non-QCJO applicants with strong journalistic credentials may also be considered. Funding decisions will strive for a broad geographic representation of media outlets, as well as a wide variety of communities covered. of media outlets, as well as a covered. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. and awarded on a basis. Grants will primarily support election coverage during the last 21 days of the election . . Visit https://www.michenerawards.ca/election-2025-fund/ for more information and to apply. A Post-Election Report to Guide Future Policy PPF, in collaboration with RHF and MAF, will produce a post-election report analyzing the role of journalism in the election and providing policy recommendations. About the Public Policy Forum (PPF): PPF is an independent, non-partisan think tank dedicated to improving Canadian democracy and public policy through research and convening. www.ppforum.ca About the Rideau Hall Foundation (RHF): RHF is a national non-partisan charitable organization working to strengthen Canada's democracy, leadership, learning, and innovation sectors. www.rhf-frh.ca About the Michener Awards Foundation (MAF): MAF promotes and celebrates excellence in Canadian journalism, recognizing impactful public service reporting. www.michenerawards.ca SOURCE Michener Awards Foundation Allison MacLachlan, Director of External Relations and Public Engagement, Rideau Hall Foundation, [email protected]; Alison Uncles, Vice-President, PPF Media + Communications, Public Policy Forum, [email protected] OTTAWA, ON, March 30, 2025 /CNW/ - Government of Canada representatives from the Security and Intelligence Threats to Elections (SITE) Task Force will provide a technical briefing to media, to update on the general election 45. Date : Monday, March 31, 2025 Time (all times local): 11:00 a.m. Location: National Press Theatre Room 325 Wellington Building 180 Wellington, Ottawa, Ontario *Reporters can also join via videoconference. Information on how to join will be sent by the Press Gallery Participation in the question and answer portion of this event is in person or via Zoom, and is for accredited members of the Press Gallery only. Media who are not members of the Press Gallery may contact [email protected] for temporary access. SOURCE Privy Council Office Contacts, Media Relations, Privy Council Office, 613-957-5420, [email protected] Victoria Police initially denied her review, but a 'perplexing' detail in the photos taken by the road safety cameras ultimately saw the fine overturned. A 'perplexing' detail in the photo provided by police has pointed to a wider issue. Source: Supplied An Aussie pensioner has had a $494 red light camera fine belatedly overturned after a "sun reflection issue" meant evidence supplied to her didn't visibly show a red light being run. However the 79-year-old's application to review the fine was initially rejected, with the woman forced to start paying the fine in instalments, in what she described as a state of "duress". Dalrene Pompeus and her husband received a letter in early February informing them their car had run a red light in Melbourne all the way back back on November 22 last year. Dalrene, who was driving at the time, swears the light was green when she went through the intersection, but due to the unusually long time between the incident and receiving the infringement notice her dashcam no longer retained the footage. "Having had no previous infringements or penalties, I would be grateful if you reconsider and revoke this fine. I am a pensioner and this fine is almost equal to my pension," she wrote to authorities. Information with the road safety camera images supplied with the fine taken at the intersection of Cemetery Road West and Royal Parade in the city's inner north, claimed the driver entered the intersection 1.8 seconds after the light went red. However the photos only show a green light for drivers travelling straight ahead and no visible red light can actually be seen in the photos. ADVERTISEMENT When approached by Yahoo, VicRoads would not offer comment, saying it was a matter for the state's Justice Department which oversees road cameras in Victoria. However the Justice Department also would not comment, saying it was a matter for police. After Yahoo inquired about the matter, Dalrene says her fine has now been rescinded. There is no visible red light seen in the images supplied as evidence by police. Source: Supplied Sun reflection 'issue' affecting red light cameras In a statement to Yahoo News, Victoria Police admitted there was an issue that meant evidence supplied to offending drivers at certain intersections was less than ideal. "Victoria Police is aware of an issue affecting some fixed road safety camera images, including the fixed camera at the intersection of Cemetery Road West and Royal Parade, Parkville. "The issue relates to sun reflection at particular times of the day, which may affect the image provided," Victoria Police said. ADVERTISEMENT Despite Dalrene eventually having her fine overturned, police claimed they had access to "additional images that ensure the integrity of the camera" however none were offered to Dalrene. At any rate, the department said it was now working to correct the overall issue. "Victoria Police is working with the Department of Justice and Community Safety, who operate road safety cameras in Victoria, to rectify the sun reflection issue affecting a limited number of fixed road safety cameras," police told Yahoo. The pensioner initially had her request to overturn the fine knocked back. Source: Supplied Dalrene's son said the whole ordeal and the swift rejection of her review request left his mother feeling frustrated and powerless. "The money aside, the feeling of powerlessness Mum felt when trying to challenge this and her mindset, being adamant of not infringing on the intersection, had her quite depressed," he told Yahoo. ADVERTISEMENT "For me personally, I found it a perplexing issue for Mum where the images provided were not clear enough to support the presence of a red light or any coloured turning lane light and her previous request for review was immediately quashed." Do you have a road fine story you want to share? We'd love to hear it: Nick.whigham@yahooinc.com When it comes to fines, the Cemetery Road intersection is one of the most lucrative in the state for authorities, despite questions being raised about it for years. Avinash Singh, from criminal law firm Astor Legal, said it's a common occurrence as most people are simply unprepared to fight the fine in the courts. "Generally, camera detected fines are not thoroughly reviewed, if at all, before they are issued. When a person seeks a review of the fine, the images are meant to be looked at properly by the authorities, however, in my experience this is often not done," he told Yahoo News. ADVERTISEMENT "Most people are not willing, or financially able, to take these fines to court. This leads to police and the government being able to underhandedly rely on the fact that most people will not appeal a fine, to raise revenue with very little oversight. "It is a plainly egregious situation, however unless people start fighting these fines, it is unlikely to change." Fines from red light cameras have been on the rise in the state. Source: AAP More than 1.3 million speeding and red light infringements a year in Victoria As states and territories across the country ramp up road monitoring technology, many Aussies are claiming they've been hard done by when it comes to fines issued off the back of red light, seatbelt and mobile phone cameras. In the financial year 2023 to 2024, more than 1.3 million red light and speeding fines were issued in Victoria, up slightly from the previous year but down from the high of 1,380,807 in 2021-2022. "In 2022-23 there was a 7% decrease in speeding and 27% increase in red light infringements when compared to 2021-22," the state government says on its website. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube. TORONTO, March 31, 2025 /CNW/ - Children and youth in Ontario, especially those with severe mental health issues, are at risk of not being able to access the mental health services they need in the community when they need them. "As one in five children and youth in Ontario will experience mental health challenges in their lifetimes, the Province needs to ensure young people and their families have timely access to the services and supports that government-funded agencies provide to help them through difficult times," says Auditor General Shelley Spence. Some of the key findings in our report include: The average wait time for intensive treatment for children and youth who experience impaired functioning because of their mental health problems was 105 days in 2023/24, up from 94 days the year before; 13 of 33 service areas in Ontario lack live-in intensive treatment services. lack live-in intensive treatment services. Only three agencies, located in the Greater Toronto Area and eastern Ontario , offer access to a secure treatment program for children and youth at risk of self-harm or harm to others. This leads to inequitable access to this program for families across the province, including the west and particularly in the north. and eastern , offer access to a secure treatment program for children and youth at risk of self-harm or harm to others. This leads to inequitable access to this program for families across the province, including the west and particularly in the north. Children and youth with concurrent mental health and addictions disorders cannot readily access the needed services; about 70% of agencies that responded to our survey reported that services are not sufficient to meet the needs of this group of children and youth. Young people face challenges when aging out as they transition into the adult mental health system; 66% of the agencies that responded to our survey did not think sufficient mental health services exist for transition-aged youth in their service areas. The Ministry of Health lacks a health human resources strategy for the child and youth mental health sector to address staffing shortages, which the Ministry acknowledged will lead to increases in hospitalizations and emergency room visits, and longer wait times. During our audit, we also found that using one unique identifier, such as an Ontario health card number, would reduce the need for children and youth to share their information with multiple health service providers. It would also link services for youth moving from one community-based program to another or to adult mental health services and hospital settings. While the Ministry of Health has made updates to the annual funding of child and youth mental health agencies, annual base funding was determined decades ago; it does not fully reflect the changing needs of children and youth. Our audit recommends the Ministry adopt a needs-based approach to allocate resources to better support child and youth mental health in communities across Ontario. SOURCE Office of the Auditor General of Ontario For more information, please contact: Becky Fong, Executive Advisor to the Auditor General, [email protected] | (416) 529-2099 TORONTO, March 31, 2025 /CNW/ - Nearly 3 million Ontario residents (almost 20% of the population), as well as many businesses and other facilities, rely on non-municipal drinking-water supplies for drinking, preparing food, and bathing. While over 98% of all samples tested from non-municipal drinking-water systems over the past decade have met the Ontario Drinking Water Quality Standards, not all water is sampled and tested. "A lack of testing can expose Ontarians to risks", says Auditor General Shelley Spence in a special report tabled today in the Legislature. Owners of non-municipal drinking-water systems, including those regulated by the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) or the Ministry of Health (MOH), are required to sample their drinking water at a prescribed frequency for testing. However, private wells and surface water intakes that serve five or fewer residences, which are not considered to be drinking-water systems, have no testing requirements and are not included in this 98%. Drinking-water systems that do have testing requirements are generally not required to test for all contaminants. In addition, not all system owners test their water as required. The audit report contains 17 recommendations from the Office of the Auditor General, for implementation by the two ministries, and the public health entities they oversee that are involved in the oversight of non-municipal drinking water. The audit found that: Some small drinking-water systems have not been identified, assessed and inspected by Public Health Units (PHUs) overseen by MOH, posing a public health risk. These types of non-municipal systems serve six or more seasonal residences or a public facility, such as a hotel, restaurant or church. Many owners of small drinking-water systems did not sample their water as required, and PHUs rarely enforced compliance 56% of the 1,660 systems reviewed missed at least one test sample in the past five years. MECP has effective processes to monitor and enforce compliance with sampling requirements of the non-municipal drinking-water systems that it regulates, but lacks the capacity to regularly inspect all 1,816 of these systems 34% had not been inspected in over five years; 9% had not been inspected in over seven years. Studies indicate that less than one-third of the 1.3 million Ontarians that get their water from private wells test their drinking water. Of those who do test their water, 35% of samples test positive for indicators of bacterial contamination. MECP does not review well records for completeness and accuracy or for compliance with well construction requirements of 195,232 well records submitted to MECP over the past 10 years, 54,931 were missing information about well usage, and 73,800 records were not fully processed as of August 2024 . 54,931 were missing information about well usage, and 73,800 records were not fully processed as of . Potentially hundreds of thousands of abandoned wells have never been properly decommissioned, which can create a pathway for contaminants to enter groundwater and contaminate drinking-water sources. MECP has not fully assessed the feasibility of applying source water protection to non-municipal sources. Spence added, "The United Nations recognizes access to safe water as a basic human right and one of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals adopted by world leaders in 2015. Contaminated drinking water can cause gastrointestinal illnesses and other potentially serious health effects, which may result in significant economic costs due to hospitalizations, doctor visits, lost work days and other related costs. As demonstrated by the Walkerton crisis, the consequences of Ontarians drinking unsafe water can be deadly." SOURCE Office of the Auditor General of Ontario For more information, please contact: Becky Fong, Executive Advisor to the Auditor General, [email protected] | (416) 529-2099 Isar Aerospace is a German aerospace company based in Munich, Germany. They build short range surface to ship missiles. They tried for a low earth orbit test and it failed after 30 seconds. They went for an orientation change it failed. The company is developing Spectrum, a two-stage, liquid-fueled rocket designed to launch 1,000 kilograms to low Earth orbit. This is over twice the launch capacity of the SpaceX Falcon 1 (450kg, 990 lbs) Spectrum would be about six to seven times more payload to low earth orbit than the Rocket Labs Electron Rocket. Isar Aerospace intends to manufacture 80% of the rocket themselves, using primarily technology from the tech firms in the area surrounding Munich. In 2018 Isar Aerospace received first angel investment from early SpaceX leader Bulent Altan and others. In April 2020 Isar Aerospace closed US$17M in Series A funding led by Earlybird and Airbus Ventures to build its space platform. In December 2020, the company got an additional 75 million ($91 million) in funding led by Lakestar and with participation of HV Capital and Ann-Kristin and Paul Achleitner as well as existing investors. In July 2021, Porsche SE acquired a small stake in Isar Aerospace. They raised about $75 million. Porsche explained of its investment that Isar Aerospace had great potential to become a leading European manufacturer of launch vehicles. In March 2023, the startup raised a $165 million Series C from 7-Industries Holding, Bayern Kapital, Lombard Odier and existing investors. An additional $70 million was raised in 2024 from the NATO Innovation Fund and others as an extension of an earlier Series C round. The total funding is now greater than 400 million euros. The program involves releasing a genetically bred mosquito that can reduce the insect's population by 95 per cent. UK-based Oxitec hopes its genetically modified mosquitoes will be released in Australia within the next two years. Source: Supplied Dengue fever is at record levels around the globe, with this trend now beginning to be reflected in Australia as the mosquito species that carries the virus spreads. It means a simple bite could soon trigger symptoms worse than an annoying itch, with victims often experiencing pain behind the eyes, headaches, muscle aches, and nausea for over a week. Surprisingly, elsewhere in the world, one solution to combatting the spread of dengue fever is breeding more of the mosquitoes in large factories. And thats what UK-based Oxitec is now planning to do in Australia as it partners with the countrys national science agency, the CSIRO. The company operates the worlds largest mosquito breeding factory, which is located in Brazil. Inside are boxes containing thousands of friendly mosquitoes that are genetically engineered so only non-biting males survive. After theyre released by local governments, they breed with wild females, and because their offspring will also be majority male, the overall population can rapidly be reduced by over 95 per cent in a few breeding cycles. Australian governments could be purchasing and releasing Oxitics strain of friendly mosquitoes in the next one to two years, if the plan receives regulatory approval. ADVERTISEMENT Related: Aussie family's Bali nightmare amid dengue fever outbreak The tiny wrigglers are genetically modified so only male wrigglers grow into adult mosquitoes. Source: Oxitec Inside factories breeding genetically engineered mosquitoes Walking inside the Brazilian mosquito factory sounds like something out of a horror movie. Oxitecs chief strategy officer Neil Morrison, said visitors are instantly struck by a loud buzzing sound from the thousands of mosquitoes inside. Theyre interested as you walk past the cage because they can smell you, he explained to Yahoo News, noting they can sense the carbon dioxide humans breathe out. So you walk past your mosquito cage, they get excited and start flying around. Deadly mosquito conquers the world The dengue fever-carrying Aedes aegypti mosquito is believed to have spread from a small population in Africa. And while Morrison is committed to battling and eradicating the species, which also transmits yellow fever virus, chikungunya virus, and Zika virus, hes in awe of its abilities. ADVERTISEMENT Over the last 200 years, its spread right across the world, including Australia. In 99 per cent of its range, it's an invasive species, but it's so well adapted to our towns and cities, he said. It's been a massive success story for the mosquito, but it poses such a massive threat to people's health worldwide now and with climate change, that danger is just set to continue to increase. Because mosquitoes can detect carbon dioxide, they become alert when a human enters the factory. Source: Oxitec With medical care, the mortality rate from dengue fever can be limited to around one per cent of victims, around the same as influenza. But untreated severe cases have a mortality rate of around 10 to 20 per cent, making it a big killer in remote and developing parts of the world. It is currently found only in northern and central Queensland, as outbreaks in NSW, the Northern Territory, and Western Australia have all been quashed. The Oxitec and CSIRO partnership is also tackling the Asian tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus), which is yet to become established on mainland Australia, but can spread diseases including dengue, Zika and chikungunya. ADVERTISEMENT Oxitec said it was unable to confirm the cost of the program should it go ahead in Australia. But it said the technology is preferable to alternatives like insecticides, as they frequently kill non-target species, and if used too frequently, target species can build up immunity. In Brazil, it is city governments that purchase Oxitec's mosquitoes as part of their program to tackle dengue fever, and the company wants its product available for government purchase in Australia too. Its not the only new mechanism being developed in Australia to combat mosquitoes. A team at the ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology at Macquarie University is separately developing mosquitoes that carry toxins that are transferred during mating, shortening the lifespan of females. Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment? Get our new newsletter showcasing the weeks best stories. A father has woken to his children's screams after their mother allegedly attacked them with a knife as they slept. The 47-year-old woman is under police guard in hospital on suspicion she was trying to kill the three children - aged 10, 13 and 16 - during the attack on Monday morning. She allegedly turned the knife on herself following the stabbing. "Until we have an opportunity to speak to her we won't know what her intent was," Detective Superintendent Naomi Moore told reporters. "But we're certainly taking it as a potential attempted murder." The father and the children - one of whom has paraplegia - were all in their bedrooms of the family home at Baulkham Hills, in Sydney's northwest, during the attack, police said. The incident which woke the father was "completely unexpected", Det Supt Moore said. "Upon waking up to what I would believe to be a number of screams or yells, he has ... secured the weapon and he's contacted police," she said. "There's certainly no domestic violence history reported to police ... there's no AVOs (restraining orders). "This is the first time police have responded to the house for any type of domestic situation." Lifeline 13 11 14 Suicide call back service 1300 659 467 Beyond Blue 1300 22 46 36 Mensline Australia 1300 78 99 78 Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800 1800 Respect 1800 737 732 13YARN 13 92 76 (For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people) Raul Suarez made a name for himself in the 1960s and 70s as a cab driver, TV and radio host and an emcee at once famous Atlantic City night clubs like the 500 Club. On March 31, 1985, Suarez was found stabbed to death in front of the Crest Motel on the White Horse Pike in Absecon. His cab was later found in Atlantic City. No one was ever charged in the murder. A 2019 article on philadelphia.cbslocal.com said that police are testing DNA recently recovered from the cab in hopes that it will lead to a suspect. Authorities are reportedly making progress in their investigation of a local entertainers death that occurred 40 years ago outside a Jersey Shore motel. Monday marked four decades since Raul Cook Books Suarez was stabbed outside his taxicab along the White Horse Pike in Absecon heading into Atlantic City. Two men were killed by an unknown shooter in Camden this past weekend, authorities said. A notification on the ShotSpotter gunfire detection system sent police to Elm Street at 10:54 p.m. Saturday. Officers then located a man suffering from gunshot wounds near the 600 block of North 5th Street, the Camden County Prosecutors Office said in a statement. The victim, Francisco Benavides, 21, of Pennsauken, was pronounced dead at Cooper University Hospital at 11:42 p.m., officials said. The second victim, Luis Delgado, 22, of Camden, was dropped off at the same hospital. He was pronounced dead at 11:34 p.m., prosecutors said. No arrests have been made in the shooting. The Camden County Prosecutors Office is asking anyone with information to call Detective Jake Siegfried at 856-225-5086 or submit a tip on its website. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Nicolas Fernandes may be reached at nfernandes@njadvancemedia.com. A public charter school in Mercer County led by the highest paid superintendent in New Jersey recently had its charter revoked and is slated to close at the end of the school year in June. The school, Trenton Stem-to-Civics in Ewing, and its founder, Leigh Byron, were the subject of a 2024 NJ Advance Media investigation into excessive salaries funded by taxpayers paid to top officials at some of the states charter schools. The state Department of Education revoked STEMCivics charter in January, effective June 30 of this year. The revocation came after the school failed to implement a remedial plan following its placement on probation in February 2023 for issues regarding compliance with its charter, state laws and regulations, according to a DOE letter first published by the Trentonian and obtained by NJ Advance Media. With a $360,000 salary, Byron, 69, has regularly topped New Jerseys list of highest paid superintendents, according to publicly available state data. The NJ Advance Media report found Byron actually made $671,867 in total compensation for the tax year between July 2022 and June 2023, according to tax forms filed by the school last year. The school pushed back on its charter revocation in a letter from its board of trustees, asking for reconsideration, including having Byron step aside if it will allow the school to remain open, as he is deeply committed to the students and their success. Byron told NJ Advance Media Monday his salary has spurred criticism of STEMCivics. If I am the target, then let the kids stay and achieve because I have built a solid structure, Byron said. If you want me, Ill step aside and let the kids stay. Its not all about me. Most of the people who are unhappy about my salary, earn less, want to earn more and cant, Byron added. People who are financially successful are too busy focusing on earning more money than to be concerned with someone who is earning less." In hopes of keeping the school open, STEMCivics has filed a motion letter of reconsideration and a motion to stay with the state Department of Education, Byron said. The state has yet to respond to the appeals. For the 2022-23 school year, STEMCivics scored a summative rating of 9.62 out of 100 on the state Department of Educations school ratings system, placing it among the lower rated schools in New Jersey. Less than 10% of students met or exceeded expectations in math testing, and 87% of students graduated in four years, placing it below state standards, according to the data. However, in new state data for the 2023-24 school year obtained by NJ Advance Media, STEMCivics made significant improvements, including exceeding targets in English-Language Arts growth and meeting all targets for students with disabilities. The school also met state targets for chronic absenteeism rates. Byron said closing STEMCivics and sending its roughly 600 students back to Trenton public schools just doesnt make any sense. Its heartbreaking and infuriating to think that theyre being sent to a school district that is not performing anywhere close to where we are, Byron said. STEMCivics has two campuses, with the other being a middle school in downtown Trenton. The school calls the Ewing campus, PURPLEfect Palace, and the Trenton school campus, PURPLEfect Parc. Leigh Byron, center, the Principal of Princeton High School and candidate for the position of Bound Brook School Superintendent, chats with Ben Silverwater. NJ Advance Media for NJ.com Byron, a former principal, headmaster, superintendent and author for a Broadway website, founded Trenton Stem-to-Civics Charter School in 2014. By 2017, with the STEMCivics enrollment at 212 students, Byron was the sixth-highest paid superintendent in New Jersey with a $250,000 salary. At the time, he was making about the same as Christopher Cerf, the former Newark Public Schools superintendent, whose district had an enrollment of 35,835. Since 2017, Byrons total pay has nearly tripled, increasing by $410,000 in seven years. Following a series of NJ Advance Media investigations in the states charter school sector, the state Senate Education Committee began discussions that are expected to result in lawmakers updating or overhauling the states nearly 30-year-old Charter School Program Act of 1995. Committee chairman and state Sen. Vin Gopal, D-Monmouth said he expected a bill to be proposed early this year to restructure the states charter school laws. The bill is still being crafted and has yet to be publicly introduced. Our journalism needs your support. Please consider subscribing to NJ.com. Matthew Stanmyre may be reached at mstanmyre@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on X @MattStanmyre. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Local officials are facing off in Plainfield after the citys board of education proposed raising local school property taxes by 36% the districts first tax increase in six years to help close a budget gap. Plainfield Mayor Adrian Mapp publicly criticized the move, saying it would further burden residents who are already facing financial struggles in the Union County city. This decision, which will place an even greater financial strain on homeowners, is a shocking abdication of the BOEs duty to be responsible stewards of public funds, the mayor said in a statement. MORE: Biggest losers in N.J.s new school funding plan Plainfields median household income was $70,712 in 2022, according to Census figures. That is among the lowest in the county. During the citys March 18 board of education meeting, officials said the school tax increase was necessary to offset the dwindling state aid the district has relied on in recent years. In a 7-1 vote, the Plainfield Board of Education approved a preliminary $338 million school district budget and introduced a measure to raise the local tax levy from 2.14% to 2.92% for the next school year. The increased tax levy would mean school taxes would increase by about 36% amounting to an $853 annual increase in taxes for the average homeowner, according to the board. I know that is not an easy pill to swallow, nor is it easy as a taxpayer here in the city of Plainfield, as a homeowner, to deliver, Cameron Cox, Plainfield Board of Education business administrator, said while presenting the budget. But it is my job to give you where we stand and what steps we have the option to take and we should take in order to be able to deliver all the services that we need," Cox added. Though nearly 75% of Plainfields budget comes from state aid, the district plans to rely more on taxes to support its schools in order to prepare for the future and avoid depleting its emergency reserve accounts, Plainfield Superintendent Rashon K. Hasan added. We cannot put ourselves in a position where were constantly making withdrawals from our savings account to balance our checking account, Hasan said at the meeting. MORE: N.J. school districts are panicking over funding cuts. Heres how one lawmaker want to fix it. Last month, after Gov. Phil Murphy unveiled his $12.1 billion school funding plan for fiscal year 2026, the New Jersey Department of Education released preliminary state aid figures for the states nearly 600 districts. Plainfield is slated to receive about $288 million in state aid under Murphys proposal. That is a nearly $11.9 million increase, or 4.3% more than the previous year. However, it is not as big of an increase as Plainfield has received in previous years. In 2024, Plainfield saw one of the largest state aid increases in New Jersey, totaling $30 million. New Jerseys school funding law, which was fully implemented for the first time last year, is designed to shift aid away from overfunded schools to support underfunded ones. But some districts say the formula is unfair. As the state implements the formula, lower-income districts like Plainfield are less likely to see the substantial aid increases they once did, school board officials said. According to Cox, the state has advised low-income districts formerly known as Abbott districts to begin increasing their local tax levies in preparation for reduced state funding. A public hearing on Plainfields school budget, including the proposed tax increase, is scheduled for April 29. The proposed tax increase also became a political flashpoint after the mayor publicly criticized Councilman Richard Wyatt who plans to run for Plainfield mayor in June for celebrating the school budget proposal. A 36% tax hike is not a cause for celebration. It is a devastating blow to Plainfield homeowners, many of whom are already struggling with rising costs and economic uncertainty, Mapp said. In response, Wyatt defended his stance in a Facebook post, saying raising taxes should be a last resort and Plainfield schools are struggling under an unfair system that prioritizes local tax incentives for developers and charter schools. I understand the financial pressures families are under, Wyatt said. In these uncertain times, I do not and would not support a tax increase. Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey will continue working with Hackensack Meridian Health as an in-network provider, after the insurance company was poised to terminate the states largest hospital system from its network due to a negotiating stalemate. In a joint press release issued Monday, the insurer and hospital system announced they had reached an agreement on a new multi-year contract, two months before the June 1 deadline. All of us in health care have an obligation to work to make health care more affordable and accessible, said Gary D. St. Hilaire, Horizons president and chief executive officer. This agreement reflects our shared belief that health care works best when providers and insurers work together to put the people we serve at the center of everything we do. The announcement means Horizon insurance plan holders will continue to have uninterrupted, in-network access to Hackensack Meridian Healths doctors, hospitals and facilities statewide. We are thrilled to have reached a resolution with Horizon ensuring that our world-class team members can continue to provide excellent care to the patients and communities we serve, said Robert C. Garrett, chief executive officer of Hackensack Meridian Health. The agreement is a comfort to thousands of patients who feared they may have to pay more to continue receiving care from Hackensack Meridian Health hospitals. U.S Rep. Frank Pallone has called out the healthcare companies for letting it get this far. Im relieved that Horizon and Hackensack Meridian have finally come to an agreement that protects health care access for hundreds of thousands of New Jerseyans. But lets be clear: this should never have come to the brink, Pallone, D-6th Dist., said Monday in a statement sent to media outlets. Ill continue to monitor these situations closely and wont hesitate to step in again when access to care is threatened, Pallone said. Hackensack Meridian Health is the states largest health system, with 18 hospitals and more than 500 patient care locations, including ambulatory care centers, surgery centers, home health services, long-term care and assisted living communities, according to its website. The hospital system serves close to 2 million patients annually at its facilities. Horizon serves more than 3.8 million members in New Jersey, according to its website. Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a subscription. Jackie Roman may be reached at jroman@njadvancemedia.com. A Holmdel man is facing several charges after attempting to remove a Pride flag from a local Matawan business, according to police. The incident occurred at 11:45 a.m. Saturday outside Main Street Donuts, Matawan police said in a press release on Facebook. The owner spoke to police and said the man, identified Sunday as 61-year-old Maciej Wojciak, tried to remove the pride flag from the front of the store, according to the release. The owner then attempted to stop Wojciak, who fled the scene before police arrived, authorities said. While officers were searching for Wojciak, he returned to the business. He then made a Nazi salute and performed simulated sexual acts in the roadway, police said. During the incident, the man also threatened to burn down the donut shop, authorities said. Officers located Wojciaks vehicle and arrested him, police said. He was taken to Monmouth County Correctional Institution in Freehold and charged with bias intimidation, terroristic threats, criminal mischief and disorderly conduct, the department said. After hearing about the incident, some customers went to the business as a show of support. There was a line out the door much of the day and the shop was sold out of donuts by 11:30 a.m., local resident said. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Monmouth County Prosecutors Office Detective Adam Hess at 800-533-7443 or Matawan Police Department Detective Mason Sheehan at 732-290-2038. Staff writer Katie Kausch contributed to this report. Detainees from Venezuela were forcibly removed from the United States and sent to a notorious prison in El Salvador, immigrant rights advocates said. Getty Images/fStop Editors note: This story was originally published by NJ Spotlight News and shared as part of a content-sharing agreement between Mosaic.NJ.com and NJ Spotlight News. You can follow them on Facebook and Twitter (or X). Immigrant advocates in New Jersey are slamming recent deportations by the Trump administration. On March 15, 238 Venezuelans were forcibly deported to a notorious prison in El Salvador, a move the Trump administration justified in part under the Alien Enemies Act. Critics called the move propaganda for a political agenda thats masquerading as immigration enforcement. Amy Torres with the New Jersey Alliance for Immigrant Justice said the implicit suggestion is, Look how dangerous these people are. These are the measures that we have to take, where we have to shackle them, have them frog-marched in. We have to shave their heads. In reality, said Torres, We have 230-plus people who are basically disappeared, and being held as political prisoners. President Donald Trump has said 137 of these men belong to Tren de Aragua, a dangerous criminal gang, and that he rightfully invoked the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, even though Congress specifically intended the law to be used as a safeguard only during wartime. These are bad people. That was a bad group of as I say hombres. Trump told reporters. These are criminals, murderers, drug dealers, people from mental institutions. Thats an invasion. They invaded our country. This IS war. Rose Cuison-Villazor, a professor of law at Rutgers University, strongly disagrees. We are not at war. There hasnt been any determination at all that these people who were removed or are being detained under the Alien Enemies Act are even members of Tren de Aragua, said Cuison-Villazor, who also heads the Center for Immigrant Justice. She says these detainees included legitimate asylum-seekers. Some were arrested simply for their tattoos. The deportations proceeded despite a federal judges order to return the men after the plane left for El Salvador. Did they ignore the judges order? And if they did you know thats a constitutional crisis, said Cuison-Villazor. So its clearly unprecedented. Theres no case law. Theres no support for this kind of invocation of power. If the administration applies the Enemy Aliens Act without oversight, then, Its being unlawfully used to target and accelerate the mass deportations that theyve been planning, said Jeanne LoCicero, legal director at ACLU-NJ. When the Alien Enemies Act was invoked during World War II, the government confined German, Italian and Japanese nationals at Ellis Island. After Pearl Harbor, immigration officials housed detainees in the Great Hall there, including 134 Japanese residents who were living in New Jersey, according to researcher Anna Pegler-Gordon. The government also housed some 50 Germans mostly women at an immigration station in Gloucester City and brought thousands of detained Japanese from internment camps out West to work at Seabrook Farms in Cumberland County. Under U.S. law, those detainees got their day in court. The ones sent to El Salvador did not. Welcome to Mosaic. Follow us on Instagram at @MosaicNJcom and on Facebook at MosaicNJcom and on YouTube at @MosaicNJcom. The U.S. State Department announced a Level 3: Reconsider Travel advisory to Guinea-Bissau due to crime, civil unrest and limited access to health care. Canva/Katherine Rodriguez You might want to reconsider your travel plans if you want to visit this West African nation. The U.S. State Department recently issued a Level 3: Reconsider Travel advisory to Guinea-Bissau due to crime, civil unrest and limited access to health care. According to the State Department, the country has reportedly experienced political instability for years, and protests have devolved into violence. Crime runs rampant in the nation, where many foreigners are targeted by criminals at the Bissau airport and in crowded areas near the capital. Police often lack resources to respond adequately to serious crimes. Health care is also limited in the country, and travelers should carry medical evacuation insurance and all needed medications for their journey. If Americans travel abroad to Guinea-Bissau, the U.S. government cannot provide consular services within the country and emergency services are limited because there is no U.S. Embassy in Guinea-Bissau. If you do decide to travel to Guinea-Bissau, keep these things in mind: Stay aware of your surroundings. Do not display signs of wealth, such as expensive watches or jewelry. Do not physically resist any robbery attempt. Use caution when walking or driving at night. Be sure to always wear your seatbelt. Only drink bottled water. Avoid risky behavior, including swimming in fresh bodies of water such as lakes, rivers, and ponds, which can be contaminated with bacteria and/or parasites. Avoid demonstrations and crowds. Buy travel insurance before your trip. You can find more information about this travel advisory and ways to stay safe while traveling here. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Katherine Rodriguez can be reached at krodriguez@njadvancemedia.com. Have a tip? Tell us at nj.com/tips. Farmers were shocked by the sudden downpour, which was heavier than anyone has seen in a century. All but seven of the 80 rams on Spoilbank Station perished after the western Queensland farm flooded. Source: Ange Lawson Properties across outback Australia were smashed with a years worth of rain in less than a week, severing communications and washing away roads. Seven days after an unprecedented deluge hit western Queensland, farmers have waded out into the mud with their cameras and surveyed the damage, as many remain cut off from the rest of the country. Livestock at Spoilbank Station, 120km west of Longreach, didnt stand a chance when over 300 millimetres of rain fell over 24 hours. Heartbreaking pictures show destroyed fences and drowned rams high in tree branches after the banks of a relatively dry creek were suddenly filled with gushing water. Only seven out of 80 survived the ordeal, a loss of around $80,000. Farmer Richard Anderson remembers the unimaginable roar of the rain when it was at its heaviest. It was pretty noisy. I didnt sleep at all on Tuesday night, he said. There was a big concrete trough that weighed 2.2 tonnes, and the water has pushed it across the ground for 150 metres, he added. ADVERTISEMENT Related: Groundwater dries up in Australia's south Richard Anderson and Ange Lawson (pictured) are unable to leave their 83,000-acre property. Source: Ange Lawson Deluge worst anyone has seen in a century Because the weather had been dry until recently, Richard was initially excited by the downpour. But then it kept on falling at a rate the earth couldnt absorb, causing hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of damage at Spoilbank alone. It was on an epic scale, Richard said. This is the worst in this part of the world anyone's ever seen. Blokes that have been here 100 years haven't seen this. The cleanup from ex-tropical cyclone Alfred, which made landfall on March 7, is ongoing. But the damage caused by last weeks extreme weather event is on a much larger scale, with details in photographs taken by Richard's partner Ange Lawson shocking social media users around the country. "So very sad for the landowners and the poor animals," one person wrote after seeing images of the dead rams. "My heart pains for you all, take care," another said. ADVERTISEMENT Rams were swept into the branches of trees (left) after the heavy downpour. Source: Ange Lawson More rain forecast as clean-up continues Having surveyed his 83,000-acre property from a helicopter yesterday, Richard is hopeful stock losses on the whole have been minimal because the property is on high ground. But looking across the wider region, Queensland's department of agriculture estimates 60,000 livestock have perished, and a further 49,500 are missing. Until the roads are fixed and the land has dried out, the only way in and out of Spoilbank is by air. Supplies of aviation gas are running low, as are basic grocery items like milk. Now, its a waiting game, and Richard is concerned that more rain has been forecast to hit mid-week. ADVERTISEMENT Theyre forecasting another inch or two on Tuesday or Wednesday. We can probably handle that if we have to, but any more than that, itll be a disaster. Particularly for all those people downstream where all that water has hit, they just cant handle any more, he said. Richard doesnt think the land will be dry enough to survey much of the property in off-road vehicles for another two weeks. In the meantime, there are pumps to be fixed and maintenance on vehicles to be done. It's quiet, we havent got the roar of the creek just back to normal. It's almost back to normal. It's just everything is bloody very wet and everything has been washed away, he said. Residents urged to apply for grants to put 'food on the table' To help with the recovery, the Queensland and Commonwealth governments have activated disaster loans for small businesses and not-for-profits in the local government areas of Barcoo, Boulia, Bulloo, Diamantina, Longreach, Murweh, Paroo, Quilpie, and Winton. ADVERTISEMENT Up to $100,000 for affected entities is on offer, with the money available for repairs, stock, wages, and rent. There are also personal hardship loans available for residents across Barcoo, Bulloo, Longreach, Paroo, Quilpie, and Winton. Those funds can be used for emergency essentials, the replacement of damaged household items, and restoring communications. On Monday, federal emergency services minister Jenny McAllister said that during disasters, its vital to have confidence that better days are ahead. This means knowing there will be food on the table, stock on the shelves, and your lights will turn on again and stay on, she said, urging impacted residents to apply for hardship grants. Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment? Get our new newsletter showcasing the weeks best stories. Six-day (Tuesday through Sunday) print subscribers of the Watertown Daily Times are eligible for full access to NNY360, the NNY360 mobile app, and the Watertown Daily Times e-edition, all at no additional cost. If you have an existing six-day print subscription to the Watertown Daily Times, please make sure your email address on file matches your NNY360 account email. You can sign up or manage your print subscription using the options below. Louisianans and Mississippians have long battled over claiming rights for Barqs Root Beer, a beloved soft drink known for its high carbonation, low-foam taste and fabled Southern origins. Thirteenth Ward resident Walker Lasiter posed the question anew after having po-boys with a friend from Mississippi. While both agreed Barqs is the beverage of choice for the meal, they fought over the origins of the drink, each claiming it for his respective state. Lasiter was left with the crucial question: Was Barq's invented in New Orleans? Barqs historian and great-granddaughter of the original Louisiana Barqs manufacturing family, Veni Harlan, has some answers. Despite some backlash online, a union spokesperson told Yahoo News the technology could be in the interest of workers. The retail workers' union has responded to panic over the sighting of a Woolworths robot in a Brisbane car park. Source: TikTok/Indians_in_brisbane_est & Associated Press Footage of a Woolworths robot appearing to collect a long row of supermarket trolleys and returning them to the bay in a store car park has left Aussies questioning if the technology will replace staff. However, a retail union secretary told Yahoo News the emergence of such technology is likely a good thing for the workforce. The robot in question appeared to have a flashing safety light and was covered in Woolworths branding as it pushed the trolleys back towards the bay. It is unclear whether the person behind the camera capturing the video in Brisbane was a shopper or worker, however, they joked the supermarket giant has now "hired R2-D2" and paid tribute to the workers who used to do the job of collecting stray trolleys from the premises. There was a mixed response from shocked shoppers online, with many concerned the technology will make it increasingly more difficult for "desperate job seekers". "We are going to have so many problems with these," one person commented online, while another worried they be taking jobs away. However some Aussies applauded the apparent introduction of the technology, believing it will help ease workers' load. 'Green machines' been on the go for years, Woolworths said Woolworths told Yahoo News their "little Green Machines have been in use for a number of years" and are an aid for workers, not a replacement. ADVERTISEMENT "These innovative aids make navigating challenging carparks smoother for our team members, particularly in areas with inclines or ramps. And they ensure we have trolleys ready for our customers when they need them," a spokesperson said. The technology has been rolled out over 10 stores in Brisbane and each bot is operated by a worker. This is done by the staff member steering the shopping trolleys at the front of the row, while the bot takes the majority of the load at the back. Supermarket union supports 'tool of the trade' Despite the panic over what the implications of this will be on supermarket workers, the secretary of the Retail and Fast Food Workers Union (RAFFWU), Josh Cullinan, told Yahoo News he doesn't believe the technology will replace staff at least not while they are being controlled by workers via a device. "It looks like a human controlled device that pushes the trolleys and assists the worker, not that it is working autonomously," Cullinan told Yahoo News. ADVERTISEMENT This "tool of the trade" will likely help workers, rather than threaten their jobs, as the laborious task of collecting and pushing heavy trolleys across the car park will now be left to the robot. "It's not dissimilar to electric pallet jacks being introduced. Basic pallet jacks were just these things on wheels, and moving stock into trucks was horrendous because any bump or slope would risk everything toppling [over], but electric pallet jacks have been a big benefit for workers. "If it's a device to help control and push trolleys and it takes the weight off a human being, then that is something we support," he said. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube. Braving the rain, a couple stands under an umbrella along St. Charles Avenue in New Orleans on Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025. The avenue, which would typically be packed with Mardi Gras paradegoers, was nearly empty after inclement weather forced the rescheduling of several parades, including Femme Fatale, Carrollton, and King Arthur. (Staff Photo by David Grunfeld, The Times-Picayune | NOLA.com) Kelly Rocheleau Education, court and crime reporter Follow Kelly Rocheleau 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 AUBURN Sexual assault awareness seems to be rising, but it's still the most underreported crime in the U.S. and the subject of a variety of misconceptions. Victims of sexual assault, for instance, are often scrutinized for their choice of clothing. A series of local events in April, which is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, will seek to address that misconception and others. The first event is an art installation, "What Were You Wearing?" Located at the Cayuga Museum from April 3 to April 5, the installation will feature recreations of clothing worn by actual survivors when they were sexually assaulted, which in most cases was casual and non-revealing. The message is that what they were wearing doesn't make sexual assault any more or less likely or justified. "The point of the event is to dispel some of the myths that you had to be wearing a short dress or easily accessible clothing," said Samantha Lazzaro, a victims services specialist and educator with the Sexual Assault Victims Advocate Resource of Cayuga County, which along with the Child Advocacy Center is a program of event organizer Cayuga Counseling Services. Lazzaro told The Citizen that short films about sexual assault awareness will then be shown in the museum's Carriage House Theater the afternoon of April 5. From 10 a.m. to noon the next morning, survivors will have an opportunity to share their experiences at a Coffee House Open Mic. Twenty spots are available for them to share poems, songs, short stories and more, and anonymity is an option. "We find that a lot of survivors like to use art and music and poetry as a therapy source," Lazzaro said. The fourth event is the annual Take Back the Night march and rally on April 22 at Cayuga Community College. SAVAR employees will read pieces from anonymous survivors about their experiences with sexual assault and domestic violence, and there will be live music, food and community information. Lazzaro said such events can help connect people with the resources they need. Sexual Assault Awareness Month events also help survivors realize they are not alone, she continued, as they often feel like no one else has experienced what they have. "There's other people who understand. There's other people who know what it's like to go through what you've gone through. But also, a lot of victims feel like it's not talked about enough and (think), 'If I knew more about this, or if I knew that these things could happen, then maybe this wouldn't have happened to me,'" she said. "That's (another reason) why we do the awareness, too, is to hopefully help people not become a victim and not experience the trauma." Lazzaro said local officials and law enforcement organizations like the Auburn Police Department are supportive of raising sexual assault awareness. "We have a lot of good people running the important pieces to help us really make some huge jumps forward," she said. Nationally, awareness of sexual assault has risen in recent years, particularly due to the #MeToo movement. It started a "slow cultural shift" after decades of the problem being ignored, Lazzaro said. But it's still a work in progress. According to the National Sexual Violence Resource Center, sexual assault is the most underreported crime in the country, with 63% not reported to police. "For so long, what happened behind closed doors in your home stayed behind closed doors. We brush everything under the rug and we don't want to talk enough about it," she said. "That allows these people who are out there hurting people to keep doing it over and over and over again, because no one even knows it's happening." Some will always blame survivors for their own assaults, Lazzaro said, but she believes "there's less of it now than there used to be." The national political landscape can also affect sexual assault awareness, she added, and which laws are passed to address it. But the crime remains a tragic constant, one that affects men and children as well. Even as awareness rises, it continues to happen in Auburn and Cayuga County "far more often than anyone wants to admit," Lazzaro said. "If it didn't happen here," she said, "we wouldn't need a Child Advocacy Center or SAVAR." If you go WHAT: "What Were You Wearing?" sexual assault survivor art installation WHEN: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday, April 3, through Saturday, April 5 WHERE: Cayuga Museum Carriage House Theater, 203 Genesee St., Auburn WHAT: "Take A Stand!" short films about sexual assault awareness WHEN: 2 to 5 p.m. Friday, April 4 WHERE: Cayuga Museum Carriage House Theater WHAT: Coffee House Open Mic WHEN: 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, April 5 WHERE: Cayuga Museum Carriage House Theater WHAT: Take Back the Night WHEN: 5 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 22 WHERE: Cayuga Community College, 197 Franklin St., Auburn COST: All events are free and open to the public INFO: Email Samantha Lazzaro at samanthal@cayugacounseling.org or call (315) 604-0121 TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE We all rely on science. Science gave us the smartphones in our pockets, the navigation systems in our cars, and life-saving medical care. We count on engineers when we drive across bridges and fly in airplanes. Businesses and farmers rely on science and engineering for product innovation, technological advances, and weather forecasting. Science helps humanity protect the planet and keeps pollutants and toxins out of our air, water, and food. For over 80 years, wise investments by the US government have built up the nation's research enterprise, making it the envy of the world. Astoundingly, the Trump administration is destabilizing this enterprise by gutting funding for research, firing thousands of scientists, removing public access to scientific data, and pressuring researchers to alter or abandon their work on ideological grounds. The undersigned are elected members of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, representing some of the nation's top scientists, engineers, and medical researchers. We are speaking out as individuals. We see real danger in this moment. We hold diverse political beliefs, but we are united as researchers in wanting to protect independent scientific inquiry. We are sending this SOS to sound a clear warning: the nation's scientific enterprise is being decimated. The administration is slashing funding for scientific agencies, terminating grants to scientists, defunding their laboratories, and hampering international scientific collaboration. The funding cuts are forcing institutions to pause research (including studies of new disease treatments), dismiss faculty, and stop enrolling graduate studentsthe pipeline for the next generation's scientists. The administration's current investigations of more than 50 universities send a chilling message. Columbia University was recently notified that its federal funding would be withheld unless it adopted disciplinary policies and disabled an academic department targeted by the administration. Destabilizing dozens of universities will endanger higher educationand the research those institutions conduct. The quest for truththe mission of sciencerequires that scientists freely explore new questions and report their findings honestly, independent of special interests. The administration is engaging in censorship, destroying this independence. It is using executive orders and financial threats to manipulate which studies are funded or published, how results are reported, and which data and research findings the public can access. The administration is blocking research on topics it finds objectionable, such as climate change, or that yields results it does not like, on topics ranging from vaccine safety to economic trends. A climate of fear has descended on the research community. Researchers, afraid of losing their funding or job security, are removing their names from publications, abandoning studies, and rewriting grant proposals and papers to remove scientifically accurate terms (such as climate change) that agencies are flagging as objectionable. Although some in the scientific community have protested vocally, most researchers, universities, research institutions, and professional organizations have kept silent to avoid antagonizing the administration and jeopardizing their funding. If our country's research enterprise is dismantled, we will lose our scientific edge. Other countries will lead the development of novel disease treatments, clean energy sources, and the new technologies of the future. Their populations will be healthier, and their economies will surpass us in business, defense, intelligence gathering, and monitoring our planet's health. The damage to our nation's scientific enterprise could take decades to reverse. We call on the administration to cease its wholesale assault on U.S. science, and we urge the public to join this call. Share this statement with others, contact your representatives in Congress, and help your community understand what is at risk. The voice of science must not be silenced. We all benefit from 1 Damascus LEBANON Mediterranean Sea Golan Heights SYRIA Israeli presence israel jordan west bank Israel Digs In Beyond Its Northern Border Israel has built a growing network of outposts and fortifications in Syria and Lebanon, deepening concerns about a protracted occupation in parts of the two countries. Israel says it wants to prevent another surprise attack across its borders like the October 2023 Hamas-led attack that ignited the war in Gaza. It has not said how long its forces will remain in its neighbors territories, where groups hostile to Israel are present. But there are signs that Israel appears prepared to remain indefinitely, a visual analysis by The New York Times has found. The military has set up watchtowers, prefabricated housing modules, roads and communication infrastructure, according to local residents and the United Nations. An image taken in January of an area near the Syrian town of Jubata al-Khashab shows heavy equipment at work and a newly built perimeter wall. Abdul Rahman Krij The largest visible buildup has been in the demilitarized buffer zone in Syria, where Israeli forces have taken up positions and set up roadblocks throughout the territory. They have also deployed beyond the zone which was created after the 1973 Arab-Israeli war inside Syria, including on a hill overlooking the village of Kodana. They say its temporary, but based on what they're building, it seems they're preparing to stay for a while, said Omar Tahan, a local leader in Kodana. In Lebanon FEB. 2 MARCH 4 MARCH 4 In Syria Mount Hermon LEBANON SYRIA Al-Hamames FEB. 2 Israeli outposts Houla Jebel Balat Aitaroun Demilitarized buffer zone JAN. 21 Golan Heights ISRAEL FEB. 2 10 Miles JORDAN JAN. 10 Source: Planet Labs In Lebanon FEB. 2 MARCH 4 MARCH 4 In Syria Mount Hermon LEBANON SYRIA Al-Hamames FEB. 2 Houla Israeli outposts Jebel Balat Aitaroun Demilitarized buffer zone Kodana JAN. 21 Golan Heights ISRAEL Marba 10 Miles FEB. 2 JORDAN JAN. 10 Source: Planet Labs AUG. 6, 2024 FEB. 2, 2025 JAN. 21, 2025 MARCH 4, 2025 NOV. 6, 2024 MARCH 4, 2025 Mount Hermon Mediterranean Sea Litani river SYRIA Al-Hamames Hader DEC. 23, 2024 FEB. 2, 2025 Tyre Jubata al-Khashab LEBANON Houla Hamidiya Quneitra Israel has kept forces in five locations in Lebanon following its pledge to withdraw from the country. DEC. 3, 2024 JAN. 21, 2025 Jebel Balat Qahtaniya Aitaroun Labbouneh Demilitarized buffer zone Israeli presence Kodana Nahariyya Golan Heights JAN. 1, 2025 JAN. 21, 2025 ISRAEL Acre Karmiel Sea of Galilee DEC. 17, 2024 FEB. 2, 2025 Marba 5 Miles JORDAN SYRIA DEC. 25, 2024 JAN. 10, 2025 Source: Planet Labs AUG. 6, 2024 FEB. 2, 2025 JAN. 21, 2025 MARCH 4, 2025 NOV. 6, 2024 MARCH 4, 2025 Mount Hermon Mediterranean Sea Litani river SYRIA Al-Hamames Hader DEC. 23, 2024 FEB. 2, 2025 Tyre Jubata al-Khashab LEBANON Israel has kept forces in five locations in Lebanon following its pledge to withdraw from the country. Houla Hamidiya Quneitra DEC. 3, 2024 JAN. 21, 2025 Jebel Balat Qahtaniya Aitaroun Labbouneh Demilitarized buffer zone Israeli presence Kodana Nahariyya Golan Heights JAN. 1, 2025 JAN. 21, 2025 ISRAEL Acre Karmiel Sea of Galilee DEC. 17, 2024 FEB. 2, 2025 Marba 5 Miles JORDAN SYRIA DEC. 25, 2024 JAN. 10, 2025 Source: Planet Labs Israel also says that its forces will remain in five places in southern Lebanon so they can defend Israeli communities from potential attack. It initially pledged as a part of a cease-fire deal reached in late November to withdraw from the country. That deadline was extended, and the two countries are now holding further negotiations. In parallel to the war in Gaza, Israel has fought along its northern border with Hezbollah, the Iran-backed militia group based in Lebanon. Hezbollah began firing rockets and drones at Israeli positions shortly after the Hamas-led Oct. 7 assault that began the war, prompting back-and-forth attacks between both sides and displacing thousands of Israeli and Lebanese residents on either side of the border. Last summer, Israel launched a massive aerial campaign and ground invasion that killed Hezbollahs top leadership and many of its fighters. The conflict killed around 4,000 people in Lebanon and wounded over 16,000, according to the Lebanese authorities. An incursion into Syria Israel says its presence in southern Syria it has at least nine outposts there is intended to protect communities in northern Israel. It has expressed distrust of the new government in Damascus, which is led by the Islamist rebels who toppled President Bashar al-Assad late last year. Damascus At least seven outposts within buffer zone SYRIA Demilitarized buffer zone LEBANON Israeli presence Quneitra At least two outposts beyond buffer zone Golan Heights Sea of Galilee ISRAEL Daraa JORDAN Damascus At least seven outposts within buffer zone Demilitarized buffer zone LEBANON SYRIA Israeli presence Quneitra At least two outposts beyond buffer zone Golan Heights Sea of Galilee ISRAEL Suwayda Daraa 20 Miles JORDAN Damascus At least seven outposts within buffer zone Demilitarized buffer zone LEBANON SYRIA Israeli presence Quneitra At least two outposts beyond buffer zone Golan Heights Sea of Galilee ISRAEL Suwayda Daraa 20 Miles JORDAN In 1973, Syria joined by Egypt launched a surprise assault that caught Israel off guard. The following year, Israel and Syria agreed to a cease-fire that created the buffer zone, in which neither military was allowed to operate. But after the fall of Mr. al-Assad, Israeli soldiers swept into the buffer zone and beyond, with Israeli warplanes carrying out hundreds of strikes against military sites across the country. Syrias interim president, Ahmed al-Shara, says his country remains committed to the 1974 cease-fire. But Israels prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, says the cease-fire collapsed with the fall of Mr. al-Assad. Now he is demanding the complete demilitarization of much of southern Syria from the forces of the new regime. Last month, Israel Katz, Israels defense minister, said the countrys forces were prepared to remain in the buffer zone, where thousands of Syrian residents live, for an indefinite period. They were also conducting raids deeper into southern Syria, he said. In another sign of widening Israel control, Mr. Katz added that his government would start issuing permission to some Syrians to enter the Golan Heights for work. Israel conquered the territory from Syria in the 1967 war and later annexed it, building Israeli settlements there. Much of the world views the area as Israeli-occupied Syrian territory. In recent weeks, Israeli trucks have been seen operating along the buffer area. A photo from early January showed construction vehicles at work near the town of Quneitra. An Israeli army construction site near Quneitra on Jan. 3 Atef Safadi/EPA, via Shutterstock And satellite images captured by Planet Labs on Jan. 21 show a recently built outpost and a 75-acre bulldozed area near Jubata al-Khashab. Israeli forces have deployed in abandoned outposts, constructing fortifications and concrete watchtowers, including a hilltop outpost overlooking the nearby towns of Hader in Syria and Majdal Shams in the Golan Heights. Elsewhere, construction vehicles are building access roads for the military outposts and digging a defensive line along the Alpha Line, which separates the Golan Heights from the buffer zone. The Israeli military says its engineers have been reinforcing the barrier along the border as part of its security effort. Outpost near Kodana JAN. 10, 2025 Demilitarized buffer zone Detail Excavators Ditch Outpost near Kodana JAN. 10, 2025 Demilitarized buffer zone SYRIA Detail 300 Feet Excavators Ditch Source: Planet Labs Staying put in Lebanon In Lebanon, Israeli forces have constructed outposts in five locations, despite the initial agreement to leave in January. Litani river Al-Hamames SYRIA LEBANON Houla Israeli presence Area where both sides had pledged to withdraw Golan Heights Aitaroun ISRAEL Houla Residential buildings 150 Feet Sand berm Military vehicles SEPT. 28, 2024 MARCH 4, 2025 Al-Hamames NOV. 6, 2024 MARCH 4, 2025 Aitaroun OCT. 24, 2024 FEB. 2, 2025 Litani river Al-Hamames SYRIA LEBANON Houla Israeli presence Area where both sides had pledged to withdraw Golan Heights Aitaroun ISRAEL Houla 150 Feet Residential buildings Sand berm Military vehicles SEPT. 28, 2024 MARCH 4, 2025 Al-Hamames NOV. 6, 2024 MARCH 4, 2025 Aitaroun OCT. 24, 2024 FEB. 2, 2025 Litani river Al-Hamames SYRIA Area where both sides had pledged to withdraw Houla Israeli presence LEBANON Golan Heights Aitaroun ISRAEL Houla Al-Hamames Aitaroun 150 Feet Residential buildings SEPT. 28, 2024 NOV. 6, 2024 OCT. 24, 2024 Sand berm Military vehicles MARCH 4, 2025 MARCH 4, 2025 FEB. 2, 2025 Source: Planet Labs Israel has long feared a surprise attack by Hezbollah from its strongholds in southern Lebanon. As part of the cease-fire, the Lebanese army was supposed to take control in the area, which it has begun to do. But Israel is still bombarding southern Lebanon on a near-daily basis, accusing Hezbollah of violating the truce. More than 90,000 people in Lebanon remain displaced, particularly from devastated villages along the border, where many homes were destroyed. Satellite images and videos show Israel building military installations on the Lebanese side of the border between the two countries. The Times was able to pinpoint the locations of the five outposts. At one site, just outside the eastern Lebanese town of Khiam, satellite images show a path leading to a rectangular structure bearing the characteristics of a military outpost that was built this year. Cars and trucks are parked inside the walled area. A photo taken from the southern Lebanese village of Sarada shows the Israeli flag flying over the Al-Hamames hills facing the Israeli village of Metulah on Feb. 19, 2025. Rabih Daher / Agence France-Presse Getty Images Photos also show an Israeli flag planted at this site. Trees dotted around the hill nearby had been cleared in recent weeks too. Another outpost has been built between the towns of Markaba and Houla. Satellite images from March show a new, wide path leading up to a rectangular outpost with cars parked inside. The area nearby was cleared of debris. The U.N. peacekeeping force known as UNIFIL, which monitors the conflict along the border between Lebanon and Israel, has two outposts within 400 yards of the new Israeli site. Videos reviewed by The Times show Israeli forces operating nearby. In another location on Lebanons southern border with Israel, near the town of Aitaroun, satellite imagery shows the beginnings of a similar structure walled and rectangular, with cars inside on a mountain top. Near the town of Marwahin, satellite imagery shows the beginnings of similar structures being built around a hilltop, Jebel Blat, overlooking the Israeli settlement of Zarit. Rabih Daher / Agence France-Presse Getty Images Satellite imagery and photos also confirm that new concrete blocks and barbed wire have been placed around this part of the border wall. Footage published by a reporter working for al-Manar, a Hezbollah-owned TV channel, and verified by The Times, shows Israeli forces in this area after the withdrawal deadline. One video shows a soldier raising an Israeli flag. Chinese rescue teams racing against time to save lives in quake-hit Myanmar Xinhua) 08:19, March 31, 2025 Rescuers prepare to carry out search and rescue operations after an earthquake in Mandalay, Myanmar, March 30, 2025. (Photo by Myo Kyaw Soe/Xinhua) 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. 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. (Photo by Feng Tao/Xinhua) 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. Rescuers prepare to carry out search and rescue operations after an earthquake in Mandalay, Myanmar, March 30, 2025. (Photo by Myo Kyaw Soe/Xinhua) 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. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) Ronn Torossian In 2025, crisis management has reached a fever pitch. Brands, corporations and individuals are now more aware than ever of the power of public relations in the digital age. What was once a field concerned with managing occasional media relations has transformed into a complex, 24/7 practice in an era where social media and digital platforms amplify every mistake. The speed at which crises unfold today is staggering, and the consequences of poor responses are even more severe. For companies, a misstep in handling a crisis can permanently damage their reputation and bottom line. Several companies have recently made the grave mistake of mismanaging crises, showing how even the most well-known brands can fail when they ignore the basics of transparency, accountability and empathy. From tech failures to greenwashing scandals and culturally insensitive marketing campaigns, these PR disasters offer valuable lessons on what happens when crisis PR goes wrong. 1. Tesla's AI Safety Scandal: The Perils of Overpromising and Underdelivering Tesla, the worlds leader in electric vehicles (EVs), found itself embroiled in a public relations nightmare after a catastrophic crash involving one of its vehicles with an upgraded version of its self-driving system. The crash occurred when a Tesla Model X driving in full self-driving mode veered off the road, causing severe damage and resulting in two fatalities. The vehicle's AI had reportedly misinterpreted a construction zone, failing to stop when it was supposed to. The issue quickly exploded across social media, with experts and concerned citizens alike calling into question the safety of Teslas self-driving technology. As a company that has built much of its brand around innovation and cutting-edge technology, Teslas PR team had a monumental task ahead of them in managing this crisis. Unfortunately, their initial response was far from reassuring. Teslas PR team issued a statement hours after the incident, claiming that the accident was an isolated incident and that their self-driving technology was constantly improving. The message seemed to downplay the severity of the crash, offering vague reassurances that the company was committed to safety. Elon Musk, the companys CEO, further fueled the backlash by tweeting that Teslas safety protocols far exceed industry standards and implying that the media was sensationalizing the incident. This initial response infuriated the public. Instead of taking full accountability, Tesla attempted to brush off the incident, which triggered widespread anger from consumers, regulators and advocacy groups. The public, already skeptical of the safety of autonomous vehicles, saw Teslas response as dismissive and insufficient. Teslas failure to respond with transparencysuch as acknowledging the issue and offering concrete steps to improve safetyled to an escalating crisis. Consumer trust eroded, and the incident was swiftly followed by calls for stronger regulation of autonomous driving technologies. Additionally, regulatory bodies in the U.S. and Europe announced investigations into Teslas self-driving system. In the weeks that followed, the company's stock price took a significant hit, and Musk faced increasing scrutiny over his leadership during a crisis. The Tesla AI safety scandal is a stark reminder of the dangers of overpromising and underdelivering in crisis management. In todays climate, transparency and humility in response to a crisis are non-negotiable. Had Tesla acknowledged the concerns, expressed genuine empathy, and committed to swift action, the PR fallout could have been minimized. 2. Bumbles Data Privacy Fiasco: A Lack of Empathy and Transparency Bumble, the popular dating app, suffered a significant PR crisis when a data breach exposed the personal information of millions of users. The breach revealed sensitive data such as user messages, location data, and even payment information. While the breach itself was serious, what made the situation even worse was Bumbles delayed response and mishandling of the crisis. The company waited over a week before publicly acknowledging the breach, during which time rumors and speculation spread rapidly across social media. Users were left in the dark about whether their personal data had been compromised, and the companys silence only deepened the sense of distrust. When Bumble finally issued a statement, it was filled with jargon about cybersecurity protocols and ongoing investigations, but there was little in the way of a clear action plan or concrete steps to protect users going forward. What Bumble failed to do was acknowledge the emotional impact of the breach on its users. In todays digital age, consumers expect companies to take responsibility and express empathy in the face of such incidents. Bumbles PR response lacked warmth or an understanding of the potential consequences for users, especially considering the sensitive nature of personal relationships facilitated by the app. The lack of empathy and the delayed response damaged Bumbles reputation, particularly in the wake of similar incidents with other tech companies. A stronger, more transparent response could have included offering users identity protection services, clearer details on how the breach occurred, and a plan to prevent future breaches. Additionally, a visible and empathetic approach to customer relations could have helped restore trust. Instead, Bumble found itself fighting an uphill battle, with angry users demanding that their data be deleted permanently and calling for regulatory oversight of the companys practices. 3. Nestles Greenwashing Scandal: A Failure to Take Responsibility Nestle, one of the worlds largest food and beverage companies, faced a massive PR backlash after being accused of greenwashing in a high-profile sustainability campaign. The campaign featured images of nature, trees and clean water, with messaging around Nestles commitment to reducing plastic waste and becoming more sustainable. However, it quickly became apparent that the companys claims did not align with its practices. Investigative journalists uncovered that, despite Nestles claim to be reducing its plastic usage, the company continued to use vast amounts of single-use plastic packaging in its products. Worse, Nestle had invested millions in plastic production facilities rather than in sustainable alternatives. The campaigns dissonance with reality was a classic case of greenwashing, and it ignited a firestorm of criticism online. Nestles PR team failed to manage the fallout effectively. Initially, they issued a standard corporate response, emphasizing their commitment to sustainability and pledging to do better in the future. However, this generic apology failed to acknowledge the specific issues raised by critics, and the company made no significant effort to address the immediate concerns. The response lacked any real accountability or specifics on how they planned to make amends. The situation quickly spiraled out of control. Environmental activists, celebrities, and even shareholders began calling for Nestle to take more immediate and concrete actions to change its environmental practices. The companys stock price dropped, and the backlash became so severe that Nestle was forced to halt its greenwashing campaign and issue a more detailed apology. The Nestle greenwashing scandal serves as a cautionary tale of how poor crisis PR can exacerbate an already damaging situation. Greenwashing, in particular, is a delicate area, and brands must be extremely careful not to make promises they cant keep. Nestles failure to take immediate responsibility and offer specific, transparent solutions led to public distrust. Had the company been more honest and specific about its goals, the damage to its reputation could have been minimized. Pepsis Racially Insensitive Ad: A Tone-Deaf Response to Cultural Sensitivity Pepsi found itself in the midst of another public relations disaster, echoing the infamous 2017 ad featuring Kendall Jenner that sparked widespread outrage. This time, Pepsi launched a campaign aimed at promoting unity and social justice, but it quickly came under fire for being racially insensitive and tone-deaf. The ad, which showed a group of diverse young people participating in a protest, featured an image of a Black woman holding a Pepsi can as a symbol of peacean image that many viewers found to be patronizing and oversimplified. The ad was widely criticized on social media for trivializing important social justice movements and for using them as a marketing tool. The backlash was swift and severe, particularly from social justice advocates and activists who accused the brand of cashing in on serious issues. Pepsis PR team was caught off guard by the response. Instead of immediately pulling the ad and issuing an apology, Pepsis first move was to downplay the situation. Their initial statement was vague, focusing on the idea that the campaign was meant to celebrate diversity and bring people together. This tone-deaf response only aggravated the situation further, and public figuresincluding celebrities who had once endorsed the brandbegan to distance themselves from the company. In the days that followed, Pepsi finally issued a formal apology, but by then, the damage had been done. The PR failure highlighted a critical lesson in todays climate: brands must be deeply sensitive to the issues they choose to address and avoid using serious movements as mere marketing tools. Pepsis failure to demonstrate genuine understanding and empathy left them exposed to a public relations disaster. These failed crisis PR examplesfrom Teslas mishandling of an autonomous vehicle incident to Bumbles data breach disaster, Nestles greenwashing scandal, and Pepsis racially insensitive adshow that crisis management in todays hyper-connected world is more important than ever. A misstep in how an organization handles a crisis can have far-reaching and long-lasting consequences. For companies and brands, the key takeaway is clear: Crisis PR in 2025 requires not just fast action, but also transparency, empathy and accountability. When an organization is confronted with a crisis, it must acknowledge the problem quickly, take full responsibility and offer clear solutions. Transparency is crucial, especially in todays environment, where social media can amplify every mistake. By learning from these high-profile PR failures, companies can better navigate the complexities of modern public relations and avoid the costly pitfalls that can damage their reputation for years to come. *** Ronn Torossian is a Public Relations entrepreneur. Offaly County Council marked a historic milestone recently with the launch of its first-ever Offaly Biodiversity Action Plan 2025-2030 at the Offaly Biodiversity Conference, held at the Tullamore Court Hotel. The event, which had been booked out for weeks, brought together over 150 delegates, including community leaders, environmental experts, policymakers, and biodiversity enthusiasts, to celebrate and commit to the protection and enhancement of Offalys natural heritage. The conference was opened by Ricky Whelan, Offaly County Councils Biodiversity Officer, with Leas Chathaoirleach Cllr. Oliver Bryant, and Chief Executive Anna Marie Delaney of Offaly County Council, officially launching the plan. The Offaly Biodiversity Action Plan 2025-2030 sets out 53 priority actions across five strategic objectives: Surveys and Monitoring Actions for Biodiversity Invasive Alien Species Building Resilience Awareness and Engagement The plan aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals and the EU Biodiversity Strategy 2030, reflecting Offalys commitment to global environmental targets while addressing local challenges. Capacity crowd at The Offaly Biodiversity Conference - Photo by Paul Moore Ricky Whelan, Biodiversity Officer, emphasised the collaborative nature of the plan: This plan is not just the work of Offaly County Council, the Biodiversity Working Group and Heritage Forum. It is the result of collaboration - of individuals, community groups, environmental organisations, professional bodies and landowners who offered their views and shared knowledge during two extensive public and stakeholder consultation phases. "To each I extend my deepest gratitude, your submissions have shaped and strengthened this plan. Leas Chathaoirleach of Offaly County Council Cllr. Oliver Bryant highlighted the importance of community involvement: Nature belongs to everyone, and through collaborative projects like the Offaly Barn Owl Project and the forthcoming Hares Corner Project, we are proving that nature conservation and community can thrive hand-in-hand. This plan is a testament to Offalys leadership in bridging global ambition with local action. Chief Executive of Offaly County Council Anna Marie Delaney underscored the significance of the plan for future generations: Today, Offaly County Council takes a decisive step forward in ensuring nature in Offaly thrives for generations. This plan, our first Local Authority Biodiversity Action Plan, is a testament to collaboration. "It reflects the voices of community groups, farmers, landowners, agencies, and experts, and it outlines how we will build climate resilience, combat invasive species, and reconnect fragmented ecosystems. Caren Carruthers of Geashill Tidy Towns together with Leas Chathaoirleach of Offaly County Council enjoying the event Virginia Teehan, Chief Executive of the Heritage Council, also addressed the conference, welcoming the new plan and emphasizing its importance: The Offaly Biodiversity Action Plan represents a vital step in translating national biodiversity policy into local actions, reflecting Offalys distinctive landscapes, rich natural heritage, and engaged communities. "The integrated, holistic approach to heritage embraced by Offaly County Council is particularly inspiring, drawing on community input, expert knowledge, and policy guidance to chart a course for sustainable, impactful conservation. The conference featured a series of engaging presentations and discussions, highlighting the urgent need for action to address biodiversity loss and climate change. The conference schedule included an opening presentation by Claudia Pascalli who gave an engaging talk on the results of the Offaly Hedgerow Survey 2024. The morning break was followed by a trio of presentations on the topics of citizen science, invasive newts and communities delivering for biodiversity. Rachel McKenna opened with a captivating talk, demonstrating the rich diversity of species we can find all around us. Rob Gandola introduced delegates to the ever-increasing threat of Alpine Newts, a non-native species of newt that can spread rapidly, negatively impacting our native ecosystems. Pat Foley and Karen Carruthers gave an inspiring talk on how Geashill Tidy Towns and community have taken a leading role in creating space for nature in their village and how it is showing dividends. In the afternoon session, the conference heard from Tochar Project Manager Shirley Clerkin and Owen Murphy Project Manager from the Breeding Wader EIP, two National Parks and Wildlife Service initiatives helping to to restore wetlands and to bolster breeding wading bird populations in the midlands and further afield. The day concluded with talks on two upcoming projects taking place in the county this year. Caroline Lalor, of Wetland Survey Ireland, discussed how they will complete a review of Offalys wetlands and create a map that will form part of the Offaly ecological network map which will help inform conservation initiatives and strategy decisions overtime. The final slot of the day went to Fionn Doyle-Chowen of the Burrenbeo Trust. Fionn spoke about The Hares Corner Project which offers landowners a free of charge and hassle-free opportunity to create new spaces for nature on farms, in schools and in other suitable spaces. The project is open to applicants in Offaly until the end of March, applications can be made online via the hares Corner webpage. Further highlights included, displays by The Offaly Barn Owl Project, a father and son team, Christy and Declan Franks who assist landowners with getting suitable Barn Owl nest boxes installed on their property. The Irish Peatland Conservation Council and The NPWS Clara Bog were also on hand to represent and advocate for peatland restoration. The overwhelming interest in the conference, with tickets booking out weeks in advance, reflects the growing public awareness and commitment to biodiversity conservation in Offaly. In his closing remarks and borrowing the words of Leas Chathaoirleach Cllr. Oliver Bryants earlier speech, Ricky Whelan said The launch of the Offaly Biodiversity Action Plan 2025-2030 is just the beginning of a collective journey to protect and enhance Offalys natural heritage. "Together, we can ensure that Offaly remains a beacon of biodiversity, where wildflowers fill the callow lands, swifts fill the skies, and our rivers are teeming with life. The plan can be accessed as a PDF on the Offaly County Council website - Offaly.ie. 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. READ NEXT: Council pay over 50,000 to clear illegal waste at Offaly housing estate 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. A PRIZE giving ceremony for Transition year students who participated in the Graduate.ie Online Citizenship Programme was held on Friday last in the Radisson Hotel, Athlone, Co Westmeath. Organised and funded by the Midland Regional Drug & Alcohol Task Force (MRDATF), the Graduate.ie programme is an online citizenship & democracy programme for second level students in Ireland. It is a government and EU funded programme and has been in operation since 2001. The MRDATF rolled out this initiative in partnership with 25 Secondary schools across the counties of Longford, Westmeath, Laois & Offaly with transition year students invited to participate. The programme commenced in September 2024 and lasted for a total of 20 weeks. During this period a total of 1,926 students registered to take part in the programme and of these an average of 728 students took part in the programme on a weekly basis. Each week for 20 weeks of the academic year students logged onto www.graduate.ie where they had to answer a number of questions on a range of issues to include drugs and alcohol, health and safety, environmental awareness and climate action, democracy and participation, financial literacy, EU affairs, consumer protection, tourism and regional development. Students were then directed by hyperlinks to the relevant sponsors website where they researched the correct answer and then submitted their answers to Graduate.ie. Computer randomly selected weekly winners from all the correct entries. There was at least one winner selected each week from across the country. The overall prize which was sponsored by the MRDATF was for one selected student from Offaly who participated fully in the initiative to attend a three-day educational trip to Strasbourg. The winning student was Sean Og Larkin. Unfortunately, Sean Og is unable to travel and Kyle Earner also from Banagher College who also participated in the Graduate.ie programme will be taking part in the trip. Kyle will travel to Strasbourg in November and spend one full day at the European Parliament where he will have the opportunity to take part in a Youth Parliament (Euroscola) with students from other EU member states. During his stay he will also be visiting other places of educational interest around the city of Strasbourg and surrounding areas. In attendance at the event and presenting the prizes to the winning students was Antoinette Kinsella, Co-ordinator MRDATF. Speaking at the event Antoinette said, I am delighted to be here today presenting the winning students with their prizes. This is such a worthwhile initiative allowing the participants to develop active citizenship, an understanding of the workings of democracy and intercultural understanding and awareness. I would like to acknowledge the Midland Regional Drug & Alcohol Task Force for sponsoring the prizes and all the schools who participated in the Graduate.ie Programme 2024, this was a great opportunity to research and learn more about the dangers associated with drug and alcohol misuse. The MRDATF were very happy to support the roll out of the Graduate.ie initiative across the midlands area. The uptake and participation received from schools who took part in the initiative was very encouraging and I would like to thank all the students and teachers for their support. While taking part in the weekly quiz students had a fantastic opportunity to learn about various organisations and important topics to include; democracy & participation, environment & waste management, climate change, health & wellbeing, drugs & alcohol education/awareness, entrepreneurship, careers, courses, etc. It is hoped that this initiative will assist in developing life skills such as preparing for the world of work, teamwork, collaboration and valuable insights into the vocational dimensions of life after school. I am sure the winning candidate will also appreciate having the opportunity to experience how the European Parliament works by partaking in the Euroscola Youth Parliament and having the opportunity to pose a question in the European parliament. An Offaly woman has graduated as one of Ireland's newest Air Traffic Safety Electronics Engineers. Banaghers Siobhan Flannery graduated as an AirNav Ireland Air Traffic Safety Electronics Engineer and is set to join its skilled workforce. She is one of 23 cadets graduated at the event in Limerick. Nine graduates have successfully completed their training as Air Traffic Control Officers, while fourteen others are now qualified as Air Traffic Safety Electronics Engineers. The graduates from Clare, Cork, Dublin, Mayo, Monaghan, Offaly, Wicklow, Pakistan and Napal, completed internationally recognised training programmes. They will now become part of AirNav Irelands team of professionals, all dedicated to upholding the highest standards of aviation safety and service excellence. The AirNav Ireland contributes to the management of Irish airspace, which spans nearly 500,000 square kilometres. It also oversees the safety of flights arriving at and departing from Dublin, Cork, and Shannon airports. Dr. Peter Kearney, CEO of AirNav Ireland, highlighted the companys ongoing commitment to the professional development of its personnel. Todays graduation is an important milestone in our strategic plan to invest in the best talent to maintain Irish aviation safety at the highest level. Over the next decade, we aim to train 240 suitable candidates, further reinforcing our leadership in air traffic management and aviation safety. READ NEXT: Leading Offaly hotel takes home gold in prestigious national awards The Air Traffic Control Officers have undergone rigorous training to manage complex airspace scenarios, ensuring the smooth and safe movement of flights. Meanwhile, the Air Traffic Safety Electronics Engineers are equipped to implement and maintain advanced technologies and infrastructure, ensuring the resilience and reliability of air traffic control systems. ABOVE: Siobhan Flannery, from Banagher, Co. Offaly, with her colleague Sarah Fisher, from Donabate, Co. Dublin, after they graduated as an Air Traffic Safety Electronics Engineer and an Air Traffic Controller Officer, at a ceremony in Limerick City on Friday AirNav Irelands continued investment in its people and in cutting-edge technology underscores its commitment to shaping the future of aviation safety. This investment ensures that the company maintains world-class air traffic management services and a robust, technologically advanced air traffic control system. Details of all the training programmes are available on www.airnav.ie With Gasgoo Daily, we will offer daily important automotive news in China. For those we have reported, the title of the piece will include a hyperlink, which will provide detailed information. Huawei's intelligent automotive business in 2024 turns profitable for first time On March 31, Huawei reported a net profit of 62.574 billion yuan for 2024, with total revenue reaching 862.072 billion yuan. Notably, its intelligent automotive solutions business achieved profitability for the first time. XPENG MONA M03 hits 100,000-unit production milestone Chinese new energy vehicle maker XPENG announced on March 31 that the 100,000th MONA M03 vehicle rolled off the production line at its Zhaoqing MONA manufacturing base, marking a key milestone for the model. Photo credit: XPENG Changan NEVO Q07 opens pre-orders On March 31, Changan Automobile's new energy vehicle brand NEVO officially opened pre-orders for the Q07 model. Built on the new SDA all-electric vehicle platform, the model integrates advanced smart features. Great Wall Motor's net profit surges 80.76% YoY in 2024 On March 28, Chinese automaker Great Wall Motor (GWM) released its 2024 financial results, reporting annual revenue of 202.195 billion yuan, up 16.73% year-on-year. Baidu's Apollo Go expands autonomous driving services to Dubai, Abu Dhabi On March 28, Baidu's autonomous ride-hailing service (Robotaxi) platform, Apollo Go, announced a strategic partnership with Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) to launch large-scale autonomous vehicle testing and services in the city. EHang secures China's first Air Operator Certificate for civil human-carrying pilotless aerial vehicles EHang, a global leading player in the Urban Air Mobility (UAM) domain, announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Guangdong EHang General Aviation Co., Ltd. ("EHang General Aviation"), and its joint venture, Hefei HeYi Aviation Co., Ltd. ("HeYi Aviation"), have been granted China's first Air Operator Certificates (OCs) for civil human-carrying pilotless aerial vehicles. GAC Group's Thailand plant rolls off first mass-produced AION V unit On March 25, GAC INTERNATIONAL's Thailand plant marked a milestone as the first mass-produced AION V unit rolled off the assembly line, according to a post on the company's WeChat account. MINIEYE secures new contract from global Tier 1 supplier for smart cockpit solutions Smart driving solution developer MINIEYE on Match 30 announced it secured a new nomination contract from a globally renowned Tier 1 supplier, becoming its designated provider of driver monitoring system (DMS) solutions for smart cockpits. Geely Holding, China Post forge strategic partnership in finance, logistics, NEV applications On March 28, Zhejiang Geely Holding Group ("Geely Holding") signed a strategic cooperation framework agreement with China Post, aiming to collaborate across finance, express logistics, vehicle applications, mobility services, and market expansion to drive mutual growth. First published in the Orlando Sentinel By Robert Weiner and Katherine White After violent insurrectionists attacked the U.S. Capitol in an attempt to overturn the 2020 election, instead of respecting the judicial system and rule of law, on the first day of his second term in office, President Donald Trump instead granted pardons to nearly 1,600 people involved in the attack, pardoning those guilty of violent charges, including assaulting police officers. Trump claimed these people are "patriots", but some of these so-called "patriots" are already back in prison for more violent offenses. Now these repeat offenders want another get-out-of-jail-free card. 22.2% of all defendants on Jan. 6, 2021, had a prior criminal record. Some individuals stand out for their violent crimes. Edward Richmond Jr. was dishonorably discharged from the U.S. Army and convicted of manslaughter after being convicted of shooting a "handcuffed Iraqi cow herder in the head with his rifle." Theodore Middendorf was charged and sentenced in 2018 for the criminal sexual assault of a child in which he pled guilty. Some of these offenders, despite these horrendous actions before and after Jan. 6, walk free from Trump's blanket pardon. Benjamin Martin had several sentences for battery against his 14-year-old daughter and his girlfriend and was "on supervision" for these convictions during Jan. 6. During the police search warrant on his property, the FBI found an AR-15-style rifle and "more than 500 rounds of ammunitions", which was prohibited because of his prior convictions. The United States Sentencing Commission reported that violent offenders recidivate more often, more quickly and more likely for another violent crime again than non-violent offenders. After eight years in their study, they found that 63.8% of violent offenders released in 2010 were rearrested, and the median time of rearrest was only 16 months. 608 individuals on Jan. 6 were arrested and charged with "assaulting, resisting, or interfering with law enforcement". That would mean that nearly 388 of the 608 are likely to reoffend -- and the 174 charged with "assault" or "causing serious injury" on a police officer would mean 111 of those would be expected to repeat a similar violent crime. Locally, a native of Homosassa, Daniel Ball, was pardoned for throwing an explosive device at law enforcement officers at the Capitol. Days after his pardon, he was rearrested for a prior gun charge. The U.S. Attorney of Florida's Middle District asked a judge to dismiss this weapons charge on grounds that he was already pardoned on Jan. 20 by the president. FBI agents had discovered in his home loaded rifles and ammunition, as well as several "commercially produced 'm-style' explosive devices". Ball also had three prior felony convictions, including one in 2017 for domestic violence battery. Jeremy Michael Brown of Tampa was arrested and sentenced to an additional seven years for another sentence unrelated to Jan. 6. Brown was found to be possessing illegal weapons and a classified military document in his home. Brown is similarly claiming that Trump's pardon should cover this crime too. A Feb. 20 nonpartisan Ipsos poll including Democrats, Republicans and independents shows that about 83% of respondents oppose Trump's pardon for those who committed violent crimes Jan. 6, and 55% oppose the pardons for insurrectionists convicted of nonviolent crimes. Nobody expects Trump to rescind the pardons, but he must make clear there is no "extra credit" for other violent offenses. These people must be held accountable for their actions. However, the Department of Justice has erased the database of those involved in the attack. Those expecting extra pardons for more violent offenses clearly do not respect the rule of law in the U.S. and do not deserve extended freedom from prosecution. For those with long memories, George H.W. Bush won in 1988 and erased Michael Dukakis' lead in the polls partly with a TV commercial known as the "Willie Horton ad". The ad's message: Dukakis as governor of Massachusetts "allowed murderers to have weekend passes", then Horton, who had such a pass, committed rape and assault in Maryland. Republicans emphasized the ad. The Justice Department is now considering pardons for additional crimes. With the statistical likelihood of recidivism, could Trump's potential additional pardons of repeated violent Jan. 6 convicted criminals become his Willie Horton moment? Robert Weiner was Florida Congressman Claude Pepper's committee Chief of Staff and spokesman for White House drug czar Barry McCaffrey, among others. Katherine White is a Senior Policy Analyst at Robert Weiner Associates and the Solutions for Change Foundation. (Article changed on Mar 31, 2025 at 3:58 PM EDT) (Article changed on Apr 01, 2025 at 12:48 PM EDT) Below is the latest email exchange with geneticist and activist Prof. Paola Manduca. This great friend, co-author, and the most caring of people I know just passed away. Sad news on Eid Al-Fitr and we will miss her (she also hosted a talk for me in Genoa). She established the New Weapons Research group and led it for many years with a focus on use of weapons in Palestine and impact on health. Here is an article she published on Gaza women health (one of many). MQ (14 Oct 2024): On sisters and personal reflection: ...Dr. Soma is gone as a sister. Hiam and Layan are disfigured as sisters but still alive for now. Each death and each injury and each difficulty produces a scar and Palestine has millions of scars. For each of us who care, these scars are personal and they do not heal.... more here. PM: Thanks Mazin for this last letter. It made me cry, as too often. But we keep at work, bend cry and keep it on, debating and including differences but in the same field of common and stubborn humanity Who else can achieve eventual peace and dignity for all? MQ: I am more optimistic than ever despite the horrors. Please take time to listen to the interview with Scott Ritter. PM: I too half of the time hope we reached the tip of disgrace , but then I hear EU that is not even able to sanction settlers ..and hear from friends in Gaza under duresses of all kind ok ok will be a blast to break the situation, or as Gaza says a flood swiping off the land? how soon is before is too late for the palestinians to recover? With love Mazin Rest in Peace & Rest in Power dear friend Paula For the rest of us: connect stronger with fellow human beings. Care. Below my latest email in case you missed it. For the past two years, I have been working on a book of lessons from my decades of activism (almost finished) and in doing so I reviewed emails I have sent to my list of subscribers in the past three decades (weekly emails like this). Any observer of the state of global politics will realize we have reached unprecedented levels of depravity (but also positive activism in response). Genocide, ecocide, scholasticide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and silencing free speech became "normalized" due to controls and power of Zionist lobbyists/loyalists. Media, politicians, and corporations are either bought or blackmailed to bow to the golden calf of Zionism. Nothing less than the fate of the planet is at risk. Here I take this opportunity to wish our Muslim brothers and sisters a meaningful Eid Al Fitr... May the next Eid come with Palestine Free... no genocide .. and us getting closer to a sustainable life for ALL human beings on this planet. Nostalgia for the Little Boy of Al-Eid by Rajai Masri. Now to empire news and anti-empire actions. The depth of depravity news examples: One of my readers pointed me to Eduardo Galeano's 1971 book "The open veins of Latin America" that describes the imperial pillage and destruction of that continent. (read it here). Reading it I was reminded of my own writing about Israel's nefarious role in South America which I wrote about in the introduction to the translation of one my books: And a reasonable analysis of Arab politics regarding Gaza. Yet, ACTIONS are the best therapy in response: And ofcourse we welcome you in Palestine and to stay connected with our institute, volunteer and help. Our facebook page So stay humane and act to keep the hope and Palestine alive. Mazin Qumsiyeh A bedouin in cyberspace, a villager at home Professor, Founder, and (volunteer) Director Palestine Museum of Natural History Palestine Institute of Biodiversity and Sustainability Bethlehem University Occupied Palestine facebook pages Personal Institute French This article originally appeared at TomDispatch.com. To receive TomDispatch in your inbox three times a week, click here. NATO? What's that? If you were to ask in Washington these days, you shouldn't be surprised to hear that it's actually the North American Treaty Organization or even the North American Trump Organization. Certainly, many in Europe who, not so very long ago, imagined the United States as their prime protector and benefactor are now facing a distinctly new world. Hey, there are already those Trumpian tariffs on steel, aluminum, and related products that the Europeans have threatened to respond to with tariffs on U.S. whiskey, Harley-Davidson motorcycles, and related things that would hit majority Republican states the hardest. And now the American president is threatening to respond by putting 200% -- yes, you read that right -- tariffs on all European wines, champagnes, and related products. Think of it -- without all that alcohol -- as an all too sobering set of events for those former close allies. In fact, all of this may seem hardly believable today, and yet, 66 years ago, French leader Charles de Gaulle offered this comment on the world of NATO, Europe, and the United States: "Who can say whether in the future political circumstances might not change completely. This has already happened on the face of the earth." He suggested at the time that someday, "after I don't know what political and social upheaval," Washington and Moscow "might even find common cause." So many years later, we know what De Gaulle couldn't have known then -- that, after much political and social upheaval, Donald Trump would become president of the United States a second time, while Vladimir Putin would still be the president of Russia, and that the two of them, who only recently spoke by phone for two hours (!), might indeed feel more in common than Trump does with either Europe's major powers or NATO. And with all of that in mind, let TomDispatch regular John Feffer (whose weekly column at Foreign Policy in Focus shouldn't be missed) take you into what could indeed be a political dark age for Europe and possibly the rest of this planet, too. Tom Surviving a Political Dark Age Fortress Europe Versus Beacon Europe By John Feffer The news of Rodrigo Duterte's arrest surprised me. It's not that I doubted the former leader of the Philippines was guilty of the horrific crimes detailed in his International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant. Duterte himself boasted quite openly of the mass killings he's been accused of. But I always thought that the prospects of bringing that brutal, outspoken politician to justice were remote indeed. After all, Duterte's daughter Sara is currently the vice president of the Philippines and that country is no longer a member of the ICC. On top of that, Duterte himself was so sure of his immunity that he was running for mayor of the city of Davao. In mid-March, after returning from campaigning in the Filipino community in Hong Kong, he suffered the indignity of being arrested in his own country. Forgive me for saying this, but I just hadn't thought the ICC was still truly functioning, given that the leaders of the most powerful countries on this planet -- the United States, China, and Russia -- don't give a fig about human rights or international law. Sure, the ICC did issue high-profile arrest warrants for Russian leader Vladimir Putin and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on war crimes charges, but no one expects those rogues to be taken into custody anytime soon. And the impunity for the powerful has only become more entrenched now that a convicted felon squats in the White House. The specialty of the ICC has, of course, been arresting human-rights abusers in truly weak or failed states like Laurent Gbagbo, former president of CA A ? i ? ? i ? ?te d'Ivoire, and Hashim ThaA A ? i ? ? i ? ?i, former president of Kosovo. With the world's 31st largest economy, however, the Philippines is no failed state. Still, without nuclear weapons or a huge army, it's no powerhouse either. Indeed, it was only when the Philippines became ever weaker -- because of a feud between President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte (accused of threatening to assassinate him) -- that the ICC had a chance to grab its target and spirit him away to The Hague to stand trial. The arrest of Rodrigo Duterte might, in fact, seem like the exception that proves the (new) rule. After all, the international community and its institutions are currently facing a crisis of global proportions with violations of international law becoming ever more commonplace in this era of ascendant right-wing rogue states. In 2014, Russia first grabbed Ukrainian territory, launching an all-out invasion in 2022. Israel has committed genocide in Gaza, sent troops into southern Lebanon, and expanded its footprint in Syria. President Trump has spoken repeatedly of seizing Greenland, absorbing Canada as the 51st state, and retaking the Panama Canal, among other things. Small countries like Taiwan can't sleep for fear of a late-night visit from jackbooted thugs. But then there's Europe. Transatlantic Divergence Next Page 1 | 2 | 3 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE HR-4U.org and RayodeSol.org Announce Collaboration Celebration Event in NYC New York, NY - HR-4U.org and RayodeSol.org are thrilled to announce a special collaboration celebration event on Saturday, March 29th, from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM in New York City. This event will feature Wall Street Journal best-selling author Chris Schembra and will mark the beginning of an exciting project to build a Transformation KitchenTMin Matagalpa, Nicaragua. The Transformation Kitchen aims Frankenstein Trikes, a leading manufacturer of high-performance trike rear end conversion kits for Harley-Davidson motorcycles, proudly celebrates its 20th anniversary in 2025. Since its founding in 2005, the company has revolutionized the trike conversion industry, offering riders an unmatched combination of quality, durability, and ease of installation. For two decades, Frankenstein Trikes has remained committed to providing quality made products that offer superior craftsmanship and reliability. From its roots in America's Shanghai (Gasgoo)- On March 28, Zhejiang Geely Holding Group ("Geely Holding") signed a strategic cooperation framework agreement with China Post, aiming to collaborate across finance, express logistics, vehicle applications, mobility services, and market expansion to drive mutual growth. Photo credit: Geely Holding Under the agreement, China Post's Postal Savings Bank will provide comprehensive financial services to Geely Holding. In the vehicle and mobility sector, Geely Holding will supply products and services for China Post's official vehicles and new energy commercial vehicles. Geely's Farizon New Energy Commercial Vehicle Group has been focusing on dual-core technologiesmethanol-hydrogen and electric powertrainsto develop next-generation green and intelligent commercial vehicles. With a strong market reputation for environmental efficiency, cost-effectiveness, adaptability, and reliability, Geely's offerings are well-suited to China Post's diverse logistics needs, including long-haul transport, urban distribution, suburban deliveries, and operations in mountainous regions. The partnership marks a significant step in leveraging both companies' resources and strengths, laying the foundation for a long-term, stable strategic alliance. Geely Holding and China Post will work together to drive innovation and foster shared success in modern, sustainable logistics solutions. CharlottesvilleFamily Magazine is proud to announce the inaugural CharlottesvilleFamily Mompreneur Business Grant 2025, a new initiative created to uplift and empower mothers growing family-focused businesses across Central Virginia. Launched in honor of Women's History Month, this annual grant offers a $5,000 marketing package that includes expert strategy consultations and comprehensive promotion across CharlottesvilleFamily's print, digital, and social media platforms throughout 2025. Applications are open through April 15, 2025, and eligible applicants must: * Defining a mental health emergency as a separate, distinct type of health emergency from a physical health emergency acts to deny people with mental health disabilities of meaningful access to healthcare, U.S. District Judge Adrienne Nelson ruled. WCSO Disability Rights Oregons case can proceed against Washington County, alleging that 911 dispatchers routinely fail to send trained mental health clinicians to calls involving people in crisis and instead send armed officers who tend to exacerbate the encounters. U.S. District Judge Adrienne Nelson last week adopted the recommendations of federal Magistrate Judge Stacie F. Beckerman in rejecting county motions to dismiss the case. Beckerman found that Disability Rights Oregon plausibly alleged that people suffering from a mental health crisis do not have consistent access to emergency medical service through the emergency communications system. The county and its 911 call-taking center, the Washington County Consolidated Communications Agency, argued that the suit is seeking a higher standard of care or a new service. The current system has not denied access to care for people with mental illness or discriminated against anyone based on a disability, they said. The 911 center provides immediate responses by police, fire and emergency medics to stabilize relevant safety issues and has clear safety reasons for sending armed officers to a mental health emergency, they argued. But Beckerman correctly noted that Disability Rights Oregon is seeking an existing service for people with mental illness, not a new service, Nelson ruled in adopting Beckermans recommendations. Defining a mental health emergency as a separate, distinct type of health emergency from a physical health emergency acts to deny people with mental health disabilities of meaningful access to healthcare, Nelson found. The judges also found that Disability Rights Oregons clients are correctly classified as people with a disability, whether they suffer from depression, panic attacks or post-traumatic stress. Plaintiffs allege that the primary safety issue (or one of the primary safety issues) for mental health crises is the subjects health, and that the safety issue is not significantly different from a physical health crisis, Beckerman wrote in her recommended findings. Disability Rights Oregon also argued that people in crisis do not get the stabilizing care they need but face additional dangers, such as use of force, chemical sedation or involuntary or unnecessary hospitalization, arrest and jail, Beckerman wrote. Even accepting the countys argument that mental health crises pose different emergency safety concerns that require a law enforcement response, Disability Rights Oregon has adequately argued that people suffering from a mental health crisis also require equal access to emergency medical services, Beckerman found. The two judges also pointed out that the county has a mobile mental health service, but it responds only to a small portion of calls. The dispatch agency said dispatchers send fire and emergency medical services alongside law enforcement officers if weapons are reported and for behavioral health calls. The call centers lawyers also noted that Oregon law permits police to take a person who threatens to harm themselves into custody, and thats not discriminatory. Disability Rights Oregon argued that the county has not provided sufficient funding to allow the countys non-police mobile crisis team of mental health clinicians to routinely respond to people in crisis, nor is it integrated into the agencys dispatch system. The crisis team provides psychiatric assessment, emergency medication and stabilization services. Between March 2022 and Feb. 28, 2023, for example, the county dispatched and sent armed officers to every call coded as a behavioral health incident, welfare check or suicide threat. Responding officers have the sole discretion whether to contact the mobile crisis team, and infrequently do, instead calling out an officer paired with a clinician, Disability Rights Oregon argued. The disability rights advocacy organization said mental health emergencies typically do not present a danger to others and if they do, the danger is typically to the person in crisis. But the county furthers the stereotypes of people with mental illnesses as violent when it treats crises as crimes, it argued. Disability Rights Oregon is seeking a court order requiring the county to provide comparable responses to physical health and mental health emergencies and ensure mental health clinicians are the default first responders for mental health emergencies. The county countered that its emergency call takers cannot always determine that only mental health professionals should be dispatched and the county does not send mental health clinicians as the sole first responders to anyone. The judges also rejected the 911 agencys argument that the county, not the dispatch agency, is responsible for the countys emergency response services. The judges instead found that Disability Rights Oregon has sufficiently alleged that the agency controlling 911 dispatch has control over providing access to emergency medical service through its communication system. A trial date has not yet been set. -- Maxine Bernstein covers federal court and criminal justice. Reach her at 503-221-8212, mbernstein@oregonian.com, follow her on X @maxoregonian, on Bluesky @maxbernstein.bsky.social or on LinkedIn. Milwaukie police say Fredy Cardona, 28, fled from the scene of a crash, then from police, before crashing into a parked car at an apartment complex on Saturday night. Courtesy of Milwaukie Police Milwaukie Police arrested a man Saturday night who they say fled from police after causing a head-on collision on Southeast Harmony Road. Officers allege that Fredy Sales Cardona, of Milwaukie, was driving under the influence on Saturday night when he drove into the oncoming lane and hit another driver head-on. Witnesses reported that Cardona fled from the scene, the Milwaukie Police Department said in a news release. The other driver was taken to the hospital with significant but non-life threatening injuries, police said. Milwaukie police found Cardonas car near the intersection of Southeast Harmony Road and Linwood Avenue with heavy front-end damage, the news release said, but Cardona continued driving away from officers trying to stop him. He hit a parked vehicle in the lot of a nearby apartment complex, police said, and they took him into custody. Officers arrested Cardona on suspicion of driving under the influence, hit and run and attempting to evade a police officer. He remains in Clackamas County custody, jail records show. Court records show that Cardona pleaded guilty to a charge of driving under the influence in February of 2024. Earlier this month, court records show, the state of Oregon approved paperwork to remove an anti-DUI interlock device from Cardonas car. Police are asking anyone with information about the crash to contact officer Jonathan Morton at mortonj@milwaukieoregon.gov and reference case number #25-1857. The Oregon Legislature is expected to advance two bills this week that could provide electric utilities with a financial safety net and some level of protection from bankruptcy-inducing lawsuits if their equipment starts a catastrophic fire. The bills bear striking resemblance to others being considered and passed by legislators in three other states, as well as controversial laws passed in Utah in 2020. PacifiCorp, owner of Pacific Power in Oregon, contributed to all of the bills and the Utah law. Each of those bills confers upon utilities some version of state-sanctioned approval for acting reasonably to prevent wildfires, if they get wildfire mitigation plans approved annually or every few years by the state. Cooperative and private investor-owned utilities such as PacifiCorp say they need this to ensure that they are making smart investments in wildfire prevention and grid reliability, and to ensure they dont go bankrupt. Thats the argument being used by Oregons bill sponsors, too. But trial lawyers across the West, who represent victims of utility-caused wildfires, say the bills are meant to shift the costs of utility-caused wildfire damages from companies to customers. Oregons House Bill 3666 would grant utilities a state wildfire safety certificate for having annual wildfire mitigation plans approved by the Oregon Public Utility Commission, while House Bill 3917 would set up a catastrophic wildfire fund that utilities pay into. Victims of utility-caused fires could collect from the fund 80% of allowable damages, as long as they agree not to sue the utility that caused the fire. The utilities would be allowed to raise customer rates to pay for the fund. Reps. Pam Marsh, D-Ashland, and Kevin Mannix, R-Salem, are sponsoring both bills, which could be voted out of the House Judiciary Committee as early as Tuesday. Marsh contends Oregons bills do not in any way infringe on wildfire victims ability to sue utilities for maximum damages for causing wildfires. She said in an email that legislative attorneys assured her House Bill 3666, offering utilities state certificates for having approved wildfire plans, would not provide immunity or limit liability to utilities. Trial lawyers do not agree. This sort of regulatory compliance defense is a standard thing that corporations across the country are always asking for. This is what they would love, said Daniel Hinkle, a lawyer and senior state affairs counsel for the American Association for Justice. They would love to check a box and get it rubber-stamped by an agency without opposing counsel, without anybody there to sort of push back on it, and then be able to use that prior certification as a complete, total defense against any claims for accountability later on. The Washington, D.C.-based association made up of trial lawyers has been tracking bills across the country that were introduced this year to limit utility-caused wildfire liabilities, including in Oregon. The overall goal, as I see it across a lot of these bills, is to shift the cost of this (utility-caused wildfires) onto ratepayers, Hinkle said. Insurers, as well as timber, farm and ranchland owners have come out against the bills in Idaho and Wyoming and expressed concerns about Oregons bills. Kenton Brine, president of the NW Insurance Council, said in an email Oregons bills would likely affect policy holders and insurance companies. The group has not taken a formal stance on them yet. The impact for property owners of bills that limit or grant immunity from liability is significant, he said in an email. He said he shares concerns with the trial lawyers over Oregons approach, and that legislation as proposed is likely to impose a new burden of proof on a property owner seeking recovery after a utility-ignited wildfire. PACIFICORP INVOLVEMENT In Oregon, PacifiCorp lobbyist Annette Price and lawyer Jennifer Hudson participated in Marshs work group on the bills, along with representatives of Oregons cooperative and public utilities and lobbyists for the two other electricity monopolies operating in the state, Portland General Electric and Idaho Power. Combined, the three monopoly utilities control 75% of Oregons electricity market. Omar Granados, a PacifiCorp spokesperson, said in an email that the companys work on bills such as Marshs are business as usual. Consistent with our long-standing practice to provide information to lawmakers who are considering energy policy legislation that could impact the utility and our customers, we provide comments, answer questions and participate on a number of proposed energy policy bills in the states we serve, which include Oregon, Washington, Utah, Idaho and Wyoming, he wrote. Marsh has said in public hearings that she started working on House Bill 3666 and House Bill 3917 after hearing from constituents about lackluster wildfire prevention work being done by Pacific Power, her areas monopoly utility, and to ensure utilities operating in the state dont go bankrupt. She said House Bill 3666 will hold utilities to a high standard of performance through implementation of a safety certification. Marsh said House Bill 3917, establishing the catastrophic wildfire fund, is needed so wildfire victims have options. Without the fund, individuals have these paths: 1) Those with insurance can use their coverage. 2) Those without insurance will, most likely, struggle to cover basic needs with savings, government assistance, or friends and family. 3) All affected individuals can choose to take the utility to court, she wrote in an email. About 2,300 homes burned up in her southern Oregon district during the 2020 Labor Day Fires. Because no cause of the fires in that area were identified, her constituents werent able to collect any damages from an at-fault party and those without insurance have been left with nothing. She added that she sees the bill as a starting point. If people agree that a fund of some kind could be useful, we will need to discuss questions around structure and operations, including coverage, administration, the mix of fund contributions, and so forth. Cody Berne, a governor at large for the Oregon Trial Lawyers Association and an attorney at Portland-based law firm Stoll Berne, said Oregons catastrophic wildfire fund as proposed would likely encourage low-income fire survivors and those without insurance to forgo collecting maximum damages in a lawsuit against a utility in a powerline-ignited fire and instead settle for less from the fund a fund seeded with victims own money, collected through rate increases by utilities. This bill would charge customers to create a fund and also make them pay the next time Berkshire Hathaway burns down an Oregon town, Berne said. Berne is representing survivors of the historic 2020 Labor Day fires that killed 11 and destroyed more than 4,000 homes. Some of those fires were found to have been started by PacifiCorp equipment. PacifiCorp is owned by the multinational conglomerate Berkshire Hathaway. A jury in 2023 found the company guilty for negligence and recklessness. A recent report from the Oregon Department of Forestry concluded that PacifiCorp did not start fires it was previously found to have started in the Santiam Canyon, refuting statements from first responders from the U.S. Forest Service and trial testimony. PacifiCorp executives estimate the 2020 Labor Day Fires and 2022 wildfires caused by the companys equipment in Oregon cost them nearly $2.7 billion. Berkshire Hathaway estimates it could face up to $8 billion in claims related to lawsuits over California and Oregon wildfires since 2020. Thats a bit more than half of Berkshires 2024 revenue a record $14.5 billion. Most people including fire victims have to live with the justice system as it is. But when the justice system holds billionaires and their trillion-dollar corporations accountable, they think they can change the rules, Berne said. STARTING WITH UTAH PacifiCorp had its first success in contributing to legislation that limited its liability and the damages wildfire victims can collect in a powerline-ignited fire in 2020. PacifiCorp lobbyists provided comments and answered questions for lawmakers working on Utahs House Bill 66, according to spokesperson Granados. Granados did not answer questions about whether the lobbyists or company lawyers participated in bill workgroups or helped with the bills in the drafting stage. This was an effort by a broad coalition, he said. The Utah law offers electric utilities statutory protection from negligence charges in powerline-ignited wildfires if the utilities have an approved wildfire mitigation plan. It also limits damages that survivors of wildfire can collect in suits against utilities as the lesser of either the cost to rebuild, or the difference of the fair market value of the home before the fire and the fair market value of the property after the fire. That means if it costs $300,000 to rebuild a burned home, but the fair market value of the home before the fire was $100,000 and the fair market value of the scorched property after the fire is $20,000 a victim only gets to claim $80,000 in damages. In the years since Utahs law passed, PacifiCorp attempted to pass liability limits via states utility commissions. In Idaho in 2024 the company asked the states commission to include language that would have made its electric utility Rocky Mountain Power liable only for actual economic damages in a powerline-ignited fire, excluding noneconomic, punitive and incidental damages. It made nearly identical requests to commissions in Washington, Oregon, California and Wyoming, according to reporting from Boise State Public Radio. Idahos commission declined to approve the changes, so the company went to the Idaho Legislature. Other state legislatures followed. REASONABLE AND PRUDENT Oregons bills share similarities to that original 2020 Utah law. House Bill 3197, establishing a catastrophic wildfire fund, also limits recoverable damages from the fund to the lesser of either the cost of repairs or the difference in the fair market value of the property immediately before and immediately after a catastrophic wildfire. The goal has been in a lot of these bills to restrict the recovery to the loss of fair market value, which is always going to be less than the cost of repair, said Geoffrey Louden, a lawyer with the American Association for Justice. All of the bills requiring approval or certification for wildfire mitigation plans that PacifiCorp has weighed in on in the West include language that describe the utilities as having acted reasonably and prudently to prevent fire in securing state approval. Trial lawyers take the greatest issue with those words, as they are often used to establish a statutory presumption that an entity has not acted in a negligent, grossly negligent or reckless manner in cases of civil wrongdoing. Hinkle, of the American Association for Justice, said getting laws passed with language like this is standard corporate behavior 101. Marsh recently amended House Bill 3666 to remove language that previously said a wildfire safety certificate from the state establishes that an applicant is acting reasonably with regard to wildfire safety practices, to instead say a certificate indicates the utility was consistent with the commissions wildfire safety standards, and cut off a provision making the certificate valid for 12 months. She said she worked with trial lawyers on the amendment. But Berne of the Oregon Trial Lawyers Association and large landowners say this is not enough. If the goal is safety, this bill wont accomplish it, Berne said in an email. It recycles fire safety rules that are already in place. There are no resources to investigate and make sure that investor-owned power companies are following the rules. The bill just gives the appearance of safety. Betsy Earls, a lobbyist for timber giant Weyerhaeuser, said issuing safety certifications to the utilities could have unintended consequences for companies like Weyerhaeuser even with Marshs amendment. It will amount to perhaps a thumb on the scale when juries are deciding and people are thinking about whats being introduced and proven in court, she told lawmakers at a March 18 public hearing for House Bill 3666. The companys 1.5 million acres in Oregon are prohibitively expensive to insure, she said, and though it deals every year with all kinds of fires and losses, sometimes the fires are caused by utility equipment, and the only recompense the company has for its losses is to sue the utility. We have no other way to recoup losses that are due to others negligence unless we go to court, Earls said. -- Alex Baumhardt, Oregon Capital Chronicle The Oregon Capital Chronicle, founded in 2021, is a nonprofit news organization that focuses on Oregon state government, politics and policy. Eric Clopper, an attorney and president of Intact Global, speaks during a press conference in Pioneer Courthouse Square on Mon., March 31, 2025. Submitted Oregon laws that forbid genital cutting of girls but stay silent on male circumcision must be expanded to equally protect all children, a new lawsuit asserts. A father and son who were circumcised at birth decades apart, as well as two brothers whose foreskins were cut off as babies, filed the lawsuit against the state of Oregon on Thursday in Multnomah County Circuit Court. It is quite barbaric and strange that we in America cut non-consenting children at a very early age without any medical necessity, said Lake Perriguey, a civil rights attorney well known for fighting to overturn Oregons ban on gay marriage a decade ago. Perriguey is acting as local counsel in the case. The 76-page lawsuit led by Eric Clopper, a Los Angeles-based attorney and leader of the advocacy group Intact Global, alleges that genital cutting of newborn boys has been medicalized in the U.S. but in reality provides no health benefits and harms healthy sexual function. Theres a lot of people who feel their bodily autonomy has been stolen from them, said Clopper. All children deserve equal protection under the law from the harms of genital cutting. Recent statistics are hard to come by, but a 2013 study by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control found that circumcision rates had been declining for the prior three decades, especially in western states like Oregon. About 40% of newborn males in western states had their foreskins surgically removed in 2010, the report said. The American Academy of Pediatrics found in 2012 that circumcisions health benefits outweigh the risks but that health benefits are not great enough to recommend the procedure routinely. The lawsuit adds that medical groups in Europe accused the American academy of not going far enough due to cultural bias. More recent guidelines issued by the academy no longer comment on the issue. The foreskin covers the end of the penis; its removal can lead to dryness and the need for artificial lubrication during sex. Some faith groups, including Jewish and Muslim communities, look favorably on circumcision, but Perriguey notes that female genital cutting also has proponents who cite religious or cultural traditions in some countries in Africa, where the practice remains common. Plaintiffs on the suit are Dane Hadachek, 17, and his father Cecil Mininger, 39, who were both circumcised at birth in a Bend hospital; Sierra Hadachek, Miningers wife; and Carter and Landon Moody, brothers who were circumcised at a Portland hospital in 1998 and 2000. The plaintiffs ask the court to declare current Oregon laws banning only female genital cutting a violation of the state constitutions Equal Rights Amendment and Equal Protection Clause. They say the court must either ban it for children of any gender or overturn the statute entirely. (Female genital cutting would remain illegal in Oregon under federal law). The ruling could allow victims of male genital cutting to sue their circumcisers, court papers note. Zane Sparling covers breaking news and courts for The Oregonian/OregonLive. Reach him at 503-319-7083, zsparling@oregonian.com or @pdxzane. Our journalism needs your support. Please become a subscriber today at OregonLive.com/subscribe. Mari Villar at a session with physical therapist C. Ryan Coxe at Chicagos Shirley Ryan AbilityLab. Villar has undergone 11 operations since a car smashed into her on a Chicago sidewalk, yet her health insurer allows only 30 physical therapy sessions a year. (Jim Vondruska for KFF Health News) Jim Vondruska for KFF Health News Mari Villar was slammed by a car that jumped the curb, breaking her legs and collapsing a lung. Amy Paulo was in pain from a femur surgery that wasnt healing properly. Katie Kriegshauser suffered organ failure during pregnancy, weakening her so much that she couldnt lift her baby daughter. All went to physical therapy, but their health insurers stopped paying before any could walk without assistance. Paulo spent nearly $1,500 out of her own pocket for more sessions. Millions of Americans rely on physical and occupational therapists to regain strength and motor skills after operations, diseases and injuries. But recoveries are routinely stymied by a widespread constraint in health insurance policies: rigid caps on therapy sessions. Insurers frequently limit such sessions to as few as 20 a year, a KFF Health News examination finds, even for people with severe damage such as spinal cord injuries and strokes, who may need months of treatment, multiple times a week. Patients can face a bind: Without therapy, they cant return to work, but without working, they cant afford the therapy. Paulo said she pressed her insurer for more sessions, to no avail. I said, Im in pain. I need the services. Is there anything I can do? she recalled. They said, no, they cant override the hard limit for the plan. A typical physical therapy session for a privately insured patient to improve daily functioning costs $192 on average, according to the Health Care Cost Institute. Most run from a half hour to an hour. Insurers say annual visit limits help keep down costs, and therefore premiums, and are intended to prevent therapists from continuing treatment when patients are no longer improving. They say most injuries can be addressed in a dozen or fewer sessions and that people and employers who bought insurance could have purchased policies with better therapy benefits if it was a priority. Atul Patel, a physiatrist in Overland Park, Kansas, and the treasurer of the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, said insurers desire to prevent gratuitous therapy is understandable but has gone too far. Most patients get way less therapy than they would actually benefit from, he said. Hard caps on rehab endure in part because of an omission in the Affordable Care Act. While that law required insurers to cover rehab and barred them from setting spending restrictions on a patients medical care, it did not prohibit establishing a maximum number of therapy sessions a year. More than 29,000 ACA health plans nearly 4 in 5 limit the annual number of physical therapy sessions, according to a KFF Health News analysis of plans sold last year to individuals and small businesses. Caps generally ranged from 20 to 60 visits; the most common was 20 a year. Health plans provided by employers often have limits of 20 or 30 sessions as well, said Cori Uccello, senior health fellow at the American Academy of Actuaries. Its the gross reality in America right now, said Sam Porritt, chairman of the Falling Forward Foundation, a Kansas-based philanthropy that has paid for therapy for about 200 patients who exhausted their insurance over the past decade. No one knows about this except people in the industry. You find out about it when tragedy hits. Even in plans with no caps, patients are not guaranteed unlimited treatment. Therapists say insurers repeatedly require prior authorization, demanding a new request every two or three visits. Insurers frequently deny additional sessions if they believe there hasnt been improvement. Were seeing a lot of arbitrary denials just to see if youll appeal, said Gwen Simons, a lawyer in Scarborough, Maine, who represents therapy practices. Thats the point where the therapist throws up their hands. Couldnt pick her up Katie Kriegshauser, a 37-year-old psychologist from Kansas City, Missouri, developed pregnancy complications that shut down her liver, pancreas, and kidneys in November 2023. After giving birth to her daughter, she spent more than three months in a hospital, undergoing multiple surgeries and losing more than 40 pounds so quickly that doctors suspected her nerves became damaged from compression. Her neurologist told her he doubted she would ever walk again. Kriegshausers UnitedHealthcare insurance plan allowed 30 visits at Ability KC, a rehabilitation clinic in Kansas City. She burned through them in six weeks in 2024 because she needed both physical therapy, to regain her mobility, and occupational therapy, for daily tasks such as getting dressed. At that point I was starting to use the walker from being completely in the wheelchair, Kriegshauser recalled. She said she wasnt strong enough to change her daughters diaper. I couldnt pick her up out of her crib or put her down to sleep, she said. The Falling Forward Foundation paid for additional sessions that enabled her to walk independently and hold her daughter in her arms. A huge amount of progress happened in that period after my insurance ran out, she said. In an unsigned statement, UnitedHealthcare said it covered the services that were included in Kriegshausers health plan. The company declined to permit an official to discuss its policies on the record because of security concerns. Megan Bracamontes health insurance allows for only 30 physical therapy sessions a year per person. Her daughter Mari Villar (left) has needed extensive PT after she was hit by a car in 2023. (Jim Vondruska for KFF Health News) Jim Vondruska for KFF Health New A shattered teenager Patients who need therapy near the start of a health plans year are more likely to run out of visits. Mari Villar was 15 and had been walking with high school friends to get a bite to eat in May 2023 when a car leaped over a curb and smashed into her before the driver sped away. The accident broke both her legs, lacerated her liver, damaged her colon, severed an artery in her right leg, and collapsed her lung. She has undergone 11 operations, including emergency exploratory surgery to stop internal bleeding, four angioplasties, and the installation of screws and plates to hold her leg bones together. Villar spent nearly a month in Shirley Ryan AbilityLabs hospital in Chicago. She was discharged after her mothers insurer, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois, denied her physicians request for five more days, making her more reliant on outpatient therapy, according to records shared by her mother, Megan Bracamontes. Villar began going to one of Shirley Ryans outpatient clinics, but by the end of 2023, she had used up the 30 physical therapy and 30 occupational therapy visits the Blue Cross plan allowed. Because the plan ran from July to June, she had no sessions left for the first half of 2024. I couldnt do much, Villar said. I made lots of progress there, but I was still on crutches. Dave Van de Walle, a Blue Cross spokesperson, said in an email that the insurer does not comment on individual cases. Razia Hashmi, vice president for clinical affairs at the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, said in a written statement that patients who have run out of sessions should explore alternative treatment plans including home exercises. Villar received some extra sessions from the Falling Forward Foundation. While her plan year has reset, Villar is postponing most therapy sessions until after her next surgery so she will be less likely to run out again. Bracamontes said her daughter still cant feel or move her right foot and needs three more operations: one to relieve nerve pain, and two to try to restore mobility in her foot by lengthening her Achilles tendon and transferring a tendon in her left leg into her right. Therapy caps are very unfair because everyones situation is different, Villar said. I really depend on my sessions to get me to a new normalcy. And not having that and going through all these procedures is scary to think about. Rationing therapy Most people who use all their sessions either stop going or pay out-of-pocket for extra therapy. Amy Paulo, a 34-year-old Massachusetts woman recovering from two operations on her left leg, maxed out the 40 visits covered by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts in 2024, so she spent $1,445 out-of-pocket for 17 therapy sessions. Paulo needed physical therapy to recover from several surgeries to shorten her left leg to the length of her right leg the difference a consequence of juvenile arthritis. Her recovery was prolonged, she said, because her femur didnt heal properly after one of the operations, in which surgeons cut out the middle of her femur and put a rod in its place. I went ballistic on Blue Cross many, many times, said Paulo, who works with developmentally delayed children. Amy McHugh, a Blue Cross spokesperson, declined to discuss Paulos case. In an email, she said most employers who hire Blue Cross to administer their health benefits choose plans with our standard 60-visit limit, which she said is more generous than most insurers offer, but some employers choose to allow for more or fewer visits per year. Paulo said she expects to restrict her therapy sessions to once a week instead of the recommended twice a week because shell need more help after an upcoming operation on her leg. We had to plan to save my visits for this surgery, as ridiculous as it sounds, she said. Medicare is more generous People with commercial insurance plans face more hurdles than those on Medicare, which sets dollar thresholds on therapy each year but allows therapists to continue providing services if they document medical necessity. This year the limits are $2,410 for physical and speech therapy and $2,410 for occupational therapy. Private Medicare Advantage plans dont have visit or dollar caps, but they often require prior authorization every few visits. The U.S. Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations found last year that MA plans deny requests for physical and occupational therapy at hospitals and nursing homes at higher rates than they reject other medical services. Therapists say many commercial plans require prior authorization and mete out approvals parsimoniously. Insurers often make therapists submit detailed notes, sometimes for each session, documenting patients treatment plans, goals, and test results showing how well they perform each exercise. Its a battle of getting visits, said Jackee Ndwaru, an occupational therapist in Jacksonville, Florida. If you cant show progress theyre not going to approve. An insurer overruled Marjorie Haneys insurance plan covered 20 therapy sessions a year, but Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield approved only a few visits at a time for the rotator cuff she tore in a bike accident in Maine. After 13 visits in 2021, Anthem refused to approve more, writing that her medical records do not show you made progress with specific daily tasks, according to the denial letter. Haney, a physical therapist herself, said the decision made no sense because at that stage of her recovery, the therapy was focused on preventing her shoulder from freezing up and gradually expanding its range of motion. I went through those visits like they were water, Haney, now 57, said. My range was getting better, but functionally I couldnt use my arm to lift things. Haney appealed to Maines insurance bureau for an independent review. In its report overturning Anthems decision, the bureaus physician consultant, William Barreto, concluded that Haney had made substantial improvement she no longer needed a shoulder sling and was able to return to work with restrictions. Barreto also noted that nothing in Anthems policy required progress with specific daily tasks, which was the basis for Anthems refusal. Given the members substantial restriction in active range of motion and inability to begin strengthening exercises, there is remaining deficit that requires the skills and training of a qualified physical therapist, the report said. Anthem said it requires repeated assessments before authorizing additional visits to ensure the member is receiving the right care for the right period of time based on his or her care needs. In the statement provided by Stephanie DuBois, an Anthem spokesperson, the insurer said this process also helps prevent members from using up all their covered treatment benefits too quickly, especially if they dont end up needing the maximum number of therapy visits. In 2023, Maine passed a law banning prior authorization for the first 12 rehab visits, making it one of the few states to curb insurer limitations on physical therapy. The law doesnt protect residents with plans based in other states or plans from a Maine employer who self-insures. Haney said after she won her appeal, she spaced out the sessions her plan permitted by going once weekly. I got another month, she said, and I stretched it out to six weeks. The unrepresented crisis in Oregon rests on a simple truth: everyone accused of a crime deserves effective legal representation. This isnt a political position. Its a constitutional guarantee and a cornerstone of the rule of law. Yet today, thousands face charges without counsel, undermining public safety and wasting taxpayer resources through unnecessary delays and proceedings. When cases stall for lack of representation, justice is denied to all. However, overloading attorneys by forced appointments wont solve the crisis it creates new constitutional failures and drives attorneys out of public defense. Public defenders must have time to review evidence, meet with clients, investigate facts, and prepare a defense. The most cost-effective delivery of public defense in our state comes from contracted providers nonprofits, consortia and law firms. We should expand on whats already working. To build and sustain Oregons public defense workforce, compensation must be competitive and caseloads must be manageable. The solutions proposed by Oregons nonprofit public defenders are grounded in experience and practicality: fair pay to recruit and retain qualified attorneys, timely evidence sharing by district attorneys, and a coordinated focus on clearing the backlog.Constitutional rights arent negotiable theyre essential. Lets move forward with policies that build capacity, uphold justice, and serve all Oregonians. Shaun S. McCrea, Eugene McCrea is executive director of the Oregon Criminal Defense Lawyers Association. To read more letters to the editor, go to oregonlive.com/opinion. President Donald Trump, left, greets justices of the Supreme Court, from left, Elena Kagan, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett, before addressing a joint session of Congress at the Capitol in Washington, March 4, 2025. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File) AP WASHINGTON 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. -- The Associated Press One of the digital billboards paid for by the Canadian government protesting U.S. tariffs is displayed on U.S. 17/92 at Raven Avenue in Winter Springs, Florida, Friday, March 28, 2025. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel/TNS) TNS WINTER SPRINGS, Fla. Canada is taking its fight against President Donald Trumps tariffs to Floridas highways. Billboards paid for by the Canadian government are popping up across the Sunshine State. Canadas message to U.S. voters: Tariffs are a tax on hardworking Americans. The campaign was launched to heighten the American publics understanding of tariffs, said John Babcock, a spokesman for Global Affairs Canada. They lead to increased costs on everyday essentials, including fuel and groceries, he said. That message resonated with James Curtis, who was filling up his truck Friday as a digital billboard flashed Canadas anti-tariff slogans at the intersection of U.S. 17-92 and Raven Avenue in Seminole County. Curtis said his pool cleaning and repair business is facing price hikes for equipment, chemicals and other supplies. By summer, it could mean his customers will see their bills rise by about $10 a month. He said he doesnt see how tariffs will lower his supply costs. The Pool & Hot Tub Alliance, a trade group, warns newly imposed tariffs on steel, aluminum and other goods will have a significant and direct impact on the industry. Im not against the Canadian people, said Curtis, who owns Winter Springs-based SeeBlu Pool Services. Now, its a tariff war. We put tariffs. They put tariffs. The billboards arent being warmly received by all Floridians. Some social media users panned the campaign, slamming the ads as propagandist billboards. Why are foreign governments allowed to create disunion in this country? Trash those signs immediately, one Facebook user wrote. Trump is promising to usher Americans into a Golden Age, but he isnt ruling out some short-term economic discomfort. Will there be some pain? Yes, maybe (and maybe not!). But we will make America great again, and it will all be worth the price that must be paid, he wrote in a Truth Social post last month. Babcock did not reveal the number of billboards or the cost of the ad campaign, which is mostly targeting Republican-leaning and battleground states. Billboards have been placed in a dozen states, including Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. Melanie Joly, Canadas foreign minister, said the campaigns goal is to persuade Americans to contact their representatives and senators and tell them that they dont want tariffs. Other billboard messages include tariffs are a tax on your grocery bill and tariffs are a tax at the gas pump. We need to send a message to the American people for them to understand whats at stake because this is really going to hurt their livelihoods and have an impact on their wallets, she told CNN in an interview. ----------- 2025 Orlando Sentinel. Visit at orlandosentinel.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Johnson Hall on the campus of University of Oregon in Eugene, Oregon, taken on Friday, June 24, 2022. Sean Meagher/The Oregonian Update: The University of Oregon and its faculty union reached a tentative agreement to avoid a strike on Sunday night. For details of that agreement, click here. Roughly 25,000 students at Oregons second largest public university start their first day of spring term on Monday. But theres no guarantee their instructors will show up. Faculty at the University of Oregon are poised to strike as early as Monday if they cant reach an agreement with university administrators over salary issues. The faculty union, which covers 1,800 faculty, instructors, researchers and librarians, met with administrators through the weekend in an attempt to avert the strike, which comes after more than a year of negotiations. Talks were ongoing as of Sunday evening. University of Oregon faculty contend they are underpaid compared to peers at the other 70 research universities in the Association of American Universities and that salaries are not keeping pace with increases in the cost of living. In 2022, the union says the average Oregon professor made about $120,600, or about 86% of the average $140,900 pay for other professors in the association that year. Administrators say UO faculty are not underpaid compared to others at peer institutions. When cost of living and benefits are taken into account, Oregon professors make about 98% of the average of other Association of American Universities professors, administrators argue. Oregon professors pay less for health insurance, have higher contribution to retirement savings and a lower cost of living in Eugene than peers in that elite group, administrators say. By last Thursday, the two sides had worked out non-economic issues, administrators said. But on Sunday afternoon, they had yet to agree to the key money questions. The United Academics union on Saturday proposed a 5.5% across-the-board contract increase for tenure-track and career faculty by April, followed by a 4% across-the-board raise for those groups in September and another 3.5% raise in September of 2026. Postdoctoral researchers and limited duration faculty would also get raises, and all four groups want an immediate one-time payment of $2,500. The university has countered with one-time payments of $1,850 and smaller raises. As of Saturday evening, the university said publicly that it was prepared to offer a 4.5% raise for career and tenured-track faculty when the contract is ratified, followed by a 2.5% across-the-board increase in September 2025 and merit raises in 2026. Meanwhile, two hours north, Portland State University and its faculty union reached a tentative salary agreement last week, perhaps precluding a strike after months of labor unrest. Members will vote on whether to ratify the contract next week. Sami Edge covers higher education and politics for The Oregonian. You can reach her at sedge@oregonian.com or (503) 260-3430. Shanghai (Gasgoo)- On March 25, GAC INTERNATIONAL's Thailand plant marked a milestone as the first mass-produced AION V unit rolled off the assembly line, according to a post on the company's WeChat account. As a key model in GAC Group's global strategy, the production launch not only reinforces the company's commitment to localized manufacturing in Thailand but also serves as a crucial step in advancing its "ONE GAC 2.0" initiative to strengthen global competitiveness. At the AION V production launch ceremony, Wei Haigang, General Manager of GAC INTERNATIONAL, commended the team's efforts: "I sincerely thank all team members for their dedication. In just 15 months since the plant's construction began, we have successfully achieved mass production of the AION V. Today's rollout marks another key milestone in our 'ONE GAC 2.0' global strategy and underscores our firm commitment to sustainable development worldwide." Photo credit: GAC INTERNATIONAL Regarding market expansion, Wang Haoyong, Head of GAC INTERNATIONAL's Southeast Asia operations, revealed that the Thailand plant will introduce another locally produced model later this year, with plans to launch two to three fire new models annually in the future. GAC Group aims to establish Thailand as a central hub for electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing and exports in Southeast Asia. Leveraging its local plant as a key production base, the company is committed to a comprehensive approach to sustainable developmentenhancing its product offerings, expanding charging infrastructure, digitizing service networks, and deepening collaboration with local partners. These efforts will contribute to a fully integrated smart mobility ecosystem covering the entire vehicle lifecycle. At this year's Bangkok International Motor Show, GAC INTERNATIONAL introduced the ONE GAC 2.0, its upgraded global strategy anchored in long-term commitment. The initiative is built around one vision, one goal, and one brand image, supported by one localized action plan and five key measures to accelerate international expansion with a more efficient and precise market approach. One vision: To be a value creator for a better mobility experience. One goal: To establish GAC as a globally influential and trusted automotive brand. One brand image: To be recognized as a high-quality, high-tech, and trustworthy mobility partner. One localized action plan: Emphasizing local business integration, service, and contribution. Five key measures: Implement localization in product development, sales channels, customer service, intelligent manufacturing, and energy & mobility ecosystems to deliver a seamless full-lifecycle user experience. Well over a third of Portland-area voters said they hadnt used a local government service in the last year, according to the poll of 600 people across the tri-county area. Beth Nakamura Oregons local governments provide numerous types of services to their residents every day. But a new Oregonian/OregonLive poll shows that Portland-area voters might not always recognize when theyre benefitting from those offerings. Well over a third of Portland-area voters said they hadnt used a local government service in the last year, according to the poll of 600 people across the tri-county area. Only 22% said they had used such a service once a month or more in the last year. But 92% of those polled by Portland polling firm DHM Research reported taking a stroll through a public park or natural area at least once in the last year, with more than half reporting they did so at least a few times a month. Those properties are often maintained by local municipalities. And a strong majority of poll participants, 67%, said they had browsed their local library at least once in the last year, with nearly a third saying they did so at least once a month. County governments in the Portland-area oversee the libraries. The poll, conducted between March 6 and 13, had an overall margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points and higher error bands for individual county results. A trip to the Oregon Zoo, a splash in a public pool or hopping on the bus are all services provided by local governments. However, these arent typically the first ones that come to mind, according to Paul Manson, a research assistant professor with Portland State Universitys Center for Public Services. When they hear government services, they might slip into the welfare mentality, Manson said. They may have gone to the county for a permit for a shed or garage, or they may go to the parks, but they dont think of it as services. Thats a regulatory or benefit thing, where services would be something like food stamps. Manson said not recognizing what the government maintains isnt a slight on anyones intelligence. Instead, its likely more a reflection of the busy lives people live, he said. When we ask these civic questions, we dont do great, he said. Im also mindful that we live busy lives, right? Do people need to know what all these levels of government do? Its particularly difficult to keep track of local governments in the Portland-area, where services are split up among counties, cities and the Metro regional government. Those entities often manage overlapping services, such as homeless shelters and road maintenance. Making it even more difficult is the fact that West Coast governments tend to regularly separate certain services into special districts, Manson said. Those districts can include fire and rescue, utilities and libraries. Voters approved converting the Multnomah County Library into its own district in 2012, according to the library website, providing more stable funding for its branches. Manson said that kind of separation is less common in eastern states. Sarah Rockwell, who lives in Milwaukie, immediately identified parks and libraries as local government services when asked in an interview with The Oregonian/OregonLive. When polled, Rockwell, 43, said she visited both semi-regularly, but was among the 37% of respondents who said they hadnt used a government service at all in the last year. Probably what it was, in my head, government services feel like something you have to qualify for, she said. I guess at first I was just overlooking the free resources that are available to everybody. DHM pollsters first asked whether someone used government services, then followed up with two questions asking how often they use parks and libraries. I suspect I use a lot more government services than I indicated in my first pass through, Rockwell said. Austin De Dios covers Multnomah County politics, programs and more. Reach him at 503-319-9744, adedios@oregonian.com or @AustinDeDios. Our journalism needs your support. Subscribe today to OregonLive.com. Oregon State University is among the Oregon colleges where a Trump administration ruling means undocumented students are now shut out of certain programs to help them succeed. Colleges and universities in Oregon and California can no longer allow students without permanent legal status access to some federally funded programs meant to help disadvantaged students earn degrees, according to a recent decision from the U.S. Department of Education. Officials from the agency rescinded Biden-era waivers that had, since 2022 in California and 2023 in Oregon, allowed universities to waive the citizenship requirement for access to federal TRIO programs. TRIO, which is not an acronym, is a slate of eight programs meant to get students with disabilities, students who come from low-income families, first generation college-students, veterans and foster children to and through college. Oregon receives about $17.5 million a year to administer TRIO programs that provide admissions counseling, financial planning, tutoring and remedial coursework to get students prepared for college and attaining degrees. More than 12,000 high school and college students benefitted from TRIO programs last year, according to the Oregon TRIO Associations 2025 factbook. Association Director Matt Bisek referred requests for comment on the impact of the waivers, which the Trump administration ended on Thursday, to Oregons Higher Education Coordinating Commission. Endi Hartigan, a spokesperson for the commission, said its working with Oregon colleges and universities to ensure they understand their obligations. Officials from the U.S. Department of Education in their news release referred to the programs as taxpayer funded entitlements that should not be spent on students at risk of deportation. The Department will not allow the true purpose of the program to be corrupted to advance an American-last agenda, the agencys under secretary James Bergeron said in the news release. Less than 2% of Oregon college students lack legal status, according to a 2021 report from the Presidents Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration, amounting to about 1,700 students. Immigrants without permanent legal status contribute nearly $100 billion in federal, state and local taxes each year, according to a 2024 study by the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, a nonprofit, nonpartisan tax policy organization based in Washington D.C. Oregons annual TRIO allocation of $17.5 million is less than President Donald Trump is estimated to have spent in taxpayer dollars on trips to his private Palm Beach resort this year. A 2019 report from the Government Accountability Office estimated each trip Trump takes to Mar-a-Lago costs taxpayers about $3.4 million. Trump has made seven trips to the resort since January, according to reporting in The Guardian, which would put the cost at more than $23 million. -- Alex Baumhardt, Oregon Capital Chronicle Oregon Capital Chronicle is part of States Newsroom, the nations largest state-focused nonprofit news organization. A crew from a jobs program for homeless or formerly homeless people picks up trash in downtown Portland in January. Ground Score, which runs the program with funding from the city, is one of many nonprofits in the Portland area working to provide people a way out of homelessness, if they want it. Beth Nakamura President Donald Trump is vowing a new approach to getting homeless people off the streets by forcibly moving those living outside into large camps while mandating mental health and addiction treatment an aggressive departure from the nations leading homelessness policy, which for decades has prioritized housing as the most effective way to combat the crisis. Our once-great cities have become unlivable, unsanitary nightmares, Trump said in a presidential campaign video. For those who are severely mentally ill and deeply disturbed, we will bring them to mental institutions, where they belong, with the goal of reintegrating them back into society once they are well enough to manage. Now that hes in office, the assault on Housing First has begun. White House officials havent announced a formal policy but are opening the door to a treatment-first agenda, while engineering a major overhaul of the housing and social service programs that form the backbone of the homelessness response system that cities and counties across the nation depend on. Nearly $4 billion was earmarked last year alone. But now, Scott Turner, who heads Trumps Department of Housing and Urban Development the agency responsible for administering housing and homelessness funding has outlined massive funding cuts and called for a review of taxpayer spending. Thanks to President Trumps leadership, we are no longer in a business-as-usual posture and the DOGE task force will play a critical role in helping to identify and eliminate waste, fraud and abuse and ultimately better serve the American people, Turner said in a statement. Staffing cuts already proposed would hit the part of the agency overseeing homelessness spending and Housing First initiatives particularly hard. Trump outlined his vision during his campaign, calling for new treatment facilities to be opened on large parcels of government land tent cities where the homeless can be relocated and their problems identified. They could receive treatment and rehabilitation or face arrest. Now in office, he has begun to turn his attention to street homelessness, in March ordering Washington, D.C., to sweep encampments, potentially separating homeless people from their case managers and social service providers, derailing their path to housing. The administration is discouraging local governments from following the federal policy, telling them it will not enforce homelessness contracts to the extent that they require the project to use a housing first program model. And, in a recent order reducing the scope of the federal bureaucracy, Trump slashed the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness, shrinking the agency responsible for coordinating funding and initiatives between the federal government, states, and local agencies, known as Continuums of Care. Make no mistake that Trumps reckless attacks across the federal government will supercharge the housing and homelessness crisis in communities across the country, Democratic U.S. Rep. Maxine Waters of Los Angeles said in response to the order. Editors note: Reporters at The Oregonian/OregonLive are looking into the local effects of Trumps policies and federal funding cuts. Email homelessness reporter Lillian Mongeau Hughes at lmhughes@oregonian.com with tips on what grants have been canceled or are at risk in the Portland area. Support Without Forced Treatment Housing First was implemented nationally in 2004 under the George W. Bush administration to combat chronic homelessness, defined as having lived on the streets with a disabling condition for a long period of time. It was expanded under President Barack Obama as Americas plan of attack on homelessness and broadened by President Joe Biden, who argued that housing was a basic need, critical to health. The policy aims to stabilize homeless people in permanent housing and provide them with case management support and social services without forcing treatment, imposing job requirements, or demanding sobriety. Once housed, the theory goes, homeless people escape the chaos of the streets and can then work on finding a job, taking care of chronic health conditions, or getting sober. When youre on the streets, all youre doing every day is figuring out how to survive, said Ann Oliva, CEO of the National Alliance to End Homelessness. Housing is the most important intervention that brings a sense of safety and stability, where youre not just constantly trying to find food or a safe place to sleep. But Trump wants to gut taxpayer-subsidized housing initiatives. He is pushing for a punitive approach that would impose fines and potentially jail time on homeless people. And he wants to mandate sobriety and mental health treatment as the primary homelessness intervention a stark reversal from Housing First. The shift has ignited fear and panic among homelessness experts and front-line service providers, who argue that forcing treatment and criminalizing homeless people through fines and jail time simply doesnt work. Its only going to make things much worse, said Donald Whitehead Jr., executive director of the National Coalition for the Homeless. Throwing everybody into treatment programs just isnt an effective strategy. The real problem is we just dont have enough affordable housing. Trump got close to ending Housing First during his first term when he tapped Robert Marbut to lead the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness in 2019. Marbut pushed for mandating treatment and reducing reliance on social services, while curtailing taxpayer-subsidized housing. He argued that forcing homeless people to get sober and enter treatment would help them achieve self-sufficiency and end their homelessness. But covid-19 stalled those plans. Now, Marbut said, he believes the president will finish the job. Trump knows that what we need to do is get funding back to treatment and recovery, Marbut said. The Trump administration is laser-focused on ending Housing First. They realized it was wrong the first time and thats why I was selected to change it. They still realize its wrong. Trump and administration officials did not respond to questions from KFF Health News. A request to interview Turner was not granted. Project 2025s Mandate for Leadership, a conservative policy blueprint from some of Trumps closest advisers, explicitly calls for an end to Housing First. Under Attack Housing First is under attack not only from Republicans who have long criticized taxpayer-subsidized housing for homeless people, but also from Democrats responding to public frustration over homeless encampments multiplying around the nation. Last year, the federal government estimated that more than 770,000 people in the U.S. were homeless, a record high. That was up 18% from 2023. And while housing grows increasingly unaffordable, homeless camps have exploded, spilling into city parks, crowding sidewalks, and polluting sensitive waterways, despite unprecedented public spending. Already, cities and states, liberal and conservative, are cracking down on street homelessness and targeting the mental health and addiction crisis. This is true even in deep-blue states like California, where Gov. Gavin Newsom has created a CARE Court initiative that can mandate treatment even though housing isnt always available and threatened to withhold funding from cities and counties that dont aggressively clear encampments. San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie has proposed ending harm reduction for drug users. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass is prioritizing encampment sweeps even though the promise of housing or shelter is elusive. And San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan won initial City Council support for plans to arrest people who refuse shelter three times in 18 months and to divert permanent housing funding to pay for an expansion of homeless shelters. Mahan believes liberals and advocates have been too purist because housing isnt being built fast enough, while investments in shelter and treatment have been inadequate. It cant only be about Housing First, he said. Homelessness crackdowns have exploded since the U.S. Supreme Court made it easier for elected officials and law enforcement agencies to fine and arrest people for living outside. Since June, roughly 150 laws imposing fines or jail time have been passed, with about 45 in California alone, said Jesse Rabinowitz, campaign and communications director for the National Homelessness Law Center. Rabinowitz and other experts say both Republicans and Democrats are undermining Housing First by criminalizing homelessness and conducting encampment sweeps that hinder the ability of front-line workers to get people into housing and services. However, theres disagreement on whether to entirely dismantle the policy. Liberal leaders want to maintain existing streams of housing and homelessness funding while expanding shelters and moving people off the streets. Conservatives blame Housing First for the rise in homelessness and are instead pushing for mandatory treatment and cutting housing subsidies. I used to think it was just a waste of taxpayer money because it wasnt treatment-based, but now I think it actually enables people to remain homeless and addicted, Marbut said of the Housing First approach. He favors requiring behavioral health treatment as a prerequisite to housing. Evidence shows Housing First has been successful in moving vulnerable, chronically homeless people into permanent housing. For instance, a systematic review of 26 studies indicated that, compared with treatment-first, Housing First programs decreased homelessness by 88%.And the approach has shown remarkable improvements in health, reducing costly hospital and emergency room care. Experts say Housing First has been severely underfunded and implemented unevenly, with some homelessness agencies taking federal money but not providing appropriate services or housing placements. Making it the broad policy to all homelessness leaves it vulnerable to being attacked the way its currently being attacked, said Philip Mangano, a Republican who spearheaded the development of Housing First as the lead homelessness adviser to George W. Bush. The truth is its a mixed bag. For some people like those who are using substances, the evidence just isnt there yet. Others say it has been ineffective in some places because of rampant misspending, abuse, and a lack of accountability. This works when its done right, said Marc Dones, a policy director for homelessness initiatives at the University of California-San Francisco, arguing that housing can save lives and lower spending on costly health care. But I think we have been too polite and too nice for too long about some real incompetence. Jeff Olivet, who succeeded Marbut at the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness under Biden, said Marbut and Trumps positions are misguided. He argues that Housing First has worked for those who have gotten indoors, yet the number of people falling into homelessness outpaces those getting housing. And he says there was never enough money to provide housing and supportive services for everyone in need. Housing First is not just about sticking somebody in an apartment and hoping for the best, Olivet said. Its really about providing stable housing and access to health care, mental health and substance use treatment, and to support people, but not forcing it on people. This article was produced by KFF Health News. The Oregonian/OregonLive needs your support. Please become a subscriber today at OregonLive.com/subscribe Newer aircraft like the Airbus A350 and Boeing 787 are designed with passenger well-being in mind, and they often offer better air quality and lower noise levels, according to experts. A Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner from Qatar Airways is shown landing in Barcelona, Spain, in 2023. NurPhoto via Getty Images The flight between Doha, Qatar, and Auckland, New Zealand, is one of the longest in the world a seemingly never-ending journey that crosses 10 time zones in 16 hours. How do you choose the right airline for an ultra-long-haul flight like that? Its not an abstract question. One of this years big travel trends is detour destinations visiting faraway places like Japan, New Zealand and the United Arab Emirates. To get there from the U.S., youll spend 12 hours or more on a plane. Youll want to consider an airline that specializes in long-haul flights, says William Rankin, an aviation expert at Florida Institute of Technology in Melbourne, Fla. You will likely encounter fewer problems and have a more enjoyable experience. The effects of long-distance air travel are well documented, and include lower blood oxygen levels, dehydration, jet lag and the risk of a blood clot. So how do you find an airline that wont leave you exhausted and irritated? The expert advice is surprisingly contrarian. The rules for long-haul travel are different from flying domestically or even on shorter segments to Europe or Hawaii. Among other things, youll need to prioritize comfort and reliability over price or loyalty points. I survived my flight from Doha to Auckland, and I learned a thing or two about ultra-long-distance travel. Ill tell you about that in a moment. Experts: Comfort is a priority You might be tempted to book an airline that will help you maximize your miles. But consider my trip to New Zealand. To collect points on one of my preferred U.S. airlines, I would have had to fly through another city, more than doubling my travel time with a stopover in Hong Kong or Shenzhen. With the loyalty points and airline status, some consumers are married to their airlines and are less flexible to change things up even when a particular airline is known to deliver a five-star experience, says Susan Sherren, who runs the travel agency Couture Trips. Cost is also a motivating force. Sherren advises spending a little more and worrying less about the miles when youre dealing with an ultra-long-haul flight. Book a reputable airline This was a tough lesson for me, but I learned it when I booked a cheap flight from Madrid to Buenos Aires on a no-name carrier a few years ago. I spent 13 hours with almost no personal space and almost no service. Im still working through the trauma. Thierry Antinori, the chief commercial officer at Qatar Airways, says you have to do your research before you book. Consult sources like Airline Ratings or Skytrax for guidance. Look for one of the top-rated airlines for the most comfort, he told me. And what are the top-rated airlines? I have a personal shortlist of airlines that are safe for long distances. It includes Air New Zealand, Cathay Pacific, the Gulf carriers (Emirates, Etihad, Qatar), the major Japanese airlines (ANA and Japan Airlines), Korean Air, Qantas, Singapore Airlines, and Turkish Airlines. Avoid the cheap seats If you book the right airline, you also need the right seat. Kat Shortsleeve, founder of the boutique travel company Shortsleeve Travel, recommends splurging for a bigger seat. For a 12-plus hour flight, seat pitch and width make a big difference," she says. Airlines with upgraded premium economy or lie-flat seats are worth it for these long journeys. New planes = better experience Theres one more thing before you book. Check the type of plane, which will be listed online when you make the reservation. Newer aircraft like the Airbus A350 and Boeing 787 are designed with passenger well-being in mind, and they often offer better air quality and lower noise levels, according to experts. Joe Cronin recently decided to spend a little more to fly with ANA from New York to Tokyo. Cronin, a frequent flier who runs an air ambulance service, says it made a noticeable difference in post-flight recovery. I felt much better after I landed, he says. How I survived 16 hours on a plane Ultra-long-distance flying is hard. Even if you can stay hydrated and get enough sleep, you have to deal with the aftermath jet lag, including extreme fatigue and difficulty sleeping at night and the possibility of catching a cold. My trip started in Istanbul, so I only had a few choices. I could go for the cheapest flight, connecting through China with several lengthy stopovers. Or I could fly through the Middle East on one of the Gulf carriers. My choice came down to Emirates or Qatar Airways. Both have an excellent reputation for customer service and treat all of their passengers well, even if youre in economy class. I chose Qatar Airways because I had already flown the carrier on an ultra-long-haul flight in economy class from Doha to Cape Town, South Africa, and I was surprised by how comfortable it was. I had enough room for my long legs and the food was tasty. The Qatar flight checked a lot of boxes. It was a nonstop flight on a new Airbus A350-1000. And I was lucky to snag an upgrade to Qatars business class, Qsuites, and passes to its new Louis Vuitton lounge. To offset the stress of a long trip, I booked two nights through Qatar Airways stopover program at the Crowne Plaza. I spent two days decompressing in Doha, visiting the museums, malls and riding the Doha Metro, which is probably the best mass transit system in the world. The flight was practically flawless. I had a strong Internet connection over most of the Indian Ocean, so I could get some work done. But the highlight for me was the soft pajamas they issue to their Qsuites passengers. Put them on, set your seat on lie-flat and you can actually sleep on the plane. Id like to say that I arrived in Auckland refreshed and ready for work, but I was still tired and jet-lagged after lying in a pressurized aluminum tube all day. But it could have been so much worse. I remember stumbling off the plane after that cheap flight to Argentina when I felt like Id participated in a sleep deprivation experiment. This time, I avoided getting sick, and it took only a few days to bounce back. If I have to fly 16 hours again, this is the best way to do it. Christopher Elliott is an author, consumer advocate, and journalist. He founded Elliott Advocacy, a nonprofit organization that helps solve consumer problems. He publishes Elliott Confidential, a travel newsletter, and the Elliott Report, a news site about customer service. If you need help with a consumer problem, you can reach him here or email him at chris@elliott.org. Chipotle Mexican Grill is not closing, despite what you might have read on social media. Michael Dwyer/AP Last week, rumors ran wild across X/Twitter as rumors tend to do on Elon Musks rebranded social media platform claiming that popular fast food chain Chipotle was filing for bankruptcy and closing all its restaurants. Is Chipotle closing all restaurants? No, those rumors are untrue. Chipotle issued a statement refuting the claim. A company spokesperson told Newsweek that not only was the rumor false, the company plans to expand in 2025. Chipotle says it plans to open somewhere between 300-350 new locations this year. Where did the Chipotle rumor start? USA Today reported that the source of the rumor appears to be a Spanish media report about a Chipotle side project, Farmesa Fresh Eatery, which is closing. The initial story on Farmesa used a Chipotle logo as the featured image. That story was then spread across social media with the incorrect message that Chipotle itself was closing entirely. The false claim was particularly popular on Twitter/X. Chipotle has 55 locations in Oregon, none of which appear likely to close any time soon. Julie Evensen covers trending topics and popular culture. She can be reached at jevensen@oregonian.com or @juliecevensen.bsky.social on Bluesky and @julieevensen on Threads. Our journalism needs your support. Subscribe today to OregonLive.com. Subscribe to The Best Thing I Ate This Week newsletter Each week, restaurant critic Michael Russell takes Oregonian/OregonLive subscribers along on his culinary explorations. Not a subscriber? You can receive a few weeks of The Best Thing I Ate This Week newsletter as a free trial. Sign up here. "Im Krisenmodus" offnet uns die Augen fur die Realitat der Krisengebiete weltweit, prasentiert von Jan Jessen, dem erfahrenen Kriegsreporter und Politikchef der Neuen Ruhr / Neuen Rhein Zeitung (NRZ). Von der Ukraine bis Irak, den gefahrentrachtigen Ecken Jemens bis hin zur gespannten Atmosphare zwischen Israel und der Hamas Jessen bringt den Horern Geschichten naher, die uns sonst verborgen blieben. Es sind Einblicke in das Leben der Menschen, die im Schatten kriegerischer Konflikte ihre Existenz bewahren. Experten tragen zur Einordnung und Aufklarung dieser Erzahlungen bei, damit wir diese besser verstehen konnen. Begleiten Sie Jan Jessen auf diesen Reisen und erfahren Sie, was es bedeutet, in einem Kriegsgebiet zu leben. Nach jahrelanger Berichterstattung uber weltweite Konflikte, bietet Jessen in diesem Podcast einen ungeschonten Einblick, wie sich Krieg wirklich anfuhlt. "Im Krisenmodus" ist ein Podcast der NRZ, im Auftrag der FUNKE Mediengruppe. Bei Feedback oder Fragen konnen Sie sich an krisenmodus@funkemedien.de wenden. Folgen Sie uns kostenfrei auf Ihrer liebsten Podcast-App, wie Spotify, Apple Podcasts oder Deezer. Impressum: https://www.nrz.de/nrz-info/nrz-impressum-kontakt-id2164741.html "Im Krisenmodus" offnet uns die Augen fur die Realitat der Krisengebiete weltweit, prasentiert von Jan Jessen, dem erfahrenen Kriegsreporter und Politikchef der Neuen Ruhr / Neuen Rhein Zeitung (NRZ). Von der Ukraine bis Irak, den gefahrentrachtigen ... Weiter Lesen Weniger Lesen Editor's note: This story was updated at 1:19 p.m. on April 2 to add the correct link to the Brothers in Arms statue in Oklahoma City. This year marks 50 years after the Vietnam War, a milestone that reflects the hardships of veterans and the Vietnamese community in Oklahoma. Every year, the Oklahoma Historical Society hosts a ceremony that honors veterans who served in the Vietnam War. The annual event provides a space for reflection, gratitude and remembrance through speeches, ceremonial tributes and the presence of veterans and their families. 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... James Bond, retired director of the Oklahoma Department of Veteran Affairs, emphasized the historical importance of the war and the resilience of those who served. Those who serve these interpolated dates in March and April remind us, not only of the historical milestones, but the enduring resilience of the men and women who serve this country in our nation's history , Bond said to the audience. Their legacy is woven in the very fabric of our communities. At the front of Devon Great Hall inside of the Oklahoma Historical Society, an empty glass and a flower vase sat on a table honoring the veterans who were not found or died in active duty. Veterans rose and removed their hats to show respect for these individuals. During the event, each veteran is honored individually through a pinning ceremony. As their names are called and their military branch and years of service are recited, the veterans step forward and get pinned by Junior Reserve Officer Training members. Robert Winters, a 46-year-old veteran, served in the Air Force and Army National Guard for 10 years. Winters said the pinning ceremony serves as an emotional reminder of his time serving. Anytime I hear the service branches, songs or attend pinning ceremonies like this. I get a little emotional, get a little teary eyed, Winters said. The event not only celebrates veterans but also the allies who stood beside them. Peter Plank, founder of the Liberty jump team, said South Vietnamese people lost not only a war but their homeland, enduring unimaginable hardships in the aftermath. We involve the South Vietnamese in this Vietnam Veterans Day, they suffered just as much, if not more, Plank said. They lost their country in a horrendous way, but they made it here. We need something for our community Thuan Nguyen, founder of the Asian District Cultural Association, said the Vietnam War shaped the Vietnamese American identity and influenced the development of Oklahoma Citys Asian District, located off Classen Blvd between NW 23rd St and NW 30th St. The Asian District Cultural Association is a resource for thousands of Asian Americans in Oklahoma, most of which are Vietnamese. The organization hosts festivals and events throughout the year that try to bring the community closer, support local businesses, and educate the community. According to Nguyen, after the fall of Saigon, thousands of Vietnamese refugees, many of whom had fought alongside American forces, were left with no choice but to flee their homeland. They were known as the Boat People, according to Nguyen, and escaped by sea, seeking refuge in the United States. In Oklahoma City, Catholic charities and Baptist churches played a key role in welcoming these refugees, leading many to settle in what is now the Asian District, according to Nguyen. Since its founding, Nguyen said the Asian District has been dedicated to preserving cultural heritage, promoting education and driving economic development. Part of this mission includes honoring and supporting Vietnam War veterans, particularly those who resettled in Oklahoma. NO PAYWALL, NONPARTISAN Students pay about $14 in fees that support the Daily. If you're not a student, please join those invested in OU and Norman who have given more than $110,000 to support our trustworthy, independent journalism. SUPPORT OUR LOCAL JOURNALISM The driver for supporting the Vietnam veterans is the Vietnamese American community, (who) had efforts to help with doing the arts installation, which is a sculpture of the Brothers in Arms statue, which actually won a national award with the lead of artist Robbie Kendall with the City Planning Department, Nguyen said. The Brothers in Arms statue in Oklahoma City serves as a tribute to those who served in the Vietnam War by depicting an armed Vietnamese and American soldier standing back to back. Nguyen was inspired to create the Asian District Cultural Association after wanting to revitalize the community. His goal was to implement something that made people want to come back to it while also maintaining its history and culture. We needed something for our community. We needed something for development. We actually need something for people to come back to the area, to live, to play, to eat, to work. We want to establish a destination where people will really come back , Nguyen said. We want to make sure that everyone who is Asian has the ability to preserve and promote their cultural heritage. We have a really close community here Paula Le, a management information systems junior and president of OUs Vietnamese Student Association, reflected on the significance of the Vietnam War anniversary and its impact on Vietnamese students across campus. Le reflects on the significance this anniversary has on her acknowledging the sacrifices of those that came before her. It definitely holds a significance to a lot of us because of what occurred afterwards, and the reason being why our parents came here, Le said. Knowing what they've gone through to come here, and the sacrifices they've made. My parents came here to live a better life, to have a better life for them and for me and for their future. Le said she has witnessed and experienced the strong sense of community among Vietnamese and Asian students at the OU. She said the deep rooted connections within the Vietnamese community in Oklahoma continue to shape her experience on campus. Being a student here, just even in general being an Asian student, I believe that we have a really close community here, Le said. As I've grown up, I've been very close to the Vietnamese community as a whole in Oklahoma and I feel like we're all very close to one another, like my parents know other parents who know other parents, and it creates a sense of community that I can still feel even to now. Le highlighted the importance of cultural events in preserving and sharing Vietnamese traditions at OU. She emphasized that the Vietnamese Student Association hosts significant events that are important to the community. The Lunar Moon Festival is the organizations biggest event of the year. It consists of cultural dances and traditional Vietnamese foods. Le emphasizes the resilience and perseverance of the Vietnamese American community by having to overcome the challenges of war, displacement and resettlement. Despite these hardships, she said the community has remained deeply connected, with each generation carrying the weight of its history. The biggest thing is knowing that there is a connection and that this community has gone through so much, but it just makes them stronger and more connected, Le said. This story was edited by Ana Barboza and Ismael Lele. No Solution in Labor Dispute Between UPM Plywood and Industrial Union The Industrial Union on March 30 rejected the mediator's settlement proposal, and the five-week strike at UPM Plywood mills in Finland continues. The Industrial Union on March 30 rejected the mediator's settlement proposal, and the five-week strike at UPM Plywood mills in Finland continues. March 30, 2025 (Press Release) - UPM Plywood and the Industrial Union have failed to reach an agreement on a new employer-specific collective agreement. The union today rejected the mediator's settlement proposal, and the five-week strike at UPM Plywood mills in Finland continues. The proposal made by conciliator Jukka Ahtela on Friday was in line with the general pay increase level agreed by the Industrial Union for the export industry in Finland. The agreement would have allowed UPM Plywood employees to receive a total pay increase of 7.8% over 3 years. UPM Plywood accepted the proposal. "Hundreds of thousands of workers from various industries are already covered by agreements in line with the general level, and the collective agreement that UPM Timber concluded with the Industrial Union in January is also in line with the pay increase level in Finnish export industry," says Juhani Tenhunen, Vice President, Operations, at UPM Plywood. "Profitability challenges caused by low demand in the construction sector and record high wood prices limit our ability to raise wages above the general line," Tenhunen continues. The overall content of the collective agreement was already agreed in August 2024 and since then the negotiations have focused only on the level of pay increases. UPM Plywood has actively sought a solution to the increases, but with no results. "The proposal made by the mediator would have secured the purchasing power of our workers. The cost impact would have been very challenging for the business, but acceptable to allow the return to work", Tenhunen sums up. The strikes have halted production at UPM Plywood mills in Finland. UPM Plywood mills in Finland employ 1,000 people covered by the collective agreement with the Industrial Union. Production at UPM Plywood's Otepaa mill in Estonia continues as normal. UPM Plywood UPM Plywood offers high-quality WISA plywood and veneer products for construction, vehicle flooring, LNG shipbuilding, parquet manufacturing and other industrial applications. In 2023 UPM Plywood sales were EUR 422 million and it had around 1,500 employees. UPM delivers renewable and responsible solutions and innovate for a future beyond fossils across six business areas: UPM Fibres, UPM Energy, UPM Raflatac, UPM Specialty Papers, UPM Communication Papers and UPM Plywood. The company employs 15,800 people worldwide and has annual sales of approximately EUR 10.3 billion. SOURCE: UPM The program that aims to help abducted Ukrainian children is getting temporary funding, as announced by the U.S. State Department on March 27, 2025. However, it is still planned to be terminated shortly. Yale University's Humanitarian Research Lab leads the initiative under the State Department's Conflict Observatory. It had taken advantage of biometric data and satellite imagery to track Russia's reported abduction of Ukrainian youths. Temporary Funding for the Abducted Ukrainian Children Program Since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, it has been confirmed that at least 19,500 children were abducted, and only about 1,200 have since been returned. Ukraine's Children of War database released the information. Yale's research, which had received funding from the United States government, has assisted officials in tracking thousands of these cases. However, researchers said they lost access to the database last month after authorities decided to terminate the contract and cut off critical evidence for war crimes investigations, according to the Kyiv Independent. Read more: Health and Human Services Faces Lawsuit After Cutting Legal Aid for Migrant Children Under New Regulations A spokesperson for the State Department said that the temporary short-term funding would allow the researchers to ensure the proper transfer of essential data on abducted children to relevant authorities. They added that it was part of the standard close-out procedures for terminated programs. The situation comes as United States President Donald Trump's administration has made efforts to cut funding for a variety of agencies and initiatives, calling them "waste, fraud, and abuse." The series of terminated financial support has already affected various efforts to hold Russia accountable for its crimes against Ukraine. Trump Administration's Funding Cuts The efforts have already sparked backlash from various parties, including among members of Common Man for Ukraine, which is a small New Hampshire-based humanitarian non-profit. They said that the government needs to do more, not less, to help these affected children, USA Today reported. Susan Mathison, a Common Man for Ukraine co-founder, said that the children whom Russia took had been subjected to re-education and deserve to be found and returned. She added that they need to do everything in their power to get these kids home. Amid Republicans' efforts to terminate the program, Democratic lawmakers have been trying to call on the Trump administration to restore the program in full. The program's funding cut has raised concerns regarding the potential loss of access to a trove of information, such as satellite imagery and other data. The situation comes as the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants in March 2023 for Russian President Vladimir Putin and his children's rights commissioner, Maria Lvova-Belova, as per Reuters. The sudden and unprecedented arrest of six female supporters of the activist group Youth Demand while they were at a Quaker meeting house in London sparked backlash among other members. In a statement, Quakers in Britain said that the arrests were the first that happened at a meeting house and were an "aggressive violation." The Metropolitan Police revealed that six individuals were taken into custody on Thursday evening at the Westminster Meeting House on suspicion of conspiracy to cause a public nuisance. Arrest of Youth Demand Members Officials added that the arrests came as there were concerns regarding suspected plans to "shut down" London next month by using tactics like roadblocks. On the other hand, Youth Demand said that more than 30 officers were involved in arresting its members. The group describes itself as a "new youth resistance campaign fighting for an end to genocide," and it reportedly started carrying out acts of civil disobedience last year. The group's demands of the government include a stop to all trade with Israel and fundraising from "the super-rich and fossil fuel elite," according to BBC. Quakers in Britain's Paul Parker said that he was not able to recall anyone being arrested at a Quaker meeting house in the past. He added that the forceful removal of the individuals who were holding a protest group meeting clearly showed what happens when a society criminalizes protest. Trampling on Free Speech Rights Parker noted that freedom of speech, assembly, and fair trials are essential parts of free public debate. Furthermore, police said that they made five other arrests for the same offense, four in London and one in Exeter. Police said that the arrests were made as they had a responsibility to "intervene to prevent activity that crosses the line from protest into serious disruption and other criminality." The incident comes as there is a crackdown on Gaza War protesters in the United States, the New York Times reported. Many legal experts have argued that U.S. President Donald Trump's administration's efforts have trampled on free speech rights. Quakers in Britain echoed similar concerns following the arrests of Youth Demand members. The group said that the publicity related to the arrests resulted in a large number of people deciding to sign up to take part in a series of new protests that are set to begin next week. It added that the incident increased awareness of the group's activities among other people, as per The Guardian. A toddler was reportedly kicked out of nursery for being "transphobic" following alleged "abuse against sexual orientation and gender identity," sparking outrage among the child's parents. Data from the Department of Education revealed that the toddler, who was either three or four years old, was suspended from a state school roughly three years ago. Now, numbers have been revealed that show the shocking frequency of similar incidents happening. Toddler Kicked Out of Nursery Over "Transphobia" The details regarding the specific school or the case were not revealed, but the toddler was found to have been one of many who were suspended for similar reasons. It was shown that 94 students at state primary schools were suspended, with some being permanently excluded, for alleged transphobia and homophobia during the 2022-23 academic year. Among the affected children, 10 were from Year 1, while three were in Year 2, which is where the maximum possible age of students was only seven. However, the latest data also revealed the shocking case of the toddler who was kicked out of nursery, according to The Sun. Helen Joyce, the director of advocacy at Sex Matters, said that now and then, a story about the extremes of gender ideology surfaces. She said that the case of the toddler who was suspended for such reasons was one such example. Read more: Republican Lawmaker Invokes Bible Scripture in Debate Against Banning Corporal Punishment Use on Disabled Children in Schools Joyce also said that the shocking case did not appear to be an isolated incident, noting that 13 other kids, aged four and five, were suspended or permanently excluded from the school for the same reasons. She added that the teachers and school leaders who are involved in the series of suspensions should be ashamed of themselves. Joyce said they are projecting adult concepts and beliefs to very young kids, as the Daily Mail reported. Homophobic or Transphobic Behavior Data also revealed that the number of pupils suspended or expelled for homophobic or transphobic behavior across all primary schools rose from 164 to 178 from 2021-22 to 2022-23. Essex had the highest number of these, at 16, in 2022-23. The director of the Free Speech Union, Lord Young, said that having an ideology that punishes toddlers for not complying is a reason to discard such ideas. On the other hand, the Department of Education said that all students and staff should have a sense of safety and feel protected at school. The situation comes as the Supreme Court late last year heard a challenge to a law that bans gender-affirming care for trans kids. The challenged bill was introduced by Tennessee state Sen. Jack Johnson, which disallowed access to hormones, puberty blockers, and other treatments for trans kids in the state, as per NPR. This afternoon, we made a pilgrimage to Pearl Harbor, and, very specifically, to the USS Arizona Memorial. It was sobering, as always. We also spent time in the exhibits there and watched a couple of films about the Japanese attack of 7 December 1941. That horrible event happened nearly eighty-five years ago, and there are, surely, few if any survivors on either the Japanese or the American side still alive today. To my shock, though, I found myself almost tearing up at some points. Almost. Cold-hearted Scandinavian though I am, Im plainly becoming more sentimental as I age. I thought of all the young men, most of them a a few years younger than my father, who died suddenly, unexpectedly, and in many cases horribly, on that beautiful Hawaiian Sunday morning. Its not impossible, had they been allowed to live, that I might have come to know one or two of them. I think of the children they would have had. One of them could have been a schoolmate of mine, or a friend in my neighborhood. I think of the contributions those young men might have made. Of the massive loss, the literally incalculable loss, that they represent. This is why, as Ive aged, Ive become less and less easily impressed with leaders whom we often term the Great. I shared a few thoughts about King Kamehameha the Great yesterday; some have responded in his defense, and I freely admit that Ive spent very little time studying him and that perhaps some defense of him is possible. But then I think of those hundreds of defending Oahu warriors who were forced over the cliff at the Nuuanu Pali by Kamehamehas invading army. Im skeptical of many of these great men. I find it more and more difficult to admire those who, as the eighteenth-century English poet Thomas Gray put it, wade[d] through slaughter to a throne. What about Napoleon, for example? Back in the early nineteenth century, the population of Europe was much smaller than it is today. But the estimates that Ive seen suggest that between 2.5 and 3.5 million soldiers died during the Napoleonic Wars, with civilian deaths estimated to have been between 750,000 and 3 million. In other words, the death toll during the Napoleonic Wars was at least 3.25 million people and possibly as many as 6.5 million. And, again, for what, exactly? Did Napoleon need a larger bed? Did his murderous conquests enable him to consume more food than he already did? To wear more shirts? Did almost seven million people need to die so that he could have a nicer home? Did he improve the lives of those whom he conquered? Not discernibly. And yet I know that he is venerated by many French people. Does he deserve such veneration? Ive come to think much more highly, instead, of such rulers as the genuinely great Mauryan emperor Ashoka of India great, certainly, in the later period of his life, after his much more conventional beginning as a bloody conqueror about whom I wrote for the Deseret News back in 2012. I admire Anwar Sadat of Egypt, who finally decided, after decades of destructive wars between the Arabs and Israel, to try to put an end to the fruitless violence and bloodshed. His dramatic visit to Jerusalem and his involvement in the Camp David Accords ultimately cost him his life. My wife and I were living in Cairo at the time, and we will never forget the horrible and sorrowful day of President Sadats assassination. Blessed be his memory. And true greatness can easily be found among non-rulers. Take Maximilian Kolbe, for instance. Nicholas Winton. The villagers of Le Chambon. Saint Damien of Molokai. Political power isnt needed for greatness. Nor is wealth. And yet . . . And yet . . . I want to come back to the idea of the historical great man a topic that suggests itself to me perhaps only by reason of its verbal similarity to what Ive been considering in the cases of King Kamehameha the Great, the Emperor Napoleon, and others of their class. There has been a justified rejection in modern academic historiography of the great man theory of history, in which (in former generations, at least), history was seen almost as a derivative of ruler biographies. Such an approach had obviously been a huge oversimplification. The Augustan age was never even remotely reducible to Augustus, nor Periclean Athens to Pericles, nor the Elizabethan Age to Queen Elizabeth, nor Victorian England to Victoria. Fernand Braudel and other twentieth-century historians I myself was profoundly influenced in my own professional studies of Islam by Marshall G. S. Hodgson taught us to pay much more attention to the role of large-scale socioeconomic factors in the making and writing of history. The use of the stirrup, the adoption of gunpowder, the invention of the printing press and moveable type, the harnessing of steam power and the building of railroads such developments have been far more consequential for history overall than the character and whims of the mostly forgettable and often rather small individuals who happen to have occupied this or that throne at any given moment. But we mustnt overcorrect. History isnt a matter solely of vast, impersonal, almost subterranean forces any more than it is a blank canvas for vivid personalities. Strong individuals also have their effects, and often to profound effect. Sadly, Adolf Hitler offers an example of the power of a particular unique personality to affect historical developments. If der Fuhrer hadnt existed, could Ernst Rohm, Hermann Goring, Martin Bormann, Heinrich Himmler, Julius Streicher, or even Joseph Goebbels have led the Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei to the epoch-making lethal heights that it unfortunately reached? During the Third Reich, German military personnel, including officers and soldiers, swore an oath of allegiance directly to Adolf Hitler, known as the Hitler Oath or the Fuhrer Oath, promising unconditional obedience to him, not to Germany, and a readiness to risk their lives for him. I found myself thinking of such matters today at Pearl Harbor. There were powerful economic and political factors pushing America and Japan toward war. But the Japanese admiral Isoroku Yamamoto, who planned the 7 December attack, actually opposed war with the United States. Having studied at Harvard and having been attached for a time to the Japanese embassy in Washington DC, he believed that Japan could not prevail in a prolonged military conflict with America. I fear, he is reported to have said after the Pearl Harbor attack, all we have done is to awaken a sleeping giant and fill him with a terrible resolve. Had Admiral Yamamotos counsel against war with America been followed, history would, I think, very clearly have turned out differently than it did. And what if Neville Chamberlain had still been prime minister, or what if the accommodationist Lord Halifax had succeeded him in that office, during that darkest hour when the British Expeditionary Force seemed doomed to imminent destruction on the beaches near Dunkirk in May 1940? What if that role had not fallen, instead, to Winston Churchill, with his strikingly quasi-religious confidence that destiny had raised him up for the fight against Hitler and the Nazis? Many more examples might be adduced. An obvious one is George Washington, with his mysterious invincibility and consciousness of invincibility during the Revolutionary War. He wasnt the most profound thinker among the American Founders, nor the greatest orator. But could Ben Franklin or Thomas Jefferson or John Adams or Aaron Burr have replaced him? None of them thought so. There is a reason that James Thomas Flexner named his famous 1994 book Washington: The Indispensable Man. Without taking any position pro or con, I think that a plainly apparent current example of what I have in mind is President Donald Trump. Would the MAGA movement exist in anything like its current form or with its current power in the absence of Mr. Trump? It seems to me obvious that it has coalesced around his personality much more than around a clear and coherent set of political, economic, or philosophical principles existing in the abstract apart from him, and that neither Steve Bannon, Kari Lake, George Santos, Elon Musk, Lauren Boebert, Rudy Giuliani, Tulsi Gabbard, Elise Stefanik, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Marjorie Taylor Greene, nor Matt Gaetz could have brought the MAGA movement to the commanding heights that it now occupies. Posted from Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii Revelation 5:8 (Elders) and Revelation 8:3-4 (Angels) Are Undeniably Involved with the Prayers of the Saints Revelation 5:8 (RSV) . . . the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and with golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints; Revelation 8:3-4 And another angel came and stood at the altar with a golden censer; and he was given much incense to mingle with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar before the throne; [4] and the smoke of the incense rose with the prayers of the saints from the hand of the angel before God. Older Protestant commentaries tended to interpret these prayers or presentation of prayers in heaven to God as merely symbolic, with some exceptions; for example, Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary almost begrudgingly conceded that the elders are employed by God in some way unknown to us to present our prayers. Newer commentaries, however, usually dont offer a knee-jerk polemically contra-Catholic interpretation: 1) New International Commentary on the New Testament: The Book of Revelation (Revised) (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Eerdmans, 1998), by Robert H. Mounce. Dr. Mounce (1921-2019), a Reformed evangelical, earned a ThM in New Testament from Fuller Theological Seminary and a PhD from the University of Aberdeen. He taught at Bethel College and Seminary and was later president of Whitworth College. Dr. Mounce was an author of many commentaries and other books, and was a member of the translation teams for the New International Version and the English Standard Version. Dr. David Hubbard, author of 36 books and former president of Fuller Theological Seminary, referred to him as one of our generations most able expositors. [5:8] The prayers of the saints are now brought before God in golden bowls. The golden bowls are full of incense symbolizing the prayers of the saints. . . . (cf. Ps 141:2, May my prayer be set before you like incense). . . . The idea of angels acting as intermediaries and presenting the prayers of saints to God is common in later Jewish thought. In Tob[it] 12:15 [part of Catholic deuterocanonical Scripture] an angel says, I am Raphael, one of the seven holy angels, who present the prayers of the saints, and who go in and out before the glory of the Holy One. [cf. 12:12: when you and your daughter-in-law Sarah prayed, I brought a reminder of your prayer before the Holy One]. In 3 Baruch 11 [pseudepigrapha] it is Michael the archangel who descends to the fifth heaven to receive the prayers of the people [Michael, the commander of the angels, comes down to receive the prayers of men]. It was the increasing emphasis in Jewish thought on the transcendence of God that made such intermediaries appropriate. In Revelation the twenty-four elders perform this function. (pp. 134-135) [8:3-4] The angel is pictured as offering the prayers of the saints in much the same way as the priests in the temple at Jerusalem would daily take hot coals from the altar of sacrifice and carry them into the holy place to the golden altar of incense (cf. Luke 1:9). . . . Either the incense is mingled with the prayers of the saints or the incense is the prayers. . . . It is preferable . . . to follow the second option, which is . . . to translate, he was given much incense to offer, consisting of the prayers of all the saints. This interpretation harmonizes with 5:8, where the bowls of incense are definitely identified with the prayers of the saints. . . . The angel of 8:3-5 is a heavenly priest who presents the prayers of all the saints . . . before God. (pp. 174-175) As for the translation that he suggests, Mounce cites the great biblical scholar F. F. Bruce, from his section, The Revelation to John: part of A New Testament Commentary, ed. G. C. D. Howley, London: Pickering & Inglis, 1969, 629-666 (p. 646 cited). 2) Revelation (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academic, 2002), by Grant R. Osborne. Grant R. Osborne (1942-2018), an Arminian evangelical, received his PhD from the University of Aberdeen. He also did postdoctoral research at Cambridge university and the University of Marburg. He taught at Winnipeg Theological Seminary and the university of Aberdeen and from 1977 to 2016 was professor of New Testament at the Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. Dr. Osborne was a member of the Society of Biblical Literature, the Evangelical Theological Society, and the Institute of Biblical Research, and authored many books. [8:3-4] The prayers here most likely refer specifically to the imprecatory prayers for vengeance and justice in Rev. 6:9-11, although the presence of all the saints here specifically may refer to all prayers in general. (p. 345) 3) (1911-1982), a Baptist, was professor of New Testament theology and exegesis at Fuller Theological Seminary. He received his doctorate from Harvard University, and authored many books. Robert Mounce called his commentary on Revelation readable and sane . . . a careful interpretation. [5:8] . . . the elders are angelic beings. . . . In some way, angelic beings are thought of as assisting the prayers of the saints to rise to God. (p. 89) 4) : An Expository Commentary ( John Phillips received a Doctor of Ministry degree from Luther Rice Seminary (Baptist). He served as Director of the Emmaus Correspondence School, one of the worlds largest correspondence ministries. [5:8] These mighty creatures take the feeble prayers of Gods people on earth and pour them out as a sweet fragrance before God. (p. 90) *** The twenty-four elders are usually regarded by commentators as either dead human beings or angels. They appear to have other peoples prayers, to present to God. All of the above commentaries hold to that view. So the obvious question that the commentaries dont really delve into is: what are they doing with them? Why does Revelation describe dead saints and/or angels presenting the prayers of all the saints to God? Why do they have them in the first place? If all these went right to God only, why would this scene be mentioned at all? How does it fit in, under Protestant assumptions about prayer and its hostility to the invocation of saints? They are somehow involved in the process of these prayers getting to God. How can this be, if prayer is supposed to be solely between a Christian believer and his or her God, with no intermediary? It stands to reason, as a rather straightforward deduction or at least a plausible surmise, that these heavenly beings heard the initial prayers as well, or at least were granted knowledge of them in some fashion, ultimately through the knowledge of God. It stands to reason that they would be offering the prayers of the saints if they were asked to otherwise those prayers would not be, in a sense, theirs to offer. It would be the difference between God receiving direct prayers from people o earth and then giving them to the dead saints and angels to present to Him, which seems distinctly less plausible to me compared to a scenario where people ask an angel or a saint to pray (intercede) for them to God, and they do so as described in these passages. Whats also striking to note is the phrase the prayers of all the saints in Revelation 8:3 which might reasonably suggest that such intercessory mediation may be undertaken by angels in the case of all prayers offered (which approaches even the controversial Catholic doctrine of Mary Mediatrix). Or it might be seen as a general statement, meaning in context, the prayers of many many or a great variety of saints. Either way, there is massive involvement of creatures in heaven with our prayers, which is a striking confirmation of the traditional Catholic doctrines of the invocation and intercession of saints. Angels are extremely intelligent beings. We know that they rejoice when a sinner repents. They have knowledge in ways that we do not; above our comprehension. The fact that Christ is mediator is not questioned by anyone. Asking a saint in heaven to pray for us no more interferes with the unique mediation of Christ than does asking a person on earth to pray for us. We always pray in Christ, through His power, and to Him, whether it is directly to Him, or by means of another person or angel, in heaven or on earth. Nor do we pray to angels and saints as if they were the ones who granted or denied our prayers, and had the power to do so (the ultimate recipients). * *** * * *** * Photo credit: The Seven Trumpets and the Angel with a Censer [Revelation 5], Bamberger Apokalypse, c. 1000 [public domain / Wikimedia Commons] Summary: I cite four reputable recent Protestant commentaries that hold to the interpretation that heavenly beings are presenting prayers of other people to God, in Revelation 5 and 8. I am quite fond of John Donne, and I look for excuses to point this out. Today is one of them. John Donne was born in London on the 22nd of January, 1573 and died on this day, the 31st of March, in 1631. His family were recusant Roman Catholics. He studied at Cambridge but was not awarded a degree as he could not take the oath of supremacy, which included acknowledging the sovereign as head of the church. Donne then read the law, and was admitted to the bar. Rather than take up a practice he traveled through Europe giving him the opportunity to master several modern languages. And then returned to England hoping to find employment in the diplomatic corps. However he fell in love with Anne More, his employers daughter and they secretly married. When this was discovered Donne was both fired and imprisoned. Finally freed he and his wife retired to the country where he practiced law. Finances were difficult. Perhaps not unconnected he and Anne had twelve children together. Ten survived infancy and seven to adulthood. Eventually he was elected to parliament. While this position didnt pay, it gave him connections just as his poetry began to attract notice. And he attracted a patron, Sir Robert Drury, who significantly eased his financial burden. And finally things began to fall into place for his life. While Donne had years before rejected Catholicism he had not formally joined the Church of England. The king informed him that he would be welcome at court, but only if he took Holy Orders. Donne took this as evidence of a divine call, and fully embraced Anglicanism and was ordained a priest. He quickly received numerous preferments, including becoming Dean of St Pauls Cathedral in London. He would be remembered as an eloquent preacher and devoted churchman. And the day his death would become a feast day within the Anglican calendar. Of course today we mostly recall him as one of the principal metaphysical poets. Early in life a lot of his poetry had, shall we say, an erotic tinge? But, as he matured his focus turned to the matters of the fully engaged heart, and he gave us some beautiful angles into the matters of the deep. And truthfully, I love that connection between eros and agape. And for me, Ive long found that one poem a full on celebration of the nondual No man is an island, Entire of itself, Every man is a piece of the continent, A part of the main. If a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less. As well as if a promontory were. As well as if a manor of thy friends Or of thine own were: Any mans death diminishes me, Because I am involved in mankind, And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; It tolls for thee. Pointing true. And, taking it all together, fully deserving that feast, I think. It reminds me of a flood of Zen and Mahayana texts. Immediately I think of the Hua Yen image of Indras Net. I think of the tenth of the Ox Herding pictures, and the fat guy returning to the market place with those bliss bestowing hands. I think of case 6 in the Blue Cliff Record and Yunmens earth shaking Every day is a good day. And I think of Eihei Dogens Genjokoan To study the self is to forget the self. To forget the self is to be enlightened by the ten thousand things. To be enlightened by the ten thousand things is to remove the barrier between self and other. A small Zen appreciation of a universal truth manifested in a Seventeenth century English life The bells are ringing for Windows 10, and many users who have waited are now choosing to update to Windows 11. If youre one of them, congratulations on continued security updates and new features, but also on an operating system that has received a lot of criticism since its launch in 2021 sometimes justified, but often exaggerated. Because when you look beyond the glassy surface with its rounded corners and the Start menu in its strict position, the differences are not that insanely big actually. Its not like switching to Mac or Linux, not by a long shot. In many cases, these are fairly small changes that you can quickly get used to. In many cases, its even possible to restore or mimic old behavior, and new additions you dont need can often be turned off or hidden. We recommend: Windows 11 Pro Relax and enjoy the ride and everything will be easier, right? Microsoft has become a bit more like Apple in one area in recent years. Where the company used to make an effort to step aside and let users choose how they want to use their computer, it now prefers you to do certain things in a certain way. Foundry The most obvious example is that youre almost forced to sign in with a Microsoft account instead of a traditional local account. For example, it is not normally possible to choose a local account when installing the system. This can be circumvented fairly easily, but Microsoft keeps harping on about all the benefits of its account. In a way, the company is right. With a Microsoft account, for example, you dont have to worry about registering Windows because the licence key is linked to the account and its easy to reactivate if you make changes to the hardware. I find this very useful as I sometimes boot my Windows installation directly and sometimes in a virtual machine even though the hardware is completely different, the system has no problem with activation. Windows 11 Home can encrypt the local storage with Device Encryption, but it requires a Microsoft account to store a copy of the recovery key so if you want to use a local account you need a Pro license to encrypt the disk. Further reading: Windows 10 will hit end of life in 2025. Heres what to expect Other benefits include synchronization of settings and applications installed from the Microsoft Store between computers and automatic authentication for all other Microsoft services and applications. If you have a Microsoft 365 subscription for Office, it will be much easier if you are logged into Windows with the same Microsoft account. But if you dont subscribe to Microsoft 365, dont use OneDrive, have no need for disk encryption, and rarely or never change hardware, theres no practical gain from a Microsoft account. If you prefer, you can then opt for local account anyway, even with Windows 11 Home. Researchers are always developing better battery technologies, hoping to find ones that last a long time and never need to be rechargedand this month, we have yet another exciting breakthrough. South Korean scientists from the Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science & Technology recently presented a prototype battery that works according to the betavoltaic principle. As the researchers explain: Nuclear batteries generate power by harnessing high-energy particles emitted by radioactive materials. Not all radioactive elements emit radiation thats damaging to living organisms, and some radiation can be blocked by certain materials. For example, beta particles (also known as beta rays) can be shielded with a thin sheet of aluminum, making betavoltaics a potentially safe choice for nuclear batteries. This betavoltaic battery prototype is based on carbon-14, an unstable and radioactive form of carbon called radiocarbon. Although this carbon isotope is radioactive, it only produces beta radiation, which can be easily shielded to prevent harm. Radiocarbon is already a byproduct of nuclear power plants and is therefore cheap, readily available, and easy to recycle, according to the researchers. And since radiocarbon degrades very slowly, a battery powered by radiocarbon could theoretically provide energy for decades, centuries, or even thousands of years. According to the researchers, the latest prototype of this radiocarbon battery has a significantly higher energy conversion efficiency, which has increased from 0.48 to 2.86 percent. This kind of nuclear battery would only be the size of a finger, and such long-lasting nuclear batteries could enable numerous applications, says Professor Su-Il In. For example, a pacemaker powered by such a battery would last a lifetime and make surgical replacement unnecessary. At present, however, this betavoltaic battery only converts a tiny proportion of the radioactive decay into electrical energy, which results in lower performance compared to conventional lithium-ion batteries. Researchers still need to carry out further development work in this area. Betavolts mini nuclear battery The Chinese company Betavolt New Energy Technology Co., Ltd., based in Beijing, previously presented a diamond nuclear battery at the beginning of 2024, which is slightly smaller than a coin and is supposed to be capable of supplying electricity for 50 years without needing to be recharged in between or requiring maintenance. The company said its battery was in the pilot phase and prepping to be launched on the market in mass production. Betavolt claimed that its atomic energy batteries could meet the needs for long-life power supply in various scenarios, such as aerospace, AI devices, medical devices, MEMS systems, advanced sensors, small drones, and micro robots. Betavolts diamond nuclear energy battery. Betavolt According to the manufacturer, the miniature atomic energy battery combines nickel-63 nuclear isotope decomposition technology and Chinas first diamond semiconductor module (fourth-generation semiconductor). In this field, and in the development of miniature atomic energy batteries, China is far ahead of European and American scientific research institutions and companies, according to the claim. Betavolt describes the structure of its mini nuclear battery as follows: Betavolts team of scientists developed a unique single-crystal diamond semiconductor with a thickness of just 10 micrometres by placing a 2-micrometre-thick nickel-63 film between two diamond semiconductor converters. The decay energy of the radioactive source is converted into electric current, which forms a self-contained unit. Core batteries are modular and can consist of dozens or hundreds of independent unit modules and can be used in series and parallel, allowing battery products of different sizes and capacities to be manufactured. Betavolt still needs to increase the performance of its mini nuclear battery to, say, provide a mobile phone with a permanent power supply. Betavolts first ready-to-use battery is the 15mm x 15mm x 5mm BV100, with an output of 100 microwatts and a voltage of 3 volts. This will be followed in 2025 by a mini nuclear battery with an output of 1 watt. The batteries can be connected in series and in parallel. More on nuclear batteries Nuclear batteries, also known as radionuclide batteries, have been around for a long time and are by no means a Chinese invention. Back in 2019, Russian researchers reported a breakthrough in nuclear mini-batteries with a 50-year service life. Small nuclear batteries have been used in space travel since the 1960s, and there were even nuclear-powered pacemakers in the 1970s. These nuclear batteries obtain their energy from the radioactive decay of Ni-63, but unlike conventional radionuclide generators, the energy is not obtained from the heat generated during radioactive decay. Instead, the beta radiation of Ni-63 is converted directly into electrical energy with a diamond semiconductor. Over the years and decades, however, the amount of emitted energy decreases. In addition, such a battery can supply comparatively little energy. Due to the use of radioactive material, the use of this energy generation method in everyday devicessuch as mobile phonesis unlikely in the longer term. Its also important to note that this method does NOT result in a dangerous chain reaction, as is the case with a nuclear reactor. Kevin Cronin, former Reo Speedwagon frontman, belts out a number as they perform during the Great Allentown Fair on Aug. 30, 2023. Saed Hindash | For lehighvalleylive.com Kevin Cronin is not happy with his former bandmates, and that is probably putting it mildly. The former REO frontman let his feelings be known on social media after the band announced a one-off show celebrating its legacy in its hometown of Champaign, Illinois. The event is slated for June 14. Along with the concert, which LouderSound reported will raise funds for the REO Speedwagon Foundation for rare GU cancer research at Moffit Cancer Center, there are reportedly plans to honor late band members Gary Richrath and Gregg Philbin. LouderSound said musicians Neal Doughty, Alan Gratzer, Bruce Hall, Terry Luttrell, Mike Murphy and Steve Scorfina are slated to take part. Cronin, however, wont be there. The organizers of the Champaign event could have picked a date when all of the former members of REO were available to participate, Cronin wrote on Facebook. Instead they chose June 14, 2025, a date where it was public knowledge that I was previously committed to perform with Styx and Kevin Cronin Band in Bend, Oregon. Bottom line, I am being asked to participate in an event on a date when I cant possibly be there in person, he added. And then being falsely accused of turning down the invitation. I am deeply disturbed and hurt by all of this. After all I have done to help build the legacy of REO Speedwagon, I feel I have earned and deserve to be included in any event honoring that legacy. Instead, I have been knowingly excluded. REO Speedwagon played what was called its final show last year, per LouderSound, in part because of irreconcilable differences between Cronin and bassists Bruce Hall. Some stress is good for you, according to Berkley News. A lot of stress as is well-known is bad. But just how stressed is Pennsylvania? Well, according to a study conducted and published by WalletHub, the Keystone State ranks 33rd out of 50 on a list of the purported most stressed states. This means Pennsylvania leans on the least stressed side of the spectrum. WalletHub researchers were able to determine the general stress levels of each state by grading them across four key categories: Work-Related Stress, Money-Related Stress; Family-Related Stress and Health- & Safety-Related Stress. Metrics such as Average Hours Worked per Week; Economic Security; and Share of Single Parents were also taken into account for final results. Based on that, the top three most stressed-out states were Louisiana in third; Nevada in second; and New Mexico in first. New Mexico is the most stressed state, in large part because it has the highest violent crime rates per capita and property crime rates per capita, the study explains. These types of threats cause residents to worry about their safety. Residents of New Mexico also have the highest separation and divorce rate in the country, and the third-highest share of households that have a single parent. These conditions can put excess stress on children and parents alike. In 50th place taking the title of the least stressed state in America was Nebraska. There are plenty of small ways for people to manage stress, from staying active and participating in hobbies to taking vacations from work and getting help from a mental health profession, said WalletHub analyst, Chip Lupo. What people dont realize, though, is that changing location can also be a big stress reducer. For example, states that have lower crime rates, better health care and better economies tend to have much less stressed residents. Comedians have historically found a way to fire folks up at The White House Correspondents dinner, but Amber Ruffin didnt wait for the big day. Instead, the comedian went ahead and got the party started on that, and because of it she has now been fired from her gig at the annual affair which is scheduled for April 26. Ruffin got the axe on Saturday, after officials in the Trump administration expressed concern about things she said Thursday on The Daily Beast Podcast. Ruffin reportedly said on that show she was asked to make sure her jokes targeted both Democrats and Republicans. They were like, You need to be equal and make sure that you give it to both sides, she said. And I was like, Theres no way Im going to be freaking doing that. Under no circumstances. Later in the podcast Ruffin said the Trump administration are kind of a bunch of murderers, and added that by giving it to both sides she would make them feel like human beings, but they shouldnt get to feel that way, cause theyre not. White House Deputy Chief of Staff Taylor Budowich heard Ruffin loud and clear and took to X to call her a 2nd rate comedian. What kind of responsible, sensible journalist would attend something like this? he asked. More importantly, what kind of company would sponsor such a hate-filled and violence-inspiring event? White House Press Correspondents Association President Eugene Daniels issued a statement after Ruffin was pulled from the event. 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 for the next generation of journalists, he said. Daniels said he plans a re-envisioning of the event. A Google search for tax information can display sponsored content at the top, rather than the official IRS website. AP Taxes can be complicated, and even more so if a search engine sends you to the wrong place. Unfortunately, some search engines can feature websites that may look like the official Internal Revenue Service websites, but are actually sponsored content. The Washington Post reports that their Google search for how to find an EIN (Employee Identification Number), leads to several of the top results being websites designed to mislead consumers. Some of the sites charged more than $300 for help obtaining an EIN, which is free from the IRS, the story reads. Its not clear how the sites help. The Washington Post story notes that the sponsored results (a.k.a., ads) at the top sometimes showed sites with IRS or Gov in their web addresses. But they were not the IRS. The story continues to add that Googles own rules prevent anyone other than certified governments and authorized providers to buy ads for government services. The company said it blocked those ads, the story read. I have already found more that appear to break Googles rules. The story, posted by the Posts Help Desk editor, advises users to be wary of tech companies such as Google and Meta providing links for sponsored content, and to look for labeling designating those links as such. And if users are looking for official government websites, be careful to use ones that end with a .gov in the URL. To read the full story, click here. The one thing members of Congress want, above all else, is to remain members of Congress; hence the recent behavior of Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman. From his endorsement of Elise Stefanik as Ambassador to the United Nations to meeting with the unqualified Secretary of Defense nominee Pete Hegseth, to his yes vote on Pam Bondi as Attorney General, Fetterman has bucked his party at every turn. Under the guise of performing his due diligence or wanting to be perceived as independent, Fetterman has illustrated he is no longer a Democrat concerned with the well being of the middle class and the poor, but rather, just another politician solely concerned with his own self-interests. By Thomas Beaumont and Scott Bauer, The Associated Press GREEN BAY, Wis. Elon Musk gave out $1 million checks on Sunday to two Wisconsin voters, declaring them spokespeople for his political group, ahead of a Wisconsin Supreme Court election that the tech billionaire cast as critical to President Donald Trumps agenda and the future of civilization. Its a super big deal, he told a roughly 2,000-person crowd in Green Bay on Sunday night, taking the stage in a yellow cheesehead hat. Im not phoning it in. Im here in person. Musk and groups he supports have spent more than $20 million to help conservative favorite Brad Schimel in Tuesdays race, which will determine the ideological makeup of a court likely to decide key issues in a perennial battleground state. Musk has increasingly become the center of the contest, with liberal favorite Susan Crawford and her allies protesting Musk and what they say is the influence he wants to have on the court. I think this will be important for the future of civilization, he said. Its thats significant. He noted that the state high court may well take up redistricting of congressional districts, which could ultimately affect which party controls the U.S. House. And if the (Wisconsin) Supreme Court is able to redraw the districts, they will gerrymander the district and deprive Wisconsin of two seats on the Republican side, Musk said. Then they will try to stop all the government reforms we are getting done for you, the American people. A unanimous state Supreme Court on Sunday refused to hear a last-minute attempt by the states Democratic attorney general to stop Musk from handing over the checks to two voters, a ruling that came just minutes before the planned start of the rally. Two lower courts had already rejected the legal challenge by Democrat Josh Kaul, who argues that Musks offer violates a state law. Wisconsin law prohibits offering anything of value to induce anyone to vote, Kaul argued in his filing. Yet, Elon Musk did just that. But the state Supreme Court, which is currently controlled 4-3 by liberal justices, declined to take the case as an original action. The court gave no rationale for its decision. Police line up as people arrive for a town hall with Elon Musk, Sunday, March 30, 2025, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps) AP Kaul had no immediate comment on the courts order. Musks attorneys argued in filings with the court that Musk was exercising his free speech rights with the giveaways and any attempt to restrict that would violate both the Wisconsin and U.S. constitutions. The payments are intended to generate a grassroots movement in opposition to activist judges, not to expressly advocate for or against any candidate, Musks attorneys argued in court filings. Musks political action committee used a nearly identical tacticbefore the presidential election last year, offering to pay $1 million a day to voters in Wisconsin and six other battleground states who signed a petition supporting the First and Second amendments. A judge in Pennsylvania said prosecutors failed to show the effort was an illegal lottery and allowed it to continue through Election Day. Liberals currently hold a 4-3 majority on the court. All four liberal justices have endorsed Dane County Judge Susan Crawford, the Democratic-backed candidate. Musks attorneys, about four hours before the rally was to begin, asked that two liberal justices who have campaigned for Crawford Jill Karofsky and Rebecca Dallet recuse themselves from the case. His attorneys argued their work for Crawford creates the specter of inappropriate bias. If they did recuse, that would leave the court with a 3-2 conservative majority. Both justices rejected the request and said they would spell out their reasons why at a later date. One of the courts conservative justices has endorsed Schimel, who wore a Make America Great Again hat while campaigning Sunday. Schimel said in a national television interview that he does not control any of the spending from any outside group, whether its Elon Musk or anyone else and that all Trump asked was whether he would reject activist judges and follow the law. Protesters shout at a Tesla Cybertruck before a town hall with Elon Musk, Sunday, March 30, 2025, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps) AP Thats exactly what Ive committed to anybody, whether its President Trump, Elon Musk or any donors and donors or supporters or voters in Wisconsin. Thats my commitment, Schimel told Fox News Sunday. The contest has shattered national spending records for a judicial election, with more than $81 million in spending. It comes as Wisconsins highest court is expected to rule on abortion rights, congressional redistricting, union power and voting rules that could affect the 2026 midterms and the 2028 presidential election in the state. Associated Press writer Gary Fields in Washington contributed to this report. The movie, "Fit For Murder," is based on a true story. It will air at 8 p.m. Sunday, March 30, on Lifetime. Courtesy of Philo Craig Titus and Kelly Ryan were fitness instructors when their former personal assistant was founded murdered in 2005. Fit For Murder will air at 8 p.m. Sunday, March 30, on Lifetime. LIVE STREAM: Fans can watch Lifetime without cable on Fans can watch Lifetime without cable on Philo (free trial) and SlingTV. The synopsis is, "The lives of fitness celebrities Craig Titus and Kelly Ryan take a dark turn when they hire a young female assistant." The assistant, Melissa James, was found dead in the trunk of a burning vehicle in the Nevada desert in December 2005. In 2008, Titus and Ryan pleaded guilty to charges related to the death of James. Titus remains in prison. Ryan was released in 2017. The cast includes Tory Trowbridge, Brock Yurich and Paris Smith. 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 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. WANG XIAOYING/CHINA DAILY Global Times-In 2025, the world marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the World Anti-Fascist War - a moment that should compel us to reflect on the brutal nature of war and to remember the hard-earned lessons of history. Yet at this solemn juncture, recent remarks made by the US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth at a memorial service commemorating the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Iwo Jima in World War II (WWII) have sparked intense controversy. The US official claimed on Saturday that the "courage" of the two militaries in this battle needs to be "revered" and their "valor and sacrifice" should be "remembered," praising "shared warrior ethos." This equates the atrocities of the aggressors with the resistance of the defenders, thus erasing the heroic sacrifices made by American forces in repelling the Japanese during the battle. What's worse, these comments expose a deeper trend: Increasingly, some in the West, driven by short-sighted political interests, are willing to distort, downplay, or even whitewash the history of aggression. In particular, they have repeatedly offered selective interpretations of WWII history and weaponized it to pursue "realpolitik" interests. This dangerous shift in historical discourse is particularly disconcerting at the 80th anniversary of the anti-fascist victory. Under the guidance of such a twisted view, they try to mold history like Play-Doh at their will. As a result, acts of aggression are reinterpreted as "bravery," aggressors repackaged as "heroes" and the justice of the anti-fascist war blurred into "sacrifice on both sides." However, some lines should never be blurred. The utilitarian toying of WWII history from some in the West, especially the US, is rather obvious when Japan is involved. In its bid to consolidate its so-called "Indo-Pacific strategy," Washington is eager to portray Tokyo as a "frontline fortress" against China. Yet Japan has yet to fully confront or atone for its wartime crimes, with right-wing factions even attempting to dilute the record of aggression through textbook revisions and visits to the controversial Yasukuni Shrine where 14 convicted Class-A Japanese war criminals from WWII are "honored." If ambiguous statements by US officials tacitly condone Japan's reluctance to critically reassess its past, then the deliberate distortion of Japan's role in WWII history serves to reconstruct historical memory in a way that facilitates current military cooperation for the US. This warped historical narrative not only provides a short-sighted foundation for manipulating the truth, but also tears apart the collective memory of the victims. For Asian nations like China and South Korea, which endured the full brunt of Japanese aggression, this view represents a second assault on the memory of tens of millions of lost lives and poses a serious barrier to regional reconciliation. More alarmingly, this trend is eroding the very foundations of the post-WWII international order. If even people from the victorious nations begin to blur the clear-cut lines between aggressor and resistor - thereby undermining the undeniable justice of the anti-fascist victory, then the pledge enshrined in the United Nations Charter to prevent future wars risks becoming an empty slogan. History should never be a doll to be dressed up at will. Eighty years ago, people around the world paid with blood for the victory over fascism, a triumph whose core value lay in holding aggressors accountable and in defending a lasting peace. Today, when some choose to discard historical truth for transient strategic benefits, we must remain vigilant: Betraying our history will ultimately lead us astray in the future. Upholding historical truth is not only a tribute to the past but also a solemn duty to our descendants. Research conducted at the Rocky Mountain Laboratories in Hamilton has identified several mosquito-borne illnesses that can cause encephalitis circulating in Montana with infection rates in humans as high as between 21% and 40%. The findings are detailed in a report recently published in Emerging Infectious Diseases. Several viruses that can cause encephalitis (brain swelling) and are unfamiliar to most physicians are circulating in Montana mosquitoes a statement released by RML officials reads. In most cases, human infections by these viruses do not cause a noticeable illness or cause mild flu-like symptoms. However, in some cases, the virus can enter the brain, infect neurons and cause disease that can result in learning and memory difficulties, paralysis, seizures or, in rare cases, death. Jamestown Canyon virus (JCV) is one of the most common of the California serogroup (CSG) of viruses that can cause encephalitis in humans, although most infections are mild. Approximately 40 to 70 cases have been diagnosed in the U.S. each year since 2013. A Montana doctor diagnosed a patient with Jamestown Canyon virus (JCV) encephalitis in 2009 after the patient was initially misdiagnosed with West Nile virus, leading researchers to ponder the prevalence of JVC infection on Montana. Researchers from Rocky Mountain Laboratories collaborated with retired Missoula neurologist Stephen Johnson to obtain and test more than 900 random blood samples from six Montana hospitals in different regions of the state. The samples lacked any identifiable information beyond the age and sex of the donor. Samples were tested for JCV as well as related viruses in the California serogroup (CSG) within the Orthobunyavirus genus, including La Crosse virus (LACV), California encephalitis virus and Trivittatus virus. We initially screened deidentified samples for neutralizing antibodies against Jamestown Canyon virus (JCV), a CSG virus that has caused encephalitis in Montana. We then analyzed JCV-positive samples for neutralization of other CSG viruses, and detected neutralizing antibodies against La Crosse virus, California encephalitis virus, and Trivittatus virus. We also found a high level of cross-reactivity, particularly between JCV and California encephalitis virus, reads the report authored by Hamilton researchers Tyson Woods, Stephen Johnson, Alyssa Evans, and Karin Peterson. Findings indicate that the relative CSG virus infection rates in humans are quite high, between 21% and 40%. Clinicians should consider CSG viruses in differential diagnosis for cases of encephalitis of unknown etiology in Montana. Peterson, who designed the experiment, told the Ravalli Republic their data was very similar to what they saw in national park employees at Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming. She said the biggest takeaway for the everyday person is that mosquito repellant is a good idea. Mosquitoes do carry viruses that can cause encephalitis, she said. Its the same thing, you keep an eye on being infected by ticks because they can transmit pathogens. Clinicians should consider CSG viruses when diagnosing cases of human encephalitis according to the report. The prevalence of vector mosquito species and animal reservoirs, as well as the high incidence of human infection in Montana, suggest that CSG viruses should be considered as a potential cause of viral encephalitis cases for northwestern states like Montana, the report states. Clinicians should consider CSG viruses in the differential diagnosis for cases of human encephalitis. Diagnosis of specific CSG viruses can be complicated, according to the report, due to the overlap in locations where viruses are found. For example, in addition to JCV and LACV, three other CSG viruses are found in North America and can be associated with neurologic disease in humans. California encephalitis virus (CEV) was first discovered in 1943, but only four cases of CEV encephalitis were reported in humans between 1943 and 2001. Trivittatus virus (TVTV) was originally isolated from mosquitoes in North Dakota in 1952 and has been associated with at least one case of viral encephalitis. Snowshoe hare virus (SSHV) was originally identified in Montana in 1961 by William Burgedorfer at Rocky Mountain Labs and has been associated with several neurologic disease cases in children in North America. JCV was first isolated in Colorado in 1961, and most cases are found in the Midwest. LACV, originally discovered in La Crosse, Wisconsin, in 1964 is found in the Midwest and Appalachian regions and is a primary cause of pediatric arboviral encephalitis in North America. It is associated with approximately 7080 hospitalized cases per year according to the report. While snowshoe hares have previously been identified as being capable of harboring viruses that can cause encephalitis in humans, the report also identified chipmunks, squirrels and rabbits as animals that can act as reservoirs for JCV and CSG-related viruses. The disease passes from the infected animals to humans through mosquitos. Peterson said that cattle and white-tailed deer can also harbor JCV. It's interesting, Peterson said. Some of these viruses, including Jamestown Canyon, there's a study done in Canada that there's a higher prevalence of human infections in rural areas, and it correlated with the fact that Jamestown Canyon the animal reservoir are white tailed deer and cattle so there was more virus in more rural areas with human interactions, of course, with cattle and with mosquitoes that are, you know, also interacting with cattle and white tail there. Although defining the cause of viral encephalitis does not affect treatment, according to the report, researchers say the information could drive priorities for developing new virus-focused therapeutics. Doug Polk Rallying in What Has Become a $0 Poker Bankroll Challenge Jon Sofen Senior Editor U.S. Copy link Doug Polk's goal of winning $100,000 in a month playing online poker is out the window, but after a recent string of winning sessions, his new $0-in-a-month challenge is within striking distance. The Upswing Poker founder is single-tabling on ClubWPT Gold due to multi-tabling being unavailable on the new sweeps coin poker site. He fell far off the pace of reaching his six-figure goal quickly, and dropped deep into the red halfway through the challenge, mostly playing mid-stakes heads-up cash games. Polk's "Code Doug" challenge is now about getting back to even before hitting the 30-day mark later this week. Should he accomplish that goal, he won't have to shave his head, and he won't lose money (except for the $100,000 he's giving out to those who use promo code "Code Doug" on ClubWPT Gold). Where the Poker Bankroll Challenge Stands Doug Polk Polk's graph the first half of the challenge resembled that of the Luke Schwartz online poker graph he's long mocked in his YouTube videos. He was down over $48,000 following a March 21 session. But the bad run has, at least for the time being, has disappeared. Polk booked nearly a $10,000 profit on March 22, the start of a comeback for the co-owner of The Lodge Card Club in Texas. Polk, who has been streaming the entirety of his bankroll challenge, posted yet another profitable session on Sunday, bringing his net loss down to just $11,069, the closest he's been to even since March 14, less than two weeks into what was originally a $100,000 bankroll challenge. The heads-up no-limit hold'em legend only streamed for about three hours on Sunday before calling it quits, one of his shortest sessions. He started the session playing a $5/$10/$20 full ring no-limit hold'em cash game, winning only $200 in about 45 minutes before moving on to a $25/$50 heads-up table against Ricky "HandpanBoyBand" Hirsch, a Texas poker player who owns a 100-percent grass-fed beef jerky company. Polk struggled to accumulate chips early in the match. He turned the nuts with KxQx on a 9xJx4x10x board only to lose a $5,600 pot to AxQx when the Kx hit on the river. But he'd soon get most of those chips back with a missed flush draw and jack-high, successfully bluffing his opponent off the pot that had over $5,300 in it heading to the river. Polk would then run into a cooler with bottom two pair against top two pair, giving Hirsch a full double up. But the match went mostly in "Code Doug's" favor the rest of the way, and it ended with the challenger getting his stack all in preflop with KxQx against Polk's AxKx, and the best hand held up. Polk will be back in action on YouTube and Twitch on Monday. Share this article Chicago Poker Player Freerolls Way to Second WSOP Circuit Ring Win in 2 Years Connor Richards Senior Editor U.S. Copy link Earlier this month, Chicago poker player Jennifer Lin parlayed a cash game promotion into a World Series of Poker Circuit (WSOPC) victory that earned her $17,416 and her second Circuit ring in under two years. The March 10 victory at Horseshoe Hammond in Event #17: $400 No-Limit Hold'em 8-Handed marked Lin's fifth WSOP Circuit final table since November 2022, which is when Lin first decided to make the leap from cash games to tournaments. PokerNews spoke with the rising Circuit grinder about getting into poker in college, battling with Midwest crusher Josh Reichard to win her second Circuit ring and her plans to chase a WSOP bracelet this summer. WSOP Circuit Hammond Highlights Early Success Lin, who has a full-time consulting job, started playing poker seriously six years ago when she joined a college poker club. "I thought, cool, I know how to play poker," Lin said in an interview. "I grew up with a family who during family gatherings after dinner they would play casual poker games. So I joined that and I just made friends there." Lin and her poker friends moved to Chicago together "just to keep the home game vibes going" and she started playing cash games at Illinois casinos like Grand Victoria Casino in Elgin. She eventually decided to try tournaments and had immediate success. Her first-ever cash was an eighth-place finish in the WSOPC Elgin $200 Ladies Event for $631 in November 2022. Less than six months later, she won the same tournament for $7,191 and her first Circuit ring. Jennifer Lin's first ring victory in April 2023. Lin called the initial final table run "the confidence boost I needed to really dive into this world of tournaments and really learn about this new game." "Because I feel it's quite different than cash games, which I used to exclusively play," she said. Second Ciruit Ring Victory Lin would have two more Ladies Event final table runs before picking up her second Circuit ring in March. In a full-circle moment for her poker career, the Circuit victory started with a low-stakes cash game. After busting Day 2 of the WSOPC Hammond Main Event and having to wait four hours for the 8-max event to start, Lin sat down at the $1/$3 table. She made an ace-high flush and was surprised when the dealer called the floor over, who told her she had won a $400 Circuit seat. "I did not know that this was a promo, it was like an ace-high flush promo. So not only did I scoop the pot but I won the ticket to the event I was going to play anyway. So saved $400 there." Lin went on to win the event she freerolled into after battling at the final table with Josh Reichard, who won his 16th ring earlier in the series to close in on Dan Lowery, Ari Engel and Maurice Hawkins. Josh Reichard After losing a boat-over-boat cooler to Reichard in the mid-stages of the tournament, Lin doubled through the Midwest crusher at the final table before he bowed out in third ahead of Lin's defeat of runner-up Robert Moldovan. "From one hour into this event, I just kept saying I'm going to win this event and have my first five-figure score," Lin said. "And I did it, and I'm quite happy with that." WSOPC Horseshoe Hammond Event #17 Final Table Results Place Player Hometown Prize 1 Jennifer Lin Chicago, IL $17,416 2 Robert Moldovan Washington, MI $11,300 3 Josh Reichard Janesville, WI $7,549 4 Vance Essak Highland, MI $5,199 5 Imran Sajwani Prospect Heights, IL $3,694 6 Daniel Meyers Skokie, IL $2,711 7 David To Hoffman Estates, IL $2,057 8 Rosmel Munoz Cedeno Lenexa, KS $1,616 Chasing a Bracelet After winning her second ring, Lin is setting her eyes on a WSOP bracelet. She plans on spending a month in Las Vegas this summer grinding the World Series and other poker festivals around town. "So I'm saving up all my PTO for the summer and trying to play about a month at WSOP," said Lin. If you run into Lin at the tables this summer, don't be surprised if she tries to get in your head with some table talk. "I'm just trying to make it fun," Lin said about her table presence. "Make everyone have a good time, get people to laugh and smile. Because poker players are notoriously a miserable crowd. We all are kind of masochists. We love pain and can't get enough of it, so we play tournaments. But I want to try to change that and make it a positive experience." Check out the 2025 WSOP Schedule *Photos courtesy WSOPC Share this article WSOP Bracelet Winner Takes Down Biggest-Ever RGPS Reno Main Event Liam Gannon Live Reporter Copy link Just two years ago, the RunGood Poker Series made its debut at Atlantis Casino in Reno, Nevada. Since then, both the tour and the stop have flourished, culminating in this year's $600 Main Event, which shattered records with a $188,700 prize pool generated by 370 entries across four starting flights. Of those, only 44 returned for Day 2, each chasing the title, but after eight hours of play, just one remained. Readers familiar with the poker circuit will recognize the name Ian Steinman. A WSOP bracelet winner from California with 14 years of live tournament experience, Steinman has built an impressive resume with deep runs and major victories. Now, he has added another accolade to the list, capturing his second RGPS ring and a $36,220 payday. RGPS Reno Main Event Final Table Results Place Player Hometown Prize 1 Ian Steinman Mountainview, CA *$36,220 2 Yang Zhao Reno, NV *$25,000 3 Art Tanimoto Elk Grove, Ca *$25,000 4 Shawn Van Asdale Reno, NV $11,690 5 Ryan Awwad Ann Arbor, MI $9,010 6 Ed Miller Granite Bay, CA $7,455 7 Greg Paradero Reno, NV $6,255 8 Adam Saven Del Mar, CA $5,125 9 Johnny Ye Salem, OR $4,010 *indicates deal made Winner's Reaction Im pretty calm no matter what, Steinman said, reflecting on his dominant performance at the final table. Im ok even if I make a mistake. Its a little bit more pressure with the chip lead because even then your odds of winning are still low. Even with that, I was still zoned in. Three-handed play wrapped up quickly after Steinman, Art Tanimoto, and Yang Zhou agreed to a deal. Steinman took the largest share of the prize pool and the ring, while Tanimoto and Zhou each locked up an equal payout, officially finishing in third and second, respectively. It was the best RGPS Main Event finish for both runners-up, with Tanimoto having previously final-tabled the Thunder Valley stop. While Zhou played the full event, both Tanimoto and Steinman took advantage of max late registration. Ian Steinman Its cool to win a tournament, Steinman continued, referring to this win from the perspective of his career. "Ive never won a tournament this big in Reno. Ive been coming to Atlantis for 14 years, and this is the first tournament Ive won here. Its hard to win tournaments. Looking ahead, Steinman has a busy schedule, though hes planning to take most of May off. There havent been a ton of tournaments around here, and online is kind of dying, he noted. The WSOP is less than two months away. Before that, Ill play the Peppermill series and the WSOPC Tournament of Champions in Commerce. One event hes particularly excited about is the Dream Seat Invitational at Thunder Valley. I played it last time, and we had the final table in the nightclub. Im looking forward to it again. Final Day Action After his son, Daniil Fedunov (23rd - $1,600), busted twelve places before him, Gennadiy Fedunov (10th - $3,380) became the final elimination before the final table was set. Steinman entered the final table with the chip lead, having just eliminated Antonio Ma (11th - $3,380) with the nut flush before Fedunovs departure. At the start of the final table, Johnny Ye had lost most of the chips he had accumulated on the outer table and soon fell to Tanimotos stack. Ye moved all in with ace-jack against Tanimotos jack-ten, but a flopped king-high straight sealed his fate. He exited in ninth place for $4,010. Adam Saven Making three consecutive RGPS Main Event final tables is a rare feat, but Adam Saven accomplished it here. His run ended sooner than he had hoped when he jammed his last chips in with ace-queen over Ed Millers raise. Miller called with pocket kings and held, sending Saven to the rail in eighth place for $5,125. From there, Steinman resumed his role as the tables dominant force, raking in massive pots to build an even bigger chip lead. His first knockout came against Greg Paradero, who shoved with pocket kings against Steinmans ace-queen. The turn brought an ace, sending Paradero out in seventh place for $6,255two spots better than his finish in last Octobers Reno Main Event. Steinmans momentum continued when he clashed with Miller. Miller moved all in with ace-queen over Steinmans open, and Steinman called with pocket tens. A queen appeared on the flop, but a ten on the turn gave Steinman the winning set. Miller exited in sixth place for $7,455. Yang Zhou Ryan Awwad followed in fifth place. Yang Zhou shoved from the small blind with pocket sixes, and Awwad called from the big blind with ace-eight. The board provided no help, sending Awwad to the rail with $9,010 while Zhou climbed to second in chips. With Steinman applying relentless pressure, his stack grew to more than half the chips in play. He opened a pot with pocket nines from the button, and Shawn Van Asdale defended from the big blind with jack-seven. Van Asdale check-jammed on a king-high board after pairing his seven, but Steinman called and his nines held. Van Asdales deep run ended in fourth place for $11,690, while Steinman moved up to nearly 70% of the chips in play. Art Tanimoto At that point, the final three players discussed an ICM deal. Steinman negotiated for more than the calculated ICM share, ultimately securing first place and $36,220. Yang Zhou and Art Tanimoto each took home $25,000, officially finishing in second and third place, respectively. Share this article It was just two years ago when the RunGood Poker Series made its first stop at Atlantis Casino in Reno, Nevada. Since then, the tour and stop has grown and this $600 Main Event saw its biggest ever prize pool of $188,700, generated by 370 entrants over the course of four starting flights. Just 44 came into today with a chance to take down that title, but after eight hours of play, only one player remained. Readers who have followed the poker circuit for years will be very familiar with the name Ian Steinman. A WSOP bracelet winner out of California with 14 years of live poker experience that includes massive final tables and tournament wins aplenty. Now he can add a RGPS Main Event title to his resume as he walked away with his second RGPS ring and $36,220 to boot. Im pretty calm no matter what, Steinman said when asked about the massive chip lead he maintained throughout the final table. Im ok even if I make a mistake. Its a little bit more pressure with the chip lead because even then your odds of winning are still low. Even with that, I was still zoned in. Three-handed play ended rather quickly as Steinman, Art Tanimoto, and Yang Zhou all discussed and agreed to a deal that would see Steinman take the lions share and the ring while Tanimoto and Zhou finished in third and second for the same amount. Both of them finished with their highest ever RGPS Main Event finish, with Tanimoto having final tabled the Thunder Valley main event earlier. While Zhou played the full time, both Tanimoto and Steinman had max late-regged this event. Yeah so it was about 11 hours total of play, Steinman joked along with Tanimoto. Its cool to win a tournament, Steinman said when talking about this win in the perspective of his career. Ive never won a tournament this big in Reno. Ive been coming to Atlantis for 14 years and this is the first tournament Ive won here. Its hard to win tournaments, its hard to win hands as well. Steinman talked a little bit about his future poker plans. There haven't been a ton of tournaments around here and online is kind of dying. The WSOP will be here in less than two months. Im going to go play the Peppermill series, go to the WSOPC tournament of champions in Commerce, but Im taking most of May off. Steinman has played the dream seat invitational in the past at Thunder Valley, and this time around he is going to play it again. Im excited about the Thunder Valley tournament series. I played it last time and we played a final table in the night club. Im looking forward to it. With that the newly minted RGPS Reno Main Event champion took his new ring and money and exited the ballroom. Final Table Results Place Player Hometown Prize 1 Ian Steinman Mountainview, CA *$36,220 2 Yang Zhao Reno, NV *$25,000 3 Art Tanimoto Elk Grove, Ca *$25,000 4 Shawn Van Asdale Reno, NV $11,690 5 Ryan Awwad Ann Arbor, MI $9,010 6 Ed Miller Granite Bay, CA $7,455 7 Greg Paradero Reno, NV $6,255 8 Adam Saven Del Mar, CA $5,125 9 Johnny Ye Salem, OR $4,010 * Denotes three-way deal Final Day Action The final day of the Main Event started out with eliminations coming in a slower fashion. Lexy Gavin-Mather (44th-$960) was the first casualty of the day and a few more followed her out the door prior to the final three tables including WSOP bracelet winner Harley Brooks (40th-$960), Jordan Cushman (34th-$1,170), and her husband Bob Mather (31st-$1,170). The final casualty before the redraw became California tournament regular Victor Paredes (27th-$1,170) after his two pair was rivered by Mike Lancaster. Victor Paredes After the redraw, the pace of eliminations accelerated quickly as half of the field vanished within an hour. Ian Steinman became the executioner of five of the twelve that fell with Heather Mandell (27th-$1,385), Paul Hudson (26th-$1,385), Daniil Fedunov (23rd-$1,600) and Tom Zack (22nd-$1,600) in the same hand, and Joseph Mussat (17th-$2,370) all fell to his reign. He even dealt a crippling blow to fellow WSOP bracelet winner Dann Turner (12th-$3,380) to leave him with crumbs only to bust to Adam Saven shortly after. Antonio Ma (11th-$3,380) would also go out to Steinman in a straight over flush situation on the river which would give Steinman the overall chip lead. At the other table it would be a duo of Shawn Van Asdale and Johnny Ye who would be doing the speedy dispatching of the other players. Van Asdale sent out two players at once in Blake Trent (25th-$1,385) and John Letos (24th-$1,600), then followed it up with elimination of California tournament regular Matt Boddorf (18th-$2,370). Ye would be the eliminator of Denis Lee (21st-$1,970), Josh Prager (19th-$1,970), and Mitchell Cogert (16th-$2,370). After his son busted twelve places before him, Gennadiy Fedunov (10th-$3,380) would be the final casualty before the final table would be set. He would get in his short stack with pocket tens up against Savens aces and both players would flop a set but Savens would be superior and Fedunov would exit the tournament. Final Table Action RGPS Reno Main Event Final Table Steinman would begin the final table with a commanding chip lead, but a few hands would see Art Tanimoto overtake him. He would double through Saven in a sizable pot with a set, and then take another big pot off of Zhou to soar up the counts. By the beginning of the final table, Ye had lost most of the chips he accumulated on the outer table and he found himself a victim of Tanimotos stack. He got in his chips with ace-jack up against Tanimotos jack-ten and the flopped king-high straight would give Tanimoto the pot while Ye would exit in ninth for $4,010. Three main event final tables in a row is quite a rare feat, but one that was accomplished today by Saven. His run ended shorter than he would have liked as he jammed his final chips in with ace-queen over Ed Millers raise. Miller called with kings and held up to send the tournament regular out of the tournament in eighth place for $5,125. Steinman would resume his role as judge, jury, and executioner after this as he raked in multiple massive pots to pad his chip stack quite significantly. The first of his eliminations came against Greg Paradero when he jammed ace-queen against Paraderos kings. The turn brought a pair of aces for Steinman to send out Paradero in seventh place for $6,255, two places better than his finish at last Octobers Reno Main Event. After that it would be a clash with Miller that would propel Steinman even further into the lead. Miller would jam with ace-queen against Steinmans open and Steinman would look him up with pocket tens. The flop rolled out with a queen on it, but the turn brought a ten to lock things up for Steinman while Miller would collect $7,455 for his finish. Ryan Awwad Ryan Awwad would be the next to go in fifth place. Yang Zhou would move all in from the small blind holding pocket sixes and in the big blind Awwad would call with ace-eight, but find no help on the runout. Zhou would jump up to second place while Awwad would collect $9,010 for his finish. As Steinman continued to apply pressure, his stack grew to taking over half of the chips in play. He would open a pot with nines from the button and Van Asdale would call in the big blind with jack-seven and check-jam on a king-high board with a seven on it. Steinman would call and the nines held up for Steinman to take nearly 70% of the chips in play while Van Asdales run came to an end in fourth place for $11,690. The final three players began talking about the ICM numbers and the three of them came to a deal. Steinman would take more than ICM as well as first place for $36,220, which would leave Yang Zhou to take second place for $25,000, and Art Tanimoto finish in third place for $25,000. Thank you for reading along here with PokerNews. Be sure to check back in with the RunGood Poker Series as it travels to Tunica Mississippi next week. North Augusta reporter Elizabeth Hustad is a reporter with The Post and Courier North Augusta. She covers government, growth and development, and business. Elizabeth is a graduate of the University of Minnesota and previously worked with a Twin Cities weekly. Her work has appeared in the Minneapolis Star Tribune and MinnPost. To support local journalism, sign up for a subscription. See our current offers 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%. KALISPELL A Flathead County man was sentenced Monday to 40 years in prison for beating a homeless man to death in front of a Kalispell gas station in 2023. Kaleb E. Fleck, 20, pleaded guilty earlier this year to the deliberate homicide of Scott Bryan, 60, on June 25, 2023. He will also serve 10 years of probation under a sentence in which Flathead County District Judge Heidi Ulbricht largely sided with state prosecutors. Kaleb Fleck brutally assaulted Scott Bryan, causing an open skull fracture and part of a broken nasal bone protruding from his forehead, Ulbricht said. Kaleb Fleck left the victim alone in a parking lot, did not call 911 or summon any help for the victim. The victim was still alive when first responders arrived on the scene. Fleck pleaded guilty to deliberate homicide in January under a plea deal reached with prosecutors. In exchange, the state agreed to cap its recommended sentence at 40 years in prison, while Flecks attorneys argued for a 20-year prison sentence and 20 years of probation. In a brief statement to the court before his sentence, Fleck expressed remorse for his actions. Not a day goes by that I dont think about it, Fleck said. Im super sorry, and I wish it had never happened. Fleck had remained out on bail for 21 months since a Flathead Valley white supremacist posted a property bond for him two weeks after his arrest. Zachariah Harp, who the Montana Human Rights Network had previously identified as a member of the Creativity Movement, put up a Kalispell residence to cover Flecks $500,000 bond. Harp sat immediately behind Fleck throughout the hearing and embraced the defendant before he was led away in handcuffs after the sentence. He declined after the hearing to elaborate on his relationship with Fleck. Several members of Bryans family testified to a man they described as kind but troubled, having struggled through life since experiencing a traumatic brain injury as a child. He suffered from periodic seizures, his sister Holly Torska said, and later in life developed lung cancer twice and had to have one of his lungs removed. He did not possess the ability to defend himself, Torska said, adding that his attempts to secure stable employment and housing were frustrated by his health conditions. Scott wanted to be a productive member of society, but that was not the hand he was dealt, she said. Torska described the shock of learning that her brother had been fatally beaten so badly that it was almost impossible to recognize him by what was left of his face. No one deserves to die that way, added Bryans uncle, Dave Torska. Both asked the judge for a harsher sentence than the 40 years in prison the state requested. About two-dozen friends and family sat behind the defense table in Judge Ulbrichts courtroom to support Fleck. Testifying for the defense, Flecks family and friends described him as quiet, hard-working, and a loving father to his young son. His mother, Kayla Mahlen, echoed arguments by the defense that Fleck had acted in self-defense after being approached at night while he was sitting in the passenger seat of his friends truck. I believe he was in the wrong place, at the wrong time with the wrong people, his mother said. ... He didnt see a 60-year-old homeless man. He didnt see anything, because it was dark. Its not in his character to hurt anyone. Allegations against Fleck Fleck beat Bryan to death during an encounter after Fleck and his friend arrived at a Kalispell gas station around 2 a.m. Bryan was declared dead at about 3 a.m. after being transported to Logan Health, according to prosecutors. An affidavit in Flecks case alleges that when law enforcement got to the crime scene, they found Bryan face down and bleeding profusely on the ground behind a gas station. Bryan had significant wounds on his head and face. A witness showed authorities a video. In it, the camera pans between Fleck and Bryans body, with a man in the background saying, You fed that guy up dude, the affidavit alleges. Fleck was interviewed by investigators. He reportedly admitted to being present at the gas station, and Fleck admitted exiting the vehicle and assaulting the man, later identified as Scott Bryan, the affidavit states. But Flecks defense attorneys, Sean and Julianne Hinchey, had previously asserted self defense in a motion to dismiss the charges filed by Flecks defense attorney shortly before his changed pleas. They wrote that Bryan had been mumbling gibberish and appeared to be under the influence of drugs when he approached the parked vehicle. Bryan, the defense motion alleges, was the aggressor. Bryan had a large coat on and looked to be possibly concealing a weapon, Flecks defense attorney wrote. As the man approached the side of the truck where Fleck was sitting, Fleck was scared, believed Bryan posed a threat to him, (his friend), and his dog, who was in the open back of the truck. In defensive anticipation, Fleck exited the vehicle, and an altercation ensued. On Monday, Flecks attorneys sought to paint the victim as having a history of violence and drug use, and peppered Bryans family members with questions about them cutting off ties with him due to his erratic behavior. Fleck, defense attorney Julianne Hinchey said in her closing arguments, was accosted by a man who was raising his arms and mumbling psychoaffective gibberish, who was high on meth and other substances. Kaleb Fleck, he feared Scott Bryan that night as he came close enough to the passenger side of the vehicle to open the door, she said. Ulbricht, however, didnt reference Bryans alleged criminal and substance use history when she pronounced the sentence. Prosecutors had pushed back on the defenses narrative as suggesting Bryans life matters less. What is clear from the arguments made today, is that if you are the defendant, your life means less than if you are unhoused, if you have a criminal history, if youve used drugs, Assistant Attorney Caitlin Creighton said during her closing argument. Minutes later, prosecutors played a video that Flecks friend had taken of the incident, in which the two men can be seen apparently bragging about the assault. Whats up, bitch? Fleck says in the short video. Step up. A community-wide fear The January motion to dismiss from Flecks attorneys suggested a Flathead populace gripped by a pervasive fear of the valleys homeless population at the time. As evidence, it points to the murder nearly two years earlier of a Fuel Fitness gym employee by a man living in a nearby parked trailer. That man, Jonathan Douglas Shaw, had also asserted self-defense before a jury convicted him of murder. This horrendous event in addition to countless other instances of newly relocated transients in Flathead County during this time frame led to a community-wide fear of the transient population, which fear was shared by 19-year-old Kaleb Fleck and many others, the defense motion states. The motion doesnt cite any other instances of violence by unhoused people. Just two days before the fatal attack on Bryan, local social worker Sean ONeill said he had spoken with Bryan, having known him for years as he helped the older man to find stable housing in the Flathead. Sitting across from me was a Scott that I hated to see, he testified during the sentencing hearing. He was bruised and battered from being assaulted earlier in the week, scared he wouldnt make it through another attack because he couldnt defend himself. On cross-examination from defense attorney Sean Hinchey, ONeill added that attacks against the homeless had been ongoing at the time. There had been a lot of reports of young folks going around, accosting individuals in sleeping bags, ONeill said. At that time, this was pretty prevalent. Flathead elected officials have repeatedly portrayed the local homeless community as problematic. According to the annual Point-in-Time survey conducted by the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Flathead and Mission valleys had a combined homeless population of 199 in January 2024. About 10% of those were under the age of 18 and more than half suffered from disabling conditions, the survey found. Five months before Fleck beat Bryan to death, Flathead commissioners Randy Brodehl, Brad Abell and Pam Holmquist accused social service providers in Kalispell and the surrounding areas of contributing to the rise in the local unhoused population. It is our hope that our community will be unified in rejecting all things that empower the homeless lifestyle, the trio wrote in the Flathead Beacon on Jan. 21. More recently, the Kalispell City Council in 2024 sought to close the valleys winter-only homeless shelter by revoking its permit. Flathead Warming Center officials criticized the city councils move, saying closing down the shelter would likely lead to deaths of local homeless people left out in the cold. Some residents supported the action, however, citing problems in the surrounding neighborhood and at local businesses. The shelter earlier this year reached an agreement with the city to allow its operations to continue, after the Institute for Justice filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of the shelter. The city was forced to publicly apologize to the Flathead Warming Center Director Tonya Horn as a condition of the settlement. 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%. April Santana covers Lexington County for the Post and Courier Columbia. A New Jersey native, she studied journalism and political science at Syracuse University. April has written for Lohud/Democrat and Chronicle, The Arizona Republic and Syracuse.com. Reporter Conor Hughes covers Greenville County for The Post and Courier. He has been reporting on South Carolina's Upstate for close to a decade, writing about everything from crime, to development, to politics during that time. Summerville, SC (29483) Today Mostly clear skies during the evening giving way to clouds and a few showers after midnight. Low 74F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30%.. Tonight Mostly clear skies during the evening giving way to clouds and a few showers after midnight. Low 74F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30%. Summerville, SC (29483) Today Steady light rain this morning. Showers continuing this afternoon. High around 85F. Winds NE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 60%.. Tonight Rain showers early with scattered thunderstorms arriving overnight. A few storms may be severe. Low 73F. Winds NNE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 80%. Mount Pleasant, SC (29464) Today Tropical storm conditions possible. Considerable cloudiness. Occasional rain showers after midnight. Low around 75F. Winds ENE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 40%.. Tonight Tropical storm conditions possible. Considerable cloudiness. Occasional rain showers after midnight. Low around 75F. Winds ENE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 40%. Mount Pleasant, SC (29464) Today Tropical storm conditions possible. Heavy rain early...then remaining cloudy with showers in the afternoon. High 83F. Winds NE at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 80%. Rainfall near a half an inch.. Tonight Tropical storm conditions possible. Rain showers this evening with isolated thunderstorms developing overnight. Low 74F. Winds NE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 60%. Reporter Lamaur Stancil writes about government, business, schools and entertainment in York County. He can be reached at 803-687-3436 or at X at @LamaurStancil PR-Inside.com: 2025-03-31 16:01:39 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 384 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 Solving Industry Needs from Warehouse to RetailCHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA / ACCESS Newswire / March 31, 2025 / AgozTech LLC, a leader in B2B wholesale tech accessories for frontline workers, announces the launch of its latest product: a UL-Certified Wall Adapter and Cable designed to deliver unparalleled safety, reliability, and performance. Engineered to meet the demands of industries like logistics, healthcare, and retail, this cutting-edge charging solution ensures that mobile devices stay powered in even the most challenging environments. AgozTech Unveils UL-Certified Wall Adapter and Cable: Powering Safety and Performance UL-Certified Wall Adapter and USB-A to USB-C cable combo product.The new wall adapter and cable combo boasts a robust design with a tangle-free, reinforced cable, and a fast-charging adapter. Compatible with a wide range of devices-including Zebra mobile computers, Honeywell handheld scanners, and PAX POS (Point-of-sale) Terminals -this product is tailored to keep frontline workers connected and productive. The UL certification, a globally recognized safety standard, guarantees protection against overheating, short-circuiting, and other hazards, making it a trusted choice for businesses prioritizing uptime and employee safety.With over 70% of frontline workers relying on mobile devices daily, according to a recent industry report, the need for safe and efficient charging solutions has never been greater-a challenge AgozTech's latest innovation directly addresses. Rooted in a commitment to empower the mobile workforce with reliable technology, AgozTech designed this UL-Certified charger to set a new standard for safety and performance in the field.Key features of the UL-Certified Wall Adapter and Cable include:Supports Fast Charging: Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0 Adapter for rapid mobile device power-ups.Durable Design: A reinforced, 6-foot cable built to withstand daily wear and tear.Universal Compatibility: Works seamlessly with leading USB-C charging port mobile devices used in professional settings.Safety First: UL certification ensures protection against electrical risks.The launch comes on the heels of AgozTech's recent website and branding refresh, further solidifying its position as a go-to provider of tech accessories for businesses worldwide. The new charger is now available for purchase, with special pricing for wholesale orders to support companies equipping their teams for success.For more information about the UL-Certified Wall Adapter and Cable or to explore AgozTech's full range of innovative solutions, visit www.agoztech.com or email - info@ agoztech.com Contact InformationGayla PalaciosE-Commerce Specialistinfo@ agoztech.com +1 (704) 882-0133SOURCE: Agoztech LLC BEIJING, March 28 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Bangladeshi interim government's Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus in Beijing on Friday. Noting that the peoples of the two countries have a long-standing history of friendly exchanges, Xi said the two sides have always supported each other and treated each other as equals for win-win cooperation since the establishment of diplomatic ties. China maintains a high degree of stability and continuity in its good neighbor and friendly policy toward Bangladesh, and continues to be a trustworthy neighbor, friend and partner of Bangladesh, Xi added. This year marks the 50th anniversary of China-Bangladesh diplomatic ties, and 2025 is also the year of people-to-people exchanges between the two countries, Xi said, while expressing the willingness to work with Bangladesh to push China-Bangladesh cooperation to a new level and bring more benefits to the two peoples. Stressing that China and Bangladesh should continue to deepen political mutual trust and firmly support each other on issues concerning respective core interests and major concerns, Xi said China supports Bangladesh in safeguarding national sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity and exploring a development path suited to its national conditions. China will further deepen reform comprehensively and expand high-standard opening up, which will bring new opportunities for the development of Bangladesh and other countries in the world, he noted. He called on the two sides to advance high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, expand cooperation in the digital economy, green economy, marine economy, infrastructure, water conservancy and other fields, enhance people-to-people exchanges and strengthen mutual understanding and friendship between the two peoples. China advocates an equal and orderly multipolar world and an inclusive economic globalization that benefits all, and is willing to strengthen multilateral coordination and cooperation with Bangladesh to promote development through solidarity among countries of the Global South and build a community with a shared future for humanity, Xi said. Yunus noted that China is a reliable partner and friend of Bangladesh. The Bangladeshi side firmly adheres to the one-China principle and opposes "Taiwan independence," he said. Bangladesh is willing to take the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties as an opportunity to promote the bilateral comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership, said Yunus, urging both sides to enhance Belt and Road cooperation. The Bangladeshi side welcomes more Chinese enterprises to invest in the country and help with its economic transformation, Yunus said. He lauded the three major global initiatives proposed by Xi and said that Bangladesh is willing to strengthen coordination with China to embrace opportunities and tackle challenges together, and jointly safeguard world peace, stability, development and prosperity. A Bismarck man received three years of supervised probation on Monday related to incidents at Sanford Medical Center in December 2023 before a high-speed chase that caused the death of a Mercer County deputy. Ian Cramer, the son of U.S. Republican Sen. Kevin Cramer of North Dakota, previously pleaded guilty to charges of theft of $10,000-$50,000, criminal mischief with damages exceeding $10,000 and reckless endangerment. The first two charges carry up to 10 years in prison; the latter, up to five years. Cramer, now 44, is serving a 28-year prison sentence for his role in the Dec. 6, 2023, death of Deputy Paul Martin. Martin, 53, was killed when the Chevy Tahoe driven by Cramer struck his patrol vehicle head-on while Cramer was fleeing from law enforcement at speeds reportedly in excess of 100 mph on state Highway 200, roughly 3 miles west of Hazen. Martin was standing behind the vehicle after he deployed spike strips in an effort to stop Cramer's vehicle, and the resulting impact caused the vehicle to hit Martin, throwing him approximately 100 feet into a ditch. During Monday's hearing, Assistant Burleigh County State's Attorney Gabrielle Goter recommended Cramer serve five years for each offense related to the Bismarck incident, all to run one after the other, or consecutively, to the 28-year sentence handed down after Martin's death. "My thought process on this is it's a completely different crime to what he's already been sentenced to. It's a different city, it's a different county. There's different victims. There was major damage done to one of two major hospitals in central North Dakota," Goter said. "At each turn, he could have stopped. He could have not furthered this criminal, or this sort of series of criminal acts, that resulted in the loss of his liberty for a substantial period of time," she said. The Bismarck charges were filed after the Sanford Medical Center incident in which Cramer took his mother Kris Chevy Tahoe, which was parked inside the emergency room bay, and drove it in reverse into a closed overhead door. He destroyed the door before exiting onto a street near a construction zone. Police Sgt. Loren Grensteiner testified Monday that a review of surveillance video showed that if a person had been walking through the bay at that time, Cramer's vehicle would have struck them. Grensteiner also testified that the surveillance video showed Kris Cramer exiting the Tahoe in the ambulance bay before Ian Cramer climbed into the driver's seat and put the vehicle in gear. Kris Cramer read from a prepared statement that she had brought Ian to the emergency room during what she classified as a "mental health crisis." "I believe he needed medical help. He told me three days prior that he had gone off his medication cold turkey. He knew he needed help," she said. "Ian told me he was listening to a voice in his head. Ian told me he was going to be suicidal." Following Martin's death on Dec. 6, Sen. Kevin Cramer in a statement said his adopted son suffers "from serious mental disorders which manifest in severe paranoia and hallucinations." Documents introduced in a number of court proceedings following the Dec. 6 incidents point to a long history of drug and alcohol abuse that prosecutors in both Burleigh and Mercer counties maintain played a role in Cramer's behavior issues. Kris Cramer asked that her son not be sentenced to any additional prison time beyond what he's already serving after being sentenced separately for the fatal Mercer County incident. She told South Central District Judge Jackson Lofgren that the 15 months of forced sobriety coupled with medication and counseling he's received while incarcerated have made positive changes in her son. She also declined to seek any restitution for the damages to her vehicle. Defense attorney Kevin McCabe suggested Cramer's sentences should run all together, or concurrently, with the Mercer County sentence. His argument had to do with Cramer's documented mental health condition. "There were substantial grounds sufficient to establish a legal defense," McCabe said. "Just by the defendant's comment, he had mental health issues going on. Now we know they don't justify it, under the rule of law, but they should mitigate it at some point." Lofgren sentenced Cramer to three years of supervised probation after he suspended 10-year prison terms for the theft and criminal mischief charges and a five-year sentence for the reckless endangerment charge. The probationary period won't begin until Cramer serves his sentence and three years of supervised probation previously imposed during a January sentencing hearing on the Mercer County charges, according to Lofgren. "And the reason I'm doing that is that leaves a substantial amount of time hanging over your head," Lofgren said. "If you don't take that seriously, then the state could file a petition to revoke your probation. It could be brought back to court. You could be sentenced all the way up to another 25 additional years. So I think that's the correct way to handle the situation that we have here today." Cramer was also ordered to pay restitution of nearly $12,800 to Sanford. His estimated released date from prison is June 2047, according to the state Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. He will be 66 years old. PR-Inside.com: 2025-03-31 15:00:45 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 696 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 SAN FRANCISCO, CA / ACCESS Newswire / March 31, 2025 / National plaintiffs law firm Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, LLP encourages investors in Atkore Inc. ("Atkore" or the "Company") (NYSE:ATKR) who purchased Atkore common stock between August 2, 2022, and February 3, 2025, inclusive (the "Class Period") to contact us immediately regarding a pending securities class action against Atkore. The deadline to apply to be lead plaintiff is April 23, 2025.Class Period: August 2, 2022 - February 3, 2025Lead Plaintiff Motion Deadline: April 23, 2025Case information: https://lieffcabraser.com/securities/atkore/ Contact us: Email or text investorinfo@ lchb.com or call 1-800-541-7358Atkore, headquartered in Harvey, Illinois, is a manufacturer of electrical, safety, and infrastructure products, including polyvinyl chloride ("PVC") water pipes and electrical conduit pipes.The action alleges that, throughout the Class Period, Atkore and certain of its senior executives failed to disclose to investors that: (1) the Company was engaged in an anticompetitive price-fixing scheme that kept the price of its PVC pipes artificially inflated even after COVID era supply chain issues had resolved; (2) Atkore received substantial, unsustainable financial benefits from its anticompetitive actions; and (3) the Company's poor quarterly financial results were due to it and its co-conspirators refusing to lower their artificially inflated prices even after foreign competitors were able to reenter the market and price PVC appropriately.On May 7, 2024, Atkore announced lowered guidance for fiscal year 2024, noting that "pricing environment could be challenged in the second half of 2024." On this news, Atkore's stock price fell 12.5% from its closing price of $176.40 per share on May 6, 2024, to close at $154.34 per share on May 7, 2024, on heavy trading volume.On July 23, 2024, after the market closed, Atkore announced that its Vice President, then-CFO, and Chief Accounting Officer, defendant David P. Johnson, had submitted his resignation, effective August 9, 2024.On July 24, 2024, asset management firm ManBear released a report claiming that Atkore was engaged in an industry-wide price fixing scheme which had "massively inflated pipe prices" and "appear[ed] to defy economic logic, remaining at extremely elevated levels despite normalized supply chains." On this news, Atkore's stock price declined 8.53% from its closing price of $145 per share on July 23, 2024, to close at $132.63 per share on July 24, 2024.On August 6, 2024, after the market closed, Atkore reported adjusted earnings per share that fell short of the average analyst estimate and lowered its outlook for fiscal year 2024 adjusted EBITDA and adjusted net income per diluted share. In the corresponding earnings call, Atkore's President, CEO, and Director, defendant William E. Waltz Jr., stated that "[p]ricing was softer than expected due to the slower end markets, particularly for our PVC conduit business." On this news, Atkore's stock price fell 14.7% from its closing price of $118.46 on August 5, 2024, to close at $101.05 per share on August 7, 2024, on extremely heavy trading volume.On February 4, 2025, before the market opened, Atkore announced disappointing financial results for the first quarter of fiscal year 2025, reporting net sales of $661.6 million which was significantly below analysts' estimates. In addition, Atkore reduced its earnings guidance for 2025. During the Company's earnings conference call with analysts and investors later that day, Atkore CFO, defendant John M. Deitzer, revealed that Atkore's "plastic pipe and conduit product category declined mid-single digits during the quarter," and attributed the Company's lowered 2025 guidance to Atkore's PVC business, stating "roughly $75 million or 3/4 of that is on the PVC side." On this news, the price of Atkore common stock fell 19.56% from its closing price of $79.72 per share on February 3, 2025, to close at $64.13 per share on February 4, 2025, on extremely heavy trading volume.About Lieff CabraserLieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, LLP, with over 125 attorneys in offices in San Francisco, New York, Nashville, and Munich, Germany, is an internationally-recognized law firm committed to advancing the rights of investors and promoting corporate responsibility. Repeatedly recognized as a "Plaintiffs' Powerhouse" by Law360, Lieff Cabraser has litigated some of the most important civil cases in the United States, and has assisted clients in recovering over $129 billion in verdicts and settlements. For over 50 years, Lieff Cabraser has remained committed to ensuring access to justice for all.Source/ContactSharon LeeLieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, LLP415 956-1000 slee@ lchb.com SOURCE: Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein PR-Inside.com: 2025-03-31 21:48:07 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 659 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK, NY / ACCESS Newswire / March 31, 2025 / Leading securities law firmBleichmar Fonti & Auld LLPannounces that a lawsuit has been filed against Atkore Inc. (NYSE:ATKR) and certain of the Company's senior executives for potential violations of the federal securities laws.If you invested in Atkore, you are encouraged to obtain additional information by visiting https://www.bfalaw.com/cases-investigations/atkore-inc Investors have until April 23, 2025, to ask the Court to be appointed to lead the case. The complaint asserts claims under Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 on behalf of investors who purchased Atkore stock. The case is pending in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois and is captioned Westchester Putnam Counties Heavy & Highway Laborers Local 60 Benefits Fund v. Atkore Inc., et al., No. 25-cv-01851.Why was Atkore Sued for Securities Fraud?Atkore manufactures electrical, safety, and infrastructure products including polyvinyl chloride water and electrical conduit pipes ("PVC Pipe"). During the COVID-19 pandemic, shipping costs rose dramatically, leaving foreign PVC Pipe manufacturers unable to profitably sell PVC Pipe in the U.S. As shipping prices returned to normal when the pandemic subsided in 2022, foreign PVC Pipe manufacturers gradually returned to the U.S. market. Shortly thereafter, in late 2022, the price of PVC Pipe began to decline.As alleged, Atkore repeatedly misrepresented that post-pandemic PVC Pipe price declines were the result of "pricing normalization" that reflected "competitive dynamics" and assured investors that the Company would continue to successfully compete in the post-COVID-19 market.On July 24, 2024, an activist investor named ManBear published a report titled "Pipe Price Fixing" which accused Atkore and three of its competitors of using the commodity pricing service OPIS to coordinate pricing actions and fix the price of PVC Pipe.In truth, it is alleged that Atkore engaged in an anticompetitive price-fixing scheme that artificially inflated the price of PVC Pipes.The Stock Declines as the Truth is RevealedOn February 4, 2025, Atkore announced disappointing earnings and reduced guidance, disclosing that the "plastic pipe and conduit product category declined mid-single digits during the quarter" compared to "high single digits in the prior year," and largely attributed the guidance reduction to Atkore's PVC Pipe business, stating, "roughly $75 million or 3/4 [of the guidance reduction] is on the PVC side." This news caused the price of Atkore stock to decline nearly 20%, from $79.72 per share on February 3, 2025 to $64.13 per share on February 4, 2025.On February 14, 2025, Atkore disclosed that it received a grand jury subpoena from the U.S. Department of Justice Antitrust Division seeking the "production of documents relating to the pricing of the Company's PVC pipe and conduit products." Click here if you suffered losses: https://www.bfalaw.com/cases-investigations/atkore-inc What Can You Do?If you invested in Atkore you may have legal options and are encouraged to submit your information to the firm.All representation is on a contingency fee basis, there is no cost to you. Shareholders are not responsible for any court costs or expenses of litigation. The firm will seek court approval for any potential fees and expenses.Submit your information by visiting:Or contact:Ross Shikowitz ross@ bfalaw.com 212-789-3619Why Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP?Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP is a leading international law firm representing plaintiffs in securities class actions and shareholder litigation. It was named among the Top 5 plaintiff law firms by ISS SCAS in 2023 and its attorneys have been named Titans of the Plaintiffs' Bar by Law360 and SuperLawyers by Thompson Reuters. Among its recent notable successes, BFA recovered over $900 million in value from Tesla, Inc.'s Board of Directors, as well as $420 million from Teva Pharmaceutical Ind. Ltd.For more information about BFA and its attorneys, please visit https://www.bfalaw.com Attorney advertising. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.SOURCE: Bleichmar, Fonti, & Auld LLP PR-Inside.com: 2025-03-31 19:02:09 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 408 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 U.S. News & World Report's 2025 "Best Payroll Software" lists Patriot Payroll as "Best for Tax Filing," thanks to Patriot's tax-related functions and tax filing guarantee.CANTON, OH / ACCESS Newswire / March 31, 2025 / U.S. News & World Report released its2025 Best Payroll Software rankings -and named Patriot Payroll the "Best for Tax Filing." Outshining major competitors, Patriot also received a rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars.Filing and depositing payroll taxes is a complex and stressful process for many business owners in the United States. The IRS charges hefty penalties-up to15% of the unpaid deposit plus interest -on employers that don't make employment tax deposits on time, in the right amount, or in the right way.Patriot'sFull Service Payrollhandles federal, state, and local tax filings and deposits for employers. Patriot being known as the best payroll software for tax filing underscores the company's commitment to stress-free payroll by providing top-notch software and free USA-based support."Filing and depositing payroll taxes is a burden small business owners don't want," says Ida Starling, Payroll & Tax Product Manager. "We're not the only payroll provider that offers tax filing and depositing services, but U.S. News & World Report's ranking affirms what our customers already know-we are the best at it." U.S. News & World Report compared price, tax filing support, integrations and automations, and more to determine which popular payroll software options made the 2025 Best Payroll Software list.Patriot Payroll clinched the "Best for Tax Filing" ranking thanks to its:Year-end payroll tax filingTax filing reports for each tax year (broken into quarters)Federal, state, and local tax filingTax filing reliability guarantee"There's no doubt that our U.S. tax filing support sweetens the deal for customers, especially since we promptly address questions," Ida added. "That's almost unheard of today." To learn more about Patriot's award-winning payroll software, visitwww.patriotsoftware.com ###About Patriot Software:Patriot Software is disrupting theaccountingand payroll industries with its low prices, highest customer reviews, and award-winning software. Patriot offers cloud-based accounting,payroll , HR, andtime and attendance softwaresolutions that help American businesses with up to 500 employees simplify their administrative tasks. Patriot's US-based customer support team provides a personal touch that most software companies lack today. The company has been serving tens of thousands of businesses nationwide since 2002.For more information, please contact:Rachel Blakely-GrayContent Manager marketing@ patriotsoftware.com SOURCE: PATRIOT SOFTWARE LLC PR-Inside.com: 2025-03-31 18:32:25 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 482 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / March 31, 2025 / Chicago Public Schools recently disclosed that it suffered a data breach that compromised the sensitive personal data of individuals. This data breach has led to concerns over the security of sensitive personal information entrusted to Chicago Public Schools.WHAT'S THIS ABOUT?On February 8, 2025, became aware of a security incident involving Cleo, a third-party vendor that contains current and former CPS students' information on one of its servers. Upon detection, CPS launched an investigation with the assistance of third-party cybersecurity experts to determine the nature and scope of the incident. The investigation determined that an unauthorized third party gained access to a server used by Cleo to store student data. This breach affected both current and former students dating back to the 2017-2018 school year. CPS conducted a comprehensive review of the impacted data to determine what information was compromised and identified affected individuals. On March 7, 2025, CPS identified persons whose sensitive data was included in the impacted data.Upon information and belief, the following types of sensitive personal information may have been compromised: students' names, dates of birth, genders, Chicago public Schools student ID numbers, medicaid ID numbers, and dates of medicaid program eligibility. On March 7, 2025, CPS made a public disclosure and started sending out notice letters to the impacted individuals. Compensation may be available for those individuals who received notice that their personal information was compromised.WHY YOU MAY BE ENTITLED TO COMPENSATION?Data breaches are serious matters that can cause long-term damage. Hackers may use stolen information to commit identity theft, financial fraud, or other crimes. Companies that fail to secure your personal data may be held liable for the resulting harm.HOW DO I KNOW IF I WAS AFFECTED?If you received a data breach notification letter from Chicago Public Schools, you are likely affected. Follow the link below to find out if you may be eligible for compensation.Levi Korsinsky, LLP is investigating whether affected individuals are entitled to compensation. If you have received a notice about the data breach, you may be entitled to compensation. There is no cost or obligation to participate. Follow the link below to find out:Levi & Korsinsky is a nationally recognized consumer advocacy law firm that has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars against large corporations. The firm's team of over 70 extraordinary attorneys and professionals have a winning track record going against the most powerful defense attorneys in the world and know how to maximize your compensation. The firm is a 100% contingency firm - we don't get paid unless you get paid! Please visit us at www.zlk.com for more information. Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.CONTACT: Levi & Korsinsky, LLPJoseph E. Levi, Esq.Ed Korsinsky, Esq.33 Whitehall Street, 17th FloorNew York, NY 10004 jlevi@ levikorsinsky.com Tel: (212) 363-7500Fax: (212) 363-7171 https://zlk.com/ SOURCE: Levi & Korsinsky, LLP PR-Inside.com: 2025-03-31 14:31:09 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 998 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK, NY / ACCESS Newswire / March 31, 2025 /Collective Audience, Inc. (OTC PINK:CAUD), a leading innovator of audience-based performance advertising and media for the open web, announced that Collective Audience Europe (CA Europe), its new division focused on serving media partners, publishers, advertisers and brands across Europe, had strengthened its senior leadership with key new appointments.Jean-Michel Lopes has been appointed Europe chief revenue officer (CRO).Francois Boisson has been appointed as sales manager.Romain Cauchois was promoted from Global Supply to managing director of Europe.Lopes brings to the new position more than 20 years of experience and accomplishment at disruptive, high growth media companies. His expertise in scaling revenue and driving impactful advertising strategies is expected to play an instrumental role as the company continues to expand its reach across Europe.Lopes previously held senior leadership positions at prominent Adtech and digital media companies, including Powerspace, Mediego, Ooreka, Liberation, Metro International, and 20 Minutes, where he helped shape cutting-edge advertising solutions and drive strong revenue growth. For Collective Audience, he will focus on accelerating its regional expansion and enhancing the company's innovative conversational and attention-driven advertising formats.Boisson joins CA Europe with an extensive background in sales advertising and digital services, having previously served as business manager of B2DIGIT, a leading IT services company specializing in IT consulting, product management, and new technologies. He brings valuable insights and a fresh perspective to the team and will help further strengthen the company's strategic growth and innovation in the Open Web space."As the advertising industry rapidly evolves, Collective Audience Europe is committed to staying ahead of the curve by expanding its team with talented leaders who bring unique expertise to the table," stated Collective Audience CEO, Peter Bordes. "These appointments underscore our dedication to innovation, client success, and redefining the future of the Open Web." Commented Lopes: "We are entering a new era in the advertising world where authenticity and high-impact engagement matter more than ever. Joining Collective Audience Europe at this exciting time represents a unique opportunity to contribute to the future of Open Web advertising. I'm looking forward to working with the team to help brands and publishers unlock new monetization opportunities and achieve next-level audience engagement." In Cauchois new role as managing director of Europe, he will be responsible for overseeing the division's operations across the European market, driving growth, and furthering its leadership in the Open Web. Cauchois originally joined Collective Audience along with its acquisition of BeOp's award-winning conversational AdTech platform last August."Romain's extensive experience and deep understanding of the business have been integral to the successful launch of CA Europe," noted Bordes. "His promotion to this important position demonstrates our great confidence in his leadership and vision as we continue to scale and deliver our industry-leading AdTech solutions to the European market." "As the result of these key appointments, CA Europe is able to further strengthen its position as a leader in the open web advertising space," added Bordes. "These team leaders will work together to push the boundaries of programmatic, brand engagement, and monetization strategies, creating dynamic and meaningful connections between brands and their audiences. They will help us realize our vision of a global data-driven ecosystem." As CA Europe continues to grow, Bordes says the focus will remain on creating authentic, privacy-first experiences that provide high impact and long-term value for brands, publishers, and users alike: "With our new stronger and more capable team in place, Collective Audience is well-positioned to lead the next phase of innovation for the Open Web." About Collective Audience Collective Audience provides an innovative audience-based performance advertising and media platform for brands, agencies and publishers. The company has introduced a new open, interconnected, data driven, digital advertising and media ecosystem for the open web that eliminates many inefficiencies in the digital ad buyer and seller process for brands, agencies and publishers.The Collective Audience platform delivers long sought-after visibility, complementary technology, and unique audience data that drives focus on performance, brand reach, traffic and transactions.For the AdTech providers and media buyers who come onto Collective Audience's platform, they will be able to leverage audience data as a new asset class, powered by AI as an intelligence layer to guide decision making.To learn more, visit collectiveaudience.co Important Cautions Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This press release includes certain statements that are not historical facts but are forward-looking statements for purposes of the safe harbor provisions under the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements generally are accompanied by words such as "believe," "may," "will," "estimate," "continue," "anticipate," "intend," "expect," "should," "would," "plan," "predict," "potential," "seem," "seek," "future," "outlook" and similar expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical matters. All statements, other than statements of present or historical fact included in this press release, regarding the company's future financial performance, as well as the company's strategy, future operations, estimated financial position, estimated revenues and losses, projected costs, prospects, plans and objectives of management are forward-looking statements. These statements are based on various assumptions, whether or not identified in this press release, and on the current expectations of the management of Collective Audience and are not predictions of actual performance. These forward-looking statements are provided for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to serve as, and must not be relied on as, a guarantee, an assurance, a prediction or a definitive statement of fact or probability. Actual events and circumstances are difficult or impossible to predict and will differ from assumptions. Many actual events and circumstances are beyond the control of Collective Audience. Potential risks and uncertainties that could cause the ac PR-Inside.com: 2025-03-31 18:46:56 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 462 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK, NY / ACCESS Newswire / March 31, 2025 / College Hospital Costa Mesa recently disclosed that it suffered a data breach that compromised the sensitive personal data of individuals.This data breach has led to concerns over the security of sensitive personal information entrusted to College Hospital Costa Mesa.WHAT'S THIS ABOUT?On September 17, 2024, College Hospital Costa Mesa became aware of a security incident that disrupted the operations of some of its IT systems. Upon detection, College Hospital Costa Mesa launched an investigation with the assistance of third-party cybersecurity experts to determine the nature and scope of the incident. The investigation determined that an unauthorized third party accessed some files on its systems between August 14, 2024, and September 17, 2024. College Hospital Costa Mesa conducted a comprehensive review of the impacted data to determine what information was compromised and identified affected individuals. On January 31, 2025, College Hospital Costa Mesa determined that these files contained sensitive personal information.Upon information and belief, the following types of sensitive personal information may have been compromised:name, Social Security number, and driver's license number.On March 10, 2025, College Hospital Costa Mesa filed a notice with the Attorney General of California and started the process of notifying impacted individuals.Compensation may be available for those individuals who received notice that their personal information was compromised.WHY YOU MAY BE ENTITLED TO COMPENSATION?Data breaches are serious matters that can cause long-term damage. Hackers may use stolen information to commit identity theft, financial fraud, or other crimes. Companies that fail to secure your personal data may be held liable for the resulting harm.HOW DO I KNOW IF I WAS AFFECTED?If you received a data breach notification letter from College Hospital Costa Mesa, you are likely affected. Follow the link below to find out if you may be eligible for compensation.Levi Korsinsky, LLP is investigating whether affected individuals are entitled to compensation. If you have received a notice about the data breach, you may be entitled to compensation. There is no cost or obligation to participate. Follow the link below to find out:Levi & Korsinsky is a nationally recognized consumer advocacy law firm that has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars against large corporations. The firm's team of over 70 extraordinary attorneys and professionals have a winning track record going against the most powerful defense attorneys in the world and know how to maximize your compensation. The firm is a 100% contingency firm - we don't get paid unless you get paid! Please visit us at www.zlk.com for more information. Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.CONTACT: Levi & Korsinsky, LLPJoseph E. Levi, Esq.Ed Korsinsky, Esq.33 Whitehall Street, 17th FloorNew York, NY 10004 jlevi@ levikorsinsky.com Tel: (212) 363-7500Fax: (212) 363-7171 https://zlk.com/ SOURCE: Levi & Korsinsky, LLP PR-Inside.com: 2025-03-31 14:30:57 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 936 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESS Newswire / March 31, 2025 / Future Fuels Inc. (TSXV:FTUR)(FSE:S0J) ("Future Fuels" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the commencement of a fully integrated exploration strategy for its 100%-owned Hornby Basin Uranium Project (the "Project" or "Hornby Project"), located in Nunavut Territory, Canada. This multi-phased program is designed to significantly advance the understanding and potential of the Hornby Basin through comprehensive data digitization, advanced geological modeling, remote sensing, and artificial intelligence.This initiative marks a critical step toward unlocking the full potential of one of Canada's most underexplored yet geologically promising uranium basins.Comprehensive Data Compilation is Underway:Including digitization of over 200 historical assessment reports, integration of geochemical data (rock, soil, lake samples), and modernizing the Mountain Lake drill hole database.Geological Model and Exploration Target Development:Industry-leading consultants are engaged to deliver a 3D geological model of the Mountain Lake Deposit contained in the Project, evaluate the potential for an exploration target and commence drill hole planning.Modern Geophysics and Remote Sensing:Reprocessing of historical geophysical datasets to produce a basin-wide harmonized geophysical database. Undertake satellite spectral analysis including helium emission mapping to identify areas of potential uranium occurrences under sediment cover.AI-Driven Target Generation:Instigation of VRIFY's advanced machine learning platform to be used for property-wide data integration, deposit-scale target learning, and increased-probability uranium discovery mapping.Field Season Preparation:Planning exploration activities including ground truthing, potential infill drilling, airborne/ground geophysical surveys, and permitting activities."This is a foundational program for Future Fuels," stated Rob Leckie, President & CEO. "We're digitizing decades of inherited exploration data, building advanced geological models, and leveraging AI to guide our next steps. With the Hornby Basin now under single ownership for the first time, we're positioned to apply the full suite of modern technologies to seek new uranium discoveries and build long-term value for shareholders." Hornby Geologic OverviewThe Hornby Project is located approximately 100km NE of the historic Port Radium Uranium Mine, a significant site in Canada's uranium mining history. Port Radium was one of the world's first uranium mines, responsible for a major source of uranium during the mid-20th century. Uranium produced from Port Radium contributed to the development of the worldwide nuclear energy industry. The geological similarities and regional proximity to this historic mine emphasize the potential for exploration upside within the Hornby Basin.The Hornby Project has the potential to host both primary and secondary uranium deposits. Primary deposits in the region are typically associated with basement-hosted hydrothermal systems, where uranium is concentrated along structural features such as faults and shear zones and deposited at certain horizons such as unconformities. Secondary uranium deposits, on the other hand, form through the redistribution of uranium by groundwater, leading to the precipitation of uranium minerals within porous sedimentary units. These secondary deposits are commonly found in roll-front settings and paleochannel environments, the relatively large extent and predictability of deposits of this style makes them an attractive exploration target. Additionally, modern extraction techniques developed for this type of sedimentary-hosted uranium further adds to the exploration rational. Both primary and secondary uranium deposit styles are common in Canada and located in areas such as Saskatchewan's Athabasca Basin, Nunavut's Thelon Basin and Newfoundland and Labradors Central Mineral Belt.Despite the Hornby Basin's strong geological potential, no current state-of-the-art exploration technology has been utilized to fully delineate its uranium potential. One reason for this is the fact that no single entity/corporation has ever controlled the entire basin until now. Modern geophysical techniques, high-resolution geochemical analysis, and advanced 3D modeling have yet to be applied, leaving significant opportunities for new discoveries. Additionally, there is considerable potential to leverage artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning algorithms (MLA) to enhance exploration targeting. AI can assist in analyzing complex geological datasets, identifying subtle patterns, and predicting high-probability uranium mineralization zones with greater accuracy and efficiency. Given the extensive historical data that has been collected across the district, and the presence of a historical deposit, Future Fuels believes the Project has excellent potential to be an effective use case for this modern tech.The Hornby Project is geologically located within the Bear Structural Province of the Canadian Shield, an area historically known for hosting highly productive uranium deposits. The Project's geology is dominated by sedimentary units of the Helikian Hornby Bay Group and the overlying Dismal Lakes Group, both of which are known to host significant uranium mineralization. The Hornby Bay Group consists primarily of fluvial sandstones and minor marine carbonates, whereas the Dismal Lakes Group represents a sequence of continental clastics with fine-grained marine sediments, all conducive to uranium deposition.Historical geological mapping and geophysical surveys have highlighted key structural features, such as fault intersections and basement highs, which are essential controls for uranium mineralization. The combination of structural complexity, favorable lithologies, and historical exploration success increases the Project's significant discovery potential.Figure 1: Future Fuels Hornby Project with known uranium occurrences shown. Historical Significance and Uranium OccurrencesThe Hornby Basin, Athabasca Basin, and Thelon Basin are believed to be remnants of a larger single Proterozoic basin (Smith, 2003). Historical exploration has identified over 140 anomalous uranium assay results in sandstone rock samples, multiple uranium showings, and many significant radioactive occurrences (Figure 1). Readers are encouraged to refer to the Company's technical report in respect of the Hornby Project, available under its profile at www.sedarplus.ca (the "Future Fuels Report"), for greater detail in respect of the occurrences.Uranium exploration in the Hornby Basin dates back to the early 1970s when regional airborne radiometric surveys first identified significant radio PR-Inside.com: 2025-03-31 15:41:21 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 641 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESS Newswire / March 31, 2025 / Harvest Communications , a full-service Communications and Content Creation agency, building trust through compelling narratives and authentic brand stories, is proud to serve as the Official Marketing Partner for the DealFlow Discovery Day on Nuclear Energy by DealFlow Events, a forum that provides deep insights into investment opportunities in the nuclear energy sector. This event takes place on May 22, 2025, in New York City.TheDealFlow Discovery Day on Nuclear Energyprovides a forum for uncovering new investment opportunities and exchanging ideas with industry stakeholders including investors, analysts, utilities, site developers, technology providers, and government entities.Harvest Communicationswas founded on years of experience guiding 500+ small businesses, micro- and small-cap companies to solidify their brand positioning in the minds of their consumers, existing shareholders, and potential investors. Creating riveting content based on data-driven insights, accuracy, and authenticity, they aim to support your internal functions and offer an extension of services and expertise fromThe Harvest Podcast , to Filmed Interviews, Brand Videos, Investor Communications, Email and Digital Marketing, and News Distribution via their renowned strategic partners.The Harvest Podcast will be onsite at this event May 22, 2025, hosting interviews and providing revolutionary insights with thought leaders, CEOs, and industry experts in the sector."DealFlow Events has created a critical platform for exploring the intersection of nuclear energy and technological innovation. Our partnership represents a unique opportunity to connect visionary leaders, investors, and technology providers at a pivotal moment in the global energy landscape. This Discovery Day isn't just an event-it's a strategic forum designed to accelerate understanding and investment in nuclear energy's transformative potential, particularly as AI and advanced technologies reshape our global infrastructure." Carmel Fisher, CEO, Executive Producer, and Host of The Harvest Podcast.Phill LoFaso, Managing Director of DealFlow Events added, "We are thrilled to be working with Harvest Communications. Their vast network of contacts and superb podcast program will lend a great deal to the success of this event." Hosted by DealFlow Events, this event will take place on May 22, 2025, at Jay Suites, located at 515 Madison Avenue, New York, NY. This event is free for qualified investors and analysts.For more information and to register, visit https://dealflowdiscoverydays.com/nuclear_energy/ About Harvest CommunicationsHarvest Communications : Amplifying Business Narratives with Strategic PrecisionHarvest Communications is a full-service communications and content creation agency dedicated to transforming complex business stories into compelling, investor-focused narratives. With a proven track record of supporting over 500 small and micro-cap companies, we specialize in crafting authentic brand experiences that resonate with consumers, existing shareholders, and potential investors.Harvest Communications delivers a comprehensive suite of services designed to elevate business narratives.The Harvest Podcastanchors our content strategy, complemented by professionally filmed interviews that capture authentic business insights. We produce compelling brand videos that tell powerful stories and execute strategic email and digital marketing campaigns. Our targeted news distribution ensures maximum visibility for our clients.With 15 years of direct experience working alongside C-Suite executives, we bring deep expertise in shareholder engagement and investor relations. Our team navigates complex regulatory landscapes, including comprehensive understanding of SEC, DTC, NOBO/OBO regulations. We leverage advanced investor data compliance techniques and develop innovative marketing approaches for both retail and institutional investor acquisition. Our intricate knowledge spans shares transfer, affiliate networks, and the broader stock market ecosystem, enabling us to provide strategic communications solutions that drive meaningful business outcomes.Mobilized by data-driven insights and a commitment to accuracy, we don't just tell stories-we create strategic narratives that position brands for maximum impact and visibility.About DealFlow EventsSince 2003,DealFlow Eventshas been a trusted name in the business and investment communities, organizing conferences that provide valuable insights and networking opportunities. With a commitment to covering innovative topics, DealFlow Events has established itself as a thought leader and trailblazer in the industry.ContactHarvest CommunicationsCarmel FisherFounder | CEOinfo@ harvestcomms.com+1 (310) 745-9171SOURCE: DealFlow Events PR-Inside.com: 2025-03-31 23:31:11 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 526 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 Firm focuses on helping clients navigate the complex Los Angeles real estate environmentLOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA / ACCESS Newswire / March 31, 2025 / After nearly two decades in the competitive Los Angeles real estate market, Jordan Rubinstein is refocusing his efforts onCentury Park Realty, Inc. , a company he founded in 2014. Rubinstein recently bid a fond farewell to his previous role at Kennedy Wilson Property Services in order to expand Century Park Realty into a comprehensive real estate advisory firm. Jordan Rubinstein Jordan L. Rubinstein, Managing Broker / Director of Century Park Realty Inc."The decision to return my attention to building out this platform was driven by a growing need within my brokerage and investment business for clients and investors to have access to more than just transactional services," said Rubinstein. "Clients require a multi-disciplinary approach that spans the entire real estate lifecycle - from acquisitions to asset management or redevelopment." Rubinstein, also a licensed real estate attorney, brings extensive experience from multiple sectors within the real estate industry, including commercial investment sales and leasing, luxury residential brokerage, and real estate development. Over the course of his career, he has represented clients in transacting nearly one billion dollars in real estate transactions and has overseen several successful ground-up and value-add projects across Los Angeles. His geographic focus has historically been core Los Angeles markets with high demand, but the firm has plans to grow outside of California into rapidly expanding markets with compelling growth stories and investment opportunities.Rubinstein explains that the firm's mission is to act as a de facto real estate department for clients who do not have in-house teams but need consistent and reliable expertise in multiple aspects of real estate. In addition, the firm can present opportunities for those looking to participate in the increasingly complex and often management-intensive real estate business."Our goal is to be a trusted partner with respect to sourcing and analyzing opportunities as well as assisting clients with strategic real estate decisions up-front and at the operational level, whether it's buying a home, acquiring multifamily apartment units, or optimizing an existing real estate portfolio across multiple asset classes," said Rubinstein. "In Los Angeles specifically, we are experiencing more regulatory and legislative hurdles than in the past decade, while at the same time seeing higher op ex costs like insurance premiums and a much more conservative capital markets environment. It's no longer enough to simply facilitate a transaction for someone without seeing all the angles," he added."In today's market, it's essential to serve as a market expert and educator, connector, and opportunity provider all in one."- Jordan Rubinstein"There seemed to be a void in the traditional real estate service business for executing on all these different levels in a transaction, especially for those without in-house capabilities," said Rubinstein. I remain extremely hands-on, and it truly benefits those looking for this level of guidance." "Brokerage is transactional; advisory is personal," Rubinstein concluded.For more information on Century Park Realty, visit centuryparkre.com Contact InformationJordan RubinsteinManaging Director/Brokerjordan@ centuryparkre.com (310) 745-7660SOURCE: Century Park Realty Inc. PR-Inside.com: 2025-03-31 18:46:51 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 440 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK, NY / ACCESS Newswire / March 31, 2025 / Farmers Bank & Trust recently disclosed that it suffered a data breach that compromised the sensitive personal data of individuals. This data breach has led to concerns over the security of sensitive personal information entrusted to Farmers Bank & Trust.WHAT'S THIS ABOUT?On October 25, 2024, Farmers Bank & Trust experienced unauthorized access to an employee's email account. Upon detection, Farmers Bank & Trust immediately launched an investigation with the assistance of third-party cyber security professionals to determine the nature and scope of the incident. Following a detailed forensic investigation and manual review, on February 17, 2025, Farmers Bank & Trust determined that certain files containing personal information may have been accessed or acquired.Upon information and belief, the following types of sensitive personalinformation may have been compromised:full name, Social Security number, financial information, email address, and driver's license.Farmers Bank & Trust conducted a comprehensive review to determine the specific information affected and began sending notification letters to impacted individuals on March 17, 2025. A public notice was filed with the Massachusetts Attorney General on the same day.Compensation may be available for those individuals who received notice that their personal information was compromised.WHY YOU MAY BE ENTITLED TO COMPENSATION?Data breaches are serious matters that can cause long-term damage. Hackers may use stolen information to commit identity theft, financial fraud, or other crimes. Companies that fail to secure your personal data may be held liable for the resulting harm.HOW DO I KNOW IF I WAS AFFECTED?If you received a data breach notification letter from Farmers Bank & Trust, you are likely affected. Follow the link below to find out if you may be eligible for compensation.Levi Korsinsky, LLP is investigating whether affected individuals are entitled to compensation. If you have received a notice about the data breach, you may be entitled to compensation. There is no cost or obligation to participate. Follow the link below to find out:Levi & Korsinsky is a nationally recognized consumer advocacy law firm that has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars against large corporations. The firm's team of over 70 extraordinary attorneys and professionals have a winning track record going against the most powerful defense attorneys in the world and know how to maximize your compensation. The firm is a 100% contingency firm - we don't get paid unless you get paid! Please visit us at www.zlk.com for more information. Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.CONTACT: Levi & Korsinsky, LLPJoseph E. Levi, Esq.Ed Korsinsky, Esq.33 Whitehall Street, 17th FloorNew York, NY 10004 jlevi@ levikorsinsky.com Tel: (212) 363-7500Fax: (212) 363-7171 https://zlk.com/ SOURCE: Levi & Korsinsky, LLP PR-Inside.com: 2025-03-31 18:32:34 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 440 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / March 31, 2025 / Smart ERP Solutions, Inc. recently disclosed that it suffered a data breach that compromised the sensitive personal data of individuals. This data breach has led to concerns over the security of sensitive personal information entrusted to SmartERP.WHAT'S THIS ABOUT?On July 13, 2024, Smart ERP Solutions, Inc. became aware of a security incident on its network. Upon detection, SmartERP launched an investigation with the assistance of third-party cybersecurity experts to determine the nature and scope of the incident. The investigation determined that an unauthorized third party gained access to SmartERP's network between July 3, 2024, and July 13, 2024. SmartERP conducted a comprehensive review of the impacted data to determine what information was compromised and identified affected individuals. On February 11, 2025, SmartERP completed its review and confirmed that certain sensitive personal information had been exposed.Upon information and belief, the following types of sensitive personal information may have been compromised:name, and Social Security number.On March 13, 2025, SmartERP filed a notice with the Maine Attorney General's office and began sending out notice letters to the impacted individuals.Compensation may be available for those individuals who received notice that their personal information was compromised.WHY YOU MAY BE ENTITLED TO COMPENSATION?Data breaches are serious matters that can cause long-term damage. Hackers may use stolen information to commit identity theft, financial fraud, or other crimes. Companies that fail to secure your personal data may be held liable for the resulting harm.HOW DO I KNOW IF I WAS AFFECTED?If you received a data breach notification letter from SmartERP, you are likely affected. Follow the link below to find out if you may be eligible for compensation.Levi Korsinsky, LLP is investigating whether affected individuals are entitled to compensation. If you have received a notice about the data breach, you may be entitled to compensation. There is no cost or obligation to participate. Follow the link below to find out:Levi & Korsinsky is a nationally recognized consumer advocacy law firm that has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars against large corporations. The firm's team of over 70 extraordinary attorneys and professionals have a winning track record going against the most powerful defense attorneys in the world and know how to maximize your compensation. The firm is a 100% contingency firm - we don't get paid unless you get paid! Please visit us at www.zlk.com for more information. Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.CONTACT: Levi & Korsinsky, LLPJoseph E. Levi, Esq.Ed Korsinsky, Esq.33 Whitehall Street, 17th FloorNew York, NY 10004 jlevi@ levikorsinsky.com Tel: (212) 363-7500Fax: (212) 363-7171 https://zlk.com/ SOURCE: Levi & Korsinsky, LLP PR-Inside.com: 2025-03-31 09:00:27 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 556 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 Litmus Edge integration with Microsoft Azure IoT Operations streamlines the orchestration of industrial devices, data, and AI at the edge.HANNOVER, DE / ACCESS Newswire / March 31, 2025 / Litmus, a leading Industrial Data Operations platform provider, today announced a strategic partnership with Microsoft to deliver a seamless edge-to-cloud solution for industrial customers. By integrating Litmus Edge with Microsoft Azure IoT Operations, industrial companies can now more easily connect, manage, and leverage operations data to accelerate advanced applications and AI adoption. Litmus Dashboard Litmus DashboardThe solution, integrated via the Akri Litmus Connector, simplifies real-time data collection, contextualization, and processing directly from industrial devices at the edge. With Azure IoT Operations, customers add the adaptive cloud approach of edge and cloud symmetry with scalable management, discoverability, observability, and security from Azure Arc, ARM and Entra ID. Automatic device discovery and native Kubernetes integration further streamline the scalability and management of edge-to-cloud deployments. Together, these capabilities provide a unified data foundation to rapidly scale data transformation and AI-driven operational improvements. The result is a seamless flow of data from disparate industrial assets directly into Azure, enabling real-time insights that help optimize operations at the edge."Our partnership with Microsoft helps industrial companies seeking to accelerate their digital transformation," said Vatsal Shah, CEO of Litmus. "By simplifying the complexities of edge data management, we're enabling customers to focus on leveraging data at scale to drive tangible business outcomes, such as reduced downtime and improved product quality." "Azure's adaptive cloud approach empowers customers to unify their information modeling layers by easily integrating edge, on-premises, and cloud environments with a consistent, scalable platform," said Dayan Rodriguez, Corporate Vice President, Manufacturing and Mobility, Microsoft added, "The integration of Litmus technology further strengthens our Azure IoT Operations solution, creating a unified data plane enabling customers to streamline OT data ops at scale, while simplifying the overall management and orchestration of edge deployments from the cloud." Key Benefits of the Litmus and Azure IoT Operations Integration via the Akri Litmus Connector:Faster AI Deployment: Streamline integration of edge data with Azure AI services to accelerate predictive maintenance, quality control, and other AI-driven applications.Simplified Edge Management: Centralized orchestration of diverse industrial devices and data through a unified edge-to-cloud platform.Enhanced Data Connectivity: Pre-built, zero-code connectivity to a wide range of industrial protocols and devices ensures seamless data acquisition.Secure and Scalable Data Flow: Secure, contextualized data flows from edge devices to Azure, supporting scalable AI initiatives across multiple locations.Lower Total Cost of Ownership (TCO): Rapid deployment and simplified management reduce the costs of edge infrastructure and AI implementation.Improved Operational Efficiency: Real-time insights from edge data enable data-driven decisions to optimize production and reduce downtime.Join Litmus at Hannover Messe 2025 to see this powerful edge-to-cloud integration live in action. Visit the Microsoft booth in Hall 017, Booth G06 and the Litmus booth in Hall 16, Stand B06 to experience real-time data connectivity, simplified edge management, and AI-powered insights at the edge. Not at Hannover Messe, learn more here.About LitmusLitmus is a leading provider of Industrial Data Operations solutions, helping customers unlock the full potential of their industrial data. The Litmus platform enables real-time data collection, processing, and analysis from edge devices, driving greater efficiency, productivity, and sustainability.Contact InformationKara Kadow Press Relationskara.kadow@litmus.io SOURCE: Litmus PR-Inside.com: 2025-03-31 19:32:48 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 479 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 SEATTLE, WASHINGTON / ACCESS Newswire / March 31, 2025 / Creative Market, the premier marketplace for high-quality design assets, just made font discovery effortless with the launch of Font Finder, a powerful tool that instantly identifies fonts from any uploaded image. Whether it's a typeface spotted in the wild, an old design file with missing fonts, or a specific glyph that captures your attention, Font Finder bridges the gap between inspiration and execution. Meet Creative Markets New Font Finder: 380,000+ Fonts at Your FingertipsLeveraging a database of over 380,000 fonts from leading independent designers and proprietary matching technology, Font Finder streamlines the search for typography that fits your project's aesthetic. Say goodbye to endless scrolling and guesswork-just upload an image and get precise font matches in seconds, on desktop and mobile.Why Font Finder is a Game-Changer for DesignersTypography fuels branding, marketing, and design projects, but tracking down the right font has always been a challenge-until now. Font Finder eliminates that friction by offering three powerful ways to level up your workflow on desktop and mobile:Identify Fonts from Old Projects - Missing a font from an archived design? Upload a screenshot and find the exact match (or a close alternative) instantly.Discover Similar Fonts - Have a favorite typeface and want more like it? Use Font Finder to explore curated suggestions in the same style.Capture Fonts in the Wild - See typography on packaging, posters, or signage that you want to use? Snap a photo and upload it for instant identification.For branding experts, designers, and marketers, Font Finder cuts down search time and keeps typography selections precise and on-brand.Shaping the Future of Font DiscoveryCreative Market continues to build tools that simplify design workflows. Font Finder integrates seamlessly with Creative Market's font library, allowing users to browse, purchase, and download professional-grade typefaces without leaving the platform."Inspiration can strike anywhere, and Font Finder makes it easier than ever to bring typography ideas to life," said Nora Keller, VP of Product at Creative Market. "This tool reflects our ongoing commitment to supporting designers with smart, intuitive solutions that make creativity more accessible." The launch of Font Finder follows other major developments at Creative Market, including enhanced search filters in the Fonts category,Team Shopsto streamline business font licensing, and a brand newDesign Deals section-all designed to empower the global creative community.Try Font Finder TodayFont Finder is now live and available to all users. Try it today atcreativemarket.com/font-finderand experience the fastest way to identify, discover, and integrate fonts into your creative projects.About Creative MarketCreative Market is the one-stop marketplace for design assets. From fonts to themes, graphics to templates, we provide creative professionals with the tools they need to bring their visions to life.For more information, please visit Creative Market.Contact InformationLaura Busche press@ creativemarket.com SOURCE: Creative Market PR-Inside.com: 2025-03-31 14:01:12 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 673 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 TORONTO, ON / ACCESS Newswire / March 31, 2025 /Mongolia Growth Group Ltd. (the "Company") (TSX V:YAK), announced today that TSX Venture Exchange (the "Exchange") has accepted a Notice of Intention to renew its normal course issuer bid to purchase outstanding common shares of the Company on the open market in accordance with the policies of the TSXV.Pursuant to the NCIB, (the "Bid") the Company may acquire up to 1,700,000 common shares (representing up to approximately 6.64% of the 25,584,399 common shares of the Company currently issued and outstanding, or approximately 9.92% of the 17,138,649 common shares constituting the Company's current Public Float (as that term is defined in the policies of the Exchange) from time to time during the next 12 months. In accordance with the Policies of the Exchange, the maximum number of common shares that may be purchased under the Bid in any 30-day period may not exceed 2% of the issued and outstanding common shares of the Company when aggregated with all other common shares purchased under the Bid in the preceding 30 days.The Company is undertaking the Bid because, in the opinion of its board of directors, the market price of its common shares, from time to time, may not fully reflect the underlying value of its operations and future growth prospects. The Company believes that in such circumstances, the purchase of the common shares of the Company may represent an appropriate and desirable use of the Company's funds and further enhance market stability.The Company may, subject to market conditions, sell one or more of its investment properties to finance purchases under the Bid from time to time.From April 1, 2024 to March 31, 2025, the Company purchased 510,000 of its shares at an average price of $1.37 under its most recently expired NCIB.The Company has retained Research Capital Corporation of Toronto, Ontario as its broker Member for the purposes of conducting the bid. The Bid will commence on or about April 1, 2025 and the Bid will end no later than March 31, 2026. The common shares will be purchased for cancellation on the open market through the facilities of the Exchange, at market price. This transaction is subject to the TSX Venture Exchange approval.For further information please contact:Genevieve Walkden, Corporate Secretary 877-644-1186 GWalkden@ MongoliaGrowthGroup.com This news release includes forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. All statements within, other than statements of historical fact, are to be considered forward looking. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include general economic, market and business conditions, the regulatory process and actions, regulator and corporate approvals, technical issues, new legislation, competitive and general economic factors and conditions, the uncertainties resulting from potential delays or changes in plans, the occurrence of unexpected events, and the Company's capability to execute and implement its future plans. Actual results may differ materially from those projected by management. There can be no assurances that such statements will prove accurate and, therefore, readers are advised to rely on their own evaluation of such uncertainties. We do not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to sell any securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available. We seek safe harbour.The TSXV has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this Press release.SOURCE: Mongolia Growth Group Ltd. PR-Inside.com: 2025-03-31 16:01:27 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 471 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 Expansion Enhances NewOrg's Ability to Deliver Secure, Compliant Services to Social Impact Organizations Across CanadaTORONTO, ONTARIO / ACCESS Newswire / March 31, 2025 / NewOrg Management System, a leading provider of data management solutions for nonprofits and social service organizations, is pleased to announce the formal incorporation of NewOrg Canada. With a newly established headquarters in Toronto, Ontario, this expansion supports the continued growth of NewOrg's partnerships with Canadian municipalities, Indigenous tribal organizations, social service agencies, and Canadian Immigration and Resettlement (IRCC) programs. NewOrg Canada Launch - Toronto Headquarters NewOrg logo above 'CANADA' with a maple leaf, set over a stylized Toronto skyline and CN TowerFor over 18 years, NewOrg has been a trusted technology partner for Canadian nonprofits, ensuring full compliance with PIPEDA (Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act) and FOIP (Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act). The company has always prioritized data sovereignty, with all Canadian nonprofit data securely hosted in Toronto-based data centers."As demand for secure, compliant, and flexible social services software grows in Canada, formalizing our Canadian operations allows us to better serve the unique needs of our partners," said David Crouch, President and Founder of NewOrg. "As a native of Toronto, I have always been deeply connected to the Canadian nonprofit landscape. Our collaboration with municipalities, Indigenous communities, and social service agencies across Canada has deepened our understanding of the challenges they face, and this expansion reinforces our ability to provide innovative, long-term solutions tailored to their needs." Supporting Critical Canadian ServicesNewOrg's platform plays a vital role in supporting housing, employment, immigration, family, and other social services across Canada. By working with organizations that provide essential support to newcomers, Indigenous communities, and vulnerable populations, NewOrg is dedicated to ensuring Canadian nonprofits have the tools they need to streamline operations, meet compliance requirements, and drive greater impact.Seamless Transition for Canadian PartnersThe newly incorporated NewOrg Canada will operate as a legally distinct entity, ensuring stability for its partners while continuing to collaborate with NewOrg's U.S. team on joint development, intellectual property, and select support services to maximize efficiency and expertise. This transition will have no impact on existing services, and NewOrg will provide further updates on administrative changes - including billing modifications such as address updates, wire instructions, GST, and currency adjustments - as they become available.About NewOrg Management System, Inc.NewOrg Management System, Inc. - https://neworg.com/newsroom4000 Albemarle St NW (Ste 200) Washington, D.C. 20016NewOrg provides comprehensive, cloud-based case management, client tracking, donor management, and reporting solutions designed to support nonprofits, social service agencies, and municipal programs. With a focus on security, compliance, and efficiency, NewOrg empowers organizations across Canada and the U.S. to streamline data management and improve service delivery.Contact InformationSotiris KoutsoyannisMarketing/Communication Specialistinfo@ neworg.com 866-843-2835SOURCE: NewOrg Management System, Inc. PR-Inside.com: 2025-03-31 14:31:11 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 584 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 BOCA RATON, FL / ACCESS Newswire / March 31, 2025 /Newsmax Inc. ("Newsmax" or the "Company") announced that its Class B Common Stock will begin trading this morning on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "NMAX".The Company successfully raised $75 million in its initial public offering under Regulation A+ as well as $225 million in a private Preferred Offering which closed in February.Digital Offering LLC acted as the lead selling agent for the Public Offering.For more information on Newsmax, please visit: ir.newsmax.com About NewsmaxNewsmax Inc. is a holding company that owns 100% of the equity interests of its operating company Newsmax Media, Inc. Newsmax Media, Inc. is the parent company of Newsmax Broadcasting LLC and a multimedia company that offers Americans independent news. Since its founding in 1998 by Christopher Ruddy, an award-winning journalist, Newsmax has become a go-to place for Americans seeking real news and opinion.Newsmax operates the Newsmax channel, now the fourth highest-rated cable news channel, according to Nielsen, and available on all major cable systems and OTT platforms.Newsmax's media properties reach more than 40 million Americans regularly through the Newsmax channel, its free streaming channel Newsmax2, the Newsmax App and its streaming service Newsmax+, its website Newsmax.com , and publications like Newsmax Magazine.Forbes calls Newsmax "a news powerhouse." Last year the Reuters Institute study found that Newsmax was one of the top 12 U.S. news brands.Through its media outlets Newsmax champions a free press, one that provides Americans with balanced coverage, diverse viewpoints, and open debates on the issues affecting our lives.Newsmax Inc., based in Boca Raton, Fla., with offices in Washington, D.C. and New York City, is a privately held company headed by its CEO and majority shareholder Christopher Ruddy. For more information about Newsmax, please visit https://www.NewsmaxInvest.com About Digital Offering, LLC: Digital Offering, LLC, a leader in crowd financed public offerings, is a next generation investment bank with a focus on technology and innovation utilizing The Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act, or JOBS Act.Investor Contacts Newsmax Investor Relations Team ir@ newsmax.com FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS : This communication contains forward-looking statements. The Company bases these forward-looking statements on its expectations and projections about future events, which it derives from the information currently available to it. Such forward-looking statements relate to future events or its future performance, including: its financial performance and projections; growth in its revenue and earnings; and the Company's business prospects and opportunities. You can identify forward-looking statements by those that are not historical in nature, particularly those that use terminology such as "may," "should," "expects," "anticipates," "contemplates," "estimates," "believes," "plans," "projected," "predicts," "potential," or "hopes" or the negative of these or similar terms. In evaluating these forward-looking statements, you should consider various factors, including: the Company's ability to change its direction; its ability to keep pace with new technology and changing market needs; and the competitive environment of its business. These and other factors may cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from any forward-looking statement. Forward-looking statements are only predictions. The forward-looking events discussed in this communication may not occur, and actual events and results may differ materially and are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions about the Company. The Company is not obligated to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement.SOURCE: Newsmax Inc. PR-Inside.com: 2025-03-31 15:15:30 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 440 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 Honored for its proactive security strategies, NIX helps enterprises mitigate cyber risks, accelerate development, and enhance trust in an era of evolving threats.BALTIMORE, MARYLAND / ACCESS Newswire / March 31, 2025 / In a landscape where a single data breach can cost billions and shatter consumer trust, cybersecurity remains a top priority for businesses worldwide. NIX, a global software development company, has been honored with a 2025 Cybersecurity Excellence Award, recognizing its commitment to fortifying digital defenses and driving innovation in cybersecurity solutions.The Cybersecurity Excellence Awards celebrate organizations that demonstrate outstanding leadership, innovation, and effectiveness in information security. NIX's recognition underscores its success in helping enterprises mitigate cyber risks and build resilient security infrastructures in an era of rapidly evolving threats.NIX's award-winning approach was exemplified in its recent collaboration with a Fortune 500 technology company. Facing escalating threats and an urgent need to protect sensitive identification data, the company turned to NIX for a proactive security transformation.By implementing a strategic "shift-left" approach - embedding security into every stage of the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC)-NIX significantly strengthened the company's cybersecurity posture. Key results included:25% reduction in security incidents40% acceleration in deployment speedEnhanced customer trust through fortified security measures"Our goal is to ensure that security doesn't slow innovation - it fuels it," said Peter Kunkli, future-ready software solutions partner at NIX. "By leveraging DevSecOps, automated security testing, and scalable microservice architectures, we empower businesses to move fast while staying secure." NIX's success stems from its deep expertise in integrating security within complex enterprise environments. Key differentiators include:Proactive security measures: utilizing Static and Dynamic Application Security Testing (SAST & DAST), Software Composition Analysis (SCA), and Infrastructure as Code (IaC) scanning within CI/CD pipelines to identify vulnerabilities before deployment.Balancing speed and security: employing Kubernetes-based microservices, automated CI/CD pipelines, and robust security automation to accelerate development while ensuring enterprise-grade protection.Tangible business impact: delivering measurable benefits, including cost savings from reduced security incidents, improved regulatory compliance, and faster time-to-market for secure products.As cyber threats evolve, NIX continues to push the boundaries of cybersecurity innovation, ensuring that businesses can navigate the digital frontier with confidence.For more information on NIX's cybersecurity solutions or to explore how your organization can enhance its security posture, visit nix-united.com or contact Peter Kunkli at peter.kunkli@nixs.com About NIXNIX is a global software development company specializing in custom solutions that drive digital transformation and cybersecurity excellence. With a proven track record in securing enterprise applications, NIX empowers businesses to innovate securely in an ever-changing threat landscape.Contact InformationYevheniia KryvenkoPR Manageryevheniia.kryvenko@nixs.com +1 727 256 3558SOURCE: NIX PR-Inside.com: 2025-03-31 18:32:31 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 381 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / March 31, 2025 / Levi & Korsinsky, LLP is investigating potential claims on behalf of individual account holders who subscribed to Redfin Corporation's Website ( https://www.redfin.com/) and watched pre-recorded video content through the Redfin Corporation Website. Levi & Korsinsky, LLP's investigation indicates that legally protected data may have been unlawfully intercepted during visits to the Redfin Corporation Website, particularly affecting customers who subscribed and watched pre-recorded video content on the Redfin Corporation Website.WHAT'S THIS ABOUT?If you are an account holder on the Redfin Corporation Website and watched videos on the platform, your legally protected data may have been intercepted without your knowledge. If your data was compromised, you may be entitled to compensation.AM I ENTITLED TO COMPENSATION?If your data was compromised, you may be entitled to compensation. Unauthorized data interception is a serious issue that could lead to privacy violations, potentially leading to significant breaches of your personal information. If the company entrusted with securing your data has failed in this duty, they may be held accountable for any exposure of your information, potentially exposing you to risks such as misuse or unauthorized use of your data.HOW DO I KNOW IF I WAS AFFECTED?If you are an account holder on the Redfin Corporation Website and subsequently watched pre-recorded video materials, your data may have been intercepted. Follow the link below to find out if you have a claim.Levi & Korsinsky, LLP is investigating whether affected customers are entitled to compensation. There is no cost to participate. Follow the link below to find out:Levi & Korsinsky, LLP is a nationally recognized consumer advocacy law firm that has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars against large corporations. The firm's team of extraordinary attorneys and professionals have a winning track record going against the most powerful defense attorneys in the world and know how to maximize your compensation. We work on a contingency basis- we don't get paid unless you get paid!Please visit us at www.zlk.com for more information. Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.CONTACT: Levi & Korsinsky, LLPJoseph E. Levi, Esq.Ed Korsinsky, Esq.33 Whitehall Street, 17th FloorNew York, NY 10004 jlevi@ levikorsinsky.com Tel: (212) 363-7500Fax: (212) 363-7171 https://zlk.com/ SOURCE: Levi & Korsinsky, LLP PR-Inside.com: 2025-03-31 23:40:26 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 916 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 Gross profit increases 18.6% in 2024 vs 2023NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / March 31, 2025 /1847 Holdings LLC ("1847" or the "Company") (NYSE American:EFSH), a holding company specializing in identifying over-looked, deep value investment opportunities in middle market businesses, today provided a business update and reported financial results for the year-ended December 31, 2024.Key Financial Highlights from Continuing OperationsTotal Revenue was $15.7M for the year-ended December 31, 2024 compared to $14.2M for the year-ended December 31, 2023, a 10.7% year-over-year increaseGross profit was $7.8M for the year-ended December 31, 2024 compared to $6.6M for the year-ended December 31, 2023, an 18.6% year-over-year increaseGross margin increased 330 basis points to 49.5% for the year-ended December 31, 2024, compared to 46.2% for the same period last year2024 Operational Achievements and Subsequent EventsExploring strategic alternatives for CMD Inc. ("CMD") due to significant inbound interest from both strategic and financial sponsorsReported CMD Inc. strong revenue growth and profitability for fiscal year 2023 and nine months ended September 30, 2024Engaged Two Roads Advisors to facilitate sale of Wolo Mfg. Corp.Completed acquisition of CMD, a Las Vegas-based cabinetry, millwork and door manufacturerSold High Mountain Door & Trim Inc. ("High Mountain"), a division of 1847 Cabinets for approximately $17 million, more than double the original purchase priceDisposition of ICU Eyewear; eliminated $4.5 million of net liabilities from the balance sheetMr. Ellery W. Roberts, CEO of 1847, commented, "2024 was a transformative year marked by a series of strategic initiatives that served as a significant turning point for our company. We recorded revenue of $15.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2024, with gross profit increasing by 18.6% over the prior year. Toward the end of 2024, we completed the acquisition of CMD, a highly accretive addition to our portfolio. Notably, on a pro forma basis for the year-ended December 31, 2024, CMD reported revenues of $30.8 million-a 13.5% increase compared to the previous year. During the year, CMD's gross profit increased by 25.9% to $13.6 million, while income from operations increased by 26.0% to $7.5 million. Net income grew by 28.9% to $7.5 million, a clear indication of CMD's strong financial trajectory and continued market demand.A key element of our growth strategy involves selectively refining our portfolio to maximize returns. In late September 2024, we finalized the sale of High Mountain, a Reno, Nevada-based provider of finished carpentry products and services. Originally acquired in October 2021, High Mountain was sold to a strategic buyer for $17.0 million, valuing the business at nearly seven times adjusted EBITDA. This sale price was almost double our estimated purchase price from three years prior, underscoring our ability to enhance portfolio value through strategic oversight and operational improvements.While our reported net loss for the year may appear significant, it's important to emphasize that a substantial portion of this loss is driven by non-cash and one-time items-particularly the change in fair value of our warrant liabilities. Due to features in the Series A and Series B warrants that allow the exercise price to decrease (subject to a floor) and the number of shares issuable to increase upon certain events (e.g., reverse stock splits, registration resets, or lower-priced financings), as well as the alternative cashless exercise option in the Series A warrants, these warrants provide added value to the holders beyond a standard fixedforfixed arrangement. As a result, we classify the warrants as liabilities and remeasure them at fair value each reporting period. Over time, upon exercise or expiration, the warrant liabilities will be reduced to zero, with changes reflected as an increase to shareholders' equity and net income.Excluding these non-cash charges, our core performance remains firmly in line with our long-term objectives, positioning us to capitalize on future growth opportunities.Looking ahead, we expect to generate net income, projecting approximately $1.3 million in 2025 with revenue exceeding $45 million. This profitability milestone is expected to accelerate in 2026, with anticipated net income of $5.0 million and revenue surpassing $60 million-underscoring the success of our strategic vision and disciplined execution. With a strong pipeline of acquisition opportunities and a relentless focus on high-margin, scalable businesses, we believe we are positioned for exponential growth.We are also exploring the potential strategic sale of Wolo, as well as strategic alternatives for CMD. The substantial inbound interest we have received is a testament to CMD's strong market presence and financial performance. Given CMD's impressive growth and the strategic value it presents, we believe this is the right time to explore opportunities that could unlock significant value for our shareholders. Our future has never been brighter, and we remain more confident than ever in our ability to drive sustained value for our investors," concluded Mr. Roberts.2024 Financial HighlightsTotal revenues were $15,710,330 for the year ended December 31, 2024, as compared to $14,190,135 for the year ended December 31, 2023.Revenues from the construction segment increased by $2,321,335, or 24.1%, to $11,960,884 for the year ended December 31, 2024 from $9,639,549 for the year ended December 31, 2023. The increase in revenues was primarily attributed to an increase in new multi-family projects and an increase in the average customer contract value.Revenues from the automotive supplies segment decreased by $801,140, or 17.6%, to $3,749,446 for the year ended December 31, 2024 from $4,550,586 for the year ended December 31, 2023. The decrease in revenues was primarily attributed to working capital constraints on inventory.Total cost of revenues was $7,937,588 for the year ended December 31, 2024, as compared to $7,637,496 for the year ended December 31, 2023.Cost of revenues for the construction segment increased by $956,944, or 21.3%, to $5,439,723 for the year ended December 31, 2024 from $4,482,779 for the year ended December 31, 2023.Cost of revenues for the automotive supplies segment decreased by $656,852, or 20.8%, to $2,497,865 for the year ended December 31, 2024 from $3,154,717 for the year ended December 31, 2023.Total personnel costs were $6,538,872 for the PR-Inside.com: 2025-03-31 15:00:48 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 504 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 BOCA RATON, FLORIDA / ACCESS Newswire / March 31, 2025 / Safe Ship Moving Services is proud to announce a major milestone-successfully assisting more than 30,000 families across the United States with streamlined, stress-free long-distance relocations. As a licensed and bonded moving broker, the company works closely with vetted carriers to ensure smooth and efficient moving experiences, providing end-to-end logistics support to customers nationwide. Safe Ship Moving Services LogoSeamless Moving Services for Families on the MoveWith a growing demand for relocation across states, Safe Ship Moving Services stands out by providing comprehensive logistics support and streamlined coordination. Their moving services cater to families seeking reliable, professional help when moving long distances-no matter the destination. From the first consultation to the final delivery, the company ensures each move is handled with care, transparency, and attention to detail.What sets this company apart is its role as a moving broker that partners with qualified and fully insured carriers. This model allows customers to access high-quality service providers while benefiting from a single point of contact for planning, communication, and scheduling.Over 30,000 Moves-and CountingWith a national reach and a strong track record of customer satisfaction, Safe Ship Moving Services continues to expand its impact in the moving industry. Over 30,000 families have successfully relocated with the company's support, trusting their process and professionalism to handle everything from household goods to specialty items.One satisfied customer, Ashley E., shared her experience: "I had a great experience. I paid close attention to the contract, and there were no surprises. All parties were professional and communicative, and I could schedule a move just over a week in advance, and I got my furniture (expertly handled) the next day." This level of service reflects the company's ongoing commitment to customer-first moving experiences built on transparency, planning, and logistics coordination.Nationwide Reach with Local AttentionOperating coast to coast, Safe Ship Moving Services coordinates moves to and from all major U.S. cities and small towns alike. Its approach blends the scale of a national operation with the personalized support of a local partner. The company works diligently to align families with carriers matching their needs, timelines, and budgets.As relocation trends evolve, Safe Ship Moving Services remains committed to innovation and customer-first service. Its ability to scale operations while maintaining quality coordination makes it a go-to resource for individuals and families planning a long-distance move.About Safe Ship Moving ServicesSafe Ship Moving Services is a licensed and bonded moving broker dedicated to confidently helping individuals and families navigate long-distance relocations. By working with a network of thoroughly vetted, insured, and experienced carriers, the company ensures that each move is managed with professionalism, transparency, and attention to detail.Whether you're moving across the state or the country, this moving broker coordinates every aspect of the relocation process through a customer-first approach. Their comprehensive support includes:Corporate movingMilitary movingPacking and unpackingLoading and unloadingLogistics planningAuto TransportContact InformationRoger VanceFounder/CEOadmin@ safeshipmoving.com 888-798-2852SOURCE: Safe Ship Moving Services PR-Inside.com: 2025-03-31 05:45:20 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 462 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK, NY / ACCESS Newswire / March 30, 2025 / If you suffered a loss on your Venture Global, Inc. (NYSE:VG) investment and want to learn about a potential recovery under the federal securities laws, follow the link below for more information:or contact Joseph E. Levi, Esq. via email at jlevi@ levikorsinsky.com or call (212) 363-7500 to speak to our team of experienced shareholder advocates.THE LAWSUIT: This lawsuit is on behalf of all shareholders that purchased stock pursuant and/or traceable to Venture's registration statement for the initial public offering held on or about January 24, 2025.CASE DETAILS: According to the complaint, Venture completed its initial public offering on January 27, 2025, selling 70 million shares at $24.00 per share. On February 5, 2025, TotalEnergies, an energy company that was a target customer of Venture, rejected opportunities to become a long-term customer of Venture, citing lack of trust. In particular, TotalEnergies CEO, stated that he was approached by Venture to see if the company would be interested in a long-term supply contract for liquefied natural gas from the Calcasieu Pass terminal in Louisiana, but he rejected the offer "because of what they are doing." Venture is currently facing legal challenges from existing large clients, such as BP and Shell, due to delays in supply contracts as Venture commissions its projects. Given the fact that defendants ability to deliver liquefied natural gas (LNG) to the world and to continue development of Venture's five natural gas liquefication and export projects depends on customer contracts, defendants' failure to account for and address these issues caused statements in Venture's registration statement to be false and/or materially misleading at the time of the initial public offering.WHAT'S NEXT? If you suffered a loss in Venture stock during the relevant time frame - even if you still hold your shares - go to https://zlk.com/pslra-1/venture-global-inc-lawsuit-submission-form?prid=139821&wire=1 to learn about your rights to seek a recovery. There is no cost or obligation to participate.WHY LEVI & KORSINSKY: Over the past 20 years, Levi & Korsinsky LLP has established itself as a nationally-recognized securities litigation firm that has secured hundreds of millions of dollars for aggrieved shareholders and built a track record of winning high-stakes cases. The firm has extensive expertise representing investors in complex securities litigation and a team of over 70 employees to serve our clients. For seven years in a row, Levi & Korsinsky has ranked in ISS Securities Class Action Services' Top 50 Report as one of the top securities litigation firms in the United States. Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.CONTACT: Levi & Korsinsky, LLPJoseph E. Levi, Esq.Ed Korsinsky, Esq.33 Whitehall Street, 17th FloorNew York, NY 10004 jlevi@ levikorsinsky.com Tel: (212) 363-7500Fax: (212) 363-7171 https://zlk.com/ SOURCE: Levi & Korsinsky, LLP PR-Inside.com: 2025-03-31 18:46:47 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 451 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK, NY / ACCESS Newswire / March 31, 2025 / St. Joseph's College of Maine recently disclosed that it suffered a data breach that compromised the sensitive personal data of individuals. This data breach has led to concerns over the security of sensitive personal information entrusted to St. Joseph's.WHAT'S THIS ABOUT?On February 20, 2025, St. Joseph's College of Maine became aware of a security incident on its network. Upon detection, St. Joseph's College of Maine launched an investigation with the assistance of third-party cybersecurity experts to determine the nature and scope of the incident. The investigation determined that an unauthorized third party gained access to the network between December 15, 2023, and January 24, 2024, and potentially accessed or acquired certain files containing sensitive personal information. St. Joseph's conducted a comprehensive review of the impacted data to determine what information was compromised and identified affected individuals.Upon information and belief, the following types of sensitive personal information may have been compromised: full name, date of birth, address, Social Security number, and government-issued IDs.On March 21, 2025, St. Joseph's College of Maine filed a notice of public disclosure and started sending out notice letters to the individuals. Compensation may be available for those individuals who received notice that their personal information was compromised.WHY YOU MAY BE ENTITLED TO COMPENSATION?Data breaches are serious matters that can cause long-term damage. Hackers may use stolen information to commit identity theft, financial fraud, or other crimes. Companies that fail to secure your personal data may be held liable for the resulting harm.HOW DO I KNOW IF I WAS AFFECTED?If you received a data breach notification letter from St. Joseph's, you are likely affected. Follow the link below to find out if you may be eligible for compensation.Levi Korsinsky, LLP is investigating whether affected individuals are entitled to compensation. If you have received a notice about the data breach, you may be entitled to compensation. There is no cost or obligation to participate. Follow the link below to find out:Levi & Korsinsky is a nationally recognized consumer advocacy law firm that has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars against large corporations. The firm's team of over 70 extraordinary attorneys and professionals have a winning track record going against the most powerful defense attorneys in the world and know how to maximize your compensation. The firm is a 100% contingency firm - we don't get paid unless you get paid! Please visit us at www.zlk.com for more information. Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.CONTACT: Levi & Korsinsky, LLPJoseph E. Levi, Esq.Ed Korsinsky, Esq.33 Whitehall Street, 17th FloorNew York, NY 10004 jlevi@ levikorsinsky.com Tel: (212) 363-7500Fax: (212) 363-7171 https://zlk.com/ SOURCE: Levi & Korsinsky, LLP PR-Inside.com: 2025-03-31 18:47:05 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 473 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / March 31, 2025 / EVJ, LLC which does business as Storage Durango Blue Diamond, recently disclosed that it suffered a data breach that compromised the sensitive personal and protected health data of individuals. This data breach has led to concerns over the security of sensitive personal and protected health information entrusted to Storage Durango.WHAT'S THIS ABOUT?On August 31, 2024, Storage Durango became aware of a security incident on its internal systems. Upon detection, Storage Durango launched an investigation with the assistance of third-party cyber security experts to determine the nature and scope of the incident. The investigation determined that an unauthorized third party gained access to systems containing personal information between August 8 and August 31, 2024. Storage Durango conducted a comprehensive review of the impacted data to determine what information was compromised and identified affected individuals. On March 25, 2025, Storage Durango identified persons whose sensitive data was included in the impacted data.Upon information and belief, the following types of sensitive personaland protected health information may have been compromised:name, Social Security number, driver's license or state identification number, financial account number, and health insurance policy number.On March 25, 2025, Storage Durango filed a notice with the Vermont Attorney General and started sending out notice letters to the impacted individuals.Compensation may be available for those individuals who received notice that their personal information was compromised.WHY YOU MAY BE ENTITLED TO COMPENSATION?Data breaches are serious matters that can cause long-term damage. Hackers may use stolen information to commit identity theft, financial fraud, or other crimes. Companies that fail to secure your personal data may be held liable for the resulting harm.HOW DO I KNOW IF I WAS AFFECTED?If you received a data breach notification letter from Storage Durango, you are likely affected. Follow the link below to find out if you may be eligible for compensation.Levi Korsinsky, LLP is investigating whether affected individuals are entitled to compensation. If you have received a notice about the data breach, you may be entitled to compensation. There is no cost or obligation to participate. Follow the link below to find out:Levi & Korsinsky is a nationally recognized consumer advocacy law firm that has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars against large corporations. The firm's team of over 70 extraordinary attorneys and professionals have a winning track record going against the most powerful defense attorneys in the world and know how to maximize your compensation. The firm is a 100% contingency firm - we don't get paid unless you get paid! Please visit us at www.zlk.com for more information. Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.CONTACT: Levi & Korsinsky, LLPJoseph E. Levi, Esq.Ed Korsinsky, Esq.33 Whitehall Street, 17th FloorNew York, NY 10004 jlevi@ levikorsinsky.com Tel: (212) 363-7500Fax: (212) 363-7171 https://zlk.com/ SOURCE: Levi & Korsinsky, LLP PR-Inside.com: 2025-03-31 02:42:23 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 689 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK, NY / ACCESS Newswire / March 30, 2025 / Rosen Law Firm PAWHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of common stock of Target Corporation (NYSE:TGT) between August 26, 2022 and November 19, 2024, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"), of the important April 1, 2025 lead plaintiff deadline.SO WHAT: If you purchased Target 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 Target class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=6812 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email case@ rosenlegal.com for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than April 1, 2025. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation.WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually litigate securities class actions, but are merely middlemen that refer clients or partner with law firms that actually litigate the cases. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company at the time. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, Target misled investors by making false and misleading statements about Target's Environmental, Social and Governance ("ESG") and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion ("DEI") mandates that led to widespread customer boycotts following Target's 2023 LGBT-Pride Campaign (the "Campaign"). The negative effects of the Campaign on Target's business, including a subsequent campaign in 2024 (the "2024 Campaign"), led to a massive decline in Target's stock price.Specifically, the Campaign offended certain Target customers, provoking consumer backlash and boycotts that caused Target's sales to fall for the first time in six years. Unbeknownst to investors, and contrary to Target's public statements, its Chief Executive Officer ("CEO") and Board of directors did not oversee or disclose the known risks of Target's 2023 or 2024 Campaigns. This deceit, through misleading statements in Target's public filings, caused Target investors to purchase Target stock at artificially inflated prices. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages.To join the Target class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=6812 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email case@ rosenlegal.com for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed.No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investor's ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff.Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm , on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/ Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.---Contact Information: Laurence Rosen, Esq.Phillip Kim, Esq.The Rosen Law Firm, P.A.275 Madison Avenue, 40th FloorNew York, NY 10016Tel: (212) 686-1060Toll Free: (866) 767-3653Fax: (212) 202-3827 case@ rosenlegal.comwww.rosenlegal.com SOURCE: Rosen Law Firm PA PR-Inside.com: 2025-03-31 14:00:32 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 684 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 ATLANTA, GA / ACCESS Newswire / March 31, 2025 /The Battery Show South and Electric & Hybrid Vehicle Technology Expo South, the region's leading event for battery manufacturing and electric vehicle technology, today announces its keynote speakers for the inaugural event taking place April 16-17, 2025, at the Georgia World Congress Center. Attendees will hear from industry experts including Cristina Paredes, Executive Director of SC Nexus for Advanced Resilient Energy, and Christian Hofer, Vice President of Market Operations at Key Capture Energy (KCE) on the developments and trends shaping the economics and energy sector in the Battery Belt and beyond.Paredes will deliver "Economic Opportunities in the South," examining South Carolina's role in advancing technological innovations, scientific breakthroughs and business efficiency. The keynote will explore how the state's collaborative efforts and investment in emerging technologies are driving economic expansion and strengthening its position in the evolving energy landscape.The following day, Hofer will take the stage to present "Lessons Learned from Operating in US Markets," providing perspective and expertise from one of the country's leading owner-operators of Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), with over 600MW operating across 14 projects. The keynote will address how markets and utilities can be best prepared to embrace BESS in the years ahead, operating challenges in the Elective Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) market, major hurdles operators face today and key pitfalls to avoid."The Battery Show South 2025 is set to bring together engineers, business leaders and top industry professionals to explore the latest trends and advancements in energy storage, EV batteries and regional supply chain expansion," says John Lewinski, Vice President, Informa Markets Engineering. "With the Southeast emerging as a leading hub for EV and battery manufacturing, the event will serve as a crucial platform for knowledge sharing, business development and strategic partnerships." "The commitment to build, or to host, a major battery production or energy storage facility in an optimal location is never done lightly. These keynotes promise a deep dive into both sides of the challenge," says Michael Anderson, Editor-in-Chief, Battery Technology . "Executive Director Paredes can offer insight into navigating the Battery Belt's particular advantages and requirements while KCE's Hofer can share the perspective of a major energy storage company's requirements. Both keynotes will underline the value of bringing electrification forward in this region." To learn more about the firsthand insights from leading experts and be part of the conversations driving the next generation of energy innovation, register here: thebatteryshowsouth.com About The Battery Show The Battery Show is the largest and most comprehensive advanced battery technology event, co-located with Electric & Hybrid Vehicle Technology Expo, the only trade show and conference exclusively dedicated to advanced battery and the electric and hybrid vehicle drivetrain. Visitors to our shows can discover and demo the latest products, technology, and solutions from nearly a thousand suppliers, network with tens of thousands of attendees and access a breadth of education across multiple tracks and technical sessions. The Battery Show is organized by Informa Markets Engineering and includes The Battery Show Europe, The Battery Show North America and the recently launched The Battery Show India, The Battery Show South and The Battery Show Asia. Official listed media partners include Informa Markets' Battery Technology and DesignNews. For more information, please visit www.informamarkets.com About Informa Markets Engineering Informa Markets Engineering is the leading B2B event producer, publisher, and digital media business for the world's $3-trillion advanced, technology-based manufacturing industry. Our print and electronic products deliver trusted information to the engineering market and leverage our proprietary 1.3-million-name database to connect suppliers with buyers and purchase influencers. We produce more than 50 events and conferences in a dozen countries, connecting manufacturing professionals from around the globe. The Engineering portfolio is organized by Informa Markets, a subsidiary of Informa plc (LON:INF), the world's leading exhibitions organizer that brings a diverse range of specialist markets to life, unlocking opportunities and helping them to thrive 365 days of the year. For more information, please visit www.informamarkets.com Media Contact Informa Markets Engineering PR EngineeringPR@ informa.com SOURCE: INFORMA MARKETS - ENGINEERING PR-Inside.com: 2025-03-31 16:01:35 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 425 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 RICHARDSON, TEXAS / ACCESS Newswire / March 31, 2025 / VIVA Pediatric Healthcare proudly announces the expansion of its pediatric care services with the acquisition of two Prescribed Pediatric Extended Care Centers (PPECCs) in Longview and Lubbock, Texas. Lauve's Pediatric Longview and Lauve's Pediatric Lubbock are now officially part of the VIVA Pediatrics family, continuing their commitment to exceptional pediatric care with the same trusted clinical teams and operating hours.This acquisition strengthens VIVA Pediatrics' mission to provide high-quality, compassionate care for medically fragile children. A PPECC, also known as a Prescribed Pediatric Extended Care Center, is a specialized facility designed to support children with complex medical conditions, those transitioning from hospital to home who require continued skilled nursing care and therapies, and children needing ongoing developmental and social support. These centers provide skilled nursing care in a stimulating, child-friendly environment during daytime hours, giving parents peace of mind and flexibility in managing their family's needs."Our goal has always been to ensure that children with complex medical needs receive the highest level of care in a nurturing environment," said Erica Colmenero, RN, Owner & Founder of VIVA Pediatrics. "With this acquisition, we are expanding access to specialized care while ensuring continuity for families who already depend on these centers." With these new locations, VIVA Pediatrics continues to broaden its reach across Texas, offering families additional options for pediatric healthcare tailored to their child's unique needs. Parents and caregivers can rest assured that the same skilled teams of nurses and therapists will continue providing the high-quality, individualized care that Lauve's Pediatric Centers have long been known for.New PPECC Location Information:Longview Medical Day Center 403 Enterprise StreetLongview, TX 75604(903) 230-8110Lubbock Medical Day Center 14 Briercroft Office ParkLubbock, TX 79412(806) 993-5090About VIVA Pediatric HealthcareVIVA Pediatric Healthcare is dedicated to providing high-quality, compassionate home health and pediatric day center services for medically fragile children. With a focus on individualized care, skilled nursing, and therapy services, VIVA Pediatrics partners with families to create a supportive environment where children can thrive while receiving comprehensive care beyond their medical needs. In addition to the newly acquired Longview and Lubbock PPECC facilities, VIVA Pediatrics has offices in Richardson, Fort Worth, and Austin, Texas, serving families across these regions. VIVA Pediatrics has also begun construction on a center in The Colony, Texas, which is due to open by the end of the year. For more information about VIVA Pediatric Healthcare and its services, visit www.vivapeds.com or contact (469) 341-7772.Contact InformationJennifer ThomasVP of Operationsjthomas@ vivapeds.com 469-341-7772SOURCE: VIVA Pediatric Healthcare Oando Plc has entered into a strategic partnership with AfrexInsure, the specialty insurance subsidiary of African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), the bank disclosed in a statement issued in Cairo on Monday. The deal allows AfrexInsure to provide critical risk management solutions to Oando by ensuring that the lenders investment in the energy companys Nigerian operations is adequately protected. Afreximbank stated that the synergy will boost Oandos resilience, promote sustainable energy development and strengthen Afreximbanks commitment to economic growth and regional stability in the trade ecosystem through mitigation of operational and geopolitical risks. This strategic collaboration between Oando and AfrexInsure will help promote local content in Africas oil and gas sector, said Jonas Mushosho, CEO and principal officer of AfrexInsure. The collaboration, which also underscores a shared commitment aimed at fostering economic empowerment and contributing to the sustainable development of Africas natural resources, will also strengthen the African insurance sector by retaining premium flows within the continent and fostering Africas financial sustainability, he added. Afreximbanks business relationship with Oando has been marked by a couple of key financing initiatives. 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 Last August, the lender facilitated a $650 million financing of Oandos full acquisition of the Nigerian Agip Oil Company from Eni. The transaction is anticipated to help scale the companys production capacity fivefold to 100,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day. In June 2024, Oando through its subsidiary Oando Trading contributed $550 million to a $925 million accordion facility arranged by Afreximbank, enabling it to participate in a $3.3 billion structured crude oil-backed finance facility called Project Gazelle, which was sponsored by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited. An accordion allows a borrower to increase the maximum limit permitted on a loan facility or add a term loan to an existing loan agreement. We have a longstanding relationship with Afreximbank where we have seen the Bank support our vision for energy in Africa, not only with essential financing but also with invaluable guidance and advisory support, Wale Tinubu, Oandos chief executive, said. Following our recent acquisition, a tailored risk identification and mitigation approach is paramount. We are confident that our collaboration with AfrexInsure will provide the necessary oversight to ensure both the adequacy and comprehensiveness of our risk management strategy, he added. Oando is listed in Lagos as well as in Johannesburg. The company reported an 8.6 per cent jump in net profit to N65.5 billion in 2024. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Nigeria, Africas largest economy, has long relied on imports, often at the expense of local industries. However, in a world where self-sufficiency and national branding are becoming increasingly critical, promoting Made in Nigeria is no longer just a patriotic sloganit is an economic necessity. Strengthening local production, enhancing competitiveness, and boosting consumer confidence in homegrown goods will create jobs and drive industrialisation and economic resilience. Despite notable strides in local manufacturing, agriculture, and services, Nigerian products face challenges competing with imports. A well-structured strategy is required to change this narrativeinvolving government intervention, private sector commitment, and consumer buy-in. Why Made in Nigeria Matters Economic Diversification: Reducing over-reliance on oil exports by expanding local manufacturing and services. Job Creation: Encouraging domestic production increases employment opportunities across multiple sectors. Stronger Currency: Decreasing import dependency helps conserve foreign exchange and strengthens the Naira. Export Competitiveness: A well-branded Made in Nigeria initiative can position the country as a key player in global markets. 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 Strategic Imperatives for Promoting Made in Nigeria 1. Strengthening Local Manufacturing and Industrialisation For locally made products to thrive, Nigeria must prioritise industrial development by: Investing in power and infrastructure to reduce the high cost of production. Providing low-interest loans and grants to local manufacturers to scale operations. Establishing industrial clusters and free trade zones to enhance production efficiency and competitiveness. 2. Improving Product Quality and Standardisation One of the major setbacks for Nigerian products is the perception of poor quality. To compete globally, Nigeria must: Strengthen regulatory agencies like SON (Standards Organisation of Nigeria) and NAFDAC to enforce quality control. to enforce quality control. Encourage manufacturers to adopt international certification standards for their products. Support innovation and research & development (R&D) to improve product quality and efficiency. 3. Policy Support and Government Patronage The government has a crucial role to play in driving local production through policies such as: Local Content Laws: Enforcing policies that mandate using locally sourced materials in key sectors. Public Procurement Policies: Government agencies should prioritise Nigerian-made goods in their purchases. Tax Incentives: Reducing taxes and offering duty exemptions for businesses that produce locally. 4. Branding and Marketing Made in Nigeria Globally A strong brand identity can elevate Nigerian products in the global market. To achieve this: A national branding campaign should be launched to build consumer confidence in local goods. Nigerian businesses should leverage e-commerce and digital marketing to reach international customers. Investment in trade fairs and expos will help showcase Nigerian-made products to global buyers. 5. Changing Consumer Perception and Encouraging Local Patronage For Made in Nigeria to succeed, Nigerians must embrace local products. This can be achieved through: Public awareness campaigns highlighting the benefits of buying locally made goods. Incentives for consumers, such as discounts and loyalty programs for purchasing Nigerian products. Encouraging corporate and celebrity endorsements to shift public perception and promote local brands. 6. Expanding Export Opportunities for Nigerian Products Beyond local consumption, Nigeria must position itself as a major exporter of quality goods. This requires: Full utilisation of AfCFTA (African Continental Free Trade Agreement) to access African markets. Improved logistics and port efficiency to ease product movement across borders. Strengthening export financing and trade support schemes to help local producers scale globally. The Road Ahead: A Collective Effort Promoting Made in Nigeria requires the commitment of all stakeholdersgovernment, businesses, and consumers. With the right policies, improved infrastructure, and a shift in consumer mindset, Nigerian products can achieve global recognition. By supporting local industries, Nigeria can unlock vast economic opportunities, create sustainable jobs, and build a resilient economy. The time to act is nowNigeria must take bold steps to turn its potential into a global success story. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print In this interview with PREMIUM TIMES, Koessan Kuawu, Deputy Country Representative of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Nigeria, discusses the challenges of limited access and availability of family planning tools, the misconceptions and hesitancy surrounding birth control, and the urgent need to increase domestic funding to support Nigerias family planning programmes. Excerpt PT: Nigeria has the highest population in Africa, with a high fertility rate and significant unmet needs for family planning. What factors contribute to these unmet needs? Mr Kuawu: The unmet need for family planning is primarily due to a lack of financial resources. Unmet need means that people want access but do not have it. Unmet needs for family planning are usually caused by a lack of contraceptive commodities or limited knowledge about where to obtain them. In some cases, financial constraints prevent people from accessing these family planning tools. However, the primary reason for the unmet need for family planning is the insufficient availability of commodities in the country, largely due to inadequate funding. PT: There are myths and misconceptions about family planning in Nigeria. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later Mr Kuawu: Yes, there are many misconceptions about family planning. One such myth relates to the effectiveness and safety of different methods.People use various family planning methodssome opt for traditional techniques, while others rely on medical approaches. However, some mistakenly use antibiotics or other medications not intended for contraception. This is a dangerous practice, as these medications do not prevent pregnancy, despite common misconceptions. Worse still, they can lead to serious health complications and negatively impact womens reproductive health in the long run. A major contributor to these false beliefs is the lack of proper information and education, particularly among young people. PT: Which group would you consider the most vulnerable and that UNFPA prioritises when addressing limited access to family planning tools? Mr Kuawu: At UNFPA, we adopt a human rights-based and gender-transformative approach, ensuring that access to family planning is recognised as a fundamental human right. It is not a luxury, nor is it coerciveit is a right that every individual should have. Our goal is to make family planning services and supplies as widely accessible as possible, guided by the principle of leaving no one behind. Our priority groups include women and girls in deprived and remote communities, internally displaced persons (IDPs), and people living in hard-to-reach areas. We also extend our focus to individuals with special needs, such as persons with disabilities and those facing financial barriers that prevent them from accessing family planning services. PT: So, how does UNFPA reach these people? Mr Kuawu: We provide the services using a community-based approach, whereby community workers provide the information and access. We also offer contraceptives that can be self-injected, which allows people who cannot access health facilities or who are too far from health facilities to administer the tools themselves when they need to. We also advocate for states to make family planning part of their basic services. That way, people can access some family planning tools at no cost at the primary health facility level. PT: Are there specific states that UNFPA prioritises the most? Mr Kuawu: No, we do not prioritise specific states or regions. Instead, our programmes are guided by the level of need and the vulnerability of the population. Areas with higher vulnerability drive our focus, ensuring that family planning services reach those who need them most. Our programme covers the entire country, but in some regions, other partners are already actively working. To avoid duplication of efforts, we may not intervene in those areas. However, we do not prioritise any particular zone over another. PT: How would you describe the hesitancy toward family planning in different parts of the country? Mr Kuawu: In terms of reluctance for the uptake of family planning, I think it all has to do with beliefs and social norms. It all comes down to having the correct information. I will not say it is particular to Nigeria, but there are still some misconceptions about family planning, about even its reversibility. Some people believe that if you use it, you will be unable to have children when you want to have them later. This is why education and public enlightenment are important. Providing the right information at all levels to youths, women, and men in Nigerian communities will help resolve this. PT: What measures has the organisation implemented to enhance public awareness of family planning? Mr Kuawu: What we do at UNFPA is work with our partners. We work with the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education to provide accurate information to the public. We prioritise information for the youth and hard-to-reach communities so they can make informed decisions about their health, knowing what works and what doesnt. We also work to support the state governments in making modern methods of contraception available where they are unavailable. This is so that they feel less need to explore alternative methods that are not recommended. We also have several sources of information made available, especially to the youth now. We have various platforms. We recently launched a platform called SoftLife 247 in October. It is funded by UNFPA and UNESCO and allows youth to have a self-paced education. You go in at your own pace, you can learn about the subjects, and you have access to information in anonymity and confidentiality. We also have other platforms that provide similar information to the youth. We have a chatbot called YouPlant, where youth can send text messages on WhatsApp to a chatbot that will provide them with reliable information. PT: Nigeria has one of the highest adolescent pregnancy rates in sub-Saharan Africa. What are the measures being implemented to improve sexual education and reproductive health for teenagers? Mr Kuawu: I think this is a very important and good question. You know, adolescents and youths are at the core of our programmes. So what we do is work with government authorities, civil society organisations, community and religious leaders to design what we call comprehensive life education and comprehensive sexual education that provides accurate and correct information to the youth. We also make sure to provide culturally appropriate information and use age-appropriate language. It is important to consider the age of the people our information is addressed to. We want the schools to be involved. These are key tools that we are using to start addressing this because a lack of information or knowledge leads to some of the situations that I have mentioned. PT: In culturally restrictive environments where early sexual activity is common, how can access to family planning for young girls be effectively improved? Mr Kuawu: There are different ways that we are approaching this problem. One is that we train the health workers to be able to provide youth-friendly services to young girls and young boys. Again, here we are talking about a human rights-based approach, so it is their right to request those services. We also work with a number of health facilities. We create what we call youth-friendly centres, where those people who provide the information or support the provision of the services are equally youth. They are people who understand their peers and have been, lets say, subjected to this kind of resistance or barrier. These centres are sometimes in health facilities, sometimes in community facilities, and sometimes in school facilities. The goal is to ensure they provide young people with the correct information and direction on how to access the appropriate services. PT: What is the success rate in areas where these centres were created? Kuawu: I would not be able to give you some figures just on top of my head now, but I know, and it has been proven, not only in Nigeria but in many countries, that the fact of providing the correct information and making the friendly services available can help reduce teenage pregnancies, which are often unwanted. It has proven to be a high-quality and effective intervention that we encourage to be implemented across the board. PT: You mentioned earlier that one of the challenges for family planning programmes in Nigeria is the lack of funding. How can we address this gap as a country and ensure sustainable funding for reproductive health initiatives? Mr Kuawu: Yeah, the gap in family planning financing has been something we have been dealing with for a while, including the authorities. Several initiatives are underway; ultimately, the solution relies on local domestic resource mobilisation. The government itself has to increase its investments in family planning. I am saying investment, not expenditure, because the return on this investment is significant. Its very high, not only in terms of health but also in terms of economic impact and the very, very important impact on the overall health outcome. Now, the government of Nigeria has been stepping up its contribution. Last year, it contributed $4 million to procurement of commodities. We also advocate at the state level, because the $4 million I mentioned is at the federal level. State governments have also been making funds available to procure family planning commodities to fill or reduce the gap that we are experiencing. We are also working with the private sector because this is another important source of contribution. On our own side, we work with our donor communities to continue contributing to our basket fund for family planning and not to reduce their contributions. So, I think it is a work in progress. We have seen some results, but the gap is still there, and we still have a long way to go. PT: Can you highlight these gaps? Mr Kuawu: Yes, if my memory serves me well, last year, for example, we had an estimated need of almost $30 million for family planning commodities. However, there was a gap of around $13 million. You see, this is a significant shortfall. The problem is that the gap keeps increasing because there are more people who want the services, who are more aware and who are willing to take the services or commodities. This is good news, but it requires additional funds. So, every year, the need is increasing, and even though the resources are also increasing, the gap is still there. PT: How would you predict the countrys future in this aspect? Mr Kuawu: It is very difficult to predict. What I can tell is that there is a positive trend. A positive trend in the sense that there are more and more people who understand the usefulness, the benefits of family planning for the overall good of their families. There are people who more and more understand that you need to have the number of children you can take care of, and there are methods that can help you to make that decision. More people understand that nobody will force you to have fewer or a lot more children. You decide how you want it. So, I see that positive trend. The other good thing that we have observed when we visit the field is that we have seen men also taking their spouses to the hospital for all the antenatal care and counseling. More and more men are part of it, so they understand and are more supportive of their women. So, I think there is some positive trend, and I hope this will lead to a bright future for our country. PT: Do you think the US aid freeze can worsen the situation? Mr Kuawu: The family planning programme that we have in the country, at least the part that is managed by UNFPA, is not impacted per se. It is not directly impacted, but the global landscape is changing. It is not just about a particular donor, it is the whole landscape that is changing, and as everybody is saying, this is a wake-up call for all of us, especially in our country. This is a call to step up our game and see how much more we can do ourselves. So, I will say that since it is a wake-up call, I hope that we all step up and do more than we have been able to do so far, so that we can continue to achieve the result that we set for ourselves. PT: Nigerias population is projected to exceed 377 million by 2050, which is just 25 years from now. Do you consider this a welcomed development, or does it pose any challenge to the country? Mr Kuawu: I think population growth can be an opportunity, but it can also pose a number of challenges. It depends on how well we are able to navigate and manage it because population growth could be a source of economic growth for a country. However, it will only be a positive factor when we have a healthy, well-educated population that contributes to the countrys productivity. What will make the difference is really the investments that the country is able to make in health, education, and job creation. If we are able to make the necessary investments in the education of the youth, in the health of the people, in job creation, and especially to make sure that women, girls and youth become a productive workforce, that will be positive for the country. But if we fail to do that, it becomes a challenge because then there will be more people relying on the countrys smaller wealth, which will be a source of some other challenges, including some form of insecurity, some unemployment, and difficult living conditions for the people. It could be something good if it is well managed. PT: The UNFPA plays a key role in reproductive health advocacy. Can you highlight some major ways the UNFPA has collaborated with the government to improve access and awareness in this area? Mr Kuawu: Yes, there are various ways that we have been doing advocacy in general, starting by working with the authorities and the health workforce to educate them so that they can understand and relay information to the public. But we also work with the communities. We have a communitythe CSO community-based organisations that we work withincluding faith-based and community leaders who, when they understand and champion this, can be very, very powerful vectors of change. PT: Based on the UNFPAs groundwork, are there some specific types of family planning programmes that people are more inclined to support? Mr Kuawu: Yeah, that is a good question, but my technical team is better at answering this. Anyway, women are demanding a little more of the reversible methods. That means methods that they can use, which have some effect for a period of time but can be reversed easily. Not methods that are definite, like those that will prevent future occurrences or stop them from having children in the future. From my understanding, reversible methods are in demandalso those that can be renewed with less frequency. Depending on the need, some methods last for three months, others for a longer period, but then they can be reversed as soon as they want to have more children. PT: Does the organisation also provide sensitisation on emergency contraceptives Mr Kuawu: When talking about emergency contraceptives, this usually means the person did not adopt a method in advance of intercourse. Thats why education is so importantpeople need to know what methods are available and the benefits of each one. It is crucial to ensure that this information is widely accessible. This includes spreading awareness through various means, such as mass communication, sensitisation efforts, and community outreach. In some states, we even have community health champions who go around providing this information, helping people understand that they can take preventive measures instead of relying on emergency contraceptives. This approach helps. Once education is combined with the availability of contraceptives, it should ideally reduce the use of emergency contraceptives. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Gombe State Police Command has confirmed the death of two children following a stampede at the Gombe main Eid Ground. The commands spokesperson, Buhari Abdullahi, disclosed this in a statement issued on Sunday in Gombe. According to Mr Abdullahi, the incident occurred at about 10:45 a.m. at the exit gate of the Eid ground, immediately after the conclusion of Eid prayers. The stampede was caused by inadequate exit access, as a large crowd, primarily women and children, rushed to leave the venue. The situation, worsened by intense heat, led to the unfortunate incident, he said. He said that 22 individuals were affected and were immediately taken to hospitals for medical attention. 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 Regrettably, two of the victims, a four-year-old boy and six months old baby girl, were pronounced dead by doctors while receiving treatment, Mr Abdullahi added. He extended the commands condolences to the bereaved families and wished the injured a speedy recovery. The police urge Eid Ground managers to ensure that all entrance and exit gates remain open to facilitate smooth movement, especially after prayers, he advised. In a related development, Governor Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State has condoled with the families of the deceased and those affected by the tragedy. In a statement issued by his media aide on Sunday, the governor directed a thorough investigation into the circumstances that led to the stampede, with the aim of preventing future occurrences. The safety and well-being of our citizens remain a top priority. The state government is committed to learning from this incident and implementing corrective measures, Mr Yahaya said. He also directed that all medical expenses for the injured victims be fully covered by the state government to ensure their recovery and well-being. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print US President Donald Trump has indicated his interest in seeking a third presidential term, despite the Constitution barring it. In a telephone interview with NBC News on Sunday, the president said he was considering ways to breach the constitutional barrier that impedes his chance for a third bid. No, Im not joking. Im not joking, Mr Trump said, but it is far too early to think about it. There are methods which you could do, as you know. He, however, declined to elaborate on specific methods. The US 22nd Amendment limits presidents to a two-term tenure, which means they can only be elected twice. The only exception is if someone serves less than two years of another presidents term due to death, resignation, or removal, in which case they can still be elected for two full terms of their own. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later But this is not the case for President Trump, who served a full term between 2017 and 2021 and is currently serving his second term. ALSO READ: Trump says US raw materials deal with Ukraine to be signed soon Overturning a constitutional amendment is an arduous process. It requires a proposal to secure a two-thirds vote in both houses of Congress, followed by ratification from the legislatures of three-fourths of the 50 US states. However, President Trump stated that he had a number of supporters, citing his poll numbers. A lot of people want me to do it, Mr Trump told NBC News. But, I mean, I basically tell them we have a long way to go, you know. Previous allusion to a third term This is not the first time President Trump has shown interest in a third term. In the past, he had made allusions to it, but his statements have been regarded as merely public musings. This joke has, however, become one that is repeated often. For instance, eight days after his inauguration in January, President Trump, while delivering a speech at the House Republicans annual issues retreat, said he was saving up for his third bid. Ive raised a lot of money for the next race that I assume I cant use for myself, but Im not 100% sure. I think Im not allowed to run again. A few days earlier, an ally and Tennessee representative, Andy Ogles, introduced to the House of Representatives a resolution to initiate the process of amending the Constitution to allow Mr Trump to seek a third term. However, the resolution has made no progress in the chamber. Trump has proven himself to be the only figure in modern history capable of reversing our nations decay and restoring America to greatness, and he must be given the time necessary to accomplish that goal, Mr Ogles said. The lawmakers resolution is designed specifically to allow Mr Trump to serve a third term while preventing three of the four living former presidents from doing the same. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State has pledged 24-hour services for the newly built 260 Type Two Primary Health Centres (PHCs) across the state to improve healthcare delivery. Mr Mbah made this announcement during his Supervisory Visit to the newly completed Emene PHC on Sunday in Enugu. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that his administration is constructing 260 Type Two PHCs across the state, with some already completed and others in progress. The Emene PHC, located in the Enugu East Local Government Area, was one of the PHCs visited by the governor. Mr Mbah reiterated his administrations commitment to ensuring these facilities offered round-the-clock services. Each Type Two PHC will have 24-hour electricity, powered sustainably by renewable energy. 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 There will also be staff quarters to ensure healthcare officers are available to meet the peoples health needs without delay, along with access to water, sanitation, and hygiene, he said. Mr Mbah further assured the people of Emene that a Type Three healthcare facility would be built in the area to complement the Type Two PHC, catering to the communitys needs due to its population density. The governor explained that the initiative was prompted by alarming statistics on maternity and under-five mortality rates, which he described as unacceptable. We needed to act quickly, and this is why were focused on building functional healthcare facilities across both urban and rural areas, Mr Mbah emphasised. Additionally, the governor revealed that similar interventions were ongoing in secondary healthcare facilities, with the renovation of 22 cottage and general hospitals. He also mentioned plans for a 300-bed international hospital in the state. We will attract top-notch medical professionals to provide world-class healthcare services to Enugu people, Mr Mbah assured. Mr Mbah also commended the Enugu East chairman, Beloved-Dan Anike, for registering 5,000 residents for universal healthcare insurance and encouraged other local government chairpersons and state civil servants to follow suit. He urged the people of Emene to take ownership of the facility and ensure its continued functionality. The Zonal Coordinator of the World Health Organisation (WHO) for the South-East, Chukwumuanya Igboekwu, lauded Mr Mbah for revitalising the states PHCs and investing in the economic prosperity of the people. He encouraged the governor to prioritise universal healthcare coverage as an investment that would benefit the state. The Executive Secretary of the Enugu State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Ifeyinwa Ani-Osheku, described Mr Mbahs interventions in primary healthcare as life-saving and radical. She noted that the Emene PHC had already registered 140 residents and facilitated the delivery of two babies, named after the governor, within three weeks of its operation. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, has congratulated former Kwara Central District Senator Ibrahim Oloriegbe on his appointment as the chairperson of the National Health Insurance Agency (NHIA). President Bola Tinubu announced the appointment on Sunday through his spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga. In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Rafiu Ajakaye, the governor said the appointment perfectly fits Mr Oloriegbes background as a medical professional with a passion for the health sector and his achievements as one-time chairman of the Senate Committee on Health. Governor AbdulRazaq thanked President Bola Tinubu for the appointment and described it as an honour for the people of Kwara, especially members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). The governor said he was confident that Mr Oloriegbe would use his wealth of experience, network, and goodwill to make the NHIS more effective and beneficial to the people. Governor AbdulRazaq urged the stakeholders in the subsector to support the new chairman of the NHIA 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 Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The 2023 governorship candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in Enugu State, Chijioke Edeoga, has defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Mr Edeoga announced his defection after he was issued with the PDPs membership card at the partys state secretariat in Enugu on Monday. The former governorship candidate defected alongside other members of the LP. His defection came exactly two months after some PDP leaders in the state visited and asked him to rejoin the party. Mr Edeoga joined the LP in August 2022 after he failed to secure the PDP governorship ticket ahead of the 2023 election, which Peter Mbah, now governor, won. The LP candidate came second in the general election. He subsequently challenged Mr Mbahs victory in various courts, but failed. 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 Defection Mr Edeoga was welcomed back into the PDP by the Chairperson of the party in the state, Martin Chukwunweike, alongside other party leaders. Addressing PDP leaders and reporters, the former governorship candidate said he has now come back home, referring to the PDP. He described his defection as historic and memorable, stressing that it would bring a paradigm shift from the way politics is being played in Enugu State. Next line of action Mr Edeoga later told PREMIUM TIMES on Monday afternoon that he would reveal his political plan shortly. Meanwhile, reliable sources from the PDP informed this newspaper that the party leadership promised to give him a ticket to contest the Enugu East Senatorial District Election in 2027. The politician had represented Enugu East- Isi-Uzo Constituency at the Federal House of Representatives from 1999 to 2003 under the PDPs platform. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Thoughts and Mace Advisory (T&M), a policy and legal consulting firm, has inaugurated its five-member International Advisory Board (IAB). The new advisory board members are from different African countries. T&M, in a statement issued on Monday, described the appointees as globally recognised leaders who will provide strategic guidance and thoughtful leadership to the firm. This development follows the recent launch of its new office in Senegal. Established in 2006, T&M has dedicated its efforts to capacity building, advocacy, public policy analysis, and governance consulting. These recent efforts, according to the firm, underscore its commitment to empowering third-sector organisations, strengthening governance, and delivering expert support to clients across Africa. 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 newly constituted board aims to enhance T&Ms strategic direction and global impact by leveraging expertise from various sectors, including human rights, gender equality, economic development, and humanitarian work, the statement read. The organisation also said the new board will play a pivotal role in addressing complex public policy challenges and bolstering civil society resilience. The new members include; Lassina Zerbo, the former prime minister of Burkina Faso; Ayisha Osori, the Open Society Foundations director; Federico Borello, the interim executive director and chief programmes officer at Human Rights Watch; Salim Mohamed, the co-founder of Carolina for Kibera, an organisation dedicated to youth empowerment and community development in Kenya; and Amy Towers, chair of the Board of Governors at Rutgers University. Although T&M is yet to disclose the specific initiatives the advisory board will oversee, it stated that the newly appointed members will play a critical role in shaping its future direction. The organisation reiterated that its goal is to provide strategic support to Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) at grassroots level, by helping them navigate policy challenges and scale their impact. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State has ordered the immediate suspension of the commander of the Edo State Security Corps, Friday Ibadin, a retired police commissioner, over the killing of hunters in the state. In a statement signed on Saturday by the Secretary to the State Government, Umar Ikhilor, the governor also suspended all illegal vigilante groups operating in the state. Their suspension followed a review of the preliminary report of the gruesome killing of some hunters at Uromi, Esan North East Local Government Area of the state on Thursday, Mt Ikhilor said. It is to be reiterated that the local vigilante group involved in the gruesome killing of 27 March was operating illegally and was never profiled or registered with Edo State Security Corps, Mr Ikhilor said, adding that the actions of the group do not reflect the objectives of the corps. President Tinubu had condemned the killing of the hunters who were intercepted by local vigilantes in the Uromi community of Esan North Local Government Area of the state. In a statement, the president expressed shock at the dastardly act and directed security agencies to conduct swift and thorough investigations and punish the suspected culprits. 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 Governor Okpebholo has ordered an investigation into the incident. Investigations into the killings are ongoing, and 14 persons have been arrested so far, while there is an intense manhunt for others involved in the gruesome killing by a special team set up by the inspector-general of police, the secretary to the state government said in the statement. Mr Ikhilor said the state government is in contact with the families of the victims, community leaders, and the Government of Kano State, where most of the deceased hail from. He urged parties to remain calm and assured of the state governments commitment to ensure justice is done in a transparent manner. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Edo killings have also exposed Nigerias fragile ethnic relations. Many northern politicians see the incident as part of a broader hostility against their people in the South. Some southern commentators argue that insecurity, not ethnicity, was the real trigger. But in a country where tensions simmer beneath the surface, such incidents quickly take on political dimensions. A horrific scene unfolded in Uromi, Edo State, where 16 travellers were lynched in broad daylight, whilst accused of being kidnappers. There was no trial, no investigation just instant execution by an enraged mob convinced it was dispensing justice. But what if they were innocent? What if this was a deadly case of mistaken identity fuelled by fear, insecurity, and ethnic suspicion? This latest act of jungle justice is neither the first nor would, sadly, be the last. Across Nigeria, communities, tired of crime and distrustful of law enforcement, have increasingly taken justice into their own hands. But in doing so, they have become the judge, jury, and executioner, leaving behind a trail of innocent lives, while deepening the countrys insecurity crisis. The Edo killings were brutal and swift. Reports suggest that the victims, said to be of northern origin, were traveling through Uromi when local vigilantes stopped their vehicle. A search reportedly uncovered makeshift weapons nothing uncommon in a country where hunters, herders, and even traders carry arms for protection. But in the heat of suspicion, the mob pounced. Within minutes, they were set ablaze. By the time the police arrived, the damage was irreversible. The victims were burnt beyond recognition. Their only crime? Being at the wrong place at the wrong time in a nation where fear rules over reason. The backlash was immediate. Governor Monday Okpebholo condemned the killings and called for a full investigation. President Bola Tinubu ordered a manhunt for those responsible. Northern leaders decried what they saw as a pattern of targeted ethnic violence. Social media exploded with outrage, with many asking: How did we get here? To stop mob killings, Nigeria must fix its criminal justice system. Security agencies must be seen as enforcers of the law, not as corrupt institutions that protect only the powerful. The government must ensure swift trials and harsh penalties for perpetrators of jungle justice. Community policing must be reformed to curb excesses by vigilante groups. To understand why mobs act with such impunity, one must first confront the rot in Nigerias justice system. When crime goes unpunished, people lose faith in the law. When police officers demand bribes before taking action, victims take matters into their own hands. When kidnappers and bandits terrorise communities without consequences, ordinary citizens resort to jungle justice as their only means of protection. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later This is not just an Edo problem it is a Nigerian one. From the Aluu Four in Rivers State to the lynching of Deborah Samuel in Sokoto, extrajudicial killings have dotted Nigerias history. Over the years, countless people sometimes criminals, often innocent have met gruesome deaths in the hands of angry mobs who are acting out of frustration. Yet, few perpetrators are ever brought to justice. The police issue statements. Governors order investigations. Then, silence. The cycle continues, emboldening those who believe they have the right to kill in the name of justice. The Edo killings have also exposed Nigerias fragile ethnic relations. Many northern politicians see the incident as part of a broader hostility against their people in the South. Some southern commentators argue that insecurity, not ethnicity, was the real trigger. But in a country where tensions simmer beneath the surface, such incidents quickly take on political dimensions. Justice must be blind not to reason, but to prejudice and rage. Until then, the flames of jungle justice will keep burning, consuming the innocent along with the guilty. The question now is: Will justice be served? Or will this, like many before it, be swept under the carpet? To stop mob killings, Nigeria must fix its criminal justice system. Security agencies must be seen as enforcers of the law, not as corrupt institutions that protect only the powerful. The government must ensure swift trials and harsh penalties for perpetrators of jungle justice. Community policing must be reformed to curb excesses by vigilante groups. Above all, Nigerians must recognise the dangers of taking the law into their own hands. Today, it is an alleged kidnapper. Tomorrow, it could be an innocent traveler, a misunderstood stranger or even someone you know. Justice must be blind not to reason, but to prejudice and rage. Until then, the flames of jungle justice will keep burning, consuming the innocent along with the guilty. Abdulhamid Abdullahi Aliyu writes from Center for Crisis Communication (CCC) in Abuja. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Beyond security, the deal yielded tangible financial benefits, unlocking long-contested funds that will directly support Nigerias development and security priorities. This agreement was more than a diplomatic resolution; it was a strategic victory that reinforced Nigerias position on the global stage, proving that with firm leadership, like that shown by Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, Nigerias National Security Adviser and a clear vision, the country can shape negotiations to serve its long-term security and economic interests. In the early days of March 2024, the social media and news mediums were hit with news detailing how Nigerias security agencies had detained Tigran Gambaryan, Binance Holdings Limiteds head of financial crime compliance, and Nadeem Anjarwalla, the companys Africa regional manager. Binance is one of the largest cryptocurrency exchanges in the world. It offers services such as spot trading, futures, staking, and lending. The platform supports numerous cryptocurrencies, allowing users to trade coins like Bitcoin and Ethereum, as well as many altcoins. Binance had been under watch by the Nigerian government for lending itself to suspicious transactions without trace. From cryptocurrency to foreign exchange transactions, transactions totaling over $21.6 billion passed through the Binance platform with no trace by the Nigerian government. The actors behind these transactions ranged from tech enthusiasts, kidnappers, businessmen, bandits, fraudsters, politicians and a long list of persons who were interested in having no traces of their transactions seen by others, let alone state officials. The question is why would anyone want to have their transactions hidden from the eyes of the government? The Nigerian government wanted cooperation from Binance to gain visibility of users of its platform in the country, and their purposes for using it. There was good cause for this. Banditry in Nigeria had been on an alarming rise. Kidnappers, too, were having a field day. They were able to launder proceeds of their crimes through the platform with no trace by the government. It was for this reason that the government sought cooperation from Binance to help it trace the criminals using its platform. And Binance is no stranger to investigations and requests for cooperation. As early as 2018, the US Department of Justice was investigating its platform for potential violations of US anti-money laundering laws and sanctions compliance. Five years later, Binance and its CEO, Changpeng Zhao, pleaded guilty to charges that included operating an unlicensed money-transmitting business. They paid a historic $4.3 billion in penalties for this. 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 Among the atrocities the company committed included facilitating trade with criminal actors, including ransomware gangs. In 2023, it was also indicted by the US Treasury Department for wilfully neglecting Know Your Customer (KYC) requirements that allowed illicit actors to operate freely on their platform. The US Securities and Exchange Commission did not spare Binance, too. In 2021, Germany had given it a warning. And in the same year, the United Kingdom had a tight leash on the platforms activities. The Nigerian governments insistence on transparency and accountability was not an isolated incident. Binance has a notoriety for non-compliance with governments, and Nigeria was going to have none of that. With Mr Gambaryan in custody, the Nigerian government insisted on Binance providing it with details and oversight of its activities. Binance, through proxies and multiple campaigns, tried to get its executive freed, after Nadeem Anjarwalla had escaped from a safe house where he was kept by security operatives. All the tricks in the book were played. None worked. In fact, according to a PREMIUM TIMES exclusive report, senior US officials, including Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Deputy Secretary Kurt Campbell, and FBI Director Christopher Wray, engaged their Nigerian counterparts, including Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar and National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, to press for the release of the detained Binance executive, Tigran Gambaryan. US lawmakers also intensified efforts with a congressional letter to President Biden, urging Mr Gambaryans case to be treated as a hostage situation; they then followed with visits to Nigeria and a resolution in Congress calling for his immediate release. The US did not stop there. The countrys National Security Adviser, Jake Sullivan, called his Nigerian counterpart, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, on 30 September, 2024. PREMIUM TIMES reported that sources indicated to the newspaper that the US softened its stance following this engagement. Previously, US officials and Binance lawyers had approached the matter with a condescending tone, expecting American laws to take precedence. It appeared that Mallam Ribadu gave his counterpart a stern position. Three days later, US Ambassador Richard Mills Jr reached out to Ribadus office, signaling a willingness to resume talks and find a resolution. Throughout the engagement, Nigeria firmly asserted its sovereignty in response to the US pressure to release Tigran Gambaryan, rejecting claims that he was being held as a hostage and emphasising that he was facing trial for financial crimes. This firm stance ultimately forced the US to adopt a more conciliatory approach, leading to negotiations that resulted in the eventual dismissal of charges and the release of Tigran Gambaryan, and an agreement by both countries on a deal that places Nigeria at a better position today than it was before the Binance arrests. In the agreement, Nigeria insisted that any release of Mr Gambaryan must be portrayed solely as a diplomatic gesture to the United States, and that his handover would be only to US officials, rather than directly to Binance. Nigeria also demanded unfettered US cooperation in its law enforcement actions against Binance and other cryptocurrency firms, including clear identification of the US Department of Justice officials, who would provide technical assistance on Nigerias Binance investigation. According to the report, a significant part of that deal was where Nigeria called for swift action to return roughly $380 million in seized assets, detailing amounts from cases involving payments by former NSA Sambo Dasuki, property forfeitures linked to Diezani Alison-Madueke and Jide Aluko, assets associated with Sani Abacha frozen in France, and a recent seizure from a former governors family. Nigeria also requested that the US formally submit its release demand in a letter addressed to President Bola Tinubu also copied to the National Security Adviser, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and the Attorney General/Minister of Justice while emphasising that releasing Mr Gambaryan would not obstruct ongoing investigations and prosecutions against Binance and its officials. US Ambassador to Nigeria, Richard Mills is reported to have communicated these terms to the US government, and within a few days the US had signed them, leading to Mr Gambaryans release on the 23rd of October, 2024. Remarkably, six days later, former US President, Joe Biden called President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to thank him for his release. Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, Nigerias minister of Foreign Affairs shared highlights of the call as thus: The two leaders exchanged pleasantries, and President Biden proceeded to thank President Tinubu for his partnership and for Nigerias partnership, in particular the collaboration between the two countries with regards to our law enforcement and law enforcement agencies as well as the release of one of the suspects of the cryptocurrency exchange company (Binance). That deal was a power move for Nigeria. It already has begun birthing results. Take for instance, the US embassy in Nigeria announced the launch of the US-Nigeria Bilateral Liaison Group on Illicit Finance and Cryptocurrencies; coincidentally this was announced on the same day that Mr Gambaryan was released. This partnership will see the US assist Nigeria to build its capacity to pursue cybercrime investigations and prosecutions. It is also expected that the two countries will cooperate in countering and responding to malicious cyber operations, cybercrime, and other digital harms. This was not the only good that came out of the US deal with Nigeria. Funds totalling $6.02 million seized by American authorities nearly a decade ago, stemming from a botched arms deal, was released to Nigeria by a Federal Court in Eastern California in late December as a result of the deal. The money had been confiscated from an arms broker tasked with facilitating the sale of military equipment from the United States to Nigeria. The broker, lacking the requisite export licence, ran afoul of the US Arms Export Control Act. According to the US government, the intermediarys unauthorised role in the sale, export, and delivery of military hardware to Nigeria triggered the seizure, freezing the funds in legal limbo. The US government had previously resisted Nigerias bid to recover the funds. In another major gain from the deal, on the 10th of January, Nigeria secured the return of $52.88 million from the United States, a windfall tied to the kleptocratic excesses of former Petroleum Minister Diezani Alison-Madueke and businessman Kola Aluko. The agreement, inked by Nigerias Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, and the US Ambassador, Richard Mills Jr, earmarks a portion, $50 million, for a rural electrification scheme, to be overseen by the World Bank, while the remaining $2.88 million will flow as a grant to the International Institute for Justice, that will fund a counter-terrorism initiative to train criminal-justice officials across East, West, and North Africa. Driven by the National Security Adviser, with the collaboration of other senior government officials, very few Nigerians are talking about this deal. Fewer know about it. But it means a great deal to Nigeria, its relations with the US, and its ambitions to tackle challenges of economic sabotage and criminality. It will provide Nigeria the means to investigate Binance and those who have used its platforms to orchestrate crime in the country. The collaboration that has come out of this deal further strengthens Nigerias institutional capacity to safeguard its economy from digital threats, ensuring that future financial crimes whether involving cryptocurrency firms or other actors are met with a coordinated and forceful response. Beyond security, the deal yielded tangible financial benefits, unlocking long-contested funds that will directly support Nigerias development and security priorities. This agreement was more than a diplomatic resolution; it was a strategic victory that reinforced Nigerias position on the global stage, proving that with firm leadership, like that shown by Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, Nigerias National Security Adviser and a clear vision, the country can shape negotiations to serve its long-term security and economic interests. Mohammed T. Abiodun, a historian writes from Abuja. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Katsina State Governor, Dikko Umaru Radda, has described the hosting of members of the diplomatic corps during this years Eid-el-Fitri celebrations as a historic milestone poised to open doors for future partnerships and investment opportunities. Speaking at the Eid-el-Fitri durbar gala night held yesterday at Hillside Royal Suites Katsina, Governor Radda noted, This is a historic day for our state. For the first time in our history, we are hosting dignitaries from across the globe, marking a significant milestone. Your presence here today is just the beginning of a partnership that could lead to future investments and collaborations that will benefit our state, the governor stressed. Governor Radda also took the opportunity to showcase Katsinas rich heritage, noting that the state has produced three presidents in Nigerias history. Our state is blessed in many ways. Notably, we have produced three presidents in Nigerias history, including Muhammadu Buhari in both military and civilian leadership, and the late Umaru Musa YarAdua of blessed memory, he said. The governor emphasized that the event aimed to present the true image of Katsina State beyond media portrayals. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later We want the world to know that the negative portrayals of our state in the media are not reflective of our reality. Today, you are here in Katsina, experiencing firsthand the true essence of our people and culture, Governor Radda remarked. The governor further expressed gratitude to the visiting diplomats and their spouses, I extend my heartfelt appreciation to Your Excellencies for your kind words and generous gestures. Your presence herespending time with us, sharing meals, and engaging with our peopleis something we deeply cherish and do not take for granted. Katsina has long been a land of hospitality, with a rich cultural heritage and traditions. We felt it was important to share that with you. I believe you have witnessed our warmth, interacted with our people, and formed meaningful connections. I am confident that these relationships will continue to grow and strengthen over time, the governor explained. In his remarks, the European Union Ambassador to Nigeria, Gautier Mignot lauded Katsina State for its rich cultural heritage, safety, and extraordinary hospitality. Speaking on behalf of nine ambassadors and their spouses who participated in the visit, Mr Mignot expressed gratitude for the experience that took them beyond what he called the Abuja diplomatic bubble. Nigeria is a vast and vibrant nation, brimming with cultural diversity. Some of these traditions are truly magnificent, rooted in centuries of history. The heritage of Katsina State, as weve witnessed, is a shining example, Mr Mignot stated. Similarly, the EU diplomat detailed how much they had learned about Katsinas culture in just 24 hours, noting, Youve opened our eyes to your culture: the vibrant durbar procession, the flavours of your cuisinelike the exquisite salad we enjoyed todayand the artistry of your attire. Mr Mignot remarked, I confess, Im still learning how to gracefully navigate your regal settings without upending chairs! But beyond the humuor, weve been moved by your music, dances, and the warmth of your people. The Ambassador particularly stated, To build partnerships, we must first understand one anotheryour values, your history, and the spirit of your community. True friendship and collaboration begin with cultural respect. Commending the states hospitality, Mr Mignot stressed, Your hospitality has been unparalleled. The gifts youve bestowedcrafted with such careare symbols of this budding friendship. We leave inspired, eager to champion Katsinas heritage and explore new avenues of cooperation. As a token of appreciation, the Deputy Governor of Katsina State, Faruk Lawal Jobe, on behalf of Katsina State Government, presented special gifts packages to the international guests, containing a book about Katsinas history, chronicling its evolution from province to a state. The durbar was attended by ambassadors from Bulgaria, Belgium, Finland, Portugal, Serbia, Mexico, Ireland, Poland, Vietnam and the European Union. Other top attendees of the event include the secretary to the State Government, Abdullahi Faskari; Chief of Staff to the Governor, Abdulkadir Mamman Nasir; members of the State Executive council and traditional title holders. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The PayIDGambler website was established in 2022 by Alexis Collins and quickly gained trust among Australian gambling lovers. It offers high-quality PayID guides, created by the team of experts, who were in the industry for many years. In this article, we are going to review the main aspects of the PayIDGamblers guides and analyse the teams values with the help of special interviews of the experts. What the Readers Can Find On the PayIDGambler? Our team deeply researched the PayIDGambler.net website and its content, so now we are ready to share the information that it provides. Here the Australian gamblers can find: unique insights about PayID how to link PayID to different Australian bank accounts guide on how to make deposits and withdrawals fees and limits of PayID payments PayID pokies recommendations tips on how to enhance tips on how to spot a PayID scam the best alternatives to this payment method a guide on how to use PayID in casinos that do not accept it On the PayIDGambler website, you can find not only these themes, but also many other useful and handy tips, which definitely will answer all the questions about PayID. PayIDGamblers Professional Team and Their Values Many things are important to make a website gain popularity and trust among the readers. Today, the PayIDGamblers team shared some of the most important in their opinion. As the PayIDGamblers creator and editor-in-chief, I can confidently say that the main values for us are transparency and honesty. Our website sincerely reviews all the pros and cons of using PayID in the online gambling sphere, which means we are trying our best to create the perfect detailed content for our users. Moreover, we never use any AI-generated content, because we genuinely believe that the first-class and objective opinion can be provided only by real human professionals. shares Alexis Collins, the websites editor-in-chief and a gambling expert. 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 Moreover, the quality of the content is being regularly checked by the content editor Kylie Mino, who says: When it comes to my work, I try my best to provide the PayIDGamblers readers with the most high-quality content without any, even the smallest, mistakes so they would explore the PayID iGaming world uninterrupted and as pleasant as possible. Earning Money Without Selling the Honesty As many readers know, affiliate marketing is a type of advertisement, where one platform encourages its users to visit the partner links and consume the companys products and services. This means that when PayIDGamblers readers visit and create an account in the recommended online casinos by the platforms links, the website receives a commission. Alexis Collins decided to share how it works on PayIDGambler: Of course, everyone understands that the website needs to earn money for covering running costs, paying staff or improving the overall quality of the website. However, PayIDGambler never gives any recommendations to the casinos that werent verified and deeply researched by our team and me personally. I truly believe that choosing a genuine honest to the readers over money is the key to a successful and well-trusted platform. PayIDGamblers Communication with Customers One more important thing to gain the trust among the readers is contact and communication with them. PayIDGamblers users are sure that only the real experts, who care about their customers provide them with the most trustworthy, relevant and top-tier information, because there are a few types that they can communicate with the creators of the platform and even with other readers. For example, Alexis Collins created a PayIDGambler Community, where all the Australian gamblers can chat not only with one another but also with Collins and her team directly. Moreover, there is a websites Casino Complaint Form, which is not a direct communication, but still ensures all the Aussies that they will receive professional customer support at PayIDGambler, if they get in any casino troubles. And finally, the readers can write on PayIDGambler email [email protected], if any of the previous communication methods dont suit them. PayIDGamblers Expert Alexis Collins Shares Her Thoughts on PayIDs Future Specially for this Interview Specially for our article, Alexis Collins decided to share her expert opinion on PayIDs future: Well, in my own gambling journey I prefer PayID payment method, but now I want to share my opinion on PayIDs future. To totally decide if it has a big future we need to understand all its pros and cons. I would say that the main strengths are the instant paying process of both small deposits and big withdrawals, high level of security due to SSL encryption and the absence of any additional charging fees. But we still cant deny the fact that theres a lack of anonymity, as anyone could know the users name through the email and the 2019 case, where personal data of almost 100,000 were exposed due to the systems glitches. However, as at the moment PayID has more than 12 million users and continues to regularly improve, I believe that after a while PayID disadvantages will be totally corrected and it will be the number one payment method on the Australian gambling marketplace. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State has paid a condolence visit to the Deputy President of the Senate, Barau Jibrin, over the killings of 16 travellers in Uromi, Esan North East Local Government Area of Edo State. Mr Okpebholo told Mr Jibrin that 14 arrested suspects would be moved to the Police Force Headquarters in Abuja to ensure a thorough investigation of the incident. A statement by Mr Jibrins media aide, Ismail Mudashir, said the governor visited Mr Jibrin at his residence in the Maitama District of Abuja on Monday. Mr Mudashir said the governor extended his condolences to the Deputy President of the Senate, representing Kano North District, and pledged that the Edo State Government would assist the victims families. Its unfortunate that it happened in our state. We are here to let you and others know that we are unhappy. The president is taking drastic action, and hes not happy. The IG has swung into action. The DIG CID is in charge. So far, they have arrested 14 suspects. So they are bringing them to Abuja for interrogation. We have also set up a committee to see that we take care of the families of the deceased, the governor quoted in the statement. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later Mr Okpebholo assured that the perpetrators will face the full wrath of the law and described the killings as unfortunate and condemnable. Responding, Mr Jibrin said the perpetrators must be brought to book to serve as a deterrent to others. We cannot undo what has been done. But we all want all Nigerians to look forward to ensuring these people are arrested and brought to justice. And you are doing well in that direction. And Im also glad youve spoken about the fact that your government is ready to assist the families of those affected. I want you to continue to pursue the case so that all those who were involved in these barbaric actions are brought to justice. Its a barbaric action, to say the facts. If they are brought to justice, it would serve as a deterrent to those who might want to do this in future. I know that people from other parts of the country have been staying with your people in Edo for centuries in a very conducive atmosphere. And this barbaric act has never happened. Im sure, under your watch, this will not happen again. I thank you very much. Youve told me that youll meet the Kano State governor today. This is very good. Please continue what you are doing. Mr President also told us that you are doing very well in this direction, and we have seen it because, as I said, we have spoken several times on this matter in the last 72 hours, Mr Jibrin said. The victims, reportedly hunters travelling from Rivers State to Kano for Sallah celebrations, were attacked by vigilante members and armed youths who reportedly blocked their vehicle, dragged them out one by one, beat them, and then set them ablaze after being labelled as kidnappers. The killing has sparked outrage across Nigeria, with many individuals and groups calling for the arrest and prosecution of the suspects. Amnesty International has called for an investigation into the alleged lynching of at least 16 travellers. In a statement on Friday signed by the Country Director, Isa Sanusi, the international rights organisation condemned the gruesome act and urged the Nigerian government to ensure justice for the victims. The Nigerian authorities must go beyond merely condemning the incident and ensure that the suspected attackers are apprehended and brought to justice in a fair trial, the statement read. The consistent failure of the Nigerian government to punish mob violence has created an environment in which violent mobs believe themselves entitled to take the law into their own hands, Mr Sanusi said. Harrowing footage of the incident went viral on social media, showing the victims pleading for their lives as a cheering crowd watched the vigilantes attack them with axes, iron rods, and machetes. The attackers tied the victims to used tyres, doused them in petrol, and set them on fire. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The police in Delta State, south-south Nigeria, have said a hotel manager and two others allegedly stabbed a lodger to death in the state. The victim has been identified as Sunday Ogofotha. The police spokesperson in the state, Bright Edafe, disclosed this via a video clip uploaded on his Facebook page on Friday. Mr Edafe, a superintendent of police, said the incident happened on 21 March in Owhelogbo, a village in Isoko Community, Isoko North Local Government Area of the state. How it happened The police said Mr Ogofotha had lodged in Century Hotel in the community when two unidentified men visited the hotel. He said the two men approached the manager, Godwin, and requested permission to see Mr Ogofotha in his room. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later Mr Edafe said the men promised to give the manager N5 million if he allowed them to access Mr Ogofothas room. Perhaps, moved by the N5 million promised, Godwin allegedly allowed them access into the room without identifying who they were and the business they had with the lodger, the police said. Mr Edafe said Godwin, after a while, saw only one of the men and also observed that Mr Ogofothas room had been locked with a padlock from the outside. He said the manager subsequently forced the door open and observed that Mr Ogofotha was dead, but he did nothing. Meanwhile, according to the police spokesperson, the deceased had phoned his wife and informed her that he lodged at the hotel, which prompted her to contact other family members when she could not longer reach him via phone. When relatives went to the hotel (in search of the man), the manager denied knowledge of the guys (whereabouts) claiming the guy had already checked out, he said. It was after he was arrested that he confessed. Mr Edafe said apart from Godwin, three others, including the two men, had been arrested. Suspect speaks The manager, Godwin, narrated in the clip that the two men requested to collect something from Mr Ogofotha at the hotel room. They told me if they collect the thing from the man, they were going to give me N5 million, he said, without his face being shown in the clip. Godwin said when he opened the room after about an hour and found out the lodger had died, he fled due to fear. How I was arrested Godwin narrated that after he fled, his uncle, who owns the hotel, reported the incident to vigilante operatives in the community. I went to a womans house to pass the night. Early in the morning, I came out to find out how the issue was, that was when vigilante (operatives) and community boys held me, he said. The manager told the police spokesperson that the two arrested men murdered the victim in the hotel room. Not the first time During interrogations, Godwin confessed that he first met the two other suspects in December. The manager said the two men had brought a female PoS operator into the hotel during the time and gifted him N300,000. He admitted that since then he has not seen the woman. Hotel razed Mr Edafe said some angry people burnt down the hotel because of the development. The police spokesperson did not, however, mention the people who razed the hotel and when it happened. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Chairperson of the Igbo-Eze South Local Council of Enugu State, Ugo Ukwueze, has disclosed that the over five-month delay in the appointment of supervisors was a collective decision of the council chairpersons in the state. He said Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State was not responsible for the delay. Mr Ukwueze, who is the vice-chairperson of the Association of Local Government in Nigeria (ALGON), Enugu chapter, disclosed this on 24 March after the swearing-in of the supervisors of Igbo-Eze South Council at Ibagwa. The chairperson said Governor Mbah did not bar council chairpersons from appointing their supervisors. All the 17 local government areas of Enugu State began appointing and confirming the appointments of their respective councillors on Friday last week. We had about three working days within which to execute the assignment. This is the time frame we issued to ourselves at the ALGON level. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later Supervisors are statutory offices at the local councils in Nigeria. There is the need to bring on board the creme of supervisors whose wealth of experience and expertise would help each of the 17 local government chairmen to deliver on their mandate, Mr Ukwueze said, adding that the council chairpersons in the state have a cordial relationship with Governor Mbah. He commended the governor for spreading development evenly at the grassroots and thanked him for constructing smart green schools and type 2 primary healthcare centres in all the electoral wards of the 17 local government areas. All the wards in my local government, now have at the completion stage, smart green schools. All the 16 wards in my local governments now have, at the completion stage, Type 2 primary healthcare centres. These facilities are uniform in Igbo-Eze South, just as it is in any other local government. Speaking on behalf of the councillors of Igbo-Eze South, Odo Samuel, the supervisor of works, thanked Mr Ukwueze for the opportunity given to him and his colleagues to serve. He promised to work in synergy with the chairperson to deliver on his campaign promises. Mr Odo commended the chairperson for upgrading schools and implementing the skill acquisition programme for the youth. Other newly sworn-in supervisors are Alumona Casmir, Health; Ugwoke Ijeoma, Finance; Justina Ijeoma, Agriculture; and Asoanya Paul, Education/Social Services. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Governor Alex Otti of Abia State has expressed condolences to the leadership of the State Joint Security Command over a road accident which resulted in the death of their team member. Other members of the team sustained injuries. The accident occurred on Sunday, 30 March, at Isieke along the Umuahia-Bende Road. Mr Otti has expressed sadness over the accident, according to a statement issued on Monday by the governors Special Adviser (media and publicity), Ferdinand Ekeoma. Mr Ekeoma said the Abia State Government rushed the surviving victims to the nearest hospital and that they are receiving treatment. Governor Otti, while condoling with the Joint Command and the family of the deceased officer, assured that his administration would ensure the injured receive the best of medical attention to ensure they recuperate as quickly as possible. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later Mr Otti noted that the Joint Security Taskforce (Operation Crush) has been doing a wonderful job in securing the state against criminals and assured that his administration will continue to give them the necessary support required to ensure they sustain the tempo. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has issued a warning, threatening to dethrone the traditional rulers of Ifon, Erin Osun, and Ilobu if violence recurs in the communities after a period of respite from killings and property destruction in the three warring communities. Governor Adeleke gave the warning on Monday in a statement signed by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed. The statement said the warning comes amidst reports of planned attacks by faceless groups in the conflict areas. In the midst of Sallah celebrations, I got reports of some people planning another round of conflict around Ifon, Ilobu and Erin Osun towns. The security agencies have tightened surveillance to ensure no attacks take place, the statement read. According to Mr Rasheed, the governor has ordered the speeding up of the interrogation of key leaders and actors in the conflict. Governor Adeleke reminded traditional rulers that they would be held accountable for any breach of peace in their communities. 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 Additionally, I will remove from office any traditional ruler where violence recurs. This card is on the table. Royal fathers of each town must call their subjects to order. I will wield the big stick. Enough is enough, the governor said. He said that his administration will re-impose a 24-hour curfew in Ifon, Ilobu, and Erin Osun communities if violence erupts again. The governor had initially relaxed the curfew from 24 hours to 17 hours as a humanitarian gesture to alleviate the suffering of people affected by the conflict. The curfew we relaxed was on humanitarian grounds. As a compassionate government, we know many innocent people are suffering because of the evil agenda of a few elements across the conflict areas. Any attempt to exploit the adjustment of the curfew for renewed violence will be met with full re-imposition of the 24-hour curfew, he said. The Governors warning is the latest effort to restore peace in the troubled communities, which have been plagued by violence in recent times. Osun communal clash The conflict between the Ilobu, Ifon-Osun, and Erin Osun communities is rooted in a long-standing land dispute. The latest wave of violence erupted on Thursday, 20 March, between the communities, resulting in the loss of lives and destruction of properties. According to reports, violence led to the loss of lives and destruction of properties. Residents fled their homes and sought refuge in nearby communities. The number of casualties and the worth of property destroyed across the conflict zones are not yet known. Reports indicated that three persons died when the violence broke out. The governor, during a tour of the three communities about a week ago, lamented the level of destruction in the areas. The governor discovered scores of houses, two filing stations, and many cars were burnt down. About four buildings were reportedly torched in Ifon Osun. The three towns appeared deserted as few individuals staying back were seen peeping through their windows during the tour. At the peak of the crisis, thousands of residents took refuge in neighbouring communities. The communities have traded accusations over the renewed attacks and killings in their domains resulting from the protracted land disputes, with Ilobu on one side of the divide and Erin Osun with Ifon Osun on the other side. To forestall further breakdown of law and order, Governor Adeleke imposed a 24-hour curfew on the warring communities. He later relaxed the curfew to 17 hours, beginning at 2 p.m. and ending at 7 a.m. the following day. On 26 March, Governor Adeleke directed the immediate establishment of three camps for those displaced in the communal clashes. The governor said he gave the directive after confirming the implementation of his earlier directive for the distribution of food and relief materials to the displaced people. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print GENEVA, March 31, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- For over 30 years, EUROMONEY has been the benchmark for awards in the European banking industry. In order to recognize the many independent wealth managers/EAM/MFOs that are excelling in the wealth management space, EUROMONEY has introduced this year a dedicated category: PRIVATE BANKING 2025 BEST WEALTH MANAGER. Novum's team attending the Euromoney's award ceremony on 28 March 2025, London (PRNewsfoto/NOVUM CAPITAL PARTNERS) After three months of deliberation and an 80-page application, Geneva-based multi-family office NOVUM CAPITAL PARTNERS has been awarded as PRIVATE BANKING SWITZERLAND 2025 BEST WEALTH MANAGER by EUROMONEY's editorial and research teams as well as an external panel of industry practitioners. Traditionally reserved for banking institutions, this recognition highlights the high level of professionalism among independent wealth managers, particularly NOVUM. Their independence, flexibility, and high-net-worth client service make this multi-family office a true alternative to private banks. According to EUROMONEY's team, "NOVUM CAPITAL PARTNERS has swiftly emerged as a dynamic player in the Swiss wealth management sector, distinguished by specialised service and a sophisticated approach tailored to ultra-high-net-worth (UHNW) families. The firm embraces a specialised service model featuring a one-to-one employees-to-client ratio, enabling deep customization across 14 jurisdictions." This distinction also acknowledges the exceptional growth of NOVUM CAPITAL PARTNERS, founded in 2018, which today has 36 employees and over 5 billion Swiss francs in assets under management. Gabriele Gallotti, co-founder and CEO of NOVUM, says, "We are honored that EUROMONEY has recognized the unique value proposition we offer to our HNWI clients a proposition that is not only different from that of the banks but also distinct from other independent wealth managers." Novum Capital Partners SA is a Multi-Family Office specialising in wealth management and family office services for UHNWI clients. Novum's aim is to assist its clients in the global management of their assets, with the objective of providing them with peace of mind. Through its business model, Novum advises its clients without any form of conflict of interest. Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2654098/Novum_Capital_Partners_Euromoney.jpg Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2654097/Novum_Capital_Partners_Logo.jpg Contact: Mathieu Mollard mathieu@comandwealth.ch +41 (0)79.612.16.47 DURBAN, South Africa, March 31, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Recently, Yangtze Optics Africa Cable (Pty) Ltd (YOA Cable) solidified its position as the largest optical fibre manufacturer in Africa following a significant expansion investment of optical fibre manufacturing facility, located at the Dube Trade Port in KwaZulu-Natal, a coastal South African province, marking a significant milestone in local optical fibre manufacturing and innovation. The expansion will also generate additional job opportunities, with about 25% of these positions focused on leadership roles and internships through YOA Cable's Learnership and Internship Programme. This initiative aligns directly with the Youth Employment Programme, underscoring our commitment to nurturing the next generation of professionals and contributing to the local economy. Working with other strategic partners, YOA Cable is now able to localise the supply of natural polyethylene supply. This is the first locally produced polyethylene product used in the manufacturing of optical fibre cable in South Africa, in more than 20 years. This is a first-hand example of the positive impact that localisation of the optical fibre supply chain can have. The facility's expansion directly responds to the growing demand for high-speed connectivity, fuelled by the rapid digital transformation across industries, including education, healthcare, e-commerce, and government services. It will be crucial in supporting South Africa's growing digital economy. With the rapid expansion of 5G and AI-driven technologies, the demand for high-speed connectivity has never been greater. With this increased scale, YOA Cable will now be at the forefront of this digital transformation in South Africa. This development will not only enhance scalability but also strengthen its competitive edge in an increasingly evolving market. The growth initiative will enable YOA Cable to tap into new opportunities beyond South Africa, including neighbouring countries where it has previously seen success, and further enhance efforts to contribute towards the country's skills development efforts in this highly specialized sector. The Government of South Africa has welcomed YOA Cable's investment in the country's digital infrastructure. According to Yunus Hoosen, Head of Invest SA within the DTIC, "this expansion marks a pivotal moment in the country's push towards achieving digital inclusivity and strengthening local manufacturing capabilities." Hoosen noted that the South African government views this investment as an integral part of the country's broader digital transformation strategy. The ongoing collaboration between the private sector and government, through initiatives like this, is helping to create a more connected, inclusive, and innovative economy for all South Africans. Local optical fibre cable manufacturing and expertise will enable direct collaboration with telecom operators and fibre network owners to develop fit-for-purpose products supplied cost effectively. In turn, this will be important in expanding broadband access, bridging the connectivity gaps, and particularly providing connectivity in remote and rural areas to enable greater economic participation. Since 2014, Yangtze Optical Fibre and Cable Joint Stock Limited Company (YOFC) has significantly expanded international operations as a key component of the company's globalization roadmap. We now operate over 50 offices worldwide, establishing a robust global marketing and service network that extends across 100 countries and regions. We have established eight production facilities in six countriesIndonesia, South Africa, Brazil, Poland, Germany, and Mexico. The strategic distribution of facilities allows us to customize our operations to meet local demands effectively. These initiatives not only cater to local markets and boost economic development but also generate significant employment opportunities within these communities. At YOFC, we are dedicated to extending fibre optic connectivity to every corner of the globe. By partnering with industry leaders worldwide, we aim to advance the adoption of fibre technology, bridge the digital divide, and address developmental disparities. Our goal is to ensure that everyone has access to more reliable and high-quality network connections, fostering a digitally enriched quality of life for all. For more information, please visit YOFC's website - https://en.yofc.com/ SOURCE YOFC WALTHAM, Mass., March 31, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Following a successful pilot in the U.S. in 2023, Clifford Chance, with support from Tapestry Networks, held the inaugural meeting in Europe of the AI Connect Forum on 11 December 2024. AI Connect aspires to be the definitive collaboration platform on artificial intelligence for leaders of the world's foremost organizations, enabling them to learn, to shape solutions, and to connect with one another and with top experts. Logos for Tapestry Networks and Clifford Chance Directors and executives from top global companies and financial institutions, policymakers, subject matter experts, and Clifford Chance leaders met in London to discuss AI applications, the governance and oversight of the technology, and the potential impact the mass deployment of more powerful models may have on society. The meeting was attended by 28 senior leaders from companies with a combined market capitalization of approximately $5.4 trillion. The culmination of these discussions is presented in the comprehensive report, "Advancing adoption and oversight of AI." Devika Kornbacher, Co-Chair, Global Tech Group at Clifford Chance, says: "AI Connect has become a pivotal program for fostering collaboration and innovation in the rapidly-evolving AI landscape. By bringing together leaders with various roles in several sectors, we are advancing the conversation around effective widespread adoption of AI. This initiative underscores our commitment to harnessing AI's potential while navigating its complexities for the benefit of society." The report delves into several key themes: The deployment of generative AI is in its early stages : The pace of change in AI has been rapid over the past two years. While some technologists are questioning if generative AI models are reaching their limits, participants agree that the commercialization of the technology is still in its infancy. To capitalize on the promise the technology presents, companies must balance their focus across three unique horizons: productivity, reasoning, and automation. : The pace of change in AI has been rapid over the past two years. While some technologists are questioning if generative AI models are reaching their limits, participants agree that the commercialization of the technology is still in its infancy. To capitalize on the promise the technology presents, companies must balance their focus across three unique horizons: productivity, reasoning, and automation. Companies are confronting barriers as they seek to accelerate adoption : Companies are making substantial investments to integrate AI, yet they face consistent obstacles that limit the technology's effectiveness and potential return on investment. As a result, organizations are experimenting with different strategies to accelerate adoption. : Companies are making substantial investments to integrate AI, yet they face consistent obstacles that limit the technology's effectiveness and potential return on investment. As a result, organizations are experimenting with different strategies to accelerate adoption. The risks and oversight of AI are evolving with the technology : As organizations have had more time to experiment with the technology, new risks and concerns are emerging. At the same time, oversight and governance remain a work in progress. : As organizations have had more time to experiment with the technology, new risks and concerns are emerging. At the same time, oversight and governance remain a work in progress. The regulatory environment is fluid as policymakers balance potentially competing priorities : In 2024, the regulatory environment surrounding AI changed dramatically, and it is likely to accelerate in 2025 as regimes take distinct approaches to balancing AI safety with the race to lead in AI supremacy. Tucker Nielsen, Managing Director at Tapestry Networks, says: "The AI beat marches on and, if any, will only accelerate as companies, policymakers, and society at large grapple with how to responsibly deploy the technology. As DeepSeek demonstrates, AI remains a fluid playing field which presents both real opportunities and risks for senior leaders." About Clifford Chance Clifford Chance is one of the world's pre-eminent law firms, with significant depth and range of resources across five continents. Our Tech Group is a global integrated multidisciplinary team of more than 600 tech-savvy lawyers delivering connected, expert legal advice to clients on their most exciting, complex and transformational tech-related matters. We recognize that rapid advances in technology are significantly impacting our clients' business models, their growth strategies and even day-to-day decision making, bringing opportunities to be harnessed and risks to be navigated. About Tapestry Networks Tapestry Networks is the premier firm for building collaboration platforms for leaders of the world's foremost organizations. We bring senior leaders together to learn and to shape solutions to today's most pressing challenges. Chanelle Mutawe [email protected] Media relations contact: Tucker Nielsen [email protected] SOURCE Tapestry Networks BETHESDA, Md., March 31, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Alley Cat Allies, the leader of the global movement to protect cats and kittens, is offering a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to the prosecution and conviction of any person(s) involved in the antifreeze poisoning of community cats at a mobile home community in Warren, Ohio. Authorities believe at least three cats were killed by this horrific act of cruelty. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Animal Welfare League (AWL) of Trumbull County Humane Investigations Department at 330-539-5300 or [email protected]. On March 26, 2025, Trumbull AWL Humane Agents responded to a report and discovered three bowls containing tuna mixed with antifreeze and bleach in an outdoor area at the Blue Water Manor mobile home community. A bottle of bleach was discarded on the ground near the bowls. All signs point to local community cats, or unowned cats who live outdoors, as the target of deliberate poisoning. Three cats are believed to have consumed the poisoned food and died as a result. Antifreeze is well known to be toxic to cats and has a sweet taste that attracts animals. It only takes a teaspoon of ethylene glycol, the main ingredient of antifreeze, to poison a cat. Cats who ingest the toxin suffer a slow and painful death. "Alley Cat Allies is working with Trumbull AWL to ensure justice is served for the cats who suffered and died under this act of senseless, disturbing cruelty," said Charlene Pedrolie, president and chief operating officer of Alley Cat Allies. "We ask anyone with information to please come forward, for the sake of these cats and the many more whose lives are at risk right now." Any knowledge about this incident of antifreeze poisoning could be crucial to the investigation and prosecution. Again, anyone with information is asked to contact the Trumbull AWL Humane Investigations Department at 330-539-5300 or [email protected]. Alley Cat Allies reward terms and conditions can be found at alleycat.org/RewardTerms. About Alley Cat Allies Alley Cat Allies believes every cat deserves to live out his or her life to the fullest. Founded in 1990, Alley Cat Allies is the leading advocacy organization for cats with a mission to transform and develop communities to protect and improve the lives of all cats and kittens. Together with our over 1.5 million supporters, we work toward a world where cats are valued and every community has humane and effective programs and policies to defend them. Through our fearless advocacy, humane care, education and outreach, and law and policy activism, we equip and mobilize citizens, advocates, grassroots groups, shelters, veterinary professionals, and elected officials across the United States and around the world to improve their communities for cats through nonlethal, evidence-based approaches. Our website is www.alleycat.org, and we are active on Facebook, X, Instagram, LinkedIn, Bluesky, Threads, and YouTube. Charlene Pedrolie is the president and chief operating officer of Alley Cat Allies. SOURCE Alley Cat Allies MCLOUD, Okla., March 31, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- AtLink Services, one of Oklahoma's largest wireless internet providers, is proud to announce its membership in the McLoud Chamber of Commerce. To commemorate this milestone, a special ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held on Friday, April 4, 11:00 AM at McLoud City Hall. The event will bring together McLoud city leadership, Chamber Ambassadors, and other distinguished guests in celebration of AtLink's commitment to enhancing connectivity in the region. A light lunch and refreshments will be served. AtLink Launches High-Speed Service in Mcloud OK Melanie Krause, Executive Director of the McLoud Chamber of Commerce, will formally welcome AtLink to the Chamber, recognizing the company's dedication to providing high-quality internet service to local residents and businesses. Representing AtLink, Brent Greene, Vice President of Sales and Marketing, will share remarks highlighting AtLink's ongoing investment in McLoud and the surrounding communities. "AtLink is honored to officially join the McLoud Chamber of Commerce and further deepen our ties within this great community," said Brent Greene. "We are excited to build upon our strong legacy of service and to continue delivering the reliable, high-speed internet that local businesses and families depend on." AtLink Services has been a trusted provider of broadband solutions for many years, with a strong presence in rural Oklahoma. Recently, AtLink has made significant upgrades to its network infrastructure by deploying cutting-edge Tarana wireless technology. This state-of-the-art advancement allows AtLink to provide unmatched speed, reliability, and coverage, ensuring that even the most remote areas have access to high-performance internet connectivity. As a member of the McLoud Chamber of Commerce, AtLink looks forward to collaborating with local businesses, city officials, and community leaders to support economic growth and digital access throughout the region. For more information about AtLink Services and its broadband solutions, visit www.atlinkservices.com . Media Contact: Brent Greene Asst. EVP - Sales & Marketing AtLink Services [email protected] 405-753-7151 About AtLink: Founded in 2005 in Oklahoma City, AtLink Services is one of the largest wireless internet service providers in Oklahoma, serving over 15,000 residents. Committed to bridging the digital divide, AtLink delivers fast, reliable internet to rural communities, ensuring seamless connectivity where it's needed most. The company's success is built on exceptional customer service, continuous reinvestment in cutting-edge technology, and a deep commitment to the communities it serves. Learn more at www.atlinkservices.com . SOURCE AtLink Services NEWPORT BEACH, Calif., March 31, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Belwood Investments , the fractional luxury real estate investing app, today announced it accepted an offer on 24844 Malibu Road, one of the few private homes in the United States designed by renowned Japanese architect Tadao Ando, less than a week after the property was listed for sale. "Nearly 500 people invested in this iconic Malibu property through Belwood Investments, and its sale marks a major milestone in our efforts to make luxury real estate investments accessible to everyone," said Steven "Bo" Belmont, the founder and CEO of Belwood Investments. "In accepting this strong offer, we're bringing our investors a payday 14 months earlier than expected." Purchased for over $57 million in 2021, 24844 Malibu Road was significantly altered and damaged by its previous owner. Belwood Investments raised over $6.4 million from investors, who contributed amounts ranging from $1,000 to $1 million, to buy the home for $21 million in September and begin restoring it to its former glory. The property features Ando's signature trademark design of "smooth-as-silk" concrete throughout. Constructed of around 1,200 tons of concrete, 200 tons of steel reinforcement, and 12 massive pylons driven more than 60 feet into the sand, the home is a resilient structure on southern California's coastline. After Belwood Investments secured the home's original builder, Marmol Radziner, received approved plans and permits from the city, completed electrical work and began construction, the property received significant interest from potential buyers. "Selling now means the buyer can put their own creative finishes on this architectural gem, while we return funds to our investors in less than six months, allowing them to invest in more properties," said Belmont. "Our top priority is delivering strong returns to investors as quickly as possible, and this is a win for all." Belwood Investments offers fractional real estate investments through its mobile app , providing anyone the opportunity to invest in short-term luxury home flips starting with $1,000, even if they have no experience with real estate or renovations. There are six additional properties currently open to investment in Belwood Investments' app, with additional offerings planned soon. The non-contingent cash offer on 24844 Malibu Road was made by Andrew Mazella Ventures LLC, a developer based in Montana. Celebrity real estate consultant Dylan Eckardt and agents Amanda Lynn of Nest Seekers and Jason Oppenheim of Oppenheim Group negotiated the deal. Other agents involved included Mauricio Umansky, Jean-Baptiste Rugiero and Mehdi Maamri of The Agency. The sale will close on May 1, 2025. Belwood Investments is in the process of calculating investor returns, which are projected to be around 20%, and will release details of the deal and final tally of construction expenses soon. About Belwood Investments Belwood Investments empowers anyone to build a luxury real estate portfolio through fractional investments. Belwood's proven B52 Method, developed by founder Steven "Bo" Belmont, identifies lucrative luxury properties to flip and offers everyday investors the chance to collectively contribute up to 20% of the total project cost. Start investing with as little as $1,000 via the Belwood Investor App , available on the Apple App Store and Google Play. Visit www.belwoodinvestments.com for more information. Media Contact Anna Rice 617-872-0731 [email protected] SOURCE Belwood Investments HONG KONG, March 30, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- CNOOC Limited (the "Company", SEHK: 00883 (HKD Counter) and 80883 (RMB Counter), SSE: 600938) announces today that the Company has made a major oilfield discovery of Huizhou 19-6 in the deep and ultra-deep plays of the South China Sea, which adds over a hundred million tons of oil equivalent in-place. Huizhou 19-6 oilfield is located in the eastern South China Sea, with an average water depth of approximately 100 meters. The main oil-bearing plays are Paleogene Enping Formation and Wenchang Formation, and the oil property is light crude. The discovery well HZ19-6-3 was drilled and completed at a depth of 5,415 meters, which encountered a total of 127 meters oil and gas pay zones. The well was tested to produce 413 barrels of crude oil and 2.41 million cubic feet of natural gas per day. Through continued exploration, the proved in-place volume of Huizhou 19-6 oilfield has exceeded a hundred million tons of oil equivalent. Mr. Xu Changgui, the Chief Geologist of the Company, said, "In recent years, CNOOC Limited has strengthened the research on exploration theory and technology of the deep and ultra-deep plays in the South China Sea, and breakthroughs have been achieved. This discovery has confirmed the largest integrated clastic oilfield in the northern South China Sea in terms of original oil in place, breaking the traditional theoretical understanding, and demonstrating the enormous exploration potential of deep and ultra-deep plays in high-temperature and highly active basins offshore China." Mr. Zhou Xinhuai, CEO of the Company, said, "CNOOC Limited has made numerous breakthroughs in oil and gas exploration in the eastern South China Sea. Oilfields with hundred-million-ton oil in-place have been discovered in this area for two consecutive years, making it a new driver of the offshore oil and gas production growth. The Company will continue to strengthen its efforts in oil and gas exploration and development, to consolidate the resource base for increasing reserves and production, so as to bolster the high-quality development of the Company." End Notes to Editors: More information about the Company is available at http://www.cnoocltd.com. *** *** *** *** This press release includes forward looking information, including statements regarding the likely future developments in the business of the Company and its subsidiaries, such as expected future events, business prospects or financial results. The words "expect", "anticipate", "continue", "estimate", "objective", "ongoing", "may", "will", "project", "should", "believe", "plans", "intends" and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These statements are based on assumptions and analyses made by the Company as of this date in light of its experience and its perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors that the Company currently believes are appropriate under the circumstances. However, whether actual results and developments will meet the current expectations and predictions of the Company is uncertain. Actual results, performance and financial condition may differ materially from the Company's expectations, including but not limited to those associated with macro-political and economic factors, fluctuations in crude oil and natural gas prices, the highly competitive nature of the oil and natural gas industry, climate change and environmental policies, the Company's price forecast, mergers, acquisitions and divestments activities, HSSE and insurance policies and changes in anti-corruption, anti-fraud, anti-money laundering and corporate governance laws and regulations. Consequently, all of the forward-looking statements made in this press release are qualified by these cautionary statements. The Company cannot assure that the results or developments anticipated will be realised or, even if substantially realised, that they will have the expected effect on the Company, its business or operations. *** *** *** *** For further enquiries, please contact: Ms. Cui Liu Media & Public Relations CNOOC Limited Tel: +86-10-8452-6641 Fax: +86-10-8452-1441 E-mail: [email protected] Mr. Bunny Lee Porda Havas International Finance Communications Group Tel: +852 3150 6707 Fax: +852 3150 6728 E-mail: [email protected] SOURCE CNOOC Limited ALBUQUERQUE, N.M., March 31, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Daiso, the globally recognized retail chain known for offering affordable and unique products, is excited to announce the grand opening of its latest store in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on April 5th, 2025. Located at Cottonwood Commons, this store marks a significant milestone in Daiso's U.S. expansion. "We are thrilled to open our new store in Albuquerque, said Jack Williams, Chief Retail Operations Officer for Daiso USA. "This milestone reflects the continued support of our customers, and we're excited to introduce Daiso's budget-friendly offerings to the Albuquerque community. We invite everyone to Discover Daiso and explore the variety of products we offer." The new Daiso store, located at Cottonwood Commons, spans 9,268 square feet and features a wide selection of products across multiple categories. Customers can find everything from Japanese-inspired home decor and kitchenware to beauty products, stationery, and snacks. Daiso's commitment to providing affordable and unique merchandise has made it a go-to destination for shoppers seeking unique items at great prices. "Thanks to the enthusiasm of our loyal customers, we're excited to expand in New Mexico," said John Clarke, Chief Development Officer for Daiso USA. "We continue to see growing demand in the region, and we're proud to be opening more stores in 2025. With 185 stores now operating across the U.S., we're excited to serve new communities and bring the Daiso experience to even more customers." To celebrate the grand opening, Daiso will offer exclusive promotions at the Cottonwood Commons location. On April 5th and 6th, the first 100 customers who make a minimum purchase of $30 will receive a special Daiso goodie bag as a thank-you for their support. The new store will be located at: Cottonwood Commons, 3601 Old Airport Ave NW #D, Albuquerque, NM 87114 Store hours will be Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Daiso invites customers to visit, explore the latest offerings, and find new favorites. About Daiso: Daiso is a global retail chain founded in Japan, known for its wide selection of unique and affordable products across categories such as household goods, stationery, beauty, and more. Daiso entered the U.S. market in 2005 and has expanded into multiple states. The company's U.S. headquarters is in Anaheim, CA. SOURCE Daiso USA WASHINGTON, March 31, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Dialysis Patient Citizens (DPC), the leading advocacy organization for dialysis patients nationwide, today released the following statement applauding the introduction of the Restore Protections for Dialysis Patients Act (S. 1173 /H.R. 2199 ) to restore access to critical health insurance coverage for patients who choose it. The bill was introduced in the Senate by Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Kevin Cramer (R-ND) and Martin Heinrich (D-NM), and it was introduced in the House by Representatives Mike Kelly (R-PA), Yvette Clarke (D-NY), Neal Dunn (R-FL), Danny Davis (D-IL), John Joyce (R-PA), and Raul Ruiz (D-CA). "On behalf of dialysis patients across the country, DPC is deeply grateful to Senators Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Representatives Mike Kelly (R-PA), Yvette Clarke (D-NY), and others for introducing this vital bipartisan legislation to protect their health coverage and provide the financial stability they deserve," said DPC Board President Andrew Conkling. "Following the Supreme Court's ruling in Marietta Memorial Hospital v. Davita, Americans with kidney failure have faced uncertainty about their ability to maintain private insurance coverage for the traditional 30-month window. This unfair burden threatens their financial stability and their ability to secure a kidney transplant and get healthy. We are optimistic Congress will do the right thing and pass this bipartisan bill to protect dialysis patients." Background The law has long allowed End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) patients to remain on employer-sponsored health coverage for 30 months following their diagnosis, a fair period of time before transitioning to Medicare as their primary insurance provider. However, in Marietta Memorial Hospital v. Davita, the Supreme Court ruled that employers and insurers can impose low rates for dialysis or use other benefit limitations forcing patients to drop coverage and switch to Medicare prematurely. This upended an interpretation of existing law which stood for 40 years, wherein employers understood the law to prohibit limitations specific to dialysis treatments. Employer-sponsored plans hold enormous importance for many patients and their families, often offering more comprehensive care options not covered by Medicare. SOURCE Dialysis Patient Citizens SALT LAKE CITY, March 31, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Extra Space Storage Inc. (the "Company") (NYSE: EXR) announced today it will release financial results for the three months ended March 31, 2025 on Tuesday, April 29, 2025 after the market closes. The Company will host a conference call at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time on Wednesday, April 30, 2025 to discuss its financial results. Hosting the call will be Extra Space Storage's CEO, Joe Margolis. Joining him will be Scott Stubbs, Executive Vice President and CFO. During the conference call, company officers will review operating performance, discuss recent events, and conduct a question-and-answer period. The question-and-answer period will be limited to registered financial analysts. All other participants will have listen-only capability. To Participate in the Conference Call: A live webcast of the conference call will be available online from the investor relations page of the Company's corporate website at www.extraspace.com. Telephone participants may avoid delays in joining the conference call by pre-registering for the call using the following link to receive a special dial-in number and PIN: https://emportal.ink/3DPDVBn. The conference call will also be available on the Company's website under Investor Relations at www.extraspace.com. To listen to a live broadcast, go to the site at least 15 minutes prior to the scheduled start time in order to register, download and install any necessary audio software. Conference Call Playback: A replay of the webcast will be available on the Extra Space Storage Investor Relations website beginning April 30, 2025 at 5:00 p.m. ET, and will remain available for one year after the call. Full Text of the Earnings Report and Supplemental Data The full text of the earnings report and supplemental data will be available at the Company's investor relations website immediately following the earnings release to the wire services after the market close on Tuesday, April 29, 2025. About Extra Space Storage Inc. Extra Space Storage Inc., headquartered in Salt Lake City, is a fully integrated, self-administered and self-managed real estate investment trust, and a member of the S&P 500. As of December 31, 2024, the Company owned and/or operated 4,011 self-storage properties, which comprise approximately 2.8 million units and approximately 308.4 million square feet of rentable storage space operating under the Extra Space brand. The Company offers customers a wide selection of conveniently located and secure storage units across the country, including boat storage, RV storage and business storage. It is the largest operator of self-storage properties in the United States. For more information, please visit www.extraspace.com. SOURCE Extra Space Storage Inc. PHILADELPHIA, March 31, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- FMC Corporation (NYSE: FMC), a leading global agricultural sciences company, today announced an agreement with Bayer to commercialize products containing Isoflex active in the European Union (EU) and Great Britain. The partnership will expand access to FMC's breakthrough weed control technology, offering European growers a powerful new solution for resistant grass weeds in cereals and other crops. Isoflex active is a novel herbicide that provides lasting control of key grass weeds, including those resistant to other herbicides. Isoflex active, classified by the Herbicide Resistance Action Committee (HRAC) as a Group 13 herbicide, received registration in Great Britain in 2024. Pending regulatory decisions, EU registration is anticipated in 2025. The novel herbicide provides lasting control of key grass weeds, including those resistant to other herbicides, addressing a critical need in European agriculture. "This agreement will allow FMC to expand market access in the European Union and Great Britain, which has an estimated 30 million planted hectares of winter cereals, reaching new growers and distributors with our novel Isoflex active ingredient," said Ronaldo Pereira, FMC president. "We believe that Isoflex active will serve as a vital new rotational tool for European growers looking to control resistant weeds, especially grass weeds." Under the terms of the agreement, both companies will bring products containing Isoflex active to the winter cereals and oilseed rape markets in the European Union and Great Britain. FMC plans to commercialize its own formulations powered by Isoflex active in the winter cereals, corn, oilseed rape and potato markets, while Bayer will submit registrations and commercialize mixtures containing Isoflex active for use in winter cereals and distribute a formulation developed by FMC for use in oilseed rape. Bayer will jointly promote the Isoflex active brand when referencing their mixtures and formulated product brands. "In the face of climate change and pressure on food systems, farmers need effective tools to control weeds," said Frank Terhorst, executive vice president of strategy and sustainability at Bayer's Crop Science Division. "Herbicides like Isoflex active play an important part in that, to eventually contribute to food security. We are happy to make use of synergies with FMC to achieve this goal." The European launches will build on FMC's successful global rollout of products powered by Isoflex active, which have already been registered and commercialized in Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Chile, China, Pakistan, Uruguay and India. Product launches are anticipated in Great Britain later this year and in the EU in 2027, pending regulatory decisions. Products containing Isoflex active have exhibited pre-plant, pre-emergence and early post-emergence selectivity in major crops across the globe, including canola, cereals, oilseed rape and pulses. To learn more about Isoflex active, please visit FMC.com/isoflexactive. About FMC FMC Corporation is a global agricultural sciences company dedicated to helping growers produce food, feed, fiber and fuel for an expanding world population while adapting to a changing environment. FMC's innovative crop protection solutions including biologicals, crop nutrition, digital and precision agriculture enable growers and crop advisers to address their toughest challenges economically while protecting the environment. FMC is committed to discovering new herbicide, insecticide and fungicide active ingredients, product formulations and pioneering technologies that are consistently better for the planet. Visit fmc.com to learn more and follow us on LinkedIn. About Bayer Bayer is a global enterprise with core competencies in the life science fields of health care and nutrition. In line with its mission, "Health for all, Hunger for none," the company's products and services are designed to help people and the planet thrive by supporting efforts to master the major challenges presented by a growing and aging global population. Bayer is committed to driving sustainable development and generating a positive impact with its businesses. At the same time, the Group aims to increase its earning power and create value through innovation and growth. The Bayer brand stands for trust, reliability and quality throughout the world. In fiscal 2024, the Group employed around 93,000 people and had sales of 46.6 billion euros. R&D expenses amounted to 6.2 billion euros. For more information, go to www.bayer.com. FMC and Isoflex are trademarks of FMC Corporation and/or an affiliate. Always read and follow all label directions, restrictions and precautions for use. Products listed here may not be registered for sale or use in all states, countries or jurisdictions. Statement under the Safe Harbor Provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: FMC and its representatives may from time to time make written or oral statements that are "forward-looking" and provide other than historical information, including statements contained in this press release, in FMC's other filings with the SEC, and in presentations, reports or letters to FMC stockholders. In some cases, FMC has identified these forward-looking statements by such words or phrases as "outlook", "will likely result," "is confident that," "expect," "expects," "should," "could," "may," "will continue to," "believe," "believes," "anticipates," "predicts," "forecasts," "estimates," "projects," "potential," "intends" or similar expressions identifying "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including the negative of those words or phrases. Such forward-looking statements are based on our current views and assumptions regarding future events, future business conditions and the outlook for the company based on currently available information. The forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to be materially different from any results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by any forward-looking statement. These statements are qualified by reference to the risk factors included in Part I, Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024 (the "2024 Form 10-K"), the section captioned "Forward-Looking Information" in Part II of the 2024 Form 10-K and to similar risk factors and cautionary statements in all other reports and forms filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). We wish to caution readers not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. Forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by the above cautionary statement. We specifically decline to undertake any obligation, and specifically disclaims any duty, to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements that have been made to reflect events or circumstances after the date of such statements or to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events, except as may be required by law. SOURCE FMC Corporation BEIJING, March 30, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Editor's Note: The book of Xi Jinping: The Governance of China includes a number of Chinese President Xi Jinping's governance ideas that involve improving Party conduct, such as "the issue of working style is in no sense a small one." Xi stressed that "if the Party has a sound style of work, then the people are at peace and willing to stand with the Party in both success and adversity." In March, the Communist Party of China (CPC) launched a Party-wide education campaign to implement its central leadership's Eight-Rules decision on improving work conduct, immediately after the conclusion of the annual two sessions. The move underscores that the Eight Rules have not only become a "golden hallmark" of the CPC's efforts to improve Party conduct in the new era, but also a mobilization order for Party members to uphold credibility with concrete actions, stay clean and dedicated in their work, and create new achievements. In the second installment of the "Decoding the Book of Xi Jinping: The Governance of China" series, the Global Times (GT) continues to invite Chinese and international scholars, translators of the work, practitioners of its concepts, and overseas readers to share their insights, understandings and reflections on CPC's efforts to improve Party conduct and promote full, rigorous Party self-governance. In the second article of "Readers' Reflections" column, GT reporter Chen Qingqing talked to Hodan Osman Abdi, the Somali Ambassador to China, who previously worked in Zhejiang and conducted extensive grassroots research across various regions in China. Why has the Party been able to thrive in China, and how has it maintained such strong cohesion among the Chinese people? From the outside, it's easy to focus on the size of the Communist Party of China (CPC), or its centralized structure, or its long time in power. But none of those things alone explains its success or its deep-rooted cohesion with the Chinese people. In March 2019, together with my colleagues from the Institute of African Studies of Zhejiang Normal University, I visited Ta Shi Xiang, a small town under the administration of Jinhua in Zhejiang Province. What impressed me the most was the community service center, which bore the now well-known motto "At most, one trip." This was part of a province-wide administrative reform launched by the Zhejiang government to simplify bureaucratic procedures and ensure that citizens only needed to visit government offices once to complete a task - whether it be renewing a license, registering land, or accessing social services. The center was bright, well-organized, and staffed with attentive civil servants who proudly explained how the system works. To me, this wasn't just a slogan - it was a symbol of responsiveness and respect for people's time and dignity. It reflected an institutional culture that puts the needs of ordinary citizens first, by reducing red tape and improving efficiency. In many developing countries, such convenience and accountability in public services are still aspirational. Here, it was already operational in a remote rural town. "Before the 18th CPC National Congress, a culture of excessive eating and drinking prevailed among some officials, sparking significant criticism from the public. Despite numerous regulations, the problem persisted, leading to a loss of confidence among many people. After the 18th CPC National Congress, we made a firm commitment to address this issue. Now, it has been brought under control, and the people are applauding. By restraining the behaviors of some officials, we have won the hearts of countless people." These words from President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, showed that the CPC, through its relentless efforts in advancing internal Party conduct reforms, has also redefined the relationship between the CPC and the public. It has built credibility and cohesion, not through force or fear, but through predictability and performance. The Party remains connected to the needs and aspirations of ordinary people. Whether it's poverty alleviation, rural development, or digital government services, the CPC has shown a capacity to translate policy into tangible benefits for citizens. During my time in Zhejiang, I saw people who felt that the government was not far away or abstractit was in their daily lives, helping to solve problems, provide services, and maintain order. That creates a very real sense of cohesion - not built on ideology alone, but on delivery and consistency. The CPC upholding the principle of "improving Party conduct as an ongoing task" tells us that governance is not about perfect processes or well written documents - it is about action. It is about the courage to correct course, the discipline to stay grounded, and the humility to admit that no structure, however powerful, is immune to complacency unless it is constantly renewed, which is precisely what our leadership and government institutions are focused on in Somalia, and serious progresses have been made in that regard. The CPC's approach to Party governance - meeting the aspirations of ordinary people - is a powerful lesson for all nations seeking to build sustainable governance rooted in public trust. I think many observers outside of China underestimate the emotional and practical contract between the Party and the people. It's not just about governance - it's about trust, continuity, and the belief that the future will be better, and that leadership is committed to making it so. That, I believe, is the core of the CPC's success - and it offers a lesson that is relevant far beyond China. SOURCE Global Times Co-Directed and Co-Produced by Two-Time Emmy Award-Winning Filmmaker Oscar Corral MIAMI, March 31, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Interstate, a powerful new documentary by two-time Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Oscar Corral, exposes the overlooked consequences of the U.S. Interstate Highway System and its devastating impact on Black communities. The film reveals how the 1950s push for a nationwide highway system was strategically mapped to divide and dismantle thriving African American neighborhoods, leaving a dark legacy still affecting these communities today. Interstate is a new documentary that exposes how the U.S. Interstate Highway System has devastated Black communities. Post this Interstate official poster Co-directed and co-produced by Corral and Miami-based filmmaker Haleem Muhsin, Interstate debuts at the 2025 Miami Film Festival on April 4 at 6:45 p.m., Silverspot Cinema Downtown Miami. Watch the trailer HERE. The documentary provides a historical perspective on the U.S. Interstate Highway System, launched by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in the 1950s. This $51 billion project aimed to create a 41,000-mile highway network to promote economic growth. While the highways were lauded as symbols of progress, Interstate reveals their toll on minority communities cutting through vibrant Black neighborhoods, displacing families, destroying cultural landmarks, and contributing to residents' socio-economic marginalization. "This documentary evolved from a short film about the effects of I-95 on Miami's historic Overtown neighborhood," explained Corral, founder of Explica Media. "As we began researching, we quickly realized this wasn't an isolated case. The highways weren't just engineering marvelsthey were tools for dismantling Black communities. The consequences of that displacement are still felt today." Muhsin added, "Growing up in South Florida, I've seen firsthand how these policies impacted Overtown. Much of the neighborhood's rich history was lost, and the same can be said for communities nationwide. Through Interstate, I hope to help people understand what was taken in the name of progress and what's still at stake." The film highlights cities like Miami, New Orleans, Minneapolis, Baltimore, and Montgomery, where highways uprooted African American communities. "The Interstate Highway System's impact on Black communities is an important chapter of our shared history that too often remains overlooked," said Miami-Dade County Commissioner Eileen Higgins, who championed and promoted the film. "By supporting Interstate, I hope to help amplify the voices of those whose lives were disrupted, and to spark a broader conversation about how we confront these injustices to build a more equitable future." The film also includes insights from former U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott and other civic leaders. Contact: CecilePR, 305-842-7523 or [email protected] SOURCE Explica Media SYDNEY, March 30, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Li-S Energy (ASX:LIS) ('Li-S' or 'the Company') has signed a collaboration agreement with Kea Aerospace (Kea) to integrate Li-S' advanced lithium sulfur battery technology into Kea's high altitude UAVs targeting multi-month flight times. Kea's solar-powered ATMOS aircraft The partnership was signed and unveiled at the Avalon International Airshow outside of Melbourne, where Li-S is an exhibitor. The collaboration will see Li-S' battery technology integrated into Kea's high-altitude UAVs, significantly enhancing flight endurance and operational efficiency. The Kea Aerospace media release is attached to this announcement. Li-S' collaboration with Kea is consistent with the Company's strategy to target the rapidly growing markets of drones, defence and electric aviation. Kea has partnered with Li-S because its cutting-edge lithium sulfur battery technology offers significant weight savings and energy density, which are both critical to maximise UAV flight times and payload. Kea High Altitude UAVs Founded in New Zealand in 2018, Kea is currently flight-testing its aircraft in the stratosphere, between 55,000 and 65,000 feet. Its solar-powered Kea 'ATMOS' aircraft operates as a High Altitude Platform Station (HAPS) and High Altitude Long Endurance (HALE) aircraft. The drone gathers high-resolution aerial imagery and persistent video data for applications such as maritime awareness, environmental monitoring and disaster response, plus a broad range of other commercial use cases such as supporting telecommunications services. The potential for stratospheric HAPS aircraft capable of multi-month flight durations is substantial with Kea at the cutting edge of this global industry. The competitive benefits are compelling as HAPS offer far lower costs than satellites, greater persistence than conventional aircraft, and far greater control compared to un-steerable balloons. Li-S collaboration Li-S' collaboration with Kea will focus on incorporating the Company's ultra-light lithium sulfur battery cells and Li-S BMS technology into a Kea battery pack design, with ground testing expected in 2025 followed by flight testing. The program objective will be to demonstrate the technology and integration in the 12.5 metre wingspan ATMOS Mk1 aircraft, followed by integration into the ATMOS Mk2 design, which will be capable of continuous flight for several months. In ATMOS Mk2 the aircraft motors will cycle between power from the battery at night and solar cells during the day (with excess solar power also recharging the battery). Weight is absolutely critical for HAPS platforms. Having a battery with higher energy density prolongs flight time, improves payload capacity and can increase the geographic extent of operations, both in latitude and for operation in seasons with less daylight hours. Dr Lee Finniear, CEO, commented: "Our initial focus on the drone, defence and electric aviation markets is producing incredible opportunities for Li-S Energy. The stratospheric UAV market is a key sector of interest with enormous commercial potential. Partnering with Kea Aerospace positions us to engage at the cutting edge of this sector. Given the paramount importance of weight and reliability to Kea's ATMOS line of stratospheric UAVs, their decision to collaborate with Li-S highlights how far advanced our battery technology is ahead of many of our competitors. We look forward to the testing program being undertaken in 2025, and to becoming a key technology partner of Kea's as it delivers high performance, multi-month HAPS aircraft platforms to the global market." Dr Mark Rocket, Kea's CEO noted: "This announcement of our collaboration with Li-S at the Avalon International Airshow, one of the most prestigious airshows globally, speaks to how significantly we view our new partnership. Li-S' next generation lithium-sulfur battery offers more than twice the energy density of conventional lithium-ion batteries, while being greener due to the absence of key materials such as cobalt. This year promises to be a pivotal year for Kea as we develop our ATMOS Mk2 aircraft and the successful integration of Li-S battery technology into our ATMOS UAVs would give us an incredible competitive advantage in an industry where the commercial applications are vast." About Li-S Energy Li-S Energy is an Australian company at the forefront of next-generation battery innovation, developing lithium-sulfur and lithium-metal cells that offer more than twice the energy density of conventional lithium-ion. With a strong research foundation and a commitment to sustainability, the company leverages cutting-edge IP and nanomaterials like BNNTs and Li-Nanomesh to enhance performance, safety, and longevity. Li-S Energy aims to revolutionise energy storage for aviation, drones, defence, and beyond - delivering lighter, more efficient energy solutions for advanced applications where weight is critical. About Kea Aerospace The company is based in Christchurch, New Zealand. Our vision is to be the world-leader in stratospheric flight operation and data collection and we're on a mission to create insights from the stratosphere that will improve life on our planet. SOURCE Li-S Energy NEW YORK, March 31, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Neuberger Berman High Yield Strategies Fund Inc. (NYSE American: NHS) (the "Fund") has announced a distribution declaration of $0.0905 per share of common stock. The distribution announced today is payable on April 30, 2025, has a record date of April 15, 2025, and has an ex-date of April 15, 2025. Under its level distribution policy, the Fund anticipates that it will make regular monthly distributions, subject to market conditions, of $0.0905 per share of common stock, unless further action is taken to determine another amount. The Fund's ability to maintain its current distribution rate will depend on a number of factors, including the amount and stability of income received from its investments, the cost of leverage and the level of other Fund fees and expenses. There is no assurance that the Fund will always be able to pay a distribution of any particular amount or that a distribution will consist only of net investment income. Due to an effort to maintain a stable distribution amount, the distribution announced today, as well as future distributions, may consist of net investment income, net realized capital gains and return of capital. In compliance with Section 19 of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, a notice would be provided for any distribution that does not consist solely of net investment income. The notice would be for informational purposes and not for tax reporting purposes, and would disclose, among other things, estimated portions of the distribution, if any, consisting of net investment income, capital gains and return of capital. The final determination of the source and tax characteristics of all distributions paid in 2025 will be made after the end of the year. About Neuberger Berman Neuberger Berman is an employee-owned, private, independent investment manager founded in 1939 with over 2,800 employees in 26 countries. The firm manages $508 billion of equities, fixed income, private equity, real estate and hedge fund portfolios for global institutions, advisors and individuals. Neuberger Berman's investment philosophy is founded on active management, fundamental research and engaged ownership. The firm's leadership in stewardship and sustainable investing is recognized by the PRI based on its consecutive above median reporting assessment results. Neuberger Berman has been named by Pensions & Investments as the #1 or #2 Best Place to Work in Money Management for each of the last ten years (firms with more than 1,000 employees). Visit www.nb.com for more information. Data as of December 31, 2024. Statements made in this release that look forward in time involve risks and uncertainties. Such risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, the adverse effect from a decline in the securities markets or a decline in the Fund's performance, a general downturn in the economy, competition from other closed end investment companies, changes in government policy or regulation, inability of the Fund's investment adviser to attract or retain key employees, inability of the Fund to implement its investment strategy, inability of the Fund to manage rapid expansion and unforeseen costs and other effects related to legal proceedings or investigations of governmental and self-regulatory organizations. Contact: Neuberger Berman Investment Advisers LLC Investor Information (877) 461-1899 SOURCE Neuberger Berman WASHINGTON, March 31, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Following is a statement from Mike Balsamo, President of the National Press Club: Today the Beijing High Court heard the appeal of journalist Yuyu Dong. The Dong family has asked us to release their statement below to media. We stand by Mr. Dong and we call for his immediate release. He has done nothing wrong. In China, most criminal appeals are decided by filings only, without an appearance in court by the defendant. Under China's criminal procedure law, only appeals involving the death penalty or significant disputes over facts and evidence with a chance at an acquittal or reduction in sentencing warrant a hearing in court. By offering a court session for Yuyu's appeal, the Chinese authorities showed a willingness to reconsider Yuyu's wrongful verdict at trial from last November. The initial judgment against Yuyu is an embarrassment for China's justice system and China as a nation that is why the lower court refused to provide a copy of the judgment to Yuyu's family and why China's state media, usually eager to report on convictions in espionage cases, fell completely silent after Yuyu's wrongful verdict for espionage without providing any details about his case. Instead, slanderous falsehoods about Yuyu have flooded China's internet. False biographical details about Yuyu and baseless accusations against Yuyu of spying for the U.S. and Japan, along with attacks on our family, were ubiquitous on China's social media and short video platforms. Such falsehoods are illegal under Chinese laws and regulations. We call on the Chinese internet companies hosting these falsehoods to clean up the illegal contents or risk facing legal consequences. After his conviction, Yuyu revealed to us, via his lawyers (because Yuyu has not been allowed to meet with any of his family members for over three years), that he faced great duress under interrogation. The interrogators, officers from China's Ministry of State Security, engaged in conduct that violated China's criminal procedure law while piecing together their evidence against Yuyu. Even so, the evidence against Yuyu cannot logically prove a charge of espionage under Chinese law. Any argument for guilt is absurd. Our family learned of some details of Yuyu's case from the verdict session in November. Below are some major points of dispute, all pointing to Yuyu's innocence under Chinese law. First, the prosecution offered no meaningful evidence of material benefit. In other words, all the evidence suggests that Yuyu had absolutely no motive to engage in espionage. No evidence pointed to any form of monetary benefit for Yuyu. Yuyu's only rewards were a signed lunch menu and a photograph from the former Japanese ambassador, Hideo Tarumi. Both items were confiscated by the Chinese authorities. The prosecution also argued that Yuyu received fellowships in the U.S. and Japan, including the Nieman Fellowship at Harvard, as benefits for engaging in espionage. Such an argument puts all Chinese scholars with past foreign fellowships in danger and will have a chilling effect on China's people-to-people exchange with foreign countries. Second, the Ministry of State Security's determination that the eight Japanese diplomats with whom Yuyu met over the past two decades were agents of espionage organization is arbitrary and self-contradictory. This determination is necessary for proving the charge of espionage, but it was not accompanied by any explanation, and the lower court accepted the determination without probing the reasoning behind it, abandoning its duty of judicial review. Despite the determination, the Chinese government never moved to expel the eight named diplomats in the judgment, including former Japanese ambassador to China, Hideo Tarumi, and Japan's current chief diplomat in Shanghai, Masaru Okada. If those diplomats were indeed spies, why didn't the Chinese government expel them? Either the determination by the Ministry of State Security is completely wrong and Yuyu is innocent, or the determination is right, which indicates that the Chinese government is embarrassing itself by allowing those whom it deems as spies to continue working in China. After the judgment came out, the Japanese government has denied the determination by China's Ministry of State Security. The current Japanese ambassador to China, Kenji Kanasugi, formally disputed the determination in a letter to Yuyu's family members with the ambassador's own signature and the seal of the Japanese Embassy in China. Yuyu and his lawyers used the ambassador's letter as a piece of evidence on appeal to rebut the Ministry of State Security's determination. Allowing the arbitrary determination to stand will have negative consequences. First, it will offend the Chinese people because the Chinese government is allowing foreign diplomats who are considered spies to keep working in China. Second, it will senselessly damage Sino-Japanese relations. Third, this determination signals to other countries' diplomats in China that they, too, can be arbitrarily labeled "spies" by China's Ministry of State Security for the purpose of prosecuting Chinese citizens they interact with. The Chinese government has always welcomed people-to-people diplomacy, but this determination will deter many foreign visitors from engaging with ordinary Chinese people. At a time when China is trying to attract more foreign visitors and investors, upholding such an arbitrary determination by the Ministry of State Security is extremely counterproductive to the Chinese government's policies and objectives. Third, the crime of espionage under Chinese law requires the government to prove that the defendant "knowingly" engaged in espionage. Here, if it took China's Ministry of State Security more than two decadesthe timeframe specified in the judgment during which Yuyu met with the eight Japanese diplomatsto discover that those diplomats are spies, and if the former Japanese ambassador and other top diplomats, whom China welcomed and never tried to expel, are spies, then how should an ordinary person like Yuyu know that those diplomats are spies when he met with them? The prosecution argued that some Japanese diplomats' name cards contained the word in Japanese. The word means "intelligence" in Chinese but more commonly refers to "information" in Japanese. Which countries' intelligence officers indicate that they are spies on their name cards? The prosecution's argument here is extremely illogical. Fourth, the prosecution fails to specify what harm Yuyu has done to China's national security because no such harm ever exists. Unlike other espionage cases in China where the government can point to the type of sensitive secrets leaked by the defendants, Yuyu's case does not involve any sensitive secret. Because Yuyu was never a Communist Party member, he had no access to any state secret, that is, in the conventional sense of the term. The so-called state secret in Yuyu's case, arbitrarily determined by the government, likely involves information that was already public, such as news stories that Yuyu often discussed with foreign journalists and diplomats. Even if Yuyu brought up a "secret" news story, no harm was ever done to China's national security, and such an act is not a crime under Chinese law. (Accordingly Yuyu's lawyers, revealing one piece of so-called "secret" does not constitute the crime of leaking state secrets under Chinese law.) Throughout his detention, Yuyu has fully cooperated with officers from the Ministry of State Security in their investigation. Yuyu respects and supports the Ministry of State Security's stated purpose of keeping China secure from foreign and hostile forces. But as China advances on the global stage, the Chinese government and our fellow countrymen must understand that not all that is foreign is hostile. Now the investigation is over and the conclusion is clear: Yuyu is not guilty of any crime under Chinese law. Acquitting Yuyu will correct a mistake and mitigate the harm done to Yuyu and our family during his detention. Mistakes are difficult to admit but they are forgivable. Keeping Yuyu's guilty verdict will erase China's gestures of openness and friendliness toward the outside world. The Beijing High Court should not embrace an error that abuses the people's trust in China's justice system, effectively ends China's official promotion of people-to-people diplomacy, and irreparably damages China's international image. See also: Family statement after the verdict on November 29, 2024: https://www.press.org/newsroom/family-statement-verdict-case-chinese-journalist-dong-yuyu Follow-up family statement questioning the details of Yuyu Dong's case, published December 6, 2024: https://www.press.org/newsroom/follow-family-statement-verdict-case-chinese-journalist-dong-yuyu CONTACT: Bill McCarren, 202-662-7534 or [email protected], [email protected] SOURCE National Press Club The international relief organization has staff on the ground in Myanmar and Thailand and is preparing rapid deployment of life-saving medical care BOONE, N.C., March 30, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Samaritan's Purse is responding to the deadly 7.7-magnitude earthquake that struck Myanmar and Thailand on March 28. It was followed just 12 minutes later by a 6.4-magnitude aftershock. This powerful quake has caused widespread destruction across both countriescollapsing buildings and infrastructure, killing more than 1,700 people, and injuring countless more. Search and rescue efforts are still underway, and the death toll is expected to climb. The Ministry of Health in Myanmar has requested assistance as tens of thousands are suffering. In response, the international relief organization immediately mobilized a Disaster Assistance Response Team, including deploying team members from its Vietnam and Cambodian field offices and beginning preparations to send an Emergency Field Hospital to provide life-saving care. The Emergency Field Hospital will include two operating theatres, an emergency room, in-patient wards, a pharmacy, and a laboratorythe largest model of this scalable unit. Samaritan's Purse is responding to the deadly 7.7-magnitude earthquake that struck Myanmar and Thailand on March 28. Post this The Samaritan's Purse DC-8 combi-jet departs Greensboro, North Carolina, for Myanmar tomorrow. It will be fully-loaded in Calgary with an Emergency Field Hospital from our Canadian office. In addition to airlifting the first wave of the field hospital, the DC-8 will also transport 28 disaster response specialists, including doctors and nurses. "This devastating earthquake has rocked Myanmar and Thailand, killing at least 1,700 people and leaving entire communities in ruins," said Franklin Graham, president of Samaritan's Purse. "Now, families are grieving the loss of loved ones and many are left with nothing sleeping outside in the elements as aftershocks continue. Samaritan's Purse is responding in Jesus' Name to bring relief to those who are hurting. Please pray for all those affected and for our teams as they serve." In the coming days, Samaritan's Purse will also airlift additional components of the large-scale field hospital, water filtration systems, emergency shelter material, flashlights, and hygiene kits. The organization is working closely with local authorities and trusted church partners on the ground to coordinate relief efforts. Samaritan's Purse has a long history in Myanmar, having responded to Cyclone Nargis in 2008 and maintained a country office there from 2017 to 2022. Through its Operation Christmas Child program, the organization has continued serving children and families in Myanmarsending more than 22,000 shoebox gifts last year alone. Based in Boone, North Carolina, Samaritan's Purse responds to the physical and spiritual needs of individuals in crisis situations in Jesus' Nameespecially in locations where few others are working. Led by President and CEO Franklin Graham, Samaritan's Purse works in more than 100 countries to provide aid to victims of war, disease, disaster, poverty, famine and persecution. For more information, visit SamaritansPurse.org. SOURCE Samaritan's Purse VANCOUVER, BC, March 31, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Scope Technologies Corp. (CSE: SCPE) (OTCQB: SCPCF) (FSE: VN8) ("Scope Technologies" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has received the proceeds for the first tranche of its previously announced $1,500,000 non-brokered private placement financing (the "Offering") (see news release dated March 24, 2024). The Company issued 2,000,000 shares (the "Shares") at a price of $0.50 per Share for total proceeds of $1,000,000, for the first tranche of the Offering (the "First Tranche"). No finders' fees were payable under the First Tranche. The Shares under the First Tranche will be subject to restrictions on resale until August 1, 2025. The aggregate net proceeds of the Offering will be used to repay a $1,000,000 loan previously received from First Majestic Silver Corp. and the remaining funds will be used towards accelerating the development of the Company's QSE mobile application. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell, or solicitation of an offer to buy, nor will there be any sale of any of the securities offered in any jurisdiction where such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful, including the United States of America. The securities being offered as part of the Offering have not been, and will not be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), or any state securities laws, and accordingly may not be offered or sold in the United States except in compliance with the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and any applicable state securities laws, or pursuant to available exemptions therefrom. For more information on how QSE's quantum security solutions can help healthcare providers comply with the proposed regulations, visit www.qse.group . About Scope Technologies Corp. Headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia, Scope Technologies Corp is a pioneering technology company specializing in quantum security and machine learning. Through its flagship brands, QSE Group and GEM AI, Scope provides next-generation solutions in data security, quantum encryption, and neural networks, empowering businesses with secure, scalable technologies that drive growth and operational efficiency. LinkedIn: scope-technologies-corp Facebook: Scope Technologies Corp Twitter: @ScopeTechCorp Contact Information: James Young CEO, Scope Technologies Corp. Email: [email protected] Phone: +1 604-416-1720 Website: www.scopetechnologies.io Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains forward-looking statements that constitute forward-looking information (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements in this news release that are not purely historical statements of fact are forward-looking statements and include statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations, future, strategy, objectives, goals and targets, and more specifically, the use of proceeds of the Offering. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable and reflect expectations of future developments and other factors which management believes to be reasonable and relevant, the Company can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as: "believes", "expects", "aim", "anticipates", "intends", "estimates", "plans", "may", "should", "would", "will", "potential", "scheduled" or variations of such words and phrases and similar expressions, which, by their nature, refer to future events or results that may, could, would, might or will occur or be taken or achieved. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and are based on assumptions and analyses made by the Company in light of its experience and its perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, including, but not limited to, those risks and assumptions described in the Company's latest management discussion and analysis, a copy of which is available under the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. While Scope considers these assumptions to be reasonable, based on information currently available, they may prove to be incorrect. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. In addition, forward-looking statements necessarily involve known and unknown risks, including, without limitation, risks associated with general economic conditions, continued satisfaction of Canadian Securities Exchange requirements, product safety and recalls, regulatory compliance and risks associated with the Company's business. Forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release and, unless required by applicable law, the Company assumes no obligation to update the forward looking statements or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those projected in these forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. The Canadian Securities Exchange has in no way passed upon the merits of the business of the Company and has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release and accepts no responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy hereof. Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2521783/5235791/Scope_Technologies_Corp_Logo.jpg SOURCE Scope Technologies Corp. MIAMI and TORONTO, March 31, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Sekur Private Data Ltd. (OTCQB:SWISF) (CSE:SKUR) (FRA:GDT0) ("Sekur" or the "Company"), a leading Swiss hosted cybersecurity and privacy communications platform, is pleased to announce a non-brokered private placement to raise gross proceeds of up to CA$1,400,000 (US$1,000,000) (the "Private Placement") through the issuance of up to 40,000,00,000 units (each a "Unit"). Each Unit consists of one common share (a "Share") priced at CA$0.035 per share, and one full share purchase warrant (a "Warrant"). Each Full Warrant will entitle the holder to purchase a Common share at a price of CA$0.05 per share for a period of 24 months from the closing date (the "Warrant Term"). The Company intends to use the net proceeds of the Private Placement for the marketing of its Sekur privacy communications solutions in the United States, and for general working capital purposes. To find out more about Sekur's privacy communications solutions visit: https://sekur.com For more company information, please visit: https://sekurprivatedata.com About Sekur Private Data Ltd. Sekur Private Data Ltd. is a cybersecurity and Internet privacy provider of Swiss hosted solutions for secure and private communications. The Company distributes a suite of encrypted e-mails, secure messengers and secure communication tools. Sekur sells its products through its own website, https://www.sekur.com , approved distributors and telecommunications companies worldwide. Sekur serves consumers and businesses worldwide. Follow Sekur on X @sekurprivate LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sekurprivatedata-ltd CONTACT Alain Ghiai, President and Chief Executive Officer SEKUR PRIVATE DATA LTD. Email: [email protected] www.sekurprivatedata.com Tel: +1.305.347.5114 Forward-Looking Information This news release contains certain forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws ("forward-looking statements"). All statements other than statements of present or historical fact are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "anticipate", "achieve", "could", "believe", "plan", "intend", "objective", "continuous", "ongoing", "estimate", "outlook", "expect", "project" and similar words, including negatives thereof, suggesting future outcomes or that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. These statements are only predictions. These statements reflect management's current estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations; they do not guarantee future performance. Sekur cautions that all forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain, and that actual performance may be affected by a number of material factors, many of which are beyond Sekur's control. Such factors include, among other things: risks and uncertainties relating to the future of the Company's business; the success of marketing and sales efforts of the Company; the projections prepared in house and projections delivered by channel partners; the Company's ability to complete the necessary software updates; increases in sales as a result of investments software development technology; consumer interest in the Products; future sales plans and strategies; reliance on large channel partners and expectations of renewals to ongoing agreements with these partners; anticipated events and trends; the economy and other future conditions; and other risks and uncertainties, including those described in Sekur's prospectus dated May 8, 2019, filed with the Canadian Securities Administrators and available on www.sedarplus.ca . Accordingly, actual and future events, conditions and results may differ materially from the estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations expressed or implied in the forward-looking information. Except as required under applicable securities legislation, Sekur undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking information. SOURCE Sekur SAN FRANCISCO, March 31, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- On Monday, March 31, union leaders in IFPTE Local 21 and SEIU Local 1021 responded to the City and County of San Francisco's Proposed Five-Year Financial Plan, otherwise known as the 'Joint Report.' City workers say that the budget can be balanced without major cuts to services, but only if wealthy tech companies pay their fair share in taxes. Workers point to the example of Airbnb's refusal to pay its taxes, making them a major contributor to San Francisco's deficit. Protestors outside of Airbnb's SF headquarters rally against the tech company's refusal to pay their Labor unions have been meeting with Mayor Daniel Lurie in the hopes of partnering on the City's budget challenges. The vacancies resulting from a citywide hiring freeze have saved the City over $200 million in the General Fund. Unions have proposed further cost saving strategies to Mayor Lurie. These include $100 million in reductions to contracting out, and holding corporations accountable in paying their fair share of taxes. "San Francisco can balance its budget without major cuts to core services, but only if wealthy tech companies pay their fair share," said Sarah Perez, San Francisco City Employee and SF Vice President for IFPTE Local 21. "We're asking Mayor Lurie to join us in calling for accountability. It's time to pick up the phone." "While Airbnb co-founder and board member Joe Gebbia is busy with Elon Musk stealing our healthcare and Social Security, his company is shaking down our city too," said Kristin Hardy, San Francisco regional vice president for SEIU 1021 and SF General Hospital employee. "Airbnb is cheating on their taxes and screwing over our Muni lines, public hospitals, and libraries. San Franciscans are overwhelmingly demanding more mental health, substance abuse, and homeless services, as well as street cleaning, to address the conditions on our streets. Yet that's not happening because of corporations like Airbnb that don't want to pay their fair share of taxes." Since 2019, Airbnb has repeatedly sued the City and County of San Francisco in hopes to lower their tax rates and claw back over $120 million from public service funding. Of the $120 million in back payment Airbnb is currently seeking, roughly half of it would come from desperately needed homeless and mental health services. The City is currently withholding tax revenue (likely as much as $90 million) that could go towards balancing the budget, but is being set aside in case Airbnb refuses to drop their lawsuit and pay their taxes. Airbnb is one of the largest tech companies headquartered in SF, with revenue surpassing $11 billion in 2024 alone. They've benefited from massive tax breaks due to the recent passage of Prop M, to which they contributed $550k through their PAC "Committee to Expand the Middle Class Issues Committee Sponsored by Airbnb Inc." Workers say Airbnb's attack on public services isn't limited to San Francisco. Airbnb co-founder and current board member, billionaire Joe Gebbia, took a position on Elon Musk's DOGE team which is working to dismantle public services in order to pay for tax cuts for the richest Americans. BACKGROUND ON CONTRACTING OUT The City and County of San Francisco spends on average $5.2 billion each year on contracts, according to an SF Chronicle analysis in 2023. In fiscal year 2022-23 alone, the city awarded $7.1 billion in new contract agreements and on average has awarded $6.2 billion in new agreements yearly since 2017, reflecting the City's increasing reliance on contractors. Notably, this increase in contract spending predominantly benefits contractors with no roots in San Francisco, with only 6% of awarded contract dollars going back to our local economy. Since 2017, $41 billion has been awarded to contractors outside San Francisco. Unreliable contractors are costing the City, and more importantly taxpayers, valuable public funds when they misuse resources, fail to provide services that were paid for, and charge for unnecessary profits that could fully fund additional services. Click here to read more about the history and shortcomings of contracting out of San Francisco public services. SOURCE IFPTE Local 21 Marking Four Decades of Success, Stellar Honors its Past and Looks Ahead to Building its Future JACKSONVILLE, Fla., March 31, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Stellar, an integrated design-build firm, proudly celebrates its 40th anniversary in 2025, marking four decades of success, innovation, and industry leadership. Founded in July 1985 in Jacksonville with fewer than 30 employees, Stellar began operations as a general contracting firm specializing in refrigeration contracting and maintenance for the perishable food sector. The renovation and expansion of Epping Forest's Yacht and Country Club marked one of Stellar's earliest projects and laid the groundwork for its future growth. Over the past four decades, Stellar has positioned itself as an industry leader, constructing the world's largest pork-processing plant for Carolina Food Processors in 1993 and developing a groundbreaking 475,000-square-foot facility for Maple Leaf Foods in 2000. Stellar's dedication to excellence has been recognized with numerous awards, including the esteemed Food Plant of the Year award by Food Engineering magazine for the Keystone Foods facility and Starbucks' first owned-and-operated soluble coffee plant. In 2021, Stellar designed and built Bell & Evans' award-winning facility, integrating humane poultry practices with state-of-the-art food processing technology. With a dedicated team of over 750 employees and a presence throughout the United States, as well as design work globally, the company continues to set industry standards in safety, quality and innovation, recently winning its fifth consecutive National Safety Pinnacle Award from Associated Builders and Contractors. "After 40 remarkable years, we stand proud of our achievements and the incredible journey we have taken together as a team," said Stellar's Chief Executive Officer Brian Kappele. "This milestone is a celebration of our past and an acknowledgment of the exceptional talent and teamwork that fuels our daily success. Thank you to our dedicated employees and valued clients. Your trust and commitment have fueled our growth, and we will continue to innovate, collaborate, and pursue excellence for a future of shared success." Committed to enriching the lives of its employees, Stellar celebrates 40 years of business with professional growth opportunities, thriving wellness accommodations, and innovative programs. Stellar combines business success with a strong commitment to social responsibility and community engagement. The company is recognized for its philanthropic efforts and environmental sustainability, notably achieving LEED Silver Certification for its Commercial Division headquarters with eco-friendly building materials and green technologies. Stellar supports local nonprofits like the Jacksonville Zoo, the Museum of Science & History, and the YMCA while organizing initiatives such as Thanksgiving basket distributions and partnering with UF Health, Dreams Come True, and Community Hospice to aid those across Northeast Florida. As Stellar enters its next chapter, it is committed to the core values of trust, dedication, transparency, and accountability by investing in employees, expanding client relationships, and driving innovation. Through professional development, cutting-edge solutions, and a commitment to excellence, Stellar is building a future that strengthens its people, enhances its partnerships, and delivers lasting value to the industries it serves. For more information about Stellar and its 40th-anniversary celebrations, visit https://www.stellar.net/who-we-are/our-history/. About Stellar Stellar is a fully integrated design, engineering, construction, refrigeration, and mechanical services firm serving commercial, industrial, and public sector markets across the United States. More than 750 Stellar employees throughout the country create award-winning food processing plants, refrigerated warehouses, distribution centers, commercial buildings, and military facilities. In addition to its headquarters in Jacksonville, Florida, Stellar operates support locations throughout the United States. For more information, visit www.stellar.net . Media Contact: Samantha Ashcraft | Director of Marketing [email protected] | 904-832-4925 SOURCE Stellar Group, Incorporated Available in limited quantities worldwide, Tequila Don Julio 194 ( pronounced "Gou") is a special edition bottle celebrating the brand's deep roots in nightlife and music culture ATOTONILCO EL ALTO, Mexico, March 31, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Tequila Don Julio, the world's #1 tequila brand1, today announced a new creative partnership with world-renowned DJ, producer and culture powerhouse Peggy Gou. As part of this global collaboration, the brand is launching Don Julio 194, a limited-edition bottle available at select retailers worldwide while supplies last. Don Julio 194 is the first-ever global collaboration from Tequila Don Julio 1942, celebrating and sharing the renowned Mexico product around the world. Designed in collaboration with Peggy, the bottle stands as the ultimate statement piece, perfectly embodying her signature aesthetic (a blend of high-end fashion and bleeding-edge street style) while pushing the boundaries of artistry and craftsmanship. It's the perfect complement to the ultra-smooth, luxurious taste of Tequila Don Julio 1942, with its exquisite notes of caramel and oak and its lingering sweet warmth. Tequila Don Julio 1942 partners with superstar DJ and style icon Peggy Gou for its first-ever global product collaboration. Introducing Don Julio 194 - the global collaboration from Tequila Don Julio 1942 and Peggy Gou. Photo Credit: Hong Jang Hyun. Experience the interactive Multimedia News Release here: https://www.multivu.com/tequila-don-julio/9325651-en-tequila-don-julio-1942-peggy-gou-global-product-collaboration The epitome of a collector's item and a celebration of luxury, Peggy's striking take on the iconic Don Julio 1942 bottle masterfully fuses heritage with modern touches like its lush mint-green and deep purple colorways. The contrasting holographic "194" label melds Peggy's signature branding with Don Julio's recognizable iconography. With its sleek reflective finish, the elevated chrome cap adds a refined touch that's befitting of a creative partnership between two titanic tastemakers. In a nod to Peggy's eclectic sense of street style, there is a hand-drawn illustration inset on the carton of each box, incorporating an alluring "shimmer" effect on her jewelry and nails to add a welcome touch of glamour and mystery. The inside of the box is emblazoned with a personal message from Peggy, sharing her passion for this one-of-a-kind collaboration. "When it comes to design, balance is so important," said Peggy Gou. "Sometimes less is more. Sometimes more is more. I wanted to create a bottle that stops you in your tracks the moment you see it. I'm so grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with Tequila Don Julio 1942, because this collaboration offers supporters a taste of a superior tequila and a taste of my own personal aesthetic, all in one stunning package that I was fortunate enough to design." "Peggy's genuine love for Don Julio 1942 made this collaboration natural and organic," says Jamie Hakim, Global Director of Culture for Tequila Don Julio. "Both Peggy and Don Julio 1942 are arbiters of celebration - from intimate nightclubs in Seoul to massive stages in Mexico City with a hundred thousand people, we both hold the distinct privilege of making those moments unforgettable for our fans. Peggy's impeccable sense of style and design, paired with our timeless bottle and award-winning tequila, has resulted in a partnership that embodies refinement and cultural influence. We couldn't be more thrilled to have collaborated with her on this iconic partnership, and we hope fans enjoy this exclusive bottle." This latest offering from Tequila Don Julio debuts with digital spots directed by acclaimed filmmaker Nabil Elderkin. Known for merging art, music and culture, Nabil brings a future-forward vision to life in a striking film that captures the essence of Don Julio 194. Every frame reflects the sleek, modern aesthetic of the collaboration while honoring the brand's legacy of luxury and craftsmanship. Filmed in high-contrast settings, the campaign blurs the line between reality and a dreamlike nightlife fantasy. Accompanying still imagery by renowned Korean photographer Hong Jang Hyun and longtime partner of Peggy Gou, further elevates the campaign's refined visual identity. The campaign will be featured in digital, social and OOH globally - from New York to London to Seoul. After weeks of teasing the campaign through cryptic clues, including sightings of the "194" logo in several high-traffic areas around the world and Peggy conspicuously wearing the "194" logo at recent shows, the official global launch activations will kick off in New York City on April 2nd - a deliberate nod to 19(4/2), the year Don Julio Gonzalez founded the brand. The event will feature a souvenir shop facade with "194" merch, leading guests into a hidden space where a vibrant party will bring the collaboration to life, immersing attendees in the inspiration behind the bottle redesign. Following, Peggy and Don Julio will pop up in leading cities including London, Milan, Seoul and Hong Kong to keep the global celebration going. The limited-edition Don Julio 194 bottle designed in collaboration with Peggy Gou will be available globally in a standard 750ml or 700cl bottle dependent on market, at select retailers until supplies last - including the United States, Great Britain, Italy, Spain, South Korea, Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan, Dubai, Mexico and more. Tequila Don Julio encourages consumers of legal drinking age to celebrate responsibly. ABOUT TEQUILA DON JULIO: Founded on the pioneering agricultural principles of Don Julio Gonzalez and his personal pursuit of perfection, Tequila Don Julio revolutionized the tequila industry and set the standard for ultra-premium tequila. Tequila Don Julio, Mexico's original luxury tequila, uses only the highest caliber, fully matured and ripened Blue Agave that has been hand-selected from the rich, clay soils of the Los Altos region of the state of Jalisco. The Tequila Don Julio portfolio includes Tequila Don Julio Blanco, Tequila Don Julio Reposado, Tequila Don Julio Anejo, Tequila Don Julio 70 Cristalino, Tequila Don Julio Alma Miel, Tequila Don Julio Rosado, Tequila Don Julio 1942, and Tequila Don Julio Ultima Reserva. For more information on Tequila Don Julio, please visit www.DonJulio.com. ABOUT DIAGEO DIAGEO is a global leader in beverage alcohol with an outstanding collection of brands including Johnnie Walker, Crown Royal, Bulleit and Buchanan's whiskies, Smirnoff, Ciroc and Ketel One vodkas, Casamigos, DeLeon and Don Julio tequilas, Captain Morgan, Baileys, Tanqueray and Guinness. DIAGEO is listed on both the New York Stock Exchange (DEO) and the London Stock Exchange (DGE) and our products are sold in more than 180 countries around the world. For more information about DIAGEO, our people, our brands, and performance, visit www.diageo.com. Visit DIAGEO's global responsible drinking resource, www.DRINKiQ.com, for information, initiatives, and ways to share best practice. Follow us on Instagram for news and information about DIAGEO North America: @Diageo_NA. Celebrating life, every day, everywhere. _____________________________ 1 According to data from 2023 IWSR Retail Sales Value SOURCE Tequila Don Julio Available in limited quantities worldwide, Tequila Don Julio 194 ( pronounced "Gou") is a special edition bottle celebrating the brand's deep roots in nightlife and music culture ATOTONILCO EL ALTO, Mexico, March 31, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Tequila Don Julio, the world's #1 tequila brand[1], today announced a new creative partnership with world-renowned DJ, producer and culture powerhouse Peggy Gou. As part of this global collaboration, the brand is launching Don Julio 194, a limited-edition bottle available at select retailers worldwide while supplies last. Don Julio 194 is the first-ever global collaboration from Tequila Don Julio 1942, celebrating and sharing the renowned Mexico product around the world. Designed in collaboration with Peggy, the bottle stands as the ultimate statement piece, perfectly embodying her signature aesthetic (a blend of high-end fashion and bleeding-edge street style) while pushing the boundaries of artistry and craftsmanship. It's the perfect complement to the ultra-smooth, luxurious taste of Tequila Don Julio 1942, with its exquisite notes of caramel and oak and its lingering sweet warmth. Experience the interactive Multimedia News Release here: https://www.multivu.com/tequila-don-julio/9325651-en-tequila-don-julio-1942-peggy-gou-global-product-collaboration The epitome of a collector's item and a celebration of luxury, Peggy's striking take on the iconic Don Julio 1942 bottle masterfully fuses heritage with modern touches like its lush mint-green and deep purple colorways. The contrasting holographic "194" label melds Peggy's signature branding with Don Julio's recognizable iconography. With its sleek reflective finish, the elevated chrome cap adds a refined touch that's befitting of a creative partnership between two titanic tastemakers. In a nod to Peggy's eclectic sense of street style, there is a hand-drawn illustration inset on the carton of each box, incorporating an alluring "shimmer" effect on her jewelry and nails to add a welcome touch of glamour and mystery. The inside of the box is emblazoned with a personal message from Peggy, sharing her passion for this one-of-a-kind collaboration. "When it comes to design, balance is so important," said Peggy Gou. "Sometimes less is more. Sometimes more is more. I wanted to create a bottle that stops you in your tracks the moment you see it. I'm so grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with Tequila Don Julio 1942, because this collaboration offers supporters a taste of a superior tequila and a taste of my own personal aesthetic, all in one stunning package that I was fortunate enough to design." "Peggy's genuine love for Don Julio 1942 made this collaboration natural and organic," says Jamie Hakim, Global Director of Culture for Tequila Don Julio. "Both Peggy and Don Julio 1942 are arbiters of celebration - from intimate nightclubs in Seoul to massive stages in Mexico City with a hundred thousand people, we both hold the distinct privilege of making those moments unforgettable for our fans. Peggy's impeccable sense of style and design, paired with our timeless bottle and award-winning tequila, has resulted in a partnership that embodies refinement and cultural influence. We couldn't be more thrilled to have collaborated with her on this iconic partnership, and we hope fans enjoy this exclusive bottle." This latest offering from Tequila Don Julio debuts with digital spots directed by acclaimed filmmaker Nabil Elderkin. Known for merging art, music and culture, Nabil brings a future-forward vision to life in a striking film that captures the essence of Don Julio 194. Every frame reflects the sleek, modern aesthetic of the collaboration while honoring the brand's legacy of luxury and craftsmanship. Filmed in high-contrast settings, the campaign blurs the line between reality and a dreamlike nightlife fantasy. Accompanying still imagery by renowned Korean photographer Hong Jang Hyun and longtime partner of Peggy Gou, further elevates the campaign's refined visual identity. The campaign will be featured in digital, social and OOH globally - from New York to London to Seoul. After weeks of teasing the campaign through cryptic clues, including sightings of the "194" logo in several high-traffic areas around the world and Peggy conspicuously wearing the "194" logo at recent shows, the official global launch activations will kick off in New York City on April 2nd - a deliberate nod to 19(4/2), the year Don Julio Gonzalez founded the brand. The event will feature a souvenir shop facade with "194" merch, leading guests into a hidden space where a vibrant party will bring the collaboration to life, immersing attendees in the inspiration behind the bottle redesign. Following, Peggy and Don Julio will pop up in leading cities including London, Milan, Seoul and Hong Kong to keep the global celebration going. The limited-edition Don Julio 194 bottle designed in collaboration with Peggy Gou will be available globally in a standard 750ml or 700cl bottle dependent on market, at select retailers until supplies last - including the United States, Great Britain, Italy, Spain, South Korea, Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan, Dubai, Mexico and more. Tequila Don Julio encourages consumers of legal drinking age to celebrate responsibly. ABOUT TEQUILA DON JULIO: Founded on the pioneering agricultural principles of Don Julio Gonzalez and his personal pursuit of perfection, Tequila Don Julio revolutionized the tequila industry and set the standard for ultra-premium tequila. Tequila Don Julio, Mexico's original luxury tequila, uses only the highest caliber, fully matured and ripened Blue Agave that has been hand-selected from the rich, clay soils of the Los Altos region of the state of Jalisco. The Tequila Don Julio portfolio includes Tequila Don Julio Blanco, Tequila Don Julio Reposado, Tequila Don Julio Anejo, Tequila Don Julio 70 Cristalino, Tequila Don Julio Alma Miel, Tequila Don Julio Rosado, Tequila Don Julio 1942, and Tequila Don Julio Ultima Reserva. For more information on Tequila Don Julio, please visit www.DonJulio.com. ABOUT DIAGEO DIAGEO is a global leader in beverage alcohol with an outstanding collection of brands including Johnnie Walker, Crown Royal, Bulleit and Buchanan's whiskies, Smirnoff, Ciroc and Ketel One vodkas, Casamigos, DeLeon and Don Julio tequilas, Captain Morgan, Baileys, Tanqueray and Guinness. DIAGEO is listed on both the New York Stock Exchange (DEO) and the London Stock Exchange (DGE) and our products are sold in more than 180 countries around the world. For more information about DIAGEO, our people, our brands, and performance, visit www.diageo.com. Visit DIAGEO's global responsible drinking resource, www.DRINKiQ.com, for information, initiatives, and ways to share best practice. Follow us on Instagram for news and information about DIAGEO North America: @Diageo_NA. Celebrating life, every day, everywhere. LITTLETON, CO, March 31, 2025 /PRNewswire/ - Ur-Energy Inc. (NYSE American: URG) (TSX: URE) ("Ur-Energy" or the "Company") announces there is a delay in the filing of its annual financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2024 and related management's discussion and analysis (collectively, the "Financial Statements") and the annual information form and Annual Report on Form 10-K, and the CEO and CFO certificates relating to the Financial Statements (the "Required Filings") beyond the prescribed filing deadlines. The delay in filing the Required Filings is due to an accounting issue identified by the Company, resulting in the need for the Company to classify certain stock options awarded under its Amended and Restated Stock Option Plan (2005), as amended, as a liability. The non-cash reclassification from equity to liabilities and a possible adjustment to stock compensation expense will impact the Company's outstanding options in the latter half of 2024. For clarity, the Company does not currently anticipate a restatement of its Consolidated Financial Statements for the year ended December 31, 2023. Management is undertaking the required work to expeditiously complete this accounting matter and to obtain final consents from its external auditors and proceed to file the Required Filings for 2024 within the prescribed timeframe. The Company expects to be in a position to issue and file the Required Filings by no later than April 14, 2025. As a result of the Required Filings not being filed by March 31, 2025, the Company has made an application for the imposition of a management cease trade order ("MCTO") as contemplated under the Canadian National Policy 12-203 Management Cease Trade Orders ("NP 12-203"); however there is no assurance that it will be granted. An MCTO provides a mechanism restricting the Company's CEO and CFO from trading in the Company's securities while allowing the common shares to continue trading on the TSX and the NYSE American. The Company has confirmed that it intends to satisfy the provisions of the alternative information guidelines described in sections 9 and 10 of NP 12-203 for so long as it remains in default for failure to file the Required Filings. In the event an MCTO is not granted, or the Company fails to file the appropriate Default Status Reports as prescribed by NP 12-203, applicable Canadian securities regulatory authorities may impose an Issuer Cease Trade Order. The Company confirms that it is not subject to any insolvency proceeding as of the date hereof. The Company also confirms that there is no other material information concerning the affairs of the Company that has not been generally disclosed as of the date herein. About Ur-Energy Ur-Energy is a uranium mining company operating the Lost Creek in-situ recovery uranium facility in south-central Wyoming. We have produced and shipped approximately 2.8 million pounds U3O8 from Lost Creek since the commencement of operations. Ur-Energy has all major permits and authorizations to begin construction at Shirley Basin, the Company's second in situ recovery uranium facility in Wyoming and is advancing Shirley Basin construction and development following the March 2024 'go' decision for the mine. We await the remaining regulatory authorization for the expansion of Lost Creek. UrEnergy is engaged in uranium mining, recovery and processing activities, including the acquisition, exploration, development, and operation of uranium mineral properties in the United States. The primary trading market for UrEnergy's common shares is on the NYSE American under the symbol "URG." UrEnergy's common shares also trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol "URE." Ur-Energy's corporate office is in Littleton, Colorado and its registered office is in Ottawa, Ontario. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information This release may contain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities laws regarding events or conditions that may occur in the future (e.g., the anticipated timing of the filing of the Required Filings and the scope of the non-cash reclassifications; whether the Company will satisfy the provisions of the alternative information guidelines described in sections 9 and 10 of NP 12-203; and the timing and outcome of the MCTO) and are based on current expectations that, while considered reasonable by management at this time, inherently involve a number of significant business, economic and competitive risks, uncertainties and contingencies. Generally, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans," "expects," "does not expect," "is expected," "is likely," "estimates," "intends," "anticipates," "does not anticipate," or "believes," or variations of the foregoing, or statements that certain actions, events or results "may," "could," "might" or "will be taken," "occur," "be achieved" or "have the potential to." All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are considered to be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements express or implied by the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from any forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, capital and other costs varying significantly from estimates; failure to establish estimated resources and reserves; the grade and recovery of ore which is mined varying from estimates; production rates, methods and amounts varying from estimates; delays in obtaining or failures to obtain required governmental, environmental or other project approvals; inflation; changes in exchange rates; fluctuations in commodity prices; delays in development and other factors described in the public filings made by the Company at www.sedarplus.ca and www.sec.gov. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements contained herein are based on the beliefs, expectations and opinions of management as of the date hereof and Ur-Energy disclaims any intent or obligation to update them or revise them to reflect any change in circumstances or in management's beliefs, expectations or opinions that occur in the future. SOURCE Ur-Energy Inc. This is a Designated News Release VANCOUVER, BC, March 31, 2025 /PRNewswire/ - Vizsla Silver Corp. (TSX: VZLA) (NYSE: VZLA) (Frankfurt: 0G3) ("Vizsla" or the "Company") is pleased to announce a new discovery from its ongoing exploration drill program at its 100%-owned, flagship Panuco silver-gold project ("Panuco" or the "Project") located in Mexico. The discovery was made in hole AM-25-90, marked by several high-grade intervals contained within a broader envelope of precious metals mineralization. AM-25-90 is located approximately six kilometers to the northeast of the Copala resource area, situated along the Animas Vein system below known historic mine workings. Figure 1: Plan map showing Animas Vein system and the location of hole AM-25-90. (CNW Group/Vizsla Silver Corp.) Figure 2: Longitudinal section for Animas structure with historic drillhole pierce points (black) and hole AM-25-90 (red) tapping high grade mineralization below historic mine workings at La Pipa. The gray polygons with black dash line represent estimated mined out high-grade mineralization done local miners on the upper 100 metres of the vein. (CNW Group/Vizsla Silver Corp.) Figure 3: Cross section showing Animas structure flattening at depth and discovery hole AM-25-90. (CNW Group/Vizsla Silver Corp.) Highlights AM-25-90 returned 897 grams per tonne (g/t) silver equivalent (AgEq) over 5.85 metres true width (mTW) (653 g/t silver, 4.26 g/t gold, 0.02 % lead and 0.04 % zinc) Including 1,379 g/t AgEq over 1.31 mTW (1,190 g/t silver, 4.00 g/t gold, 0.02 % lead and 0.04 % zinc) And 2,256 g/t AgEq over 1.13 mTW (1,398 g/t silver, 14.10 g/t gold, 0.04 % lead and 0.09 % zinc) (653 g/t silver, 4.26 g/t gold, 0.02 % lead and 0.04 % zinc) And 568 g/t AgEq over 2.60 mTW (457 g/t silver, 2.00 g/t gold, 0.08 % lead and 0.18 % zinc) Including 1,000 g/t AgEq over 1.09 mTW (814 g/t silver, 3.42 g/t gold, 0.11 % lead and 0.24 % zinc) (457 g/t silver, 2.00 g/t gold, 0.08 % lead and 0.18 % zinc) "This new discovery underscores the strong potential for new wide, high-grade silver and gold mineralization in the Panuco district, which has historically seen limited systematic exploration," commented Michael Konnert, President & CEO. "Applying the same thesis we used to discover the Napoleon Vein in 2020, historic workings at Animas were used to vector this new mineralization. To date, drilling in the area has been limited, however ongoing geologic interpretation of the localized system suggests both grade and widths may increase at depth. We will evaluate plans to follow up on this exciting discovery with further details to be provided in due course." The Animas vein-system is located approximately six kilometres to the northeast of the Copala resource area, emplaced on reactivated northwest- to west-northwest-trending normal fault that dips to the southwest. The Animas system hosts the largest number of historical workings, including the Rosarito and Cuevillas veins with a current inferred resource of 7.01 Moz AgEq (see News Release from January 6, 2025). Animas has a mapped strike length of over 7.2 km and extends from the San Carlos mine in the southeast to the claim boundary in the northwest. To date, ten main mineralized shoots have been exploited along this corridor down to the present water table, with the oldest known workings dating back to the 1500s. Historical references note that the corridor extends beyond the San Carlos mine in the southeast and preliminary interpretations by Vizsla geologists using LiDar and satellite imagery, suggest that the Animas structural trend extends further south into the recently acquired San Enrique prospect (see News Release from April 16, 2024). The Hunt for Project 2 In late 2024, Vizsla commenced its fully funded +10,000 metre ongoing exploration drill program designed to test multiple veins in five high-priority target areas: Camelia-San Dimas, Animas-Triunfo, Galeana, San Fernando-Nacaral and Jesusita-Palos Verdes. Hole AM-25-90 reported in this news release was drilled at La Pipa target along the Animas vein system (Figure 2). Previous structural interpretations done by Starling in 2019 combined with further work done by Vizsla's geologists, suggested that Animas is emplaced along a reactivated, Laramide age fault zone that flattens at depth (Figure 3). Further interpretations by Vizsla geologists indicate that silver and gold mineralization may be telescoped (common in other Mexican epithermal vein systems) and that high-grade mineralized shoots could repeat/re-open at depth. Hole AM-25-90 was planned to test that hypothesis and has now confirmed the reappearance of broad high-grade mineralization at depth. The hole intercepted a 14.90 mTW vein package from 118.70 to 138.55 down the hole, that contains the two high grade zones and two low grade subzones with samples reporting 20 to 70 g/t AgEq. Results from this hole confirmed that great potential still exists along the Animas vein system below the historic mines and below the current water table that consistently prevented the historic miners from going deeper. The Company plans to follow up on the La Pipa discovery with additional exploration-delineation stage drilling subject to ongoing exploration success. Drillhole From To Downhole Length Estimated True width Ag Au Pb Zn AgEq Vein (m) (m) (m) (m) (g/t) (g/t) % % (g/t) AM-25-90 118.70 126.50 7.80 5.85 653 4.26 0.02 0.04 897 Animas Includes 119.75 121.50 1.75 1.31 1,190 4.00 0.02 0.04 1,379 Includes 124.35 125.85 1.50 1.13 1,398 14.10 0.04 0.09 2,256 AM-25-90 131.20 134.30 3.10 2.60 457 2.00 0.08 0.18 568 Animas Includes 132.00 133.30 1.30 1.09 814 3.42 0.11 0.24 1,000 Note: AgEq = Ag g/t x Ag rec. + ((Au g/t x Au Rec x Au price/gram)+(Pb% x Pb rec. X Pb price/t) + (Zn% x Zn rec. X Zn price/t))/Ag price/gram. Metal price assumptions are $24.00/oz silver, $1,800/oz gold, $2,424.4/t lead and $2,975.4/t zinc. Metallurgical recoveries assumed are 93% for silver, 90% for gold, 94% for lead and 94% for zinc. Metallurgical recoveries used in this release are from metallurgical test results of the Napoleon vein (see press release dated February 17, 2022). Table 1: Downhole drill intersections from hole AM-25-90. Drillhole Easting Northing Elevation Azimuth Dip Depth AM-25-90 409,080 2,589,578 810 76.6 87.0 201 Table 2: Drillhole details for hole AM-25-90. Coordinates in WGS84, Zone 13. About the Panuco Project The newly consolidated Panuco silver-gold project is an emerging high-grade discovery located in southern Sinaloa, Mexico, near the city of Mazatlan. The 7,189.5-hectare, past producing district benefits from over 86 kilometres of total vein extent, 35 kilometres of underground mines, roads, power, and permits. The district contains intermediate to low sulfidation epithermal silver and gold deposits related to siliceous volcanism and crustal extension in the Oligocene and Miocene. Host rocks are mainly continental volcanic rocks correlated to the Tarahumara Formation. On January 6, 2025, the Company announced an updated mineral resource estimate for Panuco which includes an estimated in-situ combined measured and indicated mineral resource of 222.4 Moz AgEq and an in-situ inferred resource of 138.7 Moz AgEq (please refer to Vizsla's press release dated January 6, 2025). About Vizsla Silver Vizsla Silver is a Canadian mineral exploration and development company headquartered in Vancouver, BC, focused on advancing its flagship, 100%-owned Panuco silver-gold project located in Sinaloa, Mexico. The Company recently completed a Preliminary Economic Study for Panuco in July 2024 which highlights 15.2 Moz AgEq of annual production over an initial 10.6-year mine life, an after-tax NPV5% of US$1.1B, 86% IRR and a 9-month payback at US$26/oz Ag and US$1,975/oz Au. Vizsla Silver aims to become the world's leading silver company by implementing a dual track development approach at Panuco, advancing mine development, while continuing district scale exploration through low-cost means. Quality Assurance / Quality Control Drill core samples were shipped to ALS Limited in Zacatecas, Zacatecas, Mexico and in North Vancouver, Canada for sample preparation and for analysis at the ALS laboratory in North Vancouver and rock samples were shipped to SGS Lab in Durango Mexico for sample preparation and analysis. The ALS Zacatecas, North Vancouver facilities and SGS lab are ISO 9001 and ISO/IEC 17025 certified. Silver and base metals were analyzed using a four-acid digestion with an ICP finish and gold was assayed by 30-gram fire assay with atomic absorption ("AA") spectroscopy finish. Over limit analyses for silver, lead and zinc were re-assayed using an ore-grade four-acid digestion with AA finish. Control samples comprising certified reference samples, duplicates and blank samples were systematically inserted into the sample stream and analyzed as part of the Company's quality assurance / quality control protocol. Qualified Person In accordance with NI 43-101, Jesus Velador, Ph.D. MMSA QP, Vice President of Exploration, is the Qualified Person for the Company and has reviewed and approved the technical and scientific content of this news release. Information Concerning Estimates of Mineral Resources The scientific and technical information in this news release was prepared in accordance with NI 43-101 which differs significantly from the requirements of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). The terms "measured mineral resource", "indicated mineral resource" and "inferred mineral resource" used herein are in reference to the mining terms defined in the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum Standards (the "CIM Definition Standards"), which definitions have been adopted by NI 43-101. Accordingly, information contained herein providing descriptions of our mineral deposits in accordance with NI 43-101 may not be comparable to similar information made public by other U.S. companies subject to the United States federal securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder. You are cautioned not to assume that any part or all of mineral resources will ever be converted into reserves. Pursuant to CIM Definition Standards, "inferred mineral resources" are that part of a mineral resource for which quantity and grade or quality are estimated on the basis of limited geological evidence and sampling. Such geological evidence is sufficient to imply but not verify geological and grade or quality continuity. An inferred mineral resource has a lower level of confidence than that applying to an indicated mineral resource and must not be converted to a mineral reserve. However, it is reasonably expected that the majority of inferred mineral resources could be upgraded to indicated mineral resources with continued exploration. Under Canadian rules, estimates of inferred mineral resources may not form the basis of feasibility or pre-feasibility studies, except in rare cases. Investors are cautioned not to assume that all or any part of an inferred mineral resource is economically or legally mineable. Disclosure of "contained ounces" in a resource is permitted disclosure under Canadian regulations; however, the SEC normally only permits issuers to report mineralization that does not constitute "reserves" by SEC standards as in place tonnage and grade without reference to unit measures. Canadian standards, including the CIM Definition Standards and NI 43-101, differ significantly from standards in the SEC Industry Guide 7. Effective February 25, 2019, the SEC adopted new mining disclosure rules under subpart 1300 of Regulation S-K of the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "SEC Modernization Rules"), with compliance required for the first fiscal year beginning on or after January 1, 2021. The SEC Modernization Rules replace the historical property disclosure requirements included in SEC Industry Guide 7. As a result of the adoption of the SEC Modernization Rules, the SEC now recognizes estimates of "measured mineral resources", "indicated mineral resources" and "inferred mineral resources". Information regarding mineral resources contained or referenced herein may not be comparable to similar information made public by companies that report according to U.S. standards. While the SEC Modernization Rules are purported to be "substantially similar" to the CIM Definition Standards, readers are cautioned that there are differences between the SEC Modernization Rules and the CIM Definitions Standards. Accordingly, there is no assurance any mineral resources that the Company may report as "measured mineral resources", "indicated mineral resources" and "inferred mineral resources" under NI 43-101 would be the same had the Company prepared the resource estimates under the standards adopted under the SEC Modernization Rules. Website: www.vizslasilvercorp.ca SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS This news release includes certain "ForwardLooking Statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and "forwardlooking information" under applicable Canadian securities laws. When used in this news release, the words "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "target", "plan", "forecast", "may", "would", "could", "schedule" and similar words or expressions, identify forwardlooking statements or information. These forwardlooking statements or information relate to, among other things: the exploration, development, and production at Panuco, including plans to follow up on the discovery at hole AM-25-90 with additional exploration-delineation stage drilling. Forwardlooking statements and forwardlooking information relating to any future mineral production, liquidity, enhanced value and capital markets profile of Vizsla Silver, future growth potential for Vizsla Silver and its business, and future exploration plans are based on management's reasonable assumptions, estimates, expectations, analyses and opinions, which are based on management's experience and perception of trends, current conditions and expected developments, and other factors that management believes are relevant and reasonable in the circumstances, but which may prove to be incorrect. Assumptions have been made regarding, among other things, the price of silver, gold, and other metals; costs of exploration and development; the estimated costs of development of exploration projects; Vizsla Silver's ability to operate in a safe and effective manner and its ability to obtain financing on reasonable terms. These statements reflect Vizsla Silver's respective current views with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon a number of other assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by management, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties and contingencies. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forwardlooking statements or forward-looking information and Vizsla Silver has made assumptions and estimates based on or related to many of these factors. Such factors include, without limitation: the Company's dependence on one mineral project; precious metals price volatility; risks associated with the conduct of the Company's mining activities in Mexico; regulatory, consent or permitting delays; risks relating to reliance on the Company's management team and outside contractors; risks regarding mineral resources and reserves; the Company's inability to obtain insurance to cover all risks, on a commercially reasonable basis or at all; currency fluctuations; risks regarding the failure to generate sufficient cash flow from operations; risks relating to project financing and equity issuances; risks and unknowns inherent in all mining projects, including the inaccuracy of reserves and resources, metallurgical recoveries and capital and operating costs of such projects; contests over title to properties, particularly title to undeveloped properties; laws and regulations governing the environment, health and safety; operating or technical difficulties in connection with mining or development activities; employee relations, labour unrest or unavailability; the Company's interactions with surrounding communities and artisanal miners; the Company's ability to successfully integrate acquired assets; the speculative nature of exploration and development, including the risks of diminishing quantities or grades of reserves; stock market volatility; conflicts of interest among certain directors and officers; lack of liquidity for shareholders of the Company; litigation risk; and the factors identified under the caption "Risk Factors" in Vizsla Silver's management discussion and analysis. Readers are cautioned against attributing undue certainty to forwardlooking statements or forward-looking information. Although Vizsla Silver has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be other factors that cause results not to be anticipated, estimated or intended. Vizsla Silver does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forwardlooking statements or forward-looking information to reflect changes in assumptions or changes in circumstances or any other events affecting such statements or information, other than as required by applicable law. SOURCE Vizsla Silver Corp. Close to 900 wines compete for top honors as Wynn promotes Chinese wines on a global level MACAU, March 31, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Macao will soon be in the global spotlight once again as Wynn plays host to the second edition of the Wynn Signature Chinese Wine Awards ceremony on April 11. Created by "Wynn Signature", Wynn's exclusive lifestyle brand, and with the support of the Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO), the 2025 Wynn Signature Chinese Wine Awards is the largest gathering of its kind to evaluate Chinese wines based on international standards. After the highly anticipated results are revealed at the ceremony, Wynn will host four engaging industry events, bringing together world-renowned wine experts, representatives from China's leading wineries, industry professionals, international media and wine enthusiasts to savor the highest quality of wines from China and promote Chinese wines on an international level. The 2025 Wynn Signature Chinese Wine Awards reveal the complete list of Gold Medal Wine winners The Gold Medal Wines are now on display for a limited time at the West Esplanade of Wynn Palace until April 10 The 2025 Wynn Signature Chinese Wine Awards judging panel features 27 of the world's foremost authorities on wine The vision behind the Wynn Signature Chinese Wine Awards is to select China's top wines, commend outstanding winemakers, and promote Chinese wines on a global stage. Following on from the success of the inaugural awards event in 2024, this year's competition has been elevated to even higher standards with respect to the judging system, panel of judges, scale of participation, variety of awards and post-event promotions. The composition of the 2025 panel of judges has also been elevated to feature 27 of the world's leading authorities on wine, including 10 Masters of Wine (MW), 3 Master Sommeliers (MS), and 1 industry expert with dual MW and MS certifications. In keeping with international judging protocols, the wine tastings for nearly 900 varieties of wine from close to 200 of China's top wineries were conducted blind, and wines were appraised according to the internationally recognized 100-point system. Medals have been awarded to wines based on a tiered scoring system of bronze medals (85-89 points), silver medals (90-94 points) and gold medals (95-100 points). After rigorous evaluation, the "Wynn Signature Best Wine of China Trophy" as well as the trophies for wines across three divisions: "Wynn Signature Trophies", "Varietals Champion Trophies" and "Regional Champion Trophies" have been selected from the Gold Medal List. Wynn has also introduced two new award categories this year: "Wynn Sommelier's Choice" and "Best Young Winemaker", and the winners will be revealed at the awards ceremony. The complete Gold, Silver and Bronze Medal Winner List has already been announced ahead of the ceremony. For a limited time from now through April 10, 35 Gold Medal Wines are now on display at the West Esplanade of Wynn Palace, giving guests and wine enthusiasts just a taste of what's to come at the highly anticipated awards ceremony on April 11. Following the inaugural Wynn Signature Chinese Wine Awards event last year, the competition has received significant recognition and substantial policy support from local governments and industry organizations in China. The Yantai City Commerce Bureau and the Finance Bureau of Shandong Province were the first to launch incentive measures for award-winning wineries by releasing "Guidelines for Receiving Subsidies for the Development of the Wine Industry in Yantai City" in March 2024. Most recently in March 2025, The Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Forestry and Grassland Bureau officially released "Guiding Opinions on the Development of Xinjiang Wine Industry Funds" to reward companies that participate in and win gold medals from professional and authoritative wine competitions in China and internationally, such as the Wynn Signature Chinese Wine Awards, the International Wine Challenge (IWC), Concours Mondial de Bruxelles (CMB) and more. Now that the Wynn Signature Chinese Wine Awards have successfully garnered global acclaim, ranking alongside other prestigious international wine competitions, this once again demonstrates how the awards are able to play an influential role in promoting Chinese wines on a global scale. Wynn hosts four major wine industry events, becoming a wine cultural hub After the winners are revealed, Wynn will become a cultural hub for Chinese wines as it plays host to four major events designed to give industry players an opportunity to exchange ideas and explore the local terroirs of China's rich wine landscape on April 12 at Wynn Palace. The day begins with Xing Wei MW, as he presents the "50 Years of Challenges: The Renaissance of Chinese Wine Forum". Professor Zhan Jichen of China Agricultural University, veteran winemakers Guo Songquan and Zhang Chunya, as well as representatives from China's seven core wine production regions, will also discuss the development of Chinese wines over the past 50 years and the future potential of the industry. In the afternoon, Julian Boulard MW will join Yi Guotao, an expert on wines in China, to host the "Marselan: A Signature Grape of Chinese Wine" Masterclass to talk about the evolution and the beauty of Marselan, a unique Chinese grape varietal from different terroirs across the country. In the evening, the Michelin two-starred Chef Tam's Seasons at Wynn Palace and the Michelin two-starred Wing Lei at Wynn Macau will host two award-winning wine dinners for the Wynn Signature Chinese Wine Awards, pairing award-winning wines with exceptional dishes to showcase the best of China's wines. At Wynn Palace, Cantonese Master Chef Tam Kwok Fung at Chef Tam's Seasons will tailor-make a 6-course menu to pair with wines which have been meticulously chosen by Fongyee Walker MW and Xing Wei MW for the "Cantonese Master Chef Tam Kwok Fung A Cantonese Feast of Six Chinese Regions' Wine & Ingredients" dinner. Professor Ma Huiqin of China Agricultural University has also been invited to share her insights about the wines during the dinner at Chef Tam's Seasons. At Wynn Macau, Executive Chef Chan Tak Kwong of Wing Lei will team up with Julien Boulard MW and renowned wine KOL Terry Xu ("Xiao Pi"), to pair award-winning wines from the 2025 Wynn Signature Chinese Wine Awards at the "Executive Chef Chan Tak Kwong Award-winning Chinese Wines Paired with Traditional Cantonese Cuisine" dinner. Judging week highlights: Insightful exchanges and phenomenal dining experiences Prior to the awards ceremony, Wynn Macau and Wynn Palace held a six-day judging week, where an international panel featuring 27 of the foremost authorities on wine gathered in Macao to evaluate Chinese wines from February 28 to March 5. On top of the intense rounds of judging, Wynn hosted a series of wine seminars, masterclasses, and collaborative wine dinners presented by the world's leading wine experts and the award-winning chefs at Wynn, creating an unforgettable event. During the judging week, Professor Ma Huiqin, wine masters Xing Wei MW, Julien Boulard MW and wine influencer Terry Xu ("Xiao Pi") held four seminars to share their global perspectives on the future potential of China's core wine production regions, the country's unique grape varietals and examined future digital trends in the China wine industry. The seminars offered a platform for wine experts from around the world to engage in in-depth discussions and explore new opportunities. Richard Hemming MW, Gus Zhu MW and Dr. Jamie Goode, as well as two of the world's leading authorities on Bordeaux wine Jane Anson and Joao Pires MS held three international masterclass sessions to give participants an opportunity to taste some of the best wines from around the world. Globally renowned wine experts Xing Wei MW, Kenichi Ohashi MW, Christy Canterbury MW, Kevin Lu MS and Terry Xu "Xiaopi" also partnered with the award-winning culinary teams at Lakeview Palace, Mizumi, SW Steakhouse at Wynn Palace and Drunken Fish at Wynn Macau to pair the finest wines from China and around the world with masterfully prepared dishes. For the latest updates on the Wynn Signature Chinese Wine Awards and the complete list of Gold, Silver and Bronze medal winners, please visit the following official awards website: https://www.wynnresortsmacau.com/en/wynn-palace/whats-on/wynn-signature-chinese-wine-awards SOURCE Wynn Resorts (Macau) BEIJING, March 31, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- "I'm very honored to have the opportunity to witness the production process of Dehua porcelain. This has deepened my understanding of Chinese culture," said Evan Kail, an American friend of China, during his hands-on ceramic experience on March 19 in Dehua County, southeast China's Fujian Province. Photo shows Evan Kail admires Dehua ceramics in Dehua County, Quanzhou City in southeast China's Fujian Province. (Source: Dehua Converged Media Center) In 2022, Kail donated a photobook documenting the behaviors of Japanese forces in China during World War II. In recognition of his contribution, he was presented with a Dehua porcelain artwork designated as a national gift. Later, he showcased this gift at China Media Group's 2025 Spring Festival Gala, introducing its elegance to millions. During his recent visit to Dehua, the birthplace of plain white porcelain famously dubbed "Blanc de Chine" or white from China, Kail delved deep into ceramic heritage. "Dehua white ceramics are not just art. They are bridges for cultural exchanges between China and the rest of the world," he remarked. Xie Jinhua, creator of the porcelain gift Kail received, stated that this artwork exemplifies Dehua porcelain-making techniques. He moved on to note that the pure white clays with jade-like glaze embody China's traditional culture, conveying good wishes to friends across the world. Historically, Dehua porcelain wares were cornerstone exports on the Maritime Silk Road during the Song and Yuan dynasties (960-1368). Today, they continue the role as cultural exchange emblems, selected as Paris 2024 Olympic Games merchandise and presented as state gifts and mascots for many international events. As a "World Ceramics City", Dehua now boasts an annual ceramic output value of 66.3 billion yuan (about 9.1 billion U.S. dollars), with over 60 percent of its products shipped to more than 190 countries and regions. The county has taken moves to expand overseas markets, including establishing seven white porcelain promotion and exhibition centers in places like Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, and Malacca, and organizing international showcases in Malaysia, the United Arab Emirates, and France among others. Dehua will keep going global, using its ceramics to build global understanding of China, said Fang Junqin, head of Dehua County. SOURCE Xinhua Silk Road 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 A local software company with a new Amherst headquarters is not only growing its own footprint, but is also investing in like-minded technology businesses. Homegrown tech startup Founders Software is becoming a bigger player nationally in the non-emergency medical transportation industry. Founders Software, which moved its offices last year to Amherst, is also hiring locally, including bringing on multiple employees from the former Campus Labs. And it has been acquiring and advising other software companies, both locally and from other regions, looking to grow in Buffalo. Founders also has invested in the midmarket space, providing capital to companies so that they dont have to rely on out-of-state private equity firms, which usually means having to move their visions and companies elsewhere. Founders Software has even provided some companies with technical assistance and help advancing contracts. Paul Snyder IV, Founders president and chief executive officer, declined to say what companies it has worked with. If people want more companies to come to Buffalo, there have to be organizations willing to invest in those businesses when theyre trying to start up or come here, said Snyder, a Canisius High School alum, who earned an MBA and law degree from the University at Buffalo. We would love to find people from Buffalo with an idea in Buffalo and keep them in Buffalo, but sometimes it is just as good, or better, to find people with the same sort of ideas and bring them here, he added. We look at doing both. Its getting companies and bringing them here to create that center of gravity around that. Coming out of the pandemic, this has been a business model that has thrived, Snyder said. If you invest intelligently in people with great ideas and great vision, you can really create some exciting opportunities in Buffalo, Snyder said. We have in this city and surrounding areas some really great technology ideas that need a combination of capital, human capital and mentorship. Founders is a platform developing software as a solution technology finding its niche in creating products for people who need assistance getting to and from medical appointments. It was named to the Inc. 5000 Annual List of Fastest-Growing Companies in 2021. Technology and logistics investment firm gets $1.5M in state aid for 148 jobs Founders Logistics plans to invest more than $28 million in the next five years to buy and expand its investments. Its main products include RoutingBox, a scheduling and dispatching technology provider for non-emergency medical transportation industry, and MedBatch, a New York State Medicaid billing solution. Snyder said Founders Software grew following the pandemic, after using that time to upgrade its technology. It now has more than 600 customers in 41 states, processing $50 million in claims annually. Snyder is focused on hiring local talent, as well. He said he has been trying to keep senior high-level staff from Campus Labs in Buffalo after theyve been laid off by the company, which is now Anthology. It has helped repatriate local jobs lost to a national acquisition. Founders is up to around 30 employees working locally in what Snyder described as high-paying jobs. Those are hard jobs to find here, so a lot of them are leaving the community, Snyder said. Its benefited us, because Ive been collecting people from Campus Labs. Founders moved about eight months ago to a roughly 10,000-square-foot building at Uniland Developments Corporate Parkway. It had been operating out of East Amherst Street on Buffalos East Side. In 2024, The Cedar Bus Co., a medical transportation business that Snyder had been invested in since 2005, was sold to Massachusetts-based Beacon Mobility. The company is still operating out of the 401 E. Amherst St. building that Snyder owns, and Beacon Mobility is now a client of Founders Software. Snyder had served as chief financial officer and general counsel of The Cedar Bus Co. An important part of that deal was making sure all the jobs stayed in Buffalo and the headquarters stayed on East Amherst Street, because it is important to that part of the city, Snyder said. Were still very much connected to them, but were continuing to grow in our universe on the software side. Snyder also had a foray into running a logistics division as he waited for Founders Software and the bus company to jump back online and into service after the pandemic. Founders Logistics makes investments as an independent service provider within the growing e-commerce distribution industry. Washington, March 31 : US President Donald Trump has hit out at "fake news media" and the "radical left" for allegedly conducting a biased coverage of messages leaked from a Signal group chat, where US officials had discussed strikes on Iran-backed Houthi targets in Yemen. Republican Senator Markwayne Mullin, in an interview with NBC News earlier on Sunday, spoke about the Signal chat controversy and said, "The conversation should be about why did the Biden administration not do anything in the last two years, instead of this Signal chat. There was no classified information given out, it was a thoughtful conversation, and the attack was extremely successful." Following this statement, Donald Trump, in a post on Sunday on Truth Social, his own social media platform, praised the Senator for his response, "A GREAT job by Senator Markwayne Mullin on beating back Kristen Welker's, and the the Radical Left's Witch Hunt, on the never ending Signal story. They just don't stop - Over and over they go!" He added, "Meet the Fake Press should instead explain how successful the attack was, and how Sleepy Joe Biden should have done it YEARS AGO. This story and narrative is so old and boring, but only used because we are having the most successful "First One Hundred Presidential Days" in the history of America, and they can't find anything else to talk about." Trump also slammed NBC News in the post saying, "The Fake News Media has the lowest Approval Ratings in history, and for good reason. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!!!" President Trump told NBC News on Saturday that he would not fire anyone involved in a group chat that inadvertently disclosed plans for airstrikes on Yemen to a journalist. In a wide-ranging interview with NBC's Kristen Welker, Trump pushed back on reports that some in his circle had encouraged him to fire Michael Waltz, the National Security Advisor (NSA). The New York Times reported on Saturday that Trump had spent much of the past week consulting with aides about whether he should fire Waltz amid mounting fallout from the episode. But Trump told Welker that he still had confidence in Waltz and in Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, and he continued to downplay the seriousness of the incident. "I don't fire people because of fake news and because of witch hunts," the US President said. Controversy erupted after NSA Waltz accidentally added the Editor-in-Chief of The Atlantic magazine to a Signal group chat discussing details of US strikes aimed at Houthi targets in Yemen. The group chat, consisted of high profile individuals from the Trump administration, such as Defence Secretary Hegseth and Vice-President J.D. Vance, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, and National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard. It including timings of strikes on Yemen, the type of planes being issued, as well as conversations about US "being the only country capable" of conducting such strikes. The Atlantic published the actual transcript of US attack plans, however, the Trump administration has maintained that none of the information shared was sensitive. Washington, March 31 : US President Donald Trump has sent a striking warning to Iran of possible bombings and secondary tariffs if the Islamic Republic does not reach an agreement with the US over its nuclear programme. "If they don't make a deal, there will be bombing," Trump said in a phone interview with NBC News on Sunday. In Trump's first remarks since Iran rejected direct negotiations with Washington last week, he told NBC News that US and Iranian officials were talking, but did not elaborate. "It will be bombing the likes of which they have never seen before," the US President said. Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Sunday that the Islamic Republic rejected negotiations with the US over its fast-advancing nuclear programme, offering Tehran's first response to a letter Trump sent to the country's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Trump also mentioned the possibility of reimposing economic pressure, similar to his past actions. "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," Trump told "Meet the Press" host Kristen Welker. Iran sent a response through Oman to a letter from Trump urging Tehran to reach a new nuclear deal, saying its policy was to not engage in direct negotiations with the US while under its maximum pressure campaign and military threats, Tehran's Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi was quoted as saying on Thursday. Pezeshkian reiterated the policy on Sunday. In the NBC interview, Trump also threatened so-called secondary tariffs, which affect buyers of a countryas goods, on both Russia and Iran. He signed an executive order last week authorizing such tariffs on buyers of Venezuelan oil. During his first term, Trump pulled the US out of a 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and world powers, a pact that imposed strict limitations on Tehran's contentious nuclear programme in exchange for sanctions relief. In his first 2017-21 term, Trump withdrew the US from a 2015 deal between Iran and world powers that placed strict limits on Tehran's disputed nuclear activities in exchange for sanctions relief. Trump also reimposed sweeping US sanctions. Since then, the Islamic Republic has far surpassed the agreed limits in its escalating program of uranium enrichment. Tehran has so far rebuffed Trump's warning to make a deal or face military consequences. Western powers accuse Iran of having a clandestine agenda to develop nuclear weapons capability by enriching uranium to a high level of fissile purity, above what they say is justifiable for a civilian atomic energy program. Tehran says its nuclear program is wholly for civilian energy purposes. New Delhi, March 31 : The festive air of Eid-ul-Fitr has officially embraced India, as the Shawwal crescent moon was sighted in multiple states, including Assam, Manipur, Bengal, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi. Muslims across India will celebrate the joyous occasion on Monday. The announcement was made by Naib Imam of Jama Masjid, Shaban Bukhari, who shared his heartfelt greetings with the Muslim community. "The moon of Shawwal-ul-Mukarram for Eid al-Fitr has been sighted across several states, including Delhi. It is officially announced that Eid al-Fitr will be observed on Monday, March 31, 2025. I extend my heartfelt Eid Mubarak wishes to all of you," he said. With the confirmation of the moon sighting, markets and streets in Old Delhi, particularly around Chandni Chowk and Jama Masjid, are buzzing with excitement. Families are making their final purchases of traditional attire, sweets and festive delicacies to mark the special occasion. From the aroma of biryani and kebabs filling the streets to the last-minute rush for sewaiyan and dry fruits, the city is fully immersed in Eid preparations. Earlier this week, a tweet on X had warned the police of India's national capital to be alert during Eid on March 31 to April 1 as "some illegal Rohingya/Bangladeshi/Pakistani Muslims may cause Hindu-Muslim riots or bomb blasts in Chandni Chowk, Jama Masjid, Jahangirpuri". In anticipation of the large gatherings, Delhi Police has heightened security measures to ensure a safe and peaceful Eid celebration. An official from Delhi Police had confirmed that teams across all police stations in the east district have been briefed on maintaining law and order. Maximum police presence, patrolling, and security pickets have been planned to ensure smooth festivities. As Delhi prepares for Eid-ul-Fitr, the focus remains on the spirit of the festival -- faith, generosity and togetherness. From the early morning Eid prayers at mosques to community feasts and charitable giving, the celebration fosters brotherhood and unity. With a day filled with love, gratitude and festivity ahead, the Muslim community of Delhi and across India looks forward to welcoming Eid-ul-Fitr 2025 with open hearts. Eid Mubarak! New Delhi, March 31 : Eid-ul-Fitr is set to be celebrated on Monday by Muslims across India, as the Shawwal crescent moon was sighted in multiple states, including Assam, Manipur, Bengal, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi. The announcement was made by Naib Shahi Imam of Jama Masjid, Syed Shaban Bukhari, who shared his heartfelt greetings with the Muslim community. "The moon of Shawwal-ul-Mukarram for Eid al-Fitr has been sighted in various states of India, including Assam, Manipur, Bengal, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Delhi....It is announced that Eid al-Fitr will be observed on Monday, March 31, 2025. I extend my heartfelt Eid Mubarak wishes to all of you," Shaban Bukhari told IANS. National Imam Organisation Chief, Imam Umar Ahmed Ilyasi told IANS, "I would like to start by saying that Eid has already taken place in Saudi Arabia, in the United States, in Canada and all over the world. Tomorrow is Eid. On this occasion, I would like to wish all Indians a happy Eid..." With the last fast of Ramadan observed on Sunday, Eid prayers will be offered on Monday. Coinciding with the first day of Navratri, religious harmony prevails. On the eve of Eid-al-Fitr, devotees assembled at Jama Masjid during the holy month of Ramadan. The mosque witnessed a large gathering as worshippers came together, marking the end of Roza. After the sighting of moon on Eid-ul-Fitr, marking the end of Ramadan, a large crowd gathered at the Jama Masjid market. People were seen preparing for the upcoming Eid celebrations, shopping for clothing and other essentials With the confirmation of the moon sighting, markets and streets in Old Delhi, particularly around Chandni Chowk and Jama Masjid, are buzzing with excitement. Families are making their final purchases of traditional attire, sweets and festive delicacies to mark the special occasion. From the aroma of biryani and kebabs filling the streets to the last-minute rush for sewaiyan and dry fruits, the city is fully immersed in Eid preparations. Earlier this week, a tweet on X had warned the police of India's national capital to be alert during Eid on March 31 to April 1 as "some illegal Rohingya/Bangladeshi/Pakistani Muslims may cause Hindu-Muslim riots or bomb blasts in Chandni Chowk, Jama Masjid, Jahangirpuri". In anticipation of the large gatherings, Delhi Police has heightened security measures to ensure a safe and peaceful Eid celebration. An official from Delhi Police had confirmed that teams across all police stations in the east district have been briefed on maintaining law and order. Maximum police presence, patrolling, and security pickets have been planned to ensure smooth festivities. As Delhi prepares for Eid-ul-Fitr, the focus remains on the spirit of the festival -- faith, generosity and togetherness. From the early morning Eid prayers at mosques to community feasts and charitable giving, the celebration fosters brotherhood and unity. With a day filled with love, gratitude and festivity ahead, the Muslim community of Delhi and across India looks forward to welcoming Eid-ul-Fitr 2025 with open hearts. Eid Mubarak! Washington, March 31 : US President Donald Trump did not dismiss the idea of pursuing a third term in the White House, despite the 22nd Amendment of the Constitution prohibiting it, claiming in an interview that "there are methods" for achieving this and emphasising he was "not joking". "A lot of people would like me to do that. But, I mean, I basically tell them, we have a long way to go," Trump said in a phone interview with NBC News that was published on Sunday, CNN reported. "I'm focused on the current," he added, referring to his current administration. "A lot of people want me to do it," Trump said, referring to support from his allies. "There are methods which you could do it," the President responded, when asked if there are strategies on the table to allow him to seek another presidency, CNN reported. The term-limited President has teased a third presidency time and time again. "I'm not joking," Trump told NBC News, but reiterated, "It is far too early to think about it." Earlier in late January at a rally in Nevada, Trump said: "It will be the greatest honour of my life to serve, not once but twice or three times or four times." He later added: "No, it will be to serve twice. For the next four years, I will not rest." Weeks later, Trump asked his supporters, "Should I run again?" at a Black History Month event at the White House, to chants of "Four more years!" One option discussed was having Vice-President J.D. Vance run for the President and later step aside to hand over the role to Trump. "That's one," Trump admitted. "But there are others too," he added, though he declined to share any further details, simply replying "no" when asked to elaborate. Changing the Constitution to allow a third term would require considerable political effort, needing a two-thirds majority in Congress or agreement from two-thirds of the states to call a constitutional convention. Any changes would then need to be approved by three-quarters of the states. Although Trump has previously made similar comments on running as the US President for a third term, many Republicans have brushed them off as jokes or attempts to provoke critics. However, Tennessee Republican Representative Andy Ogles has proposed a resolution to remove the current two-term limit, potentially allowing Trump to seek another term in office. Tehran, March 31 : Hours after US President Donald Trump threatened Iran with bombing and secondary tariffs, the armed forces in Iran have reportedly readied missiles for a potential response to Washington. In a post on Monday on X, Iranian army said, "Information received by the Tehran Times indicates that Iran's missiles are loaded onto launchers in all underground missile cities and are ready for launch. Opening the Pandora's box will come at a heavy cost for the US government and its allies." According to a report with the Tehran Times, a significant number of launch-ready missiles have been located in underground facilities scattered across the country. Trump, on Sunday had threatened Iran with bombings and secondary tariffs if Tehran did not come to an agreement with Washington over its nuclear programme. In his first remarks since Iran rejected direct negotiations with Washington last week, Trump told NBC News that the US and Iranian officials were talking, but did not elaborate. "If they don't make a deal, there will be bombing," Trump said in a telephone interview. "It will be bombing the likes of which they have never seen before." "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," he added. In response, Iran sent a letter to Trump through Oman, urging Tehran to reach a new nuclear deal, saying its policy was to not engage in direct negotiations with the US while under its maximum pressure campaign and military threats, Tehran's Foreign Minister was quoted as saying on Thursday. In the interview, Trump also threatened so-called secondary tariffs, which affect buyers of a country's goods, on both Russia and Iran. He signed an executive order last week authorising such tariffs on buyers of Venezuelan oil. Trump did not elaborate on those potential tariffs. In his first 2017-21 term, Trump withdrew the US from a 2015 deal between Iran and world powers that placed strict limits on Tehran's disputed nuclear activities in exchange for sanctions relief. Trump also reimposed sweeping US sanctions. Since then, the Islamic Republic has far surpassed the agreed limits in its escalating program of uranium enrichment. Tehran has so far rebuffed Trump's warning to make a deal or face military consequences. Washington, March 31 : US President Donald Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is looking to back out of a critical minerals agreement with the US. Trump told reporters on Sunday that he believes Zelensky no longer wants to sign the agreement and warned that his refusal would carry consequences. "He's trying to back out of the rare earth deal and if he does that he's got some problems, big, big problems," Trump said, according to a media news portal report. "He wants to be a member of NATO, but he's never going to be a member of NATO. He understands that." Ukrainian officials are currently reviewing the latest version of a minerals deal, which reportedly grants the US unprecedented control over Ukraine's natural resources through a joint investment fund. Zelensky said on March 28 that he would not sign a minerals deal that interferes with Ukraine's plans to join the European Union. "Nothing that could threaten Ukraine's accession to the EU can be accepted," he added. Bloomberg reported on March 29 that Kyiv was requesting changes to the current proposal, including greater investment from the US and more clarity on how the joint fund would operate. The Trump administration has touted the minerals deal as an essential part of Ukraine's path to peace, but has failed to offer concrete security guarantees in exchange for broad access to resources. Kyiv and Washington were set to sign an earlier version of the agreement on February 28, but the plan fell apart after a heated Oval Office dispute between Zelensky, Trump, and Vice-President J.D. Vance. The White House has described the minerals deal as a mechanism for the US to "recoup" some of the financial aid it has provided to Ukraine since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion. Trump has also said he wants to explore a natural resources deal with Russia. Following a March 18 phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Trump said the US hoped to expand trade with Moscow and gain access to "very big forms of rare earth". Putin previously said on February 24 that Russia is open to working with foreign partners on developing rare earth metals, including in occupied regions of Ukraine. Shimla, March 31 : Former Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister and Leader of Opposition (LoP), Jairam Thakur, expressed his condolences to the bereaved family members after six people lost their lives in a landslide when a hollow tree which was uprooted fell on the people near the Gurdwara Manikaran Sahib parking area in Kullu on Sunday. Taking to social media platform X, LoP Thakur said: "The accident that took place in Manikaran of Kullu is very sad and unfortunate, many people have died tragically in this accident. My condolences are with the victims of this accident. I pray to God to give place to all the departed souls in his sacred feet and provide strength to their families to bear this unbearable grief." He also wrote: "Also, may the people injured in this accident recover very soon. The government and local administration are requested to speed up the relief and rescue work so that the affected people can get relief as soon as possible." At least six people died, and six were injured after a hollow tree was uprooted and fell on the victims near the Gurdwara Manikaran Sahib parking area in Kullu on Sunday. Additional District Magistrate (ADM), 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." The deceased victims have been identified as Reena, a resident of Manikaran, Kullu district, Himachal Pradesh; Barshini, a resident of Vijay Nagar, Bangalore; and Sameer Gurung, a resident of Nepali origin. Two individuals, one female and one male, whose identities remain unknown at this time. The injured persons include Ramesh Babu, 53, a resident of Vijay Nagar, Bangalore; Pallavi Ramesh, 49, wife of Ramesh Babu; and Bhargav, 24, son of Ramesh Babu. Others injured are identified as Tumpa Acharya, 40, a resident of L.K. Path, Assam; and Parachi, 23, a resident of Sector-14, Hisar, Haryana. Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu expressed deep grief over the incident, said an official statement from the Himachal Chief Minister's Office. 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 victims. Expressing his condolences, Chief Minister Sukhu 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. Shimla, March 31 : Former Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister and Leader of Opposition (LoP), Jairam Thakur, expressed his condolences to the bereaved family members after six people lost their lives in a landslide when a hollow tree which was uprooted fell on the people near the Gurdwara Manikaran Sahib parking area in Kullu on Sunday. Taking to social media platform X on Sunday, LoP Thakur said: "The accident that took place in Manikaran of Kullu is very sad and unfortunate, many people have died tragically in this accident. My condolences are with the victims of this accident. I pray to God to give place to all the departed souls in his sacred feet and provide strength to their families to bear this unbearable grief." He also wrote: "Also, may the people injured in this accident recover very soon. The government and local administration are requested to speed up the relief and rescue work so that the affected people can get relief as soon as possible." At least six people died, and six were injured after a hollow tree was uprooted and fell on the victims near the Gurdwara Manikaran Sahib parking area in Kullu on Sunday. Additional District Magistrate (ADM), 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." The deceased victims have been identified as Reena, a resident of Manikaran, Kullu district, Himachal Pradesh; Barshini, a resident of Vijay Nagar, Bangalore; and Sameer Gurung, a resident of Nepali origin. Two individuals, one female and one male, whose identities remain unknown at this time. The injured persons include Ramesh Babu, 53, a resident of Vijay Nagar, Bangalore; Pallavi Ramesh, 49, wife of Ramesh Babu; and Bhargav, 24, son of Ramesh Babu. Others injured are identified as Tumpa Acharya, 40, a resident of L.K. Path, Assam; and Parachi, 23, a resident of Sector-14, Hisar, Haryana. Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu expressed deep grief over the incident, said an official statement from the Himachal Chief Minister's Office. 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 victims. Expressing his condolences, Chief Minister Sukhu 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. New Delhi, March 31 : President Droupadi Murmu on Monday extended her heartfelt greetings on the auspicious occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr, emphasising that the festival strengthens the spirit of brotherhood and promotes compassion and charity. Taking to social media platform X, President Murmu conveyed her wishes, stating, "Greetings to all countrymen, especially Muslim brothers and sisters on the auspicious occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr. This festival strengthens the feeling of brotherhood and gives the message of adopting compassion and charity. I wish that this festival brings peace, prosperity, and happiness in everyone's life and strengthens the spirit of moving forward on the path of goodness in everyone's hearts." Several prominent leaders also extended their wishes on the occasion. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh shared his greetings, saying, "Greetings on Eid-ul-Fitr. May this festival bring happiness, peace, and prosperity to all. Hope this day further strengthens the bonds of harmony and brotherhood all across society. Eid Mubarak!" Minister of Road Transport & Highways, Nitin Gadkari, also took to X to express his wishes, posting, "Warmest wishes for Eid-ul-Fitr. May this joyous occasion fill every heart with peace, love, and endless blessings. Eid Mubarak!" Similarly, Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju extended his greetings on Eid. He wrote in a post on X, "Wishing everyone a joyous & blessed Eid-ul-Fitr! May this special day bring happiness, prosperity & new opportunities for all. Letas celebrate the spirit of togetherness & gratitude with our loved ones." Eid-ul-Fitr, marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan, is celebrated with great fervor across India and the world. The festival signifies a time of joy, generosity, and unity, as people come together to share meals, exchange gifts, and offer prayers for peace and harmony. BEIJING, March 30 (Xinhua) -- In a world haunted by growing protectionism, China has continuously expanded opening up, injecting stability into the global economy, and has become an oasis of certainty and a hot spot for investment and entrepreneurship. This is the belief shared by more than 40 representatives of the international business community who met here on Friday with Chinese President Xi Jinping. From the China Development Forum 2025 in Beijing to the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2025 in south China's Hainan Province, foreign executives have reaffirmed their commitment to China as a key market for investment and collaboration. They noted China's complete industrial system, rich application scenarios, vast market scale and large talent pool, which combine to offer extensive collaboration opportunities for international industrial and technological innovation. INVESTING IN CHINA, INVESTING IN FUTURE China's reform and opening up continue to draw global attention. Riding the wave created by China's high-level opening-up endeavors, foreign companies are leveraging the advantages of the world's second-largest economy and participating in its innovation pursuit, aiming at win-win cooperation. "We have been very proud to play a role in China's development, enabling and connecting China to the world," said Sean Stein, president of the U.S.-China Business Council, adding that China has grown into the world's second-largest consumer market, presenting vast opportunities for multinational operators to invest and expand their businesses. Foreign business operations and investments in China have driven economic growth and employment, boosted technological and managerial progress, and facilitated reform and opening up. In this process, foreign businesses have thrived and generally enjoyed handsome returns, achieved win-win results, and forged profound friendship with the Chinese people. In 2024, a total of 59,080 new foreign-invested enterprises were established in China, up 9.9 percent year on year. Over the past five years, the return rate of foreign direct investment in the country has remained at approximately 9 percent, ranking among the highest in the world. "We invest in infrastructure that supports domestic consumption. A prosperous Chinese consumer is good for our business," said Hamid R. Moghadam, chairman and CEO of Prologis. "We are more than 30 years now in China, and we have several production hubs. For us, it's a very large market. China also is a very attractive market with a lot of opportunities today, in the past, but also in the future -- and that's why we're here," said Christian Hartel, president & CEO of Wacker Chemie AG. "So we keep investing, and we have very great people here on the ground in China, who are very innovative. We develop and produce products for the Chinese market, and also feel very positive for the outlook in the future," he added. ALL EYES ON NEW QUALITY PRODUCTIVE FORCES Foreign investment plays a significant role in fostering new quality productive forces, and China supports the participation of foreign enterprises in its new industrialization, with a focus on high-tech fields, according to an action plan to stabilize foreign investment in 2025, which was approved by a State Council executive meeting in February. The nation's emphasis on innovation as a driver for high-quality growth resonated strongly with the foreign business representatives. They said that from "Made in China" to "new quality productive forces," China has empowered industrial transformation and upgrading through innovation, and is set to realize higher-quality and more sustainable development. These foreign business representatives have reached the consensus that the outlook of the Chinese economy is strong. "Today there are multiple signs of investment on optimism," said Jean-Pascal Tricoire, chairman of Schneider Electric, adding that China's promotion of green development aligns with Schneider's goal of pursuing sustainability, instilling confidence in enterprises to advance investment, research and development in China. "We remain committed to the country, not only as a market, but as a strategic hub for innovation, investment and collaboration," said Geoff Martha, chairman and CEO of Medtronic. He emphasized the company's commitment to innovation collaboration in China and expressed the hope of jointly promoting the innovative development of global healthcare via continued investments in China. Beijing Benz, the joint venture between Beijing Automotive Group Co., Ltd. and Mercedes-Benz, in March 2024 marked the milestone of producing its 5 millionth vehicle. Later, in September 2024, Mercedes-Benz and its Chinese partners announced an additional 14 billion yuan (about 1.92 billion U.S. dollars) investment to expand their product offerings in the region. Ola Kallenius, chairman of the board of management of Mercedes-Benz Group AG, also praised China's innovation-driven market. "China's competitive advantage lies in its passion for innovation," he said. "That is why Mercedes-Benz continues to deepen its presence in China." OPEN COLLABORATION FOR SHARED FUTURE Against the backdrop of rising unilateralism and protectionism in the world economy, China has vowed to expand high-standard opening up, while keeping foreign trade and foreign investment stable. China is an oasis of certainty, according to Aramco President and CEO Amin H. Nasser. "What we see today in the global environment is uncertainty. We are seeing unpredictability, and we need China's stability, certainty and predictability that we are seeing," Nasser explained. "I think for us exactly in these times of uncertainties, having the commitment from President Xi and from the Chinese government in general to show consistency in their approach, to continue with their focus on multilateralism, on providing a level playing field, and on opening up... these are very powerful messages of stability in a world that really needs stability at this time," said Vincent Clerc, CEO of A.P. Moller-Maersk. "We have been in China for a little bit more than 60 years, and we are now planning for our next 60 years, for Inter IKEA here in China. We are very confident in China, and in how China and IKEA can grow together," said Jon Abrahamsson Ring, CEO of Inter IKEA Group. (Reporting by Cheng Xin, Sun Yi, Liu Yang, Dong Xue, Feng Xinran, Zhang Wen; video editors: Zhang Wen, Wang Han, Liu Xiaorui, Cao Ying, Shi Peng, Meng Na, Li Ziwei, Hui Peipei, Zhang Mocheng) A 1-year-olds birthday party on Shirley Avenue in the summer of 2023 came to an abrupt, violent end. Two people in ski masks fired nearly two dozen shots, killing a 21-year-old man on a front porch. The Buffalo man accused of firing most of the shots 20 bullets in just three seconds mere feet from princess-themed decorations and an inflatable bounce house, according to a prosecutor is putting his fate in the hands of a jury starting this week. Jurors heard opening statements Monday in the case against Jakai Lofton, 19, who was 17 at the time of the Aug. 12, 2023, slaying of Quban Embry. The late-afternoon attack on Embry was over in less than 10 seconds, Assistant Erie County District Attorney Samantha King said. Two teens charged with fatally shooting Buffalo man last August Two Buffalo teenagers were arraigned earlier this week on murder and weapons charges in connection with the fatal shooting last August of a Buffalo man. He never saw it coming, King said. He basically died where he was sitting. Embry, who went by Chucky, was shot 10 times, suffering gunshot wounds to his head, spine, liver and bladder. One of the bullets entered his brain through his eyelid, King told jurors. Embry died in a pool of blood on the front steps of the home on Shirley, between Bailey and Comstock avenues. Lofton faces charges of second-degree murder and second-degree criminal possession of a weapon. If convicted of both, he could face up to 40 years to life in prison, according to prosecutors. Loftons former codefendant, Anthony Borden who also was 17 at the time of the killing is expected to testify at the trial. Borden pleaded guilty to manslaughter in November. One of two defendants pleads guilty to manslaughter in Shirley Avenue fatal shooting Anthony Borden, who was 17 at the time of the shooting, had been charged with second-degree murder and second-degree criminal possession of a weapon. Borden gave a statement to investigators, King said, in which he said he had a beef with Embry, that the two had problems in the past and Borden saw Embry in the neighborhood on the day of the shooting. The trial is expected to last through Friday. Prosecutors told jurors that their evidence includes: Video footage from before the shooting of the shooters leaving a house where Lofton lived and going back into the house just after the shooting. Loftons DNA on a gate in a driveway that one of the shooters ran through while fleeing the scene. Photos posted on social media of Lofton holding a gun that meets the description of one of the guns used in the killing. James A.W. McLeod, Loftons defense attorney, told the jury that police and prosecutors have the wrong guy. Its somebody else, McLeod said. Its not Jakai Lofton. Lofton lived on LaSalle Avenue, one street away from the shooting scene, King said. Witnesses indicated and video shows one shooter was wearing a gray hoodie, while the other was wearing a black hoodie. Video footage obtained by investigators shows figures wearing those color hoodies leaving Loftons home just prior to the gunfire and going back inside just afterward, King told jurors. Security footage from around the time of the shooting taken by cameras at Loftons home had been deleted by the time police were able to review it, according to prosecutors. Prosecutors also have a witness they said will testify that she dropped Lofton and Borden at Loftons home before the shooting. The witness, who was told to wait for them, fled the area when she heard gunshots. Police recovered 23 shell casings from the scene, said King. Borden fired three shots from a 10 mm pistol. The other 20 shots came from Loftons .45-caliber pistol, which was outfitted with an extended magazine and a switch, which allowed for the rapid gunfire. 19-year-old 'not interested' in plea offer in 2023 fatal Shirley Avenue shooting After his codefendant pleaded guilty, Jakai Lofton turned down a plea offer in a 2023 murder case stemming from a shooting when he was 17 years old. Loftons social media accounts proved to be a treasure trove for investigators, said King, who is trying the case with Homicide Bureau Chief Gene Partridge. Police found social media messages from about two weeks prior to the shooting in which he was looking to buy a Glock, the type of firearm prosecutors said was used. Investigators also found a message sent after the shooting in which Lofton said he had a Glock to sell. DNA found on a metal post of an open gate in a driveway across the street from Loftons home, on the route the shooters took from the scene back to the home, matches Loftons, King said. When police asked Lofton during an interview if he ever cut through yards, he told them, Hell no, King told the jury. Loftons defense appears as though it will take aim at the credibility of Borden. McLeod told the jury any guilt must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. I believe the evidence thats going to be presented is nowhere near there, he said. McLeod argued to the jury that the prosecutions only evidence tying his client to the crime would be Bordens statement. Through most of last year, Borden professed that he was not involved in this crime, McLeod said in his eight-minute opening statement. In February, Lofton turned down a plea offer from prosecutors that would have sent him to prison for 22 to 25 years. That deal would have resolved the three open criminal cases against him. In his other cases, Lofton faces six weapons possession charges in connection with a March 2023 incident. He also previously pleaded guilty to second-degree assault following an arrest in February 2022. He awaits sentencing in that case. Seoul, March 31 : The interim leader of the ruling People Power Party (PPP) on Monday called on the Constitutional Court to swiftly deliver its verdict on President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment. Rep. Kwon Young-se made the call as the court has continued its deliberation on Yoon's fate, 34 days after it wrapped up hearings. No date has been set on Yoon's impeachment ruling, Yonhap news agency reported. "Acting court President Moon Hyung-bae should stop delaying any more time and issue a ruling promptly based on the decisions of each justice," Kwon said after a meeting of the PPP's emergency leadership committee. Yoon was impeached December 14 over his failed bid to impose martial law. It took 63 days for former President Roh Moo-hyun to be reinstated and 92 days for former President Park Geun-hye to be removed from office from the passage of their impeachment motions. With 107 days having passed since Yoon's impeachment, the court has yet to rule on the case. On April 18, the terms of two judges appointed by the previous administration will expire. Currently, the court has an eight-member bench, and consent by at least six standing judges is necessary to uphold Yoon's impeachment. Kwon also condemned the main opposition Democratic Party (DP) for pressuring the appointment of opposition-recommended Justice candidate Ma Eun-hyuk. On Sunday, DP floor leader Park Chan-dae said his party will take "major" action if acting President Han Duck-soo fails to appoint Ma by Tuesday, hinting at a second impeachment attempt against Han, as well as against Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok and other Cabinet members. New Delhi, March 31 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday extended greetings to the nation on the second day of the Chaitra Navratri, which is dedicated to Goddess Brahmacharini. In a post on his X handle, PM Modi wrote, "The blessings of Devi Maa on Navratri fill the devotees with happiness, peace and new energy." PM Modi also posted a prayer on his X, urging people to listen to the song sung by Rajlakshmi Sanjay. The prayer song is dedicated to the worship of Shakti. Chaitra Navratri began on March 30 and will continue till April 7, with each day dedicated to the different incarnations of the Goddess Durga. The nine-day festival honors the nine forms of Goddess Durga. The devotees observe special prayers, rituals, and fasts throughout the festival. On the second day, the Goddess Durga is worshipped as Brahmacharini, the unmarried form of Goddess Parvati. Devotees in large numbers thronged temples all over the country. People started lining up outside temples in the morning. In Jammu and Kashmir, thousands of devotees were visiting the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine in Katra to offer prayers. Atop the Trikuta Hills, the cave shrine was flocked by thousands since the beginning of the 9-day long Navratri festival on Sunday. The authorities have made elaborate arrangements for the safety and security of the pilgrims. In Delhi, devotees in huge numbers lined up at the Kalkaji temple. The head priest of Kalkaji Temple, Surendranath Avdhoot, said, "During Navratri, prayers are offered to different forms of Goddess Durga every day. On the second day of Navratri, the worship of Goddess Brahmacharini is performed." A devotee at that the temple said she was very happy after having darshan. "It felt great, the darshan was wonderful, and everything went smoothly," she said. In Ayodhya, devotees thronged temples, with large crowds at the Ram temple and Hanuman Garhi. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also took to social media to greet devotees on the occasion. "On the occasion of the holy second day of Chaitra Navratri, I pray that happiness dwells in every household by the grace of Maa Brahmacharini and that everyone's life is irrigated with happiness, prosperity and health. May the blessings of Maa Brahmacharini, the second form of Adi Shakti Maa Bhagwati, always rest upon all devotees. Jai Maa Brahmacharini!" Bangkok, March 31 : Thai authorities have detained four Chinese nationals for unlawfully entering the site of a collapsed high-rise under construction in Bangkok following the powerful earthquake that struck Myanmar. Police stated that the individuals were attempting to retrieve documents from the site, which is now under investigation due to its connection to a Chinese-backed construction firm. The 30-story building crumbled within seconds during the 7.7-magnitude earthquake on Friday, sending debris into the air and trapping dozens beneath the rubble. Deputy Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Bureau, Major General Nopasin Poolswat, revealed that the four Chinese men were caught illegally removing 32 files of documents from the collapsed State Audit Office (SAO) building without permission, as reported by National Thailand. Following the earthquake, the Bangkok Governor declared the site a disaster zone and restricted unauthorised access. However, police received reports on Saturday about individuals retrieving documents from the area. Upon investigation, authorities apprehended one Chinese man near the scene, who claimed to be a project manager for the construction. His documents confirmed he had a valid work permit and was associated with a joint venture involving Italian-Thai Development Public Company Limited, the contractor for the project. Further inquiry led to the detention of three more men, along with 32 documents, including blueprints and other paperwork. The Chinese nationals asserted they were subcontractors working under the main contractor and had entered the restricted area to retrieve essential documents for an insurance claim. Initially, the suspects were temporarily released after questioning. However, on Sunday, the Chatuchak District Office filed a complaint against five Chinese nationals for violating public restrictions and removing sensitive documents from the collapsed site. The police have initiated legal proceedings against the four detained individuals, while the fifth person, identified as their employer, remains under investigation. Authorities are expected to take further action based on the ongoing inquiry. Additionally, Thailand on Sunday confirmed that the death toll has reached 17 and 32 injured, with 77 people missing following the powerful earthquake. Mumbai, March 31 : In the aftermath of the mosque blast that took place in the village of Ardha, Beed, on Sunday, March 30, local police have arrested two suspects. Following the incident, the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) also arrived at the site and began its investigation. Late last night, ATS questioned the arrested suspects and initiated parallel inquiries to determine if there is any terrorism angle involved or if the blast was the result of a personal dispute or mischief. Officially, the case remains under the jurisdiction of the local Crime Branch, which is currently investigating the matter. As part of their probe, the authorities are examining the suspects' backgrounds, including their bank details and tracking their social media activities for any leads. A significant development in the case emerged when a video surfaced, showing one of the accused holding a piece of gelatin. Authorities are now investigating how the suspects acquired the gelatin, from whom they obtained it, and whether it was linked to the blast or part of a larger conspiracy. Further interrogation is going on to uncover how many people were involved in the plot, what their motives were, and whether there is a wider network at play. The investigation is being closely monitored, with the Crime Branch working diligently to uncover all the facts surrounding the blast. The involvement of the ATS adds an additional layer of scrutiny, as they explore the possibility of terrorism or extremist activity in this incident. As the investigation progresses, officials are focusing on all aspects, from the acquisition of materials like gelatin to the suspectsa potential affiliations and intentions. The case remains under intense scrutiny, with authorities determined to bring clarity to the situation and ensure justice is served. --IANS Brt/skp Kolkata, March 31 : The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is closely examining errors in the case diary of the initial probe conducted by the Kolkata Police's special investigation team in the R.G. Kar rape and murder case. The CBI is probing whether these errors indicate evidence tampering or manipulation. Kolkata, March 31 (IANS) The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is closely examining errors in the case diary of the initial probe conducted by the Kolkata Policeas special investigation team in the R.G. Kar rape and murder case. The CBI is probing whether these errors indicate evidence tampering or manipulation. The CBI is set to submit this case diary to the Calcutta High Courtas single-judge bench of Justice Tirthankar Ghosh on the third day of the fresh hearing next month. Alongside, the CBI counsel is expected to argue how these mistakes substantiate the theory of deliberate evidence alteration. The case dates back to August 9 last year, when the body of a junior woman doctor was found in a seminar hall within the premises of state-run R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata. The Kolkata Policeas special investigation team initially handled the probe before the Calcutta High Court transferred the case to the CBI. As part of the transition, the city police handed over its case diary to the central probe agency. Last week, the CBI submitted its own case diary based on its independent investigation. Sources say that upon reviewing the original case diary, CBI officials identified glaring errors -- so basic that even a rookie officer wouldnat be expected to make them. Such mistakes, if proven deliberate, could invite departmental action against the officers involved. Legal experts believe that a comparative analysis of the two case diaries -- the one prepared by Kolkata Police and the other by the CBI -- could lead to crucial revelations. The courtas scrutiny could determine whether the CBIas claim of evidence tampering in the initial investigation holds merit. Additionally, it could highlight whether the CBI pursued a completely different line of inquiry or merely expanded on the city policeas approach with a more meticulous investigation. Chennai, Mar 31 : The makers of director P S Mithran's eagerly-awaited spy thriller 'Sardar 2',featuring actors Karthi and Rajesha Vijayan in the lead, on Monday released the first look poster of the film. Director P S Mithran took to his social media timelines to release the first look poster of the film. He wrote, "Eid Mubarak folks! Presenting the #Sardar2 first look Prologue from 12.45 pm today." The first look picture has Karthi sporting an intense look and holding a Katana (a Japanese sword used by the Samurai). A prologue is expected to be released later today for the film. 'Sardar 2' currently in its final stages of filming. Interestingly, the cast has is simultaneously dubbing for the film even as filming continues. The film is believed to have the highest budget among all of Karthi's films made so far. 'Sardar 1' was such a big hit that it's producer Lakshman of Prince pictures went on to present the film's director PS Mithran a Toyota Fortuner as a gift for the film's phenomenal success. Apart from being a big commercial entertainer, Sardar 1 had a very significant message to society. It's plot stressed on the significance of water and its conservation. While the first part had Karthi playing the dual roles of a RAW agent and his son, a cop intent on undoing the damage his father had done to his reputation, the second part will have the son turning a spy for the Indian Government and heading to Cambodia. Sardar 1 had an impressive cast which included Bollywood actor Chunky Pandey. It also marked the return of well known actress Laila to the big screen. Now, Sardar 2 will feature, apart from Karthi and Rajisha Vijayan, actors SJ Suryah, Malavika Mohanan, Aashiq Rangnath and Sajal Ahmed among others. On the technical front, Sardar 2 has cinematography by George Williams and music by Yuvan Shankar Raja. Editing for the film is by Ruben and Art direction is by K Kadhir. Stunts for the film have been choreographed by Dhilip Subbarayan and the story for the sequel has been written by M R Pon Parthipan, Roju Bipin Ragu and Geevee. Patna, March 31 : Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar participated in Eid celebrations at Patna's historic Gandhi Maidan on Monday, extending warm greetings to the Muslim community on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr. Patna, March 31 (IANS) Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar participated in Eid celebrations at Patnaas historic Gandhi Maidan on Monday, extending warm greetings to the Muslim community on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr. Dressed in traditional attire, he joined the celebrations, embodying the spirit of unity and communal harmony. The Chief Minister arrived at Gandhi Maidan early in the morning, donning the traditional cap worn by Muslims on Eid. Accompanied by Rural Works Minister Ashok Choudhary, he observed thousands of devotees offering Namaz at 7.30 a.m. With hands raised in prayer, Kumar conveyed his heartfelt wishes to the people of Bihar and the entire nation. "Hearty congratulations and best wishes to the people of the state and the country, especially to our Muslim brothers and sisters, on the occasion of Eid. May God shower His blessings on all of us and bring happiness, peace, and prosperity to Bihar," Kumar stated. Bihar Governor Arif Mohammad Khan also extended his greetings through social media, posting on X. In his message, he highlighted the values of Eid and its significance in fostering social harmony. "Hearty congratulations and best wishes to all the countrymen and people of Bihar on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr. This festival imparts the message of self-restraint, sacrifice, and generosity. I hope that Eid brings happiness, peace, and prosperity to everyone's life. Let us pledge to build a civilized, harmonious, and inclusive society on this occasion," Khan said. To ensure a peaceful and secure Eid, the Bihar Police have implemented extensive security measures. More than 425 magistrates have been deployed across Patna, with police forces stationed at key locations, intersections, and mosques to maintain order and prevent any untoward incidents. Eid celebrations in Bihar reflect the stateas enduring tradition of religious harmony. New Delhi, March 31 : Sonia Gandhi, MP and Chairperson of the Congress Parliamentary Party, has accused the Modi-led government at the Centre of following an agenda "leading to damaging consequences in the domain of education." New Delhi, March 31 (IANS) Sonia Gandhi, MP and Chairperson of the Congress Parliamentary Party, has accused the Modi-led government at the Centre of following an agenda "leading to damaging consequences in the domain of education." She is an article in a newspaper shared by Congress leader Pawan Khera has said there are '3Cs' that haunt Indian education today -- centralisation, commercialisation and communalisation. Gandhi has said the government was coercing the state governments to implement the PM-SHRI scheme of model schools by withholding the grants due to them under the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan as leverage. Criticising the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, she says in the article, "The introduction of the high-profile National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 has hidden the reality of a government that is profoundly indifferent to the education of India's children and youth. The Union Government's track record over the last decade has convincingly demonstrated that in education, it is concerned only with the successful implementation of three core agenda items the centralisation of power with the Union Government, the commercialisation and outsourcing of investments in education to the private sector, and the communalisation of textbooks, curriculum, and institutions." She says the most damaging consequences of centralisation have been in the domain of education. The Central Advisory Board of Education, comprising Ministers for Education in both the Union and State Governments, has not been convened since September 2019. She has accused the government of not consulting the states and considering their views. "Even while adopting and implementing a paradigm shift in education through the NEP 2020, the Union Government has not seen fit to consult State governments on the implementation of these policies even once. It is a testament to the Government's singular determination not to heed any voice other than its own, even on a subject that is squarely in the Concurrent List of the Indian Constitution." She says that the lack of dialogue has been accompanied by a "bullying tendency" and cites the PM-SHRI (or PM Schools for Rising India) scheme as a case. Gandhi has also accused the Centre of commercialisation of the education system, saying it "has been happening in plain sight, in full compliance with the NEP" "Since 2014, we have seen the closure and consolidation of 89,441 public schools across the country and the establishment of 42,944 additional private schools. The country's poor have been forced out of public education and into the hands of a prohibitively expensive and under-regulated private school system," she says. She also says that in higher education, the Centre has introduced the Higher Education Financing Agency (HEFA) as a replacement to the University Grants Commission's erstwhile system of block grants. "Universities are being encouraged to seek loans, offered at market rates of interest, from HEFA, which they are then obliged to repay from their own revenues. In its 364th Report on the Demand for Grants, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education found that between 78% to 100% of these loans are being repaid by universities through student fees. In other words, the price of the Government's retreat from financing public education has been borne by students facing fee hikes," she writes. The veteran Congress leader has accused the Centre of following a communal agenda in education. "The Union Government's third thrust is on communalisation the fulfilment of the long-standing ideological project of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and the Bharatiya Janata Party, of indoctrinating and cultivating hatred through the education system." She says the textbooks of the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) have been revised to sanitise Indian history. "Mahatma Gandhi's assassination and the sections on Mughal India have been dropped from curricula. In addition, the Preamble to the Indian Constitution was dropped from textbooks until public backlash forced the Government to commit to mandatory inclusion once again," she says in the article. She has also raised the appointments being made in the universities. "In our universities, we have seen the large-scale hiring of professors from regime-friendly ideologically backgrounds, no matter the comically poor quality of their teaching and scholarships. Leadership positions in key institutions even in the Indian Institutes of Technology and Indian Institutes of Management that Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru so evocatively described as the temples of modern India have been reserved for pliant ideologues." The former Congress chief has accused the government that over the last decade, the education systems have been systematically "cleansed of the spirit of public service and education policy has been sanitised of any concerns about access to and the quality of education". New Delhi, March 31 : Samajwadi Party MP Zia Ur Rehman Barq on Monday strongly opposed the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, calling it a direct attack on the Muslim community. Speaking on the controversial Amendment bill, the SP lawmaker vowed to continue resisting it both inside and outside Parliament, even taking legal recourse if necessary. Barq, speaking to IANS, stated, "This bill is particularly against the entire Muslim community. We have strongly opposed it in Parliament, and we will continue to do so when it comes to the House again. If needed, we will raise our voice from Parliament to the streets, and even knock on the doors of the judiciary for justice for the 40 crore Muslims in this country." The contentious Waqf (Amendment) Bill was referred to a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) in August 2024. The committeeas extensive 655-page report was submitted to both Houses of Parliament earlier this month amid strong opposition from various political parties and Muslim organizations. The Waqf (Amendment) Bill has triggered widespread debate, with Opposition parties and Muslim groups raising concerns over its provisions. While the government argues that the bill aims to streamline the administration of Waqf properties, critics see it as an attempt to snatch the rights of the Muslim community. On the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr, the SP lawmaker also extended his greetings to the people and used the moment to reaffirm his commitment to justice and the rights of the Muslim community. "I extend my heartfelt greetings to everyone on Eid-ul-Fitr. Today is a moment of joy and gratitude. After observing the fasts of Ramadan, we have reached this blessed day. We thank Allah for this occasion, offering prayers not only for ourselves but also for justice, for our rights, and for the progress of this country," he said while addressing an Eid gathering. Kathmandu, March 31 : Nepal's former King Gyanendra Shah has been described as the main orchestrator behind violent protests that engulfed the nation this week. In a key meeting of the country's pro-republican political parties, called on by Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli, Shah was labelled as the prime reason and orchestrator behind the violent demonstrations. The parties accused the former king of undermining the constitution and conspiring to overthrow the federal democratic republican system, local media reported. Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak said that there was a consensus among political parties to unite for the protection of the constitution and to ensure national development and public security. "No anti-constitutional activities will be tolerated," Lekhak said, addressing the press after the meeting. Despite disagreements on various issues among the different parties, former Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai who is also the chair of the Nepal Samajbadi Party (NSP) suggested that they must unite to counter the recent anti-republican activities orchestrated in the support of Shah. "Gyanendra Shah has long been behaving as if he were still a king. The political parties and the government have overlooked it with mercy. However, the incident on March 28 was incited by him and was a criminal act. His actions have now crossed the line. That is why I have proposed in the all-party meeting that he must face legal action," Bhattarai said while speaking to the press. Meanwhile, the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) and the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP), the fourth and the fifth largest parties in Parliament, were excluded from the all-party meeting on Sunday. Both parties are considered anti-republic forces, according to the leading Nepalese daily, The Kathmandu Post. Earlier, the RPP, whose two leaders were 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 the violent clashes 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. The two leaders, however, were charged with treason by the Kathmandu District Court (KDC), which also extended their remand till Tuesday. Additionally, the police have arrested around 100 people, but only 42 have been brought to court, and the investigation has progressed, according to a report by The Himalayan. Tension ran high in certain areas of the capital city, Kathmandu, on Friday as two people died and hundreds were injured in violent clashes between security personnel and pro-monarchy protesters, who were calling for the restoration of the abolished monarchy in Nepal. Do cellphones belong in schools? Should students in third grade or younger be suspended? What exactly does disrespect or insubordination mean as disciplinary reasons for which a student may be suspended? These were the questions discussed Wednesday evening at Stanley Makowski Early Childhood Center during the public review of Buffalo Public Schools Code of Conduct. Three leaders in the districts Student Support Services team engaged with about 40 people a cross-section of Buffalo students, parents, community advocates, district employees and a handful of interpreters to gather feedback to help shape policy for the 2025-2026 school year. Rehema Kashindi, student co-chair of the Community Health Worker Parent and Student Association and a senior at Hutch-Tech, relished the opportunity to share her suggestions, including fewer suspensions meted out as punishment, and more restorative conferences, which are meetings in which those who have broken the rules have a chance to reflect on their behavior in a guided environment. In her three years as a student advocate, she has seen progress in how district rules can be shaped by student voices. 'A big need': Community advocates decry continued suspension policy in Buffalo Schools Representatives from numerous organizations discussed where they believe Buffalo Public Schools is falling short in its punitive discipline model and urged further growth in restorative practices. I think were seeing the whole child now, we do a lot more with social-emotional, Kashindi said. Of course, theres a lot of work to be done, but were still moving toward getting there. Were making good progress. Theres a recognition for the need, and I think thats greater than anything. There has been progress in streamlining the Code of Conduct from clunky document to a matrix format, easier for students to understand, and still informative for parents and other members of the community. Being able to simplify the code of conduct was a great thing, Kashindi said. I remember when I was in school, we used to get these thick packets, and I used to just throw them out. Im not going to lie. But it was very helpful to see there were more definitive actions that were put in there. A virtual forum will be held at 10 a.m. April 1 Tuesady as another opportunity to respond to the Code of Conduct. Links to that meeting and a feedback form can be found at buffaloschools.org. Wednesdays attendees were split into four groups to talk about their ideas. A window into the discussions Advocates from the group Solutions Not Suspensions, a consortium that includes the Community Health Worker Network, the Western New York Law Center and the New York Civil Liberties Union, have consistently highlighted the disproportionate impacts to Black and Hispanic students from vague terms in the Code of Conduct such as disrespect and insubordination. Inciting a disturbance is another common category believed to be heavily subjective. Are school suspensions effective? Advocates press Buffalo schools to find a better way "We have no evidence that restorative practices are happening, and restorative conferences are extremely rare," said Jessics Bauer Walker president of Community Health Worker Network of Buffalo. Several speakers said they believe suspensions involving these terms are often the result of misunderstandings between adults and students, such as how different cultures may convey emotion. After the meeting, Orniece Hill, assistant superintendent of Student Support Services, said she was struck most by this topic. Her small group discussed whether expressions that could be construed as aggressive are not actually intended to be. Culturally, some of the differences are, like, when you say, Sit yourself down! Hill said. It is taken the wrong way sometimes, but culturally, its how you show love. As it relates to policy, though, the small groups encouraged level-headed conversations after subjective accusations. A constructive response instead of short-term suspension could quickly resolve conflict and keep students in the classroom. Discussion surrounding suspending students in prekindergarten through third grade urged alternatives to removing the youngest students from school, including using cool-down areas and using more counselors to identify the root of the behavior, instead of penalizing its expression. According to the districts data dashboard, about 200 short-term suspensions and 19 long-term suspensions have been levied against the districts youngest students so far this year, with the latter statistic heavily weighted toward third-graders. Late in the meeting, Hill reflected on how she views suspensions as part of disciplinary policy shortly after hearing concerns from the audience that the Code of Conduct is often not followed with fidelity. Im not a big proponent of suspension, she said. I know its necessary, sometimes, but I do work with principals personally to help them through and kind of move away from suspensions quite a few times. Cellphone usage during the school day for which the district has different rules for elementary and high school students may be decided soon at the state level. Gov. Kathy Hochul wants cellphones banned in schools for all students, as part of her 2025 budget proposal. Speakers at the forum last week suggested better instruction of students for how to use their cellphones responsibly, while others said they should not be banned because theyre a valuable educational backup should a laptop break. Parent-teacher forum features litany of complaints about transportation issues in Buffalo Public Schools Elementary buses an hour late to pick up students three mornings in a row. Dozens of students waiting hours after school in cafeterias. NFTA buses too full to pick up high school students. School transportation leaders responded to these problems in a forum this week. This is a question of our time, said Rachel Fix Dominguez, program evaluator for the Buffalo Schools Student Support Services team. As students, parent leaders and community advocates wait to see if their suggestions are reflected in next years Code of Conduct, Wednesdays forum revealed a willingness to let students speak. Hey, students are paying attention, too, Kashindi said. We need to make these spaces more accessible to students, ensuring their voices are heard. Sambhal, March 31 : Eid celebrations are in full swing across the country on Monday, with devotees gathering in Eidgahs and mosques to offer prayers. In Sambhal, the administration has implemented strict security measures to ensure the peaceful observance of the festival. A heavy deployment of security personnel, including the Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC), Rapid Action Force (RAF), and local police, has been made throughout the district. Authorities are maintaining a close watch on all locations where Namaaz is being conducted. Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Vandana Mishra said, "The Nagar Palika had ensured thorough cleaning of Eidgahs and mosques well in advance. Arrangements such as designated prayer rows, water tankers, and mobile toilets were made to facilitate devotees. Lekhpals have been stationed at key points for regional inspections. Magistrates have been deployed at all mosques where Eid Namaaz is being offered." SDM Mishra further stated, "Magistrates and police officers have been assigned to sensitive areas. The administration is also actively monitoring social media to prevent the spread of misinformation. Strict action will be taken against anyone attempting to incite unrest." On Sunday, Circle Officer Anuj Chaudhary conducted a foot march through the city, accompanied by a contingent of police personnel. He urged residents to offer prayers peacefully and assured them of the administration's commitment to maintaining law and order. Superintendent of Police Krishna Kumar Bishnoi said that security arrangements have been tightened across the district, with a significant concentration of personnel in Sambhal city. "A large number of police, PAC, and RAF personnel have been stationed in the district. Sambhal city has been classified as hypersensitive, and additional security forces, including zonal and sector magistrates, have been deployed. Our teams are also actively monitoring social media for any attempts to disrupt peace," he stated. Amid the prayers, a symbolic gesture of communal harmony was observed when a Muslim youth showered flowers on the devotees and extended Eid greetings. Meanwhile, some members of the Muslim community wore black armbands in protest against the Waqf Amendment Bill. However, community leaders have appealed to the public to celebrate Eid with peace and brotherhood, emphasizing the importance of harmony during the festivities. Raipur, March 31 : Security forces have recovered the body of a female Maoist along with weapons, including an INSAS rifle, other ammunition, and daily-use materials from the encounter site near the Dantewada-Bijapur border in Chhattisgarh, officials reported on Monday. A team of security forces had embarked on an anti-Naxal operation in the border area of the Dantewada and Bijapur districts. Officials stated that continuous firing between Maoists and security forces has been going on since 9 a.m. The Dantewada-Bijapur border is considered the most sensitive Maoist-affected area in Chhattisgarh. On March 20, security forces eliminated 30 Maoists in two separate encounters -- 26 near the Dantewada-Bijapur border and four in Kanker. Additionally, on March 25, security forces neutralized three Maoists in a fierce gunfight near the Dantewada-Bijapur border. This encounter, which occurred along the banks of the Indravati River, marked a significant success in the ongoing anti-Maoist operation aimed at making India Naxal-free by next year. On Sunday, ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modias visit to Chhattisgarh, 50 Maoists surrendered to security forces. A day earlier, 15 Maoists in Dantewada district surrendered and pledged to join the mainstream. The Maoists surrendered under the aLon Varratua (Come Back Home) campaign, which has been extensively promoted in villages by the District Police Force and CRPF (Central Reserve Police Force). This campaign has successfully inspired numerous Maoists, including hard-core Naxal leaders, to lay down their weapons and embrace a peaceful existence. According to the new policy, surrendered individuals will benefit from the Chhattisgarh governmentas comprehensive rehabilitation measures, which include financial aid of Rs 25,000, skill development training, agricultural land, and other support systems. The newly introduced 'Naxal Surrender/Victim Relief and Rehabilitation Policy-2025' further enhances these benefits, offering increased compensation, job opportunities, land, and free education for victims of Naxal violence. Since its inception, the Lon Varratu campaign has facilitated the surrender of 977 Maoists, officials had said. Seoul, March 31 : South Korea is making all-out efforts to fully prepare for the U.S. administration's imposition of reciprocal tariffs, Seoul's top trade official said on Monday, vowing strong support for businesses expanding into new markets. Trade Minister Cheong In-kyo made the remarks during a meeting with exporters in Seoul, as U.S. President Donald Trump's government is set to announce reciprocal tariffs aimed at matching the tariffs imposed by other nations on U.S. exports Wednesday (U.S. time). "We are making thorough preparations to respond to the U.S. announcement on reciprocal tariffs, set for April 2. We have been in continuous negotiations with the U.S. to best protect our companies' interests," Cheong was quoted as saying by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, reports Yonhap news agency. "We will also enhance support for exporters seeking alternative markets to brace for the spread of protectionism among major economies," he added, according to the ministry. The new tariff scheme is expected to impact South Korean companies and the broader economy, as exports serve as the country's key growth engine. Exporters called on the government to play an active role in minimizing the impact of the U.S. tariff policy, according to the ministry. Meanwhile, acting President Han Duck-soo vowed last week to provide tailored assistance to businesses to protect them against a global "trade war." Han made the remark during a meeting with the leaders of six major business lobbies, including the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industries and the Federation of Korean Industries, noting U.S. President Donald Trump's announcement of 25 percent tariffs on all imported vehicles. "Our economy is in difficulty as externally, there is growing uncertainty about the trade environment and technological competition from rival nations, while internally, the domestic political situation is unstable and sluggish domestic demand continues," he said during the meeting at his official residence. a"IANS na/ Kolkata, March 31 : In her message on the occasion of the Eid festival on Monday, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee accused the two main opposition parties in the state, namely BJP and CPI(M)-led Left Front as equally responsible for propagating communal tension in the state. In attacking the two opposition forces, with opposite political philosophies, the Chief Minister described them as "Ram-Bam (Ram and Left). "Ram-Bam these days raises the question of whether I am a Hindu or not. My answer is that I am Hindu, Muslim, and Sikh at the same time, and at the end of the day, I am an Indian. What are the opposition parties doing? They are just dividing people. My life is dedicated to the country,' the Chief Minister said while addressing a gathering at Red Road in central Kolkata on the occasion of the Eid festival. Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister also issued a note of caution about possible attempts to create communal tension in the state over the forthcoming Ram Navami festival on April 6. The party's general secretary and Lok Sabha member, Abhishek Banerjee, accompanied her at the dais. Without directly naming the BJP, she said that some vested interests have specific plans to create communal tension in the state. "Please do not get trapped in the provocation for creating riot-like situations. Always remember that your didi (referring to her) is there for you. Abhishek is there for you. The entire state government is there for you. Now, one can do anything with you," the Chief Minister said. Again without naming BJP, the Chief Minister issued an appeal to the people not to listen or interact with those political forces who were propagating divisive politics. "Just give them a fitting reply at the right time. They are trying to dictate what people will eat and what they will wear. I do not want any riot-like situation to surface in the state. Always remember that the common people never propagate communal riots. Such riots are triggered by certain political parties," the Chief Minister said. Speaking on the occasion, she also claimed that she followed the path of Ramakrishna Paramahamsa and Swami Vivekananda. "But I do not recognize the religious path propagated by one opposition party. The path propagated by them is anti-Hinduism," the Chief Minister said. Los Angeles, March 31 : As the rumors of Hollywood actress Sydney Sweeney's split from her fiance Jonathan Davino continue to gain momentum, the actress has a reunion with her 'Anyone but You' co-star Glen Powell recently. Sydney Sweeney reunites with Glen Powell amid rumours of separation from fiance Los Angeles, March 31 (IANS) As the rumors of Hollywood actress Sydney Sweeney's split from her fiance Jonathan Davino continue to gain momentum, the actress has a reunion with her 'Anyone but You' co-star Glen Powell recently. The two were reportedly seen at Dallas restaurant Joe Leo Fine Tex Mex, reports 'People' magazine. The pictures of Sweeney, 27, and Powell, 36, together were obtained by Deuxmoi. The Instagram account also shared reports that the actors were both at the Texas spot for the wedding rehearsal dinner for Powell's sister Leslie, who also worked on 'Anyone but You'. As per 'People', the sighting of the stars, who have long been the subject of romance rumours, but have repeatedly clarified that they are just good friends, comes amid rumors that Sweeney has split from Davino, 41, her fiance of three years. Representatives for Sweeney and Powell did not immediately respond to the request for comment on March 30. Sweeney and Davino have been linked since 2018 and got engaged in 2022. The status of their engagement has been the subject of rumours recently after reports surfaced that the 'Euphoria' star has been living in a hotel without him. The actress also recently deleted a photo of herself and the film producer kissing from a larger Instagram carousel that was originally posted in January. She also later shared pictures of herself without her engagement ring. A source recently told 'People' that "things have been rocky" between the pair "for a long time". Sweeney, who has often expressed a desire to keep her personal and romantic life out of the public eye, particularly as her star status has grown, last spoke about Davino in an interview with Glamour UK in December 2023. "I've been in a steady relationship for a really long time, which is not normal in this industry and not normal for my age", she said at the time, describing Davino to the magazine as her "best friend". Thiruvananthapuram, March 31 : After targeting Mohanlal, RSS-affiliated publication Organiser has now turned its guns on actor-director Prithviraj Sukumaran over his much-anticipated film Empuraan. In a fresh article, RSS mouthpiece Organiser has alleged that Prithviraj has aligned with "anti-national" voices, citing his role in the Save Lakshadweep campaign, which opposed certain Union government policies in the islands. "His double standards are evident," the article claims, "as he remains silent on local issues like the Munambam case, where hundreds of Christian families face eviction by the Waqf Board, yet he speaks out against the CAA while ignoring Hindu persecution in Bangladesh." The publication further criticises Empuraan for allegedly portraying events from the 2002 Godhra train incident with bias. It also questions the decision to name the film's antagonist 'Bajrangbali' -- a name synonymous with Lord Hanuman -- who is depicted as the Union Home Minister. Following the backlash, the filmmakers have opted to make last-minute cuts to the movie. According to industry sources, the revised version -- expected to be released by Monday evening or Tuesday -- removes a three-minute sequence depicting an attack on a pregnant woman. Additionally, the villain's name may either be altered or muted in the dialogues. These edits are being processed by Qube Cinema, which will distribute an updated digital print to all theatres and screening centres. Meanwhile, the silence of Empuraan's scriptwriter Murali Gopy has raised eyebrows, with sources suggesting he is deeply affected by the controversy. A Kerala Minister, speaking anonymously to IANS, remarked, "We are reaching a point where criticising one particular party or its leaders is becoming impossible. This is not a healthy sign for democracy." Prithviraj's mother, veteran actress Mallika Sukumaran, a yesteryear actress, has come out in his defence, stating that she raised her sons with strong values. "He would never do anything to hurt anyone," she said, adding that Mohanlal could have responded sooner to the controversy. "I also wonder if vested interests are fuelling this issue," she remarked. Despite the ongoing debate, Empuraan continues to draw audiences, with theatres across Kerala reporting houseful shows. Bengaluru, March 31 : The Bengaluru Police are preparing to take custody of the techie accused of slitting his wife's throat and stuffing her body into a suitcase. The accused, 36-year-old Rakesh Rajendra Khedkar, is currently lodged in Bengaluru Central Prison. Bengaluru, March 31 (IANS) The Bengaluru Police are preparing to take custody of the techie accused of slitting his wifeas throat and stuffing her body into a suitcase. The accused, 36-year-old Rakesh Rajendra Khedkar, is currently lodged in Bengaluru Central Prison. Karnataka Police took him into custody on Saturday after he was discharged from a hospital in Pune. He was produced before the magistrate at the latteras residence on Saturday night and was subsequently remanded to 14 days of judicial custody. The Hulimavu police, who are investigating the case, have now made arrangements to take him into custody on a body warrant on Tuesday (April 1). Preliminary investigations suggest that the accused committed the horrific crime in a fit of rage. However, he has not yet disclosed the exact motive behind the murder of his 32-year-old wife, Gauri Rajendra Khedkar, who was also his close relative. Rakeshas father, Rajendra Khedkar, stated that the deceased Gauri was his sisteras daughter. He added that their family had disapproved of Rakesh and Gaurias marriage. Gauri had been frequently quarrelling with both families over their marriage, and the disputes had even reached the police station. According to him, the quarrels continued even after their marriage. Police say that the accused appears remorseful and has been mostly silent. Once they take him into custody, they expect to uncover the exact motive and details of how the crime was committed. The preliminary investigation into the murder of a housewife, whose body was stuffed into a trolley bag in Bengaluru, has indicated that the crime was committed by her techie husband in a fit of rage. The Karnataka Police successfully tracked the accused, who had gone into a state of repentance and consumed poison to end his life. Acting swiftly, they coordinated with the Maharashtra Police, detained him near Pune, and shifted him to a hospital. Karnataka Police remained in contact with the accused husband, who had gone on the run after killing his wife. They maintained communication with him until his arrest by the Maharashtra Police in Pune. According to the investigation, Rakesh slit the throat of his wife, Gauri, and stabbed her in the abdomen at their residence. He then folded her legs and stuffed her body into a trolley bag. After cleaning the house with phenyl, he placed the bag near the toilet room and fled. The gruesome crime came to light on March 20. After committing the murder, the accused told some carpenters living nearby that his wife had committed suicide. He then called the police control room, his landlord, and his wifeas parents to confess to the crime. As he continued making calls while on the run, the police managed to track him using the contact number available with the control room. They remained in communication with him while coordinating with the Maharashtra Police, providing his location to facilitate his arrest. Sources reveal that DCP (South East) Sarah Fathima was in direct contact with Rakesh and played a key role in ensuring his detention in Pune and subsequent hospitalization. The accused demanded that an FIR be registered before he surrendered. The Karnataka Police complied with his request, but he later lost connection. However, investigators discovered that he was using another SIM card to make calls to his friends from the same mobile phone, allowing them to keep track of him. Preliminary investigations revealed that Gauri had quarrelled with her in-laws and had persuaded her husband to move from Maharashtra to Bengaluru. The couple lived in a modest locality and did not interact with their neighbours. Residents of the area told police that whenever they saw the couple, they were usually holding hands and walking together. Further investigations suggest that Rakesh was frustrated with Gauri for not securing a job, leading to frequent arguments. During one such altercation, he slapped her, prompting her to throw a knife at him, causing an injury. Enraged, he then slit her throat and repeatedly stabbed her in the abdomen. New Delhi, March 31 : Kerala BJP chief Rajeev Chandrasekhar on Monday reacted to Congress MP Shashi Tharoor's praise of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Covid-19 vaccine diplomacy, stating that Congress leaders have "recently got enlightened." New Delhi, March 31 (IANS) Kerala BJP chief Rajeev Chandrasekhar on Monday reacted to Congress MP Shashi Tharoor's praise of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Covid-19 vaccine diplomacy, stating that Congress leaders have "recently got enlightened." Speaking to IANS, Chandrasekhar remarked, "Shashi Tharoor and several other Congress leaders have recently had a change of mind. Recently, they acknowledged that India's diplomacy in the Russia-Ukraine conflict was appropriate. If you ask anyone around the world, they will agree that India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi provided commendable assistance to small nations during the crisis. " "Congress leaders were in denial, saying it was not the right approach. But today, even Congress leaders have started accepting it. I would like to thank them and say that better late than never," he added. His statement came in response to senior Congress MP Tharoor's recent acknowledgement of the Centre's 'Vaccine Maitri' initiative, which was launched during the Covid-19 pandemic. Writing in an article for The Week, Tharoor described India's vaccine diplomacy as one of the country's most significant accomplishments during the crisis. "India's vaccine diplomacy during the Covid pandemic stands out from amid the horrors of that time as a powerful example of international leadership rooted in responsibility and solidarity," Tharoor wrote. The Congress MP, who had served as Minister of State for External Affairs during the UPA regime, further stated that the initiative "embodied and contributed to the very spirit of its soft power." Earlier in March, Tharoor praised PM Modi's position on the Russia-Ukraine conflict, emphasising the need for a diplomatic solution. He noted that PM Modi has consistently advocated for diplomacy, referring to his statements in Samarkand where he said, "This is not an era of war, and solutions can be found peacefully." Seoul, March 31 : South Korean police, firefighters and relevant authorities on Monday conducted their first joint on-site investigation at the original point of ignition for the nation's worst wildfires in history that charred vast areas of woodland in the southeastern province of North Gyeongsang last week. The forest fire was allegedly accidentally ignited by a 56-year-old man on a hill in North Gyeongsang county Uiseong's Anpyeong district, about 180 kilometres southeast of Seoul, on March 22. It rapidly spread to Andong and three adjacent counties amid high winds and dry conditions for nearly a week, killing 26 people and destroying an estimated 4,000 structures. Police booked the man without detention last Friday on suspicion of accidentally starting the fire while tending to his grandparents' grave site, with some news reports saying that he tried to burn tree branches over the grave with a cigarette lighter. The Gyeongbuk Provincial Police Agency said the first on-site investigation was conducted at the grave site and the surrounding hill, together with the National Forensic Service, the National Institute of Forest Science and the firefighting authorities, Yonhap news agency reported. They used a drone and other methods to confirm the cause of the fire and the direction in which the flames spread with the wind. They also searched the areas around the ignition point to confirm whether there was any incinerated material that could have started the forest fire. Earlier on Saturday, police conducted a basic field investigation at the grave site for about two hours, collecting one lighter from its surroundings. The suspect has denied the allegations against him, police officials said, adding he will be summoned and questioned after all basic fact-finding is completed. Earlier on March 30, massive wildfires that ravaged the provinces of North and South Gyeongsang for over a week have been fully contained. South Korean acting Interior Minister Ko Ki-dong made the announcement during a meeting of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (CDSCH), saying the main blaze of the wildfires that swept through both provinces has been fully extinguished. New Delhi, March 31 : The digital payment landscape in India has witnessed a significant transformation, with women rapidly closing the gap with their male counterparts in recent years, according to a Crisil report. Between financial years 2014 and 2021, the percentage of women making or receiving digital payments has doubled from 14 per cent to 28 per cent, outpacing corresponding growth in men from 30 per cent to 41 per cent, the report states. The report also highlights that the growth of digital payments among women is not limited to urban areas as rural women have also contributed to the trend. The addressable market for digital payments among women in India is a staggering 200 million, with womenas mobile internet adoption increasing to 37 per cent in 2023 from 30 per cent in 2022. The report points out that the latest Financial Inclusion Index (FI Index) prepared by the Reserve Bank of India shows the extent of financial inclusion in the country at 64.2 in March 2024, up from 60.1 in March 2023. Clearly, the financial inclusion initiatives afoot are showing results. More importantly, women are at the forefront of the paradigm shift, as demonstrated by two other significant indicators. First, of the 53.13 crore bank accounts opened under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) majority (29.56 crore) are for women beneficiaries and, second, majority of women now have access to banking services, the report states. Over the past decade or so, millions of unbanked households have moved into the financial fold and also emerged as a powerful tool for womenas empowerment. The report further states that the remarkable growth in digital payments by women can be attributed to the increasing tech-savviness of women in India, who are embracing digital transactions with ease. With women becoming increasingly tech-savvy, navigating the e-KYC process has become easier for them, helping them seamlessly access digital payment platforms and eventually participate in the formal financial sector, the report observes. The increased digital connectivity has the potential to drive women towards mutual fund investing, as they become more comfortable with online transactions and seek to diversify their investment portfolios, according to the report. As women gain access to the formal financial sector, they are likely to emerge as a significant demographic in the mutual fund market and become a key driver of growth. This, in turn, will empower women to take control of their financial decisions, invest in their future and contribute to the countryas growth, the report added. Islamabad, March 31 : Pakistan law enforcement agencies have been ordered to arrest and deport thousands of Afghan refugees as the government's deadline for Afghan Citizen Card (ACC) holders to leave the country ends on Monday, local media reported. The authorities, particularly in Islamabad and Rawalpindi, ordered the prompt evacuation of all the Afghan refugees. The Rawalpindi police chief has directed the superintendents of the Rawal, Potohar, and Saddar divisions to take legal action against Afghan nationals residing or working in the district, according to a report in Pakistan's leading daily, Dawn. "We have received directions that all Afghan nationals holding ACC cards must be expelled from Rawalpindi and Islamabad," a police official told Dawn. Additionally, the directives state that Afghans holding Proof of Registration (PoR) cards who are residing in the twin cities have to leave Pakistan in line with the government policy. The deadline set for PoR cardholders to leave the country is June 30, 2025. United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Representative to Pakistan Philippa Candler on Sunday stated that the country's decision to expel hundreds of thousands of Afghan refugees has "shaken" the Afghan community as their hopes and dreams have been shattered. She urged the international community to take greater responsibility. "Last week, I visited an Afghan family who had sought refuge here in 2022 after fleeing Afghanistan in a hurry, leaving behind everything they knew in search of peace and safety. It was heartbreaking to see how fearful they were to be forced to go back," Candler stated. "The latest directives from the Pakistani government represent a significant disruption to the fabric of many communities. Dislocation from communities that have welcomed them and a possible forced return to Afghanistan, when there has been little chance for planning on how to rebuild their lives there, are unlikely to be sustainable," she added. Recently, a number of refugees who have lived in Pakistan for over four decades once again appealed to the government to extend their stay. Zabit Khan, an Afghan refugee who has lived in Islamabad for nearly forty years, says he has established a business over the years, and expulsion from Pakistan could seriously disrupt his life, reports Afghan media outlet TOLO news. "Give us time because we cannot suddenly relocate our business. We've worked here for forty years or more and have built relationships with people. This will cause us problems," said Khan. Earlier, the US-based advocacy group Human Rights Watch slammed Pakistan for the forced deportation of Afghan refugees. "Pakistani officials should immediately stop coercing Afghans to return home and give those facing expulsion the opportunity to seek protection," said Elaine Pearson, Asia Director at Human Rights Watch. Mumbai, March 31 : Celina Jaitly took to social media to share glimpses from her recent trip to Bahrain, an island country in West Asia. In her post, the 'No Entry' actress expressed her joy at reuniting with the "desert sands and desert moon" in Bahrain. The actress also shared her excitement about returning to the beautiful landscapes and unique charm of the desert, making it a memorable experience for her. She posted a couple of her photos on her Instagram and captioned it, "#bahrain - Could not be a more beautiful night How wonderful it is to reunite with desert sands and the desert moon. An amazing evening with @icaibahrain chapter, a gathering of the top finance experts of #middleeast over #arabicfood and #arabicmusic Thank you Vivek Gupta, Chairman of ICAI Bahrain Chapter this trip would not have been the same without all precision, planning, expertise & of course warmth with which you lead the journey." "Thank you Nishith Seth. for making this happen and the wonderful hospitality extended by you. Thank you also for these wonderful images clicked by you We turned you into a professional photographer. Thank you @gautamsharmabollywood for everything as always. Big thank you for this stunning ensemble to @stylistrichasingh." A few days ago, Celina Jaitly celebrated a significant milestone as her twin babies, Winston and Viraaj, turned 13. The proud mom shared an emotional post, expressing her joy and gratitude as her children stepped into their teenage years. She wrote, "#13thbirthday Our first set of #twin babies are growing up! 24th March marked a beautiful milestone as they stepped into their teenage years. Please keep them in your duas and bless them with love, health, happiness, and endless success. May God guide and protect them always. Sending all my gratitude to family and friends for their love and prayers on this special day! As Winston & Viraaj turned 13 Baby number 3 Arthur officiated as chief party planner and ate almost all of the cake besides that everything went smoothly." Work-wise, Celina was last seen in Ram Kamal Mukherjee's short film "Seasons Greetings," which was released in 2020. Imphal, March 31 : Former Manipur Chief Minister and senior BJP leader N. Biren Singh said on Monday that P.A. Sangma, the former Union Minister and Lok Sabha Speaker, had advocated a dangerous idea of breaking northeast into smaller states along ethnic lines, and today similar attempts were being made to interfere in Manipur's internal affairs to destabilise the state. In a post on his X handle, Singh said, "Late P.A. Sangma once advocated for dividing the northeast into smaller states along ethnic lines, a dangerous idea that threatened the unity of our Nation. Today, we are seeing similar attempts to interfere in Manipur's internal affairs to destabilise the state. Manipur's situation is unique. This state is home to several small, vulnerable indigenous communities whose protection necessitated the implementation of the Inner Line Permit (ILP), he said. The ex-Chief Minister tagged his post with Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma and said, "After years of effort to safeguard indigenous populations, we have begun to make real progress such as the implementation of ILP, a hard-won achievement. Shri Conrad K. Sangma should know that the violence was not spontaneous, it was instigated by those who feel threatened and insecure by this kind of progress. Does Mr Conrad Sangma know that Manipur had already initiated border fencing? That the Free Movement Regime (FMR) is now strictly regulated? Has he noticed the alarming rise in unrecognised villages within Manipur's borders?" Conrad K Sangma is the son of P.A. Sangma and President of National People's Party (NPP), which is dominating the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) led government. Singh also with his post tagged an old video of P.A. Sangma's speech. "It must be noted that when Manipur was facing these serious challenges, others refrained from interfering in our internal affairs," Biren Singh said. He said the same courtesy was expected, yet some chose a different path, one driven by narrow interests rather than genuine concern. "Today, various groups across the northeast are beginning to recognise the seriousness of FMR, ILP and border security. Manipur's experiences should serve as a lesson, not a platform for political posturing. Manipur is home to 32 indigenous tribes whose identities, cultures, and way of life deserve protection," Singh pointed out. "Refrain from encouraging illegal immigrants or interfering in matters that threaten this delicate balance," the former Chief Minister urged. He said the people of Manipur have endured enough and prayed for peace, saying, "Let us live in peace." Manipur has been under the 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. Singh, as Chief Minister, had earlier said that the identification of illegal immigrants was initiated through proper constitutional provisions after satellite mapping indicated the growth of unrecognised villages in the state. Earlier, a Manipur government statement had said that in the period between 1969 till now, there has been an increase in the number of villages in the districts of Kangpokpi, Tengnoupal, Chandel, Churachandpur, and Pherzawl by 893, from 731 to 1,624, or a 122 per cent increase. In the remaining hill districts of Tamenglong, Noney, Senapati, Ukhrul and Kamjong, which are Naga-dominated, the increase during the same period is a figure of merely 49, up from 527 to 576, a mere 9 per cent increase, the statement had said. Saraikela, March 31 : A man brutally murdered his wife and five-year-old son in Jharkhand's Saraikela district on Monday morning, using an iron pan to bludgeon them to death, officials said. Saraikela, March 31 (IANS) A man brutally murdered his wife and five-year-old son in Jharkhandas Saraikela district on Monday morning, using an iron pan to bludgeon them to death, officials said. The shocking crime took place in the Kapali OP area and has sent shockwaves through the local community. The accused, identified as Sukhram Munda, was arrested by the police shortly after the incident. According to preliminary investigations, the crime was triggered by a domestic dispute. It is reported that Sukhram frequently quarrelled with his wife, Parvati Devi, over alcohol consumption. Neighbours recalled hearing heated arguments from the coupleas house early in the morning, followed by the terrified screams of Parvati Devi and her son, Ganesh Munda. When they rushed to the scene, they saw a horrifying sight -- both mother and child lay in pools of blood, their bodies bearing severe head injuries. Meanwhile, Sukhram Munda fled from the house but was apprehended by the police near the village a short while later. Upon searching the crime scene, the police recovered a blood-stained iron pan and a blade. It is suspected that after repeatedly striking his wife and son with the heavy pan, Sukhram used the blade to slit their throats. The bodies have been sent for post-mortem, and forensic teams are examining the crime scene for further evidence. Local residents have told the police that frequent altercations between the couple were common, often fuelled by alcohol abuse. Following the incident, relatives of the deceased woman arrived at the scene, demanding strict action against the accused. Kapali OP in charge, Sonu Kumar, said that an investigation is underway. "We have recovered the murder weapon, and the accused is being interrogated to determine the exact sequence of events," he said. Kolkata, March 31 : BJP IT cell chief Amit Malviya on Friday hit out at Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for her address at an Eid prayers programme here on Monday, where she said that she was "ready to sacrifice life for all religions". Malviya questioned her, saying that countless lives had been lost in her pursuit of power. "West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has allowed countless lives to be lost in her pursuit of power. Her offer to sacrifice her life as atonement for her sins would be inadequate, given the numerous deaths in multiple anti-Hindu riots (the list is endless), the use of rape as a tool of political suppression (Sandeshkhali being a glaring example), and the countless lives destroyed by extortion and corruption (including the rape and murder of a lady doctor at RG Kar MCH) under her rule," Malviya said in a statement posted on X. Describing the Chief Minister's proclamation for sacrificing her life for the country as an "empty rhetoric", Malviya said that the Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee, should first ensure the safety of the Hindus in West Bengal and also ensure that targeting of Hindu religious festivals in the state ends. "Mamata Banerjee must abandon any illusions of turning Bengal into Bangladesh -- such a dream will never materialise," Malviya's statement read. He also claimed that the Assembly election in West Bengal in 2026 would mark the end of the current Trinamool Congress regime in the state. "In 2026, Bengal will rise against her oppressive rule and dismantle her crumbling regime. Her time in power is running out," the statement read. Earlier in the day, while addressing a gathering at Red Road in central Kolkata on the occasion of the Eid festival, the chief minister, while claiming that her life is dedicated to the country, accused both the BJP and CPI(M)-Left Front of propagating divisive and communal politics in West Bengal. While attacking the two opposition forces, with opposite political philosophies, the Chief Minister described them as "Ram-Bam (Ram and Left). She also assured the people of the minority community that she and the administration were always there and continue to be there to protect them. Mumbai, March 31 : Actor Saqib Ayub, who has been receiving a lot of positive response for his work in the theatrical release 'Superboys of Malegaon', has said that although he was born and raised in Mumbai, Bihar, his native courses through his blood and flesh. The actor spoke with IANS recently, and spoke about his roots, and his love for travelling, and how does it help the actor in him. The actor told IANS, "I am actually from Mumbai. My origins are from Bihar but I am a proper Mumbai-born lad. But Bihar is in my blood, it can't go anywhere". The actor has been constantly travelling for the past decade, and it has massively helped in him hone his craft. Talking about how travelling acts as a catalyst in his work, the actor said, "It's very important for me as an actor to travel. I've been travelling regularly for the last eight to nine years, and I think the amount of learning I have received while travelling is a lot, I wouldn't have probably received that much if I kept myself enclosed in Mumbai. If I had kept myself locked up here, I probably wouldn't have learnt so many things because the kind of places that I have been to, whether it's in India or whether it is out of India and the kind of people whom I have met, the kind of lives that they lead and how their minds work, where they come from, you empathise with them". "You relate to them, and learn from them. Every place has something new to offer, every place has something new. So, I think as an actor, it's very important to travel. I think one of my really favourite actors, Manav Kaul also emphasises that because he's a guy who's always out and about somewhere in the world", he added. Chennai, Mar 31 : The makers of director P S Mithran's upcoming spy thriller 'Sardar 2', featuring Karthi in the lead, on Monday released a prologue for the film which gave away the fact that actor S J Suryah plays the main antagonist in the film and that his character is called Black Dagger. After an exclusive screening of the prologue for the media, an hour before it was released for the public, director Mithran said that the prologue was to introduce the antagonist's character played by S J Suryah. Stating that S J Suryah readily accepted to play the antagonist in the sequel to the superhit film, Mithran said, "I think S J Suryah had already had made up his mind to do the film. He agreed immediately even before I could complete narrating the script." Mithran said,"When we made Sardar 1, I wondered how the character of the protagonist should be. We shot the introductory scene of Sardar 1 first and while doing that itself I realised that the character of Sardar would be a long-standing one. I knew we could tell many stories with that character. So, the seed for Sardar 2 was sown right then." The director also disclosed that 'Sardar 2' will be a prequel-sequel in the sense that the film's story will have details of Sardar's first assignment as a flashback before returning to present day events, which will also mark Sardar's last mission. "Karthi and I spoke about this story and finalised it on a flight. But making this required a large canvas. I thank producer Lakshman sir for having faith in this story and investing in it. The prologue opens with Sardar neutralising a person called Cheng after a fierce battle with some of Cheng's guards in China. Cheng, before his death, mocks Sardar that the issue is not going to end with him and that a massive destruction was to befall India. Cheng says that all the intelligence agencies were pointing towards the Black Dagger and that he was coming soon. Cheng says that a big colossal war was about to break out and asks Sardar to save himself and his country if he can. Sardar replies that there is a saying in his country that if it came down to war, life mattered very little... Sardar 2 will feature, apart from Karthi and Rajisha Vijayan, actors SJ Suryah, Malavika Mohanan, Aashika Rangnath and Sajal Ahmed among others. On the technical front, Sardar 2 has cinematography by George Williams and music by Sam C S. Editing for the film is by Ruben and Art direction is by K Kadhir. Stunts for the film have been choreographed by Dhilip Subbarayan and the story for the sequel has been written by M R Pon Parthipan, Roju Bipin Ragu and Geevee. Naypyidaw, March 31 : Myanmar's military junta has banned entry of foreign media seeking to cover the earthquake-devastated areas in the country as the death toll jumps to 1700. The junta has put the restriction, citing difficulties with accommodation, power outages, and water shortages. "It is not possible for (foreign journalists) to come, stay, find shelter, or move around here. We want everyone to understand this," said Zaw Min Tun, the regime's spokesperson, in an audio statement issued on Sunday. As local reporters face severe restrictions in Myanmar, the denial of entry to foreign media raises grave concerns about the transparency of the junta's response to the catastrophe. Several others have accused the junta of hindering humanitarian aid from reaching certain affected areas not under its direct control. Since a 2021 coup, when the military overthrew the elected government of Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, Myanmar has been locked in a civil war with multiple armed opposition groups. Meanwhile, several media reports also suggest that the junta has continued to conduct airstrikes in various parts of the violence and disaster-hit nation. Many in the international community are demanding unrestricted access for aid workers and independent media as the humanitarian crisis grows amid the massive 7.7 magnitude earthquake that has wrought widespread destruction across the nation, media outlet Myanmar now reported. Claiming that the military junta's crackdown on media is well documented, Myanmar Now reported that back in 2023, its photojournalist Sai Zaw Thaike was arrested while reporting on the aftermath of Cyclone Mocha. He was subsequently sentenced to 20 years in prison. Meanwhile, Myanmar's Department of Meteorology and Hydrology reported that 36 aftershocks, with magnitudes ranging from 2.8 to 7.5, have occurred as of Monday morning. The aftershocks followed a devastating 7.7-magnitude earthquake that jolted Myanmar at 12:51 p.m. local time last Friday. 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. A powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake, followed by a 6.4 magnitude aftershock minutes later, struck Myanmar's Mandalay region on Friday, causing massive casualties and damage in multiple countries. 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. Kolkata, March 31 : Amid the recent protests by a section of UK-based Indians during West Bengal Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee's speech last week at Oxford University's Kellogg College, a prominent youth leader of the Trinamool Congress, on Monday accused the party of being silent over the issue. He accused a section of the Trinamool Congress leaders and elected representatives of being silent over the insult to the party supremo during her overseas trip. "I request the elected representatives and the party leaders to speak out on the insult of the supreme leader. Remember you are all now either an elected representative or holding important positions because of the concurrence of the supreme leader and her party. You became a known face among the people or have been elected because of the recognition given to you by the supreme leader," youth Trinamool Congress leader and incharge of the party's Information Technology cell in West Bengal, Debangshu Bhattacharya, said in a statement issued on Monday. He claimed that remaining silent in times of crisis was tantamount to betraying the party. He questioned why only a few within the party always speak on any issue and get trolled. "Only a few of us will always fight. Only a few of us will always speak on any issue and subsequently get trolled. Even we have our families. So we could have also remained silent. If we did not escape then, why are you escaping now? "If you wanted to remain silent, then why did you choose to contest and get elected as representatives in panchayats, municipalities, Assembly and Parliamentary constituencies?" Bhattacharya questioned. He also claimed in his statement that he had never shown such an "escapist attitude" in any moment of crisis. "Whether during the unnecessary harassment of our leader Abhishek Banerjee by the central agencies or on the issue of the R.G Kar tragedy, I could not remain silent. So I could not remain silent on what happened at Oxford," Bhattacharya claimed. Political observers feel that Bhattacharya, being a prominent face of the Trinamool Congress section backing the "fresh blood" theory in the party has probably targeted the "old guard," faction, amid the internal debate within the party on "fresh blood versus old guard" which has surfaced for quite some time. However, the Opposition forces have claimed this is the same old strategy of Trinamool Congress leaders to try to show loyalty towards the Chief Minister before any election. Mumbai, March 31 : The Kerala Catholic Bishops Council (KCBC) has urged Members of Parliament (MPs) from Kerala to support the Waqf Amendment Bill, drawing varied reactions from political parties. While the BJP welcomed the appeal, asserting that only Parliament has the authority to amend the Bill, the Congress criticised it, questioning the need for such interference. Speaking to IANS, BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi clarified, "Let me make one thing clear the current Bill was made in Parliament, and only Parliament can amend it. It's not a sacred book that can't be reviewed or reformed. "This is a law passed by Parliament, and amendments are part of the democratic process. Some people are creating confusion, suggesting that if there is any mistake, changes will be made. But the fact is, the country is moving forward with these amendments, and we want to reassure everyone that this will not hurt anyone's religious beliefs." Congress leader Hussain Dalwai, however, criticised the KCBC's stance, saying, "There's no need for such interference. MPs will not be swayed by this appeal. There are many trusts and organisations, primarily managed by Christian communities. It's wrong to assume the government should interfere in their matters. "Some attempts are being made to align Christian communities with the BJP, but people won't believe it because the BJP's current politics are seen as being against them, Muslims and Dalits." The KCBC's appeal focussed on the long-standing Munambam Waqf dispute, a legal battle over land that residents claim they have lived on for generations. The management of Farook College, which sold the land to Munambam residents, maintains that the land was received as a gift. However, under the existing Waqf Act, claims can be raised against such properties, causing uncertainty for the residents. In a statement, the KCBC urged MPs to support amendments to the Waqf Bill, emphasising the need to resolve the Munambam issue. "There should be a solution to the Munambam issue. The Farook College management has asserted that the land was received as a gift. MPs should cooperate to amend the Waqf Bill, which has provisions to raise claims against such properties," it said. The appeal received attention from Union Finance Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman, who acknowledged the KCBC's stance on social media, calling it "a welcome step." She highlighted the Bishops' demand to amend Sections of the Waqf Act that they view as "unfair" and "anti-constitutional." Union Minister Kiren Rijiju also supported the KCBC's request, stating, "Lawmakers should address the struggles of Munambam residents. This amendment does not target any particular community. The government remains committed to protecting the rights of all citizens." Chennai, March 31 : The makers of director S U Arun Kumar's critically acclaimed action entertainer 'Veera Dheera Sooran', featuring Chiyaan Vikram in the lead, on Monday released the making video of a crucial 15-minute single shot sequence in the film that has now come in for much praise from critics. Taking to its X timeline, HR Pictures, the production house that produced the movie, wrote, "Here is the Making of Veera Dheera Sooran's Single-Shot Sequences! Watch the full Video on Moviebuff Tamil Youtube Channel!" The single shot sequence, which is almost 15 minutes long, involves a number of important developments including a bomb blast. What makes this single shot sequence special is that nothing of this nature has ever been attempted before in Tamil cinema. The making video shows all those who worked on the sequence, including actors Vikram, Suraj Venjaramoodu, and director Arun Kumar, explaining about the amount of phenomenal work the team had to put in to get the shot right. Talking about the sequence, director Arun Kumar disclosed that he was not a fan of making single shot sequences. However, the director disclosed that he chose a single shot sequence in this case as he had to show the suffocation the characters undergo at that point in the story and he couldn't do it in bits and pieces. Speaking in the video, Vikram said a lot of things would happen in the 15-minute sequence and nothing was made using CG. G S Balanchander, the film's art director, for his part, said that a sugar factory was spotted after a lot of searching for shooting the 15 minute sequence. Inside the factory, they erected a set as there would be roofs and doors that would collapse in the scene. "There were rehearsals for almost 10 days and for every rehearsal, the door would be broken and tiles from the roof would come crashing down. The walls would vibrate. We would again fix and set it up again for the next take. The same thing would happen again. This single sequence required a lot of effort. " Vikram and director SU Arun Kumar also showered praises on the gimbal operator Vivek, who had to carry equipment weighing around 20 kgs on his shoulders almost all through the night when shooting was on. What was more, he had to do it continuously for a number of days. Vikram, explaining the level of effort Gimbal operator Vivek put in to can the shot right, said, "You can't hold that weight for even a few minutes. Vivek did it through the night till the morning. The sequence has some five segments. Even if one mistake happens in any of the segments, we would have to start from the beginning. Operating the Gimbal was only part of the challenge. Getting the frame right was the bigger challenge and Vivek got it spot on. Hats off to him." Actor Suraj Venjarmoodu disclosed that director Arun Kumar at one point, broke down while canning the sequence. "When I asked him what was wrong, the director, who was a perfectionist, said he was not happy about a couple of things in the shot," Suraj informed. "So, the unit decided to take the entire shot one more time. However, to ready the set again for one more take, it would take a minimum of three to four hours. I don't know how they did it, but the team got the set ready in half an hour and we got it right finally," Suraj said, adding that when audiences watch the sequence in the film, they would be able to appreciate the director's brilliance. --IANS Mkr/ Seville, March 31 : Real Betis midfielder Isco has praised the instant impact at the club by the arrival of Antony and praised his humility but also stated the club may not have the required finances to sign him next season and stated that a 'crowdfunding' may be the only way to sign the Brazilian. Antony, who is at Real Betis on loan from Manchester United, looks to have settled in well in Spain. Since joining the side, he has played a part in every game and has scored four and provided the same number of assists in 12 games so far. "We have to do one of those crowdfunding's to see if we can bring him back for at least another year. (I'm) happy to be enjoying Antony, he's surprised us all with the humility with which he came, his willingness to help us and what he brings. "We've noticed a change since he arrived and (I'm) very happy for him, for the team and with the desire to keep doing things well," said the former Real Madrid midfielder to DAZN. The 24-year-old Antony joined Manchester United in 2022 from Dutch giants Ajax for a whopping fee of 95 million Euro but failed to make any significant impact at the club. In his 96 appearances for the Red Devils, Antony only managed to find the back of the net on 12 occasions. His underwhelming output saw him leave the club on a loan deal in the January transfer window, which will come to an end in June. Betis were able to secure Antony on loan after agreeing to cover a majority of his salary which is reported to be more than 100k pound a week and covers 84 per cent of his salary, as per a report by the BBC, making a deal very difficult considering the fee that United may demand after seeing his impressive performances. Thiruvananthapuram, March 31 : With the Kerala Police intensifying its probe into the suicide of Intelligence Bureau (IB) officer Megha whose body was found near a railway track in Kerala's Thiruvananthapuram on March 24, they are on the lookout for her friend and colleague Sukanth Suresh, presently working at the Cochin International Airport. Thiruvananthapuram, March 31 (IANS) With the Kerala Police intensifying its probe into the suicide of Intelligence Bureau (IB) officer Megha whose body was found near a railway track in Keralaas Thiruvananthapuram on March 24, they are on the lookout for her friend and colleague Sukanth Suresh, presently working at the Cochin International Airport. The police, after going through the call records of the two, have found out there were four calls between the two, seconds before Megha, 24, ended her life by jumping in front of a speeding train early on last Monday. Having worked the previous night, Megha, instead of returning to her home, went to the railway track near her workplace to end her life. Later, her father, Madhoosudhanan, revealed that Megha and Suresh were close, and her bank records showed that all her salary was being transferred to him and he used to send her money once in a while, for her expenses. At the time she ended her life, the balance in her bank account was a mere Rs 80 as she had transferred her February salary to the account of Suresh. After her father informed police about Suresh, the police have been trying to locate him as his phone, as well as those of his immediate family members, were found switched off. A police team which reached his house at Malappuram had to return after finding it locked. Meanwhile, reports have surfaced that Suresh is going forward to file an anticipatory bail plea at the Kerala High Court. Megha and Suresh became close after the two attended an in service training programme in Rajasthan last year and while her mother knew about their relation, her father came to know about it late. He recalled an incident where he received a toll payment notification from Kochi, which led him to question Megha about her presence there. "A few months after she joined, I purchased a car for her. One day, I got a message on my mobile about a toll amount that was collected in Kochi. When I asked her why she was in Kochi, then, she told me about him," he said. The family has handed over Meghaas laptop to the police to aid in the investigation, while her shattered mobile has been recovered from near the railway track, where her body was found. The IB officials had interrogated Suresh for two days and let him off, while the Kerala Police probe team is yet to locate him, despite their best efforts. Mumbai, March 31 : Actress Soha Ali Khan celebrated Eid 2025 with her family. Making the festival even more special, she cooked 'seviyaan' with husband Kunal Khemmu. The clip dropped by Soha on her IG showed Kunal stirring the milk while his better half added the sugar. Soha looked beautiful in a green salwar kameez with silver jhumkas, whereas Kumal opted for a purple kurta with white pajama. "Is it even Eid without seviyan? Eid Mubarak from ours to yours #eidmubarak," Soha wrote in the caption. Her post also included some family pictures with brother Saif Ali Khan, sister-in-law Kareena Kapoor, and sister Saba Pataudi. This was Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor's first Eid with their family following the horrific stabbing incident in January this year. While Bebo looked stunning as usual in orange ethnic wear, Saif oozed charm in a white kurta pajama. Saif and Soha's sister, Saba also dropped a few glimpses of the Eid celebration on social media, along with the caption, "Eid moments...Family Matters most....Thank you bhai for a beautiful lunch and soha, bebo n kunal for making it special too. Last ..video version ii ;)" Soha twinned in matching outfits with daughter Inaaya for Eid. The adorable mother and daughter duo looked picture-perfect in beautiful pink suits. Sharing her festive look on social media, the 'Rang De Basanti' actress captioned her IG post, "Eid mubarak. Wishing you all a happy Eid filled with joy, prosperity and peace #eidulfitr." In the clip, Soha was seen trying out various poses with little Inaaya. The little was also seen kissing her mom on her cheeks. Work-wise, Soha will next be a part of 'Chhorii 2'. She has been roped in as the antagonist in the much-awaited sequel. Nushrratt Bharuccha will also reprise her role as Sakshi, facing off against formidable paranormal forces in her fight to protect her child. Patna, March 31 : In a suspected attempt to disturb communal harmony, unidentified miscreants wrote slogans on the wall of an Eidgah in Mile Pakdi village, under Bidupur police station of Vaishali district, on Monday, just before Eid prayers. However, the police managed to defuse the situation. The Station House Officer (SHO) of Bidupur police station told IANS, that the writings included slogans like "Jai Shri Ram," "RJD Zindabad", and "Ahiran", which sparked anger and resentment among the Muslim community members who had gathered for Eid Namaz. Upon receiving information, senior district officials, including BDO, CO, SDO, SDPO, and the Bidupur police station in charge, reached the spot and assured the community of strict action against the culprits. The officers urged people to maintain peace and offer their prayers, promising that those responsible for the mischief would be identified and punished. Police personnel erased the slogans, and additional security forces were deployed in the area to prevent any untoward incidents. Hajipur SDO Arun Baitha stated, "An investigation is underway. The culprits will not be spared. Strict action will be taken against the accused." RJD spokesperson Ejaz Ahmed strongly condemned the act, calling it a deliberate attempt to disrupt communal harmony. "Anti-social elements are trying to vitiate the atmosphere. Various tactics are being used to incite communalism and weaken our Ganga-Jamuni culture. Strict action must be taken against those involved," Ahmed said. He demanded that CCTV footage from near the Eidgah be scrutinised to identify the miscreants. Authorities have increased security measures across Vaishali district to ensure peaceful Eid celebrations. A large number of police personnel have been deployed at key locations to maintain law and order. Meanwhile, in Darbhanga, tensions were high following a stone-pelting incident on Chaitra Navratri devotees in Kusheshwar Asthan on Sunday. Six individuals have been arrested in connection with the incident. An FIR has been lodged against 45 people, and police are closely monitoring the situation. Despite these incidents, Eid celebrations continued peacefully across Bihar throughout the day, with people offering Namaz, exchanging greetings, and embracing each other in the spirit of unity and visiting each other's homes. Authorities have urged people to remain calm and not fall for communal provocations of vested interests. New Delhi, March 31 : The appeal by Kerala Catholic Bishops' Council (KCBC) to all Members of Parliament from Kerala to support the Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2024 introduced by the Central government has renewed the debate over the key benefits from the proposed legislation. The Bill proposes reforms in Waqf governance aimed at addressing inefficiencies, legal conflicts, and public grievances. It says ensuring inclusivity is essential for Waqf institutions to fulfil their intended purpose and maximise their impact on society. What is Waqf A Waqf is a permanent dedication of movable or immovable property for religious, pious, properties is governed by the Waqf Act, 1995, and is overseen by State Waqf Boards and the Central Waqf Council. There are 32 Waqf Boards across 23 states and 7 Union Territories, with Bihar and Uttar Pradesh having separate Shia and Sunni Waqf Boards. Nationwide assets Waqf Boards currently control 8.72 lakh properties spanning 9.4 lakh acres across India with an estimated value of Rs 1.2 lakh crores. India has the largest Waqf holding in the world. Further, Waqf Board is the largest landowner in India after the Armed Forces and the Indian Railways. Of these 8.72 lakh properties, only 1,088 have registered Waqf deeds, and 9,279 have Ownership Rights Establishing (ORE) documents. Interestingly, many Islamic countries do not have Waqf properties. Countries such as Turkey, Libya, Egypt, Sudan, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Tunisia, and Iraq do not have Waqfs. However, in India, not only are Waqf Boards the largest urban landowners, but they also have an Act protecting them legally. New Bills On August 8, 2024, two bills, the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, and the Mussalman Wakf (Repeal) Bill, 2024, were introduced in the Lok Sabha with the aim to streamline the Waqf Board's work and ensure the efficient management of Waqf properties. The objective of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, is to amend the Waqf Act, 1995, to redress the issues and challenges in regulating and managing Waqf properties. The Amendment Bill seeks to improve the administration and management of Waqf properties in India. It aims to overcome the shortcomings of the previous act and enhance the efficiency of Waqf boards by introducing changes such as renaming the Act, updating the definitions of Waqf, improving the registration process, and increasing the role of technology in managing Waqf records. The primary objective of the Mussalman Wakf (Repeal) Bill, 2024 is to repeal the Mussalman Wakf Act, 1923, a colonial-era legislation that has become outdated. Key features of Waqf Bill 2024 Besides recognising women and non-Muslims as stakeholders, the Bill focuses on enhancing inclusivity in Waqf governance with the inclusion of marginalised Muslim communities. It also proposes establishment of separate Board for Aghakhani and Bohras communities and involvement of Pasmanda Muslims in decision-making in the Board. Greater inclusivity proposed by the Bill aims to prevent monopolisation, strengthen oversight, and enhance public trust. Also, effective governance will ensure Waqf assets contribute meaningfully to education, healthcare, and economic empowerment. The governance failures leading to mismanagement in Board was also highlighted by the Justice Rajinder Sachar Committee (2006) reported that annual income from 4.9 lakh registered Waqf property yields income of only Rs 163 crore at 2.7 per cent return. However, with efficient and marketable use these properties could generate a return of Rs 12,000 crore per annum at 10 per cent return (2006 data). Proposed changes to 1995 Act Formation of Waqf: The Waqf Act 1995 allows Waqf to be formed by declaration, recognition based on long-term use (Waqf by user), or endowment when the line of succession ends (Waqf-alal-aulad). However, the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024 states that only a person practicing Islam for at least five years may declare a Waqf. It clarifies that the person must own the property being declared. It removes Waqf by user, where properties could be deemed as Waqf based solely on prolonged use for religious purposes. It also adds that Waqf-alal-aulad must not result in denial of inheritance rights to the donoras heirs, including women. Power to determine if a property is Waqf: The Act empowers the Waqf Board to inquire and determine if a property is Waqf. The Bill removes this provision. Appeal on orders of Tribunals: Under the Act, decisions of the Tribunal are final and appeals against its decisions in courts are prohibited. The High Court can consider matters on its own accord, on an application by the Board, or an aggrieved party. The Bill omits provisions deeming finality to Tribunalas decisions. Tribunalas orders may be appealed in the High Court within 90 days. Powers of the Central government: The Bill empowers the Central government to make rules regarding registration, publication of accounts of Waqf, and publication of proceedings of Waqf Boards. Under the Act, the state government may get the accounts of Waqfs audited at any point. The Bill empowers the central government to get these audited by the CAG or a designated officer. New Delhi, March 31 : Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is scheduled to visit London next week, from April 8-10, where she will discuss issues related to bilateral trade and investment, and hold talks under the India-United Kingdom Economic and Financial Dialogue. Sitharaman is likely to hold a meeting with her counterpart, UK's Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves. The India-UK Economic and Financial Dialogue is an important bilateral institutional mechanism to enhance trade and Investment between the two countries. A senior official said issues related to the trade agreement and the bilateral investment treaty may also come up for discussions between the two leaders. He said bilateral cooperation on economic and commerce matters is guided by institutionalised dialogues to enhance trade and Investment between the two countries. Both sides meet regularly to review the progress of bilateral trade and investment under the aegis of these mechanisms which includes the Economic and Financial Dialogue (EDF). Minister of Commerce & Industry Piyush Goyal had announced on February 24 that India and the UK have decided to restart negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) after a meeting in Delhi with his UK counterpart Jonathan Reynolds. "All options are on the table. We are in active negotiations on three different aspects - the FTA, the Bilateral Investment Treaty, and a Double Contribution Convention Agreement. And all three are in parallel and conjoined with each other," he said. However, Goyal made it clear that India would not rush into a trade agreement in haste. aWe will have speed but not haste," he quipped when asked whether a deadline had been fixed to sign the deal. There are 26 chapters in the agreement, which include goods, services, investments, and intellectual property rights. While the UK is seeking a lowering of tariffs on goods such as electric vehicles and Scotch whisky, India wants easier visa rules for its professionals in the services sector to enter the UK. The India-UK EFD is a platform established to strengthen the financial and economic relationship between the two countries, focusing on areas like sustainable development, financial reforms, and regulatory frameworks, with the goal of boosting bilateral trade and investment. Last year in December the third meeting of India-UK Financial Markets Dialogue was hosted by the Finance Ministry in GIFT City, Gujarat. Participants from India and UK touched upon reforms in respective financial services sectors including capital markets, insurance & reinsurance, pensions, FinTech, and sustainable finance. India-UK bilateral trade (both goods and services) stood at 36.3 billion pounds during the FY 2022-23 (April 2022 - March 2023), an increase of 34.2 per cent or 9.2 billion pounds from 2021-22. Out of the above, Indiaas total imports from the UK amounted to 14.7 billion pounds, and Indiaas total exports to the UK amounted to 21.6 billion pounds. India was the UKas 12th largest trading partner in this period, accounting for 2.1 per cent of the UKas total trade. India invested in 108 projects and created 7,533 new jobs in the UK to retain the position of second-largest source of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) after the US, according to the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) inward investment statistics for 2023-2024. The UK is the 6th largest inward investor in India after Mauritius, Singapore, the USA, the Netherlands, and Japan, with a cumulative equity investment of $35 billion (April 2000-March 2024), accounting for around 5.17 per cent of all foreign direct investment into India. Bengaluru, March 31 : The Karnataka government has decided to establish South India's first Government Organ Transplant and Retrieval Centre in Bengaluru, stated Minister for Medical Education, Skill Development and Livelihood, Sharan Prakash Patil on Monday. Minister Patil further stated that steps were being taken to construct a helipad at Victoria Hospital in Bengaluru for seamless organ transportation and Rs 1 crore had been sanctioned for facility development and establishment. To modernise existing facilities and set up an organ retrieval centre, the government has sanctioned Rs 1 crore with an official order already issued. This initiative coincides with the 125th anniversary of Victoria Hospital, making it a significant milestone, he stated. The organ retrieval centre is expected to become operational within the next four to six months, according to Minister Patil. "The centre will play a crucial role in streamlining organ procurement for transplants," the minister stated. "Functioning as a dedicated unit for collecting organs from deceased donors, the centre will provide comprehensive services, including ICU facilities, an operation theater, a laboratory, and advanced diagnostic capabilities. "Victoria Hospital, already home to a trauma and emergency care centre, the Institute of Gastroenterology and Urology Transplantation, the Regional Institute of Ophthalmology at Minto Hospital and a Skin Bank, is one of South India's largest medical institutions. The addition of this new organ retrieval centre will further strengthen its capabilities," Minister Patil stated. For effective organ donation, identifying potential donors, ensuring safe procedures, conducting family counselling, providing advanced ICU care and adhering to legal frameworks are critical. Hence, adequate funding has been allocated for the centre's holistic development. "This initiative is highly meaningful and will benefit economically-disadvantaged patients," noted Minister Patil. "The establishment of an integrated organ retrieval centre at Victoria Hospital will help scale up the organ donation programme, benefiting underprivileged patients," stated Dr. Deepak, Medical Superintendent of Victoria Hospital. "The centre will have dedicated staff, ICUs and beds. Once a family consents to organ donation, the patient will be transferred from ICUs to the designated facility," he added. Additionally, to facilitate smooth organ transport, a helipad is being constructed at Victoria Hospital. The Victoria Hospital provides services to the economically weaker sections of society. New Delhi, March 31 : Four Nigerians, along with an aide, were arrested and narcotics worth Rs 27 crore recovered in a crackdown against a major narco-network in Delhi-NCR in a joint operation by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) and Special cell of the Delhi Police, an official said on Monday. The network was spread across Tilak Nagar in west Delhi, Chhatarpur in south Delhi and Greater Noida. Union Home Minister Amit Shah lauded the success of enforcement agencies and reiterated the resolve to continue the relentless action against the drug trade. In his post on the X platform, the Home Minister said, "In line with the Modi government's zero tolerance against drugs, a major narco-network was busted in Delhi-NCR. The NCB and Delhi Police grabbed the gang by its throat and recovered methamphetamine, MDMA, and cocaine worth Rs 27.4 crore and arrested five people. I applaud NCB and Delhi Police for this major breakthrough." An official statement said that on receipt of an input about an imminent exchange of high-quality Methamphetamine in the Chhatarpur area of south Delhi, a joint team of the NCB and Special Cell of the Delhi Police mounted surveillance on suspects. The surveillance led to the interception of a vehicle carrying 5.103 kilograms of High-quality Crystal Methamphetamine valued at Rs 10.2 crore. Five occupants of the vehicle, including four from an influential family of Nigeria, have been arrested. Sustained interrogation and technical backtracking revealed that the contraband was sourced from an African kitchen in the Tilak Nagar area of West Delhi. A search at this kitchen led to the recovery of 1.156 kilogram Crystal Methamphetamine, 4.142 kilogram Afghan Heroine and 5.776 kilogram MDMA (Ecstasy pills) valued at Rs 16.4 crore. A follow-up search at a rented apartment in Greater Noida led to a recovery of 389 grams of Afghan Heroin and 26 grams of cocaine. Investigation revealed that to ensure the movement of African nationals for peddling drugs and narcotics, the syndicate used to arrange student visas for them to join major private universities of the National Capital Region (NCR) as well as Punjab. For some of the students, the visa was only a cover for their stay in India while they supplied drugs and indulged in crypto conversions. An official said to fight drug trafficking, the NCB seeks the support of the citizens who can share information related to the sale of narcotics by calling on MANAS -- National Narcotics Helpline Toll Free Number-1933. Bhopal, March 31 : A blanket ban on the sale of liquor within the municipal limits of 19 "holy cities" in Madhya Pradesh, including the temple town of Ujjain, will come into effect from Tuesday (April 1). However, amid this sweeping prohibition, the age-old tradition of offering liquor to "Lord Kaal Bhairav" remains "steadfast and untouched," preserving a unique aspect of local religious customs. Just outside the Lord Kaal Bhariav temple, vendors sell baskets containing traditional offerings such as coconuts, flowers, and bottles of liquoran essential part of the worship ritual for devotees. In 2015, the State Government introduced official liquor counters near the temple to ensure fair pricing and to safeguard devotees from unlicensed vendors. These counters offer both country-made and imported liquor for the offerings. "For generations, devotees have honoured Lord Kaal Bhairav by presenting liquor as an offering, an act deeply intertwined with the city's spiritual identity. To address concerns about the discontinuation of this sacred custom, the temple management committee will now oversee and ensure the availability of liquor for the deity's worship," a senior official in the Excise Department told IANS. The two liquor counters previously situated near the temple will no longer operate, as they fall within the municipal ban. "This prohibition underscores the government's commitment to preserving the sanctity of holy cities while allowing traditions to thrive," the senior excise official remarked. Hundreds of devotees visit the temple daily to partake in this unique ritual, where they hand liquor bottles to the priest. The priest pours the liquor into a saucer, performs prayers, and places the saucer near the lips of deity's idol, which features a slit. As the saucer is tilted, the liquid disappears, symbolising the deity's acceptance. About one-third of the liquor is returned to devotees as sacred Prasad, making the experience both spiritual and unforgettable. The state's newly unveiled excise policy, spearheaded by Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav, enforces the closure of liquor outlets in revered areas such as Ujjain, Omkareshwar, Maheshwar, Mandleshwar, Orchha, Maihar, Chitrakoot, Datia, and several others. The prohibition of alcohol sales aims to uphold the sanctity of these towns, with no new licenses to be issued from April 1. Ujjain Collector Neeraj Kumar Singh had earlier reportedly sought to retain the liquor shops near the temple but was assured that alternative arrangements by the temple committee would maintain the ritual. Madrid, March 31 : At least five people were confirmed dead and several others injured following an explosion in a mine in the Spanish region of Asturias on Monday morning. Spanish Civil Guards said the incident happened at approximately 9:40 local time (0840 GMT) when a machine exploded at the Cerredo mine near Degana town. The blast took place on the third level of the mine, causing burns and trauma injuries, according to the Spanish government delegate in the region. Three of the injured have been transferred to a hospital in the city of Leon, Xinhua news agency reported. Emergency services, including Civil Guard officers, firefighters, and members of the mine rescue team, have been deployed to the site, the regional government of Asturias said. Spain's Prime Minister, Pedro Sanchez, offered his condolences to the relatives of the deceased and thanked emergency workers. "My heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims of the mine accident in Degana, Asturias. And I wish a speedy recovery to those injured. Thanks to the emergency services working on the rescue efforts," Sanchez said. An investigation into the cause of the explosion is currently underway. Local media, citing an Asturian spokesperson, reported that the workers were operating at the mine under a permit for mineral extraction to produce graphite. According to ABC Espana, the site had been a major mining operation before its closure in 2018 and had since been intermittently used by private companies for extracting the mineral anthracite. The exact number of people present at the mine during the explosion remains unknown. Asturias' President, Adrian Barbon, has declared two days of mourning for the region. The regionas civil protection plan, designed to manage emergencies, was activated at its lowest level, indicating that the situation is localized and can be managed with the resources currently available. An investigation into the cause of the explosion is currently underway. Jammu, March 31 : Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) Lieutenant-Governor (LG), Manoj Sinha on Monday visited the families of the four policemen who were killed in the recent anti-terrorist operation in Kathua district. Officials said that LG Manoj Sinha visited the families of the four martyred policemen and expressed his condolences and support to the bereaved families. Two Pakistani terrorists and four policemen were killed, while three others, including a Deputy Superintendent of Police, were injured in a fierce gunfight in the forested area of the Sanyal belt of Kathua district in the jurisdiction of Rajbagh police station on Thursday. Sinha visited the home of Balvinder Singh Chib in Kanna Chak, Kathua district, where he met the cop's bereaved wife and other family members to express his deepest condolences. The LG then visited the family of Jaswant Singh in Londi village near the International Border (IB) to offer support to the family of the slain policeman. Later, he proceeded to Reasi district, where he met the family of police officer, Tariq Ahmad in Chamba village. During the visits, he assured the families of government jobs for the next of kin, mostly for the widows of the martyred policemen. The LG told the families that the people of the country were with them and all efforts would be made to ensure full government support. The wives of the martyred policemen requested jobs in civilian departments as they have young children to look after. Later in the evening, the LG visited the family of Head Constable, Jagbir Singh from the Akhnoor area in Jammu district to express condolences to the family. Following information from the people, the police tracked a group of terrorists after intercepting them last Sunday within a plant nursery in Sanyal Village nearly four kms away from the IB with Pakistan. Tracking the terrorists led to an encounter in Sanyal village of the district resulting in the killing of two terrorists and four policemen on Thursday. The body of Head Constable, Jagbir Singh, who was incharge of the local police post, was recovered from the Ghati-Juthana forest on Saturday. The bodies of two terrorists, believed to be affiliated with the proscribed Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) outfit, were also recovered along with war-like stores. The bodies of three policemen, Balwinder Singh Chib, Jaswant Singh, and Tariq Ahmad were recovered on Friday evening. The Peopleas Anti-Fascist Front, a shadow outfit of the Pakistan-based terror outfit JeM claimed responsibility for the gunfight. All the martyred policemen were given full tributes at the District Police Lines (DPL) in Kathua. Later, speaking to reporters, DGP Nalin Prabhat said that the martyrdom of the four policemen had increased the resolve and aim of J&K Police to eliminate the scourge of terrorism in J&K and to defeat the designs of the impure neighbour (Pakistan), who is sending in mercenaries to disturb peace and tranquility in the UT. The DGP said that deeds not words would give a befitting tribute the nation owes to the martyred policemen. Jaipur, March 31 : Rajasthan is on track to becoming a $350 billion economy by 2030, with the state government taking decisive steps to position it as India's top investment hub, Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma said on Monday, while emphasising that through transparency, good governance, and policy reforms, Rajasthan is creating a business-friendly environment. As a result, projects worth Rs 3 lakh crore from the Rising Rajasthan Global Investment Summit have reached the groundbreaking stage, the Chief Minister said. Addressing the Investment Festival in Jaipur, the Chief Minister called upon industrialists, youth, and farmers to contribute to Rajasthan's growth, envisioning a state that not only enhances India's pride but also earns global recognition. CM Sharma highlighted the significance of Impact 1.0, a key milestone reflecting the government's commitment to converting MoUs signed under the Rising Rajasthan Global Investment Summit into tangible projects. A three-tier review mechanism has been implemented, with dedicated teams in every department and district actively monitoring progress. Due to this consistent oversight, projects worth Rs 3 lakh crore have now commenced. A short film showcasing these achievements was also screened at the event. To facilitate investments, the state government had previously launched the Direct Land Allotment Policy for RIICO industrial areas, covering MoUs executed until March 15. Responding to investor enthusiasm, the Chief Minister announced an extension of this policy for MoUs signed between March 16 and April 30. Eligible investors can apply under this scheme when the online portal reopens on May 15. Inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "Developed India 2047" vision, Sharma reaffirmed Rajasthan's ambition to become a developed state by 2047. The government is committed to achieving a $350 billion economy by 2030, fostering employment, prosperity, and entrepreneurial growth. "This is not just about numbers," he stated, "but about a transformative era of opportunities for youth, farmers, and businesses". The Chief Minister emphasised that Rajasthan's investor-friendly climate has resulted in MoUs worth over Rs 35 lakh crore, reflecting growing confidence in the state's economic policies. He outlined a goal of creating 10 lakh jobs in five years -- 4 lakh in the government sector and 6 lakh in the private sector -- along with skill training for 1.5 lakh youth to meet industry demands. CM Sharma announced the establishment of 18 new industrial areas tailored to different sectors to make Rajasthan a manufacturing powerhouse. Additionally, Rajasthan's abundant solar and wind energy resources have drawn global investor interest. Further strengthening global and domestic ties, 14 new Rajasthan Foundation chapters will be set up in Guwahati, Bhubaneswar, Ranchi, Pune, Delhi, Dubai, Munich, Riyadh, Tokyo, Singapore, Melbourne, Nairobi, Kampala, and Doha. During the event, the Chief Minister launched the Rajasthan Logistics Policy-2025, Rajasthan Data Center Policy-2025, and Rajasthan Textile and Apparel Policy-2025. Additionally, the mobile app for the Online Investor Interface was introduced, enabling investors to track their proposals conveniently via mobile. To further bolster economic growth, the government will organise the Rising Rajasthan Partnership Conclave on December 11-12, providing a significant platform for stakeholders to explore investment opportunities in the state, he added. Kampala, March 31 : Uganda has received an additional 100,000 doses of the mpox vaccine from the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) to support the next phase of its prevention campaign, said a senior health official on Monday. Henry Kyobe Bosa, incident commander at the Ministry of Health, told Xinhua via telephone that the vaccines will be distributed to areas with the highest transmission rates of the mpox virus, with young adults aged 25 to 35 being prioritised in the next round of vaccination. According to the Ministry of Health, the upcoming phase of the vaccination campaign will focus on high-risk areas in the capital of Kampala, including Rubaga, Nakawa, and Central divisions. The campaign will also cover key districts in central Uganda, such as Mukono, Wakiso, Buvuma, Nakasongola, and Masaka, as well as the western districts of Mbarara and Hoima. Uganda launched its first round of mpox vaccination campaign in February, targeting high-risk populations, including individuals engaged in commercial sex work, bar attendants, commuter taxi drivers, commercial motorcyclists, and roadside vendors in the Kawempe and Makindye divisions of Kampala. During this initial phase, the country vaccinated 10,000 individuals in the most affected districts, according to the Ministry of Health. Uganda confirmed the outbreak of mpox last August and has since recorded 4,810 laboratory-confirmed cases and 37 deaths. Most of the deceased had underlying health conditions, such as HIV/AIDS, malnutrition, and diabetes. Last week, the World Health Organisation warned that Uganda currently 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. In response, Ugandan health authorities have intensified surveillance, case management, and public awareness efforts to curb the spread of the virus, Xinhua news agency reported. 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. New Delhi, March 31 : The Supreme Court is slated to hear on Tuesday a plea filed by Mahatma Gandhi's great grandson Tushar Gandhi, raising concern over the Gujarat government's acquisition of the Sabarmati Ashram. In March 2021, the Gujarat government issued a resolution for the comprehensive development of the Gandhi Ashram Memorial and precincts. As per the causelist published on the website of the apex court, a bench of Justices M.M. Sundresh and Rajesh Bindal will take up the matter for hearing on Tuesday (April 1). As per the petition, the government acquisition of the Sabarmati Ashram, on the pretext of development, is contrary to the spirit and ethos of Gandhism, adding that the move militates against Article 39 of the Constitution, which emphasises on prevention of accumulation of wealth, and Article 49 of the Constitution, which emphasises protection of monuments and places of national importance. "Mahatma Gandhi designed the ashram himself, embodying simplicity, self-sufficiency and communal living. The ashram exemplifies Gandhian principles of sustainability and harmony with nature. The Sabarmati Ashram stands as a testament to the legacy of Mahatma Gandhi and his pivotal role in India's freedom struggle," said the plea. It added that a writ petition was initially filed before the Gujarat High Court challenging the redevelopment work and sought quashing of the government resolution. However, the Gujarat HC dismissed the said writ petition and aggrieved, an appeal was filed before the Supreme Court, whereby the impugned order was set aside and the writ petition was remanded back to the Gujarat High Court. "Thereafter, the (Gujarat) High Court reconsidered the issue. However, without consideration of the true facts and circumstances, the prayers of the petitioner were rejected," said the latest special leave petition filed before the Supreme Court. "At present, the dignity and sanctity of the ashram, which metaphorically signifies the legacy of Mahatma Gandhi, the father of our nation, is under direct threat from an alleged redevelopment project. The misuse of public money instead of any other humanitarian purposes, on the preface of development, is against Gandhi's principles," added the petition. Further, it said that the ashram is a testimony to symbols of peace, simplicity and serenity, and the alleged redevelopment threatens to erase the essence of Mahatma Gandhi and the ashram. "Way back in 1917, the Sabarmati Ashram was founded by Mahatma Gandhi. On February 2, 1926, Mahatma Gandhi and Maganlal Khushalchand formed the Satyagraha Ashram Trust by a trust deed. On September 30, 1933, Gandhi surrendered the Satyagraha Ashram to be utilised for the service and benefits of Harijans in perpetuity, to the Harijan Sevak Sangh through a communication addressed to Ghanshyamdas Birla," stated the petition. Washington, March 31 : The Tuesday election for a judge to the Supreme Court of the US' Wisconsin state is attracting national attention and millions of dollars as the first test of President Donald Trump's popularity and the Democrats' readiness to bounce back from the 2024 poll defeat, and potentially determine the party position in the House of Representatives in the future. Washington, March 31 (IANS) The Tuesday election for a judge to the Supreme Court of the US' Wisconsin state is attracting national attention and millions of dollars as the first test of President Donald Trumpas popularity and the Democratsa readiness to bounce back from the 2024 poll defeat, and potentially determine the party position in the House of Representatives in the future. Elon Musk, the billionaire adviser to President Trump, handed out two checks of $1 million to attendees at a Republican party rally in Green Bay, Wisconsin on Sunday. He and his other Republicans have spent an estimated $20 million in support of the conservative candidate. Democratic donors such as billionaire George Soros have also provided similar dollar support to the liberal candidate. Itas a two-candidate race between Republican Brad Schimel and Democrat Susan Crawford, both of whom are county judges currently. Schimelas victory will change the 4-3 majority that the Democrats hold in the current seven-member bench. At stake is more than the judgeship of a state supreme court. It has been touted as the first test of President Trumpas popularity as the first election after his return to the White House. Wisconsin is a swing state that he won in November 2024; President Joe Biden had won it in 2020. Although he has endorsed Schimel, he has so far resisted calls for him to travel to the state to campaign for the candidate.. Also being watched closely are two special elections in Florida, to replace Republicans Michael Waltz, who resigned to become President Trumpas National Security Adviser, and Matt Gaetz, who was named by Trump to be his attorney general but pulled out. Trump held tele-rallies for the two candidates on Sunday. The race for Waltzas seat is said to be close. The other reason for the national interest in the state race in Wisconsin is, as Musk said at the rally, it will determine "which party controls the US House of Representatives". The current Democratic-majority Supreme Court has ordered a redrawing of congressional districts, saying that, as established by a Republican-led court, they were unconstitutional as they were not contiguous. Democrats have long held that Republicans redrew some congressional districts, giving themselves an unfair electoral edge, which gives them an undeservedly larger proportion of the eight congressional districts of the state which are quite evenly divided otherwise. And this, in turn, they have argued, contributes to the partyas tally in the House of Representatives, which it currently controls. New Delhi, March 31 : The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), the apex body of the Income Tax Department, entered into a record 174 Advance Pricing Agreements (APAs) with Indian taxpayers in FY 2024-25, according to an official statement released on Monday. This marks the highest number of APAs signed in a single financial year since the programme was launched. Of the 174 APAs that were signed, 65 were Bilateral APAs (BAPAs), which is the highest number finalised in this category in any year so far. These were a result of mutual agreements with Indiaas treaty partners, including Australia, Japan, South Korea, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Singapore, the UK, and the US, the CBDT statement said. The total number of APAs since the inception of the programme has now reached 815, comprising 615 Unilateral APAs, 199 Bilateral APAs (BAPAs), and one Multilateral APA. The CBDT has maintained a consistent pace in concluding APAs, having signed 125 in FY 2023-24 and 95 in FY 2022-23. Notably, this year also saw the signing of Indiaas first-ever MAPA. Additionally, on March 27, 2025, a record 34 APAs were signed on a single day, the statement pointed out. The APA Scheme aims to provide certainty to taxpayers in the area of transfer pricing by specifying pricing methods and determining the armas length price of international transactions in advance for up to five years. BAPAs offer the added benefit of protection against potential or actual double taxation. The APA programme has significantly contributed to the Indian governmentas mission to enhance ease of doing business, particularly for multinational enterprises engaged in extensive cross-border transactions. The CBDT recognises the collaborative spirit of taxpayers and values their role as key stakeholders in the successful implementation of the APA programme, the statement added. Each signed APA brings tax certainty for a taxpayer that spans multiple years. Apart from running the unilateral leg of the APA programme successfully, the CBDT has also actively engaged with its various tax treaty partners to negotiate and enter into Bilateral APAs, which provide taxpayers an added benefit of relieving double taxation. The record numberrecord number of bilateral agreements signed this year also reflects the strengthening of our relationship with taxpayers and treaty partners, a senior official said. Bangkok, March 31 : In a major crackdown, the Thai police on Monday arrested three Chinese nationals, two men and a woman, during a sting operation in Pattaya, seizing vape-pens and zombie-vape liquid. The suspects allegedly admitted to running the illegal activities with sales worth 2 million Thai baht a day, the media reported. Patanasak Bupphasawan, commander of the Consumer Protection Police Division of Thailand, stated that the suspects admitted to daily sales of about 1,000 e-cigarettes to tourists and young people. They priced a vape at 2,000 baht, so they earned about 2 million baht a day. "The arresting team also seized about 100 grams of powdered etomidate anaesthetic, e-cigarettes and equipment for mixing the anaesthetic and e-liquid to make zombie-vape fluid. The seized products were worth about 513,590 baht in total," Thailand's leading newspaper, Bangkok Post, reported, quoting Bupphasawan. A few days ago, Thai police raided 10 locations in Nonthaburi province and seized about 260,000 smuggled Chinese-made vape pipes and related products, worth about 130 million baht in total. Again last week, more than 64,000 vaping products valued at 12.6 million baht were confiscated in a crackdown by the Customs Department, the Department of Special Investigation (DSI), and the Royal Thai Police (RTP). Speaking to the media, Theeraj Athanavanich, director-general of the Customs Department, said the products were seized during an inspection of eight unclaimed shipping containers at Laem Chabang port in Chon Buri province of Thailand. A total of 64,397 e-cigarette products, both disposable and refillable, were seized as part of ongoing investigations into smuggling, particularly of prohibited goods such as vaping products. Recently, the Thailand Prime Minister's office announced cash rewards to citizens for reporting the use of e-cigarettes in an attempt to combat the rising trend of vaping and to address public health concerns. Those whose information leads to the arrest of suspects stand to be rewarded with 60 per cent of the fine, while related government officials will also get incentives, the office said. Meanwhile, those caught selling or possessing e-cigarettes with the intent to sell could face up to five years in jail and a fine of up to four times the value of the products stored. Smugglers can face up to 10 years in jail and a fine of up to five times the value of the smuggled products. Informants are advised to include photographic evidence when filing a complaint, which they can do anonymously, the PM's Office said. Varanasi, March 31 : The Narendra Modi-led central government has been running several welfare schemes focused on the common people, and the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP) is one of them, benefiting the residents of Kashi as well. Under this scheme, medicines are provided at cheaper rates at Jan Aushadhi Kendras. At the Prime Minister's Jan Aushadhi Kendras, customers receive high-quality generic medicines at lower prices, helping them save economically. Pradeep Kumar, the operator of a Jan Aushadhi Kendra in Varanasi, told IANS, "In Varanasi, near Bhelupur Police Station, there is a Jan Aushadhi Kendra. This Kendra has almost all kinds of medicines available. I have been running this shop for the past 7-8 years. Many people come here to buy medicines. They are benefiting economically. Medicines that used to cost around 10 to 12 thousand rupees in the market are available here for 1,000 to 1,200 rupees." Sunil Upadhyay, a customer who regularly buys medicines from the Jan Aushadhi Kendra, said, "I always buy medicines from the Prime Minister's Jan Aushadhi Kendra. Earlier, the allopathy medicines I used to take were very expensive. Here, I get the same medicines at an 80 to 90 per cent discount." Another customer, Gopal Maurya, praised the Jan Aushadhi Kendra, saying, "Medicines that used to cost 100 rupees outside are available here for just 20 to 30 rupees. This centre is very beneficial for the people." Abhishek Pandey, who also bought medicines from the centre, stated, "The medicines that are expensive in the market are available here at affordable rates. This is a great help to people. The scheme initiated by PM Modi is beneficial for all sections of society, especially for the lower-income groups." The Prime Minister's Jan Aushadhi Yojana, launched by the Pharmaceuticals Department, aims to provide affordable, high-quality medicines to the public. Jan Aushadhi stores have been established to offer generic medicines at lower prices, but with the same quality and effectiveness as expensive branded medicines. Kolkata, March 31 : Ravi Gandhi, additional director general, BSF, Eastern Command, Border Security Force (BSF), has directed the Central Public Works Department (CPWD) to acquire land wherever necessary and complete fencing projects along the Indo-Bangladesh Border (IBB) on a priority basis. The ADG also reviewed the situation at borders along the Malda and Murshidabad districts in West Bengal, where the BSF's Area of Domination has been brought closer to the International Border (IB). In most places -- particularly the fenced portions of the IBB -- the BSF's Area of Domination starts from beyond the fence, located 150 yards from the IB. The situation in the 150-yards-wide stretch between the fence and the IB -- where Indian villagers have farmland, and some zero-line villages are located -- turns extremely vulnerable, particularly at night. Indian villagers living across the fence have often complained of attacks by Bangladeshi criminals, while those with farmland there have claimed that crops are looted or destroyed at night by people from across the IB. "The ADG, along with Karani Singh Shekhawat, IG, South Bengal Frontier, BSF and Tarun Kumar Gautam, DIG, Malda Sector, toured Malda and Murshidabad along with CPWD officials. He took stock of the changing situation in these two districts, due to goings-on in Bangladesh, and held meetings with officials of other agencies and the police. He made it clear that security along the IBB will not be relaxed under any circumstances," a senior BSF official said. The ADG first visited the 71 Bn BSF headquarters at Baishnabnagar, Malda, before inspecting the newly-constructed patrol base at Itaghati and assessed the progress made in bringing the Domination Line closer to the IB within the area of responsibility of Border Outposts Beldanga and Itaghati, under the 88 Bn BSF. He took up the matter of fencing of the remaining 29 km stretch in this area with the CPWD. He made it clear that any lapse along the sensitive border can turn into a serious national threat. "In the Murshidabad district, he visited Border Outpost Chandnichak (under the 71 Bn BSF) and took up the matter of pending works related to the border fencing and land acquisition with both BSF and CPWD officials. He spoke to the jawans and listened to their experiences while managing the border, particularly on Char land. Chars are basically sandbanks of the river Padma that are extremely vulnerable to movement from across the border. He also interacted with locals who informed him of how extension of the Domination Line closer to the IB has helped in protecting their crops. The ADG assured that the BSF will continue to do whatever is possible to protect their interests," the official added. Mumbai, March 31 : Ryan Rickelton struck a fine unbeaten half-century after young debutant pacer Ashwani Kumar had destroyed Kolkata Knight Riders with a 4-24 haul as Mumbai Indians bagged their first points of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 with an eight-wicket win at the Wankhede Stadium here on Monday. Rickelton, who had struck a record double hundred for South Africa recently, capitalised on the conditions that had eased out to storm to his maiden IPL 50 off 33 balls as Mumbai Indians reached 121/2 in 12.5 overs after bundling KKR for 116 in 16.2 overs. Rickelton scored 62 not out off 41 balls, hitting four boundaries and five maximums, raising 46 runs for the opening wicket with Rohit Sharma (13) and 45 with Will Jacks (16) for the second wicket. Suryakumar Yadav, who sealed victory with a six, remained unbeaten on 27 off nine balls as Mumbai romped to victory with a lot to spare. The day belonged to Ashwani Kumar, who claimed the best figures by an Indian bowler on IPL debut to set up Mumbai Indians for victory. Ashwani Kumar made a dream debut, claiming a four-fer in his first match as Mumbai Indians capitalised on the assistance offered by the Wankhede pitch as they bundled out defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders for 116 in Match 12 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 here on Monday. Ashwani (4-24) bowled to a plan, banging it short to extract extra bounce from the lively wicket and reaped the rewards as he became the first Indian bowler to claim four wickets on IPL debut. His 4-24 is the best figures by an Indian bowler on debut in IPL. The 23-year-old left-arm seamer from Jhanjeri, a town near Mohali in Punjab, claimed Ajinkya Rahane's wicket off his first ball and then added the scalps of Rinku Singh, Manish Pandey and Andre Russell as he bagged his first-ever four-wicket haul. Deepak Chahar claimed 2-19 while Trent Boult, Hardik Pandya, Vignesh Puthur and Mitchell Santner took a wicket each as the defending champions failed to last their quota of 20 overs and barely crawled into three figures. Earlier, Sunil Narine's return to the playing XI was extremely short-lived as Trent Boult uprooted his middle-stump on the fourth ball of the match while Quinton de Kock (1) fell to Chahar off the first ball of the second over. Ashwani was into the act soon after, bagging a wicket in the ball of his debut match as Ajinkya Rahane (11), who despatched Chahar the boundary over the non-striker's head and then pulled a short one from Boult over long-on for the first six of the match, skied one to Tilak Varma at deep backward point. KKR were down to 25/3. It became worse soon as Venkatesh Iyer edged behind to Ryan Rickelton one from Chahar, and Hardik Pandya sent back Angkrish Raghuvanshi after a 16-ball stay that fetched him 26 runs. Rinku, the dasher from Uttar Pradesh, failed to capitalise on the chance of building an innings as he fell for 17, going after a delivery banged short, becoming Ashwani's second wicket -- the left-arm seamer having the last laugh after being hit for a boundary. Ashwani had his third wicket soon as Impact Substitute Manish Pandey (19), who hammered Puthur for a six, played on to his stumps after hitting a boundary off the left-arm pacer. The 23-year-old from Punjab, who also dropped two catches, completed his four-fer by setting up Andre Russell with two short ones, followed by a fullish delivery, the West Indian falling prey to the superb tactics by the young bowler, and KKR slumped to 88/8. Ramandeep Singh and Harshit Rana struck a couple of sixes as the defending champions reached 100 before getting all out for 116, which the Mumbai Indians chased easily. Brief scores: Kolkata Knight Riders (Angkrish Raghuvanshi 26, Ramandeep Singh 22; Ashwani Kumar 4-24, Deepak Chahar 2-19) lost to Mumbai Indians 121/2 in 12,5 overs (Ryan Rickelton 62 not out, Suryakumar Yadav 27 not out; Andre Russell 2-35). Naypyidaw, March 31 : Myanmar's health care system is struggling to deal with the mass casualties as the death toll jumped to 2,056 on Monday after a massive 7.7 magnitude earthquake devastated several regions of the country. The two largest urban areas, Mandalay and Naypyidaw, are trying to cope with the high influx of patients, according to media reports. "The hospital is always packed with patients, even under normal circumstances. During this time of emergency, there is hardly enough space or supplies to treat everyone coming in. But the staff keep doing their jobs, despite the lack of manpower," said a woman in her 50s living in Naypyidaw speaking to the media. Reports suggest that the four years of military junta rule have left the healthcare system in an abysmal situation. Before last Friday's devastating earthquake that hit Myanmar, several hospitals were already under siege. In Mandalay, an estimated 80 per cent of all medical staff joined the Civil Disobedience Movement against the military junta. The region has been especially hard hit as seven private hospitals in the city lost their licenses for hiring former government hospital staff in the last month. "Some private hospitals in Mandalay had already ceased operations before the earthquake due to the junta's orders. Most of the remaining private hospitals have been damaged and are unable to function, forcing nearly all of them to shut down," a doctor based in Yangon told media outlet Myanmar Now. Witnesses at the regime-run Mandalay General Hospital hours described scenes of chaos after the quake struck, with patients lying on the ground due to a lack of beds. "From the entrance to the hospital, all I could see was patients scattered everywhere, covered in blood. Some doctors were sitting, overwhelmed and unable to assist," a witness told Myanmar Now. Meanwhile, the death toll from Friday's earthquake in Myanmar has risen to 2,056, with approximately 3,900 people injured and nearly 270 reported missing, according to the country's State Administration Council Information Team on Monday, Xinhua News Agency reported. Myanmar's Department of Meteorology and Hydrology reported that 36 aftershocks, with magnitudes ranging from 2.8 to 7.5, had occurred as of Monday morning. A powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake, followed by a 6.4 magnitude aftershock minutes later, struck Myanmar's Mandalay region on Friday, causing massive casualties and damage in multiple countries. Thiruvananthapuram, March 31 : With the RSS mouthpiece Organiser going berserk against both Mohanlal and Prithviraj Sukumaran over their new film Empuraan, Kerala BJP leader B. Gopalakrishnan slammed the latter's wife as an Urban Naxal. Gopalakrishnan on Monday asked Prithviraj's mother, Mallika Sukumaran, to rein in his wife, Supriya. Gopalakrishnan took offence at Sukumaran's social media post where she said her son is being targeted by vested interests. "The BJP in Kerala has only one thing to tell Sukumaran and that's to rein in her daughter-in-law as she is an Urban Naxal," said Gopalakrishnan. Supriya is a former journalist who did commissioned programmes for the BBC. It was in 2006 that the two first met, and later they got married, and since then she has been his biggest supporter. Even though by now the film has turned out to be a whopping hit with tickets practically booked, following the report that appeared in the Organiser, Mohanlal tendered an apology on Sunday, while Prithviraj just shared Mohanlal's apology through his social media page, but he is yet to react. While the BJP and leaders like Gopalakrishnan and the RSS in Kerala have come down heavily against the film and those behind it, the producers, in order to quell the filmmakers, have opted to make last-minute cuts to the movie. According to industry sources, the revised version -- expected to be released in the coming days -- has removed a three-minute sequence depicting an attack on a pregnant woman. Additionally, the villain's name may either be altered or muted in the dialogues. Meanwhile, the support base is also growing for the film as the State's Minister for Cinema and Culture, Saji Cherian, after seeing the film on Monday, said this is a film which can only be made in Kerala. "Full credit to Prithviraj for the film, and it should be seen in that manner only and nothing beyond it," said Cherian. Actor Asif Ali said he fails to understand why people just cannot see a film as it is. "The film duration is around two and a half hours and is an entertainer. I fail to understand why people can't see it like that. People who are scared to air their views in the open, do so by pelting stones from behind, and this is the same about social media, where comments are coming thick and fast," said Ali. Award-winning director Aashiq Abu said what one is seeing is very unfortunate and with fear. "This has come against one of the biggest films in Malayalam. All know that Prithviraj has been under the close watch of the Sangh Parivar forces for a while," said Abu. Actor Jagadish, who saw the first show when it was released, found it hard to escape from the snooping media when they came to get his comment, and when asked about the film by IANS, he answered with his characteristic smile. State Agriculture Minister K. Krishnankutty was walking into a theatre in his home district in Palakkad, and when the media caught up with him, he said he fails to remember when was the last time he watched a film in a movie hall. "I am here now, and being a public figure, one has to first watch the film, as there is a big discussion going on. So let me watch it," said Krishnankutty. On Monday evening, the CPI-M state secretary M.V. Govindan and his wife were spotted in a movie hall in the state capital city just before the film began. Overall, for the producers so far, the controversy appears to have brought in huge rewards, as with the news that there will be cuts to quell the anger of the Sangh Parivar forces, the crowds have swelled. "I have seen it once, and now this is my second time, as one doesn't know what the new version will be. I will be back once the edited version is released," said an enthusiastic young man. Raipur, March 31 : Security forces in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur district have arrested 13 Maoists across various police station areas. According to senior police officials, seven of them were involved in incidents related to improvised explosive devices (IEDs). In a joint operation by the District Police Force, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), and the Cobra Battalion, a fierce encounter took place on Monday, leading to the arrests. The security forces, which have intensified anti-Maoist operations in areas like Bijapur, Dantewada, Kanker, Sukma, and Narayanpur, recovered explosive materials from the Maoists' possession in Bijapur. Superintendent of Narayanpur, Prabhat Kumar, reported another violent clash between security forces and Maoists in the Ghamandi Para forest of the Abujhmarh region. While some Maoists managed to escape into the dense forest, it is suspected that several were killed or injured. Bloodstains and drag marks found at the site support this possibility, though the exact number of casualties remains unconfirmed. Weapons abandoned by the Maoists during the encounter were also recovered. From the encounter site, security forces seized a significant cache of LWE-related materials, including an SLR rifle, 12 live cartridges, a magazine, a walkie-talkie, backpacks, Maoist literature, medical supplies, and other daily-use items. Meanwhile, security forces remain active in the Bastar region of Chhattisgarh. On early Monday morning, an encounter near the Dantewada-Bijapur border resulted in the neutralization of a female Maoist, Gummadiveli Renuka, also known as Saraswati. She was a high-ranking member of the Central Regional Bureau (CRB) and the Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee, as well as the editor of Prabhat Patrika. Renuka, who went by multiple aliases, carried a reward of Rs 45 lakh on her head -- Rs 25 lakh from the Chhattisgarh government and Rs 20 lakh from the Telangana government. The encounter occurred in the jungle hills between the villages of Nelgoda, Ikeli, and Belnar. Explosive materials, a laptop, Maoist literature, and other essential items were recovered, along with an INSAS rifle, as confirmed by Gaurav Rai, Superintendent of Police, Dantewada. Bhubaneswar, April 1 : Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Monday expressed happiness over the inclusion of the famous Ratha Yatra of Lord Jagannath in Puri and Bali Yatra in the list of National Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage by the Sangeet Natak Academy. Calling the development as a proud moment for the people of Odisha, CM Majhi also said that the state is looking forward to the global recognition of the timeless tradition of Odisha by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). "Delighted that Ratha Jatra & Bali Jatra, symbols of Odisha's rich cultural heritage, have been listed in the National Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage by @sangeetnatak. This is a proud moment for every Odia, and we look forward to their well-deserved recognition on @UNESCO'sglobal stage," wrote CM Majhi on his X handle on Monday. It is pertinent here to mention that in fulfillment of its obligations under the UNESCO convention on ICH (Intangible Cultural Heritage), a statute to which India is a signatory, the Ministry of Culture, has declared the Sangeet Natak Akademi, India's apex body on culture, as the nodal centre for coordinating India's nominations for various lists and other actions such as developing and maintaining the National Inventory of ICH. The Sangeet Natak Akademi's nomination as the ICH Nodal agency has been endorsed, as required by the Akademi's constitution, by its duly constituted Executive Board and General Council. These intangible heritage elements following approval are later placed on the UNESCO Representative List as the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. As many as 15 intangible cultural heritage elements of India have been on the prestigious UNESCO's Representative List of ICH of Humanity. The list of ICH of India includes the Gujarati folk dance Garba, Kolkata's Durga Puja, Chau Dance, etc. The UNESCO ICH refers to the practices, representations, expressions, knowledge, skills, and cultural spaces that are recognized as part of the cultural heritage of a community, group, or individual. Kolkata, April 1 : A 12-member delegation of 11 BJP legislators and a party Lok Sabha member from West Bengal will be attending the tripartite meeting convened by the Central government in Delhi this week on working towards a permanent political solution in the hills of Darjeeling, Kurseong and Kalimpong in northern part of the state. The meeting is scheduled on April 2 at the national capital and the delegation member has already left from New Delhi on Monday afternoon. The sole BJP Lok Sabha representative in the delegation is the party Lok Sabha member from Darjeeling constituency Raju Bista and he will be accompanied by the party legislator from the Siliguri assembly constituency and the chief whip of BJP's legislative team in West Bengal assembly Dr Shankar Ghosh. The other ten party legislators who will be parts of the same delegation will be Neeraj Zimba (Darjeeling),Durga Murmu (Phansidewa), Anandamoy Burman (Matigara-Naxalbari), Puna Bhengra (Nagrakata), Bishal Lama (Kalchini), Sikha Chatterjee (Dabgram-Phulbari) Sushil Barman (Mathabhanga), Malati Rava Roy (Tufanganj), Kaushik Roy (Maynaguri) and Chinmoy Deb Barman (Gazole). Bista clarified that there would be nothing political about the meeting. "Probably the Union Government has something in mind about the developments in the hills and that is why it has convened the tripartite meeting. Political forces who are in favour of the development at the hills should participate in the meeting," Bista said. Echoing him, Shankar Ghosh said that already the Union government under the leadership of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi had done enough for the development of North Bengal. "But more is needed and for that, the tripartite meeting has been called," he added. However, the ruling Trinamool Congress has claimed that the tripartite meeting has been convened keeping their leaders in the dark. "We are not aware of any such meeting. This will be anyway a farcical exercise since BJP had always politics with hills instead of concentrating on actual development," said Trinamool Congress's Darjeeling Hill President and former Rajya Sabha member Santa Chhetri. Itanagar, April 1 : A week-long trekking expedition retracing the historic route taken by Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama six decades ago commenced on March 31 from Kenzamani in Arunachal Pradesh's Tawang district, officials said. Organised by the Tawang district administration under the initiative of Deputy Commissioner Kanki Darang, the historic event is supported by Lungla MLA Tsering Lhamu and chairman of the Department of Karmik and Adhyatmik Affairs (DoKAA), Jambey Wangdi. The journey will conclude at Pungteng in Tawang on April 5, the day the Dalai Lama arrived in the region in 1959, an official release said. The expedition is organised to commemorate the Dalai Lama's historic escape from Tibet in 1959. As part of the inaugural ceremony, prayers for the Dalai Lama were held at Kenzamani, followed by cultural performances by monks and local people. "As we embark on this six-day-long journey along the Freedom Trail, we draw strength from the wisdom of the Dalai Lama and hope for a peaceful future. Our relationship with Tibet is centuries old, rooted in shared history, culture, and mutual understanding. The bond between our people goes beyond borders," legislator Lhamu said, adding "we remain inspired by His Holiness's teachings and his unwavering commitment to compassion, non-violence, and the promotion of human values." Chairman DoKAA Jambey Wangdi extended his gratitude to all the participants and prayed for the good health and long life of the Dalai Lama. He urged everyone to incorporate His Holiness' teachings into daily life. Deputy Commissioner Kanki Darang applauded the efforts of the Lungla administration and Extra Assistant Commissioner, Jemeithang in making the event a success. He highlighted Kenzamani's historical significance, noting that it was here that His Holiness was received by the then administrators in 1959. Additionally, he paid tribute to the soldiers who made the supreme sacrifice in 1962 while defending the borders. The event was also addressed by the Tibetan Settlement Officer from Bomdila and Addl. DC Lungla Tashi Dhondup, both of whom emphasized the spiritual and cultural importance of the initiative. Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) jawans received the portrait of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and a branch of the holy tree at Chudangmo, offering a guard of honor. Over 300 participants joined Monday's first day of the trekking programme which included Gaon Buras, Gram Panchayat members, personnel from border guarding forces, monks and tourists. Agartala, April 1 : The Northeastern region's one of the tallest office building complex is being constructed in Agartala using the latest technology from California, US Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha has said after reviewing the work of the multi-storey office complex. The Chief Minister said that the work for the ground floor plus 14 storey building is expected to be completed by 2026 and then all government offices would be shifted under one roof. "The latest technology from California is being used in the construction of this giant building. The initial cost allocated for its construction is approximately Rs 133.89 crore," he said, adding that this multi-storey building is being constructed on about one acre of land. CM Saha said that the current BJP government of the state is working with special priority on infrastructure development. "This will add another feather of pride to the crown of the state. If everything goes well, its construction will be completed by 2026." During the inspection, the Chief Minister reviewed the progress of the work and gave necessary instructions to the concerned officials. He said all necessary facilities and securities including a 400-seat conference hall, car parking facilities, solar electrification, and other amenities would be provided in the new office complex. "The government is working to ensure that people can easily access various important government services under one roof. Notably, this building is being constructed with complete earthquake-resistant technology," he added. During the inspection, the Chief Minister was accompanied by Public Works Department Secretary Kiran Gitte, and other high-ranking officials of the administration. In a separate event, the Chief Minister on Monday launched mid-day meal services for the patients' families at Rs 10 in Agartala Government Medical College and GB Pant Hospital. Saha, who also holds the health and family welfare portfolio, said that often patients' families face food-related issues and that's why, with the help of Rogi Kalyan Samiti and the Rotary Club, the mid-day meal services were launched at just Rs 10 for the family members of the patients. He also mentioned that the state government has proposed a scheme to construct a shelter house for the people visiting the Medical College and Hospital. News / National by Staff reporter Security forces are fully prepared to handle any disturbances, and the Government remains resolutely committed to ensuring national stability, the Minister of State for National Security, Lovemore Matuke, has said.Addressing citizens in Gutu South yesterday, Minister Matuke warned against actions that threaten public order and urged the public to remain calm. He emphasised that protecting citizens' safety remains the Government's top priority, with all necessary measures in place to ensure communities remain secure and daily activities continue uninterrupted.The Zimbabwe Republic Police also confirmed comprehensive nationwide deployments to maintain public safety."I want to assure every citizen that your security is our top priority. Comprehensive measures are in place to safeguard our society. Our security forces are well-prepared to handle any potential disruptions while ensuring that people going about their daily business are respected and protected," said Minister Matuke.While acknowledging citizens' right to lawful protest, the minister firmly opposed any actions that could endanger public safety."In the spirit of promoting calm and resilience, I encourage all citizens to continue with their daily business as usual. There is no need for undue anxiety or panic," he said."We must collectively focus on our national priorities that enhance welfare and progress, rather than be distracted by rogue elements."Minister Matuke warned that security forces would respond decisively to any threats posed by malcontents."Our security apparatus is equipped to handle the situation, and anyone attempting to incite violence or chaos will be dealt with swiftly and decisively. We call upon every citizen to show restraint."He further highlighted concerns over potential foreign influence behind attempts to disrupt national stability."We are concerned about a concerted effort to undermine our stability and foster discord within our society. I urge all citizens to remain vigilant against such foreign-funded threats."On Saturday, Information, Publicity, and Broadcasting Services Minister Dr Jenfan Muswere urged Zimbabweans to go about their business as usual, assuring that law enforcement agencies remain on high alert to guarantee security and peace."As official Government spokesman, I would like to assure the nation that peace and stability will continue to prevail in our country in terms of the Constitution, including on March 31, 2025. All Zimbabweans should disregard misinformation and disinformation being peddled on social media platforms by cyber terrorists," said Dr Muswere."We also assure the people that law enforcement agencies have more than enough capacity to deal with any illegal activities that might take place. As a Government, we have taken note of artificial intelligence-generated videos and messages from comedian-cum-terrorists who seek to misinform and dis-inform the public. Those who want to create despondency, alarm, and anarchy will be dealt with in terms of the law. No one has the right to overthrow a constitutionally elected Government. So, labour, business, learners, students, and the generality of Zimbabweans should continue their business as usual, as the security sector has more than enough capacity to deal with any illegal activities."Dr Muswere dismissed the calls for protests as an attempt to create a false narrative of a political crisis."We urge Zimbabweans not to participate in these illegal activities, which are aimed at creating a false narrative of a political crisis in the country. These actions are criminal and undermine the constitutional rights of freedom of assembly," he said.Last Thursday, Minister of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Kazembe Kazembe assured the public that security services were on high alert, ensuring that citizens and visitors to the country remain safe and can engage in socio-economic activities without fear.Yesterday, police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi echoed these sentiments, affirming that it would be business as usual across the country."The police have made adequate deployments throughout the country. Those using public transport or private vehicles should not fear. Businesses and schools should operate normally," said Commissioner Nyathi.He also issued a stern warning against social media misuse."We are aware of individuals spreading threats online, discouraging work attendance or public transport use. Once identified, they will face the full force of the law."Nationwide, normalcy prevailed yesterday, with businesses operating, churches holding services, and social activities continuing undisturbed. Harare's commercial centres remained busy, and transport services operated smoothly.Passengers Association Coordinator Tafadzwa Goliati said: "Harare is operating normally, with no major disruptions. Commuters should proceed with their daily routines."Religious services across the capital proceeded without concern, with congregants focusing on worship rather than protest fears.During Sunday sermons, church leaders emphasised the importance of respecting Government authority to promote peace and national development. Many sermons referenced Romans 13 in the New Testament, which discusses the relationship between Christians and governing authorities.One church leader remarked, "We shared Apostle Paul's message in the Book of Romans 13, which highlights that rulers are meant to be a source of good, rewarding those who do right and punishing wrongdoers. Paul describes the government as a servant of God for maintaining order."The sermons encouraged congregants to pray for peace and unity, emphasizing the need for personal and national development. The leaders acknowledged the presence of individuals with negative attitudes, likening them to Tobiah from the Book of Nehemiah, who criticized the rebuilding efforts in Jerusalem."Among the people, we have those with evil thoughts who do not emulate the good work being done by President Mnangagwa," one church leader noted.The church leaders reiterated that Christians should not only obey civil laws but also fulfill their moral obligations, such as paying taxes and showing respect to those in authority. They also referenced the concluding verses of Romans 13, which call for love among individuals, stating that "love fulfils the law."With security forces on high alert and businesses operating as usual, the Government remains steadfast in its commitment to peace and national stability. The ceasefire in Gaza is now over. Where to go from here to bring peace is again an open question. One idea that needs to die for good, however, is President Donald Trumps proposal to takeover Gaza and move all Palestinians out. The administration has recently sent mixed signals on this, with Trump saying the Palestinians will stay and other leading U.S. officials saying the idea is still on the table. Taking over Gaza would be a disaster for U.S. national security. The longer this idea lingers, the more the current peace process loses legitimacy, thus increasing the chances a U.S. takeover actually happens. That would likely bog the United States down in a war, like Iraq and Afghanistan, just at a time when both the Middle East is of less strategic value to U.S. interests and Washington desperately needs a pivot to Asia. A Gaza takeover is bad for U.S. national security for many reasons. For starters, the cost of occupying Gaza will be astronomical. Reconstruction aside, the biggest costs will come from the insurgency the U.S. and Israel will need to repress to pull this off. Unlike the way Trump is thinking about this, moving Palestinians elsewhere is not like a bunch of people retiring to nice homes in Florida. The issue for Palestinians isnt the quality of housing. Instead, its about their identity. Like most nations and people groups across history, Palestinian (and Hamas) identity is deeply tied to the land in Gaza (and the West Bank). A takeover robs them of their land and, more importantly, threatens their identity. That reality means there will be potent resistance to a U.S. takeover, which will come from (among other places) the 15,000 Hamas fighters still in Gaza. Israel has decimated Hamass leadership, but for every rank-and-file Hamas fighter killed since 10/7, another has been recruited. Those fighters will, as scholars argue, turn into a potent insurgency if Israel or the U.S. tries to take over Gaza. Hamas will not be easy to root out of Gaza and, even if some fighters leave, they (and other radicals) will return. Sealing off the Gaza strip entirely is impossible just look at how Iran has been able to funnel weapons to Hamas for decades. Trump says U.S. troops wont be necessary in a Gaza takeover. Thats wrong. Instead, U.S. troops will end up fighting and dying in Gaza. For what?, Americans will ask. The answer: nothing that is critical to U.S. national security. What happens in Gaza doesnt impact the security of the U.S. homeland or its vital interests abroad. However, wrong steps in Gaza notably a U.S. takeover carries real potential to harm U.S. security in serious ways. Washington would find itself mired, once again, in a nation-building war in the Middle East that drains away precious resources. China would love nothing more. Regional problems caused by a Gaza takeover will also bring big problems for the United States. Moving Palestinians to Jordan (one of the proposed destinations for resettlement alongside Egypt) will create serious domestic instability there, perhaps leading to the collapse of the Hashemite Kingdom, a longtime U.S. ally. Jordan would become yet another failed or failing state (alongside Syria and Lebanon) on Israels borders. That wouldnt be good for Israel, and it wouldnt be good for the U.S. either. Jordan could become a new breeding ground for Hamas, and Washington will be stuck with added security costs, like the more than $22 billion spent since the 10/7 Hamas attack, to protect Israel. Egypt would likely cut ties with Israel if Palestinians are displaced from Gaza, thus damaging Arab-Israeli relations and the Abraham Accords, Trumps diplomatic pride and joy in the Middle East. Finally, the longer the idea of a Gaza takeover lingers, the more it emboldens Israel in ways that arent good for U.S. interests. Before he came to office, Trump created the impression that he may not be there to back Israel full tilt. This strategic ambiguity got Israel to do what Trump wanted and agree to the latest ceasefire. Todays extreme bearhug of Israel with this takeover idea has apparently reversed all that leverage. More certain than ever that the U.S. has its back, Israel has been less prone to make concessions in recent talks and is trying to alter the entire structure of the negotiations. Trumps tight embrace also seems to have encouraged and enabled Israels resumption of the war in recent days. Rock-solid U.S. support for Israel might also embolden Israel to attack Iran soon, just at a time when Trump rightly wants negotiations with Tehran. Trump wont like that. Neither will the U.S. public if it leads to a full-scale war that drags in the U.S. Again, China would love nothing more. Overall, peace in Gaza is laudable, but not at the expense of U.S. national security. The Gaza takeover idea needs to die the sooner the better. C. William Will Walldorf, Jr. is Associate Professor and Shivley Family Faculty Fellow at Wake Forest University as well as a Non-Resident Fellow at Defense Priorities. He is the author most recently of To Shape Our World For Good: Master Narratives and Regime Change in U.S. Foreign Policy, 1900-2011. Will is currently writing a book titled Americas Forever Wars: Why So Long, Why End Now, What Comes Next that among other things develops a comprehensive model for over-the-horizon counterterrorism for the current era. Aminah Nieves says she is happy Teonna Rainwater gets to experience love -- however briefly -- in 1923 Season 2. ADVERTISEMENT Season 1 of the Yellowstone prequel ended with Teonna murdering several Catholic nuns who relentlessly abused her at an Indigenous re-education school, then killing the priests hunting her down. While on the run, she reunites with her father, Runs His Horse, (Michael Spears) and sheepherder Pete Plenty Clouds (Jeremy Gauna), who becomes her fiance. "it's like a breath of fresh air. It's everything I kind of wanted for Teonna in the beginning," Nieves told UPI in a recent Zoom interview. "Season 1, you just see a very specific side of her," she said. "In Hollywood, I don't think [Native Americans'] love and our vast ability to love is really shown or our experiences as deeply [depicted], so, for her, to give that part of herself in Episode 1 and to be seen as an awkward kid -- she's 16 -- and to see a love that is already so strong and to see her kind of surrender into that is everything and I'm really happy that I was able to do that." Teonna's experiences in Season 1 not only make her a wanted woman in the eyes of the law, but they also greatly scar her psychologically and emotionally. "it's always gonna affect her," Nieves said. "Even before, it always affected her. These are trials and tribulations that were kind of passed down from womb to womb," she added. 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! "It's definitely affecting her in Season 2. This is the first time she's seeing her dad for five or six, years, so she's remembering so much of her culture. She's remembering so much of herself because she's been stripped so far from that [by the school]." Yellowstone fans know that Teonna is somehow connected to Thomas Rainwater (Gil Birmingham), who buys the Dutton family's enormous cattle ranch in 21st century Montana for a low price with the promise to never develop it. "I kind of have to filter that [knowledge] out. She's the matriarch," Nieves said. "She's the one that started everything," she added. "I know what I have to do, but I also don't want to fixate on it because she lives in her own breath, so I really just want to focus in on her more than anything of the legacy." For more than three decades, a series of homicides and disappearances has plagued Long Island, N.Y., and now, with a suspect making court appearances, Netflix is releasing a docuseries on the mysterious case. ADVERTISEMENT The series, Gone Girls: The Long Island Serial Killer, premieres Monday on the streaming service. It is a follow-up to director Liz Garbus' 2020 film Lost Girls, which dramatized the effort of one of the missing women's mother to find justice for the alleged victims, all of whom worked in the sex industry. Prosecutors are hoping to get that justice after charging Rex Heuermann, an architect from Massapequa Park, Long Island, with murder for the deaths of seven of the women. Police arrested him in 2023 after a witness reported seeing a vehicle that matched one he drove. They were able to match his DNA to a hair found on one of the victim's bodies. The Gone Girls series comes just days after Heuermann's latest court hearing Friday. There, a New York judge heard from defense attorneys, who want to suppress DNA evidence in the case. They said the company used to test the DNA in the case, Astrea Forensics, uses a scientific method never before accepted in a New York court. The California company uses whole genome sequencing, or nuclear DNA, to match DNA, News 12 in Long Island reported. Heuermann's lawyers are also wanting to have his case split up into multiple trials instead of one for all six women he's accused of killing. He faces one count of first-degree murder and one count of second-degree murder in each of the deaths of Melissa Barthelemy, Amber Costello and Megan Waterman. He's also been charged with one count of second-degree murder for the deaths of Maureen Brainard-Barnes, Sandra Costilla, Valerie Mack and Jessica Taylor. Costilla, 28, was the first woman tied to the alleged serial killings to be found dead in 1993 in North Sea, NY. Police said the Queens woman had been strangled and left in a wooded area. Mack's partial remains were found in November 2000 in Manorville, N.Y., though she wasn't identified until 2020. Taylor's partial remains were also found in Manorville in July 2003 and identified later that year. 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! Four of the women Heuermann is accused of killing -- Barthelemy, Brainard-Barnes, Costello and Waterman -- are collectively known as the Gilgo Four. They were each found along the same stretch of remote dunes called Gilgo Beach in December 2010 wrapped in burlap and bound with belts or tape. Brainard-Barnes went missing in July 2007, Barthelemy in July 2009, Waterman in June 2010 and Costello in September 2010. They were identified in January 2011, with police revealing that each had advertised themselves as prostitutes online. In the years after Costilla's death, police found the bodies of two other women possibly related to the killing spree. Karen Vergata's remains were found on Fire Island in April 1996, and a woman known only as Jane Doe No. 3 was found in June 1997 in Hempstead Lake State Park. In 2011, officials found the remains of an unidentified child, Baby Doe, who was identified as the daughter of Jane Doe No. 3. No one has been charged for the three deaths. Another woman who worked as a prostitute, Shannan Gilbert, also went missing in 2010 after calling police while fleeing from a client. Her remains were found in 2011 in a marsh in Oak Beach, N.Y., but medical examiners said she died of an accidental drowning. Garbus' three-episode docuseries dives deeper into the mysterious rash of killings and disappearances that had plagued Long Island's sex industry for decades. The series focuses on how the friends and family members of the women refused to give up searching for their loved ones and sought justice for their deaths. "These women knew that there was a need to shake [up] the establishment to get attention for this case," Garbus said in a press release. "Of course, they shouldn't have [had] to work so hard. The system should work to protect them and should've protected their family members. But at the end of the day, their voices really mattered." Heuermann is next set to appear in court on Wednesday in a continuation of his hearing on DNA evidence. Photos by Iain Harrison and John Carughi In the summer of 2025, policy changes enacted by the Trump administration slowed the flood of migrants across the U.S./Mexico border to a steady stream. The cartels, in order to protect their income, stepped up their efforts to corrupt local law enforcement in the border region, and where they couldnt bribe, they intimidated, beefing up their armed security teams. It wasnt long before one of the more hotheaded outfits got into a running firefight with U.S. cops, leaving multiple dead and wounded on both sides, and the media had a field day, portraying the new administration as being soft on the problem, and reneging on their campaign promises to protect U.S. citizens. Stung by the accusations, the admin unleashed Ground Branch and CAG personnel, who had been training for just such a scenario. They embarked on a series of kill or capture operations with the tacit consent of the Mexican authorities, who were all too happy to have someone else to blame if it all went south. This resulted in the decapitation of the CJNG cartel, whose leadership wound up in either a U.S. jail, or a Mexican grave site. Faced with a common enemy, the other cartels shelved their differences and pooled resources. They approached representatives of Irans IRGC who stung by the decimation of their proxies in Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria were only too glad to listen. The cartels were mindful of what happened in Yemen in 2022 when the Houthis, in response to Saudi Arabias proxy war, unleashed a wave of unmanned aerial vehicles against oil and gas infrastructure. The Saudis quietly went to the negotiating table, and support for the Houthis opponents magically dried up. In a secret deal, the cartels purchased 800 Shahed 136 one-way attack UAVs, and a support package that included training and targeting assistance. The total cost was less than $110 million USD, chump change for an organization with a 10-figure top line. By late fall, the package was ready. Shahed 136, designed by Iran and made in Russia. Cheap and effective, it has been successfully employed to destroy energy infrastructure. At 0200 hours on Saturday, November 8, 500 Shaheds streamed across the border from their launch sites in northern Mexico, each carrying a 90-kilogram, dual-purpose warhead. It took less than 30 minutes to get them airborne, but the consequences would last for decades. At 0337 hours, a woman out walking her dog in San Diego heard what sounded like a half-dozen mopeds flying overhead at about 2,000 feet. Thinking it was probably some of the powered parasailers she saw earlier in the week, she didnt think to call the cops, but did post to her Nextdoor account when she got home. Over the course of the next hour, drones impacted every 500kV transformer within 600 miles of the border, as well as natural gas pumping stations, utility control rooms, and refinery cat cracking towers. The area around Houston was particularly badly hit. At around the same time in Litchfield Park, Arizona, a man rolled up the door to the storage unit hed rented the month prior. Although big enough to store a households worth of furniture, it had remained empty until just a few hours before. Now, however, six guys sat on folding chairs, oblivious to their neighbor due to the headsets that enveloped their faces. At their feet, six first-person view (FPV) drones, each carrying 2 pounds of C4, whirred into life, before streaming one by one out of the door, headed for Luke Air Force Base, a mile and a half away. Locating their targets parked on the flight line, each one slammed into an 83-million-dollar F35. While the preceding paragraphs might seem like the pitch for a Tom Clancy novel, the reality is, its closer to the truth than Washington wants to admit, and its very apparent that the U.S. currently has little in the way of defenses against such a scenario, which plays out daily in Eastern Europe. ALL THE DRONES, ALL THE TIME Were currently witnessing the real-time evolution of warfare at a breakneck pace. Things play out so quickly that what may be commonplace today, will be completely outdated and irrelevant next month. That said, certain truisms have survived the past three years of conflict in Ukraine, though we are not convinced any of them have made it into the mainstream of military thinking in the West. Its a big ship to turn, and we fear that lessons wont be fully learned until we pay for them in blood. Which is a pity, because others have already shed theirs to learn the same lessons; all we need to do is to read the book theyve written. The 7-inch FPV drone seen here in a safe house location in Kharkiv is the workhorse of drone warfare at the squad level. One: Infantry ORBATs and TTPs need to change when faced with adversaries equipped with drones which, from this point forward, will be everyone. In the past couple of years, weve witnessed the more dynamic and less Soviet-inspired units of the Ukrainian armed forces restructure their units to account for changes wrought by small UAS (unmanned aircraft system). The more rigid, big army types are still struggling. In those that have adapted, there are fewer riflemen in the average company, but more support weapons guys. And, as youd expect, dedicated drone teams. At the company level, weve seen anywhere from 6 to 20 drone operators, and most company commanders wish they had more. These drone teams have created their own ecosystems of support equipment and are responsible for lugging around not just the drones themselves, but batteries, chargers, generators, antennae and repeaters. Drone detectors have seen their own steady evolution and can be used to identify threats in the vicinity of the wearer. Almost every infantry task you can think of has been impacted by the presence of UAS, also. NATO doctrine says that even in the defense, you maintain an offensive posture by patrolling. Reality says that patrols get detected and smashed by drones, so, in the end, its safer and cheaper to send a drone of your own to do the patrol instead. Kamikaze drone workshop, hidden in a nondescript industrial building somewhere in Ukraine. Ukrainian volunteers donate their time and spare cash to fund and build drones for use in the east. Fire missions? Directed by drones. Casevac? More often, performed by ground drones, as tying up another four guys to carry a stretcher is a juicy target for, you guessed it, drones. CQB? Send in the drones. Even the most basic of tasks, such as standing sentry has been supplanted by drone, as theyre more effective and expose fewer troops to frag. This model features a laser-cut plywood skeleton with an ABS plastic skin. It can top 125 kilometers per hour and has a max range of 60 kilometers. Two: Its almost impossible to mass combat power for large, all-arms operations. A battle group attack is an awe-inspiring experience and, we have to imagine, close to Dantes 7th circle of hell if youre on the receiving end. Following preparation of the battlespace by indirect fire assets and close air support, main battle tanks surge forward, using their 120mm cannons to kill anything with a thermal signature and forming a ring of steel on the far side of the objective. Armored infantry follow directly behind them, using the organic fire support on their fighting vehicles to suppress and kill defending infantry in their positions, while their dismounts get busy with grenades and bayonets. After wrecking everything on the objective, its back to the vehicles for tea and medals. While that model has worked exceptionally well for at least two adventures in sandy climes, the way it would probably play out today would be as follows. This 14.5mm HMG is employed as an anti-drone weapon, somewhere in western Ukraine. Following preparation of the battle-space by indirect fire assets and close air support, main battle tanks surge forward and are almost immediately smashed by acne-faced teenagers, dug in a meter below the surface and immune to all but 500-pound bombs. Their FPV drones attack from the top, where armor is thinnest, and target the engine decks to first immobilize the tank, then pick it apart with follow-on drones. Drone operators use power banks to keep their birds in the skies. Attacking infantry, waiting a couple of kilometers back in a forming up position, out of the line of sight from the enemy and supposedly hidden, has been spotted by thermal ISR drones. A fire mission using cluster munitions dispersed from 230mm MLRS rockets wreaks havoc. Again, based on almost three years worth of on-the-ground experience, this is far from conjecture. Were now faced with the task of protecting enormously expensive legacy assets such as tanks from the new threat, or else treating them like the horses they replaced. Three: Expending horrendously expensive anti-aircraft missiles on cheap drones is lunacy. But right now, we dont have much of an alternative. Short range air defense, or SHORAD, had been mostly overlooked, with the Army giving up most of its assets in the early 2000s, before everyone started running around with their hair on fire as the new threat emerged. German Gepard SPAAG tucked into the treeline, waiting for its next target. Radar-directed twin 30mm cannon with an insane rate of fire certainly gets your attention when it barks. Right now, we have a total of 162 M-SHORAD systems consisting of a gun, missile, and radar package mounted on M1126 Stryker chassis, most of which are in Europe. With a southern U.S. border almost 2,000 miles long, you can imagine the AD gaps that exist. Which leaves us with the current situation, whereby we can shoot $3 million Patriot missiles at $20,000 drones with great success. The 1970s vintage Gepard self-propelled anti-aircraft gun has proven to be by far the most effective means of countering the Shahed 136 threat in the UA theater, and their performance has been very impressive for a 50-year-old system that everyone thought was obsolete on introduction. Other ideas that are still kicking around include mounting 14.5mm and .50-cal machine guns on pickup trucks that race to the projected drone flight path and open up to try and knock them out of the sky. Weve witnessed these in action, and frankly, this is a tough row to hoe. Target ID is very difficult (thermal sights are currently being kludged onto M2s, which increases their performance greatly), and accuracy from hard-mounted HMGs is laughable. FPV operator somewhere in the Zaporizhia region. Trump has been quite vocal about his desire for an American version of Israels Iron Dome. While the two situations couldnt be more different, were inclined to agree with him on the necessity of protecting the homeland from a threat weve yet to face in a meaningful way, but which our potential enemies are no doubt getting better at employing. We hope that in a few years we can look back and go, Whew, boy did we get that one wrong! Because getting it right would be the stuff of nightmares. News / National by Staff reporter Police mounted checkpoints on roads leading to major cities and towns on Monday, conducting searches on some vehicles for "dangerous weapons" in anticipation of planned anti-government protests.Traffic into the centres of Harare and Bulawayo was noticeably reduced as many people appeared to have chosen not to go to work, and children stayed away from school. Law enforcement officers patrolled major roads, keeping an eye on any potential disturbances.A ZimLive correspondent in Bulawayo's central business district described the atmosphere: "It's like Sunday morning. Not many people or cars around."Joshua Mqabuko Street, usually a bustling thoroughfare in Bulawayo, was largely deserted, with police officers patrolling in vehicles.Outspoken war veteran Blessed Geza called for an "uprising" against President Emmerson Mnangagwa, accusing him of leadership failures and failing to tackle corruption. Authorities have charged Geza with treason, but he has managed to evade capture.On the eve of Monday's planned protests, the former Zanu PF central committee member wrote on X (formerly Twitter): "Let's fill up the streets. Mnangagwa must go. It's for every Zimbabwean. Let's stand up against corrupt rule."Despite Geza's call, there were no signs of protests on the streets as of 8 AM."The call was for people to flood the streets, but it appears so far Geza has achieved the opposite, with many staying at home, perhaps out of fear of what could happen," a ZimLive correspondent in Harare reported."Geza will claim a partial victory - one man causing so much chaos and potential harm to the economy, which will no doubt take a hit from industries that won't open."Large supermarkets in the city centres of both Bulawayo and Harare did not open their doors, further signaling the impact of the tense atmosphere.Police had called on Zimbabweans to go about their business as usual, promising sufficient security measures.To ensure maximum deployment, authorities canceled leave for all police officers. In an unexpected move, the government deposited US$50 into each officer's account last Saturday, reportedly as a morale boost.Additionally, police detectives were required to sign a document under the Official Secrets Act, committing to remain loyal to the government, to follow instructions from the police commissioner, and to never divulge information on arrested suspects.With a heavy police presence and businesses largely shut down, Zimbabwe's major cities remained tense but calm as the day unfolded. Minority students at the University of Georgia have varying opinions about the challenges they face. Although not directly connected, the Athens-Clarke County Mayor and Commission did not pass a racial equality resolution at their Feb. 4 meeting, which aimed to address racial inequities in housing, economic opportunity and youth development for Black and minority communities in Athens, according to the Athens Anti-Discrimination Movement. The government is looking to give Bharat Global Ports a certain amount of domestic exposure after it set up the state-owned consortium to increase Indias global maritime heft, officials aware of the development said. IMAGE: The Dakshin Bharat Gateway Terminal of VO Chidambaranar Port in Thoothukudi. Photograph: Kind courtesy, VO Chidambaranar Port Authority/Wikimedia commons The intended domestic exposure is meant to give the consortium experience and build its credentials for international projects. India Ports Global (IPGL), the operations and maintenance (O&M) arm of Bharat Global Ports, only has experience running the Chabahar Port, which is of strategic interest. "To gather credentials of competence and give the manpower hands-on commercial experience, the company needs to run fully-commercial terminals, a senior government official told Business Standard. The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW), which set up Bharat Global Ports, is in discussions to make the port consortium a player for domestic jetties and terminals. The state-owned port operator may participate in domestic tenders for public private partnership (PPP) terminals going forward. The Centre is in talks with authorities of major ports (also state-owned) to give the nascent organisation some facilities on a nomination basis, a second official said. The consortium was launched by Union Shipping Minister Sarbananda Sonowal in February, to position India as a key player in international trade and logistics. The move, officials said, was based on a tried and tested method of international maritime strategy governments securing strategic interests through commercial, state-owned or state-backed entities, seen in Singapore and Dubai. The consortium was formed by bringing together IPGL, Sagarmala Development Corporation (SDCL), and Indian Port Rail & Ropeway Corporation (IPRCL). IPRCL is a joint venture of 11 central government-owned ports and the railways public-sector undertaking Rail Vikas Nigam. IPRCL will primarily work on developing infrastructure while SDCL, which is en route to become a maritime-dedicated non-banking financial company, pending Reserve Bank of Indias approval, will facilitate financing needs of the consortium. Queries sent to MoPSW did not elicit a response until the time of going to press. Among the projects discussed internally for Bharat Global Ports domestic foray is Indias second-oldest PPP port project a container terminal at V O Chidambaranar Port Authority (VOCPA, also known as Tuticorin Port), which was recently vacated by Temasek Holdings-owned PSA International after years of arbitration and dispute with the Union government. Temasek is an institutional investor owned by the Singapore government. It ran the terminal through its arm PSA Sical Terminals till last year. VOCPA re-inaugurated the terminal in February. There is an opportunity for Bharat Global Ports to operate this facility, but the deliberations on this are still nascent, a third official said. The government is exploring satellite facilities and jetties across major ports, while keeping an eye on concessions nearing expiry or government-to-government terminal opportunities. While the consortium has been built to focus on development opportunities along the 7,200-kilometre International North-South Transport Corridor, it is scouting for opportunities across the globe, especially in Africa. One of the officials said that it is deliberating on port projects in Tanzania and other countries in the region. Indian conglomerate Adani group is already present in Africa after it acquired a container terminal at Tanzanias Dar es Salaam Port in May 2024. The future of operations at IPGL-run Chabahar Port have grown uncertain after US President Donald Trump issued an executive order instructing the Secretary of State to modify or rescind sanctions waivers, particularly those that provide any degree of economic or financial relief, including those related to Irans Chabahar port project. Even as IPGL monitors the situation, it has taken up a Rs 4,000 crore capacity expenditure project to quintuple the Shahid Behesti Terminals capacity to 500,000 containers a year, with further expansion plans underway. The company also runs the Sittwe Port in unrest-hit Myanmar, which is also of strategic interest to the Centre, and not a purely commercial endeavour. 'If in our cities, all urban bus transport services are free, then taxpayers are paying for it, or if electricity were to be made free, that's a huge cost to the rest of the people.' IMAGE: Finance Secretary Ajay Seth. Photograph: ANI Photo Financing India's development requires a greater contribution from users of public goods and services, while ensuring affordable or free services for the needy sections, so that the burden of investing in the economy is not just borne by taxpayers and public borrowings that are essentially a levy on future generations, Finance Secretary Ajay Seth said. In his first public remarks after assuming the top post in the finance ministry, Seth said the country needs to ramp up investments and productivity from all factors of production, and make smart trade-offs on competing demands and outcomes, given the limited domestic savings pool. "We will get some money from outside, but not beyond a point. So who is going to finance the development? "To my mind, there are only three sets of people -- the taxpayers or the next generation whom we can borrow from, or it is the rate payers. "So far, by and large in our economy, it is the taxpayers or the next generation which have been financing development. "The role of the rate payers is rather very, very nominal," the secretary said at a summit on Saturday, March 29, hosted by the SKOCH group. Speaking to Business Standard later, he said that 'rate payers' was a reference to people who must pay appropriate user charges for public services. "There will always be sections of our society that will have to be provided services at an affordable rate. "Maybe some services will have to be given free because they are very important," he explained. "When we use a transport service, we pay for the ticket. There may be some segments that may require support or a subsidised fare, but not everybody. "If in our cities, all urban bus transport services are free, then the taxpayers are paying for it, or if electricity were to be made free, that's a huge cost to the rest of the people," Seth pointed out. His remarks assume significance amid an increasing trend of political parties promising subsidised or free services to voters. Seth also flagged divergences in states' approach to development, citing Uttar Pradesh that has maintained fiscal prudence and ramped up capex to 5 per cent of GSDP in its latest Budget, while many high-income states are spending just 23 per cent of GSDP into capital spends and still running into revenue deficits. While he refrained from referring to the emerging trade tariff worries from the US' policy pivot under the Donald Trump administration, the secretary signaled that exports may not provide as much of a thrust to the Indian economy in coming years as the world is entering an 'era of uncertainty'. "I don't see those uncertainties subsiding, at least in the medium term as nations today seem to be moving away from cooperation to more competition," he remarked. Even as India is now the world's fifth largest economy, what matters for citizens is their per capita income level, and the distribution of the national income which has wide variations at present, Seth noted. Moreover, even as India's purchasing power in the world has gone up from 4 per cent to about 8.5 per cent in 25 years, this needs to further double as it is home to 18 per cent of the world population, he pointed out. Feature Presentation: Ashish Narsale/Rediff.com 'India has not faced a major terrorism loss since the Mumbai terrorist attacks in 2008.' IMAGE: Indian Army soldiers take position during a gun battle at the Taj Mahal hotel in Mumbai in this photograph taken on November 29, 2008. Photograph: Desmond Boylan/Reuters Companies taking cover against terrorism risk are likely to see premiums fall up to 15 per cent from April 1, as State-owned reinsurer General Insurance Corporation of India slashes rates for terrorism risk insurance pool. After the withdrawal of reinsurance capacity for terrorism risk by international reinsurers post the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in the US, the Indian market formed a terrorism risk insurance pool on April 1, 2022. It was administered by GIC Re and all non-life insurance companies in the country were part of it. The pool provides insurance support for terrorism risk covered under the property insurance policies, including cover to dwellings and fixed assets in multiple locations. GIC Re's communication to non-life insurance companies said, 'According to the pool agreement, it (revision in pool premium rates) was taken up with the regulator, who has now approved the rate revision. 'These rates shall be inclusive of the cost incurred towards brokerage/agency commission up to 5 per cent on the terrorism premium for business procured through brokers/agents as per the current practice.' The maximum limit of indemnity for insurance of sabotage & risk terrorism is decided by the pool underwriting committee where the initial capacity was Rs 200 crore (Rs 2 billion) per location. This was gradually increased to Rs 2,000 crore (Rs 20 billion). "There has been a reduction of around 10 per cent to 15 per cent on the existing terrorism rates. This will have an implication for customers buying policies where terrorism is included in the scope of cover," said Hari Radhakrishnan, regional director, First Policy Insurance Brokers. "But some large corporates may not buy terrorism cover from the Indian pool but may buy from international reinsurance markets. This will not have any impact." The premium rates for terrorism pool are fixed on the basis of claims experience and India has not faced a major terrorism loss since the Mumbai terrorist attacks in 2008, experts said. Insurance industry players said the rates have remained the same since April 1, 2014. According to Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India's (Irdai's) annual report for FY24, the pool's premium income was Rs 1,654.63 crore against Rs 1,809.01 crore in FY23. The claims paid by the pool were Rs 3.12 crore as no major losses were reported. "The terrorism pool fixes the rate based on the claims experience and other factors, such as reinsurance costs and expenses of the pool. In India, there has been no major terrorism loss since the Mumbai incident of 2008," Radhakrishnan added. "The pool could have considered these factors and reduced the prices being charged to customers." Feature Presentation: Ashish Narsale/Rediff.com 'There will be no change of seats for Delhi, Assam and Maharashtra.' 'Andhra, J&K, Kerala, Punjab, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Odisha, West Bengal and Telangana will lose seats while there will be an increase for MP, UP, Bihar, Haryana, Gujarat and Chhattisgarh.' 'It is a big mistake if you make it a north-south issue.' IMAGE: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin addresses the Joint Action Committee meeting for Fair Delimitation in Chennai, March 22, 2025. All photographs: ANI Photo Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin took the initiative to invite the chief ministers of those states that are going to lose seats when the delimitation exercise happens in 2026 after the next census. The chief ministers of the southern states (except N Chandrababu Naidu who is part of the ruling National Democratic Alliance) and Punjab were in Chennai to attend the meeting. The grouse of the southern states is that the states that have implemented population control effectively are going to be penalised by losing seats due to delimitation. And the state that is going to gain the most is UP! Then Bihar. The southern states have asked for a 25-year freeze on delimitation. It means, don't do it now, do it later. But then, is that the solution to the problem? Professor S Irudaya Rajan, demographer and an expert on migration, was formerly at the Centre for Development Studies, Kerala. He is currently Chair of the International Institute for Migration and Development and also Chair of the KNOMAD (The Global Knowledge Partnership on Migration and Development) World Bank working group on internal migration and urbanisation. "Tamil Nadu has 39 MPs now, but if the total number of MPs is increased, its representation can also grow proportionally," Professor Irudaya Rajan tells Rediff.com's Shobha Warrier. IMAGE: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin, Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, BRS Working President K T Rama Rao and others at the Joint Action Committee meeting for Fair Delimitation meeting in Chennai. At the Joint Action Committee meeting in Chennai, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said, delimitation is like a Damocles sword hanging over the southern states and also some other states. Do you also feel so? First, I want to emphasise that it is not a south vrsus north issue. This narrative has to go because delimitation is going to affect many states. It is not a problem that is going to affect the southern states alone. I want to divide the country into two groups as far as the issue of delimitation goes: The losing states and the gaining states. What I want to emphasise is this issue goes beyond southern and northern states. For example, there will be no change of seats for Delhi, Assam and Maharashtra. Andhra, Jammu and Kashmir, Kerala, Punjab, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Odisha, West Bengal and Telangana will lose seats while there will be an increase for MP, UP, Bihar, Haryana, Gujarat and Chhattisgarh. It is a big mistake if you make it a north-south issue. So, if Stalin wanted to have a meeting, he should invite all the states. I would go on to say, the gaining states also should be at the meeting. There should be a dialogue between both sides. Now, only the losing states are talking, and we are hearing only their argument. Let the other side also join the debate. IMAGE: Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and others at the Joint Action Committee meeting for Fair Delimitation meeting in Chennai. Is it necessary that there should be a delimitation exercise right now? The states that attended the JAC wanted to freeze delimitation for another 25 years... I am not a politician and I don't talk politics. But as a demographer, I want to know why they want to postpone it again when it has already been postponed. If you need surgery right now, will you postpone it for 25 years? If you postpone the surgery indefinitely, you will end up dying. It is like an issue was earlier postponed by your grandfather and now, it is your turn to take a decision. But you don't want to take a decision. So, you want to pass it on to your grandchild. I want to tell everyone, own your responsibility and solve the problem now. I am of the view that we should not postpone it for another 10 or 25 years. Okay, you have postponed it for another 25 years. After 25 years, what? Will you postpone it for another 25 years? I think the time has come for a discussion to find a solution to the problem. I don't want my son and grandchildren to solve this problem. I will solve the problem. Many demographers may not agree with me, but this is my opinion. IMAGE: The Joint Action Committee meeting for Fair Delimitation in Chennai. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said a committee would be set up to come to a decision which everyone should accept... The committee should have demographers and not politicians alone. Who would you consult if you have cancer? An oncologist or a general physician or a diabetologist? This was what happened during the lockdown too. There was no migration expert in the government committee who advised the prime minister on the lockdown. There were only medical doctors. There were no social scientists. What do doctors know about migrants? Similarly, this is a demographic issue, and demographers should be talking about it. But it has become just a political debate when it has to be an academic as well as political debate. IMAGE: M K Stalin meets Pinarayi Vijayan at the Joint Action Committee meeting for Fair Delimitation in Chennai. As a demographer, how do you solve the delimitation issue? I will start with an example. Tamil Nadu has 39 MPs in the Lok Sabha out of 543. Out of the total 543 seats, only 524 seats are applicable for delimitation. 19 seats are not applicable. For example, Lakshadweep will have 1 MP irrespective of the population of the island. There are 19 such seats which are not limited by the size of the population. So, only in the 524 seats, we look at population as the variable. Now, in the case of Tamil Nadu, it has 7.4% MPs in Parliament. You can say Tamil Nadu has 8 MPs out of 100 in India. On the other hand, UP has 15 MPs. If you fix the number of MPs in the new Parliament as 800 -- whatever number you want but fix the number -- Tamil Nadu will have 64 MPs and UP will have 120 MPs. This way, there is a proportional increase for everyone. This is just one plan. There are several ways you can solve this problem. Another option is by increasing the Rajya Sabha seats of those states that are losing seats due to delimitation. The next option I have is about vote-value. Right now, it is one person, one vote and one value. Why can't we tweak the idea of one person, one vote for the states that do well? Why not increase the value of one vote there? For example, why not give two values for one vote to a person from Kerala? We can give different values for the votes of different states. Perhaps, the value of a vote in Andhra can be 1.2 while the value of a vote in UP can be 0.9. Next is the case of migrants. Do you know 400 million migrants are not getting a chance to vote when you are talking about one nation, one election? Why don't you let the migrant from UP who are living in Kerala to vote there? Even for the assembly elections, why can't the migrant vote in Kerala or Tamil Nadu as he is a resident here? Why do you expect a migrant from Odisha in Kerala to go to Odisha to vote? Around 2.2 million Malayalis are living outside the country and another 0.8 million are living anywhere in India. It means 3 million Malayalis are living outside the state. Another interesting fact is, 3 million people from other states live in Kerala. In effect, the state loses 6 million votes. IMAGE: Professor S Irudaya Rajan. You mean, this is the right time to bring the migrants into electoral politics. Yes, when you have 600 million people living in places where they are not born. This is the right time to bring in voting for the migrants. In a democracy, it has to happen. We should accept the fact that migrants are also part of the electoral process. You talk about digital India, and in digital India, a person should be able to vote from anywhere. If it happens, the voting percentage will go up from 60% to 75%. So, this also has to be treated along with delimitation. It is said that 36% of India's GDP is contributed by 19% of the population in the south. If this is so, like you said earlier, the value of their vote should be more... Yes. That's why you can't say, there is only one value for one vote. That's also why this is the right time to sit and debate all these issues. But what do these politicians want? They want to postpone and shirk the responsibility. The idea of postponement should not be discussed at all. It is good that the chief minister of Tamil Nadu has taken the initiative for a debate on delimitation. This issue can be solved amicably only if you don't play politics. I want everyone to understand that it is not a problem of the south alone. It is beyond south, beyond Tamil Nadu, beyond Kerala.... Feature Presentation: Rajesh Alva/Rediff.com 'Muslims in Bihar under Nitishji's rule are safest than anywhere else.' IMAGE: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar with Mohammed Zama Khan at an Iftar party in Patna. Photograph: ANI Photo Bihar Minister of Minority Welfare Mohammed Zama Khan is the only Muslim face in the state government led by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. Khan has emerged as Nitish Kumar's defender after prominent Muslim organisations boycotted an Iftar party he hosted to protest against the Janata Dal-United's support to the Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2024 in Parliament. Khan is the Muslim face of Kumar's JD-U, which is widely seen as a secular party despite joining hands with the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance in Bihar as well as at the Centre. Muslims constitute about 17.7 percent of Bihar's population and are considered traditional supporters of the Rashtriya Janata Dal, the party founded by Lalu Prasad, but roughly 25 to 30 percent of Muslims reportedly supported the JD-U in consecutive elections because of Nitish Kumar's presence at its helm. In Bihar's caste-dominant politics, Muslim support can make or mar the final electoral outcome. Khan, who is in his early 50s, was the Bahujan Samaj Party's lone winner in the 2020 Bihar assembly election He joined the JD-U in 2021 and was inducted as a minister in Kumar's government. "The party will reach out to Muslims to expose the conspiracy against Nitishji and hope that the JD-U will get the support and vote of Muslims like previous elections," Khan tells Rediff.com Senior Contributor M I Khan. IMAGE: Nitish Kumar with Mohammed Zama Khan. Photograph: Kind courtesy Mohammed Zama Khan/Instagram Months ahead of the crucial Bihar assembly elections, Muslims seem angry and unhappy with Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for supporting the Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2024. What is your party, the JD-U, doing to pacify them? It has been wrongly projected that Muslims are angry and unhappy with Nitishji. Muslims are with us. Our party and leader Nitishji, who is the number one secular leader in the country, enjoy the support of an overwhelming number of Muslims because he has worked for their development. He will never do anything to harm the interests of the Muslim community or any community. Nitishji always stands with us and for us. It was Nitish Kumar who played a main role in the formation of a joint parliamentary committee on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill. He was at the forefront, our party has repeatedly submitted different documents to the JPC to take a final decision. Photograph: Kind courtesy Mohammed Zama Khan/Instagram Eight Muslim organisations boycotted Nitish Kumar's Iftar party. Reports suggest that fewer Muslims turned up for the CM's Iftar compared to the past. Is it not a matter of concern for the party, whose traditional support base also consists of a section of Muslims? There was no base for the boycott of the Iftar because Iftar is not a political issue. This was a conspiracy of the Opposition to defame Nitishji, who is a true socialist and secular leader. We have information that it was a part of a big conspiracy. Despite the boycott call a large number of fasting Muslims attended the Iftar hosted by Nitishji. The number of Muslims participating was double compared to last year. The Opposition failed in its attempt to damage the image of Nitishji, who remains Vikash Purush. Muslims, like others, have benefited by development works like good roads, electricity connectivity, schools, health centres and communal harmony in the state. Since 2005, when Nitishji became chief minister, he ensured a peaceful state and worked for all. There was never any discrimination against Muslims and his government initiated several measures for the development of the minority. Muslims in Bihar under Nitishji's rule are safest than anywhere else. There is no fear and they are not scared of anything. Some question Nitish Kumar's secular credentials for his and your party's support to the Waqf Bill. Nitishji does not need any certificate for his secular politics. He has been doing it for years and never made a compromise on it. Photograph: Kind courtesy Mohammed Zama Khan/Instagram You claim it is a conspiracy, but Muslim organisations in an open letter to Nitish Kumar strongly criticised him and his party for supporting the Waqf (Amendment) Bill which, they say, is the BJP's agenda. I have no such information and not read the letter that you refer to. Photograph: Kind courtesy Mohammed Zama Khan/Instagram Do you think this vocal stand of Muslim organisations over the JD-U's support to the Waqf (Amendment) Bill will harm your party in an election year? Muslims in Bihar support Nitishji not because of some organisations, it is due to his consistent work and his clean politics. Nitishji always works to strengthen the Constitution and safeguard the rights of all. He is a real democratic leader. The party will reach out to Muslims to expose the conspiracy against Nitishji and hope that the JD-U will get the support and vote of Muslims like previous elections thanks to our leader Nitishji's popularity. Is the JD-U likely to change its stand on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill in view of the increasing Muslim protest against it? It is not proper on my part to reply, but yes, discussions has been taking place within the party on it. Only the party's top leadership -- Nitishji -- will decide about it. Feature Presentation: Rajesh Alva/Rediff.com 'Putin dreams about his legacy. He wants to forcibly restore the Russian empire.' 'Unfortunately, after three years of large-scale war with massive human losses, Putin will not budge from his goal because human life is the cheapest resource in the Russian State.' IMAGE: Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Russia National Centre, in Moscow, March 26, 2025. Photograph: Sputnik/Vyacheslav Prokofyev/Pool via Reuters Nobel Laureate, human rights defender and lawyer, Oleksandra Matviichuk, was in Kyiv on February 24, 2022, when Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. "We knew Russian troops were gathering, of course, at our borders. We knew invasion was imminent. Our homes were no longer safe," says Matviichuk. Amid the just concluded Black Sea security talks with Russia and Ukraine in Riyadh and as the war enters its fourth year, Matviichuk says when your country is at war you have to redefine what hope means. "Hope is not confidence that everything will be fine, but an understanding that our efforts have huge meaning," she says. Efforts that earned the human rights organisation Center for Civil Liberties (CCL), which she heads, the Nobel Peace Prize in 2022. She was also awarded the Right Livelihood Award and recognised as one of the 25th influential women in the world by the Financial Times that year. The CCL is aimed at protecting human rights and establishing democracy in Ukraine and the OSCE (Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe) region encompasses 57 participating States from Europe, Central Asia, and North America. The OSCE is the world's largest regional security organization, working for stability, peace and democracy. The CCL, under Matviichuk, has documented over 84,000 individual cases of war crimes since the 2022 Russo-Ukraine war, which she believes is possibly the single largest such initiative ever. Peace, she says, is not just the absence of war -- it's about justice, human rights and dignity and with the documentation, she hopes Ukraine's future will centre around justice for the people it lost. In the first part of an interview with Swarupa Dutt/Rediff.com, Matviichuk talks about geopolitics, peace and war, the uncertainty of waking up in the morning amid Russian drone and missile attacks, and the horrors that ordinary Ukrainians go through every day under Russian occupation. "When you think only about economic benefits, security issues, or geopolitical interests, even if you benefit in the short term, you are biding your time for a catastrophe in the long term," Oleksandra Matviichuk says in the interview. IMAGE: A resident removes shards of glass from her broken window at a residential building hit by a Russian drone strike in Kyiv, March 23, 2025. Photograph: Gleb Garanich/Reuters The United States held expert-level discussions with delegations from Russia and Ukraine in Riyadh from March 23 to 25. Discussions were held by US President Donald Trump with Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. As a Ukrainian what is your takeaway from meetings like this? Will it bring peace? We heard a lot about minerals, about possible territorial concessions, about NATO membership, about geopolitical interests, even about Zelenskyy's suit. [At the White House meeting on February 27, Trump asked his Ukraine counterpart, 'Oh you're all dressed up']. But we don't hear about people. And it's not OK, because we must imbibe a human dimension into political processes around the question, 'how to end the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine?' The human question revolves around: What will happen to the over 20,000 Ukrainian children who were legally deported to Russia? What will happen to those separated from their families? What will happen to the thousands and thousands of illegally detained civilians -- men and women -- subjected to daily torture and sexual abuse? What will happen to the people in the occupied areas? Let's talk about people, because millions of Ukrainians under Russian occupation, do not have the means to protect their rights, their freedom, their property, their lives, their children, their beloved ones. For real peace or even a ceasefire, Ukraine's western allies must think of the human dimension when these talks happen. Yes, security guarantees are essential, there must be conversation about mineral rights, power stations, but it's shocking how little discussion there has been about people. This is my main takeaway -- that they discussed politics, not people. IMAGE: A firefighter works at a site of a building hit by a Russian drone strike in Kyiv, March 23, 2025. Photograph: Vladyslav Musiienko/Reuters President Zelenskyy has emphasised that Ukraine is open to a ceasefire. But Putin has said there will only be a conditional ceasefire -- no arms supplies to Kiev, suspension of military mobilisation, etc. Do you believe a ceasefire is imminent, and secondly, will the terms be favourable to Ukraine? Unfortunately, Putin has rejected the ceasefire, which President Trump proposed. He told President Trump that he will not hit civil infrastructure but in just two hours of that promise, I heard an air raid alarm and the sounds of explosions in Kyiv where I live. So Putin violated his promise not to hit civilian infrastructure immediately after he gave it. Ceasefire is the first step, but ending the aggressive war is the bigger issue. Do you think a complete ceasefire will happen? It depends on the power which international community can exert on Russia because a dictator works with only one logic -- they respect only strength and disrespect weakness. Ukrainians know what ceasefire means for Russians because we already have two 'peace' agreements with the Russians. When Russia annexed Ukrainian territory (Donetsk and Luhansk Oblasts) and Crimea in 2014, peace accords were signed in 2019, and that ceasefire was in place, when it declared war in 2022. Russia violated the ceasefire daily before 2022, people died every day and there were no consequences for Russia. So we know that if the international community is not able to demonstrate strength this time, a ceasefire if it happens, will mean nothing for Russians. IMAGE: Grieving residents of residential buildings hit by a Russian air strike in Kherson, Ukraine. Photograph: Ivan Antypenko/Reuters During that meeting at the White House on February 27, President Zelenskyy, a head of State, was severely rebuked by Trump and US Vice President J D Vance. The world reacted with disbelief and shock. How did Ukrainians react to this unprecedented incident? (Smiles) Oh, we were hugely emotional. It was such an important meeting on such an important topic -- how to stop this war of aggression against Ukraine -- so the politicians should have been more calm, they should have focussed on the goal of peace and ending the war and well... they should have focussed on the people. There was just too much emotion at the White House and too little results. IMAGE: Oleksandra Matviichuk. Photograph: Kind courtesy Oleksandra Matviichuk But do you agree with what Vance said at the meeting that the 'path to peace and prosperity is maybe diplomacy'. Shouldn't President Zelenskyy have gone into the meeting knowing that Trump believes Russia can be a reliable partner? The Biden bonhomie has ended; this was Trump he was talking to. It was wishful thinking and Ukraine cannot afford wishful thinking. Maybe some politicians believe in Russia, but Ukraine cannot because we are dying. We remember very clearly that when Russia first invaded Crimea in 2014 with the appearance of the 'little green men', Putin said they were not Russian soldiers. It was only much later that he admitted that the men were from the Russian army. [Picture below: The 'little green men' (a reference to the colour of their uniform) appeared during the annexation of Crimea in February 2014 by Russia. These men were highly trained soldiers, equipped with advanced Russian military gear, who quickly took control of strategic locations such as airports and government buildings in Crimea.) (Initially, Putin denied that these forces were Russian military personnel, describing them as local self-defence units. Since these units operated without insignia, Ukraine could not respond effectively because the 'green men' blurred the lines between local militias and foreign invaders.) I want to remind our audience that before the large-scale invasion started (February 2022) Putin and other top officials in Russia said 'we don't plan to invade Ukraine; we don't plan a large-scale war'. But it happened. So Putin is a liar. And we can't rely on the words of a liar who violated his promises so many times because while it's probably what politicians do in peace times, you cannot afford to believe in a liar in times of large-scale war when we are dying. What people in Ukraine know is that Putin started this war not because he wanted to occupy a part of our territory but because he wanted to occupy and destroy the whole of Ukraine and go further. He dreams about his legacy. He wants to forcibly restore the Russian empire. His logic is historical. And the problem is that unfortunately, after three years of large-scale war with massive human losses, Putin will not budge from his goal because human life is the cheapest resource in the Russian State. People in Ukraine want sustainable peace. It means that we have to develop and discuss security guarantees, which makes it impossible for Putin to achieve his goal. It doesn't mean only a postponing of Putin's goal (ceasefire) for months or years. IMAGE: Women take a walk while armed men, believed to be Russian soldiers patrol outside a Ukrainian military base in Perevalnoye, near the Crimean city of Simferopol, March 14, 2014. Photograph: Vasily Fedosenko/Reuters Trump desires to end Moscow's isolation and seek a quick ceasefire. US wants stop arms support to Ukraine. By doing that, is the US weakening Europe and leaving Ukraine open to being devoured again and again? At the White House, Zelenskyy told the US: 'you have a nice ocean and don't feel it, but you will feel it in the future.' He meant that Europe and the US will be open to Putin. How do you react? Russia wants an empire. An empire has a centre but no borders. An empire always wants to expand; it's the nature of empire. I interviewed hundreds of Ukrainians who survived Russian captivity, men and women, mostly civilians, and they told me how Russians see their future. Russians believe: 'First we will occupy Ukraine and then together with you (Ukrainians), we will go to conquer other countries'. So let's be clear, people in Europe are safe only because Ukrainians are still resistant to Russian aggression which bars Putin from entering Europe. China, Iran, North Korea and other authoritarian regimes support Russia because they see Ukraine not as a goal but as a tool to break international order and dictate rules to entire international communities. The support of democracies like the United States, India or France must be stronger. IMAGE: Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the frontline in the Donetsk region, Ukraine, March 22, 2025. Photograph: Ukrainian Presidential Press Service/Handout via Reuters If the US ends war aid to Ukraine, how long do you think Ukraine will be able to hold out? And how realistic is it to expect that Europe is actually going to step up? The US, for instance, has given you aid of around $67 billion, the UK in comparison had given 4 billion pounds. I'm not a military expert, so excuse me for drawing on the human factor. Three years ago, not just Putin, but the United States, France and other international partners of Ukraine also thought that it's not realistic that Ukraine could have the potential to resist such an enormous opposing power like Russia. I was in Kyiv that day, three years ago (February 24, 2022, when Russia launched the full-scale invasion of Ukraine). I refused to evacuate, I wanted to continue my human rights work on the ground, and I remember how international organisations and embassies evacuated their personnel. They left us all alone. They didn't believe that we have the potential to stop the Russians. Ordinary people remained in Kyiv and it was ordinary people who helped others survive under artillery fire. Ordinary people brought victims out of ruined cities and flaming buildings. Ordinary people broke through the encirclement to provide humanitarian aid. And suddenly it became obvious to everyone that when millions of ordinary people start to fight for their freedom and human dignity they can emerge so strong that even the second largest army (Russian) in the world cannot defeat it. And while our international partners thought that Ukraine can resist only for three or four days, we are still resisting Russia. This is the fourth year. In fact, it's not rational comparing Ukraine and Russia because Russia has veto power in the UN, oil and gas -- which means a lot of money, nuclear weapons and a strong military. But what we learnt is that we can't underestimate the human spirit, because ordinary people have much more impact that they can even imagine. The mass mobilisation of ordinary people can change history as we have seen in India with Mahatma Gandhi; in the United States with Martin Luther King. You have to believe in your own people; authoritarian leaders don't. IMAGE: US President Donald Trump meets with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy along with US Vice President JD Vance at the White House, February 28, 2025. Photograph: Brian Snyder/Reuters A popular meme shows European nations egging Ukraine on to poke the bear, Russia. And how, when it retaliates and Ukraine bears the brunt of it, those European nations are absent. Will Europe stand up for Ukraine in the absence of the US? Europe has to play a more proactive role, not just for Ukrainians, but pragmatically, because we share a common European security. Ukrainians know the Russian language very well because we were part of the Russian empire for centuries. We can follow how Russians openly discussed on TV which is the next country they will attack. It will be Poland or it will be Estonia, they have said. So Europe has no choice but to get involved, not just for Ukraine, but for its own sakes. IMAGE: Rescuers and volunteers evacuate a wounded person from an apartment building damaged during a Russian missile strike in Sumy, Ukraine, March 24, 2025. Photograph: Reuters The US has proposed to sign a major mineral and a nuclear power plant deal with Ukraine. The White House says the deal is a way for US to recoup the financial aid given to Kyiv since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion. Do concessions dilute your sovereignty? As I said in the beginning, I'm upset that politicians discuss mineral rights but not human lives, because President Trump has publicly said that he wants to bring peace because he cared about people dying in this war. It has to therefore mean that he also cares about people dying in Russian prisons. Let me give you one example that I came across as human rights lawyer documenting Russian war crimes in this country. This is the story of children's writer Volodymyr Vakulenko who wrote beautiful stories that an entire generation of Ukrainian children were brought up on. He disappeared during the Russian occupation. His family hoped till the end that he was alive like the other thousands and thousands of civilian men and women who are in Russian captivity. But when the Ukrainian army liberated the Kharkiv region, they found mass graves in a forest with bodies of men, women and children. Under the number 319, we found the body of this writer. You could ask me why would Russians kill a children's book writer? The answer is simple: Because they could. And this is something which going on this very second as we speak, in the occupied territories. And this is what I want politician to discuss -- human beings, not minerals. I know I will probably sound naive, but when you think only about economic benefits, security issues or geopolitical interests, even if you benefit in the short term, you are biding your time for a catastrophe in the long term because if Russia gets what Putin wants and he remains unpunished, it will encourage authoritarian regimes like, say, China to embark on similar invasions. Is President Zelenskyy the right person to lead Ukraine at this juncture? I think Ukraine will hold elections when we are secure and it is only the people who can answer this question. Part 2 of the Interview: 'Putin Is The Biggest Child Kidnapper' Feature Presentation: Rajesh Alva/Rediff.com Stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra on Monday failed to appear before Khar police in connection with the case registered for his "traitor" jibe at Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, while a team went to his Mahim 'home' to 'check' his availability. The comedian later took a jibe at the police saying the visit was a waste of time and public resources as he had not been living there for the past 10 years. Kamra was supposed to appear before Khar police during the day, an official said, adding it was the second time he was summoned. "A Khar police team went to his house in Mahim, where his family stays, to check whether he would appear in connection with the case or not. Since he did not, further course of action will be decided soon," the official said. In a post on X, Kamra said, 'Going to an address where I haven't lived for the last 10 years is a waste of your time & public resources.' The first notice seeking his appearance was issued last week, and the comedian's request for seven days' time was denied by police. The Madras high court on March 28 granted interim anticipatory bail to Kamra on the condition that he execute a bond to the satisfaction of the judicial magistrate at Vanur in Villupuram district in Tamil Nadu. Kamra had submitted he moved to Tamil Nadu from Mumbai in 2021 and has been 'ordinarily a resident of this State (Tamil Nadu) since then' and that he feared arrest by Mumbai police. Last week, three FIRs against him at Nashik Rural, Jalgaon and Nashik (Nandgaon) were transferred to Khar police station, where a case has already been registered on the complaint of Shiv Sena MLA Murji Patel. The studio where Kamra shot his video lampooning Shinde over the split in the Shiv Sena is located in Khar in the western part of the metropolis. Shiv Sainiks had ransacked the studio and the hotel in which it is located on the night of March 23. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday urged people not to fall for provocations that could fuel communal riots and stressed that her government would stand with the residents, ensuring that no one could stir up tensions in the state. Addressing an Eid prayers programme on Red Road in Kolkata, the Trinamool Congress supremo said, "Provocations are being made to fuel riots, but please don't fall into these traps. The West Bengal government stands with the minorities. No one can provoke tensions in the state." Banerjee also hit out at the Bharatiya Janata Party, asking, "If they (BJP) have problems with the minorities, will they change the Constitution of the country?" She reaffirmed her belief in respecting all religions and reiterated her opposition to the BJP's "divisive politics", which she described as "jumla politics". The chief minister further hit out at the Left, stating, "Red and saffron have merged. But rest assured, I will not let any harm come to you." She stressed the importance of harmony and unity, repeatedly emphasising, "Do not fall for provocations." TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee also spoke on the occasion, highlighting the unity in the party in resisting the BJP during the last Lok Sabha elections. "In the last (2024) Lok Sabha polls, we together resisted the march of the BJP," he asserted. "The BJP says 'Hindus are in danger', and their friends say 'Muslims are in danger'. I would ask them to remove their lens of communal politics. The truth is that the entire country is in danger because of their politics. If they try to create divisions in West Bengal, we will resist it," he added. He also shared a message of interfaith unity, saying, "The moon has no religion." The Diamond Harbour MP called for people to remain united, stating, "We must maintain unity and live together." He declared, "I will give my life but not deviate from my principles." Both leaders emphasised that the Trinamool Congress would continue to fight attempts to sow division and promote communal politics in the state. News / National by Staff reporter After facing a series of threats from combative war veteran Blessed 'Bombshell' Runesu Geza and his supporters, Zanu-PF-linked businessman Wicknell Chivayo has come out strongly in defense of President Emmerson Mnangagwa, denouncing planned nationwide protests.Mnangagwa is under growing pressure from a disgruntled faction of war veterans, led by Geza, who are calling for his removal, accusing him of fostering corruption and failing in governance. The protest threats have prompted the government to deploy security forces to quell any potential demonstrations.Controversial businessman Chivayo dismissed Geza as lacking political influence, urging Zimbabweans not to take him seriously."Zimbabwe is a peaceful nation, known for its educated and responsible citizens, most of whom carry Christian values and are law-abiding. The reckless call for an illegal uprising and incitement to violence is totally unZimbabwean and must be rejected by every peace-loving citizen."At the centre of this chaos is an individual who no longer deserves the respected title of 'Cde' but a chap called Blessed Geza, a useless, failed politician and fugitive from justice, whose only remaining strategy is to provoke instability from his self-imposed exile."Expelled from Zanu-PF for his dishonourable conduct, Geza has become a political nonentity, desperately trying to stay relevant by leading a criminal cartel of fugitives and bitter opposition remnants," Chivayo said in a social media post.Chivayo has become a target of Geza's accusations, with claims that he has benefited from government corruption. Last year, Chivayo was implicated in controversy after allegedly fronting a company that secured a US$100 million tender from the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) to supply materials for the 2023 general elections.Geza has also issued warnings against Chivayo and businessman Kudakwashe Tagwirei. In a suspicious incident, vehicles were set on fire Thursday night at premises linked to both business tycoons.Chivayo equated the March 31 protests to acts of terrorism against the government."To shift from legal and peaceful demonstrations and start burning vehicles, destroying property belonging to innocent individuals, and calling for the violent removal of a government is illegal, treasonous, and easily qualifies as terrorism."No serious, patriotic Zimbabwean should entertain this. I urge all citizens to ignore the empty call to protest tomorrow or on any other day called for by anarchists such as Geza. Let us all continue normally with our lives tomorrow and beyond," Chivayo added.The call for protests has exposed the simmering factional battles within Zanu-PF. During Thursday's Zanu-PF Central Committee meeting, Mnangagwa issued a stern warning to party members supporting Geza.Chivayo further stated that those eyeing leadership should wait for Mnangagwa's term to end in 2028."President Mnangagwa still has three full years remaining in his term, and he has publicly pledged to step down at the end of itas a true constitutionalist. If anyone has ambitions, they must respect party processes and wait for the next congress."When that time comes, I personally will support whoever has been democratically elected, with every prayer and every cent I have saved, to ensure we keep Zanu-PF as the ruling party forever and ever," he concluded. India is expected to experience hotter-than-usual temperatures from April to June, with more heatwave days in central and eastern India and the northwestern plains, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Monday. IMAGE: People cover their heads with an umbrella to protect themselves from the sun on a hot summer day, at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi. Photograph: Jitender Gupta/ANI Photo Most parts of the country will see higher-than-normal maximum temperatures, except for some areas in western and eastern India where the temperatures are expected to be normal. Minimum temperatures will also be above normal in most regions, IMD chief Mrutyunjay Mohapatra said in an online press conference. "From April to June, most parts of north and east India, central India, and the plains of northwest India are expected to experience two to four more heatwave days than normal," he said. Usually, India records four to seven heatwave days from April to June. States likely to see above-normal heatwave days include Rajasthan, Gujarat, Haryana, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and the northern parts of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. Some states, including eastern Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Odisha, are expected to have 10 to 11 heatwave days during this period, Mohapatra said. In April, most parts of India will likely witness higher-than-usual maximum temperatures. However, some areas in the extreme southern and the northwestern regions may experience normal temperatures. Minimum temperatures will be higher than usual across most of the country, except for a few places in the northwest and the northeast where temperatures may be normal or slightly below normal, the IMD chief said. Last week, the central government asked states to check if their hospitals were ready to handle heatstroke and heat-related illnesses amid a rise in temperatures. India experienced an exceptionally harsh summer last year, recording 536 heatwave days, the highest in 14 years, according to the IMD. Official data showed that India recorded 41,789 suspected heat stroke cases and 143 heat-related deaths during one of its hottest and longest heat waves. Experts have said India might be undercounting heat-related deaths due to lack of robust data. The heat wave arrived much earlier in 2025 than last year. In 2024, India reported its first heat wave in Odisha on April 5 but parts of the Konkan and coastal Karnataka experienced heat waves as early as February 27-28 this year. Experts have warned that India should prepare for a peak electricity demand growth of 9 to 10 per cent this summer season, with the country expected to experience a higher number of heatwave days. Last year, the all-India peak electricity demand crossed 250 gigawatts on May 30 -- 6.3 per cent higher than projections. Climate change-induced heat stress is one of the key factors driving electricity demand. The country is expected to receive normal rainfall in April at 88 to 112 per cent of the long-term average of 39.2 mm, the IMD said. Many areas in northwest, northeast, west-central and peninsular India may get normal to above-normal rainfall. Mohapatra also warned that landslides could occur in parts of Kerala and Karnataka in the Western Ghats and that northeastern states might face flooding in April. Two key advisers to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Yonatan Urich and Eli Feldstein, were arrested on Monday as part of an ongoing investigation into potential connections between Israeli officials and Qatar. IMAGE: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Photograph: Amir Cohen/Pool/Reuters Although Netanyahu is not a suspect, but investigators want to question the Prime Minister. The two men are facing serious charges, including contact with a foreign agent, bribery, fraud, breach of trust, and money laundering. Israeli police are expected to request an extension of their detention as the investigation continues. The case, referred to as the 'Qatar-Gate' affair, is being handled by the police's International Crime Investigations unit, Lahav 443. A third individual, a central figure in the investigation, is also under questioning. The police have also summoned a journalist to testify in connection with the case, after receiving the necessary approvals from the State Attorney's Office. However, further details of the investigation have been placed under a gag order. The police confirmed the arrests of Urich, a senior adviser to Netanyahu, and Feldstein, his former spokesman. The Attorney General, Gali Baharav-Miara, has also authorised the summoning of Prime Minister Netanyahu to provide testimony in the affair. Netanyahu's statements will not be used against him unless he is formally placed under investigation at a later stage. The arrests comes shortly after Netanyahu announced his intention to appoint Vice-Admiral (ret.) Eli Sharvit as the new head of the Shin Bet. The agency is involved in the investigation due to its focus on Qatar-related matters. However, tensions are rising within the security establishment, with Shin Bet head Ronen Bar claiming that Netanyahu's decision to dismiss him was influenced by a conflict of interest related to the ongoing investigation. Shiv Sena functionary Rahool Kanal on Monday said comedian Kunal Kamra, who kicked up a political row for taking a jibe at Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, will be welcomed in 'Shiv Sena-style' when he comes to Mumbai, where he has been summoned by the police in a case registered against him. IMAGE: Kunal Kamra. Photograph: Kind courtesy @kunalkamra88/X During his performance at the Habitat Comedy Club at the Unicontinental Hotel in the Khar area, Kamra had referred to Shinde as a 'traitor' without naming him and went on to sing a parody on him. Kanal and 11 other Shiv Sainiks were arrested on March 23 after they ransacked the studio where Kamra performed his stand-up act. Deputy Chief Minister Shinde is the president of the Shiv Sena. Talking to reporters here, Kanal said the party has written to the Mumbai police demanding a probe against the comedian under the Foreign Contributions Regulation Act (FCRA) over foreign funding and unaccounted money. "Those running away from the law are guilty. Kunal Kamra will be welcomed in Shiv Sena style when he comes to Mumbai," he said. "We will not change our stand because his (Kamra's) stand also remains unchanged," Kanal said, alluding to the party's old style of staging protests. He further claimed that the Tamil Nadu police were providing protection to Kamra. The Mumbai police had summoned Kamra to appear before it on March 31 in a case related to derogatory remarks against Shinde. Last week, the Madras High Court granted interim anticipatory bail to the comedian on the condition that he execute a bond to the satisfaction of the judicial magistrate at Vanur in Villupuram district in Tamil Nadu. Kamra had submitted he moved to Tamil Nadu from Mumbai in 2021 and was 'ordinarily a resident of this State since then' and he feared arrest by Mumbai police. A Lamborghini hit two pedestrians on a footpath adjacent to an under-construction building in sector 94 here on Sunday, police said. IMAGE: Labourers confront Lamborghini's driver after the car allegedly hit labourers in Noida. Photograph: Screen grab/X The injured, labourers from Chhattisgarh, were rushed to a nearby hospital and are said to be out of danger. They have suffered a fracture in their legs, police said. A purported video surfaced online showing that after the accident, a man was heard asking the accused if he knew how many people died here. To this, the accused asked the locals koi mar gaya idhar? (did anyone die here?)" and came out of the car. Following this, someone in the video could be heard saying, police ko bulao (call the police)". Bhupendra Singh, In-charge at Sector 126 Police Station told PTI, "In the car accident two labourers were injured and they were from Chhattisgarh. They are out of danger and have fractures in their legs." The accident happened adjacent to an under-construction building, he said. "The car driver has been identified as Deepak, a resident of Ajmer and the car is registered with the Puducherry registration. He has been arrested and the car has been seized," he added. During questioning he told the police that the accident happened due to a fault in the vehicle. Further investigation is underway, Singh said. Kindly note the image has been posted only for representational purposes. IMAGE: A large container vessel arrive at New Mangalore Port. Photograph: ANI Photo Industry associations and companies in the United States, including the US Chamber of Commerce (USCC), Coalition of Services Industries (CSI), and the iconic bike company Harley Davidson have called on the Donald Trump dispensation to push India to reduce tariffs, non-tariffs, and regulatory barriers to boost American exports. Their appeal comes as part of the review of unfair trade practices by partner countries launched by the US Trade Representative (USTR) ahead of the announcement of reciprocal tariffs on April 2. The USCC, the largest business lobbying group in the US, asked for reduced import duties by India on pharmaceuticals to 'enhance access to affordable medicines for Indian consumers but also promote greater trade and investment in the healthcare sector'. The chamber has also called for a potential trade agreement to include provisions to allow for 'dual-location of pharmaceutical manufacturing' that could strengthen the global supply chain. It highlighted price controls on patented medicines and medical devices like stents and knee implants under the National List of Essential Medicines and trade margin rationalisation policies deterring pharmaceutical investments as well as the menace of counterfeit drugs in India. It wants India to allow the import of refurbished/reused medical equipment including CT scanners and other advanced surgical systems. The USCC also called for reducing the 28 per cent Goods and Services Tax (GST) on non-alcoholic aerated beverages under the classification of sin/demerit goods that adversely impact the profitability of American companies. Among other issues, USCC highlighted strict local content requirements in India asking for competitive neutrality' in key sectors and urging both governments to sign a public procurement agreement that allows mutual access to each other's public sector. As part of any trade deal, India should commit to liberalise additional SOE (State-owned enterprises) segments...' Harley Davidson, the iconic American bike company often cited by US President Donald Trump, raked in high tariffs it faces in India. 'While the US grants key trading partners like the European Union, Brazil, Thailand, and India imports of motorcycles with duties ranging from 0 per cent to just 2.4 per cent, there is a significant imbalance where US-made motorcycles must pay 6-8 per cent duty rate in the EU, 18 per cent in Brazil, 60 per cent in Thailand, and a 100 per cent in India.' The Coalition of Services Industries (CSI) whose members include Google, Amazon, Mastercard, in its submission said US companies in all industries face mounting trade and investment barriers in India. 'The raft of digital protectionist policies imposed, or under consideration, by the Indian government remains concerning to the US services sectors,' CSI said. CSI highlighted issues like the local content requirement, and unfair advantage given to Unified Payments Interface (UPI) and Rupay cards, data localisation, mandatory testing and certification of telecom equipment, differential tax treatment of foreign companies, Customs duties on information technology products, among others. The independent e-commerce retailer and sellers in their submission said India and China impose high duties on e-commerce imports and strictly regulate incoming goods through customs controls, prohibiting exports by small retailers from the US. 'For instance, India levies import duties ranging from 42 per cent to 60 per cent on e-commerce goods and has banned certain categories like toys. 'To ensure a level playing field, e-commerce imports from China and India should be subject to reciprocal duties and quality controls,' it added. While India is expecting to benefit from greater market access in apparels by signing a trade deal with the US, the American Apparel & Footwear Association has complained that India is making it as difficult and costly as possible to make footwear for the Indian market outside of India. 'Recent Quality Control Orders (QCOs) that India's BIS have implemented required certification of each factory (there is a backlog), testing, audits, and each pair must be stamped with a BIS-certified logo. 'These protectionist regulations are forcing US companies to exit the market,' it said. The US agriculture commodity associations for items like milk, rice, wheat, soybean, corn, almond, walnuts, pistachio, blueberry, cherry, and table grape raised the issue of high domestic subsidy and significant trade barriers they face in India. The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) said India represents a tremendous potential for US dairy exports, which are limited through a combination of non-tariff barriers and exorbitant tariffs. 'Given that US dairy exports to India reached $52 million in 2024 just in the limited dairy products permitted to enter, IDFA believes the India market potential if restrictions were lifted is at least twice that amount due to significant demand in India for lactose, casein, and whey protein concentrates and isolates, which have historically been restricted,' it added. The US Wheat Associates highlighted the 'high levels of domestic support' for wheat production and trade distorting high tariffs to discourage imports by the Indian government. 'Compliance on trade distorting domestic subsidy spending would send better market signals and increase economic returns to US producers (by $792 million by 2031/32).' The Illinois Corn Growers Association (ICGA) highlighted India's import prohibition of genetically modified corn and ethanol for fuel despite ambitious biofuel utilisation goals. 'If US corn were able to access just 15 per cent of Indian corn imports in marketing year 2023/2024, farmers would have received about $22 million. 'If the government of India allowed the import of US ethanol for fuel use and we achieved just 5 per cent market share, those exports would be worth $237 million annually,' it added. The American Soybean Association said India continues to be a difficult market for US soy exports as it uses 'significant tariff and non-tariff barriers' to favour domestic production over imports. 'The US has actively sought bilateral and multilateral opportunities to increase market access, so far without yielding improvements. 'Soybeans and soybean products face tariffs from 15 to 45 per cent,' it said. The Almond Alliance representing the farmers of the largest agri commodity exports to India said reduction of import duty for inshell and kernel almonds by India would place the US in a more competitive position to Australia which has a trade agreement with New Delhi providing it a 50 per cent duty advantage. The North American Blueberry Council (NABC) highlighted that fresh and frozen blueberries face a 10 per cent tariff, while the processed blueberries are subject to tariffs ranging from 10 to 50 per cent in India. "India's tariffs are unwarranted and constrain US blueberries exports. 'NABC urges USTR to pursue the elimination of India's tariffs on US fresh, frozen, and processed blueberries through any available opportunity.' The California Cherry Board (CCB) said while India is a potential growth market, exports are constrained by India's high 30 per cent tariff on imports of fresh cherries. 'This high tariff is unjustified, especially considering California cherries do not compete with any Indian cherry production. 'To facilitate the growth of US cherry exports to India, the CCB seeks the elimination of India's tariff on imports of sweet cherries through any available opportunity. 'The CCB would support a US-India trade agreement that achieved this objective.' The California Table Grape Commission said the US fresh grapes lose out to competitors from Australia and Chile as the latter entered the Indian market at reduced import duties under respective trade agreements. 'The commission asks USTR to seek the elimination of India's high 30 per cent tariff on US fresh through any available opportunity and to pursue reforms to India's import and taxation system to reduce the burdens on trade,' it said. Greater call for access Feature Presentation: Ashish Narsale/Rediff.com A YouTuber has been arrested in Thrissur, Kerala, for allegedly blocking the convoy of Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, the police said on Monday. Photograph: ANI Photo The Mannuthy police took Aneesh Abraham, a resident of Elanadu, into custody in connection with the incident and released him later on station bail, a police officer said. His car was also seized. The incident occurred around 9.30 pm on Saturday at Mannuthy Bypass Junction while Vadra was travelling from Vandoor, Malappuram, to Kochi airport, after attending several programmes in her constituency and Malappuram district, police sources said. According to police sources, the accused allegedly stopped his car in front of the convoy, reportedly irked by the honking of the pilot vehicle of the Wayanad MP. When a police team led by Mannuthy sub-inspector attempted to clear the block, he allegedly engaged in a confrontation with them. The police have registered a case against him for deliberately driving into the convoy, endangering lives, and disobeying police directives, police officers added. News / National by Staff reporter The founder and leader of the Family of God Church (FOG), Bishop Andrew Wutawunashe, has urged his church members to pray for outspoken war veteran Blessed Runesu 'Bombshell' Geza, amid rising tensions over planned anti-government protests.Speaking during a church service on Sunday, Wutawunashe emphasized the need to recognize Geza's contributions to Zimbabwe's liberation and acknowledged his frustrations over the country's state of affairs."There is one man we left out, and today I want you to pray for him. This man fought for the liberation of this country, amen, and at some point, when he saw the problems which pained him, he decided just like his name - that this country needs a bath."Deep in the heart of that man is something that just says this country needs a bath, that's why his name is Geza."And today, Comrade Geza, we want you to know that we appreciate all the sacrifices you did for our nation and the desires you have that the wrongs to the things that are negative, may be righted in our nation," said Wutawunashe.Wutawunashe's call for prayers comes after he previously denounced the calls for protests, warning that the movement was akin to "attempting to crucify their own liberator," referring to President Emmerson Mnangagwa. He urged Zimbabweans to embrace peace and avoid actions that could destabilize the country.Geza has been vocal in calling for Mnangagwa's removal, citing corruption and governance failures. His messages have gained traction among a segment of war veterans and opposition figures, raising alarm within the ruling Zanu-PF and State security agencies.Authorities have responded by deploying security personnel, including officers, water cannons, and patrol trucks, to deter any unrest. Meanwhile, Mnangagwa has called for peace and stability amid the rising tensions that have become a direct challenge to his leadership.As Zimbabwe grapples with political uncertainty, Wutawunashe's appeal for prayer underscores the complex dynamics at play, blending religious influence with the ongoing national discourse over governance and accountability. Local Muslims gathered to pray at the Centre Congressional Church in Brattleboro to mark the end of Ramadan during Eid al-Fitr on Sunday, March 30, 2025. Ramadan is a period of month-long fasting for Muslims around the world. The US Army said the bodies of three American soldiers have been found in a military vehicle that was submerged in a bog in Lithuania after it went missing during a training exercise several days ago. "The soldiers, whose identities are being withheld pending notification of next of kin, went missing in the early morning hours of March 25 in their M88A2 Hercules armored recovery vehicle while conducting a mission to repair and tow an immobilized tactical vehicle," US Army Europe and Africa said in a statement. The armored vehicle was retrieved earlier on March 31, six days after a rescue operation was launched at the Pabrade military training ground near Lithuania's border with Belarus. Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda said the search continues for a fourth US soldier who was part of the group. US Army Europe and Africa said the soldiers were deployed to Lithuania in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve, and were permanently stationed at Fort Stewart, Georgia. "...the search isnt finished until everyone is home. Words cannot express our gratitude to those still working around the clock during these extensive search and recovery efforts and your unwavering commitment not to rest until all are found, Major General Christopher Norrie said. The missing vehicle and troops triggered a massive recovery effort involving hundreds of Lithuanian, Polish, and US personnel and dozens of vehicles. Lithuania, a NATO and EU member, hosts more than 1,000 US troops stationed in the Baltic nation on a rotational basis. In the early hours of the rescue operation, several conflicting accounts emerged, including comments from NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte that the soldiers were dead. A NATO spokeswoman later walked back those comments. U.S. Army and Lithuanian authorities are investigating the cause of the accident. Three years after Russias withdrawal from Bucha, at least 33 civilians from the city remain in Russian prisons, including Tetyana Popovychs son, Vladyslav. He was wounded in the leg and disappeared as Russian troops massacred hundreds of Ukrainian civilians in 2022 before retreating. NANJING, March 30 (Xinhua) -- China has been rapidly advancing its industrialization and the commercialization of sci-tech innovations in recent years, fostering a significant number of "hidden champions," which has injected fresh momentum into the upgrading of global industrial chains and contributed to sustainable development, said Hermann Simon, a renowned German economist. Known as the father of the "hidden champions" theory, Simon defined the German "hidden champions" as enterprises engaging in niche markets, mastering core technology and securing the majority of the market share. On March 26 and 27, he led a delegation of over 20 representatives from German enterprises and consulting institutions on a trip to Nanjing, capital of east China's Jiangsu Province, where they visited a bullet train manufacturing plant, a biomedical company and a medical technology company, seeking new opportunities for Sino-German collaboration. Simon, in an exclusive interview with Xinhua, expressed his surprise at the remarkable changes in China's economy over the past decade. "I saw the strong emphasis the city puts on education, and the integration of scientific research and market innovation," he said. Derived from the concept of "hidden champions," China's specialized and innovative small and medium-sized enterprises share a common trait -- a strong emphasis on innovation and a long-term mindset, Simon explained. He added that China's development has undergone a remarkable transformation, shifting from an economy characterized by low cost, low price and low quality, to one driven by high-tech integration and the latest scientific advancements. During his numerous visits to China over the past 20 years, Simon has marveled at the rapid growth of industries such as artificial intelligence and the digital economy. "It's impressive to see that China has made a leap from quantity-driven mode to quality-driven way in the past decade," he said. Data from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology shows that China's manufacturing industry had maintained the top global position in terms of overall scale for the 15th consecutive year in 2024, with the total value-added industrial output reaching 40.5 trillion yuan (about 5.65 trillion U.S. dollars). By the end of last June, China had cultivated over 140,000 innovative small and medium-sized enterprises. In recent years, China has striven for breakthroughs in key and core technologies -- enhancing the innovation capabilities of its manufacturing sector. In 2024, China established five new national-level manufacturing innovation centers in emerging fields, such as new energy storage, micro-nano manufacturing, molecular drugs, humanoid robots and embodied intelligent robots. According to Simon, China is an extremely important market for Germany. "But what's more and more important is China as a market of knowledge, and also of testing new concepts," he said, noting that Chinese consumers are always very willing to accept and test innovations, and that China is the first market where many international companies introduce innovations to see whether they are accepted by consumers. Citing German electric giant Phoenix Contact as an example, Simon said: "The Phoenix Contact Nanjing company has become the headquarters in China, with more employees and higher revenue than its German headquarters." He added that an increasing number of German enterprises choose to establish their largest factory and even research center in China, not only for local manufacturing, but also to meet global market demand. Phoenix Contact's success in Nanjing is not an isolated case. China's ever-opening market and thriving innovative capabilities have increasingly become stabilizers of the global economy, amid growing uncertainties worldwide. Notably, an overwhelming 92 percent of member companies of the German Chamber of Commerce in China planned to continue their operations in the country, underscoring the enduring importance of this market to German businesses, the chamber said in a survey report in December 2024. According to Simon, China has successfully transitioned from being the "world factory" to embracing "intelligent manufacturing," shifting from a low-cost advantage to an innovation-driven edge, with this transformation underscoring China's commitment to high-quality development. "That's exactly the survival way and development mode of 'hidden champions,'" Simon said, while noting that an innovative China will offer new opportunities to the world. News / National by Staff reporter A former Zimbabwe People's Revolutionary Army (ZPRA) ex-combatant has accused the Matobo Rural District Council (RDC) of blocking his efforts to construct a memorial site in honour of the late Vice President Joshua Nkomo.Linganiso Mdabuko Nyathi, the founding national chairperson of the Lalangwe Mbambangwe Memorial Trust, claims he has faced resistance from the council since applying for land for the project 15 years ago. He alleges that his proposal to construct the Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo School of Tourism and Hospitality in the district has been repeatedly denied.Nyathi believes that the council is failing to acknowledge Nkomo's contributions to Zimbabwe both before and after independence in 1980."It is time we give full respect to the late Father Zimbabwe, also known as the Lion of Africa during the liberation war," Nyathi said. "Nkomo's revolutionary political and social legacy remains a powerful message and testimony to the people.""As a ZPRA cadre and founder of the trust, I feel there is a need to set up a school of thought and an ideological platform to embrace the contributions of all heroes without political affiliation."Frustrated by Matobo RDC's response, Nyathi has since turned to the Bulawayo City Council in search of land."I have approached the Bulawayo City Council, and they advised me to identify a suitable piece of land and inform them," he said. "I recently identified two locations - one in Entumbane, which the council deemed unsuitable, and another in Tshabalala, which was already earmarked for a school.""I am happy that Bulawayo City Council is cooperating and willing to assist. Hopefully, I will get the land and start the project."However, Matobo RDC Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Elvis Sibanda dismissed Nyathi's claims, stating that the project was hindered by heritage site regulations."Council and physical planning identified an area long ago, but after public consultations, stakeholders objected to the site, citing its location within a World Heritage area," Sibanda said."Nyathi and his team were advised to choose a different site, but they insisted on their preferred location. If they were serious about the project, they would have identified an alternative site in consultation with communities, traditional leaders, and the council."Sibanda further stated that the council supports development and does not intend to block the initiative.The project was initially planned for Maphisa in Kezi, an area significant to Nkomo's legacy.Nkomo, the founder and leader of the Zimbabwe African People's Union (ZAPU), played a crucial role in Zimbabwe's liberation struggle against white minority rule in the 1970s. He is widely regarded as a principled leader who fought for unity and equality.In 1982, the late President Robert Mugabe's ZANU-PF-led government launched the infamous Gukurahundi campaign in Matabeleland and Midlands, leading to Nkomo's exile. More than 20,000 civilians lost their lives during the massacres.The signing of the 1987 Unity Accord between ZANU and ZAPU paved the way for Nkomo to become Vice President. He served in this role until his passing on July 1, 1999, at the age of 82 due to prostate cancer.Nyathi remains hopeful that the project will eventually find support and materialize as a lasting tribute to Nkomo's legacy. TERESZTENYE, Hungary -- When the first signs of trouble appeared, the ink wasn't yet dry on the deed for Laszlo Sifter's and his wife's new house in the seemingly safe and picturesque Hungarian village of Teresztenye. Sifter and wife Agnes said they believed theyd found a rustic home in a quaint village with just two streets in northern Hungary, where their four kids could grow in a healthy, rural environment. But it was during a phone call with the mayor in 2020, just as the purchase was being settled, that things began to take a strange turn: The mayor bragged to Sifter that the village had special legal rights that gave them power of approval over any home purchase. There is nothing like it in any other village, Mayor Attila Brogli said in a recorded phone conversation. He declined to be interviewed by RFE/RL. He went on to explain that the village had declared every home and land plot a cultural heritage object, which meant no one could buy unless the village was willing to waive its own purchase rights. The entire scheme had one key advantage, Brogli said: The town was 100 percent Roma free. As Sifters wife put it, The local council wanted to know who wanted to buy a house here, and they could filter out buyers so that only those thought to be a good fit for the settlement would buy it. The Sifters, who are part Roma but dont look outwardly ethnic, apparently hadnt been flagged by the village and their purchase went through. But that hardly meant their troubles were over. They were soon confronted by neighbors who threatened them, and at one point three men jumped Sifter and attacked him, breaking his ribs. The entire incident was caught on security cameras. Then Sifter himself recorded attacks and assaults from others, including one in which a man jumped onto the hood of his car. In another, a man dropped his pants in front of Sifter, who had his children with him in his car. Even the villages deputy mayor hit Sifter with a car door and knocked a cell phone from his hand when he went to see her to ask about school transport services that had been denied to his children. As for the towns right to pre-approve home purchases, civil rights attorney Balazs Toth said, I've never heard of such a thing, to be honest. Basic law guarantees the right to freedom of movement and the right to property. The right to acquire real estate and live where you want is clearly a fundamental right contained within the law. Any discrimination in this regard is certainly illegal. The Sifters complained to the Hungarian Equal Treatment Authority, but the organization ruled that, because they had succeeded in buying a house, discrimination could not be proved. Meanwhile, plainclothes police began harassing Sifter, he said, once throwing him to the ground in front of his house as he tried to show them his ID. Dozens of legal complaints have been filed by the family and the village against each other and now the Sifters have security cameras surrounding their house and yard. The Sifters have considered moving away, Agnes Sifter said, but have decided to stick it out. To leave would be to give in, she stressed, to the forces of discrimination. They are wrong. I didn't graduate from law school so that a mayor can decide where I can live and where I can't. The French far-right politician Marine Le Pen has been found guilty of embezzling European Parliament funds over a 12-year-period. In a ruling that will shake both French and European politics, the Paris court ruled that she is ineligible from running for any political office with immediate effect -- meaning she most likely is out of the presidential race that is scheduled to take place in the spring of 2027 at the latest. She left the courtroom without comment. While she can appeal the ruling, any such step could take years -- potentially spelling the end of her political career. Le Pen, who faced a run-off against current President Emmanuel Macron in both the 2017 and 2022 races, was considered the early favorite to become the Fifth Republics first female president. Already in 2022, she received 41.5 percent in the second round, the best score ever of the French far right in a presidential bid. With Macron barred from running for a third term, Le Pen was set to be the most recognizable face in the upcoming elections, and early polls indicated she would beat any presumptive candidate from the mainstream left or right. Whitewashing The National Front Le Pen took over the National Front from Jean-Marie Le Pen back in 2011, rebranded it National Rally, and tried to whitewash its image by distancing the party and herself from some of her fathers more openly racist and antisemitic past. She has remained highly critical of immigration and Islam and wants to take France out of NATO's integrated military command. However, she has backtracked on her previous promises to take the country out of the EU and the eurozone. Her party was granted a much-publicized loan by a Russian bank back in 2014, and while she has been widely supportive of Moscow in the past and criticized the EUs sanctions against the Kremlin, she has been supportive of France accepting Ukrainian refugees. Following the March 31 ruling, the Kremlin said it "deplored the violation of democratic norms." European officials, speaking under condition of anonymity, had hoped she would potentially moderate further in office, following perhaps in the footsteps of right-wing Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who largely has been seen as competent and cooperative in Brussels. They did, however, cautioned that the National Rally always has positioned itself farther to the right and is a key founder of the Patriots for Europe political family together with the Hungarian ruling party Fidesz, whose leader, Viktor Orban, immediately voiced his support for Le Pen on X. The question is what will happen to her party now. Eight other former members of the European Parliament from the National Rally were sentenced alongside Le Pen of diverting millions of euros from European Parliament funds to pay France-based staff between 2004 and 2016, prompting the question of whether the movement can survive such a blow. What's Next For France's Far Right? Jordan Bardella -- who took over as the official National Rally leader back in 2021 and has been groomed as Le Pen's natural successor -- remains directly untainted by the scandal. But can Bardella muster the same pulling power as Le Pen? Only 29, he is seen as too young and too inexperienced. While the National Rally managed to finish first in European Parliament elections in last June, the party's failure to repeat that success in national parliamentary elections later that summer raises questions about his standing. It remains to be seen how the electorate will respond to the ruling. Many European politicians were shocked by the stinging criticism from US Vice President JD Vance earlier this year over the cancellation of the first round of Romania's presidential election in December following allegations of Russian interference on behalf of independent candidate Calin Georgescu, who surprisingly finished first. We can expect a similar blowback this time as many on the populist right will brand this "lawfare" against politicians who aren't considered politically mainstream, and Marine Le Pen has just become their "cause celebre par excellence" who can propel them to score even higher grievance votes going forward. Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned of a "strong" response following a threat by US President Donald Trump that "there will be bombing" if Tehran doesn't agree to talks on its nuclear program as concern grows over escalating rhetoric between the two countries. Speaking after Trump reiterated his threat of adopting measures ranging from fresh sanctions and tariffs to military action, Khamenei said in a sermon marking Eid Al-Fitr on March 31 that any attack by the United States would "surely receive a strong reciprocal blow." The Iranian leader, however, added that he did "not really expect mischief from abroad." The comment suggests Khamenei does not expect an attack but rather sabotage operations like explosions and assassinations, said Damon Golriz, a lecturer at The Hague University of Applied Sciences. "He's effectively pointing the finger at Israel here," Golriz told Radio Farda, adding that Trump's remark on Iran and US officials talking was "important." Switzerland's ambassador to Iran, who represents US interests and acts as an intermediary between Washington and Tehran, was summoned on March 31 by Iran's Foreign Ministry to express the regime's determination to respond "decisively and immediately" to any US threat. Since Trump returned to the White House, his administration has consistently said Iran must be prevented from acquiring nuclear weapons and has previously warned that military action is on the table should Iran reject Trump's outreach. 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 Israel's war against Iran-backed Hamas, which is deemed a terrorist organization by the United States and the EU. Trump again threatened Iran in an interview with NBC News on March 30 just days after Tehran rejected holding direct talks with Washington over its rapidly expanding nuclear program. While high-ranking Iranian officials had previously spoken against the idea of holding nuclear talks with the United States, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said specifically on March 30 that Tehran would not enter direct negotiations with Washington, though it is willing to continue talks indirectly in line with an injunction from Khamenei. "If they don't make a deal, there will be bombing," Trump said in the NBC interview by phone. "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," he added. But Trump also said US and Iranian officials are "talking," without offering details. Mohammed Ghaedi, a lecturer at George Washington University's department of political science, told Radio Farda that Trump was "saber-rattling" and "exercising brinksmanship." "I think it highly unlikely that Trump will bomb Iran, not least because he vowed on the presidential campaign trail not to drag the United States into a war," he told Radio Farda. The latest trading of threats was preceded by a round of diplomacy that failed to bring the sides any closer. 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 Khamenei had already dismissed the prospect of talks with the Trump administration. The letter gave Tehran a two-month window to decide on holding talks. Similar comments were made by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi on March 27 when he said Tehran had sent a formal written response to Trump via Oman that maintained Iran will not hold direct negotiations as long as Trump's "maximum pressure" campaign is in effect. A report in February by the UN's nuclear watchdog said Iran has accelerated its production of near weapons-grade uranium. Iran's 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 Trump's letter could lead to new pressure from Washington and other powers who are worried about Iran's nuclear program. With the 2015 nuclear deal set to formally expire in October 2025, world powers that are still part of the pact have just a few months before they lose the ability to reimpose UN sanctions on Iran. With reporting by RFE/RL's Kian Sharifi, AP, Reuters, and AFP Three years have passed since the Ukrainian military liberated Bucha, a city located in a Kyiv suburb that was the scene of some of the worst known atrocities committed by Russian forces in the early days of Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Yet at least 33 civilians from the city remain imprisoned in Russia. Among them is Vladyslav Popovych, who was wounded and taken by Russian troops during the 2022 Bucha massacre, which took the lives of hundreds of Ukrainian civilians and prisoners of war. His mother, Tetyana Popovych, continues to fight for his release from Russian prison and return to Ukraine. On March 2, 2022, Vladyslav was shot in the leg and disappeared. "[Russian troops] kept shooting [at them] even though they were on their knees with their hands up," Tetyana recalls while pointing at what was once a Russian checkpoint during the occupation. Tetyana initially believed her son had escaped and managed to find shelter in a yard near the family home. However, she soon realized that he had vanished. Months later, she discovered he was being held in a Russian prison in Kursk after filing an inquiry with Russia's Defense Ministry. The response she received confirmed that Vladyslav had been detained for allegedly resisting Russia's so-called special military operation. Besides a letter she received from her son in 2023, Tetyana has had virtually no contact with her son. 'Kept Incommunicado' Human rights organizations and legal experts argue that Russia's actions constitute war crimes. According to Anastasia Panteleyeva from the Media Initiative for Human Rights, Moscow is violating international law by detaining Popovych. "Civilians cannot be kidnapped and taken from their country. All the civilians captured in [Ukraine's] northern regions are kept incommunicado." A recent report by the United Nations Human Rights Council has found that Russia's enforced disappearances of Ukrainian civilians have been "widespread and systematic." Despite the grim reality, the Ukrainian government continues diplomatic efforts to secure the release of its civilians. Three years after the brutal Bucha occupation, most damaged buildings and infrastructure have been restored. But for mothers like Tetyana, the struggle to get their loved ones released from Russian prison continues. One week after the Kremlin and the White House announced a deal that aimed to halt fighting between Ukraine and Russia in the Black Sea region and pave the way for a wider cease-fire, the effort is stumbling. In fact, the wider attempt to pause Europe's largest land war since World War II is also under severe strain, pulled in three different directions by three different presidents with three competing priorities. On the battlefield and across Ukraine, meanwhile, fighting and air attacks continue, as Russia pounded Ukraine's second-largest city for a second day with drones and ballistic missiles on March 31. Ukrainian forces have reportedly made another cross-border raid into Russia's Belgorod region in what could be a repeat of last summer's invasion of the Kursk region. "Talks between Moscow and Washington in Saudi Arabia not only did not result in any breakthrough; they appear to have been an overall failure," Aleksandra Prokopenko, an analyst with the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center, said in an analysis. "The agreements do not look like a real prologue to peace." "Russia's strategy is to stall the negotiations as long as possible to achieve its maximalist goals by nonmilitary means," said Maria Shagina, a sanctions expert at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, a London-based think-tank. "At the same time, Moscow is wary of testing [US President Donald] Trump's patience," she told RFE/RL. "The ball is really in Trump's court on whether to believe that Russia is negotiating in good faith or ramp up pressure to force it to the negotiating table." Here's where things stand at the negotiating table and on the front lines. Who Agreed On What And When? On March 11, Ukraine and the United States announced a breakthrough agreement paving the way for a 30-day cease-fire contingent on Russia's signing on. A major foreign policy priority for Trump, it was the first concrete proposal on the negotiating table since the early weeks after Russia's all-out assault on Ukraine in February 2022. Putin balked, saying he agreed in principle but there were "nuances" that would have to be addressed and attaching conditions including a halt to Western supplies of weapons to Kyiv. A week after the US-Ukrainian agreement on a full cease-fire, the White House and the Kremlin announced a narrower deal that focused on limiting attacks on Russia's and Ukraine's energy infrastructure: power plants, transmission lines, and substations. Taking energy facilities off targeting lists has a key priority for Kyiv, which has struggled to keep the lights -- and heating -- on as Russia has pummeled its energy targets since at least November 2022. For its part, Ukraine has ramped up its homegrown industry of drones, and even cruise missiles, to target Russia's oil refineries and pipelines, not to mention military facilities. That's unnerved Moscow, though has yet to cause major disruptions or price spikes. Despite the deal, Kyiv and Moscow continued to batter one another. It later turned out that Russian drones were in fact in the air, en route to Ukrainian targets, even as Trump and Putin were speaking on the phone. Moscow has insisted it has upheld the energy cease-fire, something Ukrainian officials say is nonsense. On March 25, after separate US talks with Ukraine and Russia in Saudi Arabia, the White House announced agreements with Kyiv and Moscow to limit military action on the Black Sea. If implemented, that would give Ukraine more latitude to export its grain and agriculture products to the global markets and bring in desperately needed hard currency. The White House agreed to help Russia restore access to the global market for agricultural products and fertilizers, reduce the cost of insurance for maritime transportation, and expand access to ports, as well as to payment systems for necessary transactions. Sounds Good. What's The Catch? One of the biggest land mines, however, was the conditions that the Kremlin included in its announcement released shortly after the White House statements. Those conditions included the demand that the West lift sanctions on Russian banks that have been involved in trading agriculture products, as well as on Russian ships. Rosselkhozbank, a major state-owned lender for Russian agrobusiness, was mentioned specifically, including connecting it and other Russian entities to the global SWIFT system of bank transfers. For experts who have followed the negotiations, that appeared to be either a "poison pill" or even a Kremlin test of the White House's negotiating tactics. That's for several reasons: Reconnecting Rosselkhozbank to the global SWIFT system requires European consent; the United States can't do it on its own. Lifting Western sanctions on agricultural product companies, and related things like cargo ships and ports, would allow Moscow to not only tap another revenue stream, it would also represent a small step toward unwinding the larger sanctions regime. So The Kremlin Is Playing Smart, Then? If the Kremlin's intention is indeed to test the White House, then judging by Trump's comments on March 30, it's struck a chord. And not in a good way. "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 told NBC News. Secondary tariffs are essentially restrictions or levies on other countries that purchase oil from Russia. That would be a significant escalation of the Western sanctions regime on Russia, which derives the bulk of its hard currency imports from oil and gas sold on global markets to places like India and China. Trump also responded to Putin's comments on March 28 calling for a "transitional administration" in Ukraine. Those remarks echoed previous ones from Putin and other Kremlin officials who have suggested Zelenskyy was not a legitimate leader because Ukraine had been unable to hold a new presidential election due to wartime martial law. Trump said he was "very angry, pissed off" at Putin for questioning Zelenskyy's credibility, and he said negotiations were "not going in the right location." Those were some of the most critical comments Trump has had for Putin. In the past, he has suggested Russia was not to blame for instigating the war, and accused Zelenskyy of being a "dictator." "The Kremlin is smart enough to give an impression that it's making concessions without actually conceding anything," Shagina told RFE/RL. "Moscow's priority is to secure sanctions relief ahead of the negotiations and to test how far the US can pressure the EU and UK to tag along. A significant divergence of the transatlantic sanctions regime is very likely, which will drastically undermine the effectiveness of sanctions." "This is both an attempt to put pressure on the Kremlin and also is an obvious expression of dissatisfaction," Ukrainian political analyst Oleksandra Filippenko told Current Time. "This is an indication of how Donald Trump perceives Vladimir Putin. He does not perceive Vladimir Putin as an equal partner or negotiator, or perhaps as a rival in negotiations. Donald Trump believes that he should really solve all major international issues and issues related to negotiations." What About Ukraine's Minerals? There's another variable at work. Ukraine's successes in its defense against the Russian invasion have been powered overwhelming by US weaponry. But back in February, the Trump administration indicated it would partly condition future US military aid on a deal to give US companies access to Ukraine's mineral resources: so-called rare earth minerals, as well as other valuable resources like lithium, titanium, uranium, and even oil and gas. The White House's initial proposal landed with a thud in Kyiv, where Ukrainian officials saw it as a lopsided deal that would hobble Ukraine's future economic development. An updated proposal seen by Bloomberg News would give the United States "right of first offer" on investments in all infrastructure and natural resources projects: "an unprecedented expansion of US economic influence in Europe's largest country by area just at the time when it's attempting to align with the EU." In comments to reporters later on March 30, Trump charged that Zelenskyy was looking to back out of the minerals deal and warned that he would face "big, big problems" if he did. "I don't think [Trump] is going to impose sanctions," Serhiy Harmash, a former Ukrainian negotiator, told Current Time. "Trump is more interested in a partnership with Russia than with Ukraine. Ukraine is not a player for Trump. He believes Ukraine can be dictated to and controlled." US President Donald Trump threatened Russia with new tariffs on oil products if Moscow blocks his cease-fire initiatives, while he also said Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy faces "big, big problems" if he doesn't sign a key minerals deal with Washington. "He's trying to back out of the rare earth deal, and if he does that he's got some problems, big, big problems," Trump told reporters on March 30 in reference to the Ukrainian president. "We made a deal on rare earth. And now he's saying, well you know, I want to renegotiate the deal." "He wants to be a member of NATO, but he's never going to be a member of NATO. He understands that," Trump added. On March 28, the Ukrainian government said it was still considering a draft agreement from the United States on the country's rare earth minerals amid media reports Washington had changed the terms of the deal several times. Ukrainian Economy Minister Yulia Svyrydenko announced at a government meeting that Kyiv was forming its position on the agreement, but lawmakers would only state their stance once there was consensus. Before then, she said, public discussion would be harmful. Ukraine possesses significant deposits of critical minerals, including rare earths, although their exact size remains uncertain. Rare earth minerals are highly valued for their use in defense technologies, as well as in devices such as computers, smartphones, and batteries. Ukraine and the United States earlier this month agreed to conclude a comprehensive agreement for developing Ukraine's critical mineral resources. Efforts to seal the deal had earlier fallen apart on February 28 after a heated exchange between Trump and Zelenskyy at the White House. Meanwhile, earlier on March 30, Trump said he would impose secondary tariffs of 25-50 percent on all Russian oil if he feels President Vladimir Putin is blocking his efforts to end the war in Ukraine. During a phone interview with NBC news, Trump said he was "very angry" and "pissed off" when Putin 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. "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 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. 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. Tougher Tone Toward Putin 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 "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. 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 military's 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 soldiers undergoing treatment in the medical center. An hour before the Kharkiv attack, Zelenskyy said 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 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. 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." With reporting by Reuters Eva Osborne British ready-to-drink cocktail brand Served, which is co-owned by pop star Ellie Goulding, has been launched in the Irish market by Heineken Ireland. This marks the first time that Heineken Ireland has entered the ready to drink cocktail category in Ireland and will be the first international market for Served, which was the fastest growing spirits brand in the UK ready to drink sector last year. Served will initially launch with three of its most popular cocktail products in the Irish market Passion Fruit Martini, Mojito, and Margarita. These will be available in major supermarket retailers such as Tesco, Dunnes, and SuperValu and also in convenience stores across the State. Photo: Served The cocktails contain no artificial flavours, sweeteners or colours, and feature wonky fruit i.e. fruit that is bashed, bent or brushed. Ellie Goulding said: Im so excited that Served is launching in Ireland. I recorded my second album in Ireland and it's very close to my heart. I cant wait to get out there soon to support the launch and we look forward to replicating our UK success with the amazing Heineken team in Ireland. Marketing director with Heineken Ireland, Fiona Curtin, said: Ready-to-drink products are the fastest growing category within the alcohol sector and are now worth 99 million in Ireland, and cocktails are driving a large proportion of this growth. We are delighted to be expanding our portfolio into the ready-to-drink category and believe that Served will meet the need for a premium, quality cocktail in the Irish market. News / National by Staff reporter The Zanu-PF Harare Province executive has officially co-opted prominent businessman Kudakwashe Tagwirei into the ruling party's Central Committee, citing his strategic business acumen and long-standing contributions to the party.Tagwirei, one of Zimbabwe's leading entrepreneurs, has diverse business interests across energy, mining, transport, construction, and agriculture. He is the founder and CEO of petroleum giant Sakunda Holdings Group, a key player in Zimbabwe's economic landscape.During a Provincial Coordinating Committee (PCC) meeting held at the Zanu-PF offices yesterday, Harare provincial chairperson Godwills Masimirembwa announced the decision."Members of the Central Committee in Harare have proposed that Tagwirei be recommended for co-option into the Central Committee of Zanu-PF, and the PCC unanimously agreed. Tagwirei is a party member in the Harare Metropolitan Province. He is a well-known business strategist," said Masimirembwa.He further emphasized that Tagwirei's expertise in economic development would greatly benefit the party, describing him as "an indispensable force destined to spearhead a new era of economic prosperity for Zanu-PF."The recommendation will now be submitted to Zanu-PF Secretary-General Dr. Obert Mpofu for final approval.Zanu-PF Harare Province deputy secretary for Economic Development Andy Mhlanga hailed the move, highlighting that Tagwirei has been a dedicated supporter of the party for years.Harare Youth Chairperson Emmanuel Mahachi echoed similar sentiments, commending the decision to include Tagwirei in the party's highest organ."We are happy that Tagwirei will give advice and direction in the growth of the party. He is always available in times of need for the party. We support his co-option into the Central Committee," he said.Additionally, the PCC co-opted Voyage Dambuza as the Harare Province Political Commissar, replacing Kudakwashe Damson, who is now a card-carrying party member.Masimirembwa also noted that the PCC meeting proceeded peacefully, dismissing recent calls for protests by fugitive ex-Zanu-PF Central Committee member Blessed Geza. He reiterated the province's unwavering support for President Emmerson Mnangagwa's leadership and Vision 2030 agenda for achieving an upper-middle-income economy.The co-option of Tagwirei into the Central Committee marks a significant move for Zanu-PF as it seeks to strengthen its economic strategies ahead of the next electoral cycle. Michael Bolton A woman has been arrested after 380,000 of herbal cannabis was seized by gardai and Revenue at Dublin Airport on Monday. As a result of risk profiling, Revenue officers seized 19kg of herbal cannabis with an estimated value of 380,000. The cannabis was discovered concealed in vacuum-packed packages within the baggage of a passenger who had disembarked a flight from Thailand. A woman, aged in her 20s, was arrested by gardai in relation to the seizure and is currently being held at a Garda station in Dublin. Gardai say investigations are ongoing. Initial Investigation into Lamborghini Crash; Car Speeding at 300 Kmph? Who is Mridul, the owner? (Image courtesy:India Today) The driver, identified as Deepak, is a resident of Ajmer. He was reportedly test-driving the car, which is owned by Mridul Tiwari. Initial Investigation into Noida Lamborghini Crash; Car Speeding at 300 Kmph? Who is Mridul, the owner? Latest news: A red Lamborghini rammed into a footpath, injuring two men on Sunday in Sector 94, Noida. The two injured individuals, identified as Dijen Rividash and Rambhu Kumar, suffered fractures in their legs. Advertisement Bhupendra Singh, in charge of Sector 126 Police Station in Noida, told PTI, In the car accident, two laborers were injured. They are from Chhattisgarh. They are out of danger and have fractures in their legs. One of the victims has claimed that the car was speeding excessively. "A car was coming at a speed of 300 kmph. All three of us fell into the drain after getting hit by the car. He was driving at 300 kmph," Hindustan Times quoted in its report. Advertisement However, police have not issued any official statement regarding the car's speed. The driver, identified as Deepak, is a resident of Ajmer. He was reportedly test-driving the car, which is owned by Mridul Tiwari, a YouTuber with over 18 million followers. The Lamborghini is registered in Puducherry. Deepak, who had come to Noida to test-drive and inspect the condition of the car, has been arrested, and the vehicle has been seized after the crash. Advertisement According to Deepak, the accident occurred due to a fault in the car. Mridul Tiwari, a well-known Indian YouTuber and comedian from Etawah, Uttar Pradesh, is recognized for his engaging sketch comedy videos. He launched his YouTube channel, The MriDul, in October 2018. In 2023, he purchased a Lamborghini Huracan and showcased it on Instagram, calling it the "Worlds 1st Lamborghini with Jai Shree Ram." The car involved in the crash appears to be the same Lamborghini that got into accidents. Advertisement ( For More News, Apart from 'Initial Investigation into Noida Lamborghini Crash; Car Speeding at 300 Kmph? Who is Mridul, the owner?, Stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman) Trump 'Pissed Off' Over Putins Remarks on Zelensky, Warns of Tariffs Putin claims that President Zelenskyys term expired last year and that he therefore lacks the legitimacy to sign a peace deal. Trump 'Pissed Off' Over Putins Remarks on Zelensky, Warns of Tariffs, Latest news: US President Donald Trump has expressed anger at Russian President Vladimir Putin over his remarks made on Friday about Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Speaking to NBC News in a phone interview early Sunday, Trump reacted to Putins comments on temporarily putting Ukraine under external governance, stating, I was angry and pissed off when Putin started getting into Zelenskyys credibility and started talking about new leadership in Ukraine. Putin claims that President Zelenskyys term expired last year and that he therefore lacks the legitimacy to sign a peace deal. According to the BBC, last week, Putin suggested the possibility of a UN-run government in Ukraine to organize new elections before beginning peace talks. During the phone call, Trump told Kristen Welker that if a deal is not signed, "and if I think it was Russia's fault, I'm going to put secondary sanctions on Russia." He added that there would be a 25-50% tariff on all oil and stated, "Anybody buying oil from Russia will not be able to sell their productany product, not just oilinto the United States." Advertisement 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 in the Black Sea was thrown into doubt after Kremlin negotiators imposed far-reaching conditions. On March 18, the two leaders engaged in a 90-minute phone call, during which Putin refused Trumps request for a 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine. However, he agreed to limit attacks on Ukraines energy infrastructure. Trump had been accused of being too close to Putin in recent weeks, but his remarks on Sunday marked a shift in his stance toward the Russian president. ( For More News, Apart from 'Trump 'Pissed Off' Over Putins Remarks on Zelensky, Warns of Tariffs Stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman) Trump Threatens Iran with Bombing and Tariffs in Nuclear Program Trump made a disclosure that US and Iranian officials are negotiating but did not give the details. Trump Threatens Iran with Bombing and Tariffs in Nuclear Program latest news: US President Donald Trump threatened Iran on Sunday, warning of bombing or secondary tariffs if Tehran doesn't come to an agreement with Washington over its nuclear program. Iran responded by dismissing direct negotiations with the US, citing mistrust and previous violations of promises. In an interview, Trump made a disclosure that US and Iranian officials are negotiating but did not give the details. He said, "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." Advertisement The rising tensions are while Trump aims to curb Iran's nuclear drive, which has exceeded set limits since America pulled out of the 2015 nuclear deal in his initial term. But Iran maintains that its nuclear work is purely for civilian purposes and has refused outright negotiations under coercion. This evolution contributes to increasing uncertainty in US-Iran relations, with each side remaining entrenched in their respective positions. The international community follows the developments with bated breath. (For More News Apart Trump Threatens Iran with Bombing and Tariffs in Nuclear Program stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman) Trump warns Iran: Make a deal or face bombing and tariffs Trumps response came on the day when Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian responded to Trumps letter, which arrived on March 12. Trump warns Iran: Make a deal or face bombing and tariffs, Latest News: United States President Donald Trump, on Sunday, while talking to NBC over telephone, said that there would be bombings if Iran does not make a deal with the U.S. He also warned Iran of secondary tariffs. Trump said, 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. Advertisement The nuclear deal, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), was signed in 2015 between Iran and major world powers (the U.S., U.K., France, Germany, Russia, and China). Under the agreement, Iran agreed to strict limits on its nuclear program, including capping uranium enrichment levels, reducing its stockpile of enriched uranium, and allowing international inspections in exchange for relief from economic sanctions. In May 2018, then-President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew the U.S. from the JCPOA, arguing that the deal was flawed because it did not address Iran's ballistic missile program, had sunset clauses and it did not curb Irans regional influence in conflicts in Syria, Yemen, and Lebanon. Advertisement After withdrawing, the U.S. reimposed strict sanctions on Iran, targeting its oil exports and banking sector. After the U.S. exit and the failure of European nations to provide economic relief, Iran gradually stopped complying with the JCPOA and increased uranium enrichment levels beyond the 3.67% limit set by the deal. Irans actions raised concerns that it was moving closer to developing nuclear weapons, although Iran insists its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes. Advertisement Trumps response came on the day when Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian responded to Trumps letter, which arrived on March 12, stating, 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. Iran's response to President Donald Trump's letter was delivered before President Masoud Pezeshkian's public statement. Trump's letter, which proposed direct negotiations, was received by Iran on March 12, 2025, through a senior diplomatic adviser from the United Arab Emirates. Iran's official reply, conveyed via Oman, was announced by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on March 27, 2025. Trump reached out for negotiations, but Iran rejected direct talks, citing past U.S. betrayals. During a cabinet meeting on Sunday, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian remarked, "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." Advertisement Pezeshkians administration leans toward reform, but ultimate authority over diplomatic decisions rests with the Supreme Leader. In February 2025, Irans Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei declared negotiating with Trump "not intelligent, wise, or honorable." Tensions remain high but complex. Iran distrusts the U.S., but theres still room for diplomacy through backchannel negotiations. ( For More News, Apart from 'Trump warns Iran: Make a deal or face bombing and tariffs Stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman) General Gheorghe Avramescu General Gheorghe Avramescu's death in 1945 still shrouded in mystery Eugen Nasta, 31.03.2025, 14:00 The Romanian army throughout its history had generals who, with conspicuous gallantry, participated in the large-scale conflicts Romania was involved in, in the 20th century: two world wars and several other small-scale conflicts: the Balkan wars and the Romanian-Hungarian War of 1919. Gheorghe Avramescu was one such general, a member of an exceptional generation of servicemen and one of the most talented generals Romania ever had in the 20th century. General Avramescu was born in Botosani, north-western Romania, in 1884. He died in Jaszbereny, Hungary, in 1945. In 1913 Avramescu was a young officer. He took part in Romanian armys campaign in Bulgaria during the Second Balkan War. In 1916, when Romania entered World War One, in the Dobrogea battle, in the south-east, Avramescu proved himself as a company commander and was wounded in action. When he recovered, Avramescu returned to the frontline, distinguishing himself during the bloody battle of Marasesti, in 1917, when his unit put up a successful resistance against the violent German offensive. He was decorated and promoted to a superior military rank. After the war, he graduated from the Superior School of War and was co-opted in the armys upper hierarchy. In turn, Avramescu was head of an intelligence bureau, a division Chief of Staff, a regiment commander, head of a transport section, a brigade commander and the commander of a division. In 1941, when Romania entered the Second World War, Avramescu was promoted to the rank of general. He was also appointed commander of the mountain corps. General Avramescu fought for the liberation of Bessarabia and Northern Bukovina, also taking part in the Eastern campaign in then the USSR. In the summer of 1944 Avramescu was the commander of the 4th Romanian army. After August 23rd, 1944 Avramescu was still an army commander, fighting alongside the Soviet Union in the western campaign. However, in March 1945, general Avramescu is killed in a Germain air bombing action in Hungary, according to a press release of then the Soviet Army. During World War Two, general Constantin Latea was a member of the General Staff. He came off safe from the encirclement south of Stalingrad in 1943 and had returned to Romania. In 1966, in an interview to Radio Romanias Oral History Centre, General Constantin Latea reminisced the circumstances of General Avramescus disappearance in 1945. At one point, rumour has it that Avramescu would return to the country since it was planned for him to be offered an important political position, they dropped the hint he was going to be the prime minister. That was the guise of it all. And he had to relinquish the command of the army and leave for Bucharest, where they had this job for him. Along the way, his visit was scheduled, to the commander of the 40th soviet Army to which the 4th Romanian army was subordinated, and he was supposed to extend his thanks for the cooperation. And there it is, the convoy departing from the 4th Army, with Avramescu, with Mrs Avramescu, with Avramescus daughter, with Avramescus grandson, with the interpreter, with Bombonel Negoiescu, a command officer. There, at the headquarters of the 40th Soviet army, according to some, here is exactly what happened: the convoy stopped at the command post and Avramescu went there to bid his farewell. After about a quarter of an hour, a major came, who invited the ladies to have a cup of tea since the visit took a little longer and it was cold outside. After that, the officers were also called in and invited to a cup of tea. No sooner they entered there than they were seized by some NKVD officers who had each of them go through a separate door and nobody knew anything about them ever since. And they also grabbed the drivers and the accompanying guard, all of them. Three days later Avramescus daughter hanged herself and Avramescu no longer returned to Bucharest. Even though the belief was feasible, whereby general Avramescu had been executed by the Soviets, in 1996 general Constantin Latea said Avramescus disappearance was a mystery for a couple of reasons. What happened to Avramescu afterwards remains a mystery. There was a time when Avramescu was granted a merit-based pension as the result of a certificate signed by the Soviet general Rodion Malinovski, where it was specified that General Avramescu died during an air raid of the command post and he was a man who did his duty. So Mrs Avramescus merit-based pension was based on this certificate, and that, officially, explained Avramescus disappearance. The others, save for Felicia Avramescu, who hanged herself, were taken to the Soviet Union. I received a photograph where a tomb was marked with an ink cross, in a graveyard in Budapest : this is General Avramescus grave. No Romanian had seen him dead. Under normal circumstances, the dead body should have been handed to the Romanian army. General Gheorghe Avramescu shared the fate of Romanian servicemen who were killed in action during World War Two. Notwithstanding, for Romania, the political aftermath of the war turned General Avramescus case into a representative one for the hundreds of thousands of Romanian servicemen who had been going through similar tragedies during the war. March 31, 2025 UPDATE A roundup of local and world news Newsflash Newsroom, 31.03.2025, 20:17 MOTION The Senate in Bucharest has rejected the simple motion tabled against Energy Minister, Sebastian Burduja, by the senators of the opposition parties, AUR, SOS Romania and POT. The signatories believe Burduja cannot ensure the stability of the energy system and ignores the issues in the field. They have also blamed the minister for having arbitrarily allotted public funds to private companies without competitive procedures, the defective management of European and national funds or the high energy prices. Burduja has rejected all allegations pointing out that for the first time in the past 17 years, Romania has had a national energy strategy and its energy is presently safe, cheap and clean. In another development, on Wednesday, the MPs are going to vote on the simple motion against Interior Minister, Catalin Predoiu. The AUR representatives have called for his resignation as they believe that through his actions, he would have turned the Romanian police into a political police, which no longer protect the citizens but intimidate and silence them. Minister Predoiu has pledged to respond to the accusations with arguments. DRILL The Romanian Black Sea port of Constanta on Monday saw the beginning of Sea Shield 25, the largest multi-national training exercise organised this year by the Romanian Navy. Roughly 2,300 Romanian and foreign military personnel from 11 states are taking part in the drills, which also involve 33 ships, 9 fast boats, 14 aircraft and 90 vehicles. Sea Shield 25 primarily aims to enhance the interoperability of the naval forces of allied and partner countries. Until April 11, combat sequences will be carried out in all action environments: sea, river, lagoon, underwater, land and air. The coordination and response capacities of the participating forces in highly complex scenarios will be tested and improved. RULING The French far-right leader, Marine Le Pen, has been banned from running for the presidential election in 2027 and for any other public office for five years this is a court ruling in the embezzlement case against her and 24 other codefendants who were accused of illicitly siphoning European Parliament funds to pay for party employees who seldom or never dealt with affairs in Brussels or Strasbourg. According to the courts estimates, the accused had over 12 years embezzled more than 4 million Euros. Le Pen Pen, who denied any wrongdoing, has also got a 100 thousand Euro fine and a four-year prison sentence, two of which were suspended and two to be served under house arrest. EU The European Parliament convened in Strasbourg on Tuesday for a new plenary session. The topics that MEPs are going to discuss until April 3 include the EUs foreign and security policies for this year and plans to improve safety and preparedness. They will vote on two draft reports calling on the European Union to invest more in its defence sector and to increase its military and political support for Ukraine. MEPs will also discuss new steps against drug trafficking, as well as a new agenda to fight terrorism. On Tuesday, they will vote on a new Romanian member of the European Court of Auditors. Lucian Romascanu, nominated by the Romanian government, is expected to take office on July 1. SCHENGEN Structures of the Interior Ministry have carried out 39 hundred missions on Romanias 17 international airports since the countrys Schengen accession with its air borders on March 31 2024. According to a balance sheet presented on Monday, the aforementioned structures have discovered over 100 forged documents or documents used by other persons than their legal owners. 150 illegal residents have also been discovered. Romania, a fully-fledged member of Europes border-free area since early this year, is going to be assessed in Schengen in autumn. (bill) Romania celebrates 21 years of NATO membership In 2004, Romania officially joined NATO, the biggest military alliance in history. NATO membership was an enormous advantage, with Romania now benefitting from the strongest security guarantees. Source: MAPN Mihai Pelin, 31.03.2025, 14:00 Romania will continue to contribute to promoting global security and the democratic values, said interim president Ilie Bolojan on the 21st anniversary of the countrys NATO membership. That moment was very important, consolidating Romanias security and stability. This was the result especially of the support given by the United States, the Alliances strongest force, Ilie Bolojan also said. He recalled that in 2025, Romania and the United States, which he described as a reliable friend, will celebrate 145 years of diplomatic ties. The relations between the two countries were raised to the level of a strategic partnership in 1997. On 29th March 2004, Romania officially joined NATO by submitting the ratification instruments to the State Department of the US, the depositary of the North Atlantic Alliance Treaty. The invitation to join was first received at the NATO summit in Prague in 2002 and was the result of major political consensus at national level, consolidated by military involvement in theatres of operations. After the accession, the Romanian army embarked on a process of modernisation. The famous Russian-make MIG aircraft were replaced by the much more high performing American F 16 planes. Moreover, Bucharest will also purchase F35 planes. Romania, the US and NATO have invested hundreds of millions of euros in the modernisation of Romanian military bases. Runways, hangars, infrastructure, supply centres and many other facilities were built and renovated. In April 2008, Romania hosted the NATO summit in Bucharest. This was the biggest foreign policy event to be staged by Romania, as well as the biggest summit in the history of NATO. After the annexation of the Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea by Russia, in 2014, the support for Romania has become more consistent. In 2016, the United States placed elements of its missile defence shield in Deveselu, in the south of Romania, to be later integrated with the NATO defence system. NATO membership on the eastern border of this military alliance made Romania into an important ally for the other members. NATO chose Romania to host four of its important structures, including three command structures. Russias invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 immediately led to NATOs creation in Romania of a battle group made up of military from a number of allied armies. At the moment, the US started a major project to modernise the military base in Mihail Kogalniceanu, in the south-east. This will become the biggest NATO base in Europe. Many Romanians, either civilians or military, have held important positions within NATO. The most telling example is that of the former Romanian foreign minister Mircea Geoana who served as NATO deputy secretary general between 2019 and 2024. NATO was established in 1949, and Sweden is its newest member, joining in 2024. There are to date 32 member states. News / National by Staff reporter At least three Malawian nationals lost their lives, while 15 others were injured in a tragic bus accident on Saturday evening at Kingsview, about 30 kilometers east of Karoi. The Achisi Bus, which was en route from Malawi to South Africa via Zambia and Zimbabwe, collided with a haulage truck before overturning into a drain.National police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the accident."The ZRP confirms a fatal road traffic accident that occurred at the 165-kilometer peg along the Harare-Chirundu Road on March 30 at around 4:50 PM," said Nyathi."Three foreign nationals were killed while 15 others were injured when a bus coming from Malawi with 119 passengers on board veered off the road before overturning and landing on its left side."The driver had allegedly tried to avoid a collision with a recovery truck that was towing another truck involved in a previous accident."The deceased were taken to Karoi General Hospital mortuary, while the injured were admitted to the same facility for treatment. Those in critical condition were transferred to Chinhoyi Provincial and Sally Mugabe Hospitals for further medical attention.Meanwhile, passengers who escaped unscathed are currently being accommodated at Chikangwe Hall in Karoi, awaiting further assistance. Security and defense measures in Bucharest Romania, the country with the longest borders with Ukraine, is directly interested in ending the war. Sedinta CSAT (Credits: presidency.ro) Bogdan Matei, 31.03.2025, 13:50 We are facing a complicated context after the annulled presidential election of last year, we have a strong distrust in both institutions and the political class. We also have a complicated situation internationally, with a war close to our borders. We need political stability, Romanias interim president Ilie Bolojan said after chairing his first meeting of the countrys Supreme Defense Council (CSAT). Participants agreed that Romania, the country with the longest land and maritime borders with Ukraine, is directly interested in ending the war by means of a just and lasting peace. Bucharest hails the results of the recent negotiations in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, regarding the ceasefire, as well as the USAs efforts in that regard, as a first step towards reaching a peace agreement as a result of which Ukraine, supported by all its allies, can begin the reconstruction of the country and the restoration of its economy. Romania will not send peacekeeping forces to Ukraine, but, as stated in a Presidency release, issued at the end of the Council meeting, our country will help monitor the ceasefire in Ukraine, by means of its infrastructure and other capabilities, being directly invested in putting an end to the war. The ceasefire, the press release reads, should be followed by a peace agreement that would provide robust security guarantees and deter any future aggression by Russia. Apart from actions meant to implement the ceasefire agreement, Romania will coordinate with allies in the region and NATO regarding issues related to the security and safety of navigation in the Black Sea. As these developments also have an impact on the neighboring Republic of Moldova, Council members also discussed support for Chisinaus EU integration aspirations. Against this security backdrop, the Council greenlit the purchase of a new light corvette-type ship for the Romanian Naval Forces, capable of executing a plethora of missions in the shortest time possible. The release also states that trans-Atlantic cooperation is key at present, and Romania must adopt a proactive strategy to consolidate the bilateral relationship with the United States, in order to maintain a consistent American military presence in the country. The Council meeting also approved reports on the activities of national security institutions in 2024 and the key priorities for 2025, and assessed the Supreme Defense Councils report for 2024, which will be submitted to Parliament for approval. (VP) Japan is scheduled to release a batch of data on Monday, highlighting a busy day for Asia-Pacific economic activity. On tap are February figures for industrial production, retail sales, construction orders and housing starts. Industrial production is expected to rise 1.9 percent on month after dipping 1.1 percent in January. Sales are seen higher by an annual 2.4 percent, easing from 2.4 percent in the previous month. Construction orders were up 12.2 percent on year in January and housing starts fell 4.6 percent. South Korea will provide February numbers for industrial production and retail sales; in January, industrial production was down 2.3 percent on month and 4.1 percent on year, while sales slipped 0.6 percent on month. Australia will see February data for private sector credit, with forecasts suggesting a steady reading at 0.5 percent on month. New Zealand will see March results for the confidence index from ANZ Bank and the activity index from NBNZ; in January, they were at 58.4 and 45.1 percent, respectively. China will release March results for its manufacturing, non-manufacturing and composite indexes from the National Bureau of Statistics; in February, their scores were 50.2, 50.4 and 51.1, respectively. Hong Kong will see February data for retail sales; in January, sales were down 3.2 percent on year. Thailand will provide February numbers for imports, exports, trade balance and current account. In January, imports were up 7.5 percent on year and exports were up 12.9 percent for a trade surplus of $0.40 billion, while the current account surplus was $2.700 billion. Finally, the market in Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia are closed on Monday for Eid-ul-Fitr. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Economic News What parts of the world are seeing the best (and worst) economic performances lately? Click here to check out our Econ Scorecard and find out! See up-to-the-moment rankings for the best and worst performers in GDP, unemployment rate, inflation and much more. Westport Fuel Systems Inc. (WPRT, WPRT.TO) Monday announced that it has entered into a binding agreement to sell its interest in Westport Fuel Systems Italia S.r.l., which includes the Light-Duty segment, for a base purchase price of $73.1 million. Westport Fuel Systems Italia includes the Light-Duty segment, including the light-duty OEM, delayed OEM, and independent aftermarket businesses. The deal is with a wholly-owned investment vehicle of Heliaca Investments Coperatief U.A., a Dutch investment firm supported by venture capital and private equity firm Ramphastos Investments Management B.V. The transaction provides for a base purchase price of $73.1 million, subject to certain adjustments, and potential earnouts of up to an estimated $6.5 million if certain conditions are achieved, in accordance with the deal terms. Under the terms of the agreement, Heliaca Investments through its subsidiary will acquire Westport's Light-Duty segment, including its related assets and customer contracts. The deal is subject to shareholder approval and other customary closing conditions and is expected to close in late second quarter of 2025. The proceeds from the proposed Transaction are expected to enable Westport to significantly improve its financial stability, while also supporting key growth initiatives focused on providing solutions for hard-to-decarbonize mobility and industrial applications. Following the sale, Westport intends to concentrate fully on providing affordable solutions for hard-to-decarbonize mobility and industrial applications, centered around the unique opportunities created by the HPDI and its Cespira joint venture. Following closing, Westport intends to align its cost structure to be more reflective of a smaller, more efficient organization, while also seeking further opportunities for efficiency gains. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News Insurance holding company American Financial Group, Inc. (AFG) announced Monday that a wholly-owned subsidiary of the company has reached agreements to sell the hotel and related assets and the marina comprising Charleston Harbor Resort & Marina, a premier resort property and marina located in Charleston, South Carolina. In addition to customary representations, warranties and closing conditions, each agreement includes a sixty-day due diligence period during which time either purchaser, in its sole discretion, can terminate the agreements. The transaction is expected to close in the second or third quarter of 2025. The company currently expects to recognize a net, after-tax gain of approximately $100 million or $1.20 per share on the sale. Charleston Harbor includes two full-service hotels, a 459-slip marina, a full-service restaurant, retail store and other resort amenities. AFG first purchased what became known as Charleston Harbor Resort & Marina in 2002. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News The Switzerland market ended sharply lower on Monday, in line with across Europe, as concerns about new tariffs and their impact on global economic growth rendered the mood extremely bearish. US President Donald Trump said in an interview on Sunday that he will likely impose duties on "essentially all" of the U.S.'s trading partners. The President said that new tariffs to be announced on Wednesday, which he dubbed as "liberation day," will hit "all countries." The benchmark SMI ended with a loss of 242.31 points or 1.89% at 12,598.12, slightly off the day's low of 12,585.99. Logitech International tumbled 4.42%. SIG Group, UBS Group, ABB, Partners Group, Richemont, VAT Group, Lonza Group, Adecco and Swatch Group lost 3 to 4%. Straumann Holding ended nearly 3% down. Sonova, Julius Baer, Sika, Sandoz Group, Roche Holding and Holcim closed lower by 2 to 2.5%. Schindler, the lone gainer among the SMI constitutents, ended 0.36% up. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Market Analysis Indias competitive 125cc motorcycle segment witnessed marginal growth in February 2025, with total domestic sales reaching 2,60,246 units, compared to 2,58,775 units in February 2024 registering a modest 0.57% year-on-year (YoY) growth. While the segment remained steady overall, individual brand performances varied significantly. 125cc Motorcycle Sales Feb 2025 YoY Comparison Honda continued its dominance with the Shine and SP125 models, together registering 1,39,202 units, a 15.89% increase from 1,20,119 units sold in the same month last year. This strong performance reaffirmed Hondas stronghold in the commuter segment, driven by reliability, fuel efficiency, and broad appeal. In second place, Bajaj Pulsars 125cc variants (including the NS125) posted 53,768 units, down 13.57% YoY from 62,207 units. Meanwhile, TVS Raider, once a fast-rising contender in this category, saw a sharp 33.12% decline, falling to 28,132 units from 42,063 units a year ago. On the other hand, Hero Xtreme 125R registered 16,178 units sold in February 2025 compared to just 3,504 units in the same period last year, it recorded an impressive 361.70% YoY growth. Hero Splendor 125cc variant reported 13,972 units, slightly down by 5.44%, while Glamour witnessed a significant drop of 50.06%, with sales down to 7,942 units from 15,904 last year. Bajaj Freedom CNG-powered motorcycle registered 1,027 units sales. Meanwhile, KTMs 125cc models continued to see a sharp decline, with just 25 units sold, down from 202 units, reflecting an 87.62% drop YoY. 125cc Motorcycle Sales Feb 2025 MoM Comparison Following a marginal year-on-year growth, the 125cc motorcycle segment in India experienced a month-on-month (MoM) decline of 9.17% in February 2025. Sales dropped from 2,86,524 units in January 2025 to 2,60,246 units in February 2025, indicating a slowdown across most key models. Honda Shine and SP125 recorded 1,39,202 units in February, down from 1,51,439 units in January a decline of 8.08%. Similarly, Bajaj Pulsar 125 and NS125 witnessed an 11.33% drop, slipping from 60,640 units in January to 53,768 units in February. TVS Raider, on the other hand, bucked the trend with a slight MoM growth of 2.74%, increasing its sales from 27,382 units in January to 28,132 units in February a positive sign amidst broader declines. Hero Xtreme 125R, despite its strong YoY growth, saw a sharp 26.03% drop MoM, with sales falling from 21,870 units in January to 16,178 units in February. Hero Splendor 125 remained largely stable, registering a marginal dip of 1.02%. Hero Glamour faced a notable 18.25% decline, falling to 7,942 units from 9,715 units in January. Bajaj Freedom, still in its early ramp-up phase, also declined 23.64% MoM, recording 1,027 units in February compared to 1,345 units in January. KTM 125 posted a 47.06% MoM increase, climbing from 17 to 25 units. Toyota has found great success with Land Cruiser lineup, which has emerged one of the most celebrated 4X4s in automotive history. Toyota is on the verge of launching a smaller Land Cruiser that will slot below Land Cruiser Prado, which will make Land Cruiser badge more accessible for masses. Mini Toyota Land Cruiser Launch While the name of this SUV is not yet confirmed, it is highly likely to take on the Land Cruiser name with a suffix. Similar to what we get with Land Cruiser Prado. Where codenames are concerned, it will get LC with a suffix in numbers similar to LC300 (Land Cruiser) and LC250 (Land Cruiser Prado). Towards the end of 2021, Toyota teased something called Compact Cruiser EV as part of their Battery EV Briefing. It had an overall silhouette similar to that of a now discontinued FJ Cruiser. Towards the end of 2023, speculations flooded that Toyota is working on a new Land Cruiser which will be its smallest and the most affordable model in this range yet. This was big news for global automotive community as Toyota Land Cruiser is one of the most respected and celebrated badges in the world. Making a smaller and affordable Land Cruiser will be a bold and smart move which is highly likely to prove profitable for the brand. While the concept was an EV, rumour mill suggests there will be ICE versions of this vehicle as well. Launch was speculated to be around 2025 and there havent been any real developments suggesting it could be true. This may mean that launch is postponed or the development is leak-proof. The probable markets for this vehicle would be Middle East, Europe, Japan, North America and others. What to expect? Mini Toyota Land Cruiser could measure around 4.5m to 4.6m in length, around 1.8m in width and pack around 2.7m of wheelbase. To keep the costs low, Toyota is rumoured to be positioning Mini Land Cruiser on the cost effective IMV 0 platform like Hilux Champ, rather than GA-F platform underpinning LC300 and LC250. Under the bonnet, Mini Land Cruiser could be packing an IC engine with a mild Hybrid setup as well as a fully electric powertrain to be a versatile offering. Toyota has not confirmed a launch timeline of this vehicle. India launch might be on the cards too, considering just how much the market has evolved. Source Nissan Motor India has achieved its highest annual sales performance since FY2017-18, registering consolidated sales of over 99,000 units in FY2024-25. This milestone includes over 28,000+ units sold in the domestic market and an impressive 71,000+ units exported, largely driven by the popularity of the New Nissan Magnite B-SUV. Introduced in October 2024, the New Magnite has not only strengthened Nissans domestic portfolio but also played a pivotal role in its global strategy. Under the One Car, One World initiative, the Magnite is now exported to over 65 countries, including left-hand-drive (LHD) markets such as Saudi Arabia. The export numbers mark a historic high for Nissan in India, highlighting the countrys growing importance as a global manufacturing and export hub. Highest Sales in 7 Years Nissans FY25 consolidated sales grew by 35% year-on-year. Despite increasing competition and the shift toward alternative fuel vehicles in the Indian market, the Magnite helped maintain strong domestic momentum. The vehicle crossed a cumulative 1.5 lakh unit sales milestone in August 2024, with the new version hitting 10,000+ bookings within three months of launch. Exports grew from 42,978 units in FY23 to 71,000 units in FY25 an unprecedented 65% rise. The New Magnites RHD and LHD versions are being shipped to multiple global markets, supporting Nissans aim to cater to a broader international customer base. Nissan also announced a price hike of up to 3% on the New Magnite across all variants, effective from April 1, 2025, to offset rising input and operational costs. Strategic Restructuring for Future Growth As part of its global turnaround strategy, Nissan announced a restructuring of its India operations. The company is offloading its stake in the Chennai JV plant to Alliance partners, while reaffirming its commitment to Indian customers, employees, and dealer partners. Frank Torres, Divisional Vice President of AMIEO Region Business Transformation & President of Nissan India Operations said, India remains a strong pillar of growth for Nissan driven by the continued success of the Nissan Magnite. The export of the new Nissan Magnite expanded to over 65 international geographies including LHD markets this year. Nissan remains committed to the Indian market, customers, dealer partners, employees & stakeholders. Nissan & its dealer partners will continue to provide Sales & Service to customers of existing and future new models. New Models and Network Expansion In addition to the Magnite, Nissan has announced the upcoming launch of two new models an all-new 7-seater B-MPV and a 5-seater C-SUV to further strengthen its product lineup in India. These new cars will be sharing platform with Renault Triber and Renault Duster respectively. Saurabh Vatsa, Managing Director, Nissan Motor India said, This year has been a challenging one for the auto industry. Despite this, the New Magnite has shown and has proven that it remains a strong favorite amongst the B-SUV customers. The continued expansion of our dealership network reflects our commitment to improving accessibility and customer service. As we move forward, with the recent announcement of the additions of an All-New 7-seater B-MPV and 5-seater C-SUV and we are focused on offering an exciting product portfolio and expanding our dealer network further for enhancing customer experience. Trump threats open 'floodgate' of inquiries from U.S. physicians about moving north Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Republican presidential nominee and former U.S. president Donald Trump attend a campaign event sponsored by conservative group Turning Point USA, in Duluth, Georgia, U.S., October 23, 2024. (Carlos Barria/Reuters - image credit) Renowned Ottawa heart surgeon Marc Ruel was planning a move to the United States last year, with the University of California, San Francisco "thrilled to announce" that he would be leading a heart division in their surgery department. But Donald Trump's threats toward Canada were such that Ruel has now decided to remain in Canada. "Canada is under duress right now," he told CBC. "I felt my role and duty at this point was to directly serve my country from within." Ruel is not the only medical professional now reluctant to work in the United States. ADVERTISEMENT That means Canada's health-care system could stand to benefit from the political upheaval unleashed by the U.S. president, as American physicians look to move north and Canadians forgo opportunities south of the border. 'I don't want to do politics' For over a decade, Ruel served as the head of cardiac surgery at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute, developing world-leading techniques in less invasive bypass surgery. Ruel says he considers his skills a product of Canada, abilities that he was ready to share globally when he accepted the position at UCSF last year. "In the western United States, no one does this more advanced, minimally invasive multiple bypass surgery," he said. Ruel has not previously spoken publicly about his decision to remain in Canada, partly to avoid wading into politics. ADVERTISEMENT "I don't want to do politics, I'm a surgeon, I'm not a politician and I respect every nation's choice to choose their own destiny," he said. But Trump's imposition of tariffs and threats to annex the country that's historically been its closest ally has made geopolitics an unavoidable issue. "I had to most unfortunately change my decision," Ruel said. "I say unfortunately because there were patients there in California, I can tell you, who were looking forward to having this type of surgery." Given the broader context, Ruel says staying put was the best decision. "I'm very happy to be here and to serve, as well as I can, my fellow Canadians," he said. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Donald Trump attend a Republican campaign event last October. Three American physicians who spoke to CBC cited concerns about Kennedy, the country's health secretary, advancing a vaccine-skeptical agenda. (Carlos Barria/Reuters) Meanwhile in the U.S., many physicians are considering whether they can continue doing their jobs under a second Trump administration. ADVERTISEMENT CBC spoke with two American physicians seeking to relocate to Canada and a third who recently moved to B.C. The three declined to speak on the record, citing a fear of retribution for speaking critically of the Trump administration. But they shared concerns over health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. advancing an anti-science and vaccine-skeptical agenda. This past week, U.S. media reported that Kennedy had hired David Geier, a vaccine skeptic, to study links between immunizations and autism. Geier, who was censured in 2012 for practising medicine without a license in Maryland, has previously published debunked claims about vaccines increasing the risk of autism, which critics say pre-ordain the outcome of any subsequent investigation led by him. On Thursday, Kennedy also announced plans to cut 10,000 jobs as part of a restructuring of federal public health agencies. A 'floodgate' opening Concerns over the political climate in the U.S. has opened a "floodgate" of inquiries about moving to Canada, according to recruiter Michelle Flynn. ADVERTISEMENT "The amount of interest has more than doubled over the last several months," she told CBC. The COO of CanAm Physician Recruiting Inc., Flynn recruits U.S.-trained physicians to work in Canada and places Canadian specialists in roles in the U.S. Lately though, she has struggled to get any Canadians interested in moving south. "I started a position for an [obstetrician-gynecologist] in the U.S. before President Trump was elected," she said. "We since have had to scrap that idea totally. Nobody is going to the U.S." To deal with the influx of inquiries from American physicians wanting to come to Canada, Flynn said she is now conducting interviews five days a week, up from three days a week previously. "We're getting 60-plus physicians coming to and registering on our website a month," she said. Canada is now in a better position to welcome U.S.-trained physicians than in the past, as most provinces have removed barriers to licensing in recent years. Ontario in particular is well placed to receive American doctors, according to the provincial health ministry. "There is no doubt the U.S. is facing economic uncertainty at the hands of President Trump's tariffs," the Ministry of Health said in an emailed statement. "We have taken steps to break down barriers for internationally educated healthcare workers working with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO) to remove unnecessary red tape to allow physicians who are trained and Board Certified in the U.S. to practice in Ontario immediately." After introducing this new licensing pathway, the CPSO registered 351 U.S. physicians between 2023 and the end of 2024, a spokesperson said. So far this year, CPSO has received registration applications from 240 physicians who are U.S. educated. Most of them are currently practicing in the U.S., the spokesperson said. Given the disruption caused by Trump, Ruel believes Canada is "the best-situated" country to face an uncertain future. "I'm a great believer in the Canadian health-care system," he said. "It needs some fixes, but I think the basic principles that we have of equity and transferability and access to all are truly important." Campus Activities Details John DuBois fled the religious persecution of the French Revolution that destroyed his order. Today, challenges to religious liberty exist across the globe. How should the Mount he founded serve religious liberty so valued by the Church and needed by society and believers? This forum brings together several perspectives regarding religious liberty in theory and practice to aid our reflection. David K. Trimble President, Religious Freedom Institute. After leading the Religious Freedom Institutes (RFI) public policy work and its nationwide and international initiatives in secondary and higher education, David Trimble now serves as RFI's President. Within that context, he brings a wealth of experience to the academy and civil society in international affairs, domestic and foreign policy, law, and higher education. Throughout his career, Trimble has focused on the intersection between religious freedom and policy. He is recognized in the U.S. and abroad for his international religious freedom advocacy on behalf of ethnic and religious minorities worldwide and for his acute knowledge of legislative process. Over the past decade, Trimble provided leadership in the drafting and passing of key genocide declarations and statutes shaping current U.S. policy on international religious freedom and the recovery and stabilization of ethnic and religious minorities in the Middle East. He has also provided counsel to leaders in East Africa regarding democracy reforms and fundamental human rights protections. Since 2021, Mr. Trimble has delivered keynote lectures on religious freedom in Europe and the Middle East, co-developed a religious freedom education plan for secondary schools in Poland and the Visagrad Four, provided training to senior parliamentary staff and legal counsel in Iraq, launched seminal training programs for college students in the U.S. and RFIs first transatlantic advanced student seminar in the United Kingdom, and conducted religious freedom training for foreign pastors and priests on behalf of the U.S. Department of State. Ismail Royer. Director Ismail Royer is the Director of the Islam and Religious Freedom Action Team for the Religious Freedom Institute. He converted to Islam in 1992. After becoming involved with an extremist group in Kashmir, Royer pleaded guilty to violating United States neutrality law and served nearly 14 years in prison. Now, he works with nonprofits to promote friendship and cooperation among faiths for the common good. His work has been published in many outlets, including the Washington Post, USA Today, Newsday, First Things, and American Conservative. He is the co-editor of a forthcoming book on virtue ethics in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Dr. Stanley W. Carlson-Thies Stanley Carlson-Thies is founder and senior director of the Institutional Religious Freedom Alliance, which promotes the religious freedoms that enable faith-based organizations to make their distinctive contributions to the common good. IRFA is a division of the Center for Public Justice, a Washington, DC-area independent, nonpartisan Christian organization devoted to leadership development, policy research, and civic education. He is the organizer and host of a monthly multi-faith gathering of religious freedom advocates and leaders of faith-based organizations, the Coalition to Preserve Religious Freedom, which monitors federal policymaking and advocates to Congress and the executive branch for laws and regulations that respect institutional religious freedom. Carlson-Thies is the co-author of Free to Serve: Preserving the Religious Freedom of Faith-Based Organizations (2015), The Freedom of Faith-Based Organizations to Staff on a Religious Basis (2004), and A Revolution of Compassion: Faith-Based Groups as Full Partners in Fighting Americas Social Problems (2003). In the early 1990s he directed a project on Christian perspectives on welfare reform and co-edited the resulting book, Welfare in America: Christian Perspectives on a Policy in Crisis (1996). He served on the initial staff of President George W. Bushs White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives (2001-2002) and in 2009-2010 on the church-state taskforce of President Obamas Advisory Council on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships. He has advised federal departments and states on how to construct productive and respectful relationships with faith-based and secular community organizations. He advises faith-based organizations and associations on their freedoms and on partnerships with government, and he mobilizes them for advocacy. He has received numerous awards across his career for his defense of religious liberty. His research work explores how the Dutch constitution, government, and society were transformed from the 1870s to the 1970s under the leadership of the Reformed activist Abraham Kuyper and his Protestant and Catholic allies into a full pluralism that respects public and social participation by all faiths. He was born in Tokyo, Japan, to missionary parents. Astronomers using the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope have captured an amazing new photo of the spiral galaxy NGC 4941. NGC 4941 is located approximately 67 million light-years away from Earth in the constellation of Virgo. Also known as AGC 530009, IRAS 13016-0516, LEDA 45165 or UGCA 321, the galaxy is 60,000 light-years across. It was discovered by the German-British astronomer William Herschel on April 24, 1784. NGC 4941 is a member of two groups of galaxies: the NGC 4941 group and the NGC 4697 group. Because this galaxy is nearby, cosmically speaking, Hubbles keen instruments are able to pick out exquisite details such as individual star clusters and filamentary clouds of gas and dust, the Hubble astronomers said. The Hubble data used to construct this image were collected as part of an observing program that investigates the star formation and stellar feedback cycle in nearby galaxies. As stars form in dense, cold clumps of gas, they begin to influence their surroundings. Stars heat and stir up the gas clouds in which they are born through winds, starlight, and eventually, for massive stars by exploding as supernovae. These processes are collectively called stellar feedback, and they impact the rate at which a galaxy can form new stars. As it turns out, stars arent the only entities providing feedback in NGC 4941, they added. At the heart of this galaxy lies an active galactic nucleus (AGN) a supermassive black hole feasting on gas. As the black hole amasses gas from its surroundings, the gas swirls into a superheated disc that glows brightly at wavelengths across the electromagnetic spectrum. Similar to stars but on a much, much larger scale active galactic nuclei shape their surroundings through winds, radiation, and powerful jets, altering not only star formation but also the evolution of the galaxy as a whole. People with dementia can enjoy productive and rewarding working lives in the digital era, contrary to the widespread stereotype that dementia is incompatible with the use of modern technology, according to new research from the University of Bath. The study -- Working lives with dementia: A digital futures perspective -- argues that the digital revolution risks exacerbating inequalities amongst those with diverse needs but that organisations can and should develop, adapt and deploy digital technology and the working environment to help those with dementia to continue in employment. "The bottom line is that we have an ageing population and workforce in which dementia will feature and which should, and can be, accommodated by the judicious use of digital technology and adapting working conditions. The reality is, this is not dealt with in any meaningful way right now -- there are very rarely strategies in place," said Dr James Fletcher of the University of Bath School of Management. "There is widespread prejudice that those with dementia cannot cope with, or benefit from, digital technology, and they often get bundled into the same category as the oldest people. But it's worth putting some perspective on this -- an experienced 60-year-old employee with early stage dementia will have grown up through the digital, internet and social media revolutions -- and with the right support, they will still have much to offer," Dr Fletcher said. The study was published as the UK government announced its welfare reform plans, part of which is to encourage more disabled people into work. Dr Fletcher said he hoped the research could be a useful example of the prospects and challenges of fulfilling that goal. Dr Fletcher noted that quite simple adjustments to the working environment, such as improving workstation lighting, using appropriate fonts and colour schemes, and providing workers with calendars, voice activated controls, and automatic reminders could make a big difference for somebody diagnosed with dementia. "And AI offers really interesting opportunities -- it is superb at solving many of the problems faced by those with dementia, such as finding words, organising text and putting words in the right sequence. Couple that with the potential offered by hybrid working for those with dementia, and you can see the benefits for both employees and companies," he said. Dr Fletcher and his co-researcher Dr Olivia Brown argue that dementia is not inherently disabling and that its impact depends heavily on the environment and surroundings in which an employee is operating. Employers might consider, for example, that an employee with dementia may be able to access a building with a swipe card but may be foiled if access relies on codes that they have to remember. "We need to approach this in the way we already respond to people with diverse needs, which is already familiar to most employees. Also, there is a misplaced tendency to see a dementia diagnosis in black and white terms when the reality is, the effects can vary day-to-day and hour-to-hour depending on environment and relationships," Dr Brown said. Dr Fletcher said that employees could suffer tremendous stress from a dementia diagnosis and disclosing this to their employer, with some developing strategies to conceal their condition. He said that, while we lack good statistics, it appears that the 'vast majority' of those diagnosed with dementia go into unemployment, often unwillingly. "There are many who could stay in the workforce and don't. And this is not just an issue for older people -- growing numbers of younger people are being diagnosed," he said. The researchers noted that dementia is often considered to be a post-retirement phenomenon, but estimates suggest that 9% of the 35.6 million people worldwide with dementia are under 65 years of age, with around 370,000 new cases of young onset dementia annually. Professor Ngai Wong and Dr Zhengwu Liu from the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering at the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Hong Kong (HKU), in collaboration with research teams at Tsinghua University and Tianjin University, have conducted groundbreaking research on memristor-based brain-computer interfaces (BCIs). Published in Nature Electronics, this research presents an innovative approach for implementing energy-efficient adaptive neuromorphic decoders in BCIs that can effectively co-evolve with changing brain signals. A brain-computer interface (BCI) is a computer-based system that creates a direct communication pathway between the brain and external devices, such as computers, allowing individuals to control these devices or applications purely through brain activity, bypassing the need for traditional muscle movements or the nervous system. This technology holds immense potential across a wide range of fields, from assistive technologies to neurological rehabilitation. However, traditional BCIs still face challenges. "The brain is a complex dynamic system with signals that constantly evolve and fluctuate. This poses significant challenges for BCIs to maintain stable performance over time," said Professor Wong and Dr Liu. "Additionally, as brain-machine links grow in complexity, traditional computing architectures struggle with real-time processing demands." The collaborative research addressed these challenges by developing a 128K-cell memristor chip that serves as an adaptive brain signal decoder. The team introduced a hardware-efficient one-step memristor decoding strategy that significantly reduces computational complexity while maintaining high accuracy. Dr Liu, a Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering at HKU, contributed as a co-first author to this groundbreaking work. In real-world testing, the system demonstrated impressive capabilities in a four-degree-of-freedom drone flight control task, achieving 85.17% decoding accuracy -- equivalent to software-based methods -- while consuming 1,643 times less energy and offering 216 times higher normalised speed than conventional CPU-based systems. Most significantly, the researchers developed an interactive update framework that enables the memristor decoder and brain signals to adapt to each other naturally. This co-evolution, demonstrated in experiments involving ten participants over six-hour sessions, resulted in approximately 20% higher accuracy compared to systems without co-evolution capability. "Our work on optimising the computational models and error mitigation techniques was crucial to ensure that the theoretical advantages of memristor technology could be realised in practical BCI applications," explained Dr Liu. "The one-step decoding approach we developed together significantly reduces both computational complexity and hardware costs, making the technology more accessible for a wide range of practical scenarios." Professor Wong further emphasised, "More importantly, our interactive updating framework enables co-evolution between the memristor decoder and brain signals, addressing the long-term stability issues faced by traditional BCIs. This co-evolution mechanism allows the system to adapt to natural changes in brain signals over time, greatly enhancing decoding stability and accuracy during prolonged use." Building on the success of this research, the team is now expanding their work through a new collaboration with HKU Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine and Queen Mary Hospital to develop a multimodal large language model for epilepsy data analysis. "This new collaboration aims to extend our work on brain signal processing to the critical area of epilepsy diagnosis and treatment," said Professor Wong and Dr Liu. "By combining our expertise in advanced algorithms and neuromorphic computing with clinical data and expertise, we hope to develop more accurate and efficient models to assist epilepsy patients." The research represents a significant step forward in human-centred hybrid intelligence, which combines biological brains with neuromorphic computing systems, opening new possibilities for medical applications, rehabilitation technologies, and human-machine interaction. The project received support from the RGC Theme-based Research Scheme (TRS) project T45-701/22-R, the STI 2030-Major Projects, the National Natural Science Foundation of China, and the XPLORER Prize. In the weeks since the CEO of the University of Virginia Health System resigned, current and former UVa officials have come forward to defend Dr. Craig Kent and lambast the school for forcing out one of its most visionary and transformative leaders. Kents critics have depicted him as an autocratic figure who engaged in illegal and unethical practices. But past rectors of the universitys governing Board of Visitors as well as members of the UVa Health System Board credit Kent as the sole reason why UVa Health improved its quality of care, patient feedback, national rankings and profitability after he took the helm in 2020. The allegations lodged against Kent, and the ensuing investigation that prompted his Feb. 25 resignation, are the product of a small, anonymous group of critics, Kents defenders say. Its not really about Kent, they say; its about greed and pride. We have a strong impression that there may be just a very small handful of doctors who, for entirely personal reasons, have for some years fomented discontent at UVA, UVas past three rectors wrote in a letter to a law firm representing some of those critics dated March 7. And have done so with utter disregard for the damage they might be doing to the reputations of UVA and their fellow physicians. According to those three rectors Frank Rusty Conner III, Jim Murray Jr. and Whitt Clement discord between physicians and health system administrators is nothing new, spanning decades. One prominent surgeon who has spent more than 30 years with UVa, Dr. Neal Kassell, wrote in his own open letter that the health system Kent inherited was plagued with low productivity; poor morale; faculty resistance to change and accountability; financial instability as well as coding and billing disfunction [sic]. Kassell is not alone making that characterization. Thomas Scully, a prominent health care attorney and former administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services during the second Bush administration, penned a letter of his own to the Board of Visitors after resigning from the Health System Board earlier in March over Kents resignation. One of Scullys colleagues on the board, Bill Crutchfield, founder and CEO of the Charlottesville-based electronics retailer that bears his name, also wrote an open letter in support of Kent though Crutchfield remains on the board. Almost immediately after I joined the Board, Dr. Kent proposed significant structural physician payment reform. It was clear from all the data, and it was obvious to any observer, that UVa has the ultimate old boy payment system, Scully wrote. That payment system is rooted in the UVa Physicians Group, or UPG. The problem, according to the past rectors, is that not all of the health systems employees work for UVa; some get their paychecks from UPG instead. It was an arrangement that, since 1979, had masked the physicians [sic] salaries from public accountability, the rectors wrote. Over some three decades, UPG had metastasized into a large enterprise that managed hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue, with millions more held in capital reserves. Over the years UPG had built a big team of accountants and finance staff whose job it was to maximize physician incomes. The UPG system is an unwieldy, duplicative, and expensive employment structure costing UVa millions, and Kent wanted to fix it, they wrote. In addition, hospital administrators didnt manage physicians compensation, and they lacked a meaningful tool to manage productivity, faculty opposition and financial instability. Kents predecessor, Executive Vice President of Health Affairs Dr. Rick Shannon, attempted to take on UPG, but subsequently fell to a small group of vocal and politically well-connected physicians who petitioned UVa to have him removed, the rectors wrote. Shannon resigned in 2019. Kent picked up the torch when he arrived in Charlottesville in 2020 and began a yearslong strategic restructuring that would place UVa Health administrators in control of physician salaries. Those reforms meant UPGs power would be greatly reduced, and that worried physicians, Kents defenders wrote. I told Dr. Kent when it was proposed boy you are sticking your head into a hornets nest, wrote Scully. He replied, I know but it simply has to be done. The Daily Progress reached out to the CEO of UPG, Dr. J. Scott Just. He did not respond. Accounting and accountability The UVA School of Medicine, in partnership with the University Provost, establishes clinician compensation and generally pays the first $100,000 of faculty compensation. Thats according to an orientation manual on the UPG website. It goes on to say that UPG supplements by paying amounts over that threshold and also provides fringe benefits that enhance those provided solely by UVA. Given both UVa and UPG financial departments were monthly rehashing the same data, UVa Health was losing millions of dollars on duplicative accounting and administrative staff before Kents arrival, the rectors wrote. Patient safety ratings were poor, accident and mortality rates were high, patients were unhappy, and no one was being held accountable, they continued. Kassell reiterated that point, saying the health systems medical departments had fallen out of national standings; it was an institution in decline, saddled with negative momentum. Prior leadership tried to improve things, the rectors wrote, but UPG bucked any pressure to hold physicians accountable. After six years overseeing the health system and trying to effect change, Shannon reluctantly resigned after months of relentless pressure, the rectors wrote. Months later, the university offered the position to Kent, then dean of the Ohio State University College of Medicine. Now, Kent looked at the numbers, and he was just like, This is ridiculous. Why do we have these two entities when we are one medical center? recounted a national health care policy expert familiar with the UVa Health financial situation, who spoke with The Daily Progress under the condition of anonymity. Why dont we have one bill, and cut the cost of all this billing and collection and put the money into faculty salaries, which is where UVa is trailing? Falling out Kent began implementing reforms across UVas health system. He enacted stringent patient care policies and launched an expansion program to combat the extreme job losses hospitals nationwide reported throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. He brought the nations foremost surgeons and medical researchers to Charlottesville sometimes appointed to roles that long-time UVA physicians thought they deserved, the past rectors wrote. The results followed. The health systems annual revenues nearly doubled to $4.7 billion just five years after Kents arrival, and the number of doctors employed increased from around 400 to more than 1,000 in that time the latter largely due to UVa Healths acquisition of other hospitals. National publications, including U.S. News & World Report and Beckers Hospital Review, ranked UVa Health, its flagship medical center and childrens hospital in Charlottesville, and its various departments among the top in the nation. Focusing in on UPG, Kent spent two years working with representatives from all of UVa Healths specialty groups to phase in a comprehensive payment reform program, wrote Scully. He slowly began to integrate the health systems revenue cycle and process of collecting reimbursement from insurers with UPG in the interest of efficiency, consistency, and cost-savings, according to UPGs 2023 and 2024 Year in Review reports. Long term UPG board members lost their prestigious titles, wrote the rectors. Many younger physicians with active clinical practices saw their compensation increase, others were less fortunate. For some the old, low-accountability ways were sorely missed. Not only did their paychecks take a hit, but physicians were given new instructions on how to calculate their time spent with patients and overall workload. It was not long after those new instructions were handed down, that 128 UVa physicians and School of Medicine faculty members penned an anonymous letter of no confidence in Kent as well as Medical School Dean Dr. Melina Kibbe. The authors of that letter, delivered to UVa in September of 2024, accused the pair of pressuring doctors to fraudulently overbill patients, wielding promotions as a means to intimidate and retaliate, ignoring quality and hiring standards and focusing solely on money and reputation. Many of these allegations against Dr. Kent could well have been lifted nearly verbatim from the complaints made against Dr. Shannon by some of the same physicians 6 years earlier, according to the rectors. The trio did acknowledge that some of Kents personality traits could have created friction between the CEO and his employees. In his pursuit to improve UVA Health we observed that Dr. Kent could be insensitive, autocratic, and slow to take advice, they wrote. But the authors of the letter of no confidence, some of whom have spoken with The Daily Progress under the condition of anonymity, have said they were concerned about more than a toxic work environment. Kent and Kibbes actions, they said, have led to specific cases of patient endangerment, patient harm and patient deaths. A handful of the physicians purportedly shared substantiating evidence with attorneys UVa hired to investigate their allegations. However, neither UVa nor the physicians have furnished the public with what evidence was shared. UVa engaged the Washington, D.C.-based Williams & Connolly law firm to look into the allegations against Kent and Kibbe, and after six months, the attorneys presented their findings to the Board of Visitors in a closed-door session on Feb. 25. UVa has said it has no intention of disclosing the findings of that investigation, but the fallout was on public display when Kent submitted his resignation to UVa leadership. No official explanation has been offered for his departure, leaving some to speculate that Kent preempted his own firing due to incriminating evidence presented to the board or he realized his leadership and reputation would not recover. University of Virginia Physicians Group The UVA School of Medicine, in partnership with the University Provost, establishes clinician compensation and generally pays the first $100,000 of faculty compensation. That information comes from an orientation manual on the University of Virginia Physicians Groups website. It goes on to say that UPG supplements by paying amounts over that threshold and sweetens the deal by providing fringe benefits that enhance those provided solely by UVa. As the manual points out, all of UPGs financial details, physician compensation, profits and savings are shielded from public scrutiny as the group is not a public state entity as UVa is. However, the organization is filed as a tax-exempt, 501(c)3 nonprofit group, meaning it is required to disclose various tax filings and audits. These details were last published at the end of the 2023 fiscal year, showing UPG had $650 million in revenue and $655 million in expenses with total assets worth $527 million. Some UPG clinicians at UVa Medical Center in Charlottesville who were among the top beneficiaries of the organizations supplemental income at the time include Dr. Abhinav Chhabra, who reported almost $1.2 million; Dr. Stephen Park with $1 million; and Dr. James Larner with a little more than $990,000. Larner was elected president of UPG in April 2023. The UPG system functions similarly to a labor union for physicians: It advocates for its members, assists in physician recruitment and financially compensates for the comparatively low salaries UVa physicians can make. The average salary of a UVa physician or School of Medicine professor falls between $100,000 and $200,000. The base pay for physicians at peer health systems particularly those that UVa Health sees as direct competition, such as Johns Hopkins Medicine is around $250,000. UVa Health has struggled to recruit and retain quality physicians because of the salary differences. Low pay has led to low expectations, leading some employees to quote the old Soviet adage: We pretend to work, and they pretend to pay us. Either way, the damage has been done, according to Kents defenders. The rectors anticipate that the health system will struggle to move forward without a strong leader at the helm during a time of political turmoil with the Trump administration cutting or threatening to cut federal dollars supporting medical research, Medicare and Medicaid. We are deeply concerned that the individuals involved in this campaign may have done lasting damage to the once impeccable reputation of one of the finest health systems in America, the rectors wrote. In the coming months our health system may well face an existential crisis. The rectors and Scully both said UVa Health could lose out on three deals Kent was overseeing at the time of his departure: the acquisition of a struggling hospital in Fauquier County, a merger with a medical system in southern Virginia and a joint venture with a medical group in Northern Virginia. You will have a very difficult time finding someone good for this job, since the UVa physician community has chewed up and destroyed every head of the Health System in the last 25 years, Scully said. Smarttech247 announced a significant contract extension with an unnamed major hospital in Ireland on Monday, valued at about 0.5m over four years. The AIM-traded firm said the agreement would build on an existing relationship, and involve the integration of an advanced endpoint detection and response (EDR) solution into the hospitals existing VisionX managed detection and response (MDR) platform. It said the enhanced cybersecurity deployment would strengthen the hospitals defences, delivering real-time threat detection, faster incident response and improved protection of critical systems and sensitive patient data. The contract extension reflected growing demand for robust cybersecurity in the healthcare sector, the board explained, where operational resilience and data protection were being increasingly prioritised. This win is further validation of our VisionX MDR offering and our capability to deliver enterprise-grade cybersecurity solutions tailored to high-impact environments like healthcare, said chief executive officer Raluca Saceanu. We're proud to be supporting one of Ireland's leading hospitals in strengthening its cyber resilience. Saceanu said the latest success strengthened Smarttech247's growing footprint in the healthcare sector, and reinforced its position as a trusted cybersecurity partner. Importantly, the win also reflects our continued successful execution of our 2025 strategy, which focuses on increasing total contractual value through effective upselling and cross-selling across Smarttech247's suite of cybersecurity solutions. At 1312 GMT, shares in Smarttech247 were down 1.69% at 7.25p. Reporting by Josh White for Sharecast.com. Kwame Spearman, former co-owner and CEO of Tattered Cover Book Store in Denver, Colo., plans to open Denver Book Society, a bookstore with "soul and substance," at 1700 Humboldt St. in City Park West, in 2026. The Denver Post reported that Spearman and a partner bought the 9,000-square-foot building for $2.9 million. Kwame Spearman "Hopefully, second time will be a little bit more of a charm," said Spearman, who, with David Back, led an investor group that bought the Tattered Cover in December 2020. Spearman served as CEO until April 2023, when he stepped down during an unsuccessful run for the city's school board. Prior to that, he had briefly run for mayor. His tenure at Tattered Cover was marked by a large number of store moves and openings as well as the unusual public airing of staff dissatisfaction. At the time, Spearman said that Tattered Cover had had severe financial problems for years and needed to cut costs or grow, with growth his choice. Tattered Cover was sold to Barnes & Noble last summer for $1.8 million. "Tattered Cover losing its independent status was disappointing to a lot of people, including me," Spearman said. He wants to open his new bookstore by spring 2026, in about 3,500 square feet of the former Humboldt Kitchen + Bar restaurant, which closed two years ago. He is also considering turning the restaurant's former kitchen into an approximately 2,000-square-foot eatery. He described the Humboldt St. space as "a super awesome location." Spearman's partner on the deal, Rich Garvin, is a philanthropist from San Francisco. The Post noted that Garvin came to Denver during the pandemic, and the two men had made a bid to maintain control of Tattered Cover once it entered bankruptcy in 2023. The future home of Denver Book Society The goal for Denver Book Society is to become a community hub, with events and programming complementing the literature inside, Spearman said, adding that the bookstore will stand out by what it stocks: "Books that you can easily find on Amazon, you can find on Amazon. You come into our store and have a best-in-class staff opportunity that recommends a book that you wouldn't have found otherwise." Regarding his first experience as a bookseller, he observed: "I think a combination of its history, the pandemic and me being a first-time bookstore owner made that incredibly challenging, but in my role I saw the potential of what or how a bookstore could really impact the community and we plan to do just that." Nearly 1,500 bookstores across the U.S., the most ever, will participate in the 12th annual Independent Bookstore Day, which takes place Saturday, April 26. The stores will celebrate with a variety of creative, welcoming events, merchandise, food & drink, merriment, and more, all reenforcing connections between the stores and their communities. As American Booksellers Association CEO Allison Hill puts it, "Independent Bookstore Day is one of my favorite days of the year. The collaboration between independent bookstores, the spirit of community with their customers, the support for small businesses, the celebration of books and authors and illustrators--these are the things I love about our industry year round but it's nice to have a day to celebrate all that the indies represent in the world." Courtney Wallace, ABA's marketing manager and Independent Bookstore Day program director, added, "Independent bookstores continue to elevate their creativity and community engagement, making this twelfth year of Independent Bookstore Day our biggest celebration yet. With many stores expanding their festivities beyond a single day, it's clear that indie bookstores are vital hubs that bring people together and shape the heart of their communities." Some of the exclusive items available for Independent Bookstore Day The many components of Indie Bookstore Day include a range of exclusive merchandise available for booksellers to sell or give customers (see story below); events that feature appearances and readings by local authors and illustrators; storytimes; live music; promotions like blind date with a book; support from a variety of publishers and others (lead co-sponsors are Ingram and Penguin Random House; publishing partner sponsors are Sourcebooks and the regional bookseller associations); related programs provided by Libro.fm and Bookshop.org, among others. The celebration starts with Spirit Week, with daily themes for booksellers to enjoy leading up to the national Saturday celebration. Monday is silly sock day, followed by plaid Tuesday, then bookstore shirt day on Wednesday, book character dress-up day on Thursday, and each store's own spirit day on Friday. Bonfire is selling T-shirts and sweatshirts with the official Indie Bookstore Day design by Adrian Tomine, featured on the Day's tote bag (for more information about the tote bag, see below). Bonfire is also selling Professional Booksellers School "Read on, Dream on" Independent Bookstore Day mugs for $17.99 each, with proceeds benefiting the school. The sale ends April 9. Libro.fm will again sponsor a "golden ticket" contest--this year from Thursday, April 24, to Sunday, April 27--under which the person finding a golden ticket hidden in a bookstore receives 12 audiobook credits. A map that shows participating bookstores and includes information about bookstore passport programs will appear soon on IndieBound.org. (Stores have until today to sign up to be included on the map.) Some bookstores are again this year tying in celebrations of their own milestones with Independent Bookstore Day. For example, Pages Bookstore, Detroit, Mich., has a new owner, Jelani Stower. The store is closed while Stower makes changes, and on April 26, Pages will host a grand re-opening party. Likewise Bookshelf on Church, Kilmarnock, Va., is moving in April to a new, larger location across the street and will also host a grand reopening celebration on April 26 that will include giveaways, a scavenger hunt, and other activities. Passport Programs Passport programs that reward book lovers for visiting many bookstores in a particular area have been popular since Indie Bookstore Day became a national event. Some focus on the Day itself. Others are in effect for a week. A few last for a month. All involve "passports" for stores to stamp to show that the holder visited them. The programs usually offer rewards to participants, particularly discounts on purchases, some for up to a year. Seattle-area bookstores are once again staging Seattle Independent Bookstore Day, which this year challenges book lovers to visit all 29 participating stores (during the 10 days between April 26 and May 5). The prize is a "bookstore day champion stamp card," good for a one-time 25% discount at each of the 29 stores. Those who visit at least five stores receive a single 25% discount card good at one of the 29 stores. The Seattle passport program began in 2015, the first year Indie Bookstore Day was national. In early years, even though book lovers had to visit all stores on Indie Bookstore Day, the passport challenge still had some 42 winners, a number that has grown over the years. Following the pandemic, book lovers were given 10 days to fill their passports, and the number of grand prize winners rose even more, reaching 414 last year. The Chicago Independent Bookstore Day Crawl offers three bus routes, each visiting 10-12 stores in Chicago and its suburbs; the tours last all day and cover different areas. Book lovers who visit 10 stores on the Day receive a 10% discount at all participating stores for a year, and those who visit 15 stores receive a 15% discount for a year. The Brooklyn Bookstore Crawl runs for the week from Saturday, April 19, to Indie Bookstore Day on the 26th. There are 26 participating bookstores, and visitors to five stores receive a 25% discount on a purchase within a month. A highlight of this crawl is the afterparty on Saturday from 5-8 p.m. at the Center for Fiction that features drinks, raffles, and more. This year's Twin Cities Independent Passport program, organized by Rain Taxi, will include 37 bookstores, the most ever, and run from Wednesday, April 23, through Sunday, April 27. Each passport stamp activates a one-time coupon to use over the summer. Readers who reach 10-19 stamps will activate all coupons in the passport; those who obtain 20-29 stamps can enter to win a prize pack of books, merch, and other goodies donated by program sponsors; and readers who obtain 30 or more stamps can enter to win one of three grand prizes: $25 gift cards to 12 of the participating bookstores, or $300 worth of books. A twist on the passport idea is taking place this year in Charlotte, N.C., where 22 indie bookstores are sponsoring the Greater Charlotte Book Crawl. It runs the entire month of April and includes Indie Bookstore Day as a highlight. The program has three tiers, rewarding people who visit seven stores with a poster, those who visit 15 with a tote bag, and those who visit all 22 stores with a one-time 10% discount coupon at the store of their choice as well as the chance to win the grand prize of a $20 gift card for each of the 22 stores. Samantha Schoech and Pete Mulvihill at California Bookstore Day, in 2014 Origin Story Like many good bookselling ideas that have become national hits, Independent Bookstore Day began at the Northern California Independent Booksellers Association, when Samantha Schoech and Pete Mulvihill of Green Apple Books, San Francisco, suggested creating a California Bookstore Day modeled on Independent Record Store Day. The first iteration, in 2014--which included the Southern California Independent Booksellers Association (both associations have since merged to create the California Independent Booksellers Alliance)--was so popular that it expanded nationwide in 2015, receiving support from the ABA, which took over management of the Day in 2019. Schoech headed the program through its 2021 edition. The Indian government is planning to overhaul its Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme with a more comprehensive 360-degree strategy, with inclusion of support for inputs, skilling, and ecosystem building for champion sectors. Ministries with suggestions for new sectors under the scheme have been requested to revisit their proposals accordingly. Industries like footwear, toys, textiles, and specialty chemicals have been lobbying for inclusion in the PLI scheme, which seeks to build up India's indigenous manufacturing capabilities and enhance exports. The new approach is based on experience in the mobile phone industry, which has registered huge growth under the scheme with global giants like Apple increasing their vendor base in India. Increased imports of components from China are still a concern. In order to counter such gaps, the Union Cabinet recently cleared a new component scheme for mobile phones, and the same is also being thought out for other industries. "For example, in the footwear industry, while international brands are eager to add more sourcing from India, they lack key inputs, which are still being sourced from China", a government official revealed. The government is nudging companies to take their vendors to India so they can have an integrated supply chain, decreasing cost and reliance on imports. Though previous estimates hinted that available funds from the Rs 1.97 lakh crore in the 14 PLI sectors could help with new additions, talks indicate further funding could be needed. This strategic revamp is in sync with India's Atma Nirbhar Bharat vision, seeking to transform the nation into a manufacturing hub. The new PLI framework is likely to create a more sustainable and globally competitive landscape for sectors, with a guarantee of long-term gains. Editors note: This story is part of an Advance/SILive.com Womens History Month series celebrating the strength and influence of women who have dedicated their life to education, mentorship and leadership. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. When you combine youthful enthusiasm, a passion for teaching and a genuine interest in student success, the result is bound to be noticed. These efforts werent lost on the students in Samantha Finley Mainos ninth-grade honors English class at Curtis High School. One student, Haifa Adama, reached out to the Advance/SILive.com about Finley Maino still known as Ms. Finley to many who havent yet adjusted to her name change since her recent wedding. When Adama saw that the Advance/SILive.com was featuring women who are dedicated to education, mentorship and leadership in honor of Womens History Month, she recalled she didnt hesitate to nominate Finley Maino. She cares so much about each student and makes individual relationships with them all, Adama wrote. I believe that Ms. Finley shows students that we can enjoy school if the right person is teaching us. She believes in equality and justice and constantly lights up just to see her students happy." Finley Maino, 27, had just a few years of teaching under her belt when she came to Curtis in fall 2024 from I.S. 62, Brooklyn. And she came in with a bang making a strong first impression on students, faculty and administrators during her initial year at the St. George school, according to those who know her. She works with students of all different achievement levels, said James Torta, assistant principal of the English Department at Curtis and supervisor of its media studies house. She has a passion for the subject and tries to connect with students, build relationships with them, read challenging texts and push them. Finley Maino is pictured with some of her students. (Staten Island Advance/Jan Somma-Hammel) STATEN ISLAND ADVANCE Torta said that push makes all the difference for the many students who wouldnt engage with complex texts on their own. Finley Maino admitted with a chuckle she initially wanted to be a marine biologist, but by the time she was a student at Tottenville High School, that had all changed. She knew then that helping young people learn was really her passion. Shed go on to earn a bachelor of arts degree in adolescence education of English and master of science degree in adolescence education of English at the College of Staten Island, Willowbrook. They are so fiery and wonderful, she said of her students, explaining where the joy in her job originates. Just seeing these students, how much they change and the things that they learn ... the things they learn in other classes that they bring into me .... " Finley Maino said she wishes the focus were not on her, but to celebrate the women of Curtis. The staff has really welcomed her, she said, and the daily guidance she gets from other faculty members has resulted in her own classroom success. Principal Gregory Janeicke took notice of that, as well. We have a staff of really caring people, said Janeicke, who added that Finley Maino has fostered good relationships with other teachers, as well as with students in her classroom. Shes made connections with students very quickly, he said. Its evident when you visit her classroom that shes developed a really good rapport with the students. They seem to respond to her and the style of her teaching and her persona, the way she approaches relationship-building with students. Finley Mainos relationship with her peers has spilled over into a successful classroom, Torta said. She has come in and really gelled with some other members of our English Department, Torta said. She takes feedback well, and she has taken to the school and was looking for a place that she could call home. Curtis is a great school to be able to say that about." In the classroom, Adama said FinleyMaino goes out of her way daily to make sure each student understands the material. She is a role model to all young ladies, Adama said. She is very compassionate in her teaching and makes her lessons very unique and intriguing." Finley Maino inspires, encourages, and motivates me, Adamas letter said. The educator explained that its all in a days work, and her job, and working at Curtis, are both blessings. The most frustrating part? Cell phones, she said without hesitation. But the students distraction, she said, just means I need to work a little harder." 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 aboard, the administration said. The plane crashed in the vicinity of South Middlebush Lane and Hilltop Lane and one person was found dead inside, the Franklin Township Police Department said in a news release. 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. Courtesy of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Samples of a popular cat food have tested positive for avian flu and are being recalled by the manufacturer, according to the New York State Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Courtesy of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Samples of a popular cat food have tested positive for avian flu and are being recalled by the manufacturer, according to the New York State Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Savage Pet of El Cajon, California, is recalling 66 Large Chicken Boxes and 74 Small Chicken Boxes with the lot code/best by date of Nov. 15, 2026, because they have the potential to contain H5N1, also known as bird flu. The boxes are cardboard and contain individual plastic packets inside. The lot code/best by date is stamped on the bottom and on each packet. Savage Pet was notified on March 13, 2025, of a kitten in New York that contracted avian flu after eating the recalled food. The FDA said that in February samples of the cat food tested negative for avian flu after being taken off the shelves. In addition to New York, the recalled chicken boxes were distributed to retailers in Arizona, California, Colorado, Delaware, Kansas, Maryland, New Jersey, New Mexico, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Utah, West Virginia, Wyoming and Washington, D.C. Consumers should not feed the recalled product to pets or animals and should return it to their retailer for a full refund, the FDA said. People who fed cats the recalled products should watch for symptoms of bird flu. These including fever, lethargy, low appetite, reddened or inflamed eyes, discharge from the eyes and nose, difficulty breathing, and neurological signs like tremors, stiff body movements, seizure, lack of coordination, or blindness, according to the FDA. People with cats exhibiting these signs after feeding this product should immediately contact their veterinarian, the FDA announced. While no human infections have been identified among people handling raw pet food products, humans can become infected if the live virus gets into their eyes, nose, or mouth. People should wash their hands while handling raw products and sanitize contact surfaces, the FDA advises. Those who handled the recalled products should watch for symptoms of bird flu. Symptoms include eye redness or irritation, cough, sore throat, sneezing, runny/stuffy nose, muscle/body aches, headaches, fatigue, fever, trouble breathing, seizures, rash, diarrhea, nausea or vomiting. People exhibiting these signs after having contact with this product should reach out to their health-care provider and the local health department, the FDA advised. A REAL ID driver's license is pictured in this image from the New York State DMV. NYS DMV With summer 2025 and the Real ID deadline quickly approaching, some travelers might be wondering: Can I fly internationally just with my Real ID? Unfortunately, no so dont let your passport expire. The Department of Homeland Security still wants your passport for border crossings into Canada, Mexico or other international travel, their website warned. If youre traveling domestically, on the other hand, Real IDs are the new wave of solo identification. After May 7, 2025, travelers without a Real ID will need to bring their standard license and another form of identification to pass through security, according to the Department of Homeland Security. They are as follows: U.S. passport U.S. passport card DHS-trusted traveler cards (Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI, FAST) U.S. Department of Defense ID, including IDs issued to dependents Permanent resident card Border crossing card An acceptable photo ID issued by a federally recognized Tribal Nation/Indian Tribe HSPD-12 PIV card Foreign government-issued passport Canadian provincial drivers license or Indian and Northern Affairs Canada card Transportation worker identification credential U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Employment Authorization Card (I-766) U.S. Merchant Mariner Credential Veteran Health Identification Card Keep in mind that the Department of Homeland Security says that a weapon permit is not an acceptable form of identification for a domestic flight. TSA currently accepts expired ID, up to a year after expiration, for the above listed forms of identification. Children under the age of 18 do not need to present identification in order to fly domestically. But the Real ID isnt just for catching a domestic flight: Travelers also need it to enter certain federal properties, including courthouses and military installations. The cards will also be required for entry to nuclear power plants. The REAL ID Act, passed by Congress in 2005, enacted the 9/11 Commissions recommendation that the federal government set standards for the issuance of sources of identification, such as drivers licenses and identification cards, according to the Department of Homeland Security. The law and its implementing regulations establish minimum security standards for license issuance and production and prohibit federal agencies from accepting for certain official purposes noncompliant drivers licenses and identification cards. Real ID implements security processes designed to reduce identity fraud and provide the highest certainty that the individual with the identity document in front of you is who they say they are. Real ID drivers licenses or non-drivers cards are available from motor vehicle departments or equivalent offices in the 50 states, including the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles. Real ID must be obtained in person.The application process cannot be done online, over the phone or by mail. Heres how to tell if you already have a Real ID. You should have these documents in hand before visiting the DMV in order to apply for your Real ID. Heres how to avoid the most common mistakes when applying for a Real ID. The Joan & Alan Bernikow JCC of Staten Island is proud to announce the first cohort of the We Are All Staten Island Fellowship Against Hate (WAASIFAH). (Courtesy of JCC) (Courtesy of JCC) STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. The Joan & Alan Bernikow JCC of Staten Island has announced the launch of what the organization calls the We Are All Staten Island Fellowship Against Hate. The programs first cohort, who were selected through a competitive application process, includes 16 Staten Island professionals from non-profit, faith-based or government organizations. Over six weeks, fellows will engage in workshops and hands-on learning opportunities on subjects such as understanding hate from a legal perspective, different communities experiences of hate and oppression, unconscious bias, conflict resolution and coalition building. These weekly sessions will take place across various neighborhoods in Staten Island, showcasing the boroughs rich diversity. This initiative responds to the rising tide of hate in Staten Island and New York City. It is launched in partnership with the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York, the Mayors Office for the Prevention of Hate Crimes, the Council of Jewish Organizations and several other Staten Island community-based organizations, as part of the Partners Against the Hate initiative. The program will culminate in a trip to Washington, D.C., where fellows will visit educational sites. Additionally, fellows will have the chance to access seed grant funding to create programs designed to foster community unity and combat hate. Now more than ever, Staten Island needs to stand together against hate, said Orit Lender, chief executive officer of the JCC. Were excited to bring this fellowship to Staten Island for the first time, and to equip these outstanding fellows with the tools they need to break down barriers and build a stronger community. With this launch, Staten Island becomes the third borough to participate in the Fellowship Against Hate initiative, following successful cohorts in Brooklyn and the Bronx. The inaugural cohort of the We Are All Staten Island Fellowship Against Hate brings together dedicated community leaders to learn from and about each other as they strengthen their tools and ability to combat hate in all its forms, said Dani Kogan, Program Director of the Center for Shared Society at Jewish Community Relations Council. On behalf of the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York, I am excited to bring this initiative to Staten Island and honored to support these fellows as they build bridges throughout the borough and the broader community. Participating community-based organizations include the Staten Island Immigrants Council, Staten Island Pride Center, Catholic Charities of Staten Island, St. Joseph and St. Mary Immaculate, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel St. Benedicta, Albanian Islamic Cultural Center, Wagner College Holocaust Center, El Centro, Council of Jewish Organizations, Staten Island Inter-Religious Leadership, Staten Island Hindu Temple, First Central Baptist Church of Staten Island and Project Hospitality. The fellows are: Tatiana Arguello, Nonprofit Staten Island Edna Aurelus, Wagner College Holocaust Center Ryan Crimmins, Office of the Richmond County District Attorney Michael E. McMahon Zulma Cruz, Project Hospitality Antoinnette Donegan, Central Family Life Center Jessica Encarnacion, Grace Advocacy Group Inc. Farid Kader, Yellowboots Long Term Recovery Organization Stacie Kaplan-Magnus, NYC DOE Michelle Molina, El Centro Del Inmigrante Amanda Oliva, TD Bank Pinchas Pearl, Congregation Bnai Israel Drita Popovic, Joan & Alan Bernikow JCC Of Staten Island Nicholas Robinson, Pride Center of Staten Island Monica Rodriguez-Aguilera, Steadfast City Economic and Community Partners Tim Tan, The Reformed Church of Huguenot Park Laura Jean Watters, The Staten Island Foundation STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. Jaxenia Weeks said Monday that shes not sure what her family will do if the federal government cuts Medicaid funding. Weeks, a 45-year-old Stapleton resident, said cuts to the healthcare program for low-income Americans would mean fewer doctors visits for her kids, limits on her mental health care, and a unsure road for a pair of sisters suffering from lupus and fibromyalgia. As a mother, it is very scary to me that my kids could lose their access to the care that they have been relying on since they were born, Weeks said. If these cuts go through, my sisters will be in a tremendous amount of pain. Weeks is far from the only Staten Islander who could face impacts from possible Medicaid cuts in a borough where more than 128,000 have healthcare related to the program, according to state Department of Health records. Thats why she joined other advocates and elected officials opposed to possible cuts by the Republican-controlled U.S. Congress and President Donald Trumps administration. Sen. Charles Schumer, the Democrat minority leader representing New York in the U.S. Senate, led the morning press conference at the Silver Lake Specialized Care Center on Castleton Avenue, and said the stop was part of a larger tour trying to localize Washingtons budget implications. We talk about the big budget issues in Washington, but they affect real people. They affect people who need this help, and cutting it would be devastating, Schumer said. Were here to tell President Trump and Elon Musk hands off Medicaid. In addition to the thousands of Staten Island families relying on Medicaid for their healthcare, cuts to the federal program could have severe impacts on local healthcare facilities. A host of Staten Islands top health officials including Brahim Ardolic, head of Staten Island University Hospital; Dan Messina, head of Richmond University Medical Center; and Michael Kraus, administrator for Silver Lake Specialized Care joined Schumer for the Monday press conference. Their facilities along with other healthcare providers are some of the biggest employers on Staten Island, and could see their workforces impacted by possible Medicaid cuts. There is no healthcare on Staten Island without Medicaid, Ardolic said. From cradle to the other end of life, without Medicaid, we dont have healthcare. Particularly, senior care centers, like Silver Lake, rely on Medicaid for most of their funding. Democrats have long accused Republicans of plans to strip entitlement programs like Medicaid, Medicare, and Social Security, but members of the GOP have denied those accusations. The White House issued a fact check earlier this month saying that Trump had no plans to touch Medicare, Medicaid or Social Security benefits. Despite that commitment, House Republicans released a budget blueprint in February calling for up to $2 trillion in cuts over the next 10 years to help pay for reduced taxes. Entitlements make up the biggest share of the federal budget, but with a budget vote looming in the next few weeks, it isnt yet clear what exactly would be cut. Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, a Republican member of Congress representing Staten Island and South Brooklyn, said Republicans goal is to actually eliminate waste not make entitlement cuts. It is shame that Senator Chuck Schumer and the Democrats continue to spread false information and instill fear among our seniorsa tactic that is both severely misleading and cruel, she said. Most Americans agree that we must root out wasteful spending and restore fiscal integrity in Washington. Republicans remain committed to doing exactly that eliminating the rampant waste, fraud, and abuse that has plagued the federal government for decades. Our party believes in real solutions that protect and strengthen benefits for seniors and eligible recipients who rely on vital programs like Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid unlike the Democrats, who have failed to offer any meaningful proposals to address these challenges. A March 5 Congressional Budget Office report requested by Democratic Reps. Brendan Boyle, of Pennsylvania, and Frank Pallone, of New Jersey, confirmed cuts to Medicaid would be needed to meet whats needed for budget cuts. State Sen. Jessica Scarcella-Spanton and City Councilmember Kamillah Hanks also spoke out against the possible Medicaid cuts at Mondays press conference. [Medicaid] isnt just the health insurance program for low income people...its an important safety net that helps ensure equitable access to health care, supports providers, and overall, reduces long-term costs for our health care, Scarcella Spanton, a Democrat representing the North Shore and South Brooklyn, said. Hanks, a Democrat representing the North Shore, said her mother-in-law was a resident at Silver Lake before her death, and that the experience taught her family about the importance of Medicaid. The Medicaid provided her with resources she needed to live in her final years with dignity. She knew and we knew that she was being treated with care. It was a lifeline, she said. We cannot afford to forget that behind every funding cut...there is a family holding on with hope. Behind every statistic, there is a senior who deserves safety, comfort and and well being." Bill Dubovsky with recipients of The Staten Island Foundation Elizabeth Dubovsky Fellowship in Social Work. From the left are Sydney Zayer, Marlo Winters, Michelle Macri, and Giovanella Esposito. (Courtesy/Person Centered Care Services) Staten Island Advance STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. More than 150 social workers and social work students gathered at The Staten Island Foundation Elizabeth Dubovsky Fellowship in Social Work Conference last week. The conference, staged at the College of Staten Island, is presented by The Staten Island Foundation in partnership with Person Centered Care Services and the Social Work Department of CSI. Dr. Barbra Teater leads a panel on different career choices for social workers. (Courtesy/Person Cenrtered Care Services) Staten Island Advance Social workers in attendance received continuing education credits and CSI students obtained CLUE credits, a non-credit program designed to acclimate students to the college environment after completing orientation. Kate Rooney, chairperson of the foundation, commented: The Foundation Board is thrilled with the success of our Social Work Fellows Program. Social workers provide support, compassion and expertise to the most vulnerable. A strong social work field makes for a stronger Staten Island. At the conference, this years Dubovsky Fellows -- Sydney Zayer, Michelle Macri, Marlo Winters, and Giovanna Esposito -- were recognized with certificates presented by William Dubovsky, husband of the late Elizabeth (Betsy) Dubovsky, who died in 2021. Dubovsky Fellows receive compensation for otherwise unpaid internships that meet their academic requirements and participate in monthly sessions with the foundation, where they meet leaders in the field. Zayer, a second year masters student at Fordham University, is participating in an internship at the Staten Island Justice Center. Macri, scheduled to receive her masters degree from the College of Staten Island this spring, is interning at the OASAS (Office of Addiction Services and Supports) treatment program at the South Beach Psychiatric Center. Esposito also is pursuing her masters degree at the College of Staten Island and is an intern with New York Center for Interpersonal Development. Winters is a second year masters student at Hunter College and is participating in an internship at the Jewish Board of Families and Childrens Services. As CSIs Social Work Department celebrated its 10th anniversary at the event, Dr. Barbra Teater, department chair, reflected on the programs growth over the past decade and its ongoing commitment to preparing social work professionals to serve Staten Islands communities. The Department also recognized Carl Jackman with the Alexa Donnelly Alumni Award. Carl Jackman and family. Jackman received the Alexa Donnelly Award celebrating the College of Staten Island's Social Work Departments 10th anniversary. (Courtesy/Person Centered Care Services) Staten Island Advance Cris Marchionne, executive director of Person Centered Care Services, noted that he was honored to partner with The Staten Island Foundation and the College of Staten Islands Social Work Department for the conference celebrating the dedication and impact of social workers in the community. Social workers play a vital role in fostering inclusion, advocacy, and equity principles that are at the heart of our mission," he said. We are especially proud of our own deputy executive director, Alexa Donnelly, whose leadership, commitment, and passion for empowering others continue to strengthen both our organization and the broader Staten Island community. Her work exemplifies the very best of social work championing person-centered care, driving systemic change, and ensuring that every individual has the opportunity to live with dignity and independence. This conference is not only a moment to celebrate the profession but also an opportunity to inspire and support the next generation of social workers who will continue this essential work. Dr. Amanda Wexler presents a discussion on implicit bias to conference attendees. (Courtesy/Person Centered Care Services) Staten Island Advance The conference keynote was Alive Inside, an exploration of the use of music to support mental health, presented by Michael Rossato-Bennet and Reginald Guillame. Breakout sessions included A Day in the Life, a panel exploring the various roles played by social workers, a session discussing accessibility and equity issues, a conversation about integrative treatment solutions, and a presentation by Dr. Amanda Wexler on implicit bias. ConsumerAffairs, the journal of consumer research, recently ranked the states with the worst teen drivers. (Courtesy of ConsumerAffairs) Getty Images STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. If youre complaining about New York drivers, you cant blame the teens, according to a new study. New York teens are among the nations safest, according to a new report in ConsumerAffairs, the journal of consumer research, which puts the Empire State fourth on the list of states with the safest teen drivers. Montana has the worst teen drivers overall in the United States, according the report, titled States with the Worst Teen Drivers. It has the highest rate of fatalities involving teens driving under the influence and fatalities involving teens engaging in bad driving behaviors. And Wyoming has the highest rate of total traffic fatalities involving a teen driver at 33.7 per 100,000 teens. The five states with the worst teen drivers are spread across the West, Midwest and South and vary demographically, according to the research, which also points out that unsafe driving behaviors in the worst-ranked states arent limited to just teenagers. The states with the highest scores tend to have ranked poorly in at least one of our other rankings related to driver safety, including the states with the worst drivers overall, the worst rates of drunk driving, the highest rates of fatal car crashes and the prevalence of road rage, according to studies. And neighboring New Jersey was found to have the lowest rate of fatalities involving teen drivers in the nation and had zero fatalities involving teens driving under the influence in 2022. New Hampshire and Maryland also topped New York when it comes to safe teen drivers, the research showed. The ConsumerAffairs research team identified the states with the worst teen drivers by analyzing 2022 crash data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Fatality Analysis Reporting System, the most recent data available. The team evaluated four crash factors. For each factor, the state that performed the worst was given the highest possible score, with others getting relative scores. Category scores were added together to get an overall score, which is out of 100 points. Each factor was calculated per 100,000 people aged 15 to 19: Total fatalities involving drivers aged 15 to 19 Fatalities involving drivers aged 15 to 19 under the influence (including alcohol, drugs or medication) Fatalities involving speeding by drivers aged 15 to 19 Fatalities involving bad driving by drivers aged 15 to 19 Bad driving included behaviors such as: Aggressive driving Careless driving Driving the wrong way on a one-way traffic way Failure to yield the right of way Following improperly Improper or erratic lane-changing Making an improper turn Operating the vehicle in an erratic, reckless or negligent manner Operator inexperience Passing where prohibited Our researchers analyzed the most recent teen driving data across all 50 states, examining fatalities linked to teens speeding, driving under the influence, and engaging in bad driving behaviors, a recent study announcement said. And New York was found to have the third-lowest fatality rate involving bad behaviors less than one fatality per 100,000 teens involving bad driving behaviors. The national average is about 3.5 fatalities per 100,000 teens, according to researchers. New York teens were found to have the sixth lowest fatality rate per 100,000 teens, about 5 per 100,000 teens. The national average is about 12 fatalities per 100,000 teens. New York City residents who dont abide by the citys compost rules will be fined beginning on Tuesday, April 1. All New Yorkers must separate their organic refuse from their ordinary household trash. The compostable material must be put in its own separate bin and placed at the curb for pickup by the city Sanitation Department. But New Yorkers may not know when to place the organic material at the curb for collection. According to Sanitation, compost bins should go to the curb on the same day that residents put their recyclables out for pickup. The fines are as follows: Buildings with 8 apartments or less: First offense: $25 Second offense: $50 Third and subsequent offenses: $100 Buildings with 9 apartments or more: First offense: $100 Second offense: $200 Third and subsequent offenses: $300 City residents can purchase an official NYC compost bin from an approved vendor here. Residents can also use their own bin for compost, provided that the bin is 55 gallons or less and has a secure lid. The bin should have an official NYC compost decal on it, available here. Organic material that must be separated from household trash and composted includes yard waste, like plants, leaves, twigs and grass, as well as food waste, like meat, bones, dairy, fruits and vegetables. Egg shells and coffee grounds are also among the material that New Yorkers need to compost. Food-soiled paper products like napkins, tea bags, coffee filters and paper plates will also need to be separated. Compost may be placed in a clear plastic bag and then left in the bin for collection. White plastic kitchen garbage bags and black bags cannot be used for compost. Non-soiled paper products should remain with traditionally recycled materials. Items like wrappers, medical waste, diapers, foam and hygiene products should remain in the traditional trash. Pizza boxes can continue to be recycled as long as they are free of excess cheese. Pet waste, such as kitty litter, can continue to be placed in the regular household trash. No fooling. The city Sanitation Department on Tuesday, April 1 will begin fining New York City residents who do not abide by the citys new composting rules. Residents must separate organic waste from their household trash or risk receiving an initial $25 fine from Sanitation. So what exactly is organic waste? It includes yard waste, like plants, leaves, twigs and grass, as well as food waste, like meat, bones, dairy, fruits and vegetables. Coffee grounds and eggshells also need to be composted. Food-soiled paper products like napkins, tea bags, paper plates, coffee filters and cheese-encrusted pizza boxes will also need to be separated. Non-soiled paper products should remain with traditionally recycled materials. Items like wrappers, pet waste, medical waste, diapers, foam and hygiene products should remain in the traditional trash, Sanitation said. The fines are as follows: Buildings with 8 apartments or less: First offense: $25 Second offense: $50 Third and subsequent offenses: $100 Buildings with 9 apartments or more: First offense: $100 Second offense: $200 Third and subsequent offenses: $300 While mandatory composting went into effect last October, a law passed by City Council established a warning period until April 1, 2025. Official 21-gallon New York City composting bins are available for purchase through a private vendor for $43.47. New Yorkers can also use their own bins for compost, so long as the bins are 55 gallons or less, have a secure lid and are labeled with a composting bin decal. New Yorkers can go here to get a free composting decal for their bin. Most organic waste collected citywide gets anaerobically processed at the Newtown Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. On Staten Island, the organic materials will be transported to a DSNY compost facility located at the former Fresh Kills landfill. The Staten Island facility will turn the organic waste into compost. The city will sell 60% of that compost to landscapers while distributing the remainder to city parks, community groups and residents. President Donald Trump has said that Canada would be better off as the 51st state of the United States. But not even every Republican lawmaker agrees with the president. When asked by the Buffalo News whether they agree with Trump that Canada only works as a state, two Republican U.S. House members from the Buffalo area broke with Trump on the issue. Rep. Nick Langworthy who represents suburban Buffalo and the Southern Tier said in part: 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. The news outlet said that Rep. Claudia Tenney, whose district runs from Niagara County to Watertown, essentially dodged the question. The Buffalo News quoted Tenney as saying: 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. Langworthy in full was quoted as saying: 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. President Donald Trump is known to venerate President Andrew Jackson. But one thing associated with Old Hickory that Trump has a problem with is a signature magnolia tree that the nations seventh president planted outside the White Houses South Portico. Trump on Truth Social said that the sickly tree has become a danger and will be taken down this week, the Daily Mail reported. The tree was personally planted by Jackson in memory of his wife, Rachel, who died just before Jackson was sworn into office for the first of two terms in 1829. The tree was reportedly brought as a sapling from Democrat Jacksons native Tennessee. The tree has become a landmark and is the spot where foreign leaders are often welcomed for ceremonial visits and where the president departs to board the Marine One helicopter. It is the oldest tree on the White House grounds. The bad news is that everything must come to an end, Trump wrote. The president said that the magnolia was in terrible condition, a very dangerous safety hazard, at the White House Entrance, no less, and must now be removed. Trump said the historic magnolia would be replaced by another, very beautiful tree and that its wood would be preserved and may be used for other high and noble purposes!!! The tree was significantly pruned in 2017, during Trumps first term. The magnolia had been damaged in 1994 when a small Cessna plane crashed onto the South Lawn and skidded into the White House. Trump has often spoken of his admiration for Jackson, saying that the Democrat was a common man who stood up to the elites of his time, a allusion to how Trump may view himself during the present era. Trump had Jackson portraits hung in the Oval Office during both his White House terms and visited Jacksons plantation, The Hermitage, in 2017 to commemorate Jacksons 250th birthday. UK Festivals 2025 UK Music Festivals / UK Festivals Accommodation / Other Types of UK Festivals / Festivals Abroad The UK Festivals scene is the brightest it has ever been in 2025, with more choice and more events on these shores than ever before.We can boast world class gatherings like Glastonbury, Strawberries and Creem, The Cambridge Club, and Bestival (check out what happened at the latter below) alongside new contenders such as Love Saves the Day, making for a globally renownded scene of epic proportions. Whether you want a classic blood and thunder mix of bands or a smorgasbord of haute couture food and craft ales, there's a litany of options available for everyone from the festival newcomer to even the savviest of veterans. UK Music Festivals 2025 Ravers can get lost in an abyss of choices in our dance music festivals section, with guitar music fiends equally well fed in their realm. You can find your perfect music festival via our Festival Finder tool, which helps you select the perfect criteria for your experience of what you want out of the event.The strength of diversity of our tastes has led to a beautifully varied selection of UK Music Festivals, with many doing glorious jobs of hitting a number of genres whilst others cover specific niches perfectly. Find out what festivals are on this weekend! 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." The Louisa County teenager who killed the matriarch of an immigrant family in a Charlottesville crosswalk in October paid his way out of some legal trouble for $94. One month after the Volvo he was driving struck and killed Mamawa Simai as the 64-year-old woman walked across Elliott Avenue, 19-year-old Matthew Christian Kozub sent $94 to the Charlottesville General District Court to satisfy his traffic ticket. Thats all? pedestrian advocate Kevin Cox asked The Daily Progress. Its laughable really that somebody can run a pedestrian down and the stiffest penalty be a $94 fine. Despite some evidence that led police to believe that Kozub was piloting his vehicle above the 35 mph speed limit, Charlottesville police and prosecutors limited the charge after they realized that the 2011 Volvo provided no onboard computer data to bolster the notion that Kozub had been speeding. The resulting charge, failure to yield to a pedestrian, was a traffic infraction, rather than a criminal charge such as reckless driving or involuntary manslaughter. However, starting on July 1, prosecutors will have a new law that, when theres a fatality, removes some discretion to issue a traffic ticket as Kozub received. Senate Bill 1416, sponsored by state Sen. Adam Ebbin, D-Alexandria, makes killing or seriously injuring pedestrians who are in crosswalks or making any lawful road crossing a Class 1 misdemeanor. Its an improvement, but I dont think its sufficient, said Cox. Its just another example of how little respect pedestrians get. While judges often give first-time offenders suspended sentences, Class 1 misdemeanors can be punished by up to a year in jail and a fine of $2,500. And Charlottesville lawyer David Heilberg said that if this law had been enacted last year, the outcome could have been different. If that law had existed, the crash could have been charged as a Class 1 misdemeanor, Heilberg told The Daily Progress. What likely prevented the prosecution of Kozub on more serious charges, said Heilberg, was a lack of evidence pointing to a reckless mindset. Its so difficult to prove intent, said Heilberg. You have to prove mental state. Heilberg said that because traffic cases rarely feature a confession, prosecutors typically resort to forensic evidence such as drug and alcohol ingestion, headlight use or speeding. State of mind, Heilberg said, is mostly proved by circumstantial evidence. The stiffer the charge, the more intense the evidence has to be, according to Heilberg. Reckless driving is more than carelessness, said Heilberg, noting that the standard for a manslaughter conviction is even higher: a reckless disregard for human life such as extreme speeding or profound intoxication. In the Charlottesville commonwealths attorneys late-October statement announcing Kozubs ticket, two of the nine sentences criticize the streetscape. The area was poorly lit and had no signage or flashing lights indicating a pedestrian crossing, the statement reads. Another passage mentions that the crosswalk was marked only with zebra stripes. Heilberg suggested that blaming the intersection may soon cease to be an option. Theres no state of mind proof required in the new law, said Heilberg. Prosecutors love strict liability laws because theyre the easiest to convict. Charlottesville Commonwealths Attorney Joe Platania declined to comment on the October statement but indicated a willingness to use the new law. In any instance where a pedestrian is struck by a vehicle, he told The Daily Progress, the Charlottesville Police Department and our office will conduct a thorough criminal investigation and place any and all appropriate charges. Killing Simai wasnt Kozubs only automobile-based offense last year. In December, he was found guilty of using a Volvo to intentionally smash his girlfriends parents mailbox. Unlike Samais killing, the September mailbox incident was not treated not as a traffic infraction but as a crime, and Kozub received a 12-month suspended sentence. As previously reported, Simai was a native of Liberia widowed by rebels who attacked her family during a civil war. She survived six years in a refugee camp and reached America with the help of a Pennsylvania church. But she was struck and killed Oct. 3 while walking to a bus stop to reach her night shift as custodian at University of Virginia Medical Center. Two daughters shared that Simais death left the family without the woman who taught them the values of hard work and self-reliance. Her death also launched a wave of hand-wringing in City Hall. Within weeks, the city installed flex posts, flexible bollards that rebound upon impact, near that Elliott Avenue and South First Street intersection. During a meeting of City Council later in October, City Manager Sam Sanders announced the flex posts and posed a question. What if the city was 25 mph everywhere except on the bypass? Sanders asked. We might actually see that it would be a better situation all around, because we are a very dense area and we are talking about making it even more dense. Speed limits and roadway designs have recently been cited as crucial safety issues among a growing cadre of authors whose research blames traffic engineers for elevating motor vehicle throughput and commuter convenience above community safety. Data from the Governors Highway Safety Association shows that over the past decade, deaths of Americans on foot have climbed 48%, an increase thats nearly seven times higher than the nations population growth. On Oct. 24 near Pantops just east of Charlottesville, a driver struck and killed an infant and seriously injured the childs mother and two other children. No charges were filed in that incident. Five months prior to Simai and the infants death, Charlottesville City Council set a goal of eliminating all traffic fatalities by 2045. In January of this year, the citys transportation planning manager, Ben Chambers, unveiled a five-year plan to meet that goal. The Safer Streets Strategy urges a variety of traffic-calming measures including updated crosswalks, flashing beacons, flex post bump-outs and mini roundabouts. As for lowering speed limits, the strategy also calls for doing so in accordance with Streets That Work guidelines from the National Association of City Transportation Officials. While the city adopted Streets That Work in 2016, Sanders suggested a renewed push. The starting point of this work, Sanders told The Daily Progress in email, is assessing changes to the speed limits on our residential streets, which both make up the vast majority of the city streets and are the places where many of our residents directly experience potential safety concerns from speeding cars. Support the Peninsulas only locally-owned newspaper. Subscribe! Subscribing annually brings you big savings. We also offer monthly and weekly subscriptions. Premium Subscription As low as $8.25 per week Premium Includes: -- Access to the Daily Journals e-Edition: a digital replica of our daily newspaper including crossword puzzles, games, comics, classifieds and ads. You can download a digital replica of the Daily Journal for offline reading. You can also clip & download articles or images from the e-edition to share with others The most recent 90 issues are available at any given time. -- Unlimited access to our award-winning online content -- Commenting access on all stories as a valued member of the DJ community -- NEW! Access to our online-only digital crossword puzzle. A new puzzle every day, seven days a week! The third hole was placed about 15m west of the first hole drilled and intersected strong visible gold at 159.5m, 180m and 180.9m downhole, extending the systems strike length to the west. Drilling hit significant mineralised zones with a 1.6m quartz vein hosting multiple gold grains at a depth of 159.5m. The most prominent visible gold was apparent at depths of 180m and 180.9m. A fourth hole is being drilled now about 50m down plunge and slightly along strike to the southeast from hole two to target continuity of the mineralised system. Advance Metals managing director Dr Adam McKinnon said: These initial assay results are exactly what we were hoping for, demonstrating the presence of exceptional gold mineralisation across significant widths at Myrtleford. In combination with previous drilling, these results now define a coherent ultra-high-grade zone at the Happy Valley project with potential extensions down-plunge and along strike. The companys maiden diamond drilling program kicked off in February at the 418 square kilometre site focussing on its Happy Valley prospect in the southeastern portion of the project. The company is expecting to receive assays from its second and third holes by mid-April. At Myrtleford, Advance is onto a 13km-long trend of gold mineralisation known as the Happy Valley trend. Management says less than 1 per cent of the 13km-long strike has been tested by drilling to date and believes the area hosts many historic gold mines worked to only shallow depths, providing substantial exploration upside at the project. Advance believes many of the mines are on mineralised structures extending for kilometres in length, which have not been exposed to modern exploration methods. The overall project has a 45km strike length across historical workings and old gold mines, including the Happy Valley trend, the Twist Creek trend extending for 7km and the Magpie trend running for 16km. It lies within the renowned Lachlan Fold belt, which is responsible for some of the countrys biggest gold deposits. Twist Creek sits at the northern end of the project and will be subjected to shallow drilling when the companys drill program at Happy Valley is completed. It features multiple mined structures that previously averaged 31g/t gold. Advance recently signed a binding agreement with Serra Energy Metals Corporation to acquire 80 per cent of the Myrtleford and Beaufort gold projects via a joint venture. Advance will acquire 80 per cent of the fully paid shares in E79 Resources, the legal owner of the tenements comprising the two Victorian projects. The company will buy its stake in E79 via an initial issue of company shares, followed by three staged payments made by issuing further shares, plus a 1 per cent net smelter royalty from gold production. The highly prospective Beaufort project is in Victorias southwest, 145km west of Melbourne. The region has produced more than one million ounces of alluvial gold and presents a significant opportunity to discover large-scale gold deposits, given its proximity to the world-class 22-million-ounce Bendigo goldfields and the renowned Fosterville underground gold mine that produced more than 300,000 ounces of high-grade gold in 2023. The Myrtleford and Beaufort projects are within the historical Victorian goldfields, known for producing more than 80 million ounces of gold. The company is now busy designing a follow-up drill program for Happy Valley and will refine drill targets when all remaining assays are received. In a hyper gold environment where the precious yellow metal has been touching all-time highs, Advance appears to have a tiger by the tail at Myrtleford. They say grade is King and if thats true then Myrtleford just may turn out to be royal with some off-the-scale grades across quite decent widths. Is your ASX-listed company doing something interesting? Contact: mattbirney@bullsnbears.com.au Stage 2 will see a desalination plant, estimated to cost US$1.4 billion, supply water at a rate of 1300L/s to a range of potential businesses within the Huasco Valley region. The numbers really begin to ramp up during the second stage, with post-tax-free cash flows jumping to an estimated $4 billion from revenue of US$9.35B modelled over 22 years. The post-tax NPV for stage 2 comes in at $977M with a 4 year payback. The companys staged approach enables scaling up for long term supply to mining, community and agricultural firms in the Huasco Valley region, with the potential to stretch beyond initial project estimates. Hot Chili managing director Christian Easterday said: The outcomes of the water supply preliminary feasibility study provide an opportunity for Hot Chili to fully consider the strategic value of its 80 per cent owned subsidiary company Huasco Water, which controls all our critical water assets. The company views the potential to outsourcing of its seawater supply infrastructure as a key value enabler and has anchored Huasco Water by executing a memorandum of understanding to negotiate a foundational seawater offtake agreement for Costa Fuego. Huasco Water has identified possible demand of at least up to 4000L/s across six undeveloped mining projects, all requiring access to a desalinated water supply. Desalination water supply is projected to occur shortly after the seawater supply, due to begin at the end of the decade, is piped to Costa Feugo. The permitting process to upgrade its maritime concessions to enable desalinated water to be provided is advancing. The Huasco Valley region contains one of the largest groupings of major undeveloped copper projects in the world, all of which are in need of a reliable water supply. If an improving copper price warrants a move towards production for Hot Chilis Costa Fuego, Huasco Water will be dragged along with it. Management says just three potential clients in the region who may tap into their water business are Teck Resources, Atex Resources and Agrosuper. Agrosuper is a food production company and also produces animal feed. An MOU for desalinated water has been executed with the group. The HW Aguas para El Huasco SpA (Huasco Water) is a joint venture between Hot Chili (80 per cent interest) and Compania Minera Del Pacifico - CMP (20 per cent interest). Huasco Water is the only company with permitted access to supply seawater in the Huasco Valley region following a ten-year regulatory approval process. The permitting process for desalination water has advanced over the past year with regulatory applications made to enable the supply from the existing maritime concession. A second maritime concession application by Huasco Water has been lodged. The second application includes brine discharge for the potential seawater desalination operations. Hot Chilis first mover advantage in the water sector in Chile cannot be overstated. The demand in the area appears to be real and the barriers to entry for others that have not suffered the ten year ordeal to get permitted just might give Huasco and Hot Chili a potentially decades long free run at supplying water to both its own project and the other mega projects that are littered around the area with no current water options. With copper prices recently on the move, Hot Chili stands to derive a double benefit. Not only will the economics at its Costa Feugo project improve, but the company stands to reap the rewards from other copper groups in the region who may develop a thirst for some Huasco water. Is your ASX-listed company doing something interesting? Contact: mattbirney@bullsnbears.com.au Nobody in the story challenges these remarks, but readers of advance copies of the novel pounced, accusing Lark of making racist comments about undocumented labourers and praising a notorious billionaires work methods. What is Larks offence? Initially, just two lines spoken by her main character. The novel, Sparrow and Vine , is about a tussle between rival vineyard owners. At one point the heroine says: Shouldnt there be a crew of people with questionable work visas picking these grapes for us? At another point, she says: I was inspired by Elon Musk, I use his five-step design process. Who is Sophie Lark? An independent sensation, a US bestselling author of romance fiction who was about to have her first novel out with a traditional publisher, Bloom Books. Not any more. The attacks have been so fast and furious that Bloom has pulled the book. Ive been following a pile-on, reading endless online threads and watching videos of young women bursting with righteous indignation. They are all upset about one person: Sophie Lark. My first reaction was to feel sorry for Lark. All this fussy nitpicking over the odd poorly chosen phrase, with the potential to fell her? It didnt seem fair. But then I noticed she wasnt exactly helping herself. She issued an apology that said she was trying to show a flawed character and that society had changed wildly since she wrote the book. As readers pointed out, undocumented immigrants and Elon Musks practices have been hot topics for years. It didnt stop there. Readers searched Larks earlier novels and came up with more quotes they found inflammatory: saying something was improbable like an alliance between Israel and Palestine, or cats and dogs. Or a black woman speaking of her white lover: He can be my master and Ill be his slave, if thats what it takes to get him back. Lark, pictured here with her partner, says the controversial dialogue in question was to show a flawed character. Credit: Facebook Among the shower of angry comments on social media, there are one or two from bewildered writers and readers. What does this mean? Are books no longer allowed to depict flawed characters? Can you no longer show a villains point of view? The answer is that flawed characters are the lifeblood of fiction, and we need to know what makes villains tick. And writers should be free to write what they want. But it depends very much on how the writer does it. Like it or not, there are unspoken rules now that all publishers try to follow because they know if they get it wrong, there will be pile-ons, and they may lose a lot of money. Japanese animation legend and founder of Studio Ghibli, Hayao Miyazaki, once described artificial intelligence animation as an insult to life itself. But almost 10 years later, the internet is now flooded with a tsunami of AI-generated images regurgitating his exact art style. A newly released image tool on ChatGPT which allows anyone to generate visuals in different artistic styles has set ablaze a social media trend which has seen thousands of people create AI-generated memes and personal portraits in the art style of Studio Ghibli. The Japanese studio is one of the most notable animation houses worldwide, responsible for producing Oscar-winning films Spirited Away and The Boy and the Heron. Several of its films will feature in a free outdoor Studio Ghibli film festival at Fed Square during the school holidays. A scene from Hayao Miyazakis 2023 film The Boy And The Heron, which won awards at the Oscars, BAFTAs and the Golden Globes. Credit: AP However, the trend has since been met with backlash, and has sparked broader discussions about the ethical concerns of AI-generated art in an era increasingly shaped by algorithms. Can AI truly capture the depth and soul of art created by humans, or is there perhaps something profoundly unsettling about this new trend? What is this trend, and how did it blow up? Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Save articles for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time. Got it Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size Going into his fourth season of Taskmaster Australia, Tom Cashman is accustomed to our nations finest comedians calling him names. In fact, he kind of likes it. Some of the contestants Im friends with, so its quite natural joking around, he says. But it is [strange tormenting] people like Julia Morris, Dave Hughes, Wil Anderson and Peter Helliar the generation above me that I grew up watching When its someone you idolise calling you a piece of shit, its like Hey, Im just glad you know my name! Loading Over the past three seasons, Cashman who stars as the much-maligned referee-type figure, and is also involved in production and the rest of the Taskmaster team have made a fine art of light humiliation. The show, based on Alex Hornes hugely popular UK format that has run for a decade, subjects five comedians to strange tasks designed to provoke chaos, creativity and a fair amount of cringe. The first episode of the new season included Cashman slyly bamboozling Australias sweetheart Lisa McCune, and Dave Hughes flopping over in the mud while trying to throw balls in the rain. But the real magic, Cashman says, is in the moments that catch you by surprise. Lets look back at some of the best. Danielle Walkers passwords crisis Advertisement This infamous task from season one which brought Cashman, the stoic straight man, to tears required contestants to guess 26 passwords. Others soon figured out that each word must start with a different letter of the alphabet; Danielle Walker spent more than one-and-a-half hours naming every random word that came into her mind. This is someone truly going through a crisis, Cashman says. The task took so long, he says, production had to pay the entire crew overtime. It was the last task we filmed on a Friday and I swear they structure the order of the tasks to mess with you psychologically, Walker says. My brain felt like it was melting. When she watched the footage for the first time, she went even further: That was the worst thing thats ever happened to me in my whole life. Concetta Caristo and the mystery scales When youre coming up with the tasks, you have a vague idea of what might happen, Cashman says. The passwords one, for example, was designed for the turmoil Walker experienced. This task ... not so much. Not in a million years would anyone have ever predicted that someone would think what Concetta thought. When asked to record the largest weight on a set of scales on a wall, an increasingly frustrated Caristo spent the whole time driving a truck onto an irrelevant mat on the floor thinking there was some kind of Bluetooth weighing machine underneath. Advertisement Its the hardest Ive ever tried not to laugh [at] in my life, Cashman says. He stayed stone-faced about it for months so it wouldnt be spoiled for her before the studio reveal. Watching this back, I cant believe it never occurred to me to take the scales off the wall, Caristo says. I didnt win Taskmaster, but I did make Tom cry, which is way better. Peter Helliar laughing for nine minutes straight It is exactly what it sounds like. Although, a little meaner. Peter Helliar was the only contestant given this task: to continuously laugh as long as possible. I had a headache for an hour after filming this, Helliar says. It was a rollercoaster because I would swing back and forth between fake laughing to real laughing. When I saw Tom Cashman crying and laughing that certainly helped. Cashman adds: I reckon Peter Helliar was actually a bit annoyed. He had a sore neck for a few days afterwards. He mentioned it a few times. And then he found out he was the only one to do it I do feel a bit bad. But the funny overwhelms the badness. Hes such a lovely and positive person. Its funny to pervert that. Advertisement Josh Thomas sock hunt Clocking the longest time on this list, Josh Thomas spent one hour and 43 minutes hunting for a toy minivan in a red sock (its more entertaining than it sounds). Loading Others noticed fairly quickly that Cashman was wearing said item. But Thomas instead retrieved and inspected dozens of socks hanging from the exterior of the Taskmaster house. Towards the end I was deliberately making quite clear puns about feet, Cashman says. I reckon I made 20 different allusions to the fact that [the toy] was in my shoe. When Thomas eventually realised what was going on, he immediately left the task. He gets cranky when hes tired so he was legitimately mad at me after that, Cashman says. Thomas was the only comedian unavailable to provide comment for this story. But lets give him the benefit of the doubt that hes not still mad about it. Advertisement This is absolutely an everyday occurrence across every health service, she said. We are seeing women who have had scans that are just not reliable. The missed diagnoses were fuelling late-term abortions, Khot said. Dr Nisha Khot, president-elect of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen Its heartbreaking for women to have those terminations done late just because they didnt have an early diagnosis when it was possible to have an early diagnosis with a good quality scan, she said. They get some pretty pictures but what they dont realise is that they actually are not getting the information about whether this is a normal pregnancy. Diagnostic ultrasounds are offered in the public system at 11 to 13 weeks gestation and again during the second trimester at 18 to 20 weeks. But the rise in reassurance clinics has offered women the chance to pay for scans at other stages in their pregnancy. Online reviews of reassurance clinics across Australia detail numerous alleged incidents where women have been incorrectly informed that they have miscarried when their baby is still alive. Others have been told the wrong sex of their child. There are calls for sonographers to be regulated by the health practitioner watchdog. Credit: AP This masthead spoke to one family who were informed by a reassurance clinic that they were having a single baby, only to later discover at a diagnostic ultrasound that they were having twins. In 2023, Rohene Chatterjee found herself at an ultrasound clinic in Melbourne that offered reassurance scans. The then 27-year-old had experienced a miscarriage days earlier and it was the only clinic that had availability. She said the transvaginal ultrasound was painful and the experience uncomfortable. The clinical report sent to her doctor a few days later stated that one of Chatterjees ovaries was atrophic, which her doctor explained meant it wasnt functioning. I was really shocked, she recalled. A month later, she fell pregnant and an ultrasound at another clinic showed that the egg had originated from the same ovary that the previous clinic had deemed atrophic. She said her experience at the second clinic was much more positive. I realised that it wasnt meant to be uncomfortable, said Chatterjee, who gave birth to her son in 2024. Australasian Sonographers Association chief executive Tony Coles called for sonographers to be registered under the Medical Radiation Practice Board of Australia, one of 15 boards overseen by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA). He said this would protect patients, and restrict who could call themselves a sonographer. Loading It leaves patients vulnerable, he said of the current situation. Ultimately, that undermines confidence in the quality and safety of ultrasound services. He said while it would be difficult to regulate reassurance scans because they could be conducted by non-medical staff, consumers needed to be aware of the risks. There are significant risks that come with doing non-diagnostic ultrasounds ... the missed abnormalities and the false reassurance due to the lack of medical oversight. It creates a false belief that the scan is equivalent to a clinical assessment. Australian Medical Association Victorian president Dr Jill Tomlinson also supports the push for AHPRA to regulate sonographers. I strongly recommend that pregnant women have scans performed by qualified individuals, via a referral either from their GP or obstetrician, and that if they have concerns or anxiety about their pregnancy or their babys development that they discuss these with their antenatal provider, she said. It comes as the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care develops guidelines to help women and their families navigate ultrasounds during pregnancy. The commissions Chief Medical Officer, Conjoint Professor Carolyn Hullick, said while some women chose to have non-diagnostic ultrasounds as a souvenir image, for reassurance their baby is safe or a gender reveal, only diagnostic ultrasound performed by a qualified health professional should be relied upon to provide medical information about a babys development and health. Diagnostic ultrasounds by qualified health professionals during pregnancy provide important information for maternal care teams, to get the best possible outcome for mother and baby, she said, urging expectant mothers to check the qualifications of the person performing the ultrasound. Associate professor Stefan Kane, director of maternity services at the Royal Womens Hospital in Melbourne, said he understood why women were seeking additional reassurance during their pregnancy. They feel very uncertain about whats normal, whats not, he said. Kane said the danger lay in people confusing regulated medical imaging clinics with those offering non-diagnostic scans. Loading People may not be able to tell the difference between the two, he said. They may think, Ive had this scan, it was a nice-looking machine. The person seemed to know what they were doing ... when, in fact, the examination hasnt been performed in the way that we would expect for a regulated medical imaging practice. The leaked audio recording at the centre of war criminal Ben Roberts-Smiths bid to reopen his defamation appeal involved a conversation between a journalist and the former soldiers one-time lover, the Federal Court has heard. The former Special Air Service corporal filed an application last week to reopen his appeal to introduce new evidence about a recording of The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald investigative journalist Nick McKenzie speaking to a witness in the defamation trial. Ben Roberts-Smith outside the Federal Court in 2022. Credit: Kate Geraghty McKenzie, an author of the articles at the centre of the defamation case, was one of the respondents to the lawsuit. Roberts-Smith is seeking to overturn a landmark decision by Federal Court Justice Anthony Besanko in 2023, which dismissed his multimillion-dollar defamation case against The Age and the Herald and found he was complicit in the murder of four unarmed Afghan prisoners. A group of men who attacked a 19-year-old in a park and fatally stabbed him as he tried to flee have each been sentenced to life in jail. The 10 defendants faced Queensland Supreme Court on Monday for sentencing for murder. Girum Mekonnen died from a 25-centimetre deep wound inflicted when his group was ambushed by men with bats, knives and machetes at a Zillmere park in Brisbanes north on September 13, 2020. Girum Mekonnen, 19, was fatally stabbed at OCallaghan Park in Zillmere. Credit: Facebook Justice Lincoln Crowley said the attackers had used dangerous weapons, including a baseball bat covered in spikes or barbed wire and a machete, in a brazen ambush. Maryland state Del. Brian M. Crosby is vice chair of the House Economic Matters Committee a panel that handles many business issues as well as the owner of a small business that is a subcontractor on defense IT contracts. Until a few weeks ago, that business was based in Maryland. But Crosby, a Democrat, was already in the process of moving his business to Virginia when the governor and legislative leaders announced a budget deal that includes a 3% tax on IT, among other services, a tax that critics say poses an existential threat to businesses such as Crosbys that contract with federal agencies. I listened to the announcement in the truck, he said, describing the move that came on the same day as the budget announcement. Ive raised these issues, Crosby said. I dont know what to say. I think people are still convinced that youre getting 50 cents of $1 or something. Instead, he said the tax would mean businesses such as his would lose money on every transaction. All I can say is youre not taking 50 cents on $1, Crosby said. Youre taking $1.50 from $1. Crosby told his story March 25, minutes after his Democratic colleagues muscled through a two-bill spending plan on a preliminary vote. That plan includes the tax on data and IT services that is expected to raise nearly $500 million annually, part of the $1 billion in new revenues and $2.5 billion in spending cuts needed to close a $3 billion gap in the fiscal 2026 budget. Crosby noted the irony of the situation. Maryland Gov. Wes Moore and other legislators say they want to grow private industry and attract IT jobs to the area. One of the largest components of that industry are the numerous defense facilities in the state: Patuxent River, Fort Meade, Fort Detrick and others. On one hand, were saying were the IT-cyber corridor, said Crosby. On the other hand, the industry, which Im a part of, is saying if youre in the DOD [Department of Defense] segment, which is the states No. 1 industry, you cant make it on that [tax]." The commercial companies, they can pass it off, he said. Its not the same for the DOD guys, especially the smaller guys, its not as easy. Smaller companies such as Crosbys often work as subcontractors to large prime contractors that are based out of state and, thus, not subject to the proposed tax, that is soon to head to the Maryland state Senate. Subcontractors based in Maryland are not exempt. Crosbys 5-year-old company he asked that it not be named has been growing. He has a warehouse location in Georgia, where he plans to register his company while keeping a small presence in Maryland and a new office in Virginia Beach. The new out-of-state company will deliver on its contracts as before to its larger prime, typically exempt, contractor partners that will deliver services to the federal facilities in Maryland. We know the numbers, Crosby said when asked about how the change would affect companies that do the same type of contracting. All I can say is that within a year, wed file for bankruptcy. So Crosby acted fast. The Maryland House and Senate have an agreement on the tax. Delaying a move would mean needing more trucks, as materials needed for third-quarter projects are soon to arrive. Theres also the matter of bidding on future contracts. Delaying a move was too risky, Crosby said. Crosby may not be alone in his move should the tax pass as expected. Maryland's Cybersecurity Association Inc. estimated that about 800 businesses similar to Crosbys could be affected by a services tax. The Maryland Chamber of Commerce estimates more than 15,000 businesses, which employ an estimated 100,000 people, would be subject to the new tax. During the March 25 floor debate in the Maryland House, Republicans tried to strip out the IT services tax one of more than a dozen failed amendments offered during a sometimes testy four-hour debate. Republican Del. Todd Morgan stood feet away from Crosby as he described the choice faced by his Democratic colleague. Now Im going to bring this home, ladies and gentlemen, to this room, to our colleagues, to one of my friends on the other side of the aisle, Morgan said. That individual is moving his business to Virginia. Ill say this again, one of the colleagues in this room, whos our friend on the other side of the aisle, is moving his business to Virginia as we speak, he said. So, I just want that to sink in when we look at how big this picture is. This story was originally published in Maryland Matters. On his 29th birthday, Andre Rebelo will begin what is expected to be a long prison sentence over what has been labelled the calculated and cold-blooded murder of his mother, Colleen. Rebelo maintains his denial that he was responsible for his mothers death, but after an eight-week Supreme Court trial late last year, a jury found him guilty. A court sketch of Andre Rebelo during his murder trial in the Supreme Court of Western Australia. Credit: Anne Barnetson On Tuesday, he will learn his fate. Colleen, a 58-year-old mother of four and grandmother to Rebelos young son, Romeo, was found dead in the ensuite shower of her Bicton home in May 2020. A coroner could not find a cause of death and for months there was no explanation for why the healthy and happy woman who regularly exercised, lived a healthy lifestyle and had so much to look forward to, could have died. Two West Australian teachers have been banned from working in schools for four and two years, respectively, after admitting to inappropriate and sexualised behaviour with female students. State Administrative Tribunal decisions have revealed that in both cases, the mens conduct was so serious that it is likely to bring the teaching profession into disrepute. The teachers identities and the schools they worked at were suppressed in the court documents. Both teachers have had their teaching licences disqualified. Credit: Louie Douvis The teacher disqualified for four years was an acquaintance of the father of a year 11 student, who attended a separate school to the one the man taught at. According to the published decision, the 49-year-old man was at a social event at that students house in April 2024 when he noticed she was upset. The tactics of political pressure groups hoping to punish Labor over Israels war in Gaza have divided Muslim communities in Sydneys west, a prominent doctor warning their sinister plot will pave the way for a Liberal government unsympathetic to Palestine. While one pro-Palestinian group, vowing to heckle and disrupt politicians, gloated they had driven cockroach local MPs from the citys mosques, a new anti-Islamic threat landed on the door of a house of worship on Monday. Dr Jamal Rifi AM, a respected figure in Sydneys Muslim community, fears militant tactics will fracture his electorate and result in a Liberal government less sympathetic to Palestine. Credit: Janie Barrett On the first day of Eid, Muslim Sydneysiders gathered at mosques to mark the end of Ramadan. There was a notable lack of politicians in attendance amid a days-long debate over whether political figures from either major party should be welcomed in Muslim spaces. On Sunday, activist group Stand4Palestine called for followers to monitor mosques and places of worship for local MPs and to disrupt public appearances. When Labors Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke and Education Minister Jason Clare did not attend the mosques on Monday, as expected to mark the celebration, the group boasted online. NSW taxpayers have been spared from forking out $225 million next financial year to keep Australias largest coal-fired power station running, after Origin Energy did not opt in to an underwriting agreement with the state government. Eraring will continue to operate until its extended 2027 closure date, but the NSW Labor government will not enter into a so-called risk-sharing agreement with Origin Energy this year, saving taxpayers millions of dollars. The Minns government last year said it would pay Origin Energy up to $450 million over the next two years to extend the life of Eraring, should the company opt in to the risk-sharing deal. NSW Energy Minister Penny Sharpe says taxpayers will not be hit with a bill this year. Credit: Brendon Thorne, Nick Moir Under that deal, taxpayers would share 20 per cent of any profit Eraring made during the life of the agreement, but that share would be capped at $40 million. If the plant lost money, taxpayers would underwrite 80 per cent of those losses, capped at $225 million a year. The NRL has written to all clubs admitting match officials failed to use the sin bin on four occasions when they should have for foul play on the weekend, including Jarome Luais tackle on Warriors forward Edward Kosi and Reed Mahoneys late shot on Cronullas Daniel Atkinson as he lay on the ground. Clubs were told the lack of action would not set a new precedent, while also reminding them players need to improve their tackling techniques because of the rise in shoulder to head contact. Luai was given a one-match ban for his tackle on Kosi on Sunday night. Canterburys Mahoney was fined $3600 for two separate incidents in Saturday nights win over the Sharks, including a dangerous contact charge for his hit on an unsuspecting Atkinson. Luai and Mahoney were not specifically referred to by the NRL, but sources with knowledge of the situation, not authorised to speak publicly, confirmed the governing body believed they should have been sent to the sin bin, while the bunker should have also given Brisbanes Jordan Riki and the Dolphins Tom Gilbert 10 minutes in the same game on Friday night. Riki has now received a two-match ban, while Gilbert will sit out one match. But now, with at least a dozen cranes hovering over the skyline, gray skeletons of steel and concrete that once signalled economic growth have taken on an ominous quality. Loading Somreutal Nilbanjong, 34, found herself gazing at one such building downtown on Sunday afternoon as she walked home. Asked what she was thinking, she said it scares me just to look at it. A small construction elevator climbed up the exterior through pink scaffolding. She scrolled through her phone until she found a photo of the mountain of rubble a few miles away the collapsed building, Bangkoks ground zero. Goosebumps appeared on her arms and she shuddered. Im afraid its going to happen again, she said. Government officials have tried to calm peoples nerves and keep people updated. Thai rescue teams work to extract people trapped in the collapsed building. Credit: Getty Immediately after Fridays quake, Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra issued an urgent alert warning people to be wary of aftershocks for the next 24 hours. By that evening, she sought to reassure the public by announcing that the situation had stabilised and that residents could return to their homes. On Saturday, she rode on Bangkoks elevated railway, known as the Skytrain, to show that the trains were safe. The system had been shut down after the quake and inspected before most of the lines were reopened. But even as the city has reemerged toward normalcy malls and markets full, trains rumbling over streets packed with motorbikes many people are struggling to process something they had thought happened only in places such as Japan or Taiwan. Kanittha said the experience was so confounding that her mind raced to memories of what she had seen in Japanese comics or manga depicting disasters. Many people said they werent necessarily scared, but that they were forced to ask unexpected questions: Behind glass facades, are buildings really secure? What if there are cracks that cannot be seen? What if theres a giant aftershock? Jiraporn Jaichob, 41, a drink stall owner who was having lunch when the temblor struck, said she was making plans for future disasters. She was thinking of buying a transistor radio since shed seen cellphone coverage go down. She also created a go bag for family with key documents and supplies. With this earthquake, we learned that we dont know what might happen in a given day, she said. We can die anytime, anywhere, I know its our fate, she added. But at least we take care of our lives where we can. Thailand upgraded its earthquake-resistant building code in 2007, and experts said the vast majority of the citys buildings were clearly strong enough to withstand what should still be considered a rare seismic event. Still, some engineers called for greater scrutiny and a potential upgrade in standards and enforcement. Look at Japan they keep developing their laws and design, said Suchatvee Suwansawat, a professor of civil engineering at King Mongkut University and a former president of the Council of Engineers Thailand. We should do that as well. The collapse of the 30-story building, which had been going up beside a mall and popular weekend market, could be a turning point. It never should have buckled, Suchatvee said, suggesting that something went wrong in design, execution or oversight. Four years into construction, it was being built by a Chinese state-owned company, the China Railway 10th Engineering Group. The Thai government has promised to investigate and report early findings in a week. But like other frightening building collapses the condo tower in Surfside, Florida, which killed 98 people in 2021, or the downing of the World Trade Centre from terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001 the toll of destruction seems likely to linger. By dusk on Sunday, shock, grief and dust mingled in the air at the collapse site, where a sizable crowd was gathered. Volunteer rescuers from the police and the military wearing jumpsuits cycled in and out of the area. A crane held two observers over the top of the rubble mountain as men in yellow hats stared up from below. At the perimeter, the father of a Pakistani worker said people were praying at temples all over Thailand and that he hoped at least half the workers would come out alive. Shock, grief and dust mingled in the air at the site of the high-rise building collapse. Credit: AP Aubonrat Setnawet was also still hoping for good news about her husband. He had been on the 23rd floor of the building when the earthquake hit; she had been there too, working, but on the ground floor, not far from where she sat on Sunday in a soft plastic chair near a hard metal fence. No updates, she said quietly. All she could point to were more relatives beside her, as the noisy grind of diggers and dump trucks filled the air. At the market across the street, Jatupol Sawangphanich, 42, put tape over the slits of a metal grate protecting his tropical fish business. Every time they lift the rubble, the dust flies in this direction, he said. Beside him, the lights of a usually busy mall had gone dark. Its structural integrity still needed to be tested. This happened all over Bangkok, he said. Id rather not go into tall buildings at all. This article originally appeared in The New York Times. To: H.E. Hendrikus Schoof, Prime Minister of the Netherlands H.E. Ruben Brekelmans, Minister of Defense H.E. Caspar Veldkamp, Minister of Foreign Affairs The Members of the Dutch Parliament, The Members of the Dutch Senate The Hague, Netherlands Subject: Objection to the Perjured Portrayal of Venezuela as a Military Threat to Bonaire as Stated by the Governor of Bonaire Dear Prime Minister Schoof, Minister Brekelmans, Minister Veldkamp, Members of the Dutch Parliament, and Members of the Dutch Senate, We write to you on behalf of the people of Bonaire regarding a joint statement of objection, as mentioned above, in collaboration with the Bonaire Human Rights Organization, Ministerio Evangeliko Di Akshon (Evangelical Ministry in Action religious body), and SC Labor Union STrAF Division (workers' labor union) from Bonaire, Statia, and Saba. This statement has been sent to the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, CARICOM, OECS, OAS, CELAC, and COPPPAL. (see attached) We hereby urgently raise our concerns regarding the letter Governor Soliano dated March 25th, 2025, reference: Z/25/02449,4, addressed to- Mr. Brekelmans, Minister of Defense, and Mr Veldkamp, Minister of Foreign Affairs, regarding: Concerns about the situation in Venezuela (see attached) We are particularly concerned by the letter from Governor Soliano, which was publicized in the media, instilling fear and creating panic among the local population. Governor Soliano, who is not elected and does not represent the people of Bonaire but is appointed by and represents the King and the Dutch Government, has initiated a possible provocation with Bonaires neighboring country, Venezuela through this irresponsible public action. Governor Soliana is calling on the Dutch Government, Minister Brekelmans of Defense, and Minister Veldkamp of Foreign Affairs. The governor sees Venezuela as a military threat that could lead to unnecessary interference, intervention, provocation, and animosity from Venezuela. Our Answers/Opinion to Questions asked by D66 Members of Parliament van der Werf and Paternotte: 1--- Yes, 1--- Yes, everybody saw this letter and message of Governor Soliano, who sounds alarm about the military threat from Venezuela, was widely publicized in the media and can be seen as a form of propaganda that could lead to military provocations and conflict 2--- No, there were no indicative reported or observed Venezuelan military activity near Bonaire 3--- No, we have always been friendly neighbors, and there have been no serious, credible threats contrary to the sensational and troubling letter from Governor Soliano, which could lead to military provocation. Bonaire has historically maintained peaceful relations with Venezuela. Many Bonaireans have ties to Venezuela, with a substantial Venezuelan community on the island, and we have always lived together peacefully. Any attempt to portray otherwise is misleading and unjustified. 4--- No, there are no increased threats to other Caribbean parts of the Kingdom, as Aruba and Curacao are closer to Venezuela than Bonaire, as we have lived with the utmost respect and peaceful relationship throughout our history. Recently, the Government of Aruba refused the Dutch government's initiative to establish a military base on the island of Aruba to avoid provocations and escalation. 5&6--- There has been no prior information from the Governor nor the Public Entity of Bonaire towards the citizens of any indication as severe as this provocative, sensationalized suggestive Nato interference letter propagates and invites to military escalation instead of diplomatic peacekeeping and seeking communications and solutions 7--- Bonaire is part of the Caribbean that has been declared a zone of Peace by CELAC. The Caribbean region does not promote any suggestive military propaganda to provocation and destabilize the peaceful Caribbean region 8--- The Royal Navy has bases in Aruba and Curacao with main responsibility of border control and drug smuggling and there were no serious public reports and indications as the sensations seeking and provocative letter of Governor Soliano has perjured the Bonaire, Antillean, and Caribbean communities 9--- Governor Soliano should seriously consider withdrawing his provocative letter, and Ministers of Defense Brekelmans and Foreign Affairs Veldkamp should clearly treat the letter as not having been sent. They should also begin de-escalating any potential military provocations in order to maintain Bonaire, our sister islands Aruba and Curacao, and the Caribbean region as a zone of peace. The suggestive, provocative letter of Governor Soliano for possible NATO military interference and base on Bonaire in our opinion will lead to provocation and escalation to military conflict. This is a direct threat to regional peace and security and goes against the interests of the people of Bonaire, who wish to remain neutral and uninvolved in foreign military confrontations. We stand united in the belief that the rights and wishes of the people of Bonaire must be respected. Bonaire, along with the Caribbean region, should remain a peaceful, demilitarized zone where human rights, social stability, and regional cooperation are prioritized. We respectfully request your urgent attention to this matter in ensuring that Bonaire remains a peaceful, demilitarized territory in accordance with international law. Sincerely, James Finies PHILIPSBURG:--- The Sint Maarten Police Force (KPSM) conducted a series of targeted traffic and business controls over the past weekend as part of its ongoing efforts to enhance public safety. These operations, which primarily took place between 1:00 AM and 5:00 AM, resulted in multiple fines, arrests, and the confiscation of illegal items. During the traffic controls, officers stopped and controlled more than 100 vehicles. Several citations were issued for various traffic violations. KPSM urges all drivers to ensure that their vehicles meet technical requirements and that they carry the necessary legal documentation to avoid penalties. In addition to traffic enforcement, KPSM conducted an inspection at a gentleman's club. During this operation, officers identified and arrested an individual who was wanted in connection with a prior case involving threats with a firearm. The suspect was immediately transported to the police station, where he remains in custody for further questioning. Furthermore, on the afternoon of Friday, March 28, 2025, KPSM officers and detectives observed a suspect in the Zagersgut, Cul-de-Sac area who was wanted for an armed robbery that occurred in December 2024. The suspect was inside a vehicle with another male individual. Upon stopping and controlling the vehicle, officers arrested the wanted individual and transported him to the police station for further investigation. During the same operation, officers discovered that the second male occupant of the vehicle was residing illegally on the island. He was subsequently processed and handed over to the Immigration Department for further handling. Additionally, officers found and confiscated a quantity of narcotics and a crossbow inside the vehicle. KPSM emphasizes that these enforcement operations will continue in the coming weeks as part of its commitment to maintaining public order and safety. The police urge all vehicle owners and drivers to ensure compliance with traffic regulations and to cooperate with officers during inspections. KPSM Press Release. PHILIPSBURG:--- Member of Parliament and former Minister of Finance Ardwell Irion welcomed recent progress regarding the draft National Ordinance Basic Bank Account, essential legislation initiated during his tenure in collaboration with the Central Bank of Curacao and Sint Maarten (CBCS). MP Irion emphasized that despite multiple requests to continue the meeting, Parliament has significantly delayed discussions on this crucial law, negatively impacting many citizens. Parliament will formally discuss the legislation on Monday, March 31st, 2025, at 2 pm. Research by the CBCS showed approximately 17% of Sint Maartens population lacks access to basic banking. High fees, limited trust in financial institutions, poor financial literacy, and unsuitable banking products significantly contribute to this financial exclusion. The proposed legislation guarantees every Sint Maarten resident the legal right to open a basic checking account. This account differs from regular accounts as it cannot be overdrawn, is limited to transactions within Sint Maarten and Curacao, and restricts monthly deposits to a maximum of NAf 3,000. Only individual ownership is permitted, preventing joint accounts, and holders cannot simultaneously have another payment account. MP Irion highlighted the urgency of addressing these delays, pointing out the practical benefits citizens miss without basic banking access. The law mandates financial institutions to simplify account applications, requiring only basic identification, contact information, and an expected transaction profile. Age, income, employment status, or credit history will not affect eligibility. Additionally, the law ensures reasonable maintenance fees that must remain lower than regular checking accounts due to limited account features. "Parliaments delay has unnecessarily prevented thousands from fully participating in our increasingly digital economy," MP Irion stated. "Universal access to basic banking services is critical for economic empowerment and personal dignity. This law provides a foundation we can build upon through future amendments." "This upcoming parliamentary session is a critical step forward," MP Irion concluded. "It's time to finalize this law and ensure everyone can effectively participate in our financial system." PHILIPSBURG:--- St. Maarten Academy Key Clubbers completed its final and signature project for the 2024-2025 academic year entitled: Bin the WasteKeep our Shorelines Great. The Academy scholars, together with their juniors in Builders Club, fulfilled the final aspect of their project, which aims to promote the cleanliness of our island. At the same time, they joined with other Key Clubbers around the world to celebrate 100 years of being the largest global student-led high school service organization. In recognition of this milestone, Phase 1 of the project, which commenced in September 2024, focused on beautifying Little Bay Beach with a sunset mural and signage reminding beach-goers to leave the beaches in pristine condition. Phase 2, on the other hand, emphasized the placement of waste receptacles at strategic locations with a noticeable trash build-up. The work on Saturday last saw three 42-gallon trash cans deployed at the Bush Road bus stops near KFC and at the popular Bells Look-out point in Cole Bay. At the brief ribbon-cutting ceremony, various club leaders reflected on the contribution of key project partners who collaborated with the young leaders of St. Maarten to promote a cleaner, greener, waste-free environment. President Ambreanne Brooks, in her presentation, acknowledged the critical role of the Ministry of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment, and Infrastructure (VROMI) in ensuring the success of this service project. Without the approval of Honourable Minister Patrice Gumbs and the diligence of Ms. Barbra Webster [Contract Manager-VROMI], who served as liaison and facilitated our many requests for physical support, our project would have remained a pipe dream, stated Brooks. Academys Head Girl and Key Club Division 4 Lieutenant Governor, Sabea Nanton, also expressed the clubs gratitude for the generous support received from ACE Hardware. At the same time, Vice President of Builders Club, Jehanna Persaud, thanked Motorworld Group of Companies representatives for their unwavering partnership with the service clubs at St. Maarten Academy. Key Club secretary Sabrina Gopaul thanked local artist and St. Maarten Academy alumna Bernica Michel for her guidance and support in designing and painting the mural at Little Bay. Vice Principal and Club Faculty Advisor Joanna Trim remarked: The future of our island is in good standing when our leaders in government, civil service, and the private sector actively demonstrate their commitment to the youth of St. Maarten by being supportive of the efforts of young leaders of service organizations who wish to contribute positively to its development. Trim said it is through such partnerships that young people get to recognize their voice and feel welcomed at the discussion table regarding the socio-economic development of Sint Maarten and the world at large. The Bin the Waste - Keep our Shorelines Great project is now complete, but Key Clubbers have just begun celebrating Key Club International's centennial anniversary a milestone achieved on March 23, 2025. Vice Principal Trim commented: With the approval of our project proposal for a Youth Opportunity Fund grant from Key Club International in April 2024, our task to successfully implement the just-concluded project started. One year later, we are proud that our project culminated with this significant milestone. I firmly believe that all service and no fun dulls a leader's vision, so I extend a special thank you to all our corporate leaders who have pledged their support to ensure that 16 students of St. Maarten Academy Key Club will be attending the Key Club International Convention being held at the Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, U.S. A. from July 2-6, 2025. Your support guarantees that our young leaders will join their counterparts around the world to exchange ideas on future projects and celebrate their accomplishments as todays leaderstomorrows world changers. St. Maarten:--- The highly anticipated womens conference, We Listen, But We Dont Judge, hosted by Access Media Productions, was a tremendous success on Saturday at the Simpson Bay Resort. With a vibrant dress code of Cute and Colorful, attendees fully embraced the empowering atmosphere, making it an unforgettable experience. The conference featured an outstanding lineup of speakers who shared their personal journeys, expertise, and insights: Madame Valerie Damaseau President of the Tourism Office and Territorial Council of the Collectivite de St. Martin. She spoke about the Dare to Evolve initiative, which aims to uplift people and support community-driven projects for 2025. Additionally, she shared her experiences as a woman navigating the political landscape. Dr. Gale TC Rigobert Dean of Academics at the University of St. Martin. She addressed the challenges of education as a handicap, reflecting on her personal journey from St. Lucia and the obstacles she overcame in academia. Stacy-Ann Violenes Nutse and healthcare professional. She provided valuable insights on pre-menopause and menopause, emphasizing the importance of empowering women in all professions. She also discussed the judgment surrounding Botox and fillers, encouraging women to embrace personal choices without fear. Chef Ashanta Daniel Award-winning chef from the Festival de la Gastronomie in St. Martin. She captivated the audience with a live cooking demonstration, inviting two lucky volunteers to recreate the dish for a chance to win a prize from Golden Taste Catering Services. Dr. Napolina Richardson Spiritual leader and speaker. She delivered a heartfelt talk on the effects of rejection throughout a womans journey, inspiring attendees to embrace self-worth and resilience. Maya Thomas Founder of Reflourish & Co. Thomas shared essential tips on natural haircare and introduced her line of hair products designed for natural hair. A major highlight of the event was the surprise all-male panel, where distinguished gentlemen Pastor Rolando Toulon, Herbert Martina, and Edsel Gumbs engaged in a raw and frank conversation about relationships. The audience, composed entirely of women, did not hold back with their questions, leading to an open and eye-opening dialogue between the sexes. The men showed up and showed out! The discussion provided a unique perspective on relationships, giving women the opportunity to better understand the male mindset through candid, judgment free conversation. This inspiring event would not have been possible without the generous support of our sponsors and vendors: Dominos Fit Food Guardian Group Telem Grouo Kangaroos Wholesale Zen2DZen Kiss by Naira University of St. Martin Reflourish by Maya Thomas We Listen, But We Dont Judge proved to be more than just a conference, as it was a movement for empowerment, education, and open dialogue. Attendees left feeling heard, inspired, and uplifted, ready to embrace their journeys with renewed confidence. Five memorable Microsoft legacies in computer culture Paris, March 31 (AFP) Mar 31, 2025 Providing ubiquitous desktop software for decades, Microsoft has come in for jibes, mockery and even loathing even as it has helped millions of people get things done. Every design decision is felt around the world for better or worse -- often staying with people for years as a fond memory or a meme. Here are a few of the ways Microsoft has marked computing culture: - Blue Screen of Death - A fixture since the very first versions of Windows -- if mercifully much rarer these days -- the Blue Screen of Death, or BSOD, is displayed when Microsoft's operating system encounters a fatal error in a programme, or the application becomes unresponsive. It has most commonly been a full blue screen with white text -- originally composed by Steve Ballmer, who later went on to head the company -- warning of the problem. Some versions of the screen include error codes to help power users figure out what has gone wrong. More recent editions of Windows have added a sad-face smiley in an apparent bid to sympathise. While it has often offered the option to continue working by closing the programme or restarting the computer, many users have found the only way to escape it is by manually turning the machine off and on again. - Blissful background - In a breath of fresh air from previous versions of Windows, users booting up the 2001 "XP" edition were presented with a vision of lush, sun-dappled hills under a vivid blue sky. For many who grew up using computers in the 1990s and 2000s, the idyllic desktop background now recalls a simpler time of after-school gaming or using still-novel online chat programmes to talk with friends. Wine industry photographer Chuck O'Rear took what has been called "the world's most-viewed picture" in 1996, after driving by a spot in California's Sonoma County where vines had been torn up to fight the phylloxera pest. Dubbed "Bliss", the background can still be spotted in the wild today on systems that have not been updated in a while, and has spawned endless memes, parodies and now AI imaginings of what the rest of the scene might look like. - Inviting melodies - 2001 was far from the beginning of Microsoft's attempts to craft a soothing environment for PC users. The 1995 edition of the operating system played ethereal startup chimes as the machine laboured into life. Windows 95's enchanting startup sound was crafted by electronic music legend Brian Eno, who told news site SFGate in 1996 that the piece was like "a tiny little jewel". Commissioned to make it "inspiring, universal, blah-bah, da-da-da, optimistic, futuristic, sentimental, emotional," Eno composed 84 clips before selecting the best -- which was twice as long as the original three-and-a-quarter-second brief. - 'Helpful' Clippy - Long before ChatGPT was helping to write essays or generate emails, Microsoft tried to back up users of its Office productivity suite with smart software. From the late 1990s, an "Office Assistant" interactive animated character would pop up to offer help with the task it believed was at hand. The best-remembered is chirpy paperclip "Clippy", whose often mistaken assumption that Word users needed help writing letters spawned a million memes. Assistant emerged from research suggesting that users experienced interactions with a computer like working with human colleagues. It was a "truly tragic misunderstanding" of the study, interaction designer Alan Cooper later said. "If people are going to react to computers as though they're humans, the one thing you don't have to do is anthropomorphise them," he told broadcaster G4TV. Nevertheless, nostalgics can find Clippy as the face of a ChatGPT-powered assistant for Windows 11 built by developers FireCube. - Secret flight simulator - Microsoft produces a highly detailed and well-loved series of games simply called "Flight Simulator" with recreations of real locations and aircraft. Office workers without a joystick or high-end graphics card, though, could escape into a bizarre neon-tinged hilly landscape that they could fly around using only the mouse via a series of hidden inputs in Excel 97. The scene, which also included the credits for the spreadsheet programme, is just one of dozens of hidden "Easter eggs" scattered through the company's software over the decades. tgb/lth/js/lb Japan to pour additional $5.4 bn into chipmaker Rapidus Tokyo, March 31 (AFP) Mar 31, 2025 Japan said Monday it had decided to inject more than $5 billion extra into semiconductor venture Rapidus, which is aiming to mass-produce next-generation chips in the country from 2027. The industry ministry said it would provide 802.5 billion yen ($5.4 billion) for the company, a joint venture involving Sony, Toyota, IBM and others. It brings total government assistance to Rapidus -- which is set to start test production at its factory in Hokkaido in April -- to 1.7 trillion yen, the ministry said. Global demand for advanced, energy-efficient semiconductors is expected to explode as artificial intelligence technologies play an increasing role in people's daily lives. Securing stable supplies of chips has become a business and national security concern for Japan, which dominated the hardware industry in the 1980s. Rapidus aims to mass-produce logic chips using two-nanometre technology, the next frontier in semiconductors containing an even more dizzying number of miniscule transistors. Japan commanded half the global market for microchips in the 1980s through early the 90s, with the likes of NEC and Toshiba leading the way. But it now accounts for about 10 percent of the market, although it remains a leader in chip-making equipment and materials. Rapidus chairman Tetsuro Higashi told AFP in an interview last year that the project was the "last opportunity" to put the country's semiconductor sector back on the global map. "Japan is more than a decade behind others. It will require enormous money just to catch up," he said. Semiconductors, which power everything from mobile phones to cars, have become a key trade battleground in recent years. Meanwhile, Taiwanese chip behemoth TSMC is facing pressure to diversify its production as customers and governments worry about the possibility of China invading the island. TSMC opened a new $8.6 billion factory in southern Japan last year, and is planning a second, $20 billion facility for more advanced chips. Trump says confident of TikTok deal before deadline Washington, March 31 (AFP) Mar 31, 2025 President Donald Trump said Sunday he was confident of reaching a deal on TikTok ahead of the April 5 deadline for its Chinese owner ByteDance to sell the popular short video app or see it banned in the United States. "We have a lot of potential buyers. There's tremendous interest in TikTok," Trump told reporters onboard Air Force One. "We have a lot of people that want to buy TikTok. We're dealing with China also on it, because they may have something to do with it," he said, adding "I'd like to see TikTok remain alive." China on Thursday had rebuffed a suggestion from Trump that he might offer to reduce tariffs to get Beijing's approval for the sale of TikTok to a non-Chinese firm. Trump said this month the United States was in talks with four groups interested in acquiring the platform, which has 170 million American users. A US law has ordered TikTok to divest from ByteDance or be banned in the United States, enacted over concerns that Beijing could exploit the app to spy on Americans or covertly influence US public opinion. The law took effect on January 19, a day before Trump's inauguration, but he quickly announced a delay that has allowed it to continue to operate. That delay is set to expire on April 5. "There'll be a deal with TikTok, I'm pretty certain," Trump said when asked if he would extend the deadline if there was no deal. Trump attempted to ban TikTok in the United States because of national security concerns during his first stint in the White House but has warmed up to it. "Selfishly speaking, I won the young vote by 36 points. Republicans generally don't do very well with the young crowd, and I think a lot of it could have been TikTok," he said. As I opened the door to Tommys 4th Street Bar & Grill in downtown Corvallis, I was greeted by a pleasant smoky scent, the sound of twangy country music over a speaker system and the soft glow of lottery machines along the right-side wall. At the back of the bar, I encountered my coworker drinking a glass of Blue Moon beer with a slice of orange. Okay, sure, I thought. This is a dive. A few days prior, Id decided to try something crazy. Visit Corvallis recently launched a Corvallis Dive Bar Crawl, in which local or visiting dive connoisseurs can download a digital passport and visit nine of Corvallis well, technically, eight of Corvallis, one of Philomaths most noteworthy dives, with the promise of a prize at the end. The intention is to take ones time. The passport doesnt expire for a year. I visited all nine bars in one night. Im a reporter, after all time is always of the essence. Despite the whirlwind nature of my experience, I think I got the point. Corvallis has a lot of demographic factors uniting it, but its not a homogenous place. This dive bar crawl capitalizes on that, showcasing the quirks and idiosyncrasies that make Corvallis a gem. Now, lets get into semantics for a second what exactly IS a dive bar? Urban Dictionary, a highly trustworthy source, defines dive bar as a well-worn, unglamorous bar, often serving a cheap, simple selection of drinks to a regular clientele. The term can describe anything from a comfortable-but-basic neighborhood pub to the nastiest swill-swinging hole. Ill tell you right now that no swill-swinging holes are traversed over the course of this dive bar crawl! Visit Corvallis defines dive a little more generously. For us, what dive means is its a way of describing a neighborhood watering hole, Christina Rehklau, Executive Director of Visit Corvallis said. It has a casualness to it, a lot of times. This definition comfortably encapsulates the variety that I witnessed on my odyssey, which taught me that theres more than one way to be a dive. Some of the nine bars I visited fit the bill more traditionally than others. Peacock Bar & Grill, with fluorescent-lit pool tables and Shania Twain anthems, might win in this category. But Tommys, Harrison Bar & Grill, the lesser-known Suds & Suds and the Meetn Place Tavern in Philomath all performed as picture-perfect dives, too. (Clodfelters Public House was unexpectedly closed, but I caught glimpses of its divey-ness through the windows, and am told by Rehklau that its a popular hangout spot for Oregon State University students). Squirrel's Tavern, sporting eclectic, artistic decor, a home-y atmosphere and warm jewel tones, takes a different approach to the definition. So does The Biere Library, a friendly spot featuring shelves filled with books, board games and card games. A personal favorite crawl spot, though, and an unexpected one, was the China Delight Lounge. Tucked in the back of the China Delight Restaurant, through an unassuming door, it feels like a speakeasy, a dive bar from the bygone Prohibition Era. I liked feeling like I was in on an open secret, along with everyone else in the bar. Under the soft, multicolored-glow of Christmas lights, we tucked into non-alcoholic Shirley Temples (much to the amusement of our bartender), having just sucked down our drinks at Squirrels and still feeling the buzz. Part of the point of this bar crawl, according to Visit Corvallis, is to tap into the character of Corvallis. This concept was on my mind throughout the crawl what does a citys dive bar scene say about its character? Despite being Corvallis city reporter, I dont pretend to be a Corvallis expert (not that anyones ever accused me of it). The beauty of being a journalist is constantly learning through the people that you interview, the meetings you attend and the places that you visit. And I knew there was something to be learned about Corvallis from these nine so-called dives. When I asked Rehklau what these bars illustrate about Corvalliss character, she said they show an easiness and unpretentiousness to the community, as well as a level of approachability commonly noted by those who dont live here. I feel like I saw each of these character traits in these bars, to some extent or another. At no location did I feel uncomfortable or out of place. At each location, I interacted with people of a variety of ages and backgrounds who exhibited kindness, patience and exuberance. And I noticed how many people seemed to know each other, who came to these neighborhood watering holes as a way to gather and be together. Thats an important part of this places identity, I think its focus on community. Thats with my rose-colored or booze-colored glasses on, of course. Corvallis is not without its share of problems, and some of those impact how it cultivates the very community it's so focused on. But those larger, sometimes almost existential, problems arent what the crawl is for. Its to celebrate something, rather than denounce it. And in todays world, I think, we need cause for celebration. I was lucky enough to have coworkers and friends willing to humor my insane proposition to visit nine bars in one night, and boy, did they deliver. We played foosball at Squirrels, Apples to Apples at The Biere Library and pool at the Meetn Place Tavern. We did green tea shots what is this, college? at Harrison. And we got to spend time together outside of the newsroom, out from underneath the firehose that is the news cycle in the modern age. Theres a prize at the end of the crawl made by a local artist but I wont spoil it. I will say, though, if youre in it for a prize, this probably isnt the activity for you. Its the love of the crawl, or nothing at all. France fines Apple 150 million euros over privacy feature Paris, March 31 (AFP) Mar 31, 2025 French antitrust authorities handed Apple a 150-million-euro ($162-million) fine on Monday over its app tracking privacy feature, which is also under scrutiny in several other European countries. The watchdog said the way Apple implemented its App Tracking Transparency (ATT) software was "neither necessary nor proportionate to the company's stated goal to protect user data" and also penalised third-party publishers. In addition to the fine, Apple will have to publish the decision on its website for seven days. Authorities in Germany, Italy, Romania and Poland have opened similar probes over ATT, which Apple promotes as a privacy safeguard. "While we are disappointed with today's decision, the French Competition Authority has not required any specific changes to ATT," Apple said in a statement. The feature, introduced by Apple in 2021, requires apps to obtain user consent through a pop-up window before tracking their activity across other apps and websites. If they decline, the app loses access to information on that user which enables ad targeting. Critics have accused Apple of using the system to promote its own advertising services while restricting competitors. - 'More control over privacy' - In its decision, France's Competition Authority said the ATT feature leads to an excessive number of consent windows for third-party apps on iPhones and iPads, making the experience more cumbersome. It also found that Apple's system required users to opt out of ad tracking twice rather than once, "undermining the neutrality of the feature" and causing economic harm to app publishers and ad service providers. The authority added that Apple's approach disproportionately affects smaller publishers, who rely heavily on third-party data collection to fund their businesses. Following complaints from advertising industry players who claimed ATT hindered their ability to target users, France's competition watchdog initially declined to impose emergency measures in 2021 but continued its investigation. Apple said on Monday that ATT "gives users more control of their privacy through a required, clear, and easy-to-understand prompt about one thing: tracking". "That prompt is consistent for all developers, including Apple, and we have received strong support for this feature from consumers, privacy advocates, and data protection authorities around the world," it said. kf/may/lth/bc Apple Khamenei warns of 'strong' response if Iran attacked Tehran, March 31 (AFP) Mar 31, 2025 Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned on Monday of a forceful retaliation if the Islamic republic is attacked, following a threat by US President Donald Trump. "They threaten to do mischief," Khamenei said of Trump's latest threat, during a speech on Eid al-Fitr, the holiday marking the end of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan. "If it is carried out, they will definitely receive a strong counterattack." In an interview on Saturday, Trump said Iran will be bombed if it does not reach a deal on its nuclear programme. "If they don't make a deal, there will be bombing," he said, according to NBC News, which said he also threatened to punish Iran with what he called "secondary tariffs". It was not clear whether Trump was threatening bombing by US planes alone or perhaps in an operation coordinated with Israel. Since taking office in January, Trump has reinstated his "maximum pressure" campaign on Iran. Under that policy in his first term as president, Trump withdrew the United States from a landmark agreement on Iran's nuclear programme in 2018 and reimposed biting sanctions on Tehran. Western countries including the United States have long accused Iran of pursuing a nuclear weapon, which Tehran has denied, insisting its enrichment activities were solely for peaceful purposes. - Open to 'indirect' talks - The deal, sealed in 2015 between Tehran and world powers, required Iran to limit its nuclear ambitions in exchange for sanctions relief. On March 7, Trump said he had written to Khamenei to call for nuclear negotiations and warn of possible military action if Tehran refused. The letter was delivered to Tehran on March 12 by UAE presidential adviser Anwar Gargash. On Thursday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the country has delivered to Oman the response to Trump's letter, without delineating its content. Araghchi maintained Iran's position of not seeking to directly engage in negotiations with the United States "under maximum pressure and the threat of military action", but left open the door for "indirect negotiations". Oman has served as an intermediary in the past, in the absence of US-Iranian diplomatic relations severed after the 1979 Islamic revolution. The West also accuses Iran of using proxy forces widely proscribed as terrorist organisations to expand its influence in the region, a charge Iran denies. Iran leads the so-called "axis of resistance" against Israel, which includes Hamas in the Palestinian territories, Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Huthi rebels in Yemen and armed groups in Iraq. "There is only one proxy force in this region, and that is the corrupt usurper Zionist regime," Khamenei said, calling for Israel to be "eradicated". Iran does not recognise Israel, its arch enemy and the United States' main ally in the region, and frequently calls for attacks against it. Vehicle recovered in search for missing US soldiers Vilnius, March 31 (AFP) Mar 31, 2025 The vehicle of four US soldiers that went missing last week in Lithuania has been recovered, the Lithuanian army said on Monday, but did not say whether the soldiers had been found. Authorities from the Baltic state received a report on Tuesday that the soldiers had disappeared during a military drill on a training ground in the eastern city of Pabrade, near the border with Belarus. Search and rescue teams used heavy equipment and excavators to remove silt from the body of water where the vehicle was located and managed to attach cables to tow it out of the swamp. "The vehicle has been recovered," Lithuanian Armed Forces chief General Raimundas Vaiksnoras said on Monday morning on social media. "I ask for everyone's respect and solidarity as we await further information from our US colleagues," Vaiksnoras added. Lithuania's Defence Minister Dovile Sakaliene said that the towing operation was completed at 4:30 am local time (0130 GMT) and that the Lithuanian Military Police and US investigators were "currently working at the scene". "If the recovery of the vehicle does not provide all the answers, the work will have to continue," she added in a Facebook post. Hundreds of local and foreign troops and other rescue workers including engineers and divers had been involved in a rescue operation to recover the M88 Hercules armoured recovery vehicle. Lithuania, a NATO and EU member, hosts more than 1,000 American troops stationed on a rotational basis. Vehicle recovered in Lithuania search for missing US soldiers Vilnius, March 31 (AFP) Mar 31, 2025 The vehicle of four US soldiers who went missing last week in Lithuania was recovered on Monday, the Baltic state's army said, without specifying whether the soldiers had been found. Authorities received a report last Tuesday that the soldiers had disappeared during a military drill in the eastern city of Pabrade, near the border with Belarus. Search and rescue teams used heavy equipment and excavators to remove silt from the body of water where the vehicle was located and managed to attach cables to tow it out of the swamp. "The vehicle has been recovered," Lithuanian Armed Forces chief General Raimundas Vaiksnoras said on Monday on social media. "I ask for everyone's respect and solidarity as we await further information from our US colleagues," he added. Lithuanian Defence Minister Dovile Sakaliene said "the US side will make a public announcement when it has all the necessary information and only after informing the soldiers' families". "Let us be sensitive to the families of the soldiers, who need to know the circumstances of the events from the rescuers and not from the media," she added in a Facebook post. Sakaliene said the towing operation was completed at 4:30 am local time (0130 GMT) and the Lithuanian military police and US investigators were "currently working at the scene". "If the recovery of the vehicle does not provide all the answers, the work will have to continue," she added. Hundreds of local and foreign troops and other rescue workers including engineers and divers had been involved in a rescue operation to recover the M88 Hercules armoured vehicle. Lithuania, a NATO and EU member, hosts more than 1,000 American troops stationed on a rotational basis. Khamenei warns of 'strong' response if Iran attacked Tehran, March 31 (AFP) Mar 31, 2025 Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned Monday of a forceful retaliation if the United States or its allies bomb the Islamic republic, following a threat by President Donald Trump. "They threaten to do mischief," Khamenei said of Trump's latest threat, during a speech on Eid al-Fitr, the holiday marking the end of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan. "If it is carried out, they will definitely receive a strong counterattack." In an interview on Saturday, Trump said "there will be bombing" if Iran does not agree to a deal to curb its nuclear programme. "If they don't make a deal, there will be bombing," he said, according to NBC News, which said he also threatened to punish Iran with what he called "secondary tariffs". Trump's language represented a sharpening of his earlier comment 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 another country, possibly Iran's nemesis Israel. Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei, in a post on X, said that "an open threat of bombing by a head of state against Iran is a shocking affront to the very essence of international peace and security." Baqaei warned of unspecified "consequences" should the United State choose a path of "violence". - 'Glass room' - A statement on Monday also said the foreign ministry summoned the charge d'affaires of the Swiss embassy, which represents US interests in Iran, "following the threats by the US president". "The Americans have at least 10 bases in the region around Iran, and they have 50,000 troops," warned General Amirali Hajizadeh, commander of the aerospace force of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. "Someone who is in a glass room shouldn't throw stones at anyone," the man in charge of Iran's ballistic missile programme threatened on state television Monday. Since taking office in January, Trump has reinstated his "maximum pressure" policy, which in his first term saw the United States withdraw from a landmark agreement on Iran's nuclear programme and reimpose sanctions on Tehran. Western countries including the United States have long accused Iran of pursuing a nuclear weapon, which Tehran has denied, insisting its enrichment activities were solely for peaceful purposes. The 2015 nuclear deal between Tehran and world powers required Iran to limit its nuclear ambitions in exchange for sanctions relief. - 'Indirect' channel - On March 7, Trump said he had written to Khamenei to call for nuclear negotiations and warn of possible military action if Tehran refused. The letter was delivered to Tehran on March 12 by UAE presidential adviser Anwar Gargash, Iranian news agency Fars reported at the time. On Thursday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the country had delivered a response via intermediary Oman, without detailing its content. Araghchi said Iran would not engage in direct talks "under maximum pressure and the threat of military action". In his remarks, however, the minister left open the door for "indirect negotiations". According to NBC, Trump also said US and Iranian officials were "talking," but he did not give details. President Masoud Pezeshkian on Sunday said Khamenei, who as supreme leader has the final say in major state policies, had permitted indirect talks. Oman has served as an intermediary in the past, in the absence of US-Iranian diplomatic relations severed after the 1979 Islamic revolution. On Monday, Araghchi said the United States had received Iran's letter. "We have been informed by our friends in Oman that the letter has reached its destination and has been read." Beyond its nuclear programme, the West also accuses Iran of using proxy forces to expand its influence in the region, a charge Tehran rejects. "There is only one proxy force in this region, and that is the corrupt usurper Zionist regime," Khamenei said, calling for Israel to be "eradicated". pdm/it Cooperation 'better than confrontation,' Polish PM urges Trump Sochaczew, Poland, March 31 (AFP) Mar 31, 2025 Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk urged US President Donald Trump on Monday to think twice before imposing tariffs on allies, stressing that "cooperation is always better than confrontation". "A strong US, a strong European Union and a strong NATO, not weaker," is important to "common European-American interests," Tusk said on the X social media network. "Think about it, Mr President and dear American friends, before you decide to impose tariffs against your closest allies. Cooperation is always better than confrontation," he said. At the same time, Tusk's government announced that it had signed a $2 billion deal with the United States for logistical support for its US-designed Patriot air defence systems. The social-media messaging and the defence contract announcement came before Trump is due on Wednesday to unveil his tariffs. The move, against multiple countries, including those in the European Union, is likely to intensify a trade war which analysts said could damage economies in America, Europe and elsewhere. European leaders are also concerned about Trump's rapprochement with Moscow and doubts about the US commitment to NATO. Tusk, in a video posted on X, said that, "for us, Poles, our friendship, our alliance, our mutual loyalty is not an abstraction. We spend almost 5% of our GDP on defence." Polish Defence Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz backed that up by saying that the air defence deal was an "investment of around $2 billion". "This is equipment delivery, logistical support for well-functioning Patriot batteries, for the whole system," he added at the signing ceremony in the central town of Sochaczew. The Central European country has ramped up its military spending since Russia invaded Polish ally Ukraine in 2022. Poland shares a border with both nations. Trump has demanded that NATO members increase defence spending. Poland plans to spend 4.7 percent of its annual economic output on defence in 2025. "America could and always can count on Poland. You have only friends here. And I can say the same thing about Europe as a whole," Tusk said. amj/rmb Pentagon chief orders gender-neutral fitness standards for combat troops Washington, March 31 (AFP) Mar 31, 2025 US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who has previously expressed opposition to women serving in combat, has ordered the military to develop gender-neutral physical fitness standards for frontline troops, a memo released Monday said. "I am directing the Secretaries of the Military Departments to develop comprehensive plans to distinguish combat arms occupations from non-combat arms occupations," Hegseth wrote in the memo, which is dated March 30. "All entry-level and sustained physical fitness requirements within combat arms positions must be sex-neutral, based solely on the operational demands of the occupation and the readiness needed to confront any adversary," according to the memo, which also specifies that no current standards will be lowered. Making changes to physical fitness standards could potentially curb the recruitment of new military personnel as well as the retention of those already in the armed forces. But having gender-neutral requirements for combat troops -- who face physically demanding tasks in the field, such as marching long distances and carrying heavy weapons and packs that are the same regardless of gender -- would ensure they all meet the same minimum standards. On an episode of the "Shawn Ryan Show" podcast aired before his nomination to be defense secretary, Hegseth said he was opposed to women serving in combat roles, though not their presence in the armed forces as a whole. But he sought to move away from those remarks in his Senate confirmation hearing earlier this year, telling lawmakers that "women will have access to ground combat roles... given the standards remain high." Hegseth is a frequent critic of so-called "woke" policies -- by companies, at universities, and in the military -- that attempt to increase opportunities for ethnic and sexual minorities, and has launched a campaign against such policies as Pentagon chief. A Lebanon man who lit a blaze at a self-storage compound last year was sentenced to jail and could owe victims more than $1 million. Micah Joseph Schulte, 44, pleaded no contest to misdemeanor charges of reckless burning and seven counts of second-degree criminal mischief in connection with a fire at Storage Depot on Highway 34 at the city's west edge in June. Judge Thomas McHill sentenced Schulte to 11 months in jail at the Linn County Courthouse on Friday, March 28. During the proceeding, prosecutor Alex Olenick cited more than $1.1 million in damages to the many victims, adding that not all the victims restitution requests had been received yet. Olenick also lamented the lack of ability to charge Schulte with a felony crime in the case based on how the laws are written, saying members of the public who find that appalling should contact their legislators. This is a case that really highlights the inadequacy, frankly, of the state's ability to accurately reflect the damage as a result of the conduct, Olenick said. Putting it in context, Olenick said if Schulte, with his previous criminal record, had stolen rather than destroyed property worth more than $1,000, he would have faced a felony charge that could send him to prison. But because of the way the Legislature has organized the statutes, this is all misdemeanors he can't go to prison on any of this, even though he absolutely should, he said. So again, I'd encourage the members of the public present today to write your legislators. The cost of carelessness Several victims of the fire spoke in court about their losses or had statements read by the prosecution. Here are a few of their remarks: Said one: My mom was a painter, and we had a lot of her paintings in there that can't be given to family or anything. My wedding was coming the next month, in July, and I'm a real estate agent. I had all my staging things, all of my catering things I was going to use for the wedding, florals, everything for my wedding. "And then you had hundreds of pictures going back to the late 1800s in there. Just this was a temporary type of situation, and none of those will ever be given to my grandchildren or my great-grandchildren. Said another: I represent Special Olympics Oregon Linn County. The fire resulted in over $40,000 worth of damages, forcing us to replace essential equipment, uniforms and other vital resources that directly support our athletes with intellectual disabilities. "The loss has placed an immense financial and emotional burden on our organization, requiring extensive efforts to rebuild what was lost. Beyond the financial toll, this incident shook up our community, who rely on our programs, not just for sport, but for a sense of belonging, purpose and personal achievement. Said a third: My whole life was in that storage unit: equipment I relied on to help others in disasters, search and rescue equipment, communications equipment, dive equipment, 40-plus years of tools, irreplaceable family antiques, as well as electronic testing and servicing equipment and components. "This has been totally devastating to me, as I will never be able to replace this stuff, and now I can no longer help others during disasters. My family and I suffered a house fire awhile back, losing all of our things, and now we have lost everything else we had left. Said a fourth victim: We lost our deceased 5-year-old grandchild's items, a rocking horse he rode the last time. He was a sweet child and will always be missed, passed after seven days on life support at OHSU. "My father's World War II bag with his name printed on the canvas was in the fire also. The bag contained his dog tags, chaps for his boots and the canteen from which he drank water while serving his country. There are no replacements for these items. We will not forget his contribution to his country despite the loss. Scott Lepman, owner of the property, apologized to the victims, recognizing the devastation among those who trusted his company with the safekeeping of their possessions. He also expressed gratitude for the numerous fire agencies that responded, listing nearly every department in the county. They had to do heroic things to put the fire out, Lepman said, and put themselves at personal risk. He also called out Schulte, saying the irresponsibility on his part was selfish, cruel and unfortunate. Lepman put the building damage at about $650,000. Countywide fire response The fire drew emergency personnel from cities across Linn County as crews appeared to struggle to keep water lines pressurized at the self-storage compound. A 911 caller reported smoke over Storage Depot around 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 5. Firefighters arrived to find flames and billowing smoke coming from a row of blue-painted rolling doors. Fire quickly consumed a storage unit in the south end of an about 600-foot-long concrete building, between five other buildings at the storage facilities. Around 10 a.m. Thursday, the Lebanon Fire District posted on social media that a person was taken into custody at the scene of the fire. Schulte called to report the fire, according to authorities, who said he made statements about a torch he was using for concentrated cannabis falling against furniture and sparking the devastating fire. In a previous court hearing, Schulte apologized and said he was just relaxing and taking a bong hit after working on his storage unit, and his torch fell over and lit his couch, which he was unable to remove from the unit to prevent the flames from spreading. Related stories: On tonights new episode of The White Lotus things are starting to get a bit intense for a few folks. Some we definitely saw coming, but that connection that Gaitok started to piece together was a shock to me. Rick has had an ulterior motive since arriving in Thailand revenge for his fathers murder. When he finds out that he would be at The White Lotus hotel he decides to stay there hoping to get a chance to see the man, Jim, who killed his father face to face. Turns out he wasnt there; he was staying in Bangkok. As much as Chelsea tried, Rick was determined to get to Bangkok and left for a few days. Killer Instincts - THE WHITE LOTUS, Pictured: Sam Rockwell as Frank and Walton Goggins as Rick Hatchett. Photo: Fabio Lovino/HBO 2025 Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. All Rights Reserved. He was obviously desperate for this closure. When he concocted this plan to have his friend Frank (er Steve?) pretend to be a director interested in working with Jims wife, nothing was adding up. Frank, I mean Steve, knew nothing about Sritalas work and stumbled through all the questions she had for him. By some miracle, it worked out and Rick was able to get Jim alone to talk (more like kill him). Once alone, Rick told him everything and Jim had no idea what he was talking about. I thought for sure Rick was going to shoot him right then and there, but something stopped him. Jim looked genuinely confused which made me wonder how sure Rick was that this was the man that killed his father. For now, it seems knocking the old man down was enough closure for him. Killer Instincts - THE WHITE LOTUS, Pictured: Natasha Rothwell as Belinda Lindsey. Photo: Fabio Lovino/HBO 2025 Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Zion convinced his mother to go to the party Greg invited her to and she instantly regrets it. While there, Greg asks to speak to her privately. He gives her a sort of quid pro quo; he will give her $100,000 if she agrees to not let anyone know where he is. Unless you ask him then, hes giving her money to start her business and he will be left alone. Zion wants her to take the money but Belinda isnt having it. The repercussions would be far worse if she does and she is somehow implemented in Tanyas death and Gregs (very obvious) involvement. I dont know what I would do in her situation, but like Zion said, $100K is a lot of money. That friend group that absolutely hates each other seems to finally be done pretending. Laurie is still feeling some sort of betrayal after Jaclyn sleeps with Valentin. Theyve been taking jabs at each other and the divide is happening. Kate, for now, seems to be more on Jaclyns side, but trying hard to play Switzerland. Killer Instincts - THE WHITE LOTUS, Pictured: Michelle Monaghan as Jaclyn, Leslie Bibb as Kate, and Carrie Coon as Laurie. Photo: Fabio Lovino/HBO 2025 Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Laurie steps away from the two of them and heads over to a muay thai fight where she meets up with Valentin and his friends. Gaitok and Mook are also there; when Gaitok glances over at Valentin and his friends, something starts to click and remembers one of them vividly during the robbery. Shortly after Valentin was there and he made it seem like he didnt know them, its obvious now that he did. Was Valetin involved the entire time? Laurie hooks up with Aleksei they seemed to be hitting it off the entire night, but then things got weird after. Him asking her for money was probably not what Laurie was expecting for pillow talk. Im sorry, youre asking me to wire you money and you barely know me? Thats suspicious. As Laurie is trying to navigate this weird conversation, theres a crazy knock at the door from some woman looking to speak with Aleksei Laurie barely manages to escape and before she does, she notices a stash of jewelry I'd bet that was from the robbery. Killer Instincts - THE WHITE LOTUS, Pictured: Jason Isaacs as Timothy Ratliff. Photo: Fabio Lovino/HBO 2025 Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Timothy needs to get a handle of his thoughts or get some help. Things are getting out of control. I dont think Victoria and Saxon are making things any easier which is why we see him shoot them before himself. Could this also mean he doesnt want them to suffer when hes going so hes taking them with him? Either way, he needs to figure something out fast. Whatd you think about tonights new episode of The White Lotus? Share your thoughts below or connect with me on X/Twitter @chenfordhugs Politicians should instead be talking to the workers and the communities about what their needs are from the move away from oil and gas. This means paid retraining and financial support for those who need it, alongside investing in wind manufacturing to create good, local jobs that serve the energy needs of our communities not the profits of industry bosses. The White House has imposed new tariffs on aluminium, steel and cars, as well as higher taxes on all goods from China and many imports from Canada and Mexico, while further levies could be on the way this week. Additionally, Primark has been scrutinised for its association with the 2013 Rana Plaza factory collapse in Bangladesh, which killed more than 1,100 garment workers. While Primark was not directly responsible for the tragedy, it sourced products from one of the factories in the building. The alleged victim says she did not want to report the incident at first, fearing she would not be believed as Simeonides is popular and known as a top guy. You really want to be in the UK to be with your wife and daughter and you are willing to do whatever it takes in order to stay. 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 She welcomed the councils decision to declare a major incident, adding: Does the minister agree with me that it is unacceptable that Unite pickets have been frustrating the councils contingency plans by blocking their depots, and it is time for Unite to accept the fair deal on the table, because 17 people cannot hold 1.2 million Birmingham residents to ransom. Leading a campaign to de-demonise the National Front in an effort to improve its standing, Le Pen expelled members who were alleged to be racist, antisemitic or Petainite (a political philosophy associated with Nazi collaborator Philippe Petain who was Frances leader under occupation). After her father made divisive remarks in August 2015, she kicked him out of the party. She went on to rebrand National Front as the National Rally. 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. Acting President Ilie Bolojan signed on Monday the decree for the decoration of Reuven Azar, ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary of the State of Israel to Romania between 2022 - 2024, the Presidential Administration informs. According to the cited source, the distinction was awarded as a sign of "high appreciation for the major contribution in supporting and developing political, economic and cultural relations between Romania and the State of Israel, for the decisive role in promoting and fostering international recognition for the Jewish culture and traditions in Romania, as well as for promoting Romania worldwide." For all these reasons, the Romanian head of state conferred the National Order of Merit in the rank of Grand Cross on the former ambassador of the State of Israel to Romania Reuven Azar. The Ministry of Finance (MF) on Monday borrowed RON 930.6 million off banks in an issue of benchmark government bonds of a residual maturity of 25 months, at an average yield of 6.39% per annum, according to data published by the National Bank of Romania (BNR). The nominal value of the issue was RON 500 million, and banks offered over RON 1.08 billion. An additional auction is scheduled for Tuesday for another RON 75 million at the same yield as that set on Monday for bonds. MF has planned for March 2025 to borrow RON 7.4 billion off commercial banks, to which RON 840 million can be added in additional sessions of non-competitive offers related to bond auctions. The total amount of RON 8.24 billion is RON 200 million higher than the one scheduled for February 2025 of RON 8.04 billion, and it is intended for public debt refunding and government deficit financing. The Senate adopted on Monday, as the first notified legislative body, the legislative initiative to amend the Law on the Organization and Functioning of the National News Agency AGERPRES, authorizing the institution to establish, manage and finance a press museum. The vote was 99 to 2 and 18 abstentions. The legislative proposal initiated by a group of Liberal senators provides that AGERPRES is competent for establishing, managing and financing a museum having as main purpose the preservation, archiving, research and promotion of the national journalistic heritage. The museum's mission will be "to document and showcase the evolution of the Romanian press from the first written publications to the digital age, including newspapers, magazines, technical equipment, archival documents, audio-video recordings, as well as other materials of historical and cultural interest." The museum could function as an autonomous entity within AGERPRES, with personnel and a budget of its own, or as a public institution of national interest under the authority of AGERPRES, with its own legal personality. The legislative proposal will next be debated by the Chamber of Deputies, the decision-making body on this matter. Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu on Monday asked Romania's central and local administrations to urgently update the administrative measures to prevent bear attacks on people, after a tragedy that occurred on Sunday evening, when the head of the Predeal Mountain Rescue was mauled by a bear on a street in the town. "If additional decisions are needed to protect the lives of Romanians threatened by bear attacks, such solutions must be taken urgently. I am calling on all central and local administrations to urgently update all administrative measures to prevent tragedies like the one last night, when the head of the Predeal Mountain Rescue was attacked by a bear on a street in the town. Yes, we want to respect the general principles related to animal protection, but such arguments can no longer be invoked when solutions such as the relocation of bears prove ineffective. If bears and llamas frequently arrive on the streets of a town, especially a tourist one, it is clear that we are witnessing the occurrence of a situation of major public risk, and those animals must be extracted, all in accordance with the new existing legal framework," Ciolacu said on Monday in a social media post. According to him, it is necessary to start "quickly" including the installation, in risk areas, of electric fences that will effectively protect people's lives. "I am willing to take on any new wave of criticism from environmental NGOs funded by Soros and from all representatives of anarchic progressivism, in the country or in Europe. The life of Romanians is more important than anything." Head of the Predeal Mountain Rescue is hospitalised in serious condition in the Intensive Care Unit of the Brasov County Hospital. He was off duty at the time he was attacked by a bear. The Presidential Administration announces the organisation of the conference "Romania and the OECD - The Main National Project After NATO, EU and Schengen," under the High Patronage of the President of Romania, at the Cotroceni Palace on Wednesday. According to the Presidential Administration, this strategically important meeting is organised in partnership with the business environment in Romania and will bring together high-ranking officials, representatives of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), leaders from the private sector, and experts in the field. The discussions will focus on Romania's progress and challenges in the process of joining the OECD, the benefits of this integration, and its impact on the national economy, Agerpress. Interim President Ilie Bolojan will open the conference, which will start at 11:00 AM, alongside Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu and OECD Secretary General Mathias Cormann. The event will include thematic discussion sessions on Romania's alignment with OECD standards and the reforms necessary to complete the accession process. "Accession to the OECD represents a major strategic objective for Romania, strengthening its status as a trusted economic partner internationally. The Presidential Administration supports this endeavor and the reforms necessary for our country to become a full member of the organisation," the quoted source says. Head of South Korea's defense procurement Seok Jong-gun was in Romania last week to discuss with senior officials Romania plans to acquire new military hardware, and also strengthen cooperation in the weapons industry, Seok Jong-gun's office reported on Monday as cited by South Korean news agency Yonhap. Seok Jong-gun, minister of the Republic of Korea's Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA), met on Friday in Bucharest with Nicoleta Pauliuc, chair of the Romanian Senate's Committee on Defense, Public Order and National Security, to discuss Romania's plans to acquire new military equipment. During the talks, Seok explained Seoul's efforts to participate in Romania's projects to buy new infantry combat vehicles and battle tanks with its Redback armored vehicle and K2 tank, according to DAPA. Seok also met with Romanian Economy Minister Bogdan-Gruia Ivan to discuss arms industry cooperation in warships and advanced technologies. Ivan expressed hope for cooperation with South Korean defense and shipbuilding companies to enhance the security of the Black Sea region and the shipbuilding industry, with Seok agreeing to hold discussions in these areas, DAPA said. The two countries have recently stepped up their arms industry cooperation, after South Korea's Hanwha Aerospace won a 1.38 trillion won ($940 million) order from Romania last year to supply K9 self-propelled howitzers and K10 ammunition supply vehicles. Seok's visit to Romania followed a visit to Norway earlier this week to discuss ways to improve the capabilities of the Scandinavian country's K9 system. Norway and Romania are among the nine countries that have purchased the K9, along with Australia, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, India, Poland and Turkey. The food safety testing laboratory of the National Sanitary, Veterinary and Food Safety Authority (ANSVSA) obtained official recognition from Indonesia's Quarantine Authority, which allows Romania to export fresh food products of plant origin, wheat in particular, to this emerging market, ANSVSA said in a release on Monday. Through this recognition, the Bucharest Sanitary, Veterinary and Food Safety Laboratory is authorized to carry out official analyses to determine pesticide residues and other contaminants in fresh plant products intended for export to Indonesia. Also, Romanian exporters can benefit from a valuable opportunity on the Indonesian market, one of the largest economies in Southeast Asia, provided that they strictly comply with the requirements regarding prior notification and the presentation of the Certificate of Analysis issued by the recognized laboratory. ANSVSA representatives specify that this achievement consolidates the institution's position as a globally trusted partner for food safety, and paves the way for expanding the access of Romanian products to other Asian markets. A chemical incident occurred in Comarnic, as there were sulfuric acid leaks from a malfunctioning tanker on Monday morning. A second tanker arrived on Monday on DN 1, in Comarnic, to transfer the sulfuric acid cargo from the malfunctioning tanker. A sand barrier has been set up in the area to prevent and absorb any potential substance leaks, according to the General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations (IGSU). The population was alerted on Monday via the RO-ALERT system about the chemical incident in Comarnic. "Chemical incident in Comarnic, DN 1, with possible toxic substance releases. Shelter in place, avoid outdoor activities, close doors and windows, block ventilation openings, and turn off ventilation systems!" - this was the message transmitted by the Prahova County Inspectorate for Emergency Situations. According to the ISU, people are being evacuated within a 100-metre radius, and on the windward direction (SE), evacuation extends to a distance of about 500 metres. "A central valve is defective and cannot be turned off; efforts will be made to block it until the CBRN team from USISU Ciolpani arrives," the ISU reported. According to the General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations, by the time of reporting, 28 people, including six minors, have been evacuated. "For the safety of the population, a warning message was issued through the RO-ALERT system, and evacuation is ongoing. The nearest home is approximately 30 metres from the incident site. The risk area has been established within a 100-metre radius, and the evacuation perimetre is set at 500 metres. So far, 28 people have been evacuated, including 6 minors. Road traffic is blocked," informed IGSU. The Romanian Police Infotrafic Centre recommends alternative routes for drivers: Ploiesti - DN 72 - Targoviste - DN 71 - Sinaia - Brasov or Ploiesti - DN 1A - Cheia - Brasov. The Senate's Culture and Media Committee issued on Monday a favorable report for the legislative initiative to amend the Law on the Organization and Functioning of the National News Agency AGERPRES, authorizing the institution to establish, manage and finance a press museum. The report includes several legislative technical amendments. The Legislative Council and the Economic and Social Council also endorsed the proposal. "The project we discussed today in the committee (...) represents an extremely important initiative. (...) It is a pragmatic approach to examining and documenting the entire body of Romanian print media over time, and (...) an empathetic one too, because it represents a multidisciplinary museum in that the press actually mirrors various aspects related to culture, politics, social life, education. So, it will be a museum that will cover the entire range of social concerns in Romania over time," Liberal Senator and Culture Committee chairman Cristian Niculescu-Tagarlas said. The legislative proposal initiated by a group of Liberal senators provides that AGERPRES is competent for establishing, managing and financing a museum having as main purpose the preservation, archiving, research and promotion of the national journalistic heritage. The museum's mission will be "to document and showcase the evolution of the Romanian press from the first written publications to the digital age, including newspapers, magazines, technical equipment, archival documents, audio-video recordings, as well as other materials of historical and cultural interest." Undersecretary of State with the Culture Ministry Madalin Voicu emphasized that the initiative "can only be beneficial" and recommended compliance with all the legal provisions on the establishment and operation of a museum. AGERPRES managing director Claudia Nicolae confessed that she felt the need for this project ever since she was a field reporter and sought "a more in-depth documentation on certain subjects, going through every library and researching the written press archive." "The museum would be a national initiative, first of all because it would bring together all the press of the time. From my point of view, this is a valuable initiative, first of all culturally, for research on various fields of arts, secondly it is an educational initiative - it would help young people who now do not have a platform to coagulate information of the time, and thirdly it would also come with media literacy. Why do I say this? Because the general public would be just one click away - or would be able to go see in person what the press looked like 100 years ago or how information was produced decades ago, they could ultimately become aware of the deontological constraints on a journalist who takes responsibility for the information they disseminate and compare it with social media information. I think that such an approach would be very important at this time," said Claudia Nicolae at the meeting of the Senate's Culture and Media Committee. She mentioned that a press museum exists in Jimbolia. "We could very well collaborate with the colleagues there, because they had the initiative about 15 years ago, when they created that museum. It would be a beginning and a pillar for the new institution," mentioned the AGERPRES managing director, stressing also that the planned journalistic heritage institution would open the doors to a collaboration with libraries, museums, academies. The legislative proposal amending and complementing Law No. 19/2003 on the organization and functioning of the National News Agency AGERPRES could be debated and voted on during Monday's Senate plenary session, as the first notified legislative forum. The Senate rejected on Monday by a vote of 54 to 66 the simple motion against Energy Minister Sebastian Burduja. Titled "The Energy minister - a directionless leader sandwiched between green promises and gray realities", the motion that called for Sebastian Burduja's resignation was signed by 45 opposition senators (28 AUR, 10 S.O.S. Romania and 7 POT lawmakers). The Indian government has reportedly expanded its ownership stake in Vodafone Idea from 22.6% to 48.99% by converting around INR369.5 billion (US$4.3 billion) of the telcos spectrum payment dues into equity shares. According to ETTelecom, the transaction which was ordered by the Ministry of Communications on Saturday will provide financial relief to Vodafone Idea, who was faced with the prospect of having to pay INR291 billion in adjusted gross revenue (AGR) dues in March 2026. Vodafone Idea owed the dues as part of a Supreme Court decision in October 2019 that ordered telcos to pay a combined INR1.47 trillion (US$17 billion) in legacy AGR dues to the government. In September 2021, the government approved a moratorium on AGR dues payments that expires in March-April 2026. Indias Department of Telecommunications (DoT) had planned to waive 50% of interest and all penalties and interest on penalties that make up almost 75% of the INR1.47 trillion figure, more than half of which would have accrued to Vodafone Idea. However, it dropped the plan earlier this month after officials at higher levels of the government objected that it would also benefit Bharti Airtel, who could afford to pay its AGR dues. The government's increased stake will lower Vodafone Ideas liabilities to INR110 billion, while its annual instalment will be reduced from INR430 billion to INR170 billion, the report said. Vodafone Idea held a cash position of INR120.9 billion at the end of 2024, while its current market capitalisation stands at INR486.1 billion. The transaction also makes the Indian government Vodafone Ideas largest single shareholder. Vodafones share in the telco will shrink from 24.4% to around 16.1%, while Aditya Birla Groups share will drop from just over 14% to 9.4%, the report add3ed. The political decision is more visible than any social dialogue behind it, as we do not have a culture of social and civic dialogue regarding the implementation and legislative process, Chairman of the Economic and Social Council (CES) Sterica Fudulea said on Monday at the "Economic Trends 2025" conference under the aegis of the National Bank of Romania (BNR). "Often, the dialogue takes place on the day when a legislative initiative is approved, which is not good at all. Probably, if all the initiatives were discussed more thoroughly and earlier, we would not end up with hundreds of changes that impact and affect us," explained the CES chairman. During the conference, he made a statistical parallel of the deficit of Romania's trade balance at present and over ten years ago. "In 2013 we had a trade balance deficit of EUR 5.5 billion, and in 2024 there are over EUR 30 billions of deficit in the first 11 months alone. That is a surge by 530% from 2013. At the same time, exports increased by only 173% and imports by 210%. That can be seen in our pockets, of all of us." Fudulea added that the body that should manage the trade deficit, namely the Romanian Agency for Foreign Investment and Trade (ARICE), is far undersized with a totally insufficient staff. "When the body was established, in the spirit of social dialogue, we proposed that it should have a management, an administration in public-private partnership, so that we can be more applied in what dialogue means. Unfortunately, ARICE has only 30% of the necessary staff," Fudulea said. The European Businesswomen Confederation (PEFA) organised on Monday, at the National Bankf of Romania (BNR) Arenas in Bucharest, the third edition of the "Economic Trends 2025" conference, an event dedicated to this year's economic challenges and opportunities. This year's edition focused on three thematic panels that addressed the main economic directions and development strategies. The AGERPRES National News Agency was a media partner of the event. PEFA is an employers' organisation, a member of SME Romania, the only national representative confederation for SMEs. PEFA promotes and supports gender equality, the role and importance of women in society and the economy. It offers entrepreneurs a strong platform to make their voices heard both at national level, in relation to central and local public administrations, and at European level. In 18 years of activity in Romania, low-cost airline Wizz Air has carried one hundred million passengers, more than five times Romania's population, the airline announced on Monday. Currently, the company operates seven bases nationwide and services more than 173 routes from 13 airports in Romania, connecting passengers to 71 destinations in 22 countries. "Wizz Air, the most sustainable airline in EMEA, is celebrating its biggest milestone yet, having so far proudly carried 100 million passengers from Romania, one of its core markets," the company said in a release on Monday. Airline representatives mention that a new base will open this year at Bucharest-Baneasa, flying one aircraft and seven routes that will be commissioned during the year, it will allocate the 20th aircraft and start operating three new routes from the Bucharest-Otopeni base, it will allocate the second aircraft and introduce new and relaunched routes from Craiova and Sibiu, while also launching two new routes from Cluj-Napoca. Wizz Air operates a fleet of 230 Airbus A320 and A321 aircraft and is listed on the London Stock Exchange. In 2024, Wizz Air was the preferred choice of 62.8 million passengers. Pope Francis has appointed Belleville Bishop Michael McGovern as the next archbishop of the archdiocese in Omaha, Nebraska, the Belleville diocese announced Monday. McGovern replaces George Lucas, who stepped down after serving in the role since 2009. McGovern, 60, is a Chicago native. He studied at Mundelein Seminary and was ordained a priest in 1994 for the archdiocese of Chicago. He served in several parishes and administrative roles before being appointed bishop of Belleville in 2020. The Archdiocese of Omaha has more than 230,000 Catholics in northeast Nebraska. McGovern will be installed in the Cathedral of St. Cecilia on May 7. He will become the Omaha archdiocese's sixth archbishop. In a release, McGovern said he was looking forward to meeting people in his new archdiocese. "The Church in Omaha has a great reputation for supporting Catholic education, including many parochial schools, high schools, and two Catholic universities," McGovern said. "I look forward to learning more about the many ministries carried out and how I can support them." ST. LOUIS COUNTY A man who called 911 saying he shot two people and was planning to kill himself has been charged with assault. St. Louis County prosecutors on Saturday charged Corey Jordan, 37, with two counts of first-degree assault and armed criminal action. His bond was set at $500,000 cash. The shooting was Friday afternoon in the 9400 block of Duenke Drive in Bellefontaine Neighbors. Jordan shot a man, 28, and a woman, 19, police said. They had both been shot in the head and were critically injured. Jordan then called 911 and said he murdered both, police said. When officers arrived, they found Jordan also shot in the head, and all three still alive. Police did not say their relationship. Court documents did not provide a possible motive for the shooting. Jordan lives in the 8700 block of North Broadway in St. Louis. ST. LOUIS The former caretaker of a movie star chimpanzee admitted Monday to lying to a federal judge by pretending the chimp was dead and then publicly acknowledging that she lied, even in an HBO documentary. Tonia Haddix, who ran a Jefferson County primate facility, tearfully pleaded guilty in a St. Louis courtroom to two counts of perjury and one of obstructing justice. Haddix, 55, was wearing a black dress with a floral print in her signature pink, plus pink nails and pink lipstick, as she admitted in court that she hid movie star chimp Tonka instead of turning him over to an animal welfare organization as ordered by a federal court. She had previously outed the lie in the HBO documentary series Chimp Crazy. I opted to go against the court order, Haddix said in the third episode of the series. Tonka was literally on the run with me. Haddixs legal saga dates back to 2017 when People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, the US animal rights nonprofit, sued her. PETA claimed she kept several chimpanzees, including movie star Tonka who appeared in the 1997 movies Buddy and George of the Jungle in inadequate conditions. In 2020, Haddix signed a consent decree agreeing to send four of the chimps from her now-defunct Missouri Primate Foundation to a sanctuary in Florida. The order allowed her to keep three chimps, including Tonka. But she failed to comply with the conditions of that agreement, PETA said. Sheriffs deputies and U.S. marshals arrived at the facility and removed the remaining chimps in 2021. Tonka, however, wasnt there. Haddixs husband claimed Tonka had died of congestive heart failure. He signed an affidavit claiming hed cremated the body. But in May 2022, PETA learned that Tonka was still alive. They removed him from a cage in the basement of her home in Sunrise Beach, Missouri, near Lake of the Ozarks, and took him to a primate sanctuary in Florida. I lied to them, Haddix told the Post-Dispatch in June 2022. I did it to protect (Tonka) from the evil clutches of PETA. He is like a son to me. I love him as much as I do my own children, maybe more. Last year, PETA lawyers filed to hold her in contempt for her admissions in the Chimp Crazy documentary. They said she was profiting off her defiance of court orders by, for instance, recording the Chimp Crazy Lady Show podcast and selling messages on the social platform Cameo, which allows fans to pay celebrities to record personalized video messages. The federal judge referred the accusations to prosecutors, and they promised to investigate. Haddix would have likely been indicted by a federal grand jury. Instead, she reached an agreement with prosecutors before she was charged and, on Monday, pleaded guilty. Her lawyer, Justin Gelfand, said they were glad to reach a resolution. She looks forward to putting this matter behind her, he told reporters. Haddix faces a maximum of 20 years in prison, though federal sentencing guidelines will likely recommend between six months to about a year and a half, attorneys said in court. But Haddix could get more than that if shes not careful, warned U.S. District Judge Stephen Clark in court Monday. Judges have discretion in sentencing and often give defendants less time if they have taken responsibility for their crimes. Haddix, however, has repeatedly spoken about her case on YouTube and in a half-dozen episodes of her podcast, Clark said. And he said hes been listening. Sometimes, he said, her comments could be construed as a lack of remorse. You have just plead guilty, he said. If she continues to make similar statements, he said, I can and will take that into account. Haddix was released on bond. Her sentencing is set for July 16. VELDA CITY Missouris top prosecutor sued this north St. Louis County suburb Monday saying officials closed-door decision to censure the mayor violated open records laws. The lawsuit by Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey says Velda City aldermen had no legal justification for meeting behind closed doors to censure Mayor Derrick Gill and illegally withheld information about it from Gill and the public. The lawsuit asks a judge to void the meeting and levy civil fines against Velda City, a suburb of about 1,200 people between Normandy, Wellston and Pagedale. Aldermanic President Melvin Jarrett and city attorney Anthony Gray did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Gill, in an interview, said Jarrett called the meeting of aldermen to censure him because the aldermen disagreed with his plan to reform the city after what he called misspending by a previous administration. Baileys suit, he said, validated his concerns. This confirms what I knew violated Sunshine law, Gill said. It is disappointing that these alderpeople are not working with me to move the city forward. Alderwoman Carolyn Tomlin, reached by phone, said she could not recall whether she took part in the meeting and declined comment. Alderwomen Yvette Battle and Buffie Griffin did not respond to a request for comment. Missouri law requires public officials to give advanced notice of meetings and keep them open to the public. And it limits exceptions that would allow officials to close meetings or make records confidential. Officials closing a meeting must provide the public a specific reason under state law that allows them to close the proceeding. Officials are required to take official minutes from the meeting and are required to publicize any closed-door personnel votes within three days of the decision. Velda City aldermen violated each of the rules, Bailey says. Censure of an elected official is not one of the exemptions under state law allowing officials to close meetings or records that should otherwise be public. According the lawsuit: Three out of four aldermen in the city met secretly on Oct. 10 without posting any public notice. Neither the city clerk nor the city attorney were aware of the meeting before it happened, and neither Gill nor members of the public were given a chance to voice their views. The three aldermen voted behind closed doors to censure Gill but did not record official minutes of the proceeding or publicize the vote as required. The aldermen later informed the city attorney of their decision to censure Gill after the meeting. Gill, a former alderman, was elected mayor in April of 2024, a month after the citys police department shut down after all of its officers resigned. The city has since contracted Pagedale for policing services. ST. LOUIS A policeman was struck and injured by a fleeing suspect's vehicle early Monday in north St. Louis. The officer was treated at a hospital and released. St. Louis police said the officer was injured about 12:40 a.m. Monday near Peck Street and Carter Avenue, in the city's Fairground neighborhood. Police had spotted several vehicles driving recklessly nearby and tried to stop one of the cars but it drove away. At the intersection of Carter and Peck, police put down spike strips to flatten the car's tires. The suspect's vehicle hit a police SUV as the officer was getting out of his patrol car, police said. After the crash, police arrested one person. Police announced at about 4 a.m. that the injured officer had been released from the hospital after being treated. This crash comes two weeks after another St. Louis police officer was critically injured when a car hit him on Interstate 70. That officer, Nathan Spiess, had a leg partially amputated. Check back for updates. UPDATED with suspect's age OVERLAND An Overland police officer shot a motorist who resisted arrest on a gas station parking lot Sunday, authorities said. Police said the officer and the driver both suffered non-life-threatening injuries. They did not divulge how the officer was hurt. The shooting was about 7:45 a.m. Sunday in the 10700 block of Page Avenue in Overland. Overland police asked St. Louis County detectives to investigate the shooting. The officer had stopped a vehicle on the parking lot of a gas station there. Authorities have not said why the officer stopped him, other than to call it "an investigative stop." The driver, a 28-year-old man, "resisted and was shot by the officer," according to St. Louis County police. He was taken to a hospital for treatment. The officer was also taken to a hospital for treatment, though authorities have not described his injuries. The officer, 25, has been an officer one year. Anyone with information is asked to call county police at 636-529-8210 or CrimeStoppers at 1-866-371-8477. CRYSTAL CITY Voters in the Crystal City School District will decide next Tuesday whether to keep a four-day week for the next decade. Crystal City switched to a four-day schedule in fall 2020. The Jefferson County districts 517 students attend school Tuesdays through Fridays with an extra 45 minutes each day for academic interventions. On Mondays, educational aides provide free day care for elementary students. Teachers receive professional development training one Monday a month. About one-third of Missouris school districts have adopted a four-day week, mostly for a perceived advantage in recruiting and retaining teachers. Under a 2024 state law meant to discourage four-day weeks, school districts in larger counties including Jefferson must get voter approval to start or continue the shortened schedule. In Crystal City, the Committee for a 4-Day Week has raised $1,165 in support of the ballot measure, according to Missouri Ethics Commission reports. The donations include $290 from Taylor Massa, who will become superintendent of the district in July after serving as the districts director of student services. There is no organized campaign for switching back to a five-day week in Crystal City. Massa previously told the Post-Dispatch that test scores, attendance and teacher retention have all improved since dropping Mondays from the schedule. Crystal City reached a score of 90% last year on the states annual performance reports, which measure school districts academic and financial standards. The state average was 77%. Our staff works so well together, and we are a true community, Massa said in 2023. It really comes together, and it shows through the data when we work together for our kids, we do whats best. The Grandview and Sunrise districts in Jefferson County will also need voter approval by fall 2026 to continue on a four-day schedule. Fox School District in Arnold, the countys largest with more than 10,000 students, last year shelved its debate over moving to a four-day week. JEFFERSON CITY Thousands of Missouri crime victims could be cut off from notifications of ongoing court proceedings as part of a contract dispute involving Gov. Mike Kehoes administration. In a hearing Monday, attorneys for a company that has earned nearly $11 million since 2022 by providing electronic court monitoring services for criminal defendants argued that a move by Kehoes top administrator could weaken the notification system. A request was granted to have a new judge appointed to oversee the case, which could put any immediate changes on hold for now. But the proposed move has raised red flags for some prosecutors. In a letter last week, Newton County Prosecuting Attorney William Lynch asked the administration to slow down. It appears inevitable that such a swift change would lead to gaps in critical services, Lynch wrote on Friday. At issue is a contract that pays for electronic monitoring of criminal defendants by using a smartphone app. The program is used by most of the states circuit court districts to help reduce the local jail population, saving money on daily prisoner fees. Along with being cheaper, mobile phone monitoring also is considered more discreet than bulkier and more expensive ankle monitors. The phone app tracks a defendants location and sends reminders for court appearances and court-required drug treatment appointments. The program helps victims track judicial proceedings in their cases. Among other features, the program offered by Lees Summit-based eHawk includes notifications that a defendant is in an exclusion zone where he or she may not travel, such as the neighborhood or workplace of the alleged crime victim. EHawk has held the state contract since the program began as a pilot in 2019. Former Gov. Mike Parsons administration sought a new pact in 2023 and another company, TCS Holdings, was awarded the bid. That bidding process has been muddled in litigation since. In March, however, Ken Zellers, Kehoes commissioner of the Office of Administration, issued a notice to the states judicial circuits that all accounts involved in the program would be switched over to TCS. OA will no longer cover payment for these services if your circuit elects to obtain them from eHawk (or any other vendor) rather than TCS. While each circuit can obtain these services from any vendor it chooses after March 31, the services will only be eligible for payment by OA after that point if a circuit obtains them from TCS, Zellers wrote in a memo. Zellers midnight Monday deadline prompted eHawk attorneys to ask Cole County Circuit Judge Daniel Green to step in to stop to the maneuver. There is no fast magic wand to switch defendants over at the drop of a hat at midnight, the companys attorneys said in a filing last week. The company added that the transition ordered by Zellers will create a trainwreck throughout the state. In its original court filing, eHawk said the states push to give the contract to TCS ignores the fact that a citizen could be seriously injured or killed if the OA waits until a breach occurs. TCS, which has intervened in the lawsuit, did not have an immediate response Monday. Attorneys also say Zellers is asking the company to turn over bulk data about defendants. They say it is up to judges at the individual courts, not the company, to turn over such records. The dustup has caught the attention of some state lawmakers. Rep. Ben Baker, R-Neosho, said on social media that reckless transition could affect 100 defendants in Newton County. OA must rethink this dangerous move, Baker wrote. Attorney General Andrew Baileys office, which is representing the Office of Administration, urged Judge Green to dismiss calls for a delay, arguing that eHawk has dragged its feet in fighting the contract. The case has already gone before four judges. Administration spokesman Jeremy Washington said in a statement that the office remains committed to ensuring a smooth and uninterrupted transition to TCS, but did not say if the switch would be delayed by the court proceedings. OA is working closely with TCS to support courts that chose to obtain these services under the new OA contract, Washington said. Moroccan operators Maroc Telecom and Inwi have announced the signing of what is described as an expanded partnership agreement aimed at accelerating the deployment of fibre optic and 5G technologies across Morocco. Under the agreement, the two companies will consolidate parts of their passive telecom infrastructure by establishing two joint ventures, each owned equally. The objective, the partners say, is to strengthen fibre optic expansion and support the development of 5G networks in the Kingdom. The agreement includes the creation of two divisions. One is to be called FiberCo; it will aim to expand fibre optic networks to reach one million connections within two years and three million within five years. The other is TowerCo, which will oversee the construction of 2,000 new towers in three years and 6,000 in ten years to support the rollout of 5G. This sort of transformation doesnt come cheap, of course. The first phase of the project is valued at MAD4.4 billion (close to $457 million) over three years, pending approval by Morocco's National Telecommunications Regulatory Agency (ANRT). According to a report from the Emirates News Agency, Jassem Alzaabi, the Chairman of e&, the owner of Maroc Telecom, says that this strategic collaboration between Maroc Telecom and Inwi along with joint investments in fibre and 5G infrastructure marks a significant step toward greater market stability and strengthens Moroccos position as an attractive destination for investment. Reuters points out that there has been a legal dispute between the two operators, after market leader Maroc Telecom was asked by a court to pay MAD6.38 billion dirhams (a little over US$662 million) to Inwi for allegedly violating fair competition rules. This dispute now seems to have been resolved; Maroc Telecom has agreed to pay Inwi MAD4.38 billion dirhams (US$455 million) instead, in return for both operators abandoning legal appeals. JEFFERSON CITY Republicans moved forward Monday with a plan to restrict abortions and do away with the right Missourians voted to enshrine in the state constitution in November. The GOP-led House Children and Families Committee advanced the proposed constitutional amendment Monday by an 11-5 vote along party lines. The measure would ban abortions with exceptions for medical emergencies and cases of rape, incest and fetal anomalies. The proposal if approved by a majority of Missouri voters would do away with the broad protection for reproductive freedom including abortions that voters approved last year. Mondays committee action moves the proposed constitutional amendment closer to debate and a vote before the full House. It would then move to the Senate for consideration ahead of the May 16 deadline for passing legislation. The proposed ballot question hadnt come up for a vote in the House committee since a hearing was held in early February. Rep. Holly Jones, R-Eureka, the committee chairwoman, said Monday she was told its time to get this moving. If it clears both chambers, Gov. Mike Kehoe, a Republican, could call a special election on the question. Or it would appear before voters in the November 2026 midterm elections. The new constitutional right, which won last year with 51.6% of the vote, protects the right to abortion up to fetal viability, when a fetus might survive outside a uterus. Planned Parenthood provided abortions at its St. Louis clinic on Thursday, the first time the procedure had been performed at its Central West End facility since June 18, 2022. Missouri banned nearly all abortions including in cases of rape and incest in June 2022 after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the nationwide right to abortion established in Roe v. Wade. The current Missouri proposal under consideration doesnt go that far, but it would still greatly curtail the procedure in the state. The measure would give the Legislature the right to enact strict regulations on providers. While the measure allows abortions in cases of rape or incest, the procedure must be performed no later than 12 weeks gestational age. The most recent draft does away with a proposed requirement that women provide proof they reported rape or incest to law enforcement at least 48 hours before an abortion. The measure would also require minors seeking abortions to notify their parent or guardian before an abortion, except in medical emergencies. The measure says no one can perform an abortion on a woman based on a prenatal diagnosis indicating disability, except when there is a fetal anomaly. Fetal anomaly is defined as a structural or functional abnormality in the unborn childs gestational development that would make life outside the womb impossible. Rep. Raychel Proudie, D-Ferguson, said there are fetal anomalies in which a child would live outside the womb very, very briefly. She said the legislation would say there is a possibility for a child with anencephaly to live for a few hours outside the womb, and that wouldnt be covered by the exception. That concerns me a little bit, Proudie said. The legislation also bars state funds for abortions except in limited circumstances such as rape, incest, medical emergency and fetal anomaly. It prohibits fetal organ harvesting. The measure also explicitly states that a womans right to health care in cases of miscarriage and ectopic pregnancies shall not be infringed. In addition, the proposed ballot measure would also ban the provision of hormones and puberty blockers for minors for gender transition, which Missouri law already restricts. The measure also says lawsuits challenging state reproductive health care laws must be filed in Cole County Circuit Court. That provision follows a lawsuit filed in Jackson County late last year to overturn Missouri abortion restrictions. The legislation is House Joint Resolution 54. ST. CHARLES COUNTY St. Charles County will keep thousands of 2020 presidential election ballots in a county warehouse after a group of Trump supporters here protested a routine plan to shred them, saying the ballots are needed to back up his claim of fraud in the 2020 election. Trumps supporters in St. Charles County for years have contended that some form of interference in the election caused his 2020 margin of victory here to be smaller than it should have been. He won the county by 18 percentage points over former President Joe Biden. This is a critical moment for transparency and accountability, and destroying records now would be a grave mistake, Ali Graeff said at a recent St. Charles County Council meeting. St. Charles County Election Authority Kurt Bahr, a Republican, asked the County Council on March 10 for approval to shred records pertaining to a dozen elections, including the 2020 presidential election. Such requests are routine for election authorities across Missouri, who are only required by statute to keep the records for 22 months after Election Day. But Bahrs request on March 10 was met with swift and vocal opposition from some St. Charles County residents. President Trump, who took office in January, has made it abundantly clear that he believes the 2020 election was stolen, Graeff said. Hes also signaled that investigations into past elections are underway, investigations that rely on access to records, like those from St. Charles County. If we delete these records now, were slamming the door on the ability to uncover the truth. Bahrs initial request covered a dozen elections, dating back to 2017. The voted paper ballots, the envelopes that contained ballots from absentee and provisional voters fill a 1,000-square-foot space within the election authority office in St. Peters. Unused ballots are shredded 30 days after an election, he said. I waited four years to request destroying these records, but it was still not long enough for some people, Bahr said in an interview Monday. He said the county still plans to keep four permanent records from the dozen elections: a by-precinct breakdown of the votes cast, election certification documents, sample ballots, and a certification of election outcomes by city, board and school district. County Council member Joe Brazil, R-Defiance, has objected to Bahrs plan. The law is that youre supposed to maintain permanent records, Brazil said at the March 10 meeting. Youre not supposed to destroy permanent records. Conservatives in St. Charles County have repeatedly cast aspersions on the outcome of the election. Theyve argued for months at County Council meetings that Bahr tampered with the election and jeopardized the outcome of county, state and federal elections. Brazil filed an official complaint with former Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft, a Republican, who cleared Bahr of any wrongdoing and said there was no violation of Missouri law. Bahr said the county exclusively uses paper ballots in elections and those ballots were accurately counted. I think it is to be expected that a certain group of people who will, unfortunately, question everything I do, Bahr said. Following the March 10 council meeting, County Executive Steve Ehlmann asked Bahr to amend his request to retain the 2020 presidential election records. It is silly to make a deal about it, Ehlmann said in an interview on Monday. But if people think there is something there, then they need to get before a judge and get him to unseal those records. Bahrs revised proposal asks for approval to shred documents for the other 11 elections. The council approved it 6-1 Monday night. The decision makes Bahr the only election authority in the region, and perhaps in the state, to still have these election records. Officials in St. Louis, St. Louis County, and Franklin County confirmed Monday that their offices had shredded or destroyed the records in 2022, when allowed under state law. In the meantime, Ehlmann said he is concerned that the debate over the 2020 presidential election overshadows the more important work we have to focus on. Hopefully we can move on, he said. Hopefully. This story was updated at 8:18 p.m. Monday to reflect the St. Charles County Council's vote. WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. President Donald Trump said Sunday that "I'm not joking" about trying to serve a third term, the clearest indication he is considering ways to breach a constitutional barrier against continuing to lead the country after his second term ends at the beginning of 2029. "There are methods which you could do it," Trump said in a telephone interview with NBC News from Mar-a-Lago, his private club. He elaborated later to reporters on Air Force One from Florida to Washington that "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." Trump lost that election to Democrat Joe Biden. Still, Trump added: "I don't want to talk about a third term now because no matter how you look at it, we've got a long time to go." The 22nd Amendment, added to the Constitution in 1951 after President Franklin D. Roosevelt was elected four times in a row, says "no person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice." Any attempt to remain in office would be legally suspect and it is unclear how seriously Trump might pursue the idea. The comments nonetheless were an extraordinary reflection of the desire to maintain power by a president who had violated democratic traditions four years ago when he tried to overturn the election he lost to Biden. "This is yet another escalation in his clear effort to take over the government and dismantle our democracy," said a statement from Rep. Daniel Goldman, a New York Democrat who served as lead counsel for Trump's first impeachment. "If Congressional Republicans believe in the Constitution, they will go on the record opposing Trump's ambitions for a third term." Steve Bannon, a former Trump strategist who runs the right-wing "War Room" podcast, called for the president to run again during a speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference last month. "We want Trump in '28," he said. Kayla Thompson, a 30-year-old former paralegal in Wisconsin, said she would "absolutely" like Trump to serve another term. "America needs him. America is headed in the right direction and, if he doesn't do it, we're probably headed backwards," said Thompson, who was attending a campaign event Sunday with Elon Musk in Green Bay for a state Supreme Court race. Jeremy Paul, a constitutional law professor at Boston's Northeastern University, said "there are no credible legal arguments for him to run for a third term." NBC's Kristen Welker asked Trump if one potential avenue to a third term was having Vice President JD Vance run for the top job and "then pass the baton to you." "Well, that's one," Trump responded. "But there are others too. There are others." "Can you tell me another?" Welker asked. "No," Trump replied. Vance's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Associated Press. Derek Muller, a professor of election law at Notre Dame, noted that the 12th Amendment, which was ratified in 1804, says "no person constitutionally ineligible to the office of President shall be eligible to that of Vice-President of the United States." Muller said that indicates that if Trump is not eligible to run for president again because of the 22nd Amendment, he is not eligible to run for vice president, either. "I don't think there's any 'one weird trick' to getting around presidential term limits," Muller said. In addition, pursuing a third term would require extraordinary acquiescence by federal and state officials, not to mention the courts and voters themselves. He suggested that Trump is talking about a third term for political reasons to "show as much strength as possible." "A lame-duck president like Donald Trump has every incentive in the world to make it seem like he's not a lame duck," he said. Trump, who would be 82 at the end of his second term, was asked whether he would want to keep serving in "the toughest job in the country" at that point. "Well, I like working," the president said. Trump suggested that Americans would go along with a third term because of his popularity. He falsely claimed to have "the highest poll numbers of any Republican for the last 100 years." Gallup data shows President George W. Bush reaching a 90% approval rating after the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. His father, President George H.W. Bush, hit 89% following the Gulf War in 1991. Trump has maxed out at 47% in Gallup data during his second term, despite claiming to be "in the high 70s in many polls, in the real polls." Trump has mused before about serving longer than two terms before, generally with jokes to friendly audiences. "Am I allowed to run again?" he said during a House Republican retreat in January. Representatives for the congressional leadership House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., and Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer of New York did not immediately respond to requests for comment from the AP. ___ Associated Press writers Tom Beaumont in Green Bay, Wisconsin, and Gary Fields in Washington contributed to this report. Tech Challenges of AI-Driven Streaming Content Localization and Captioning The buzz around AI for subbing and dubbing and localizing streaming content is that it makes it far easier than its ever been before. But that doesnt mean its without significant technical challengesparticularly for companies like Interra Systems who develop the enabling techas Interra Engineering Manager Sana Asfar explains as she enumerates the key challenges and how to overcome them in this conversation with IntelliVids Steve Vonder Haar at Streaming Media Connect 2025. Some key captioning issues and how AI helps to solve them Vonder Haar asks Asfar, What are some of the issues that you see emerging when you're trying to develop captions for a specific audience or market segment? Asfar says that some of the key issues include frame rate changes that desynchronize captions, varying reading speeds for different age groups, and regional spelling differences. She says that AI plays a crucial role in addressing these challenges by ensuring captions remain in sync, adjusting reading speeds, and intelligently placing line breaks. Frame rate change is one major culprit that comes into the picture and changes the alignment of captions with audio, she says. Video must undergo frame rate changes [for] multiple reasons. For example, due to some specific requirements of streaming companies, like Netflix [or] Prime, or maybe we are getting sourcing content from different places, the content [has a different] frame rate. If the video undergoes a frame rate change, a drift is introduced." She delves into how AI can help to resolve these issues. "AI can also play a big role when we are targeting different audiences," she says. "So, we need to change the reading speed, [for example] if you're targeting kids so that the reading speed should be slower when compared to adults. For some locations, spelling needs to be changed, like British English [and] US English. Also, we sometimes see content that must undergo censoring in some geographies. Besides, we see that while repurposing, there are different screen resolutions that we need to target. We would not want captions to hog all the screen space on a small device. If you're targeting your captions for a smaller resolution for mobile devices, you will want to have 32 characters or less per line. Similarly, if we target a larger device, we may go higher, like 42 or more characters per line. But if we change the number of characters per line, the segmentation of the caption changes. We cannot put a line break randomly at any place. We need to locate where there are natural pauses in speech intelligently. For that, we can use natural language processing. These are some aspects where AI can easily fit in and do a very accurate job. The importance of on-premise AI solutions for privacy and security Asfar also touches on the importance of on-premise AI solutions for privacy and security, which content providers are increasingly adopting. Media content is generally proprietary, and privacy is utmost here, she says. Content providers were [previously] uncomfortable sharing their content to cloud-based AI systems. Now, with modern AI chips that support on-device processing, we see solutions coming up with on-premise deployment, and many products support on-premise deployment. And we see that adoption of AI has also been increasing because of the safety and comfort of on-premise. Join us in May 2025 for more thought leadership, actionable insights, and lively debate at Streaming Media Connect. Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. Related Articles Companies and Suppliers Mentioned Lithuanian engineers and U.S. soldiers pump water from a swamp in an effort to recover a U.S. Army M88 Hercules armored vehicle near Pabrade, Lithuania, March 27, 2025. The vehicle was recovered on March 31, Lithuanian officials said. (U.S. Army Europe and Africa) Three U.S. soldiers missing in Lithuania were found dead after their submerged armored vehicle was pulled from a muddy bog, U.S. Army Europe and Africa said Monday. Search operations are underway for a fourth missing soldier, the Army said. The M88A2 Hercules armored recovery vehicle was extracted after a nearly weeklong operation that involved hundreds of personnel from multiple countries. The names of the fallen soldiers, all members of the 1st Armored Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, werent immediately released, pending next-of-kin notifications. The soldiers we have lost in this tragedy were not just soldiers they were a part of our family, Maj. Gen. Christopher Norrie, commander of the 3rd Infantry Division, said in a statement. Our hearts are heavy with a sorrow that echoes across the whole Marne Division, both forward and at home. Norrie added that the search isnt finished until everyone is home. The accident happened near the city of Pabrade at a base about 6 miles from the border with Belarus. The area has been a training hub for U.S. forces for many years. The lengthy recovery operation was complicated by the terrain. Several hundred tons of gravel and earth were added to stabilize the soft ground near the bog, where the vehicle was submerged some 15 feet under water and thick sludge, the Army said. U.S. Navy divers also were called in to support the effort. On Sunday, the divers made it through a thick layer of mud to reach the soldiers vehicle and were able to attach cables. Several heavy vehicles using winches for roughly two hours finally removed the M88A2 from the bog, the Army said. Maj. Gen. Curtis Taylor, commander of the 1st Armored Division, offered thanks for the heroic efforts of the search parties and the Lithuanians in particular. Their courage and commitment to this operation will always be remembered and demonstrates the strong relationship between our countries, Taylor said. Top U.S. military leaders arrived in Lithuania during the rescue operation. On Sunday, U.S. European Commands Gen. Christopher Cavoli attended a special church service in the capital of Vilnius and later visited the recovery location. USAREUR-AF commander Gen. Christopher Donahue and U.S. Ambassador to Lithuania Kara C. McDonald were at the rescue site to observe operations on Monday. Col. James Armstrong, 1st Armored Brigade commander, said the unit was ensuring necessary support services were being provided to families and soldiers. We are an incredibly tight-knit family, and their absence is keenly felt, and we will hold them close in our memories, Armstrong said. The Arleigh Burke-class, guided-missile destroyers USS Winston S. Churchill, front, and USS Bainbridge, back, escort the USS Gerald R. Ford during a training event on March 23, 2025. (Maxwell Orlosky/U.S. Navy) ABOARD THE USS GERALD R. FORD Two F-18 fighter jets roared above the USS Gerald R. Ford, flying past the aircraft carrier in the direction of a destroyer sitting on the horizon. Four other destroyers were also spread across the ocean as the strike group conducted its final training exercise recently in the Atlantic, preparing for a summer deployment that could take the warships to the Middle East, where Iran-backed Houthi militants have been attacking merchant vessels regularly. If sent to the region, the strike group will put newly adapted counter-drone weapons to the test as the Navy explores alternatives to shooting down cheap Houthi drones with multimillion-dollar munitions. The strike groups Arleigh Burke-class, guided-missile destroyers will deploy with the Coyote and Roadrunner systems, two interceptor-style drone systems that the Navy has spent the past year developing for ship-based launches, two service officials said. The Coyote and Roadrunner systems, which were modified from existing land-based technologies, are specialized drones designed to stop other drones before they reach their intended targets. The new weapons are intended to counter Houthi drones for a fraction of the price of a standard missile typically used by the Navy. Those two systems are part of that attempt to get after the cost curve, give our commanding officers more options to engage the threat and ultimately be more effective in defending a high-value unit, Capt. Mark Lawrence, commander of Destroyer Squadron 2, said aboard the Ford as the aircraft carrier trained some 100 miles off the East Coast. Six destroyers will support the Ford during its deployment, strike group leaders said. It is unclear how many of the destroyers will be Coyote and Roadrunner capable. The Ford was the first aircraft carrier sent to the Middle East in late 2023 to help deter the Israel-Hamas war from growing into a regional conflict. The carrier, homeported at Naval Station Norfolk, Va., spent about two months off the coast of Israel before it returned to the United States in January 2024. The Ford and its strike group are now preparing to pick up where they left off training for a deployment that could task the ships and the air wing with defending merchant vessels from Houthi drone attacks. The rumble of fighter jets was constant March 21 as F-18s honed landing on and taking off from the Ford as the carrier cruised the ocean. The sway of the ship from the waves appeared to have little impact on pilots successfully tail-hooking their aircraft on the wires stretched across the flight deck. The strike group brought aboard the nine-squadron air wing and took to the sea with its five U.S.-based destroyers for the strike groups Composite Training Unit Exercise, the final training event that tests their ability to operate as a cohesive fighting force. When the group completes the training, which typically takes three weeks, it will be certified to deploy. Scrimping on expensive munitions without sacrificing the effectiveness of the mission was highlighted during the Ford strike groups training. We are looking at ways that we can be more effective against the threats that are presented unmanned, specifically in this case and we are trying to find ways to make sure that we are going to have the deep missile inventories we might need for other contingencies, Lawrence said. Two F-18 fighter jets fly over the USS Gerald R. Ford as the aircraft carrier and its strike group train March 21, 2025. (Caitlyn Burchett/Stars and Stripes) High-end weapons, high-end threats One-way attack drones are one of the main weapons the Houthis use to attack military and merchant ships, according to U.S. officials. Since November 2023, the Navy has defended against nearly 400 attacks using drones and missiles in the waters of the Red Sea, a pace that has seen U.S. ships firing back at levels comparable to World War II battles. Navy forces have fired more than 200 missiles and upward of 150 artillery rounds missile expenditures that have cost the sea service hundreds of millions of dollars, according to Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance data. As of January 2025, the Navy had fired 120 SM-2 missiles, priced at about $2.1 million apiece. In addition, 80 SM-6 missiles were expended, costing $3.9 million each. Twenty Evolved Sea Sparrow and SM-3 missiles were also fired, which range in price from $9.6 million to $27.9 million. Missile expenditures are likely higher because the U.S. on March 15 began striking Houthi facilities in Yemen on an ongoing basis. The strikes will continue, the Pentagon has said, until the Iran-backed rebels pledge to halt attacks on ships transiting the Red Sea. Navy leaders have acknowledged the expense during the past year, saying the service was working to address the modest threats with lower-cost alternatives such as 5-inch guns, while expediting the development and delivery of new, cheaper technology. The Coyote and Roadrunner counter-drone systems are among those new technologies. Both are specifically designed to go after [drones] so we dont have to shoot the big standard missile at them. From inception to fielding and testing all have been done in the last year. Thats a pretty quick turn for the Navy, said Adm. Daryl Caudle of U.S. Fleet Forces, the command that oversees the training and equipment of East Coast-based naval forces. The Coyote is a small, expendable, tube-launched drone that can be deployed from the ground, air and ships. Defense technology company Northrop Grumman, a Coyote developer, describes the drone as agile, with the ability to perform high-speed maneuvers and climb to altitudes above 50,000 feet before pouncing on its target at supersonic Mach 3.5 speeds. The system has been developed for 25 years, but the variation that will be used by destroyers supporting the Fords 2025 deployment was recently adapted and tested at sea in August. Neither the company nor the Navy has said how much the Coyote costs per unit, but a similar model developed by Raytheon for the Army costs about $125,000 per unit. The Roadrunner, dubbed a drone hunter, is a twin jet-powered autonomous air vehicle that was unveiled in late 2023 by tech company Anduril. The Roadrunner can detect, track and engage targets at significant distances, according to the company. The system can be operated manually or autonomously. When the system was announced, Anduril declined to identify its customer, but the Defense Department has awarded the company contracts to develop drones for the Navy since at least June 2024. Company executives have said the cost of the system was in the low hundreds of thousands of dollars, but the price tag was expected to decrease when mass production began. It took the Navy only seven months from January to August 2024 to develop the original land-based concepts of both systems for ship-based use and begin at-sea testing, said a Navy official who spoke on the condition of anonymity. The at-sea testing of the systems was supported by $88 million in congressional supplemental funding. The official said the sea service, as well as other services, pursued a plan to test and field the systems rapidly in response to the Houthi attacks on military and merchant vessels in the Red Sea. U.S. drone pursuits in the past year have coincided with defense officials raising the alarm on the Navys increasing missile expenditure, which they say is eating up U.S. inventory that would be needed in a potential conflict with an adversary such as China. Former national security adviser Jake Sullivan said in December that there was a need to stockpile munitions and invest more in low-cost weapons such as drones after sending billions of dollars in military aid to Ukraine and the Red Sea threat collectively depleting U.S. shelves. Less than a month earlier, Adm. Samuel Paparo, the commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, said he was dissatisfied with U.S. munitions stockpiles at a time when China is conducting a historic amount of large military exercises. The ultimate goal for development of these systems is to counter threats posed by drones more efficiently, which will preserve high-end weapons for high-end threats, the Navy official said. An F-18 fighter jet pulls up to fly over the USS Gerald R. Ford while the aircraft carrier and its strike group train March 21, 2025, approximately 100 miles off the East Coast. The strike group is at sea training to test the groups ability to operate as a cohesive fighting force. (Caitlyn Burchett/Stars and Stripes) Systems with promise While the military services have been working in earnest to develop drones for more than 10 years, the deployment of the Coyote and Roadrunner systems indicates a push to get the technology in the hands of troops, according to one defense analyst. Most counter-drone systems, including the Coyote and the Roadrunner systems, have not become programs of record for the Defense Department or the services, said Mark Cancian with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a Washington think tank. A program of record is one that has been formally funded by the government for mass production after extensive development and testing, often a process that takes years. But pushing these systems to the fleet now, Cancian said, is a very sensible thing for the Navy to do. It is a great way to test the system before mass production. And given the immediacy of the threat in the Red Sea, it could be a risk the Navy has decided is worth taking, he said. It was recommended by the Defense Innovation Board in January that the Pentagon act with the urgency that the changes in warfare and chaotic world security environment demand to develop and field drone technology. We cannot afford the time to find perfect answers for each question, the board said. We must get unmanned systems in the hands of the warfighters in sufficient quantities to matter now. Cancian said the Navy is likely leaning on lessons learned from Ukraines use of drones in its war with Russia. The U.S. sent drones in the developmental stage to Ukraine to help beat back Russias invasion. We used Ukraine as an operational test, he said. But there is not much available to the public on what the U.S. learned about what works and what doesnt. Standard missiles, Cancian said, should still be relied on for faster, more sophisticated weapons. At least until the testing is completed. These are systems with promise, but they have limited target capabilities. They are good against slow, low-flying targets but not much else, Cancian said. An F-18 fighter jet prepares to launch off the USS Gerald R. Ford as other jets maneuver the flight deck March 21, 2025, while the aircraft carriers strike group conducts training. (Caitlyn Burchett/Stars and Stripes) Tried-and-true weapons While the Ford strike group learns the new counter-drone systems, they will lean on conventional weapons, such as the standard missiles and 5-inch guns, strike group leaders said. In the meantime, we are also making sure our ships and our crews have confidence in the tried-and-true SM-2 capability, because thats a no-fail mission. So, while we work on fleet initiatives to really get more efficient, Id say we remain laser focused on staying effective, Lawrence said. However, he declined to comment on the integration of the technologies across the strike group, stating he would leave the specifics aside. Rear Adm. Paul Lanzilotta, commander of the Ford strike group, echoed Lawrences confidence in the weapons that have been a mainstay of the Navys deterrence efforts for decades. When you see a guided-missile destroyer on the high seas and her 5-inch gun points, God forbid, in your direction, you ought to be thinking twice about whats coming next because its a very effective weapon, he said. The Ford is scheduled to deploy in the summer to the 6th Fleet area of operations, which includes waters surrounding Europe and Africa. The strike group will consist of the Ford carrier and six destroyers five based in the U.S. and one based out of Rota, Spain. Aboard the ships will be an air wing made up of nine aviation squadrons, including four F-18 fighter jet squadrons and one electronic attack Growler squadron. The U.S.-based destroyers are the USS Winston Churchill from Naval Station Mayport, Fla., and the USS Mitscher, USS Mahan, USS Bainbridge and USS Forrest Sherman, all from Naval Station Norfolk, Va. An unidentified destroyer out of Spain will support the strike group as needed. The strike group, Lanzilotta said, could be asked to deploy sooner. And it could be directed instead to sail to the Middle East in the 5th Fleet area of operations. The aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman has been conducting operations in the Red Sea against the Houthis. The Truman was due to transit home to Norfolk at the end of March, but its deployment was extended by at least one month. The aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson, which has been operating in the Pacific, was ordered to steam toward the Middle East. The Vinson, which was slated to transit home to San Diego in mid-April, will extend its deployment by three months. The aircraft carrier USS Nimitz was deployed last week for likely the final time to the Pacific. With the rest of the things going on in the world, we bring the secretary of defense and the president of the United States options for potentially going sooner. And our sailors have that mindset every single day, Lanzilotta said. Service members from U.S. Indo-Pacific Command assist in relief efforts, including debris removal and search and rescue, in Bangkok, Thailand, on March 30, 2025. (U.S. Indo-Pacific Command) The United States is sending military personnel to its ally Thailand and monetary assistance to Myanmar to help the neighboring countries recover from a devastating 7.7-magnitude earthquake that struck the area Friday. More than 2,000 people were dead in Myanmars second largest city, Mandalay, near the quake epicenter, where the smell of decaying bodies blanketed the streets, according to The Associated Press on Monday. Another 3,900 were injured and about 270 missing, the AP reported. In Thailands capital, home to more than 5 million people, the death toll rose to 18 with 33 injured and 78 missing as of Monday morning, Bangkoks city hall announced on its Facebook page that day. An undisclosed number of personnel from U.S. Indo-Pacific Command were coordinating with their Thai military counterparts and first responders on everything from debris clearing to personnel recovery, command spokesman Maj. Matthew Gregory said Monday. The exact number of personnel were in flux as the situation continues to evolve, but included U.S. Army engineers, U.S. Navy Seabees, K9 handlers and others, he told Stars and Stripes by email Monday. The Seabees are the Navys construction battalion. Specialized [search-and-rescue] personnel, engineers and capabilities from around the Indo-Pacific are responding during this solemn time and we will continue to support those affected by the 7.7 earthquake as requested by our Ally, Gregory wrote. Unidentified U.S. military personnel from U.S. Indo-Pacific Command meet with first responders at the Search and Rescue Operations Center near the collapsed State Audit Office building in Bangkok, Thailand, on March 30, 2025. (U.S. Indo-Pacific Command) Myanmar and Thailand share border approximately 1,500 miles long. Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, is embroiled in a civil war that began following a coup detat in 2021. A partial ceasefire to facilitate relief efforts was announced Saturday by the National Unity Government, the countrys government-in-exile thats fighting Myanmars ruling military, the AP said in a separate report Monday. Gregory declined to comment on whether INDOPACOM troops would assist in recovery efforts in Myanmar. The U.S. Embassy in Myanmar announced Sunday that the U.S. would provide $2 million in aid through Myanmar-based humanitarian assistance organizations, according to its website. In addition, a U.S. Agency of International Development emergency response team is deploying to Myanmar to identify the peoples most pressing needs, including emergency shelter, food, medical needs, and access to water, the embassy wrote. The announcement came just two days after President Donald Trump informed Congress that his administration would move to cut most of the remaining jobs at USAID, Reuters reported Saturday. Rep. Gregory Meeks, D-NY, the ranking member on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said Trumps decision to gut USAID was reckless and that China and Russia are already filling in the gaps left by a lack of U.S. foreign assistance, according to a Friday statement posted to the committees website. China on Saturday announced it would send two rescue teams and give 100 million yuan, or about $13.7 million, to Myanmar in aid, according to the China International Development Cooperation Agency. Likewise, Russia dispatched its own aid, including aircraft, doctors and search-and-rescue teams, the AP reported Saturday. Neal McCallum, a Marine Corps veteran of the World War II Battle of Okinawa, speaks about his wartime experiences at Sugar Loaf Hill in Naha city, Okinawa, Japan, March 28, 2025. (Brian McElhiney/Stars and Stripes) Walter LaSota was blown out of a foxhole by a Japanese bomb the first time he was wounded during the World War II Battle of Okinawa. LaSota, a private with I Company, 22nd Marine Regiment, 6th Marine Division, and another Marine were in the foxhole at Sugar Loaf Hill in Naha city in early May 1945. He used to carry my extra ammunition and all, and the man was 33 years old I used to call him Pop, LaSota, 99, of Reading, Pa., said Monday during a visit to Toguchi Beach, a key landing site for the Marine Corps during the battle. To this day I cant remember his right name. LaSota remembered Pop shouting two words: Dive! and Bomb! When it blew, it blew me and I just rolled down over the hill, he said. I didnt know I went down over the hill because I couldnt hear, I couldnt see, right? To this day I dont know whatever happened to him; I dont know whether he got killed by that bomb or not. But I was hoping that he didnt have no suffering with the Japanese getting a hold of him. The Battle of Okinawa lasted from April 1 to June 22, 1945. Two-time Purple Heart recipient LaSota returned to the island for the first time in 80 years with help from the Eagle Society, which brings WWII veterans back to their battle sites. More than 12,000 U.S. service members were killed and another 37,000 wounded during the campaign to capture the island, while about 90,000 Japanese troops were killed, according to the National World War II Museum. About a third of the islands civilian population died in the fighting, according to Cord Scott, who teaches history at the University of Maryland Global Campus on Okinawa. Estimates range from 100,000 to 188,000 Okinawan deaths, according to Scott and Marc Gallicchio, the Mary M. Birle chair in American History at Villanova University. This battle ends up being so devastating for so many sides that it influences the decision to drop the bomb, to be very blunt, Scott said at Stars and Stripes Okinawa office Monday, referring to the atomic bombings at Hiroshima and Nagasaki on Aug. 6 and 9, 1945, respectively. Walter LaSota, a Marine Corps veteran of the Battle of Okinawa, at Toguchi Beach on Okinawa, Japan, March 31, 2025. (Brian McElhiney/Stars and Stripes) World War II veteran Neal McCallum salutes the memorial at Sugar Loaf Hill as Misty Zelk of the Best Defense Foundation looks on in Naha city, Okinawa, Japan, March 28, 2025. (Brian McElhiney/Stars and Stripes) Marine Corps veteran Neal McCallum shows where he was wounded by a 150 mm Japanese shell during the Battle of Okinawa, at the war memorial at Sugar Loaf Hill, Naha city, Okinawa, Japan, March 28, 2025. (Brian McElhiney/Stars and Stripes) A small price to pay Neal McCallum was a private first class with Fox Company, 29th Marine Regiment, 6th Marine Division during the fight to take Sugar Loaf Hill. His regiment followed LaSotas. The 22nd Marines were ahead of us, and they were shot through, McCallum, 98, of Seffner, Fla., said at the war memorial on the hill Friday. He was visiting for the first time since 2000 with the Best Defense Foundation and its founder, former Kansas City Chiefs and San Diego Chargers linebacker Donnie Edwards. The Marines relieved the U.S. Armys 27th Infantry Division at Sugar Loaf, according to the WWII museum. The U.S. wanted the hill to continue pushing into Naha city, the islands most populated urban area, according to Scott. At the same point, youre close to Shuri where [Japans] 32nd Army is headquartered at, Scott said. So, the idea is that if you can get down here, you can swing around, cut them off and keep pushing. McCallum was there when Marines with Dog Company in his regiment took the hill on May 18. The next day, he was hit in his right calf by a shell fired from Shuri Castle. Im being relieved by the 4th Marines, Im leaving my foxhole, and I get about 150 steps, when the big guns at Shuri opened and he was wounded, he said. Earlier that day, his friend Sgt. Victor Hanson was killed by machine gun fire. Hanson was the uncle of military historian and political commentator Victor Davis Hanson. When we would go to the shower and so forth, he would always punch me on the shoulder, McCallum said. Thats how we became friends but not close friends, because sergeants were a big deal. McCallum said he never stops thinking about Okinawa. I think of all my buddies that I left behind, McCallum said. I think about them every day. I think about this [battle] every day. McCallum pointed to his leg. I think about this every day, he continued. But I say this was a small price to pay to be alive. Thailands National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) has reportedly revoked the telecoms licence of mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) K4 Communication Company after its directors were arrested for alleged fraud. K4 Communication which offered mobile services by leasing network capacity from state-owned National Telecom also operated a top-up kiosk business providing services to its customers. According to a report in the Bangkok Post on Monday, K4 set up a group on the Line chat app inviting people to invest THB50,000 (US$1,475) each in its top-up kiosks with the promise of a high return on investment. Since then, 74 people have filed complaints to the police, claiming they never received a kiosk as promised, and accused K4 of running a Ponzi scheme, the report said. NBTC acting secretary-general Trairat Viriyasirikul told the Post that the Central Investigation Bureau arrested the company's directors earlier this month and seized assets of both K4 and its directors worth more than THB50 million. The victims are claiming total damages estimated at THB29 million, the report said. The NBTC said that while it has no jurisdiction over top-up kiosks, the seizure of K4s assets for suspected fraud was sufficient grounds for the regulator to terminate K4s MVNO licence. The NBTC also ruled that National Telecom will have to take over K4s 46,000 SIM card users, the report added. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks in Tel Aviv on June 18, 2024. (Shaul Golan, Pool Photo, AFP via Getty Images/TNS) (Tribune News Service) Israel named former naval commander Eliyahu Sharvit as the new head of the countrys domestic-intelligence agency after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dismissed his predecessor over a series of disputes. Sharvit is set to lead the Shin Bet after 36 years serving in the Israeli military, a statement from Netanyahus office said on Monday. The appointment still requires full cabinet approval and needs to be signed off by a public integrity commission. Netanyahu fired Ronen Bar, the previous holder of the post, earlier this month after disagreements over who should be held responsible for failing to prevent the October 2023 attack by Hamas that triggered the war in Gaza. The duo also clashed over hostage negotiations and a probe about links between the prime ministers aides and Qatar. Netanyahu was supposed to wait until an April 8 court hearing over Bars dismissal before appointing a new head of the Shin Bet, so the swift appointment of Sharvit could exacerbate domestic tensions. Thousands of Israelis have taken to the streets in recent weeks to protest against Bars firing, as well as challenges to the independence of the judiciary and the return to fighting Hamas after a ceasefire. Israels attorney general, whos also in the process of being ousted by Netanyahus cabinet, opposed Bars firing. The turmoil triggered the biggest losses in Israeli markets since the Oct. 7 attacks by Hamas, which is designated a terrorist organization by the U.S. and European Union. Conflict of interests Multiple petitions were submitted to the High Court following Bars dismissal, claiming that Netanyahu had a conflict of interest because of a Shin Bet inquiry into several of his close aides. Benny Gantz, a leader of the opposition, praised Sharvits experience but said on X that its clear Netanyahu has decided to continue his campaign against the judiciary and lead the State of Israel toward a dangerous constitutional crisis. Some legal experts, however, say that line hasnt been crossed given Sharvits appointment hasnt been confirmed. And the former military man isnt likely to be seen as the ultra-loyalist replacement for Bar that some feared, according to Amichai Cohen, a senior fellow at Israels Democracy Institute, whose expertise is constitutional law and security. By announcing the identity of someone who enjoys wide consensus, the concern over the prime minister appointing a mere loyalist has dissipated, he said. Israeli Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu, from the far right of Netanyahus ruling coalition, opposed the appointment, saying Sharvit, like Bar, shares the views of anti-government protestors and wont solve the problem. Under Bar, the Shin Bet started an investigation into allegations that aides to Netanyahu were working with Qatar to bolster the Gulf states image, possibly risking state secrets. Netanyahus office has denied the accusations. The Israeli police, who are jointly handling the investigation with the Shin Bet, said Monday it had made two arrests, the first since the probe officially started several weeks ago. Oct. 7 attack Netanyahus appointment of a new Shin Bet chief may help him distance himself from blame for the Oct. 7 attack, said Cohen. Ronen Bar was very motivated to place some of the responsibility for the Oct. 7 attacks on the political echelon, and this was evident in the recently published Shin Bet inquiries, he said. Its possible that a new chief, who was not in any official role during the attack, will place greater emphasis moving the organization forward and less on the question of past responsibility. Netanyahu has refuted calls to establish a state commission of inquiry into Oct. 7 and has largely refrained from claiming personal responsibility. About 1,200 people were killed and 250 abducted in the attack, while more than 50,000 Palestinians have been killed in the subsequent conflict, according to the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza. While serving as Israels naval commander, Sharvit led the construction of the maritime defense force in the economic waters and managed complex operational systems against Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran, the statement from Netanyahus office said. Iran sponsors Hamas as well as Hezbollah, a Lebanon-based militant group, which is also designated a terrorist organization by the U.S. If confirmed, Sharvit will be the first Shin Bet chief in three decades who did not come from within the service. The last time the intelligence service had an outsider as head was in 1996, after the Shin Bet failed to prevent the assassination of the Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin. 2025 Bloomberg L.P. Visit bloomberg.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Marine Corps Sgt. Angela Scolari, front, a combat marksmanship coach assigned to 6th Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company, Force Headquarters Group, U.S. Marine Corps Forces Reserve, fires a rifle during an all-female marksmanship subject matter expert exchange between U.S. Marines and Jordanian soldiers in Al-Quwayrah, Jordan, on Oct. 29, 2024. (Sgt. Angela Wilcox/U.S. Marine Corps photo ) WASHINGTON Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered the secretaries of the military services to come up with a plan that distinguishes between combat-arms jobs and noncombat-arms jobs and develops physical standards that are sex-neutral. For far too long, we allowed standards to slip and different standards for men and women in combat arms [military occupational specialties], Hegseth said Monday in a video posted on X. Thats not acceptable. We need to have the same standard, male or female, in our combat roles. Hegseth, an Army National Guard veteran, came under fire before becoming defense secretary for saying women have a place in the military but not in ground-based combat jobs in special operations, artillery, infantry and armor units. Im straight up just saying we should not have women in combat roles, he argued on a podcast in November. It hasnt made us more effective, hasnt made us more lethal, has made fighting more complicated. Questions were raised by senators during his hearing in January. Hegseth denied he ever disparaged women and said his concern was with what he believes are slipping standards and gender quotas. He said he would conduct a review of the requirements for combat positions if he became defense secretary. In ways direct and indirect, overt and subtle, standards have been changed inside infantry training units, [Army] Ranger school, infantry battalions to ensure that commanders meet quotas to have a certain number of female officers or female enlisted, he said at the time. For certain combat roles, Hegseth wrote in the memo dated Sunday that it is essential to identify positions that require heightened entry-level and sustained physical fitness standards. Plans must address ground combat jobs, special operations forces and specialized occupations. Hegseth marked the document with an asterisk and included a handwritten note that no existing standard will be lowered in the process. He is ordering the military secretaries to submit their proposals to the undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness within 60 days of the memo. The secretaries of the services will provide an interim update on the development of their plans to the undersecretary within 30 days. Full implementation of plans must occur within six months of submission, Hegseth wrote. This initiative aligns with my broader directive to maintain uncompromising and clear standards that ensure the continued dominance of our military, the secretary added. Hegseth issued another memo dated March 12 that stated 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. Hegseths memo called for a review of how standards have changed and the impact of those shifts since Jan. 1, 2015. That year, then-Defense Secretary Ash Carter announced beginning in January 2016 all combat roles would be open to women. The 2015 decision, resisted most by the Marine Corps, opened about 230,000 combat positions that were previously off limits for women. Today, thousands of women are serving in Army infantry, armor and artillery jobs, hundreds are in combat roles in the Marines and dozens are in special operations positions across the military. The military has long had what is largely a two-part system for physical fitness standards routine annual fitness based on gender and age or more grueling standards for specific combat, special operations, infantry, armor, pararescue jumpers and other jobs. For some combat roles, the standards are the same for various occupations regardless of age or gender. Hegseth wrote in his memo that the focus for occupations such as Navy divers and explosive ordnance disposal technicians should be proficiency in tasks such as water rescue, repair and demolition. This is already a requirement, according to a Navy spokesperson. The 2024 National Defense Authorization Act, an annual law that sets expenditures and policies for the Defense Department, directed the Army to implement higher minimum standards for some combat troops in its Army Combat Fitness Test, or ACFT, within 18 months of the bills enactment. As major combat operations were ongoing in Iraq and Afghanistan in about 2010, top Army leaders began planning for a more rigorous fitness evaluation. They believed the decades-old Army Physical Fitness Test, or APFT, placed too much emphasis on a soldiers running ability and did not adequately gauge a service members ability to perform critical functions in combat, such as heaving heavy equipment or dragging a wounded trooper to safety. The law brings the Army back in part to its original intent when it rolled out the ACFT in 2018. It was to be a gender- and age-neutral fitness assessment with scoring tiers based on the physical demands of an individuals job. The Army eventually developed different standards for men and women, facing pressure from Congress after studies showed fewer than half of female soldiers were passing early versions of the test. Gillian Portis (50) and 37-year old Adrian Matthew Reid were jointly charged with engaging in a sex act outside a Belfast shopping centre A woman charged with public indecency has had a further charge of indecent behaviour withdrawn after she died. Gillian Portis (50) and 37-year old Adrian Matthew Reid were jointly charged with engaging in a sex act outside a Belfast shopping centre on August 3 last year. Reid pleaded guilty to the offence earlier this month, while the charge against Portis was left on the books after it emerged she had died in February. Adrian Reid A further charge against Portis of outraging public decency on Royal Avenue in Belfast on August 31 last year has now also formally been withdrawn following her death. Previous courts heard how a customer had spotted Portis performing a sex act on Reid at the entrance to Citysides car park shortly before 11am on August 3, 2024, A police officer told the hearing a member of the public had reported seeing a man and woman engaging in a sexual act. Gillian Portis as a younger woman (Funeral Times collect) The officer said: He stated that he was with his wife and young child when he witnessed the female performing oral sex on the male in broad daylight, with many members of the public passing by. Based on descriptions provided to police, Reid and his lover were arrested. During police questioning, the pair claimed they could not remember the incident as they were too drunk. According to a death notice posted online, Portis died suddenly on February 18. Her funeral was held at Roselawn Crematorium in Belfast on February 25. John Gavin (37) also told a garda he would shove a mobile phone up her c**t John Gavin is charged with threatening to kill or seriously harm gardai and to damage vehicles. Photo: Paddy Cummins A man threatened to burn patrol cars and seriously harm gardai in a standoff after building a barrier to stop them seizing a vehicle from wasteland, it is alleged. A court was told John Gavin (37) is accused of making credible threats as he flicked and sparked a lighter, after also telling a garda he would shove a mobile phone up her c**t. He is facing trial after a judge ruled the allegations were too serious to be dealt with at Dublin District Court. Judge John King adjourned the case for the preparation of a book of evidence. Mr Gavin, of Baskin Green, Stockhole Lane, in north Dublin, is charged with threatening to kill or seriously harm two gardai and to damage three patrol cars and a forklift truck. He is also charged with having a lighter with intent to use it to cause criminal damage to the vehicles in a way which he knew was likely to endanger the life of a garda and others. Garda Sean Purcell said the DPP consented to the case being heard at District Court level. He said officers were investigating a stolen horsebox on wasteland adjacent to a halting site at Naul Road, Ballymun, on April 16, last year. They were seizing a Toyota Corolla because of its proximity and Mr Gavin allegedly began to protest at the seizure, stating a phone in the car was his. He became extremely irate and aggressive and threatened to cause damage and seriously harm the gardai, it was alleged. He told a female garda he would punch the head off her and ram that phone up your hole. Ill get that phone and shove it up her c**t, he allegedly said, threatening to batter another garda. Gda Purcell said Mr Gavin constructed a barrier at the entrance to the wasteland and threatened to burn out the Corolla and garda cars. He removed a lighter from his pocket, flicked it with his thumb, causing it to spark and said he was going to bring a two-tonne forklift and burn it out at the entrance to block them, it was alleged. He said this in a threatening tone and gardai feared that the threats were credible, the court heard. Judge King refused jurisdiction and remanded Mr Gavin on continuing bail to June 6, for a book of evidence. Victim now raising children alone, having become isolated from Travelling community for bringing ex husband to court A man who raped and smothered his wife while armed with a knife during an incident in which she was afraid she may be killed has been jailed for 12 and a half years. The Central Criminal Court heard that the victim is now raising her children alone, having become isolated from the rest of the Travelling community for bringing her former husband to court. She said it was not the Traveller way to bring their own to court and she had believed for a time he would do better. She wanted her kids to have two parents and for them to be good role models. She said other women in her community would have just put up with what happened but she had followed through on the case for the sake of her own girls. She said the truth was now out and that she was not the monster - the accused man is the monster. The 25-year-old man, who can not be identified to protect his wifes identity, was convicted following a trial earlier this year of the rape, sexual assault, false imprisonment and making threats to kill his wife at the family home in Dublin on a date in September 2023. He has 35 previous convictions for offences including theft, burglary, robbery and breach of a protection order. Passing sentence today, Mr Justice Kerida Naidoo said the woman was subjected to two rapes and two serious sexual assaults by her husband in what was effectively the family home, and in what was a terrifying experience for her. Mr Justice Naidoo said it was a significant breach of trust and that the offending involved a level of violence, the threat of violence and the restriction of her liberty. He noted the man does not accept the guilty verdicts and has not expressed any remorse. He set a sentence of 13 years and, noting there was little in the way of mitigation, suspended the final six months on a number of conditions, including that the man engage with the Probation Service. After the sentence was handed down, the man's supporters started shouting and exchanging insults with the complainant before they were removed from the court by gardai. A local garda told Mark Lynam SC, prosecuting, that the couple are members of the Travelling community and had married young. They had a turbulent relationship, with a number of safety and barring orders over the years. The garda said the accused man was in prison for a number of years but the couple rekindled their relationship after his release. They were living in separate locations at the time and on the day in question, she travelled to his home. She went to bed as she was feeling unwell and woke to him rubbing her leg. She told him she was unwell and went back to sleep. She said the accused man then got on top of her and put his hand over her nose and mouth leaving her unable to breathe. She fought him off, sustaining injuries in the process, and got out of bed. She went to the window to try and breathe but may have lost consciousness and fell onto the bed. She saw the man with a knife. He told her not to talk or shout. If the gardai come I will stab you to death, he told her, saying he would get jail either way. She went downstairs, wobbly and weak, while the man told her to clean up the blood. She said her face was ashen grey and her lips blue from the smothering. She saw a knife on the couch in the sitting room and tried to bide her time, as she was afraid he would kill her if she went upstairs. She made him swear on their childrens lives that he would not kill her before they went upstairs again. They got into bed and she made it clear she did not want to do anything. The accused man did not listen and raped her. He then sexually assaulted her before raping her a second time. She did not resist but made it clear she did not want to do it. The accused man later went through her phone and accused her of having sex with other men. He also accessed pornography and dating sites on her phone. The next morning, she accused him of rape but he sought to minimise it. She promised she would not report it so she could leave the house. She told him she was going to the social welfare office but went to the garda station and reported what had happened. The man was later interviewed and denied any sexual assault or rape had taken place, accusing the woman of making it all up. In her victim impact statement, the woman outlined how she had come from a strict family and thought her new husband would be decent when they married at a very young age. She said it did not take long for him to show his true colours. She said he would go drinking and gambling, as well as scamming her out of her social welfare payments when she had small children to feed. She said he did not hit her, but screamed and punched walls. She said following his release from prison he had come to her full of promises and told her he had done anger management. She said instead, the man had tried to kill her in her own bed and made her a prisoner in her own home on the night in question. She said she kept thinking about how her children would be told their mammy was dead. She said since the offence she has constantly worried about her safety. She said she has suffered flashbacks and nightmares from which she wakes up screaming and terrified. Mr Lynam said the Director of Public Prosecutions placed this case into the 10 to 15 years headline sentencing category, noting the domestic violence and relationship were aggravating factors. Tim OLeary SC, defending, said the accused man does not accept the facts of the case. He submitted his client had no previous convictions of this kind. He said for the purpose of legal argument in relation to the headline sentence, he would submit the case involved a one-off incident, with all the offending happening during the course of that domestic incident. He said he did not agree it should fall into the 10 to 15 year sentencing bracket. The court heard that Ann Connors, was in breach of court orders directing her to remove two chalets and four mobile homes The widow of murdered mob boss Fat Andy Connors was told by a judge today that unless she demolished and reinstated an unauthorised chalet and mobile home development at Boherboy, Saggart, Co Dublin, she would be jailed. Barrister Chris Hughes, counsel for South Dublin County Council, told Judge John OConnor in the Circuit Civil Court that Ann Connors, was in breach of court orders directing her to remove two chalets and four mobile homes from lands known as The Old Ranch, Old School Road, Saggart. Ms Connors saw her late husband shot dead in front of her in 2014 when a masked man armed with an automatic pistol walked into their home known as The Ranch, in Saggart, pumping six bullets into his victim and walking away leaving his target for dead. Mr Hughes, who appeared with Sean OShea, Law Agent for the local authority, told the court that orders had been made in the Circuit Court directing the removal of the properties and other buildings as well as more than 5,000 square metres of hard standing. The orders were upheld on appeal to the High Court and although South Dublin County Council has communicated with Ms Connors since then no action has been taken by her on foot of the court directions, Mr Hughes said. Ann Connors Mr Hughes told Judge OConnor that the local authority was now applying for the attachment and committal to prison of Ms Connors for contempt of court, adding that she and another woman, Brigid Wall, had been arrested in Saggart last night and brought to court this morning. Brigid Wall, in sworn evidence to the court, said she had nothing to do with the unauthorised development and stated there was another Bridid Wall. Allowing her leave court, Judge OConnor told her that if she turned out to be the Brigid Wall named in the proceedings, she would be held to have been in contempt of court. After Mr Hughes told Ms Connors had been served with notice of the court orders she said she knew nothing about them and had not received any documents. She said she would now have to tell her family about all of this and Judge OConnor told her to do so and set about complying with the court orders in existence. If these orders are not complied with you will be sent to prison, Judge OConnor said. He put back the application relating only to Ms Connors until early April when, he said, the court expected to be informed of her plans to remove the unauthorised developments. 'Fat' Andy Connors The court orders require Connors and her respective servants, agents, licensees, or any person acting in connection with her or on her instruction, to remove the unauthorised development. An image of the area sets out the sites of 22 caravans. Written evidence from county council staff revealed initially there had been many complaints from residents in the area with regard to anti-social behaviour, noise from generators, open air toilets being used in front of neighbouring residential homes and human excrement and toilet paper being dispersed around the area. Ms Connors address was stated as The villa, Blessington Road, Saggart, Co Dublin. While one man was arrested and questioned over the murder of Andy Connors he was released without charge and no prosecution has been brought. The callous murder was witnessed by members of Connors family, who described the scene at an inquest in 2017. One of his daughters in a statement read out at the coroners court told how she was pushed to the floor by the gunman who entered the house through the back door into the kitchen. A man came to the door wearing a black balaclava, bulletproof vest and black gloves. He walked in the door. He grabbed me and pushed me to the ground. He had a gun in his right hand, she said. Daddy didnt make it to the hall, he shot him. Then he walked out of the house and drove off. I went down the hall and saw mammy holding daddy. Following his murder, Connors was reportedly buried in a 28,000 gold-plated coffin, wearing a 40,000 diamond Rolex watch along with a number of other expensive items of jewellery. A son of Pale Miley Connors, he was known as the leading figure in a network of prolific burglar gangs operating in Ireland and the UK. The gangs trademark modus operandi was to use stolen high-powered cars in ram raids on filling stations in the dead of night to clear out stocks of cigarettes. They showed no fear of the gardai and would drive at reckless speeds to shake off any attempts at pursuit. The gang would hit several targets on a single night, roaming across Ireland from their west Dublin base. Andy Connors invested much of his ill-gotten gains in property around Tallaght and Saggart where he had been based for years. For a time he put another luxurious property he owned known as The Villa on the market with an asking price of 3 million. A revenue demand for 2.5 million has been in place against Ann Connors, with judgement mortgages on several properties in her name including The Ranch and The Villa. In the rapidly evolving world of telecommunications, Yangtze Optical Fibre and Cable (YOFC) company has emerged as a global leader. At the recent Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona, we had the opportunity to speak with Dr Zhuang Dan, executive director and president of YOFC, about the companys international expansion, innovative product offerings, and strategies for the future. Manny Pham (MP): Dr Zhuang, could you share a brief history of YOFCs journey in the fibre optic industry? Zhuang Dan (ZD): Certainly. YOFC began by utilising Philips technology to manufacture optical fibre preforms and cables. Initially, we focused on meeting domestic demand in China, dedicating the first 10 to 20 years to the local market. This foundation allowed us to refine our products and establish a strong presence at home. MP: This is your second year at MWC Barcelona, traditionally attending MWC Shanghai. What prompted this shift, and what new products are you showcasing here? ZD: This change aligns with our internationalisation strategy initiated a decade ago. Weve expanded overseas, establishing eight manufacturing bases across six countries. Currently, our international operations contribute to one-third of our total sales revenue, reflecting significant growth. To support this, weve opened over 50 sales offices outside China, with more than 20% of our staff now based internationally. Attending MWC Barcelona enhances our global platform and engagement. At this years MWC, were focusing on five key areas: 5G Advanced Connectivity, AI Intelligent Computing Center, Internet of Energy, Intelligent Traffic, and Enjoy Digital Life. Notably, were introducing the MaxBand OM4 Pro Bending Insensitive Multimode Fibre. This fibre ensures smooth upgrades to 400G, 800G, and higher data rates for data centres while being fully backwards compatible with legacy OM4 and OM5 fibres. Additionally, weve developed optical cables with reduced diameters, allowing higher fibre density within the same cable size. Our G.654.E optical fibre complies with or exceeds the ITU recommendations, offering lower attenuation and a larger effective area, which are crucial for next-generation optical transmission networks. MP: Artificial Intelligence is a hot topic. How is YOFC integrating AI into its products? ZD: Weve incorporated AI considerations into our hollow-core fibre, which offers reduced latency and higher transmission speeds, essential for advanced AI and supercomputing applications. Something to note, is that it is seldom to find companies that are able to design and manufacture hollow-core fibre. YOFC is one of the few, reflecting our many intensive years of R&D investment. Our MaxBand OM4 Pro fibre is also designed to meet the high-bandwidth demands of AI data centres, ensuring efficient data transmission and processing. MP: Could you elaborate on your strategy for overseas production and marketing? ZD: Transitioning from a domestic to an international company, weve established manufacturing bases in Indonesia, South Africa, Brazil, Poland, Mexico, and Germany. For instance, our factory in Poland, located 80 kilometres from Warsaw, is a primary supplier of optical cables in the region. These facilities enable us to deliver products promptly, maintain quality, and provide excellent service to local markets. MP: Are there plans to further expand your production footprint? ZD: Currently, weve established production bases on every major continent, allowing us to meet local demands effectively. We dont have immediate plans for further expansion at this stage, as our existing facilities sufficiently support our global operations. MP: Reflecting on your international expansion, how has the contribution of overseas sales evolved? ZD: In 2014, the first year of our international strategy, overseas sales accounted for less than 8% of our total revenue. Over the past decade, this figure has grown to 33%, highlighting the success of our global initiatives. MP: What marketing strategies are you employing to further boost your international business? ZD: Participating in influential platforms like MWC is crucial for branding and marketing. Our presence here allows us to engage with local customers and partners, showcasing our products and technologies. The positive feedback weve received reinforces our commitment to these events. Moving forward, well continue to leverage such opportunities to deepen our internationalisation strategy, aiming for overseas sales to become our largest revenue contributor. MP: Can you share any successful case studies with your international customers? ZD: Certainly. We introduced our G.654.E fibre, known as FarBand Ultra, to Brazilian telecom operators. This fibre features ultra-low loss and a large effective area, enhancing transmission efficiency. Our local production base in Sao Paulo facilitated seamless collaboration, leading to high customer satisfaction and improved network performance. Through strategic international expansion and innovative product development, YOFC continues to strengthen its position as a global leader in the fibre optic industry, committed to enhancing connectivity worldwide. Dubliner McGoverns extradition from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), should have taken place about a week ago Sean McGovern (inset) and below (from left) brothers Christy Kinahan Jr and Daniel Kinahan, and their father, Christy Kinahan Sr 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 World 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. However, a security source said the extradition remains all systems go, and gardai expect the Dubliner will be returned to Ireland shortly. Gardai are happy with the level of co-operation with our police colleagues in the UAE, the source said. McGovern (38), from Crumlin, has been in custody in the UAE since early October after an Interpol warrant was issued for his arrest over the murder of Noel Duck Egg Kirwan. Noel Kirwan and Gerry Hutch Gardai believe McGovern is Daniel Kinahans right-hand man, and the US Treasury Department has claimed he sells multi-kilogramme quantities of cocaine on behalf of the cartel. He has been held in a prison in Dubai since his arrest and has launched a series of legal challenges to the extradition process. He is also wanted on organised crime charges. His detention came after protracted consultation between An Garda Siochana, Interpol and police and justice authorities in Dubai and Ireland. Kirwan was shot dead in 2016 as a consequence of his association with the Hutch family. A European Arrest Warrant (EAW) was issued in April 2022 by the High Court for McGovern to face criminal charges here. Sean McGovern is believed to be Daniel Kinahan's right-hand-man UAE authorities did not act on the warrant, but a formal request from the Department of Justice to the UAE equivalent was later issued. McGoverns arrest is seen by gardai as a test case for the planned arrest and eventual extradition of cartel leader Kinahan on criminal charges. Sources say McGoverns arrest has been a major breakthrough in garda efforts to take down the senior leadership of the cartel. Since 2022, garda efforts have been concentrated on McGoverns extradition because, unlike the Kinahan leadership, he is facing criminal charges. When asked about the return of McGovern to Ireland, a spokesman for the Department of Justice said it does not comment on individual cases. Ramadan concludes today. A number of Rolex watches, a range of power tools and a new caravan were also recovered during the garda operation Ten people have been arrested during a large-scale garda operation in Cork Armed gardai were among those that took part in the interdivisional operation, which also involved the dog unit, the stolen vehicle unit and the drug unit. The action at St Anthonys Park was targeted at those suspected of drug dealing and theft in the region. During the course of todays operation, an imitation firearm was seized along with 4,500 in cash, approximately 4,000 in cocaine, more than 7,200 in Alzaprolam tablets, a small quantity of cannabis herb, a number of Rolex watches, a range of power tools and a new caravan. The drugs seized will be sent to Forensic Science Ireland for analysis. A total of 10 people, men and women, were arrested for a range of offences including public order offences, as well as theft and fraud offences. A garda spokesperson said investigations are ongoing. Police named him as construction worker 41-year-old Martin McConologue AN IRISH national suspected of trying to smuggle 500,000 worth of cocaine onto a London bound flight has been arrested in Jamaica. Police named him as construction worker 41-year-old Martin McConologue with an address at Truman Close, Nottingham, in England. McConologue attempted to board a departing flight destined for London Gatwick when he was intercepted by the police. During which he was interviewed, and based on inconsistencies in his answers, the police requested a search of his luggage. The police used a pointed object to pierce the base of both suitcases, and a white powdery substance resembling cocaine was seen. Four irregular parcels, each wrapped in blue carbon paper, were removed from both suitcases. The estimated weight is 7.26kg or 16 lbs. McConologue was arrested and taken into custody, where he was formally charged with the with a number of offences. Officers from the Kingston Eastern Firearm and Narcotics Investigation Division charged an Irish national with possession, dealing, attempting to export and conspiracy to export cocaine The arrest came following an incident at the Norman Manley International Airport on Thursday, March 27 according to a press statement from the Jamaica Constabulary Force. If convicted, cocaine smugglers in Jamaican face fines or have to serve extra time in jail. In a similar 2023 case a British woman caught with cocaine was sentenced to a 12-month prison sentence, according to the Jamaican Gleaner. She was also ordered to pay a fine of $1 million (5,095) for possession of cocaine, and $500,000 for attempting to export cocaine, with an additional nine-month prison term if the fines are not paid. The same year three other UK residents were caught in separate cases trying to board flights with up to five kilos of cocaine. Conditions are considered harsh in Jamaican prisons which are are well below UK standards, according to the UKs Foreign Office. In general, prisons in Jamaica are overcrowded and capacity exceeds the amount the institutions were intended to house. All prisoners have to share a cell with others. With the exception of the womens prison, prisoners usually sleep on sponges (foam mattresses) provided. In some cases, prisoners take a long time to receive a sponge or might not get one if they are serving a short sentence. The activist group Mothers Against Genocide held a vigil and staged a sleep-out on Kildare Street last night A number of arrests have been made following a protest outside the gates of Leinster House. The activist group Mothers Against Genocide held a vigil and staged a sleep-out on Kildare Street last night, on Mothers Day, to protest the ongoing violence on Gaza and the thousands of children who have been killed or injured. They planned to deliver a letter to Government ministers later today, demanding further action. A number of people were arrested this morning after a number of protestors blocked the entrance to Leinster House. A garda spokesperson said gardai were aware of a public gathering on Kildare Street that began last night, adding: Any Garda response in relation to evolving events is in keeping with a community policing model and graduated policing response taking into account relevant legislation and public safety. They added that a number of individuals continued to block the entrance to Dail Eireann at Kildare Street this morning. "Following engagement with the individuals, a direction was given under the Public Order Act. "As this direction was not complied with following a period of time, a number of individuals were arrested for offences contrary to the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994 and are currently detained at Garda stations in the Dublin Metropolitan Region. Rhys was last seen in the area of Boucher Road, Belfast at 7.50 pm on 30th March 2025 Police have issued a missing person appeal for a teenage boy last seen in Belfast at the weekend. The PSNI issued the appeal on their social media channels for 14-year-old Rhys Mooney. A PSNI spokesperson said in the post: Rhys was last seen in the area of Boucher Road, Belfast at 7.50 pm on 30th March 2025, wearing an all grey tracksuit. If you have any information regarding his whereabouts, please contact police on 101 and quote reference 1385 - 30/03/2025. Downed rat: Ex-UDA chief Jim Craig died in a hail of bullets for passing info to IRA setting up pals UVF leader John Bingham was shot dead by the IRA. Right, his funeral and, inset, UDA chief Jim Craig who was passing information to the IRA The names of four prominent loyalist paramilitaries who colluded with the IRA in the murder of UVF chief John Bingham are contained in a shelved Police Ombudsman report. The report, which examined loyalist paramilitary activity on the Shankill during the Troubles, is set to remain unpublished, keeping the lid on the role of the men believed to have been involved in the Bingham killing. In response to a query from the Sunday World, the Ombudsmans office said yesterday the report would remain uncompleted because of the time restrictions. The wider thematic investigation in which that murder featured had not been completed by the end of April 2024, which means that under the terms of the Troubles Act transitional arrangements, we were unable to complete the investigation. It is therefore not among those cases that we will be able to report on before the end of 30 April 2025, as provided for by the transitional arrangements. A report will be published but will not include an examination into a number of incidents including the Bingham killing. UVF leader John Bingham's funeral Bingham was commander of D Company in the Ballysillan area of Belfast and according to sources is believed to have been involved in more than a dozen murders, as well as a gunrunning operation from Canada. Regarded as a divisive figure, he was suspected of being a security force agent, but in reality he was in the sights of those on the payroll of Special Branch and other intelligence agencies. He was murdered by the IRA at his security-laden home on the Shankill in 1986 and it is now believed he was set up by a number of fellow loyalists including notorious UDA traitor Jim Craig. In July 1986, 25-year-old Catholic civilian, Colm McCallan, was shot close to Binghams Ligoniel home and died two days later from his wounds. The IRA sought to avenge McCallans death by killing Bingham, the man they held responsible for the shooting. Bingham was also believed to have been behind the deaths of several other Catholic civilians. Bingham would have been regarded as a prime target for the Provos but he was surrounded by heavy security and his home was a fortress. In the early hours of the morning on September 14 1986, Bingham was at home with his wife and child. Jim Craig Three IRA gunmen armed with two automatic rifles and a handgun smashed down his front door with a sledgehammer and shot Bingham twice in the legs. Despite his injuries, Bingham ran up the stairs in an attempt to escape his attackers and had just reached a secret door at the top when the gunmen shot him three more times, killing him. The 33-year-old was given a UVF paramilitary funeral, which was attended by politicians from the DUP and Ulster Unionists. Prominent DUP activist George Seawright helped carry the coffin while wearing his Orange Order sash, and called for revenge. It is now expected to be revealed that UDA racketeer Craig was one of four loyalist paramilitaries who colluded with the IRA to set Bingham up for murder. It wasnt the only occasion he was involved in the targeting of a prominent loyalist terror chief. He is widely believed to have worked with the Provos to set up Lenny Murphy, leader of the Shankill Butchers murder gang, who was shot dead in 1982. Craig had long been under suspicion for working both sides. He is suspected of involvement in up to 16 murders including that of many loyalists, as well as police officer John Larmer, who was gunned down by two IRA men at an ice cream shop in south Belfast. Craig died in a hail of UDA bullets as he played pool in an east Belfast bar on October 15, 1988. His murder came after an investigation by UDA leaders found him guilty of treason and sentenced him to death. He was also suspected of setting up UDA leader John McMichael for murder by the IRA. One of his last acts was to set up Larmour he is believed to have told his IRA pals that the constable worked part-time at an ice cream shop. Three others were expected to be named in the report. One of them is another UDA man, Thomas McCreery. UVF leader John Bingham was shot dead by the IRA He was the notorious leader of the Window Cleaner killer gang which carried out a series of sectarian murders across Belfast in the 1980s. Believed to have been drug dealer, he has been described as a middleman who recruited Protestant hitmen. He had been well-known in the Belfast loyalist underworld since the early seventies. His gang was linked to a series of murders including that of Belfast accountant Peter Johnson, who was shot through the bedroom window of his home by a killer masquerading as a cleaner. An innocent man, Richard Hanna, was wrongly jailed for the killing and tragically took his own life in 2004 days before a Court of Appeal cleared his name. McCreery fled to Spain in 1991 after being shot and seriously wounded as he sat in a car outside a social club in the Shankill Road area. The shooting was the result of an internal dispute within the UDA, which he had been associated for two decades. After the shooting the UDA said: We wish to make it clear that no matter what happens, he is still under sentence of death. In 1988 an internal UDA memo accused him of having contacts with republican groups, such as the IRA and INLA, and of other alleged misdemeanours. At that point McCreery is said to have met senior UDA officers and apparently convinced them that one of the organisations senior leaders had sanctioned his activities. He continued his career as a gun for hire on the continent. Even with the passage of time, the unmasking of such leading figures as having worked with the IRA are grounds for a major embarrassment for loyalist paramilitaries. The mans body was found at Rosses Point beach in Sligo almost 16 years ago Peter Bergmann captured on CCTV outside his hotel in Sligo A play about the mysterious death of an unidentified man, known as Peter Bergmann, is set to feature at Galway Theatre Festival in May. Mr Bergmann of Deadmans Point is told from the perspective of embalmer Balmy Corrigan and explores themes of redemption, legacy and death. Peter Bergmann - Ireland's most famous unidentified man. After three mysterious days in Sligo town involving fake names, non existent addresses and a vanishing act for all his possessions, he's found deceased at Deadmans Point beach, Sligo, reads the plays blurb. His plan? To delete himself. All has gone to plan until he has a very unexpected encounter with an embalmer, Balmy Corrigan, who is in a high stakes race against time to cement his legacy. Ronan Dempsey wrote and performs the 75 minute one-man act. Mr Bergmann of Deadman's Point by Nth Degree Productions The circumstances surrounding the death of the man and his identity have baffled the Gardai and the general public alike. The man who called himself Peter Bergmann was found face down and partially clothed on Rosses Point beach in Sligo in the early hours of Tuesday, June 16th 2009. When his body was found, the deceased was wearing a T-shirt tucked into his underpants with swimming trunks underneath. On a rock nearby lay his neatly folded jumper, jacket, jeans, shoes, and socks - all the tags had been removed, and no ID was found on his person. While trying to establish who the man was, Gardai discovered that he arrived in Sligo days earlier on Friday, June 12th, and checked into the Sligo City Hotel. He told the receptionist his name was Peter Bergmann and said his address as Ainstettersn 15, 4472, Vienna in Austria. When Gardai traced the name and address, they discovered both were fake, and so, a mystery that remains unsolved to this day began to unfold. Peter's case became even more mysterious for Gardai when they found CCTV that captured him in and around the Sligo area for a few days before he was found dead. During his stay at the hotel, Peter was seen on security footage leaving the building with a plastic bag full of items. However, when he returned to the hotel, he was no longer carrying the bag. Peter Bergmann captured on CCTV outside just inside the door of his hotel in Sligo Authorities believe he was making trips out of the hotel to dispose of his belongings in bins around the city. On Saturday morning, he visited the post office and bought eight stamps and airmail stickers. As they were not found with his body, it is assumed he used them to post letters to his loved ones before he died. The following morning, he took a taxi to Rosses Beach to scope it out before returning to the city with the same driver. After requesting a late check out on the last morning of his stay, Monday, June 15th, he was seen on CCTV leaving the hotel carrying a black shoulder bag and a black luggage bag. Neither items were with him when his body was discovered. Peter then took a bus to Rosses Point Beach, where he was spotted numerous times throughout the day, pacing up and down the beach. He was last spotted at 11.50 pm by a woman who said she saw him walking along the lapping waves of the incoming ocean. The following morning, after his body was found, Peter was taken to Sligo University Hospital, where a post-mortem was performed. Foul play was ruled out, and it was found that he died from acute cardiac arrest. The pathologist discovered during the autopsy that 'Peter Bergmann' had prostate, lung and chest cancer and cancer in his bones. His heart also showed signs of previous heart attacks, and he only had one kidney. While it appears the man went to Rosses Point beach to die, the toxicology report found no painkillers or poisons in his system and there were also no signs he had inflicted injury upon himself. Interpol, the international policing agency, has said there is no one matching his description on their database as either a missing or wanted person. After the Gardai's five-month investigation, they were unsuccessful in finding the real identity of Peter Bergmann, and he was buried in Sligo. Who he was and why he went to Sligo to die still remains a mystery, almost 16 years later. Mr Bergmann of Deadmans Point is not the first time the case has inspired the arts. Sheila Armstrongs debut novel Falling Animals, is loosely based on the enduring mystery surrounding the deceased man. The 2023 book tells his story from the perspective of those who crossed paths with him on the day of his death. You can see Mr Bergmann of Deadmans Point at Galway Theatre Festival on May 7th and 8th at Town Hall Studio at 8 pm. Tickets start at 14. The former Mrs Ireland is married to Irish entrepreneur Gareth Sheridan US model Heidi Sheridan has said that she moved to Ireland so her daughter (2) doesnt have to take part in active shooter drills. The former Mrs Ireland met her husband Irish businessman Gareth Sheridan when he was in her home state of Utah on a business trip. Their family moved to the Emerald Isle following the re-election of US President Donald Trump. "I always knew my children would be Irish, she told the Irish Mirror. There is no way I would let my five-year-old walk through a metal detector and then also be in that school atmosphere and learning active shooter drills. The drills are common practice in American schools, and aim to prepare students and teachers in the event of an active shooter. "There is no way. I didnt have to grow up that way and I didn't want my child to do that, she said, adding: Emotional and physical safety were the exact reasons we moved back here." The couple, who adopted their two-year-old daughter Roe in 2022, secretly tied the knot in September 2017, but held a more lavish affair at the Palmerstown House Estate in Kildare the following year. The interior designer won Mrs Ireland and went on to represent the country at the Mrs World competition in 2019. The pageant is akin to the famous Miss World but is for married women. I was a Miss Murray in my hometown in Utah when I was in my 20s and I never thought Id do another one again as theyre scary - youre completely out of your comfort zone, the former pageant queen told The Irish Sun before the competition. "I did Mrs Ireland because Im not Irish but my husband is and I dont have a ton of friends in Ireland so I thought it would be a fun way to meet people. I never thought Id win it, she added. While Sheridan did not go on to win the overall Mrs World pageant, her successor Mrs Ireland 2020 Shaylyn Ford did. Heidis husband Gareth, who hails from Dublin, founded pharmaceutical company Nutriband in 2012. He won Bank of Irelands Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2014. Vintage car enthusiast and Community Patrol volunteer Murray Tom shows no signs of slowing down. The community-minded 90-year-old is not only still driving, he still holds a class-four drivers licence, fixes up vintage cars and volunteers with Katikati Community Patrol. I moved here 18 months ago, I like it here and want to stay so I should be doing something for the village, said Tom. After meeting local community patrol team leader Ross Sutherland, Tom offered to give a few nights every month as the eyes and ears of the police. We need to be looking after our community, Tom said. Hes concerned with the amount of burglary in Katikati, especially in the rural areas. The patrol is effective alright, just the fact that patrol car is there. Youll be around at night and see a car that doesnt look like it should be there ... you pull up beside it and nine times out of 10, it drives away. Euan Neil and Ross Sutherland from Katikati Community Patrol. Photo / Rebecca Mauger Tom lives on a lifestyle property on the outskirts of Katikati town. He spends his days toiling away fixing up vintage cars, caravans and tractors with pal Gideon de Lautour. The two Tauranga Vintage Machinery Club members are currently working on rebuilding a caravan. His fleet includes a 1914 Dodge, which he bought and drove across the United States and shipped back to New Zealand. He also rebuilt an old Jaguar which was a trailer load of rusty bits. Theres also a 1917 Dodge Roadster and a 1937 Plymouth. Two tractors are waiting in the wings next for a rebuild. All the finished cars have a Warrant of Fitness. Katikati Community Patrol volunteer Murray Tom, 90, takes a break from his hobby rebuilding cars and caravans. Photo / Rebecca Mauger Tom said he rebuilds classic cars because they are quality you cant get these days. He has lived a full life with multiple careers including farming, sales, fisherman, sheep shearer and had owned various businesses. He had a serious accident as a young man getting a digger off the back of a trailer. He was lucky to survive and in hospital for a long time with a broken spine and ribs. Unable to walk at first, doctors feared the damage was permanent. Tom was pretty hacked off at this, but after much work he walked again. He lost a lot after the accident including his farming career, so started again as a stock and station agent. Tom said the secret to a longer life is good food and to keep moving. Fresh air, red meat and a few spuds. You dont need fancy food. The more they process it, the shorter your life. And if you sit down and retire, thats when you go. So if you have a project thats a bit difficult; I think it does a lot of good for you. Katikati Community Patrol Night owl volunteers from Community Patrols of New Zealand keep watch in the shadows as the eyes and ears of police. Katikati Community Patrol looks after the area from Tanners Point to Morton Rd and goes out on various nights and some days of the week for three-hour shifts. The idea is to prevent crime and minimise harm through the presence of trained patrollers. They do not leave the patrol car, which is decked out with technology to keep in touch with police. CPNZ runs a Pathway to Police programme for potential police recruits. The local patrol is housed at 33 Middlebrook Dr and is always looking for more volunteers. Phone 021 301 339 or email: katikati@cpnz.org.nz The stream flows into the Tauranga River about 2.5 kilometres downstream from the farm, and that river joins the Whakatane River about 18.5km further downstream. Environment Court Judge Sheena Tepania s judgment said that, on October 25, 2023, a person at a neighbouring property noticed the Matatere Stream was discoloured and that ponded dairy effluent was flowing into a farm drain that led into the stream. Sharemilker Stefan Grobecker and his wife are the two directors of Grobecker Farming. The two directors of Mary Allen Farm, which owns the 87-hectare property, were not named in court. Grobecker Farming and Mary Allen Farm both pleaded guilty to a charge of discharging dairy effluent into a stream in Waimana in the Eastern Bay of Plenty and were fined a combined $77,000. Poor management of a travelling irrigator led to dairy effluent entering a stream and landed two farmers in court facing big fines. The witness phoned Grobecker, who immediately moved the travelling irrigator away from the drain. He did not take any steps to manage the effluent already flowing into the drain, and did not contact the Bay of Plenty Regional Council. A different witness notified the council and a compliance officer came to take samples. Liquid effluent was audibly running into the drain. The next day, a compliance officer returned to the farm and saw ponded effluent still visible from the previous days discharge. The officer spoke to Grobecker, who said there were no standard operating procedures for the farms effluent irrigation, and he kept loose records of which paddocks had been irrigated and when. Record-keeping was not required under the consent. Grobecker told the officer he immediately got on his quad bike to take a look when he was told of the discharge. He saw the irrigator was at the end of its run and moved it. There was obvious ponding of effluent, and the drain was green. An abatement notice was issued that day, which remains in place. The regional councils lawyer, Hayley Sheridan, said it was fortunate the fast-flowing Matatere Stream had quickly diluted the contaminants. The ecological impact on the stream had been minimal, but it was nonetheless a freshwater environment that ought to be protected from the discharge of contaminants. Sheridan said contributing factors to the discharge included irrigating in unsuitable weather and soil conditions, the end of the irrigators run being too close to a drain, a lack of monitoring, insufficient training and the equipments lack of fail-safes. She said both defendants were culpable and were careless at a moderate to high degree. Mary Allen Farms directors, one of whom lived near the Waimana farm and the other who lived in Kaikoura, said Grobecker was contracted to run the farm and they were just in the background. They did not train Grobecker on operating the effluent system and believed he already knew how to do it. The Kaikoura-based director said she wouldnt know how to run an irrigator. A travelling irrigator spreading effluent. Photo / file Mary Allen Farms lawyer, Derek McLachlan, said the two directors did not stand to benefit from cutting corners and had taken responsibility. They had since upgraded the effluent system and had worked with Grobecker to ensure he understood the upgrades. Policies were upgraded and record-keeping was improved. McLachlan said he accepted the discharge had increased the likelihood of adverse events occurring, but there had been no quantifiable evidence of any harm caused. The primary cause of the discharge was Grobeckers poor judgment, he said. Grobecker Farmings lawyer, Lana Burkhardt, acknowledged the cumulative impact of such discharges, but said the impact from this incident was minimal. Grobecker had been at the farm for four or five months and did not think the previous nights rain was enough to saturate the soil. He had been experiencing chronic stress and fatigue at the time and his judgment may have been clouded. His offending was careless, but to a lesser degree, she said. Judge Tepania said that, while the environmental effects had been minimal, they had clearly breached the resource consent. Mary Allen Farm was the owner and resource consent holder, so its directors had the responsibility to ensure the farm was compliant. It cannot take a hands-off approach to the extent it did. She said Grobeckers seeming unawareness of resource consent requirements was a concern. I find both defendants to have been moderately careless but for different reasons, as they had different responsibilities. Both defendants had been co-operative and had taken steps to remedy their offending, Tepania said. Each was convicted and fined $38,500. Ninety per cent of the fine would go to the regional council. So this is a fabulous time for a gold mining company, a fabulous time for investors in the gold mining industry, given that high gold price. The price of gold recently reached a record of US$3000, above OceanaGolds most bullish earnings estimate for its mine extension project. This is our number one, as a company, our number one growth project of scale for the medium to long term, OceanaGold CEO Gerard Bond told Markets with Madison in Waihi. The chief executive of a Canada-listed company that owns the Waihi gold and silver mine says it is prepared to invest $1 billion to extend it, despite high regulatory costs domestically and controversy over the conservation land it has applied to mine. His company had applied for mining consent under the Fast-track Approvals Bill and had already spent about $174m on the site, including exploratory drilling to indicate how much gold was under the earth. Its pre-feasibility study indicated 1.21 million ounces of gold likely existed in the ore body. Its a very attractive ore body, but the business of extracting it becomes less attractive the longer it takes to do so. However, its plans had caused discontent among environmental groups, such as Coromandel Watchdog, which protested in Waihi in January, stating the area was too precious to mine. The land was administered by the Department of Conservation. Anti-mining protestors in Waihi. Photo / Tom Eley However, Bond said the company had tremendous support in Waihi, where the majority of its employees lived. I think the attitude towards resource development in this country has changed. OceanaGolds $1b proposed investment would be spread over six years. Sales of gold produced from the existing Waihi mine and its other operations including Macraes in the South Island would contribute to the cost. OceanaGold had about $400 million cash on hand currently, Bond said. It was set to spend $70m this year. Early earthworks would begin on farmland the company privately owned, involving portals to three tunnels. One underground tunnel would be dug under the farmland heading back to the companys processing plant, near the town, and the other two would head into Coromandel Forest Park, deep enough to go under the river. Watch Gerard Bond discuss the prospect and how much his company expects to net from it, if it receives necessary permits, in todays episode of Markets with Madison above. Get investment insights from executives and experts on Markets with Madison every Monday and Friday here on the NZ Herald, on YouTube and wherever you get your podcasts. Sponsored by CMC Markets. Disclaimer: The information provided in this programme is of a general nature, and is not intended to be personalised financial advice. We encourage you to seek appropriate advice from a qualified professional to suit your individual circumstances. Madison Malone (nee Reidy) is host and executive producer of the NZ Heralds investment show Markets with Madison. She joined the Herald in 2022 after working in investment, and has covered business and economics for television and radio broadcasters. Patients will continue to face long wait times unless the government looks at changing the 15-minute consult, some GPs say. The government recently announced changes to the health system to tackle wait times - including an extra 100 placements for overseas-trained doctors to work in primary care. But some GPs told First Up a key part of the problem was the 15-minute appointment, which was not long enough to complete a consult and do all the administrative work involved. Data from Stats NZ shows one in four Kiwis do not visit the GP because it takes too long to get an appointment. Dr Karl Cole works as a GP at Papatoetoe Family Doctors in Auckland. On a typical day he sees up to 30 patients and had hundreds of messages in his inbox. After each 15-minute appointment, Cole is expected to fill in multiple forms. "There's all these hoops to jump through," he said. "Each form is done in different technology, done with different ways of authenticating. You basically need to do a degree in understanding which process [is] needed for which situation." These forms were not easy to access. He said demand has skyrocketed over the past few years . "There's been like a fivefold increase in inbox messages coming in. Six years ago I got 30,000 messages a year, and just on another order, it's 150,000 this year." Cole said most GPs would be doing several hours each day to catch up on the admin. When seeing a new patient, he said 15 minutes was not enough to study their history, discuss symptoms and fill in paperwork. "The 15 minutes can be a terrifying, 15 minutes when it's a new patient who might be 70, who's got 16 medications, who's got a new kind of symptom. You just can't do it." Dr Sam King also worked at Papatoetoe Health Hub. She also said sometimes patients needed longer appointments, especially where there were language barriers and multiple health issues. "For some patients, 15 [minutes] is not enough and you're talking about multi issues and difficult histories, people with poor health, literacy, people with English as a second language - all of those things mean it's very difficult." That - combined with the admin work - meant regular patients faced long waits for a routine visit. By the time people got to see their GP, they had a laundry list of symptoms. "Part of the issue is that because people can't get appointments when they want, when they come, they have a list. And it's that we really struggle with," Dr King said. "I think if you definitely, if you increase funding then we can stretch out the 15-minute appointments." In July, the government increased general practice capitation funding by 4 percent. That was despite warnings from the primary care sector that a double-digit increase was needed. From July this year, the government was adding a $285 million boost, delivered over three years. But that funding is performance-based. In a statement, Health Minister Simeon Brown said it gave GPs flexibility when it comes to the 15-minute consult. "This funding is in addition to the capitation funding increase that general practice receives annually to account for population changes. "One of the advantages of capitation is that it gives GPs flexibility about how they meet the needs of their patients - they are not tied to delivering 15-minute appointments. They also have flexibility in the workforce they use." The government was also adding 100 placements for overseas-trained doctors to work in primary care. Dr Brigit Holzinger trained and practised in Europe for 10 years before moving here in 2023. She now practised in Tauranga, and believed New Zealand needed to focus more on preventative care. "I think the biggest problem, at least the one that I can see from my perspective, is basically funding and I just feel like that's a little overlooked here in New Zealand and it's more acute care, but not really preventative care, which we should be focusing on a lot more." The government also announced a 24/7 telehealth service - which means patients needing urgent care can access video consults with GPs and Nurse nurse practitioners. But King said that could compound the problems they faced. "A lot of GPs are wanting to move to the telehealth services simply because it's easier, it's faster. You deal with the minor issues, which means that all the complex patients and usually their elderly end up in front of the GP and they are never the 15-minute consultation. "So you're compounding the problem by just pushing more doctors into the telehealth realm, and I think it's a little short-sighted." A study published by the Royal New Zealand College of General Practioners in March looked at primary healthcare funding data from 2009 to 2023. It highlighted the need for greater financial prioritisation of primary healthcare in New Zealand. The report recommended routine monitoring of primary healthcare funding as a proportion of the total health budget and establishing a minimum allocation. -RNZ Maria Alonso Malaga Monday, 31 March 2025, 16:53 Compartir Just fifteen kilometres from Malaga city, in Rincon de la Victoria on the eastern Costa del Sol, lies the Cueva del Tesoro, one of only three visitable underwater caves in the world and the only example of its kind in Europe. Declared a natural heritage site, it is a must-see for visitors to the area, as history, archaeology and legend come together in this place to offer an unforgettable experience. Located on a cliff, the sea water has sculpted this site since Jurassic times, creating a network of underground galleries. Its impressive formation is thanks to the effect of the sea on the rocks, which over the years has created cracks, columns, stalactites, stalagmites and spectacular gorges. Human remains, animals and pottery from the period known as the Neolithic Cave Age have been found inside. In addition, Palaeolithic and Bronze Age remains were found in its galleries, as well as samples of rock art. The visit Accessing the cave is a unique experience. The entrance is surrounded by Mediterranean vegetation, which gives way to a more sombre and mysterious atmosphere as you go deeper into the cave. As visitors enter, the stalactite and stalagmite formations are revealed in all their splendour. The immaculate white walls reflect the artificial light, creating a magical, almost dreamlike atmosphere. A tour of the cave is not only a visual treat, but also a journey back in time. During the visit, you can see the traces of ancient inhabitants who used the place as a shelter, and the specialised guides tell fascinating stories about the geological evolution of the space, as well as the historical and cultural importance of the cave. The visit begins with an exhibition of archaeological remains in La Sala de la Virgen, which is also home to the Swiss Well, created by Antonio de la Nari. We continue through the Marcus Crassus hall, so called because it is the location of his hiding place during his escape from the persecution by Marius and Cinna. Zoom Image of the cave. Diputacion de Malaga Continuing on, in the Sala del Aguila (eagle hall) sits a large rock in the shape of this bird of prey, and then continuing through the Labyrinthine Galleries, you arrive at the Sanctuary of Noctiluca, goddess of the moon, of the night, of fertility? Finally, through this wing, the visitor enters the 'volcano' gallery, where there is a hollow that ends in a chasm which probably reaches the sea. If you return to the Sala de la Virgen, you can go on to the beautiful Sala de los Lagos (Hall of the Lakes), which is particularly majestic. Full of legends Among the cave's treasures there are cave paintings, Neolithic pottery and arrowhead points, hatchets, polished knives, bracelets, harpoons and Phoenician and Arabic remains. It is said that in the year 86 BC, Marcus Crassus, fleeing from the persecution of Marius and Cinna, hid there for a few months. Plutarch already mentions the existence of this cave, and this is recorded in 1789 by Cecilio Garcia de la Lena in his work 'Conversaciones Historicas Malaguenas' (Historical conversations in Malaga). But long before it was known that the Cueva del Tesoro was unique in Europe and that there are only two others of its kind in the world, it had a strong mystical character for centuries. The inhabitants of the area attributed magical, strange, "paranormal phenomena" to its surroundings, with the existence, they say, of "numerous apparitions". Treasures In recent centuries, the legend of the impressive treasure hidden in the 12th century by Arabs who had fled from the uprisings in their homeland, has attracted the attention of locals and foreigners alike. This is where the legends differ, but only in terms of authorship: some say that it was five Moorish kings who arrived in Malaga laden with enormous riches, which they hid in the the cave; other versions say that it was the emperor of the Almoravids, Tasufin Ibn Ali who was the possessor of the treasure. Zoom View inside the cave. Ayuntamiento Rincon de la Victoria From the 17th century onwards, parties of discoverers started to visit the cave who altered the conditions in which it was found. However, these alterations were carried out on top of earlier ones, which further fuelled the belief that the purpose of these alterations was to conceal the great treasure. When a series of garnets appeared in the Cave in the 18th century, there was little doubt that the legends about the treasure were true. How to get there The Cueva del Tesoro is located just 15 kilometres from Malaga city, making it an accessible visit for both locals and international tourists. It can be easily reached by car or by public transport, with bus options connecting Rincon de la Victoria with Malaga city. Once in the municipality, the signposting to the cave is clear and facilitates access for visitors. Access information The Cueva del Tesoro is suitable for the whole family and most areas of the cave are accessible. Access for people with disabilities is only possible in the visibility of the Hall of the Virgin, by means of a lift. After that, mobility is very limited and includes flights of stairs. The audio tour is possible by downloading an app on your device. The use of headphones is recommended. There is no additional cost. Free visits are available from Monday to Friday and the cave and the opening times are: from 1 October to 30 April 10 am to 1pm and from 3pm to 5pm. From 1 May to 30 September from 10.30am to 1pm and from 4.30 pm to 7pm. The cave is closed on 24, 25 and 31 December, and on 1 and 6 January. Nuria Triguero Malaga Monday, 31 March 2025, 15:13 Compartir There are many long-established companies founded by families in the 'top 100' companies in Malaga province. Among them are Primor, Mayoral, Famadesa, Faccsa, Bonifacio Solis, Costasol de Hipermercados, Maskom and Montosa. Experience certainly counts in this ranking of the companies with the highest turnover in the province, although there is also some young blood bursting onto the scene and appearing on this list, companies like tech-co Freepik or the educational group Medac (recently renamed and rebranded as Davante). This ranking has been compiled for SUR - using data corresponding to the 2023 financial year - by Iberinform, a business information firm that draws on the commercial register (similar to the companies register in the UK), other public sources and 500,000 company interviews per year. The olive oil cooperative group Dcoop leads the ranking by a big margin. In addition to its nearly 1.41 billion-euro turnover under the Dcoop name, the second company with the highest turnover in Malaga is one of its subsidiaries, Mercaoleo, grossing almost 537 million euros. The agri-food sector is over-represented in the ranking in relation to its contribution to Malaga's GDP (gross domestic product): there are 20 companies dedicated to food production in the ranking. There is only one sector with more companies listed - commerce and trade - with 35 exponents including wholesale warehouses, specialised distributors, retail chains, car dealerships and service stations. The services sector has 19 companies in the ranking, which are dedicated to activities ranging from healthcare to training, tourism, gambling, events and fitness. Among the companies that move the most money are eight belonging to all branches of the construction industry. This, of course, includes construction companies, but also property developers and specialised engineering firms. As such, although the real estate sector has recovered from the crisis and is on an upward trend, its presence in the ranking of the largest companies in the province is nothing like it was during the era before the housing bubble burst in 2008. The manufacturing industry has seven representatives in the ranking, headed by Mayoral. Transport has four, including the companies operating the concessionary licences for Malaga Metro and the toll motorway, Autopista del Sol. Technology, taken in its broadest sense from software to electronics and including telecommunications and e-commerce, has five exponents in the ranking. In addition, there are two public companies, both dedicated to water treatment: Emasa and Acosol. Profitability ranking The ranking of profits is different from that of turnover as the companies that move the most money are not necessarily the most profitable. Curiously, the two companies that achieve the best results share the same profile: they are the companies holding the concessions for key parts of the province's transport infrastructure, namely Malaga Metro with a profit of 43.9 million euros (more than half of its turnover ends up as profit) and Autopista del Sol with 33.6 million euros. In third place in the profitability ranking is a veteran manufacturer from Malaga, Mayoral. This is followed by the technology company Freepik, and in fifth place is a company with a strong commitment to R&D, Airzone. Only ten companies out of the 100 included in the ranking recorded a negative result. The largest was that of GIA, Unicaja's real estate asset management company, with a loss of 231 million euros, which can be explained by the specific mission of this special purpose business. The Casasola reservoir, which is already at 100% of its capacity, as a result of the recent rains. Ignacio Lillo Malaga Monday, 31 March 2025 | Updated 02/04/2025 07:31h. Compartir After the summer-like weekend, which Malaga residents enjoyed after a succession of rainstorms, it is time to return to weather conditions that are more appropriate for the spring. While temperatures will remain mild, rain is expected to return today (2 April). However, no warnings for heavy rainfall have been issued at the moment. This Wednesday afternoon is expected to see the return of the rain, with inland provincial reservoirs more likely to accumulate water. Currently, the water reserve in all of Malaga province's reservoirs stands at 355.3 million cubic metres, 58% of the total capacity. It is therefore possible that, with the boost of new downpours, the reference value, which was set at 363.5 million cubic metres at the beginning of April 2021, could be exceeded. The possibility of reaching the 401 million cubic metres from April 2020 is not ruled out. According to Malaga's meteorological centre, rainfall will be weak to moderate this time. Another Atlantic storm might be active over some inland areas, especially in the western part of the province and at higher altitudes in the Axarquia. However, this storm will be potentially less strong than the ones witnessed in March. The two wettest days will be Thursday and Friday. "The storm will remain in the Atlantic, sending us fronts from there," said the meteorological centre's director. It is expected that even this lighter situation will have subsided by Saturday, leaving only some residual showers inland. 'At this time of the year, almost nothing can be predicted about the weather during the Easter holidays' In addition to rain, there will also be 'calima' (red dust clouds from the Sahara desert) on Tuesday and Wednesday. Although the concentration will be low, it may leave mud drips on cars and pavements, especially in the western third of the province. What about the weather during the Easter holidays? With still two weeks to go, Aemet's director in Malaga, Jesus Riesco, has said that it is still too early to make predictions about the weather during the Holy Week. "At this time of year, almost nothing can be predicted until Thursday of next week," he said, highlighting the risk of making a mistake by venturing an earlier guess. After setting a European temperature record of 28C on Saturday, temperatures are expected to be between 21C and 24C in Malaga city and along the coast, and around 20C inland. Apart from a subtle drop on Wednesday, no major changes are expected. Mada Martinez Santander Monday, 31 March 2025, 17:07 Compartir The juvenile prosecutor's office in Santander, in the Cantabria region of Spain, has opened proceedings against four high school students from the Torres Quevedo secondary school who allegedly assaulted a classmate with cerebral palsy. The boy's mother reported the case to the police after seeing the boy watch recordings of the aggression on his own phone. The case has caused a stir in governmental and educational bodies. The victim's mother spoke about the incident during her appearance on 'El Program de Ana Rosa'. She expressed the anger and upset she felt when she saw the videos, which show her son, who moves around with the help of a wheelchair, getting slapped and beaten by four boys. "I am not doing this with the intention of hurting anyone - not teachers, nor anyone personally - but I do think that we should give visibility to such incidents," she said. Both the prosecutor's office and the regional ministry of education have opened proceedings, with the former appointed in charge of the case. However, the mother has stated that all of the actions have not had the desired effect, as her son continues to go to the same classroom, with the students who were involved in the aggression. 'I will do everything in my power to resolve this matter as soon as possible.' Education steps Councillor of education Sergio Silva has said that the precautionary measures taken by the regional ministry and the school have led to the suspension of the aggressors for five days, which is "the maximum period allowed by law" - a period which has now ended. "I am going to do everything in my power to resolve this matter as soon as possible," said Silva. "We have to assess all the issues to attend to the victim, offering him all our support and protection," he added. The association Tolerancia 0 al Bullying, which is waiting to talk to the family to offer them psychological and legal support, described the case as "very serious" and highlighted that this is a common incidence in schools in Cantabria, where between 10% and 15% of "children co-exist with their aggressors". The opposition party in Cantabria, the left-wing PSOE, denounced the negligence and lack of proper action of the regional government "in the face of bullying of which it is aware". PSOE reproached the regional ministry of education for leaving the aggressors in the same classroom as the victim. In addition, the party considers that offering the victim to change classrooms or schools would be unacceptable, as the weight falls on the affected once again. Pilar Martinez Malaga Monday, 31 March 2025, 18:05 Compartir Online booking platform Kiwi.com has offered some useful tips for locating the cheapest flights. Many people love travelling and planning holidays, but what is even more certain is that everybody enjoys a good bargain. With that in mind, Kiwi.com, with 100 million daily searches, has listed some of the top tricks for saving money on travel. Firstly, the autumn season seems to be the best time to purchase long-haul flights, with a cost reduction of up to 23% compared to buying tickets in the summer. However, booking four to six days in advance during the summer can also get you cheap long-haul flights. "Between December 2023 and February 2024, the average price of tickets booked from Spain on Kiwi.com was 175 euros, compared to an average of 261 euros between June and August 2024, an increase of almost 50%," said Sergi Lopez Rey, director of commercial analytics at Kiwi.com. He also said that "good prices can be found beyond the winter months, depending on the type of journey chosen: for example, for long-haul flights, the cheapest time to travel from Spain was autumn, between September and November, with an average of 575 euros recorded in 2024, 23% less than in summer". When asked how far in advance one can get the cheapest flights, Lopez Rey said that it depends on the time of year and the type of route chosen. "For spring travel, the cheapest fares can be found two to four months in advance on all routes. The favourable fares in 2024 were also maintained on short and medium-haul routes, when booked more than four months in advance," he explained. The platform finds that booking four to six days in advance also provides cheap long-haul flights for the summer. Looking ahead to summer getaways, both forward-thinking passengers and those who prefer to improvise can benefit from long-haul travel. According to Kiwi.com's 2024 data, those who booked between 21 and 60 days and four to six days in advance got the cheapest fares. For short-haul flights, 21 to 60 days in advance is also recommended, while the cheapest medium-haul flights tend to be booked even further in advance, between 179 and 319 days before departure. Kiwi.com lists Italy, the UK, Germany, France, Poland and Portugal as some of the most popular destinations for people travelling from Spain. While the cheapest flights are available between December and February in general, flights to France and Morocco tend to be slightly cheaper between September and November. In contrast, Poland and Portugal are the destinations that are comparatively more expensive during the summer season. "The recommendation to book early is not a myth: almost without exception, the ideal booking window for the most competitive fares to all these destinations can be found between two and four months prior to the travel date. In some cases, such as Greece, Italy or Portugal, the window is shortened and cheap flights can be found between three weeks and two months before departure," said Lopez Rey. Commencement for the Class of 2023 for Bishop Grimes Jr./Sr. High School was Saturday, June 10, 2023. The event was held at the school, 6653 Kirkville Road, East Syracuse. Mike Basla, of Cazenovia, is a retired Air Force Lieutenant General and a member of Bishop Grimes first graduating class in 1970. Once again, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Syracuse leadership has made a poor decision by repeating mistakes of the past. The mistakes include a failure to collaborate with vested constituents, a complete lack of process transparency, and an apparent use of a faulty, almost nonexistent, decision matrix. These mistakes resulted in Bishop Douglas Lucias decision to close Bishop Grimes Junior-Senior High School and leave Bishop Ludden as the last Catholic junior-senior school in Onondaga County. I believe this decision was wrong and reached this conclusion after inquiring into the process developed and led by the Diocese Superintendent of Catholic Schools. While a few board representatives from each school were brought into the discussion of this matter, a whole host of other important stakeholders were excluded. These included parents, teachers, alumni and the Catholic community writ large. Probably not required, but maybe helpful, it would also have been useful to include the county executives office. This office could have contributed pertinent information like the projected population growth of affected areas. Bringing members of these communities into the discussion early offered the opportunity for greater insights into the pros and cons of alternatives. Such alternatives would have assisted the leadership to make a more informed decision. Hearing such voices is also aligned with the current direction of the Catholic Church under Pope Francis. In this age of Synodality, the pope emphasizes working together, sharing responsibilities and clerical/lay collaboration to discern the will of God and carry out the churchs mission. This new model replaces the old one of centralized decision-making, which can no longer sustain the church. The lack of transparency was painfully evident by the dioceses response to closure rumors. When the Bishop Grimes administration made a call to the Superintendents Office for confirmation, it was put off until the next day, when a hastily developed letter was released to the community. This Feb. 27 announcement took most by surprise, as evidenced by the calls and questions that inundated the Chancery from the media and community. Again, another failure in leadership as no communication plan was prepared in advance. I have yet to discover the decision matrix used to inform this process. However, I have learned some facts surrounding criteria that should have been considered, in my opinion. First and foremost, the Catholic Church has a responsibility to provide faith-based education for families in the diocese. The Diocese of Syracuse covers seven counties. By my calculations, in the fall of 2025 there will only be three Catholic junior-senior high schools across those counties to meet this critical mission area. Inevitably, the diocese will argue that the supply will meet the demand. If that is the case, we should see the master plan that led to this conclusion. Further, I have not witnessed much that the diocese has done heretofore to promote Catholic education and earnestly conduct a recruiting campaign. Another factor that such a decision matrix should have included is the feeder population of the schools in question. I have been told, while close in numbers, there are more students choosing a Catholic education from the northeast side of the county versus the west. This includes a substantial immigrant population served. When coupled with the projected growth areas of the county, the argument to keep Grimes open becomes even more compelling. A third factor that must have been included in this decision process was the current bankruptcy posture. While todays leader cannot be held accountable for the sins of his predecessors, we have every right to expect to understand how he deals with it. Closing another Catholic school would not be my first choice, and I would propose better means to address this issue. With regard to the financial posture, I learned there were multiple suggestions offered to help buy down some of the cost of keeping both schools open. Im also told they were not legitimately explored. Again, in the name of transparency, a full disclosure of those alternatives and the assessment of each is in order. The cost of maintenance of the school properties was highlighted as another consideration by the superintendent. She stated the Grimes physical plant needed a new roof and Ludden did not. However, she failed to disclose the dioceses earlier decision to pay for a Ludden roof pre-bankruptcy. The bottom line is that this regrettable decision has adversely affected the lives of students, families, staff and community. It has also further tarnished the credibility of a church that struggles mightily to regain the moral authority it once held. I stand ready to support the bishop and his staff as a practicing Catholic to help address some difficult leadership challenges. This week on Tech Tuesday, were exploring the best sentiment analysis tools for SMEs. These tools help businesses track customer opinions, brand perception, and market trends, providing valuable insights to shape strategies and drive success. From social media monitoring to predictive analytics, well look at how these platforms can empower your business with the data needed to stay competitive. Heres a detailed look at the best sentiment analysis tools for SMEs: MonkeyLearn MonkeyLearn is an intuitive, no-code platform designed for businesses that need to analyse customer feedback, reviews, and social media mentions quickly. It offers pre-built and customizable sentiment analysis models, making it easy to tailor insights to specific industries. The drag-and-drop interface allows seamless data import and visualization, and it integrates smoothly with platforms like Zapier, Google Sheets, and Zendesk. Ideal For: SMEs looking for an easy-to-use, no-code solution. Businesses that want to quickly analyze customer feedback and reviews. Companies that need to integrate sentiment analysis into existing workflows with minimal effort. Brandwatch Brandwatch is a powerful tool for businesses looking to track brand reputation and analyse conversations happening across social media and other online platforms. Its AI-driven sentiment analysis helps identify trends in customer opinions, while its comprehensive social media monitoring covers platforms like Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn. The platform also offers competitor benchmarking and customizable dashboards for real-time analytics. Ideal For: Businesses that prioritize social media monitoring and reputation management. Companies looking for deep insights into customer sentiment across multiple online channels. Organizations that want competitor benchmarking and trend tracking features. Lexalytics Lexalytics specializes in NLP-based sentiment analysis and offers both on-premise and cloud-based solutions. Its ideal for SMEs that require industry-specific sentiment models for sectors like finance, healthcare, and retail. The tool provides deep natural language processing to analyse complex text and emotions, supports multiple languages, and offers flexible deployment options for businesses concerned about data security. Ideal For: SMEs that need highly accurate, industry-specific sentiment analysis. Businesses that require on-premise or cloud-based deployment flexibility. Companies operating internationally and needing multi-language support. Hootsuite Insights Hootsuite Insights, powered by Brandwatch, focuses on social media sentiment tracking. It enables real-time monitoring of brand mentions and customer conversations, using AI-powered sentiment detection to classify them as positive, neutral, or negative. It also provides trend tracking to spot emerging issues before they escalate. Its seamless integration with Hootsuites scheduling tools makes social media management more efficient. Ideal For: SMEs focused on managing social media presence and brand reputation. Businesses that need to track real-time social media sentiment and trends. Companies that want an all-in-one platform for social media scheduling and monitoring. RapidMiner RapidMiner takes sentiment analysis a step further by incorporating predictive analytics. Its a data science platform that allows SMEs to analyse customer sentiment while forecasting future trends. With AI and machine learning models, it enables deeper insights into customer behavior. The text mining and NLP capabilities make it useful for analysing large datasets, and it comes with both open-source and enterprise versions for businesses with different needs. Ideal For: SMEs that want to go beyond basic sentiment analysis and incorporate predictive insights. Businesses dealing with large datasets that need AI-powered text mining. Companies looking for a combination of sentiment analysis and predictive analytics. Talkwalker Talkwalker is known for its real-time sentiment analysis and comprehensive social listening features. It tracks brand perception across social media, news, blogs, and forums while using AI to analyse sentiment shifts. The platform also includes visual analytics, detecting emotions in images and videos, and provides crisis detection alerts that notify businesses of sudden changes in sentiment. Customizable reports help SMEs track their performance and measure ROI. Ideal For: SMEs that require real-time monitoring of brand perception and sentiment shifts. Businesses needing visual sentiment analysis (including emotions in images and videos). Companies focused on crisis detection and rapid reputation management. Keep up to date with our stories on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. President Donald Trump spoke about his new auto-related tariffs in an interview on Saturday. Trump walks down the stairs of Air Force One upon his arrival at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, Sunday, March 30, 2025. (Luis M. Alvarez | AP Photo) Luis M. Alvarez | AP Photo President Donald Trump said in an interview Saturday that he couldnt care less if car companies raise prices because of the new auto-related tariffs he plans to implement. During the interview, with NBC News, Trump was asked if he told CEOs not to raise prices, as reported in the The Wall Street Journal. No, I never said that. I couldnt care less if they raise prices, because people are going to start buying American-made cars. he said, according to NBC. I couldnt care less. I hope they raise their prices, because if they do, people are gonna buy American-made cars. We have plenty. After the interview, an aide followed up with NBC News to say Trump was referring specifically to foreign car prices, NBC said. Trump announced tariffs of 25% on imported vehicles and parts on Wednesday, according to the Journal. They take effect April 2. Most automakers depend on parts and materials from other counties to make cars, including those assembled in the U.S., the Journal said. That means the tariffs are likely to have effects throughout the industry, including on companies that make cars in the United States. Trump and his allies have argued that the tariffs will force car companies to bring manufacturing back to the U.S. to avoid the levies. Analysts and experts have predicted Trumps tariffs will add thousands to the price of new cars, with some estimates as high as $20,000 per vehicle. Peter Navarro, a senior trade adviser to Mr. Trump, defended the tariffs and said they would raise about $100 billion, which would translate to tax credits for people who buy American cars, according to The New York Times. He told Americans not to worry about the effects of the tariffs. Instead, he said on Sunday, they should trust in Trump, the Times said. Trumps tariffs on a variety of goods have helped send U.S. consumer confidence about the future to a 12-year low, according to the Conference Board. Contact Kevin Tampone anytime: Email | Twitter | Facebook 315-282-8598 The property located at 2935 Lamson Road in the town of Lysander, West Phoenix, was recently sold for $125,000. County records list it as a diner, which was previously known as Henderson Dairy and more recently Harper's. Google Maps Share Limit orders are about control and precision. They enable traders to take control of their trading and only enter the market when specific conditions are met. Limit orders are especially popular among experienced traders who want to buy or sell at a specific price or better. While market orders execute immediately, limit orders wait for a specified price. For securing entry and exit prices and avoiding slippages, limit orders can provide real-world benefits. Lets define what a limit order is and explain its anatomy to see how exactly these orders work and whether you can use them in your trading. The anatomy of a limit order: How it really works? There are several different order types available, making it easier for traders to execute their strategies. There are market orders, stop orders, and limit orders. The market order allows immediate execution of trading positions, which is flexible but can be useless when you need to time your entries for a specific price or time. Stop orders are executed at a specific price. For example, stop loss (SL) and take profit (TP) orders are stop orders. Here is a guide to SL and TP orders, as we only focus on limit orders in this text. SL and TP orders are critical in financial trading as they enable traders to control their losses and targets. What is a limit order A limit order is a conditional trade instruction for your platform that executes only at a specific price or better. Unlike market orders, which are focused more on speed, limit orders are designed for precision. There are buy and sell limit orders. Buy Limit Order Buy limits are placed below the current market price, meaning price has to fall at your limit price for this order to be triggered. For example: If Tesla trades at 210 USD, a buy limit order at 200 dollars would wait for the price to drop to $200 before executing. Sell Limit Order A sell limit is placed above the current price and is executed when the price rises to your predetermined level. For example, if Tesla trades at 210 USD, a sell limit order at 220 would be triggered only if the price rises to that level. While limit orders allow traders to be precise, they are not guaranteed to be filled. If the price does not go to the level where the order is placed, the order wont be triggered. Technical execution: How do exchanges process limit orders? Exchanges employ sophisticated infrastructure to process all orders, including limit orders. When you click on sell or buy limit, several things start to happen in the background right away. The order is placed in the order book and waits for the right price to get filled (executed). Lets follow each of these steps. Order book dynamics Order book priorities time and price orders queued first by price will get filled first. For example, a buy limit at 200 will be executed before 199 (bid). At identical prices, earlier submissions execute first. This ensures transparency, speed, and honesty. Limit orders can also be filled partially (partial fills). If a trader places a buy limit for 100 shares at 50 bucks, but only 50 are available, the order partially fills, leaving 50 shares pending. This almost never happens in Forex markets where the liquidity is very deep, but it is worth keeping in mind for stock traders. Matching engines Algorithms have transformed modern trading, enabling a quick scan of the order book to pair compatible bids and asks. HFT (High-frequency trading) firms can exploit nanosecond-level latencies to jump the queue and secure priority by updating prices faster than retail traders. However, if a trader is trading 5-minute charts and beyond, this is never an issue. Institutional traders often use various methods to ensure their orders execute before others, like colocating their servers near exchange centers to reduce latency. This can cause retail orders to face some delays, but again, this is not an issue for retail traders who are trading on FX markets, and slippage is relatively low. Limit order types There are several limit order types such as GTC, IOC, FOK, and Post-Only. The GTC or Good-Til-Canceled order remains active indefinitely, which is ideal for long-term strategies. The FOK or Fill-or-Kill limit order requires full execution or total cancellation, which is typically used in large-block trades. The Post-Only limit order ensures the order adds liquidity (avoids take fees), which is super useful for algorithmic trading strategies. Benefits of using limit orders As we have mentioned, limit orders are perfect for precision. When using limit orders, price is under our control, meaning we eliminate slippage in stable or sideways markets. This ensures near perfect entries. Because of precision, limit orders also enable traders to make profits from small price gaps and algorithmic trading. As a result, limit orders can be useful for scalpers and automated trading system users. Like this: Like Loading... Related Posts In context: As sickening as it is to admit, data breaches have become a fact of life. We cannot go more than a month without one company or another announcing that a hacker or poor security hygiene left its clients exposed. As annoying as that is, it's even more irritating when the company tries to hide the intrusion. Earlier this month, a threat actor going by Rose87168 claimed to have breached Oracle Cloud's federated SSO servers and exfiltrated around 6 million records, affecting over 144,000 Oracle clients. The hacker provided an internal customer list and threatened to sell the data unless clients paid to remove their data from the trove, which included single sign-on credentials, Lightweight Directory Access Protocol passwords, OAuth2 keys, tenant data, and more. Rose87168 has also solicited help from the hacking community to crack the hashed passwords in trade for some of the data. A day after the threat actor posted a small sample of the data, Oracle told Bleeping Computer there was no breach of its cloud service. Upon Oracle's denial, Rose87168 began leaking "proof" to the media and security researchers. Security group Hudson Rock and experts at CloudSEK concluded that the data and credentials are legitimate. CloudSEK said that the hacker appears to have used a zero-day vulnerability (CVE-2021-35587) in an access manager software related to Oracle Fusion Middleware to breach Oracle Cloud systems without authentication. "Pretty crazy Oracle just denied this leak, which has been verified independently by many cybersecurity firms," Hudson Rock CTO Alon Gal posted on LinkedIn on Monday. Trustwave SpiderLabs also reviewed the evidence and concluded that the data was definitely from Oracle Cloud servers. "The dataset described by the provided headers represents a highly detailed and sensitive user directory, likely extracted from a corporate Identity and Access Management system or HR-integrated directory such as Microsoft Active Directory, Oracle Identity Manager, or a similar platform," Trustwave's security advisory read. The security firm also confirmed that the cache included personally identifiable information such as first and last names, full display names, email addresses, job titles, department numbers, telephone numbers, mobile numbers, and even home contact details. The hacker also uploaded a recording of an internal Oracle meeting. "Such data in a leaked format poses severe cybersecurity and operational risks to the affected organization," Trustwave added. Furthermore, cybersecurity specialist Kevin Beaumont noted that Oracle "rebadged" legacy Oracle Cloud services as "Oracle Classic." He claims that the company's careful wording in its response is a technically factual but disingenuous denial. The company appears to be attempting to situate the incident as insignificant or that it didn't leak current Oracle Cloud records. For reference, here is Oracle's statement to Bleeping Computer: "There has been no breach of Oracle Cloud. The published credentials are not for the Oracle Cloud. No Oracle Cloud customers experienced a breach or lost any data." Beaumont found the repetitious use of "Oracle Cloud" suspicious as if it might be setting up Oracle Classic to take the fall. However, regardless of the age of the breached servers, CloudSEK confirmed through some of its clients that the data was accurate and current. This conclusion debunks any notion that the breach was insignificant or contained outdated information. Despite multiple researchers reporting that the data breach is seriously concerning, Oracle has remained silent since it denied the attack. Beaumont says the company's silence is irresponsible. Likewise, Gal called Oracle's lack of transparency and guidance "crazy." Lacking any advice from the company, Gal directed affected customers to CloudSEK's mitigation recommendations to minimize any potential damage from the leak. Chinese hot pot restaurant chain Haidilao, known for its premium service and entertainment, posted a revenue of $87.8 million from Vietnam last year, up 12.6% from 2023. Vietnam accounted for 10% of Haidilaos global revenue (excluding China), according to a disclosure of Haidilao foreign markets operator Super Hi International to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. A Haidilao hotpot restaurant in Hanoi. Photo courtesy of Haidilao The chain has seen growing revenue in Vietnam for three consecutive years since it began disclosing data for the market in 2022. Singapore was the largest international market of Haidilao last year with a revenue of $158.9 million, followed by the U.S. ($103.5 million) and Malaysia ($81.2 million). The chain posted $778 million from all international markets, representing a growth of 13.4% from 2023. Haidilao launched its first restaurant in Vietnam in 2019 in Ho Chi Minh City. It has since brought the total number of outlets in the country to 17, including 10 in HCMC, 6 in Hanoi, and one in the central beach town of Nha Trang. Founded in 1994 by Zhang Yong and partners, Haidilao originated as a single restaurant in a small town in China's Sichuan province. It has grown into one of the most globally recognized Chinese restaurant brands. By the end of last year, Haidilao operated 122 restaurants outside of mainland China, having added 7 new international locations during the year. The chain served 29.9 million customers internationally in 2024, marking an increase of almost 11% increase from 2023. This translated to an average revenue per customer of $25, slightly up by $0.2 from the previous year. Despite improvements in revenue and customer traffic, the international division's profit saw a decline of roughly 15%, settling at $21.4 million for 2024. Super Hi International has attributed the decline to unfavorable foreign exchange rate fluctuations. Some people believe that using private messaging apps such as Signal and WhatsApp ensures total security. The truth is otherwise. Although these apps provide end-to-end encryption, their security can be breached by user mistakes, device weaknesses, and incorrect settings. A recent alert from the NSA explains how millions of iPhone and Android users unwittingly leave themselves vulnerable to cyberattacks. NSA's Warning: User Vulnerability, Not App Flaws The NSA's latest alert, prompted by Google's Threat Intelligence Group, highlighted that Russia's GRU had influenced Ukrainian officials to provide access to their Signal accounts. This was not a result of Signal or other messaging apps' vulnerability, but resulted from users' behavior. The NSA's warning was stern. Users should alter their messaging settings to prevent such an occurrence. When Convenience Meets Danger Two features that make secure messaging apps more convenient can also become their worst enemy, according to Forbes. The first one is the Linked Devices. This option synchronizes your messages from more than one device. It's indeed convenient, but it leaves a completely replicated version of your account on another device if exploited. Take some time to review and unlink any unknown devices in your app's settings to avoid unauthorized use. Another one is the Group invite links, which are convenient for adding new members, but can share sensitive conversations with the wrong users. Signal provides disabling group links under group settings. On WhatsApp, you cannot disable links, but you can limit group invites to admin-only to keep control. Recent Signal Issue Connected to the Trump Administration Previously, Tech Times reported that the Pentagon issued a warning about the Signal app. While Russian hackers were accused of the incident, it's alarming to know the Trump administration's plans for its "classified military activities" in Yemen. A writer from The Atlantic received the leaked chat about their next target, weapons, and some information about military attacks. If the government cannot properly manage its national security secrets, it's more dangerous for the users. as an admin, are you letting group members add other people to the chat? WhatsApp (@WhatsApp) March 19, 2025 "But again, that doesn't change the user/device vulnerability, which will always leave secure messaging at risk. "The biggest risk of eavesdropping on a Signal conversation comes from the individual phones that the app is running on," Foreign Policy said. "While it's largely unclear whether the U.S. officials involved had downloaded the app onto personal or government-issued phones... smartphones are consumer devices, not at all suitable for classified U.S. government conversations," the website added. To help prevent these risks, do the following best practices: Hurricane season is never predictable, particularly for residents of the Gulf Coast and southeastern Atlantic Coast. Preparedness is the key, and Google Maps is now a strong ally to aid in times of crisis. With new features, this navigation tool facilitates the easy identification of emergency shelters, store inventory checking, and the availability of basic commodities such as ice. Here's how to check for available ice stores during the hurricane season. How to Use Google Maps to Locate Shops That Sell Ice Google Maps' "Products Nearby" feature makes it possible for users to search for products, like ice, and locate shops that carry them. You can use the app or the web version. With this feature, you are guaranteed to have easy access to what you need without having to waste time. Locating Ice with the Google Maps App If you're using the app, here's what you need to do: Keep your app updated for the best results. Enter "buy ice near me" or "buy ice" in the search bar to have proper results. Scroll down the list and search for stores that are marked as "Ice supplier" to find the most precise matches. Press the store to see details, such as store hours and phone number. After selecting a store, press "Directions" to drive or "Save" to save the location for later. Locating Ice with Google Maps on the Web For web users, Android Police recommends the following steps: Go to maps.google.com or click "Maps" in the Google Apps menu. Type "buy ice near me" or "buy ice" if you're looking in a different area. Select a store from the list. You'll have three options: Get a route to the store. Bookmark the store for later. Share the location with your mobile device for on-the-go navigation. Check Google's Crisis Sheet Before Venturing Out If you're taking a last-minute journey to procure ice or other essentials, it's important to remain vigilant about any crisis-related information. Google Maps has a Crisis Sheet that gives real-time alerts regarding current emergencies in certain locations. How to Check for Crisis Alerts The organizers of the Miss Grand Thailand have drawn backlash for going ahead with its grand final just one day after tremors from an earthquake in Myanmar were felt across Bangkok. Miss Grand Thailand 2025 Sarunrat Puagpipat. Photo from Puagpipat's Instagram "I am surprised these public events are allowed to go on as a tragedy just occurred. Search and rescue is still going on though, guess these kinds of things are more important," one user wrote in the comment section of Thai newspaper The Nations official Facebook page. "Really bad taste." The final night of the 2025 Miss Grand Thailand pageant, held Saturday evening in Bangkok, featured more than 70 contestants from provinces across the country. Sarunrat Puagpipat, representing Phuket, was crowned the winner and will go on to represent Thailand at Miss Grand International 2025. The event took place after Bangkok experienced tremors from a 7.7-magnitude earthquake that struck central Myanmar on Friday, according to the United States Geological Survey. The tremors were in Thailand, Vietnam, and parts of China. CNN reported that a building under construction at Bangkoks Chatuchak Park collapsed during the quake. In the aftermath, Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra convened an emergency meeting. "I cant understand Nawat and Miss Grand Thailands decision to hold such a loud, festive event when Bangkok just experienced a disaster," another social media user wrote, referring to Miss Grand International president Nawat Itsaragrisil, a 53-year-old TV host and producer. Founded by Itsaragrisil in 2013, Miss Grand International promotes humanitarian causes, with winners taking part in charity and advocacy work throughout their reigns. Contestants are selected through national pageants, internal casting, or direct appointments by license holders in participating countries. Rescue hopes fading three days after deadly Myanmar quake Mandalay, Myanmar, March 31 (AFP) Mar 31, 2025 Hopes were fading Monday of finding more survivors in the rubble of Mandalay, where some residents spent a third night sleeping in the open after a massive earthquake killed at least 1,700 people in Myanmar and neighbouring Thailand. Rescue efforts were less active in the central Myanmar city of more than 1.7 million people early Monday, but conditions are difficult -- with temperatures expected to reach around 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit). The sticky heat has exhausted rescue workers and accelerated body decomposition, which could complicate identification. A desperate scene unfolded at a collapsed apartment block in Myanmar's second biggest city on Sunday evening, when rescuers thought they had saved the life of a pregnant woman trapped under the rubble for more than 55 hours. They amputated her leg to free her, but after pulling her out she was pronounced dead. "We tried everything to save her," said one of the medical responders, but she had lost too much blood from the amputation. Muslim worshipers, meanwhile, gathered near a destroyed mosque in the city on Monday morning for the first prayer of Eid al-Fitr, the holiday that follows the Islamic fasting month of Ramadan. Funerals for hundreds of victims are also expected to take place on Monday. The initial 7.7-magnitude quake struck near Mandalay early Friday afternoon, followed minutes later by a 6.7-magnitude aftershock. The tremors collapsed buildings, downed bridges and buckled roads, with some of the worst destruction seen in central Myanmar. - Aftershocks cause panic - Aftershocks continued to be felt in Mandalay over the weekend, spurring residents to flee into the streets in multiple instances of brief panic. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies launched an emergency appeal Sunday for more than $100 million to help victims. The world's largest humanitarian network said needs were growing by the hour as rising temperatures and the approaching monsoon season increase the risk of "secondary crises". The challenges facing the Southeast Asian country of over 50 million people were immense even before the earthquake. Myanmar has been ravaged by four years of civil war sparked by a military coup in 2021. Reports have emerged of sporadic fighting even after the quake, with one rebel group telling AFP on Sunday that seven of its fighters were killed in an aerial attack soon after the tremors hit. Before Friday's quake, some 3.5 million people were displaced by the raging civil war, many at risk of hunger. - Bangkok building collapse - In the Thai capital of Bangkok -- about 1,000 kilometres away from Mandalay -- rain fell on Monday morning at the site of a collapsed building that had been under construction at the time of Friday's quake. At least 18 people have been killed in Bangkok, city authorities said Sunday, with 33 injured and 78 still missing. Most of the deaths were workers killed in the tower collapse, while most of the missing are believed to be trapped under the immense pile of debris where the skyscraper once stood. Rescue workers raced over the weekend to find survivors, using large mechanical diggers to uncover rubble while distressed family members waited nearby. Sniffer dogs and thermal imaging drones have been deployed to seek signs of life in the collapsed building, which is close to the Chatuchak weekend market popular among tourists. burs-pfc/fox/jfx Rescue hopes fading three days after deadly Myanmar quake Mandalay, Myanmar, March 31 (AFP) Mar 31, 2025 Hopes faded Monday of finding more survivors in the rubble of Mandalay, where some residents spent a third night sleeping in the open after a massive earthquake killed more than 1,700 people in Myanmar and neighbouring Thailand. The tempo and urgency of rescue efforts was winding down in the central Myanmar city of more than 1.7 million people, one of the worst affected by Friday's devastating 7.7-magnitude quake. Overnight, people camped out in the streets across Mandalay, either unable to return to ruined homes or nervous about the repeated aftershocks that have rattled the city over the weekend. Some had tents but many, including young children, simply bedded down on blankets in the middle of the roads, trying to keep as far from buildings as possible for fear of falling masonry. More than 1,700 people are confirmed dead across Myanmar, according to the ruling junta, which has declared a week of mourning. Thousands more were injured and over 300 remain missing. At least 18 deaths have been confirmed hundreds of kilometres (miles) away in Bangkok, where the force of the quake caused a 30-storey tower block under construction to collapse. But with communications down in much of Myanmar, the true scale of the disaster has yet to emerge and the death toll is expected to rise significantly. - Outdoor hospital - Mandalay's 1,000-bed general hospital has been evacuated, with hundreds of patients being treated outside. With temperatures forecast to hit 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit) on Monday, patients lay on gurneys in the hospital car park, many with only a thin tarpaulin rigged up to shield them from the fierce tropical sun. Relatives did their best to comfort them, holding hands or wafting them with bamboo fans. "This is a very very imperfect condition for everyone," said one medic who asked to remain anonymous. "We're trying to do what we can here. We are trying our best." The sticky heat has exhausted rescue workers and accelerated body decomposition, which could complicate identification. But traffic began returning to the streets of Mandalay on Monday, and restaurants and street vendors resumed work. Hundreds of Muslims, meanwhile, gathered outside a destroyed mosque in the city for the first prayer of Eid al-Fitr, the holiday that follows the Islamic fasting month of Ramadan. The main quake and a 6.7-magnitude aftershock that followed soon afterwards have downed bridges and buckled roads, making access to some affected areas difficult. Aftershocks rattled Mandalay over the weekend, spurring residents to flee into the streets in multiple instances of brief panic. - Humanitarian crisis - The challenges facing the Southeast Asian country of over 50 million people were immense even before the earthquake. Myanmar has been ravaged by four years of civil war sparked by a military coup in 2021, with its economy shattered and healthcare and infrastructure badly damaged. The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the quake a top-level emergency as it urgently sought $8 million to save lives and prevent disease outbreaks over the next 30 days. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies launched an emergency appeal Sunday for more than $100 million to help victims. International aid and rescue teams have been arriving after junta chief Min Aung Hlaing made an exceptionally rare appeal for foreign assistance. In the past, isolated Myanmar's ruling generals have shunned foreign assistance, even after major natural disasters. Junta spokesman Zaw Min Tun thanked key allies China and Russia for their help, as well as India, and said the authorities were doing their best. "We are trying and giving treatment to injured people and searching for missing ones," he said in a statement to journalists. But reports have emerged of the military carrying out air strikes on armed groups opposed to its rule, even as the country grapples with the quake aftermath. One ethnic minority armed group told AFP on Sunday that seven of its fighters were killed in an aerial attack soon after the tremors hit, and there were reports of more air strikes on Monday. Myanmar's raging civil war, pitting the military against a complex array of anti-coup fighters and ethnic minority armed groups in the civil war, has displaced some 3.5 million people with many at risk of hunger. - Bangkok building collapse - In Bangkok rain fell on Monday morning at the site of the collapsed building, where diggers continue to clear the vast pile of rubble. Officials say they have not given up hope of finding more survivors in the wreckage, where 11 deaths have been confirmed and at least 76 people are still unaccounted for. burs-pdw/jfx 'Devastated': Relatives await news from Bangkok building collapse Bangkok, March 31 (AFP) Mar 31, 2025 Three days after a Bangkok skyscraper collapsed in the wake of a devastating earthquake in neighbouring Myanmar, Naruemol Thonglek is still praying that her boyfriend will emerge from the immense pile of rubble where the building once stood. The sudden crumbling of the 30-storey tower, which was under construction at the time of Friday's 7.7-magnitude quake, has killed at least 11 people and rescue workers are racing to find 76 others still trapped among the debris. Electrician Kyi Than, the boyfriend of Naruemol, is among those missing under the enormous mound of concrete and twisted metal being lifted by mechanical diggers as part of the desperate search. "I'm devastated... I've never seen anything like this in my entire life," 45-year-old Naruemol told AFP from a small shelter near the site, where a group of around 50 relatives await news. "I still pray that he is alive but if he is no longer alive then I hope that we can retrieve his body," she said. Among the missing are Thais, Laotians, Cambodians and Myanmar nationals. Many relatives are choosing to sleep in the shelter, on camp beds or directly on the stone floor, and are reluctant to leave in case news emerges. - 'We wait, we wait' - Rain fell Monday at the site, where sniffer dogs and thermal imaging drones have been deployed to seek signs of life in the collapsed building, which is close to the Chatuchak weekend market popular among tourists. Around lunchtime, Tavida Kamolvej, the deputy governor of Bangkok, raised hopes over a noise or movement in the rubble that could be a survivor, but cautioned that the situation was still extremely unclear and they needed "a quiet moment" to work out its origin. Thailand Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra was ushered away from the site, which she had been visiting, as experts rushed to help. At least 18 people have been killed in Bangkok following the quake that struck near Mandalay early Friday afternoon, causing severe damage in central Myanmar in particular and killing more than 1,700 people across the country. In the Thai capital, 33 people have been injured and 78 are still missing, most of them under the rubble of the building site. Naruemol said Kyi Than, a Myanmar national, was among a group of electricians -- including his son -- working on the 26th floor. She told AFP she had lit incense and candles, prayed and wished, begging her boyfriend to return alive. "If you can hear my voice, if you're still alive, please shout and let the officials know," she said, calling out to Kyi Than. Elsewhere in the shelter, Daodee Paruay said she had been at the site for two days, hoping for a miracle. Her brother, also an electrician, is under the rubble. "We wait. We wait. We will wait until (they are) found," she said. Tears in Taiwan for relatives hit by Myanmar quake New Taipei City, Taiwan, March 31 (AFP) Mar 31, 2025 As images of destroyed buildings in earthquake-hit Myanmar flashed across her television screen in Taiwan, Yang Bi-ying could only weep for her family there. Yang, 76, has lived in Taiwan for more than half her life and has a daughter-in-law in the central Myanmar city of Mandalay, which was devastated by Friday's massive earthquake. At least 1,700 people have been killed in Myanmar and neighbouring Thailand, and hopes of finding more survivors are fading fast. Yang said her daughter-in-law was safe and other relatives in Yangon were unaffected by the 7.7-magnitude earthquake and its aftershocks. "I could only cry. There was nothing else, just tears," the grandmother told AFP at an eatery in a Sino-Burmese neighbourhood near the capital Taipei. "Every family has been worried, especially for those buried under the rubble. What could be done? Nothing. It's all in the hands of fate." Three days after the quake struck, many in Taiwan's Sino-Burmese community still feared for their loved ones. "Several buildings near my family's home collapsed, many people died," said eatery owner Yeh Mei-chin, 48, showing AFP a video of the damage on her smartphone. It took hours before Yeh was able to reach her mother and sisters in Mandalay on Friday. They were safe, but too scared to go home. "I asked them where they would sleep that night and they said they were still looking for a place but hadn't found one yet," Yeh said. People in Taiwan have been using social media platforms, including Line and WeChat, to contact family in Myanmar and monitor the situation. But internet connection has been intermittent. "On a lucky day, we may be able to get through a few times," Lee Pei, 66, chairman of the Myanmar Overseas Chinese Association, told AFP. "Usually, we can only leave messages as voice calls rarely go through. If we do manage to connect, the signal deteriorates after a few words." - Waiting for friends online - The Myanmar community in Taiwan dates back to the end of the Chinese civil war in 1949. Many members of Chiang Kai-shek's defeated Kuomintang nationalist forces fled across the border to Myanmar and later went to Taiwan. Over the decades, students and people fleeing anti-Chinese sentiment as well as economic and political turmoil in Myanmar have followed. Pei estimated Taiwan's Sino-Burmese population at 160,000 and said 10 percent were originally from Mandalay. University student Aung Kyaw Zaw has been following developments on Facebook where he has seen reports that in Sagaing city, near the quake's epicentre, there was a "stench... like the smell of decaying bodies". The 24-year-old said he had exchanged messages with some friends in quake-hit areas, but "some of them still haven't come online". There were also concerns that donations sent to Myanmar would not reach the people who need it. "The junta only cares about fighting wars or other things, but they don't really do much to help the people," said university student Yi Chint, 24. "I think very little of it would actually go to the people." No technical obstacles to new giant particle collider in Europe: CERN Geneva, March 31 (AFP) Mar 31, 2025 Europe's CERN laboratory said on Monday that a detailed analysis revealed no technical obstacles to building the world's biggest particle collider, even as critics took issue with the "pharaonic" $17-billion project. The Future Circular Collider (FCC) project is essential for ensuring that Europe maintains its global leadership in fundamental physics, CERN chief Fabiola Gianotti told AFP. "There is real competition" from China in particular, she cautioned, hailing that the giant FCC "project is absolutely on the good track" and urging states to release the funding needed to move forward. After analysing around 100 different scenarios, CERN on Monday published the results of a years-long feasibility study for its preferred option: a nearly 91-kilometre (56-mile) circular tunnel straddling the French-Swiss border. With an average depth of 200 metres (660 feet), the tunnel would accommodate a particle accelerator that would be more than three times the length of CERN's existing Large Hadron Collider, currently the largest of its kind. The LHC -- a 27-kilometre proton-smashing ring running about 100 metres below ground -- has among other things been used to prove the existence of the Higgs boson. Dubbed the God particle, the Nobel Prize-winning discovery broadened science's understanding of how particles acquire mass. - 'Rich in possibilities' - With LHC expected to have fully run its course by 2041, CERN has been analysing options to allow scientists to keep pushing the envelope. Gianotti hailed the success of the feasibility study, stressing that "we have found no technical showstopper so far". Others were similarly enthusiastic about the FCC. "To make major progress in its quest to understand the origin of the universe and the role the Higgs boson plays... the global scientific community needs a machine as powerful and rich in possibilities as the FCC," Catherine Biscarat of the L2IT lab at Toulouse University told AFP. But not everyone is thrilled with the idea of the giant project, which has been estimated to cost 15 billion Swiss francs ($16.9 billion). CERN's member states -- 23 European countries and Israel -- need to decide by 2028 whether to release the funds needed. But Germany, CERN's largest contributor, last year voiced reservations about the towering sums required. CERN spokesman Arnaud Marsollier tried to allay those concerns, insisting that up to 80 percent of the FCC's cost "could be covered by the organisation's budget". - 'Like David and Goliath' - Some locals are meanwhile up in arms about the project and the impact it could have on their lives and livelihoods. Thierry Perrillat, a dairy farmer in Roche-sure-Foron in France, maintained that the planned collider would swallow "five hectares of our farm". "It's like David and Goliath," he said bitterly. The project has also sparked disagreement among scientists. "The financial, ecological, and operating costs are astronomical," physicist Olivier Cepas of the Neel Institute at the University of Grenoble told AFP. "It would be better to fund smaller scientific projects," he insisted. FCC project engineer Jean-Paul Burnet meanwhile insisted that the FCC plans had been "improved to reduce its environmental impact", by for instance lowering the number of wells and surface sites. But environmental groups in the region were not convinced. In a report, the environmental association Noe21 slammed the "excessive" FCC project, pointing to its "astronomical electricity consumption", its climate impact, its cost and scale. - 'Stunned' - Franco-Swiss collective CO-CERNes, which includes the WWF and Greenpeace, has been organising information sessions in nearby communities. At a recent such session in Marcellaz, located near one of the eight planned FCC surface sites, organiser Thierry Lemmel told AFP the group was providing information about this "pharaonic project". "Progress is necessary," he said. But, he asked, given the state of the planet today, "should we really be mobilising so many resources, so much wealth ... for this project, with uncertain results?". Among the around 100 people who attended the Marcellaz meeting was Kevin Mugnier, who had only just heard of the FCC project. "I was a bit stunned," he said, worried his land might be requisitioned. In Ferney-Voltaire, at one of the seven surface sites planned on the French side, mayor Daniel Raphoz said he favoured the "win-win" project, which he maintained would have positive effects on employment and energy. "CERN's overflow energy will be used to heat the town," he said. If the FCC is not built here, progress would move elsewhere, he warned. "It will be happening in China, (marking) European decline." apo-burs/nl/sbk Sign up to our free Living Well email for advice on living a happier, healthier and longer life Live your life healthier and happier with our free weekly Living Well newsletter Live your life healthier and happier with our free weekly Living Well newsletter Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Mum, I need eyelash serum, said my daughter over breakfast. I was shocked. You dont need eyelash serum, I told her. You are six years old. It was the straw that broke the camels back. I didnt bat an eyelid when she asked if we could buy her friend, also six, a Charlotte Tilbury Hypnotising Pop Shot for Christmas I assumed it was more about the sparkly gold case the product was in. Nor did I mind when she wanted a Disney princess eyeshadow palette, or a cute rabbit-shaped Inuwet vegan lip balm, which are scented and free from parabens but look just like lipstick. Weve had cheap and cheerful kids makeup sets from Amazon. Ive even purchased the pricey French brand Nailmatics nail polish that washes away with warm, soapy water and is safe for children to use as well as other non-toxic makeup from Miss Nella. But a product to make her eyelashes appear longer, thicker and healthier? Its too much. Now Liberty wants to host her birthday next month at Claires the holy grail for young, fashion-minded children for a makeover and catwalk party before the store opens to the public on a Sunday morning. Im tempted to give in. After all, makeup has always been a normal part of pretend play for children. But something is different about Gen Alpha (meaning those born after 2010). Theyre known as Sephora kids a term used to describe the current trend of young children, tweens and teens absolutely obsessed with skincare. Beauty-themed birthdays have become a staple on the Gen Alpha party circuit, and Im boycotting them. Ive had enough of spa parties and makeover sleepovers. Sephora, Glossier and other beauty retailers in the US are reportedly hosting birthday parties for kids albeit informally. Mums have claimed that children can take spins in the makeup chair, watch makeup tutorials in-store and go away with goody bags stuffed with brand samples. Social media is driving the Sephora kids epidemic, as beauty brands and pre-teen influencers fight for the attention of Gen Alpha children as young as seven are now sharing their skincare routines on TikTok, Instagram and YouTube. According to dermatologists, pre-teens are demanding their parents buy them 50 moisturisers as they adopt adult skincare regimens. Children as young as 10 have been found to be using anti-ageing products, too, containing ingredients such as retinol, exfoliating acids, toners and serums designed to minimise the effects of ageing. It has sparked heated debate. Some claim its harmless fun, while others, including dermatologists, are up in arms, arguing that young skin is too new and delicate for aggressive adult skincare products that could damage it and make it extra vulnerable to the sun. There is also huge concern over the potential impact on childrens mental health in their quest for flawless faces and contoured features. Interestingly, a new bill has just been proposed in California that would ban the sale of skincare products containing retinoids or alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs). Even if it got passed, Im sure kids would find a way to buy these things online or rely on busy parents to provide them. open image in gallery Social media is driving the Sephora kids epidemic, as young kids, tweens, and teens adopt complex skincare regimes ( Getty/The Independent ) We have entered an era where girlhood is being sold back to us in aesthetic skincare bottles and excessive self-care regimes, says Ellen Atlanta, the author of 2024s Pixel Flesh: How Toxic Beauty Harms Women. It is no longer enough for children to be children; they must now be beautiful and photogenic too. The beauty industry engineered by billion-dollar conglomerates has extended its reach into the most tender years of life, convincing six-year-olds they need skincare treatments, that glowing up is an obligation, and that beauty is not just an asset, but a necessity. It is not harmless fun, thats for sure. This is an industry that thrives on eroding self-esteem young, ensuring a lifelong dependency on its products. Atlanta believes that all of this is contributing to the death of teenage girlhood, as the bridge between childhood and adulthood gets shorter and shorter. Instead of pushing boundaries, taking risks, learning who we are and what we like, what were capable of and what we demand, were learning how much acid will burn our skin and how many millilitres of poison we can safely inject into our heads, she says. If the first lesson of girlhood is that beauty is power, then what does it mean when a generation of children is raised believing their bare face is a flaw to be corrected? We are not just losing innocence; we are losing the right to exist beyond the cosmetic gaze. Dr Denish Shah, founder of Georgia State Universitys Social Media Intelligence Lab in the US, says Gen Alpha have emerged as a very attractive target segment for companies selling beauty products, with social media platforms being the most obvious go-to channel for influencing their purchase behaviour. open image in gallery The trend towards young children using multiple skincare products is worrying, particularly when they contain ingredients designed for older or ageing skin ( TikTok ) The majority of teens and tweens of today have owned smartphones since age 10 and spend multiple hours browsing content (primarily videos) on social media platforms, he says. The insecurities contribute to tweens and teens seeking beauty remedies in social media content, and beauty product companies to ramp up marketing through influencers and social media campaigns. Consequently, he points out, all potential problems associated with appearance-related insecurities are at risk of getting amplified, such as lower self-esteem, negative self-thoughts, eating disorders, and depression. This also contributes to younger consumers increasingly prioritising the purchase of beauty products with the goal of presenting an ideal curated image of themselves online. A recent YouGov poll showed that 46 per cent of six to 11-year-olds have an active social media account, despite the age restriction, and early exposure to social media means that Gen Alpha tends to be more image-conscious than older generations, which makes them easy prey. Dr Emma Wedgeworth, a consultant dermatologist and member of the British Cosmetic Dermatology Group says that the trend towards young children using multiple skincare products is worrying, particularly when they contain ingredients designed for older or ageing skin. Part of the problem is that often products are chosen for the wrong reasons [such as] the look of the packaging, the name of the product, [and] things going viral on TikTok, she says. So they may well be using products like acids or retinoids without even knowing they are in those products. In the last two years, she says shes overheard eight and nine-year-olds talking about using serums, face masks and eye creams, on top of a standard cleanser and moisturiser. This isnt something weve seen before, she says, adding that childrens skin has a very different physiology to adults, particularly before puberty. Using inappropriate skincare can lead to irritation, breakdown of skin barrier, eczema and sensitisation. Exposing children to these sorts of products early in life could increase the risk of contact allergic dermatitis in later life. open image in gallery Early exposure to social media means that Gen Alpha tends to be more image-conscious than older generations ( Getty/iStock ) While experimenting with makeup now and again is fine, she says, she warns against allowing younger children to use it on a regular basis. And that, most of all, we shouldnt promote unrealistic or narrow beauty standards to children. Young children and teenagers are just developing their sense of self and their identity. Its a very formative stage for the development of self-esteem and confidence. However, by targeting the Gen Alpha demographic early on, brands have a chance to establish long-term customers. Its a slippery slope from Claires 4.50 7th Heaven Marshmallow Fluff Hydrating Mask to Sephoras 46 Drunk Elephant B-Hydra Serum, with sodium hyaluronate. Thats why Im stepping back from it all. Children shouldnt feel under pressure to look perfect or be led to believe certain products, or even parties, make them more popular or attractive. Weve got to teach them that appearance doesnt equal value. Sign up to our free Living Well email for advice on living a happier, healthier and longer life Live your life healthier and happier with our free weekly Living Well newsletter Live your life healthier and happier with our free weekly Living Well newsletter Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice The government is set to commission a free emergency contraception service in pharmacies in England. The aim would be to end the postcode lottery of access to the morning-after pill. Cost varies depending on the type of pill and where you get it, but it can range from around 10 to 33 in pharmacies. Commenting on the governments announcement on Sunday, Nick Kaye, chair of the National Pharmacy Association said: Weve 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. open image in gallery The morning after pill is set to be given out for free in pharmacies ( Getty Images ) 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. We spoke to some experts who have answered some common questions about the morning-after pill and the proposed changes What is the morning-after pill, and how does it work? The emergency contraceptive pill, sometimes called the morning-after pill, can prevent pregnancy following sex without contraception, or if contraception fails, according to the NHS website. But, you need to take it within three to five days after unprotected sex, depending on the type of pill. There are two main types of emergency contraceptive pill, Levonorgestrel and Ulipristal Acetate. Levonorgestrel [sold under the brand name Levonelle] is an oral tablet that works up to 72 hours after unprotected sexual intercourse, says Ms Michelle Swer, consultant gynaecologist at London Gynaecology. This is commonly available over the counter through any pharmacy. It works by delaying or preventing ovulation. Ulipristal Acetate [sold under the brand name ellaOne] is also an oral tablet and works up to 120 hours after unprotected sexual intercourse. This also works by delaying or preventing ovulation. Where can you get them from? open image in gallery Emergency contraceptive pills are available in most sexual health clinics, GP surgeries and pharmacies. Many pharmacies offer emergency hormonal contraceptives for free to selected age groups when the service is commissioned by the local authority, but privately they usually cost around 20-30, says Olivier Picard, vice-chair of The National Pharmacy Association and pharmacist in Berkshire. Family planning clinics also provide emergency hormonal contraception free of charge, and you can also get them free from GPs when issued on prescription. How effective is the morning-after pill when taken within the recommended time frame? The sooner you take an emergency contraceptive pill, the more likely it is to work. When taken within 72 hours, Levonorgestrel can reduce the risk of pregnancy by up to 84%, says Picard. 84% if taken within 24 hours, 75% if taken between 24-48 hours and drops below 60% if taken between 48-72 hours. Whereas Ulipristal Acetate is effective up to 120 hours after unprotected sex, it has been shown to reduce the chance of pregnancy by about 85%. Again, it works best the earlier it is taken. Are there any side effects or risks associated with taking the morning-after pill? The most common side effects of the morning-after pill include headaches, feeling sick (nausea) and period-like pain and cramping, according to the NHS website. If vomiting occurs within three hours of taking the pill, its recommended to take another one, adds Picard. Are there any factors that could affect its use? open image in gallery The emergency contraceptive pill may not be suitable for you if you need to take steroid medicines for asthma or if you are overweight, according to the NHS website. It has interactions with medication like St Johns wort (used for treatment of low mood), and individuals with severe asthma treated with glucocorticoids should consult a healthcare professional like a pharmacist or a doctor before taking Ulipristal Acetate, explains Picard. What are the proposed changes to the regulation or availability of the morning-after pill? The Government has proposed commissioning a nationwide, free emergency contraception service later this year, says Picard. In some cases, free services do already exist in some pharmacies due to local arrangements. This is where local NHS/local authorities commission pharmacies to provide this service free of charge to patients, explains Picard. This is funded via the public health grant, which has been cut significantly since 2016, meaning it is sometimes not viable for a pharmacy to run, which leads to a postcode lottery for patients. We, alongside other pharmacy/health organisations, are concerned this has an impact on health inequalities and can put barriers in the way to accessing emergency hormonal contraception. 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 Jeremy Clarkson has revealed the unlikely snack helping with his weight loss after quitting Ozempic. The Clarksons Farm star, who is determined not to die after undergoing major heart surgery last year, stating that he is determined not to die, has opened about his lifestyle changes as he attempts to slim down. Clarkson said he used Ozempic, the drug that was licenced to treat diabetes but has been co-opted by people as a quick fix for weight loss. However, Ozempic didnt work for Clarkson, who wrote in his Sunday Times column that he actually ended up half a stone heavier after using it. My body lost the ability to deal with gluttony but once the initial enthusiasm had worn off, my mind still wanted to breakfast on Cadbury Fruit & Nut, he said. This meant I was sick a lot. And after I had vomited, I figured I was empty and could have another bottle and maybe another bar of chocolate too. Instead, Clarkson said hes discovered a snack that goes a long way and has helped him get trimmer: snail caviar. He wrote: It is actually unborn snails. But weirdly it does taste and feel like the real deal. So you can pop a teaspoon of that onto half a Ritz cracker and you have yourself the 21st centurys answer to a medieval banquet. Snail caviar is the fresh or processed eggs of land snails, and is luxury gourmet speciality produced in Austria, Czechia, France and Poland. Clarkson previously revealed that he had been encouraged to make positive lifestyle changes by a desire to be around for his grandchildren. The presenter has two grandchildren via his eldest daughter Emily, the most recent of whom was born shortly before Christmas. open image in gallery Jeremy Clarkson has discovered a luxury food item thats helped with his weight loss ( Prime Video ) Discussing his grandchildren, he wrote: I have decided that it is so wonderful that I want it to go on for as long as is humanly possible. Which means I must do everything in my power to not die. Clarkson stated that he had attempted to live a more active lifestyle in the past, with limited success. Michelangelos David burns more calories than I do when Im out and about, so I continued to get fatter and more out of breath, and when you want to see your grandchildren grow up, thats not good enough, he wrote. In the aftermath of the heart surgery, however, Clarkson has taken up Pilates. open image in gallery Jeremy Clarkson underwent major heart surgery in 2024 ( Prime Video ) What weve learnt so far is that my pelvis is so cockeyed I look like a broken shotgun, my legs are very heavy and that my fat can be made to hurt, he continued. The former Top Gear presenter claimed that he had, until now, relied on luck to keep me alive. But Im in snipers alley right now and I have to work at dodging the bullets, he added. The usage of ozempic as a weight loss drug has been decried by eating disorder experts, with Fiona Yassin, eating disorder specialist and clinical director of The Wave Clinic, telling The Independent: It is very important to understand that Ozempic is not licensed for weight loss in the UK for individuals without diabetes. By using these medications to change how we feel about ourselves, were mimicking the behaviour seen in substance use disorders, where substances are used to manage internal discomfort. Its alarming, and the potential medical consequences are enormous. Meanwhile, several obesity experts told The Associated Press that perhaps 20 per cent of patients as many as 1 in 5 may not respond well to the medications. Side effects can include nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea. Its all about explaining that different people have different responses, said Dr Fatima Cody Stanford, an obesity expert at Massachusetts General Hospital. 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. 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 Kylie Jenner and Jennifer Lopez were in attendance for their late hairstylist Jesus Guerreros funeral over the weekend after his unexpected death last month. Both were in Houston, Texas for the services along with Guerreros loved ones and other members of the hairstylist community. His cause of death has not been made public. Throughout his career Guerreros clients included Dua Lipa, Rosalia, Jessica Alba, Demi Moore, and Katy Perry. According to a report from TMZ, Perry was not able to attend the funeral due to rehearsals for her upcoming tour but she has been in touch with her former hairstylists family. Perry also posted a tribute to Guerrero on Instagram on March 1. The post featured various photos of the late hairstylist with a lengthy caption where she showed how grateful she was for the time she spent with him. Guerreros February 22 death stunned his family and clients, including Lopez and Jenner. Guerrero was traveling internationally with Lopez in the days leading up to his death, while the hairstylist had been in Paris with Jenner for Haute Couture Week at the end of January. open image in gallery Lopez and Jenner were two of Guerreros well-known clients ( Getty Images ) Jesus death hit her hard. She is shocked and very upset, one Jenner insider told People. Still, shes doing everything she can to be supportive and aid his family, including financially. As upset as she feels, she knows its so much worse for his family. She doesnt want them to stress about money, the source continued. Shes taking care of expenses, including those associated with his funeral. A GoFundMe page was started by Guerreros sister, Gris, announcing his death. The fundraiser was established before the family knew Jenner would take care of the funeral costs. When this go fund me was set up we created it thinking we would have to take care of all the expenses ourselves, Gris Guerrero wrote. We didn't want to burden any clients with this. Our family deeply appreciates Kylie for later offering to cover funeral expenses and offering up all her help and support. Gris wrote that the $96,000 raised would help the family retrieve Guerreros belongings and settle his assets. open image in gallery Jesus Guerrero died on February 22 leaving his clients shocked and saddened ( Instagram/@jesushair ) Jenner made her own tribute to Guerrero, posting about him on Instagram. Jesus was more than my friend he was a light in my life, a source of laughter, comfort, love, and unwavering support, she wrote. I dont know how I would have made it through the last almost decade without him by my side. He had a way of making even the heaviest days feel lighter. Thank you, Jesus, for always being there for me, for lifting me up, for being my friend. The pain of losing you is just unbearable and I dont know how to move forward without you but I know great grief is born only of great love, she continued. And I loved you so much. You were the best person, with a talent that was unmatched. a true artist. You inspired so many, and you always will. Your words, your laughter, your kindness, your beautiful spirit will live in my heart forever. Ill cherish all our moments together. every laugh and hug. I wish I could hug you again. I laid in your bed the way you used to lay in mine, talking for hours. I would give anything for one more deep talk. Im going to miss you so much more than any words can say. 222 my angel, she finished. 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 Olivia Munn revealed her recent real big breakdown while parenting her two kids Malcolm Hiep Mulaney, three, and Mei June Mulaney, six months. Speaking to Jenna Bush Hager as this weeks guest host of The Today Show, the 44-year-old actor, who shares her children with husband John Mulaney, said the difficult moment occurred when her family traveled from California to New York in December 2024. At the time, Mulaney, 42, was rehearsing every day for the Broadway show All In: Comedy About Love, which left Munn alone with their toddler and newborn most of the time. My three-year-old hit his limit, and it was like screaming and crying, and saying things to me where my feelings were getting hurt, she recalled. He didnt want me to be with my daughter because the jealousy was coming in, and I just broke down crying a cry I have never cried. I actually videoed myself crying to send to other friends who had their second babies, too, just to be like You guys know. You go through this. Its happening. Im here with you, she continued. I was so distraught. But then I had this realization. I said, You know what? God willing we get to work as much as we are working now, forever, and God willing were shifting and jumping around and moving everywhere. Were so lucky, and every time there is a breakdown or a fit, it just makes me laugh, I mean so much so that I have to turn away. Everything just makes me really happy. open image in gallery Olivia Munn opens up about the difficult time she was parenting her two kids she shares with John Mulaney ( Getty Images ) Elsewhere during her chat with Hager, the Ride Along 2 actor likened parenting two kids to landing on Mars. How does anyone do this? she asked. Munns comments on parenting come nearly a year after she revealed she had been diagnosed with breast cancer and had a double mastectomy. She also underwent a hysterectomy and oophorectomy as part of her cancer treatment. In a candid post on Instagram, Munn explained she and her sister tested negative for BRCA the most well-known breast cancer gene while undergoing testing for 90 different cancer genes. However, her doctor decided to calculate her Breast Cancer Risk Assessment Score just in case, a decision she said saved her life. Munns doctors found her risk to be 37 percent, and she was then sent for an MRI, ultrasound, and biopsy, which revealed she had Luminal B cancer in both breasts. During her speech at the TIME Women of the Year gala on February 25, Munn revealed she still has years to go in her cancer treatment. Still, Munns desire to be the best mom she can be has never wavered. In fact, even after she received her diagnosis, she still pursued her dream of growing her family. open image in gallery The actor welcomed her newborn daughter with Mulaney via surrogate in September 2024 ( John Mulaney ) She previously revealed in an interview with Vogue that she froze her eggs three times; once when she was 33, a second time when she was 39, and a third time at 42 after her cancer diagnosis. Munn and Mulaney have been publicly linked since 2021. Munn gave birth to son Malcolm on November 24, 2021. Her daughter was then born via surrogate on September 14, 2024, weeks after Munn and Mulaney tied the knot. 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 9-year-old girl died at home hours after she underwent a dental procedure that involved anesthesia in San Diego, according to a medical examiners report. According to the summary report obtained by NBC San Diego, the girl underwent a procedure on March 18 at Dreamtime Dentistry in the Vista section of the city. The child was moved to a recovery room and then released into the care of her parents, who took her home. The girl was put to bed when she returned home. Her parents say that after checking on her, they found her unresponsive. She was taken to Rady Childrens Hospital, where she was tragically declared dead shortly after arriving. It is not yet clear whether the surgery contributed to her death. A statement from the dentist involved said that the cause of death had not been established. The San Diego Police Department is involved in the investigation. The girls funeral was held in San Diego on March 26. Experts have warned against jumping to conclusions at this stage but noted the risks that come with anesthesia are increased for children. When a child goes to sleep with general anesthesia, its a much more riskier procedure than with an adult, said retired dentist Dr. Michael Davis, who often provides testimony as an expert witness in dental malpractice cases. Dr. Davis explained to the NBC affiliate that it is riskier because childrens airways are more constricted than adults. As a result, many dentists only perform sedation procedures with children in a hospital or outpatient surgery center. Size and metabolic rate also play a role in determining the dosage of anesthesia needed. Dr. Ryan Watkins is the only dentist at the practice listed as performing sedation procedures. He was previously put on probation from 2020 to 2023 after being investigated by the Dental Board of California in 2016 following the near-death of an adult patient who was also under anesthesia. The dental office gave the 54-year-old patient two drugs that contributed to the patients heart-stopping - including one drug that should not have been administered, state investigators said. In a statement about the recent tragic death of the girl, Dr. Watkins said: 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 the American Dental Society of Anesthesiology and an 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 mother's care, following our standard post-anesthesia protocols. 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 Five decades after a baby died from falling out of a crib, police now say the childs mother killed him. Louisiana resident Alice Bunch Idlett, 75, was arrested last week and charged with second-degree murder for the death of her 16-month-old son on Jan. 20, 1970, according to KPLC. The Sulphur Police Department launched an investigation into the 1970 death in 2022 at the request of the childs family, according to the outlet. Baby Earl D. Bunch III suffered from injuries that were reported to be from falling out of a crib, investigators said. The childs father, Earl Bunch Jr., was overseas during the time of the babys death. Although the case was closed for lack of evidence, Sulphur Police said. More recently, law enforcement came across additional information that led to the exhumation of the childs body. There were no details on what that evidence included. A forensic autopsy determined the manner of death as a homicide, the outlet reported. open image in gallery Alice Bunch Idlett, 75, was charged with the murder of her son 55 years after she claimed he died falling out of a crib ( Calcasieu Parish Correctional Center ) Court documents from a child custody case concerning Idletts daughter, obtained by the outlet, underscored Idletts feelings toward her son. She wrote letters to her husband, who was in Thailand, that revealed a threatening nature, both towards herself and her son, the filing states. In letters written in November 1969, she blatantly said I wish he was dead, referring to the child, and confessed having never wanted to become a mother. In a letter the following month, the young mother wrote: What is wrong with me darling. I should love my own son but I really dont think I do and if I did I would know it. I feel as if he would die tomorrow I wouldnt care. I cant help it. To me he is the one who ruint (sic) my life. The court documents also revealed that when she took the baby to the emergency room in January 1970, the child was limp and gasping for breath. An X-ray at the time revealed multiple fractures of the skull and right shoulder. He died the following morning during emergency surgery, the filing says. Idlett was not accused of wrongdoing at the time. When Bunch returned from Thailand, he asked his wife about the circumstances of their childs death. She denied harming the child and said he had probably hurt himself while falling out of bed at his grandmothers house a few weeks before he died. Last Thursday, Idlett was booked into the Calcasieu Parish Correctional Center on $950,000 bond, the outlet reported. The Independent has reached out to Sulphur Police for more information. 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 Green Beret was reported missing after he failed to show up for college classes and now, his wife is under arrest for his murder. Prosecutors have charged Shana Cloud with first-degree murder and concealment of death after police found the body of her husband, 50-year-old Clinton Bonnell, in a nearby body of water, according to the Cumberland County Sheriffs Office. His body was found in a pond with no limbs after he was reported missing. The retired Green Beret was studying to become a physician assistant at Methodist University in Fayetteville, North Carolina. Police started looking into the case when a Methodist University employee called for a wellness check on Bonnell when he didnt show up for class on January 28. open image in gallery Shana Cloud has been charged with the murder of her husband, 50-year-old retired Green Beret Clinton Bonnell ( Cumberland County Sheriffs Office, ) When police arrived at his home, Cloud said she hadnt seen her husband since the day before, the Cumberland County Sheriffs Office stated. Bonnells backpack and car were still at their home, too. Hours later, another friend of Bonnells called the police requesting another wellness check after not hearing from him - thats when the search began. Throughout late January and February, investigators executed multiple search warrants on Clouds home, car and digital devices. The data collected was analyzed and used to develop a timeline of events not only surrounding Bonnells disappearance, but his whereabouts prior to his disappearance, the sheriffs office said. Then, on February 25, the sheriffs office received a call about human remains found in a nearby body of water. The body was found without limbs, according to the 911 call reviewed by ABC 11. open image in gallery Bonnell was found in a pond with no limbs after he was reported missing. ( Cumberland County Sheriffs Office ) DNA analysis revealed the remains were Bonnells on Friday. Cloud was arrested at her home shortly afterward without incident, police said. She was booked into the Cumberland County Detention Center without bond. Her arraignment was scheduled for Monday afternoon. A motive for the killing was not released. Authorities how didnt detail how they connected Cloud to the alleged crime. Our hearts go out to the Bonnell family, the Special Forces community, and the Methodist University Physicians Assistant Program during this difficult time, the sheriffs office said. The Independent has contacted the Cumberland County District Attorneys Office for more information. 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 New Jersey teacher accused of sexually assaulting a teenage boy reportedly exchanged 25,000 explicit texts with the victim, say prosecutors. Former Freehold Intermediate School teacher Allison Havemann-Niedrach, 44, of Ocean County, Jackson, was charged Tuesday with first-degree aggravated sexual assault, endangering the welfare of a child via the manufacturing of child sexual abuse materials, two counts of second-degree endangering, official misconduct, and sexual assault, as well as third-degree endangering, according to a Monmouth County Prosecutors Office release. Havemann-Niedrach, a special education teacher, is alleged to have abused a 15-year-old boy since the beginning of last year. She was formerly arrested in June 2024. Upon handing his mobile phone over to authorities, police discovered over 25,000 lurid photo and video text exchanges between him and Havemann-Niedrach, according to Asbury Park Press. Crucially, a video was found of the pair engaging in sexual conduct. The alleged victim told investigators that the sexual relationship began in January 2024 with incidents taking place both at Havemann-Niedrachs home and in hotels. Authorities were reportedly able to corroborate the alleged events by tracking cell phone data and financial records, according to assistant prosecutor Danielle Zanzuccki. Alarm bells initially rang out when staff members at Freehold Intermediate noticed the 44-year-old woman bringing the teenage boy food and sitting with him daily for lunch in a classroom, shared Zanzuccki. Zanzuccki, who heads the Special Victims Bureau, previously said Havemann-Niedrach was obsessed with the teen during a detention hearing in July 2024. One teacher reportedly saw the suspect touching the alleged victims back, neck, and leg, and said the interaction between her colleague and the eighth-grader had been flirtatious, according to Zanzuccki as per Asbury Press. A vice-principal raised the suspicions to the police at the start of June 2024. open image in gallery Allison Havemann-Niedrach, 44, of Jackson (Ocean County) has been charged with seven counts of sexual assault against a teenage boy ( Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office ) Later, as authorities investigated the matter, the alleged victims mother disclosed to investigators that she held concerns about her sons sudden inwardness. The 15-year-old would reportedly sit inside Havemann-Niedrachs car, according to his sister, and was frequently staying up late to go on his phone, shared the assistant prosecutor. He also reportedly told a friend he had been dating a teacher, as per Asbury Press. Yet upon being confronted about the matter, the boy denied all involvement and tried to deflect from the allegations by stating he had been dating Havemann-Niedrachs daughter, shared authorities. The police then witnessed the barrage of text exchanges on his device. Days later, the victims mother alerted authorities that her son had confessed to being in a sexual relationship with the teacher, 30 years his senior. The alleged victim was taken to hospital for evaluation following concerns over his mental health, shared Zanzuccki. open image in gallery Havemann-Niedrach, 44, is accused of engaging in sexual conduct with a 15-year-old Freehold Intermediate eighth-grade student ( Google Maps ) At her second court appearance in August 2024, the disgraced teacher was reportedly accompanied by her husband and elderly parents, all of whom sat in silence during the legal proceedings, reported local outlet Jersey Shore online. Before facing the allegations, Havemann-Niedrach was an active member of the local community. In 2017 she was one of ten young female leaders awarded by the Girl Scouts of the Jersey Shore as Phenomenal Women Under 40, reported the outlet. A spokesperson since relinquished any ties with the suspect since the allegations arose, writing: We want to make it unequivocally clear that Ms. Havemann-Niedrach is no longer associated with Girl Scouts of the Jersey Shore. She was released from the Monmouth County Jail in July and placed on home detention, reported the Asbury Press. A judge reportedly barred her from having any contact with any minors, except her own two young daughters. When the allegations broke, and Havemann-Niedrach was arrested, her husband Eric Niedrach launched a desperate plea for funds titled Help provide normalcy to keep the family afloat. However, his plea for emergency funds has been unsuccessful and only $75 of his $4,000 target has been raised since it was launched on July 27 2024. Eric Niedrach also shared in an update in October that one of the girls had been placed in the care of her biological father and he was granted weekly visitations while court proceedings were ongoing. His wife was also prohibited from accessing computers to remove any possibility of communication with the alleged victim. An investigation by the Special Victims Bureau of the prosecutors office and the Freehold Police Department is ongoing. Anyone with information about Havemann-Niedrachs activities is still urged to contact MCPO Detective Dawn Correia at 800-533-7443. The Independent contacted the Freehold Intermediate School and Havemann-Niedrachs lawyer for comment. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A Texas grandmother, originally from Belize, was accused of assaulting a postal worker in an incident that landed her in federal detention and now puts her at risk of deportation, according to reports. Margarita Avila, a landscaper, is accused of injuring a mail carrier with a weed eater during a confrontation in Spring, Texas, earlier this month, the Harris County Precinct 4 Constables Office said. Now, Avila has been placed in Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody. Her family says she was acting in self-defense and fears she will soon be deported. The Independent has reached out to ICE for more information. Avila has lived in the U.S. since 2001, when she fled Belize due to a cartel that was threatening her life, her daughter Lisbet Azucena Avila told Newsweek. "She's running away from a cartel that was threatening her life back in 2001 when she first came. And then when she left [for Belize] in 2012, she had to come right back six months later because the threat was still there," she said, noting her mother is in the U.S. legally and seeking asylum. open image in gallery Margarita Avila, a landscaper, has been in the U.S. since 2001 now risks deportation after being arrested in an incident that her family say she she was wrongfully charged ( Harris County Constable ) If deported, her mother would be faced with the same devastating situation, she said: We don't want to think about that because if my mom were to go back, that would be the last time that we see our mom." Lisbet also said that her mother was wearing protective goggles and earplugs when the postal worker allegedly hit her. Avila was trimming grass near the mailbox when the postal worker asked the landscaper to step aside to prevent debris from blowing at her as she delivered mail, authorities said. The postal worker then tapped her on the shoulder and asked again; thats when Avila allegedly hit her with a weed eater, leaving multiple welts on [the USPS workers] arm and body, the Harris County Precinct 4 Constables Office said. open image in gallery Avila was arrested on March 12 after allegedly attacking a postal worker who had asked her to stop blowing debris at her when she was trying to deliver mail, police say ( Harris County Precinct 4 Constable's Office ) Video footage captured the pair wrestling on a vibrant green lawn, but doesnt show the beginning of the confrontation. "With the wrestling and everything, that's when you could see the weed eaters just like going different places," she told KHOU11, insisting that the postal worker initiated the attack. "She said the lady came from behind and knocked the glasses out of her face. Lisbet added: My mom was put out there as her being the attacker but shes really the victim here. The Independent has reached out to the postal service for comment. The postal service told KHOU11 that no investigation had been launched in connection to the incident and that the worker involved had been interviewed and is working with management. Avila was charged with assault - bodily injury and her bond was set at $100, Harris County Constable Mark Herman said in a March 13 statement. The charge has impacted Avilas immigration proceedings and her family is now fighting for her release from ICE custody. In a message to President Donald Trump, who has vowed to execute the largest deportation operation in American history, Lisbet pleaded for a pathway to citizenship for non-violent immigrants. She said: "All I would ask of him is to have a little compassion and a little humanity for the people that are here and trying to do it the right way." 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 Arizona authorities have arrested two people in connection with a series of train heists that resulted in the theft of Nike shoes worth millions. On Thursday, officials with the Hualapai Nation Police Department initiated a traffic stop on a maroon Chevy Tahoe around 2:40 a.m. believed to be involved in multiple area hijacks. After pulling the car over, eight people fled the vehicle. The male driver was detained. Police located some of the stolen shoes near the car, the police department said in a news release. In another traffic stop Thursday, a white Toyota 4Runner was pulled over on Highway 66 as part of the investigation into the robberies. The female driver was stopped after failing to yield to an emergency vehicle. Police approached the vehicle and noticed evidence of criminal activity. open image in gallery An image of the vehicle the female driver was operating after it collided with a guardrail ( Hualapai Nation Police Department ) The patrol sergeant issued a verbal command for the driver to exit the vehicle. The woman initially exited the car, but returned to the drivers seat, shifted the vehicle into gear and sped away from the scene at a high speed. As she attempted to flee, police say the car struck a patrol officer. The officer did not sustain any injuries. Officers initiated a pursuit of the fleeing suspect that spanned 80 miles and concluded near the Arizona-California border on Mile Marker 1 on Interstate 40. The driver lost control of the vehicle near a construction zone, collided with a guardrail and was thrown out of the car. The woman sustained minor injuries and was transported to Valley View Medical Center in Mohave Valley for treatment. Both drivers were booked into the Mohave County Adult Detention Center for their alleged involvement in the case. Police did not disclose additional details about the alleged crimes or the suspects identities except to say they were both from Mexico and in the U.S. illegally. open image in gallery A number of freight trains carrying Nike shoes have been targeted (file picture) ( Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. ) Police have been investigating a series of freight train robberies near the Mojave Desert. Thieves have allegedly stolen at least $2m worth of Nike sneakers, according to the Los Angeles Times. Officials are currently investigating 10 similar robberies. In one January robbery near Perrin, Arizona, thieves cut an air brake hose on a BNSF freight train and ran off with more than 1,900 pairs of unreleased Nike shoes worth more than $440,000. The shoes went on sale earlier this month for $225 a pair. Eleven people charged in the January burglary have pleaded not guilty and were all ordered detained until trial, with Arizona magistrate judges concluding the defendants posed a risk of fleeing from authorities. All 11 defendants are charged with possessing or receiving goods stolen from interstate shipment. Ten of the 11 are Mexicans who were in the United States illegally. Another defendant is a Mexican citizen who was in asylum proceedings in the United States, authorities said in court records. Thieves typically scout merchandise on rail lines that parallel Interstate 40 by boarding slow-moving trains, such as when they are changing tracks and opening containers, said Keith Lewis, vice president of operations at Verisks CargoNet and a deputy sheriff in Arizona. Lewis told the Times that the thieves are sometimes tipped off to valuable shipments by associates working at warehouses or trucking companies. The suspects are aided by accomplices in follow vehicles, which track the rail cars. The loot is tossed off the train after it comes to a halt either for a scheduled stop or because an air hose has been cut, according to Brynna Cooke, a Homeland Security Investigations special agent cited in affidavits filed in federal court. Thefts from cargo trains cost the nations six largest freight railroads more than $100 million last year because of a combination of the value of the stolen goods and the cost of repairs to railcars the thieves damaged, and the problem is getting worse in recent years as the thefts have become more organized and sophisticated. The Association of American Railroads trade group estimates that the number of thefts jumped roughly 40% last year to 65,000 nationwide. The railroads have invested millions in measures to help prevent such thefts, but its not like they can easily restrict access to the more than 140,000 miles of track they operate across the country. It crosses remote, rural areas and cuts through the heart of many cities carrying millions of shipments of everything from bulk commodities like coal and grain to raw materials like rock. Automobiles and metal shipping containers filled with nearly every kind of product imaginable thats imported or exported also are transported. The rail trade group said additional federal enforcement and tougher penalties are needed to deter the thefts, which are a chronic problem. The railroads estimate that only about 1 out of every 10 theft attempts result in an arrest, and many of the people who are arrested are repeat offenders. One railroad even reported arresting the same individual five times in a single day. With reporting from the Associated Press Sign up to our free weekly IndyTech newsletter delivered straight to your inbox Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Amazon has unveiled a new artificial intelligence model that can take control of a users web browser and perform actions on their behalf. The general-purpose AI agent, called Nova Act, is part of a new generation of of artificial intelligence that gives AI chatbots the ability to act semi-autonomously in order to serve as a digital assistant. We think of agents as systems that can complete tasks and act in a range of digital and physical environments on behalf of the user, an Amazon blog post stated. Today, such agents are still in an early stage. The Nova Act SDK is a crucial step forward, toward building reliable agents by enabling developers to break down complex workflows into atomic commands (e.g., search, checkout, answer questions about the screen). Amazon Nova Act is the first AI model to come out of the tech giants new AGI SF Lab, which is dedicated to developing artificial general intelligence, or human-level intelligence. Led by former OpenAI researchers, the lab claims that Nova Act is able to outperform rival AI agents developed by Anthropic and OpenAI. It is currently only available for developers, who will use it to build real-world applications, such as making online reservations at a restaurant or ordering food. Once ready, these tools could then potentially be rolled out via its Alexa voice assistant to offer the functionality to its millions of users. Earlier this month, researchers in China unveiled an advanced AI agent called Manus that is capable of carrying out a vast range of tasks independently, from buying property to developing video games. Yichao Ji, co-founder and chief scientist of Manus AI, described it as the next evolution of AI and the next paradigm of human-machine collaboration. Victor Mustar, head of product at AI platform Hugging Face, said it was mind-blowing in its capabilities. Got access and its true... Manus is the most impressive AI tool Ive ever tried, he wrote on X. The user experience is what so many others promised... but this time it just works. Sign up to our free weekly IndyTech newsletter delivered straight to your inbox Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice The US is just days away from imposing a ban on TikTok unless a deal is reached with parent company ByteDance to find a US-based owner for the hugely popular app. Saturdays deadline will impact roughly 170 million TikTok users in the US, however President Donald Trump has claimed that a deal will be made in time. Trump extended the deadline from January to 5 April after coming into office, giving ByteDance more time to find a non-Chinese buyer. "We have a lot of potential buyers," Trump told reporters on Air Force One late on Sunday. "There's tremendous interest in Tiktok... I'd like to see Tiktok remain alive." TikTok did not immediately comment. Private equity firm Blackstone is reportedly evaluating making a small minority investment in TikTok's US operations, according to two people familiar with the matter. Blackstone is discussing joining ByteDance's existing non-Chinese shareholders, led by Susquehanna International Group and General Atlantic, in contributing fresh capital to bid for TikTok's US business. The group has emerged as front-runners. Washington says TikTok's ownership by ByteDance makes it beholden to the Chinese government and Beijing could use the app to conduct influence operations against the United States and collect data on Americans. Trump previously said he was willing to extend the April deadline if an agreement over the social media app was not reached. Last week, he acknowledged the role China will play in getting any deal done, including giving its approval, saying "maybe I'll give them a little reduction in tariffs or something to get it done." Vice President JD Vance has said he expects the general terms of an agreement resolving the ownership of the social media platform to be reached by 5 April. The future of the app used by nearly half of all Americans has been up in the air since a 2024 law, passed with overwhelming bipartisan support, required ByteDance to divest TikTok by 19 January. The White House has been involved to an unprecedented level in the closely watched deal talks, effectively playing the role of investment bank. TikTok is already banned in several other markets, including India where roughly 200 million users were cut off due to national security fears. The US ban would not remove the app from users devices if it is already installed, however it will prevent new users from downloading it. TikTok has previously said that it plans to shut down its US service entirely if the ban goes into force. Additional reporting from agencies. Sign up to our free weekly IndyTech newsletter delivered straight to your inbox Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice After amassing more than 170 million users in the US in less than seven years, TikTok is now facing a complete ban if a deal is not made with its parent company ByteDance before 5 April. TikTok has already disappeared from Apple and Google app stores ahead of the law taking effect on Saturday, which requires ByteDance to sell the video-sharing app to a US owner due to national security concerns. President Donald Trump gave TikTok a 75-day reprieve from the ban after he took office in January, however ByteDance is yet to secure a buyer. The US is not the first major market for TikTok to cut off the video-sharing app. In 2020, India issued a complete ban of the app that cut off around 200 million users. The Indian government cited security issues with the app, claiming that alleged ties between ByteDance and the Chinese government posed a threat to Indias sovereignty. Other countries and areas, including the UK and European Union, have put partial bans in place, which prevent government workers and military personnel from installing the app on their devices. Various federal and state TikTok bans are already in place in the US, with lawmakers citing national security concerns. These fears have done little to stem TikToks growth in the US. The app has proved to be one of the most popular both in America and globally last year with 52 million downloads in the US and 733 million worldwide despite more than 3 billion people around the world being blocked from downloading it. This has helped bring the total number of TikTok users around the world to above 2 billion, with only Indias ban nearly three years ago slightly slowing its growth but only temporarily. A survey poll from the Pew Research Center last year found TikTok to be the fastest-growing platform in the US, as users beyond the social media apps typically young demographic began to adopt it. US adults who have TikTok accounts are increasingly using the app as a source of news, with roughly a third of people aged 18-29 regularly using it to consume news in 2023. The FBI claims that Chinese state ties to parent company ByteDance could allow the app to manipulate content in order to spread harmful propaganda. Fears around national security have been countered with questions about censorship, with the Electronic Frontier Foundation describing the prospect of a ban as a seed of genuine security concern wrapped in a thick layer of censorship. The US digital liberties group has called on people to resist a governmental power to ban a popular means of communication and expression. In its filing with the Supreme Court in January, TikTok alleged that banning the app would shutter one of the most popular speech platforms at a highly political moment. The act will shutter one of Americas most popular speech platforms the day before a presidential inauguration, TikTok wrote. This, in turn, will silence the speech of applicants and the many Americans who use the platform to communicate about politics, commerce, arts, and other matters of public concern. Under the law passed last year and upheld on Friday by a unanimous Supreme Court, the platform had until Sunday to cut ties with its China-based parent or shut down its US operation to resolve concerns it poses a threat to national security. The United States has never previously banned a major social media platform. President Trump said over the weekend that he believed a deal would be made before Saturdays deadline. Guest column: A stronger grid is imperative for Louisiana and our national defense. Here's why. Until recently, Elon Musk had little need to look over his shoulder. He once described competition for Tesla, his electric-vehicle (EV) company, as the enormous flood of gasoline cars pouring out of the worlds factories every day, rather than the small trickle of other EV-makers. SpaceX, his rocket firm, had so undercut and outwitted the bloated aerospace incumbents that it had developed an almost invincible aura. Yet if Musk can tear himself away from the intoxication of shredding the American government, he may notice something. It is not just that the political firestorms he has whipped up this year are singeing his companies brands. It is that the two businesses that underpin his corporate empire accounting for about 90 per cent of its value and probably all its profit are facing increasingly stiff competition. The worlds richest man has lost focus and now has a target on his back. Elon Musk has lost focus on his empire. Credit: Bloomberg Start with SpaceX. Last year it conducted five out of every six of the worlds spacecraft launches. Through its Starlink division, it owns 60 per cent of satellites in space. In December, it sold shares at a valuation of $US350 billion ($558 billion), two-thirds higher than its previous level. Starlink, its main profit engine, is on track to generate more than $US11 billion of revenue this year and $US2 billion of free cash flow, says Chris Quilty of consultancy Quilty Space. Now, Musks bomb-throwing interventions are alarming SpaceX customers, and at a time when rivals are growing more capable. His on-again, off-again threats to end Starlinks support for Ukraine have raised the difficult question of trust. European politicians are pondering how reliable Musk will be as a long-term provider of strategic satellite communications. The search for alternatives has helped spur a more than tripling of the share price of Eutelsat, French owner of OneWeb, which provides satellite services to broadband companies. London: The makers of the hit Netflix show Adolescence have sparked a conversation in Britain and beyond on how to protect children from violent misogyny and other harmful content on social media. Now they have the ear of British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who welcomed the filmmakers to Downing Street on Monday for talks on child protection. Starmers office said he backed a Netflix initiative to stream the drama series for free in secondary schools across the country so as many teens as possible can watch it. Keir Starmer (centre) holds a roundtable meeting with Sarah Simpkin from the Childrens Society (left) and Adolescence co-writer Jack Thorne at 10 Downing Street. Credit: AP The show, filmed in England, explores the difficult questions that arise when a 13-year-old boy is accused of the fatal stabbing of a girl in his school and how much social media interactions that are largely impenetrable to parents and teachers may have played a part. Netflix says that since the drama launched in March, it has amassed 66.3 million views worldwide and has become one of the most talked-about UK series in recent memory. Collection Your April hit list: The hot, new and just-reviewed places to check out this month From newly hatted diners in Melbournes CBD to cosy new Italian wine bars and kebab vans worth travelling for, these were the venues that caught our attention and our tastebuds in March for you to try this month and beyond. Tech entrepreneur Peter Crowns ambitious and debt-laden plans for one of the largest landholdings in the Southern Highlands hangs in the balance after lenders seized control of the Berrima property empire. The move puts on hold previously unreported plans by Crown to build a technology and education park on the outskirts of Berrima, called Silicon Highlands, complete with a university, private high school and a hospital. An impression of the technology and education park as shown in Silicon Highlands proposal. Receivers took control of Crowns corporate entities behind the vast farmland holdings hours after The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age revealed the extent of Crowns debt and a slew of legal battles behind the scenes. The world-class technology and education park was an unsolicited proposal to Wingecarribee Shire Council, billing itself as a legacy project for the Crown family on 225 hectares of what is currently zoned rural farmland at the edge of Berrima. Im sitting in Bikaners Curry Cafe on Foster Street in Dandenong, otherwise known as Little India, taking advantage of their Friday lunch special. Over a mango lassi and chicken curry, its a good time to reflect on my first week in Bruce for The Ages hot seats blog. Its been a fascinating start. Bruce is a traditionally safe Labor seat, currently held by Julian Hill, that the Liberals now think is firmly in their grasp, as concerns mount over cost-of-living pressures. Liberal posters in Dandenongs Little India. Credit: Charlotte Grieve Afghan-born Liberal candidate Zahid Safi, who has run a string of National Disability Insurance Scheme providers and migrant training businesses, has spent much of his week resharing Peter Dutton content on social media while ignoring my interview requests. Multiple phone calls, emails and social media messages have received no response. We brought you news earlier in the week of the Liberals campaign office launch for Bruce, marked with boxed pizza and ribbon cutting. The campaigns official launch party for Safi will be held this Sunday, under a veil of secrecy. Flyer for Zahid Safis campaign launch on Sunday. The event is invite-only, with the location only being shared with approved guests four hours before the event kicks off at 4pm. We obtained a copy of the super-secret invite which stresses bookings must be made prior to entry. The Liberals are trying to reflect the diversity of the seat in pre-selecting Safi, hoping to appeal to the electorates large Muslim and Afghan-born population. But Safis background didnt seem to win him any favours on Monday when he turned up to the Omar-Farooq Mosque in Doveton with La Trobe MP Jason Wood promising big money during Eid prayers. Some worshippers, sick of having religious ceremonies taken over by politicians, booed and heckled Safi and Wood. The politicians exited in a hurry. The following night, I drove to the Lynbrook community centre for the campaign launch of Bruces Greens candidate, Rhonda Garad, which saw a large turn-out from the local Hazara community. There, the heckling was a topic of discussion with one man showing me a screenshot of the mosques constitution that clearly states: Protect the non-political nature of the mosque. The Liberals are trying to show a diversified image of themselves but in reality thats not the case, Greens supporter Namatullah Karrie told me. Dandenong community leader Aman Ullah Najimi (left) standing next to a sign for Julian Hill at the Ramadan night market. Credit: Charlotte Grieve Muslim Votes Matters is expected to endorse the Greens in Bruce in coming days, deploying at least 100 volunteers, but spokesperson Ghaith Krayeem told me earlier in the week the Gaza war was not driving votes in this electorate as much as in some others. The following night, I dropped into the closing ceremony of Dandenongs new Ramadan night market, which was attended by more than 150,000 people over nine nights, for delicious food and a vibe check with locals. Lunch in Dandenongs Little India. Credit: Charlotte Grieve Hill enjoys a lot of support in the area, and is certainly winning the poster battle there, but some of the people I spoke to said Labors record on immigration and Gaza were two areas of disappointment. Others said the weak jobs market was pushing them towards voting Liberal. It was WA senator Fatima Payman who received a rock-star welcome at the markets. Payman defected from Labor last year, accusing the party of not caring about the suffering of Palestinians, and has since launched her own political party, Australias Voice. She was at the market to promote her Victorian Senate candidate Mohamed El-Masr. Finally, I ended the week trying to speak to Safi by popping into his Berwick campaign office. No luck there either but the blue-blood locals I spoke with are keen to do their part to vote Labor out. Back in Little India, Ive spotted a few Safi signs in the shopfronts, which is another reminder of why there is no substitute for being on the ground to learn about the wishes of voters. In many ways Bruce is a typical Liberal-Labor contest, but with pressure from the Greens and the electorates unique demographics its really anything but typical. Im looking forward to the coming weeks on the streets to find out what matters most to this electorate this election. If you have a news tip or want to share your view, please feel free to contact me on charlotte.grieve@theage.com.au. See you out there! Rome: An overnight fire at a Tesla dealership in Rome destroyed 17 cars, while in Sweden two dealerships and cars were also vandalised in the latest of a string of attacks against the companys chief executive, Elon Musk. Italys special police unit, Digos, was leading an investigation looking into the possibility that anarchists set fire to the cars on the eastern outskirts of the Italian capital, a security source said. Destroyed Teslas after a fire at a companys dealership in Rome, Italy, on Monday. Credit: Bloomberg Two Tesla stores and some cars were also vandalised in Swedens capital, Stockholm, and coastal city Malmo, several Swedish media outlets reported. Tesla cars have become targets for vandalism across several countries in response to Musks right-wing activism and his influence as one of US President Donald Trumps closest advisers. The 100-Year Journey - I Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh The unmatched story of voluntaryism The core value of the Sangh is moulding of individual person -- through whom the nation-building would be achieved ultimately. For the impatient, this journey may appear to be too long a haul. For the Sangh, that is the only way to achieve the goal of nation-building -- Rashtra-nirman. This task is to be achieved through patience, persistence, perseverance -- and prayer, the Sangh believes. By VIJAY PHANSHIKAR : The young pracharak ran for kilometers of unfriendly terrain to reach a remote railway station somewhere in North India in time to be present when the train arrived with a sagely personality -- Sarsanghchalak Madhav Sadashiv Golwalkar Guruji -- on one of his countless routine tours of the country. The train came to a halt. A window of a compartment opened and Guruji peeped out. The pracharak reached the spot and bowed. Guruji asked him a few questions about the Sangh work and he replied promptly. Its two-minute stop over, the train started moving. Guruji shut the window and the train moved on. The pracharak turned and started running to the village of his posting because he had to be back there in time to complete other tasks before the day ended. C OUNTLESS numbers of such young pracharaks went to each and every part of the country to spread the message of Hindu unity on a mission of Manushyanirman se Rashtra-nirman (Nation-building through Man-moulding) -- as part of the organisation of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) founded by the visionary Dr. Keshav Baliram Hedgewar exactly a hundred years ago on March 11, 1925, at Nagpur. Through the dedicated work of pracharaks and many, many others beyond count, the seed of the RSS sowed in those difficult times has now grown into an iconic institution whose influence is felt the world over in different forms, in different ways. A hundred years later today, the RSS has assumed one of the focal points of Indias national discourse, dominating popular thought like no other organisation ever did, giving the vast majority of Indian people a sense of direction about scripting the story of a future-ready India. Of course, when Dr. Hedgewar first shared the idea of Hindu unity for nation-building with a handful of his trusted friends back in Nagpur a hundred years ago, his eyes shone with a glow that the group had not sensed before. His words were intense but not anxious. His voice was even-pitched but firm and communicated a rare sense of purpose. Our nationhood needs to be built through a strong, united Hindu community whose roots go back to pre-historic times. We must work for this cause, Dr. Hedgewar said in effect. Those mesmerising words had their effect on the group and eventually the founding of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh became a historic moment for the country. Today, as the RSS celebrates its centenary, it has become a central point of not just national discourse, but also a subject of intense political speculation and criticism. Much of that criticism is often senseless and made by people who harbour biases and grudges about the worlds largest Hindu organisation. Despite those overloads of criticism, the Sangh -- RSS -- has been growing for decades on, no matter the political machinations by many to not just disturb it but also to destroy it. But neither do such jibes destroy the Sangh nor do they disturb its method and manner. Looking at the whole process, a non-partisan observer feels rather amused, and tends to conclude that such superficial pin-pricks can never do any harm to the Sangh. That is because those who oppose the Sangh just do not understand the essence of its existence and its method and manner. The core value of the Sangh is moulding of individual person -- through whom the nation-building would be achieved ultimately. For the impatient, this journey may appear to be too long a haul. For the Sangh, that is the only way to achieve the goal of nation-building -- Rashtranirman. This task is to be achieved through patience, persistence, perseverance -- and prayer, the Sangh believes. T HIS is not talking poetry, so to say. Mere words cannot create such an impact and effect. For such an approach to succeed, there has to be a well-meditated philosophy and a well-drawn line of action -- so that an organisational eco-system is available for man-moulding. The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh is that eco-system -- having been conceived most thoughtfully, implemented with dedication through decades, and perfected through subsequent improvisation so that the Sangh remains ever relevant, ever ready for the challenges not just of the present day but also of the future. The story of the last one hundred years is the story of all these processes cumulatively put in motion. The operational methodology of the Sangh surprises all. Through its daily meetings in Shakhas (branches) the Sangh works. The expectation is simple: Whatever one learns or experiences in that one hour has to be implemented and followed in the remaining 23 hours of the day. All this is nothing but pure voluntaryism. There are no salaried workers in Sangh, and no bonuses and benefits etc as are available in the commercial world and corporate layers of the society. A simple line of authority -- hierarchy -- exists to establish a link between the top and the bottom layers of the vast organisation whose spread is astounding, to say the least. The Sangh operates through a plethora of near-autonomous frontal organisations tied together through a complex organisational matrix and command-and-control system. The range of domains in which the Sangh is engaged is also astonishing. True, human factor has its own faults and foibles that generally eat into the vitals of organisations. The Sangh has designed a management system in which digression from the core value almost never takes place -- philosophically or operationally. The Sangh, as such, does not have a membership fee and nothing operates under any compulsion. What operates most effectively is a sense of mission with which everybody is deeply inspired. No matter the media speculations in that regard, the leadership transition in the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh takes place without a word leaking out. Yet, the Sangh leadership and cadres do not like the RSS to be described as a secretive organisation. There is nothing secret in the RSS, they insist. Yet, the organisation is run most effectively with no formal authority vested in anybody to implement discipline. In the RSS eco-system, the core focus is on human individual for manmoulding. Yet, paradoxically, the organisation is never known to have been affected by dependency on one human person. Even a simple swayamsevak can become the Sarsanghachalak, and the whole organisation will stand by him, a senior pracharak once said. That is the reason why the Sangh has not just survived all the onslaughts but also thrived through thickets of opposition and deliberate and conspiratorial machinations designed to destroy it. It has been accused of being political -- much contrary to its own proclaimed signature of a cultural organisation. So vicious did the criticism and opposition become that the organisation was banned on two occasions -- though of course fully wrongly. And through each of those ordeals, the Sangh emerged like burnished gold. Today, a Sangh swayamsevak -- volunteer -- is the Prime Minister of India, Mr. Narendra Modi, the second person to occupy the position after Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Today, countless numbers of the Sangh swayamsevaks are Chief Ministers, Ministers, Members of Parliament, legislators, Governors, diplomats, soldiers and armed forces officers, scientists, litterateurs, bureaucrats, cultural and artistic icons, corporate bosses, management experts ... acting as proofs of the Sanghs man-moulding for nation-building. Y ET, the Sangh is still beyond all that. For, it is on a mission whose journey is never going to end. It is a journey to eternity. It is a journey to continue doing the divinely ordained mission of moulding human individual to certain idea of excellence as per the Sanatan thought. It was that thought that made India of ancient times the leader of the world -- which we now love to call Vishwaguru. The aim, thus, is to create a society in which, in Gurudev Tagores words, the head is held high and the mind is without fear. Seven hundred-plus years ago, Saint Dnyaneshwar dreamt: Dooritanche timir jaao/ Vishw swadharma soorye paaho/ Jo je wanchhil to te laaho/ Praanijaat// (May the darkness in the lives of the distressed vanish/ May the world see the sunshine of good human conduct/ May everyones good desire be fulfilled). The core value, the central motivation of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh can be described in these words -- beyond politics, beyond narrow, domestic walls that tend to create social divisions. This is beyond politics. This is beyond power and authority. This is in the realm of human refinement that ultimately helps in nation-building. Because the Sangh talked of Hindu unity, consolidation, it was accused of going against the secular ethos of the country. The Sangh and its leadership was not abnormally affected by this criticism. Patiently, it has been explaining to the nation its definition of Hindu as a secular entity in which the core value is accommodation of different ways to reach the truth -- Ekam Sat Viprah Bahuda Vadanti ! Even those who do not believe in gods or Hindu rituals are Hindus, the Sangh insists. Inspired by such a philosophy -- which is beyond ideology -- the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh makes it known to the people that it is not bound by any political thought or party. True, it does not deny its nearness to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), but insists that all political parties are equidistant to it. This may appear rather strange to most. However, those who have known how the Sangh thinks also realise the truth in the Sangh assertion about its apoliticality of sorts. Through the past 100 years since Dr. Keshav Baliram Hedgewar founded the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, the organisation has seen seven chiefs. Each Sarsanghachalak is constitutionally described as friend, philosopher and guide of the organisation, The Sarkaryawah (Secretary General) is the operational chief. Each chief has his leadership style, but each has played a stellar role in carrying forward the organisational goals without any diversion or dilution. This is the story of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh of the past 100 years. Haldiram enters into agreement with Temasek as strategic investment partner Business Reporter : Haldiram has entered into an agreement with Temasek as part of which the Singapore-headquartered global investment firm will acquire an equity stake from the existing shareholders of Indias largest packed snack and sweets company and restaurant operator, according to a statement issued on Sunday. It did not disclose details of the deal or the valuation at which Temasek acquired the equity stake, but this is the first official confirmation of the deal from Haldiram. According to industry sources, Temasek is acquiring a minority 10 per cent stake in Haldiram Snacks Food at a valuation of USD 10 billion (around Rs 85,000 crore), which is considered to be the largest for the Indian packed food industry. Haldiram Snacks Food is the combined business of the Haldiram family based in Delhi and Nagpur. Haldirams, the renowned Indian multinational snacks and sweets company, has entered an agreement with Singapore-headquartered global investment firm Temasek. The agreement will see Temasek acquire an equity stake from the existing shareholders of Haldirams, the statement said. This transaction is subject to customary regulatory approvals, and is expected to close soon, it said. After completion, the deal will help Haldirams continue its expansion plans in domestic and international markets, enhancing its presence in a competitive market, the statement said. Commenting on the development, a Haldirams group spokesperson said, We are thrilled to welcome Temasek as an investor and partner in Haldirams. We look forward to working with them to harness the value they bring from their experience in the consumer space to accelerate our growth and strengthen our ability to meet evolving consumer demands. PwC investment banking team acted as the exclusive financial advisor to the transaction. Some media reports are suggesting that the promoters of Haldiram Snacks Food will divest another 6 per cent stake in Alpha Wave Global. Several PE firms, including Blackstone, Alpha Wave Global, and Bain Capital-led consortiums, were in the race to pick up a stake in Haldiram Snacks Food. Earlier, the National Company Law Tribunal had approved the process of the merger of the two sides and other regulatory approvals are awaited. Established in 1937 as a retail sweets and namkeen shop in Bikaner, Rajasthan, by Ganga Bhishen Agarwal, Haldiram products are now sold in over 80 countries. In 2022, it was announced that the packaged snacks businesses of Delhi-based Haldiram Snacks and Nagpur-based Haldiram Foods International would be first demerged and then merged into an entity named Haldiram Snacks Food. 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 People learn about a bionic humanoid robot at the Zhongguancun International Innovation Center during the 2025 Zhongguancun Forum Annual Conference in Beijing, capital of China, March 27, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhang Chenlin) 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. Editor: Zhang Zhou He can do anything to our family: Rapesurvivors father on fresh bail for Asaram SHAHJAHANPUR : WITH Asaram,who is serving life imprisonment in a rape case,getting fresh interim bail, the survivors father has said his family now faces increased danger as theself-proclaimed god mancan do anything to them any time. The man, a resident of the Shahjahanpur district of Uttar Pradesh, expressedsurpriseover Asaram being granted bail multiple times and claimed that he is managing everyone. The victim was raped at Asarams Jodhpur ashram when she was a minor (16) in 2013. The Gujarat High Court on Friday granted fresh temporary bail for three months to Asaram on medical grounds. Senior advocate Shalin Mehta, representing Asaram,argued that the 86-year-old was suffering from heart and kidney ailments, and the only treatment available to him was ayurvedic panchakarma. The treatment at a Jodhpurbased ayurvedic facility had only justbegunand would take another three months, the lawyer told the court. When Asaram was in jail, it was our victory. Now he is managing everyone. I am surprised that thecourtisrepeatedlygranting interim bail to Asaram, first forsevendays,then12days,then two and a half months and now for three months, the survivors father told PTI. On January 7, the Supreme Court granted interim bail to Asaram till March 31 in this case registered by Gujarat Police. As the three-monthperiodwas coming to an end on Monday, hislawyersmovedtheHighCourt seeking bail for another three months, starting April 1. The survivors father claimed the family had been cheated by their lawyer who did not file an objection to Asarams bail plea despite getting all the papers ready. Even afterrepeatedrequests, our lawyer did not file an objection in court. As a result of this, the court again granted him bail for three months. We signed all the papers and gave them to the lawyer but he did not file the objection and keptmaking us run around...He has cheated us, the survivors father alleged. National Institute of Sowa-Rigpa conducts spl Yoga event in Leh NEW DELHI : THE National Institute of Sowa-Rigpa (NISR) at Leh, an autonomous institute under the Ayush Ministry, hosted a special yoga event in Leh as part of the activities being organised to mark the 100-day countdown to the International Day of Yoga, 2025. Against the stunning backdrop of the Himalayas, at an altitude of 11,562 feet (3,524 meters), the team of NISR, including staff and students conducted the yoga session at the Institute campus on March 25 as per the Common Yoga Protocol (CYP) developed by the Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga, an Ayush ministry statement said. Dr Padma Gurmet, Director, NISR said that yoga is not just a practice; it is a way of life that nurtures both the body and the mind. In todays fast-paced world, it serves as a powerful tool to achieve inner balance, mental clarity, and physical well-being. Through yoga, we cultivate resilience, harmony, and holistic health, not just for individuals but for society as a whole. At the majestic heights of Leh, we reaffirm that yoga transcends boundaries, uniting us all in the pursuit of wellness and peace, Gurmet said. Notably, the 100-day countdown to the International Day of Yoga, 2025, was inaugurated by Prataprao Jadhav, Minister of State (I/C) Ministry of Ayush during Yoga Mahotsav- 2025 held in Delhi. This year IDY activities will revolve around 10 unique signature events to mark the 11th edition of the global event. Yoga Sangama, a synchronised Yoga demonstration, will be held at 10,000 locations, aiming for a world record. Events include Yoga Bandhan as part of which global partnerships will take place with 10 countries to host Yoga sessions at iconic landmarks. A total of 1,000 Yoga Parks will be established for long-term community engagement. Special Yoga programmes for specially abled, senior citizens, children and marginalised groups will be conducted. Other activities include Yoga Prabhava - a decadal impact assessment on Yogas role in public health, a virtual global Yoga Summit featuring renowned experts and healthcare professionals and Samyogam -- a 100-day initiative integrating Yoga with modern healthcare for holistic wellness. Besides this, Yoga Mahakumbh -- a week-long festival across 10 locations, culminating in a central celebration led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi will also be held. Never again: Nitish tells Shah on break-ups with BJP PATNA : BIHAR Chief Minister Nitish Kumar assured Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday that he would never again ditch the BJP, having done so twice by mistake. With Assembly elections barely a few months away, the JD(U) Presidents averment came at a function in Patna where Shah and he unveiled several projects of the Centre and the State. Shah, a former BJP President, had given a pep talk to the cadre late on Saturday night, when he is said to have asserted our victory in Bihar will resonate far and wide. Widely regarded as the BJPs principal strategist, Shah is likely to wind up his two-day tour later in the day with a brainstorming session at Kumars place, where other NDA constituents are also expected. At the function in the State capital, Shah was visibly warm towards Kumar. The JD(U) President seemed chuffed as he told the gathering, This sprawling auditorium has been filled beyond capacity. He was greeted with roars of Jai Shri Ram, in an obvious indication of the overwhelming presence of BJP cadre at the event, but the leader, proud of his secular credentials, took it in his stride. What did the ones in power before (RJD-Congress combine) do? They used to get votes of Muslims but could never put a stop to clashes between communities, he said. There was no healthcare in Bihar worth the name. No good educational facilities. We came to power in November 2005 and things started to look up, claimed Kumar. A BJP ally since the mid-90s, Kumar split with the party in 2014, only to realign three years later. In 2022, he again parted ways, vowing to dislodge the BJP from power at the Centre and bring together parties from across the country to form the INDIA bloc. However, ahead of last years Lok Sabha polls, the JD(U) supremo did yet another volte face and was back in the NDA. In his speech, Kumar blamed his break-ups with the BJP on some people in my own party but asserted, I committed the mistake twice. But it is going to be never again. No direct negotiations with US: Iran DUBAI : Tensions may further rise between Iran, US IRANS President said on 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 programme. 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 emphasised that the path for indirect negotiations remains open. 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 US 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 UNs nuclear watchdog said Iran has accelerated its production of near weapons-grade uranium. 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. PM Modi visits Smruti Mandir, becomes 2nd sitting PM to do so PM Modi paying respects to RSS founder Dr K B Hedgewar during visit to Smruti Mandir, on Sunday. Staff Reporter : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday visited Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sanghs (RSS) Smruti Mandir at Reshimbag. This was his first visit to Smruti Mandir after becoming Prime Minister. There was a lot of curiosity about this event. It was reflected in his speech at a function at Madhav Netralaya when he said he was overwhelmed to pay respects to Dr Hedgewar and Golwalkar Guruji. Modi became the second sitting Prime Minister to visit the RSS headquarters in Nagpur. Atal Behari Vajpayee had visited it in 2000 during his third term as Prime Minister. Coincidentally, Modi too visited RSS Smruti Mandir in his third term. Modi was accompanied by Sarsanghchalak Dr Mohan Bhagwat, former Sarkaryawah Suresh alias Bhaiyyaji Joshi, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Union minister Nitin Gadkari and Smruti Mandir office head Vikas Telang. Modi also met with RSS officer-bearers in the Smruti Bhavan and took group pictures with them. The memorials are dedicated to the values of Indian culture, nationalism and the organisation, Modi wrote a message in the visitors diary at the venue. In a visitors diary at Reshimbag, Modi wrote, I am overwhelmed to visit the Smruti Mandir which cherishes the memories of Param Pujaniya Dr Hedgewar and Pujya Guruji. The memorial of the two strong pillars of RSS is an inspiration to lakhs of swayamsevaks who have dedicated themselves to the service of the nation. This place is dedicated to values of Indian culture, nationalism and organisational power which inspires us to move ahead. I pay respects to the memories of pujya Dr Hedgewar and pujya Golwalkar Guruji. Modis visit coincided with the Sangh's Pratipada programme, marking Gudhi Padwa, the beginning of the Hindu New Year; the birthday of Dr Hedgewar, the founder of RSS and also the centenary year of RSS. RSS is modern Akshay Vat of Indian culture: PM Modi Staff Reporter : Prime Minister Narendra Modi lays foundation stone of Madhav Netralayas Premium Centre Swami Vivekananda shook the Indian society which was drowning in despair, reminded it of its nature, instilled self-confidence and did not let the national consciousness die out. In the last decade of British Raj, Dr Hedgewar and Shri Guruji worked to give new energy to this consciousness. The idea of national consciousness, whose seed was sown 100 years ago, stands today as a great banyan tree. Principles and ideals nourish this banyan tree, while millions of volunteers are working as its branches. Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) is the modern Akshay Vat of Indian culture, which is continuously providing energy to national consciousness, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was speaking on the occasion of the bhoomipujan of Madhav Netralayas Premium Centre along Hingna Road. He performed the bhoomipujan digitally, on Sunday. Sarsanghchalak of the RSS Dr Mohan Bhagwat, Mahamandaleshwar Acharya Swami Avdheshanand Giri Maharaj of Juna Akhara, Swami Govinddev Giri Maharaj of Acharya Maharishi Vedvyas Pratishthan, Chief Minister of Maharashtra Devendra Fadnavis, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari and General Secretary of Madhav Netralaya Charitable Trust Dr Avinash Chandra Agnihotri were seated on the dais on the occasion. Praising Madhav Netralaya for its contribution in eye-care through which it has been bringing light to the lives of the people for the last three decades, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, The trinity of organisation, dedication and service will be an important formula to take India forward and all sections of society should adopt it to fulfill the resolve of making India a developed nation by 2047. Modi was in Nagpur on Sunday to lay foundation stone for Madhav Netralayas Premium Centre. Before reaching Madhav Netralaya, he visited Reshimbag Smruti Mandir of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and later paid respects to Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar at Deekshabhoomi. The bhoomipujan of Madhav Netralayas Premium Center at Hingna Road was performed digitally by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Sarsanghchalak of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh Dr Mohan Bhagwat, Mahamandaleshwar Acharya Swami Avdheshanand Giri Maharaj of Juna Akhara, Swami Govinddev Giri Maharaj of Acharya Maharishi Vedvyas Pratishthan, Chief Minister of Maharashtra Devendra Fadnavis, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari and General Secretary of Madhav Netralaya Charitable Trust Dr Avinash Chandra Agnihotri were seated on the dais. In his speech, Prime Minister Modi discussed the history of the country, the role of saints in the Bhakti movement, the selfless working system of the RSS, the development of the country, religion-culture among the youth, expansion of health services, education, language and Prayagraj Mahakumbh. If there is Madhav Netralaya, then the talk of vision is natural. Vision gives direction in life. It is also written in the Vedas that we should see for a hundred years. This vision should not only be external but also internal. I had the good fortune of attending this holy ritual of Rashtra Yagya. Today, this day of Chaitra Shukla Pratipada is very special. The holy festival of Navratri is starting from today. The festival of Gudhi Padwa and Ugadi is being celebrated in different corners of the country. Today is also the birth anniversary of Lord Jhulelal and Guru Angad Dev. It is also the occasion of the birth anniversary of our inspiration, the most revered Dr Hedgewar. This year, 100 years of the glorious journey of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh is also being completed. I got the opportunity to visit Smruti Mandir and pay tribute to revered Doctor Saheb and revered Guruji. In this period, we have celebrated the completion of 75 years of of India becoming a republic. Next month is the birth anniversary of the Constitution maker Babasaheb Ambedkar. Today, I went to Deekshabhoomi and paid my respects to Babasaheb, said Modi. Prime Minister Modi said, From the Red Fort, I had talked about everyones efforts. The way the country is working in the field of health today, Madhav Netralaya is taking those efforts further. Providing better health facilities to all the citizens of the country is our priority. Even the poorest of the poor should get the best treatment. No citizen of the country should be deprived of the dignity of living. The elderly who have dedicated their entire life for the country should not worry about treatment, they should not have to live in such circumstances - this is the policy of the Government. If we look at the history of our country, during hundreds of years of slavery and invasions, cruel efforts were made to erase the social structure of India. But the consciousness of India never ended, its flame kept burning. Even in the most difficult times, new social movements kept happening to keep this consciousness awake. In that difficult period of medieval times, our saints gave new energy to the national consciousness with the ideas of devotion. Great saints like Guru Nanak Dev, Sant Kabir, Tulsidas, Surdas, Sant Tukaram, Sant Ramdev, Sant Dnyaneshwar breathed life into the society with their original ideas, remarked Modi. Recalling the great saint Gulabrao Maharaj of Vidarbha, Prime Minister Modi said that Sant Gulabrao Maharaj of Maharashtra was called Pradnyachakshu. He lost his eyesight at a young age, yet he composed many texts. He may not have had eyes, but he had vision - which comes from understanding, appears from discretion and gives strength to the individual as well as the society. Sangh is also such a sanskar yagya, which is working for both inner vision and outer vision. Madhav Netralaya is an example of this in the form of outer vision, while inner vision has given shape to the Sangh. It is said in our society that our body is meant for service and charity, commented Modi. Prime Minister Modi narrated a story of Guruji, Once in an interview, Shri Guruji had said that the Sangh is called the omnipresent light. Light removes darkness and shows the path to others. This teaching of his is the mantra of life for us. We have to become light and remove darkness, remove obstacles, and make a way. This is the spirit of the Sangh. Today, Indias biggest asset is our youth. We are seeing that the youth of India is full of self-confidence. His risk-taking capacity has increased many times than before. He is innovating, waving the flag in the world of startups. He is moving forward proud of his heritage and culture. In Maha Kumbh, we saw that millions of young generation reached and were filled with pride by connecting with the Sanatan tradition. The youth of India today is working keeping in mind the needs of the country, pointed out Modi. The mantra of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam is resonating in every corner of the world today. When a pandemic like COVID-19 comes, India considers the world as a family and provides vaccines. Wherever there is a natural disaster anywhere in the world, India is ready to serve. When there was an earthquake in Myanmar, India immediately reached for help under Operation Brahma. Whether it was an earthquake in Nepal or a water crisis in Maldives, India did not delay even for a moment in providing help. Even in the event of war, India brings back citizens of other countries safely, informed Modi to audience. Now new chapters of national pride are being written. The laws made by the British to humiliate Indians have now been changed. The Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS) has now been implemented in place of the Penal Code. Rajpath has now become the Kartavyapath of duty. This is not just a change of name, but a change of mentality. Our Navys flag had a symbol of slavery, which has been removed and now the symbol of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj has been given place. Names of places like Andaman Islands, where Veer Savarkar suffered torture for the nation and Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose blew the trumpet of independence have now been kept in the memory of the heroes of independence. This new India is leaving behind the chains of slavery and moving forward towards national self-respect, Modi brought the changes to the notice of audience. (From left) Dr Avinash Chandra Agnihotri, Ravindra Bhusari, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Swami Avdheshanand Giriji, RSS Sarsanghchalak Dr Mohan Bhagwat, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Swami Govinddev Giri, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, Nikhil Mundle, Major General Anil Bam (retired); (Standing from left) Sudhakar Gokhale, Manish Malani, Vimal Shrivastava, Balkrishna Bharatiya, Vandana Varnekar, Dr Anil Sharma, Dr Milind Hardas, Sandip Dharmadhikari, Dr Sanjay Jaiswal during the bhoomipujan of Madhav Netralayas Premium Centre, on Sunday. Madhav Netralaya is inspired by RSS ideology: Dr Bhagwat RSS Sarsanghchalak Dr Mohan Bhagwat said, RSS founder Dr Hedgewar was born on the day of Hindu New Year Chaitra Shukla Varsh Pratipada. It was also Sunday. It is an auspicious coincidence as today is Varsh Pratipada, Dr Hedgewars birth anniversary, Chaitra Navratri is starting today and today the foundation stone of the new Premium Centre of Manav Netralaya is being laid by the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi. Dr Bhagwat further said that for the last three decades, Madhav Netralaya has spread light in the society through its eye treatment service. It has illuminated the lives of common people through its treatment.The volunteers engaged in this project have served with great dedication. We all are witnesses to this penance of Madhav Netralaya, added Dr Bhagwat. The inspiration behind Madhav Netralaya is the Sangh ideology. This inspiration is not of selfishness, nor of fear or reaction, nor is it any compulsion. Rather, pure Satvik love is the basis of our work. This society is mine, the people of the society are my own, this vision is found in the branches of the Sangh. That is why the volunteers of the Sangh work for the society with complete honesty, selflessness, with body, mind and money, said Dr Bhagwat Dr Mohan Bhagwat stressed that today, the Sangh is doing service to the society through more than 1.5 lakh service projects in the entire country. To serve the society selflessly by bearing every hardship is the inspiration of the Sangh. The Sangh volunteer gets energy from the branch for 1 hour every day and uses that energy for the benefit of the society. Madhav Netralaya will be an important eye institution in Central India: Fadnavis Sight is a precious gift given to man by God. Madhav Netralaya has been working to bring light into the lives of those who unfortunately do not have it for the last three decades. There is a need to provide substantial services in the field of eye health in the country and the State. Institutions like Madhav Netralaya are making a significant contribution in this field by providing consistent service. With the establishment of its Premium Centre, Madhav Netralaya will become an important institution providing services in the field of eye health in Central India, Fadnavis said with a proud feeling. A souvenir showing the journey of Madhav Nethralaya titled Tamaso Ma Jyotirgamaya, written by Sharad Agnihotri was released by Prime Minister Modi. All India Executive Member of RSS including Bhaiyyaji Joshi, Suresh Soni and Sahasarkaryavah Mukunda CR were present in the programme. Nagpurs Guardian Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule, Higher and Technical Education Minister Chandrakant Patil, other ministers, bureaucrats and various dignitaries attended the function. Dr Avinash Agnihotri gave an introductory speech. Neha Mishra, HR and IT Head compered the programme, Manisha Kashikar, presented the welcome song. Joint Secretary Anil Sharma and team of Madhav Netralaya worked hard to make the event successful. Rescuers prepare to carry out search and rescue operations after an earthquake in Mandalay, Myanmar, March 30, 2025. (Photo by Myo Kyaw Soe/Xinhua) 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. Rescuers discuss rescue plans after an earthquake in Mandalay, Myanmar, March 30, 2025. (Blue Sky Rescue team/Handout via Xinhua) 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. 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. (Photo by Feng Tao/Xinhua) 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. Rescuers prepare to carry out search and rescue operations after an earthquake in Mandalay, Myanmar, March 30, 2025. (Photo by Myo Kyaw Soe/Xinhua) 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. Editor: Zhang Zhou Videos Sorry, there are no recent results for popular videos. Ukraine undertakes to amend the Criminal Procedure Code, which will empower the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) to manage extradition requests, as well as abolish the mandatory closure of a pre-trial investigation due to the expiration of the pre-trial investigation period after reporting suspicion (the so-called "Lozovy amendments") by the end of July 2025. "To strengthen effective procedures for corruption investigations, further amendments to the Criminal Procedural Code will be enacted, including to enable the Prosecutor General to delegate to the SAPO the management of extraditions and mutual legal assistance requests in relation to corruption investigations, remove the mandatory dismissal of pre-trial investigations due to the lapse of time limits of pre-trial investigation after notice of suspicion," reads the document updated based on the seventh review of the Extended Fund Facility for Ukraine, published on the website of the IMF. "With the aim of appropriately balancing the objectives of prompt and comprehensive investigations of criminal offenses and protection of rights of parties in criminal proceedings, upon expiration of the timelines and motion of the defendant or affected parties, enable the investigating judge to compel in a timely manner the prosecutors to decide on the pre-trial investigation (either close the proceeding or complete the pre-trial investigation), or reject the motion (structural benchmark, end-December 2024, not met and proposed to be reset for end-July 2025)," it says. "As provided for in the law, the external audit of the NABUs effectiveness with participation of three independent experts with international experience will be completed and its report published (structural benchmark, end-February 2025, not met and proposed to be reset for end-July 2025)," it adds. "The auditors continue to gather and assess information and have received good cooperation with the NABU and other relevant stakeholders. Based on the analysis conducted by the auditors, the audit report will include clear, reasoned, and evidence-based conclusions as well as prioritized recommendations on the effectiveness of NABU and its operational and institutional independence," according to the document. "Consistent with our broader reform plans for the forensic expert system for criminal law enforcement, we will ensure that the NABU by end-July 2025 has access to independent and competent forensic experts, to enable it to effectively conduct its investigative mandate, including investigating complex corruption schemes," it says. Yes Significant efforts are being made No Much more needs to be done Some progress But there are still critical gaps Vote View Results Chisinau is discussing with Kyiv the creation of reserve gas reserves in underground storage facilities on the territory of Ukraine, the Moldovan Ministry of Energy said. "The Moldovan side has expressed interest in using underground gas storage facilities on the territory of Ukraine to form gas reserves," the ministry said in a statement following talks in Kyiv between Moldovan Energy Minister Dorin Junghietu and his Ukrainian counterpart Herman Haluschenko. The talks also discussed the energy security of both countries, the development of alternative gas supply routes, electricity supply and the integration of energy markets. The parties stressed the need to coordinate cooperation with the European Union, the ministry said in the statement. Possible areas of assistance to Ukraine for supplying electricity to Moldovan consumers from the European Union were also discussed. The parties stressed the importance of preserving the ENTSO-E limits for the possibility of importing electricity to Ukraine and Moldova from European countries. Last year, the Moldovan authorities decided to create a strategic reserve of natural gas in the amount of 100 million cubic meters, but then the required reserve was reduced to 50 million cubic meters. The Ministry of Energy of Moldova explained this by the need to place the gas reserve on the commercial market. At the end of 2024, the then Minister of Energy of Moldova, Victor Parlicov, said for the winter period, Moldovan energy companies pumped more than 200 million cubic meters of natural gas into storage. According to him, by decision of the government, 50 million cubic meters were pumped into the gas storage facilities of Ukraine and Romania. The same amount was also stored by the Energocom state gas transportation company in line with EU directives. The commercial reserves of Moldovagaz, stored in Ukraine, were estimated at 100-120 million cubic meters of gas. US President Donald Trump said that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wants to withdraw from the rare earth minerals deal, and warned the Ukrainian leader of serious problems if he does so, Reuters reports. "He's trying to back out of the rare earth deal and if he does that hes got some problems, big, big problems," Trump told reporters. The American president once again emphasized that Ukraine will never be accepted into NATO, despite Zelenskyy's wishes. "He wants to be a member of NATO, but he's never going to be a member of NATO. He understands that," he said. As reported, on March 28, Zelenskyy announced that in the event of risky things in the mineral agreement, he would communicate about this with the Ukrainian society. Photo: Reuters British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Sunday spoke with US President Donald Trump about Ukraine, in particular, the parties agreed to continue pressure on Vladimir Putin, the British government website reports. "The Prime Minister spoke to President Trump this evening. The leaders agreed on the need to keep up the collective pressure on Putin," the report said. Speaking on Ukraine, Starmer briefed Trump on productive discussions at the Coalition of the Willing meeting in Paris this week. The parties discussed the productive talks between their teams on the UK-US economic prosperity deal. They also agreed to continue them at the same pace this week. Starmer and Trump also agreed to stay in touch in the coming days. Tension continued in Mothabari in West Bengals 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. Advertisement 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. Advertisement 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 BJPs 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. Delhi Cabinet Minister and Bawana MLA Ravinder Indraj Singh inaugurated his constituency office on Monday, stating that it will remain dedicated to public service 247 throughout the year. The minister emphasized that residents can visit the office to share their concerns and suggestions, assuring that every possible effort will be made to address their issues. Advertisement He further stated that the office will serve as a bridge between the public and the government, facilitating regional development and ensuring that welfare schemes reach every individual in need. Advertisement Taking to social media, Singh reiterated his commitment, saying, Our resolve is that every citizens voice should be heard, every problem should be resolved promptly, and no one should face difficulties in accessing their rights. The MLA has been actively conducting on-ground inspections to ensure that civic projects progress efficiently and meet quality standards for public convenience. On Saturday, Singh inspected ongoing construction work, emphasizing the importance of high-quality execution and timely completion. During his visit to an under-construction road in Pooth Khurd village, North West Delhi, he directed officials to expedite the project while ensuring minimal inconvenience to local residents. Singh instructed officials to maintain high construction standards and complete projects efficiently without disrupting the community. Delhi Minister Ashish Sood on Monday inaugurated an important sewer line replacement project near Major P Shri Kumar Marg in West Delhis Janakpuri. The locals had been raising concerns for a while about the collapsed sewer line, which was causing overflow of wastewater in the area, being the reason for not only foul smell, but also unhygienic conditions. Advertisement Taking immediate action, the minister Sood had directed Delhi Jal Board officials to replace the 126-metre-long sewer line within a month, and also asked for a comprehensive inspection of all sewer lines in the Janakpuri area, prioritising repairs and replacements where needed, especially before the monsoon season. Advertisement Sood emphasised that old and damaged sewer lines contribute to water-logging, foul odors, and mosquito breeding, posing health and safety risks. The minister has ordered the use of advanced cleaning machines and urgent repairs of broken drains and sewers across the constituency in a bid to bring relief to people. He reaffirmed the Delhi governments commitment to making the city cleaner and more beautiful under the leadership of Chief Minister Rekha Gupta. Meanwhile, Sood has been conducting regular inspections in the area, intending to connect with people and resolve their issues. Sood also interacted with the locals and took their suggestions regarding different issues. In a step aimed to promote communal harmony and ensure smooth festivities during Navratri and Eid, Jangpura MLA Tarvinder Singh Marwah has written to Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, requesting that she issue guidance to the shopkeepers across the city to display name plates in front of their establishments. Marwah feels that this step would allow citizens to make informed choices while purchasing sacred items, maintaining the sanctity of their rituals and beliefs. Advertisement The Jangpura MLA in his letter to CM on Sunday said, As we approach Navratra and Eid, it is important to ensure that celebrations are conducted with mutual respect and harmony. I request your esteemed office to issue guidance for shopkeepers across Delhi to display name plates in front of the establishments. Advertisement In the letter to the CM, he has mentioned that the step will promote transparency and communal harmony, and the intervention of the CM will help ensure smooth festivities and prevent any misunderstanding. In a similar manner, last year, during the Kanwar Yatra in Uttar Pradesh the administration in some areas had asked the shop owners to display their proprietors names in front of the establishments located along the yatra path. A 60-year-old was brutally murdered by neighbours over a trivial dispute in the Maujpur area in East Delhi, an official said on Monday. According to the police, they received information at around 1:35 pm that an individual was stabbed to death in Vijay Mohalla, Maujpur, at Jafrabad Police Station. Advertisement After reaching the crime scene, police found that the victim, Raheesuddin, was taken to the GTB Hospital, an official said. However, despite the medical treatment, the victim succumbed to the injuries. Advertisement An official added that on conducting an inquiry, it was revealed that the deceased was attacked by his neighbour Rafeeq, along with his sons, Mehmood and Zubaid, and a minor (termed Child in Conflict with Law, or CCL) over a trivial dispute, which escalated and led to the murder. Amid the probe, the team has apprehended Rafeeq and the CCL although the two sons have been absconding. The weapon of crime is yet to be confiscated by the team, an official stated. A case has been registered under the relevant sections of BNS, and an investigation is underway to nab the two assailants at large. URCS volunteers take part in search and rescue operations after Russian attacks on Kharkiv, Kryvy Rih Volunteers of the Ukrainian Red Cross Society (URCS) took part in search and rescue operations after a massive Russian drone attack on Kharkiv and a missile attack on Kryvy Rih. "Kharkiv. Yesterday evening, the city suffered another massive drone strike... The Ukrainian Red Cross Society rapid response team in Kharkiv region worked at the sites of the strikes. Together with other rescue services, they evacuated the victims from the sites of the attacks and took part in search and rescue operations," the URCS wrote on Facebook on Sunday. Volunteers also conducted a tour of damaged houses and apartments, provided first aid and psychological first aid to the victims, and transferred the wounded to ambulance crews. The URCS team also provided assistance at the site of the Russian missile strike in Kryvy Rih. Volunteers of the Kryvy Rih unit of the Dnipropetrovsk regional rapid response unit provided first aid to three people, and first psychological aid to twelve more. Volunteers also conducted a house-to-house search to identify victims. As reported, two people were killed and 35 injured as a result of a hostile drone attack on Kharkiv on Saturday. Private residential buildings were destroyed, office buildings, a military hospital, commercial facilities, garages, and cars were damaged. Russian occupiers attacked Kryvy Rih with ballistic missiles on Saturday afternoon. According to the State Emergency Service of Ukraine, seven people were injured as a result of a missile strike on the city. Multi-storey residential buildings, a store, a car wash, and an infrastructure facility were damaged, as well as more than twenty cars. Under the direction of Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, a mega cleanliness drive is in full swing across Delhi. As part of this initiative, a special cleanliness campaign at religious places has been launched, an official statement confirmed on Monday. On the occasion of the Hindu New Year, a two-day special cleanliness campaign was conducted on March 28 and 29 at 522 temples across the city by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD). During this drive, over 24,500 posters, banners, and hoardings were removed from religious sites. Advertisement Additionally, the removal of unauthorized banners and posters from public properties is ongoing. Officials from the relevant departments have been instructed to expedite the cleanliness efforts. Advertisement On Monday, Gupta visited the Kali Mandir at Deepali Chowk in North West Delhi to offer prayers and inspect the ongoing cleanliness work. She stated, Religious places in Delhi are not just centers of faith but also an integral part of our cultural heritage. The government prioritizes cleanliness and is committed to maintaining a clean and sacred environment for devotees. This initiative, undertaken with public participation and government cooperation, is setting a benchmark for cleanliness efforts. Gupta reaffirmed the Delhi governments dedication to its vision of a clean and green city. Providing further insights into the MCDs report on the ongoing drive, she said, So far, special cleanliness campaigns have been successfully conducted in 522 temples. She also emphasized that any negligence in this regard would result in strict action and directed that appropriate measures be taken against non-compliant officials. The Chief Minister has urged citizens to actively participate in the campaign and integrate cleanliness into their daily lives. She reiterated that maintaining cleanliness is not solely the governments responsibility but a collective duty of all citizens. The James Bond franchise has been making headlines for a while now following Amazon taking creative control from the Broccoli family. Previously, the Broccoli family were the custodians of the franchise. The Broccoli family, which created all the titles from Dr No to No Time to Die has taken a step back. The development comes after Amazon acquired MGM and its extensive catalogue which also includes the James Bond films. Since the development, debates regarding Bonds gender and nationality have gained traction. Now, veteran star Helen Mirren calls out the franchise profound sexism stating that Bond should not be a female. She states that a female spy deserves her own film. In a recent interaction, Helen Mirren opined on the Bond franchise. While she was all praises for her Mobland co-star Pierce Brosnan, she slammed the film franchise. Speaking with Standard, she said, I have to say I was never a great ward [of Bond]. Im a huge fan of Pierce Brosnan. I mean massive fan. I mean, oh my God. Obviously, hes gorgeous and everything, and I think hes fabulous in MobLand, but he also happens to be one of the nicest people youll ever have the pleasure to work with. And indeed Daniel Craig, who Ive met and know a little bit, again a very lovely, gracious person. Advertisement She added, The whole series of James Bond, it was not my thing. It really wasnt. I never liked James Bond. I never liked the way women were in James Bond. She believes that the franchises sexism cannot be masked by casting a female 007. On the other hand, she states that women should get to play stories of real female spies. Advertisement Mirren said, The whole concept of James Bond is drenched and born out of profound sexism. Women have always been a major and incredibly important part of the Secret Service, they always have been. And very brave. If you hear about what women did in the French Resistance, theyre amazingly, unbelievably courageous. So, I would tell real stories about extraordinary women whove worked in that world. Meanwhile, recently reports surfaced that Amazon is not going to change the spys gender or nationality. Moreover, Brosnan had also said that James Bond should be British and not American. Also Read: MobLand cast: Check out the A-list stars running this crime empire! With discussions about the franchises future ripe, details of the actor succeeding Daniel Craig remain under wraps. Hitting out at those who attempting to incite communal tensions over Aurangzebs tomb, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) Chief Raj Thackeray said that the Mughal ruler wanted to erase Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharajs legacy but failed to accomplish it despite repeated attempts. The MNS Chief added that he wants the people across the world to know how Mughal rulers such as Aurangzeb wanted to destroy the Marathas but were eventually defeated. Advertisement Addressing his annual Gudi Padwa rally at Shivaji Park here, Thackeray said the Mughal ruler Aurangzeb wanted to kill a thought called Shivaji but failed and died in Maharashtra. Advertisement Despite being the ruler of a vast region, Aurangzeb remained in Maharashtra even after the death of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj because he wanted to erase Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharajs legacy a task he ultimately failed to accomplish The MNS Chief added that history should not be viewed from the prism of caste and religion and also asked people not to rely on WhatsApp forwards for historical information. Thackerays comments came amid demands by right-wing outfits for the removal of Aurangzebs tomb located in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district. Protests over the issue had also triggered violence in Nagpur earlier this month. Dont we want to let the world know that these people sought to destroy the Marathas but were wiped out instead. Stop reading history on WhatsApp and rather delve into history books, he said. Afzal Khan, the Bijapur general, was buried near the Pratapgadh Fort and it couldnt have been done without Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharajs permission, he added. Urging people not to get provoked and distracted, Thackeray said that socio-political situations were different in pre-Shivaji and post-Shivaji eras. We have forgotten the real issues of the present time. Hindus who feel awakened after a movie are of no use. Did you learn about Sambhaji Maharajs sacrifice because of Vicky Kaushal and about Aurangzeb because of Akshaye Khanna, he asked. Thackeray was referring to the recently released period drama Chhaava, based on the life of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, who was tortured and executed by Aurangzeb. He said Aurangzeb was born in Dahod, Gujarat. Those who provoke people for their selfish political aspirations are not concerned with history, he asserted. Thackeray said a country cannot progress on the basis of religion and cited the example of Turkey and how it reformed itself. Religion should remain within the four walls of your home. A Hindu identifies as a Hindu only when Muslims take to the streets or during riots; otherwise, Hindus are divided by caste, he added. The MNS Chief claimed that the BJP-led governments popular Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin scheme would be scrapped. I told you earlier, but you believed them and not me, he said. Opposition parties have been attacking the Mahayuti government of BJP, Shiv Sena and NCP in the state for not raising the monthly financial assistance under the Ladki Bahin programme from Rs 1,500 to Rs 2,100 as promised in their poll manifesto before last years Assembly elections. Thackeray reiterated his partys stand on the use of the Marathi language being made mandatory for official purposes. If you live here and dont speak the language, you will be dealt with appropriately, he warned. He also slammed the pollution of rivers in the name of religion and showed a purported video claiming that bodies were being burnt and dumped into the river Ganga. What kind of religion is this if we destroy our natural resources. As much as Rs 33,000 crore has been spent on cleaning the Ganga and it is still going on. Shouldnt we reform ourselves, he asked. Thackeray claimed that Maharashtras rivers are also extremely polluted. Of the 311 most polluted river patches in the country, 55 are from Maharashtra, he said. Mumbai had five rivers and four of them have been killed, he said. The lone surviving river, Mithi, is about to die, he said, adding that sewage water, encroachments and discharge of chemical waste into the rivers are killing the water bodies. Union Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju has welcomed the request by Kerala Catholic Bishops Council (KCBC) to all MPs of Kerala to support the Waqf Amendment Bill. He said the BJP government strives to protect the rights of every Indian citizen and will continue to do so. I welcome the request by Kerala Catholic Bishops Council (KCBC) to all MPs of Kerala to support the Waqf Amendment Bill as a Minister and as a minority community member. It is the duty of those in politics to care for and address problems and challenges faced by our people. For example, hundreds of families in #Munambam, Kerala have suffered and continue to seek a solution to protect their properties and homes, he said in his post on X. Advertisement The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, mandates digital registration of Waqf properties within six months, bringing efficiency, transparency & accountability. Advertisement Mr Rijiju pointed out that this act is not against any community that is propaganda being spread to poison the minds of some. Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji & our Govt strive to protect the rights of every Indian citizen and will continue to do so. I sincerely hope all Kerala MPs will support this Bill in the interest of all people and not sacrifice the interests of people for petty appeasement politics, he said. Wishing everyone a joyous and blessed Eid-ul-Fitr, he said in his message May this special day bring happiness, prosperity & new opportunities for all. Lets celebrate the spirit of togetherness & gratitude with our loved ones. BJP leader Shehzad Poonawalla said the support of KCBC on the Waqf Amendment Bill is coming as a strong response to those Bhadkaau Bhaijaan Committee members who are trying to use the Waqf in order to polarise insight and in order to mislead the Muslim community. It was never an issue of minority versus majority. The unlimited powers given to Waqf have led to land grabbing even of the Christian communityToday, this is an issue between land grabbers and poor Muslims, but those who are turning it into Hindu versus Muslim or majority versus minority have got a tight slap from KCBC, he noted. The Kerala Catholic Bishops Council (KCBC) has urged MPs from the state to vote in favour of the Waqf Amendment Bill when it comes up for discussion in Parliament. KCBC president Cardinal Baselios Cleemis Catholicos in a statement issued on Saturday, demanded that when the Bill is taken for debate in Parliament, the peoples representatives from Kerala should vote in favour of amending the sections which are unfair and anti-constitutional. The KCBC is a powerful organisation of Catholic bishops in Kerala belonging to the Syro-Malabar, Latin and Syro-Malankara Churches. Regarding the Waqf Boards claim on around 400-odd acres of land at Munambam in Ernakulam district, which has mainly been in the possession of Christian residents for generations, the Cardinal said, Various clauses in the Waqf Act, which have prevented the occupants of the land from enjoying their legal rights, should be amended. The Farook College management (in Kozhikode, which sold the land to the occupants), had already stated that the land was gifted to them. Hence, peoples representatives should vote in favour of the amendment, which will prevent the Waqf Board from making claims on the land. MPs from both the CPI-M-led LDF and Congress-led UDF in Kerala have opposed the Waqf amendment Bill. The KCBC has earlier approached the Joint Committee of Parliament on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2024, urging immediate and decisive action to resolve the matter. The Waqf Amendment Bill is expected to be reintroduced during the ongoing session of Parliament. Union Home Minister Amit Shah stated in the Lok Sabha on Friday that the Central government would introduce the Waqf Amendment Bill during the current session itself. BJP Kerala president Rajeev Chandrasekhar has welcomed the KCBCs appeal to MPs to support the bill, calling it a step in the right direction. He urged all MPs from Kerala to support the Waqf Amendment Bill stating that such a stance is necessary for addressing the land-related issues being faced by the fishing community in Munambam. He asked all MPs, including those from Congress, to ensure that laws remain consistent with the Constitution and address real issues faced by the people. The Waqf Amendment Bill, 2024, is being opposed by Muslims across the country. Recently, the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) called for nationwide protests against the bill. Several opposition parties have also expressed strong opposition to the proposed legislation, branding it as an assault on Muslim rights, Constitutional values and, most amusingly, as something that hurts Muslim sentiments. In this situation, the support of an organisation of Catholic bishops in Kerala belonging to the Syro-Malabar, Latin and Syro-Malankara Churches has come as a significant development. Earthquake today: A wave of seismic activity has struck different parts of the world in the past few days, raising concerns over infrastructure damage and potential aftershocks. India has expressed deep concern over the powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake that jolted Myanmar and Thailand on Friday. Authorities are on standby for an emergency response as the region continues to experience aftershocks. The earthquake in Myanmar and Thailand is not an isolated event. Several tremors have been reported in the surrounding regions, prompting experts to analyze patterns and assess the risks of further seismic activity. The aftershocks, though milder, continue to shake the affected areas, leaving residents on edge. Advertisement Tonga Islands shaken by a 7.0-magnitude earthquake today On Sunday, March 30, at 5:48 PM IST, a strong 7.0-magnitude earthquake struck the Tonga Islands, a scenic collection of over 170 islands in the South Pacific. The National Center for Seismology confirmed the quakes occurrence, emphasizing the regions vulnerability due to its position in the Ring of Fire. Advertisement The Ring of Fire is an area in the Pacific Ocean where tectonic plates frequently shift, leading to volcanic eruptions and earthquakes. Given this, Tonga remains at high risk for seismic events. While no major damage has been reported yet, experts are closely monitoring the situation to assess any long-term impact on the islands infrastructure and communities. Tongas economy heavily relies on tourism, thanks to its pristine white-sand beaches and rich marine biodiversity. A significant earthquake could disrupt daily life and affect travel plans for visitors. Authorities are assessing whether the quake has triggered any tsunami threats, though no official alerts have been issued so far. Turkey experiences moderate tremors Meanwhile, Turkey also experienced seismic activity early on Monday, March 31. A magnitude 3.9 earthquake struck near Alanya, Antalya, at 1:36 AM local time. Turkeys Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD), the main agency responsible for monitoring earthquakes, reported that the tremor occurred at a shallow depth of 12.40 km. Although a 3.9-magnitude earthquake is considered relatively mild, shallow quakes can still cause structural damage, especially in older buildings or unstable terrains. Turkey is no stranger to earthquakes, as it sits on major fault lines that frequently generate seismic activity. Indias response and preparedness With earthquakes shaking multiple regions worldwide, Indian authorities are keeping a close watch. Although the recent tremors did not directly impact India, the government remains alert, ensuring that disaster management teams are prepared to respond if necessary. India has experienced its fair share of devastating earthquakes in the past, making preparedness a top priority. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and other agencies regularly conduct drills and assess infrastructure resilience in seismic-prone zones. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday dismissed Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Rauts claim that Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the RSS in Nagpur yesterday to discuss his retirement plan once he turns 75 in September and that the PMs successor will be from Maharashtra. No, not a chancethere is no need to search for his successor. He is our leader and will continue, he declared in Nagpur. Advertisement In our culture, when the father is alive, it is inappropriate to talk about succession. It is a Mughal tradition that children think about succession even when the father is alive. The time has not come to discuss it, the chief minister said, referring to Mr Rauts claim that Modis successor would come from Maharashtra. Advertisement Mr Fadnavis said, In 2029, we will see Modi as the Prime Minister of India once again. There is no need to search for his successor. Discussing succession when the leader is still active is inappropriate in Indian culture. At a press conference, Mr Raut claimed that PM Modi had discussed his retirement plan with the RSS leadership and that his successor would be from Maharashtra. RSS will decide the successor of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and he will be from Maharashtra. Thats why Modi was called to Nagpur to discuss it at a closed-door meeting, said Mr Raut, a Rajya Sabha member and a close confidant of former Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray. He, however, did not reveal the source of his information. To Mr Rauts claim that the next PM will be from Maharashtra, Mr Fadnavis, who is one of the tallest BJP leaders in the state, said he has nothing to do with the matter. Though Mr Fadnavis refuted Mr Rauts claim about the PMs retirement, it has sparked speculation about whether Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari, who is from Nagpur and is also seen as being close to the RSS, would replace Mr Modi. A senior BJP legislator from Maharashtra said Mr Rout is trying to create a new controversy by raising this issue. There is no discussion on PM Modis successor. Raut is trying to create controversy over the issue. Instead, he should bother about Uddhav Thackerays successor, he said. This is not the first time that an Opposition leader has claimed that Mr Modi will retire once he attains the age of 75 in September. AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal stated this twice during the last year amid suggestions that there is an unspoken rule in the party that anyone who turns 75 cannot hold a ministerial position. However, senior BJP leaders, including Home Minister Amit Shah, have already made it clear that the BJP will fight the 2029 Lok Sabha elections also under Mr Modis leadership. One senior leader pointed out that Union Minister and top Bihar leader Jitan Ram Manjhi is 80 years old but holds a Cabinet position in the Modi government. Former Union Minister Dr Girija Vyas sustained burn injuries on Monday when her saree accidentally caught fire from an earthen lamp during Navratri worship at her residence in Udaipur. The three-term ex-MP was about to conclude her Navratri puja when her saree caught fire, and the flames spread rapidly, causing serious burn injuries, her brother Gopal Sharma said. Advertisement She was initially rushed to a nearby private clinic before being referred to a hospital in Ahmedabad for further treatment, Sharma added. Advertisement Her condition is reported to be stable and out of danger. However, she may require plastic surgery, which is why she has been sent to Ahmedabad. The Haryana government has constituted a high-level committee under the chairmanship of Additional Chief Secretary, Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, to review the current price policy for the upcoming crop seasons. The primary objective of this committee is to examine the cost of cultivation for major Kharif and Rabi crops in the state that contribute to the states agricultural economy. A spokesman of Haryana Kisan Kalyan Pradhikaran said that the state government is committed to enhancing the welfare of farmers and ensuring that the states agricultural sector remains robust, competitive and sustainable in the years to come. Through this committee, the government aims to craft policies that balance the interests of farmers, consumers and the states economic priorities. Advertisement He said that the committee, which will meet twice a year, has been tasked with evaluating the prevailing price policy, the cost of cultivation and offering comprehensive recommendations on the necessary actions to make the policy more effective and responsive to the needs of farmers in Haryana. The formation of this committee comes in response to the need for a sustainable and farmer-friendly price policy that ensures fair remuneration for agricultural produce, promotes crop diversification, and addresses the challenges posed by rising production costs, he added. Advertisement The spokesman said that examining the cost of cultivation, reviewing the price policy, providing recommendations and supporting farmers welfare are the key objectives of the committee. He said that the committee will assess the current cost of cultivation for major crops grown in Haryana, taking into consideration factors such as input costs, labour, irrigation, and other related expenses. Besides, it will evaluate the existing price policy for crops and suggest improvements to ensure fair and remunerative prices for farmers, aligning with the cost of production. He said that based on its findings, the committee will provide recommendations to the state government on strategic actions that can be taken to enhance the effectiveness of the price policy. Also, the committee will focus on ensuring that the price policy benefits farmers while addressing their economic needs and challenges, contributing to the growth of Haryanas agricultural sector. He said that the committee will consist of Director, Additional Directors, Joint Directors, and Deputy Directors from the Agriculture Department, Heads of Economics and Agronomy section of Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University (CCSHAU), Hisar, and Director of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department as Members and Chief Executive Officer of Haryana Kisan Kalyan Pradhikaran as Member Secretary. The spokesman said that this initiative is a significant step towards ensuring that agricultural policies align with the evolving needs of farmers. By bringing together experts, stakeholders, and farmers representatives, the government aims to create a platform that actively addresses the challenges faced by the agricultural community, ensures fair remuneration and promotes sustainable farming practices. He said that this committee will serve as a catalyst for informed decision-making, paving the way for more effective policies that prioritise the well-being of farmers and strengthen the agricultural sector as a whole. On the 50th day of their indefinite strike demanding better remuneration, Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA) workers intensified their protest outside the Secretariat on Monday. In an emotional act of defiance against the LDF governments apathy, they cut their hair, with some even shaving their heads. Before the hair-cutting protest, hundreds of women with their hair left open marched to the state Secretariat. The protest site, located just 50 meters from the office of Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, witnessed a powerful demonstration. Advertisement ASHA workers Padmajam and Beena shaved their heads, while state representatives of the Kerala ASHA Health Workers Association symbolically cut their locks in front of the Secretariat. Advertisement Similar acts of solidarity were carried out across the state. Before cutting their hair, the workers loosened their tresses, and after the act, they chanted slogans while holding their shorn locks. MA Bindu, General Secretary of the Kerala ASHA Health Workers Union (KAHWA), described the hair-cutting protest as a unique and powerful form of resistance. She emphasized that this demonstration marked a pivotal moment in their historic struggle against the governments neglect. Our hair is as precious to us as our children. Despite our genuine demands, the Kerala government remains silent. We will not remain silent and will not call off our protests until our demands are met, said MA Bindu. The protest has drawn support from various quarters. Raju P George, the priest of St Thomas Marthoma Church in Pathanapuram, joined the protest by cutting his hair in solidarity. He stated that his action was a stand with the ordinary women fighting for a just cause. AV Reghu and Sandeep Shankar, BJP councillors of Angamaly Municipality, also tonsured their heads in support of the ASHA workers strike. Additionally, they pledged to donate their Rs 10,000 honorarium to the protesting ASHA workers. Meanwhile, the indefinite hunger strike by ASHA workers is set to enter its 12th day on Monday. Currently, SS Anithakumari (Palode FHC), Beena Peter (Puthanthope CHC), and S.B. Raji (Vattiyoorkavu FHC) are fasting. Anithakumari and Beena have been on hunger strike for five days, while Raji continues her fast after two days. Among the first to begin fasting were MA Bindu, R Sheeja (Puthukuruchi FHC), KP Thankamani (Thrikannapuram UPHC), Shobha M (Vattiyoorkavu UPHC), and S. Shailaja (Kulathur UPHC). ASHA workers have been protesting in front of the Secretariat since February 10, demanding an increase in honorarium, retirement benefits, and better working conditions. The protest has garnered widespread support from various political and cultural circles, with large crowds gathering daily to express solidarity. On Monday, a significant turnout of people and ASHA workers was witnessed at the protest venue. The government has conducted several rounds of discussions; however, no resolution has been reached yet. Officials maintain that a solution can only be achieved after the Central Government makes necessary changes to service conditions. BRS working president KT Rama Rao on Monday met protesting students of Hyderabad Central University (HCU) and criticized the Congress government for rushing to acquire the last remaining green space in West Hyderabad without conducting an environmental impact assessment. He alleged that the police entered the HCU campus without the vice chancellors permission. Rao also took aim at Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, for his silence on the issue, despite his past opposition to the destruction of the Aarey forest in Mumbai and the Hasdeo forests in Chhattisgarh. He urged HCU alumni in the Cabinet, such as Bhatti Vikramarka Mallu and D Sridhar Babu, to speak out. Advertisement Accusing Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy of prioritizing real estate gains over the welfare of students, the environment, and the citys future, Rao said, HCU and its surrounding areas are among the last green lungs of this part of the city. Destroying them without an Environmental Impact Assessment is a crime against Hyderabads future. Are we heading toward a Delhi-like situation where breathing becomes a luxury? Advertisement Rao, popularly known as KTR, pointed out that the government has access to 45,000 acres for projects like Future City and Pharma City. If you have so much land, why this desperate, barbaric assault on a mere 400 acres critical to education and the environment? he questioned. The BRS leader also accused Rahul Gandhi of hypocrisy. Cant you hear the cries of the wildlife being crushed under bulldozers? Dont the visuals of students being dragged and beaten reach you? Where is your commitment to democracy and the environment now? he asked. He also challenged the BJP to clarify its stance on the issue. Assuring the HCU students of his partys support, Rao said, We will raise this issue on every platform Parliament, Rajya Sabha, and the public sphere to hold Revanth Reddy and his government accountable. Protests have been ongoing against the governments plan to develop 400 acres of land in Kancha Gachibowli, adjacent to HCU, which environmental activists have described as an urban forest. A large police force was sent to clear the land, leading to resistance from students. Photo: https://www.facebook.com/RedCrossUkraine Some 30% of the repair work has been completed in the building of the Center for Pediatric Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery, damaged by a Russian missile strike on Kyiv in the summer of 2024, the Ukrainian Red Cross Society (URCS), which, together with foreign partners, is participating in the restoration of the institution, reported. "Recently, representatives of the Canadian Red Cross, one of the partners with whose financial support the restoration work is being carried out, payed a monitoring visit to the cardiology center," the URCS noted on Facebook. According to Askar Umarbekov, head of the European region of the Canadian Red Cross, his organization has contributed to the reconstruction and repair work of the cardiology center. "Through the Ukrainian Red Cross Society, we invested CAD 500,000 for the repair work," Umarbekov emphasized. The Center for Pediatric Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery is a unique medical institution not only for Ukraine, but also for Europe. The center is able to provide assistance to children with congenital heart defects from the first minutes of life. Before being damaged by the Russian massive missile attack on Kyiv (July 8, 2024), the center received about 1,000 children every year. A speeding luxury car hit two labourers, leaving them seriously injured in Sector-126 police station area in Uttar Pradeshs Noida. The car involved in the accident has been seized and the driver has been arrested, police said on Monday. The incident took place on Sunday. The luxury car, a Lamborghini registered in the name of one Mridul, crashed into the labourers sitting on the footpath. Meanwhile, a case has been registered in this regard, and further legal action is being taken. Advertisement DCP Noida Ram Badan Singh today said, A reckless car driver injured two people in Sector 126. The injured persons are admitted to a hospital. The car involved in the accident has been seized and the driver has been arrested. Case registered in the matter. Advertisement However, the high-end car was being driven by another person, Deepak. After the accident, the locals confronted the driver and called the cops. The police reached the spot and rushed the injured labourers to a nearby hospital. They also took the driver into custody. The car is registered in the name of Mridul and was being driven by Deepak. The driver, Deepak, a resident of Ajmer, has been arrested, and the car has been taken into custody. Sector-126 police station has registered a case, and further legal action is being taken, the Noida Police said. Narrating his ordeal from the hospital bed, one of the victims said that they could not get a chance to run as the car was being driven at a very high speed. The car ran over my legthe car was at high speedI got injuries on my face alsoWe were not able to run, he told a news agency. According to some reports, the luxury car belonged to a popular social media influencer and YouTuber, Mridul. He goes by the name The Mridul on Instagram, where he has more than 3.5 million followers. Continuing its attack on Mohanlal-starrer L2: Empuraan, directed by Prithviraj Sukumaran, the RSS mouthpiece Organiser, accused the Malayalam movie of whitewashing Islamic terrorism while portraying the Hindu community negatively. The article said the movie is anti-Bharat and anti-Hindu as it undermines Bharats nationhood, culture, Constitution, and democratic institutions. In an article titled Unmasking the anti-Hindu and anti-Bharat narrative in Malayalam film Empuraan, the magazine has labelled the movie anti-national and anti-Hindu, asserting that it follows a deliberate pattern of distorting history, inciting division, and undermining faith in democratic institutions. The article, published on Sunday, says the movie undermines Bharats nationhood, culture, Constitution, and democratic institutions. Advertisement This is the third article published by the RSS mouthpiece against Empuraan since the movie was released on March 27 and the magazine published this article after Mohanlal expressed an apology and conveyed his regret for the distress caused to his loved fans. The publication of the article even after Mohanlals apology indicates that the RSS has not mellowed down its opposition against the movie. Advertisement The article, written by Vishnu Aravind, says, The film has sparked outrage for whitewashing Islamic terrorism while casting the Hindu community in a villainous role. The Gujarat riotsa tragic and complex chapter in Bharats historyare depicted with a slanted narrative, conveniently distorting facts to fit a divisive political discourse. The article further says that the movie disregards the horrific massacre of 59 innocent Ram devotees in Godhra, trivialising their suffering while shifting blame elsewhere. More disturbingly, Empuraan disregards the horrific massacre of 59 innocent Ram devotees in Godhra, trivialising their suffering while shifting blame elsewhere. The film not only revives painful memories but does so in a way that sows seeds of discord, undermining the nations unity and its democratic institutions, the article said. The article asks whether you think it is a coincidence that the name of the character played by Prithviraj in the controversial Malayalam film Empuraan is Masood Saeed. The Organiser stated that this is a combination of the names of Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorist Masood Azhar and Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorist Hafiz Saeed. Do you think it is a coincidence that the name of the character portrayed in the controversial Malayalam film Empuraan is Masood Saeed, a portmanteau of the names of Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorist Masood Azhar and Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorist Hafiz Saeed?. Anyone who watches the film critically will find it hard to believe so, the Organiser said. According to the article, the films plotline, steeped in layers of subtext, appears to follow a calculated pattern aimed at pushing an anti-national and anti-Hindu agenda. This is not an isolated case but rather part of a longstanding ideological movement in the film industry in Kerala, led by actor-turned-director Prithviraj. The first part, Lucifer, subtly introduced the idea that political parties in Bharat are mere puppets controlled by unseen foreign entities. The second part, Empuraan, takes this further by targeting Indias investigative agencies, law enforcement, and judiciary institutions crucial to the nations democratic framework. The message is clear: the audience is meant to distrust those entrusted with upholding justice, said the article. Empuraan continues this trend, reinforcing the belief that the system is beyond redemption, it added. The RSS magazine further said the movie gives the message of anarchy and political disillusionment. From the very outset, the film projects a sense of anarchy. The opening sequence is underscored by Lord Actons famous dictum: Power corrupts. Absolute power corrupts absolutely. While this might seem like a commentary on political realities, its repeated assertion throughout the film pushes the dangerous notion that all power is inherently malevolent. By painting every political leader as deceitful and suggesting that the real power lies in the shadows, Empuraan risks alienating the public from the electoral system, the RSS magazine said. The article further said that the movie, Empuraan, is likely to alienate the public from the electoral system, endorsing that justice can only be served through extra-constitutional means. The first installment, Lucifer, depicted saffron organisations as being funded by multinational corporationsan unsubtle attempt to malign nationalist movements. Empuraan continues this trend, reinforcing the belief that the system is beyond redemption. The main character, Stephen Nedumpally, operates outside the legal framework, subtly endorsing that justice can only be served through extra-constitutional means. This portrayal weakens public confidence in lawful governance and democratic accountability, the article said. Raising further suspicions, Organiser questioned the films financial backing, demanding transparency regarding its funding sources and the withdrawal of one of its producers. Where did the films funding come from? Who were the silent backers? Why did one of the producers withdraw from the project? These are not baseless speculations but legitimate concerns that demand transparency, the article said. It seems that the RSS does not accept the argument that Mohanlal has decided to act in the movie without reading the complete script. Another article titled Controversial film Empuran forced to make 17 cuts after facing backlash, published in the Organiser, said Moreover, it is highly unlikely that a megastar like Mohanlal would act in a film without reading the complete script. A shrewd business tycoon like Gokulam Gopalan would be unlikely to invest in a movie without full knowledge of its story and script. Similarly, it is improbable that Murali Gopi, the story and script writer, would allow his name to appear in the credits if the script had been altered. In yet another article, the RSS mouthpiece Organiser continued to target actor-director Prithviraj Sukumaran by highlighting his stance against Sanatana Dharma and policies of the central government. The real person in dock is now the director of the movie Prithviraj Sukumaran who is known for his stand against the incumbent government at the Centre on various issues as well as on Sanatan Dharma, says the article published on Sunday. Advertisement Prithiviraj is the voice of anti-nationals and this is evident from the fact that he was among the prominent figures behind the Save Lakshadweep campaign which sought to oppose the progressive measures introduced by the Union government to modernize the islands, portraying them in a communal light, it says. Advertisement Screenshots of Prithvirajs various social media posts have also been shared in the article. Prithviraj also raised his voice during the CAA protests. He called on those opposing the CAA to rise up. He was also very vocal during the CAA agitation, urging those opposed to the CAA to rise. He was the one who backed the Jamia students during the CAA protests and had stated revolution is homegrown .Always. #Rise. Also, his brother Indrajith Sukumaran had come out in support of Ayesha Renna who was seen confronting the Delhi Police. The CAA protests were carried out by those who were trying to mislead the nation about the Citizenship Amendment Act, the article says. The article also says that Prithvirajs double standards are clear when it comes to local issues like the Munambam case where hundreds of Christian families are facing the threat of eviction by the Waqf Board. He talks about the CAA but does not say anything about the Hindu persecution in Bangladesh, the article alleges. Double standards of Prithviraj can be seen from the fact that he remains mysteriously silent when it comes to local issues, such as the Munambam case, where hundreds of Christian families face eviction by the WAQF Board. He speaks out about the CAA but does not address Hindu persecution in Bangladesh, organizer says. The article also demands an answer as to why Prithviraj decided to call the main villain in the movie Empuraan Baba Bajrangi. It is another name for Lord Ramas greatest devotee, Hanuman. Prithiviraj needs to answer as to why he chooses to name the main villain in the movie as Bajrangbali, another name for Hanuman, the greatest devotee of Shri Ram. This character is depicted as the central Home Minister, the article further says. The article further says it is not just a coincidence that such things are shown in the movie, it clearly indicates that Prithvirajs aim was to make a propaganda film that would advance the evil intentions of the Leftist.and anti-Indians etc. Following the Sangh Parivar outrage, the makers of L2: Empuraan have voluntarily come forward to make 17 cuts in the movie. Thereafter Mohanlal offered apologies. In a post on Facebook on Sunday, Mohanlal said, 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, Mohanlal wrote. The right-wing targeted the movie for being anti-Hindu, while a section of left supporters targeted Mohanlal for apologising under pressure from the Sangh Parivar. Condemning the hate campaign unleashed by the Sangh parivar against the cast and crew of the film, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan stated that the atmosphere of fear instigated by right-wing groups was concerning. In a Facebook post, CM Vijayan said he watched Empuraan, which is poised to take the Malayalam film industry to greater heights, at a time when the makers of the movie are under attack from the Sangh parivar. He said the right-wing groups were angered by the references in the movie to one of the worst genocides the country has seen. Amid a series of fresh terror incidents in the Jammu region, Union Home Minister Amit Shah is likely to visit Jammu and Kashmir on 7 April to review the security situation and interact with security forces top brass, sources said on Monday. During his visit, Shah will chair a high-level security review meeting in the Union Territory to assess the scenario after a series of terror incidents, particularly in the areas that have remained peaceful for the past about two decades. Advertisement Top brass of the J&K Police, Army, BSF, CRPF, ITBP, SSB and intelligence agencies will attend the meeting. Discussions are expected to focus on counter-terrorism operations, cross-border infiltration attempts, and the overall security landscape in Jammu and Kashmir. Advertisement In addition to the review meeting, the Home Minister is also expected to visit forward areas along the International Border to inspect security arrangements and boost the morale of the forces stationed there. Shahs visit to the Union Territory is significant considering the recent terror activities in the Kathua district of Jammu that deteriorated the peace and tranquil atmosphere in the region. His visit also comes days ahead of the proposed inauguration of the Katra-Kashmir rail link by flagging off a Vande Bharat from Katra by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Elaborate security arrangements have been made on the entire rail track that passes through areas of Reasi, Ramban and Shopian districts that have remained hotbeds of terrorism. The Home Minister is also expected to meet the BJP leaders and discuss the political situation in the UT. Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah on Monday unveiled the grand statue of Maharaja Agrasen, inaugurated the newly constructed ICU, and laid the foundation stone for the PG hostel at Maharaja Agrasen Medical College, Agroha, Hisar. Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini and other dignitaries were present on the occasion. In his address, Shah said the land of Haryana has worked to enrich and preserve Indias culture, values, and traditions since ancient times. He said, from Mahabharata time to the freedom struggle and even after independence, Haryanas contribution to the development of the country has always been far greater than that of the larger states. Advertisement Shah said that in this large hospital, where nearly five lakh people avail OPD services, 180 children graduate in medical education every year, and patients receive various types of modern medical facilities, all of this is possible due to the foundation laid by OP Jindal. Advertisement The Union Home Minister said that Maharaja Agrasen was a unique kind of ruler, and it is said that in his time, the capital had a population of one lakh people. Whenever a new person arrived there, they were given a brick and one rupee by every individual to help them build a house. Shah said that Maharaja Agrasen paved the way for the prosperity and welfare of every individual without burdening the state. He said that Maharaja Agrasen worked to nurture the values of the entire state. Maharaja Agrasen ensured that no one in his kingdom went hungry to bed, no one lived without a roof over their head, and no one was without work. Shah said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is also following the path shown by Maharaja Agrasen. He mentioned that during Prime Minister Modis 10-year tenure, 25 crore people in the country have risen above the poverty line. He said that Prime Minister Modi has provided four crore houses, 5 kg free ration per person per month to 81 crore people, gas connections to 11 crore families, and toilets to 12 crore families. He said that the first government in the country to provide toilets in every house was the Haryana Government. He added that the Modi Government has provided 15 crore people with piped water, health coverage of up to 5 lakh for 60 crore people, electricity to every household, and is now working through cooperatives to provide self-employment to every household. The Union Home Minister said that under Prime Minister Modis tenure, the country has seen transformative changes in various sectors over the past 10 years. He mentioned that the Modi government has taken a holistic approach to the health of the citizens. He explained that the government first provided a gas cylinder to every household, which is directly related to the health of women. Following that, yoga was popularised worldwide, then the Fit India Mission, the Nutrition Campaign, Mission Indradhanush, and the Ayushman Bharat Yojana, which provides health coverage up to 5 lakh, were introduced. Shah said that the Modi Government has made significant strides in the field of medical infrastructure. He said the Central government has spent Rs 64,000 crore on public health centres and community health centres, building a strong foundation for medical infrastructure. He also highlighted the establishment of 730 integrated public health labs, 4,382 block public health units, and 602 new critical care boxes over the past 10 years. He further stated that in the year 2013-14, the countrys health budget was Rs 33,000 crore, which Prime Minister Modi has more than tripled, raising it to Rs 1.33 lakh crore in the 2025-26 budget. The Union Home Minister said that in 2014, there were 7 AIIMS in the country, while in 2024, there are 23 AIIMS. Similarly, in 2014, there were 387 medical colleges in the country, and today there are 766. He mentioned that the number of MBBS seats, which was 51,000 in 2014, has now increased to 1.15 lakh and an additional 85,000 seats will be added over the next five years. He also stated that in 2014, there were 31,000 PG seats, which have now increased to 73,000. Mr Shah assured that in the next 5 years, there will not be a single district in the country without a medical college. Shah said that Haryana is the best example of politics based on principles, with like-minded people in the double-engine government. He mentioned that in previous governments, corruption in jobs was due to casteism, and jobs were obtained through bribes and recommendations. He said that the Saini government in Haryana provided 80,000 jobs to youth in a transparent manner, without bribes or recommendations. He also pointed out that Haryanas athletes have won three times more medals in the last 10 years, Haryana is the largest exporter of Basmati rice, and one in every 10 soldiers in the army is from the North Indian state. The Union Home Minister said that Haryanas budget, which was previously Rs 37,000 crore, has now been increased to Rs 2 lakh crore under the Nayab Saini government. He mentioned that between 2004 and 2014, Haryana received Rs 41,000 crore from the central government, while the Modi government has provided Haryana with Rs 1.43 lakh crore between 2014 and 2024. Congress leader and Thiruvananthapuram MP Sashi Tharoor has once again praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi government, this time for Indias vaccine diplomacy during Covid-19 pandemic. In an article published in The Week on Sunday, Tharoor lauded Modi-led BJP government for its Vaccine Maitri initiative, which facilitated the distribution of Covid-19 vaccines to several countries. Advertisement In the article, he highlighted how India leveraged its status as the worlds vaccine manufacturing hub, significantly enhancing its soft power on the global stage. Advertisement Despite the dark days of the pandemic, he wrote, Indias vaccine diplomacy emerged as a silver lining, reinforcing the countrys role in global health diplomacy and its ability to address global challenges. Tharoor said the Vaccine Maitri demonstrated Indias capacity to extend a helping hand to countries at critical times. In doing so, India has reaffirmed its position as a global leader, shaping solutions within multilateral platforms. The richer nations, instead, spent their resources stocking up on vast quantities of vaccines for their own citizens, much of which had to be thrown away unused when they could have saved lives if distributed to poorer nations, he wrote in the article. Tharoors fresh remarks praising the Modi government come just days after he praised the Narendra Modi-led governments over a number of issues including Ukraine war and navigating talks with US President Donald Trump. Rajeev Chandrasekhar, BJPs Kerala unit chief, has welcomed Tharoors comments. He congratulated the Thiruvananthapuram MP, and others from his party, for having become enlightened. Shashi Tharoor and several other Congress leaders have recently had a change of mind. Recently, they acknowledged that Indias diplomacy in the Russia-Ukraine conflict was appropriate. If you ask anyone around the world, they will agree that India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi provided commendable assistance to small nations during the crisis, said Rajeev Chandrsekhar. The Kerala Police on Monday arrested a YouTuber for allegedly blocking the convoy of Congress leader and Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra near Mannuthy in Thrissur. The Mannuthy Police took Aneesh Abraham, a resident of Elanadu, into custody in connection with the incident. He stopped his car in front of the MPs convoy near Mannuthy Bypass Junction on Saturday night, allegedly angered by the persistent honking of the pilot vehicle. Advertisement Priyanka was travelling from Vandoor, Malappuram, to Kochi airport, after attending several programmes in her constituency. When a police team led by the Mannuthy Sub-Inspector attempted to clear the block, he allegedly engaged in a confrontation with them. Advertisement The police have seized his car and booked Aneesh for deliberately obstructing the convoy, endangering lives, and disobeying police orders. He was later released on station bail. The legal and ethical debate surrounding the US administrations policy of deporting certain Venezuelan migrants to a high-security prison in El Salvador has intensified following an appeals court decision upholding an injunction against the practice. The controversy highlights the tensions between national security concerns and human rights, with strong arguments on both sides. Supporters of the policy argue that deporting suspected criminals, particularly those linked to violent gangs such as MS-13 and Tren de Aragua, is essential for public safety. They contend that the US cannot allow criminal elements to exploit the immigration system and that swift deportations send a clear message: illegal entry and gang affiliation will not be tolerated. Some point to statistics showing a rise in crime linked to transnational gangs, arguing that stronger enforcement is necessary to curb their influence. US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noems visit to the Salvadoran prison reinforced this stance. The facility, known for housing some of Central Americas most dangerous criminals, now holds a number of Venezuelan deportees under a policy that has drawn both praise and criticism. The US administration insists that those sent there pose security threats and that deportation is a justified measure to prevent crime from spreading. Advertisement However, critics see the policy as a sev ere overreach that violates fundamental human rights. The legal basis for these deportations ~ an obscure 18thcentury law ~ has been challenged as inappropriate for modern immigration enforcement. The appeals courts decision to uphold an injunction against the policy reflects concerns about due process. Detractors argue that some deportees were removed based on weak or circumstantial evidence, such as tattoos or vague associations with gangs, rather than concrete proof of criminal activity. Advertisement Critics worry that deporting individuals without exhaustive verification risks punishing the innocent, while proponents counter that swift action is essential to prevent criminal networks from exploiting legal loopholes. The conditions in the Salvadoran prison add to the controversy. Human rights organisations have described them as inhuman, citing reports of overcrowding, mistreatment, and lack of legal recourse. Even if some deportees have criminal ties, critics argue that justice must be served through proper legal procedures, not mass deportations based on suspicion. Beyond legal and ethical concerns, there are practical questions about the policys long-term effectiveness. Will it genuinely deter crime, or will it drive gang activity further underground? Will it discourage illegal migration, or will desperate individuals continue attempting the journey despite the risks? History suggests that punitive measures alone do not resolve complex immigration challenges. Addressing the root causes of migration, strengthening law enforcement cooperation, and ensuring fair legal processes may offer more sustainable solutions. The on-going legal battle underscores a broader dilemma: how to balance security with the principles of justice and human rights. Governments must protect their citizens, but they must also ensure that enforcement measures do not erode the very values they seek to uphold. Indias rapport with Bangladesh has plummeted to unprecedented depths, with Bangladeshs Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus latest sojourn in China poised to further exacerbate the anti-India sentiment. Since Sheikh Hasina governments dramatic fall in Dhaka last August, Bangladeshs newly minted government has deftly cultivated a narrative portraying India as a Hindu majority hegemon thereby instilling widespread animosity towards India among Bangladeshs youth, who have limited knowledge of the Bangladesh Liberation War, and Indias pivotal role it. Actually, Bangladesh has managed to rebrand India as an exploitative neighbor, leveraging its Hindu majority status to foment anti-India sentiment. This rhetoric has quickly gained traction among Bangladeshs younger generation. Bangladeshs Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus is now spearheading a major overhaul of the countrys foreign policy, seeking to strengthen relationships across the continent but notably excluding India from this effort. Yunus endeavours to normalize commercial, cultural, and military ties with Pakistan Indias long time rival have left Indias strategic cognoscenti perplexed. Advertisement His confabulations with the ex-President of USA, Joe Biden and Pakistani PM Shehbaz Sharif, have garnered considerable international backing for Bangladeshs nascent government. Indias External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankars recent ultimatum has merely served to ratchet up tensions, while Delhis attempts to internationalize the minority issue have only served to vitiate bilateral relations. Yunus latest visit to China is expected to further exacerbate tensions between India and Bangladesh. Advertisement India needs an immediate recalibration of its Bangladesh policy to salvage its rapidly deteriorating relationship. As the largest neighbor and military-economic powerhouse in South Asia, India should adopt a more nuanced and mature approach, recognizing Bangladeshs incumbent regime. The protracted animosity between the two nations will have farreaching repercussions for regional security, commerce, and Indias geopolitical influence. Overall, it can be said from the foregoing analysis that Yunus visit to Beijing is set to further aggravate already strained Indo-Bangladesh relations. As the new interim government leader, Yunus faces a daunting task of rebuilding trust in Bangladeshs institutions, which were severely eroded during Sheikh Hasinas 15-year rule. This apart, greater closeness in relations with Pakistan, pertaining to military and trade, strengthening strategic ties between the two nations, as well as the establishment of joint business councils to promote trade and commerce, has raised concerns in India, which sees Bangladesh as a crucial partner in its Act East policy. The growing influence of China in Bangladesh, particularly in the military sphere, has also created unease in New Delhi. The current situation in Bangladesh is complex, with rising Islamist elements, communal tensions, and lawlessness. Yunus government has been criticized for its handling of these issues, particularly the recent release of Islamist leaders and the lifting of the ban on the Jamaat-e-Islami party. Bangladeshs socio-political situation is presently in a state of transition and uncertainty. After intense protests and political turmoil in 2024, the country saw the unexpected resignation of ex-PM Sheikh Hasina, who had been in power for over a decade. The interim government, led by Yunus, is navigating a complex web of challenges, including economic struggles, social unrest, and geo-political tensions. The government has pledged to hold free and fair elections by the end of 2025, but questions remain about the feasibility of this timeline. Besides, the country is also grappling with rising extremism, communal tensions, and human rights concerns. There have been reports of violence against minority communities, particularly Hindus, and the interim government is facing pressure to address these issues. This apart, in terms of foreign relations, Bangladesh is seeking to balance its ties with major powers, including China, India and the USA. Overall, Bangladeshs socio-political situation is fragile and uncertain, with many challenges ahead. The outcome of the upcoming elections and the governments ability to address the countrys pressing issues will be crucial in shaping the countrys future. In this context, Yunuss visit to Beijing is likely to be seen as a further tilt towards China, which could have significant implications for IndoBangladesh relations. India may view this development as a challenge to its influence in the region and could respond by strengthening its ties with other countries in the neighbourhood. We can outline the key implications of Yunuss visit to Beijing increasing India-Bangladesh tensions as follows: * Further strain on Indo-Bangladesh relations Yunuss visit could exacerbate the already tense relations between India and Bangladesh; * Growing Chinese influence The visit could cement Chinas position as a key player in Bangladeshs military and economic spheres; * Rise of Islamist elements The visit could embolden Islamist elements in Bangladesh, which could have significant implications for regional security; * Impact on Indias Act East policy The visit could challenge Indias influence in the region and force it to re-evaluate its Act East policy; These issues could potentially compromise Indias security architecture and strategic ambitions in the region, impact Indias $9 billion trade surplus with Bangladesh, compromise Indias capacity to project its influence and promulgate its supranational agenda in South Asia and beyond and underline Chinas burgeoning presence where Beijings expanding footprint in Bangladesh, could potentially include docking rights for Chinese research vessels at Mongla Port. In this situation, the prospects of the Indo-Bangladesh relationship appear to be complex and challenging. Despite diplomatic diversification efforts by Bangladesh, the two nations remain key partners, sharing historical, cultural, and economic ties. Key areas of cooperation include enhanced connectivity through rail links and the India-Bangladesh Friendship Pipeline; strengthened trade ties through Special Economic Zones (SEZ) and cross-border policy development, and defense cooperation to maintain regional stability. Despite challenges, efforts must be made to strengthen ties and address shared concerns, building on the strong historical and cultural bonds between India and Bangladesh. (The writers are, respectively, Associate Professor and Head, Political Science, Chandernagore Govt. College, and Associate Professor, Political Science, Galsi Mahavidyalaya, East Burdwan.) The recent intervention by the Supreme Court in a sexual assault case has reignited concerns about judicial sensitivity and legal interpretation in cases of sexual violence. A ruling by the Allahabad High Court, which downplayed the severity of an assault on an 11- year-old girl, sparked public outrage and underscored the persistent challenges within the justice system when dealing with sexual crimes. At the heart of the controversy was the argument that the accused had not gone beyond the stage of preparation to commit rape, a distinction drawn on technical and legal grounds. Such reasoning fails to recognise the lived reality of victims and instead treats sexual violence as a matter of cold legal semantics. In cases of sexual assault, the intent be hind an act is often clear from the very nature of the aggression. The argument that an assault only constitutes an attempt at rape if it crosses an arbitrarily defined threshold disregards the power dynamics at play and the trauma inflicted. The question is not merely whether a crime was completed but whether a victims dignity, security, and bodily autonomy were violated. Advertisement The decision to minimise the gravity of the crime was not made im pulsively but after months of deliberation, which makes it all the more alarming. Courts have a duty to up hold justice not just in letter but in spirit. A verdict that dismisses violent actions as something lesser than what they are sends a dangerous message to society ~ one that emboldens perpetrators and undermines survi v ors faith in the legal system. The fact that the ruling had to be overturned by the Supreme Court speaks volumes about the urgent need for consistent, victim-centred jurisprudence. Advertisement This is not the first instance of judicial reasoning appearing to favour legal technicalities over justice for survivors. There have been past cases where courts have set troubling precedents by focusing on narrow legal definitions rather than the essence of the crime. Such interpretations only serve to weaken the fight against sexual violence. When the justice system he sitates to call an act of sexual violence what it truly is, it creates an environment where perpetrators believe they can evade the full force of the law. What is required is a judicial approach that prioritises survivor-centric perspectives over rigid textual readings of the law. The focus should be on whether the survivors rights were violated, not on whether the crime fits a narrow and outdated legal framework. A progressive, informed judiciary is essential in ensuring that laws designed to protect women and children are not diluted by misplaced interpretations. The Supreme Courts intervention in this case was necessary to restore public faith in the legal system. However, the fact that such an insensitive ruling was issued in the first place highlights an urgent need for gender sensitisation for judges. A legal system that fails to recognise the lived experiences of survivors is one that risks betraying its fundamental purpose ~ to deliver justice. The Netherlands is financing a large-scale project to develop drones for Ukraine, for which Amsterdam is allocating EUR 500 million. According to the Ministry of Defense of the Netherlands, this was announced by Minister Ruben Brekelmans and State Secretary Gijs Tuinman, who were on a recent visit to Ukraine. They, in particular, visited Dnipro after the large-scale attack by the Russian Federation on the city, as well as the headquarters on the eastern front, and talked with the army commander about the current situation on the front and the necessary support. The ministry reported that the Netherlands is providing EUR 2 billion in accelerated support. "It was important to announce that we are providing Ukraine with EUR 2 billion in accelerated assistance, which includes a EUR 500 million drone project. These drones will change the situation on the battlefield and literally save lives. During his recent visit to the Netherlands, Minister Umerov specifically requested this. It is very important that we can pledge this support now. This strengthens Ukraine's position on the front and at the negotiating table," said Brekelmans. During the meeting with the Minister of Defense of Ukraine, Rustem Umerov, the parties discussed support from the Netherlands. The accelerated assistance package amounted to EUR 2 billion. In addition to the announced drones, accelerated support will be provided in the form of air defense systems, ammunition and naval equipment. In addition, an agreement was signed to strengthen cooperation between the industries of the two countries. If farmers survive, the nation thrives. But without fair prices for their produce, how will the future of agriculture sustain itself? Dr. M.S. Swaminathan Indias agrarian economy hinges on the Minimum Support Price (MSP), a policy designed to shield farmers from the unpredictability of market forces. According to the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO), more than 50 per cent of Indian farmers are in debt, with a significant portion struggling to recover even their basic input costs. Theoretically, MSP is a government-mandated minimum price meant to ensure that farmers receive fair compensation for their produce. However, in practice, this policy often remains a distant reality. For millions, MSP is like a mirage ~ real and beneficial for a select few but elusive for the majority who are left to negotiate with middlemen and an unregulated market. This raises a crucial question: is MSP genuinely a safeguard for farmers, or is it merely a political instrument wielded to secure the agrarian vote bank? A closer look at MSP implementation reveals stark disparities. Advertisement The Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP) recommends MSP for 23 crops, including rice, wheat, pulses, oilseeds, and cotton. However, procurement remains highly skewed. The Food Corporation of India (FCI) and state agencies procure around 85 per cent of the rice and 74 per cent of the wheat produced in Punjab and Haryana at MSP, ensuring financial security for farmers in these states. In contrast, in states like Bihar, West Bengal, Odisha, and Assam, where procurement infrastructure is weak or nearly absent, farmers often have no choice but to sell their produce to private traders at prices much lower than the declared MSP. Advertisement The Shanta Kumar Committee Report (2015) estimated that only 6 per cent of Indian farmers benefit directly from MSP procurement, leaving the vast majority vulnerable to market fluctuations. This inequality extends beyond staple grains. Despite consistent increases in MSP for pulses and oilseeds, actual procurement is dismal. For instance, in the 2022-23 marketing season, while the MSP for mustard was set at Rs 5,450 per quintal, farmers in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh were often forced to sell at Rs 4,500-4,800 per quintal due to inadequate government procurement. Similarly, the Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) has often been unable to procure enough cotton to ensure stable prices, leaving farmers at the mercy of monopolistic private traders and mills. In the case of sugarcane, farmers face a different battle altogether ~ delayed payments by sugar mills, with arrears reaching Rs 25,000 crore as of March 2023, according to the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution. In case studies it is found that the contrast between Punjab and Bihar exemplifies the disparities in MSP procurement. While Punjab farmers benefit from nearly guaranteed procurement of wheat and rice at MSP, farmers in Bihar lack adequate government procurement centres. As a result, they are often forced to sell their produce to middlemen at lower prices. This has created stark income ineq u alities, leading to increased migration of Bihari farmers to urban areas in search of better economic opportunities. The absence of a robust procurement system in Bihar undermines the very purpose of MSP, leaving farmers vulnerable to exploitative pricing and financial distress. Similarly, Maharashtras cotton farmers faced a severe crisis in 2021 when the CCI failed to procure sufficient quantities due to logistical bottlenecks. With no option but to sell to private traders, many farmers received prices up to 20 per cent lower than the declared MSP. This highlights the inefficiencies in MSP implementation, where the policy exists in theory but fails to deliver in practice due to structural and administrative constraints. West Bengal faces a similar challenge, particularly for paddy farmers. Despite being one of the largest rice-producing states, MSP procurement remains minimal due to a weak procurement network. Many small-scale farmers in districts like Purulia and Bankura have reported selling paddy at prices that are Rs 300- 500 per quintal lower than the declared MSP due to the absence of adequate government procurement centres. Additionally, frequent delays in payment further deter farmers from relying on MSP, forcing them to depend on local traders who offer immediate cash but at significantly lower rates. This structural inefficiency pushes many farmers into debt cycles, limiting their ability to invest in future crops. On a more positive note, Karnatakas decentralized procurement model for pulses provides a promising alternative. In 2019, the state government implemented a system allowing farmers to sell tur dal directly to government agencies, bypassing middlemen. This initiative ensured that MSP payments reached a larger number of farmers and reduced price exploitation by traders. Such a model, if expanded nationwide, could help bridge the gap in MSP accessibility and provide small and marginal farmers with the financial security they desperately need. MSP has increasingly become a political tool, with successive governments announcing MSP hikes as a gesture of support before elections. In the 2018-19 budget, the government declared that MSP would be set at 1.5 times the cost of production, a move that was widely publicized. However, the reality remains starkly different. The Swaminathan Commission had recommended MSP based on the C2 cost (comprehensive cost, including family labor), but the government largely follows the A2+FL formula (covering paid-out costs and family labor), resulting in lower effective price guarantees. For example, while the government declared the MSP for paddy at Rs 2,040 per quintal for the 2023-24 kharif season, farmers in eastern India, due to procurement bottlenecks, often received only Rs 1,600-1,800 per quintal from private buyers. The challenges to MSP implementation are manifold. Weak procurement infrastructure remains a significant hurdle, with over 70 per cent of small and marginal farmers (owning less than 2 hectares of land) unable to access MSP procurement centres due to logistical difficulties. Market fragmentation is another issue; the Agricultural Produce Market Committees (APMCs) are often dominated by powerful trader lobbies that depress prices. The 2019-20 Situation Assessment Survey of Agricultural Households found that only 23.5 per cent of farmers were aware of the MSP mechanism, highlighting a severe lack of awareness. Additionally, climate change-induced uncertainties ~ such as unseasonal rains and droughts ~ further erode the potential benefits of MSP, as seen in the wheat crop losses of 2022, which forced many farmers to sell at distress prices despite an MSP hike. Looking at global agricultural policies provides valuable insights into strengthening Indias MSP system. Countries like the United States and those within the European Union have developed support mechanisms that are more inclusive and responsive to market dynamics. The U.S. follows a model where farmers receive direct compensation when market prices fall below a set threshold, ensuring financial stability without the need for large-scale government procurement. Similarly, the EUs Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) provides subsidies and income support to farmers while encouraging sustainable agricultural practices. Adapting elements of these models to Indias agricultural landscape could help address some of the inefficiencies in the current MSP framework. To transform MSP from a mere announcement to an effective safeguard, a multipronged approach is required. The government must expand procurement infrastructure, especially in states where farmers currently lack access. Digital registration platforms, such as the PM-KISAN and e-NAM initiatives, should be leveraged to ensure fair and transparent procurement. The scope of MSP must be extended beyond rice and wheat, with increased procurement targets for oilseeds, pulses, and cotton to stabilize farmer incomes. Strict regulatory oversight of private traders and buyers is necessary to curb exploitative pricing. Furthermore, decentralized procurement models, where state governments are empowered to procure crops at MSP with central assistance, can ensure that a greater number of farmers benefit. Merely announcing MSP hikes will not resolve the agrarian crisis. What matters is effective execution. If market manipulation, weak enforcement, and delayed procurement continue, MSP risks becoming nothing more than a political slogan. To genuinely safeguard the interests of farmers, a resolute and actionable strategy must be implemented ~ one that prioritizes structural reforms over electoral rhetoric. (The writer is an agricultural researcher based in Jalpaiguri, West Bengal and a Young Professional at the Cost of Cultivation Project under the Commission for Agricultural Cost and Prices, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Government of India) Apples new iPhone 17 Pro is going to be one of the most significant updates in years. As much hype there is for its new look, AI-powered features, and camera upgrades, the question that continues to linger most is: when does it come out? Whether in the United States, Canada, Dubai, or India, heres when youll be able to get your hands on Apples newest flagship. Advertisement iPhone 17 Pro launch date: Apple follows a well-known trend of releasing new iPhones in September, generally in the second week. It is reported that the iPhone 17 Pro series will be launched between September 11-13, 2025, in Apples annual fall event. Advertisement The initial rollout will cover major markets, including the United States, Canada, and Dubai, with pre-orders likely opening within days of the announcement. Based on Apples past schedules, heres the expected availability: United States & Canada: Pre-orders from September 13, with official sales beginning September 20, 2025. Dubai (UAE): Likely the same as North America, with availability around September 20. These areas typically get priority in Apples global launch cycle, so customers can purchase the latest iPhones immediately. India release India is a major market for Apple today, with faster release schedules over the past few years. iPhone 17 Pro should be available in India by September 2025, maybe as early as September 27. Apple has been making efforts to minimize delays for the Indian market, and with more local iPhone production, the window of time between global release and availability in India has been narrowing. Whereas earlier Pro models used to arrive on Indian stores a few weeks after launch, the iPhone 17 Pro might experience an almost simultaneous launch with global markets. If youre in the US, Canada, or Dubai, you can look forward to the iPhone 17 Pro in mid-September 2025. For Indian customers, it should arrive a week later, bridging the gap between global and Indian releases. Keep an eye out for official word from Apple, but if historical trends are any indication, these dates should be reasonably accurate. Amid growing unrest in Pakistans 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. Advertisement 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. Advertisement The restriction comes after at least six people were injured in a suicide blast near a rally of Pakistans Balochistan National Party (BNP) on Saturday in the Mastung district of Balochistan, Pakistans 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 governments 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. US President Donald Trump has hit out at fake news media and the radical left for allegedly conducting a biased coverage of messages leaked from a Signal group chat, where US officials had discussed strikes on Iran-backed Houthi targets in Yemen. Republican Senator Markwayne Mullin, in an interview with NBC News earlier on Sunday, spoke about the Signal chat controversy and said, The conversation should be about why did the Biden administration not do anything in the last two years, instead of this Signal chat. There was no classified information given out, it was a thoughtful conversation, and the attack was extremely successful. Advertisement Following this statement, Donald Trump, in a post on Sunday on Truth Social, his own social media platform, praised the Senator for his response, A GREAT job by Senator Markwayne Mullin on beating back Kristen Welkers, and the the Radical Lefts Witch Hunt, on the never ending Signal story. They just dont stop Over and over they go! Advertisement He added, Meet the Fake Press should instead explain how successful the attack was, and how Sleepy Joe Biden should have done it YEARS AGO. This story and narrative is so old and boring, but only used because we are having the most successful First One Hundred Presidential Days in the history of America, and they cant find anything else to talk about. Trump also slammed NBC News in the post saying, The Fake News Media has the lowest Approval Ratings in history, and for good reason. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!!! President Trump told NBC News on Saturday that he would not fire anyone involved in a group chat that inadvertently disclosed plans for airstrikes on Yemen to a journalist. In a wide-ranging interview with NBCs Kristen Welker, Trump pushed back on reports that some in his circle had encouraged him to fire Michael Waltz, the National Security Advisor (NSA). The New York Times reported on Saturday that Trump had spent much of the past week consulting with aides about whether he should fire Waltz amid mounting fallout from the episode. But Trump told Welker that he still had confidence in Waltz and in Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, and he continued to downplay the seriousness of the incident. I dont fire people because of fake news and because of witch hunts, the US President said. Controversy erupted after NSA Waltz accidentally added the Editor-in-Chief of The Atlantic magazine to a Signal group chat discussing details of US strikes aimed at Houthi targets in Yemen. The group chat, consisted of high profile individuals from the Trump administration, such as Defence Secretary Hegseth and Vice-President J.D. Vance, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, and National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard. It including timings of strikes on Yemen, the type of planes being issued, as well as conversations about US being the only country capable of conducting such strikes. The Atlantic published the actual transcript of US attack plans, however, the Trump administration has maintained that none of the information shared was sensitive. 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. Advertisement According to the initial assessment, AFRICOM said that multiple ISIS-Somalia operatives were killed, and no civilians were harmed. It stated that ISIS-Somalias malicious efforts threaten US security interests. Advertisement ISIS-Somalia has proved both its will and capability to attack US and partner forces. This groups 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-Somalias 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 Trumps 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. 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. Speaker of the Portuguese Parliament Jose Pedro Aguiar Branco arrived in Kyiv on Monday, where he will meet with President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy, reports Rublico. The publication writes that the speaker arrived accompanied by MP Eurico Brilhante Dias, the current president of the Portugal-Ukraine parliamentary friendship group. It is expected that on Monday they will take part in a ceremony commemorating the third anniversary of the tragedy in Bucha. It is also reported that Aguiar Branco will take part in a summit of parliament speakers in Kyiv, and then meet with head of Ukrainian state Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Before returning to Lisbon, the President of the Assembly of the Republic will take part in a dinner hosted by the Speaker of the Ukrainian Parliament, Ruslan Stefanchuk. It is noted that in his recent speeches on the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Aguiar Branco criticized the "illusion" of immediate peace at any cost and argued that the solution should be based on international law. Inside the luxe, 12-seater private dining room inside the NMACC Arts Cafe, complete with a live kitchen, chef Attila Havas dazzled us with a pre-set four-course sumptuous menu. A prolific, Oslo-born private chef specialising in Japanese fusion and Pan-Asian contemporary cuisine, Attila maintains that cooking to him is his "way of expressing sensations, happiness and creativity." On a Friday night in March, he helmed the kitchen, with an infectious energy that was palpable throughout. The pre-set, cohesive and alchemically rich menu seemed to be a translation of all of the influences Havas had experienced as a 'private chef,' including as a Sous chef at the world-renowned Nobu, by the legendary Nobu Matsuhisa, among others. Starting off with avocado-based crisp rice cakes dipped in Citrus Ponzu sauce, I was treated to a feast that amused, delighted and inspired me to explore the corners of my appetite I didn't know I had. And as a great accompaniment, my mojito went beautifully with every single serving. We started off with a positively zingy, roasted cauliflower avocado Jalapeno Salsa. It was the perfect start with a heady sour and salty mix of sauce, rice vinegar, sugar, garlic and chiles, and was so relishing and punchy, that I piled up the dish on my plate and gobbled it all up in under two minutes. This was followed by baby spinach salad with yuzu, truffle, dry miso, and parmesan cheese finished with diced red pepper, an instant reminder of the 'Nobu' experience. This is food that doesn't just please, it woos as if it's going out of its way to meet you where you are before it leads you somewhere else. The chef shattered expectations with every chance he gothe took spicy Tuna Tartare and combined it with butter-toasted Shoku bread, which is the Japanese version of soft, milk bread and garnishing it with pickles he turned it into a fantastic appetizer. It arrived innovatively plated, sharpened with citrus and softened with Wasabi Mayo, and I felt compelled to roll in the mouth for some more time so as to let the flavors do the magic. Havas's playfulness and drive make even the simplest dishes remarkable. Take the Tomato ceviche for example. In simple terms, it really is nothing more than a variety of tomatoesred, yellow and green marinated in an acidic dressing. But he makes it so good that you want a second serving already. What became a bit bothersome to me and which I had to eventually give up trying, was to have the ginger-garlic Bok Choy with the fork, without putting in a great deal of effort. However, by the end of it, despite all the effort I was unable to savour its juices without dipping my fingers in it. For mains, Havas offered Tofu glazed in garlic and soy, but my favourite was the Hispi cabbageseared cabbage with frizzled and crispy outer leaves and smoky flavor, garnished with Miso butter and Parmesan crumbs. An hour into dining, the ambiance is a mood-lifter; brightened up by the accompanying live music, a mix of both, English and Bollywood of the yesteryears, playing outside in the double-height cafe, as we indulged into a rich conversation in the comfort of our private dining area, a sophisticated, chic room, illuminated at night to a golden glow. The desserts kept the buoyant energy flowing; we had Matcha, a gorgeous dark green lava lighter than butter cake and more tender than sponge cake paired with almond crumble. Like the rest of the menu, Havas's desserts are smartly conceived, beautifully plated and delightfully sumptuous. The second dessert to arrive was the Miso chocolate cappuccino Vanilla ice cream and coffee foam wherein the good white miso had a mellow, gently sweet and deeply savory flavor with a high, coffee-bean aroma. All of this took us well past midnight, and we left as happy, well-fed guests. Do hop in, to enjoy Havas's warm hospitality as he continues to serve at the NMACC Arts Cafe from March end right through April 13. Over the next five years, 90 Light Combat Helicopters (LCH) Prachand will be added to the Indian Army while the Indian Air Force will be receiving as many as 66 LCH, enhancing the combat capabilities of the armed forces at high altitude areas. LCH is Indias first indigenously designed and developed combat helicopter that can operate at an altitude of over 5,000 meters, making it suitable for operations in areas like Siachen Glacier and Eastern Ladakh. Effective both as an anti-infantry and anti-armour helicopter, LCH Prachand, which is derived from the Dhruv helicopter, can be deployed for multiple roles, including tracking slow-moving targets on air, counter-insurgency ops both in urban and forest environments and destroying the defences of the adversaries. The attack aircraft is equipped with advanced weapons systems, including a M621 20mm cannon on a Nexter THL-20 turret and Zeebrugge-built FZ231 rocket launcher. ALSO READ: In a major leap for missile tech, Indian Navy's VLSRSAM proves unmatched agility, accuracy The state-of-the-art sensor suite, a missile approach warning system, radar and laser warning receivers, and cutting-edge avionics systems ensure its survivability even in hostile environments. Recently, the defence ministry signed two contracts with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for the supply of 156 Prachand along with training and other associated equipment worth Rs. 62,700 crore, excluding taxes. The supply of the helicopters will begin from the third year and will be spread over the next five years, the defence ministry said. The helicopter has a large number of components designed and manufactured in India and it is planned to achieve an overall indigenous content of over 65 per cent during the execution of this procurement. This will involve over 250 domestic companies mostly MSMEs and will generate over 8,500 direct and indirect jobs. Besides, the ministry of defence also signed a contract with Metrea Management for Wet Leasing of one Flight Refuelling Aircraft (FRA) for providing air-to-air refuelling training to pilots of IAF and Indian Navy. Metrea will provide FRA (KC135 Aircraft) within six months which will be the first FRA to be wet leased by IAF. Su-30 MKI fighters along with combat enabler IL-78 & C-17 aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF) will be participating in the multi-national air exercise INIOCHOS-25, hosted by the Hellenic Air Force, the air force of Greece. The biennial multinational air exercise, to be held from Monday to April 11, will take place at Andravida Air Base in Greece, and will see participation from 15 countries. The exercise will serve as a platform for air forces to hone their skills, exchange tactical knowledge, and strengthen defence relations. It will also help enhance international cooperation, synergy and interoperability among participating air forces. The exercise will integrate multiple air and surface assets from 15 countries under realistic combat scenarios, designed to simulate modern-day air warfare challenges, the defence ministry stated in a release. ALSO READ: Warships, missiles and manoeuvres: Russia, India set to flex naval might in Bay of Bengal The defence ministry said the exercise will offer IAF 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, the ministry said. Claiming that the IAF's participation in the exercise reflects its commitment to global defence cooperation and operational excellence, the ministry said INIOCHOS-25 will further reinforce India's strategic partnerships and bolster its capabilities in joint operations with friendly nations. Filmmaker Sanoj Mishra, who had offered the Mahakumbh viral girl Monalisa a film role, has reportedly been arrested in Delhi on Monday for allegedly raping an aspiring actress several times after luring her with the promise of stardom. Nabi Karim police made the arrest after the Delhi High Court rejected Mishra's bail. As per reports, the victim, who hails from a small town, stated in her complaint to the police that Mishra contacted her in 2020 through social media apps Instagram and TikTok while residing in Jhansi. After several online exchanges, Mishra went to Jhansi on June 17, 2021, and called her. When she refused to see him, Mishra threatened to die by suicide, following which she agreed to meet him the next day out of fear. She alleged that the filmmaker then took her to a resort on June 18, sexually assaulted her after giving her intoxicants, and recorded obscene videos of her that Mishra threatened to make viral if she didn't listen to his demands. She further alleged that Mishra met her again multiple times and did the same while promising her marriage and movie opportunities. Known for films such as Gandhigiri, Ram Ki Janmabhoomi, Lafange Nawab, Dharm Ke Saudagar, and Kashi To Kashmir, Sanoj Mishra made headlines when he announced that he wanted to cast the 2025 Mahakumbh viral girl Monalisa Bhosle a 16-year-old bead seller in a film called The Diary of Manipur. Mishra was previously in the news when reports emerged of a complaint from him that led to an FIR against five individuals who made serious allegations against him. The reports said one of the individuals claimed that Mishra would "ruin" Monalisa's career as none of the films he made so far has seen the light of day. The Bharatiya Janata Party on Monday lashed out at West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, terming her remarks made at an Eid prayers event in Kolkata as provocative. In her speech, Banerjee had criticised the BJP for attempting to incite communal riots in the state and asserted that the saffron party's "ganda dharma" was contrary to the true principles of Hinduism. Senior BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari said the chief minister was deliberately sowing hate and creating animosity between communities. "Which religion are you calling 'ganda' (dirty)? Was it Sanatan Hindu Dharma? Why did you deliver such a provocative speech at an Eid celebration? Was it a religious event or a political one?, Adhikari, who is the Leader of the Opposition in West Bengal Assembly, asked. "Hum 'Ganda Dharm' ko nahi manta hai". - Mamata Banerjee Kaun sa Dharm ganda hai Ms. Mamata Banerjee? Appeasing the Muslim Community at the Red Road with your almost incomprehensible gibberish Urdu dialect, you made a statement that you don't follow the 'Ganda Dharm' or 'Dirty pic.twitter.com/JpLWYV5JYG Suvendu Adhikari (@SuvenduWB) March 31, 2025 BJP leader Amit Malviya, too, took potshots at Banerjee, accusing her of mocking Hindus and deriding their faith. "Is Sanatan Dharma a 'Ganda Dharma' for Mamata Banerjee? Despite numerous anti-Hindu riots under her rule, she mocks Hindus and derides their faith. She has once again given Muslims a free pass to target Hindus -- this time from a platform meant to celebrate Eid. Shame on her, he said. In her speech, the chief minister targeted the BJP as she urged people to avoid falling into provocations that could fuel riots. "I follow the religion followed by Shri Ramakrishna Paramahansa and Swami Vivekananda. I don't follow the 'ganda dharam' made by them (BJP), they are even against the Hindu dharma, Banerjee said. #WATCH | West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee at Eidgah in Kolkata on the occasion of #EidAlFitr She says "We are secular. Navratri is going on; I extend my best wishes for that as well, but we do not want riots to take place. Common people do not involve in such things only pic.twitter.com/wfmCsuYgEY ANI (@ANI) March 31, 2025 She asserted that her government would stand with the people and ensure no one could stir up tensions in the state. "Provocations are being made to fuel riots, but please don't fall into these traps. The West Bengal government stands with the minorities. No one can provoke tensions in the state," she said. The ruling Trinamool Congress defended the chief minister, claiming she had not said anything against the Hindu religion but was speaking against the communal politics of the BJP. By the word 'Ganda Dharam' she meant distortions that the BJP has brought in to push its own political agenda through religion. We all know that the BJP has been trying to politicise Hindu religion and is trying to fan communal politics," TMC state general secretary Kunal Ghosh said. The Chhattisgarh High Court has dismissed a plea moved by a man seeking the court to direct his wife to undergo a virginity test. The court observed women cannot be forced to undergo virginity test and it was against fundamental rights guaranteed to women. Hearing a criminal plea moved by a man doubting his wife had an illicit relationship, the High Court observed the demand was unconstitutional and it violates Article 21 of the Constitution which includes the right to dignity of women. Chhattisgarh High Court judge Justice Arvind Kumar Verma observed, 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 petitioner approached the High Court after the family court rejected his plea. The couple got married in April 2023. Recently, the wife alleged that her husband is impotent and she refused to establish a marital relationship or cohabit with her husband. She also moved the family court seeking monthly maintenance from her husband. The husband moved the plea seeking virginity test of his wife in response to her petition. "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," PTI reported quoting the verdict. The High Court also observed if the petitioner believes charges of impotency against him are baseless, he may undergo required medical test. Former Manipur chief Minister N. Biren Singh on Monday alleged that the ethnic violence in the state was the result of illegal immigration and drug menace. Singh, who was the chief minister when the state witnessed large-scale violence between the Meitei and Kuku communities, quit the post on February 9 amid heightened political pressure. "The present crisis is not political at its core and stems from a complex mix of challenges including the drug menace, illegal immigration, destruction of forests, and the systematic pursuit of power by select groups," he said in a social media post. The northeast is under Presidents Rule after Singh resigned as the Bharatiya Janata Party failed to reach a consensus on his successor. Sharing an old video of Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangmas speech in parliament when he was an MP, Singh asked if he was aware of the alarming rise in the number of illegal villages in the state. The late Shri P.A. Sangma once advocated for dividing the Northeast into smaller states along ethnic lines, a dangerous idea that threatened the unity of our Nation. Today, we are seeing similar attempts to interfere in Manipurs internal affairs to destabilise the state. pic.twitter.com/NMX6zhVrbe N. Biren Singh (@NBirenSingh) March 31, 2025 After years of effort to safeguard our indigenous populations, we have begun to make real progress such as the implementation of ILP 9Inner Line Permit), a hard-won achievement. Conard Sangma should know that the violence was not spontaneous; it was instigated by those who feel threatened and insecure by this kind of progress, he said. In a swipe at the National People's Party (NPP) chief, Singh further said that when others refrained from interfering in Manipurs internal affairs, some chose a different path, one driven by narrow interests rather than genuine concern. Manipur is home to 32 indigenous tribes whose identities, cultures, and way of life deserve protection. Refrain from encouraging illegal immigrants or interfering in matters that threaten this delicate balance. The people of Manipur have endured enough. Let us live in peace, he said in his long post on X. More than 250 people have been killed and thousands rendered homeless in Manipur in ethnic violence between Meiteis and Kuki-Zo groups since May 2023. It may be noted that Sangmas NPP withdrew support to the BJP-led government in Manipur, alleging that the ruling dispensation has failed to restore normalcy in the violence-hit state. A team of Mumbai Police visited Kunal Kamras residence at Mahim to check his availability after the stand-up comedian failed to appear before them in connection with a case registered over his remarks on Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. Kamra had been issued a notice last week asking him to appear before police on March 31 for questioning. "A Khar police team went to his house in Mahim, where his family stays, to check whether he would appear in connection with the case or not. Since he did not, further course of action will be decided soon," said an official. Kamra, meanwhile, took a jibe at the cops saying he had been not staying there for the last ten years. "Going to an address where I haven't lived for the last 10 years is a waste of your time & public resources, he said in a post on X. Going to an address where I havent lived for the last 10 Years is a waste of your time & public resources pic.twitter.com/GtZ6wbcwZn Kunal Kamra (@kunalkamra88) March 31, 2025 The Khar police filed a case against the comedian based on a complaint filed by Shiv Sena MLA Murji Patel. Last week, three FIRs against him at Nashik Rural, Jalgaon and Nashik (Nandgaon) were also transferred to Khar police station. The Madras High Court had last week granted interim anticipatory bail to Kamra after he submitted that he had moved to Tamil Nadu from Mumbai in 2021 and was ordinarily a resident of this state since then and he feared arrest by Mumbai police. During his performance at the Habitat Comedy Club at the Unicontinental Hotel in the Khar area, Kamra had referred to Shinde as a traitor without naming him and went on to sing a parody on him. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut kicked up a row on Monday claiming Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit to Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) headquarters on Sunday was to discuss his retirement in September. Raut also claimed the RSS is likely to choose the next leader from Maharashtra. Addressing presspersons on Monday, Raut said, He (Modi) probably went to RSS headquarters to write his retirement application in September. Modi turns 75 in September this year and some leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party have retired at that age. Raut claimed RSS wants a change in leadership and Modi is leaving. As per my knowledge, he has never visited the RSS headquarters in 10-11 years. RSS wants a change in leadership. PM Modi is now leaving, Hindustan Times reported quoting Raut. #WATCH | Nagpur: On PM Modi's visit to RSS' Smruti Mandir, Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis says, "Modi ji is a 'swayamsevak', he has been a 'pracharak'. Even today, his life is like that of a 'pracharak'. That is why when he came to the program, we got to see his experience, his pic.twitter.com/b283tqRWbh ANI (@ANI) March 30, 2025 Raut added Modi discussed his retirement with RSS leaders in a closed door meeting at Nagpur. RSS will decide the successor of Narendra Modi and he will be from Maharashtra, Raut claimed. Modi visited the RSS headquarters for the first time since becoming prime minister on Sunday. He offered tributes at the memorial of RSS founder Keshav Baliram Hedgewar and second sarsanghchalak M.S. Golwalkar. However, the Bharatiya Janata Party and RSS refuted the claims. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis denied the claims and said Modi will return as prime minister in 2029 as well. There is no need to search for his successor. He (Modi) is our leader and will continue. Discussing succession while the leader is active is inappropriate in Indian culture. In our culture, when the father is alive, it is inappropriate to talk about succession. That is Mughal culture. The time has not come to discuss it, PTI reported quoting Fadnavis. RSS leader Suresh Bhaiyyaji' Joshi also said he is not aware of any talk regarding replacing the prime minister. Photo: https://www.facebook.com/RedCrossUkraine Volunteers of the Ukrainian Red Cross Society (URCS) handed over more than 43,000 food kits to Kherson residents in March. A total of 43,308 food kits were distributed to Kherson residents in March by volunteers of the Ukrainian Red Cross Society. This assistance to the elderly and disabled was provided thanks to cooperation with the World Food Programme, the URCS reported on Facebook on Monday. Each kit contains the necessary long-term products. For many, this is significant support that allows them to save money for other important needs. Despite the challenges and constant threats, volunteers of the Ukrainian Red Cross Society work every day to ensure that aid reaches those who need it most in a timely manner. They not only distribute food packages, but also give people the faith that they are not left alone with their difficulties. The Supreme Court on Tuesday will hear a bunch of pleas regarding the Places of Worship Act. The petitions challenge the constitutionality various provisions of the Act. The Muslim side has also moved petitions seeking the implementation of the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991 in full spirit. The apex court will hear petitions challenging the constitutionality of certain provisions of the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991, which mandates maintaining the religious character of a place as it existed on August 15, 1947. A bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar will hear the matter on Tuesday. The apex court had earlier restricted courts across the country from registering fresh pleas or passing interim orders in connection with the Act. The law prohibits conversion of any place of worship and provides for the maintenance of the religious character of any place of worship as it existed on August 15, 1947. However, the Ayodhya Ram Mandir issue was kept out of its purview. The apex courts order stalled proceedings in at least 18 lawsuits filed across the country to ascertain the religious character of 10 mosques including Gyanvapi at Varanasi, Shahi Idgah Masjid at Mathura and Shahi Jama Masjid at Sambhal. The chief justice of India-led bench earlier expressed displeasure in February over a fresh slew of pleas filed over the Places of Worship Act and observed there should be a limit for intervention applications moved regarding the matter. The petitioners in the case include persons from all walks of life including the daughter of the Kashi royal family, Maharaja Kumari Krishna Priya; BJP leader Subramanian Swamy; former MP Chintamani Malviya; Anil Kabotra, a retired army officer; advocates Chandra Shekhar; Rudra Vikram Singh, resident of Varanasi; Swami Jeetendranand Saraswati, a religious leader; Devkinandan Thakur Ji, resident of Mathura and a religious guru and advocate Ashwini Upadhyay. The Muslim side argues the pleas must be dismissed and the consequences of granting the Hindu sides prayer will be drastic. Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar has said that over two-third of Indians do not support turning the country into Hindu Rashtra. He also lashed out at "divisive politics" and attempts to spread hatred in the country. Aiyar, while extending Eid wishes, said that there is a deliberate attempt to spread hatred and spoil the harmonious atmosphere in the country at the behest of those in power, but added that those tactics would not succeed as the majority of Indians didn't support divisive politics. Delhi: On Eid, Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar says, "I want to extend my heartfelt Eid Mubarak wishes to my Muslim brothers, sisters and friends in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and other South Asian countries... I am speaking from India, a land that welcomes everyone with open pic.twitter.com/d2dCPTxKDz IANS (@ians_india) March 31, 2025 "More than two-thirds of Hindustanis (countrymen) dont support the political powers that seek to create a hostile atmosphere towards minorities and turn the country into Hindu Rashtra. Out of this two-third population, 50 per cent comprise Hindus, he added. Aiyar added that India was the land of diversity and people of all faiths live here with deep bonds of brotherhood and harmony. This isn't the first time that Aiyar has made controversial statements. Recently, Aiyar went viral with a statement questioning the educational qualification of former Prime Minister and Congress leader Rajiv Gandhi. "Everyone knows the name of Indira Gandhi. When Rajiv Gandhi became (Prime Minister), people thought and I myself thought that he is an airline pilot. He has failed twice." "I studied with him at Cambridge University. He (Rajiv) had failed at Cambridge University. It is very difficult to fail at Cambridge University. It is easy to pass in the first division there. But, it is very difficult to fail there because the university tries to maintain its image by ensuring that everyone passes at least. But, despite this, Rajiv Gandhi failed. Then he went to Imperial College of London, where he failed again. I thought, does such a person want to become the Prime Minister?" Aiyar added. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said she is even ready to sacrifice her life for the unity of all religions. Extending Eid celebrations on Monday, Banerjee said urged the public not to fall into the trap of divisive politics. The West Bengal chief minister took part in the Eid prayers programme on Red Road and said the state government stands with minorities. Provocations are being made to fuel riots, but please don't fall into these traps. The West Bengal government stands with the minorities. No one can provoke tensions in the state, the Trinamool Congress leader said. Banerjee said no one could stir tensions in the state. #WATCH | West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee at Eidgah in Kolkata on the occasion of #EidAlFitr She says "We are secular. Navratri is going on; I extend my best wishes for that as well, but we do not want riots to take place. Common people do not involve in such things only pic.twitter.com/wfmCsuYgEY ANI (@ANI) March 31, 2025 Banerjee charged that the Bharatiya Janata Party is trying to do "divisive politics and called it "jumla politics". "If they (BJP) have problems with the minorities, will they change the Constitution of the country?" Banerjee attacked. The chief minister said they are secular and also extended wishes to Navratri celebrations. "We do not want anyone to create chaos. Common people do not create chaos, but, political parties do that. This is a matter of shame. We are ready to sacrifice our lives for all religions. The duty of the majority is to protect the minority, and the duty of the minority is to stay with the majority, Banerjee said. Trinamool Congress national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee also spoke on the occasion. The BJP says 'Hindus are in danger', and their friends say 'Muslims are in danger'. I would ask them to remove their lens of communal politics. The truth is that the entire country is in danger because of their politics. If they try to create divisions in West Bengal, we will resist it," PTI reported quoting him. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis hit back at Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Rauts remarks on Prime Minister Narendra Modis retirement, saying there was no need of such discussion. Modi would continue to lead the country for many more years, Fadnavis said. Raut, who has been a staunch critic of the BJP and Modi ever since the saffron party broke alliance with the Shiv Sena, claimed that Modi went to the RSS headquarters in Nagpur on Sunday to convey the message that he is retiring. "There is no need to search for his successor. He (Modi) is our leader and will continue," Fadnavis said, adding that discussing succession while the leader is active is inappropriate in Indian culture. #WATCH | Nagpur: On PM Modi's visit to RSS' Smruti Mandir, Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis says, "Modi ji is a 'swayamsevak', he has been a 'pracharak'. Even today, his life is like that of a 'pracharak'. That is why when he came to the program, we got to see his experience, his pic.twitter.com/b283tqRWbh ANI (@ANI) March 30, 2025 "In our culture, when the father is alive, it is inappropriate to talk about succession. That is Mughal culture. The time has not come to discuss it," said the chief minister. Fadavis also dismissed Raut's claims that the RSS wants a change in the country's political leadership and that Modi's successor would be from Maharashtra. "He (Modi) probably went to RSS headquarters to write his retirement application in September," Raut said in an apparent reference to the BJP's informal rule that the leaders attaining 75 years of age would retire and no responsibility would be placed on them. Modi turns 75 in September. Earlier, Aam Aadmi Party supremo Arvind Kejriwal, too, had flagged this rule and questioned whether Modi would retire this year. However, Union Home Minister Amit Shah outrightly rejected the buzz and said Modi would complete his tenure as the prime minister. "I want to say this to Arvind Kejriwal and company and INDI alliance that nothing as such is mentioned in BJP's constitution. PM Modi is only going to complete this tenure and PM Modi will continue to lead the country in future. There is no confusion in BJP, Shah had said. Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction) leader Rahool Kanal said party cadres will welcome stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra in Shiv Sena style when he arrives in Mumbai. Kamra, embroiled in a row over performance against Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde was granted bail by Tamil Nadu High Court recently. Shiv Sena workers visited a Mumbai police station on Monday to fulfil bail conditions. Mumbai police had arrested 12 Shiv Sena workers including Shiv Sena Yuva Sena (Shinde faction) General Secretary Rahool Kanal for vandalising The Habitat studio premises where Kamra performed. Kanal told ANI, We welcome the Court's verdict that gives Kunal Kamra relief, but it is only until April 7. He should come and face the law. No matter what protection he has there (in Tamil Nadu), whenever he comes to Mumbai, he will be welcomed in a good 'Shiv Sena style.' Kanal claimed it is not a threat and he was referring to Mumbais culture of 'Atithi Devo Bhava'. The Shiv Sena leader said Kamra should face the law and follow the procedure. Kamra, who currently resides in Villupuram, Tamil Nadu was recently granted anticipatory bail till April 7 by Tamil Nadu High Court, in connection with case registered against him by Mumbai police for his alleged remarks against Shinde. During a recent performance in Mumbai, the stand-up comedian performed a parody of a popular song from the film "Dil Toh Pagal Hai," and allegedly referred to Shinde as a "gaddar" (traitor). However, Kamra did not name Shinde in the show. Kamra also performed jokes about recent political developments in Maharashtra. His performance angered the Maharashtra government and leaders including Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis condemned the act. The Mumbai Khar police had issued summons twice to Kamra and has asked him to appear for questioning. Cases registered against Kamra at Nashik Rural, Jalgaon and Nashik (Nandgaon) police stations have also been transferred to Khar police for probe. Iranian authorities have dispersed a weeks-long protest by demonstrators supporting mandatory hijab, after declaring the gathering illegal. The protest outside the parliament in Tehran was led by a small group, mostly women clad in black chadors, who kept on for nearly 50 days. The unprecedented crackdown on March 28 has exposed deep fissures within the Islamic Republics political and social fabric and also within the ruling conservative establishment. Usually, such strict action is reserved for protesters rallying for liberal causes, but it seems the administration is sending a stern message that no protests against the regime will be tolerated, notwithstanding the cause. The incident shows that Iran is witnessing a broader struggle over theocratic control even as it grapples with economic hardship and international pressure on account of multiple issues. On Friday #Iran regime police dispersed a pro-mandatory hijab protest outside parliament. protesters said they were taken away and abandoned near the burial site of Khomeini. The sit-in began after Tehran delayed enforcing the new hijab law under public and global pressure. https://t.co/gmqjHWrtzE BenSabti (@BeniSabti) March 29, 2025 The pro-hijab protests have been brewing for a while as a group was camping outside the parliament since early February. They were critical of what they perceived as the governments failure to uphold Islamic values by strictly enforcing the hijab law, passed by the conservative-dominated parliament in September 2023. It sought to impose severe penalties, including hefty fines and prison terms, on women defying the dress code and businesses failing to enforce it. Yet, the implementation has been stalled, a decision attributed to the Supreme National Security Council (SNSC), reportedly with the tacit approval of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The pro-hijab demonstration, backed by ultraconservative factions like the Paydari Front, emerged amid growing frustration with this delay. For these super-revolutionaries, as some media dub them, the hijab is not merely a dress code but a cornerstone of Irans post-1979 revolutionary identity. Their vigilante stance echoes Khameneis April 2023 declaration that flouting the hijab law was both religiously and politically haram (forbidden), a speech in which he blamed foreign powers for encouraging defiance. However, Khameneis recent silence on the issuemost notably during his December 2024 address to an all-female audiencehas fuelled speculation of a strategic pivot, possibly towards a softer approach amid mounting domestic and international challenges. The crackdown, in fact, unfolded against the backdrop of heightened tension in the region. On Friday, there were massive state-organised Quds Day rallies in Tehran, expressing solidarity with Palestine. Once the rallies were over, hundreds of police officers, both male and female, moved in to disperse the hijab protesters, who had resisted repeated requests to leave. Tehrans deputy governor, Hossein Khosh-Eghbal, justified the action, branding the gathering illegal and warning that unauthorised rallies would face similar consequences. The judiciarys mouthpiece Mizan Online reported that while most complied with dispersal orders, a stubborn minority prompted police intervention. Religious vigilante groups, however, allege excessive force, which the police dismissed as fabricated. This episode has come at a critical juncture for Iran. Since the 2022 death of Mahsa Amini in custodyarrested for allegedly breaching hijab rulespublic defiance of the dress code has surged, particularly among younger women. The ensuing protests, which claimed hundreds of lives, shook the regime, prompting a brief suspension of the morality police before their swift return. Under the late president Ebrahim Raisi, a hardline hijab bill gained traction, only to be shelved in March 2025 under reformist President Masoud Pezeshkian, who argued for education over punishment. The suspension of the law, backed by speaker of the parliament Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, reflects fears of reigniting unrest amid economic woes exacerbated by US sanctions. The vigilantes have zeroed in on Ghalibaf, whom they blame for the delay and the crackdown. Hours before police moved in, protesters chanted against him during his Friday prayers speech in Tehran. Hardline legislator Hamid Rasaei called the dispersal a result of foolishness or infiltration, while the Paydari Fronts Mahmoud Nabavian conceded that preserving the Islamic Republic might outweigh enforcing the law given Irans crises. The discord within conservative ranks hints at a fracturing consensus, even among the regimes staunchest defenders. And the governments response blends repression with caution: it deploys cameras to spot unveiled women and encourages public snitching, yet hesitates to fully unleash the new laws punitive might. The crackdown on the Tehran protesters may also signal a warning to ultra-hardliners that defiance of Khameneis apparent shiftpossibly towards engaging the Trump administrationwill not be tolerated. US President Donald Trump is all set to embark on his first foreign trip to Saudi Arabia next month, according to a report. The trip could happen as soon as mid-May. "Though the initial plan was to visit the Middle Eastern country in April 28, it was later postponed to mid-May and the planning for the same has already begun," Axios quoted two US officials and a source with knowledge of the president's travel. Trump's choosing Saudi Arabia as his first foreign destination hints at the rapport he shares with the Gulf nations, especially Saudi Arabia, both economically and diplomatically. Riyadh is also the host for the talks between the US and Russian officials on the Ukraine War. Donald Trump: "I'm going to Saudi Arabia next month because they agreed to pay $1 trillion to American companies pic.twitter.com/PELtP63gUR Sprinter Observer (@SprinterObserve) March 7, 2025 Trump had earlier expressed interest in how he planned to visit Saudi Arabia first. He told reporters in the Oval Office on March 6: "I am going to Saudi Arabia. Normally you would go to the UK first. Last time I went to Saudi Arabia. They put up 450 billion dollars," Trump said. "This time I said I would go if you put up a trillion dollars to American companies. Meaning the purchase over four years of a trillion dollars. They agreed to do that. So I am gonna be going there," he said. However, the White House has yet to confirm anything, stating that it was exploring the opportunity for the President's international travel but has not fixed anything. "An opportunity for international travel for the President is something that is being looked at. We don't yet have a specific plan, and we will provide that information when it is official," a White House official said. "Talks will focus on discussing foreign investments, strengthening relationships with Gulf nations and ending conflict in the Middle East," the official said. However, though the Trump administration has singled out the country as a possible participant in the Abraham Accords, Riyadh is unlikely to commit to any such deal as it insists such a plan must include Palestinian statehood, a non-starter for Israel. Amid the widespread devastation in Myanmar caused by a 7.7-magnitude earthquake which killed over 1,600 people and injured nearly 3,000, the collapse of an under-construction high-rise building in Bangkok, which is more than a 1,000km away from the epicentre, has raised suspicion. None of the other high-rise buildings in the Thailand capital, either under construction or completed, was affected by the earthquake, raising concerns over the structural integrity of the collapsed skyscraper, which was a joint venture involving a Chinese firm. Seventeen people have been confirmed dead, while around 80 are still missing, with most of them believed to be trapped beneath the rubble. NEWS Skyscraper under construction collapses in Bangkok, Thailand, following magnitude 7.7 earthquake in Myanmar.pic.twitter.com/BvQSZIHeNn Massimo (@Rainmaker1973) March 28, 2025 Thailand's Deputy Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has ordered a probe into the collapse of the 33-storey building, and asked the expert panel to determine the cause in seven days. It was a joint venture between Italian-Thai Development Plc and China Railway Number 10 (Thailand) Ltd. The collapsed structure was part of the project constructed over three years. To make matters worse, four Chinese nationals have been detained for illegally entering the site of the collapse and allegedly trying to retrieve documents from there. The National Thailand quoted Police Major General Nopasin Poolswat, Deputy Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Bureau, as saying that the men were removing 32 files from the collapsed State Audit Office (SAO) building, without permission. The area of the building collapse was declared a disaster zone, where no one was allowed to enter without authorisation. The four men, reportedly, claimed that they were subcontractors working for a contractor under Italian-Thai Development Plc, and that they entered the area to retrieve documents needed for an insurance claim. Emergency crews using cranes and sniffer dogs continued the search for the people believed to be buried under the rubble. Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt said the search will continue even after 72 hours, since thermal body scans of the rubble indicated there may still be people alive underneath. A Russian actor who starred in the Oscar-winning movie 'Anora' has been included in Ukraine's notorious database that contains names of individuals who pose a threat to Ukrainian national security, according to Russian media. Mark Eydelshteyn is reportedly under Ukrainian scanner for attacking "the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine", reported RT News. The database, Myrotvorets, is notorious for how the people who get featured there allegedly die in suspicious circumstances. For the same reason, it has been branded 'kill list' in Russia. The 23-year-old actor was included in the database for "attacking Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity and repeated deliberate violation of the state border of Ukraine by visiting Crimea", which came under Russia in 2014. Though there is no official confirmation from Ukraine, the allegations stem from Eydelshteyns supposed role in the movie 'The Land of Sasha' which was released in 2022. This was shot in Crimea. Eydelshteyn played the lead role in the movie, which premiered at the 72nd Berlin International Film Festival in 2022. The movie also positioned him as one of the top actors in the country. Eydelshteyn shot to worldwide fame starring as Ivan 'Vanya' Zakharov in US director Sean Baker's film 'Anora'. The movie won five Oscars at the 97th Academy Awards in March and also the Palme d'Or at the 77th Cannes Film Festival. As for Myrotvorets, the database was created in 2014 by Ukrainian politician Heorhiy Tuka and a former State Security Service (SBU) officer using the pseudonym Roman Zaitsev. Though not affiliated with the Ukrainian government, the website includes names of people accused of colluding with Russia or participating in pro-Russian separatist movements. Though those who run the list called Myrotvorets as a tool to screen individuals at government checkpoints and supplement official database systems, many reports have noted that people who have died after being added to the list, such as former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, pro-war propagandist Daria Dugina, and Italian journalist Andrey Rocchelli, have been labelled as "liquidated." Hours after United States President Donald Trump warned Iran of bombings over the nuclear deal, Iran has, reportedly, readied its missiles to strike US-related positions. According to Tehran Times, Iran has put its missiles in ready-to-launch mode in underground facilities in the country. On Sunday, Trump had told NBC News that if Tehran did not reach an agreement with the US over its nuclear programme, there will be bombings, and also added that secondary tariffs would be imposed if a deal was not made. He had also told reporters, while flying from Florida to Washington on Sunday evening, that if Iran did not come to the negotiating table, "its going to be a bad situation". In his first term as president, Trump had withdrawn the US from the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) the Iran nuclear deal. The agreement had imposed strict restrictions on Iran's nuclear activities in return for relief in sanctions. International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) the UN's nuclear watchdog in a report in February, had said that Iran has accelerated its production of near weapon-grade uranium. The Trump administration has reiterated that it remains open to talks but stressed that Iran must show intent to limit its nuclear programme. Earlier, while responding to Trump's letter on fresh negotiations to resolve the nuclear crisis, Iran had ruled out direct negotiations with the US but had indicated its willingness to continue indirect talks. "We dont avoid talks; its the breach of promises that has caused issues for us so far, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian had said in televised remarks during a Cabinet meeting. They (US) must prove that they can build trust. The US-related positions referred to in the Tehran Times report are probably the American bases in the Middle East, which the Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf termed as vulnerable to Iran's attacks. Interestingly, Iran had recently released a video, showing its underground missile facility, which is called the "missile city" by Iran's Revolutionary Guards (IRGC). Head of the President's Office of Ukraine Andriy Yermak notes the delay in the ceasefire and the end of the war by the Russian Federation. "Russia is violating the energy ceasefire and is delaying the end of the war, attacking civilians, continuing active actions at the front. Ukraine has long proposed a comprehensive ceasefire and demonstrated readiness for a just peace. Russia is doing everything to prevent the war from ending," Yermak wrote on Telegram on Monday. Continuing with Operation Brahma, Indias National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) team has begun rescue operations at the 'U hla thein' monastery in Myanmar where around 170 monks are believed to be stuck. More than 80 monks, reportedly, died while taking exams when the monastery collapsed due to the earthquake in Mandalay. A 7.7-magnitude earthquake, which hit Thailand too, killed over 1,600 people and injured nearly 3,000 in Myanmar. India swiftly launched its relief mission named 'Operation Brahma' in response to the devastation caused by the earthquake on March 28. #WATCH | India swiftly deploys 96.3 tons of relief supplies and 198 personnel to Myanmar under Operation Brahma, including teams from the IAF, Army Medical Corps, and NDRF, providing critical aid. Find the complete story on #PBSHABD. Free to sign up and use for media pic.twitter.com/iyRD8Z0V3J PB-SHABD (@PBSHABD) March 30, 2025 The army team will visit the hospital today and will set up their medical services tomorrow. We are also trying to get the NDRF team deployed at the Sky Villa (where 4 towers of 11 storey each have collapsed). The towers have several foreigners, the official statement said. NDRF teams will also be deployed to the Mandalay Palace, Maha Muni Pagoda, MIIT, among other places. The statement added that the teams are also providing accommodation and food to members of Indian community. Operation Brahma: India delivers relief materials, rescue teams India has, so far, sent relief materials, medicines, an 80-member search and rescue team from the NDRF and military field hospitals to Myanmar in three C-130J and two C-17 Globemaster aircraft. A specialised rescue team from Army's 50 (I) Para Brigade, too, has been deployed to Myanmar. The 118-member team, including medical and communication units, landed at Myanmar's capital Nay Pyi Taw on Saturday night. India is also sending 40 tonnes of humanitarian aid to Myanmar onboard its naval ships INS Satpura and INS Savitri. Tibet remains a major impediment to the improvement of India-China relations, as the Tibetan government-in-exile, led by the Dalai Lama, is based in Dharamshala. China perceives that India provides tacit support to Tibetan dissidents, thereby undermining its national interests. As a result, it hardens its stance on the border issue and adopts a more belligerent posture towards India in international forums. The 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, is the symbol of the Tibetan struggle for autonomy and the preservation of its religion and unique culture. He remains the most prominent face of Tibet, respected worldwide, and continues to singlehandedly challenge the legitimacy of Chinas occupation of Tibet. The Dalai Lama, who escaped to India in 1959 at the young age of 23, will turn 90 this July, thereby reigniting speculation about his succession. In Tibetan tradition, major spiritual leaders such as the Dalai Lama, Panchen Lama, Karmapa, and othersknown as tulkusare believed to be reincarnations, with their successors identified through a unique process of spiritual recognition. According to Buddhist scholars, this process of spiritual recognition of the Dalai Lama is the responsibility of the high lamas of the Gelugpa tradition and the Tibetan government, following the death of the incumbent. The selection process can be lengthy; it took four years to identify the current Dalai Lama. In this context through a recent statement, the Dalai Lama indicated that his successor as the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism will be born in the free world, suggesting areas outside of China. He stated: Since the purpose of a reincarnation is to carry out the work of the predecessor, the new Dalai Lama will be born in the free world so that the traditional mission of the Dalai Lama that is, to be the voice for universal compassion, the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhismwill continue. He urged his followers to reject any successor chosen by Beijing. This declaration is part of his latest book, 'Voice for the Voiceless', released in the US and the UK recently, in which he emphasizes the continuation of the fight for Tibetan freedom, regardless of his passing. The Chinese spokesperson of the foreign ministry was quick to retort and through an official release stated that Dalai Lama has no right to represent the people of Tibet. She added that the reincarnation of Dalai Lamas successor will be managed by the Chinese government as per the procedure which has been specified by the State Administration for Religious Affairs (SARA). It is thus evident that this battle for succession will be intensely contested by China, as was the case with the 11th Panchen Lamathe second-highest spiritual leader in the Tibetan religious hierarchy. When the tormented and controversial 10th Panchen Lama passed away in 1990, his successor, Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, was identified by the Dalai Lama in 1995. However, the Chinese government placed him under house arrest, and he has not been seen since. Instead, they appointed Gyaincain Norbu as the Panchen Lama of their own choosing. While he has not been accepted by the Tibetan people as the rightful Panchen Lama, the fact remains that a revered institution has been effectively marginalised by the Chinese. Nevertheless, as the officially endorsed Panchen Lama, Gyaincain Norbu is likely to play a significant role in the spiritual recognition process of the next Dalai Lama. So, we may have two Dalai Lamas after the passing of Tenzin Gyatsoa situation that is not in the long-term interest of the Tibetan people. This would effectively create two Tibets: one under the control and confines of China, and another outside its borders, with the chasm between the two continuing to widen. It is quite possible that the Dalai Lama of the free world may emerge as the more powerful voice of the Tibetan people. However, the battle for succession will inevitably take its toll and weaken the Tibetan cause. This, in turn, will accelerate the process of Sinicizationeroding Tibet's identity as a nation, and diluting its religion and culture. Other than Tibet and China, the controversy surrounding the Dalai Lama has significant implications primarily for Indiaespecially if the Dalai Lamas reincarnation is found in India. It faces a Hobsons choice between supporting the Dalai Lama or siding with the Chinese. The first option will cast a continuing shadow on India-China relations, with the possibility of further deterioration; the second offers no visible benefits, only the prospect of a stronger and more assertive China. Indian policymakers thus need to take a pragmatic view of the situation and explore all viable possibilities, including efforts toward a possible reconciliation between the Dalai Lama and the Chinese. It is quite possible that the next Dalai Lamas presence in Lhasa may serve Indias interests better than his continued presence in Dharamshala. Major General Gajinder Singh is a retired senior officer of the Indian Army with a distinguished career spanning over 36 years. The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of THE WEEK. French Right-wing leader and National Rally party figurehead Marine Le Pen was on Monday found guilty of embezzlement of public funds by the Paris Criminal Court which sentenced her to a four-year prison sentence and a five-year ban on being elected to public office. The ruling came as a major shock to Le Pen, dashing her hopes of becoming the French President as several polls had put her as a strong contender to succeed Emmanuel Macron. Her right-wing party is also witnessing a surge in popularity, riding on a populist anti-migration agenda. Her conviction has triggered an uproar among right-wing supporters and leaders in France as party figures were left scrambling for a Plan B, not prepared for the severity of the sentence. While Le Pen's lawyers have vowed to appeal, she has few options available to rescue her Presidential chances. It is still not sure whether the hearing on her appeal will take place in time to overturn the court ruling or to lighten the sentence. Another counter-move could be to appeal to the countrys constitutional council, the highest constitutional body, for a suspension of the ruling, on the grounds of respecting the freedom of the electorate. TikTok star Jordan Bardella Jordan Bardella le visage ferme arrive au siege du Rassemblement National Porte de Saint-Cloud pour rejoindre Marine Le Pen et les cadres du parti. Le RN doit coordonner sa riposte. pic.twitter.com/ueccV8oxP4 Nicolas Laurent (@NLLLaurent) March 31, 2025 The uncertainty has put the focus on another person; Le Pen's heir-apparent and third-most popular politician in France, the 29-year-old Jordan Bardella. Speculations are that the National Rally president could now lead the Right-wing and run for Presidency. Bardella reacted to Le Pen's conviction, stating: "Today, its not just Marine Le Pen who is unfairly condemned: Its French democracy that is being executed." A TikTok star popular with young voters, Bardella could be now the face of the far-right party. He is his party's candidate for next week's European Parliament election and is likely to emerge a winner considering that poll figures show a third of French voters plan to cast their votes for the National Rally. Bardella's popularity is such that he was the only politician to figure in the list of the 50 most popular figures in France compiled by the French weekly newspaper JDD. Many believe his rise as a popular European politician also reflects the sea change in the continent, as nationalist parties surge. Armed with his suave look and youthful exuberance, Bardella has now built a wide gap between him and Valerie Hayer, Macrons candidate in the race. The French media too has lavished praise on him, addressing Bardella "superstar". While Bardella's potential performance in the June elections won't bring him closer to the Presidency, it is widely seen as a reflection of what happens in the 2027 Presidential election. However, many feel that Bardella isn't ready to become the President. He has only been moulded to become her prime minister and not president. Even party insiders feel he is not yet ready and his opponents claim he has a light grasp of issues. But, at the moment there seem to be very few options for the right wing. "Theres a Bardella phenomenon," a political adviser from the rival conservative Les Republicains party told Politico. "People want to see Macron take a beating, and in a confusing way, he manages to appear as a new political proposition for the right and the far-right." Accra (Ghana), Mar 31 (AP) Three Chinese nationals suspected of being kidnapped off Ghana's coast are safe, China's foreign ministry said on Monday, without giving details. Ghanaian authorities said Saturday they were investigating a suspected pirate attack on a Ghanaian-registered fishing vessel that left three Chinese crew members missing. Ghana's armed forces in a statement said that on Thursday evening, reports indicated that seven armed individuals boarded the vessel and fired warning shots, prompting several crew members to seek cover in a safe area. The armed forces said the pirates stayed on board for about three hours after assembling everyone on deck and confiscating their phones. After the armed individuals left the ship, the crew discovered the missing members. It said the MENGXIN 1 vessel was now docked. Piracy is not uncommon in the Gulf of Guinea off West Africa. Over the years, the Chinese have flown Ghanaian flags on their vessels to fish in Ghanaian waters, according to watchdogs. China's foreign ministry told reporters that all crew members were safe. China will continue to work with Ghana to effectively safeguard the safety of Chinese citizens and institutions in Ghana, ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said. (AP) PY PY Dhaka, Mar 31 (PTI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday sent a message to Bangladeshs interim government chief Muhammad Yunus wishing the people of the Muslim majority neighbouring country on Eid-ul-Fitr. As the blessed month of Ramadan comes to a close, I take this moment to extend warm greetings and felicitations to you and the people of Bangladesh on the joyous occasion of the festival of Eid al-Fitr, read the message, shared by Yunus press wing. Modi wrote over the holy month, 200 million Indians of Islamic faith joined their brothers and sisters across the world in spending pious time in fasting and prayer. The Indian prime minister called the joyous occasion a time of celebration, reflection, gratitude and unity while it reminds us of the values of compassion, generosity and solidarity that bind us together as nations and as members of the global community. We wish for peace, harmony, good health and happiness for people across the world. May the bonds of friendship among our countries grow stronger, the message read. A somber and heart-wrenching levaya took place on Sunday afternoon for Natasha (Sara) Saada AH and her two young daughters, Diana (7) AH and Debra (5) AH, who were tragically killed in a devastating car accident on Shabbos afternoon near Ocean Parkway and Quentin Road. Hundreds of mourners gathered at Shomrei Hadas Chapels in Boro Park to give kavod acharon to the victims, whose lives were cut short in a senseless tragedy that has shaken the Flatbush Sephardic community and beyond. Rabbi Hillel Haber, Rabbi Yosef Ozeri, and Rabbi Shlomo Diamond delivered heartbreaking hespedim, offering words of chizuk and mourning the immeasurable loss. Leading Sephardic Rabbonim from across the community were in attendance, standing in solidarity with the grieving family. The levaya also drew a large presence from Flatbush Hatzolah, many of whom were on the scene of the accident and returned to pay their final respects. A massive NYPD, Flatbush and Boro Park Shomrim presence was also seen outside the chapel, ensuring a smooth levaya. Among those in attendance were Mayor Eric Adams, Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez, Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso, as well as NYC Council members and New York State Assembly representatives. The horrific accident took place on Shabbos afternoon when a vehicle driven by 32-year-old Miriam Yarimi struck the victims as they crossed Ocean Parkway near Quentin Road. Natasha AH and her daughters were pronounced niftar at the scene, while four-year-old Pinchas Raphael Ben Sarah is in stable condition at Maimonides Medical Center. Klal Yisroel is urged to continue davening for his refuah sheleimah. The niftarim leave behind a grieving husband and father, Sidney Saada ybl, as well as their surviving sons, Philip and Jacob. Natasha is also survived by her loving parents, Jack and Shahin Assil, and her siblings, Anoshka Saada, David Assil, and Sammy Assil. Following the levaya, the kevurah is set to take place in Eretz Yisroel on Har Hamenuchos on Monday. The driver of the vehicle, Miriam Yarimi, has been charged with three counts of second-degree manslaughter, three counts of criminally negligent homicide, and multiple additional charges related to reckless driving and traffic violations. In the wake of this heartbreaking tragedy, Rabbi Raphael Netanel, a prominent Sephardic askan and leading community leader, has emerged as a pillar of strength and compassion. With unwavering dedication, Rabbi Netanel has been at the forefront of supporting the grieving family, ensuring that every detailbig and smallhas been meticulously attended to with care and sensitivity. Additionally, the family thanks NYPD Community Affairs Chief Richie Taylor, whose tireless efforts around the clock have been nothing short of extraordinary. Chief Taylors commitment to serving the community during this crisis has provided invaluable support and coordination, reflecting the finest qualities of compassion and service. Additionally, special thanks are due to CAU Commissioner Fred Kreizman for his steadfast involvement and assistance. Your browser does not support the video tag. Your browser does not support the video tag. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) In a stark admission of his partys struggles, Sen. Michael Bennet (D-CO) warned Sunday that the Democratic brand is problematic, arguing that the party has become synonymous with elite coastal interests rather than the working-class Americans it once championed. Speaking on NBCs Meet the Press, Bennet did not hold back in his critique, acknowledging that Democrats have failed to connect with everyday votersespecially as former President Donald Trump has twice managed to seize the White House. We should have never lost to Donald Trump once, much less twice, Bennet said bluntly. The Democratic Party 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 lead. When asked by host Kristen Welker about Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumers future, Bennet sidestepped, instead pivoting to a larger issue: the partys lack of a compelling vision for American voters. I think a much more important question is what we are going to do as the Democratic Party to create a compelling view for Americans that will allow us to lead again, he said. Bennets remarks echoed the concerns raised by California Governor Gavin Newsom, who recently declared that the Democratic brand had become toxic. When pressed on whether he agreed, the Colorado senator didnt mince words. I do agree that the Democratic Party brand is really problematic, he admitted. It is a brand that 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. Bennets criticism underscores a growing concern among Democrats that their party has become detached from the economic anxieties of middle America, leaving a vacuum that Trump and his populist rhetoric have repeatedly filled. Despite his grim assessment, Bennet argued that Trumps return to the White House could provide an opportunity for Democratsif they can reclaim their working-class roots and offer a stronger economic vision. The good news, for the party, I think, is that Donald Trump is pursuing the same trickle-down economics that he pursued the first time he was president, to make sure that he can create, again, the tax cuts for the wealthiest people in the United States, and pay for it by taking away healthcare from the American people, Bennet said. Your browser does not support the video tag. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) A French court on Monday barred Marine Le Pen from seeking public office for five years, with immediate effect, for embezzlement a hammer blow to the far-right leaders presidential hopes and an earthquake for French politics. Although Le Pen can appeal the verdict, such a move wont suspend her ineligibility, which could rule her out of the 2027 presidential race. The court ruling was a political as well as a judicial temblor for France, hobbling one of the leading contenders to succeed President Emmanuel Macron at the end of his second and final term, scheduled to last into 2027. So broad were the political implications that even some of Le Pens political opponents reacted by saying that court had gone too far. Le Pen herself wasnt around to hear the chief judge pronounce the sentence that threw her career into a tailspin. By then, shed already strode out of the courtroom, when the judge first indicated that Le Pen would be barred from office, without saying straight away for how long. Although Le Pen didnt immediately comment, her supporters were quick to express disapproval. Jordan Bardella, her 29-year-old protege who could replace her on the ballot in 2027 if she cant stand, said on X that Le Pen is being unjustly condemned and that French democracy is being executed. Hungarys populist Prime Minister Viktor Orban quickly took to social media to express his support, posting Je suis Marine! I am Marine on X. Among political opponents of Le Pen who expressed unease was conservative lawmaker Laurent Wauquiez, who said the court ruling put a very heavy weight on our democracy. A political death scenario The sentence could prevent her from running for president in 2027, a scenario she has previously described as a political death. Only an appeal ruling that overturns the ban on public office could restore her hopes of standing. But with the election just two years away, time is running out and theres no guarantee that an appeals court would rule more favorably. The verdict was a resounding defeat for Le Pens party. The judge also handed down guilty verdicts for embezzling public funds to eight other current or former members of her party who, like her, previously served as European Parliament lawmakers. Also convicted were 12 other people who served as parliamentary aides for Le Pen and what is now the National Rally party, formerly the National Front. The judge said Le Pen had been at the heart of a system that her party used to siphon off EU parliament money. The judge said Le Pen and other co-defendants didnt enrich themselves personally. But the ruling described the embezzlement as a democratic bypass that deceived the parliament and voters. From the front row of the court, Le Pen had initially shown no immediate reaction when the judge first declared her guilty. But she grew more agitated as the verdict was then delivered in greater detail. She nodded her head in disagreement as the judge said Le Pens party had illegally used European Parliament money for its own benefit. Incredible, Le Pen she whispered at one point. She then abruptly left without warning, picking up her bag and striding out, her heels click-click-clicking on the hardwood floor, leaving disbelief in her wake. The court sentenced Le Pen to two years imprisonment under house arrest, but it was the political ramifications of ineligibility that dealt the biggest blow to her foreseeable political future. Le Pen and 24 other officials from the National Rally were accused of having used money intended for EU parliamentary aides to pay staff who worked for the party between 2004 and 2016, in violation of the 27-nation blocs regulations. Le Pen and her co-defendants denied wrongdoing. Le Pen has enjoyed growing support Le Pen, 56, was runner-up to President Emmanuel Macron in the 2017 and 2022 presidential elections, and her partys electoral support has grown in recent years. During the nine-week trial that took place in late 2024, she argued that ineligibility would have the effect of depriving me of being a presidential candidate and disenfranchise her supporters. 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, she told the panel of three judges. Le Pens seeming natural successor in 2027 elections would be Jordan Bardella, Le Pens 29-year-old protege who succeeded her at the helm of the party in 2021. Le Pen denied accusations she was at the head of the system meant to siphon off EU parliament money to benefit her party, which she led from 2011 to 2021. She argued instead that it was acceptable to adapt the work of the aides paid by the European Parliament to the needs of the lawmakers, including some political work related to the party. Hearings showed that some EU money was used to pay for Le Pens bodyguard who was once her fathers bodyguard as well as her personal assistant. Prosecutors requested a two-year prison sentence and a five-year period of ineligibility for Le Pen. Le Pen said she felt they were only interested in preventing her from running for president. (AP) Russia views efforts to end its three-year war with Ukraine as a drawn-out process, a Kremlin spokesman said Monday, after U.S. President Donald Trump expressed frustration with the two countries leaders as he tries to bring about a truce. We are working to implement some ideas in connection with the Ukrainian settlement. This work is ongoing, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in a conference call with reporters. There is nothing concrete yet that we could and should announce. This is a drawn-out process because of the difficulty of its substance, he said when asked about Trumps anger at Russian President Vladimir Putins comments dismissing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyys legitimacy to negotiate a deal. Russia has effectively rejected a U.S. proposal for a full and immediate 30-day halt in the fighting. The feasibility of a partial ceasefire on the Black Sea, used by both countries to transport shipments of grain and other cargo, was cast into doubt after Kremlin negotiators imposed far-reaching conditions. Trump promised during last years U.S. election campaign that he would bring Europes biggest conflict since World War II to a swift conclusion. Peskov didnt directly address Trumps criticism of Putin on Sunday when he said he was angry, pissed off that Putin had questioned Zelenskyys credibility as leader. But he said that Putin remains absolutely open to contacts with the U.S. president and was ready to speak to Trump. Both countries are preparing for a spring-summer campaign on the battlefield, analysts and Ukrainian and Western officials say. Zelenskyy said late Sunday that there has been no let-up in Russias attacks as it drives on with its invasion of its neighbor that began in February 2022. He said the attacks demonstrated Russias unwillingness to forge a settlement. The geography and brutality of Russian strikes, not just occasionally, but literally every day and night, show that Putin couldnt care less about diplomacy, Zelenskyy said in his daily address. And almost every day, in response to this proposal, there are Russian drones, bombs, artillery shelling, and ballistic strikes, he said. He urged further international pressure on Moscow to compel Russia to negotiate, including new sanctions. Trump said he would consider adding further sanctions on Russia, which already faces steep financial penalties, and using tariffs to undermine its oil exports. Kharkiv, Ukraines second-largest city, came under another Russian drone attack overnight, injuring three people, the Ukrainian Interior Ministry said Monday. Russia also fired two ballistic missiles and 131 Shahed and decoy drones, the Ukrainian air force said. Meanwhile, Russias Defense Ministry said air defenses shot down 66 Ukrainian drones early Monday over three Russian regions. The continuing attacks by the Ukrainian armed forces on Russias energy facilities show the complete lack of respect for any obligations related to the settlement of the conflict in Ukraine by the Kyiv regime, the ministry said in a statement. (AP) A team of Israeli researchers has unearthed artifacts in the ancient city of Megiddoknown as Har Megiddo, or Armageddonthat may provide physical evidence of the epic war between King Yoshiyahu of Yehudah and the Egyptian Pharaoh Necho, as recorded in Sefer Melachim II and Divrei HaYamim II. For the first time, remnants of 7th-century BCE Egyptian pottery have been discovered in the area, indicating that Egyptian forces were indeed present at this crucial point in historyjust as the Neviim recount. Megiddo is uniquementioned both in Tanach and in the great historical records of the ancient Near East, explained Professor Yisrael Finkelstein, head of the University of Haifas Megiddo Expedition. It has long been suspected that the site was an Egyptian fortress in the late 7th century BCE, largely based on the pesukim that describe Yoshiyahu HaMelech falling in battle against Pharaoh Necho. The battle at Megiddo is described in Sefer Melachim II (23:29) and Divrei HaYamim II (35:20-22). King Yoshiyahu, a tzaddik who was moser nefesh to eradicate avodah zarah from Am Yisroel and restore proper avodas Hashem, confronted Pharaoh Necho as the Egyptian ruler marched to aid the Ashurim in their fight against Bavel. Despite Nechos warnings that he was not coming to war against Yehudah, Yoshiyahu insisted on engaging himand tragically fell at Megiddo. Now, new archaeological findings appear to confirm the presence of Egyptian troops at Megiddo precisely during this historical period. Among the discoveries were not only Egyptian ceramics but also imported Greek pottery, suggesting the presence of Greek mercenaries in the Egyptian armysomething hinted at in ancient sources. We know that Egypt employed mercenaries in this period, noted Dr. Assaf Kleiman, a senior researcher of the Megiddo team. And some scholars suggest that the Ludim, referenced in Tanach, may have been such warriors from Lydia. Finkelstein also raised the possibility that the mercenaries found at Megiddo could be tied to the nevuos of Yechezkel regarding the end of days battle of Gog UMagog. There are hints in the Neviim that the Lydians may have been involved in Yoshiyahus death, he said. One of them is the identity of Gog, who some scholars identify as Gyges, king of Lydia. Gog is mentioned in multiple places in Tanach. In Yechezkel 38-39, he appears as the ultimate enemy of Klal Yisroel, leading the forces of Magog in the war that will precede Mashiach. The Midrashim and later meforshim have long debated the exact identity of Gog, and whether the historical Lydians played a role in Jewish history. Megiddo has been the focus of excavations since the early 20th century, but much of the site was disturbed by previous diggers who lacked todays sophisticated methods. The recent efforts have led to the discovery of a previously untouched area, known as Area X, where significant finds from the 7th century BCE have emerged. Among them was a structure featuring multiple rooms and a large courtyard, filled with pottery that offers a glimpse into the daily life of the time period. The pottery tells us a lot about trade, cooking, and military presence, Kleiman explained. We even found a fragment of a Yehudi cooking pot, made from clay sourced near Yerushalayimfurther evidence that there was a Jewish presence in Megiddo at the time. But perhaps the most startling discovery was the overwhelming presence of Egyptian vessels, many of which were simple, functional, and unadorned, suggesting that they were not luxury trade items but rather the personal property of an Egyptian military garrison. This is the first time weve ever found such a concentration of Late Iron Age Egyptian pottery in Megiddoor anywhere else in Eretz Yisroel, said Kleiman. As these findings come to light, the connection between Tanach and history becomes even clearer. The battle at Megiddo marked the beginning of the end for Malchus Beis David, as Yehudah soon fell under Egyptian control, only to later be conquered by the Babylonians, leading to the destruction of the Beis HaMikdash and Galus Bavel. For those who believe in the eternal truth of the Torah, this latest discovery serves as a powerful reminder: the words of Chazal and the Neviim are not just folklorethey are emes, and sometimes, HaKadosh Baruch Hu allows us to uncover the evidence buried beneath the very soil of Eretz Yisroel itself. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko met with the mayor of the twin city of Toulouse, Jean-Luc Moudenc, and a delegation from the mayor's office of this French city and discussed with them issues of economic and cultural cooperation. "Friendship and cooperation between Kyiv and Toulouse began in 1975. And we continue to develop economic and cultural ties between the cities. Kyiv is ready to join cooperation in future joint projects. This also concerns support in the restoration of the Ukrainian capital. In particular, the restoration of infrastructure facilities damaged by the aggressor," Klitschko wrote on Telegram on Monday. The mayors signed the Declaration of Sister Cities on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of friendly relations between the cities and planted a tree on the Friendship Alley on Volodymyrska Hirka (Hill). Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu selected former naval chief Vice-Admiral (res.) Eli Sharvit as the next Shin Bet chief, the Prime Ministers Office announced on Monday. Sharvits selection was unexpected and considered a surprising choice for several reasons: he was not one of the leading candidates for the position; he is an outsider to the Shin Bet, never having served in its ranks and has no intelligence background; and before October 7, he participated in the protests in Tel Aviv against the governments judicial rform plan. After extensively interviewing seven qualified candidates, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu decided to appoint former naval chief Vice-Admiral (res.) Eli Sharvit as the next head of the Shin Bet, the Prime Ministers Office said. Major General Sharvit served in the IDF for 36 years, including 5 years as Navy chief. In this role, he led the development of maritime defense forces over Israels economic waters and managed complex operational systems against Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran. The Shin Bet is a distinguished organization that underwent a severe shock. on October 7. The Prime Minister is confident that Sharvit is the right person to lead the organization forward while preserving its proud legacy. Sharvit will replace Ronen Bar, who was unaninmously dismissed by the government from his position. A Surpeme Court hearing on petititions filed against his dismissal is scheduled for April 8. (YWN Israel Desk Jerusalem) Israel Police on Monday morning arrested two suspects as part of the Qatargate affair investigation: Yonatan Urich, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahus media advisor, and Eli Feldstein, his former military spokesperson. This is the first time that the police have made an actual arrest in the affair, as opposed to previous times when the suspects were only detained for questioning. A third suspect, a journalist, was detained for questioning on Monday. Early Monday afternoon, Attorney-General Gali Baharav Miara ordered the police to immediately summon Netanyahu to testify in the case against his aides, Channel 12 News reported. Netanyahu received the summons in the middle of his testimony in his corruption trial in Tel Aviv, and he was forced to abruptly stop the hearing shortly after 1 p.m. to travel to Jerusalem to provide testimony to the police in the Qatargate case. Netanyahu is not being questioned as a suspect but as someone with possible knowledge of the case. However, depending on the findings of the testimony, it is possible that the prosecution may make a decision later in the case to question Netanyahu under caution [as a suspect]. The investigators will question Netanyahu about his awareness [or not] of his advisors ties with Qatari elements and whether he knew about the payments allegedly transferred from Qatar to those involved in the affair, including during the war. About two weeks ago, Kan New revealed recordings of Israeli businessman Gil Birger, in which he is heard talking about transferring funds from a Qatari lobbyist to Eli Feldstein. Birger said he was asked to transfer the funds for tax considerations and stressed that he is personally familiar with Feldstein. Feldstein confirmed the matter, and his lawyers said that the money he received from Birger was for strategy and communication services he provided to Netanyahus office and not to the Qatari government. Netanyahus lawyer, Amit Hadad, who also represents Urich, left Netanyahus court hearing this morning during the Prime Ministers testimony. The details of the case have been placed under a gag order, but according to reports, the suspects are suspected of receiving payments from Qatar while managing hostage negotiations. The Likud party sharply responded to the reports, issuing a statement saying: The thuggish arrest of Yonatan Urich is a new low in the political witch hunt to topple a prime minister from the right and to prevent the dismissal of the failed Shin Bet chief. After the fabricated investigations initiated by the prosecution and the Shin Bet chief regarding the forgery of protocols in the Prime Ministers office and the extortion of an officer in the Prime Ministers military secretariat that blew up in their faces, they invented another new fabricated affair about Qatar, which will also explode very quickly. The attempt to intimidate Yonatan Urich in order to forcibly extract false testimony against the Prime Minister through blackmail and false arrest is another criminal act by a frightened legal clique. For weeks, the prosecution and the Shin Bet chief have been conducting sham investigations in the dark under a gag order, to try to prevent the dismissal of the Shin Bet chief while using Urich and others as cannon fodder. Their goal is to carry out a coup through arrest warrants. This is not an investigation. This is not law enforcement. This is an attempted assassination of democracy and an attempt to replace the will of the people with the rule of law clerks. (YWN Israel Desk Jerusalem) IDF Spokesperson in Arabic Avichay Adraee on Monday morning issued an unusually large-scale evacuation notice, calling on all residents of Rafah and nearby towns in southern Gaza to immediately leave their homes and move to the humanitarian area in Al-Mawasi. The notice stated that the IDF is resuming intense combat to eliminate terrorist capabilities in these areas. For your safety, you must immediately move to Al-Mawasi. This is the most extensive evacuation notice published by the IDF since the resumption of fighting in the Gaza Strip. The move follows the decision of Israels security cabinet on Motzei Shabbos to increase military pressure on Hamas amid hostage deal negotiations. During the meeting, Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer said that Israels military pressure is effective, stating that Hamas is starting to blink. Ynet quoted a senior Israeli official who said: Negotiations are ongoing. Even without delegations, there is continuous communication with mediators and the Americans. Military pressure and the logistical blockade are clearly having an impact on negotiations, leading to the exchange of proposals. We submitted a counteroffer and are now waiting for Hamas response. (YWN Israel Desk Jerusalem) Prime Minister Netanyahus decision to appoint Eli Sharvit as the Shin Bet chief had been condemned by coalition members due to his participation in the pre-October 7 protests against the judicial reform. According to a Channel 12 report, government members are pressuring Netanyahu to revoke the appointment, and it is now believed that it will ultimately not materialize. On March 5, 2023, Sharvit participated in a protest on Kaplan Street in Tel Aviv against the government. He also signed a letter the day after the new Netanyahu government was sworn in 2022, warning that Israeli democracy was at risk. More recently, three says after President Trumps inauguration in January, Sharvit published an op-ed in Calcalist entitled: Not just a political error: Trump is pushing the Earth into the abyss. The article slammed Trump for choosing to revert to polluting energy sources and retreat from green energy investments. Ynet quoted a source familiar with the details as saying that Netanyahu was aware of the fact that Sharvit attended a judicial reform protest and decided to go ahead with the appointment anyway since he wasnt a regular participant in the protests and did not go on stage or speak. However, the source added that the article he wrote against Trump cant be overlooked. Its not an article from a few years ago but a recent one. Netanyahu and his associates were not aware of the article, and according to them, it is the reason the appointment will likely be revoked. Following the announcement on Sharvits appointment on Monday morning, Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu responded by saying that Sharvit will perpetuate the problem in the Shin Bet. The main difficulty with Ronen Bars conduct is not the persona, but the Kaplanist worldview, which sees democracy as a tool to be interpreted and defended by gatekeepers who understand better than the people what is worthy and right for them. Replacing a person with a Kaplanist worldview with another person with a similar worldview does not solve the problem, but only continues it in a different framework. If we want to strengthen the democratic system, we must ensure that those at the head of strategic organizations such as the Shin Bet are committed to a concept that respects the will of the people as expressed in democratic election processes. Likud MK Taly Gotliv responded by stating: Mr. Prime Minister, who is whispering in your ear?? Whats going on here? Are there no excellent, brave, and experienced right-wing people to head the Shin Bet? With all due respect. Eli Sharvit took part in the Kaplan demonstrations. The excuse concern for the country does not impress me, but teaches me that Sharvit was dragged along. We have all had enough of people being dragged along who are unable to think differently and think outside the box. There is no doubt that Sharvit has many merits, but the head of the Shin Bet these days needs a different and very special DNA. You have no privilege to err here. (YWN Israel Desk Jerusalem) Israeli security forces thwarted a major terror plot orchestrated and funded by Hamass headquarters in Turkey, the Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) announced on Monday. In a joint operation, the IDF, Shin Bet, and the Yehuda and Shomron District Police arrested seven Palestinian terrorists from Nablus who had planned to carry out attacks against Israeli security forces and other targets in the region. The arrests, which took place between January and February, prevented what officials described as a serious and imminent threat. During the operation, security forces seized an M16 rifle, tens of thousands of dollars in terror funds, and a bomb planted near the Jit Junction, located six miles west of Nablus. The explosive device was neutralized in a controlled detonation by bomb disposal experts. On January 29, Israeli forces arrested three suspects, confiscating both the assault rifle and approximately $40,000 in cash. Later that same day, an additional suspect was caught with another $20,000 in Hamas funding. The remaining members of the terror cell were arrested throughout February. According to the Shin Bet, the investigation uncovered evidence of direct coordination between the cell and Hamas operatives abroad, exposing the methods used to transfer funds for terror activities in Judea and Samaria. Last week, military prosecutors filed statements against the detained suspects and have requested that they remain in custody until the conclusion of legal proceedings. The revelation of Hamass Turkey-based funding and coordination comes amid escalating anti-Israel rhetoric from Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who on Sunday led Eid al-Fitr prayers at Istanbuls Camlca Mosque, where he publicly called for Israels destruction. May Allah, for the sake of his name Al-Qahhar, destroy and devastate Zionist Israel, Erdogan said, as reported by Turkiye Today. He added that Muslims must remain united, strong, and resilient as brothers in their opposition to Israel. Erdogans alliance with Hamas has deepened since the October 7, 2023, massacre. Turkey has long hosted Hamas officials, allowing them to operate freely on Turkish soil. In July, Erdogan threatened military action against Israel, saying: Just as we entered Karabakh, just as we entered Libya, we might do the same to them. There is nothing we cannot do. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) New details have emerged of Israels latest proposed hostage deal, which outlines a phased process that includes hostage releases, a temporary ceasefire, and further negotiations on subsequent stages. On the first day of the agreement, Israel would secure the release of 10 live hostages in exchange for the release of Palestinian prisoners, with the ratio and specific individuals to be determined through negotiations. Additionally, Idan Alexander, an Israeli hostage, is expected to be released separately as a symbolic gesture toward U.S. President Donald Trump. A 40-day cessation of hostilities would take effect as part of the agreement, providing a temporary pause in the ongoing conflict. On the fifth day of the ceasefire, Hamas would be required to provide comprehensive information regarding the condition of all remaining hostages, both those alive and those deceased. By the tenth day, Hamas would release the bodies of 16 hostages who have been confirmed dead. Throughout the ceasefire period, discussions would take place regarding the next stage of the deal, which could include additional hostage releases and potential de-escalation measures. The proposal, which has been characterized as a security-driven initiative, represents the latest attempt at brokering an agreement amid ongoing tensions. Previous ceasefire and hostage release negotiations have faced significant challenges, with both sides maintaining firm positions on the conditions of any potential deal. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) Confidence in US markets has taken a sharp knock after years of stunning gains, as president Donald Trump's trade wars spark fears of recession across the Atlantic. Investing experts typically advise people to ride out economic shocks and market corrections, and avoid rejigging portfolios in response to current events. However, they have also said for some time that the US winning streak has made many investors heavily exposed to its markets. People invested solely in a global tracker fund fund have more than two thirds of their money tied up in the US, and much of that would be held in its most dominant tech stocks. The so-called 'Magnificent Seven' of Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Meta, Microsoft, Nvidia and Tesla have taken a battering so far this year. We previously explained how to spring clean your investment portfolio, including rebalancing away from markets and industries which have performed well and now take up too big a percentage of your holdings. Here we take a look at how you might diversify away from the US, to ensure it doesn't hold too much sway over the performance of your investments at a time of geopolitical turmoil and realignment. Jason Hollands: Chatter has shifted to a debate about a potential Trump slump for the US economy later this year US market moves underline importance of a well-diversified portfolio US stocks have seen some 'torrid' weeks, with blood on the carpet for the Magnificent Seven, since they hit new market highs in mid February, according to Bestinvest managing director Jason Hollands. 'Investors have taken a dim view of the uncertainty in US trade policy under the Trump administration and some of the frothy valuations in US mega-cap tech stocks have borne the brunt of this. 'At the epicentre of the storm has been Tesla, as the firm faces idiosyncratic issues with boycotts and demonstrations as a result of Elon Musks prominent forays into politics across the globe.' US markets have already been in formal correction territory, meaning a decline of -10 per cent or more from peak, Hollands points out. 'These moves have burst the enthusiastic talk by investors of only a few months ago about US equity market "exceptionalism". Instead, the chatter has shifted to a debate about a potential "Trump slump" for the US economy later this year.' But he says that although Trumps erratic approach to tariffs and upending of alliances is causing huge disruption, it is too early to predict a US recession - and lofty valuations on US big tech names were bound to deflate at some point. 'What recent market moves do underline is the importance of having a well-diversified portfolio,' he says. 'Some investors have steadily become ever more exposed to US equities in recent times and, along with this, the extreme concentration that had played out as the Mag-7 valuations ballooned.' Hollands suggests some ways to diversify below, but adds that some comforting words from the Federal Reserve, or a tuning down of aggressive trade rhetoric could quickly help restore some calm. 'At the moment President Trump is playing hardball, but we know from his first administration he sees the performance of the US stock market as a key scorecard for success and cant ignore these moves.' Darius McDermott: Many portfolios arent just overweight in the US but highly concentrated in a small number of companies Magnificent Seven account for a third of S&P 500 'Over the past decade, 92 per cent of new investments in UK-domiciled funds have poured into passive, index-tracking strategies - primarily the S&P 500 and global indices,' says Darius McDermott, managing director of FundCalibre. 'While this has been a winning strategy in recent years, many investors may be more exposed to the US market than they realise.' He notes that the Magnificent Seven now account for 37 per cent of the S&P 500s market cap, while just five companies make up nearly 20 per cen of the MSCI World Index. 'This means many portfolios arent just overweight in the US but also highly concentrated in a small number of companies. While the US remains a hub of innovation, recent market volatility has underscored the importance of diversification.' McDermott says benchmarks are backwards looking, and by buying the index an investor is essentially buying what did well in the past. 'If you believe we are entering a new global order, it might be time to rethink your exposure and redeploy capital into the potential winners of tomorrow.' Gabriel May, head of treasury at Trading 212, says some of its UK customers are increasingly exploring domestic and European opportunities as they reconsider their exposure to US stocks. 'Recent geopolitical developments have particularly boosted interest in the European defence sector, with companies such as the UK's BAE Systems and Germany's Rheinmetall attracting notable attention. 'Tech and innovation hubs, particularly in artificial intelligence and data analytics, are gaining popularity. 'Additionally, established names in aerospace, transport, and manufacturing sectors remain consistently popular.' Gabriel May: Tech and innovation hubs, particularly in AI and data analytics, are gaining popularity How to diversify away from the US 'One way to achieve this while maintaining a globally diversified portfolio is through actively managed funds with a differentiated global allocation,' says McDermott. 'For example, Ranmore Global Equity allocates just 19 per cent of its portfolio to North American equities, compared to the indexs 75 per cent, while holding 35 per cent of the portfolio in Europe and 16 per cent in China. 'This fund has consistently delivered top-quartile performance.' 'Other distinct funds include Lazard Global Equity Franchise, with 37 per cent in the US, and WS Montanaro Global Select, with 47 per cent and broad diversification across large caps. 'These funds could serve as valuable complements to a global or US tracker, offering a broader and more balanced approach to global investing.' Ranmore Global Equity (Ongoing charge: 1.00 per cent) Lazard Global Equity Franchise (Ongoing charge: 0.81 per cent) Montanaro Global Select (Ongoing charge: 0.9 per cent) Hollands says investors who are worried about being over exposed to big US tech stocks could consider an equally-weighted tracker as an alternative route to accessing US equities. He suggests the Xtrackers S&P 500 Equal Weight UCITS ETF, or a fund that weights US companies based on fundamental factors like the Invesco FTSE RAFI 1000 ETF. Hollands says the latter owns the 1,000 largest US listed companies but weights them based on book value, cash flow, sales and dividends rather than market cap. He adds: 'With investors contemplating end of tax year choices for their Isas, it could be time to consider some of the markets they may have overlooked in recent years as such as emerging markets, Europe and even the unloved UK.' His tips in these areas are below. S&P 500 Equal Weight UCITS ETF (Ongoing charge: 0.20 per cent) Invesco FTSE RAFI 1000 ETF (Ongoing charge: 0.39 per cent) Templeton Emerging Markets Investment Trust (Ongoing charge: 1.06 per cent) Liontrust European Dynamic (Ongoing charge: 0.85 per cent) Fidelity European Trust (Ongoing charge: 0.77 per cent) Artemis UK Select (Ongoing charge: 1.27 per cent) Temple Bar Investment Trust (Ongoing charge: 0.56 per cent) Photo: https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua The area under the control of Ukrainian troops in Kursk region has decreased to 69.37 square kilometers due to the northern outskirts of the village of Guevo, while over the past few days it remained at 77.43 square kilometers, according to data from the DeepState resource posted on Monday. The area of the grey zone with undefined control, which includes villages on both sides of the state border in Kursk and Sumy regions, has also decreased to 60.64 square kilometres, while previously it was 64.49 square kilometres. The area of Sumy region under the control of Russian troops is still only 0.69 square kilometres, excluding populated areas. According to Deepstate, the area of the gray zone in Krasnoyarsk district of Belgorod region of the Russian Federation has not changed and since last week is 13.08 sq. km. It includes the villages of Popovka and partly Demidovka. At the same time, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in its daily report on Facebook on Monday morning does not show any changes in the area of Ukrainian control over Sudzha district of Kursk region on the map. According to their data, it has remained unchanged for several days, and enemy advances in the direction of Guevo were reported as early as the middle of last week. At the same time, if on Saturday morning five Russian attacks on the Ukrainian control zone in Kursk region were reported, then on Sunday there were already seven such attacks plus three to the west across the border in Sumy region in the area of the villages of Basivka and Bilovody, and on Monday - only seven attacks on the Ukrainian control zone in Kursk region. The General Staff still does not report on the actions of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in Belgorod region, and does not extend the gray zone to its territory on its maps. "In the operational zone in Kursk region, units of the Ukrainian Defense Forces stopped 21 attacks by Russian invaders over the past 24 hours. In addition, the enemy carried out 20 air strikes using 31 guided bombs, and also carried out 347 artillery attacks on positions of our troops and populated areas, including five from multiple launch rocket systems," the General Staff said in a report on Monday. Over the past 24 hours, 31 attacks, 18 airstrikes with 23 bombs and 265 shellings were reported. The day before that, 14 attacks, 28 airstrikes with 44 bombs and 371 shellings were reported. The American Institute for the Study of War (ISW) also reports that on March 30, Russian troops continued their offensive in Kursk and northern Sumy regions, but made no confirmed advances. The enemy's advance to Sudzha border checkpoint, which was reported earlier, has again not been confirmed. It is also reported that Russian troops continued their offensive in the northwestern part of Belgorod region, but also did not make any confirmed advances. The Russian Air Forces attacked Kupyansk from the air, dropping seven UABs on the city, reported head of Kharkiv Regional Military Administration Oleh Synehubov. "As a result of an enemy strike with a guided aerial bomb, a private house was destroyed. Another one was damaged. A 59-year-old man, a 74-year-old woman and a 53-year-old woman were injured. Doctors are providing all necessary assistance to the victims," Synehubov wrote on his Telegram channel. As of today, more than 183,000 crimes related to Russian aggression have been recorded, and this is without access to a significant part of the temporarily occupied territory of Ukraine, Russia should not escape fair responsibility for what it has done, emphasized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. More than 183,000 crimes related to the aggression of the Russian Federation have already been documented. And this is even without access to a significant part of the temporarily occupied territory of our state where there are thousands, possibly tens of thousands, perhaps even hundreds of thousands of crimes and undoubtedly tens of thousands of losses, Zelenskyy said, speaking at the summit of heads of parliaments. He added that among all this are thousands of extremely brutal atrocities -executions of prisoners, executions of civilians, rape, torture. No one in Europe would want their children, God forbid, to be in the vicinity of these Russian criminals. We need an effective international law to guarantee the protection of our people and all European society from such threats, the President stressed. He recalled the crimes committed by Russians in Bucha, the village of Yahidne in Chernihiv region, in Mariupol, and noted that Ukraine remembers the catastrophe of every such place in the country, every village. We remember each Russian strike. We remember how they destroyed our people our prisoners of war in Olenivka. We remember how people were tortured in Izolyatsia in Donetsk a prison that became the embodiment of the Russian world. One of the most significant and most telling symbols of the Russian system and this Russian war against Ukraine is the graves of ordinary people in the yards of their own homes, Zelenskyy added. He stressed that these are crimes not only of the Russian state, but also of specific individuals, each of whom must be convicted for everything they have done, and added that Ukraine will not forgive Russia for its crimes and this war. The President asked those present at the summit to observe a minute of silence in memory of the victims. In addition, he noted the need to put pressure on the Russian Federation, in particular sanctions, so that the war and abuses do not expand. Zelenskyy asked the parliamentarians present to continue to support Ukrainian defense, to support the desire for peace, to spread the truth about this unjust war and "to support everything that is necessary for a dignified peace and real accountability for war criminals." It is something that can happen in any European country if our unity does not work now to genuinely hold Russia accountable for this war, the head of the state summed up. Boatscribe, a leading global metasearch platform for yacht charters, has partnered with Skyscanner, the top travel search engine, to integrate flight booking with yacht rentals. This collaboration enables users to easily plan their trips by comparing flights and booking yachts in over 1,000 destinations worldwide. Future updates will offer automatic flight recommendations based on yacht bookings. (TRAVPR.COM) ESTIONIA - March 20th, 2025 - Tallinn, Estonia Boatscribe, the leading global metasearch platform for yacht charters, is excited to announce its official affiliate partnership with Skyscanner, the worlds leading travel search engine. This collaboration marks the first step toward a seamless integration of yacht chartering and flight booking, providing travelers with an effortless way to plan their trips from start to finish. With over 36,000 yachts available across 1,000+ destinations worldwide, Boatscribe makes it easy for travelers to find the perfect yacht for their adventure. Now, with the integration of Skyscanners powerful flight search, users can instantly compare and book flights to their yacht charter destinations, saving both time and money. At this initial stage, Boatscribe has implemented a simple redirect, allowing users to transition effortlessly to Skyscanners platform to search for flights. In the near future, this integration will evolve to provide automatic flight recommendations based on yacht booking dates and locations, creating an even more intuitive and connected travel planning experience. Our long-term vision extends beyond this initial integration, says ILLIA Kolomoiskyi, Founder of Boatscribe. We are committed to backward integration of our business model and technology into leading travel metasearch engines, including Skyscanner, to significantly increase the audience size for the entire yacht charter industry. This partnership strengthens Boatscribes mission to simplify yacht rentals while ensuring that travelers have access to the best possible travel deals. By combining Skyscanners expertise in flight search with Boatscribes extensive yacht inventory, travelers can now experience a fully optimized, stress-free journey from the moment they choose their dream yacht to the second they step on board. For more information, visit https://boatscribe.com ### Celtic Routes, the award-winning tourism initiative showcasing the natural beauty and cultural heritage of Wales and Ireland's Celtic coastlines, has released its guide to the top five benefits of choosing a UK holiday in 2025. (TRAVPR.COM) UNITED KINGDOM - March 24th, 2025 - As more travellers seek authentic, sustainable, and culturally rich experiences closer to home, the Celtic Routes team has compiled compelling reasons why the UK's diverse landscapes and heritage offer unparalleled holiday experiences this year. "While exotic destinations will always have their appeal, we're seeing a remarkable renaissance in UK tourism as people rediscover the extraordinary experiences available right on their doorstep," said a spokesperson for Celtic Routes. "Our research shows that 2025 is set to be a landmark year for domestic tourism, with unique advantages that overseas destinations simply cannot match." Celtic Routes' Top 5 Benefits of UK Holidays in 2025: 1. Unprecedented Value for Money With the continued strengthening of the pound against major currencies in 2025, UK travellers are finding their holiday budgets stretch further at home than abroad. Celtic Routes' network of quality-assured accommodation partners is offering exceptional value, with many providing inclusive experiences such as guided heritage walks and local culinary tastings as standard. 2. Sustainable Tourism Innovation The UK leads Europe in sustainable tourism initiatives for 2025, with Celtic Routes at the forefront of this movement. The recently launched "Celtic Green Paths" programme connects travellers with zero-carbon transport options, locally-sourced dining experiences, and accommodation committed to rigorous environmental standards, allowing holidaymakers to enjoy guilt-free travel experiences. 3. Record-Breaking Heritage Access Following substantial investment in the cultural sector, 2025 sees more historic sites, museums, and cultural institutions across Celtic regions offering enhanced visitor experiences. Celtic Routes has partnered with over 50 heritage sites to provide exclusive behind-the-scenes access and expert-led tours unavailable to international visitors. 4. Technological Enhancement of Natural Beauty The launch of the Celtic Routes AR (Augmented Reality) app in January 2025 has transformed how visitors experience the UK's stunning landscapes. The groundbreaking technology overlays historical information, wildlife spotting guides, and seasonal phenomena details, creating immersive experiences that blend natural beauty with digital innovation. 5. Unprecedented Culinary Excellence The UK's gastronomic revolution continues to gather pace, with Celtic regions in particular establishing themselves as world-class food destinations. Celtic Routes' network now includes six Michelin-starred restaurants and over 100 artisan food producers, all championing hyperlocal ingredients and traditional preparation methods reinvented for contemporary palates. The Celtic Routes initiative connects the stunning coastal counties of Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire in Wales with their Irish counterparts of Wicklow, Wexford and Waterford, creating a unified tourism experience that celebrates the shared Celtic heritage, language, culture, and coastlines. "For 2025, we've curated experiences that showcase the very best of these regions, from ancient monuments and folklore to cutting-edge eco-adventures and gastronomic discoveries," the spokesperson added. "The beauty of a Celtic Routes holiday is the seamless blend of timeless landscapes with thoroughly modern comforts and innovations." ### People seem to be worried when they have to travel to any destination along with their kids. Madly Nomads, the best tour company in Kolkata, understands the trouble which bothers travel enthusiasts. So they share some crucial tips on the best kid-friendly domestic travel places list in 2025. (TRAVPR.COM) INDIA - March 21st, 2025 - The appellation of Madly Nomads is making its reputation as the best tour company in Kolkata among people who are madly in love with the idea of traveling domestic places as well as the international tourist spots. As an entity, this brand has carved an enviable niche for itself. Since inception, Madly Nomads has been executing tours of diversified nature. Of late, the CEO and the founder of the famed travel company has shared some valuable insights and tips pertaining to the best options available for you (travel enthusiasts) as the best international as well as domestic travel places where you can visit with your friends and family. The CEO told during the interactive session that they chiefly make arrangements for all sorts of activities which will keep their clientele glued to every moment of the trip. Since inception, all of their trips have been highly successful because they have taken care of each and every member of the families. While planning a trip, Madly Nomads ensures that they pick a particular destination which would be a great travel destination for kids and aged people alike. The trip should serve as a surprise to each member of the family. There has to be a perfect balance between cultural activities and adventurous spirit during the tour. People love going outdoors and Madly Nomads tends to help people make the most of every moment of the trip. Till date, Madly Nomads has taken countless travel enthusiasts to Indian and overseas tourist attractions with a high track record of client satisfaction. The CEO of Madly Nomads, while throwing light on the most kid-friendly domestic travel places in India, focused on the following tourist hubs which include names such as Darjeeling, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Jaipur, Munnar, Shimla, McLeod Ganj, Udaipur, Kerala, Agra, Coorg, Jaisalmer, Nainital etc. The visionary CEO opined that India abounds in places and hidden hubs which should be touted as safe tropical paradises for travel enthusiasts. "As a reputed travel agency, we seek to help our clients explore the untouched territories and vibrant hubs. Our excursions are replete with fun filled actions such as island hopping, snorkeling, diving and other exciting things". It was evident in this petite discussion with the CEO of the best tour company in Kolkata that Madly Nomads as a travel agency is highly cautious about the individual choices of their clientele, as far as the travel destinations are concerned. Those who seek the pristine pleasures of a domestic or global trip, would be solicited to check out the official website of Madly Nomads. The organization is known for its capacity to arrange flawless tours to the best vacation spots in India and abroad. About the Company Madly Nomads has a long standing reputation as it arranges the best international and domestic tours for a wide spectrum of clientele. As the best tour company in Kolkata, Madly Nomads orchestrates unbeatable expertise in handling customer centric tours. Since inception, the company has taken care of client satisfaction and it offers seamless ease while planning flawless journeys for clients. Visit us at https://www.madlynomads.com/ Turan Tours is excited to announce the launch of its exclusive new guided travel packages, offering tourists the opportunity to explore Afghanistans rich cultural heritage and stunning landscapes. (TRAVPR.COM) AFGHANISTAN - March 24th, 2025 - Turan Tours Launches Exclusive Guided Travel Packages in Afghanistan Kabul, Afghanistan March 24, 2025 Turan Tours, a leading travel agency specializing in tours across Afghanistan, is excited to announce the launch of its new guided travel packages. These exclusive tours offer travelers the chance to explore Afghanistan's rich cultural heritage, breathtaking landscapes, and hidden gems, all with the expertise of local guides. The newly introduced packages provide customizable itineraries for both group and individual travelers. Whether visitors are looking to hike through Afghanistans stunning natural landscapes or immerse themselves in its vibrant culture and history, Turan Tours ensures a unique and safe experience. Featured destinations include Kabul, Herat, Mazar-i-Sharif, Bamiyan, and more, each showcasing the diverse beauty and heritage of the country. We are thrilled to offer travelers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to explore Afghanistan in a safe and enriching way, said Turan Habibi, Founder of Turan Tours. Our goal is to create unforgettable experiences and open doors for cultural exchange and understanding. For more information on Turan Tours' new travel packages, visit www.turan-tours.com or contact Turan Habibi at +93790037334. ### Photo: https://www.youtube.com/@PoroshenkoPetro The European Solidarity Party is initiating an appeal by the Ukrainian parliament to the US Congress regarding a new resolution on bipartisan support for Ukraine, says the party's leader, Ukrainian MP Petro Poroshenko, who also called on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to meet with the leaders of parliamentary factions in connection with the situation with the minerals agreement. "European Solidarity is initiating an appeal by the Verkhovna Rada to the US Congress regarding a new resolution on bipartisan support for Ukraine in these conditions as a strategic partner. Such a resolution should contain guarantees regarding new packages of military and financial aid and continuation of sanctions against Russia. The Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada assured that he has a special relationship with Mike Johnson, calling them a speaker coalition. Therefore, it is high time to use all this. As well as other forms of parliamentary diplomacy to guarantee support," Poroshenko said in his video address on Monday. According to the politician, the composition of the Ukrainian negotiating delegation with the United States requires serious changes and professional strengthening. "We have many proposals for the American side that would be mutually beneficial for both countries, both from an economic and security point of view. Which would strengthen our strategic partnership with the United States and would work for the security of Europe and the weakening of Russia. For example, the participation of the United States in the gas transportation system of Ukraine, which should remain the basis for energy supplies to Europe despite Putin's Nord Stream projects. This should work after achieving a fair and comprehensive peace, but would already be one of the arguments for achieving it," Poroshenko believes. He called on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to meet with the leaders of the Verkhovna Rada factions due to the situation in the negotiations with the United States and the so-called agreement on mineral resources. "The state of preparation of this document, which appeared in the press, is already causing serious concern as a threat, including to the state sovereignty and European integration of Ukraine. But at the same time, both military and financial assistance to Ukraine, and even cooperation with the IMF, where the United States plays a key role, depend on this agreement," the politician noted. "We demand that the parliament finally convene for an urgent session and adopt the corresponding appeal, and that the government provide all information on the status of the agreement," Poroshenko summed up. Articles Sorry, there are no recent results for popular articles. Sample Cajun etouffee in Sitka cook-off Photo by lisatop/iStock At a cook-off in Sitka, Cajun etouffee made with crawfish, the traditional version pictured here, will compete against a variation made with Alaska shrimp. Join the University of Alaska Fairbanks Cooperative Extension Service in Sitka for a Cajun cuisine cooking competition: The Sitka Etouffee-Off. Sandy Thibodeaux and her son, Geof Goudeau, will each prepare their version of Cajun etouffee, one with crawfish and one with Alaska shrimp. Participants will get hearty helpings of each dish and vote on which version best conveys the taste of southern Louisiana. The cook-off will be held on April 10, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Sitka Lutheran Church kitchen, 224 Lincoln St. Please use the back entrance to the church on Harbor Drive, as the front door will be locked. The entrance is located down a one-way alley, and limited parking is available. The cost is $35. Registration is limited to 12 people. Participants may register using the online form or by visiting https://bit.ly/SitkaEtouffee. For more information, contact Jasmine Shaw at jdshaw2@alaska.edu or 907-747-9440. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Accommodation requests related to a disability should be made five business days in advance to Shaw. Language access services, such as interpretation or translation of vital information, will be provided free of charge to individuals with limited English proficiency upon request to amnorris2@alaska.edu. This work is supported by the U.S. Department of Agricultures National Institute of Food and Agriculture. 219-25 Another young Ukrainian was rescued from the occupation; now the guy is already in Ukraine-controlled territory, and safe, reported head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, Andriy Yermak. "As part of the Ukrainian President's initiative Bring Kids Back UA, we managed to rescue another young Ukrainian from the temporarily occupied territory. He was 17 when the full-scale war began, now he is 20," Yermak wrote on Telegram on Monday. Yermak said that the guy entered a Ukrainian university in 2021, but after the occupation of his hometown, it became impossible to study online due to the almost complete lack of communication. "Subsequently, the occupation authorities forced him to get a Russian passport and tried to mobilize him into the Russian army. This became the point of no return - the guy decided to get out of the occupation at all costs. Now the guy is already in the territory controlled by Ukraine, safe, together with his relatives," Yermak added. The Head of the President's Office expressed gratitude to the Ukrainian Network for Children's Rights for assistance in organizing the rescue mission. Ashamed, Infuriated: Jewish Actor Hannah Einbinder on Gaza Genocide Joining a growing list of celebrities using their platforms to speak out against the Israeli genocide of Palestinians in Gaza and West Bank, actor and comedian Hannah Einbinder said she was 'ashamed and infuriated' and called for urgent action Monday March 31, 2025 6:04 PM , ummid.com News Network Los Angeles: Joining a growing list of celebrities using their platforms to speak out against the Israeli genocide of Palestinians in Gaza and West Bank, actor and comedian Hannah Einbinder said she was ashamed and infuriated and called for urgent action. As a queer person, as a Jewish person, and as an American I am horrified by the Israeli governments massacre of well over 65,000 Palestinians, Hannah Einbinder said in her Human Rights Campaign Visibility Award acceptance speech at the 2025 HRC Los Angeles Dinner. I am ashamed and infuriated that this mass murder is funded by our American tax dollars. It should not be controversial to say that we should all be against murdering civilians, Einbinder said. Einbinder, who has received wide acclaim for her role as a bisexual comedy writer on Hacks, said her condemnation of Israel is not in spite of her Jewish identity but because of it. She said this recalling her time in Hebrew school where she learned that central to being a Jew is asking questions, being inquisitive, arguing, wrestling with opposing points of view, questioning my own beliefs in order to keep learning and growing into a better human being, a better citizen of the world. I see it as antithetical to our deepest Jewish traditions to fall in line and not question the actions of a state enacting atrocities in our name, she said. Israels actions are not in the name of Jewish safety and it is the very conflation of Israels actions with the Jewish people that continues to endanger Jews, she said. We have to look into the tearful eyes of the children of Palestine, orphaned by American bombs, and say: Never again is now. Never again for anyone, she said. Watch Video Actor Hannah Einbinder spoke out against the genocide in Gaza while accepting an award from the Human Rights Campaign, declaring: We have to look into the tearful eyes of the children of Palestine, orphaned by American bombs, and say: Never again is now. Never again for pic.twitter.com/Kzy5JhCvPX HOT SPOT (@HotSpotHotSpot) March 31, 2025 Latest Update from Gaza Meanwhile, Israeli occupation forces continue their massacre and genocide of Palestinians even as they were celebrating Eid al Fitr. According to the Health Ministry Gaza, at least 80 have been killed and 305 others injured in Israeli attacks across the enclave in the past 48 hours. The update included 53 killings and 189 injuries from the first day of Eid al-Fitr Sunday March 30, 2025, the ministry said. The death toll and injuries since March 18, 2025 when Israel broke the ceasefire has reached 1,001 killed and 2,359 wounded, the statement published on Telegram said. Israeli forces also conducted raids across the occupied West Bank, including Nablus, Tammun, Qabatiya, Husan, Tulkarem and Nur Shams. Follow ummid.com WhatsApp Channel for all the latest updates. Select Language To Read in Urdu, Hindi, Marathi or Arabic. Commander of 425th OCHI battalion: We have UAV at price of bad tank for board, our specialists improving their skills around the clock Pilots of the 425th separate battalion of unmanned systems OCHI of the Ground Forces work with unique systems that cost millions of hryvnias, and constantly improve their skills, because technical progress is moving very quickly, noted commander of the 425th separate battalion of unmanned systems OCHI, Lieutenant Colonel Valeriy Gost Povarov. "The command decided to expand the unit, we became a battalion. We were able to deploy the information and communication system to our larger staff, and our combat pilots work in separate areas. We have already divided the battalion into: the use of FPV drones; bombers; long-range drones (front strikes), the use of long-range reconnaissance UAVs and a company of ground robotic systems," he said in an exclusive interview with the Interfax-Ukraine agency. The battalion commander noted that his pilots flew 20 and 30 kilometers deep, hitting enemy equipment. "We have one of the best FPV units that can destroy equipment, and they destroyed 20 tanks a day. That is, they can go far, overcome the resistance of various means that interfere with the drone's activity, and effectively destroy the target. We have the same thing with wings. We are currently improving this. There are wings that have only just been developed. That is, completely new things, innovations, for example, paint that interferes with the action of electronic intelligence, makes it possible to evade. And we are now trying to improve them too and apply them here," Povarov said. Answering a question regarding the battalions key challenges, he said that, firstly, it is the immediate receipt of very expensive equipment for use at the front. "Some of our models cost $4 million. That is, you understand that such equipment can only be entrusted to good specialists. This applies to pilots, engineers, etc. And secondly, in the event of loss of such expensive equipment, the procedure for obtaining a new complex is very complicated ... But even repairing any of this equipment also costs millions," he emphasized. In addition, as the battalion commander noted, an important task is to teach people how to use the equipment correctly, to try to suffer as few losses in it as possible. According to Povarov, his unit has a lot of experience in using it correctly thanks to experienced specialists. "In our unit, a lot of attention is paid to the professional training of the crew and commanders so that people can correctly use the maximum capabilities of the complex itself and provide information," he said. At the same time, the lieutenant colonel spoke about a special cybersecurity unit that deals with the protection of the information and communication system (OCHI). "We actively interact with various services and other branches of the military that are engaged in information security. This is truly a matter of constant improvement. This is happening even faster than drones are being improved. We are constantly working in this area. We have unique cybersecurity specialists serving," he noted. According to Povarov, in connection with the expansion, the battalion is actively recruiting people and looking for specialists in various fields: from drivers to pilots and IT specialists. In addition, women also serve in the battalion, who hold various positions, such as pilots and codebreakers. On March 28, 2025, the U.S. Department of Education's Student Privacy Policy Office (SPPO) issued a Dear Colleague Letter to Chief State School Officers and Superintendents, emphasizing the necessity for educational institutions receiving federal funding to comply with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and the Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA). This directive underscores the Department's commitment to ensuring that schools adhere to federal laws designed to protect parental rights in education. FERPA grants parents the right to access and amend their children's education records, while PPRA provides parents with the authority to consent before their children participate in certain school activities, such as surveys that collect personal information. The Department's letter serves as a reminder to schools of their obligations under these laws and highlights the importance of maintaining transparency and parental involvement in educational settings. This initiative aligns with the Department's broader efforts to reinforce parental rights in education. Recently, the Department has been active in addressing concerns related to parental access to information about their children's education. For instance, the Trump administration has initiated investigations into several school districts in Maine for allegedly withholding information about students' gender transitions from parents, potentially violating FERPA. This follows similar investigations in California, reflecting the administration's focus on ensuring that parents have access to pertinent information regarding their children's well-being and educational experiences. Furthermore, the Department has taken steps to eliminate positions and guidance that it deems inconsistent with its current priorities. In January 2025, the Department eliminated the "book ban coordinator" position and dismissed complaints about the removal of "sexually explicit" and "age-inappropriate" materials from schools. These actions are part of a broader effort to restore parental control over children's education and emphasize local governance in educational content decisions. Education Secretary Linda McMahon has articulated a vision for overhauling the American school system that includes expanding parents' roles in education through publicly funded vouchers to private schools, eliminating bureaucratic barriers to empower educators, and focusing on core academic subjects. This vision aligns with President Donald Trump's executive orders supporting the expansion of private-school vouchers and promoting "patriotic education." As the Department continues to prioritize parental rights, educational institutions are encouraged to review and update their policies to ensure compliance with federal laws and to foster an environment of transparency and collaboration with parents. Vietnam Briefing has developed into a premium source for insight on doing business in Vietnam. It publishes business news concerning foreign direct investment into Vietnam, including the most important tax, legal and accounting issues. The Vietnam Briefing Magazine was first published in 2009, and is contributed to by investment professionals based in Vietnam. Kharkiv resident, passing on data about Defense Forces in the city to Russian rep, receives 15 years in prison Kominternovsky District Court of Kharkiv found a 36-year-old local resident, officially unemployed, guilty of high treason committed under martial law (Part 2 of Article 111 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine). "She was sentenced to 15 years of imprisonment with confiscation of property ... Now the period for filing an appeal is underway," the press service of Kharkiv Regional Prosecutor's Office reported. As it was established, at the end of 2023, the woman began communicating with a representative of the Russian Federation and, on his instructions, began collecting and transmitting information about the location of Ukrainian defenders in Kharkiv. The accused had pro-Russian views and was ready to work "for the idea", so she did not receive money for this data. The woman used to transmit information about the concentration sites of Ukrainian troops in the form of text messages. The Russian Armed Forces used this information to plan targeted attacks on Kharkiv. Law enforcement officers detained the woman in early 2024. During searches, a telephone and computer equipment with evidence of illegal activity were found and seized from her. During the trial, the accused partially admitted her guilt. She stated that she has communist views and believes that "we should be friends" with the Russian Federation. According to the defendant, her acquaintance, who lives in the temporarily occupied territories of Luhansk region and allegedly had the goal of moving to Kharkiv, was interested in the presence of Ukrainian military personnel in certain locations - she passed on the collected data to him. "The woman's guilt was fully confirmed by the totality of evidence provided by the prosecution," the press service of Kharkiv Regional Prosecutor's Office noted. 17 car destroyed in dawn blaze at Tesla dealership. Police in Italy are investigating a major fire that engulfed a Tesla dealership and completely destroyed 17 cars in the eastern outskirts of Rome in the early hours of Monday 31 March. Firefighters battled for hours to control the blaze which broke out at the dealership on Via Serracapriola in the Terrenova area at around 04.30. Police are now seeking to determine whether the cause of the fire was accidental or whether it was arson. There were no reports of anyone injured in the blaze which took place following a day of 'Tesla Takedown' protests around the world on Saturday, in which protesters urged people to boycott the electric car company owned by billionaire Elon Musk. Last month a group of activists protested at a Tesla showroom in Milan to denounce Musk's alleged role "in financing far-right movements globally", unfurling a banner that read: "Musk thrives, democracy dies". Photo Vigili del Fuoco By Jonathan McCambridge, PA A caravan has been burnt out in an arson attack in Co Down. Police are appealing for information and witnesses following the incident in Ballynahinch on Sunday. The PSNI said was reported that at around 12.10am that a caravan had been set alight in the Creevyargon Road area of the town. Officers attended, alongside colleagues from the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service, who extinguished the blaze. The caravan was completely burnt out as a result of the fire. No one was in the caravan at the time, and there are no reports of any injuries. A PSNI statement said: The investigation is ongoing and anyone with information including dash-cam, mobile or CCTV footage of the area or who may have witnessed suspicious activity during this time are asked to contact police on 101, quoting reference number 16 23/03/25. Ever wondered what stories your car could tell if it could speak? Hidden in plain sightstamped on the dashboard or tucked under the hoodlies a 17-character code that knows it all: the Vehicle Identification Number, or VIN. This isnt just a random string of letters and numbers; its your vehicles DNA, revealing its origins, features, and even its towing capacity. Whether youre buying a used pickup, dodging a lemon, or just curious, understanding the VIN unlocks a treasure trove of insights. What exactly as a VIN? Picture the VIN as your cars fingerprintunique to every vehicle rolling off the assembly line since 1981. Mandated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), this 17-digit code packs a punch. The first three characters, known as the World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI), pinpoint who built it and where. A 1 might scream Made in the USA, while a J whispers Japan. The next six digits dive into specificsmodel, engine type, body stylewhile the final eight track the production sequence, including the year and plant. Why should you care? Because this code doesnt lie. Unlike a slick-talking salesperson, the VIN spills the beans on your vehicles true identity. For a general audience, think of it as a cheat sheet: no jargon, just facts. The VIN isnt just for gearheads or bureaucrats - its a tool for everyone. Want to know your trucks towing capacity before hauling that camper? You can dig into the VIN to confirm it, as explained by experts at vinnumberlookup.org/index.php/info/142-how-to-check-towing-capacity-using-your-vehicle-s-vin-number. Simply enter those 17 digits into a decoder, and voilayour vehicles max tow weight pops up, no guesswork needed. Imagine towing your boat with confidence, knowing your F-150 can handle the load without breaking a sweat. Heres where it gets interesting: the VIN doesnt just sit thereit works hand-in-hand with tracking tech. Companies like vinnumber.net pair VIN data with GPS systems to monitor fleets. Picture a logistics firm in Krakow: by syncing VINs with trackers, they slash fuel costs by 15% and keep tabs on every truck. And for the average driver? A VIN check before a road trip could save you from a breakdownor worse. Ever heard of a recall you missed? The NHTSA says millions dodge safety fixes yearly. A quick VIN lookup might just keep your family safe. Isnt that worth five minutes? Lets break it downno PhD required. Grab your VIN from the drivers side dashboard or door jamb. The first digit tells the country: 2 for Canada, W for Germany. Digits 4-8 spill the beans on your cars specssay, a diesel V6 or leather seats. The 10th character marks the model year: S for 2025, R for 2024. The rest? A serial number unique to your ride. Too much to handle? Online tools do the heavy lifting. Plug your VIN into a site, and youll get a report faster than you can say oil change. Think of it like Googling your cars resume - except its way more accurate than your cousins tall tales about his like-new clunker. Still skeptical? Meet Tom, a mechanic from Poznan. He used a VIN to uncover a trucks towing capacity - 12,000 pounds - saving a client from a disastrous camping trip with an overloaded trailer. But its not all sunshine. Miss a VIN check, and you might inherit a recall nightmarelike the 2023 airbag fiasco affecting 3 million vehicles (NHTSA data). Why risk it when a few clicks can dodge the bullet? Whats stopping you from checking yours today? The VINs power goes beyond your driveway. It fuels safety campaignsthink NHTSAs Safe Driving push during March Madness, urging owners to verify recalls. It also drives markets: logistics firms using VIN-linked tracking cut costs, potentially boosting stocks. So, next time you spot that cryptic code, dont ignore it. Its your ticket to smarter buying, safer driving, and maybe even a savvier investment. A consultant gynaecologist, who recommended Ann Summers products to an elderly patient with vaginal bleeding but who failed to carry out a thorough medical examination of the woman that might have detected she was suffering from cervical cancer, has been found guilty of poor professional performance. A fitness-to-practise inquiry by the Medical Council found an allegation proven that Dr John Bermingham, a consultant gynaecologist at University Hospital Waterford had inappropriately diagnosed the 77-year-old female as suffering from atrophic vaginitis an inflammation and thinning of the vaginal lining during a consultation on July 10, 2018. The inquiry heard the patient was subsequently diagnosed with Stage IV cancer of the cervix and uterus in November 2018 and died two months later. As part of the allegation, the fitness-to-practise committee found that the consultant had failed to conduct an abdominal palpation as well as both a manual and speculum examination of the patients vagina. The inquiry heard that Dr Bermingham had relied solely on a letter from the womans GP to reach his working diagnosis that she had atrophic vaginitis for which he prescribed a HRT medication. It also emerged that the consultant had discussed sexual activity and male drive with the patient as well as the use of Ann Summers products for her personal comfort. In addition, the gynaecologist recommended a book entitled Intimacy Through the Ages to the elderly woman. Dr Bermingham, who did not attend the inquiry, made admissions through his legal representative about the allegation and also accepted that it constituted poor professional performance. The inquiry arose after the womans daughter made a complaint to the Medical Council in July 2019 about what her family believed were very obvious mistakes in the diagnosis and treatment of their mother by Dr Bermingham. The patient had experienced vaginal bleeding in June 2018 and attended her family doctor who referred her to the consultant. An ultrasound carried out on the woman before her consultation with Dr Bermingham on July 10, 2018 had found no overt sign of any disease. She visited the gynaecologist again on October 9, 2018 after she experienced severe pain in her back and pelvic area when she was referred for another ultrasound. Later that month, the womans daughter said she was told by Dr Bermingham that he did not know what was causing the problem with her mother who had been suffering excruciating pain by that stage. The patient was referred by Dr Bermingham to an oncologist who diagnosed that she had an advanced form of cancer following further specialised tests. Her daughter said they had lost a vibrant, kind, loving wife, mother, grandmother and sister who had a lot more living to do. In reply to the complaint, Dr Bermingham, said the result of the ultrasound performed before he first saw the patient had been reassuring while she had also appeared well and her GP had found little of note. The consultant told the Medical Council there was no clinical basis for ordering a CT or MRI scan or referring the patient to an oncologist. He also pointed out that he never shied away from discussing intimate matters with his patients. Dr Bermingham said he told the womans GP that he would review her again in three months but to return earlier if she had any issues. The inquiry heard the GP wrote to the consultant on August 15, 2018 to expedite a follow-up as the patient was passing clots. Dr Bermingham said he also observed clots when he examined her in his clinic on October 9, 2018 and ordered another ultrasound to determine the next course of action. The patients care was passed over to an oncologist a few weeks later after Dr Bermingham was concerned that her clinical symptoms were not fitting the findings of his examination. Offering his condolences to the womans family, the consultant said an endometrial carcinoma was not a major consideration and he never suspected such a condition. Dr Bermingham told his regulatory body that he had treated the patient at all times with dignity and at no time was dismissive or inconsiderate of her concerns. He pointed out that he was anxious to avoid performing any unnecessary exploratory surgeries on the woman given her age and other medical conditions. The consultant said he was personally distressed that the advanced carcinoma was not evident during his assessments of the patient. Counsel for the Medical Council, Neasa Bird BL, said a report by an expert witness, Cliona Murphy, noted that postmenopausal bleeding was considered a significant or red flag symptom. Dr Murphy explained that 10-15% of cases of postmenopausal bleeding were due to endometrial cancer. The gynaecologist said the usual work-up for the treatment of postmenopausal bleeding should be abdominal and pelvic examinations including one with a speculum. Dr Murphy said an ultrasound should also be carried out to check the endometrial thickness with possible further tests dependent on its results. She said it would have been quite reasonable to diagnose the patient with atrophic vaginitis if at least manual and speculum examinations of her vagina had been performed. However, Dr Murphy also acknowledged that even if the consultant had conducted a proper examination of the patient it was possible he might not have detected the carcinoma as some are not easily visible even with a speculum examination. She said the GPs letter to Dr Bermingham in August 2018 should have triggered an earlier appointment with the consultant before she was actually seen on October 9, 2018. However, Dr Murphy also stated that she believed it was unlikely that it would have made a difference to the ultimate outcome apart from making an earlier diagnosis. The expert witness concluded that there were perturbing elements to Dr Berminghams treatment of the patient which she considered serious failings. On the issue of sanction, Ms Bird said it might be appropriate for conditions to be attached to the consultants registration in order to address the underlying, serious clinical failures. Counsel for Dr Bermingham, Cathal Murphy BL, described the subject matter of the inquiry as an isolated incident and he believed the sanction of censure would meet the circumstances of the case. Confirming the finding of poor professional performance, the inquirys chairperson, Marie Culliton, said the recommended sanction, which would not be made public, would be conveyed to the Medical Council to consider. During the first weekend of extended cardiac coverage in Waterford, three patients were provided with life saving intervention. The increased hours commenced on the second last weekend of March for the first time, bringing the service from a five-day 8am to 8pm service to a seven-day 8am to 8pm service including Bank Holidays. Those who made the milestone moment possible were hailed this week by Matt Shanahan. Matt Shanahan The former Independent TD has been a leading figure in advancing cardiac services in the Southeast, founding the Health Equality for the South East group. He was also behind the Hand On Heart campaign. Providing reaction to the Waterford News & Star, Mr Shanahan acknowledged the work of the hospital executive, staff and campaigners. He added that staff at University Hospital Waterford have agreed to work new rotas to provide for the increased cardiac coverage. Those three people came in on Sunday and three of them were treated successfully; think about the anguish that those people and their families were saved from by having that service now available in Waterford," he said. Great acclaim goes to the staff in UHW for agreeing to new rotas and working weekends. Everybody is pulling their weight in that hospital to a fantastic degree. "Significant credit also goes to the consultants who went and forced a press conference outlining their clinical concerns for what the Herity Report was proposing in 2016. It has resulted now in a service where we have 50% of the week covered. Speaking in the Seanad this week, Independent Senator Joe Conway also praised the new weekend cardiac care facility in University Hospital Waterford and all those locally who made it possible. Point proven Continued attendance at Waterfords cath lab during its new extended weekend hours is expected, further demonstrating the services vital importance to the South East. "There are five cath labs in Cork University Hospital, and the Waterford system over the next six months will nearly challenge all of the Cork output activity with just our two labs going seven days and 12 hours a day," Mr Shanahan said. Senator Joe Conway Senator Joe Conway commented similarly, saying: I can confidently predict that UHW's cardiac cath lab numbers, even on the seven-day rota, will increase and answer the challenges that exist. There will be no let-up in this service delivered, with a fairer allocation of healthcare to regional units. We want to push on with ensuring we have a full 24-7 service, and that people will not be put at risk at the weekend. University Hospital Waterford The development brings back into question the widely criticised Herity report prepared by Dr Niall Herity in 2016, which concluded that there was no need for a second cath lab in Waterford. When the Herity report was first published in 2016, it said that the out-of-hours should continue to be brought to Cork or Dublin, Mr Shanahan said. The recommendation was that the Waterford cardiac suite actually stop doing the emergency heart attack intervention and that all heart attacks would be brought as a matter of course to Dublin or Cork. "The service has now intervened (for) three people already and has proven it can expand." 24/7 Calls for 24/7 remain, and campaigners reiterate the message that full coverage is needed. This is not job done, it is anything but job done. We need the 24/7. Every other region has it, and they have it for very good reason. There are no more reviews needed. Weve proven in its first weekend what an invaluable thing it is, so now we need 100%," Mr Shanahan said. Members of the Southeast 24/7 Cardiac Care Campaign conducting interviews in Waterford City Meanwhile, Mick Daniels of the Southeast 24/7 Cardiac Care Campaign said this week that the groups work will continue to expand until 24/7 is delivered. For 12 out of every 24 hours, that cath lab remains closed and people will continue to die and people will continue to suffer permanent damage to their hearts. "What is supposed to be a fully developed, modern country has an entire region who are denied something that is generally regarded as a basic human right throughout the western world. "Our campaign is going very well and is going to go mainstream. We have conducted hundreds of interviews with members of the public and we have a lot of work done creating our weekly shows along with creating a TV ad." Members of the campaign were on the streets of Waterford last week conducting interviews with concerned locals regarding 24/7 coverage. The interview can be viewed HERE. Pilots from Atlantic Flight Training Academy (AFTA) have attended the Black Tie-Aviation Ball. The event was to honour former pilot instructors and staff at Atlantic Flight Training Academy as they celebrate 30 years in business at Cork and Waterford Airports. Over 100 pilots from across the world attended the event at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Little Island. In his speech, AFTA founder and CEO, Captain Mark Casey, acknowledged the support of AFTAs staff and partners. The great people we have within AFTA are certainly the secret of our success. "It must be said that there is no doubt that AFTA would not be at the scale it is without the success, support and growth of our airline partners over the past 30 years. "The aviation powerhouse that is Ryanair continues to go from strength to strength. Ryanair has been a huge supporter of AFTA since its inception and we are ever-grateful for the continued cadet programmes we offer as a partner school in the Ryanair Future Flyer Academy. We have been joined at the hip for 30 years, and it is often said internally that we share the same DNA," said Captain Casey. Captain Casey expressed gratitude to global partners Air Astana, VistaJet, ASL Airlines and GlobeAir, calling them "invaluable". "While AFTA is reliant on our Airline partners, all our non-airline partners are equally important. "These include the IAA, our university partner MTU, the DAA, Cork Airport, AirNav Ireland, Representing the French Ambassador, Hon. Consul of France in Cork, Josselin Le Gall and Enterprise Ireland and all the external regulatory bodies we work closely with. "Without their continued support, we could not educate the next generation of airline pilots successfully, said Captain Casey. AFTA trains commercial pilots in partnership with Munster Technological University (MTU) for the global airline industry. The academy has trained over 2,800 pilots since 1995. The event coincided with the graduation of the Class of 2023-2024. Ireland South MEP Sean Kelly, who was guest of honour at the event, commended Mark Casey, AFTA CEO and his team for 30 years in business. Waterford will receive over 8.4 million in funding for national roads. Minister Mary Butler confirmed that 8,455,131 has been secured for Waterford City and County Council. The funding comes from TII (Transport Infrastructure Ireland) and will go to the local authority in the form of capital investment, protection, renewal and maintenance allocations. Maintenance Minister Butler commented: "This investment will allow us to repair, strengthen and maintain our national primary and national secondary routes across Waterford, ensuring they are fit for purpose. We are dedicating resources towards key initiatives, such as improvement works, pavement renewals, traffic calming, minor works and more. I am particularly pleased to see 2,679,000 allocated for the N25 Carrolls Cross to Ballyduff East Pavement project." The Minister for Mental Health said: 450,000 is also being provided for the N72 Lismore traffic calming Phase 1 Pavement and 175,000 has been allocated for important minor works on the N72 WD_141 Lismore. Funding of 192,000 has been allocated for minor works on the N25W Ballyduff West, while 90,000 will be utilised for traffic calming measures at N25W_082 Lemybrien, which will be welcomed by the respective local communities. Minister Butler continued: Maintaining and improving Primary and Secondary roads in Waterford is crucial to sustaining and developing our local economies across the county. These roads are imperative for children getting to school, people getting to work safely, and more. In addition, it also facilitates the many bus services that now serve our rural towns and villages." National package Local authorities across the country are set to receive 33 million for regular maintenance of national roads. This allocation for Waterford is part of a national investment package of 633 million aimed at enhancing the national network, which is essential for maintaining social and economic connectivity, linking people and places across the county. Central to this is the need to ensure that the journeys that people take are as predictable and as safe as possible. "I appreciate the important role played by the national road network in ensuring that all parts of Ireland are connected to each other. A safe and efficient network supports rural residents, allowing them to connect to work, education, and healthcare." The funding announcement also impacts major road schemes in surrounding counties. Waterford to Cahir Scheme Kilkenny County Council has been allocated 6,582,426 by TII. 80,000 of this sum is marked for the N24 Waterford to Cahir Scheme. The N24 Waterford to Cahir Project forms part of the N24 national primary route, a strategic transport corridor between the cities of Limerick and Waterford. The corridor is approximately 60km and aims to connect the South East to the West. While progress was being made on the Cahir to Limerick part of the scheme, progress on the Waterford to Cahir phase was at an impasse. Until recently, the scheme appeared to be in jeopardy because no funding had been announced for 2025. The sale of Waterford Retail Park to a US-based investment giant was announced last week. Sigma Retail Partners (Sigma), a specialist retail asset manager in Ireland, announced the successful sale of eight retail parks owned by funds managed by Oaktree Capital US investment giant Realty Income REIT. The portfolio consists of retail parks across Ireland and was valued at approximately 220 million. The parks include Navan Retail Park, Naas Retail Park, Sligo Retail Park, Drogheda Retail Park, Bray Retail Park, Waterford Retail Park, Parkway Retail Park in Limerick and Gateway Shopping Park in Galway. Marcus Wren, Co-Founder and Managing Director of Sigma Retail Partners, said on the sale: As we conclude this chapter, we would like to extend our thanks to Oaktree for their trust and partnership over the past 10 years. "We look forward to seeing how the new owners will build upon the strong foundation that has been established across this excellent portfolio of eight retail parks. A spokesperson from Sigma Retail Partners said in a statement, that at the heart of this successful outcome is the significant role played by Sigma as the Asset Manager since Oaktrees acquisition of these assets". "The strong sale price reflects not only the inherent value of the properties but also the enhanced income achieved through Sigmas strategic approach to asset management, which focused on repositioning and improving the tenant mix to drive growth and profitability. Beyond this landmark retail parks portfolio sale, Sigma has also completed on behalf of Oaktree numerous non-core asset disposals throughout the hold period, including several drive thru restaurants, coffee pods and surplus land. On one of the final nights of Ramadan last week, there were almost 30 nationalities present at Al Munir Islamic Centre in Waterford City. The group came together for prayer and to break their fast, honouring the Ramadan tradition of fasting from sunrise to sunset for one month, a practice observed annually by the Islamic community. In Waterford, over 120 people attend the local mosque to break their fast every evening, where homemade food and community await them following a day of self-discipline. The Waterford News & Star attended the breaking of fast last week, alongside special guests on the evening Cllr John Hearne, Metropolitan Mayor Cllr Joe Kelly and Garda David Browne. Imam Rashid Munir of the Al Munir Islamic Centre said that volunteers at the mosque had been hard at work prior to the ceremony making food for the group. A lot of people like to volunteer, and different people from different countries all come together, its a good way to integrate with the community and with different races and we like to also invite non-muslims." It's difficult cooking for 120 people on a daily basis, especially with all our brothers and sisters fasting. While we fast we are hungry, thirsty, tired, especially now as we approach the end of Ramadan, and everyone starts to feel a little low. But still they work hard. This is the essence of Ramadan, it gives us all more strength." A recent convert to Islam is Waterford local Jonah Schild, who moved to the Deise from South Africa a number of years ago. Jonah said that his interest in the act of fasting is what initially led him to Islam. I actually came into Islam through Ramadan. I was looking for a way to do extended fast, because intermittent fasting has become a big thing recently, and theres many different modalities for it. It just so happened that I noticed Ramadan was coming up soon, so I decided to go for it and dive into the experience. I wasnt necessarily looking for any kind of religion at the time, I was actually quite opposed to it, but the experience was really profound. Sacrificing food and water, you really see what youre made of as a person, and it makes you come face to face with your limitations as an individual. A number of years ago I went to the mosque for the first time, did the prayers for the first time, and its just been the most beautiful rollercoaster since. There's been ups and down of course, big challenges, big culture shocks, but thats part of the beauty. Jonah added that the Islamic community has become a vitally important part of his life. When I landed in Waterford I didnt know anyone at all, and then on Google Maps I saw there was a mosque and now I see all these people every day, when Im at my best I see them five times a day. So its a great way to check-in, and you feel this constant connection and communion. Imam Rashid and the Islamic community have been working to strengthen bonds with the wider community of Waterford. Speaking on the night, special guest Cllr John Hearne said this work has been an important way of welcoming new cultures to Waterford: "When I was an immigrant in Australia, Holland and England, being welcomed to a new land was very important, and thats what were trying to do." Metropolitan Mayor Joe Kelly added: Waterford is a community that thrives on diversity and Ramadan is a beautiful reminder of the richness that different cultures, beliefs and traditions bring to our collective experience. Over 80,000 Muslims in Ireland engaged in Ramadan this year. They have been fasting from dusk until dawn, as a celebration of the Muslim holy book, the Qur'an. Muslims have been fasting for the past 30 days from all foods and liquids. A typical day during Ramadan begins with a meal just before dawn. Muslims then proceed with their normal day at work or school. When the sun sets in the evening, they have Futoor or Iftar, a meal where they break their fast, which traditionally begins with eating a date and a glass of water. The Waterford News & Star asked members of the community this week what the celebration means to them. Local Jonah Schild said: My patterns of thoughts were taking up a lot of energy, and if I stopped eating and drinking, and purposely restrained myself, I had to engage with the limitations of my mind, and so Ramadan helped me push through so many personal barriers." Another local said: "It is very difficult, but we do it as a group. It creates discipline and brings us closer to Islam." Cllr John Hearne, Garda David Browne and Cllr Joe Kelly Cllr John Hearne, who was present at a recent fast-breaking meal, said: "Every so often I call into the mosque here, and Ramadan is special, it's like our Christmas. It's great to see the different cultures." Pictured celebrating the end of the Ramadan fast in Waterford. Cllr Joe Kelly added: "This holy month is not only a time of reflection, prayer and fasting for Muslims around the world, but it is also a moment for us all to come together as a community and celebrate the values of compassion, unity and generosity that binds us all. "As our Muslim brothers and sisters fast from dawn until dusk, they experiences not only the physical challenges of hunger and thirst, but also the deeper spiritual lessons of patience, humility and gratitude, values that transcend borders, cultures and religions." REVIEW: Many Young Men of Twenty at Dunhill Community Centre It was 1967 and President Kennedys wife Jacqui was staying in Woodstown House for the summer. Dunhill Players' production of John B Keanes Many Young Men of Twenty had received much praise for its performance and Jacqui went along to see it. It was the cue for much subterfuge as the First Ladys visit required strict protocols and security was a drama all of its own. The performance sparkled and the entire visit was a triumph of everything that is good about community life in Ireland. And tonights performance sparkles from the off. A strong cast everyone was word and cue perfect and firm direction from Mary Harney entertained a packed house with word and song for two hours or so. In its day, the play was a biting commentary on Devs Ireland where employment was scarce, wages low, marriage in decline, although families of two figures were the order of the day. Church interference in the private lives of citizens and state law was intrusive and censorship was rife. No wonder politicians railed at the controversial commentary from Danger Mullaly (Jonathan Whelan) throughout. The play opens and closes with emigrants taking the train for London in Seelie Hannigans (bitter-tongued Anne Marie Quealy) pub. In between, their histories tumble out on the floor like Mondays washing. Daheens (Cormac Daniels) two sons Kevin (David Walsh) and Dinny (Martin Harney) are heading for London with their fathers instructions to send back pounds and their mothers admonishment to say three Hail Marys for purity and the grace of a happy death. The brothers return a year later. Kevin is about to be made foreman, while gormless Dinny has secured a scatterbrained wife Dot (Ellie May Swift) and all are keen to return to London. The frequent repetition throughout from the ensemble of John Bs song Many Young Men of Twenty is a constant reminder of the droves that took the boat to England in search of a better life. I can remember watching The Great Western cattle boat depart Adelphi Wharf on Saturday nights with some 20 emigrants from Waterford in search of work. Their bitterness towards this country is the bedrock of this play. As the curtain falls, nine people in the pub take their leave for the boat, including young teenagers Mikey (Darragh Griffin) and Mary (Sophie Mulcahy) as the latest emigrants. Keanes script makes it clear that England was no bed of roses either. The emigrants annual homecomings and their admission that everyone is lonesome leaving home as they return to jobs and places they never really belong to the night shifts an filthy digs with shifty landladies tells it as it is. Their journey ...with their long faces leanin' out o' the carriage windows with the thoughts of what's waitin' over as they acknowledge that everyone is lonesome leaving home. But some are lonesome here too. Barmaid Peg (the excellent Ciara Burns) is shunned as the fallen woman who has a child out of wedlock. Schoolteacher Maurice Brown (a very sympathetic Killian Power) has drunk himself out of his last five jobs. A rather nasty JJ Houlihan TD (Finbar Buckley) is shunned by his community for his exploitation of his position to secure favours including the appointment of his son Johnny (the gauche Tommy Griffin) to the position of rates collector despite having no second-level education. Some eke out an existence on the margins. Jonathan Whelan is brilliant as Danger Mullaly a quick-witted, sharp-tongued exposer of state, social sham and hypocrisy as he exploits vulnerable emigrants by selling them holy pictures for three bob. Anne Barry is hilarious as Kitty Curley the black-toothed fortune teller with bizarre prophecies. Amateur drama societies loved John B Keanes plays. Rural people had their stories told in a way that mattered. Casts were huge there was a part for everyone in the audience AND an audience for everyone in the parts. John B was good business. It was a great night in the Dunhill Community Centre where the entire community came together to delight in the talent that was in the village and surrounds. Mother and daughter Mai Ryan and Anne Murphy gave me the royalist of welcomes. This is what amateur drama is all about. By Grainne Ni Aodha, PA The Ceann Comhairle is to face a no confidence motion as part of an unprecedented row between opposition and government. A vote on Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy was tabled after the opposition accused her of partisanship over her handling of their protest in the Dail last week. Ms Murphy categorically denied the accusations and said she fully intends to continue in the role. Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald, centre, said Verona Murphys position had become untenable (Brian Lawless/PA) This is the first time a no confidence vote in a Ceann Comhairle will take place in the history of the state. Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald said Ms Murphys position had become untenable as part of a row over changing Dail speaking time. The deepening dispute has convulsed parliament since the new government was formed in January, preventing committees from being established and hindering legislative work. How did we get here? The row began with how the coalition government was formed in January. Independent TD Michael Healy-Rae, pictured, struck a coalition deal with Fianna Fail and Fine Gael (Brian Lawless/PA) The Regional Group of Independents and two Kerry brothers, Michael and Danny Healy-Rae, struck a coalition deal with Fianna Fail and Fine Gael. The Regional Group were led by Independent Tipperary TD Michael Lowry, who was a communications minister with Fine Gael in the 1990s. It emerged that he had suggested Verona Murphy, a Wexford TD who was part of the Regional Group, be put forward as the government candidate for Ceann Comhairle. Five independents were appointed junior ministers. The remaining independents sought to form a technical group a mechanism that gives opposition TDs speaking time during high-profile Dail slots such as Leaders Questions. Verona Murphy, centre left, was named Ceann Comhairle in December (Maxwells/PA) This was strongly rejected by most opposition parties who argued that the independents who helped form the incoming government should not be treated as opposition TDs. They argued this would dilute the role of opposition in the Dail to hold government to account. On January 22nd, the nomination of Micheal Martin as Taoiseach was delayed by the oppositions disruptive protest against the governments proposals. The nomination of the Taoiseach was allowed to proceed the following day while a proposal satisfactory to both government and opposition was worked on by the Dail reform committee. But these efforts stalled after the opposition and government accused one another of not compromising. We have gone backwards, People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy said on January 31st. People Before Profit-Solidaritys Paul Murphy said at the time things had gone backwards in trying to reach an agreement (Daniel Fayeun/PA) On February 3rd, Ms Murphy said she was not satisfied that government-affiliated independent TDs, including Mr Lowry, could be in opposition. Despite this intervention, the Government proposed an other members grouping, arguing that a modern Dail was not necessarily made up of Government and opposition members. A vote of the Dail reform committee held on February 26th approved the Government proposals; although the Government has a majority on that committee to reflect its Dail majority. Farcical Dail scenes Disorder broke out in the Dail on the day a vote was due to be held to approve the change of rules. Before the vote took place, opposition TDs repeatedly disrupted Mr Martin during Leaders Questions. Opposition TDs then took to their feet and raised their objections in an attempt to derail the vote. The nomination of Micheal Martin as Taoiseach, right, was delayed by the oppositions disruptive protest (Brian Lawless/PA) During the lengthy standoff, Ms Murphy ordered TDs to sit down, saying their actions were an absolute disgrace and they were making a holy show of yourselves. Amid the shouting and interruptions, and allegations of misogyny from Ms Murphy, the motion to change Dail rules was announced as passed by the speaker. Later that day, seven opposition parties failed to express confidence in Ms Murphy over how Dail procedures and rules were handled during the disruption in the chamber. Ms McDonald said that opposition leaders were troubled by Ms Murphys actions and suggested that she had rushed through Dail procedure in a way that was orchestrated. The opposition then drafted a motion of no confidence against Ms Murphy and asked her to consider her position. Ms Murphy categorically rejected accusations of partiality and collusion and said she fully intends to continue in her role. Opposition leaders united to express concern over the Ceann Comhairle (Grainne Ni Aodha/PA) Prolonged disorder and obstruction is utterly unacceptable in any democratic parliament, she said in a statement. So too is making false accusations of partiality and collusion against its officials and chair. The vote Ms Murphy is expected to survive the no confidence vote due to the Governments majority. The opposition has not clarified if they will continue to disrupt the Dail if Ms Murphy remains as Ceann Comhairle, or if they will legally challenge the way the motion to change the Dail speaking-time rules was passed. The Taoiseach issued a stark warning the day after chaotic scenes in the Dail. New precedents have been set. I do not believe this Dail will ever be the same again because of what has transpired over the past few weeks. It will never be the same again, he said. Parts of Queensland have been hit with a years worth of rain within a few days, leading to widespread flooding in the states south-west and northern NSW and creating a vast pulse of water expected to make its way slowly towards Lake Eyre. This years monsoon rains have been particularly heavy, and parts of the catchment had already received waters from Tropical Cyclone Alfred, which inundated regions of northern NSW and South East Queensland earlier in March. Flooding at Tenham Station, a beef and sheep enterprise amid the channel country in south-west Queensland. Credit: Joe Tully Late on Saturday night, an elderly man was swept away from his SUV as he tried to tow a caravan across a flooded causeway at Bretti, about 100 kilometres west of Taree in NSW, after the Barnard River broke its banks. The Bureau of Meteorologys Jonathan How said the volume of rainfall was significant but not entirely unexpected. BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 31. Azerbaijans Foreign Ministry has issued a statement on March 31 - Day of Genocide of Azerbaijanis, Trend reports. Today marks the 107th anniversary of the March genocide of 1918, one of the largest genocides committed by radical Armenian groups against peaceful Azerbaijanis in the last century, when thousands of compatriots were brutally killed on ethnic and religious grounds. On 31 MarchDay of Genocide of Azerbaijaniswe commemorate innocent victims of these tragic events with respect and honor. During these massacres, which were part of a systematic policy of ethnic cleansing and genocide against Azerbaijanis, the killings of innocent Azerbaijanis were carried out with extreme brutality in Baku, Shamakhi, Guba, Garabagh, Zangazur, Nakhchivan, Shirvan, and Irevan by 6,000 armed soldiers from the Baku Soviet and 4,000 soldiers from the Dashnaksutyun Party, as admitted by Stephan Shaumyan, Extraordinary Commissioner of the Caucasus and an ethnic Armenian, under the pretext of "fighting counter-revolutionaries." As a result of these massacres, over 16,000 people were killed, and 167 villages were destroyed with particular savagery in Guba alone. The atrocities carried out against cultural and religious monuments, mosques, and cemeteries belonging to Azerbaijanis during this massacre, when tens of thousands of our compatriots were killed, stand as clear evidence of the crime of ethnic hatred and intolerance. Although, following the establishment of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic, special institutions were set up to investigate these events and raise awareness in the international community, and 31 March was observed as a day of national mourning, the fall of the Republic hindered the political and legal assessment of this crime. After the restoration of our independence and the return of the National Leader Heydar Aliyev to power, a political assessment of this genocide was made through the Decree On the Genocide of Azerbaijanis dated 26 March 1998. The policy of ethnic hatred and intolerance, which underlies the massacres committed at the beginning of the twentieth century, persisted through the mass deportation of Azerbaijanis from the territories of present-day Armenia, atrocities committed against our people during the conflict and occupation, crimes against humanity such as the Khojaly genocide at the end of the century, as well as war crimes against civilians during 44-day Patriotic War in 2020. Although the current post-conflict period offers historical opportunities to turn the pages of these tragic chapters in the region's history and establish lasting and irreversible peace, the territorial claims that have fueled all the atrocities to dateand are enshrined in the Constitution of Armenia and various legislative acts remain the greatest obstacle and source of concern for the regions stable future. In this regard, Azerbaijan continues its national and international efforts to hold those responsible for the crimes accountable, while remaining firm and unwavering in its demand to end Armenia's ongoing territorial claims against our country, in pursuit of lasting peace in the region. On 31 March, the Day of Genocide of Azerbaijanis, we solemnly and respectfully pay tribute to the memory of innocent Azerbaijanis who suffered from ethnic hatred and genocide. May Allah rest their souls in peace! the statement reads. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel This story is part of the March 29 edition of Good Weekend. The red carpets have been rolled up but in the months ahead, these looks may just earn plaudits. In fashion editor Damien Woolnoughs round-up of Hollywoods best dressed in recent months, the winners are ... WOMEN Best suit Above: Nicole Kidman in Saint Laurent. RIght: Witchery Soft Pleat pants. Credit: At the Critics Choice Awards, Nicole Kidman gave mermaid dresses a day off, stepping out in a stylish, double-breasted suit from Saint Laurent. Pleated greige pants that can take you from the boardroom to the ballroom make a perfect stand-in. Right: Witchery Soft pleat pants, $249. Best dress Liberal MP Keith Wolahan, who is fighting to hold his marginal seat of Menzies in Melbournes east, suggested Peter Dutton used loaded language when he implied some children were being indoctrinated in schools. Victorian Liberal MP Keith Wolahan. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen As mentioned earlier in this blog, the opposition leader last night said on Sky News that the Coalition would consider restricting funding to state schools if they believed students were being taught a curriculum that stemmed from activist teachers and academics. In a press conference today, Dutton said some academics and teachers were part of protests that were being translated into the classroom. Thats not something I support. I support young Australians being able to think freely, being able to assess what is before them and not being told and indoctrinated with something that is the agenda of others, he said. Appearing on the ABCs Afternoon Briefing today, Wolahan was asked if kids were being indoctrinated in school, like Dutton suggested, to which he responded: The leaders dont put it that way. Peter Dutton warns of ruin if Anthony Albanese is re-elected: Setbacks will be set in stone. Albanese, meanwhile, almost gleefully runs through fact after fact about the past three years, reciting contrasts with the Coalition. These dramatic stakes are obscured by the petty nature of the political debate now unfolding. A few days in, we have a tiny tax cut versus a temporary fuel excise cut; a vague supermarket policy versus an unexplained gas policy. A Dutton government would no doubt be very different from the Albanese government, but the differences being debated are mostly minor. And so a grand political experiment enters its testing phase. A series of them, in fact. This is the true significance of this campaign. In the past three years, every significant grouping in Australian politics has dramatically shifted the way they operate: what they stand for and how they see themselves. In five weeks time, we will discover which of those experiments have been successful and which have failed and will be scrapped. Albanese is sharper than he has been for a long time. His lists have always been boring. They are still boring but they are infused now with conviction (as much as lists can be). This reflects the contrast at the heart of the Albanese experiment. It has been horribly tedious and breathtakingly audacious. Tedious because there has been so little drama: no huge fights, no hugely divisive policy changes (with the exception of the defeated referendum), no colourful characters attracting attention. And audacious for much the same reason. The lack of fights can seem (and is sometimes) merely timid: it is easy to see it only as an absence. But it has also been deliberate strategy. When Albanese won government, he made clear his first task was resetting the tone of politics. Things slowed and calmed. A year in, he told me your impression of the governments pace whether you thought it speedy or slow or just right depended on whether you thought about it in terms of one term or whether you imagined it in power for years. Loading The theory underlying this that a government can deliver reforms in this noisy era only by going about them gradually while largely avoiding fights, thus embedding changes over many years in power is a stark departure from the general approach of Labor governments. Albanese has spoken, too, of wanting Labor to be Australias natural party of government, a massive shift in the partys self-conception. With the campaign under way, we may now be witnessing the beginning of another shift. Albanese has struggled this term to articulate his governments purpose: to tell a story. Just as it has for leaders overseas, it is possible Donald Trumps return has changed that. Several weeks back, Albanese began to emphasise the ways Australia was not America. Since the campaign started he has leaned heavily into the theme, talking about the Australian way and coupling it with insinuations Dutton is copying policies from elsewhere. Mostly, this is an attempt to link Dutton to Trump. But the more interesting issue is whether we are watching the formation of a guiding theme that might be important in an Albanese second term (if it happens). In recent years, progressive movements have puzzled over how to knit together patriotism with left-wing values. As a friend recently remarked to me, Albanese seems to be feeling his way towards his own version of this. 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. Western Australian Premier Roger Cook wants the Commonwealth to chip in for a stadium in its bid to establish an NRL team in the state. Cook said he hadnt had a direct conversation with the Albanese government about that, but pointed out the hundreds of millions in funding the federal government had injected into other sporting projects around the country. Roger Cook addresses the media on March 31, 2025. Credit: Hamish Hastie I do note the sizable contribution towards the new stadium in Hobart, and I think just over the weekend, they made an announcement with regards to a contribution to the [Melbourne] Storm in Victoria, he said. So if we were in a position to be able to negotiate an NRL franchise in WA, we welcome any Commonwealth contribution to that infrastructure. Matthew Armstrong and his wife Mandy Warren reached their 30s, and with no help from the bank of mum and dad, they realised it could take years to save a deposit on a Sydney home. They had been renting a unit in Strathfield but then managed to take advantage of the federal governments first home buyer help to purchase a townhouse in Kingswood. Matthew Armstrong purchased a townhouse in Sydneys Kingswood through the First Home Guarantee scheme. Credit: Steven Siewert We thought wed probably have to save for another three to five years to get over that 20 per cent deposit hurdle, Armstrong, a network engineer, said. Instead, they used the First Home Guarantee scheme, which waives lenders mortgage insurance for buyers with a five per cent deposit. The scheme was a game changer. We would have had to wait years to get on to the property ladder, and likely in the same area, out west. 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). BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 31. Azerbaijanis have been purposely subjected to a policy of genocide and ethnic cleansing by Armenians for more than a century, Trend reports via the statement by the Azerbaijani Ombudsmans Office. According to the statement, as part of this policy, since the beginning of the XX century, Azerbaijanis, whose origin was Turk and Muslim, have been subjected to crimes of genocide committed in Azerbaijan and in the territory of present-day Armenia in a systematic way and with special impunity. The statement points out these acts of genocide committed against Azerbaijanis in 1918 are engraved in our memories as one of the bloodiest pages in our history, including massacres committed on grounds ethnic and religious hatred. Anti-Muslim, anti-Azerbaijani policy conducted by Armenian nationalists resulted in massacres, destruction of villages and cities, historical, religious, and cultural monuments, cemeteries, total destruction of families, and violent expulsion of Azerbaijanis from their native lands. Massacres committed in Baku, Shamakhi, Guba, Karabakh, Zangezur, Irevan, Nakhchivan, Lankaran, Ganja, Goychay, Shaki, Sabirabad, Salyan, Kurdamir, and other regions had the intended purpose of erasing the presence of Azerbaijanis in these lands. Thus, during the incidents that occurred in March, 110 villages of Shamakhi, more than 150 villages of Karabakh, 115 villages of Zangezur, 98 villages of Kars province, and 167 villages of Guba province were burned by Armenians, and their innocent population was mercilessly murdered. The countless human bones of that period, which were later found in Guba, reflecting the traces of criminal acts being committed with cruelty, brutality, and vandalism, clearly prove that the Armenians, who were the direct executors of these massacres, killed the innocent people on the ground of hatred, simply because they were Azerbaijanis, the statement emphasizes. The statement also reads that the existence of verified documents and historical records is an irrefutable indicator of these atrocities. Besides, according to the statement, the archive details, including testimonies of survivors at the time, as well as other legal documents, confirm the scale of the massacres in detail and that these incidents took place in a planned manner, rather than separately, and were intended to solely ethnically cleanse, and the analysis of the documents proves that, in accordance with international law, the crimes committed constitute genocide. Unfortunately, throughout our history, incidents of genocide committed against our ethnic compatriots with particular cruelty have not established a fair attitude internationally so far. By the Decree of the Great Leader Heydar Aliyev On the Genocide of Azerbaijanis of March 26, 1998, with the declaration of March 31 as the Day of Genocide of Azerbaijanis, relevant research was carried out in order to provide policy and legal assessment for acts of genocide, and appropriate measures were initiated to uncover the truth. Giving political and legal appreciation to crimes of genocide committed against Azerbaijanis, international recognition and widespread commemoration of the victims of genocide are crucial in order to prevent further crimes such as those committed against mankind from ever being repeated or prevented, the statement says. Additionally, the statement calls on the international community to conduct a political and legal assessment of the crimes of ethnic cleansing and genocide committed against Azerbaijanis, recognize the crimes committed in 1918 as genocide, and make serious efforts to restore historical and legal justice. The statement has been sent to the UN Secretary-General (UNSG), UN Security Council (UNSC), UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), UN International Childrens Emergency Fund (UNICEF), UN Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the heads of the European Union (EU), Council of Europe (CoE), Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), International Ombudsman Institute (IOI) and European Ombudsman Institution (EOI), Asian Ombudsman Association (AOA), Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), and the Association of Ombudsman of Member States of this Institution (OICOA), Association of Ombudsmen and National Human Rights Institutions of Turkic States (TURKOMB), OIC Independent Permanent Human Rights Commission (OIC-IPHRC), European Network of Ombudspersons of Children (ENOC), International Peace Bureau (IPB), ombudspersons and national human rights institutions (NHRIs) of different countries, diplomatic missions of Azerbaijan in foreign countries and the diplomatic missions of foreign countries in Azerbaijan, and diaspora organizations of Azerbaijan, the statement reads. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel On 13 March 2025, a wrap up session on the results achieved so far under the WCO Asia-Pacific Regional Data/Intelligence Professionals Programme was held at the WCO Regional Intelligence Liaison Office for Asia and the Pacific (RILO A/P) in Tokyo, Japan. The event gave each participant the opportunity to share the knowledge they had acquired through the Programme and the recommendations they would like to make to their respective home administrations through their report. This brand new WCO initiative is being implemented in cooperation with Japan Customs and the RILO A/P. It aims to provide selected participants with an opportunity to deepen their understanding of practical risk management processes for combating illicit trade in the region, as well as to gain the necessary skills, in their capacity as data/intelligence analysts, through a combination of online WCO training and on-the-job training at the RILO A/P. The Programme started in January 2025, thanks to the financial support of the Customs Cooperation Fund of Japan (CCF/Japan), with the participation of the first batch of three Customs officials from Members in the WCO Asia/Pacific (A/P region), namely Cambodia, Indonesia and Thailand. Through the one-week WCO online training course, the three officials not only gained knowledge about the Customs Enforcement Network (CEN) applications but also developed the necessary practical skills for data analysis and data visualization. Then, they went to Japan to spend four weeks, in February/March 2025, at the RILO A/P, where they could build up their experience of a wide range of intelligence work, including (i) issuing alert messages to inform Members of emerging smuggling trends, (ii) learning about open-source intelligence (OSINT), and (iii) mastering how best to coordinate processes during regional operations. The three participants have now returned to their home administrations determined to maintain a strong partnership with the RILO A/P, and to contribute to the regions intelligence network. For more information about the WCO Asia-Pacific Regional Data/Intelligence Professionals Programme, please contact us at: cis@wcoomd.org BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 31. The people of Azerbaijan are solemnly commemorating March 31the Day of Azerbaijani Genocide, Trend reports via the Western Azerbaijan Community's statement According to the statement, the people of Western Azerbaijan who suffered from the total ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity committed by Armenia remember this day with deep sorrow. The statement noted that the mass massacre of Azerbaijanis in Baku on March 31, 1918, is a horrific event that embodies the large-scale genocide carried out against our people in the historical Azerbaijani lands in the preceding and subsequent periods. As the decree signed by National Leader Heydar Aliyev on the Genocide of Azerbaijanis on March 26, 1998, reads, the genocide against Azerbaijanis was carried out for centuries, and its main goal was to destroy Azerbaijanis as an ethnic group and seize historical Azerbaijani territories. Armenian political unions, armed groups, and later the state authorities of Armenia implemented a systematic genocide policy against Azerbaijanis based on ethnic hatred and racist ideology, carrying out mass massacres in numerous locations, forcibly expelling Azerbaijanis from their homeland, and systematically destroying their cultural heritage. Acts of genocide against the Azerbaijani people were committed in almost all parts of historical Azerbaijani territories. In the years 1918-1920, mass massacres were carried out and ethnic cleansing was carried out against the Muslim population in Baku, Shamakhi, Guba, Karabakh, Nakhchivan, Lankaran, Iravan, Zangezur, Goycha, Daralayaz, Surmali, and other districts. As a result of the acts of genocide, in which hundreds of thousands of Azerbaijanis were killed, Azerbaijanis, who once made up more than 80 percent of the population in the territory of Armenia, began to constitute an ethnic minority in that area by 1921. Following ethnic cleansing campaigns in 1948-53 and 1987-91, Azerbaijanis were completely expelled from there. Currently, there is not a single Azerbaijani left in Armenia," the statement says. The statement adds that Armenia's occupation of 20 percent of Azerbaijani territories between 1991 and 1994, the numerous massacres committed there, the expulsion of 800,000 Azerbaijanis, and the destruction of Azerbaijani cultural heritage were part of the genocide policy. "Unfortunately, instead of acknowledging its responsibility and taking necessary steps for peace, justice, and reconciliation, Armenia continues to pursue a policy that promotes ethnic hatred and racism, taking actions contrary to peace. Individuals who committed crimes against humanity and acts of terrorism, such as Garegin Njde, Andranik Ozanyan, Drastamat Kanayan, and Monte Melkonyan, are glorified, and the Nazi ideology of Njdeism is propagated at the state level. Its particularly regrettable that the Armenian government, instead of assisting the ongoing judicial process in Azerbaijan regarding war crimes and crimes against humanity, is actively obstructing it and encouraging a climate of impunity. Moreover, Armenia continues its racist policy by obstructing the right of return of the people of Western Azerbaijan and attempting to preserve the mono-ethnicity created through genocide. We call on the Armenian state to acknowledge its responsibility for the genocide, ethnic cleansing, crimes against humanity, and war crimes it has committed and take the necessary steps for reconciliation. Armenia must create conditions for the safe and dignified return of Azerbaijanis expelled from there and restore the Azerbaijani cultural heritage it has destroyed. Additionally, Armenia must halt its policy and practices that promote hatred and discrimination against Azerbaijanis, hand over those who have committed crimes against humanity to justice, immediately cease glorifying them, demolish the monuments dedicated to military and political figures and terrorists who participated in crimes against Azerbaijanis, and reverse the name changes of places it carried out," the statement points out. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 31. President of the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria Abdelmadjid Tebboune has sent a congratulatory letter to the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev on the occasion of the Ramadan holiday, Trend reports. "Your Excellency, dear brother. On the occasion of the holy Eid al-Fitr, I extend my sincere congratulations and best wishes to you on behalf of the people and government of Algeria, as well as personally. I wish Your Excellency strong health and happiness, and your brotherly people greater progress and prosperity. I pray to Almighty Allah to grant us and the entire Islamic Ummah this holiday again with peace, goodness, and abundance. On the occasion of this auspicious holiday, I would like to reiterate our commitment to strengthening the fraternal relations between our countries in accordance with the interests of our brotherly peoples, and to contribute to the progress of the Islamic Ummah in an environment of well-being and stability. Your Excellency, Dear Brother, please accept my highest respects and best wishes," the letter reads. BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 31. Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia Abiy Ahmed Ali has sent a congratulatory letter to the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev on the occasion of the Ramadan holiday, Trend reports. "Dear Mr. President, On the occasion of the Eid al-Fitr, I extend my sincere congratulations to you and wish you happiness, peace, and success," the letter reads. If you have an event you'd like to list on the site, submit it now! Submit By Cate McCurry, PA A total of 14 people have been arrested at a protest against Israels war in Gaza after the entrance to Leinster House in Dublin was blocked. 10 women aged in their 20s, 30s, 40s and 50s, and one man aged in his 20s were arrested under section eight of the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994. Gardai confirmed that all 11 have received adult cautions. Three other men, aged in their 20s and 30s, were also arrested for alleged offences under sections six, nine and 19 of the Criminal Justice (Public Order Act) 1994. The three men have been charged and are due before court. It comes after a group of women had gathered for a vigil organised by the Mothers Against Genocide group on Sunday. It was to mark Mothers Day and to remember the children and mothers killed in Gaza. The group held an overnight protest calling on the Government to do more about the conflict in the Gaza Strip. Protesters who staged a sitdown protest in front of the Leinster House gates were forcibly removed. They had been due to read out a letter calling on the Government to enact the Occupied Territories Bill and to prevent the use of Irish airspace to carry weapons to Israel. The group placed photographs of Palestinian children killed by Israeli forces along the gates and railings of Leinster House. Gardai said they told protesters who were blocking the gates to clear the entrance. Megan Ni Ghabhlain, a member of Mothers Against Genocide, said: Eight of us were removed and arrested by gardai. Eight mothers who had obligations today, school runs that they were going to be collecting their children from, and the aim of those mothers was to prevent the slaughter of innocent children. Last night we came together to honour the 18,000 children who have been brutally murdered with a beautiful vigil. We had displays of the gorgeous children who we wanted to humanise, that they are not just numbers to become desensitised to. These are children who had bright hopes and dreams, just like our own, and were loved as much as we love our own. Unfortunately the gardai decided to come down and remove these precious faces of these children in the most disrespectful manner, so we decided we would sit with our pillow babies in solidarity with these women, whose children have been murdered. In a statement, a garda spokesman said: An Garda Siochana was aware of a public gathering taking place on Kildare Street, Dublin 2 which had commenced last night Sunday. As is the case with all evolving events that require a garda presence in order to maintain full public safety, An Garda Siochana adopts a response based on the community policing model, all relevant legislation and human rights. Following garda engagement with a number of individuals who were blocking the entrance to Dail Eireann, Kildare Street this morning, Gardai gave the individuals a direction under the Public Order Act and were given a period of time to adhere to this direction. The direction given by Gardai was not complied with and a number of individuals were subsequently arrested for offences contrary to the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994 and conveyed to Garda stations in Dublin. More than two months after Storm Eowyn councillors in Mayo are still being contacted by householders and businesses that are without broadband and telephone services. Achill-based Cllr Paul McNamara told last week's meeting of Westport-Belmullet Municipal District that the loss of service was particularly upsetting for elderly people. The majority of elderly people living alone are fully dependent on the alarm pendant, which was connected to a 24/7 call centre that would contact a family member if it went off. "People are now nine weeks without supply from Eir, it just beggars belief. We still have poles and lines lying on the side of roads. If this was the case with any private business, the Health and Safety authorities would be out straight away. "These people are even having to pay their bills and standing charges now for line rental for a service they have not got. This is just appalling treatment of the elderly. The manager of the Westport-Belmullet District had written to Eir following the meeting in February but did not receive a reply. Municipal district Cathaoirleach and Erris Cllr Sean Carey said he had been inundated with calls from as far back as December when Storm Darragh took out telecommunications and an elderly lady in a very remote location had been out of power since then. Cllr Carey also recounted the sad story of an elderly man whose pendent is currently not working. "He had a fall there the other night and was on the floor for a number of hours until a neighbour found him the following morning." Cllr Gerry Coyle said the internet in his house is still off and the fibre cable from Eir is now somewhere up a bog never to be seen again. Showing a photo on his phone of a damaged pole, he said "a billion euros was being spent on national broadband yet the poles were in a dire state". A woman is paying 60 euro a month for the pendant and the line and still she has no phone. A business in Belmullet was six weeks out. The connection is back on one day and off again the next. "I am not surprised the manager did not get a reply on the matter after making contact with the company. I am sick of it with them. These are supposed to be a communications company but they didnt even reply to you. If I see another ad from Eir on the TV I will erupt. Louisburgh Cllr Chris Maxwell said just two days previously an elderly man had asked him to help his brother living "on top of the Sheefry Hills". He has not had a communications service for months. "This is happening across the county. We need to get something done, the providers should seek help abroad as the ESB did. Maybe the Municipal District here could try and put in a call on behalf of the people in West Mayo to see could the job be done. It is action we want. Newly co-opted Independent councillor Marie-Therese Duffy was warmly welcomed to her first Ballina Municipal District meeting by her colleagues last Monday, writes Paul O'Malley. Cllr Annie May Reape welcomed the addition of another female councillor around the table and said Cllr Duffy, who was co-opted to the seat left vacant by her brother Mark following his election to Seanad Eireann, has a bright future as a local representative in Ballina. We are getting there at last with the gender balance, it is now 4-2. We had a workshop prior to our meeting today and I can tell Marie-Therese is already very well tuned in, she said. Well all work together for the betterment of Ballina. Cllr Joe Faughnan said it was great to have Cllr Duffy on board and congratulated Mark Duffy, who was in attendance, on his elevation to the Seanad. Cllr Jarlath Munnelly said Cllr Duffy had big shoes to fill but would be up to the challenge. Cllr John OHara said it was great to have someone local in the Ballina Chamber and better again to have a young person involved. Cathaoirleach of the district Cllr Michael Loftus said it was a "special day" for Cllr Duffy. We look forward to working with you for the next four and a half years. That brother of yours caused us awful headaches and I hope hes causing headaches above in Dublin now, he joked. Mark always had the municipal district and County Mayo at heart and I want to wish him well, Cllr Loftus said. Cllr Duffy thanked her colleagues for their words of welcome. Im looking forward to working with everyone for the betterment of the district, working hard for Mayo and everyone in general, she said. Members of the Mayo branch of the Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign held a peaceful vigil outside Ballina Civic Offices last week. The vigil was held to coincide with the monthly meeting of Ballina Municipal District, which was taking place inside the building. In a letter to the Western People, the group's spokesperson Debbie McCole said those attending the vigil wished to reiterate their support for the people of Gaza. We gathered ahead of the Municipal District meeting to reaffirm our solidarity with the people of Gaza, and to urge our local representatives to support two key demands: the urgent enactment of the Occupied Territories Bill and the rescinding of the flawed and weaponised International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism, she wrote. Solidarity must go beyond words. It must be political and legislative. The Occupied Territories Bill, which seeks to ban trade with illegal Israeli settlements, was overwhelmingly supported by the Irish public and passed multiple stages in the Oireachtas, only to be shelved under pressure. Likewise, the Governments unilateral adoption of the IHRA definition undermines free expression and shields Israeli state crimes from criticism. Ms McCole said they received strong support from passing motorists and pedestrians and she called on local councillors and national politicians to continue to make the ongoing genocide in Gaza a key issue. Silence and inaction in the face of genocide is not neutrality; it is complicity, she said. There has been ongoing support for the people of Gaza in Ballina in recent months. Peaceful vigils that had been taking place on the Ham Bridge every Friday from 5 to 6pm have now resumed. The weekly Bridgils ended in January to coincide with the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas-led Palestinian groups but resumed after Israel recently broke the ceasefire with a series of surprise airstrikes on the Gaza Strip on March 18. High Court Reporters The company operating the Rose of Tralee Festival has repaid a loan for 96,414 provided to it by one of its shareholders, the High Court has heard. Richard Henggeler brought legal proceedings last April against Kerry Rose Festival Ltd, with registered offices at Denny Street, Tralee, seeking the repayment of the demand loan. Mr Henggeler, a 31.1 per cent shareholder in Kerry Rose Festival, initially made the loan in 2014 and 2015, the court heard. Gary McCarthy SC, appearing for Mr Henggeler, told Mr Justice David Nolan on Monday that the loan was repaid last week. Mr Justice Nolan awarded Mr Henggeler the costs of his action after finding that he was justified in initiating his proceedings against the company seeking repayment. In separate but related proceedings, Mr Henggeler is suing Anthony OGara, chief executive of Kerry Rose Festival Ltd, alleging shareholder oppression. Mr Henggelers case is also against another director of the company, accountant John McCarthy, again alleging shareholder oppression. The respondents to this set of proceedings, taken under section 212 of the Companies Act, are Kerry Rose Festival Ltd, Mr OGara and Mr McCarthy. The case is back before the High Court late next month. Mr Henggeler is seeking various reliefs in his action, including orders requiring Mr OGara and Mr McCarthy to sell their shares in Kerry Rose Festival to him. Mr Henggeler is represented by Tralee-based solicitors Cadogan ORegan LLP. He is the father of the 2011 Washington DC Rose Dorothy Moriarty Henggeler, who died of a brain haemorrhage shortly before her 28th birthday. He and his wife Eibhlin brought their daughters body back to Ireland to be laid to rest in her mothers hometown of Killarney. At the time of the festival in 2011, Dorothy, known as Dott, worked as a communications co-ordinator for T Rowe Price, having graduated from Virginia Tech with a degree in communications. She also worked for Tourism Ireland in New York. By PA Reporter The death of three women in two different crashes on Irish roads on Mother's Day dominate Irish front pages. The Irish Times lead with a story about the Government considering laws allowing the passenger cap at Dublin Airport to be increased, a story about disqualified drivers potentially still being able to get insurance despite new regulations, alongside a story about a senior Kinahan crime figure's seized house remaining vacant due to "physical threats" to workers who have attempted to renovate the property. The Irish Examiner lead with a story about the Government upping efforts to mitigate tariffs expeted to be announced by Trump, a story about three women dying in two separate Munster crashes on Sunday, a story about diry water, and a story about funded HRT starting "as soon as possible," according to the health minister. The Echo lead with a story about the death of two women in a road crash in Mallow, Co Cork on Sunday, alongside a story about Cork City Council writing off almost 16 million of commercial rates between 2019 and 2023. The Irish Daily Star and Irish Daily Mirror both lead with stories about the deaths of three women in two different crashes on Irish roads on Sunday. The Irish Independent lead with a story about the consumer watchdog warning of more action against influencers who have been found to be in breach of laws related to commercial content. The Irish Daily Mail lead with a story about An Garda Siochana launching a criminal investigation into Dubllin Airport Police after it was alleged that an assault on a detained woman was "effectively covered up and not reported". The Herald lead with a story with comedian Sil Fox (92), who is suing the State after he was falsely accused of sexual assault, saying the State are "playing for time in the hope that I die soon and it [the case] goes away". British papers The Times UK reports the British Prime Minister is set to announce Britain will pay foreign prosecutors to track down people smugglers as he hosts a landmark illegal migration summit. The Guardian and Financial Times lead with US President Donald Trump saying he is pissed off with Russian leader Vladimir Putin for his approach towards a ceasefire in Ukraine. Meanwhile, the i Paper says Keir Starmer has warned Mr Trump against starting a trade war in a phone call following the White House announcing 25% tariffs on imports of cars, steel and aluminium. The ongoing war of words between the Duke of Sussex and the head of a charity he founded leads several papers, the UK Daily Mail reporting Sentebale chairwoman Sophie Chandauka claimed Harry tried to make her defend the Duchess of Sussex publicly following a spat at a polo match. Ms Chandauka accused the duke of covering up an investigation into bullying and misogyny on the board of the charity, according to the Metro, while the UK Daily Mirror says he was also accused of derailing a charity fundraiser by announcing he would turn up with a TV crew. Elsewhere, The Daily Telegraph reports ethnic minority criminals are being prioritised by British judges considering bail under UK Ministry of Justice guidelines. The Daily Express leads with Tory analysis determining extra annual household costs are rising under Labour. And the UK Daily Star says it is budgie smuggler time as warm weather is on the way for the UK. BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 31. Transitional President of the Republic of Gabon Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema has sent a congratulatory letter to President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev on the occasion of the Ramadan holiday, Trend reports. "Mr. President, As the Muslim community celebrates the Eid al-Fitr, I extend to you and your family my sincere congratulations and wishes for health, happiness, and prosperity. The month of Ramadan is a period of peace, tranquility, and high spirituality for Muslims. This month is also a source of personal development and holds significant importance in terms of reflection and communication. I hope that this blessed month will contribute to strengthening the universal values of sharing, solidarity, and nobility, and will unite our actions in the face of today's major challenges. Mr. President, please accept assurances of my highest consideration," the letter reads. Reading, PA (19601) 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. 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. BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 31. The Embassy of Turkiye shared a post in connection with March 31the Day of the Genocide of Azerbaijanis, Trend reports via the embassys X publication. "On the anniversary of the horrific massacre committed by Armenian Dashnaks in collaboration with Bolsheviks against Azerbaijanis on March 31, 1918, we solemnly honor the memory of the victims of this tragedy," the publication reads. 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, burning the villages, and expelling 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 of Azerbaijan. 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. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Shaping Democracy: Thandiwe Matthews on Law, Justice, and Freedom Academic and lawyer reflects on career-shaping events and the impact of participating in a newly published Compendium of Judgments of Justice Albie Sachs. April is recognised as Freedom Month in South Africa and provides an opportunity to deliberate on the state of democracy and governance in the country. Consequently, this profile shines the spotlight on Witsies who are at the forefront of shaping our democracy. Thandiwe Matthews is a Lecturer in Human Rights, Law and Development Studies at the Wits School of Governance, and an admitted attorney of the High Court of South Africa. A dynamic interdisciplinary scholar and practitioner, she is currently finalising her PhD exploring the role of constitutionalism, socio-economic rights and social policy to address systemic inequalities in South Africa. She forms part of a novel joint doctoral programme between the Wits Law School under the NRF Research Chair in Law, Equality and Social Justice, currently chaired by Prof. Cathi Albertyn; and the International Institute of Social Studies of Erasmus University Rotterdam, based in The Hague, Netherlands. She was recently in dialogue with former Justice Albie Sachs on seminal Constitutional Court judgments, available at Compendium of Judgments The Albie Collection and is co-author of a bilingual childrens book in English and isiZulu, titled Her Story: Daughters of Modjadji, focusing on 30 remarkable South African women, including Wits Chancellor Dr Judy Dlamini, centred on affirmation, identity, gender and mental health. Matthews is also a 2014 Mail & Guardians Top 200 Young South Africans. Wits Communications had a chat with Matthews. Can you tell us about your early years, where you grew up and how your upbringing shaped your worldview? I was born in Cape Town to parents and close family members who were actively involved in the establishment of South Africas broad mass democratic movement. My paternal grandfather, James Matthews, co-authored the first anthology of poetry to be banned by the apartheid state. In 2004, he was awarded the prestigious Presidential Order of Ikhamanga for his contribution to journalism and literature. My maternal uncle, Dr Aadil Moerat, was one of the first UCT medical students detained in the 1980s for his anti-apartheid activism. These early childhood experiences significantly shaped my worldview toward justice and freedom. Were there any defining moments in your life that influenced your decision to pursue the work you do? As a child, my parents, grandparents, family members and our broader community strongly encouraged critical debate. They believed that children were independent thinkers, emboldened with human rights and dignity, and that their opinion of the world mattered. My parents also ensured that I participated in activities hosted by the childrens rights group, Molo Songololo, and shortly after South Africa transitioned to democracy, I formed part of a group of children from all backgrounds that produced a cassette tape Rap against Racism. My vivid recollection of the euphoria surrounding South Africas first democratic elections and successful negotiation of a revered Constitution, inspired me to pursue a career as an attorney, practitioner and academic in the field of human rights and social justice. Who were your biggest inspirations or mentors, and how did they impact your path? Our law and human right landscape is legendary. Over the course of my career and as a law student, I have had the immense privilege of engaging with luminaries of the Constitutional Court, including Justices Yvonne Mokgoro, Kate ORegan, Albie Sachs and Dikgang Moseneke, whose personal journeys have been deeply inspiring. As a legal academic, I have been inspired by the work of many former and current Witsies, including Dr Jackie Dugard, Prof. Cathi Albertyn, Prof. Shireen Hassim, Prof. Boni Meyersfeld, Prof. Tshepo Madlingozi and Prof. Christopher Gevers, and Prof. Penny Andrews who was the former Dean of UCTs Law School. They have all been incredible mentors who have played a significant role in shaping my understanding of the law and the South African Constitution as a powerful tool in the pursuit of progressive social change for those who remain on the margins of our society. Drawing on their knowledge, I have had the opportunity to present my own work on human rights, constitutionalism and democracy at various international conferences in Senegal, China, Canada, the United States, Portugal, The Netherlands, Denmark, Norway and South Africa. What motivated you to work on the compendium and what is unique about it? Spending five days with esteemed Justice Albie Sachs at his home engaged in critical dialogue on the origins of the South African Constitution and core judgements that have laid the foundation of our democratic dispensation has been an immense privilege - a standout highlight of my career. The compendium of 65 judgments emanating from the first Bench of our apex Constitutional Court is unique in that it brings together the various elements that make up the totality of Justice Sachs as a person beyond his love of the law and justice, but also his love of life, literature and art, and the cultural diversity that is so unique to our country. He speaks to the context that shaped judicial outcomes and provides an inside account of how these decisions were deliberated between the first Justices who came from diverse legal, ideological and cultural backgrounds; yet were able to find consensus amongst each other on highly contentious issues that tested our nascent democracy at the time. He reminds us of the special quality we have as South Africans to engage in rigorous dialogue and our deep belief that we can overcome the barriers that limit us in experiencing the fullness of our humanity. Our intergenerational conversations will appeal to lawyers and non-lawyers, academics and practitioners, teachers and students, and everyone who is interested in understanding the miracle that birthed our constitutional democracy. April marks Freedom Month in SA, what does freedom mean to you personally? I remain deeply inspired by the vision embodied in the South African Constitution to advance a society imbued with the values of dignity, equality and social justice for everyone, everywhere. As a woman, I am eternally grateful for the sacrifices that were made by the generations of women who laid the foundation for me to live my life freely and on my own terms, which I sometimes take for granted. I form part of the first generation of women that can independently own property, apply for a bank loan, claim my reproductive rights, drive a car, and aspire to positions of leadership in business and politics. My life is vastly different to that of my mother and grandmother, and for their generations commitment to my freedom, I am eternally grateful. What message would you like to pass on to young South Africans about freedom and opportunity? We live in a world where our democratic freedoms are under constant attack. Although South Africa remains one of the most unequal countries in the world, situated on the worlds most youthful continent, where young people continue to confront numerous barriers to employment, relentless cycles of poverty, climate injustice and extreme forms of violence, South Africas unequal reality is not unique. It is in these moments when we can turn to Judge Albies work to remind us of why we should remain committed to achieving the vision articulated in our democratic Constitution. As he reminds us, the first constitution in the world to expressly constitutionalise the right to a clean environment. It was the first constitution in the world to include sexual orientation in the list of forbidden grounds of unlawful discrimination. Disability, gender, sexual orientation, race, language, culture, birth, marital status all included. It included very strong rights against gender-based violence, not in a clause of rights for women, but under freedom in the Freedom Clause. It included rights to make decisions on reproduction as a right to freedom. A very progressive constitution in many different ways. We therefore have the power to ensure that we are able to live in a society where all of us can have access to equal opportunities to live our lives in dignity that we all deserve. What changes or developments do you hope to see in South Africas academic and social landscape in the next decade? I would ultimately like to live in a society free of violence, poverty and extreme inequality; where we can all be authentically ourselves in pursuit of our dreams. We have much to learn through intergenerational and intercultural knowledge production, and which can ultimately transform our social landscape. South Africa hosting this years G20 presents a unique opportunity to foster the development of strong institutions of democratic governance, inclusive participation, and south-south collaboration to combat the disproportionate impact that globalised political and economic inequalities, regional conflict and climate change have on the southern states ability to deliver essential services to their majority vulnerable populations. I think that academia plays a crucial role in facilitating that vision. On a personal level, how do you manage your professional and personal demands? I am blessed to be surrounded by incredible family and friends that have encouraged me to chase my dreams, and to also take breaks to take care of my mental health when life becomes a bit overwhelming. That being said, I am immensely grateful for the privileges I have been afforded that has allowed me to experience my career with many colourful contours. Licences wont fix dirty water South Africas government has a new plan to license water providers and revoke the licences if they dont deliver clean, drinkable water. In many cities and towns across South Africa, water shortages and supply disruptions have become more frequent. Most recent figures show that 33% of all urban water users and 65% of rural users face regular water cut-offs. Nearly half of urban residents now boil or treat their water before drinking it. South Africas water law says everyone has the right to access sufficient water. But 12% of rural people have no access to improved water sources. The most recent Blue Drop report into the state of South Africas water supply systems revealed that 46% were unable to guarantee that their water was safe to drink. The people relying on these systems were exposed to the risk of waterborne diseases such as cholera, diarrhoea and dysentery. The Green Drop report, which evaluates the state of South Africas wastewater treatment works, showed that many of these plants were in a critical condition. Nearly two-thirds were at risk of spewing sewage back into the environment and into the rivers that supply people with water. The No Drop report assesses the state of water that local government cant charge for. It found that on average, 47% of all clean water was lost through leaking pipes, faulty metering, weak billing and illegal connections. To solve these problems, the government wants to amend the Water Services Act. Water services providers the legal entities responsible for treating and distributing water, managing the staff and equipment of water systems, and collecting payment for water will need to apply for licences from the national Department of Water and Sanitation. The national government will be able to revoke these if the providers dont deliver clean, drinkable water. Municipalities can already choose to appoint external water services providers, but currently most undertake this function themselves. At present, the process of a higher level of government taking over a dysfunctional local provider is long and complicated. Under the new law, the national government will be able to revoke a water services licence, forcing the municipality to appoint another provider, which could include private companies or non-profit organisations. This will give national government more power to make sure that water services providers are delivering water thats safe enough to drink. However, the intervention will not be a quick fix. I am the principal investigator for the South African Water Justice Tracker, a three-year project co-hosted by the University of the Witwatersrand and the South African Human Rights Commission. This project aims to find out what prevents local government from providing people with a clean and sustainable supply of water. We studied documents related to water delivery from all 144 water services authorities mostly municipalities. We also engaged with officials from municipal water services authorities across seven provinces. Our work so far has shown that local government needs reforms to secure a sustainable revenue base, fix broken and leaking water systems, improve water services planning, and address the misuse and sabotage of water infrastructure. Without these reforms, the proposed changes to the water law wont solve South Africas water services problems. What the amendments to the law will change All water providers will need a licence to operate. To be granted this licence, theyll need to show that they have the technical competency to provide water to large numbers of people. Theyll also need to prove that they have financial management capacity to run a water operation, and that they have skilled staff and proper management in place. The South African National Standard for Drinking Water (SANS 241) sets limits on the levels of microbiological and chemical contamination allowed before water becomes unsafe to drink. Water services providers will have to meet these standards at all times. If they dont, the Department of Water and Sanitation may revoke their licence. There are three ways in which licensing water providers could improve the current system: It would force water services providers to be accountable and transparent about the financing of water services. Very few are doing this currently notwithstanding a clear duty in the Water Services Act. It could improve the quality of water. If a water service authority does not deliver clean drinking water, they will be given a chance to improve. If the provider fails persistently, their licence will be revoked. Licences will also be reviewed regularly to ensure progressive improvement in the service. Water services licensing would open the door to water services concessions. Private companies, non-governmental organisations and community-based organisations would be allowed to invest in water systems, maintain and operate water infrastructure and trade in water services. However, this might also lead to increased water tariffs. What needs to happen next However, amendments to the law wont solve South Africas water services problems. First, many municipalities do not have enough money coming in regularly to cover the costs of delivering water. This is because consumers are unable or unwilling to pay for water. Second, indigent (impoverished) people are entitled to a free basic water supply but the criteria to decide who is indigent differ from municipality to municipality. This needs to be standardised so that the constitutional right to water is realised across South Africa. Third, because water systems have not been well maintained, heavy users are reluctant to pay tariffs that are high enough to subsidise water costs for those who cannot pay. Fourth, South Africas aging water systems have caused people and companies to look for alternative water solutions for example, drilling their own boreholes. This further reduces the amount of income from water to municipalities. Fifth, formal water services planning cannot keep up with rapid informal urban densification and the mushrooming of informal settlements. Sixth, various coordination problems need to be resolved between water services providers, the Department of Water and Sanitation (which supplies bulk infrastructure like pipelines), the Department of Human Settlements (which builds houses that need water) and the power utility Eskom (which connects water infrastructure to electricity). Seventh, the theft, vandalism and sabotage of water infrastructure needs to be addressed, especially in remote rural areas. Finally, municipalities need to repair water leaks on pipelines, and people need to fix their own leaking toilets so that clean, drinkable water is not wasted. Water services will only improve if a more systematic set of government reforms takes place. Tracy-Lynn Field, Professor of Environmental and Sustainability Law, University of the Witwatersrand. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 31. On 31 March 2025, Ralf Horlemann, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Federal Republic of Germany to the Republic of Azerbaijan, was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Trend reports. During the meeting, a strong protest was expressed against the post made in the official Instagram channel of German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier within his visit to Armenia, in violation of Azerbaijans territorial integrity and sovereignty sharing so-called "flag" of puppet regime previously established in Azerbaijans formerly occupied territories. It was emphasized that this open political provocation made during the regional visit is unacceptable, and the German side was urged to issue a public apology for this post. It was also highlighted that the German Presidents post contradicts statement on support for Azerbaijans territorial integrity and sovereignty, and undermines the ongoing peace process. Additionally, it was noted that while the post referenced the Armenian residents of the Garabagh region, disregard of the rights of over one million Azerbaijanis who were forcibly displaced from Azerbaijans formerly occupied territories and Armenia is yet another indication of bias against Azerbaijan. It was brought to the attention that the conflict, which lasted nearly 30 years, has been resolved through military and political means, restoring both the countrys territorial integrity and historical justice. It was also stressed that there is no administrative unit called Nagorno-Garabagh in Azerbaijan, and all references to the region should avoid politically motivated or false terminology. Photo: Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Azerbaijan BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 31. At around 21:25 on March 30, the Armenian armed forces attempted another reconnaissance flight over Azerbaijani Army positions near the village of Gerenzur, using drones and UAVs, Trend reports. "Thanks to the vigilance of the Azerbaijani Army units, an Armenian provocation was thwarted. Moreover, between 22:30 on March 30 and 04:35 on March 31, Armenian forces repeatedly fired small arms at Azerbaijani Army positions from the Gorus, Basarkechar, and Chambarak regions," the Ministry of Defense said. Click the photo and watch the video. * A white paper, titled "Human Rights in Xizang in the New Era," was released by the State Council Information Office at a press conference held in Lhasa, capital city of the region. * The white paper expounded in details on remarkable human rights progress in Xizang in various fields. Xizang enjoys political stability, ethnic unity, economic development, social harmony, and amity among different religions, the document said. LHASA, March 28 (Xinhua) All-round and historic progress has been made in the human rights cause in China's Xizang Autonomous Region, according to a white paper released on Friday. The document, titled "Human Rights in Xizang in the New Era," was released by the State Council Information Office at a press conference held in Lhasa, capital city of the region. The Communist Party of China (CPC) and the Chinese government have implemented effective measures to develop the economy, improve living standards and people's well-being, promote ethnic unity and progress, and protect the basic rights of all the people in the region, it said. Students have lunch at the Central Primary School in Nyangpo Township of Gongbo'Gyamda County, Nyingchi City, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Sept. 3, 2024. [Xinhua/Jigme Dorje] The year 2025 marks the 60th founding anniversary of Xizang Autonomous Region. Reflecting on the development of human rights in the region over the past six decades, especially since the 18th CPC National Congress in 2012, Gama Cedain, chairman of the regional government, said on Friday that the Party's leadership has provided a fundamental guarantee for lasting stability and high-quality development in the region. He noted at the press conference that people of all ethnic groups in Xizang have made historic achievements in their rights to subsistence and development. The white paper expounded in details on remarkable human rights progress in Xizang in fields such as whole-process people's democracy, the protection of economic and social rights, cultural rights and environmental rights, effective safeguards for the freedom of religious belief, equal protection of the rights of specific groups, and steady improvement in the legal protection of human rights. The document showed that by the end of 2019, all 628,000 registered impoverished people in the region had been lifted out of poverty, and in 2024, the per capita net income of those lifted out of poverty in Xizang increased by over 12.5 percent. The region's road length had nearly doubled in 12 years and every town or township is covered by the 5G wireless network, with 2.14 million 5G mobile phone users, or 60.5 percent of the total in the region. The average life expectancy in Xizang rose from 68.17 years in 2010 to 72.19 years in 2020, according to the document. An aerial drone photo taken on Dec. 8, 2024 shows the Qinghai-Xizang Expressway (R), Beijing-Xizang Expressway (C) and Qinghai-Xizang Railway in Damxung County of Lhasa, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region. [Xinhua/Jiang Fan] Respecting and protecting human rights has been made an important part of the Party Central Committee's guidelines for the governance of the region, it said. The CPC has maintained a people-centered approach to human rights and a commitment to ensuring human rights through development, and has vigorously promoted whole-process people's democracy, it said. The Party has strengthened legal protection of human rights, and coordinated efforts to increase people's civil and political rights as well as economic, social and cultural rights, to achieve well-rounded development and common prosperity for all people from all ethnic groups, according to the white paper. Today, Xizang enjoys political stability, ethnic unity, economic development, social harmony, and amity among different religions, the document said. Its environment is sound, and local people are content with their work and daily lives. This progress represents a remarkable achievement in protecting human rights on the snowy plateau, it said. Villagers pick tea leaves in a valley in Cona of Shannan City, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, July 28, 2023. [Xinhua/Tenzing Nima Qadhup] The white paper pointed out that over the years, lies about the "worsening human rights situation" in Xizang were spread outside China with ulterior political motives and the goal to destabilize Xizang and separate it from China. The human rights progress in Xizang will not be undermined or wiped out by lies, nor will the advancements being made in the new era by the people of all ethnic groups in the region be halted by deceit, it said. (Source: Xinhua) Editor: Wang Shasha On November 29, 2024, a young Chinese woman, Yu Tianyu, had one of the most shining moments of her life during her graduation ceremony, at the University of Edinburgh, in Scotland, the United Kingdom. Yu, of the ethnic Miao people, attended her graduation ceremony in a full, gorgeous traditional ethnic Miao costume. As she walked across the stage to formally receive her diploma, she quickly performed a few simple moves in front of the dean, and she invited him to perform a very short portion of a traditional Miao dance. The moment was recorded by Yu's friend. Yu later posted the video on the Internet, and she soon received numerous "thumbs-up" from netizens. Yu's hometown is in Leishan, a county in Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, in southwest China's Guizhou Province. After she received her bachelor's degree, from Xiamen University Tan Kah Kee College, in 2023, Yu headed to Edinburgh to begin her master's program, majoring in film directing. The Miao costume she wore during her graduation was handmade by her mother, grandmother and aunts. During a recent interview with Women of China, Yu explained, "Generally speaking, every Miao girl will have a traditional ethnic costume, handmade by her family members from the time she was born. The long skirt I was wearing during the graduation ceremony was made by my Grandma. The clothing demonstrated our ethnic identity, our folk culture and aesthetics." She also introduced traditional Miao embroideries. "The patterns, such as flowers, birds, animals, totems and symbols with auspicious meanings, express Miao people's sincere wishes for happiness, longevity, prosperity and a beautiful life. Each item of clothing, and every single silver ornament, bears the best wishes from our families." Yu was very happy as she walked across the graduation stage, because she was helping show the unique charm of ethnic Miao culture to the world. During the interview, Yu said she was particularly impressed by an Iranian schoolmate, who became excited when she touched Yu's clothes and silver ornaments. "I truly felt foreigners were showing their respect for, and curiosity about, the culture of the Miao people," Yu says. As a postgraduate who majored in film directing, Yu paid special attention to stories about women. Her final project was a film that depicted her grandmother making the bottom drawer (or dress for marriage). "My film presents how Grandma has devoted herself to demonstrating Miao embroidering skills, and to completing other family chores. I hope to remind people of the respect and proper understanding they have for our traditional culture. Also, I hope they will cherish more the time they spend with their families," Yu says. After the video of her Miao dance, during the graduation ceremony, became popular online, Yu started to realize "cultural inheritance is not only about telling history well, it also requires one to explore innovative methods that connect history with the current living circumstance." Yu says she will utilize multiple channels including films, short videos, and social-media platforms to generate interest among more people, so they will learn more about ethnic Miao culture. Photos from Interviewee (Women of China English Monthly January 2025) Editor: Wang Shasha BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 31. Commemorative events on 31 Marchthe Day of the Genocide of Azerbaijaniswere held in the Azerbaijan Army under the instruction of the Azerbaijan Defense Minister, Colonel General Zakir Hasanov, Trend reports via the Ministry of Defense. At the commemorative ceremonies, the memory of the National Leader Heydar Aliyev and martyrs, who sacrificed their lives for the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, as well as the victims of the 31 March Genocide, was honored with observing a minute of silence. The national anthem of the Republic of Azerbaijan was performed. It was noted that in 1918, between March 30 and April 3, Azerbaijanis were brutally killed by the Baku Soviet and Dashnak Armenian armed detachments in Baku city and various regions of Baku governorate, as well as in Shamakhi, Guba, Khachmaz, Lankaran, Hajigabul, Salyan, Zangazur, Karabakh, Nakhchivan, and other territories. It was emphasized that by the Decree of the Great Leader Heydar Aliyev dated March 26, 1998, every year March 31 is marked as the Day of Genocide of Azerbaijanis at the state level. The speakers noted the importance of purposeful measures taken by the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Ilham Aliyev, as well as the Heydar Aliyev Foundation in order to deliver to the world community the horrors of the genocide committed by Armenians against the Azerbaijani civilians. At commemorative events, literary and artistic compositions by the Army Ideological and Cultural Center named after Hazi Aslanov were presented, photo exhibitions and documentaries were shown, and lectures on the topic were read in sociopolitical classes. The servicemen visited the monuments of the victims of the genocide and graves of the martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the territorial integrity of the Motherland," the ministry added. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Bodies of three out of four US soldiers whose vehicle was submerged in Lithuania are recovered Marine Le Pen was accused of using European Parliament money to pay staff who were working for her political party in France. ASTANA, Kazakhstan, March 31. Slovenian President Natasa Pirc Musar has arrived in Kazakhstans Astana for an official visit, Trend reports. Meetings are scheduled with the President of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov, and the Chairman of the Senate, Maulen Ashimbayev. Strategic prioritization will be directed towards the optimization of business partnerships. A Kazakh-Slovenian business symposium will be convened in conjunction with the visit. Historically, the Slovenian presidential delegation has engaged in diplomatic missions to Kazakhstan on three distinct occasions: the inaugural visit occurred in 2002, followed by subsequent engagements in 2009 and 2010. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel This is the 10th in a series of articles on the recent Berlin International Film Festival. Part 1 was posted February 20, Part 2 on February 27, Part 3 on March 2, Part 4 on March 6, Part 5 on March 9, Part 6 on March 10, Part 7 on March 16, Part 8 on March 21 and Part 9 on March 25. Some of the more than 230 films shown at the recent Berlin international film festival are true discoveries, but receive little attention from the mainstream media and fail to find their way into cinemas or streaming services due to a lack of financing and marketing opportunities. The Settlement (Berlinale) One such film is the Egyptian film The Settlement (Al mostamera) by Mohamed Rashad, which was shown in the new Berlinale section Perspectives and described as a workplace thriller. This is Rashads debut fiction feature. The films protagonists are factory workers at a metal processing company in the city of Alexandria, the directors birthplace. Rashad, who also wrote the screenplay, based the plot on a real incident. Non-professional actors and factory workers play parts. After the death of Hossams father as a result of what was presumably an accident at work, the factory management offers the physically disabled mother, who is unable to work, a deal: they will employ her sons to ensure the familys upkeep. In return, no investigation into the cause of the accident will be initiated. Hossam (Adham Shoukry), 23, is unemployed and has a criminal record for drug-related offences. The other brother, Maro (Ziad Islam), is just 12. He doesnt want to let go of his brother and goes with him, despite Hossams loud protests, to the factory where he carries out child labor, sorting out sheet metal parts and running errands. The scene of the action is a real factory floor. The camera rides along in a bus full of workers that jolts across a dusty terrain in the morning. We see faces, lined from hard work, packed close together. They react with surprise and also offer to help when Hossam, along with his little brother, gets on the bus and looks for a seat. Inside the factory, they are greeted by dirty air, loud machines and flying sparks, with individual workers going about their work without protective clothing or safety helmets. The break room is also cramped, and workers exchange crude jokes and stories while they eat. One worker entertains the others by joking about the dead father of the two boys, an orthodox Muslim who insisted on doing the will of Allah at work. He repeats a rumor spread by the head of security that the father had a fight with an older mechanic named Mostafa before his death. It was an accident, Mostafa (Mohamed Abdel Hady) insists indignantly, supported by his colleagues. The two newcomers are eyed suspiciously. Are they being hired to make the workers feel partly responsible? During Hossams job interview, the management assigns Mostafa, of all people, to train the young worker. Hossam prepares himself for the job, breaking off contact with the drug dealers and doing his best to protect his little brother. Hossam begins to re-establish a loving relationship with his sick mother, who has suffered so much at his hands in the past few years, rubbing healing ointment onto her swollen leg. He develops a relationship with a young female worker via his cell phone, and even manages to meet her during a break. A few words are enough to establish a connection with Hossam: Ive been working here since middle school, she replies when he asks her how she came to be there. My mother died in this factory when I was two years old. The catastrophic safety situation in the factory quickly becomes apparent, and the worker who was allegedly complicit in her fathers death turns out to be a particularly thoughtful and helpful colleague to the two boys. The drama, however, takes its course. One day, the plant manager calls Hossam to his office and demands he get him drugs. When Hossam initially refuses, the manager threatens to sack him. Reluctantly Hossam reestablishes his old drug contacts. On the drive to the drug handover, the manager nonchalantly admits that his fathers death was probably an accident. But there are problems like that in every factory here, he adds, as if it were hardly worth mentioning. Adham Shoukry in The Settlement (Berlinale) Shortly thereafter, the boss wants another large delivery of drugs. At the handover in a remote, gloomy square, Hossams former drug buddy warns him: this large quantity in such a short time can only mean that the plant manager is buying the drugs from them cheaply and selling them on at an exorbitant price on the internet. The actual and biggest drug criminal turns out to be the boss! The camera shifts to the glass-walled office in the middle of the factory building. We see the managing director and the head of security surfing online, slapping their thighs and bursting into laughter. Another kind of encounter takes place outside the hall. Maro yells at his older brother: Why dont you get the security chief and well mess him up! And further: Youre a coward. You never used to do anything for us, and now you play poodle for the people at the top. Hossam winces, and wants to beat his brother up, but stops himself. You wont fight back, his brother adds angrily. Shortly afterwards, there is another accidentthe head of security is found lying dead on the ground in front of the office, a block of metal near his head and Hossam is seen running away. Mostafa, along with other colleagues, is supposed to catch him, but returns without success and reports where he lost him. A slight smile crosses his face. Hossams mother is waiting at home, but only Maro arrives. Where is your brother? Maro doesnt answer, goes into the bedroom, searches behind Hossams clothes in the closet and pulls out his switchblade. Finally, he lies on the bed, looking at the ceiling with a stony expression, clutching the knife. One senses that a plan for a coming fight is maturing. The Settlement is a gripping film, without nostalgic working class romanticism or proletarian hero pathos, and also without the moralistically tinged tone of petty-bourgeois intellectuals, which some other socially critical films adopt. Rashads sober, realistic portrait of a modern industrial plant is characterized by respect for the working class and recognises something new: an increasing determination, especially among younger workers to strike back against the criminality of the ruling class. It recalls the revolutionary struggles in Egypt in 2011 that brought down the long-term dictator Hosni Mubarak in which industrial workers, including those from Alexandria, played a decisive role. To be continued Albertas far-right United Conservative Party (UCP) premier has issued an ultimatum to the federal government that will take office after Canadas April 28 national election. Canada will face an unprecedented national unity crisis, warns Danielle Smith, unless the demands of Albertas energy barons for full-throttle development of the provinces abundant oil and natural gas resources are implemented within its first six months. Smith, whose government recently adopted an Alberta sovereignty law that flouts the existing federal-provincial constitutional order, has demonstratively rebelled against the federal Liberal government-led Team Canada response to US President Donald Trumps barrage of tariff actions and annexation threats. Ontario Premier Doug Ford, Quebecs nationalist-autonomist CAQ, the other provincial and territorial governments, the trade unions, the social-democratic NDP, and most of corporate Canada have joined Ottawa in urging all Canadiansirrespective of class divisions and political differencesto unite to defend Canada. But Smith and her UCP government are manifestly trying to strike their own deal with Trump. Smith has repeatedly visited Washington and Trumps Mar a Lago estate to lobby for Canadas oil and natural gas exports to be exempted from US tariffs. This has included efforts to leverage the many affinities and interconnections between Alberta and Canadas far right and Trumps fascistic MAGA (Make America Great Again) movement. She has spelled out that her government is eager to integrate Albertas economy even more fully into a US-led Fortress North America, and to do so in support of Trumps drive to establish American imperialist global hegemony through trade war and military aggression. Canada, or to be more specific, Alberta, is currently far and away the most important source of US oil imports, accounting for more than 20 percent of all oil consumed in the US. In a backhanded admission of the importance of Canadian energy exports for the US economy, Trump limited the import charge on Canadian oil, natural gas, uranium and electricity to 10 percent, when he imposed 25 percent tariffs on all goods from Mexico and Canada. Trump has subsequently twice paused the blanket tariffs on Americas ostensible free trade or US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) partners. However, both countries are targeted by other Trump trade actions against auto, steel and aluminum imports, threatening to destroy integrated production chains developed over decades, and by the reciprocal tariffs that he is set to impose on all countries this Wednesday. The fascist US president has also continued to advocate for Canadas transformation into the 51st state, alongside his threats to militarily seize the Panama Canal and Greenland. Putting Alberta at the service of Trumps predatory Energy Domination strategy Smith, beginning with her December visit to Mar a Lago, has forthrightly outlined a plan to put Albertas massive oil and natural gas reserves at the service of Trump and his avowed goal of achieving global energy domination. For Trump, ratcheting up US oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports, expanding its presence in the oil-rich Arctic and achieving its unbridled domination in the Middle East are all elements in a strategy aimed at enriching Wall Street and grasping China and Washingtons other great-power rivals by the throat. Smith, for her part, is pressing for Trumps support for massively increasing Albertas energy production and its exports to the US. This, she argues, would allow American oil and LNG producers to concentrate on conquering foreign markets. Her ultra-reactionary scheme is predicated on the fact that much of the pipeline and refinery infrastructure needed to implement it already exists, is on the drawing boards or, like the Keystone Pipeline project, partially completed. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and Donald Trump [Photo: Danielle Smith/X] Since its formation in 2017, the UCP has advocated a reactionary Alberta First agenda. In 2022, Smith seized the Alberta premiership and UCP leadership from Jason Kenney, himself a one-time Stephen Harper attack-dog and notorious right-winger, by mobilizing far-right forces, including anti-vaxxers, climate-change deniers, social conservatives and Alberta and western separatists. Predictably, under her leadership the UCP has become an ever more explicit far-right formation that combines the promotion of reaction with the ruthless enforcement of the interests of big business, above all the oil and gas industry. The Smith/UCP ultimatum and the spectre it invokes of a national unity crisis are an implicit threat that if the Alberta governments demands are not met it could secede from Canada and appeal for Trumps supportwhether to become an independent state as Texas was between 1836 and 1845 or join the United States. With just under 5 million people, Alberta accounts for about 12 percent of Canadas population, but more than a quarter of its exports to the US. Smith issued her ultimatum in the form of a statement posted on social media shortly after she had her first meeting with Mark Carney since he became Liberal Party leader and Canadas prime minister. While the UCP-led government railed against Justin Trudeau, Carney is viewed as essentially no better because of his long association, while a central banker and then a senior corporate executive, with efforts to make Canada a leader in green capitalism and his support for a carbon emission cap on Canadas oil and gas sector. Carney has also angered Smith by refusing to pledge that as part of its retaliatory measures against Trumps tariffs, Ottawa will never impose an export tax on Alberta oil and gas. Smiths Alberta First ultimatum The demands in Smiths ultimatum largely reproduce those in a March 18 Open Letter to the Leaders of Canadas Political Parties signed by the CEOs of 14 major energy companies, including Imperial Oil, Suncor, Enbridge, Canadian Natural Resources and Cenovus Energy. At his request, wrote Smith in her statement, I met with Prime Minister Mark Carney today. We had a very frank discussion in which I made it clear that Albertans will no longer tolerate the way weve been treated by the federal Liberals over the past 10 years. I provided a specific list of demands the next Prime Minister, regardless of who that is, must address within the first six months of their term to avoid an unprecedented national unity crisis. The statement went on to list nine specific demands that would gut any and all climate-change measures and facilitate the rapid expansion of oil and gas production. These include: ensuring Alberta can build pipelines to all three coasts in the face of popular opposition; the evisceration of environmental impact regulations governing energy projects; the lifting of the ban on tanker traffic on parts of the West Coast; the elimination of the planned sectoral cap on oil and natural gas industry emissions; and the rescinding of the federal government order that starting in 2035 all new cars must have net-zero carbon emissions. Smith also took aim at Canadas constitutionally-enshrined equalization system under which Ottawa provides additional transfers to the poorer provinces to ensure that Canadians, wherever they live, have access to equitable levels of public services and social-welfare supports. Our province, the Alberta Premier declared, is no longer agreeable to subsidizing other large provinces who are fully capable of funding themselves. For decades, all levels of governments and all the establishment parties, including the trade union-sponsored NDP, have been slashing social spending so as to funnel ever greater sums into the military and tax cuts and bailouts for big business and the rich. Nevertheless, Albertas capitalist elite, with the support of the most rapacious factions of the ruling class across Canada, have long pushed for the scrapping of equalization, as part of their class war assault on all social rights and privatization drive. Undoubtedly, a factor in Smiths decision to issue her ultimatum was the sudden reversal in the political fortunes of Pierre Poilievre and his Conservative Party. For well over a year, opinion polls had shown the Conservatives poised to sweep to victory in the coming federal election. But Trumps tariffs and annexation threats have changed the dynamic of the electoral contest, enabling the Liberals under their newly-minted leader to turn attention away from their right-wing record, while Poilievre has been damaged by his advocacy of Trump-style policies and Trumpian-type anti-globalist, anti-woke, Canada First appeals. Carney has ignored Smiths provocative ultimatum, while Poilievre has called her demands reasonable. Also voicing support for Smith is the far-right premier of Saskatchewan, Scott Moe, who in 2023 authored a provincial law akin to Albertas sovereignty lawthe Saskatchewan First Act. Like neighbouring Alberta, Saskatchewans economy is highly dependent on the export of energy and other resource products to the US. Smith has followed up her ultimatum with a vow that she will strike a second Alberta Fair Deal Panel to listen to what Albertans want to do if the next government fails to heed her demands. Her predecessor, Kenney, struck an Alberta Fair Deal Panel shortly after the UCP came to power in 2019, with the double aim of pressing for greater autonomy for Alberta and a greater say for the province in determining national policy. It produced a long list of proposals, some of which the UCP has moved to implement, including holding a referendum to demand the gutting of equalization and exploring withdrawing Albertans from the Canada Pension Plan. To defeat Trump and the UCP, workers must oppose Team Canada and all ruling class factions Right-wing Alberta governments have long stoked reactionary regionalist sentimentdeploying Alberta First, anti-Quebec, anti-eastern, and anti-Ottawa rhetoric to deflect popular anger over economic distress and rally the populace behind the predatory demands of the Alberta-based energy barons. Smiths ultimatum, however, is something new. She is clearly seeking to establish a partnership with Trump, independent of Ottawa, and to use his annexation threats to gain leverage over the Alberta capitalist elites rivals within the imperialist Canadian federal state. How this will develop in the coming months and years cannot be said with any certainty. However, it is clear that under conditions of a total breakdown of the post-war framework based on a close Canada-US partnership that allowed North Americas twin imperialist powers to ruthlessly pursue their global interestsfueled by a systemic crisis of world capitalismfactions of the Canadian ruling elite are ever more aggressively stoking regionalism and even outright separatism to defend their access to global markets and profits. To the extent that an incoming federal government feels compelled to make concessions to Smith and her UCP, this will only embolden other factions of the Canadian ruling class to press their own demands, such as in Quebec, where the separatist Bloc Quebecois election campaign calls for decisions about Quebec to be made exclusively by Quebecers. All of these factions are bitterly hostile to the working class. If workers are to defeat Trump, his would-be minion Smith and everything they representoligarchy, reaction, authoritarian rule and imperialist warthey must assert their independent class interests in opposition to the union-NDP supported, Carney-Doug Ford led Team Canada and all the rival regionally based factions of the ruling class. Canadas capitalist elite opposes Trump only in so far as he threatens their profits and privileges. They are eager to strike a deal with the fascist would-be dictator, if only he would give them a duly recognized place as an imperialist junior partner in a US-led Fortress North America. Following his discussion with Trump last Fridayhis first since becoming prime ministerCarney proudly announced they had agreed that as soon as the elections are concluded, Ottawa and Washington will initiate comprehensive negotiations on a new economic and security partnership between the US and Canada. Should those negotiations end in any agreement, it will be at the expense of the working class in North America and around the world, through a strengthened Canada-US military-strategic alliance, massive military spending increases and the evisceration of what remains of public services and regulatory restraints on capital on both sides of the border. Should they fail and Trump escalate his trade actions and threats against Canada, the ruling class will demand huge sacrifices to save Canadas economy and sovereigntythat is, Trump-style corporate tax cuts, privatization, deregulation and the funneling of societys resources into rearmament. In either event, the union bureaucrats and NDP politicians will be at their side, waving Canadian flags and in Quebec the Fleurdelise and suppressing the class struggle and enforcing the dictates of big business as they have for the past four decades. The only progressive answer to the crisis in Canada-US relations, which is part of a new imperialist drive to repartition the world through trade conflicts and world war, is the development of a working class industrial and political counteroffensive. It would unite workers in Canada with their class brothers and sisters in the US and Mexico in a common struggle to defend the jobs and social rights of all workers, oppose imperialist war and fight for workers power. Tents housing homeless line a street in downtown Los Angeles. [AP Photo/Richard Vogel] In a unanimous vote last Tuesday, the Los Angeles City Council has taken a decisive step toward dismantling the LA Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) and shifting control of hundreds of millions of dollars in funding to private homeless service providers. The councils decision follows two scathing audits that exposed failures in LAHSAs financial oversight, but the true significance of this move extends far beyond the agencys mismanagement. At its core, this is not about fixing homelessness; it is about turning the crisis into a lucrative business opportunity for the private sector. Councilmember Monica Rodriguez, who spearheaded the effort, branded LAHSA a monstrosity, citing delayed provider payments and failures to track spending. Yet, rather than addressing the deeper systemic failures of the citys (and, in fact, the states) approach to homelessness, the council is using LAHSAs dysfunction as a pretext to accelerate the privatization of services. This is not a genuine effort to improve conditions for the nearly 50,000 unhoused individuals in Los Angeles, it is a deliberate strategy to carve up public funding and distribute it among politically connected private contractors. Meanwhile, Los Angeles County supervisors are set to vote on April 1 on whether to overhaul homeless spending by redirecting the vast majority of county funding from LAHSA. If they approve the proposal, the county would take direct control of overseeing more than $300 million it sends to the agency each year. The rhetoric against funding the failure obscures the real issue: the failure of Los Angeles officials themselves. LAHSA was set up to manage a problem that cannot be solved by tinkering at the edges. Homelessness is a product of poverty, skyrocketing housing costs, wage stagnation, and social neglect. In a word, it is a direct consequence of the failure of capitalism. Cutting funding to LAHSA does not address these root causes; instead, it ensures that corporate profiteers, not the public sector, will control the flow of resources. In fact, this measure by the city council mirrors current attempts by the Trump administration to privatize the US Postal Service and dismantle social programs like Medicare under the pretense that they are mismanaged and waste taxpayer dollars. Just as Trump seeks to destroy essential services for corporate gain, the LA City Council is using the failures of LAHSA as an excuse to create a privatized, profit-driven homelessness industry. The councils decision comes amid mounting scrutiny from US District Court Judge David O. Carter, who lambasted city officials for their inability to track the billions spent on homelessness programs. During a recent hearing, Carter threatened to appoint a court-ordered receiver to oversee the citys homeless spending, citing years of financial mismanagement. Judge Carters findings allege the same recurring issue: the money earmarked for homelessness is being mishandled. But rather than advocating for transparency, the councils vote signals an intent to redirect these funds to private contractors who will be even less accountable to the public. If as claimed, LAHSA was opaque, private firms will be completely impenetrable, hiding their financial dealings behind corporate secrecy laws. Homelessness programs like Mayor Karen Basss Inside Safe initiative, supported by city council members who belong to the Democratic Socialists of America, funnel hundreds of millions of dollars to private contractors and non-profits, which gain handsomely from the crisis without delivering substantive results. Companies involved in encampment sweeps, temporary housing, and security services have already turned homelessness into a lucrative industry. A ProPublica investigation last year revealed that hotels receiving Inside Safe contracts, despite numerous health and safety violations, continue to secure funding, raising serious questions about oversight and accountability. The programs reliance on hotel and motel vouchers as temporary housing has left many homeless individuals shuffled from one unstable situation to another, while well-connected private interests pocket massive sums of public money. Rather than investing in public housing or structural solutions, Inside Safe has operated as a slush fund for politically connected service providers that benefit from a never-ending crisis. The programs failure is not accidental, it is the logical outcome of a system designed to serve corporate interests rather than the homeless population it claims to help. In this regard, Basss bureaucratic opposition to the councils privatization push is meaninglessshe has actively facilitated the same for-profit model under a different name. Privatization of homeless services has already demonstrated its catastrophic consequences in cities like New York. Investigative reports from the New York Times and New York Post exposed how James A. Brown III, a prominent shelter provider, amassed over $1 million annually by funneling public funds into his own security, catering, and management companies. His shelters, meanwhile, were hotbeds of neglect and abuse. Residents reported mold-infested food, rampant drug use, and physical violenceall while taxpayers unknowingly subsidized this fraudulent empire. Los Angeles is poised to follow the same disastrous trajectory. A ProPublica investigation has already documented the growing business of encampment sweeps in California, revealing that private firms have received at least $100 million to carry out these operations. Companies like Tucker Construction have profited immensely from forcibly removing homeless individuals, an effort that does nothing to address homelessness itself but serves to cycle people through a brutal and ineffective system of displacement. Once the floodgates of privatization open, homelessness becomes not a crisis to be solved but an industry to be maintained. The more people remain homeless, the more money flows into the pockets of shelter operators, security firms, and real estate developers poised to capitalize on the displacement of the citys most vulnerable. The complicity of the Los Angeles City Council in this decision is especially damning given that four of its members are affiliated with the DSA, thus giving lip service to socialism. Yet, instead of standing against privatization, these so-called progressives joined their colleagues in sanctioning the wholesale transfer of public services to private interests. The absence of even a symbolic dissenting vote speaks volumes about the opportunism of pseudo-left politics. Their silence on the privatization issue is a betrayal of the principles they claim to uphold. The vote exposes their true role within the political establishmentnot as adversaries of corporate exploitation, but as its enablers. If homelessness advocates and activists hoped that these officials would fight to preserve public services, they have been bitterly disappointed. The privatization of homelessness services in Los Angeles must be understood for what it is: a calculated effort to turn human suffering into a profit-making enterprise. The city councils unanimous decision is not about helping the homeless; it is about ensuring that public money lines the pockets of corporate entities that have no incentive to reduce homelessness. The ultimate goal should not be merely holding LAHSA accountable, but dismantling the conditions that create homelessness in the first placerampant inequality, unaffordable housing, and stagnant wages. Instead of funneling money into private coffers, Los Angeles should be expanding its investment in public housing, rent control, and social services that provide long-term stability for the unhoused. The fight against homelessness must be part of a broader struggle against the capitalist system that perpetuates it. Without this understanding, the crisis will not only persist but will continue to be exploited for profit, as Los Angeles becomes the next cautionary tale of a city that abandoned its most vulnerable for the benefit of corporate greed. The International Youth and Student for Social Equality (IYSSE) in Sri Lanka strongly condemns the ongoing political repression of Mahmoud Khalil and Momodou Taal in the United States by fascist President Donald Trump. We also oppose similar brutal actions at other US campuses. Mahmoud Khalil and Momodou Taal [Photo by AP/Ted Shaffrey, Supplied] Khalil and Taal have been targeted for their outspoken opposition to US foreign policy, especially Israels genocide of Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip. On March 8, Mahmoud Khalil was arrested by agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement, a division of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and, after being secretly transferred, is incarcerated in a private detention centre in Louisiana. Khalil, a Palestinian activist and graduate student at Columbia University, is a legal permanent resident of the United States and a Green Card holder. A prominent opponent of Israels military action in Gaza, he was a lead negotiator for students in the discussion with Columbia Universitys administration during the anti-genocide encampment movement. Khalils arrest is a clear attempt to suppress his activity, particularly his role in the Gaza Solidarity Encampment protest and during the occupation of Milstein Library in opposition to the expulsion of pro-Palestinian students. His persecution is a part of a broader strategy by the Trump administration to silence all opposition to its policies, particularly within academic institutions. Trump has openly boasted about his role in Khalils arrest, threatening further action against individuals he claims are involved in pro-terrorist, antisemitic, and anti-American activities. In line with the suppression of political dissent, the Trump administration has also targeted Taal, a British-Gambian PhD student in Africana Studies and graduate instructor at Cornell University, for his brave and determined opposition to Trumps fascistic repression of migrants. Taal has filed a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of recent executive orders by Trump to suppress pro-Palestinian speech. Almost immediately, Taal was issued with a formal demand to surrender himself to ICE and now potentially faces deportation. The IYSSE in Sri Lanka salutes the courageous initiative of Mahmoud Khalil and Momodou Taal to defend democratic rights. The Trump administrations targeting of Khalil and Taal sets a dangerous precedent and is part of a widening crackdown on democratic rights in the United States. It is crucial for students, activists and all who seek justice to recognise the implication of these actions. These are not isolated incidents, but part of a broader assault on political dissent aimed at silencing all domestic opposition to US imperialist wars of aggression. We fully support our comrades in the IYSSE and Socialist Equality Party (SEP) in the US who are in the forefront of defending the democratic rights of students, youth and immigrants, and all workers facing the Trump administrations savage assault on jobs. These attacks are in line with the anti-democratic actions of capitalist governments everywhere as they attempt to impose the escalating global economic crisis on the working class, creating growing mass unemployment and poverty. The democratic rights of university students are under attack around the world. In Sri Lanka, the newly-formed Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna/National Peoples Power (JVP-NPP) government is openly serving the interests of international capital. President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and his JVP-NPP administration won power last year by exploiting mass opposition to Sri Lankas traditional capitalist parties. The SEP and the IYSSE in Sri Lanka warned, however, that the Dissanayake government would rapidly ditch its phoney election promises and ruthlessly turn against the working class and the rural masses. SEP and IYSSE members and supporters picketing on January 21, 2025, against the ban on the IYSSE lecture at Peradeniya University The JVP-NPP government is working closely with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and implementing its austerity measures, making clear that it will trample on all opposition, particularly among workers and youth. In opposition to Sri Lankas capitalist parties, as well as the pseudo-left and the trade unions, who all support the IMFs policies, the SEP and the IYSSE are the only organisations fighting to mobilise workers and youth on a socialist program against the governments austerity measures. As part of this struggle, the IYSSE organised a lecture at Peradeniya University, on the topic of How to defeat the IMF austerity programme, sponsored by the universitys Political Science Students Association. Fearful of increasing support for our lecture, the university administration, under the influence of the NPP/JVP government, banned the meeting. The meeting ban was a blatant attack on freedom of speech amid signs of growing moves towards dictatorial forms of rule by the Sri Lankan government. On March 27, the Dissanayake government unleashed a brutal police attack on hundreds of unemployed allied health degree holders demonstrating outside the Ministry of Health in Colombo. Twenty-seven protesters, including members of the Inter-University Student Federation (IUSF), were arrested by police. The IUSF is controlled by the fake-left Frontline Socialist Party (FSP), which has declared that the installation of the JVP-NPP government represented peoples expectations. Notwithstanding our unbridgeable political differences with the FSP and IUSF, the IYSSE condemned this vicious police attack. A section of protesting School Development Officers in front of the Ministry of Education on December 2 2024. [Photo by Supplied by protesters] On December 2, school development officers protested outside the Ministry of Education in Colombo to demand their inclusion in the teaching service. The government responded with a similar police attack, then initiated a political witch-hunt, falsely accusing the educators of injuring police. The increasingly repressive actions of the Sri Lankan government vindicates the warnings made by the SEP and the IYSSE. We insist that democratic and social rights can only be defended through the independent mobilisation of the working class on a socialist program. The IYYSE in Sri Lanka calls on students, youth, workers and all defenders of democratic rights to stand in solidarity with Khalil and Taal. Their persecution constitutes an attack on all those who challenge government policies. The fight against political repression must be a collective effort. Only through international solidarity and relentless opposition to authoritarianism on the basis of an international socialist perspective can we defend the fundamental right to free speech. On Saturday, at the Leipzig Book Fair in Germany, David North, chairman of the World Socialist Web Site Editorial Board and national chairman of the Socialist Equality Party (US), introduced the newly released German translation of his book Sounding the Alarm: Socialism Against War. The volume brings together a decade of speeches delivered by North at the International Committee of the Fourth Internationals annual Online May Day celebrations, from 2014 to 2024, charting the escalating crisis of world capitalism and the drive to global war. Due to an accident on the train line between Berlin and Leipzig, North and Johannes Stern were unable to attend in person. The remarks below by North, as well as the introduction from Stern, were read aloud. The German edition, Ein Warnruf: Sozialismus gegen Krieg, can be ordered here. The English edition can be ordered here. *** I am very pleased to once again attend the Leipzig Buch Messe and present the German-language edition of my most recent book, Sounding the Alarm: Socialism Against War. I would like to thank Johannes for his very kind remarks. His praise has been so effusive that Johannes has lifted from my shoulders the burden of praising my own work. Johannes has placed emphasis on what he has called the prophetic character of the speeches that I delivered at the annual May Day meetings held by the Trotskyist movement, of which I am a member, between 2014 and 2024. This is high praise, but I am obligated to distance myself from the mystical aura evoked by the reference to my works prophetic character. I am not a prophet and do not possess a crystal ball. I am, rather, a Marxist, who has the advantage of working with a scientific method of historically informed political analysis. I attempt, when writing, to situate events in a broader historical context, to examine them as moments in a complex process of historical development, to pay less attention, and even no attention at all, to the justifications given by governments and politicians for their policies and actions, to focus instead on the objective economic processes operating on a global scale, to examine the class interests served by governments, and estimate, as carefully and realistically as possible, the implications of the escalating conflicts between national states in a globally-integrated capitalist system, and, finally, to assess the impact of the world crisis on the working class and the potential for the eruption of revolutionary class struggle, leading to the overthrow of capitalism and the reconstruction of the world on a socialist foundation. This approach to events, as I believe my book demonstrates, has made possible highly accurate political appraisals and even predictions. In any case, the Marxist method that I have sought to utilize has proven to be a far more reliable tool of navigation and prognostication than the combination of short-sighted impressionism, ahistorical pragmatism and self-deluding faith in the eternal character of capitalism that characterizes the work of Establishment journalists and academics. It is all too obvious that the bourgeois politicians and the soothsayers of the media have foreseen very little. In the period between 1989 and 1991, they proclaimed that the dissolution of the Soviet Union and the Stalinist regimes of Eastern Europe marked the beginning of a new epoch of peace and democracy. Under the hegemony of the humanitarians of American imperialism, capitalism would show the world what it could accomplish. Nothing turned out as was expected. The last 35 years have been scarred by endless wars which have cost the lives of millions. The capitalist system has staggered from crisis to crisis, surviving only through the implementation of massive multi-trillion-dollar bailouts. Social inequality has reached historically unprecedented levels. The devastating COVID-19 pandemic has claimed millions of lives, and the only lesson drawn by capitalist governments is that it was a mistake, during the first weeks of the pandemic, to take even the most essential measuressuch as lockdowns and maskingthat detracted from corporate profits. Protecting profit margins is far more important than saving lives. And what of the fate of democracy? In little more than one month, on May 7, 2025, the eightieth anniversary of the collapse of the Third Reich will be observed. But this anniversary coincides with a global upsurge of fascist movements throughout the world. In Germany, the AfD is emerging as the most influential political party. The process of the descent into fascism is occurring in Italy, France, and, of course, the United States. The second Trump administration is only the most politically obscene manifestation of the universal breakdown of capitalist democracy. The American constitution is becoming a dead letter. A presidential dictatorship is being erected, in which the democratic principles of Madison, Jefferson and Lincoln are being replaced by the criminal legal theories of Carl Schmitt. The United States is now a country where the Bill of Rights is being subordinated to the Fuhrer principle, which enables the president to declare a State of ExceptionAusnahmezustandand deprive whoever he chooses of all legal protections. The Trump administration has invoked the notorious Alien Enemies Actpreviously used only during the War of 1812, World War I and World War IIand is issuing arbitrary Executive Orders as fraudulent illegal pretexts to grab students out of their homes or seize them on the streets. Scenes reminiscent of the Chilean, Argentine and Brazilian dictatorships of the recent past, and even of Nazi Germany, are now becoming common in the United States. Mahmoud Khalil, Rumeysa Ozturk, and, most recently, an unidentified student at the University of Minnesota have been seized and flown to an out-of-state detention facility. Night and FogNacht und Nebelhas come to the United States. Another courageous student, Momodou Taal, attending Cornell University, is fighting in the courts against being subjected to the same treatment. All these young people have committed no crime. Their sole offense has been their exercise of the democratic right of free speech to peacefully protest the mass murder of Palestinians. And alongside the collapse of democracy we are witnessing the resurgence of militarism, accompanied by the justification and legitimization of genocide. The wars in Ukraine and Gaza are proving to be only the first round of a new global war for the redivision of the world. Now is the time to read and study the seminal texts on imperialism written by Lenin, Trotsky and other great Marxist opponents of imperialism. As Franz Mehring warned on the eve of World War I, the Gods of War are Athirst. Trump is threatening to seize the Panama Canal and Greenland, and, following the playbook of his Nazi heroes, is openly boasting of his plans for an Anschluss of Canada. As for Germany, it is now engaged in yet another disastrous arms race, recalling those which preceded 1914 and 1939, to achieve, once again, its place in the sun. A new Drive to the East is being prepared. Unless stopped, it will lead to a catastrophe even greater than those of the previous efforts under Wilhelm II and Adolf Hitler. My book, as is made clear in the title, is an attempt to sound the alarm. Humanity is confronting the danger of a descent into the abyss. The only way out of this crisis is through the ending of the capitalist system. The alternative as posed by Rosa Luxemburg, Socialism or Barbarism, confronts us all today. The alarm has been sounded. Now we must respond to it. Purchase Sounding the Alarm: Socialism Against War on Mehring Books. German public prosecutors have charged the Last Generation climate protection group with forming a criminal organisation under Section 129 of the Criminal Code. The charges are a massive attack on the freedoms of association, assembly and expression, fundamental rights without which there can be no democracy. Indictment under Section 129 means that a group pursuing political goals is placed on the same level as a criminal gang. Forms of protest such as civil disobedience are being criminalised. Persons charged under this statute do not have to have committed the incriminating acts themselves to be convicted. It is sufficient that they were members of the accused association. Carla Hinrichs of the Last Generation Uprising is carried away during a blockade of the A100 in Berlin in February 2022. [Photo by Stefan Muller / wikimedia / CC BY 2.0 On 28 February, 2025, the Munich Public Prosecutors Office filed charges at the Munich I Regional Court against five members of Last Generation. The document accuses the activists of forming a criminal organisation with the intention of committing crimes. The indictment is 149 pages long. Among the accused is the well-known climate activist Carla Hinrichs, the groups former press spokeswoman. Also indicted is the founder of the Augsburg Climate Camp, Ingo Blechschmidt. In May 2023, the Munich Public Prosecutors Office carried out a nationwide raid against Last Generation in which 170 police officers searched 15 properties in seven federal states. The groups website was temporarily shut down, its funds seized and its phones tapped. The criminal acts of which the defendants were accused consisted exclusively of peaceful protests. In most cases, activists glued themselves to the road or elsewhere, briefly obstructing traffic or other operations. In 2023, the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) called for Last Generation to be placed under surveillance with the help of the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, as Germanys domestic secret service is called, and for a ban to be considered. The action taken by the Public Prosecutors Office and police authorities is now putting the far-right extremists demands into practice. The Neuruppin Public Prosecutors Office has also brought charges against five members of the climate protection group on suspicion of forming a criminal organisation. The charges relate to actions at the PCK oil refinery in Schwedt, where the activists closed a valve, and to actions at Berlins city airport, BER, where they glued themselves to the airport grounds and rode bicycles across the grounds. At the Barberini Museum in Potsdam, they threw mashed potatoes at a Monet painting. The painting was behind glass and was not damaged. The Neuruppin Public Prosecutors Office has been investigating suspicion of forming a criminal organisation under Section 129 of the German Criminal Code since December 2022. The Flensburg Public Prosecutors Office is also conducting a similar investigation against Last Generation. Mafia Statute 129 Section 129 of the German Criminal Code is also referred to as the Mafia Statute because it is actually aimed at organised crime, mafia and biker gangs or white-collar criminals. Most people associate the term more with mafia-like structures than with climate activists protesting for environmental protection. Paula Zimmermann, an expert on freedom of expression and assembly at Amnesty International in Germany, explained: The indictment marks a new escalation in the criminalisation of climate protests in Germany. Section 129 of the German Criminal Code is actually used to combat organised crime. Applying it to non-violent protest criminalises civil society activism and thus restricts democratic freedoms. Using criminal law to delegitimise and intimidate unwelcome protest is contrary to the freedoms of expression and assembly, as enshrined in human rights and the German constitution. The investigative methods used by the Munich Public Prosecutors Office to take action against the climate group are typical of authoritarian police states: The tapping of the movements press telephone for months, which also recorded conversations with journalists; The confiscation of thousands of addresses of Fridays for Future activists, although their forms of protest differ from those of Last Generation; The temporary shutdown of the groups website, claiming that Last Generation represented a criminal organisation according to Section 129. The main accusation used to justify prosecution as a criminal organisation is the classification of blockades of road traffic by gluing oneself to the road as coercion. This accusation alone is highly controversial. Lower courts have repeatedly rejected it. Defining blockades, peaceful protests and disruption of traffic and business operations as criminal acts of violence and coercion, and the prosecution of protest groups as though they were mafia gangs, are far-reaching steps towards a police state. Last Generation has since abandoned these methods and changed its name. For decades, such means of civil disobedience were central to the German peace and environmental protection movement. In 1983, leading intellectuals such as the writers Heinrich Boll, Gunter Grass and Walter Jens, theologian Helmut Gollwitzer, and Otto Schily, who later become interior minister, took part in sit-down blockades in front of US barracks to protest nuclear rearmament. Demonstrations and flash mobs almost inevitably obstruct traffic to a greater or lesser extent. Even factory occupations and strikes that go beyond the extremely restrictive German right to strike and the straitjacket of the trade unions can, according to such an understanding, be interpreted as coercion and the groups that organise them criminalised, prosecuted and banned. This is precisely what the public prosecutors, who are pursuing Last Generation so bitterly, are aiming for. With the exception of sections 129a and 129b of the Criminal Code, which are directed against terrorist organisations, there is no other norm that can be used to take similarly harsh and repressive action against members of an organisation and that gives the police and security authorities such far-reaching powers to suppress them. The severity of the offence is irrelevant According to the case law of the Supreme Court, Criminal Code Section 129 covers any activity of any kind that serves the purposes of the association. It is not necessary to be accused of serious crimes; it is sufficient to have something to do with the organisation in question to become the target of spying, searches, confiscation, arrest and prosecution. In order to maintain a certain semblance of the rule of law, legal commentary and the case law of the highest courts have always required that a criminal organisation pose a significant threat to public security. This has always been considered an unwritten element of an offence, i.e., it is interpreted into the law in order to be able to present it in a constitutionally compliant manner. Since 2017, however, there have been voices questioning this unwritten element of the alleged offence. This is because, following an EU framework decision from 2008, which was implemented by Germany in 2017, a criminal organisation is now defined more precisely in law. Until then, it was defined as an organisation whose purpose or activity is directed towards committing criminal offences. From 2017, it was defined as an organisation whose purpose or activity is directed towards committing criminal offences that are punishable by a maximum of at least two years imprisonment. It is noteworthy here that the EU framework decision had set the bar higher, at four years. If Germany had merely implemented the EU framework decision, the charges against Last Generation would not have been possible from the outset. Simple coercion is punishable by a maximum of three years imprisonment. For numerous other crimes, the maximum penalty is at least two, but less than four years. These include threats (up to three years); resistance to law enforcement officers (up to three years, not to be confused with the much more severely punished offence of assault on law enforcement officers); rewarding and condoning crimes (up to three years, which can include, for example, support for Hamas actions on 7 October, 2023 or Russias invasion of Ukraine); insult, defamation, libel (up to two years); insulting persons in a political capacity (up to three years); denigrating the state and its symbols (up to three years); violating the flags and national emblems of foreign states (up to two years); serious trespass (up to two years); breach of the peace (up to three years); denial or trivialisation of genocide or war crimes (up to three years); property damage or unauthorised alteration of the appearance of a foreign object (e.g., graffiti, up to two years). In Germany, if the unwritten criterion of significant threat to public security is dispensed with, any group, no matter how harmless, can be prosecuted like a criminal mafia organisation. This is, in fact, what is taking place in the case of Last Generation. Even after the 2017 criminal law reform, both the Federal Court of Justice and legal literature have maintained that a criminal organisation must not only commit certain criminal offences, but must also, as before, pose a significant danger to public security, as an essay in Verfassungsblog shows. Other public prosecutors offices, such as in Berlin, have so far rejected the approach taken in Munich. The prosecution of Last Generation is, nevertheless, in keeping with the times. In particular, the actions against Palestinian protests of the genocide in Gaza, including in Berlin, and against Palestine Solidarity Duisburg show that major parts of the state are no longer willing to accept protest, no matter how peaceful and harmless it is. This repression will inevitably increase with the escalation of war and militarism. It is all the more important to oppose it politically as the Sozialistische Gleichheitspartei (Socialist Equality Party) is consistently doing. A letter from the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) on March 21 rejected a Freedom of Information (FOI) application from the Socialist Equality Party (SEP) for evidence to justify the AECs refusal to grant the party official registration. This FOI decision further exposes the anti-democratic character of Australias electoral laws and the AECs totally obscure use of them, which has prevented the SEPs candidates in the May 3 federal election from appearing on the ballot papers alongside our party name. Voters cast their ballots at the Town Hall in Sydney, Australia, in a federal election, Saturday, May 18, 2019. [AP Photo/Rick Rycroft] This not only deprives voters of the right to be able to identify the SEP candidates. It also tramples over the democratic rights of all our more than 1,500 members, whose names, addresses, birth dates and contact details we supplied to the AEC last September so that the party could be on the ballot. Despite this political censorship, the SEP will stand candidates in this election. We will advance as widely as possible the only genuine socialist alternative to the international turn to fascistic forms of rule being spearheaded by the Trump administration in the US. We will expose and oppose the program of military buildup, war, genocide, ever-greater social inequality, gutting of working-class conditions and suppression of dissent and democratic rights being pursued by Labor, the Liberal-National Coalition, the Greens and the entire political establishment. The AECs actions show that Australia is no exception to the historic global attack on democratic rights. In fact, Labors Anthony Albanese and the Coalitions Peter Dutton are vying to prove who can best work with Trump, whose regime is seizing and moving to deport students for opposing the genocide in Gaza, and seeking to block the voting rights of millions of people. At the same time, it is ramping up war plans against China, sacking tens of thousands of public sector workers and demolishing public health and education. There is fear in ruling circles that our socialist perspective will win growing support in the working class under these conditions, which are intensifying the disaffection with the existing political order. That is why the AEC, acting on behalf of the ruling capitalist parties, has not only blocked the basic democratic right of the SEP to contest the election under our name, but has now refused to disclose vital information that we need to challenge its ban. An anti-democratic regime The SEP was originally deregistered, along with about half the other registered parties, after Labor and the Coalition joined hands to pass legislation in August 2021 that suddenly tripled the already reactionary membership list requirement from 500 to 1,500. That was just before the May 2022 election, amid COVID-19 lockdowns that necessarily restricted public campaigning. The very requirement for membership lists is profoundly anti-democratic. It forces parties to hand over to the AEC, an agency of the capitalist state, the names of party members, effectively overturning their right to secret voting that is meant to protect ones political privacy. Moreover, it systemically favours the parties with existing parliamentary representation, such as Labor, the Liberal-Nationals and the Greens, which are exempt from this time-consuming and politically invasive registration process. This bipartisan legislation, administered by the AEC, is a blatant bid to prop up the increasingly despised two-party system that has governed the country since World War II. In the 2022 federal election, the combined support for Labor and the Coalition fell below 68 percent, down from more than a 90 percent share in the 1950s. Since then, the level of disillusionment has grown. All the polls indicate that the most likely outcome of the May 3 election is a hung parliament and an unstable minority government, with neither Labor or the Coalition able to take office without pledges of support from the Greens and/or various independents. That is because of the most severe cost-of-living crisis since the 1950s, combined with the bipartisan support for the US-backed Israeli genocide in Gaza and unconditional alignment behind US militarism, which includes the war against Russia over Ukraine and the AUKUS pact to prepare for war against China. The FOI rejection After a powerful campaign last year, the SEP submitted a membership list of 1,546, well in excess of the arbitrary requirement of 1,500. Before doing so, we contacted members to re-confirm their willingness to have their names and details submitted to the AEC. After an opaque process that dragged on for almost five months, the AEC claimed that, from a tiny sample of just 33 from the list submitted by the SEP, four had said they were not members when the AEC contacted them. Citing bogus privacy concerns, the AEC has again refused, via the FOI process, to disclose to the SEP the names of the members who allegedly denied membership so that we can verify and challenge the AECs claims and, if necessary, submit a modified list. That privacy pretext flies in the face of the fact that all the members gave their details to the SEP in the first place. In rejecting the FOI application, the AEC went further, declaring that to give the names to the SEP would substantially harm the operations of the AEC and damage the public interest. In the SEPs FOI application to the AEC, submitted on February 21, National Secretary Cheryl Crisp sought the names of the SEP members whom the AEC asserted denied SEP membership. One month later, in reply, the AEC cited two exemptions under the FOI Act. The first was section 47E, which exempts a document from disclosure if it would, or could reasonably be expected to, have a substantial adverse effect on the proper and efficient conduct of the operations of an agency. The AEC insisted that to give the names to the SEP would deter people from indicating their party membership or non-membership, and this would pose a real and substantial risk to the AECs ability to obtain this information and efficiently perform its legislative functions. But the greatest deterrence for workers and youth is having to provide their names to the AEC in the first place. The second exemption cited by the AEC, section 47F of the FOI Act, refers to the unreasonable disclosure of personal information about any person. The AEC said the names were given to it on the understanding that this personal information would not be made publicly available. Yet the SEP is not asking for the public disclosure of names! On the contrary, it is seeking the names of its own members, which it submitted to the AEC, in order to check the AECs untested claims of denials. The AEC also dismissed the FOI Acts requirement that documents exempted by these two sections must still be disclosed unless the agency proves that it would damage the public interest. Without any explanation, the AEC flatly asserted that the public interest in releasing the names to the SEP was especially low. Also, without any providing any justification, the AEC declared that providing the names would not aid the public in scrutinising, commenting or reviewing the activities of the AEC, nor would it further inform any public debate on a matter of importance. That shows clear contempt for the rights of the public, including de-registered parties, to scrutinise its decisions, which affect the fundamental democratic rights of parties, their members and voters. This is in line with the AECs insistence on keeping its party registration decisions shrouded in secrecy. That includes refusing to give the public any information about the statistical methodology it uses to test party membership lists. This methodology, the SEP has proven, is deliberately opaque and inherently biased against parties applying for registration. The AECs rejection of the SEPs FOI application confirms that the ruling class is desperate to stifle the only progressive alternative to capitalisms plunge into war, genocide and dictatorial oligarchic rulethat is a socialist program for the total overturn of this brutal social order. To answer this attack and prepare for the convulsive struggles ahead after the election, we appeal to all workers and young people to become involved in our election campaign. Above all, we urge you to join the SEP and build it as the new mass party of the working class. Authorised by Cheryl Crisp for the Socialist Equality Party, Level 1/457-459 Elizabeth Street, Surry Hills, NSW, 2010, Australia. UAW President Shawn Fain on CBSs Face the Nation on March 30, 2025. [Photo: CBS News] In an interview on the CBS program Face the Nation Sunday morning, United Auto Workers President Shawn Fain doubled down on his support for President Trumps reactionary tariff program, asserting that the fascist administrations trade war policies would create jobs for American workers. On April 2, a 25 percent tariff on all automobiles produced outside the US is set to go into effect, followed by a 25 percent tariff on key auto components (such as engines and transmissions) on May 3. The tariffs will be paid by the companies importing the goods, whose costs will be passed on by sharply increasing prices on vehicles sold in the US. When pressed by the CBS moderator, Fain insisted the UAW would continue to work with the Trump administration on tariffs despite its escalating attacks on democratic rights. On Friday, Trump issued an executive order effectively stripping collective bargaining rights away from hundreds of thousands of federal workers. It takes place amid daily reports of abductions by the US immigration Gestapo of opponents of the Gaza genocide. Among those facing deportation are student workers, such as Mahmoud Khalil, a member of the UAW, whom Fain and the union apparatus have not lifted a finger to defend. Fain and the UAW bureaucracy are not supporting tariffs because they believe they will somehow benefit rank-and-file workers or that they are an exception to Trumps overall fascist agenda. Rather, the UAW apparatus promotion of tariffs is driven by its nationalist program and its unyielding support for capitalism and US imperialism. Fain is well aware that Trump is a ruthless enemy of the working class. During Sundays interview, Fain admitted that Trumps executive order targeting federal workers was 100 times worse than President Reagans firing of striking PATCO air traffic controllers in 1981. Fain repeated the lie that unfair trade policies were behind the decades-long assault on auto jobs, not the capitalist system itself, which subordinates all social concerns to the drive for profit. He repeatedly scapegoated Mexican workers for taking American jobs, citing the layoff of thousands of workers at the Stellantis Warren Truck Assembly Plant outside of Detroit, as well as threatened job cuts at Volkswagen, Mack Trucks and Volvo Trucks. Fains criticism of unfair trade laws was also aimed at deflecting workers anger from both himself and the UAW apparatus, which have collaborated with the corporations over the past 45 years to destroy hundreds of thousands of jobs and close dozens of plants. It is absurd for Fain to claim that his support for Trumps tariffs program does not constitute support for Trumps overall fascist agenda. Indeed, Trumps trade war program, directed against foe and supposed allies alike, is a key component of his fascist America First project aimed at austerity and dictatorship at home and war abroad. Underscoring the importance that the Trump administration places on the backing of the UAW apparatus, a link to Fains Face the Nation interview was reposted by the Rapid Response account of the Trump White House. Trumps tariff policy is not aimed at reviving domestic auto production but at preparing for World War III against the rivals of US imperialism. The tariff policy compliments the administrations increasingly bellicose threats to seize Greenland and the Panama Canal, by force if necessary, and to annex Canada as the 51st US state. Just as President Biden considered the trade union bureaucracy as his domestic NATO, Fain is offering the services of the UAW apparatus to Trump in its plans for global domination. In Sundays interview, Fain made the UAWs support for the US war machine crystal clear. Pointing to the excess capacity in auto plants Fain suggested it be utilized for expanded military production. You know, people forget this lesson in World War II. The way that we formed the Arsenal of Democracy that won the war was, they took the excess capacity of all the automotive manufacturing plants in the country, and produced tanks and planes and bombs and engines and all those things. And its no different right now. We have excess capacity. They could bring work back in very short order. The UAWs support for US militarism is itself part of an international process, with Germanys IG Metall union apparatus itself supporting the conversion of Volkswagen plants to military production. There is mounting anger at the UAW bureaucracys collaboration with Trump as the dictatorial and anti-worker character of the fascist presidents policies becomes ever-more obvious. A report of Fains interview on Face the Nation posted on Facebook received hundreds of comments, the vast majority of them critical. One worker wrote, UAW does not protect its rank and file period. Another: Tariffs will not create one new union job. They will cost jobs. Workers cannot afford $70K cars and will not buy them. Never trust an individual that needs to tell you Ill be honest with you. Another commented: NAFTA was never for working people interests but tariffs will never level the playing field, it will raise prices for the consumer. The current administration does not support raising minimum wage so where are the good paying manufacturing jobs coming from !! I think someone may have been duped. And yet another post: If this guy thinks DT [Donald Trump] is going to look out for the best interests of the union workers he hasnt been paying attention too closely or hes just plain stupid. At no time has DTs behavior or policies been for unions. A Stellantis tech in the Detroit area worker told the World Socialist Web Site: I cant see Fain winning another term taking that position. Sounds like back room shady deals of the past. Six months ago, trump was a SCAB. Now hes great because of trade policies that will surely cast the country into a recession or even a full blown depression. A Stellantis worker at the Jeep plant in Toledo said: Everyone is concerned because it is affecting our hours. We had an incident yesterday where they had to shut down more than once because they couldnt get some harnesses because they were having problems getting them over the border. It is not affecting us yet as hard as it will down the road. With Trump signing that executive order against the collective bargaining for federal workers, as far as I am concerned that is just the beginning. It will eventually make it to us in the UAW. The problem is that if people dont see it coming until it hits them, it is too late. Another Jeep worker said: Im very disappointed at Fain and nervous because this situation can cause job losses. The UAW apparatus has for decades promoted anti-worker Buy American nationalism and backed tariffs during the first Trump administration. Fains policies are not just the product of personal cowardice and corruption but reflect the objective interests of the trade union apparatus whose six-figure salaries and lavish expense accounts are tied up with its defense of the capitalist system. Fains groveling before the would-be American Fuhrerlike the support for Trump by Teamsters President Sean OBrienis also a further exposure of the anti-working class character of the Democratic Socialists of America, which backed Fains election. The DSAs members continue to occupy top positions within the UAW apparatus and Fains administration. Workers must reject the nationalist poison spewed by the likes of Fain, echoing the fascist ravings of Trump, aimed at dividing the working class and preparing the ground for world war. The only basis for defending the democratic and social rights of the working class is through the global unification of the working class in a common fight against the corporate oligarchs. This means building the International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees (IWA-RFC). Autoworkers in the US should expand the network of rank-and-file committees throughout factories and warehouses in order to carry out a coordinated struggle for jobs and democratic rights. Elevenlabs AudioNative Player President Donald Trump speaks during a Cabinet meeting at the White House in Washington, Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025, as Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth listen. [AP Photo] The administrations of the major universities in the United States are playing an absolutely foul role in facilitating the fascistic reign of terror against free speech and democratic rights being implemented by the Trump administration. As a component of Trumps efforts to establish a political dictatorship, the White House is overseeing a sweeping assault on student protesters, focused initially on international students. According to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the administration has revoked hundreds of student visas based on political speech. Over the past week, students across the country have received emails from the US State Department informing them that their F-1 student visas have been revoked and that they must leave the country at risk of being seized by immigration officials and thrown in detention centers, along with a threat that they may never be allowed back. These emails are part of the administrations Catch and Revoke policy, which includes an artificial intelligence program that monitors social media accounts to identify anyone involved in protests against the genocide in Gaza and opposing the policies of the Israeli state. Dozens of students have already been seized and thrown into detention centers for deportation, including Mahmoud Khalil, a lawful permanent resident and Columbia graduate student; Rumeysa Ozturk, a Fulbright scholar and Tufts Ph.D. candidate, kidnapped on the streets of Boston by masked ICE agents; and Yunseo Chung, a permanent resident from South Korea who has been in the US since she was seven years old. Momodou Taal, a UK and Gambian citizen and Ph.D. student at Cornell University, is facing imminent detention and deportation for attending protests against the genocide and in retaliation for a lawsuit he has filed against the Trump administrations illegal and unconstitutional executive orders. Trump is implementing an American version of Gleichschaltungthe Nazis synchronization of all elements of intellectual and cultural life, including the revision of university programs and the purging of scholars, to correspond with state ideology. Without even the threat of SS troops, university administrations are facilitating Trumps demands and functioning as junior partners. Harvard University, long regarded as the pinnacle of American academia, is leading the charge. On Wednesday, it was revealed that the director and associate director of Harvards Center for Middle Eastern StudiesCemal Kafadar and Rosie Bsheer, respectivelywere summarily removed from their posts. The dismissals were carried out by Interim Dean of Social Science David Cutler, who offered no public justification. As the Harvard Crimson reported, this dramatic shakeup follows previous moves by the university to sever ties with Palestinian institutions and cancel events. Last week, Columbia University agreed to a list of demands that included placing its Middle East, South Asian and African Studies Department, and its Center for Palestine Studies under administrative review. Cornell University, for its part, has remained silent as one of its ownMomodou Taalis targeted for arrest and deportation. Indeed, it created the conditions for the Trump administrations efforts to deport Taal by attempting to suspend him last year for his involvement in demonstrations against the genocide. Over the weekend, Dr. Joanne Liu, a pediatric physician and former international president of Doctors Without Borders, reported that a lecture she was scheduled to give at New York University was cancelled due to stated concerns from the administration that references to the mass slaughter in Gaza could be perceived as antisemitic and to cuts in international aid programs as anti-governmental. The administrations of these universities are generally dominated by the Democratic Party and closely integrated with the corporate and financial elite, overseeing massive endowments and headed by presidents who in many cases have salaries over $1 million a year. Harvard, for example, has an endowment of $53.2 billion, the largest in the world, while Columbias endowment stands at $14.8 billion. These institutions are money-making machines, charging tuition rates that saddle students with lifelong debt while amassing billions in endowments tied up in hedge funds and private equity. The presidents and top administrators are executives in all but name. Harvards president, Alan Garber, receives a salary of nearly $1 million, and he has received millions for sitting on the boards of various pharmaceutical giants. Prior to Trumps re-election, Garbers administration led the attack on student protesters, most infamously by blocking 13 undergraduates from collecting their diplomas during last years commencement for participating in demonstrations against the genocide. The move was initially overturned by the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, only to be reinstated by the Harvard Corporation, which is packed with corporate CEOs and former members of Democratic Party administrations, such as billionaire Penny Pritzker. The actions of the university administrations underscore the fact that the turn toward dictatorship and the suppression of the most basic democratic rights does not arise merely from the head of Donald Trump. He is realizing, in the form of a presidential dictatorship, a process that is rooted in the oligarchic character of American society. This character infects all of its institutions. Whatever tactical divisions exist between the Democrats and Republicans, they are united on the essentials. Both parties support the eruption of American imperialism around the globe, from the genocide in Gaza to the preparations for war with China. Both support the war on the working class at home. Throughout the genocide in Gaza, the Biden administration funneled weapons to the Israeli military while slandering student protesters as antisemites. Now, as Trump escalates to mass deportations, academic purges and the dismantling of entire departments, the Democrats respond with collaboration and complicity. The trade union apparatus, for its part, is doing nothing to mobilize opposition to the persecution of graduate studentsmany of whom are members of the United Auto Workers (UAW), the United Electrical Workers (UE) and other unionsjust as it is doing nothing to stop, and indeed facilitating, the Trump administrations assault on the working class. More than two decades ago, the Supreme Court intervened to halt the counting of ballots in Florida and install George W. Bush as president of the United States. At the time, the World Socialist Web Site warned that the decision would reveal how far the American ruling class is prepared to go in breaking with traditional bourgeois-democratic and constitutional norms. The result of the Supreme Court case, and the absence of any opposition from the Democratic Party, the WSWS wrote, demonstrated that there did not exist a significant constituency for the defense of democratic rights in the ruling class. As Trump now erects the framework of a dictatorship, that warning has been vindicated in full. The social force that can defend democratic rights and halt the descent into dictatorship is the working class. The crackdown on campuses is inseparable from the broader assault on the working class. The Trump administration is tearing up the union contracts of federal workers, carrying out purges at government agencies that in any way limit corporate profit, dismantling public education and preparing a massive assault on Social Security, Medicaid and other social programs. The repression of students is a warning for what is being prepared against all opposition to the corporate and financial oligarchy. The Socialist Equality Party and the International Youth and Students for Social Equality call for protests and demonstrations on campuses and in workplaces to oppose the escalating crackdown on free speech and democratic rights. We demand the reinstatement of all those who have been suspended, fired, or silenced for speaking out against the genocide in Gaza, and for the immediate release of those who have been seized for deportation. The defense of democratic rights and opposition to war cannot be waged on the campuses alone. It requires the independent mobilization of the working class. Students should send delegations to the factories and workplaces, and workers should prepare work actions, independent of the pro-corporate trade union apparatus, to defend all those targeted by Trumps dictatorial actions. The SEP and IYSSE are fighting to build a socialist movement to put an end to capitalismthe source of war, dictatorship, and inequalitythrough the expropriation of the financial oligarchy and the establishment of workers power. This is the only basis on which democratic rights can be secured. We urge all those who agree with this perspective to join our movement and take up this fight. French President Emmanuel Macron, Monday, June 10, 2024. [AP Photo/Ludovic Marin] On Thursday, the heads of state and government of 30 European powers met in Paris with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. They pledged to send troops to Ukraine amid the war with Russia, even as Ukraines army suffers staggering losses and retreats all along the front, and as European governments keep slashing social spending in order to finance an 800 billion EU military rearmament fund. At the same time, it is increasingly obvious that Russia was not the sole target of the Paris summit. Earlier rhetoric about the United States and Europe together defending Ukrainian democracy against Russia is collapsing. Amid a historic breakdown of US-European relations and Trumps upcoming trade war with Europe, a bitter battle for control of Ukraines economy and resources is unfolding between US and European imperialism. Our objective is clear, it is essentially to win the peace, French President Emmanuel Macron stated after the summit. He said a Franco-British team would deploy to Ukraine in the coming days [to] prepare what will be the Ukrainian army of tomorrow. He also said that after a peace deal was reached, unspecified European reassurance forces would be sent to Ukraine, not with the goal of being peacekeepers and not along the front lines, but to deter Russian attacks. Macron appealed to the Chinese government to pressure Moscow to agree to a peace deal. He said he wants President Xi Jinping to have a very active role given the quality of the dialog he has with Russia. I think China is more than legitimate to do this, given that it is a permanent member of the UN Security Council and given the initiatives it has already taken. Finally, Macron also said Europe would not lift financial sanctions on Russia. Russian diplomats have asked their US counterparts to agree to this in the ongoing US-Russia talks in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, as a precondition for lifting of naval blockades in the Black Sea. Claiming this is impossible, Macron said: We must keep up the economic pressure. In reality, it is evident that a bitter conflict is unfolding between US and European imperialism over who will get to plunder Ukraine after the war is finished. This emerged particularly clearly after the summit, as Bloomberg News leaked details of an updated plan for US control of Ukrainian mineral resources that the Trump administration has presented to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. A key part of the plan for European military intervention in Ukraine is ensuring European control of rare earth elements and other key minerals in Ukraine after the war. This was made quite explicit in this Januarys UK-Ukraine 100 Year Partnership Declaration signed by the British and Ukrainian governments. It called for extensive British investment in Ukrainian energy, gas and mining, and to rewrite Ukraines laws to maximize the profits British capitalists extract from Ukraine by exploiting these resources. It called for supporting development of a Ukrainian critical minerals strategy and necessary regulatory structures required to support the maximisation of benefits from Ukraines natural resources, through the possible establishment of a Joint Working Group. But as soon as the Paris summit finished, Bloomberg reported on the new US ultimatum to Ukraine after Trump demanded Ukraine give Washington $500 billion in critical minerals. Having examined the draft document, which it did not publish, Bloomberg wrote that US officials are escalating demands on Ukrainedemanding veto power over all infrastructure, mining and energy investment in Ukraine, and the right to decide how profits from these will be distributed. It wrote: President Donald Trumps administration is demanding the right of first offer on investments in all infrastructure and natural resources projects under a revised partnership deal with Ukraine If accepted, the partnership agreement would bestow enormous power on the US to control investments into Ukraine in projects including roads and railways, ports, mines, oil and gas and extraction of critical minerals. It would represent an unprecedented expansion of US economic influence in Europes largest country by area just at the time when its attempting to align with the EU. The draft US deal would effectively turn Ukraine into a US colony, cutting across attempts by the Kiev regime to join the European Union. Under the deal, revenues from Ukrainian industries that Washington declares strategic would be placed in a fund controlled by the US government. These industries would also be barred from trade with countries Washington labels strategic competitors of the United States. Bloomberg wrote: According to the draft document, the US International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) would control the investment fund by nominating three of five board members and holding a golden share that gave it special voting rights to block certain decisions. Ukraine would name the other two and be prevented from intervening in the funds day-to-day management. The government in Kyiv would be required to put 50 percent of its earnings from all the new natural resources and infrastructure projects into the fund. The US would have the right to all of the profit plus a 4 percent annual return until its investment [in military aid to Ukraine to fight Russia] had been recovered, the draft stated. In Paris, Zelensky said that he would examine the deal since otherwise, Washington could cut off targeting data critical for continuing the war that Ukraine has lost against Russia. He explained, we dont want to give a single signal that can prompt the US to stop aid to Ukraine. This exposes the imperialist character of the war the NATO powers have waged in Ukraine against Russia. While they killed Russian troops and claimed they were helping Ukraine, the NATO powers in reality aimed to loot Ukraine. The country, devastated by war, is now to be plundered by rival imperialist powers, who are bickering over how to divide the spoils. These inter-imperialist conflicts are set to intensify as Trump readies tariffs against European imports, and the EU readies counter-tariffs on US goods. Financial rivalry between Washington and Europe is also surging. With the US set to borrow over $7 trillion this year to refinance its sovereign debt, and EU countries to borrow massively for their own large sovereign debts and the 800 billion rearmament fund, these powers will compete for funds on increasingly overstretched global debt markets. As they try to loot the Ukrainian workers with their imperialist war abroad, the major NATO powers are intensifying their class war against the workers at home. This emerged very clearly in remarks made earlier this month by French officials, rejecting calls for the abrogation of Macrons massively unpopular pension cutwhich Macron used to finance French military rearmament. Insisting that pensions must be slashed to prepare for a suicidal high-intensity war with Russia, Retirement Orientation Council (COR) president Gilbert Cette said: The current discussions on pensions cannot totally ignore the current international context [or] the necessity to considerably increase our military spending in the coming years and months. The gradual entry, more or less explicit, into a war economy will make irrelevant or ridiculous current debates on retirement at 64 |and] the question will rather be in this area, and among many other decisions that must be asking, how to rapidly increase the pension age beyond 64 ... Stopping the looting of the working class, in Ukraine and in the NATO imperialist countries, requires unifying the struggles of the working class against imperialist war and austerity in an international, socialist anti-war movement. BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, March 31. President of the Kyrgyz Republic, Sadyr Japarov, during his working visit to Tajikistans Khujand today, March 31, together with the President of the Republic of Tajikistan, Emomali Rahmon, participated in the ceremony marking the launch of the 500 kV "Datka-Sugd" line under the CASA-1000 project via videoconference, Trend reports. Before the ceremony, the energy ministers of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan reported on the readiness for the launch of the 500 kV 'Datka-Sugd' line. Then, the leaders jointly initiated the start of the 500 kV 'Datka-Sugd' line using a demonstration lever, the press service of the president of Kyrgyzstan stated. In the course of the ceremony, the leaders underscored that this project is of particular significance as it unites the energy systems of the two countries, strengthens energy security, and makes a substantial contribution to the sustainable development of Central Asia. In 2025, construction work within the framework of the CASA-1000 Project in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan will be completed. Green electricity will be exported during the summer months from Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan to Afghanistan and Pakistan. The CASA-1000 project opens a new chapter in the history of cooperation between the countries of Central and South Asia, contributing to the strengthening of good-neighborly relations, improving the welfare of the population, and ensuring sustainable economic growth in the region. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Much of Belgium was brought to a standstill on Monday as millions of workers struck in opposition to the austerity programme of the federal coalition government led by Flemish nationalist Bart De Wever. The strike was called by two trade union federations, the FGTB/ABVV and CSC/ACV. A man stands with luggage in front of a departure board full of cancellations, during a general strike, at Brussels International Airport in Zaventem, Belgium, March 31, 2025. [AP Photo/Virginia Mayo] Many schools across Belgium closed and hospitals operated with only emergency services. The Brussels Times noted, This will be the third education strike in a row. At the strike on 13 January, more than 34,000 Flemish teachers participateda historically high number. Public transport services were paralyzed, with only one in three flights operating. All flights departing from Brussels two airports were cancelled. Rail workers who had just completed a seven-day nationwide stoppage to protest the pension cuts and cost cutting in their sector, still joined the general strike, walking out at 10 p.m. on Sunday evening. In Belgium the national railway is required by law to operate a minimal service, meaning that less than half of all trains ran, with most peak-hour trains halted. Very few buses, trams and metros ran in Brussels. The Brussels Times reported, No buses left the TEC Charleroi depots on Monday morning In the Liege-Verviers area, less than half of buses and trams are running. Out of 202 lines, only 71 are running. Many train services were cancelled, including international trains to the Netherlands, Austria and Germany. The ACOD marine pilots union said that ships were being kept in ports, including 30 ships waiting on Monday morning at the Port of Antwerp-Bruge. Others on strike included the Brussels fire brigade and steel workers at ArcelorMittals plant in Ghent. The Flemish VRT state broadcaster was still able to schedule programmes, but many employees did not report for work. Before afternoon and evening news bulletins a message reporting the strike was to appear on TV screens. Such was the impact of the strike that many businesses and shops chose not to open. Mondays was the second general strike in the space of six weeks against the coalition, and the third major strike already this year. On February 13, a multi-day strike saw around 100,000 on the streets of Brussels and thousands in other cities. On that occasion, the incoming government mobilised riot police against protesters in the capital. The government took office in early February after months of coalition talks following last Junes federal elections. The Arizona coalitionnamed because the coalition party colours match those of the US state flagis made up of three parties from Dutch-speaking Flanders: De Wevers conservative N-VA, the centrist Christian-Democrats and the social democratic Vooruit (Onward). Also included is the Christian democrat Les Engages and right-wing Reformist Movement from French-speaking Wallonia. Central to their agreement is the implementation of a brutal austerity programme cutting pensions and limiting unemployment benefits to one year with strict conditions for extensions. During the eight months of negotiations to finalise a coalition, there were also proposals made to dismantle wage indexation to the cost of living, but the five parties decided not to try to enforce it at this stage. The government plans to save 2.7 billion euros annually on pension costs by calculating public sector pensions in the same way as those of private-sector workers. Under its plans, those who work past retirement age with 35 years of service will see more financial reward, while early retirees without 35 years face a penalty. The proposals will disproportionally hit lower-income earners compared to the previous system, which provided retirees with a lump sum based on career length. Federal Minister for Finance and Pensions Jan Jambon insisted Monday, We have to do this reform, we have to bite the bullet for a while We are a reform government that is implementing major reforms in many areas, and that always brings some friction. This is just a down payment on overall planned budgetary savings of 18 billion which will have a brutal impact on the working class, with almost 20 percent of the population already exposed to the risk of poverty or social exclusion. The austerity is being demanded by the European Union (EU). Last June, the EUs European Commission triggered its excessive deficit procedure against Brussels for breaching the threshold of 3 percent of GDPand total public debt at or above 60 percent of GDP. Belgiums budget deficit must be slashed by at 0.5 percent of GDP. De Wever is committed to complying through drastic public spending cuts as there are no plans to raise tax. Demonstrations and blockades were held during the strike at the entrances to several stores and retail outletsincluding Foot Locker, Kiko Milano, Zara, Primark, Pull & Bear, Fnac and Actionon Nieuwstraat, Belgiums main shopping street. Retail workers will suffer under the coalitions plans, with Sunday working normalised and treated like a normal working day. The government also wants the rate for night work to apply only from midnight, which will hurt distribution workers. The strike would have had more impact, but it faced opposition from the General Confederation of Liberal Trade Unions of Belgium (CGSLB/ACLVB), the smallest of the federations, which openly sided with the government. Its national president, Gert Truyens, declared weeks ahead of the strike, This government was democratically elected and we want to give consultation a chance. There is no consultation or negotiation on offer when it comes to austerity, as is clear from De Wevers message to workers during last months mass strike: The course is irreversible. From left: Romanian politician George Simion; Belgium Prime Minister Bart De Wever; Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni; and Czech politician Petr Fiala [Photo: AUR] The representatives of the ruling elite demand the working class pays to maintain corporate profitability and to fund a huge military rearmament. In the lead-up to the strike, business organisations sought to whip up hostility, with the Flemish employers organisation Voka denouncing the action as completely irresponsible and incomprehensible. The Brussels Times reported that the Voka called on mayors to ensure that industrial zones remain accessible and to prevent blockades of business sites on Monday. Voka, said the newspaper, supported the austerity as it was needed to boost the competitiveness of Belgian companies and to stabilise the countrys social and economic systems. Were the austerity to be imposed, the measures might not even be sufficient. Employers estimated the economic impact of the general strike at from hundreds of millions to half a billion euros. The VRT state broadcaster reported Monday, Voka points to the international reputational damage as airports and ports once again shut down due to the strike. It added, Employers organisations calculated there were already 88 strike days in 2025, with Voka complaining that Belgium is increasingly becoming known as one of the most strike-prone countries in Europe. The growing movement of the working class in Belgium is developing under conditions of rising opposition to the militarism which has gripped the ruling class continent wide. The Brussels Times noted during Januarys strikes: Prioritising social security over defence spending is a recurring theme among demonstrators, as is Arizonas planned crackdown on the right to protest. Such opposition has also marked recent general strikes in Greece and Italy. In February, the Belgian defence ministry announced it would increase military spending by 4 billion ($4.2 billion) in the next months. The aim would be to increase military spending from 1.3 percent of GDP to 2 percentthe minimum level expected of NATO membersfor the first time in the countrys history, by 2029. Posting the announcement on X just eight days after taking power, Defence Minister Theo Franken said the governments priority was to put an end to what I can safely call a period of national shame: a period in which Belgium was not loyal to its status as a founding member of NATO, but acted as the most notorious free rider of the entire alliance. Even more brutal attacks on the working class must be rolled out, with Franken declaring, And it will not stop there. In the medium term, by 2034 at the latest, Belgium is aiming for defence expenditure worth 2.5 percent of our GDP. Among a raft of plans are to make a second brigade available to NATO in the long term and to reinforce with additional fighter aircrafton top of the 34 F-35As fighter jets ordered from US corporation Lockheed Martin in 2018 to replace a fleet of 54 F-16s. 25 years ago: British workers march in defense of jobs On April 1, 2000, over 50,000 workers, families, and supporters marched in Birmingham, UK to protest a massive onslaught on jobs and living conditions. BMW, the German-owned transnational corporation, had planned to put its Rover car brand on the auction block, which threatened up to 16,000 jobs. The cascading effect in the parts and service sector threatened tens of thousands more jobs. Unemployment in Birmingham, the second largest city in the UK, was projected to rise to 13 percent with the axing of 6,000 Longbridge workers. A portion of the Longbridge plant in Birmingham [Photo by David Stowell / CC BY-SA 2.0 While widespread defiance of the auto giants plan to destroy working class living standards found expression in the large turnout, the trade union bureaucracys defense of its own bourgeoisie sabotaged the potential for the class unity of workers in the UK and Germany. The major unions organizing the strike rallied behind the Union Jack of British imperialism. Tony Woodley, chief negotiator for the Transport and General Workers Union (T&GWU) said: It is no exaggeration to say that this campaign is now a battle for Britain and British manufacturing and it has struck a chord with the British people. Signs and placards read British manufacturing and British jobs. T&GWU General Secretary Bill Morris reiterated the nationalist rhetoric: The T&G is calling on every family in every house in every street to show their feelings of betrayal against BMW by demonstrating their support for Rover workers and British manufacturing. The union leaders habitual foray into nationalism and anti-German sentiment concealed the negotiations with the venture capitalist firm, Alchemy, which had been hand-picked by BMW to take the reins of the factories and the industry. According to Alchemy CEO Jon Moulton, the trade unions were already in talks about how many auto workers would be laid off and the amount of compensation to be paid. The global auto industry was undergoing a crisis of overproduction, amounting to as high as 30 percent. In response, the corporations unsheathed the butcher knife. Japanese workers at Nissan faced a loss of 21,000 jobs and GM slashed over 3,000 jobs at its Opel Plant in Russelsheim, Germany. Honda announced it envisioned a 50 percent reduction in production at its Swindon plant in England. With the rapid mobility of capital and production in the age of globalization, the only viable strategy to defend the jobs and living standards of autoworkers was through the international unity of the working class revolving around socialist demands of expropriation and workers control. 50 years ago: US-backed dictator Chiang Kai-shek dies On April 5, 1975, Chiang Kai-shek, the longtime leader of the Chinese nationalist party, the Kuomintang (KMT), and head of the exiled government in Taiwan, died at the age of 87. His death followed years of deteriorating health, including multiple heart attacks and kidney failure. His son, Chiang Ching-kuo, shortly after consolidated authority on the island and continued the martial law regime. Chiang Kai-shek Chiang Kai-shek was a reactionary figure whose political existence was marked by his service as a key instrument of US imperialism in China. In 1926, soon after he became its leader, Chiangs KMT launched the Northern Expedition military campaign to unify China, which had been splintered among rival warlords after the fall of the Qing dynasty in 1911. The effort relied on an alliance with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and the Stalinist leadership in Moscow, and depended on the subordination of the Chinese working class to the bourgeois KMT. Stalin went so far as to invite Chiang to be an honorary member of the Comintern executive committee, disregarding warnings from Leon Trotsky that Chiang would turn on the CCP and the workers. The alliance rapidly broke down after workers in Shanghai carried out an uprising in 1927 and took control of the city. Fearing the growth of Communist support in the working class, Chiang ordered the massacre of Shanghais communist and labor leaders, resulting in the slaughter of as many as 10,000 socialist workers. During these events, Chiang is reported to have said that he would rather mistakenly kill 1,000 innocent people than allow one communist to escape. Following Japans defeat in the WWII in 1945, Chiang again waged a civil war against the CCP, backed heavily by US military and financial aid. But by then the balance of forces had dramatically shifted and with the victory of the Chinese Revolution in 1949 he was forced to flee the mainland to Taiwan where he established the Republic of China military dictatorship, protected by the US navy. His regime, propped up by American imperialism, ruled through martial law, suppressing dissent through mass executions and imprisonments during the period known as the White Terror. The KMT maintained the fiction that it remained the legitimate government of all of China, though in reality, it could not exist without US military backing. In the period shortly before his death, the global position of Chiangs regime faced a series of setbacks. In 1971 the United Nations revoked Taiwans status as the recognized government of mainland China and granted its seat to the Maoist-led government of the People's Republic of China. The next year US President Richard Nixon made a historic visit to China to meet with Mao Zedong and began the process of normalizing relations. 75 years ago: US longshore union leader Harry Bridges convicted in anticommunist witch-hunt On April 4, 1950, US union leader Harry Bridges was convicted by a San Francisco federal court jury of perjury in relation to his earlier denial of having links to the Communist Party. The Australian-born Bridges, president of the International Longshoremen's and Warehousemen's Union (ILWU), was also found guilty of obtaining American citizenship by fraud. The trial, which began in November 1949, was preceded by an investigation launched by the Department of Justice and the FBI to determine if Bridges had lied in his 1945 citizenship hearing. During the hearing, Bridges, who arrived in the US from Australia in 1920, swore to not being a member of the Communist Party. In May 1949, a federal grand jury indicted Bridges for committing perjury during that hearing. Harry Bridges Six days after the guilty verdict was handed down, Bridges was sentenced to five years prison time, which he was able to avoid with bail payment. Months afterwards, he was stripped of his citizenship. A Supreme Court decision in 1953 would later overturn both his convictions from 1950 as well as restore his US citizenship. Bridges had been unsuccessfully targeted twice before for deportation, in 1939 and 1941, on the basis of Roosevelt administration claims he was a subversive. Bridges was a key leader in the 1934 San Francisco General Strike, though his role concluded with support for the reactionary AFL leadership which worked to shut down the strike. The Truman administrations targeting of Bridges in 1949-50 was directly connected to smashing the post-war strike action of the ILWU, as well as the growing crackdown on all left-wing affiliations within the unions. Bridges never walked back his denial of being a Communist Party member. Nonetheless, his political perspective aligned precisely with that of Stalinism and the orders of the Kremlin. During World War II, Bridges fully backed the no-strike order of the Roosevelt administration, denounced the coal miners engaged in the 1943 national strike, and urged the workers in the ILWU to do more work and to relinquish certain gains that we have fought for in the past. His vicious anti-Trotskyism was perhaps expressed most clearly when he supported the political repression by the capitalist state towards members of the Socialist Workers Party (SWP)then the American section of the Trotskyist movementduring the Smith Act trials of 1941. 100 years: Sergei Eisenstein begins filming Battleship Potemkin On March 31, 1925, Soviet filmmaker Sergei Eisenstein, began filming his masterpiece Battleship Potemkin, which depicted the mutiny of sailors in Odessa and mass protests against the Tsarist regime during the first Russian Revolution of 1905. Eisenstein had completed his first feature film, Strike!, which would be released in April 1925, but had already received favorable reviews in the Soviet press. The state Jubilee Commission for the 20th anniversary of the 1905 Revolution approached the 27-year-old Eisenstein and scriptwriter Nina Agadzhanova-Shutko, an old Bolshevik, to make the film. But they were under pressure to complete it during the anniversary year. Battleship Potemkin original movie poster Eisenstein originally conceived of the film as an epic about the 1905 revolution as a whole, beginning with the Russo-Japanese War in 1904, including the general strike in St. Petersburg and concluding with the counterrevolutionary pogroms after the defeat of the revolution. The incident of the mutiny on the Potemkin was originally planned to be only a small part of the film. Eisenstein was still shooting the film in Leningrad in August, when, because of unfavorable lighting conditions, he decided to move the set to Odessa where the decision was made to focus on the mutiny. The 1905 revolution began after a mass strike on January 21 and the January 22 massacre in St. Petersburg of workers who were petitioning the Tsar for a constitution. The revolution reached its height with the general strike in St Petersburg and Moscow. During the revolution the workers created the first Councils of Workers Deputies, or (in Russian) soviets. The St. Petersburg Soviet was led by the 26-year-old Leon Trotsky. In June 1905, sailors on the Black Sea battleship Prince Potemkin revolted because they were served meat crawling with maggots. The sailors became involved in the revolutionary events in Odessa and eventually were able to find refuge in the Romanian port of Constanta. There they were met and politically educated by Christian Rakovsky, who would later, after the 1917 revolution, become the head of Soviet Ukraine and then a leader of Leon Trotskys Left Opposition. The film, whose images of revolt and state repression expressed an entire era in a few frames, would go on to become one of the classics of world cinema. A humanitarian disaster is unfolding in Myanmar following the devastating 7.7 magnitude earthquake there on Friday. As of early Monday morning, the death toll had risen to 1,700, though this figure will certainly grow as rescue teams search the rubble and reach outlying areas. Recovery efforts are underway in neighboring Thailand, which was also affected. Buildings in damaged by Myanmar earthquake, March 29, 2025 [Photo: UNICEF] The earthquake struck along the Sagaing Fault near Mandalay, the second largest city in Myanmar. Other major cities along the fault include Yangon and the capital of Naypyitaw. The earthquake as well as powerful aftershocks knocked down buildings and bridges while destroying roads, essentially flattening whole towns. There are also serious concerns about the state of Myanmars dams. In addition to those killed, more than 3,400 have been injured while many more remain missing. The US Geological Survey estimates that the death toll could surpass 10,000. Myanmar is one of the poorest countries in the world and many of the buildings were not constructed to withstand earthquakes. Brian Baptie of the British Geological Survey told the Associated Press, When you have a large earthquake in an area where there are over a million people, many of them living in vulnerable buildings, the consequences can often be disastrous. These conditions are making it difficult for healthcare and rescue workers. Damage to roads, airports, and other infrastructure is causing delays in getting aid to those who need it. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) stated 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. OCHA further noted, Thousands of people are spending the nights on the streets or open spaces due to the damage and destruction to homes or fearing further quakes. Han Zin, a resident of the city of Sagaing, located near the earthquakes epicenter, told Reuters, What we are seeing here is widespread destructionmany buildings have collapsed into the ground We have received no aid, and there are no rescue workers in sight. He added that much of the town is without electricity and that drinking water was running out. Most of the efforts to provide aid and locate people trapped under buildings has been conducted by self-organized groups of residents who lack the necessary tools and equipment to dig people out of the rubble. Rescuers have also cited fears that many buildings are unstable and could collapse, preventing them from searching for survivors. The destruction could potentially equal as much as 70 percent of Myanmars GDP, which stood at $US64.28 billion last year. Prior to the earthquake, the World Bank also predicted the economy would contract by 1 percent at the end of the fiscal year this month. Nyi Nyi Kyaw, a political scientist at the University of Bristol who is from Myanmar stated, In essence, Myanmar is wholly unable to deal with the shock and its aftermath. Several countries have dispatched rescue teams, including China, Russia, India, and Thailand. Beijing sent 135 rescue personnel and necessary supplies while pledging $US13.8 million dollars. The Trump administration in the US has pledged support, but a three-person team from the US Agency for International Development (USAID) is not expected to arrive until Wednesday. Even as the earthquake was unfolding, Trump was gutting the organization. Last Friday, USAID employees in the process of preparing a response to the earthquake received emails notifying them that they had been fired. Other natural disasters have also battered Myanmar in the past year, including Typhoon Yagi, impacting an estimated 2.4 million people as well as half of the countrys agricultural firms. This led to a sharp increase in food insecurity, which is now being exacerbated. In Thailand, which also felt the effects of Fridays earthquake, at least 18 people have been killed in Bangkok, including 10 workers constructing a high-rise building. An additional 78 people are missing and some people are believed to still be alive under the wreckage. Naruemol Thonglek, the wife of one of the missing workers, who is from Myanmar, said, I was praying that that they had survived, but when I got here and saw the ruin where could they be? Other fatalities also occurred at construction sites. Many people in Bangkok were unable to return to their homes, pending safety checks. The city government said it had received more than 9,500 reports of building damage. Residents shared pictures online of their homes with cracks in them. People were forced to sleep in parks, with the city providing portable toilets and drinking water. The earthquake disaster could lead to serious political unrest, particularly in Myanmar where the ruling military junta has been in control since staging a coup in February 2021. This intensified armed conflict involving separatist armed militias, which has been ongoing in the country for decades. The junta, which is highly unpopular, holds a fragile grip on power and its inability to provide aid could trigger a mass anti-government movement. Junta leader Senior General Min Aung Hlaing stated over the weekend, All military and civilian hospitals, as well as healthcare workers, must work together in a coordinated and efficient manner to ensure effective medical response. However, the government has restricted aid from reaching many of those displaced by the civil war. The National Unity Government (NUG), a coalition of forces opposed to the junta, controls large parts of the Sagaing region. The NUG stated Saturday night that there would be a partial two-week ceasefire in earthquake-affected regions, beginning the next day. It also stated that it would cooperate with the UN and aid organizations to ensure security, transportation, and the establishment of temporary rescue and medical camps. The military has reportedly continued air strikes against opposition forces, including in the states of Kayin and Shan, both of which border the Mandalay region. The UNs Special Rapporteur on Myanmar Tom Andrews described the situation as nothing short of incredible. He stated, Anyone who has influence on the military needs to step up the pressure and make it very clear that this is not acceptable. Over the last four years alone, more than 75,000 people have been killed and more than 3.5 million people have been displaced. Furthermore, throughout Myanmar, an estimated 19.9 million people, or slightly more than one-third of the population, were already in need of aid before the earthquake, with millions facing food insecurity. Dr. Peter Marks, Director of the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research within the Food and Drug Administration, testifies during a Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions hearing to examine an update from federal officials on efforts to combat COVID-19, Tuesday, May 11, 2021 on Capitol Hill in Washington D.C. [AP Photo/Jim Lo Scalzo] Fridays resignation of Dr. Peter Marks from his role as head of the Food and Drug Administrations (FDA) Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research represents a significant milestone in the Trump administrations systematic dismantling of US public health and scientific research institutions. Dr. Marks, a key figure in orchestrating Operation Warp Speed beginning in March 2020, played the central role in the development and deployment of COVID-19 vaccines within a year of the pandemics declaration. In his resignation letter to Dr. Sara Brenner, acting FDA Commissioner, Marks emphasized the pivotal scientific achievements under his watch, writing: At FDA, the tireless efforts of staff across the agency resulted in remarkably expediting the development of vaccines against the virus, meeting the standards for quality, safety, and effectiveness expected by the American public. The vaccines undoubtedly markedly reduced morbidity and mortality from COVID-19 in the United States and elsewhere. After noting the extensive historical impact of vaccines on improving global health and well-being, Marks closed his letter with a scathing denunciation of Trumps Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., writing: As you are aware, I was willing to work to address the Secretarys concerns regarding vaccine safety and transparency by hearing from the public and implementing a variety of different public meetings and engagements with the National Academy of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. However, it has become clear that truth and transparency are not desired by the Secretary, but rather he wishes subservient confirmation of his misinformation and lies. In his letter, Marks makes clear that a central impetus behind his resignation was Kennedys criminal response to the deepening measles outbreak across the US, which has officially infected 400 people in Texas and over 500 across the US, the vast majority unvaccinated children. Marks wrote: The ongoing multistate measles outbreak that is particularly severe in Texas reminds us of what happens when confidence in well-established science underlying public health and well-being is undermined. Measles, which killed more than 100,000 unvaccinated children last year in Africa and Asia owing to pneumonitis and encephalitis caused by the virus, had been eliminated from our shores. Stating clearly that the vaccine very simply does not cause autism, nor is it associated with encephalitis or death, Marks stressed: It does, however, protect against a potential devastating consequence of prior measles infection, subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE), which is an untreatable, relentlessly progressive neurologic disorder leading to death in about 1 in 10,000 individuals infected with measles. Undermining confidence in well-established vaccines that have met the high standards for quality, safety, and effectiveness that have been in place for decades at FDA is irresponsible, detrimental to public health, and a clear danger to our nations health, safety, and security. The majority of measles cases in the worsening nationwide outbreakapproximately 75 percentare children aged 19 and younger, while a staggering 97 percent of those infected have not received vaccinations. To date, 70 individuals have been hospitalized, including 58 children, with 40 of those under the age of five. Two people have died so far, of whom one was an unvaccinated child. Amid this growing crisis, some parents in Gaines County, Texasthe epicenter of the outbreakare resorting to quack remedies and unverified supplements promoted by Kennedy to protect their unvaccinated children, including cod liver oil, rich in vitamin A. Despite this already leading to several cases of liver toxicity due to vitamin A overdose, with affected children requiring hospital treatment, Kennedy has not retracted his promotion of the quack remedy. Despite the availability of a safe and effective vaccine, measles continues to pose a severe threat, largely due to the pervasive influence of anti-vaccine disinformation from Kennedy and his allies. The COVID-19 pandemic, rather than strengthening public engagement with scientific discourse, has profoundly exacerbated the politicization of health science and fueled anti-public health sentiments, leaving communities vulnerable to preventable diseases. Measles was eliminated in 2000 after over 30 years of a mass vaccination campaign. Only in 2018 did cases begin to flare up again, the product of anti-vaccine sentiment fueled by the likes of Kennedy. If the current rate of infection continues, the US status of having eliminated measles will be over by next year. Marks resignation also takes place amidst Kennedys gutting of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The restructuring plan, which threatens to slash staffing levels by 25 percent from 82,000 to 62,000 employees, consolidates 28 divisions into 15, and shuts down half of the HHS regional offices, has raised significant concerns about the future of public health administration in the country. Compounding these concerns are the appointments of Great Barrington Declaration co-author Jay Bhattacharya as head of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and Dr. Marty Makary as FDA Commissioner, two Trump loyalists who have spouted anti-vaccine and pro-infection propaganda throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Another critical factor clearly motivating Marks decision was Kennedys appointment of leading anti-vaccine conspiracy theorist David Geier to lead a new official study into the long-debunked claims that vaccines cause autism, which has ignited a firestorm of criticism from the medical and scientific community. Geier has been previously disciplined for practicing medicine without a license and lacks a medical degree. Along with his father, Dr. Michael Geierwho had his medical license revokedthey have been involved in multiple discredited studies attempting to establish a link between thimerosal, a vaccine preservative formerly containing ethylmercury, and autism. Notably, thimerosal has been phased out of most vaccines since 2001 due to public concerns, despite lacking evidence of harm. Additionally, the Geiers have promoted controversial and medically dubious treatments for autism, including chemical castration and chelation therapy, further entrenching their positions within the anti-vaccine movement. Geiers appointment obviously eliminates any credibility and integrity of the proposed study, which will be used to advance their anti-vaccine agenda shared by Kennedy. Despite exhaustive research by global medical and scientific communities that has found no evidence whatsoever to support a link between vaccines and autism, this new study will involve a deliberate attempt to undermine factual science in favor of predetermined conclusions. It will undoubtedly lead to the propagation of further disinformation and negatively impact public health, fueling the current measles outbreak and setting the stage for the proliferation of other long-eliminated infectious diseases. Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Kennedy has become the central figure of the contemporary anti-vaccine movement, earning a spot as one of the Disinformation Dozen most responsible for promoting disinformation about the COVID-19 vaccines. In these fascistic efforts, Kennedy has profited handsomely. Disclosures from his 2024 ethics agreement reveal substantial financial connections, including $856,559 in referral fees from the Wisner Baum law firm over the last year, adding up to $2.5 million over three years. This firm is known for its dubious legal battles against pharmaceutical companies, including a failed lawsuit against Mercks HPV vaccine Gardasil, which they falsely claimed could cause the cancer it aims to prevent. Though Kennedy has reassigned his personal stakes in these lawsuits to his son, Conor Kennedy, this maneuver does not obscure the underlying profit motive and corruption tied to his political position as secretary of health. The potential for Kennedy and his associates to directly profit from promoting discredited links between vaccines and autism is alarming, as it threatens to undermine decades of public health achievements. The current official political climate, dominated by far-right populist rhetoric and Trumps aggressive undermining of democratic norms, serves as a fertile ground for anti-vaccine movements. These movements exploit public fears and skepticism to erode trust in science and public institutions. To counter this far-right propaganda, workers must recognize that public health and scientific truth are not personal concerns but are deeply intertwined with the class struggle. The American and international working class must organize and ally with principled scientists to force the implementation of socialist policies that prioritize public health over profit. On Thursday, University of Michigan (U-M) President Santa Ono announced the immediate ending of all facets of its Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) program. U-Ms DEI program has served as a national model since its inception in 2016 and is one of the highest-funded such programs in the country. The sudden elimination of the $236 million program marks a complete capitulation by the university to the fascist Trump administration. It will serve as the basis for further cuts and attacks on the democratic rights of students and workers across the country. It follows on the heels of Columbia Universitys acceptance of Trumps demands for a further crackdown on pro-Palestinian speech and the imposition of an America First agenda on college campuses, including a whitewash of the crimes of American imperialism both around the world and domestically. Columbia capitulated to avert a cutoff of $400 million in government funds to the university. U-M preemptively wound up its DEI program in part for similar monetary reasons. University of Michigan President Santa Ono in Ann Arbor, Michigan. [AP Photo/Carlos Osorio] In an email sent to all U-M students, staff and faculty, and to U-M-owned Michigan Medicine medical system staff, Ono announced the elimination of all DEI-related initiatives. The cuts include: The closure of the universitys two main DEI officesthe Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (ODEI), and the Office for Health Equity and Inclusion (OHEI). The discontinuation of its DEI 2.0 Strategic Plan, which was aimed at ensuring that all schools, departments and clinical units incorporate DEI-related goals and policies into their charters, constitutions, hiring initiatives, and administrative functions. The elimination of all DEI 2.0 courses, related programming, progress reporting, training and funding. Review of all U-M web references to DEI-initiatives in online class descriptions and other related information, to ensure compliance with federal executive orders and guidance. In addition to these actions, U-M is extending its December 5 decision to end the use of diversity statements in faculty hiring, meaning it will no longer solicit statements related to a persons commitment to DEI in admissions, hiring, promotion, awards, annual reviews or other assessments for faculty and staff. Writing on that decision last December, the WSWS warned: With the abandonment of diversity statements the Democratic Party-controlled Board of Regents is seeking to accommodate U-M to the incoming fascistic Trump administration. This warning has been fully confirmed. In his March 27 email, Ono cited three of Trumps executive orders as well as a February Dear Colleague letter from the Department of Education that threaten to cut off funding for failing to root out anything DEI-related. Vast sums of money, including the universitys $19.2 billion endowment, and hundreds of highly paid administrative positions are to be preserved, while reactionary attacks on students and free speech will now deepen across U-M and other campuses that will follow its lead. Already, university administrations at Columbia, Cornell and elsewhere are collaborating in the persecution and possible deportation of non-citizen students such as Mahmoud Khalil and Momodou Taal. U-Ms preemptive scrapping of its DEI program reflects the policies and political position of the Democratic Party in Michigan and nationally, which is accommodating the fascist Trump regime at every turn. The same administration that is seeking to ingratiate itself with Trump to maintain its billions in government funding implemented the bipartisan crackdown on anti-Gaza genocide protesters under the Democratic Biden administration and is intensifying it under Trump, using the slanderous charge that opposition to US-Israeli genocide in Gaza is antisemitism. In October of last year, leaked audio revealed Ono saying, The government could call me tomorrow and say, in a very unbalanced way, that the university is not doing enough to combat antisemitism. He added that the government could say something like, well, we will withhold two billion dollars in funding if you dont address antisemitism. In January of this year, U-M banned Students Allied for Freedom and Equality (SAFE), the local chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP), for holding peaceful protests against the Gaza genocide throughout 2024. The ban on SAFE, which deprived the group of formal club status, access to university facilities and the right to promote its views on campus, was the first-ever suspension of a legacy student organization in the universitys history. The U-M Board of Regents has worked with Michigans Democratic Attorney General Dana Nessel to prosecute nine U-M students and community members on felony charges for peacefully protesting the Gaza genocide. Earlier this month, Ono, who pulls in an annual seven-figure salary, was a featured panelist at the Zionist Anti-Defamation League (ADL) Never Is Now Summit in Washington D.C. There he boasted of personally intervening to suppress a Central Student Government (CSG) referendum that included a popular resolution urging the university to acknowledge the genocidal character of the Israeli war and divest from pro-Israel companies. Ono also told the ADL audience that the campus protests against the universitys financial involvement with Israeli-funded companies had only doubled his resolve to strengthen ties with Israel. He said, My response and the [Board of Regents] response to this call to divest and to cut those relationships was to actually invest even more. The very speed with which the University of Michigan capitulated to the demands of the neo-Nazis who run the Trump administration shows that the vast DEI apparatus and the racialist and identity politics on which it is based have nothing to do with a genuine defense of democratic rights. DEI has, from its origins, reflected the interests of sections of the ruling class that seek to cover up the fundamental class divisions under capitalism. Closely aligned with the Democratic Party, its aim is to prioritize race and other forms of personal identity over class, the better to divide the working class. It overwhelmingly serves those who seek to use race or gender to secure privileges and lucrative positions within the existing social order and the political system dominated by two parties of inequality, war and austerity. The DEI programs have, in fact, benefited only a thin layer of blacks, women, gays, and others who have secured positions within the political system, the trade union bureaucracy, the media and academia based on preferential hiring and promotion programs such as affirmative action. Meanwhile, the oligarchic domination of American politics and economic life has reached unprecedented levels, and the impoverishment of the majority of workers of all races has continued, while US imperialism has carried out more than three decades of non-stop wars of aggression all over the world. Rising tuition at U-M and other universities has forced youth to take on a lifetime of student loan debt in order to pay for college. The attack on DEI from the fascistic right has taken advantage of the hypocrisy of its democratic and progressive pretensions and the frustration and resentment of workers and low-income middle-class layers of all races to falsely equate identity and woke politics with cultural Marxism and socialism. The aim of Trump and company is to roll back the real social and democratic gains of the Civil Rights Movement and the struggles of the working class over more than a century and fuel racist, segregationist and antisemitic forces. This can be opposed and defeated not by upholding the racialist and reformist politics of DEI and the false claim that the source of oppression of blacks and other minorities is white racism, and, by implication, the supposedly reactionary character of white workers. Rather, these attacks can only be opposed through the fight of Marxism and socialism to unite all sections of workers and youth within the US and internationally on the basis of a struggle to put an end to capitalist exploitation and imperialist war through socialist revolution. This means appealing to the democratic sentiments deeply ingrained in the consciousness of the American working class and fighting for complete legal and social equality, to be achieved through the expropriation of the billionaire oligarchs who exercise a de facto dictatorship through the two-party system that upholds capitalism. To oppose these attacks at U-M and around the country, students and youth must join and build the International Youth and Students for Social Equality (IYSSE) at the University of Michigan. The IYSSE at U-M, as across the country and internationally, fights to turn students to the working classthe mass social and international force that can stop fascism and the attack on democratic rights. Appeals to the Democratic Party and university administrations, which are fully complicit in Trumps fascist rampage, are futile and a dead end. Students must turn to autoworkers, nurses, teachers, immigrant workers, service workers and other sections of the working class to unite the working class in a counteroffensive for democracy, equality, an end to war and for socialism. The Socialist Equality Party (UK)s Assistant National Secretary Tom Scripps visited the Foreign Office in London Monday afternoon to deliver a letter raising the case of Momodou Taal and insisting the British government act to defend the rights of its citizen. Taal is being threatened with detention and deportation by the US Trump administration for exercising his rights to free speech and protest over the genocide of the Palestinians. He is a legal resident of the US, studying at Cornell University. A member of Labour Foreign Secretary David Lammys office received the letter, the text of which is below. *** Dear Foreign Secretary, Momodou Taal, a British-Gambian citizen, is currently at risk of unlawful detention and deportation from the United States for his pro-Palestinian activism at Cornell University. The great-grandson of Gambias first president, Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara, Taal has been studying, teaching and working on his Ph.D dissertation in Africana Studies at Cornell since 2022. He is now one of the hundreds of international students the Trump administration is, according to Secretary of State Marc Rubio, already actively seeking to remove from the country on bogus charges of antisemitism. This includes Columbia University students Mahmoud Khalil who has been arrested and imprisoned, and Yunseo Chung, a legal US permanent resident since the age of seven. Taals persecution is being mounted on the basis that, on September 18, 2024, he took part in a peaceful and legal protest opposing a recruitment drive by defence contractors L3 Harris and Boeing. He was threatened with de-enrolment by Cornell University, which would have forced him to leave the United States within 48 hours. Cornell was forced to withdraw its threat under the pressure of popular protest, but this disciplinary action became the basis for the Federal Government citing Taal under Executive Order 14188, signed by President Trump on January 29. Taal became one of the signatories to a March 15 challenge to Trumps Executive Orders 14188 and 14161. Four days later, he was put under state surveillance and, on March 21, ordered by the Justice Department to surrender to ICE for deportation. Civil libertarians and lawyers for Mr. Taal have said efforts to deport him are an unprecedented violation of his First Amendment rights. Eric Lee, representing Mr Taal, said, Theres nothing in the Immigration and Nationality Act that makes someone deportable for attending a protest and to do so would mean the government can jail people for their speech. The threat to Taal is grave. Individuals ordered to be deported by the US government have been disappeared into foreign jails, or to Guantanamo Bay. The British government has a responsibility to defend Momodou Taals freedom of speech and lawful political activity against the arbitrary and unconstitutional action taken against him by the Trump administration. In your own 2022 Labour Party conference speech as then shadow foreign secretary, you pledged that a Labour government would introduce a legal right to consular assistance, specifically criticising the Conservative governments approach in dual national cases including Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, Morad Tahbaz and Jagtar Singh Johal. In October 2023, you also announced that a new Special Envoy for Arbitrary Detention would be introduced if Labour won the general election. As Foreign Secretary of a government headed by the former human rights lawyer Sir Keir Starmer, you are clearly obligated to defend Momodou Taal against the exercise of arbitrary state power by any government, including and above all one that the UK is declared to have a special relationship with. You must formally insist that he is extended his full constitutional protections guaranteeing free speech and that he be allowed to remain in the United States to continue his studies without fear of persecution. Moreover, should the Trump administration proceed with its threats against Taal, and should he choose to leave the United States, your government must guarantee him safe and dignified passage to the United Kingdom. Yours sincerely, Chris Marsden National Secretary, Socialist Equality Party (UK) A scene from a mass rally in Maltepe, Istanbul demanding Freedom for Imamoglu, March 29, 2025. [Photo: @herkesicinCHP] Hundreds of thousands of people gathered in Istanbuls Maltepe district on Saturday to protest the arrest of Ekrem Imamoglu, mayor of Istanbul and presidential candidate of the Republican Peoples Party (CHP). The CHP said that 2.2 million people attended the rally, while the Security Directorate claimed that only 150,000 people gathered. On March 19, Imamoglu was detained on charges of corruption and aiding terrorism, and on March 23, he was arrested and sent to prison on charges of corruption based on secret witness allegations. On the same day, 15.5 million people voted in the CHPs presidential primaries, in which Imamoglu was the only candidate. In recent polls, Imamoglu was ahead of Erdogan in opinion polls, and it had been expected for some time that increasing police operations targeting political opponents was moving toward Imamoglu. Imamoglus arrest sparked mass protests involving millions across the country. The government of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan responded with a wave of police repression and arrests. More than 2,000 people have been detained and over 300 have been unlawfully jailed. Erdogan has also tried to end the boycotts and mass protests, especially at universities, by extending the Eid al-Fitr holiday, which ends on Wednesday. The Sosyalist Esitlik Grubu (Socialist Equality Group), the Turkish section of the International Committee of the Fourth International, reiterates its demand for the release of all political prisoners. The masses of workers and youth must mobilize independently to defend democratic rights and carry the struggle forward. This requires fighting for the revolutionary perspective put forward by SEG and ICFI. CHP leader Ozgur Ozel announced in his speech in Maltepe that they will start a petition demanding Imamoglus release and early elections. Although Ozel insists that they will continue their struggle in the streets, he seeks to control the mass movement that erupted spontaneously at the beginning by directing it towards the next elections. Ozel widened the boycott campaign against several media outlets and companies that ignored or opposed the protests. He also stated that the secret witness who played a critical role in Imamoglus arrest has 55 criminal records. The man who used to get a job from the [Erdogans Justice and Development Party] AKP and is now slandering Mayor Ekrem has more than 100 crimes. We will not allow you to try and defame Mayor Ekrem by inventing witnesses from rapists and harassers, he said. In his message for Eid al-Fitr, which began on Sunday, Erdogan hinted that the operations targeting CHP would continue: They [Imamoglu and CHP] have surrounded the municipalities like an octopus. They are trying to cover up street terror and robbery. We are following the investigations into terror and corruption. We see where the arms of the criminal organization extend. The street terror is an attempt to cover up the robbery. Of course, as the investigation continues and deepens, the reach of the arms of the criminal organization that surrounds the communities like an octopus will be revealed. In response to Erdogans accusation that he was complaining about Turkey to the world, Ozel said, When democracy is threatened in a country, when those who are elected do not leave with elections, when there is a coup, the world is interested in it. Bringing up significant historical issues, Ozel declared, You are the political continuation of those who signed Sevres [Treaty], but we are on the path of those who tore Sevres and made Lausanne. Treaty of Sevres with zones of influence [Photo: Str1977 - Self-made] The Treaty of Sevres, signed in 1920 after the First World War, divided the Ottoman territories, including modern-day Turkey, between the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Greece and Armenia. The treaty was accepted by the Ottoman government in Istanbul but rejected by the rebellious Grand National Assembly and the Turkish nationalist movement led by Mustafa Kemal (Ataturk) in Ankara. As a result of the War of National Liberation waged with the support of the young Soviet Republic led by Vladimir Lenin and Leon Trotsky, the occupation of Turkey by British, French, Italian, Greek and Armenian troops or militias ended, the Treaty of Lausanne was signed, and a republic was proclaimed in 1923. Following Ozels interview with the BBC, Erdogan said, The CHP leader is begging for help from a foreign media organization that has lost credibility due to its hypocritical coverage of the Gaza genocide, adding, We have seen that they have lost control to the point of begging the West, and argued that the CHP is demanding a political mandate. This was a reference to those who demanded a British or US mandate at the end of the First World War. On his X account, Erdogan asked, Is it appropriate for the leader of the main opposition party to complain about his country and ask for help from the West? ... Can such a politician defend his countrys interests against the imperialists? Can someone who begs for help on the [TV] screens stand upright against the imperialists? In the interview, Ozel had lamented the lack of opposition to Erdogans regime from his British ally, Labour Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, stating: We feel abandoned... What kind of friendship is this, what kind of sister party is this? How can we defend democracy together? In Turkey, where the overwhelming majority of the population opposes NATO and its wars and war plans across the regions, Erdogan, who leads the Islamist AKP in power since 2002, and Ozel, the leader of the Kemalist CHP, accuse each other of being pro-imperialist, while in reality the accusation applies to both bourgeois parties. Calculating that there would be no major backlash from the Trump administration in the United States or his allies in Europe, Erdogan set out to liquidate his main political rival, Imamoglu. The fact that his imperialist allies see Turkey as a critical partner in their predatory plans in the Middle East and Ukraine played an important role. Trump, who has threatened to bomb Iran, sees Erdogans support as crucial in a possible war with Iran. Even as Erdogan criticizes the genocide in Gaza and declares his support for Hamas, he continues to supply Israels war machine with oil and other critical materials. The claims of anti-imperialism of CHP leader Ozel--who emphasised in interviews with CNN and the BBC during the protests that they are more of a NATO party than Erdogan--are also groundless. Both the AKP and the CHP voted for the expansion of NATO against Russia by admitting Finland and Sweden as new members and are allied with the US and European imperialism, which support the genocide in Gaza by all means. The pro-imperialist character of these parties is the political expression of the deep-rooted ties of the Turkish bourgeoisie they both represent to imperialism and its hostility to the working class. A coherent anti-imperialist policy can only be advanced from an international socialist perspective based on the working class against both NATO and Zionism and against its ruling class and all its parties. This is also the only way forward in the struggle for democracy against Erdogans dictatorial regime. ASTANA, Kazakhstan, March 31. Slovenia is considering new directions for investments in Kazakhstan, stated the President of Slovenia, Natasa Pirc Musar, during talks with the President of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, in a closed-format meeting, Trend reports. Welcoming the distinguished guest at the Akorda residence, the president of Kazakhstan underscored that her visit opens exceptional prospects for deepening and expanding Kazakh-Slovenian partnership. We intend to establish closer cooperation with your country, and I, as president, will do everything possible to strengthen ties in all areas of mutual interest. We have the opportunity to offer your entrepreneurs, as well as the government, several attractive projects, said the president of Kazakhstan. As the president pointed out, 19 companies with Slovenian capital are successfully operating in Kazakhstan in sectors such as pharmaceuticals, engineering, telecommunications, and renewable energy. Moreover, Kazakhstan and Slovenia have great potential in the fields of transportation, logistics, digitalization and innovation, healthcare, and tourism. The president of Slovenia expressed sincere gratitude to Kassym-Jomart Tokayev for the warm welcome extended to her and her delegation. Over the 33 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between our countries, there has not been a single unresolved issue. You rightly pointed out that this creates the conditions for expanding and deepening economic cooperation. Therefore, I brought a large business delegation with me. They have already begun discussing promising partnership areas with Kazakh colleagues. Economic exchange is growing, but I believe we can achieve more. Contacts between presidents and politicians are always a step forward because politicians should open doors for business, said Natasa Pirc Musar. During the negotiation process, there was a comprehensive dialogue regarding an extensive array of global and regional matters. Slovenian direct capital infusion into the Kazakh economic landscape has approached the $200 million threshold. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Subscription to paid content Gain access to all that Trend has to offer, as well as to premium, licensed content via subscription or direct purchase through a credit card. Five-time Billboard Country Airplay chart-topper Jordan Davis will hit the road again this year, when his 18-city, headlining 2025 Aint Enough Road Tour, produced by Live Nation, launches Sept. 11 at Acrisure Arena in Greater Palm Springs, Calif. As the I Aint Sayin hitmaker prepares for the tour later this year, he says hes feeling the pressure in the best way. The most pressure I feel as a touring artist is when you announce that new tour and now its a blank slate, Davis tells Billboard, noting his focus is on giving his best to find new ways of bringing his music and live shows to fans who have supported him since the beginning, from his 2018 debut album, Home State. More from Billboard Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were so blessed with an amazing fanbase, truly, the people that have been to 30+ shows and who continue to come and see us and support us, Davis says. When I think of a new tour, thats who I immediately go to, the day one fans. Its like, How do I do something that they havent seen? If I can do something that feels new and feels cool to a fan thats been there from day one, I think Im going to cover the wide range of fans weve picked up along the way. The Aint Enough Road Tour will make stops in Los Angeles, Phoenix, New York, St. Louis and more, before concluding Oct. 25 in Estero, Floridas Hertz Arena. Davis will welcome Hell Is a Dance Floor hitmaker Vincent Mason as an opener. Also joining him is Truth About You hitmaker Mitchell Tenpenny, who previously opened for Davis on his 2024 Damn Good Time World Tour and joined Davis on Luke Combs recent stadium shows in Australia. Mitchell is a superstar, Davis says, adding, Vincent had Hell is a Dance Floor, and I could not stop listening to that song. I saw he signed with Universal, where Im signed and the second I saw that, I was like, Ive got to get this kid on tour. Mitchell and me have a good time and Vincent looks like hes down to have a good time, too. Its going to be some great music. It was one of those recent Australia shows with Combs and Tenpenny in Brisbane, Australia, that presented Davis with one of his most memorable onstage moments to date. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There were storms coming in, Davis recalls. We were about three-quarters of the way through our show and I kept seeing the lightning getting closer. I thought, I dont know if we will be able to finish this [set] or not, and just then my drummer came through in our in-ears and was like, We have to cut two songs. I always end Buy Dirt with an a cappella piece. I finished Buy Dirt and Im standing out there like, Ah, I cant not do this. So, I just started singing it a cappella and about that time, it starts pouring rain. Ive never heard a crowd get that loud in my life, singing every word. It was truly one of the most special moments Ive had onstage. Starting with his 2018 Country Airplay chart-topper Singles You Up, Davis has become a radio chart mainstay thanks to songs including What My World Spins Around and Tucson Too Late. Two of his hit singles have earned song of the year accolades: ACM song of the year winner Next Thing You Know and CMA/NSAI song of the year winner Buy Dirt. Those songs helped spur his 2023 album Bluebird Days to platinum-selling status, and earlier this year, he notched the No. 2 Country Airplay hit I Aint Sayin. With his new song Bar None, he could potentially extend his chart-topping tally. Though Davis is often a co-writer on many of his hits, such as Tucson Too Late and Buy Dirt, his new song Bar None is an outside cut, written by Hunter Phelps, Lydia Vaughn and Ben Johns, with production by Paul DiGiovanni. I fell in love with it from the first time I listened to it, Davis says. The second you hear the hook, you want to be like, all right, I bet you theyre going to do this. This one surprised me. I didnt really see it going here. I think about the line, If moving on had a scoreboard itd say, You and your memory one/ Me and this bar none. It gave me a smile, like Well done. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He adds, Ive always loved being able to kind of twist a hook. Thats one of my favorite things about songwriting, to take an idea and go somewhere completely different with it. Its something that feels like a song I havent done from a production standpoint, even instrumentation-wise, with the banjo part [at the beginning]. While his new single centers on a vain attempt at drowning heartbreak in a barroom, Davis time is devoted to his career and his family both of which continue expanding as he keeps piling up hit songs, while he and his wife Kristen are expecting their fourth child. Davis says his growing family is looking at moving into a larger home. Jordan Davis That was actually the first thing, when my wife told me she was expecting, I was like, Well, where are we going to put the nursery? So, weve started the search for a place with another bedroom. Davis says they dont know if the baby is a boy or girl yet, and notes, Were just going to wait and find out. Weve got a girl [daughter Eloise, born in 2019] and two boys [Locklan, born in 2021, and Elijah, born in 2023], which means itll probably be another boy, which will increase the gray hairs on my head, he says with a chuckle. My boys want another brother, and my daughter really wants a sister. Even as he focuses on family and work, that doesnt mean Davis doesnt have a favorite Nashville bar hell visit on occasion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think my buddy Luke [Bryan]s got a good [bar] downtown with Lukes 32 Bridge. My dad loves to come in town and go honky tonk. If hes in town, well go. Thats one of the few times Ill hit up Broadway, and we usually always find ourselves at Lukes. See the tour announcement video for the Jordan Davis Aint Enough Road Tour, featuring Peyton Manning and Jim Nantz, below: Pre-sale tickets for the Aint Enough Road Tour will be available beginning Wednesday at 10 a.m. through Daviss fanclub The Parish, while tickets for the tour go on sale Friday at 10 a.m. See the list of tour dates for the Jordan Davis: Aint Enough Road Tour below: Sept. 11 Greater Palm Springs, CA @ Acrisure Arena Sept. 12 Concord, CA @ Toyota Pavilion at Concord Sept.18 Los Angeles, CA @ Greek Theatre Sept. 19 Phoenix, AZ @ Arizona Financial Theatre Sept. 20 Albuquerque, NM @ Isleta Amphitheater Sept. 26 Independence, MO @ Cable Dahmer Arena Sept. 27 St. Louis, MO @ Chaifetz Arena Oct. 2 New York, NY @ Radio City Music Hall Oct. 3 Boston, MA @ MGM Music Hall at Fenway Oct. 9 Lincoln, NE @ Pinnacle Bank Arena Oct. 10 Rosemont, IL @ Allstate Arena Oct. 11 Milwaukee, WI @ BMO Pavilion Oct. 16 Dayton, OH @ Wright State University Nutter Center Oct. 17 Hershey, PA @ Giant Center Oct. 23 Duluth, GA @ Gas South Arena Oct. 24 Savannah, GA @ Enmarket Arena Oct. 25 Estero, FL @ Hertz Arena Best of Billboard Sign up for Billboard's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. "They call us 'The Ladies,' " Leslie Bibb says proudly assessing the name given to the video call (TWL Three Ladies) we're on. "That's our text thread The Ladies," adds Carrie Coon, her co-star on "The White Lotus." It's a few days before the penultimate episode of Season 3 drops, and Bibb, Coon and Michelle Monaghan are convening virtually to discuss their fascinating and disturbingly accurate depiction of female friendship. Their characters Jaclyn (Monaghan), an actor newly married to a younger man; Laurie (Coon), a single mom and corporate lawyer; and Kate (Bibb), a wealthy Independent voter from Austin are longtime friends on a girls trip in Thailand that has all the tension and suspense of a horror movie produced by Bravo. Unlike others on the show, these blonde besties are not facing financial ruin, nor are they troubled souls seeking to avenge their father's death, but their A-plus passive aggression and impeccable gossiping has been just as compelling to watch. Who cares about a corpse when you've got friends wondering if you've sandblasted your face? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To help make that dynamic believable, Bibb said the trio began a text thread after they were cast as a way to brainstorm the characters' shared history: "We were like, 'OK, how old were we [when we] met?' I think we decided on 7, 8," she says. "Where are we from? I think we picked Ohio, Midwest. Then we just started sending photos of ourselves when we were kids. And it was really nice to have that because you can just look at it and suddenly you're like, 'Oh, I do know this person.' " "It was incredibly helpful," Monaghan says. "It's exciting to collaborate with them and starting that [thread] and sharing some stories about those times in our lives really just got the ball rolling. We're still sharing photos of our respective families. We're keeping the thread alive. We're bonded." And it seems to have paid off onscreen because they are the embodiment of the TikTok meme "honestly, like, I love her, but she's kind of a problem." Read more: 'The White Lotus' Season 3, Episode 7 recap: Rick has his showdown Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This week's episode brings the ladies simmering tension to a head. With Laurie still peeved about Jaclyn's sleepover with Valentin, the hotel worker the actor had been encouraging Laurie to pursue, the women's dinner turns into a sharing circle of underhanded observations about each other. It ultimately leads to Laurie venturing off to the Muay Thai fight with Valentin and his friends, and she later hooks up with one of them, which results in the world's most awkward pillow talk. The Times spoke with the actors to discuss the trio's blow up in this week's episode, shooting in Thailand and connecting over laundry. Here are edited excerpts from that conversation. The three of you have been memed online for weeks. What's it like to reach meme status? Leslie, has your tight smile made the rounds in your group chats? Bibb: Oh my gosh, it's just funny. I think I'm more impressed that our storyline has struck such a chord with everybody. I feel like you guys will also agree, it's not as dramatic, per se, as the other storylines. I think we did our job very well, the three of us, and the fact that it seems to be resonating with everyone is really, really cool. Talking about beans and pickleball doesn't feel like it's as high drama as lorazepam. This week's episode finds the small-scale warfare and passive aggressiveness between the trio coming to a head. What do you remember about filming the dinner table scene? Monaghan: It really comes to a crescendo at this moment. Laurie is basically fed up. She's fed up with the ladies, specifically Jaclyn. She feels really betrayed by Jaclyn's actions and she's going to let her have it. At this point, I don't think Jaclyn did something that she felt was manipulative or malicious. I think Jaclyn made a really impulsive decision that was, in her mind, fleeting and was fulfilling something in her that felt like a natural reaction to feeling ignored. Maybe back home, she's got some issues. And as a result of having that uproar with the ladies earlier that afternoon at the pool, she's really got her guard up. When Laurie feels compelled to say her piece, I think Jaclyn defends herself and attacks right back and we see the claws come out. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I love the idea that these ladies know each other so well their respective tendencies and the patterns that each one can be so nimble and so deft at pivoting an accusation or deflecting the conversation in their favor. None of the ladies, unfortunately, want to accept responsibility for any of their actions; instead, they're more inclined to hurt each other in this moment than trying to connect and understand each other's insecurities or issues. All of a sudden, you just feel this hurricane of anxiety throughout the scene. They know all the buttons to push. Read more: Welcome back to The White Lotus: Explaining Season 3 Laurie ventures off on her own, and has her rendezvous-gone-bad with Aleksei, Valentin's friend. Carrie, I imagine you weren't surprised by that development, but what did that reveal to you about Laurie? Coon: I love that [creator] Mike [White] has put Laurie in a position where she has to hit a bottom. I love the journey she gets to go on. There's something really thrilling about it. She finally gets laid. You can imagine a world where she gets to go back to her friends and say, "I did it" and "I feel attractive again!" But that's not what happens because it's ultimately humiliating ... in fact, so humiliating that she can barely bring herself to reckon with just how awful it feels to have it be revealed the reasons why. And she's on the outs with her friends. But what I love about that moment is that, though she makes those accusations at the table, Laurie is someone who refuses to take responsibility for her part, and she is not self-reflective, and this moment in the show forces upon her a real true reckoning with her own responsibility for those choices. Michelle, do you think Valentin made that same request of Jaclyn? Is this a scheme? Monaghan: Do I think that Valentin made a request for $10,000? No, I think he got all his money's worth in the moment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bibb: Savage. As Jaclyn would only say. Something that is so funny is how people can't seem to remember the names of these women. We just call them "the trio" or some on the internet call them the white ladies or white frenemies. Mike White calls you the blonde blob. Bibb: I find it fascinating that exactly what Mike wanted, Mike got. He wanted [with] these three women, [that] you couldn't tell them apart. They were all going to be blonde. There were times I would be on set and Carrie and I have a similar enough haircut and the same thing started to happen on set. Even though Michelle's hair was longer, everybody just sort of mushed us together in this blob of the sea. I really feel very lucky to have Carrie and Michelle as scene partners. We got on well and there's chemistry and we were all committed. Coon: Leslie, was [Episode 7] that cicada-frog-boat-elephant night? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bibb: Yes! Monaghan: An elephant in the background. Bibb: And that fing party boat. Coon: On Leslie's coverage that night, it was one biblical event after another. It was like an hour and a half of trying to get Leslie's side of that and she just had to stay focused while there were frogs, cicadas and a party boat Bibb: I can't watch it. Coon: I haven't seen it yet either. Bibb: We were doing that dinner table scene; it was long and it was at night. We did Carrie's and Michelle's coverage first. We get to mine and there was a pickleball monologue. We did that before lunch, we came back from lunch and the cicadas it was like Jesus had just opened the Bible and said, "Let it happen." [A crew member] had a decimal checker and he's like, "Wow, it's 73 decibels." It was crazy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Coon: It felt like forever because of the Doppler effect. It was like 25 minutes of the party boat. Monaghan: We were like, "We're here for you. We're gonna get it." Coon: It took an hour. Bibb: I think I went to my room and I cried because I was like, "It's such a good monologue. I have so much..." But to have both of these women sitting there being like, "You got this." Coon: You were amazing. [Reporter's note: The monologue did not make the final cut.] There are times when it feels like I'm watching a nature documentary about female friendship. It can be volatile, it can be incredibly beautiful, but it's especially complex in groups of three or more. How has the dynamic in the show reflected that for you? Is there a moment that felt like you were seeing yourself in the mirror? Monaghan: What you bring up a really great point about the mirroring. That's Mike's intention. It may also be why a lot of the audience out there cannot remember our character names because what he does so brilliantly is reflect these women onto our respective lives. I see myself in Jaclyn. I see myself in Laurie. I see myself in Kate. The idea that one is always sort of the victim, the perpetrator, the peacekeeper. I just turned 49 I have been all of those women in my lifetime. At different stages of our lives, we've encountered these women, or we've been these women, we've perpetuated this dynamic, or we've also endured this dynamic. I think that's why it's really resonating with with women specifically out there. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more: 'The White Lotus' Season 3 review: More murder, mystery and maybe enlightenment Something that came up in my conversations with friends about the trio is our earliest memories of experiencing this dynamic, which, for me, was as a 5-year-old, when I moved into a new neighborhood and there were two girls across the street. They would talk badly about the other to me. Has it provoked any conversations among your friend groups? Coon: It's funny you brought that up. My sister and I grew up in a rural area, so there were no other kids in our neighborhood. But there was one other girl who was our best friend. We had a shared best friend we were always triangulating. Every single day. Bibb: Sister stuff too that's already tricky. Then you add the best friend that you have to share it's a f nightmare. Something that I think is pretty interesting, too, is the gossiping part of it. It almost feels like it's become a currency with which people trade. And it's somehow always under the guise of caring because I think there's something that's happened where people ... I don't know if they don't know how to look at themselves, so they push it out and it's their way of somehow connecting. I don't think these three women are like, "Oh, I'm gonna destroy Jaclyn or Laurie." It always starts as this desire to connect to Jaclyn or to connect to Laurie and to share something and to say, "I see you. I feel you." It's such a strange tether. But I was at dinner the other night, I heard some men talking s about each other. It's universal. If you turn on Bravo, it's every way that those women [behave], it's what they're taught to do. It sells. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Coon: It's meaningful that Mike set this season in Thailand, in a Buddhist country, because, of course, if you look at the tenets of Buddhism, one of the great sufferings is comparing mind. And comparing mind is whether you are elevating yourself above someone or putting yourself below them. There is pain for you and there is suffering you're inflicting on other people by doing that. The only way to prevent that kind of suffering is to stop the comparing mind, which is very hard to do unless you completely circumvent your identity. Mike is very intentionally setting this female dynamic in this season about spirituality and Buddhism. Mike's a reality TV buff. Bravo personalities have inspired certain aspects of characters this season. Leslie, I know you've said you drew inspiration from "Real Housewives" Bibb: Can I just tell you something? That was a little bit of a lie. Coon: You were watching it one morning, though. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bibb: I mean, I do watch it. I always watch that [stuff] because I feel like you're watching women and you play these women and something's gonna seep in, but it also feels mindless; it felt like a tether to home, in a way. But I would not say I based anything of Kate in this. I said it and I was like, "Why are you lying?" I didn't know what to say. Also, I feel like if you talk about your process as an actor, you just sound like an a. I think it's interesting that we watch those shows I can see someone else's life and I don't have to look at my own. But I also feel like we, in watching those shows, somehow become active participants in the dynamic. I did "Watch What Happens Live" and [my hair person and stylist's assistant] were there and Garcelle [Beauvais of "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills"] was there and we were all like, "Could you believe this?" And "Sutton that ..." And we became the f ladies. We were triangulating. [With Kate,] she needs these friendships to last. They're very important to her. They are not going to end this weekend not friends. I felt like that. I don't know about the other girls. What keeps them friends that we don't see? Monaghan: I think, oftentimes, these relationships go through all different stages of lives specific to these three, they've all gone off and pursued very, very different life choices and careers and family types and, yet, the one thing that connects them is their shared history. But we discover, as the series progresses, that we all have very different versions of what that shared history is and how we remember it. Your characters room together in the show, but how closely did you stick together while making it? Coon: The ladies we kicked off the whole season. We were shot out of the canon, with the learning curve of shooting in Thailand. It was very galvanizing for us to have to go through that together. It felt like a show about three women for two weeks. Bibb: I like that show! Coon: I was living with Leslie at the Four Seasons, and Michelle and Parker were next door, so we were just thrust into being roommates. The circumstances changed we moved around 12 times, so there were times we were living closer together and other times we were further apart. We got to know the locations. We were there for six months. We were building lives. You'd settle in to your routine. We didn't know each other before this, so our friendship unfolded over the course of that six months, while we were playing these old friends, and again, in this very galvanizing experience, in this very challenging environment. Beautiful? Yes. But very challenging shooting circumstances. That was just inevitably a bonding experience for everybody involved. Bibb: And laundry. Carrie and I really met on our love of laundry. Coon: We had our buckets. Bibb: I literally went home and bought the identical bucket that Carrie had. Coon: We also had our swim aerobics classes. We had our beach swims. Monaghan: That was everything. Our greatest swim instructor ever, Leslie Bibb. Bibb: As a cast, I think everyone really bonded because you're together you're at breakfast and at lunch. Coon: Patrick Schwarzenegger and both of his breakfasts. Bibb: He loves breakfast. Coon: He would spend hours at breakfast. Tell Patrick that breakfast is included in anything and he'll stay there for hours. And then take all the protein bars home for the gym. Before I let you ladies go, I just have one quick question: Has anyone tried "The White Lotus" coffee creamer? I cannot find it. Monaghan: What? What is it? Bibb: Have you guys seen this? Yeah, from Coffee-Mate, right? Coon: Everyone's getting in on the branding! Bibb: I haven't, but I saw it. Coon: Is it a special flavor? Bibb: Did you see the chocolate that they collabed with? And that's mango sticky rice [flavored]. So, is the coffee creamer like a mango sticky rice? Monaghan: Wait, what? Bibb: Yes, M! Monaghan: Oh, I need that. Sign up for Screen Gab, a free newsletter about the TV and movies everyones talking about from the L.A. Times. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. I arrived in Casablanca a couple of weeks ago, toward the end of a month-long trip through West and North Africa, fulfilling a dream of visiting a city whose name had evoked images of romance and intrigue ever since I was a boy. My first question was, Where is Ricks Cafe Americain? Thats the name of the iconic gin joint immortalized by Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman in the classic 1942 film Casablanca. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Casablanca tells the story of American cafe owner Rick (Humphrey Bogart). His old flame Ilse (Ingrid Bergman) appears in Vichy-controlled Casablanca with her Czech-resistance leader husband seeking letters of transit to escape the Nazis. Rick must decide what to do. Despite the sweeping allure of its title, most of the main action takes place inside this bar, which quickly carved itself a prominent place in 1940s pop culture. Ricks offered a window to the world, providing viewers (but especially Americans) a glimpse of the effects of Nazi occupation. I should have known better, I guess, but I was still astonished to learn that Ricks (for the most part) was a figment of Hollywood imagination. The bar and piano area of Rick's Cafe Casablanca, opened in 2004 by a former American diplomat who'd been posted to the U.S. Consulate in Casablanca and was surprised to learn there was no real-life Ricks Cafe like the one in the classic movie. For more than 60 years, tourists and film buffs visiting Casablanca tried to find Ricks Cafe, only to learn that Warner Bros. had built the entire set on a studio backlot. The smoky, intrigue-filled nightclub was a Hollywood fantasy until former diplomat Kathy Kriger came along and decided after 9/11 to bring the imaginary bar to life. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Her version of Ricks Cafe opened in 2004 to rave reviews, and thats the tale I am sharing in this column. Casablanca, 1942 The Pearl Harbor attack had happened less than a year previously. American ground troops had not yet engaged Axis forces in the European Theater when Casablanca began filming in May 1942. American emotions were still raw, and the politics of Western Europe had become especially confusing since the fall of France. In 1942, Casablanca was a waypoint for European refugees fleeing Nazi-occupied Europe. From Casablanca, they could seek passage to Portugal and then on to the Americas. To travel, they needed papers, and it was at places like Ricks where many such documents, both real and forged, changed hands. Development and timing of 'Casablanca' The screenplay is based on Everybody Comes to Ricks," an unproduced stage play by Murray Burnett and Joan Alison. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The writers visited a small town in southern France. At a nightclub, a Black pianist played jazz for a crowd of French and Nazis patrons and many refugees. That real bar became the inspiration for Ricks. Editor Irene Diamond convinced Warner Bros. to purchase the film rights in January 1942. She sensed the message would resonate with a post-Pearl Harbor movie audience. Principal photography began on May 25, 1942, and ended Aug. 3. Producers had to contend with wartime rationing; Ingrid Bergmans clothes had no metal fastenings and were fashioned from extraneous scraps of silk. Real events fueled interest in the movie As they say, timing is everything. The Allied invasion of North Africa began the second week of November in 1942, and Gen. George Patton captured Casablanca on Nov. 11. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Warner Bros. had planned to release "Casablanca" in 1943 but moved up the premiere date to ride the wave of current events. The film premiered at New Yorks Hollywood Theater on Nov. 26, 1942. The nationwide release of "Casablanca" in January 1943 coincided spectacularly with the announcement that President Franklin Delano Roosevelt was meeting with Winston Churchill in Casablanca from Jan. 14 to 24, demanding unconditional surrender from the Axis powers. Locally, the movie opened at the Majestic Theater in Providence on Jan. 26. On the same day, my father landed at Oran, in neighboring Algeria, with the second wave of Allied troops participating in the North African invasion. Dad never made it to Casablanca, and Im not sure when he and my mom first saw the movie. As a boy growing up, however, I knew it was one of their favorite films. 'Casablanca' comes to Rhode Island On Jan. 27, Bradford Swan, The Journal-Bulletins famed art and movie critic of a generation ago, penned the following: Casablanca is a distinguished photo play. It has a highly capable cast, excellent direction and a story that is refreshingly original. Casablanca is something choice, highly recommended. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The movie was held over at the Majestic, and the U.S. Navy band played as part of the daily show. A Providence Journal ad announces the first showing of Casablanca at Providence's Majestic Theatre on Jan. 26, 1943. For months afterward, "Casablanca" could still be seen at second-run houses all over the state. When Academy Award nominations were announced in February 1944, Casablanca was still showing at the Avon in Providence. Its reputation has only grown over time. In 2005, the American Film Institute polled the industry to come up with a list of the best 100 movie lines of all time. Six of them came from "Casablanca," double the number from any other movie. Enter Kathy Kriger The current-day and real-life Rick's Cafe Casablanca was developed by Kathy Kriger (1946-2018), a diplomat posted to the U.S. Consulate in Casablanca in 1998. She worked there for the next 13 years as a commercial attache. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When she arrived, she was surprised to learn (as had many thousands before her) that there was no real-life Ricks Cafe. She sensed a missed marketing opportunity and tucked that seed away for the future. The 9/11 attacks caused her to reassess her life. She wrote in her autobiography, I decided to leave the government, stay in Morocco and do something that demonstrated true American values. Developing a Ricks Cafe in Casablanca seemed like a perfect way to do this. "I thought Casablanca was missing a big bet by not having a Rick's," said Kriger. She cashed in her 401(k) and invested her savings in the purchase of a 1930s mansion that had seen better days. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But the waterfront location was perfect, and the interior architecture was sound and representative of the era. When money ran out, she solicited investors from all over the world. Kriger set an opening date for Rick's Cafe: March 1, 2004, "after 62 years of renovation." Fulfilling the dream Our Moroccan contact wangled us a table for four at Ricks, which is usually sold out for dinner. Two palm trees flank an impressive entrance, featuring heavy wooden doors like those in the film. This gem of 1942 authenticity boasts columned white arches framing the main dining room under a three-story domed skylight. Hanging brass chandeliers cast a soft light on the palm trees in the corners. Round tables feature white tablecloths, brass lamps with beaded shades, and dinnerware discreetly and elegantly marked Ricks Cafe. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Of course, there is an authentic 1930s piano tucked under an archway, where the reincarnation of Sam plays it once more for old times sake. To our pleasure, the food and wine were excellent, capably served by waiters in white dinner jackets and red fezes. Prepared for a kitschy disappointment, we were impressed instead. This is an authentic time machine, not a tourist trap. Even more important, I was reminded that the tinderbox of 1942 was not necessarily a one-off experience. Wherever I went, I sensed concern and fear perhaps similar to the stresses affecting those who visited the Ricks Cafes of the world more than 80 years ago, trying to escape the unchecked power of Adolf Hitler. Toasting from Ricks Cafe in Casablanca, February 2025. Note the beaded table lamp and the ornate fireplace on the right. At every turn, worried faces asked in halting English, What is happening in America? These were poor people, trying to eke out a living not the wealthy elite. World events did not normally affect the lives of these fishermen, vegetable sellers and craftsmen. But they were all aware of Americas internal conflicts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Yes, it was self-serving many depended on American largesse for support with basic necessities. But thats human nature, is it not? Stepping from that world into Ricks brought me full circle. Perhaps we need another Casablanca to shake things up today, the way the original film did in 1942. Rhode Island postscript The original play, Everybody Comes to Ricks, was not produced for the stage until after the war. In August 1946 the Casino Theatre in Newport did just that. Performances ran for a week, and at the time the Casino announced this was a stage adaption of the popular movie. The opposite was actually true. Announcements RIs role in the Civil War to be highlighted at April 5 event. From 1 to 4 p.m. on Saturday, April 5, the Varnum Armory Museum in East Greenwich will host Civil War historians and buffs marking the 160th year since the end of the conflict, as well as the major role played by our state. Rhode Island sent some 25,000 men to fight, of whom 1,685 never returned. R.I. units included eight infantry regiments, three cavalry regiments and 14 artillery elements. The program, organized by the Rhode Island Commandery, Military Order of the Loyal Legion, starts with tours of the Varnums fabulous military collection, to include cannon from Bull Run and Gettysburg. The principal speaker will be Frank J. Williams, retired chief justice of the Rhode Island Supreme Court and one of the countrys top experts on Abraham Lincoln. The Providence Brigade Band will play Civil War period music. Admission is free and dress is casual. For more information, email Dennis Morgan at dmorganltc1@gmail.com. Editor's note: This story was updated to correct an inaccuracy This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Where is the real-life Ricks Cafe in Casablanca? Mar. 31ROCHESTER For the cast of Absolute Theatre's run of "Forever Plaid," the show title is fitting. They began rehearsing the show in February 2024 and, after performances around Rochester and winning Minnesota Association of Community Theatres, were back in rehearsal at the end of March this year, 2025. "It's 'Forever Plaid' forever," joked Matthew Sather, one of the four members of the ensemble. In this case, the show is a victim of its own success. The cast was at director Suzie Hansen's home for a brush-up rehearsal to prepare to compete in the American Association of Community Theatre regional competition in Newton, Iowa April 3 5. The cast, crew and pianist earned a slot at regionals having won "best of fest" among other honors at the Minnesota Association of Community Theatres competition in Duluth March 9. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, a year and some change isn't a long time to be performing the show compared to how long Hansen has been looking for a cast with the skills to put on the show. "It's a show I've wanted to do for a long time," said Hansen, founding director of Absolute Theatre. The show calls for four people capable of singing the lead, tenor, baritone and bass parts as well as acting. "I waited a long time for some of you to show up," Hansen told the cast before a brush-up rehearsal at her home. Hansen said it was luck and timing finding four people whose voices blend, a talented piano player who stays on his toes behind the keys and a good choreographer to come together for one show. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The cast chemistry came together immediately, Hansen said. "You'd think they'd known each other forever," she said. "We found that the four of us just blended well musically," Sather said. "But at the risk of sounding cheesy, we blend well as friends." Cast member Brady Helget, who performed in college said the show has been a fun opportunity to have musical performance back in his life. "We definitely did not expect to be doing it this long, but it's definitely a pleasant surprise," Helget said. He joined the cast with Ryhlan Peterson, whom he met while they were both attending Luther College in Decorah, Iowa before moving to Minnesota. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It's a good way to end your day," Peterson said about the evening rehearsals. "It's nice doing something that's really meaningful." Hansen recruited the fourth cast member, Riley Thompson, from the Rochester Choral Arts Ensemble. "Becoming one of the "plaids" has been a fun experience," Thompson said, adding he wasn't sure if Hansen would have taken "no" for an answer. Hansen along with Stef Stafford were recognized for outstanding achievement for ensemble work and choreographer Missy Hagen was recognized for best choreography at the state competition. If the group wins at the regional level, they would qualify to move on to a national competition which is being held this year in Des Moines, Iowa. "That's a big 'if' though," Sather said. When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Bruce Parry in the Amazon with the Waimaha people. | Credit: BBC Get ready for a new series of Tribe with Bruce Parry, which comes to our screens nearly two decades after the filmmaker's last work for BBC Two. In this brand new three-part series, Parry will travel to some of the most remote corners of the world to visit communities living radically different lives from our own. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He believes indigenous knowledge and wisdom are needed more than ever and his return to the BBC comes at a time when the world faces unprecedented environmental challenges, millions of tribal people have left their communities and the threats to those who remain are escalating. Against this backdrop, Bruce is visiting three extraordinary communities, diving deep into their traditional ways of life. He is the first foreign visitor to live within each community, and films much of his experience on his own camera. Its been over twenty years since Tribe first aired," says Bruce. "Living with people who experience the world in such profoundly different ways was eye-opening then, but today it feels vital. I believe we have so much to learn from those who still live in deep connection with the world around them. It feels a huge privilege that the BBC has allowed me to explore these places and themes once again. Here's everything we know about Tribe with Bruce Parry... Tribe with Bruce Parry release date The series debuted on Sunday, March 30 on BBC Two, with all episodes now available on iPlayer. Episodes 2 and 3 of the show will also be broadcast on BBC2 on Sunday, April 6 and Sunday, April 1,3 respectively. Tribe with Bruce Parry trailer There's a trailer for the series, check it out below... Tribe with Bruce Parry - where does he go? Tribe with Bruce Parry episode 1 - Waihama After four days travel from the UK, Bruce visits the Waimaha people, who live on a remote tributary of the Amazon. Deep in one of least accessible regions of the Colombian rainforest, its a region of the Amazon that hes never visited before. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After rubber tappers and missionaries nearly destroyed Waimaha culture in the 20th Century, Bruce is initially seen as an outsider and eyed with suspicion. He wants to learn about the Waimahas deep understanding of nature that allows them to thrive in such a remote region. He eats foraged insects, drinks beer brewed with saliva and lives with a family who have recently lost their dog to a jaguar from the surrounding forest. The Waimaha use a powerful form of the psychoactive ayahuasca to connect with forest spirits who, they believe, are the protectors of their lands. Bruce must win the trust of the community if he is to attend a sacred ritual where the psychoactive will be taken. To do this he is required to go through a series of purges, including snorting chilli, middle of the night river immersions, and a vomiting purge to cleanse his stomach. Bruce Parry with a member of the Waimaha tribe | Credit: BBC Tribe with Bruce Parry episode 2 - Mucubal Bruce ventures deep into the unforgiving Namib desert in southern Angola, a region only recently accessible after years of civil war and a legacy of landmines. Invited to live with the Mucubal, Bruce is the first white person some of the villagers have ever seen. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a desert that is hot and getting hotter he sees first-hand how climate change is affecting life for the Mucubal and their cattle. Bruce witnesses several practices which lie at the heart of Mucubal identity, including the ritual removal of teeth and circumcision ceremonies. Survival in the desert is tough and on his first morning Bruce is woken and given a welcome gift - a goat which he is told he must sacrifice with his bare hands, before sharing with the community. Bruce admits this is, the most gruesome thing I have ever done. Bruce Parry in Angola with the Mucubal tribe | Credit: BBC Tribe with Bruce Parry episode 3 - Marapu In the final episode, Bruce travels to the paradise island of Sumba in Indonesia. Sumba is the only island in the world where people worship the ancient religion of Marapu, a religion where ancestral spirits demand blood sacrifice from its followers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Invited to stay by the priest, Bruce lives in an ancient hilltop village where houses are built next to megalithic stone tombs containing their dead relatives, and homes are built with dedicated space for the ancestors to live. Bruce discovers the villagers devotion to living alongside the dead comes with great sacrifice. The villagers' remote location at the top of a hill with no access to water or irrigation sees them start to run out of food. They are forced to venture into the forest to hunt. During his stay, Bruce comes to learn that they would never leave - for the ancestors offer both protection in daily life, and comfort for what comes after. Bruce Parry in Indonesia with the Marapu tribe | Credit: BBC Who is Bruce Parry? Parry was born on 17 March 1969 and is an English documentarian, indigenous rights advocate, author and explorer. A former commando officer in the Royal Marines, he left the forces after six years to become a trek leader in Indonesia, before seeking a career in TV. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His first TV appearance came in 2002 in an episode of BBC One's Extreme Lives series entitled "Cannibals and Crampons" and he appeared in various other shows before starting work on his Tribe series in 2004. The show saw Bruce immersing himself with 15 different tribal communities whilst making three groundbreaking series, earning him two nominations for BAFTA Best Factual Series. In 2007, he spent an entire year travelling along the Amazon to explore the forces affecting the worlds largest rainforest and its people. Amazon went on to win Bafta Best Factual Series 2009. All products featured here are independently selected by our editors and writers. If you buy something through links on our site, Mashable may earn an affiliate commission. Luis Robayo via Getty Images TL;DR: Watch the 2025 MotoGP Grand Prix of The Americas for free on ServusTV. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN. The new MotoGP season has started exactly how we expected it to, with exciting battles between the best riders in the world. And we're all set for more of the same this weekend as the action heads to the USA. Advertisement Advertisement If you're interested in watching the 2025 MotoGP Grand Prix of The Americas for free from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need. When is the 2025 MotoGP Grand Prix of The Americas? The MotoGP Grand Prix of The Americas takes place at the Circuit Of The Americas. The 2025 MotoGP Grand Prix of The Americas race starts at 3 p.m. ET on March 30. 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Advertisement Advertisement If you want to retain permanent access to free streaming sites from around the world, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for live streaming is on sale for a limited time. What is the best VPN for MotoGP? ExpressVPN is the top choice for unblocking ServusTV, for a number of reasons: Servers in 105 countries including Austria Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more Strict no-logging policy so your data is protected Fast streaming speeds free from throttling Up to eight simultaneous connections 30-day money-back guarantee A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $139 and includes an extra four months for free 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a 30-day money-back guarantee. Watch the 2025 MotoGP Grand Prix of The Americas for free with ExpressVPN. The Who performed "The Song Is Over" for the first time ever this weekend at Royal Albert Hall. - Credit: Ian West/PA Images via Getty Images* The Who released their landmark LP Whos Next in 1971, and before the year was out theyd played seven of the nine songs live in concert. The two exceptions were The Song Is Over and Goin Mobile. It took 54 years and more than 1,000 concerts, but they finally broke out The Song Is Over Sunday evening at Londons Royal Albert Hall on the second of their two charity shows for the Teenage Cancer Trust. We dedicate this to all the fans that heard the 2016 setlist a 100 times, Pete Townshend told the audience. Well, not 100 times, but a lot. So, were going to have a go at this one. I think Roger is having trouble hearing though. More from Rolling Stone Drummer Zak Starkey live-streamed extensive rehearsals of the song on Instagram prior to both Royal Albert Hall shows. But when the big moment came to finally debut it before live audience, Daltrey was indeed having trouble hearing. He stopped the band about two minutes into their first attempt. To sing that song, I do need to hear the key, he says. And I cant hear. Theres no pitch here. I just hear drums, boom boom boom. I cant sing to that. Im sorry guys. Well try one more even though its getting late. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a blog post prior to the show, the groups longtime associate, Brian Kehew, explained that Daltrey decided to ditch his in-ear monitors for these gigs so hed feel closer to the audience. Without his in-ear monitors, Roger has us bring forward his rear wedge speakers, the ones that feed him drum sounds, Kehew wrote. This makes the drums feel closer to him, which is helpful. The plan seemed to backfire during the initial run at The Song Is Over. I can sing it in any fuckin key you want, but I need to be able to hear myself, Daltrey said. Its not your fault guys. I just cant hear. Townshend underwent knee replacement surgery just a few weeks ago, and he sat down for parts of the show. But at this point, he stood up to try and work things out with the sound crew. It seemed to be a success: the band ran through it a second time and Daltrey had no trouble. This now leaves Goin Mobile as the only Whos Next song theyve never done live. It has been a staple of many recent Daltrey solo shows where Simon Townshend sings lead vocals in the place of his older brother. The younger Townshend is also a member of the Whos touring band. But even if they added that song into the mix, theyd still need to find a way to play My Wife without John Entwistle before attempting a complete Whos Next concert. Its hard to imagine that happening. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the meantime, the Who will now be inactive before they play a pair of Italy shows in July. Their plans beyond that are unclear. But Kehew did inform fans that the band discussed the possibility of breaking out other obscure songs before deciding to simply focus on the classics, since they hadnt played a single gig in the past year prior to this week. Theyre working hard to just regain ground that seemed lost during the orchestral years, he wrote. So just playing the old familiar tunes has become hard enough. A lot to remember. (Zak told me that in the year 2000 he was tasked to come up with a set of obscure-but-cool Who tunes to play in/out of the tour set lists. He chose a bunch of his favorites Melancholia is the only one he remembers now, an exceptional choice, I must say!!! They practiced these new pieces for days and then went on tour; none of them were ever played. Ah well, history repeats itself.) For you non-fanatics out there, Melancholia is a fantastically obscure song from The Who Sell Out theyve never done in concert. In a dream world, theyll debut it in Italy this summer. For now, fans should be happy they finally got a chance to hear The Song Is Over after all these years. Who could have imagined back in 1971 wed have to wait until 2025 to witness that? Best of Rolling Stone Sign up for RollingStone's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Yoko Ono, 1967. - Credit: Yoko Ono/Clay Perry A comprehensive exhibition of Yoko Onos art, Music of the Mind, will open at Chicagos Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA) in October. The institution will display more than 200 pieces, covering a span of more than seven decades worth of work. These include photography, musical compositions, participatory instruction pieces, installations, and a curated music room, among several other highlights. Londons Tate Museum previously showed Music of the Mind last year and reported record turnouts. Some of the notable works featured include Cut Piece (1964), which invited participants to cut off her clothing, piece by piece, as a statement on feminism; her influential book Grapefruit (1964); and the films Fly (1970 71) and Film No. 4 (Bottoms) (1966 67). Her musical collaborations with John Cage, Ornette Coleman, and John Lennon will also be available to hear. One of her recent Wish Tree installations, on which people write a wish and pin it to a tree a creation shes been planting consistently around the world since 1996 will also be on display. More from Rolling Stone Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Participatory works include Painting to Hammer a Nail (1961/1966), Bag Piece (1964), and White Chess Set (1966). Theres also a boat on which visitors can write their hopes and beliefs, Add Color (Refugee Boat) (1960/2016); and My Mommy Is Beautiful (2004) a sounding board for people to praise their mothers in words and photo. Ono, 92, moved to New York to study at Sarah Lawrence College in 1953. Three years later, she moved to Manhattan and became an instrumental part of the citys avant-garde scene and Fluxus art movement. In 1966, she met John Lennon, marrying him three years later. The couple released a series of experimental albums in the late Sixties, and she issued her first solo album, Yoko Ono/Plastic Ono Band, in 1970. She continued marking art, citing music as a force that kept her going after Lennons death, and her work has previously been the subject of exhibitions at the Whitney Museum of American Art, the Japan Society Gallery, the Museum of Modern Art, and other institutions. In 2009, she received the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement at the 53rd Venice Biennale, and last year, she was recognized with the Edward MacDowell Medal, another lifetime achievement recognition. We are thrilled to present Yoko Ono: Music of the Mind here at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago a celebration of Onos expansive practice which continues to challenge the boundaries of artist and audience, Pritzker Director Madeleine Grynsztejn said in a statement. This exhibition underscores the avant-garde and interdisciplinary roots that made the MCA what it is today our first performance in 1967 featured Fluxus artists. Were overjoyed to bring Onos work to the MCA, a museum that so truly aligns with her practice and overlaps with her history. Best of Rolling Stone Sign up for RollingStone's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. ASTANA, Kazakhstan, March 31. Kazakhstan is ready to create conditions for the successful development of Slovenian companies, stated the President of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, during negotiations in an expanded format with the President of Slovenia, Natasa Pirc Musar, Trend reports. Welcoming the Slovenian delegation, President Tokayev reaffirmed Kazakhstan's commitment to the development of mutually beneficial cooperation with Slovenia, a reliable partner of Kazakhstan in Europe, proven by time. "Your visit is extremely important in terms of giving an additional impulse to the development of our cooperation. We just had a very meaningful conversation on many issues related to the international situation. We confirmed our shared commitment to achieving positive results in the field of mutual cooperation. We will make every effort to achieve concrete, practical results," he said. Tokayev outlined the promising areas of bilateral cooperation, expressing his commitment to creating favorable conditions for Slovenian businesses in Kazakhstan, including regulatory transparency, investment protection, and economic diversification. He underscored the importance of the Kazakh-Slovenian Business Forum in Astana, aimed at further expanding trade and investment contacts between the two countries. In turn, Musar articulated appreciation to Tokayev for the cordial reception in Astana. "This visit is aimed at deepening economic cooperation. This goal is shared by both our countries. We have significant growth potential, and I am confident that we can achieve even more. The volume of trade between our countries is growing every year. As you have already mentioned, we have reached an investment volume of $200 million, but the possibilities are much broader. That is why I am very glad to be in Astana, accompanied by a representative business delegation25 leading Slovenian companies are here," said Natasa Pirc Musar. The parties discussed a wide range of issues of interaction in such promising areas as trade, investment, transportation and logistics, critical minerals, digitalization and artificial intelligence, healthcare, and tourism. Slovenian direct investments in the Kazakh economy have reached nearly $200 million. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Because the internet has everything, there's a subgroup on Reddit called r/AmIOverreacting where people post about something they're currently dealing with and ask the community if they're you guessed it overreacting. Naturally, a LOT of the submissions are about relationship problems. And a good number of those are from women in relationships who are definitely not overreacting (but are probably being gaslit into thinking they are). Read on, and you'll see what I'm talking about. 1.This woman found texts on her boyfriend's phone where he lamented having a girlfriend. "I (29F) found this text in my BF's (29M) messages with his coworker. Im feeling a little gutted from it. I dont want to overreact, but I also dont want to gaslight myself and under-react. I havent once felt this way about him in our relationship, so Im feeling really taken off guard here. How do I go about this?" Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement LedBubblez 2.This 27-year-old woman's 41-year-old boyfriend shamed her for her "lack of motivation" even though she's getting up at 4 a.m. every day to go to the gym. "I'm a girl who weighs 121 pounds. I'm going to the gym every day with my BF, I'm getting up for him at 4 a.m. in order to work out together. He says I'm not pushing myself at the gym. And he said he wants me to be skinny. Here is the conversation between us. Plus we have just started to live together a month ago. I'm crying and having a hard time understanding him. Am I overreacting?" Longjumping-Neat-879 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement [Editor's note: By the way, not that BMI is even close to a good indicator of health, but since she's 121 lbs, she would have to be only 4'10" to be even just barely in the "overweight" category.] 3.This person's fiance spent $600 on one character in Genshin Impact (a mobile game) using a shared credit card that they kept for emergencies. There's some impressive weaponized therapy-speak here! "My fiance spent $600 on a gacha game without asking. I flipped out and now his entire family are calling me abusive and encouraging him to call off the engagement. For context, I work 55 hours a week and he drives uber during the day while Im at work. We are paycheck to paycheck. UPDATE: Engagement is off." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Creative_Guard2809 4.This woman's boyfriend came at her with an out-of-pocket text, despite her being the only one who cooks and cleans. "For context my (F20) boyfriend (M21) and I live together and work full time as well as split rent 50/50. I cook all the meals and clean the house even after my graveyard shifts; all he does is work, come home to play games, and occasionally invite friends over. Weve been together for over five years, and hes been acting this way for the last three months. When I tell him how its making me feel, he tells me Im wrong and overreacting. So basically, Im asking AIO??" OKspace5501 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 5.This woman ended up in the hospital due to sepsis from pneumonia, and her boyfriend didn't stay with her because it was the holidays. That's one thing, but his texts are another: "A few weeks ago, my boyfriend (20) got very sick, and I ended up at his house for a week to try to avoid bringing it home to my family. I took care of him the best I could with it being finals week at college. While he was gone taking an exam, I deep cleaned his room for him and literally scrubbed his vomit off of nearly every surface in his bathroom, even though I am terrified of vomit. I stayed with him until he was mostly better. Flash forward to December 23rd - 26th. I (20 F) was hospitalized due to acute hypoxic respiratory failure caused by pneumonia. I was septic on arrival, and they told me I was very lucky that I did not end up in the ICU. I was on constant oxygen and a bunch of medicine to try to fight it off. Of course I wanted him there, but I knew the timing was the worst possible because of the holidays. He told me he would come see me one of the days after he was finished with family stuff but then kept making noncommittal statements such as 'I need to pack for my trip' (he's going on a cruise in January). Along with this, he wouldn't reply for up to 12 hours to messages or phone calls, knowing I was in the hospital. He called me one time on his own and it was after I begged him to. He quickly became irritated that I wanted/needed him and I can't help but feel betrayed. The outcome of this could have been a lot worse and it feels like he doesn't care and wasn't worried about losing me. He hasn't been checking up on me and my recovery either and stated that I need to 'let go of what he said or move tf on.'" Aggressive-living949 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 6.This woman's long-term partner and co-parent sent her this article, which I won't link here because the misogyny is RAMPANT, but rest assured it's the most written-by-a-man-pretending-to-be-a-woman thing you've ever read and largely centers on giving frequent blowjobs. Pleasant-Cattle-7311 / Michael Ochs Archives / Getty Images / Via reddit.com "Weve been together for over 10 years and have two toddlers. However we are not married. Weve been talking about marriage and rings recently, but now Im questioning marrying someone who would send me a lame-ass article like this." Pleasant-Cattle-7311 7.This person realized that the "friend group chat" they were invited to by their boyfriend was, in fact, just their boyfriend pretending to be two other people. "Am I overreacting after I found out my boyfriends online 'friend group' I became part of two years ago has been JUST him the whole time? I guess I shouldve been less oblivious, but since a little before we started dating in 2022, I was added to my boyfriends (just a friend at the time) three-person Instagram group chat with what he explained were some of his closest online friends. The two other accounts seemed like real people because they had real followers and comments on their posts, and drastically different aesthetics/looks to them.We eventually made a Discord server for us and that alone was convincing enough since multiple times wed all be active at the same time. We never voice chatted, but I used to never voice chat either, so I didnt think twice. The group got closer, though, and last month, we got together and planned a research TRIP TO HAWAII for August (we live on the East Coast of the US). Like we booked everything!So imagine my surprise when Im over at his house tonight, and his computer is open, and I just want to log into my Google Docs when I accidentally stumble across, first of all, follower bot sites, and also him logged in and chatting with me as one of the individuals I thought I had become close with, and just got this sinking feeling. I didnt jump to the idea that they could be fake either; I was like, maybe he just has their logins since theyre all so close and is way too interested in their messages, but then I noticed their only chats were the group chats and the server, and the real kicker was the email address it was signed up under was his backup email with his full name. I quite literally snooped until he got out of the shower and caught me, which Im not saying was right of me but I couldnt help myself. During my snooping I gradually became devastatingly confident that he wasnt behind just one but both accounts.Ive never seen his face so red and he just absolutely panicked and started shouting at me to get out of his business. I couldnt even form the right words to say to him, in the end I just walked out of his apartment sobbing.Its very early in the morning, I get that, but this screenshot is what he has to say and Im starting to feel crazy. Am I overreacting about my discovery?" Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mindless_Tennis_4045 8.This woman's new boyfriend doesn't want to hang out with her trans friend, because apparently he doesn't trust himself not to say something "out of line." "I (34f) started talking to and hanging out with this guy (31m) about 5 weeks ago. Today we had a conversation about him coming with me to my friend's house, who is trans FTM. Please read the screenshots and tell me, AIO?" CandyKingdoms 9.And this woman's new boyfriend is just super into Trump. He said he wouldn't talk politics, but broke that promise pretty quickly. Regardless, girl, get out. "Ive been seeing this guy for about a month and a half. Things were great the first month, but the last week Ive felt like were growing further and further apart (yes already ), hes been really inconsiderate/disrespectful, and most recently I feel like hes trying to push me away with this text. When we first started talking, he asked what I thought about Trump. I told him I dont like him, he said he did like him, but that if it bothers me then he wont ever bring him up. Well this morning (after the last week being on edge anyway) he just randomly brought up how amazing Trump is? And wouldnt let it go. I feel like hes trying to start a fight. He says he 'forgot.' AIO?" Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement keepmyheadabovewater 10.This woman's partner took a photo of her on the toilet, but TBH I'm more focused on how she says he gets angry if she locks the bathroom door. "Last night, my (29F) partner (39M) walked into our bedroom, where I was in the bathroom completely naked, sitting on the toilet, ready to get in the shower. I dont lock the door because he gets angry. I told him to get out, and he picked up his phone and pointed it at me like he was taking a picture, which I assumed was a joke until he turned his phone around and there was the picture of me, butt ass naked, on the toilet. He said something along the lines of, 'Blackmail, Im sending this to your boss.' I got angry and he deleted it but I didnt care, the damage was done. I shoved him out of the room and locked the door. Went and finished my shower and went downstairs to take my meds, ignored him talking to me, and went back upstairs to go to bed. These were the texts that followed. The relationship has been rocky for a while but I think this was the last straw and I am currently looking at apartments and planning a way out. He doesnt think any of this was a big deal. Am I overreacting?" Repulsive_Dark_4273 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 11.This person was left at the airport alone after their boyfriend got through security before them and got on the plane right before they shut the doors...all because he wanted to save $30 on their Lyft. "Me and my BF were in Seattle for Thunderdome and were from ATL. He wanted to save money on the ride to the airport and booked us a Lyft to a random hotel so we could catch their shuttle instead of having to take a direct ride to the airport, which saved him $30. We get to the airport, and were cutting it REALLY close. Im in a separate security line, and he clears it about 3-4 minutes before me. He stated that he was going to go the the gate and try to make sure we both made it on. I got to the gate four minutes later, and the door was closed, and he was nowhere to be found. I checked my texts and from a minute prior he sent me the message 'run.' I had already been running but missed the flight by one minute. The flight left at 4:05 p.m. and the next one out wasn't until 11:05 p.m. Based on my personality, I wouldnt have gotten on the plane unless I was sure hed be on there with me. Now Im stuck in Seattle for 6+ hours by myself. It feels like he was being selfish but maybe Im looking at it the wrong way. He called while the plane was pulling off to give his side of the story and said the gate agent told him I would be able to make it if I got there in the next two minutes, but he didnt even stay to make sure I made it on the flight. My feelings are hurt and Im genuinely questioning if I want to stay with him after this." Exotic_Platypus_4926 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 12.This woman had to get an abortion alone because her boyfriend was too tired after an overnight shift...but the real kicker here is the "LMAO." "Just to give some background, my boyfriend did work a 12-hour overnight (6 p.m. 6 a.m.) and then was supposed to drive me to my appointment at 9:30 a.m. He went to bed for a nap and did seem really tired, said I would wake him up 15 minutes before we had to leave. So eventually, its time to wake him, takes a bit more effort than usual to rouse him, but he does get out of bed. Took two steps out of the bedroom and hit me with the 'I think Im too tired to drive you.' Usually Im a problem solver, but this morning I really didnt want to argue with him or anything, so I just said OK, grabbed my things and started leaving. On my way out, he said sorry and asked if I wanted him to call his mom to drive me. I said no, clearly crying at this point. He said he loves me. I quietly said it back. Thankfully I have wonderful parents who both left work early to support me. And this was the text exchange when he had woken up and I had finished my procedure. I really dont think Im overreacting, none of my family does either. If anything, I seem to be the only one that kinda wants to forgive him." ReallyAwfulSkiier 13.This Canadian woman wants to boycott any trips to the US, what with all the "51st state" threats and trade war tariffs from Trump. But her American boyfriend is giving her crap about it because his friends have upcoming weddings. "I (31F) and my bf (31M) are a Canadian and American couple living in the UK. Im back home in Canada right now visiting family, and obviously things are quite tense with Trump threatening to destroy our economy and try to wear us down into submission. I called my boyfriend yesterday to let him know that I will be boycotting any trips to America over the next four years, or at least until the tariffs/jokes (I know theyre not jokes) about Canada becoming the 51st state stop. I added that I hope his parents dont think Im being rude if I dont go home with him next time (his mom has a green card from China, so getting travel visas for her isnt always easy), but he has an uncle in Canada, and Id be happy to visit them there or even go along to China with them next year when she plans her visit (FWIW I lived in China for a year and his parents dont vote Republican). He responded by asking if Id really miss his friends' upcoming weddings with him (they havent announced where itd be yet). And when I said yes, he said, 'Well, that is certainly a take,' and that we dont need to discuss it anymore. I could tell he thinks Im overreacting and I pointed out how many Canadians are cancelling their trips to the US, but he argued thats because their partners arent American. I kind of feel like hes doing the classic American thing of playing down what his country is doing to affect others. If I miss weddings, I will feel bad, but I dont think Americans not seeing the gravity of this is surprising, given how insulated they often are from the effects of their countrys policies on others. I dont want to create unnecessary tension, but I also dont think I should have to set aside my principles just because its inconvenient. I know this might seem extreme, but to me, its a matter of standing up for my country and not supporting a government thats actively trying to harm it." deleted user 14.This woman's boyfriend ditched her to go snowboarding with his friends (rude) but then texted her a copy-pasted apology that was clearly written by AI (extremely rude). "So he was supposed to come over Saturday night but said he was too tired and would come over Sunday morning. Sunday afternoon rolls by, I text him [to see] where he is, and he says hes out snowboarding with his friends. I proceeded to get a little upset that he ditched me and didnt even tell me, and then he sent me this; its edited, but I can see the edits that he copied and pasted. I havent spoken to him yet because well we stopped talking for the night. I was rereading our messages, and then I noticed this one was edited so I clicked on it and noticed this was the beginning of it. WTF? He obviously copied and pasted something. I'm mad and offended. But I never use AI, so IDK if I'm just overreacting or if I do have a leg to stand on here?" itssofiababyxo 15.This woman suspects that her boyfriend put a hidden camera in her room(?!?!?!) because he's jealous. "So I have DnD (Dungeons & Dragons) Thursday nights, and my boyfriend spent the night at his so I could have my space to fully get into character and everything. Anyway as soon as I hop into a call with one of my players to talk about the session plan and what I need him to do, my boyfriend messages me that. Im a little suspicious because Im like, howd he know? This is weird? So I start checking my room for stuff. Then I say goodbye to my player to watch YouTube before the session, and he calls me right as Im saying bye. Then he starts to interrogate me and ask leading questions like 'Were you just writing?' 'Did you call anyone?' 'Whod you call?' Now I know he has jealousy issues, and he has accused me before of flirting or trying to get guys' attention when Im just chatting with people (sometimes even girls because Im bi). I hang up on him because my session's about to start and I don't want to get into a full-blown argument defending myself, but I quickly search my room before the session because I felt off. I suspected the block but wasnt sure till I searched it up and found one looking the exact same and come to find this camera in this one. I send it to him saying this wasnt cool and to not talk to me or come to my apartment or I will call the police. He calls me, acting confused like he didnt know what it was and said hed gotten it from his mum because shes married to a state trooper so he said he gets those, and when he asked for ports she just gave him a few. But then I found it was potentially hooked to my wifi." Jazzy-Dragon-13 16.This woman's boyfriend said the most out-of-pocket thing in front of all his friends. "My BF (25M) and I (22F) were invited to a birthday party of his friend. The people at this event were all close friends of his from his contract job and I barely know these people. Everything was going fine and my BF was clearly having a great time. But at some point, I was telling a story from my school days when my BF interrupted and said, 'You know, [my name] is prettiest when she shuts up.' Everyone laughed, and my bf just kept going, saying, 'You guys dont know what I go through. She never stops talking. ISTG, sometimes I tune her out for my own sanity,' or something along those lines. I'm usually really introverted, but when I warm up to someone, I'm the type to talk a lot. So when he said these words, I felt SO embarrassed and humiliated, especially since he said it so casually in front of people I didn't even know. I tried to brush it off but I got quiet after that. Later, after the party was over, I told him how hurtful his comment was. He rolled his eyes and said I was being too sensitive and that it was just a joke and I was making a big deal out of nothing. He said I embarrassed him by acting cold for the rest of the night and that I should learn to take a joke. He also told me if I couldnt learn to lighten up, maybe I shouldnt come to events with his friends anymore, even though he was the one who asked me to come in the first place. I feel so awful and confused. Am I in the wrong for getting upset and killing the vibe?" Aggressive-Cost2007 17.And finally, this woman probably doesn't need to leave her boyfriend...but she sure as heck shouldn't sleep in his bed until he replaces these pillows. "Ok, I (28f) went over to my boyfriends (25m) house for the first time (been dating about a month), and I had somehow never noticed his pillow situation before. When I noticed, I made a comment about how long hes had the pillows. Apparently, hes been using them since he was a kid. So, I asked him if he had any other pillows, and he said he just had the pillow on the left of the first picture but that his cat usually sleeps on it. I said I dont really want to sleep on those pillows, and I'd prefer to sleep at my own place (with clean pillows). His response? He waited for a minute and then said he would be sad to see that I would choose something as small as pillows come between us spending the night together, but that if I needed to go, he understood. I ended up going home and spending the night at my own house instead. I asked if I could bring my own pillows and gently suggested he get rid of his. He said it was totally fine for me to bring a pillow, but that he wouldnt get rid of his, as they are 'sentimental.' Thoughts? I feel like I cant even kiss him or anything while were sleeping because I dont want him to get his gross pillowness all over me and my clean pillows. " plantsandpoison Reaching towards the sky, they rise vertically from the valley floor for a hundred metres and more: Masses of basalt columns, side by side and on top of each other, as if glued together like gigantic ensembles of organ pipes. People standing below and stretching their heads upwards just might feel a bit lost. The geological phenomenon in the Garni Gorge is called the "Symphony of Stones," natural works of art which are exemplary for the Caucasus mountain country of Armenia, which markets itself as a land of "hidden wonders." It attracts visitors with mountains, monasteries, ruins and vineyards. And it's not overrun by tourist crowds. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Yerevan is the gateway to Armenia. The capital city hovers in a balancing act between the old and the avant-garde, between sober Soviet architecture and hip designer bars. Outside the city limits, the other Armenia begins. Then you rumble over patchworks of tarmac, through rutted mountain landscapes and fertile valleys. Along the road, friendly locals sell their mini harvests from baskets and cardboard boxes: Apples, tomatoes, watermelons and potatoes. They need every dram (one-quarter of one US cent). Incomes are low - the monthly wage of a teacher is equivalent to one night in a luxury hotel in Yerevan. This explains why there are more Armenians living abroad than in their homeland of 3 million people. 'The oldest Christian country in the world' Armenia stands out with its multitude of sacred monuments. "We have 70,000 cross stones and 3,000 monasteries and churches," emphasises our tour guide, Aramayis Mnatsakanyan. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We are the oldest Christian country in the world." The 42-year-old puts the number of followers of the Armenian Apostolic Church at over 90% of the population. Christianity became the state religion in the year 301. Among the monasteries, Khor Virap, located south-east of Yerevan, offers the most famous photo setting: The holy Mount Ararat, the peak where Noah's Ark is said to have touched land after the Biblical great flood. However, the 5,000-metre peak is located in Turkey and therefore "on the wrong side," says Mnatsakanyan, while recalling the atrocities committed against the Armenians in the Ottoman Empire 110 years ago. The border is hermetically sealed, the nearby mountain giant unreachable for Armenians. What feeling does the sight trigger among his compatriots, our guide is asked? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "For some, it is associated with pain or even hatred, because of family roots in western Armenia, which is now called eastern Anatolia," answers Mnatsakanyan and tells of his own family history. "My great-grandfather was only able to save three of his six children" during the Turkish massacre of Armenians in the year 1915. His other three children were killed in what is widely regarded - denied by Turkey - as a genocide. Concert in a cavernous rock hall But back to the subject of monasteries, there is Haghartsin, embedded in the green landscape of the north, the monastery Noravank in the south, and Geghard in central Armenia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Geghard, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the church walls are blackened by soot from candles, while some of the chambers are carved into the mountain. If you're lucky, you might catch a small concert in a cavernous mountain hall by the a capella quintet Garni. The professionals backing soprano Nelly Kalashyan and mezzo-soprano Manush Harutyunyan bring to life Armenia's ancient spiritual music. The 32-year-old Kalashyan says: "The place here is incredible. It's very emotional, it gives me goosebumps every time." Armenia's cultural heritage tour continues with the Hellenistic temple of Garni, the ruins of Zvartnots from the 7th century and the tiny old town of the climatic health resort of Dilijan. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On the Sevan Peninsula, nature and culture intertwine. Lake Sevan, known as the "Blue Pearl of Armenia," provides the setting for the Sevanavank Monastery - a reward that awaits after climbing 240 stone steps. Cultural heritage from the earth oven On the way up, you pass stalls with paintings, devotional objects, knick-knacks. You are not the first tourist here either. A stone cross in the monastery complex depicts the so-called Mongolian Christ with almond-shaped eyes and pigtails down to his feet. "He has long hair because he did not lose his vitality on the cross," says guide Mnatsakanyan, interpreting the artist's intention. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Christianity, but also Armenia's gastronomy, reflects the character of the country and its people. The simple folk have always needed a cheap way to fill their stomachs. In a kitchen house in Tsaghkunk, Gohar Gareginyan and Anna Yesayan demonstrate the making of a flatbread called lavash, baked in an earthen oven. Lavash has made it on UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage List. You eat it in portions which often are filled with cheese and fresh herbs. What Zara Karapetyan serves in her "Tasty Guest House" west of Yerevan is also full of flavour, be it everything from sweet bread to Armenian pasta. Her aim is to revive and continue Armenia's culinary traditions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 51-year-old Karapetyan has not undergone professional training, but instead learnt the art of cooking from her mother and grandmother. She originally trained as a philologist. Yet another one of the unexpected surprises Armenia has to offer. Worth seeing: In the Geghard Monastery, some of the chambers are built right into the rock. Andreas Drouve/dpa-tmn In Garni Gorge, a geological phenomenon known as the "Symphony of Stones" captivates visitors. Towering over the valley floor, these basalt columns soar vertically for over a hundred metres. Andreas Drouve/dpa-tmn When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Credit: Image by Chris Winsor via Getty Images The domestic cat is one of the smallest members of the family Felidae the group that includes lions, tigers, jaguars and cougars. It is also the only member of that family that has been domesticated. Cats have lived among humans for thousands of years. They probably started hanging around human grain stores , attracted by mice and other vermin, and eventually spread around the world as sailors brought them aboard ships. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Today, cats still help humans control pests, as well as provide companionship. In the past few centuries, humans have bred some cats to display certain traits, like hairlessness, thereby establishing dozens of cat breeds. With their charming mix of aloofness and goofiness, cats continue to amuse and fascinate us. Everything you need to know about domestic cats When were cats domesticated? For years, the dominant theory was that cats were domesticated around 10,000 years ago. The oldest known burial of a cat comes from Cyprus, where a human and a cat were buried together 9,500 years ago . Cat bones also have been found buried in 5,300-year-old refuse pits in China . However, genetic evidence is starting to emerge suggesting cats may have been domesticated much later than 10,000 years ago. Today's domestic cats descend from Felis silvestris lybica, a wildcat subspecies found in Africa and the Middle East. Yet new genetic data indicate that many of the very early specimens identified as domestic cats including the 9,500-year-old cat from Cyprus and other early cats from Europe and the Levant were not the direct ancestors of today's housebound felines. Instead, these ancient felines may actually be European wildcats (Felis silvestris) that humans killed for food or pelts. Instead, the researchers believe domestication took place somewhere in North Africa potentially ancient Egypt, around the first millennium B.C. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cats took on a starring role in ancient Egypt . Egyptians treasured cats' protectiveness and independence and saw the traits of their gods in cats. Cats were sometimes even mummified lovingly next to their deceased owners, but they were also s acrificed in large numbers during religious rituals. Bastet, a feline-headed goddess, was worshipped as a protector and as a deity of pregnancy and childbirth. From ancient Egypt, domestic cats may have taken over Europe and beyond after Alexander the Great's conquest of much of the continent, after around 323 B.C., newer evidence suggests. Related: Why were the ancient Egyptians obsessed with cats? The ancient Egyptians revered cats. Here, we see statuettes and figurines depicting cats and Egyptian deities found in a cache dating to the Egyptian Late Period | Credit: KHALED DESOUKI via Getty Images Did cats domesticate themselves? You might hear that cats "domesticated themselves." This is because ancient wildcats likely chose to hang around human agricultural settlements , resulting in a mutually beneficial relationship between cats and humans. These settlements provided ample food and shelter for cats. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Because the cats helped keep vermin at bay, the people who inhabited these settlements tolerated and eventually welcomed cats' presence. Whereas humans domesticated dogs through artificial selection by breeding for desirable traits, domestic cats evolved simply through natural selection, as friendlier and more docile cats thrived in close contact with humans. Are cats as domesticated as dogs? Cats are not as domesticated as dogs are. Whereas cats were domesticated about 10,000 years ago, genetic evidence suggests that dogs were domesticated between 14,000 and 30,000 years ago . It's still up for debate exactly how and why some wild wolves evolved into friendly house pets, but it is clear that humans have spent much more time and effort shaping the genetic makeup of domestic dogs. In fact, scientists say that even today, cats are "only just" domesticated . Many domestic cats are actually feral, meaning they live outside of human captivity and can fend for themselves. Feral cats and house cats also regularly interbreed, so house cats retain many of their "wild" instincts. People also bred domestic dogs for thousands of years based on their skills and personalities, whereas humans started breeding domestic cats only within the past few centuries. This means dogs' temperaments tend to be more predictable and aligned with human needs than cats'. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even now, modern-day cats are categorized primarily by appearance. Although appearance is also a factor in canine breeding, historically, abilities such as tracking game, herding sheep and guarding property were more important. Discover more about cats Did cats really disappear from North America for 7 million years? Are cats and dogs smarter than babies? Sandwiches are simple yet versatile and are often a go-to for workers, long car-rides or something to enjoy over lunch with a friend. So, where's the best sandwich shop in Oregon? Tasting Table, a digital media company focused on food, restaurants, recipes and reviews, recently weighed in by releasing their list of the most iconic sandwich shops in every state. Here is Tasting Table's pick for the most iconic sandwich shop in Oregon. Huber's in Portland was named the most iconic sandwich shop in Oregon by Tasting Table. Huber's in Portland is most iconic sandwich shop in Oregon Huber's in Portland was named best sandwich shop in Oregon by Tasting Table and was noted for its classic roast turkey sandwich. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Huber's is loved for its roast turkey sandwich, which have been served up for over a century," as well as for its flaming Spanish coffees, Tasting Table said. "While Huber's leans slightly more towards a fancy restaurant than a classic sandwich shop, no trip to Portland would be complete without trying Huber's famed turkey sandwiches." The restaurant opened in 1879 as the Bureau Saloon and is the oldest restaurant in Portland, according to their website. What to know about Huber's turkey sandwiches Tasting Table notes Huber's hot and cold turkey sandwich options. Here's a more in depth look at those options according to Huber's lunch menu. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Turkey sandwich: Turkey, lettuce and tomato on sourdough. Served with Hubers coleslaw. Turkey, cream cheese and cranberry sandwich: Served with lettuce and tomato on sourdough. Served with Hubers coleslaw. The Club House: A triple-decker sandwich with turkey, bacon, lettuce and tomato. Served with a side of Hubers coleslaw. California Club: Triple-decker sandwich with turkey, avocado, lettuce and tomato on whole wheat. Served with a side of Hubers coleslaw. Hot turkey sandwich: Served open-faced and topped with mushroom gravy and a choice of sage dressing or mashed potatoes, and with gravy and cranberry sauce. Huber's is located at 411 SW Third Ave. in Portland. It is open from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday-Saturday and 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Sunday. Ginnie Sandoval is the Oregon Connect reporter for the Statesman Journal. Sandoval can be reached at GSandoval@gannett.com or on X at @GinnieSandoval. This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Huber's in Portland named most iconic sandwich shop in Oregon A retractable unit turns the 312-square-foot flat into an office space with flatpack chairs and fold-out desks. Houses We Love: Every day we feature a remarkable space submitted by our community of architects, designers, builders, and homeowners. Have one to share? Post it here. Project Details: Location: Sao Paulo, Brazil Architect: Studio Papaya / @studio.papaya Footprint: 312 square feet Photographer: Arthur Duarte Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement From the Architect: "Located between Augusta Park and Roosevelt Square in the center of Sao Paulo, the CP Apartment sought to create a multifunctional environment suited for the clients range of daily activities. The 312-square-foot space had a sliding door and window separating the living area and the bedroom, which we demolished in order to create one unified space. The apartment is now flexible with the introduction of hybrid furniture, which provides a range of uses. "The custom furniture is made of freijo wood, detailed with light green laminate and black painted metal. In collaboration with designer Laura Garcia, we created a collection of unique handmade objects including a retractable bed, a sliding desk that is also a TV cabinet, and a set of folding table and chairs. Thus, the apartment can be reorganized and transformed into a bedroom, a living room, a dining room, a TV room, a home office, or even in a space for exercising and contemplation. With the intention of giving each area in the apartment its own personality, we designed the floors with different finishing materials: tauari hardwood for the sleeping area, hydraulic tiles for the kitchen area and balcony, terrazzo slabs for the bathroom, and yellow epoxy paint in the shower. "Despite the limited size of the apartment, the project creates the possibility of multiple uses in order to optimize the footprint. This amplitude, achieved by focusing on the furniture and its functions, met and expanded the possibilities desired by the client, as well as provided a reflection on dwelling in large urban centers and the role of design. With the desire to live in a central area of the city, which comes with high density and high price per square foot, shifting the perspective on the real necessities of living was an essential part of the project." Photo by Arthur Duarte Photo by Arthur Duarte Ultra-compact apartment with versatile custom-made carpentry furniture. Photo by Arthur Duarte See the full story on Dwell.com: The Mirror in This Tiny Brazil Apartment Hides an Entire Work-From-Home Setup Related stories: Mar. 26After three years in Rockland, West African restaurant Me Lon Togo is moving to downtown Freeport, where it plans to reopen in two phases starting this spring. The restaurant will be located at 58 Main St. in an 1,800-square-foot space that can seat about 50 people, with up to 15 more outside in season. Chef-owner Jordan Benissan said the kitchen won't be complete for some months, in part because it needs an expensive new sprinkler system. Benissan plans to open the bar area first, by the end of April. He'll be able to accommodate 25-30 customers, with a limited menu of West African braises and stews, some European dishes like beef bourguignon and monkfish osso buco and a full beverage program of beer, wine and cocktails. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Benissan expects the restaurant to be fully open by next winter, once the kitchen work is completed. He said he plans to try to crowdsource funding to help offset the cost of the roughly $92,000 sprinkler system. Me Lon Togo first opened in Searsport in 2017. Benissan launched a second location in Waterville in 2019, which closed in 2020. He also opened in Camden for a year, before moving and consolidating his operation to one venue in Rockland in 2021, which he closed last December. Benissan said many customers of Me Lon Togo in Rockland were from Southern Maine, Boston, New Hampshire and Connecticut, and they told him they wished the restaurant were located a little farther south. Seasonal fluctuations were also behind the move. "In the summer, we do well. But in the winter, everything slows down on the Midcoast," Benissan said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Benissan, who has also been a music professor at Colby College for nearly 25 years, said Me Lon Togo allows him to serve as a kind of cultural ambassador to introduce people to the cuisine of West Africa, his home region. "I'm trying to help Africa come into the conversation when you talk about dining," he said. Copy the Story Link GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) One person was arrested following a police chase that started in Branch County and ended in Indiana Saturday night. On Saturday, the Branch County Sheriffs Office was notified by the St. Joseph County Sheriffs Office that a stolen camper might be in Branch County. Within a few hours, deputies found the trailer in Noble Township. While deputies from both counties were at the scene preparing a search warrant for the property, a man approached the home in the reported stolen vehicle. When he saw the deputies, he took off and a police chase began. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Just before 4:30 p.m., the Branch County Central Dispatch notified the Steuben County Sheriffs Office in Indiana about the police chase that was heading south and was about to cross into Indiana on SR 327 north of Orland. The Steuben County Sheriffs Office said that before its deputies could join the chase, which was going at a high speed, the white Ford pickup crashed in front of a home on SR 327 just south of US 20. After a brief struggle, the driver, 51-year-old James Edward Williams of Bronson, Michigan, was taken into custody. The sheriffs office said Williams allegedly battered one of the Branch County Sheirfs deputies while they were attempting to take him into custody. While investigating, deputies found suspected marijuana and drug paraphernalia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Williams was interviewed by detectives who learned that he crashed through the road construction barricades and almost hit two construction workers on SR 327 near the Indiana Toll Road overpass. They have also learned that he may be connected to crimes in St. Joseph County and LaGrange County, Indiana. Williams was taken to the hospital for treatment. After being cleared, he was booked into the Steuben County Jail without bond on charges of theft of a motor vehicle, resisting law enforcement using a vehicle, battery of a public safety official, criminal recklessness, resisting law enforcement, reckless driving, possession of marijuana and possession of paraphernalia. Correction: A previous version of this article incorrectly named the Steuben County Sheriffs Office. We regret this error, which has been corrected. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. MOUNTAIN CITY, Tenn. (WJHL) One person is dead after an early morning fire in Mountain City on Monday. Ballad Health: Concrete barriers at facility entrances precautionary due to purported national threat to hospitals According to Mountain City Mayor Jerry Jordan, the fire occurred in the 300 block of Shoun Street. Crews were reportedly called to the fire shortly after 6 a.m. Jordan told News Channel 11 that one fatality had been reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jordan said that the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) and Mountain City authorities are investigating the fire together. According to the mayor, the body of the deceased will be sent for an autopsy. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. CHARLOTTE (QUEEN CITY NEWS) A vehicle crashed into a Panera Bread in the SouthPark area on Monday, seriously injuring one person, Medic confirmed with Queen City News. The incident happened Monday morning, March 31, along Fairview Road, sparking a swift emergency response. Paramedics are currently at the scene, assessing the situation. Two potential patients were identified at the scene. Medic told QCN that one person was rushed to Atrium CMC with life-threatening injuries. Photos: Queen City News Photos: Queen City News Photos: Queen City News Photos: Queen City News Photos: Queen City News Photos: Queen City News Medic is taking every necessary precaution to ensure both patient care and HIPAA compliance, so specific details about those involved have not been released. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Queen City News responded to the crash scene on Monday, where the vehicle appears to have driven completely into the Panera Bread restaurant. The collision caused significant damage to the storefront, though further details about structural safety have not yet been confirmed. The cause of the crash is still under investigation. This is a Developing Story . Check back 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 Queen City News. ASTANA, Kazakhstan, March 31. Kazakhstan's President, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, has announced that the Slovenian port of Luka Koper could potentially be integrated into the Trans-Caspian International Transport Corridor, also known as the Middle Corridor, Trend reports. The statement came during a joint press briefing with Slovenia's President Natasa Pirc Musar. Tokayev emphasized that both sides had discussed the inclusion of Luka Koper into the Middle Corridor project and had reached a mutual understanding on the matter. He mentioned that relevant authorities from both countries have been tasked with taking specific actions to increase trade volumes. In addition to this, the president highlighted the agreement to enhance trade, economic, and investment ties between Kazakhstan and Slovenia. "Today, Kazakhstan and Slovenia are collaborating on important projects in pharmaceuticals, renewable energy, engineering, and telecommunications. Around 20 Slovenian companies are successfully operating in Kazakhstan. We have also agreed on new projects in sectors such as mining, green energy, nuclear industry, digitalization, innovation, healthcare, and tourism," he said. A view of the Sau reservoir at 20%, after a few weeks of rain that are softening the effects of the drought in Catalonia, in Osona, Spain, on May 20, 2024. (Photo by Marc Asensio/NurPhoto via Getty Images) Spain has been battling drought for months on end, and an unusually wet March has helped to fill critical water reservoirs, including one with a historic landmark resting at the bottom. The old church of Saint Roma de Sau was built in the 11th century but was submerged in 1962 following the construction of the Sau Reservoir, located in northeastern Spain about 45 miles north of Barcelona. During times of drought, when the reservoir is nearly empty, the nearly 1,000-year-old church is unveiled, and people can walk to visit the building. This has been the case multiple times in recent years, including at the end of 2024 and the start of 2025. However, a shift in the weather has helped to refill the depleted reservoir, submerging the church once again. The belfry an 11th century Romanesque church emerges from the Sau reservoir, about 100 km (62 miles) north of Barcelona, in Vilanova de Sau, Spain, on Monday, March 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti) "It is impressive how the reservoir has completely changed," Jordi Bonich, a neighbor from Barcelona told Catalan News over the weekend. "I, personally, prefer to see it at full capacity as water is life." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, the drought-quenching rain came at a cost. Flash flooding forced evacuations and damaged communities across the country earlier in the month, with the deluge making this month the wettest March in Madrid since record-keeping began in the 1890s. Still, the drought has not yet been completely eradicated, and more rain is needed to top off reservoirs across the country. "We've come out of drought, but it's not that there is a huge excess of water," Ruben del Campo told The Associated Press. "Spain is a country where water resources are never abundant." ELYRIA, Ohio (WJW) Investigators will be working to determine the cause of a house fire in Elyria. According to Elyria Fire, firefighters responded to the 300 block of Hawthorne Street on Sunday afternoon. Top 10 lakes for fishing in Ohio (that arent Lake Erie) Elyria Fire Chief Joseph Pronesti told FOX 8 15 dogs were inside the home. Courtesy: Elyria Firefighters Local 474 Elyria Firefighters Local 474 Courtesy: Elyria Firefighters Local 474 Firefighters were able to rescue 14 of them. . Firefighters arrived on the scene within minutes and immediately began rescue effortsnot just for people, but for pets. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I saw the smoke coming out and they were pulling out dog after dog, said neighbor Chris Ward, who lives a few doors down. Elyria Fire Chief Joseph Pronesti said the fire moved fast, creating intense heat and heavy smoke. While the exact cause remains under investigation, Pronesti shared a reminder for pet owners. People only think of those safety knobs on your stove if you have children, he said. But if you have a large dog, you may want to consider buying them. You can get them anywhere. Despite the home being declared a total loss, firefighters were able to rescue 14 of the familys 15 dogs. One did not survive. No people or firefighters were injured. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ward described the response as phenomenal. They never stopped moving. I think everything was contained in about 15 minutes of the fire trucks being here, he added. The family is now receiving assistance from the Red Cross. Local U-Haul closing after nearly 5 decades There is no word on what caused the fire at this time. No firefighters were injured. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW. ROME (AP) Italian police are investigating as possible arson a fire that destroyed more than a dozen Tesla electric vehicles at a dealership on the outskirts of Rome early Monday. Tesla Italy said that it is cooperating with police, and that it had turned over surveillance video from the vehicles themselves. The cars internal video operates even when they are off. An Associated Press reporter at the scene counted 16 burned cars. Tesla has been the target of protests around the world against owner Elon Musks affiliation with the Trump administration. European sales of Tesla vehicles tumbled 49% in the first two months of the year even as overall sales of EVs grew. OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) 2025 will mark the 30th anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombing. We remember and honor those 168 who lost their lives on April 19, 1995, when a bomb went off in front of the Murrah building in downtown Oklahoma City. 168 Days to remember those lost in the OKC bombing: Luther H. Treanor. Image courtesy Oklahoma City National Memorial Museum. We want to remember Luther H. Treanor, while honoring those who survived and thanking those changed forever. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City. GULF COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) The Gulf County Sheriffs Office was contacted by the Sandy Springs Police Department in Sandy Springs, Georgia, about a child abduction Sunday afternoon. According to the Gulf County dispatchers, they were given a possible location of the suspect in Gulf County, along with information that the suspect was armed and in a white Mercedes SUV. Dispatchers then issued a notification to be on the lookout for the suspect and his vehicle. GCSO deputies located the vehicle, and a felony traffic stop was initiated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Panama City Police searching for missing teenager The Gulf County Sheriffs Office, the Port Saint Joe Police Department, the FWC, and the Florida Highway Patrol conducted a felony stop on the vehicle at Hwy 98 and Selma St. in St. Joe Beach. The victim was found safe, officials said. Officials confirmed the suspect involved in the abduction was 17-year-old Camilo Campagna, who was taken into custody on warrants out of the state of Georgia. Campagna is being charged with child pornography, aggravated child molestation, child molestation involving victims between 14 and 16, possession of child pornography, possession of sexually explicit content, grooming of a minor, and loitering and prowling. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The suspect will be detained at the Department of Juvenile Justice in Bay County due to his age. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. MARION, Iowa 2 people were arrested Saturday after robbing a Walmart and leading officers on a police chase. According to court filings, just before 4:30 p.m. Marion Police Department officers were called to a Walmart located at 5491 Highway 151 on reports of two people accused of theft. As Marion Police officers arrived Walmart employees provided a description of the two individuals and the vehicle, a Dodge Ram. Police then observed the woman and man leaving the parking lot in the car, court documents state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fatal hit-and-run on Saturday night, DMPD investigates Officers followed the vehicle, engaging in a low-speed police chase. Authorities were able to stop the vehicle and apprehended Kimberly Isaacson, 58, and Donall Diggins, 53. Authorities arrested Isaacson who is charged with, Eluding Interference with Offiical Acts Theft (3rd Degree) Diggins was arrested and charged with Theft (3rd Degree) Court documents state that part of the stolen merchandise was located in the back seat of the truck. Both Isaacson and Diggins are being held at the Linn County Jail. An investigation into the incident is ongoing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to who13.com. HARDIN COUNTY, Ky. (FOX 56) Two Kentucky high school students have died, and two others are injured after an early morning crash in Hardin County on Saturday. Officers said the driver lost control and the car flipped several times. Tristen Shrouder and the driver, Gerald Lyons, were both ejected from the car. Two other juveniles sustained minor injuries and were taken to an area hospital for treatment. Read more of the latest Kentucky news Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lyons was taken to Baptist Health Hardin and later airlifted to UofL Hospital, where he later died. Authorities said that Shrouder was pronounced dead on the scene. The following day, March 31, Hardin County Schools officials announced the passing of the two high school juniors. We have learned that two Central Hardin High School juniors, Tristen Shrouder and Gerald Lyons, have passed away as the result of an automobile accident, HCS staff posted on Facebook Sunday afternoon. They both had the promise of bright futures, and both were incredible young men. We all share in the pain and the sense of tragic loss that these families have. Losing anyone is horrific, but the loss of two young lives cuts us to our core. LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement District leaders said that from 10 a.m. to noon on Monday, March 31, the HCS crisis response team will have counselors available for our students and staff in the Central Hardin library media center. The HCS family is strong! I encourage us all to surround CHHS, the families of these young men, and their friends with sympathy, compassion, and understanding, district officials wrote. Per HCS staff, a list of professional counseling services can be found under the Resources tab of the Central Hardin High School website. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 56 News. (KRON) Two empty bottles of promethazine and a ghost gun were found in a vehicle, according to the Santa Rosa Police Department. At 9:26 p.m. on Saturday, Santa Rosa Special Enforcement Team police officers contacted two people they said were smoking marijuana in their car near Tan Oak Court and Northcoast Street. Police said they saw loose marijuana and an empty bottle of suspected promethazine. Police said they also noticed opened bottles of soda, which they say appeared to be a mix of promethazine and soda. The vehicles occupants, identified as 20-year-old Alejandro Medina-Ballesteros and 29-year-old Jose Fuentes, were ordered to exit the car and refused. According to Santa Rosa PD, the duo was later removed from the vehicle and detained. Photo: Santa Rosa PD 3 men with prior theft charges arrested for shoplifting at grocery store Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Two empty bottles of suspected promethazine cough medicine, approximately 1.5 pounds of marijuana, and a loaded, concealed and unserialized Poly 80 9mm handgun were found in a search of the car. The Santa Rosa residents were arrested and booked into the Sonoma County Main Adult Detention Facility. Fuentes, according to police, is a convicted felon and legally disallowed from having firearms or ammunition. He has multiple felony and misdemeanor charges, including: Possession of a loaded firearm in public control of a concealed firearm in a vehicle Possession of a concealed firearm in a vehicle Possession of an unregistered firearm Prohibited person in possession of ammunition Possession of a controlled substance Resisting arrest Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Alejandro Medina-Ballesteros was charged with multiple felonies and misdemeanor charges, including: Possession of an unregistered firearm Prohibited person in possession of ammunition Possession of a controlled substance Resisting arrest Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4. ASTANA, Kazakhstan, March 31. Vice Minister of Labor and Social Protection of the Population of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Askarbek Yertaev, held a meeting with representatives from the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority (GLAA) of the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland, Colin Norton and Neville Bradbury, Trend reports. In the course of the negotiations, the parties discussed cooperation in protecting the rights of Kazakh citizens traveling to the UK for seasonal work, including the scheme for sending Kazakh citizens through private employment agencies in accordance with the national legislation of Kazakhstan. Yertaev underscored that one of the ministry's priorities is to ensure the rights and legal interests of Kazakh citizens working abroad. "I would like to highlight the contribution of the United Kingdom to the development of effective cooperation in ensuring the legal rights and interests of workers, particularly the signing of the Memorandum of Cooperation between the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Population (MLSP) and GLAA. We believe that creating favorable employment conditions for Kazakh citizens and their successful integration into the labor market of the host country is an essential part of responsible and mutually beneficial cooperation between our countries," he said. As part of the implementation of Kazakhstan's Migration Policy Concept for 2023-2027, the mechanisms regulating the activities of private employment agencies have been revised. A new procedure has been approved and is being implemented to facilitate their interaction with labor mobility centers to organize the labor activities of Kazakh citizens abroad. In turn, GLAA representatives discussed the process of obtaining full information about the trip, applying for a visa, and other important aspects of organizing the departure of Kazakh citizens for seasonal work in the UK. At the end of the meeting, both sides agreed to continue developing cooperation and interaction to protect the labor rights and interests of Kazakh citizens planning to work in the UK. On February 11 of this year, as part of the Strategic Dialogue "Kazakhstan United Kingdom," held in London, a Memorandum of Cooperation was signed between the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Population and GLAA. The document outlines cooperation between the two parties in the field of labor migration. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Solomon Sincler Gheorghe, a 20-year-old from Ireland, was extradited from France to North Carolina to face charges related to a fatal crash that killed his family, The Charlotte Observer reported. Gheorghe is charged with felony death by vehicle and felony serious injury by vehicle following a multi-car crash in Stanly County in September 2023 that resulted in the deaths of his 12-year-old brother, Leonidas, and their parents, Adela and Nicolae Gheorghe. Man who fled to Paris after deadly Midland crash extradited to US Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to a U.S. Department of Justice news release, Gheorghe was allegedly impaired by alcohol and drugs at the time of the crash. The crash occurred on Highway 24/27 in Midland, about 20 miles east of Charlotte, as the family was returning home to Norwood, Stanly County. Court and jail records indicate that Gheorghe is being held in the Cabarrus County jail on a $1 million secured bond and an immigration detainer. Sheriffs investigators issued warrants for Gheorghes arrest a week after the crash, which took place on Sept. 20, 2023. At the time of the crash, Solomon Gheorghe was airlifted to Atrium Health Carolinas Medical Center in Uptown Charlotte with life-threatening injuries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gheorghe is scheduled for a court hearing on Thursday, where he will face the charges stemming from the tragic accident that claimed the lives of his family members. VIDEO: Man who fled to Paris after deadly Midland crash extradited to US The Gilbert, Minnesota Police Department have published a press release confirming the death of a 21-year-old male skier at Giants Ridge, a popular local ski area. According to the release, the police department responded to a report of an injured skier on Saturday, March 29 2025. Ski patrol was able to "extract the victim from the hillside". The victim was then transported by The Biwabik Ambulance Service to Essentia Health Northern Pines in Aurora, Minnesota. Despite life saving efforts, the victim was declared deceased later that afternoon. The victim's name has not been released by the Gilbert Police Department at this time. Giant's Ridge Ski Patrol and Gilbert Police are conducting an investigation into the incident and cause of death. POWDER will continue to update this article as more information is disclosed. Our thoughts and condolences are with the friends and family of the deceased during this difficult time. As of Monday, March 31, Giants Ridge is reporting all of its trails to be open and groomed. The ski area has not announced a closing day at this time. Related: New Hampshire Ski Area Raises $100,000 To Fix Broken Chairlift Phoenix police detectives were looking for video evidence of a large gunfight outside of a house party in west Phoenix that they said resulted in a 21-year-old woman's death. Police responded to a call about shots being fired around 2 a.m. March 30 near 35th Avenue and McDowell Road. As officers were arriving, a large group of people were seen driving and running away from a large house party, police said. Amanda Franco was found on the ground with a gunshot wound and died from her injuries, police said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officers searched the area and spoke to several witnesses but made no arrests, although they said they found multiple houses and vehicles struck by gunfire. A teen male was also shot and taken to the hospital in non-life-threatening condition, but no other injuries were reported, police said. Police preliminarily believed the shooting stemmed from a fight that occurred at the house party and then spread out to the front of the home. Multiple people fired their weapons, resulting in over 300 shell casings found throughout the area, police claimed. Phoenix police asked that anyone who captured video footage of the moments before the fight and of the shooting itself to come forward and share it with investigators by accessing their online portal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Witnesses can also call Phoenix police or Silent Witness at 480-WITNESS (480-948-6377) to provide an anonymous tip. Call 480-TESTEGO (480-837-8446) for Spanish. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: West Phoenix house party fight spills out on the streets, 1 woman dead (NewsNation) Customers of 23andMe are rightly concerned about what could happen to their DNA profiles now that the ancestry-research company has filed for bankruptcy, attorney and author Matt Murphy says. It looks like its up for grabs, he said of the genetic information. And there doesnt really seem to be any parameters regarding its use. After a customer provides a saliva sample, DNA-testing companies like 23andMe provide a profile of a persons genetic heritage. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police use forensic genetic genealogy to solve crimes 23andMe had a data breach in 2023 and paid out $30 million to settle a class-action lawsuit. Under bankruptcy, the companys DNA database of more than 15 million customers could potentially be sold as an asset. Californias attorney general has told customers in his state to exercise their rights under California law to have their genetic information deleted. 23andMe also has online procedures for customers to delete their data or have physical samples destroyed. Theres all kinds of information that could be contained in there, including potential risk of disease or genetic problems, Murphy said. Could you be denied a job because youre at a higher risk for some sort of congenital disease? Could you be denied health insurance? Theres a whole array of potential problems. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Murphy said courts likely will decide some of these issues. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation. A DOGE staffer, who was forced to resign after being linked to racist social media posts, is back in government with fresh access to sensitive systems. Marko Elez has been assigned to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services since March 5, per court filings. A 25-year-old DOGE staffer who resigned after being linked to a social media account that shared racist posts is officially back on the government's payroll. According to court filings, Marko Elez now has access to sensitive systems at the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Labor. Elez resigned from his role at DOGE in early February after a report from the Wall Street Journal linked him to a now-deleted account that shared posts including one claiming he was "racist before it was cool." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The account also reportedly shared a post calling to normalize Indian hate, and another that suggested Gaza and Israel be wiped off the face of the Earth." At the time, the White House confirmed to the Journal that Elez had resigned from his government role. However, the recent court filings reveal Elez is still working as a Labor Department aide in connection with DOGE. The court documents state Elez had been detailed to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services since March 5 and is also assigned to the United States Digital Service (USDS). Elez has access to several sensitive systems within the Department of Health and Human Services including the National Directory of New Hires and the Healthcare Integrated General Ledger Accounting System (HIGLAS), which is primarily used to manage and track payments related to Medicare and Medicaid programs. At the Department of Labor, Elez had access to four more sensitive systems: USAccess, DOL Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12, DOL Directory Resource Administrator (DRA), and Unemployment Insurance Data and Related Records. The court filing notes he is the only DOL employee who has an employment relationship with DOGE and has been granted permission to access sensitive systems at the agency. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Elez has also installed two programs onto DOL systems: a code editor called Visual Studio Code and Python, a programming language, according to court filings. The Department of Labor said it was aware Elez was simultaneously assigned to or employed by another four agencies, not including USDS. Representatives for DOGE, the Department of Labor, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fortune. Elezs role in the Treasury Department The 25-year-old was working in the United States Department of the Treasury when the Wall Street Journal linked him to the racist account. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After the news broke, Elon Musk, JD Vance, and U.S. President Donald Trump advocated for Elez's reinstatement. Musk polled X users on whether he should bring back the DOGE staffer after making inappropriate statements" while Vance said in a post on X he didn't think "stupid social media activity should ruin a kids life." We shouldnt reward journalists who try to destroy people. Ever, Vance said. So I say bring him back. If hes a bad dude or a terrible member of the team, fire him for that. Trump later said he was with the vice president when questioned about Elez and Vances response during a news conference. Elez's brief stint at the Treasury also made headlines after it was revealed he was "mistakenly" given edit access over the departments payment systems. In an affidavit, a Treasury official stated that Elez was mistakenly given read/write permissions instead of read-only in an error that was promptly corrected. The edit permissions were granted during Elezs supervised, walk-through session, and an initial investigation found that no unauthorized actions had taken place, the official said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a separate court filing, another federal official said that Elez violated Treasury policies by emailing a spreadsheet containing personal information to two other members of the Trump administration. The official said he sent the sensitive information unencrypted and without prior approval, violating the Bureau of the Fiscal Services policies on handling sensitive information. This story was originally featured on Fortune.com All four U.S. soldiers who had been at the center of a recovery mission in Lithuania for a week after their armored vehicle sank in a peat bog near the border with Belarus have been found dead, the Army said. The fourth missing soldier's body was recovered Tuesday, a day after the three other soldiers were found, the Army's Europe and Africa Command said in a statement. All of the soldiers were assigned to the 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division and were permanently stationed at Fort Stewart in Georgia. The four soldiers were identified by the military as Sgt. Jose Duenez, Jr. 25, of Joliet, Illinois; Sgt. Edvin F. Franco, 25, of Glendale, California; and Pfc. Dante D. Taitano, 21, of Dededo, Guam; and Staff Sgt. Troy S. Knutson-Collins, 28, of Battle Creek, Michigan. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "This loss is simply devastating," said Maj. Gen. Christopher Norrie, the 3rd Infantry Division commanding general, in a statement. "These men were honored Soldiers of the Marne Division. We are wrapping our arms around the families and loved ones of our Soldiers during incredibly difficult time." The soldiers went missing last Tuesday, March 25, while conducting a mission to repair and tow an immobilized tactical vehicle. Their submerged armored recovery vehicle was located by the Army and Lithuanian authorities the following day. People with flowers and candles pay their respects for the U.S. soldiers who died at a Pabrade training ground, outside the U.S. Embassy in Vilnius, Lithuania, on April 1, 2025. / Credit: PETRAS MALUKAS/AFP via Getty Images The incident is being investigated by the Army and Lithuanian authorities. The command said the vehicle was removed from a peat bog early Monday morning. In an update from over the weekend, the command said the vehicle was under at least 15 feet of water, clay-like mud and silt. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The discovery came after recovery dogs from Lithuania and the nearby country of Estonia joined the search effort, the command said earlier Tuesday. The dogs were placed in a U.S. Navy inflatable boat with the hope of picking up any trace scents from below the surface of the bog. Hundreds of service members from the Army, Navy and the militaries of Lithuania and Poland helped in the effort to bring the 63-ton M88A2 Hercules armored recovery vehicle to the surface, the command said. Lithuanian civilian agencies also contributed to the effort, with the command calling the unstable ground conditions around the submerged vehicle an "engineering challenge." "I can't say enough about the support our Lithuanian Allies have provided us," Gen. Christopher Donahue, commander of U.S. Army Europe and Africa, said in Tuesday's statement. "We have leaned on them, and they, alongside our Polish and Estonian Allies and our own Sailors, Airmen and experts from the Corps of Engineers have enabled us to find and bring home our Soldiers. This is a tragic event, but it reinforces what it means to have Allies and friends." Excavators, pumps and several hundred tons of gravel and earth were moved to the search area near Pabrade, close to the Lithuania-Belarus border, to pull up the vehicle. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A devastating loss Norrie said that the soldiers who died in the incident were family. "This loss is simply devastating," said Norrie Tuesday in a statement. "...No words can capture the depth of sorrow or gratitude we feel for their service." Sgt. Jose Duenez, Jr. 25, of Joliet, Illinois / Credit: U.S. Army The soldiers identified were among 3,500 who deployed in January to various locations across Poland and the Baltic states for a nine-month rotation as part of Operation Atlantic Resolve in support of NATO. Duenez was an M1 Abrams tank system maintainer with over seven years in the Army. He arrived at Fort Stewart in February 2022. Duenez had previously been deployed to Poland in 2021 and Germany in 2022. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Capt. Madyson K. Wellens, Diesel Forward Support Troop commander, said in a statement that Duenez greeted "every challenge with a smile and a readiness to support anyone who required assistance." Franco, 25, was an M1 Abrams tank system maintainer who served in the Army for over six years. He arrived at Fort Stewart in 2019. He had been deployed to Korea in 2020 and Germany in 2022. "Edvin was a friend whose influence touched so many," said Wellens. Sgt. Edvin F. Franco, 25, of Glendale, California / Credit: U.S. Army Taitano, 21, was a M1 Abrams tank system maintainer on his first deployment. He served in the Army for nearly two years. He arrived at Fort Stewart in October 2023, following his entry training. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Taitano "constantly brought the team together with his charisma and laughter," said Cpt. Matthew Lund, Darkhorse Troop commander, in a statement. Pfc. Dante D. Taitano, 21, of Dededo, Guam. / Credit: U.S. Army The final soldier to be identified, Troy S. Knutson-Collins, was an artillery mechanic with over seven years in the Army who had been awarded multiple commendation medals. "Words cannot express how deeply this loss is felt by everyone in our unit," said Capt. Jackson Patillo, commander of Foxtrot Company, 1st Bn., 41st FAR. "Staff Sgt. Troy Collins was an exceptional friend to all of us and an irreplaceable member to our entire Fox family that we will truly miss." Knutson-Collins, Duenez and Franco were all posthumously promoted to the rank of staff sergeant, the Army said in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lithuania's President Gitanas Nauseda expressed his condolences to President Trump and the U.S. on social media. "@realDonaldTrump, Lithuania mourns together with the American nation," Nauseda said on social platform X. "Please accept my heartfelt condolences, as well as those of the Lithuanian people, to you, the loved ones of those who lost their lives, and all the people of the United States of America. During this difficult time, our thoughts and prayers are with you." Where is Lithuania located? Lithuania is located northwest of Belarus, the country led by Alexander Lukashenko, a key ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lithuania, like its northern neighbor Latvia, joined NATO in 2004. Southwest of Lithuania are the Russian province of Kaliningrad and Poland, another NATO member. The Baltic Sea is located to the west of Lithuania. Lithuania is highlighted on a map of northern Europe. / Credit: Encyclopaedia Britannica/Universal Images Group via Getty Images Democratic-backed candidate wins record-breaking Wisconsin Supreme Court seat Wife of man mistakenly deported to El Salvador describes moment she realized he was detained U.S. and the rest of the world prepare for Trump's "Liberation Day" tariffs ANTIOCH, Tenn. (WKRN) More details have emerged about a raid that took place Sunday morning at an Antioch nightclub, which resulted in at least 100 people being detained and a heavy response from multiple law enforcement agencies. Although dozens of people were detained at Miami Club along Antioch Pike, only three people were charged following the Sunday morning raid, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office of the Middle District of Tennessee. RELATED: FBI, DEA execute raid at nightclub on Antioch Pike in Nashville Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officials said three menidentified as 37-year-old Rimon Salim, 44-year-old Antuan Rhodes and 35-year-old Jorge Luiswere all arrested and charged for their involvement in drug-related crimes at two nightclubs in Antioch. Court documents reveal that Salim owns and operates Miami Club and Paisanos bar and pillar. Paisanos reportedly operates as a nightclub on the weekends from 6 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. When it closes, Miami Club opens next door from 2:30 a.m. to 7 a.m. as an after-party nightclub. According to the district attorneys office, the Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD) has received over 400 calls for service from the clubs for incidents ranging from fights, shots fired, individuals suffering from gunshot wounds, theft, disorderly conduct and various other crimes. The extraordinary number of calls from citizens to police about these establishments justifies law enforcement efforts to hold these individuals accountable for their criminal activity, said Acting United States Attorney Robert E. McGuire. Night clubs like these, where illegal activity is rampant, are a blight on our city and we will do what it takes to clean them up for the benefit of the community. | READ MORE | Latest headlines from Nashville and Davidson County In fact, officials said law enforcement began investigating drug trafficking in the clubs about 18 months ago. Undercover agents allegedly observed drug sales and drug usage inside the clubs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Between February 2024 and March 2025, Jorge Luisa citizen of Mexico without legal status in the United States reportedly sold informants cocaine inside Paisanos bathroom on multiple occasions. The district attorneys office said Salim, Rhodes and others also sold and provided informants methamphetamine and cocaine in Miami Club on multiple occasions between August 2024 and March 2025. Authorities reported Salim was charged with maintaining a drug-involved premises and distributing controlled substances. He faces up to 20 years in federal prison for maintaining a drug-involved premises, and up to life in federal prison for distributing controlled substances. Meanwhile, Luis and Rhodes were both charged with distributing controlled substances. They face up to 20 years in federal prison and a $1,000,000 fine for each count. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement CRIME TRACKER | Read the latest crime-related reports from across Middle Tennessee This operation exemplifies the effectiveness of collaboration between federal, state, and local agencies who have united to combat a drug trafficking operation, said Special Agent in Charge Joseph E. Carrico of the FBI Nashville Field Office. The FBI remains committed to working with our partners to keep illegal drugs off our streets and holding those accountable for endangering our communities. Multiple agenciesincluding the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and the Metropolitan Nashville Police Departmentassisted in investigating the case. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2. Three children were killed and three more people were injured when a tree landed on their car Sunday in Michigan. An 11-year-old girl, a 4-year-old boy and a 2-year-old girl were killed in the tragedy in Climax Township, the Kalamazoo County sheriffs office said Monday. The 4-year-old and 2-year-old were brother and sister, and the 11-year-old was their cousin. Our condolences go out to this family, Kalamazoo County Sheriff Richard Fuller said at a press conference. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Severe thunderstorms struck Michigan, Wisconsin, northern Indiana and northern Ohio over the weekend. More than 300,000 people remained without power into Monday across Michigan, including about 7,000 in Kalamazoo County. The children were riding in the backseat of a minivan when the tree fell on their car, investigators said. The tree was large enough to extend across multiple lanes of traffic after it fell, cops said. There is no standing up to this tree. Given the volume of the tree, the weight of the tree and where it struck, there is no vehicle that would stand up to this, Fuller said. Theres really nothing anybody couldve done. The children were not the only people killed Sunday by the storm system. About 100 miles southwest in Valparaiso, Ind., a tractor-trailer driver was killed when his truck was blown over in high winds. Jagbir Singh, 34, of Ontario, Canada, was identified as the victim. BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 31. Equinor's Johan Castberg oil field in the Barents Sea began production, marking a significant milestone for Norways energy sector, Trend reports. The field is expected to produce for at least 30 years, with peak production reaching 220,000 barrels per day. Recoverable volumes are estimated to range from 450 to 650 million barrels. The field's development cost NOK 86 billion (2024) and is expected to be repaid in under two years. Currently, 12 of the 30 planned wells are ready for production, and the field is projected to reach full production capacity by the second quarter of 2025. Equinors Kjetil Hove emphasized that Johan Castberg opens up new opportunities in the Barents Sea, with potential for an additional 250 to 550 million barrels of recoverable oil. Over 70% of the projects deliveries were made by Norwegian suppliers, with this figure set to increase to 95% during operation, including a significant share from Northern Norway. The field will generate significant revenues for Norway, with 84% of its income going to the state through taxes and direct participation. Operations are expected to continue until late 2026, with substantial activity in Hammerfest. KALAMAZOO, Mich. (AP) A tree fell on a van in Michigan, killing three children, during a fierce weekend storm that swept the region and contributed to the death of an 84-year-old man in an Amish buggy in Indiana, authorities said Monday. Meanwhile, more potentially dangerous weather rolled across parts of the Southeastern U.S. Trees and power lines were no match for freezing rain and extreme winds over the weekend, and utilities were gradually restoring power in Michigan, although 276,000 outages remained by Monday afternoon, according to poweroutage.us. Indiana and Wisconsin had trimmed their outages to roughly 80,000. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The victims of the fallen tree in Kalamazoo County were a 2-year-old girl, her 4-year-old brother and an 11-year-old girl who was their cousin. Three other people in the van were injured Sunday about 130 miles (209 kilometers) west of Detroit. The family could not have avoided this, Sheriff Richard Fuller told reporters, adding that the tree struck the passenger area where the children were sitting. It was such a large tree that it came across two lanes of traffic and out the other side of the vehicle for about 12 more feet, the sheriff said. The area had been under a severe thunderstorm warning at the time, one of several Sunday in southern Michigan. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At roughly the same time, an Amish buggy in Middlebury, Indiana, flipped because of intense winds, killing Lonnie Yoder, police said. Michigans northern Lower Peninsula remained a mess Monday, with thousands of trees down because of freezing rain that struck Saturday. Police urged people to stay off roads. The Alpena News said it couldn't publish a newspaper because it had no power, like the rest of Alpena County. The Mackinac Bridge, a 5-mile (8-kilometer) span connecting Michigan's two peninsulas, was shut down because of the danger of thick ice falling on cars from the bridge's towers and cables. In Valparaiso, Indiana, investigators believe severe crosswinds blew over a tractor-trailer Sunday afternoon, killing the driver at the property of Pratt Industries, the Porter County sheriffs office said. Jagbir Singh, 34, of Ontario, Canada, was found outside the passenger compartment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A warehouse in Elkhart, Indiana, was destroyed, though no injuries were reported, WSBT-TV said. Winds in southwest Ohio toppled a church steeple, damaged homes and flipped campers Sunday night, authorities said. No injuries were reported. At least four tornadoes were confirmed by the National Weather Service. Kentucky also saw at least three tornadoes Sunday, the weather service confirmed on the social platform X. One hit Spencer County in north-central Kentucky, tearing the roof off at least one barn. Storm damage was reported in several counties in Tennessee, including Maury and Humphreys, WSMV-TV reported. Humphreys County Sheriff Chris Davis reported damage across the county, including a roof torn off a house. The homeowners were trapped inside but not injured. The National Weather Service confirmed on Facebook on Monday at least four tornadoes in middle Tennessee. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Clusters of thunderstorms accompanied by strong to severe wind gusts and perhaps a few tornadoes were spreading across much of the Southeast on Monday, the National Weather Service said. In Dothan, Alabama, five students suffered minor injuries when a storm caused part of their school's gymnasium roof to collapse, news outlets reported. Flood watches have been issued for Wednesday through Sunday in 11 states, from northeast Texas through Arkansas and stretching to the western edge of West Virginia. The weather service warned that up to 1 foot (30.5 centimeters) of rain in some areas is not out of the question. This is expected to be a high end event with life-threatening flooding. Four private astronauts are set to launch on a historic mission Monday from Floridas Space Coast. The Fram2 mission will be the first human spaceflight to Earths polar regions. The crew is set to launch on the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft. The Fram2 @framonauts and SpaceX completed a full rehearsal of launch day activities ahead of liftoff on Monday pic.twitter.com/e1T9RI57Fy SpaceX (@SpaceX) March 30, 2025 During the 3 to 5 day mission, they will attempt to take the first X-ray in space. Theyll also work with SpaceX on research to better understand the effects of spaceflight on the human body. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SpaceX said it successfully completed a static fire test of its Falcon 9 rocket on Sunday. Weather permitting, that rocket will carry the Dragon capsule away from Earth and send it into orbit Monday night. The mission is set to launch from the Kennedy Space Center at 9:46 p.m. Channel 9s Melonie Holt will be monitoring all things leading up to liftoff. Look for updates on Channel 9 and WFTV.com throughout the day. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. You may have seen flyers of this boy, 5-year-old Indi Bullock, on your social media pages last week. Local Georgia police posted his picture, desperately asking for the publics help in locating him after he vanished. However, the cops finally came back with a development on the search and its a heartbreaking one. Gwinnett County Police say Bullock was last seen around 4:25 p.m. Thursday, March 27 around the Sweetwater Apartments. Authorities circulated his pictures, a sweet Black boy with a ton of hair and a toothy smile, asking for tips on his last whereabouts. Police said he jumped over the balcony of his residence before wandering off. Police described him as three feet tall, forty five pounds with black hair, brown eyes and also said he was nonverbal. He was last seen wearing his mane of hair in two braids as well as a a black shirt, green shorts and no shoes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Once the boy was reported missing, the police said they, along with Emergency Management, deployed K9 units and search teams during the evening, overnight and in the following wee hours. They also searched the pond behind the apartment complex with a dive team and remote-operated submarine donning cameras. However, after 14 hours of searching, the Hall County Sheriffs Department dive team and Gwinnett County Fire Department Swift Water Rescue teams confirmed on March 28 they found Bullocks remains. Photo: Gwinnett County Police (Facebook) Its emotional for everyone involved. Its hard for everyone to deal with when you end up with an innocent child who walked away from the apartment complex and ended up in the retention pond, said Gwinnett County Police Cpl. Ryan Winderweedle via 11Alive News. While investigators were sent to the scene to investigate, it stands now that there was no suspected foul play. Winderweedle described it to be a tragic accident. As the county medical examiner determines Indis cause of death, his family created a GoFundMe for donations to help lay him to rest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Indi was a bright, beautiful soul who brought joy to everyone who knew him. His absence leaves a void that can never be filled. As we process this tragedy, we are asking for support to help cover funeral expenses and provide relief to his grieving family during this incredibly difficult time, wrote Indis mother, Chakia Carter. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Nearly 60 percent of Americans disagree with President Trumps handling of tariffs and trade negotiations two months into his second term, a new poll found, amid Trumps escalating trade wars with Canada, Mexico and China. The sentiment surrounding Trumps economic policies was the lowest among areas surveyed in the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll released Monday, while Trump received considerably higher marks on his sweeping immigration crackdown. Just 38 percent of respondents said they approve of Trumps approach to trade negotiations with other countries, while 40 percent said they agree with his handling of the economy overall. Comparatively, half of respondents said they agree with the presidents immigration policies, which have included mass deportations and other efforts to crack down on both legal and illegal immigration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Republicans surveyed were more supportive of the presidents policies overall, but even their views on trade have soured: About 30 percent of GOP respondents said they disagree with his trade policies, while just 10 percent disagree with his immigration overhaul. Trump has levied 25 percent taxes on most imports from Canada and Mexico, and increased tariffs on China from 10 percent to 20 percent. A 25-percent tariff on automobile imports is slated to take effect this week, despite warnings from economists, and Trump plans to impose additional reciprocal tariffs on other countries that tax U.S. imports. Consumer confidence has tumbled and the stock market has slumped throughout Trumps ongoing economic policy changes, but the president and his allies argue that efforts are aimed at building a stronger job market and domestic manufacturing growth long term. Our Economy will BOOM, like never before!, Trump wrote in a March 14 post on Truth Social. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The AP-NORC poll surveyed 1,229 adults from NORCs AmeriSpeak Panel from March 20-24. It has a margin of error of 3.9 percentage points. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Last year, the state of West Virginia spent nearly $70 million paying to house foster children in out-of-state facilities. (Justin Paget | Getty Images) West Virginia spent nearly $70 million paying to house foster children in out-of-state facilities last year because the state doesnt have the capacity to keep children close to home. The astronomical price tag includes housing, feeding, medicating and educating hundreds of youth in foster care. The Department of Human Services paid the bulk of the price tag. Angelica Hightower, a spokesperson for the department, said that some children were removed from unidentified out-of-state programs due to safety concerns and educational deficiencies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The state continues to make payments to Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health, which operates in 12 states, despite DoHS saying it had five open West Virginia investigations against the facilities involving sexual abuse and neglect. Devereux denies these investigations. While the company is facing multiple lawsuits over child abuse allegations, the state still has children living in Devereux facilities. The most recent payment of $5,015 was in late February, according to the state auditors public records. The West Virginia Department of Education, which is required to pay for some out-of-state education for foster children, said that every out-of-state facility had some level of findings of noncompliance that are often noted under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act during fiscal year 2024. No egregious findings were noted, said Christy Day, a spokesperson for the WVDE, when speaking only about education services in the facilities. There were no findings that warranted removal of students. Day said that WVDE has no control over whether educational services are provided and is often not aware of or included in correspondence about lawsuits at facilities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Devereux was last monitored in 2018, Day said. Any educational findings/violations found at that time were corrected within one year in compliance with the U.S. Department of Education, she said. Keeping children in West Virginia would be much cheaper, experts say, and allow better oversight of their treatment. But with a shortage of foster homes and in-state treatment beds, West Virginia relies on out-of-state facilities to house children, typically teens with behavioral or mental health issues. In 2024, Neveya (West Virginia Watch is not fully identifying her to protect her privacy) ended up in Laurel Oaks in Alabama, a residential treatment facility 706 miles from Charleston. The atmosphere was chaotic, she said. I hated it there. Like every other day, there was a fight, every other day there was something, said Neveya, 18. I also had an issue with a girl there, and she peed on my stuff. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Neveya, who spent her childhood living under a bridge with her mother, had been in a facility in Charleston and attending public school. In 2024, a Child Protective Services worker put Neveya on a flight to Alabama. Neveya said she was given no warning but was told that the Charleston facility couldnt support her mental health needs. School was offered on-site at Laurel Oaks, but Neveya said her education during her five months there was minimal. If they had a fight on the floor that day, schools canceled, Neveya said. I dont mean to speak too harshly of it, but its almost like prison in a way. DoHS has asked lawmakers, who are right now vetting state budget requests, for a 65% increase in funding for foster care. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Del. Adam Burkhammer, R-Lewis, is a foster parent who has spearheaded legislation he hopes will reform the states troubled foster care system. He reiterated that the state doesnt have enough in-state beds that can offer the kind of behavioral or mental health support these kids need. Right now is a really tough time. I know [DoHS] is aware of the problem, and they want to make this a focus. We all as a state and as a community should want to make this a focus, Burkhammer said. The ultimate goal is to get them back home, and the best case scenario would be with their family, he continued. These are our kids, our responsibility. We should do everything we can to get them home. Del. Adam Burkhammer, R-Lewis, a foster parent, speaks before the House of Delegates chamber March 13, 2025. (Perry Bennett | West Virginia Legislative Photography) Court orders child out of state, agencies on hook to pay The number of children coming into West Virginias foster care accelerated as the substance abuse crisis ravaged the state. The lack of available homes and beds in group homes has led to children being placed in hotel rooms and on campgrounds. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There are more than 5,800 children in state foster care. DoHS data shows that 471 are out of state, mostly in group residential care. By combing through the state auditors public data on spending, West Virginia Watch was able to track payments a mix of federal and state dollars to more than a dozen out-of-state facilities in FY 2024. WVDE paid more than $7 million for these facilities, according to the auditors records. Facilities were located in Arkansas, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Utah and more. One spending record showed the state paid Grafton School Residential Treatment in Virginia $687,908 last year. Mike Folio, legal director for Disability Rights West Virginia, estimated that the state spends three times the amount of money on sending foster children out of state than it does on the ones who remain in state. His organization sued the state over alleged mistreatment of foster children, including sending them to dangerous out-of-state group homes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Once they are sent out of state, they experience extreme trauma they will never recover from, Folio said. Whitney Wetzel, a former DoHS spokesperson who is no longer with the agency, told West Virginia Watch in December that DoHS seeks to use out-of-state placements only when in-state services at the required level of care are unavailable. Typically, these placements involve more intense or specialized services, which leads to increased costs, she said. The process for a child being sent out of state involves numerous stakeholders, and ultimately, the court makes the decision to send a child to an out-of-state facility, according to DoHS. Its important to emphasize that DoHS is one member of this selection team that recommends placements based on the childs needs. DoHS is, however, the primary funding source and required to cover costs of court-ordered placements, even if they differ from a DoHS recommendation, Wetzel said in an email to West Virginia Watch. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Potential facilities to take children go through a vetting process, according to Hightower. It includes an on-site visit. Annual reviews are conducted at facilities with existing contracts to ensure compliance. Social workers continue to meet the required monthly visit standards for all facilities, Hightower said. DoHS covers out-of-state education expenses for children who do not have an Individualized Education Program (IEP). The WVDE, obligated to pay for childrens education in out-of-state facilities, was invoiced for educational services for approximately 535 students in FY 2024, according to Day. Some students were listed twice due to being in multiple facilities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The department handles the educational monitoring of these places, Day said. Neveya said school at Laurel Oaks was online, with an adult who was on-site to supervise if they had school for the day. There was no teacher on campus during her five months there. Schooling was hard. It didnt give me much information, she said. Jeanette Jackson, chief executive officer for Laurel Oaks Behavioral Health Center, said any allegation at the center is thoroughly investigated. Laurel Oaks Behavioral Health Hospital is committed to providing compassionate care in a safe setting to children and adolescents with psychiatric, emotional and behavioral disorders, she wrote in an email. Alex Mayer, the new secretary of the state Department of Human Services, speaks before members of the Senate Judiciary Committee about foster care on March 10, 2025. (Will Price | West Virginia Legislative Photography) Cost rising to send foster children out of state DoHS said theyd reduced the percentage of children in residential care from 24% to 14% over the last several years. Wetzel said theyve tripled their spending on community-based mental health services. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A recent investigation from Mountain State Spotlight, a nonprofit newsroom, found that the state still sends children with physical or emotional disabilities to group homes and treatment centers at a rate three times the national average. DoHS leaders recently requested more than $181 million for the foster care program in the departments roughly $7 billion total budget request for FY 2026. Its a 65% increase over the $110 million in the current DoHS budget for foster care. Alex Mayer, new DoHS cabinet secretary, told lawmakers that the rising costs of out-of-state services are a budgetary risk. The limited in-state capacity and increased level of acuity among youth has also led to higher costs for out-of-state placements, Mayer told the Senate Finance Committee on March 20. He has stressed that he is committed to working collaboratively with the Legislature to address child welfare issues. The state draws down federal money to help pay for children out of state. Burkhammer said federal reimbursement rates for out-of-state placements are part of the price problem. There could be a potential savings if we can bring those kids home and take care of them at home, Burkhammer said. Folio called on lawmakers to study how much the state is spending sending children out of state and, in response, invest those resources in community-based programs to keep children close to home. The taxpayers will save millions of dollars, he said. In February, Neveya was in Charleston, getting ready for a formal event at a nearby high school, excited to wear a long ruby red gown. The teenager is back home in West Virginia after aging out of state care. She is living with a foster family who kept in contact with her when she was sent to Alabama. After years of poor education in facilities, theyre helping her get caught up on schooling so she can graduate. She credits her new family and a therapist for helping her make it to this point. When asked what shed tell the state foster care leaders, she replied, I would want them to know that they need to have better facilities, because it sucked. Editors note: This story was updated to clarify that the West Virginia Department of Education only monitors the education of students in out-of-state facilities and has no control over whether educational services are provided, and Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health denies investigations involving West Virginia. The company operates in 12 states. After this story published March 31, 2025, DoHS told West Virginia Watch that were no longer any current open investigations involving Devereux, and the story was updated to reflect that new information. Editors note: Amelia Ferrell Knisley has been covering West Virginias foster care system since 2019. Over the years, shes spoken with foster children abused in out-of-state facilities, child protective services workers who cant keep up with caseloads, biological parents who want answers and foster parents who feel lost in a complex system. Shes written about state leaders attempts or lack thereof to fix the problems, and spotlighted organizations helping vulnerable children. If you want to chat about foster care, email her at aknisely@westvirginiawatch.com. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE ASTANA, Kazakhstan, March 31. Citizens of Kazakhstan aged 18 to 21 will now be required to visit a bank branch to issue or reissue payment cards, as online processing is no longer available, Trend reports. This became known from a draft regulation by the Agency for Regulation and Development of the Financial Market of Kazakhstan. The establishment of business relationships, issuance, and reissuance of payment cards remotely or through a representative is not allowed for clients aged 18 to 21, the draft regulation of the Agency for Regulation and Development of the Financial Market states. Additionally, according to the new draft regulation, when Kazakhstani citizens aged 14 to 18 receive banking services online, their transactions will need to be confirmed by their parents or other legal representatives. The draft also introduces the following additional control measures: The bank will conduct two-factor authentication of the client with mandatory use of biometrics when establishing business relationships or when the client changes their mobile phone; The bank will monitor the linking of all client accounts/cards to a single Kazakhstani mobile number registered for the client on the Kazakhstan e-government portal; The client must use a mobile application only through one identified mobile device registered with the bank; If the client is issued more than one payment card (except for special accounts for benefits, children's cards, and credit cards for loan servicing), the bank will monitor the flow of money in the account according to the intended purpose specified by the client when the card was issued, and in case of discrepancies, a deeper transaction monitoring will take place; Banks are required to store photo and video records of the client identification process for at least 5 years. It was also previously reported that the National Bank of Kazakhstan and the Agency for Regulation and Development of the Financial Market signed a memorandum with the Central Bank of the UAE. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel HONOLULU (KHON2) Executive Orders are a privilege of the Executive Branch; and while this privilege is a protected constitutional right, it does not expand the power of the President of the United States (POTUS). Since Jan. 20, POTUS has inundated the U.S. with copious amounts of Executive Orders, but these orders dont carry the weight that many people think they do. So, KHON2.com did a bit of digging to find out what power these Executive Orders have and what that will mean to the average citizen. What Executive Orders can do Have the force of law: As directives from POTUS, executive orders carry legal weight and must be followed only by federal agencies. Manage the Executive Branch: They regulate operations only within federal agencies and departments to ensure policies align with the POTUS agenda. An example is troop deployments. Implement existing laws: POTUS can clarify or guide the enforcement of laws that have already been created and passed by Congress. Grant pardons and reprieves: Except in cases of impeachment, POTUS can use executive orders to issue pardons. Fill vacancies: POTUS can temporarily fill vacancies in government positions only during time the Senate is in recess. Recognize foreign diplomacy: POTUS can receive ambassadors and set foreign policy directions within the already existing legal frameworks. Enforce congressional mandates: POTUS must take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed in order to ensure federal agencies implement legislative policies created by Congress. Get Hawaiis latest morning news delivered to your inbox, sign up for News 2 You What Executive Orders cannot do Cannot make new laws: Only Congress can create new legislation; executive orders must be based on existing laws or constitutional powers. Cannot override congressional laws: If an executive order contradicts an existing law that has already been passed by Congress, the law will always take precedence. Cannot control funding: POTUS cannot allocate or withhold funds unless authorized by Congress, regardless of how many orders are signed. Cannot violate the Constitution: Any executive order that infringes on constitutional rights can be overturned by the courts. Cannot appoint high-level officials without Senate approval: While POTUS can nominate officials, most all nominations require Senate approval and confirmation. Cannot bypass congress for treaties: International agreements that require binding commitments must be approved by two-thirds of the Senate. Hence and executive order cannot formally create foreign policy. Cannot interfere with elections: POTUS cannot use executive orders to change election rules, dates or results. These are determined only by Congress and individual state legislatures. Cannot prevent impeachment: POTUS cannot use an executive order to protect themselves or others from impeachment proceedings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Get news on the go with KHON 2GO, KHONs morning podcast, every morning at 8 You can click here to read Article II of the U.S. Constitution. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. When the free world was tearing at the seams, Betty OConnell did her part to patch it up. In 1945, World War II raged across the Pacific, leaving countless wounded soldiers in dire need of treatment. It was at that time that OConnell, a Reading native, joined the WAVES, or Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service the womens branch of the Navy. One of my best girlfriends joined the WAVES. I looked up to her, said the 99-year-old OConnell, sharing her story as part of Womens History Month in March. And a lot of girls were joining. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement OConnell left Albright College to attend basic training at Hunter College in New York City, where she learned to be a nurses aide. Betty OConnell attended basic training at Hunter College, N.Y., where she learned to be a nurses aide in 1945. (BILL UHRICH/READING EAGLE) From there, the newly minted pharmacists mate 2nd class shipped out to a naval hospital in Long Beach, Calif. We took temperatures, pulses, made beds, helped them (wounded soldiers) eat, OConnell said. Her time there included ward duty at night, when OConnell would keep watch over wounded soldiers. If things got bad, we would call a (head) nurse, OConnell said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The WAVES The WAVES came about during a rising tide of acceptance for women in the military, when many in the Navy and in Congress still opposed the idea of women in the service. The proposal to establish the WAVES as an integrated branch of the Navy was hotly debated, according to the National World War II Museum. Some military and government officials feared service in the WAVES would deprive women of their femininity. They argued women didnt want to perform military jobs or couldnt do them. WAVES recruitment figures proved those suppositions wrong. In 1945, the WAVES had 73,816 enlisted women, 8,745 officers and nearly 4,000 in training, far exceeding the Navys projections for recruitment, the National World War II Museum said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For OConnell, the gender biases of some policymakers didnt bleed into the field she said her reception as a woman in uniform was overwhelmingly positive. You would think they wouldnt like it (a woman in uniform), but it wasnt like that, OConnell said. It was all positive. OConnells longtime friend Pat Gernert, 92, said OConnells acceptance likely had to do with the nature of her work. I think because she was with a hospital where people were wounded, and they were glad (to be treated), Gernert said. I think if she was with another division, where it was competitive, I think it couldve been a different story. But as long as Ive known her shes said, I loved it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement OConnell said she loved the people, and what she was representing. I think it felt like you were helping a little bit, like when the men went, we stepped in, OConnell said. Although she enjoyed her 14 months in Long Beach, it wasnt always easy for OConnell because being on the ward meant seeing the realities of war firsthand. These were kids, 18, 19, younger (than me), OConnell said. That was the first time I saw someone die. Life after service Following the end of the war, OConnell returned to Berks County and attended Albright College on the GI Bill. Betty OConnell left Albright College to join the WAVES in 1945. (BILL UHRICH/READING EAGLE) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She married Rolfe Hastings, who also left Albright during the war to serve as a Navy pilot. They moved to Wisconsin for his work and had two sons. Hastings died of polio at age 29. I came home (to Berks County) with two babies, 1 and 3 (years old), OConnell said. My father had a plumbing business. They made room (for us). She eventually married her second husband and had two more children while working clerical jobs, including for Talbots Knitting Mills and Wanamakers department store. As a trainer at Wanamakers, she touched many lives, Gernert said. The (military) training she went through, losing her husband, it made her disciplined. She wants the best for people. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement OConnell said she likely would have stayed in the military if not for the educational opportunities provided by the GI Bill. She remains strongly patriotic and believes everyone would benefit from serving in the military. OConnells stories even inspired her great-granddaughter Kalli Howarth to sign up for the Navy. She saw it (a picture of me in uniform) and used to ask me about it all the time, OConnell said. Howarth, 20, now serves on a cruiser with the Navy at the same age as OConnell was when she joined. She was just promoted to petty officer, OConnell said. I hope she stays in. The idea of service is deeply important to OConnell, who spent decades volunteering with organizations such as Meals on Wheels and March of Dimes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now living in the Highlands at Wyomissing, OConnell still does her part to support people, visiting other residents and taking part in community activities when she can. She has so much kindness in her heart, Gernert said of OConnell. She lifts people up. CLEVELAND (WJW) A man accused of killing a Cleveland police officer will be forced to take medication that could restore his mental competency. A Cuyahoga County judge made the decision during a hearing Monday on the mental health status of Delawnte Hardy, the man accused of killing Cleveland Police officer Jamieson Ritter. Multiple storms systems on the way this week According to the testimony of a doctor overseeing Hardys care, Hardy could be competent to stand trial if he is forced to take medication. He has been refusing his medication and has not made appropriate progress on competency without it, doctors say. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The hearing comes after a confidential report from a mental health facility on Hardy. Police say last July 4th, Hardy shot and killed Officer Ritter. Hardy has been ruled incompetent to stand trial, and he has spent months in a treatment facility so that he can be restored to competency. Records show a hearing will be held for court approval of medical treatment and administration of medication. The deadly shooting of the officer happened when police say Cleveland officers tried to arrest Hardy for shooting his grandmother. She later died. The I-Team has reported Delawnte Hardy had slipped through cracks in the court system earlier, even while talking nonsense. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement WATCH: Accused cop killers outrageous claims months before shooting In April, Delawnte Hardy walked out of a Cleveland Municipal Courtroom a free man. Hed been found incompetent to stand trial on two misdemeanor charges of trespassing and resisting arrest. Then, about 10 weeks later, police say he killed his own grandmother and Cleveland Police Officer Jamieson Ritter. Somebody chose to disrespect my son, run from authority, and kill my son, officer Ritters mother, Karen, told the I-Team. He was murdered. I-Team: Explosive complaint filed by parents of fallen Cleveland police officer Hardy is now facing aggravated murder charges. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Cuyahoga County Office of the Public Defender issued the following statement: Public-Defender-Press-Release_D.Hardy-3.31.25Download The officers family is holding on to memories and watching to find out what happens in court. Our lives have been changed forever, said Jon Ritter, Jamiesons father. Justice is public safety. Number one. We want the court to hold people accountable. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Rep. Josh Gottheimer's campaign said it is not behind an ad that urges Jewish Republicans to cross party lines and vote for Gottheimer in June's gubernatorial primary. (Photo by Danielle Richards for New Jersey Monitor) A new campaign ad in support of Rep. Josh Gottheimer is urging Jewish Republicans to change parties temporarily to vote for the Democrat in his partys six-person contest for governor, saying Gottheimer is the least not bad guy in the race. The ad, which appeared in the WhatsApp chat of a Jewish news site over the weekend, tells Jewish Republicans to be a Democrat for a day or a sheep in wolfs clothing to cast a ballot for Gottheimer, who is Jewish. There are more than 1,000 people in the chat. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Register as a Democrat and vote for this guy his name is Josh Gottheimer. Just remember his name until you walk out of the poll and forget it, the man starring in the two-minute ad says. Just trust me, hes the best option that we have. Hes the least not, not, not bad guy in the race. Its unclear whos behind the ad, and theres nothing to indicate who paid for it. Gottheimer campaign spokesman Peter Opitz said the ad is not from the congressmans campaign. New Jersey voters cant cross party lines in the voting booth for primary elections. If they are registered Republicans, they can only vote for Republicans. Party members have until April 16 to change their party registration in time for the June 10 gubernatorial primary. This isnt the only time New Jersey Republicans have been asked to switch parties to vote for a Democrat this year. Sen. Brian Stack (D-Hudson) sent a letter to Republicans asking them to change parties to cast ballots for the two Democratic Assembly candidates he is supporting in the 33rd District which he represents and then change their party affiliation back to the GOP after Junes primary. A man telling Jewish Republicans to vote for Democrat Rep. Josh Gottheimer in the upcoming gubernatorial primary. The man who appears in the ad pushing Gottheimers candidacy tells viewers to face the facts that Democrats outnumber Republicans in New Jersey and the Democratic gubernatorial candidate will probably win Novembers election to succeed a term-limited Gov. Phil Murphy, himself a Democrat. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The New Jersey governor is the guy who decides whether you have to wear a mask in the Target, he says. So here is the shtick. Its called be a Democrat for a day. Dont freak out. Calm down, calm down, he says. The Hasidim have been doing this for years. Not the worst thing in the world. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE New York City Mayor Eric Adams (D) on Monday called on the federal judge mulling whether to toss his criminal bribery charges to act with urgency as a deadline approaches later this week for mayoral candidates to submit their candidate petitions. For weeks, U.S. District Judge Dale Ho has weighed whether to grant the Justice Departments request to dismiss the case. In a Monday letter submitted by Alex Spiro, Adams attorney, he noted that candidate petitions for this years mayoral race are due Thursday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We urge the Court consistent with its own comments to promptly reach a decision in this matter, Spiro wrote. As the deadline approaches, the incumbent already faces multiple challengers in his attempt to earn a second term, including former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D), who entered the race this month and has sought to present himself as the top centrist candidate. Now, with the petition-filing deadline just days away, we respectfully urge the Court to issue its decision as soon as practicable, Spiro wrote in the letter. Adams was due to stand trial in April on federal charges of bribery, wire fraud and soliciting illegal campaign contributions. He pleaded not guilty. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After Trump took office, his Justice Department has looked to end the case over concerns the prosecution improperly interfered with Adamss reelection campaign and unduly restricted his ability to partner with the administration on immigration. The move has drawn significant public scrutiny and sparked multiple prosecutors resignations in protest. Federal prosecutors have wide discretion in choosing when to drop prosecutions, and the judge has limited authority to question the decision. Ho, an appointee of former President Biden, opted against holding oral argument and could rule at any 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 The Hill. LONDON (AP) The makers of hit Netflix show Adolescence have sparked a conversation in Britain and beyond on how to protect children from violent misogyny and other harmful content on social media. Now they have the ear of British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who welcomed the filmmakers to Downing Street on Monday for talks on child protection. Starmer's office said he backed an initiative by Netflix to stream the drama series for free to secondary schools across the country, so that as many teens as possible can watch it. The show, filmed in England, explores the difficult questions that arise when a 13-year-old boy is accused of the fatal stabbing of a girl in his school and how much social media interactions that are largely impenetrable to parents and teachers may have played a part. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Netflix says since the drama launched in March it has amassed 66.3 million views worldwide and has become one of the most talked-about U.K. series in recent memory. Starmer said it was difficult watching the drama with his 14-year-old daughter and 16-year-old son. But showing the drama widely in schools will help students better understand the impact of misogyny, dangers of online radicalization and the importance of healthy relationships," his office said. It seems like the whole nation is talking about Adolescence and not just this nation, Starmer said. As a dad, I have not found it easy to watch this with children, because it connects with the fears and worries that you have as parents and adults. There isnt one single policy lever to pull. Its actually a much bigger problem than that, he added. And thats the devastating effect that the problem of misogyny has on our society. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jack Thorne, a co-writer on the show, said the team behind Adolescence made it to provoke a conversation. So to have the opportunity to take this into schools is beyond our expectations, he said. "We hope itll lead to teachers talking to the students, but what we really hope is itll lead to students talking amongst themselves. Actor Stephen Graham, a co-creator of the drama who stars as the boy's father, has told The Associated Press he wanted the narrative to focus on the seemingly ordinary life of the accused. He said that when a knife crime among young people takes place, the first reaction may be to question the background of the murder suspect and how they were raised. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But what if it's not the family? Graham asked. Were all maybe accountable. School. Society. Parents. Community. Child-on-child sexual abuse Soma Sara, who founded a charity focused on highlighting child-on-child sexual violence and what she calls rape culture in schools, said recent evidence shows that the problem is aging down" to children younger than 10 and it may be too late to tackle misogynistic attitudes by the time children turn 13. Her charity, Everyones Invited, has collected thousands of anonymous testimonies from women and girls describing groping, assault, sexist name-calling, inappropriate touching and other abusive behavior they experienced on school grounds. Of those submissions, about 1,600 took place in elementary schools, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The testimonies show how early this starts, and how it's children abusing children that's just the devastating reality," Sara said. Sara said that banning social media among children, like Australia did last year for those under 16, isn't pragmatic. Instead, her group is leading education programs in schools to help children understand how to critically evaluate the pornography or misogynistic narratives they are exposed to. We feel the generational gap has never been wider. Parents need to be digitally literate themselves, and understand all these apps Snapchat, YouTube, Instagram, TikTok because thats what your children are spending hours scrolling, she said. Were all responsible' Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The success of Adolescence has come during growing concern over childrens use of smartphones and the easy availability of pornography and extreme misogynistic content on social media pushed by controversial influencers like Andrew Tate and his brother, Tristan. The dual U.S. and British citizens face charges of human trafficking and forming an organized criminal group to sexually exploit women. Gavin Stephens, chair of the National Police Chiefs Council, warned last week that the harmful effect of Tate is plain to see. Police in the U.K. are now dealing with more than a million crimes related to violence against women and girls each year, or a fifth of all recorded crime. This is everyones problem. And this is what Adolescence says: when a child is accused, everyones to answer, Sara said. Its about realizing that were all responsible. Israel's police have detained two people as part of their investigation into alleged illegal ties between aides of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Gulf state of Qatar. According to Israeli media reports from Monday, the two suspects are both high-ranking advisers to the Israeli prime minister. Qatar is one of the mediators in the indirect talks with Hamas, but is also considered a supporter of the Palestinian Islamist organization. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Further details were not initially disclosed. A court-ordered gag order applies, the police said. Netanyahu will also testify in the case, the media reports said. The investigations in the case are being carried out jointly with the domestic intelligence service Shin Bet. Israel's government decided to dismiss Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar at the beginning of the month. Critics in Israel warn that the move should lead to the end of the investigations in the Qatar affair. The Supreme Court suspended Bar's dismissal with a temporary injunction. Netanyahu's Likud party criticized the arrest of one of the two men as an attempt to bring down the Israeli prime minister and prevent Bar's release. The party called the affair a "fabricated scandal." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The attorney general and the head of the Shin Bet intelligence agency are working "to carry out a coup with the help of arrest warrants," a party statement said, without providing details. Opposition leader Yair Lapid said that one sentence was missing from the Likud party's statement namely, that no one from Netanyahu's office had received money from the hostile country of Qatar. Netanyahu is trying to sabotage the investigation into the affair, opposition politician Yair Golan charged. He called for an investigation into the suspicion that Netanyahu sold security for money. Mar. 30The Republican Party of New Mexico's entryway was destroyed by what party chairwoman Amy Barela described as a "deliberate act of arson" in a news release Sunday morning. It is unclear if there are any suspects. "This horrific attack, fueled by hatred and intolerance, is a direct assault on our values, freedoms, and our right to political expression," Barela said. No injuries were reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Albuquerque Fire Rescue spokesperson Jason Fejer told the Journal that it is an "active arson investigation." Barela said investigators told her that a Molotov cocktail was used to start the fire. "We are deeply relieved that no one was harmed in what could have been a tragic and deadly attack," Barela said in the news release. "Those who resort to violence undermine our state and nation must be held accountable, and our state leaders must reinforce through decisive action that these cowardly attacks will not be tolerated." The Democratic Party of New Mexico condemns "any vandalism at the Republican Party of New Mexico headquarters as strongly as possible," spokesperson Daniel Garcia said in a statement. "We firmly maintain that this sort of act has absolutely no place in our democracy, and that peaceful discourse and organization are the only ways to approach political differences in our country," Garcia said. "We hope whoever is responsible is found and held accountable." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Just before 6 a.m., Sunday, AFR and Bernalillo County Fire Rescue responded to a call of a structure fire in the 5100 block of San Francisco NE, near Jefferson. The fire was brought under control within five minutes, but not before the entryway was destroyed and the building sustained smoke damage, according to AFR. Along with fire and smoke damage, someone painted "ICE=KKK" on the side of the building. Sen. Jay Block, R-Rio Rancho, said when he saw the damage he immediately thought of "domestic terrorism." "We just saw it recently over at Tesla and now, we're seeing it here," he said. "And hopefully this is the last time we ever see it in our state." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The investigation is being handled by the FBI and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Albuquerque Police Department spokesperson Rebecca Atkins said. The Journal reached out to the FBI for comment, but the bureau did not respond as of Sunday afternoon. "We are committed to providing every piece of evidence necessary to bring those responsible to justice and ensure they are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law," Barela said. "We do not yet know the full details of the fire early this morning at the Republican Party's headquarters," Mayor Tim Keller said in a statement, "but let me be clear(:) arson is a violent and cowardly act that has no place in our city." Experts praise country's vision of AI development 08:29, March 31, 2025 By Cheng Yu ( Chinadaily.com.cn China is fostering its own vision for the development of artificial intelligence through reliable and efficient applications of AI tools across a wide range of industries, a wise path that differs from that of the United States, said industry experts and company executives at the ongoing Zhongguancun Forum. They made the comments as several AI-related panel discussions saw packed houses over the weekend, with attendees filling every seat and some even standing along the walls. The overwhelming interest mirrored the prominence that AI has commanded across the nation, which was also seen at the recently concluded Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference and the China Development Forum. Turing Award winner Joseph Sifakis said at the Zhongguancun Forum that China is crafting its own AI vision, distinct from that of the US. "China has a solid and extensive industrial base and a unified domestic market. This enables the country to develop more reliable AI solutions that better align with the needs of the real economy, especially in the long-awaited transition to autonomous driving," he said. Sifakis noted that China's strong industrial foundation, in particular, gives it an edge, while industries such as self-driving vehicles, smart cities, smart factories, and intelligent farms present more opportunities. "If developed well, (all these) will give China a dominant position in industrial AI," he said. Kai-Fu Lee, a prominent AI expert and chairman and CEO of investment company Sinovation Ventures, said that China has reached its "DeepSeek moment". He predicted that 2025 would mark a breakout year for AI applications and large-scale model deployment in China. Lee recalled that about nine months ago, he had expressed frustration over China's lack of a "ChatGPT moment", as promising Chinese AI models at the time failed to stand out and spark nationwide adoption. "However, DeepSeek has changed that landscape. Its success has awakened the Chinese market, ushering in a new AI era for the country," he said. According to Lee, DeepSeek's rise proves that "closed-source AI has no future", and only open-source development will drive greater progress. "As AI scaling laws shift from the pretraining stage to the inference stage, AI applications will accelerate exponentially this year," he said. Gao Xuefeng, founder and CEO of AI data infrastructure company Fabarta, said that after DeepSeek's breakthrough, many Chinese companies no longer hesitate to invest in AI. "Every few months, new technological advancements emerge. Companies can't afford to wait; they must integrate AI into their business and industry now," Gao said, adding that in China, every sector can be reimagined through AI in the years to come. Wang Zhongyuan, head of the Beijing Academy of Artificial Intelligence, a leading nonprofit AI institute, said that DeepSeek has indeed delivered impressive results, proving that China can train large-scale AI models parallel to ChatGPT 4 despite limited computing power. "Such technologies could also be adopted by international institutions and other nations, accelerating the global development of AI," he said. Regarding artificial general intelligence, in which an AI system can match or exceed the cognitive abilities of humans in any real-world task, Wang said the industry is still far from achieving such capabilities. "I think we are still at least five to 10 years, or even longer, from reaching that level," he added. (Web editor: Tian Yi, Zhong Wenxing) BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 31. Azerbaijan has secured its position among the top three natural gas suppliers to Turkiye in January 2025, Trend reports citing Turkiye's Energy Market Regulatory Authority (EPDK). In January 2025, Turkiye imported 795.39 million cubic meters of natural gas from Azerbaijan, marking a 9.38% decrease compared to 877.74 million cubic meters in January 2024. Despite the decline, Azerbaijan ranked second among Turkiyes pipeline gas suppliers, surpassing the Islamic Republic of Iran while remaining behind the Russian Federation. During the same period, Turkiye imported 185.97 million cubic meters of natural gas from Iran, a 78.65% decrease from 871.27 million cubic meters a year earlier. Meanwhile, Russia retained its position as the largest supplier, exporting over 2.781 billion cubic meters of natural gas to Turkiye in January 2025, up from 2.682 billion cubic meters in the same period of 2024. Overall, Turkiyes natural gas imports in January 2025 amounted to nearly 6.419 billion cubic meters, reflecting a 4.10% decline from 6.693 billion cubic meters in January 2024. Pipeline gas imports stood at 3.763 billion cubic meters (down 15.07%), while liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports increased by 17.38%, reaching 2.656 billion cubic meters. Follow the author on X: @Lyaman_Zeyn ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) Albuquerque Fire Rescue (AFR) is investigating a fire at the Republican Party of New Mexicos headquarters on Sunday. According to AFR, crews were sent to the building near Jefferson and San Francisco just before 6:00 a.m. Crews were able to contain the fire within five minutes, with the building suffering damage at the front entrance, along with smoke damage throughout the inside. Spray paint comparing ICE to the Ku Klux Klan was also found on the building. New Mexicos Congressional delegation speaks out on Trump Administration decisions Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Republican Party of New Mexico is claiming the cause of fire was arson. AFR says they are still investigating. Its very early in the investigation. I know they are reviewing our camera footage and neighboring camera footage as well, says Amy Barela, chairwoman for the Republican Party of New Mexico. No injuries were reported. The Republican Party says they are working closely with ATF and federal investigators, along with local law enforcement. Political leaders from around the state have made statements regarding the alleged arson. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez posted to X, Political violence is unacceptable, including the arson attack on New Mexicos GOP headquarters. The perpetrators must be held accountable. Every American should be able to freely and safely participate in our democracy. At my town hall yesterday, I spoke about love in action about the importance of showing respect and listening. That is what we need right now. Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller released the following statement: We do not yet know the full details of the fire early this morning at the Republican Partys headquarters, but let me be clear, arson is a violent and cowardly act that has no place in our cityPolitically motivated crimes of any kind are unacceptable, and I am grateful to our fire department for their swift response. This incident is being investigated at the federal level, and I urge anyone with information to report it immediately. Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller We are grateful that no one was harmed in this dangerous attackThe safety and security of all individuals and organizations are the primary responsibility of government. We stand united with the community against any attempt to disrupt or undermine that safety. Albuquerque City Council President and District 4 Councilor Brook Bassan We echo the sentiments of Republican Party of New Mexico Chairwoman Amy BarelaSuch actions have no place in our community. Those who resort to intimidation or violence to silence others must be held accountable. We urge anyone with information about this incident to come forward and cooperate with the authorities. District 9 City Councilor Renee Grout We condemn all acts of political violence and domestic terrorism. The targeted firebombing of our Republican Party Headquarters is disgraceful, and those responsible must be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law. Our political and legislative process must be engaged through civil discourse and respectful debate. Actions such as these further divide New Mexicans and seek to completely undermine the very foundations of how we govern ourselves. In the wake of a prominent Democrat official calling for her supporters to be agitators, it appears some unhinged supporters took the message to heart and acted out in a violent manner. Democrats must turn down the rhetoric and restore civility to our political process. New Mexico Senate Republicans Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement First, I am thankful that no one was injured in this senseless act of violence. Political violence, in any form, should not be tolerated in our country. It is up to us to reject this behavior and come together to have meaningful discussions on disagreementsAs New Mexicans, we must build bridges to strengthen our communities and our state, where every New Mexican feels heard, respected, and empowered to be part of the solution. Rio Rancho Mayor Gregg Hull Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Forget DEI buzzwordsthe Trump administrations government censorship ordinance is now infringing on language that will make it nearly impossible for agencies to do their job. A leaked memo from the U.S. Department of Agricultures Research Service division revealed Sunday that the agency has banned some key language from its vocabulary, including the words climate and vulnerable, as well as the phrase safe drinking water. Other baffling entries on the memos banned language list are greenhouse gas emissions, methane emissions, sustainable construction, solar energy, and geothermal, as well as nuclear energy, diesel, affordable housing, prefabricated housing, runoff, microplastics, water pollution, soil pollution, groundwater pollution, sediment remediation, water collection, water treatment, rural water, and clean water, among dozens of others. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When evaluating agreements, those entries that include these terms or similar terms cannot be submitted, wrote Sharon Strickland, the USDAs Northeast area financial management, travel and agreements section head, in an internal March 20 email. The review will ensure that we maintain compliance with the Administrations EOS. Its unclear how the guidance would do anything other than completely hinder the departments ability to monitor the health and edibility of crops, or aid Americas rural developmentsome of its primary functions. What is clear, however, is that purging such basic speech will stifle scientific research and discourse. Donald Trump began censoring the government as soon as he returned to office. In January, the Office of Management and Budget held tens of billions in federal funding hostage, requiring executive branch agencies to purge language related to environmental justice, abortion, DEI initiatives, woke gender ideology, and illegal aliens in their reports and missions. Otherwise, they would forgo their congressionally appropriated funds, per an OMB memo. That threat has since rolled its way through the American legal system. Last week, an appeals court upheld a block on the sweeping freeze, agreeing with a previous courts ruling that the 22-state coalition that brought the lawsuit would irreparably suffer under Trumps ordinance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These harms included the obligation of new debt; the inability to pay existing debt; impediments to planning, hiring, and operations; and disruptions to research projects by state universities, wrote Chief Judge David Barron. Barrons ruling echoed a similar decision issued by Judge Loren AliKhan in February, in which the federal judge indefinitely blocked Trumps effort. In the simplest terms, the freeze was ill-conceived from the beginning, AliKhan wrote in her ruling. Defendants either wanted to pause up to $3 trillion in federal spending practically overnight, or they expected each federal agency to review every single one of its grants, loans, and funds for compliance in less than twenty-four hours. The breadth of that command is almost unfathomable. Air cargo demand saw a slight year-over-year contraction in February, the first such decline in demand since July 2023, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA). Total demand, measured in cargo tonne-kilometers (CTKs), declined by 0.1 percent compared to February 2024 levels. The total got a little bit of help last year as well, with annual comparisons affected by the extra day in the year-ago month due to the leap year. More from Sourcing Journal Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After adjusting for seasonality, including the extra date, air cargo traffic would be 3 percent above the year prior. This is just under Januarys demand growth rate of 3.2 percent. On a month-over-month basis, seasonality adjusted demand fell 0.6 percent from January. Much of this is explained by February 2024 being extraordinarya leap year that was also boosted by Chinese New Year traffic, sea lane closures and a boom in e-commerce, said Willie Walsh, IATAs director general, in a statement. Rising trade tensions are, of course, a concern for air cargo. With equity markets already showing their discomfort, we urge governments to focus on dialogue over tariffs. The IATAs plea comes ahead of April 2, or Liberation Day, when President Donald Trump expects to impose a series of reciprocal tariffs on all countries. Trump has already slapped 20-percent additional duties on products coming out of China, the primary market for cargo shipped via air to the U.S. Those tariffs have partly resulted in a mad dash for U.S. shippers to bring in goods from China via the cheaper ocean freight alternative. Major U.S. container ports are expected to continue to see elevated inbound cargo volume through the spring, but air cargo traffic hasnt mirrored the months-long uptick experienced by its sea-bound counterpart. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The air cargo industry peaked in October 2024 at 24.4 billion CTKs, according to the IATA, but has entered a phase of gradual deceleration. At the time, demand saw its 15th consecutive month of annual growth. Air cargo volumes typically crest during the winter months as goods are shipped into the U.S. ahead of and during the holiday season before subsequently cooling down. Year to date, the air cargo market has thus remained tepid, with total demand growth of 1.5 percent. That increase is still well below the IATAs 6 percent expected growth for CTKs throughout 2025. Like data recently released from WorldACD, flights out of the Asia Pacific region are carrying the load for overall customer demand for air freight, push overall international CTK growth a modest 0.4 percent. That total is 3.5 percent when adjusted for leap year. Asia Pacific carriers led the February numbers with a 5.1 percent year-over-year gain, though they still decelerated from 7.5 percent in the prior month. The trans-Pacific corridor remained the busiest trade lane in the world despite the China tariffs, representing 24.4 percent of all flights and ticking up 0.1 percent year over year for its 16th consecutive months of growth. The trans-Atlantic route between North America and Europe saw expanded demand of 4.5 percent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ceva Logistics is looking to capitalize on the trans-Pacific trade lane, introducing its own three times per week trans-Pacific charter this month. IAG Cargo, which handles cargo for British Airways, is expanding its upcoming summer schedule in the trans-Atlantic route, reinstating three times-weekly services from both Madrid and Barcelona to San Francisco. More will be added from Dublin to Denver, and London to Chicago, Vancouver and Washington, D.C. There is still plenty of uncertainty for e-commerce giants like Shein, Temu and others aiming to ship goods out of China to the U.S., as the duty-free de minimis trade provision remains under fire from the Trump administration. If that exemption, which enables packages with goods valued at less than $800 to enter the U.S. tax free, gets the axe, rates and demand are likely to spiral even further. Across all trade lanes, North American and European airlines reported their first year over year declines in February since late 2023, at 0.4 percent and 0.1 percent, respectively. As for capacity, it declined 0.4 percent year over year to 43.5 billion ACTKs in February, according to the IATA. When adjusting for seasonality, capacity fell slightly compared to January, while remaining 3.3 percent above the level observed a year ago. With overall demand declining, rates are falling as well. Global air cargo yields dropped by 6.1 percent month over month, reaching a 12-month low. CALERA, Ala. (WIAT) A local radio personality was identified following a fatal crash Saturday in Calera. Alejandro Andrade, known as El Potrillo who founded the Spanish radio station La Chula 975 in Fultondale, was killed in a crash that occurred in the 3000 block of County Road 12. Elderly couple killed in Calhoun County house fire identified In a Facebook post, staff at La Chula 975 posted the following: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement News we dont want to give but as communicators we are, we have to report. Unfortunately our founder of this Tu Station La Chula 975 Lic. Alejandro Castillo Andrade better known as EL POTRILLO has died in a car accident. For the moment we do not have the complete Information to share with you. We ask for understanding and respect for the family. Its difficult times that were processing with a lot of pain. We will be sharing more details for his funeral over the next few days. Thank you for your understanding Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the crash. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CBS 42. Alexander Vindman served as the director of European affairs for the United States National Security Council in 2018-2020, during U.S. President Donald Trump's first administration. The Kyiv Independent's Kate Tsurkan sits down with Vindman to discuss how Washington has historically misjudged Russia, "succumbing to hopes and fears," and why there is no real prospect of peace between Ukraine and Russia now. Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. (NewsNation) The U.S. Supreme Court may soon wade into the legal dispute that pits President Trump against civil libertarians who oppose his use of a wartime-powers law from the 18th century. Congress originally passed the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 as the U.S. was poised to go to war with France. The law grants a U.S. president the power to summarily detain or deport non-citizens deemed a threat during wartime. The law was last used during World War II, when President Franklin D. Roosevelt ordered the relocation and incarceration of 120,000 Japanese Americans while the U.S. fought Japan. A smaller number of German nationals and German Americans were also detained. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The facts surrounding the Trump administrations attempt to invoke the act are different. Here are key events leading up to the current legal challenge. What is the Alien Enemies Act of 1798? March 14, 2025 President Trump privately signs a proclamation invoking the Alien Enemies Act after the State Department designated certain cartels and gangs as terrorist organizations. Among the terror groups is Tren de Aragua (TdA), a Venezuelan gang. In a document shared the following day, the Trump administration argues the Venezuelan government is effectively fighting a proxy war through TdA on U.S. soil. He announces plans to use the act to apprehend and remove Venezuelan migrants who are members of the gang. March 15 The American Civil Liberties Union and Democracy Forward filed suit early on Saturday, March 15, hoping to prevent the Trump administration from using the Alien Enemies Act, saying its an overreach without a formal declaration of war. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement U.S. District Court Judge James Boasberg sets a 5 p.m. emergency hearing. Around 6:45 p.m., he says hell issue a temporary restraining order barring the Trump administration from deporting noncitizens under the AEA and tells Justice Department lawyers that planes must return if theyve already departed. The order is put in writing around 7:30 p.m. Two planes carrying more than 250 alleged migrant gang members arrived later that night in Honduras before proceeding to El Salvador. White House officials will claim the aircraft were over international waters at the time of the judges decision. FILE U.S. District Judge James Boasberg, chief judge of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, stands for a portrait at E. Barrett Prettyman Federal Courthouse in Washington, March 16, 2023. (Carolyn Van Houten/The Washington Post via AP, File) March 16 The Salvadoran government posts widely seen videos of detainees being received under heavy guard and being transferred to a notorious maximum-security prison, where they will be held for at least one year for $6 million. The president of El Salvador posts a taunting tweet about the U.S. judges order, saying, Oopsie Too late, with a laughing emoji. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What we know about El Salvadors megaprison March 17 Judge Boasberg begins grilling Justice Department representatives about whether the Trump administration ignored his order, setting in motion a series of contentious hearings in which government attorneys try to invoke national security reasons to avoid disclosing more information. March 18 President Trump blasts Boasberg on his social media platform, Truth Social, saying the federal judge should be impeached. In response, Chief Justice John Roberts offers a rare public statement, saying calls for impeachment is not an appropriate response when someone disagrees with a judicial decision. March 19 As observers wonder if a constitutional crisis is at hand, Trumps border czar Tom Homan, tells NewsNation that federal authorities will abide by the judges temporary order as parties argue their positions in court. Deportations would continue through other means, said Homan, who denied allegations that some migrants without gang ties had been swept up in the March 15 flights to El Salvador. March 26 U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem visits the Salvadoran prison where Venezuelans were sent by the Trump administration. She films a video there warning migrants about coming to the U.S. illegally. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A federal appeals court upholds Judge Boasbergs order in a 2-1 ruling. March 28 In an emergency appeal, the Justice Department asks the U.S. Supreme Court for permission to resume deportations of Venezuelan gang members under the Alien Enemies Act. Boasberg extends his restraining order blocking the deportations. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation. An Afghan accused of smuggling thousands of migrants into the UK should not be extradited to Belgium because there are mosquitoes in prison there, a court heard. Ziarmal Khan, 25, was arrested in Britain after a Belgian judge jailed him in his absence last year. He was alleged to be part of a gang involved in organising the transport of migrants from Afghanistan through Iran, Turkey and the Balkans into Europe, including France and Belgium. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Many would then be put on small boats from northern France to the UK, with some members of the gang suspected of transporting thousands of people this way. Khan is now fighting extradition on the grounds that the conditions he would face in prison in Belgium would violate article three of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), which protects people from inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. Khan claimed he did not know about any proceedings against him when he came to the UK. He initially lived in a hotel then moved to his uncles house before spending a year and a half living with his partner. Khan said he visited his mother in Iran in November 2024 and was arrested at upon arrival back at Stansted Airport on December 6. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Louise Willocx, defending Khan, said that if he was extradited to a prison in Belgium he could face conditions such as being held in a cramped cell and using a bucket instead of a toilet. She said it was not uncommon for three people to be sharing a cell in either of these prisons and that gave them less than three metres of personal space each. In addition to sanitary facilities, there is vermin, mosquito plagues, regular flooding and single glazing. Similar conditions exist in Antwerp. No overcrowding or ground sleepers Lara Herbert, prosecuting, said that although Khan was wanted by an Antwerp court, there was no underlying information to prove he would be held in that prison. There is no guarantee how many people would be in a cell, said Ms Herbert. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She said: The facility experienced no overcrowding or ground sleepers during 2023. Not all cells have toilets that meet todays standards but it does not say they have to use a bucket. There is some flooding and mosquito plagues in the summer. The Article 3 breach is inhumane and degrading conditions, these are not ideal but none meet the threshold. The case continues. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. The National Institutes of Health employee said she knew things would be difficult for federal workers after Donald Trump was elected. But she never imagined it would be like this. Focused on Alzheimers and other dementia research, the worker is among thousands who abruptly lost their jobs in the Trump administrations federal workforce purge. The way she was terminated in February through a boilerplate notice alleging poor performance, something she pointedly said was not true made her feel she was losing hope in humans. She said she cant focus or meditate, and can barely go to the gym. At the urging of her therapist, she made an appointment with a psychiatrist in March after she felt shed hit the bottom, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I am going through hell, said the employee, who worked at the National Institute on Aging, one of 27 centers that make up the NIH. The worker, like others interviewed for this story, was granted anonymity because of the fear of professional retaliation. I know I am a mother. I am a wife. But I am also a person who was very happy with her career, she said. They took my job and my life from my hands without any reason. President Trump and his allies have increasingly denigrated the roughly 2 million people who make up the federal workforce, 80% of whom work outside the Washington, D.C., area. Trump has said federal workers are destroying this country, called them crooked and dishonest, and insinuated that theyre lazy. Many of them dont work at all, he said earlier this month. Elon Musk who is the worlds richest person and whose Department of Government Efficiency, created by a Trump executive order, is infiltrating federal agencies and spearheading mass firings has claimed without evidence that there are a number of people on the government payroll who are dead and others who are not real people. At a conference for conservatives in February, Musk brandished what he called the chain saw for bureaucracy and said that waste is pretty much everywhere. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The firings that began in February are taking a significant toll on federal employees mental health. Workers said they feel overwhelmed and demoralized, have obtained or considered seeking psychiatric care and medication, and feel anxious about being able to pay bills or afford college for their children. Federal employees are bracing for more layoffs after agencies were required to deliver plans by this month for large-scale staff reductions. Compounding the uncertainty: After judges ruled that some initial firings were illegal, agencies have rehired some workers and placed others on paid administrative leave. Then, Trump on March 20 issued a memo giving the Office of Personnel Management more power to fire people across agencies. Researchers who study job loss say these mass layoffs not only are disrupting the lives of tens of thousands of federal workers but also will reverberate out to their spouses, children, and communities. Id expect this will have long-lasting impacts on these peoples lives and those around them, said Jennie Brand, a professor of sociology at UCLA who wrote a paper about the implications of job loss. We can see this impact years down the road. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Studies have shown that people who are unemployed experience greater anxiety, depression, and suicide risk. The longer the period of unemployment, the worse the effects. Couples fight more when one person loses a job, and if its a man, divorce rates increase. Children with an unemployed parent are more likely to do poorly in school, repeat a grade, or drop out. It can even affect whether they go to college, Brand said. Theres an intergenerational impact of instability, she said. And it doesnt stop there. When people lose their jobs, especially when its many people at once, the wealth and resources available in their community are reduced. Kids see fewer employed role models. As families are forced to move, neighborhood stability gets upended. Unemployed people often withdraw from social and civic life, avoiding community gatherings, church, or other places where they might have to discuss or explain their job loss. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Although getting a new job can alleviate some of these problems, it doesnt eliminate them, Brand said. Its not as if people just get new jobs and then pick up the activities they used to be involved with, she said. Theres not a quick recovery. Slashing Cultural Norms The firings are upending a long-standing norm of the public sector in exchange for earning less money compared with private-sector work, people had greater job security and more generous benefits. Now thats no longer the case, fired workers said in interviews. With the American economy moving toward temporary and gig jobs, landing a traditional government job was supposed to be like youve got the golden goose, said Blake Allan, a professor of counseling psychology at the University of Houston who researches how the quality of work affects peoples lives. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even federal workers who are still employed face the daily question of whether theyll be fired next. That constant state of insecurity, Allan said, can create chronic stress, which is linked to anxiety, depression, digestive problems, heart disease, and a host of other health issues. One employee at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, who was granted anonymity to avoid professional retaliation, said the administrations actions seem designed to cause enough emotional distress that workers voluntarily leave. I feel like this ax will always be over my head for as long as Im here and this administration is here, the employee said. Federal workers who passed on higher-paying private sector jobs because they wanted to serve their country may feel especially gutted to hear Trump and Musk denigrate their work as wasteful. Work is such a fundamental part of our identity, Allan said. When its suddenly lost, it can be really devastating to your sense of purpose and identity, your sense of social mattering, especially when its in a climate of devaluing what you do. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Andrew Hazelton, a scientist in Florida, was working on improving hurricane forecasts when he was fired in February from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The mass firings were carried out with no humanity, he said. And thats really tough. Hazelton became a federal employee in October but had worked alongside NOAA scientists for over eight years, including as an employee at the University of Miami. He lost his job as part of a purge targeting probationary workers, who lack civil service protections against firings. His friends set up a GoFundMe crowdfunding page to provide a financial cushion for him, his wife, and their four children. Then in March, after a federal judges order requiring federal agencies to rescind those terminations, he was notified that he had been reinstated on paid administrative leave. Its created a lot of instability, said Hazelton, who still isnt being allowed to do his work. We just want to serve the public and get our forecasts and our data out there to help people make decisions, regardless of politics. Health Coverage Collateral Along with their jobs, many federal workers are losing their health insurance, leaving them ill equipped to seek care just as they and their families are facing a tidal wave of potential mental and physical health consequences. And the nations mental health system is already underfunded, understaffed, and overstretched. Even with insurance, many people wait weeks or months to receive care. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Most people dont have a bunch of money sitting around to spend on therapy when you need to cover your mortgage for a couple months and try to find a different job, Allan said. A second NIH worker considered talking to a psychiatrist and potentially going on an antidepressant because of anxiety after being fired in February. And then the first thought after that was: Oh, Im about to not have insurance. I cant do that, said the worker, who was granted anonymity to avoid professional retaliation. The workers health benefits were set to end in April leaving too little time to get an appointment with a psychiatrist, let alone start a prescription. I dont want to go on something and then have to stop it immediately, the worker said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The employee, one of several NIH workers reinstated this month, still fears getting fired again. The worker focuses on Alzheimers and related dementias and was inspired to join the agency because a grandmother has the disease. The worker worries that decades of research are going to be gone and people are going to be left with nothing. I go from anxiety to deep sadness when I think about my own family, the employee said. The NIH, with its $47 billion annual budget, is the largest public funder of biomedical research in the world. The agency awarded nearly 59,000 grants in fiscal 2023, but the Trump administration has begun canceling hundreds of grants on research topics that new political appointees oppose, including vaccine hesitancy and the health of LGBTQ+ populations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The NIH worker who worked at the National Institute on Aging was informed in mid-March that she would be on paid administrative leave until further notice. She said she is not sure whether she would find a similar job, adding that she cannot be at home doing nothing. Apart from loving her job, she said, she has one child in college and another in high school and needs stable income. I dont know what Im going to do next. 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. The post I Am Going Through Hell: Job Loss, Mental Health, and the Fate of Federal Workers appeared first on Katie Couric Media. BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 31. Acting Assistant Minister for Oil and Gas of Serbia Sasa Kokovic will visit Azerbaijan, a diplomatic source told Trend. He will take part in the Southern Gas Corridor Advisory Councils meeting to be held in Baku on April 4, said the source. Baku will host the 11th Southern Gas Corridor Advisory Council meeting on April 4 this year. The Southern Gas Corridor (SGC) is a strategic energy project designed to transport natural gas from the Caspian Sea region to Europe. The Southern Gas Corridor consists of three main pipeline systems: the South Caucasus Pipeline (SCP), the Trans-Anatolian Pipeline (TANAP), Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP). Its initial capacity is 10 billion cubic meters with the possibility of expanding to 20 billion cubic meters per year. Follow the author on X: @Lyaman_Zeyn Looming tariffs on imported cars could mean more than just higher prices for buyers and lower profits for automakers it could also mean layoffs for American autoworkers. President Donald Trump says his auto tariffs will remake the industry, shifting production of both cars and auto parts back to American plants. But experts say that will take years to accomplish, if it happens at all. In the meantime, it will take a toll on US car and auto parts production. The auto supply chain is delicate and global. Even if only Mexican and Canadian assembly plants shut down due to lost access to the US market, that will affect US suppliers sending parts to those plants. And some US-built cars are destined for Canada and Mexico. All that could see automakers and parts suppliers trimming production and less output means fewer US jobs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The automakers are in a serious predicament, said Patrick Anderson, president of the Anderson Economic Group, a Michigan-based think tank. Theyre going to have to make tough decisions about what production to continue, what not to make We expect implementation of these tariffs to affect jobs across the United States. Anderson said that in addition to manufacturing job losses, other auto-related US jobs will likely be impacted in sectors like dealerships and transportation. Trump promises auto job gains The Trump administration insists that tariffs will be a net positive for US jobs, with the president forecasting tremendous growth for the American auto industry. Automakers will respond by shifting production quickly to US factories at relatively little cost, according to Trump and his supporters. This is going to lead to the construction of a lot of plants, in this case auto plants, he said when announcing the tariffs last week. Youre going to see numbers like you havent seen in terms of employment. Youre going to have a lot of people making a lot of cars. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The tariff move was even applauded by Sean Fain, United Auto Workers union president and a harsh critic of Trump. With these tariffs, thousands of good-paying blue collar auto jobs could be brought back to working-class communities across the United States within a matter of months, simply by adding additional shifts or lines in a number of underutilized auto plants, said a statement from the union. Right now, thousands of autoworkers are laid off at Ford, General Motors, and Stellantis following recent decisions by auto executives to ship jobs to Mexico. While some production could shift back relatively quickly from Mexico and Canada to US plants producing the same model, thats not the case for most of the 3.6 million vehicles those countries export here. Many Canadian and Mexican assembly lines construct models not made in America, and it will likely take years to build or retrofit US factories. That is, assuming the automakers even decide to do so. Still, some rank-and-file autoworkers are optimistic about job gains. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I trust the process, said Isaiah Goddard, a third-generation autoworker at Fords Rawsonville Components and Parts plant in Michigan. Get ready for Ford and the Big Three to announce more jobs and plants coming back to America soon. But other autoworkers who spoke to CNN last week were not as hopeful about Trumps tariff promises. There are some that feel its good, that itll prop up our sales, said James Snow, who has worked for Stellantis parts division, Mopar, for nearly 27 years. Others like myself feel that it wont help that much, especially considering the tariffs will impact the price of parts. John Hatline, who retired earlier this month after 50 years at GM, said he doesnt believe Trumps tariffs will be good for the auto industry at all. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His tariffs are going to raise the prices of vehicles, slowing down the consumers purchasing of new vehicles, which will subsequently result in layoffs and less production time, affecting auto workers paychecks, Hatline said. Jobs at risk from lost production The industry is staying mum about future plans. Automakers and MEMA, a trade group for suppliers, declined to comment about production and employment plans. And there is no firm estimate for how many jobs could be lost in the near-term. But tariffs are about to upend an industry that has functioned in North America as a single market for decades, moving freely across borders to assemble vehicles. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement About 61% of the 4 million cars built in Mexico last year were exported to US dealerships, according to S&P Global Mobility. A whopping 86% of the 1.3 million built in Canada were sent to the US. But all of those vehicles were built with a significant number of US-made parts. US auto parts exports to Mexico and Canada came to $35.8 billion and $28.4 billion, respectively, last year, according to federal trade data. American parts suppliers employ about 550,000 workers nearly twice as many as auto assembly plants. Some of those suppliers could be forced to cut staffing if Canadian and Mexican plants shut down, even temporarily. And retaliatory tariffs by Canada and Mexico in response to the Trump administrations tariffs would raise prices for car buyers north and south of the border. That could risk US production and jobs as well. US assembly plants exported nearly 15% of the 10.2 million vehicles made last year, with nearly 1 million going to Canada and Mexico alone. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cox Automotive predicts that there will be 10% to 20% fewer cars produced across North America due to the upcoming auto tariffs, which take effect April 3. And if the tariffs extend to Canadian and Mexican auto parts, that could mean as much as a 30% drop. We are committed to building and investing in the US, but these facilities and supply chains are massive and complex and cant be relocated or redirected overnight, said John Bozzella, CEO of the Alliance for Automotive Innovation, the automakers industry trade group, in a statement. Additional tariffs will increase costs on American consumers, lower the total number of vehicles sold inside the US and reduce US auto exports all before any new manufacturing or jobs are created in this country, For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Joels view The first law of poverty is based on economics. Neither the moralization of capitalism, nor the redefinition of progress, nor the tribulations of imperialism are the concerns of Africans. What matters is a rapid and sustained rise in worker productivity, the only true guarantee of improving living standards. As Nobel laureate Paul Krugman put it: Productivity isnt everything, but, in the long run, it is almost everything. A countrys ability to improve its standard of living over time depends almost entirely on its ability to raise its output per worker. Between 2015 and 2023, Cote dIvoires value added per industrial worker rose 60%, manufacturing output doubled to $9.5 billion, and the poverty rate defined as living on less than $2.15/day fell from 33% to 10%. Meanwhile, in Cameroon, industrial productivity stagnated. The manufacturing gap between the two countries widened to $3.5 billion, and Cote dIvoires GDP lead over Cameroon grew from $7 billion in 2010 to $30 billion in 2023. Unsurprisingly, the poverty rate in Cameroon remains 23%, 2.7 percentage points lower than a decade ago. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Few realities are harder to accept than the fact Africas economic poverty is rooted in low productivity. Nothing else is met with such denial and confusion. When a World Bank official reported 100 million Nigerians lived in extreme poverty in 2013, the presidency dismissed it. Instead, the authorities pointed to the 122 million mobile phone lines. How could a country with that many phones have so many indigents? At the time, living on less than $1.25 (200 naira) defined extreme poverty. Currency depreciation later pushed that to 1,430 naira, and by 2022, the threshold rose to $2.15 (3,300 naira). Abuja finally admitted 133 million Nigerians (63%) lived in poverty if not extreme, at least multidimensional. Small mercies. Denial and misdirection stem from one fact: Boosting productivity is hard. It demands relentless focus on countless details. Or, as Citigroups Emerging Markets economist David Cowan puts it: Economic growth has a political dimension. Some countries and leaders take it seriously, others dont. One need only look at the resurgence of Captainomics in the Sahel the belief that bluster, short-term fixes, and coercion by strongmen can reshape economic reality. Desperate for funds, West Africas military juntas who came to power between 2021 to 2023 first pressed local banks to buy government bonds. They then nationalized mining assets even sequestering Australian mining executives for a $160 million ransom, politely labeled a tax dispute settlement. All the while, they waved the flags of revolution, anti-imperialism, anti-colonialism, and African pride. Never mind that they will pay dearly in arbitration courts, investors will flee, and their economies will suffer. The alternative renegotiating contracts, rebuilding donor ties, and enacting economic reforms is simply too difficult. Too mundane. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No figure better embodies the contradictions of romantic African economic thought than Thomas Sankara. The shadow of Burkina Fasos Captain-President remains, four decades after he was betrayed and assassinated in 1987 following his revolutionary policies of land nationalization and union-busting that antagonized the elites and parts of the grassroots movements of his nation. It still paralyzes thought between a nostalgic and a dogmatic From Sahelian juntas to South Africas Economic Freedom Fighters, the obsession with shortcuts persists all to avoid the hard, tedious work of improving productivity and fostering long-term growth. Some call it a revolutionary path. Others see it for what it is: wishful thinking in search for a shortcut where none exists. Adapted from a book by Joel Te-Lessia Assoko, a veteran reporter and editor covering African markets. A man was arrested after Georgia police said they linked him to a rape case dating back more than three decades ago. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Larry Summerlin, 67, of Lee County, was arrested and faces multiple charges after a woman took an ancestry test. In January, a woman reported a 30-year-old rape case to Albany police. The woman, identified as Jane Doe, said she did an ancestry test and learned she was related to her mothers stepfather. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jane Does mother, who is now in her 50s, reported the abuse to her mother before but nothing was done, according to police. Jane Doe said she spoke with her mother who told her that her stepfather, Summerlin, started having sex with her from the age of six up until 14 when she became pregnant. TRENDING STORIES: APD said investigators sent subpoenas for doctor records, school reports and DNA samples from the victim, daughter and Summerlin. Investigators say it was later confirmed that the 67-year-old had sex with his stepdaughter when she was 14 years old. Summerlin was booked into the Dougherty County Jail. Hes charged with rape, child molestation, incest, sexual battery and sodomy. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] Hes finally a real New Yorker! Andrew Cuomo, the former governor and potential Gracie Mansion tenant, was slapped with a pair of citations during his stops on the campaign trail earlier this month, The Post has learned. The first came on March 6, when Cuomo rolled up to a West 14th Street parking spot in his blacked-out Dodge Charger, public records show. He nabbed an endorsement from a local teamsters union that day and also a $50 ticket for parking in front of a cone in the bus lane. Mayoral hopeful Andrew Cuomo has been racking up the parking tickets during his campaign. Lev Radin/Shutterstock The second flagrant violation came another time Cuomo was out pressing the flesh, seemingly trying to let New Yorkers know that hed moved to Midtown East from Westchester County so he could live in the city he wants to lead, sources said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The second ticket will cost the former gov $115 for parking illegally on 33rd Street, the records show. One eagle-eyed social media user called out the Democratic pols poor choice of parking spots in the comments of one of Cuomos threads on X in which he posted pictures of the event. Whose Dodge Charger is that parked illegally in the [New York City taxi] stand? the person wrote, as they reposted a doctored photo with an arrow pointing to Cuomos Charger. Cuomos campaign spokesman issued a short response to his parking woes. The parking tickets will be paid, the spokesman said. Cuomo served as the Empire States governor for more than 10 years before resigning back in 2021 following sexual harassment allegations from nearly a dozen women. Cuomos Dodge Charger was ticketed for parking in front of a parking cone on West 14th Street earlier this month. X/@createcraig Though he was never criminally charged, the accusations stained his legacy. He denies the accusations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After four years in the political wilderness, he announced his mayoral campaign earlier this month and has taken a commanding lead in the polls an Emerson College/Pix11/The Hill survey found that nearly four in 10 Democratic primary voters plan to support his bid. The nearest competitor Democratic Socialist Zohran Mamdani garnered just 10% support, the poll found. With about three months until the Democratic Primary, Governor Cuomo has emerged as the top candidate in the race, with no clear alternative emerging among Democratic voters, said Spencer Kimball, executive director of Emerson College Polling. The primary is scheduled for June 24, and will be preceded by a week of early voting. An iceberg the size of Chicago that broke off of an Antarctic ice shelf has revealed a thriving ecosystem beneath it, according to researchers. On Jan. 13, the iceberg, named A-84, broke off from the George VI Ice Shelf, a massive floating glacier attached to the Antarctic Peninsula ice sheet, according to the Schmidt Ocean Institute. PHOTO: The remnants of a massive iceberg calving event are seen from Research Vessel Falkor (too). (Alex Ingle/Schmidt Ocean Institute) The seafloor beneath, previously covered by 209 square miles of ice, had never before been accessible to humans. A team of researchers aboard the Schmidt Ocean Institutes R/V Falkor (too) oceanographic research vessel were working in the Bellingshausen Sea, on the west side of the Antarctic Peninsula, but dropped everything to make their way to the ice shelf. The pivot was described as a "serendipitous moment' by Schmidt Ocean Institute Executive Director Jyotika Virmani. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We seized upon the moment, changed our expedition plan, and went for it so we could look at what was happening in the depths below," said Patricia Esquete, expedition co-chief scientist and biology researcher at the Centre of Marine and Environmental Studies, based in the U.S. Virgin Islands. MORE: Exhibition of photos taken in the Galapagos and Antarctica by former fashion photographer on display in New York The team arrived at the site on Jan. 25 and observed the seafloor for eight days with the help of a remotely operated vehicle named SuBastian, which dove nearly a quarter mile to gather data on the geology, physical oceanography and biology of the never-before-explored underwater terrain. PHOTO: Icebergs seen around Research Vessel Falkor (too). (Alex Ingle/Schmidt Ocean Institute) Unexpectedly, they found a "beautiful, thriving ecosystem," Esquete said. The significant biomass and biodiversity of the ecosystems surprised the researchers, especially since deep-sea ecosystems typically rely on nutrients from the surface that slowly trickle down to the seafloor an unlikely occurrence when the sea surface is covered by 500-foot-thick ice. The marine scientists hypothesize that ocean currents may be responsible for moving life-sustaining nutrients to the ecosystem. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement MORE: Scientists have discovered an ancient river landscape hidden beneath the East Antarctic Ice Sheet The species detected in the previously unknown ecosystem include large corals and sponges supporting a plethora of marine life, including icefish, giant sea spiders and octopuses, with several previously undiscovered species likely among them, the researchers said. PHOTO:A large sponge, a cluster of anemones, and other life is seen nearly 230 meters deep at an area of the seabed that was very recently covered by the George VI Ice Shelf, a floating glacier in Antarctica. (ROV SuBastian/Schmidt Ocean Institute) Based on the size of the animals, the communities have likely lived in that spot for decades, even hundreds of years, Esquete said. Little is known about the seafloor beneath the floating ice shelves in Antarctica, according to the institute. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement MORE: Scientists have discovered an ancient river landscape hidden beneath the East Antarctic Ice Sheet Over the last few decades, global warming has caused the Antarctic Peninsula ice sheet to shrink and lose mass, the researchers said. Satellite images released by NASA show the progression of the iceberg's break from the George IV Ice Shelf from January through February 2025. PHOTO: A new iceberg has spent part of the Southern Hemispheres 2024-2025 summer ricocheting off parts of the Antarctic coastline. (NASA) Antarctica is also home to the Thwaites Glacier, also known as the "Doomsday Glacier" due to its potential to contribute to severe global sea level rise, should it continue to melt. "The ice loss from the Antarctic Ice Sheet is a major contributor to sea level rise worldwide," said expedition co-chief scientist Sasha Montelli, a researcher at University College London. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement MORE: It may be too late to prevent significant melting on West Antarctic ice shelf that includes 'Doomsday Glacier': Study The newly exposed seafloor allowed an international team of scientists to gather critical data about the past behavior of the larger Antarctic ice sheet. Autonomous underwater vehicles called gliders were also deployed to study the impacts of glacial meltwater on the physical and chemical properties of the region. Preliminary data shows a strong meltwater flow from the George IV Ice Shelf, according to the institute. "Our work is critical for providing longer-term context of these recent changes, improving our ability to make projections of future change projections that can inform actionable policies. We will undoubtedly make new discoveries as we continue to analyze this vital data," Montelli said. Antarctic iceberg the size of Chicago breaks off, reveals thriving undersea ecosystem originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Meridian police arrested an anti-Tesla protester for allegedly hitting a counterprotester with a vehicle on Saturday. A preliminary law enforcement investigation found that 70-year-old Christopher Talbot, of Meridian, made an obscene gesture toward a 49-year-old victim before hitting him with his car at about 1 p.m., the Meridian Police Department said in a news release. The two men were both attending a protest at the Tesla dealership at 2554 W. Franklin Road in Meridian. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police said about 30 people attended to protest Tesla CEO Elon Musk, but were outnumbered by about 200 counterprotesters. 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. The victim drove himself to a local hospital, where he was treated and released for non-life-threatening injuries. Officers arrested Talbot at his home after the victim provided police with Talbots license plate number, according to the release. Talbot was booked on a felony charge for aggravated battery with use of a deadly weapon or instrument. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The event was one of many Tesla Takedown protests organized by groups Troublemakers and The Disruption Project as part of a global day of action against Elon Musk, according to the events web page on Action Network. Action Network describes itself on its website as an open platform that empowers individuals and groups to organize for progressive causes. The billionaire businessman, who has been embroiled in numerous controversies over the years, has received increased criticism for his role as head of Trumps Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). DOGE has spearheaded mass layoffs and funding cuts at federal departments across the country, including in Idaho. Elon Musk is destroying our democracy, and hes using the fortune he built at Tesla to do it, the event page said. We are taking action at Tesla to stop Musks illegal coup. A Tesla drives by as people protest against Elon Musk on Saturday in San Jose, California. The far-right group Idaho Liberty Dogs posted about the event on its Facebook page, saying that patriots from across Idaho planned to gather peacefully in front of the Tesla dealership in Meridian to stand against any vandalism/destruction. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police reported no vandalism at the Meridian event. The Tesla Takedown page said its protests are peaceful and oppose violence, vandalism and destruction of property. The Meridian Police Department reminds people to respect everyones right to protest and express their 1st Amendment Rights without resorting to violence, the department said in its news release. Police asked anyone with information that may help with their investigation to call Ada County Dispatch at 208-377-6790. Muslims are celebrating Eid al-Fitr, a festive holiday marking the end of the fasting month of Ramadan. Families gathered for special prayers followed by feasts and holiday sweets starting Sunday after a month of dawn-to-dusk fasting. Muslims typically mark the holiday with family visits and outings, and children get new clothes. Families also visit the graves of loved ones, and the suffering of Muslims in the Gaza Strip and other conflict zones was never far from people's minds. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Gaza, Palestinians prayed among the ruins of mosques destroyed by Israeli strikes, and many went hungry as Israel maintained a nearly monthlong halt to the entry of food, fuel and humanitarian aid, part of its renewed war with the Hamas militant group. Elsewhere in the Middle East, Syrians are celebrating their first Eid al-Fitr since the overthrow of President Bashar Assad, as the country navigates a troubled transition after his family's half-century autocratic rule. In the United States, several supporters of Palestinian causes with ties to American universities have been detained in the Trump administrations crackdown on immigrants. This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors. AUSTIN (KXAN) A 16-year-old boy died Sunday night in Austins 10th homicide of the year, according to the Austin Police Department. Another juvenile was arrested and charged with murder. APD said Sunday night that officers were investigating after someone was found dead in the 6400 block of Bradsher Drive. That area is near the intersection of South Congress Avenue and West William Cannon Drive. At a media briefing Sunday night, Corporal Matthew Nonweiler said officers responded to a stabbing/shooting call at 10:13 p.m. Sunday. When officers arrived at the scene, they discovered a male on the ground with obvious trauma to the body, Nonweiler said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement APD issued a press release Monday morning identifying the victim and announcing an arrest in the homicide. Matthew Pichardo, 16, was identified as the victim. He was pronounced dead on the scene at 10:34 p.m. after life-saving measures were attempted, according to police. APD said an investigation showed that Pichardo was shot by a juvenile male who fled the scene, then turned himself into Gardner Betts Juvenile Center within a few hours. He was charged with first-degree murder, according to the release. Anyone with information should contact the Austin Police Department at 512-974-TIPS. You may submit your tip 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, March 31. Tajikistans President Emomali Rahmon and Uzbekistans President Shavkat Mirziyoyev discussed the signing of a Treaty on Allied Relations during their meeting in Tajikistan, Trend reports. President Rahmon expressed satisfaction with the strong momentum in bilateral cooperation across various sectors. The talks focused on expanding trade, economic ties, and cultural and humanitarian cooperation. The sides highlighted the steady growth in mutual trade, emphasizing its potential for further expansion. They also pointed to increasing investment activity as a key indicator of economic collaboration, stressing the importance of joint projects in industry, energy, agriculture, and transport. Cultural and humanitarian ties were another key topic, with both presidents underscoring the importance of hosting scientific conferences, forums, festivals, symposia, and exchanges between creative and academic communities. The parties also discussed security issues and regional and international developments, reaffirming their commitment to strengthening interstate relations based on friendship and partnership. The Canton First Presbyterian Church will be hosting a spring rummage sale on Friday, April 4 and Saturday, April 5 at the church located on 17 Park Street in Canton. The sale will run from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. with clothing at $5 per bag. Saturdays sale will run from 9 a.m. until noon with all items at $1 per bag. The sale will feature spring and summer items and clothing for children. There will also be household items, books and toys at the sale. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWTI - InformNNY.com. As spring approaches in the Northern Hemisphere, the nights are getting shorter. This might be good news for early risers, but a bit of bad news for stargazers. Still, April is not without its celestial highlights: it brings the annual Lyrid meteor shower. This first full month of spring also presents a micromoon, a chance to see an iconic (if distant) galaxy, and a very frisky Jupiter. April 1 and 2 Jupiter and the Moon Visit Taurus and the Pleiades The solar systems large adult son will be particularly bright in early April, blazing in the western sky in close proximity to the waxing crescent moon. Both will be visible in the same region as the constellation Taurus, around 30 from the horizon. On April 1, the moon will hover above the Pleiades, also known as the Seven Sisters in Greek mythology and, in Japan, as Subaru. If youve ever wondered about the provenance of the car company Subarus logo, now you know. April 4 Messier 94 Visible with a Telescope The start of April provides an opportunity to take a look at a galaxy far, far away: Messier 94. It is located about 17 million light years from us in the constellation Canes Venatici. This spiral galaxy is known informally as the Crocs Eye or Cats Eye, for reasons that will become clear if you get out your telescope or a set of good binoculars while its at its highest point in the sky this year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In North America, the galaxy will become visible 41 above the north-eastern horizon at around 8:30 p.m. EDT, and continue rising until its almost directly above around midnight. It will then sink towards the northwestern horizon as the day approaches. The Hubble Space Telescope has taken some spectacular images of Messier 94 over the years. While youre not going to see anything like this from Earth, its still fascinating to be able to see the same object with your own eyes! April 12Full Pink Micromoon Theres nothing quite as dramatic as last months blood moon this time around, but Nick Drake fans can rejoice, because April is the month of the Pink Moon. As per the Farmers Almanac, this months full moon takes its name from the vibrant pink flowers of Phlox subulata, or moss pink, which comes into full bloom this month. [ Related: How the blood moon gets its ghoulish hue. ] Native American culture provides several additional names for Aprils full moon.The Oneida call it Wasakayutese (Its Thundering Moon) and in the language of the Catawba nation its YitAruwakrere Nuti (Bear a Child Moon). The Anishinaabemowin language of the Ojibwe provides multiple monikers, including Bobookwedaagime-giizis (Snowshoe Breaking Moon) and Maango-giizis (Loon Moon). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And thats not all! This months full moon is also notable for being a micromoon. The moons elliptical orbit means that its distance from the Earth varies throughout the year.This month finds the moon at its apogee, which means that its as far away from us as it gets. The opposite scenario, when the moon is at its perigee, is called a supermoon.The next supermoon is not until November, so stay patient. April 21 through 22 Lyrids Meteor Shower Predicted Peak Its meteor shower time! The 2025 installment of the annual Lyrid meteor shower is predicted to begin on April 21, peaking in the late afternoon of April 22. This isnt far out from the full moon, which tends to make seeing other celestial objects difficult, so the best time to look for meteors will be when the moons not around. The Adler Planetarium and the Farmers Almanac both suggest the early hours of April 22. The moon rises at 3:32 a.m. CDT that morning, so youll either have to stay up late or get up unconscionably early to catch the show. As always, youll get the best experience if you get away from any sources of light pollutionand you check out our stargazing tips before you head off into the darkness. Until next month! JOPLIN, Mo. Joplins LGBTQ community gets a head start on Transgender Day of Visibility this afternoon. JOMO Pride and Joplin for Justice hosted a picnic and rally at Cunningham Park, with free hot dogs, trivia, and bingo. Political experts with Promo Missouri were there to educate attendees about anti-transgender legislation scheduled for hearings in the Missouri legislature this week. Some bills discussed include a ban on gender-affirming health care, barring trans athletes from playing sports, and restricting access to public restrooms. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Southwest Missouri All for Love and Love for All and Free Mom Hugs Missouri also came out today to celebrate and show their support for the trans community. Celebrating Trans Visibility Day This is close to my heart. I have a trans daughter, and when I found out about Free Mom Hugs, I found a new home, said Victoria Morris, Free Mom Hugs Missouri. How are you going to be comfortable with them if you keep them at an arms distance and dont actually engage with them and stuff like that? So thats a big thing about being visible. LGBTQ community being visible, the trans community being visible, to let people know we are here, were in your community, were human, said Ron Burch, JOMO Pride co-chair. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to GLAAD, International Transgender Day of Visibility was established in 2010, and is celebrated every year on March 31. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. (John Sykes/Arkansas Advocate) Three African American women are suing the Arkansas Bureau of Legislative Research in federal court, alleging they experienced racial discrimination while working for the nonpartisan state agency. Barbara Brown, Kendra Drone-North and Sheila Beal all filed separate complaints against the BLR in 2024 April, May and September, respectively in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas. Little Rock civil rights attorney Austin Porter Jr. is representing all three plaintiffs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement B. Brown complaint redacted The BLR assists members of the General Assembly with drafting legislation, researching state policies and financial matters and codifying legislation that becomes law, among other things. The three plaintiffs claim their non-Black superiors at the BLR, including Director Marty Garrity, failed to promote them into jobs for which they were qualified and instead hired less experienced non-Black employees, despite the plaintiffs positive performance evaluations. They also claim the BLR retaliated against them for complaining about the discrimination. The jury trial in Browns case is scheduled to begin Oct. 6 in U.S. District Judge Kristine Bakers courtroom. Drone-Norths case will go to trial Dec. 9 with U.S. District Judge Lee Rudofsky presiding. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement U.S. District Judge D.P. Marshall Jr. is responsible for Beals case, and the trial is scheduled for June 2027, according to court documents. All three women filed complaints against the BLR with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in 2023. The plaintiffs claim the discrimination was based on age in addition to race, and they assert that the BLR violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which protects people from employment discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. North complaint redacted The BLR, represented by the state Attorney Generals office, filed responses to each complaint in which it denied the allegations of discriminatory and retaliatory behavior. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Beal and Drone-North were fired from BLR before filing their lawsuits. The BLRs response to Browns complaint in August 2024 states she was currently an employee of BLR. Browns complaint alleges that Garrity and other BLR administrators repeatedly told her she had not yet met the years of experience qualification for promotions and pay increases. The BLR admitted this claim in its response but denied the allegation that non-Black employees were promoted without meeting the years of experience standard to which it held Brown. The BLR repeatedly denied in its response to Drone-Norths complaint that younger, less qualified white women regularly received promotions the plaintiff sought. The agency admitted in its response to Beals complaint that an employee who had worked at the BLR for less than a year received a promotion in violation of BLR policy. Beals complaint states that a year is the minimum amount of experience at the agency required before a promotion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Beal complaint redacted The BLR also asserted in its responses that sovereign immunity nullifies the plaintiffs claims. Sovereign immunity is a legal doctrine that the state cannot be sued in its own courts. Additionally, Brown and Drone-North failed to exhaust their administrative remedies before filing lawsuits, according to the BLR. Garrity declined to comment on the pending litigation Thursday when reached by email, saying she would let the responses speak for themselves. Megan Markham, a spokesperson for Attorney General Tim Griffin, said in an email that the office will continue vigorously defending the case. Legislative involvement While the BLR is a defendant in all three lawsuits, the State of Arkansas is also a defendant in Browns suit because the Arkansas Legislative Councils executive subcommittee had knowledge and willful disregard for Ms. Browns civil and employee rights, her complaint states. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The executive subcommittee is responsible for overseeing appeals of investigative reports into discrimination complaints against state agencies. Brown filed a complaint against the BLR in early 2021, and the subcommittee met to discuss the issue, as reflected in both Browns legal complaint and the panels April 2021 meeting agenda. The panels May 2023 agenda similarly states that it discussed a BLR personnel matter. Such discussions are not open to the public. Brown and Drone-North both filed EEOC complaints in February 2023, and the BLR hired Little Rock attorney Carolyn Witherspoon to investigate, according to both womens legal filings. However, rather than truly investigating the plaintiffs complaint of discrimination, Carolyn Witherspoon looked for ways to nullify the plaintiffs complaint, Drone-Norths legal complaint states. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Brown claimed the BLR retaliated against her for providing aid and agreeing to be a witness in Drone-Norths complaint to the EEOC. Brown said the BLR used this as a reason to reprimand her; the agency denied this allegation in its response to her complaint. The legislative subcommittee voted to affirm Witherspoons findings and reject the two appeals at the May 2023 meeting. The findings included that Drone-Norths EEOC complaint did not have merit, her legal complaint states. Brown was mentioned by name during the public portion of the meeting before the votes, while Drone-North was not. However, the subcommittee was concerned about the veracity and the accuracy of many statements made during the investigation into Drone-Norths complaint, said the panels then-vice chairman, Rep. Bruce Cozart, R-Hot Springs. Drone-North was fired from the BLR the following day, while Brown was reprimanded and experienced consequences later that month, according to both legal complaints. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Four months later, the Legislative Councils Claims Review and Litigation Reports Oversight subcommittee was tasked with approving a $15,000 mediation settlement agreement between Drone-North and the BLR over her EEOC complaint, according to documents that have since been removed from the Legislatures website. The subcommittees Sept. 13, 2023 meeting was canceled, meaning there was no action for the full council to approve later that week, though the matter was listed on the councils agenda. Drone-Norths complaint does not mention the potential settlement. 9.13.23 Exhibit J.01 - Emergency Action ALC Claims Meanwhile, Garrity fired Beal in February 2024 after Beal responded negatively to Garrity reprimanding her, according to the legal complaint. Beal claimed the reprimand was retaliation after she filed her second discrimination complaint to EEOC a few months prior. She was fired a month after the death of her son, of which Garrity was aware, Beals legal complaint states. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All three plaintiffs request back pay, compensatory damages, attorney fees and declarations that the BLR engaged in unlawful employment practices. Beal and Drone-North seek re-employment by the BLR; Brown seeks an injunction against the BLR engaging in further discrimination, as well as a formal promotion into the BLR position for which she claims she carried out the responsibilities but did not receive the title or appropriate pay. Legal representation Porter, the plaintiffs attorney, said the three lawsuits are unlikely to be combined into a class-action lawsuit, which consists of a group of plaintiffs claiming the same injury and representing others who are not involved in the litigation. Porter specializes in civil rights and employment discrimination litigation. In January, he testified against the eventual Act 116 of 2025, which Republican lawmakers claimed would force public entities to prioritize merit over preferential treatment in contracting and hiring practices. Merit, in a lot of peoples minds, means simply white, Porter told a Senate committee. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The states Republican-led Legislature doesnt seem to have any interest in protecting the states Black employees, who currently fill a large part of lower-level positions, Porter told the Advocate Tuesday. In 2017, Porter represented Doris Smith in federal court when she alleged that the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration discriminated against her as a Black woman. Smiths allegations were similar to those of the BLR complainants: she claimed the finance department failed to promote and pay her equitably to her white counterparts, retaliated against her for complaining about the apparent discrimination and fired her in 2018 after she filed a formal complaint. A jury ruled in Smiths favor in June 2020, awarding her $223,333.81 in back pay and $108,000 in compensatory damages. She was later reinstated as a finance department employee. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Arkansas Secretary of State Cole Jester discusses measures to prevent foreign nationals from spending on ballot initiatives in Arkansas at the state capitol on March 31, 2025. (Ainsley Platt/Arkansas Advocate) Arkansas officials on Monday said they plan to close a loophole in federal election law that allows foreign nationals to contribute money toward ballot measures, in the latest move aimed at overhauling the states ballot process. House Bill 1837, sponsored by Rep. Mindy McAlindon, R-Centerton, would require an affirmation from the individual or organization making a donation that it has not knowingly or willfully accepted funds in excess of ten thousand dollars ($10,000) in the aggregate from one (1) or more prohibited sources within the four-year period immediately preceding the donation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bill defines a prohibited source as a political action committee that accepts at least one contribution from a foreign national, an organization funded by a PAC that receives a donation from a foreign national, contributions from a foreign national and contributions that violate state or federal law. McAlindon presented the bill to the House State Agencies and Government Affairs Committee after 6 p.m. Monday, but pulled it down after committee Chair Jimmy Gazaway, R-Paragould, and Rep. Andrew Collins had questions for which she didnt have an immediate answer. The bill will be on Wednesdays committee agenda. Arkansas Secretary of State Cole Jester said in a press conference Monday morning that foreign billionaires have been donating tens and hundreds of billions of dollars to statewide ballot initiatives across this country, including Arkansas. In fact, a single Swiss billionaire, Hansjorg Wyss, has spent over $100 million in ballot initiatives across the country in an effort to remake the American Constitution in what he called a progressive vision, Jester said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement (The Wyss Foundation is one of the supporters of States Newsroom.) While many state constitutions can be altered via direct democracy processes, the United States Constitution can only be changed via a specific process that does not include voting in an election. Jester cited President Donald Trumps recent executive order targeting election processes. President Trump has taken action on this in his recent executive order on election security, Jester said. He said that the foreign funding [of] ballot initiatives is a serious problem that states need to address. Its unacceptable. In Arkansas, if you are a wealthy foreign national, we welcome your tourism, we welcome your friendship, but our constitution is not for sale. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement ARFairWage2018-08-15-combined-combined-compressed However, when asked, Jester only cited $1.34 million in donations from the 1630 Fund in 2018, an American nonprofit that is part of a network of left-leaning so-called dark money groups. He said the Swiss billionaire made donations to the 1630 Fund in 2018. He said that Arkansans should know that the person taking your signature was most likely funded by a Swiss billionaire who has never stepped foot in our great state. However, Jester specifically said the issue he described with foreign funding of ballot measures wasnt an issue during the 2024 election, although he anticipated that would not remain the case in future election cycles. When requested, Jesters office provided filings made by Arkansans For A Fair Wage during the 2018 election cycle, which showed that the 1630 Fund donated just over $1.34 million on $1.5 million in total donations received by the ballot committee. Theres no indication that any of Wyss donations to the 1630 Fund were included in the money the nonprofit gave to the Arkansas ballot committee. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the 1630 Funds IRS Form 990, which nonprofits file each year, the fund received $143.3 million in contributions in 2018 alone, with $141.39 million in expenses. This story was updated at 7 p.m. March 31, 2025, to reflect action on the bill in committee. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX A small pile of debris sits where Cave City's pharmacy used to stand, with its destroyed funeral home behind it. (Ainsley Platt/Arkansas Advocate) Cave City was quiet last week. The day after a high-end EF-3 tornado ripped through the small Sharp County town with 165-mile-per-hour winds on March 14, the main stretch had been abuzz with volunteers, heavy machinery and people sifting through what remained of their homes, businesses and storage units. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fifteen tornadoes touched down in Arkansas during the March 14-15 severe weather event, according to the National Weather Service. Three people were killed in neighboring Independence County by the same tornado that devastated Cave City. That tornado was also the longest-tracked tornado in Arkansas since 2008, according to the weather service, remaining on the ground for over 80 miles something the service noted as being exceptionally rare for a tornado in Arkansas. Fast forward a week and a half, and the atmosphere in town has changed. Power lines no longer litter the sidewalk on one side of Main Street. People werent slowing in their cars, gawking and taking videos on their phones as they drove past the destruction. Cell service had been restored, even if it was somewhat spotty. The cleanup had made remarkable progress, even after a week that began with a tornado and continued with whipping winds and fires that burned homes in an already-devastated area. The remains of the towns pharmacy totalled by the tornado are gone. Only a concrete pad and a small pile of rubble remain. The church and the grocery store are surrounded by fences, their roofs covered with tarps and sheet metal to keep out future rain. An excavator began tearing into a brick house next door to the grocery store, pulling down what remained of its roof. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Other than people operating heavy machinery clearing debris and trees not many people were walking around. Irma Carrigan, who runs the Crystal River Cave Tours and Motel, said the day after the storm that she wasnt convinced the hordes of volunteers and support that arrived in town after the storm would last. But on Wednesday, a week and a half after the tornado that totaled her car and pulled down a massive tree in her yard, crushing one of the many small buildings on her property, Carrigan said shed been pleasantly surprised by just how much people wanted to help, noting that she hadnt heard one complaint from those who had arrived to offer assistance. It has all been very positive, very caring people, Carrington said. They set up food centers for different places. We didnt have to cook during all of that. The volunteerism is just phenomenal, Carrington said. Still, sometimes it could be overwhelming, she noted, being asked by volunteers how to help when those impacted themselves still werent sure. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You just look ignorant to them because youre just saying, I dont know, Carrington said. The waves of volunteers ebbed about five days after the storm, Carrigan reported, but she was grateful for the help she got. A nonprofit brought in a crane, cut up the huge tree into chunks, and helped haul it onto a family friends truck. Some roofers reattached a part from her roof that had blown off in the storm. Still, other things have been slow coming. Carrigan said that as of Wednesday, they were still being told they had to boil their water. Their internet only returned two days prior, and cell service wasnt always reliable. In the aftermath of the storm, sleep was sometimes hard to come by. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Your brain wont turn off, Carrigan said. I think mentally, you cant shut it off. Youre still thinking, What am I going to be doing tomorrow? What can I do? You just continue to pray that youll get guidance and where you need to go next. Walking down one of the roads that branched off from Main Street, Carrigan pointed to her neighbors houses. The white, two-story, former boarding house next to hers was the oldest in town, she said, and one of its occupants was on hospice. It was badly damaged. Next door to it was a smaller house, the back of it torn open. Those neighbors, Carrigan said, were trapped under the rubble of their home for hours after the tornado hit. One of them was over 90 years old. She said shed heard that the property had already been sold to someone else. The yellow house even farther down was occupied by another elderly neighbor in their 90s, Carrigan reported. They planned to repair the damage, shed heard. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another neighbor will tear down and put in a mobile home, Carrigan said. Yet another told Carrigan they were considering a modular home. He said, Im too old to build. Im too old to rebuild, Carrigan said of the neighbor who was considering a mobile home. And he said, I want something; I dont want to wait two or three years to get it. Some people were scared to even clean their windows until their insurance appraisers showed up, Carrigan said, leaving some in a state of limbo. Carrigan expressed support for a federal disaster declaration, which Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders requested last week. Sander asked for additional federal help over the weekend. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I would think they would, Carrigan said of the federal government helping with disaster recovery. I mean, I cant imagine a disaster any worse. However, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which normally manages federal disaster responses, is in the crosshairs of the Trump administration as one of its targets to be shut down, with the Washington Post reporting that Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem expressed support for removing FEMAs role in recovering from disasters by October. Its unclear how such an action would impact a federal disaster response in Arkansas if the declaration is approved. Stateline reported last month that disaster experts and states have said that they arent able to take on the role FEMA currently fills. Carrigan wasnt the only one who would like to see the disaster declaration approved. Brandi Schulz, the executive director of the Cave City Area Chamber of Commerce, said the money that would be available to both businesses and residents would help with the recovery. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement From a chamber director perspective, I know that (a federal disaster declaration) would open up some options for our businesses that were impacted, Schulz said. I know that there were going to be more options, supplemental options, outside of insurance if that does go through, so in that regard, I am hoping that we can get more assistance to our businesses and also to our residents. Schulz described Cave City as a very DIY community, and said that it, combined with the support of volunteers and donors, meant that the city would likely be in a very good place on debris removal within the next week. Roughly 59 people have been displaced by the tornado in the area, Schulz estimated. Taking care of the physical needs of those who were affected doesnt just mean helping clear debris, however. Schulz said the wife of the towns fire chief, whom the chamber director said specializes in trauma debriefing, has been offering resources for the community. I think the biggest thing is people knowing that theyre not alone, that were here for them, Schulz said. And I think weve shown that in the last week or so. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Carrigan expressed some frustration with communication from state and local authorities, even as she said she appreciated what they were doing and was satisfied with the rate at which cleanup and recovery had been happening. She heard that state money was available to those impacted to help with storm recovery, but wasnt able to figure out how to apply. She said the Red Cross opened a shelter, only to close it 48 hours later. I went up to the Assembly of God to check out, try to find this Red Cross and they said, Well, they were here, but nobody came up here to use their services, Carrigan said. And I said, Well, honey, nobody knew that they were here. Schulz said local officials made efforts to reach people who werent able to get online information, at one point distributing fliers, she said. The Red Cross confirmed it closed the shelter due to lack of use. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We had some families that expressed interest, and then had found other places to say, Red Cross regional spokesperson Sharon Watson said, adding that they had been coordinating with local faith leaders and town officials to get the word out. Some had requested hotels, and we didnt have hotel vouchers to offer because we had a shelter set up, and our shelter was available so therefore they opted to find other places to stay, which we completely understand. Watson noted that the shelter wasnt the only way it was helping the community. On Thursday, the Red Cross opened several Multi-Agency Resource Centers in conjunction with the Arkansas Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster for those affected by the tornado outbreak, designed to serve as a one-stop shop for residents to get answers from state and local authorities about disaster assistance. The MARCs were open from Thursday to Sunday in different cities Diaz on Thursday, Cave City on Friday, Melbourne on Saturday, and Pocahontas on Sunday. Meanwhile, management of volunteers and donations was handed over to Eight Days of Hope, a Christian nonprofit, after being managed by local officials such as Schulz. Gale Manning, the rapid response manager for the Cave City relief efforts, said the organization will be on the ground until April 5. Volunteers have been helping cut up and haul off trees, he said, to help make the area safer. He said roughly 70 to 80 people had been volunteering on the weekdays, with volunteers coming from as far away as Alaska. Theyre devastated, Manning said of the people who had been impacted by the storm. Theyve lost their life savings, belongings. But, you know, as the days go on, they feel a bit better. Again, we share the gospel and we let them know that Gods in control and that he knows whats going on, and he promised us all a better day. TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, March 31. Uzbekistan and Tajikistan have completed the ratification of the treaty on allied relations, Trend reports During negotiations held with the participation of President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev, and President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon, the foreign ministers of both countries signed a protocol and exchanged ratification documents, which marked the final step in the entry into force of the mentioned treaty. This important document was signed during a bilateral summit at the highest level, which took place on April 18, 2024, in Dushanbe. The accord shall be operational subsequent to the reciprocal exchange of ratification instruments. The President of Uzbekistan is on a working visit to Tajikistan at the invitation of the President of Tajikistan. BRADENTON, Fla. (WFLA) Two suspects have been arrested and a victim identified in a deadly shooting that occurred Sunday on the Bradenton Riverwalk. According to the Bradenton Police Department, the shooting happened at Rossi Park just after 4 a.m., leaving three victims with gunshot wounds. The victims were taken to a nearby hospital, where one died from their injuries. The Bradenton Police Department has identified the victim as Wilfredo Allende, 21. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Detectives with the Manatee Homicide Investigation Unit arrested two suspects Sunday afternoon. They have been identified as Frederick Kelly, 18, and Jonques Jones, 17. According to detectives, both have been charged with second-degree murder, with Jones receiving an additional charge of aggravated battery with a firearm. Jones was among the victims transported to the hospital, and BPD said an investigation revealed that he had been shot by another individual in self-defense. Police said the third victim remains in the hospital in 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 WFLA. CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, Ohio (WJW) Fans of Arthur Treachers can get their fix of fish and chips at a new location starting this week. Local U-Haul closing after nearly 5 decades The beloved fast-food restaurant announced on social media that a grand opening celebration is planned in Cleveland Heights on Tuesday, April 1. Doors will officially open at 10:30 a.m. at 13216 Cedar Road. Its the same location that housed an Arthur Treachers many years ago. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That store was always such a nostalgic location for the brand and the business, and it just came up in conversation with ownership and the opportunity was available for us, Marketing Director Christian Burden told Fox 8 News in September. At one time there were more than 800 Arthur Treachers locations across the country. The new Cleveland Heights location will join two others that remain in business: one in Cuyahoga Falls and one in Garfield Heights. Burden said people have been asking for more. One of Ohios most abundant snakes ready to mate The Cleveland area, whether its the west side or east side, they have specific restaurants they love, they have their specialties they love, said Burden. Its loved, and thats why they were so successful back in the day. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The restaurant has been teasing the Cleveland Heights location on social media for several weeks. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW. (Bloomberg) -- Asian leaders face tough decisions as President Donald Trumps reciprocal tariffs pose a generational challenge to a region whose economies were built around exports to the US and a world of low trade barriers. Most Read from Bloomberg Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump and his officials have long targeted China and already slapped a 20% levy on imports from the worlds factory floor in a resumption of the trade war unleashed during his first presidency. This time around, hes also named Vietnam, South Korea, Japan and India as charging onerous tariffs or maintaining outsize trade surpluses or both. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in March that the reciprocal levies slated for April 2 will target the dirty 15 that have substantial trade flows and barriers with the US. While Bessent didnt specify nations, there are exactly that many countries that make up more than three-quarters of the US trade deficit and nine are in Asia, according to a report from Bloomberg Economics. So it seems reciprocal levies though cast globally will hit the regions $41 trillion economy particularly hard. Along with Mexico, Canada and the European Union, Asia has been squarely in the sights of Trumps protectionist push since his Jan. 20 return to the White House. His 25% tariff on steel imports will hurt Asian producers, which make up six of the 10 biggest shippers of the alloy to the US, and last weeks imposition of 25% tariff on auto imports will dent profits for carmakers including South Koreas Hyundai Motor Co. and Japans Toyota Motor Corp. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The lack of exemptions for US allies, along with tough talk from Trump and his officials that signals a willingness to accept some near-term economic pain, has rattled markets across the globe. I couldnt care less if foreign car makers raise prices in response to last weeks tariffs, Trump said in an interview with NBC News on Saturday. Now, the addition of reciprocal levies poses a serious threat to Asias post-war growth model of export-oriented development, according to Roland Rajah, lead economist at the Lowy Institute think tank. This time will be very different from the Asian crisis in 1998 or the global financial crisis a decade later, Rajah said from Sydney. Those were cyclical or financial shocks, but this time this is much more a structural shock, he added. Growth Hit Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Reciprocal tariffs, in addition to those already announced this year, could shave as much as 1.3 percentage points off economic growth in countries across the region, according to economists at Goldman Sachs Group Inc., largely due to their reliance on direct and indirect US purchases. Given that dependence on trade with the US, policymakers across Asia are left with few good options. So far theyve largely aimed to placate Trump, shuttling to Washington and promising purchases of goods and lauding the benefits of free trade. Companies have announced new investments in the US, including Hyundai Motors $21 billion expansion plan. In every capital in Asia around the world theyre trying to game out what works with Trump. What works, what doesnt and what can we offer, said Wendy Cutler, vice president at the Asia Society Policy Institute in Washington. Asian countries are loathe to retaliate. Cutler, who previously spent three decades at the Office of the US Trade Representative, including as acting deputy US trade representative, said countries may also be put off from hitting back following Trumps threats to escalate tariffs on Canada after the Northern neighbor threatened retaliation to US levies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What Bloomberg Economists Say... Given Asias greater reliance on export-led growth compared with other regions, such levies could deliver a particularly sharp blow. Nevertheless, Asian governments are more inclined to pursue engagement than tit-for-tat retaliation against Washington. Trade negotiations and initiatives to pare back tariffs will likely take precedence. Chang Shu, Chief Asia Economist Besides the new US levies themselves, economists also point to fallout in the form of reduced investment in Asia as companies pause hiring and expansion. As a result, Asian central banks are likely to cut more aggressively than they did during the 2018-2019 trade war but even that wont fully offset the hit to growth, according to Morgan Stanley economists led by Chetan Ahya. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There are already some signs of a pullback. Manufacturing data shows new export orders dropped in February in countries including Indonesia and Vietnam both nations that benefited from the US trade war with China in 2018-2019. Meanwhile, equity and debt flows to emerging market countries recorded the weakest start to the year since 2016, according to Bank of America. Asias leaders are also taking steps to reduce reliance on the US and bolster their domestic economies. If we play our cards right in a very deft and agile way, we can navigate this, said Marty Natalegawa, Indonesias former minister of foreign affairs. Its not in our interest to put all eggs in one basket we must diversify. In China, theres a renewed emphasis on spurring consumption and President Xi Jinping has pledged to open his economy to global companies and resist protectionism. Beijings recent pro-business pivot and optimism over advances in artificial intelligence have spurred a rally in Chinese stocks even as Trumps trade threats have magnified. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We should jointly safeguard the free trade system, uphold open regionalism, and firmly oppose trade and investment protectionism, Ding Xuexiang, the ruling Communist Partys sixth-ranking official, said during his keynote speech at the annual Boao Forum last week. Preferential trade agreements in Asia already make up nearly half of those globally, and include the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, the worlds largest free-trade agreement. Squeeze, Not Choke There are tentative signs that Trumps pressure may spur a deepening of commercial links within Asia. Japan and China held their first economic dialog in six years in Tokyo on March 22, though prospects for a coordinated response to Trumps tariffs remains a long way off. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That increased focus on domestic demand and intra-Asian trade may help the region avoid the worst impacts of Trumps new levies, according to Louis Kuijs, chief Asia-Pacific economist at S&P Global Ratings. In his second-quarter outlook report, Kuijs said tariffs will squeeze, not choke growth across the region. However even if China can spur its economy, it cannot replace the US as a source of final demand. The value of Chinese imports from Asia fell 1% in the first two months of this year, after rising 3.7% last year. Inu Manak, fellow for trade policy at the Council on Foreign Relations in Washington, said the most lasting impact of the tariffs might actually be felt in the US. What I worry about most is US pressure to decouple trade and investment links with China, which forces countries to choose between the two, with China likely to come out on top, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement --With assistance from Shadab Nazmi, Colum Murphy and Yasufumi Saito. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2025 Bloomberg L.P. (Reuters) - Russian forces shelled a frontline settlement in Ukraine's southeast Zaporizhzhia region on Monday, killing one person and injuring five, the regional governor said. Ivan Fedorov, writing on the Telegram messaging app, did not identify the settlement, but posted pictures of heavily damaged homes and other buildings alongside piles of rubble. He said a 66-year-old woman had died in the attack. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Zaporizhzhia is one of four regions partly occupied by Russian forces. All four were formally annexed by Moscow seven months after the Kremlin sent tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine in February 2022. Ukraine and Western nations denounce the annexations as illegal. (Reporting by Ron Popeski and Oleksandr Kozhukhar; Editing by Stephen Coates) Crista Eggers of Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana, center, leads a news conference urging legislative support for bills to help implement a safe, fully regulated medical cannabis system. March 3, 2025. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner) LINCOLN The new commissioners set to regulate medical cannabis in Nebraska, as well as the ballot sponsors of the successful effort to legalize it in 2024, blasted an ongoing lawsuit against them as meritless and seeking to create a false conflict. In briefs filed Friday, attorneys for the 11 defendants named in the John Kuehn v. Gov. Jim Pillen case explained why they are seeking to dismiss the case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kuehn, a former state senator, former State Board of Health member and longtime marijuana opponent, filed the case in December. It sought to declare the voter-approved legalization and regulation of medical cannabis unconstitutional. He expanded the case in January to encompass more state officials. The lawsuits main argument is that the Nebraska laws are unlawful, or preempted, because of the federal Controlled Substances Act. The legal filings so far John Kuehn initial lawsuit (filed Dec. 10) John Kuehn amended lawsuit (filed Jan. 10) State officials brief in support of motion to dismiss (filed March 28) Nebraska Medical Cannabis Commission brief in support of motion to dismiss (filed March 28) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ballot sponsors brief in support of motion to dismiss (filed March 28) Typically, cases can only move forward if the party suing can prove direct harm because of the laws, known as standing. Kuehn has conceded he cant prove standing directly, so to get his foot in the door, he is arguing that his case has standing on behalf of the taxpayer or great public interest, narrow paths for certain cases to proceed. The first standard regards the spending of public dollars, while the second argues the matter should be taken up because it is of a great public interest to Nebraskans. The lawyers for five state officials, the three commissioners on the Nebraska Medical Cannabis Commission and the three ballot sponsors said neither type of standing applies to Kuehn. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There is no great public interest in invalidating a law approved by a massive supermajority of Nebraska voters which will be susceptible to challenge by many, the attorney wrote for Bruce Bailey of Lincoln, Harry Hoch, Jr. of Omaha and Kim Lowe of Kearney of the Nebraska Medical Cannabis Commission. Kuehns legal team had no immediate comment on the new filings. His team has until late April to file a response under a briefing order by Lancaster County District Judge Susan Strong. Strong, who ruled against Kuehn in an earlier marijuana-related case, has scheduled an in-person hearing on the motions to dismiss the preemption case for May 20. The role of Congress The sponsors of the medical cannabis ballot measure criticized Kuehns lawsuit as an attempt to flip federalism on its head. They said Kuehn supports an expansive federal government and a weakened state government at the expense of Nebraska voters who just passed two laws by huge margins. Voters overwhelmingly approved the measure to legalize up to 5 ounces of medical cannabis with a physicians recommendation with 71% support. It secured majority support in all of Nebraskas 49 legislative districts. A second measure to regulate medical cannabis through the newly created commission passed with 67% support, including majority support in 46 legislative districts. John Kuehn of Heartwell, left, looks toward his Austin-based attorney, Anne Marie Mackin, at the start of official court proceedings in Lancaster County District Court that could determine the fate of two 2024 ballot measures on medical cannabis. Sept. 20, 2024. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner) Campaign attorneys said the federal government under presidents from former President Bill Clinton to President Donald Trump earlier this year has never taken the preemption position. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The federal government still lists marijuana as a Schedule I drug, which is defined as having no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse, though the Trump and Biden administrations have taken steps toward reclassifying the drug. The U.S. Department of Justice has also not prosecuted violations of federal cannabis law in states that have legalized marijuana, the ballot sponsors attorneys wrote. Congress has also annually prohibited the Justice Department from spending funds to prevent states from implementing medical cannabis laws. Congresss purpose is the ultimate touchstone in every preemption case, and here, Congress has decided to allow states to enact their own medical cannabis laws, the ballot sponsors said. Protecting state sovereignty Attorney Jason Grams of Omaha, for the commissioners, said that while it is true that marijuana possession, manufacture and distribution are federally illegal, that is far from the end of the analysis. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Grams said preemption in this case, as Congress has designed it in the Controlled Substances Act, is implicated when it is physically impossible for a state law to coexist with federal law. In the 39 states that have legalized medical cannabis, including Nebraska last fall, none has been thrown out on federal preemption standards, the commissioners said. We simply hold state sovereignty in greater regard than that, Grams wrote. Grams represented the Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana campaign in 2020 against a lawsuit brought by Lancaster County Sheriff Terry Wagner. The Nebraska Supreme Court ruled against the campaign and removed the measure off the ballot. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The campaign tried again in 2022 and 2024 before succeeding at the ballot box. Ballot sponsors have similarly pointed to the 10th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which states: The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people. The AGs Office did not address federal preemption in its motion to dismiss other than to say that Kuehn may be correct on the merits of his substantive challenges. Pillen and Hilgers have both hinted at questions regarding marijuana under federal law. The Nebraska Board of State Canvassers meets to certify the November 2024 general election results on Dec. 2, 2024. From left: State Auditor Mike Foley, Secretary of State Bob Evnen, Gov. Jim Pillen, Attorney General Mike Hilgers and State Treasurer Tom Briese. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner) The ballot sponsors said Kuehn is in an odd position of being a Nebraska taxpayer suing not to vindicate the rights of his fellow taxpayers but to secure the rights of the federal government. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Unlike most taxpayer lawsuits, success for Kuehn would not save taxpayers money to the contrary, Kuehns success would decrease tax revenue, thereby increasing the per capita tax burden and harming taxpayers, the brief states. The federal government, not a resident taxpayer, is the interested party. No taxpayer dollars, yet Another challenge in taking up Kuehns case now, Grams added, is pending legislation being considered by the Nebraska Legislature, which could render moot the statutes that Kuehn is challenging. He said Kuehns arguments against the commissioners are aiming at a moving target. The main proposal, Legislative Bill 677 from State Sen. Ben Hansen of Blair, has not yet advanced from the General Affairs Committee. A vote on whether to advance the bill could come this week. The commission also has no public dollars set aside to carry out its duties no state funds, no donations, no fee revenue, no office, no address, no contact information, no equipment, no staff. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No ability to carry out any duties set forth in the NMRCA [Nebraska Medical Cannabis Regulation Act], the brief continues. State Sen. Rob Clements of Elmwood, left, and Keisha Patent, director of the Legislative Fiscal Office, address lawmakers at a pre-session legislative retreat in Kearney on Friday, Dec. 13, 2024. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner) Up until Friday, with a complete lack of resources, the commissioners have: Executed no contracts. Held no meetings. Advertised for no meetings. Carried on no deliberations. Held no votes. Issued no regulations. Commenced no work on regulations. Sought no office or meeting space. Sought to hire no employees. Began no work on the criteria for licensure. Retained no law enforcement resources. As approved by voters, commissioners must craft regulations for licensure by July 1, which is three months away. Licensing is supposed to begin by Oct. 1. Under a pending bill, those deadlines could be extended and the commission could receive appropriations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Members of the new Medical Cannabis Commission said the argument that the potential use of future taxpayer dollars is enough to move the case forward is bunkum, or nonsense. The ballot sponsors attorneys said allowing the case to proceed could implicate the incidental expenditures of any state law and could allow any challenge to any law. They said allowing Kuehn to move forward on taxpayer standing grounds would effectively swallow the rule contrary to the Supreme Courts instruction to apply the exception narrowly. If Kuehn is seeking to prevent someone from appropriating funds, the commissioners said, then Kuehn has sued the wrong parties and instead must address his claim to the Legislature. Regulations in limbo Theres also a technical fight for the commissioners, with Grams arguing that none of the commissioners was properly served as part of the case. Kuehns mostly out-of-state attorneys sent legal threat letters on Jan. 9, one day before the commissioners were added to the lawsuit, telling them not to enforce the laws. However, the letter was sent to email addresses that Kuehn guessed at but that the commissioners dont have access to, was mailed to the Nebraska Liquor Control Commission where the commissioners have dual roles at (but is separate) and was left with a woman in the AGs Office, but not with the commissioners. None of the commissioners had seen the legal threat telling the commissioners not to act until long after Jan. 10, the brief states, and Kuehn didnt give even a day to consider his demand, if he gave them a chance to review it at all. A pledged future challenge In addition to Pillen, the AGs Office is also defending Secretary of State Bob Evnen, CEO Steve Corsi of the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, State Treasurer Tom Briese and Tax Commissioner Jim Kamm. The AGs Office said Evnen cant be sued in a duplicative case on the topic. Kuehn continues to appeal his defeated lawsuit against Evnen and the campaign from last September. Lancaster County District Judge Susan Strong presides over the first day of hearings in a case related to medical cannabis ballot petitions. Sept. 20, 2024. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner) Kuehn included Corsi arguing that DHHS would need to discipline doctors who recommend cannabis to patients. While DHHS has not issued guidance to physicians as part of the laws, the AGs Office said recommending cannabis would open up Nebraska doctors to discipline. The lawsuit argues that Briese and Kamm could violate money laundering laws if they collect tax revenue from medical marijuana sales, but all three attorney groups said courts have long upheld the collection of such taxes, including on illegal activity. Rather than Kuehn, the AGs Office argued, there is another person who would be better suited to challenge the laws: Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers. Acting Deputy Solicitor General Zachary Pohlman, joining Hilgers in defending the state officials, appeared before the Legislature earlier this month. Pohlman then and again in the latest brief pledged or in the view of some lawmakers, threatened to challenge the constitutionality of the laws if the commission licensed medical cannabis establishments. The brief said that a lawsuit was but one example of future action. Expanding taxpayer standing to allow a private plaintiff to sue public officials to invalidate statutes that do not harm the plaintiff when the attorney general has pledged to do so himself not only stretches the judiciarys jurisdiction beyond its proper scope, the brief states. It also tramples upon the authority of Nebraskas chief law enforcement officer. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Authorities are investigating the death of a man who was pulled from a burning car on the South Shore of Massachusetts early Monday morning. Emergency crews responding to a report of a car on fire on Union Street in Hanson just before 3 a.m. found the engine compartment of a 2012 Chevrolet Impala fully engulfed in flames, Hanson Fire Chief Robert J. OBrien, Hanson Police Chief Michael R. Miksch, State Fire Marshal Jon M. Davine, and Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy J. Cruz said in a joint statement. Firefighters extricated the man and EMTs rushed him to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead. His name hasnt been released. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner will conduct a formal identification procedure and determine the cause and manner of his death, officials said. There were no additional details immediately available. The cause of the fire is under investigation. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW This is an adapted excerpt from the March 30 episode of "Ayman." Washington has been in a frenzy over the Trump administrations Signal scandal, in which some of the presidents top officials were caught discussing a bombing campaign in Yemen in an unsecured group chat that somehow included journalist Jeffrey Goldberg. People were outraged. Many wondered how this could have happened. Some pressed for national security adviser Mike Waltz, who added Goldberg to the chat, to resign. Questions have also swirled about another chat participant, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Democratic Rep. Jimmy Gomez of California asked if Hegseth could have possibly been drinking before he sent the military plans. Theres also a question about why no one has been fired yet. (President Donald Trump said Saturday that no one will be.)Despite all these questions, somehow the most important part of this story isnt getting any attention in elite Washington circles. And its this: Why is America bombing Yemen in the first place? How many people are being killed in these bombings? Who are they? If Congress hasnt voted on it, are the bombings unconstitutional? Are they a violation of the United Nations Charter? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To be clear, American attacks on Yemen didnt just start with Trump. For years, Houthi rebels in Yemen have been attacking commercial ships in the Red Sea, a major trade route. The attacks started shortly after Hamas Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel, and the Houthis say they wont stop until Israels onslaught on Gaza has ended. In response to these attacks, Joe Biden ordered airstrikes on the Houthis. Shortly after, Biden admitted those strikes werent successful. However, he also pledged to continue them. And now its Trumps turn to pick up where Biden left off. The president is doing so without any debate or congressional approval. In March, he declared the group a foreign terrorist organization. Some may remember that as a candidate, Trump pledged to end Americas era of endless wars. It was a smart campaign strategy. The American people are sick and tired of these wars. But as soon as Trump retook the White House, he did just the opposite. Hes ramped up bombings on Yemen. He has also effectively given a green light to Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu to end the ceasefire in Gaza. On Iran, Trump told my colleague Kristen Welker: If they dont make a deal, there will be bombing. It will be bombing the likes of which they have never seen before. On Greenland, Trump told Welker, I never take military force off the table. So far, this president isnt a peacemaker, and hes not ending America's forever wars hes threatening to start new ones. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But that doesnt seem to be of concern to lawmakers on Capitol Hill. Theyre concerned about keeping American secrets safe, and the bombing campaign itself is just background noise. Its not just the politicians who are missing the real story here. In an interview with NPR, Goldberg was asked about how, in the aftermath of his story, there has been little focus on the over 50 people, including women and children, who were killed in these strikes and whether he believed people were burying the lead.I dont know if were burying the lead, because, obviously, huge breaches in national security and safety of information thats a very, very important story, obviously, Goldberg responded. This is the perfect example of a Washington controversy: Democrats and Republicans are screaming at each other while the most powerful voices on both sides support the same underlying policy a seemingly illegal war on a sovereign Middle Eastern country without congressional approval. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com WICHITA FALLS (KFDX/KJTL) The Help Me Grow Family Resource Center will host Baby Day 2025 on April 26 at 400 Bridge Street. Baby Day 2025 is a family-friendly event, part of a statewide celebration that aims to raise awareness about the importance of a childs first three years. House committee backs bill to name Texas highway after Molly Mullins The event will host a day of fun, learning, and valuable resources for families with children ages newborn to eight years old. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rebecca Ruddy, Help Me Grow program coordinator, said she is thrilled to host Baby Day 2025. This event is a fantastic opportunity for parents and caregivers to connect with one another, learn about available resources, and discover ways to support their childs growth and well-being, Ruddy said. Help Me Grow is a program of the North Texas Area United 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 Texomashomepage.com. An executive at a major American bank may be dead following a plane crash in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota over the weekend. Officials at U.S. Bank told local broadcaster KARE 11 that they believe the company's vice chair and chief administration officer, Terry Dolan, died in the crash. On Saturday, a small plane leaving from Des Moines International Airport in Iowa was on its way to Anoka County-Blaine Airport when it crashed into a house in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, according to the FAA. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A body was removed from the wreckage. The Hennepin County Medical Examiner is still working to identify the remains. The small plane was registered to Dolan. U.S. Bank officials issued a statement saying they believe Dolan was killed in the 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," the statement said, according to People. Terry Dolan, 63, the vice chair and chief administrative officer at U.S. Bank. Bank officials said on Monday, March 31, 2025 that they believe Dolan may have died in an airplane crash that took place the previous Saturday in Minnesota. (U.S. Bank) The statement continues: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Our thoughts and prayers are with him, his family and friends, and anyone who may have been affected by yesterday's tragic incident," the bank officials said. "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." Two people lived at the house, and one was at home at the time of the plane crash. The collision set the house on fire, but the occupant was able to escape. The pilots remains are the only remains that have been found. Tim Marx, the former CEO of Catholic Charities, knew Dolan and said the 63-year-old had a passion for flying and his plane. Dolan served on the board of directors for Catholic Charities Twin Cities between 2012 and 2017. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement [Learning about the crash] just really hit me hard," Marx told CBS News. "It was a real sad shock." The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the crash and said it should have a preliminary report ready sometime in the next few weeks. According to U.S. Banks website, Dolan became the CAO in 2023. Prior to that he had served as an executive vice president at the company and as its chief financial officer. TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, March 31. Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan have signed an agreement on the junction of state borders, Trend reports. The document signing took place in Khujand city (Tajikistan) in the presence of the President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon, the President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Zhaparov, and the President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev. This agreement is an important step in strengthening mutual trust and cooperation between the states, as well as ensuring stability and security along their shared borders. The signing of the agreement underscores the commitment of Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan to deepen political, economic, and cultural interactions within the framework of close neighborhood ties. The document solidifies the legal aspects of cooperation and the regulation of border zone issues, which will serve as the foundation for further strengthening stability and security in the region. Rahmon expressed satisfaction with the signatures, noting that this event holds great significance for the development of good-neighborly relations between the three countries and contributes to the strengthening of peaceful coexistence and cooperation. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BOSSIER PARISH, La. (KTAL/KMSS) The Barksdale Air Force Base will sign a proclamation for Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month (SAAPM) and hold a 5k color run. Caddo Parish Sheriffs Office honoring crime victims with walk through Shreveport SAAPM aims to raise awareness and educate communities on preventing sexual assault, a press release stated. Signing a joint proclamation demonstrates the commitment on taking a stand against sexual violence not only on the installation but also throughout the community. We are building community relationships and enhancing helping agency partnerships while highlighting sexual assault prevention programs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The release added that the proclamation signing will include Col. Michael Maginness, 2d Bomb Wing Commander, Col. David Martinez, 307th Bomb Wing Commander, Bossier City Mayor Tommy Chandler, Shreveport City Mayor Tom Arceneaux, and representatives from local colleges and community partners. The event will be held on Thursday, April 3, at 8 a.m. at the Barksdale Air Force Base in Bossier Parish. For more information, contact BAFB Public Affairs at 318-456-1015 or 2bw.pa@us.af.mil. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. MIDLAND, Texas (KMID/KPEJ)- For the eighth year in a row, several oil and gas industry teams came together to raise money for veterans and host a friendly cook-off. The music BBQ cook-off and music festival is hosted by the Permian Basin Association of Directional Drilling. Many of the teams working the event and prepping the food said it is an honor to participate in this years event. Theres no greater thing than a veteran, said Cameron Lucky, the vice president of Downhole Well Solutions. Theyre out there fighting for our country we would have the freedom to even do what were doing right now without them so God bless them and everything they do for us to be able to do what we do we love them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All the proceeds of the event go towards supporting veterans in the area. The support could not go on without a little of competition. Weve entered every aspect of the cookout and weve had some close calls where were trying to get things in pretty quick but everythings turned out pretty well, said Jimmy Bawcum, the district manager for Lightening Oilfield Services. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Yourbasin. When a colony of bats leaves their cave and takes to the skies at night to hunt, they often do so in such big groups that they almost look like one giant blob. How these winged mammals can achieve such tight densitiessometimes numbering in the hundreds of thousands of batsyet do not crash into one another has puzzled scientists for decades. Now, researchers believe theyve figured out how bats can still hear amidst the din similar to a noisy cocktail party. They appear to change the way they echolocate in order to get a better idea of where exactly the bats closest to them are located. The findings are detailed in a study published March 31 in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The bat cocktail party Like dolphins, toothed whales, and some birds, many bat species use echolocation to perceive the world around them. They send out a call and listen for the reflected echo. This echo allows them to see what is in front of them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, if many bats are echolocating at oncelike when an entire colony comes out of a cave in only a few minutesthe noise from others should cover up the critical echoic information that bats need to get around. This loss of acoustic information is referred to as jamming. Bats should collide because of the jamming, but aerial accidents outside of caves are actually quite rare. Youre almost excited when you witness one, Aya Goldshtein, a study co-author and a postdoctoral scholar in animal behavior at the Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior in Germany, said in a statement. Scientists have deployed several techniques in the lab to try and figure out how bats can hear around all of this ambient chatterlike the noise inside of a crowded restaurant. Theyve studied how bats echolocate in groups, by seeing how the bats ecolocated at a slightly different frequency. In theory, this should reduce jamming, but the results from previous studies did not provide a strong enough answer as to how or why. No one had looked at this situation from the point of view of an individual bat during emergence. How can we understand a behavior if we dont study it in action? Yossi Yovel, a study co-author and neuroecologist from Tel-Aviv University in Israel, said in a statement. To the cave For this study, the team studied Greater mouse-tailed bats (Rhinopoma microphyllum) living in Israels Hula Valley and collected data directly from wild bats emerging from a cave at dusk over two years. They tagged several bats in this colony with lightweight trackers that recorded their location every second. Some of the tags were also equipped with ultrasonic microphones that recorded the soundscape from a bats point of view. To study this behavior, they used a new combination of high-resolution tracking, ultrasonic reporting, and sensorimotor computer modeling to observe how the bats sense as they squeezed out of the cave opening. The Greater mouse-tailed bat roosts among thousands in a cave, waiting for nightfall to emerge and feed on insects. CREDIT: Eran Amichai. Eran Amichai However, the tagged bats were released outside the cave and into the emerging colony. meaning that that data taken from the cave opening when the density is highest was missing. To fill this gap, the team used a computational model developed by study co-author Omer Mazar, which simulated emergence. This model used data collected by the trackers and microphones to recreate the full behavioral sequence beginning with the entrance of the cave and wrapping up after the bats had flown 1.2 miles (two kilometers) through the valley. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The simulation allows us to verify our assumptions of how bats solve this complex task during emergence, Mazar, a Ph.D student at Tel-Aviv University, said in a statement. A bats POV The data revealed that when exiting the cave, the bats experience a cacophony of calls. Ninety-four percent of echolocations are jammed, yet the bats significantly reduced the echolocation jamming within five seconds of leaving the cave. The bats were also observed making two important behavioral changes. First, they fanned out from the dense colony core while keeping the group structure. Next, they sent out shorter and weaker calls at higher frequency. Initially, the team suspected that the bats would reduce the jamming by quickly dispersing from the cave. Instead, they appear to change their echolocation to a higher frequency, even though in theory that should only increase the jamming and collision risk. To understand why, the team had to approach this whole scene from a bats point of view. [ Related: What bats and metal vocalists have in common. ] Imagine youre a bat flying through a cluttered space. The most important object you need to know about is the bat directly in front. So you should echolocate in such a way that gives you the most detailed information about only that bat, explained Mazar. Sure, you might miss most of the information available because of jamming, but it doesnt matter because you only need enough detail to avoid crashing into that bat. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It appears that the bats change the way they echolocate in order to gain detailed information about their neighbors nearby. This strategy ultimately appears to help them successfully maneuver and avoid bumping into one another. According to the team, this unexpected result for how bats solve this noisy dilemma was made possible by studying bats in their natural environment. Theoretical and lab studies of the past have allowed us to imagine the possibilities, said Goldshtein. But only by putting ourselves, as close as possible, into the shoes of an animal will we ever be able to understand the challenges they face and what they do to solve them. FLORENCE, Ala. (WHNT) The Better Business Bureau of North Alabama is set to host a shred day in Florence. On April 4 from 9 a.m. to noon, the BBB and the Family Security Credit Union are partnering to host a drive-thru shred day. Nominations open for Albertville Jeffersons Teacher of the Year award The event will be held at the Florence-Lauderdale Coliseum. Free document shredding will be available onsite. However, there is a limit of three kitchen-size bags or three file storage boxes per vehicle. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Only paper documents will be accepted. The BBB said all other materials such as plastic, metal and binders must be removed. The trucks will accept documents to shred until they reach full capacity. Old Gurley Road Food City to host grand opening April 30 We are proud to host this event in partnership with our sponsors as part of our commitment to helping the community fight identity theft, Christie Yeiser, Regional Vice President, said. The sponsors for this event are the City of Florence, Cooks Pest Control and ElderCare Services. For more information, call the BBB of North Alabama at (256) 533-1640 or visit its 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 WHNT.com. CHICAGO At St. Ignatius College Prep, pancakes fed the prayers of people looking to help. On Saturday morning, Ald. Bill Conway (34th Ward) hosted a Get Behind the Vest breakfast for the first time. Since 2014, these events have cooked up the funds for the Chicago Police Memorial Foundations efforts to help Chicago police officers buy new bulletproof vests. Chicago police officers have our back, so its important that we have theirs and were putting a good bulletproof vest on their backs, Conway said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Weekend Break: White Sox celebrate families with Kids Opening Day on the South Side While the city gives each officer a bulletproof vest when they come out of the academy, officers are responsible for replacements every five years. Officers dont replace their vests like they should upon expiration. They kind of roll the dice and wait to see, and they spend their money on family and the house and everything else, Maureen Biggane with the Chicago Police Memorial Foundation said. Just last year, Officer Edwin Gramajos life was saved when his vest caught a bullet. He was in his squad car. Youll see pictures of where the bullet penetrated the windshield and then struck him in the vest. Thank God he was wearing his vest, saved his life undoubtably and we were able to provide him with a replacement vest after that incident, Biggane said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So far, the police memorial foundation has replaced 14,000 vests at a cost of about $500 each. Read more: Latest Chicago news and headlines Any protection we can get for our officers, especially when theyre facing the types of challenges theyre facing out there. We know how many officers weve lost over the last two years and we dont want that to happen again. We want to keep our officers safe when theyre out there keeping others safe. Those bullet proof vests do a lot to protect our officers, CPD Supt. Larry Snelling said. Conway hopes to raise over $100,000 from sponsors and pancake sales. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the military, I was in Afghanistan and wore a bulletproof vest. So I want to make sure that our police officers have the protection they need, Conway said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV. TALLINN, Estonia (AP) Belarusian authorities said Monday they have detained an American man who they said illegally traveled into the tightly controlled country in an empty railway car from neighboring Lithuania. Belarus' Customs Committee said the 27-year-old, whose identify wasn't given, was found during an inspection of the train in Maladzyechna, 80 kilometers (49 miles) northwest of the capital, Minsk. A team that inspected the train handed him over to the Border Guards, who didn't immediately comment. It was not clear when the man was discovered. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Viasna Human Rights Center said the man could face up to two years in prison if found guilty of illegal border crossing. The U.S. State Department has warned Americans against traveling to Belarus, citing Belarusian authorities arbitrary enforcement of local laws and the risk of detention, continued facilitation of Russias war against Ukraine, and the heightened volatility and unpredictable nature of the regional security environment. At the same time, Belarus has introduced a visa-free regime for travelers from 80 countries, including the United States, who arrive by plane and stay for no more than five days. Those who want to spend more time can receive electronic visas. However, in 2021, Belarus authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko issued a decree removing the U.S. from the list of countries whose citizens are granted visa-free travel. Visa-free travel is currently available to citizens of 76 other countries who arrive by plane and stay for up to 30 days, according to the Belarusian Embassy in Washington. Lukashenko, who was sworn in for a seventh term earlier this month, has ruled for more than three decades, stifling dissent and free speech. Authorities responded to massive protests triggered by the 2020 presidential vote with a crackdown that saw over 65,000 people arrested, thousands beaten by police and independent media outlets and nongovernmental organizations closed and outlawed, bringing condemnation and sanctions from the West. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Belarusian activists say it currently holds more than 1,200 political prisoners, including Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ales Bialiatski, founder of Viasna. Belarusian authorities recently released some political prisoners, including several U.S. citizens in what some observers saw as an attempt by Lukashenko to try to mend ties with the West. In the original version of this story published Mar. 31, 2025, The Associated Press reported that Belarus has introduced a visa-free regime for travelers from 80 countries, including the United States, who arrive by plane and stay for no more than five days. We failed to clarify that in 2021, Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko issued a decree removing the United States from the list of countries whose citizens are granted visa-free travel. Visa-free travel is currently available to citizens of 76 other countries who arrive by plane and stay for up to 30 days, according to the Belarusian Embassy in Washington. Could misinformation about Social Security be paving the way for privatization? Thats how Bernie Sanders sees it. Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont told CNN that lying about Social Security is a prelude not only to cutting benefits, but to privatizing Social Security itself. By making the system appear dysfunctional, then why would anybody want to support it? Don't miss Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement DOGE aims to cut 12% of the Social Security Administration (SSA) workforce, reducing staff from 57,000 to 50,000. Its also consolidating 10 regional offices down to four and closing 45 field offices across the country, according to Government Executive. A leaked email from SSAs acting commissioner Leland Dudek, published by The Bulwark, sparked fresh fears about privatization. The March 1 email to staff stated they need to revitalize SSA operations by streamlining activities and outsource nonessential functions to industry experts. Why lawmakers are talking about privatizing Social Security This wouldnt be the first time politicians have attempted to privatize Social Security. Back in 2005, former president George W. Bush floated the idea of creating privatization accounts, in which workers could divert a third of their payroll taxes into a private account. It did not go over well. Whats different this time? A false narrative that the current program is rife with waste and fraud. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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 Elon Musk, who spearheads the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), told Fox News that Social Security was a mechanism by which the Democrats attract and retain illegal immigrants by essentially paying them to come here and then turning them into voters. In late February, Musk told podcaster Joe Rogan that Social Security is the biggest Ponzi scheme of all time, and accused the program of fraud and abuse. President Donald Trump has reiterated Musks false assertion that millions of dead people are receiving Social Security checks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Under the Biden administration, the SSAs Office of the Inspector General conducted Social Security audits of payments from 2015 and 2022 and found that most improper payments were overpayments not payments to dead Americans. The office uncovered $72 billion in improper payments, but while that sounds like a lot, its less than 1% of the total benefits distributed over seven years. So why do you lie so much about Social Security? Why do you make it look like its a broken, dysfunctional system? Sanders asked in the CNN interview. The reason is to get people to lose faith in the system, and then you can give it over to Wall Street. Pros and cons of privatization Social Security has been under the microscope for years, thanks to a long-term funding shortfall. If nothing is done, it will run short of funds by 2034, with only enough to pay beneficiaries 79% of their scheduled benefits. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The program is funded by employers and employees through payroll taxes (each paying 6.2% of the employees earnings, while self-employed workers pay the full amount). But with fewer working-age Americans and a record number of baby boomers retiring, , those payroll taxes arent producing enough revenue to keep pace with demand. There are a number of options for making up this shortfall, such as raising the retirement age, eliminating the taxable income cap or raising payroll tax rates. A vast majority (85%) of Americans polled in a National Academy of Social Insurance survey (NASI) want their Social Security benefits to remain intact even if it means raising taxes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advocates of privatization believe the private sector could do a better job managing the program. Privatization would involve diverting payroll tax contributions into self-directed private accounts. Proponents say this would give workers more options and allow them to make better investment decisions. For example, they could increase their contributions so they could build up their retirement funds faster. Advocates say it could result in better investment returns. Currently, Social Security funds are invested in low-risk government bonds, which are guaranteed by the U.S. government. Critics of privatization say it carries more risk. Rep. John Larson (D-Conn), pointed out in an interview with CNBC that peoples 401(k) plans dropped in value alongside the stock market crash of 2008 but Social Security never missed a payment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another consideration is the cost of the transition. Social Security has accumulated trillions of dollars in liabilities to workers who are already retired or who will retire soon, according to Brookings research. To make room for a new private system, policymakers must find funds to pay for these liabilities while still leaving young workers enough money to deposit in new private accounts. 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 log-in page of Instagram's website. Users under the age of 18 would not be able to finish signing up for the site, at least not without parental consent, if a proposal from Charlestown Democratic Rep. Tina Spears called The Rhode Island Social Media Regulation Act were to succeed in the Rhode Island General Assembly. (Photo by Alexander Castro/Rhode Island Current) Some things a Rhode Islander can do for the first time, legally, when they turn 18: Vote for president, visit a casino, or smoke a pack of cigarettes. A bill introduced by Rep. Tina Spears, a Charlestown Democrat, in the Rhode Island House of Representatives last week would add use social media to that list of coming-of-age privileges. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What it really does is it prohibits direct messaging on accounts for these youth who are under 18, Spears said while introducing her bill Thursday, They will not be able to use the platforms as they are currently structured today. Spears reminded her colleagues on the Rhode Island House Committee on Innovation, Internet and Technology that the U.S. Surgeon General successfully curtailed smoking rates over time, and the same office recently cast youths social media usage in the same light. The Surgeon General states, We cannot conclude that social media is sufficiently safe for children and adolescents, which tells me as a policymaker and lawmaker, that we should be taking action to ensure that we are protecting our youth, Spears told the committee, citing that youth often come into contact with self-harm content online. Spears bill, The Rhode Island Social Media Regulation Act is a comprehensive effort to age-restrict social media usage and would require global social media platforms with more than five million users to verify the age of any Rhode Island user. Minors would not be able to make or use an account without their parent or guardians consent, and users would have two weeks to verify their identities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Spears posed the bill as a public health effort as well as an attempt to shut off the illicit channels and activities young people can encounter in sparsely regulated online spaces. We do not allow drug trafficking, human trafficking, sextortion any of those actions we do not allow in public venues in any way. Nor should we allow it on a social media platform, the lawmaker said. In addition to the restrictions on DMs, parents would have access to their childrens accounts, and minors would not be able to access social media sites between 10:30 p.m. and 6:30 a.m. without parental consent. Pure direct messaging apps where messages are shared between the sender and the recipient, only visible to the sender and the recipient, as the bill text puts it, would presumably exclude services like Signal and WhatsApp from the bills reach. But its unclear whether something like Discord, which is a messaging app with social-media-esque aspects, would be subject to the proposed law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Companies who violate the regulation would see a $2,500 fine per violation, and a $5,000 penalty for repeat violations. The bill imagines the Department of Business Regulation would oversee the regulatory process, although Spears told the committee, They dont feel theyre equipped to actually oversee this, and have suggested pursuing other options for the regulatory framework. Theres no equivalent bill on the Senate side currently. Spears bill has some slight bipartisan support, thanks to House Minority Leader Mike Chippendale of Foster signing on as a cosponsor. Rep. Tina Spears, a Charlestown Democrat, and Rep. Brandon Voas, a Cumberland Democrat, during a meeting of the House Committee on Corporations on March 13, 2025. Spears has introduced a bill that intends to limit teens and kids social media use by imposing age-based restrictions. (Photo by Alexander Castro/Rhode Island Current) You cannot trust what theyre doing on these, right? Another bill heard in the same committee meeting led by Rep. Megan Cotter, an Exeter Democrat, features five of the same sponsors as Spears bill. It would require companies which provide online services youth are likely to access to keep minors in mind when designing their platforms and is based on a similar law in California that passed in 2022. I just want to preface first that Im in full support of Representative Spears bill. My bill is slightly different. If I had a choice, I would choose hers over mine, to be clear, Cotter said with a laugh as she sat before the House committee. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cotter said her bill derives from a parents love and concern. When we first have a child, you get your first car seat for your child, go down to the police station[and] make sure youve put it in your car safely, Cotter said. Then Cotter held up her phone and added, Then they get to teenage years, and we give them one of these, and you cannot trust what theyre doing on these, right? We kind of know there are no guardrails for them. Cotter said she expected the tech lobbyists to lobby against her bill. After Cotter presented her bill, tech committee Chair Rep. Jacquelyn Baginski, a Cranston Democrat, said, Moms intuition should never be ignored. I think some of those big tech lobbyists you mentioned, I dont know, maybe theyre in the crowd. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No tech industry lobbyists testified at the hearing, but a few did submit written letters of opposition to Spears bill all of them attached the names of national lobbying outfits, including NetChoice and the Chamber of Progress, the latter a trade group started by a former public policy executive at Google. Brianna January, the Chamber of Progresss director of state and local government relations for the northeast, argued against the bill on several fronts in her written testimony, pointing to potential damage it would wreak on users and platforms alike. Websites may opt out entirely of the age verification process to avoid the hassle, January wrote, and may turn entirely to childrens programming and eliminate all content for adults, turning YouTube into YouTube kids for everyone. There could also be consequences for already marginalized teens who rely on social media and messaging for support and community, January wrote, especially LGBTQ+ youth who may face unsafe or abusive home environments, she wrote. Concerns about privacy and the safety of young users also appeared in live testimony against Spears bill from Madalyn McGunagle, a policy associate at the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Rhode Island. McGunagle argued that social media can be where a child finds social support that they dont have at home, as well as a community and like-minded peers, as well as a venue for political and civic engagement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Does the ACLU have a position on criminal activity and exposure to youth on these platforms? Do you possess a position on that? Spears asked McGunagle. Not off the top of my head, McGunagle said. I would be happy to look into that for you. Both Spears and Cotters bills were held for further study, as is standard practice at an initial hearing. Both bills would also go into effect on Jan. 1, 2026, if enacted. Rep. Megan Cotter, an Exeter Democrat, uses her phone as a prop while testifying in support of her youth internet safety bill during a March 26, 2025, committee hearing at the Rhode Island State House. We kind of know there are no guardrails for them, she said of teenagers online. (Screencap/CapitolTV) Age gates popping up across the states A number of state legislatures have had success in cracking down on teenagers social media use and have instituted similar bills. As of June 2024, 10 states had enacted such legislation, according to The Age Verification Providers Association, a trade group. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Enforcement can still be difficult, as detailed in a 2024 article by PC Mag, given that age verification methods from photo IDs to facial recognition each have drawbacks. Legal challenges to age-verification laws have been plentiful, although judges interpretations of verification laws legality varies. In March, a U.S. judge in Florida struck down tech companies challenge to a block on platforms use of addictive features with minors, The Florida Phoenix reported. But in Texas, a judge sided with the tech industry, temporarily blocking provisions of a law regulating minors access to certain kinds of content, calling it unconstitutionally vague, according to The Texas Tribune. Measures to shape how and what kids access online also exist at the congressional level, with a piece of legislation called the Kids Off Social Media Act, introduced by Sen. Brian Schatz of Hawaii in January and buoyed by bipartisan support. Its cosponsors include Republican Sens. Ted Cruz of Texas and Katie Britt of Alabama, as well as Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut and Sen. Angus King of Maine, an Independent. Potentially more enforceable are bills which latch onto teenagers internet use at a location already regulated: school. At least 19 states had cell phone restrictions in school buildings as of June 2024, Education Week reported. On Wednesday, the Rhode Island Senate Committee on Education heard a bill by Sen. Melissa Murray, a Woonsocket Democrat, that would require school districts to set cell phone usage policies for their schools. Cell phone bans in public schools have become popular tools to mitigate waning classroom attention spans, with statewide bans seen in places as ideologically diverse as California and Florida, Stateline reported in February. The bill saw a healthy amount of support in written testimonies to the Senate committee. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) Advocates call it an ongoing crisis as ICE has begun detaining and deporting legally resettled former Bhutanese refugees in the Rochester area. With risks of being deported back to a country with a history of human rights violations, News 8 spoke with the president of the House of Refuge who is advocating for legislation to protect resettled refugees. Our people are being deported. Our people are being detained. It is really sad what is going on right now, Bijaya Khadka said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Khadka said people who came to the United States for safety are facing new a new crisis now: being detained illegally. Our people are being deported back to the very country who once denied our very own existence, Khadka said. Hes referring to Bhutan, a landlocked country which sits in South Asia near the Eastern Himalayas. Khadka said a number of the Bhutanese population came to the U.S. in 2008 and being deported back there is not a safe option. They have history of violating human rights. There are still people in jail who are being held without any due process, Khadka said. If our people are being accepted into Bhutan, they will be tortured, they will be jailed, and they wont be treated well. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And if not to Bhutan, individuals are said to be deported again to India and Nepal. Which, Khadka said leaves them stateless and vulnerable. Advocates are calling on human rights advocates, elected officials, and the Department of Homeland Security to halt the detentions and deportations. We are a sanctuary city. We have a history of welcoming people into our community. We have a history of loving people, you know, loving our neighbors as we love ourselves. And this is not happening, Khadka said. News 8 caught Congressman Joe Morelle Sunday afternoon who criticized the lack of transparency for Homeland Security regarding their activities in Rochester particularly concerning Border Patrol and immigration enforcement. We need to have border security. We need to make sure that people come into this country that we know about and that they go through the proper procedures, Congressman Morelle said. So far that hasnt happened, and weve seen a number of questionable people be detained. And we continue to ask. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Congressman Morelle said he has reached out to the Homeland Security secretary to ask about activities here in Rochester. Particularly, who Border Patrol is targeting that they believe is a violent threat, as well as to know generally what is happening in Rochester. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) A 17-year-old boy was hit by a vehicle Sunday afternoon, March 30 in Sunland Park, New Mexico and suffered serious injuries, according to the Sunland Park Fire Department. The crash happened just before 1 p.m. Sunday at McNutt Road and Sunland Park Drive. A bicyclist was hurt when hit by a vehicle on Sunday afternoon, March 30 at Sunland Park Drive and McNutt Road in Sunland Park. Photo by Sunland Park Fire A bicyclist was hurt when hit by a vehicle on Sunday afternoon, March 30 at Sunland Park Drive and McNutt Road in Sunland Park. Photo by Sunland Park Fire The bicyclist was transported to a local hospital for treatment of his injuries. Sunland Park Fire described his injuries as non-life-threatening but serious. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 31. In response to U.S. President Donald Trump's threats to bomb Iran, the country has issued a formal protest note to the United States, Trend reports. Representatives of the Swiss Embassy, which handles US interests in Iran, were called to the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. During the meeting, Isa Kameli, Director-General for American Affairs at the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, condemned the statement as a violation of international law and the UN Charter. He emphasized that Iran would respond decisively and immediately to any threats. On March 30, U.S. President Donald Trump stated that if Tehran does not agree to the nuclear deal, Iran would face unprecedented bombings. Democratic Party officials and White House staffers were well aware of former President Bidens frailties ahead of his choice to end his ill-fated reelection bid last summer, according to exclusive excerpts of a new book released to The Hill. The excerpt from Fight: Inside the Wildest Battle for the White House by The Hill senior political correspondent Amie Parnes and NBC News senior national politics reporter Jonathan Allen reveals extensive steps to cover up the signs of Bidens aging and contingency planning if Biden chose to step aside or even died in office. It shows what we had to do to prepare with the unique circumstances we had, which was an eighty-plus-year-old president who was running, one party official who was involved in the secret discussions said, according to Parnes and Allen. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Concerns around Bidens age dominated much of his reelection campaign from its launch in April 2023 to its end in July 2024 following a disastrous debate performance. Party and administration officials repeatedly downplayed these worries, insisting Biden was fully capable of winning and serving another four-year term in office. Despite Bidens occasional public stumbles, they sought to assure the public that behind closed doors, Biden remained sharp and fully in command. But behind closed doors, officials expressed their own anxieties about Bidens abilities well before he took to the stage with then-candidate Donald Trump last June. Publicly, Democrats scoffed at Republican claims that Biden wasnt up to the job, the authors wrote. But privately, some of them worried all along that they were putting too much stock in an old man who, at best, had long since lost his fastball. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Parnes and Allen reported that Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.), a 2020 presidential candidate who faced off against Biden on the primary debate stage, first became concerned about Bidens cognitive abilities in June 2023, when they spoke at the annual White House picnic for members of Congress. Swalwell had not been invited to the White House often, like most members of Congress, but when Biden and Swalwell came face to face, Biden didnt immediately recognize the congressman, according to the book. Swalwell needed to note personal details to remind Biden of who he is. At the G7 summit in Italy preceding the debate, Biden was tired when he arrived and in most of the sessions, a Biden aide told Parnes and Allen. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To cover up the physical signs of Bidens aging, a makeup artist met with him in the morning when he traveled. The artist also covered up aging signs before Zoom calls with his aides. Biden consistently made these makeup appointments, but he sometimes canceled the briefings that were to follow. After the debate with Trump, Biden needed fluorescent tape to guide him through a fundraiser at New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphys (D) house and needed a teleprompter to speak to just a small group of people. But he still frequently trailed off during his remarks. Bidens closest aides remained behind the presidents plan to run for reelection, Parnes and Allen reported. White House counselor Steve Ricchetti and Mike Donilon, an operative who had worked on Bidens messaging for decades, were both one hundred percent in, according to one Biden ally. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement First lady Jill Biden was a thousand percent behind it. At the end of the day, I dont think anyone in that inner circle was presenting the president any contrary advice that this thing is not going to be easy or maybe this is not the best thing for the Democratic Party, they said. One friend of Biden and former President Obama called the choice for Biden to seek reelection the original sin of the 2024 election, putting the blame on the presidents family and close aides for not advising him to forgo a reelection bid. Even with Bidens allies steadfast, plans started to come together behind the scenes in 2023 to prepare for the event that another candidate needed to take over from Biden should he not seek reelection or die. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An aide to former Vice President Kamala Harris carried a spreadsheet of Republican federal judges Trump hadnt appointed, so if Harris needed to be sworn in on short notice, it could be from someone seen as more credible to Republicans. The aide didnt inform Harris of the spreadsheet before he left her camp in January 2023, but he told his colleagues he should be notified immediately if something happened to Biden because he had a communications strategy prepared. After the debate, Harris needed to figure out what she would say about the performance. Harris didnt find the campaigns talking points of Biden having a slow start, stronger finish to be credible. Instead, she focused on homing in on a contrast between Biden and Trump. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was a slow start. Thats obvious to everyone. Im not going to debate that point, Harris told CNNs Anderson Cooper. Im talking about the choice in November. Im talking about one of the most important elections in our collective lifetime. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Along remote Pompeo Road deep in the woods of rural Thompson, Sandra and Noah Sarucia started a bed and breakfast a few years ago with the idea of attracting guests drawn to scenic, unspoiled views. But C-Tec Solar LLCs plan to clear part of a nearby woodland to install a large solar panel array changes all of that, the Sarucias say. We have a small BnB business on our property that relies on the scenic road look and feel to attract customers, Noah Sarucia told The Courant. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Sarucias were dismayed when the Connecticut Siting Council authorized the project earlier this month, and said all Connecticut residents should know that the council can make such decisions regardless of local opposition or community opinion. Theyre not saying whether they will challenge the decision in court, but noted that residents in numerous towns have been pursuing appeals in recent years. We believe that the Siting Council has unchecked power as seen by so many appeals being submitted across the state by folks just like us who werent given proper notice nor proper information about how to participate in the objection of such irrevocable decisions, Noah Sarucia wrote. They are not alone in their frustration: At least a dozen individuals, companies and towns have sued the Siting Council over the past four years, challenging its approval of battery power storage farms, high-voltage power lines, cell towers and solar arrays. Just four weeks ago, Granby filed suit against the council for authorizing Key Capture Energys plan for a 5-megawatt battery energy storage facility not far from the Salmon Brook; the town contends the council didnt give enough weight to evidence of environmental and safety hazards. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So far, court appeals against the Siting Council have a poor record of success. The courts have mostly ruled upheld the councils decisions, noting that state law deliberately designed it to make decisions in the best interest of all Connecticut power customers and utility users with freedom from obeying preferences of neighbors or the local community. But state lawmakers have been looking for ways to give citizens and communities more of a voice in the decisions, and are focusing efforts this spring on Senate Bill 78. It would require the Siting Council to include a representative from the community where a proposed facility would be located; the mayor or first selectman would be responsible for appointing that person. The local representative wouldnt get a vote, but could deliberate with the councils voting members. Currently the council is made up of a representative from the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority, the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, a designee from the state House speaker and another from the Senate president, and five public members appointed by the governor. In testimony to the Environment Committee last month, Fairfield resident Mary Hogue urged support for the bill. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These decisions are long lasting, if not forever changes to the landscape and infrastructure of the area. In Fairfield and Bridgeport we are currently dealing with an issue that should have included the citizens along the route of the EDC monopole project so that we would not be at this impasse, Hogue said. Lets learn from this and include more transparency and citizen participation. Rachel Briggs, staff attorney for the Conservation Law Foundation, said her organization supports the bill, but wants other changes, too. Many community members do not find out about proposed projects until it is too late for them to fully participate in the process. Improving notice is a key way the council can improve public involvement and the quality of decisions, she told legislators at a hearing. The foundation wants the council to notify the public at least 30 days before public hearings, and to use social media, local news media, municipal websites and signs at the proposed project site to do it. In addition, the council should enable residents to sign up for email notices of any proposed project in their town, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Betsy Gara, executive director of the Council of Small Towns, also wants the bill to authorize the Siting Council to consider the number of energy facilities already in a community so that no town gets overburdened. Although we recognize the importance of the Siting Council process in advancing the states energy goals, COST remains concerned that the council is approving several facilities in a handful of towns which is placing a disproportionate burden on these communities, she wrote. But in testimony to the Environment Committee, Gov. Ned Lamont said the bill should fail. The Siting Council is a critical statewide body that ensures consistent siting practices for statewide infrastructure. Ultimately, the Siting Council regime ensures that all Connecticut residents can benefit from statewide infrastructure, he said. Municipal participation in Siting Council proceedings is already extensive disturbing the consistency of the Siting Councils approach will inhibit Connecticuts response to climate change. With its decidedly humble beginnings as a small Missouri-based brewery in the mid 1800s, Anheuser-Busch has since grown to become an iconic name in beer all over the world. Beers that fall under the Anheuser-Busch banner include Budweiser, Bud Light, Stella Artois, and numerous others. In keeping with ever-evolving drinking trends, the brand has also branched out into hard seltzer and canned cocktails. While Anheuser-Busch's output is undeniably impressive, things haven't always been rosy for the beer maker. In fact, the company has been embroiled in quite a few recalls. We're covering some of the beer company's most extensive recalls in the U.S. and elsewhere. These incidents have involved faulty Stella Artois bottles, an accidental poisoning, and a bottle defect that affected 12 European countries. Anheuser-Busch's recalls highlight the challenges of manufacturing products on a large scale especially for a business that boasted an annual revenue of $59.76 Billion in 2024. Errors are bound to happen when producing that volume of beer, even at companies that have been involved in brewing for more than a century. Read more: 6 Bottom Shelf Vodkas You Should Always Buy And 5 To Avoid Stella Artois Recalled Over Glass Defect bottles of Stella Artois on shelf at store - Tommy Muric/Shutterstock Highlighted by Mashed as one of the best beers you should be drinking (along with selections from Founders and New Belgium), Stella Artois is renowned for its smooth drinkability and palatable bitterness. In 2008, InBev acquired Anheuser-Busch, which resulted in Stella Artois being added to its roster of beers. One might think that a pairing of brewing titans would safeguard products from manufacturing issues, but an issue with Stella Artois bottles illustrates mistakes are sometimes inevitable. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The recall affected Stella Artois bottles sold in the U.S. and Canada in 2018. According to the complaints received, five customers experienced issues with particles of glass in their beer, which prompted Anheuser-Busch to enact the recall. It's not clear how the problem happened, but fortunately, no injuries were reported. At the time of the recall, the number of affected bottles was estimated to be less than 1% of what the beer company sold in North American on a yearly basis. Cleaning Solution In A Bottle Of Bud Light cases of bud light beer on sale at store - Scott Habermann/Shutterstock No one expects a fun night out to lead to accidental ingestion of cleaning solution, but that's precisely what happened to a man in Glendale, California, in 1995. Ronaldo Dela Cruz Ciriaco experienced significant discomfort and even vomited blood after a few sips of Bud Light. Ciriaco had consumed two other bottles of Bud Light without incident, but the third suspicious bottle was said to contain a whitish substance that in no way resembled beer. Ciriaco's poisoning resulted in a recall of all Bud Light long-neck 12-ounce bottles linked to a local brewing plant. Consequently, thousands of bottles were pulled from local bars. After an investigation, Anheuser-Busch determined that it was to blame for Ciriaco's unfortunate experience. According to the beer company, a piece of paper wedged inside the bottle caused an issue during the cleaning process. This resulted in cleaning fluid getting stuck inside the bottle, and a lapse in a subsequent inspection process allowed the bottle to pass through quality control undetected. While Ciriaco was not seriously hurt, he did require treatment at a hospital and considered legal action against the brewer (although it's not clear whether he followed through). Bottle Flaw Causes Budweiser Recall In 12 Countries bottle of Budweiser next to glass of beer - Lauripatterson/Getty Images Maintaining tradition is important to the Anheuser-Busch brand, particularly when it comes to Budweiser, one of its most popular beers. For instance, the brewer ensures a uniform flavor by using the same yeast that was originally used in the beer way back in the 1800s. A focus on tradition is vital when it comes to meeting customer expectations, but even seasoned breweries like Anheuser-Busch can run into issues from time to time. A 1999 recall affecting bottles of Budweiser sold throughout Europe wasn't enacted due to concerns about the quality of the beer but instead resulted from a bottle flaw with the potential to endanger consumers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some beer drinkers found that the bottles' overly long necks would break off during opening. As a result, 5.8 million bottles of Budweiser were recalled throughout 12 countries, including Belgium, Switzerland, Sweden, Malta, Portugal, Latvia, the Netherlands, Denmark, Germany, Cyprus, France, and Spain, where the defective Budweiser bottles were manufactured. There were no reports of injuries, but Anheuser-Busch received approximately ten reports of glass fragments in Budweiser because of the defect. Read the original article on Mashed. Deli meat is a staple for many Americans. In fact, research suggests that in just one month in 2020, more than 20 million people in the U.S. consumed six or more pounds of cold cuts, which includes meats like salami, ham, pastrami, and roast beef. But while tasty in a sandwich or as part of a charcuterie board, consuming deli meat doesn't come without risk. This particular group of meats can sometimes present a serious threat of foodborne illness. Over the years, companies have worked with the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) to recall products from the market due to serious pathogens, like salmonella and listeria, for example. In some cases, undeclared allergens, a lack of federal inspection, or foreign objects have also led to recalls in the deli meat industry. The trick to staying as safe as possible is staying informed, and always staying up to date on recalls. Below, we've compiled some of the biggest recalls in deli meat history, from minor incidents with packaging errors to major outbreaks of bacteria that led to serious illness and even death. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more: False Facts About Pork Everyone Actually Believes Ralph's Packing Company Recalled More Than 3,000 Pounds Of Pork And Beef Bologna Due To Undeclared Milk (2024) bologna with slices and olive oil and bread - Imagestock/Getty Images In 2024, Oklahoma-based meat processor Ralph's Packing Company recalled more than 3,000 pounds of pork and beef bologna meat from the shelves due to a packaging error. The labels on the vacuum-sealed packs of Ralph's Circle R Brand Garlic Bologna and Ralph's Circle R Brand Garlic Bologna with Jalapenos did not declare milk, which, as an allergen, should always be listed on product packaging to inform consumers. Milk is one of the most common allergens in the U.S., and if consumed by someone with an allergy, it can lead to extremely unpleasant and even dangerous symptoms. These include rashes, hives, swelling, and, in very rare cases, life-threatening anaphylaxis. Lactose intolerance is also common, although this is less severe and sufferers can often consume very small amounts of milk without symptoms. At the time of the Ralph's Packing Company recall, the bologna slices had already been sent to deli counters across Oklahoma. Fortunately, however, there were no confirmed reports of allergic reactions associated with the products. Boar's Head Recalled More Than 7 Million Pounds Of Deli Meat Due To Listeria Fears (2024) Sandwich with deli meat from Boar's Head - Boar's Head / Instagram Also in 2024, Virginia company Boar's Head was forced to issue a mammoth recall of 7 million deli meat products from across the U.S., as well as Mexico, Panama, the Cayman Islands, and Dominican Republic. The problem? Testing by the Maryland Department of Health discovered listeria contamination. Listeria is a strain of foodborne bacteria, and consuming anything contaminated with it can lead to a serious illness called listeriosis. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More than 70 products, including Boar's Head Strassburger Brand Liverwurst, Boar's Head Italian Cappy Style Ham, and Old Country Brand Canadian Style Bacon, were implicated in the recall. Listeriosis, which has symptoms like fever, aches, chills, vomiting, and diarrhea, is especially dangerous for vulnerable people, including the elderly, the very young, and people who are pregnant. Unfortunately, in this instance, people did become sick from consuming the deli meat. By the end of August, nearly 60 people had been hospitalized and nine people had died as a result of the contaminated Boar's Head products. Fratelli Beretta USA Recalled Charcuterie Due To Salmonella Threat (2024) sandwiches with antipasto packet from Fratelli Beretta Listeria isn't the only foodborne bacteria that can contaminate deli meat products. Again, in 2024, New Jersey brand Fratelli Beretta USA recalled more than 632,000 pounds of deli meat due to fears they might be contaminated with salmonella. This time, product samples did not test positive for the bacteria, but rather there were concerns that the coppa in the products (a type of dry-cured pork meat) was under-processed. Because of this, there could be potential for salmonella. Several products were affected by the recall, including Beretta Antipasto and Beretta Charcuterie Sampler. Once again, at the time of the recall, they had already been sent to retailers across the U.S. The FSIS was concerned that the under-processed products could be contributing to a salmonella outbreak in several states in early 2024. Consuming salmonella can lead to an illness called salmonellosis, which is less severe than listeria, but can still be particularly dangerous for vulnerable individuals. In most cases, symptoms like cramps, diarrhea, and fever clear up within a week. Alef Sausage Inc. Recalled More Than 61,500 Pounds Of Deli Meat Due To Temperature Abuse (2023) salami sausages in a factory - UladzimirZuyeu/Shutterstock In 2023, Illinois sausage manufacturer Alef Sausage Inc. had to recall more than 61,500 pounds of deli meat products, including Sheikh Beef Salami Zabiha Halal, Sheikh Beef Bologna Zabiha Halal, and Sheikh Beef Cervelat Zabiha Halal, due to possible temperature abuse. Essentially, this means that the products were mislabeled, and did not include directions on the packaging that stated they should be kept in the fridge. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the time of the recall, the products had already been sent to retailers and distributors in New York, New Jersey, and Philadelphia. The issue was brought to light when a New York State inspector for the Department of Agriculture and Markets found salami being kept outside of the fridge in a New York store. Not storing products like deli meat at the correct temperature paves the way for deadly bacteria growth, which can lead to serious illnesses like salmonellosis or listeriosis. Every year in the U.S., nearly 50 million people get sick from foodborne diseases, while around 3,000 people die. Some of these instances are due to product contamination from the processor, but others are due to temperature abuse or reheating leftovers incorrectly. Kraft Heinz Recalled Around 2,400 Ham And Cheese Loaf Products Due To Cross-Contamination (2022) person holds Oscar Mayer Ham & Cheese Loaf - Mike Mozart / Flickr Food giant Kraft Heinz has been caught up in many major recalls over the years. In 2015, for example, it was forced to recall its iconic blue box Original Macaroni & Cheese from stores across the U.S., the Caribbean, and South America due to potential metal contamination. In 2022, it was caught up in another recall. This time, it was because the Ham & Cheese Loaf deli meat products sold under its Oscar Mayer brand might have been contaminated with under-processed products when they were sliced on the same equipment as another product. As mentioned earlier, under-processed products are at a higher risk of containing harmful foodborne bacteria. Unlike the mac and cheese recall, this time, the loaf had only been distributed to two states: Ohio and Virginia. Luckily, there were no reports of any illnesses associated with the recalled products. Anyone who had already purchased the Oscar Mayer Ham & Cheese Loaf was urged to dispose of it or return it to the store they bought it from for a refund. Fratelli Beretta USA Recalled Roughly 862,000 Pounds Of Deli Meat Due To The Risk Of Salmonella (2021) Charcuterie with Fratelli Beretta deli meat - Fratelli Beretta USA / Facebook Fratelli Beretta USA was caught up in another recall in 2021, and once again, this was due to the risk of salmonella contamination. The New Jersey company recalled around 862,000 pounds of its Uncured Antipasto Prosciutto, Soppressata, Milano, Salami, and Coppa from stores across the U.S. amid fears of spreading the harmful bacteria. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Once again, the recall was issued because FSIS inspectors were concerned that the products were contributing to a salmonella outbreak in 17 states. Some of the people who reported sickness from salmonellosis told the authorities that they had consumed the antipasto deli meat from Fratelli Beretta USA before they got sick. As a result, the products were pulled off the shelves and anyone who had already purchased them was urged to dispose of them immediately or return them to the store for a refund. Continental Glatt Kosher Meats Corp. Recalled More Than 61,000 Pounds Of Deli Meat Due To A Lack Of Inspection (2020) chopped salami sausage - Bukhta Yurii/Shutterstock In 2020, New York-based Continental Glatt Kosher Meats Corp. (which is known by its brand name First Choice Kosher Meat & Deli) pulled more than 61,000 pounds of deli meat off the shelves of stores across New York after the FSIS was informed they were being sold without federal inspection. Multiple products were implicated in the recall, including Beef Salami, Chicken Pastrami, Cooked Turkey Breast, Turkey Breast Mexican, and Olive Turkey Breast. Usually, the FSIS inspects all facilities where meat or poultry is being produced to ensure compliance with the laws and regulations of the industry. This ensures that the environment the meats are produced in is safe and hygienic. If a product goes on sale without being inspected by federal authorities, it is usually recalled, just like with First Choice Kosher Meat & Deli. Fortunately, in this case, there appeared to be no safety issues with the products and no illnesses were reported in association with the recall. Agri Star Meat And Poultry Recalled More Than 3,500 Pounds Of Pastrami Due To A Risk Of Under-Processing (2018) close-up of Aaron's Best Beef French Roast Pastrami - California Department of Public Health / X In 2018, under-processing caused yet more problems in the deli meat industry. This time, Iowa company Agri Star Meat and Poultry was at the center of an under-processing driven recall which led to more than 3,500 pounds of beef pastrami being pulled from distributors in five states: California, Florida, Illinois, New York, and Washington. The products were sold under two names, Aaron's Best Beef French Roast Pastrami and Shor Harbor Glatt Kosher Beef French Roast Pastrami. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The problem was brought to light when the company received a complaint from a customer who had already purchased one of the products, stating that the meat inside was discolored. It turns out, this was likely because they were not processed with enough curing solution. Usually, cured meats like pastrami are covered with a salt-based solution, which also contains sugar and nitrites/nitrates, and helps to preserve the meat and protect it from bacteria growth. It also helps it to retain its color and flavor for longer. Fortunately, the lack of a curing solution didn't cause any serious problems for Agri Star Meat and Poultry. There were no illnesses associated with the recall. As a precaution, anyone who had purchased the products was encouraged not to consume them. Battistoni Italian Specialty Meats Recalled More Than 22,600 Pounds Of Salami And Capocollo Due To Contamination (2017) Close-up of hot cooked capocollo - Battistoni Italian Specialty Meats / Facebook Not all recalls are linked to a risk of foodborne bacteria. Often, products are pulled from the shelves because they are contaminated with a foreign object. This was the case in 2017, when New York brand Battistoni Italian Specialty Meats had to recall more than 22,600 pounds of deli meat from foodservice establishments in New York, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Virginia over fears they contained aluminum. Objects like metal and plastic, which can cause choking, oral injuries, or internal cuts, often sneak their way into food products during the processing phase. In this case, an aluminum clip, likely used in manufacturing, was found inside one of the deli meat products. This led to a recall of Battistoni Genoa Salami With Wine and Battistoni Hot Cooked Capocollo. Luckily, there were no injuries reported as a result of the contamination. Manda Packing Company Recalled 468,000 Pounds Of Deli Meat Due To Listeria Concerns (2013) sandwiches with roast beef - Lauripatterson/Getty Images In 2013, listeria was the cause of another major recall. Louisiana company Manda Packing Company recalled 468,000 pounds of products like Manda Supreme Roast Beef, Manda Pastrami, Four Star Pastrami, and Leblancs Turkey Breast from deli counters across 13 states amid fears they were contaminated with the deadly bacteria. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bacteria was discovered when the Tennessee Department of Agriculture picked it up during routine testing of a cooked roast beef product from Manda Packing. This led to more products from the company being tested, which also returned positives for listeria. Listeria affects around 1,600 people in the U.S. every year. While many people recover on their own without treatment, as mentioned earlier, it is particularly dangerous for vulnerable individuals. Pregnant people are especially at risk from listeriosis, and the infection can even lead to complications like miscarriage and stillbirth. Luckily, in this particular case, there were no reports of listeriosis associated with the recall. Rose & Shore Meat Co. Recalled Nearly 16,000 Pounds Of Deli Meat Due To Listeria Fears (2011) sandwich packed with salami - Alexandra Grablewski/Getty Images California brand Rose & Shore Meat Co. was also affected by listeria in 2011. At the time, it was forced to issue a recall for nearly 16,000 pounds of deli meat products, including Olympic Gold Beef Pastrami, Cooked Angus Roast Beef, and Rose and Shore New York Style Pastrami, after company tests came back positive for the bacteria. At the time of the recall, the deli meat had already been sent to foodservice distribution centers in California. Fortunately, there were no reports of illness linked with the recall. Listeria is a common cause of food recalls because it is incredibly resilient and nimble. The bacteria can spread quickly while undetected in food processing facilities and factories, and once it's there, it's hard to get rid of. This is because it is resistant to cold temperatures, and can even grow in refrigerated food. The only way to kill listeria is by cooking food to a high temperature. This can be a problem with cold cuts or deli meats, which might be contaminated after they've been cooked in the factory and aren't usually heated again before consumption. Zemco Industries Recalled 380,000 Pounds Of Deli Meat Due To Listeria (2010) sandwich with Black Forest ham - Lauripatterson/Getty Images In 2010, listeria struck the deli meat market again. New York company Zemco Industries pulled roughly 380,000 pounds of products including Marketside Grab and Go Sandwiches Black Forest Ham and Marketside Grab and Go Sandwiches Virginia Brand Ham from delicatessens across the U.S. after testing revealed its deli meat could contain listeria bacteria. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Again, it was fortunate that there were no illnesses associated with the recall. Listeriosis is not just a risk for pregnant women, but it can also endanger the lives of newborn babies, who could develop lifelong health problems as a result of the illness. The very old are also at risk, and this is because their immune systems tend to be less efficient at handling foodborne pathogens like listeria. To reduce the risk of contracting the illness, the FSIS urges anyone who eats deli meats, like luncheon meats, to reheat them until they are steaming hot. Pilgrim's Pride Recalled More Than 27 Million Pounds Of Deli Turkey And Chicken Amid Listeria Outbreak (2002) slices of turkey ham - Alena_Kos/Shutterstock Listeria has been plaguing the deli meat industry for many years. Back in 2002, major chicken producer Pilgrim's Pride, which is one of the biggest in the U.S., recalled more than 27 million pounds of turkey and chicken deli meat products, including turkey pastrami, chicken breast, and turkey ham, from the market amid listeria concerns. The bacteria was found in one of the company's Philadelphia meat processing facilities which was producing products for its Wampler Foods brand, as well as Block & Barrel, Bonos, Golden Acre, and Reliance while investigators were searching for the cause of a separate outbreak in eight states. To be clear, the deli meat from Pilgrim's Pride was ruled out as the cause of that outbreak, but its products were still pulled from the market as a precaution. At the time, the recalled products accounted for around 6% of the company's entire production. Sara Lee Recalled 35 Million Pounds Of Deli Meat In 1998 Due To A Listeria Outbreak (1998) inside a packet of deli meat slices - The Image Party/Shutterstock In one of the biggest scandals in deli meat history, in 1998, the Sara Lee Corporation was forced to recall around 35 million pounds of deli meat from shelves across the U.S. due to concerns they were contaminated with listeria. In this particular instance, CBS News reported that the company allegedly knew that the bacteria was present in one of its Michigan meat processing plants, but failed to do anything to stop it from shipping out deli meat to stores across the country. This resulted in the deaths of around 15 people, and sickened around 80 others. It also caused around six miscarriages. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As a result of the alleged cover up, Sara Lee was fined $200,000. It also was forced to donate $3 million to Michigan State University, to help fund research into food safety. On top of this, it paid $1.2 million to settle a lawsuit over the incident. Read the original article on Mashed. DENVER (KDVR) On Thursday, the Sundance Film Festival announced it would be hosted in Boulder beginning in 2027. On Friday, the Colorado Senate passed a bill that is aimed at attracting film tourism to the state. HB25-1005, Tax Incentive for Film Festivals, is now headed for the governors desk where it could be signed into law. Boulder wins bid to host the Sundance Film Festival starting in 2027 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This bill has paved the way for yesterdays historic announcement by demonstrating our states commitment to ensuring the success of the Sundance Film Festival in Colorado. Sundance is more than just an economic driver it will cement Colorados place as a global hub for the arts, creating opportunities for filmmakers and audiences alike, said Sen. Judy Amabile, a Democrat who represents Boulder, in a release. Our communities will benefit year-round from Sundances investments in expanded access to the arts, support for aspiring storytellers, and a platform for powerful narratives that have the potential to move, inspire, and change all of us. According to proponents of the measure, the bill would create two tax credits: one to offer a financial incentive to the Sundance Film Festival or a festival that has a verifiable track record of attracting 100,000 attendees or more that is relocated to Colorado by Jan. 1, 2026, and one supporting existing or small film festivals in Colorado. Smaller festivals could qualify for a pool of $5 million that would be paid out over 10 years. The measure would set aside $34 million for the next 10 years for the larger, established film festivals, such as Sundance. We were pretty confident that we were going to come out on top for the main reason of the film industrys diversity and love of telling stories about people who are being criticized and persecuted right now, said Rep. Brianna Titone, a Democrat who represents parts of Jefferson County, on Thursday in an interview with FOX31. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What will Sundance look like for Boulder? 5 things to know about the film festival She said that bringing the Sundance Film Festival to Colorado would be a large economic boost for the state, so the tax incentives make sense. Theyre going to be renting cars and having hotel rooms and eating meals and buying merchandise and doing all the things that people do when they go visit a new place, Titone said. So these are real dollars that theyre going to leave here, so when were giving some incentives to the film festival to come, the people who come to the festival are going to be leaving a lot of that money behind. The measure passed the Colorado Senate with a vote of 28-5. It now heads to the Colorado Governors desk to potentially be signed into law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver. PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) A public hearing on a proposed bill to repeal Oregons standard vote-by-mail system is set to take place in Salem on Monday. Known as SB 210, the bill would end mail-in voting, require voter ID and ensure in-person voting on Election Day in the state of Oregon. But it would still retain mail-in voting for military and overseas voters, as well as those with a mailing address outside Oregon. Oregon Rep. Suzanne Bonamici addresses dismantling of Dept. of Education, impact of DOGE cuts Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Oregon Legislature first approved mail-in voting in 1981 and it was adopted by a majority of counties by 1987. But it wasnt until 1998 that Oregon voters approved a measure requiring that all elections be vote by mail. The state then became the first to conduct a presidential election by mail in 2000. Only seven other states and Washington, D.C. even send mail ballots to all registered voters without requiring them to request one first: California, Colorado, Hawaii, Nevada, Utah, Vermont and Washington. The hearing on the new bill, sponsored by State Sen. David Brock Smith (R-Port Orford), comes days after President Trump sent a new executive order calling for identity verification requirements and changing vote-by-mail deadlines. PNW residents join global Day of Action against Tesla, Elon Musk Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to Oregon Secretary of State Tobias Read, upholding the current voting system is critical, as Oregon which implemented the Oregon Motor Voter Act in 2016 is among states leading the nation in voter turnout. The model that we have in Oregon is something thats a model for the country and allowing people the convenience of voting on their own time, using paper ballots that are signature verified, our systems are a gold standard in that respect, Read said. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the rate of voter turnout in the 2020 presidential election was among the highest in over a century across the U.S. with almost 67% of eligible voters casting their ballots on Election Day. Further, Oregon and Washington have seen over 75% average voter turnout in the last few presidential elections, according to the University of Florida Election Lab. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Oregon state legislators are inviting the public to submit testimony on SB210 either online, remote, or in-person. The hearing is set to start at 1 p.m. Monday. 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. The Scoop When I called the blogger Larry C. Johnson last week, I was a bit surprised to hear I was the first journalist to reach out to him since his return from Moscow. Johnson had been one of three people, two American commentators and a Dubai-based X personality, to interview Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on March 12, seated around a long table with space for more. Travel had been a nightmare, he said: a 15-hour long flight from Dulles to the United Arab Emirates, where he missed his connection, and another 5 to Moscow a far cry from the easy Aeroflot hops of happier times. Johnson spent some of the interview warming Lavrov up, including congratulating him on his 75th birthday. Its been said that youre the Metternich of the modern era, but I think thats wrong. They should say that Metternich was the Lavrov of his era, he said at one point. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And Lavrov treated them in return to a long rehearsal of Russias grievances against the west, and its familiar hardline Ukraine policy: No rush to peace, and no NATO peacekeepers, under any flag, on Ukrainian soil. Johnson said he left with two other clear takeaways. First, Lavrovs view is that his countrys relationship with China is solid, and that US efforts to divide the countries are futile. And second, the Americans have got one choice to listen to what the Russians are saying. Johnson said hes perplexed by the Trump administrations view that Russia will be racing to make concessions at peace talks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The policy that Putin laid out in June of 2024 hasnt changed, Johnson said. All Im doing is listening to what theyre saying and recognizing that theyre not bulls***ting not like some of our American politicians who will say anything, like, We didnt discuss war plans, or that kind of nonsense. Know More Johnson had met Lavrov the previous year at the International Russophile Movement Congress in Moscow. He and the other foreign visitors, the former Fox personality Judge Andrew Napolitano and the Elon Musk favorite Mario Nawfal, are the sorts of figures the Russians have long cultivated rejects from the American mainstream that still have some mainstream credentials, ideological fellow travelers, oddballs sympathetic in some way to the Russian point of view. In Moscow, Johnson said, he was a minor celebrity, since hes made appearances in the Russian media before. Napolitano Judge Nap was a bigger star, recognized in Red Square, he said. Johnson is a curious figure: Valued in the media for his voluble disagreements with the status quo after 9/11, he became a sort of an exile after pushing the allegation in 2008 that Michelle Obama had used the slur whitey. He now says he heard it from the Clinton aide Sid Blumenthal, who was reportedly retailing the story. This was a political hit job, and I was dumb enough that I got used, he told me. (This was a forgotten controversy from a simpler time these days, that sort of politics makes you a celebrity.) Johnson has also been banned from YouTube. He said he makes most of his income as a firearms instructor, though hes also been paid a bit more than $9,000, according to foreign agent filings, by an obscure company based in the United Arab Emirates to make his podcast, Counter Currents. He said hes resigned to his marginal status in the US, far from the old cable news spotlight. You recognize that Russia is a formidable power that needs to be dealt with suddenly youre a tool of Putin and the Kremlin, he said. Bens view Johnson is right about one thing: Theres been shockingly little effort in US media to understand how Moscow sees the world. Can you name me one person who appears on CNN, MSNBC, Fox, ABC, CBS, or NBC or is quoted in any of the mainstream papers that presents Russias position? he asked. Tucker may have a handle on it. Im not sure about anybody else. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement American politics has largely been deaf to everyone from Russias exiled independent media to Western Russia correspondents like the FTs Max Seddon, who wrote recently that what qualified support Putin has given for Donald Trumps ceasefire proposal belies a set of maximalist demands that remain essentially unchanged since the Russian president ordered the invasion of Ukraine three years ago. And Lavrovs warnings to Johnson and his friends basically, that Russia isnt ready for anything like the deal Trump is offering have largely been ignored. When President Trump said this weekend that he is pissed at Putin, it may have surprised both Democrats, who may have imagined he had a secret deal with the Russian leader, and Trumps own supporters, who have heard for a year that the new president would swiftly end the war. We used to celebrate our so-called free press, and now its a one-sided propaganda campaign, Johnson groused of American media. And I was warming up to his point of view when he told me the biggest surprise about his trips to Russia has been that its an open society. Wait, I said theyll drag you off to jail if you protest! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theres a little bit of that but look at the mirror here in this country, he replied, echoing the US presidents claims about Jan. 6, 2021. I want to hear no lessons about oppression in Russia until we clean up our own f**king act! Were in a goddamn glass house, he continued. And now under Trump, if you come out and youre pro-Hamas, you can be deported. Well, you know what? Im pro-Hamas. There goes my freedom of speech! Notable One journalist who listens to what Putin says is The New York Times M. Gessen: Putin wants nothing less than to reorganize the world, the way Joseph Stalin did with the accords he reached with Franklin D. Roosevelt and Winston Churchill in the Crimean city of Yalta in February 1945. How do I know Putin wants this? Because he has said so. In fact, he, Lavrov and a cadre of Kremlin propagandists and revisionist historians havent shut up about Yalta for more than a decade. A sweeping Justice Department investigation last year accused two employees of the state-backed outlet RT of funneling millions of dollars to a US company widely reported to be Tenet Media, the brand behind right-wing influencers like Tim Pool and Benny Johnson, to push pro-Kremlin messaging. Room for Disagreement The drama going on between President Trump and President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine raises one of the most disturbing questions Ive ever had to ask about my own country: Are we being led by a dupe for Vladimir Putin by someone ready to swallow whole the Russian presidents warped view of who started the war in Ukraine and how it must end? Or are we being led by a Mafia godfather, looking to carve up territory with Russia the way the heads of crime families operate? asked Thomas Friedman last month. YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) A Boardman man was sentenced Monday to three years in prison on charges he assaulted a woman last year. Read next: Downtown bar shuts down early Saturday morning after large fight Larnell Hall, 41, received the sentence from Judge Maureen Sweeney in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court after pleading guilty last week to strangulation, a third-degree felony, and domestic violence, a fourth-degree felony. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Court records show the sentence was recommended by prosecutors and Judge Sweeney adopted the recommendation. Hall was arrested June 29, three days after Boardman police were called about 10:30 p.m. to Market Street and Willow Avenue after a woman flagged down a trooper from the Canfield Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol to say she was strangled by her boyfriend. Reports said the woman told township police she was at her apartment in Boardman and had argued with Hall earlier in the day. Several hours after the argument, Hall strangled her as she lay on her bed, reports said. Reports said Hall would strangle the woman for several seconds, stop, then strangle her again. He did this five times, the woman told police. The woman told police at times she had trouble breathing and she asked Hall to stop, reports said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The woman was able to get a few things and her child and was driving to the police station to report the assault when she saw the trooper and flagged him down, reports said. Reports said the woman had marks on her neck like she had been strangled. Police went to the apartment but Hall was gone when they arrived, reports said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com. BOARDMAN, Ohio (WKBN) A Boardman High School senior received a prestigious award as part of a national art competition. Read next: Local football player ready for shot in NFL Gina Misels piece entitled As the Stars Align earned a National American Vision Gold Key award in the National Judges in the Scholastic Art Competition this year. The piece was among just five nominated for the American Vision Award from the region and was judged against the best of the best national vision nominees from across the country, according to a news release from Boardman Local Schools. Only the top 2 percent of artwork entered receives National Gold, the release stated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Misels piece is a mixed media using acrylic paint, paper, gel pen, metallic powder and string. This piece is supposed to represent the summer section of life, which would be the equivalent to the beginning of adulthood, Misel said in a statement provided by the school district. This comparison is supposed to show how people begin to get their careers and life together during this time. The constellations that are shown are present in the summer night sky. Boardman AP Art teacher Kate Burnside said Misel is one of the most dedicated and talented students she has seen in her 13 years of teaching. Also receiving awards locally as part of the competition are Rhylin Barker, from Labrae High School, who received a silver medal for Im Not Having Fun; and Karina Collins, from Ursuline High School, who received a gold medal for Goodbye Little Baby. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The winning pieces will be featured at an awards ceremony on June 11 at Carnegie Hall in New York City. See the full list of winners 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 WKBN.com. (Reuters) -Fifteen emergency and aid workers from the Red Crescent, Palestinian Civil Defense and the United Nations have been recovered from a grave in the sand in the south of the Gaza Strip, U.N. officials said on Monday. U.N. aid chief Tom Fletcher said in a post on X that the bodies were buried near "wrecked & well-marked vehicles," adding: "They were killed by Israeli forces while trying to save lives. We demand answers & justice." Israel's military did not comment directly on the deaths of the Red Crescent workers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a later statement to Reuters, it said that it had facilitated the evacuation of the bodies from the area, which it described as an active combat zone. It did not specifically respond to questions about why the bodies were retrieved beneath the sand nor why the vehicles were found crushed. Philippe Lazzarini, head of the U.N. agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA), said on social media platform X that the bodies had been "discarded in shallow graves - a profound violation of human dignity". Lazzarini said the deaths brought the total number of aid workers killed since the onset of the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza to 408. In a statement late on Sunday, the International Committee of the Red Cross said it was "appalled" at the deaths. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Their bodies were identified today and have been recovered for dignified burial. These staff and volunteers were risking their own lives to provide support to others," it said. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) said one worker from the nine-strong Red Crescent group was still unaccounted for. It did not immediately comment on the details of the site where the bodies were found. The group went missing on March 23 to tend to the injured in Rafah, after Israel resumed an all-out offensive against Hamas. The Palestine Red Crescent said it also recovered the bodies of six civil defence members and one U.N. employee from the same area. It said Israeli forces had targeted the workers. Red Cross statements did not apportion blame for the attacks. The Israeli military said on Monday that an inquiry had found that on March 23, troops opened fire on a group of vehicles that included ambulances and fire trucks when the vehicles approached a position without prior coordination and without headlights or emergency signals. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It said several militants belonging to Hamas and Islamic Jihad were killed. "The IDF condemns the repeated use of civilian infrastructure by the terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip, including the use of medical facilities and ambulances for terrorist purposes," it said in a statement. MOUND OF SAND Jonathan Whittall, Gaza head of the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), described the site where the bodies were found as a "mass grave", saying it had been marked with the emergency light from a crushed ambulance. His comments on X were accompanied by pictures of Red Crescent teams digging in the sand for the bodies next to a mangled fire truck and a U.N. vehicle. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An OCHA spokesperson said in response to Reuters questions that the burial site resembled a large mound of sand which was "clearly created by a bulldozer or similar machinery rather the impact of a blast." "The available information indicates that the first team was killed by Israeli forces on 23 March, and that other emergency and aid crews were struck one after another over several hours as they searched for their missing colleagues," the spokesperson added. The incident was the single most deadly attack on Red Cross or Red Crescent workers anywhere since 2017, the IFRC said. "I am heartbroken. These dedicated ambulance workers were responding to wounded people. They were humanitarians," said IFRC Secretary General Jagan Chapagain. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "They wore emblems that should have protected them; their ambulances were clearly marked," he added. According to the United Nations, at least 1,060 healthcare workers have been killed in the 18 months since Israel launched its offensive in Gaza after Hamas fighters stormed southern Israel on October 7, 2023. Due to safety concerns, the U.N. is reducing its international staff in Gaza by a third. (Reporting by Dave Graham, Emma Farge, James Mackenzie, and Jana Choukeir; Editing by Aidan Lewis and Marguerita Choy) BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 31. The Central Bank of Iran (CBI) provided foreign currency worth $66.8 billion for the supply of various types of products during the last Iranian year (from March 20, 2024, through March 20, 2025). Data obtained by Trend from the CBI shows that foreign currency worth about $14.2 billion was provided for the import of essential products and medicines. Thus, $11 billion was provided for the import of essential and agricultural products (wheat, oilseeds, animal feed, etc.), and $3.15 billion was provided for the import of medicines and medical supplies. A foreign currency provision worth $51.3 billion was provided for the import of commercial and other products. In addition, $1.28 billion was provided for various services. To note, in 11 months, Iran imported 35 million tons of products worth $63.6 billion. Product imports increased by 5.6 percent in value and decreased by 2.6 percent in weight compared to the same period last year. --- Follow the author on X: @BaghishovElnur BLOOMFIELD, Ky. (FOX 56) The Northeast Nelson Fire Department has recovered a body from a vehicle that was found submerged in a pond. Fire crews said they were dispatched to the 300 block of Chaplin Road around 11:30 p.m. on Sunday, March 30, after receiving a call reporting seeing taillights sticking out of a body of water. Read more of the latest Kentucky news The Northeast Nelson Fire Department has recovered a body from a vehicle that was found submerged in a pond. (NNFD) The Northeast Nelson Fire Department has recovered a body from a vehicle that was found submerged in a pond. (NNFD) The fire department said crews found a vehicle about 65 feet from the bank. Dive teams were dispatched to determine if the vehicle was occupied, and divers notified first responders that a victim was inside. LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ellis Towing and Recovery was dispatched to recover the vehicle, authorities said. According to the Nelson County coroner, the victim was identified as 72-year-old Gregory Phipps, of Bardstown. Weather conditions at the time of the accident were heavy rain and gusty winds, Nelson County Emergency Management Director Brad Metcalf said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 56 News. NASA astronaut Butch Wilmore put some of the blame on himself when asked who was responsible for Boeing Starliners failure on last years Crew Flight Test. He and crewmate Suni Williams flew up to the International Space Station last June on what was supposed to be as short as an eight-day stay. The spacecraft, though, suffered from failed thrusters and helium leaks that ultimately led to NASAs decision to send the spacecraft home without crew. The pair then remained on the station more than nine months flying home instead on the SpaceX Crew-9 mission earlier this month. There were questions that I as the commander of the spacecraft, that I should have asked, and I did not at the time, Wilmore said during a Monday press conference. I didnt know I needed to. And maybe you could call that hindsight, but Ill start and point the finger, and Ill blame me. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said the answers to some of those questions could have delayed the launch and avoided what turned into a national spotlight, but he said Boeing and NASA also share the blame. We all are responsible. We all own this, he said. You cannot do this business without trust. You have to have ultimate trust, and for someone to step forward and these different organizations say, Hey, Im culpable for part of that issue. that goes a long way to maintaining trust. Wilmore, though, said he would fly on Starliner again. Yes, because were going to rectify all the issues that we encountered. Were going to fix it, were going to make it work, he said. Boeings completely committed. NASA is completely committed. And with that, Id get on in a heartbeat. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Williams concurred. The spacecraft is really capable. There were a couple things that need to be fixed, like Butch mentioned, and folks are actively working on that, but it is a great spacecraft, and it has a lot of capability that other spacecraft dont have, she said. Wilmore said he and Williams were scheduled to meet with Boeing leadership this week to discuss how to move forward. Theres a great deal of work being done, but we have insight that not many other people have, Wilmore said. We worked this program for six years before we launched. We talked to everyone up and down to the chain of command, and we have insight that other people dont have, and we want to share that as much as possible. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wilmore still gushes about Starliners ability compared to the Soyuz and SpaceX Crew Dragon. Starliner has the most capability when you think about its ability to maneuver automatically, he said. I mean, I jokingly said a couple of times before we launched that I could literally do a barrel roll over the top of the space station. I would never do that, but you can. He expects Boeing and NASA to enable the fixes, do integrated tests and get the spacecraft qualified. It is very, very capable. If we can figure out a couple of very important primary issues with the thrusters and the helium system, Starliner is ready to go, he said. That is not going to be happen overnight, but it has to take place. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The duo were joined by NASA astronaut and Crew-9 commander Nick Hague, with whom they flew home earlier this month. Hague weighed in on the challenge astronauts face when politics overshadow the mission, as it did during claims by President Trump and Elon Musk that the Starliner astronauts were left behind on the station for political reasons by the Biden Administration. Politics they dont make it up there when were trying to make operational decisions, Hague said. So as the commander of Crew-9, responsible for the safety of this crew and getting them back safely, I can tell you that the entire time up there, I launched with that singular objective. YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) Bond was reduced for a 17-year-old defendant in a North Side shooting case. Read next: Woman charged with firing shots at Howland bar Judge Maureen Sweeney in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court agreed Thursday to reduce the bond of Nabil Allan from $500,000 to 10 percent of $250,000. If Allan makes bond, he is to be placed on electronically monitored house arrest, said Judge Sweeney. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Allans original bond was set Jan. 31 when his case was bound over to common pleas court from juvenile court. A grand jury indicted Allan on two counts of attempted murder, both first-degree felonies, after his case was bound over from juvenile court, for an Aug.11 shooting on Robinwood Place in the Brier Hill apartment complex that injured two people. Allan was also indicted on a separate count of aggravated robbery, a first-degree felony. Details of that case are not available. A trial date has not been set for Allan. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Attorney General Pam Bondi on Monday directed the Department of Justice to dismiss a lawsuit challenging a Republican-backed Georgia election law that the DOJ previously alleged intentionally suppressed Black voters. The lawsuit filed under former President Joe Biden in June 2021 alleged the law would disproportionately hinder Black voters access to the polls. But Bondi framed the case as politically motivated, saying it misrepresented the laws effects. Contrary to the Biden Administrations false claims of suppression, Black voter turnout actually increased under SB 202, Bondi said in a press release for the announcement. Georgians deserve secure elections, not fabricated claims of false voter suppression meant to divide us. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The law was part of a broader GOP effort to tighten voting rules nationwide following President Donald Trump's 2020 loss, which prompted allegations of voter fraud in U.S. elections among Republicans. Among other provisions, the legislation established a voter ID requirement for mail-in ballots, shortened the time period to request a mail-in ballot and limited the number of ballot drop boxes in metro Atlanta. Critics argue laws like these disproportionately affect marginalized communities and unfairly target Democratic-leaning voters. Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, who had previously pushed back against Trump, on Monday expressed gratitude for Bondi's directive, saying it reaffirms that the state law stands on solid legal ground. Our commitment has always been to ensure fair and secure elections for every Georgian, despite losing an All-Star game and the lefts boycott of Georgia as a result of commonsense election law, Raffensperger said in a press release . This isnt the Trump administrations first move to support more restrictive voting rules. Last week, Trump signed a sweeping executive order targeting mail-in voting, directing the Justice Department to ensure all states reject ballots not received by Election Day. The order also calls for proof of citizenship to be added to the national voter registration form. Back in June of last year, as I was still high on the hopium of dispatching Donald Trump and his MAGA cult once and for all, I recall reading a piece by Asawin Suebsaeng and Adam Rawnsley in Rolling Stone with the provocative headline "Trumps Not Bluffing: Inside the MAGA Efforts To Make a Second Term Even More Extreme." I read it with great interest, but it sounded crazy. They quoted a bunch of Trump insiders saying things like Yes, we do really want to burn it all down," and when asked about potential court challenges, they replied, Who cares? I didn't take it too seriously at the time. Trumpers are often blowhards just like their boss, and at the time, I confess I didn't believe that America would restore Trump to the White House after what he did on Jan. 6, the stolen classified documents and his felony convictions. Why would people want to buy that mess again? Well, they bought it. And I don't know about you, but it's been worse than anticipated. Even having read that article and many others about what Trump had in mind, the fact that "guardrails" would be completely torn down and he would be hiring nothing but ruthless henchmen to carry out his whims and wishes, I was still unprepared for his reckless lack of restraint in ways that were never discussed prior to his winning the election. Sure, we knew that he was going to enact the Project 2025 blueprint and appoint a bunch of MAGA extremists to the Cabinet. I don't think we thought, however, that he'd stoop so low as to choose someone as unqualified as Pete Hegseth for the important job of defense secretary or RFK Jr. for Health and Human Services but we probably should have known he'd have to scrape the bottom of the barrel to ensure the extreme loyalty he required. And I think we were all aware that he was going to use all the power at his disposal to exact revenge on his political enemies. (I did expect to see more resistance from the powerful institutions he's targeted.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The deportation campaign of undocumented immigrants is about what I expected, although the sickening spectacle they are making of it is even more grotesque than I thought it would be. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem is showing a previously untapped theatrical talent, with more frequent costume changes than Beyonce on tour. I didn't expect the expulsion of foreign students and scientists who have expressed views the government does not like, however, especially the use of creepy masked secret police to haul them off the streets with no notice and throwing them into distant detention camps. And, yes, we knew he would foul up the economy with his obsession for tariffs, which he called "the most beautiful word in the English language" and nobody even thought it was weird. I suspect that most people assumed that he would simply do what he did in the first term and make a big show of it without actually killing the golden goose of a good economy. It appears that was far too optimistic. He's planning what he's oddly called "Liberation Day" on April 2, when he says he's going to throw a bunch of tariffs on everyone, although even his closest economic advisers admit that he's still deciding minute-by-minute what he's going to do. But for all the outrages we've seen in these first couple of months and there are so many Trump has come up with a few that are so beyond the pale that you have to start questioning his sanity and the sanity of those who are enabling him. But when you consider everything he's actually doing, I think you have to take him seriously. For instance, I guess we knew that he had mentioned buying Greenland during his first term, (or exchanging it for Puerto Rico) after someone told him that Denmark was having trouble supporting the island. He thought it could be an acquisition like Alaska. (Trump's folly?) Nobody thought much of it, but now it's quite clear that he actually means to do it, as if territorial expansion is a perfectly normal thing in the 21st century. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And then there's the crazy feud with Canada which seems to stem from the same impulse as the Greenland obsession. Trump looks at a map and thinks he can consolidate all of North America into the United States, perhaps even change the name to Trumplandia for all we know. This map is what gets him excited. Trump makes multiple posts showing Canada as part of the United States Truth pic.twitter.com/rqvAYcPjNU NewsWire (@NewsWire_US) January 8, 2025 Consider that incredibly bizarre meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, at which he publicly floated the idea of forced relocation of the Palestinians to other countries where they would be provided with nice houses and the U.S. would take over Gaza and turn it into an international resort. He hasn't mentioned it recently so maybe someone finally explained to him that it would be better to put that idea on the back burner, but he was quite serious about it when he said it. Trump has always been a narcissist but it has now become full-blown megalomania. These are peculiar, radical, extreme ideas far outside even the MAGA mainstream, that are nonetheless being taken very seriously by people in his orbit and around the world. JD Vance, the alleged true blue MAGA America Firster, went to Greenland on Friday and basically proclaimed it to be American territory. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I don't know if any of this will or can happen, but considering how many of his proposals that we previously thought were completely mad are actually being implemented, I don't think it's a good idea to dismiss the latest daft idea that he can run for a third term. Want a daily wrap-up of all the news and commentary Salon has to offer? Subscribe to our morning newsletter, Crash Course. I know that his former adviser, the influencer Steve Bannon, has been floating that for a while, largely based upon some very fringe ideas from an activist lawyer named Mike Davis. The vast consensus is that it's impossible because the Constitution clearly forbids it. But when asked by Kristen Welker in a phone interview on Sunday if he was joking when he said that he might run for a third term, Trump said no. He said that he is so popular, more popular than any president in history in the high 70 percent that it might make sense. (The highest approval rating he has gotten so far is 50%) He said: Well, there are plans. There are not plans. There are, there are methods which you could do it, as you know. Welker asked if he was talking about the idea that Vance could run for president with him as vice president and then hand power back to him on the day after the inauguration. "Well, thats one," Trump replied. "But there are others too. There are others." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I have no idea what those plans might be but there has indeed been talk that the Vance hand-off might actually be doable under a certain reading of the constitution. Do I think it's probable? Not likely. He'll be 82 in 2028 and he's already losing a whole lot of steps. Even saying "there are plans" out loud is a sign of instability. But the way things are going I think it would be a huge mistake for the opposition to just ignore this talk. These people have an extreme, autocratic, authoritarian agenda and we are seeing it unfold in real time before our eyes. Literally nothing is impossible. Mayoral hopeful Brad Lander urged the former Biden administration to yank up to $4 billion in US funding to Israel if certain conditions werent met peddling the threat seven months before the Oct. 7 massacre. Lander said that if the Jewish state failed to honor human rights or kept building settlements in Palestinian territories, the Democratic White House should pull the aid. Mayoral hopeful Brad Lander urged the former Biden administration to yank up to $4 billion in US funding to Israel if certain conditions werent met before the Oct. 7 massacre. Robert Miller Biden and [Secretary of State Antony] Blinken need to recognize that times have changed. The Democratic Party cannot continue toeing the AIPAC [American Israel Public Affairs Committee] line, said Lander, the city comptroller, in a column he penned for the Israeli publication Haaretz on March 2, 2023. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We cannot continue to write a blank check to an increasingly authoritarian regime, Lander said. He wrote the column seven months before Hamass infamous Oct. 7, 2023, invasion of Israel that slaughtered 1,200 people and abducted scores of hostages, including some who are still being held in Gaza, triggering the ongoing Mideast war. If our goal is to support Israel as the Middle Easts only Democracy, as a partner in what Biden officials call the rules-based international order, then that support must be tied to following the rules, respecting rights and acting democratically, Landers wrote at the time. And there must be consequences for not doing so. The nearly $4 billion of American military aid to Israel each year cannot fund [Israeli Prime Minister] Bibi [Netanyahu], [National Security Minister Itamar] Ben-Gvir and [Finance Minister Bezalel Yoel] Smotrichs erosion of democratic institutions, or their illegal settlements, home demolitions or military detention of children. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lander acknowledged that he didnt know whether pulling US aid to Israel would change Netanyahus actions. But standing up for democracy, human rights and international law is the only place to start. Its a big part of what motivated American support for Israel to begin with, Lander said, claiming his view is part of the mainstream position of the majority of American Jews and particularly young American Jews. Staunch backers of Israel accused Lander of being a foe of the Jewish state. Brad Lander has a long history of using his Jewish identity as a weapon to empower antisemitic causes, candidates and organizations that harm our community for his own political gains, state Assemblyman Sam Berger (D-Queens) told The Post. Staunch backers of Israel accused Lander of being a foe of the Jewish state. AFP via Getty Images State Sen. Simcha Felder, who just won a special election to the City Council and represents the heavily orthodox Jewish, pro-Israel community of Borough Park, said, Theres no way in the world I can vote for him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lander is anti-Israel. I dont think theres anything Israel can do to satisfy him under any government. Its a terrible thing, Felder said. I think he would be happier if Israel were under British rule. Lander, who oversees the citys pension funds, has been accused of divesting from Israeli bonds. Lander acknowledged that he didnt know whether pulling US aid to Israel would change Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus actions. VIA REUTERS On Sunday, Lander, through his campaign, said his position is that the US should keep funding Israels Iron Dome defense system and related defensive weapons systems to intercept the missiles launched at it by Iran or Hamas or Hezbollah. Lander has opposed the US funding of 2,000-pound bombs and other offensive weapons that Israel has been dropping on Gaza. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In his opinion piece from two years ago, Lander complained that the far-right government headed by Netanyahu was undermining Israels judiciary and eroding religious pluralism in the country while simultaneously entrenching control over Palestinians, demolishing their homes and expanding illegal settlements. Through their actions both inside and out of Israels 1948 borders, they are sabotaging the vision of Israel as a Jewish and democratic state a vision that has inspired Jews for over a century, he wrote. He complained that Israels government was intent on extending a policy that has long denied Palestinians living under occupation for over 50 years the benefits of democracy, self-determination, or basic human rights. Any meaningful commitment to a democratic future for Israel requires an end to the occupation not its entrenchment. SAO PAULO (AP) Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva will meet with Russias Vladimir Putin in Moscow and Chinas Xi Jinping in Beijing, two important partners for the South American giant, in May. The announcement Monday came as the world braces for a global trade war following U.S. President Donald Trumps sweeping tariffs. The press office of Brazil's Presidency told The Associated Press that Lula is expected to attend Russias Victory Day celebrations on May 9, marking the 80th anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II. The Brazilian leader then planned to travel to Beijing to participate in the China-Community of Latin American and Caribbean States Forum on May 12. It will be Lulas first official trip to Moscow and his second to China during his third, nonconsecutive term as president. During his previous administrations (2003-2010), he visited Russia twice and China three times. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Brazil, Russia and China have developed a close economic relationship and are founding members of BRICS, the bloc of developing economies established in 2009 to counterbalance the Group of Seven leading industrialized nations. Brazil holds the BRICS presidency through 2025 and will host its next summit on July 6-7 in Rio de Janeiro. In January, China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi said in a press conference that his country would host the CELAC forum as an opportunity to take cooperation with Latin America and the Caribbean to a higher level. China is Brazils top trading partner. In 2024, it accounted for 28% of Brazils exports and supplied 24.2% of the countrys imports. The United States ranked second, providing 12% of Brazils imports and purchasing 15.5% of its exports, according to Brazilian government data. In 2024, Brazil recorded a slight trade deficit of $283.8 million with the U.S. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Thursday , Lula said he foresees no positive outcome from Trump's raising tariffs on a wide range of products. I am very concerned about the behavior of the American government, Lula told journalists in Tokyo while wrapping up a 4-day presidential visit to Japan. I am concerned because free trade is being harmed and I am concerned because multilateralism is weakened." President Donald Trump says Wednesday will be Liberation Day a moment when he plans to roll out a set of tariffs that he promises will free the United States from foreign goods. Besides Russia and China, the Brazilian president has scheduled a trip to Honduras, where he will attend the CELAC summit in April. In June, Lula will make an official visit to France. WIESBADEN, Germany (WSAV) Three of the four missing U.S. Army 3rd Infantry Division soldiers were found dead in Lithuania on Monday, a U.S. Army Europe and Africa statement said. Search and recovery operations continue for the remaining fourth soldier. Their identities will be withheld until their next of kin is notified. The Soldiers we have lost in this tragedy were not just Soldiers they were a part of our family. Our hearts are heavy with a sorrow that echoes across the whole Marne Division, both forward and at home, said Maj. Gen. Christopher Norrie, 3rd Inf. Div. commanding general. We stand in grief with the families and loved ones of these extraordinary Dogface Soldiers during this unimaginable time. But the search isnt finished until everyone is home. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The soldiers, all from 1st Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, while conducting a mission to repair and tow an immobilized tactical vehicle at the time of the incident in a training area near Pabrade, officials said. Their M88A2 Hercules armored recovery vehicle was found March 26. The 63-ton-vehicle was removed from the peat bog, a wetland area, after a six-day-long effort. The recovery team maneuvered through thick layers of mud, clay and sediment with zero visibility to reach the vehicle, officials said. Today is a very sad and tragic day. The loss of these Soldiers weighs heavy on me, the hearts of all Task Force Iron service members, and the 3rd Infantry Division. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and loved ones of these brave Soldiers, said Maj. Gen. Curtis Taylor, commander of Task Force Iron and the 1st Armored Division. However, search and recovery efforts are not complete they will continue until we bring all of our Soldiers home. The soldiers were deployed to Lithuania in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve but were permanently stationed at Fort Stewart. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Military officials continued to thank Lithuanian and Polish allies, and the Army, Navy and Air Force personnel who contributed to the recovery their Fort Stewart soliders. Officials said that U.S. Army and Lithuanian authorities are investigating the cause of the accident. Updates will be provided as more information becomes available. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSAV-TV. BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 31. As a clear danger, "bombing" Iran would mean attacking the safeguards set up by the IAEA, Spokesman for the Iranian Foreign Ministry Esmail Baghaei wrote on his X page, Trend reports. According to him, the open threat by a head of state (US President Donald Trump) to bomb Iran is considered a step against international peace and security. Baghaei articulated that the perceived menace ostensibly contravenes the stipulations of the UN Charter. Violence breeds violence; peace begets peace. The US can choose the course and acquiesce to the resultant ramifications, the official added. On March 3, Rafael Grossi, Director-General of the IAEA, mentioned during the IAEA Board of Governors' meeting that Iran has increased its stockpile of uranium enriched to 60 percent purity by 93 kilograms, from 182 kilograms to 275 kilograms, compared to the previous quarter. Iran remains the only non-nuclear weapon state to enrich uranium to this level, raising significant concerns. By the end of 2020, the Iranian parliament decided to pursue a strategic plan in the nuclear sector to counter the sanctions, leading to a suspension of additional steps and the Additional Protocol as per the nuclear agreement. Consequently, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) faced a reduction in monitoring capabilities by 2030 percent. Iran has officially affirmed that its strategy is not to pursue the development of an atomic bomb and that it does not support the production of weapons of mass destruction. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BRISTOL, Va. (WJHL) A home in Bristol, Virginia was damaged after a fire on Saturday afternoon. According to Bristol Virginia Fire Chief Mike Armstrong, crews were called to a house fire in the 400 block of Lynnwood Dr. around 1 p.m. on Saturday. Police: Man grazed by bullet while inside Bristol apartment Crews arrived and found a fire on the exterior of the house that was spreading up toward the attic. Smoke from the fire could reportedly be seen from several blocks away. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Firefighters immediately began combatting the flames and managed to keep it from spreading to the attic, a news release from Armstrong and the Bristol Virginia Fire Department states. The homes deck, soffit and attic vent were damaged by the fire. Photos courtesy of the Bristol Virginia Fire Department Photos courtesy of the Bristol Virginia Fire Department Photos courtesy of the Bristol Virginia Fire Department Fire crews found a gas grill near where the fire started; however, the homeowner said it had not been used in years. Footage captured by a neighbors security camera showed the fire starting under the deck before spreading upward and reaching the gas grill. When the fire reached the grill and burned through a hose to the propane tank, the fire began to spread rapidly. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As of Monday afternoon, the fire is being considered accidental. No injuries were reported in the 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 WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather. LONDON (Reuters) -British Prime Minister Keir Starmer called on Monday for nations to pool resources to tackle the problem of illegal migration at "every step" of the route, from North Africa and the Middle East to Britain's streets. Starmer spoke at a meeting of more than 40 countries and organisations, including the United States, France and Vietnam, aimed at coordinating global efforts to counter illegal migration and the people-smuggling gangs who profit from it. Starmer, like his predecessors for more than a decade, is seeking ways to stop migrants coming illegally to Britain, where immigration remains a major issue for voters worried by pressure on scarce resources like healthcare and housing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "This evil trade exploits the cracks between our institutions, it pits nations against one another, it profits from our inability at the political level to come together," he told the Organised Immigration Crime summit. "I simply don't believe that organised immigration crime cannot be tackled. So we've got to combine our resources, share intelligence and tactics and tackle the problem upstream at every step of the smuggling journey." Migrants pay thousands of pounds to traffickers for places in small inflatable boats that then try to cross one of the world's busiest shipping channels to reach the English coast. Traffickers often promote their services on social media, and representatives from Meta, X and TikTok were attending the London summit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Starmer was elected in July last year, promising to "smash the gangs" behind the crossings. He immediately ditched the previous Conservative government's policy to deter migrants through a scheme to deport them to Rwanda. He said Britain had deported more than 24,000 people who had no right to be in the country since his Labour government had taken office, which his government said was the highest return rate for eight years. However, the number of people arriving in small boats has grown. More than 36,800 people made the crossing in 2024, 25% more than the previous year, while over 6,600 people have crossed successfully so far this year, 43% higher than the same period last year. (Reporting by William James and Sachin Ravikumar; Editing by Jane Merriman, Aidan Lewis) A team of British commandos escorted Ukrainian generals out of Kyiv to join an emergency war room where Western military chiefs plotted the defeat of Russia. Two generals were taken by armed guard on diplomatic passports into Poland, then Germany, shortly after the war broke out to join an operation involving the CIA that would help turn the tide of the conflict and embarrass Vladimir Putins armed forces. The operations room was set up two months into the war in Clay Kaserne, the headquarters of US Army Europe and Africa, a component of the US armed forces, in Wiesbaden, Germany. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Clay Kaserne would become a complex staging post for joint efforts involving Nato allies to assist Ukraine in fighting Russia. Details of assistance to Ukraine were revealed on Sunday in a wide-ranging investigation by The New York Times (The NYT) that raised questions about how intimately involved the US, Britain and the West have been in the war in Ukraine. Reports of Western military planning and intelligence sharing in the Ukraine war have emerged sporadically since the invasion but little has been known about the level of co-operation. The details are likely to anger the Kremlin, which has long insisted that Russia is fighting a proxy war with the West and Nato through Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The new Trump administration has already begun to roll back elements of this assistance, developments that worry many Ukrainians over the future of their country. Ben Wallace ordered sacking of Ukrainian general According to the investigation drawn from 300 interviews with government, military and intelligence sources in nine countries across the US and Europe, the Americans provided a vast range of weapons, intelligence, strategy and planning, while a British general managed the logistics hub from Clay Kaserne. Britain, according to the investigation, placed small teams of officers in Ukraine, unlike the Americans. This gave British military planners relatively more clout. Sources claimed that Ben Wallace, the defence secretary at the time, ordered that Maj Gen Andrii Kovalchuk be sacked for failing to attack while Russian forces were on the ropes near Kherson. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Ukrainian field commander had reportedly hesitated to launch an advance against Russian soldiers who were low on food and ammunition on Dnipros west bank. Mr Wallace reportedly asked his American counterparts what they would do if a subordinate refused to act on instructions. Christopher T Donahue, a US general, said he would sack him. I got this, Mr Wallace replied, before demanding the commander be fired. Mr Donahue had been the one to first propose the partnership at the US base in Germany back in spring 2022. Mr Wallace denied the account, and said that he never demanded any general be replaced and that he never lobbied for the removal of anyone. I felt that was a matter for Ukrainians only. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The investigation notes that while British military teams were helping in Ukraine, the Biden administration pulled out all boots on the ground on the eve of the invasion and closed the embassy. According to the investigation, the Ukrainians felt that a senior US military officer had said: We told them, The Russians are coming see ya. A small team of CIA officers was allowed to stay, the report notes. Meanwhile, in Wiesbaden, other CIA officers helped plan and support a campaign of intelligence sharing that led to pinpoint strikes on key Russian targets, at first inside occupied territory and eventually in Russia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The investigation captures the complicated geopolitical balancing act that both the US and UK have had to manage, given serious concerns that too deep an involvement in the conflict could push a nuclear-armed Russia over the edge and risk provoking an attack elsewhere. The US and UK became increasingly entrenched as the war continued, though the relationship between Ukraine and its Western allies when it came to transparency and trust experienced significant ups and downs as a result of divergent strategic aims. While at the start of the war, support primarily amounted to arming Ukraine. By mid-2024, American and British officers were overseeing every aspect of each strike for a specific operation in Crimea, from identifying target co-ordinates to calculating the flight paths of missiles. Operation Lunar Hail That mission, code-named Operation Lunar Hail, was reportedly proposed by the Americans to Volodymyr Zelensky, the president of Ukraine, and entailed a massive bombing campaign to force the Russians to withdraw its military infrastructure from Crimea and move it back home in what could amount to a strategic victory. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement British authorities also worked with the Ukrainians to devise a plan of attack for Lunar Hail, including how to bring down the Kerch Strait Bridge linking the Crimean peninsula to the Russian mainland a potent symbol to Putin of Crimeas connection to the motherland. The bridge had previously been a red line for the Americans near the start of the war. Though Crimea remained contested territory to the Ukrainians, Russia had already claimed it as theirs. The worry was that targeting the bridge could be seen by Putin as a direct attack on Russian soil a move that could have potentially invited a counterattack against US interests. That is one of many examples cited regarding how the US and UKs red lines moved several times, as described by the New York Times, amounting to a higher risk tolerance. Kerch Strait Bridge had previously been considered a red line for the US at the beginning of the war - AFP The relationship between Ukraine and its Western allies was at times fraught. The Ukrainians demanded more weapons and equipment, while the Americans considered some of these requests to be unreasonable. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There was also a sense amongst some in Washington that Ukraine was not doing enough to get every able-bodied man onto the frontlines, despite Kyiv lowering the conscription age to 25. This reportedly became a point of contention, with Mr Zelensky pushing back against Lloyd Austin, the then US secretary of defence, saying that more men would not help the war effort as there were not enough weapons to arm them, reported the NYT. The investigation also describes US frustrations with a lack of communication from the Ukrainian side. In April 2022, in the weeks before the key meeting in Germany between Ukrainian and US officers, the Americans spotted the Moskva missile cruiser the flagship of the Russian Black Sea Fleet during a routine intelligence sharing call. From this discovery, the Ukrainians were able to sink the ship. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While this incident demonstrated Ukraines sophisticated military prowess and marked a significant early victory, the US was reportedly angry as they had not been notified in advance, nor did they intend to enable Kyiv to attack Russia so severely. Ukrainian armed forced sank the Russian Moskva missile cruiser in April 2022, using American intelligence It would happen again two years later. In March 2024, the US reportedly discovered that the Ukrainian military intelligence agency was planning without Washingtons knowledge a ground operation into south-west Russia. When the US found out, they warned Ukrainian counterparts that such a mission would happen without their support. Such incidents sparked bitter jokes in the Biden administration that they knew more about what the Russians were planning, because of their own espionage efforts, than what their Ukrainian partners had in store, reported the NYT. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dont ask, dont tell was better than ask and stop to the Ukrainians, Lt Gen Valeriy Kondratiuk, a former Ukrainian military intelligence commander, said. We are allies, but we have different goals. We protect our country, and you protect your phantom fears from the Cold War. 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. Police are warning the public about an online scam that falsely claims a police officer has gone missing, saying social media users should think twice before clicking any suspicious links or providing personal information. Police pointed to a post in a local Buckeye Facebook group that claimed a female police officer has gone missing from Buckeye and the authorities are seeking assistance in locating her. This is a scam. Be suspicious of any post like this that lacks specific details like time, location or police contact info, and always think twice before clicking suspicious links or providing banking info, Buckeye police said in a social media post. Weve received a few questions about this post thats been circulating. This is a scam. Be suspicious of any post like this that lacks specific details like time, location or police contact info, and always think twice before clicking suspicious links or providing banking info. pic.twitter.com/9mCnMAZHZv Buckeye Police Dept (@BuckeyeAZPD) March 30, 2025 The officer pictured in the post is Katie Cunningham, a sergeant with Montanas Great Falls Police Department. Cunningham is not missing, her employer said online, pointing to a similar misleading post in a Michigan Facebook group. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We just spoke to her, and she is alive and well, the Great Falls Police Department wrote. When Cunningham sent her husband the screenshot, he asked if there is a reward, the department continued, adding a laughing emoji. There are several errors in the post that helped identify the post as a scam, Great Falls police said. For example, Cunningham is described as being 5 feet 9 inches, but shes only 5 feet 3 inches in real life, police confirmed. Plus, the photo used in the post is 10 years old, and her age is listed incorrectly they said. Police said those who see the scam can warn others by leaving comments pointing out that it is fake. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We're not sure what the scammers hope to gain by making posts like this. Please help set the record straight, Great Falls police said. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Viral missing officer post is fake, Buckeye police say BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) A Buffalo man was sentenced Monday morning to a determinate sentence of 20 years for killing his girlfriend at MLK Jr. Park in the spring of 2021, the Erie County District Attorneys Office announced. Mushagdusa Nankumba, 22, beat and strangled Larrinsha Johnson, 18, in a vehicle parked at the park the morning of April 17. Nankumba contacted a family member who then contacted police. Johnson was pronounced dead at the scene. It was later determined that she died from asphyxia due to strangulation. He pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter in February. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nankumba was transferred to a psychiatric facility in Rochester following a forensic exam in August. He was eventually found competent to proceed to trial and returned to court in June 2023. Along with the 20 years, Nankumba will be subjected to five years of post release supervision. Latest Local News Kayleigh Hunter-Gasperini joined the News 4 team in 2024 as a Digital Video Producer. She is a graduate of Chatham University. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to News 4 Buffalo. Burlington Free Press reporter Dan D'Ambrosio won a first place award Saturday in the 2024 New England Better Newspaper Competition in Portland, Maine, for his April 2024 story about an undocumented farm worker in Vermont who was deported to Guatemala last year, despite threats of criminal violence against him. D'Ambrosio won first place in the Social Issues Feature Story category for his story about Bernardino Suchite Canan. The competition is sponsored by the New England Newspaper & Press Association (NENPA). Canan had been working on an Irasburg dairy farm for seven years before his deportation, quickly rising to a management position and exhibiting the traits of a "natural-born leader," according to the farm owner. Canan also had a pathway to a green card, allowing permanent residence in the United States, because he had been the victim of a violent break-in to his home on the farm in 2022, and was cooperating with the state's attorney to prosecute the perpetrator. Bernardino Suchite Canan is seen on the dairy farm in Irasburg where he rose to a management position before being detained by ICE. Undated photo. All of that went away when Canan and his partner were detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) after visiting friends at a farm in New York, just across Lake Champlain. Canan was subsequently arrested for a DUI in the Northeast Kingdom. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Canan and his partner testified he had never driven drunk before, but was feeling the stress of his interaction with ICE, compounded by the anniversary of a violent attack on his mother in 2021, which ultimately resulted in her death. Canan himself had fled Guatemala at 16 to escape criminal violence. 'Lifting up the voices and the stories of Vermont residents' An immigration court judge in Boston deported Canan despite the state of Vermont agreeing to put him into a diversion program on his pending DUI charges, which means the charges would not have gone on his record once he completed the program. The owner of the Irasburg farm also provided a glowing letter of recommendation for Canan to the immigration court, to no avail. Canan was represented in immigration court by Vermont Law & Graduate School Professor Brett Stokes and a team of student lawyers in the school's immigration clinic. Burlington Free Press reporter Dan D'Ambrosio, as seen at the 2024 New England Better Newspaper Competition in Portland, Maine, on Saturday, March 29, 2025. "Lifting up the voices and the stories of Vermont residents is what the reporters at the Free Press strive to do each day," said Caitlyn Kelleher, New England Group Editor. "It is an honor to receive recognition for this work from our peers and the professional organization of NENPA. Additionally, we appreciate the courage that it took Bernardino Suchite Canan to tell his story to Dan. The stories of migrants are not just one for the U.S. southern border communities or big cities. Dan's reporting shows the daily struggles of the undocumented immigrants living and working in Vermont." Lifting up the voices of Indigenous people D'Ambrosio also won a first-place award last year in the History Reporting category for his story about Saswa and Conauda, two Potawatomi boys, ages 17 and 15, respectively, who were brought to Vermont in 1827 by a Baptist missionary to study at Castleton Medical College, the first private medical school in the nation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Within four years, by 1831, both boys would be dead from tuberculosis, and their stories would recede into obscurity for nearly two centuries, until an investigation of Indian Boarding Schools by the U.S. Department of the Interior was published in May 2022. The report included a brief reference to two Indian students in Castleton, which led to the Free Press investigation. "This look at two teenage boys' brief time in Vermont nearly two centuries ago does a masterful and nuanced job of telling the broader story of the country's treatment of Indigenous people," the competition judges wrote last year about D'Ambrosio's story. This article originally appeared on Burlington Free Press: Burlington Free Press reporter wins regional award for migrant story One of the most famous aircraft on earth was caught in the nude very recently as it underwent deep maintenance and upgrades at L3Harriss Mission Integration plant at Majors Field in Greenville, Texas. The facility is a mecca for large special mission aircraft in need of enhancements and TLC. While the Air Forces twin VC-25A aircraft, which are based on the 747-200, get most of the attention, the C-32As, based on the 757-200, are the real workhorses of the executive airlift fleet. Like their much larger counterparts, the eight C-32As in the 99th Airlift Wings stable are into the back half of their service lives and have been receiving a number of upgrades to keep them relevant. These include new interiors and enhancements to their communications, navigation, and defensive systems. Above all else, they need periodic deep maintenance like any other aircraft, and that is often a great time to make those upgrades. This is what the C-32 in the photos here is seen undergoing. The shots come to us from our friend on X @SR_Planespotter, who captures some awesome shots of the aerospace happenings around Texas. In this case, he caught the C-32A 09-0016, operating under its common Venus callsign, on a test flight with its iconic blue, white, and gold paint removed. Once work on the jet is wrapped up, it will go to the paint barn where workers there will dress the jet in its uniform once again. C-32A 09-0016 " VENUS97 " comes back from a test flight in primer! pic.twitter.com/pup78VJyZ0 _ (@SR_Planespotter) March 31, 2025 @SR_Planespotter said the following about the unique work at Majors Field (also known as Majors Airport) that brings some very interesting flying machines to northeastern Texas: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At Majors Airport in Greenville, L3 Harris has contracts with the USAF to maintain the VIP airlift fleet and the RC-135 fleet. They do a lot of communications upgrades and then test them on their own unique test range called the MSTF (Multi-Sensor Test Facility). Its pretty fun watching them go along on ADSB and then come back and get up close and personal with them. C-32A 98-0001 under the South EMP array at KGVT November 13th 2023 after 7+ months of repairs. On March 8, 2023, this C-32 carrying SecDef, struck its aft fuselage during its landing at Amman, Jordan, causing $2.5m in damages. pic.twitter.com/gmfC0E5wKs _ (@SR_Planespotter) April 30, 2024 As the C-32As continue to receive upgrades, the USAF is also looking on the horizon for a replacement. Around 30 years old already, even with the best maintenance, the governments VVIP 757s wont last forever. Now, according to a recent report from Aviation Week, it appears that the flying force wants to consolidate the high end of its executive airlift suite from two to one new type. Under such a plan, the 737-based C-40s and C-32As would be replaced with one type. This would simplify many aspects of operating two narrow-body airliner types in the executive airlift role. The 757 went out of production in 2005. In 2023, the Air Force had also expressed interest in potentially supplementing rather than replacing the C-32 fleet with new commercial airliners converted into VVIP transports. It isnt clear exactly what airframe the service would favor as a replacement or a supplement, although the 737 MAX seems like the only clear choice. Still, the short field performance of the 757, which is a huge selling point when using the jet in the Air Force One role in order to get into smaller airports while still carrying the president and their entourage. The USAF still hasnt taken a delivery of a 737 MAX for any mission. One was in the services requested budget for the 2025 Fiscal Year, but remains unfunded. C-32A taking off from PDX. (Authors image) Regardless of what the Air Force and the White House finally decide on when it comes to any new jet to replace the aging C-32As, they will continue to soldier on with more lumps and bumps housing communications and defensive countermeasures than ever before. And as a result, they will still have to fly around naked out of Greenville for years to come. Contact the author: Tyler@twz.com (FOX40.COM) Governor Gavin Newsom announced the release of the master plan for Developmental Services: A Community-Driven Vision on Friday. Video above: New rule protects air travelers with disabilities According to Newsom, the plan makes recommendations on improvements for the service system which includes reducing barriers to service access statewide for the growing developmental disability community. Newsom stated that the plan reflects extensive and diverse input from the community, capturing what Californians with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families want to see in employment, education, transportation, health, behavioral health, developmental services, and other programs to live and thrive in the community. California succeeds when ALL communities succeed. Our Administration has prioritized transparency, accountability, and equity in support that make a difference in the lives of people with disabilities. We are proud to receive this Master Plan from the people who are most impacted by our services and look forward to getting to work. Governor Gavin Newsom Newsom said that the committee that is responsible for the development of the plan was appointed by the California Health and Human Services Agency Secretary in early 2014 which included five workgroups and all of them were made up of a diverse group of individuals with disabilities, family members, advocates, service providers, direct support professionals, and representatives from the states 21 regional centers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The committees and their workshops meet to develop the recommendations with public input through a robust year-long, statewide process which also included 45 listening sessions that were held with various diverse communities, service providers, policy experts, advocates, individuals, and families, stated Newsom. According to Newsom, here are the steps being taken for the recommendations of the plan: Ensure that people are treated fairly: Addressing disparities in service delivery for underserved communities by standardizing services statewide and removing language, cultural, and location barriers. Allow people to make their own life choices: Providing tools and resources needed to support individuals in decision-making. Get people the services they need and choose: Streamlining and simplifying processes to reduce wait times and provide timely access to critical services, as well as building stronger bridges across state service systems. Ensure people are part of and served by a strong workforce: Investing in training, compensation, and recruitment of direct support professionals. Accountability and transparency should guide all systems that serve people: Equipping individuals, families, advocates, and professionals with the resources and information needed to understand how the state is providing services to individuals and families. Data should guide the future of the developmental services system: Establishing and implementing clear metrics to assess whether needs are being met effectively and where improvements are needed. This would not have been possible without the collaboration of community members committed to making California a place where everyone is valued and can thrive. We are deeply grateful for their contributions. These recommendations will inform the future for our State that meets the needs and goals of each person with intellectual and developmental disabilities, their families, and the workforce that supports them. Kim Johnson, CalHHS Secretary The bigger picture of this would be that the Newsom administration has made historic investments in recent years for Californias system of community-based services that focused on supporting more than 500,000 children and adults with I/DD, Newsom said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement California has provided the only life-long entitlement to services in the nation that is funded with over $15 billion every year. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX40 News. BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 31. The Organization of Turkic States (OTS) has expressed its satisfaction with the successful completion of the trilateral summit of the heads of state of Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan, held today in Khujand, Tajikistan, and the signing of a historic agreement on the junction of the state borders of the three countries, Trend reports. In a statement, OTS Secretary General Kubanychbek Omuraliev emphasized that the summit marks a significant milestone in strengthening regional cooperation, stability, and prosperity in Central Asia. The document further highlights that the signing of the agreement and the inauguration of a symbolic stele at the border junction reflect the leaders commitment to open dialogue and constructive cooperation. These developments serve as a remarkable example of resolving complex issues through diplomacy and mutual understanding. Omuraliev also commended the three countries' dedication to deepening regional partnerships, promoting peace, security, and economic development. He reaffirmed the OTS's commitment to supporting initiatives that foster unity and cooperation between Turkic states and their neighbors. HARARE, Zimbabwe. (AP) Harare and other major urban centers in Zimbabwe were deserted on Monday as communities mostly stayed at home after calls for anti-government protests made by a rival faction within the ranks of the ruling ZANU-PF party were largely ignored. Schools and businesses were closed as people did not turn up for the protests called for a faction of veterans of the countrys 1970s liberation war against white minority rule. Government officials and the police had encouraged the public to ignore the protest call and go about their usual routines. Security was tightened in the capital, where police dispersed a small crowd on the outskirts of the central business district. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The faction says it is against a campaign by President Emmerson Mnangagwa s supporters for him to extend his rule beyond 2028, when his second and final term ends. Faction leader Blessed Geza has been using posts on YouTube to rally supporters for an uprising against Mnangagwa. The group is backing Constantino Chiwenga, one of the president's deputies, to replace him. Chiwenga, who led a coup against former president Robert Mugabe when he was still a general in the military, has not commented on Mnangagwas term extension bid or the protests. Geza, also known as Comrade Bombshell, was relatively unknown before he started making calls for Mnangagwa to step down and make way for Chiwenga. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He has become a popular figure, with tens of thousands of people tuning in to his YouTube addresses. Police accuse him of treason and say they are hunting him down. ZANU-PF said it has expelled him from its ranks. Geza is the face of war veterans who are disillusioned with Mnangagwa. In a way he is also filling the void left by the weak opposition. But he will struggle to mobilize people to his cause because they may view him as part and parcel of ZANU-PF, they view this as an internal fight among former comrades, said analyst Eldred Masunungure, who is a former politics lecturer at the University of Zimbabwe. Mnangagwa, who is a former ally of Mugabe, is under United States sanctions. He promised democratic reforms when he took power in 2017 following a popular coup, but opposition and local and international human rights groups accuse the 82-year-old of being as repressive as Mugabe. Mnangagwa denies the allegations and insists that his government has improved the political environment and human rights situation. 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? WINTER SPRINGS, Fla. Canada is taking its fight against President Donald Trumps tariffs to Floridas highways. Billboards paid for by the Canadian government are popping up across the Sunshine State, including one near a 7-Eleven gas station in Winter Springs. Canadas message to U.S. voters: Tariffs are a tax on hardworking Americans. The campaign was launched to heighten the American publics understanding of tariffs, said John Babcock, a spokesman for Global Affairs Canada. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They lead to increased costs on everyday essentials, including fuel and groceries, he said. That message resonated with James Curtis, who was filling up his truck Friday as a digital billboard flashed Canadas anti-tariff slogans at the intersection of U.S. Highway 17-92 and Raven Avenue in Seminole County. Curtis said his pool cleaning and repair business is facing price hikes for equipment, chemicals and other supplies. By summer, it could mean his customers will see their bills rise by about $10 a month. He said he doesnt see how tariffs will lower his supply costs. The Pool & Hot Tub Alliance, a trade group, warns newly imposed tariffs on steel, aluminum and other goods will have a significant and direct impact on the industry. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Im not against the Canadian people, said Curtis, who owns Winter Springs-based SeeBlu Pool Services. Now, its a tariff war. We put tariffs. They put tariffs. The billboards arent being warmly received by all Floridians. Some social media users panned the campaign, slamming the ads as propagandist billboards. Why are foreign governments allowed to create disunion in this country? Trash those signs immediately, one Facebook user wrote. Trump is promising to usher Americans into a Golden Age, but he isnt ruling out some short-term economic discomfort. Will there be some pain? Yes, maybe (and maybe not!). But we will make America great again, and it will all be worth the price that must be paid, he wrote in a Truth Social post last month. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Babcock did not reveal the number of billboards or the cost of the ad campaign, which is mostly targeting Republican-leaning and battleground states. Billboards have been placed in a dozen states, including Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. Melanie Joly, Canadas foreign minister, said the campaigns goal is to persuade Americans to contact their representatives and senators and tell them that they dont want tariffs. Other billboard messages include tariffs are a tax on your grocery bill and tariffs are a tax at the gas pump. We need to send a message to the American people for them to understand whats at stake because this is really going to hurt their livelihoods and have an impact on their wallets, she told CNN in an interview. ----------- Michigan and other U.S. states are seeing fewer Canadian visitors as international tourism declines. The downturn unfolds alongside a number of political and economic factors, including President Donald Trump's remarks about Canada becoming the 51st state, former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's efforts to boost domestic travel, escalating tariffs and high-profile immigration detention cases. Canadians' return travel from trips to the U.S. has fallen sharply, 23% by car in February compared with the same month last year. Forecasts call for even sharper declines in air travel between Canada and the U.S. this summer. An economic research firm warns that the impact on Michigan could be sizable. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Canadian travelers make up nearly 60% of international visits to Michigan, as compared with less than 30% of international visits to the U.S. according to Tourism Economics in an email to the Free Press. That means a loss of visitation from Canada could be particularly impactful to Michigan. Downshift in Canadian travel to the U.S. In February, Canadian residents made roughly 1.2 million return trips from the U.S. by car, a 23% drop compared with the year before. Last month, Canadian residents primarily returned from U.S. border crossings to Ontario (59% of car trips), followed by British Columbia (19%), according to data from Statistics Canada. Tom Nemacheck, executive director at the Upper Peninsula Travel and Recreation Association, told the Free Press their warm weather marketing is underway. Yet, Canadian residents' response has declined substantially from prior years. It is too early to know the impact on local lodging this year, he said, but "it will be very noticeable." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More: US requires registration, fingerprints for long-term travelers. What Canada is saying Canadian residents flew back from 585,700 trips to the U.S. last month a 13% decline compared with February 2024. Future flight booking data for passenger trips from Canada to U.S. has plummeted by nearly three-quarters compared with the same time period last year, according to OAG, an aviation analytics firm. Michigan ranks 8th among U.S. states for Canadian visitors Tourism is a major driver of economic growth in the Mitten state. Last year, according to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, an average of nearly 430,000 people held jobs in Michigan's leisure and hospitality sector. From April to June 2024, about 153,000 Canadian adults traveled to Michigan for at least one overnight stay, according to preliminary data from Statistics Canada. The data doesn't account for day-trippers. Nearly 20 million Canadian residents, ages 18 years and older, traveled to the U.S. in 2023 for at least one overnight stay, and just over half a million visited Michigan. In 2023, Canadian visitors spent roughly $237.8 million in Michigan communities, according to the state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Michigan ranks 8th, tied with Arizona for the number of visits from adult Canadian residents. According to the latest annual data from Statistics Canada, Florida and New York saw the most travelers, 2.9 million and 2.1 million, respectively. Statewide, about 128.3 million people visited Michigan in 2023, resulting in $53.2 billion in total economic impact to Michigans economy, according to 2023 data shared by the state's tourism agency. Contact Kristi Tanner: ktanner@freepress.com This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Canadian travel to US slumps amid Trump tariffs, other factors WHITEHALL, Ohio (WCMH) Facing an Ohio Supreme Court case, City Council hopeful Holly Stein believes her competitor, home address and stance on a local development made her the only candidate Whitehall would have challenged. Stein is running for the Ward 4 position, a candidacy that the city worries would set a difficult precedent. Current Councilwoman Lori Elmore, acting as a private citizen, brought the challenge before the Franklin County Board of Elections, which sided with Stein 3-1. Now, Elmore and the city itself have taken the case to the states highest court for clarity. Elmore raised concerns because of a stipulation in the city charter requiring a candidate to have lived in the ward they hope to represent for at least two years next preceding their election. Council elections will take place in November, but Stein only moved into her current home on Fairway Boulevard in May 2024. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Stein successfully argued her case for the Board of Elections because she had previously lived in the area starting in 2019, pointing to a similar Ohio Supreme Court ruling that sided in a law director candidates favor. After the Board of Elections decision, Elmore filed an appeal with the Ohio Supreme Court, this time joined by the city of Whitehall. City Council discussed the litigation during a March 25 meeting, during which City Attorney Brad Nicodemus said the city needed to get clarity on the decision to protect the citys charter. If the boards denial of the protest was allowed to proceed, someone else could come on and say, Well, theres precedent now that says two years next preceding doesnt mean I have to live here for the two years prior to the election, it just means I have to live in the city at some point for two years,' Nicodemus said. But Stein thinks the situation is personal. She has been outspoken against a proposed development called Fairway Cliffs, a planned apartment building Stein and other Whitehall residents say defies city zoning laws. Stein also disagrees with proposed tax breaks the city is considering for the development, saying Whitehall residents should not pay for a for-profit complex. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The development has gone to court before after three neighboring property owners sued the city over zoning concerns. The case was withdrawn after it was determined a key lot was not owned by Fairway, as the city had believed. It is, however, owned by Stein. Finally, Stein believes her candidacy is under scrutiny because of her opponent, an unelected incumbent. When a vacancy emerged on city council in early 2024, Elmore gave up her Ward 4 seat and took an at-large position. Council then had 30 days to find a Ward 4 replacement, during which they interviewed candidates but waited to appoint. As they waited, the 30-day limit expired, allowing the mayor to appoint a candidate of his choosing. It is unfathomable as to why theyre expending our resources to fight this so hard, and the only reason I can think is they do not want me on that council, because Im not one of the people who are going to just vote yes on everything the administration presents, Stein said. Stein also said she thinks the city does not have a standing in the case because the initial complaint was filed by Elmore without city support. As Stein searches for representation in the Ohio Supreme Court case, her tax dollars are contributing to the case against her. Stein also alleged the city is interfering with her ability to secure legal representation by not filing conflict of interest paperwork for the legal team shes hoping to work with. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Whitehall spokesperson Gayle Saunders said the city has no further information as the case is ongoing. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV. TOWN OF DICKINSON, N.Y. (WIVT/WBGH) The family of a Killawog woman who disappeared 17 years ago is asking the public to keep her memory alive. Family members of Bethanie Dougherty joined the Broome County Sheriffs Office on Monday to invite the community to a candlelight vigil in honor of the missing wife and mother of three. Dougherty was last seen by her family on April 1, 2008, at around 10 p.m. at her home on Jennings Creek Road in Killawog. Her family reported her missing the following day when she could not be located. However, her car keys, cell phone, and purse were all found still in her home. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the early morning hours of April 2, 2008, before Dougherty was reported missing, New York State Police responded to the area of Jennings Creek Road in Killawog due to residents reporting hearing someone possibly screaming in the area. The area was checked, and nothing was located. According to the Sheriffs Office, a vehicle described as a mid-to-late 1990s Chevy S-10 style pick-up truck was reported in the area at the time of Doughertys disappearance. John Curtis, Doughertys brother, says her disappearance is one of the most difficult things their family has ever been through. More than anything I feel like we just need to keep this in the medias eyes and open to the publics eyes. And all tips can be sent in anonymously, said Curtis. Someone knows something. I know they do. I just wish they would please come forward and talk to somebody. The candlelit vigil will be held on April 1 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the Killawog Fire Department at 602 Jennings Creek Rd in Killawog. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Doughertys family is offering a $20,000 reward for information leading to her return or recovery. Anyone with information regarding the case is asked to contact the Broome County Sheriffs Office Tip Line at (607) 778-119 or submit your tip anonymously on the Sheriffs website broomecountyny.gov/sheriff/crime-info-tips. Curtis says you can also message him on Facebook with any information you may have, just search Johnny Curtis. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WIVT - News 34. Investing.com -- Liberal Leader Mark Carney, during a speech in Vaughn, Ontario, has pledged that his government will re-enter the homebuilding industry with a plan he describes as the most ambitious in Canada since World War II. Drawing parallels to the post-WWII housing crisis, Carney stated, "We will build at a pace not seen since the second world war." According to Carney, despite Canadians' best efforts, the high cost of housing makes it difficult for many to afford rent or homeownership. He announced a new approach to address this issue, aiming to build homes faster, smarter, and more affordably. The plan includes public-private cooperation on an unprecedented scale, with the goal of doubling the rate of new home construction to nearly 500,000 units per year. The first part of his plan introduces a new entity, "Build Canada Homes." This organization will act as a developer for new homes, stimulate the housing industry, and provide financing for affordable home builders. As a developer, it will collaborate with the industry to construct affordable homes at scale, including on Federal lands. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Carney believes that prefabricated and modular building will play a significant role in the future. He has committed to providing more than CAD$25 billion ($17 billion USD) in financing to prefabricated builders in Canada and CAD$10 billion ($7 billion USD) of low-cost financing to builders to construct affordable homes. The second part of the plan aims to stimulate growth by improving the functioning of the housing market itself. Carney stated that taxes and regulations have been stifling the industry, and Canadians are bearing the cost. Over the next five years, his government will halve development charges and charges on homebuilders for all multi-unit housing. By funding new housing infrastructure, Carney believes this will offset the loss of revenue. The Canadian government built tens of thousands of affordable starter homes for returning veterans and their families after World War II. "Canada built its way out of that crisis into post-war economic strength," Carney declared. Now, with the country facing a new housing shortage due to decades of under-building and a post-pandemic immigration surge, Carney argued its time for the government to finance home construction once more. Carney also criticized election rival and Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre, accusing him of wanting to merely "fiddle with the tax code and slash programs that work." In contrast, Carney views this housing initiative as an opportunity to grow jobs and competition in all Canadian industry. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Related articles Trump mulls using tariff revenue for a tax dividend or refund - Washington Post Wall Street opens lower as Trump tariffs loom Mexican peso to trade stable in coming months as U.S. escalates tariffs: Reuters poll Founded in 1845, Glashutte Original is celebrating its 180th anniversary in style (and delighting us in the process). As a birthday gift, the brand is unveiling two new editions of the famous Senator collection. Glashutte Original is a manufacturer that truly lives up to its name. It is one of the first watchmakers to settle in the small Saxon town of Glashutte in 1845. Today, it proudly boasts an uninterrupted 180 years of craftsmanship, blending artisanal expertise with cutting-edge technology. For the occasion, the brand is offering two beautiful anniversary gifts: two new ambassadors of German watchmaking, decorated, assembled, and regulated by hand with the utmost carethe Senator Excellence Date Panorama Moon Phase, available in two versions, with a silver or rose dial and Roman numerals. Senator Excellence Date Panorama Moon Phase Glashutte Original A Tribute to the Past Two new versions of the Senator, standing among the creative pillars of the brand, are not born out of nowhere. They incorporate design elements inspired by the houses archives, but reinterpreted in a contemporary way. The two dials feature one in frosted silver and the other in frosted copper hues. These two appealing shades are a nod to the rich mineral deposits of the Ore Mountains in the region. The surface finish of these dials evokes the coldness that can prevail in the depths of the rock, making it the perfect backdrop for the hand-applied Roman numerals, crafted in solid gold and coated in blue to match the blued hands for the hours, minutes, and seconds. Completing this functional dial design, the panoramic date at 4 oclock is a more recent tradition, introduced in many Glashutte Original watches since 1997. It provides a perfect balance to the piece, echoing the moonphase indicator positioned between 10 and 11 oclock. A Strong Identity These two new Senator Excellence Date Panorama Moon Phase models remain true to the DNA of the collection. Legibility, simplicity, and elegance are at the forefront, with a 40mm steel case featuring a fine bezel and both polished and satin surfaces. Inside, it houses the automatic movement Caliber 36, which is beautiful, precise, and offers an impressive power reserve. With refined finishes and traditional decorations, its silicon hairspring is resistant to magnetic fields, corrosion, and temperature variations, ensuring great stability. Its extra-large barrel has been specially developed to provide a power reserve of at least 100 hours. Senator Excellence Date Panorama Moon Phase Glashutte Original Must-Have Pieces These two new Senator models stand as both new and irresistible essentials. Paying tribute to the great tradition of a brand that symbolizes German watchmaking art, they are now available at all official Glashutte Original retailers. Not only are these pieces a must-have for collectors, but also for lovers of elegance and craftsmanship who might want to step off the beaten path and indulge in a piece of high-end watchmaking, not Swiss, but German. True originality in itself By Joshua McElwee VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - The sanctuary of Lourdes, one of the world's most popular Catholic pilgrimage sites, began on Monday to cover up a series of mosaics made by a prominent priest with ties to the Vatican who has been accused of sexual abuse. The artwork is by Rev. Marko Rupnik, an internationally known artist, who has been accused by about 25 people, mostly former Catholic nuns, of various types of abuse. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rupnik, who was expelled from the Catholic Jesuit order in 2023 but remains a priest, is not known to have commented publicly on the accusations. The Vatican in 2023 reopened an investigation into his conduct, which is ongoing. Mosaics by Rupnik adorn the facade of the Rosary Basilica in Lourdes, near the France-Spain border, where some five million Catholics and other faithful visit each year to experience spring water that is said to have healing properties. Workers placed large coverings over many of the images on Monday, Lourdes Bishop Jean-Marc Micas said in a statement. "A new symbolic step needed to be taken to facilitate entry into the basilica for all the people who today cannot cross its threshold," said the bishop, in an apparent reference to clergy abuse victims. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Micas had previously declined to cover the images but ordered in July 2024 that they no longer be illuminated at night. Laura Sgro, a lawyer representing five of Rupnik's alleged victims, welcomed the covering of the images. "Every believer, and not just every victim of abuse, must have an open heart when praying, and this cannot happen if they have to kneel before a work of art that was likely the place where abuse was experienced," Sgro said in a statement. Rupnik's artwork is thought to adorn some 200 churches and chapels around the world, and is also known to adorn at least one chapel at the Vatican. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Vatican officials have largely declined to comment on the allegations, citing the ongoing investigation into Rupnik. Cardinal Victor Fernandez, the Catholic Church's chief doctrine official, told reporters earlier this month that he was starting to contact lawyers who could serve as judges in a likely Church trial against Rupnik. Last week, the Jesuit order began reaching out to some of Rupnik's alleged victims to start a process of offering reparations on a case-by-case basis. Sgro called the letters a "clear, strong and concrete gesture" and "an important step forward". (Reporting by Joshua McElwee; editing by Crispian Balmer and Mark Heinrich) A cause of death has been determined for three young women from the United States found dead in their hotel room at a resort in San Pedro, Belize, late last month, NBC News reported. The trio were discovered deceased on Feb. 22 in a room at the Royal Kahal Beach Resort after housekeepers reported to management that there had been no answer to knocks at the door for a second consecutive day. Investigators in Belize reported finding the bodies of the women, identified as 26-year-old Wafae El Arar, 24-year-old Imane Mallah and 23-year-old Kaoutar Naqqad, in the room with alcohol, vomit and gummies present. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Autopsy reports later found that none of the women had any illicit substances in their systems. On February 26, Belize Fire Chief Colin Gillet told a Belizean television outlet that carbon monoxide poisoning had not been an issue in the deaths. However, the resort was temporarily shuttered, and a second round of testing was ordered, according to NBC News. Shops line a street in San Pedro on Ambergris Caye, Belize. (Getty) On March 27, the executive director of Belizes National Forensic Science Services reported to local news outlets that all three women died from lethal levels of carbon monoxide in their systems, saying in a statement last week that a faulty instant water heater was likely the origin of the acute poisoning from the colorless and odorless gas. The resort, meanwhile, had already reopened on March 19, saying in a statement that all possible steps had been taken to ensure the safety of its guests and that there was No further indication of dangerous levels of carbon monoxide in any of the units, NBC reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Patrick M. Keefe Jr., mayor of Revere, Massachusetts, where the young women are from, described the trio as daughters, friends and contributors to our city, NBC noted in earlier reporting on the incident. Family members of the women have reportedly been concerned with the integrity of the investigation. The Massachusetts chief medical examiners office plans to run its own tests to determine the manner and cause of death. Carbon monoxide poisoning is known as the silent killer, as it often goes unnoticed before it is too late. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, around 400 people die from CO poisoning in the United States each year. A former British child star turned philanthropist and professional speaker living in Malibu, Rory Sykes, was determined to have died as a result of carbon monoxide poisoning during the recent Palisades fire that killed at least a dozen people after it ignited on Jan. 7. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. This story was originally published on ProPublica, a nonprofit newsroom that investigates abuses of power. Sign up to receive our biggest stories as soon as theyre published. Leaders at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ordered staff this week not to release their experts assessment that found the risk of catching measles is high in areas near outbreaks where vaccination rates are lagging, according to internal records reviewed by ProPublica. In an aborted plan to roll out the news, the agency would have emphasized the importance of vaccinating people against the highly contagious and potentially deadly disease that has spread to 19 states, the records show. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A CDC spokesperson told ProPublica in a written statement that the agency decided against releasing the assessment because it does not say anything that the public doesnt already know. She added that the CDC continues to recommend vaccines as the best way to protect against measles. But what the nations top public health agency said next shows a shift in its long-standing messaging about vaccines, a sign that it may be falling in line under Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a longtime critic of vaccines: The decision to vaccinate is a personal one, the statement said, echoing a line from a column Kennedy wrote for the Fox News website. People should consult with their healthcare provider to understand their options to get a vaccine and should be informed about the potential risks and benefits associated with vaccines. ProPublica shared the new CDC statement about personal choice and risk with Jennifer Nuzzo, director of the Pandemic Center at Brown University School of Public Health. To her, the shift in messaging, and the squelching of this routine announcement, is alarming. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Im a bit stunned by that language, Nuzzo said. No vaccine is without risk, but that makes it sound like its a very active coin toss of a decision. Weve already had more cases of measles in 2025 than we had in 2024, and its spread to multiple states. It is not a coin toss at this point. For many years, the CDC hasnt minced words on vaccines. It promoted them with confidence. One campaign was called Get My Flu Shot. The agencys website told medical providers they play a critical role in helping parents choose vaccines for their children: Instead of saying What do you want to do about shots?, say Your child needs three shots today. Nuzzo wishes the CDCs forecasters would put out more details of their data and evidence on the spread of measles, not less. The growing scale and severity of this measles outbreak and the urgent need for more data to guide the response underscores why we need a fully staffed and functional CDC and more resources for state and local health departments, she said. Kennedys agency oversees the CDC and on Thursday announced it was poised to eliminate 2,400 jobs there. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When asked what role, if any, Kennedy played in the decision to not release the risk assessment, HHS communications director said the aborted announcement was part of an ongoing process to improve communication processes nothing more, nothing less. The CDC, he reiterated, continues to recommend vaccination as the best way to protect against measles. Secretary Kennedy believes that the decision to vaccinate is a personal one and that people should consult with their healthcare provider to understand their options to get a vaccine, Andrew G. Nixon said. It is important that the American people have radical transparency and be informed to make personal healthcare decisions. Responding to questions about criticism of the decision among some CDC staff, Nixon wrote, Some individuals at the CDC seem more interested in protecting their own status or agenda rather than aligning with this Administration and the true mission of public health. The CDCs risk assessment was carried out by its Center for Forecasting and Outbreak Analytics, which relied, in part, on new disease data from the outbreak in Texas. The CDC created the center to address a major shortcoming laid bare during the COVID-19 pandemic. It functions like a National Weather Service for infectious diseases, harnessing data and expertise to predict the course of outbreaks like a meteorologist warns of storms. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Other risk assessments by the center have been posted by the CDC even though their conclusions might seem obvious. In late February, for example, forecasters analyzing the spread of H5N1 bird flu said people who come in contact with potentially infected animals or contaminated surfaces or fluids faced a moderate to high risk of contracting the disease. The risk to the general U.S. population, they said, was low. In the case of the measles assessment, modelers at the center determined the risk of the disease for the general public in the U.S. is low, but they found the risk is high in communities with low vaccination rates that are near outbreaks or share close social ties to those areas with outbreaks. The CDC had moderate confidence in the assessment, according to an internal Q&A that explained the findings. The agency, it said, lacks detailed data about the onset of the illness for all patients in West Texas and is still learning about the vaccination rates in affected communities as well as travel and social contact among those infected. (The H5N1 assessment was also made with moderate confidence.) The internal plan to roll out the news of the forecast called for the expert physician whos leading the CDCs response to measles to be the chief spokesperson answering questions. It is important to note that at local levels, vaccine coverage rates may vary considerably, and pockets of unvaccinated people can exist even in areas with high vaccination coverage overall, the plan said. The best way to protect against measles is to get the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This week, though, as the number of confirmed cases rose to 483, more than 30 agency staff were told in an email that after a discussion in the CDC directors office, leadership does not want to pursue putting this on the website. The cancellation was not normal at all, said a CDC staff member who spoke anonymously for fear of reprisal with layoffs looming. Ive never seen a rollout plan that was canceled at that far along in the process. Anxiety among CDC staff has been building over whether the agency will bend its public health messages to match those of Kennedy, a lawyer who founded an anti-vaccine group and referred clients to a law firm suing a vaccine manufacturer. Anxiety among CDC staff has been building over whether the agency will bend its public health messages to match those of new Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. - Nathan Howard/Reuters During Kennedys first week on the job, HHS halted the CDC campaign that encouraged people to get flu shots during a ferocious flu season. On the night that the Trump administration began firing probationary employees across the federal government, some key CDC flu webpages were taken down. Remnants of some of the campaign webpages were restored after NPR reported this. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But some at the agency felt like the new leadership had sent a message loud and clear: When next to nobody was paying attention, long-standing public health messages could be silenced. On the day in February that the world learned that an unvaccinated child had died of measles in Texas, the first such death in the U.S. since 2015, the HHS secretary downplayed the seriousness of the outbreak. We have measles outbreaks every year, he said at a cabinet meeting with President Donald Trump. In an interview on Fox News this month, Kennedy championed doctors in Texas who he said were treating measles with a steroid, an antibiotic and cod liver oil, a supplement that is high in vitamin A. Theyre seeing what they describe as almost miraculous and instantaneous recovery from that, Kennedy said. As parents near the outbreak in Texas stocked up on vitamin A supplements, doctors there raced to assure parents that only vaccination, not the vitamin, can prevent measles. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Still, the CDC added an entry on Vitamin A to its measles website for clinicians. On Wednesday, CNN reported that several hospitalized children in Lubbock, Texas, had abnormal liver function, a likely sign of toxicity from too much vitamin A. Texas health officials also said that the Trump administrations decision to rescind $11 billion in pandemic-related grants across the country will hinder their ability to respond to the growing outbreak, according to The Texas Tribune. Measles is among the most contagious diseases and can be dangerous. About 20% of unvaccinated people who get measles wind up in the hospital. And nearly 1 to 3 of every 1,000 children with measles will die from respiratory and neurologic complications. The virus can linger in the air for two hours after an infected person has left an area, and patients can spread measles before they even know they have it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This week Amtrak said it was notifying customers that they may have been exposed to the disease this month when a passenger with measles rode one of its trains from New York City to Washington, D.C. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com (PUEBLO, Colo.) The City of Pueblo is addressing concerns within economic challenges and concerns that may constrict growth, specifically across the Pueblo Boulevard corridor. Earlier in March, former City Councilmember and local real estate broker Randy Thurston and Derrick Martinez, an out-of-state developer of a new Starbucks project, raised concerns over the challenges developers are facing along the Pueblo Boulevard corridor between I-25 and Prairie Avenue. The City claims that the challenges stem from the permitting and access requirements imposed by the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT). Pueblo is open for business, and we will not sit idly by while regulatory hurdles stall the growth our community deserves, said Pueblo Mayor Heather Graham. We recognize the unique and often burdensome or costly requirements that come with development along a state highway, and we are working diligently to help developers meet those challenges head-on. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the City, CDOT has cited safety and operational concerns along the corridor and said that no additional traffic can be permitted without upgrades to the roadway, including raised medians, new signals, turn lanes, and other traffic improvements. There is a safety-critical process that must be followed as required by the State Highway Access Code, said CDOT. For any state highway in Colorado, developers are required to complete an analysis to ensure that road access is safe and enables the ongoing flow of traffic after construction. CDOT said it applies the State Highway Access Code fairly and consistently across all municipalities. CDOT further mentioned that officials meet with City leaders regularly to ensure all applications for highway access follow important safety framework and steps, which must be taken before building a project requiring access to a state or highway. The City said that while they understand CDOTs responsibility to safe roads, they were concerned that the agencys rigid application of the State Highway Access Code inhibited much-needed development, driving up costs and risking the loss of commercial projects and tax revenue. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement From site-level coordination to broader policy discussions, were focused on creating an environment where development can happen responsibly but also feasibly, said Director of Public Works Andrew Hayes. The City is evaluating every available funding mechanism to support infrastructure investment where its needed most. According to the City, leadership, along with the Pueblo Urban Renewal Authority (PURA) and the Pueblo Economic Development Corporation (PEDCO), have been working to identify and secure public resources to offset infrastructure costs along the corridor. We are always happy to work with private partners to ensure that this process is as streamlined as possible, said CDOT. The analysis is vital for preventing dangerous traffic accidents on fast-moving roads. It is important that it be completed prior to granting access permits, as we work to make Colorados roads safer for everyone. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) Hours away from the deadline for New Yorkers in the Medicaid-funded Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program, or CDPAP, to switch over to the state-selected administrator called a fiscal intermediary new legal action is hoping to garner a temporary halt on the overhaul. Rochesters Independent Living Center has joined a class-action lawsuit, set to be heard before a federal judge in New York City Monday afternoon. The concerns are expansive. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bruce Darling, CEO of Regional Center for Independent Living, said, So were going to court tomorrow in New York City to fight for Medicaid beneficiaries whose services are being terminated without notice or due process by the state of New York. The 11th hour is now upon participants and their aide workers who are part of the Medicaid-funded CDPAP. State leaders with the Department of Health said last week, as of April 1, the only fiscal intermediary which will be paying out aide workers is the state-selected, Public Partnerships LLC, also known as PPL. Calls for federal Investigation into CDPAP transition Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This, down from the hundreds of fiscal intermediaries the multi-billion dollar program previously had structured. The rollout to try and get hundreds of thousands of participants switched over has been less than stable. Department of Health Commissioner James Mcdonald, recently announced a grace period of 30 days to be granted to aide workers who transition after April 1, promising pay retroactively. Rochesters independent living centers, signed on to a class action lawsuit on behalf of Medicaid recipients, claiming this violates their rights under both Medicaid law and the 14th amendment for due process. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Darling said, They had a right to notice and due process. So were hoping to get a temporary restraining order that will allow people to continue to get services, because if they dont get services, really bad things happen to them. They basically can get sick and die. Bonnie Lupo is a local nurse practitioner and owner of Pathways Foward Consulting, which helps connect patients to the wealth of services often needed, a focus of aging in place. She echoes what lawmakers and other CDPAP participants have told News 8 are concerns regarding the new, PPL, including long wait times for calls, no answers through the transition process, and an overall lack of crucial information. Theres many issues that you and I talked about. Whats the cyber security? Is there information protected, Lupo said. You know, you just want to make sure that the dots are connected from what Ive heard and what I hear from my other colleagues, its very clunky, and people just dont know where to get the information from. Darling and Lupo both tell News 8 the fallout of individuals receiving CDPAP services. In the event aide support is not able to continue working after the imminent deadline, recipients would default to visits to emergency rooms and hospitals, which are already strained with high demand. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No, there is no conversation in Albany, and we have been told repeatedly there is no appetite to do anything for this. Democrats have basically turned their back on the disabled people and the workers who are in this program, and we have serious questions about this grace period, Darling said. If a worker is injured during the period theyre volunteering, are they entitled to workers comp? What happens if, when they transition, theyve been eligible for a paid family leave? Does the clock restart, or does their work history carry with them? Theyre very practical questions that have not been answered, and weve engaged the state delegation to say, hey, we need answers to these questions. In the most recent notice regarding the CDPAP transition process from the state Department of Health on Thursday, the agency broadly approximates 245,000 consumers to take action, in some capacity, ahead of the April 1 deadline. The court case is set to be heard late Monday afternoon. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to RochesterFirst. STAR-ADVERTISER / 2024 A ala Respite, which opened Sept. 16, provides shelter and medical respite care to Oahus homeless population. Hospital beds are shown set up in the shelter. 1 /4 STAR-ADVERTISER / 2024 A ala Respite, which opened Sept. 16, provides shelter and medical respite care to Oahus homeless population. Hospital beds are shown set up in the shelter. GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE @STARADVERTISER.COM T.J. Utai, above, is making progress with the help of Iwilei health center, shown behind him. The facility marked its first anniversary March 3. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 2 /4 GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE @STARADVERTISER.COM T.J. Utai, above, is making progress with the help of Iwilei health center, shown behind him. The facility marked its first anniversary March 3. GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE @STARADVERTISER.COM Josten Gu tierres, is a client at the Behavioral Health Crisis Center, which on March 8 marked one year of providing services to those who might not have other resources available. 3 /4 GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE @STARADVERTISER.COM Josten Gu tierres, is a client at the Behavioral Health Crisis Center, which on March 8 marked one year of providing services to those who might not have other resources available. GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE @STARADVERTISER.COM Iwilei Health Center staff shown Monday in front of the facility include Dr. Chad Koyonagi, left ; Angie Dickson, director, clinical psychology ; Sue Gie Kim, program manager ; and Mitchell West, program manager. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 4 /4 GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE @STARADVERTISER.COM Iwilei Health Center staff shown Monday in front of the facility include Dr. Chad Koyonagi, left ; Angie Dickson, director, clinical psychology ; Sue Gie Kim, program manager ; and Mitchell West, program manager. STAR-ADVERTISER / 2024 A ala Respite, which opened Sept. 16, provides shelter and medical respite care to Oahus homeless population. Hospital beds are shown set up in the shelter. GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE @STARADVERTISER.COM T.J. Utai, above, is making progress with the help of Iwilei health center, shown behind him. The facility marked its first anniversary March 3. GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE @STARADVERTISER.COM Josten Gu tierres, is a client at the Behavioral Health Crisis Center, which on March 8 marked one year of providing services to those who might not have other resources available. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE @STARADVERTISER.COM Iwilei Health Center staff shown Monday in front of the facility include Dr. Chad Koyonagi, left ; Angie Dickson, director, clinical psychology ; Sue Gie Kim, program manager ; and Mitchell West, program manager. The Behavioral Health Crisis Center opened in 2024 across the street from the Institute for Human Services mens shelter in Iwilei and has seen 1, 182 people ever since to address issues including substance abuse and mental health, which are considered critical underlying reasons why people end up and remain homeless. The center opened on Iwilei Road and saw its first patients on March 8, 2024, and continues to take in people like T.J. Utai, 27, who grew up in Kalihi, failed to graduate from Farrington High School and more recently had been living in and out of IHS. Last week represented Utais third visit to the Behavioral Health Crisis Center in two weeks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He was starting to believe that better things were possible once he kicks his addiction to meth and addresses and stabilizes his mental health issues, which include anxiety. Now, Utai can see himself possibly getting a job one day and, perhaps, reuniting with his estranged family. I fell into a rat hole, he told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser. Don 't miss out on what 's happening ! Stay in touch with breaking news, as it happens, conveniently in your email inbox. It 's FREE ! Email 28141 Sign Up By clicking to sign up, you agree to Star-Advertiser 's and Google 's and. This form is protected by reCAPTCHA. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On the street, Utai said, they told me this was the place. Now Im getting the help I need. The state-run center operates out of a city building and was the first of three new joint city and state facilities to open within blocks of one another over the past year to help peoplemany of them homelesswith their medical, behavioral and mental health issues. They individually represent new models to address the root causes of homelessness in Hawaii and get more people off the street and on to better lives. Iwileihome to IHS, which started Hawaiis original homeless outreach effortscontinues to represent the center of new approaches to addressing homelessness. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Most of the people who have been seen at the Behavioral Health Crisis Center over the past year78 %were homeless. But anyone can walk in and get evaluated and observed over just a few hours. Or they might involuntarily be brought in by Hono lulu Police Department officers and remain upstairs on the mezzanine level for 10 to 14 days before leaving with longer-term case management plans including treatment beds to get additional, stable help. The center also gives HPD officers a time-efficient alternative to get the people they encounter evaluated, compared with the sometimes hours officers can spend in emergency rooms like The Queens Medical Center, said Dr. Chad Koyanagi, the state Health Departments medical director for crisis continuum, who oversees patient care at the Behavioral Health Crisis Center. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2024 the Legislature approved the latest version of Senate Bill 3139, which allows law enforcement to take a person considered dangerous to themselves or others against their will to alternative facilities like the Behavioral Health Crisis Center. Gov. Josh Green signed the bill into law as Act 86. Last week two HPD officers brought a man in handcuffs to the behavioral health center whom they encountered in Aiea, got him admitted and were back on their way within minutes to patrol their Aiea district. The officers were not authorized to speak to the media and said they could not comment to the Star-Advertiser. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the past, Koyanagi said, HPD officers from across Oahu would have to transport patients as far away as Castle Medical Center in Kailua to get them evaluated. The number of people seen at the Behavioral Health Crisis Center has steadily grown over the past year, from 62 in March 2024 to a peak of 225 in December to 215 in February. Most of them40 %had mental health issues, including schizophrenia, bi polar disorder and major depression. They were followed by 24 % who suffered from substance abuse and 10 % who were having a housing crisis, according to Health Department data. Most73 %were men, and a plurality of all patients32 %were ages 35 to 44. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The open-air, ground-floor observation room of the Behavioral Health Crisis Center sees clients up to 24 hoursor no more than 23 :59 as Dr. Angie Dickson, the centers director and clinical psychologist, called the time limit. Some only need to rest in one of 16 oversize chairs, sit in quiet watching television or take a few hours away from life on the street to get reoriented, she said. They just need a minute to get away from whatever situation theyre in, Dickson said. There are no reasons someone wont be seen, such as lack of health insurance, she said. We take everyone. The design of the spaceand the focus on a calming approach by health care workerswas based on what Koyanagi saw while visiting similar behavioral health centers in Arizonas Maricopa County. Koyanagi thought the same approach would work on Oahu after spending years providing psychiatric care for homeless people through IHS and in the Ha lawa Correctional Facility, while also teaching at the University of Hawaiis John A. Burns School of Medicine. Upstairs in the nine-bed mezzanine level, patients can stay 10 to 14 days while they receive case management designed to improve their situations through substance abuse treatment, mental health medications and longer-term housing and employment goals. The top three floors of the four-story building will soon open as long-term housing for homeless peopleor people at risk of becoming homelesswho also struggle with mental health or substance issues. Each of the upper floors, accessible from the Sumner Street side of the center, will have nine studio apartments. One will be reserved for a resident manager. The residents will have to pay rent of 30 % of their monthly income, typically through government financial assistance. The units have been built out, a contract has been executed with Care Hawaii and the first residents will move in after the units are furnished, along with other finishing touches such as the installation of security cameras. Josten Gutierres, 43, was staying at the Behavioral Health Crisis Center last week after he lost his job on Hawaii island, ended up homeless and came to Oahu hoping for a fresh start, only to end up homeless in Kaneohe, sleeping in Kaneohe District Park at night. Someone on the street encouraged Gutierres to call 988, which referred him to the Behavioral Health Crisis Center, where he began receiving medications, including mood stabilizers. He also was working to stay off of meth and alcohol, or what Utai called relapse prevention. They helping me get clean, he said. It is tough. But in less than a week of getting help at the center, Gutierres said, I feel way better. By the numbers 1, 182 People seen at the Behavioral Health Crisis Center between March 8, 2024, and March 14 78 % Patients who were homeless 40 % Patients with mental health issues, including schizophrenia, bipolar and major depression 24 % Patients with substance abuse issues Source : State Department of Health HERE TO SUPPORT Behavioral Health Crisis CenterOpened : March 8, 2024Located : 806 Iwilei RoadFacility : Open-air, ground-level observation room for short-term stays of up to 24 hours ; Longer-term care and treatment up to 14 days in a nine-bed facility on the mezzanine level.Focus : Observation, assessment, treatment and case management for people who are brought in by police or voluntarily walk in for care. A ala RespiteOpened : Sept. 16Located : In the former First Hawaiian Bank branch at 445 N. King St.Facility : 62 beds, including 30 indoor hospital-style beds and 30 outdoor, tiny-home kauhale for patients transitioning into more permanent housing.Focus : Long-term medical care for homeless people, including kupuna with dementia and Alzheimers ; people in need of substance abuse and mental illness treatment, dialysis and diabetes care ; and homeless stroke and heart attack victims. Iwilei Center Compassionate Housing Kauhale / Kumu Ola Hou Transitional CenterOpened : March 3Located : Kuwili StreetFacility : 13 temporary, portable, single -room structures erected inside an air-conditioned building until workforce housing can be developed to coincide with the opening of the planned Iwilei rail stationFocus : Treatment for 24 homeless patients at a time with mental health, memory and brain injury issues ; on-site health care with a focus on neuroscience Source : City and County of Honolulu, State of Hawaii 7 Comments By participating in online discussions you acknowledge that you have agreed to the. An insightful discussion of ideas and viewpoints is encouraged, but comments must be civil and in good taste, with no personal attacks. If your comments are inappropriate, you may be banned from posting. Report comments if you believe they do not follow our. Having trouble with comments ? . Cesar Chavez Day is Monday, honoring the late Mexican American civil rights activist who dedicated his life to advocating for farmworkers' rights, fair wages, and better working conditions. When is Cesar Chavez Day 2025? The holiday is a federal commemorative holiday that former President Barack Obama proclaimed in 2014 to be observed annually on March 31, which falls on the birthday of the late Chavez, who died in April 1993. Who is Cesar Chavez? Why the holiday is celebrated Chavez was a civil rights leader and labor activist who co-founded the United Farm Workers to advocate for better wages and working conditions for farm laborers. He played a key role in organizing nonviolent protests, strikes and boycotts to improve the rights of agricultural workers, particularly in California and other farming regions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Before former President Obama proclaimed Cesar Chavez Day a federal commemorative holiday in 2014, the NAACP and other advocacy groups urged him to designate it as a paid federal holiday. They cited Obamas past support for the effort, including a statement he made before issuing the proclamation. "Chavez left a legacy as an educator, environmentalist, and a civil rights leader. And his cause lives on as farm workers and laborers across America continue to struggle for fair treatment and fair wages," Obama said at the time. "We find strength in what Cesar Chavez accomplished so many years ago. And we should honor him for what he's taught us about making America a stronger, more just and more prosperous nation. That's why I support the call to make Cesar Chavez's birthday a national holiday. It's time to recognize the contributions of this American icon to the ongoing efforts to perfect our union." However, it was not designated a paid federal holiday. Are banks, USPS and schools open on Cesar Chavez Day? Although Cesar Chavez Day is a federal commemorative holiday, it is not one of the 11 federally recognized holidays that require government offices to close. As a result, banks, the U.S. Postal Service, and most federal offices remain open. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, some state and local offices in California and Arizona may close in observance of the holiday, due to Chavez's strong ties to both states. What are the federal holidays in 2025? There are typically only 11 federal holidays when federal offices and agencies close, but this year included Inauguration Day. While federal law does not require private companies to observe any federal holidays, many businesses and schools choose to offer time off or holiday pay throughout the year for these observances. Cesar Chavez Day is not generally included. Inauguration Day, which took place on Jan. 20, is not part of the regular 11 federal holidays, but because it aligned with Martin Luther King Jr. Day, most American workers had the day off. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Heres a list of the federal holidays in 2025: Jan. 1, 2025 New Year's Day Jan. 20, 2025 Birthday of Martin Luther King Jr. Jan. 20, 2025 Inauguration Day Feb. 17, 2025 Washington's Birthday (Presidents' Day) May 26, 2025 Memorial Day June 19, 2025 Juneteenth National Independence Day July 4, 2025 Independence Day Sept. 1, 2025 Labor Day Oct. 13, 2025 Indigenous People's Day Nov. 11, 2025 Veterans Day Nov. 27, 2025 Thanksgiving Day Dec. 25, 2025 Christmas Day This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: When is Cesar Chavez Day 2025? Are banks, USPS closed? The head of Prince Harrys Africa charity has accused the Duke of Sussex of harassment and bullying on a grand scale as she claimed the royal now has a toxic brand. Prince Harry, 40, sensationally quit the Sentebale charity which he co-founded in 2006 to help young people affected by AIDs in southern Africa along with his co-founder and all five of its trustees on Tuesday, rather than work with its chairwoman, Dr. Sophie Chandauka. Now the under-fire leader has accused the royal of unleashing his PR machine on her following the release of his joint statement with co-founder Prince Seeiso of Lesotho. Follow along with The Posts live blog on everything you need to know about the British royal family. The only reason Im here is because at some point on Tuesday, Prince Harry authorized the release of a damaging piece of news to the outside world without informing me or my country directors, or my executive director, Chandauka told Sky News in an interview on Sunday. The head of an Africa charity founded by Prince Harry has accused him of harassment and bullying. REUTERS And can you imagine what that attack has done for me, on me and the 540 individuals in the Sentebale organizations and their famil[ies]? she went on. That is an example of harassment and bullying at scale. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Duke and Duchess of Sussex contacted through their Archewell foundation, the Sentebale charity and Meghan Markles official site As Ever did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Chandaukas claims were branded as completely baseless by a source close to the former Sentebale charitys trustees, Sky News reported. Dr Sophie Chandauka, chairwoman of Sentebale, has hit out at the Duke of Sussex. Getty Images for Sentebale The ex-trustees fully expected this publicity stunt and reached their collective decision with this in mind, the source added. They remain firm in their resignation, for the good of the charity, and look forward to the adjudication of the truth. Prince Harry tried to eject Chandauka from Sentebale, she claimed, as she accused him of being the number one risk to the charity. The Duke also demanded the charity share a public message of support for his wife, Meghan Markle, after a polo fundraiser she organized went badly, she alleged. Prince Harry was accused of pressuring the charity to issue a statement in support of Meghan Markle after her appearance at a polo game went badly. WireImage I said I wouldnt, Chanduaka went on. 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Asked if Prince Harry was the number one risk to the charity, she replied yes. She added that many of the charitys sponsors had walked away around the same time the Sussexes left the UK. When she asked why, she was told that it was an uncomfortable conversation to have with Prince Harry in the room. Chandauka who has been chairwoman of Sentebale since 2023 also accused Prince Harry and co-founder Prince Seeiso of trying to force a failure at the charity in a separate interview. The princes want to force a failure and then come to the rescue, she alleged in the interview with the Financial Times. Dr Chandauka has led the charity co-founded by Prince Harry since 2023. Getty Images for Sentebale The number one risk for this organization was the toxicity of its lead patrons brand, she went on. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Her remarks marked the first time she had broken her silence following the joint statement from Princes Harry and Seeiso on Tuesday, accusing her of creating an untenable situation at the charity whose name means forget me not. The relationship between the charitys trustees and the chair of the board broke down beyond repair, creating an untenable situation, the statement read. 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. The UK Charity Commission, a government body which registers and regulates charities, is examining the fallout. We can confirm that we are aware of concerns about the governance of Sentebale, a Charity Commission spokesperson told The Post. We are assessing the issues to determine the appropriate regulatory steps. By Andrew Goudsward WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. President Donald Trump's Justice Department said on Monday it was pulling out of a lawsuit that challenges a Republican-backed Georgia election law as discriminatory, abandoning a position it took under Democratic President Joe Biden. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi said recent increases in Black voter turnout in the battleground state refuted the lawsuit's claim that the 2021 law, which mandated new voting requirements, amounted to voter suppression. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Georgians deserve secure elections, not fabricated claims of false voter suppression meant to divide us," Bondi said in a statement. The move was the latest in a series of actions by the Justice Department to end Biden-era civil rights actions and shift the focus of the Civil Rights Division to pursue conservative causes. The law is also being challenged by several civil rights groups including the Georgia chapter of the NAACP, which said it would continue its effort. "When the government drops the ball and turns a blind eye to injustice, we will step in," Gerald Griggs, the president of the Georgia NAACP chapter, told Reuters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a 2021 lawsuit, the Justice Department alleged that the law disproportionately harmed Black voters by limiting absentee ballots and banning the distribution of water or food to people waiting in line at polling places. Georgia has denied the claims, arguing the law is aimed at securing elections. Brad Raffensperger, a Republican who serves as the state's top elections official, said the Justice Departments move shows the law stands on solid legal ground. Preliminary data from the 2024 election shows that while the total number of ballots cast by Black voters increased, the turnout gap between white and Black voters grew by about 3% from 2020 to 2024, according to the left-leaning Brennan Center for Justice at New York University School of Law. (Reporting by Andrew Goudsward; editing by Andy Sullivan and Hugh Lawson) CHARLESTON, Ill. (WCIA) The Charleston Police Department will be assessed next week in their pursuit of accreditation. From April 6-7, representatives from the Illinois Law Enforcement Accreditation Program (ILEAP) will conduct an on-site assessment of the department. The department said this is a critical step in the process for accreditation, and shows their commitment to excellence in law enforcement practices. Mattoon woman convicted of shaking baby will not be retried Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Charleston Police Department hopes to receive Tier 1 Accreditation. It consists of more than 60 standards which ensure professionalism, accountability and efficiency in operations. The accreditation process includes a review of policies, procedures and practices, followed by the on-site assessment. As a part of the assessment, members of the community are invited to call representatives from ILEAP and share their input regarding the police departments compliance with ILEAP standards. ILEAP will take calls on April 7 from 12-1 p.m. Dial 217-348-5221 and select option 2 to speak privately with a representative from ILEAP. Surgery staff push for certification requirement with Illinois bill ILEAP is a voluntary accreditation program. You can read more about the program and the standards for Tier 1 Accreditation on the website for the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCIA.com. Upgrading the look of Windows collection, the most original design of Minase watches Introducing new dials on the Windows collection. Until now, the dials were made of steel and treated with PVD. They are now available in electroformed copper material, lacquered in white, blue, green and ice blue colors. The YUKIHIRA pattern, as it now appears on the dials, originates from a hammering process. It reflects light beautifully and creates a sense of depth and shadow. It is enhanced by the beautiful indexes and case, treated with Minases exclusive handmade sallaz polishing. Windows Collection The Windows collection showcases Minases vision of geometry; a mean to emphasize aesthetic dimensions of beauty. The geometric design of the watch is something never seen in watchmaking. Each one of the 7 sides of the case is adorned with a sapphire window enabling a 360 view upon the movement. The Windows collection is available in stainless steel or in 18K rose or yellow gold. The watch features a stunning interplay of brushed and sallaz polished areas, creating a captivating visual appeal. Windows Collection Minase Each Windows is equipped with a top-execution Swiss ETA 2892-2 movement customized for the brand with a bespoke rotor attached with ceramic bearings. Minase combines both Swiss precision and Japanese traditional know-how. The brand's logo, a drill head, pays homage to Kyowa, Minases parent company, a supplier of high- end watch components and tools since 1963. Orders and availability The new YUKIHIRA dials will be already available for purchase on Minase webshop from the 1st of April 2025: https://minasewatches.com/webshop. They will be officially presented during the Watches and Wonders week. Those dials will eventually replace the current ones that are still available in limited quantities. SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KCAU) The trial of a Cherokee man accused of killing his infant child will be held in Woodbury County. Luis Contreras-Deciga, 24, has been charged with first-degree murder in the death of his infant child. The trial was approved to be moved out of Cherokee County on March 3 with officials deciding between Woodbury and Kossuth counties and potential locations. Polk and Pottawattamie counties were also brought up during discussions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In court documents filed on March 27, officials announced that they have settled on moving the trial to Woodbury County. Former Storm Lake official indicted on child porn charges There will be a conference to schedule Contreras-Decigas trial held on April 15 and 9:30 a.m. Contreras-Deciga was charged with first-degree murder after an infant was reportedly found unresponsive on May 8, 2024, while under his care. After four days in the hospital, the infant was declared brain dead and deceased, with an autopsy finding the cause to be a homicide due to blunt force head injuries. Authorities interviewed Contreras-Deciga, who allegedly said the infant became unresponsive when he violently shook the infant while asking the infant what he needed. He then called the mother to call for emergency assistance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Authorities also examined Contreras-Decigas phone and found messages between him and another person who told Contreras-Deciga to deny any aggressive behavior and to be consistent with his version of events, documents say. Contreras-Deciga was arrested in Dec. 2024 and pleaded not guilty in Jan. 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 SiouxlandProud | Sioux City, IA | News, Weather, and Sports. The owner of a Chicago-area construction company has been charged in a scheme to bribe an allegedly corrupt Amtrak official overseeing a $58 million contract to renovate a historic train station in Philadelphia with hundreds of thousands of dollars in lavish gifts, including trips to India and the Galapagos Islands, meals at an expensive steakhouse, and a German shepherd puppy with doggie training. Mark Snedden, 69, of Munster, Indiana, the founder and president of Dolton-based MARK 1 Restoration, was charged in U.S. District Court in Philadelphia in a criminal information made public Friday with one count each of conspiracy to commit federal program bribery and making a false claim, court records show. An arraignment date has not been set as of Monday. The charges carry a maximum possible sentence of 10 years in prison, though Snedden has been cooperating with the investigation since at least 2019. Prosecutors are also seeking about $1.5 million in forfeiture from Snedden, according to the charges. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Three other current or former employees of MARK 1, Donald Seefeldt, Lee Maniatis and Khaled Dallo, have pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing, court records show. Sneddens Chicago-based attorney, Joseph Duffy, was not immediately available for comment. In a statement, Dennis Culloton, a spokesman for MARK 1, said Snedden has accepted full responsibility for this matter. From the moment this investigation surfaced in November 2019, MARK 1 and its employees, including Mr. Snedden, have provided extensive cooperation to the governments investigation, and will continue to do so, Culloton said. Not only was the historic restoration of the 30th Street Station completed successfully in 2020, Culloton added, the Preservation Alliance of Greater Philadelphia later praised the results, saying the project rediscovered the majesty and extended the lifespan of one of Americas grandest train stations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement MARK 1 remains in business, and the companys web touts the Philadelphia train station renovation as one of its top projects. The charges against Snedden come nearly four years after the Tribune exposed the Chicago-area connections to the investigation, which centered on an Amtrak official, Ajith Bhaskaran, who allegedly approved tens of millions of dollars of extra payments for MARK 1 over the course of the project to restore the facade of Philadelphias 30th Street train station, nearly doubling the amount promised in the original contract. Among the gifts allegedly bestowed upon Bhaskaran by Sneddens company was a Tourneau watch that cost more than $11,000, according to the charges. Shortly after receiving the watch, Bhaskaran approved millions in additional spending for MARK 1, the charges alleged. On Jan. 23, 2017, Maniatis forwarded the approval of the change order to Snedden with the notation $ ding. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Later that year, Maniatis, with Sneddens approval, spent $4,700 related to the purchase of a purebred German shepherd puppy from Mittelwest breeders in Wonder Lake, according to an FBI search warrant affidavit unsealed several years ago. About a month after receiving the dog, which he named Matcha, Bhaskaran requested that Amtrak authorize an additional $5.7 million for the facade restoration project, with much of the requested funds to go to MARK 1. Then, in early 2018, Bhaskaran emailed Maniatis a $1,475 invoice from a dog-training school with instructions to Please call and discuss this with me. Credit card records show Maniatis paid for that invoice as well as an additional charge from the training school for $3,875 in March 2018, the affidavit alleged. FBI agents later were watching Bhaskaran at his home and took photos of him with the dog. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Your affiant is aware, based on FBI surveillance, that Bhaskaran is the present owner of a German shepherd, the affidavit stated. Bhaskaran was found dead in his home of an apparent heart attack in October 2020. At the time, he had been negotiating a plea deal with the government on separate charges alleging he bilked the Social Security program out of a quarter-million dollars, the Tribune previously reported. The bribery scandal, which began when an anonymous letter accusing Bhaskaran of fraud was sent to Amtraks inspector general in March 2018, is one of the biggest to ever hit Amtrak, a quasi-public corporation that is heavily subsidized by the U.S. government, with nearly $4.3 billion in taxpayer funds going to the agency in 2022. Amtrak has said it took swift and definitive action to terminate the employees involved in the scheme and enhanced its oversight to protect the company from criminal activities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We continue to cooperate with the investigation, the company has said in previous statements. The contract to restore Philadelphias 30th Street train station was inked in December 2015 and originally called on MARK 1 to be paid $58.5 million to restore and clean the almost 90-year-old buildings limestone facade and provide a complete window restoration, records show. To do the job, MARK 1 had to replace nearly 950 limestone panels, which were made from stone mined in Alabama and then fabricated in Chicago before being shipped back to Philadelphia for installation. The company also replaced or restored more than 2,000 window panes from the old Art Deco windows, outsourcing some of the work to an Oregon glass manufacturer to match the originals. As a program manager for Amtraks major capital construction division, Bhaskaran oversaw work on the project and had control over the purse strings, approving payments to MARK 1 as well as any applications for additional funds due to cost overruns, according to the charges. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In March 2016, just three months after the contract was granted, a MARK 1 project manager emailed Maniatis saying he had been given inside information by Bhaskaran and that they had plans to take him out to dinner, the affidavit stated. Keep it tight between us, the email quoted in the document stated. When r u coming into Philly? Steak dinner, cigars and whiskey. Let me know. Maniatis replied with a smiley face emoticon and wrote, Plan on steak Tuesday night baby. The affidavit alleged that over one two-day period, Maniatis and his team racked up more than $2,000 in charges at a high-end Philadelphia steakhouse and a nearby cigar bar. After one such excursion on Jan. 19, 2017, Maniatis received notification that Amtrak had approved extra funding submitted by Bhaskaran and sent a text to MARK 1s owner reading, Dinner was worth it, according to charges filed against Maniatis last year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement FBI agents raided MARK 1s headquarters on Maryland Avenue in Dolton on Nov. 14, 2019, seizing cellphones and other items from company executives and employees involved in the Philadelphia project, the records show. Bhaskaran was arrested the same day on separate wire fraud charges alleging he used his deceased former mother-in-laws information to fraudulently collect $250,000 in Social Security benefits, court records show. At the time of his arrest, Bhaskaran had an armada of fancy cars in the driveway, including a Mercedes and two BMWs, according to a filing by prosecutors. He also had a number of fraudulent passports and other government-issued IDs and more than $7,000 in cash that he could not explain, the filing stated. In a post-arrest statement to investigators, Bhaskaran admitted to accepting tens of thousands of dollars in bribes from contractors performing significant contract work for Amtrak, according to prosecutors. He was negotiating a plea deal with the government when his body was found at his home in Cherry Hill on Oct. 16, 2020, according to court records. jmeisner@chicagotribune.com Two people are injured including a child after a tree fell on a home during Sunday nights storms in Ohio. [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Columbus firefighters responded around 10:30 p.m. to reports that a tree fell on a house on Noe Bixby Road, according to our news partner WBNS in Columbus. TRENDING STORIES: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Battalion Chief Jeff Geitter told WBNS that a large tree fell on the house. It trapped and injured a child. Three people were in the house when it happened. Medics safely freed the child from the home and transported them to an area hospital, WBNS said. An adult was also taken to the hospital with minor injuries. [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] This week, a consortium of U.S. companies led by Blackrock was supposed to complete the purchase of two ports in Panama from CK Hutchison, a Chinese firm based in Hong Kong. U.S. President Donald Trump pointed to the sale as a foreign policy success during his recent State of the Union speech to Congress, claiming it demonstrated that his threats about seizing the Panama Canal had already helped reduce Chinese influence. However, as of late last week, the sale is now on hold. The official explanation from the participants is that the port transfer is a complex transaction that requires more time. The real explanation is that the question of port control is at the center of a geopolitical clash in the hemisphere. I ended last weeks column on Secretary of State Marco Rubios trip to the Caribbean by noting that, if the U.S. only brings threats to its diplomacy with the Caribbean, it will provide an opening that Beijing will be all too eager to seize. This idea that China will gain as the U.S. withdraws aid and bullies its allies worldwide has admittedly become a piece of conventional wisdom seen regularly in foreign policy commentary since Trump returned to the White House. Ryan Berg, director of the Americas Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, recently countered that line of analysis with regard to Latin America, arguing that China is unlikely to improve its position despite the Trump administrations attitude in the region. Berg provides four reasons to support his smart contrarian take: Chinas own economic challenges at home, which limit its potential to exploit Trumps errors; clear U.S. redlines from the Trump administration, which will deter China from trying to do so; private sector investments from U.S. companies, which can offset some of the reduction of U.S. government assistance; and the preferences of Latin American governments, which may move them away from China as an alternative to the U.S. toward partners such as Europe or other Asian countries. Left unstated is the scenario in which China, given its own constraints, may prefer to lean into Trumps views on spheres of influence and retreat from the Western Hemisphere in order to shore up its influence in its own neighborhood. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Berg may very well be correct about Chinas long-term challenges in the Western Hemisphere. In the meantime, however, the temporarily scuttled port deal in Panama demonstrates that Beijings short-term response to Trumps coercion is to push back. To get more in-depth news and expert analysis on global affairs from WPR, sign up for our free Daily Review newsletter. After the announcement of the sale of the port concessions at the two ends of the canal, Ta Kung Paoa pro-Beijing media outlet in Hong Kongcriticized the deal. Chinas government then amplified Ta Kung Paos article on social media, suggesting official approval for the critical position he expressed. The article specifically cited the concern that the U.S. could use greater control of the canal to block Chinese vessels and products from passing through it, a clear violation of the neutrality agreements that currently govern the canals operation. Trump has cited that same concern over how China might use its control of the ports to disrupt the canal in a conflict situation, and China appears worried that Trump is projecting about how Washington would likely use the canal if a conflict occurs. The column encouraged the owner of CK Hutchison to think twice about the sale. Chinas rhetoric and actions across Latin America reflect those of a country that is not voluntarily backing down in the face of Trumps threats. Since that articles publication, the tone of Chinas rhetoric on the deal has gotten sharper. A note from Chinese state media, which was published this weekend but subsequently taken down, compared the deal to handing a knife to an opponent. According to CNN, Chinas anti-trust regulators are now officially investigating CK Hutchison and may attempt to block the company from selling its stake in the ports. Notably, Ta Kung Pao escalated its criticisms of the deal today. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Outside of Panama, China is also aggressively pushing back on the Trump administrations agenda in the Western Hemisphere. In a statement at the National Peoples Congress earlier this month, Foreign Minister Wang Yi said, Latin American nations aspire to independence and autonomy, not the Monroe Doctrine. Last week, Chinas ambassador to Colombia also referenced the 19th-century doctrine, stating, In 2025, the U.S. threatens Latin America, raising its big stick once again. These comments suggest that wolf warrior diplomacy is making a comeback in Chinese foreign policy, at least as it pertains to its efforts to exploit the openings offered by the Trump administration. Beyond the rhetoric, China has offered Cuba debt relief to compensate for renewed U.S. sanctions. It has increased oil purchases from Caracas in the past month, amid signs that the Trump administration will impose further restrictions on Venezuelas energy sector. Chinese companies signed new lithium deals in the Southern Cone and have expanded their strategic commodities purchases from South America as part of competing against Trumps tariffs and trade wars. The Chinese-run port of Chancay in Peru continues operating, even as Chinese mining firms try to solidify their copper mining operations in that country. And in Argentina, President Javier Milei continues to work with Beijing as a trade and finance partner despite his anti-China rhetoric as a candidate in 2023, because China can provide additional liquidity that Milei will need as he tries to remove currency controls from the countrys volatile peso. All these actions by China reflect those of a country that is not voluntarily backing down in the face of Trumps threats. Back in Panama, Chinas attempt to block the transfer of port ownership is not likely to succeed, and the sale will likely go forward at some point soon. The government of Panama had been auditing the ports and quietly pushing some sort of ownership transfer even before Trump was elected. But even a small delay could play to Beijings advantage, depending on how Trump and his team react to that it. Several weeks ago, NBC reported that Trump has asked the U.S. military to put together credible military options to ensure access to the canal that range from cooperation with Panamanian authorities to an invasion to seize and hold the canal with military force. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth is scheduled to visit the canal zone in early April. Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino wants to work with the Trump administration, but these kinds of hostile threats and rhetoric regarding the canal dont sit well with his political ideology, in which national pride and sovereignty figure prominently, and wont be tolerated by the Panamanian people. Mulino needs the publics support to advance his economic agenda, including implementation of a recent social security reform and the potential reopening of a controversial copper mine. So every time Trump administration officials open their mouths to talk about the canal, they limit his ability to work with them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since returning as U.S. president, Trump has espoused an expansionist ideology that seeks to increase the territory of the United States, including the Panama Canal. He also wants to combat Chinas influence in the Western Hemisphere. In Panama, those two goals are clashing. China is waiting there and elsewhere in the hemisphere to make gains wherever the Trump administration gives them an opening. Its possible that Chinas own constraints and Latin Americas preferences may hold Beijing back in the future. But at least this month, China isnt acting like it. James Bosworth is the founder of Hxagon, a firm that does political risk analysis and bespoke research in emerging and frontier markets, as well as a global fellow at the Wilson Centers Latin America Program. He has two decades of experience analyzing politics, economics and security in Latin America and the Caribbean. The post China Is Already Pushing Back Against Trump in Panama and Latin America appeared first on World Politics Review. BEIJING (Reuters) -China, Japan and South Korea agreed to jointly respond to U.S. tariffs, a social media account affiliated with Chinese state media said on Monday, an assertion Seoul called "somewhat exaggerated", while Tokyo said there was no such discussion. The state media comments came after the three countries held their first economic dialogue in five years on Sunday, seeking to facilitate regional trade as the Asian export powers brace against U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs. Japan and South Korea are seeking to import semiconductor raw materials from China, and China is also interested in purchasing chip products from Japan and South Korea, the account, Yuyuan Tantian, linked to China Central Television, said in a post on Weibo. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All three sides agreed to strengthen supply chain cooperation and engage in more dialogue on export controls, the post said. When asked about the report, a spokesperson for South Korea's trade ministry said "the suggestion that there was a joint response to U.S. tariffs appears to have been somewhat exaggerated," and referred to the text of the countries' joint statement. Japan's Trade Minister Yoji Muto, when asked about it at a press conference on Tuesday, said there was a meeting of trade ministers at the weekend but there were no such discussions. The meeting was just an exchange of views, Muto said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During Sunday's meeting, the countries' trade ministers agreed to speed up talks on a South Korea-Japan-China free trade agreement deal to promote "regional and global trade", according to a statement released after the meeting. "The three countries exchanged views on the global trade environment, and as you can see in the joint statement, they shared their understanding of the need to continue economic and trade cooperation," the South Korean trade ministry spokesperson said. The countries' trade ministers met ahead of Trump's planned announcement on Wednesday of more tariffs in what he calls "liberation day", as he upends Washington's trading partnerships. Beijing, Seoul and Tokyo are major U.S. trading partners, although they have been at loggerheads amongst themselves over issues including territorial disputes and Japan's release of wastewater from the wrecked Fukushima nuclear power plant. (Reporting by Xiuhao Chen and Ryan Woo; Additional reporting by Joyce Lee in Seoul, John Geddie in Tokyo and Ritsuko Shimizu in Tokyo; Editing by Sharon Singleton and Jamie Freed) The first of two days of federal hearings March 24-25 on proposed port fees targeting Chinese ships as expected drew opposition from trade-related maritime industry stakeholders who said that while they support a revitalization of U.S. shipbuilding, the charges in most cases will make their cost of doing business more expensive. The fees, which are aimed at helping to restore Americas maritime might, unsurprisingly did find support from domestic shipbuilding interests and unions. The fees proposed by the United States trade representative (USTR) in February would charge as much as $1.5 million per port call in the U.S. for any container ship built in China, regardless of ownership or flag. Vessels such as crude carriers would also be subject to the fees. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A total 37.8% of the current active container ship fleet was built in Chinese shipyards, according to analyst Alphaliner. The current container ship orderbook consisting of just under 800 vessels with a total capacity of over 9 million twenty-foot equivalent units has over 70% of its units placed with Chinese shipyards. Of the top 10 shipyards in terms of vessels on order, seven are in China. The public testimony follows a Section 301 petition filed by five labor unions in March 2024, alleging unfair trade practices by China in the maritime sector. A subsequent USTR report agreed, calling Chinas actions unreasonable and a burden on U.S. commerce. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the hearing held at the International Trade Commission in Washington March 24, a number of unions including the International Longshore and Warehouse Union Coast Longshore Division, voiced strong support for the USTRs proposed remedies, emphasizing the need to revitalize American shipbuilding and counter Chinas unfair trade practices, which they argued have led to job losses and weakened the U.S. industrial base. They recommended that proceeds from proposed port service fees be directed to a trust fund for shipbuilding industrial base and workforce development. A key concern raised by the ILWU was the potential for diversion of United States-bound cargo to ports in Mexico or Canada, for later transshipment to the U.S., suggesting a land border fee to address this issue. Representatives of the China Association of the National Shipbuilding Industry and the China Shipowners Association told the hearing they opposed the proposed actions, arguing they would harm the global maritime industry, disrupt supply chains, and negatively impact the U.S. economy by increasing freight costs and reducing port throughput. They maintained that Chinas shipbuilding success was due to innovation and hard work, not unfair practices. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Congressional testimony was provided throughout the day. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, D-Ill., testified in support of stronger remedies, advocating direct support to revitalize U.S. shipbuilding and related industries. Rep. Chris Deluzio, D-Pa., a former Navy officer, echoed these sentiments, highlighting national security concerns and urging bipartisan action to strengthen remedies. Rep. Debbie Dingell, a Democrat from heavily unionized Michigan, emphasized the importance of a level playing field for American workers and supported the proposed actions, including service fees and addressing security concerns about Chinese logistics software. New Jersey Democrat Donald Norcross, whose south Jersey district abuts shipyards and maritime businesses outside the Port of Philadelphia, stressed the need to revitalize the shipbuilding sector and ensure funds collected from Section 301 actions are reinvested in the industry. Another witness panel included representatives from major American steel companies such as Cleveland-Cliffs (NYSE: CLF), Nucor (NYSE: NUE) and the Alliance for American Manufacturing. They advocated Buy America provisions and financial incentives for American shipbuilders. But a panel of American shipping companies including World Direct Shipping, Tropical Shipping, the Chamber of Shipping of America and Unitcargo Container Line, told the hearing that the proposed port fees would disproportionately harm American-owned carriers, particularly those serving short-sea routes between domestic ports. They argued for exemptions for American-owned companies and raised concerns about increased costs for American exporters and consumers, potential cargo diversion, and the lack of viable alternatives to Chinese-built vessels in the short term. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Representatives from other U.S.-based shipping companies Seaboard Marine Ltd., Linea Peninsular Inc., North Florida Shipping Inc. and Bermuda Container Line reiterated concerns about the disproportionate impact of port fees on smaller carriers and those serving specific trade routes such as the Caribbean. They, too, requested exemptions for U.S.-owned companies and suggested alternative fee structures, such as per-container fees. Canadian panelists from the Ontario Marine Council and the Chamber of Marine Commerce cautioned against unintended consequences of the proposed actions on the integrated U.S.-Canada maritime trade, particularly on Great Lakes shipping. They proposed a more targeted approach focusing on long-haul shipping and exemptions for short-sea shipping, to protect essential cross-border trade. A multinational maritime group that included the World Shipping Council, the International Chamber of Shipping, Caribbean-based Caricom Private Sector Organisation and the U.S. Northwest Seaport Alliance voiced strong concerns about the potential damage to the U.S. economy, increased costs for consumers and exporters, and the risk of cargo diversion. They argued that the proposed fees were disconnected from the goal of changing Chinas behavior and urged for a more balanced approach, with some suggesting exemptions for Caricom states or a focus on long-haul voyages. Find more articles by Stuart Chirls here. Related coverage: February freight volumes mixed at Gulf Coast ports Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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 The post China port fees need more nuanced strategy, shipping industry tells hearing appeared first on FreightWaves. (Bloomberg) -- China said that three nationals apparently kidnapped while fishing off the coast of Ghana are safe now. Most Read from Bloomberg Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun made the remarks when asked Monday about the incident involving suspected pirates on March 27. China will work with Ghana to earnestly protect the safety and security of Chinese nationals and institutions in Ghana, he added. The abductions took place in the waters off the West African nation on March 27, the Ghana Armed Forces had said in a statement. Seven armed men boarded a fishing boat named the Mengxin I, fired warning shots and seized mobile phones of the crew, Ghanas military said. They then kidnapped the vessels captain, chief mate and chief engineer, it said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement --With assistance from Victoria Cavaliere and Virginia Van Natta. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2025 Bloomberg L.P. BEIJING (AP) Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi traveled to Moscow on Monday for talks with his counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, as Russia and Ukraine discuss U.S. President Donald Trumps proposal to end the 3-year-old war. Wang is scheduled to meet with Lavrov on Tuesday, days after Ukraine and Russia agreed in principle to a limited ceasefire after Trump spoke with the two countries leaders. It remains to be seen when such a truce might take effect, how long it might last and what targets would be off-limits. Trump lashed out at both Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Sunday, expressing frustration with the Russian and Ukrainian leaders. Although Trump insisted to reporters that were making a lot of progress, he acknowledged that theres tremendous hatred between the two men. He said he was angry, pissed off that Putin questioned Zelenskyys credibility. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun, in comments consistent with Chinas position, emphasized Beijing's assertions of neutrality in the Ukraine conflict. We always believe that dialogue and negotiation are the only viable way out of the crisis. Chinas cooperation with Russia does not target a third party and should not be affected by any third party, Guo told reporters at a daily briefing. China did not mention Ukraine in its announcement of Wang's trip, saying only that the two countries continue to deepen back-to-back strategic coordination and expand practical cooperation across various fields," as well as "upholding the basic norms governing international relations. The Chinese side is ready to take this visit as an opportunity to work with the Russian side ... on international and regional issues of common concern, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson was quoted as saying. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement China has provided strong diplomatic support for Russia in the more than three years since it launched a full-scale invasion of its neighbor, along with an economic lifeline through the trade in energy and consumer goods. However, it has not knowingly provided Russia with weapons or military expertise and has put forward a vague peace plan that was swiftly dismissed by most observers. Meanwhile, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un expressed his unwavering support for Russias war in Ukraine during a meeting with a top Russian security official in Pyongyang on Friday. That came after South Korean intelligence assessment in late February that North Korea had likely sent additional troops to Russia after its forces suffered heavy casualties fighting Ukrainian forces. All products featured on Teen Vogue are independently selected by Teen Vogue editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, Conde Nast may earn an affiliate commission. Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images I walked away from my job as a writer for Senator Chuck Schumer after realizing the cost wasnt just political fatigue it was my values and mental health. I spent a year on Capitol Hill in 2019 crafting messages for Senate Democrats. Every day, I wrote essays that trapped me between the progressive principles I held and centrist compromises that felt like betrayals. Eventually, the disconnect between my ideals and the institution I served became impossible to ignore. Leaving my job in the Democratic Party wasnt just a career move; it was survival. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Stay up-to-date with the politics team. Sign up for the Teen Vogue Take In many ways, Im not alone. Since 2019, Ive watched young people across the country make a similar choice turning away from a Democratic Party that once promised a hopey, changey vision but now feels distant, performative, and unwilling to fight for a future we deserve. Just like I reached my breaking point, many other young voters are reaching theirs, disillusioned by a party that claims to represent us, but increasingly fails to reflect our values or earn our trust on key issues. While theyll tell you that they have the support of young people, Democratic leaders like my former boss are increasingly alienating young voters and progressives alike due to ideological rigidity, inadequate policy responses, and a failure to address the evolving socio-political landscape. Growing up queer and nonbinary in a small, conservative Connecticut town, I only saw one side of politics American flags on pickup trucks, Republican campaign signs on every lawn, and a deep sense that I didnt belong. For most of my childhood, Democrats were more of an idea than a presence, but that changed during my senior year of high school when marriage equality was legalized. For the first time, I saw a political party advocating for people like me, and I felt a glimmer of trust that maybe, Democrats were on our side. And who was marching at the helm of the Pride Parade that year? Senator Chuck Schumer. To be clear, I believe that Schumer has supported the LGBTQ+ community meaningfully, advocating for marriage equality and supporting landmark Supreme Court cases. But over the years, that support has grown increasingly performative rainbow in appearance but hollow in substance fading into silence when real action is needed most. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2019, I helped to produce a video for Senate Democrats about Donald Trumps transgender military service ban, interviewing trans service members and illuminating the importance of inclusive service. Today, Democrats, including Schumer, appear to be in disarray over an attempt to find a unified stance on transgender rights. What once felt like a strong display of allyship now feels ambivalent, if not outright harmful. Its not just Senator Schumer whose clinging to centrism has hurt real people. In a recent episode of Gavin Newsoms podcast, This is Gavin Newsom, the California governor suggested that support for transgender rights had gone too far and hurt Democrats. Newsom and other Democrats owe trans folks more than vague sympathies and political calculus our rights arent too far or too much; theyre non-negotiable. Defending LGBTQ+ existence should be a Democratic priority, not a liability. In recent years, Democrats like Newsom and Schumer have embraced centrist, incremental approaches to issues that are fundamentally about humanity and dignity. That disconnect continues to push young voters away. But it doesnt stop with trans rights. Whether its watered-down climate policies or half-measures on student debt and health care, the Democratic Partys reluctance to take bold, unapologetic stances clashes with what young people expect from a so-called progressive movement. To be clear, were not asking for perfection were demanding urgency, empathy, and courage. Instead, were met with compromises on core values, as if basic rights are up for negotiation. For a generation facing existential crises, thats not leadership its alienation. Young voters have historically trusted Democrats to work against outdated policies and toward systemic change. But the shift in party dynamics has left many young voters increasingly disaffected by politics and disconnected from a party that once felt aligned with our values. Reflecting on my time on Capitol Hill, I notice this rupture more than ever. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The overall cultural disconnect and messaging failures of Senator Schumers Democratic Party are evident in Schumers recent comments on the war in Gaza. In an interview with the New York Times, Schumers refusal to call the crisis in Gaza a genocide wasnt just political hedging, it was a harmful erasure of the suffering and loss experienced by Palestinians. His comments minimized a humanitarian catastrophe and sent a message that calculated language matters more than accountability or human lives. In moments of profound injustice, silence or equivocation from leaders like Senator Schumer doesnt equate to neutrality; it enables further violence. In contrast, alternative progressive leaders like Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez have proven to have a finger on the pulse of what young progressives are feeling and recognize the indignity of our current political climate. Their advocacy for bold reform and work alongside grassroots movements like the Sunrise Movement appeals to young people because they address social justice issues directly and aggressively. Their digital strategies are solid; their teams expertly utilize social media platforms to reach young people, forging genuine connections and deepening understanding of their positioning on the issues that matter most. But these issues racial equity, anti-war advocacy, LGBTQ+ rights, reproductive freedom, and economic justice are not causes that only impact or motivate young people. These struggles impact families, communities, and future generations, shaping the society we all live in. In healing these generational political divides, we can recognize our shared humanity and collective responsibility to ensure that everyone, regardless of identity or circumstance, can live freely, safely, and with opportunity. The only way to move forward is with Democratic leadership willing to adapt to these times. I walked away from my job on Capitol Hill because it broke my heart and my trust in the Democratic Party. I left feeling disillusioned, unheard, and distressed. I know Im not alone. When the party clings to the political center and treats urgent issues like bargaining chips, it fails to meet the moment and pushes a generation away. If Leader Schumer wants his party to retain the support of young people, we need new leadership that prioritizes people over power. We need the Democratic Party to realign its strategies and policies to reflect bold action, moral clarity, and genuine connection. This means listening, showing up, and fighting unapologetically for the future that young people (and all people) are demanding not just during election cycles but every single day. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Originally Appeared on Teen Vogue Want more U.S. government coverage? Multifamily residences are seen on 11th Avenue in the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Denver on June 9, 2023. (Quentin Young/Colorado Newsline) This story originally appeared in Stateline. Minneapolis on Thursday has become the fourth U.S. city to ban algorithmic rental price-fixing software, joining San Francisco, Philadelphia and Berkeley, California, in a growing wave of legislation aimed to protect renters from rental price-gouging. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While momentum builds at the city level with Portland, Oregon; Providence, Rhode Island; and San Diego exploring similar laws statewide bans have been slower to emerge. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX The legislation targets tools such as RealPages YieldStar, which uses landlord-shared data to recommend rent increases a practice critics say worsens unaffordable housing. Stateline reported last year that the algorithms have drawn increasing oversight attention as the country continues to wrestle with an affordable housing crisis. This wave of action shows that local governments are stepping up where federal enforcement takes time, said Ivan Luevanos-Elms, executive director of Local Progress, the national network helping coordinate these efforts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2024, proposed legislation failed to prohibit the use of these algorithms stalled in Illinois, New York and Rhode Island. Washington state has seen the most movement, with a proposed ban passing the Senate and awaiting a House vote. Colorados House approved a similar bill last week, and its now headed to the Senate. House Bill 25-1004, introduced on the first day of the states legislative session, would regulate rent-setting computer algorithms. A report from 2024 that has since been removed from the White House website found that Denver renters who live in buildings that rely on such algorithms pay an average of $136 more per month. Landlords resist Elsewhere, New York Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul has proposed legislation to ban algorithmic rent-setting tools, while Oregon lawmakers are considering an expansion of city-level bans. Lawmakers in Arizona, California, Idaho, Illinois, Georgia, New Hampshire, Hawaii have introduced bills, but none has advanced. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The legislative surge follows lawsuits against RealPage and six major landlords, accused by the U.S. Department of Justice and 10 state attorneys general of collusion and anticompetitive practices. Those attorneys general include Colorados Phil Weiser. But with court cases expected to drag on for years, cities are opting for faster action. Still, these bans have met resistance from real estate and landlord groups. In Oregon, landlords and property managers argue the software helps manage rentals more efficiently. Without these tools, we must rely on outdated methods, said Oregon landlord Aaron Douglas in submitted testimony. This isnt just an inconvenience; its a step backward. Stateline reporter Robbie Sequeira can be reached at rsequeira@stateline.org Stateline is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Stateline maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Scott S. Greenberger for questions: info@stateline.org. Minase is a growing Japanese watchmaking brand with a unique identity. Its universe, design, and case construction are unconventional. Discover a Japanese gem and what makes it unique. The saying goes that Japanese haute horology is Switzerland's best-kept secret. Indeed, several Japanese brands are making their mark in the watchmaking world, particularly among enthusiasts who venture off the beaten path. The latest one is Minase (pronounced Minaze). Collectors who fall in love with it are drawn for the same reasons that guide most of their purchases: a confidential brand, limited production, authenticity, and a high degree of quality. Four characteristics that also define Minase. Originally from Japan, the brand now generates nearly 50% of its sales internationallywith the proportions of a brand that produces no more than 500 watches per year. Uruga Model - Minase Spin-off of a renowned group Understanding Minase starts with understanding its origin. It all began with Kyowa, a Japanese company established in 1963, specializing in watchmaking tools, known for its expertise in machining complex shapes and their finishing. So much so that in 2005, the parent company decided to create a subsidiary that would apply these skills under its own name. Thus, Minase was born, named after a local village near the parent company's base in the Akita Prefecture. Keen observers will draw parallels between the art of polishing and "another great Japanese watchmaking house," Grand Seiko. The latter highlights its "Zaratsu" polishing. At Minase, it is a "Sallaz" polishing, named after the two brothers who invented this mirror-polishing method for flat surfaces. Technically, "Zaratsu" and "Sallaz" are identical. However, the legend suggests that the first was actually a phonetic distortion of the very Swiss name "Sallaz" by Japanese artisans who pronounced it... "Zaratsu." Two names, one technique. Sallaz polishing workshop - Minase Sandwich cases Beyond finishing, Minase stands out with its case construction. Because in reality, there are almost two cases: the first, conventional and external, and a second, placed within the first, with the dial representing the upper surface. A "case-in-case" design, in a way. This is why most Minase collections feature dials that seem to float in mid-air. It is also through this perforated circumference that light enters the heart of the watcha chiaroscuro effect that Japanese aesthetics have historically appreciated. Horizon Model - Minase Lifetime repairability The third and final feature of Minase is its MORE approach, which stands for Minase Original Rebuild Equation. The idea behind this modular "case-in-case" construction is to offer permanent reparability. Each component can be easily accessed and replaced, reliably and quickly, and at a lower cost. This argument is crucial for a brand that aims to be affordable, with an average price range between CHF 4,000 and 5,000, and most parts sold online. Divido Model - Minase Minase will be exhibiting close to Palexpo during Watches and Wonders Geneva, from March 31 to April 3, by appointment only via this email address. New York Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul has proposed legislation to ban algorithmic price fixing in rental units such as these in Manhattan. But in her state and elsewhere, few such bills have advanced. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images) Minneapolis on Thursday has become the fourth U.S. city to ban algorithmic rental price-fixing software, joining San Francisco, Philadelphia and Berkeley, California, in a growing wave of legislation aimed to protect renters from rental price-gouging. While momentum builds at the city level with Portland, Oregon; Providence, Rhode Island; and San Diego exploring similar laws statewide bans have been slower to emerge. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The legislation targets tools such as RealPages YieldStar, which uses landlord-shared data to recommend rent increases a practice critics say worsens unaffordable housing. Stateline reported last year that the algorithms have drawn increasing oversight attention as the country continues to wrestle with an affordable housing crisis. This wave of action shows that local governments are stepping up where federal enforcement takes time, said Ivan Luevanos-Elms, executive director of Local Progress, the national network helping coordinate these efforts. In 2024, proposed legislation failed to prohibit the use of these algorithms stalled in Illinois, New York and Rhode Island. Washington state has seen the most movement, with a proposed ban passing the Senate and awaiting a House vote. Colorados House approved a similar bill this week, and its now headed to the Senate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Elsewhere, New York Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul has proposed legislation to ban algorithmic rent-setting tools, while Oregon lawmakers are considering an expansion of city-level bans. Lawmakers in Arizona, California, Idaho, Illinois, Georgia, New Hampshire, Hawaii have introduced bills, but none has advanced. The legislative surge follows lawsuits against RealPage and six major landlords, accused by the U.S. Department of Justice and 10 state attorneys general of collusion and anticompetitive practices. But with court cases expected to drag on for years, cities are opting for faster action. Still, these bans have met resistance from real estate and landlord groups. In Oregon, landlords and property managers argue the software helps manage rentals more efficiently. Without these tools, we must rely on outdated methods, said Oregon landlord Aaron Douglas in submitted testimony. This isnt just an inconvenience; its a step backward. Stateline and the 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. Stateline maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Scott S. Greenberger for questions: info@stateline.org. New York Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul has proposed legislation to ban algorithmic price fixing in rental units such as these in Manhattan. But in her state and elsewhere, few such bills have advanced. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images) Minneapolis last week became the fourth U.S. city to ban algorithmic rental price-fixing software, joining San Francisco, Philadelphia and Berkeley, California, in a growing wave of legislation aimed to protect renters from rental price-gouging. While momentum builds at the city level with Portland, Oregon; Providence, Rhode Island; and San Diego exploring similar laws statewide bans have been slower to emerge. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The legislation targets tools such as RealPages YieldStar, which uses landlord-shared data to recommend rent increases a practice critics say worsens unaffordable housing. Stateline reported last year that the algorithms have drawn increasing oversight attention as the country continues to wrestle with an affordable housing crisis. This wave of action shows that local governments are stepping up where federal enforcement takes time, said Ivan Luevanos-Elms, executive director of Local Progress, the national network helping coordinate these efforts. In 2024, proposed legislation failed to prohibit the use of these algorithms stalled in Illinois, New York and Rhode Island. Washington state has seen the most movement, with a proposed ban passing the Senate and awaiting a House vote. Colorados House approved a similar bill this week, and its now headed to the Senate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Elsewhere, New York Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul has proposed legislation to ban algorithmic rent-setting tools, while Oregon lawmakers are considering an expansion of city-level bans. Lawmakers in Arizona, California, Idaho, Illinois, Georgia, New Hampshire, Hawaii have introduced bills, but none has advanced. The legislative surge follows lawsuits against RealPage and six major landlords, accused by the U.S. Department of Justice and 10 state attorneys general of collusion and anticompetitive practices. But with court cases expected to drag on for years, cities are opting for faster action. Still, these bans have met resistance from real estate and landlord groups. In Oregon, landlords and property managers argue the software helps manage rentals more efficiently. Without these tools, we must rely on outdated methods, said Oregon landlord Aaron Douglas in submitted testimony. This isnt just an inconvenience; its a step backward. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Stateline reporter Robbie Sequeira can be reached at rsequeira@stateline.org This article was first published by Stateline, part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Stateline maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Scott S. Greenberger for questions: info@stateline.org. In early February, we wrote for KCM (here and here) that despite all the acrimony in D.C., menopause is among the few policy issues that transcends political lines. To help advance this agenda, we teamed up to publish A Citizens Guide to Menopause Advocacy, a free digital booklet to mobilize everyday people. The good news? Its working! Yes, there remains an avalanche of uncertainty about the future of federally funded research and national policy, especially around womens health. But, as covered in the Citizens Guide, state governments offer an important alternate route. Momentum is growing and fast. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For quick perspective, three states passed menopause laws over the last two years. As of 2024, Californias various medical boards including for doctors, nurses, and physicians assistants now can include coursework in menopausal health for continuing professional education requirements. Illinois (in 2023) and Louisiana (in 2024) mandated insurance coverage for some or all menopause treatments. (A bill to require insurance coverage for menopause treatment also passed in California last year, only for Governor Newsom to veto it.) Now, three months since the launch of the Citizens Guide, a whopping 13 states, blue and red alike, have introduced or advanced at least 21 bills that aim to improve menopause care, ensure affordable treatments, and bolster workplace supports. High-ranking public officials in Michigan, Illinois, and West Virginia have announced support for menopause reforms including Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer herself, who recently hosted a roundtable featuring actor and advocate Halle Berry and expert Dr. Pauline Maki, among others. That one-in-four states have proposed menopause laws shows that citizen advocacy works and lawmakers are listening. Menopause has gone from Having a Moment in 2023, to Fueling a Movement in 2024, to being named on the Ones To Watch: Legislation Landscape for 2025 list in 2025. Thats progress. Below is a state-by-state summary of menopause legislation introduced thus far this year. Check out the non-profit Lets Talk Menopause (on whose board Jen serves) for additional information and interactive features that make it easy to track progress and speak up and out. Arizona: HB 2734 would enable health care providers with tools to educate women on the symptoms of perimenopause and menopause and create informational materials. California: AB 432, the Menopause Care Equity Act would mandate comprehensive insurance coverage for menopause treatment; direct the state Medical Board to develop a menopause-specific Continuing Medical Education (CME) curriculum; and require physicians to complete menopause-specific CME if more than 25 percent of their patient population consists of women. AB 360 would require the state Medical Board to develop and administer menopause training surveys as part of the license renewal process. Connecticut: AB 6593 would require the state Department of Public Health to develop and distribute menopause guidelines and educational resources to health care providers, as well as conduct a public awareness campaign to educate residents; it would also mandate health care providers complete at least one CME credit regarding menopause. Illinois: SJR0025 would create Menopause Awareness Week on October 12-18, 2025 to drive legislative action on workforce protections, healthcare equity, and research funding. As noted in the Citizens Guide, HB5295 will expand prior bill mandating treatment coverage for post-hysterectomy patients to include all menopause treatments as of Jan. 1, 2026. Maine: LD 1079 would direct the state Department of Health and Human Services to create informational materials on perimenopause and menopause. Massachusetts: H 2499 would mandate the state Department of Public Health improve patient and clinician awareness of the menopause transition and assess and improve menopause CME; it would also assess the impact of menopause on the workforce and policies offered by employers (including health insurance coverage of menopause treatments). Nevada: SB 297 would designate the month of September as Perimenopause Awareness Month and October as Menopause Awareness Month. New Jersey: AB 5278 would mandate comprehensive insurance coverage for perimenopause and menopause care and treatment. AB 5309/S4147 would permit one to three credits of CME on menopause to be used by physicians for license renewal. SB 4197/AB 3334 would require employers to allow employees suffering from a range of menstrual disorders (including as a result of perimenopause) to work remotely unless it would create an undue burden for employers. New York: AB 5444 would mandate comprehensive insurance coverage for perimenopause and menopause care and treatment. AB 5436 would help prevent discrimination and increase awareness about menopause and perimenopause. A01940/SB3908 would amend the workers compensation law to provide four days of paid leave for menstrual complications, including perimenopause and menopause. S1720 would establish an awareness campaign on menopause hormone treatment. Oregon: HB 3064 would mandate treatment coverage by health plans within the states reach, such as those insuring many public school employees and state employees. Pennsylvania: A Senate memo has been filed to introduce 2025 legislation that would require the state Department of Health and healthcare providers to provide information about menopause and perimenopause; the bill itself is not yet live. Rhode Island: S 0361 would extend workplace protections to those experiencing menopause. Texas: HB 3961 would require the Department of State Health Services to develop and distribute a menopause educational program, and to post informational materials on the department website. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For all of us committed to womens health, this wave of legislative visibility should fuel our hope that its worth our effort to fight for bipartisan and meaningful progress. We stand by what we wrote for KCM just two (albeit long) months ago: There is a runway for progress if were committed to fighting for it. And heres why we should: Menopausal women, like our younger counterparts, must be able to make informed choices about our health. We deserve access to affordable, competent medical care and treatment from trained professionals. We have every right and reason to demand lawmakers and leaders invest in solutions that ensure our well-being, our dignity, our humanity. We owe it to ourselves and to generations to come to not back away from this cause, but double down in the pursuit. Jennifer Weiss-Wolf is the executive director of the Birnbaum Womens Leadership Center at NYU Law. Dr. Mary Claire Haver is a board-certified OB/GYN and certified menopause practitioner. Theyre co-authors of A Citizens Guide to Menopause Advocacy. The post How Citizen Advocacy Is Driving Real Change in Menopause Policy State by State appeared first on Katie Couric Media. FBI Director Kash Patel, left, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, center, and Central Intelligence Agency Director John Ratcliffe appear during a Senate Committee on Intelligence Hearing on March 25, 2025, in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images) This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. U.S. District Judge James Boasberg on March 27, 2025, ordered top Trump administration officials to preserve records of their messages sent on the messaging app Signal from March 11 to March 15 following a transparency watchdog groups lawsuit alleging that the officials have violated the Federal Records Act. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This marked the latest development since The Atlantic on March 24 published a Signal chat among Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and other national security officials discussing specific plans to attack Houthi militants in Yemen. Jeffrey Goldberg, the editor in chief at The Atlantic, was mistakenly included in the chat and wrote about what he saw. Trump administration officials have shared contrasting accounts about whether they were discussing sensitive war information on Signal but maintain that they did not share classified information. Senator Roger Wicker, the Republican chair of the Senate Arms Services committee, and Senator Jack Reed, the top Democrat chairing the committee, on March 27 requested an investigation into how the Trump officials used Signal to discuss military strikes. Amy Lieberman, a politics and society editor, spoke with national security scholar Dakota Rudesill to better understand what constitutes classified information and how the government typically handles its most closely kept secrets. How are government officials supposed to communicate about classified information? The first way someone with the proper clearance can communicate about classified information is in person. They can talk about secret things in what is called a sensitive compartmented information facility, or SCIF. This means a secure place, often with a big, heavy door and a lock on it, where security officials have swept the area for bugs and no one can easily eavesdrop. People who are in SCIFs usually have to leave their cell phones outside of the room, and then they can talk freely about secret information. A SCIF can be a particular room, or a floor of a building, or even an entire building. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Second, there is print communication: written documents with classification markings, which have to be handled in really particular ways, like in a safe location, and can be transported between SCIFs in secure containers. Third, intelligence agencies, the White House and the Department of Defense also all have secure electronic systems. These include visual teleconferences, which are similar to a Zoom call and are secure for discussing highly classified information, as well as secure email systems and secure phones. Many people with clearances have what is called high side email, which is shorthand lingo for classified email and messaging. Many people with security clearance would have two work hard drives and two computers. One of them is low side, where there is access to unclassified official email, documents and the internet. All of these methods of secure communication can be clunky and take more time than people in our smartphone age are used to. That is the cost of protecting the nations secrets. My sense is the Trump administration officials wanted to move fast and turned to Signal, a commercial app that promises encryption. Signal is generally considered secure but is not perfect. There is abundant public evidence that Signal is not totally secure and indeed has been penetrated by Russian intelligence. Can something be declassified after the information has been shared? Yes. The president can classify and declassify at will via oral or written instruction. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The presidents constitutional powers include removing classification controls after information has been released or leaked. Trump could at any point declassify the information shared on Signal. Several of the Cabinet-level officials on that Signal chat also have expansive delegated powers over classification. Even so, Trumps national security Cabinet would have presumably still violated the law. For example, by putting national defense information inappropriately on an insecure app and not checking to verify the clearances of everyone on the chat and thereby allowing a reporter to be present, one could reasonably conclude that the team was showing gross negligence, running afoul of the Espionage Act. The Espionage Act, enacted in 1917, criminalizes unauthorized retention and dissemination of sensitive information that could undermine the national security of the U.S. or help a foreign country. Was the information shared on Signal likely classified? Looking at the Signal message transcript that The Atlantic shared, it seems like at least four things were all but surely classified. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The most obvious was the details that Secretary of Defense Hegseth provided on the strike plans. These include the precise times that planes were taking off, what kind and when the bombs would fall. Recent reports have quoted defense officials confirming that this information at the time was classified. Second, the chat revealed that the president gave a green light for secret strikes at a Situation Room meeting. Third, there is the mere fact of these top officials deciding whether and when to execute attacks authorized by the president. And fourth, according to media reports, the chat included the name of an intelligence officer whose position may have been secret. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Trump administration says that there was no classified information in the chat. But several analysts have noted that defies belief. The exception would be a prior decision to declassify, but we have no evidence of that. What other issues does this bring to mind? First, we dont know whether the Trump officials carefully thought about it before they set up this chat on Signal, which the Pentagon has warned government officials against using because of hacking concerns. Second, even if the officials did make a focused decision to use Signal, what is the wisdom of that? I find it really, really hard to imagine that was a prudent decision when we think about how insecure this app is. There is also the fact that Steve Witkoff, Trumps envoy to Ukraine and the Middle East, was party to the chat while he was in Russia. We do not know for sure if he had a device running Signal on him personally while he was in Russia, but in any event he would have been under intense Russian surveillance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A broader issue is how the Trump administration is enforcing the law is a giant question mark. Usually, the law both authorizes the U.S. government to do things, and also says it cannot do things. Law enables and limits everyone, including the president. However, Trump wrongly claims that he is the final authority on the law, and so far the Justice Department only seems to be enforcing the law against people outside of the administration. So does the law limit the Trump administration in any practical sense? Right now it is not clear and there is abundant reason to be concerned about that from a rule of law standpoint. Dakota Rudesill, Associate Professor of Law, The Ohio State University CLAY COUNTY, Ky. (FOX 56) A Manchester man was arrested on Saturday for allegedly shooting at children from his residence. The Clay County Sheriffs Office posted on Facebook that deputies got a call on Saturday from a woman claiming that a man allegedly shot at two kids from the doorway of his residence on Crane Creek Drive. The kids were reportedly playing with a ball on the driveway at the time. The woman reportedly told the CCSO that Timmy Madden, 54, of Manchester, allegedly shot four times in the direction of the kids. LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The caller provided video footage of Madden shooting his pistol out of his door in the direction of the juveniles twice, deputies wrote. After the woman showed the video footage to law enforcement, Madden was reportedly arrested. He was lodged in the Clay County Detention Center and charged with first-degree wanton endangerment discharging a firearm. The shooting 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. Climate change and environmental protection are being ignored in ongoing negotiations over the formation of the next German government, the Greens said on Monday. The party's co-leader Felix Banaszak argued in Berlin that "climate, environment and nature conservation are obviously not part of this government, and climate and energy policies only seem to have a decorative function in these negotiations." Following elections in February, the conservative CDU/CSU bloc - made up of Friedrich Merz's Christian Democrats and the Bavaria-only Christian Social Union (CSU) - is negotiating with the centre-left Social Democrats over the formation of a governing coalition. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Merz, the presumptive next chancellor, is hoping to have a government in place by the Easter holidays in April. But the Greens are concerned that environmental policy is not a key focus for the incoming administration, with talks centring on migration, cuts to social spending and tax policy. Ahead of another round of negotiations in the German capital on Monday, CSU leader Markus Soder said "major breakthroughs" must occur this week. "Now comes the week of truth, I would say, in which we have to set the fundamental course," said Soder, the premier of the southern state of Bavaria. "As always in life, it's about the most important thing: the money. But we will find a solution." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The arduous coalition negotiations come at a critical time for Europe amid US President Donald Trump's return to the White House. Banaszak said that Germany cannot afford to cut critical development programmes, as seen in the United States. China, Russia and other authoritarian states are ready to step in to fill the vacuum, he argued. Anna Schlobohm de Cruder stands for a portrait in March amid the remains of her Altadena, Calif., home, which was destroyed in the Eaton Fire early this year. California is among the states considering bills that would force fossil fuel companies to pay recovery costs for climate disasters. (Mario Tama/Getty Images) For many California residents, the Los Angeles wildfires earlier this year were the latest and most searing example of the devastating effects of climate change. Some estimates have pegged the damages and economic losses from the fires at more than $250 billion. Weve had disaster after disaster after disaster, said Assemblymember Dawn Addis, a Democrat. Its the taxpayers and the insurance ratepayers that are bearing the cost. Its not sustainable, its not right and its not ethical. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Addis and Democratic lawmakers in nearly a dozen other states want to force the worlds largest fossil fuel companies to help pay for the recovery costs of climate-related disasters. Last year, Vermont became the first state to pass a climate Superfund law, followed soon after by New York. This session, 10 states have seen similar proposals, several of which have advanced in key committees. Advocates point to legislation in Maryland that has drawn support in both chambers, as well as to strong grassroots support in California after the Los Angeles wildfires. Lawmakers say the rapidly increasing cost of climate disasters from wildfires to floods to sea level rise is more than state budgets can bear. Climate Superfund is the it girl policy of the [2025] session, said Ava Gallo, climate and energy program manager with the National Caucus of Environmental Legislators, a forum for state lawmakers. Theres a lot of popularity in the idea of holding polluters responsible. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The momentum for these polluter pays bills is tied to the maturation of attribution science. That new field of research can help calculate fossil fuel companies contributions to historic emissions totals, as well as the role climate change played in causing or worsening natural disasters. Vermonts law was the first attempt to use that science to charge emitters for their role in causing devastating floods and other catastrophes. We've had disaster after disaster after disaster. It's the taxpayers and the insurance ratepayers that are bearing the cost. It's not sustainable, it's not right and its not ethical. California Democratic Assemblymember Dawn Addis Fossil fuel companies and their allies have fought back hard. Late last year, the American Petroleum Institute and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce filed a lawsuit challenging Vermonts measure. The groups argue that emissions are governed by the federal Clean Air Act, precluding states from charging companies over global pollution. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Neither group responded to a Stateline interview request. The Independent Petroleum Association of America also declined an interview request. A separate lawsuit, led by 22 Republican attorneys general, is challenging the New York law. And a conservative group has targeted Rachel Rothschild, an assistant professor of law at the University of Michigan Law School, who helped draft the legal justification for climate Superfund policy. The group, Government Accountability and Oversight, has sought to subject Rothschild to a deposition, The New York Times reported, a move that some experts view as an intimidation tactic. Meanwhile, oil and gas executives asked President Donald Trump during a White House meeting this month to direct the Justice Department to join the legal fight against climate Superfund laws, The Wall Street Journal reported. Industry leaders are also pushing Congress to shield them from more than 30 lawsuits brought by state and local governments that aim to make them pay for some of the results of climate change. While experts expect a bruising legal battle over climate Superfund policies, the threat of lawsuits hasnt deterred more lawmakers from backing the concept. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement States were a little bit wary; they wondered, Is this some new radical plan? said Cassidy DiPaola, communications director with the Make Polluters Pay campaign, a coalition of groups backing such bills. Then one of the littlest states passed it and this powerhouse, New York, passed it. That really set the ball rolling. Fossil fuel companies have cast doubt on attribution science. They also note that their production of oil and other products was done legally under U.S. and international regulations. Manufacturers will see this as a shakedown of any industry you dont like at some point in the future, even though in the past they were licensed and operated under government regulation, Brett Vassey, president and CEO of the Virginia Manufacturers Association, said during legislative testimony about a climate Superfund proposal in that state. It will have a chilling effect on Virginia being able to grow its economy. Proponents of Superfund legislation point to legal settlements with large tobacco companies in the 1990s. Although those companies also sold their products legally, they were held responsible because they knew about the harmful effects of those products and deceived the public. Most climate Superfund proposals target companies for their emissions over the past 30 or so years, after leading experts had documented the dangers of greenhouse gases. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theres good documentation of how well the fossil fuel industry knew the probable long-term impacts of their product, said Oregon state Sen. Jeff Golden, a Democrat. Should an industry that made such historic profits over a period of time and made so many representations that we had no problem not bear any of the costs? Golden and other lawmakers say its becoming impossible for taxpayers to cover the costs of recovery from wildfires and other catastrophes. In Rhode Island, sea level rise is causing massive damage for coastal communities, said Democratic state Rep. Jennifer Boylan, who has sponsored a climate Superfund bill to help the state adapt. Some advocates also note that Trumps return to the White House has cut off the possibility of federal climate relief. All the states are affected by the disappearance of this federal funding, said Gallo, of the state lawmakers group. States everywhere are going to be looking at some way to fill the gap. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This session, climate Superfund bills have been introduced in California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Oregon, Rhode Island, Tennessee and Virginia. While the bills are structured differently, they all seek to target the largest polluters often covering companies that produced 1 billion metric tons of emissions over the last 30 or so years. Lawmakers say that applies to roughly 100 companies. The measures also take different approaches to assigning damages. Some direct state agencies to conduct complex studies to determine the costs of climate-caused disasters over a certain period, the approach pioneered by Vermont. Others set a fixed number that represents a conservative baseline for those damages. New Yorks law set that figure at $75 billion over a 25-year period. Many of the bills also require that significant amounts of the funding be directed to the communities hit hardest by pollution. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advocates are particularly optimistic about the measures in California and Maryland. Lawmakers in Maryland modified their bills to commission a study about the financial impacts of climate change. Those measures passed both the House and Senate, and legislators are working to reconcile the versions from each chamber. Figures produced by the study would be the backbone of a climate Superfund policy in a future session. From a legislative perspective, its a shot in the dark as to what the costs are, said Democratic Del. David Fraser-Hidalgo, who sponsored one of the bills. This will give us the factual data needed to make a more well-educated decision on policy. In New Jersey, an Assembly committee advanced a climate Superfund bill this month. State Sen. Bob Smith, a Democrat who chairs the Environment and Energy Committee and who sponsored the bill, said it will help to rebuild and fortify water treatment plants, schools and firehouses. He noted that Trump has called for the dismantling of the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The end of the world is coming; its kind of hard to ignore, Smith said. FEMA has been the backstop to help communities recover from disasters. If the handwriting isnt on the wall to all the states that theyve got to deal with this, shame on them. Lawmakers in many states have heard from mayors and other local government leaders that more climate recovery funding is essential. Municipal officials are getting behind [climate Superfund policies], said Massachusetts state Sen. Jamie Eldridge, a Democrat who has sponsored similar legislation. Theyre facing the costs of flooding, of droughts, of heat waves, and really asking for relief. Stateline reporter Alex Brown can be reached at abrown@stateline.org. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE A man has died after a fall while climbing Ben Nevis. The 22-year-old fell in the Moonlight Gully area while making an ascent with another person on Saturday. Members of the Lochaber Mountain Rescue Team (LMRT) were tasked by Police Scotland to help the two climbers at about 5pm. The deceased man and his colleague are both believed to have come from England. The second climber was taken to Raigmore Hospital in Inverness, where his condition was described as serious but not life-threatening. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Towering at 4,413ft, Ben Nevis is the highest peak in the British Isles, attracting about 50,000 climbers annually. Since records began in the mid-1800s, about 100 fatalities have been recorded. Moonlight Gully, located on the mountains north face, is considered the most challenging ascent. A LMRT spokesman said on social media: The team treated and rescued one climber with serious injuries who had managed to move further down the hill. Challenging weather conditions Due to some very challenging weather conditions, combined with hazardous ground, the team returned Sunday morning to recover the other casualty, who was sadly deceased. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We send our deepest condolences to the family and would like to offer thanks to the crew of Coastguard Rescue Helicopter R151 and members of Police Scotland MRT North Division. A Police Scotland spokesman said: Around 5pm on Saturday, March 29, police were made aware of concerns for two climbers injured on the north face of Ben Nevis. Officers attended to carry out searches with our partners in the Lochaber Mountain Rescue Team and Inverness coastguard rescue helicopter, with the operation continuing on Sunday, March 30. A 30-year-old man was taken to Raigmore Hospital with serious, but not life-threatening injuries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The body of a 22-year-old man was recovered and next-of-kin are aware of the death. A report will be submitted to the procurator fiscal. 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. George Clooney and his wife Amal Clooney attend the 'Money Monster' premiere during the 69th annual Cannes Film Festival at the Palais des Festivals on May 12, 2016 in Cannes, France. (Photo : Getty Images/Clemens Bilan) George Clooney, 63, currently starring in Broadway's "Good Night, and Good Luck" in New York City, is reportedly facing strain in his marriage to Amal Clooney, 47, due to his demanding schedule and new, controversial hairstyle, while simultaneously preparing for a major Netflix film. Advertisement George Clooney's Broadway debut in "Good Night, and Good Luck" is taking a toll on his personal life, with sources indicating that the actor is struggling to balance his demanding work schedule with his marriage to Amal Clooney. The 63-year-old actor, who plays newsman Edward R. Murrow, is reportedly "so tired" from rehearsals, workouts, and performances that his "sexy time with Amal has taken a back seat," according to an insider. "George is making every effort to keep up with her energy levels but freely admits he's not getting any younger, and it's starting to take a toll," the source said. "He's working long hours in New York on his play and doing his part with the kids and hitting the gym most days, too, so by the time he's had his dinner he's ready to hit the hay." Clooney himself has acknowledged the effects of aging, stating, "In 30 years, I'm 90. That's a real number. My dad just hit that. And there are some things you're not doing no matter how many granola bars you eat." Adding to the marital strain is Clooney's new brown hairdo, which he debuted for the role and publicly admitted his wife "hates." "My wife is going to hate it because nothing makes you look older than when an older guy dyes his hair," Clooney said in an interview with the New York Times. "My kids are going to just laugh at me nonstop." The play, which runs through June 8, requires Clooney to perform for an hour and 40 minutes without intermission, demanding significant energy. "It's his first stage role, and he's nervous and pumped at the same time," an insider revealed. This adds to the stress. Despite the personal challenges, Clooney's professional life remains active. He is also set to star in Noah Baumbach's upcoming Netflix film, "Jay Kelly," an ensemble dramedy featuring a star-studded cast including Adam Sandler, Laura Dern, and Greta Gerwig. The film, described as a coming-of-age story, is highly anticipated, although Netflix has yet to announce a release strategy. Baumbach, known for films like "Marriage Story" and "White Noise," is expected to deliver another critically acclaimed project. Clooney's Broadway role in "Good Night, and Good Luck" is adapted from his 2005 film of the same name, where he played a supporting role and directed. The stage version sees him taking on the lead role of Edward R. Murrow, originally played by David Strathairn. The play centers on Murrow's confrontation with Senator Joseph McCarthy during the "red scare" era. The 2005 film, which grossed $54.6 million against a $7 million budget and received six Oscar nominations, provides the foundation for Clooney's current stage performance. New citizens take the oath to support the Constitution during a March 19 naturalization ceremony in Kansas City. (Barbara Shelly/for Missouri Independent) Friends and family arrived bearing flowers. Smiling volunteers pointed the way to seats. Everyone loves a naturalization ceremony. I attended one recently at a branch of the Kansas City Public Library and watched 71 new American citizens swear allegiance to the Constitution of the United States. Even more immigrants had taken the oath earlier in the day. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This room is full of the most brilliant minds that the world knows, Wasim Khan, a cultural leader, told the group. You guys are the teachers. You know what it takes to be here. After the ceremony, as League of Women Voters volunteers swooped in to invite the new citizens to register, I asked a few people how long they have been in America. Eight years, 12 years, too many years to count. Naturalized citizenship is a long, expensive process and everyone who achieves it does so through a combination of grit and good fortune. Ive attended several of these ceremonies over the years to cheer on people Ive had the privilege to know. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One was a piano teacher who came here from Kyrgyzstan to study at American universities. Several others arrived as refugees. They overcame language barriers and all the hardships of poverty to arrive at their naturalization ceremonies as educated, hardworking contributors to their communities. The recent ceremony was no different from others Ive witnessed, but I couldnt summon the usual measure of joy. Rather, I kept wondering what a naturalization ceremony will look like once the xenophobic policies of the Trump administration have been fully brought to bear. Last year, I signed up to participate on a team that would sponsor a refugee family, in cooperation with a resettlement agency. I told myself that it would be a satisfying act of resistance in case Donald J. Trump won the presidency. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Along with others, I welcomed a family of eight at Kansas Citys airport on a snowy evening 12 days before Trumps inauguration. They were exhausted and one person was ill but they were here and we were ready to introduce them to America. We had no idea how difficult that was going to be. Within a week of taking office, Trump had slammed the door to new refugee admissions and cut off funding for the families who had recently arrived. The resettlement community had anticipated the first move. It was gobsmacked by the second. With an executive order, Trump wiped out money that was supposed to pay for rent and utilities, medical screenings and other services for hundreds of people who had entered the United States legally in the last 90 days. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Agencies went into emergency fundraising mode, but Trumps action was crippling. The agency I volunteer for lost nearly $1 million of federal money it had counted on. Part of that amount was already spent in rent deposits and other costs. Its nearly impossible to cover a gap like that through donations. Within weeks two agencies in Kansas City laid off close to half their staffs. A smaller nonprofit laid off its entire refugee services staff. A mid-Missouri agency shut down its resettlement program. My role in the resistance now includes scanning job ads for something that might work for adults who speak only a little English and will have to ride to work on the bus. Ive become familiar with the difficulties of booking an appointment at the local Social Security office and good luck once Elon Musk gets through with that program. The family that my team works with was routed from their ancestral home and spent years in limbo in a neighboring country. The adults are fully aware that the leader of the United States does not want them here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Their status is legal, but they are afraid. They grieve family members left behind in a refugee camp, clinging to hopes of a reunion that may not happen in this lifetime. In my head, I construct sentences that begin with at least. At least they arent here on humanitarian parole status a category of immigrants more endangered than refugees. At least they have a place to stay, a small rental house in a hollowed-out part of Kansas City. A recent New York Times story reported on newly arrived refugees in St. Louis languishing in motels on highway interchanges because the resettlement agency there was unable to pay apartment leases. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At least members of my family have friends. Immigrants from their home country have sought them out and embraced them. The situation could always be worse. But it is bad enough. Refugee resettlement is a way of participating in the global good. Therefore, it is not a priority in Trumps America First agenda. The immigrants whom I witnessed as they became naturalized citizens last month represented 36 nations, including some of the most troubled, like Haiti, Somalia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. They had cleared a high bar to get to the ceremony. All of them passed a civics test that most Americans would find daunting. They were deemed to be of good moral character, a standard that we dont necessarily demand from our nations leaders. Congratulations to the new Americans. May we always find a path for them. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX MEDIC responded to a call about a deadly shooting in west Charlotte on Sunday evening. Paramedics responded to the scene at the 4200 block of Welling Avenue just after 6 p.m., MEDIC said. READ | In broad daylight: CMPD investigating homicide next to west Charlotte apartment complex Two patients were transported to the hospital with life-threatening injuries, according to MEDIC. Charlotte Mecklenburg Police told Channel 9s Glenn Counts that both patients have since been pronounced deceased. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Around 7:20 p.m., CMPDs Homicide Unit announced that it was conducting a homicide investigation in the area. Channel 9 is working to find out more. No additional details have been made available. This is a developing story. Check back with wsoctv.com for updates. WATCH | In broad daylight: CMPD investigating homicide next to west Charlotte apartment complex Ultranationalist Russian ideologue Alexander Dugin pinned hopes on Moscow's relations with the U.S. under Trump's administration in an interview with CNN aired on March 30. Dugin, a fervent supporter of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, has long been an advocate of Russian imperialism and a leading figure of Russia's turn toward hardline nationalism and authoritarian rule. The ideologue is also a suspect and wanted in Ukraine under the articles of genocide and encroachment on the territorial integrity of Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In an interview with CNN, Dugin praised U.S. President Donald Trump, saying he represented an ideology that "changes the balance in the world." "In these new conditions, I think Putin's Russia and Putin personally stops to be the main enemy, the main evil guy," Dugin claimed. "Trumpists and followers of Trump will understand much better what Russia is, who Putin is, and the motivation of our politics," he added. According to Dugin, Washington and Moscow have now discovered many common points. He said, however, that it may be too early to talk about an alliance between the U.S. and Russia against Europe. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "If, for example, Trump would withdraw the U.S. from the war against us in Ukraine, there could be a situation that we will fight against European globalists, European liberals in Ukraine without America," Dugin claimed, parroting long-standing Russian narratives about Washington's involvement in Russia's all-out war against Ukraine. Dugin became widely known after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine was justified partly by some of his earlier works on Russias superiority and its mission to create a "Eurasian Union," a plan for the integration of Russia with the countries that were formerly part of the Soviet Union. In the early stages of the Moscow-instigated war in Donbas in 2014, Dugin told Russian state television that "Ukrainians need to be killed, killed, killed." The same year, Dugin said on the VK social network that "Ukraine needs to be cleansed of idiots. A genocide of cretins is a given." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I don't believe that these people are Ukrainians... They are some race of bastards that crept up from the sewers." In August 2022, he lost his daughter in a car explosion that was most likely intended to target him. Read also: Trump says hes pissed off and very angry at Putin in phone interview with NBC News Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. GEORGETOWN, S.C. (WCBD) Crews rescued two people and two dogs from a disabled boat in waters off Georgetown County over the weekend. Officials with the U.S. Coast Guard said the 14-foot boat became disabled Saturday near Cat Island, which is located along the Intracoastal Waterway at the mouth of Winyah Bay. A crew from U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Savannah responded to the disabled vessel and rescued the two people and two dogs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They were taken to Georgetown Airport without reported medical concerns, officials said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCBD News 2. Families of Hippos live in the rivers and lakes of Colombia. (iStock/Getty Images Plus) No one asked for hippos to overrun Colombian rivers. But hippos frolic in the South American country anyway, thanks to the extravagant ego of drug kingpin Pablo Escobar. He imported four of the beasts for a private menagerie. After his death, they escaped and multiplied, turning into an invasive species bedeviling officials. The government has sought to sterilize and deport the beasts, but cocaine hippos keep on thriving. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And so it is with bad ideas in the Kansas Legislature. Each year lawmakers wade through scads of proposals introduced by out-of-state think tanks or touted by hard-right influencers, none of them with the slightest connection to actual Kansans problems or concerns. Such ideas are the cocaine hippos of Kansas politics, taking up residence in the credulous heads of GOP lawmakers and driving out all hope of sensible policymaking. Once you spot these cocaine hippos (I must give credit to classical music critic David Hurwitz for introducing me to the term), you cant ignore them. Their bulky yet slippery bodies have twisted and distorted the states political landscape. Eradicating the creatures, in whatever ways possible, will only strengthen government. Here are five hippos spotted in the past few months. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Legislature adopted a spending plan Thursday that fully funds public schools, provides pay raises for state employees, eliminates DEI initiatives, polices pronouns in emails, and puts the state on a course to blow through billions in reserves and face a budget shortfall within three years. (March 27) You might support or oppose diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives or people sharing their pronouns in email messages. But what do they have to do with any problems in Kansas? Who has been actually, provably harmed by any of this? Kansans have been swept along by a nationwide panic over innocuous attempts to create a more caring and accepting society. House Republicans refused to consider a plea from Democratic Rep. Valdenia Winn to send a message that there is no place for racism in the state of Kansas. Winn, a Kansas City Democrat, proposed an amendment to House Bill 2299, which declares that antisemitism is against the public policy of the state. She wanted to expand the language to condemn all forms of racism and discrimination. (March 26) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Racism and antisemitism are both bad. Very bad. Yet why were legislators taking up or debating this bill in the first place? Discrimination on the basis of both is already illegal. Hate crimes are illegal, too. Have we seen any recent examples of such or related public unrest in Kansas? (And no, muted protests against Israel in its war against Hamas dont count.) The House and Senate on Tuesday overrode Gov. Laura Kellys veto of legislation that could result in thousands of advance ballots being disqualified. (March 25) You know who has administered elections in Kansas for years? Republicans. You know who has repeatedly reassured Kansans that our elections are safe and secure? Republican Secretary of State Scott Schwab. There is no evidence that allowing three days for mail-in ballots to arrive will cause any problems. But Rep. Pat Proctor, R-Leavenworth, has swallowed the propaganda of President Donald Trump hook, line and sinker. U.S. elections are free and fair, and there have been no issues in Kansas. Still, the cocaine hippos overturn boats. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kansas House Republicans have repeatedly met in closed caucus meetings this legislative session, doing state business in secret and upending longstanding tradition. (March 24) Republicans enjoy preposterous supermajorities in the House and Senate. They have no reason to fear sunlight or transparency. Their leaders have more options and flexibility than they have enjoyed in years. And yet, they hide. They have somehow come to believe that letting people see what they do even if its as simple as persuading members to vote one way or another simply cant be shared. But why? What harm have they suffered? The House still approved Senate Concurrent Resolution 1602, a nonbinding statement that urges the governor to help secure the U.S. border with Mexico and work with federal authorities to enforce immigration laws. (March 20) As has been pointed out repeatedly, and as can be seen by merely glancing at a map, Kansas doesnt share a border with Mexico. We have to deal with Oklahoma and Missouri, which are bad enough. Immigration fearmongering has no connection with anything actually witnessed in Kansas. As a matter of fact, whole sectors of our economy would shut down without migrant labor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And I could go on, but cocaine hippos have a way of crowding out all rational thought. While those of us watching from afar can see the way in which these malignant ideas have infiltrated our government, they have found surprisingly receptive hosts in lawmakers. Indeed, the mental landscape of many in Topeka would appear entirely unrecognizable to many of us. They have welcomed the hippos, praised them as saintly creatures and called on them to reproduce even more freely. As far back as 2012, literary critic Harold Bloom raised alarms about this tendency. In a lecture about poet Walt Whitman, he told a crowd: We are far along on a route away from democracy into the morass of plutocracy, oligarchy and theocracy, because many millions among us live a reality completely separate from that of those in this room, for instance. The function of literary criticism at the present time cannot be the struggle with this Moby Dick of the American spirit, yet awareness of it should be part of our common ordeal of consciousness. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kansas and its residents confront real obstacles. We experience real needs. Schools and special education require investment. The tax system demands rebalancing, making sure those who profit the most help everyone else. Petty hatreds and discrimination deserve to rot in the ash heap of history. Instead, we fight nonexistent problems with phantom weapons. And those cocaine hippos keep breeding. Clay Wirestone is Kansas Reflector opinion editor. Through its opinion section, Kansas Reflector works to amplify the voices of people who are affected by public policies or excluded from public debate. Find information, including how to submit your own commentary, here. Prince Harry has been accused of bullying after resigning from a charity he co-founded nearly 20 years ago. Sentebale was launched by the Duke of Sussex in honor of his mother, Princess Diana and Prince Seeiso of Lesotho in 2006 to help children and young people in Africa, particularly those with HIV and Aids. The work has been described as integral to Harrys adult life and a source of great pride for him for nearly two decades. More from The Hollywood Reporter Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This all came to a halt on Wednesday, when Harry and Prince Seeiso released a joint statement saying they are truly heartbroken but would be resigning from their roles as patrons at Sentebale following a dispute with chairwoman Dr. Sophie Chandauka, a lawyer appointed in 2023. These trustees acted in the best interest of the charity in asking the chair to step down, while keeping the wellbeing of staff in mind. In turn, she sued the charity to remain in this voluntary position, further underscoring the broken relationship, Harry and Seeiso said. We thank all the trustees for their service over the years and are truly heartbroken theyve had to follow through with this act. Whats transpired is unthinkable. We are in shock that we have to do this, but we have a continued responsibility to Sentebales beneficiaries, so we will be sharing all of our concerns with the Charity Commission as to how this came about, the statement continued. Dr. Chandauka has now began speaking out about her experience as chair of Sentebale. Talking to The Financial Times, the lawyer said she first felt tensions with Prince Harry a year ago. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She accused Harry of wanting to force a failure and then come to the rescue, and also claimed the dukes team asked her to defend his wife, Meghan, from negative publicity. I said no, were not setting a precedent by which we become an extension of the Sussex PR machine, she said. Things worsened for Harry when Chandauka spoke to Sky News on Sunday and criticized the dukes handling of his resignation, describing it as harassment and bullying at scale. She also alleged that he was involved in covering up an investigation into harassment and misogyny at the charity, saying: The number-one risk for this organization was the toxicity of its lead patrons brand. She maintained her work has been guided by the principles of fairness and equitable treatment for all, and that she had reported the trustees to the U.K. Charity Commission, an independent department which regulates charities operating in Britain. Sentebale, meanwhile, has confirmed a restructuring of its board. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A source close to the former trustees and patrons has described Dr Chandaukas accusations as a publicity stunt: They remain firm in their resignation, for the good of the charity, and look forward to the adjudication of the truth, the source told The Hollywood Reporter. A spokesperson for Sentebale directed THR to a published statement made by the charitys executive director, Carmel Gaillard, here. Best of The Hollywood Reporter Sign up for THR's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. (COLORADO SPRINGS) Tuesday, April 1 is Election Day, and in Colorado Springs, six city council district seats are up for grabs. Colorado Springs City Clerk Sarah Johnson joined FOX21 Morning News on Monday, March 31, to talk about the upcoming election and the expected turnout. What youre going to see on the ballot is one race for the district that your residence resides in, said Johnson. And its really important because theyre your voice on city council. These are your representatives, said Johnson. Were out there, were working, were paying $8 for eggs, etc. Were seeing all these buildings going up everywhere. These are the people that determine whether that land use project gets approved or not. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Historically, Colorado Springs has around a 40 percent voter turnout for municipal elections, according to Johnson, but she said she is hoping to break records in 2025. I know its not an exciting ballot compared to last November where we had three pages, four columns each. This is a simple ballot, one page, one-sided, said Johnson. At this point, it is too late to return ballots by mail, so they must be dropped off at one of 28 ballot boxes across the city by 7 p.m. on election night. For drop-off locations, visit the city clerks website. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX21 News Colorado. Former U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a rally at the Iowa States Fairgrounds in Des Moines, Iowa, U.S. (Photo : REUTERS/Rachel Mummey) President Donald Trump has sparked controversy by indicating he is exploring "methods" to serve a third term, despite constitutional limitations, and expressing he is "pissed off" at Vladimir Putin, threatening "secondary sanctions on Russia" regarding the Ukraine conflict. Advertisement President Trump has ignited debate by suggesting he is considering ways to extend his presidency beyond the constitutional two-term limit. In an interview with NBC News, Trump stated, "I'm not joking" about pursuing a third term, adding, "There are methods which you could do it." These comments, delivered during a telephone interview from Mar-a-Lago, have drawn immediate legal and political scrutiny. Trump further elaborated on his remarks while on Air Force One, telling reporters, "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." He also acknowledged, "I don't want to talk about a third term now because no matter how you look at it, we've got a long time to go." The 22nd Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, ratified in 1951, states, "no person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice." Legal experts, such as Jeremy Paul, a constitutional law professor at Northeastern University, have asserted, "there are no credible legal arguments for him to run for a third term." Trump also alluded to a potential strategy involving Vice President JD Vance, stating, "Well, that's one. But there are others too. There are others." When pressed for further details by NBC's Kristen Welker, and asked "Can you tell me another?", Trump replied, "No." THROOP, LACKAWANNA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) A local community is deciding whether to allow a local landfill to run treated leachate through its sewer system. As 28/22 News first told you, Keystone Sanitary Landfill wants to send the treated landfill liquid to a wastewater treatment plant in Throop instead of Scranton. On Sunday afternoon, 28/22 News spoke with more people who live in Throop concerning the possibility of sending leachate to their sewer system. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They declined an on-camera interview with 28/22 News, but made it clear they are not only opposed to this proposed plan, they are also untrusting of it. The sewer system passing through the intersection of Centre Street and Charles Street in Throop is free from treated leachate, at least for now. Fans take home field at PNC Field Keystone Sanitary Landfill is proposing that the liquid that permeates through its garbage piles passes through there at the legal limit. Besides Throop residents opposing the new proposed plan, uncertainty and sarcasm came out at Wednesday nights public meeting. We trust everything that we are hearing, right? Because they have never been fined, Throop resident Susan Green explained. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its because the Lackawanna County landfill has committed violations in the past. The landfill recently agreed to a $15,000-plus settlement with the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) after storing too much leachate in its lagoons in 2023 and 2024. In January, Keystone received a notice of violation for failing to control odors from the leachate lagoons at its facilities in Dunmore and Throop. Keystone Sanitary Landfill Consultant Al Magnotta and Throop Borough Council President Richard Kucharski say they are trying to be as transparent with people as possible. The next step in the process is again maximum transparency and due diligence. We have called this meeting to, first of all, let everyone know whats being proposed, Council President Kucharski stated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Keystone Sanitary Landfill plan to correct violations Transparent or not, Throop residents say the landfill looking to bring its business in their backyard is not going to cut it. We do care about our businesses, too. We want them to be fair, fair to themselves, but also fair to us. We deserve better than what theyre planning, Green added. 28/22 News followed up with Council President Kucharski on Sunday, who was unavailable for an interview. He tells 28/22 News he and his councilman are figuring out how to proceed with the proposal and are currently at ground zero. He says the next meeting has yet to be decided. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PAhomepage.com. NEW HAVEN, Conn. (WTNH) Community members gathered today to partake in a Ukrainian Easter Egg Pysanka workshop on Sunday. Organizers say the art of Pysanka is over 2000 years old. Restaurant week returns to New Haven in April Guests of the workshop got to learn more about the history and try it for themselves. Ive been decorating pysanka since I was six years old, but my favorite is decorating but also demonstrating or lecturing so that people can learn about the beauty and the history of the pysanka, Gloria Horbaty of Wallingford 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 WTNH.com. The Toho Water Authority takes a step forward by encouraging customers to attend and participate in a series of community engagement meetings, which are growing national and state-level conversations about water additives. The Authority will hear directly from its customers on this important topic. The meetings were formed in response to budding discussions about fluoride and additional guidance from the Florida Surgeon General recommending against community water fluoridation. The schedule for the fluoride meetings can be found below for review. Community Meeting Schedule: April 7 | 5:30-6:30 PM | Buenaventura Library Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement April 11 | 4:30-5:30 PM | Poinciana Library April 13 | 12:30-1:30 PM | Veterans Memorial Library (St. Cloud) April 17 | 6:30-7:30 PM | Hart Memorial Central Library (Kissimmee) Each meeting will display a brief presentation reviewing the information on fluoride, a question-and-answer session with Toho leaders and an opportunity for customers/attendees to submit their vote on supplemental fluoride. These meetings serve as a way for Toho to gather customer feedback on their views and opinions on fluoridated water, said Todd Swingle, Tohos Chief Executive Officer. Toho will also open a 30-day public comment period on April 1, offering customers even more opportunities to share their opinions on fluoride. Residents can engage with Toho by emailing their thoughts to public comment through April 30. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Swingle continues, We will closely track community sentiment and deliver those findings to our Board of Supervisors to support a decision regarding supplemental fluoride addition in Tohos water supply. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. Community members celebrate drop in murder rate in Charlotte, says theres still more work to be done CHARLOTTE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) A Charlotte-based community organization, Stop the Killing Crusade, is celebrating a milestone. Leaders said the citys murder rate is down compared to this time last year. When you have a shooting on television, people see that, but they need to also see some good, said Rev. James Barnett, the organizations founder. On Sunday, members of the religious community gathered at the New Macedonia of Faith church in Charlotte to recognize that their work is paying off in lowering the number of homicides. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Weve lost too many viable, particularly young people, particularly young black men, and we need blacks in high places to step out and say nobody can save us from us but us, said Barnett. Queen City News is tracking CRIME in your area >> Latest stories here His organization aims to combat violence within the black community. Everybody in the community knows somebody that has gotten killed, so we need to stop the tears, he said. For Henry Wheeler, this cause is personal. When my grandson got killed and I went out to the scene where he got killed, in my heart I wanted to believe it wasnt my grandson, he said. Its time to make a change, so this wont keep happening. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Those who gathered in this sanctuary had one goal to lower the murder rate in Charlotte. Theyre doing so by getting out into the community, talking with people, and passing out buttons and stickers that say Stop the Killing. I was in it, said Amir Shabazz, who attended the event. I used to be those same young individuals out there with the guns and the drugs. I used to be that individual, so I think those who have been a part of the problem should be a part of the solution. While the progress so far is promising, these people recognize that even one homicide is one too many. Even just hearing about somebody elses loved one getting killed, it hurts me and my heart, said Wheeler. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The group is planning to have a day of prayer in April to pray for the victims and their families and to pray that our elected officials will make choices to help bring the homicide rates down. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. QUEENS, N.Y. (PIX11) Former Gov. Cuomo, who is currently running for New York City mayor, scored another important endorsement. This time by Congressman Greg Meeks, who in the past had supported another current mayoral candidate, City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams. More Local News Congressman Meeks welcomed the former governor, stating that he was the best person to be the next mayor of New York City and the only candidate to lead the city. As Cuomo took the podium, he addressed the high number of people leaving New York due to a few issues the city faces, including public safety, homelessness, and the lack of control the city currently has over e-bikes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He also blamed the democratic party for having President Trump elected back in November, citing the 500 thousand democrats who voted in the election, adding there is currently a lack of results and optimism from current democratic leaders. During the endorsement, it was also said that the city of New York is a target of Washington, D.C., and Cuomo called President Trump an existential threat. I dealt with him for four years, I fought for him for four years, I know him, said Cuomo. Hes in many ways hasnt learned from his first administration to his second, and hes more diabolical in this administration, what hes doing on immigration, the department of education, what hes doing with the judges, with the federal workers, you aint see nothing yet. More: Latest News from Around the Tri-State Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Speaker Adams bashed Cuomo, saying, Adrienne has always put Queens first, and that will never change. Unlike the ex-governor, who played political games with Queens vaccines and defunded our boroughs hospitals, public transit, and schools, Adrienne will always work for the people and never use her power for vanity or to settle political scores. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) Democratic New York Congressman Joe Morelle, has voiced concerns regarding one of the Trump administrations proposed bills that would overhaul the U.S. election system. Morelle is on the House Administration Committee, which has oversight of federal election law. This week, the proposed measure called the SAVE Act is being presented to the House to be voted on. The bill would require documented proof of citizenship, like a passport, to register to vote in federal elections and mandate that all ballots be received by election day across the country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It restricts voting access and makes it incredibly difficult for eligible Americans and Americans broadly speaking to cast their vote. In my view, there are three things in particular that we should all be worried about that eats away at American Democracy, he said. New York proposal to restrict smartphones in schools causes debate He went on to outline them as the tax on the judiciary, the decision to attack and restrict press outlets from White House coverage, and the attempt to destroy American elections. Morelle said that this would make registering to vote harder for married women, students, and members of the armed forces. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While Congress has the power to regulate votingand has done so by passing such laws as the Voting Rights Actthe Constitution says states have primary authority to set the times, places, and manner for elections. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. GRANBY, CT. (WWLP) Police in Granby, Connecticut are searching for a suspected shoplifter, with a taste for seafood. Woburn restaurant owners sentenced to prison for migrant smuggling conspiracy The police department stated that they are looking for a man who loaded up a cart at the Geisslers Supermarket and left without paying on Sunday at 2:00 p.m.. Police say he took a lot of groceries, specifically a significant amount of shrimp. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He is described as having darker hair, a full beard, tattoos on both hands, and hes around 6 feet tall. He sped off in a black sedan and now police are working to track him down. Granby CT Police Department If anyone has information on the identity of the suspect, contact the Granby Police Department at 860-844-5335 or email: ekreimes@granby-ct.gov 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. (Bloomberg) -- Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre vowed to fast-track approvals for necessary infrastructure to transport Canadian energy domestically and abroad without going through the US. Most Read from Bloomberg Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A Conservative government would create a so-called national energy corridor through which companies could build transmission lines, railways and pipelines, according to a statement from Poilievres campaign Monday. Provincial and local governments would provide legally binding commitments allowing companies to use the corridor, the party said, without outlining what steps the federal government would take if those other levels of government refused to do so. This means investors will no longer face the endless regulatory limbo that has made Canadians poorer, Poilievre said in a statement. It will bring billions of dollars of new investment into Canadas economy, create powerful paychecks for Canadian workers, and restore our economic independence. Its the latest pledge from Poilievre, whos trying to rebuild momentum for his campaign ahead of a general election on April 28. His chief rival, Liberal Prime Minister Mark Carney, is enjoying a surge of support amid US President Donald Trumps tariff and annexation threats. Last year, Canada exported nearly all of its crude oil to the US. Poilievre has blamed the Liberal government for restricting Canadian energy projects, leaving the country dependent on its southern neighbor. A key plank of the Conservative platform is to scrap a law banning new pipelines and boost resources production. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Liberal government financed the expansion of the Trans Mountain pipeline, Canadas only crude oil pipeline that goes to an ocean port, allowing for more exports to Asia. The larger line entered service last year. The Liberals, who are now leading in opinion polls, on Friday pitched similar plans to diversify Canadian trade away from the US. A so-called Trade Diversification Corridor Fund would spend C$5 billion ($3.5 billion) to accelerate construction of ports, railroads, highways and airports. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2025 Bloomberg L.P. Anyone who has been fired, or knows someone who has, must be shocked at the callousness of Elon Musk talking about taking a chain saw to agencies and Russell Vought, head of the Office of Management and Budget, saying he wants government employees to be traumatically affected and viewed as villains. Making trauma for government employees a policy goal is horrific. I know, because I grew up in a home where that trauma hung in the air like smoke from the cigarettes chain-smoked by my mother a civil servant fired without cause in the McCarthy era. The ongoing mass firings of federal employees (over 100,000 at last count), arrests of activists and attacks on universities have rightly been compared to the Red Scare of the 1950s. Now, as then, people are being fired without a semblance of due process on baseless allegations of disloyalty or incompetence. Now, as then, the firings are inflicting trauma for those who are fired. Now, as then, the goal is to instill fear in those who remain. During the Red Scare, my mother was fired from a federal job on false charges of disloyalty. She never recovered. Like many of todays civil servants , my mother loved her job. She graduated from UC Berkeley at the end of World War II with a degree in international relations and a desire to help build the postwar order. She went to Washington, D.C., thrilled to work for an agency that valued her expertise in Soviet politics and facility with languages. A week before she was to depart for a two-year post in Berlin, her assignment was suddenly canceled. Someone accused her of being a communist because she had been seen with Russian emigres. She explained that her Russian acquaintances were anti-communists who had fled the country after the 1917 revolution, and she socialized with them to perfect colloquial Russian. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But in those days of hysteria, nobody would listen to reason. She was given no semblance of due process. To understand how the experiences of todays civil servants echo those of the Red Scare, I decided to open the dusty suitcase containing my mothers letters and finally read them. At the time all this unfolded, she was writing every day to a close friend, who later became my father. Ive had that suitcase of letters since she died 50 years ago but never could read through them because her pain was too raw. Her letters from before her firing conveyed excitement about her work. And then there was one full of shock and disbelief. Maybe the decision would be reversed. Maybe it was a mistake. After a week, her tone turned to rage. She was a loyal American, a devoted public servant, a farm girl who had worked during college packing vegetables to support the war effort. Firing felt personal: The government rejected her and everything she had studied for and worked to achieve. She lost self-confidence. She succumbed to self-pity, and then quickly apologized for it. Her letters expressed anxiety, depression and fear about money. Her letters describe the struggle to find another job that valued her skills. Some of her skills could not be used in the private sector. Even the transferable knowledge was useless in an era when most companies would hire women only as secretaries. Plus, as her letters prove, she was a mediocre typist. Her savings dwindled. She gave up her apartment and moved in with friends. Finally, she abandoned her career, accepted my fathers offer of marriage and became an unhappy housewife in a small Southern California college town. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Eventually she found a job teaching in a community college. But she never found another job that used her knowledge and training, and she never overcame the feelings of loss, grief and rejection. Her faith in her country had been shaken. Today, as in the Red Scare, we should lament the damage that arbitrary firings do to scientific research, medical care, government services and academic freedom. The media have reported all this. But those who are fired are not faceless bureaucrats, as the government says. They are people who have devoted themselves to public service and have expertise that will be hard to use in the private sector. Many have families dependent on their income. I teach and write on employment law, so I know that each case of a fired employee is a story of dashed hopes, anger and pain. When, as during the McCarthy era and now, government inflicts that pain on a mass scale, it magnifies the trauma to families and communities. Perhaps history will remember these mass firings as a tragic mistake the way so many of the Red Scare firings are now remembered. But the harms cannot be undone and will ripple through America for decades to come. Catherine Fisk is a professor of law at UC Berkeley. 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. Heres the thing about Donald Trump 2.0: The slapdash chaos of his first term has solidified into something more deliberate. Hes no longer just winging it like an insult comic. Now, hes got a plan, and the theme is callousness. Take, for example, the Venezuelan immigrants he sent to an El Salvador detention center. One of the dangerous criminals was a 31-year-old gay barber and makeup artist named Andry with no indication of any gang affiliation or criminal activity. Not exactly Pablo Escobar, but the point was never really about deporting violent criminals. The point was a warning to anyone who wants to come to America: Dont come here. Or, if youre already here, get out. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Or take Rumeysa Ozturk, the Turkish grad student at Tufts. One minute, shes walking down the street; the next, masked agents are stuffing her into an unmarked SUV like shes some cartel boss. Shes now in a Louisiana detention center, waiting to be deported. Her crime? Co-writing an op-ed critical of Israel. Its not my politics, but its also not a crime. At least, it didnt used to be. Regardless, even if one believes she should be deported, Ozturk could have been peacefully detained in a more civilized manner. But then, youve got to break some eggs if youre going to make an omelette, right? That's what the current administration seems to think. This philosophy isnt limited to undocumented immigrants. A slightly less aggressive version of uncompassionate conservatism is creeping into other corners of domestic life. Call it Mean Bureaucracy a form of governance where the red tape isnt just frustrating, its sadistic. Spearheading this effort is Elon Musk, the presidents cost-cutter who is completing his metamorphosis from socially awkward PayPal co-founder to full-fledged Ayn Rand villain. In a telling moment of honesty, Musk recently declared, The fundamental weakness of Western civilization is empathy . Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thats right. Our big problem isnt poverty, inequality, the musical stylings of Nickelback, the fact an exterior panel glued on Tesla Cybertrucks can suddenly detach and go flying. No, the real problem, according to the worlds richest man, is that we care too much. Now, I dont know about you, but I think empathys gotten us pretty far. Its literally why civilization exists . When societies stop valuing it, things go south fast. And when they start demonizing it, well, thats when you get history books with really ugly chapters. Economist F.A. Hayek who, to be clear, was not exactly a bleeding-heart liberal once observed that in especially corrupt regimes, The worst get on top. Translation: If you build a society that rewards sociopaths, dont be surprised when sociopaths run the place. And boy, do they! But even Hayek didnt foresee a world in which our overlords have a collective level of emotional intelligence on par with a Roomba thats wedged itself under the couch. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And now, their peculiar way of thinking (one that treats human beings like source code) is being turned into policy. This has led to many unkind actions, including firing veterans and forcing an 87-year-old retiree, who has called a 1-800 number for decades, to deal with a broken chatbot just to access Social Security all in the name of efficiency. Is Musk even aware of this suffering? Does he see it as a bug or a feature? Hard to say. If theres a silver lining here (and its a thin one, like single-ply-toilet-paper thin), its that while Americans are famously tolerant of other peoples suffering, they have an extremely low tolerance for their own. And more and more Americans are feeling the pain. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump voters are starting to notice : When small government starts feeling less like efficiency and more like a mugging in slow motion, people get upset. For now, Im not directly affected. Im not a refugee, or even a retiree. With the help of my wife, I (mostly) understand how to navigate the latest Kafkaesque user interface that stands between me and whatever basic services our family needs. But I do know what its like to slam into a brick wall of bureaucratic indifference, and thats all it takes to imagine the rest. Its called empathy. You remember empathy? Used to be a thing we valued. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And if history has taught us anything, its this: The moment a society decides to jettison empathy, thats when the old poem kicks in. First they came for the gay barbers. Then they came for the computer-illiterate retirees. And then Because once you normalize cruelty, the hammer eventually swings for everyone. Even the ones who thought they were swinging it. Matt K. Lewis is the author of Filthy Rich Politicians and Too Dumb to Fail. If its in the news right now, the L.A. Times Opinion section covers it. Sign up for our weekly opinion newsletter. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. We have never had to juggle so many challenges to continue our reporting as we have in the past three months, ever since the Trump administration cut the U.S. cooperation funds that were vital for sustaining Divergentes. This is an independent media outlet from Nicaragua, based in exile due to the systematic repression of the dictatorship of Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo. Its not that were not used to juggling. When you investigate, report, and manage a critical media outlet under a totalitarian and crushing regime, journalists become a kind of juggler. We juggle emotional, economic, logistical, security, and self-censorship challenges. In other words, we keep publishing every single day while managing these fronts, which become even harder when youre in exile. Since 2018, the Ortega-Murillo regime (now co-presidential) has made Nicaraguan journalism one of its top enemies. Journalists were crucial in documenting the crimes against humanity committed during the social protests of that year (and those still being committed). While the Sandinista regime has dismantled the opposition in general political parties, civil society organizations, critical business leaders, the Catholic Church, universities, doctors, culture (similar to the Cambodian dictator Pol Pot), and human rights organizations it has not been able to eradicate the media. The co-presidential couple continues to strike us where it hurts the most: it has murdered one journalist, who was imprisoned and disappeared, and exiled more than 280 reporters, editors, and media staff. It has criminalized the profession by confiscating newsrooms and private homes. It has stripped away nationalities, frozen bank accounts, persecuted and harassed our families; extinguished print newspapers (we are the only country in the Western Hemisphere without one), and recently blocked websites. But we have not remained silent and continue to grapple with the logistics of running a publication in such a hostile environment. A journalist holds a copy of the independent newspaper 'La Prensa' in February 2020, in Managua. In July 2022, its staff was forced to leave the country. Eduardo Verdugo (AP) Before, when we were in Nicaragua, it was about dealing with the imminent threat of arrest, living on the run, hiding, moving from house to house, fearing what could happen to our families because of our work. We became pariahs, and our loved ones distanced themselves out of understandable terror. That takes an emotional toll. The ones you love leave or grow distant. And for nearly five years now, we have resisted in exile with the added financial strain, as Costa Rica, where many of us are based, is an incredibly expensive country to eat and rent a place. We have suffered the growing precariousness of our profession and have been losing our country day by day without passports and watching our family members die without being able to go to their funerals. Extraterritorial repression is a new weapon of the regime, and international cooperation has been key in navigating this landscape, which, to avoid further lengthening this article, is even more complex and only painted in general terms. We must speak frankly, with sincerity, because, as our poet Ruben Dario said: To be sincere is to be strong. The usual juggling acts to sustain a media outlet have never been as complicated as they are now, following the fall in international cooperation, especially from the United States. Can you imagine what it means to maintain rigorous, investigative, and useful journalism which by its nature is costly while dealing with fewer and fewer available sources due to fear, which requires us to be even more meticulous in safeguarding their anonymity for their protection? What it means to produce content across multiple platforms, as we do at Divergentes, while simultaneously trying to figure out how to get a journalist harassed by the police while receiving cancer treatment out of Nicaragua through blind spots? What it means to bring that journalist to Costa Rica and find ways to secure their chemotherapy while we work on registering them in the Costa Rican social security system? We are exiled journalists without social guarantees. This happened to us, and it continues to happen. In recent weeks, with great pain, weve had to part ways with talented reporters and contributors. Its a tough blow because bringing them back will be an uphill battle there is no next generation waiting in the wings. Few are willing to take on this dangerous profession in Nicaragua anymore. Weve made cuts here and there, trying to stretch our operations for as long as possible. And thats just our newsroom. Across the board, countless colleagues have left journalism due to funding cuts, turning to Uber, working in butcher shops, or taking on other jobs just to support themselves and their families many with young children. Its not just the journalists who lose; all of Nicaraguan society does. The region does. Even the United States. We are losing voices grounded in journalistic method megaphones that are invaluable in exposing authoritarian regimes and corrupt satrapies, whose consequences, starting with migration, ripple far beyond our borders. Nicaraguan journalist Hector Rosales, right, conducts a virtual interview from exile in San Jose, Costa Rica, in August 2022. Moises Castillo (AP) One of the main arguments for shutting down USAID is that the funds granted do not serve the interests of the United States. We strongly disagree with this because, based on our field experience and our reporting, we can confirm with evidence in hand that we are key to the hemisphere for several reasons that combine geopolitics, migration, regional stability, democracy, and human rights. In the absence of institutions and effective checks and balances, journalists in Nicaragua have become a pillar of support for the institutions, opposition, and civil organizations devastated by the Ortega-Murillo repression. We give them a voice and national and international reach. There is no shortage of examples: We investigate and report on how Nicaraguans cannot freely practice their faith. We delve into Ortega and Murillos ties with actors antagonistic to Washington, such as Russia, China, and Iran. We explain how the ruling couple instrumentalizes and profits from migration to blackmail the United States. We expose the Sandinista regimes drug policy, which, oddly, has seized more cash than cocaine in recent years. And we uncover how corrupt officials facilitate money laundering, paving the way for illicit funds to reach Miami, other U.S. cities, and Europe. But above all, we strive to defend the Western values and principles we believe in: democracy with all its complexities freedoms, institutions, and, in bold letters, the protection of human rights. We have an unwavering commitment to the victims of crimes against humanity. These are values that, judging by history, should concern us all from here, in the narrow waist of the Americas, to the United States and Europe. But more than just the cuts to USAID assistance, the new Trump administration has validated the stigmatization pushed by Ortega-Murillo, Nicolas Maduro in Venezuela, and the Castros in Cuba against journalism branding us as Washington-paid mercenaries or claiming we have enriched ourselves with cooperation funds, when in reality, we account for every dollar received. Just as our work is public, our resource management is entirely auditable. If these dictators accusations were true, our colleagues wouldnt be driving for Uber or desperately seeking ways to migrate to the United States or Europe. This is something colleagues from Cuba and Venezuela had already been warning about, but now its being said outright: by abandoning independent media, the Republican administration is giving these three dictatorships what they had failed to achieve for decades silencing journalists. And U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio knows this well or if he doesnt, let us inform him: In Managua, for example, the government funds mobile billboards that relentlessly push the narrative that we are thieves, corrupt, and sold out to the empire. Beyond just international aid, this is a battle between freedom and authoritarianism between democracy and totalitarianism. Despite this, journalism always endures. At Divergentes, we believe that abject regimes and these stifling visions of freedom come and go, but journalism remains. In that sense, from our newsroom, we are finding ways to keep moving forward. It is impossible to monetize traditionally in Nicaragua, in other words, to sell advertisements, especially when these tyrants trample over businesses that dare to advertise. There is no market to charge subscriptions to audiences that live on the brink of poverty, prioritizing bread, cheese, and beans. So, at Divergentes, we have launched a campaign to urgently seek allies so that we can continue denouncing and reporting in this hostile context. We are no longer just a journalism in resistance, but one that must reinvent itself to adapt to new forms of information consumption, as well as to current realities, where the sources of international cooperation that sustained much of our operations are dwindling and misinformation is rampant. Our campaign also seeks to reach a Europe struggling with its own pressing challenges, such as the invasion of Ukraine. The Atlantic dividing Central America and Europe has never seemed wider, especially with this race to rearm in the face of the latent threat of Putin. However, European leaders should not forget this region because journalists, as we noted before, are key to understanding what is happening in these parts of the world issues that, in the medium term, also affect their countries, such as migration and the respect for human rights, a shared principle that does not tolerate blackmail or negotiation. The campaign Be an ally to the truth, we insist, is not about selling news, but about raising funds. It aims to strengthen the connection with our audience and build a community committed to the right to information, in Nicaragua, Central America, the United States, and Europe. The challenge is necessary and shared. The authors of this article are the founders of the media outlet Divergentes; all of them are exiled in Costa Rica and the United States. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition TEAGUE, Texas (FOX 44) A convicted felon in Teague was found to be in possession of over 20 grams of methamphetamine, as well as a handgun. The Freestone County Sheriffs Office executed a narcotics search warrant in the 300 block of Martin Luther King Avenue in Teague on Saturday morning. This was the result of a lengthy investigation. Upon executing the search warrant, a man was taken into custody for a known active felony warrant for Manufacturing/Delivery of a Controlled Substance (methamphetamine). Sheriff Jeremy Shipley says during the search of the residence, the man was found to be in possession of over 20 grams of methamphetamine packaged in separate bags, as well as a handgun. The suspect was confirmed to be a convicted felon who is not lawfully allowed to possess firearms. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Arrest made in connection with Bryan Airbnb burglaries The man was arrested and charged with Manufacturing/Delivery Controlled Substance Penalty Group 1 over 4 Grams Less than 200 grams, a first-degree felony; Unlawful Possession of a Firearm by Felon, a third-degree felony; and a warrant for Manufacturing/Delivery Controlled Substance Penalty Group 1 over 1 Gram Less than 4 Grams, a second-degree felony. Sheriff Shipley says they were assisted by Teague PD, Wortham PD, Pct 2 Constables Office, Texas DPS, and the Freestone County District Attorneys 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 KWKT - FOX 44. By Sonia Rolley (Reuters) - A convicted war criminal based in Uganda has announced a new rebel movement intent on toppling the government in eastern Congo's Ituri province, creating another potential security threat in the war-scarred region. The formation of the Convention for the Popular Revolution (CPR) by Thomas Lubanga, an Ituri native, comes as Congo's army faces an unprecedented advance by Rwandan-backed M23 rebels elsewhere in eastern Congo. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The International Criminal Court secured its first conviction against Lubanga in 2012 on charges of recruiting child soldiers and sentenced him to 14 years in prison. He was released in 2020 and President Felix Tshisekedi appointed him to a task force to bring peace to Ituri. But in 2022 he was taken hostage for two months by a rebel group, which he blames on the government, and is now based in Uganda. In written responses to questions from Reuters, Lubanga said the CPR had both political and military elements, including armed men in three areas of Ituri. Bringing peace to the area "requires an immediate change in governance and government," he said, though he added that the group has not launched military operations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is unclear how many combatants Lubanga might control. U.N. experts last year accused him of mobilising fighters to support a local militia and M23. Congo's presidency did not respond to a request for comment on Monday. Ituri has been rocked by violence by various armed groups for decades. Doctors Without Borders last week described "a renewed spike in atrocities" that had killed more than 200 civilians and displaced around 100,000 people since the beginning of the year. Ugandan troops are present in Ituri to help the government fight the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), which is affiliated with the Islamic State and stages brutal attacks on villages. (Writing by Robbie Corey-Boulet; Editing by Ros Russell) (KRON) The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority light rail trains are not leaving the station as of Monday morning, despite the strike being over. The problem copper wire thefts during the nearly three-week strike involving workers. All the tracks must be inspected before the trains can take off, according to VTA. Inspections and repair work is still underway on more than 40 miles of track. The Orange light rail line, which runs Alum Rock Transit Center to Mountain View Transit Center, is now running full service as of 10 a.m. on Monday, according to VTA. Partial Blue Line service from Downtown San Jose to Bay Point will be running as soon as test runs are completed, said VTA. Green lines will take longer to get back up and running. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 2 empty bottles of promethazine, ghost gun found in car: PD VTA came to a halt earlier this month when its workers, who are members of the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 265, went on strike to fight for a raise, leaving many passengers scrambling to find another way to get around. A judges ruling on Wednesday, brought an end to the strike, on the grounds of the union violating its no strike agreement. Union members returned to work on Thursday and bus service continued on Friday. There is still no agreement between VTA and the union over a raise. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4. The White House Correspondents Association (WHCA) is pushing back on reports of a potential shake-up coming to the West Wing briefing room and vowing to fight the Trump administrations efforts to take greater control of the media covering his second term. The WHCA board said Monday it was aware of reports the White House is considering taking over the briefing room seat assignments. The White House should abandon this wrong-headed effort and show the American people theyre not afraid to explain their policies and field questions from an independent media free from government control, the WHCA said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The report, published by Axios over the weekend, suggested the White House could soon change who sits where in the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room, decisions typically made by the WHCA. It also cited an anonymous source who suggested White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt could be implemented as WHCA president as a way to de-escalate tensions between reporters covering President Trump and the White House. The most obvious end result of this reported plan is the punishment, not elevation, of journalists, the WHCA said in its statement. Well also add the notion of having the White House press secretary preside over an independent organization of journalists who are negotiating access with the administration is ridiculous. No board member or official representative of the WHCA has ever put forward such a non-starter suggestion. The rumors come just weeks after the administration took control of the White House press pool, a smaller group of reporters allowed in key West Wing spaces, with Trump seeking to include more independent and new media outlets in the body. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The White House has also banned The Associated Press from the press pool over its refusal to call the Gulf of Mexico the Gulf of America, a move the wire service has sued the administration over. The White House picked this fight and continues to do so, the WHCA said. Our members want to cover the administration without fear or favor, and stand ready to question government officials from any corner of the Brady Briefing 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. WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) A court document gives more details about why police arrested a woman after the death of a 7-year-old Wichita boy two weeks ago. It tells the story of adults sitting in a car, drinking tequila while children play inside an apartment. Tasha Dillard, 25, is charged with first-degree murder in the death of Davion Gunter Jr. He was shot and killed just after midnight on March 16 in the 3700 block of E. Ross Parkway. According to the probable cause affidavit, someone called 911 and said a 4-year-old was playing with a gun and a 7-year-old was shot. EMS rushed the boy to the hospital, but he died within the hour. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Why the Callery pear tree is such a problem in Kansas Police say that Dillard told them she invited a few women over for a small party, and they went to the parking lot to continue drinking while the children, ages 1-9, stayed in the apartment. After a short time, children came running out of the apartment and said someone was shot. Detectives interviewed the children separately. According to the affidavit, the children said the gun had been in Dillards purse, that a child started playing with it, and then fired it. Police say that Dillard told them she did not own a gun. She allegedly told police that some male friends had been over in the afternoon and one of them had a gun; she posed with it in a picture; and the men took the gun away before it got dark. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When police told her what the children said, she said they must be mistaken because she did not have a gun and there would not be a gun in her purse. Detectives say she later admitted there would probably be firearm accessories in the kitchen cabinet. She said they were left over from when her sons father lived with her. In addition to the murder charge, Dillard is also charged with six counts of aggravated child endangerment. As of Monday morning, Dillard remains in jail with bond set at $500,000. 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 KSN-TV. CHICAGO (WGN) An 18-year-old male was shot dead inside an Auburn Gresham home Monday morning, Chicago police announced. The shooting occurred around 9 a.m. in the 8000 block of. Paulina St. According to police, the male victim was inside a residence when he was struck in the head by gunfire. He was pronounced dead at the scene. No one is in custody. Read more: Latest Chicago news and headlines Anyone with additional information may leave an anonymous tip at cpdtip.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 WGN-TV. CHICAGO Chicago police are searching for a missing 13-year-old boy. Police said Wilker Seqera Vasquez was last seen Saturday morning near the intersection of Roosevelt Road and Austin Boulevard. LATEST CASES: Missing people in Chicagoland He was last seen wearing a white, grey and black hooded sweatshirt, blue jeans and black Jordan gym shoes. Seqera Vasquez is 511 and weighs 130 pounds. He also has black hair and brown eyes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anyone with information is asked to call police at 312-746-8251. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV. A battle broke out on the border between the Mexican states of Jalisco and Michoacan on March 16. In Guadalupe de Lerma, near where it all began, the first casualties fell. Desperate audio recordings began arriving at the barracks: Help, help, help! We need help here at the entrance to Tanhuato. They have us in a damned truck. They attacked us on Highway 45. Amid the words, dry fire could be heard. From the operation bases, calmer voices issued orders, in contrast to the frantic ones coming from the front lines: Zamora and Ocotlan, support for Vista Hermosa, theyre attacking at the entrance to Tanhuato. Apparently, there are several trucks. These internal communications, to which EL PAIS has had access, grew increasingly urgent: Hes moving people to Tanhuato, dude, its getting ugly. They just killed B., dude, they killed B. along with another one. Four soldiers, two National Guard members, and three hitmen were killed. After the shootings, the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) blocked roads and set vehicles on fire. Three days later, 190 miles away, in Autlan de Navarro one of the cartels epicenters the army counterattacked by land and air, with the support of three helicopters. Two more National Guard members were killed. Mexico is tightening its grip on the CJNG. These two days of violence highlight the intensifying war against the cartel, which had managed to stay under the radar in recent months. The internal war within the Sinaloa Cartel, between the Chapitos and Mayo factions, had drawn the attention of the Claudia Sheinbaum administration, with the presidents security czar, Omar Garcia Harfuch, focusing on the city of Culiacan. With daily massacres and bodies dumped in the streets, the Sinaloan city was the priority. Meanwhile, the Jalisco New Generation Cartel led by Nemesio Ruben El Mencho Oseguera Cervantes took advantage of the situation to strengthen its position while its main rival bled itself dry. But the discovery of the Izaguirre ranch in Teuchitlan where the CJNG kidnapped, murdered, and tortured its victims, with evidence suggesting the use of crematoriums to dispose of their bodies has made El Mencho and his crew a priority target once again. Pressure from the United States to bring down the kingpin has also continued. U.S. President Donald Trump is threatening to impose tariffs on Mexico if it doesnt curb the flow of illegal migrants and fentanyl trafficking, which the White House has made a top priority. The CJNG, along with the Sinaloa Cartel, is heavily involved in the production and distribution of fentanyl. President Sheinbaum attempted to appease Trump by handing over 29 leaders of various criminal organizations. Now, Sheinbaum will need a new strategy to satisfy Washingtons demands the next time they sit down to negotiate. And there will be one: following a meeting between Sheinbaum and Trumps Secretary of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem, this Friday in Mexico, Noem stated that there is still much work to be done. El Menchos head the DEAs most-wanted target, with a $15 million bounty on it would be the perfect trophy. CJNG expands its power It wont be an easy battle. The CJNG has impressive strength. State officials are very vulnerable to their threats, says a security source. They have infiltration in all the prosecutors offices, state and federal, and Jaliscos is no exception. Eduardo Guerrero, general director of Lantia Intelligence, a consulting firm specializing in organized crime, agrees: The fight against Jalisco will gain new momentum, but the challenge is colossal because the CJNG has done nothing but consolidate its power in the last year. It has expanded and strengthened. In places like Veracruz, especially from the center to the south, it has a quasi-monopoly. Guerrero believes that, with increased government pressure, the cartel will strengthen its strongholds: Jalisco, Guanajuato, and Michoacan. There is a widespread belief among experts that the intensified persecution of the CJNG and El Mencho is more a response to pressure from the United States and a society exhausted by violence, shaken like never before by the horrors of Teuchitlan, than to a genuine initiative by federal and state governments. El Mencho has always been a very high-profile target. Now I see that theyre putting in a great effort to stop him, says a source familiar with the operations. The situation is forcing them to. Before, there was no will. You cant operate with that level of impunity without the authorities turning a blind eye. Iliana Padilla Reyes, an academic at the Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) in Queretaro, believes that Sheinbaum didnt fully address the problem until Trump arrived. Theyre going to encounter resistance because the Jalisco government hasnt shown any desire to confront the cartel, but I think theyre going to be dragged down by the intertia of events, Guerrero adds. Cecilia Farfan-Mendez, head of the North American Observatory for the Global Initiative against Transnational Organized Crime, agrees: Theres a lot of pressure to produce results from the Trump administration, but these are very traditional actions against drug trafficking. Essentially, this includes arrests of high-profile figures and seizures. To date, the government hasnt shown any new attitude or ideas to combat the cartels, adds Chris Dalby, author of CJNG: Mexicos Most Dangerous Cartel. Padilla Reyes makes a similar argument: This strategy of going after the leaders is media-driven and sends a political message, but it paves the way for other leaders. As long as there isnt a firm strategy to go all out, well just be playing a media game. He argues that neither the cartels finances nor the political structure sustaining it are being targeted: On the contrary, the messages have been about maintaining the pacts. Theres no coordinated social effort with state and municipal governments to generate diagnoses that would allow us, to begin with, to understand the causes in all these territories. They continue to be desk-based policies that aim to generate numbers for reports, not to understand what makes young people eager to join the war in Sinaloa or Jalisco. Dalby, director of World of Crime, a consulting firm specializing in drug trafficking and organized crime, also blames the White House for the current strategy: The United States is returning to this obsession with killing or extraditing kingpins, but that doesnt change anything and could make things worse. Farfan-Mendez agrees: Sheinbaum is undoubtedly doing things that are more understandable to the United States. There is no rhetoric of hugs, not bullets [the motto of Sheinbaums predecessor, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador], which was interpreted as inaction. Guerrero does see a difference in Sheinbaums strategy compared to previous administrations. First, in the number and accuracy of arrests, with much more precise strikes due to intelligence work. Second, theres greater coordination between military and civilian secretaries through Garcia Harfuch. Weve never had a civilian command centralizing power in the Security Cabinet. Third, there is a greater willingness to collaborate with the United States something Lopez Obrador only did when strictly necessary since the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) now has two divisions dedicated to investigating Jalisco and Sinaloa. Fourth, Guerrero believes the arrests are more targeted at hitmen and logistics leaders rather than the top brass, because they dont want a fragmentation phenomenon that will generate more violence. The CJNG after Mencho A source close to the Mexican presidency maintains that, despite the full military and intelligence apparatus, along with U.S. assistance, El Mencho has not yet been captured because they have very carefully calculated the human cost of doing so: He always operates in heavily populated areas, and the number of deaths that stopping him would entail would be tragic. They also want to avoid a violent power struggle within the cartel over his succession, similar to what happened in Sinaloa after the capture of Ismael El Mayo Zambada. On the other hand, El Mencho has developed a very sophisticated system of informants, he has a lot of information, and a large apparatus, explains another security source. This network extends not only within the CJNG but also in the communities where he operates, which Padilla Reyes describes as forced solidarity. Why was El Chapo hiding in Sinaloa, precisely where they were searching for him? Because in Sinaloa, he had all the grassroots support, all these well-established networks of complicity. The era of El Mencho is coming to an end one way or another. Dalby believes his leadership has become more spiritual and symbolic than practical: the various CJNG cells now operate independently, and his arrest or death wouldnt change that. The real risk is the battle for his succession. His brother Antonio was one of the 29 cartel leaders extradited to the United States; his other brother, Abraham, is in a Mexican prison, fighting in court to avoid the same fate; his son, Ruben Oseguera, known as El Menchito, was sentenced to life in prison earlier this month by a Washington court. The only one who can keep the cartel together is Juan Carlos Gonzalez Valencia, the son of Rosalinda Gonzalez, El Menchos ex-wife, from another man. El Mencho adopted him; they are very close, says Dalby. Otherwise, the cartel will face a dispute between lieutenants. If theres a war between factions, our homicide rate will skyrocket in several states, predicts Guerrero. Dalby agrees: Of all the Mexican cartels in history, even more so than Los Zetas, the CJNG is by far the most violent. Between 2013 and 2023, 80% of cartel-related deaths were linked to them. Thats a chilling figure. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Editors Note: The Abilene Police Department supplied the following arrest and incident reports. All information below comes from reports made by responding officers, and all suspects are considered not guilty unless determined otherwise in a court of law. Incidents 1400 block of Fannin Street Robbery A victim reported three known suspects stole his cell phone and money after physically assaulting him. 4500 block of S 1st Street Fraudulent Use/Possession of Identifying Information An identity theft report was completed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 7500 block of Penney Lane Criminal Trespass Habitation A report was taken for criminal mischief after $5,000 worth of damage was done to two facilities. 2500 block of N Judge Ely Boulevard Assault Impede Breath Family Violence Police responded to an injured subject call and a suspect was arrested. 2300 block of Bishop road Aggravated Assault Deadly Weapon Family Violence A victim reported her husband brandished a knife during an argument. 2700 block of Pine Street Assault Family Violence 2900 block of Simmons Avenue Assault Family Violence A report for assault was taken. 3500 block of Rolling Green Drive Assault Impede Breath A victim stated she was assaulted by her fiance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 2100 block of N 1st Street Burglary of Building Officers responded to an alarm call in north Abilene and found a glass door broken. 1800 block of Grape Street Burglary of Building A north Abilene business reported a suspect broke the glass window of a business. 1400 block of N Willis Street Assault Family Violence Two sisters had a disagreement over how to care for their mother. 3000 block of Catclaw Drive Theft of Firearm A victim stated unknown suspects removed clothing and a firearm from their vehicle without permission. 2200 block of Oakland Drive Assault A report was taken for an alleged assault in north Abilene. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 700 block of Jeanette Street Assault Family Violence A misdemeanor assault family violence report was taken in south Abilene. 800 block of E Hwy 80 Credit Card or Debit Card Abuse An exploitation of elderly case was opened up after a call for service. 4500 block of S 1st Street Silent Abusive Call A report was worked for a long series of abusive and harassing calls to Police Department Dispatch. 2000 block of Collins Avenue Criminal Mischief A report for criminal mischief was taken in north Abilene. 300 block of Shelton Street Assault Family Violence A suspect was arrested for assaulting his girlfriend in north Abilene. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 3300 block of Sherry Lane Violation of Bond/Protective Order A public intoxication arrest turned into a violation of bond arrest. 4200 block of N 1st Street Assault Impede Breath An assault of a pregnant person report was taken in north Abilene. 1400 block of Beechwood Lane Assault Family Violence A victim was assaulted by his uncle at a familys residence in north Abilene. 1000 block of S 10th Street Violation of Bond/Protective Order A victim violated an emergency protective order that was issued to her. 4600 block of Bruce Drive Burglary of Habitation An unknown suspect broke into a south Abilene residence and stole jewelry and a firearm worth a total of $4,200. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 1000 block of S 10th Street Assault Family Violence A victim reported she was assaulted by her boyfriend. She did have visible injuries. 3600 block of Ambler Avenue Aggravated Assault Deadly Weapon Two victims alleged they were targets of aggravated assault. 1300 block of S Jefferson Drive Assault Family Violence An assault family violence report was taken in south Abilene. 5200 block of Twylight Trail Criminal Mischief A known suspect broke a window on a south Abilene residence. 7900 block of Bonnie Circle Assault Family Violence Police responded to a call for service in south Abilene. 100 block of Missionary Hindering Apprehension of Known Felon Sex Offender 3800 block of Antilley Road Theft of Property $5,000 worth of cash was stolen. Arrests Terran Nelson Assault Impede Breath Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jennifer Aldrete Assault Family Violence Misty Poe Warrant Joshua Cooper Warrant Elpidio Martinez Interfer with Public Duties Joe Martinez Warrant, Evading Arrest Detention Kristine Melchor Unlawful Restraint, Interfer with Emergency Request for Assistance, Driving While Intoxicated, Unlawful Carrying of Weapon Christopher Brunson Warrant, Resist Arrest Devyon Bradley Warrant, Possession of Controlled Substance, Unlawful Carrying of Weapon Krissa Carrillo Public Intoxication Jerry Ross Warrant Rod Turner Warrant Jesus Devora Warrant Roman McCree Public Intoxication Tyson Hester Warrant, Possession of Controlled Substance Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Felix Lopez Public intoxication Mark Flores Unlawful Carrying of Weapon, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia Jonathan Rodriguez Warrant Cody Hodges Assault Family Violence Jonathan Sanchez Driving While Intoxicated Benjamin Joseph Violation of Bond/Protective Order, Public Intoxication Danela Guadalupe Aguilar Arango Warrant Devonee Ingram No Drivers License Juan Calderon Public Intoxication Rhiana Titus Violation of Bond/Protective Order Jason Watson Warrant Christopher Ruelas Public Intoxication Edward Rivas Assault Threat/Contact Robert Bigham Warrant, Possession of Controlled Substance Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Samantha Riffle Hinder Apprehension or Prosecution of Known Felon David Pearson Driving While Intoxicated Adrian Delgado Assault Family Violence Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTAB - BigCountryHomepage.com. URBANA, Ill. (WCIA) Champaign County Crime Stoppers is asking the public for help in solving an aggravated robbery that happened early last week. On March 25 at 2:20 p.m., police responded to Exotics Smoke Shop on East University Avenue in Urbana after a robbery had been reported. Police were told a male entered the store and began selecting items. Urbana PD warns of scammers impersonating police officers Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But when he presented the items for purchase instead of handing over money he tried to grab the bag instead. When the employee resisted, the suspect walked behind the counter, pushed the employee, grabbed the bag, and tried to leave. Thats when another employee intervened, and the suspect removed an object from his waistband and pointed it at the victims. The suspect then ran away on foot with the stolen merchandise. Photos courtesy of Champaign County Crime Stoppers The suspect was described as a Black man, between the age of 25-30 years old, wearing a black stocking cap, a yellow disposable mask, a puffy black coat, black pants, and yellow Jordan 13 retro Carmelo Class of 2002 high top shoes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anyone with more information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers by phone at 217-373-TIPS, on their website or the P3 Tips mobile app. Crime Stoppers reminds the public that tipsters are completely anonymous. And, tips that lead to an arrest can earn you up to $5,000. 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 WCIA.com. Whether there were issues between Philadelphia couple Jordan and Danielle Baxter was unclear a few weeks ago. However, it was clear something went awfully wrong after Mr. Baxter was found dead outside their home. Police accuse his wife of the killing but the only information we know of an alleged motive was a cryptic social media post the Mrs. left behind. The Philadelphia Police Department is investigating the shooting death of 38-year-old Jordan Baxter. Officers said they responded to the report of a person screaming the early morning of March 19. They said they arrived at the 800 block of Bells Mill Road where they found Baxter unresponsive on top of a plastic sheet between two cars. Police said the father-of-three was pronounced dead at the scene minutes after medics found him. He was lying with a gun on his chest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police said its unclear what happened leading up to the shooting but they did arrest his wife, 39-year-old Danielle Baxter on Monday March 24 in connection to the killing upon the investigation. Police accuse Baxter of killing her husband and dragging his body outside. While the motive is unclear, a neighbor told FOX 29 the couple was separated and Mr. Baxter had been staying somewhere else. Also, days before the shooting, Danielle posted a suggesting message on Facebook gathering over 600 comments. These females out here be plotting on your marriage and waiting for your downfall so they can come right on in and these men let them, she wrote. Most trolls commented on the post asking if thats why she killed her husband, as if the alleged murder was retaliation for alleged infidelity in her marriage. However, a user identifying as Danielles cousin pleaded with the public to have mercy, arguing Danielle suffered a major loss ahead of the incident while... also appearing to incriminate her. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She devoted her whole life to this marriage. She was faithful and honest and we all make mistakes, the user, Tee Love, wrote in the comments of Danielles post. Not only did she lose her twin sister, she lost her brother It doesnt justify her actions... Its so sad because everyone was on here with these comments until they seen that she really was going through something and did this. Now everyone want to judge her. Sometimes when people write things its a call for help. Police have not disclosed any more information about the shooting at this time. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. (COLORADO SPRINGS) The Colorado State Patrol has identified the driver of a vehicle that almost sideswiped a CSP Trooper as a 19-year-old woman. On Monday, March 31, at around 4 a.m., a trooper was conducting a traffic stop on I-25 when a Honda Odyssey almost sideswiped the trooper. Due to concerns, the trooper pursued the Honda, and the pursuit later ended at Highway 83. Two people were detained, and both were taken to the hospital with minor injuries. At 5:25 a.m., the driver, 19-year-old Analecia Lovato from Colorado Springs, was released from the hospital and taken into custody. She is being held at El Paso County jail on the following charges: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Vehicular Eluding Drove Vehicle While Under the Influence of Alcohol Drove Vehicle with Excessive Alcohol Content Violation of Restraining Order Failed to Present Immediate Evidence of Insurance Upon Request Reckless Driving Reckless Endangerment Displayed Fictitious Number Plate Illegal Possession of Ethyl Alcohol by an Underage Person Drove Vehicle without Valid Drivers License Possessed an Open Alcoholic Beverage Container in a Motor Vehicle. CSP will continue to investigate the incident. ORIGINAL TITLE: CSP investigating pursuit near Briargate MONDAY 3/31/2024 1:34 p.m. Colorado State Patrol (CSP) is currently investigating a pursuit that ensued while a Trooper performed a traffic stop on Monday morning, March 31. At around 4 a.m., a Colorado State Trooper was on a traffic stop on I-25, south of Briargate Parkway, when a Honda Odyssey almost sideswiped the Trooper. Due to safety concerns for other drivers, the Trooper pursued the Honda, and a second Trooper assisted with the pursuit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One of the troopers performed a Tactical Vehicle Intervention (TVI), and the pursuit ended at Highway 83, south of Northgate. The driver and the passenger were detained and taken to the hospital with minor injuries. No Troopers were injured. The two patrol vehicles had minor damage. CSP said this is an ongoing investigation. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX21 News Colorado. (COLORADO SPRINGS) The Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD) reported that two people broke into a car, accessed a homes garage, and fired shots at the house on Sunday morning, March 30, in Northgate. According to CSPD, around midnight on Sunday, officers responded to the 11000 block of Wildwood Ridge Drive, near Voyager Parkway and Ridgeline Drive, on reports of shots fired. When they arrived, they learned that at least two people broke into a vehicle at a home and after finding the garage door opener, they used it to open the garage. CSPD stated that when the homeowner heard the door open, they went to check. As they were checking, one of the suspects fired several shots, hitting the house. The suspects then drove off in a dark-colored vehicle. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) A new organization in Sioux Falls is creating a space where people can talk about local and state politics. Stronger Sioux Falls/Stronger South Dakota is hoping discussions encourage people to get involved the community. Community members gathered with some food inside Good Natured to kick-start something new in Sioux Falls. Bus rollover on Interstate 90 The whole concept is were going to have a selection of workshops, events, all sorts of stuff happening over the next spring and summer and really encouraging people to get involved with their local government, organizer Jordan Deffenbaugh said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Deffenbaugh says he wants to encourage people to have face-to-face political discussions. We can actually come together and have civil discussion and in a public setting. Why cant we do this in the form of block parties, or street dances or potlucks like the one were having today? Its really emphasizing how do we come together as a community and build the government based off of that? Deffenbaugh said. I think the goal is to help people and not for selfish needs. I think its important to get together and talk to each other as people in a community rather than just being behind our phones and social media, attendee Zach Dresch said. Deffenbaugh hopes that these discussions will encourage people to make a difference in the community. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Getting involved in the local stuff where it really matters. That means your neighborhood associations, your school boards, your city councils, things like that. Thats the day-to-day that really matters. People just need to be more engaged and aware. Then, if they feel inclined to do so, run for those offices, run for those open seats, Deffenbaugh said. To learn more about Stronger Sioux Falls and to hear about upcoming meetings, click here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KELOLAND.com. ALBANY, New York When former Syracuse Mayor Stephanie Miner wanted money for water pipe upgrades, then-Gov. Andrew Cuomo had a much different priority in mind for the upstate city: a $300 million stadium. Miner contends in her new memoir its that kind of political calculation that harmed New York cities during the Cuomo tenure flashy projects and deals with campaign donors taking precedence over providing essential services. The stadium deal she recounted ultimately fell apart, and Syracuse did get money for its pipes but the funding came two years after Miner had left office, in what she described as a petty, parting shot from Cuomo. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Miner had one of the most visible feuds with Cuomo during his tenure as governor. After he appointed her co-chair of the state Democratic Committee in 2012, they quickly split after she accused him of failing to act aggressively on rising pension costs. By 2018, she was mounting a third-party run against him. While Miners book is focused on the policy challenges facing cities, Cuomo is a constant presence as she recounts her time leading Syracuse. He repeatedly emerges as a figure primarily interested in increasing his own power whether through delaying infrastructure work or, on two occasions, kissing the former mayor against her will. Her portrayal of the scandal-scarred governor runs counter to the one Cuomo is now trying to project as he runs for New York City mayor one of a problem-solver uniquely equipped to deal with the nitty-gritty of government. Cuomos philosophy seemed to be that successful governing was about winning, Miner writes. His team wouldnt get attention for bringing resources to old systems the public took for granted. Their unquenchable thirst for positive headlines overtook any desire to do the grinding and boring work that is actual governing. The ex-governors team brushed off Miners takes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I havent heard or thought of that name in years, said Cuomo spokesperson Rich Azzopardi. And my tastes tend to not be science fiction or fantasy, so I probably wont read that one. Miner offers an in-depth accounting of Syracuses efforts to secure state funding for road and water projects. As she tells it, the governor had little interest in this work and argued the state already subsidized its cities enough. Instead, cities like hers should attract employers so they could fund their infrastructure without relying on Albany. Cuomo, though, did take an interest in spending on Syracuse when it included a ribbon for him to cut. The governor spent $16 million building a film hub; the state eventually unloaded that for $1 when it turned out Hollywood wasnt interested in relocating to Central New York. He spent $50 million renovating the areas fairgrounds. And he had plans to spend $300 million of public money to fund a replacement of Syracuse Universitys Carrier Dome. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Miner says she was kept uninformed of that idea until word leaked just before Cuomo planned to announce it: Other local officials wanted to curry favor with the governor by ordering everyone to keep me in the dark, Miner wrote. It was common knowledge that anything done to slight me was looked upon favorably by the governor. Miner tried to rally support against the project, and she was initially backed by the incoming university president. But the president soon flipped: He explained he was new to New York state politics and had been convinced he could not cross the governor. Thus, he would support the new stadium. Yet the stadium deal which Cuomo hoped to announce as he was running for reelection in 2014 eventually collapsed. A lobbyist and developer who were tasked with winning support were called to a meeting where the governor screamed at them [one] said he had never seen anyone as angry as the governor, Miner writes. While Cuomo seemed uninterested in Syracuses infrastructure, the city did win $10 million in 2015 to replace roads and pipes, thanks to a discretionary pool controlled by the Assembly. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A few months later, as we were putting together a plan for how to spend the $10 million, I got a call from a high-level staffer from Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silvers office, Miner writes. He said Governor Cuomo told Silver the money would never be released to Syracuse while I was mayor. The money eventually went out the door two years after she left office. When Syracuse won a state grant in Cuomos first term to fix city schools, Miner got a call from Judy Rapfogel, Silvers top aide a few years before Silver was convicted in part due to using his state post to collect legal referral fees for a firm handling asbestos lawsuits. She said Shelly asked her to call to see if the schools had asbestos issues, Miner writes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The school district then needed state legislation to move ahead with a second phase of renovations. This was at a time when Miner, still co-chair of the state Democrats, was openly feuding with Cuomo over his pension plans. Rapfogel called to tell me she and Shelly believed the governor refused to sign the school reconstruction legislation until I had agreed to resign from the party post, Miner writes. She left that job a few weeks later. Miner described only a handful of in-person meetings with Cuomo after the two began feuding. These were always tense, including one congressional campaign rally when the governor, apropos of nothing, brought up Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano when encountering Miner backstage. Cuomo began threatening Spano. He said he knew Spanos family, and when he got a hold of him, he was going to make Spano cry, Miner wrote. There was absolutely no context for this adolescent outburst. It was one of the strangest interactions Ive had in my life. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She was perplexed when describing this encounter to the late Assemblymember Richard Brodsky: Are you an idiot? Brodsky said. He wasnt threatening Spano. He was threatening you. In her book, Miner also recounted two incidents in which Cuomo publicly kissed her at the end of well-attended events. I assumed he did it because he knew I was popular, and he wanted to show people we had a relationship as he prepared for his reelection, she said, recalling an encounter after one of his 2017 State of the State addresses. Did I want that? No. Was it clear from my body language, my facial expression, and everything he knew about me I did not want that? Yes, which is why he did it: to show his political dominance ... With Andrew Cuomo, his kissing me was about power. I never viewed it as sexual. We were gladiators in a public ring and thats how he showed he was boss I chose to be in the arena, and his kisses were the least of his control tactics. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Miner said in an interview that the book shows how the actual impact of him trying to solve problems in a substantive manner is really lacking. You can look at that in terms of how many people left the state when he was governor, you can look at that in terms of his economic development policies that were mired in corruption and were abject failures. She noted that the memoir wasnt driven by Cuomos new attempt to be a mayor himself, though: The book was scheduled to be published in March for a year now, said Miner, now a professor at Colgate University and a consultant for Bloomberg Philanthropies. The two-tier justice row reared its ugly head again today, as it emerged judges and magistrates were being told to prioritise bail for ethnic minorities, as they are at a higher risk of being remanded into custody. It came after the Sentencing Council had refused a request from Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood for it to rethink other new instructions, which would come into effect from tomorrow, that required judges to consider an offenders background before deciding whether to impose a custodial sentence. Late this evening, the Sentencing Council backed down and suspended the new guidelines in a victory for Robert Jenrick - who had campaigned vociferously against them ever since the stories began to emerge earlier this month. Kamal and Camilla spoke to the shadow justice secretary about the ongoing two tier justice row, as well Prime Minister Keir Starmer trumpeting his governments achievements in deporting 24,000 illegal immigrants since coming to power. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They also spoke to The Telegraphs Paris Correspondent, Henry Samuel, after Marine Le Pen was found guilty of embezzlement and banned from running for public office for five years, meaning she would not be able to run in the 2027 French presidential election. They asked what the future looks like for Le Pen and whether her National Rally protege Jordan Bardella is the right person to take the battle to Emmanuel Macron. CORRECTION: The headline of this article previously referred to Labours nonsense two tier justice system. This was inaccurate as the system was proposed by the Sentencing Council not the government. We are happy to correct the record. Watch episodes of the Daily T here. You can also listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts, and subscribe to The Daily T newsletter for updates Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. The email he never wanted to receive arrived in his inbox just after noon on Saturday, March 29. We have taken action on your case and it needs your attention. It was the first thing he read in the subject line of the message sent by the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the same one that other Cubans like him he prefers not to reveal his identity also received, along with thousands of Venezuelans, Nicaraguans, and Haitians. In total, 532,000 citizens of these four countries were granted legal immigration status by the Joe Biden administration, but have become overnight the newest illegal immigrants of the Donald Trump administration. You should depart the United States now, earlier, but no later than the date of the termination of your parole, the message reads. Email sent to parole benecifiaries. CORTESIA The letter, to which EL PAIS has had access, states that the protection granted to nationals of Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela, and their families, will expire on April 24. It is the ultimatum issued by the Republican administration for them to return to their respective countries. We are all afraid. Imagine if you get a letter saying you have to go back to Cuba, says the young Cuban, who, like most people, is unsure of what to do. The authorities message warns that failure to timely depart may have adverse immigration consequences. The DHS indicates that those who decide to leave the country by land must report their departure through the CBP Home mobile app, the replacement for CBP One and an initiative launched by the Trump administration to allow illegal immigrants to self-deport. Conversely, if the person does not depart the United States before their parole end date, they will begin to accrue unlawful presence in the United States unless otherwise protected from such accrual. Accumulating more than 180 days of unlawful presence, they warn, may result in the person being inadmissible if they reapply to the country in the future within a certain period of time. The Trump administration has never concealed its intentions to end the humanitarian parole created by the previous administration and has scrapped everything to do with a program that allowed up to 30,000 foreigners to enter the country legally each month, under the umbrella of an economic sponsor, and with benefits such as a work permit and legal residence for two years. The first step was to announce the end of parole the same day that Trump returned to the White House. Then, it was announced that the beneficiaries immigration processes would be suspended. Later, it was announced that their legal status would be revoked. And now, a date has been set for them to permanently leave the country, despite the fact that many have started families, acquired property and paid taxes during this time. An infographic shared by the government with instructions for using the CBP Home app to self-deport. U.S. Customs and Border Protection In the email, the authorities also mention the revocation of the right to employment that their status had previously granted them. DHS intends to revoke your employment authorization because the condition under which you were granted employment authorization based on parole [...] no longer exists, it states. Immigration attorney Willy Allen, who insists that the hope of the United States government is that people will leave on their own, believes that thousands of them will not: How many people are going to fly alone to their countries? Therefore, he finds it worrying that many of them will remain for some time without work permits and, therefore, in a legal and economic limbo. He is particularly concerned about Venezuelan, Nicaraguan, and Haitian migrants who have not yet filed asylum applications. Some Cubans, however, may be safe. Cubans can legalize their status under the Adjustment Act, which requires an inspection, admission, or parole. It doesnt require you to be legally present in the country all the time, but only part of the time, he says. For other nationalities, the lawyer advises applying for political asylum as soon as possible: They should have already filed their cases; if not, they have this week to do so. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Severe storms left damage throughout the Miami Valley Sunday night. [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] We will continue to follow up on the latest details on storm damage today on News Center 7 at Noon and 5:00. TRENDING STORIES: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Parts of the Miami Valley were under Severe Thunderstorm Watch and Tornado Watch Sunday night. Those watches have since been canceled. Storm Center 7 Weather Specialist Nick Dunn said heavy rain, lighting, and damaging winds were the biggest threats. We also got reports of hail. If you see storm damage, send News Center 7 your photos. >>PHOTOS: Dayton building crumbles during severe weather Storm damage has been reported across the Miami Valley. Scanner traffic, Ohio State Highway Patrol (OSHP) dispatchers, and National Weather Service (NWS) trained spotters indicate that the following areas are dealing with storm damage: Montgomery County: As reported on News Center 7 at 11:00, part of a building collapsed on Valley Street in Dayton. Clinton County: The Clinton County Emergency Agency said Sunday on social media that NWS reported two separate radar-indicated rotations in Clinton County. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement NWS has yet to confirm to them as tornados. The 911 call center is reporting a tree down on Brimstone Road north of State Route 73 near Caser Creek Lake. The 911 call center is reporting a partial collapse of an outbuilding on State Route 134 near State Route 350 in N. Martinsville. The 911 call center is reporting a power pole down in Martinsville. Part of a roof is blown off a barn on State Route 73 near Interstate 71 in Harveysburg. Trees are reported down on houses in Sabina on North College Street between West Mound and West Washington Streets. Several trees with some outbuilding damage in the 5000 block of Antioch Road near State Route 729 in New Vienna. Warren County: Zoar Road is closed between US 22 and US 3 and Eastwood Drive. This is due to powers lines hanging across the road, according to Hamilton Township Police. Multiple trees with large branches broken off are reported on Fairmeadow Court near Snider Road in Mason. The Warren County 911 call center reports a utility pole is reported down on Kunker Road near State Route 132. The 911 call center is reporting overturned trailers on Kings Mill Road. Numerous trees are reported down in Caesar Creek State Park. A tree is reported down near Appaloosa Circle and U.S. 22 in W. Morrow. A tree and powerlines were reported down along Hart Road west of the fairgrounds in Lebanon. We will update this story. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tree Down Spring Valley Tree Down Spring Valley Lightning Strike near Springfield Hail near Springboro. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hail in Washington Twp. Storm Clouds near Union City, Ohio. Storm Damage near Springfield Hail near Washington Twp. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tree down in Clearcreek Twp. Storm Clouds Hail near Washington Twp. Hail in Centerville Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lightning near South Charleston Hail in Clearcreek Twp. Photo contributed by Lucas Taylor (via burst) Photo contributed by Lucas Taylor (via burst) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Photo contributed by Lucas Taylor (via burst) Photo contributed by Mariah Mcmullen (via burst) [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] Cases of the fungal infection Candida auris are rising rapidly and coming from more sources too, a new US study reveals. C. auris was first reported in the US in 2016 and is considered an "urgent antimicrobial resistance threat" in hospitals, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Focusing on a large health system in Miami, Florida, the new research found that reported clinical cases had risen from 5 in 2019 to 115 in 2023 a considerable jump of 2,200 percent in four years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Consistent with US national trends, C. auris rapidly spread in our community as noted by a sharp increase in the identification of C. auris from clinical cultures in 2020 and 2021, followed by a less steep rise in 2022 and 2023," writes the US team in their published paper. Many strains of C. auris don't respond to regular treatments, and are resistant to common cleaners and disinfectants too. The fungus spreads quickly in hospitals, often via equipment like catheters and breathing and feeding tubes. When it takes hold, a C. auris infection can cause various serious and even fatal illnesses in the bloodstream, the respiratory system, the central nervous system, in organs, and in the skin. The fungus doesn't pose much risk to the general public. Most healthy people are unlikely to pick up an infection as they're less exposed to C. auris, and their bodies are better able to repel it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, for people who are already ill and in the hospital, the growing threat is a very real one. Bloodstream infections continue to be the most common, but infections in soft tissue or bone, and in cerebrospinal fluid, are increasing. The more bases there are to cover, the harder C. auris will be to control. The CDC has issued guidelines for limiting C. auris spread. (CDC) The pattern that's emerging in the US is being repeated across the rest of the world, and health experts have been struggling to contain C. auris since it was first discovered in Japan in 2009. The first US cases were reported in 2016. Several warnings have been issued about the threat posed by C. auris including a study released almost exactly two years ago, announcing that infections had reached half of the states in the US but as this Miami study shows, the surge is continuing. The CDC has a lengthy list of recommendations for stopping the spread of C. auris infections, including diligent cleaning routines for surfaces and devices, and the use of single-patient rooms where possible. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Measures to prevent the spread of C. auris rely on isolation and contact precautions," write the researchers. "Our findings suggest that early identification of patients colonized with C. auris and the prompt deployment of infection prevention strategies can potentially impact the incidence of bloodstream infections." The research has been published in the American Journal of Infection Control. Related News chemotherapy amid his ongoing battle with stage 3 non-Hodgkins lymphoma, a cancer in the lymphatic system. In a new interview with Parade published March 31, the 65-year-old actor said he felt pretty sick after he underwent the final round of chemo in February. I didn't know that I had caught a virus. I was in bed for about 10 days just trying to figure out, Do I have a cold? Am I just feeling the ramifications of this cumulative effect of the chemo? What is going on? he recalled. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to Coulier, doctors found Ground-glass opacity in a scan of his lungs, meaning there were what looked like little particles of glass and hazy gray areas deposited at the bottom. Medical News Today says these areas show increased density inside the lungs which could be a sign of pneumonia or other respiratory disorders. Coulier said this, in addition to having a common cold, wreaked havoc on his weakened immune system and if he hadnt gone in for a check-up, his doctors told him they might not have been able to help. Fortunately, he received a positive update on his cancer battle from his most recent PET scan. According to Coulier, his doctors didnt find any more cancer cells. Dave Coulier reveals doctors found Ground-glass opacity in a CT scan of his lungs after his final round of chemotherapy (Getty Images) While that was good news for him, Coulier admitted he wont be officially out of the woods until he receives the results of his recent CAT scan to determine whether the cancer is actually in the rear-view mirror. He did, however, mention the chemotherapy treatment combined with the type of lymphoma he has could have a very high curability rate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Elsewhere during the interview, the Fuller House actor explained how each round of chemotherapy resulted in worsening symptoms. So neuropathy, which I hadn't experienced before, started to increase. Nausea started to increase. Dizziness started to increase, he explained. They call it chemo brain, where you're a bit foggy that started to increase. My days of being able to get up and walk around and be active started to decrease. Some days, I just didn't want to do anything. After this past round of chemotherapy in February, Coulier couldnt make it out of bed. Though I wanted to move around and go out and, you know, work around the house, I just couldn't, he said. There was so much cancer-related fatigue that got progressively worse and worse and worse, and I thought, Wow, this is how it's going to go. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Coulier announced his cancer diagnosis during a November 2024 appearance on the Today show, revealing he had a very aggressive form of stage 3 non-Hodgkins lymphoma. Non-Hodgkins lymphoma is a form of cancer that affects the white blood cells, causing them to grow abnormally and can form tumors throughout the body, according to Mayo Clinic. Stage 3 usually means that the cancer is large and may have spread to surrounding tissues or lymph nodes. The sitcom star said he received his diagnosis after having experienced symptoms months prior and finding a large lump on his groin. It swelled up immediately, he said of the lump. I thought, Wow, Im either really sick, or my bodys really reacting to something. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When he went to visit the doctor, Coulier was told he had cancer. The first thing I said to them was, Wait a minute cancer? he remembered. [I was] feeling like I got punched in the stomach because it never happens to you. You always hear about it happening to someone else. Despite his diagnosis, Coulier is grateful for his growing family. The on-screen star became a grandfather last week when his son Luc welcomed his first baby with his wife Alex on March 27. We're so excited. My son and his wife live in California, so we'll be making multiple trips to see that little boy, Coulier said of him and his wife Melissas plans to visit their newborn grandchild. Two Davenport structure fires in three days left seven people without lodging and another person with severe injuries, according to a news release from the Davenport Fire Department. Davenport Fire Department (davenportiowa.com) Severe injuries Sunday Shortly after 12:15 a.m. Sunday, crews responded to a structure fire on the 1500 block of West 2nd Street with five apparatus and one command vehicle for a total response of 16 personal. A 911 call to the Scott Emergency Communications Center (SECC) reported a man on fire in the basement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Crews saw a light haze inside the residence. After the fire was out, one man was transported by Scott County Medic to MercyOne Genesis with severe injuries. There was no fire damage to the structure. The cause of the fire remains under investigation. The Salvation Army helps seven people on Friday Shortly after 5:15 p.m. Friday, crews responded to the 2800 block of Rockingham Road for a structure fire. The fire department responded with three engines, two ladder trucks, and one district chief for an initial response of 16 personnel. An on-call chief with an additional engine responded later, bringing the total response to 20 personnel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An occupant of the building reported smoke coming from the side of a window. Firefighters found smoke coming from the second floor of the building and reported that all of the residents were outside. Fire was located in the first floor, and it had extended to the second floor through the walls. The wind conditions during the incident played a factor in the spread of fire. Firefighters were on scene for over an hour to extinguish the fire and ensure that there was no hidden fire in the walls. Davenport Police and Medic EMS of Scott County assisted at the scene. No occupant or firefighter injuries were reported. MidAmerican Energy assisted in controlling the utilities. The Red Cross assisted seven occupants who were displaced. The cause of the fire is under investigation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Any other information about either fire will be released by the fire marshal. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Mar. 31As Ohio's governor prepares to sign a new transportation budget, an argument is playing out locally over a provision that specifically requires the Greater Dayton RTA to contract law enforcement to provide security at its downtown transportation hub. The provision at question singles out the Greater Dayton RTA in all but name. It specifies that any centralized transportation hub in Ohio with six or more service lines, within counties with populations between 535,000 and 540,000 people, must "enter into and maintain a contract with one or more local law enforcement entities to enforce laws and ensure safety at or in the vicinity of the hub." The provision, backed by former Montgomery County sheriff and current state Rep. Phil Plummer, R-Butler Twp., is meant to clamp down on violence and illegal activities that he said have long occurred at the Greater Dayton RTA hub downtown. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The problem, Dayton Democratic lawmakers argue, is that the Greater Dayton RTA already contracts security with the Dayton Police Department, thus making the provision "duplicative." That's the central point of a letter Dayton Democratic lawmakers Sen. Willis Blackshear, Jr., and Rep. Desiree Tims wrote to Gov. Mike DeWine, urging the Republican to line-item veto the provision. "The Montgomery County RTA has indicated to me that it currently contracts with the Dayton Police Department to provide safety services at its transportation transfer hubs. Because the Montgomery County RTA already has a contract with local law enforcement, it is unclear what the inclusion of this language would actually address," the letter reads. In an interview with this outlet, Blackshear said he sees police at the RTA hub frequently. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For Plummer, whatever solution the Greater Dayton RTA has worked out with police is not done enough to quell the frustrations he hears from downtown businesses. He said there are about 25 entrepreneurs who have come to him for help. "(Democrats) say they have contracts. Well, I don't see the cops," Plummer said in an interview with the Dayton Daily News. "I was just down there the other day, and the business community is complaining." "The business community is very frustrated," Plummer said. "Caveat is, RTA does contract with Dayton, but every time I go down there, I don't see a cop." Neither Blackshear nor Plummer have the actual contract that the RTA supposedly has with Dayton Police Department. This news outlet reached out to both the RTA and police department for details but did not hear back before publication. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It's unclear what immediate impact the provision would have if it became law. Both Plummer and Blackshear noted that it seems as though the Greater Dayton RTA is already engaging in a contract that would meet the specifications of the provision. But Plummer framed the provision as a tool to up the pressure after being rebuffed by city leaders. "They're going to say, 'We do it.' Well, I'm gonna say, 'You don't do it enough,'" Plummer told this outlet. "So I'm getting their attention. If I have to amend it into this (forthcoming operating) budget for specific amounts, we can, because it's just not working." Plummer said the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office used to have a contract with the RTA "years ago" when he was sheriff. He said he'd place the same officers in the vicinity of the hub so that they could build rapport and familiarity with the situation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We had the same officers there every day who knew the troublemakers," Plummer said. "...(Without that), they just don't know who belongs there and who doesn't; who's selling dope down there every day to our kids." Blackshear questioned the purpose of the provision and called it unhelpful. "I've heard from businesses, of course, who are frustrated about some of the things that are happening at the hub," Blackshear said. "I just feel like, if the issue is that what's currently going on right now isn't working, let's put together a plan besides essentially having RTA's back against the wall." Both Plummer and Blackshear said they intend to argue their case to DeWine, who has 10 business days to make his veto decisions. The bill was sent to the governor on March 25. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement ------ For more stories like this, sign up for our Ohio Politics newsletter. It's free, curated, and delivered straight to your inbox every Thursday evening. Avery Kreemer can be reached at 614-981-1422, on X, via email, or you can drop him a comment/tip with the survey below. Loading... Monday marks the deadline for attorneys to file a petition in the case of a New England-based professor and doctor who was deported to Lebanon earlier this month as a Tufts University student detained by ICE last week remains in custody. Dr. Rasha Alawieh, one of only three kidney transplant specialists in Rhode Island, has been working at Brown University in Providence for the last six years. Still, despite valid visas and a federal judges explicit orders, she was sent back to Lebanon on the night of March 14 after she was detained at Bostons Logan Airport. Alawieh, 34, was sent away just as the Trump administration transferred hundreds of immigrants to El Salvador, even though a federal judge issued an order temporarily barring the deportations. After her deportation, Alawiehs counsel filed a motion saying customs officials willfully disobeyed the order by sending Alawieh back to Lebanon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lawyers for the government said in a court filing that U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at Logan Airport did not receive notice of the order until she had already departed the United States, the judge noted. They asked that the petition be dismissed. Homeland Security officials said Alawieh openly admitted to supporting a Hezbollah leader and attending his funeral. A visa is a privilege not a right glorifying and supporting terrorists who kill Americans is grounds for visa issuance to be denied. This is commonsense security, Homeland Security said in its statement. When asked why she deleted the photos days before arriving in Boston, Alawieh allegedly told officers: Because I didnt want the perception. But I know Im not doing anything wrong. Im not related to anything politically or militarily. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were expecting to hear from Alawiehs attorney through court filings on Monday, responding to the motion to dismiss the petition. An update is also expected in the case of a Tufts graduate student detained by federal immigration authorities. This contributed photo shows Rumeysa Ozturk on an apple-picking trip in 2021. (AP Photo) Turkish national Rumeysa Ozturk, a resident of Somerville with a valid F-1 student status, is being held at the South Louisiana ICE Processing Center in Basile, Louisiana. Ozturks attorney wants her released from ICE custody and her visa restored and has asked the court to assume jurisdiction over the matter. Ozturks attorney has argued that she hasnt been charged with any crime but believes her arrest and detention is part of a concerted and systemic effort to punish students and others identified with pro-Palestine activism. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ozturk is expected to appear before a judge on April 7. 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 COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) If you live, work, or have visited the city of Columbus, you may have been impacted by last summers massive ransomware attack, and time is running out to protect yourself. Monday is the deadline to sign up for the citys offer of free credit and dark web monitoring. Short Norths Bristol Republic relocating to Dublins Bridge Park The city estimates half a million people are impacted by the ransomware attack that hit Columbus, but only about five percent of that number have signed up for free monitoring from the city. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Peoples private information was stolen as well as sensitive case details from the Columbus Division of Police and city attorneys databases. As a result, Columbus began offering free credit monitoring shortly after NBC4 Investigates exposed the extent of the breach. This service includes credit monitoring by all three credit bureaus, identity theft restoration service, identity theft insurance and dark web monitoring for two years. Through a records request from the city, it was learned Columbus has signed an agreement with Experian for a $45.26 fee for each activation code redeemed. That, combined with other fees, means the city has spent more than $1 million on this service. Mega Millions raises jackpot minimum to $50 million, adjusts ticket price Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Almost 23,000 people, including children, have enrolled. Experts also recommend freezing your credit with each of the three credit bureaus. We have information on how to do that as well as all of our investigation into this attack at www.nbc4i.com/cityhack. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. GAINES COUNTY, Texas (KMID/KPEJ) Christina Krahn Loeppky, age 32, of Seminole, Texas, died in a three vehicle crash on March 27, 2025. Preliminary information revealed that a Jeep Wrangler was traveling southwest on FM 181. A Chevrolet Cruze was traveling southwest on FM 181 in front of the Jeep Wrangler and was stopped in the roadway, attempting to make a left turn onto CR 303. Then a Chevrolet 3500 with a towed trailer, was traveling in the opposite lane northeast on FM 181. The driver of the Jeep Wrangler failed to control their speed, striking the Chevrolet Cruze from behind. The Chevrolet Cruze then hit the left side of the Chevrolet 3500s trailer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The driver of the Jeep WrangleR was thrown from the vehicle and pronounced deceased on the scene by Justice of the Peace Patrick Kissick. This crash remains under investigation, and no additional information is available at this time. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Yourbasin. DECATUR, Ala. (WHNT) A Decatur woman was indicted for corpse abuse after a baby was found dead in a dumpster in 2023. According to court documents, Cindy Crow was indicted on Feb. 28 for corpse abuse. The indictment says Crow knowingly treated a human corpse in a way that would outrage ordinary family sensibilities. Nominations open for Albertville Jeffersons Teacher of the Year award In October 2023, Decatur police officers were called to check the well-being of Crow, who was believed to have recently given birth. As the investigation progressed, evidence was obtained that confirmed Crow had been pregnant as early as February 2023 and had recently given birth. However, her newborn baby was unaccounted for, DPD said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to court files, Crow spoke with officers at her workplace and voluntarily agreed to go to the hospital to prove she was not pregnant. A blood test revealed a positive pregnancy test, as well as her uterus being swollen to twice the normal size. At that time, hospital staff confirmed having seen Crow at the hospital in February 2023. She was six weeks pregnant, and her due date was October 13th. While receiving blood tests, Crow permitted officers to search her phone, where detectives discovered she had the Life360 app downloaded. They were able to find the route Crow took when she left her home on October 16, including a stop at the Wally World Mini-Mart, court records say. As the investigation continued, the department said it received information that the dumpster at Wally World Mini Mart on Point Mallard Drive SE needed to be searched. Investigators located a dead newborn baby girl in a trash bag in a dumpster on the property under several other bags of trash Tuesday morning. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Old Gurley Road Food City to host grand opening April 30 The baby was transported to the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences in Huntsville for an autopsy in order to attempt to determine the cause of death. Crow was then booked into the Morgan County Jail with a bond of $200,000. She has since been released on bond. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHNT.com. Washington State is outlawing baiting for big game as part of its effort to curb the spread of CWD, according to a new set of rules that were just adopted by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. The regulations go into effect April 24, and they include other limitations that will affect deer, elk, and moose hunters in the state. These rules are designed to limit the spread of chronic wasting disease, the presence of which was confirmed in Washington for the first time eight months ago. The biggest change under the new rules is the statewide ban on feeding and baiting elk, deer, and moose. Washington hunters have traditionally been allowed to put out bait and hunt over it, with a couple exceptions: the amount of bait could not exceed 10 gallons and hunters could not have multiple bait sites within 200 yards of each other. Although baiting is controversial in many hunting circles, its been a common practice in the Evergreen State for some time. The pending world-record elk, which was tagged in Washington on Dec. 31, was killed legally over a pile of apples and alfalfa. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read Next: The Real Story Behind the Casey Brooks Bull, the Pending World-Record Elk WDFWs own feeding operations are exempt from the ban, according to its own announcement, although the agency says it will continue to evaluate these practices. Washington conducts winter feeding in some areas where elk have lost winter range, and to mitigate crop damages. Other states do this, too, but the practice has come under fire recently especially this winter, as some Wyoming feedlots have become hotbeds for CWD transmission. The other CWD-related rules approved by WDFW include: Theres now a statewide ban on hunters using scent lures made from urine or other glandular fluids. Mandatory CWD testing will become standard for all hunter-harvested cervids (deer, elk, and moose) that are taken in WDFWs Eastern Region. Hunters will be required to submit either the entire head or lymph nodes for laboratory testing. There are new limitations on the transportation of carcasses and animal parts in WDFWs Eastern region. Hunters are barred from transporting any parts of elk, deer, or moose other than deboned meat and finished taxidermy out of the region. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The regional rules on testing and transportation are also written to apply to other areas, which means they will go into effect automatically in other hunting regions if CWD is found there. Read Next: Are Chronic Wasting Disease Fears Making People Quit Deer Hunting? By enacting a baiting ban and other CWD-related rules, Washingtons hunting regs will fall more in line with other neighboring states. It is illegal to hunt deer, elk, and moose over bait in both Montana and Idaho. Baiting remains heavily restricted in Oregon. And even though CWD hasnt been confirmed there yet, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife has banned the use of urine-based attractants statewide as a precaution. That doesnt mean everyone in Washington was happy about the new regs, however. Several hunters criticized the proposed baiting ban during the online comment period, according to the Spokesman Review, and some accused WDFW of trying to limit hunting opportunities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The new rules signal how seriously WDFW is taking the threat of CWD, as they were approved just eight months after Washington confirmed its first case of the disease. That CWD-positive sample came from a whitetail doe that was found dead north of Spokane in July. Washington wildlife managers had been expecting a positive case to inevitably crop up, and had increased testing in 2021 after several CWD-positive cases were confirmed in Western Montana. Officials also established a Chronic Wasting Disease Management Plan that year that would guide WDFWs response if the disease were ever confirmed in Washington. In addition to implementing emergency rules and increasing CWD testing around the Spokane area which led to four more confirmed cases, all from hunter-harvested deer, in December WDFW proposed the above list of new CWD-related rules in October. Those rules were published and opened to public comment in February, and they were all accepted as proposed by WDFW Director Kelly Susewind on March 24, according to the announcement from the agency. In the Miami Valley and around Ohio, theres been more and more concerns about dogs attacking people, especially after an officer shot and killed a dog that bit a person. News Center 7 has covered about a half dozen dog attacks this year, where some people got seriously injured. Earlier this month, News Center 7 talked with a Hamilton County woman. Doctors had to wrap both her arms after dogs went after her. [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] TRENDING STORIES: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last month, two dogs attacked and hurt two people in Springfield and killed another dog. Meanwhile, a day earlier, a Ring camera captured four dogs attacking a man in Dayton. In Columbus, two dogs attacked a child near his home. On Sunday, officers were called to Meredith Drive in Dayton, where people said theyd seen several stray dogs. News Center 7s Malik Patterson was on Meredith Drive Sunday when he noticed two stray dogs roaming around. People who live in the area said its getting out of hand. Barry Johnson, of Harrison Township, said, So it definitely needs to be addressed. Johnson said a common story he hears pertains to stray dogs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Well, people get excited. They decide they want to buy an animal for companionship, but then when the dog becomes a maintenance issue, they just abandoned them, Johnson said. News Center 7 confirmed that Dayton Police and medics were called to the scene when a dog attacked someone. Patterson said he talked to several people in the area about the attack. He was told people have seen at least three different strays in the area. News Center 7 also went to the Animal Resource Center of Montgomery County and was told there are a total of 140,000 registered dogs in the county, but only a small percentage are considered strays. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Johnson said people are buying dogs they cannot fully take care of. I dont know where they think theyre going to go if they just let them go, but its unsafe for the animal, and its unsafe for the community, Johnson said. Besides being unsafe, a dog bite can also be a health issue. If they have rabies or something like that, and if they bite somebody, it can be awful, Johnson said. He said he wants the owners to receive citations. Sometimes you have to hit people in the pocket, he said. News Center 7 is working to learn the status of the person who was attacked. A Stray Dog Task Force has also been created to address the issue. [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] 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. Lit.COLOGNE literature festival also breaks records The Cologne literature festival lit.COLOGNE also reported a record turnout this year, with over 118,000 visitors attending more than 200 events. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Celebrating its 25th edition, the festival wrapped up on Sunday evening. Organizers said it was "the most successful festival edition of all time." With a capacity utilisation of 96%, the festival's halls were sold out over 150 times. Lit.kid.COLOGNE, the children's and youth programme, attracted 30,000 attendees, setting a new record, according to the organizers. The next lit.COLOGNE is due to take place from March 10-22. DELHI, N.Y. (WIVT/WBGH) A Delaware County teenager is being accused of multiple sex crimes. Delaware County District Attorney Shawn Smith announced that 19-year-old Alex Young of East Meredith appeared in court on March 27 on a nine-count indictment. Count One accuses Young of Rape in the First Degree, a Class B Felony. Young allegedly engaged in sexual contact with another person, by forcible compulsion, on or about February 5. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Count Two alleges Rape in the First Degree, a Class B Felony. Young is being accused of engaging in sexual contact with another person, by forcible compulsion, on or about February 14. Count Three accuses Young of Rape in the Second Degree, a Class D Felony. Young, on or about February 5, allegedly engaged in sexual contact with another person less than 15 years of age. Count Four alleges Rape in the Second Degree, a Class D Felony. Young, on or about February 14, 2025, allegedly engaged in sexual contact with another person less than 15 years of age. Count Five accuses Young of Possessing a Sexual Performance by a Child, a Class E Felony. It is alleged that knowing the character and content, Young knowingly had in his possession at the beginning of January, a performance which included sexual conduct by a child less than sixteen years of age. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Count Six alleges Rape in the Second Degree, a Class D Felony. It is alleged that Young, on or about the end of December 2024, engaged in sexual contact with a separate victim and that person was less than 15 years of age. Count Seven accuses Young of Rape in the Second Degree, a Class D Felony. In or about February, Young allegedly engaged in sexual contact with a separate victim and that person was less than 15 years of age. Count Eight accuses Young of Aggravated Sexual Abuse in the Third Degree, a Class D Felony. It is alleged that Young, on or about October of 2024, sexually abused a separate victim by forcible compulsion. Count Nine accuses Young of Sexual Abuse in the Second Degree, a Class A Misdemeanor. It is alleged that Young, on or about the end of January, subjected a separate victim to sexual contact and that victim was also less than 14 years old. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The identity of the victims are being withheld per office policy. Young appeared in the court again on March 28 for arraignment. Acting County Court Judge Gary Rosa set bail in the amount of $100,000 bond and $50,000 cash. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WIVT - News 34. Channel 9 had obtained the indictment for an Orange County teacher wanted for sexual abuse of a child. Christopher Crisona, 57, an Andover Elementary school teacher, was arrested by the Orange County Sheriffs Office on a warrant from Delaware. Court documents show that a jury has indicted him on seven felony counts of sexual abuse of a child. The Delaware state attorney general said the charges stemmed from alleged repeated abuse of a female victim who Crisona taught at a Delaware school. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During the time of the alleged abuse between 1994 and 1996, the victim was under the age of 14. According to Orange County Public Schools, Crisona is on administrative leave pending the outcome of his case. Related Stories: Read: Gravely serious abuse: Orange County teacher indicted for sex abuse, officials seek other victims Read: Orange County teacher arrested on out-of-state sex crime charges Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. Delaware State Police have identified the woman killed in a single-vehicle crash near Selbyville on Wednesday night as 27-year-old Dalyn Budler of Bishopville, Maryland. According to police, Budler was driving a Hyundai Sonata westbound on Cypress Road when she approached a curve near Daisey Road. The vehicle veered off the north side of the road, striking a tree with its rear right side. The car continued moving before colliding with a second tree. Budler was flown to a nearby hospital, where she later died from her injuries, authorities said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement DEADLY DRIVING DAYS: What is the deadliest day for driving in Delaware? Here's what a study finds The Delaware State Police Troop 7 Collision Reconstruction Unit is continuing to investigate the crash. Anyone with information is asked to contact the unit or Delaware Crime Stoppers. You can contact staff reporter Anitra Johnson at ajohnson@delawareonline.com. This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Police name victim in deadly Cypress Road crash near Selbyville A voting booth is set up on the morning of Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024, at Sower Church in Lincoln, Neb. (Sammy Smith/Nebraska News Service) Nebraska voters should be confident their Xs go where they are intended and are counted in the right pile. We know this from the states previous elections being free and fair. Yet, despite the results and the facts and the accurate tabulation of votes, tinkerers remain those who insist a sky full of hanging chads, 2,000 Mules and bus loads of immigrants is falling. The hallmark of that body of nonbelievers (or true believers, whichever you prefer) is its lack of proof that elections in Nebraska or anywhere else for that matter are fraught with fraud when their candidate doesnt win. No amount of verification, substantiation or confirmation convinces them. No number of losing court cases deters them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Still, we have instances of new voter restrictions based on their beliefs. For example, without evidence, some argued the possibility of hordes of fraudulent voters would overrun our state system, leading to a new requirement of voter ID with photos. Fair enough. Although the new requirement created very few hitches in our electoral getalongs, as weve noted in this space before, if a photo ID requirement disenfranchised one voter, thats one voter too many. Changes proposed Apparently, Nebraskas outstanding and secure election systems still need tweaking if one believes the basis for Legislative Bill 541. If passed, LB 542 would erect further barriers to register and vote while also somehow denying the science and data on counting votes by hand, which finds hand counts less accurate than machines. The good news is that as of this writing the bill has yet to go anywhere. Nevertheless, its introduction alone is rooted in lies that the 2020 election was peppered with improprieties and, more damaging, calls into question the integrity of county election offices, local election officials and the Secretary of States Office. Enough already. Into this miasmic mix now comes a presidential executive order unnecessarily injecting the federal government into elections. Its first section, Purpose and Policy, relies on unproven assertions and outright conspiracy theories that the nations ballot boxes are being sullied with the votes of the ineligible, especially non-citizens. Those numbers are infinitesimal if at all. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nevertheless, the order says as a country we have failed to enforce basic and necessary election protections. Not according to the metrics we use to measure such things. The order came shortly after an unprecedented national security breach was uncovered, involving the administration, and the denial fiasco that followed, calling the timing into question. More problematic, however, is that the action seemed to move the federal government into a space previously reserved for states and local municipalities, countermanding or diluting their power to hold elections. Thats a constitutionally bad look. Requirements clear In case the feds are asking, heres what it takes to register to vote in Nebraska: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Be a United States citizen. Be at least 18 years of age on or before the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November. Live in the State of Nebraska. Have not been convicted of a felony, or if convicted, have completed your sentence for the felony, including any parole term. Have not been officially found to be mentally incompetent. What remains to be seen is whether the order moves Nebraska or any other state to alter how it runs its elections, including the registration process, the actual voting, the processes used to tabulate the votes and the reporting of the results. Nebraska Secretary of State Bob Evenen recently spoke in favor of the order, if only to help election officials better identify who is a citizen. But executive orders come and go as presidents come and go. Not so acts of state legislatures and Congress, which write laws. In the 2024 general election, 156,302,318 of us showed up to vote. That was 63.9 percent of those eligible to vote. If youre keeping score at home, Wisconsin led the league with nearly 77 percent turnout, while in beautiful Hawaii only half of eligible voters marked their X. Nebraska was well-represented in the turnout sweepstakes with 73.9 percent. Its 934,188 was the second-most ballots ever cast in a state election. But before we thump our chests, remember that more than a quarter of the eligibles in Nebraska stayed home. Nationally the number was more than a third. Turnout here and across the country was historically high but did nothing to dispel the usual math that a good portion of eligible voters continue to disenfranchise themselves by failing to register or to vote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Which is why, rather than littering the voting process with hurdles and hoops and questionable executive orders, we should be spending more time, money and political capital on increasing the number of voters exercising their civic duty. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX MANDALAY, Myanmar - Search and rescue operations continued in central Myanmar on Monday in the wake of last week's magnitude 7.7 earthquake, with the junta saying the death toll had risen to over 2,000 and more than 3,900 injured as the critical 72-hour window to find survivors closed. Many people are believed to be still trapped under rubble in Mandalay, the country's second-largest city, near the epicenter of the powerful quake that hit in the early afternoon on Friday. Amid shortages of heavy machinery, residents continued search and rescue efforts, clearing debris from damaged houses and other buildings in the city by hand under sweltering 40 C heat. Foul odors had begun to spread in parts of the city where buildings had collapsed. With few evacuation centers, aid supplies are not being adequately distributed in Mandalay, and people lack food and water. Some could be seen carrying goods and valuables from damaged stores and residences. The full extent of the damage is yet unknown as the junta, which took control of Myanmar following a February 2021 coup, is seeing its administrative grip on the country fracture. According to local media, buildings housing the Foreign Ministry and other government agencies in the capital, Naypyitaw, have been damaged. Roads and bridges in the northern Sagaing region have been cut off, delaying rescue operations and the delivery of relief supplies. On Friday, Junta chief Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing made a rare plea to the international community, saying the country welcomes assistance given the enormous scale of damage from the quake. Russia and China, which maintain friendly ties with the junta that has violently cracked down on pro-democracy groups and ethnic minority rebels, have sent rescue teams following the earthquake. Their operations began in full on Monday. The opposition National Unity Government, a parallel administration formed by members of the ousted civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi's party, has said its armed wing will pause all offensive operations against the military for two weeks to support earthquake relief efforts. But the military and powerful ethnic minority rebels fighting against it have not declared a cease-fire. According to local media reports, the military continues to carry out airstrikes on areas controlled by opposition forces. Japan's top government spokesman, Yoshimasa Hayashi, said Monday that two Japanese citizens were injured in the earthquake in Myanmar, adding that another has not yet been reached. Search efforts also continued in the Thai capital, Bangkok, where the earthquake from Myanmar shook buildings. The death toll rose to 18, with about 80 people still missing as of Monday, according to rescue operation agencies. Many of the casualties were crew members working at the site of a high-rise building under construction that collapsed in the quake. Related coverage: Myanmar quake death toll rises to 1,700 as rescuers race against time Myanmar quake death toll tops 1,000 as many countries offer aid M7.7 quake strikes Myanmar, leaving 144 dead, over 700 injured PHOENIX (AP) The Democratic base is angry. Not just at President Donald Trump, Elon Musk and the Make America Great Again movement. Rank-and-file Democrats are mad at their own leaders and increasingly agitating to replace them. Democrats in Arizona and Georgia pushed out their party chairs. And Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York postponed a book tour in the face of protests amid calls from progressives that he face a primary challenge. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The losing party after a presidential election often spends time in the wilderness, but the visceral anger among Democrats toward their party leaders is reaching a level reminiscent of the tea party movement that swept out Republican incumbents 15 years ago. They should absolutely be worried about holding onto power, because there's a real energy right now against them, Paco Fabian, deputy director of Our Revolution, a grassroots group allied with independent Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, said of Democratic incumbents. And as soon as somebody figures out how to harness it, they're going to be in deep trouble. A deeper hole than previous losses Elections on Tuesday could give national Democrats a boost. In Wisconsin, the officially nonpartisan race for a state Supreme Court seat has become a test of Musk's influence as his political organization boosts conservative Brad Schimel and progressives back liberal Susan Crawford, who has made anti-Musk messaging a centerpiece of her campaign. And two U.S. House special elections in Florida feature Democrats who are outraising their Republican counterparts in sharply pro-Trump districts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But the current depth of frustration among Democrats is clear and shows no signs of going away. According to a February Quinnipiac poll, about half disapprove of how Democrats in Congress are handling their job, compared with about 4 in 10 who approve. Thats a stark contrast from the beginning of Joe Bidens presidency in 2021, when more than 8 in 10 Democrats approved of how their party was doing its job in Congress, and the start of Trumps first term in 2017, when about 6 in 10 Democrats approved. In 2017, as they do now, Democrats lacked control of either congressional chamber. A February CNN/SSRS poll found about three-quarters of Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents thought Democrats in Congress werent doing enough to oppose Trump. Facing a coordinated and long-planned Republican effort to remake government and fire tens of thousands of federal workers, Democrats have struggled with a unified response. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Frustration on the left with elected Democrats began early, when some Democratic senators backed Trump Cabinet nominees and supported legislation targeting illegal immigration. It escalated following Trumps joint address to Congress, when Democratic lawmakers protested by wearing coordinated clothes and holding up signs expressing their discontent. A handful of Democrats then voted with Republicans to censure U.S. Rep. Al Green, D-Texas, who interrupted Trump's speech to Congress and was escorted out of the chamber. Schumer faced the most serious backlash after he refused to block a Republican-led government spending bill and shut down the government. Schumer said blocking the bill would have backfired and played into Trumps hands, but many on the left saw it as capitulation. I want the opposition to be a lot more animated, said Stefan Therrien, a 22-year-old engineering student in Tempe, Arizona, who called Democratic leaders in Congress very passive in a misguided effort to appeal to centrists. Democrats should attack harder. Ken Human, a retired attorney who went to a town hall organized by Democrats in Lexington, Kentucky, said: You have to stand up to bullies because otherwise theyll walk all over you. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anger from a party's base is not unusual after a party loses the presidency. Establishment Republicans faced fierce backlash after Democrat Barack Obama was elected president in 2008, which fueled the rise of the tea party movement that overthrew some of the partys most powerful incumbents and brought in a new cadre of lawmakers laser-focused on obstructing Obamas agenda. Democrats, likewise, were dejected after Republican President George W. Bush was reelected in 2004, but his popularity soon tanked and Democrats could foresee the massive wins they would notch in the 2006 midterms, said Robert Shapiro, a Columbia University professor focused on American politics. Ronald Reagans victory in 1980 was a bigger shock to Democrats because it brought with it a period of Republican ascendance. The GOP won a Senate majority for the first time in nearly 30 years, though Democrats retained control of the House. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The setback was significant and startling, but not as much as whats happened today, where you have Trump winning the election at the same time the Republicans have control of both houses of Congress, Shapiro said. Grassroots Democrats were incensed by Trumps first victory with some talk then of primary challengers to leaders but they mostly channeled their anger toward the president and the GOP, planning marches and organizing community groups to prepare for the midterms. Those midterms led to at least one primary upset with future implications: New York Rep. Joe Crowley, the No. 4 House Democrat, fell to Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, then a virtual unknown. Angry town halls and new challengers Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thousands have packed rallies to hear Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez, outsiders who rose to prominence for their sharp criticism of the Democratic establishment. Democrats are getting an earful from constituents at some of the town halls, including events theyre organizing in GOP-controlled districts to draw attention to Republicans avoiding unscripted interactions with voters. In Arizona, which went for Biden in 2020 before flipping to Trump last year, furious party leaders ousted their chair, Yolanda Bejarano. The result was a shock; Bejarano had support from every prominent Democrat in the state and was widely expected to get a second term. U.S. Rep. Nikema Williams, the chair of the Georgia Democratic Party, met a similar fate after Trump flipped Georgia in 2024. Williams resigned as party chair on Monday, days after the Democratic state committee approved a rules change making its chairmanship a full-time role, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported. The rule made it untenable for Williams to continue as chair through the end of her term in 2027 while keeping her congressional seat. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kat Abughazaleh, a 26-year-old liberal journalist with a big social media following, decided to run for Congress, saying most Democrats work from an outdated playbook in an announcement video thats fiercely critical of party leaders. They arent meeting the moment, and their constituents are absolutely livid, Abughazaleh said in an interview. She said Rep. Jan Schakowsky, the 80-year-old Democrat who has represented a suburban Chicago district since 1999, has an admirable progressive record, but something needs to change culturally ... about how we do politics and how we campaign. Im done sitting around waiting for someone else to maybe do it, Abughazaleh said. ___ Associated Press writer Bruce Schreiner in Lexington, Ky., contributed to this report. Glenn Thompsons cardboard cutout took some real abuse on Saturday, as a room full of Pennsylvania Democrats let out their frustrations. A few other members of the states congressional delegation might be thankful that his likeness was the only one on display. Thompson, on his fourth term in the House of Representatives, is just one of dozens of Republican lawmakers who have scaled back public events or avoided them completely amid nationwide outrage from Americans set to see steep cuts to funding for programs in their communities and their own personal safety nets under a Trump 2.0 agenda. Town hall events have become raucous gatherings where Republicans like Victoria Spartz, Chuck Edwards and others have been forced to confront angry voters demanding Congress take action to stop Elon Musks DOGE firing spree affecting the Social Security Administration, USAID and other agencies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Peoples Town Hall event Saturday just off the campus of Penn State was no gathering of college-age radicals as conservatives often imagine their opponents to be. A crowd that skewed post-retirement asked a panel of state and local Democratic electeds about everything from Social Security to safeguarding international students from efforts by the federal government to deport visa holders who engage in protected First Amendment protest and dissent. A moderator began the event by noting that all county, state and congressional leaders representing Centre County had been invited to attend most had declined. Conor Lamb, with a cardboard cutout of Congressman Glenn Thompson looming behind him, speaks to voters in Thompson's district outside of Penn State University (John Bowden - The Independent) As a result the events headliner was Conor Lamb, the former congressman who ran unsuccessfully against now-Senator John Fetterman for the latters seat in 2022. Lamb was easily the biggest crowd-drawer of the bunch, which also included two state representatives, two county officials, a former congressional candidate and a former State Department official. The ex-congressman, who took the stage in jeans and a plain long-sleeve shirt, spoke to residents as a private citizen with only his past background in Congress and the Marine Corps informing his responses. He previewed no future run for Congress or elected office at the event, though one attendee told The Independent that the ex-congressman had hinted to her: Im not going away. Another resident attending the event was informed that Lamb had no people running his comms any longer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was still more than enough for those in attendance, many of whom had no questions for the panel and merely wanted their concerns to be heard and shared by others in the crowd in the days following. Lamb spoke several times, but was more interested in listening; he stayed until the venue emptied, and spoke to The Independent after the last voters cleared out. These people want to be doing something, and we just have to channel it, Lamb said in an interview. I think people who are elected, senators and representatives, should be at these things themselves. But if they're not, I have a feeling these people are gonna keep going, he said, while offering a semi-warning: People should [] not lose sight of the fact that you know, if you create some energy in politics, and you get people organized and talking about their basic values, you don't always know exactly what that's going to produce, but the side with more energy tends to win elections. Participants in a March 10 protest in Washington, D.C. hold anti-DOGE signs critical of Donald Trump and Elon Musk (Getty Images) Nearing the three-month mark of his presidency, Donald Trump has overseen an unprecedented slash-and-burn of the federal government, while whole agencies being ripped apart and tens of thousands ousted from their jobs. Around the country, the effects are already obvious as Americans struggle to receive aid with longstanding federal programs like Social Security and universities drastically scale back Ph.D programs as research funding is cut. Meanwhile, the White House and Department of Homeland Security are pressing ahead with a full-scale assault on the First Amendment rights of noncitizens and seeking to accelerate deportation initiatives. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lamb and others who listened to voters on Saturday said afterwards that many Democrats and even some independents and ex-Trump supporters were in many cases looking for a more concrete strategy of resistance than many in the partys leadership were able to offer. Mark Pinsley, controller for Lehigh County, was one of them. One of the things that I see on the stage, which I'm worried about, is and you heard it from a couple of the women that were speaking they're looking for something that's more aggressive, Pinsley said. The Democratic base, he argued, was looking for leaders ready to punch [Republicans] in the face. Pinsley added that neither Chuck Schumer in the Senate nor Hakeem Jeffries in the House were the leaders for the moment. He urged members of the party to ramp up the pressure on Elon Musks Tesla, and other brands that become linked with Trumps. Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman is facing protests in his home state over his lack of public events and recent votes on Republican-led legislation (Getty Images) These are the kinds of things that I think the public is looking for, Pinsley explained. Look: we need the billionaires to be afraid of us. So what can we do? We start going after their money. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One unifying complaint voiced by every resident who spoke to The Independent was the apparent abdication of the responsibility felt by Washington lawmakers to come and hear out their constituents. Thompson was the only one booed by name, given his Republican background and lack of public events. But the feelings about Fetterman, Lambs former opponent, were just as evident. Voters and community organizers who declined to speak about the senator did so through gritted teeth and strained expressions; one woman simply said he wasnt doing a lot. The senator hasnt hosted his own town hall-style event since Trumps inauguration in January and his own heel-turn to support the Laken Riley Act, his embrace of a crackdown on college student protesters, and vote to break a filibuster on a Republican bill to fund the government. The Independent reached out to the senators office for comment. Fettermans only planned public event in recent weeks was a joint event with his states Republican US senator, Dave McCormick. The joint appearance at a Pittsburgh winery was aimed at promoting a book on mentorship written by McCormick and his wife; it has been postponed, following news that Indivisible and other groups would protest the venue. Demonstrations are set to go forward. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lamb, recalling his House days, said the pressure was working even if it was met with silence. GT [Glenn Thompson] and our senators aren't here to answer our questions, the people with votes in Washington right now, but trust me, they hear it, he told attendees on Saturday. I've been where they are. I've sat in the seats that they sit in. I've had congressional offices that people protest outside of from the left and from the right. I've had people ratio me on social media before, because of some vote that I took. More than once, Lamb said. It works. It influences them, and so you're not going to see the fruits of your action today or next week or next month, but you will see [them]. March 31 (UPI) -- Elon Musk, the world's richest man, handed out two $1 million checks to voters in Wisconsin on Sunday night as he pushes to elect conservative Brad Schimel to the Wisconsin Supreme Court in a contest he said had the "destiny of humanity" at stake. The move was challenged by Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul on Friday after Musk announced it, with the state's high court ruling against his injunction just minutes before the Tesla and SpaceX CEO took the stage at the KI Convention Center in downtown Green Bay at about 7:40 p.m. local time Sunday. Musk handed the two large checks to voters Nicholas Jacobs and Ekaterina Diestler, describing the act of giving out money in the election as a way to generate cheap publicity for his candidate while mocking so-called legacy media. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The reason for the checks is really to get attention," he said during the event, which was broadcast on his X platform, stating it would cost "10 times more to get the coverage we get." "It's kind of fun to see the legacy media lose their minds over it, too," he added. Kaul, a Democrat, had filed a petition to stop Musk from making what he called illegal payments to Wisconsin voters. Musk had advertised the event on X as being open to those who voted in the Supreme Court election and the checks as "appreciation for you taking the time to vote." The attorney general characterized Musk's promise to hand out two $1 million checks as a "blatant violation" of Wisconsin law that "forbids anyone from offering or promising to give anything of value to an elector or induce the elector to go to the polls, vote or refrain from voting or vote for a particular person." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The state's liberal-leaning Supreme Court unanimously denied the motion without providing a reason. Justice Ann Walsh Bradley, a Democrat whose seat is the one up for election as she is retiring, issued a concurring opinion explaining: "Some on the court have supported a candidate in this election, which may cause them to consider recusal. However, the rule of necessity overrides recusal in this instance." Schimel, a Waukesha County Circuit Court judge and former Republican attorney general for the state, is seeking Bradley's seat for a 10-year term and is running against Susan Crawford, a Dane County Circuit Court judge who has received the endorsement of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin. The election is being held Tuesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During the Sunday night event, Musk described the election as important for the future composition of Wisconsin's Congress, where Republicans hold narrow majorities in both the House and Senate. He warned that if Schimel was not elected then gerrymandering may see House seats flip to Democrats and imperil his efforts with the Department of Government Efficiency, a temporary organization that has canceled billions of dollars in government spending, often through mass firings, to end what he called waste and fraud. Many of DOGE's actions have been challenged in court. "If the Supreme Court is able to redraw the districts they will gerrymander the districts and deprive two House seats on the Republican side," he said. "The result of that could be the House switches to a Democratic house and then they will try to stop all the government reforms that we're doing and are getting done for you the American people." The Wisconsin Supreme Court judges do not directly draw legislative districts. In Wisconsin, the legislature decides legislative districts and the state's Supreme Court can become involved if those maps are challenged. In 2023, the Supreme Court, in a 4-3 opinion, struck down maps approved by the Republican-controlled state Congress and ordered new maps be drawn up, which Gov. Tony Evers, a Democratic, signed into law in February last year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During the Sunday night event, Musk said the election is "obviously important in the state of Wisconsin but I think it could actually be important for the country as well, and maybe for the world." "What's happening on Tuesday is a vote for which party controls the U.S. House of Representatives -- that is why it is so significant. And whichever party controls the House, to a significant degree, controls the country which then steers the course of Western civilians. I feel like this is one of those things that may not seem that it's going to affect the entire destiny of humanity, but I think it will." Secretary of State Marco Rubio may have just violated a court order stopping the Trump administrations fast-tracked deportations. Rubio announced that a group of alleged gang members had been deported Sunday night. Last night, in a successful counter-terrorism operation with our allies in El Salvador, the United States military transferred a group of 17 violent criminals from the Tren de Aragua and MS-13 organizations, including murderers and rapists, Rubio wrote on X Monday morning. He noted that both TdA and MS-13 were considered foreign terrorist organizations, which implies that they could be subject to removal under the Alien Enemies Act, or AEA. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rubio thanked the Salvadoran government and President Nayib Bukele for their unparalleled partnership in making our countries safe against transnational crime and terrorism. Multiple judges have rebuked Donald Trumps use of the AEA and filed injunctions against his administrationand Rubios latest deportations may have just violated one. Last week, U.S. District Court Judge Brian Murphy issued a temporary restraining order requiring the government to provide written notice and an opportunity for detainees to apply for protection before deporting them to a third country. It seems that with this latest round of deportations, the Trump administration has violated that court order, and continued to fast-track its removal of alleged gang members. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Earlier this month, Trump invoked the AEA, a wartime law that suspends due process. Under the act, the Trump administration swiftly deported 261 Venezuelan nationals to Centro de Confinamiento del Terrorismo, or CECOT, the prison in El Salvador that is notorious for human rights abuses. The U.S. government claimed that everyone deported was a terrorist. The deportees were removed without notifying their family members or lawyers, and they were not provided with the opportunity to challenge their deportation or their designation as gang members. In many cases, the government seems to have rounded up immigrants for supposedly suspicious tattoos that ended up having nothing to do with TdA at all. In another filing last week, Judge James Boasberg wrote that by sending the prisoners to CECOT, the Trump administration had likely violated the Foreign Affairs Reform and Restructuring Act of 1998, which states that it shall be the policy of the United States not to expel any person to a country in which there are substantial grounds for believing the person would be in danger of being subjected to torture. Boasberg wrote that at CECOT, prisoners are reportedly abused, humiliated, and left to rot without their families knowing anything about their whereabouts or well-being. Diddys legal team is saying that his infamous freak-offs were all consensual amongst every party involvedand some top lawyers see the play. In a new clip from TMZs The Downfall of Diddy: His Defense, various lawyers spoke about the legal strategy, including Joe Tacopina, who served as A$AP Rockys lawyer for his Hollywood assault trial. Tacopina agreed with Diddys team, asserting that there may be some weight to their legal argument in court. The battleground here will be consent, in this whole case, Tacopina expressed in the exclusive TMZ preview. And quite frankly, at the time, it sounds like people were consenting. Its not sex trafficking if everyone wants to be there. When you think of sex trafficking, you have connotations of people being sold for sexAnd youre not going to get that here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement From what Ive been told, is that the defense has countless written communications that will negate any lack of consent in this case, that will negate any coercion in this case. Its going to be hard for them to say, Yeah, I wrote this stuff, but I was just case scared, and I wrote that I was happy to comebut I wasnt really wasnt happy to come. This isnt as signed, sealed, or delivered as most people think it is for the prosecution. As the trial date draws near, the embattled mogul has been hit with even more lawsuits. Most recently, Diddy was hit with a lawsuit from a John Doe alleging that Sean Combs sexually assaulted him on the set of a commercial in 2022 or 2023. The Southern California-based man explains that they were filming a high-profile commercial, where he was contracted to work as a photographer/production assistant. The unnamed man then allegedly began speaking with the Bad Boy Records founder, which led the superstar to invite John Doe back to his trailer. Things immediately escalate from there, as Doe recalls Combs demanding oral sex from him, saying, If you suck right, Ill make your career take off an incident that the man calls blatant sexual quid-pro-quo. Combs framed this meeting as an opportunity for [Doe] to advance his career. [Doe], although hesitant, could not turn down what appeared to be a career-defining moment few ever receive, the lawsuit reads, per USA TODAY. The implication was clear, also, that if [Doe] did not perform oral sex on Combs to his satisfaction, his career would be over. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Diddy is currently behind bars, where he will stay until his trial on May 5, 2025. More from VIBE.com Sign up for Vibe's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. An individuals right to die is becoming more accepted across the globe. Polls show that most Americans support allowing doctors to end a patients life upon their request. Assisted suicide is now permitted in 10 U.S. states and in Washington. In 2025,five more states are set to consider right to die legislation. The right to die can refer to several means of dying. In euthanasia, death can either be voluntary when a physician administers lethal drugs with the patients consent or nonvoluntary, without a persons consent, as when a person is in a vegetative state. In such cases, consent is usually given by a legal guardian or relative. By contrast assisted suicide refers to a person being aided in ending their life by being given lethal drugs and then administering the dose themselves. This practice is sometimes called assisted dying. These terms make crucial distinctions between who carries out the final act of ending life. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Worldwide, euthanasia and assisted death rates have risen in recent years. In 2023, almost 1 in 20 deaths in Canada were from assisted dying; in the Netherlands, the number reached 5.4% from assisted dying and euthanasia. The Netherlands has also legalized assisted dying related to mental disorders, not just terminal illnesses. In November 2024, an assisted dying bill passed the British parliament, with a similar bill now pending in Scotland. Assisted suicide and euthanasia are already legal in Spain, Belgium and Luxembourg, among other countries in Europe and Latin America. The right-to-die debate Advocates of a persons right to die argue that individuals should make their own end-of-life decisions because it is their life and their death. Advocates also maintain that euthanasia and assisted suicide not only prevent further suffering, but also safeguard an individuals dignity by avoiding senseless pain and severely diminished quality of life. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, right-to-die advocates have critics; among the more forceful ones is the Roman Catholic Church. For example, speaking about the potential legalization of euthanasia in France in 2022, Pope Francis argued that euthanasia, in all its forms, only leads to more killing. But as a scholar of Catholic thought and practice, I also recognize that the Catholic position is a nuanced one. It opposes euthanasia and assisted dying, but it does not support extraordinary or disproportionate treatments when unavoidable death is close at hand. A sin against God Francis has called euthanasia and assisted suicide a sin against God. He also has linked euthanasia to abortion, saying, you dont play with life, not at the beginning, and not at the end. The fullest, most recent explanation of the Catholic view on the right to die can be found in the 2020 Vatican letter The Good Samaritan, a title that refers to the biblical story of a stranger who was the only one to assist a man beaten and stripped by robbers. Agreeing with many other Christian denominations, The Good Samaritan letter makes the point that our lives are not our own but belong to God. As Gods creations, we do not have the right to end our own lives. Euthanasia also involves a doctor actively killing their own patient. Euthanasia and assisted suicide thus violate the biblical commandment thou shalt not kill. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Beyond this basic point, the letter maintains that euthanasia undermines society because the right to life is the basis of all other rights. Also, debates about quality of life can lead to the idea that poor-quality lives have no right to continue. A failure of love The Good Samaritan letter observes that human beings are joined together by compassion a word that literally means co-suffering. In the letters words, which have been repeated by Francis many times, euthanasia is false compassion because it ignores the spiritual and interpersonal aspects of human life such as accompanying or simply being with someone in and through their suffering. Connected to this opposition to euthanasia and assisted suicide is a point that Francis often makes about throwaway culture, which discards the poor, needy and dependent. In Francis words, euthanasia is a failure of love. End-of-life care Given the Catholic churchs stand against assisted suicide and euthanasia, it might seem surprising that the church does allow refusing overzealous treatments that prolong suffering in the face of unavoidable death. Such procedures could include mechanical ventilation or dialysis, for example. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Catholic ethics would point out that killing is a basic part of the act of assisted suicide and euthanasia. Killing is also the intent behind the action. But declining disproportionate treatment is not intended to kill the patient, although death is the foreseeable outcome. Death is the result of the disease, not the result of a method that actively ends the patients life. Also, even in terminal cases, normal care, such as providing nutrition and hydration, should be continued unless it causes additional pain. A difference that matters In the Catholic Churchs view, it matters that there is a difference between assisted suicide and euthanasia, on the one hand, and discontinuing disproportionate care, on the other. The difference lies in the nature of particular actions and the intent behind them. And the difference also matters in a broader sense. In the debate between right-to-die advocates and those who, like Francis, oppose them, there are very different understandings of how society should respond to those who suffer. 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: Mathew Schmalz, College of the Holy Cross Read more: Mathew Schmalz is a Roman Catholic and registered as an Independent. Carrying brightly-colored umbrellas and picket signs, a crowd of about 70 people braved the rain and marched through downtown Paso Robles on Sunday to protest deportation and show support for San Luis Obispo Countys immigrant community. We are here with dignity. We are part of this community. We are not invisible, Mixteco/Indigena Community Organizing Project executive director Arcenio Lopez told The Tribune at the march. Its time to come together with unity and create solidarity. Both verified and rumors of border patrol operations in California following President Donald Trumps election renewed fear of deportation in the San Luis Obispo County immigrant community. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lopez urged local governments to pass policies to protect undocumented immigrants, such as a resolution directing local law enforcement to alert the community when immigration authorities plan to sweep the area. In 2011, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agreed not to search for or arrest undocumented immigrants in schools, churches, hospitals and marches. In January, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security reversed this policy making some afraid to access spaces that once felt safe. In light of that, local governments should pass their own policy to protect sensitive areas like schools, churches and hospitals, Lopez said. The Mixteco Indigena Community Organizing Project and other immigrant advocacy organizations led a march in Paso Robles to protest deportation and President Donald Trumps immigration policies on Sunday, March 30, 2025. The Mixteco/Indigena Community Organizing Project and Central Coast Alliance United for a Sustainable Economy held a sister protest in Santa Maria on Sunday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement CAUSE policy advocate Erica Diaz Cervantes said undocumented immigrants are tired of being afraid of deportation and separation from their families and the life theyve built in California. The whole purpose of this march is for the community to come together and stand up and say: No, were not going to live in fear, Cervantes told The Tribune on Friday. Were going to push back. We, just as any other person here, deserve the opportunity to live without fear and to be able to go to our jobs and provide for our families. How to support undocumented immigrants in SLO County as Trump pushes deportation plan Immigrants make America great: Protesters march against deportations In Paso Robles, splattered picket signs held up to the sky on Sunday at 11:15 a.m. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One sign said, familia unidad nunca divida, meaning family unit never divided. Another sign said immigrants make America great. A young child munched on a cookie while dancing around his father, who passed him a sign that said somos mas. The father-son duo was one of many families in attendance. The march started with a rally in the parking lot of the Mixteco/Indigena Community Organizing Projects office in Paso Robles, where participants gathered in a circle to listen to speeches given in Spanish, English and Mixteco. The march was organized by the Mixteco/Indigena Community Organizing Project and supported by Mujeres de Accion, the Diversity Coalition of San Luis Obispo, the Hispanic Business Association, Democratic Socialists of America San Luis Obispo, Corazon Latino and the Central Coast Coalition for Undocumented Student Success. Protesters gathered the in Mixteco Indigena Community Organizing Project office parking lot. It and other immigrant advocacy organizations led a march in Paso Robles to protest deportation and President Donald Trumps immigration policies on Sunday, March 30, 2025. Assemblymember Dawn Addis attended the protest as well. She represents District 30, which includes most of San Luis Obispo County, along with parts of Monterey and Santa Cruz counties. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Addis voted to award $25 million to the Legal Defense Fund to support immigrants and said shell fight to preserve recent MediCal expansions that include undocumented residents. We have to work in the legislature and boots on the ground to create change, she told The Tribune. Were going to keep fighting at every turn. The group then marched down Spring Street, ending at Downtown City Park for a second rally. Rita Cassaverde, the executive director of the Diversity Coalition of San Luis Obispo, thanked everyone for attending not just for themselves, but on behalf of farm workers out in the fields, for friends and neighbors who could not attend and for immigrants deported to El Salvador at the direction of Trump. The struggle continues, she said to the crowd. But we are here, united. Diversity Coalition of San Luis Obispos executive director Rita Casaverde spoke at the protest against deportation and President Donald Trumps immigration policies on Sunday, March 30, 2025. The Mixteco Indigena Community Organizing Project and other immigrant advocacy organizations led a march in Paso Robles to protest deportation and President Donald Trumps immigration policies on Sunday, March 30, 2025. The Mixteco Indigena Community Organizing Project and other immigrant advocacy organizations led a march in Paso Robles to protest deportation and President Donald Trumps immigration policies on Sunday, March 30, 2025. The Mixteco Indigena Community Organizing Project and other immigrant advocacy organizations led a march in Paso Robles to protest deportation and President Donald Trumps immigration policies on Sunday, March 30, 2025. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Mixteco Indigena Community Organizing Project and other immigrant advocacy organizations led a march in Paso Robles to protest deportation and President Donald Trumps immigration policies on Sunday, March 30, 2025. The Mixteco Indigena Community Organizing Project and other immigrant advocacy organizations led a march in Paso Robles to protest deportation and President Donald Trumps immigration policies on Sunday, March 30, 2025. Cars honked on Spring Street as the protesters stood on the sidewalk. The Mixteco Indigena Community Organizing Project and other immigrant advocacy organizations led a march in Paso Robles to protest deportation and President Donald Trumps immigration policies on Sunday, March 30, 2025. The protester walked down Spring Street en route Paso City Park. The Mixteco Indigena Community Organizing Project and other immigrant advocacy organizations led a march in Paso Robles to protest deportation and President Donald Trumps immigration policies on Sunday, March 30, 2025. Advertisement Advertisement TOKYO - A welfare corporation opened Japan's second "baby hatch" at a Tokyo hospital on Monday for accepting babies in cases of unwanted pregnancies to prevent parents from abandoning them in unsafe conditions or killing them. San-ikukai Social Welfare Inc. also launched on the same day a "confidential birth" system at San-ikukai Hospital in Sumida Ward, in the country's second case, to allow women to give birth without revealing their identities other than to the hospital. "Working with the public administration, we will be the last line of defense for the protection of babies' lives," said managing director Motonobu Nakamura at a press conference at the metropolitan government building. The Tokyo government, which has jurisdiction over the capital's child welfare centers, said it will establish a verification committee to monitor San-ikukai's operations. The move was prompted by the increasing number of women suffering from unexpected pregnancies and isolated births, as well as a string of cases of infant abandonment, the group said. For the baby hatch, San-ikukai expects the babies to be up to 4 weeks old, with the group's website providing information on how to leave an infant and what precautions to take. Staff will be available within one minute after the baby is left, after which the group must notify a child welfare center. Confidential birth consultations over the phone are also available on weekdays. The Tokyo government said it would work with Sumida Ward authorities to secure foster homes and create family registers for babies left in the hatch or born in the confidential system. Jikei Hospital in Kumamoto Prefecture, southwestern Japan, set up Japan's first baby hatch in 2007 and had dealt with 179 cases as of fiscal 2023. The hospital also introduced the country's first confidential birth system in 2019 with 46 cases since the first such birth in 2021. Related coverage: No. of marriages in China in 2024 lowest since late 1970s BEAVER BORO, Pa. (WHTM) Charges are pending against a contractor police say tagged a Pennsylvania residential building with a hate symbol in a business dispute. This happened in Beaver County on Friday. According to Beaver Borough Police, a hate symbol was spraypainted on the side of a residential building in the borough. Police described it as an act of antisemitism. An arrest was made Sunday. Police said the individual responsible was identified as a disgruntled contractor who specifically tagged the property due to a business dispute. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The symbols that were spray-painted and quickly removed do not reflect the values of Beaver Borough, police said in a statement. We want to thank our community, the Beaver County Commissioners, and Beaver County Crime Solvers for their cooperation and assistance in this matter. Your support plays a vital role in keeping our town safe. Download the abc27 News+ app on your Roku, Amazon Fire TV Stick, and Apple TV devices The contractor, who was not identified, is not from the area and offered a confession to 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 ABC27. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents took a man into custody in the middle of his criminal trial last week, according to the Suffolk District Attorneys Office. We have been instrumental to Boston becoming one of safest cities in the nation by pursuing ethical prosecutions that hold offenders accountable and treat victims with dignity, a spokesperson for the DAs office said. We were dismayed and surprised when our prosecution of William Martell-Lebron was interrupted by ICE apprehending him in the middle of our case. The DAs office said it contacted ICE as soon as it learned about Martell-Lebrons detention and filed a motion requesting that the court demand his appearance at trial. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Any claim that we were aware of an attempt to prevent Mr. Martell Lebron from exercising his right to a trial is false. It was and still is our intention to try Mr. Martell-Lebron and hold him accountable for the crimes alleged in the complaint, the DAs office explained. Federal authorities should not have detained him and interfered with our efforts to hold him accountable. Martell-Lebron appeared Thursday in Bostons Edward W. Brooke Courthouse for the first day of his trial on charges that he provided false information on a license application, The Boston Globe reported. Defense attorney Murat Erkan told the newspaper that plainclothes ICE agents detained Martell-Lebron as he left the court, placed him in an unmarked SUV, and drove away. Our position is that this is obstructing justice, Erkan told the Globe. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A hearing on what authorities knew about the detention is scheduled for Monday. Boston 25 News has reached out to ICE for comment on the matter. The detainment of Martell-Lebron comes just days after six federal agents, with their faces covered, approached Tufts University graduate student Rumeysa Ozturk on a Somerville street, took her into custody, and rushed her to an ICE Processing Center in Basile, Louisiana. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW Americans are increasingly waiting weeks or even months to get an appointment to see a health care specialist. This delay comes at a time when the population of aging adults is rising dramatically. By 2050, the number of adults over 85 is expected to triple, which will intensify the strain on an already stretched health care system. We wrote about this worsening challenge and its implications for the health care workforce in a January 2025 report in the New England Journal of Medicine. We are health care scholars who are acutely aware of the severe shortfall of specialists in Americas health care system. One of us, Rochelle Walensky, witnessed the consequences of this shortage firsthand as the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention from January 2020 to June 2023, during the critical early years of the pandemic. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The COVID-19 pandemic brought the physician and overall health care workforce shortage to the forefront. Amid the excess daily deaths in the U.S. from COVID-19, many people died of potentially preventable deaths due to delayed care for heart attacks, deferred cancer screenings and overwhelmed emergency departments and intensive care units. Even before the pandemic, 80% of U.S. counties lacked a single infectious disease physician. Before going to the CDC, I Dr. Walensky was chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases at Massachusetts General Hospital. When COVID-19 hit our hospitals, we were in desperate need of more infectious disease expertise. I was just one of them. At the local level, these infectious disease-trained subspecialists provide essential services when it comes to preventing and controlling transmissible outbreaks, carrying out diagnostic testing, developing treatment guidelines, informing hospital capacity planning and offering resources for community outreach. Each of these experts plays a vital role at the bedside and in systems management toward effective clinical, hospital and community responses to infectious disease outbreaks. Uneven health care outcomes and access For decades, experts have warned of an impending decline in the physician workforce. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now, Americans across all regions, specialties and socioeconomic backgrounds are experiencing that decline firsthand or personally. The National Center for Health Workforce Analysis projects a national shortage of 140,000 physicians by 2036, with that shortfall spanning multiple specialties, including primary care, obstetrics, cardiology and geriatrics. However, some geographic areas in the country especially some of those with the poorest health are disproportionately affected. The brunt of the effect will be felt in rural areas: An estimated 56% shortage is predicted in nonmetro areas, versus only 6% in metro areas. States such as Massachusetts, New York and Maryland boast the highest density of physicians per 100,000 people, while states such as Idaho, Mississippi and Oklahoma rank among those with the lowest. And even in states with the highest physician density, demand may still overwhelm access. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Although doctor shortages do not necessarily cause poor health outcomes, regions with fewer physicians tend to have lower life expectancy. The mean life expectancy in Mississippi is six years lower than that of Hawaii and more than four years below the national average. This underscores the substantial differences in health outcomes depending on where you live in the U.S. Notably, areas with fewer doctors also see higher rates of chronic conditions such as chronic pulmonary disease, diabetes and poor mental health. This crisis is further exacerbated by the aging baby boomer population, which places increasing demand on an already strained health care system due to rising rates especially among those over 85 of multiple chronic diseases, complex health care needs and the concurrent use of multiple medications. Rural areas have always had lower access to medical care compared with urban centers, and this divide could get far worse with the looming physician shortage. Chalabala/iStock via Getty Images Plus How the US reached this point Some of these workforce challenges stem from the unintended consequences of policy changes that were originally aimed at improving the rigor of medical education or curtailing a once-anticipated physician glut. For example, the 1910 Flexner Report was commissioned to restructure American medical education with the goals of standardizing curricula and improving quality. While the report succeeded at those goals, it was shortsighted in important ways. For instance, it recommended closing rather than strengthening 89 of the 155 existing medical schools at the time. This created medical school deserts that persist in some U.S. regions to this day. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Additionally, the report further divided the study of medicine, focused on disease, from the study of public health, which is focused on health care systems, populations and society. This separation has led to siloed communication and data systems that continue to hinder coordinated responses to public health crises. Decades after the Flexner Report, in 1980, policymakers anticipated a physician oversupply based on medical school enrollment projections and government investments in the medical workforce. In response, funding constraints were introduced by Congress to limit residency and fellowship training slots available after medical school. But by the early 2000s, discussions shifted to concerns about physician shortages. Despite the calls for reforms to address the issues more than a decade ago, the funding and training constraints have remained largely unchanged. These have created a persistent bottleneck in postgraduate medical training that requires acts of Congress to reverse. Forces shaping the physician bottleneck In the wake of the Dobbs vs. Jackson Womens Health Organization decision, states with restrictive abortion policies are now facing an emerging and troubling workforce challenge: It may get more difficult to recruit and retain tomorrows medical school grads. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Research surveys suggest that 82% of future physicians, not just obstetricians, prefer to train and work in states that uphold abortion access. While it may seem obvious that obstetricians would want to avoid the increasing liabilities associated with the Dobbs decision, another point is less obvious: Most medical trainees are between the ages of 25 and 35, prime childbearing years, and may themselves want access to a full range of obstetric care. And given that 20% of physicians are married to other physicians and an additional 25% to other health professionals, marriage within the health care workforce may also play a substantial role. A physician choosing not to practice in one of the 14 states with limited abortion access, many of which already rank among the poorest in health outcomes and lowest in physician densities, may not only take their expertise but also their partners elsewhere. Shifting the trajectory The doctor shortage requires a combination of solutions, starting with addressing the high cost of medical education and training. Medical school enrollment has increased by only 10% over the past decade, far insufficient to address both the shortage today and the projected growth of the aging population needing care. In addition, many students carry large amounts of debt, which frequently limits who can pursue the profession. And existing scholarship and compensation programs have been only modestly effective in incentivizing providers to work in high-need areas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In our New England Journal of Medicine report, we laid out several specific strategies that could help address the shortages and the potential workforce crisis. For instance: Rather than the traditional medical education model four years of broad medical training followed by three to seven years of residency medical schools could offer more specialized training pathways. These streamlined programs would focus on the skills needed for specific medical specialties, potentially reducing training duration and costs. Reforming physician compensation could also help address imbalances in the health care system. Specialists and subspecialists typically earn substantially more than primary care doctors, despite the high demand for primary care. Raising primary care salaries and offering incentives, such as student loan forgiveness for physicians in high-need areas, could encourage more doctors to practice where they are needed most. Additionally, addressing physician burnout is crucial, particularly in primary care, where administrative burdens such as billing and charting contribute to stress and attrition. Reducing these burdens, potentially through novel AI-driven solutions, could allow doctors to focus more on patient care and less on paperwork. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These are just an assortment of strategies we propose, and time is of the essence. One thing is certain: The U.S. urgently needs more doctors, and everyones health depends on it. 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: Rochelle Walensky, Harvard Kennedy School and Nicole McCann, Boston University Read more: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dr Rochelle P. Walensky is the Bayer Fellow in Health and Biotech, American Academy in Berlin. She reported receiving personal fees from Madryn Asset Management for serving as a senior policy advisor, Consonance Capital for serving as a senior advisory board member, and Doris Duke Foundation for serving as a trustee; consulting fees from Infectious Diseases Society of America; and nonfinancial support from The Carter Center for being a member of the board of directors outside the submitted work. Nicole McCann does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment. A hospital for injured Ukrainian soldiers in Kharkiv has resumed performing operations after the facility was hit by a Russian drone strike on March 29, the hospital announced on March 30. The military hospital was deliberately targeted in a Russian attack that killed two people and injured 25 others in Kharkiv and the surrounding oblast. "As a result of the night attack by Shaheds, patients and staff at the hospital were injured, and several buildings were damaged," the hospital said in a social media post following the drone strike. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "But now operations have resumed in the operating rooms, which were damaged by the blast wave. The hospital cannot stop providing assistance and treating patients for even a minute." Edouard Khorosun, the head of the military medical center, called the strike on the hospital "an act of terrorism." Multiple explosions rocked Kharkiv the night of March 29. Russian drones damaged a shopping center, several residential buildings, and an office building in addition to the hospital. The attack killed a 67-year-old man and a 70-year-old woman, and left 25 others injured, including five children, Kharkiv Oblast Governor Oleh Syniehubov reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A 15-year-old girl was hospitalized in serious condition following the strike. President Volodymyr Zelensky on March 30 said that the attack on Kharkiv is yet another sign that Russian President Vladmir Putin is not interested in moving towards a ceasefire. "The geography and brutality of Russian strikes, not just occasionally, but literally every day and night, show that Putin couldn't care less about diplomacy," he said. Kharkiv Oblast in Ukraine's northeast is a regular target of Russian missile, drone, and glide bomb attacks. Read also: Ukraine war latest: Putin will have nothing to say at peace negotiations, Zelensky says Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) DOGE said it canceled three grants given to Ohio State last week, reportedly saving over $1 million in tax dollars. But the university could not find records supporting these claims. According to the DOGE website, three Ohio State grants were terminated on March 23: A grant from the Department of Defense titled YIP U.S. INFLUENCE IN THE WESTERN PACIFIC: LEGACY OF HISTORICAL AIRSTRIKES ON ANTI-AMERICAN SENTIMENT. This grant cancellation reportedly saved $0. A $3,143,795 grant from the Department of Health and Human Services to Ohio State for an unknown purpose. The cancellation reportedly saved $734,515. A $300,000 grant from the Department of Health and Human Services to OSUs Center for Vocational Education. The cancellation reportedly saved the entire $300,000. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But an Ohio State spokesperson looked into these grants with the universitys research department. He said there is no stop work order issued for the Department of Defense grant, and Ohio State could not find any grants matching those descriptions. See previous coverage of DOGE funding freezes affecting central Ohio in the video player above. Ohio State set a record with more than $1.58 billion spent on research in the 2024 fiscal year. The university announced the 9% increase in research funding on March 19, celebrating its status as a top 15 research university under the National Science Foundations Higher Education Research and Development survey rankings. Although DOGE has cancelled at least one Ohio State research grant already, these newly reported cancellations could not be verified. We do not have a stop work order for the first grant. For the other two, we havent found grants matching the description you shared, the spokesperson said. Keep in mind that grant awards, stop work orders and cancellations come from the awarding agency, not from DOGE. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement NBC4 sorted through the federal resource detailing grants and contracts to see if notice to Ohio State may have been delayed. However, the official spending site also did not reveal any grants to Ohio State from the Department of Health and Human Services that matched either description. NBC4 was able to locate the Department of Defense grant, which was $449,984 in total. All of this funding has already been granted to the university, according to the U.S. spending database. Although other DOGE cancellations have been indicated on this site, this grant has no indication it is halted. Instead, the grant was continued on Feb. 4, and the website said this grant will end in March 2026. NBC4 contacted multiple government agencies, DOGE workers and the White House press team for clarification, but none has commented on the inconsistencies. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Several Social Security Administration offices will close throughout the year due to the Department of Government Efficiency's cost-cutting measures implemented by the Trump administration. The Trump administration wants stricter identity verification that requires people to visit Social Security agency field offices in person instead of engaging with employees over the phone. According to the DOGE website, there is a list of federal leases it plans to terminate. How many Social Security offices does DOGE plan to shut down in Texas and beyond? Here's what you need to know. 2 Social Security offices in Texas expected to close this year The move by Elon Musk's DOGE will axe 47 Social Security offices in several states, including Texas. The Associated Press reports at least 26 SSA locations that are expected to close this year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Below is a state-by-state overview of the Social Security offices expected to shutter this year, along with the corresponding lease termination dates, according to data by the General Services Administration: Alabama 634 Broad St., Gadsden: Sept. 30 Arkansas 965 Holiday Drive, Forrest City: April 25 4083 Jefferson Ave., Texarkana: May 25 Colorado 825 N. Crest Drive, Grand Junction: June 21 Florida 4740 Dairy Road, Melbourne: May 16 Georgia 1338 Broadway, Columbus: Sept. 30 Kentucky 825 High St., Hazard: April 24 Louisiana 178 Civic Center Drive, Houma: April 25 Mississippi 4717 26th St., Meridian: June 1 604 Yalobusha St., Greenwood: June 1 2383 Sunset Drive, Grenada: May 1 Montana 3701 American Way, Missoula: June 21 North Carolina 730 Roanoke Ave., Roanoke Rapids: Aug. 1 2123 Lakeside Drive, Franklin: June 23 2805 Charles Blvd., Greenville: June 24 1865 W. City Drive, Elizabeth City: June 24 North Dakota 1414 20th Ave. SW, Minot: June 21 Nevada 701 Bridger Ave., Las Vegas: June 1 New York 75 S. Broadway, White Plains: May 31 332 Main St., Poughkeepsie: July 31 Ohio 30 N. Diamond St., Mansfield: May 17 Oklahoma 1610 SW Lee Blvd., Lawton: April 25 Texas 1122 N. University Drive, Nacogdoches: May 7 8208 NE Zac Lentz Parkway: May 25 West Virginia 1103 George Kostas Drive, Logan: April 30 Wyoming 79 Winston Drive, Rock Springs: June 20 Can I still get help from Social Security? Yes, there are still options to get help from the Social Security Administration that don't require visiting an office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Online : The simplest way to change your address, obtain a new Social Security or Medicare card, or access your tax information is by using a my Social Security account. The platform offers the convenience of managing your tasks at your own pace for a variety of services online. Phone : To reach a representative, you can contact the SSA at 1-800-772-1213, Monday through Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. local time. If you are deaf or hard of hearing and use TTY equipment, you can call 1-800-325-0778. Video: If you are scheduled for or expect to attend an SSA hearing, it can be conducted via video. Hearings may take place over the internet, through Microsoft Teams, or other video platforms. You can join the online video hearing from anywhere you have a smartphone, tablet, or computer with a camera and a private internet connection. This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: DOGE to close 26 Social Security offices in 2025. See Texas locations American producers and innovators within the footwear supply chain are attempting to find their footing in a modern manufacturing landscape where rhetoric doesnt always match up with resolve. Two months into President Donald Trumps second term, talk of tariffs has put the U.S. at odds with many of its trade allies across the globe. The Commander in Chiefs stated goal has been to usher in a new golden era of American manufacturing; with supply chains having gone global decades ago, however, results so far have been mixed. More from Sourcing Journal Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But with the eyes of the country focused for the first time in years on American manufacturing, the countrys footwear makers perceive a long-awaited window to make their presence felt and their goals understood by those in power. The U.S. Footwear Manufacturing Association (USFMA) held its annual meeting in Washington last week, bringing together dozens of representatives from fabric mills, technology and machinery providers, producers of midsole foams, soles and components, 3D-printing pioneers and academics seeking to do just that. According to the groups leadership, who guided members through meetings with lawmakers on The Hill, theres low-hanging fruit to be plucked, namely in the form of government contracts and funding for military applications. Capturing these opportunities could give American makers the runway to develop the capacity and scale they need to drive more commercial business through their doors, they believe. The Department of Defense (DoD) has indeed funneled funds into optimizing military footwear in recent years, and much of that money has gone to research and development for advanced wearable technologies and performance fabrications. For fiscal year 2026, USFMA is requesting that the DoDs Manufacturing Technology (ManTech) Program supply the U.S. footwear industry with $15 million to strengthen the domestic supply chain. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This money, USFMAs executive director Bill McCann said, would allow for the creation of new pilot lines and small-scale footwear production in the U.S. Currently, it would take at least a year and a half for the countrys military textile and footwear industrial base to ramp up to a point where it could meet the needs of the nations armed services in a real conflict scenario, he said, pointing to a DoD study conducted last year. In effect, the U.S. cant outfit its own military without the help of offshore suppliers and trade adversaries like China. The group is also pushing for support for the Better Outfitting Our Troops Act (BOOTS), which would tighten up uniform standards for military service members, requiring them to wear Berry Amendment compliant American-made boots. Currently, about half of the footwear being worn by servicemembers for base duty (about 250,000 pairs) is purchased from overseas brands or companies engaged in offshore production. At a meeting with U.S. Representative Lori Trahan (D-Mass.), USFMA members solicited support for the bill and capital investments in footwear manufacturing, with McCann telling the Congresswoman that funding would give U.S. makers the critical mass that will allow the supply chain to support not just the military, but also the commercial growth that were striving for. Currently, about 1 percent of the footwear purchased in the United States is made here, he explained. We would like to get that to 3, 4, 5 percent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kevin McCoy, head of Boston-based New Balances Made in the USA business centered in New England, told Trahan about the companys recent investments in advanced manufacturing technology and upskilling workers. Funding from the government would allow for further R&D surrounding fit, comfort and performance to support arguably the worlds most elite athletes, the U.S. armed forces. The 119-year-old brand recently launched an innovation center down the street from its headquarters, a factory in New Hampshire that McCoy said would serve as a lighthouse guiding the future of footwear manufacturing for the brand, and a 112,000-square-foot facility in Maine where much of that learning will be applied. Theres kind of an old school way of making shoes, and were trying to merge that craftsmanship with technology, he said. New Balance intends these new facilities to act as the birthplace of the manufacturing revolutionhow were going to put shoes together that will enable us to really leapfrog what Asian manufacturing looks like. Asked by Trahan what she might notice thats different from a traditional factory, McCoy said a visitor would see a heavy dose of technology, heavy dose of robotics, a much cleaner, much brighter single-floor, easy-to-comprehend manufacturing layout, and a lot less potential risks for the individuals to get hurt. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were trying to upskill that entire environment and then backfill it into each one of our facilities, he explained. Were looking to make product that looks different than what we make right now, he addedboth for the military and American shoppers. With the recent integration of new tech, workers have quickly recognized that AI and automated processes arent out for their jobs, McCoy added. Learning how to operate advanced machinery and perpetuate new processes may actually spur interest that the manufacturing sector hasnt seen from recent generations of the American workforce, he believes. Trahan noted that her grandmother, a Brazilian immigrant, worked in a textile mill in Lowell, Mass. upon arriving in the U.S. Cutting the ribbon at New Balances Methuen, Mass. facility some years later, was just a reminder, looking out on that floor, of whats possible in just a generations time, she said. These arent traditional manufacturing jobs, added Charles Abrams, CEO of Dela, Inc., a Haverhill, Mass. engineered foam supplier to New Balance. New equipment will provide better opportunities for the local workforce while also driving efficiency, he said. These new technologies allow us to make much better product with much less going in the landfill. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement McCann noted that USFMA has been fielding interest from American brands, especially small- and medium-sized players, looking to onshore some portion of production. Trahan was interested in what might be driving those appetites, and McCann attributed them to the changing trade landscape, with tariffs at the center. Since the Covid-19 pandemic, too, brands have been increasingly seeking smaller production runs made closer to home. Trahan asked whether that could that spell opportunity for Massachusetts and New England at large, once regarded as the footwear manufacturing capital of the U.S. This investment [from the DoD] will help us get there, and it will raise the board across all the manufacturers all the suppliers, McCoy said. A boost, a leg up, and some confidence from lawmakers in the potential of the industry would make a world of difference, USFMA members from across the country told Sourcing Journal. Funding would give a burgeoning national supply chain the chance to up its capabilities and its capacity, driving down the high cost of production that has hindered many brands from onshoring. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement John Simon, president of South Carolinas Signet Mills, said the company hasnt seen the uptick in interest from American brands that some in the group had experienced, and bemoaned the fact that most large American companies arent willing to invest in fostering the growth of the domestic supply chain. Some small percentage shift in sourcing from household name retailers and brands would be a difference-maker for those upstream, he said. In the absence of that support, the engineered fabric maker has shifted away from the apparel industry entirely, focusing on automotive and industrial applications. And now, appealing to the federal government for contracts that support its ability to outfit American service members. The road to self-sufficiency and true verticalization will be long if those opportunities do materialize. With so much soft-goods production having fled to cheaper pastures in recent decades, so too have the industries that supported apparel and footwear manufacturing. Some of the more fundamental materials are not available domestically, because all the volume resides outside of the U.S. The large chemical companies, for example, are manufacturing those base materials in those regions, and they have no reason to manufacture them here, so we have to import those products, Vincent Bonaddio of Massachusetts-based Rogers Foam said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Asked whether he believes there will always be some level of dependency on offshore production, Bonaddio said such industries are unlikely to return to the U.S. in the absence of an industry operating at scale, even though many of these materials and components were historically manufactured stateside. As volume picks up here, there could be opportunities to move them back, because its in our best interest. It starts on the military side, and then it works into the consumer side. In the near term, he fears that tariffs may hinder U.S. producers. It hurts because the raw materials that would go into products are going to be impacted, and were just not prepared to have those materials manufactured here. But U.S. footwear manufacturers are a scrappy bunch and are unlikely to be deterred by tenuous market conditions or geopolitical strife. Chugging along with dwindling support for so long has forced them to harden their resolve, innovate quicker and band together for survival. Kuba Graczyk, founder of Los Angeles-based 3D-printed footwear startup Koobz, believes against the odds (of which these producers are continually reminded) that there are still ample openings for American shoemakers to make their mark, especially as technological trailblazers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A relative newcomer to the industry by way of advanced robotics for the automotive sector, Graczyk, also a recent immigrant to the U.S., said theres no reason to approach lawmakers or the industry from a supplicant standpoint. We have to dream big, we have to aim highand why limit ourselves to 5 percent? Why can we not do 100 percent of footwear manufacturing in the United States and export the excess to other countries? Its a lofty goal, he recognizes. But the upstart, which has pioneered a unique 3D-printing process for mono-material, single-piece footwear, is already making inroads with household-name brands and A-list tastemakers, with plans to debut its first commercial projects in the coming months. If we go for 3 percent, well get a half percent. If we pitch for 100 percent, well get 50, or maybe even 40, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Many in the industryand even his peersmight balk at the idea that U.S. footwear production could ever claw back a double-digit share of the market. But rather than begging for business and operating from a place of humility, Graczyk said that if the sector can push from a position of innovation and confidence and pitch that we can be great and as a groupthat we have great ideas on how to bring this manufacturing to the United Stateswe will be much more successful. Being more bullish, thats what we need to do, he added. President Donald Trump says he is meeting with comedian and frequent critic Bill Maher as a favor to his pal, Kid Rock. Kid Rock announced last week that he organized a meet-up between Trump and Maher tobreak bread and to try to unite the country. Now, the president confirmed he will see his on-screen critic face-to-face after being contacted by the musician. I got a call from a very good guy, and friend of mine, Kid Rock, asking me whether or not it would be possible for me to meet, in the White House, with Bill Maher, a man who has been unjustifiably critical of anything, or anyone, TRUMP, the president wrote on Truth Social on Sunday evening. I really didnt like the idea much, and dont like it much now, but thought it would be interesting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The problem is, no matter how much he likes your Favorite President, ME, he will publicly proclaim what a terrible guy I am, etc., Trump continued. Who knows, though, maybe Ill be proven wrong? In any event, Im doing a favor for a friend. Bill Maher and Donald Trump are going to meet as a favor to Trumps friend, Kid Rock, the president confirms (HBO/Getty) Trump added: I look forward to meeting with Bill Maher, Kid Rock and, I believe, even the Legendary Dana White will be present. It might be fun or, it might not, but you will be the first to know! Maher previously explained how the meeting came to be on his podcast Club Random. Kid Rock was here a couple of weeks ago, and he said, I want you to meet Trump,' he noted. He said, Im gonna take you to the White House. So now were gonna do that. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The meeting comes more than a decade after Trump filed a $5 million lawsuit against Maher after he joked that Trump was the son of an orangutan, referring to his hair color. The Real Time host also recently compared his dinner with the president to Richard Nixons historic visit to China in 1972, but admitted his visit wouldnt be able to heal the country. Im doing it because first of all, it was presented as maybe this is a beginning to heal America. Now, I dont have some sort of complex where I think I can heal America, I cant. Lets get that clear. Im not going to be healing America, Maher said on The Chris Cuomo Project podcast last week. But if two guys whove been at each other for so long I mean, its kind of a Nixon-to-China thing. I have the credentials, the comedian continued. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Maher, a self-described old school liberal, then referred to his criticism of both Trump and the Democrats. Nobody who was harder on Trump or more prescient about the fact that he wasnt going to leave office voluntarily than I was, Maher said, adding that the public respects him because Im honest about the woke train to crazy town. Its an honor to be invited to the White House, the comedian told Cuomo. President Donald Trump told reporters Sunday, March 30, that he's "not joking" about running for a third term in the oval office. Trump commented on a third term during a telephone interview with NBC news, saying "there are methods" for how he could stay in power. However, a run for a third presidential term is unconstitutional. The 22nd Amendment, ratified in 1951, puts a term limit on presidential power in the U.S. But that doesn't seem to be stopping Trump. He has made several comments about a third term during his first few months back at the white house. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In February, the official White House social media platforms portrayed Trump as a monarch. "Long live the king," the post declared. Just one day after the post, Trump asked supporters at a White House reception, "Should I run again?" A lot of people want me to do it, Trump said in a phone interview. "But, I mean, I basically tell them we have a long way to go, you know, its very early in the administration." Can Donald Trump run for a third term? The simple answer: No. Under the current constitutional safeguards, Trump cannot seek a third presidential term. Trump could try to pass a new constitutional amendment. This would require a two-thirds majority vote in both the House and Senate, or two-thirds of state legislatures can call a constitutional convention. Then, three-fourths of the state legislatures would have to ratify the amendment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It's an intentionally difficult process that was last done in 1992 when the 27th Amendment was enacted. Asked by NBC whether he has been shown plans that would allow him to seek a third term, Trump said: "There are methods which you could do it," including Vice President JD Vance running for president and then giving the role to Trump, according to USA TODAY reporting. Is there anything in the Constitution about presidential term limits? Yes, it is clearly outlined in the 22nd Amendment that a person serving as president can only hold the office twice. Here's what it says: "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." When did presidential term limits become part of the Constitution? The 22nd Amendment was ratified in 1951, according to the National Constitution Center. The idea of term limits came about from Republicans after President Franklin D. Roosevelt won four consecutive elections. His presidency started in 1933 during the Great Depression and spanned over 12 years until his death on April 12, 1945, during his fourth term. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It took nearly four years for the amendment to be ratified though. Have there always been presidential term limits? Not in writing. America's first president, George Washington, set an unofficial precedent when the first elections in the United States were happening. Washington only served as president twice, declining multiple times to serve a third term. In later years, Washington's decision to not seek a third term was seen as a safeguard against the type of tyrannical power wielded by the British monarchy during the Colonial era. According to the National Constitution Center, the concept of term limits was discussed at the Constitutional Convention when America was first founded but not added to the Constitution at that time. Has anyone sought more than two terms as president? Only a handful of people have sought a third term as president before the 22nd Amendment was ratified. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ulysses S. Grant tried for a third term in 1880, but he lost the Republican Party nomination to James Garfield Grover Cleveland lacked party support for a third term Woodrow Wilson hoped a deadlocked 1920 convention would turn to him for a third term Theodore Roosevelt originally passed on running for a third term in 1908, but would later run as third-party candidate in 1912 after a fallout with then-President William Howard Taft. Roosevelt beat Taft, but both lost to Woodrow Wilson. Former President Franklin D. Roosevelt famously won not three, but four presidential elections, breaking the long-held tradition of two terms. While several predecessors had sought a third term, FRD was the only person to win four consecutive elections. FDR served as president from March 4, 1933, until his death on April 12, 1945. He led the country through the Great Depression and World War II. As a result of FDR's unprecedented four terms, the 22nd Amendment was ratified, which limited all future presidents to two elected terms, according to the National Archives. USA TODAY reporter Riley Beggin contributed to this report. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Could Trump run again? President says it's no joke. What to know President Donald Trumps decaying childhood home in Jamaica, Queens sold for $835,000 in a March real estate transaction a far cry from the $2.14 million its erstwhile owner paid in 2017. Trump lived in the 2,500 square foot home for the first four years of his life, but the property remained relatively obscure until the presidents 2016 run for the Oval Office. A speculator purchased the house in December 2016 before flipping it in early 2017 and turning a $750,000 profit. To this day, the actual people who purchased the house in 2017 are unknown. The buyer was listed as Trump Birth House LLC in official documents and it is widely understood to be owned by Chinese investors. For about a month, the house served as an Airbnb (ABNB), before the city shut it down. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Over the weekend, the New York Post reported that renovators were gutting the decayed and dilapidated house. The new owner is a Brooklyn-based LLC called 1388 Group, which took out two mortgages to purchase the property. The mortgage lender is Accolend, which specializes in properties that buyers purchase to renovate and flip. The Tudor-style residence, at 8515 Wareham Place, has drawn the ire of neighbors for years after falling into disrepair though one enterprising local did take advantage of the vacant property and turn it into a home for a colony of feral cats. The problem, neighbors contend, is that absentee investors bought the house to turn a profit, but quickly abandoned the project. Signs and notices thronging the house indicated that utilities had been shut off and warned passers-by from taking kittens from the property. Everyone wants to say its Donald Trumps birth house,neighbor Deborah Ayala-Braun told Curbed, in October. But after that it was somebody elses house, and after that it was somebody elses house. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When Curbed asked Ayala-Braun about her irritation with Trumps five-bedroom, four-bathroom childhood home, she responded with an exasperated where to begin? There was the pipe that burst, which flooded our basement and other neighbors, she said. Issues with the circuitry in Trumps old house blacked out several adjacent homes for a week in the middle of the summer, leaving the neighborhood dying in the heat. I want it to be occupied, Ayala-Braun continued. I want it to have purpose. I want it to have its own history going forward. Click through to see what the property looked like before it fell into disrepair. Donald Trumps childhood home Photo: Zillow Donald Trumps childhood home Photo: Zillow Donald Trumps childhood home Photo: Zillow Donald Trumps childhood home Photo: Zillow Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Donald Trumps childhood home Photo: Zillow For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. YANGON, March 31 (Xinhua) -- The death toll of Chinese nationals from Myanmar's earthquake has risen to three, as 14 other Chinese citizens were injured till 18:00 Beijing time on Monday, the Chinese embassy in Myanmar confirmed. The Chinese diplomatic missions in Myanmar have been assisting the families of the victims, according to the embassy. Myanmar's authorities said on Sunday that the death toll of the earthquake has risen to about 1,700. Opening statements began Monday in the Arizona trial of "Doomsday mom" Lori Vallow Daybell, the mother who was sentenced to life in prison in Idaho for killing her children in 2019. In Arizona, Vallow Daybell has been indicted of conspiracy to commit murder in the death of her fourth husband, Charles Vallow. She has pleaded not guilty to the charge and is representing herself at the trial. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I'm fighting for my life here," Vallow Daybell told CBS affiliate AZFamily's True Crime Arizona correspondent Briana Whitney in a jailhouse interview ahead of opening statements. Jury selection in the Arizona case began on Monday, March 31. About 200 potential jurors were screened, AZFamily reported, but many were ruled out by Vallow Daybell and prosecutors because they knew about the case. Sixteen jurors, including four alternates, were chosen. The jury is made up of 13 men and three women, AZFamily reported. AZFamily has been permitted by the judge to stream the trial on a 30-minute delay. The trial is expected to last until mid-May at the latest. What did Lori Vallow Daybell do? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lori Vallow Daybell was sentenced to life in prison without parole in the killings of her children, Tylee Ryan and Joshua Jaxon "JJ" Vallow. Tylee was Vallow Daybell's child from a previous relationship. She and Charles Vallow adopted JJ in 2012. In 2018, Vallow Daybell met doomsday fiction author Chad Daybell. A year later, she separated from Vallow and began a relationship with Daybell. The couple held apocalyptic religious beliefs that prosecutors claimed were used to justify the killings of Tylee, JJ and Daybell's first wife, Tammy Daybell. 7-year-old Joshua Tylee and JJ disappeared within two weeks of each other in September 2019. In October 2019, Tammy Daybell was found dead in her bed. A coroner said her death initially appeared to be due to natural causes, but an autopsy wasn't conducted before her body was buried. Two weeks later, in November 2019, Daybell and Vallow Daybell were married in Hawaii. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The remains of Tammy Daybell were exhumed in December 2019, an autopsy was performed and her cause of death was determined to be asphyxiation. In February 2020, Vallow Daybell was arrested in Hawaii for ignoring a police order to produce her children, who had been reported missing by their grandparents. Several months later, in June 2020, the bodies of Tylee and JJ were found on a property owned by Chad Daybell. Daybell and Vallow Daybell were each charged in the deaths of Tammy Daybell, Tylee and JJ. In separate trials, they were each found guilty of murder and conspiracy to commit murder in the children's deaths. Vallow Daybell was also convicted of conspiracy to commit murder in Tammy Daybell's death and of theft charges related to financial payments sent to her children. Daybell was found guilty of murder in Tammy Daybell's death, as well as several other related charges. He has been sentenced to death. Lori Vallow Daybell glances at the camera during her hearing in Rexburg, Idaho, on March 6, 2020. / Credit: John Roark/The Idaho Post-Register via AP What was Lori Vallow Daybell's relationship with Charles Vallow? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lori Vallow Daybell and Charles Vallow were married from 2006 to 2019. In early 2019, Vallow became very worried about his wife. He went to the police with his concerns, telling them that Vallow Daybell believed she was a "god" who was preparing for the end of days. "She threatened me, murder me, kill me," he told police in a conversation recorded on video, according to "48 Hours." Vallow filed for divorce in February 2019. In the filing, he said that Vallow Daybell had threatened to murder him. He also expressed fears for JJ and Tylee's safety. Lori and Charles Vallow married in 2006. / Credit: Kay Woodcock How did Charles Vallow die? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Charles Vallow was shot and killed by Lori Vallow Daybell's brother, Alexander Lamar Cox, on July 11, 2019. Vallow had gone to the home where Vallow Daybell was living with Cox and the two children after their separation to pick up JJ. The home was in Chandler, a suburb of Phoenix, Arizona. In police video, Tylee said that she heard Vallow and Cox arguing. "Honestly, it feels, it feels like 2 seconds, and 40 minutes at the same time. ... I just kind of heard yelling over everything. I don't know, I kind of just do that when everything is, like, really loud, I kind of just tune what people are saying out," she told detectives. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cox told police that he had killed Vallow in self-defense. He was not arrested. Cox's wife, Zulema Pastenes, testified that Daybell and Vallow Daybell had convinced him that his divine mission was to protect his sister. Pastenes said that Cox told her he feared the pair would make him their "fall guy." That conversation, Pastenes said, occurred a day before Cox's sudden death in December 2019. Medical examiners said he died of a pulmonary blood clot. What to know about the latest charges Lori Vallow Daybell has been charged with conspiring with Alex Cox to kill Charles Vallow. The trial is taking place in Phoenix, Arizona, where Vallow died. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement April Raymond told "48 Hours" that Vallow Daybell, her former friend, told her she believed Vallow was already dead and had a demon living inside him. She would later make similar comments about her children. In December 2024, a judge ruled that Vallow Daybell was mentally fit to stand trial. She will be able to wear civilian clothes and will not be shackled, but will have to wear a shock vest, AZFamily said. Complicating the trial is Vallow Daybell's decision to represent herself. Vallow Daybell said that she has studied case law during her time in prison. She also said she has experience in court that will help her represent herself. "My intention is to say the things that I would say for myself," Vallow Daybell said in the jailhouse interview with Whitney. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She said her attorneys in Idaho did not always say what she wanted them to and "sometimes you just have to be able to do it for yourself." Vallow Daybell said she hadn't decided yet if she would testify at the trial. "We're going to see how it goes," she said. The logistics of preparing for the case have been a challenge, Vallow Daybell said. At a hearing on March 18 she said it was difficult for her to communicate with her legal team while in jail. "Where I am at the jail, the communication is very difficult for me to get ahold of my investigator, get ahold of my paralegal. I'm 23 hours a day locked down. If I don't have Wi-Fi, I don't have a phone, if I don't have battery, I don't have a phone," she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If found guilty, Vallow faces life in prison with the possibility of parole after 25 years. She is already serving multiple life sentences with no possibility of parole after the convictions in Idaho. This trial is not the last of her legal troubles. Vallow Daybell also faces a charge of conspiracy to commit murder for the attempted shooting of her niece's ex-husband, Brandon Boudreaux. Boudreaux was shot at in 2019 while driving near his home but was unhurt. Prosecutors say Cox carried out the shooting but missed his target. Vallow Daybell has pleaded not guilty to the charge. Lori Vallow, in a booking photo from Maricopa County, Arizona. / Credit: Maricopa County Sheriff's Office Lori Vallow Daybell's "Dateline" interview In a jailhouse interview with NBC's "Dateline," which aired in March, Vallow Daybell made multiple baseless claims. She was often combative toward correspondent Keith Morrison as she claimed to be innocent of all charges. She said she "was not there" when JJ and Tylee were killed and was not involved in Tammy Daybell's death. She tried to blame JJ's death on Tylee, Morrison said, but investigators have said Tylee died before JJ. "She came in and she had her own agenda," Morrison said of Vallow Daybell ahead of the airing of the "Dateline" episode. "She wanted to be the aggressor." During the interview, Vallow Daybell also briefly discussed how she would serve as her own attorney in the Charles Vallow case. She called the process "great" but a "difficult thing to do." Inside the booming, bourbon-driven barrel business | 60 Minutes Supreme Court pauses order mandating return of Maryland man deported to El Salvador Bondi reacts to Supreme Court pausing order on man mistakenly deported to El Salvador TAUNTON, Mass. (WPRI) Dozens of people gathered at the Vietnam Memorial Fountain on Church Green in Taunton on Sunday afternoon for the 43rd POW/MIA Remembrance Day. The names of soldiers who are missing in action were read one by one. For over four decades, the Taunton Area Vietnam Veterans Association has come together on the last Sunday of March and held this remembrance ceremony, honoring MIA soldiers, many of whom were prisoners of war. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were here no matter what. If it rains, snows, sleet. Were here, said Dennis Proulx, Vice President of the Vietnam Veterans Association He is one of the organizers and says the goal is to bring every missing soldier home to Massachusetts. Its the least we can do for all the suffering that the families are going through waiting all these years, Proulx added. RELATED: Remains of Korean War POW laid to rest in Taunton Through prayer and song, the crowd remembers those who made the ultimate sacrifice, gathering around the citys Veterans Memorial on the Church Green. This years ceremony holds a deeper meaning as Taunton welcomed home the remains of Army Private Joseph Travers, a Korean war soldier and prisoner of war. His family laid the Taunton native to rest on Saturday, and was honored at Sundays ceremony. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Remains of Korean War POW laid to rest in Taunton Hes been missing for seven decades and finally hes come home. Now the family can put that to rest. They know hes buried in the cemetery and hes on United States property, Proulx said. 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. Drake University Provost Sue Mattison announced her plan to retire at the end of the next academic year. (Photo courtesy of Drake University) Drake University Provost Sue Mattison announced Friday she will spend just one more year at the private university before retirement, with a national search for her replacement scheduled to begin in the fall. Mattison will conclude her career of nearly a decade at the university at the end of the 2025-2026 academic year. After that, she and her husband plan to devote their time to Habitat for Humanity volunteering efforts and visiting their daughters in New York and Chicago, according to a Drake news release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Provost Mattison has been an exceptional leader and an esteemed colleague, and Im beyond grateful for her unwavering commitment these last 10 years, said Drake University President Marty Martin in the release. She has tirelessly dedicated the pinnacle of her career to fulfilling Drakes mission, and our University is better for her doing so. I wish her all the best as she begins this new chapter of her life. During her time at Drake, she led efforts to expand online education and diversity, equity and inclusion programming, in addition to her oversight of academic departments, office of student life and other areas of campus, the release states. Mattison started serving as Drakes provost in 2016, according to the release, and has held positions at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, the University of Northern Iowa and the University of Iowa. She also attended both state universities as a student, earning her undergraduate and masters degrees from UNI and her doctorate from the UI. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Martin said in the release her background in epidemiology, starting with her studies in Iowa, helped steer the university through the COVID-19 pandemic, which he called an extremely challenging time. Mattison said its the people who make up the Drake community shell miss the most, according to the release. Serving as provost of Drake University has been one of the greatest privileges of my career, Mattison said in the release. I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to have worked alongside such remarkable and talented colleagues and students. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Driver in custody after striking Connecticut State Police cruiser on Interstate 395 in Waterford WATERFORD, Conn. (WTNH) A driver is in custody after allegedly striking a Connecticut State Police cruiser Monday morning on Interstate 395 in Waterford, according to troopers. Troopers were able to stop the vehicle after deploying stop sticks, state police said. 4 people arrested in connection with stabbing outside Westfarms mall State police confirmed Interstate 95 South was closed between Exits 71 and 70 in Old Lyme in connection with the incident, but it has since reopened. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Information on the person arrested was not immediately. This is a developing situation. Check back 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 WTNH.com. A Long Beach man who served as the getaway driver for a smash-and-grab robbery at a Beverly Hills jewelry store was sentenced to seven years in federal prison. Ladell Tharpe, 39, who pleaded guilty to interference with commerce by robbery in September, was also ordered to pay nearly $2.7 million in restitution, the U.S. Department of Justice said in a news release. That figure aligns with the value of the merchandise stolen in 2022 when Tharpe and his accomplices, Deshon Bell, 22, Jimmy Lee Vernon III, 33, both from Long Beach, as well as an unnamed minor drove three vehicles to a jewelry store in Beverly Hills and used sledgehammers and crow bars to break the glass surrounding the merchandise while employees and customers were present, the DOJ said. The U.S. Department of Justice shared this 2022 image of Ladell Tharpe showing off on Instagram after a smash-and-grab robbery in Beverly Hills. Pedestrians walk past a boarded up Luxury Jewels of Beverly Hills on Wednesday, March 23, 2022 in Beverly Hills, Calif. (AP Photo/Richard Vogel) Investigators listed the illicit haul as being at least 19 bracelets, seven pairs of earrings, four necklaces, a pair of obelisks, eight rings, and 20 watches. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Two days after the heist, Tharpe posted images of large amounts of cash on his Instagram with the text Robbery Gang,' the release said. Brazen criminal action that directly targets our small businesses in Los Angeles County will not be tolerated, said acting United States Attorney Joseph McNally. The consequences for such action are severe and penalized accordingly, and I want to thank our law enforcement partners for their exceptional and dutiful work during this investigation. As for Tharpes accomplices, Bell and Tharpe both pleaded guilty to robbery and were each ordered to pay nearly $2.7 million in restitution. Bell was sentenced to one year and one day in federal prison, while Vernon was sentenced to 80 months in federal prison. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. By Karen Lema and Poppy McPherson MANILA (Reuters) - The bloodied body of Sheerah Escudero's 18-year-old brother was found in 2017 with hands bound and head wrapped in packaging tape, a suspected victim of the Philippines' then-President Rodrigo Duterte's "war on drugs" that left thousands dead. The arrest of Duterte on March 11 on an International Criminal Court warrant over the drug war murders gave her some comfort, but Escudero and many others working on drug war cases have since faced a wave of online attacks from Duterte supporters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Escudero's Facebook account has been flooded with comments and direct messages calling her a drug addict and a liar for seeking justice in her brother's case, and accusing her of being paid to malign Duterte. "They're really cursing us, and one person even told me, 'addicts should be beheaded. They should just die.' Knowing that my brother was the victim, they still sent me that message," she said. Other grieving mothers, human rights advocates and lawyers say they have faced similar, fierce harassment online since Duterte was arrested and whisked to the ICC in the Hague, where he awaits trial. A surge of false claims also swept social media, with supporters claiming the ICC had no jurisdiction and calling it a "kidnapping", while paid advertisements on Facebook promoted the former president, Reuters found. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Reuters spoke to three human rights groups who each said they had assisted several victims of targeted online harassment. Representatives for Duterte and his daughter, Sara Duterte, the Philippine vice-president who has flown to the Hague to support her father, did not respond to requests for comment. The recent online onslaught is reminiscent of a well-organised social media campaign in 2016 that propelled Duterte into the presidency, analysts say. Critics at the time blamed pro-Duterte trolls and influencers for spreading falsehoods to discredit and threaten opponents. The 2016 campaign led to the Philippines being dubbed "patient zero" in the worldwide spread of online disinformation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kristina Conti, a human rights lawyer representing victims of the drug war, said such tactics increasingly aim to discredit families of those killed by labelling them as "fake" victims. "There's that real risk that Duterte supporters or Duterte's cohorts could go after these witnesses in hopes of hindering trial or ensuring his acquittal," Conti said. FAKE QUOTES, FICTIONAL LAWYERS Duterte, who led the Philippines from 2016 to 2022, is facing allegations of crimes against humanity for overseeing death squads in his anti-drugs crackdown. He could become the first Asian former head of state to go on trial in the Hague. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A study by the Stratbase ADR Institute, a Philippine think tank, found that around 51% of Filipinos strongly agreed that Duterte should be held accountable for the killings. But others have criticized the arrest and accused the government led by Ferdinand Marcos Jr. of betraying the country. The backlash has been fuelled by a "torrent of disinformation across social media", according to fact-checking coalition Tsek.ph, which described fabricated quote cards and videos and narratives that attempted to cast Duterte as a victim. The group identified at least 200 Facebook accounts and pages that posted identical messages, in close succession, before and after the arrest, claiming any legal move against him amounted to "kidnapping". Duterte's children, and lawyer used the phrase to denounce the arrest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Quote cards were circulated featuring fictional lawyers such as Elle Woods from Legally Blonde supposedly defending Duterte, and viral video clips falsely suggested Duterte supporters were gathering to protest. Other posts wrongly said U.S. President Donald Trump had threatened heavy tariffs on the Philippines unless Duterte was released. "Media literacy is still lacking, so many people are easily deceived," said Rachel Khan, professor of journalism at the University of the Philippines and project coordinator for Tsek.ph. Hundreds of paid advertisements supporting Duterte on Facebook have reached audiences of millions, according to the social media platform's ad library. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The ads included videos saying Duterte was "kidnapped", promotions for prayer rallies, and the sale of T-shirts bearing his image with the phrase "I did it for my country". Many ran without the disclaimer required for political advertising, according to the ad library. Paid ads are reviewed by Meta's "ad review system" before they go live but "both machines and human reviewers make mistakes". A spokesperson for the company said it takes "significant steps to fight the spread of misinformation" by removing content that violates its standards, curbing the distribution of stories that are flagged as false by independent fact checkers, and labelling content so users are informed about its accuracy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A spokesperson for TikTok said the platform did not allow "harmful misinformation" and has "taken down content that violates our Community Guidelines." LET TRUTH SPEAK The Philippine government is "making necessary actions to eradicate fake news," including holding discussions with social media platforms like Facebook, Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro told Reuters. Some human rights activists are trying to fight back on their own. Carlos Conde, a senior researcher at Human Rights Watch, who was targeted by Duterte supporters during the drug war and came under fresh attack after the arrest, said it was "like 2016 all over again". Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 59-year-old created a TikTok account where he posts short explainer videos about the arrest and the drug war, garnering tens of thousands of views. "I did that so I will not lose by default in this disinformation warfare," he said. Escudero said she fears the online abuse could lead to violence against her and avoids booking taxis under her real name, but insisted she would not back down from seeking justice. "This is the time to stand up against fake news... We will let the truth speak and be seen." (Reporting by Karen Lema, Poppy McPherson and Stephanie Van Den Berg; Editing by Saad Sayeed) ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) A Dyess Airman has been sentenced to serve 8 years in prison for a child sex crime. Eleno Silva III received his 8-year prison sentence Friday after pleading guilty to Sexual Assault of a Child. Abilene man Eleno Silva III has been charged with a child sex crime. Details about the allegations against Silva are limited, but police did confirm the investigation began when a juvenile of an undisclosed age made an outcry of sexual assault. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Following his arrest in April 2022, Dyess Air Force Base did confirm Silva was an active duty Airman and stated that, these are serious accusations, and not in line with US Air Force or Team Dyess standards. Dyess AFB will continue to cooperate with investigative authorities on this matter. Silva began serving his prison sentence and was confined immediately after court proceedings. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTAB - BigCountryHomepage.com. DIANA, Texas (KETK) An East Texas nonprofit was awarded over $35,000 to fund rider scholarships for people with special needs and veterans who participate in therapeutic horsemanship. The American Electric Power Foundation, at the request of Southwestern Electric Power Company (SWEPCO) awarded a grant of $38,500 to the Windridge Therapeutic Equestrian Center of East Texas to fund rider scholarships. East Texas woman creating a place for nonprofits to connect, flourish Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are thrilled to support Windridge in their endeavor to provide scholarships for individuals who have served our country and those with special needs, SWEPCO External Affairs Manager Mark Robinson said. This grant represents our commitment to enhancing community well-being and ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to experience the transformative power of horses. Photos courtesy of Southwestern Electric Power Company Windbridge was founded in 1988 by Margo Dewkett, an ex-racehorse jockey who started with only two horses and five clients. Along with the help of the East Texas community funding was provided and Windbridge became the first of its kind in Texas to design and build a facility specifically for therapeutic horsemanship. Windbridge has established itself as a leader in horsemanship education, building an equine treadmill and motion capture system into a research area in 2007. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This generous support from the AEP Foundation allows us to continue our mission of providing life-changing experiences through our equine assisted programs, Windridge Executive Director Celia Bower said. We are dedicated to creating an inclusive environment where everyone, regardless of their circumstances, can experience the healing power of horses. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. MOSCOW, March 31 (Xinhua) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin remained open to contacts with U.S. President Donald Trump, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Monday. A telephone conversation between Putin and Trump is not scheduled yet, Peskov said, adding that "such contacts can be agreed upon very quickly if necessary." He noted that Russia and the United States were working on implementing ideas related to the Ukrainian settlement, but there were no specifics yet. In a phone interview with NBC News on Sunday, Trump said he was "very angry" and "pissed off" when Putin criticized the credibility of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's leadership, adding that the comments were "not going in the right location." Trump said Putin knows he is angry, but he has "a very good relationship" with Putin and would speak to the Russian leader again. As the days get longer and British summertime begins, many households will be hoping for a reprieve from punishing winter energy bills. Despite the Ofgem energy price cap rising 6pc to 1,849 per year for a typical household on Tuesday, some may have hoped the rise would be temporary with warmer weather normally meaning prices would fall again from July. Yet now those forecasts look under strain, as threats from global energy markets roil Britains energy sector. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to analysts, the UK could be facing an unusual summertime surge in energy prices, as plummeting North Sea gas production combines with a surge in global competition for US gas imports. A forecast from ICIS (Independent Commodity Intelligence Services) has warned of global gas shortages through the summer potentially meaning higher prices. It suggests the UK remains a long way from fulfilling Energy Secretary Ed Milibands pre-election pledge to cut an average 300 from domestic energy bills. And the ICIS warning also highlights how rapidly the UK is becoming reliant on imports, importing two thirds of its needs last year a far cry from two decades ago when North Sea supplies made the nation self-sufficient. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Europe is heading into a pivotal summer 2025 for gas storage, with growing reliance on spot liquefied natural gas (LNG), particularly from the US ... with March imports nearing record levels, said an ICIS spokesman. Spot LNG refers to cargoes bought for delivery within 90 days as opposed to gas sold through long-term contracts. Prices for spot LNG are more volatile and ICIS predicts that Europes need to fill up stores depleted by a cold winter, plus surging demand from Asia, is going to drive up prices. The UKs reliance on spot LNG to fuel its energy needs is likely to further tip the balance of power towards America, an LNG superpower. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nearly half of the UKs imports came from Norway as piped gas, but the remaining 19bn cubic metres arrived as LNG about 12bn cubic metres of this came from America in 2023. That growing reliance on the US increasingly exposes the UK to the volatility not just of global markets, but also of Donald Trumps trade and tariff policies. The risk of leaning on Trumps America will be on full display on Wednesday April 2, which the US president has described as liberation day. It is when Trump has promised to put reciprocal tariffs on all global imports in a radical stepping up of his trade war. British officials are losing hope of securing exemptions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The UK is not alone. Across Western Europe and Asia, many more countries are adopting American LNG as a favoured fuel a trend so rapid that LNG now accounts for 10pc to 15pc of all the gas consumed worldwide. That trend is also enriching America. Last week, the US Energy Information Administration published new data showing the US exported 123bn cubic metres of gas as LNG last year more than any other country. How did the UK, where successive governments have prided themselves on leading the world in cutting emissions, make itself so dependent on such a volatile, expensive and polluting fuel? A historical reliance The UKs growing reliance on LNG can be traced back to February 1959 when British Gas, then in public ownership, had a US cargo ship adapted to become the worlds first LNG tanker. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Renamed the Methane Pioneer, it brought the worlds first seaborne cargo of LNG from Louisiana to the British Gas Councils Canvey Island Terminal showing that large quantities of LNG could be transported safely across the oceans. LNG has become a dominant fuel source owing to its efficiency for global transportation. LNG technologies cool methane or natural gas to extremely low temperatures of -162C. This turns the gas into a liquid with a six hundredth of the volume of natural gas. Once delivered, the LNG is regasified and injected into the natural gas transmission network for distribution to consumers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since the Methane Pioneers first voyage, LNG trade has grown on average at 11pc per year. In 1971, about 2.6m metric tonnes were traded, but by 2023 the figure was to 410m metric tonnes. That is growing fast. Shikha Chaturvedi, from investment bank JP Morgan, said global LNG supply capacity will increase by 54pc between now and 2030. A multibillion-dollar dependency Companies like Shell are investing billions of pounds on the back of such predictions. Last week, chief executive Wael Sawan, said that LNG would be key to the companys future and that it was amassing the largest LNG capacity among its peers, including one of the worlds largest LNG tanker fleets, about 10pc of global capacity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sawan says that shift to LNG will also be good for the environment cutting carbon emissions by replacing dirtier fuels, especially coal. Such claims are, however, rejected by the UKs own oil and gas producers. Offshore Energies UK (OEUK), the trade body for North Sea oil and gas operators, which counts Shell as a member but whose views on LNG differ radically from Sawans has warned the shift to LNG means more pollution and bigger bills for consumers. OEUK also says that American LNG is also far more polluting than any other source of gas, with a carbon footprint 10 times greater than gas imported from Norway. Some also say LNG is a far worse polluter even than coal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement LNG leaves a greenhouse gas footprint that is 33pc worse than coal, when processing and shipping are taken into account, concluded a study last October by Professor Robert Howarth, of Cornell University. The reason is that methane has a global warming impact 80 times greater than CO2 and during its production, compression, transport and gasification some of it always escapes. Gas-dependent Britains future So how did successive UK governments, which have all supported the 2008 Climate Change Act and its target of net zero by 2050, come to embrace such a polluting and expensive foreign fuel? The scale of UK dependence on gas is staggering. The UK consumes 65bn to 70bn cubic metres of gas a year or 1,100 cubic metres per person, equivalent to the volume of 14 double decker buses. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement About a third is used in the 25m domestic boilers that heat our homes. A similar amount goes for electricity generation with the rest used by business and industry. But our own supplies are falling, due to a mix of natural decline plus punitive taxes and political decisions that have sent North Sea investors fleeing. About 180 of the UKs 280 remaining gas and oil fields will shut by 2030. The Climate Change Committees balanced pathway to net zero assumes UK consumption will fall to 56bn cubic metres in 2030. Right now the UK is lagging on those targets, but even if we catch up, the UK will still be consuming about 20bn cubic metres in the net zero target year of 2050. Data from the North Sea Transition Authority suggests 19bn cubic metres will have to be imported. For a gas dependent Britain, it means the country will be reliant on LNG for decades to come and competing on a global market where demand is surging. Seb Kennedy, editor of the highly regarded Energy Flux newsletter covering LNG trading, warns that the UKs growing import reliance means a bonanza lasting decades for traders and escalating bills for consumers. LNG accounts for between 20pc and 40pc of UK natural gas demand, depending on market conditions. Rapid decline in North Sea production is exacerbating the UKs structural reliance on LNG to make up the shortfall. Traders always benefit no matter the market conditions and consumers are almost always on the losing end of the trade. For households praying for a break from high energy bills, thats a factor of the global energy markets they might have to get used to. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. A Boston judge on Monday dismissed the criminal case against a man who was detained mid-trial by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, finding a federal agent involved in the arrest in contempt of court over egregious conduct. Wilson Martell-Lebron appeared Thursday in Bostons Edward W. Brooke Courthouse for the first day of his trial on charges that he provided false information on a license application. Defense attorney Murat Erkan said plainclothes ICE agents detained Martell-Lebron as he left the court, placed him in an unmarked SUV, and drove away. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Video shared with Boston 25 News showed the moments after Martell-Lebron was taken into custody. On Monday, Boston Municipal Court Judge Mark Summerville accused ICE of obstructing justice. He also found that ICE agent Brian Sullivan conspired in a premeditated manner to take Martell-Lebron into custody and not return him to court. Summerville alleged that Sullivan intentionally and egregiously violated the rights of Martell-Lebron that are protected by the 6th and 14th amendments of the U.S. Constitution, finding him in contempt of court. I find that this court cannot trust ICE to return the defendant back to court. I dont find that theyre credible, Summerville said. I have no confidence in ICE, no matter what they told the Commonwealth, that they would ever bring this defendant into court. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In finding Sullivan in contempt of court, Summerville referred the matter to the Suffolk District Attorneys Office and left it up to the DAs office to determine whether Sullivan would face charges. Well see how serious the Suffolk County District Attorneys Office takes this egregious conduct, and what they do with it, and whether any investigation does go forward, and whether any prosecution goes forward, Summerville said. Its out of my hands now. Summerville also dismissed the case against Martell-Lebron, citing prosecutorial misconduct. I believe that this case is necessary to deter this type of misconduct in the future and to deter this type of misconduct from the Commonwealth team, the prosecution team, Summerville stated. I find that ICE Agent Brian Sullivan was a member of the prosecution team. In a statement, the DAs office said it was dismayed and surprised to learn of Martell-Lebrons detainment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We have been instrumental to Boston becoming one of the safest cities in the nation by pursuing ethical prosecutions that hold offenders accountable and treat victims with dignity, the DAs office said. We were dismayed and surprised when our prosecution of Wilson Martell-Lebron was interrupted by ICE apprehending him in the middle of our case. The DAs office said it contacted ICE as soon as it learned about Martell-Lebrons detention and filed a motion requesting that the court demand his appearance at trial. Any claim that we were aware of an attempt to prevent Mr. Martell Lebron from exercising his right to a trial is false. It was and still is our intention to try Mr. Martell-Lebron and hold him accountable for the crimes alleged in the complaint, the DAs office explained. Federal authorities should not have detained him and interfered with our efforts to hold him accountable. After Summervilles comments in court, James Borghesani of the Suffolk District Attorneys Office told reporters that prosecutors were unaware that ICE planned to arrest Martell-Lebron. Any accusation that we participated in any misconduct or any operation to remove the defendant is false and reckless, Borghesani said. Its a different world now with this extraordinary exposure with ICE. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Borghesani also confirmed that the DAs office would take Summervilles request to investigate agent Sullivan seriously. The Massachusetts State Police released the following statement about the detainment: Last week, two State Troopers testifying as part of their duties in a criminal trial in Boston Municipal Court became aware of federal officials intention to detain the defendant during the proceeding. As in any situation where a member becomes aware of federal immigration enforcement, the Troopers responded appropriately by neither assisting nor obstructing the federal action. Participating in such a mission or sharing information about it would be contrary to the Departments longstanding approach across several state and federal Administrations to these complex situations, which prohibits Troopers from participating in a mission solely to facilitate detention or deportation. Our focus remains on working collaboratively with our local, state, and federal partners to prevent, deter, and respond to violations of state criminal law for the safety of everyone who lives, works, studies, and visits Massachusetts. In a statement issued Tuesday morning, an ICE spokesperson confirmed the detainment of Martell-Lebron outside court and said that he is an illegally present Dominican national with prior drug trafficking convictions. The detainment of Martell-Lebron comes just days after six federal agents, with their faces covered, approached Tufts University graduate student Rumeysa Ozturk on a Somerville street, took her into custody, and rushed her to an ICE Processing Center in Basile, Louisiana. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) An elderly woman is dead after a fire broke out in a Mira Mesa home early Monday morning, according to San Diego Fire-Rescue. Crews first responded to the single-family house along Westonhill Drive just after 2:30 a.m. Heavy smoke and flames were found coming from the rear and roof after firefighters conducted a full inspection of the structure. As firefighters began their efforts to extinguish the fire, they learned from two occupants who were able to escape the home safely prior to crews arrival that the woman may be trapped inside, prompting a search and rescue effort. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sheriffs Homicide Unit probes toddlers death in Lakeside When she was found, the woman appeared to have died well before the fire department arrived, according to SDFD Battalion Chief Erik Windsor. Fire crews were able to knock down the fire within about 15 minutes and fully extinguished it shortly thereafter, per SDFD. Although the battalion chief noted the firefighting effort was slowed slightly due to considerable clutter throughout the home. Would not call it a hoarder house, but there was a lot of clutter inside and a lot of obstacles for our crews to get through, over and around, Windsor said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The cause and origin of the fire remains under investigation by SDFDs Metro Arson Strike Team. The estimated cost to damage and personal belongings is roughly $700,000, per SDFD spokesperson Monica Munoz. The two other occupants of the home were displaced and are being assisted by Red Cross. Fires like this are tragic, especially when there is a loss of life, Windsor said, adding it serves as a germane reminder to make sure all smoke detectors and fire alarms in ones home are in working order. Per Munoz, while the two other residents were able to escape after noticing smoke, there did not appear to be any sign of functioning smoke detectors in the home. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is important to make sure that we always have working smoke detectors and fire alarms to notify you if there is a fire in your home, Windsor continued. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Mar. 31The Ellen Noel Art Museum (ENAM) has named Nicole Herden as its next Executive Director, beginning April 14. Herden is an accomplished museum executive with over 20 years of experience in leadership, curatorial practice, and institutional transformation. "Nicole has a blend of skills in museum management, art scholarship, fundraising, and community building that are an excellent fit with our Museum," Karmen Bryant, ENAM Board President, said in a news release. "We are excited to welcome her to Odessa. Her leadership will help us move into our new facility and chart a course for the coming years." ENAM is currently constructing a new 36,000 square foot facility set to open in late 2025, which has been funded through a $20 million capital campaign. Bryant cited Herden's experience with large-scale museum construction projects and fundraising as important reasons for her hire. "She checked all the boxes for us," Bryant said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Herden most recently served as Executive Director of the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center at Colorado College, where she ran a multidisciplinary organization with an accredited art museum, theater, and art school. Her previous experience includes the Executive Director role at the Museum of Nebraska Art as well as curatorial and collections roles at Boise Art Museum, Phoenix Art Museum, and Arizona State University Art Museum. "I am thrilled to join Ellen Noel Art Museum at this pivotal moment in its history," Herden said in the release. "The new museum facility will be a beautiful and important addition to the cultural life of the Permian Basin, and I am delighted to bring my leadership to the effort." In addition to opening the new museum and launching new exhibitions in the galleries, Herden is charged with leading a strategic planning effort that focuses on new opportunities generated by the new facility, galvanizing community support, and leveraging the Museum's status as a Smithsonian Affiliate and accredited institution of the American Alliance of Museums to serve visitors and the community. Herden's hire culminated from a nationwide search that began last year conducted by Dan Yaeger, Senior Search Consultant for Museum Search & Reference, an executive placement firm specializing in the North American Museum field. ENAM's Search Committee included Ludie Warner, who served as committee chair, Board President Karmen Bryant, Paula Barnett, Marita Hendrick, Austin Keith, Bryan Murray, and Lissa Noel Wagner. Visit noelartmuseum.org for more information. GREEN BAY, Wis. (WFRV) With just days left before the Wisconsin Supreme Court election, billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk made his presence felt in Green Bay. His America PAC hosted a town hall in the city, throwing its support behind conservative candidate Brad Schimel in what has now become the most expensive judicial race in American history. 4-year-old hurt following a two-vehicle head-on crash in Fond du Lac County Record-Breaking Spending and National Spotlight The Wisconsin Supreme Court race has captured national attention, with fundraising and spending eclipsing all previous judicial elections in the United States. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hundreds of millions of dollars have been funneled into the race, as political groups from across the country look to influence the outcome of what could shape Wisconsins judicial landscape for years to come. Schimel, a former attorney general, acknowledged the unexpected intensity of the race. If you had told me even six months ago that this was going to be the biggest race in America in 2025, I wouldve gone, What? No. If you were going to tell me the kind of money we were going to eclipse, the huge money spent in 2023, I wouldnt have believed you. Here we are, Schimel said. Opposition Calls Out Musks Involvement Not everyone welcomes Musks influence in the race. Liberal candidate Susan Crawford condemned Musks involvement, accusing his PAC of attempting to sway the election with financial power. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Well, I think they are resorting to real desperate measures here, and I think thats because they know that the Brad Schimel campaign is floundering, Crawford said. They are going to resort to, I guess, bribery of voters to try and win this election. Protests erupted outside the town hall, with demonstrators voicing their frustration over Musks presence in Wisconsin politics. We are out here protesting the presence of Elon Musk in Wisconsin because we feel like he is trying to buy the Wisconsin Supreme Court election, said Milwaukee resident Sinceree Dixon. Dixon continued, Go home, go back to South Africa. Hes not even from the United States, and hes out here making decisions. Hes an unelected billionaire, and we dont want him in Wisconsin. Supporters Defend Musks Actions Despite the backlash, some voters see Musks endorsement as separate from Schimels long-running campaign. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His endorsement really has nothing to do with Brad Schimel, said Bill Grube of New Holstein. Brad Schimel has been running on his own for the past, how long? 17 months. So he just stepped in at the end here. So yeah, I support what hes doing. Police investigating shooting at Sheboygans End Park A Defining Moment in Wisconsins Judicial Politics As the final votes are cast, this race stands as one of the most polarizing and costly judicial elections in U.S. history. With high stakes on both sides, the outcome will likely reverberate far beyond Wisconsin, setting a precedent for future judicial races across the country. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton. Elon Musk is pouring money into key elections across the country in support of Republican and conservative candidates, while at the same time complaining about the influence of fellow billionaire George Soros. Musk and political action committees he funds have spent more than $20 million to help elect a conservative judge to the Wisconsin Supreme Court in a crucial contest on Tuesday that will decide the balance of a court that will rule on key issues in the battleground state. The worlds richest man is also spending tens of thousands to help two Florida Republicans in House special elections also taking place on Tuesday all of this after he donated more than $290 million to Republican candidates in the 2024 election cycle. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Speaking at a town hall event he organized in Green Bay on Sunday evening in support of the conservative candidate Brad Schimel, where he handed out $1 million checks to two Wisconsin voters who signed a petition, Musk revived a long-running and one-way feud with Soros after he was heckled by someone in the crowd. It was inevitable that at least a few Soros operatives would be in the audience...give my regards to George! Musk said in response to the hecklers, repeating a common conspiracy theory that Soros pays protesters. Musk has repeatedly attacked the 94-year-old philanthropist and Democratic donor over the years for his support of liberal causes, claiming that he fundamentally hates humanity and accusing his family of being puppeteers of elected Democratic officials for their contributions to the party. But Musks financial involvement in politics has now easily surpassed that of Soros. The Tesla CEO has taken on a role in American political life that arguably eclipses that of any billionaire in the modern era. Elon Musk tosses a cheesehead during a town hall Sunday, March 30, 2025, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps) Musk donated more than $291 million to Republican candidates in the 2024 election cycle , by far the highest single contributor. He also played a key role on the campaign trail in support of Donald Trump, appearing at his rallies and holding his own political events. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Following the election, Musk was appointed as a special adviser by President Trump, who gave him unprecedented access to government data to carry out his mission of cutting government spending in a manner that some judges have called unconstitutional. Musk now regularly appears at cabinet meetings and holds sway over government departments that regulate his businesses. Now, he is simultaneously using his immense wealth to tip elections in the Republican Partys favor. In addition to pumping millions into the Wisconsin race, Musks political action committee, America PAC, is donating to two GOP candidates running for Congress in Florida to help the Republican Party keep its slim majority in the House. Musks America PAC has donated $20,000 for texting services to boost Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis in the 1st Congressional District and state Senator Randy Fine in the 6th District, according to a report filed with the Federal Election Commission last week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Musks primary focus in recent weeks, however, has been Wisconsin. The Supreme Court race in the state has become the most expensive judicial election in American history. More than $90 million has already been spent on the race, according to the Brennan Center, and some expect the total amount to reach $100 million by election day on Tuesday. The election pits former Republican Attorney General Brad Schimel against Susan Crawford, a former prosecutor and current circuit court judge. George Soros, founder and chairman of the Open Society Foundations, attends the European Council on Foreign Relations Annual Council Meeting, May 29, 2018, in Paris. (AP/Francois Mori) Crawford has received support from billionaires of her own. George Soros has given a reported $2 million to the state Democratic Party, while Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, another billionaire, gave $1.5 million. She also received a large donation of $6 million from A Better Wisconsin Together Political Fund, a union-backed group. But Musk has earned attention for the scale and unusual methods of his financial support. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement America PAC and Building Americas Future, two political action committees funded largely by Musk, have disclosed some $17 million in spending as of March 25, in addition to $3 million Musk has personally donated to Wisconsins Republican Party this year. Common Cause, a non-partisan election integrity group, has repeatedly criticized Musks outsized role in the race. By pouring millions into this election, Musk has a chance to boost his business and expand his political power, shaping the courts and state governments to serve his own interests, at the expense of Wisconsinites and the American people at large, the group said . Musk did not respond to a request for comment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Open Society Foundations, the philanthropic network founded by Soros, said in a statement to The Independent that it does not pay protesters. We never, and will never, coordinate, train, or strategize with protest organizers or participants. In the final stretch of the election, Musk has gotten even more creative with his donations. His America PAC started offering $100 to any Wisconsin voter who signs a petition against so-called activist judges. At his town hall on Sunday evening, in a move he had publicized in the days prior, Musk handed out two $1 million checks to two Wisconsin voters who had signed the same petition. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In an ironic twist, the Wisconsin Supreme Court at the center of the election, which currently has a liberal majority, rejected an emergency motion to block the giveaways. Musks lawyers said the checks were "intended to generate a grassroots movement in opposition to activist judges, not to expressly advocate for or against any candidate." At the same event, Musk told attendees at his town hall that they could earn $20 by signing up at America PAC's website to be a block captain to help with canvassing for Judge Schimel. The election will decide the ideological makeup of a court that will decide on key issues such as redistricting, voting access, and abortion in the key swing state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Speaking on stage on Sunday evening, Musk who appeared earlier wearing a hat in the shape of a block of cheese in a nod to Wisconsins dairy industry said the stakes couldnt be higher. I think this will be important for the future of civilization. It's that significant, he said. GREEN BAY Billionaire Elon Musk capped off his push to get conservative Brad Schimel elected to the Wisconsin Supreme Court with a town hall in Green Bay Sunday night in which he handed out $2 million and said the state's election results would affect "the entire destiny of humanity." "The single biggest challenge, I think, is actually making people aware that there is this very important election for Judge Schimel and for deciding on adding voter ID to the Wisconsin constitution," Musk said as he took the stage at the KI Convention Center downtown about 7:40 p.m. On Sunday evening, Musk addressed a room filled to the point that a good number were standing in the back, with the crowd estimated at 2,000. In wide-ranging comments, he slammed Democrats and touched on immigration, artificial intelligence, voting and more. Billionaire Elon Musk wears a cheesehead as he takes the stage during a town hall on Sunday, March 30, 2025, at the KI Convention Center in Green Bay, Wis. Musk held the event to drive turnout for Tuesday's state Supreme Court election between Brad Schimel and Susan Crawford. More: All our reporting on the Wisconsin Supreme Court race between Susan Crawford, Brad Schimel Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Musk's comments came less than 48 hours before polls open on Election Day, when voters will choose between Schimel and liberal candidate Susan Crawford. While Schimel did not attend Musk's event, other high-profile Wisconsin Republicans including Sen. Ron Johnson and U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy took the stage ahead of the tech CEO and close ally of President Donald Trump. "If you all turn out on Tuesday with your friends, we are going to win Wisconsin and send a message to the radical left: Don't mess with Trump, don't mess with DOGE, don't mess with Elon and don't mess with Wisconsin," Duffy told those gathered, which included former Gov. Scott Walker and U.S. Rep. Tony Wied. United States Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy speaks during a town hall held by billionaire Elon Musk on Sunday, March 30, 2025, at the KI Convention Center in Green Bay, Wis. Musk held the event to drive turnout for TuesdayOs state Supreme Court election between Brad Schimel and Susan Crawford. Tork Mason/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin Musk and his groups have spent about $20 million backing Schimel in the nationally watched election for a seat on the high court. Voters on Tuesday will not only choose a candidate but also whether liberals retain control of the seven-member court or it flips back to a conservative majority. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a statement, Crawford's campaign spokesman Derrick Honeyman said Musk was in Wisconsin because he "knows Brad Schimel is for sale and is incapable of being the fair and impartial justice our state deserves." Musk also handed out two $1 million checks at the Sunday event, which was only open to those who had signed his petition opposing "activist judges." The checks, which went to people he identified as Nicholas Jacobs and Ekaterina Diestler, were meant to draw attention from "legacy media," he said. Musk's giveaway followed a weekend long legal scuffle over its legality, with Democratic Attorney General Josh Kaul filing a lawsuit to block the payments on Friday and the liberal-controlled state Supreme Court rejecting Kaul's request minutes before the event was set to begin. He also announced what he termed a "block captain" program in which Wisconsinites could earn $20 for each neighbor they recruit to pose for a photo while holding a specific picture of Schimel and giving a thumbs-up sign. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Musk has also invested time in the race, last weekend hosting Schimel in a half-hour discussion on the social media platform X, which Musk owns, and making the candidate's case on the X account of his super PAC, America PAC. And, Trump has joined him in recent weeks in advocating for Schimel's election, both on social media and in a live phone call with Schimel on Thursday. On Sunday evening, Trump took to X and his social media platform Truth Social to call Crawford a "disaster" and falsely claim Democrats have distanced themselves from her. He also again urged Wisconsinites to turn out for Schimel. "Brad Schimels Opponent, Susan Crawford, is a DISASTER! She is so Far Left that even her own Party, the Radical Democrats, dont want ANYTHING to do with her," Trump wrote. "Wisconsin Values are perfectly represented by Brad Schimel. He is Conservative, Strong and, above all, SANE. His Opponent is a Liberal Lunatic who will throw our Country, and the State of Wisconsin, into TOTAL CHAOS. Vote for Brad Schimel!" Musk supporters say they want 'transparency' Sunday night wasn't the first time seeing Musk speak for Aaron Smet, 29, of Green Bay. Smet has been a shareholder of Tesla stock since 2021 and has watched Musk give shareholder talks. He said that gives him a perspective of Musk that others miss, especially those who only know Musk in his political capacity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Once he entered the political realm, a whole new group of people were exposed to him," Smet said. "I think a lot of people just can't imagine a billionaire being altruistic and wanting to help or be a part of the government without some underlying intention to gain something from it." Smet said during Sunday's event he hoped Musk would provide more transparency on the work of the Department of Government Efficiency that he is heading under Trump and give his opinions on the state Supreme Court race. Transparency is also a top concern for Ramon Herrera of Green Bay, who said there needs to be more clarity on government spending. "It's gotta stop. The bureaucracy has just taken a lot from the average American person," Herrera said. "I've seen households that were awesome, 10-15 years later be just demolished because of bureaucracy and from us taking jobs somewhere else." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Americans have lost "working pride," Herrera said. He supports Musk and Trump, he said, because they are "doing what's right by the people." Hundreds of protesters gather outside Green Bay convention center While attendees were headed inside, hundreds of protesters gathered outside the convention center as attendees across the street filed inside. Holding large signs that together read, "WI NOT FOR SALE" and others that called Musk a "Nazi," the group stood in the cold rain to make their point. Protesters gather on Sunday, March 30, 2025, at the KI Convention Center in Green Bay, Wis. Musk held the event to drive turnout for Tuesdays state Supreme Court election between Brad Schimel and Susan Crawford. Tork Mason/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin Attendees chanted at protesters, Whos paying you? Protesters chanted back, USA! USA! Emily Rogers of De Pere came to protest with her husband, who was in a heated verbal exchange with Musk supporters across the street when she spoke with a reporter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "When I feel like Musk is tampering in our election, I couldn't just sit at home," she said. Musk Green Bay town hall follows legal scuffle over $2 million giveaway The event came after a dayslong back-and-forth over Musk's released, then deleted and reframed plans to give two Wisconsinites $1 million each at the event. In a since-deleted post on X, Musk said he would hold an event Sunday in Wisconsin and hand out $1 million checks to voters "in appreciation for you taking the time to vote." But after election experts and Democrats raised questions about whether the offer violated the state's election bribery laws, Musk deleted the post and in a new post said he would instead be handing over the checks to two people who would serve as spokespeople for his "Petition In Opposition To Activist Judges." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. Musk's announcement prompted Kaul's lawsuit, which made its way from circuit court to the appeals court to, finally, the Supreme Court. Molly Beck of the Journal Sentinel staff contributed to this story. Vivian Barrett is the public safety reporter for the Green Bay Press-Gazette. You can reach her at vmbarrett@greenbay.gannett.com or (920) 431-8314. Follow her on X, formerly Twitter, at @vivianbarrett_. Jesse Lin is a reporter covering the community of Green Bay and its surroundings, as well as politics in northeastern Wisconsin. Contact him at 920-834-4250 or jlin@gannett.com. Alison Dirr can be reached at adirr@jrn.com. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Musk says 'Destiny of humanity' rests on Wisconsin Supreme Court race YANGON, March 31 (Xinhua) -- The first batch of disaster-relief material provided by the Chinese government arrived here on Monday. The supplies were welcomed by Chinese Ambassador to Myanmar Ma Jia and Yangon Region Chief Minister U Soe Thein, among others. The supplies included 1,200 tents, 8,000 blankets and more than 40,000 first aid kits, Ma said, adding that more supplies were being prepared and will soon arrive in Myanmar. She noted that China is willing to assist in Myanmar's earthquake relief and post-disaster reconstruction, and wished the people of Myanmar an early victory over the disaster and reconstruction of their homeland. Thein said the supplies demonstrated a profound friendship of the Chinese government and people toward the Myanmar people. A Chinese rescue team arrived first after the earthquake, Thein said, noting that multiple Chinese teams were sent later. Expressing gratitude to China for its sincere help, Thein said the supplies would be sent to disaster-hit areas soon. GREEN BAY, Wis. Elon Musk, the worlds richest man, delivered $1 million checks to two of his supporters on Sunday evening at his town hall, saying the point of giving out these payments is to get attention. I should say that the reason for the checks is that its really just to get attention, he said. And somewhat inevitably, when I do these things, it causes the legacy media to kind of lose their minds. A $1 million check, for most people, would be a life-changing sum. For Musk, who is worth $343 billion, this sum is equivalent to the median earner in the United States throwing a quarter in a fountain. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is, of course, the same playbook Musk used to boost Donald Trump in the 2024 election. Sundays checks were for supporters he brought to a town hall in Green Bay to boost Republican Judge Schimel, in advance of Wisconsins state Supreme Court election on Tuesday. Musk spoke to a crowd of more than 1,000 people Sunday. The billionaire and his allies have poured $20 million into the state Supreme Court race via his Super PAC, America PAC a dark money group hes funded called Building Americas Future; and donations to the Republican Party of Wisconsin. They are boosting Judge Brad Schimel, who previously served as Wisconsins Republican attorney general. Musk, whos leading Trumps so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), headed onstage after a speech by his Trump administration colleague and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, who was previously a Wisconsin congressman. Duffys Department of Transportation regulates Musks electric vehicle company Tesla as well as his space company SpaceX. Wisconsins Republican senator, Ron Johnson, spoke too. People were only invited to attend if they had signed a petition from Musks America PAC, declaring their opposition to activist judges. Signing the petition qualified them for a $100 check. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When the event was initially announced, Musk posted on his social media platform X that he planned to personally hand over two checks for a million dollars each in appreciation for you taking the time to vote. That statement quickly drew a lawsuit from Wisconsins Democratic Attorney General Josh Kaul. Under Wisconsin law, election bribery is a felony, and people cannot offer anything of value to voters to induce them to vote in an election. Musk deleted and subsequently revised his offer, saying instead that he would hand over checks for a million dollars to 2 people to be spokesmen for the petition from America PAC. Judges have refused to step in to block the payments. A few hundred protesters picketed outside America PACs event Sunday afternoon. A group held a series of large canvas signs that together said: WI is not for sale. One held a sign designed as a TV-style check for Schimel. $23 million + counting, it said, which was signed by Musk, declaring: I bought Brad! One woman, Sandy, held a sign reading: X-LAX needed to eliminate Musk. She tells Rolling Stone she came out to protest Musk because hes in town and trying to buy votes. She adds, He has no business in Wisconsin trying to influence votes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hundreds of supporters waited outside in the cold, amid intermittent ice-cold rain, hours before the event was set to begin. One woman, Jen, says she came out to back Elon and President Trump and everything theyre doing. A man held a sign declaring, No child is trans, from the anti-LGBTQ+ group Gays Against Groomers. He declined to speak with Rolling Stone, suggesting his words would be twisted. Supporters cheered when a group of attendees drove up in a Tesla Cybertruck. One man who got out of the car posed for a picture in front of it. He subsequently told a friend it was his first time in a Cybertruck, and admitted he had trouble finding the exterior release to open the door, calling it weird. The reason Musk is so interested in the race is that a conservative win, which would flip control of the court, could very well help Republicans retain their gerrymandered congressional majority in Washington, D.C. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last year, the Wisconsin Supreme Court which liberals currently control 4-3 struck down the states legislative maps, which were so thoroughly gerrymandered that it was effectively impossible for Democrats to ever gain control of the state legislature. The court found many of the Republican-drawn district lines to be unconstitutional, so the map was redrawn. Musk said Sunday evening that the Wisconsin judicial election could be important not only for the country but the world, arguing that liberals on the court will gerrymander districts and deprive Wisconsin two House seats on the Republican side. He was interrupted several times by protesters inside the town hall. Both times, Musk suggested they were operatives funded by liberal mega-donor George Soros. The Trumpy crowd shouted down the protesters, chanting USA! USA! Democrats are hoping that the state Supreme Court race will become a referendum on Musk. Over the weekend, the Democratic National Committee ran ads in newspapers highlighting the straight-armed salute that Musk made at Trumps post-inauguration rally in January. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Elon Musk is trying to buy a Wisconsin Supreme Court seat for Brad Schimel, says the ad, which presents an image of Musk saluting behind a picture of Schimel. It adds: Wisconsin Is Not For Sale. 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. Despite SpaceX already being NASA's largest private contractor, Elon Musk is still hellbent on assuming control over the space agency. As the Wall Street Journal reports, the mercurial CEO is doing much in his power to push NASA to skip its planned journeys to the Moon and focus on Mars instead, highlighting his long-term ambitions of establishing a human presence there. Exerting his will at the agency could soon become even easier, with billionaire tech founder and deep-pocketed SpaceX space tourist Jared Isaacman expected to be sworn in as NASA administrator within the coming months. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Per the WSJ, Musk has reached out to Isaacman to reiterate his desire to work together to get humans to Mars. The space agency has already suffered greatly due to Musk's efforts to gut the federal government with the help of his so-called Department of Government Efficiency. NASA was hit with mass layoffs earlier this year, with affected workers given short notice and denied time-off awards. According to the WSJ's sources, the White House is still considering canceling NASA's Space Launch System (SLS), a behemoth rocket that's being designed to send astronauts to the Moon before the end of this decade. It would be a major change of course for the agency, as plans are already well underway. Just last week, the core stage of NASA's SLS rocket for its upcoming crewed Artemis II mission around the Moon was stacked with its solid rocket boosters, taking a major step towards its anticipated launch roughly a year from now. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Freeing up those funds to spend them on its efforts to return to Mars instead could raise plenty of eyebrows, given Musk's enormous conflict of interest. SpaceX officials have been informing people outside the company that the space agency's resources will be reallocated toward Mars efforts, the WSJ reports. That kind of reassignment could be of great benefit to Musk's company, which is already working on a large rocket designed for interplanetary travel called Starship. Musk's DOGE has also aimed at gutting the Federal Aviation Administration, which has been responsible for ensuring that Starship launches follow air safety laws. According to the WSJ, key SpaceX officials are already gaining power at the space agency. Longtime SpaceX executive Michael Altenhofen, who is close to Isaacman, was installed as a senior advisor in January. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But is NASA really ready to ditch plans that have been decades in the making? A spokeswoman didn't rule out the possibility that NASA is still committed to "return Americans to the lunar surface," in a statement to the WSJ. However, given Musk's animosity toward NASA's Artemis program, the country's upcoming return to the lunar surface could be on thin ice. "No, were going straight to Mars," Musk tweeted in January. "The Moon is a distraction." In a separate tweet a week earlier, Musk accused the space agency's Moon program of being "extremely inefficient as it is a jobs-maximizing program, not a results-maximizing program." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Musk has even called for the early abolishment of the International Space Station, which angered former astronauts. During his inaugural address, Trump also declared that his administration would be "launching American astronauts to plant the Stars and Stripes on the planet Mars," indicating he's very much aligned with Musk's vision. But pulling off an enormous U-turn this far into NASA's plans to return to the Moon could prove extremely expensive and a major setback. Besides, gutting the Artemis program will likely draw the ire of powerful bipartisan supporters in Congress. "Starship? I want success out of it," representative Brian Babin (R-TX) wrote in a February statement. "But for us to beat the Chinese... its going to have to be SLS that does it." More on NASA: NASA Disgusted by Elon Musk's Disrespect ROBIN LEGRAND/Getty Images This article was originally published by The 19th. Liberal Susan Crawford has won the race for a seat on the Wisconsin Supreme Court, an election in which the richest person in the world featured prominently and one that could determine the future of abortion in the state. Crawford defeated conservative candidate Brad Schimel, Decision Desk HQ projected, guaranteeing liberals will hold control of the highest court in a critical swing state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The result of Tuesdays election is a major victory for Democrats and a rebuke of billionaire Elon Musk, a key ally of President Donald Trump who poured millions into the state supporting Schimel. Stay up-to-date with the politics team. Sign up for the Teen Vogue Take Crawford, a Dane County Circuit Court judge, defeated Schimel, a Waukesha County Circuit Court judge, for a 10-year term, meaning that liberals will continue to hold a 4-3 majority on the high court, which is poised to decide important cases on abortion, labor rights and the states congressional maps. Supreme Court races in Wisconsin, while technically nonpartisan, have become increasingly political and have seen record amounts of outside spending as the U.S. Supreme Court has delegated hot-button issues like abortion to the states. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The candidates and outside groups spent nearly $100 million in Wisconsins Supreme Court race, setting a new record for the most expensive judicial race in American history. The Wisconsin race was viewed by both sides as an early referendum on Trumps second term and on Musk, who became a flashpoint in the race and a bogeyman for Crawford and Democrats, who accused him of trying to buy the Supreme Court seat. Musk, the public face of the federal job and spending cuts undertaken by the so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), has been vocally castigating the federal judges he believes are standing in his way and putting his personal wealth toward reshaping the balance of power in the states. Musks two affiliated political groups, Building Americas Future and America PAC, spent over $20 million supporting Schimel. Musks groups also paid voters $100 for signing petitions opposing activist judges, reprising a tactic he deployed in the 2024 presidential election. Two voters won $1 million and were named spokespeople of Musks America PAC. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its really disappointing to see that, and it is really making people mad, Crawford told The 19th at a campaign stop March 22. And so I think what were seeing a lot of at these appearances is a reaction to people not wanting to have some outsider billionaire like that come in and try to buy a seat on the Supreme Court. Spring judicial elections in Wisconsin are typically lower in turnout and draw the highest-engaged, most frequent voters, a segment of the electorate that, in recent years, has skewed increasingly Democratic. Also on Tuesday, Florida held special elections for two deep-red congressional districts vacated by former Reps. Matt Gaetz and Michael Waltz, who is serving as national security adviser in Trumps administration. In Floridas 6th District, Republican Randy Fine defeated Democrat Josh Weil whose campaign drew nationwide attention and eye-popping fundraising numbers by 14 points in a district that Trump and Waltz carried by over 30 in 2024. In Floridas 1st District, Republican Jimmy Patronis defeated his Democratic opponent by 15 points in a district Gaetz carried by 32. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Both parties viewed the Wisconsin election as a critical bellwether for statewide elections in New Jersey and Virginia in November and the 2026 midterms. The result in Wisconsin comes on the heels of Democratic overperformances in state legislative special elections, including flipping a deep-red state Senate in Pennsylvania last week. Originally Appeared on Teen Vogue Want more U.S. government coverage? Tech billionaire Elon Musk on Sunday complained about fellow billionaire George Soros supposedly sending operatives to an event in Wisconsin where Musk was paying people to help sway this weeks state Supreme Court election. Musk handed out two $1 million checks to voters in support of conservative candidate Brad Schimel in a race that will determine the ideological balance of the states highest court. At one point, a heckler interrupted Musk. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He blamed Soros. It was inevitable at least a few Soros operatives would be in the audience, he said and then giggled. Give my regards to George. Say hi to George for me. Soros is a billionaire backer of progressive causes and the object of right-wing conspiracy theories. Conservatives claim he tries to buy elections with his contributions, among other things. But critics said thats exactly what Musk has been doing, and very directly with gimmicks such as the $1 million checks. The Daily Show even recently shared a segment in which right-wingers complained about Soros but tweaked the video to make it seem like they were talking about Musk: Conservatives warning about George Soros but make the footage Elon Musk pic.twitter.com/0Um3rYgiXr The Daily Show (@TheDailyShow) March 11, 2025 Musk spent $291 million during the 2024 election cycle, most notably to help President Donald Trump, according to OpenSecrets.org. A Soros-funded PAC spent $60 million in 2024. In addition, much of the $179 million Soros donated during the 2022 cycle was not used until 2024, the website said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In this years Wisconsin race, Musk has contributed $19.3 million to Schimel, nearly 10 times the $2 million that Soros has given to help Schimels opponent, Susan Crawford, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Musks critics were quick to point out that hes doing what Soros is accused of and they did it on X, Musks own social media platform that was formerly known as Twitter: Every accusation is a confession. https://t.co/wplZq4CN9i Mehdi Hasan (@mehdirhasan) March 31, 2025 Pretending like they are paid Soros operatives while you are LITERALLY THERE TO BRIBE PEOPLE TO VOTE! https://t.co/Lo98XvFHFG Krystal Ball (@krystalball) March 31, 2025 Does Elon know hes actually doing everything he accuses George Soros of doing? https://t.co/L8ZFIMKpEp celia (@_celia_bedelia_) March 31, 2025 Sorry-- is Elon Musk attacking George Soros... while he's literally buying an election in Wisconsin... the exact thing that Republicans baselessly claim that George Soros does? https://t.co/fKTAFJ9Chz Brian Tyler Cohen (@briantylercohen) March 31, 2025 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He says George soros this and that while literally paying people to do stuff for him including voting and showing up to events (evidence is his own tweets) The craziest timeline I swear to god https://t.co/jBDWVAXuFz Frank Leon (@GPWFrank) March 31, 2025 The irony of calling someone a "Soros operative" when you are literally paying people to attend an election rally and directly bankrolls the president. Trump is a Elon operative. https://t.co/buaKHSASHz Justin Morris (@tchsmorris) March 31, 2025 Anyone Who Doesnt Like Me Works for George Soros: An Airhead Rightwingers Guide to Political Debate https://t.co/ivuIFwWBtG hannah gais (@hannahgais) March 31, 2025 He literally dangled a $2 Million Dollars check for this crowd to show up! No Kings Here (@Stop_Project25) March 31, 2025 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement you have to be an insane, INSANE narcissist and sociopath to think anyone that doesn't like you is being paid or is part of the deep state https://t.co/Q3mrhd0t5x Swept McHot (@SweepsMcCool) March 31, 2025 Is this before or after he gave people in the audience a million dollars? https://t.co/B67fOBpJ9K The okayest poster there is (@ok_post_guy) March 31, 2025 he is speaking at a rally for an election that *he* is trying to buy, like there's levels to this bullshit https://t.co/eMHpEm9mA3 Kylie Cheung (@kylietcheung) March 31, 2025 Says the awkward weirdo who is trying to buy votes. You dont have to pay people to hate you, it just comes naturally. Get out of our elections. https://t.co/GmVYHLrmUc so (@RoseSee) March 31, 2025 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has activated the State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) due to ice storms in northern lower Michigan. The Michigan State Police reports the SEOC was activated at noon on Sunday, March 30. (Michigan State Police) (Michigan State Police) The SEOC is working with state and local officials as well as private sector partners to make sure people in need of help are assisted. The storm caused trees and power lines to fall throughout the region, leaving many people without power. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officials are asking residents in the area to avoid travel if possible. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WLNS 6 News. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's Public Investigator team chases tips, finds answers, and gets results. No story is too big or too small. Got a tip or a question? Email publicinvestigator@jrn.com. Sharon Saxelby is conservative in how she uses her electricity. She's retired and on a fixed income. So when she got a We Energies bill for $926 in January, she couldn't believe her eyes. Saxelby said she called We Energies three times, spending about an hour on each call, to understand what happened and was told she owed nearly $700 in backpay due to a "bill irregularity." Unsatisfied with the explanation, she contacted Public Investigator for help. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They expect me to just accept it because they say so, Saxelby said. Public Investigator got in touch with Alison Trouy, a spokesperson for We Energies. She said We Energies discovered in December that the "wrong meter" was installed for Saxelby's Brookfield condo. That meter had recorded just 75% of the electricity used for "the last few years," according to Trouy. Now, We Energies is demanding Saxelby pay for the additional electricity she used over the past two years, because, as We Energies sees it, the law requires it. "The Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSCW) requires that we bill all customers for the full amount of electricity they use," Trouy said. "In a situation like this one, the PSCW mandates that we back bill customers for 24 months. When a customer is back billed, they are charged for the energy they used no more, no less." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Public Service Commission of Wisconsin clarified that it is state statute, not the commission, that requires utilities "to bill customers for the full amount of electricity they use," according to spokesperson Meghan Sovey-Lashua. Although Saxelby owns her condo, she doesn't own or control the electricity meter. Given that, Saxelby says it's unfair for her to pay for We Energies' mistake. On average, her monthly bill is around $200 for her two-bed, two-bath condo. "I just don't understand why it falls on the owner and not who was responsible for the meter in the first place," Saxelby said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More: Here's what to know about We Energies electric rate increases How did We Energies determine Saxelby was under-billed? After Public Investigator reached out to We Energies, the company gave Saxelby a "very thorough explanation of charges," she said. The company shared a spreadsheet explaining the total cost of her under-billed kilowatts from the end of December 2022 to December 2024, according to an email Saxelby shared with Public Investigator. The company determined Saxelby was not charged for 3,875 kilowatts of electricity during that timeframe, according to the spreadsheet. We Energies blamed the meter malfunction on an electrician hired by the company, according to the email exchange. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We recently discovered an issue with certain electric meters and how they recorded usage in the meter socket," a We Energies consultant told Saxelby. "Many of these we found were a result of the electrician (not We Energies) wiring the meter socket (customer owned equipment) differently than expected. Due to this, the electric meter only registered approximately 75% of usage and you were under-billed by approximately 25%." We Energies owns and maintains the electricity meter, confirmed Sovey-Lashua, spokesperson for Public Service Commission of Wisconsin. The company compared Saxelby's usage to correctly installed meters to "calculate an estimate of her actual usage," said Trouy, the We Energies spokesperson. "To account for any margin of error, we are using conservative estimates to determine the under billing amount," Trouy said in an email to Public Investigator. "This approach has been reviewed and approved by regulators." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As a result of the discovery, the utility replaced Saxelby's meter and a few others in the Brookfield area, Trouy said. Is it legal for a utility company to charge customers for its mistake? Since 1923, state law has required utility companies to charge customers no more and no less than what they used. Public utilities that violate this law "shall be deemed guilty of unjust discrimination" and can be fined, state statute says. Wisconsin law also allows utility companies to back bill but placed limits on the practice in 1977 due to a situation much like Saxelby's. In the '70s, a constituent of former state Rep. Michael Kirby (D-Waukesha) was back-billed due to a utility company's error, according to documents shared by the Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Norman Clapp, the then-chairman of the Public Service Commission, told Kirby the situation "raised some serious questions of equity." Clapp advised lawmakers limit back billing to one year, according to a letter Clapp sent Kirby in 1976. Lawmakers ultimately chose the two-year limit. Situations like Saxelby's are "rare," Trouy said. "Our customers should know this is a very rare case, and the overwhelming majority of our 2.2 million meters work exactly as they should," Trouy said. More: We Energies wants a new power plant in Oak Creek. The public weighs in at hearing How can customers avoid this situation? So how can customers in Saxelby's shoes avoid being blindsided by backpay for faulty meters? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One solution could be to contact the utility company on an annual basis or soon after moving in to ask them to check if the meter is functioning properly. We Energies says customers can call the company to verify that their meter is tracking their electricity. If consumers are unable to resolve a dispute with a utility company, they can also file a complaint with the Public Service Commission. Saxelby reached out to the commission but said she has not heard back. She said We Energies told her she got "a deal" because she'd lived in her condo for the past five years but is being back-billed for only the past two years due to state law. However, Saxelby feels the faulty meter wasn't an error for her to correct. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She made an agreement to pay We Energies an extra $50 per month for the next 15 months. I'm just squeezing my budget," Saxelby said. "I'm just squeezing it tighter than it's already squeezed. About Public Investigator Government corruption. Corporate wrongdoing. Consumer complaints. Medical scams. Public Investigator is an initiative of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and its sister newsrooms across Wisconsin. Our team wants to hear your tips, chase the leads and uncover the truth. We'll investigate anywhere in Wisconsin. Send your tips to publicinvestigator@jrn.com or call 414-319-9061. You can also submit tips at jsonline.com/tips. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: We Energies didn't fix the meter. Now it's demanding nearly $700 in backpay ENFIELD, Conn. (WTNH) Police are searching for suspects accused of stealing from Kohls in Enfield. The theft occurred on Thursday at the Kohls on Elm Street. One woman hospitalized after alleged stabbing at Westfarms Mall Additional information was not immediately available. Anyone with information is asked to contact Officer Miller at nmiller@enfield.org or at 860-763-6400 extension 1466. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. On March 6, at the start of the still-simmering trade war between the U.S. and Canada, hydropower generator HydroQuebec quietly stopped exporting electricity to New England. At a time of year when Canadian hydropower typically supplies up to a tenth of New Englands power, the region has instead gone almost a month with virtually no cross-border flow of electrons. HydroQuebec leaders say low prices in the New England market not politics are behind the decision to suspend sales. The disruption hasnt affected power costs or reliability in the region yet, but some experts say it could if the cutoff extends into the summer cooling season. The situation also highlights a potential risk to state clean energy plans that count on Canadian hydropower to help offset fossil fuels. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This shows the potential for the region to be vulnerable to manipulations of the supply, said Phelps Turner, director of clean grid for the Conservation Law Foundation. HydroQuebecs main transmission line into New England, known as the Phase II line, stopped exporting any meaningful amount of power two days after President Donald Trumps tariff on Canadian imports went into effect. Last March, by comparison, anywhere from a few hundred megawatts to more than 1,200 MW flowed along the line at any given time, making up between 5% and 10% of the regions electricity use on average, Turner estimated. The longer that New England needs to replace the absent hydropower, the more often it will call on natural gas or oil power plants to fill the gap with dirtier and more expensive electricity, particularly as demand increases in the summer and again next winter. Electrically, this is pretty much the most boring time of year, and certainly a much easier time of year to have a source go away or be on pause here, said Dan Dolan, president of the New England Power Generators Association. There is going to be both a cost and environmental consequence if we see this be a really durable situation. The future of Canadian energy in New England In an email from a company spokesperson, HydroQuebec attributed its lack of exports to market conditions, saying milder spring weather has lowered demand and thus prices. Others have theorized the move is also a show of power aimed at the Trump administration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement HydroQuebec has been sending signals for a while that it might be moving away from delivering power to New England at its historic levels. Last year, 5,560 gigawatt-hours of power traveled into the region over the Phase II line, less than half the amount exported in 2022. And in the last two forward capacity auctions run by grid operator ISO New England, HydroQuebec did not take on any obligation to provide power for 20 of the 24 months covered. This pullback is likely due, at least in part, to ongoing abnormally dry and drought conditions in much of Quebec, which mean less water flow to power the companys generators. Hydro-Quebec, therefore, faces choices about what to do with the power it can generate, whether that means holding out for higher prices on the New England market or selling it domestically to meet the provinces own growing demand as it too electrifies in pursuit of climate goals. Hydro-Quebec is proactively managing its energy reserves in the context of low runoff and, as such, will continue to limit its exports as it did in 2024, said company spokesperson Lynn St-Laurent. The lack of exports from Hydro-Quebec coupled with the specter of fluctuating tariffs and counter-tariffs brings into focus the need for the New England grid to develop more stateside power resources and expand the infrastructure required to get energy where its needed, experts said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were going to need all the supply we can find, and part of that is going to come from Canadian hydro, said Jeremy McDiarmid, managing director and general counsel at clean energy industry association Advanced Energy United. We also need to be building things: We need to build transmission lines. We need to build new generation. Some are also concerned that ISO New England is not properly accounting for the declines in Canadian hydro supply. The grid operators planning process still uses the assumption that neighboring regions mostly Quebec, Dolan said will be willing and able to send 2,000 MW into New England at moments of exceptionally high demand, an expectation Dolan said doesnt strike me as responsible or appropriate reliability planning, given the trend in the Canadian firms exports. The situation has also raised questions about the New England Clean Energy Connect transmission line, a 145-mile project designed to import 1,200 MW of Hydro-Quebec power into New England as part of a 20-year power purchase agreement with Massachusetts utilities. The line is expected to be operational starting in 2026, and a Hydro-Quebec spokesperson said the company plans to deliver the power promised. Recent circumstances, however, have those in the industry combing over the contracts to determine how solid Hydro-Quebecs commitment to deliver that power actually is and how tariffs might affect the terms of the deal. One promising sign, they said: The company is still sending electricity into the U.S. over a second, smaller transmission line that ends in Vermont, which has an agreement to buy power from Hydro-Quebec until 2038. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That does seem to suggest that [Hydro-Quebec] is performing under existing contracts, Turner said. But every contract in every situation is different. In the meantime, the region will just have to wait and see what Hydro-Quebec does next, without much information to go on. It's hard to say what's motivating the decision to cut power flow, Turner said. We just know it's happening, but we don't know why it's happening. Virginia Giuffre, with a photo of herself as a teen, when she says she was trafficked by Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. - Credit: TNS Virginia Giuffre, the woman who stood up for victims of the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein when she accused him of trafficking her as a teenager, wrote in an Instagram post on Sunday that she had been hospitalized after a traffic accident and was in critical condition. This year has been the worst start to a new year, but I wont bore anyone with the details but I think it important to note that when a school bus driver comes at you driving 110km [approximately 70 mph] as we were slowing for a turn that no matter what your car is made of it might as well be a tin can, Giuffre wrote in a caption on a photo that showed her in a hospital bed, her face badly bruised. Ive gone into kidney renal failure, theyve given me four days to live, transferring me to a specialist hospital in urology. Giuffre who lives in Australia, where she has citizenship added that she was ready to go, except for wanting to see her three children one last time. Thank you all for being the wonderful people of the world and for being a great part of my life, she told her followers. More from Rolling Stone Giuffres representative has told the media that shes been in a serious accident and is receiving medical care in the hospital, noting that she greatly appreciates the support and well wishes people are sending. When reached by Rolling Stone, the representative declined to comment further. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police later confirmed that a bus had crashed into a car in a rural area outside of Perth in Western Australia on the afternoon of March 24, but a law enforcement spokesperson said that there were no reported injuries as a result of the crash, which had been reported by the school bus driver the following day, according to The New York Post. In a follow-up statement shared with Rolling Stone, Giuffres rep explains that the police were never on the scene of the crash, as no one was available when they received the emergency call. Instead, the police recommended that anyone hurt go directly to a hospital. The bus driver left to return their distraught young passengers to their homes, she says, while Giuffre, banged up and bruised, also made her way home. There, her conditioned worsened, and she was eventually admitted to the hospital. Concerning her Instagram post, Virginia thought that she had posted on her private Facebook page, says Giuffres representative. She remains in serious condition while receiving medical care, the rep confirms, adding that she and her family thank everyone for their concern. Giuffre, 41, nee Virginia Roberts, has alleged that she was brought into Epsteins orbit by his now-convicted sex trafficker associate Ghislaine Maxwell in 2000, when she was 16, with the pair grooming her to provide sexual services to Epstein. At that point, she had already experienced the trauma of sexual assault, become a child runaway, and suffered abuse at the hands of Miami sex trafficker Ron Eppinger, who pleaded guilty in 2001 to smuggling women from Europe for prostitution. Giuffre has said she spent two and a half years providing massages and sexual services to Epstein and his business associates, traveling between his properties in Florida, New York, New Mexico, and his private island in the Caribbean, Little Saint James. She said she only escaped this world when she met her soon-to-be-husband, the martial arts trainer Robert Giuffre, on a trip to Thailand to receive massage training and, she alleges, to fetch a Thai girl for Maxwell and Epstein. Instead she started a family with Giuffre in Australia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the following years, Giuffre was contacted by U.S. authorities investigating Epstein, and in 2007, the FBI called to say she had been identified as one of his victims in the first criminal case against the wealthy, well-connected financier. Around the same time, Epstein and Maxwell both called her to ask if she was speaking with law enforcement, she told The Miami Herald. While initially reluctant to speak to the FBI, Giuffre would go on to be the most prominent whistleblower in the Epstein saga, filing successful suits against him and Maxwell, describing her experiences to reporters, and claiming in depositions that she had been trafficked to famous and powerful men including former Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell and Prince Andrew. (Both have denied these allegations.) It was revealed in 2022 that she received $500,000 from Epstein in the settlement agreement that ended her 2009 lawsuit against him. The Maxwell suit was settled for an undisclosed amount. In 2015, Giuffre founded Victims Refuse Silence, since rebranded as Speak Out, Act, Reclaim (SOAR), a nonprofit advocacy group for survivors of sex trafficking. Following Epsteins 2019 death in a Manhattan jail cell while awaiting trial on federal charges of trafficking minors, she gave an interview to the BBC in which she claimed she had been trafficked to Prince Andrew and raped by the royal on three occasions, echoing allegations she had first made in a 2014 Florida court filing. She later sued the Duke of York for sexual assault, with Prince Andrew settling the case out of court in 2022, before he would have been forced to give a sworn deposition, for an amount that Giuffres attorney, David Boies, called substantial. Andrew also pledged a donation to Giuffres charity but did not admit to any of her claims, and the exact terms of the agreement are unknown. Observers on social media reacted to the news of Giuffres injuries with disbelief, calling the car wreck a tragedy. Its a damn shame that she is going to die without ever getting justice, wrote one user on X. She deserved much better, and America has failed her. But others were quick to imply that the collision was no accident, rather part of an ongoing cover-up in a wide-ranging case that has long been fodder for conspiracy theorists and spreaders of misinformation. There is, at present, no evidence to suggest a premeditated attempt on Giuffres life. The public remains hungry for answers about Epsteins sex trafficking circle, of which Giuffres accounts are perhaps the most detailed and harrowing on the record. In February, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi attempted to showcase the transparency of the Trump administration by distributing binders of supposedly revealing Epstein documents to a collection of MAGA influencers. The stunt backfired when it emerged that there was nothing newly disclosed in this collection, labeled The Epstein Files: Phase One. Bondi has made no mention of a Phase Two in the month since. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Update April 1, 1:21 p.m. ET: This story has been updated to include further comments from Giuffres representative in response to a police statement. Best of Rolling Stone Sign up for RollingStone's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Members of the Chinese Red Cross International Emergency Response Team work in Mandalay, Myanmar, March 31, 2025. (Chinese Red Cross International Emergency Response Team/Handout via Xinhua) MANDALAY, Myanmar, March 31 (Xinhua) -- A 15-member group of the Chinese Red Cross International Emergency Response Team arrived in Mandalay, Myanmar, early Monday. The rescue team was organized under the coordination of China's Ministry of Emergency Management and the Red Cross Society of China. The team will carry out earthquake relief efforts in the quake-struck Mandalay, including structure demolition, search and rescue operations, medical transport, healthcare assistance, and psychological counseling service. Mandalay, the second-largest city in Myanmar, was hard hit by a 7.9-magnitude earthquake that jolted the Southeast Asian country Friday. Members of the Chinese Red Cross International Emergency Response Team work in Mandalay, Myanmar, March 31, 2025. (Chinese Red Cross International Emergency Response Team/Handout via Xinhua) Members of the Chinese Red Cross International Emergency Response Team conduct rescue efforts in Mandalay, Myanmar, March 31, 2025. (Photo by Myo Kyaw Soe/Xinhua) Members of the Chinese Red Cross International Emergency Response Team conduct rescue efforts in Mandalay, Myanmar, March 31, 2025. (Photo by Myo Kyaw Soe/Xinhua) Members of the Chinese Red Cross International Emergency Response Team conduct rescue efforts in Mandalay, Myanmar, March 31, 2025. (Photo by Myo Kyaw Soe/Xinhua) New York City Mayor Eric Adams asked a federal judge on Monday to drop criminal corruption charges before a political deadline this week -- trying to speed up a decision by the judge in the case. The mayor wants the case dropped before petitions to get on the June primary ballot are due on April 3, according to his lawyer. Now, with the petition-filing deadline just days away, we respectfully urge the Court to issue its decision as soon as possible, the mayors attorney, Alex Spiro, said in a letter to Judge Dale Ho. PHOTO: New York City Mayor Eric Adams speaks during a press conference at City Hall in Manhattan in New York City, March 24, 2025. (Jeenah Moon/Reuters, FILE) The Justice Department has asked the judge to dismiss the charges without prejudice to free Adams to cooperate with President Donald Trumps immigration agenda. Without prejudice means the charges could resurface. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ho accepted a legal brief urging him to dismiss the case with prejudice, meaning it could not be revived, eliminating an incentive for the mayor to bow to administration demands. Adams pleaded not guilty in federal court last September to charges related to an alleged conspiracy with Turkish nationals that landed him lavish gifts in exchange for beneficial treatment. MORE: Trump's lawyer may have known more about Eric Adams' criminal case Trump's Justice Department asked in February to dismiss the charges, a move that caused several prosecutors to step down in protest, including the Trump-appointed interim U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Danielle Sassoon, who alleged a quid pro quo. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It is a breathtaking and dangerous precedent to reward Adams's opportunistic and shifting commitments on immigration and other policy matters with dismissal of a criminal indictment," Sassoon wrote at the time. "Nor will a court likely find that such an improper exchange is consistent with the public interest." Eric Adams pushes judge to dismiss charges before ballot deadline originally appeared on abcnews.go.com NEW YORK With days left before a critical campaign deadline, New York City Mayor Eric Adams is urging a federal judge to toss his five-court bribery case so he can run unencumbered. His criminal defense attorney, Alex Spiro, penned a letter Monday to Judge Dale Ho saying Adams wants to proceed with his reelection bid without the criminal case hanging over his head. With the petition-filing deadline just days away, we respectfully urge the Court to issue its decision as soon as practicable, Spiro wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He followed up with a timeline of the highlights of Adams case, which culminated Sept. 26 with a federal indictment to which he pleaded not guilty. At issue is an April 3 deadline for candidates competing in the June 24 mayoral primaries to submit at least 3,750 signatures to the New York City Board of Elections. While Adams has shown few outward signs of operating a functioning campaign, he has said he is collecting requisite petitions. Adams' chances appear to be in serious doubt, as he trails former Gov. Andrew Cuomo in the polls, has a 20 percent approval rating and was denied public matching funds of more than $4 million. Contributing to his popularity slump is his relationship with President Donald Trump, whose Department of Justice moved to dismiss the mayors case in February, following months of overtures from Adams and his team. The interim prosecutor on the case, Danielle Sassoon, resigned in protest of what she called a quid pro quo over Adams support for Trumps deportation agenda. Spiro has denied there was any deal between the mayor and the White House. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ho, who must sign off on the decision to drop the charges, brought in outside counsel last month to advise him on his options. That attorney, Paul Clement, suggested that Ho permanently nix the case a deviation from the Trump administrations desire to toss the charges only temporarily, with an option to relitigate after the mayoral election in November. With three weeks passing since Clements submission, Spiro cited the courts own logic of wanting to avoid any adverse electoral impacts in his plea for action. Its not in anyones interest here for this to drag on, Spiro quoted Ho as saying. Adams has suggested voters will be sympathetic to his cause once the charges are tossed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our entire success in the city has been overshadowed by not only having over 230,000 migrants and asylum-seekers that were sent to our city, but also those bogus charges that my attorney has fought and even the current Department of Justice has pointed out how problematic they are, he said during a radio interview Sunday evening. Voters might not be so easily swayed: Trump lost New York City by 38 points last year, and is particularly unpopular among Democrats. The European Union's foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, is calling on US President Donald Trump to exert greater influence on Russian President Vladimir Putin. "I think the United States also has the role to put more pressure on Russia to stop this war," the former prime minister of Estonia said at a meeting with European foreign ministers in Madrid. Russia must agree to a ceasefire in the war in Ukraine and take a step forward, she said. This could, for example, consist of returning deported Ukrainian children or releasing prisoners of war. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In addition to Kallas, the foreign ministers from Poland, France and Spain, as well as EU Defence Commissioner Andrius Kubilius, participated in the discussions on the ongoing Russian war against Ukraine. A joint declaration was planned at the conclusion of the meeting, which was also expected to address the current efforts by Trump to secure a ceasefire. Kubilius called for the immediate implementation of the rearmament strategy recently presented by the European Commission at the meeting. He warned that merely reading this out to Putin would not deter him. Kaja Kallas, European Union's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, has called on Russia to make a gesture of goodwill and cease fire in Ukraine. Source: Kallas before a Weimar+ format meeting of European foreign ministers in Madrid, Reuters reports, as cited by European Pravda Details: Kallas said that "giving back Ukrainian children that have been deported to Russia" and "releasing prisoners of war" are examples of gestures that Russia could make to demonstrate goodwill. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She also called on the US to put pressure on the Kremlin to end the war. Background: On 31 March, during the fourth meeting of the Weimar+ support group for Ukraine, the foreign ministers of France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Poland and the UK, along with Kallas and European Commissioner for Defence Andrius Kubilius, will discuss increasing military aid and security guarantees for Ukraine, as well as Europe's future role in the peace process. The Madrid meeting is taking place ahead of an informal summit of EU defence ministers in Warsaw, which will primarily assess the EUs real capacity to increase military support for Ukraine particularly the urgent provision of ammunition to the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! By David Latona MADRID (Reuters) -The foreign ministers of Ukraine's main European allies said on Monday they would redouble their aid to the country while considering new sanctions on Russia to force it to accept a ceasefire. In a joint declaration after a meeting in Madrid, the top diplomats representing Spain, Germany, France, Italy, Britain and Poland - as well as European Commission Vice President Kaja Kallas - called on Russia to agree to an "immediate and unconditional ceasefire on equal terms and with full implementation". Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They said they were ready to exert further pressure on Moscow, including through the adoption of new sanctions, to ensure Kyiv was in the "best possible position to secure a just and lasting peace". The countries also said they would increase military, political and humanitarian funding for Ukraine's war effort, without providing further details. Any peace deal should be backed by credible security guarantees for Ukraine, they said, adding: "We stand ready to play a leading role in this regard." The countries said they would not accept any agreement restricting Ukraine's defence industry or the military presence of partner countries on Ukrainian soil. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The meeting of the so-called G5+ or Weimar+ Group was held on the third anniversary of the recapture of Ukraine's Bucha, which left images of dead civilians strewn across the town. Russia has denied the killings and called the footage a staged performance. GOODWILL The G5+ ministers said they were committed to ensuring full accountability for war crimes while working to establish a special court within the Council of Europe. The statement added that seized Russian assets should remain frozen until Moscow ends the war and compensates Ukraine for the damage it has caused. Spain has been pushing allies to use such assets as an alternative form of financing aid for Ukraine or even boosting their own defence spending. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Before the meeting, Kallas urged Russia to show goodwill towards a ceasefire with gestures such as returning Ukrainian children who have been deported to Russia or releasing prisoners of war. She also called on the U.S. to apply pressure on the Kremlin to put an end to the three-year-old conflict. Meanwhile, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said Russia owed a clear response to the U.S. about whether it wanted a peace deal at all. U.S. President Donald Trump is becoming increasingly frustrated about the lack of movement in his efforts to broker a peace deal, after he adopted a more conciliatory stance towards Russia that was met with wariness by his European allies. As for a deployment of peacekeeping troops in Ukraine that France and Britain have been working on, Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said it was up to the Ukrainian government to decide when and if to allow foreign troops on its soil. (Reporting by David Latona, Inti Landauro and Emma Pinedo, Editing by Andrei Khalip, William Maclean and Charlie Devereux) MADRID (Reuters) - The foreign ministers of Spain, Germany, France, Italy, Britain and Poland, along with the European Union's top diplomat and Defence Commissioner, said on Monday that they were ready to adopt new sanctions against Russia over the war in Ukraine. "We are also ready to exert further pressure on Russia using all available instruments, including the adoption of new sanctions, with the aim of hindering its ability to wage its war of aggression and ensuring that Ukraine is in the best possible position to secure a just and lasting peace," they said in a joint statement issued after a meeting held in Madrid on Monday. (Reporting by David Latona; Editing by Inti Landauro) By Toby Sterling AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - A weekend hackathon in Amsterdam aimed at finding fast-and-cheap battlefield solutions for Ukraine drew more than 100 young programmers and engineers, with many saying Europe's rearmament plans were prompting them to consider careers in defence. European countries are boosting military spending after U.S. President Donald Trump signalled the United States may no longer guarantee their security as it has since World War Two. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That has led some young people who would previously have focused on financial software or artificial intelligence to consider jobs in military technology. "I've been interested in defence a long time, even before the Russian invasion (of Ukraine)," said 24-year-old Swede Emil Knutsson. "And I can for sure feel that in my generation there has been a change in how young people think about it." The Amsterdam hackathon - the name for a conference where attendees break into small groups and try to build something new in a single weekend - was organised by privately-owned European Defense Tech Hub (EDTH) in partnership with Ukraine's state-backed defence technology accelerator Brave1. While Knutsson's project was affordable "squad radar" systems to help Ukrainian soldiers fight Russia's invasion, many teams focused on building drones, or technology to detect or disable them. Some attendees were seeking help or funding for a startup idea, others simply to network and support Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Benjamin Wolba at German-based EDTH, which held its first event last June and plans half a dozen more across Europe this year, said interest had snowballed following the Munich Security Conference in February. Trump's upending of U.S. policy on Ukraine, adopting a more conciliatory stance towards Russia, was another factor, he added. "The West not being super-sure about U.S. support anymore, and seeing that we need to rearm Europe that is certainly creating urgency for people to come," Wolba said. Andreas Michaelides, whose multinational team tested a system using seismic waves to detect movements in enemy territory, said defence innovation was no longer confined to big-budget companies. "Every single one of us can get into this," he said, citing software advances and the advent of drone warfare. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Among the hackathon's judges was Bram Oostvogel of NUNC Capital, which said last week it will invest 20 million euros ($22 million) in early-stage ventures using Ukraine as a proving ground for ideas that could in time fill Europe's security gaps. He said European venture capital and private equity investors and banks were all now taking defence seriously. "It's important that you first take care of your primary needs - security, safety - and not 'likes' or kudos on Facebook," Oostvogel said. ($1 = 0.9244 euros) (Editing by Catherine Evans) European foreign ministers have reaffirmed their "unwavering support for Ukraine's independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity" at a meeting in the Spanish capital, Madrid. The representatives of Spain, France, Poland, the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy and Ukraine emphasized in a joint statement that Ukraine has demonstrated its willingness for peace by accepting a complete ceasefire without preconditions. They asserted that Russia must abandon its delaying tactics and agree to an unconditional ceasefire. The meeting, held on the third anniversary of the Russian massacre in Bucha on the outskirts of Kiev, was also attended by the European Union's foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, and EU Defence Commissioner Andrius Kubilius. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Germany's acting Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and Ukraine's Deputy Foreign Minister Sergiy Kyslytsya joined via video link. Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha was unable to attend due to the anniversary of the massacre. Italy sent its deputy foreign minister. According to the Foreign Office in Berlin, the ball is clearly in Russian President Vladimir Putin's court, but he has shown no indication that he will halt the attacks on Ukraine. They said that Putin is clearly playing for time in the negotiations. However, Europe and Ukraine want peace, therefore, support for Ukraine will continue vigorously, the Foreign Office said, adding that Europe is ready to increase the pressure on Russia further. Kallas called on US President Donald Trump to exert greater influence on Putin. "I think the United States also has the role to put more pressure on Russia to stop this war," the former prime minister of Estonia said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Russia must agree to a ceasefire in the war in Ukraine and take a step forward, she said. This could, for example, consist of returning deported Ukrainian children or releasing prisoners of war. The chief diplomats also reaffirmed the necessity to increase Europe's military defence capabilities. They said that Europe must become more sovereign and responsible for its own defence and be better equipped to respond autonomously to immediate and future challenges and threats. These efforts must be significantly accelerated, they said. IN THE SPAN OF JUST TWO MONTHS, the Trump administration has aligned the United States with Russia against Ukraine, undermined American soft power, and torpedoed relationships with Americas oldest and closest allies. President Donald Trump is intent on abandoning the global economic, political, and security order that has been the foundation of U.S. foreign policy for eighty years, a shift that Americas enemies are openly celebrating. The new administration is rapidly changing all foreign policy configurations, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov recently said. This largely coincides with our vision. Trump and his defenders have a long list of rationalizations for their approach to foreign policy. Trump administration officials say its necessary to abandon Europe because the United States is overextended. For example, Vice President JD Vance argues that America has provided a blanket of security to Europe for far too long. He has argued that one reason to retreat from Ukraine is to help defend Taiwan from China. The idea that the United States must redirect resources to where they will do the most good sounds plausible enough to most Americans, even if its just as difficult to imagine Trump defending Taiwan in the event of a Chinese invasion or blockade as it is to imagine him protecting one of the Baltic states from Russian aggression. The Trump administration is attempting to justify the tilt toward Moscow as the only way to bring to an end the bloodshed in Ukraine. Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently said: I think both sides need to come to an understanding that theres no military solution to this situation (a recent and convenient revelation for Rubio). The Trump administration caved to many of Vladimir Putins demands before he even showed up at the negotiating tablewith assurances that Ukraine will never join NATO, for instance. While administration officials like Rubio present the capitulation to Putin as the only way to stop the bleeding in Ukraine, this is just a cynical excuse for abandoning Kyiv. Vance summarized the administrations true attitude toward the war when he declared, years before Trump chose him as his running mate, I dont really care what happens to Ukraine one way or the other. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The first step in fighting illiberalism is to understand it. To get the best coverage of Trump 2.0 available anywhere, become a Bulwark+ member. Trumps defenders argue that withdrawing U.S. support for Europe was the only way to convince NATO countries to get serious about defense spending. For starters, this ignores the demonstrable fact that NATOs European members are already doing so. But it will take many years for Europe to replace the American security umbrella over the continent, and Trump has already permanently undermined NATO deterrence by urging the Russians to do whatever the hell they want to allies and expressing skepticism toward collective defense. Trump describes nuclear weapons as the greatest existential threat humanity faces, but his plan to desert Europe will make it far more likely that European countries will pursue their own nuclear deterrent. (Contra the administrations China-firsters, Trumps vacillating commitment to Americas East Asian allieswhich he has likened to the relationship between an insurance company and a customercould have similar consequences.) Trump is preparing to abandon Americas NATO allies when theyre years away from being able to effectively protect themselves. The Trump administration could have taken a tough line on Europe without weakening Article 5 deterrence and intentionally detonating the United States relations with its closest democratic allies. For example, just as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth was telling European governments that they must provide the overwhelming share of future lethal and nonlethal aid to Ukraine, the Trump administration was simultaneously dismissing the idea that Europe should be part of negotiations over the war. Meanwhile, Trump is threatening Europe with a disastrous trade war while Rubio touts the incredible opportunities that a partnership with Russia could bring. One reason Trump despises international institutions like NATO is that he regards them as constraints on his power. If Russia invades Estonia or Latvia, Trump doesnt want to be bound by the Article 5 commitment to come to these countries defense. He has claimed that he respects Article 5, but he has also openly questioned it and told aides that he wants out of NATO altogether. In the event of further Russian aggression, Trump would rather negotiate directly with Putin on some kind of deal, which would likely sell out the threatened country in the name of maintaining harmonious relations with Moscow. This is why Trump has been so abusive toward Volodymyr Zelensky in negotiations over the Ukraine warhe regards Zelensky as a junior player compared to Putin, which is why he recently told him: You dont have the cards right now. With us, you start having cards. Trump apparently believes that powerful countries like Russia and China should be able to bully the countries in their neighborhoodand that includes the United States, which is why he has been threatening Greenland and Panama. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement From the Trump administrations disingenuous arguments for pivoting to Asia to even more disingenuous arguments about stopping the suffering in Ukraine, theres no good case to be made for a MAGA foreign policy. But the least you can say for these arguments is that they arent entirely indefensible: America cant do everything, so it must scale back its ambitions and focus on more urgent threats like China. The risk of war with Russia is too great, so Washington should make accommodations with Putin. Its time for Europe to make long-overdue investments in its own defense. Whether you agree with these arguments or not, Americans can have good-faith disagreements about them. The same cant be said for other elements of the Trump administrations foreign policy. Share THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION HAS HANDED Americas authoritarian enemies huge surprise victories, such as the dismantling of the major institutions of American soft power. First, there was the assault on USAID, which Elon Musk boasted had been fed into the wood chipper. Musk describes USAID as an evil, criminal organization that deserves to die. He also says No one has died as a result of a brief pause to do a sanity check on foreign aid funding. Beyond the absurdity of describing the demolition of USAID as a brief pause, Musk has no clue what the impact of the DOGE blitzkrieg on foreign aid has been. Nicholas Kristof recently reported on multiple deaths already attributable to the cessation of aid. He cited research from the Center for Global Development that found that millions of lives are at risk due to the sudden elimination of American support for HIV prevention and treatment, vaccinations, food aid, and malaria and tuberculosis prevention. The destruction of USAID isnt just a moral disgraceit also terminates one of the greatest sources of global goodwill toward the United States. America has an integral role to play in a vast range of humanitarian programs around the world, from vaccination campaigns to disease outbreak monitoring. The United States accounts for 40 percent of all humanitarian aid tracked by the UN in 2024. Other countries (like China) wont just attempt to fill this vacuumthey will also exploit a gigantic reservoir of resentment toward America, which will become even larger and deeper once people realize how they were abandoned by the U.S. government. Future programs will be more difficult to start because so much trust has evaporated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It isnt just humanitarian aid that Trump has slashedthe administration has done the same with organizations and programs designed to counter authoritarianism and strengthen democracy around the globe. Ninety percent of the democracy aid provided by the United States was managed by the State Department and USAID, and that has all been frozen. The Treasury has also stopped funding the National Endowment for Democracy. These cuts are already having a devastating impact on organizations that monitor elections, deliver development aid and consulting, expose human rights abuses and corruption, provide civic education, and fund media outlets. Every preceding administrationRepublican and Democraticrecognized that a more democratic world benefits the United States and decreases the influence of its adversaries. That consensus has been broken. This couldnt have come at a worse time, as Freedom House reports that freedom declined around the world for the 19th consecutive year in 2024. Perhaps the most visible example of the United States turn away from democracy promotion is the defunding of Voice of America and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. On March 14, Trump signed an executive order to shut down all operations of the U.S. Agency for Global Mediawhich funds RFE/RL and VOAthat arent mandated by law. VOA Director Michael Abramowitz said virtually the entire staff has been placed on administrative leave, while RFE/RL lost the grants that fund its global operations. Many VOA broadcasts were immediately replaced by music. RFE/RL is still broadcasting, though its unclear how long the organization can last. This may be the greatest single blow ever inflicted on American soft power. VOA started broadcasting less than two months after Pearl Harbor to counter Nazi propagandaits first broadcast could be heard in German on February 1, 1942. By early 1943, 27 language services were on air. RFE/RL was founded in 1950 to broadcast news behind the Iron Curtain (often from Soviet and Eastern European emigres), including information about listeners own countries. Both organizations have been active ever since, broadcasting in fifty languages and reaching hundreds of millions of people each week. After the invasion of Ukraine, RFE/RL journalists risked their lives to cover the conflict and documented war crimes in places like Bucha. Both organizations are a vital source of information for millions of listeners in closed societies. In early 1953, Sen. Joseph McCarthy accused VOA of subversive activity. The agencys budget was cut, transmitter construction was halted, and there was a wave of firings and resignations. But VOA survived and continued to broadcast for the next 72 years, helping to end the Soviet Empire, win the Cold War, and bring freedom to millionsuntil Trump decided that the only voice America needed was his. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Share WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF DESTROYING the organs of American soft power? It certainly isnt to save moneyforeign aid accounted for between 0.7 and 1.4 percent of the federal budget since 2001. Trump could cover that by making his proposed tax cuts a little less extensive. If Trump and Musk wanted to make the United States engagement with the world more effective, they would have a plan to replace the agencies theyre eliminating, or give these agencies a chance to implement cost-cutting measures of their own. Instead, the Trump administration is taking a chainsaw to the traditional conception of American leadership in the world because it is ideologically opposed to this leadership. Theres no reason to improve democracy promotion if you think the United States has no business promoting democracy in the first place. Theres no need to undermine authoritarian governments if you want to partner with themor to be one. Musk describes USAID as a vipers nest of radical-left marxists who hate America and a radical-left political psy op. When one X user described the agency as the most gigantic global terror organization in history, Musk responded with a dart-hitting-the-target emoji. This mirrors the propaganda authoritarian states have been spreading for years, which is why they cheered the administrations attacks on USAID, RFE/RL, VOA, and other pro-democracy organizations within or supported by the U.S. government. The Global Times, a Chinese state media outlet, gleefully declared that VOA has been discarded like a dirty rag. The editor of Russias global propaganda network, RT, announced: This is an awesome decision by Trump! We couldnt shut them down, unfortunately, but America did so itself. People in Trumps orbit dont just regard democracy aid as a waste of moneythey argue that it is part of a sinister effort to destabilize governments and foment regime change around the world. Authoritarian leaders have heard the message loud and clear. Serbian strongman Aleksandar Vucic (in power since 2014) has been facing mass protests against his regime, and he responded by launching an assault against pro-democracy NGOs. Because some of these organizations received a small proportion of their funding from USAID, the Serbian government has justified its actions by referring to Musks declaration that the agency is a criminal organization. State prosecutor Nenad Stefanovic even suggested that the NGOs are guilty of money laundering, as they deployed funds provided by an organization accused of criminal activity. On a recent episode of his podcast, Donald Trump Jr. asked Vucic whether the protests against him were manufactured, and the Serbian president blamed USAID. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This example of an authoritarian leader cynically exploiting Trumps attack on American democracy aid is a blueprint for other illiberal governments around the world. The success of USAID and American pro-democracy programs will now be weaponized against the courageous journalists and activists who benefited from these programs everywhere. When a Serbian journalist recently asked Vucic about accusations that his son has links to organized crime, he snapped back: How much money have you received from USAID? Some of the most engaged members of civil resistance movements across the authoritarian worldpeople whom the United States supported until two months agowill now have targets on their backs. Dictators will feel emboldened to clamp down on pro-democracy groups like never before, especially if they have any connections to the United States. The authoritarian world has noticed that Trump feels greater solidarity with dictators like Putin than democratic leaders. During the Oval Office meeting when he and Vance attacked Zelensky, Trump said: Putin went through a hell of a lot with me. He went through a phony witch hunt. Youll never hear him speak that warmly about Zelensky or any of the United States other democratic allies. This is because Trump and Putin share a geopolitical visionthey want a world in which powerful countries are free to do as they please without worrying about human rights, democracy, or the rule of law. Its no wonder that Trump is hostile toward international laws and institutionshe doesnt even respect the laws and institutions of the United States, declaring that He who saves his Country does not violate any Law and demanding the removal of judges who issue rulings he dislikes. Share THERES NO GREAT MYSTERY behind Trumps dismantling of the agencies responsible for spreading democracy and American values around the world. Corrupt politicians are natural foes of anti-corruption NGOs. Authoritarians are hostile to pro-democracy activists. A president who wants to do business with authoritarian leaders and who doesnt want to be constrained by democratic allies and institutions is doing everything in his power to sideline those allies and destroy those institutions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Trump administration and its defenders will continue to deliver lectures about the hard realities of geopolitics and the need to accommodate and befriend the worlds most vicious dictators. They will continue to lie about organizations like USAID, whose legacy is a standing reproach to their authoritarianism and corruption. Trump cant tell the truth about his foreign policy vision because he wants to sacrifice the real source of American powerthe liberal international order that has been maintained by every postwar U.S. presidentto increase his own personal power. This is why its so important to understand the implications of Trumps attacks on the rapidly shrinking pro-democracy faction of the U.S. government. These attacks arent born of geopolitical or financial necessity. They do nothing except harm Americas friends and benefit our adversaries. The dictatorships in Moscow and Beijing celebrated the shuttering of Americas great civil society organizations because Trump has dragged the United States down to their level. He has turned the arsenal of democracy into just another marauding, transactional authoritarian power. The purpose of Trumps assault on the defenders of democracy in America and abroad is as vivid as it is terrifying: He sees no reason why democracy should restrain any leader, because he sees no reason why it should restrain him. Share Former United Kingdom Ambassador to the United States Kim Darroch urged British Prime Minister Keir Starmer to take a robust stance against President Trumps threats of retaliatory tariffs, saying the U.K. should avoid giving Trump wins. Darroch who famously called Trump inept and dysfunctional as ambassador during Trumps first term warned that conceding to Trump will signal weakness and might invite additional threats of tariffs down the line. Its understandable that, faced with deeply damaging U.S. tariffs on British cars, steel and aluminium, the government should think about concessions like reducing digital tax, Darroch said in an interview with The Observer, according to a Guardian report published Saturday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But they need to be wary of giving Trump wins, Darroch added. Tariffs are his all-purpose forcing mechanism, and hell use them again and again if he sees them working. Darroch encouraged Starmer to model his approach after that of Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, who has pledged to retaliate with tariffs of his own. His tough response to Trump in Canada has rallied support for his party and appears to have had a softening effect on Trump. They should note the dramatic turnaround in Canadian politics, where on the back of a robust and defiant response to U.S. tariff threats, Mark Carneys Liberals have gone from 14 points behind the Canadian Conservative Party at the end of January to 8 points ahead last week, Darroch said. The White House is expected to announce reciprocal tariffs on April 2 for a range of nations after months of unexpected new international trade policies. Ahead of what Trump has called liberation day on Wednesday, foreign leaders have been working to persuade Washington to stand down on additional tariffs, fearing the U.S. president could trigger a global trade war. He has already announced 25 percent tariffs on imports of cars, steel and aluminum. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump has proposed giving certain nations exemptions from levies but has waited to reveal more about his encroaching policies until the actual deadline. I may give a lot of countries breaks. Its reciprocal, but we might be even nicer than that. You know, weve been very nice to a lot of countries for a long time, Trump told reporters Monday at the White House. We may take less than what theyre charging, because theyve charged us so much I dont think they could take it. But it will be substantial. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. GAZA, March 31 (Xinhua) -- Al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, claimed responsibility on Monday for targeting an Israeli tank east of Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip. In a statement, the group said its fighters detonated an explosive device against the tank while it was operating near the separation line between Gaza and Israel. It later fired mortar shells at the area. The Israeli military has not issued an immediate response to the claim. The attack comes amid intensifying violence in the region. Since Israel renewed its air and ground offensive on March 18, at least 1,001 Palestinians have been killed, and 2,359 others wounded, according to Gaza-based health authorities Monday. Over the past 48 hours, hospitals in Gaza have received 80 bodies and 305 wounded, officials said in a statement. They warned that many victims remain trapped under rubble, with rescue workers struggling to reach them. Meanwhile, the Palestinian government on Monday approved its general budget for the 2025 fiscal year, implementing austerity and emergency measures to address deepening economic challenges. According to a statement from the government communication center, the budget seeks to balance growing public needs with financial and administrative reforms, as Israel continues to withhold Palestinian tax revenues. Facing a widening fiscal deficit, the government is looking for external financial assistance. Officials said the budget underwent extensive consultations with civil society groups to ensure transparency. Spending priorities focus on essential sectors, including health, education, social protection, and security. Former Danish Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt said there is nothing thats stopping the Americans from setting up more bases in Greenland amid the territorys fight to not be acquired by the U.S. Thorning-Schmidt joined CNN on Sunday, where she was asked about what the Trump administration wants from Greenland, the land owned by Denmark. There is a treaty from 1951 where it is very clear that the Americans have huge access to Greenland, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thorning-Schmidt questioned if it was time for Denmark to scale up on the island. The irony of all this is that the Americans could do exactly the same, she said. Greenland is NATO territory. Theres nothing stopping the Americans from getting more engaged militarily in Greenland, having more bases, if thats what they want. She noted that during World War II, the U.S. had 16 bases in Greenland but has since reduced that total to one. That base, Thorning-Schmidt said, is the one that Vice President Vance visited late last week. Vance and other Trump administration officials traveled to Greenland after months of the president reiterating his desire to acquire the territory, despite pushback from Denmark and Greenland. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While there, the vice president said the U.S. had no plans to expand its military presence on the island and slammed Denmark for failing to prioritize the territorys security. Thorning-Schmidt said the remarks were a bit insulting. I must say that we are taken aback by the language used by the vice president on Friday. First of all, 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 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. WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) A Kansas child sexual exploitation case has ended with four people pleading guilty, including a former Kansas police chief. Investigators said the four were involved in producing child pornography. The investigation began after a cyber tip about alleged sexual exploitation of children through electronic devices. Former police chief Joel Womochil (Photo provided by El Dorado Police Department) Joel Womochil, the former Burns police chief, faced almost three dozen charges at one point. He resigned as police chief on Aug. 8, 2023, eight days before he was charged. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The other charges were dismissed after he pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy to commit sexual exploitation of a child production of child pornography. Last week, U.S. District Judge John Broomes sentenced him to 60 years in prison and restitution of $529,050. At Womochils request, Broomes recommends that he be sent to a federal prison that offers the Sex Offender Management Program. Why the Callery pear tree is such a problem in Kansas Denise Sandmann Yoder Denise Renee Sandmann Yoder pleaded guilty to two counts: Sexual exploitation of a child production of child pornography, and Conspiracy to commit sexual exploitation of a child production of child pornography. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Other counts against her were dismissed. Broomes sentenced her to 60 years and restitution of $189,700. Jessica Quave Jessica Lynn Quave pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit sexual exploitation of a child production of child pornography. Other counts were dropped. Broomes sentenced her to 30 years and $166,350 in restitution. Taylor Mullen Taylor Mullen pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit sexual exploitation of a child production of child pornography. He has not been sentenced yet. An affidavit alleged Quave and Mullen produced the videos at Womochils direction at their home in Council Grove. During a Mirandized interview, Mullen allegedly admitted he knew Quave was sexually abusing the child and that she was recording it with her smartphone. Mullen also admitted to assisting Quave in recording the sexual abuse, according to the affidavit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In her plea agreement, Sandmann Yoder of Indiana said she met Womochil online and conspired to use a young child to create visual depictions of the child engaged in sexually explicit conduct. She admitted she used her smartphone to produce videos of the child and sent them to Womochil via the internet. For more Kansas news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news by downloading our mobile app and signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track 3 Weather app by clicking here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSN-TV. A former Pentagon spokesperson says Defense Secretary Peter Hegseth has taken no responsibility for leaking war on a Signal chat. The problem here is that Pete Hegseth has taken no accountability, said Chris Meagher, former Pentagon chief spokesperson under President Joe Biden, on CNN Sunday. He added, Hes bashed the reporter. Hes called it a hoax. Hes done everything but say, Hey, I made a mistake by putting this information in the Signal chat. On Monday, The Atlantic revealed that top Trump administration officialsincluding Hegsethhad discussed plans to bomb Yemen on a Signal chat that included the magazines editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg. Throughout the week, Trump has rebuffed calls from congressional Democrats to fire Hegseth, telling NBC on Sunday that he does not fire people over fake news. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meagher said that Hegseth had revealed classified sensitive material about an operation hours before that operation took place into an unclassified setting, which is one of the biggest no-nos at the Department of Defense. If somebody like me did that, Meagher added, Id be out on the sidewalk. CNN host Scott Jennings countered that Biden did not fire Pentagon staff after the disastrous withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan and alleged that the bar for firing people like this is really high from the last administration. Jennings called the Afghanistan withdrawal a disaster where people died. He added, No accountability was meted out after the drone strike that vaporized those poor kids and that family. No accountability. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meagher bristled at the remarks, adding, I dont have a lot of time for that argument today, and neither do most Republicans. Meagher went on to note that former Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin had indeed taken responsibility for a drone strike that killed three American soldiers in Jordan. You mentioned Secretary Austin. He stood at the podium for an hour and took accountability, he asked for a 30-day review of the hospitalization, said Meagher. A former police officer shoved his neighbour in a row over parking. Paul Hegarty, 63, a former British Transport Police officer, gave his neighbour Robert Dougall a hard shove three times during an argument outside their homes in Ferndown, Dorset, a court heard. The dispute began because Mr Dougall, an IT consultant, used a car trailer to move broken down vehicles to his garage at the side of his 500,000 house. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His neighbour Paul and Kerry Hegarty accused him of blocking their driveway. Although Mr Dougall parked the vehicle legally, several anonymous notes were left on the windscreen telling him he was not allowed to park there because it could cause an accident. A noise complaint was then made to the local council. When Mr Dougall submitted a planning application to demolish his garage and build a bigger one for his hobby, several neighbours objected. Pneumatic tools and compressors In one of the complaints, Mrs Hegarty called the noise from pneumatic tools horrendous. She added: The noise that comes from the existing garage from pneumatic tools and compressors from early to 10pm all days of the week is horrendous. This is not a hobby or obsession but a full-time mechanics workshop. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mr Dougall said the canvas cover for his trailer was also vandalised, causing 3,500 of damage. Tensions escalated on Oct 2 last year when the Hegartys arrived home to find the trailer parked opposite their drive. After Hegarty reversed onto his drive, he got out and tutted at his neighbour before shaking his head at him. Mr Dougall asked what the problem was and an argument escalated, culminating in Hegarty giving his neighbour a hard shove three times. The police were called and interviewed Hegarty, who said Mr Dougall had threatened his wife. CCTV disproved his claim. Hegarty, who served with the British Transport Police for 19 years, pleaded guilty to assault by beating at Poole Magistrates Court. Swearing in front of my wife David Finney, prosecuting, said: Mr Dougall swore during the argument f--- this and that. The defendant said, Dont start swearing in front of my wife, and pushed him to the chest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mr Dougall said, Dont do that again, but he pushed him again. He said he would call the police and he pushed him a third time. During the police interview, Hegarty claimed he heard his neighbour say something, Mr Finney added. He said Mr Dougall said, Shut your mouth, you b---- and Shut up b---- or Ill do you to his wife. The incident was captured by CCTV. The complainant doesnt go anywhere near the defendant and doesnt use the language as described. He made no threats but does swear. Selina Goddard, defending Hegarty, said he had no previous convictions and had been an officer with the British Transport Police for 19 years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its particularly sad he finds himself in this situation at this time of life, she said. He accepts he acted inappropriately. Mr Dougall moved in and introduced himself as their new neighbour and they had not spoken much otherwise. There was a little bit of hostility because Mr Dougall had some planning permission refused and took issue with a few people. Mrs Hegarty said she felt intimidated by looks. She told how Hegarty was under pressure and having tests for cancer. What are you looking at? He was irritated to see Mr Dougall parked there. He [Mr Dougall] challenged them to say, What are you looking at? or What are you shaking your heads at? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She said Hegarty normally would have gone indoors but his temper got the better of him. Its not in his nature at all, he wouldnt ordinarily do that. It was very short-lived, there was no injury and there havent been any repercussions since. Judge Orla Austin said it was extremely unfortunate Hegarty was in front of a court for the first time at the age of 63. She said: Im sure the last thing you would wish or want is to be before a court today. I do accept this is out of character so I will deal with you by way of a conditional discharge for 12 months. She also ordered Hegarty to pay 400 compensation to Mr Dougall, and a total of 501 with court costs. Taller and bigger than me Speaking after the case, Mr Dougall said: From the day we moved in they were angry about that trailer. Every time I used it they got upset. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Someone made a noise complaint to the council and said Ive been running a business and revving engines all day long, which is not true. He said he was stood in the back, tidying up on the day of the assault and was surprised Hegarty got so angry. Their main complaint was that I was in the way and no one could get around me, but I had just watched them drive around me to get to their drive. I think I said something like, Dont be f---ing ridiculous, and he said, Dont swear in front of my wife, and then pushed me. It was a hard shove, I had to take several steps back. Hes taller and bigger than me and I had something in my hands so I didnt even raise my arms. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. By Jack Queen and Luc Cohen (Reuters) -President Donald Trump said on Sunday he was not joking about seeking a third term but did not explain how he would get around the U.S. Constitution's prohibition against anyone serving more than two terms as president. Here is a look at the legal barriers Trump faces. WHAT DOES THE CONSTITUTION SAY? The 22nd Amendment states in part: No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The amendment was ratified in 1951 after President Franklin D. Roosevelt broke with a self-imposed two-term limit set by presidents since George Washington, the nations first. Roosevelt, a Democrat who was president during the Great Depression and World War Two, served a third term and then died months into his fourth term in 1945. Wayne Unger, a law professor at Quinnipiac University, said the Constitution was clear that presidents are limited to two terms of four years each. He said that while that had not been tested in court, any challenge by Trump would likely be unsuccessful. "I would predict the Supreme Court to say nope, it's clear, two terms of four years each, Donald Trump, you cannot run for a third," said Unger, who teaches constitutional law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement CAN TRUMPS ALLIES CHANGE THE CONSTITUTION? Yes, but that is highly unlikely in an era of intense political polarization between Democrats and Trumps Republican Party. Any constitutional amendment would require two-thirds support in the House and Senate or a convention called by two-thirds of the states, and then ratification by 38 of the 50 state legislatures. Republicans hold a razor-thin 218-213 majority in the House and a 53-47 majority in the Senate. Republicans control 28 state legislatures. Andy Ogles, a Republican U.S. representative from Tennessee and a strong Trump supporter, in January proposed amending the 22nd Amendment to allow people to serve three non-consecutive terms as president. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since Trump's terms beginning in 2017 and in 2025 were non-consecutive, the amendment if passed would allow him to serve a third term starting in 2029. COULD TRUMP RUN AS VICE PRESIDENT? In an interview with NBC, Trump said one possibility would be for his vice president, JD Vance, to run for president in 2028 with Trump as his vice presidential candidate. Vance would then resign as president if he wins, paving the way for Trump to return to the White House. But Trump is barred from running for vice president because he is not eligible to be president. The 12th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution reads, "No person constitutionally ineligible to the office of President shall be eligible to that of Vice-President of the United States." (Reporting by Jack Queen and Luc Cohen; Editing by Noeleen Walder, Howard Goller and Shri Navaratnam) Claim: Tech billionaire Elon Musk invested $5 million to build affordable housing for low-income families. Rating: Rating: False In late March 2025, a rumor spread online that Elon Musk, the tech billionaire and adviser to U.S. President Donald Trump, had invested $5 million to build affordable housing for low-income families. The story circulated weeks after The Associated Press reported that Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) initiative had halted a $1 billion affordable housing program as part of cuts and freezes at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One example of the claim, a March 27 Facebook post (archived), had around 37,000 reactions and 11,200 comments, many of which suggested the commenters believed the story was true. The text of that post read: Elon Musk Spends $5 Million to Build Housing for Low-Income Families, Creating Sustainable Communities Elon Musk has invested $5 million to build affordable housing for low-income families, aiming to provide safe and sustainable living conditions. The funds will support the construction of new homes in underserved areas, ensuring that families have access to affordable housing options. Musk's contribution reflects his commitment to addressing housing inequality and creating lasting impact in communities in need. (Facebook page Daily News Feed) Additional instances of the rumor appeared in other (archived) popular Facebook posts (archived) that, in the bodies of the posts or in comments, contained links to different websites hosting an article that claimed to share additional details about Musk's alleged investment. Snopes readers searched our site and wrote in looking for information about the claim. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In short, there was no demonstrable evidence that Musk had invested $5 million to build affordable housing for low-income families. As a result, we've rated this claim false. First, although the article some posts linked to claimed that Musk had "recently announced a $5 million investment to build affordable housing for low-income families," a Google search for the terms "Elon Musk," "$5 million," "low income" and "housing" found no coverage of such an announcement which would have made headlines if it were true in legitimate news outlets. Musk's official X account also showed no evidence that he had invested in low-income housing. Furthermore, the article about the investment, which appeared on content-farm websites with generic names, was likely the product of artificial intelligence (AI) software. The AI text detectors GPTZero and ZeroGPT both found with high confidence that the text of the article was AI-generated. The article included an image of Musk and a house with text reading, "$10,000 HOUSE." That image was the thumbnail of a YouTube video about Musk that misleadingly spliced together real footage of tiny houses from the modular home company Boxabl. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Musk has said that he owns a $50,000 version of the company's Casita house which at the time of this writing cost between $60,000 and $70,000 according to the company's website and that he uses it to host visitors. It was not immediately clear how much, if anything, Musk has invested in the company, although Boxabl has touted Musk's ownership of one of its products on its website and in multiple Securities and Exchange Commission filings. Regardless of Musk's level of involvement in the company, there was no evidence Boxabl had built homes specifically for low-income families. Instead, as Business Insider reported in 2023, the company's highest-profile projects have been a Department of Defense contract to build Casitas at the Guantanamo Bay detention center and a deal to construct worker housing at an Arizona copper mine. The claim about Musk investing in housing for low-income families was one of several positive but fictional and seemingly AI-generated stories about the billionaire that we investigated in early 2025, including a rumor that he paid the medical bills of a 7-year-old with a rare neurological disorder and also arranged for an experimental device produced by his company Neuralink to be implanted in the child's brain. Sources: "Affordable Housing Threatened as Trump Halts $1 Billion Slated for Extending Life of Aging Buildings." AP News, 12 Mar. 2025, https://apnews.com/article/trump-doge-affordable-housing-preservation-crisis-de27d7846271779157550fcec0a78ea6. Wazer, Caroline. "Don't Fall for This Story about Musk Paying Medical Bills, Arranging Neuralink Brain Implant for Sick Girl." Snopes, 26 Mar. 2025, https://www.snopes.com//fact-check/girl-musk-medical-bills/. Claim: A JFK assassination file declassified in March 2025 contained a letter in which John F. Kennedy Jr. called then-U.S. Sen. Joe Biden a "traitor." Rating: Rating: False On March 18, 2025, the U.S. government released a significant collection of documents related to former President John F. Kennedy's assassination, following a Jan. 23 executive order by President Donald Trump. Shortly after the release, social media users claimed one of the newly declassified records included a letter in which the former president's son John F. Kennedy Jr. who died in a plane crash in 1999 once called former President Joe Biden a "traitor." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Did JFK Jr. warn us that Joe Biden was a traitor to America before he was killed!?" read one post (archived) on X with nearly 10 million views. WAIT!! Did JFK Jr. warn us that Joe Biden was a traitor to America before he was killed!? pic.twitter.com/ltlV0wYnGT Russell Brand (@rustyrockets) March 19, 2025 The screenshot of a document also circulated on other social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, Reddit, Threads, YouTube, iFunny and 9GAG. However, there was no evidence that John F. Kennedy Jr. authored a letter calling Biden a traitor. While the FBI did investigate a threatening letter sent to Biden then a U.S. senator signed "John F. Kennedy, Jr.," the agency did not identify the actual author, nor did it indicate that Kennedy wrote it. Furthermore, contrary to claims made in viral posts, the document in question was actually released in 2000, decades before the March 2025 release of JFK assassination files. We found no evidence or indication that it was included in that 2025 release. What we know about the letter The letter originated from an FBI file The Associated Press obtained through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request in 2000. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A June 20, 2000, Associated Press article, available through the Los Angeles Times archives, reported that the FBI records showed John F. Kennedy Jr. faced at least three kidnapping threats, with two plots investigated in 1985 and 1995. One FBI report focused on a letter postmarked Aug. 26, 1994, that was sent to Biden. According to the article, "The handwriting was analyzed. Fingerprints were lifted from the letter. But no suspects were identified, and the case was closed at the end of 1994." The topic was also covered at the time by CBS News. The letter was part of a file (from Page 153) shared on The Vault, the FBI's electronic FOIA library, which provides public access to a vast collection of declassified FBI documents. https://media.snopes.com/2025/03/jfkjr1.pdf Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Specifically, the letter was featured on Page 155: (FBI's electronic FOIA Library) It included a reference line that read: "UNSUB; AKA JOHN F. KENNEDY, JR.; SENATOR JOSEPH BIDEN VICTIM; WORCESTER, MA; AUGUST 26, 1994." The use of "UNSUB," meaning unknown subject, and "aka John F. Kennedy, Jr." indicated that the sender's identity was not confirmed, and the name was likely used as an alias. (FBI's electronic FOIA Library) The document also noted that the letter bore a handwritten or hand-printed address reading: "Sen. Joseph Biden, (D.-Delaware) U.S. Capitol Building U.S. Senate Washington, D.C. 20515." The letter itself was dated Aug. 26, 1994, began with the line "Dear Sen. Biden: You are a traitor ," and was signed "John F. Kennedy Jr." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the "Remarks" section on Page 162, the document said the envelope and letter were "searched in the appropriate sections of the Anonymous Letter File without effecting an identification," indicating that investigators were unable to determine who had sent it. (FBI's electronic FOIA Library) Moreover, on Page 179, the document noted that "although four latent fingerprints were developed by the laboratory, there are no suspects at this time wherein latent comparisons can be made," indicating that investigators had no identified suspect to compare the prints against. (FBI's electronic FOIA Library) Other fact-checking organizations, including LeadStories, Agence France-Presse and PolitiFact, also have debunked this claim in the past. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Steven Gillon, a professor of history at the University of Oklahoma and the author of a biography of John F. Kennedy Jr., told AFP in March 2025 that it "absolutely it is a hoax," adding: "John never wrote that letter. But that does not stop the conspiracy nuts from waving it around to undermine Biden's credibility." Similarly, in 2020, Gillon told PolitiFact that "the FBI dismissed [the letter] as a hoax" and "they did not believe that John wrote it." We've investigated other claims regarding John F. Kennedy Jr., including a rumor that he wrote in 1999 that Donald Trump "would be an unstoppable force for ultimate justice" and that he was a front-runner for a U.S. Senate seat from New York shortly before his death. Sources: Czopek, Madison. "JFK Jr. Didn't Write That Joe Biden Was 'a Traitor.'" @politifact, https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2025/mar/20/facebook-posts/no-jfk-jr-didnt-write-a-letter-saying-that-former/. Accessed 27 Mar. 2025. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Declassification of Records Concerning the Assassinations of President John F. Kennedy, Senator Robert F. Kennedy, and the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr." The White House, 23 Jan. 2025, https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/declassification-of-records-concerning-the-assassinations-of-president-john-f-kennedy/. Definition of UNSUB. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unsub. Accessed 27 Mar. 2025. Evon, Dan. "Did JFK Jr. Write in 1999 That Trump 'Would Be an Unstoppable Force for Ultimate Justice'?" Snopes, 23 July 2018, https://www.snopes.com//fact-check/jfk-jr-trump-unstoppable/. Fact Check: FBI File Does NOT Suggest 1994 Threat Letter To Joe Biden Was Written By JFK Jr. | Lead Stories. 23 Dec. 2022, https://leadstories.com/hoax-alert/2022/12/fact-check-fbi-file-does-not-suggest-1994-threat-letter-to-joe-biden-was-written-by-jfk-jr.html. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement FBI Reveals 3 Kidnap Threats on JFK Jr. | The Seattle Times. https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/20000620/4027718/fbi-reveals-3-kidnap-threats-on-jfk-jr. Accessed 27 Mar. 2025. "JFK Assassination Records - 2025 Documents Release." National Archives, 17 Mar. 2025, https://www.archives.gov/research/jfk/release-2025. "Joe Biden Named in JFK Files: What to Know." Newsweek, 19 Mar. 2025, https://www.newsweek.com/joe-biden-named-jfk-files-2047145. McCarthy, Bill. "No Proof Biden Plotted Kidnapping of JFK Jr." @politifact, https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2020/apr/27/facebook-posts/biden-plotted-kidnap-john-f-kennedy-jr-another-uns/. Accessed 27 Mar. 2025. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Palma, Bethania. "FACT CHECK: Was JFK Jr. a U.S. Senate Frontrunner Before His 'Suspicious' Plane Crash?" Snopes, 29 Aug. 2016, https://www.snopes.com//fact-check/jfk-senate-frontrunner/. staff, CBSNews com staff CBSNews com. FBI: Kidnap Plots Were Set For JFK Jr. - CBS News. 20 June 2000, https://www.cbsnews.com/news/fbi-kidnap-plots-were-set-for-jfk-jr/. ---. FBI: Kidnap Plots Were Set For JFK Jr. - CBS News. 20 June 2000, https://www.cbsnews.com/news/fbi-kidnap-plots-were-set-for-jfk-jr/. ---. FBI: Kidnap Plots Were Set For JFK Jr. - CBS News. 20 June 2000, https://www.cbsnews.com/news/fbi-kidnap-plots-were-set-for-jfk-jr/. (Reuters) -Rescue workers, sniffer dogs, paramedics and millions of dollars in aid have begun arriving in Myanmar after a massive earthquake ravaged much of the war-torn country. About 2,000 people have so far been reported dead following Friday's magnitude 7.7 earthquake in a country where millions were already displaced by a civil war triggered by the 2021 military coup. The quake is the deadliest natural disaster to hit Myanmar in years and has damaged critical infrastructure across the country of 55 million people. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Here is a look at the major aid contributors: CHINA Beijing sent the first batch of $13.9 million in emergency aid to Myanmar on Monday, state news agency Xinhua reported. According to the China International Development Cooperation Agency, the initial supplies included tents, blankets and first aid kits, Xinhua said. INDIA India sent a search and rescue team, medical professionals and a military transport aircraft filled with blankets, hygiene kits, food packets and other essential items on Saturday. New Delhi has since sent at least four more aircraft and four ships carrying relief material, a special military medical unit and members of its disaster response agency. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement UNITED STATES The United States pledged $2 million in aid "through Myanmar-based humanitarian assistance organizations". It said in a statement that an emergency response team from USAID, which is undergoing massive cuts under the Trump administration, is being sent to Myanmar. VIETNAM Vietnam has sent a team of more than 100 rescuers, medical staff and firefighters along with aid and sniffer dogs. "The most important task of the Vietnamese rescue force is to focus on searching for and rescuing survivors," Vietnam's Ministry of Defence said on Monday. State media reported that Vietnam had also sent $300,000 in aid to Myanmar. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SOUTH KOREA South Korea said it would provide $2 million in initial humanitarian aid through international organisations to help Myanmar respond to Friday's earthquake. "The Korean government hopes that this support will help efforts to save lives in the affected areas, and will closely monitor the damage situation and consider additional support if necessary," its foreign ministry said on Saturday. THAILAND Thailand, which was also hit by the quake, has sent 55 air force personnel, including medics and search and rescue specialists, as well as medical supplies to Myanmar. RUSSIA Two Russian aircraft carrying 60 rescue workers, four dogs, ambulances and rescue vehicles arrived in Myanmar's capital Naypyitaw on Sunday, Myanmar's state broadcaster MRTV reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement JAPAN The Japanese government has dispatched a five-person assessment party that includes medical professionals to lay the groundwork for a larger emergency rescue team. The government said it would provide emergency relief supplies such as daily necessities for disaster victims, and was in the final stages of determining what to include in the relief packages. SINGAPORE Singapore has sent an 80-member team to assist with disaster rescue efforts. The government contributed 150,000 Singapore dollars ($111,940.30) as seed money to support the fundraising efforts of the Singapore Red Cross. MALAYSIA Malaysia pledged 10 million ringgit ($2.25 million) in humanitarian aid to the earthquake victims and deployed a 50-member disaster relief team on Sunday. Malaysia, this year's chair of ASEAN, a 10-member grouping of Southeast Asian nations including Myanmar, said the organisation would also send a humanitarian mission to Myanmar this week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement INDONESIA Indonesia's military said in a statement on Monday that it was sending emergency teams, including search and rescue workers, to Myanmar, as well as tents, food and logistical supplies. UNITED KINGDOM The United Kingdom has announced a package of up to 10 million ($12.9 million) in emergency aid, geared towards food and water supplies, medicine, and shelter. "UK-funded local partners are already mobilising a humanitarian response on the ground, and this 10 million package will bolster their efforts," said Baroness Chapman, Minister of State for Development. NEW ZEALAND New Zealand said it would contribute NZ$2 million ($1.14 million) to the International Red Cross to support their humanitarian responders. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement PHILIPPINES The Philippines said it was deploying 114 personnel, including search and rescue teams, medical assistance teams and ASEAN emergency responders. They are scheduled to travel to Myanmar on April 1. TAIWAN Taiwan's Red Cross donated $50,000 for disaster relief, but its fire department on Sunday night stood down the 120-person rescue team it had put on standby. Taiwan's foreign ministry said it has offered to liaise with Myanmar on ways it can provide help. ($1 = 1.3400 Singapore dollars) ($1 = 4.4350 ringgit) (Reporting by Khanh Vu in Hanoi, Josh Smith in Seoul, Ben Blanchard in Taipei, Karen Lima in Manila, Kiyoshi Takenaka in Tokyo, Tanvi Mehta in New Delhi, Lucy Craymer in Wellington, Chayut Setboonsarng in Bangkok and Xinghui Kok in Singapore; Writing by Saad Sayeed; Editing by Kate Mayberry and Raju Gopalakrishnan) The taxpayers bill for housing thousands of Syrians indefinitely in hotels across Britain has crossed 50m, after the Home Office froze all asylum applications in the wake of Bashar al-Assads fall. Some 3,115 Syrian asylum seekers are in state-funded hotels across the country with no prospect of resolution, after the Government immediately paused applications on December 9. The hotel bill for keeping the asylum seekers stuck in limbo has now hit 50.6m, Telegraph analysis finds, based on a previous National Audit Office estimate that the Government spends 145 per asylum seeker per night in a hotel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The sudden fall of Assad has triggered an international scramble to work out the intentions of the Islamist militant group, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which has seized power. Border security minister, Dame Angela Eagle, said at the time of the freeze on asylum applications that it was a temporary move to allow the Government to assess the situation. While HTS has been designated a terrorist group across must of the West, its leader Ahmed al-Sharaa, Syrias new president, has insisted the group has reformed and is no longer a threat. He has also promised to protect the rights of minorities, naming a diverse transitional cabinet on Saturday that included representatives of minority groups in the country. However, deadly clashes between Syrian security forces and fighters loyal to the former regime have raised doubts about the new regimes commitment to liberal values. 750 civilians were killed mostly in execution style-killings in the space of two days earlier this month, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Experts warn it could be years before the country can be declared safe to send people back to. It raises that prospect that taxpayers could continue paying millions of pounds indefinitely to house thousands of Syrians stuck in limbo. Marley Morris, a migration expert from the Institute for Public Policy Research, said: The more that time goes on, the more pressure it puts on the asylum system. Im not sure if theres any more clarity with the situation in Syria. At some point, theyre going to have to start reassessing claims again. The risk is that you get people stuck in the system indefinitely. Thats not good for them and with the overall pressures on the asylum system and the number of people in hotel accommodation, thats not good for the Home Office either. In total, there are 6,135 Syrian asylum seekers receiving some form of support from the Government while awaiting action on their claims, with just over half in hotels. This means the full cost so far will be in excess of 50m when including those in cheaper forms of accommodation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Government has pledged to close asylum hotels and clear backlogs. However, Mr Morris said: It is definitely an additional challenge. It would be difficult to return people to Syria for the foreseeable future, given there is violence and not a clear stable government. So you effectively may not be able to return people in any case, even if they do get a refusal. Germany, France and Italy have also frozen asylum applications after the sudden ousting of Assad. The situation is another challenge for the Government, with Rachel Reeves on Wednesday announcing big cuts to spending to repair the public finances. The Office for Budget Responsibility has warned ministers that hoped-for savings from quickly processing asylum claims cannot be guaranteed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It said: Spending on support for asylum seekers is partly demand-driven and outside the control of government, and the savings from reducing the backlog may be partly offset in higher costs to local authorities. A Home Office spokesperson said: The pause on Syrian asylum claims is under constant review, as the situation in Syria continues to evolve. When there is a clear basis upon which to make decisions, we will resume. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. DES MOINES, Iowa The annual Chili Cookoff was held at Firetrucker Brewery on Sunday. Dozens of chefs showed up at Firetrucker Brewery equipped with family recipes and secrets to prove their chili was the best of the bunch. Brian Maschka prepared his family recipe and said the possibility of prizes meant nothing compared to getting to share some good food with good people. Fight for Air Climb raises over $200,000 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its just about community and having fun, I know that they are giving out prizes but its fun to just be with the people next to me, said Maschka. Make a joke or two with the person to the left or to the right of you, get the family involved, my son is here and hes having fun just cooking and serving. Steven DeMeester has attended the cookoff several times and says the competition adds a level of fun to the even. He also used a little something special in his chili hoping to land it in first place. My chili is made with our best-selling beer, in my opinion, the Cat Dragon, it is a thirteen and a half ginger beer, best ginger beer in the county, havent found a better one yet. I made mine with a white chicken chili and its amazing. DeMeesters extra kick didnt win him first prize, but he did walk away with third and is ready for another go at top prize next year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Once attendees has stuffed themselves into a food coma, everyone got to enjoy some live music by Harrison Ingraham and Nick McClure from 4 to 6 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 who13.com. MOSCOW, March 31 (Xinhua) -- The Russian Defense Ministry said on Monday that Ukraine continued to strike Russia's energy facilities on Sunday despite a previous ceasefire agreement. An artillery shelling and a drone attack, both targeting facilities of an electricity operator in the border region of Bryansk, were registered, the ministry said in a statement, adding that both strikes caused power cuts to local households. The attacks demonstrated "the complete inability" of Ukraine to agree on any of its obligations on the conflict settlement, the ministry said. In recent days, Russia and Ukraine have accused each other of violating a 30-day ceasefire on energy infrastructure. Ukraine previously said Russia had struck its energy facility in the southern city of Kherson and called on the United States to react, according to media reports. This year's Eid al-Fitr festival carries a deeply symbolic meaning for Syrians, months after the overthrow of long-time dictator Bashar al-Assad. For the first time in more than 14 years, families long separated by war are reuniting to celebrate the end of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan in their homeland after years of displacement and exile. Syria's Islamic authorities have announced that Monday marks the start of the three-day Eid al-Fitr in the country, featuring communal prayers, giving of gifts and feasting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Many Syrians who fled their homeland have returned this week from abroad to spend the Eid holiday with their loved ones. One of them is Khaled Imam, who left his home in Daraya, south of Damascus, in August 2016 with his wife and three children. "I left Daraya after the deal with the al-Assad regime for the fighters to withdraw, but I was always certain that everyone who left would eventually return," Imam said. Now, for the first time in years, he is celebrating Eid with his family in a city that once bore the scars of some of the wars fiercest battles. For many Syrians, returning was not an easy decision. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Young men, who fled military conscription or persecution by security forces, faced particular challenges. Hemam Ali, who escaped to Jordan and later to Europe, spent more than a decade with only minimal contact with his family due to fears of government surveillance. "I returned to Syria on March 21 (to celebrate) Mother's Day. I will stay until the 10th of next month. These are the happiest days of my life to be with my mother after more than 11 years and to celebrate the Eid with my siblings and relatives," he said. "God has blessed us with the liberation of Syria," Ali said. Dawn of a new era in Syria In the run-up to the occasion, the atmosphere at the bustling Midan market in Damascus, famous for its traditional sweets, was full of joy. Shops were crowded as returning Syrians embraced a long-awaited sense of normalcy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ahmad Dalali, carrying bags filled with Eid treats, wiped away tears as he spoke. For the first time since 2011, he spent the fasting month of Ramadan, and now the ensuing feast with his family. He fled to neighbouring Lebanon in late 2011 after security forces raided his familys home in Wadi Barada, north-west of Damascus. Now back, he says his heart is filled with mixed emotions: relief, victory and yearning for lost time. "I left Syria when I was 26, still a university student. Now I am 40. The war stole my youth," he said sadly. "But I am finally moving forward. I am preparing for my wedding on the second day of the Eid. When I left Syria, I made an oath that I wouldnt marry until the al-Assad regime was gone." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, for the first time in Syria's story, the main hall of the presidential palace in Damascus hosted the Eid al-Fitr prayer. Hundreds of Syrians performed the prayer at the Presidential Palace on Monday, headed by new interim Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa. Ministers, military leaders and ordinary citizens were present. Most public squares in cities and towns across Syria also witnessed the performance of the Eid al-Fitr prayer, with people young and old taking part. Al-Assad ruled Syria for over two decades, but his grip on power collapsed in December after a swift offensive by the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, led by new President al-Sharaa. Al-Assad fled to Russia, leaving Syria at a crossroads. For many returning Syrians, this Eid is more than just a homecoming it marks the beginning of a new era for their country. ANDERSON COUNTY, S.C. (WSPA) A firefighter was sent to the hospital and a family of three was displaced following a reported fire Sunday in Anderson County. The West Pelzer Fire Department responded to the home fire on Smith Street in Pelzer. Upon arrival, firefighters worked immediately to attack the fire. One firefighter was taken to the hospital for heat exhaustion, according to officials. No other injuries were reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Red Cross South Carolina confirmed with 7NEWS that they are assisting the family who resided at the residence for immediate needs such as food, clothing and shelter. The cause of the fire has yet to be determined. The incident remains under investigation by the Anderson County Fire 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 WSPA 7NEWS. YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) A family on Youngstowns North Side escapes their home after a fire overnight. Read next: Fire in Newton Township intentionally set, fire chief says It happened around 1 a.m. on the 1100 block of Burlington Street. When First News was on scene, firefighters were focusing on the upstairs of the home. Everyone inside was able to get out. The Red Cross was called to help the family. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The cause of the fire is still under investigation. 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. PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD) Hundreds of pop culture fans made their way to the Peoria Civic Center for PeoriaCon. Scott Innes and Michaela Jill Murphy are some of the special guests at the convention this year. Innes is best known for voicing Shaggy Rogers and his best pal Scooby-Doo in movies like Scooby-Doo and the Cyber Chase, Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island and Scooby-Doo and the Alien Invaders. He said its a special feeling being able to meet fans who grew up solving mysteries with Scooby and the gang. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Scooby is still popular and always coming out with new movies and new products. Its never gone away, so its just as popular today as it was in 69, said Innes. Just like Scooby fan getting to meet Innes, fans of the Nickelodeon show Avatar: The Last Airbender lined up to meet the voice behind Toph Beifong. PeoriaCon has been great so far. Lots of Avatar fans in Illinois. I mean, lots of Avatar fans all over. But Peoria, its my first time here. I had no idea. I was like, all right, were going to go hang out in Peoria. And its been very busy. Lots of Avatar love around Peoria, said voice actress, Michaela Jill Murphy. Lillian Markleys favorite character in Avatar : The Last Airbender is Toph Beifong. She traveled an hour from Cuba, Illinois to come to the convention just to meet Michaela Jill Murphy. She was awesome. She was amazing. I was mainly nervous, but I was like, I hope shes like an awesome person, and she was an awesome person. It was really cool meeting her, said Markley. Its fans like Markley who make voice acting such a rewarding experience for actors like Innes and Murphy. When you meet a fan that tells you how that you have touched their lives or saved their lives, you cant put a price tag on that, said Innes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You can follow Murphy on all social media by heading over to her website. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CIProud.com. French far-right leader Marine Le Pen has been found guilty of embezzlement of public funds and has been deemed ineligible to run for public office, a ruling that could derail her 2027 campaign to succeed Emmanuel Macron as French President. The ruling, announced in Paris on Monday, found that from 2004 to 2017, Le Pen, eight members of the European Parliament and 12 assistants from her Rassemblement National (RN) party, then called the Front National (FN), illegally siphoned off European Union funding to bankroll RN activities within France. The court estimated the damages at just over $3 million (2.9 million euro). The case concerned EU funds allotted to Le Pen and her party when she was a member of the European Parliament. The fraud came mainly in the form of no-shows: Staff hired with money from Brussels were, in reality, working for her party inside France. Le Pen had denied any wrongdoing. More from The Hollywood Reporter Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Marine Le Pen was sentenced to four years in prison, two of those suspended, and has been banned for standing for election for the next five years, meaning she will be ineligible to run in the 2027 presidential election. Le Pen appeared in court Monday but left before sentencing was complete. A three-time presidential candidate, Le Pen is head of Frances official opposition, and a leading contender to succeed President Emmanuel Macron in elections in two years. In her last two attempts, Le Pen made it to the final runoff, losing to Macron. Term limits mean Macron, who has served as president since 2017, is ineligible to run again. Earlier in the trial, Le Pen said a ban on public office would mean her political death. She argued such a move would be deeply anti-democratic, with the courts overruling the will of the electorate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She has previously said she would appeal if convicted. But given Frances slow-moving legal system, a new trial is unlikely before 2026, just months before the presidential election, giving Le Pen little time, even if her conviction is overturned, to mount a campaign. Le Pen is at the forefront of a growing right-wing movement across Europe. Giorgia Meloni took power as part of a right-wing coalition in Italy in 2022. Elections in Germany earlier this year saw the far-right Alternative for Deutschland (AfD) party double its share of the vote, coming second with 20.8 percent. Prosecutors called for a five-year prison sentence for Le Pen, with three of those suspended, a fine of up to $350,000 (325,000 euro) and a five-year ban, effective immediately, on running for public office. Le Pens disqualification is certain to draw attacks from Washington, D.C. Vice President J.D. Vance has been outspoken in his criticism of European countries for their supposed suppression of right-wing voices. Moscow has already responded, with Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Monday decrying the verdict, claiming more and more European capitals are taking the path of violating democratic norms. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, another prominent European far-right figure, posted his support of Le Pen, writing I am Marine! on X (formerly Twitter). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The natural successor to Le Pen within the RN is her 29-year-old protege Jordan Bardella, who has seen his status rise with several slick media appearances during last years election campaign. During the trial, prosecutors claimed Le Pen used EU funds to bankroll her political war machine, breaking the law to build up RNs presence in France. At the time of the crimes, the RN was a much smaller and poorer party than it is now, with few elected officials. French banks boycotted RNs campaigns, refusing to provide financing. Le Pen took out a loan from a Russian bank in 2014, which she repaid shortly after Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Her 2022 presidential campaign was backed in part by a loan from Hungary, which she repaid shortly after the election. RN was the big winner in last years snap election, taking 123 seats, making it the single-largest opposition party in Frances parliamentary assembly. Frances public financing system, which allocates funds to political parties based on the number of elected offices held, means RN is entitled to a reported $15 million (14 million euro) in public financing over the legislative term, more than double its previous allotment. In a key decision Friday, March 28, Frances Constitutional Council, ruling on a separate case, upheld the principle of political ineligibility but stressed such bans had to be proportionate and take into consideration the preservation of voters freedom. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This isnt the first time the French courts have ruled against a prominent national politician. In a similar case last year, eight members of Frances MoDem party, including former Minister of Justice Michel Mercier and MoDem president Francois Bayrou, were found guilty of misappropriation of European public funds. Mercier was given a suspended sentence and banned from running for public office for two years. Bayrou was acquitted on appeal and later became Prime Minister of France. In 2021, former French President Nicolas Sarkozy received a three-year prison sentence, including two years suspended, and was banned from holding public office for three years after being found guilty of corruption charges. Best of The Hollywood Reporter Sign up for THR's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. In an unusual Friday afternoon post on Facebook, new Fayette County Public Schools board member Monica Mundy said shes facing whisper campaigns and other obstacles related to doing her job. Ive been working hard to get up to speed and live up to my campaign promise: to represent and listen to everyone, Mundy said in her post. But lets be realsome folks dont make that easy. Since the moment I decided to run for office, the whisper campaigns havent stopped. People continue to spread lies about me without ever having the decency to say them to my face. So, let me be clear: Im not here to play games, and Im not here to be quiet. Im not here to fall in line, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mundy was elected to the school boards First District seat in November 2024 and assumed office in January. She said in her Facebook post she is not beholden to any person or organization. I am not anyones puppet. If I were, the whispers wouldnt exist. If something doesnt serve the health, safety, and education of our communityIm not interested. Period. She added: To those who understand and respect that I stand firmly on my principles: thank you. I see you. I appreciate you. This post is public. Screenshot it. Share it. Its a new day. I ride at dawn. Lets go. The statement was posted on Mundys personal Facebook page and her Fayette County School Board Facebook page, where she also said, In the spirit of transparency, I want to share this with everyone. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mundys term expires in 2028. Mundy also said in her Friday post that 2025 has been a frightening, chaotic and eye-opening year so far. We came into January facing legislation and executive orders at the federal and state level that, quite frankly, had me worriednot just for my own livelihood as a college educator, but for what this political climate and these policies mean for our students and the families who depend on them the most, she said. President Donald Trump has issued executive orders that resulted in federal employee layoffs and the dismantling of the U.S. Department of Education. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When asked by the Herald-Leader for elaboration about her post, Mundy said, None of my comments are about any employee of the district. I look forward to continuing to work with them and I have greatly enjoyed working with them. She declined to comment further. There has been some recent public dissension on the Fayette school board. A heated exchange erupted between school board members Amanda Ferguson and Penny Christian at a Feb. 27 budget workshop. It happened after Ferguson said, and other board members confirmed, a recent chair of the boards budget and finance committee said in an email she couldnt get a full, line-by-line copy of the districts budget. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Earlier in March, Fayette Superintendent Demetrus Liggins released an email he sent to board member Ferguson in which he called her conduct misleading and unethical and said she would need to file an Open Records Request for certain documents. Ferguson in a Facebook post in March explained she emailed the superintendent and asked for a copy of a contract between a church and Fayette County Public Schools. I made no claim regarding my intended usage of the information nor did I see a need to. The three-page contract, undeniably a public record, was emailed to me. After reviewing it, I shared it with a few of the people who had asked me about it and one posted images of it on social media, Ferguson said in the earlier post. Attacks directed at Tesla vehicles and dealerships are growingso much that the FBI has created a task force to crack down on the crimes. There were two incidents over the weekend locally that police are investigating. Boston police are searching for a suspect who they say vandalized Teslas and also harassed people in the Fenway neighborhood. BPD released surveillance images showing an individual they believe is likely connected to multiple incidents of vandalism and harassment in the area of Hemenway and Gainsborough Streets. Police say the incidents happened between 5 and 7 am during mid-March-- primarily targeting Tesla vehicles. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Over the weekend in Watertown, a couple of people were hurt during a Tesla demonstration at a dealership. According to police, while protestors were gathered outside, a black pickup truck drove over the curb and toward the protestors. Thats when one of the side mirrors of the truck struck two people. They werent seriously injured, but police are investigating. There were many demonstrations across the country recently in protest of Teslas owner, Elon Musk and his leadership of DOGE. The Justice Department says it will be cracking down on the attacks against Tesla, with Attorney General Pam Bondi describing the attacks as domestic terrorism. 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 Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Marty Makary signed off on the ouster of top vaccine official Peter Marks shortly after being quietly sworn in as the agencys new leader late last week, four people familiar with the matter told POLITICO. The forced removal was Makarys first major act as commissioner and sent a powerful signal to a stunned Washington that was already anxious about the role vaccine skepticism would play under Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.s Health and Human Services Department. Makary and Kennedy had previously agreed to push out Marks, who led the FDAs vaccine division for more than eight years, as part of a broader overhaul of HHS leadership. The decision has alarmed lawmakers and the pharmaceutical industry, who see it as an effort by Kennedy to lay the groundwork for remaking the governments approach to vaccines after years of sowing doubts about the shots. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While Kennedy made the final call to force Marks exit, he did so only after Makary consented, said the people familiar, who were granted anonymity to discuss private deliberations. Makary was sworn in late last week, according to multiple people granted anonymity to discuss the timing. Makarys involvement in the decision was not widely known even within the FDA, which has yet to acknowledge that hes already been sworn in as head of the agency. On the agency's website, Sara Brenner is still listed as the acting commissioner of food and drugs. Even Marks appeared unaware of Makarys status on Friday, addressing his resignation letter to Brenner and using his parting words to take aim at Kennedy. Marks declined to comment. "I was willing to work to address the Secretary's concerns regarding vaccine safety and transparency," Marks wrote. "However, it has become clear that truth and transparency are not desired by the Secretary, but rather he wishes subservient confirmation of his misinformation and lies." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Makarys support for driving out Marks is likely to further unsettle drug companies and supporters of the FDA, who had hoped that the former Johns Hopkins surgeon and researcher would serve as a bulwark against major changes to the nations vaccine policies. Makary gained prominence in recent years as a vocal critic of the FDA and of the governments response to the Covid pandemic. But unlike Kennedy, he has generally supported vaccines and never embraced the debunked theory advanced by the HHS secretary that they are linked to autism. The Senate confirmed Makary to run the FDA last Tuesday. But he was not expected to begin working out of his office at the agency until this week, the people said. An HHS spokesperson declined to comment. The Pink Sheet first reported the timing of Makary's swearing in. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Makary has discussed seeking additional changes across the FDA in his first weeks, including installing new leadership at another major center within the agency, the Center for Tobacco Products, three of the people said. That potential change would come on top of the upheaval already underway at the FDA. Since Trumps election, the agencys top drug and food officials have quit, as well as its principal deputy commissioner. A sweeping reorganization that Kennedy announced last week would reduce the agencys staff by 3,500 over the next several weeks. But amid the restructuring, Marks ouster has generated outsize concern within the FDA and across the health care landscape. Vaccine manufacturers Moderna and Novavax saw their stocks drop sharply when the market opened Monday. Biotechnology Innovation Organization President and CEO John Crowley said the loss of leadership at the FDA could erode scientific standards and impact the development of new medicines. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We advocated strongly for Peters continued leadership, Crowley texted. While at times a polarizing figure at the agency, Marks is credited with helping establish the Operation Warp Speed initiative during President Donald Trumps first term that delivered a Covid vaccine in a matter of months. The vaccine regulator had won the trust of FDA commissioners and lawmakers in both parties, developing a reputation over more than 12 years at the FDA's Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research as a fierce defender of scientific independence and the agency's rigorous approach to developing and testing vaccines. Peters commitment to bringing the best science and data to the development and availability of lifesaving biomedical technologies, from gene and cell therapies to the Trump Administrations Operation Warp Speed, has saved countless lives, Mark McClellan, who ran the FDA during the George W. Bush administration, told POLITICO. His decade-long leadership at the FDA is a big reason why the FDA is the gold standard for advancing the most innovative breakthrough medicines." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Robert Califf, commissioner during the Biden administration, said last week that Marks interest was always with the combination of public health and the special needs of patients. "The role of the FDA Commissioner is largely to fend off political interference so that career civil servants without financial conflicts can make decisions based upon the statutes and rules governing these decisions," Califf wrote in a LinkedIn post on Monday. Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), a physician who cast a crucial vote in favor of Kennedys confirmation, said in a statement Saturday that Makary and Kennedy should replace him with someone of similar stature and credibility amongst the scientific community, adding that Marks departure was a loss to the FDA. But Kennedy and his allies which include prominent anti-vaccine figures had long expressed skepticism of Marks and the FDAs approach to vaccines, often accusing the agency without evidence of downplaying the health risks they believe the shots pose. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The HHS secretary said during a NewsNation interview last week that he wants to create an office within the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that would specialize in vaccine injuries. Kennedy also ordered a large-scale study on potential links between vaccines and autism, despite extensive research that has failed to find evidence of such a connection. Kennedys approach to the measles outbreak put him at odds with Marks as well, the vaccine regulator wrote in his resignation letter. Kennedy has offered only tepid support for the measles vaccine while also promoting the questionable use of vitamin A supplements as a treatment for the disease. "Undermining confidence in well-established vaccines that have met high standards for quality, safety, and effectiveness that have been in place for decades at FDA is irresponsible, detrimental to public health, and a clear danger to our nation's health, safety, and security," Marks wrote. In a statement shortly after Marks' resignation, an HHS official blamed Marks for failing to support Kennedy's goals and said "he has no place at FDA under the strong leadership of Secretary Kennedy." Makary has yet publicly addressed Marks' departure. (WKBN) Flying is considered the safest way to travel, but some people still fear it. Doctors say if you have any anxiety before your next flight, its recommended to read about safety statistics. Dr. Susan Alberts with the Cleveland Clinic says watching different videos about how planes work and what passengers experience can help, too. To avoid any added stress the day of your flight, you should arrive early to the airport. If youre feeling nervous before boarding, you should focus on what youre looking forward to once you land. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Albers says if you still get anxious before stepping on a plane, youre not alone. Flying is stressful. Over 25 million Americans indicate that they have some level of fear around flying. So, it is quite common. For some, it can create some sleepiness nights and a little bit of anxiety. For others, it can be debilitating, Albers said. If flying still makes you nervous, Albers recommends seeing a mental health professional for even more strategies to overcome your fear. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Chinese rescuers pulled out a pregnant survivor in quake-hit Myanmar city Mandalay on Monday morning. #GLOBALink Port Houston saw less vessel activity in February due to weather disruptions on its ship channel, while New Orleans and the Port of Corpus Christi, Texas, saw an increase during the month. Houston Ship Channel saw limited February activity amid severe weather Port Houston handled 325,424 twenty-foot equivalent units in February, a 13% year-over-year decline compared to the same month in 2024. Total import tonnage was down 12% year over year at 2.3 million tons in the month. Imports of steel decreased 13% year over year to 302,359 tons during February. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ryan Mariacher, chief port operations officer, said fog impacted the Houston Ship Channel in February, leading to fewer vessel calls at the ports Barbours Cut and Bayport container terminals. According to Houston Pilots data for the month of February, fog and weather delays contributed to a 29% reduction in availability of our ship channel, compared to a 2.5% reduction last year, Mariacher said during the ports monthly commission meeting on Tuesday. Port Houston recorded 613 ship calls during the month, a 13% year-over-year decrease, while barge calls totaled 290, an 11% year-over-year decline. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mother Nature was mad at us, so that led to the tonnage reduction. Overall tonnage at our multipurpose facilities was down 9% for the month, driven primarily by decreases in our liquid bulk and dry bulk imports, Mariacher said. Container import tonnage slipped 12% year over year to 1.4 million tons. Export tonnage decreased 11% year over year to 2.6 million tons in February. Total revenue tonnage across Port Houstons terminals decreased 12% year over year in February, totaling 4.9 million tons. Full import containers in February decreased 14% year over year to 142,661 TEUs, while full export containers declined 16% year over year to 122,740 TEUs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Movements of empty export containers were down 16% year over year in February to 37,955 TEUs. Empty import container movements at the port were up 22% year over year to 22,068 TEUs in the month. Mariacher said disruptions across the global supply chain also contributed to lower monthly volumes at Port Houston. Theres some other things that are occurring in the economy, obviously on the global scale, and some things local that also contributed to that, Mariacher said. But with the bounce back weve been seeing [in March], we think that weather was a significant driver last month. Port of New Orleans reports 11% increase in container volumes Boosted by shipments of coffee, chemicals, wood, resins and paper, the Port of New Orleans saw an 11.7% year-over-year rise in container volumes at 47,763 TEUs during February. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There are positive signs for containerized cargo with February volumes representing a 34% increase compared to January, port spokeswoman Kimberly Curth told FreightWaves. Top containerized exports included plastic resins, various chemicals and paper. The top imports included coffee, wood products and chemicals. Breakbulk cargo totaled 75,785 short tons in February, a 27% decrease compared to the same month in 2024. While breakbulk cargo at the port was down year over year, Curth said volumes are up 10% year to date for fiscal year 2025. The ports fiscal year runs from July 1 to June 30. The port handled 740,571 short tons of breakbulk cargo year to date. The growth in breakbulk cargo has been driven by increases in steel, natural rubber and project cargo imports, Curth said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The port handled 7,820 Class I railcar switches in February, a 14.7% year-over-year decrease. The port handles switching operations for the six Class I railroads that operate in New Orleans: BNSF Railway, CN, CSX, CPKC, Norfolk Southern and Union Pacific. Port of Corpus Christis cargo volume results mixed The Port of Corpus Christi moved 16.7 million tons of cargo in February, a 6% year-over-year increase from the same year-ago period. The port handled 10.4 million total tons of crude oil during the month, a 12% increase compared to February 2024. The Port of Corpus Christi had 189 ship calls in February, compared to 187 in the same month in 2024. The port handled 400 barges in February, a 2% year-over-year increase. The post February freight volumes mixed at Gulf Coast ports appeared first on FreightWaves. Mar. 31MINNEAPOLIS A nurse at the Federal Medical Center in Rochester was indicted on charges relating to abusive sexual contact with an inmate and making false statements to law enforcement about the interaction. Jessica Lynn Larson, 37, of Iowa, has been accused of entering into a romantic relationship with an inmate while being employed at the FMC, according to the Minnesota U.S. Attorney's Office. The indictment, entered on Wednesday, March 26, alleges that Larson and an inmate exchanged sexually explicit letters during the course of their relationship. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On April 3, 2024, Larson had a sexual encounter in the showers with the inmate. According to the indictment, Larson inappropriately touched the man, who was in official detention "and under custodial, supervisory and disciplinary authority" of her. Other nursing staff reported their relationship shortly after. During the investigation, FMC Rochester officials found sexually explicit letters from Larson in the inmate's cell. The Bureau of Prisons officials found sexually explicit letters from the inmate inside of Larson's backpack. After being confronted about their relationship, Larson submitted a Bureau of Prisons incident report, falsely accusing the inmate of sexual assault and claiming he threatened to hurt her children if she refused his sexual advances, the indictment said. Larson was placed on administrative leave two months later. She drove from her home in Iowa to Cincinnati, Ohio, to mail a love letter to the inmate, who was transferred to another facility. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "In Minnesota, we take sexual abuse particularly when committed by those in positions of authority very seriously," Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa D. Kirkpatrick said in a press release. "Likewise, lying to the United States is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. My office will continue to aggressively prosecute defendants who commit these crimes." Larson is scheduled to make her initial appearance in U.S. District Court on April 9. FMC Rochester did not immediately respond for comment regarding the indictment or Larson's current employment status. At least 27 school districts across Michigan stand to lose as much as $42 million in pandemic aid after Linda McMahon, the newly appointed federal education secretary, told education leaders she would rescind a federal aid deadline extension. McMahon issued a letter Friday to state education chiefs announcing the move, writing that "extending deadlines for COVID-related grants, which are in fact taxpayer funds, years after the COVID pandemic ended is not consistent with the Departments priorities and thus not a worthwhile exercise of its discretion." Michigan state school Superintendent Michael Rice decried the action in a news release Monday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Walking back a federal commitment to pandemic relief funds to improve the air quality, healthfulness, and safety of schools coming out of the pandemic is unacceptable," Rice wrote. In the statement, Rice wrote the state had already approved 27 districts to use the funds on HVAC improvement projects, as well as window upgrades. The districts have already entered into contracts with the notion that those projects would be reimbursed with federal funds, according to the Michigan Department of Education's news release. Study: Michigan public schools need $22.8 billion for repairs Rice wrote that to honor these contracts, districts may have to reduce classroom spending for students, dip into savings or both. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "A change in administrations should not void previous commitments," he wrote. The federal education department previously told states they would have another year to spend the money, according to reporting by nonprofit education news outlet The 74. How much could districts lose? Flint Community Schools stands to lose the most funding, $15.6 million, according to the state. A district spokeswoman did not immediately respond to a request for comment. According to the state, the following other have federal funds in jeopardy: Battle Creek Public Schools has $3.3 million in outstanding American Rescue Plan reimbursements. Benton Harbor Area Schools has nearly $3 million, according to Superintendent Kelvin Butts. Bridgeport-Spaulding Schools, more than $500,000. Brighton Area Schools, $1.2 million. Chandler Park Academy, $1 million. Hamtramck School District, $7.2 million. Lincoln Park School District, $1.4 million. Pontiac School District, $3.3 million. Port Huron Area Schools, nearly $500,000. Reed City Area Schools, nearly $59,000. Woodhaven-Brownstown Schools, $1.3 million. Adrian Public Schools, $7,300 in outstanding Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations reimbursements. Carman-Ainsworth Comm. Schools, $235,000 in outstanding Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations reimbursements. Grandville Public Schools, nearly $25,000 in outstanding Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations reimbursements. Greenville Public Schools, $24,000 in outstanding Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations reimbursements. Insight School of Michigan, $33,000 in outstanding Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations reimbursements. Marquette Area Public Schools, nearly $10,000 in outstanding Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations reimbursements. Marysville Public Schools, nearly $370,000 in outstanding Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations reimbursements. Michigan Great Lakes Virtual Academy, nearly $80,000 in outstanding Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations reimbursements. Northville Public Schools, nearly $63,000 in outstanding Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations reimbursements. River Rouge, City School District, nearly $29,000 in outstanding Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations reimbursements. Royal Oak Schools, nearly $45,000 in outstanding Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations reimbursements. Van Buren Public Schools, $90,000 in outstanding Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations reimbursements. Wayland Union Schools, $66,000 in outstanding Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations reimbursements. West Bloomfield School District, $734,000 in outstanding Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations reimbursements. Whiteford Agricultural School District, $98,000 in outstanding Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations reimbursements Contact Lily Altavena: laltavena@freepress.com. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan schools could have $42M in pandemic aid taken away by feds David Potts is treated by James Flanagin, the only dentist in Leslie, Arkansas. About 25 million Americans live in dentist shortage areas, according to new research from Harvard University. (Katie Adkins/For KFF Health News) This article first appeared on KFF Health News and is republished here under a Creative Commons license. 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. Dozens 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. Utah is poised to become the first state to ban it in tap water. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Many already are. A storage tank in northern Arkansas holds water from the Ozark Mountain Regional Public Water Authority, which has defied a state law requiring fluoride to be added to drinking water for more than a decade. (Katie Adkins for KFF Health News) 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. David Potts is treated by James Flanagin, the only dentist in Leslie, Arkansas, who operates out of a small clinic in the back of an antique store. About 25 million Americans live in dentist shortage areas, according to new research from Harvard University. (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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. James Flanagin, the only dentist in the tiny Arkansas town of Leslie, which also has unfluoridated drinking water, treats patients in the back of an antique store on Main Street. (Katie Adkins for KFF Health News) 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. James Flanagin (right), the only dentist in Leslie, Arkansas, speaks with patient David Potts after a dental appointment. Leslie is one of hundreds of American communities, mostly rural, that have both a shortage of dentists and unfluoridated drinking water. (Katie Adkins for KFF Health News) 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. 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. Subscribe to KFF Health News free Morning Briefing. Eagletrail Mountains Wilderness, an area west of Phoenix managed by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management. Photo by Bob Wick | Bureau of Land Management If Arizona loses even a single acre of land from its tax base, the state is doomed, Republican Sen. Mark Finchem told legislators on the Senate Federalism Committee in February. Thats one of the many reasons that Finchem said he sponsored Senate Concurrent Resolution 1018, which encourages the transfer of federally-owned land within Arizona to state or private control. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Resolutions like SCR1018 dont have the force of law, but rather are intended to send a message. In this case, the message is that legislators dont believe the federal Bureau of Land Management is doing an adequate job of managing the land under its control and that the ownership of that land should be transferred to the state so that it can be better managed and used for economic purposes. Those purposes could include sales to private corporations or leases for things like coal mining and oil drilling. Once land is taken by the federal government, it is often squandered, locked away forever from economic production, the resolution reads, avowing that, if the land isnt making money, it is being misused. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SCR1018 also renounces former President Joe Bidens plan to conserve 30% of the countrys land and water by 2030, commonly referred to as the 3030 plan. The Biden administration described the plan as a way to maintain biodiversity, preserve nature and provide equitable access to the outdoors, which was part of a larger global conservation effort. Finchems resolution describes the plan as a land grab by the federal government, which he compared to the actions of Chinese dictator Mao Zedong when he created the Peoples Republic of China in the mid-20th century. The Biden administration wanted to take 30% of privately held land and put it under control of the federal government, Finchem said. So, I ask anybody whos watching this: What is the first step towards communism? The government that controls the land controls the people. The first thing that Mao did was confiscate land from everybody. It all became the peoples land. One of the guiding principles of the 3030 plans was to honor private property rights and support voluntary stewardship efforts of private landowners. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Finchem didnt mention that President Donald Trump immediately rescinded the 3030 plan via executive order when he took office on Jan. 20. The far-right Project 2025, the 900-page political instruction manual for the second Trump administration that was created by the conservative Heritage Fund, called for both the recission of the 3030 plan and the transfer of federally-owned land to the states. Upon taking office for his second term just over two months ago, Trump immediately began implementing the projects directives, undermining his campaign claims that he had nothing to do with Project 2025 and hadnt even read it. Finchem is not only taking direction from Project 2025 and the Trump administration in his efforts to encourage the federal government to give up federally-owned land to the state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Jan. 27, Finchems friend, Daniel Martinez, a rancher who lives in Nevada but owns property in Greenlee County, gave the legislators on the Senate Federalism Committee a lesson of sorts in his interpretation of land rights law. He has come to be one of probably the most trustworthy individuals in my world when I have a question about whats the history of land law in Arizona, Finchem said of Martinez. During a meandering 30-minute presentation full of outrageous and legally dubious claims, Martinez claimed that the federal government doesnt have the authority to own land in Arizona in the first place, nor does it have police powers within its boundaries, because the state hasnt specifically granted those rights to the federal government. Its a fraud, Martinez said. Its a sham that theyve been telling. One of the 10 points of the communism manifesto says if you tell a lie long enough, people would begin to believe it. Well, everybody believes these agencies, that they own federal land. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The quote that Martinez is referencing is not one of the 10 planks of the Communist Manifesto, but is often attributed to Nazi propagandist Joseph Goebbels. Martinez also called the Endangered Species Act a fraud and questioned why the U.S. government was enforcing it since he claimed it was international law. Congress passed the Endangered Species Act in 1973 and it was signed into law by President Richard Nixon. The committee didnt hear about Martinezs own conflicts with the federal government. In 2005, he sued employees of the U.S. Forest Service for what he described as rustling some 300 cattle from his ranch in Greenlee County, which borders the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest. He accused the Forest Service employees of being involved in a criminal enterprise. Martinez purchased the ranch and its cattle from his father in early 2004 but did not update his grazing rights permits for neighboring national forest land. After he continued to allow the cattle to graze on the federal land without following the rules of the original permit, renewing it or paying for it, the U.S. Forest Service ordered him to remove his cattle. Martinez claimed that preexisting water and forage rights accompanied the property, and said he wasnt required to obtain a grazing permit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Martinez refused to move his cattle, claiming not just that the Forest Service didnt have the authority or jurisdiction to take them since, but that the federal government has no jurisdiction inside the boundaries of any of the 50 states. After sending him several warning letters, Forest Service employees rounded up his cattle, which he said were worth a total of $250,000, and sold them at auction. Martinez went on to return mailed notices from the U.S. District Court for Arizona and the 9th District Court of Appeals claiming that the court didnt have jurisdiction or that the judge wasnt truly a judge unless hed taken a specific oath and provided a copy of it to Martinez. He also created his own criminal complaint laying out the alleged crimes of the Forest Service employees and called the legal process a sham. The U.S. District Court for Arizona, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals and, years later, the U.S. Court of Federal Claims all dismissed Martinezs cases. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Most of the time Ive had to defend myself in court, Martinez said. They (attorneys) wont take me on because I bring up issues that they dont want to discuss. In 2012, Martinez was listed as a speaker at the Independent Cattlemen of Wyoming Convention, where Cliven Bundy was scheduled to speak later the same day. In 2014, Bundy, a large group of his family members and other volunteer militia launched an armed standoff that successfully thwarted the efforts of the Bureau of Land Management to round up his cattle after he refused to pay for grazing rights on federal land for around 20 years. The federal government owns about 42% of Arizonas land, more than most other states. Around 13% of the states land is owned by the state land trust and 18% is privately owned. The remaining 27% is held in trust by the federal government on behalf of Native American tribes. Zachary Santoyo, a member of Back Country Hunters and Anglers, argued during the Feb. 17 committee meeting that if the state takes over Arizonas federal land, it would be less accessible and was likely to be sold instead of maintained for recreational use. He pointed out that Arizonas state lands are managed specifically with the goal of generating the most money for the state, not to allow people to enjoy them, and that those lands can be closed to the public for various reasons and often are. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lets call the land transfer movement what it is, an attempt to privatize our public lands, Santoyo said. He said he doesnt believe most Arizonans would opt for strip malls, warehouses and data centers even if they add to the tax base to replace affordable outdoor space for recreation. Sandy Bahr, the executive director of the Grand Canyon Chapter of the Sierra Club, told the House Land, Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee on March 24 that Arizonans have shown their support for federal protection of public lands in numerous polls. She pointed out that federal public lands bolster the economy through recreation opportunities, protect watersheds and help to provide clean air. On Feb. 17, Finchem accused the people who praised the access that the federal government affords to its public lands and its management of those lands of reprehensible misrepresentation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now, I dont use the word lying very often, but some of the misrepresentation Ive heard here today is epic, he said, adding that he believes its time for Arizona to take control of its own destiny, as it should have since 1912. Legislators on the House Land, Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee voted 6-3 along party lines to send SCR1018 to the full House for a vote. It already passed through the Senate by a party line vote of 17-9 on March 5. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Finnish President Alexander Stubb has said he believes US President Donald Trump will impose large-scale sanctions on Russia if it refuses to comply with the full ceasefire. Source: European Pravda; Alexander Stubb in an interview with Sky News Details: Stubb said he is confident that Trump "wants to end this war" and that he had suggested increasing sanctions pressure on Russia if it refuses to comply with the proposed ceasefire. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Finnish president proposed that the final deadline for Moscow should be 20 April, the day that will mark three months since the start of Trump's second presidency, which falls on Easter Sunday. Quote from Stubb: "But that ceasefire must be combined with a really tough stick. And that stick could actually come from Senator Lindsey Grahams proposal, with over 50 senators, about a colossal package of sanctions." More details: Asked to what extent he believes that Trump will "apply bone-breaking sanctions" if Russia refuses to abide by the ceasefire agreement, Stubb replied: "I am fairly confident that he will do that More confident than hopeful." Background: On 30 March, US President Donald Trump stated that he was "very angry" and "pissed off" with Putin for talking about an interim administration in Ukraine. He also threatened to impose additional sanctions on Russian oil if Moscow does not come to the negotiating table and stop the fighting in Ukraine. Trump also said that there is a "psychological deadline" for Russia to agree to a full ceasefire in Ukraine. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Seattle firefighters responded to a house fire in the University District neighborhood on Sunday afternoon. Around 6:30 p.m. Sunday, Seattle Fire Department (SFD) crews headed to reports of a fire near the University Playground Park. Responding teams reported that the fire in the back of the house involved the porch, basement, and first floor. By just after 7 p.m., SFD had extinguished the flames and confirmed nobody was in the house or injured. According to neighbors, the residents are college students who might have been out of town for spring break vacation when the fire broke out. Seattle Fire will be investigating the incident. Firefighters are battling a heavy structure fire at a large Brockton home, leading to a large mutual aid response. Fire crews tell Boston 25 that they were dispatched to the residence of 41 Weston Street on reports of a structure fire. #NEW: Brockton Fire said one person was home and taken to the hospital as a precaution for smoke inhalation. The home is partially collapsing still. Incredible videos of the fire around 6pm from neighbors. @boston25 pic.twitter.com/dbSTKDuZEh Daniel Coates (@danielcoates_25) March 30, 2025 Upon arrival, crews were met with heavy flames pouring out of the 2.5-story home. Due to the large amount of fire, crews upgraded the response to a three-alarm, prompting mutual aid to assist at the scene. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One occupant of the home was inside and was transported to a local hospital for smoke inhalation out of precaution. All four residents of the building have been accounted for. The front and side of the home have collapsed onto the lawn, and the side of a neighboring home has been burned. The cause of the fire remains under investigation. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW At least 17 Tesla cars were destroyed after a fire broke out at a dealership on the outskirts of Rome on Monday morning, according to Italian fire officials. No one was at the dealership when the fire broke out and no injuries have been reported. Romes fire service said it was investigating all avenues while looking into how the fire started, but it did not rule out arson. Local police said officers interviewed the dealership owners and are looking at surveillance footage. The fire comes after a string of reports across Italy in recent weeks of Tesla vehicles being vandalized and defaced, with anti-Elon Musk and anti-Donald Trump sentiments written with spray paint. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another car dealership burned down in northern Rome a week ago, destroying 30 cars, including used Teslas. That fire was initially blamed on an electrical fault, but an investigation is underway. Also in Rome, several Teslas in the Garbatella neighborhood, where Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni grew up, were defaced, according to police and social media posts. Meloni and Musk are self-described close friends, but the Italian leader has not commented on the vandalism. Tesla dealerships in Milan have also been targeted by environmental groups in recent weeks. An aerial view of the Tesla car dealership that the fire service are now investigating. - Alessandro Serrano/Shutterstock Reports of Tesla vandalism have also surfaced in France and various parts of the United States, including the Pacific Northwest and the Northeast. Peaceful protests have taken place at multiple Tesla locations in the US, where demonstrators chanted Elon Musk has got to go in response to the slashing of federal jobs by Musks Department of Government Efficiency. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com GREENBELT, Md. (DC News Now) Firefighters were working to put out a large brush fire in Greenbelt Sunday afternoon. The Prince Georges County Fire and EMS Department (PGFD) said a large brush fire broke out at around 3:15 p.m. at 162 Research Road. Man allegedly confesses to killing family member in Potomac Crews from the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service, U.S. Park Police and Maryland Department of Natural Resources also responded to the fire. (Photo courtesy of the Prince Georges County Fire and EMS Department) (Photo courtesy of the Prince Georges County Fire and EMS Department) (Photo courtesy of the Prince Georges County Fire and EMS Department) (Photo courtesy of the Prince Georges County Fire and EMS Department) PGFD said in an update at 9:17 p.m. that the fire is contained and is nearly out. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No injuries were reported. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | DC, Virginia, Maryland News, Weather, Traffic, Sports Live. WELLINGTON, March 31 (Xinhua) -- The Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) on Monday outlined its efforts to enhance competition in the banking sector while appearing before the Finance and Expenditure Committee's banking inquiry. Acting Governor Christian Hawkesby emphasized the RBNZ's focus on competition, citing initiatives such as proportionate prudential standards, a depositor compensation scheme, expanded access to the payments system, and digital currency exploration. "Advancing competition and innovation in the financial sector is a team effort across government agencies, regulators and the industry itself," Hawkesby said. RBNZ Chair Neil Quigley announced a review of key capital settings, responding to claims that current bank capital requirements may hinder competition. The review, involving international experts, will assess capital risk weights for residential, corporate, and community lending, development of a new crisis management framework, alongside broader prudential settings. A review report is expected by the end of this year. Crews responded after part of a building collapsed in Dayton Sunday night. [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] As reported on News Center 7 Daybreak and 11:00, Dayton firefighters responded just after 9:15 p.m. to initial reports that part of a building collapsed at the 100 block of Valley Street. TRENDING STORIES: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement News Center 7s Mason Fletcher says Valley Street remains blocked off. It is surrounded by caution tape Monday morning. This was the third building collapse in Dayton since March 15. The first was on March 15 when the parapet wall of the top floor of 34 N. Main Street had 60 feet of collapse. The second occurred on March 24 when the building at 464 E. 5th Street in the Oregon District partially collapsed. >>PHOTOS: Dayton building crumbles during severe weather The people inside the building were evacuated and there were no reported injuries. Dayton District Fire Chief Tyler told News Center 7 that the Valley Street building serves three purposes: two different businesses and apartments on the second and third floors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement City records show the building was constructed in 1910. Photos show that brick fell from the building into a pile in front of the building. We will update this story. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Photo from: Malik Patterson/Staff Photo from: Malik Patterson/Staff Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Photo from: Malik Patterson/Staff Photo from: Malik Patterson/Staff [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] Heartbreaking photos surfaced Sunday of the mother and her two little girls killed by an alleged speeding Brooklyn driver as thousands mourned the victims at their funeral. Yes, its hard. Yes, its painful, Brooklyn Rabbi Yosef Ozeri said during the emotional service at the Shomrei Hadaas Chapel in Borough Park. Diana Saada (left) and her sister Debra were killed in the crash, while their little brother Philip was critically injured. X Natasha Saada dances with her husband at their wedding. Facebook/Natasha Saada Theres nothing anyone can tell you, the rabbi told the familys grieving husband and dad, who helped carry one of the caskets. No one can understand the pain youre going through. Its an impossible thing. But [God] understands. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In newly published photos, the girls are pictured beaming next to their little brother, who was critically injured in the crash, while their mom is captured laughing with her husband at the couples wedding. Video on Sunday also showed a grim-faced Mayor Eric Adams telling the devastated widower that the entire city is mourning with him. Natasha Saada and three of her four children daughters Diana, 8, and Debra, 5, and 4-year-old Philip were struck by a speeding Audi that slammed into an Uber, then overturned and plowed into the family as they were walking in a crosswalk with the light around 1 p.m. Saturday. The mom and girls died, with Philip hospitalized in critical condition. Saadas husband was at home with their fourth child, a baby, at the time. Mayor Eric Adams meets with the Brooklyn dad whose wife and two daughters were killed in the horrific crash Saturday. JewishBreakingNews/Instagram The horror brought some first responders to tears. Peter Gerber Ozeri spoke of Natashas devotion to her faith, telling mourners she had recently signed up for a class on Sabbath observance even chiding her husband for napping on the holy day when she left home with three of their children for the last time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Her soul was bound to Shabbat, the rabbi said. She was living what she learned, and on Shabbat is when she left [us]. The driver of the Audi, wigmaker Miriam Yarimi, was driving with a suspended license at the time. She was charged with manslaughter among other raps and is being held at Bellevue Hospital undergoing a psych evaluation while awaiting arraignment on the felonies. Wigmaker Miriam Yarimi is facing manslaughter charges for allegedly speeding before the crash. Instagram/iitsanellie Adams spent part of Sunday consoling the dad whose family had been ripped apart in the horror, telling the grieving man, Were all hurting. Theres not much one can say, but were here for you, Adams told the mourning father, who has not been identified, in a clip posted on Instagram by Jewish Breaking News. Weve received calls from so many parents who wanted me to tell you how much were all hurting. Its an irresponsible act by the driver, Hizzoner said. I only have one son, but he wanted me to also share how painful this is for all of us. I just had to be here, one dad to another dad. Im sorry. Im sorry. For the first time in more than 80 years, the U.S. has denied Mexico's request for water from the Colorado River, escalating tensions over a water-sharing agreement between the two nations. The State Department says it denied the request because Mexico hasn't complied with the 1944 treaty that established the water-sharing system. That agreement requires Mexico to send 1.75 million acre-feet of water from the Rio Grande to the U.S. every five years. In turn, the U.S. must send 1.5 million acre-feet of water to Mexico from the Colorado River each year. By the end of 2024, Mexico had delivered only a quarter of what it owed for the current five-year period, which ends in October. Mexico has been struggling with severe droughts for several years. In the first quarter of 2024, the country's agricultural production fell by 6.1 percent, according to a report from the Bank of Mexico. Activity in the north-central regions, which includes the border states of Chihuahua, Coahuila, and Nuevo Leon, fell by 3.3 percent. The country has sought emergency water deliveries to alleviate the strain on its water systems. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The International Boundary and Water Commission and Conagua, Mexico's national water utility, are addressing the request denial, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum told reporters. While this is the first denied request, this is not the first time that the treaty has caused tension in U.S.-Mexican relations. In 2020, Mexican farmers revolted over sending water to the U.S. during an extreme drought. In 2024, late water payments from Mexico to the U.S. caused the Rio Grande Valley Sugar Growers mill in Santa Rosa, Texas, to shut down. Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller told Texas Monthly at the time that "asking Mexico nicely for 20 or 25 years" hadn't worked. "We've got to get their attention somehow, with some kind of sanctions. They're gonna have to feel the pain." A bipartisan congressional delegation urged their colleagues to withhold funding to Mexico until water was delivered. The U.S. could be within its legal rights to deny the waiver. If so, this will almost certainly harm agricultural production in Mexico, which is a significant provider of produce to the U.S. Food price hikes are already on the way, thanks to tariffs, and this could end up squeezing American consumers even more. The post For the First Time in 80 Years, the U.S. Denies Mexico's Request for Water appeared first on Reason.com. SOMERSET COUNTY, Pa. (WTAJ) Effective immediately anglers can now fish without limits at several lakes across Pennsylvania for a limited time. The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) announced that all seasons, sizes and creel limits have been lifted at three lakes, including one in Somerset County, due to upcoming projects. The dam and infrastructure rehabilitation projects are expected to last for over a year. Here are the lakes and project details: High Point Lake, Somerset County: Starting in spring of next year a complete drawdown of this 338-acre impoundment will begin. The $5.5 million project will include rehabilitation of the dam embankment and spillway to meet Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PA DEP) dam safety standards. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The project is expected to last approximately 1.5 years once it begins. Anglers can catch warm-water sportfish species including Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye, Bluegill, Black Crappie, Chain Pickerel, Yellow Perch, and catfish at this lake. Somerset school prepares meals for Bangladeshi refugees Harris Pond, Luzerne County: A complete drawdown of this 30-acre impoundment will begin in the fall of 2025. The $1.9 million project will include rehabilitation of the dam embankment and spillway to meet PA DEP dam safety standards. The project is expected to last roughly 1.5 years. The reservoir currently offers angling opportunities for warm-water sportfish species including Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, Black Crappie, Chain Pickerel, Yellow Perch, and catfish. Rose Valley Lake, Lycoming County: A complete drawdown of this 389-acre impoundment will begin in the spring of 2026. The $5 million project will include rehabilitation of the dam embankment and spillway to meet PA DEP dam safety standards. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The project is expected to last approximately 1.5 years. The reservoir currently offers angling opportunities for warm-water sportfish species including Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Bluegill, Black Crappie, Chain Pickerel, Yellow Perch, and catfish. We have lifted fishing regulations to reduce the number of fish in these lakes in advance of these upcoming projects, David Nihart, Chief of the PFBC Division of Fisheries Management said. We encourage anglers to fish these waters and make good use of as many fish as they can prior to the lakes being drained. Get the latest news, weather forecasts and sports stories delivered straight to your inbox! Sign up for our newsletters. The temporary regulations will be posted on signage around each lake. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTAJ - www.wtaj.com. Five workers died and four others were injured in an explosion at a mine in northern Spain, the emergency services said on Monday. The death toll rose after the body of the last miner who had been reported missing was recovered, the regional newspaper La Nueva Espana and the state TV broadcaster RTVE reported. Some of the injured suffered severe burns. Regional leader Adrian Barbon declared two days of mourning in Asturias. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez also expressed his condolences. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The cause of the accident at the mine near the village of Degana in Asturias was initially unknown, La Nueva Espana reported, adding that the workers had been in the mine to inspect the extraction of graphite and that a machine might have exploded. Some of Gavis flagship vaccine programmes will have to be cut if the United States goes through with a plan to stop funding the global partnership, its CEO has warned. Among the projects under threat are plans to begin building emergency stockpiles of new mpox and tuberculosis vaccines, the distribution of badly needed malaria jabs, as well as a billion dollar programme to boost vaccine production in Africa. Dr Sania Nishtar, who took over as CEO of the organisation in March last year, said the Gavi board would have to decide what gets shelved in the event American funding dries up. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If we take a 15 per cent cut, and if this comes on the top of the cuts that the traditional donors may make, we have to go to the drawing board on what gets dropped, what gets scaled down, she told The Telegraph. Weve just introduced the malaria vaccine and then, of course, the tuberculosis vaccine is on the anvil, she said. There is already a commitment to maintain a new stockpile for the mpox vaccine. So all these things will be up for debate, as would be the African Vaccine Manufacturing accelerator. The Trump administration has decided to end support for Gavi, as well as cut US overseas aid - MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images The Trump administrations decision to end support for Gavi, which helps purchase vaccines for the worlds poorest countries and has been credited with saving the lives of 19 million children, was revealed in a spreadsheet sent to Congress last week. The US has been one of the organisations biggest donors since it was set up at the turn of the millennium, and Dr Nishtar said she was optimistic that Washington can be persuaded to continue its support. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I must emphasise that we have not received a termination notice, she said. We think that the situation will be remedied and we will not have to live with this funding shortfall. Theres a 25-year history of partnership and, for that reason, Im optimistic that the US will reconsider its decision. Compared to some major aid groups and international humanitarian organisations, Gavi operates with minimal overheads, making it particularly vulnerable to sudden changes to its funding. Gavi says that 97 cents out of every dollar raised for the organisation goes towards its immunisation programmes. So if the Trump administration does end US support for its operations, the impact will be calamitous, Dr Nishtar said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As a result of the end of US support, 75 million children will miss out on regular vaccinations, leading to 1.3 million preventable deaths in the next five years, according to Gavis estimates. A cascading domino effect If the US pulls out inevitably, there will have to be trade-offs and a scale back of our existing operations, which will be tragic, she said. But the end of US funding for Gavi could have ramifications that are felt well beyond its frontline vaccine programmes. Dr Nishtar said the US decision could create a cascading domino effect, forcing cuts to flagship programmes but also disrupting the research community and global pharmaceutical industry that underpins them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If you start reducing the volume of routine vaccines, that impacts price, that impacts the ability of countries to access those vaccines, she said. Its an ecosystem weve built. The US had committed to give Gavi $2.6 billion (2 bn) in a grant that was meant to last until 2030. Gavi has survived funding shortfalls before, but grappling with such a big cut to its funding at the same time as other major backers in Europe are also cutting back their donations, is an unprecedented challenge. This is a very unique situation, said Dr Nishtar. Not even the support of countries like India and Indonesia, which were once recipients of Gavis vaccines but now contribute to its budget, will be enough to offset Americas departure. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As a result, for the first time, Gavi will not have the money to be able to buy the latest vaccines and risks falling behind the curve of scientific development, she said. This is the first time where we have a funding crunch and science going way ahead of us. While some of the impact of the looming US withdrawal will be felt within its borders Dr Nishtar pointed out that America and Britain both get more back from Gavi through vaccine sales than they put in it is in Africa where the worst effects will manifest. After years of steady progress, malaria rates have plateaued, with devastating consequences for those at risk. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I dont know if you have ever seen a child convulse with malaria, she said. Its a horrific scene for parents to see and to know that this was entirely preventable, to know that a vaccine exists today and is in a programme, with every African head of state screaming for it. The US decision to stop funding Gavi has rattled many in the global health sector, even if they could see it coming after President Donald Trump froze almost all foreign aid when he took office. But despite the gloom surrounding the dramatic scaling back of foreign aid around the world, Dr Nishtar remains optimistic that leaders in Washington and Europe will see sense. I remain optimistic because our donors understand the value of Gavi, she said. I remain optimistic that the worlds moral compass is still there, and that there will be a turnaround, and that we will come out with a fully funded Gavi. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Protect yourself and your family by learning more about Global Health Security Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. TALLAHASSEE For the third year in a row, Florida lawmakers are pushing legislation to make it easier to sue media outlets and journalists for publishing articles later demonstrated to have falsely put a person in a bad light or hurt their reputation. Similar bills are moving through both House and Senate committees but unlike with past failed efforts supported mainly by Republicans, these latest bills also have support from Democrats, some of whom are criminal defense lawyers. Opponents, though, said it would have a chilling effect on the ability of the media to report criminal activities and expand the types of libel suits that could be filed against journalists. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Reporting would become a legal minefield and freedom of speech a game of chance, said Bobby Block, executive director of the First Amendment Foundation. The main thrust of the bill would require news outlets to permanently remove information within 10 days of being presented with facts that would cause a reasonable person to conclude that such a statement was false. If not, they would lose immunity from defamation for reports that rely on public documents or official statements. Why are we so committed to keeping false information on the Internet? I am unmoved by conservative or liberal outlets, said Rep. Michele Raynor, a Democrat and criminal defense attorney from St. Petersburg who co-sponsored the bill. I have represented people who were actually accused of false crimes. A lot of those people are black and brown folks. The committee Raynor sits on approved the bill unanimously. A Senate version of the bill has passed out of two committees mostly along party lines. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The ACLU, Florida Press Association and First Amendment Foundation all oppose the bill, Block said. Conservative bloggers and national religious broadcasters have also written letters against it. It is censorship disguised as accountability, Block said. Dont turn Florida into the libel tourist destination of the United States. Despite the bills language, its sponsor Rep. J.J. Grow, R-Inverness, said he was not trying to remove the medias immunity privilege. We are asking that they take the story down from their website. The bill was filed on behalf of high profile lawyer Barry Richard by his spouse, Rep. Alison Tant, a Democrat from Tallahassee. It came about as a result of an experience of a client of his, a Belgian businessman living in Miami who was falsely accused of molesting a child in an apartment complex pool in 2017. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The police investigated the incident and charged the man with child sexual assault, but the state prosecutor declined to file charges for lack of evidence and dropped the case five months later. Richard filed a defamation suit against the parents and grandfather of the child and won a $370,000 jury award for his client in 2023. Because of the publicity surrounding the case, especially the constant broadcasting of his client in an orange jail jumpsuit and chains, his wife and family had to leave Miami, Richard said. Meanwhile, the image of his client in chains remains on the Internet. This doesnt punish the media for anything and does not create a new liability, Richard said. The bill contains language that preserves the medias privilege as long as it acts promptly to remove the offending article. The Internet means it stays up forever, Richard said. This bill says that If you know its not true, you cant keep it up. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Block argued that the bill seeks to punish news outlets for doing their job of covering a criminal investigation and reporting the facts. An acquittal doesnt erase the fact that an arrest was made and charges were filed, he said. If you follow that logic wed have to erase O.J. Simpsons car chase and every report on Casey Anthony from history. Carol LoCicero, a First Amendment attorney from Tampa, said the bill would expand the exposure to punitive damages and increase the statute of limitations on defamation from five to at least 20 years. Sam Morley, general counsel for the Florida Press Association, also said the reasonable person language was a very vague standard. Protected, truthful speech is being forced off the Internet, Morley said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some lawmakers supported the measure because of their own experiences having their past dredged up. As a Lee County Commissioner in 1997, state Rep. Vicki Lopez, R-Miami, was convicted in federal court of one count of honest services mail fraud and served 15 months in prison. The conviction was vacated in 2011. I am maligned constantly about my criminal history, Lopez said. Obviously, I cant be a convicted felon and be sitting here. March 2025 will exit with the potential for tornadoes, hail, damaging winds and severe storms. The storm that brought severe weather across a large portion of the U.S. Sunday is moving east Monday, March 31. Intense storms from Jacksonville to Richmond, Virginia, are possible as storms move toward the coast, according to AccuWeather. Weather alerts via text: Sign up to get updates about current storms and weather events by location Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While the worst storms may impact the Panhandle and North Florida, most of the state could expect anything from rain to gusty winds. Here's what you can expect. Weather watches and warnings issued across the U.S. National weather radar A squall line of thunderstorms is expected to continue to plow eastward into Monday morning, according to AccuWeather. Storms could bring isolated tornadoes, hail and flooding rain. Wind gusts could reach 60 to 70 mph. "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." Weather alerts issued in Florida What's in the forecast for Florida today? Pensacola, Panhandle: A severe thunderstorm watch was issued for parts of Florida, including Pensacola, until 1 p.m. CDT Monday, March 31. A couple of tornadoes are possible, along with isolated hail up to ping-pong ball size. Scattered gusts up to 70 mph are likely, according to the National Weather Service Mobile. Tallahassee: A couple of tornadoes are possible today, along with damaging wind gusts and isolated large hail. Timing is late morning through evening, according to the National Weather Service Tallahassee. Jacksonville, North Florida: There's a potential for strong to severe storms March 31. Threats include isolated tornadoes, thunderstorm wind gusts ranging from 40 to 70 mph, hail and locally heavy rainfall, according to the National Weather Service Jacksonville. Timing is for the afternoon and evening. East central Florida: Expect partly sunny and warm conditions during most of the day. Conditions are favorable for storms to develop between 3 and 9 p.m. Storms could bring gusty winds near 50 mph, small hail and heavy rain, according to the National Weather Service Melbourne. South Florida: After "significant rainfall" Sunday, residents can expect drier conditions March 31 but there will be some isolated to scattered showers/storms later in the afternoon and evening, according to the National Weather Service Miami. Southwest Florida: Isolated late afternoon and evening thunderstorms are expected today across the northern Nature Coast. A couple of storms may be strong with damaging winds, locally heavy rain and small hail, according to the National Weather Service Tampa Bay. What's the difference between a tornado watch and tornado warning? The National Weather Service explained the difference between a tornado watch and tornado warning: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tornado watch: Be prepared. Tornadoes are possible in and near the watch area. Review and discuss your emergency plans, take inventory of your supplies and check your safe room. Be ready to act quickly if a warning is issued or you suspect a tornado is approaching. Acting early helps to save lives! Watches are issued by the Storm Prediction Center for counties where tornadoes may occur. The watch area is typically large, covering numerous counties or even states. Tornado warning: Take action. A tornado has been sighted or indicated by weather radar. There is imminent danger to life and property. Move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If in a mobile home, a vehicle, or outdoors, move to the closest substantial shelter and protect yourself from flying debris. Warnings are issued by your local forecast office. Warnings typically encompass a much smaller area (around the size of a city or small county) that may be impacted by a tornado identified by a forecaster on radar or by a trained spotter/law enforcement who is watching the storm. Current drought conditions in Florida Despite some weekend rain, especially in hardhit South Florida, drought conditions continue to worsen in Florida. The Keetch-Byram Drought Index average was 355 Sunday, March 30, up from 339 March 27. The drought index uses a scale from 0, which is very wet, to 800, which is very dry. As of Monday morning, the Florida Forest Service listed 55 wildfires around the state. Monday : Showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 1 p.m. Some of the storms could be severe. Areas of fog before 10 a.m. High near 76. Southwest wind 5 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible. Monday night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 10 p.m. Partly cloudy, with a low around 65. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming north after midnight. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Follow National Weather Service Mobile on X, formerly known as Twitter Monday : A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 3 p.m. Some of the storms could be severe. Patchy fog before 9am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near 81. South wind 5 to 10 mph. Monday night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 2 a.m. Some of the storms could be severe. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 65. Southwest wind around 5 mph. Follow the National Weather Service Tallahassee on X, formerly known as Twitter Monday : A slight chance of thunderstorms after 5 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 86. Southwest wind 5 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 10%. Monday night: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms before midnight, then a slight chance of showers after 2 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 67. Southwest wind 9 to 11 mph, with gusts as high as 17 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Follow the National Weather Service Jacksonville on X, formerly known as Twitter Monday : A 10 percent chance of showers after 5 p.m. Patchy fog before 10 a.m. Otherwise, mostly sunny, with a high near 84. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph. Monday night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 7 p.m. Partly cloudy, with a low around 66. South wind around 5 mph. Follow the National Weather Service Melbourne on X, formerly known as Twitter Monday : A 10 percent chance of showers after 5 p.m. Patchy fog before 10 a.m. Otherwise, mostly sunny, with a high near 84. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph. Monday night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 10 p.m. Partly cloudy, with a low around 67. South southeast wind around 5 mph. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Follow the National Weather Service Melbourne on X, formerly known as Twitter Monday : A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. Mostly sunny, with a high near 86. South wind 5 to 10 mph. Monday night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 11 p.m. Partly cloudy, with a low around 66. South southeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm. Follow the National Weather Service Melbourne on X, formerly known as Twitter Monday : A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 3 p.m. Sunny, with a high near 79. South wind 7 to 14 mph. Monday night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 11 p.m. Partly cloudy, with a low around 73. South wind 8 to 14 mph. Follow the National Weather Service Miami on X, formerly known as Twitter Monday : A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1 p.m., then a slight chance of showers between 1 p.m. and 2 p.m., then a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2 p.m. Mostly sunny, with a high near 81. South wind 7 to 11 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%. Monday night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 9 p.m. Partly cloudy, with a low around 75. South wind 6 to 8 mph. Follow the National Weather Service Miami on X, formerly known as Twitter Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Monday : Sunny, with a high near 83. Light southeast wind becoming south 5 to 9 mph in the morning. Monday night: Increasing clouds, with a low around 70. Light and variable wind. Follow the National Weather Service Miami on X, formerly known as Twitter Monday : Patchy fog before 10 a.m. Otherwise, mostly sunny, with a high near 87. Calm wind becoming south southwest 5 to 9 mph in the morning. Monday night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 70. West southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening. Follow the National Weather Service Tampa Bay on X, formerly known as Twitter Monday : Patchy fog before 10 a.m. Otherwise, mostly sunny, with a high near 82. South wind 6 to 11 mph. Monday night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 70. South southwest wind around 6 mph. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Follow the National Weather Service Tampa Bay on X, formerly known as Twitter Monday : A 10 percent chance of showers after 5 p.m. Patchy fog before 10 a.m. Otherwise, mostly sunny, with a high near 88. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph. Monday night: A 10 percent chance of showers before 8 p.m. Patchy fog after 4 a.m. Otherwise, partly cloudy, with a low around 68. Southwest wind around 5 mph. Follow the National Weather Service Melbourne on X, formerly known as Twitter Stay informed. Get weather alerts via text What's next? We will continue to update our weather coverage as conditions warrant. Download your local site's app to ensure you're always connected to the news. And look for our special subscription offers here. This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Florida weather radar, forecast: Tornadoes, hail, strong winds For six years, Gov. Ron DeSantis got nearly everything he wanted from the GOP-led Legislature with little pushback. Now, as he seeks to cement his legacy in his last two years in office, DeSantis agenda is getting stymied on several fronts. And House Speaker Daniel Perez, R-Miami, is the one throwing most of the roadblocks in his path as the annual legislative session, now underway, approaches the halfway mark. On multiple issues, DeSantis and Perez are butting heads. DeSantis wants property tax cuts; Perez prefers to slash sales taxes. DeSantis wants a bill to fix a looming condo affordability crisis; Perez doesnt see the urgency. DeSantis wants to codify Hope Florida, the signature project of First Lady Casey DeSantis, into law; a bill finally has its first hearing in the House this week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the meantime, the House is voting to override some of DeSantis budget vetoes, threatening to withhold the salary of one of his agency heads and moving forward with a bill to require department leaders to live in Tallahassee. It comes after a fight over new illegal immigration crackdown laws, in which DeSantis approach was rejected in a special session. A compromise was later agreed to, but showed the governors agenda wasnt a slam dunk in the Capitol anymore. In the immigration fight, however, DeSantis still got much of what he wanted. He also has some allies in the Legislature who have criticized the veto overrides. But DeSantis agenda faces an uncertain path through the Legislature as he charts a course for his political future. Tax cuts Cutting the sales tax and cutting property taxes arent necessarily mutually exclusive. Lawmakers could move forward with both this year. But Perezs proposal to cut the state sales tax by 0.75% could thwart DeSantis stated wish to eliminate all property taxes in Florida over time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Perez said his plan would save consumers $5 billion per year, although a bill hasnt been filed yet and state economists havent scored it for potential impacts on revenues. That would reduce a revenue source DeSantis and other lawmakers could turn to make up the funds from eliminating property taxes over the next eight years. Property tax cuts are trickier to achieve than a reduction in the sales tax, which can be done through the Legislature. Voters must approve increases to homestead property tax exemptions or limits on assessment increases. Several bills have been filed to place those measures on the 2026 ballot, but they would still require 60% approval from voters to pass into law. The Florida Board of Governors is visited by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis as Florida A&M University hosts the board's meetings in its Grand Ball Room on March 26, 2025. Veto overrides The House voted unanimously Wednesday, March 26, to override four budget items vetoed by DeSantis last year, totaling $4.7 million. The Senate hasnt decided whether to take up the items, which include local wastewater projects and funding for a veterans benefits organization. The move irked DeSantis nonetheless. He posted a video on X Thursday bemoaning the votes, and the fact the House hasnt moved forward on much of the rest of his agenda. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Perez has argued the Legislature has overlooked its own power to override vetoes of the Governor. Lawmakers successfully overturned the veto of $57 million in legislative support services by DeSantis during the immigration fight the first budget veto override of a GOP Governor and the first veto override since 2010. Casey DeSantis attends the unveiling of the Holocaust Memorial in Tallahassee, Florida on Tuesday, March 25, 2025. Hope Florida One of the biggest initiatives spearheaded by Casey DeSantis is Hope Florida, which attempts to connect those in need low-income families, single parents, hurricane victims with churches and nonprofits offering support with food banks, finding shelter and other services. The group is funded with private donations and run under DeSantis authority as governor. The bill is up for a hearing in both chambers this week with little more than half of the 60-day session to go. The slow-going comes as Casey DeSantis considers whether to run to replace her husband as governor in 2026. President Donald Trump has already endorsed U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Naples, in the race. Rescuers continue to search through the rubble of the Champlain Towers south condo collapse in Surfside, Florida on Tuesday, June 29, 2021. Condo assessments After the collapse of the Champlain Towers South condo building in Surfside in 2021 that killed 98 people, lawmakers approved sweeping new requirements for condo boards to hold enough reserves to pay for proper maintenance and upgrades to prevent future tragedies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The requirements applied especially to older buildings that have neglected structural repairs over decades, but deadlines for the reserve and maintenance inspection requirements hit this year, pushing up assessments on condo owners. Some received assessments so high they were priced out of their residences. DeSantis initially called on the Legislature to act last year to lessen the blow of the assessments on condo owners, but that push was ignored. He then included the issue in his call for a special session on illegal immigration crackdowns, but that too was rejected. Perez has preferred to approach any changes to the condo law cautiously, saying his primary goal is to prevent a repeat of Surfside. One bill (HB 913) to tighten requirements on maintenance repairs does allow condo boards to borrow some funds and give residents more time to pay off assessments for owners. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thats short of the immediate relief called for by DeSantis, and has major differences with the Senates preferred approach (SB 1742), which would allow condo boards to pause reserve fund contributions for two years if theyve completed required inspections. Florida House Speaker Daniel Perez speaks at a Florida Board of Governors' meeting on FAMU's campus on Wednesday, March 26, 2025. Cars and office space The condo bill (HB 913) is sponsored by Rep. Vicki Lopez, R-Miami, who has also repeatedly clashed with Department of Management Services Secretary Pedro Allende on a variety of issues. As chair of the House State Administration Budget Subcommittee that helps write the DMS spending plan, she released a proposal this week to withhold Allendes salary until he divulges more information about his agencys activities. "Not a dime (of his salary) will be released until he answers," Lopez said Thursday. DMS fired back with a series of X posts defending itself as having been transparent with the committee and lawmakers. Contrary to what was said today, the Department has worked diligently to address all concerns raised by the committee from the very beginning of Session, one of the posts said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lopez has criticized DMS for not keeping track of its vehicle fleet and for canceling office space in the Capitols 21st floor that belonged to the House without notifying them. The office space was used by former U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, who left the space when he became Secretary of State. Rubios successor, Ashley Moody, asked to use the space but the House declined to let her occupy it, leading DMS to cancel the Houses lease on the room. DMS Secretary Pedro Allende speaks during a groundbreaking ceremony held at the site of the new Emergency Operations Center on Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2023. Agency heads Meanwhile, a bill requiring agency heads to live in Leon County, and for members of state boards to live in Florida, is advancing in both chambers. The bill (HB 1445/SB 1760) takes direct aim at several of the leaders of departments under DeSantis, including Allende, who lives in Miami; Florida Surgeon General Joe Ladapo, Secretary of the Department of Health, who lives in Pinellas County; and Florida Lottery Secretary John Davis, who lives in Orlando. (This story was updated Monday to add new information.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gray Rohrer is a reporter with the USA TODAY Network-Florida Capital Bureau. He can be reached at grohrer@gannett.com. Follow him on X: @GrayRohrer. This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Gov. DeSantis faces resistance as House Speaker Perez blocks key bills HANGZHOU, March 31 (Xinhua) -- Yiwu resident Sufyan Marwan Sufyan Mohanmmed, from Yemen, no longer finds himself envying the ease with which Chinese parents are able to keep track of their children's vaccinations. On March 25, Yiwu, a city in east China's Zhejiang Province, introduced the country's first digital vaccine record system for foreigners. Marwan's 1-year-old daughter became the first beneficiary. "When I used to take my child for vaccinations, I had to apply for a paper certificate," the father told Xinhua. "Watching Chinese parents scan their phones while I had to wait anxiously only made me feel envious." The provision of digital vaccine records for foreigners was made possible thanks to the efforts of the provincial and city-level centers for disease control and prevention in Zhejiang. By overcoming various technical and linguistic difficulties, the province has broadened the service coverage of its digital vaccine records to include foreigners. The move has enhanced the convenience and efficiency of vaccination services for foreigners living in Zhejiang, said Lou Xiaoming, deputy director of the provincial center for disease control and prevention. For some, the country's medical advancements mean more than just increased convenience -- they mean survival. Recently, a Facebook post captured one moment of pure relief: Haithan, a Jordanian patient in China, had just received the news that his surgery had been successful, and that he was ready to be discharged from hospital. Haithan's medical journey had been full of twists and turns. Earlier this year, he experienced severe abdominal pain and initially returned home to seek treatment from familiar doctors. However, after two failed surgeries in Jordan, he decided to try his luck in China. Accompanied by his family, Haithan returned to China, where Lou Yanbo at the Fourth Hospital Affiliated to School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, performed a minimally invasive surgery that saw minimal blood loss. The surgery was challenging but proved a success. "I'm a businessman, but this trip to China was not just for business -- it's a life-saving journey," he said. "Yiwu is not only a hub for business opportunities -- it also has top-tier health care, providing support for foreigners like me," he noted. The hospital provides medical services to foreign patients from 188 countries and regions, with foreign outpatient visits totaling 16,000 in 2023 -- the highest number in the province. In recent years, with the continued expansion of medical openness and strengthened international cooperation, the demand for high-quality health care services in China has grown significantly. Yiwu, known as the "world's supermarket," has a large expatriate population and has raised the bar for diversified, international medical services. Increasing numbers of foreigners in Yiwu are benefiting from more efficient and convenient medical services, reflecting the city's rapid advancements in health care, as well as China's commitment to opening up and people-centered development. "Many foreigners like me choose to fly here for treatment. When it comes to our health, we want the best care possible," said Haithan. Florida's new illegal immigration advisory panel is asking President Donald Trump to sign more executive orders to allow state law enforcement to expedite the removal of undocumented immigrants, including those who do not have removal orders or criminal records. The State Immigration Enforcement Council met in Largo on Monday, where chair Grady Judd said local law enforcement needs federal policy change at the highest levels, including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. "It cannot be overstated that ICE must modify its current policy and create proactive rules allowing local and state law enforcement in Florida to help ICE reach their full potential to resolve the immigration crisis," said Judd, the Polk County sheriff. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was an "Immigration 101" session for the council's first meeting, with the state's immigration czar and law enforcement officers sharing their observations, concerns and frustrations as they begin to enforce the state's new immigration laws in collaboration with the feds. Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri was concerned about the constitutionality of one of the immigration laws signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis, and officials voiced frustrations with the federal government, which blocked the state's attempts to have all 67 jails available to house potential immigrant detainees. They lamented that "lawyers got involved" and got "cold feet" because that kind of agreement had never been done before. "Unprecedented and unconventional doesn't mean unlawful," said Larry Keefe, the executive director of the State Board of Immigration Enforcement. Larry Keefe attends the swearing-in ceremony for James Uthmeier, who recently became the Florida Attorney General, Monday, Feb. 17, 2025. Gualtieri said sheriffs came up with an agreement between law enforcement and ICE to house people arrested with a civil immigration charge, but "ICE headquarters" denied their proposal. Currently there are only housing agreements with seven county jails. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Keefe said he and the governor met in Sarasota with Trump and Tom Homan, acting border czar, and later had meetings with with senior ICE leadership, but did not have any update on the jail agreement. As previously reported, Homan told the National Association of Sheriffs conference that the administration plans to lower detention standards, allowing local law enforcement to detain immigrants using state standards instead of more rigorous federal guidelines. "We're rehashing detention standards," he said. "As long as you follow your own state standards, if that's good enough for a U.S. citizen in your county, it's good enough for an illegal immigrant detained for us." There are only 2,000 beds available in Florida, with another 300 becoming available tomorrow in Glades County, Gualtieri said. 'How many of them are there? Where are they?' In his opening remarks, Judd outlined a list of needs for Florida law enforcement: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A waiver of ICE national detention standards and permission to use county and state detention facilities with Florida's jail housing standards. Ability to house detainees for more than 48 hours. Allowing Florida to build temporary housing for more space to house detainees. Fast tracking the training for 287(g) designation of local law enforcement officers. Allowing law enforcement to begin removal enforcement immediately after completing training. Increasing staffing at the Florida Immigration Response Center for 24/7 access to ICE databases. Crafting a policy to immediately detain immigrants who entered the country illegally, regardless of whether have a removal order or a criminal record. "I know this from working with the governor and from what I know about President Trump: It's about success, being a winner. It's about numbers, it's about measurement," Keefe said. "How many people in the state of Florida are ... amenable to deportation? How many of them are there? Where are they? And let's go and make it happen." Florida has magnified its immigration enforcement efforts since Trump took office in January. Both DeSantis and the Florida Legislature had a contentious couple of weeks in early spring as they fought over how to be "ahead of the curve" on illegal immigration. DeSantis later signed a package of bills that increased the penalties for illegal immigration and also created the State Board of Immigration Enforcement, which consists of DeSantis and the three Florida Cabinet officials the attorney general, chief financial officer and agriculture commissioner. Gov. Ron DeSantis signs anti-illegal immigration legislation with Senate President Ben Albritton and Speaker of the House Danny Perez by his side Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025. Keefe, the board's executive director, used to be north Florida's top federal prosecutor and the states public safety czar. He was also heavily involved in the 2022 arranging of flights of migrants from the U.S.-Mexico border to blue states. Keefe, the governor and other officials were involved in a lawsuit after the fact. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Keefe said the state's protocols for hurricane response have served as a blueprint for the transportation and housing of large groups of people. He recommended that Florida Division of Emergency Management Director Kevin Guthrie and the head of the Florida National Guard, Major General John Haas, also attend the immigration council meetings. He also suggested using the Florida National Guard's judge advocate generals (JAGs) as immigration judges, as they can get "authorized relatively rapidly," he said. Also Monday, Keefe was named to the First Judicial Circuit's Judicial Nominating Commission by the governor. 'The governor is very serious' Florida's new immigration laws include a measure that makes it a first-degree misdemeanor to knowingly enter or attempt to enter the state after entering the U.S. by eluding or avoiding examination or inspection by immigration officers. But Gualtieri said the law isn't workable, as it leaves ambiguity as to whether someone has to be charged while entering the state or if being in the state is the crime, and the law requires proof that the person illegally crossed the border. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I don't think you could charge this unless you actually see them enter Florida," he said. Dozens of people fill the seating during a special meeting to rediscuss a memorandum of agreement between United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Fort Myers Police Department at Fort Myers City Hall in Fort Myers, Fla., on Friday, March 21, 2025. Earlier in the meeting, Keefe said "risk aversion" is where the the council will meet its "choke points" in trying to enact the state's new immigration policy. "There are lawyers in some room somewhere, I predict, that are making these judgment calls that become the reason not to do," Keefe said. "There may be a good reason, all I want to do is see it, be transparent and open, so that people know why this isn't happening. If at the end of the day, it turns out to be, 'Well, we might get sued and be lawsuit number 1,562 related to immigration,' then maybe that's where this needs to play out." Grady cautioned the law enforcement leaders that were watching the meeting to listen to all the information, even if it was "in the weeds." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I underscore, I highlight, I put in parentheses, make sure you pay attention to this very detailed law ... (T)he governor is absolutely, unequivocally, along with the attorney general, going to hold any government, any actor, no matter what level, accountable and responsible, if they don't fall follow these laws," Judd said. He added, "The governor is very serious about this and anyone who tries to usurp or defy this law will be held accountable by the appropriate sources." Ana Goni-Lessan, state watchdog reporter for the USA TODAY Network Florida, can be reached at agonilessan@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Florida panel urges Trump to expand immigration enforcement powers TOPEKA (KSNT) Forbes Field is set to host some visitors in early April who will survey the airport to see if it can house a massive military aircraft in the near future. The 190th Air Refueling Wing (ARW) announced in a press release on Monday, March 31 that it will be welcoming a site survey team made up of members from the National Guard Bureau and U.S. Air Force (USAF) in April who will determine if Forbes Field is capable of being a new base for the KC-46A Pegasus. Forbes Field is one of seven finalists being considered to house the massive military refueling aircraft. The KC-46 brings more capability than just fuel to aerial warfare, said Col. Kent Crane, Commander, 190th ARW. This is critical for our Airmen and aircrew who would be fighting in potential future conflicts. KC-46A Pegasus. Taken at Travis AFB, CA, during a day open to the public. (Getty Images) The 190th ARW said the potential for Forbes Field to house the KC-46A Pegasus would lead to a significant impact on the 190th ARW and the local community. It would lead to new opportunities for collaboration and enhance the economic and strategic impact of the organization in the region. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Food shipment to Harvesters canceled amid DOGE cuts Its always exciting getting to showcase the 190th, especially the members of the 190th because theyre so adaptable, theyre innovative, and they excel at everything they do, said Col. Marjorie Durkes, Deputy Commander, 190th ARW. Its so exciting to showcase not only the 190th but the Topeka community and how weve all come together around this. A final decision on the new KC-46A Pegasus basing will come in the fall of 2025. The KC-46 Pegasus is currently set to replace the iconic KC-135 Stratotanker. The USAF describes the KC-46A Pegasus as the next step in revitalizing the aging U.S. tanker fleet. It is recognized for being able to provide greater refueling, cargo and aeromedical evacuation capabilities as compared to the KC-135. The KC-46A Pegasus You can learn more about the aircraft and what it is used for by clicking here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I-70 east in Topeka to shut down for road work next week For more local news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here. Follow Matthew Self on X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/MatthewLeoSelf Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNT 27 News. The former chief of staff for the mayor of Lawrence has been sentenced to federal prison after pleading guilty to child pornography charges in December, the U.S. Attorney said Monday. Jhovanny Martes-Rosario, 50, was sentenced Monday in federal court in Boston to 43 months in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Leah Foley said in a statement. U.S. District Court Chief Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV handed down his sentence. Martes-Rosario pleaded guilty in December to one count of transportation of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography, Foley said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He was indicted by a federal grand jury in April 2023, following his arrest in February of that year. He was also fired from his city position following his arrest. In February 2023, investigators executing a search at Martes-Rosarios home seized an iPad device that contained child pornography files, prosecutors said. Police obtained the search warrant after the State Police Cyber Crime Unit received information from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children about images of child pornography uploaded from an IP address associated with Martes-Rosario. Investigators identified Martes-Rosario as the likely user of Yahoo and Apple accounts containing child pornography, prosecutors said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Martes-Rosario later admitted that he owned the email addresses and that he searched for and downloaded child pornography to his personal iPad and later sent it to his email address for storage, prosecutors. He also admitted he had been searching for and storing child pornography for years, prosecutors said. Former chief of staff to Lawrence mayor pleads guilty to child porn charges Martes-Rosario, a father of three, previously worked as a science teacher for Lawrence Public Schools, as a legislative aide at the State House, and also volunteered with AmeriCorps, according to biographical information provided on a political flier earlier posted on Facebook when Martes-Rosario previously ran for a City Council seat. JHOVANNY MARTES is running for City Council District E because as a Senior Legislative Aide at the State House, and a former teacher at the Lawrence Public Schools, he firmly believes he is ready to represent the district with devotion and commitment, the Facebook post read. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW A former Haitian mayor living in Massachusetts who committed unspeakable acts of violence in Haiti has been convicted of visa fraud for lying about his violent past to secure a green card to live in the United States, the U.S. Attorney said. Jean Morose Viliena, 52, the former Mayor of Les Irois, Haiti, was convicted by a federal jury in Boston of three counts of visa fraud, U.S. Attorney Leah Foley said in a statement on Friday. Chief U.S. District Court Chief Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV scheduled sentencing for June 20. Viliena was indicted by a federal grand jury in March 2023. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prosecutors said Viliena ordered and carried out brutal extrajudicial and political killings against the Haitian people in Haiti. He later lied to immigration officials in 2008 to obtain a permanent resident card in the United States. The political corruption and violence that the people of Haiti endured at the direction of Jean Morose Viliena, is appalling, Foley said. The United States is not where you come to hide from your crimes. Vilienas conviction is proof that running away from your crimes and lying to federal officials will catch up to you. I applaud the courage of the witnesses who spoke up about the abuse they suffered as a result of Viliena, Foley said. Until his arrest two years ago, Viliena had been living in Malden and spent much of three years driving a school bus in the region, The Boston Globe reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Vilienas attorney, Jason Benzaken, argued during his closing remarks on Friday that some of the governments witnesses were gangsters who falsely implicated Viliena in crimes that they had committed, the Globe reported. This is a very heartbreaking verdict, Benzaken told the Globe outside the courtroom after his client was led away in handcuffs. We believe Mr. Viliena is innocent. In another civil case two years ago, another jury at the US District Court in Boston found Viliena liable and ordered him to pay $15.5 million in damages to the victims and families of political opponents he allegedly killed and tortured in Haiti, the Globe reported. He is currently appealing that decision. FILE - Jean Morose Viliena, a former mayor of a town in Haiti, departs federal court, Monday, March 20, 2023, in Boston. (AP Photo/Steven Senne, File) Federal officials commenting on Vilienas conviction on Friday were pleased with the jurys verdict. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A jury found that Jean Morose Viliena lied his way into gaining entrance into the United States after committing unspeakable acts of violence in Haiti, Head of the Justice Departments Criminal Division Matthew Galeotti said in a statement. The Justice Department will not stand for human rights violators illegally entering and roaming the streets of our communities. Thank you to the brave victims and witnesses who helped our law enforcement partners and prosecutors begin to hold Viliena accountable for his crimes, Galeotti said. According to court documents, Viliena was the Mayor of Les Irois, Haiti from December 2006 until February 2010. As a candidate and as mayor, Viliena was backed by a political machine called Korega, which exerts power throughout the southwestern region of Haiti through armed violence, prosecutors said. Viliena personally supervised his mayoral staff and security detail and led an armed group in Les Irois aligned with Korega. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Under Vilienas direct supervision, the Korega militia enforced Vilienas policies by various means, including by targeting political opponents in Les Irois through armed violence, prosecutors said. According to the indictment, as mayor, Viliena was involved in several instances of violence. The first occurred around July 27, 2007 when a witness spoke at a judicial proceeding in Les Irois on behalf of a neighbor who had been assaulted by Viliena. In reprisal for that testimony, that night, Viliena led an armed group to that witness home, where Viliena and his associates shot and killed the witness younger brother, and then smashed his skull with a large rock before a crowd of bystanders, according to the indictment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The second incident occurred in or around April 2008, when a group of local journalists and activists founded a community radio station. According to court documents, Viliena opposed establishment of the radio station and, on April 8, 2008, mobilized members of his staff and the Korega militia to forcibly shut down the radio station and seize its broadcasting equipment. At that time, Viliena distributed firearms to the Korega militia members, some of whom also carried machetes and picks. On the day of the attack on the radio station, Viliena pistol-whipped a person with his gun and struck him with his fists. When the person tried to flee, Viliena ordered one of his associates to shoot and kill him, according to court documents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shots were fired which hit the person in the leg. The victim spent several months in various hospitals and his leg was later amputated above his knee. Another person, also a citizen of Haiti, became a target of Viliena because of his association with the radio station. On the day of the attack of the radio station, that person was present and when he tried to flee, he was hit by a bullet in the face. He required months of intensive medical treatment, including two surgeries to extract shotgun pellets from his face, which left him permanently blind in one eye. According to court documents, pieces of shotgun pellets remain in the victims scalp and arms. Foley said on June 3, 2008, Viliena went to the U.S. Embassy Consular Office in Port au Prince, Haiti, where he submitted an Application for Immigrant Visa and Alien Registration, Form DS-230, Part II in order to gain entry to the United States. The form specifically requires that each applicant state whether or not they are a member of any class of individuals that are excluded from admission into the United States, including those who have ordered, carried out or materially assisted in extrajudicial and political killings and other acts of violence against the Haitian people. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Viliena falsely responded that he was not. Viliena thereafter swore to, or affirmed, before a U.S. Consular Officer that the contents of the application were true and signed the application, Foley said. According to court documents, thereafter, on or about June 4, 2008 and based upon Vilienas false representations in the Application for Immigrant Visa and Alien Registration Form DS-230, the U.S. Department of State approved Vilienas DS-230 application. On or about July 14, 2008 as the result of the approval of his DS-230 application Viliena gained entry into the United States. He was thereafter granted lawful permanent residence status in the United States. Viliena received a Permanent Resident Card. Viliena has continued to possess a Permanent Resident Card and has used such card on numerous occasions to enter the United States, officials said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Viliena knowingly lied to conceal his violent past, deceiving immigration authorities to come to the United States. The brave witnesses who came forward to testify in this case relayed their experiences of extreme violence and oppression committed by Viliena and his associates, Special Agent in Charge Michael J. Krol for Homeland Security Investigations New England said in a statement. Thanks to their testimony, his fraud has been uncovered and he will now face consequences for his violence and deception. Jennifer De La O, Director of Field Operations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Boston Field Office, said in a statement that The men and women of CBP work diligently alongside our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to ensure the safety of the people in our communities. Emigrating to the United States is a privilege and if you conceal your criminal conduct to deceive your way into this country, you will ultimately be detected, held accountable and brought to justice, De La O said. For the charge of visa fraud, Viliena faces a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW A former Kansas police Chief was sentenced to 60 years in federal prison after being convicted of possessing child porn. Joel Womochil, 39, of El Dorado, was sentenced Friday after pleading guilty to two counts of conspiracy to commit sexual exploitation of child/production of child pornography, federal court records show. The charges alleged that between Aug. 9-15 he was in possession of child porn, with one of the 13 videos involving a child under the age of 5 who had a pacifier, court records previously said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The charges each carry 30 years, which are to be served consecutively. He is also being ordered to pay $529,050 in restitution to victims. Womochil had been the Burns Police Department Chief since Feb. 8, 2022. He replaced Chief Stephen Evans, who died in an accident while on duty. He was also employed by the Butler County Sheriffs Office as a detention deputy. Womochil resigned from his post on Aug. 8, 2023, days before being arrested and charged with over a dozen counts of child porn, the Eagle reported. He was arrested the same day El Dorado police received a tip about the child porn from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Burns city officials said they had no clue about the criminal issues until Womochil was arrested. Former Burns city clerk Alexis Hatfield said he was very vague when he offered his resignation to the city council. Womochil said the resignation was not because of any problems he had with the department or city officials. Burns is a city of less than 250 people about 50 miles northeast of Wichita. Plans are underway for a strip retail center on the former Carlo Lorenzettis restaurant in Chicago Heights. Plans were announced on the Facebook page of the Chicago Heights Economic Development Corp. The posting said the city approved a sales agreement of the city-owned property, and that Grand Capital North America will finance plans to build the strip center, which will include multiple stores. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Representatives with the city were not available to comment on the plans. The late Carlo Lorenzetti opened the Chicago Heights restaurant at 560 W. Lincoln Highway in 1986. It closed in June 2020. Called Carlos by some and Lorenzettis by others, the restaurant served Italian-American cuisine. Carlo Lorenzetti died in 2010 at age 79 and his family continued to operate the restaurant. Lorenzetti served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War and began his restaurant career in 1955 with the Harbor Light Restaurant in Chicagos Roseland neighborhood, according to his obituary. Beginning in 1971, Lorenzetti operated a restaurant at 17309 S. Ashland Ave. in East Hazel Crest until a fire destroyed the building in 1986, according to a Chicago Tribune story. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its like stepping back in time, an online reviewer wrote on a travel website after a visit to Lorenzettis in 2016. The restaurants website informed visitors that readers of The Star, Daily Southtown and Chicago Tribune newspapers had often voted for Lorenzettis in best of contests. Accolades included Best Family Restaurant and Best Italian Restaurant in Chicago Southland, according to the restaurants website. Carla Lorenzetti, daughter of Carlo Lorenzetti, told the Daily Southtown in 2016 that she and her siblings began working at the restaurant during summers when they were in high school. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We did whatever it took to help dad out. He loved what he did and boy did it show. We all grew up with it, she said at the time. In 2019, the Lorenzetti family closed Gourmet Pizza by Carlo, a restaurant that the family had operated for 32 years in Flossmoor. The family continues to operate Livios Restaurant in St. John, Indiana. BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) Colombian authorities released former Medellin Cartel boss Carlos Lehder on Monday after a judge ruled that a drug trafficking sentence issued in Colombia against the 75-year-old had expired. Lehder was arrested Friday night shortly after he landed in Bogota's airport, with immigration officials saying he was still wanted in the South American country on drug trafficking charges and weapons smuggling. Lehder became the first Colombian drug trafficker extradited to the United States after he was arrested during a party at his ranch. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The former drug trafficker was extradited to the U.S. in 1987, where he served more than 30 years in prison. In 2020, Lehder was released after serving two-thirds of his U.S. sentence. He was deported to Germany, where he is also a citizen. Lehder had not returned to Colombia since his extradition to the United States. His lawyer, Sondra Macollins said he was attempting to visit relatives when he arrived Friday. He is recovering from cancer, and has high blood pressure problems, Macollins told Colombias Blu radio. We are talking about someone who spent years in dark cells. Colombian authorities convicted Lehder for drug trafficking in 1995, while he was serving the separate sentence at a U.S. prison. The cartel boss was sentenced to 24 years in prison in Colombia, meaning his sentence expired in 2019, according to Colombian law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The son of a German immigrant who arrived in Colombia in the 1920s, Lehder began his criminal career in the 1970s when he lived with relatives in New York City. He used his contacts and his knowledge of English to open cocaine markets for the Medellin Cartel and became a key ally of its boss Pablo Escobar. Lehder bought land in the Bahamas that became a crucial stopover point for cocaine flights. In Colombia, he owned a luxurious rural hotel known as the Posada Alemana, which had caged lions on its grounds and a large statue of Lehders favorite musician, John Lennon. In the U.S., Lehder was initially sentenced to life in prison but managed to reduce his sentence by providing U.S. investigators with information that was used to prosecute Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega. MONTICELLO, Ill. (WCIA) A former Monticello police officer accused of child pornography crimes has pleaded guilty to two of the charges against him. Piatt County court records show that William Craig Griswold and his attorney, Public Defender George Vargas, reached a plea deal with prosecutors earlier this month. Griswold pleaded guilty to reproducing child pornography depicting a victim under the age of 13. Griswold was arrested by the Illinois State Police in August following a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). The Monticello Police Department confirmed that Griswold was one of its officers and that he was put on unpaid administrative leave following his arrest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Griswold resigned the day after his arrest was announced. The Illinois Attorney Generals Office co-prosecuted the case along with the Piatt County States Attorneys office. They charged Griswold with four Class X felony counts two of reproducing a moving depiction of child pornography and two of reproducing child pornography depicting a victim under the age of 13. Court records show that Griswold was denied pretrial release following his arrest. The case moved through the pretrial phase and on March 4, Vargas and prosecutors negotiated a deal that was formally entered into the record on March 18. Police investigating incident in bathroom at Pana High School Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Griswold pleaded guilty to reproducing child pornography depicting a victim under the age of 13. On the states motion, the judge dismissed the other two counts against him. Under Illinois law, Griswold faces between 6 to 30 years for each count he pleaded guilty to. He will also be required to register as a sex offender for life. A sentencing hearing has been scheduled for May 27. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCIA.com. PAXTON, Ill. (WCIA) A former Paxton pharmacist is facing charges alleging that she illegally possessed a controlled substance outside of her job with the intent of delivering it. WCIAs partners at the Ford County Chronicle reported that Jenna Lee Vogel was charged on Feb. 24 with two counts of the crime one Class X and the other Class 3. She is the former owner and head pharmacist of the now-closed Dougs Compounding Pharmacy. The charges allege that Vogel knowingly possessed with the intent to deliver 100 grams or more of a substance containing hydrocodone, as well as an amount of amphetamine, on or around March 10, 2023. A complaint filed by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation said that it was the date when DEA investigators removed thousands of controlled substances from Vogels home. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Former Monticello police officer pleads guilty to child porn charges The Chronicle reported that the complaint said the DEA seized medications in their original manufacture bottles, unlabeled vials, containers of compounded creams and products with and without product name, and loose tablets and capsules in the bottoms of bags and totes. Only some of them were Vogels prescriptions. The complaint also said that three days later, Vogels then-husband turned over to the DEA some of the antihypertensive drug Clonidine that had been found in their home. Dougs had purchased 50,000 tablets of Clonidine but never sold them before the pharmacy closed three months earlier; the Chronicle said Vogel defaulted on the property mortgage, resulting in foreclosure. The complaint also mentioned that around the same time, the childcare providers of Vogels children noticed they were sleepy and lethargic. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ultimately, the complaint led to a finding that Vogel posed an imminent danger to the public, and her registered pharmacist license was revoked, effective May 5, 2023. Two years later, Vogel is facing criminal charges. Paxtons Hudson Drug and Hallmark Shop celebrates 75th Anniversary The Chronicle reported that she was issued on March 7 a notice to appear in court and she made her first appearance on March 25 for arraignment. At the conclusion of the hearing, Judge Matt Fitton allowed Vogel to remain out of custody with conditions. She cant leave Illinois without permission from the court, she must refrain from using controlled substances that are not prescribed to her, and she has to obtain a psychological evaluation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Vogel is due back in court on June 9 for a pretrial hearing. If convicted of the Class X charge, Vogel could be sentenced from six to 30 years in prison. The Class 3 charge carried a sentencing range of probation to 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 WCIA.com. READING, Pa. (WHTM) Call it a homecoming. Former Pennsylvania Secretary of Education Khalid Mumin is returning to a position hed held for seven years. Earlier this week, the Reading School District announced his appointment as superintendent of the largest school district in Berks County. He served in that position from 2014 through 2021 and reassumes the post on July 1, 2025. He succeeds Dr. Jennifer Murray, who will step down on June 13. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I am elated to return to the Red Knight family, as we continue our great work with passion and purpose to prepare our students for infinite possibilities of success, said Mumin. The Board of Directors is excited to welcome Dr. Mumin back to Reading, said Dr. Noahleen Betts, Board President. There will be a seamless transition as Dr. Mumin continues the progress made by my fellow Board Members, Dr. Murray and her Administration over the last three and a half years. We thank Dr. Murray for leading the District and wish her the best in her future endeavors. Mumin holds a Doctor of Education in educational leadership from the University of Pennsylvania, a Master of Education in Teaching & Curriculum from Pennsylvania State University, and a Bachelor of Arts in Secondary English Education from Shippensburg University. Download the abc27 News+ app on your Roku, Amazon Fire TV Stick, and Apple TV devices Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mumin served as Secretary of Education in the Shapiro administration from January 2023 until December 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 ABC27. BEIJING, March 31 (Xinhua) -- The People's Bank of China, the country's central bank, on Monday said that it conducted outright reverse repos worth 800 billion yuan (about 111.45 billion U.S. dollars) in March to maintain ample liquidity in the banking system. In March, the central bank conducted three-month reverse repos totaling 500 billion yuan and six-month reverse repos totaling 300 billion yuan, it said in a statement. Outright reverse repos -- a tool the central bank introduced in October 2024 to manage liquidity in the banking system -- are carried out once each month with a tenor of no more than one year. The new tool has enriched the country's monetary policy toolkit following the introduction of temporary repos, temporary reverse repos, and the buying and selling of treasury bonds. PARIS (AP) U.S. government efforts to eliminate diversity initiatives are not going down well on the European continent. Laurent Saint-Martin, France's minister for foreign trade, said on Monday the country won't compromise after the U.S. State Department said that French companies who have contracts with the U.S. government need to drop diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. In neighboring Belgium, where some companies received similar requests, the government lashed out at the new U.S. rules. French media reported last week that French companies received a letter saying U.S. President Donald Trumps rollback of DEI initiatives also could apply outside of the U.S. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Saint-Martin spoke to RTL Radio following the reports and said French authorities will seek explanations from their U.S. counterparts about the letter. The reported demands included abandoning inclusion policies that are part of French and European Union laws such as equality between men and women, the fight against discrimination and racism or the promotion of diversity to help people with disabilities, he said. All of this is progress that corresponds first and foremost to our French values, we are proud of this and we dont want to compromise on it, Saint-Martin said. We cant just cancel the application of our own laws overnight. French media said the letter was signed by an officer of the U.S. State Department who is on the staff at the U.S. Embassy in Paris. The embassy didnt respond to questions from The Associated Press. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce, speaking to reporters at a briefing in Washington, confirmed that letters were sent. This is an effort to comply with the executive order from the president and it is essentially a self-certifying statement to local consulates and embassies," she said. Le Figaro daily newspaper published what it said was a copy of the letter. The document said an executive order that Trump signed in January terminating DEI programs within the federal government also applies to all suppliers and service providers of the U.S. Government, regardless of their nationality and the country in which they operate. The document asked U.S. government contractors to complete, sign and return within five days a separate certification form to demonstrate that they are in compliance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Saint-Martin said he was deeply shocked but insisted on the need to have a positive agenda and maintain a dialogue with the U.S. In Belgium, Finance Minister Jan Jambon said Europeans have a culture of non-discrimination that must be continued. We have no lessons to learn from the boss of America, he told channel RTL-TVi. In a joint statement quoted by local media, Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot and Equal Opportunities Minister Rob Beenders regretted the "step backward taken by the U.S. Diversity and inclusion are not just buzzwords, but the foundations of a strong and dynamic society, they said. They strengthen our economy, foster innovation and allow talent to flourish. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Spain, Barcelonas mayor said last week that his municipal government will defy Trumps attack on DEI initiatives that have included a cultural program hosted by the city. Trump issued the executive order to roll back the programs with federal funding, including those receiving U.S. government aid abroad. The Barcelona-based program is one of 700 American Spaces located in 140 countries. They offer English-language and other courses to adults and children, information and materials about the U.S. and counseling for foreign students hoping to enroll at U.S. schools and universities. The News Marine Le Pen, the face of Frances far-right movement and three-time presidential candidate, was banned from running for office for five years with immediate effect after being found guilty of embezzlement by a Paris court on Monday. Prosecutors accused Le Pen, the National Rally party, and 24 other individuals including current and former French lawmakers and European Parliament members of using 4.5 million (about $4.8 million) of European Parliament funds to pay parliamentary staffers for work on the partys domestic affairs rather than EU business from 2004 to 2016. Le Pen was also sentenced to a four-year prison term, with two of the years suspended and the other two to be served outside jail with an electronic tag. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She is set to appeal the verdict, and a judge could still decide to overturn the ban on her running for office, according to Politico. SIGNALS Verdict sows chaos in National Rally, but could boost its support Sources: The Guardian, Le Monde The verdict is a political earthquake that has generated chaos within an unprepared National Rally, The Guardian wrote. Discussions of the prospect that the ruling could stop Le Pen from running for president in 2027 were taboo within her party, Le Monde reported, and as proof of her confidence that the verdict could not shake her political ambitions, Le Pen ramped up threats to block the government in recent months. But while Le Pens mission to make her far-right party appear mainstream is damaged, the criminal conviction serves to reinforce her victimisation narrative that the elite are out to get her, The Guardian argued, and could even boost support for her, a la Donald Trump in the US. The global far right is unlikely to be hampered Sources: Politico, France24, The Economist Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While Marine Le Pen could be permanently shunned from the political limelight, her movement is set for a long life, Politico argued: Le Pen was instrumental in bringing the far right into the political mainstream, with her long-held stances on immigration and culture war issues now being parroted by several centrist politicians. Her allies across the continent have rallied behind her after the verdict, with Hungarys Viktor Orban posting Je suis Marine! on X. While the National Rally which is the largest single group in the National Assembly after Julys elections could face reputational damage, the verdict could nourish Le Pens anti-establishment message serving as a powerful force for populist politicians in the US and Europe, The Economist wrote. Even Le Pens opponents question the verdict Sources: The Associated Press, Reuters, The Spectator The verdict not only drew fury from Europes far right, but prompted some of Le Pens fiercest critics to question if the court had overstepped, The Associated Press reported: French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou who last year was cleared of similar allegations said he was troubled by the ruling and the response from Frances far-left partywas more measured than expected, with the message that Le Pens fate should have been decided by the ballot instead. Other Western democracies would have interpreted the actions that brought down Le Pen as entirely ordinary, a lawyer argued in the conservative UK magazine, The Spectator, while a Reuters columnist suggested that the verdict risks poisoning the French political debate for years to come. Marine Le Pen, the far-right French politician, was banned from running for office Monday after being convicted of embezzlement in criminal court, the Associated Press reported. A Paris court returned the verdict on Monday. It will prevent La Pen from running in the 2027 presidential election unless she wins on appeal. If upheld, Le Pen will also be barred from seeking any other office for five years. Jordan Bardella, Le Pens 29-year-old protege who is likely to move to lead the far-right National Rally after LePen, claimed on social media that French democracy has been executed. Other far-right European leaders, like Viktor Orban, the Hungarian prime minister, also voiced support for Le Pen. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Alongside Le Pen, twelve assistants where convicted of concealing the embezzlement, which the court estimated to be to the tune of 2.9 million Euros, about $3.1 million. Le Pen was also sentenced to four years in prison and a fine of 100,000 Euros, about $108,000. "The court took into consideration, in addition to the risk of reoffending, the major disturbance of public order if a person already convicted... was a candidate in the presidential election," said Benedicte de Perthuis, the presiding judge. Since the partys creation in 1972, the National Rally has always been led by either Le Pen or her father, Jean-Marie Le Pen, who died earlier this year. Recent polling had indicated that Le Pen was the leading candidate in the 2027 presidential election. A criminal court in Paris found French far-right nationalist politician Marine Le Pen guilty in an embezzlement case on Monday. A sentence has not yet been handed down and it remains unclear how the verdict might impact her political career. In addition to a jail sentence and a fine, the prosecution has demanded that Le Pen be banned from standing for election for five years. The central accusation was that Le Pen's National Rally party received money from the European Parliament for parliamentary assistants who were actually working either partly or wholly for the party itself. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The case was viewed as a major setback in Le Pen's efforts to normalize the party's image. A total of 28 defendants were accused in the case, which is said to involve a sum of almost 7 million ($7.3 million). The allegations, which relate to the years 2004 to 2016, have dogged Le Pen and her party for years. A criminal court in Paris found French far-right nationalist politician Marine Le Pen guilty of embezzling EU funds on Monday. A sentence has not yet been handed down and it remains unclear how the verdict might impact her political career. The judge also delivered guilty verdicts to eight other members of her party who, like Le Pen, served as lawmakers in the European Parliament. Additionally, 12 parliamentary assistants were found guilty. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The court is expected to rule on whether Le Pen is eligible to run in the 2027 presidential election. Le Pen expected to appeal verdict She is expected to appeal the ruling, setting the stage for a potentially lengthy legal battle. "It is my political death that is being sought," Le Pen has said in response to the prosecution's demand that she be immediately barred from standing for political office. This decision would dash her hopes of competing again in the next presidential election in 2027. Prosecution asking for jail sentence and fine Le Pen and her co-defendants face up to 10 years in prison. In addition to a jail sentence and a fine, the prosecution has demanded that Le Pen be banned from standing for election for five years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The central accusation was that Le Pen's National Rally party received money from the European Parliament for parliamentary assistants who were actually working either partly or wholly for the party itself. The case was viewed as a major setback in Le Pen's efforts to normalize the party's image. A total of 28 defendants were accused in the case, which is said to involve a sum of almost 7 million ($7.3 million). Le Pen paid back 330,000 to the European Parliament in 2023. However, her party emphasized that this was not an admission of misconduct. The allegations, which relate to the years 2004 to 2016, have dogged Le Pen and her party for years. Le Pen has always rejected accusations Le Pen has consistently denied the accusations against her. "I do not feel that I have committed the slightest irregularity or illegality," she stated during the trial. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The court case comes at a particularly inopportune time for France's right-wing nationalist party, which has been steadily gaining momentum and is now more strongly represented in parliament than ever before. The Front National, founded by her late father Jean-Marie Le Pen, was rebranded as the National Rally in 2018 by Marine Le Pen, who shifted the partys focus away from extreme positions in an effort to broaden its appeal and make it electable to a wider segment of the population. Marine Le Pen, the figurehead of the ascendant far-right political movement in France, was hit with a non-custodial prison sentence and barred from running in elections for five years on Monday as a court found her guilty of embezzling European Union funds to pay members of her National Rally party's staff. In handing down the sentence, the judge said the public office ban would take effect immediately. "The court took into consideration, in addition to the risk of reoffending, the major disturbance of public order if a person already convicted ... was a candidate in the presidential election," judge Benedicte de Perthuis, was quoted as saying by the French news agency AFP. De Perthuis also sentenced Le Pen to four years in prison but said that part of her sentence would be served as house arrest, with her wearing an electronic tag, not in a prison. The judge suspended two of the four years of the prison sentence. He also fined her more than $100,000. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Le Pen, speaking to French TV channel TF1 in her first reaction to the verdict, said she would appeal and called the ruling a "political" move aimed at preventing her from running in the 2027 presidential election. Marine Le Pen, the leader of the parliamentary group of the far-right French Rassemblement National (RN) party, leaves the Paris courthouse after her trial on March 31, 2025 in Paris, France. / Credit: Mustafa Yalcin/Anadolu via Getty Images She said the court should not have made her ineligible to run for office until all her chances at appeal had been exhausted. "If that's not a political decision, I don't know what is," she said. Le Pen would remain ineligible to be a candidate until the appeal is decided, but the house arrest and fine would be suspended during the appeals process. Le Pen said she would ask that the court proceedings take place before the 2027 campaign. Only an appellate ruling that overturns the ban on public office could restore her hopes of running. But, there's no guarantee that an appeals court would rule more favorably, and appeals in France can take several years to conclude. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rodolphe Bosselut, Le Pen's lawyer, said he was "appalled" by the court's decision, calling it "extremely scandalous." He also vowed to launch an appeal against the guilty verdict. Recent polling has shown Le Pen likely would have won at least a first round in France's next national election, though it is much less clear how she would have fared in a second round against a more moderate candidate. Far-right political figures across Europe including the Netherlands' Geert Wilders and Italy's Matteo Salvini condemned the verdict Monday. In Russia, meanwhile, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov claimed Le Pen's sentencing was evidence of European nations "going down the path of trampling over democratic norms." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Of course, we do not want to interfere in France's internal affairs, we have never done so, and this is France's internal affair," said Peskov, "but in general, our observations of European capitals show that they are not at all reluctant to go beyond democracy during the political process." Le Pen, 56, garnered 41% of the ballots in the last French presidential election in 2022 beaten decisively by current President Emmanuel Macron and she has made no secret of her desire to run again for the nation's highest office. Sat in the front row of the Paris court, Le Pen whispered "incredible" as the judge detailed his reasoning for the guilty verdict. She walked out of the court before the sentences were announced. Le Pen, along with eight current or former party members, had faced up to 10 years in prison on the embezzlement charges. A dozen others who served as parliamentary aides for the National Rally party, formerly the National Front, also received guilty verdicts for their role in the scheme. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The judge said Le Pen and her colleagues did not enrich themselves personally but called the embezzlement "a democratic bypass" that duped the French parliament and voters. He said Le Pen was at the center of "a system" used to siphon off EU money intended to pay EU parliamentary aides, to instead pay party staff between 2004 and 2016. Le Pen has denied any wrongdoing, claiming prosecutors were "only interested" in barring her from the presidential election. She told La Tribune Dimanche newspaper on Sunday, before the verdict was handed down, that the judges had "the right of life or death over our movement." Le Pen may have no choice now but to cede her party's presidential ambitions to its current president, Jordan Bardella, a 29-year-old who took over as National Rally leader in 2021. Editor's note: An earlier version of this story mischaracterized the appeals process. Le Pen says she will appeal. 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 (NewsNation) Frank Bisignano, President Donald Trumps nominee to head the Social Security Administration, is facing criticism due to his involvement in a federal downsizing initiative that has prompted widespread office closures, phone service cutbacks and layoffs. While Republicans generally support Bisignanos nomination, some Senate Democrats have said Bisignano should withdraw his nomination. If confirmed, Bisignano would assume leadership of an agency currently undergoing a major reorganization driven by the Trump administration and Department of Government Efficiency. Who is Frank Bisignano and why is his nomination controversial? Bisignano, a Wall Street veteran and one-time defender of corporate policies to protect LGBTQ+ people from discrimination, has served as chairman of Fiserv, a payments and financial services tech firm, since 2020. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He told CNBC in February that he is fundamentally a DOGE person, but the objective isnt to touch benefits. Musk: Giving out $1M checks to get attention from legacy media On Tuesday, Bisignano was called to account for the recent upheaval at the SSA, which has taken center stage in the debate over the usefulness of DOGE cuts to taxpayer services and their effect on the social welfare program long regarded as the third rail of national politics. His nomination has been met with backlash over his lack of relevant experience, privatization concerns and political and ideological concerns. Nancy Altman, president of Social Security Works, said Tuesdays hearing showed that Frank Bisignano is not the cure to the DOGE-manufactured chaos at the Social Security Administration. In fact, he is part of it and, if confirmed, would make it even worse. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Asked during the hearing whether Social Security should be privatized, Bisignano responded: Ive never heard a word of it, and Ive never thought about it. How do Frank Bisignanos political donations affect his nomination? Along with his wife, Tracy, Bisignano has contributed to the campaigns of those who helped elect Trump and both Democratic and Republican congressional candidates over the years, according to NJ Spotlight News. Since the early 2000s, the Bisignanos have donated about $2.67 million to federal campaigns or political spending groups such as political action committees. In 2019, the couple also made two $125,000 donations to a super PAC supporting Trump. Ron Johnson calls on John Roberts to rein in activist judges Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The largest donation came from Tracy Bisigano, who contributed $924,600 to a super PAC backing Trumps 2024 election. Bisignano has donated to at least nine senators who will vote on his confirmation, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York. What is DOGE and how is it affecting Social Security? The SSA has taken center stage in the debate over the usefulness of DOGE cuts to taxpayer services. Later that month, the agency announced plans to cut 7,000 people from the agency payroll through layoffs, employee reassignments and an offer of voluntary separation agreements as part of an intensified effort to shrink the size of the federal workforce through DOGE. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Most recently, the agencys acting commissioner, DOGE supporter Leland Dudek, announced a plan to require in-person identity checks for millions of new and existing recipients while simultaneously closing government offices. That sparked a furor among lawmakers, advocacy groups and program recipients who are worried that the government is placing unnecessary barriers in front of an already vulnerable population. Iran has rejected direct negotiations with the US in response to Trumps letter The upheaval has made its way to the courts. A federal judge on Thursday temporarily blocked DOGE from Social Security systems that hold personal data on millions of Americans, calling the groups work there a fishing expedition. The order also requires the team to delete any personally identifiable data in its possession. The Social Security program faces a looming bankruptcy date if it is not addressed by Congress. The May 2024 trustees report states that Social Securitys trust funds will be unable to pay full benefits beginning in 2035. Then, Social Security would only be able to pay 83% of benefits, absent changes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Roughly 72.5 million people, including retirees and children, receive Social Security benefits. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation. KANSAS CITY, Mo. Jackson County Executive Frank White has initiated an independent investigation into Legislator Manuel Abarcas alleged misconduct. On Wednesday, March 26, White wrote a letter to members of the Jackson County Legislature regarding the numerous reports hes received over the past several months about Abarcas unprofessional, hostile and demeaning conduct. Man charged with murder in connection to shooting of KC store owner Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These concerns came to a head this past weekend, when one of our associates received an email from Legislator Abarca that was both inappropriate and threatening, White wrote in the letter. White said, in the email, Abarca made personal attacks and explicitly threatened to eliminate the employees position. This is not an isolated incident, White wrote. He said concerns that were raised in the past have not resulted in meaningful or lasting change. Let me be clear: no associate of Jackson County should ever be subjected to harassment, intimidation or retaliationespecially from an elected official, White wrote. Accordingly, I am declaring this an emergency under the authority vested in my office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I am initiating a comprehensive, independent investigation into the treatment of County associates and residents by Legislator Abarca. White said the investigation will be conducted by external professionals with appropriate expertise in workplace behavior, legal standards and organizational culture. If the investigation reveals that Abarcas actions created a hostile environment, and if the Legislature fails to act, White said I will take any and all necessary steps to protect our associates including reassigning or withdrawing staff from direct support roles. Monday afternoon, FOX4 spoke with Abarca, who shared the emails that he believes are at the center of the complaints. In them, Abarca is requesting a Microsoft Teams link to meetings that he couldnt attend in-person. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Abarcas discussions were with an IT and communications worker that FOX4 decided not to name. The legislator argued it was taking too long for them to send him the link. Abarca replied to the communications and IT worker via email, saying that if they couldnt get him the Teams link sooner, hed gladly ensure changes are made through this cursory budget process. But Abarca denies claims that he was threatening to fire the employee. Nowhere [do] I say, I will fire you,' Abarca said Monday. But it is pretty ridiculous to make the broad assumption there that its targeting. The goal was, We need efficiency. We need to operateon the top of our games. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Every other form of government that Ive been a part of, staff have been jovial to assist elected officials because we are the ones closest to voters in some way. Abarca said he believes Whites letter has to do with the communitys effort to recall the county executive. Although White wouldnt talk to us on Monday, he did speak with FOX4 on Thursday before heading to Opening Day at Kauffman Stadium. White said the recall has to do with the fact he was on the Vote No side of the April stadium sales tax election. If you examine itits being sponsored by Heavy Constructors Association, he said last week. What does the Heavy Constructors Association have to do with property tax? So youve got a recall thats going to the taxpayers to say, Hey, you need to recall Frank Whitebecause of the assessment process.' Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement White said he believes some county officials are using the recall as a way to handpick a county executive that will push forward their agenda. But the taxpayers are smarter than that, White told FOX4. In the letter regarding Abarca, White proposed that the Legislature work with him to: Implement mandatory anti-harassment and respectful workplace training for all legislators and legislative staff. Establish clear written standards of conduct for interactions with County associates. Commit to respecting and supporting Human Resources recommendations moving forward. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) Early cancer detection can save lifes. The University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC) Cancer Center and Research Institute announced the See, Test and Treat event will take place on Saturday, April 5. The event will provide free cervical, breast, oral and lung cancer screenings for qualifying uninsured and underinsured women and men. The CCRI and the College of American Pathologists Foundation will host the event from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at the CCRI outpatient clinics at the Jackson Medical Mall. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Utah woman receives 100 cancer treatments, living far beyond doctors expectations Cancer screenings and education will include age-appropriate mammograms for women ages 40-64 and cervical cancer screening with a Pap test for women ages 21-64. Additionally, oral and lung cancer screenings will be available for men and women: oral cancer screenings for those ages 21-64 and lung cancer screenings for those ages 50-80 who are current or former smokers. Eligible participants will receive a free low-dose CT screening exam. Participants will receive prompt results to ensure timely follow-up. Clinicians will be on site to discuss any findings or to answer questions regarding follow-up care. Registration remains open for the event. Potential participants can call 601-815-3572 to determine eligibility and to schedule an appointment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily News Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJTV. Members of the China Search and Rescue Team transfer a female survivor at the Great Wall Hotel quake site in Mandalay city, Myanmar, March 31, 2025. China Search and Rescue Team successfully recovered a female survivor at the Great Wall Hotel quake site in Mandalay city, Myanmar, early on Monday. (Xinhua/Cai Yang) MANDALAY, Myanmar, March 31 (Xinhua) -- China Search and Rescue Team successfully recovered a female survivor at the Great Wall Hotel quake site in Mandalay city, Myanmar, early on Monday. The Chinese rescue team rescued the survivor after more than five hours of intense work. The survivor had been trapped for nearly 60 hours and had good vital signs when rescued. This was the first survivor rescued by China Search and Rescue Team after they arrived in the hard-hit Mandalay city late on Sunday. Another Chinese rescue team from Yunnan on Sunday morning rescued a survivor in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar's capital city, which was also severely-affected in Friday's earthquake. YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) Youngstown will once again host its free Kids Summer Camp this year. Read next: WARN notice issued, 143 Insight employees furloughed The Youngstown Parks and Recreation Department announced Monday that the camp will run from June 9 to August 8, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, at Wick Park. The camp is open to kids ages 5-13 and features a variety of activities including swimming, sports, arts and crafts, and more. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pre-registration is now open. Applications can be picked up at the following locations: Youngstown Parks and Recreation Office, City Hall, 26 S. Phelps St., Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Richard W. and Eugenia C. Atkinson Recreational Center, 903 Ohio St., Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Youngstown Parks and Rec is hiring camp staff for the summer for those 16 years old and older. For more information contact Micaela Brown, recreational programs supervisor, at mbrown@youngstownohio.gov or call the park office at 330-742-8711. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com. A judge ruled on Monday that French far-right nationalist politician Marine Le Pen is barred from seeking public office, effective immediately. The ruling, which could upend the possibility of her running for president in 2027, came shortly after Le Pen was found guilty of embezzling EU funds. She is expected to appeal the ruling, setting the stage for a potentially lengthy legal battle. Le Pen said during the Paris criminal trial that prosecutors were seeking her "political death." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The central accusation was that Le Pen's National Rally party received money from the European Parliament for parliamentary assistants who were actually working either partly or wholly for the party itself. The judge on Monday also delivered guilty verdicts to eight other members of her party who, like Le Pen, served as lawmakers in the European Parliament. Additionally, 12 parliamentary assistants were found guilty. PARIS (AP) A French court on Monday convicted Marine Le Pen of embezzlement and barred her from seeking public office for five years a hammer blow to the far-right leaders presidential hopes and an earthquake for French politics. Le Pen denounced the verdict in an interview with French TV channel TF1 as a political move aimed at preventing her from running in the 2027 presidential election and said that millions of French people are outraged. She described the ruling as a violation of the rule of law, said she would appeal and asked that the court proceedings take place before the 2027 campaign. She would remain ineligible to be a candidate until the appeal is decided. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Le Pen also was given four years imprisonment, with two to be served under house arrest and two suspended - which would not apply pending appeal. Major political implications The court ruling was a political as well as a judicial temblor for France, hobbling one of the leading contenders to succeed President Emmanuel Macron at the end of his second and final term. So broad were the political implications that even some of Le Pen's opponents said the Paris court had gone too far. But its too early to say how the case will affect voters. The potential elimination of Le Pen could fire up diehard supporters, just as U.S. Presidents Donald Trumps legal problems motivated some of his. But it could also leave her on the sidelines, deflating what had been her upward trajectory. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Le Pen said the court should not have made her ineligible to run for office until all her chances at appeal had been exhausted, and that by doing so it was clear the court was aiming specifically to prevent her from being elected president. "If thats not a political decision, I dont know what is, Le Pen said in the TF1 interview. She said the ruling marked a fateful day for our democracy but vowed to keep pursuing what she called the now admittedly narrow path to the presidency. There are millions of French people who believe in me, millions of French people who trust me, she added: For 30 years Ive been fighting for you, and for 30 years Ive been fighting against injustice, so Im going to continue fighting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Le Pen left the court before the sentencing Le Pen herself was not around to hear the chief judge pronounce the sentence that threw her career into a tailspin. By then, the 56-year-old politician had already strode out of the courtroom. Her supporters quickly expressed their disapproval of the verdict. Jordan Bardella, her 29-year-old protege who could replace her on the ballot in 2027 if she cannot run, said on X that Le Pen was being unjustly condemned and that French democracy was being executed. Hungarys populist prime minister, Viktor Orban, quickly took to social media to express his support, posting Je suis Marine! I am Marine on X. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Among political opponents of Le Pen who expressed unease was conservative lawmaker Laurent Wauquiez, who said the verdict put a very heavy weight on our democracy. A political death scenario The sentence could prevent Le Pen from making what would have been her fourth run for the presidency in 2027, a scenario she has previously described as a political death. The partys most recognized figurehead and a formidable campaigner, Le Pen was runner-up to Macron in the 2017 and 2022 presidential elections, and her partys electoral support has grown in recent years. Only an appellate ruling that overturns the ban on public office could restore her hopes of running. But with the election just two years away, time is running out. Theres no guarantee that an appeals court would rule more favorably, and appeals in France can take several years to conclude. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The verdict was a resounding defeat for Le Pen's National Rally party, formerly the National Front. She and 24 other party officials were 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. A system to siphon off EU money The judge handed down guilty verdicts to eight other current or former members of her party who, like Le Pen, previously served as European Parliament lawmakers. Also convicted were 12 people who served as parliamentary aides and three others. Only one defendant was acquitted. All had denied wrongdoing during the nine-week trial that took place in late 2024. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The chief judge said Le Pen had been at the heart of a system that her party used to siphon off EU parliament funds, though she said they didn't enrich themselves personally. The ruling described the embezzlement as a democratic bypass" that deceived the parliament and voters. From the front row of the court, Le Pen showed no immediate reaction when the judge first declared her guilty. But she grew more agitated as the verdict was delivered in greater detail. She shook her head in disagreement as the judge said Le Pens party illegally used European funds for its own benefit. Incredible, she whispered at one point. She then left without warning, picking up her bag and striding out, her heels clicking on the hardwood floor. The abrupt departure left many in the courtroom in disbelief as they turned their heads toward the door. The electoral ineligibility takes effect immediately, but the house arrest is suspended while she appeals. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Le Pen also serves as a lawmaker in France's National Assembly, a role not affected by the ineligibility ruling that she can keep for now. But if Macron dissolves parliament again, as he did last year, and calls early legislative elections, she would be barred from running. ___ Leicester reported from Le Pecq, France. Thomas Adamson in Paris and Justin Spike in Budapest contributed. Marine Le Pen, the well-known French far-right leader who ran for president three times and earned an unprecedented score for her Rassemblement National (National Rally) party in the 2022 election, has been barred from running for office for the next five years by a French criminal court. Prosecuted for embezzlement of public funds and complicity in the embezzlement of public funds, Le Pen was also sentenced to four years in prison, including two years during which she will be forced to wear an electronic bracelet. Shes also received a fine of 100,000 euros. Within an hour of the verdict, Le Pens lawyer announced she will file an appeal. More from Variety Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Le Pen, who is the president of the Rassemblement National deputies in the National Assembly, had vowed to thrive in the 2027 race. As a result of the sentence, she wont be allowed to run in neither the presidential nor the legislative elections. Le Pen has been accused of having hired four fictitious assistants when was a member of European Parliament from 2004 to 2017 who allegedly worked for the Front National (which was rebranded as Rassemblement National in 2018). As such, the assistants were paid by the European Parliament rather than her own party. In his verdict, the criminal court argued that Le Pen played a central role in the alleged embezzlement scheme and said it had taken into consideration, in addition to the risk of recidivism, the major disturbance to public order, in this case the fact that a person already convicted at first instance is a candidate in the presidential election, according to Le Monde. With Le Pen ousted from potential candidates in the next presidential election, Jordan Bardella, the popular 28-year-old president of the National Rally party who led the European elections in 2024, is expected to build on the momentum that the far right has experienced in recent years. Bardella reacted to Le Pens sentence, saying, Today it is not only Marine Le Pen who was unjustly condemned: It was French democracy that was killed. Bardella recently made headlines after cancelling his presence at the annual meeting of the Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington on Feb. 21 in reaction to Steve Bannons gesture which he said alluded to Nazi ideology. Bannon then reacted to Bardellas cancellation, telling Le Monde, If he cancels, it means hes not fit to lead, he has no guts. He needs to grow up If thats true, theres no chance hell lead France. Zero chance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While Le Pen lost the last presidential election with an 17-point gap behind Macron, the French far-right party has never been closer to entering the government. Le Pen, whos played a key role in rebranding the party to broaden its appeal, has led the far right to grow support during the last three presidential elections, evolving from 17,9 % in 2012 to 34 % in 2017 and near 42 % in 2022. Elsewhere in Europe, far right and populist parties have also made historic gains. As many as seven European countries Croatia, the Czech Republic, Finland, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands and Slovakia have far right parties in their respective government. Best of Variety Sign up for Variety's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Veteran French leftist Jean-Luc Melenchon has cricitized a Paris court's decision to bar far-right politician Marine Le Pen from running for office after finding her guilty of embezzlement on Monday. "The decision to remove a politician from office should be up to the people," Melenchon said after the court also sentenced Le Pen to four years in prison, two of them suspended and the other two with an electronic tag rather than in custody. Melenchon, who founded the far-left France Unbowed party, said he shared his party's conviction that Le Pen's far-right National Rally should not be fought in court but at the ballot box. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The parliamentary group leader of the conservative Republicans, Laurent Wauquiez, also criticized the judge's decision to bar Le Pen from running for office, a move that likely likely ends her plans to compete in the 2027 presidential election. "The decision to convict Marine Le Pen is serious and extraordinary," said Wauquiez. He said it was not healthy for a democracy to ban an elected politician from standing in an election. "Political debates must be decided at the ballot box by the French people." French lawmakers rebuffed President Donald Trump after his administration tried to export its war on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) to Europe. Earlier in the week, the Trump administration sent a letter to a number of French companies claiming the Republican presidents measures against DEI apply to all suppliers and service providers of the U.S. government, regardless of their nationality and the country. Its an attempt to impose a diktat on our business, Aurore Berge, Frances Minister for Equality and Combating Discrimination, said in a Sunday interview on French network BFM TV. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A form, obviously, of interference, she added. The letter further asked addressees to certify that they do not operate any programs promoting DEI that violate any applicable anti-discrimination laws. It additionally said that if any recipients should object, we would appreciate it if you could provide detailed reasons, which we will forward to our legal services. Berge said the French government is currently following the situation very closely, with efforts being made to ascertain the exact number of companies in France the letter was sent to. The minister added many firms had made it clear they had precisely no plans to reply anyway, given that they dont have to respond, in fact, to a sort of ultimatum laid out by the U.S. embassy in our country. Its out of the question that well prevent our business from promoting social progress, she said. Thankfully, a lot of French companies dont plan to change their rules. Marine Le Pen, hitherto the favourite to succeed Emmanuel Macron as French President, has been barred from standing for public office for five years with immediate effect after being found guilty of embezzlement to fund her party. For French politics, this is an earthquake. Her angry reaction storming out of court before the end of the two-hour judgement indicates that the sentence is a devastating blow to the leader of the National Rally, who has been leading the polls for the 2027 presidential election. Although she will appeal, her candidacy is effectively over. There will be a widespread sense of injustice across France not only on the Right, but also on the far-Left, which is equally hostile to unelected judges meddling in politics. Jordan Bardella, her deputy in the National Rally, declared that, while Le Pen had been unjustly condemned, it is French democracy that has been executed. Many will dismiss the trial and verdict as an establishment stitch-up although two former presidents, Jacques Chirac and Nicolas Sarkozy, have been convicted of corruption, which is endemic in French politics. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Yet the gravity of the offence and what the judges called the cynicism of Le Pen, who masterminded the systematic embezzlement of 4 million of EU taxpayers money, left the court little choice but to impose the harshest penalty available. Her two-year jail sentence has been suspended pending appeal, but the lengthy judgement, solidly grounded in legal argument, will be difficult to overturn. Marine Le Pen has worked hard to detoxify the movement she inherited from her father Jean Marie an anti-Semite who championed Petain and the Vichy tradition. She has been winning the battle of ideas, too: her hardline policies on migration and Islam are now government policy. After the family psychodrama of Marine Le Pen kicking her father out of the party, while seeing off a challenge from her own niece, this trial may be the denouement. Is this the end of the Le Pen clans grip on the French Right, which has endured for over half a century? Still, Le Pen is nothing if not a fighter. At 56, she is certainly not ready to abandon what she sees as her destiny to lead France. She will draw strength from the example of the septuagenarian Donald Trump, who used his courtroom convictions to present himself as a victim of the deep state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Waiting in the wings to replace Le Pen is Bardella, the 29-year-old dauphin of the National Rally. He has been slavishly loyal to her so far, but she admits that he is ready to step into her shoes. Bardella recently published a bestselling memoir of growing up in an urban slum. Given his youth, there are bound to be doubts about his ability to win the presidential election, but unless the verdict can be overturned the National Rally has little choice but to elevate the dauphin to the throne. The partys platform for 2027 envisaged Le Pen standing as President and appointing Bardella as her Prime Minister. The irony is that her long march through the institutions may now end in curtains for Marine Le Pen but with the son of immigrants installed in the Elysee Palace. 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. On Monday, French far right leader Marine Le Pen, was found guilty of embezzlement by a criminal court and has been immediately barred from running for public office for five years. Le Pen is the current front-runner for Frances 2027 presidential race and, pending a reversal in appeal, this verdict takes her out of the race, per The New York Times. The anti-immigrant, nationalist politician has already launched three failed presidential bids. Her lawyer called the verdict a blow to democracy and said she will be appealing the sentence, per BBC. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Le Pen has denied any wrongdoing in the case, which accused her party, the National Rally, of illegally using several million euros of European Parliament funds for expenses between 2004 and 2016, per The New York Times. She was also given a four-year prison sentence, two of the years have been suspended and the other two will be spent with an electronic tag instead of her being placed in custody, per BBC. Benedicte de Perthuis, the courts presiding judge said Le Pens actions were a serious and lasting attack on the rules of democratic life in Europe, but especially in France, according to CNN. The judge added that the ban on running for office was based on democratic public unrest that would come from the election of someone convicted of embezzlement. De Perthuis said her fellow judges also considered the major risk to public order of banning a likely presidential candidate from running when deciding the sentencing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Le Pen received a fine of 100,000 euros, about $108,000, and her party was ordered to pay 2 million euros, around $2.1 million, per CNN. According to The New York Times, Jordan Bardella, Le Pens protege and a likely presidential candidate in her absence wrote on X, Not only has Marine Le Pen been unjustly convicted, French democracy has been executed. Le Pens right-wing allies across Europe, such as Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, have also come to her defense, per CNN. According to The New York Times, a poll published on Sunday had Le Pen with 34% to 37% of the vote, over 10 points ahead of her closest competition. Current French president Emmanuel Macron has reached his term limit and cannot run again. Le Pen was infuriated by the verdict and walked out of the courtroom before the judges had finished reading her sentence. Thai police have arrested a French fugitive on the tropical holiday island of Phuket over a deadly prison breakout that freed a notorious drug lord nicknamed "The Fly." Adonis Correa, 24, is the latest of two dozen suspects to be detained in a sprawling international manhunt after the shocking escape of suspected gangland kingpin Mohamed Amra from a prison van in northern France in May 2024. Correa is considered by investigators to be a "close friend" of Amra, who was arrested in Romania last month after nine months on the run as France's "public enemy number one." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Correa was arrested on Wednesday in the southern island of Phuket, a hugely popular beach destination for millions of tourists, French sources and Thai police said on Thursday. "Thai immigration police have arrested a French national linked to a transnational criminal organization involved in a violent prison break that resulted in the deaths of prison officers," Thai police said in a statement. The shocking, violent nature of Amra's escape last year stunned France and made headlines around the world. Masked gunmen armed with military-grade automatic weapons attacked a prison van transporting him at a motorway toll plaza, killing two guards and wounding three others. Interpol had issued a red notice at the request of France for the arrest of Amra. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Amra, who is suspected of pursuing his drug-related activities and even ordering murders from his prison cell, went on the run and was eventually tracked down in Bucharest and sent back to France. Police officers escort Mohamed Amra, nicknamed ''The Fly Prosecutors at the time said Amra, who had changed his appearance and dyed his hair, had been identified through facial recognition tools and his fingerprints. At least 2 dozen suspects detained Correa is the latest of two dozen suspects detained as part of the French probe into the breakout. He entered Thailand on a tourist visa Feb. 8 through Phuket International Airport before an arrest warrant and Interpol red notice were issued against him, according to Thai police. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thai authorities said they tracked Correa to the Kamala and Patong areas of Phuket and arrested him on Wednesday. His lawyer in France, Joseph Hazan, told AFP on Thursday that his client had turned himself in. "He presented himself to Thai authorities, with whom we have been in contact for several days," Hazan said, adding that his client had not yet made a statement and would "explain himself to the French judges." Thai officials have canceled Correa's visa and he is now being held in Bangkok while his deportation to France is arranged. Thailand and France do not have an extradition treaty but sources told AFP they expect Correa to be sent back some time next week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The Fly" has history of violent crime, officials say Amra has a long history of convictions for violent crimes that started when he was only 15, according to judicial sources. "He is very well-known to the judiciary," Paris chief prosecutor Laure Beccuau said previously. Amra has close links to organized crime, said another source close to the case who asked not to be identified, and is suspected of ordering killings linked to the drugs trade. Another source who asked not to be named said Amra runs his own drug trafficking network. However, none of his 13 prior convictions for crimes ranging from armed robbery to extortion were directly related to the narcotics business, said Beccuau. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He was jailed in January 2022 in Evreux prison in the northwestern Normandy region to serve several sentences, including for criminal conspiracy, extortion, robbery, armed violence and participation in an illegal motor rodeo. At the time of his escape he was also facing two fresh charges, one for attempted murder and another for participation in a gangland killing in the southern city of Marseille on the French riviera, a hub for drug trafficking and gang violence. 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 CHARLOTTE (QUEEN CITY NEWS) Efforts are continuing by the Trump administration to dismantle the Department of Education. Those efforts arent without pushback, as U.S. teachers unions and rights advocatesincluding the NAACPare suing the administration over the dismantling. The lawsuit comes just days after President Trump signed an order designed to leave school policy almost entirely in the hands of states and local boards. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The president of the North Carolina Association of Educators, Tamika Walker Kelly, joined Queen City News Now to discuss whats next. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. MANDALAY, Myanmar, March 31 (Xinhua) -- The sun casts long shadows over the ruins of what was once a bustling residential block in Mandalay, Myanmar. Dust lingers in the air, mingling with the muffled voices of rescuers and the hushed prayers of families waiting, hoping, and grieving. Two days have passed since the 7.9-magnitude earthquake shook Myanmar, leaving destruction in its wake. At Sky Villa, a condominium complex in Mandalay, rescue teams continue their desperate search for survivors. Among the anxious onlookers was Daw Nan Mya Aye, a 65-year-old retired high school teacher. She stood with a composed yet weary expression, her hands tightly clasped in front of her. "We have lost so many family members," she said. "Our house had 11 people. When the quake struck, I wasn't home -- I had just returned from a meditation center and was staying at my daughter's place. My niece and nephew were also at work," she recalled. As of Sunday evening, two of her family members had been pulled out from the wreckage. One of them was her 76-year-old elder sister. Her 14-year-old niece, badly injured with broken hip bones, is now in the hospital. "We have no more tears left to cry," she said. The earthquake, which struck central Myanmar on Friday afternoon, reduced many floors of the Sky Villa to rubble. Rescue teams, battling exhaustion, have pulled some survivors from the debris, but for many families, the agonizing wait continues. Ko Chit Min Lwin, a man in his 30s, sat near the collapsed building, his face drawn with worry. He had just returned from Mogok the previous day when he heard the devastating news. "My family was inside. One was on the eighth floor, and four were on the fifth," he said, his voice breaking. "My mother, my younger sister's parents-in-law. They are still in there," he said. Nearby, 55-year-old Daw Thida Than sat in the corner of a building, her pale face streaked with dried tears. She waited for news of her niece, nephew-in-law, and their young son. "I came with my eldest sister -- her daughter is inside. She is waiting in the car. We are praying they will come out alive," she said. For days, she is too distressed to stomach a full meal and only ate a little of donated snacks and water. "At first, I cried so much, thinking they must be starving and thirsty in there. But now, I hold onto hope because the rescuers are doing their best," she said. Among the rescuers is 19-year-old Pyae Phyo Aung, a member of Myanmar's Myat Thada Rescue. His team has saved 11 people so far, out of the 15 they have pulled out from the wreckage. "We are rescuing people trapped in the rubble -- some with their legs pinned, some buried up to their waists, and others completely covered," he explains. "We prioritize saving the living before retrieving the dead." "The first day at Sky Villa was the hardest. We could hear people crying for help from all directions, and we didn't know where to start. It was overwhelming," he said. The rescue work is grueling, he said. Teams squeeze through tiny openings in the collapsed buildings, bringing oxygen, water, and food to those still trapped before carefully extracting them. "When we finally pull someone out alive, the relief and joy in their eyes ... that's what keeps us going," Pyae Phyo Aung said. His team of about 15, along with other rescue groups, works around the clock, taking short breaks in turns to rest. On Sunday, Chinese rescue teams arrived to assist local organizations, bringing more resources and expertise to the desperate search-and-rescue efforts. Rescues continue not only at Sky Villa but also at other damaged buildings across the region. As of Sunday, the death toll has climbed to 1,700, with over 3,400 injured and 300 still missing, the Information Team of Myanmar's State Administration Council reported. DENVER (KDVR) The future of the historic Zuni Power Plant remains in limbo, but community groups hope things are becoming clearer. A month ago, Xcel Energy put it on the market for 30 days to try and find a buyer rather than demolish it. That window has now passed with no sale, but a community effort has put a hold on demolition plans. Previously: Xcel is selling Denvers Zuni power plant. History advocates worry it will be demolished Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theres some really interesting stories associated with this building that deserve to be told long into the future, said John Deffenbaugh, CEO of Historic Denver. Stories he hopes arent lost to a wrecking ball. As Xcels self-imposed 30-day deadline to sell the property neared its end last week, Deffenbaugh started to worry. Historic Denver believes that 30 days to sell a building this size is an incredibly short, unrealistic period of time, he said. Thats why Historic Denver, the La Alma-Lincoln Park Neighborhood Association and Sun Valley Community Coalition partnered to apply for a landmark designation from the city. Deffenbaugh hopes this delays any demolition plans. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Im really hopeful that we can all work together with the appropriate amount of space and time to have the conversations that needed to be had about the future of this building, says Deffenbaugh. And those conversations werent going to take place in a rushed manner, in 30 days. A gondola system in Denver? One man says its the key to economic revitalization In a statement from Xcel, the company said: We have worked closely and transparently with the community, the city and the Colorado Public Utilities Commission (PUC), over the past five years to understand how the property can serve the communitys vision and future. As stated in our community letter, its important to note the property is currently listed for sale and we are willing to work with interested buyers and developers towards a purchase who have the requisite experience to potentially redevelop the building. Formally listing the property on the market allows for greater awareness beyond the local developers and interested parties weve provided showings for over the last few years. We would consider an offer outside of the 30-day timeframe of the property being listed for sale publicly. We do not disclose confidential information about offers made. The listing would be updated accordingly if it was under contract. Xcel Energy The property listing is still active, and Deffenbaugh says an offer to buy the property was made but declined by the company. Id really love to talk to them more about why that was declined, he says. What can we all do to work together to allow them to get to a point where they can accept an offer on the building? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When does street sweeping start in Denver? Xcel declined to disclose any information about that offer. Deffenbaugh hopes Xcel will indeed look at an offer outside of the 30-day window, and that no matter how it gets done, that the Zuni plant and its stories live on. Id really love for us to rediscover that can-do spirit and that vision which has defined Denver in the past and really could do again, said Deffenbaugh. The asking price Xcel wants for the plant is not on its listing and the company has yet to confirm it, but Deffenbaugh says they were seeking more than $7 million. He said that he had a positive conversation with Xcel last Tuesday and hopes to continue collaboration in the coming 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 FOX31 Denver. Georgia lawmakers voted against raising the salaries of top elected officials, including the governor. The House rejected amendments by the Senate to increase Gov. Brian Kemps salary by 37%. The measure would have brought Kemps $182,000 salary to $250,000. That would have had him tied for the highest-paid governor in the United States with New York Gov. Kathy Hochul. Lawmakers also rejected raises for state legislators and other top elected officials. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] TRENDING STORIES: [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] LITTLE ROCK, Ark. For the last five years, residents of the Natural State have relied on Fox 16 Chief Meteorologist Carmen Rose and the Arkansas Storm Team to learn about whats happening with weather in the state. When she announced recently that she would be leaving the airways on April 1 for a new kind of air as a pilot and officer for the United States Air Force Reserves, it meant not only the end of her time on TV, but also the end of her daily Doodlecasts. Carmen Rose stepping into Chief Meteorologist role for FOX 16 News Each day while putting together her forecast, Rose creates images that are colorful and perfectly fitting of the current weather. She said that drawing has been a passion as far back as she can remember, inspired by her grandmother who was self-taught. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement My grandmother was a huge influence on my creativity as she was a self-taught artist. She was the first one I remember teaching me how to trace shapes and blend colors, Rose said. In school, it transitioned more into doodling notes and drawing diagrams. At Michigan State, a professor of mine encouraged doodling as a productive learning tool, and I really took it to heart. She said that her Doodlecasts started two months into her time at Fox 16 during COVID when she was doing her forecasts from home. It became an efficient way of illustrating the weather and a creative outlet that viewers enjoyed. Weather is a science. Its not typically something you see a ton of creativity with. I absolutely love science and love being creative, Rose said. The ability to combine the two has been so enjoyable for me, and I hope it encourages others to blend them together more. Why choose between being analytical or artsy when you can be both? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement PHOTOS: Throwback to the first day of school with the FOX 16 News team During her time at Fox 16, Rose said some of the highlights have been school visits, launching a weather balloon and doing her forecast live at events like air shows, Travelers games, and the Worlds Shortest St. Patricks Day Parade. Another aspect of her position as a meteorologist that she enjoys has been being able to encourage other women to pursue careers in similar STEM fields. Meteorology is a STEM field, and like most careers in the field, about a third of women make up meteorology. Of those women in broadcast meteorology, less than 10% are chiefs, Rose said. I hope I have been able to show young girls and women, opportunities in science and management are there. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Arkansas Storm Team Weather Blog: How to see an extra special Harvest Moon this year While the Arkansas Storm Team and Team 20 will miss her, the skies are in good hands with Roses future career. She has had her private pilots license for over a year and hopes to eventually fly the Air Forces C-130 Hercules in Arkansas. Ive always been one to chase wild dreams, and the one for flying is one I cannot ignore. Fortunately, our viewers will be left in good hands with the Arkansas Storm Team, Rose said. Its been an incredible journey in this industry, and Im thankful for the decade dedicated to it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Arkansas Storm Team Weather Blog: Microburst explainer & whats next in weather For more information about how to buy one of her drawings or watercolors or to see more, follow her on Facebook. She said her plan is to donate part of the proceeds from them to a nonprofit for mental health and cognitive development because drawing and doing art has been so therapeutic for her. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLRT - FOX16.com. America has a housing affordability crisis. Ezra Klein and Derek Thompsons Abundance, Yoni Appelbaums Stuck, and Mark Dunkelmans Why Nothing Works argue to varying degrees that land-use restrictions, mostly at the local level, are what created this problem and that easing them will solve it. Build more housing, and it will become more affordable. Last week I argued that there are sound reasons for local communities to exert some control over their neighborhoodsreasons that the new supply-side liberals are reluctant to acknowledge. Protecting the environment, scaling building size to limit opportunities for crime, and preserving architecture of historical significance are all legitimate goals. People should have some power to make their communities livable, because if your community doesnt do that, its doubtful outside forces willeither commercial or governmental. I dont disagree that these defensible goals often act as a smokescreen for indefensible goalssuch as the exclusion of lower-income people, or the elimination of racial or ethnic diversity. It happens often enough that supply-side liberals are right to call for greater regulatory flexibility, mostly at the local level, to make it easier to build stuff, and not just housing. We need to make it easier to build all sorts of things, including (to cite a central example in Abundance) a bullet train from Los Angeles to San Francisco. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement My main problem with supply-side liberalism isnt what it contains, but what it omits. To address the housing shortage, to build vital infrastructure, and to address all sorts of other problems, judiciously targeted deregulation will be nowhere near sufficient. We also need to address the demand-side problem of distribution. At the start of the Great Depression John Maynard Keynes published a famous essay titled Economic Possibilities for Our Grandchildren, in which he argued that their future would be brighter. He was correct: The Depression ended, the global war that followed defeated fascism, and the West prospered. But Keynes overstated his case. In the essay, he wrote that the struggle for subsistence would end and the economic problem would disappear. Keynes predicted correctly the creation of stupendous wealth that he wouldnt live to see. (He died in 1946.) But he was quite wrong to presume that this wealth would be distributed humanely over the long term. Just look around. It isnt. Klein and Thompson almost certainly have read Keyness essay. If they havent, I presume theyve at least seen the 2008 Pixar cartoon Wall-E, which turns Keyness conceit into a sort of sunny dystopia. Yet they begin their book with a description of a futuristic world thats kind of likewell, Wall-E, minus the grim externalities (a ruined planet, people too fat to walk, etc.). In Keyness essay and in Wall-E, everybodys economic needs are met because the fruits of economic success are shared by all. Will that happen? I hope so. But it wont happen by itself, and we certainly cant get there by tinkering with zoning variances. The government must reverse the past half-centurys trend toward ever-growing wealth and income inequality. Abundance alone wont cut it. Boosting wages, increasing worker power, and generally restoring the middle class to meaningful participation in Americas economy are much more necessary. Otherwise well just make Elon Musks grandchildren richer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I dont doubt that the authors of all three books favor these liberal goals; just not enough to give them much ink. Granted, it could be worse. The Its Too Hard to Build Stuff argument, which has been around for decades, used to place heavy blame on the cost of union labor. There have been a few instances (for example, the 1975 New York City financial crisis) when that was even true! But in recent memory that hasnt been the case, and Im pleased to report that these books (mostly) eschew union-bashing. Klein and Thompson point out that it costs twice as much to build a kilometer of rail in the United States as it does in Japan or Canada, and that union density is much higher in the latter two countries. Consequently, they argue, unions cant logically be the problem. (A few pages later they quote an affordable housing consultant griping about having to pay prevailing wage, which usually means union scale, but never mind.) Still, not talking much about unions isnt good enough. The authors of these books ought to consider unions part of the solution to housing affordability. Boost wages, and people can buy houses. This blind spot about stagnating wages is pretty glaring. Klein and Thompson cite the economist Ed Glaesers finding that prior to the 1980s, wages in New York City were unusually high compared to the cost of living, meaning people stood to benefit if they moved there. After 2000, though, moving to New York City meant taking an effective pay cut. Thats not because paychecks have shrunk but because housing costs have risen. True enough, but another reason housing got less affordablein New York and elsewherewas that real wages failed to rise for all but the wealthiest. In a thriving economy, incomes are supposed to rise alongside housing prices, and for everybody, not just the rich. The long-term decline in geographic mobility within the United States is a theme in all three books, and in Appelbaums Stuck its the central topic. A thriving economy requires that people move to where economic opportunity is greatestGo West, young man, as Horace Greeley said. Alarmingly, theres far less job-related migration among todays young men and women (unless theyre affluent) than in the past. To the limited extent working-class people do migrate, its away from economic opportunity, because when you have little prospect of increasing your wage significantly you may decide to live someplace where housing is cheaper. I published an article about this problem a dozen years ago (Stay Put, Young Man, Washington Monthly), and I reported that, yes, among the reasons for this harmful economic trend was overly restrictive zoning. But the underlying problem was income inequality. Citing pioneering work in this area by Harvards Daniel Shoag and the University of Chicagos Peter Ganong, I pointed out that working-class people had seen their share of state per capita income growth shrink from 88 percent in 1940 to 36 percent in 2010. Opportunity dried up for Americas working-class majority, putting places with brisk economic growth out of reach for all but the professional class, who could afford to pay more for housing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shoag and Ganong have since concluded that zoning restrictions drive growing economic inequality between regions (which in turn drives the nations red stateblue state divide). But ask yourself why blue states are able to thrive economically without welcoming in-migration from the working class. Its because the working class has, to an alarming degree, been dealt out of the United States economy. A much-cited recent study by Moodys Analytics found that the top 10 percent in the U.S. income distribution (i.e., households earning $250,000 or more) now account for 49.7 percent of all consumer spending and about one-third of gross domestic product. The more alarming reality isnt that high housing costs keep the working class out of Americas boomtowns; its that these boomtowns dont have to care. They dont require much working-class labor, and they dont require much working-class consumer spending. That diminishment of economic power, tantamount to invisibility, isnt a housing problem. Its an inequality problem, and a humanity problem. Reducing zoning restrictions can help, but not enough. Indeed, in the cities where the affluent are most determined to live, building more housing may serve to increase demand, much as Robert Mosess expressways, rather than ease traffic congestion, drew additional motorists onto New York City streets. Ive suggested elsewhere that something like this may be happening in Washington, D.C., which during the past quarter-century increased the number of its housing units by an astonishing one-third, yet saw median monthly rent rise even fasterby one-half. Housing for low-income people is especially unlikely to become more affordable through market forces. If theres a supply-side liberal paradise, its Houston, which has no zoning at all (though it does have some land restrictions). Klein and Thompson report that Houston has the lowest homelessness rate of any major U.S. city, and they cite low building costs as the reason. But a 2023 Governing magazine piece by Alan Greenblatt pointed out that Houston also had no zoning back in 2011, when Space City boasted the sixth-largest homeless population in the United States, prompting the department of Housing and Urban Development to place Houston on a watch list. Greenblatt attributed the citys turnaround to collaboration with various government and nonprofit entities (including HUD), a large pile of Covid-19 stimulus cash, and a more than twentyfold increase in police citations issued at homeless encampments. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Houstons lack of zoning creates plenty of problems. Between 1930 and 1978, 82 percent of the citys trash got dumped in Black neighborhoods, even though Blacks represented only 25 percent of the population. The neighborhoods had no power to stop it. A 2025 report by the nonprofit newsroom Houston Landing said this problem persists and that because of Houstons insufficient local housing subsidies, affordable housing was more readily available in Boston, which is routinely ranked among the top 10 most expensive housing markets in the country. There is pressure among liberals, Klein and Thompson write, to focus only on the sins of the MAGA right. Yes, at the moment that does seem to be kind of an emergency (and not just for liberals). But this misses the contributions that liberal governance made to the rise of Trumpism. Sorry, Im not buying it. All three of these books were written before the election; their argument would be more compelling had Kamala Harris won. A Harris presidency would have created more space for a conversation about small tweaks to liberal orthodoxies. Trumps victory doesnt leave us that luxury. If Democrats are to win back the working-class majority necessary to regain the White House, theyll need to talk about how a more activist government can address demand-side problems experienced by the proletariat. Back during the 1988 election, Michael Dukakis was judged an out-of-touch technocrat in part because hed once taken to the beach a book supposedly titled Swedish Land-Use Planning. The supply-side liberals want us to take to the beach a book that might as well be titled American Land-Use Planning. No thank you. I wont walk that dark road again. The General Assembly will reconvene Wednesday to decide whether to adopt or reject Gov. Glenn Youngkins proposed amendments to legislation and the budget. Youngkin suggested some cuts to the budget and an additional $300 million to go toward the states revenue reserve deposit, which functions as a rainy day fund. (The reserve) enables us to feel confident that if there is a bump in the road, we can deal with it, he said last week. No one should worry about the fact that we would have to come back and cut programs for people or raise taxes on people; thats just not in the cards because we dont need to do that. Democrats were critical of some of Youngkins budget amendments that reduce funding for things like rental assistance. The General Assemblys budget contained $20 million for pilot rental assistance programs in Hampton Roads and Northern Virginia, but that provision was struck from the governors version. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Instead of investing in the people who need it most and positioning our Commonwealth to be a winning one like he touts so often, hes slashing critical programs, shifting public dollars to private interests, and doubling down on policies that do more harm than good, said Sen. Mamie Locke, D-Hampton, in a statement. This is neglectful governing that will continue to put Virginians and Virginia in last place. Sen. Louise Lucas and House Speaker Don Scott, both Democrats from Hampton Roads, said the governors proposed gaming commission, which he reintroduced into the budget, would be dead on arrival. With a slim majority in both chambers, Democrats could reject the governors 205 proposed budget amendments. Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell, D-Fairfax, appeared skeptical of the $300 million increase to the rainy day fund. The version of the budget passed by the General Assembly already included the required deposit of nearly $300 million in 2024 revenue for the reserve fund. I think were very well positioned right now in the event of a downturn to deal with that, at least on a temporary basis, he told reporters last week. I would be really surprised if we supported $300 million in the reserve fund at the expense of K-12, health care and other priorities like that. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On the legislative front, at least one bill that has historically been vetoed seems likely to pass this year with amendments. The governor amended legislation that would allow people to reduce their probation sentences if they met certain education, housing and health care criteria. Youngkins substitution changes some of the credit reductions to be 15 days rather than 30 and specifies that people can be denied credit reductions for even technical violations of probation. Sen. Christie New Craig, R-Chesapeake, introduced the bill and said she would encourage the Senate to pass it as amended. We worked closely with the Governors office to find a compromise, knowing that a similar bill was vetoed last year, she said in a statement. Our priority was to ensure this years bill would not meet the same fate. I will be asking the Senate to adopt the Governors amendments and pass the bill. Most importantly, we now have a probation reform bill that the Governor supports and thats a major step forward. Meanwhile, it wasnt clear that Democrats would be able to muster the two-thirds majority required to overturn legislative vetoes, even on legislation that passed with at least a two-thirds majority of support. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Often, those numbers change once the governors laid down a veto, Surovell said. Well see where it goes. One such bill, which passed with near universal support, was introduced by Del. Cliff Hayes, D-Chesapeake, and would amend Portsmouths city charter to address disparities in women and minority-owned businesses in government contracts. Hayes said the procurement officer in the city currently has that authority; the bill shifted the role to the city manager. Im not sure what the governors explanation is to members of his party, but I can assure you this is a role the city already has, Hayes said. Ive been in the General Assembly for a little while now. It is not uncommon for the members of the body to hear the request coming from a city for a charter change. And in the case it has been a unanimous situation (by City Council), and if its the case its not a new role or a new initiative, then we by deference and respect will go along with the request. Kate Seltzer, 757-713-7881, kate.seltzer@virginiamedia.com ATLANTA (AP) Georgia makes it harder than any other state for an individual to prove they are legally exempt from the death penalty because of an intellectual disability. A bill that would change that is on track to become law after a yearslong push. The Senate approved the measure 53-1 Monday, after receiving overwhelming support from both parties in the House earlier this month. It is set to go to Republican Gov. Brian Kemp's desk. In 1988, Georgia became the first state to outlaw the death penalty for intellectually disabled people. The U.S. Supreme Court followed in 2002, ruling that executing intellectually disabled people violates constitutional protections against cruel and unusual punishment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Georgia is the only state that requires individuals to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that they have an intellectual disability. Sponsored by Glennville Republican state Rep. Bill Werkheiser, House Bill 123 would lower that standard to a preponderance of evidence and alter trial procedures to ensure people get a fair chance to convince judges and jurors alike of their disability. In multiple Georgia cases, lawyers have argued without success that their clients had intellectual disabilities. In some of them, judges said they may have succeeded if Georgia had changed its strict rules. One wrote that he would embrace efforts by lawmakers to do so. In the House, Sandy Springs Democratic Rep. Esther Panitch called executing people with intellectual disabilities a moral failure. How we protect the most vulnerable and intellectually disabled individuals facing the death penalty is the ultimate test of our collective moral character, and I submit that we must choose compassion over retribution and understanding over punishment, Panitch said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An attempt to change the law last year failed. Soon afterward, the state executed Willie James Pye, whose IQ was low enough to indicate that he was intellectually disabled, according to his lawyers. While opposing it in the past, district attorneys have said more recently that they are OK with changing the reasonable doubt standard. But some have balked at a couple of procedural changes included in the bill: one that adds a pretrial hearing to determine whether someone has an intellectual disability, which is mandatory if prosecutors agree to it; and another that establishes a separate process in a trial for determining whether someone is guilty and has an intellectual disability. Most states have these options. Lawyers say changing the reasonable doubt standard won't stop intellectually disabled people from getting the death penalty unless it is paired with procedural changes. Separate processes would ensure jurors can evaluate whether someone is intellectually disabled objectively, without being influenced by the evidence of the crime the person committed, the lawyers say. Prosecutors say the bill would make it too difficult to pursue the death penalty and stop the practice altogether. They said lawmakers should just ban the death penalty if that is their ultimate aim. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But at a recent Senate Judiciary committee meeting, T. Wright Barksdale III, district attorney for the Ocmulgee Judicial Circuit in central Georgia, acknowledged the bill was likely going to pass regardless of whether he liked it so he asked for changes instead. The final bill, which Werkheiser said will likely get House approval, requires the defense to provide prosecutors with their evidence of intellectual disability no later than 60 days ahead of the pretrial hearing. Within 30 days of receiving that, prosecutors have to provide the defense with discovery for that hearing. It also adds the option for people to receive sentences of life without parole instead of the death penalty, instead of just a life sentence. Meanwhile, lawmakers on both sides remained enthusiastic about the bill, with a Senate committee tweaking it so it would go into effect immediately and apply to all pending cases. It's been a three-year process, but I feel like it sends a huge message and balances moderation with justice and wisdom, Werkheiser said after the vote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement ___ Kramon is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. Follow Kramon on X: @charlottekramon. Germany's acting interior minister on Monday touted her administration's success in combating human trafficking, as representatives from 40 countries met in London for a conference on illegal migration. Speaking at the Organised Immigration Crime Summit, Nancy Faeser said countries must come together to jointly tackle international trafficking. "We must stop the brutal business of trafficking gangs," said Faeser. "This involves serious organized crime and often armed groups of perpetrators." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She called on partner countries to "exchange information even more closely to uncover and dismantle the entire logistics chain behind the smuggling operations." Faeser also highlighted the progress Germany has made in stopping human trafficking, pointing out that more than 2,000 smugglers have been detained during border checks in the past 18 months. The number of trafficked individuals identified in Germany has dropped from around 40,000 in 2023 to 10,000 in 2024, the minister said. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer opened the summit on Monday, arguing that people smuggling, like terrorism, must be treated as a threat to global security. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I simply don't believe that organized immigration crime cannot be tackled," said Starmer. "We've got to combine our resources, share intelligence and tactics, and tackle the problem upstream at every step of the smuggling journey, from North Africa and the Middle East to the high streets of our biggest cities," the prime minister added. The United Kingdom has convened the summit as it seeks to stem the flow of migrants crossing the Channel on small boats. German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier arrived in Armenia on Monday for what a visit described by his Armenian counterpart as "historic." Steinmeier was welcomed with military honours by Armenian President Vahagn Khachaturyan in the capital Yerevan, ahead of talks with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. Khachaturyan called the trip a "historic day," as Steinmeier became the first German president to conduct an official visit to the Caucasian country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The talks in Yerevan are intended to encourage Armenia's political shift towards the West. The Armenian parliament adopted a bill earlier this year to start the process leading to EU accession. The country, traditionally closely allied with Russia, also signed a deal for strategic cooperation with the United States in January. At a press conference, Steinmeier said "Germany would like to do its part to ensure that Armenia can succeed on this path." Khachaturyan said Armenians "just want to become members of the European Union." "I do not think that you could find a single person in Armenia who is against this," he added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The president said that his country is aware that the path to accession is long. "It is a process that cannot be carried out from one day to the next." Unlike other countries such as Ukraine and Moldova, Armenia is not yet an official candidate for EU accession. The two leaders also discussed the expansion of economic ties between Germany and Armenia, with Steinmeier praising Yerevan's "ambitious reform programme." Talks were also expected to focus on a peace treaty to end years of war between Armenia and its neighbour Azerbaijan. The long-frozen conflict over the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh first broke out after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 and reignited in recent years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In September 2023, Azerbaijani forces regained control of the region, with more than 100,000 ethnic Armenians fleeing in response. The two countries announced earlier this month they had agreed a draft peace deal, but the treaty is yet to be signed. Steinmeier is set to visit Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, on Wednesday as he calls on the warring parties to finalize the peace process. SYDNEY, March 31 (Xinhua) -- A crucial program combating invasive yellow crazy ants near the Australian state of Queensland's Wet Tropics faces an uncertain future as federal funding is set to expire in mid-2026. Despite being recognized as one of the most successful eradication efforts globally, recent discoveries of new infestations highlight the ongoing threat, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) reported on Monday. The program, based in the Cairns region, costs 6 million Australian dollars (3.78 million U.S. dollars) annually, with funding split between the Queensland and federal governments. While the state government has committed funding until 2028, no new federal allocation was announced in the latest budget last week. Yellow crazy ants, listed among the world's top 100 worst invasive species, form vast super colonies, posing a severe threat to native wildlife, including the critically endangered Kuranda tree frog, conservationists said. First detected in the Wet Tropics in 2001, these acid-spraying ants have devastated ecosystems, silencing rainforests by wiping out insect and small animal populations. Reece Pianta of the Invasive Species Council warned that without a decade-long funding commitment, progress could be undone, according to the ABC. German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier on Monday promised to support Armenia's strategic shift towards the European Union on a visit described by his Armenian counterpart as "historic." Steinmeier was welcomed with military honours by Armenian President Vahagn Khachaturyan in the capital Yerevan. Khachaturyan called the trip a "historic day," as Steinmeier became the first German president to conduct an official visit to the Caucasian country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The talks in Yerevan are intended to encourage Armenia's increasing openness to the West. Despite its long-standing ties with Russia, the country signed a deal on strategic cooperation with the United States in January, and its parliament adopted a bill in February to start the process leading to EU accession. At a press conference, Steinmeier said "Germany would like to do its part to ensure that Armenia can succeed on this path." Khachaturyan said Armenians "just want to become members of the European Union." "I do not think that you could find a single person in Armenia who is against this," he added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The president said that his country is aware that the path to accession is long. "It is a process that cannot be carried out from one day to the next." Unlike other countries such as Ukraine and Moldova, Armenia is not yet an official candidate for EU accession. The two leaders further discussed the expansion of economic ties between Germany and Armenia, with Steinmeier praising Yerevan's "ambitious reform programme." Talks also focused on a peace treaty to end years of war between Armenia and its neighbour Azerbaijan. The long-frozen conflict over the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh first broke out after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 and reignited in recent years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In September 2023, Azerbaijani forces regained control of the region, with more than 100,000 ethnic Armenians fleeing in response. The two countries announced earlier this month they had agreed a draft peace deal, but the treaty is yet to be signed. Steinmeier said the two countries could "set an example for the rest of the world by bringing an end to a conflict with a peace agreement." Khachaturian assured him that his country was working hard to sign the agreement. "The difficulties that still exist can be overcome," he stated. The German president is set to visit Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, on Wednesday as he calls on the warring parties to finalize the peace process. "We expect this treaty to be signed, ratified and implemented quickly," Steinmeier said. (Bloomberg) -- The co-head of Germanys Social Democrats party and frontrunner to become the next finance minister Lars Klingbeil dismissed swirling speculation over reviving pipeline gas deliveries from Russia after a potential peace deal for Ukraine. Most Read from Bloomberg Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Germany largely weaned itself off Russian energy supplies after the invasion of Ukraine three years ago and this path must be followed consistently, Klingbeil told public broadcaster ARD in an interview. He sees no way back at all and added that Germany is far from potentially normalizing relations with Russia due to the ongoing war against Ukraine. High energy costs have been a key concern across German industry as Europes largest economy is trying to revive growth after two years of stagnation. Speculation over a return of Russian gas imports has been swirling ever since discussions over a potential ceasefire emerged, with some local industry representatives in the countrys east saying the cheaper supplies could help reignite momentum. Klingbeil has played a key role in recent weeks together with with chancellor-in-waiting and conservative leader Friedrich Merz in pushing sweeping fiscal reforms through parliament to allow large-scale investments in infrastructure and defense. Adding to the recent speculation, the Financial Times reported on Mar. 1 that Matthias Warnig, a former spy and allegedly close friend of Vladimir Putin, was engineering a restart of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The move showed the breadth of US President Donald Trumps rapprochement with Moscow, according to the FT report. Im not involved in such plans, Im a pensioner, Warnig told Zeit Online in a response to the article. Warnig, who has been subject to US sanctions, worked for the secret service in Germanys formerly communist east. Putin awarded him a medal of honor in 2012 for his engagement to foster Russian-German ties. Separately, Bild Zeitung reported in early March that Richard Grenell, Trumps envoy for special missions and a former US ambassador to Germany, had traveled to Switzerland several times in an unofficial capacity to participate in talks about Nord Stream 2. Grenell denied toward Bild Zeitung that he was involved. After the FT and the Bild report, at least two German lawmakers voiced support for Germany to consider Russian energy imports once a peace deal has been reached for Ukraine. According to Klingbeil, Germany must avoid repeating past mistakes and becoming dependent on Russian energy imports even after the end of the war. We must not become naive again, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Klingbeil, Merz and their main allies are currently in talks to form Germanys next government following the federal election just over a month ago. In the documents negotiators are preparing ahead of a possible coalition framework Russia is singled out as the biggest security threat for Germany. Our security is under greater threat today than at any time in decades, according to a document seen by Bloomberg News. The greatest and most direct threat comes from Russia, which is waging a brutal and illegal war of aggression against Ukraine for the fourth year and is continuing to massively rearm. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2025 Bloomberg L.P. (Bloomberg) -- Supply Lines is a daily newsletter that tracks global trade. Sign up here. Most Read from Bloomberg Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Outgoing German Chancellor Olaf Scholz expressed solidarity with Canada to fend off President Donald Trump, who introduced tariffs against the northern neighbor and has repeatedly said it should become part of the US. Canada is not a federal state of anyone. Canada is a proud, independent nation. Canada has friends all over the world - and especially many of them here in Germany and Europe, Scholz said at the opening ceremony of the Hanover Messe trade fair. We stand by your side. Trumps trade actions, along with suggestions that Canada become the 51st US state, have strained ties between the North American neighbors. Trump has announced a 25% tariff on imported automobiles and auto parts, called a direct attack by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. Canadas leader said the move was a violation of the US-Mexico-Canada trade accord known as USMCA, which Trump negotiated during his first term in the White House as a replacement for the previous NAFTA pact. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Carney has called a national election for April 28, a contest in which the nations sovereignty and US threats against its economy have become a dominant issue. In a tight race, his Liberal Party has a slight edge over the Conservative Party in a number of recent polls. In a broader show of dissent against US policies, Scholz criticized tariffs the Trump administration plans against Europe, saying any such move would trigger retaliation and leave both sides worse off. I therefore say to the US: cooperation remains Europes goal, Scholz said. But if the US leaves us no choice, as with the tariffs on steel and aluminum, we as the European Union will react as one. Trumps threats to impose punitive tariffs on Europe, seize territories and pull military support from the region have irked European governments. Earlier this month, the US imposed a 25% tariff on steel and aluminum imports, which led the EU to propose its own retaliatory duties on up to 26 billion of politically sensitive American goods. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump is expected to unveil a broad slate of reciprocal tariffs against US trading partners on April 2. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2025 Bloomberg L.P. The incoming German government wants the EU to adopt harsher measures to punish countries violating the bloc's core principles, an apparent reference to Hungary, Politico reported on March 31, citing an obtained coalition agreement. Friedrich Merz's conservative CDU/CSU alliance, which won the February Bundestag elections, and its likely coalition partners from the Social Democratic Party (SPD) want the EU to freeze funds and suspend voting rights of members who violate the union's key tenets, such as the rule of law, the news outlet wrote. Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban has been accused of democratic backsliding, an encroachment on human rights, and attacks on press freedom. The Hungarian leader is also broadly seen as the most Russian-friendly EU leader after he repeatedly obstructed sanctions against Moscow and military support for Kyiv. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The European bloc had frozen some 30 billion euros ($32.4 billion) in EU funds earmarked for Hungary over the years but released around 10 billion euros ($10.8 billion) in December 2023, just before a positive decision on Ukraine's accession talks. Several European officials and members of the European Parliament have repeatedly called for the activation of Article 7 of the EU Treaty, which suspends the voting rights of members who violate the bloc's key principles. If 26 members, excluding the 27th member who is under consideration, agree that a breach is occurring, a qualified majority of the Council of the EU can suspend some of Hungary's membership rights, including voting rights. Past attempts to activate Article 7 have failed due to a lack of consensus among member states. Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, a Moscow-friendly leader close to Orban, said last year he would block any attempts to restrict Hungary's voting rights. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to Politico, Merz's incoming coalition plans to push for a qualified majority voting in the EU Council on foreign and security policy issues, such as sanctions, to bypass a single member's veto. Hungary threatened to derail the mandatory six-month extension of EU sanctions against Russia on March 15, but eventually conceded after extracting exemptions on four individuals and, reportedly, after a request to Budapest from Washington. Merz, who aims to form the new government by April 20, has touted major changes to Germany's role on the global stage, reaching an agreement to unleash 500 billion euros ($540 billion) in defense spending and promising more decisive support for Ukraine. 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. German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier has begun a historic visit to Armenia. Steinmeier was welcomed with military honours by his Armenian counterpart Vahagn Khachaturyan in the capital Yerevan on Monday, ahead of talks with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. Khachaturyan described the trip as a "historic day," as Steinmeier became the first German president to conduct an official visit to the Caucasian country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Talks are expected to focus on a peace treaty to end years of war between Armenia and its neighbour Azerbaijan. The long-frozen conflict over the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh first broke out after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 and reignited in recent years. In September 2023, Azerbaijani forces regained control of the region, with more than 100,000 ethnic Armenians fleeing in response. The two countries announced earlier this month they had agreed a draft peace deal, but the treaty is yet to be signed. Steinmeier is set to visit Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, on Wednesday as he appeals on the warring parties to finalize the peace process. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His talks in Yerevan are also intended to encourage Armenia's political shift towards the West. The Armenian parliament adopted a bill earlier this year to start the process leading to EU accession. The country, traditionally closely allied with Russia, also signed a deal for strategic cooperation with the United States in January. GIRARD, Ohio (WKBN) A Girard man pleaded not guilty to allegedly attacking a woman with a knife. Read next: Woman charged with firing shots at Howland bar According to a Girard police report, on March 6, officers responded to South State Road for a report of a woman who was attacked. Reports state that the victim was at Noah Howleys house and was on the phone when he started screaming at her, told her to leave, and hit her in the face multiple times. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The victim told police that Howley forced her to the ground and held a large hunting knife to her throat before dragging her down a set of stairs. Officers observed multiple cuts on her neck, head and hands, as well as bruising throughout her body. Howley, 28, was arrested on charges of felonious assault and criminal mischief. He pleaded not guilty Monday morning, and bond was set at $50,000. Howley is scheduled for a pretrial 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 WKBN.com. Rep. Shaundelle Brooks, a Hermitage Democrat, cries after her firearm bill advances from the Tennessee House Criminal Justice Subcommittee on March 26, 2025. The bill is named for her son Akilah Dasilva, who was killed in 2018 in a shooting at a Nashville Waffle House. (Photo: John Partipilo/Tennessee Lookout 2025) A crowd of supporters and a few lawmakers erupted in applause and cheers Wednesday as the House Criminal Justice Subcommittee advanced Hermitage Rep. Shaundelle Brooks bill that would criminalize knowingly giving firearms to someone who recently received inpatient mental health treatment. Brooks named the bill Akilahs Law in honor of her son Akilah Dasilva, who was one of four killed in a mass shooting at a Nashville Waffle House in 2018. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Brooks, a Democrat, has been lobbying for tighter gun restrictions ever since, and won her seat in the House in November after running on a platform of gun safety advocacy. This is her first session as part of the Tennessee General Assembly. Akilah was born here in Nashville, and his life was taken here in Nashville my son Akilah would still be here with us today if the parents of the perpetrator had followed the instructions of law enforcement, the judicial system and medical professionals who deemed their son unfit to possess a firearm, Brooks said Wednesday. Despite being instructed by each of these oversight agencies to store their firearms safely and not return them to the shooter, the parents knowingly and intentionally disregarded those instructions, broke the law and (were) subsequently held accountable because they resided in another state, she said. The House Criminal Justice Subcommittee voted 6-2 to advance the bill to the Houses full Judiciary Committee. The bill still faces several hurdles before it can become law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Brooks said the bill is focused on upholding the law and holding those who break the law accountable. Travis Reinking of Morton, Illinois was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole in February 2022 for killing four people and injuring four others at the restaurant with an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle. Illinois State Police had revoked Reinkings firearm owners identification card prior to the shooting, requiring Reinking to surrender his guns to his father, Jeffrey Reinking. Jeffrey Reinking returned the guns to his son, including the assault rifle used in the Waffle House shooting an act that is illegal in the state of Illinois. The elder Reinking was sentenced to 18 months in prison in Illinois in March 2023. Prosecutor: No punishment for shooters father under Tennessee law Aldane Dasilva, Brooks son, was 12 when his brother Akilah was killed. For years, his family pursued accountability in court. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The law did not fail us, Dasilva said. It held both parties accountable: the father of the person that took my brother from me was held accountable using the same statute the bill presented here today by the courts of Illinois, because he broke the law. Tennessee had no such pathway for recourse. In Tennessee, giving firearms to juveniles or people who are intoxicated are misdemeanor crimes. But Tennessee currently has no law against giving firearms to someone who has been committed for mental health evaluation. Nashville Assistant District Attorney Jan Norman was one of the prosecutors who prosecuted Travis Reinking for the Waffle House homicides. She testified Wednesday that she remembers talking with Brooks about the Illinois law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We were talking about that law and what the punishment was, and I said to her these words: Shaundelle, its not enough. Its not. The punishment is not enough. But thank God he gave him those guns in Illinois, because if that would have happened here in Tennessee, I couldnt have done a thing about it. He wouldnt have been punished at all if it happened in Tennessee, Norman said. Covenant School mom Sarah Shoop Neumann hugs Rep. Shaundelle Brooks after Brooks firearm bill advanced from the Tennessee House Criminal Justice Subcommittee on March 26, 2025. The women bonded over their gun reform advocacy. (Photo: John Partipilo/Tennessee Lookout) Brooks bill would criminalize the sale, offer of sale, delivery or transfer of a firearm to a person while knowing that the person has been a patient of a mental health institution voluntarily or involuntarily within the previous five years. It does not apply to people who were voluntarily admitted for treatment solely for alcohol abuse disorder who have no other secondary mental illnesses or substance abuse disorders. Nashville-area psychiatrist Eric Zabriskie also testified in favor of the bill. He said firearms were the method used in 67% of the 1,245 deaths by suicide recorded in Tennessee in 2022. If we continue to do nothing and take no preventative public mental health measures such as this bill, fewer (people) will make it back into (mental health) treatment, and more will go to the morgue and into the ground instead, Zabriskie said. Bill moves forward as Nashville remembers school shootings Wednesdays committee meeting fell during a time of remembrance and mourning in Nashville. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thursday marked the second anniversary of a shooting at The Covenant School that killed 9-year-old students Hallie Scruggs, Evelyn Dieckhaus, and William Kinney as well as school headmaster Katherine Koonce, custodian Mike Hill, and substitute teacher Cynthia Peak. Amid the public outcry for gun law reforms that followed, a 2023 special legislative session of the Tennessee General Assembly called by Gov. Bill Lee ended without the passage of any bills restricting access to guns. On Tuesday, the Metro Nashville Public Schools Board of Education honored Antioch High School staff for their actions during a January shooting. Solomon Henderson, 17, opened fire in the schools cafeteria, killing 16-year-old Dayana Escalante and injuring another student before taking his own life. James Shaw Jr., who wrestled the gun away from Travis Reinking and sustained injuries in the Waffle House shooting, also testified Wednesday in favor of Brooks bill. Ive just seen the outcome of (a mass shooting), and Ive seen how it could fracture families. Ive seen the holes it could make. I could see how the mending doesnt happen. And, as well, Ive seen myself the diagnoses that Ive had, of having PTSD and having things of that nature, Shaw said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think its a step in the right way for some of the other mothers that are here from (Covenant) and from Antioch and from the other shootings that weve had recently here in Nashville, he continued. I think this is a step in the right way, so Im very supportive of her bill, and I think it will help Nashville push forward and for us to just make laws, good laws, about gun safety and practice. Reps. Andrew Farmer (R-Sevierville), William Lamberth (R-Portland)), Lowell Russell (R-Vonore), Rick Scarbrough (R-Oak Ridge), Jason Powell (D-Nashville) and Gabby Salinas (D-Memphis) voted in favor of advancing the bill. Representatives Fred Atchley (R-Sevierville) and Clay Doggett (R-Pulaski) voted in opposition. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX March 31 (UPI) -- For more than three decades, a series of homicides and disappearances has plagued Long Island, N.Y., and now, with a suspect making court appearances, Netflix is releasing a docuseries on the mysterious case. The series, Gone Girls: The Long Island Serial Killer, premieres Monday on the streaming service. It is a follow-up to director Liz Garbus' 2020 film Lost Girls, which dramatized the effort of one of the missing women's mother to find justice for the alleged victims, all of whom worked in the sex industry. Prosecutors are hoping to get that justice after charging Rex Heuermann, an architect from Massapequa Park, Long Island, with murder for the deaths of seven of the women. Police arrested him in 2023 after a witness reported seeing a vehicle that matched one he drove. They were able to match his DNA to a hair found on one of the victim's bodies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Gone Girls series comes just days after Heuermann's latest court hearing Friday. There, a New York judge heard from defense attorneys, who want to suppress DNA evidence in the case. They said the company used to test the DNA in the case, Astrea Forensics, uses a scientific method never before accepted in a New York court. The California company uses whole genome sequencing, or nuclear DNA, to match DNA, News 12 in Long Island reported. Amber Costello went missing in September 2010 and her body was found with the remains of three other women on Gilgo Beach, N.Y. File Photo courtesy of Netflix Heuermann's lawyers are also wanting to have his case split up into multiple trials instead of one for all six women he's accused of killing. He faces one count of first-degree murder and one count of second-degree murder in each of the deaths of Melissa Barthelemy, Amber Costello and Megan Waterman. He's also been charged with one count of second-degree murder for the deaths of Maureen Brainard-Barnes, Sandra Costilla, Valerie Mack and Jessica Taylor. Costilla, 28, was the first woman tied to the alleged serial killings to be found dead in 1993 in North Sea, NY. Police said the Queens woman had been strangled and left in a wooded area. Melissa Barthelemy went missing in July in 2009, more than a year before her body was found bound and wrapped in burlap. Photo courtesy of Netflix Mack's partial remains were found in November 2000 in Manorville, N.Y., though she wasn't identified until 2020. Taylor's partial remains were also found in Manorville in July 2003 and identified later that year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Four of the women Heuermann is accused of killing -- Barthelemy, Brainard-Barnes, Costello and Waterman -- are collectively known as the Gilgo Four. They were each found along the same stretch of remote dunes called Gilgo Beach in December 2010 wrapped in burlap and bound with belts or tape. Maureen Brainard-Barnes is one of seven women suspect Rex Heuermann is accused of killing. Photo courtesy of Netflix Brainard-Barnes went missing in July 2007, Barthelemy in July 2009, Waterman in June 2010 and Costello in September 2010. They were identified in January 2011, with police revealing that each had advertised themselves as prostitutes online. In the years after Costilla's death, police found the bodies of two other women possibly related to the killing spree. Karen Vergata's remains were found on Fire Island in April 1996, and a woman known only as Jane Doe No. 3 was found in June 1997 in Hempstead Lake State Park. In 2011, officials found the remains of an unidentified child, Baby Doe, who was identified as the daughter of Jane Doe No. 3. No one has been charged for the three deaths. Another woman who worked as a prostitute, Shannan Gilbert, also went missing in 2010 after calling police while fleeing from a client. Her remains were found in 2011 in a marsh in Oak Beach, N.Y., but medical examiners said she died of an accidental drowning. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Garbus' three-episode docuseries dives deeper into the mysterious rash of killings and disappearances that had plagued Long Island's sex industry for decades. The series focuses on how the friends and family members of the women refused to give up searching for their loved ones and sought justice for their deaths. "These women knew that there was a need to shake [up] the establishment to get attention for this case," Garbus said in a press release. "Of course, they shouldn't have [had] to work so hard. The system should work to protect them and should've protected their family members. But at the end of the day, their voices really mattered." Heuermann is next set to appear in court on Wednesday in a continuation of his hearing on DNA evidence. BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) An investigation into a hit-and-run involving two vehicles in the 14000 block of Coursey Boulevard led to the arrest of an Ascension Parish man. Seth Guitreau, 21, of Gonzales was charged with hit-and-run, operating a vehicle while intoxicated, possession\distribution manufacturing Schedule I, possession Schedule I and possession of Schedule IV. While responding to the scene, East Baton Rouge Sheriffs Office deputies found the suspect vehicle in the 6000 block of Jones Creek Road. The sheriffs office said the car had major damage to the front. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The responding deputy learned that two people had gotten out of the vehicle and jumped a fence at an apartment complex. Two men were found in a drainage canal during a search of the area. A pill bottle with fentanyl in it was found near Guitreau. Arrest documents stated that a search uncovered more fentanyl pills, a small bag of cocaine and alprazolam fragments. Deputies said Guitreau showed signs of impairment during a field sobriety test. According to an affidavit, Guitreau admitted to and apologized for the hit-and-run. The second person was identified as a passenger in the car and was released. Guitreau was taken to the hospital for treatment. He was later arrested and booked into the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison on Friday, March 28. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another person was taken to a hospital after suffering injuries in this crash. Their vehicle suffered severe damage in this crash, EBRSO said. New Orleans woman arrested, accused of setting home on fire with someone inside Latest News Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Louisiana First News. BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) Gonzales Middle School was partially evacuated after two bomb threats Monday morning. In a message to parents, Principal Lori Charlet said the school resumed normal operations after the evacuation. Students were moved to a safe area while authorities investigated two bomb threats made by phone and one potential threat from a student who doesnt currently attend the school. An all-clear was given right before noon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Gonzales Police Department said a 16-year-old was arrested for his involvement in the threats. 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. COLOMBO, March 31 (Xinhua) -- The number of drug raids by Maldivian police increased to 12,000 in 2024 compared to 9,300 in 2023, PSM News, the Maldives's state media, reported on Monday, quoting Chief Inspector of Police Ahmed Naif. Naif said that 654 kg of drugs was seized last year, compared to 123 kg in 2023. Naif added that the Maldives Police Service has recorded 95 percent successful convictions of drug cases in 2024, an increase of 20 percentage points compared to 2023. Certain revisions to police procedure and operations have directly contributed to the increase in criminal convictions in drug-related cases, according to police. According to Criminal Court statistics, in 2024 the court ruled on 137 drug-related cases, with 20 of the convicts being sentenced to life imprisonment, the report said. Rep. Mike Turner (R-Ohio) said information in a recently compromised group chat about bombing Yemen should be considered classified which contradicts downplaying of the incident by President Donald Trump and others. (Watch the video below.) The lawmakers comment to ABCs Martha Raddatz on Sunday was far from a total rebuke of the administrations use of the publicly available chat app Signal. But it did break with party speak after a reporter was accidentally invited into Defense Secretary Pete Hegseths disclosures about an imminent strike on Houthi rebels earlier this month. Do you think that some of those messages, particularly the ones Pete Hegseth sent, were classified? Raddatz asked. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Well clearly the subject matters 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. This information really has, at its roots, classified content, he added. Signal is a vulnerable platform, Turner said. Both China and Russia have compromised it at times. ... You do have to wonder whether or not the conversation would be vulnerable. Turner, who was removed as chair of the House Intelligence Committee by Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) in January, also said that there would be further investigation and thats very important. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Turner, however, leaned into the no harm, no foul excuse of the administration, noting the mission was a success while questioning the credibility of Atlantic editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg, who was added to the chat. Thats been another right-wing strategy deployed to gloss over the gaffe. At one point, Turner wondered aloud whether the conversation would be officially declassified once it entered a channel like Signal. He also took issue with the claim that war plans were being discussed, engaging in a battle over semantics with Raddatz. 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/oPQ2UURqhGpic.twitter.com/73aXHApjw1 This Week (@ThisWeekABC) March 30, 2025 Related... ORLANDO, Fla. (WFLA) Gov. Ron DeSantis announced a proposal Monday that would give Florida homeowners a rebate check averaging $1,000 for each homesteaded property in the state. DeSantiss office said the rebates would be issued in December and would cover state-mandated school property taxes. This proposal would benefit over 5.1 million homesteaded properties across Florida and marks a major step toward the governors long-term goal of eliminating property taxes through a future constitutional amendment, the governors office said in a news release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think the tax relief needs to be focused on Floridians. We need a Florida-first tax package, DeSantis said during a news conference on Monday. Property taxes effectively require homeowners to pay rent to the government, DeSantis said. Constitutional protections for Florida homeowners require approval of the voters in 2026. In the meantime, Floridians need relief. I am today proposing a plan that will result inon average$1,000 rebate checks for each household as a discount on their property taxes. If the Legislature acts on this plan now, we can get this done this year. Lets get this done for the people of Florida this session. The governor called on the Florida Legislature to grant the necessary authority to issue the rebates immediately. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) Gov. Jeff Landry named State Fire Marshal Bryan Adams as the new commissioner of the Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles. Landry said Deputy Chief/Chief of Staff Dale Ed Branch will replace Adams as state fire marshal. Adams aims to return to the state fire marshals office after he serves the OMV, the governors office explained. With a lifelong career in public service and his experience as State Fire Marshal, Bryan Adams is exceptionally qualified to lead the Office of Motor Vehicles. He is committed to modernizing the outdated OMV system to better serve the people and ensure it operates efficiently moving forward. I am excited to see Bryan Adams step into the role of Commissioner, and I am confident he will work tirelessly to ensure the OMV serves the people as it should, Landry said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Adams was appointed state fire marshal in January 2024. He has over 40 years of experience in fire service and plans to bring successful approaches to the OMV. I am thrilled about the opportunity to enhance service delivery within another state agency. I am dedicated to improving our systems and ensuring that we provide exceptional services to our citizens. Our current system has faced challenges for too long, and I am eager to bring the successful One Team approach that we implemented at the State Fire Marshals Office to the Office of Motor Vehicles. Together, we can make a meaningful difference, Adams said. OMV leadership changes amid system outage issues Landry announced Friday that Dan Casey had resigned as OMV commissioner. The resignation came as the OMV system has been experiencing frequent outages due to its aging mainframe applications. In a March 21 statement, the Office of Technology Services (OTS) and Unisys have been actively investigating outages but hadnt found the issue. The governor said work to find a permanent fix for system issues continues. An executive order signed by Landry on March 20 declared a state of emergency and suspended late fees for Class E drivers licenses up to 30 days past the expiration date. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In other administrative changes at OMV, Landry announced Monday that Matthew Boudreaux will be the new OMV deputy commissioner. Landry merges homeland security agency with Louisiana National Guard 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. RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCT) On Friday, Mar. 28, 2025, Governor Stein proclaimed April as Sexual Assault Awareness Month. On April 1, North Carolinians are encouraged to join others around the country by wearing teal and sharing supportive content across social media using #WearTealDay and #SAAM2025. This month we recognize the survivors of sexual assault in our state. Last year we cleared the backlog of older sexual assault kits in our state, but there is more work to be done, Governor Josh Stein said. That is why I have called on the General Assembly to fund a sexual assault cold case unit because it is never too late to hold a perpetrator accountable or get justice for a victim of this heinous crime. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Approximately 81% of women and 43% of men experience sexual assault and/or harassment in their lifetime, according to the National Sexual Violence Resource Center. Nobody should be subjected to such horrific acts, so the fact that four out of five women and nearly half of men in this country experience sexual assault or harassment at some point in their lives should raise alarm bells for all of us, North Carolina Department of Administrations Secretary Gabriel J. Esparza said. We must continue to educate communities on the importance of consent and to be aware of the signs of sexual abuse. During the 2023-24 fiscal year, more than 8,500 people in North Carolina used the services provided by the CFWYI-funded rape crisis center following an experience of sexual violence. This number includes 1,577 children under the age of 18 and more than 27,400 crisis calls and chats. Only 4% of victims reported being assaulted by a stranger. The NC Department of Administrations Council for Women and Youth Involvement (CFWYI) helps to combat such issues, funding sexual assault programs in 96 counties in our state and offering counseling, 24-hour crisis lines, transportation, and court and advocacy services. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While serving as Attorney General, Governor Stein has prioritized clearing the backlog of untested rape kits across the state. His budget proposal calls for creating a unit of investigators to solve sexual assault cold cases. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WNCT. Gov. Patrick Morrisey signed a bill into law that will ban food containing some artificial food dyes from being sold in West Virginia starting on Jan. 1, 2028. (Photo by Leann Ray/West Virginia Watch) West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey signed a bill that will ban a list of artificial food dyes from being included in food items sold in grocery stores or in school lunches. Republican lawmakers behind the measure have said the synthetic red, blue, green and yellow dyes are unnecessary and harmful. Theyve linked them to behavioral issues in children. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement West Virginia ranks at the bottom of many public health metrics, which is why theres no better place to lead the Make America Healthy Again mission, Morrisey said March 25. By eliminating harmful chemicals from our food, were taking steps toward improving the health of our residents and protecting our children from significant long-term health and learning challenges. Several states are considering similar legislation, and West Virginia is the first state to pass a sweeping synthetic food dye ban from grocery stores and school cafeterias. House Bill 2354 bans the use of seven artificial dyes Red No. 3, Red No. 40, Yellow No. 5, Yellow No. 6, Blue No. 1, Blue No. 2 and Green No. 3 in school meals beginning Aug 1. That will take effect much sooner than the federal ban on Red No. 3 and Californias ban of the other dyes. The dyes would be prohibited along with the preservatives butylated hydroxyanisole and propylparaben, in drugs and food items for sale in the state beginning Jan. 1, 2028. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This extended deadline allows companies ample time to adjust, protecting consumers from price increases, a news release from the governors office said. The states food and beverage industry pushed back on the measure, warning that it would lead to increased grocery prices and empty shelves. Alternative ingredients dont exist to scale, they said. Del. Evan Worrell, R-Cabell, maintained that the food industry was using scare tactics to fight the bill. While there are many steps to take to improve our health outcomes, this bill starts by not allowing manufacturers to choose poison for profit in our food supply, he said. I applaud the governor for signing the food dye bill into law. The governor believes in the [Make America Healthy Again] movement as I do and we are taking steps to improve the quality of health in West Virginia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last September, California became the first state in the nation to ban food dyes from school meals, snacks and drinks. Titled the California School Food Safety Act, the law takes effect Dec. 31, 2027. In South Carolina, a bill was introduced in the House last Thursday to ban the dyes from school meals and snacks. The proposal would affect contracts for food purchases after June 30. U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has told food executives that removing artificial food dyes is an urgent priority. In January, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced that Red No. 3 would be banned from food starting January 2027 and from drugs in January 2028. The Jan. 15 order came one week before President Donald Trumps inauguration and two weeks before Kennedys confirmation hearings in the U.S. Senate. The questioning included dyes and their use in U.S. foods. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thank you to the Legislature, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and the entire Trump administration for helping us launch this movement right here in West Virginia, Morrisey said. SC Daily Gazette Editor Seanna Adcox contributed to this report. Like the SC Daily Gazette, West Virginia Watch is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. West Virginia Watch maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Leann Ray for questions: info@westvirginiawatch.com. PIQUA, Ohio (WDTN) A community college in Miami County receives funding to financially support students in one of its programs. Edison State Community College in Piqua will use a $10,000 Gene Haas Foundation grant for scholarships for the CNC Programming course. The 3-credit hour CNC course teaches students the fundamentals of machines and how to program and operate them. The class is for students pursuing a Mechanical Engineering Technology degree or certificate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Scholarships offered under the Gene Haas Foundation grant will cover all costs of the CNC Programming class, including tuition, fees, and textbooks. Students first will need to have completed the prerequisite course. The school received another grant last year to upgrade CNC equipment. Edison State Community College received a grant a year ago for these two machines that were $130,000. This gave us some more advanced machines with also the simulators, describes Steve Sykes, a professor at the college. Sykes is a product of the school, graduating in 1980. He started teaching in the summer of 1981. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Actually when I first started here, we had ticker tape, CNC machines, and now were doing advanced technology. Were seeing a lot of robotics. Were seeing a lot of CNC companies that are starting up because you can actually make pretty good money with CNC equipment, describes Sykes. The CNC program prepares students for a career in a field thats constantly advancing. What I like about the program is it gives me an in-depth view of how the machines operate, says student Anthony Thomas. What I really want to do is be able to fix the machines. That is what Im passionate about. Thomas and others learn how to diagnose problems and make repairs, preparing them to enter the workforce as soon as they graduate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In my field, I want to do equipment service. And part of that is CNC machines, says Thomas. There is a growing trend for companies to hire more CNC programmers. CNC machinists can work in industries like automotive, aerospace, medical, and technology. Edison State Community College offers a wide range of manufacturing and engineering degrees and certificates. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDTN.com. The Great Dismal Swamp is home to one of Virginias highest concentrations of black bears, according to the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (Photo courtesy of Rob Wood and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service) The National Park Service is asking members of the public to share their thoughts about a potential National Heritage Area designation in the region of the Great Dismal Swamp, a massive swath of ancient, forested wetlands stretching from Southeastern Virginia to the uppermost parts of North Carolina. National Heritage Areas are lived-in landscapes that are representative of the national experience through the physical features that remain and the traditions that have evolved in them, as defined by the Park Service. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Great Dismal Swamp is an environmental and cultural treasure, home to dozens of species of animals and, at one time, groups of Native Americans and formerly enslaved people who used it as a pathway to freedom. The important details of where the conceptual boundary of the Great Dismal Swamps National Heritage Area would lie and who would manage any conservation, recreation and education opportunities remain unanswered questions at the moment. Sometime in 2026, the Park Service plans to submit a feasibility study to Congress that will answer those questions. Congress will have the final say on whether the region is suited for the federal designation. There are currently 62 designated National Heritage Areas in 36 states and territories. The unique federal designation does not result in any land transfers, local zoning changes or easements. A canal running through the Great Dismal Swamp (Photo courtesy of the Camden County Tourism Development Authority, Byrds Eye Photography and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service) The entire state of Tennessee is a designated National Heritage Area, and the rights of landowners are not affected by the designation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A lot of people fear government overreach said John Warren, Communications Specialist at the National Park Service Northeast Region. Theres no such federal footprint in a National Heritage Area. It is entirely something that the local community takes on and runs itself. Any federal funding for the proposed National Heritage Area would come by way of congressional appropriation. A lot of those National Heritage Areas may receive up to $1 million annually, but others get a lot less, said Warren. National Heritage Areas must receive matching funds from non-federal sources as well. The role of the National Park Service is to be a partner and advisor to the actual manager of the Heritage Area, called the local coordinating entity, an organization within the community chosen to interpret the history and traditions of the area and manage the conservation, recreation and education goals laid out by the project. Creating a National Heritage Area During virtual meetings held last week, members of the public shared their ideas on the Great Dismal Swamp National Heritage Areas potential location, its coordinating entity, and the natural, cultural and historic resources the region has to offer. The current study area for creating a Great Dismal Swamp National Heritage Area (Photo courtesy of the National Park Service) The public was also asked if opportunities exist for improving the quality of those resources through conservation, recreation and education. Comments are encouraged to be submitted in writing online, by mail or over the phone until May 19. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The public comments are not meant to be a vote, said Warren, but a way to collect information. The study has 10 criteria, and the answer to all of these has got to be yes for us to be able to give a favorable conclusion that, yes, this qualifies as a National Heritage Area, said Warren. So its a high bar. Warren said that anecdotally, over the last ten years only about half of the National Heritage Areas that were applied for ended up receiving the designation from Congress. As part of the study, the National Park Service staff has also spoken with potential state and local partners as well as possible coordinating entities. Chesapeake City Council has voiced interest in assuming the managing role, said Julie Bell, cultural resource project manager for the Park Service. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nonprofits, universities, and state and local governments are some examples of coordinating entities that were chosen to manage other Heritage Areas around the nation. Any entity outside of the federal government is allowed to assume the role, including Indigenous tribes, said Bell. The Great Dismal Swamp National Heritage Area will involve coordination across state lines since the Virginia-North Carolina border slices directly through the swamp. In 2003, the Northern Neck National Heritage Area was established along with six others around the nation. The designation was Virginias third National Heritage Area to date. Two other possible National Heritage Areas have completed their feasibility studies and are currently awaiting a decision from Congress: the Finger Lakes Region in New York and the Kentucky Wildlands. The story of the swamp An 1862 painting of the Great Dismal Swamp titled Slaves Escaping Through the Swamp by Thomas Moran (Photo courtesy of the National Park Service) The National Park Service is developing themes that are present in the Great Dismal Swamp region to tell a nationally distinctive heritage story. One theme is a place of refuge and another is a field of conflict. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Based on artifacts found in the Great Dismal Swamp dating back over 5,000 years, the Nansemond, Meherrin, Yeopim and Lumbee people were likely stewards of the swamp long before European colonists arrived, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. After colonization, the role of the swamp for local communities changed. About 50,000 self-emancipated African Americans, called maroons, along with free Blacks, Indigenous people and Europeans lived in the swamp in search of refuge. Some used it as a pause point on their journeys north, making the swamp an official water-based rest stop on the Underground Railroad, but others settled permanent communities there up until the end of the Civil War. Today, the Great Dismal Swamp is protected by a 113,000 acre National Wildlife Refuge managed by the Fish and Wildlife Service. What is now a vast, uninhabited landscape is actually just a remnant of its former self. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The once enormous swamp covered over 1 million acres, roughly the size of Delaware, but was drained over the years, first by a young George Washington in 1763. Washington and other investors initially aimed to create land in the swamp that could be sold for profit, then to dig a canal to transport goods across the swamp. Enslaved people were forced to provide the labor for these early economic ventures. One of the most successful business opportunities in the swamp turned out to be logging. The now globally rare Atlantic white cedar was in high demand, and gaining access to the trees required digging ditches to drain the swamp. By the 1950s, the last of the virgin timber in the Great Dismal Swamp was gone, according to a National Park Service story map. The future of the swamp On George Washingtons birthday in 1973, about 50,000 acres of swamp land was donated to the Nature Conservancy and then handed over to the Fish & Wildlife Service, thus creating the Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We have discovered that swamps actually play a vital role in our environment and that they are necessary, said Warren. You know, theyre not just places that we want to avoid because they have a lot of mosquitos or something like that. Theyre places that are useful to the environment. The Fish and Wildlife Service says the swamp serves as a permanent and migratory home for roughly 50 species of mammals, 200 types of birds and 100 species of butterflies. The diverse ecosystem ranges from bald cypress to red maple and Virginias last historic refuge of native Atlantic white cedar. In addition to the habitat the swamp provides to wildlife, it also prevents floods and improves water quality in nearby communities with a combined population of nearly 1 million people, according to the Fish and Wildlife Service. A 2017 project to re-moisten the peat soils of the swamp served to benefit the surrounding population, including in Suffolk, by restoring a more natural water regime in the area. The Fish and Wildlife Service and its partners installed adjustable dams in key places to regulate the amount of water leaving the swamp, improving the environments ability to provide its once inherent benefits. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The re-moistened peat is now able to absorb stormwater more efficiently, acting like a sponge to reduce flooding during severe weather such as the storms and hurricanes that are common in the region. Healthy peat also stores more carbon, a valuable tool in combating global climate change. This is a region that has already changed a lot, said Warren. Creating a National Heritage Area may have some influence on that, or it may not. Those decisions would be left to the local community and the chosen coordinating entity. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE One after another, a parade of the wealthiest and most elite institutions in American life since last November have found themselves confronted by unprecedented demands from President Donald Trump and his team of retribution-seekers. One after another, these establishment pillars have met these demands with the same response: capitulation and compliance. The details are varied but two themes are consistent. The first is an effort far more organized and disciplined than any precedent from Trumps first term to bring institutions who have earned the presidents ire to heel. The second theme is even more surprising: The swiftness with which supposedly powerful and supposedly independent institutions have responded with something akin to the trembling acquiescence of a child surrendering his lunch money to a big kid on the morning walk to school. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cumulatively, the cases represent an astonishing new chapter in the history of the American establishment: The Great Grovel. Prestigious law firms have cowered at his threats to tank their business; Paul, Weiss, which fought against Trump in his first term, pledged $40 million in pro bono legal services to issues Trump has supported. And Skadden Arps, one of the largest law firms in the world, reached a deal with Trump to provide $100 million in free legal work to administration-friendly causes before Trump had taken any action against them. One of the countrys most storied news networks, ABC News, settled a defamation lawsuit with Trump for $15 million that will go to his future presidential library, and another, CBS News, appears poised to settle for millions more. The Washington Post and the LA Times, both legacy papers owned by Trump-friendly billionaires, have adjusted the content of their editorial pages in ways that pleased the White House. And Columbia University, alma mater to Alexander Hamilton, agreed to nine policy changes in an effort to unfreeze $400 million in federal funding. Other universities hired Republican lobbyists to stay on the presidents good side. A team of POLITICO reporters in recent days set out to illuminate the common threads between these diverse episodes. They interviewed key figures at institutions who have been targeted, as well as people in and around Trumps circle. Here are four conclusions: A transactional age Leaders of the institutions who have complied with Trumps demands do not accept the White Houses idea that the basic premises of American governance have changed, and a New Normal has arrived. Quite the contrary, what people are yearning for is a return to the Old Normal, in which familiar revenue lines and profit margins stay intact. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When Brad Karp, chair of Paul, Weiss sent a firm-wide letter on March 23 justifying his decision to make a deal with Trump, he emphasized the need to ensure, above all, that our firm would survive. Trumps executive order, which mirrors ones he has issued about firms WilmerHale, Perkins Coie and Jenner & Block, stripped attorneys of security clearances and restricted their ability to do federal work. It was, in Karps own words, an existential threat to the firm. But there is deep concern among firm alumni that their former bosss decision to make a deal with Trump will pave the way for other concessions to the administration. Last week, more than 100 alumni sent a letter to Karp calling the deal a permanent stain on the face of a great firm that sought to gain a profit by forfeiting its soul. Former attorneys at Paul, Weiss granted anonymity to speak candidly about the firm say Karps decision also reflects a shift in power and strategic focus over the last eight years. Paul, Weisss corporate practice has greatly expanded since the days of the first Trump administration. In 2017, when the firm was sending partners to work 12 hour shifts at airports as part of their response to Trumps Muslim travel ban, revenue was just over $1 billion. Last year, the firm reported more than $2 billion in revenue, according to Law.com. You bring people together on the corporate side, youre not intent on fighting, one person said. Whereas on the litigation side you have to be a fighter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile Skaddens executive partner Jeremy London shared details of his negotiation in a firm-wide email sent Friday and obtained by POLITICO. He had learned the Trump administration intended to issue an executive order aimed at the firm. We chose to engage proactively and constructively with the Administration to align on a productive path forward without the issuance of an executive order, he wrote. We entered into the agreement the President announced today because, when faced with the alternatives, it became clear that it was the best path to protect our clients, our people and our Firm. The firms seem to have made a calculated decision that going along with Trumps demands would, like some sort of rubber-gloved procedure at the doctors office, be unpleasant for a moment but would lead swiftly to business as usual. There have been exceptions: Perkins Coie, Jenner & Block and WilmerHale, Big Law firms targeted by Trump with similar punishment, have opted to fight him in court. But even Trump is surprised by the scale of the capitulation: Theyre all bending and saying, Sir, thank you very much, Trump said, speaking at a White House event for Womens History Month Wednesday. Nobody can believe it, including law firms that have been so horrible and theyre just saying, where do I sign? Pressure points Trumps actions have illuminated more vividly than ever just how many wealthy private institutions have their finances and policies enmeshed with the federal government though it is hardly a new phenomenon. What is different is the willingness of Trump and his lieutenants to use this leverage so unabashedly. Along the way, he has revealed the institutions to be more vulnerable to intimidation than their leaders themselves may have recognized. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Earlier this month Columbia moved to comply with nine demands by the Trump administration in order to potentially unfreeze $400 million in U.S. federal research funding a major blow to the school, which relies on about $1.3 billion in government grants each year to support its $6.3 billion annual operating budget. The university, which has changed its policies to better support Jewish students after pro-Palestinian protests rocked the campus last year, had already considered many of the changes, according to a person with knowledge of the deliberations who was granted anonymity to speak candidly. Those included rules that would compel masked protesters to reveal their identities, and deputizing campus public safety officers to make arrests. We have been advancing our work to address discrimination and harassment for months in a variety of ways, including engagement with government agencies to address ongoing concerns, a Columbia spokesperson said in a statement to POLITICO. But leaders at the university also knew lifesaving research would be seriously curtailed without the $400 million in research funding, the person said. Taking the actions, the Trump administration made clear, would be the only path toward getting it back. The dynamics at work in the Great Grovel reveal a paradox. In theory, wealthy institutions with more diverse revenue lines should be more insulated from outside pressure. In practice, the opposite seems true, since these wealthy interests perceive more points of vulnerability and, from the other perspective, potential profit they therefore have more incentive to get along and go along. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The decision to settle the libel case was deeply unpopular at ABC News, where many journalists thought an independent news entity needed to defend itself vigorously. But ABC is only a small part of the Walt Disney Corp., where executives apparently decided defending the suit risked embarrassment because of the legal discovery process and could harm the larger business. It sent a chilling message to the newsroom that they could be sold out by the higher ups and by the corporate division at Disney, said a person who works with Disney granted anonymity to speak candidly. A Disney spokesperson declined to comment. Likewise, it is hard to imagine an earlier generation of Washington Post publishers contributing $1 million to a presidents inaugural fund. But that is what Post owner Jeff Bezos did for Trump. And Amazon, the company he founded and where he remains a key shareholder, reportedly signed a $40 million deal with Melania Trump to distribute a documentary about her, along with other content projects. The imbalance of power Much of the credit for Trumps new sense of ideological purpose in the second term has focused on top advisors like Stephen Miller or budget director Russ Vought. Both have played roles in the administrations effort to use executive branch leverage against institutions outside the government. But the retribution campaign is much more of a team effort, involving Trump allies across agencies and even outside advisors. Retribution is an important component of justice, said Mike Davis, a Trump ally who runs an outside judicial advocacy group. It restores the victims and serves as a powerful deterrent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Davis is one of a handful of outside Trump advisers developing strategies to go after the presidents political enemies. The push against the law firms is driven from the outside by longtime Trump aides Boris Epshteyn and Jason Miller, though Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche has also been involved, two people familiar with the conversations, granted anonymity to discuss details of them, said. On the inside, Stephen Miller plays a role. While Trump enjoys a wide array of support, his targets typically have found themselves alone and isolated. Theres a giant collective action problem because everybodys looking out for number one, said the person who works with Disney. There has been no effective effort so far by universities to work in concert to halt Trumps actions at Columbia or other campuses. Kicking the Associated Press out of the White House pool prompted howls by other reporters, but most news organizations basically kept on with their ordinary business. Major law firms havent released a joint statement condemning Trumps moves against their industry colleagues. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If law firms and businesses and others within the private sector choose not to stand up and front a resistance to this power that [Trump] is claiming, but which the Constitution does not give him, then he will have that power, said Mary Spooner, who worked at Paul, Weiss for more than a decade. But it becomes much, much harder to resist when individual organizations and institutions and corporations are forced to resist alone. Humiliation is the point Trumps campaign against institutions has some ideological originsgrounded in antipathy to what critics see as illegitimate government subsidies or the alleged wokeness of their internal practices on such matters as diversity, equity and inclusion. On equal footing with these motivations, however, is a psychological dimension. Trump targeted law firms that employed attorneys who have investigated him or fought him in court. Hes going after media organizations for perceived partisan bias or anti-Trump sentiment. His grudge against Columbia dates back to the 1990s, when he had attempted to sell the school property on the Upper West Side for upward of $400 million, the New York Times reported, and walked out of a meeting with trustees when they offered significantly less. Then, last spring, Columbia became the center of a global student protest movement of pro-Palestinian encampments and an elite, urban, progressive school for Republicans to turn into an example. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to people near the negotiations, Trump and his supporters care as much or more about public rituals of self-abasement as in the ABC and law firm settlements as they do about the substantive details of the original disputes. In the eyes of critics, Trump has for a lifetime caressed his grievances as if he were supervillain Ernst Stavro Blofeld stroking his cat. What you see here is a group of people who think they missed an opportunity the first time around that they didn't fully realize what they now believe to be the powers of the presidency and they didn't maximize Trump's indiscriminate, narcissistic, vengeful nature, said Ty Cobb, a former White House lawyer during the first Trump administration. Theyre playing to Trumps strengths, which is as a mob boss. It is far from clear from the reporting, however, that Trumps team would regard this as an insult. To the contrary, people in his orbit are pleased that the whole world can now see what they already knew: In Trumps four years out of power, he and his allies were thinking hard about what they would use their power for if they got it back. Daniel Barnes, Dasha Burns, Daniel Lippman, Megan Messerly and Irie Sentner contributed to this report. Greenlands new prime minister sent a blunt message to President Donald Trump and his administration Sunday as the territory reels in the aftermath of a visit from Vice President JD Vance. The comments from Jens-Frederik Nielsen also come one day after Trump suggested that military force was not off the table in acquiring the resource-rich island, telling NBC News Kristen Welker on Saturday: No, I never take military force off the table. But I think theres a good possibility that we could do it without military force. Nielsens statement comes in stark contrast to Vances Friday appearance at the Pituffik Space Force base in north-western Greenland, where the vice president said such a thing would not happen. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We must listen when others talk about us. But we must not be shaken, Nielsen said in a Facebook post. President Trump says the United States is getting Greenland. Let me make this clear: The U.S. is not getting that. We dont belong to anyone else. We decide our own future. Nielsen added Greenlanders must not act out of fear, adding that we must respond with peace, dignity and unity. And it is through these values that we must clearly, clearly and calmly show the American president that Greenland is ours. He concluded: It was like that yesterday. Thats how it is today. And thats how it will be in the future. Nunarput avataaniit eqqaaneqaraangat ilisimasassaraarput. Kisianni aalassatsinniarneqassanngilagut. Prsident Trump... Posted by Jens-Frederik Nielsen on Sunday, March 30, 2025 Vance insulted Denmarks leadership during his brief, hours-long visit at the U.S. military base last Friday, reiterating the administrations stance that Denmark hasnt done a good job at keeping Greenland safe. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The trip was scaled back to three hours from a three-day trip, initially announced as a cultural visit from second lady Usha Vance. 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. And because it hasnt changed, thats why President Trumps policy in Greenland is what it is. He added: What we think is going to happen is that the Greenlanders are going to choose, through self-determination, to become independent of Denmark, and then were going to have conversations with the people of Greenland from there, Vance said. Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lkke Rasmussen responded to the criticism afterwards in a video post on X. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I have a message for our American friends... and of course, we are open to criticism, but let me be completely honest. We do not appreciate the tone in which this is being delivered. This is not how you speak to close allies. Dear American friends. We agree that status quo in the Artcic is not an option. So lets talk about how we can fix it - together. Lars Lkke Rasmussen Danish Foreign Minister pic.twitter.com/vQrcUP7cwi Lars Lkke Rasmussen (@larsloekke) March 28, 2025 Former Danish Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt meanwhile told CNN Sunday, I must say that we are taken aback by the language used by the vice president on Friday. First of all, 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 said, according to The Hill. In a statement, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said: For many years, we have stood by the Americans in very difficult situations. The vice presidents reference to Denmark is not accurate. (Bloomberg) -- Greenlands new prime minister said the arctic island wont become American, the first comments hes made since forming a government on Friday. Most Read from Bloomberg Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We dont belong to anyone else, Jens-Frederik Nielsen said in a post on Facebook, responding to the latest takeover comment from US President Donald Trump. We decide our own future. Nielsens comments come just days after Vice President JD Vance toured a US military base in the far north of the island, saying Denmark hasnt done a good job at keeping Greenland safe. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen on Saturday announced a visit to Nuuk planned for later this week. Trump has so far had limited success with his advances as most Greenlanders dont want to join the US, even as they want increased independence from Denmark. In an interview with NBC over the weekend, Trump said: Well get Greenland. Yeah, 100%. President Trump says the US will get Greenland, Nielsen said in the post. Let me be clear: the US wont get it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2025 Bloomberg L.P. NEW DELHI, March 31 (Xinhua) -- Muslims in India on Monday celebrated the festival of Eid-al-Fitr with religious fervor and gaiety. Eid-al-Fitr marks the end of the Muslim holy month of fasting (Ramadan) and the beginning of the new month in the lunar calendar. Muslims in the capital city of New Delhi gathered in prayer grounds and mosques in the morning and offered Eid-al-Fitr prayers. People dressed in new clothes were seen hugging each other and exchanging Eid greetings during the gatherings. Reports of similar congregational prayers were poured in from most Indian cities, including Mumbai, Hyderabad, Lucknow, Agra, Bhopal and Thiruvananthapuram. Ahead of the festival, shoppers thronged markets and purchased clothes and foodstuffs like bakery, sweets and confectionery. Women prepare special food and delicacies for the day. Special delicacies and dishes are also available at restaurants and in markets for the day. Muslims wear new clothes on Eid and greet their friends and families. Pocket money and gifts are given out to children to celebrate the festival. Money is also distributed among the poor and needy. Eid-al-Fitr is an official holiday in India. GREENVILLE COUNTY, S.C. (WSPA) Four minors and their parents are suing Greenville County, as well as Greenville County Library Systems executive director and youth services manager over decisions to remove or restrict access to books by or about LGBTQ people. The lawsuit, filed with the assistance of the ACLU of South Carolina, asks a federal court to block county practices of removing or restricting access to books with LBGTQ themes or characters for readers under certain ages. By limiting access to those book or removing them entirely, the suit states the county has infringed on the minors first and fourteenth amendment rights. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Books are one of our greatest tools to learn about other peoples, the world around us, and more importantly to learn about ourselves through representation, said Greg Rogers, a Greenville County parent and plaintiff in the lawsuit, in a media release from the ACLU. All children and young adults should have equal access to these tools. Keeping even one child from accessing the representation they provide is a travesty for the equality of all children. In 2024, the Greenville County Library Board approved a policy which requires all books with themes or stories which show or discuss changing a persons gender to be moved to adult sections of the library. Previous Story: Greenville Co. libraries moving books about gender identity out of childrens section The lawsuit claims those practices are discriminatory and have resulted in award-winning books meant for children and young adult readers being inaccessible. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement By discriminatorily suppressing Plaintiffsaccess to these materials on the basis of Defendants animus towards gender transition and transgender people, Defendants have violatedand continue to violatePlaintiffs rights under the First and Fourteenth Amendments, causing ongoing and irreparable harm, the lawsuit reads. 7NEWS has reached out to Greenville County Library System and they declined to comment. You can read the full lawsuit below. O.R.-v.-Greenville-Cnty-Complaint-FINAL Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News. The daughter of the late Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-Ariz.) is running for his House seat in the special election set to replace him this fall. Adelita Grijalva, a Democrat and a member of the Pima County Board of Supervisors, announced her candidacy Monday in a post on the social platform X, saying Arizona deserves a progressive champion who will stand up to President Trump and fight for working families. Grijalva said her father, who died of lung cancer earlier this month at 77 years old, spent his life fighting for justice, equity and dignity for the most vulnerable communities. She highlighted her record as an advocate, serving on a school board to strengthen public education and the board of supervisors to push for investments in affordable housing, child care and protecting the Sonoran Desert. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Those are my values, and they are grounded right here in southern Arizona. The place Ive lived my entire life, she said. I know the hopes, the struggles and the strength of our community because its in my DNA. Grijalva also said the idea of America that her fathers legacy represents is under serious threat, arguing that Trump, Elon Musk and their gang of billionaires are destroying schools, attacking sacred rights, poisoning the environment and hurting the most vulnerable populations, such as senior citizens, veterans, children and immigrants. But together, we can stop them, she said. Grijalva will face Daniel Hernandez Jr., a former Arizona state House member, in the Democratic primary, which is set for July 15. Hernandez is a former intern for former Rep. Gabby Giffords (D-Ariz.) who received widespread praise for his role in saving Giffordss life during the attempted assassination of her in 2011. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A Phoenix-based Fox affiliate reported that Grijalva will resign from her seat on the board of supervisors April 4. Whoever wins the Democratic primary in the heavily Democratic-leaning 7th Congressional District should be the clear favorite to win the general election, which is set for Sept. 23. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. BOSTON (SHNS) The detention of Tufts University doctoral student Rumeysa Ozturk, the Turkish woman taken from a Somerville sidewalk by masked federal immigration agents last week, has become a focal point for pushback to President Donald Trumps immigration agenda, with some of the loudest opposition coming from activists, labor unions and members of the Congressional delegation. Gov. Maura Healey, in a TV interview that aired Sunday, continued to take a far more muted approach to the situation while saying that Trump has not been good to his word that immigration actions would focus mainly on criminals. The current model in which state authorities generally cannot hold individuals solely at the request of federal immigration officials is working, the governor also said. Healey told WCVB-TVs On The Record that she knows really nothing more than what was in initial reports about Ozturks arrest. The apprehension of Ozturk, reportedly here on a legal student visa, was captured on video. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Obviously, the video is disturbing. And, you know, there are questions about this, real questions about this. We dont know the circumstances under which this woman was taken. We havent had any information provided to us by the Department of Homeland Security, Healey said in the interview that aired Sunday. So all I can tell you right now is I continue to be in touch with the attorney general, who is looking at this, and wish we had more information to offer the public. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has said, without providing details, that Ozturk engaged in activities in support of Hamas, a foreign terrorist organization that relishes the killing of Americans. Secretary of State Marco Rubio last week suggested Ozturks detention was due at least in part to her allegedly having helped destabilize the Tufts campus as part of a pro-Palestinian movement last year. On On The Record, Healey said the Ozturk situation and the announcement last week that a law enforcement arm of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement recently apprehended 370 people in Massachusetts call into question the Trump administrations true aims. Im not sure what is going on here, to be honest, because I thought that and again, we dont know the circumstances of this but Donald Trump said that he was going to target criminals and that that was going to be the activity of ICE and Department of Homeland Security. And increasingly, were seeing instances that really call that into question here on the ground in Massachusetts, the former state attorney general said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Enforcement and Removal Operations Boston said 205 of the people arrested during the March 18-23 operation in Massachusetts had significant criminal convictions or charges, but the federal government has released only bare-bones information about the people arrested and the charges they face. Healey, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu and others have called on the feds to be more transparent about their actions in Massachusetts. The Massachusetts Black and Latino Legislative Caucus late last week said the ICE raids have deeply unsettled communities of color, particularly Black and Latino populations in Massachusetts. Initially framed as part of a federal initiative targeting criminals, terrorist supporters, and members of transnational organized criminal groups, these actions have quickly expanded beyond their stated intent. These arrests go beyond the original scope and have evolved into a tactic to intimidate marginalized communities of color, regardless of immigration status, the caucus of 26 state lawmakers said in a statement. The caucus also highlighted Ozturks arrest and said it stands united in condemning the egregious lack of due process she, and countless others like her, are enduring This Caucus condemns these actions that do not enhance public safety and instead force immigrant communities, victims, and survivors to distrust law enforcement and authorities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Thursday night, Rep. Manny Cruz of Salem took to social media to object to Ozturks arrest. This is a gross abuse of the powers of the executive branch. Ms. Ozturk had a student visa removed without due process, was unfairly targeted for protected speech, and was ambushed and transported to a different state to subvert our circuit court, Cruz wrote on X. The slippery slope this creates and our increasing descent towards authoritarianism should alarm every American. First they will come for their political opponents, immigrants, and then they will justify the false imprisonment of any American who speaks out. Rep. John Moran of Boston also made his views known on X. As a graduate of The Fletcher School at Tufts and an elected representative of a proudly diverse MA House district, I am appalled by the anti-American behavior of Trump and his cronies. In America we engage in dialogue, not totalitarian suppression! he wrote in a post that included a screenshot of Ozturk being detained. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The governor said on OTR that she is very comfortable removing violent offenders from the streets, including those who should not be here, who are here unlawfully. But she also suggested the states laws where immigration and public safety overlap are sufficient. I also want to say, though, in Massachusetts, you know, the facts are that were among the safest states in the country. We were rated recently, we have the lowest rate of gun deaths, of traffic deaths, we are second in life expectancy nationwide, and we are, I think, third lowest in property thefts. So in this discussion about public safety and whats going on, I just want to level set with the folks in Massachusetts to let them know whats actually going on in terms of public safety. The governor reiterated in Sundays appearance that we are not a sanctuary state. She also made clear that she does not see it as her role to get involved in efforts to reshape state law in response to a court ruling that effectively limits cooperation between state officials and federal immigration authorities. The Supreme Judicial Courts 2017 Lunn ruling determined that state law provides no authority for Massachusetts court officers to arrest and hold an individual solely on the basis of a Federal civil immigration detainer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We have a law in place thats similar to many laws in place around this country, and it basically says, Look, state law enforcement, you work on crimes, you work on criminal investigations. We regularly do investigations with local and federal authorities, Healey said. She added, I support anything to get criminals off the street and to ensure the safety of our communities and our residents. That will be for the Legislature to decide in terms of the Lunn decision. But I just want to be clear about the model that we have right now, and that I think its working. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP. Rescue efforts continue in Myanmar and Thailand after a devastating earthquake shook Southeast Asia on Friday. Channel 2 Action News spoke with a family from Gwinnett County who had just moved to Thailand. Joshua Fekete, 36, took a teaching job in Bangkok. He and his wife and their two small children moved a few weeks early before Fekete started the job the next month. They had only been in Bangkok a week when the earthquake hit. Despite having several doctor visits and physicals that gave him clean bills of health before he moved, he got rushed to the hospital Friday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He had clogged arteries, a heart attack, and developed sepsis, then they said he had an infection in his appendix, his mother Sylvia Johnson told Channel 2s Eryn Rogers. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] While he was waiting for emergency surgery, the earthquake hit. He was supposed to go back for treatment, but they had to move the patients outside in the parking lot in the beds, so that was frightening, Johnson said. The 7.7 magnitude earthquake hit Myanmar but reverberated across Southeast Asia including Thailand, all while Fekete was suffering a heart attack. He was in a lot of pain because he had to wait so long, and we were worried that he might be in real trouble, not having the surgery right away, Johnson said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theyre now having trouble with insurance internationally. Their American insurance company said theyll cover the surgeries. However, the family said the hospital is asking them to pay $16,000 upfront in order to discharge Fekete. Communication is also difficult because the family is using WhatsApp which requires Wi-Fi, and they say thats been shaky after the earthquake. Johnson also said flights out of Thailand are being restricted. We want to get him back home because at this point, hes not well enough to be away, Johnson said. The family set up a GoFundMe campaign to help get Fekete and his family back to Georgia. TRENDING STORIES: [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] A man is facing felony charges after police say he shot two young children with a BB gun for running through his yard in a Gwinnett County neighborhood. The incident happened last Monday on Margate Court near Lawrenceville, just after the children got off the school bus. The victims are just 6 and 7 years old. One of the boyswas bleeding, and another one, they have marks from the neck, said Zulma Navarrete, a neighbor and mother. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Police arrested 48-year-old Shihchen Chou, who they say became angry when the children cut through his yard around 3 p.m. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Investigators told Channel 2 Gwinnett County Bureau Chief Matt Johnson that Chou fired a BB gun, hitting one child in the back of the head and another near the neck. The scareI feel awful because I cant believe it, said Estefani Gonzalez, the mother of the two victims, speaking in Spanish. Officers arrived to find the children injured. Neighbors say they watched the arrest unfold. Thankfully, the children will be okay. TRENDING STORIES: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When the police ask him, they say he say, its a play with the kids. But its not a play, Navarrete said. Chou is in jail, charged with felony cruelty to children along with aggravated assault and two counts of battery. A judge denied him bond and labeled him a danger to the community. Now Im feeling okay, because hes in the jail, Navarrete said. Parents in the neighborhood remain uneasy. If hes freeI dont know what happens the next time, Navarrete said. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) Two families have reunited with their adopted children who were trapped in Haitis escalating crisis. The Grey Bull Rescue Foundation embarked on a mission to help two six-year-old girls escape the island nation as violence continues to erupt. Their escape from Haiti comes at a critical time. The human rights situation in Haiti has reached yet another crisis point, said UN human rights chief Volker Turk in a social media post. Gangs are uniting to spread terror, armed with powerful weapons. The illicit flow of arms into the country must stop. The Haitian people cannot be forgotten. Their suffering must end. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The unrest has been weighing heavy on Angela Howell-Edgerly, especially over the last year when gang violence reached new heights in Haitis capital, Port-au-Prince. Angela Howell-Edgerly and her husband spent seven years navigating Haitis adoption process for their daughter, Rosie. The current condition of the country warrants immediate action, Howell-Edgerly said. However, last March, her effort to unite with Rosie in America stood at a standstill when the government collapsed. Uncertainty became fear when Rosies living conditions became more dire each day. Some children have had to flee orphanages, including our daughter, due to surrounding gunfire and bullets penetrating walls, Howell-Edgerly said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Howell-Edgerly contacted the Grey Bull Rescue Foundation to assist. The non-profit organization is a veteran-led, international rescue agency based in Tampa, Florida. Grey Bull Rescue specializes in rescuing Americans from conflict zones across the world when the U.S. Government does not have access or a presence. Now, after a last-minute clearance and a high-stakes rescue, these families will be together, reads a statement from the Grey Bull Rescue Foundation. Their journey has been filled with heartbreak, resilience, and unwavering determination. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. CHEYENNE When U.S. Rep. Harriet Hageman, R-Wyo., decided earlier this week to pivot to tele-town halls from in-person events, she blamed the Democratic Party for making the events too unsafe to proceed. In response, the Wyoming Democratic Party and Laramie County Democratic Party put together their own overlapping in-person town hall. Around 80 people gathered at Laramie County Community College Friday evening, where Hagemans in-person town hall was previously set to be held, to share their concerns and make their voices heard. Laramie County Democrats Chairman Matthew Snyder said his goal for the event was to give constituents a place to be heard. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our interest, as a party, is having an opportunity to organize around these events, or lack thereof. In many ways, I see this as a watershed opportunity to be meaningful, he said. His fear is that leaders not meeting face-to-face with their constituents as a national trend will lead to a disconnect between Washington, D.C., and the rest of the country. Instead of hosting an in-person town hall Friday evening at LCCC, Hageman hosted a tele-town hall meeting that allowed constituents to submit questions online or over the phone to staffers, dial in and listen. Hageman said more than 100 constituents tuned into the call, down from around 500 who attended a chaotic recent town hall in Laramie that made national news. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Democrat town hall 2 Attendees listen to speakers at a town hall hosted by the Laramie County Democratic Party discussing the actions of Wyoming's U.S. Rep. Harriet Hageman at Laramie County Community College on Friday. In order to get the number to dial in, attendees were required to list their full name, contact information and address in an online form. Some attending the Democratic Party event said sharing this personal information made them uncomfortable. Shortly after the event began, however, automated calls went out to Hagemans constituents, offering them the opportunity to listen in. Over the course of about an hour, Hageman answered 16 questions that had been previously submitted by those who listened to the live call. At the end of the event, she said she hopes to resume in-person town halls as soon as next month if we can get the temperature turned down a little bit and make sure that we can provide for the safety and security of people who attend. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The questions she fielded ranged from the impacts of reported cuts of up to 80,000 Veterans Affairs jobs to the dismantling of the U.S. Department of Education on the state of Wyoming. She said that Secretary of Veterans Affairs Doug Collins is a friend of hers who cares deeply for U.S. veterans. She supported the cuts of the positions, saying that it weeds out waste, fraud and abuse. Hageman said the cuts focus specifically on the administration and bureaucracy, rather than the service providers of the VA. We need to have some changes at the VA, Hageman said. We need to go in. We need to be not just tinkering around the edges, we need to go into these agencies, pull up the hood, pull out the engines, start looking at all of the different things that go on in these agencies, find out what works, find out what doesnt work, and focus on the services that we need to provide to our men and women in service, as well as the veterans. Hageman also defended the dismantling of the federal Department of Education, saying that education was better off in Wyoming when she grew up and graduated from Lingle-Fort Laramie High School in 1981. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She said she is confident Wyoming will be the best state in education going forward with the federal government out of it. Attendees at the Democratic event identified these as two of the top priorities they would have liked to ask Hageman about if she had been at LCCC Friday evening. Right now, its very scary to me for my grandchildren, one attendee, who asked not to be identified, said as she began to tear up. Right now, I dont (have hope), but Im hoping that will change. Her husband, who said he is a veteran, said he is concerned with how cuts to the VA may negatively impact veterans. Perhaps the top concern of those who gathered at LCCC Friday evening was Social Security. One of the three panelists at the event, Ted Hanlon, said he is currently receiving Social Security payments, and he wants to keep it that way. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I know about Social Security; thats my money, thats not their money, he said. And then somebody tells me theyre going to take it away from me. And then they wont even listen to me when I want to talk about it? President Trump has said he will not cut Social Security, which has more than 70 million recipients. However, he does plan to cut jobs in the agency. Last month, the Social Security Administration announced plans to cut about 7,000 employees, or about 12% of its workforce. Hageman addressed Social Security on her call. She said that Congress cannot touch Social Security by law, but she knows that there is an enormous amount of fraud within the program. She said cutting federal spending in certain areas will help strengthen programs like Social Security. Someone who has 17 Social Security numbers that he is receiving Social Security on every single one of those, thats fraud. We need to wipe that out, she said. There are a whole variety of things, but I do believe that the President has made clear over and over and over again, we are not going to touch the benefits for Social Security Administration or Medicare, but were going to have to strengthen those programs if theyre going to exist a decade from now. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Also during the call, Hageman said she supports bipartisan legislation to have at least one United States Post Office Processing and Distribution Center in every state, she has been fighting a mandate on electronic identification eartags for cattle crossing state lines, and she supports most executive orders becoming law. We are in the process of, right now, writing the laws and introducing the laws to actually carry out those executive orders that should be written into law, she said. And not all of them should be, but some of them should be ... and they may need some tweaks. We may need to do things a little bit differently than whats going on with the President. But again, the executive orders are directed at the executive branch. They happen to impact us now because the executive branch has become so powerful. Thats the problem. Thats what Im trying to take care of. At the time of publication, President Trump had signed 103 executive orders since he took office Jan. 20. In former President Joe Bidens four years in office, he signed 162 executive orders. Snyder concluded by asking his attendees, Whats next? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said he is not hopeless about the future, but he is not optimistic that Hageman will deviate from the party line set by President Trump or listen to her Democratic constituents as the sole U.S. representative for the state of Wyoming. This is happening all over the country, where duly elected representatives are not showing up, and thats part of the job. Thats a lot of the job, showing up and being responsible and accountable and knowing your constituents in a meaningful way, and addressing issues if they may have them, he said. Not everything is rosy in our country right now, putting it mildly, and there is discontent all over the country, and for representatives, including Representative Hageman, not to answer for those things ... thats problematic. Staff members prepare to transport the first batch of disaster-relief material offered by the Chinese government at the Yangon International Airport in Yangon, Myanmar, March 31, 2025. China's first batch of emergency humanitarian earthquake relief supplies to Myanmar departed from Beijing Capital International Airport on Monday morning and arrived in Myanmar on the same day. In response to a request from the Myanmar government, China has decided to provide Myanmar with 100 million yuan (13.9 million U.S. dollars) in emergency humanitarian aid to support earthquake relief efforts. According to the China International Development Cooperation Agency, the initial supplies include tents, blankets and first aid kits. (Photo by Haymhan Aung/Xinhua) YANGON, March 31 (Xinhua) -- The first batch of disaster-relief material offered by the Chinese government arrived in Myanmar on Monday. Staff members prepare to transport the first batch of disaster-relief material offered by the Chinese government at the Yangon International Airport in Yangon, Myanmar, March 31, 2025. (Photo by Haymhan Aung/Xinhua) Staff members prepare to transport the first batch of disaster-relief material offered by the Chinese government at the Yangon International Airport in Yangon, Myanmar, March 31, 2025. (Photo by Haymhan Aung/Xinhua) Staff members prepare to transport the first batch of disaster-relief material offered by the Chinese government at the Yangon International Airport in Yangon, Myanmar, March 31, 2025. (Photo by Haymhan Aung/Xinhua) The airplane carrying the first batch of disaster-relief material offered by the Chinese government arrives at the Yangon International Airport in Yangon, Myanmar, March 31, 2025. (Photo by Haymhan Aung/Xinhua) The airplane carrying the first batch of disaster-relief material offered by the Chinese government arrives at the Yangon International Airport in Yangon, Myanmar, March 31, 2025. (Photo by Haymhan Aung/Xinhua) (INSIDE CALIFORNIA POLITICS) Republican strategist Rob Stutzman appeared on Inside California Politics to discuss why he thinks former Vice President Kamala Harriss potential run for governor may not be the guaranteed win for her that some have suggested. Stutzman suggested that in recent election cycles, California voters have taken a more conservative position on issues and that the next governor of California may need to move the state away from some of its progressive policies. The dominant leadership in the state which is not just Democrat but very progressive Democrat is consistently demonstrating that they are out of step with where the voters really are, youre seeing it through ballot measures, Stutzman said. If she is not clearly in step with the voters as a candidate, she runs some risk of an astounding upset to someone else who is in step. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM) The Muslim community in Harrisburg gathered at the Hadee Mosque today to celebrate Eid-Al-Fitr, the holiday marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan. During Ramadan, Muslims fast during daylight hours, so the festive lunch that takes place on Eid is the first time in a month most of the participants have been able to eat at a typical meal time. Participants start with prayers, introspection, and atonement ahead of the big fast-breaking feast. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While the holiday is a day of celebration, the one today is tinged with recognition of all the problems in the world. We are very, very saddened with the Muslim world. They are not able to celebrate as we are here in the United States. We pray for them, not just during Ramadan, but even since the conflicts began overseas. Weve always prayed for peace, Kalim Bhatti, the spokesperson for the Harrisburg chapter of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27. A majority of the Harvard Law School faculty sent an unusual letter to their students over the weekend warning that the rule of law now faces grave threats under the Trump administration. The professors, writing in their individual capacities and not as representatives of the elite law school, voiced their concerns that legal precepts and the institutions designed to uphold them are starting to buckle. They referenced President Donald Trumps executive orders targeting individual law firms for retribution due to their legal work challenging Trump or his administration. While reasonable people can disagree about the characterization of particular incidents, we are all acutely concerned that severe challenges to the rule of law are taking place, and we strongly condemn any effort to undermine basic norms, they wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The letter has been signed by about 90 professors, including roughly two-thirds of the schools tenured faculty. The Harvard Crimson, which first reported the letter, noted that the signatories included most of the law schools top leadership, though not its interim dean, John C.P. Goldberg. Andrew Manuel Crespo, a public interest law professor who signed the letter, told HuffPost it was remarkable to see so many legal scholars in agreement on any issue, but they all recognized a moment of extreme threats. Its very clear the strategy on the part of the administration is to pick off institutions one by one, whether thats Paul Weiss or Columbia University or Skadden, Crespo said, referencing two law firms and one school that chose to cut deals with the administration after Trump threatened them financially. Crespo went on, When these institutions are targeted individually, the pressure is overwhelming, and were seeing a number of them fold. Across the profession, lawyers and professors are realizing, if we dont stand together, we will all fall separately. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Earlier this month, Trump crafted an executive order aimed at stripping Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison and its attorneys of government contracts and security clearances, jeopardizing the firms relationships with its clients. Paul Weissagreed to provide $40 million in pro bono legal work to the administrations causes in exchange for the president dropping the order. Another firm, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, reached a similar arrangement with the White House. Trumps use of his offices power to bully and extort concessions has prompted a crisis within the legal profession, with many attorneys furious that certain firms bent the knee to Trump when their bottom lines were imperiled. Other firms Perkins Coie, WilmerHale and Jenner & Block have opted to fight the White House in court in the face of similar threats. President Donald Trump has issued executive orders targeting individual law firms for retribution due to their legal work challenging him or his administration. Pool via Associated Press In the case of Columbia, Trump canceled $400 million of federal funding for the school, alleging it had mishandled student protests against the Israeli war in Gaza. The school pledged in response to reform its disciplinary process and develop a new definition of antisemitism, among other concessions that angered many professors and students. A lawsuit against the administration argues that revoking the funding due to the protests violates free speech protections. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sharon Block, a labor law professor at Harvard and a former member of the National Labor Relations Board, told HuffPost many of her students feel theyre entering the legal profession while its under unprecedented strain. They dont understand whats happening, they dont understand what it means for the rule of law, and they feel the world has changed in a dangerous way since they first stepped foot on our campus, she said. Block signed the letter to send the message that we understand and share the same basic concerns. The whole edifice of the democracy really relies on there being a rule of law respected, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement College campuses have also been rattled by the prospect of arrest or deportation for international students whove taken public stances that cross the administration. Earlier this month at Columbia, federal immigration agents detained Mahmoud Khalil, a recent graduate of the school and legal permanent resident who helped lead pro-Palestinian demonstrations at the school last year. The letter from Harvard law professors acknowledged that many international students on U.S. college campuses are living in fear of imprisonment or deportation for lawful speech and political activism. The First Amendment, they wrote, was designed to make dissent and debate possible without fear of government punishment. Neither a law school nor a society can properly function amidst such fear, they added. Read the full letter: BOSTON (WWLP) A woman from New Haven was sentenced to prison for sex trafficking and the interstate transportation of two separate victims. In a news release from the Justice Department in Boston, 51-year-old Jennifer Fortier, under the direction of Jermall Anderson, used physical violence, threats, and the giving and withholding of heroin and cocaine to force two different victims to prostitute on their behalf. Massachusetts sex offender remains in prison for downloading over 300 files of child porn Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jermall Anderson allegedly recruited women directly from drug rehabilitation and detox facilities to force and coerce them into providing commercial sex for his financial gain. He and his co-conspirators were alleged to have trafficked the victims across New England, New York, and New Jersey. Jermall Anderson pleaded guilty to seven counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud, and coercion, one count of coercion and enticement, and one count of interstate transportation for the purpose of prostitution. He was sentenced to 15 years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release. Jennifer Fortier pleaded guilty to two counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion and one count of knowingly transporting any individual in interstate or foreign commerce, with intent that such individual engage in prostitution. She was sentenced to 58 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Latasha Anderson pleaded and is scheduled to be sentenced on June 11th. Local News Headlines WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP. A New Haven, Connecticut woman has been sentenced to prison for sex trafficking and transporting victims for prostitution. Jennifer Fortier, 51, has been sentenced to 58 months in prison with a 3-year supervised release. From 2012-2016, Fortier, alongside a co-conspirator and now convicted sex trafficker Jermall Anderson, had used physical violence, threats, and the giving/withholding of drugs to two separate victims. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fortier and her conspirators mainly targeted those who were struggling, either from economic or drug issues, and convinced them to provide commercial sex to Fortiers benefit. Jennifer Fortier inflicted violence against these women, who were vulnerable, homeless, unemployed, and suffering from drug addiction, all to feed the profits of this criminal sex-trafficking organization. said United States Attorney Leah B. Foley. Prosecuting those who exploit others for their own personal gain is something that my office will continue to put our resources into. Everybody deserves to be treated with dignity, not exploited for their addictions and life circumstances. In August 2023, Fortier, alongside her co-defendants Jermall Anderson and Latasha Anderson, was indicted by a grand jury. Then, in November 2024, Fortier pleaded guilty to two counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud, and coercion and one count of knowingly transporting any individual in interstate or foreign commerce, with intent that such individual engage in prostitution. In March 2025, Jermall Anderson was sentenced to 15 years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release. Latasha Anderson pleaded guilty in March 2025 and is scheduled to be sentenced on June 11, 2025. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW Pam Sagness, executive director of Behavioral Health Division for North Dakota Health and Human Services, speaks during a meeting of the Budget Section, Human Resources Division, on Sept. 18, 2024. (Michael Achterling/North Dakota Monitor) Some North Dakota health agencies are trying to adjust to the sudden loss of federal funding. The North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services learned last week it lost about $3.2 million in federal funding for substance-use treatment and mental health programs after block grants were rescinded by a federal agency. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In an evening email on March 24, the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration told HHS that the COVID-19 pandemic-era grants were taken back in accordance with President Donald Trumps executive order empowering the Elon Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency to cut costs. These grants were issued for a limited purpose: To ameliorate the effects of the pandemic, the email stated. The end of the pandemic provides cause to terminate COVID-related grants. Now that the pandemic is over, the grants are no longer necessary. The grants were scheduled to expire Sept. 30. Pam Sagness, executive director for the Behavioral Health Division for the Department of Health and Human Services, said in 2021 the department received the five block grants to target substance abuse prevention, treatment and mental health programming totaling about $9.5 million. The funding for these grants came from the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act and the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Renae Moch, public health director for Bismarck-Burleigh Public Health, said the organization received $115,000 from HHS to develop plans for a 24/7, 365-day facility to focus on crisis response, mental health and addiction services, rather than treating patients in an emergency room. How we were notified and how this kind of went down has just been unbelievable, Moch said. Renae Moch (Provided) She said she received a general notification from HHS last Tuesday morning that their block grant funding was going to be impacted, but she was still unclear about what that meant and what funding was being rescinded. She got a call back about 4:30 p.m. from the department, 45 minutes before she was to present and hopefully award funding from the grant during a Bismarck City Commission meeting. I had to kind of refocus and compose myself before going up to the meeting at 5:15 p.m., Moch said. The presentation and contract award were pulled from the agenda. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sagness said 42 grantees statewide will lose federal funding. Our focus now is on ensuring that services continue by identifying alternative funding and working with providers to minimize disruptions, Sagness said in a statement. Its important for North Dakotans to know that support remains in place. Anyone struggling should continue to reach out for help, including through (calling) 988 or their local behavioral health provider. The department received notice the grants were being terminated the day the funding was rescinded, Sagness said. Holly Scott, a spokesperson for Fargo Cass Public Health, said its state partners confirmed that its funding for social detox center operations will run out after September. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our leadership team is currently working to determine the impacts of these changes, while also reviewing alternate sources of funding to assure long-term sustainability, Scott said in an email. Other organizations impacted by the loss of block grant funding: Connect Us Therapy, Williston $50,000 for crisis response and law enforcement mental health support Corner Post Counseling, Mandan $30,000 for crisis response and law enforcement mental health support Public Health & Tribes, 23 contracts $200,000 for substance-use prevention Flint Communications, Fargo $824,951 for Parents Lead, opioid messaging initiatives and marketing statewide BeMoreColorful, Fargo $160,000 for behavioral health workforce tools All of the planning and all of the work that has gone into it and now, here we are, Moch said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She said they dont want to abandon the project, but the organization is going to have to come up with alternate funding sources. We will be losing months, Moch said. Shes also hopeful a new grant or funding source can be identified before the city and county begin their budget discussions over the summer. Separate federal funding through the Health Equity Immunization Grant was also rescinded for Bismarck-Burleigh Public Health, she said. That funding impacted the organizations ability to provide free COVID-19 tests and a portion of the salary for a vaccine specialist. Its all related to the same decision, Moch said. She added that arguments about the pandemic being over and the funding not being needed dont hold water because they are still working through the impacts of COVID-19. That funding was supposed to continue until 2026, Moch said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The abrupt impacts on us at the local level is what is just so unexpected and so were just really trying to scramble now because there was no notice, she said. In an interview with the North Dakota Monitor, Gov. Kelly Armstrong said the COVID-19 pandemic has been over for three years, but he has been in contact with HHS to get a handle on the impacts to state health providers. Im glad it happened during the legislative session so we can figure out how we readjust our budget and figure out how to finish off the session, Armstrong said. In a news release, the Department of Health and Human Services said it was evaluating funding options for the loss in federal block grants and will collaborate with other state agencies, organizations and private partners to address priority areas. The department said it will provide updates as more information becomes available. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX The CEO of a Texas health insurance company was fired after admitting before a DOGE panel of state lawmakers that he hired private investigators to spy on customers and obtain sensitive details about their lives. Mark Sanders was dismissed from his duties as chief executive of Austin-based Superior HealthPlan after he testified before the Texas House Delivery of Government Efficiency Committee in a hearing on Medicaid procurement last week. Sanders acknowledged Wednesday that private investigators were hired to surveil and glean background information on state lawmakers, journalists, healthcare providers, and patients. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced Thursday that his office was launching an investigation into the company after Sanders remarks. The allegations concerning Superiors actions, such as actions that were characterized as potentially blackmailing lawmakers to secure state contracts and surveilling private citizens to avoid paying legitimate claims, are deeply troubling, he said in a statement. Abortion Pills Lawsuit (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) I will get to the bottom of this, uncover any illegal activity, and hold bad actors responsible. Sanders was subsequently dismissed on Thursday, Superior Healthplans parent company told The Dallas Morning News. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The conduct highlighted yesterday during the course of the Texas House Committee hearing is not reflective of our values nor is it a practice Centenes current leadership condones, the company said in a statement. While the embattled health insurance firm was already facing lawsuits for declining coverage, a series of private investigations allegedly started in 2017 when Sanders took over as CEO. Sanders told committee members that the company had since abandoned the practice of so-called routine background checks on customers. Weve done what I would call general research, he said. Anything thats publicly available. Mark Sanders testified before the Texas House Delivery of Government Efficiency Committee in a hearing on Medicaid procurement Wednesday (Texas House of Representatives) According to documents obtained by the Morning News, State Representative Giovani Capriglione, state Senator Charles Schwerner, and former state Senator Dawn Buckinghamall Republicansare among the victims. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Why would you go and run a background check, hire a private investigator to follow, to dig into the records of people who are your customers? Capriglione asked. I dont think what any of us expected was for a health insurance company, funded mostly by Texas taxpayer dollars, to use some of those funds to hire private investigators, he added. The state representative accused the company of likely having known about Sanders actions before Wednesdays hearing. Capriglione said that legislation has been filed to prevent similar incidents in the future, adding: If any company does something like this again, they will never get a government contract again. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement State Representative Tony Tinderholt said he was appalled after reviewing a folder of alleged email correspondences between Sanders and firms hired to conduct the investigations stating he initially thought they were a joke. When asked if he was embarrassed about what was in the folder, Sanders replied: Yeah, I am. It could be illegal. I dont know, Tinderholt said before asking Paxton to investigate the matter and hold Superior Healthplan accountable. The Independent has contacted Superior Healthplan for more information. The rain is pouring down on South Florida, prompting the National Weather Service in Miami to issue a flash flood warning Sunday. The warning is in effect for parts of Miami-Dade until 8 p.m. Miami Beach is getting drenched as the NWS says that, around 6:45 p.m., trained weather spotters reported thunderstorms producing between 2 and 7 inches of rain. Additional rainfall amounts up to 0.5 inches are possible in the warned area, forecasters wrote. Flash flooding is already occurring. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Sunday evening, around a dozen stranded cars could be seen near Baptist Hospital from flash flooding that was filling the streets. Affected areas include: Miami, Miami Beach, Virginia Key, Miami Shores, North Bay Village, El Portal, Port Of Miami, Fisher Island and Downtown Miami. Parts of Broward County were under the warning until 6 p.m. Turn around, dont drown when encountering flooded roads, the NWS wrote in their flash flood warning. Most flood deaths occur in vehicles. (Bloomberg) -- Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the US military has begun to upgrade its operations in Japan to a new war-fighting command, highlighting the Trump administrations focus on China as its primary security challenge. Most Read from Bloomberg Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Tokyo, the final stop on a swing through the Asia-Pacific region thats been overshadowed by revelations that Hegseth gave advance details of military strikes in Yemen in a Signal chat that included a journalist, the secretary said the US would deepen its defense coordination with Japan. America and Japan stand firmly together in the face of aggressive and coercive actions by the communist Chinese, he said, speaking after a meeting with Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani. Hegseth said the US would add more personnel to a new joint command in Japan that would direct any initial US military response to a crisis in the region, and would work closely with a newly created Japanese military command overseeing air, land, sea and other forces. US Forces Japan would become a war-fighting headquarters, he said, a move that increases our readiness to respond to contingency or crisis, support US operations and help Japan and US forces defend this territory. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hegseths visit to Japan, coming after a similar emphasis on deepening the US alliance with the Philippines during a stop in Manila, goes some way toward reassuring allies that it intends to remain engaged in the region. Doubts were fueled earlier this month when President Donald Trump criticized the US-Japan Security Treaty, signed in 1960, by highlighting the fact that the US is obliged to defend Japan under the agreement but Japan doesnt offer the same security guarantees in return. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said Monday at a regular press briefing in Beijing that military and security cooperation between the US and Japan should not target any third country or endanger regional peace and development. He added that by viewing China as a threat, the US was inciting certain countries to be the cannon fodder of US supremacy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Japanese officials say theyve been looking for reassurances that Washington would follow through on plans created under the Biden administration to ramp up US military presence in Japan with the creation of the joint force headquarters. While Japan is increasing its defense spending, it continues to rely heavily on the US for its security as it faces threats from China and North Korea. In a meeting with Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba later on Sunday, Hegseth agreed that the US and Japan would increase their military presence around Japans southwestern island chain and bolster ties with other allies in the region, according to a Japanese government statement. The two men also agreed to increase defense industry cooperation and confirmed the US pledged to defend Japan, including with nuclear weapons if necessary. Trump in the past has called for Japan to spend more on defense and pay more for US military bases, but Hegseth and Nakatani said the subject of Japans defense budget and what it pays to the US for bases didnt come up during their meeting. Instead, Nakatani said the meeting focused on broad strategy and ways to deepen the alliance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Together with Secretary Hegseth, I confirmed our determination to move forward with a sense of urgency to strengthen our respective defense capabilities and the Japan-US alliances deterrence and response efforts, he said. The largest US permanent overseas military presence is in Japan, where about 53,000 active duty service members are stationed at bases around the country. Japan makes a commitment every five years to help cover the costs of US bases. Under the current deal, which runs through March 2027, Japan pays an average of 211 billion yen ($1.4 billion) each year. Tokyo is also in the process of raising its defense spending to about 2% of gross domestic product in 2027 from about 1% five years earlier. On Saturday, the two defense ministers visited the Japanese island of Iwo Jima to mark the 80th anniversary of one of the bloodiest battles of World War II between the US and Japan. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement --With assistance from Momoka Yokoyama, Yuko Takeo and Philip Glamann. (Updates with response from China.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2025 Bloomberg L.P. UNITED NATIONS, March 30 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations Security Council on Sunday condemned the attack against UN peacekeepers in the Central African Republic, which left one Kenyan peacekeeper dead. The UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic stated that peacekeepers were attacked by an "unidentified armed group" during a long-range patrol in Tabane village, Haut-Mbomou Prefecture, on Friday morning. In a press statement, the Security Council expressed their deepest condolences and sympathies to the victim's family, as well as to Kenya and the United Nations. The council reiterated that attacks against peacekeepers may constitute war crimes and reminded all parties of their obligations under international humanitarian law. On Saturday, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres strongly condemned the attack, urging the Central African Republic authorities to "spare no effort in identifying the perpetrators of this tragedy so that they can be brought to justice swiftly." SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) A helicopter nearly landed on a major interstate that runs through San Diego County when its engine failed Sunday afternoon. It was a close call and traffic was backed up after a helicopter landed on a road that runs along Interstate 15 in northern San Diego County. I-15 begins near the U.S.-Mexico border in San Diego County and runs to the northern border with Canada. See a missing police officer post? Its likely part of a nationwide scam, authorities say Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement California Highway Patrol (CHP) officers and deputies with the San Diego County Sheriffs Department responded to the emergency helicopter landing at 2:20 p.m. Sunday. CHP reports the helicopters engine failed, forcing the pilot to land on N Centre City Parkway where it meets with Jesmond Dene Road in unincorporated Escondido. San Ysidro pedestrian bridge over highway to close for renovations No one was injured during the emergency landing, however traffic on nearby I-15 was slowed to a standstill for a short time Sunday afternoon. Helicopter lands in middle of street in unincorporated Escondido (FOX 5/KUSI) Stolen truck pursuit ends with violent, multi-vehicle pileup in Southern California Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) were notified of the incident, and gave CHP permission to remove the helicopter from the roadway. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Children who have an allergy that could cause anaphylaxis symptoms such throat swelling and other severe reactions have long had to carry an epinephrine injectable pen with them or have one stored at school. Those pens, known under the brand name EpiPen, can become unusable if subjected to heat like in a hot car in a Texas summer. They also have a one-year shelf life, which means families have to fill a new prescription each school year for hundreds of dollars and then supply it to the school nurse's office. Last year, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Neffy, a nasal spray form of epinephrine for people who weigh 66 pounds or more, and this month it approved a lower dose spray for children ages 4 and older who are between 33 pounds and 66 pounds. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is great news, but families can't just hand over the nasal spray form to their school nurse. The Texas law allowing school nurses to give epinephrine uses the phrase "auto-injectors" when referring to delivering the drug to students who have a prescription for it. That means only the pen form. Senate Bill 1619 and House Bill 2283 both aim to rectify that by simply taking out the phrase "auto-injector" and changing it to "delivery devices." Allergy treatment takes girl from fear of cashews to no-worry birthday cake "This is a happy bill," said Dr. Allen Lieberman of Austin Family Allergy and Asthma. "There is no downside to it." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This new nasal spray delivers medicine the same way as a nasal allergy spray like Flonase or the same way as Narcan for people experiencing an opioid overdose. You put the nozzle into one nostril and push down on the plunger to spray the medicine into the nose. It's easy to use, and people are less intimidated by it than by the idea of giving someone a shot. The nasal spray offers the same medical results as the auto-injectors, but it has some other advantages, Lieberman said. If you want to buy the nasal spray without insurance, a two-pack is about $200, Lieberman said, compared with $600 for one auto-injector. Neffy comes in a two-pack because if a first dose doesn't improve the symptoms, you can give a second dose. With the traditional pen, it's just one dose. The sprays also remain effective for two years instead of one, and they don't have heat restrictions like the injectables do. Lieberman is now prescribing the nasal sprays and getting it approved by insurance about 50% of the time, and "the more we write for it, the more insurance sees it, and will approve it," he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He encourages people, especially in Texas, who have a prescription for an EpiPen to consider the Neffy instead. He has had many patients with auto-injectors accidentally leave them in a bag in the trunk of a car for days or weeks in the Texas heat and then have to throw the auto-injector away and get a new one. With the nasal spray, that spray would still be effective. It's going to be "a game-changer," Lieberman said. This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Texas law keeps school nurses from using new epi nasal spray Donald Trump says he wants to annex Greenland. JD Vance last week visited a US-controlled base in Greenland, where he chided Denmark. Vast, untapped natural resources in Greenland are at stake. Danish officials have repeatedly told President Donald Trump that Greenland is "not for sale." Trump doesn't seem to care. The president has continued to promote his vision for taking over Greenland, a semiautonomous territory of Denmark, arguing the island is needed to bolster US security and its stocks of strategic resources. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During his joint address to Congress earlier this month, the president said the United States would take control of Greenland "one way or the other." Trump recently declined to rule out military force to accomplish that. Vice President JD Vance and his wife, Usha, arrived in Greenland on Friday, embarking on a scaled-back trip that included a stop at the US-operated Pituffik Space Base on the island's northwest coast. But even before the US delegation arrived, they were met with broad opposition to Trump's annexation plans. Here's why the United States has shown so much interest in Greenland amid the territory's own push for independence. Greenland is overwhelmingly opposed to becoming part of the United States. CHRISTIAN KLINDT SOELBECK/Ritzau Scanpix/AFP via Getty Images 'We have to have it' Before Vance's trip to Greenland, Trump said the island was needed for "international safety and security." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We need it. We have to have it," he told the podcaster Vince Coglianese during a recent interview. "I hate to put it that way, but we're going to have to have it." The feeling isn't mutual. A recent survey by the pollster Verian, commissioned by the Danish newspaper Berlingske and the Greenlandic daily Sermitsiaq, found that 85% of Greenlanders do not want to be a part of the US. Only 6% of respondents said they wanted to join the United States, and 9% of respondents said they were undecided. Denmark gave Greenland and its population of about 57,000 people broad self-governing autonomy in 2009, which included the right to declare its independence from Denmark through a referendum. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Before Vance's arrival, Greenland's outgoing prime minister, Mute Egede, told Sermitsiaq that the visit was "very aggressive," especially considering the presence of the national security advisor Michael Waltz. "What is the national security advisor doing in Greenland? The only purpose is to demonstrate power over us," Egede, who's advocated for Greenland's independence, told the newspaper. "His mere presence in Greenland will no doubt fuel American belief in Trump's mission and the pressure will increase." Jens-Frederik Nielsen was sworn in as Greenland's new prime minister on Friday, the same day Vance arrived on the island. In a Facebook post on Sunday, Nielsen wrote that Greenland "cannot be owned." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "President Trump says the United States will 'beat Greenland.' Let me be clear: The US cannot do that. We cannot be owned. We will shape our own future," he wrote. Vance criticized Denmark during his visit to Greenland. Jim Watson - Pool/Getty Images A race for untapped mineral resources After arriving in Greenland, Vance criticized Denmark, accusing it of leaving the island vulnerable to China and Russia. Vance argued that Greenland would benefit from being under the "security umbrella" of the US as opposed to Denmark. "Our message to Denmark is very simple you have not done a good job by the people of Greenland," he said. "You have underinvested in the people of Greenland, and you have underinvested in the security architecture of this incredible, beautiful land mass." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In recent weeks, protesters have assembled in Nuuk, Greenland's capital and most populous city, to rail against Trump's rhetoric. With independence potentially within sight, many of its citizens are anxious about Trump's threats to annex the island. Trump, however, sees an opportunity and isn't letting go. The US sees a future where global powers jockey for Greenland's untapped mineral resources particularly oil and gas given that much of the island is within the Arctic Circle. And with melting ice transforming parts of the island, strategic shipping channels could open up. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That makes Greenland a major target for Trump's America-first agenda. March 31, 2025: This story has been updated to include a statement from Jens-Frederik Nielsen, Greenland's new prime minister. Read the original article on Business Insider HONOLULU (KHON2) The Honolulu Fire Department responded to a 911 call just before 2:45 p.m. on March 30 reporting a sick hiker on the Diamond Head Crater Trail. The first unit arrived within several minutes, where first responders were then able to traverse the trail on foot to reach the hiker. Drivers prepare: Major roadwork projects coming in 2025 Authorities were then able to arrive at the hikers location, who is described as a female in her 40s. According to HFD, the woman had become ill while hiking and was unable to complete the trail on her own. Get Hawaiis latest morning news delivered to your inbox, sign up for News 2 You First responders provided medical assistance before airlifting the hiker to a landing zone, where she was then transferred over to Emergency Medical Services. HFD says if anyone plans on hiking, it is imperative to compare your level of fitness, experience and capabilities with the trail description. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. It was horrifying every time it happened, every time Kylie Briests father choked on his food and started to turn blue, every time her mom, Jenny, sprang out of her own dinner chair to attempt the Heimlich maneuver on her husband. Kylie lost count of the number of times shed called 911, making quick explanations to the operator while her mind was spinning in the background: wondering if her dad would survive this night, hoping the neighbors were home so she could send her little brother, Connor, over. That way Kylie could shield him from the things she had to see, and do and wonder. Kylie was only 3 when a roadside bomb in Iraq left her father, Corey, with injuries so severe they told Jenny to plan his funeral. So this version of him the version that cant always swallow properly, or see or walk on his own or speak clearlyis all shes known. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shes grown up at his bedside, from the time she was a toddler helping the nurses add Daddys medication to his feeding tube to helping carry his wheelchair up the stairs of her sorority house at the University of South Dakota so he wouldnt miss out on parent visitation day. This is just life for us, Kylie said. This is what we do. Sisters Elle White, Kimmy Fix and Delany White are pictured together at their home in Apex, N.C. on Saturday, March 15, 2025. Fix, a military veteran, was injured in a highway accident almost 11 years ago, shortly after returning from a deployment to Afghanistan. The experience felt isolating, especially when she was younger. Kids at school look at you differently just because your dad shows up to things differently than their dad shows up, she said. But Kylie wasnt as alone as she thought. About 2.3 million American kids are living with a disabled veteran in their home a number researchers said is likely an undercount. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These injured service members and veterans are often called wounded warriors; their caregivers more recently earned the nickname hidden heroes. And their children? The ones who babysit siblings during VA appointments; the ones who comfort their parents, saying everything will be OK; the ones who clean the house or tiptoe around it while someone is sleeping, or medicated, or in a PTSD-triggered rage they are what the Elizabeth Dole Foundation calls hidden helpers. Despite their numbers, military caregiving kids are often left out of the conversation on how our country takes care of those who served. They are rarely studied and often excluded from support programs. There are few platforms designed to connect or inform them. Now, President Donald Trumps campaign to slash federal spending is raising alarm over long-held veterans services and benefits dampening the prospects for disabled veterans families already left behind. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The War Horse set out to tell the stories of three of those families. The Briests live in Yankton, South Dakota. Sisters Kimmy Fix and Delany White live in North Carolina. And Rachel, Charlie, Mark, Michael and Molly are in Northern Virginia. They wanted to share their stories as a comfort to other hidden helpers and their families: to show them theyre not alone and to hopefully make a difference for the ones who come next. All that we can do, Kylie said, is continue to try to make our stories and voices heard. Unseen, unrecognized, unsupported Kylie doesnt feel cheated or robbed by fate. She loves her family and her dad just the way he is. My dad has never been a burden, she says. He never will be. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But she recognizes that growing up, her path could have been made smoother. It would have been helpful to have been provided with counseling, she said, and some respite care that didnt require admitting Corey to the VA an hour away for the day. A way to connect with kids in similar situations. If I would have had these connections sooner, I think that would have made me a stronger person, Kylie said. Hidden helpers provide services that are unseen, unrecognized and unsupported, according to the Elizabeth Dole Foundation, one of the few organizations to focus on children and young siblings of wounded veterans. It partnered with the research consultant Mathematica on a 2021 study that found these children want more support and have trouble getting it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The lack of formal support and connection comes at a social, emotional and psychological cost, the limited research into military caregiving kids found. Child caregivers sometimes feel stigmatized and isolated, have fewer social opportunities, experience difficulties expressing emotion and learning in school and have more health problems such as stress, burnout and fatigue. The stress of navigating multiple, complex systems and bureaucracies to get care for a spouse trickles down to kids in the household, taking a toll on their own mental health and ability to focus and perform in school, the report found. There has been a slow culture shift within the VA of acknowledging the role of the family in caring for a wounded veteran, experts say. Support, once focused entirely on the service member, is now more likely to incorporate a caregiving spouse or other primary caregiver. But children in the household remain largely overlooked. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I would say when we started [VA support] was veteran only, like, there was no care in the world for family at all, said Jenny Briest. Its taken time but they are [now] including the caregiver. The kids? No. None. Nothing. Sisters Delany White, Elle White and Kimmy Fix work together to plant seeds in a garden at their home in Apex, N.C. on Saturday, March 15, 2025. Fix, a military veteran, was injured in a highway accident almost 11 years ago, shortly after returning from a deployment to Afghanistan. Second-place sibling Children who are also caregivers are sometimes forced to grow up much faster, for better or worse. The experience of caring for a parent builds them into stronger, more responsible people. But it can chip away at childhood. I do think sometimes we paint over the challenges by saying ... its going to make them resilient, so therefore everythings OK, said Steven Malick, one of the Mathematica researchers who contributed to the report. As if the experience of trauma is somehow virtuous. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Consider Delany White, an eighth-grader who lives near Raleigh, North Carolina. At 14, shes one of nine kids, but as the youngest by far, she feels like an only child. Except for Kimmy. Kimmy Fix is 22 years older than her youngest sister, but their roles can feel reversed. When they get ready for church together, Delany does Kimmys hair and makeup. Delany also runs over an extra pair of pants if Kimmy needs them changed, holds her hand if shes getting too aggravated, and helps her transfer in and out of her wheelchair. Kimmy, a medical corps services captain in the Army, was injured in a highway accident on her way home from a Hail and Farewell, shortly after returning from a deployment to Afghanistan. She was in a coma for over a year and emerged gradually, axon by axon it seemed to her large family. That was almost 11 years ago, when Delany was a toddler. Shes grown up helping to take care of her eldest sister. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There were times Delany went to school exhausted because Kimmys oxygen levels had dipped overnight and theyd all been up, watchful and worried. Sometimes she didnt make it to school at all, because her parents needed to attend to Kimmy and there would have been no one to pick her up. I feel like having more understanding teachers or understanding admin in my school, but also having connections with other kids who go through the same stuff, who maybe have the same worries or the same responsibilities, that would have made it a lot easier, Delany said. Delany knew it wasnt true, but sometimes she felt like she was in second place when it came to their parents attention. But she understood. Kimmy needed them more. Elle White helps her older sister, Kimmy Fix, plant flower seeds in a garden at their home in Apex, N.C. on Saturday, March 15, 2025. Fix, a military veteran, was injured in a highway accident almost 11 years ago, shortly after returning from a deployment to Afghanistan. The coin-toss dad For much of their childhoods, Mark and his half-brother Michael didnt understand the difference in Charlie. The way he treated them, the way he yelled, the unpredictabilityit just felt unfair. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was always a flip of a coin as to which dad would show up that day. The one that spent hours having a catch in the backyard could at any moment be replaced by the dad who sunk into the beer-sticky funk of the basement couch for days at a time, chucking empty cans into an overflowing trash bin. Charlie had been an active duty Marine, a multisport athlete, a bodybuilding champion at the University of South Carolina, a lawyer in two states, a firefighter and an adrenaline junkie who rode bulls for fun. But tours in Afghanistan and Iraq left him with a traumatic brain injury, severe PTSD and a busted spine that caused chronic pain. Back in Virginia, Charlie had sunk into alcohol abuse and depression. Going out in public was like navigating a minefield. Any misperceived comment, any sudden movement, and Charlie could explode. Charlies family requested their last names not be published to protect their privacy. It took a lot of a mental toll on him, in my opinion, not being able to be the man that he was, said his stepson Mark, now 26. It fell on Mark, he said, to keep the house up to Charlies exacting standards. Mark remembered being in elementary school and not being allowed to go to bed until he finished the dishes, so he just lay down underneath the dining room table a sort of exhausted protest. As he got older, Michael, who just turned 18, taught himself to cook beef and broccoli, butter chicken and curries so the family wouldnt have to eat Dominos on days when his dad was too dispirited or couldnt muster the energy to make a meal. And as both boys got bigger, they learned how to protect Charlie from himself. Along with their sister Molly they learned how to talk him down, distract him, lead him away or make themselves barriers between Charlie and whatever threat he perceived. The enemy may have existed only in Charlies mind. But his kids grew up learning how to fight it. Caring for invisible wounds Young caregivers said they wished they had better information about their parents injuries, especially when it comes to invisible wounds like the ones Charlie struggles with that can affect behavior, cognition, and emotions. Michael said having a better understanding of PTSD and traumatic brain injuries would have helped him be more understanding and empathetic. Now he thinks Charlie and veterans like him are trying to grip the version of themselves they used to be grasping at themselves but always closing their fists around shadows. Those invisible wounds require a whole different type of caregiving that I dont think people are really recognized for yet, said their mom, Rachel. In fact, when she applied to enroll in VAs Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers, targeted toward veterans who need significant help with self-care, she was denied. I dont give him a bath, I dont put on his socks, but I do safety and protection and they discounted it completely, she said. I think the VA needs to step up and take care of their families. Bipartisan bill still faces uphill battle Neither of VAs caregiver support programs include children. A VA spokesperson wrote in January that there are no plans to expand their offerings to reach hidden helpers, but pointed out that a proposed federal rule modifying the program Rachel had applied to was open for public comment. Military caregiving families did not weigh in en masse for inclusion of children; by the time the public comment period closed, only a few of the rules 842 public comments made mention of minors. Hidden helpers do have some muscle behind them. Sens. Patty Murray, a Washington Democrat, and John Boozman, an Arkansas Republican, reintroduced the Helping Heroes Act in late February, which would establish a family support program, designate family coordinators at every VA medical center and help connect military caregiving families with resources. The act would also require the VA to collect data on these families experiences, the better to understand and respond to their needs. So far, long-term data doesnt exist. A spokesperson for the Elizabeth Dole Foundation said the act would be a huge deal, requiring the VA, for the first time, to target military caregiving families with programs and services. There is bipartisan agreement that the VA can help connect these families with programs and networks that provide exactly this type of assistance and break down barriers for these hidden helpers, Boozman said in an email to The War Horse. But with the VA entangled in a massive downsizing, there is skepticism over the fate of a bill that is being introduced this session for a third time. Shaped me for the better Despite the many hardships of young caregivers, they say their experiences have made them strong, compassionate and selfless. Kylie Briest has made a profession of caregiving. She graduated from the University of South Dakota in 2023 and works as a NICU nurse. Shes not just good with the tiny babies who need her help. She knows how to take care of the whole family. Her brother, Connor Briest, just joined the same National Guard unit their father was in. Hes seen Dad sacrifice everything, he knows the cost, and for him to still sign up to be in the same unit and to carry out that oath ... I think its pretty awesome, said their mom, Jenny. Delany in North Carolina said taking care of Kimmy has made her kinder, more empathetic and more observant always primed to notice if someone needs help. I definitely think its shaped me for the better, she said, able to see that kind of struggle and also have the courage to help. In Virginia, Michael started a club at his school for kids like him, who care for wounded warrior parents. He wants them to know theyre not alone. Michael has been deeply affected by the power of stories hes heard from military veterans like his dad, and he wants to play a role in keeping them alive. Maybe hell teach military history, maybe hell join the fight himself. Hes thinking of enlisting in the Navy. Someone has to do it, he said. Thats a motto hes taken from caregiving. There is dinner to cook and dishes to wash. There are stories to remember and tell. There are people to take care of. Someone has to do it. Tell us your story If you have a story to share about a young family member helping care for a disabled veteran, wed like to hear it. We may use it in an upcoming feature. Send us an email at contactus@thewarhorse.org This article first appeared on The War Horse, an award-winning nonprofit news organization educating the public on military service. Subscribe to their newsletter. CHARLESTON COUNTY, S.C. (WCBD) A group of students gathered outside R.B. Stall High School on Monday morning to mourn the death of a fellow student. Stall High School Principal Steve Larson said in a message to the school community that the student had suffered a major medical crisis on Friday and was taken to a local hospital for immediate care. The student did not survive. I know this news is really hard to hear. [The student] had a joy for life, his friends, and the unique ability to put a smile on anyones face. He will be remembered as a wonderful human being, Larson said in his message. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He added that additional support services would be available to anyone on campus who needed it. A group of students gathered outside the high school Monday morning to show their love and respect and express their grief, the Charleston County School District told News 2. During that time, district officials said the school was placed in a secure and hold status out of precaution to limit movement inside and to secure the building to better support students. At no time was there a concern for the safety and security of the campus, district officials said. District officials say school-based staff are providing counseling support for students and staff throughout the day. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. LAS VEGAS (KLAS) Brace for some strong wind gusts Monday. The Las Vegas valley is under a high wind warning, where gusts could reach 55 mph. According to 8 News Now weather anchor Sherry Swensk, the National Weather Service in Las Vegas said the warning also includes Red Rock National Conservation Area, the Spring Mountains, southern Nye County, including Pahrump. The warning is in effect until 2 a.m. Tuesday. The final day of March will bring plenty of gusty southwest winds for the afternoon and evening, especially in the west and south valley neighborhoods. There could be a few sprinkles from passing clouds, but no expected rain showers. The high temperature is expected to reach the normal mid-70s by the afternoon. The National Weather Service warns that the strong winds can be damaging. (Credit: NWSVegas) The strong winds are out ahead of a deep area of low pressure moving into Northern California and the Great Basin on Monday. Scattered rain and snow showers will stay west and north of Clark County, but there could be a few wind-driven sprinkles as this system pushes through. The warmer southwest winds will help keep afternoon temperatures near normal in the mid-70s. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But behind the cold front associated with this system, temperatures will drop to the cooler mid-60s to jumpstart April on Tuesday, Swensk said. Then on Wednesday, temperatures will drop even more with cooler northwest breezes. The temperature will eventually warm back to the normal mid-70s for the first weekend of April and close to 80 degrees by Monday. There is a wind advisory for all other areas of southern Nevada until 2 a.m. Tuesday. Today: 75 Clouds, sun, and very windy Tuesday: 66 Mostly sunny and breezy Wednesday: 61 Clouds, sun and cooler Thursday: 64 Clouds around Friday: 70 Mostly sunny Saturday: 72 Sunny Sunday: 74 Sunny Monday: 79 Mostly sunny *Blustery winds strengthen today to 55 mph *High Wind Warning for Las Vegas/Wind Advisory in other areas *First few days of April cool to the 60s *Back to near 80 next week Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS. COURTESY PHOTO Keone Peter Tosie Brown COURTESY PHOTO Keone Peter Tosie Brown Hawaii island police today charged Keone Peter Tosie Brown, 30, of Hilo with second-degree murder and first-degree terroristic threatening Sunday for allegedly stabbing his 81-year-old neighbor to death Saturday morning. Browns bail is set at $2, 020, 000 and will remain in police custody pending his first court appearance Monday in South Hilo District Court. According to police, officers responded at 7 :22 a.m. to a report of an unresponsive woman with stab wounds to her face at her home on the 200 block of Olu Street. Officers found the victim lying in the driveway with multiple injuries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When the Hawaii Fire Department arrived, police said they determined the victim was beyond life-saving measures. She was pronounced dead at Hilo Medical Center at 9 :57 a.m. Her identity was not immediately released pending notification of her family. A witness told police that she saw the suspect repeatedly stab the victim then he turned his attention toward (the witness ) and threatened her with the knife before retreating to his property, police 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 ! 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. Police located Brown on his property adjoining the victims property, and officials said they discovered him hiding along a fence on his adjacent property. He was arrested without incident and transported to the East Hawaii Detention Facility, police said. An autopsy is scheduled for this week to determine the exact cause of death. Investigators urge anyone with information about the case to contact Detective Duane Rapoza Jr. at (808 ) 961-2383 or at Duane.Rapoza @hawaiicounty.gov. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 30 Comments By participating in online discussions you acknowledge that you have agreed to the. An insightful discussion of ideas and viewpoints is encouraged, but comments must be civil and in good taste, with no personal attacks. If your comments are inappropriate, you may be banned from posting. Report comments if you believe they do not follow our. Having trouble with comments ? . CANNONSBURG A man is dead after a hit-and-run Saturday night near a busy exit of I-64 in Boyd County. A vehicle struck and killed Hubert Mosby, a 78-year-old tow truck driver, according to authorities. Boyd County Sheriff Jamie Reihs said the driver fled the scene after hitting Mosby. The driver was traveling westbound on I-64. The hit-and-run occurred near exit 185, Reihs said. Boyd County Coroner Mark Hammond said Mosby had exited his vehicle after pulling over to the shoulder for an unspecified reason. While retrieving a tool from the drivers side compartment, Mosby was struck by the unidentified vehicle. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The tow truck was not towing any load at the time of the accident, according to Reihs and Hammond. Mosby is a resident of Shepherdsville. The towing company for which he worked is based in the Louisville area, Reihs said. Mosby was pronounced dead at 9:40 p.m. Saturday. Kentucky State Police Post 14 is investigating. If anyone has any information regarding this incident, contact KSP Post 14 at (606) 928-6421. DES MOINES, Iowa On this weeks episode of Homewi$e Amanda Krenz and mortgage expert Tyler Osby discuss the down payment on a home, whether its a lot or a little, and how the amount affects you. Past Episodes: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. QUITO, March 30 (Xinhua) -- At least seven people were killed and 11 others injured Sunday when an interprovincial bus overturned in southwest Ecuador's coastal province of Guayas, local authorities said. The accident occurred around 4:00 a.m. local time (0900 GMT) at the Guayaquil-Playas Highway near the El Consuelo district, the Guayaquil Fire Department said on X, posting images of the overturned bus on the side of the road. The department dispatched six ambulances, two rescue units and two combat units to handle the emergency, transporting the injured to hospitals. Authorities have yet to report what could have caused the accident. Traffic accidents are a leading cause of death in Ecuador, mainly due to speeding and reckless driving, according to authorities. ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) The medical community is remembering those who lost their lives during the COVID-19 pandemic and the health care professionals who worked to help save lives. Story continues below Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Presbyterian, Lovelace Medical Center and UNM Hospital took a moment of silence Monday to mark five years since the virus first impacted New Mexico. At Presbyterian, more than 17,000 patients were hospitalized with COVID. I want to make sure that clinical folks, people who take care of others, really feel that they are recognized for all that they gave up, for all the hard work that they did and frankly for going through a very scary time, Presbyterian Healthcare Services Medical Director Denise A. Gonzales 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 KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos. A guest at Pier 7 in the Netherlands returned to their beachside room to find a snoozing seal on the floor. What's happening? ABC News reported that the guest was shocked to find the large marine creature relaxing in their hotel room. It's suspected that the seal entered via a sliding door leading to the beach. No damage was discovered, so the guest likely left the door open accidentally. The hotel staff couldn't believe it at first. However, upon investigating, they discovered that a seal was hanging out in the room. They promptly called the Reddingsteam Zeedieren Nederland RTZ (Marine Animals Rescue Team Netherlands RTZ). The Dutch animal rescue organization came to take the seal back to its proper habitat. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A statement from the Zeeland Animal Welfare Foundation said, "The RTZ employees have enough experience and put the seal, who had become quite grumpy due to his disturbed beauty sleep, in a seal basket and he was relocated to a safe, quieter place." One TikToker, That Good News Girl (@thatgoodnewsgirl), posted a video explaining the incident. Officials warned that while seals are adorable, they can be hostile. They may bite or charge at humans who invade their space. Nevertheless, they love to wander aimlessly into random places to relax. What does this seal encounter mean? While this may seem like a silly incident, it's indicative of habitat problems. Human population growth and rampant habitat destruction drive wild animals to other areas in this case, the coziness of a Pier 7 hotel room. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As humans continue to expand into animals' natural habitats, wild animal encounters are likelier. Seeing a wild animal up close may seem exciting, but it's dangerous. And seals are among the least harmful wild animals you might encounter. Getting too close to wild animals such as elk and bears can lead to injury or death. Animals usually attack humans out of fear or distress. They may be protecting themselves or their young. It's important for us to respect animal habitats so we can coexist with these creatures rather than force them out of their homes and into ours. How can we protect animal habitats? Installing wildlife-friendly fencing and prohibiting development that encroaches on animal habitats can reduce encounters like this one. Allowing wild animals the space they need prevents species from becoming endangered or extinct. It also protects humans from hazardous encounters. One of the best ways to ensure wild animals have safe habitats is to support conservation efforts and groups. Supporting these groups and encouraging politicians to enact environmental policies can help animals like this sleepy seal thrive. 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. It's officially spring, which means the arrival of hummingbirds in Wisconsin isn't far off. Hummingbirds typically start arriving in Wisconsin in the beginning of May, though a few outlier birds may arrive in mid to late April. Like most bird species, male hummingbirds will migrate first, with female birds following a few weeks later. After a few warmer months in Wisconsin, hummingbirds will start migrating south again from August through April. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Here's the latest on hummingbird migration to Wisconsin, including where you can report bird sightings around the state. Interactive map: hummingbird migration in Wisconsin As of March 31, ruby-throated hummingbird sightings in the U.S. have been reported across much of the southern U.S., ranging from Texas to North Carolina, according to Hummingbird Central. A variety of hummingbirds have also been spotted on the West Coast, including dozens of Allen's Hummingbird sightings in Washington and Oregon. No birds have been reported in the Midwest yet. You can follow Hummingbird Central's live map throughout the spring and summer, as well as report your own sightings here. How to encourage hummingbirds to your yard The best way to encourage hummingbirds to your yard is to plant plenty of food resources for them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You should ideally grow a variety of nectar-producing flowers, with feeders to supplement when blooms are in short supply, according to the UW-Madison Department of Horticulture. The department also recommends staggering bloom times to make sure hummingbirds have a food source for the entire season, as well as providing a source of water and trees or tall shrubs for nesting and perching. Make sure to avoid using pesticides that kill small insects that hummingbirds regularly eat. Here are some of the best Midwestern plants to grow for hummingbirds, according to UW-Madison. There are many other plants that will also attract the birds, so find a longer list here. Cuphea, especially "David Verity" cuphea plants Cardinals Coral honeysuckle Beebalm Texas or scarlet sage Blue anise sage Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More: What plant zone is Wisconsin in? A look at the best flowers to plant in every part of the state A hummingbird looks for nectar in a magnolia tree in Bayside, Wis. How to track bird sightings in Wisconsin Amateur birders can report and track their daily bird sighting on the following sites: This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Hummingbird migration map: when do hummingbirds migrate to Wisconsin? Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto has said that Budapest views attacks on Russian infrastructure as a threat to its sovereignty, as the country receives energy through this infrastructure. Source: European Pravda, citing the Hungarian Foreign Minister in an interview with the Russian propaganda agency RIA Novosti Details: Szijjarto lamented that Ukrainian attacks on the Druzhba pipeline and its connecting infrastructure have become "a problem in recent months". Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The attacks have led to several days of oil supply interruptions in Hungary, he added, and he equated the destruction of the Russian industrial facilities with attacks on Hungarian facilities. "Energy security is a matter of sovereignty, and we consider any attack on our energy infrastructure to be an attack on our sovereignty. We therefore condemn all such attacks," the Hungarian minister said. Meanwhile, Szijjarto failed to mention Russia's continuing assaults on Ukraine's energy infrastructure. Hungarian electricity producers are a key supplier of electricity to Ukraine, which is forced to rely heavily on imports from the European energy market due to the destruction of its generation capacity by Russian strikes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These exports are conducted on a commercial basis, with Hungarian producers receiving full payment for their supplies from Western donors. Background: On 11 March, Szijjarto said that due to the Ukrainian drone attack, oil supplies from Russia to Hungary "had to be suspended" and called on Ukrainians "not to attack the energy infrastructure" of his country. The same day, the minister said that Russian oil supplies to Hungary had resumed. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! STORY: Rescuers pulled a woman from the wreckage of a hotel in Myanmar days after a massive earthquake in the Southeast Asian country last week that killed at least 2,000 people. China's Xinhua news agency reported that several others were freed from collapsed buildings in Mandalay, the city in central Myanmar near the epicenter of Friday's 7.7-magnitude earthquake. This survivor in Mandalay said that after rescue workers pulled him out of the rubble of his restaurant, he had rented a bulldozer with his own money to try to find the body of one of his workers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I have been removing the debris on my own. No one has helped me yet. I have to manage myself to remove the rubble as my shop was a high building and the wreckage could be dangerous to the neighbors. I have to hire a bulldozer to clear the mess. In the Thai capital Bangkok, rescuers pulled out another body from the rubble of an unfinished skyscraper that collapsed in the quake, bringing the death toll from the building collapse to 12 with dozens more still missing. Bangkok's deputy governor said rescuers were urgently trying to locate and save these people though the chances of survival diminish after the 72 hour mark which has passed. Lets just get our hope hanging up. Even though it passed 72-hour, it doesnt mean we identify them (trapped victims) as dead but we identified them as lower chance of survival. But it also means we have to speed up because theyre getting more vulnerable and weaker if theyre still alive. So, the process will be like that. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thai industry ministry officials said initial tests showed that some steel samples collected from the site of the collapsed building were substandard. The government has launched an investigation into the cause of the collapse and the Thai Prime Minister visited the site. The United Nations said it was rushing relief supplies to survivors while several countries have sent rescue teams or pledged financial support. The quake devastation has piled more misery on Myanmar, already in chaos from the civil war that intensified after the elected government of Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi was ousted by the military. (KRON) Private contractors who work for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) have been knocking on doors in the East Bay, according to a congresswoman who represents the area. Private contractors who work with ICE are knocking on doors in our district, said Rep. Lateefah Simon (D-Oakland), who represents Californias 12th district, posted on Facebook. Simons district covers Oakland, San Leandro, Alameda, Emeryville, Albany, and Berkeley. Stanford hires Frank Reich as interim football coach Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She did not provide specifics as to where in District 12 the alleged ICE activity had taken place. However, she did share a Know Your Rights informational package on her congressional website. The informational package included information about what to do if ICE agents come to your home. ICE has disputed the congresswomans statement, with an ICE spokesperson telling KRON4, there is no merit to claims that the agency is using contractors for immigration enforcement activities. Simon, who has been called a rising star on the left, is serving her first term in Congress, having won the seat formerly held by former Democratic Rep. Barbara Lee. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. SACKETS HARBOR, N.Y. (WWTI) Three Sackets Harbor students were reportedly taken after federal agents visited a Jefferson County farm looking for illegal aliens. In the morning hours of Thursday, March 27, ICE agents allegedly detained three students described to be in grades 3, 10, and 11. A tip to our newsroom stated, Community members have sought intervention from each of their county, state, and federal representatives in advocating for the immediate release of the children. Local representatives advised the community to stay quiet to facilitate a quiet release of the children. As of Sunday morning, the students have been detained more than 72 hours, and we have just seen documentation that our students have been quietly transported to a Texas detention facility for deportation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement U.S. Customs and Border Protection released a statement regarding the investigation. On March 27, U.S. Border Patrol agents from the Wellesley Island Station assisted a federal law enforcement partner with an ongoing investigation in Sackets Harbor, NY. During the course of investigation, Border Patrol agents encountered seven individuals determined to be in the United States illegally, including two minors. These individuals were not part of the original investigation but were taken into custody, processed, and subsequently turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). All individuals have since been transferred out of New York State and are currently awaiting removal proceedings. The New York Immigration Council has weighed in with a statement on what occurred. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Families belong together. It is horrifying that these children and their mother were snatched from their home and disappeared, Murad Awawdeh, President and CEO, New York Immigration Coalition said. This egregious action in Tom Homans backyard is an affront to American values, and to humanity in general. We are supposed to live in a nation of laws, but while this family was correctly navigating the immigration system and attending their immigration court hearings, they were instead taken by ICE agents and sent thousands of miles away from their home and community. Everyone in America has the right to due process, but Donald Trump, Tom Homan, and ICE are now acting fully outside of the law. We demand their immediate release. Border Czar Tom Homan lives in the area. The Jefferson County Democratic Committee has organized a protest in the village at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 5. Organizers said theyll gather at the Sackets Harbor Visitor Center on 301 West Main Street in the village. The post added that theyd rally to support the children. The post also adds that the event is not an anti-Trump rally; its about the kids. We expect people to be peaceful and respectful. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWTI - InformNNY.com. SANAA, March 31 (Xinhua) -- Two people were killed and a child was wounded in U.S. airstrikes on Yemen's northwestern province of Hajjah on Monday, the Houthi-run al-Masirah TV reported. Two U.S. airstrikes targeted the southern district of Bani Qa'is in the morning, the television station said. No further details were provided by the Houthi channel regarding the damage. On Sunday, U.S. airstrikes killed at least one person and injured five others in the Jadir area north of the capital, Sanaa, according to Houthi-controlled health authorities. Tensions between the Houthis and the U.S. military have escalated since Washington launched fresh airstrikes on Yemen on March 15. The strikes followed Houthi threats to resume attacks on Israeli targets unless humanitarian aid was allowed into the Gaza Strip and the siege on the enclave was lifted. The Houthis have controlled much of northern Yemen, including Sanaa, since the onset of their fight against the internationally recognized government in 2014. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has revealed that the prerequisites for deporting Venezuelan migrants to Nayib Bukeles Salvadoran mega-prison are extremely arbitrary. Documents obtained by the American Civil Liberties Union on Sunday showed that the tattoos ICE is using to identify these men as Tren de Aragua gang members are images like the Jordan Jumpman logo, a crown, a train, and a clock, among other things. All it takes to be sent to rot in prison in El Salvador is 1) having a tattoo an ICE officer says is a gang tattoo and 2) displaying logos, symbols, or clothes an ICE officer says are gang signs, American Immigration Council senior fellow Aaron Reichlin-Melnick wrote on X. In order for ICE to declare someone an Alien Enemy, ICE must first determine they are a Venezuelan over age 14, and then second find 8 points on a scoring guide they made up This checklist is shocking. A person can be declared an Alien Enemy based ONLY on communications with someone ICE says is a member, and nothing more. X screenshot Aaron Reichlin-Melnick @ReichlinMelnick NEW: Another documents filed by the ACLU is an unclassified ICE document showing what it alleges are Tren de Aragua tattoos. The @nypost also published these in 2024. But reverse image search shows these images were stolen from the internet and have nothing to do with TdA! (photos of ordinary tattoos) These flimsy requirements have already led to multiple innocent men being detained and deported. Frengel Reyes Mota, who was awaiting an asylum appointment and had no criminal record in Venezuela or the U.S., was snatched up over multiple administrative errors in his file. And last Tuesday Tom Homan, Trumps border czar, openly bragged that ICE had been picking up multiple innocent migrants in their raids, calling them collateral arrests. These phony deportations have become a defining action of the early days of the second Trump administration, reinforcing the contempt and disregard that they hold for the basic tenets of our legal system, such as due process. Idaho Gov. Brad Little gives his annual State of the State address on Jan. 6, 2025, on the House floor at the Statehouse in Boise. (Pat Sutphin for the Idaho Capital Sun) Gov. Brad Little vetoed a bill to ban Idaho businesses, local and state governments, private and public schools, and colleges and universities from requiring medical interventions, such as vaccines, treatment or medication. Senate Bill 1023, called the Idaho Medical Freedom Act, would have banned businesses and any Idaho governments local, county or state from requiring medical interventions for employment, admission to venues, transportation, or providing products or services. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bill wouldve also extended to schools in Idaho private or public and colleges, universities and trade schools, blocking them from requiring medical interventions for school attendance, employment, or entrance into campus or school buildings. Little vetoed the bill Saturday the first bill the Idaho governor has vetoed this year. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Medical freedom is an Idaho value. However, this bill removes parents freedom to ensure their children stay healthy at school because it jeopardizes the ability of schools to send home sick students with highly contagious conditions including measles, lice, ringworm, pink eye, strep throat, stomach viruses, the flu, and other illnesses that disrupt families lives, Little wrote in a transmittal letter explaining his veto. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This year, Little signed into law a bill to let Idaho doctors and health care entities refuse care that violates their beliefs. He cited that bill as one of several examples of his support of true medical freedom in Idaho. We are proud that Idaho already boasts the freest laws in the country when it comes to personal medical decisions, and we need to keep it that way, Little wrote. Parents already have enough to worry about while raising their children. They do not need government imposing more limitations on keeping children safe and healthy from contagious illnesses at school. Bill wouldve expanded on businesses COVID vaccine requirement ban In 2022, Little vetoed a bill that would ban Idaho businesses from requiring COVID vaccines. I have been consistent in stating my belief that businesses should be left to make decisions about the management of their operations and employees with limited interference from government, Little wrote in his transmittal letter explaining his veto. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The new broader medical intervention requirement ban the governor vetoed would have expanded on a previous Idaho law banning COVID vaccine requirements, which Little signed in 2023, despite its similarities to one he vetoed a year earlier, the Idaho Statesman reported. This years broader bill amended twice was cosponsored by Sen. Dan Foreman, R-Moscow, and Rep. Robert Beiswenger, R-Horseshoe Bend. Health Freedom Defense Fund President and Founder Leslie Manookian wrote the bill. Citing Idaho doctor who spread COVID disinformation, Idaho GOP chairwoman pushed for governor to sign bill In a column published Thursday, Idaho Republican Party Chairwoman Dorothy Moon urged people to ask Little to sign the bill. She referenced support for the bill by Dr. Ryan Cole, an Idaho pathologist whose Washington medical license has been restricted after state regulators found he shared COVID disinformation and broke medical standards by virtually prescribing ivermectin to COVID patients, against medical practice, the Idaho Capital Sun previously reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2020 and 2021, it felt like the whole world had gone mad, Moon wrote. Many of us feared for the future of freedom in America. But this is 2025, and much has changed since those dark days. The American people sent Donald Trump back to the White House with a mandate to set things right. He, in turn, appointed Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead Health & Human Services. Like Dr. Cole, RFK Jr. has long been skeptical of Big Pharmas rhetoric and the government overreach that enabled it. Idaho Freedom Action, the lobbying arm of the Idaho Freedom Foundation, in an email alert Saturday said the governor betrayed Idaho, arguing Little chose special interests over the interests of Idahos families. The group asked supporters to send form emails to Idaho state lawmakers requesting they override the governors veto. Overriding a gubernatorial veto requires two-thirds support in each chamber of the Idaho Legislature. The bill narrowly passed the Senate on a 19-14 vote, and the House passage barely cleared that two-third threshold on a 47-23 vote. Bill allows limited medical intervention mandates Under the bill, medical interventions include a procedure, treatment, device, drug injection, medication, or action taken to diagnose, prevent, or cure a disease or alter the health or biological function of a person. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Business medical intervention mandates for employment would still be allowed in a few excepted circumstances, including in certain federal travel scenarios if jobs require entry into facilities that require medical interventions, or if required by federal law. The bill would also exempt medical intervention bans in situations where employers require personal protection equipment, items, or clothing based on existing traditional and accepted industry standards or federal law. But the bill says COVID-era requirements, such as for masks or vaccines, are not exempt from the ban. The bill would allow the Idaho attorney general or county prosecuting attorneys to enforce the law through injunctive relief, which are essentially civil court actions issued in lawsuits. veto SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE A "SNAP welcomed here" sign is seen at the entrance to a Big Lots store in Portland, Oregon. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is a federal program. (Getty Images) A bill to ban a food assistance program from covering candy and soda is headed to Gov. Brad Little for consideration. Idaho also needs federal approval for the proposed ban. House Bill 109 would require the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare to seek federal approval to exclude candy and soda from foods eligible for coverage by the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP. Rep. Jordan Redman, R-Coeur dAlene, presents House Bill 345 before the Senate Health and Welfare Committee on March 10, 2025, at the Idaho Capitol Building in Boise. (Pat Sutphin for the Idaho Capital Sun) Idahos bill is part of the national movement coined Make America Healthy Again, or MAHA, promoted by U.S. health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the bills cosponsor Rep. Jordan Redman, R-Coeur dAlene has told lawmakers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And, he said, soda is the number one commodity spent on SNAP. Business industry representatives oppose the bill. Arguing the bill wouldnt be workable, Idaho House Minority Leader Ilana Rubel, D-Boise, has said it would cause grocery stores to stop accepting SNAP. But bill cosponsor Senate Majority Caucus Chair Ben Toews, R-Coeur dAlene, says hes skeptical the bill would be hard on retailers. He said the bills candy definition is used in 24 other states sales tax laws. The Idaho House passed the bill on a 48-20 vote on Monday, after the chamber had already narrowly approved the bill. It came back to the House after the Senate amended the bill to tweak the candy definition. The Idaho Senate passed an amended version of the bill on a 25-10 vote last week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Idaho Senate Minority Leader Melissa Wintrow, D-Boise, critiqued the bill as another way to control poor people. Sen. Camille Blaylock, R-Caldwell, suggested it isnt likely Idaho would make the change alone. Idahos waiver, she argued, would join other states requests, applying pressure for a nationwide change. When the bill is transmitted to the governor, he has five days, excluding Sundays, to decide on it. He has three options: sign it into law, allow it to become law without his signature, or veto it. If passed into law, the bill would take effect July 1. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Bills candy definition is broad, and would ban granola and power bars, critics say Pushback has largely focused on the bills broad candy definition, which critics say would also ban granola bars and power bars. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bill defines candy as a preparation of sugar, honey, or other natural or artificial sweeteners combined with chocolate, fruit, nuts or other ingredients or flavorings in several forms. Under the bill, candy would not include items that contain flour or need refrigeration. The Senate amended the bill to tweak the candy definition, removing an exemption for items with more than 10% flour by weight. The bills soda definition also appears to be broad. Under the bill, soda includes nonalcoholic beverages with sweeteners, artificial or natural. But the bill doesnt consider soda to be drinks with more than 50% juice, contain milk or milk substitutes, or that need preparation, such as powders or concentrates. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement About 132,000 Idahoans are enrolled in SNAP, according to Idaho Department of Health and Welfare figures, receiving an average of $177 in monthly program benefits. If the federal U.S. Department of Agriculture, or USDA, doesnt grant Idahos candy/soda SNAP ban waiver, the bill says Health and Welfare shall request such a waiver annually until such a waiver is granted. The bills fiscal note estimates it would not have a fiscal impact. Republican legislators in Arizona, Kansas, Utah and Wyoming introduced similar bills, Stateline reported. (Courtesy of Idaho in Session) SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Sir Keir Starmer said illegal immigration to the UK makes me angry as he urged countries from around the world to work together to stop people-smuggling gangs in the same way they would terrorists. Opening the first ever Organised Immigration Crime Summit in London, the Prime Minister said that illegal migration is a massive driver of global insecurity and decisive action was needed to address it. He said: It undermines our ability to control who comes here and that makes people angry. It makes me angry, frankly. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Because it is unfair on ordinary working people who pay the price, from the cost of hotels, to our public services struggling under the strain. And it is unfair on the illegal migrants themselves because these are vulnerable people being ruthlessly exploited by vile gangs. Representatives from 40 countries are attending the summit, including from Albania, Vietnam and Iraq from where illegal migrants have travelled to the UK as well as ministers from France, the US and China. Ministers and enforcement staff discussed international co-operation on illegal migration, as well as supply routes, criminal finances and online adverts for people smuggling during the meeting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Tories dismissed the summit as nothing more than a talking shop. Robert Jenrick, the shadow justice secretary, said he doubted the gathering of nations would achieve anything at all. He told GB News: It sounds like a talking shop to me. The facts are clear. The number of people coming across on small boats has risen by 31 per cent since Labour came to power. Labour has lost control of the borders and frankly I dont think they want to control them or else they wouldnt have scrapped the Rwanda deterrent. Todays meeting I doubt will achieve anything at all. You can join the conversation in the comments section. 12:50 PM BST That is all for today... Thank you for joining me for todays live blog. 12:14 PM BST Starmer: Results are already coming through Sir Keir Starmer claimed people in the UK were already seeing results from the Governments numerous crackdowns on small boat migrant Channel crossings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Prime Minister was asked when people would see changes and he told GB News: The results are already coming through. Today we have been able to announce that 24,000 people who had no right to be here have now been removed. That is the highest rate for the best part of a decade. That is what happens if you concentrate on processing the cases and removing people who shouldnt be here. Today is the largest gathering of countries absolutely focused on organised immigration crime. Sir Keir added: What we are showing is that if you roll your sleeves up, work with other countries, you can get the results which the whole country wants to see. 11:15 AM BST Farage: Starmer is smashing immigration records, not people smuggling gangs Nigel Farage claimed Sir Keir Starmer was smashing illegal immigration records rather than people smuggling gangs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The leader of Reform UK highlighted the number of small boat migrant Channel crossings since Labour took office last July. After Labour won the election, there were more than 23,000 crossings in the remaining months of 2024. There have been approximately 6,000 crossings so far this year. Sir Keir has spoken repeatedly about his plan to smash the gangs. Over 30,000 migrants have crossed the Channel since Labour came to power. More illegals crossed in the first 3 months of 2025 than the same period in 2024. He promised to smash the gangs, but he's smashing Rishi Sunak's record instead. https://t.co/CZGMJK90E3 Nigel Farage MP (@Nigel_Farage) March 31, 2025 10:53 AM BST Starmer vows to destroy people smuggling gangs for good Sir Keir Starmer has vowed to break up people smuggling gangs for good. In a direct message to the criminal network behind small boat migrant Channel crossings, the Prime Minister said: We are breaking your business model and leaving you nowhere to hide. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sir Keir said the UK was boosting enforcement, handing more powers to the police and pressing ahead with a plan to treat smugglers like terrorists. He said in a video posted on X: This Government has returned over 20,000 people who have no right to be here and we arent going to stop. Returns will continue to increase, my Plan for Change will save lives, secure our borders and smash the gangs for good. This is my message to people smugglers. pic.twitter.com/i0L9YpjBwB Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) March 31, 2025 10:50 AM BST Reform accuses Labour of border control failure Reform UK accused Labour of a failure to control illegal migration as it repeated its pledge to freeze all non-essential immigration if it wins power at the next general election. Lee Anderson, Reforms chief whip, said: Labours failure to control illegal migration is not just an issue of border security - it is a national crisis. As the numbers show, we are not receiving the best and brightest in terms of illegal migrants. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No country has benefited from this level of unbridled immigration. It has placed a massive strain on our public services, our safety, and the pockets of our hard-working taxpayers. Reform UK will freeze all non-essential immigration, deport foreign criminals, and deport anyone who has illegally entered the country. 10:36 AM BST Reader poll: Do you trust Starmer to stop small boat crossings? Sir Keir Starmer said this morning he believed real progress was being made on combatting people smuggling. But with a record number of people - approximately 6,000 - having arrived in the UK after crossing the Channel so far this year, the Prime Minister is under growing pressure to deliver tangible results. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You can have your say on Sir Keirs handling of the issue in the reader poll below: 10:31 AM BST The immigration numbers Labour wants to talk about Sir Keir Starmer used his opening remarks at todays summit to announce the Government has returned more than 24,000 individuals with no right to be in the UK since the general election last July. The Government said this represented the highest returns rate for eight years. Between July 2024 and March this year there were 24,103 returns which was the highest nine month period compared to any nine month period since 2017 when there were 25,225 returns between January and September. Of those 24,000+ returns: 6,339 were people with no legal right to remain in the UK. 3,594 were foreign national offenders (FNOs). 6,781 were asylum related returns. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There have been 46 charter flights for returns since July last year, going to countries in Africa, Asia, Europe and South America. I wrote about the immigration numbers Labour is not so keen to talk about in the post below at 08.52. Labour is securing our borders. pic.twitter.com/Xsf7j5BUYn The Labour Party (@UKLabour) March 31, 2025 10:12 AM BST Starmer leads round table discussion at illegal immigration summit Sir Keir Starmer has led a round table discussion joined by Home Office minister Dame Angela Eagle, Border Security Commander Martin Hewitt and Home Office, Border Force and National Crime Agency officials. He said todays summit was the biggest ever gathering of countries from different areas of smuggling routes there has ever been on the issue. Sir Keir said serious problems require serious solutions and there were concrete proposals on the table. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mr Hewitt added in his six months in post on visits to other countries, the UK is still seen as an attractive country to come to as he praised the Governments move to close a loophole on right to work checks to crack down on illegal working as critical. Sir Keir Starmer leads a round table discussion at the Organised Immigration Crime Summit - Kin Cheung/AP 10:08 AM BST PM: If you dont have the right to be in this country, then you shouldnt be here If you don't have the right to be in this country, then you shouldn't be here. It's that simple. https://t.co/TF0yYK8mKd Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) March 31, 2025 10:02 AM BST Italian PM: Courage needed to find illegal immigration solutions Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni said she was happy to be supporting collaboration with the UK on tackling illegal immigration in a recorded video played at the summit. She said Italys approach with Albania to process claims offshore was first criticised but governments should not be afraid to imagine and build innovative solutions. A video message of Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni is shown to those in attendance at the Organised Immigration Crime Summit A model that was criticised at first, but that then has gained increasing consensus, so much so that today, European Union is proposing to set up return hubs in third countries, she said. This means that we were right and that the courage to lead the way has been rewarded. 09:56 AM BST Cooper: Standing on our shoreline shouting at the sea wont stop small boats International cooperation is the key to stopping illegal immigration, the Home Secretary said. Concluding her remarks at the opening of the Organised Immigration Crime Summit, Yvette Cooper said: We know that strengthening our border security means working with all the countries on the other sides of our borders, not just standing on our shoreline shouting at the sea. We know too that no country can do this alone and that is why the partnerships and everyone gathering here is so important so today we will talk about what to do to tackle this vile trade in human beings. Yvette Cooper, the Home Secretary - Stefan Rousseau/AFP 09:50 AM BST People smuggling gangs using drones to spot border patrols, says Cooper Yvette Cooper said people smuggling gangs are using drones to spot border patrols as she urged countries to work together to take them down. She said: The way in which the gangs are using new technology, not just the phones, the social media, to organise, but even the drones to spot where the border patrols are, the operations along the land borders across continents. But it is governments and not gangs who should be deciding who enters our country. Those gangs are operating and profiting across borders, so we and our law enforcement need to cooperate across borders now to take them down. 09:47 AM BST Cooper slams vast and ruthless people smuggling industry Yvette Cooper said that the challenges presented by immigration are not new but the current scale of people crossing borders is. The Home Secretary told the summit: But in recent years we have seen new and serious patterns and scales of irregular and illegal migration, causing major challenges for border security, for national security, for the rule of law, and the economy across so many of our countries in source, in transit and in destination countries alike. Two factors have accelerated and changed some of the challenges our countries face. First is technology. The physical distances between nations and continents may not have changed but technology has made the world feel a lot smaller. She added: And the second factor is the emergence of a vast and ruthless criminal industry that stretches across borders and across continents, worth billions of pounds. Yvette Cooper, the Home Secretary, addresses the Organised Immigration Crime Summit at Lancaster House in central London 09:31 AM BST UK has been soft touch on illegal working for too long, says PM Sir Keir Starmer said the UK had for too long been a soft touch on tackling illegal working. He said the Government will introduce a new law to force companies to carry out right to work checks. He said: We have got to be honest here, for too long the UK has been a soft touch on this. Whilst the last government were busy with their Rwanda gimmick, they left the door wide open for illegal working, especially in short term or zero hours roles. Whilst most companies do the responsible thing and carry out right to work checks, too many dodgy firms have been exploiting a loophole to skip this process, hiring illegal workers, undercutting honest businesses, driving down the wages of ordinary working people. All of this of course fuelling that poisonous narrative of the gangs who promise the dream of a better life to vulnerable people yet deliver a nightmare of squalid conditions and appalling exploitation. Today we are changing that because this Government is introducing a tough new law to force all companies to carry out these checks on right to work. 09:27 AM BST Small boats used by people smugglers are death traps, says Starmer Sir Keir Starmer said people smugglers are making huge profits out of ruining peoples lives. He said the vessels being used to make the trip across the English Channel were not worthy of the name boat and if they were cars they would be taken off the road by the police within minutes. To me they look like death traps, he said. 09:24 AM BST Starmer promises pragmatic solutions which work to tackle small boats All countries need to implement tough measures at home to combat illegal immigration, the Prime Minister said. As we work together more closely I think than ever before we also have to take the tough measures at home in our own countries, Sir Keir Starmer said. That doesnt mean gimmicks... it means understanding the problem and coming up with pragmatic solutions which work, actually fixing what is wrong. Sir Keir claimed that there were gaps in our defence when the Tories were in power and those gaps had allowed people smugglers to crack on. The Prime Minister said that since Labour took office more than 24,000 people had been returned to their countries of origin. 09:20 AM BST Starmer: Real progress being made on tackling people smuggling gangs Sir Keir Starmer repeated his belief that people smugglers must be treated the same as terrorists. The Prime Minister said real progress had started to be made in terms of more international collaboration on tackling the issue. He highlighted new bilateral agreements with France and Germany as examples of greater collaboration which he said are so important to taking this challenge on and it is beginning to bear fruit. 09:16 AM BST Voters want small boats crisis sorted, says PM Sir Keir Starmer said that nobody can doubt that the people we serve want this issue sorted as he addressed the first ever international illegal immigration summit. But the truth is we can only smash these gangs once and for all if we work together, he said. The Prime Minister said that back in 2016 he had visited a migrant camp on the outskirts of Calais and he was struck by the number of children huddled together in freezing temperatures. He said that while that camp had gone, the people smuggling gangs remain. There is nothing progressive or compassionate about turning a blind eye to this, he said. Sir Keir Starmer addresses an international illegal immigration summit in London 09:13 AM BST Illegal immigration makes me angry, says Starmer Sir Keir Starmer said that illegal migration is a massive driver of global insecurity as he opened the Organised Immigration Crime Summit in London. The Prime Minister said: It undermines our ability to control who comes here and that makes people angry. It makes me angry, frankly. Because it is unfair on ordinary working people who pay the price, from the cost of hotels, to our public services struggling under the strain. And it is unfair on the illegal migrants themselves because these are vulnerable people being ruthlessly exploited by vile gangs. The Prime Minister urged countries across the world to take decisive action. 08:52 AM BST How many people have arrived in the UK on small boats this year? A record number of people - approximately 6,000 - have arrived in the UK after crossing the Channel so far this year. That is higher than the 5,435 who arrived in January, February and March in 2024 the previous record number for the first quarter of a calendar year and well above the number in the same three months in 2023 and 2022. The Government has blamed the increase on calm weather and people smugglers putting more people into boats. 08:45 AM BST Labour needs time to dismantle people smuggling gangs, says minister Ministers are disappointed by the number of small boat crossings in recent months, Dame Angela Eagle said. The Home Office minister said the Government needs time to dismantle people smuggling gangs. Speaking to Sky News, the border security and asylum minister was asked whether she was disappointed in the number of crossings. She said: Of course, were disappointed. Some of that is about having more people per boat, which is also more dangerous and more reckless. But what weve got to do weve been in government for eight months these people smuggling gangs have been allowed to establish themselves across the Channel and be very sophisticated with their global networks for six years. We are going to dismantle them by working with other people cross-jurisdiction, operationally too. But we need time to do that, and we need to have events like this so that we can co-operate together to increase our effectiveness. 08:28 AM BST Government considering migrant return hubs, says minister The Government is not ruling out an offshoring agreement for asylum processing, a Home Office minister has said. Dame Angela Eagle said ministers are looking at whether return hubs could be a good idea. Asked whether the UK was considering an offshoring agreement similar to that between Italy and Albania, she told Times Radio: Were not ruling anything out if it works, so were looking at a range of things. Were also obviously looking to see what the European Commission is doing in Europe, were looking to see whether return hubs might be a good idea. But at the moment, were not in a position to make any kind of announcements on that, but we are very open-minded to see what works. 08:22 AM BST Minister: Social media firms must be more proactive in removing people smuggler adverts The Government wants a bit more proactivity from social media firms when it comes to removing adverts from people smugglers, a Home Office minister said. Dame Angela Eagle, the border security and asylum minister, told Times Radio that Meta, X and TikTok will be in attendance at todays immigration summit in London. She said: What were talking to them about and Ill be meeting them later on today is actually taking down the very slick and misleading advertisements that people smugglers use their platforms to disseminate. She said the firms already do take them down, but added: We just want a bit more proactivity from them, because these adverts are very, very misleading. They sell lies about what will go on here, and often the people that fall for that end up in debt bondage, exploited in a very criminal style economy. 08:18 AM BST Solving small boats crisis not rocket science, says Jenrick Robert Jenrick said solving the small boats crisis is not rocket science. The shadow justice secretary claimed Labour had made all the wrong decisions on illegal immigration since winning the general election last year. He said the only way to solve the problem was to have an effective deterrent like the Tories Rwanda scheme and to set up returns agreements with countries where the migrants are coming from. Mr Jenrick said it was open season for small boat crossings under Labour. The people smuggling gangs know that if you can get people into this country they will never leave and they will be put up in luxury hotels, he told GB News. It is not rocket science, we know what the formula is and we can see that Labour has made all the wrong decisions since they came to power. 08:14 AM BST Pictured: Yvette Cooper welcomes Swedish justice minister to summit Yvette Cooper, the Home Secretary, is pictured this morning as she welcomed Gunnar Strommer, Swedens justice minister, to the Border Security Summit in London - Kin Cheung/Reuters 08:08 AM BST Jenrick: Migration summit is nothing more than a talking shop Labours international illegal immigration summit is nothing more than a talking shop, according to Robert Jenrick. The shadow justice secretary told GB News he doubted the gathering of nations would achieve anything at all. He said: It sounds like a talking shop to me. The facts are clear. The numbers of people coming across on small boats has risen by 31 per cent since Labour came to power. Just in the last week alone, 4,000 illegal migrants have broken into our country. Labour has lost control of the borders and frankly I dont think they want to control them or else they wouldnt have scrapped the Rwanda deterrent. Todays meeting I doubt will achieve anything at all. 08:06 AM BST Starmer holds first-of-its-kind international illegal immigration summit Sir Keir Starmer is hosting an international illegal immigration summit in London today when he will call on the 40 countries attending to work together to stop people-smuggling gangs in the same way they would terrorists. The Prime Minister is hoping the summit will accelerate his efforts to stop the boats but the Tories have rejected the idea that it will deliver real change. Nations attending include Albania, Vietnam and Iraq countries from which migrants have travelled to the UK as well as representatives from France, the US and China. Ministers and enforcement staff will discuss international co-operation on illegal migration, as well as supply routes, criminal finances and online adverts for people smuggling during the meeting. I will guide you through the key developments. 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. BELLEVILLE, Ill. The Trump administration has implemented several policies affecting veterans, sparking debate among critics on both sides of the aisle. In response, Illinois lawmakers met with local veterans to hear their concerns. Workforce reductions within the Department of Veterans Affairs and the revocation of collective bargaining rights are among the recent changes affecting over one million veterans nationwide. There are a lot of jobs being lost. Theres just things thrown up on the wall and seeing if it sticks, said Maurice Bridges, state commander of the VFW in Illinois. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Sunday afternoon, Illinois lawmakers met with leaders and members of local Metro East veterans service organizations. The discussion aimed to foster a collaborative environment where veterans could voice their concerns and advocate for stronger protections from Washington. U.S. Representative Nikki Budzinski emphasized efforts to modernize the VA system, particularly in implementing electronic health records. Were making sure were working with the VA to get them to adopt electronic health records. It helps to capture the entire veterans experience in the VA system. Thats an ongoing process that weve been working on, Budzinski said. She also highlighted initiatives to expand STEM scholarship opportunities and streamline access to VA services. Close Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily News Senator Tammy Duckworth underscored the importance of veteran registration with the VA to ensure long term support and infrastructure planning. The county veterans commission just said theres probably 25,000 veterans just in this area that arent being accounted for, Duckworth said. The VA looks out 10 years in advance to where theyre gonna build the next hospital or clinic, and if youre not counted, then the VA thinks there are fewer veterans, so theyre not gonna build that hospital here. While most veteran policies have been met with criticism, the administration has taken positive steps, such as an executive order signed in January directing the departments of Defense, Veterans Affairs, and Homeland Security to provide up to one year of mental health care for veterans following their separation from service. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jim Page, 5th Division Commander of the American Legion Department of Illinois, reaffirmed the commitment to supporting veterans. The bottom line comes down to, we are here to help vets. Thats the bottom line. Yes, we have differences in programs, theyre not great, but we are here to help veterans, Page said. For more information, visit Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs and for a full list of resources, check out the Veteran Resources List. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Kentucky police Saturday arrested an Illinois man who came to the state heavily armed with plans to harm funeral attendees in Williamsburg, Kentucky. The Williamsburg Police Department received information Friday about a man who made threats towards two others and planned to attend a funeral service in Williamsburg Saturday. Daniel Graiber, 49, of Weaton, Illinois, made threats to harm funeral attendees and was heavily armed, according to police. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Graiber charged with second-degree terroristic threatening, impersonating a peace officer, first-degree attempt of disorderly conduct and possession of a controlled substance. Graiber traveled from Illinois and stopped at two gun stores in southeast Kentucky, where he attempted to purchase a high-capacity gun magazine, specifically a 100-count drum. Shortly before the start of the funeral service, Corbin Police spotted Graiber in his vehicle traveling south on I-75 toward Williamsburg. When Graiber arrived at the funeral home, he allegedly inquired about the time family members were to arrive for the visitation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Williamsburg police officers detained Graiber and took him into custody, police said. During the course of the investigation, Graiber impersonated a peace officer and made statements he worked for the CIA and was associated with the FBI and Kentucky State Police. Police seized three handguns, gun magazines, ammunition, a tactical ballistic vest, suspected hydrocodone pills, a baton and a cell phone, police said in a press release. Williamsburg police and the FBI are investigating the incident and additional charges are possible. The investigation continues. ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) The Discovery Center Museum in Rockford will offer $5.29 admissions on one day only, in a teamup with the Illinois State Treasurers office. Treasurer Michael Frerichs announced the reduced price admission day will be Saturday, April 5th, from 9:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. In addition, the first 400 children admitted will be able to decorate a take-home piggy bank at the Little Savers Crafting Workshop. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Representatives from Illinois Bright Start 529 college saving program will be on hand to answer questions about saving for college. The best time to start saving for college is yesterday. The second-best time to start saving is today, Frerichs said. If a child knows they have a college savings plan, they are three times more likely to attend college. We hope parents will walk away from this event learning about the importance of saving at an early age. By saving with a Bright Start 529 plan, families can prepare for the cost of higher education. The State Treasurers Office is collaborating with Illinois childrens museums to spread the word about college savings plans. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. LOS ANGELES, March 30 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump plans to visit Saudi Arabia in mid-May for the first foreign trip of his second term, U.S. media reported on Sunday. The potential trip was discussed in recent weeks between senior U.S. officials and their Saudi Arabian counterparts, including on the sidelines of the talks about the Ukraine crisis in Saudi Arabia, reported news website Axios, citing U.S. officials and a source with knowledge of the plans. Preparations for the trip are underway, said the report. "Talks will focus on discussing foreign investments, strengthening relationships with Gulf nations and ending conflict in the Middle East," a White House official was quoted as saying. Trump's first foreign trip in his initial presidential term was also to Saudi Arabia. Earlier this month, a U.S. delegation held separate technical-level talks with Ukrainian and Russian delegations in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. ALTOONA, Pa. (WTAJ) A woman from China who was in America on a work visa was arrested at an Altoona motel on prostitution charges and may face deportation, court documents show. Libo Shi, 49 (Blair County Prison) Libo Shi, 49, was arrested over the weekend after Logan Township Police conducted a suspected prostitution sting at the Rodeway Inn motel. According to charging documents, police were tipped off about possible prostitution and human trafficking at the motel, something they said they are familiar with at the Rodeway Inn, along with drug issues. Police said they were able to use a website known to them for prostitution and set up a meeting with a woman in a motel room. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Upon arrival, the undercover officer was told which room to go to and then was called by a woman they noted in the complaint had a heavy Chinese accent. According to the criminal complaint, the officer approached the room while another in full uniform was out of sight, but able to record everything on their body camera. DOJ: Illegal immigrant found in Pennsylvania after previous deportation Shi allegedly opened the door, and the undercover officer showed her his badge. Officers noted Shi spoke very little English and appeared to be offering police money if they let her go. According to the affidavit, Shi was checked into the room until April 6. Police also noted it is common practice for potential prostitutes, typically of Asian descent, to be brought into towns for a week at a time and then leave before they can be caught. According to the complaint, Shi was taken to the Logan Township Police Department, where her Miranda rights were translated, and she stated she chose to remain silent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police noted in the complaint that Shi was in America on a work visa. ICE was contacted, who said her visa is active until 2029, but theyre going to review it. This means she could have the visa terminated and face deportation. Stay up to date with the latest news in the palm of your hand. Click here to download the WTAJ app for Apple and Android devices. Shi was placed in Blair County Prison with bail set at $75,000. While she was charged with promoting prostitution, police added that charges may be amended depending on what is found during the investigation and search of her motel room. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for April 10 in front of Magisterial District Judge Matthew Dunio. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTAJ - www.wtaj.com. All advertising for marijuana would be illegal in Indiana under an amendment adopted Monday. (Illustration by Leslie Bonilla/Indiana Capital Chronicle) Indiana lawmakers could ban all marijuana advertising within state lines, under an amendment adopted Monday in a transportation-focused committee. It goes beyond the billboard-specific prohibition taken in a Senate panel last week. Rep. Jim Pressel, R-Rolling Prairie, said his community is inundated with billboards advertising illegal marijuana. The district is near Michigan, which has legalized it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But thats not all. My constituents, myself included, receive up to two what would look like political mailers a week advertising an illegal substance at dispensaries in nearby New Buffalo, per Pressel. He chairs the House Roads and Transportation Committee. He commandeered Senate Bill 73, dealing with utility trailer sales, for an amendment outlawing the advertising of marijuana and other drugs on Indianas list of Schedule I controlled substances. Indianas attorney general could sue for injunctions, civil penalties of up to $15,000 and reasonable costs incurred throughout the investigation and lawsuit. A truck outside of the Indiana Statehouse promotes legalized marijuana as a potential revenue source. (Whitney Downard/Indiana Capital Chronicle) Ive heard about (how) the First Amendment, Im trampling on it. I dont believe that to be true, Pressel told the committee. He cited a federal appeals court decision that found, basically, if its a criminal activity, you have no First Amendment right to advertise. Thats my understanding. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The ban would take effect upon the bills passage. Advertising from contracts entered into or renewed before the approval date would be exempt. The committee accepted the edits by consent. Pressel told reporters that the panel deal(s) with billboard issues all the time, but acknowledged that his amendment would also affect mailers, truck adverts, television and more. It also has the potential to impact online activity. Were able to geofence a lot of different things. So is it possible to geofence that out? I believe that it is, but cant confirm, Pressel said. I havent talked to those folks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pressel authored an additional amendment inserting tweaked towing regulations into Senate Bill 73. The proposal was advanced on a 12-0 vote. Intersection opposition appeased When opposition to a rural intersection safety measure erupted too close to the legislative sessions first-half deadlines, its author promised hed fix it or kill it. Sen. Mike Crider, R-Greenfield, developed the measure after his friends eldest son was killed in a crash along an uncontrolled intersection overgrown with tall corn. A thorough amendment, taken by consent Monday, appeared to ease concerns from farmers. Senate Bill 183 initially mandated large line of sight triangles by uncontrolled intersections to be kept clear of crops, vegetation and other obstructions above 3 feet tall. Units of government wouldve sent landowners or renters notice for noncompliance. People involved in vehicle crashes resulting from blocked sightlines wouldve been able to sue for damages. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An amendment replaced the triangle concept with a line of sight area. That would be, at minimum, the 20 feet of road right-of-way extending on each side from the center line. The 3-foot rule would still apply for 55 feet along each road from the center of the intersection. If a local government decides a landowner or lessee isnt compliant, it would have seven days to send written notice through certified mail. The person or entity responsible for the land would have seven days after receiving notice to clear the sightlines. Otherwise, the local government could take corrective action and, if warned a second time or more for the same property, charge up to $500 per subsequent clearing. We have worked very diligently with stakeholders on making sure that a traveling motorist doesnt have an obstructed view when they get to an intersection, Pressel said. So, lots of time, lots of hours, have gone into this amendment. An Indiana Farm Bureau representative said the edits had softened the groups opposition into neutrality. Senate Bill 183 also received a unanimous vote. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE By Marco Aquino LIMA (Reuters) - Members of Indigenous communities blocked access to Glencore's Antapaccay copper mine in Peru's Cusco region to protest an expansion plan at the site, a local community leader said on Monday. Local residents in the Espinar province, within the Cusco region, on Sunday began blocking roads and calling for a meeting with government mining officials over fears of environmental damage from the expansion plan, community leader Flavio Huanque said in an interview. He said the protesters represented ten different communities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A source close to the company confirmed that protests had blocked access to mine vehicles. Glencore said production had not been impacted, and that the protest demands were related to what it called administrative procedures. It said it was open to dialogue with each of the communities. "We express our concern regarding the recent blockade of certain public highways by small groups of protesters from a number of communities in the province of Espinar," the company said in a statement. "We respect communities' right to express their concerns in a legitimate manner and not in a way that poses a risk to themselves or others." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Images from a local online news program showed small groups of people at different points in the road, holding signs. Antapaccay is the seventh largest copper mine in Peru, the world's third-biggest producer of the red metal. The mine has faced protests by local Indigenous groups over environmental concerns in past years as well. Peru's mining sector as a whole has also faced disruptive, at times violent, protests across many of its major mines. Peru's Mining Ministry said in a social media post on Friday that it had met with Glencore executives overseeing Antapaccay's expansion plans. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the ministry, the company representatives said the expansion represented a $1.8 billion investment, and the miner would work on agreements with the Huano Huano, Huini Coroccohuayco and Pacopata communities. The ministry did not respond to a request for comment on the protests. (Reporting by Marco Aquino, Writing by Natalia Siniawski, Editing by Daina Beth Solomon, Aida Pelaez-Fernandez and Louise Heavens) (INSIDE CALIFORNIA POLITICS) This week on Inside California Politics, Republican strategist Rob Stutzman spoke with Nikki Laurenzo about why running for governor of California may not be the best path for former Vice President Kamala Harris. As Womens History Month comes to a close, political reporter Eytan Wallace interviewed a group of women lawmakers who chair various major health committees in the legislature. Wallace also reviewed the weeks top headlines including members of the Los Angeles city governments asking the state for roughly $1.9 billion and members of the state legislature expressing outrage over PG&E requesting a rate hike to benefit investors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. In the small Ukrainian port city of Berdiansk, shop fronts are boarded up, the playgrounds empty, some of its few tourist attractions turned into makeshift military facilities. The few residents left say the city situated along Ukraines Azov Sea coastline has been turned into a ghost town since Russias invasion. At night, people seldom walk the streets. Those that do, do so in fear of the Russian occupying forces, who can arbitrarily search and arrest people at any time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Putin insists that Berdiansk is now part of Russia, and peace talks mediated by Donald Trump could soon see swathes of territory like this permanently change hands. Indeed Mr Trumps own Moscow envoy recently parroted Kremlin lines that the region is mostly Russian-speaking and the people here have voted to join Russia. After Moscows troops burst into the city on February 27 2022, three days into the full-scale invasion, a third of Berdiansks 100,000 population fled. Those that stayed have watched the small city turn into a military outpost where plain-clothed soldiers fill cafes, curfews apply and thousands of unfamiliar faces fill the jobs and houses left behind. 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, said one 52-year-old female resident who requested anonymity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 37 months at war, Russia has captured around 27,000 square miles of Ukrainian land, an area roughly the size of Belgium and the Netherlands combined. To redress the labour shortages and to further tighten its grip over the captured regions, Moscow has resettled hundreds of thousands of Russians to the territories. There are many residents in the city from Russias regions, especially from Dagestan, said another Berdiansk resident who works as a teacher. They often hold senior positions in hospitals, schools and public utilities, she added, also requesting anonymity through fear of reprisal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The settlers were offered bolstered salaries and often moved into the houses vacated by fleeing Ukrainians, the residents said. The military administration sometimes visits houses and apartments under the pretext that they are looking for a particularly dangerous criminal, then they check who has left and who has stayed to make a census of which housing is empty, said the middle-aged resident. So many local residents who fled have been left without their houses and businesses, she added. More than a third of residents have left the occupied territories of Zaporizhzhia over the course of the war. During that time, Russia had resettled only a slightly fewer number of people to the region, Ivan Fedorov, the governor of Zaporizhzhia told The Telegraph. And now, as US-brokered ceasefire talks continue, with Donald Trump, the US president, hinting at a deal that could see Ukrainian land and resources bargained for peace, residents fear their city could become Russian forever. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The peace deal is a difficult dilemma, it is a choice between freedom and death, said one elderly man who lives on the outskirts of Berdiansk. On one hand, it means we will have to stay where we are now but on the other hand it means the continuation of the war and more deaths of young people. A resident of Berdiansk who spoke to The Telegraph sent this image of the deserted city The resettlement of Russians to the occupied territories was a deliberate tactic by Moscow to strengthen its hand at any future negotiation table, said Julia Friedrich, a research fellow at the Global Public Policy Institute, who focuses on security in Russia and Ukraine. Russia doesnt consider these territories to be Ukrainian after they wrote them into their constitution, so to them they are not part of any bargain. And by erasing Ukrainian identity on the ground, they de facto make that come true, Friedrich said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In September 2022, Moscow officially annexed the four regions after carrying out referendums there. At the time, the referendums were denounced as illegal by the United Nations. Never, never, never, Joe Biden, then US president, remarked on whether Washington would ever recognise Russias territorial claims to Ukraine. Last week, the Trump administration backtracked on those statements. They are Russian-speaking, and there have been referendums where the overwhelming majority of the people have indicated that they want to be under Russian rule, US lead negotiator, Steve Witkoff, told broadcaster Tucker Carlson shortly after returning from a trip to Moscow where he met with Vladimir Putin, the Russian president. Russia has come forever Mr Witkoffs comments have been denounced, and Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukraines president, has accused the US official of parroting Kremlin propaganda. Those who spoke to The Telegraph detailed how many hope their city will become Ukrainian again. Of the population still left here, 60-70 per cent are waiting for Ukraine to return, said the teacher, they still do not believe, and do not want to believe, that Russia has come forever. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In three years of Russian rule, residents explained how Berdiansk had become a highly militarised information vacuum, where repression, Russification and torture were all used to control the local population. Two out of the three residents who agreed to speak did so via a secret phone they kept hidden from the Russian military administration. These additional phones were essential for communication with the outside world, they said. On one [phone], you need to live according to their [Russian] laws, and on the other, you can keep in touch with Ukraine and the worldbecause on television, they only show Russian propaganda, said the 52-year-old resident. About 3.5 million Ukrainians remain in the occupied territories, according to Helping to Leave, a Ukrainian charity that assists people in the Russian-controlled areas. Millions of those have been forced to take Russian passports after new legislature requires them for carrying out the most simple tasks, such as receiving a pension or accessing medical care. Only 3.5 million Ukrainians remain in the occupied territories, according to Helping to Leave - Getty Images Children were also targeted, the teacher said. Textbooks and books in the Ukrainian language were burned in schools. And parents who do not agree to send their children to Russian schools can be imprisoned and subject to a period of re-education. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They want to make occupation as irreversible as possible. So that even if they were reconquered by the Ukrainian army, the changes would be too permanent for them to be reintegrated into Ukrainian territory, Julia Friedrich said. Although opposition to Russias arrival in the early days of the war was widespread, three years of systematic repression has slowly brought the city under Moscows control. The early leaders of protests were arrested. Some were tortured until they changed their position, the middle-aged resident said. Now, locals resist in their own unremarkable ways. They call the supermarkets and streets by the names they had before Russian retailers and soldiers moved in. At the market, some sellers continue to do business in their native Ukrainian, claiming to not know any other language a sign that some have still not lost hope that one day Ukraine will return. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are waiting hopefully for a just peace, said the 52-year-old woman, so that everyone can return home and be reunited with their families. And for Berdiansk to become, as it was before, a Ukrainian 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. You have to wonder what goes through the minds of young civil servants at the Ministry of Justice. Much has been written about the toxic influence of American cultural fashions now holding sway in our universities: the 585,000 fine handed out to Sussex University for its failure to defend academic free speech is just one overdue and much-deserved consequence of embracing such philosophies. But in the MoJ we see the inevitable result of decades of Marxist inculcation in generations of students. Across the country, lecturers who give the time of day to trans ideology and critical race theory are nodding their heads in approval at reports that MoJ officials have drawn up recommendations that defendants from ethnic minority communities, or who are trans, should be given priority for bail. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Priority over whom, you may ask. The guidance also advises judges to take account of the trauma suffered by suspects whose relatives experienced racism or discrimination and cites important historical events which may have a greater impact on those from specific groups and cultures. As The Telegraph reports today, campaigners have claimed that black British people can suffer from trauma that was originally inflicted on their ancestors by the slave trade. And woe betide anyone who raises a sceptical eyebrow at such a fanciful claim: they will no doubt be dismissed, not just as far right, but as white supremacists, the phrase that used to mean members of the Ku Klux Klan or actual neo-Nazis but now refers to anyone who rejects notions of white privilege or institutional racism. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shabana Mahmood is taking welcome action against accusations of two-tier justice. But she has been undermined by her own civil servants, for whom she has complete responsibility, doing their bit for cultural relativism in her own department. With the growth of the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement in the United States, following the murder of George Floyd at the hands of a white police officer in Minnesota in 2020, academic institutions fell like ninepins to critical race theory. This ideology turned the more traditional approach of the black civil rights movement the demand that, as Martin Luther King famously put it, everyone is judged on the content of their character rather than the colour of their skin on its head. Segregation by colour including separate accommodation and graduation ceremonies and different treatment under the law, depending on your skin pigmentation, became the new demand. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Black activists advocated this and were supported by gullible white followers struggling with inherited guilt over a slave trade for which they personally had no responsibility. If such a philosophy is deliberately and unnecessarily divisive in America, it is irrelevant in Britain, whose relationship to the historic slave trade is vastly different from Americas. But that didnt prevent BLMs British activists making the nonsensical demand, during protests in London in 2020, to defund the police and pretending that they risked being shot by officers. Even as such antics were widely dismissed by voters lets face it, the Covid pandemic at the same time made us all go a little crazy the philosophy behind BLM was entrenching itself in Whitehall. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And now we see the fruits of that devoted and determined activism in the capture of the key civil servants who influence how the justice system works. Two-tier is a phrase that has become over-used since the election of this Labour Government, but it is entirely apposite to the attempt to destroy the principle that justice is blind. The consequences of failing to address this injustice, however fashionable its motivation, will be grim indeed. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. An investigation by The Guardian alleges the World Wildlife Fund's position on the polar bear fur trade is shockingly lax. Critics argue the organization should use its considerable influence to put an end to the practice. What's happening? According to The Guardian, the WWF has backed the international commercial trade of polar bear furs as part of a sustainable wildlife management policy that supports economic development to improve a species' situation. However, critics say the WWF is failing to live up to standards adopted by the majority of wildlife protection organizations. In addition to supporting the fur trade for endangered polar bears, it has pushed against upgrading protections for elephants, giraffes, hippos, and rhinos. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Canada is home to around two-thirds of the remaining 22,000-31,000 polar bears left worldwide, and it is the only country that still allows hunting of the creatures. Russia, Greenland, Norway, and the United States have banned the practice. The Great White North exports 300-400 pelts each year, mostly to China, and earns around $60,000 per full pelt. Why is this important? While polar bear protection may seem like a minor concern, the species' role as a top predator helps keep the food web in balance, as Protect the Arctic explains. When these food webs collapse, a host of other fauna and flora can be impacted, contributing to biodiversity loss which can affect our own food supply and, according to a study published in PNAS, increase the risk of human exposure to zoonotic pathogens. Former WWF Director Jean-Paul Jeanrenaud, who worked with the organization for nearly three decades, highlighted to The Guardian how the WWF's prestigious name could help it push for more stringent wildlife protections. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The WWF name, certainly from my experience, had a lot of leverage. If I approached people, they wanted to hear what I had to say. WWF has an influence, and it still has an influence," Jeanrenaud said. "I think the public will be even more than surprised, perhaps shocked. I know that it's the sort of thing that I have difficulty getting my head around." What can be done about this? Educating yourself about greenwashing and critical climate issues can help you determine if an organization is engaged in the practice before you throw your support behind it. For its part, the WWF stated that it "does not lobby for or work to support or promote the polar bear fur trade" and noted it was reaching out to The Guardian about inaccuracies. On Feb. 17, two days after the report was published, the news outlet updated the piece. "Hunting is a complex issue, often linked to the rights of Indigenous Peoples and local communities, and as such we don't oppose it in all cases," the WWF said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The organization added that it classified polar bears under the less restrictive Appendix II based on the available data because "Appendix I is seen as a last resort for species which are in high demand in trade, or species that have undergone catastrophic declines." It says it also helps educate communities about how to coexist with the creatures. Rising global temperatures have contributed to more dangerous human-bear encounters as the sea ice polar bears rely on melts. "The most important factors to improve the long-term survival of polar bears are reducing greenhouse gas emissions and conserving polar bear habitats. This is where we focus our efforts, on the most pressing and dominant threats to the species," the WWF states. You can reduce heat-trapping pollution from your household by upgrading to LEDs and other energy-efficient technology and unplugging appliances that aren't being used. 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. (FOX40.COM) The California Highway Patrol is investigating a fatal car crash that left a teen dead in Yuba County Saturday evening. Video above: What to do if you witness a crash Around 3:25 p.m., CHP responded to reports of a vehicle overturned off Highway 70, north of Feather River Boulevard. Police said a driver of a silver or white SUV made an unsafe lane change and caused another driver in a Honda Pilot to lose control. Roadways closed after fatal crash in Yuba County Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When emergency crews arrived at the scene, they found the Honda about 50 feet down a dirt embankment. Inside of it was an unresponsive 14-year-old boy. Police said he was taken to Adventist Health + Rideout Hospital where he died from his injuries. The Honda was driven by a 47-year-old man who complained of some pain after the crash, according to CHP. There was also a 47-year-old woman and 12-year-old girl in the car. Part of Highway 70 in Yuba County was closed after a fatal crash on March 29, 2025./CHP Parts of Highway 70 and Feather River Boulevard were closed for nearly two hours while emergency crews investigated and removed the damaged vehicle. It is unclear if drugs or alcohol were a factor in the crash. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX40 News. The Iowa Department of Corrections is looking for a man who failed to report to the Davenport Work Release Center last week. Brian Clark (Iowa Department of Corrections) Brian Luther Clark, who was convicted of Burglary 1st Degree in Clinton County and Voluntary Absence in Scott County, failed to report back to the Davenport Work Release/OWI Center as required on Friday, March 28. He is a white man who is 42-year-old, stands 58 and weighs 216 pounds. He was admitted to the work release facility on December 30, 2024. Anyone with information on Clarks whereabouts should contact their local police department. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHBF - OurQuadCities.com. On episode 820 of WHAT THE TRUCK?!? Dooner is talking about the Strengthening Supply Chains Through Truck Driver Incentives Act, a new bipartisan bill in Iowa that has the driving community up in arms. Well take a look at why Iowa is trying to add even more drivers to an over capacity market and the damage the driver shortage myth does to our industry. Mid-America Trucking Show 2025 may have come to an end but well recap the sights and sounds from Americas biggest truck show. Travelers Elizabeth Simpkins talks about the tremendous progress made by women in trucking. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trader Interactives Charles Bowles shares the latest data on heavy duty truck buying demographics. Ben Tschirgi just founded his own company ScienceOfSales. After a decade of leading sales teams at companies like Cowan Logistics, Tschirgi is now helping other businesses use AI to scale their revenue. Plus; Trevor Milton pardoned; squats across MATS; monkey truckers and more. Catch new shows live at noon EDT Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays on FreightWaves LinkedIn, Facebook, X or YouTube, or on demand by looking up WHAT THE TRUCK?!? on your favorite podcast player and at 5 p.m. Eastern on SiriusXMs Road Dog Trucking Channel 146. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Watch on YouTube Check out the WTT merch store Visit our sponsor Subscribe to the WTT newsletter Apple Podcasts Spotify More FreightWaves Podcasts The post Iowa driver shortage bill backlash; Women in trucking; Science of Sales | WHAT THE TRUCK?!? appeared first on FreightWaves. A man visits the 62nd Bologna International Children's Book Fair in Bologna, Italy, March 31, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Jing) BOLOGNA, Italy, March 31 (Xinhua) -- The 62nd Bologna International Children's Book Fair opened on Monday in the Italian city of Bologna, with China hosting a series of events to promote its literature for young readers on the global stage. A delegation of more than 40 Chinese publishing houses, led by the China National Publications Import & Export (Group) Corporation (CNPIEC), is participating under the theme "Reading China." The delegation has brought over 2,500 titles, including more than 1,100 foreign-language editions, and is organizing a range of cultural exchange activities to showcase the creativity and international reach of Chinese children's publishing. For the first time, the Chinese delegation has also set up a "Comprehensive Exhibition Area" at BolognaBookPlus, the professional summit and exhibition held alongside the fair. This section, connected to the children's book area, features a broad selection of publications spanning politics, economics, culture, philosophy, social sciences, natural sciences, literature, and geography. Also on display are works by emerging Chinese illustrators, many inspired by traditional cultural motifs. The initiative is aimed at expanding copyright cooperation and fostering academic and cultural exchange between China and the international community. Speaking at the opening ceremony, Bologna Children's Book Fair Director Elena Pasoli highlighted the significance of the Chinese exhibition area, calling it a vital part of the fair. She noted that children's books offer a powerful way for the world to better understand China's traditional culture. Recognized as one of the world's largest and most influential children's book fairs, this year's edition has drawn more than 1,500 exhibitors from over 90 countries and regions. The fair is expected to welcome more than 20,000 visitors. People read books during the 62nd Bologna International Children's Book Fair in Bologna, Italy, March 31, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Jing) Visitors read a book at a booth of Chinese publishers during the 62nd Bologna International Children's Book Fair in Bologna, Italy, March 31, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Jing) Visitors attend an event at the Chinese exhibition area during the 62nd Bologna International Children's Book Fair in Bologna, Italy, March 31, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Jing) Exhibitors talk at the 62nd Bologna International Children's Book Fair in Bologna, Italy, March 31, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Jing) Exhibitors talk at a booth of Chinese publishers during the 62nd Bologna International Children's Book Fair in Bologna, Italy, March 31, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Jing) (Reuters) - Iran complained to the United Nations Security Council on Monday about "reckless and belligerent" remarks by U.S. President Donald Trump, describing them as "a flagrant violation of international law" and the founding United Nations Charter. Trump threatened Iran on Sunday with bombing and secondary tariffs if Tehran did not come to an agreement with Washington over its nuclear program. In a letter, seen by Reuters, Iran's U.N. Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani wrote that Tehran "strongly warns against any military adventurism and will respond swiftly and decisively to any act of aggression or attack by the United States or its proxy, the Israeli regime, against its sovereignty, territorial integrity, or national interests." (Reporting by Michelle Nichols; Editing by Ismail Shakil) Iranian armed forces have called for a preemptive strike on the Diego Garcia military base before America uses it to target the Islamic Republic. A senior Iranian official said military commanders have been asked to target the joint UK-US base, which sits on Britains Chagos Islands, in an attempt to deter Donald Trump from striking Iran. The official in Tehran told The Telegraph: Top commanders are being urged to launch preemptive strikes on the island and its base if Trumps threats have become more serious. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He added: Discussions about the island have intensified since the Americans deployed bombers there. At least three B-2 Spirit jets arrived at the strategic US-UK outpost last week, according to satellite imagery. Dubbed the ghosts of the sky, the B-2 bombers are capable of slipping past the most advanced air defences and delivering deadly payloads. Diego Garcia is the main island in the Chagos Archipelago the British-owned Indian Ocean territory which Sir Keir Starmer wants to return to Mauritius. The future of the military base is a key point of contention in the deal to give up the islands. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As part of Sir Keirs proposed deal, Diego Garcia would be leased back to the UK at a reported annual cost of 90 million per year, so the US can continue its military operations there. One Iranian regime supporter said the island should have been targeted long before the US deployed bombers. He said: I find it very unlikely that the countrys top defence commanders, since the 1990s, have not considered a missile attack either ballistic or cruise on Chagos. And if they werent, theyd definitely be very stupid. The base supports B-1 Lancer, B-2 Spirit, and B-52 Stratofortress bombers, so it is significant for operations across Africa, Asia, and Oceania. Some 4,000 military personnel and contractors the majority of whom are American are also housed at the base. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Iranian state media outlet said that the B-2 Spirit bomber would likely use Diego Garcia as a launching point for any potential attack on Iranian underground facilities. The Iranian official said: Some are suggesting that missiles be fired towards the island, not with the intent to hit anything, but to fall into the water to send a clear message to the Americans that we are serious. Tensions between Iran and America have significantly escalated since Mr Trump returned to the White House. Last month, Mr Trump renewed his maximum pressure campaign on Iran, which included continuing his efforts to prevent it from acquiring nuclear weapons by reducing its oil exports to zero. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But he has also expressed interest in quickly negotiating a verified nuclear peace agreement with the country. Iran is seeking ways to revive the 2015 nuclear deal that Mr Trump withdrew from in 2018, while the US is pushing for complete disarmament. An anti-US mural is seen in Tehran as Mr Trump warns of a bad situation if Iran do not agree to nuclear deal - Majid Asgaripour/REUTERS Mr Trump warned Iran on Sunday that there would be bombing the likes of which they have never seen before if it rejects his nuclear weapons deal. While flying on Air Force One, he told reporters: Well see if we can get something done. And if not, its going to be a bad situation. He added: 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mr Trump sent a letter to Irans supreme leader earlier this month, to urge Iran to negotiate and warn that military intervention would be terrible. Masoud Pezeshkian, the Iranian president, said on Sunday that the Islamic Republic rejected direct negotiations with the United States over its rapidly advancing nuclear programme. In response, the US State Department said: President Trump has been clear: the United States cannot allow Iran to acquire a nuclear weapon. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the supreme leader of Iran, responded to Mr Trumps threats on Monday. Credit: X/Social Media He said: The enmity from the US and Israel has always been there. They threaten to attack us, which we dont think is very probable, but if they commit any mischief, they will surely receive a strong reciprocal blow. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mr Khamenei is also under pressure from hardliners to lift a ban on building nuclear bombs. Following the threats, the Islamic Republic has missiles locked and loaded to respond if Mr Trump orders any potential strikes, The Telegraph understands. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) air force commander also threatened to target 50,000 American troops in the region. Brigadier General Amir Ali Hajizadeh said: The Americans have at least 10 bases in the region, around Iran, with more than 50,000 troops this means they are sitting in a glass house. Someone sitting in a glass house does not throw stones at others. Credit: TV SNN IR Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The IRGC deputy commander also warned that there is very great capability to harm the US at sea. The Iranian official who spoke with The Telegraph said: The response to Trumps threats should be action, not words - every base in the region is within range of our missiles. The missiles are locked and loaded, ready to target any area from which Iran could be threatened, whether from Diego Garcia or Bahrain. He added: Commanders have been instructed to ensure that all missile launchers are prepared and that nuclear sites are well protected. They are bracing for an all-out war, with everything in place for when Trump attacks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Iran also revealed a new underground missile city in a video last week that showed a facility housing ballistic missiles. 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 IRSs plans to share sensitive taxpayer data to bolster President Donald Trumps immigration agenda have wrought chaos and concern through the agency, as former and current officials balk at the idea of violating what has long been a red line. After weeks of discussion, Trump administration officials are finalizing a data-sharing agreement between the IRS and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, allowing immigration officials to use taxpayer databases to confirm the names and addresses of people who are in the country illegally, according to three people with knowledge of the plans. Its part of the administrations cross-agency efforts to boost Trumps mass deportations campaign. The plan may result in a short-term increase in arrests and worksite raids for the White House to tout, but former and current government officials, as well as policy experts, warn that the significant policy shift could cause long-term damage spurring a chilling effect across immigrant communities and sending undocumented immigrants who pay nearly $100 billion a year in taxes underground. It also risks overturning decades of precedent inside the nations tax collector, where personal information has long been closely protected and shared with federal law enforcement only under limited circumstances. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Weve seen that this administration is certainly pulling out all the stops and trying to use every potential lever of the government to find and deport undocumented immigrants, said Theresa Cardinal Brown, senior adviser for immigration at the Bipartisan Policy Center and a former Department of Homeland Security official under the Bush and Obama administrations. Thats their stated goal, and thats what they are doing. Pressure from the Trump administration on the tax collector to share closely guarded data with immigration officials and the broader push from Elon Musks Department of Government Efficiency for access to IRS systems has played a major role in the agencys monthslong shake-up, according to three former government officials, granted anonymity to discuss the sensitive dynamic. The IRS is now on its third leader this year, one of several signs that demands to share data with immigration officials have rattled the IRS and prompted warnings that such an agreement would undermine immigrants trust in the tax system and potentially violate privacy laws. (Trump himself has fought to keep his own tax records private.) Doug ODonnell, who had worked at the agency for close to four decades, retired at the end of February after barely a month as acting chief. ODonnell had replaced Danny Werfel, the IRS commissioner confirmed under former President Joe Biden who resigned less than halfway through his five-year term after Trump in a break from recent precedent nominated a successor, former GOP Rep. Billy Long. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Melanie Krause, who had been the IRSs chief operating officer, replaced ODonnell and was immediately more receptive to requests from DOGE and the Trump administration to share tax data, according to court filings and two people familiar with the situation. A couple of weeks after Krauses elevation, the Trump administration also pushed aside the IRSs acting chief counsel, William Paul, another agency veteran, amid the drive for greater information sharing. If the IRS is willing to do this, its because of the change of leadership, said Nina Olson, who served for almost two decades as the national taxpayer advocate, an in-house IRS watchdog. Its unprecedented. Congress has enacted some exceptions to the requirement that taxpayer information remain confidential, including for help in criminal investigations. But IRS data to help find immigrants in the country illegally would be a sea change for the agency, which has fiercely guarded taxpayer privacy since former President Richard Nixon used the tax collector to target his enemies, according to experts. The Department of Homeland Security and the IRS had no comment. Border czar Tom Homan told reporters at the White House on Tuesday that he hopes the IRS will share this data to protect Americans and their identities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An ICE official, granted anonymity to discuss the policy planning, said the data would likely improve efficiency by helping ICE confirm addresses, streamlining time-consuming work that agents often have to do manually. The emerging data-sharing agreement between the IRS and immigration authorities is narrower than previously discussed, with the tax agency open to confirming a taxpayers address upon request but not handing the information over on its own, according to The Washington Post. ICEs access to the data would be limited to immigrants with final removal orders, and requests could only be submitted by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem or ICE Director Todd Lyons, though a DHS official, granted anonymity to discuss the policy, said the requests aspect of the agreement can be delegated. There is urgency to finalize the agreement, the official added. The blueprint would almost certainly face a court challenge, according to experts. A federal District Court judge has already brushed aside a lawsuit from two immigrants rights groups seeking to keep the IRS from sharing confidential tax information, finding that the groups had not established that undocumented immigrants are facing imminent injury. But that may no longer be the case once the two agencies sign an agreement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And Democrats and immigration advocates warn that mere discussions of the IRS aiding immigration enforcement could push immigrants further into hiding, no matter how narrow the agreement. Immigrants also file tax returns as a way to demonstrate good moral character when they apply for naturalization, Brown noted, predicting a potential chilling effect if filing these forms becomes grounds for deportation. The IRS has gone out of its way over the years to urge undocumented workers to file and pay taxes, offering special identification numbers to legal and non-legal residents without a Social Security number issuing around 26 million of those individual taxpayer identification numbers between 1996 and 2022, according to Treasurys inspector general for tax administration. Undocumented immigrants paid $96.7 billion in federal, state and local taxes in 2022, according to the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy. Theyre putting forward policies that will discourage people who are currently paying taxes and playing by the rules to go underground, said Angela Kelley, who worked in the Biden administrations Department of Homeland Security. People who are paying taxes are a far cry from violent criminals, so this really does fly in the face of common sense of what you would want good government to do. Robin McKinney, the co-founder of the CASH Campaign of Maryland, which offers tax and economic assistance to lower-income families, said it has been difficult to advise undocumented clients on how to proceed with their tax returns this year, because there hasnt been a clear picture of how the IRS might team up with immigration authorities. The group will try to be upfront about any extra risks that might come with filing, McKinney said, but weighing the dangers will be difficult for the taxpayers given the fluidity of the situation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement IRS officials during the George W. Bush administration discussed a similar proposal as they sought a broad overhaul of immigration laws, said Mark Everson, who was IRS commissioner under Bush. Everson had been a senior official in the precursor to ICE in the Reagan administration and helped set up the Department of Homeland Security while working in the White House budget office under Bush, and even now, hes advocated for stronger interior enforcement of immigration laws. But Everson said that he and other officials believed that using IRS data to help in that effort was a bad trade in the long run. While it may result in a burst of arrests at the beginning, he argued, those benefits would eventually be outweighed by a longer-term decline in tax compliance from immigrant communities, and perhaps others who depend on keeping their information filed with the IRS private. The tax system has taken the attitude for decades that you want everybody to pay their taxes, whether theyre here legally or not, Everson said. Its important that taxpayers have confidence that their information is protected. It has become a familiar refrain: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says that he is changing the face of the Middle East. It is, he says, a war of rebirth. It is, in a sense, undoubtedly true. Israel has troops in Lebanon, Syria and Gaza. Its vowed to demilitarize huge swaths of all three backed by an unquestioning ally in the White House. The war in Gaza, which Israel restarted earlier this month, looks increasingly like it will lead to occupation for months or even years to come. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Netanyahu is a master tactician, not a master strategist, former Israeli national security officials tell CNN. He has seized opportunities to claw himself back from being in charge during the worst attack on Jews since the Holocaust to unimaginable heights of power, at least in Israel. To cement his legacy, however, and for a grand strategy to materialize, the country and its national security leaders will need to overcome some fundamental and maybe intractable contradictions. We didnt start the war on October 7, Ophir Falk, a top foreign policy adviser to Netanyahu, told CNN. But were going to win it. Gaza looms large The most difficult problem is also the most obvious: Gaza. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Netanyahu wants total victory over Hamas, a goal a top military official derided as sloganeering, or throwing sand in the eyes of the public. The prime minister has never been willing to say what, when the war is over, Gaza should look like, only what it should not be that is, governed by either Hamas or the Palestinian Authority. The big problem is with the government itself, Israel Ziv, a retired Israeli general who once headed the militarys operations department, told CNN. They are not fully committed to those goals (in Gaza). And now its not even clear not to the army, and not to the public what the government really wants. Netanyahus indecision was rewarded when US President Donald Trump proposed that all Palestinians leave Gaza. It is, Netanyahu said, the only plan that I think can work to enable a different future for the people of Gaza, for the people of Israel, for the surrounding areas. Palestinians flee Rafah in southern Gaza as the Israeli military once again expanded its ground operation there, on March 23. - Abdel Kareem Hana/AP His extremist right-wing coalition partners could hardly believe their luck. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich celebrated: Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023 would culminate in Palestinians losing their land forever, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Though the cabinet has created an agency to facilitate those who want to voluntarily leave Gaza, its unclear whether the prime minister sees ethnic cleansing thats almost certainly what it would be as a realistic or desirable goal. Its nonsense dont take it seriously, Nitzan Nuriel, former director of the Counter-Terrorism Bureau in the Prime Ministers Office, told CNN. Its nothing more than a message to Israeli extremists and Trump, Nuriel said. But having decided to abandon the ceasefire framework that saw Hamas release 38 hostages earlier this year, Israel went back to maximum pressure: From now on, negotiations will only take place under fire, Netanyahu said. Palestinians in Jabalya, northern Gaza, after Israel ended a two-month ceasefire. - Bashar Taleb/AFP/Getty Images Israels defense minister has ordered the military to push forward in Gaza for a permanent maintenance of the territory. Seemingly every day, the military orders more Palestinians to once again leave their shelters and evacuate. Netanyahu told Israels parliament Wednesday that the operation includes taking territory, and it includes other things that I will not detail here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If it doesnt lead to renewed negotiations, then that would be very bad, Eyal Hulata, former head of Israels National Security Council, told CNN. What we will see is a permanent presence of the IDF fighting the counterinsurgency on the ground. The most probable outcome, Nuriel said, is a prolonged occupation of Gaza and the appointment of an Israeli military governor to run its daily affairs with the hope that pragmatic Gulf states will pick up the bill. Is this a good idea? I dont think so, he said. But politically, as far as I understand it, this is one of the governments options. So we will see an offensive for four, five months. At the end of it, we will control all of that land. And at the end of it we will start to manage that piece of land, as we did at the end of the 67 war when Israel first seized control of Gaza from Egypt. Israeli soldiers on a tank in southern Israel look out over Gaza. - Amir Levy/Getty Images The unknowns Gaza also brings with it issues that are rarely discussed in Israel, but which loom large nonetheless. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Netanyahu remains under indictment for alleged war crimes at the International Criminal Court. The Israeli government itself stands accused of genocide against the Palestinian people in Gaza. (Both vehemently deny the charges.) There is not a single person in Gaza whose life has not been touched by war. More than 95% have been forced from their homes. Israel has for weeks now blocked all humanitarian aid from entering the strip, and starvation looms. The government is seeking to destroy the UN agency that provides schooling, medical coverage and employment for millions of Palestinians accusing UNRWA of failing to weed out extremists in its ranks. Though Gazans have begun to express more public anger at Hamas, their views towards Israel will have been almost unimaginably hardened over the course of the war. Then-US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said earlier this year that Hamas had recruited more militants than it had lost. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Just as many Palestinians see Hamas October 7 attack heinous as they may find it as a direct result of 60 years of Israeli occupation, so too may these maximalist policies have unknowable and potentially devastating consequences for Israel. Saudi normalization Occupying Gaza also stands between Netanyahu and a key legacy project: normalizing diplomatic relations with Saudi Arabia. The problem is that the key for this achievement is ending the war in Gaza, Amos Yadlin, former head of Israeli military intelligence and former defense attache in Washington, told CNN. The Saudis will not come if Israel continues the war in Gaza. Saudi officials have been explicit on the matter. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has called the war in Gaza a genocide. The countrys foreign minister told CNN last year that normalization was off the table until we have a resolution to Palestinian statehood. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Israeli policymakers think the Saudis are posturing. I dont really think that thats on top of their agenda, an Israeli official told CNN. And its not going to happen, they said of a Palestinian state. Theres no other issue on which theres such consensus in Israel. Its simply not going to happen. A forceful regional response Israels response to the Hamas attack has also brought a more aggressive military posture in Lebanon, Syria and the West Bank all under pressure from key government ministers who bring a radical, Jewish nationalist ideology previously unseen in the countrys halls of power. What it seems like (Netanyahu) has in mind is to use the chaos in a way that would allow him to make the political gains, which he needs, a former senior official told CNN. This is not strategic. This is tactical politics. But this is what he is. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Israel now has a handful of military outposts in southern Lebanon, near the border. It has shown it is willing to regularly strike Hezbollah in a region of Lebanon from which, according to a 2006 UN Security Council resolution, they should be withdrawn. Israels year-long shooting war with Hezbollah followed by a devastating bombing campaign and ground invasion came in response to Hezbollah attacking Israel in solidarity with Hamas, on October 8, 2023. A Lebanese soldier overlooks the border wall with Israel, with a newly installed Israeli military outpost in the distance on February 18. - Mahmoud Zayat/AFP/Getty Images In Syria too, Israel seized upon the fall of the dictator Bashar al-Assad to launch nationwide strikes on military infrastructure, and to occupy the strategic Mount Hermon and a previously demilitarized buffer zone. While Netanyahu claims that Assads fall was a direct result of Israeli actions against his ally Hezbollah in neighboring Lebanon, Nuriel said: It was obviously not because of us. We responded to something that happened. If you ask me if there is any strategic plan by the prime minister, my answer is no. And yet, those series of tactical decisions add up to a common theme in Syria, Lebanon and Gaza, Nuriel said. Israeli security officials, he explained, are building similar lines of defense in all these places: The borderline, fully secured by the IDF. Then a buffer zone, which nobody will be able to enter. And then another area without any ammunition. A residential building in Damascus, Syria, following an Israeli airstrike on March 13. - Rami Alsayed/NurPhoto/Getty Images The most uncertain zone of Israeli expansionism is in the West Bank, which Israel has occupied since 1967. Israel already has at least 150 official settlements there, and the number of outposts that are illegal even under Israeli law has skyrocketed since October 7. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The nationalist extremists in government would love for Israel to annex the West Bank, or at least the large swaths where Jews live, outside the major Palestinian cities that is, to formally bring it under Israeli law and jurisdiction. Trump during his first term broke with the rest of the Western world in recognizing Israels annexation of the Golan Heights, which it seized from Syria in 1967. With his return to the White House, many see some form of Israeli annexation in the West Bank as almost inevitable. Trumps pick for ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, has said he believes Israel has the title deed to the West Bank, which he refers to as Judea and Samaria, the biblical name used by some Israelis. (In his confirmation hearing, he told senators that he would defer to the president on annexation.) An Israeli tank enters the Jenin Refugee Camp in the occupied West Bank on February 23. - Jaafar Ashtiyeh/AFP/Getty Images Iran That leaves the biggest unanswered question of them all: Iran. That nation is, for Netanyahu, the longest-standing bogeyman. Time and again, he casts the government in Tehran as the head of an octopus whose tentacles reach all the front lines on which Israel is fighting. As Israel defends itself against Iran in this seven-front war, the lines separating the blessing and the curse could not be more clear, he told the UN General Assembly last year. (There is no evidence to suggest Iran directed Hamas attack on October 7, let alone knew about it in advance.) In this he has much in common with Trump, for whom preventing Iran from attaining a nuclear weapon is a key goal. Where they diverge is how to get there. The Israeli national security sphere is awash with talk that Netanyahu is trying to get Trump on board with a preemptive strike to take out Irans nuclear facilities as when Israel destroyed an Iraqi nuclear reactor in 1981. Again and again, he insists that pressure, pressure, and more pressure is the only acceptable response to Irans nuclear ambitions hoping that a revolution will upend the regime there. Trump, on the other hand, has clearly expressed a desire for some sort of deal with Iran despite his derision for the agreement reached by Barack Obama in 2015. President Trump made it clear to Ayatollah Khamenei that he wanted to resolve the dispute over Irans nuclear program diplomatically and very soon and if this was not possible, there would be other ways to resolve the dispute, a spokesman for the US National Security Council, Brian Hughes, told CNN earlier this month. An Israeli official denied that there was any disagreement between the two leaders. I dont see the daylight, the Israeli official told CNN. Both leaders have expressed explicitly that they will not tolerate a nuclear Iran, and the clock is ticking. CNNs Alayna Treene contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Israel's military on Monday ordered residents of Rafah and nearby villages in southern Gaza to evacuate immediately, citing plans to resume operations "with great force" against militant groups in the area. A map published with the announcement shows that most of Rafah is affected by the order. Residents were told to go to al-Mawasi, a sprawling and squalid series of encampments along Gaza's south-west Mediterranean coast. Al-Mawasi was previously designated a "safe zone," although Israeli forces have conducted strikes there to target what they describe as Hamas facilities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Following a ceasefire that took effect on January 19, many internally displaced Gazans returned to their homes, or what was left of them. However, after negotiations to extend the truce collapsed in mid-March, Israel resumed large-scale attacks. Since then, Israeli ground forces have launched operations against Hamas in Rafah, expanding the offensive to a second district on Saturday. The military has stated that the offensive also aims to establish a buffer zone along Gaza's borders. JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich resigned from his post as minister on Monday in a letter to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. A spokesperson for Smotrich said the move was a protest against nationalist-religious Jewish Power party head Itamar Ben Gvir's request for more ministerial positions upon Ben Gvir's return to the government. The resignation is not likely to collapse Netanyahu's coalition. The government passed its 2025 budget in Israel's parliament last week. (Reporting by Emily Rose; Editing by Leslie Adler) DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) Palestinians held funerals Monday for 15 medics and emergency responders killed by Israeli troops in southern Gaza, after their bodies and mangled ambulances were found buried in an impromptu mass grave, apparently plowed over by Israeli military bulldozers. The Palestinian Red Crescent says the slain workers and their vehicles were clearly marked as medical and humanitarian personnel and accused Israeli troops of killing them in cold blood. The Israeli military says its troops opened fire on vehicles that approached them suspiciously without identification. The dead included eight Red Crescent workers, six members of Gazas Civil Defense emergency unit and a staffer from UNRWA, the U.N.s agency for Palestinians. The International Red Cross/Red Crescent said it was the deadliest attack on its personnel in eight years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since the war in Gaza began 18 months ago, Israel has killed more than 100 Civil Defense workers and more than 1,000 health workers, according to the U.N. Here is what we know about what happened. Missing for days The emergency teams had been missing since March 23, when they went at around noon to retrieve casualties after Israeli forces launched an offensive into the Tel al-Sultan district of the southern city of Rafah. The military had called for an evacuation of the area earlier that day, saying Hamas militants were operating there. Alerts by the Civil Defense at the time said displaced Palestinians sheltering in the area had been hit and a team that went to rescue them was surrounded by Israeli troops. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The available information indicates that the first team was killed by Israeli forces on 23 March, the U.N. said in a statement Sunday night. Further emergency teams that went to rescue the first team were struck one after another over several hours, it said. All the teams went out during daylight hours, according to the Civil Defense. The Israeli military said Sunday that on March 23, troops opened fire on vehicles that were advancing suspiciously toward them without emergency signals. It said an initial assessment determined that the troops killed a Hamas operative named Mohammed Amin Shobaki and eight other militants. Israel has struck ambulances and other emergency vehicles in the past, accusing Hamas militants of using them for transportation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, none of the dead staffers from the Red Crescent and Civil Defense had that name, and no other bodies were reported found at the site, raising questions over the militarys suggestion that alleged militants were among the rescue workers. The military did not immediately respond to requests for the names of the other alleged militants killed or for comment on how the emergency workers came to be buried. The United Nations on Monday demanded justice and answers for the Israeli killings of emergency responders. U.N. humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher made the demands saying: They were killed by Israeli forces while trying to save lives. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After a ceasefire that lasted roughly two months, Israel relaunched its military campaign in Gaza on March 18. Since then, bombardment and new ground assaults that have killed more than 1,000 Palestinians, according to Gazas Health Ministry. The ministrys count does not distinguish between militants and civilians, but it says over half those killed are women and children. Aid workers say ambulance teams and humanitarian staff have come under fire in the renewed assault. A worker with the charity World Central Kitchen was killed Friday by an Israeli strike that hit next to a kitchen distributing free meals. A March 19 Israeli tank strike on a U.N. compound killed a staffer, the U.N. said, though Israel denies being behind the blast. Mass grave For days, Israeli forces would not allow access to the site where the emergency teams disappeared, the U.N. said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Wednesday, a U.N. convoy tried to reach the site but encountered Israeli troops opening fire on people. The convoy saw a woman who had been shot lying in the road. The dashboard video shows staff talking about retrieving the woman. Then two people are seen walking across the road. Gunfire rings out and they flee. One stumbles, apparently wounded, before he is shot and falls onto his face to the ground. The U.N. said the team retrieved the body of the woman and left. On Sunday, the U.N. said teams were able to reach the site after the Israeli military informed it where it had buried the bodies, in a barren area on the edges of Tel al-Sultan. Footage released by the U.N shows workers from PRCS and Civil Defense, wearing masks and bright orange vests, digging through hills of dirt that appeared to have been piled up by Israeli bulldozers. The footage shows them digging out multiple bodies wearing orange emergency vests. Some of the bodies are found piled on top of each other. At one point, they pull out a body in a Civil Defense vest out of the dirt, and it is revealed to be a torso with no legs. Several ambulances and a U.N. vehicle, all heavily damaged or torn apart, are also buried in the dirt. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Their bodies were gathered and buried in this mass grave, said Jonathan Whittall, with the U.N. humanitarian office OCHA, speaking at the site in the video. Were digging them out in their uniforms, with their gloves on. They were here to save lives. Its absolute horror what has happened here, he said. Funerals A giant crowd gathered on Monday outside the morgue of Nasser Hospital in the southern city of Khan Younis as the bodies of the eight slain PRCS workers were brought out for funerals. Their bodies were laid out on stretchers wrapped in white cloth with the Red Crescent logo on it and their photos, as family and others held funeral prayers over them. Funerals for the seven others followed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They were killed in cold blood by the Israeli occupation, despite the clear nature of their humanitarian mission, Raed al-Nimis, the Red Crescent spokesperson in Gaza, told the AP. Israeli troops have killed at least 30 Red Crescent medics over the course of the war. Among them were two killed in February 2024 when they tried to rescue Hind Rajab, a 5-year-old girl who was killed along with six other relatives when they were trapped in their car under Israeli fire in northern Gaza. From Geneva, the head of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, Jagan Chapagain, said the staffer killed last week wore emblems that should have protected them; their ambulances were clearly marked. All humanitarians must be protected, he said. ___ Keath and Khaled reported from Cairo KAMPALA, March 31 (Xinhua) -- Uganda has received an additional 100,000 doses of the mpox vaccine from the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) to support the next phase of its prevention campaign, said a senior health official on Monday. Henry Kyobe Bosa, incident commander at the Ministry of Health, told Xinhua via telephone that the vaccines will be distributed to areas with the highest transmission rates of the mpox virus, with young adults aged 25 to 35 being prioritized in the next round of vaccination. According to the Ministry of Health, the upcoming phase of the vaccination campaign will focus on high-risk areas in the capital of Kampala, including Rubaga, Nakawa, and Central divisions. The campaign will also cover key districts in central Uganda such as Mukono, Wakiso, Buvuma, Nakasongola, and Masaka, as well as the western districts of Mbarara and Hoima. Uganda launched its first round of mpox vaccination campaign in February, targeting high-risk populations, including individuals engaged in commercial sex work, bar attendants, commuter taxi drivers, commercial motorcyclists, and roadside vendors in the Kawempe and Makindye divisions of Kampala. During this initial phase, the country vaccinated 10,000 individuals in the most affected districts, according to the Ministry of Health. Uganda confirmed the outbreak of mpox last August and has since recorded 4,810 laboratory-confirmed cases and 37 deaths. Most of the deceased had underlying health conditions, such as HIV/AIDS, malnutrition and diabetes. Last week, the World Health Organization warned that Uganda currently 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. In response, Ugandan health authorities have intensified surveillance, case management, and public awareness efforts to curb the spread of 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. Italys Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who has publicly expressed support for Donald Trump, actually harbours serious concerns about the behaviour of the US president, Bloomberg sources report. Source: Bloomberg, as reported by European Pravda Details: Meloni and her team are deeply concerned about Trump's behaviour, According to Italian officials who spoke on condition of anonymity. She avoids public criticism of the US president, and everything she says about trade or promoting peace in Ukraine is carefully designed to avoid antagonising the White House. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nonetheless, Italian automakers such as Stellantis will be affected by US tariffs, and supercar producer Ferrari has announced price increases for select models in the US. Meloni positions herself as a key player both in the EU and in relations with the US. Hosting last years G7 summit demonstrated her ability to bridge political divides in an era of increasing fragmentation, as leaders from various countries sought to engage with her. Meloni had hoped that engaging with Donald Trump would strengthen her position at the heart of European politics. She was the only EU leader to attend Trumps inauguration in January. She also met with the president at Mar-a-Lago, maintained close ties with Elon Musk, and stated that she expects a visit to the White House. After nearly two and a half years in office, her coalition is facing its most serious public criticism. The EUs demand for concrete commitments on defence spending and support for Ukraine has highlighted the financial constraints that have long plagued Italian leaders. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, the rift in transatlantic relations means that instead of building bridges, Meloni will likely have to take a side. She insists this is not the case. However, sticking to her course threatens to diminish her international influence, creating pressure on her government, Bloomberg says. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! MILAN (Reuters) -Italian prosecutors have opened an investigation into possible espionage and terrorism after a drone flew several times over an EU research centre in northwestern Italy, two sources with direct knowledge of the matter said on Monday. The European Joint Research Centre (JRC) in the town of Ispra, on Lake Maggiore, reported five flyovers in March by a commercial drone, which was believed to be of Russian manufacture judging from the images, the sources said. Flights over the JRC, which opened in 1960 as a nuclear research site, are not allowed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As a result, the anti-terrorism department of the Milan public prosecutor's office has opened an investigation into military or political espionage for terrorist purposes, the source added. Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto wrote on X that allegations of possible military or industrial espionage were very serious and fitted a pattern he had previously flagged. "A hybrid war is underway. It is as dangerous as it is hidden, constant and suffocating ... involving a mix of targeted cyberattacks .. (including the) theft of military and industrial technologies and patents, along with many other hostile acts, perpetrated by multiple state and non-state actors," he said. He did not name any country. NATO powers have accused Russia of launching hybrid attacks on the West using hacking, sabotage, espionage and other tactics. Russia has denied such accusations, saying the West is stoking anti-Russian feeling. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The JRC website says the Ispra centre is the European Commission's third largest research campus after those in Brussels and Luxembourg, dealing with numerous issues, including nuclear security, space, sustainable resources, migration and transport. "The Commission is committed to protecting its information, staff and networks in the face of any possible security threat," an EU Commission spokesperson said in a text message to Reuters. The spokesperson added that in relation to this specific case "we have not observed any violation by drones of the no-fly zone above the Commission Ispra site, nor are we aware of any related specific security threat". However, the two sources with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters that the Ispra centre itself had reported the violations of its airspace to the authorities. (Reporting by Emilio Parodi, additional reporting Giulia Segreti, editing by Crispian Balmer, Ros Russell and Andrew Heavens) ROME (Reuters) -Italy is pressing ahead with a plan to set up its own low-orbit satellite constellation, a source close to the matter told Reuters on Monday. The dual use constellation - for civil and military uses - will be made up of over 100 satellites, which will be interoperable with all other existing constellations, the source said. "The idea is for the constellation to work together with others, not necessarily on its own," the person said, adding that the constellation isn't likely to be ready earlier than 2031. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Italy's space agency presented the government with a preliminary feasibility study for the project in early March, well ahead of the summer deadline it had initially set. It is now moving forward with a so-called phase 2, entailing talks with companies including state-controlled defence and aerospace group Leonardo, which will be involved in manufacturing and setting up the constellation. Leonardo was not immediately available for comment. (reporting by Giulia Segreti, editing by Gavin Jones) Italian Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini voiced his support for Marine Le Pen, calling the conviction of the French nationalist politician a "declaration of war." Salvini, chairman of the right-wing League party, said the Paris court was trying to remove the far-right icon from French political life with its sentence, which barred her from running for office. He drew comparisons to court rulings in countries like Romania, adding, "We will not be intimidated, we will not stop: full speed ahead, my friend!" Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Le Pen was found guilty on Monday of embezzling EU funds through the fraudulent employment of staff in the European Parliament. She was sentenced to four years in prison, two of them suspended and the other two with an electronic tag rather than in custody, derailing her plans to run in the 2027 presidential election. Jacksonville Sheriffs Office said a man with stab wounds led officers to a gruesome scene early Sunday which ultimately lead to his arrest on a charge of murder, a JSO Facebook post states. JSO was called to the 8000 block of Arlington Expressway at 3:20 a.m. for a report of a person stabbed. Officers arrived and found Carlos Aldana, 38. He had stab wounds to his left hand and shin, police said. >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Aldana was taken to a hospital and treated for his wounds. A trail of blood led officers from where Aldana was found to a crime scene in an apartment unit, JSOs Facebook post states. Once inside, officers found 30-year-old Yannelis De La Caridad Casales Anton with multiple stab wounds. She died at the scene. Detectives determined the incident is domestic in nature, police said. Aldana was transferred from the hospital to the Duval County jail where he is behind bars charged with murder, police said. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] Read: Man charged with arson after lighting bookbags on fire in Brunswick Academy Sports, police said Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read: Jacksonville police shoot, kill man accused of punching pregnant girlfriend in the stomach Read: 1 dead, one injured after fatal stabbing in Arlington area [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. Jeffrey Epstein's accuser, Virginia Giuffre, claims she is suffering from kidney renal failure and now has just a few days left to live. In her lengthy post, Virginia Giuffre stated that her ailment began after she suffered injuries when a bus crashed into her vehicle. Virginia Giuffre Is Suffering From Renal Failure MEGA Taking to social media, Giuffre shockingly revealed that she has only a few days to live as her health continues to deteriorate following an accident. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "This year has been the worst start to a new year," said the 41-year-old woman who once accused the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein of trafficking her. She continued, "I won't bore anyone with the details but I think it important to note that when a school bus driver comes at you driving [60 mph] as we were slowing for a turn that no matter what your car is made of it might as well be a tin can." Giuffre went on to attribute her alleged impending demise to kidney renal failure, a condition in which one or both kidneys no longer function properly. "I've gone into kidney renal failure, they've given me four days to live, transferring me to a specialist hospital in urology," she added. Jeffrey Epstein's Accuser Says She Is 'Ready To Go' Instagram | Virginia Giuffre Speaking further about her situation, Giuffre told the world that she is ready to die but wants to see her children. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I'm ready to go, just not until I see my babies one last time, but you know what they say about wishes. SH-T in one hand and wish in the other & I guarantee it's still going to be sh-t at the end of the day," she added to her post, which included a photograph of herself with a visible head injury. "Thank you all for being the wonderful people of the world and for being a great part of my life." The Victims Refuse Silence founder shares three childrentwo sons and one daughterwith her husband, Robert, whom she got married to in 2022. The two are reportedly now separated, although it remains unclear when the split happened and if Robert has full custody of the kids. Social Media Users React To Virginia Giuffre's Emotional Post Several social media users filled the comment section of the post with prayers for the mother of three. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "What you did for all the victims of sexual abuse and human trafficking will always be remembered. Thank you for speaking up, wishing you recovery and many more years to live," one wrote. "So so sorry to hear this. Sending you all the healthiest vibes in the world. I had acute kidney failure 20 years ago, and I'm still here. Hold your babies tight when you see them," a second user commented. "Don't give up, Virginia! Thank you for your voice," another individual remarked. One more person said, "Thank you for your fight Virginia. The world would be a lot darker place without your tenacity and commitment to the truth. We hope the best for you in this, but if it's truly your time, you will be remembered as a hero." Virginia Giuffre Was Sex Trafficked By Jeffrey Epstein MEGA Giuffre first made headlines when she revealed that she was a victim of sex trafficking by the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since then, she has been involved in a number of lawsuits against Epstein's estate and Ghislaine Maxwell, who is known to have been his right-hand woman. Giuffre also accused Prince Andrew of being one of the individuals she was sex trafficked to by Epstein. More On Her Alleged Relationship With The Duke Of York MEGA The Epstein documents, released in January 2024, shed more light on the Duke of York Prince Andrew's relationship with Giuffre, whom he allegedly sexually assaulted when she was just 17 years old. According to a deposition in the court docs, Guiffre claimed that Epstein paid her $15,000 to have sex with Prince Andrew. "I did receive $15,000. I do not know the equivalent to what that is in pounds," Guiffre said under oath, per the Daily Mail, adding that she did not pay tax on the money she received. In a different case in 2021, Guiffre accused Prince Andrew of "sexual assault and intentional infliction of emotional distress." The case was settled out of court for a reported $14 million without the Duke of York admitting liability. A Jewish TikTok creator says shes been bombarded with anti-Semitic hate and accused of participating in a smear campaign against Blake Lively. She claims this started after Blake Livelys legal team cited her social media post in the actresss high-profile lawsuit against "It Ends With Us" co-star Justin Baldoni. Jewish TikTok Creator Speaks Out After Blake Lively Lawsuit Fallout Triggers Online Hate And Job Rejections Lisa OConnor/AFF-USA.com / MEGA Nikki Lieberman, 26, who posts under the username ThickJewishGirl, spoke to Daily Mail detailing the unexpected backlash she's endured since her name appeared in court filings for Livelys defamation and sexual harassment complaint. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lieberman originally posted a TikTok video last August criticizing Blake Lively for remaining silent on domestic violence while promoting the Colleen Hoover adaptation, a film that tackles abuse through the lens of its lead character Lily Blooms relationship. I am flabbergasted that, with the huge audience that Blake Lively has and all of the press interviews that she's had, she doesn't once talk about domestic violence, Lieberman said in the now-viral clip. TikToker Speaks Out After Being Named In Blake Lively Lawsuit FZS / MEGA Months later, her video was referenced in Livelys legal complaint as alleged evidence of a targeted effort, by Baldoni and his team at Wayfarer Studios, to harm her reputation. Lieberman said she only learned about the inclusion after journalists began contacting her. She was stunned to discover that Blake Livelys legal team alleged Baldoni had circulated her video within the production company, insinuating she was either a willing participant or a useful pawn in an orchestrated smear. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I dont know what she went through and I dont know what he went through, Lieberman said. But Im just a random girl with an opinion. Lively, Baldoni Lawsuit Fallout Sparks Wave Of Hate Jaxon / MEGA As the lawsuit made headlines, the vitriol came fast. Lieberman says she was falsely accused of being paid to trash Blake Lively, attacked with misogynistic and anti-Semitic slurs, and even blamed for undermining women who speak out. You're the reason people don't believe women, one user wrote. Others went further, calling for another Holocaust and questioning her motives by referencing Baldonis Jewish heritage. Hes Jewish and your Jewish doesnt take a rocket scientist, one commenter claimed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lieberman deleted many of the most hateful remarks, but not before documenting them. The fallout spilled into her professional life. After being laid off from a tech job in October (for unrelated reasons), Lieberman says she was rejected by two potential employers who Googled her, and didnt like what they saw. They told me, We dont need the drama. Its not a great look, she said. She Shared Her Truth On TikTok, Then The Hate Rolled In The TikTok video at the heart of the storm followed Liebermans attendance at an "It Ends With Us" screening in Highland Park, Illinois, where Baldoni appeared and discussed the films heavy subject matter with care and intention. Lieberman praised his words and performance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The way he talked about the movie and domestic violence was just beautiful to me, she recalled. While her post applauded Baldoni for raising awareness, Lieberman criticized Blake Lively for what she saw as a missed opportunity to speak out on domestic abuse. She said she hadnt planned for the video to become a flashpoint in a legal war, especially not one that painted her as a willing participant. Lieberman says she never had any ties to the production or Baldoni, aside from being moved by what she saw at the premiere. Her TikTok channel, where shes shared deeply personal stories about body image and self-doubt, had never waded into Hollywood controversy, until now. TikTok Creator At Center Of Lively Lawsuit Turns Hate Into Empowerment Xavier Collin/Image Press Agency / MEGA The unwanted attention, she says, has ironically grown her platform. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its given me the opportunity to use my platform in a way that Blake could have, but never did, to create a community of women who are empowering each other, and to turn a negative experience into something that's actually positive. Shes since found new employment and remains resolute in standing her ground. I think they thought I was just a small figure in Chicago who wouldn't stand up for herself when falsely accused, she said. But here I am: Dont mess with ThickJewishGirl. John Dean, former White House counsel for the Nixon administration, weighed in on President Trump contemplating a third term, saying the president likes constitutional end runs. Dean during an appearance on CNN highlighted Trumps remarks in which the president said he was not joking about a possible third term. Trump ally Steve Bannon has endorsed the president for a 2028 run. Trump likes constitutional end runs, Dean said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thats what Bannon was talking about, and thats what seems to be on his mind, is how he can get around the very clear language of the 22nd Amendment, which precludes getting reelected to more than two terms. During a Sunday interview with Trump, NBC Newss Kristen Welker said it didnt sound like the president was joking about another term. No, no, Im not joking, Trump replied. The president is constitutionally restricted to two terms, but when asked about how he would run again, Trump said there are methods. Welker also asked if it was possible that Vice President Vance ran at the top of the GOP ticket with Trump as his running mate, and then left office so Trump would become president through succession. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump said that was one option, but there are others. Dean noted it would redefine the Constitution if Trump were to attempt another term and highlighted Welkers succession theory. This is really obtuse, he said, adding, Its been debated for a lot of years. He added that former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and her husband, former President Clinton, in addition to former President Obama, examined the same issue. A lot of people thought Obama should go for another term. He didnt. He read the Constitution and said, No, Im not for end runs, Dean 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. JERUSALEM, March 31 (Xinhua) -- Israeli police arrested two suspects on Monday in an investigation known as "Qatargate," which examines alleged business ties between associates of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Qatari government, state broadcaster Kan TV News reported. The detained individuals were identified as Yonatan Urich, a senior adviser to Netanyahu, and Eli Feldstein, the prime minister's former military affairs spokesman, according to the report. Separately, Channel 12 News reported that Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara had instructed police to summon Netanyahu for open testimony in the case. The broadcaster said Urich and Feldstein were being investigated for alleged contact with a foreign agent, bribery, fraud, breach of trust, and money laundering. The probe focuses on suspected improper business dealings between Netanyahu's close associates and Qatar, a Gulf state that does not have formal diplomatic ties with Israel but has played a key role in mediating ceasefire talks in the Gaza Strip and negotiating hostage releases. Netanyahu and his Likud party have dismissed the investigation as a politically motivated "fake scandal." John Oliver has weighed in on the Signalgate scandal, in which members of President Donald Trumps administration accidentally added The Atlantic editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg to their Signal group chat about Yemen attack plans. On the latest episode of Last Week Tonight, Oliver said that Trump brought us another week of chaos with his teams handling of the situation, mentioning how defense secretary Pete Hegseth initially denied that the chat was about war plans and national security advisor Michael Waltz said Goldbergs contact was sucked in to his phone. However, The Atlantic then published texts from the group chat that proved otherwise. More from Variety Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The White House tried to do damage control all this week, from playing semantic games of whether they were technically war plans to hinting Goldberg somehow got himself onto the chat, something undercut by literally showing Michael Waltz, the U.S. national security adviser, adding Goldberg in, Oliver said. And by the way, all of this was in the run up to airstrikes that are estimated to have killed up to 46 civilians on one day, which should be a scandal in and of itself. The host added that it was grotesque to see the glib response in the chat afterward, noting the specific emojis that were used by officials in response to the attacks being carried out. Waltz posted fist, American flag, fire emoji while another official posted prayer hands, prayer hands, muscle, flag, flag, Oliver said. And look, those clearly arent the right emojis to send after a bombing because the right emojis are no emojis. However, Oliver continued that this is something of a motif for this administration: deeply unserious people doing deeply stupid things with massively serious consequences. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To end the segment, Oliver encouraged others to push back hard against the administrations behavior and then translated that sentiment into the language that they seem to prefer. As different emojis flashed across the screen including the middle finger, peach, heart and American flag Oliver said: Go fuck yourselves, assholes. Love, America. Best of Variety Sign up for Variety's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. What could be worse than seeing Robert F. Kennedy Jr. showering while his wife promoted her line of body creams on Instagram? Thatd be Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noems field trip on Wednesday to a maximum-security prison in El Salvador to film herself in front of Venezuelan immigrants deported and detained there from America without due process, according to John Oliver in his monologue for Last Week Tonight, calling Noems stunt inside El Salvadors Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT) a hideous victory lap. OK. The visual alone there is deeply disturbing, Oliver said. Using caged prisoners with shaved heads as a backdrop is a bold choice givenyou knowhistory. And its now the most appalling use of a front-facing video from anyone in this administration, even surpassing the time Cheryl Hines hawked body cream in front of a nude RFK Jr. showing off his wet armpits. And I do not say that lightly. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Oliver found Noems stunt especially disturbing because some of the imprisoned men had been deported on the flimsiest of charges. One Venezuelan man had sought asylum in the U.S., only to be sent to the El Salvador prison based on ICE documents riddled with mistakes, misidentifying him by both name and gender, as well as giving him multiple ID numbers. This is clearly a total mess, Oliver said. He also criticized Trumps border czar Tom Homan for suggesting on ABCs This Week that the immigrants didnt deserve due process. Thats not how the justice system works, Oliver said, referencing the Fifth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution that gives everyone in America the right to due process. Thats it! Oliver said. It doesnt then add in the small print, Unless they seem guilty by association to a man who looks like Buzz Lightyear drowned a few days ago. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Oliver said the first months of the second Trump administration have been full of incompetence, cruelty and occasional Nazi-adjacent visuals. Last weeks revelation that Trumps entire national security team invited the-in-chief of The Atlantic to follow along on Signal as they openly planned to bomb Yemen is just another example, Oliver said, of them being deeply unserious people doing deeply stupid things with massively serious consequences. Oliver concluded: The good news is, theyre facing major pushback from federal courts over their mass deportations. The bad news is, theyve already done a ton of damage. But if they think they can brush off illegally detaining and imprisoning innocent people with the same flippancy they reserve for adding the wrong person to a group chat, they should know in no uncertain terms that the rest of us will push back hard. Or to put it in the language they seem to prefer: Go (emoji of man running ) f--- (emoji of middle finger) yourselves (emoji of finger pointing back) a--holes (emoji of peach and hole), love (heart emoji) America (flag emoji). John Oliver mocked the Trump administrations major gaffe last week, wherein U.S. National Security Adviser Mike Waltz unknowingly added the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic magazine to a group text in which leaders discussed plans for an air strike in the Middle East. The Trump administration brought us yet another week of chaos, he said on Sundays Last Week Tonight. More from The Hollywood Reporter Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jeffrey Goldberg, the editor in question, posted the details on his outlets website with the headline The Trump Administration Accidentally Texted Me Its War Plans. Oliver joked that was one of the greatest headlines I read this week. The other ones? Monkeys Chase British Tourist Out of Hotel Pool in Thailand: Scariest Moment of My Life' (NDTV); This Octopuss Other Car Is a Shark (The New York Times); and Lots of Fun, Good Weather Greets Guests During Deerfields 24th Annual Testicle Festival (Daily Telegram). Meanwhile, Goldberg wrote in his story that he didnt believe the chat group was real until the time of the attack. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I waited in my car in a supermarket parking lot. I checked X [formerly Twitter] and searched Yemen and saw the explosion was being heard across Sanaa, the capital city, he wrote. Oliver noted that the air strikes killed up to 46 civilians in one day, which should be a scandal in and of itself, [but] its grotesque to see the glib response in the chat afterward. Two of the responses comprised a series of emojis (fist, American flag, fire; and prayer hands, prayer hands, muscle, flag, flag). Look, those clearly arent the right emojis to send after a bombing because the right emojis are NO emojis, he said. Best of The Hollywood Reporter Sign up for THR's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Jack Kelly of Wisconsin Watch waits with reporters outside the state Capitol for a press conference to begin in September 2023. (Wisconsin Examiner photo) Journalists at Wisconsin Watch a nonprofit news organization that includes the Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service have ratified their first union contract. The agreement, signed on Friday, March 28, includes minimum salary guarantees and annual cost-of-living increases along with layoff restrictions, severance pay and benefits as well as just cause protections against arbitrary terminations, according to the Wisconsin Watch Union. The contract also includes provisions for medical, parental, caregiver and bereavement leave. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The union is a subunit of Milwaukee NewsGuild Local 34051, which also represents newsroom employees at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Im really proud of the outcome, said Jack Kelly, a Wisconsin Watch reporter and union bargaining team member. Staffers represented by the union were active in advocating for their priorities during contract negotiations, giving personal testimony about issues important to them, he said. They put some faces and names to the numbers we were asking for, Kelly said in an interview Monday. I think the contract is going to make Wisconsin Watch and Neighborhood News Service better places to work. Kelly also commended Wisconsin Watch managements handling of the bargaining process. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We certainly had meetings that were long and stressful, but I think in general we were able to engage a collegial approach to bargaining, Kelly said. Well continue to do great journalism knowing our workplace is more structured, secure and protected, said Phoebe Petrovic, a Wisconsin Watch investigative reporter who was among those who initiated the union organizing effort, in a statement released by the union. Wisconsin Watch journalists announced their union organizing campaign in October 2023, and the organizations board subsequently agreed to voluntarily recognize the union. Protection against arbitrary firings was among the goals employees cited. Wisconsin Watch was founded in 2009 as the Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism, still its legal name. The Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service became part of Wisconsin Watch in July 2024 and its employees became part of the bargaining unit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Devin Blake, a Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service reporter who joined the bargaining team, said that in addition to tangible gains the union brought him closer to coworkers. I have such a clearer sense of what matters to their lives and work, Blake said in the unions statement. Digital news outlets and nonprofit news organizations have seen growing union representation in the last several years, with outlets including ProPublica and The Marshall Project joining the ranks of unionized newsrooms. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Norfolk Superior Court Judge Beverly Cannone on Monday issued a ruling blocking Karen Reads defense team from calling a planned expert witness to the stand during the Mansfield womans upcoming retrial. Read, 45, is accused of hitting John OKeefe, her Boston police officer, with her Lexus SUV in Canton on Jan. 29, 2022, and leaving him to die after a night of drinking. The defense has sought to portray Read as the victim, saying OKeefe was actually killed inside the Albert family home at 34 Fairview Road in Canton and then dragged outside and left for dead. She has pleaded not guilty to charges of second-degree murder, manslaughter while operating under the influence, and leaving the scene of a crash resulting in death. Reads second murder trial begins with jury selection on Tuesday, but when testimony starts, the defense wont be allowed to call a key witness to the stand. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a new court filing, Cannone said she would not allow Michael Easter, a retired FBI agent, to testify about the quality of the investigation into the death of OKeefe. Reads lawyers wanted Easter to talk about flaws and procedural issues. The court finds that expert testimony is not needed for the jury to determine whether or not the investigation was compromised by any failure to follow procedures, Cannone wrote in her ruling. Special prosecutor Hank Brennan had claimed that Easter is not qualified to give an opinion on the quality of the investigation or what he calls alleged inadequacies by police. Cannone also released a list of 150 other witnesses that the prosecution and defense could call during the retrial. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After several failed attempts to get the case thrown out, Reads retrial will kick off at 9 a.m. when the first batch of prospective jurors will be brought into Dedhams Norfolk Superior Court for questioning. Reads first trial ended with a hung jury in July 2024. Since the end of the first trial, Michael Proctor, who served as the lead investigator in the Read case, was fired from his role within the Massachusetts State Police in mid-March. Cannone recently extended the buffer zone in the area of Bates Court, Bullard Street, Ames Street, and Court Street to keep demonstrators a distance from the Dedham courthouse. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read supporters hosted standouts across the country on Sunday to bring attention to her case. Read Cannones full ruling: Karen Read March 31 Exclude Michael Easter's Opinion by Boston 25 Desk on Scribd Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW This story was originally published on Banking Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Banking Dive newsletter. A federal judge on Friday granted a preliminary injunction, halting the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau from issuing any reductions in force and requiring the agency to reinstate all probationary and term employees fired since Feb. 10. The court also forbids the agency from enforcing Acting Director Russ Voughts stop-work order, and allows CFPB employees subsequently placed on administrative leave to resume work. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The CFPB, further, must not delete, destroy, remove or impair agency data and must restore contracts terminated under Vought. The judges order also prevents the CFPB from terminating any employee except for cause related to their performance or conduct, and forces the agency to provide a workspace for employees to conduct statutorily mandated work, or allow them to work remotely. The bureau also must maintain a toll-free telephone number, website and complaint database for the Office of Consumer Response. And Vought must file a report by April 4 confirming compliance with the order particularly, an update on the status of the CFPBs Washington headquarters. Vought moved to cancel the lease on the building and had the bureaus name removed from it. The injunction stands as a massive victory for the National Treasury Employees Union, which brought the case against the CFPBs Trump-era leadership. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Today's ruling is an undeniable win-win for working people," Cat Farman, president of the union, said in a statement. "CFPB workers are eager to get back to work serving the American people and protecting their hard-earned paychecks from Wall Street greed." The CFPB did not respond to a request for comment. However, in court, attorneys representing the bureau equated a preliminary injunction with putting the agency in judicial receivership. The CFPB filed a motion to appeal the case Saturday. Judge Amy Berman Jackson of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia questioned why the NTEU didnt aim higher asking the union to tell her by Monday why it is no longer seeking to block CFPB leaders from transferring the bureaus unappropriated funding to the Federal Reserve or the Treasury Department. That was one facet of the unions case when Berman Jackson first issued a temporary restraining order in the case Feb. 14. A federal judge in Maryland this month denied the city of Baltimores request for a preliminary injunction to keep the CFPB from returning its reserve funding. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "This is precisely the sort of situation preliminary injunctions were designed to address, Berman Jackson wrote Friday in a 112-page opinion. If the defendants are not enjoined, they will eliminate the agency before the Court has the opportunity to decide whether the law permits them to do it, and as the defendants' own witness warned, the harm will be irreparable." That witness was Adam Martinez, the CFPBs chief operating officer, who submitted two declarations to the court and testified on the stand. At times, he appeared anguished by both the demise of the agency and by his being cast in the role of agency spokesman, Berman Jackson wrote. There were multiple painful pauses when you could see the battle between his conflicting loyalties to his new employers and to the truth playing out on his face. He had the demeanor of an abused wife brought to court by her husband to drop the charges, she wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Berman Jackson found some of the defenses narratives less than believable. She took issue with an apparent tonal shift by the CFPBs chief legal officer, Mark Paoletta, who wrote in a March 2 memo: It has come to my attention that some employees have not been performing statutorily required work. Let me be clear: Employees should be performing work that is required by law and do not need to seek prior approval to do so. Berman Jackson noted the timing of the memo a Sunday afternoon and the day before a hearing at which the judges temporary restraining order was set to expire. Paoletta insults the readers intelligence when he feigns surprise that few employees were working, Berman Jackson wrote. The defendants eleventh-hour attempt to suggest immediately before the hearing that the stop-work order was not really a stop-work order at all was so disingenuous that the Court is left with little confidence that the defense can be trusted to tell the truth about anything. Berman Jackson appeared to indicate she showed the CFPB the benefit of the doubt. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It may be that defendants decided to authorize the resumption of some work and the reactivation of some contracts in light of a belated, but genuine recognition that there were certain duties that had to be performed to comply with the law while the agency was still open, she wrote. The material in the record and the chronology suggest, though, that the change of heart was more likely a charade for the Courts benefit. Berman Jacksons order Friday began by quoting billionaire Elon Musks infamous tombstone emoji social-media post, referring to the Department of Government Efficiencys Feb. 6 incursion of the bureau. Notably, the judge named DOGE among entities enjoined by her order because the organization has been in active concert or participation with CFPB leaders plan to put the agency in wind-down mode. Now it appears the injunction may outlast Voughts tenure with the bureau. The Senate seems on track to confirm former Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. board member Jonathan McKernan to lead the CFPB by the end of April. McKernan, though, assured senators during his nomination hearing that he intended to right-size the agency. Workforce reductions at the CFPB have been on hold since Berman Jackson issued a temporary restraining order Feb. 14. CFPB leaders, according to testimony, raced that day to enact a mass firing that would have cut the bureau by 1,175 employees. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Berman Jackson noted Friday that CFPB leadership continued to plan for the reduction in force even after the Feb. 14 order as if nothing had changed. The Court cannot look away or the CFPB will be dissolved and dismantled completely in approximately thirty days, well before this lawsuit has come to its conclusion, the judge wrote Friday. Recommended Reading Mar. 31A judge has cleared the way for the Portland Museum of Art to demolish a 19th-century building on Free Street. Greater Portland Landmarks filed a lawsuit last year to save the building at 142 Free St. The art museum wants to raze it to make way for a sweeping glass-and-timber expansion on that site. The parties met for oral arguments in the case in March. On Friday, Superior Court Justice Deborah Cashman ruled in the museum's favor. The Portland Museum of Art touted the order in a written statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The Portland Museum of Art's campus expansion is an exciting and forward-looking plan that will create much-needed space for our growing collection while inspiring creativity and innovation in Maine," said Erik Hayward, president of the museum's board of trustees. "With the Cumberland County Superior Court's decision affirming the City Council's designation change, we're ready to move ahead." Kate Lemos McHale, executive director of Greater Portland Landmarks, said on Monday morning that she was still reviewing the decision. The timeline for the project is still unclear. A city spokesperson said the museum has not yet requested a demolition permit or submitted plans for the new construction for approval. View this document on Scribd Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The building at 142 Free St. was considered a "contributing" structure to the surrounding Congress Street Historic District, which meant it could not be razed. Built in 1830 and later renovated by architect John Calvin Stevens, it has been home to a theater, a church, the Chamber of Commerce and the Children's Museum and Theatre of Maine. The Portland Museum of Art bought the neighboring property in 2019 with an eye toward growth, and the children's museum vacated in 2021 for a new home on Thompson's Point. In 2022, the Portland Museum of Art launched a $100 million capital campaign that would include a major expansion on that site. None of the four finalists in a design competition would have saved the existing building; one did preserve the facade only. The art museum announced a winning design in 2023. Later that year, the Portland Museum of Art finally applied to change the classification of 142 Free St. to "noncontributing," which would allow for the demolition. The public hearings stretched over months and generated hours of public comment. The Historic Preservation Board and the Planning Board both recommended against the change, but the Portland City Council ultimately voted 6-3 to reclassify the building on the basis of "significant alterations since it was originally constructed." In June, Greater Portland Landmarks sued the city to appeal that decision and named the art museum as a party-in-interest. This story will be updated. Copy the Story Link SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) A court on Monday cleared the way for the release of investigative records from the deaths of Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, as long as depictions of the deceased couple are blocked from view. The ruling from a New Mexico judge allows the possible release of redacted police body camera video and other investigative materials, including images of the couple's dead dog. All photos, video and documents from the investigation had been restricted from release by an earlier, temporary court order. There shall be no depiction of either body in any video production or photographic image of the bodies, Santa Fe-based Judge Matthew Wilson said in response to questions from attorneys on his ruling. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A representative for the Hackman family estate had urged a New Mexico judge to keep the records sealed to protect the familys constitutional right to privacy. The partially mummified remains of Hackman and Arakawa were found in their Santa Fe home on Feb. 26, when maintenance and security workers showed up at the home and alerted police. Authorities have said Hackman, 95, died of heart disease with complications from Alzheimers disease about a week after his wife died of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, which is a rare, rodent-borne disease. Hackman may have been unaware Arakawa, 65, was dead. One of the couples three dogs, a kelpie mix named Zinna, also was found dead in a crate in a bathroom closet near Arakawa, while two other dogs were found alive. A state veterinary lab tied the dog's death to dehydration and starvation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Authorities unraveled the mysterious circumstances of the couples deaths and described their conclusions at a March 7 news conference without releasing most related written and photographic records. New Mexicos open records law blocks public access to sensitive images, including depictions of dead bodies. Experts also say some medical information is not considered public record under the state Inspection of Public Records Act. In seeking to block the release of records, estate representative Julia Peters had emphasized the possibly shocking nature of photographs and video in the investigation and potential for their dissemination by media. The Hackman family estate also sought to block the eventual release of autopsy reports by the Office of the Medical Investigator and death investigation reports by the Santa Fe County Sheriffs Office. An attorney for the estate, Kurt Sommer, argued during Monday's hearing that the couple took great pains to stay out of the public light during their lifetimes and that the right to control the use of their names and likenesses should extend to their estate in death. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bulk of death investigations by law enforcement and autopsy reports by medical investigators are typically considered public records under state law in the spirit of ensuring government transparency and accountability. The Associated Press, CBS News and CBS Studios intervened in the matter. Gregory P. Williams, an attorney for the news outlets, told the judge that they had previously said in court filings that they would not disseminate images of the couple's bodies and would blur images to obscure them from other records. There is certainly a public interest in knowing how their deaths were investigated and knowing how that was handled, Williams said. Susan Madore, a publicist who had worked with the Hackmans for years, testified that the couple relished living in Santa Fe because it afforded them anonymity. Hackman retired in the early 2000s. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Arakawa had no children, while Hackman is survived by three children from a previous marriage. At Monday's hearing, an attorney for Hackman's son and daughters highlighted the possible traumatic effects of releasing conversations about the deaths within police body camera videos. Scot Sauder, an attorney for the state medical investigator, told the judge that autopsy reports for Hackman and his wife do not yet exist and wont include past health care information once completed. It can take months for autopsy reports to be completed. Privacy likely also will play a role as the couples estate is settled. According to probate court documents, Hackman signed an updated will in 2005 leaving his estate to his wife while the will she signed that year directed her estate to him. With both dying, management of the estate is in Peters' hands. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Without trust documents being made public, its unclear who the beneficiaries are and how the assets will be divided. ___ Associated Press writer Susan Montoya Bryan in Albuquerque contributed to this report. A murder trial began Monday for a Gary womans 1999 stabbing death. Orvall M. McMoore, 58, of Chicago, is charged with 27-year-old Lisa Andersons death. She was discovered on Jan. 12, 1999 after her mother hadnt heard from her. The case was charged after his DNA was identified under her fingernails decades later a potential sign she fought back against an attacker. Anderson dated McMoores friend a few years earlier, court records show. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He has pleaded not guilty. His lawyer Matt LaTulip, with co-counsel Tom Olson, has argued the DNA of other men were also found. Deputy Prosecutor Michelle Jatkiewicz said Friday she offered a 20-year voluntary manslaughter plea deal. Under Indiana law in 1999, he would have served 10 years. It was rejected. Anderson, who was unemployed, had been out the day before submitting job applications, Gary Police Detective Cpl. Louis Donald said then. Her mother had been unable to reach her Tuesday, so she went to the apartment where she made the discovery, according to Post-Tribune archives. Donald also told the paper that Andersons blue Ford Escort was stolen afterward. A TV, microwave and two lamps were also missing, according to the affidavit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hobart Police Captain Nick Wardrip of the FBIs Gang Response Investigative Team (GRIT) wrote the cold case picked up after DNA from one of Andersons fingernails was linked in August 2020 to McMoore. Gary Police responded in 1999 to Andersons apartment at 501 Madison St., Her mother and brother Larry Mitchell found her body after they were let in by a janitor. They last saw her on Saturday, Jan. 9, 1999. Her mother Johnnie Anderson told cops her daughter was lying on her back in bed and still had a knife sticking out of her neck. She also was stabbed in the face and her hands had stab marks as if she was defending herself. The mother said she pulled the knife out and laid it on the bed. The Lake County Coroners Office later determined Lisa died from stab wounds to her neck and chest. Her death was ruled a homicide. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She was in a bra and nude from the waist down, the affidavit states. One sock was on her left foot, while jeans and her underwear were around her right ankle. She was still wearing a sock and shoe on her right foot. The apartment was ransacked. An officer wrote there were no signs of forced entry, but a violent scene. Cops found blood splattered all over the apartment, down the hall and in the stairwell. Drawers were dumped out, a wall was caved in, and a chair was broken. Gary Police told the Post-Tribune in 1999 that neighbors hadnt had many clues. By 2020, McMoore was on parole in Illinois. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a Sept. 24, 2020 police interview in Chicago, McMoore told investigators he worked as a cook and lived in Gary around 1993 or 1994 and 2001. In the late 1990s, he smoked marijuana and used cocaine, he told police. McMoore said he didnt recognize Andersons photo, before admitting she dated his friend on-and-off at the time. The friend lived next door to his aunt back then, he said. He only saw Anderson when he hung out or worked with his friend, McMoore said. Her apartment building, 501 Madison, was a danger building because people did drugs there, he said. He was never in a relationship with her, he said. The friends brother told him Anderson had been murdered a day later, McMoore said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement McMoore denied killing her to police. During the interview, investigators took a DNA swab. In the end, McMoores DNA was linked to a couple of Andersons fingernails. The friend, her ex-boyfriend, told investigators in December 2020 they broke up about two years before her death. He hadnt talked to her for about six months, he said. McMoore worked with him and his brother. Back then, McMoore cleaned up construction sites for him, the man said. McMoore didnt have a car. He thought McMoore might have been in prison around the time Anderson died. Post-Tribune archives contributed. mcolias@post-trib.com House Speaker Dan Hawkins, right, said the 125 members of the House performed admirably during the 2025 session that began in January. The Wichita Republican hopes lawmakers can wrap up the session after returning to Topeka on April 10. That would be before the mid-April release of new state government revenue estimates typically relied on to fine-tune the budget. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector) TOPEKA Gov. Laura Kelly marked close of the Kansas Legislatures regular session by signing a bipartisan bill forbidding applicants for about 85% of state government jobs from being rejected solely due to lack of a college degree. Kelly, the second-term Democratic governor, said she previously implemented that standard in executive branch agencies under her jurisdiction. The House and Senate approved Senate Bill 166 to formally emphasize a persons prior experience or specialized training when determining work readiness for state government jobs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I am pleased to sign this bill to codify this practice, she said. There are a multitude of factors that go into employment consideration, and a postsecondary degree should not always be the deciding factor. No more than 15% of state employees worked in positions for which a college degree was necessary. These jobs would be exempted from the new state law. Countless Kansans chose to build their careers rather than take on debt for a degree, and its time we recognize and reward their skills, said Rep. Sean Tarwater, a Stilwell Republican convinced he learned more on the job than in college earning a masters degree. The governor signed a cluster of noncontroversial bills last week as the 2025 Legislature brought the regular session to a close Thursday with a flurry of partisan activity. These pieces of new state law require higher educational institutions to update accreditation policies regularly, allowed dependents of military personnel stationed in Kansas to enroll in school early, voided a discriminatory residential covenant inhibiting a Wichita State University project and expanded college financial aid to Kansas National Guard members and their families. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kelly will have an opportunity to sign or veto additional bills piled on her desk before the Legislatures scheduled return April 10. House and Senate leadership want to quickly conclude their business for 2025. The goal of GOP leaders has been to tie the hands of Kelly in terms of budget and tax policy, while avoiding a repeat of the 2024 special session devoted to passage of a monumental state income tax cut. Senate Minority Leader Dinah Sykes of Lenexa, left, warned the 2025 Kansas Legislature could be making a mistake by trying to end the session prior to mid-April release of an updated report on state government revenue. The Legislature has typically relied on the April analysis of tax revenue to set spending and taxation levels to avoid a financial calamity. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector) Matter of perspective House Speaker Dan Hawkins, a Wichita Republican, praised the House for its dedication since the annual session began in January. He deflected questions about whether he would run for state insurance commissioner in 2026, but touted work of the 125-member House under his control. We have done a great job this year, said Hawkins, referring to the first session since legislators salaries nearly doubled their salaries. Do you realize that not once did we go past midnight. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lenexa Sen. Dinah Sykes, who leads Senate Democrats, said the session was artificially shortened by GOP leadership to get the House and Senate out of Topeka before issuance of new state revenue estimates in mid-April. Normally, the Legislature would rely on that revised financial report to set final spending and tax policies before adjourning. This year, she said, Republicans insisted on flying blind and risked unnecessarily cratering the state budget. Republican legislative leaders condensed the schedule this year to complete work before we fully understand how the tax cuts we passed affect our budget, Sykes said. Its irresponsible to make critical decisions without knowing the full consequences. In the future, we need to slow down and work together on bipartisan solutions that address real challenges in our state and benefit all Kansas families. In 2024, the consensus revenue group met April 17 to revise estimates made in November 2023 based on the additional six months of actual data. Senate Majority Leader Chase Blasi, a Wichita Republican, pushed back. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We have done a tremendous amount of work, and I believe a lot of good for the people of Kansas, he said. Veto pen at ready The bipartisan harmony that greeted Kellys signing of a cluster of bills Friday clashed with the governors work on a pair of bills this session on election and health care reform. In both instances, the Republican-dominated House and Senate responded to Kellys vetoes with two-thirds majority votes to override her. The House and Senate agreed to punt Kellys veto of Senate Bill 4, which ended the three-day grace period for advance mail ballots arriving late at county election offices. Kelly said the bill would disenfranchise voters. State lawmakers also derailed her veto of Senate Bill 63, which prohibited health care providers from delivering gender-affirming medical care to minors. The governor said the law ignored a Kansas value of respecting parental rights. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As Ive said before, it is not the job of politicians to stand between a parent and a child who needs medical care of any kind, Kelly said. Kelly will have additional opportunities to veto bills that range from much-debated legislation on taxes, education, elections and child support for fetuses to lower-key bills on firework sales, sex education, government secrecy, horse racing and employee background checks. While issuance of specialty state license plates for nonprofit organizations rarely produced controversy, Senate Bill 18 would authorize a plate for Hunter Nation Inc. The organization says it was dedicated to the political or legal fight to build a grassroots army to promote and protect the traditional American values of God, family, country and the hunting way of life. Hunter Nation has a litigation fund to pursue its agenda, including a plan to end federal listing of the gray wolf as threatened or endangered in 48 states. Its a very bad policy to use license plates to espouse political or religious causes, said Rep. John Carmichael, D-Wichita. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The budget debate In terms of the state governments budget woven into Senate Bill 125, Kansas governors have the option of rejecting the entire package or making line-item vetoes of specific spending provisions. Kelly has used this power in the past to jettison earmarks inserted into the budget at the behest of special interests. In the new state budget, Sen. Pat Pettey, D-Kansas City, said she was concerned millions of dollars was earmarked to purchase a firearm-detection software system that would rely on school cameras to remotely identify people with guns. At the same time, she said, the budget didnt appropriate enough for K-12 special education programs. Sen. Renee Erickson, R-Wichita, said the Legislature was once again spending far too much. It was wrong to have allowed state general fund spending to climb from $7 billion in 2019 to $10.8 billion in 2025, she said. She said many of her constituents werent beneficiaries of that largesse. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its too bad those average families dont have a lobbyist, she said. Sen. Rick Billinger, the Goodland Republican who chairs the Senate budget committee, said the perspective of legislators inevitably ranged from those who argued state spending was outrageous or measly. Everybody has their outlook and theyve got things that they want or things that they dont want. Thats how the process works, he said. Constitutional questions The House and Senate, with two-thirds majorities, agreed to place an amendment to the Kansas Constitution on statewide ballots in August 2026 that would undermine authority of Kansas governors to appoint members of the Kansas Supreme Court. The current merit-based approach enabled a commission led by attorneys to nominate finalists for Supreme Court vacancies to the governor, who could pick one or reject them all. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kansas justices stand for retention elections on statewide ballots. However, the GOP-led Legislature has decided Supreme Court justices should serve six-year terms and stand for reelection just like local, state or federal government politicians. Kelly expressed reservations about the proposed change, but constitutional amendments go directly to the ballot. Governors cannot veto proposed constitutional amendments. Kansans can reclaim power from the elites who have controlled the Kansas Supreme Court for nearly 70 years, said Senate President Ty Masterson, a Republican who has challenged Supreme Court decisions on abortion rights and school finance. Should lawyers chosen by other lawyers decide who sits on our highest court? Senate Concurrent Resolution 1611 cleared the House 84-40 and was carried in the Senate by a vote of 27-13. This is a blatant attack by the legislators on our justices, and its part of a decades-long pattern of politicians attempting to punish the judicial branch for issuing decisions on education and reproductive freedom that they disagree with, said Micah Kubic, executive director of ACLU of Kansas. We are confident that, just as they did in 2022, the people of Kansas will see this attack for what it is and, once again, take action to defend their constitutional rights from the power grabs of extremist politicians in Topeka. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During the 2025 session, a slew of proposed constitutional amendments fell short in the Senate and House. The roster included amendments to block public tax dollars from being spent on nonpublic K-12 schools, to allow individuals to vote at age 16, to include ammunition and firearm accessories in the 2nd Amendment right to bear arms, to affirm existing law requiring voters to be U.S. citizens and to allow prosecution of businesses who hire immigrants not in the country legally. The Senate and House split on House Concurrent Resolution 5011, which would have limited growth of valuations on residential property to no more than 4% annually. The Senate passed the measure 27-13 after the proposed ceiling was raised from 3% and implementation delayed until 2027, but it was defeated in the House on a vote of 37-88. Sonam Tashi (C) chats with family members in Chubzang village of Doilungdeqen District in Lhasa, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, March 20, 2025. Sonam Tashi, a 92-year-old residing in Chubzang Village of Doilungdeqen District, Lhasa, bears witness to the 1959 democratic reform and the transformative liberation of millions of serfs in Xizang. Under the feudal serfdom that once enslaved old Xizang, all land and resources were possessed by the serf owners who subjected the serfs to hereditary bondage devoid of basic humanity. "While we toiled in fields, every grain went to the serf owners," recalled Sonam Tashi. "Any perceived lapse in work would see us beaten with iron rods or horsewhips." The bitter cold nights were also hard to bear. "Back then, I had only a tattered quilt to keep warm during the night. Having any shelter from the wind and rain would count as being lucky. Many people had no shelter at all. They had to endure the harsh conditions." After Xizang's democratic reform, Sonam Tashi, as one of the many liberated serfs, was granted land and livestock by the government to start a new life. From 1959 to 1998, Sonam Tashi served as Party chief of Chubzang Village and later the township head. He traveled to villages and towns to disseminate the Party's major policies and pro-people initiatives. In 1974, he joined an agricultural delegation from the Xizang Autonomous Region on an observation tour. He cherishes the group photo taken with delegation members in Beijing. "Life today is truly idyllic!" smiled Sonam Tashi, clinking beer steins with neighbors. "We now enjoy abundant food and clothing, and we are freed from the backbreaking toil that once shackled us like beasts of burden. Such blessings were unimaginable in the old days." Now benefiting from social welfare programs including the pension and medical insurance, Sonam Tashi lives in comfort surrounded by his children and grandchildren. (Xinhua/Jigme Dorje) Sonam Tashi poses for a portrait in Chubzang village of Doilungdeqen District in Lhasa, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, March 20, 2025.(Xinhua/Jigme Dorje) Sonam Tashi (L) enjoys food with a family member in Chubzang village of Doilungdeqen District in Lhasa, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, March 20, 2025. (Xinhua/Jigme Dorje) Sonam Tashi (2nd L) shares his story with family members in Chubzang village of Doilungdeqen District in Lhasa, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, March 20, 2025. (Xinhua/Tenzin Nyida) Sonam Tashi looks at a commemorative medal awarded to him after 50 years of Communist Party of China membership in Chubzang village of Doilungdeqen District in Lhasa, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, March 20, 2025. (Xinhua/Jigme Dorje) Sonam Tashi (C) sits with his family members in Chubzang village of Doilungdeqen District in Lhasa, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, March 20, 2025. (Xinhua/Tenzin Nyida) Karen Reads second murder trial begins Tuesday with jury selection. 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. 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In February, Read told Boston 25 investigative reporter Ted Daniel, Ive been framed. She also declared, I have nothing to hide. After several failed attempts to get the case thrown out, Reads retrial will kick off at 9 a.m. when the first batch of prospective jurors will be brought into Dedhams Norfolk Superior Court for questioning. Judge Beverly Cannone extended the buffer zone in the area of Bates Court, Bullard Street, Ames Street, and Court Street to keep demonstrators a distance from the courthouse. Dedham, MA - April 12: Karen Read at her pre-trial hearing at Norfolk Superior Court. (Photo by David L. Ryan/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) Karen Read watches attorney Robert Alessi make a point during her trial at Norfolk Superior Court at Dedham, Mass., on Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025. (Greg Derr/The Patriot Ledger via AP, Pool) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Judge approves joint motion to delay start of Karen Reads 2nd murder trial Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dedham, MA - July 1: Karen Read looks toward the jurors, as they are greeted by Judge Beverly J. Cannone (not pictured) in Norfolk Superior Court. (Photo by Pat Greenhouse/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All stand as the jury files out to the courtroom, to start their fifth day of deliberations in the murder trial for Karen Read in Norfolk Superior Court in Dedham, Mass., Monday, July 1, 2024. (Pat Greenhouse/The Boston Globe via AP, Pool) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Karen Read jurors tell judge theyve been unable to reach unanimous verdict Day 3 of jury deliberations finishes without verdict in Karen Read trial Karen Read awaits the juries verdict in her murder case at Norfolk Superior Court in Dedham, Mass., Wednesday June 26, 2024. (Greg Derr/The Patriot Ledger via AP) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Defense attorneys in Karen Read murder trial argue with judge over jury verdict slip Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some witnesses are in the courtroom on Tuesday include Brian Albert, Colin Albert, and Jennifer McCabe. Karen Read Karen Read, center right, is seated Monday, June 10, 2024, in Norfolk Super Court, in Dedham, Mass., during her trial on charges in connection with the 2022 death of her boyfriend, Boston police Officer John O'Keefe. (Kayla Bartkowski/The Boston Globe via AP, Pool) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Karen Read is seated Monday, June 10, 2024, in Norfolk Super Court, in Dedham, Mass., during her trial on charges in connection with the 2022 death of her boyfriend, Boston police Officer John O'Keefe. (Kayla Bartkowski/The Boston Globe via AP, Pool) Karen Read Karen Read smiles after listening to her attorney Alan Jackson during her trial at Norfolk County Superior Court, Friday, May 17, 2024, in Dedham, Mass. Read, 44, is accused of running into her Boston police officer boyfriend with her SUV in the middle of a nor'easter and leaving him for dead after a night of heavy drinking. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa, Pool) Karen Read Karen Read Karen Read sits with her legal team team in court Thursday, May 2, 2024, in Dedham, Mass. Read, 44, is accused of running into her Boston police officer boyfriend with her SUV in the middle of a nor'easter and leaving him for dead after a night of heavy drinking. (David McGlynn/New York Post via AP, Pool) Karen Read sits with her legal team team in court, Thursday, May 2, 2024, in Dedham, Mass. Read, 44, is accused of running into her Boston police officer boyfriend with her SUV in the middle of a nor'easter and leaving him for dead after a night of heavy drinking. (David McGlynn/New York Post via AP, Pool) Cannone said the demonstrators will also be prohibited from using audio enhancing devices while protesting. The case continues to garner significant public interest. When the matter is in court, individuals line the sidewalks outside the courthouse, loudly chanting and voicing their opinions about witnesses, attorneys, and the strength of the Commonwealths case, Cannone stated in a ruling last week. If prospective jurors are exposed to the protestors and messages displayed on signs or otherwise, particularly before this Court has had an opportunity to instruct the jurors about their obligations with regard to remaining fair and unbiased, there is a substantial risk that the defendants right to a fair trial will be jeopardized. The prosecution and defense have each named more than 90 prospective witnesses. Read supporters hosted standouts across the country on Sunday to bring attention to her case. Reads first trial ended with a hung jury. RELATED: Karen Read tells her story in an exclusive one-on-one interview. Watch the extended cut: Get caught up with all the latest news in the Karen Read case. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW A lot changes in a year. Kate Middleton celebrated Mothers Day in the UK on Sunday with a heartfelt Instagram post one year after her Photoshop debacle made headlines before she announced she had cancer. The Princess of Wales, 43, shared a video honoring Mother Nature with shots of her touching a tree and walking through a field. The 2024 photoshopped image of Kate Middleton and her children. Prince of Wales/Kensington Palace / MEGA Over the past year, nature has been our sanctuary, Middleton wrote. 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. Kate Middleton in her UK Mothers Day 2025 post. Instagram/@princeandprincessofwales Kate Middleton walking through a field barefoot. Instagram/@princeandprincessofwales Kate Middletons message to mark Mothers Day in the UK. Instagram/@princeandprincessofwales Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On the holiday last year, Middleton shared a photo with her and Prince Williams kids Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, 9, and Prince Louis, 6, after spending weeks out of the spotlight following her abdominal surgery in Jan. 2024. Thank you for your kind wishes and continued support over the last two months, Middleton wrote alongside the family photo last year. Wishing everyone a Happy Mothers Day. Follow along with The Posts live blog on everything you need to know about the British royal family. But the image was perforated with a multitude of editing errors with several photo agencies such as the Associated Press retracting the pic and urging media outlets not to use it as it was manipulated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The agencies even asked Kensington Palace to send them an unaltered version of the graphic, but they refused. Kate Middleton and Prince William with two of their children. MEGA Middleton spoke out and admitted she was behind the photo editing fail. 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 X at the time. Kate Middleton with Prince George and Princess Charlotte in 2018. Getty Images The future queen later announced that she was diagnosed with cancer in a video message on March 22, 2024. Following her diagnosis, she mostly stayed out of the spotlight while she was going through chemo. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Sept. 2024, Middleton announced she was cancer free. Four months later, she confirmed that she was in remission. Kate Middleton at the 2025 Irish Guards St. Patricks Day Parade in London. / SplashNews.com As anyone who has experienced a cancer diagnosis will know, it takes time to adjust to a new normal, she wrote in a statement on Instagram in January. 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. Middleton has since returned to her public royal duties. She attended the Commonwealth Day Service of Celebration at Westminster Abbey in London earlier this month, after skipping the event last year. King Charles, 76, was also diagnosed with cancer last year. On Thursday, the monarch was hospitalized after experiencing temporary side effects from his treatment, leading him to cancel all his commitments on Friday. BRIMFIELD TOWNSHIP, Ohio (WJW) The Ohio State Highway Patrol is investigating the death of a man who was hit and killed by a car while crossing the street. It happened around 10:30 p.m. Friday in Brimfield Township, according to OSHP. Cause of death determined for 3 young American women who died at Belize resort According to troopers, a driver was headed south on State Route 43, when a man on foot attempted to cross the road. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The driver was unable to stop and hit the pedestrian, troopers say. Top 10 lakes for fishing in Ohio (that arent Lake Erie) The victim was identified as Arthur Jones, 77, of Kent. He died at the scene, according to a press release. No one has been charged at this time. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW. FRANKFORT, Ky. (FOX 56) April is designated as National Child Abuse Prevention Month, meant to raise awareness about child abuse and neglect. On Monday, March 31, the group Prevent Child Abuse Kentucky is placing blue pinwheels into the ground at the Kentucky state capitol. Blue pinwheels are known as symbols for preventing child abuse. LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The annual event started two decades ago to bring awareness to children dealing with abuse. 3,000 pinwheels will be planted, one for each of those kids. Jill Seyfred, executive director of Prevent Child Abuse Kentucky, said everyone has a role to play in the prevention of child abuse, and it starts with talking about the problem. Gov. Andy Beshear and other advocates will attend Mondays event to recognize the work being done and the work left to do. When you see the blue and silver pinwheels spinning, you cant help but be reminded of your own childhood and hopefully the good memories that you have. But we recognize that people come from all different kinds of backgrounds, and we want to make sure that every child in Kentucky now grows up in safe and nurturing homes, said Seyfred. With more than 300 partners across Kentucky, Prevent Child Abuse Kentucky has led efforts across the commonwealth for decades. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Seyfred said that everyone has a role to play in helping kids grow up to be safe and healthy. They will work with those partners to raise awareness for children dealing with abuse and the actions everyday Kentuckians can take to ensure every child has a safe, stable, and nurturing environment to grow up in. Read more of the latest Kentucky news If we can have one more conversation, if we can have one more partner thats working with us to prevent child abuse and neglect, if we can have one more program, if we could have one more member of the media that pays attention, you know, one more fill in the blank, then those blue and silver pinwheels are worth it, said Seyfred. Advocates say theyre thankful, not just for whats being done in Frankfort, but also for the work child abuse nonprofits are putting in. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The event begins at 10 a.m. in the Capitol rotunda, followed by the planting of pinwheels outside the Capitol doors. The event will be held rain or shine, and any member of the community is welcome to join. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 56 News. Killingly The average homeowner here could see their taxes increase by more than 15% next year under the latest 2025-26 budget proposal, according to local officials. The $74.4 million spending proposal was presented to the Town Council and the public on Saturday, kicking off the budget season. Over the next week, the council will review the budget, which calls for a $3.1 million increase in spending. The council is tentatively scheduled to meet Monday to discuss the proposal ahead of a joint review of the Board of Educations operating budget on Tuesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The proposed budget would raise the tax rate from 20.32 mills to 23.47. For the average homeowner, Town Manager Mary Calorio said Friday that the 3.15 mill increase would translate to a 15.5% rise in taxes. According to Calorio, taxes on a home with a market value of $360,000 would go up $790, or 15.5%. A home with a market value of $500,000 would see a tax increase of $1,100, also 15.5%, Calorio said. The proposal includes a $2.35 million, or 4.97%, increase in school spending, which brings the districts budget up from $47.3 million to $49.7 million. The Board of Educations budget proposal was approved in a 5-2 vote with board members Kelly Martin and Kyle Napierata voting opposed. According to a recording of the meeting minutes, Martin and Napierata were concerned about the impact increased education spending would have on taxpayers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Other cost drivers include a $667,000 increase in general government operational costs, a $156,000 increase in the human services subsidy and Civic and Cultural Event Subsidies budgets, a $620,000 increase in debt service, a $124,000 hike in the student transportation capital non-recurring fund, and $1.25 million for capital projects. The budget proposal also calls for reducing the towns fund balance utilization by $250,000 next year, pushing the cost onto taxpayers. After other revenue sources are factored in, the town would need to raise $5.18 million more in tax revenue in 2025-26 compared to the current year, under the proposal. A public hearing on the budget is scheduled for Thursday, April 10, in the Killingly High School auditorium. Residents can provide public comment in person or by email, at budgetcomment@killinglyct.gov. Statements must include the commenters name and home address. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Following the public hearing, the council must act on the budget within 10 days and forward the proposal to the Annual Town Meeting. That meeting is scheduled for Monday, May 5, in the Killingly High School auditorium. The meeting must be adjourned to a townwide, all-day referendum, which is scheduled for May 13. The town meetings and referendums will continue every two weeks, excluding holidays, until voters approve a budget. The budget process offers us the opportunity to maximize the use of taxpayer dollars, plan for the future, implement the priorities of the Town Council and the services desired by the public, Calorio said in a message to the town. Our outlook is always forward-leaning and collaborative, as we strive to provide the best service in the most efficient and affordable way. a.cross@theday.com King Charles pulled out of engagements last week after suffering side effects to his cancer treatment. However, he will soon be returning to public duties and is still planning a State Visit to Italy, Buckingham Palace has made clear today. The King spent a restful weekend at Highgrove, his country retreat in Gloucestershire, and is now at Windsor Castle. From tomorrow he will conduct a mixture of engagements such as investitures, State duties, and private meetings. Later this week, he is expected to be at Buckingham Palace before preparing to fly to Rome. Last Thursday evening, the Palace announced that the 76-year-old King had been briefly hospitalized following side effects from his ongoing cancer treatment. His public engagements the next day were postponed. A Palace source quelled concerns, describing it as the most minor bump in the road thats very much heading in the right direction. On Friday, the King was pictured leaving Clarence House with his car window wound down. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Charles announced his diagnosis with an undisclosed form of cancer last February and is understood to currently be having weekly treatment. No details have been released of what kind of cancer he has or what kind of treatment he is receiving. The King and Queen are heading to Italy next week for a State Visit. They had been scheduled to also visit the Holy See, however this has been postponed due to the health of the Pope. Currently, they are still scheduled to arrive in Rome on Monday. You Might Also Like King Charles is already back to public duty just days after a brief hospitalization due to side effects from his ongoing cancer treatment. After the Kings brief hospitalization last Thursday, March 27, he was forced to cancel a planned visit to Birmingham the next daythough he continued working from home. Just four days after the King, 76, was hospitalized, he was back to public duty on Monday, March 31, taking part in his usual working week (according to People) ahead of heading off to Italy for a royal tour alongside Queen Camilla in one weeks time. Getty Queen Camilla and King Charles on March 25, 2025 Queen Camilla and King Charles on March 25, 2025 To his credit, People reported that the monarch did have a restful weekend at his country home, Highgrove House, but Charles schedule remains unchanged this week, and he and Camilla will be abroad beginning April 7 as they undertake their latest royal tour. While there, the couple will celebrate their 20th wedding anniversary on April 9. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The King has long been known as a workaholic, and Hello! reported that Charles is at risk if he doesnt slow down his fast-paced schedule. Camilla has commented on her husbands workaholic nature in the past, saying he wont slow down and wont do what is told, and has also previously said that Charles is not one for chilling. Charles younger son Prince Harry has said before that his father would sometimes fall asleep at his desk and wake up with a piece of paper stuck to his face, per Hello!, and Lady Frederick Windsor, a second cousin to the King, said, He works all day long, has a quick supper, and then disappears until about 4 a.m. to write letters. He cares about so many things, and he comes up with brilliant solutions. Getty King Charles on February 12, 2025 King Charles on February 12, 2025 Indeed, even after being hospitalized at The London Clinic Thursdaywhere Charles was originally treated for a benign enlarged prostate in January 2024, a treatment from which cancer was later detectedwhen Charles made it home to Clarence House later that day, he was said to be working on state papers and making calls from his study on Thursday evening, Hello! reported, which added that while the Kings work ethic is admirable, its not ideal for his recovery. Societal expectations can cause us to become workaholics, with high achievers and public figures conditioned to equate their value with productivity, making it difficult to prioritize rest, even when faced with health concerns, said Dr. Mohammed Enayat, who is the founder of the longevity clinic Hum2n. Research has shown that those who struggle to detach from work experience higher levels of anxiety and sleep disturbances, both of which can negatively impact long term health. Though his trip to Italy with Camilla is set to go on, GB News and The Sun reported that that King and Queen have canceled a visit to a luxury spa resort in Africa amid Charles cancer treatment, and that Charles has also pulled out of an annual trip to Romania, where he was due to hike in the countryside this spring. Getty King Charles on February 13, 2025 King Charles on February 13, 2025 He adores Romania and looks forward to visiting every year, but it would have involved just too much walking and he cant face it right now, a source told The Sun. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Following Charles prostate procedure in January 2024, it was announced on February 5 of last year that the King had cancer, though the type and stage of which has never been publicly disclosed. (The palace did reveal last year that the King does not have prostate cancer.) The King was away from public duty until late April, and since then has kept a packed schedule, including a two-stop royal tour of Australia and Samoa last October alongside Camilla. In December, it was announced that his treatment would continue into the new year, and last Thursdays visit to the hospital was a minor bump in the road, palace officials said. Getty King Charles and Queen Camilla on March 19, 2025 King Charles and Queen Camilla on March 19, 2025 Getty Queen Camilla on February 13, 2025 Queen Camilla on February 13, 2025 Of the Queen, royal biographer Katie Nicholl told OK!, There is clearly a rod of steel that runs through her. She is so strong, so resilient. Nicholl added that Camilla also has a great sense of herself and an ability to overcome all sorts of adversity. Those are the qualities you really see in her when the going gets toughand it did get tough last year. Adding that Camilla has strength and resilience and is a remarkably positive person, Nicholl said of Camilla was not only having to care for her husband, but she also had to stand in for him and carry out engagements on his behalf. And she had to reassure the public that their King was okay. If you look back at her time traveling up and down the country, she was always smiling for the crowds, always having a word of encouragement about the King, Nicholl continued. She never let the mask slip. The laughter is spontaneous, the smile is genuine. I think she's incredibly authentic. Read the original article on InStyle LONDON (Reuters) - Britain's King Charles is returning to public duties this week after he was briefly taken to hospital last Thursday when he experienced side effects from his cancer treatment, a royal source said on Monday. The 76-year-old king has been undergoing treatment since he was diagnosed with an unspecified form of cancer in February last year following tests after a corrective procedure for an enlarged prostate. However, he suffered what sources described as a "minor bump in the road" which meant he was taken to hospital for a short period of observation on Thursday, with the result he was forced to cancel some planned events at the end of the week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Following a restful weekend at his Highgrove home in west England, the king was on Monday heading to Windsor Castle where he would prepare for a usual working week, including investitures and other public appearances, the royal source said. However, a couple of appointments have been rescheduled ahead of his state visit to Italy which takes place next week. (Reporting by Michael Holden; Editing by Sachin Ravikumar) TEHRAN, March 31 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei warned on Monday that any "wicked" action by the United States or Israel against Tehran would be met with a forceful retaliation. Speaking at Imam Khomeini's Grand Mosalla mosque after leading Eid al-Fitr prayers, Khamenei said threats from Washington and Tel Aviv would not go unanswered. "They threaten to carry out wicked acts against Iran," he said in remarks broadcast on his official website. "While we do not consider it very likely that such an act will be committed from outside the country, if it happens, they will definitely receive a reciprocal, hard blow." His comments came after former U.S. President Donald Trump told NBC News on Sunday that the United States would launch unprecedented military strikes on Iran if it refused to negotiate over its nuclear program. "If they don't make a deal, there will be bombing," Trump said. "It will be bombing the likes of which they have never seen before." Trump said negotiations between Washington and Tehran were ongoing but did not provide details. On Sunday, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian confirmed that Tehran had formally rejected a recent U.S. proposal for direct talks, conveyed in a letter from Trump. Addressing a cabinet meeting, Pezeshkian reiterated Iran's refusal to engage in face-to-face negotiations with Washington while sanctions remain in place but left open the possibility of indirect diplomacy. 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 Last week, 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. This commentary was originally published by New Hampshire Bulletin. Like Maine Morning Star, 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. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE King County scientists may have found a solution to help coho salmon dying from polluted stormwater. In a news release from the County Water and Land Resources Division (WLRD), scientists said they might have created a new soil mixture that makes stormwater cleaner and safer for people and fish. Coho salmon dying from exposure to a toxic tire chemical just before they return to their spawning ground after their journey to the Pacific is not just a tragedy its an urgent call to action, John Taylor, Director of the King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks said in a news release. Our scientists joined their peers to identify a promising solution to a lethal challenge, one that can contribute to the survival of a native salmon species. WLRD is working to confirm the story results. Scientists want to better understand the toxic chemical known as 6PPDQ. The chemical is found in all tire dust, which is washed from roads into waterways. Soil produced excellent results in salmon survival A recent laboratory study showed that nearly 100% of coho placed in unfiltered stormwater died, while all of the salmon placed in filtered stormwater survived. The soil mixture includes sand, coconut fiber, and biochar, a charcoal-like substance. The mixture removes pollutants and excess nutrients in the stormwater. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A full-scale pilot project is being conducted in Whatcom County, where scientists hope to confirm the soil mixtures effectiveness in real-world conditions. Its not every day that we get to say with certainty that we can solve such a complicated problem, but I feel hopeful about this one, Josh Latterell, who leads King Countys Science Section in the Water and Land Resources Division, said in the release. This issue isnt unique to King County, but King County is uniquely positioned to do something about it and our researchers are building a whole toolkit of strategies that will make cleaner, safer water a reality. WLRD will continue to collect and analyze new data and explore strategic partnerships. I think if we keep up this momentum and investment, we can tackle the problem with aggressive source control and stormwater treatment, said Chelsea Mitchell, a Senior Ecotoxicologist in the divisions Science Section. Plus, the treatments that are effective for 6PPDQ also mitigate other toxic stormwater contaminants, so we can address many of these problems at the same time. Follow Bill Kaczaraba on X. Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) said Israel was incredibly angry about the plans to attack Houthi rebels in Yemen leaked in a Signal group chat with Trump administration officials and a journalist. Klobuchar joined MSNBCs Jen Psaki on Sunday, where she weighed in on the ongoing scandal. Were literally putting American service members at risk and also endangering our intelligence relationship with others, Klobuchar said. Sen. [Mark] Warner [D-Va.] the ranking member of the Intelligence Committee, has made very clear that Israel was incredibly angry about this, and thats been publicly reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Klobuchar also warned about the possibility that allies wont tell us anything in the future. After The Atlantic Editor-in-Chief Jeffrey Goldberg revealed he was added to the group chat, all eyes were on top Trump administration officials. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth denied that any war plans were shared via the commercial app, but a second round of screenshots showed he shared the location, time and weapons for the attack. The messages published compromised a human source that provided intelligence to the Israelis, who then provided it to the U.S. for targeting the Houthi officials, CBS News reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to The Wall Street Journal, Israeli officials complained privately that national security adviser Mike Waltzs messages in the Signal chat became public. Klobuchar noted that shes glad some of her Republican colleagues are calling for investigations, but highlighted other top Trump officials who have in the past spoke about the breach of classified information. We have to know what has happened, what theyve put at risk for our allies intelligence, our own intelligence, our service members, she said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. It is a blessing for this troubled country that the semiquincentennial of its struggle for independence is upon it. Indeed, some notable anniversaries have already slipped by: In September 1774, delegates from Suffolk County, Massachusetts, approved a set of resolves rejecting Parliaments authority, which were then endorsed by the first Continental Congress. In November of that year, the provincial Congress of Massachusetts authorized the enlistment of 12,000 troops. Others lie just ahead: In a month, Americans will observe the 250th anniversary of the battles of Lexington and Concord. The semiquincentennial offers not just a diversion from current politics or an opportunity to reassert American unity at a time of disharmony, but also a moment to reflect on the character of the men and women who made the United States out of a collection of fractious colonies. That thought occurred to me recently as I attended my final meeting of the Board of Trustees of Fort Ticonderoga, of which I have been part for nearly a decade. Fort Ti, for those who do not know it, sits on the spit of land between Lake George and Lake Champlain in upstate New York. The small fort is a gem, surrounded by mountains, lovingly restored and preserved as a private institution. Its leadership has grown its museum to now include the finest collection of 18th-century militaria in the United States, if not the world. Tens of thousands visit every year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement [Read: The United States of fear] Built by the French in 1755 as a base of operations against the British colonies, Fort Ticonderoga witnessed sieges, skirmishes, raids, and ambushes, first in the Seven Years War and then in the American war for independence. Since then, presidents have visited repeatedly. Writers too: Nathaniel Hawthorne wrote a famous essay about his visits there with a recently graduated, brilliant young engineer, who may have been none other than Robert E. Lee: The young West Pointer, with his lectures on ravelins, counterscarps, angles, and covered ways, made it an affair of brick and mortar and hewn stone, arranged on certain regular principles, having a good deal to do with mathematics but nothing at all with poetry. My favorite artifact in the museum is a modest thinga knapsack that belonged to a soldier named Benjamin Warner. He attached a note to it: This Napsack I caryd Through the War of the Revolution to achieve the American Independence. I Transmit it to my olest sone Benjamin Warner Jr. with directions to keep it and transmit it to his oldest sone and so on to the latest posterity and whilst one shred of it shall remain never surrender you libertys to a foren envador or an aspiring demegog. Benjamin Warner Ticonderoga March 27, 1837. Warners orthography may have been uncertain, but his values were not, and I often think of that warningabout foreign invaders, yes, but also aspiring demagogues. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Plenty of people kept their heads down during the Revolution. John Adams famously said that he thought a third of Americans at the time were in favor, a third opposed, and a third neutral. Those percentages may be off: That middle grouphoping, like most people, simply to get onmay have been larger. And then there were those who had second thoughtsBenedict Arnold most notably, but many others as well, from statesmen such as Joseph Galloway to more ordinary souls caught in the middle. But the tone was set by those like John Morton, a signer of the Declaration who accepted that this is putting the Halter about our Necks, & we may as well die by the Sword as be hangd like Rebels. In particular, the gentry leadership of the Revolution knew, from the record of how Britain had dealt with rebels in Ireland and Scotland, that they could face loss of their home, their freedom, and possibly their life. When Thomas Jefferson ended the Declaration with the words we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor, he was not kidding. Benjamin Warner was not of the gentry, though; he was a mere farmer. He led a long life, from 1757 to 1846. His tombstone, in a cemetery in Crown Point, New York, has a simple epitaph: A revolutionary soldier & a friend to the Slave. One may only suppose what that last phrase meant, given that New York was on the Underground Railroad. Warner was one of those soldiers who served repeatedly from 1775 to 1780, joining one regiment and then another, marching to Quebec, fighting in the Battle of Long Island and in New Jersey. In between campaigns, presumably, he took care of the farm. Beyond that, and his knapsack, we do not know much, other than that he saw his duty, did it, went home, and did it again. There does not seem much flash about him, but he knew what he was fighting for, and what he would willingly fight against. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement [Tom Nichols: Reclaiming real American patriotism] He has something to teach us. Americans see before them the unedifying spectacle of their representatives being too fearful to convene town halls where they might either be criticized or, worse, be compelled to defend a president who they know is damaging the country every day. We have senators who knowingly confirmed untrustworthy and unqualified individuals to the most important national-security jobs in the country because they feared the wrath of President Donald Trumps base. We see intellectuals talking about fleeing the country or actually doing so not because they have been persecuted in any way, but because of a foreboding atmosphere. We have formerly great law firms such as Paul Weiss groveling to an administration that has threatened them, and offering up tens of millions of dollars of free services in support of its beliefs rather than stand in defense of the right of unpopular people to be represented in a court of law. There is a name for this: cowardice. It is not an uncommon failing, to be sure, but so far, at any rate, it seems unaccompanied by shame, although regret may eventually come. Cowardice is, at any event, a quality that one suspects the figures who won us independence would have despised in their descendants, who have had a comparatively easy lot in life. Perhaps the series of 250th anniversaries will cause some of us, at least, to get beyond the historical cliches and think of the farewells to families, the dysentery and smallpox, the brutal killing and maiming on 18th-century battlefields, and the bloody footprints in the snow. Above all, we should take away from the commemorations before us a celebration less of heroism than of unassuming courage. Now, and for some years to come, we will need a lot less Paul Weiss, and a lot more Benjamin Warner. Article originally published at The Atlantic Nearly a dozen students and faculty members at colleges across the country are known to have been detained by federal agents amid the Trump administrations crackdown on immigration, which on college campuses, has taken aim at pro-Palestinian student activists and Israel critics. Many of those detained have been granted the right to live in the US either as permanent residents or through temporary work or student visas. Their rights, however, have been put into question under new, sweeping immigration orders that some legal experts fear may be used liberally to clamp down on dissent. Speaking to reporters last week, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said under his direction, more than 300 visas primarily student visas, some visitor visas have been revoked. Rubio did not specify how many visas belonged to people tied to the pro-Palestinian movement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If theyre taking activities that are counter to our national interest, to our foreign policy, well revoke the visa, Rubio said. When asked about freedom of speech concerns, Rubio said international students are here to study. Theyre here to go to class. Theyre not here to lead activist movements that are disruptive and undermine our universities. I think its lunacy to continue to allow that. Here is what we know about the detainment of college activists, students and scholars. Mahmoud Khalil Mahmoud Khalil speaks at a briefing organized by pro-Palestinian protesters at Columbia University's Morningside Heights campus on June 1, 2024, in New York. - Selcuk Acar/Anadolu/Getty Images Mahmoud Khalil, a graduate of Columbias School of International and Public Affairs and one of the schools most prominent pro-Palestinian activists, was among the first students detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He was arrested by federal agents March 8 and taken to a detention facility in Louisiana after his lawyer said his green card was revoked by the Trump administration. The administration ordered Khalil to be deported after baselessly claiming he is a Hamas sympathizer, a threat to national security, and poses potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences for the United States. Officials later said Khalils deportation was justified because he did not reveal connections to two organizations in his application to become a permanent US resident an argument his attorneys call weak. On March 19, a judge blocked the government indefinitely from deporting Khalil and transferred his case to New Jersey. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While Department of Justice officials have sought to keep Khalils case in Louisiana since his detention, US District Judge Michael Farbiarz ruled the case will remain in New Jersey because Khalil was in the state when his attorneys filed a habeas corpus motion seeking to challenge the legality of his detention, according to a 67-page decision filed Tuesday. The Petitioner was in custody in New Jersey as of March 9 at 4:40am, Farbiarz wrote. And under a federal statute, the Petition, though filed in New York, must be treated as having been filed in New Jersey on March 9 at 4:40am. Therefore, this Court has jurisdiction. Badar Khan Suri Flyers posted at Georgetown University in Washington show support for university fellow Badar Khan Suri and demand his release from a deportation process. - Jose Luis Magana/AP Badar Khan Suri, an Indian national and Georgetown scholar whose research focuses on peacebuilding in the Middle East, was arrested in his Virginia home in mid-March after his J-1 visa was revoked. A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson alleged Khan Suri was actively spreading Hamas propaganda and promoting antisemitism on social media, and that he had close connections to a known or suspected terrorist, who is a senior advisor to Hamas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Like student detainees, Khan Suri has been accused of posing a threat to national security. He is currently being held in detention in Texas. His defense team denies the US government claims and argues Khan Suris detainment is part of the Trump administrations broader effort to clamp down on individuals purportedly based on their participation in Palestine-related speech, according to his court petition. Khan Suris attorney believes hes being targeted also because his wife is a prominent Palestinian activist. Khan Suris father-in-law, who lived in the US for two decades, served as political adviser to the prime minister of Gaza and as deputy of foreign affairs in Gaza until 2010, according to a court filing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a statement to CNN, a Georgetown University spokesperson said, We expect the legal system to adjudicate (Khan Suris) case fairly. Rumeysa Ozturk Rumeysa Ozturk, a Turkish doctoral student at Tufts University in Somerville, Massachusetts, poses in an undated photograph. - Ozturk Family/Reuters Turkish national Rumeysa Ozturk was on her way to break the Ramadan fast in late March when she was arrested and physically restrained by six plainclothes officers near her apartment by Tufts Universitys Somerville campus. The arrest, which was captured on surveillance video, was described by Tufts President Sunil Kumar as disturbing. In March 2024, the PhD student co-wrote an op-ed in the schools newspaper in which she criticized Tufts response to a student government groups call for the university to divest from companies with ties to Israel because of the conflict in Gaza, among other demands. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When asked about Ozturks case, Rubio suggested, without evidence, that the 30-year-old participated in disruptive student protests over Israels military operations in Gaza. A DHS spokesperson told CNN that Ozturk engaged in activities in support of Hamas, but did not specify what those alleged activities were. Ozturk is being held at a staging facility in Alexandria, Louisiana, according to Homeland Security. While in transit to Louisiana, she suffered an asthma attack, according to an amended habeas corpus petition filed Friday. Ozturk has also not been charged or given the opportunity to speak with a lawyer. On Friday, a judge in Boston ordered Ozturk not to be deported until she can determine whether the Boston court has jurisdiction to decide if Ozturk was lawfully detained a decision that drew praise from Ozturks lawyers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a filing Tuesday, the US Attorneys Office in Boston opposed Ozturks petition, saying the Boston court does not have jurisdiction in the case because the Tufts student was transferred out of the state shortly after her arrest. Ozturks attorneys will file a response to the governments opposition Wednesday at 5 p.m., according to an order by Judge Denise Casper. Dogukan Gunaydin Dogukan Gunaydin, the University of Minnesota graduate student detained by ICE, is seen in a promotional video shot by St. Olaf College, fron which he graduated in 2021. - From St. Olaf College/Facebook The University of Minnesota said in a campus-wide letter that an international graduate student was detained by immigration officials at an off-campus residence. The university did not identify the student but called the arrest a deeply concerning situation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Turkish citizen was identified as Dogukan Gunaydin in a lawsuit filed on his behalf this week, according to reporting from The Associated Press. Gunaydin, 28, is suing for his immediate release, saying his arrest violated his rights and hes been given little explanation for why hes being held, the lawsuit said. Two plainclothes federal officers arrested him on the street outside his St. Paul home while he was on his way to class Thursday. Dogukan feared he was being kidnapped as a man in a hooded sweatshirt grabbed him and handcuffed him, according to his petition. Gunaydins attorney, Hannah Brown, did not immediately respond to CNNs request for comment, but previously said this was a highly sensitive situation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Monday, a senior DHS official told CNN the student was taken into custody because of a prior drunken driving incident. This is not related to student protests, the official said in a statement Monday. The individual in question was arrested after a visa revocation by the State Dept. related to a prior criminal history for a DUI. Detaining an international student over a prior DUI conviction seems to suggest a different approach by immigration officials who, so far, appear focused on students who have participated in protests against the Israel-Hamas war. Gunaydins detainment has drawn the ire of local, state and national leaders such as Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar and Democratic Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz all of whom are demanding answers from ICE. Snatching up students who come here legally to work hard and get an education does not make you tough on immigration, Walz said in a post on social media. We need answers. Before attending the University of Minnesota, Gunaydin attended St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota, a school spokesperson, Kat Dodge, told CNN on Wednesday. Gunaydin graduated in 2021 with a Bachelor of Arts in computer science and economics, Dodge said. Other students and scholars targeted Rasha Alawieh, an assistant professor with a valid US visa at Brown Medical School, was deported from Boston to Lebanon after federal agents discovered she attended former Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallahs funeral in February. Alawieh acknowledged she supported Nasrallahs religious and spiritual techniques but not his politics. A lawyer representing the professor via a family member is working to bring her back to the country. Momodou Taal, a dual citizen of the United Kingdom and the Gambia pursuing a PhD in Africana studies at Cornell, had his student visa revoked over his involvement in disruptive protests, according to US government officials. A US district judge declined to immediately block the US government from deporting him after he filed a preemptive lawsuit to block enforcement against him. Monday, Taal announced he would be leaving the US voluntarily. His attorney has not responded to CNNs requests for comments. Alireza Doroudi, an Iranian-born mechanical engineering graduate student at the University of Alabama, was arrested by ICE agents early Tuesday, an official, who was not authorized to speak publicly, told CNN. The source said it was unclear whether Doroudi had participated in any pro-Palestinian demonstrations. The source said Doroudi has overstayed his student visa. Leqaa Kordia, a Columbia student from the West Bank, had her student visa terminated in January 2022 for lack of attendance. She was arrested by local law enforcement last year for her involvement in what the Department of Homeland Security described as pro-Hamas protests. Yunseo Chung, a US permanent resident and junior at Columbia University, sued the Trump administration to stop removal proceedings after she was arrested for her participation in pro-Palestinian protests. Efforts to detain Chung were temporarily blocked by a federal judge last week. Ranjani Srinivasan, an Indian national and Fulbright recipient attending Columbias Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation, left the US for Canada after immigration officials revoked her visa. She was due to graduate from her five-year program this year. Kseniia Petrova, a research associate at Harvard Medical School, was detained in February for failing to declare frog embryos upon returning to Boston from France, her attorney, Greg Romanovsky told CNN. She is currently in detention in Louisiana but faces deportation to Russia, where, according to her attorney, she would face immediate arrest over her previous outspoken opposition to Russias invasion of Ukraine. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks with reporters on his plane while flying from Suriname to Miami on March 27. - Nathan Howard/Reuters State Department orders additional screenings for some visa applicants Outside the US, immigration officials have been ordered to conduct deeper scrutiny of visa applicants. Over the weekend, the State Department sent out a memo ordering all US embassies and consulates to screen the social media activity of certain student visa applicants for evidence of support for terrorist organizations, two sources familiar with the memo told CNN. The expansive directive, signed by Rubio, tasks Fraud Prevention Units at the State Department with taking screenshots of any social media activity that is relevant to the ineligibility of a visa applicant, and to preserve those records in case the applicant deletes the information, the sources said. Decisions on visas are national security decisions, the memo says while citing executive orders from President Donald Trump to combat terrorism and antisemitism. CNN has reached out to the State Department for comment. CNNs Gloria Pazmino and Sean Lyngaas contributed to this report. This story has been updated with additional information. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com The Trump administrations latest attempt to erase transgender people from public life hit a major roadblock when two federal judges ruled that its ban on transgender military service is likely unconstitutional. In a scathing opinion, Washington, D.C., U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes called the policy issued by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth soaked in animus and dripping with pretext, blocking its enforcement. In a separate case, U.S. District Judge Benjamin H. Settle of the Western District of Washington issued a nationwide injunction halting the ban, writing that it was not an especially close question. But how did we get here? And what happens next? Where did the second trans military ban come from? President Donald Trump first announced a ban on transgender military service during his first term in 2017on Twitter . The move reversed an Obama-era policy that had allowed transgender service members to serve openly and came without any consultation with military leaders. The administration claimed that allowing trans people to serve would be too expensive and disruptive. But the facts never backed that up. After fierce legal battles, the Trump administration modified the policy, allowing some transgender service members to remain but effectively shutting the door on new recruits. President Joe Biden overturned the ban in 2021, restoring open service. But when Trump returned to office, he revived the ban, issuing Executive Order 14183, titled Prioritizing Military Excellence and Readiness, on January 27, to bar transgender individuals from serving and to begin removing those already enlisted. Who are the transgender plaintiffs challenging the ban? On January 28, GLAD Law and the National Center for Lesbian Rights filed Talbott v. Trump on behalf of 20 transgender peopleboth active service members and those trying to enlist. Jennifer Levi, senior director of transgender and queer rights at GLAD Law, and Shannon Minter, legal director at NCLR, led the charge against the policy. Their argument was simple: This ban wasnt about military readinessit was about discrimination, plain and simple. Among the plaintiffs was Clayton McCallister, a 24-year-old Air Force recruit from Knoxville, Tennessee , who had spent over a year preparing to serve as a Pararescue operatora highly demanding military role. After successfully enlisting in January, his plans were upended when his March deployment was suddenly canceled because of Trumps executive order. McCallister, who had left his civilian job in preparation for military service, found himself in a state of uncertainty, struggling to support his wife and newly adopted daughter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its important to me just to be here and to be a part of it, McCallister told The Advocate. Im standing here with a lot of people that have a lot more experience than I do, and Im just grateful to the legal team and everyone thats put their story out there to help the fight. He emphasized that his dream was simply to work hard. I just want to go out there and serve my country, help other people, and do something bigger than me. Anyone willing and able and capable of doing that should be allowed to. Among the other plaintiffs were Major Erica Vandal, a decorated field artillery officer with nearly 14 years of service, and Second Lieutenant Nicholas Talbott, a member of the Army Reserve who spent almost a decade fighting for his right to serve. Vandal, 36, has served honorably for over 13 years in the U.S. Army, earning commendations, including a Bronze Star during a deployment to Afghanistan. She currently serves as a Brigade Fire Support Officer, leading and certifying over 70 personnel. Her military career has been a lifelong commitment, following in the footsteps of her father, a retired three-star general. We remain trained, ready, and deployable. We just want the opportunity to continue our legacy of honorable service to our country, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Talbott, 31, endured years of setbacks due to shifting military policies on transgender service members. A sociology graduate with a background in global security studies, Talbott had trained for military service through ROTC before being barred from enlisting under Trumps initial ban. After Biden lifted the policy, he finally took his enlistment oath in 2024 and graduated with honors from Officer Candidate School. My military service is something that Ive spent the greater portion of my adult life working toward, he told The Advocate. I cant even fathom what my family has been feeling, sitting on the sidelines, watching me go through this, trying to be as supportive as possible. What happened in court about the trans military ban? Before issuing her ruling, Reyes presided over a tense, five-hour hearing where she relentlessly questioned the Trump administrations justification for banning transgender service members. Department of Justice attorney Jason Manion, a Federalist Society-affiliated lawyer and former aide to Texas Republican Sen. Ted Cruz, struggled to defend the administrations position under Reyes scrutiny. She accused the government of "cherry-picking" and "egregiously misquoting" scientific evidence and noted that the Pentagons own studies revealed that transgender service members have lower rates of disability incidents compared to their cisgender counterparts. When Manion admitted he hadnt read the studies he was citing, Reyes paused proceedings for a 30-minute recess, firmly instructing government attorneys, Get out the studies. Were going to go over them. Returning from the break, Reyes systematically dismantled the governments rationale, pointing out that service members who require insulin or other hormone therapies deploy routinely, yet similar treatments for transgender personnel were inexplicably deemed too complicated. Reyes also took issue with Hegseths public statements, in which he questioned transgender troops integrity and warrior ethos. When Manion attempted to downplay these remarks as shorthand, Reyes fired back, Do you think you can say one thing in public and another thing in court? What did Judge Ana Reyes say in her ruling against the ban? Reyes ruling wasnt just a rejection of the administrations arguments it was a full-scale takedown. In her 79-page opinion, she stated that the ban was a solution in search of a problem and lambasted the administration for its lack of evidence. Reyes noted that the governments justification was rooted in misinformation, prejudice, and a fundamental misunderstanding of military operations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Military Ban, like past efforts to exclude marginalized groups, rests on irrational prejudice, Reyes wrote, drawing parallels between the treatment of transgender troops and historical discrimination against racial minorities, women, and gay and lesbian service members. The court found that the cost of providing gender-affirming medical care to transgender service members was minimal compared to overall military health care expenditures , with Reyes highlighting that the Department of Defense spends significantly more on erectile dysfunction medications like Viagra than on transgender medical care. Furthermore, the court determined that transgender troops were as employable and deployable as their cisgender counterparts, contradicting the administrations claims. She further pointed out that the administrations attempts to paint transgender service members as weak and unfit were not only offensive but factually incorrect. The policy brands transgender troops as weak, dishonorable, undisciplined, boastful, selfish liars who are mentally and physically unfit to serve, she wrote. This is not policy. This is discrimination. What happens next? Though Reyes issued a preliminary injunction blocking the ban, her order was quickly met with pushback. On March 27, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit granted the Trump administrations emergency request for an administrative stay, temporarily halting enforcement of Reyes ruling while the court considers the governments appeal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The purpose of this administrative stay is to give the court sufficient opportunity to consider the emergency motion for stay pending appeal and should not be construed in any way as a ruling on the merits, the order stated. The D.C. Circuit gave plaintiffs until April 1 to respond and the DOJ until April 3 to reply. "If any action occurs that negatively impacts service members under the Hegseth Policy and MDI Guidance before the court lifts the administrative stay, the plaintiffs may file a motion to lift the administrative stay, and the court will consider it expeditiously," the court added. On the same day, Settle issued a separate nationwide preliminary injunction in Commander Emily Shilling et al. v. United States, blocking the same Trump-era ban. Settles ruling prevents the administration from implementing Executive Order 14183 and the associated Military Department Identification guidance targeting transgender troops. The governments unrelenting reliance on deference to military judgment is unjustified in the absence of any evidence, Settle wrote. Any evidence that such service over the past four years harmed any of the militarys inarguably critical aims would be front and center. But there is none. The Shilling suit was filed by Lambda Legal and the Human Rights Campaign Foundation on behalf of seven active-duty transgender service members, one transgender person seeking to enlist, and the Seattle-based Gender Justice League. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These efforts to stall the preliminary injunction from going into effect burden military families with a crushing amount of pressure, Levi said. Minter added that the governments tactics seem designed to muddy the waters. For now, thanks to Settles order, transgender service members can continue to serve and enlist nationwide, even as the D.C. Circuit weighs the governments appeal in Talbott. The DOJ has also appealed Settles ruling to San Franciscos Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and requested an immediate emergency stay, but the court has not yet ruled on that motion. We are going to show up, we are going to do our jobs, we are going to stay mission-focused and combat-ready, Talbott said. Because at the end of the day, thats really the only thing that matters. SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KCAU) Here are the top headlines from this morning. Some upcoming severe-weather awareness and storm spotter training classes have been canceled in Sioux City and Norfolk. National Weather Service offices cancel more storm spotter/severe weather trainings After a fire chief in Pocahontas lost his home to a fire, local residents stepped up to help him and his family. Clothing drive for Pocahontas fire chiefs family Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thousands of people gathered in downtown Sioux City for a multicultural fair. Siouxland Multicultural Fair kicks off for its final year Check out these headlines and more in the video player above. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to SiouxlandProud | Sioux City, IA | News, Weather, and Sports. PARIS (AP) French far-right leader Marine Le Pen has been sentenced to a five-year ban on running for public office for embezzling EU funds, a major political earthquake. The ruling, which takes effect immediately, is likely to bar her from running in Frances next presidential election. Le Pen, who was twice runner-up to French President Emmanuel Macron, has enjoyed growing support in recent years. Monday's verdict will weigh heavily on political life, both in France and more widely in Europe, and on her own future as a political force. What does the ruling say? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For Le Pen, the worst-case scenario materialized. The 56-year-old daughter of the late far-right totemic figure Jean-Marie Le Pen was sentenced to two years under house arrest while wearing an electronic ankle bracelet, and an additional two-year suspended sentence, and five years ineligibility for public office with immediate effect. Le Pens lawyer said she would appeal the verdict but she will remain ineligible while she does and so could be ruled out of the 2027 presidential race. Le Pen wont serve the house arrest sentence until all appeals are exhausted but the ban on running for office will be implemented immediately despite her legal challenge. With the election just two years away, time is running out, and theres no guarantee that an appeals court would rule more favorably. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Le Pen and other National Rally party officials stood trial for having used money intended for European Union parliamentary aides instead to pay staff who worked for the party between 2004 and 2016, violating the 27-nation blocs regulations. The National Rally was called the National Front at the time. The judge said Le Pen had been at the heart of a system that her party used to siphon off EU parliament money. Le Pen, who denied wrongdoing. was also fined 100,000 euros ($108,000). Le Pen's efforts ruined Monday's ruling came amid record ratings in opinion polls for Le Pen, who hoped her decade-long efforts to steer her party towards the mainstream would finally deliver at the next presidential election. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since she inherited the leadership of the National Front party from her father in 2011, she has worked to crack the wall of fear of the far right that so far has barred their path to the presidency. She changed the party name and booted her embarrassing father out in 2015, part of her effort to rid the renamed National Rally of the taint of racism and antisemitism that clung to the far right for decades. A wily politician, Le Pen also transformed her own image from that of an aggressive, anti-system proponent to a mild-mannered spokeswoman for Frances forgotten. The normalization strategy has paid off and the party has become the main political group in the lower house of the Parliament, developing a strong network of officials across France. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What's next? Since 2011, Le Pen has been the leading figure of the National Rally. Ten years later, Jordan Bardella, 29, succeeded her as party president so that she could focus on the upcoming presidential election. Last year, Bardella led the party's campaign for the European elections while Le Pen took the helm of the group of RN lawmakers at the French National Assembly. Under Monday's ruling, Le Pen is allowed to keep her mandate as a member of Parliament. Bardella had a meteoric rise to the top, honing his political skills as the president of the partys youth wing. Although he has been careful not to overshadow Le Pen, his popularity has grown fast, especially among young people. If Le Pen is effectively banned from running, Bardella seems like the natural candidate to succeed her. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Yet observers say theres no guarantee he would be able to convince as many voters as she does. In recent months, some voices inside the party have criticized his management as too focused on his personal career. Le Pens party takes a financial hit The National Rally was fined 2 million euros, of which it must definitely pay 1 million, while the other half would be demanded in the event of a repeat offence. The party will also relinquish another million euros which were confiscated during the investigation. Its unclear how big an impact the confiscation and fine will have on the partys coffers. An audit of the partys accounts between 2013 and 2016 revealed that it was running a deficit of 9.1 million euros by the end of 2016. Yet, the party still had a cash balance of 1.7 million euros and had lent 1 million euros to Le Pens 2017 presidential campaign, while also holding 87,000 euros in loans to Cotelec, its funding association. At the time, the party was also indebted to a Russian bank for 9.4 million euros, a loan taken out in 2014 for 6 million euros. However, the National Rally's electoral successes in last year's legislative elections provided broad financial resources to the party. In France, state funding of political parties is largely based on election results. HANNOVER, Germany, March 31 (Xinhua) -- Hannover Messe 2025, Germany's leading industrial trade fair, opened on Monday with a strong focus on industrial artificial intelligence (AI), highlighting the technology's transformative role in shaping the future of manufacturing. Held under the theme "energizing a sustainable industry," the five-day event has drawn more than 3,800 exhibitors from around 60 countries and regions. Chinese companies make up a significant portion of participants, with around 1,000 exhibitors, making China the second-largest exhibitor group after host country Germany, according to the organizer. Speaking at the opening ceremony on Sunday evening, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz stressed the importance of technological innovation and sovereignty, particularly in fields such as AI, e-mobility, clean energy, and robotics. However, Scholz also warned of growing challenges to global progress. Rising geopolitical tensions, trade barriers, and protectionist measures - including tariffs imposed by the United States - are disrupting global trade and slowing technological development. "More uncertainty, more unpredictability, more tariffs, more fragmentation - this is not good news for most companies," Scholz said. He urged for stronger international cooperation to drive innovation, noting that "technological advancements are more successful when we collaborate across sectors, disciplines, and countries." Now in its nearly 80th year, Hannover Messe has long served as a key platform for showcasing cutting-edge industrial technology. This year, industrial AI takes center stage, reflecting its growing influence on manufacturing and automation. Beyond AI, the fair also features emerging industries such as digital platforms, electric vehicles and charging infrastructure, hydrogen fuel cells, and quantum technology. Siemens AG CEO Roland Busch echoed the emphasis on AI, calling for its deep integration into core industrial operations. "AI and data-driven technologies should not just be added to existing processes," he said. "They must be embedded into the heart of products, software, and business models to realize their full potential." Russia views efforts to end its three-year war with Ukraine as a drawn-out process, a Kremlin spokesman said Monday, after U.S. President Donald Trump expressed frustration with the two countries leaders as he tries to bring about a truce. We are working to implement some ideas in connection with the Ukrainian settlement. This work is ongoing, Dmitry Peskov said in a conference call with reporters. There is nothing concrete yet that we could and should announce. This is a drawn-out process because of the difficulty of its substance, the Kremlin spokesman said when asked about Trumps anger at Russian President Vladimir Putins comments dismissing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyys legitimacy to negotiate a deal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Russia has effectively rejected a U.S. proposal for a full and immediate 30-day halt in the fighting. The feasibility of a partial ceasefire on the Black Sea, used by both countries to transport shipments of grain and other cargo, was cast into doubt after Kremlin negotiators imposed far-reaching conditions. Trump promised during last years U.S. election campaign that he would bring Europes biggest conflict since World War II to a swift conclusion. Peskov didnt directly address Trumps criticism of Putin on Sunday, when he said he was angry, pissed off that Putin had questioned Zelenskyys credibility as leader. But the spokesman said that Putin remains absolutely open to contacts with the U.S. president and was ready to speak to him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Both countries are preparing for a spring-summer campaign on the battlefield, analysts and Ukrainian and Western officials say. Putin on Monday ordered a regular bi-annual call-up intended to draft 160,000 conscripts for an one-year tour of compulsory military service. Russian authorities say that the troops deployed to Ukraine only include volunteers who signed contracts with the military and conscripts aren't sent to the frontline. Some draftees, however, fought and were taken prisoners when the Ukrainian military launched an incursion into Russia's Kursk region in August. Zelenskyy said late Sunday that there has been no reduction in Russias attacks as it drives on with its invasion of Ukraine that began in February 2022. The geography and brutality of Russian strikes, not just occasionally, but literally every day and night, show that Putin couldnt care less about diplomacy, Zelenskyy said in his daily address. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And almost every day, in response to this proposal, there are Russian drones, bombs, artillery shelling, and ballistic strikes, he said. He urged further international pressure on Moscow to compel Russia to negotiate, including new sanctions. The European Union's foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas picked up on that theme at a meeting of some of the blocs top diplomats in Madrid on Monday. Russia is playing games and not really wanting peace, Kallas told reporters ahead of the meeting, which was due to discuss the war. So our question is, how can we put more pressure on Russia. Trump said he would consider imposing further sanctions on Russia, which already faces steep financial penalties, and using tariffs to undermine its oil exports. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kharkiv, Ukraines second-largest city, came under another Russian drone attack overnight, injuring three people, the Ukrainian Interior Ministry said Monday. Russia also fired two ballistic missiles and 131 Shahed and decoy drones, the Ukrainian air force said. Meanwhile, Russias Defense Ministry said air defenses shot down 66 Ukrainian drones early Monday over three Russian regions. The continuing attacks by the Ukrainian armed forces on Russias energy facilities show the complete lack of respect for any obligations related to the settlement of the conflict in Ukraine by the Kyiv regime, the ministry said in a statement. ___ Follow APs coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine The Kremlin remains willing to engage with the U.S. despite reports that President Donald Trump is "very angry" over Russian President Vladimir Putin's latest remarks on Ukraine, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on March 31. The statement follows reports that Trump was "pissed off" over Putin's fixation on President Volodymyr Zelensky's legitimacy, NBC News reported on March 30. In a call with NBC journalist Kristen Welker, Trump said that Putin's latest demand for a transitional government in Ukraine to replace Zelensky suggests that peace talks are "not going in the right location." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Peskov downplayed the reports, claiming Trump's comments were paraphrased rather than direct quotes. He also reiterated that Putin remains open to dialogue with Washington. "We are working on implementing some ideas related to the Ukrainian settlement. This work is underway. So far, there are no specifics that we could and should have informed you about," Peskov added, as pro-government outlet Interfax reported. Moscow rejected a full 30-day truce agreed upon by the U.S. and Ukraine in Jeddah on March 11, demanding conditions that would weaken Kyiv's defenses, such as a halt to foreign military aid. Although Washington mediated a partial ceasefire in March, Russia targeted energy infrastructure in Kherson on March 27, despite earlier claims that it was adhering to a moratorium on such strikes since March 18. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump has floated measures such as additional sanctions and tariffs on Russian oil but has yet to take concrete steps to pressure Moscow. Instead, the U.S. president has largely focused his leverage on Ukraine and Zelensky, already cutting off U.S. military aid and intelligence sharing once. Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. LA SALLE, Ill. (WMBD) An incident in La Salle where a suspect was barricaded inside has been resolved. Sunday afternoon, the La Salle Police Department was called to the 700 block of Chartres Street to a report of a barricaded suspect, the department said in a post on their Facebook page. The situation has been resolved and there is no ongoing threat to the public, the post said. No further information on the situation was made immediately available. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This story will be updated. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CIProud.com. The last few weeks have been a wake-up call for Britain. Since Donald Trump returned to the White House, its clearer than ever that we can no longer rely on old assumptions about global stability. Britain needs to stand on its own two feet and that means securing a resilient and independent energy supply. The clear solution is nuclear power. Without it, Britains energy vulnerability could make our economy falter. Were already running down the tank without knowing where the next pit stop is. The days of cheap Russian gas are over, and Chinas dominance over critical minerals needed for renewable energy has left us dangerously exposed. But instead of grasping the scale of the threat, Labour is sleepwalking into an energy crisis. We need to strengthen Britains resilience now and should be leaning into our proud nuclear legacy to do so securing a reliable domestic energy source that can keep the lights on regardless of geopolitical turmoil. Instead, Ed Miliband has chosen virtue signalling green and ignoring the only true carbon-free economy possible. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Labours 2030 clean power plan is pure fantasy. Its a policy drawn up to please activists, not to protect British households. By overriding local opposition to wind and solar projects and creating the pointless GB Energy quango, Labour is sacrificing long-term energy stability and putting UK industry at risk. Worse still, theyve chosen to delay critical decisions on new nuclear projects even as the need for clean, secure energy becomes more urgent. The latest spending review now suggests cuts of up to 10 billion for new small modular reactor (SMR) projects. What was supposed to be three new contracts for the reactors could now be cut to just one a devastating blow that risks shifting an entire industry we have led on up to now, abroad. While this is happening we are urgently trying to rearm. But we cant regenerate our industrial base while energy prices in Britain are so much higher than those in similar countries. Weve hamstrung ourselves before even starting the race. Labours neglect of nuclear power doesnt just leave us exposed to hostile states; it actively undermines Britains nuclear legacy. Britain was the first nation in the world to operate a commercial nuclear power plant a testament to British innovation. Nuclear energy has supported 60,000 well-paid jobs in some of the UKs most deprived areas and contributes 6.2 billion annually to the economy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Yet Labour believes that Britains nuclear industry should be left to wither. Since the 1990s, nuclear production has fallen from 27 to 15 percent of our national energy supply. That decline isnt accidental its the result of political choices. Conservatives recognised this danger and acted, commissioning Hinkley Point C and establishing Great British Nuclear (an energy company owned by the Government) in 2023. But with Labour in charge, those hard-won gains are at risk. We also need to push back against the SNPs ideological opposition to nuclear. The partys rejection of nuclear energy isnt just short-sighted its a threat to national security, leaving Scotland, and the whole of the UK, poorer. If Britain is to reclaim energy independence, we need nuclear capacity across the whole country. For the sake of our national security, the Conservatives must reclaim the mantle of nuclear leadership. Labours ideological obsession with wind and solar technologies that cannot provide the consistent baseload power that nuclear offers is a strategic mistake. Britains future depends on a pragmatic, market-driven approach to nuclear. That means cutting red tape. The Conservative environment networks new policy paper lays out how. Britain should adopt a fast-track approval process for nuclear reactor designs already approved by trusted foreign regulators, such as those in South Korea and France. The delays to Hinkley Point C, caused by excessive design modifications, not only pushed back the projects timeline but also increased the need for steel and concrete by 35 and 25 percent respectively. Streamlining this process would save time and money and deliver reliable power sooner. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement British families deserve to feel safe in the knowledge that their energy supply isnt a hostage to Moscow or Beijing. Labour talks tough on defence but when it comes to energy security, Mr Milibands rhetoric is hollow. The Conservatives have always been the party of pragmatism and national resilience. Now is the time to prove it by putting nuclear back at the heart of Britains energy strategy. 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. What has the bloody war in Gaza to do with a ward election in Redbridge? A great deal if a plurality of its voters is to be believed. Last week, Noor Jahan Begum, an independent, won Mayfield in the Ilford South constituency. Labour saw its vote plummet by 45 per cent. Begum took 42.5 per cent from a standing start. The top of her election leaflet boasted the words I stand with Palestine. A protest vote of the kind that local elections often throw up here today, gone tomorrow? Perhaps. But Morgan McSweeney, Sir Keir Starmers chief of staff and main electoral strategist, is unlikely to think so. He will read the result as part of a bigger story one that is potentially terminal for the political project he has helped to shape. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To understand it, one must first get a sense of Mayfield and of Ilford South, the constituency of which its a part and the political neighbourhood. Not so long ago, the most visible minority population in Redbridge, the London borough of which Ilford is a part, was Jewish. The ward, during those years, was often Conservative: David Amess, later a Conservative MP, was one of the Tory councillors elected for Mayfield in 1982. One wonders what Amess murdered in his constituency surgery by an Islamist maniac, who cited the MPs support for Israel in justification would have made of last weeks result. He would certainly have clocked the demographic changes in his former ward. Jews and Muslims constituted about five per cent of the electorate each in 1982. Since then, the percentage of the former has dropped to almost zero, and that of the latter has risen to some 50 per cent. Begum is surely preparing for another tilt at Ilford South itself: after all, she had a go at it in last years general election, coming second. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, in the neighbouring seat of Ilford North, the mighty Wes Streeting Labours Health Secretary, the leading light of the partys moderate wing and a possible future leader scraped home by just over 500 votes. Again, an independent was second. And again, Gaza was at the front and centre of the campaign. Labour was not so fortunate in Blackburn, Dewsbury and Batley, Birmingham Perry Bar and Leicester South all of them bar the second formerly safe for Labour, all with a Muslim vote of over a third, and all of which fell to pro-Palestine independents. You can argue that the number of Labour seats vulnerable to such independents at the next election will be limited: in only 19 constituencies did the latter win more than a fifth of the vote in 2024, though some famous names are potentially vulnerable, including Shabana Mahmood, the Justice Secretary, in Birmingham Ladywood and, just about, Sir Keir himself (almost 20 per cent of his voters are Muslims). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But 19 constituencies lost would leave Labour 38 worse off since every seat the party loses another party must gain. And the pro-Palestine independents are only a part of McSweeneys problem on the Left. The other half is the Greens, who were second in only three seats in the 2019 general election. In 2024, they were the runner-up in 40. All but one of these seats was won by Labour. Eighteen of them are in London. A Green-Gaza pact at the next election would see the two forces divide up the spoils, with the Greens targeting such London seats as Hackney North and Stoke Newington and Hackney South and Shoreditch plus Bristol while the pro-Palestine independents concentrate on the Ilford constituencies, parts of Birmingham and Bradford. On paper, the traction of the Gaza war is limited, and most of these seats still look very safe for Labour. Practice is more complicated. In Mayfield, Begum also campaigned on sustainable housing, lower council tax and cutting crime and invoked the record of the local Labour MP, who rented out flats with black mould and ant infestations. The Greens are also converging on some of this electoral territory. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So as Sir Keir moves rightwards partly from necessity, partly through choice he is opening up space on his left for the independents and Greens to move into. Cuts in disability benefits, a role for the private sector in the NHS, positive relations with Donald Trump, an unwillingness to abandon Israel completely: all this is anathema to a coalition of younger women, Muslims, public sector workers and poorer urban voters. Here is McSweeneys nightmare. Labours core vote among the white working class has already crumbled. Now its remaining base among this inchoate alliance risks hollowing out, in this age of exceptional electoral volatility. If Labour moves further right (moving off its net zero targets, for example) it loses at one end. But if it goes left, it loses at the other even bigger. For of the 98 seats in which Reform is second, Labour hold 89. Nigel Farage is coming to eat Sir Keirs future. Mayfield, along with the rise of the independents and the growth of the Greens, matters to Britains voters as a whole, not just to Downing Streets election planners. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We cast our votes as we will. Muslims have as much of a right to do so as voters of any other faith or none. If many of them and left-wing secularists, in even bigger numbers want to support the Palestinian cause, then so be it. But fragmentation comes at a price arguably, to our national interest; certainly, to peace, civil order and stability. The last election saw a rise in intimidation, threats and harassment. Amess had been slaughtered. So, too, two years earlier, was Jo Cox. The rise of the independents mirrors a rise in communalism. If Labour and the Greens become parties of Pakistan and Palestine, and the Conservatives and Reform those of India and Israel, how can we hold together? How will we cohere? Lord Goodman of Wycombe is a Senior Fellow at Policy Exchange 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. Well, it took a few years, a finely honed blind eye and a complete capitulation of ethics, but former Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich finally has landed a plum job. President Donald Trump on March 28 named Brnovich as the U.S. ambassador to Serbia. Mark is a proud Veteran of the Army National Guard, and previously served as Attorney General for the Great State of Arizona, Trump announced on Truth Social. As the son of refugees who fled communism, Mark will be a strong advocate for Freedom, and always put AMERICA FIRST. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Funny, I still recall when Trump referred to him as lackluster Attorney General Mark Brnovich. This, for his refusal to buy into the delusion that Trump really won Arizona in 2020. Brnovich wanted a Trump endorsement in 2022 Indeed, Brnovich was the first statewide official to cross Trump, declaring that Joe Biden legitimately won Arizona. It came down to: People split their ticket, a matter-of-fact Brnovich told Fox Business Neil Cavuto on Nov. 11, 2020, as Arizona politicians all around him were diving for cover. People voted for Republicans down ballot, and they didnt vote for President Trump or (Senate candidate) Martha McSally. So, thats the reality. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Opinion: Brnovich can blame himself for his Senate free fall But Brnovich had his eye on a U.S. Senate seat in 2022 and quickly became less forthcoming when it came to facts. He is perhaps best known as the attorney general who turned his office into a cheap campaign tool as he chased after a Trump endorsement that would never come. Hes the attorney general who dispatched investigators on a yearlong examination of the 2020 election in the wake of the state Senate audit, then in March 2022 hid the report that they found no evidence of any widespread fraud. Hes the guy who instead released an interim report a month later, insinuating that something nefarious was afoot a report that Trump and the conspiracy crowd used to further promote their claim that Arizonas election was dirty. Brnovich turned a blind eye to fake electors But if you read that interim report claiming serious vulnerabilities and instances of election fraud, you found out that those instances numbered exactly nine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nine out of 3.4 million votes cast. And thats not counting then-state Republican Party Chairwoman Kelli Ward, then-incoming Rep. Jake Hoffman and the other phony Trump electors who in December 2020 signed a document avowing that they had been duly elected to cast Arizonas electoral votes for the guy who didnt win the election. It would be up to Brnovichs successor, Democratic Attorney General Kris Mayes, to investigate the fake electors scheme to steal Arizonas election. Somehow, Brnovich never quite found the time. Despite his capitulation, he never got the coveted Trump endorsement. Maybe there is redemption for other sycophants? Instead, Trump dubbed him a lackluster attorney general who didnt go after the Crime of the Century that took place during the 2020 election, which was Rigged and Stolen. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Possibly because all the actual evidence showed it wasnt. Not rigged. Not stolen. And certainly not the Crime of the Century. Yet even after Brnovichs loss to the Trump-endorsed Blake Masters in the Republican primary, with five months remaining in his term, he never relocated his ethics to launch an investigation into the fake electors. Turns out, that was the smart move. Because now Brnovich is packing up his nunchucks (hey, if you know, you know) and heading to Serbia. Proving there is hope yet for Kelli Ward, the fake elector whose loyalty to Trump was eventually rewarded with a criminal indictment accusing her of felony fraud, forgery and conspiracy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Maybe ... ambassador to Siberia? Reach Roberts at laurie.roberts@arizonarepublic.com. Follow her on X (formerly Twitter) at @LaurieRobertsaz, on Threads at @LaurieRobertsaz and on BlueSky at @laurieroberts.bsky.social. Like this column? Get more opinions straight into your email inbox by signing up for our free opinions newsletter, which publishes Monday through Friday. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Trump rewards former Arizona leader who hid election report | Opinion Police are searching for a Lamborghini driver who fled the scene of a deadly crash involving a Toyota SUV in Hancock Park early Monday morning. The crash was reported shortly before 1:30 a.m. near 1st Street and Highland Avenue. Video from the scene showed the badly damaged Toyota had spun around before coming to a stop with its front end on top of a large boulder. Emergency responders found two badly injured victims, a male and a female, who were occupying the Toyota. Emergency crews respond to a crash involving a Lamborghini in Los Angeles on March 31, 2025. (KNN) The female, who was in the passenger seat, was pronounced dead after being transported to a local hospital, Los Angeles Police Department Officer Cervantes said. The male victim was listed in critical condition. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Investigators believe the Lamborghini was traveling northbound on Highland when it struck the Toyota headed eastbound on 1st. Cervantes said the Lamborghini driver abandoned the vehicle and fled the scene, prompting a hit-and-run investigation. No description of the driver was immediately available. KTLAs Nancy Fontan and Alberto Mendez 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 KTLA. Editors note: This story has been updated to correct the number of Robeson County residents who self-identify as American Indian. We apologize for the error. PEMBROKE, N.C. (WBTW) Nearly 1,400 acres of sacred ancestral lands are being handed over to the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina in a land deal announced Monday by a national conservation group. We are excited to reconnect with this land, which weve not been able to access for a very long time. Our people are outdoors people, and the ability to steward this land for Lumbee and visitors alike is truly special, Tribal Chairman John Lowery said in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement New York-based Open Space Institute acquired the 1,382-acre Camp Island property with funding support from a private family foundation and a North American Wetlands Conservation Act grant facilitated by Ducks Unlimited. Open Space Institute then donated the property rich with cultural significance and natural resources to the tribe. The nonprofit said Camp Island represents the first opportunity to establish a large, protected natural area under Lumbee stewardship. According to 2020 Census figures, roughly 48,000 of Robeson Countys 116,000 residents self-identied as American Indian the highest concentration of that demographic in any county east of the Mississippi River. The Camp Island grounds are special among the Lumbees as a cultural site where significant indigenous artifacts have been found. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In addition to its tribal significance, officials said keeping the land away from private development will have environmental benefits as well, since several blackwater samps on site drain directly into the Lumber River. Were excited to join forces with OSI and the Lumbee Tribe to funda project that holds tremendous value for wetlands, wildlife and the community, said Emily Purcell, who runs Ducks Unlimiteds southeastern conservation programs. Camp Islands history traces back to pre-colonial times and once housed a pro-British loyalist encampment. In the 1850s, escaped slaves set up a small community on the grounds. * * * Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Adam Benson joined the News13 digital team in January 2024. He is a veteran South Carolina reporter with previous stops at the Greenwood Index-Journal, Post & Courier and The Sun News in Myrtle Beach. Adam is a Boston native and University of Utah graduate. Follow Adam on X, formerly Twitter, at @AdamNewshound12. See more of his work here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBTW. Landlords and senior Tory MPs are considering launching a legal challenge against the Governments Renters Rights Bill, reports suggest. Baroness Jane Scott, the shadow housing minister, is understood to have held a private meeting with some of the countrys largest landlords and estate agents to discuss possible ways in which they might delay or prevent the bills passing. Among the proposals was a challenge in the courts under human rights law. A similar case mounted by Scottish landlords last year unsuccessfully argued rent caps breached landlords right to property. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Three people present at the meeting told The Guardian they had also discussed delaying the bill with repeated rounds of amendments in the House of Lords. The Renters Rights Bill, introduced to Parliament last September, is set to implement several key protections for tenants, including a ban on no-fault evictions and fixed-term tenancy agreements. Awaabs law, a key feature of the bill, will require landlords to carry out essential repairs within fixed time periods, such as dealing with damp and mould. The bill is expected to become law later this year. Former housing minister Michael Gove attempted to pass similar legislation last year, but new Tory leader Kemi Badenoch has shifted her partys stance away from backing the Governments plans to make life tougher for landlords. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The shadow housing ministers roundtable included representatives from property group Get Living, Dexters estate agents and the National Residential Landlord Association (NRLA), among others, The Guardian reported. The latter group has denied involvement in any discussions regarding legal challenges to the bill. Critics of the Renters Rights Bill have warned that it could lead to a rise in rents, as landlords sell up and flee the sector amid tougher conditions and dwindling profits. A third are now looking to sell off some or all of their rental properties, according to the latest English Private Landlord Survey, with just under two thirds blaming recent changes in legislation. In 2023, the Scottish Association of Landlords mounted a failed legal challenge against the Scottish governments attempts to bring in a temporary rent cap, citing the right to property as enshrined in the European convention on human rights. A Conservative party spokesman said: The Conservatives have been warning that this bill is deeply flawed, as it will lead to a reduced supply of rental homes. This will increase the cost of renting, affecting people across the country and in particular young people who are more likely to be living in the private rented sector. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As is standard practice with all legislation, the official opposition engages privately with a range of stakeholders to hear their views. Not all of the groups in attendance were comfortable with the ideas discussed, The Guardian said, with some industry figures having accepted that the bill will become law, with a preference for it to pass quickly with amendments that offer landlords more certainty. Ben Beadle, chief executive of the NRLA, said: The NRLA has long accepted that Section 21 is going and is not campaigning to retain it. Our focus remains solely on ensuring the Renters Rights Bill is workable in practice without undermining its core objectives. A spokesperson for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government said: Our Renters Rights Bill will create a fairer housing market for all, and good landlords have nothing to fear from our reforms. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We will transform private renting and strengthen tenant rights by stopping landlords from demanding large amounts of rent in advance, abolishing section 21 no fault evictions, empowering tenants to challenge excessive rent hikes, and ending unfair bidding wars. If youre a landlord, find out how to make the Renters Rights Bill work in your favour. 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. Jeff Landry greets supporters Oct. 14, 2023, at The Ballroom in Broussard after claiming an outright win in the Louiaian governor's race Oct. 14, 2023. (Travis Gauthier for Louisiana Illuminator) Blame George Soros. That was the message from Gov. Jeff Landry and the Louisiana Republican Party before and after Saturdays election that saw voters resoundingly reject four constitutional amendments. In their eyes, the Hungarian-born billionaire who conservatives bash for all things left-leaning was also responsible for their failed referendum. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sure, if you want to connect the faint dots, a Soros organization did make a substantial donation in 2023 to an offshoot of one of the groups in a coalition that opposed the amendments. But theres no way of knowing if that money from two years ago was spent on this Louisiana election. The results were particularly disappointing to Landry, who spent much of his time over the past month on the chamber of commerce luncheon circuit campaigning for Amendment 2. Among the many things the convoluted proposal would have done is substantially reconfigure the states tax and budget laws. We realize how hard positive change can be to implement in a state that is conditioned for failure. Gov. Jeff Landry Boiled down from 115 pages to fit on an election ballot, the overwhelming consensus was Amendment 2 was too much for voters to digest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The ballot language does not explain the extensive breadth and depth of the amendments impact, the neutral Public Affairs Research Council of Louisiana wrote in its breakdown for Amendment 2. Its analyses are the widely accepted gold standard for translating such ballot proposals into plain English. The governor, however, didnt see it that way. Unfortunately, Soros and far left liberals poured millions into Louisiana with propaganda and outright lies about Amendment 2, Landry said in a statement Saturday night. 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. Its a rather odd choice of words from someone who voters overwhelmingly put into office without a runoff less than 18 months ago. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While its not surprising that Landry would lean on the GOPs tried-and-tired Soros slander, his bashing of the Louisiana electorate came off as rather judgmental. Tell us you think little of voters, governor, without saying you think little of voters. Echoing his condescending tone ahead of the election was the state Republican Party. Rather than attempt to explain Amendment 2 to voters admittedly, a near-impossible task the LAGOP doubled down on scare tactics in emails sent to members Friday and Saturday. Did you know: George Soros is funding FAKE NEWS campaigns against Amendment 2 on the March 29 ballot? Fridays message read. No one expected the governor and Republicans to acknowledge the unpopularity of the four amendments. But Saturdays election results send the clear message that voters, regardless of party, have grown tired of such propaganda. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Maybe it has something to do with the Republican president running roughshod over the U.S. Constitution in his first two months in office and failing to deliver on many of his hollow campaign promises. Sure, it might be a stretch to blame Trump for the four amendments failing, but he certainly didnt help their chances. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Early voting turnout numbers show Democrats voted in greater numbers. But make no mistake, many Republicans questioned the proposed constitutional changes. They, too, complained over the lack of clarity in Amendment 2 and what they saw as power grabs in the other three proposals. And with just 21% turnout overall, a considerable majority of voters said no by not bothering to show up at the polls. There were indications ahead of Saturdays election the four amendments were doomed to fail, but state Republican leaders were either unaware or in denial. By then, early voting turnout figures provided some writing on the wall. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That much was revealed a week ago at the White House when Landry joined Trump, House Speaker Mike Johnson and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise to announce Hyundais plans to build a $5.8 billion steel mill in Ascension Parish. Before Trump appeared, a hot microphone captured a conversation about the upcoming election among the three Louisiana leaders. Scalise noted that a Jefferson Parish Council race was also on Saturdays ballot, which he suggested would help turnout there. Youve gotta predict most of them will be yes votes, Scalise said, referencing the amendments. Most of them yes votes, Landry repeats, then responds. You know youre doing something right when theyre spending money against you. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Scalise is seemingly out of touch with his home parish, as its voters fell in line with statewide trends, with two-thirds of voters dismissing all four amendments. It was one of 49 parishes where no swept the ballot, compared with 11 where yes prevailed across the board. Amendment 2 gained approval in just three other parishes. As for the governors take on opposition spending, it should be noted spending in favor of Amendment 2 included $292,000 from a Landry political action committee, Make Louisiana Great Again. Campaign finance records show another $157,000 came from Americans for Prosperity, $125,000 from the Louisiana Republican Legislative Delegation and $14,000 from Louisiana House Speaker Phillip DeVilliers Foundation PAC. All totaled, thats $580,000 spent in support of Amendment 2, compared with $509,000 from opponents of all four proposals hardly the millions the governor claimed. So either our governor is bad at math, or hes chosen to spread some fake news of his own. Neither is a good look for Louisiana. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE VILNIUS, March 31 (Xinhua) -- The bodies of three U.S. soldiers who went missing last week have been found in a swamp at the Pabrade training area in Lithuania's Svencionys District, the U.S. Army Europe and Africa said in a statement on Monday. The whereabouts of a fourth soldier remained unknown. "Three U.S. Army soldiers (...) were found deceased in Lithuania today," the statement reads, adding that their identities are being withheld pending notification of next of kin. Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda has extended condolences over the deaths of the soldiers, Baltic News Service (BNS) reported. Search and recovery operations continue for the remaining fourth soldier. The search and recovery operation was launched on March 25 to locate four U.S. servicemen and a tracked vehicle that went missing during a training exercise in the General Silvestras Zukauskas Training Area in Pabrade. Defense Minister Dovile Sakaliene confirmed on Monday that the armored vehicle had been recovered. It had sunk into a swamp and become deeply lodged in the mud. The large-scale rescue operation has involved both Lithuanian and U.S. forces, along with other Lithuanian authorities. Several dozen Polish troops equipped with specialized equipment have also joined the effort. President Donald Trump says Wednesday will be Liberation Day when he plans to roll out a set of tariffs he promises will free the United States from foreign goods. The details of Trumps next round of import taxes are still sketchy. Most economic analyses say average U.S. families would have to absorb the cost of his tariffs in the form of higher prices and lower incomes. But an undeterred Trump is inviting CEOs to the White House to say they're investing hundreds of billions of dollars in new projects to avoid the import taxes. Here's the latest: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement House committee weighs proof of citizenship proposal for voter registration The House Committee on Rules is considering the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, known as the SAVE Act. Voting by noncitizens is rare, but Republican Rep. Bryan Steil told the committee that one noncitizen voting in U.S. elections is too much. Top Republicans have said the SAVE Act cements into law Trumps executive order last week that seeks a proof of citizenship requirement. A lawsuit challenging the order was filed Monday. Democratic Rep. Joe Morelle spoke against the bill, saying it would force Americans into a paperwork nightmare. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Voting rights groups gathered in Washington, D.C., on Monday to highlight that millions of Americans do not have easy access to their birth certificates, only about half have U.S. passports, and married women would need multiple documents if they have changed their name. Trump says administration likely will roll back auto efficiency requirements to 2020 standards Trump said the subject came up when he met Monday with the chairman of automaker Stellantis, calling the 2020 requirements a strong standard and that tightening under President Joe Biden made it impossible for people to build cars. Biden prioritized improving efficiency as to cut back on harmful greenhouse gas emissions and to encourage automakers to transition to electric vehicles. Trump asserts the standards change would make no difference for the environment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump says hes happy that former daughter-in-law and Tiger Woods are dating Trump said Woods had called to tell him about the relationship with Vanessa Trump, the ex-wife of Donald Trump Jr., and the mother of their five children. The golfer recently confirmed the once-secret relationship in a social media post. Asked about the possibility of Woods becoming a member of the Trump family, the president said, Let em both be happy. Theyre both great. He told me about it, and I said, Tiger, thats good. Thats good. And Im very happy for both, Trump said. Top Democrats say Senate GOP is using accounting gimmick to cover cost of Trump tax cuts Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Enacting tax cuts for the wealthy will mean the Treasury has to borrow trillions of dollars more than it otherwise would, and billionaires win while working families pay the price, wrote Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and the ranking Democrats on the Budget and Finance committees in a letter to GOP leadership. As Senate Republicans push their framework forward, the Democrats said it is an obscene fraud and the American people wont stand for it. Trump previews first foreign trip Trump says the trip will include stops in Saudi Arabia, Qatar and possibly the United Arab Emirates and other places also. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump previewed the trip, which could come as soon as May, saying he wants to reward Saudi Arabia for its investment in the U.S. and says all three Gulf countries would be making commitments to creating jobs in the U.S. during his trip. He didnt detail the other potential stops. Trump decries Frances Marine Le Pen sentence and conviction Thats a big deal. Thats a very big deal, Trump said of the conviction and sentencing of the far-right leader in France. I know all about it. And a lot of people thought she wasnt going to be convicted of anything. A French court on Monday convicted Le Pen of embezzlement and barred her from seeking public office for five years a hammer blow to her presidential hopes and an earthquake for French politics. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It sounds like this country, Trump said. Trump discusses who hes considering for UN ambassador nomination Trump says hes considering nominating former U.S. Ambassador to Israel David Friedman and his special envoy Ric Grenell among others to serve as U.S. Ambassador to the UN. Trump pulled Rep. Elise Stefaniks nomination last week over concerns for Republicans holding their narrow majority in the House. Trump says hes had a lot of interest from people seeking to fill the role, calling it a star-making position. Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley served in the role at the beginning of Trumps first term in office. She later unsuccessfully challenged Trump for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump says his administration has opened a line of communication with North Korea Trump, who met with leader Kim Jong Un three times in his first term, said Monday there is communication between the two countries. He called the line of dialog important because the North is a nuclear power, and said he and Kim would probably do something at some point. The isolated country previously refused outreach from President Joe Bidens administration. Judge pauses Trump administration plans to end temporary legal protections for Venezuelans The order by U.S. District Judge Edward Chen in San Francisco is a relief for 350,000 Venezuelans whose Temporary Protected Status was scheduled to expire April 7. The lawsuit was filed by lawyers for the National TPS Alliance and TPS holders across the country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has also announced the end of TPS for an estimated 250,000 additional Venezuelans in September. Chen said in his ruling that the action by Noem threatens to: inflict irreparable harm on hundreds of thousands of persons whose lives, families, and livelihoods will be severely disrupted, cost the United States billions in economic activity, and injure public health and safety in communities throughout the United States. Read more about the judges order Trump says hed love to run against Obama The hypothetical matchup would require repealing the 22nd Amendment which limits presidents to two terms to bring about in reality. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The remarks come as Trump continues to muse about seeking a third term in office. They do say theres a way you can do it, but I dont know about that, but I have not looked into it, Trump told reporters about seeking a third term in the Oval Office. He said of facing off against former President Barack Obama: That would be a good one. Trump gets boost from Kid Rock for executive order on ticket sales Trump introduced Kid Rock as his friend, and said hes sometimes known as Bob. Trump said he didnt know too much about the issue, but I checked it out and it is a big problem, he told reporters in the Oval Office. The president signed an executive order Monday that he says will help curb ticket scalping and bring common-sense changes to the pricing for live entertainment events. Kid Rock, whose real name is Bob Ritchie, wore a bedazzled red suit with American flag and eagle motifs. He said artists never see any of that money and that the issue isnt political. Treasury Secretary meets with GOP senators at the Capitol on Trump tax cuts Secretary Scott Bessent and the White Houses chair of the National Economic Council Kevin Hassett arrived on Capitol Hill for an evening huddle as Republicans try to resolve differences on what the president has called a big, beautiful bill. GOP leaders are pushing this week to launch initial voting on a framework of some $4.5 trillion in tax cuts. But they are at odds over various provisions, including how much to offset the costs with spending cuts. Hegseth orders fitness standards to be gender neutral for combat jobs. Many already are Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered the military to make fitness standards for all combat jobs gender neutral, formalizing a process that largely exists for many of those jobs already. In a new memo, Hegseth told leaders of the military branches to distinguish which jobs are considered combat arms such as special operations or infantry that require heightened entry level and sustained physical fitness and which are not. The new order reflects Hegseths public complaints about fitness standards well before he took on the Pentagon job. While working as a Fox News commentator, Hegseth spoke about his opposition to women in combat jobs and his belief that standards were lowered to accommodate women. The order, however, could require some complicated assessments as all the services try to determine which jobs are classified as combat. Should all intelligence officers who often serve on the front lines count? Or should all sailors on a warship thats under fire be considered combat arms? The services have 60 days to come up with answers. Nonprofit watchdogs sue Trump administration over election executive order The Campaign Legal Center and the State Democracy Defenders Fund are suing the Trump administration over his sweeping executive order to overhaul the nations elections, including through a proof-of-citizenship requirement and new mail ballot deadline restrictions. The lawsuit argues Trumps order is unconstitutional and asks a court to block its implementation. The lawsuit names three nonprofit plaintiffs it alleges are harmed by Trumps demands: the League of United Latin American Citizens, the Secure Families Initiative and the Arizona Students Association. This marks the first major legal challenge to last weeks executive order, which election lawyers have warned may violate the Constitution and assert power the president doesnt have over an independent agency. Trump and his supporters have maintained the order is necessary to secure U.S. elections. Trump task force to review Harvards funding after Columbia bows to federal demands Harvard University has become the latest target in the Trump administrations approach to fight campus antisemitism, with the announcement of a new comprehensive review that could jeopardize billions of dollars for the Ivy League college. A federal antisemitism task force is reviewing more than $255 million in contracts between Harvard and the federal government to make sure the school is following civil rights laws, the administration announced Monday. The government also will examine $8.7 billion in grant commitments. The same task force cut $400 million from Columbia University and threatened to slash billions more if it refused a list of demands from Trumps administration. Columbia agreed to many of the changes this month. Read more about the review of Harvards funding EPA administrator closes agency museum Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin says he is closing a one-room museum at the agencys Washington headquarters, saving taxpayers about $600,000 a year. Zeldin, who has vowed to slash agency spending, said in a video posted Monday that the museum cost $4 million to build and attracted fewer than 2,000 visitors since it opened last year. The museum is yet another example of waste by the Biden administration, he said in the video, which was filmed in the museum. The project was overly focused on environmental justice and climate change, two Biden administration priorities, Zeldin said. While admission is free, the museums operating costs coupled with low attendance means it costs taxpayers about $315 per visitor, he said. This shrine to EJ (environmental justice) and climate change will now be shut down for good, Zeldin said. Read more about the EPA museum closure White House abruptly fires 2 career Justice Department prosecutors in latest norm-shattering move The move is a sign of Trumps tightening grip over a law enforcement agency known for its long tradition of political independence. On Friday, an assistant U.S. attorney in Los Angeles was fired without explanation in a terse email from the White House Presidential Personnel Office shortly after a right-wing activist posted about him on social media, according to a person familiar with the matter. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were concerned about potential retribution. That followed the White Houses firing last week of a longtime prosecutor who had been serving as acting U.S. attorney in Memphis. Justice Department political appointees typically turn over with a new administration, but rank-and-file career prosecutors remain with the department across presidential administrations and have civil service protections designed to shield them from being fired for political reasons. The breadth of terminations this year far outpaces the turnover typically seen inside the Justice Department. Read more about the Justice Department firings ___ Associated Press reporter Alanna Durkin Richer contributed. Trump to sign executive order targeting ticket reselling The executive order he is set to sign Monday would direct federal authorities to prioritize cracking down on ticket scalpers and others who profit from reselling entertainment tickets to consumers at a markup. The White House says Trump will call on the Federal Trade Commission to enforce an Obama-era law that outlawed the use of bots to purchase a large number of tickets for the purpose of resale. Hes also calling for price transparency in the ticketing industry, so consumers will know the true value of what theyre purchasing on the secondary market. Its one area where Trump and his predecessor, President Joe Biden, have agreed, as the Democrat sought to crack down on so-called junk fees across industries during his term in office. Senate GOP Leader says Trump just having some fun with idea of 3rd term You guys keep asking the question, Majority Leader John Thune said. And Trump is just having some fun with it, he said, probably messing with you. All Institute of Museum and Library Services employees have been placed on administrative leave The IMLS provides hundreds of millions of dollars each year in grants to libraries, museums and other cultural and educational institutions. According to a statement from the union representing the 77 IMLS employees, all work processing 2025 applications has ended and the status of previous grants is unclear. The institute was among several agencies targeted earlier this month in Trumps executive order that called for cutting federal organizations the president has determined are unnecessary. On March 20, Trump replaced the institutes acting director, Cyndee Landrum, with Keith Sonderling, who had recently been confirmed as deputy secretary of the Department of Labor. Sonderling said in a statement at the time that he was committed to steering this organization in lockstep with this Administration. The move to place IMLS employees on administrative leave was first reported by the independent journalist Marisa Kabas. Rubio to attend NATO foreign ministers meeting in Belgium Top agenda items for the meeting this week in Brussels include the Russia-Ukraine war, U.S. efforts to end the conflict, European security and threats from China. Secretary of State Marco Rubio will leave Wednesday to attend the NATO meeting and hold separate bilateral talks with allied counterparts on Thursday and Friday, the State Department said Monday. Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said the conversation would also include security priorities for the alliance and preparations for the upcoming NATO leaders summit to be held in the Netherlands this summer. Trump has alarmed European allies by suggesting that NATO is obsolete and threatening not to defend them unless they meet minimum defense spending criteria. Trumps reciprocal tariffs will overturn decades of trade policy President Trump is taking a blowtorch to the rules that have governed world trade for decades. The reciprocal tariffs hes expected to announce Wednesday are likely to create chaos for global businesses and conflict with Americas allies and adversaries alike. Since the 1960s, tariffs or import taxes have emerged from negotiations between dozens of countries. Trump wants to seize the process. Obviously, it disrupts the way that things have been done for a very long time, said Richard Mojica, a trade attorney at Miller & Chevalier. Trump is throwing that out the window ... Clearly this is ripping up trade. There are going to have to be adjustments all over the place. Pointing to Americas massive and persistent trade deficits not since 1975 has the U.S. sold the rest of the world more than its bought Trump charges that the playing field is tilted against U.S. companies. A big reason for that, he and his advisers say, is because other countries usually tax American exports at a higher rate than America taxes theirs. Trump has a fix: Hes raising U.S. tariffs to match what other countries charge. Read more about Trumps reciprocal tariffs Fire at New Mexico Republican Party headquarters under investigation as arson No suspect has been named in the Sunday morning blaze in Albuquerque thats under investigation by local authorities, the FBI, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Incendiary materials were found on the scene, according to an ATF spokesperson. Spray paint on the side of the building read ICE=KKK, said Lt. Jason Fejer with Albuquerque Fire Rescue. Fejer said federal officials were taking over the arson investigation. Republican leaders described the fire as a deliberate attack. The building had extensive smoke damage, which Republican party spokesperson Ash Soular said left the offices uninhabitable. The weekend fire followed vandalism across the U.S. in recent weeks targeting dealerships for Tesla, the electric car company owned by Elon Musk, whos leading Trumps efforts to slash the federal workforce. Read more about the fire at New Mexico GOP headquarters And Trump pardons a man whose sentence already was commuted for convictions stemming from Jan. 6 Thomas Caldwell, a retired Navy intelligence officer, was tried alongside Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes but acquitted of seditious conspiracy the most serious charge brought in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. Caldwells pardon is dated March 20. Defense attorney David Fischer said he informed Caldwell of the pardon Monday after learning about it from news reports. And hes elated, Fischer added. A jury convicted Caldwell of obstructing Congress on Jan. 6 and of obstructing justice for tampering with documents after the riot. One of those convictions was dismissed in light of a U.S. Supreme Court ruling last year. On Jan. 10, U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta sentenced Caldwell to time served with no supervised release. Prosecutors had recommended four years in prison for Caldwell. Ten days later, on his first day back in the White House, Trump issued a sweeping grant of clemency to all 1,500-plus people charged in the Capitol riot. Trump commuted the sentences of several defendants who were leaders and members of the Oath Keepers or Proud Boys extremist groups. Trump commutes the prison sentence of a man who says he was a business partner of Hunter Biden Jason Galanis, who was serving a lengthy prison sentence for various fraud schemes, is the second Hunter Biden associate to get clemency from Trump. Last week, he pardoned Devon Archer, a onetime business partner of the son of former President Joe Biden. Galanis testified via video last year in the House impeachment inquiry into Joe Biden. Galanis told lawmakers he expected to make billions with Hunter Biden and other associates, using the Biden family name in their foreign business dealings. Galanis described a particular time in May 2014 when Hunter Biden put his father on speakerphone for a brief chat with potential foreign business partners a Russian oligarch and her husband during a party at a New York restaurant. But Hunter Biden directly rebuffed involvement with Galanis in his own deposition, testifying he met Galanis for about 30 minutes 10 years ago. In earlier testimony, Galanis acknowledged he unsuccessfully sought a pardon in the final days of Trumps first term. US sanctions six Beijing and Hong Kong officials over role in implementing security law Those six sanctioned by the State Department on Monday include Hong Kongs secretary of justice and its police commissioner. The sanctions are over their role in the extraterritorial enforcement of a security law thats targeted nearly 20 pro-democracy activists, including one U.S. citizen and four other U.S. residents. The U.S. government said the six sanctioned officials have engaged in actions or policies that threaten to further erode the autonomy of Hong Kong in contravention of Chinas commitments, and in connection with acts of transnational repression. Also sanctioned were two assistant police commissioners, the Beijing official heading the Hong Kong office on safeguarding national security, and a top Hong Kong official serving on the committee of safeguarding national security. The sanctioned officials will see their property and interests in the U.S. blocked from transactions. The Hong Kong police in 2023 issued arrest warrants for five overseas-based activists and offered rewards of 1 million Hong Kong dollars ($128,000) for information leading to each of their arrests. Newark, New Jersey, mayor files complaint over a new immigration detention center The mayor of New Jerseys largest city filed the complaint in state court Monday saying the Trump administration and the private company GEO Group moved ahead with opening a new 1,000-bed immigration detention center without getting the proper permits. Newark Mayor Ras Baraka said in a statement that the administration and the company failed to get construction and other permits in violation of city ordinances and state law. Immigration and Customs Enforcement announced last month the opening of a detention center in Newark, saying it would be the first to open under the presidents second administration. Baraka is one of six Democrats running for governor in New Jersey this year. Messages seeking comment were left with ICE and GEO Group. Trump keeps talking about running for a third term. The US Constitution says that cant happen President Trump has just started his second term, his last one permitted under the U.S. Constitution. But hes already started talking about serving a third one. There are methods which you can do it, Trump insisted to NBC News in a telephone interview Sunday. That follows months of Trump making quips about a third term, despite the clear constitutional prohibition on it. Am I allowed to run again? Trump joked during a House Republican retreat in Florida in January. Just a week after he won election last fall, Trump suggested in a meeting with House Republicans that he might want to stick around after his second term was over. Trumps musings often spark alarm among his critics even when theyre legally impossible, given that he unsuccessfully tried to overturn his 2020 election loss and has since pardoned supporters who violently attacked the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. But Trump, who will be 82 when his term ends, has also repeatedly said this will be his last term. Trying for another also would flatly violate the Constitution. Read more about Trumps comments about a third term White House says its cased closed on Signal chat amid calls for investigations Press secretary Karoline Leavitt said National Security Adviser Mike Waltz continues to have Trumps confidence and that it was done discussing the embarrassing matter of senior officials communicating about plans for an airstrike against the Houthis in Yemen on a commercial messaging app. This case has been closed here at the White House as far as we are concerned, Leavitt said. Waltz added a journalist to the sensitive group chat on the platform Signal, where Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth divulged operational details on the strike and Vice President JD Vance discussed his reservations about the operation. Leavitt said there have been steps made to ensure that something like that can, obviously, not happen again, but did not provide any clarity on what those steps were. Lawmakers on Capitol Hill have called for an investigation into the sensitive conversation playing out on Signal. Trump will unveil plans to place reciprocal tariffs on nearly all US trading partners Wednesday Hell be joined in the Rose Garden by his Cabinet, press secretary Karoline Leavitt announced Monday. Leavitt said Trump believes its time for reciprocity but said the details of the announcement which have roiled the financial markets are up to Trump to announce. She said Trump had been presented with several proposals by his advisers but the president would make a final decision and, right now, Trump wasnt contemplating any country-wide exemptions from the tariffs. Trump administration says its deported 17 more criminals from the Tren de Aragua and MS-13 gangs The State Department said in a statement Monday that they were removed Sunday night and that the group included murderers and rapists. The statement didnt give nationalities, but the office of El Salvador President Nayib Bukele said Salvadorans and Venezuelans were among the prisoners. The men were transported to El Salvadors maximum security prison, where they changed into the standard white T-shirts and shorts and had their heads shaved. Hundreds of migrants facing deportation were sent there earlier this month. Some schools wont get the last of their federal COVID relief The Trump administration is pulling back a final round of federal pandemic aid from schools across the country, saying the money wasnt being spent on academic recovery. States were notified Friday that the Education Department will not disburse the remainder of the federal aid passed by Congress, although the vast majority has already been sent to schools. The department didnt say how much money is left of the total $189 billion approved by Congress, though officials said its in the billions. As of Feb. 19, the department said there was $4.4 billion left, or about 2%. A senior department official said the money was being misused on costs including astroturf fields and sets of bouncy glow balls. The agency said it will consider requests for individual projects related to pandemic recovery. Schools were supposed to spend the last of the relief by January, but the Biden administration allowed schools to request extensions. The Council of Chief State School Officers urged the department to rethink the decision, saying schools have already spent the money for pandemic recovery efforts and were promised reimbursement. A DOGE employee is put in charge of the US Institute of Peace, a federal court filing alleges The U.S. Institute of Peace is a congressionally created and funded think tank targeted by President Trump for closure. Two board members of the institute have authorized replacing its temporary president with Nate Cavanaugh, the filing says. They ordered him, it says, to transfer the institutes property to the General Services Administration, the federal governments real estate manager, which is terminating hundreds of leases at the behest of Elon Musks Department of Government Efficiency. The court filing asks U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell in Washington to stop the action or schedule a status conference to address the issues as soon as practicable. The White House didnt immediately respond to a request for comment. The action follows a Friday night mass firing of nearly all of the institutes 300 employees. Read more about DOGE and the U.S. Institute of Peace Wisconsin Supreme Court candidates make final push amid high spending and voting President Trumps preferred candidate for Wisconsin Supreme Court and his Democratic-backed challenger made a final blitz across the state Monday, the day before voting concludes in a race where early turnout has surged and spending is nearing $100 million. Billionaire Elon Musk, a top Trump adviser, held a rally in Green Bay on Sunday night to push for the election of Brad Schimel, a Waukesha County judge and former Republican attorney general. He faces Susan Crawford, a Dane County judge and former attorney who fought for abortion rights and to protect union power. Liberals currently hold a 4-3 advantage on the court, but the retirement of a liberal justice this year put the ideological balance in play. The court in battleground Wisconsin is expected to rule on abortion rights, congressional redistricting, union power and voting regulations in the coming years. Read more about the Wisconsin Supreme Court race Comic Amber Ruffin cut from White House correspondents event after angering Trump team The White House Correspondents Association says it canceled her from performing at its annual dinner because it wants to refocus the event on journalistic excellence. The associations announcement over the weekend made no mention of Ruffins appearance on a podcast by the Daily Beast last week in which she referred to the Trump administration as kind of a bunch of murderers. Ruffin, a writer for NBCs Seth Meyers and formerly a host of a Peacock talk show, also said she wouldnt try to make sure her jokes would target politicians of different stripes, as she was told by the correspondents association. Her comments drew angry responses from the Trump administration. The president isnt expected to attend the April event, which in past years has featured comics such as Stephen Colbert and Colin Jost. The last time a comedian did not perform at the dinner was in 2019, when historian Ron Chernow spoke. Read more about Amber Ruffin and the White House correspondents dinner From a lavish prison, Tren de Aragua ran a transnational gang. Now, its a favorite Trump target Tocoron once had it all. A nightclub, swimming pools, tigers, a lavish suite and plenty of food. This wasnt a Las Vegas-style resort, but it felt like it for some of the thousands who until recently lived in luxury in this sprawling prison in northern Venezuela. Here, between parties, concerts and weeks-long visits from wives and children, is the birthplace of the Tren de Aragua, a dangerous gang that has gained global notoriety after Trump put it at the center of his anti-immigrant narrative. But kidnappings, extorsion and other crimes were planned, ordered or committed from this prison long before Trumps rhetoric. The tiny, impoverished town where the Aragua Penitentiary Center is used to bustle with residents selling food, renting phone chargers and storing bags for prison visitors. Now, the prison is back under government control, and streets in the town, also called Tocoron, are mostly deserted. Read more about the Tren de Aragua gang Justice Department instructed to dismiss legal challenge to Georgia election law U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi on Monday instructed the Justice Department to dismiss the lawsuit. Georgia Republican lawmakers passed the sweeping election overhaul in the wake of Trumps 2020 election loss in the state. The lawsuit, filed in June 2021 under former President Joe Biden, alleged the Georgia law was intended to deny Black voters equal access to the ballot. Bondi said the Biden administration was pushing false claims of suppression. Georgians deserve secure elections, not fabricated claims of false voter suppression meant to divide us, she said. The law was part of a trend of Republican-backed measures that tightened rules around voting, passed in the months after Trump lost his reelection bid to Biden, claiming without evidence that voter fraud cost him victory. Read more about Georgias election law More than 1,900 US scientists sign open letter warning how Trump administration is damaging research The letter released Monday was penned by a group from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, which was created in 1863 to provide expert guidance to the government. Up to 19 Nobel laureates signed Mondays letter, which described how the administration is slashing funding for scientific agencies, terminating grants to scientists, defunding their laboratories and hampering international scientific collaboration. Those moves will increasingly put the United States at a disadvantage against other countries, the letter predicted. The signees said theyre speaking up for colleagues who have kept silent to avoid antagonizing the administration and jeopardizing their funding. Under the Trump administration, this years Transgender Day of Visibility has a different tenor On the campaign trail, Trump used contentiousness around transgender peoples access to sports and bathrooms to fire up conservative voters and sway undecideds. And in his first months back in office, Trump has pushed the issue further, erasing mention of transgender people on government websites and passports and trying to remove them from the military. For transgender people and their allies along with several judges whove ruled against Trump in response to legal challenges its a matter of civil rights for a small group. But many Americans believe those rights had grown too expansive. Trumps spotlight is giving Mondays Transgender Day of Visibility a different tenor this year. What he wants is to scare us into being invisible again, said Rachel Crandall Crocker, the executive director of Transgender Michigan who organized the first Day of Visibility 16 years ago. We have to show him we wont go back. Read more about Transgender Day of Visibility Stock markets around the world tumble as Trumps Liberation Day approaches On Wall Street, the S&P 500 was down 1.3% following one of its worst losses of the past couple of years Friday. Its on track to finish the first three months of the year with a loss of 6.4%, which would make this its worst quarter in nearly three years. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 295 points, or 0.7%, as of 9:35 a.m. Eastern time, and the Nasdaq composite was 2.3% lower. The U.S. stock markets drops followed a sell-off that spanned the world earlier Monday as worries build that tariffs coming Wednesday from Trump will worsen inflation and grind down growth for economies. Trump has said hes plowing ahead in part because he wants more manufacturing jobs back in the United States. In Japan, the Nikkei 225 index dropped 4%. South Koreas Kospi sank 3%, and Frances CAC 40 fell 1.5%. Read more about the financial markets Trump tariff tumult has ripples for sporting goods, puts costly hockey gear in price-hike crosshair Calls from the U.S. to Roustan Hockey headquarters in Canada in recent weeks have been anything but routine, as bulk orders of name-brand sticks have suddenly become complicated conversations. These customers want to know: When their orders ship, will they have to pay an additional 25% tariff? And we respond by saying, Well, right now we dont know, so they postpone their order or cancel their order because they want to know before they order what the cost is going to be, said Graeme Roustan, who owns the company that makes and sells more than 100,000 hockey sticks annually to the U.S. market. The prospect of 25% tariffs by Trump on Canadian imports, currently paused for some goods but facing full implementation Wednesday, has caused headaches if not havoc throughout the commercial ecosystem. The sports equipment industry is certainly no exception, with so many of the products manufactured for sports -loving Americans outside the U.S. Read more about the effects of possible tariffs on the price of sporting goods US immigration officials look to expand social media data collection 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 Trump. The March 5 notice raised alarms from immigration and free speech advocates because it appears to expand the governments 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 Trumps first term. Read more about what the new proposal means and how it might expand social media surveillance Elon Musk hands out $1 million payments after Wisconsin Supreme Court declines request to stop him Elon Musk gave out $1 million checks on Sunday to two Wisconsin voters, declaring them spokespeople for his political group, ahead of a Wisconsin Supreme Court election that the tech billionaire cast as critical to President Donald Trumps agenda and the future of civilization. Musk and groups he supports have spent more than $20 million to help conservative favorite Brad Schimel in Tuesdays race, which will determine the ideological makeup of a court likely to decide key issues in a perennial battleground state. A unanimous state Supreme Court on Sunday refused to hear a last-minute attempt by the states Democratic attorney general to stop Musk from handing over the checks to two voters, a ruling that came just minutes before the planned start of the rally. Two lower courts had already rejected the legal challenge by Democrat Josh Kaul, who argues that Musks offer violates a state law. Read more about Musk in Wisconsin Democratic election officials raise concerns about proof of citizenship proposal The group of Democrats, most of whom serve as their states top election official, is telling Congress the legislative proposal to add a proof of citizenship requirement when registering to vote could disenfranchise voters and upend election administration. On Monday, the House Rules Committee is expected to consider the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, known as the SAVE Act, which would require proof of citizenship to register to vote. The letter signed by 15 secretaries of state was sent Friday. Voting by noncitizens is rare, but Republicans say any instances undermine public confidence. Last week, President Trump directed, among other things, an update to the federal voter registration form to require proof of citizenship. Legal challenges are expected. In the letter, Democrats say its the job of election officials to verify the eligibility of citizens to cast a ballot, not the job of citizens to convince the government that they are eligible to exercise their right to vote. Trumps promised Liberation Day of tariffs is coming. Heres what it could mean for you Trump says Wednesday will be Liberation Day a moment when he plans to roll out a set of tariffs that he promises will free the United States from foreign goods. The details of Trumps next round of import taxes are still sketchy. Most economic analyses say average U.S. families would have to absorb the cost of his tariffs in the form of higher prices and lower incomes. But an undeterred Trump is inviting CEOs to the White House to say they are investing hundreds of billions of dollars in new projects to avoid the import taxes. It is also possible that the tariffs are short-lived if Trump feels he can cut a deal after imposing them. Im certainly open to it, if we can do something, Trump told reporters. Well get something for it. At stake are family budgets, Americas prominence as the worlds leading financial power and the structure of the global economy. Read more about what you should know regarding the impending trade penalties Trumps schedule for Monday Trump will sign executive orders twice today, first at 1 p.m. ET and again at 5:30 p.m. ET, according to the White House. Trump is stronger on immigration and weaker on trade, an AP-NORC poll finds Immigration remains a strength for Trump, but his handling of tariffs is getting more negative feedback, according to a poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. About half of U.S. adults approve of Trumps approach to immigration, the survey shows, but only about 4 in 10 have a positive view of the way hes handling the economy and trade negotiations. The poll indicates that many Americans are still on board with Trumps efforts to ramp up deportations and restrict immigration. But it also suggests that his threats to impose tariffs might be erasing his advantage on another issue that he made central to his winning 2024 campaign. Views of Trumps job performance overall are more negative than positive, the survey found. About 4 in 10 U.S. adults approve of the way Trump is handling his job as president, and more than half disapprove. Read more about the findings from the poll Trump says hes considering ways to serve a third term as president Trump said Sunday that Im not joking about trying to serve a third term, the clearest indication he is considering ways to breach a constitutional barrier against continuing to lead the country after his second term ends at the beginning of 2029. There are methods which you could do it, Trump said in a telephone interview with NBC News from Mar-a-Lago, his private club. He elaborated later to reporters on Air Force One from Florida to Washington that 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. Trump lost that election to Democrat Joe Biden. Still, Trump added: I dont want to talk about a third term now because no matter how you look at it, weve got a long time to go. Read more about Trumps comments on a third term Gary man charged as accomplice in Howell murder A Gary man faces charges as an accomplice in a womans murder at the Willows Apartments. Christin Washington, 33, was charged Friday with assisting a criminal, a Level 5 felony, and failing to report human remains, a misdemeanor. He is in custody, held on a $3,000 cash bond. A court date is not yet set. Charges against the murder suspect appear to still be sealed. Det. Brian McCall wrote he was called around 7:26 a.m. March 19 to 400 block of Clark Road in Gary where Breanna L. Howell, 31, was found lifeless, lying face up on the sidewalk. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She was shot once in the chest. The Lake County Coroners Office ruled her death a homicide. McCall also noted bruises and scratches on her neck. Security footage showed two men, including someone who resembled Washington, carrying a heavy object out of the building and sitting on the sidewalk where Howell was found. Washington went back inside. Washington told police first he was not there when she was shot. Later, he said Howell and a man were arguing on a sofa when Washington heard a gunshot. Why did you make me do that, the alleged shooter said to her. The man had choked Howell at some point that evening, court records state. Washington said he and the other man both left after the shooting. Second man charged in deadly drug buy A Hammond man has been formally charged with buying the fentanyl-laced heroin that killed his friend. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anthony Salinas is charged with one count of dealing in a controlled substance resulting in death, a Level 1 felony and two counts of dealing in a narcotic drug. He is in custody, held on a $5,000 cash bond. Hammond Police responded at 2:34 p.m. Aug. 2, 2023, to 169th Street and Delaware Avenue in the citys Hessville section for a white Hyundai parked at a stop sign. Two men were inside. Salinas was passed out. The other, Juan Sepulveda, 49, of Hammond, died of an accidental fentanyl overdose the next day. Cops found a baggie with pink powder in the car. Court records show the men went to Lakeside apartments in East Chicago less than an hour earlier to buy heroin from H, the alleged dealer Theodis Jackson. Salinas bought heroin from Jackson for the past month. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The parking lot drug deal was captured on camera. Jackson is also charged. Child porn charges dismissed Prosecutors dismissed child porn charges in January against a man who testified in a Winfield nurses murder, records show. Harminder Singh-Heera, 23, was charged with three counts of possession of child pornography. Deputy Prosecutor Tara Villarreal wrote in court filings they were unable to prove the case. Police found it on his iPhone as they were investigating 36-year-old Haley Losinskis Feb. 27, 2023 death inside her Winfield townhouse on the 11200 block of Pike Place. Northwest Indiana Major Crimes Task Force detectives wrote they found two videos when Singh-Heera gave police permission on Feb. 28, 2023 to search his phone in their case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Both depicted girls in sex acts with adult men, the affidavit states. Their identities were unknown. Raju Rawal, 68, of Merrillville was convicted and sentenced to 60 years for Losinskis murder. He has appealed his sentence. A local gas station manager, Rawal was involved with her. She also started seeing Singh-Heera, the brother-in-law of the same gas stations owner, when Rawal went to India for a month. Singh-Heera was ruled out as a suspect and took the 5th on the stand. He is in the process of having the child porn case expunged. Nine law students from Boston-area schools are volunteering for Karen Reads defense team, including five from Boston College, three from Harvard University, and one from Northeastern University. The students will serve as law clerks, assisting with case law research, document preparation, and courtroom analysis. Read told 25 Investigates reporter Ted Daniel that her team interviewed more than 50 candidates in the fall after her mistrial. Some of the clerks have been seated with her family during pretrial hearings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They are working pro bono for my defense, Read said in a statement. Eight of the clerks are in their third and final year of law school and are expected to take the bar exam after graduation. The clerks include Sophia Hunt of Virginia, outgoing Harvard Law Review president and Harvard Defenders member; Regan Hawkins of Kenosha, Wisconsin, Harvard Law teaching fellow and 1L Ames Moot Court co-chair; and Evan Wolk, a Boston College Law teaching assistant and Norwood, Massachusetts, native. Read is charged with second-degree murder in the Jan. 29, 2022, death of her then-boyfriend, Boston Police Officer John OKeefe, in Canton. Jury selection in her retrial is scheduled to begin Tuesday. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW A worker installs a heat pump, which have been a key feature of Maine's transition to cleaner energy. (Photo via Oregon Department of Energy) While the struggle for low-income residents to afford their power bill is not new, Rep. Sophie Warren believes that the transition to clean energy needs to prioritize such economic justice issues to ensure no one is left behind in the states efforts to address climate change. Last session, the Scarborough Democrat introduced a bill that sought to bolster support for low-income residents to access energy efficiency and weatherization programs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Although that bill died, part of what Warren had hoped to achieve eventually came to fruition when the Maine Climate Council for the first time included in updated Climate Action Plan strategies to lower the energy burden on Maine residents. Though Warren applauds that work, she introduced LD 1037 to go a step further by requiring the climate council to include in its annual report to lawmakers specific recommendations for how to reduce the portion of Mainers income that is being spent on electricity and home heating fuels. During a public hearing for the proposal Monday, Warren told members of the Legislatures Environment and Natural Resources Committee that she wants to ensure the work continues into the future, regardless of who sits on the council or serves in the executive branch. As a small, rural state with higher-than-average rates of poverty and some of the highest comparative, I both believe it is a moral imperative we fight poverty alongside climate change but also that to do so is economical in the long run, Warren said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For low-income households in Maine, the average energy burden is 14% based on 2018-2022 data, according to the Maine Energy Plan published in January. That is nearly three times higher than the statewide average across all income levels. The Maine State Chamber of Commerce supports Warrens bill, encouraging what they described as a thoughtful shift to clean energy that doesnt inadvertently increase costs for Maine businesses, said Maine Chamber Government Relations Specialist Ashley Luszczki. For example, she pointed to energy intensive businesses, such as manufacturers and food processors, that rely on cost-effective, reliable energy to stay competitive. Despite the states current statutory goal of using 80% renewable energy by 2030 and 100% by 2050, renewable sources dont provide the affordable and consistent baseload power large-scale industrial operations need, Luszczki said. In 2023, Gov. Janet Mills called for those timelines to be moved up, asking instead for the state to strive for 100% clean energy by 2040. The chamber sees Warrens bill as a way to meet climate goals while lowering energy costs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A strong economy and a sustainable environmental future must go hand in hand, Luszczki said. The Office of Public Advocate, which advocates for Maine utility ratepayers, also supports this bill, saying that the affordability of energy must be taken into account when considering new climate policy. While the Governors Office of Policy Innovation and the Future which manages the Maine Climate Council agrees with the goal of the legislation, it is opposed to the proposal. Current law already requires the council to consider household energy burden and affordability, argued Senior Advisor Brian Hubbell. Additionally, the most recent climate action plan from November 2024 includes multiple strategies and recommendations in those areas, including one to comprehensively analyze household energy burden in Maine in 2025, including all energy sources, and set a target for reducing the energy burden for low-income residents by January 2026. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even with those recommendations already spelled out, Warren said her proposal is still necessary because it would commit in statute the prioritization of considering poverty in climate efforts. I see formalizing this additional consideration of energy burden within the Councils framework and ensuring it remains in statute as its own distinct priority is key to achieving the long-term commitment, Warren said. If there is a need for a more detailed analysis of energy burden and how to reduce it, Hubbell said it would be more appropriate for the Governors Energy Office to complete that work and include it in its biennial energy plan. The most recent iteration of that plan published in January also already includes recommendations for reducing the energy burden on low- and moderate-income households. These include conducting regular analyses of household energy costs, increasing awareness of assistance programs and expanding education on weatherization and other energy efficiency measures. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE HONOLULU (KHON2) Lawmakers will decide on March 31 whether to increase fines and penalties for animal abusers. The Senate Judiciary committee will vote on upping charges for first and second degree pet animal cruelty from a Class C felony to a Class B, essentially making a potential five year prison sentence into a potential 10 year sentence. Advocates say recent arrest highlights need for tougher penalties for animal abusers Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, many farmers and ranchers testified against the bill on March 28 saying the definition of a pet animal was too vague. Im a farmer, we raise our beef, we eat our own beef, and I dont know if thats cruelty to animal me killing my own beef, I have geese, ducks, and chickens too, one farmer testified. Senate Judiciary Chair Karl Rhodes said pets were already defined as cat, dog, domesticated rabbit, guinea pig, domesticated pig, and caged birds so long as theyre not bred for consumption. Get Hawaiis latest morning news delivered to your inbox, sign up for News 2 You The committee asked the deputy attorney general for clarification on chickens as pets. The AGs office said they would have clarification when the committee votes on the measure. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Others argued animal cruelty cases rarely make it to court and say current laws need to be enforced before enhancing penalties. The bill would also prohibit any convicted animal abuser from owning a pet for at least five years. Hawaiis lax animal cruelty laws could be overhauled Animal advocates say animal cruelty is only getting worse. Recently its heinous, dogs are beaten by their owners, some of them are considered to be service animals, a Hawaiian Humane Society officer said during the testimony. The HHS officer said there was also a case of a woman who was walking her two dogs, and allegedly threw them off the cliff and walked away. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Wednesday, a dog, I have the police report, he was decapitated, paws cut off and there were signs of long term abuse and suffering, said another testifier who is part of an animal rescue group. Disturbing: Feral chickens shot with arrows on Maui According to Honolulu Police, animal cruelty cases went up from 58 in 2018 to 73 in 2023. The bill also references studies correlating animal abuse with domestic abuse and the National Library of Medicine found 70% of people who commit domestic violence were also found to be animal abusers. Make no mistake, this bill is also about protecting people, decades of research shows a correlation of violence against animals and the abuse of vulnerable human beings, said Stephanie Kendrick, director of community engagement at Hawaiian Humane Society. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The President of Hinas Legacy Rescue Foundation Chantell Moniz said she receives at least five calls a day regarding animal abuse. I get pictures sent to me, I get videos sent to me, and its like theres so many, so many thats not even reported, Moniz said. She said most people stay anonymous out of fear of retaliation from the pet owner, but she hopes more cases are prosecuted moving forward so animal abusers understand their behavior is unacceptable. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. This convenience store on West Des Moines Grand Avenue is part of the Caseys General Store chain, which is being sued over the tobacco-use surcharge imposed on employees. (Main photo by Clark Kauffman/Iowa Capital Dispatch. Inset photo of company policy is from U.S. District Court records) Caseys General Store is being sued for allegedly exploiting its workers through the discriminatory practice of imposing a tobacco-use surcharge for health insurance coverage. The surcharge, which is alleged to be $35 per pay period, amounts to an illegal cash grab by Caseys that is masquerading as a wellness program, the lawsuit claims. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Filed in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Iowa, the lawsuit seeks class-action status but is currently filed on behalf of one Caseys employee, Elizabeth Blalock of Carroll County, Missouri. Attorneys for Blalock allege that all Caseys workers are automatically assumed to use tobacco unless they submit to a process in which they provide a sworn affidavit stating they do not. Any worker who fails to complete that process by a specified deadline is then required to pay tobacco surcharge for the entire calendar year, even if they do not use tobacco, the lawsuit claims. In addition, Caseys allegedly fails to provide the federally required options that would allow employees to avoid the surcharge. The surcharge is structured as a penalty rather than a legitimate wellness incentive, the lawsuit claims, since the workers who miss the enrollment deadline are penalized for the entire year without any opportunity to later demonstrate compliance or avoid the surcharge. The lawsuit is based on the requirements of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. ERISA allows employers to deduct from workers pay a tobacco-use surcharge, but only in connection with wellness programs that meet specific federal guidelines established in 2014. Those regulations state they are intended to ensure corporate wellness programs actually promote health as opposed to being a subterfuge for discriminating based on a health factor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The lawsuit alleges Caseys is illegally shifting the costs associated with less healthy workers from the company back to those same workers who end up subsidizing their healthier colleagues. ERISA bars any health insurer or medical plan from discriminating against participants by charging premiums based on a health-related factor, including tobacco use. It does, however, allow group health plans to establish premium discounts or rebates in return for adherence to programs that promote wellness and disease prevention. Caseys, the lawsuit claims, does not meet that standard. There is no smoking-cessation program, waiver, or alternative route for tobacco users to avoid the surcharge, the lawsuit alleges. The only avenue for smokers to avoid the surcharge is to quit smoking and then submit that change in status to the benefits department. Thus, tobacco users are penalized based solely on their status as smokers, which violates ERISAs nondiscrimination provisions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The lawsuit goes on to allege that allowing companies like Caseys to exploit their participants and unlawfully extract millions from them under the guise of a wellness program that is, in reality, a cash grab, directly contradicts ERISAs purpose of protecting workers from health-based discrimination. If unchecked, this practice would permit employers to manipulate wellness programs as revenue generating schemes rather than genuine health initiatives. According to the lawsuit, Blalock has forfeited to Caseys $35 in earnings per pay period roughly $910 per year in order to maintain health coverage through the company. Caseys, which is headquartered in Ankeny, is one of the nations largest convenience store chains, with more than 2,600 locations in 16 states. There are more than 18,000 employees enrolled in the companys health plan, according to court records. In seeking class-action status for their lawsuit, the plaintiffs attorneys argue the amount of money at issue exceeds $5 million, and the number of Caseys workers who might potentially join the case is more than 1,000. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages for unlawful imposition of a discriminatory tobacco surcharge and breach of fiduciary duty. Caseys has yet to file a response to the lawsuit. The company did not immediately respond Monday to requests for comment. The plaintiff is represented by attorney Adam J. Wachal of the Koley Jessen law firm in Omaha. Iowa Capital Dispatch and the Nebraska Examiner are part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Iowa Capital Dispatch maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Kathie Obradovich for questions: info@iowacapitaldispatch.com. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) Nine Tennessee death row inmates are suing the state over its push for a new round of lethal injections after an execution was abruptly called off in 2022 and a follow-up investigation found scores of missteps in several executions. The lawsuit was filed March 14 in state court, nearly three months after officials announced a new lethal injection protocol using the single drug pentobarbital. The Tennessee Supreme Court recently agreed to schedule executions for four inmates with the first set for May. The lawsuit argues that pain and suffering from executions using pentobarbital violate the Eighth Amendments ban on cruel and unusual punishment. They also contend that the Tennessee Department of Correction has failed to make changes to the execution process as the governor and an independent investigator recommended or if it has, it has not told the public. Rather, the lawsuit claims, department officials wrote a new protocol with few specifics, making it harder to hold them accountable. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The attorney general's office said it is reviewing the lawsuit. A Correction spokesperson declined to comment on it. Tennessee's lethal injection problem Tennessee executions have been paused since 2022, when the state admitted it had not been following its most recent 2018 lethal injection protocol. Among other things, the Correction Department was not consistently testing the execution drugs for potency and purity. Tennessee's last execution was by electrocution in 2020. An independent review of Tennessee's lethal injection practice, which GOP Gov. Bill Lee ordered while pausing executions, found none of the drugs prepared for the seven inmates executed since 2018 had been fully tested including the canceled 2022 execution. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Later, the state attorney general's office conceded in court that two of the people most responsible for overseeing Tennessees lethal injection drugs incorrectly testified under oath that officials were testing the chemicals as required. Two department officials with execution-related duties were fired. The new lawsuit says the Department of Correction has said nothing publicly about whether it has fixed some issues raised, despite telling a federal judge it would complete recommendations by the governor and the independent investigator, former U.S. Attorney Ed Stanton. For instance, the governor directed the department to review and overhaul its execution training procedures. Stanton, meanwhile, recommended hiring someone full-time or as a consultant with a pharmaceutical background to offer guidance on the lethal injection protocol. Stanton also suggested hiring a full-time specialist for chemical testing standards, and storage of testing results and the chemicals themselves. From three drugs to one Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tennessee is moving from a three-drug series to just one, the barbiturate pentobarbital. Fifteen states and the federal government have used pentobarbital in executions, and five others plan to, according to the nonprofit Death Penalty Information Center. Previously, Tennessee struggled to obtain the drug because pharmaceutical companies were hesitant to fuel executions. The state has not said publicly how it plans to obtain pentobarbital. In prior lawsuits, attorneys for the Tennessee prisoners had argued pentobarbital was preferable to the three drugs midazolam, vecuronium bromide and potassium chloride. That's because U.S. Supreme Court precedent requires inmates challenging an execution method to detail a known and available alternative," even if they also consider the alternative unconstitutional. They've named other alternatives, including the firing squad. In the latest lawsuit, the attorneys argue that death by pentobarbital could feel like drowning or suffocation as the lungs fill with liquid. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The lawyers cite research released after their previous lawsuits. And they noted that the Department of Justice under then President Joe Biden raised concerns about pentobarbital's potential for causing unnecessary pain and suffering during executions. The U.S. Supreme Court has never struck down an execution method as cruel and unusual punishment under the Eighth Amendment. The Founding Fathers and poison The inmates' lawyers also harkened back to the Founding Fathers. They appear to be addressing a Supreme Court that has sometimes considered how issues were handled when the Constitution was drafted, including in a decision expanding gun rights. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While detailing historical views of poisonings, the attorneys argue the framers of the Constitution would have considered fatal poisoning to be a barbarous act. Will the state's executions resume in May? Whether executions resume in May could depend on another lawsuit in federal court. That lawsuit challenged the older three-drug series and has been on hold since 2022 pending the states lethal injection review and revision. Two plaintiff inmates struck an agreement with the state giving them 90 days to assess the new protocol and decide whether to amend their complaint to challenge it. It says the state must try to delay setting execution dates for the two inmates until the case goes through the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals. Kelley Henry, an attorney for inmates, said no new execution dates should be set while the federal case is ongoing. The state, meanwhile, has declined to comment on whether the court agreement should extend beyond the two plaintiffs. French far-right icon Marine Le Pen has been barred from running for office after a Paris criminal court found her guilty of embezzlement on Monday. The ruling, which centres on the misuse of European Union funds by her party, likely ends Le Pen's plans to compete in the 2027 presidential election. As Le Pen was the front-runner in the election in which President Emmanuel Macron cannot stand again, the explosive ruling could upend French politics. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The judge sentenced Le Pen to four years in prison, two of them suspended and the other two with an electronic tag rather than in custody. Le Pen was also been given a 100,000 ($108,000) fine. She was barred from seeking public office for five years, effective immediately. While Le Pen, 56, can appeal, the lengthy legal process is unlikely to conclude before the election. The main accusation was that Le Pen's National Rally (RN) party used money from the European Parliament to pay staff who were working for her political party, rather than for parliamentary assistants. The judge also delivered guilty verdicts to eight other members of her party who, like Le Pen, served as lawmakers in the European Parliament. Additionally, 12 parliamentary assistants were found guilty. National Rally leader: Court dealt blow to French democracy Jordan Bardella, the 29-year-old leader of the National Rally, described Le Pen's sentence as a death knell for French democracy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Today, it is not only Marine Le Pen who is being unjustly condemned: it is French democracy that is being executed," Bardella wrote on X. Before Monday's ruling, the plan had been that if Le Pen won the presidential election and her party won the subsequent parliamentary election, Bardella would have become prime minister. Whether Bardella now intends to run for president is not yet known. The Front National, founded by her late father Jean-Marie Le Pen, was rebranded as the National Rally in 2018 by Marine, who shifted the partys focus away from extreme positions in an effort to broaden its appeal and make it electable to a wider segment of the population. The efforts have paid off, with the party making major gains in last year's European Parliament elections. A subsequent snap election for the French parliament also strengthened its hand, although it did not come out on top. Support from Italy, Hungary and Russia Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban posted in French "Je suis Marine!" (I am Marine) on the platform X. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Orban, an ally of Le Pen, leads the Fidesz party, which, alongside Le Pens RN, forms the core of the far-right faction Patriots for Europe, the third-largest group of lawmakers in the European Parliament. In Italy, Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini called the court's decisions a "declaration of war." Salvini, chairman of the right-wing League party, said the Paris court was trying to remove the far-right icon from French political life with its sentence, which barred her from running for office. He drew comparisons to court rulings in countries like Romania, adding, "We will not be intimidated, we will not stop: full speed ahead, my friend!" Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Moscow also weighed in: "Our observations in European capitals show that there is no hesitation in overstepping the boundaries of democracy in the political process," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. Le Pen has always rejected accusations In the scandal surrounding the sham employment of EU staff, Le Pen consistently denied the allegations. "I don't feel I have committed the slightest irregularity, the slightest illegality," she said during the trial. "It is my political death that is being sought," Le Pen also said. A total of 28 defendants were accused in the case, which is said to involve a sum of almost 7 million ($7.3 million). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Le Pen paid back 330,000 to the European Parliament in 2023. However, her party emphasized that this was not an admission of misconduct. The allegations, which relate to the years 2004 to 2016, have dogged Le Pen and her party for years. The exact terms of her electronic monitoring remain unclear. With regard to Le Pen's sentence, the exact terms of her electronic monitoring remain unclear. It is common practice in France for such details to be determined only once a verdict is final. Former president Nicolas Sarkozy, for instance, who was also recently sentenced to serve time under electronic monitoring in a separate trial, is currently confined to his home under a strict curfew. VIENTIANE, March 31 (Xinhua) -- Laos has recorded a trade surplus of 310 million U.S. dollars in February, with total imports and exports exceeding 1.5 billion dollars, local media reported Monday. In February, Laos' exports totaled 925 million dollars, a 42.3 percent increase from January, while imports were valued at 615 million dollars, down 12.9 percent compared to January, a report from the Lao Trade Portal website said on Monday. Laos' main export products included electrical appliances and equipment, mixed and bar gold, cassava, potassium salt, copper ore, paper and paper products, wood pulp and paper waste, rubber, cassava starch, and clothing. The country's main imports included diesel fuel, land vehicles, instant mixed chemical products, mechanical equipment, sugar, iron and steel equipment, electrical and electronic equipment, fertilizer, farm tractors, and clothing. Thailand, Vietnam and China are among the leading export destinations for Lao products. Meanwhile, major import sources to Laos included Thailand, China and Vietnam, according to the report. French far-right icon Marine Le Pen has been barred from running for office after a Paris criminal court found her guilty of embezzlement on Monday. The ruling, which centres on the misuse of European Union funds by her party, likely ends Le Pen's plans to compete in the 2027 presidential election. As Le Pen was the front-runner in the election in which President Emmanuel Macron cannot stand again, the explosive ruling could upend French politics. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The judge sentenced Le Pen to four years in prison, two of them suspended and the other two with an electronic tag rather than in custody. Le Pen was also given a 100,000 ($108,000) fine. She was barred from seeking public office for five years, effective immediately. Until the end of the parliamentary term, however, Le Pen can continue to sit as a member of parliament. While Le Pen's lawyer said they would appeal her conviction, the lengthy legal process is unlikely to conclude before the election. The main accusation was that Le Pen's National Rally (RN) party used money from the European Parliament to pay staff who were working for her political party, rather than for parliamentary assistants. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The judge also delivered guilty verdicts to eight other members of her party who, like Le Pen, served as lawmakers in the European Parliament. Additionally, 12 parliamentary assistants were found guilty. National Rally leader: Court dealt blow to French democracy Jordan Bardella, the 29-year-old leader of the National Rally, described Le Pen's sentence as a death knell for French democracy. "Today, it is not only Marine Le Pen who is being unjustly condemned: it is French democracy that is being executed," Bardella wrote on X. Before Monday's ruling, the plan had been that if Le Pen won the presidential election and her party won the subsequent parliamentary election, Bardella would have become prime minister. Whether Bardella now intends to run for president is not yet known. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Front National, founded by her late father Jean-Marie Le Pen, was rebranded as the National Rally in 2018 by Marine, who shifted the party's focus away from extreme positions in an effort to broaden its appeal and make it electable to a wider segment of the population. The efforts have paid off, with the party making major gains in last year's European Parliament elections. A subsequent snap election for the French parliament also strengthened its hand, although it did not come out on top. Criticism from allies and opponents alike Monday's ruling sparked anger from Le Pen's political allies across Europe, with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban posting in French "Je suis Marine!" (I am Marine) on the platform X. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Orban leads the Fidesz party, which, alongside Le Pens RN, forms the core of the far-right faction Patriots for Europe, the third-largest group of lawmakers in the European Parliament. In Italy, Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini, chairman of the right-wing League party, called the court's decisions a "declaration of war." Moscow also weighed in: "Our observations in European capitals show that there is no hesitation in overstepping the boundaries of democracy in the political process," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. In France, political opponents of Le Pen also criticized the decision to bar her from running for office, with veteran leftist Jean-Luc Melenchon saying it "should be up to the people" to remove a politician from office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The parliamentary group leader of the conservative Republicans, Laurent Wauquiez, called the conviction "serious and extraordinary." He said it was not healthy for a democracy to ban an elected politician from standing in an election. "Political debates must be decided at the ballot box by the French people." The decision could also ruffle feathers in Washington, after US Vice President JD Vance accused European allies of restricting free speech and democratic values in a provocative speech at the Munich Security Conference in February. At home, US President Donald Trump has repeatedly claimed he was the victim of a "witch hunt," accusing his political opponents of using a a number of legal cases to prevent him from returning to the White House. Le Pen has always rejected accusations In the scandal surrounding the sham employment of EU staff, Le Pen consistently denied the allegations. "I don't feel I have committed the slightest irregularity, the slightest illegality," she said during the trial. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It is my political death that is being sought," Le Pen also said. A total of 28 defendants were accused in the case, which is said to involve a sum of almost 7 million ($7.3 million). Le Pen paid back 330,000 to the European Parliament in 2023. However, her party emphasized that this was not an admission of misconduct. The allegations, which relate to the years 2004 to 2016, have dogged Le Pen and her party for years. The exact terms of her electronic monitoring remain unclear. It is common practice in France for such details to be determined only once a verdict is final. Former president Nicolas Sarkozy, for instance, who was also recently sentenced to serve time under electronic monitoring in a separate trial, is currently confined to his home under a strict curfew. This may well be Marine Le Pens Donald Trump moment. The US president convinced voters he was a victim of lawfare, a witch hunt waged by an elite class that was determined to block him from power. A court on Monday found Ms Le Pen guilty of embezzling EU funds and banned her from French politics for five years. The National Rally leader is now banned from running the next race for the Elysee but her shadow will stretch long over the two years leading up to the 2027 vote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ms Le Pen has brought the party founded by her father Jean-Marie Le Pen a racist and a Holocaust denier closer to power and mainstream respectability than it has ever been. National Rally is the single largest party in the fragmented French parliament. Emmanuel Macron, the president of France, is on his second minority government since July. A vengeful National Rally could easily bring it down after a verdict which will make France even more impossible to govern. National Rally, led by Marine Le Pen, is the single largest party in Frances fragmented parliament - Michel Euler Ms Le Pen has contested the last three presidential elections, improving her performance each time and reaching the second round run-off the last two times. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mr Macron cannot contest the 2027 election and there is no apparent heir to the current president within his own Renaissance party. The 2027 election was widely thought to be the year of Ms Le Pens breakthrough and, as her furious storming out of the court showed, she knows it. Ms Le Pen will, as Mr Trump would put it, fight, fight, fight. Rodolphe Bosselut, her lawyer, has confirmed that she will appeal against the conviction in time to run for the Elysee in 2027. She has already scheduled a television interview for this evening. This is a huge blow to Ms Le Pen and her party, which must now decide if Jordan Bardella, her 29-year-old deputy, can fill her shoes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However Europes nationalist Right will waste no time in transforming her into their Joan of Arc. Marine Le Pens party must decide if 29-year-old Jordan Bardella can take up the mantle as the National Rally leader - Chesnot Theres no question that Le Pen as president, who wanted a Frexit referendum in 2017 and a major rollback in Brussels powers now, would have been a massive challenge for the EU. Ms Le Pens European allies will paint her as a martyr sacrificed on the orders of globalist elites determined to prevent her becoming the leader of one the EUs most influential countries. Even before the verdict was read out in full, Hungarys Viktor Orban, a keen admirer of Mr Trump, declared: Je suis Marine! on social media. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Geert Wilders, a far-Right politician in the Netherlands and and ally of Ms Le Pens allies in the Patriots for Europe group in the European Parliament, professed himself shocked by the incredibly tough verdict. I support and believe in her for the full 100 per cent and I trust she will win the appeal and become President of France, the Dutch Trump said on X. They were not the only ones to try and make political capital from the verdict. The Kremlin branded it a violation of democratic norms, while somehow managing to keep a straight face. Relations between Ms Le Pen and Mr Trump are not straightforward, but the White House could still take up her cause as it takes MAGA global. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Trump administration has already piled pressure on Romania to allow a pro-Russian, far-Right candidate to run in its presidential election. It recently endorsed Conor McGregor, the UFC fighter, to become president of Ireland. Elon Musk openly supports Tommy Robinson in Britain, while JD Vance claims free speech is in retreat in Europe. Both men strongly criticised the firewall keeping the far-Right AfD from government in Germany as anti-democratic. Mr Trump and his allies may make Ms Le Pen a totem in the culture war they are increasingly fighting abroad, as well as at home. She dreamt of being president of France, but Marine Le Pen may have to settle for being a figurehead in the battle of ideas fought in the internets echo chambers. 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 judge sentenced French far-right nationalist politician Marine Le Pen on Monday to four years in prison, two of them suspended and the other two with an electronic tag rather than in custody, after finding her guilty of embezzlement. Le Pen has also been given a 100,000 ($108,000) fine. The criminal court in Paris ruled that she is barred from seeking public office, effective immediately. The ruling, which could upend the possibility of her running for president in 2027, came shortly after Le Pen was found guilty of embezzling EU funds. She is expected to appeal the decision, setting the stage for a potentially lengthy legal battle. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Le Pen said during the Paris criminal trial that prosecutors were seeking her "political death." The central accusation was that Le Pen's National Rally party received money from the European Parliament for parliamentary assistants who were actually working either partly or wholly for the party itself. The judge on Monday also delivered guilty verdicts to eight other members of her party who, like Le Pen, served as lawmakers in the European Parliament. Additionally, 12 parliamentary assistants were found guilty. PARIS (AP) The courts decision landed like a political shockwave barring French far-right leader Marine Le Pen from holding office for five years and instantly upending the country's next presidential race. By Monday afternoon, the ruling had reverberated far beyond Frances borders, sending ripples through nationalist circles across Europe and igniting jubilation and fury in equal measure. Supporters of Le Pen decried the verdict as a brazen assault on democracy. Detractors punched the air in celebration. And even some of her fiercest critics wondered aloud whether the court had overstepped, cutting short the candidacy of a woman voters were still free to support. Once seen as a frontrunner for Frances 2027 election and a would-be steward of Europes second-largest economy, Le Pen was convicted of embezzling European Union funds an outcome that could not only remove her from the ballot, but reshape the political map she had dominated for more than a decade. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Europe's far right closes ranks If Le Pens sentencing jolted the French political system, it sent a thunderclap through the nationalist corridors of Europe. From Madrid to Budapest, far-right leaders framed the verdict not as the fall of one figure, but as an existential threat to their entire movement. I am shocked by the incredibly tough verdict against Marine Le Pen, said Dutch firebrand Geert Wilders. I support and believe in her 100% and I trust she will win the appeal and become President of France. Italys Vice Premier Matteo Salvini went further, calling the ruling a declaration of war by Brussels. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, never one to mince words, declared simply: I am Marine. In Belgium, far-right Vlaams Belang leader Tom Van Grieken called the courts decision an attack on democracy and pledged, Le Pen can continue to count on our support. Spains Santiago Abascal, head of the hard-right Vox party, warned: They will not succeed in silencing the voice of the French people. Even Moscow joined the chorus. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the case was another sign that more and more European capitals are going down the path of trampling over democratic norms. A martyr in the making? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In France, where Le Pen spent decades recasting the far right in softer tones and sharper suits, the reaction from her camp was swift. Jordan Bardella, her chosen successor at the helm of the National Rally, reached for the language of martyrdom. Today it is not only Marine Le Pen who was unjustly condemned, he declared. It is French democracy that was killed. Eric Zemmour, another firebrand of the nationalist right and a former presidential contender himself, struck a similar note. It is not for judges to decide who the people must vote for, he said, casting the verdict as a blow not just to Le Pen, but to the democratic process itself. From the plaza, relief and rage Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Paris Republic Plaza, where public demonstrations often unfold, Le Pen detractors punched the air in celebration. We were here in this square to celebrate the death of her father, said Jean Dupont, 45, a schoolteacher. And this is now the death of Le Pens presidential ambitions. Jean-Marie Le Pen, the founder of the National Front and a figure long associated with racism and Holocaust denial, died earlier this year at age 96. Sophie Martin, 34, a graphic designer, was among those in a celebratory mood. I had to check the date I thought it was April Fools Day, she said. But its not. Shes finally been knocked down. Weve lived with her poison in our politics for too long. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Still, not everyone welcomed the ruling. Lucien Bernard, 64, a retired civil servant, expressed concern. Its a sad day for democracy, he said. Whether you love or hate her, the people should not be denied a chance to express their vote in a country that is supposedly a leading Western democracy. The left responds with restraint Even from the far left, where Le Pen has long been a detested figure, the response was more measured than might have been expected. France Unbowed, the radical left party often at ideological war with Le Pens movement, acknowledged the gravity of the charges but warned against using the courts to decide political outcomes. We take note of this decision by the courts, even though we reject on principle that legal recourse should be impossible for any defendant. Their message was unmistakable: the far right should be defeated at the urns, not in the courts. We will defeat them again tomorrow at the ballot box, no matter who their candidate is. The lawyer of far-right French politician Marine Le Pen says they will appeal her conviction for the embezzlement of EU funds, handed down earlier on Monday. "We will appeal," said Rodolphe Bosselut outside the headquarters of Le Pen's National Rally party in Paris. "I fundamentally believe that the blow dealt today is a blow against democracy," he added. A Paris court found Le Pen and other defendants guilty of the misuse of EU funds, barring her from running for office for five years and likely shattering her plans for a presidential candidacy in 2027. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Observers believe that an appeal would be unlikely to change that, with lengthy legal proceedings expected to run beyond the election. The court also sentenced Le Pen to four years in prison, two of them suspended and the other two with an electronic tag rather than in custody. She was also been given a 100,000 ($108,000) fine. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed Monday the West Wing is seriously considering making changes to the White House press briefing room seating chart and blasted the White House Correspondents Association (WHCA) for a statement pushing back on rumors it was seeking to take control of the room. Weve made a lot of changes across the board that have benefited the American public to how this White House is covered, Leavitt said Monday afternoon during an appearance on Fox News America Reports. We believe that its fundamentally unfair that a group of D.C.-based elitists get to choose who gets to cover the president of the United States. Leavitt had been asked about a report in Axios over the weekend suggesting the West Wing was considering taking control of the briefing room seating chart, a job typically reserved for the correspondents association. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a statement Monday, the WHCA board issued a blistering statement pushing back on those rumors. The White House should abandon this wrong-headed effort and show the American people theyre not afraid to explain their policies and field questions from an independent media free from government control, it said. The press secretary confirmed the Trump administration was seriously considering the changes and said the White House press office had been attempting to broker a meeting with WHCA leadership. But unfortunately their president sent out a fundamentally unserious email making it clear that this is a group that doesnt care about press freedom, transparency and access for all media voices but just cares about having their monetized monopoly over the briefing room, Leavitt said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The back-and-forth comes just weeks after the White House banned The Associated Press from the press pool covering the president over its refusal to change its style guide on Gulf of America. The White House has separately invited a number of new media members in to the press briefing room during Trumps first three months in office, some of which come from outlets and internet platforms that are supportive of his agenda. The media has changed a lot in the decades of press coverage here at The White House, Leavitt said. Its time that coverage changes with it. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Mar. 30WILKES-BARRE Gov. Josh Shapiro's 2025-26 budget proposal allocates $7.5 million for quality investment projects (QIP) in Pennsylvania's long-term care facilities to improve care for older adults. Funding would support facilities in areas affecting workforce development and retention, infection prevention and emergency preparedness, as well as infrastructure. More than 80,000 Pennsylvanians reside in over 700 nursing homes throughout the state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2023, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provided federal funds to the Pennsylvania Department of Health's Long-term Care Transformation Office (LTCTO) to implement quality investment pilot projects at facilities across the state. Over the past two years, QIP investments led directly to significant improvements in participating long-term care facilities, such as: 27% reduction in staff vacancies; 35% decrease in the average number of residents evaluated at medical facilities; and 56% decrease in skilled nursing home health citations. The Governor's office said 37 facilities in rural areas have benefited from QIP initiatives, accounting for $3.1 million of the total amount spent in QIP initiatives, in just one year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement AG Sunday: 'jam' contraband cell phones in prisons Attorney General Dave Sunday this week joined a bipartisan coalition of 26 state attorneys general calling on Congress to pass H.R. 2350 and S. 1137 federal legislation allowing states to deploy cell phone "jamming" systems in prisons. "Jamming" involves the interruption of cell phone signals, which would disable non-emergency calls. The legislation regards contraband phones devices that incarcerated individuals are not permitted to have. The legislation would not impact individuals' usage of landline phones at prisons. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cell phones are typically smuggled into prisons and commonly used by incarcerated individuals to direct drug trafficking efforts, concoct escape plans, or coordinate acts of violence. "The reality is that some incarcerated individuals continue with their criminal activities while behind bars be it orchestrating a drug or firearms trafficking organization or intimidating a witness in their case to not cooperate with authorities," Sunday said. "This legislation will help keep our communities safer by eliminating crimes aided by the use of contraband cell phones." The bill was introduced by Tennessee U.S. Rep. David Kustoff and Arkansas Sen. Tom Cotton. The coalition sent a letter urging congress to pass the bill. In the letter, the coalition highlights how inmates exploit contraband phones to: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Direct drug trafficking operations Orchestrate violence inside and outside prison walls Run sophisticated fraud schemes preying on vulnerable citizens Intimidate witnesses and terrorize victims' families Plot escape attempts endangering law enforcement and the public Federal law bans states from using cell phone jamming technology, leaving correctional facilities defenseless against an escalating threat. A 2020 survey of 20 state corrections departments uncovered 25,840 contraband cell phones in a single year, a stark reminder of the scale of the crisis, according to the letter. Fetterman leads effort to expand VA burial benefits Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement U.S. Senators John Fetterman, D-PA, Kevin Cramer, R-ND, and Dave McCormick, R-PA, this week introduced the Dennis and Lois Krisfalusy Act a bipartisan bill to permanently expand the Department of Veterans' Affairs (VA) burial benefits. This legislation would allow the VA to provide memorial headstones or markers for veterans, their spouses and dependent children, regardless of when they passed away, ensuring military families are properly honored together. "We can never repay the debt we owe our veterans and their families for their sacrifices to keep our country safe. We have a responsibility to honor those sacrifices regardless of when a family member died," Fetterman said. "Lois Krisfalusy should be honored with her husband, Dennis but arbitrary barriers are preventing that. It's common sense that families like theirs deserve to be laid to rest together, and I'm proud to lead a bipartisan effort to correct this injustice." "Our veterans put their lives on the line to protect our freedoms, and we owe them a debt of gratitude that can never be repaid," McCormick said. "Bureaucracy should not stand in the way of our veterans and their families being laid to rest honorably while also recognizing their service." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bill is named in honor of Dennis "Denny" Krisfalusy, a U.S. Air Force veteran from Washington County, Pennsylvania, who served during the Vietnam War. In 1985, Dennis and his wife, Lois Krisfalusy, tragically died during an earthquake in Mexico City, with neither of their remains recovered. Though Dennis received a memorial headstone at the Cemetery of the Alleghenies in Pennsylvania, Lois was ineligible to have her name added under VA regulations due to an arbitrary date restriction. The Dennis and Lois Krisfalusy Act removes these restrictions, allowing spouses like Lois to be memorialized alongside their veteran loved ones. Under law, only spouses who died after November 11, 1998, and before Oct. 1, 2025, are eligible for VA burial markers. Watro, Argall to co-host Concealed Carry Seminar To help residents better understand Pennsylvania's firearms laws and how to be more responsible gun owners, Rep. Dane Watro, R-Hazleton, and Sen. Dave Argall, R-Pottsville, will co-host a free Concealed Carry Seminar from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 9, at the West Hazleton Borough Building, 100 S. 4th St. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Anyone interested in learning more about their rights under the Commonwealth's firearms laws is encouraged to attend our seminar," the lawmakers said. "We are co-hosting this event to present the facts, with the help of our local experts who will lead the discussion." The seminar will feature presentations by Luzerne County District Attorney Sam Sanguedolce and Luzerne County Sheriff Brian Szumski, who will discuss Pennsylvania's gun laws and answer questions. Due to limited seating, attendees are asked to register for the event at www.RepWatro.com/events or by calling 570-453-1344. The reservation deadline is Wednesday , Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement April 2 . Pashinski to host senior fair at mall State Rep. Eddie Day Pashinski, D-Wilkes-Barre, this week announced he will host a senior fair from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 22, at the Wyoming Valley Mall in Wilkes-Barre. This free event will provide local seniors with important resources, information and services that are specifically designed to help them improve their quality of life. The senior fair will feature a wide range of exhibitors and vendors, including representatives from state and local agencies, health care providers, insurance companies, senior living communities, and more. Seniors and their families will have the opportunity to speak directly with service providers to get answers to their questions and learn about available programs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Highlights of the senior fair include: Information on health care services and insurance options Senior discount programs Resources for care-giving, housing and transportation Educational materials on state and federal assistance programs Free health screenings and wellness tips Pashinski will be on hand to welcome attendees, provide assistance and connect people with the resources they need. The event is open to seniors, their families and caregivers, and attendees can take advantage of the many services available at no charge. "This Senior Fair is an important opportunity for seniors in our community to learn about the resources that can help them live healthier and more fulfilling lives," Pashinski said. Reach Bill O'Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle. State Sen. Michael Rohl, R-Aberdeen, speaks on the South Dakota Senate floor on March 3, 2025. (Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight) Petitioners hoping to put state constitutional amendments on the ballot wont need signatures from each of South Dakotas legislative Senate districts. After the governor vetoed a bill containing the requirement last week, the state Senate sustained the veto Monday at the Capitol in Pierre. The House voted earlier Monday to override the veto, but agreement from both chambers is required to overturn the governors action. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Michael Rohl, R-Aberdeen, was among the senators who opposed the bill and supported the veto. While the bills sponsors said it would force more inclusion of rural areas in the political process, Rohl said the bill could harm rural voters. It gives every district veto power, Rohl said. That means that we, as a small community, dont have a voice unless we get Sioux Falls to agree. The legislation, House Bill 1169, would have required constitutional amendment petitions to have signatures from registered voters in each of the 35 Senate districts spread across the state. Petitions would have needed a number of signatures from each district equal to 5% of the total votes cast for governor in that district during the last general election. That would have been an addition to the existing requirement that petitions have a total number of signatures from anywhere in the state equal to at least 10% of the votes cast statewide for governor in the last general election. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement House Bill 1169s main sponsor, Rep. Rebecca Reimer, R-Chamberlain, said Monday shes willing to work on the legislations language and bring it back next year. Reimer and other lawmakers who wanted to override the veto said voters are tired of the number of constitutional amendments showing up on their ballots, that the state constitution should be reserved for matters pertaining to the structure and powers of government and not for specific policies, and that the constitution should be harder to amend. Multiple lawmakers referenced an amendment last year, rejected by voters, that would have inserted abortion rights into the constitution. Legislators considered numerous bills this year to restrict citizen lawmaking. Among those that passed into law were a bill to move the deadline for submitting petition signatures for citizen-initiated ballot measures from May to February, which will shorten the signature-gathering window by three months. Legislators also sent a measure to the 2026 ballot that will ask voters to raise the approval threshold for constitutional amendment ballot questions from a simple majority to 60%. Monday was the last day of this years legislative session, set aside to consider any remaining vetoes from Gov. Larry Rhoden. Earlier this month, legislators sustained Rhodens only other veto, which would have offered additional child care tuition assistance to child care workers for their own children. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX BUDAPEST, March 31 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will pay an official visit to Hungary from April 2 to 6, at the invitation of his Hungarian counterpart, Viktor Orban, Orban's press office said on Monday. During his visit, Netanyahu is expected to hold talks with Orban, focusing on deepening bilateral cooperation in defense, innovation, energy, and trade. Regional security and developments in the Middle East are also on the agenda. The visit comes amid international scrutiny over an arrest warrant issued against Netanyahu by the International Criminal Court (ICC). The ICC issued the warrants last November against Netanyahu and former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on charges of committing "crimes against humanity and war crimes" in Gaza. Hungary will become the first European country to host Netanyahu since the ICC issued the arrest warrant. Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto reiterated earlier this year that Hungary continues to welcome the Israeli leader despite the warrant. He also said the ICC's move "discredited the institution" and confirmed it as "a politically motivated body," adding that such decisions would affect Hungary's future cooperation with the court. Hungary has consistently backed Israel in the European Union fora and expressed strong support for its right to self-defense. GOSHEN The city of Goshen is looking for a $68 million loan to help pay for a water project. Director of Public Works and Utilities Dustin Sailor requested permission from the Goshen Board of Public Works Thursday to submit a loan application on behalf of the Goshen Water Utility company to the State Revolving Loan Fund. The proposed project as described in the memorandum written by Sailor, is for an upgrade in water supply and treatment infrastructure for the city. In the proposal, it is said that the growth forecasts as well as the infrastructure is indicating the need for additional treatment to avoid the Indiana Department of Environmental Management connection ban. If the ban were to happen, it would prevent any new customers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sailor wrote in the proposal that the main goal for the project would consist of new construction of a new south water treatment plan to meet increasing system water demands as well as the replacement of the existing Hilltop Booster Station to meet pressure requirements. The application will be submitted for the proposed loan request of $68 million and the city will begin the process of improving water supply, distribution, and water treatment. LIFE-SAVING AWARDS Three life saving awards presented to Goshen police officers Patrol Division Chief Ryan Adams presented three Life Saving awards, recognizing the work of Capt. Austin Everage on Oct. 10, 2024. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On that day officers were notified of a person suffering a possible fentanyl overdose. Capt. Everage arrived at the scene and assisted the individual who had the signs of an overdose with Narcan. When there was no immediate response to the Narcan, Everage began to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Goshen paramedics arrived and took over and transported the person to the hospital. Adams said that Everage then later spoke to medical staff and was informed that the person was recovering and later discharged. The second award Adams presented was to Lt. Mark Clere and officer Kyle Priem for their quick work in finding an individual who was in a mental crisis and suffering from an injury. The person was in a location where he may not have been found without the efforts put in by the officers, according to Adams. Officer Priem had located the individual by tracking the ankle monitor and guided officers to the location of the person. In efforts to save the life of the person in crisis and their injury, Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Clere applied a tourniquet to the severe injury while checking for other injuries while leading the other officers, Adams said. Without the work of both officers, the serious injury and crisis could have been fatal. PROMOTIONS The Goshen Fire Department promoted the following members: EMS Lt. Winston Lechlitner to the rank of EMS captain Fire Sgt. Colton Cox to the rank of fire lieutenant James Mike White to the rank of EMS lieutenant Firefighter Daniel Kurtz to the rank of fire sergeant Goshen Fire Department and Goshen Police Department retirements and resignations include: Resignation and retirement of EMS Capt. Kit Castetter Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Retirement of Police Officer Michael Johnson and his K-9 Jetta Retirement of Police Officer Keith A. Miller LEGAL REQUESTS The following legal requests were approved: Transit Services Agreement with the Michiana Area Council of Governments and for the city to contribute $62,000 in 2025 as local matching funds for transit program. Elkhart County Health Department awarding the city $125,000 for the Mobile Integrated Health program. An easement at 200 Westwood Road from Goshen Hospital Association Inc. Awarding the $22,900 contract for the demolition of the unsafe building at 304 W. Oakridge Ave. and the sealing and restoration of the connection between the building and the garage at 306 W. Oakridge Ave. to B & E Excavating, LLC Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The terms and conditions to ratify the mayors execution of the Legal Services Agreement with Baron & Budd, P.C., Cossich, Sumich, Parsiola & Taylor, LLC, Cohen & Malad LLP, and Scott Yonover, P.C. in connection with PFAS litigation ENGINEERING REQUESTS The following engineering requests were approved by the board: Road closure of bridge deck overlay on Third Street and Ind. 15 bridge between U.S. 33 and Mill Street. Lane closures will take place on Ind. 15 and one lane traffic is to be expected beginning as early as Tuesday and to continue until mid-November. In the later phase, residents can expect closures on Middlebury St. onto Ind. 15. Road closure on Reliance Road, between the south entrance to the courthouse and Peddlers Village Road intersection, for the roadway and storm construction work from Tuesday thru July 15, 2025 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Road closure of East Lincoln Avenue, from Rock Run Creek to just east of Olive Street, and Olive Street between Lincoln Avenue and Vinson Court, from April 7 until Aug. 8. Road closure of Reynolds Street, from the railroad tracks to the west side of the intersection of 10th Street, Tuesday to April 25. A temporary removal of the No Truck designation on Blackport Drive, starting April 7 until no later than Nov. 21. Agreement Amendment No. 1 with DLZ Indiana LLC for Wilden Avenue Reconstruction projects consultant services in the amount of $77,980, making the full Agreement amount $602,480. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Accepted bid by Davey Resource Group, Inc. for $98,990 for the Wellington Ditch Logjam Removal project. Construction Standard Details for Streets and Utilities as presented. Agreement with Arco-Murray and Lag Realty LLC for the completion of the Hyundai dealership at 3202 Elkhart Road. LifeServe Blood Center and MercyOne Genesis DeWitt Medical Center have announced their partnership, according to a news release. LifeServe Blood Center, ranked as one of the top 15 blood centers in the country, is the main supplier of all blood and blood products to patients who entrust their care to MercyOne Genesis DeWitt. MercyOne Genesis DeWitt invites the community to join their partnership with LifeServe at their upcoming blood drive on Thursday, April 17 from 2-6 p.m. in the hospital dining room, 1118 11th St, To schedule your donation, visit here or call LifeServe at 800-287-4903. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement LifeServe Blood Center provides 100% of all blood products needed to 175 hospitals primarily across Iowa, South Dakota, Nebraska, and Illinois. The partnership between LifeServe and MercyOne allows residents and community members the opportunity to save lives in their neighborhood. As a community-based blood center, LifeServe hosts blood drives only in the communities where that blood will go back into the area hospitals. Were thrilled to be offering community members in DeWitt and the surrounding area the opportunity to make sure their donation stays local, said Danielle West, regional vice president at LifeServe Blood Center. You never know when you, your neighbor, a family member, or a friend may need a lifesaving blood transfusion; and when they do, those blood products will come from blood donors who give with LifeServe. About LifeServe LifeServe Blood Center is a non-profit, community-based blood center that has served the needs of local hospitals and patients in the region since 1947. As one of the 15 largest blood centers in the country, LifeServe provides blood products to 175 hospitals primarily in Iowa, South Dakota, Nebraska, and Illinois. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) A lithium battery in a rechargeable flashlight is being blamed for a Sunday fire at a Salina hotel. The fire happened at the Rodeway Inn & Suites at 3932 S. 9th Street. The Salina Fire Department said that when they arrived at the hotel, smoke was coming from the third floor, and a small fire was found in room 310. The hotels fire sprinkler system activated, containing the flames and fire damage to the room. The department said water damage was reported in hotel rooms on the first and second floors. Court document details night a Wichita child was killed Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Salina police also arrived and helped evacuate occupants. No injuries were reported. For more Kansas news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news by downloading our mobile app and signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track 3 Weather app by clicking here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSN-TV. WARSAW, Poland Amid a surge in defense spending across Eastern Europe, Lithuania is advancing plans to purchase Leopard 2A8 tanks and CV90 infantry fighting vehicles while making efforts to attract investors that will develop its own defense industry. Giedrimas Jeglinskas, the chairman of the Lithuanian parliaments Committee on National Security and Defence, told Defense News the countrys authorities have decided to increase its level of military expenditure to between 5% and 6% of its GDP from 2026 to 2030. This would place the nation atop of NATO in terms of spending. Similarly to the other two Baltic states, Estonia and Latvia, Lithuania has boosted its military expenditure in the aftermath of Russias invasion of Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our capability target is a division that we need to arm to make it a reality, so we need to increase spending to speed up the development of divisional assets. We need tanks, infantry fighting vehicles, air defense and some other high-tech assets to ensure this divisions readiness, Jeglinskas said. We need to arrive at the level which will allow us to deter potential aggression,he added. In December 2024, Lithuanian Defence Minister Dovile Sakaliene inked a contract to buy 44 Leopard 2A8 tanks during an official visit to Germany. In Berlin, Sakaliene met with German officials to discuss issues related to the two nations defense cooperation, including the heavy maneuver brigade of 4,800 personnel that the German Armed Forces, the Bundeswehr, is to deploy to Lithuania in the summer of 2025. The move is designed to bolster NATOs eastern flank. Last year, the State Defence Council, Lithuanias top defense decision-making body, authorized the countrys National Defence Ministry to also kick off the acquisition of tracked CV90s, which are made by BAE Systems Hagglunds. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2025, Lithuanias defense spending is to total some 3.2 billion ($3.5 billion), or around 3.9% of the countrys GDP, according to data from the National Defence Ministry. Alongside their work to equip the new Infantry Division with new gear, Lithuanian officials are also developing a program similar to Estonias initiative to lure weapon and ammunition makers to its Amari military base. As part of these efforts, Germanys Rheinmetall is carrying out a project to build a new ammunition plant in Lithuania, and Vilnius hopes to attract more defense industry players. The Lithuanian Ministry of Economy and Innovation and the Ministry of National Defence are working tandem on the so-called Green Corridor to attract investors. Rheinmetall is one of those deals, and more producers are coming, as were holding talks with several manufacturers of explosives, according to Jeglinskas, who represents the co-ruling Union of Democrats for Lithuania. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In November 2024, Rheinmetall launched the construction of a plant to make 155 mm artillery ammunition in Lithuania. Located in Baisogala, the factory is to commence operations in mid-2026. As part of the 180 million investment, around 150 jobs are to be created locally. A state-of-the-art production facility, including a shell manufacturing and load assembly pack, is being built in the municipality on an area of around 340 hectares, the German company said in a statement. Once completed, the plant will be able to produce tens of thousands of 155 mm calibre artillery shells per year. Jeglinskas said the Lithuanian governments responsibility is to support potential investors with a wide range of assistance, including financial aid, to attract more defense-focused investments. Its the governments role; the government needs to put money into certain companies, and state capital is needed is push forward such investments that are of strategic importance to Lithuania and its security, the lawmaker said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, in Estonia, the countrys authorities are making efforts to settle producers of weapons, ammunition and equipment in different locations across the country. In addition to the defense industry park in Amari, a larger defense park is to be made available for manufacturing projects by both domestic and foreign defense companies. The national parks location is yet to be decided. Public tenders to select investors are scheduled for 2025, representatives of the Estonian Centre for Defence Investments (ECDI), the countrys military procurement agency, told Defense News. An M88 armored personnel vehicle that was carrying four missing American soldiers has been removed from a swamp after six days of search operations in Lithuania, the Lithuanian Defense Ministry reported on March 31. The U.S. soldiers and the tracked vehicle disappeared on March 25 in a training area near the Lithuanian city of Pabrade, some 10 kilometers (6 miles) from the border with Belarus. Pabrade is home to Camp Herkus, a U.S. military camp. It is unclear whether the soldiers were inside the vehicle. The search and rescue operations are ongoing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "You have patiently trusted the rescuers for so long, but now that trust is needed even more," Lithuanian Defense Minister Dovile Sakaliene said. "Until the investigators have the knowledge, we need calm and focus let us understand the delicacy of the situation and the sensitivity of the families of the soldiers." Read also: Ukraine ceasefire could raise security risks for Baltic states, Estonian defense minister says Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Hundreds of thousands of people were without power and damage was reported to homes and cars as storms and severe weather raked across parts of the Midwest and South Sunday night. The storms were part of severe weather that threatened multiple states, including Oklahoma, Tennessee, Ohio, Indiana, Arkansas and Kentucky. High winds during the storms are blamed for six deaths. In Kalamazoo County, Michigan, three people died when a tree fell onto a car in Climax Township Sunday evening. Three other passengers in the vehicle were hospitalized with injuries that ranged from stable to critical, the county's sheriff's office said in a press release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Two deaths have been confirmed in Indiana one in Elkhart, where an Amish buggy was blown over, and one in Valparaiso, where severe crosswinds blew over a semi truck. In Oklahoma, a man and woman were trapped early Sunday, when a tree fell on their camping trailer along the Illinois River, north of Combs Bridge. The man died of his injuries, according to the Cherokee County Sheriff. More than 400,000 homes and businesses lost power across Michigan, Wisconsin, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky, according to PowerOutage.us. The storms pushed into the Southeast Monday, where wind damage, hail and a few tornadoes are possible. Here were our live updates as the storms played out Sunday afternoon and evening: (08:24 p.m. EDT) Airlines Waive Change Fees Some major airlines including Southwest and United are waiving any change fees and allowing passengers to rebook flights in areas in the path of the severe weather. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rules and flight routes affected vary by airline but include airports in Chicago and Harlingen, Texas, for Southwest. Uniteds listing includes flights today at airports in Chicago, Indianapolis and Minneapolis, and tomorrow in Boston, Baltimore, Washington, New York and Philadelphia. (08:11 p.m. EDT) Michigan College Campus Issues Shelter In Place Order Students and other personnel at Grand Valley State University in Grand Rapids were told to shelter in place this evening when the area was placed under a tornado warning. The all clear was given about an hour later. (07:58 p.m. EDT) Why Wear A Helmet In A Tornado Warning? You definitely can lower your risk of these severe injuries by wearing a helmet, emergency room physician Dr. Chris Davlantes told us in a recent interview. It's one of these critical but very much overlooked safety features or measures that people don't think about. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The reason? Head injuries are the No. 1 cause of death from tornadoes. You can read more here about why helmets are an important part of your emergency preparedness kit. (07:40 p.m. EDT) Freezing Rain, Power Outages In Michigan Freezing rain knocked down trees and power lines across parts of Michigan, contributing to more than 275,000 power outages currently being reported by PowerOutage.us. Most are across the northern part of the state. Jesika Fox told the Associated Press she and her husband drove more than 40 minutes from their home in Alpena, Michigan, to find fuel for a generator after they lost power last night. We just passed a veterinary clinic. The entire front corner of the building was taken out by a tree, Fox said. (07:31 p.m. EDT) Wet Mess At MLB Game Between White Sox And Angels From the Associated Press: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A fast-moving storm that caused a delay during Sunday's Angels-White Sox game created a headache for the grounds crew at Rate Field. It began to pour when a storm rolled over the ballpark with the game tied at 2 in the bottom of the seventh inning. The crew rushed out to the tarp, but the workers weren't able to pull it over the entire infield and the area around the first base line was exposed to the weather. The crew used a patchwork of smaller tarps to cover as much of the area as it could. When the rain stopped, the crew began to work on the infield with bags of drying material. The game resumed after a delay of nearly three hours. (07:20 p.m. EDT) Tornado Watch Vs. Tornado Warning - Know The Difference A tornado watch or severe thunderstorm watch is issued when conditions are favorable for severe weather. It should be considered a heads-up to pay close attention to your forecast and weather alerts, and have a plan to shelter if needed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A tornado warning or severe thunderstorm warning happens when either of those events are taking place. A warning means you need to take action immediately, including sheltering in a safe place. (07:08 p.m. EDT) Wind Gust Over 95 MPH Reported In Michigan More from Tonks: A weather station at the Jackson County-Reynolds Field Airport reported a thunderstorm wind gust of 96 mph near Jackson, Michigan. 96 mph sustained winds in a tropical cyclone would qualify as a Category 2 hurricane. Earlier today, downed trees and wind damage were reported after a wind gust of 85 mph was recorded in the southeast Kansas community of Baxter Springs. A wind gust of 79 mph was measured in Joplin, Missouri, and hail up to 2.5 inches in diameter was reported Southwest of Oklahoma City. (06:54 p.m. EDT) Hundreds Of Thousands Without Electricity More than 103,000 power outages are being reported across Indiana, according to PowerOutage.us. Most are in the northern part of the state where severe weather caused damage to cars and homes in at least one community. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Each power outage represents a single account that can include multiple people in one household or building. (06:45 p.m. EDT) Flooding Is An Issue, Too Late this afternoon, a flash flood emergency was issued for parts of Harrison and Jackson counties in southern Mississippi. Storms threatened to dump up to 4 inches of rain on top of 1-2 inches that had already fallen. (06:30 p.m. EDT) Trees Down, Homes Damaged In Mishawaka, Indiana Photos posted to social media show damage in St. Joseph County, Indiana, about 78 miles southeast of Chicago. The poster notes there are trees on houses and cars, and roofs are damaged. (06:28 p.m. EDT) This Ramp Up In Severe Weather Is Right On Cue "The ongoing tornado threat is standard for spring, especially as we creep closer to April, which kicks off the most active season for tornadoes in the United States of the year," Tonks said. "The threat peaks this time of year because there is a perfect storm of severe weather ingredients. Leftover winter cold in Canada clashes with warm, moist air from the Gulf, fueling a strong jet stream and propelling intense low-pressure systems capable of packing highly variable weather conditions." Weather.com staff writer Jan Childs covers breaking news and features related to weather, space, climate change, the environment and everything in between. As preventable infections like measles threaten to become endemic again in the US, researchers whose government grants were recently terminated are warning about the consequences of throttling studies looking at ways to increase vaccination. Among more than 1,600 grant cancellations announced by the US Department of Health and Human Service since January 20, roughly 300 have been related to vaccines, making the area one of the largest focal points for funding cuts by the agency. In a viewpoint published Monday in the journal JAMA, three pediatricians wrote about the letters they and their colleagues recently received terminating grants to research vaccine uptake, and they warned that the lives of individuals in the US are at stake if the government continues to undermine immunization. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This was a broad swath of work that was terminated, all focused on trying to understand the needs of individuals and communities regarding vaccines, Dr. Douglas Opel, a pediatrician at the University of Washington and one of the papers authors, told CNN. Opel was part of a grant looking at ways to increase vaccine confidence in Alaska Native and American Indian communities. The letter he and others received said, It is the policy of [the National Institutes of Health] not to prioritize research activities that focuses gaining scientific knowledge on why individuals are hesitant to be vaccinated and/or explore ways to improve vaccine interest and commitment. The authors point out that this is an astonishing about-face for the agency, whose immediate past director, Dr. Francis Collins, had expressed regret that he and other top public health officials had underestimated vaccine hesitancy during the Covid-19 pandemic. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The change in policy at NIH also runs contrary to views expressed by international health and security agencies. In 2019, the World Health Organization recognized vaccine hesitancy as one of the top 10 threats to global health. The Center for Strategic and International Studies, a US think tank, has also stressed that vaccine confidence is essential for national security. The authors of the JAMA paper say the loss of this critical support couldnt have come at a worse time. A recent study estimated that 1 in 5 parents in the US are hesitant about vaccines, just as vaccine-preventable infections such as measles and whooping cough are surging again. It really makes no logical sense, said co-author Dr. Sean OLeary, a pediatrician at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. We think of measles as the canary in the coal mine of vaccine-preventable diseases, because its so contagious that its the first one when you see immunization coverage in general drop. Its the first one youre going to see pop up. he said and other infections wont be far behind. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The US is also coming out of its worst flu season in more than a decade, with more than half a million hospitalizations and 23,000 deaths to date. Experts attribute some of that severity to decreasing flu vaccination across all age groups. HHS did not respond to a request for comment on the viewpoint. As a measles outbreak grows in Texas, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. wrote in an opinion piece on Fox News this month that parents should consult with health care providers to understand their options to get the MMR vaccine for their children. Kennedy did not explicitly recommend the vaccine but acknowledged that it can protect individuals and contribute to community immunity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The decision to vaccinate is a personal one, he wrote. The sudden loss of research funding isnt just disruptive, the viewpoints authors said, its also wasteful. Co-author Dr. Melissa Stockwell, a pediatrician and chief of the Division of Child and Adolescent Health at Columbia University, was studying the effectiveness of text reminders to increase flu and Covid vaccines for kids. The researchers had enrolled pediatrics practices and conducted a pilot last fall. They were going to run the campaign again this fall, to see which messages resonated and were effective, but now wont get the chance. They basically have invested nearly a million dollars already, and now were not going to be able to look at the results, Stockwell said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What made it particularly devastating was that it wasnt only my grant, but it was this community of researchers across the country. It was all happening to us simultaneously, she said. Stockwell worries what that will mean for the health of children. Were trying to make sure families have the information that they need to make health decisions for their children, she added. Taken in total, the vaccine grant cancellations signal an endorsement of an approach to deprioritize science, no matter how fundamental that science is to the health of individuals in the US, the viewpoints authors wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The grant termination letters stress that NIH is obligated to carefully steward grant awards to ensure taxpayer dollars are used in ways that benefit the American people. But any short-term savings on research related to vaccines is likely to cost the US money in the long run, experts say. Vaccines are the one of the most cost-effective public health interventions, preventing the direct costs of caring for people in the hospital as well as increasing productivity and longevity. Every dollar spent on vaccines for kids saves roughly 10, according to the pro-vaccine nonprofit Vaccinate Your Family. For the NIH to no longer be supporting them is chilling, Opel said. Its just absolutely unequivocal how important and beneficial vaccines are to the American public. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) Tuesday, April 1st, marks Oregon Cancer Action Day, a time when Oregonians affected by the deadly disease come together in hopes to inspire change on the legislative level. Members of the local chapter of the American Cancer Societys Cancer Action Network will be in Salem fighting for solutions to reduce the burden of cancer in our communities. New bill proposes repealing vote-by-mail in Oregon, public invited to testify Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One of the youth leaders of the movement, Lake Oswego High School junior Naomi Robinson, joined us on AM Extra with a look at their Oregon Cancer Action Day agenda. Watch the full interview in the video player above. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com. YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) Monday marks the International Transgender Day of Visibility. Its an annual event dedicated to celebrating transgender people and raising awareness for the discrimination they face. Full Spectrum Community Outreach in Youngstown is raising awareness, too. The nonprofit is dedicated to supporting local members of the LGBTQ+ community. The nonprofit hosted its ninth annual Bowling for Visibility event Sunday night at Westside Bowl to allow members of the community to come together and seek support. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We need to stand up and be here and be a supportive system for them. Thats why the Full Spectrum is here as an LGBT center. Were always going to be here for anyone that is transgender that needs support, and this event is for them, said Tim Bortner, president of Full Spectrum. The first International Transgender Day of Visibility was held on March 31, 2009. 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. AURORA, Colo. (KDVR) A Denver-area pediatrician who made it home from Gaza back in January before the ceasefire started is sharing his experience. Dr. Mohamed Kuziez said he has thoughts of returning to help treat the children with the resumption of Israeli attacks. Eid of sadness: Palestinians in Gaza mark Muslim holiday with dwindling food and no end to war He made the trip earlier this year with 11 doctors and had the chance to see how bad things were getting when there was still active combat unfolding. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Having to triage them. Having to figure out who was going to survive. Who wasnt going to survive. Who deserved your medical attention more than others, said Kuziez. Thats a hard decision to make because a lot of times youre making that decision for kids. He is referring to his time in Gaza where he treated hundreds of children working in the pediatric ICU and ER. Fifty to 60 people would show up. These ambulances would oftentimes have four or five people in the back of each ambulance, said Kuziez. So, the patients that hadnt survived the trip were rapidly transported to the morgue. He said the medical staff was working with limited capacity in terms of staff, equipment and even medicine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hamas says it accepts a new Gaza ceasefire proposal but Israel makes a counter-offer We would give them something like Tylenol because we had very low stocks of morphine and we reserved them for surgery patients who were receiving amputations, said Kuziez. He shared images of bombed and burned ambulances showing the scale of destruction. Burned ambulances in Gaza. (Courtesy DR. Mohamed Kuziez) He also showed a piece of fragment he removed from a childs body after a bombing. Destroyed his spline, destroyed most of his pancreas, he said. His large intestine and part of his small intestine. Luckily this child was able to survive because the shrapnel went through his abdomen and didnt go through his brain. Dr. Mohamed Kuziez extracted this rubble fragment from a minor patient in Gaza. (KDVR) Kuziezs goal now is to show people whats happening on the ground there. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Having been there and forming these connections with the doctors that are there seeing firsthand the costs that these kids are paying in this conflict. It motivates me to go back, said Kuziez. To this day, my friends who are physicians in Gaza, especially after Monday night, they messaged me and they tell me, We had such a horrible night. Theres bombs firing around the hospitals. Weve been unable to take a break. Weve been working for 24 hours sometimes, 36 hours sometimes because once you clear one mass casualty incident another one pulls up. So, they are tired understandably. They are disheartened. New US strikes against Houthi rebels kill at least 1 in Yemen He wants to do everything he can to ensure the safety of children everywhere. Children anywhere in the world have the right, the indomitable right to safety security and joy at the end of the day, said Kuziez. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said he still communicates with doctors from Gaza who are on the grounds. He along with other medical professionals have raised supplies to send there. Kuziez said that while getting to Gaza is a challenge because the nature of the conflict is different since the war started again, he plans on returning as soon as he can. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Yimla Yarmemet (2nd R) discusses short video shooting script with his team members in Xibe Autonomous County of Qapqal, Ili Kazak Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, March 7, 2025. (Xinhua/Ding Lei) URUMQI, March 31 (Xinhua) -- As the camera started rolling, Yimla Yarmemet poured steaming milk and coffee into a cup-shaped naan, a traditional staple food, creating a unique "Naanccino" that blends local flavors with global trends, while sitting at a coffee shop in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Donning white gloves and a sharp suit, Yimla Yarmemet, with his signature arched eyebrow and charming Xinjiang accent in his video clips, has captivated the internet and become a viral sensation. His videos not only make it easier for farmers to sell their produce and local specialties but also attract netizens to learn more about his hometown. After graduating from university in 2019, Yimla Yarmemet tried several jobs in the city of Shenzhen before returning home -- the Xibe Autonomous County of Qapqal -- in 2020 to start an e-commerce business. "Qapqal's fertile lands produce premium crops, so I was thinking why not use short videos to showcase our agricultural products," he said. Qapqal means "granary" in the Xibe language. Located in Ili Kazak Autonomous Prefecture, Qapqal is China's only Xibe autonomous county, boasting exceptional agricultural conditions. It is home to "Qapqal Rice," one of the country's Agro-product Geographical Indications, in addition to other farming and herding products. Yimla Yarmemet's team shot to internet fame last year with a short video introducing fish mint, a leafy green plant known for its distinctive fishy flavor and aroma. In the video, he stood in a greenhouse wearing a suit, held the plant, and took a raw bite before appearing refreshed by the grassy taste. The video drew an influx of comments from across the country, including questions about where Qapqal is and whether fish mint grows in Xinjiang. Yimla Yarmemet and his team spent up to three hours a day responding to these comments. "It feels amazing being able to share a real, multi-dimensional and tangible Xinjiang with more people," said Yong Xiaolong, the cameraperson of the team. Ma Li, the team's director, said many farmers turned to them for help to promote their produce, and the team offered their services free of charge. "Once, we filmed apples in a township, and a merchant who watched our video ended up ordering the entire orchard's harvest. We were very thrilled," Ma said. Inspired by the team, many content creators from Xinjiang have begun imitating their style, including a traffic police officer who started producing videos offering driving tips and traffic regulations. "These short videos in Xinjiang accent reflect a blend of regional culture and short video culture," said Liu Xiaocheng, a professor at Lanzhou University. He believes that using local, down-to-earth, humorous and novel expressions to promote regional characteristics can draw wider attention to ethnic minority border areas. In 2024, China's Ministry of Commerce issued the "Three-Year Action Plan for Digital Commerce (2024-2026)," highlighting the role of livestreaming and e-commerce in unleashing the consumption potential of rural areas. According to a report released by Douyin, the Chinese version of TikTok, approximately 1.02 billion videos themed around rural life were uploaded to the platform in 2023, resulting in 4.73 billion orders for agricultural products. Yimla Yarmemet plans to use livestreaming platforms more extensively to promote local farm products like rice, corn, vegetables and beef jerky. "We hope our videos can not only help farmers increase income but also showcase the beauty and prosperity of Xinjiang's Qapqal County to the outside world," he said. Yimla Yarmemet (R) talks with a farmer at a science and technology demonstration base in Xibe Autonomous County of Qapqal, Ili Kazak Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, March 7, 2025. (Xinhua/Ding Lei) Yimla Yarmemet (L) edits a short video with a director in Xibe Autonomous County of Qapqal, Ili Kazak Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, March 11, 2025. (Xinhua/Ding Lei) Yimla Yarmemet arranges products at an e-commerce center in Xibe Autonomous County of Qapqal, Ili Kazak Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, March 11, 2025. (Xinhua/Ding Lei) Yimla Yarmemet shoots a short video at a science and technology demonstration base in Xibe Autonomous County of Qapqal, Ili Kazak Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, March 7, 2025. (Xinhua/Ding Lei) Yimla Yarmemet (R) shoots a short video with his team members at a science and technology demonstration base in Xibe Autonomous County of Qapqal, Ili Kazak Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, March 7, 2025. (Xinhua/Ding Lei) DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) Ryan Rushing, administrator for Beavercreek Township, was cited last week for OVI and for going 98 mph in a 55 mph zone. According to court documents, the incident was filed on March 26. In a statement obtained by 2 NEWS, Tom Kretz, Board of Trustees chair for Beavercreek Township, said that the matter is not the townships to handle, listing several reasons as to why the matter is a personal one for Rushing to handle himself. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The following reasons are taken verbatim from the statement. The incident did not occur on Township property or while operating a Township-owned vehicle The incident did not occur during Township business hours The incident did not occur while, on the way to, or on the way from, Rushing performing any Township-related duty or role No damage to property or injuries were reported at the incident 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 Rushings ability to perform his official duties since the incident occurred has not been impacted because of the incident in any way Rushing is also considered to be a standout employee by the board. 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, the statement reads. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rushing was scheduled for arraignment for the incidents on March 28. He appeared in court on March 27, where he pleaded not guilty. A request for a pretrial was made as well, which is scheduled for April 14. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDTN.com. (COLORADO SPRINGS) Local Union #113 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) celebrated 125 years of commitment to workers, community, and industry on Saturday, March 29. The celebration took place at the historic Antlers Hotel in downtown Colorado Springs. Originally chartered with only nine founding members, Local #113 grew over the years to more than 1,000 members working across various industries. Courtesy: FOX21 News Photojournalist Christopher Hernandez Courtesy: FOX21 News Photojournalist Christopher Hernandez Courtesy: FOX21 News Photojournalist Christopher Hernandez Representatives say the union has been instrumental in supporting families, building communities, and ensuring the safety and prosperity of the region. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is a great honor to celebrate 125 years of serving the Pikes Peak region, of this area. Its an amazing feeling, said Daniel Mondragon, Business Manager and Financial Secretary, IBEW113. And Im proud to be a part of this. The evening was filled with reflection, celebration, and camaraderie as current and past members, families, and friends gathered to honor the unions incredible legacy. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio Sunday is March 30, marking the date 3-3-0. Its a big day for those celebrating art and culture in Youngstown, Warren, Akron and Canton, where the area code is 330. This is the third annual 330 Day for the Valley, and this years celebration spanned over three days. Over 1,000 attendees and 20 vendors gathered to celebrate at Westside Bowl in Youngstown. Chris Moss, executive director of 330 Day, said the day is a cultural celebration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We really focus in on shared culture, shared community and not looking at our differences but really looking at what brings us together, and thats music, thats art, thats culture, thats food, thats just shared experiences really, Moss said. Moss says they will be working on making next years event even better. 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. This is the second of a two-part series on issues defense attorneys might have raised if Patrick Crusius had gone to trial for the 2019 Walmart mass shooting. Previously: Patrick Crusius believed he was fulfilling Trumps wishes in El Paso attack, his attorney says EL PASO, Texas (EL PASO MATTERS) Patrick Crusius showed symptoms of mental illness beginning in childhood, culminating in a psychotic event that led him to kill 23 people and wound 22 others in a 2019 mass shooting in El Paso, his defense attorney told El Paso Matters. We had found out that virtually from birth, theres been documentation of his mental illness. He had a twin sister (and) it was very clear that he did not develop as quickly as she did, with his ability to speak, with his ability to walk, with his ability to crawl, his ability to communicate, defense attorney Joe Spencer said in an interview Tuesday, the day District Attorney James Montoya announced he wouldnt seek the death penalty in the mass killing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We also have both of his parents that have a history of mental illness and have been on antipsychotic medication for over 40 years, Spencer said. He said defense lawyers raised mental health issues to block attempts to put Crusius to death, not to excuse his violent actions. Certainly, the mental health issues he has is not an excuse for his conduct, but it is part of his life that he grew up with and part of his family, who also suffers from mental illness. That is a contributing factor to the horrific carnage that Patrick caused, Spencer said. El Paso defense attorney Joe Spencer represents Walmart gunman Patrick Crusius. (Robert Moore/El Paso Matters) With the death penalty off the table, Crusius is expected to plead guilty April 21 to state charges of capital murder and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. He will be sentenced to life in prison without possibility of parole. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Crusius also faces 90 consecutive life terms in federal prison after guilty pleas to weapons and hate crime charges. The guilty plea and sentencing will bring an end to a court process that has moved at a slow pace since Crusius drove 10 hours from his home in the suburban North Texas town of Allen on Aug. 3, 2019, and opened fire outside and inside the Walmart next to Cielo Vista Mall. The attack which Crusius said in an online screed was meant to stop the Hispanic invasion of Texas shattered a predominately Hispanic community with an extended history of low crime rates. Although the broad outlines of the attack are well known, much of the detail has never been shared with the public because no trial was ever held and police records remain off-limits to the public and media as long as criminal charges are pending. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Spencer, one of the three primary attorneys representing Crusius in federal and state court, has spoken sparingly about the case outside of courtrooms. He agreed to an interview with El Paso Matters on Tuesday, when 409th District Judge Sam Medrano lifted a gag order he had imposed on lawyers in the case in 2022. Octavio Ramiro Lizarde, in the wheelchair, was comforted on Aug. 18, 2019, when visiting a cross erected for his nephew, Javier Amir Rodriguez, at a makeshift memorial for the Walmart shooting victims near the store. Amir, 15, was the youngest person killed in the shooting, and his uncle was wounded. (Robert Moore/El Paso Matters) In the interview, he detailed Crusius mental health history, his radicalization in the online world of white supremacist extremism, his purchase of a semiautomatic rifle, and his decision to wreak unspeakable terror on El Paso. Crusius mental health history would have played a key role if a jury had been asked to decide whether to sentence him to death. Jurors would have been asked to decide whether his mental health history would be a mitigating factor that would lead to his life being spared. In a news conference Tuesday, Montoya said he believed that prosecutors could have convinced a jury to sentence Crusius to death, but added that a single juror could have objected and forced a life sentence. He said the process could take years, and most families of those killed who he spoke to since taking office in January favored a quick resolution to a criminal case that had already dragged on for more than five years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I feel confident we would have succeeded in obtaining a death verdict had we gotten to that point. We just dont know how much longer that would have taken, Montoya said. Spencer said the defense was prepared to argue that Crusius life should be spared because of his extensive mental health history. At a federal sentencing in 2023, Spencer and the prosecution said Crusius had been diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder, a mental health condition characterized by auditory and visual hallucinations and mood disorders. Most people with schizophrenia are not violent, mental health experts say, but the illness can increase the chance of violence in some people. Spencer said Crusius had not history of violence prior to the mass shooting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We hired several psychiatrists and psychologists. They did evaluations on Patrick to make a determination as to what his current state is. We even hired a forensic psychiatrist who is typically a government witness, because we wanted to have someone that is not defense-oriented or someone that the prosecution might claim was bought and sold by the defense, he said. That is a singular, isolated incident, psychotic event that Patrick had, Spencer said. Law-enforcement officers search the car Patrick Crusius drove from North Texas to El Paso the day he killed 23 people and wounded 22 others in an El Paso Walmart on Aug. 3, 2019. He surrendered to police a short time after the shooting while driving on Viscount Boulevard. (Robert Moore/El Paso Matters) He said there never was a question of Crusius guilt in the attack. One of the first things he said, besides telling me hes not a racist, is, Why do I need a lawyer? Im guilty. And he wanted to immediately plead. But I said, Patrick weve got to wait. You cant plead to the death penalty, and you cant plead guilty at an arraignment. Thats what he wanted to do, Spencer said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The defense attorney had said repeatedly in court that Crusius would quickly plead guilty if prosecutors would agree not to seek a death sentence. Federal prosecutors agreed to do so in 2023, but former district attorneys Yvonne Rosales and Bill Hicks would not take him up on the offer. Montoya, who took office in January, agreed to do so. Spencer said he has seen no evidence that anyone else was involved in the attack, which was captured by several security cameras in the Walmart. Motive for the shooting Shortly before walking into the Walmart, Crusius posted what he called a manifesto on 8Chan, an online chat platform that attracted white supremacists and white nationalists. Spencer said Crusius family was skeptical he had the ability to write such a document, but the attorney believes he largely copied the text from other sources. This attack is a response to the Hispanic invasion of Texas, the manifesto said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The tropes Crusius cited in his manifesto that immigration constituted an invasion, and that large-scale migration was part of a great replacement of white people with Hispanics and other immigrants were largely confined in 2019 to dark corners of the internet frequented by white nationalist extremists. But in the years since, those views have become more mainstream. A 2024 poll by the University of Massachusetts found that 73% of self-identified Republicans believed one of the key tenets of the great replacement theory, that some elected officials want to increase immigration in order to bring in obedient voters who will vote for them. An NPR/IPSOS Poll earlier this year found that 80% of Republican voters believe the United States is experiencing an invasion at the southern border. Montoya said hatred of Hispanics drove Crusius to attack El Paso. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think he is filled with hate in his heart. I think that the beliefs that he harbors that motivated him to come here and commit the worst terrorist attacks against Latinos, against Hispanics in the United States, I think that is what makes him dangerous, harboring those beliefs, the district attorney said. Spencer said he doesnt believe Crusius is a racist, but that he was radicalized by online exposure to white nationalist extremism beginning in late 2018 or early 2019. He said evidence gathered by the FBI found that Crusius was involved in extremist online forums such as 4Chan and 8Chan. He lived in this little world of his computer, and he got on some of those channels that are what I call the dark web. He didnt have a friend. He didnt have a girlfriend. He lived in that computer, the attorney said. Spencer said Crusius was a lurker in the chats. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Although he never engaged with any conversation with them, he did read it. He was there. His whole world was in his computer because he just was socially in it, he said. Those conversations, as well as statements by President Trump about immigration, led to the El Paso massacre, Spencer said. The gun In June 2019, after five or six months immersed in white nationalist hate sites, Crusius purchased a Romanian-made semiautomatic rifle online and had it delivered to a gun store in his hometown of Allen, according to court records. The weapon was a WASR-10, the civilian version of an AK-47-style rifle used by the Romanian military. Crusius was 20 at the time, and the legal age for purchasing a rifle in Texas is 18. A WASR-10 semiautomatic rifle, similar to the weapon purchased by Patrick Crusius that he used to kill 23 people and injure 22 others at an El Paso Walmart store. (Photo courtesy of Wikimedia) Crusius was living with his mother, who became concerned when she learned he had purchased a rifle, Spencer said. As soon as it comes to his house and his mother realizes he ordered this AK-47, she calls the Allen Police Department. And she tells the Allen Police Department, My son is mentally ill. My son should not have this rifle. Could you all come and get it? the attorney said. Lawyers for the Crusius family have said the mother was told by police that it was legal for him to own the weapon. The lawyers also said the mother was concerned about her son owning the weapon because of his age, maturity level and lack of experience handling such a firearm. She did not tell the police her name or her sons name. Spencer said the gun was a source of tension in the house, and the mother kicked out the son. He goes to his grandfathers house. His grandfather tells him, Im going to give you three choices, Patrick. I will buy the rifle from you; you will send the rifle back; or you will turn it over to the police department. But if youre going to keep the rifle, you are not going to stay here, the attorney said. Patrick said he was going to keep the rifle, and his father thought it was a good bonding experience, so he moves in with his father, whos unstable, Spencer said. Patrick Crusius, the suspect in the 2019 Walmart mass shooting, appeared at a Sept. 12 hearing in 409th District Court. At right is defense attorney Mark Stevens. (Ruben R. Ramirez/El Paso Inc) When he turned 21 on July 27, 2019, Crusius wrote a note and tells his family that he expects that hes going to die. And that to forgive him for what hes going to do, his attorney said. Then we know shortly after that, he came down here. El Paso is a 650-mile drive from Allen. North Texas, where Crusius lived, featured numerous immigrant communities that he could have targeted. Border communities like Eagle Pass and Laredo were 200 miles closer to his home. So why attack El Paso? He thought that if he left Allen, Texas, and he came to El Paso, then his family would never know what he did, Spencer said. So that tells you how naive he is and (the) confusion that he had in his brain as to how he thought he could just drive to El Paso and nobody in Texas would know. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (WBTW) A Loris man pleaded guilty to a 2022 shooting in Myrtle Beach that resulted in the death of one man, the Fifteenth Circuit Solicitors Office said. Quentin Ahmad Jean, 38, pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter on March 13, and was sentenced to 20 years in prison as part of a negotiated plea on Monday, a news release said. I hope he suffers: Widow of West Virginia man fatally shot during 2022 Myrtle Beach vacation reacts to killers sentence Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jean was arrested on July 6, 2022 and charged with attempted murder after Myrtle Beach Police Department officers heard gunshots around 1 a.m. in the area of Highway 501 and Broadway Street, according to the release. Officers found a crashed vehicle near 8th Avenue North and Kings Highway, where 40-year-old Joshua Wilson of Parkersburg, West Virginia, was suffering from gunshot wounds. Wilson died a few days after the incident. Jean was located by his vehicle through the use of city cameras. Sergeant Chris White and the entire Myrtle Beach Police Department did an outstanding job with this investigation. Numerous officers responded to the scene within minutes, Senior Assistant Solicitor Mary-Ellen Walter said. Not long thereafter, they had identified and located the defendant and taken him into custody. While no sentence will bring Mr. Wilson back, we hope that this gives his family some measure of closure. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jean must serve 85 percent of the sentence before he is eligible for release. * * * Jordan White is a Digital Producer at News13. She joined the News13 team in August 2024. Jordan, a Myrtle Beach native, graduated from St. James High School in Murrells Inlet and is a graduate of Coker University. Follow Jordan on Facebook, X, formerly Twitter, and read more of her work here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBTW. BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) Louisiana State Police is asking for the publics help in finding a vehicle involved in a hit-and-run crash that left a pedestrian seriously injured. The accident occurred around 9 p.m. on March 29, on LA 1023, south of LA 63. According to state police, a vehicle, possibly a Toyota, hit a pedestrian and then fled the scene. LSP said the suspect vehicle likely has front-end damage, including damage to the hood, grille, and windshield. After the crash, it was last seen heading north on LA 1023 toward LA 63. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Troopers want anyone with information about the crash or the suspect vehicles location to call Louisiana State Police Troop A at 225-754-8500. One dead, two hurt as car strikes pedestrians in Baton Rouge Sunday 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. NEW YORK (AP) Two books on the history of indigenous people in the U.S. have received $10,000 awards presented by the J. Anthony Lukas Prize Project. Rebecca Nagle's By the Fire We Carry: The Generations Long Fight for Justice on Native Land won the Lukas Book Prize, given for nonfiction works that exemplify literary grace, commitment to serious research, and original reporting. Kathleen DuVal's "Native Nations: A Millennium in North America" was given the Mark Lynton History Prize for books that combine intellectual distinction with felicity of expression. Two $25,000 work-in-progress awards also were announced Monday, for Susie Cagle's The End of the West and Dan Xin Huang's Rutter: The Story of an American Underclass. Established in 1998, the Lukas project is named for the late Pulitzer Prize-winning author and journalist and is administered by the Columbia Journalism School and the Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard University. Previous winners include Robert Caro and Isabel Wilkerson. Nearly eight years ago, Donald Trump nominated Republican Rep. Tom Marino of Pennsylvania to lead the Office of National Drug Control Policy a position best known to the public as the nations drug czar. That did not turn out well. Following explosive reporting from The Washington Post, which found that the GOP congressman championed legislation that hindered federal agents from going after the Big Pharma firms that flooded the country with addictive opioids, Marinos nomination collapsed and he withdrew from consideration. Eight years later, the president has a new drug czar in mind, whos notable for different kinds of reasons. The Washington Post reported: President Donald Trump said on Friday that he intends to nominate Sara A. Carter, a Fox News contributor, to serve as director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy. From Afghanistan to our Border, Sarahs relentless pursuit of Justice, especially in tackling the Fentanyl and Opioid Crisis, has exposed terrorists, drug lords, and sex traffickers, Trump wrote on his social media platform, Truth Social, misspelling her first name. One of the reasons the Carter nomination stood out is the growing list of Fox News personalities whove landed powerful positions on Team Trump. In January, The New York Times published a tally and found 19 former Fox News hosts, commentators, on-air medical experts, producers and other personnel whod landed jobs in the Republican administration. Soon after, Media Matters published a revised total, putting the new number at 20. (The list did not include Attorney General Pam Bondi, who briefly moonlit as a guest host of a Fox News program while she was serving as Floridas chief law enforcement official.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As March got underway, the president also appointed Fox News personalities Laura Ingraham and Maria Bartiromo to the Kennedy Center board, and as March neared its end, Trump added yet another Fox News contributor to his White House operation, tapping Carter to serve as the drug czar. But complicating matters is the nominees resume. As a Stat News report explained, Carters selection comes as a surprise: Her background is not in drug policy, public health, or law enforcement, and she has never served in government. Or put another way, Carter will be an amateur, joining Trumps team of amateurs. It is not exactly a secret that the incumbent president sees governing expertise and policymaking experience as qualities to be avoided. Indeed, during the Republicans first term, those with expertise and experience tended to be the people who discouraged the president the first chief executive in American history to reach the Oval Office without any experience in public office at any level from taking steps he was eager to take. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As a result, Trump appears to have gone out of his way to lean into his preference for amateurs in a second term, choosing inexperienced and unqualified loyalists for much of the White House Cabinet. Those who celebrate rookies in positions of influence have reason to celebrate. Those who value qualifications have reason to worry. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com Todays installment of campaign-related news items from across the country. * After legal efforts to block the event came up short, Republican megadonor Elon Musk held a rally of sorts in Wisconsin on Sunday, ahead of Tuesdays state Supreme Court election, and he rewarded a pair of apparent supporters with $1 million checks. Brad Schimel, the conservative candidate in the race, was not in attendance. * On a related note, Musk also told Wisconsin voters over the weekend that the state Supreme Court election could determine the future of America and Western Civilization. He added that he believes the race is likely to affect the entire destiny of humanity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement * In Louisiana, Republican Gov. Jeff Landry hoped voters would approve a series of proposed changes to the state Constitution, but they lost by wide margins. * While much of the attention in the April 1 elections has focused on the Wisconsin Supreme Court election and the congressional special elections in Florida, Bolts Daniel Nichanian highlighted some of the down-ballot contests that election waters will be keeping an eye on. * In Florida, Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis wife, Casey DeSantis, hasnt yet announced a gubernatorial race of her own, but NBC News reported that taxpayer-funded staffers in the governors office have been making fundraising calls to state lobbyists, asking them to commit to raise money for a DeSantis-aligned political committee that would support the first ladys potential candidacy. * And in Texas, where its been three weeks since the late Rep. Sylvester Turners passing, there are a variety of candidates whove kicked off campaigns to succeed him. It falls to Gov. Greg Abbott, however, to schedule a special election, and so far, the Republican not only hasnt called such a race, he also hasnt said when hed get around to making such a decision. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com By all appearances, when the White House dispatched an uninvited delegation to Greenland, the move was intended to be a charm offensive of sorts. Vice President JD Vance, his wife and his colleagues hoped their visit to the island which Donald Trump is apparently determined to acquire would make a good opening impression with locals. If that was the goal, the administration failed quite spectacularly. As my MSNBC colleague Clarissa-Jan Lim explained, officials in Greenland made a series of efforts to make clear that they did not want the U.S. delegation to be there, and as part of his visit, Vance took the opportunity to publicly and needlessly admonish Denmark a reliable NATO ally for many years. The Republican, as part of a press conference at a U.S. military base, added, The president has said clearly he doesnt 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The word but did a lot of work in that sentence. The circumstances were, by any fair measure, ridiculous. The American vice president took a sojourn to an island without an invitation, held a press conference on foreign soil, suggested the United States would acquire the island that does not wish to be acquired, and slammed a trusted ally that has done nothing wrong. A day later, his boss made matters worse with some fresh comments to NBC News. The president on Saturday also said he has absolutely had real conversations about annexing Greenland, which is currently a semiautonomous Danish territory. Well get Greenland. Yeah, 100%, Trump said. He added that theres a good possibility that we could do it without military force but that I dont take anything off the table. Note, it was a couple of weeks ago when Trump, while seated alongside NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, predicted that he will ultimately succeed in his quest to take control of Greenland. I think itll happen, the president said when he asked what his vision is for the potential annexation of the island. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As part of the same set of comments, the American president also suggested that he might deploy additional U.S. troops to Greenland. Two weeks later, the Republican White House had an opportunity to categorically reject the idea of using military force against an ally as part of Trumps territorial ambitions. That clearly did not happen. A day after Trump effectively guaranteed that the United States would acquire Greenland, the islands new prime minister, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, said via social media, 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. The charm offensive, in other words, is off to a rough start. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Of course, Trumps idea isnt just unpopular abroad, its unpopular in his own country, too: The latest Fox News poll asked respondents about various parts of the presidents agenda, and the least popular idea was taking over Greenland, with 70% of Americans opposed to the presidents plan. This post updates our related earlier coverage. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com by Xinhua writers Xu Jiatong, Liu Yang, Li Yan NAIROBI/BEIJING, March 31 (Xinhua) -- The 20,000-ariary banknote of Madagascar features a golden ear of hybrid rice, a symbol of agricultural partnership between China and Africa. Since 2007, China has been sending agricultural experts to the Indian Ocean island country, successfully boosting rice yields on trial plots to two to three times those of traditional African varieties. By 2022, this technology had been applied to 75,000 hectares of land, doubling the incomes of tens of thousands of farmers and significantly strengthening Madagascar's food self-sufficiency. In most African countries, food security and agricultural development remain pressing concerns. In recent years, the continent has transitioned from "relying on weather for good crops" to "securing good harvests with technology," thanks to agricultural knowhow from China. According to a report by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, China has actively supported other developing countries in addressing agricultural and food security challenges by sharing its knowledge and expertise in such areas as rice production, agricultural statistics and climate-resilient farming. TECHNOLOGY ADAPTATION The core of technological implementation lies in "adapting to local conditions." Chinese experts customize their programs to align with Africa's unique soil properties and climate patterns. In Guinea-Bissau, an approach featuring "technology and equipment" has been well received by locals. China has provided material assistance in the form of agricultural machinery and tools while dispatching agricultural experts to provide long-term technical training. This has effectively raised the number of skilled agricultural workers, said Mamadu Saliu Lamba, the country's former minister of agriculture, forestry and rural development. In Madagascar, experts have been working to cultivate insect-resistant rice seeds to combat pests. According to Philibert Rakotoson, Madagascar's former secretary general of the Ministry of Agriculture, hybrid rice has made a convincing case that hunger will eventually be eradicated. Between 2013 and the end of 2023, China established 24 agricultural technology demonstration centers in Africa and introduced more than 300 advanced agricultural technologies, increasing local crop yields by an average of 30 to 60 percent and benefiting over 1 million farmers across the continent. Based on local conditions, hybrid rice cultivation, along with other Chinese agricultural technologies, has become a crucial means of helping African countries combat poverty and achieve food self-sufficiency. INNOVATION BOOST About 60 km east of the Mauritanian capital of Nouakchott, the village of Idini, on the edge of the Sahara Desert, was once plagued by extreme heat, drought, poor soil and violent sandstorms. Today, a Chinese mushroom-growing technology known as "Juncao" -- two Chinese characters meaning "mushroom" and "grass" -- has taken root here. The grass planted to be used as substrate for growing mushrooms has earned the nickname "the happiness herb" among locals. Beyond stabilizing shifting sands, it can also help improve livestock farming. "Our sheep used to starve or become emaciated," recalled Amir Abdou, a local shepherd, who once struggled with barren and sandy land. "Thanks to the Chinese experts who taught us to grow Juncao and other plants, we finally have forage to feed our herds. Today, I am raising 10 sheep, all in excellent health. Thank you, Chinese friends!" he said. Such technological innovation has introduced sustainable solutions to Africa's agricultural challenges, ranging from solar-powered insecticide lamps that reduce pesticide use by 20-30 percent, and drought- and flood-tolerant rice varieties that preserve nearly 60 percent of the harvest in case of disaster, to small agricultural machines that mitigate soil degradation through precision farming while enhancing farmland resilience to climate change. China-Africa agricultural cooperation has transformed deserts into fertile land. Monique Nsanzabaganwa, former deputy chairperson of the African Union Commission, said this collaboration enables Africa to achieve self-sufficiency by leveraging its natural resources. WIN-WIN COOPERATION In August 2022, fresh African avocados were exported to China for the first time, marking a deeper and more diversified agricultural partnership between the two sides. According to official data released in 2024, China has established agricultural cooperation mechanisms with 23 African countries and regional organizations, signing 72 cooperation agreements. More than 200 Chinese agribusiness companies now operate in Africa, with total Chinese agricultural investment on the continent exceeding 1 billion U.S. dollars. This has created a collaborative network spanning cultivation, processing, and trade. In Nigeria, Chinese-developed rice varieties have increased production by about 25 percent compared to local varieties. In Uganda, Chinese-introduced millet has tripled yields per unit of land. In Tanzania, experts from China Agricultural University collaborate with local farmers on maize and soybean projects, while in Rwanda, Chinese e-commerce training has helped Rwandan coffee producers gain direct access to the global market. In addition to the Chinese experts sent to Africa, African trainees who studied in China have also contributed to applying these technologies across the continent. They have learned agricultural technologies and benefited from digital marketing courses to introduce local agricultural products to international markets. As one Nigerian farmer puts it, Chinese technology has "illuminated our path to self-sufficiency." The headline on the NBC News report probably raised some eyebrows: Trump says hes very angry and pissed off at Putin during an NBC News interview. The report explained that Donald Trump, responding to Russias Vladimir Putins latest criticisms of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, complained that the 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 in an early-morning phone call with NBC News on Sunday. If the goal was to generate a great many headlines about Trump being angry with his ally in Moscow, the comments were a great success. But some skepticism is in order. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For now, lets not dwell on the fact that its hard to imagine the Trump feeling genuine outrage about Putin criticizing Zelenskyy given the frequency with which he has criticized Zelenskyy. Instead, lets consider what the Republican president has done, rather than that hes said. For example, the American president first threatened to impose harsh new sanctions on Russia in late January, and then he did nothing. Trump made related threats earlier this month, and again, there was no follow-through. As the Republican repeats a similar line, its tough to imagine the Kremlin feeling especially anxious about the White Houses next move especially amid reports that the U.S. administration isnt overly eager to enforce existing sanctions on Russia. But while the administrations line on sanctions is important, lets also not overlook what the White House has done since Trump returned to power to help the Putin regime. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And did I mention that Senate Republicans, at Trumps behest, confirmed Tulsi Gabbard as the nations director of national intelligence, despite her habit of echoing Russian propaganda? Because that happened, too. Your mileage might vary, but this does not seem to reflect an American president whos very angry with the Russian leader. This post updates our related earlier coverage. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com The Wall Street Journal reported that Donald Trump recently spoke to some of the top U.S. automakers, and as part of the private chat, he issued a warning: The president told them not to raise prices in response to the White Houses tariffs policy. The report, which has not been independently verified by MSNBC or NBC News, added that the Republican told the executives that the White House would look unfavorably on such a move, leaving some of them rattled and worried they would face punishment if they increased prices, people with knowledge of the call said. Of course, this was more than just the latest example of heavy-handed White House tactics toward ostensible private-sector allies. There was also an unstated subtext to the presidents message to the domestic automakers: Trump seemed to realize that his policy on tariffs would push the manufacturers to raise prices. He apparently hoped to convince them otherwise. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Two days after the Journals report reached the public, the president spoke to NBC News about this and other issues, and he denied the accuracy of the account or at least tried to. The president said he couldnt care less if automakers raised prices after he announced he would impose 25% tariffs on all foreign-made automobiles. When pressed if he told CEOs not to raise prices, as reported in the Wall Street Journal, Trump added, No, I never said that. I couldnt care less if they raise prices, because people are going to start buying American-made cars. Trump continued, I couldnt care less. I hope they raise their prices, because if they do, people are gonna buy American-made cars. In context, the Republican was apparently trying to argue that he hopes to see foreign auto manufacturers raise prices on their vehicles so that consumers would shift their focus to domestic auto manufacturers. But it's not quite that simple. Whether Trumps tariffs would raise prices on domestic manufacturers many American cars and trucks are made with parts that are imported from other countries is a detail the White House does not appear to have grappled with. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What's more, U.S. manufacturers who sell vehicles abroad will have to contend with a series of reciprocal tariffs imposed by other countries. With this in mind, if the president assumes that U.S. companies are on board with his approach, theres evidence to the contrary. In fact, it was just last month when Ford Motor CEO Jim Farley spoke at a conference and said the Trump administrations trade policies were generating a lot of chaos for the industry. As part of the same remarks, the Ford executive also warned that some of the White Houses plans for trade tariffs would be devastating to auto manufacturers and blow a hole in the U.S. industry that weve never seen. It might seem like ancient history, but it was just last year when Trump told voters, When I win, I will immediately bring prices down starting on day one. This is not a cherry-picked quote that he accidentally blurted out once and then quickly forgot. On the contrary, the then-candidate repeated the line over and over again as Election Day approached, assuring Americans that hed help lower prices immediately after returning to the White House. Its hard not to wonder how voters who believed his promises feel after hearing Trump say he couldnt care less if some automakers raise prices. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com A few weeks ago, Donald Trumps Justice Department gutted the Justice Departments Public Integrity Section, shrinking the unit that oversees prosecutions of public officials accused of corruption from dozens of employees to roughly six. A week earlier, the presidents DOJ also removed at least three top national security officials, gutting the National Security Division. One day earlier, the presidents Justice Department also ousted lawyers managing its pardon work and bankruptcy litigation, as well as the official overseeing the Office of Professional Responsibility, which handles internal ethics investigations. Despite these steps, which helped destabilize federal law enforcement, Team Trump had not targeted career line prosecutors who oversee individual criminal cases that is, until a few days ago. The New York Times reported: Two longtime career prosecutors have been suddenly fired by the White House, in what current and former Justice Department officials called an unusual and alarming exercise of presidential power. In recent days, the prosecutors, in Los Angeles and Memphis, were dismissed abruptly, notified by a terse one-sentence email stating no reason for the move other than that it was on behalf of the president himself. Asked about the firings, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told the Times, The White House, in coordination with the Department of Justice, has dismissed more than 50 U.S. attorneys and deputies in the past few weeks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thats true, but its not something to brag about. Just so were all clear, when one presidential administration replaces another, its routine for a White House to replace U.S. attorneys with a new batch of prosecutors who oversee federal law enforcement offices. Barack Obama chose a slate of U.S. attorneys to replace George W. Bushs prosecutors; Trump replaced Obamas; Joe Biden replaced Trumps; and so on. But these new developments are qualitatively different. From the Times report: The ousters reflected a more aggressive effort by the White House to reach deep inside U.S. attorney offices across the country in a stark departure from decades of practice. While it is commonplace and accepted for senior political appointees at the Justice Department to change from administration to administration, no department veteran could recall any similar removal of assistant U.S. attorneys. The fired prosecutors, who were ousted without warning, were career officials with extensive experience. If theres any evidence that the two lawyers, Adam Schleifer and Reagan Fondren, deserved to be ousted for cause, the White House and the Justice Department have kept that information to themselves. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That said, Schleifer was working on a case involving a Trump donor. Leavitt added, in response to questions about the firings, The American people deserve a judicial branch full of honest arbiters of the law who want to protect democracy, not subvert it, which mightve made slightly more sense if federal prosecutors were part of the judicial branch, but theyre not. (Prosecutors are part of the executive branch.) If youre thinking that developments like these are likely to have a chilling effect, signaling to other career line prosecutors that the Republican White House is both watching and willing to take dramatic steps to rein in those who work in a U.S. attorneys office, youre not alone. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com The basic elements of the Signal chat scandal are straightforward. The White Houses national security team chatted in an unsecured group on the messaging app about sensitive operational details of a foreign military strike and they accidentally included a journalist in their online conversation. Not surprisingly, the revelations about this debacle have created an uproar in political, legal and national security circles, but plenty of lingering questions remain. Indeed, among the most pressing issues is whether the fiasco exposed by The Atlantics Jeffrey Goldberg was a one-off incident, or part of a series of similar incidents that jeopardized U.S. national security. An answer appears to be coming into focus. The Wall Street Journal, in a report on beleaguered White House national security adviser Mike Waltz, reported that the Signal chat about a military operation in Yemen was not the first of its kind. Two U.S. officials also said that Waltz has created and hosted multiple other sensitive national-security conversations on Signal with cabinet members, including separate threads on how to broker peace between Russia and Ukraine as well as military operations. They declined to address if any classified information was posted in those chats. While the reporting hasnt been independently verified by MSNBC or NBC News, it suggests Waltzs incredibly dangerous mistake might not have been his first incredibly dangerous mistake and there are some national security insiders who wanted the Journal to know about Waltzs alleged incompetence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Indeed, Waltz and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth find themselves in exceedingly similar circumstances: Theyve received support from President Donald Trump, despite the humiliating details that were revealed last week, but theyre also badly damaged, in part because of what the Signalgate story told the public and in part because of the behind-the-scenes revelations that signal a larger problem. The Wall Street Journals report, for example, noted that senior U.S. officials believe the damage to Waltzs reputation has put him on shaky ground in the White House, adding that he has lost sway with the president. This dovetails with an NBC News report that said Trump has privately expressed frustration with Waltz. This coincided with a Politico report on a private presidential meeting last week in which top officials, including Vice President JD Vance, told Trump to consider showing him [Waltz] the door. A day later, The New York Times reported that the president sought the counsel of a variety of people, asking whether to oust Waltz. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As is the case with Hegseth, the revelations about the struggling White House national security adviser are notable in their own right, but just as important is the story behind the stories: There are insiders willing to talk to news organizations about Waltzs troubles. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com Vice President JD Vance may have stepped in it with his fellow Republicans by questioning Donald Trumps plan to strike the Houthis, NBC News reported Sunday. Earlier this month, Vance, and other senior Trump officials discussed sensitive plans to strike the Houthis in Yemen in a Signal group chat that was widely publicized after Trumps national security adviser Mike Waltz accidentally added a high-profile reporter. In the chat, Vance alone aired doubts about the plan, warning that the strike was not in alignment with Trumps America First policies, because it would help Europe more than it would help the U.S. I am not sure the president is aware how inconsistent this is with his message on Europe right now, Vance wrote. Theres a further risk that we see a moderate to severe spike in oil prices. I am willing to support the consensus of the team and keep these concerns to myself. But there is a strong argument for delaying this a month, doing the messaging work on why this matters, seeing where the economy is, etc. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth insisted that the strike wasnt about the Houthis at all but about safeguarding trade and reestablishing deterrence, Vance relented. If you think we should do it lets go. I just hate bailing Europe out again, he wrote. Hegseth agreed, and White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller responded, As I heard it, the president was clear: green light, but we soon make clear to Egypt and Europe what we expect in return. Vance distinguished himself as the most ideological member of the Signal chat, freely expressing his contempt for Europe and a profound lack of interest in preventing the disruption of trade routes. Vances reluctance to help another country was arguably the most MAGA position to takebut some of the more hawkish senior Republicans didnt like that he didnt mindlessly submit to Trumps directive, NBC News reported. Capitol Hill Republicans still have their jaws on their floor with how actively the VP worked to try and undo a Trump decision, one senior Republican official in Washington wrote in a text. Thank goodness Miller stepped in and put him in his place. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its one thing to have a healthy interagency debate before a decision is made. Its another to try and undo a Commander-in-Chief decision once Trump gives the execute order. This is the latter, and its very Bolton-esque, the senior Republican official added, referring to John Bolton, Trumps former national security adviser who has become an outspoken critic of the president. Some Republicans even believed that Vances question was tantamount to obstruction. These are the presidents policies, and for JD Vance to question them like that is ridiculous. He is the commander in chief, another Republican on Capitol Hill told NBC News. It seems that to many Republicans, the most MAGA thing a person can do is agree with Trump about anything. On the flip side, others in the Trump administration are reportedly concerned that the strike against the Houthis could lead to messy, drawn-out conflict. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its 2002 all over again, said one current administration official who spoke with NBC News anonymously because he wasnt permitted to speak to the press. Already, the Pentagon has begun directing aircraft carriers and resources to the region, indicating that the fight with the Houthis is far from over. During a trip to Greenland last week, Vance was asked whether he had raised his concerns with Trump and what he meant when he wrote that the president wasnt aware that his directions for Yemen were inconsistent with his message for Europe. Well I didnt quite say that. I think thats a slight misunderstanding of what I said, Vance replied, though of course, that was exactly what he had said. In the end, Vance didnt answer either question but instead launched into a rant about what hed learned from Signalgate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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 national security of the United States of America, said Vance, who had readily shut down his own dissenting opinion. Vance claimed that he had always supported the presidents decision to strike the Houthis. 'Adolescence' co-writer Jack Thorne and producer Jo Johnson headed to Downing Street on Monday, along with selected charities and young people, to meet with UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and discuss the influence of online toxic and especially misogynistic material on young people. Sir Keir described the show as "at times harrowing" and said it "lit a touch paper," shining a light on a combination of issues that many people don't know how to respond to". The drama, which centres on a 13-year-old boy accused of murdering a girl, has sparked intense conversations about misogyny and social media. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It instantly contacts with the fears and worries, not just of young people because I was really struck by how riveted our children were to it but also frankly the fears and worries of parents and adults across the country, the prime minister commented. Still from 'Adolescence' - Copyright: Netflix The meeting came as Netflix announced it will make 'Adolescence' available for free to secondary schools, in an effort to further engage young audiences with the pressing themes of the show. This initiative was met with praise from the prime minister, who called it "an important initiative to encourage as many pupils as possible to watch the show." We made this show to provoke a conversation. We wanted to pose the question how do we help stop this growing crisis. So to have the opportunity to take this into schools is beyond our expectations. We hope itll lead to teachers talking to the students, but what we really hope is itll lead to students talking amongst themselves, Thorne said of Netflixs decision. Sir Keir warned, however, that there was not a "silver bullet response" to resolve the issue of toxic online content. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Perhaps there isnt one silver bullet response, some policy lever that can be pulled, its actually much bigger than that, almost a cultural issue, said the prime minister. Thorne, who co-wrote the show with actor Stephen Graham, recently called on the Prime Minister to "rather urgently" consider implementing a smartphone ban in schools and introducing a "digital age of consent," similar to Australia's law, which prohibits children under 16 from using social media. The four-part British drama 'Adolescence' debuted earlier this month on Netflix to wide-spread acclaim. Netflix reported that it had 66 million global views in its first two weeks. Music is considered a universal language. The Berklee College for Music in Boston created a program to give more people a chance to celebrate their musical talents. The Music Inclusion Ensemble is made up of musicians who have a wide range of physical and neurological disabilities. I was born without a right hand, said Adrian Anantawan, an associate professor at Berklee who plays the violin. I was fortunate enough to have an adaptation made for my small hand to hold the bow and I have been playing ever since. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anantawan, who has played at major venues around the world, created the ensemble. I thought for me, my path forward as a musician would also be as an advocate for other musicians with disabilities, particularly young people. Creating the ensemble seemed like the natural way to fulfill that goal. Music was a way for me to express myself by the way I sounded versus how I looked because I do have a visible disability. Now musicians like Adam Mandela Walton get the chance to play with their peers. My instrument that I play is the cello. I have profound autism and epilepsy. Im also a music savant. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The ensemble gives musicians like Mandela Walton a chance to celebrate music, and themselves. This is the first time playing with people like me. I love to play on stage in front of big audiences. It makes me very happy. That happiness is contagious within the group as they experience a new sense of community. Anantawan added, The power of that type of community is a sense of belonging, of being able to understand that our differences are actually an asset and can contribute to something that sounds beautiful and creates harmony in the end. Its very much the opposite of thinking about disability as something thats missing or somethings wrong with you. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The ensemble is preparing for their biggest performance yet, headlining a concert at the Berklee Performance Center on April 12th. The venue seats more the 1,200 guests. Tara Allen, who plays bass clarinet and is the manager of the schools neurodiversity program, hopes the concert changes some minds as the audience members leave the show. I hope they take away that disabled performance styles are something that are unique and to be cherished, and also something thats very like natural part of humanity. Time is short before the big show, so rehearsal is key these days. The musicians know it will all be worth it in the end. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its not only an honor, but its a fantastic opportunity to have a specific and different voice be heard, said viola player and arranger Connor Valcy. Being a blind classical musician isnt sort of easy or expected, but I really love music, added violinist Julia LaGrande. Administrators at Berklee says this ensemble is a unique model and they want to spread the word so groups can be formed at other schools. The concert is free, but tickets are required. 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 Charges are allegations only. All arrested persons are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. PROVO, Utah (ABC4) A man was arrested after he allegedly entered a Provo restaurant while naked, flexed his muscles aggressively, and reportedly wielded a gun, according to arrest documents. Ralph Laurent, 24, was arrested on two counts of lewdness involving a child, both class A misdemeanors; one count of lewdness, a class B misdemeanor; and one count of disorderly conduct, an infraction. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Substitute teacher, 81, arrested after being caught pleasuring himself during school hours Officers were dispatched to the scene around 2:40 p.m. on Saturday after receiving reports of Laurent in the restaurant. The complainant reported the male was flexing muscles aggressively and following people, arrest documents said. Another complainant reported that the male had a gun. Officials discovered more than a dozen witnesses of the suspects lewdness, both in the restaurant and in a park nearby. According to arrest documents, Laurent was witnessed undressing in the park by a father and two children. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Laurent was later located in the middle of S State Street and was still completely naked when he was taken into custody and put in a patrol car, according to documents. While one complainant reported to police that Laurent had a gun, he was not initially arrested on any firearm-related charges. Laurent was booked into jail on the aforementioned charges. 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. LAS VEGAS (KLAS) The man accused of shooting and killing the son of a former Nevada state senator fired six shots at the victim as he lay motionless on the ground, police said. Aerion Warmsley, 19, is accused of shooting Naonche Osborne, 23, in the head, and then firing additional rounds before leaving the scene, according to an arrest report 8 News Now obtained Monday. Surveillance video captured the incident around 4:30 a.m. when Warmsley and another individual were seen talking with Osborne, police said. The two then walked away, but Warmsley returned moments later and engaged in another conversation with Osborne. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Man accused of killing former Nevada state senators son asked woman if she wanted to die day before shooting at North Las Vegas casino: police Warmsley then pulled out a handgun and attempted to hit Osborne in the head, but missed. As Osborne tried to run, Warmsley fired, striking him in the head and causing him to fall, police said. It should be noted that the victim never moved after he was shot and fell to the ground, North Las Vegas police wrote in the report. Warmsley then fired six more rounds at Osborne before rummaging through his pockets and taking unknown items, police said. He then drove off in a stolen Mercedes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shortly after, the stolen Mercedes crashed near Spring Mountain Road and Procyon Street. Warmsley and the second suspect ran away from the scene, police said. Warmsley then allegedly approached a woman nearby, pointed a gun at her, and stole her gray Mercedes SUV before leading officers on a high-speed pursuit through the Las Vegas valley. North Las Vegas police, with assistance from an LVMPD air unit, located and stopped Warmsley near Boulder Highway and Sahara Avenue. Officers took him into custody and booked him into the North Las Vegas Detention Center. Warmsley faces charges of open murder and robbery, records said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Former Nevada state senators son killed in shooting at North Las Vegas casino In 2022, Osborne was involved in a separate shooting when he shot his cousin, David Spearman, inside the home of former state senator Pat Spearman, according to court records. A prior shooting at the home involving Osborne on Sept. 1, 2022, went unreported until the October incident, according to North Las Vegas police. Records show that a judge later sentenced Osborne to one year in county jail and ordered him to pay restitution. The 8 News Now Investigators first reported this story 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. LAS VEGAS (KLAS) A man is accused of shooting and killing his neighbor near the Las Vegas Strip Saturday night, according to Metro police. Around 9:05 p.m., Metro police responded to a report of a shooting in the 200 block of West Chicago Avenue near Industrial Road and Wyoming Avenue. When officers arrived they found a man in a courtyard area suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. The man was taken to a local hospital where he was later pronounced dead, according to police. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Detectives identified 47-year-old Alexander Ayres as the suspected shooter and learned that the victim left his apartment and shortly after was shot by Ayres, police said. Ayres was arrested on charges of open murder with a deadly weapon as well as other felony charges and taken to the Clark County Detention Center. Ayres is scheduled to appear in court on Monday, records showed. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. MANDALAY, Myanmar, March 31 (Xinhua) -- Chinese rescuers have saved six lives across earthquake-rattled Myanmar as of 8 a.m. local time on Monday. The China Search and Rescue Team continued to carry out work in the hard-hit Mandalay city and successfully pulled out four survivors, including three adult females and a girl. All Chinese rescuers have so far rescued six survivors in Myanmar. Members of the China Search and Rescue Team rescued the four survivors in Mandalay at 00:40, 05:37, 06:20 and 07:15 local time on Monday, respectively, including a pregnant one. The rescued have been sent to the hospital for treatment. A total of 91 personnel from five civilian emergency response forces organized by China's Ministry of Emergency Management have all arrived in Myanmar and have been participating in rescue operations. Besides, a rescue team from China's Yunnan Province rescued an elderly man who had been trapped for nearly 40 hours under the rubble of a hospital in Nay Pyi Taw on Sunday. Also on Sunday, members of the Blue Sky Rescue Team from Hunan Province successfully rescued a survivor at the Mandalay Buddhist Hall in Mandalay. COLLEGE STATION, Texas (FOX 44) A Dallas man suspected of stealing 13 window panels from College Stations Northgate Bar District has been arrested. Police say after the district was closing early Sunday morning, officers responded to a reported theft in progress at a construction site on Lady Bird Lane around 4:30 a.m. A security guard alerted police to two men actively removing window panels from a new home. When officers arrived, they spotted one of the suspects, identified as Jose Zapata Saldana, of Dallas. He was attempting to flee the scene with stolen property. The chase led him into a muddy area where he got stuck, but officers quickly apprehended him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Convicted felon found with handgun, over 20 grams of meth Police say a search revealed Saldana to be in possession of marijuana, and he later confessed to possessing cocaine. He also had an outstanding warrant for Probation Violation, a second-degree felony. Officers recovered 13 stolen window panels, valued at over $2,000. In addition to the outstanding warrant, Saldana has been charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance (Cocaine), Criminal Trespass, Theft of Property ($750 $2,500) and Possession of Marijuana (<2 oz). Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KWKT - FOX 44. The attorney for Andre Walker, the man accused in the deadly torture of 10-year-old Xavier Williams, says his client has pleaded not guilty to all charges, including the new second-degree murder charge. Walker faces several charges, including child neglect and tempering with evidence. The murder charge was added last week after Xavier died following almost a month in critical condition. Williams was scheduled to be arraigned at the Lake County Courthouse Monday morning, but his attorney filed a waiver for that court appearance, so he was not present. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His girlfriend and co-defendant Kimberley Mills, who is the boys mother, had a court hearing scheduled for Monday as well, but she recently waived her arraignment, court records show. Mills pleaded not guilty to all charges last week. Tavares police said the couple used 10-pound weighs, a copper wire, a flashlight and other tools to torture the boy and his younger brother. They was arrested in late February after dropping Xavier off at the hospital. A funeral service for Xavier is scheduled for April 26 in Connecticut. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com PINEVILLE, Ky. (FOX 56) A Pineville man is facing charges after a standoff on Sunday evening at an apartment complex. In a Facebook post, the Bell County Sheriffs Office said deputies were dispatched around 6 p.m. on March 30 to a call reporting a man shooting a shotgun at the Ferndale Apartment Complex. Read more of the latest Kentucky news According to deputies, 63-year-old Michael Cooper was identified as the shooter, but he refused to exit his apartment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After unsuccessful attempts at calling for Cooper over a loudspeaker, authorities said deputies had someone who knew him call Cooper and ask him to come outside. Investigators said they obtained video of the incident, which allegedly showed Cooper pointing a shotgun at the building across from his apartment before shooting in the air. LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS: According to the sheriffs office, Cooper was reportedly intoxicated at the time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He was arrested and charged with first-degree wanton endangerment and discharge of a firearm. Cooper was lodged in the Bell County Detention Center. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 56 News. DENVER (KDVR) A 43-year-old man was arrested Friday after law enforcement responded to a burglary in progress in a rural area of Colorado that spurred an hours-long manhunt. The burglary was reported near Moffat County Road 3 and Road 106, which is north of Craig, at about 10:15 a.m.. While deputies were responding, they learned the suspect had stolen an older blue Dodge pickup with Wyoming plates, which was one of the property owners vehicles. Governors desk final hurdle for bill regulating semiautomatic firearms, rapid-fire conversion devices Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Deputies saw the truck on Moffat County Road 7 near Cedar Mountain and reportedly attempted a traffic stop. The suspect, later identified as Valentin Velez, 43, eluded authorities at that point and continued up the mountain. A citizen told deputies they saw the truck driving up the mountain but did not see the suspect return. Manhunt ensues, shelter-in-place order given The Moffat County Sheriffs Office, joined by the Craig Police Department, Colorado Parks and Wildlife and the Bureau of Land Management law enforcement, established an incident command at Cedar Mountains lower parking lot. Law enforcement issued a shelter-in-place order for the surrounding area, and the Moffat County Combined Special Response Team was activated, according to the Moffat County Sheriffs Office. Law enforcement conducted an extensive search and found the stolen pickup truck with stolen property, which included firearms. However, the suspect was not located. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At 8 p.m., deputies were told of a suspicious male suspect walking south on County Road 7. A deputy and Craig police officer responded to the 3000 block of the roadway and contacted Velez. Boulder Canyon reopened after rockslide damages highway Velez reportedly attempted to flee again, but officers chased him and through the use of stun guns were able to take him into custody. The Moffat County Sheriffs Office reported that arresting officers recovered a loaded firearm from Velez, as well as a distribution amount of suspected fentanyl and drug-related paraphernalia. Velez is facing charges of: Unlawful distribution of fentanyl Second-degree burglary Second-degree motor vehicle theft Third-degree motor vehicle theft Theft Possession of a weapon by a previous offender Unlawful carrying of a concealed weapon Second-degree criminal trespass Obstruction of a peace officer Violation of a protection order Pedestrian walking on a highway Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Velez is scheduled to appear in court on April 3. He is currently being held on a $7,500 cash or surety bond. Velez was convicted of kidnapping out of Iowa in 2018. He was granted parole from the Iowa Department of Corrections in June 2024 according to DOC records. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver. Wrightsville, Ga. (WJBF) On Friday March 28th, 39-year-old Andrew Holland, was arrested by the Johnson County Sheriffs Office and charged with four counts of Aggravated Sexual Battery of a minor and four counts of Grooming of a Minor for Sexual Offense reference a seven-year-old child. According to officials, the arrest originated from information obtained by the Johnson County Sheriffs Office, Criminal Investigation Division, on March 24, 2025. Upon receiving this information, an investigation was immediately initiated. Authorities say, the Criminal Investigation Division worked over this past week gathering information and evidence concerning this case. Once they encountered and gathered the evidence and facts, arrest warrants were issued for Andrew Holland. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Between June 2024 and February 2025, Holland made contact with a seven-year-old confidential victim on four separate occasions, at which time he sexually abused the victim. At this time the investigation is ongoing. Anyone with any information concerning this matter or any matter of this nature, is encouraged to contact Investigator Troy Fallin, at the Johnson County Sheriffs Office, at 478-864-4003. We do not take any allegations of this nature lightly and will treat any issues with the upmost importance when it comes to protecting our children. We will continue to work diligently and utilize any and every resource to continue to conduct operations against egregious crimes such as these, said Sheriff Greg Rowland. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJBF. A 28-year-old man died after he was found unresponsive at the U.S. penitentiary in Leavenworth, according to a news release from the Federal Bureau of Prisons. Denix Heredia-Chang was found unresponsive about 7:15 p.m. Saturday at the Federal Correctional Institution in Leavenworth, prison officials said. Prison staff responded and attempted life-saving measures and requested emergency medical services. An emergency medical crew pronounced Heredia-Chang deceased, according to the Bureau of Prisons. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officials did not specify what caused Heredia-Changs death. The Bureau of Prisons notified the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Marshals Service of his death. Heredia-Chang had been held at the medium security prison since May 7, 2024, while awaiting trial on one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute fentanyl and three counts of distribution of fentanyl, according to court records. The crimes were alleged to have occurred between Nov. 1, 2021, and June 3, 2023. A federal grand jury indicted Heredia-Change and two others in September 2023, and the indictment was sealed until his arrest in March 2024 in Arizona. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He made his first appearance in the U.S. District Court in Kansas City, Kansas, in July 2024, where he pleaded not guilty, according to court records. On Thursday, Heredia-Chang notified the court that he intended to change his plea, and a hearing was scheduled for June 17, according to court records. No prison staff or other incarcerated persons were injured, the Bureau of Prisons said. A South Korean man tending a family grave is suspected of sparking one of the record wildfires that ravaged the southeastern part of the country last week, the National Police Agency said on Monday. The multiple fires, which left 30 people dead and thousands of structures including a centuries-old Buddhist temple - destroyed, were described as unprecedented in South Korea. Police said the man, who is in his 50s, was booked in connection with the fires. In South Korea, a booking is not an arrest but rather indicates the mans information was collected for the investigation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He was looking after a family grave on a hill in Uiseong County, North Gyeonsang province, on March 22 when he was suspected of igniting a blaze amid windy conditions, police said. Tending to family or ancestral graves is common in South Korea, especially during the spring and autumn months, and similar traditions exist across East and Southeast Asia. The fires, which burned about 48,000 hectares in total, had been extinguished by Monday, the Korea Forest Service said in a statement. More than 3,100 people were evacuated to 114 shelters due to the fires, and five areas - Uiseong, Andong, Cheongsong, Yeongyang, and Yeongdeok - have been declared special disaster zones, the service said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement South Koreas military deployed approximately 7,500 ground troops and more than 420 helicopters, including four from US Forces Korea, to help in the wildfire fight, according to the Defense Ministry. Buildings, including Gounru Pavilion at Gounsa Temple in Danchon-myeon, Uiseong County, North Gyeongsang province, stand in ruins after being destroyed by a wildfire in South Korea on March 28, 2025. - Chris Jung/NurPhoto/Getty Images More than 10,000 firefighters, police and civil servants were deployed to multiple areas in the south last week since dozens of blazes broke out. Among the casualties were civil servants dispatched to fight the wildfire. Many of the civilians killed were age 60 or older, including some who struggled to escape quickly or others who did not want to evacuate. A pilot was also killed when his helicopter crashed. The 1,300-year-old Gounsa temple in Uiseong County, a major Buddhist landmark, was among the dozens of buildings that have burned to the ground with its ceremonial bell the only piece appearing somewhat intact, according to photos from the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some of the artifacts that were in the historic site, including the seated stone Buddha designated a treasure by the state, were spared from the fire as they were relocated to other temples ahead of the approaching blazes, it added. Han Duck-soo, South Koreas prime minister and acting president, said the fires were the worst the country has seen in recent years and had caused unprecedented damage. Wildfires are caused by a tangle of factors but as the climate crisis escalates, its fueling the hot and dry weather that helps fires burn faster and more intensely. Unusually warm spring temperatures in South Korea dried out the landscape and, combined with strong winds, set the stage for fast moving fires to eat through the regions dense forest. This year alone, 244 wildfires have been reported in South Korea, 2.4 times higher than the same period last year, according to Han. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com KANSAS CITY, Mo. Murder charges have been filed in a Clay County Circuit Court against a 23-year-old man after investigators said he was involved in a deadly shooting last week. According to court records, Joseph Lapsley Jr. is facing one count of first-degree murder and one count of armed criminal action after 47-year-old Samuel Aro was shot and later died at a hospital on March 23. Sporting Kansas City parts ways with head coach, manager Peter Vermes Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Previous reporting said that on the night of the shooting, at about 2:30 a.m., officers with the Kansas City Police Department were called to a shop in the Grey Oaks Commons located near the 7800 block of N. Oak Trafficway on reports of a shooting. When officers arrived at the scene, they reported finding multiple people trying to save a man who had been shot. The man, who was later identified as Aro, was found in the doorway of a business he owned and operated. After emergency responders made it to the scene, Aro was taken to a hospital with critical injuries. He died the following morning. According to law enforcement, the suspect, currently identified as Lapsely, is believed to have been in an argument with Aro before the shooting. Police said he later fled before officers arrived on the scene. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Royals Jonathan India hit by 99 mph fastball, leaves game Three days later, on March 26, Lapsely was arrested after police tracked down his apartment and the car he drove from the crime scene, court records said. Lapsely is now being held in a Clay County jail on a $2 million bond. His next court appearance is on Monday at 2 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 FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports. WASHINGTON (DC News Now) Authorities have arrested a man in connection to a deadly shooting that happened in Southeast earlier this month, D.C. police said Monday. According to the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), just before 9:30 p.m. on March 13, officers responded to a business in the 5000 block of Benning Road SE for a reported shooting. Upon arrival, officers found Darius Young, 33, of Southeast, inside the establishment with gunshot wounds. Medics responded and took Young to the hospital, where he died. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement White House to remove magnolia tree dating to Andrew Jackson Police said officers determined that the shooting actually took place outside and across the street, in the 5000 block of H St. Just over two weeks later, on Monday, March 31, MPD said officers arrested Cornell Day, 37, of Southeast, in connection to the fatal shooting. Authorities charged Day with first-degree murder while armed (premeditated). Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. KATHMANDU, March 31 (Xinhua) -- Himalaya Airlines on Monday started the first-ever direct commercial flights between Lhasa and Pokhara, the capital of China's Xizang Autonomous Region and Nepal's popular tourist attraction and second-largest city. The inaugural flight landed at Pokhara International Airport with 107 passengers aboard, and the return flight is scheduled to take off on Tuesday morning. The dreams of Pokhara people for an international airport and the operation of international commercial flights from the airport have been fulfilled with the help of China, Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Chen Song told a press meeting at the airport. Sichuan Airlines of China launched its first international flight to Pokhara under regular commercial charter flights on March 18. "This reflects China's firm actions and highlights its high regard for China-Nepal friendship and the development needs of Nepal," Chen said. "My special regard to everyone who has contributed in establishing Pokhara as a tourist destination on this special day," said Arun Kumar Chaudhary, Nepal's state minister for culture, tourism and civil aviation. A China-Nepal joint venture based in Kathmandu, Himalaya Airlines has been operating direct flights between Kathmandu and Lhasa and between Kathmandu and southwest China's Chongqing. This year marks the 70th anniversary of diplomatic ties between China and Nepal, as well as the Nepal Visit Year in China. FAIRMONT, W.Va. (WBOY) One of the men convicted in the 2022 murder of Henry Silver in Carolina, West Virginia will serve at least 40 years for his role in the killing. Austin Mullins, 28, was one of six people charged in the case. The group, all members of the Pagan Motorcycle Club, had a meeting where they discussed killing Silver and then, on Sept. 9, 2022, members of the group shot him and fled the scene, according to court documents. Austin Mullins during his murder sentencing on March 31, 2025 (WBOY image) Mullins was sentenced in Fairmont on Monday to: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 40 years for second degree murder 10 years for use of a firearm during commission of a felony 5 years for recidivist charge Although the prosecution asked for the sentences to be served consecutively, Judge Matthew Delligatti ruled that the terms be served concurrently. Ghost hunting incident in West Virginia escalates to gunfire, juveniles caught in crossfire John Wolfe, who was convicted of first-degree murder in the case, has already been sentenced to life in prison, and Derek Clem and Dane Hull are scheduled to be sentenced on Tuesday, April 1. Ryan Lane, who was charged in the shooting after testimony during Wolfes trial, has not been tried in the case yet, but was indicted in October 2024. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBOY.com. The man charged with vehicular homicide in the death of a Georgia woman has learned his fate. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] On Sunday, the Newton County District Attorneys Office announced the maximum sentencing for Stephen James Taffe. This is after Taffe pleaded guilty last month to first-degree vehicular homicide, DUI, driving while license suspended, following too closely, and open container. Officials said, Taffe hit Angelina Fuller with his vehicle from behind during the Memorial Day 2023 weekend. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Court documents revealed Taffes blood alcohol level was 0.284, more than three times the legal limit during the time of the crash. The DA said Taffe had an ignition intersection device installed in his car. The device requires drivers to take a breath sample to test for alcohol before allowing the vehicle to be driven. Taffes device was installed because of his prior DUI conviction, the DA said. TRENDING STORIES: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Evidence revealed in court showed Taffe broke the ignition interlock device, allowing him to drive his car while under the influence of alcohol. The court also heard a 911 call from a concerned citizen trying to help police find the Taffes car after she saw him driving erratically. During the hearing, the State discussed recorded jail calls from Taffe that showed a lack of remorse. Taffe was sentenced to 17 years in confinement, which is the maximum sentence allowed. When someone drives under the influence, it turns their car into a weapon that can kill. Any loss of life due to a DUI driver is unacceptable and tragic, but this case is especially egregious. Not only did Taffe have a history of DUIs and he was extremely intoxicated, but he also took steps to bypass a device installed in his car that was designed to stop him from driving if he had alcohol in his system. Nothing will undo the loss Ms. Fullers family suffered. But I hope this sentence can send a message to every driver out there that driving under the influence is unacceptable, Newton County District Attorney Randy McGinley said. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] BROOKLYN, N.Y. (PIX11) A man was killed and two others were wounded when a shooting broke out inside a Brooklyn apartment late Sunday night, according to the NYPD. Police said it happened inside 2777 Atlantic Ave. around 10:54 p.m. One man was shot in the chest, which killed him, according to authorities. More Local News Police said a 65-year-old man was also shot in the leg and a 60-year-old man was struck by gunfire in his arm and abdomen. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The suspect in the shooting is a man, according to authorities. More: Latest News from Around the Tri-State The victims arent cooperating in the investigation, sources told PIX11 News. This is a developing story. Please refresh the page for updates. Erin Pflaumer is a digital content producer from Long Island who has covered both local and national news since 2018. She joined PIX11 in 2023. See more of her work here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. ASHLAND, Ky. (FOX 56) Kentucky State Police (KSP) are investigating after troopers found a man dead on the shoulder of I-64 in Ashland on Saturday night. Around 9 p.m. on Saturday, troopers with KSP Post 14 in Ashland were dispatched to the 185-mile marker on I-64 in response to a report of a pedestrian who was struck in the area. LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Sunday, state police said the man who had been hit was identified as 78-year-old Hubert E. Mosby. He was found lying on the shoulder of the highway near his vehicle. A preliminary investigation showed that Mosby had been trying to fix something wrong with his vehicle when he was reportedly struck by an unknown vehicle that fled the scene. The deadly hit-and-run crash remains under investigation by KSP. Anyone with information is asked to call KSP Post 14 at (606) 928-6421. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 56 News. DENVER (KDVR) A truck driver sentenced in a deadly crash on U.S. 285 near Conifer was arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, according to a spokesperson. ICE Denver told FOX31 on Monday that 47-year-old Ignacio Cruz-Mendoza, a citizen of Mexico, was arrested on Sunday and taken to the ICE Denver Contract Detention Facility. Cruz-Mendoza is pending removal from the U.S. Vizguerra lawyers believe she was targeted over activism Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cruz-Mendoza was sentenced to one year in jail for his role in a deadly 2024 crash. On June 11, 2024, the Colorado State Patrol said Cruz-Mendoza was driving southbound on U.S. 285 near Conifer when he side-swiped five vehicles after attempting to pass them. His big rig jack-knifed across the highway, and his load of pipe and angle iron eventually came loose. It was proven shortly after that Cruz-Mendoza was undocumented and was driving the truck without a commercial drivers license. One person, 64-year-old Scott Miller, was killed in the crash, and a woman was injured. According to ICE, Cruz-Mendoza has served his time for the criminal reckless driving resulting in death conviction. ICE: Cruz-Mendoza has been in and out of US 16 times According to ICE, Cruz-Mendoza entered the U.S. prior to 2002, and Enforcement and Removal Operations first discovered Cruz-Mendoza when he was reportedly arrested in Jefferson County, Oregon, on April 16, 2002. He was taken into custody and issued a notice to appear for immigration proceedings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement FOX31 Newsletters: Sign up to get breaking news sent to your inbox ICE said an immigration judge ordered Cruz-Mendoza to return to Mexico on May 29, 2002. Since then, ICE claims that Cruz-Mendoza has been removed from the United States, or voluntarily returned to Mexico, 16 times. Following Cruz-Mendozas arrest after the deadly crash, ICE said ERO Denver officers lodged a detainer to be notified of his possible release. On March 30, Cruz-Mendoza was taken into custody by 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 FOX31 Denver. The Jacksonville Sheriffs Office said that a man was shot multiple times Sunday while in the Mandarin neighborhood. This happened in the 4900 block of Sunbeam Road, near Old Kings Road. According to police, they responded to the neighborhood around 2 P.M. to a call about someone being shot. A neighbor in the Thomas Chase Apartments called Action News Jax to report the sound of gunshots. The victim, a man in his mid-30s, managed to drive himself to a nearby hospital for treatment, where he is expected to recover. Police said he had been shot in both legs while in a fight with someone he knew. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Everyone involved in the shooting has reportedly been detained for questioning. Crime Scene Detectives are working to gather evidence, video, and witness testimony that may help in the investigation. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact JSO at its non-emergency number, (904) 630-0500. Anonymous tips may also be sent to Crime Stoppers at 1-866-845-TIPS. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] 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. Sacramento County sheriffs deputies shot and killed a man Saturday night following a standoff at a home in Orangevale, authorities said. It was unknown who fired first in the exchange, which is now under review. Deputies responded around 4:15 p.m. to reports of a resident firing a gun in his backyard on the 8600 block of on Blythe Avenue. Neighbors voluntarily sheltered in place as deputies and the Sheriffs Office SWAT team arrived, according to the Sacramento County Sheriffs Office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Authorities used drones and loudspeakers in an effort to de-escalate the situation and later made phone contact with the man. A sheriffs spokesperson said the suspect was uncooperative, and the standoff began about 7:30 p.m. Deputies and the suspect exchanged gunfire around 9:55 p.m., the Sheriffs Office said. The man suffered at least one gunshot wound and was pronounced dead at the scene. His identity was expected to be released by the Sacramento County Coroners Office in the coming days. No deputies were injured, the Sheriffs Office said. As with other officer-involved shootings, the deputy who fired the fatal shot was placed on administrative leave as an investigation by the Sheriffs Offices professional standards division takes place. The Sacramento County District Attorneys Office will conduct its own review of the shooting, which is standard practice. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the coming days, the Sheriffs Office is expected to release a community briefing video that will include body camera footage and other information, in compliance with state law. This was the first deputy-involved shooting of 2025 for the Sheriffs Office and the first fatal encounter since the Sheriffs Office changed its policy on responding to mental health calls. Last month, Sheriff Jim Cooper announced deputies would continue to respond to calls classified as a criminal mental health call, while non-criminal calls would be directed to the countys 988 mental health crisis line. The decision came after a court ruling last year that could put the Sheriffs Office in legal jeopardy if someone dies. Cooper also said the policy was change because deputies werent adequately trained to help someone in a mental health crisis. Last year, deputies were involved in five shootings, three of which were fatal and at least three of which originated as mental health calls. WASHINGTON (DC News Now) Police in D.C. said a man was taken to the hospital after he was shot near Howard Universitys campus on Monday afternoon. Details about what led up to the shooting remain limited; however, police said that around 1:10 p.m., officers responded to the 700 block of Gresham Place NW for a shooting. This is near Howard Universitys Burr Gymnasium and Greene Stadium. Upon arrival, police found a man who had been shot in his lower body. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Court docs: Man confesses to stabbing, strangling, killing 87-year-old grandmother in Potomac Police told DC News Now that he was conscious and breathing and was taken to the hospital for treatment. His condition is unknown as of Monday afternoon. The shooting remains under investigation. This is a developing story. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | DC, Virginia, Maryland News, Weather, Traffic, Sports Live. MADRID, March 31 (Xinhua) -- At least five people were confirmed dead and several others injured following an explosion in a mine in the Spanish region of Asturias on Monday morning. Spanish Civil Guards said the incident happened at approximately 9:40 local time (0840 GMT) when a machine exploded at the Cerredo mine near Degana town. The blast took place on the third level of the mine, causing burns and trauma injuries, according to the Spanish government delegate in the region. Three of the injured have been transferred to a hospital in the city of Leon. Emergency services, including Civil Guard officers, firefighters, and members of the mine rescue team have been deployed to the site, the regional government of Asturias confirmed. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez offered his condolences to the families of the victims in a post on social media. An investigation into the cause of the explosion is currently underway. GREENVILLE, N.C. (WNCT) March 30th is also known as National Doctors Day as a way to celebrate all physicians. Here in eastern North Carolina, ECU Health has been celebrating their own all throughout this past week. They say although they show their appreciation to their physicians every day, this week doctors have been celebrated in many ways, one being each doctor will receive a gift from ECU Health leaders on Monday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I can tell you, one of the things that we know is that feeling valued and appreciated is really important. Thats not unique to health care, but we know that the studies show us that in health care, we really want to feel valued, we want to feel appreciated, we want to feel supported. My lens is, I really think about the well-being of our team members, our nurses, our providers, our physicians, and how we come alongside them and say, we see you, we appreciate you, said Dr. Christina Bowen, the Chief Well-being Officer at ECU Health. 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. Until March 25, 2025, Rumeysa Ozturk, a Tufts University graduate student from Turkey, might have assumed that when she wrote an op-ed in the schools newspaper critical of her school's failure to stand up for the human rights of Palestinians, she was doing what people in the United States were free to do. Indeed, all who live in the U.S. might have thought the same thing, even if we disagree with the views she expressed in her piece. Those assumptions were well grounded. The Washington Post notes, The First Amendment protects the right to speak, protest and publish views, regardless of citizenship status. It quotes a 1953 Supreme Court decision that said: Once an alien lawfully enters and resides in this country, he becomes invested with the rights guaranteed by the Constitution to all people within our borders. But since then, the Court has not directly addressed the issue of immigrants free speech rights. Whether people here illegally are protected by the First Amendment has not been settled by the Supreme Court. However, that silence on immigration status is irrelevant in this case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ozturk was here legally on a student visa. She was seized and taken into custody because "DHS and ICE investigations found Ozturk engaged in activities in support of Hamas, a foreign terrorist organization that relishes the killing of Americans." No one has said what those activities were. But Ozturk has never been charged with a crime or with violating the rules or policies of Tufts University. That didnt stop the Trump administration from revoking her visa and spiriting her off to an ICE detention facility in Louisiana. It claims that the secretary of state has authority under what the Associated Press calls a seldom-invoked statute to revoke visas of noncitizens who could be considered a threat to foreign policy interests. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Secretary of State Marco Rubio says, 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 cause 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. If you come into the U.S. as a visitor and create a ruckus for us We dont want it in our country. Go back and do it in your country, All Ozturk did was write an op-ed in March 2024, long after university buildings had been vandalized or taken over. No evidence has been presented to suggest she was involved in those activities. The ruckus that made her unwelcome to continue to study here was caused because she said something in public that the administration in Washington did not want people to say. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Seems odd and out of step with the First Amendment. The First Amendment protects speech even if it creates a commotion, disturbance, stir, or fuss and is troublesome, offensive, or even hateful. Only if it falls into specific, narrowly defined categories of unprotected speech, like incitement to violence or true threats, can speech be prohibited or punished. Speaking out on topics where there might be disagreement is not prohibited speech. In fact, If some speech didnt create a ruckus, it wouldnt need protection. As Princetons James Madison Program in American Ideals and Institutions says, exchanging ideas should disturb and unsettle us." Their statement continues: That means that all positions and points of view, no matter how radical or even unjust or immoral they may seem to people who oppose them, are on the table for discussion, scrutiny, and assessment on equal terms. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Considering those principles, lets look at Ozturks op-ed. Its purpose was to take the administration of Tufts University to task for ignoring resolutions passed by the Tufts Community Union Senate, a student government body. Along with three co-authors, Ozturk acknowledged, in the best First Amendment tradition, arguments against their position. (A)n argument may be made, the students wrote, that the University should not take political stances and should focus on research and intellectual exchange. But they argued, the automatic rejection, dismissive nature, and condescending tone in the Universitys statement have caused us to question whether the University is indeed taking a stand against its own declared commitments to free speech, assembly and democratic expression. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So far, it is hard to see any hint of the kind of ruckus or threat to foreign policy interests that should get someone who is here legally deported. The authors were engaging in a spirited discussion about the nature of the Universitys commitment to free speech. The problem seems to be that Ozturk and her co-authors went on to demand that the University acknowledge the Palestinian genocide, disclose its investments, and divest from companies with direct or indirect ties to Israel. The op-ed called for Tufts to end its complicity with Israel insofar as it is oppressing the Palestinian people and denying their right to self-determination a right guaranteed by international law. Let me say, if it matters, that I strongly disagree with this description of the war in Gaza and with the call for divestment. I also think the authors should have condemned the October 7 terrorist attack in Israel as part of their account of the war. Want a daily wrap-up of all the news and commentary Salon has to offer? Subscribe to our morning newsletter, Crash Course. But there is nothing here that would suggest that they support either Hamas or terrorism. In fact, the op-ed affirm(ed) (its belief in) the equal dignity and humanity of all people. I dont see anything beyond what is universally regarded as protected speech. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Why Ozturk came to be a target remains somewhat unclear, although reports surfaced saying pro-Israel groups gave her name to the authorities. They did so even though, as the Boston Globe notes, friends and family said Ozturk isnt actually much of an activist, let alone a terrorist sympathizer .. Multiple people who know Ozturk told the Globe that she had not been a leading figure in protests at Tufts last spring. By grabbing her off the street in broad daylight, the Trump administration signals the lengths to which it will go to instill fear in those who use their free speech rights in ways that they consider unacceptable. We have seen attempts by those in power in this country to silence dissent before. Professor Wilson Huhn reminds us that examples of such things date back to the Republic's early years. The early twentieth-century Red Scare and its later incarnation in the McCarthy period provide other instances in which government officials tried to stop people from saying things or supporting causes of which they disapproved. In each of those limitations on freedom of speech were, Hun observes, in effect, limitations on the right of the people to govern themselves. He cites Alexander Hamilton, who characterized the relationship between the people and their government as one of principal and agent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Efforts to silence people who create a ruckus suggest that the deputy is greater than his principal; that the servant is above his master. The implication for freedom of expression, Huhn says, is that just as an agent may not silence the principal, the government may not silence the people. Make no mistake, what has happened to Ruymesa Ozturk (and to others) is a sign that the Trump administration is prepared to set the government above the people, and not just green card holders and those who are here on student visas. That is why we all have a stake in Ozturks fate and why we should call out this violation of our constitutional norms for what it is. Credit: TF1 - LE20H Marine Le Pen refused to quit politics on Monday night after she was banned from running for president. The 56-year-old president of the hard-Right National Rally party claimed that millions of French voters had been deprived of a voice by an authoritarian regime after she was found guilty of embezzlement by using European Parliament funds to pay party expenses. She has been banned from running for office for five years and was also handed a four-year prison term by the Paris court, but will not go to jail. Two years of those years will be suspended, and another two served outside jail with an electronic bracelet. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The judge specified that the politics ban should come into force with immediate effect, even if an appeal was lodged. This means she cannot run in the 2027 presidential race, despite being the favourite to reach the run-off, according to a poll out on Sunday. Emmanuel Macron will also not be running because of a two-term limit. The ruling has upended French politics and sent shockwaves across Europe. It also triggered anger among members of the Trump administration, with Elon Musk saying it would backfire, like the legal attacks against President Trump. Jordan Bardella, Le Pens 29-year-old protege and the party leader, may now have to step up to run for French president, despite fears from some party leaders that he is not ready for the task. Jordan Bardella is being touted as a potential replacement for Le Pen - Leo Correa/AP Describing him as a tremendous asset for the movement, Le Pen said she had not given up hope of running. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the meantime Im fighting, Im not going to let myself be eliminated like that, Im going to pursue the avenues of appeal that I can, she said. Theres a small path, its certainly narrow, but it exists. The presiding judge, Benedicte de Perthuis, issued the ruling on Monday morning, saying Le Pen had been at the heart of a scheme to misappropriate more than four million euros of EU funds and use it to pay the hard-Right partys staff back home. Le Pen stormed out of the court stony-faced and later told the broadcaster TF1 that this was a political decision. In France, in the land of human rights, judges have put in place practices that we thought were reserved for authoritarian regimes, she said. Marine Le Pen said: Ive been eliminated but in reality its millions of French people whose votes have been eliminated this evening as we speak - Abdul Saboor/Reuters Experts point out that the judges were merely applying a 2016 law Le Pen backed to clamp down on political graft. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But she blasted the ruling as a fateful day for our democracy and for our country, saying: I didnt think that the judges would go so far against our democratic process and interfere in the French peoples choice. Because, lets be quite clear, Ive been eliminated but in reality its millions of French people whose votes have been eliminated this evening as we speak. All 24 accused, including RN party officials or assistants were found guilty of embezzling 2.9 million (2.4m), along with the party itself. We are all innocent and we want to see that innocence recognised, said Ms Le Pen, who urged judges to rush through an appeals trial in the coming months. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Donald Trump on Monday compared Le Pens conviction to his own legal battles. She was banned from running for five years and she was the leading candidate. That sounds like this country, that sounds very much like this country, the US president said, describing the court ruling as a very big deal. 08:00 PM BST Thats all for today Thanks for following our live coverage of Marine Le Pens conviction. This blog is now closed. 07:54 PM BST Trump administration says Le Pen verdict is concerning Donald Trumps administration said Monday it was concerning to exclude candidates from politics, in response to a French courts ruling against French hard-Right leader Marine Le Pen. Exclusion of people from the political process is particularly concerning given the aggressive and corrupt lawfare waged against President Trump here in the United States, Tammy Bruce, a State Department spokesman told reporters. 07:52 PM BST Le Pen ban will backfire warns Musk Elon Musk warned that the ban on Marine Le Pen from running for office would backfire as Right-wing leaders across the world united to condemn the ruling. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This will backfire, like the legal attacks against President Trump, he wrote on X. Donald Trumps son, Don Jr, also criticised the move, which he said would further stifle free speech in Europe. France is sending Le Pen to jail and barring her from running? he wrote on X. Are they just trying to prove JD Vance was right about everything? the US presidents son added in reference to the vice-presidents attacks on European democracies alleged censoring of political opponents. When the radical left can't win via democratic vote, they abuse the legal system to jail their opponents. This is their standard playbook throughout the world. https://t.co/FgmgeyQ2rp Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 31, 2025 07:40 PM BST Its not good to be in the opposition in France Marine Le Pen warned that it is not good to be in the opposition in France as she urged the appeals court to analyse the case with neutrality. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The rules (for parliamentary deputies) were so clear that, as luck would have it, the entire opposition was accused of the same thing. Mr. Bayrou, who was in the opposition at the time, ourselves, and Mr. Melenchon, who was in the opposition, the RN leader joked during a live interview with TF1. 07:34 PM BST Bardella: The ruling deprives millions of French people of freedom As Marine Le Pen was speaking for the first time since her conviction, her young protege Jordan Bardella released another statement. By banning Marine Le Pen from being a candidate in the 2027 presidential election, they are trying to prevent her accession to the Elysee by any means necessary , he said. They are depriving millions of voters of their choice and therefore of their freedom, he continued on X. 07:21 PM BST Le Pen refuses to give up Le Pen has not given up hope. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jordan Bardella is a wonderful asset to the movement...I hope we wont have to use that asset sooner than necessary, she said in reference to her partys president and her assumed successor. While waiting for a decision on her future appeal, she said: I wont remain passive. Millions of French support me...I will keep going until the end. Dont worry, she told voters. Im not demoralised, Im like you, scandalised, outraged, she went on, urging judges to rush through an appeals trial that could potentially clear her in time for 2027. 07:19 PM BST I will appeal as quickly as possible, says Le Pen Marine Le Pen insisted she and dozens of other officials in her National Rally party are all innocent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The populist leader added that she would appeal as quickly as possible. 07:18 PM BST Le Pen: This is a fateful day for democracy Marine Le Pen called today a fateful day for democracy. Millions of French people are outraged. In France, the country of human rights, judges have applied the laws of an authoritarian regime, she told French broadcaster TF1. This is a tragic day for our democracy, with millions of French people deprived of their candidate. This trial was taken against by political adversaries, she added. 07:11 PM BST Le Pen denounces conviction as political decision Marine Le Pen slams a political decision in her first comments since she was banned from holding elected office in a fake jobs scam involving her party in the European Parliament. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The rule of law has been totally violated by this decision, said Ms Le Pen in an interview on TF1. Asked why she left the court before hearing the judge pass sentence, she said she didnt need [to hear] more as she understood what was going on. 07:05 PM BST Le Pen speaks for the first time since ruling We will be bringing you all the best bits from the interview. Marine Le Pen poses prior to an interview on the evening news broadcast of French TV channel TF1, - THOMAS SAMSON/AFP 06:54 PM BST What other Right-wing politicians have been blocked from power? 06:51 PM BST Le Pen stays silent before big interview Marine Le Pen said nothing to the press as she left her party HQ in Paris. She was heading to an interview on French TV expected to start at 8pm GMT. The populist leader has not spoken since the court ruling. 06:39 PM BST Listen to todays episode of The Daily T Todays episode of The Daily T also discusses Marine Le Pens ban from running as French president. 06:36 PM BST Bolsonaro calls Le Pen ban Left-wing activism Jair Bolsonaro, the former hard-Right Brazilian president, said that the move to ban Marine Le Pen from seeking public office for five years was left-wing judicial activism. This ruling is clearly left-wing judicial activism. Wherever the right-wing is present, the left and the system will work to get their opponents out of the game, Mr Bolsonaro told Reuters. Here and in France, this is pure lawfare, he added. It looks like this movement is spreading around the world. The left has found an easy way to perpetuate itself in power by using judicial activism. 06:22 PM BST Bayrou troubled by embezzlement ruling Francois Bayrou, Frances prime minister, is troubled by an embezzlement ruling against Marine Le Pen, a source close to him said. But Mr Bayrou does not plan to make any statement on a judicial ruling, the source told AFP. 06:13 PM BST Le Pen shocked by court decision Marine Le Pen is shocked by her guilty verdict, according to her lawyer. Rodolphe Bosselut added she will fight to hasten her appeal procedure and will formally request that the appeal takes place before 2027, before the presidential elections. Le Pen has not spoken publicly herself yet, but is due to speak to French media soon. 06:09 PM BST Bardella calls for protests against Le Pen conviction Jordan Bardella, Marine Le Pens almost certain successor, has called for France to come out in support of the hard-Right leader. Marine Le Pens sentence with provisional execution, which prevents her from running in 2027, is a democratic scandal, he wrote on X. Through our popular and peaceful mobilization, lets show them that the will of the people is stronger. La condamnation avec execution provisoire de Marine Le Pen, qui l'empeche d'etre candidate en 2027, est un scandale democratique. Par notre mobilisation populaire et pacifique, montrons-leur que la volonte du peuple est plus forte https://t.co/UfVMl1zDcx#SauvonsLaDemocratie pic.twitter.com/OVsHmxvVE3 Jordan Bardella (@J_Bardella) March 31, 2025 05:57 PM BST Analysis: Le Pen will be made a martyr This may well be Marine Le Pens Donald Trump moment. The US president convinced voters he was a victim of lawfare, a witch hunt waged by an elite class that was determined to block him from power. A court on Monday found Ms Le Pen guilty of embezzling EU funds and banned her from French politics for five years. The National Rally leader is now banned from running the next race for the Elysee but her shadow will stretch long over the two years leading up to the 2027 vote. Ms Le Pen has brought the party founded by her father Jean-Marie Le Pen a racist and a Holocaust denier closer to power and mainstream respectability than it has ever been. Credit: Reuters 05:52 PM BST Welcome back to our live coverage Were bringing you all the latest on the French courts ruling to bar Marine Le Pen from public office for five years. 03:36 PM BST More reaction across Frances political spectrum The far-Left France Unbowed party said that it never expected to use the courts as a way to get rid of the National Rally. In a statement, it said: We fight them at the ballot box and in the streets, with the mobilisation of the French people, as we did during the 2024 legislative elections. We will fight again tomorrow in the polls, whoever is their candidate. Meanwhile, Fabien Roussel, national secretary of the French Communist Party, told Ms Le Pen to respect the judicial system. Ms. Le Pen is a politician who demands firmness on the part of the judiciary! Respect the judicial system then. Eric Ciotti, former leader of the centre-Right republicans, attacked the Paris court, saying the democratic destiny of our nation confiscated by an outrageous judicial cabal. He added: The favoured candidate in the presidential election prevented from running. This is not a simple dysfunction. It is a system to capture power that systematically throws aside any candidate that is too far to the right and who has a chance of winning. Eric Zemmour, president of Frances far-Right Reconquest party, also hit out the judges. It is not for judges to decide who the people must vote for. Whatever our disagreements, Marine Le Pen is legitimate to run for the vote. 03:14 PM BST Farage says Le Pen cancelled on very trumped-up charge Nigel Farage said Marine Le Pen has been cancelled on what he called a very trumped-up charge. The Reform UK leader described the barring of the National Rally leader from public office as a trend. Le Pen is a candidate that would, without doubt, have won the next French presidential election. And you know what, if looks to me like a very trumped-up charge, he told the BBC. He suggested that Eurosceptic parties have been unfairly targeted with legal action. I dont see how it could be possible the only people that have ever been in breach of EU funding rules are Eurosceptics. Just not possible, he said. 03:04 PM BST The French Right will survive the banning of Marine Le Pen Marine Le Pen, hitherto the favourite to succeed Emmanuel Macron as French President, has been barred from standing for public office for five years with immediate effect after being found guilty of embezzlement to fund her party, writes Daniel Johnson. For French politics, this is an earthquake. Her angry reaction storming out of court before the end of the two-hour judgement indicates that the sentence is a devastating blow to the leader of the National Rally, who has been leading the polls for the 2027 presidential election. Although she will appeal, her candidacy is effectively over. Still, Le Pen is nothing if not a fighter. At 56, she is certainly not ready to abandon what she sees as her destiny to lead France. Marine Le Pen has been banned from French politics for five years - Michel Spingler/AP 02:45 PM BST Le Pens appeal could take place within months Olivier Prado, a legal expert, said Marine Le Pen got up and left because she clearly felt this provisional ban is a political decision. As things stand she cannot run for French president in 2027. However, he said an appeal could potentially take place within months, suggesting it was not impossible an appeals verdict could be handed down by early next year. 02:29 PM BST Le Pen targeted for bringing RN closer to victory, says niece Marine Le Pens niece Marion Marechal, also a member of the European Parliament, said her aunt was only targeted because she brought our camp on the path to victory. That is the only thing she is guilty of, and that is why she was convicted. No one on the Right should pretend to be satisfied with this decision, she said. Depuis des decennies, le camp national et notre famille ont subi tous les coups, toutes les attaques, toutes les injustices. Des juges se pensant au-dessus du peuple souverain, ont decide d'executer dans un tribunal, celle qu'ils n'ont jamais pu faire reculer dans les urnes. pic.twitter.com/0dNl4ATox1 Marion Marechal (@MarionMarechal) March 31, 2025 02:09 PM BST Le Pen to file an appeal Marine Le Pen will appeal a French courts decision to ban her from running in the next presidential election, her lawyer has said. Its a blow to democracy, Rodolphe Bosselut told reporters outside National Rally (RN) headquarters in Paris. Le Pen is in a fighting mood, added Laurent Jacobelli, a RN lawmaker and party spokesman. She could technically still run if she is successful in her appeal before the election but experts have warned the process will likely take years. 01:48 PM BST Reaction from Telegraph commentators Anne Elisabeth Moutet writes: This is it for Marine Le Pen and her familys political dynasty. But this is by no means the end for her party: Jordan Bardella, her almost certain successor, will prove more palatable to French voters who are adverse to voting for a three time loser. Younger voters are more favourable to Bardella, and the party can present itself as a victim of the Left-wing French judiciary. Zoe Strimpel writes: The Le Pens have never been up to good, and Marine, for all her shape-shifting, is no different. That she has been caught, like others in the populist Right, in defiance of the laws both of the land and of decency doesnt really surprise me. The question is whether shell do a Trump and use the conviction to her advantage, in the same childish spirit defiance as her yellow-headed American friend. Marine has not been without some persuasive ideas and her purported abandonment of anti-Semitism has been welcome. But she was never a good un and this proves it. 01:44 PM BST Europes hard-Right closes ranks in support of Le Pen A number of figureheads on the hard-Right of European politics have expressed support for Marine Le Pen after the embezzlement conviction. Geert Wilders, leader of the Party for Freedom in Holland, said he was shocked by the incredibly tough verdict against Le Pen. I support and believe in her for the full 100 percent and I trust she will win the appeal and become President of France, he said. Meanwhile, Santiago Abascal, leader of Spains Vox Party, said: They will not succeed in silencing the voice of the French people. George Simion, Romanias hard-Right presidential candidate, said: Targeting or annihilating your political opponent by any means is straight out of the instruction manual of totalitarian regimes. This happened today in (France). 01:22 PM BST Le Pen paid a price for systematic denial, says lawyer Patrick Maisonneuve, lawyer for the European Parliament, said Marine Le Pen and her party and colleagues had paid the price for their systematic denial of any wrongdoing throughout the trial. That prompted judges to conclude that they could repeat the offence as they failed to acknowledge it or express any remorse. Throughout the 3 months of hearings, there was a systematic denial of what had happened during those years, and Im convinced the court really took into account this stance of denial by saying that since you are in total denial, I believe that there is a risk of recidivism and therefore Im applying the provisional ban, he said after the verdict. The lawyer said he was happy with the sentence and courts demand that the National Rally repay the money illicitly used. On the organisation of the system that had been set up to embezzle funds from the European Parliament via the rules governing parliamentary assistants, there was clearly not a single discussion, not a single hesitation on the part of the court with regard to the conviction and in my position, thats what I wanted to look for, he said. Patrick Maisonneuve speaks to the media after a guilty verdict in the embezzlement case of Marine Le Pen - Getty Images Europe 12:51 PM BST Analysis: The unthinkable has happened It was the verdict that Marine Le Pen and her party had feared but refused to believe. Even this weekend, the three-times presidential contender and National Rally figurehead offered reassuring noises that it would not come to pass. But her worst fears have come to pass: a five-year electoral ban that comes into immediate effect. Adding to the humiliation, she has been handed a four-year prison term, two suspended and two under an electronic bracelet. That means she cannot run for president in 2027 in what would have been her best chance yet of clinching the Elysee. It is a hammer blow to the 56-year-old, who has spent years de-demonising the party formerly run by her late dad, Jean-Marie, a Holocaust denier. The tactic has worked as her approval ratings are at record highs and a poll out this weekend suggested up to 37 per cent of French would vote for her in round one of the 2027 presidential election. That placed her far ahead of the next runner, Edouard Philippe, Emmanuel Macrons former prime minister. There remains a glimmer of hope: an appeals trial in the coming months in which the sentence is reduced. An appeals court judge could also theoretically decide to suspend the provisional ban under certain conditions, say experts. Possible but far from assured. If upheld, the verdict means she can remain MP until the end of her mandate but can not run for re-election to the National Assembly should Mr Macron dissolve parliament and call fresh snap elections - a decision he can take starting from June. All eyes will now turn to the partys plan B Jordan Bardella, the 29-year-old protege. Does he have the shoulders for one of the worlds top jobs - French presidents wield huge powers? Many, including from his own camp, think not. But there are no real alternatives at this stage. 12:35 PM BST Ruling is declaration of war by Brussels, says Italys deputy PM Italys deputy prime minister has said the decision to ban Marine Le Pen from running for the presidency was a declaration of war by Brussels. Matteo Salvini said those who fear the judgement of the voters often find reassurance in the judgement of the courts. In Paris they condemned Marine Le Pen and would like to exclude her from political life. A bad film that we are also seeing in other countries such as Romania. The one against @MLP_officiel is a declaration of war by Brussels, at a time when the warlike impulses of von der Leyen and Macron are frightening. We will not be intimidated, we will not stop: full speed ahead my friend! 12:32 PM BST Frances Left-wing indifferent to Le Pen ban We are not counting on the justice system to beat the National Rally, said Eric Cocquerel from the radical Left France Unbowed party, LFI. We beat them in the last legislative elections and intend to beat them in the next presidential election. The responsibility falls not on the judges but on the legislators who voted in this (2016) law, among them RN, he said. 12:26 PM BST Analysis: Le Pen ban is a gift for Europes nationalist Right This is Marine Le Pens Donald Trump moment. Mr Trump convinced voters he was a victim of lawfare, a witch hunt waged by an elite determined to block him from power. He won Novembers US presidential election, despite being convicted of 34 felonies and facing charges over allegations he tried to overturn the vote he lost to Joe Biden. Ms Le Pen is now barred from running the next race for the Elysee, a defenestration at the top of Frances largest single party that will make the deeply polarised country even more impossible to govern. This is a huge blow for the National Rally leader, who has gradually detoxified her partys brand while edging closer to power over the past three French presidential elections. But it is a gift for Europes nationalist Right, which will waste no time in transforming her into a martyr. They will paint Ms Le Pen as a Joan of Arc, sacrificed in a Brussels-backed globalist conspiracy to prevent a Eurosceptic reaching the pinnacle of French politics. Even before the verdict was read out in full, Hungarys Viktor Orban was declaring Je suis Marine! on social media. He wasnt the only one to try and make political capital from the verdict. The Kremlin branded it a violation of democratic norms, while somehow managing to keep a straight face. Marine Le Pen storms out of court after being found guilty of embezzling EU funds - AP 12:13 PM BST Details of Le Pens sentence As well as being banned from running for office for five years, Le Pen has been given a four-year prison sentence. Two of those will be suspended, while the other two will be spent with an electronic tag rather than in custody. She has also been given a 100,000 (82,635) fine. Le Pen is likely to appeal the sentence, meaning the jail term and fine will be put on hold, but the ban has been put into place immediately. 12:00 PM BST Your views... 11:55 AM BST Bardella: French democracy has been executed French democracy has been executed after Marine Le Pen was banned from politics for five years, Jordan Bardella has said. The RN chief has been unjustly condemned, it is French democracy that has been executed, Mr Bardella, the partys president, said. Aujourd'hui, ce n'est pas seulement Marine Le Pen qui est injustement condamnee : c'est la democratie francaise qui est executee.#JeSoutiensMarine Jordan Bardella (@J_Bardella) March 31, 2025 11:53 AM BST A body blow to Le Pens presidential hopes Legal experts have been saying this could occur but few in France really believed it would really happen. Marine Le Pen has been eliminated from the 2027 presidential election in France and cannot appeal the ruling. The provisional ban is immediate. She can keep her national mandates, namely as an MP, but cannot run for president even if she appeals. 11:51 AM BST Le Pen banned from standing at next presidential election Le Pen has been banned from standing at the next election, with the judge sentencing her to a five-year ban from politics. She has been sentenced to four years in prison with two under an electronic bracelet and a 100,000 euro fine. 11:47 AM BST Le Pen ban verdict next Well bring you the exact details of the ban as they come in. 11:39 AM BST Le Pen heads to meet Bardella at party HQ Le Pen has arrived at her partys HQ in western Paris ahead of a meeting with its president Jordan Bardella. She remained tight-lipped as reporters asked her about the judges decision. 11:36 AM BST Former RN deputy banned for three years Louis Aliot, former number two of the National Rally, is sentenced to 18 months in jail, 12 suspended. The rest will be under an electronic bracelet. He has been hit with a three year ban but no provisional one to preserve the freedom of voters who chose their mayor, says the judge. 11:35 AM BST Europe violating democratic norms, says Kremlin The Kremlin has slammed a French courts ruling to bar far-Right leader Marine Le Pen from running for office over a fake jobs scheme. More and more European capitals are going down the path of violating democratic norms, a Kremlin spokesman told reporters in a briefing when asked about the decision. Le Pen was long an admirer of Vladimir Putin, even at one point putting a photo of her with the Russian president on a campaign brochure before hastily removing it over the Ukraine war. She has since distanced herself from the Russian leader but has been lukewarm on helping Ukraine, insisting it should only get defensive weapons. 11:30 AM BST Watch: Le Pen storms out of court Heres footage of Le Pen leaving the courtroom before hearing the details of her ban. We know it will be immediate but we dont know how long for. Credit: Reuters 11:28 AM BST Je suis Marine: Orban voices support for Le Pen Viktor Orban has tweeted his support to Marine Le Pen. Je suis Marine!, he said on X after she was banned from French politics. The Hungarian prime ministers Fidesz party is in an alliance with Ms Le Pens National Rally in the Patriots for Europe group in the European Parliament. Todays judgement relates to the embezzlement of EU funds dating back to before the founding of that group. 11:25 AM BST Le Pen associate given two-year ban from politics Catherline Griset, Le Pens former parliamentary attache and close friend, has been handed a one-year suspended prison sentence and a two-year electoral ban. Were still waiting to her the details of her ban. Julien Odoul, a well-known party figure, has been handed an eight-month suspended prison term. His sentence is accompanied by a one-year ineligibility period, without provisional ban. Le Pen ally Eric Ciotti is amongst the first to react. He said he wondered if France is still a democracy. 11:14 AM BST Le Pen storms out of court Le Pen has left the court without hearing the duration of the provisional ban. It could mean she is banned from running in the 2027 presidential race, depending on the length. Even before the final sentence, French commentators are already talking about a judicial and political earthquake that has blindsided Le Pen and her party. 11:10 AM BST Length of ban unclear Le Pen will receive a provisional ban, says the presiding judge. That is a blow but we now are awaiting the duration. If the provisional ban is less than 18 months, she can still run for president. 10:52 AM BST System involving fictitious contracts existed in RN, says judge The nine MEPs and 12 assistants found guilty signed fictitious contracts and there was indeed a system within the party, said presiding judge Benedicte de Perthuis. It has been established that all these people were in fact working for the party, that their MEP had not entrusted them with any tasks and that they moved from one MEP to another, she went on. It was not a question of pooling the work of the assistants but rather of pooling the MPs envelopes, she went on. Lets be clear: no one is on trial for playing politics, thats not the point. The issue was whether or not the contracts were respected, said the judge. 10:43 AM BST No personal enrichment for Le Pen, says judge The presiding judge has said that Marine Le Pen had been at the heart of this system since 2009 but that there was no personal enrichment. Benedicte de Perthuis also slammed the cynicism and determination of the National Front and its successor National Rally to misuse funds from the European Parliament and European taxpayers. As a reminder, beyond an electoral ban, Marine Le Pen risks a maximum five-year prison term, including three years suspended. The remaining two years could be served with an electronic bracelet. Were expecting her verdict later today. 10:38 AM BST Who could replace Le Pen if she is banned? In a documentary broadcast by BFMTV late on Sunday, Marine Le Pen for the first time explicitly gave her blessing to Jordan Bardella becoming president. Of course he has the capacity to become president of the republic, she said. But there are doubts even within the party over the so-called Plan B (for Bardella) and whether he has the experience for a presidential campaign. 10:18 AM BST Le Pens opponents reject ban from politics Some of Marine Le Pens staunchest opponents have spoken out against her being banned from running for president. These include Eric Coquerel, MP for radical Left party France Unbowed, LFI, who told LCI: I dont agree that things that should be decided by the ballot box are decided by the courts. It will only paint the National Rally as a victim. 10:12 AM BST Le Pen guilty of misappropriating 474,000 Marine Le Pen has been found guilty of misappropriating 474,000, in particular for the contracts of her bodyguard, Thierry Legier, and her former parliamentary attache, Catherine Griset. Catherine Griset worked for Marine Le Pen, but not as a member of parliament in Brussels, the presiding judge, Benedicte de Perthuis, told the Paris criminal court. 10:04 AM BST Inside the courtroom Marine Le Pen shook her head when she learnt that her close friend and ex-sister-in-law Catherine Griset, who is MEP, was found guilty. 09:53 AM BST Le Pen found guilty Marine Le Pen and 8 other MEPs have been found guilty of misappropriating funds in the case of the parliamentary assistants of the Front National, now National Rally. This conviction automatically entails a penalty of ineligibility for Marine Le Pen. It remains to be seen whether this sentence will be provisionally enforceable and therefore immediate. The 12 assistants on trial alongside the MEPs were also found guilty of concealing misappropriated funds. The court ruled that they had got the European Parliament to pay for people who were actually working for the party to the tune of 2.9 million. Jean-Marie Le Pen, the late former leader, was a beneficiary of the fake jobs scam, said the judge. 09:39 AM BST Judge warns of long wait for verdict The presiding judge has started speaking but has warned the court they will not get the verdict straight away. Its going to be a little long, warned judge Benedicte de Perthuis at the outset. There is no desire on the part of the court to maintain suspense, but it will proceed as usual, giving a number of explanations of the decision taken, she went on. We have clearly understood that what is at stake goes beyond this courtroom, but the court will proceed as usual, she added, in front of Marine Le Pen, seated in a blue jacket in the front row, alongside party vice-president Louis Aliot, who risks losing his post as mayor of Perpignan today. 09:31 AM BST Judge begins reading out verdicts The Paris criminal courts head judge has begun reading out verdicts but it could be hours before we learn the fate of Marine Le Pen. Le Pen and 24 other RN officials are accused of running an extensive scheme over many years to embezzle EU funds. There are no cameras or recording devices allowed inside the court. 09:14 AM BST Criticising guilty verdict a double-edged sword Criticising a guilty verdict would be double-edged, points out Mathieu Croissandeau, political analyst for BFMTV. For (the National Rally), justice is never harsh enough when it comes to criminals but always too hard when it comes to politicians. There is a risk that a guilty verdict could be taken as a denial of democracy by public opinion, whose faith in French institutions, including the judiciary, is already low, adds Croissandea. He also warns Le Pens National Rally could decide to wreak revenge on President Macron and the minority government by backing a no-confidence motion to bring it down. So far, it has abstained. 09:03 AM BST Le Pen: Judges could kill our movement Marine Le Pen declined to speak this morning. However, she expressed her confidence last night in an interview with La Tribune du Dimanche. She said: Ive read here and there that were feverish. Personally, Im not, but I can understand why we might be: with provisional execution, the judges have the right of life or death over our movement. 09:00 AM BST Le Pen arrives at court Marine Le Pen has arrived at the Paris criminal court ahead of this mornings verdict. Marine Le Pen arrives at the courtroom for her embezzlement case - Getty Images Europe 08:57 AM BST Analysis: Le Pens political future hangs in the balance Make no mistake, Marine Le Pens political fate hangs in the balance this morning. Few expect the Paris criminal court to clear her on all counts in the EU parliamentary money affair given the damning evidence laid out during the trial. But guilt is not the issue here. The number one sword of Damocles hanging over her is an automatic five-year ban from holding electoral office. In her words, it would spell her political death and would upend French politics just two years before presidential elections that Le Pen is increasingly confident she can win. An Ifop poll yesterday placed her way out in front in voter intentions for the first round. The feeling even amongst the party faithful is that 29-year-old dauphin Jordan Bardella doesnt have the experience and stature to fill her shoes should she be disqualified. Anything short of automatic ineligibility could work in Le Pens favour, however, as it will likely galvanise supporters who - like Trump fans - see the trial as a political cabal and allow her to fight on, down but not out. The clock is ticking. 08:46 AM BST Four outcomes for Le Pen Marine Le Pen could be cleared of all blame. Legal experts believe the case against the politician and her associates is strong, so this is unlikely. She could be convicted by judges but not make her ban from politics automatic. She could appeal the ban, which would not come into effect until after a second and potentially third trial. This could allow her to run for president, depending on how long the process takes. Judges could order an automatic ban from politics. Le Pen would appeal, but only the sentence - which involves a five-year prison sentence and a fine - would be suspended. As a result, she would be banned from running for president in 2027. The court could also reduce the length of her ban from politics from five years to one or two, meaning she may be able to run in 2027. 08:36 AM BST What is Le Pen accused of? Marine Le Pen has been accused of misusing EU funds to hire party staff when she was a member of the European Parliament between 2004 and 2017. It was allegedly claimed at the time that the staff had been working on an EU basis but the claim is that they were actually working for the RN in France. Prosecutors have also accused 24 high-ranking officials of similar charges, claiming the party misused 3m of EU money. All the accused have denied the charges. 08:32 AM BST Welcome to our live coverage Good morning and welcome to our live coverage as Marine Le Pen faces a ban from French politics. Well bring you all the latest updates and analysis as it happens. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. (Bloomberg) -- Far-right leader Marine Le Pens presidential ambitions were dealt a potential death blow after she was convicted of embezzlement by a French court and barred from running in the next election in 2027. Most Read from Bloomberg Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Judges at the Paris criminal court found Le Pen and her National Rally party guilty of diverting millions of euros in European Union funds to finance activities related to their domestic agenda. Le Pen was sentenced to two years in prison, with two more suspended, and given an immediate five-year election ban, complicating her ambitions of taking over from Emmanuel Macron in 2027. Judges suggested the two years could be served under electronic surveillance. While an appeals court decision before the next election isnt out of the question, its unlikely given the complexity of the case and number of defendants. Le Pen, 56, who was a top contender for the 2027 presidential election according to recent polls, had said the prosecution was seeking her political death in making the request for an outright election ban during trial hearings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The ineligibility verdict probably means Le Pens political career is over, said Marta Lorimer, a lecturer in politics at Cardiff University and a visiting fellow at the London School of Economics. The ruling may open a power vacuum within the French far right, which Le Pen worked for years to bring into the mainstream of national politics. A potential successor is National Rallys 29-year-old party chief Jordan Bardella, who according to polls conducted ahead of the court ruling could be a viable option for claiming the presidency in 2027. Markets seemed to take the news in stride as tariff concerns remain more immediate for investors. The spread between French and German 10-year yields, a closely watched measure of risk, was two basis points wider at 73. Frances CAC 40 stock index added to losses in the wake of the decision, sliding 2%. Le Pens trial centered on allegations that she and other party members elected to the European Parliament improperly used a budget allocation for EU aides. French investigators said the money was used to pay staff of the Front National the partys former name who focused essentially on domestic politics, rather than EU matters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The far-right leader has already framed the court case as a politically motivated attack. Theres a risk that Le Pens supporters would also view the ruling as a further symptom of an elitist system undermining their voices, at a time when Macrons popularity remains low. Observers have drawn parallels with US President Donald Trump, who won a second term with a clutch of criminal cases hanging over him and, like Le Pen, has made trenchant opposition to immigration a cornerstone of his program. Her conviction will strengthen her aura in French society: thats what we can learn from Trump-style American politics, said Christophe Marion, a lawmaker from Macrons party. Messages of support poured in for Le Pen shortly after her conviction, with the Kremlin and Hungarys populist leader Viktor Orban among the first to weigh in. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The presidential elections in Romania and the Le Pen verdict show that democratic norms are being trampled upon, in Europe, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. Je suis Marine, Orban tweeted following the ruling. Italys deputy prime minister and leader of the League party Matteo Salvini called the ruling a declaration of war by Brussels. --With assistance from Flavia Rotondi. (Updates with reactions from Kremlin and Orban starting 13th paragraph) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2025 Bloomberg L.P. Editor's note: The story is being updated with the latest details on the verdict. A French court on March 31 found Marine Le Pen, one of the leaders of the far-right National Rally party (RN), guilty of embezzling EU funds and banned her from running for public office "with immediate effect." The far-right leader was barred from running for office for five years, seemingly scuttling her hopes of running for president in 2027. Le Pen was also sentenced to four years imprisonment, with two years suspended and two in home detention. She was also ordered to pay a 100,000-euro ($108,200) fine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Le Pen, eight RN members of the European Parliament, and 12 assistants were found guilty of misusing European Parliament money to pay staff working for the RN between 2004 and 2016, France24 reported. Twenty-four of Le Pen's party colleagues have been charged in the case. Prosecutors requested a 10-year prison sentence and a ban to run for office for five years, Euronews reported. Le Pen chairs the RN in the French parliament's lower house and unsuccessfully ran for the presidency in 2012, 2017, and 2022, ending up in the runoff in the latter two cases but losing to Emmanuel Macron. "I absolutely dont feel I have committed the slightest irregularity, the slightest illegal move," the far-right leader told the court, according to France24. She claimed that prosecutors were "only interested" in thwarting her presidential ambitions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Le Pen's lawyer said she would appeal the ruling, though that is unlikely to have an immediate impact on the ban on running for office, the Guardian reported. Before Russia's all-out invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Le Pen openly expressed her admiration for Russian President Vladimir Putin, said she did not believe Russia's annexation of Crimea was illegal, and her party took a 9-billion-euro loan from a Russian bank in 2014 despite sanctions. Le Pen and her party sought to cast away their pro-Kremlin rhetoric after 2022, denouncing Russian aggression and praising Ukrainian defenders. At the same time, Le Pen has opposed more decisive steps in support of Kyiv, such as the supply of SCALP missiles or the deployment of French peacekeepers on the ground. The RN has gathered broad support over the past few years, becoming the single largest party in the parliament's lower house and a leading opposition force. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read also: Trump says hes pissed off and very angry at Putin in phone interview with NBC News Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. There are at present two broad visions characterising the western world. That dynamic is playing out very dramatically in Canada as Mark J. Carney takes the helm calling for an immediate election, just as it did under Justin Trudeau, whose regime became infamous around the world for its hypocritical weve got your back faux-compassionate authoritarianism. This was on full display when the Canadian people tired of the insane restrictions of the appalling and unnecessary Covid lockdowns dared to make their displeasure known in Ottawa in the guise of the famous trucker convoy. They were rewarded for their populist temerity by direct accusations of racism, misogyny and Russian funding by none other than their cowardly Prime Minister, who also used the event as an excuse to turn tail and run and hide instead of facing his justly angry citizenry. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thankfully, that narcissistic pretender, famous for the name his father made known and painfully few accomplishments of his own, has now vanished from the scene, resigning a few months ago as his Liberals headed toward absolute electoral demolition, falling low enough in the polls so the possibility of their elimination as a registered party loomed large. Immediately upon his disappearance from the scene, however, he prorogued or suspended the parliament he had in any case previously regarded with nothing but contempt, and setting the stage for his successor, the aforementioned Carney, former Governor of the Bank of England, who previously played the same role in Canada. Starmer shaking hands with the new Prime Minister of Canada - Neil Hall After a pro forma campaign, within the ranks of his own party, Mr. Carney was crowned as leader a result that was absolutely certain from the beginning, as the powers that be had already decided, despite the admittedly weak opposition mounted against him by Trudeaus Deputy PM, Chrystia Freeland, who only garnered a truly dismal eight per cent of the vote. Despite this and no doubt as quid pro quo Ms. Freeland is now a powerful member of Carneys cabinet, holding the twin Ministries of Transport and Internal Trade. This is par for the course in his new outsider administration, which is composed in its entirety of the same ideologically addled and miserable miscreants who led Canada to the very edge of economic and political destruction over the last ten years. O Canada! How bad is it in that once-stellar country; the country of my birth? At the moment, the oil-rich province of Alberta is threatening seriously to leave confederation entirely, the Canadian economy is slated to underperform its most serious 40 developed-country competitors for the next 40 years, and the richest Canadian province is now poorer in terms of average per capita income than the poorest of Americas 50 states. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Take note, as well, with regard to the latter statistic: this is also true of the Europe and the UK that has been implementing Trudeau-and-Carney-like policies for the same period of time. That is not all: crime has radically increased, housing prices have spiralled out of reach, unrestrained immigration is dividing the country, and Canadians hold very little vision of a promising future. Worse, still, the careless although somewhat salutary bull-in-the-China shop American President, has terrified Europe into something like a cohesive, though still deluded, unit since his election and has simultaneously served that role for Canadians. Trump has threatened Canada with fate or offered us opportunity as the 51st American state, pronouncing publicly that Canadian dependency on the US economy and military is sufficiently pronounced and appalling to make the country at least barely worth contending with or considering and better off, all things considered, appending itself to the US altogether. This unexpected (to say the least) manoeuvre has forced Canadians to consider their national status once again even the Liberals who, under Trudeau (with Carney lurking like The Lion Kings Scar in the background) decided that the former British Empire dominion was the worlds first post-national state with no true identity the historic British derivation being unacceptable to the bloody Quebec separatists who have bedevilled the country for a century. To be completely fair, the Liberal vision of Canadas identity was not entirely null; rather, worse, we were encouraged to view ourselves as purveyors of patriarchal oppression and colonial supremacy an identity to be ashamed of and hide rather than celebrate. This despite the fact that Canada is, or at least was, a highly desired place of emigration for the truly oppressed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sound familiar, Brits? No wonder it all comes from the same radically anti-Western ideological source. Carney: the insiders outsider The unfortunate consequence of Trumps careless pronouncements is that Carney has positioned himself as a genuine contender in the coming battle against American tariffs and proclamations of superiority, even though nothing could be farther from the truth. Canadians know little of the man and thats part of his plan. The fact of the latters international manoeuvring and the apparent stamp of approval given to him by the Brits, who in combination with his supposed business experience and elitist educational background regarded him as capable of serving as Bank of England Governor, have conjoined to convince the citizens of the hapless Northland that he has the expertise and gravitas necessary to put the orange-haired tyrant in his place. The fact that Trump himself has recently and directly indicated that he would rather negotiate with a weak liberal than a strong conservative and that he is no friend to Poilievre, the Canadian Conservative leader, has not yet pierced the Canadian consciousness. Neither has former UK PM Liz Trusss recent evisceration of Carneys performance as said Governor, or the justified scepticism directed toward him by The Telegraph. It is also telling that Canadians have paid very little attention to Carneys actual words. He published his book Values: Building a Better World for All in 2021. There is no evidence, despite certain of his recent actions, that the new Canadian PM believes anything different than indicated there. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And what does he believe? Well, he has recently and directly informed Canadians (on no less a platform than Jon Stewarts Today Show) that he is an outsider, who brings a new perspective and approach to the Canadian political landscape. This is simply untrue not a mere evasion or twisting of the truth, but a veritable anti-truth. Carney is a consummate insider, serving Justin Trudeau as an economic advisor (enough so that he was considered as Finance Minister in that very administration), while gathering the same old undesirables around him immediately upon becoming PM, and while being, on the personal side, godparent to one of Chrystia Freelands children. He couldnt be more of a Liberal if he tried, although it is true (to his detriment) that he has never run for office, which he argues makes him pure, but much more genuinely reveals his utter contempt for the electoral process that essentially characterises the democracy he now governs, while having gathered the approval of less than half a per cent of the Canadian electorate. Carney has called the shortest possible election allowed by Canadian law. The calculation is obvious: better not let Canadians figure out who he truly is, and the claim that he opposes one of Trudeaus more hated policies: the consumer carbon tax. This is a cardinal part of the Net Zero delusions possessing Canadians and UKs fools and charlatans alike the derogation and suppression of the fossil fuel industry which, in the Canadian case, is the genuine bedrock of economic performance. Carneys infatuation with Net Zero, DEI, and ESG Even a casual purview of Carneys dreadful book which contains not a single original or productive idea indicates that there is perhaps no one in the world who has staked more, intellectually, spiritually and politically, on the Net Zero delusion than Mark J. Carney. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its not only something he supports it undergirds everything he believes. Despite all evidence to the contrary, for him the fictional carbon dioxide apocalypse that has hypothetically descended upon us is of sufficient emergency and severity that, in his own words, all financial decisions worldwide (and take note of that all) have to be retooled in accordance with centralised planning dictates. All this so that the impossible goal of Net Zero becomes an accomplished fact by 2050, cost and consequences be damned. After all: when the planet itself is at stake, nothing is forbidden. How convenient for the totalitarians. It is a consequence of this that Carney wants to spend two trillion dollars (!) in Canada alone to attain this unattainable and futile end. Thats 200,000 (enough for a house, in a reasonable economy) for every single Canadian family. Despite that cost that impossibility Carney has no problem proclaiming himself just the man to not only face down the despicable orange-haired villain south of the border, but to bring about some ill-specified industrial green revolution in the fossil-fuel dependent frigid northern wasteland he purports to run. Does he offer a plan for this in Values? Most definitively no. He waves his hands and talks about how hydrogen (really? hydrogen?) is going to make Alberta specifically, but Canada more generally, rich and clean beyond imagining, claiming that the new innovation economy released somehow by his green delusions will magically make itself manifest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement How is that working out in Germany, we might ask, as it rapidly and futilely de-industrialises? How about here in the UK, where power is increasingly unreliable and far more expensive than necessary, and all the manufacturing jobs have shifted to coal-dependent and unrepentantly industrial (and let us not forget communist-to-the-core) China? Net Zero is only one of Carneys terrible, unoriginal and counterproductive ideas, all of which have failed when tested on the international front hence his tail-between-his-legs scuttling away from Europe to lead his own ill-fated country. Canadas new PM is also an avid advocate of the Diversity, Equity and Inclusivity: faux-compassionate and delusional niceties that have destroyed, for example, the institutes of higher education that were once august and functional in the West, demolished the credibility of the Democrats in the US, and radically destabilised gender, ethnic and racial relations everywhere in the last 15 years. Furthermore, as if that is not enough, Carney is also perhaps the worlds foremost advocate of the so-called Environmental, Social and Governance movement (ESG) that has poisoned hundreds of corporations, large and small, in the last two decades. And what of that? In recent years, it has become painfully obvious first that the claims of those pushing such ideas that pursuit of central-planning dictates by large corporations would produce increased financial production (thats profits, folks) was false, to say the least, and second that companies sufficiently sane to care about their own survival are abandoning the movement in droves. This includes the inordinate number of Fortune 500 enterprises and who were pushing ESG with a vengeance to drive home public perception of their own unparalleled level of self-sacrificing morality. Net Zero is an expensive, insane scam; DEI has DIED at its own hand; and the ESG movement has fallen apart everywhere, and fast. Thus, not only has Mark J. Carney has been at the very forefront of the worst ideological notions of the last 20 years everything he has hypothetically accomplished in relation to those notions has shown itself as rotten, and fallen apart. So, on to Canada, thinks Mr. Carney, so the failure can be. be what? Duplicated? Extended? But Canadians trust him, because of his pedigree, his very effective capitalising on Trumps unforced error, and his appalling rushing both the polls and the people. Canada, and the West, on a knife edge This is not good, to say the least. I truly believe that Canada will not survive four, let alone eight, more years of the green, elitist, doomsaying, central planners that ruled under Trudeau and will tromp forward as if on steroids with Carney at the helm. Worse, perhaps at least on the international front a vote for Carney will allow the metropolitan class at the World Economic Forum to effectively continue their anti-human machinations, when a defeat for the man and the oh-so-deserving-of-defeat Liberals would put those arrogant technocrat Luciferian elitists in the their proper place. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In this, the most peculiar and surreal of all possible worlds, what happens in once backwoods Canada has become terribly and paradoxically relevant everywhere. The drama confronting the entire West is being played out here, in a front-line manner. Will we Canucks give in to false apocalyptic fear, victims of the tyrants who use fear and compulsion to justify their authoritarian world and of our own refusal to wake up and take proper responsibility for the future? Or will we dispense with the lies of the global elite, pay attention to the working-class whose essential sensibility has remained on point, use the fossil fuels and nuclear power that the flourishing of the poor and middle class still depend upon absolutely, and maintain the abundance and freedom of the Western world? Well see. Canadians, at the moment, entranced by the new burst of patriotism manifested in response to the real carelessness of Trump, are vulnerable to the dangers of Carney, who also appeals to their effortless self-congratulatory shallow environmentalism and pathological Canuck niceness and obedience. And, in the rest of the world? The same battle is being played out in the UK, with Reform playing the role of the Canadian conservatives (and literally so, as the movement is named after a Canadian conservative movement with the same moniker). In Europe, its the EU centralists vs the Italian/Hungarian/Swedish/Polish and even French and German ascendant populist right. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dangerous as the latter can be, if the circumstances present themselves, the latter are currently the only alternative to the terrible anti-human doomsayers and false prophets. The latter have been set on their heels by the rise of Trump and the populists in Europe. Carney is their current best hope for continuance and extension. Heaven help the former British colony, in consequence: we are being led to perdition by the shallowness of our own political consciousness, our moral presumption as environmentalists and anti-Americans, and the insane fractiousness of our own threatened identity. Perhaps we will wise up and elect Poilievre and the Conservatives and buy ourselves some much needed opportunity and time. Perhaps he will, with humility, develop his still untested executive power and economic vision and set the country and to the degree possible the Western world straight. Anything you Brits and the rest of the world could do to help us wake up and take notice would be more than welcomeincluding the publication and distribution of this missive. God knows that in our time of crisis we could use some true allies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In better times, that was the purpose of the Commonwealth so beloved, for example, of our previous Queen. Maybe if we in Canada come to make the correct decision, and turn away from the apocalypse-mongers and moralising de-industrialists, you Brits can take inspiration from our example in the not too distant future. Then we could all work together as brothers of the great English common-law tradition and set our course back toward freedom, abundance, and the stars. Jordan B. Peterson is professor emeritus at the University of Toronto and author of Maps of Meaning, 12 Rules for Life and Beyond Order. More from Jordan Peterson exclusively for The Telegraph: - Eco-extremists are leading the world towards despair, poverty, and starvation - We are sacrificing our children on the altar of a brutal, far-Left ideology - Trans activism is sexist and delusional - Why I love Great Britain Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. Mar. 30MITCHELL The Mitchell City Council will meet at 5 p.m. on Monday, March 31, at 1515 N. Sanborn for a tour of the CHR building as part of a council work session. The council will evaluate it to consider purchasing the property at a discounted sum, according to council president Kevin McCardle. "People have talked about moving City Hall, and that might be an option," McCardle told the Mitchell Republic. "We're just gonna go up there and check our options out." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The property at 1515 N. Sanborn Blvd. is a two story and one story sprawling brick building with 75,800 square feet of office space with portions of the building being built in 1987, 1992 and 1996. It is listed for sale at $5,999,999. Amenities include a reception area, multiple conference and office spaces, a large shared break area with kitchen and in-suite restrooms. "We wanna see what kind of shape it's in. If it's worn down and needs a lot of work then there's no reason to do it," McCardle said. The property includes a parking lot. Previous real estate listings included the empty 110,889 square foot lot behind the building. The property is south of Muth Electric and across the street from the Village Bowl at the corner of North Sanborn Boulevard and West Fifteenth Avenue. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The property is owned by Martin and Associates, according to the Davison County Geographic Information System. The South Dakota Secretary of State lists Matthew J. Martin of Sioux Falls as the owner of Martin and Associates. "Probably once a year we'll drive around and look at the sidewalks, or drive around and look at different things that we think need to be done in town," McCardle said. Immediately following the tour, the council will return to City Hall at 612 N. Main Street to discuss setting goals for the next 10 years, and to discuss various city projects. Residents are welcome, but no citizens' input will be heard. BOTETOURT COUNTY, Va. (WFXR) The Virginia State Police are investigating a motorcycle accident in Botetourt County that killed a man from Maryland on March 29. VSP said a 2011 Triumph Thruxton 900 motorcycle, driven by 27-year-old Darnell Wesley Adams of White Plains, MD, was on Route 460E around 11:15 p.m. when he went off the right side of the road and hit a brick wall at the intersection with the Blue Ridge Parkway. Motorcycle crash on Route 29 kills 33-year-old Campbell County man Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Adams was taken to the Roanoke Memorial Hospital, where he later passed away from his injuries. Police said he was wearing his helmet. Police said the crash is still being investigated. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFXRtv. WASHINGTON (DC News Now) Officers arrested a Maryland woman after she allegedly stabbed another woman in Northwest D.C. over the weekend, police announced Monday. According to the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), just after 6 a.m. on Sunday, March 30, officers responded to the 2000 block of 14th St. NW for a reported stabbing. Expelled DC Councilmember Trayon White teases re-election campaign on social media Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There, they found a woman with multiple stab wounds. Medics responded and took her to the hospital for treatment of her injuries. After investigating, MPD said detectives arrested Dayonna Davis, 28, of Waldorf, Md., and charged her with assault with a dangerous weapon (knife). Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. GAZA, March 31 (Xinhua) -- As Muslims across the world celebrate Eid al-Fitr with joy and family gatherings, the residents of Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip, face yet another wave of displacement, fleeing their homes under intensified Israeli military operations. On Monday, the Israeli army issued new evacuation orders for large areas of Rafah, affecting tens of thousands of people. Yet, for many families, there is nowhere safe to go. The coastal area of al-Mawasi, west of Khan Younis, is already overcrowded with displaced people and lacks adequate shelter, food, and medical supplies. Meanwhile, Israeli airstrikes and shelling continue across Gaza, with 80 bodies and 305 injuries recorded in local hospitals over the past 48 hours, according to Gaza-based health authorities. Carrying bags and essential belongings, displaced families navigate the unpaved roads in Rafah, their expressions marked by exhaustion and despair. Among them is Amina Harb, who had only recently returned to her damaged home before being forced to flee again. Holding a small bundle of belongings, she guided her young son through the crowded streets. "He kept asking me if we could visit his grandmother for Eid, but we were running for our lives instead. This is not a holiday; it is another day of survival," the exhausted woman told Xinhua. Nearby, 68-year-old Fadel al-Khatib, who has been displaced multiple times since the war began on Oct. 7, 2023, sat beside a small bag. "The Israeli army keeps telling us to move, but where can we go? The world celebrates Eid while we search for safety," he said. Before the war, Eid al-Fitr in Rafah was marked by bustling markets, the aroma of festive sweets, and children excitedly showing off their new clothes. Families gathered for traditional meals, and the streets were alive with celebrations. This year, the scene is one of devastation. Empty storefronts stand amid the rubble, and once-lively neighborhoods are eerily silent, except for the distant echoes of bombardment. Ten-year-old Yasmin al-Sawarka, clutching her younger brother's hand, spoke softly: "I used to get new shoes and play outside with my cousins on Eid. We don't have a home now, and my parents say we must leave again." "But this time, we don't even know where we are going. Every place we flee becomes unsafe, and we are forced to keep moving," she lamented. Nearby, Mahmoud al-Najjar, a father of four, looked at his children with sadness. "Eid is meant to be a time for joy, but how can we celebrate when our children are hungry, when we have no roof over our heads, and when every day brings more loss?" he said. Palestinian officials have condemned the evacuation orders, warning of an escalating humanitarian crisis. Gaza interior authorities stated that "Israel's orders to completely clear Rafah under ongoing bombardment signal further crimes against civilians," calling for urgent international intervention. They also held Israel accountable for the deteriorating situation and urged global institutions to take legal action, accusing Israel of committing war crimes against civilians in Gaza. SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, and one local family traveled to Washington, D.C. with a national organization to advocate for more funding. The American Cancer Society says colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer diagnosed in both men and women in the U.S. They estimate over 107,000 new cancer cases are expected to be diagnosed this year. In Massachusetts, 2,770 cases of colon and rectum cancer are predicted this year. Blood test for colon cancer screening is approved by US regulators Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In an effort to spread awareness, twin sisters Kimberly Schoolcraft of Springfield and Karen Fogarty of Westfield obtained a Massachusetts Proclamation that names March as Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, signed by Governor Healey. Kimberly told 22News that she lost her partner to colon cancer several years ago, which led her and her sister to advocate for colorectal cancer awareness. Colorectal cancer is the 2nd leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States among men and women combined. There is currently no cure, but many people dont realize that its largely preventable, said Kimberly. Want to know your risk for colorectal cancer? Take the quiz: Earlier this month, Kimberly and her boyfriend Steve Franklin went to Washington, D.C. with Fight Colorectal Cancer to meet with congressional offices to ask for more funding for research. The organization is calling on Congress to create a colorectal cancer caucus in the House of Representatives. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During their visit, Kimberly and Steve, along with many volunteers, placed 27,400 blue flags in front of the U.S. Capitol. They symbolize the number of people aged 20 to 49 who will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer in 2030. In 2030, its estimated to be the #1 cancer killer in that age group, Steve said. Karen Fogarty was unable to attend the Washington event this year. Blue flags are on display in her front yard in Westfield to support the fight for colorectal cancer. (Courtesy: Kimberly Schoolcraft) Kimberly Schoolcraft and Steve Franklin in front of the U.S. Capitol Building in the flag installation (Courtesy: Kimberly Schoolcraft) There are four stages of colon cancer. Stage one means that colon cancer has just started, and has not gone beyond the very superficial layer of the bowel. While stage two colon cancer is a little bit deeper into the wall of the bowel, it has not spread anywhere yet. Stages three and four are when the polyps become much more intrusive, making their way into other parts of the body and neighboring organs. This makes the disease much more difficult to contain and treat. New guidelines say people should be getting screened for colon cancer at age 45. The American Cancer Society found that this disease is now the top cause of cancer death in men under 50 and second only to breast cancer for women in the same age group. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The top deadly cancer in men under 50 Timely diagnosis, appropriate treatment, and regular follow-up care are important for improving survival rates and quality of life. The rate of people being diagnosed with colon cancer each year has dropped overall since the 80s, mainly because more people are getting screened, but in people younger than 50 years of age, rates have gone up. There are programs, resources, and help for those diagnosed with cancer: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To help advocate for colorectal cancer, including resources, education, and more, visit fightcolorectalcancer.org. Local News Headlines WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. On March 27, 2025, Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. announced plans to dramatically transform the department. HHS is the umbrella agency responsible for pandemic preparedness, biomedical research, food safety and many other health-related activities. In a video posted that afternoon, Kennedy said the cuts and reorganization to HHS aim to streamline our agency and radically improve our quality of service by eliminating rampant waste and inefficiency. No American is going to be left behind, the health secretary told the nation. As a scholar of U.S. health and public health policy, I have written about administrative burdens that prevent many Americans from accessing benefits to which they are entitled, including those provided by HHS, like Medicaid. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Few experts would deny that the federal bureaucracy can be inefficient and siloed. This includes HHS, and calls to restructure the agency are nothing new Combined with previous reductions, these cuts may achieve some limited short-term savings. However, the proposed changes dramatically alter U.S. health policy and research, and they may endanger important benefits and protections for many Americans. They may also have severe consequences for scientific progress. And as some policy experts have suggested, the poorly targeted cuts may increase inefficiencies and waste down the line. Health and science in a big-budget agency HHS is tasked with providing a variety of public health and social services as well as fostering scientific advancement. Originally established as the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare in 1953, HHS has seen substantial growth and transformation over time. Today, HHS is home to 28 divisions. Some of these are well known to many Americans, such as the National Institutes of Health, the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Others, such as the Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships and the Administration for Community Living, may fly under the radar for most people. HHS oversees Medicare, through which 68 million Americans, primarily adults age 65 and older, receive health insurance benefits. Richard Bailey/Corbis Documentary via Getty Images With an annual budget of roughly US$1.8 trillion, HHS is one of the largest federal spenders, accounting for more than 1 in 5 dollars of the federal budget. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Under the Biden administration, HHSs budget increased by almost 40%, with a 17% increase in staffing. However, 85% of that money is spent on 79 million Medicaid and 68 million Medicare beneficiaries. Put differently, most of HHS spending goes directly to many Americans in the form of health benefits. A new direction for Health and Human Services From a policy perspective, the changes initiated at HHS by the second-term Trump administration are far-reaching. They involve both staffing cuts and substantial reorganization. Prior to the March 27 announcement, the administration had already cut thousands of positions from HHS by letting go probationary employees and offering buyouts for employees to voluntarily leave. Now, HHS is slated to lose another 10,000 workers. The latest cuts focus most heavily on a handful of agencies. The FDA will lose an additional 3,500 employees, and the NIH will lose 1,200. The CDC, where cuts are steepest, will lose 2,400 positions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In all, the moves will reduce the HHS workforce by about 25%, from more than 82,000 to 62,000. These changes will provide savings of about $1.8 billion, or 0.1% of the HHS budget. Along with these cuts comes a major reorganization that will eliminate 13 out of 28 offices and agencies, close five of the 10 regional offices, reshuffle existing divisions and establish a new division called the Administration for a Healthy America. In his latest message, Kennedy noted that this HHS transformation would return the agency to its core mission: to enhance the health and well-being of all Americans. He also announced his intention to refocus HHS on his Make America Healthy Again priorities, which involve reducing chronic illness by focusing on safe, wholesome food, clean water and the elimination of environmental toxins. How HHS new reality will affect Americans Kennedy has said the HHS overhaul will not affect services to Americans. Given the magnitude of the cuts, this seems unlikely. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement HHS reaches into the lives of all Americans. Many have family members on Medicaid or Medicare, or know individuals with disabilities or those dealing with substance use disorder. Disasters may strike anywhere. Bird flu and measles outbreaks are unfolding in many parts of the country. Everyone relies on access to safe foods, drugs and vaccines. In his announcement, the health secretary highlighted cuts to HHS support functions, such as information technology and human resources, as a way to reduce redundancies and inefficiencies. But scaling down and reorganizing these capacities will inevitably have implications for how well HHS employees will be able to fulfill their duties at least temporarily. Kennedy acknowledged this as a painful period for HHS. However, large-scale reductions and reorganizations inevitably lead to more systemic disruptions, delays and denials. It seems implausible that Americans seeking access to health care, help with HIV prevention or early education benefits such as Head Start, which are also administered by HHS, will not be affected. This is particularly the case when conceived rapidly and without transparent long-term planning. These new cuts are also further exacerbated by the administrations previous slashes to public health funding for state and local governments. Given the crucial functions of HHS from health coverage for vulnerable populations to pandemic preparedness and response the American Public Health Association predicts the cuts will result in a rise in rates of disease and death. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Already, previous cuts at the FDA the agency responsible for safe foods and drugs have led to delays in product reviews. Overall, the likelihood of increasing access challenges for people seeking services or support as well as fewer protections and longer wait times seems high. A fundamental reshaping of American public health The HHS restructuring should be viewed in a broader context. Since coming to office, the Trump administration has aggressively sought to reshape the U.S. public health agenda. This has included vast cuts to research funding as well as funding for state and local governments. The most recent cuts at HHS fit into the mold of rolling back protections and reshaping science. The Trump administration has already announced plans to curtail the Affordable Care Act and roll back regulations that address everything from clean water to safe vaccines. State programs focused on health disparities have also been targeted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement HHS-funded research has also been scaled back dramatically, with a long list of projects terminated in research areas touching on health disparities, womens and LGBTQ-related health issues, COVID-19 and long COVID, vaccine hesitancy and more. The HHS reorganization also revamps two bodies within HHS, the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, that are instrumental in improving U.S. health care and providing policy research. This change further diminishes the likelihood that health policy will be based on scientific evidence and raises the risk for more politicized decision-making about health. More cuts are likely still to come. Medicaid, the program providing health coverage for low-income Americans, will be a particular target. The House of Representatives passed a budget resolution on Feb. 25 that allows up to $880 billion in cuts to the program. All told, plans already announced and those expected to emerge in the future dramatically alter U.S. health policy and roll back substantial protections for Americans. A vision for deregulation Regulation has emerged as the most prolific source of policymaking over the last five decades, particularly for health policy. Given its vast responsibilities, HHS is one of the federal governments most prolific regulators. Vast cuts to the HHS workforce will likely curtail this capability, resulting in fewer regulatory protections for Americans. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the same time, with fewer experienced administrators on staff, industry influence over regulatory decisions will likely only grow stronger. HHS will simply lack the substance and procedural expertise to act independently. More industry influence and fewer independent regulators to counter it will also further reduce attention to disparities and underserved populations. Ultimately, the Trump administrations efforts may lead to a vastly different federal health policy with fewer benefits, services and protections than what Americans have become accustomed to in modern times. 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: Simon F. Haeder, Texas A&M University Read more: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dr. Simon F. Haeder has previously received funding from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) . 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. NEW YORK CITY (PIX11) With a filing deadline approaching in New York Citys upcoming mayoral election, Mayor Eric Adams lawyer has urged a judge to promptly issue a decision in the mayors bribery case. Petitions are due this week for candidates to appear on a partys primary ballot. Candidates started collecting signatures on petitions in February. Candidates running as an independent have from April 15 to May 27 to submit their petitions. More Local News Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The looming deadline should add urgency to Judge Dale Hos decision in Adams ongoing federal case, Alex Spiro argued in a letter to the judge Monday morning. With the petition-filing deadline just days away, we respectfully urge the Court to issue its decision as soon as practicable, Spiro wrote. In February, acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove directed prosecutors to drop the case against Adams. No further investigative steps should be taken before the 2025 mayoral election, according to the memo. Adams has since consented to the dismissal of his case, and Judge Ho has yet to decide on whether Adams case should be dismissed with or without prejudice. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Emily Rahhal is a digital reporter who has covered New York City since 2023 after reporting in Los Angeles for years. She joined PIX11 in 2024. See more of her work here and follow her on Twitter here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11. Mayor Adams on Monday urged the judge presiding over his public corruption case to hurry up and decide on outstanding dismissal motions before upcoming deadlines in the mayoral race. In the new filing, lawyer Alex Spiro urged Manhattan federal Judge Dale Ho to issue his highly anticipated decision on whether to dismiss the bombshell case promptly. [With] the petition-filing deadline just days away, we respectfully urge the Court to issue its decision as soon as practicable, Spiro wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ho is weighing arguments from the Justice Department and Adamss lawyers to dismiss the indictment against the mayor. It accuses him of abusing his political power in exchange for illegal campaign contributions and plush travel benefits from wealthy Turkish officials and businessmen, allegations Adams denies. Petitioning for the mayoral primary started Feb. 25 and ends this Thursday. The process involves mayoral candidates and their teams collecting thousands of signatures from registered New York City voters and then submitting them to the Board of Elections. Candidates must complete the labor-intensive process to get their names on the June 24 mayoral primary ballot. Adams campaign finance filings show he spent nearly $70,000 in the last reporting window on petitioning services. The expenditure came as many stakeholders in New York City politics have openly questioned whether Adams is attempting to mount a serious bid for reelection, given his flagging fundraising, a lack of a campaign team, record low approval ratings and other continued political fallout from his indictment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement US District Judge Dale Ho. (Elizabeth Williams via AP) Weeks after Trump took office, his former defense attorney-turned-top Justice Department official, Emil Bove, asked Ho to dismiss the case without prejudice meaning it could be brought again. Bove argued that the case was interfering with Adamss ability to assist the Trump administrations aggressive immigration policies. Bove filed the motion after Danielle Sassoon, the former interim Manhattan U.S. attorney, quit rather than obey an order to ask the court to drop the charges. Sassoon, a Republican, said the deal amounted to a quid pro quo, one that would see Adams let off the hook in exchange for giving Trump free rein to target New York Citys immigrant communities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While the mayor has agreed to the widely criticized arrangement with the Justice Department, which does not speak to his guilt or innocence, he has separately asked Ho to dismiss the case with prejudice meaning it would go away for good. With the two sides arguing for the same cause, Ho appointed an independent lawyer to advise him, Paul Clement, who was solicitor general under President George W. Bush. Clement told Ho to dismiss the case with prejudice, writing that Adams being beholden to Trump and not New Yorkers would be deeply troubling. Former U.S. attorneys, former federal judges, and good government groups have urged Ho to closely scrutinize the terms of the deal and some have argued he should appoint a special prosecutor. After receiving the initial dismissal bid, Ho indefinitely adjourned the trial that was set to kick off this month. Rep. Lucy McBath (D-Ga.) is pausing her exploratory bid for Georgia governor, citing her husbands ongoing cancer battle. Im so grateful for everyone who has stood by my family as we undergo this arduous period, McBath said in a statement to The Hill. I will be spending some time focusing on my husbands health, and I cannot make a decision to run for governor or not at this moment. A campaign spokesperson told The Hill that McBath has not entirely ruled out a 2026 gubernatorial bid, and she does not plan to step down from Congress, where shes serving her fourth term. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement McBath told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that it was a really difficult decision to make. And right now I cant make the decision on whether or not to run for governor, McBath added. Ive always said my priorities should be where Im supposed to be. And thats helping my husband. McBath told the Journal-Constitution that her husband, Curtis McBath, suffered complications from recent cancer surgery. His road to ultimate health is going to be a little longer and more difficult than we thought, she said. Right now, I have to organically look at everything and make sure Im where Im most needed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement McBath has been a vocal advocate for gun laws after her 17-year-old son, Jordan Davis, was murdered outside a Florida gas station in 2012 during a disagreement over loud music. His killer, Michael David Dunn, who was 45 at the time, was convicted and sentenced to life behind bars for the deadly shooting. Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp (R) cannot seek reelection because of term limits. Republican Attorney General Chris Carr launched his campaign for governor in November, and other Georgia Republicans, including Lt. Gov. Burt Jones and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Green, have expressed interest. Democrats reportedly mulling a run include Stacey Abrams, who lost to Kemp in 2018 and 2022; former Atlanta Mayor Kesha Lance Bottoms; and former state Sen. Jason Carter, the grandson of former President Carter. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Major William Edward Adams was a member of the United States Army. He is a posthumous recipient of the militarys prestigious Medal of Honor. Major Adams earned his medal through a show of courage in Vietnam, where he ultimately lost his life. Background Adams passion for the outdoors started in childhood growing up near Casper, Wyoming. So, it was no surprise that after graduating high school, he found himself at Wentworth Military Academy. This is where his military journey began. In 1962, Adams joined the Army. Within a few years, he deployed with the 227 Assault Helicopter Company, 52D Aviation Battalion, 17th Aviation Group, 1st Aviation Brigade. As Adams arrived in Vietnam in 1970, the war had already been raging for years. The North Vietnamese pushed south as democracy struggled to take root in the rest of the country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was during his tour in Vietnam that Adams bravery and valor shone through in the most extraordinary way. He found himself in the heat of battle. Here is where he risked his own life to save others and prevent further loss of life. In recognition of his heroic actions, Adams earned the Medal of Honor. His selflessness and dedication to duty serve as an inspiration to all who serve in the military, reminding us of the true cost of freedom and the extraordinary individuals who are willing to pay it. Major William Edward Adams. (Photo courtesy of Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund) Medal of Honor Citation Maj. Adams distinguished himself on 25 May 1971 while serving as a helicopter pilot in Kontum province in the Republic of Vietnam. On that date, Maj. Adams volunteered to fly a lightly armed helicopter in an attempt to evacuate three seriously wounded soldiers from a small fire base which was under attack by a large enemy force. He made the decision with full knowledge that numerous antiaircraft weapons were positioned around the base and that the clear weather would afford the enemy gunners an unobstructed view of all routes into the base. As he approached the base, the enemy gunners opened fire with heavy machine guns, rocket-propelled grenades, and small arms. Undaunted by the fusillade, he continued his approach determined to accomplish the mission. Displaying tremendous courage under fire, he calmly directed the attacks of supporting gunships while maintaining absolute control of the helicopter he was flying. He landed the aircraft at the fire base despite the ever-increasing enemy fire and calmly waited until the wounded soldiers were placed on board. As his aircraft departed from the fire base, it was struck and seriously damaged by enemy antiaircraft fire and began descending. Flying with exceptional skill, he immediately regained control of the crippled aircraft and attempted a controlled landing. Despite his valiant efforts, the helicopter exploded, overturned, and plummeted to earth amid the hail of enemy fire. Maj. Adams conspicuous gallantry, intrepidity, and humanitarian regard for his fellow man were in keeping with the most cherished traditions of the military service and reflected utmost credit on him and the U.S. Army. Valor ceremony During a special ceremony in 1972, Adams family was presented with his Medal of Honor. The recognition that Adams received for his bravery and selflessness continued even after his death. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Adams received not only the Medal of Honor, but also the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Bronze Star Medal. Similar to numerous others who served in the conflict, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial bears his name etched into the granite. He is interred at Fort Logan National Cemetery in Denver, Colorado, a fitting resting place for a man who dedicated his life to serving his country. How to support the Medal of Honor mission Learn more about the Congressional Medal of Honor Society at cmohs.org or find them on Instagram |Facebook Participate in Medal of Honor Day on March 25 by sharing a recipients story Support veteran hiring and transition programs in your workplace Teach younger generations about the values of courage, sacrifice, and service Medal of Honor Month isnt just about recognizing history. Its about keeping the mission alive for the future. Observe Medal of Honor March on We Are The Mighty here. 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. 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. Cutting Medicaid also could make it harder to recruit and keep a workforce of nursing home and home health employees. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX 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. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE 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. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Older adults participate in Fort Worth falls prevention awareness day of action on Sept. 26, 2024, in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by 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. 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. Cutting Medicaid also could make it harder to recruit and keep a workforce of nursing home and home health employees. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. TEHRAN, March 31 (Xinhua) -- The foreign ministers of Iran and Egypt discussed the situation in Gaza in a phone call on Sunday, exchanging views on the latest regional developments. During the call, Iran's Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi and his Egyptian counterpart Badr Abdelatty also shared greetings for the arrival of Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of Ramadan, according to a statement released by the Iranian Foreign Ministry on Sunday. The Iranian foreign minister highlighted his recent diplomatic consultations with various countries, including those in the West Asia region, over the past two weeks. He stressed the importance of continued "coordinated actions" by regional countries to prevent further conflicts. For his part, the Egyptian foreign minister provided an update on his country's efforts to restore the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza and emphasized the ongoing need for diplomatic efforts to prevent a further escalation of insecurity in the region. In its failure to grasp this relationship between America and America's environment lies the moral and practical bankruptcy of any and all forms of isolationism. It is most unfortunate that this virus of isolationist sterility has so deeply infected an influential section of the Republican Party. For until the Republican Party can develop a vital philosophy and program for America's initiative and activity as a world power, it will continue to cut itself off from any useful participation in this hour of history. And its participation is deeply needed for the shaping of the future of America and of the world. While the quote seems modern, its taken from Henry R. Luces most famous essay, The American Century, published in Life magazine in February 1941. Luce hoped his message would persuade Americans to support Britain in its fight against Hitler and fascism. Although much has changed since it was published 84 years ago, if you substitute Ukraine for Britain and Putin for Hitler, many of his arguments still hold weight. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Luce understood that America had become the worlds most powerful nation. He thought that America needed friends and allies who shared its values, and it was obliged to defend and even to promote, encourage and incite so-called democratic principles throughout the world. Luce was Americas most powerful media executive when he wrote The American Century. His magazinesTime, Fortune, and Lifeand The March of Time newsreels influenced public opinion, governments, and society. He was a conservative Republican, a capitalist, and a strong anti-communist. He criticized the Democrats for burdening America with "massive government debt, a sprawling bureaucracy, and a whole generation of young people conditioned to rely on the government as the source of all life. He asserted that Democrats were sympathetic to various socialist doctrines. But Lucewho was born in China to Christian missionary parentsbelieved that America, as the worlds most powerful nation, had global responsibilities that came with its ambitions. He recognized domestic pressures affecting the economy and society, and he understood that America cannot be responsible for the good behavior of the entire world. Nevertheless, he believed it was in Americas interest to assist countries that were too poor to help themselves. He felt that America could and should be the Good Samaritan of the entire world and that for every dollar we spend on armaments, we should spend at least a dime in a gigantic effort to feed the world. Since the end of World War II, we have faced our share of setbacks and failures alongside our successes. The Korean War produced a dangerous stalemate, while the conflicts in Vietnam and Afghanistan ended with ignominious retreats. We relied on lies and false pretenses to justify the war in Iraq. Peace in the Mideast remains elusive. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Foreign aid, however, transformed Germany and Japan into allies and democracies with thriving economies. Our ongoing military presence in South Korea helped it become a wealthy ally. The fall of South Vietnam did not weaken democracies in Southeast and South Asia. The so-called domino theory was proven wrong, and today Vietnam is a valued trade partner. The collapse of the Soviet Union 35 years ago liberated many of Russias satellite nations from its stifling grip. America has benefited from having strong allies who embraced what have traditionally been Americas core beliefs. American aid has saved millions of lives in the worlds poorest countries. The U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), which includes Voice of America (VOA), Radio Free Europe, and other government agencies, is dedicated to explaining America. Geoffrey Cowan, who led VOA under President Clinton, says the goal was to do so with objective, unbiased information. Elon Musks Department of Government Efficiency has sought to dismantle the USAGM and its operating units, including VOA, with President Trumps enthusiastic, albeit illogical, backing. Musk has also criticized the National Endowment for Democracy (NED), which has supported non-governmental groups working abroad to promote democratic goals for over 40 years. He claims, without evidence, that the NED is rife with corruption. Despite previous congressional approval, Musk has cut the NEDs funding, leading to the closure of many organizations it supported. One of those organizations is the International Republican Institute (IRI), founded in 1983 with support from then-President Ronald Reagan. The IRI conducts polling worldwide and operates in more than 100 countries, promoting free and fair elections. Marco Rubio was on its board before becoming Secretary of State, and several Republican senators are still on its board, including Tom Cotton, Joni Ernst, Lindsay Graham, Mitt Romney, and Dan Sullivan. None of them have had much to say about the IRIs funding loss. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Each of these organizations has faced criticism, some of which is legitimate. The IRI, for instance, has been accused by several publications, including The New York Times, of inciting a coup in Haiti. The NED, intended to be nonpartisan, has drawn criticism from both the left and the right. Some of our aid efforts have undoubtedly been wasteful and ineffective, although Elon Musks DOGE has not yet proven substantial fraud or waste. But the proper response is to fix the problems. Instead, the Trump administration has gutted these efforts, freezing foreign assistance, shutting off funding, and forcing their closure. China, Russia, Iran, and other dictatorships couldnt be happier. Along with cutbacks in support for Ukraine, the Trump administration is making the world a more dangerous place. The world has clearly changed since Luce wrote The American Century. We will have to share power with other nations, particularly China, India, and their Asian neighbors. Our actions will determine whether the American Century gives way to a Pacific Century that includes the U.S. or an Asian Century that, whenever possible, leaves us on the sidelines. While much of the world may dislike Chinas authoritarian government, it increasingly distrusts us. The Trump administrations efforts to initiate tariff wars while cutting off U.S. government efforts to assist developing nations have tragically worsened that distrust. I never met Henry Luce. He wrote The American Century the year before I was born, and he died in 1967, the year before I became a working journalist. But during my 15 years at Time Inc., including eleven as its Editor in Chief, I sat on the executive floor of the iconic Time-Life building he had built in midtown Manhattan. While there, Time Inc. owned more than 150 magazines. Time and Fortune, now privately held by different owners, remain influential global brands. We might have disagreed on many issues if we had been contemporaries, but I came to appreciate many of his values. I admired his willingness to speak out against autocrats and Washington politicians he opposed, including Franklin Roosevelt and, through the pages of Time, Joe McCarthy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I regret that so many media properties are now controlled by conglomerates or billionaires hesitant to confront Trump. The public benefits from journalism that aims to hold governments accountable. However, Trumps delight in retaliation has made owners and CEOs timid, especially if their other businesses depend on government contracts or are subject to government regulation. I have no doubt that Henry Luce would have been unafraid of Donald Trump, appalled by the presidents narrow-minded retreat from global commitments, disgusted by his embrace of authoritarian dictators, and shocked by his attacks on allies who are still dedicated to democratic values. Rather than making America great again, he would think Trumps policies are more likely to Make America Small Again, as he rushes to dismantle the underpinnings of Luces American Century. The opinions expressed in Fortune.com commentary pieces are solely the views of their authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions and beliefs of Fortune. Read more: This story was originally featured on Fortune.com Rep. Brandon Gill, the youngest Republican in the House, has a role model hes trying to emulate and its not Donald Trump, Ronald Reagan or Abraham Lincoln. Its former champion wrestler, proto-MAGA stalwart and House Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan who the 31-year-old Texan is seeking to follow. Gill is consciously replicating the formula that made Jordan a household name among conservatives landing seats on the combative Ohio Republicans committees, Judiciary and Oversight, and quickly earning a similar reputation for bare-knuckle partisan brawling. I'd like to be as close to Jim Jordan as possible, Gill said in a recent interview. I'd love to sit in there and just watch him do his committee hearings and learn from him, and get his advice on things. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gill, in fact, might have learned from Jordan all too well: His latest crusade pushing for impeachment of a federal judge who sought to block President Donald Trump's deportation plans has put him at odds with Jordan, who is allied with House GOP leaders in counseling a less aggressive approach to confronting the federal judiciary. In essence, Gill is playing the role Jordan used to occupy earlier in his career the rabble-rouser pushing party leaders to do more, political headaches be damned. And his explanations ring pretty familiar for anyone familiar with Jordans follow-the-voters rhetoric. Not everybody is where I am on judicial impeachments, Gill said. I'd like to push us in that direction because I think that's what the American people want. Very, very clearly, that's what Republican voters want. Gill, who has gathered the backing of more than 20 colleagues in his effort to impeach U.S. District Judge James Boasberg, said hes dead-set on promoting a more muscular conservatism, much in the same way Jordan has urged Republicans to fight harder over his nearly two-decade congressional career. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jordan, meanwhile, is now helping fellow Republican leaders keep GOP hard-liners at bay, floating judicial overhaul legislation as a less risky proposition than impeaching judges. The impeachment campaign has failed to pick up steam among old-guard conservatives who see it as an ill-fated distraction despite Trump publicly voicing support for using Congress to wipe the bench of judges he perceives as hostile. The likelihood that youre going to impeach people for maladministration, as its called, is just low, said Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.), a former Oversight chair whose bill addressing national injunctions is poised to come for a vote on the House floor Wednesday. And even if you did, should we be second-guessing the decisions of the [judiciary]? The answer is no. Theres no small irony in Jordan now occupying the role of elder statesman urging his younger colleagues to exercise prudence. The 61-year-old came to prominence on Capitol Hill as a thorn in the side of former Speaker John Boehner, who stepped down in the wake of pressure from hard-liners like Jordan, whom he called a legislative terrorist. Years later, Jordan sought the speakers gavel himself, losing after more moderate colleagues held out and denied him the nod in an internal GOP vote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gill said he doesnt fault Jordan for pursuing a more restrained approach now in regard to judges, and he has so far refrained from trying to force a vote on his impeachment resolution on the House floor. We're all on the same team here, he said. Jordan, in an interview, praised Gill as a sharp young man with a strong work ethic and said Gill didnt need his advice. To be sure, Jordan remains a darling of the MAGA right. A co-founder and former chair of the House Freedom Caucus, hes a frequent guest on conservative media, has Trumps ear and controls a panel with jurisdiction over marquee issues like law enforcement, immigration and gun rights. Now Gill is looking to fashion himself as someone who embodies Jordans rabble-rousing past with his current establishment clout. In addition to assignments on Judiciary and Oversight, Gill is also a member of the new Oversight subcommittee on Delivering on Government Efficiency a complementary effort to the Department of Government Efficiency initiative headed up by Elon Musk, with whom Jordan has a longstanding relationship. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gill has even deeper ties to hard-right conservatism. A former Wall Street investment banker, he married the daughter of conservative commentator Dinesh DSouza in 2017. He has since ridden a far-right wave among young men into a conservative media career and then into Congress, where he says he continues to be motivated by growing up in a world where young conservatives like himself were belittled and insulted for being a white male constantly. Much like his father-in-law the activist behind a film promoting discredited conspiracies about election fraud that's widely popular with the far right Gill has sought online viral fame by embracing the offensive and outrageous. In one recent case, he suggested Rep. Ilhan Omar, a Minnesota Democrat, should be deported to Somalia for advising people on how to engage with immigration enforcement. Brandon Gill's claim to fame is peddling race-baiting conspiracy theories and pushing the big lie with the 2020 election to gain clout within the Republican Party, Omar said in a statement. He is nothing more than a xenophobic fame-chaser, nepo-baby that never had to work for anything in his life. Gill is used to making enemies. He described being radicalized toward conservatism while attending Dartmouth College, where his wife was allegedly excommunicated from her sorority house after the 2016 election for what she claims was her support for Trump. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I've always been conservative, but the more you're around rabid leftists, that's what red-pills you, Gill said. Gill recalled that one of his first memories of meeting Jordan was on the set of his father-in-laws movie Police State, a 2023 film alleging that the federal government weaponized its law enforcement. Jordan later campaigned for Gill in what at one point was an 11-person Congressional primary, arguing that the Texas Republican was needed in Washington to protect conservative values from Washington elites. Trump endorsed Gill in that primary, too. Gill spoke effusively about Jordan in a recent interview, calling him the best of the best among House Republicans in terms of his performances at hearings and in the media. After the Oversight hearing last week with leaders of PBS and NPR, where Republicans threatened to withhold the media networks future government funding, Gill said he texted Jordan to pick his brain on how he prepared for the proceedings. Gill and the other Republicans on the DOGE subcommittee later wrote to Johnson to demand that lawmakers defund the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the public entity that in turn funds NPR and PBS. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On public media, Gill is hardly out of step with top GOP leaders, who have also voiced support for zeroing out congressional support for the networks. But when it comes to picking fights with an anti-Trump judge and in the eyes of his critics, potentially provoking a constitutional crisis he said hes more than willing to push boundaries. All of this boils down to a basic question of, are we going to allow the Republic to survive or not? said Gill of his political motivations. And if it's going to survive, weve got to start being a lot more aggressive with how we play politics. The left plays to win. They play for keeps. Meghan Markle reportedly caused a major "disruption during a charity event last year. The wife of Prince Harry, known first for starring on "Suits" and "Deal or No Deal" before becoming a member of the Royal Family, reportedly helped play a role in a major charity event going poorly last year. Dr. Sophie Chandauka, the chair of his Sentebale charity, recently spoke out about a charity event that took place in 2024. The charity event reportedly featured several "disruptions," thanks in part to Markle bringing a very famous friend to the event at the last second. Advertisement Advertisement Dr. Chandauka, speaking with Sky News Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips, spoke out about what happened. First off, the Zimbabwean corporate finance lawyer said that the charity had to switch venues, because Prince Harry wanted to bring his Netflix camera crew to film the polo event. We had a very generous family that was happy for us to use their polo grounds at a material discount, she said. And then 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 shoot some footage in this show.' Advertisement Advertisement When the host family found out about the camera crew, they increased their price. This led to the charity seeking another more affordable location. Then, when the day of the event arrived, more "disruption" was caused, when Markle brought a very famous friend at the last second. She ended up bringing Serena Williams. The duchess decided to attend, but she told us she wasnt attending, and she brought a friend, a very famous friend, she told Sky News. We would have been really excited had we known ahead of time, but we didnt. And so, the choreography went badly on stage because we had too many people on stage." Advertisement Advertisement There were a lot of headlines at the time and, according to Chandauka, Prince Harry asked her to issue a statement of support. But she refused. 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, she said. And number two, because we cannot be an extension of the Sussexes. Meanwhile, sources close to the charity suggest that Dr. Chandauka's accounts of the day aren't completely accurate. However, neither Prince Harry nor Meghan have spoken out in response. MEMPHIS, Tenn. A Memphis man was killed this weekend in Crittenden County after a police chase on I-55. Waldenburg Police officers began to pursue the suspect on State Highway 14. ASP Troopers joined the pursuit after the suspect led officers onto I-55 South near Payneway. At approximately 7:30 p.m., an Arkansas State Police Trooper performed a Tactical Vehicle Intervention (TVI) maneuver to stop a fleeing suspect on I-55 southbound near the 20-mile marker. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to ASP, the fleeing suspect left the roadway, overturned on a service road and was ejected from the vehicle. Family mourns woman who died in AR high-speed chase, crash Revail Murphy, 36, was taken to the Medical One Trauma Center in Memphis, where he was pronounced dead on Saturday evening. A female passenger of the suspects vehicle was taken to a West Memphis hospital, where she was treated for non-life-threatening injuries. Murphy was wanted in Tennessee for two counts of Aggravated Assault, Aggravated Sexual Assault, Domestic Assault, Evading Arrest, Aggravated Burglary, Robbery, Assault on First Responder and Aggravated Robbery. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The incident is under investigation by the ASPs Criminal Investigation Division. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) The Final Four is set in the mens NCAA Tournament, and for just the second time ever, its all four number one seeds. In the Elite Eight, top-overall seed Auburn beat Michigan State. Duke knocked off Alabama. Houston ran past Tennessee, and Florida came from behind to beat Texas Tech. So, the national semifinals will see Florida and Auburn play in an all-SEC showdown, and Duke will meet Houston. Those games are this Saturday in San Antonio with the title game two days later. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Four Mexican Mafia-connected gang members from Pomona were found guilty on a slew of charges, including murder and drug trafficking late last week, federal prosecutors announced. According to evidence presented during the 20-day trial, 68-year-old Michael Lerma, also known as Pomona Mike and Big Mike, a member of the Mexican Mafia prison gang ordered the murder of a federal inmate at the Metropolitan Detention Center in downtown Los Angeles more than four years ago, prosecutors said in a news release announcing the verdict. In June 2020, three other inmates, 41-year-old Carlos Gonzalez, 33-year-old Juan Sanchez and 44-year-old Jose Valencia Gonzalez, carried out the fatal hit of the inmate identified only as S.B. in court documents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The defendants murdered S.B. in retaliation for S.B. failing to pay drug theft debts deemed owed to Lermas cell of the Mexican Mafia prison gang, the release noted. Authorities added that for more than eight years, from Feb. 2012 to June 2020, Lerma controlled Latino street gangs in and around Pomona, as well as Latinos in Calipatria State Prison in Imperial County, and extorted drug proceeds from them. Members of Lermas criminal enterprise also engaged in robberies, identity theft and fraud, drug trafficking and other acts of violence, prosecutors said. Outside view of the Metropolitan Detention Center on May 12, 2020, in Los Angeles, California. (Valerie Macon/AFP via Getty Images) All four men, who have been in federal custody since 2018, were found guilty by a jury of racketeering, conspiracy to commit violent crimes in aid of racketeering, murder and first-degree murder. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cause of death determined for 3 young U.S. women found dead at Belize resort Lerma and Valencia Gonzalez were also found guilty of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances at MDC and in the Pomona area. Both Gonzalez and Valencia Gonzalez were found guilty of being felons in possession of a firearm and ammunition, while Sanchez was found not guilty of the same charge. This case makes it clear that gang violence by Mexican Mafia members and associates has not only been directed from the streets, but also from prisons in California, said Akil Davis, the Assistant Director in Charge of the FBIs Los Angeles Field Office. This lengthy investigation exemplifies the commitment by agencies at the federal, state and local level whove collaborated for several years on a task force to arrive at justice in this case. This is the 16th conviction in the case, including the conviction of 62-year-old Pomona resident Cheryl Perez-Castaneda, a high-level associate of Lermas and senora who used her power on the street to solicit murder. She is serving a 12-year prison sentence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A 43-year-old woman from La Verne was also sentenced to more than seven years in prison for her role as Lermas secretary, where she facilitated a 2013 armed robbery and was involved in extortion and narcotics distribution. A sentence hearing for the four men is expected to be scheduled in the coming months, at which point the defendants will face a mandatory sentence of life in federal prison, prosecutors said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. Stewart Huntington ICT New Mexico officials are hoping that Native high school students celebrate their identity in upcoming graduation ceremonies under a new law securing their right to wear culturally significant clothing, accessories and objects during school events. And spread the joy. We're hoping to kind of run a campaign to some extent to showcase native students, Josett Monette, the states cabinet secretary for the Indian Affairs Department, told ICT. We're hoping we get some selfies or photos of students in their regalia as they do their different events towards the end of the year, and that we're able to kind of highlight those on official State of New Mexico social media feeds. On March 19, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed the legislation into law, ensuring students across New Mexico can freely express their cultural identity at school ceremonies. This legislation represents our commitment to honoring and respecting the rich cultural heritage of New Mexicos Native communities, said Lujan Grisham. Every student deserves to celebrate their academic achievements in a way that honors their identity and traditions. The legislation passed unanimously through both chambers of the Legislature and took effect immediately after the governor signed it. New Mexico joins at least 19 other states that have enacted laws that enshrine Native students rights to express their cultural identities sartorially. Education officials praised the new statute. (The bill) SB 163 is a significant step forward in honoring and respecting the cultural heritage of Native American students across New Mexico, said Sec. Mariana Padilla of the New Mexico Public Education Department. By ensuring their right to wear traditional regalia at school ceremonies, this bill affirms the importance of identity, culture, and self-expression of the nearly 40,000 Native American students enrolled in a public school across the state. Education should uplift and celebrate the rich traditions that make our communities stronger. Monette, a Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians citizen, said the bill was the first one she had initiated in her year as secretary of the Indian Affairs Department that went through to become law and that seeing it in the formal legal registry gave her a boost. Very excited to have gotten the bill through, she said. We felt it was appropriate to put this into law to ensure that the right (to wear culturally significant clothing) remained intact, and that there was no question as to whether or not students would be allowed to do that. I'm hopeful that this just makes one of those steps a little bit easier for students to not have to worry about it. Students have often had to worry about it. Across the country and in New Mexico. Last year in Farmington, New Mexico, a Hunkpapa Lakota student had her graduation cap that she had adorned with a traditional feather plume removed by school administrators during her graduation ceremony. The incident, caught on video, prompted outrage and a rebuke from the Navajo Nation Council. No student in any school should be prohibited from wearing regalia that signifies their cultural and spiritual beliefs, the council said. These actions are belittling, humiliating, and demeaning to the student and her family. There is no place for this type of behavior in our educational systems. The school officials owe an apology to the student and her family. The Native American Rights Fund, a leading legal advocacy organization in Indian Country, has made it a priority to fight for students rights to wear regalia. Last year NARF released a help sheet for students and parents and school administrators to navigate the issue. Many Tribal Nations recognize leadership achievements by bestowing the person who earned the honor an eagle feather or plume, the guidelines state. While tribal religions and spiritual practices vary from each other, in general, a Native person who wears a plume or eagle feather at a public event has done something amazing to show that they have the maturity to pray and care for themselves and others. This guide shares steps to help high school graduates successfully wear eagle feathers during their commencement ceremony. The guidelines further urge parents to seek legal advice should schools balk at allowing cultural displays at school ceremonies a consideration that the new law in New Mexico aims to render moot. There's ... other states that have a similar law in place, said Monette. And so we thought it was time for New Mexico to be part of that as well. I always say that New Mexico should be at the forefront of what's going on in Indian country, and across the entire country. I think it's going to be really exciting. I hope the students and the parents appreciate it. I'm hoping we see lots of students wearing their regalia for graduation. And sending selfies to the secretary of the Department of Indian Affairs. The 19 other states with similar laws, according to the Native American Rights Fund, are: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Illinois, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, and Washington. UPDATED: This story has been updated to include Michigan as another state with regalia laws per the Native American Rights Fund. It makes 20 states in total with regalia laws. Our stories are worth telling. Our stories are worth sharing. Our stories are worth your support. Contribute $5 or $10 today to help ICT carry out its critical mission. Sign up for ICTs free newsletter. ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) Since 2011, the New Mexico Gas Company has been committed to helping Native American students reach educational success. The Native American Scholarship Program assists New Mexico students in pursuit of an associate, bachelors or masters degree. Native American students that are pursuing trade school or other specialized training certification are also eligible for the program. 20 initial or renewal scholarships of $3,000 will be awarded. Applicant requirements: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement New Mexico resident at time of application Enrolled member of New Mexico Pueblo, Tribe or Nation High school senior expected to graduate or have obtained GED Enrolled at a post-secondary institution (college, university, trade school, pursuing technical training) Applications open March 31 and close on May 2. The scholarships will be awarded at the end of May. For more information and to apply for the scholarship, click here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos. GUANGZHOU, March 31 (Xinhua) -- As China's job market grows increasingly competitive, college graduates are discovering that mastering artificial intelligence (AI) skills could be their key to success. At a recent job fair in south China's Guangdong, a company specializing in brain-computer interface research and development made its ambitions clear, expressing a strong desire to hire algorithm engineers while noting that "there is no cap on hiring!" "We offer a complimentary two-bedroom apartment and an annual salary of 400,000 to 700,000 yuan," said Zheng Hui, founder of the startup NeuroDance. That's roughly 55,000 to 96,000 U.S. dollars, a highly competitive package for new job seekers. As China prioritizes boosting graduate employment, roles in emerging sectors like AI and robotics remain in critically short supply. Official data shows that a record 12.22 million college graduates are expected to enter the job market in 2025. This year's government work report has pledged to expand employment and business startup opportunities for students and other young people. At the job fair that concluded on Monday, AI-related positions in electronics, IT and advanced manufacturing emerged as some of the most in-demand roles. Tech firms like BYD, Pony.ai and UBTECH are actively recruiting for positions such as autonomous driving algorithm engineers and AI engine R&D engineers, drawing significant interest from job seekers. Liu Silei, who is studying robotics, cognition and intelligence at the Technical University of Munich, returned to China for the recruitment event. "China's AI boom is providing ample career opportunities," Liu said. At a similar job fair held in east China's Hangzhou recently, 830 companies offered 21,000 positions, with half of them in AI algorithms and large models. Chinese firm Unitree Robotics posted 10 AI-related roles, with monthly salaries reaching up to 70,000 yuan, underscoring the lucrative opportunities emerging in this sector. "DeepSeek's explosive growth is driving AI integration across sectors, and the intensifying competition for AI professionals is pushing companies to increase salaries," said Li Qiang, executive vice president of Zhaopin, an online recruitment platform in China. Data from the platform shows that job postings for algorithm engineers and machine learning roles in February grew by 46.8 percent and 40.1 percent year on year, respectively, with average monthly salaries surpassing 20,000 yuan. The AI talent shortage deepened in Q1 2025, with demand outpacing supply by a ratio of 3:1, according to a report by Liepin, a Chinese job-seeking service provider. Specifically, there are nine job openings for every search algorithm engineer and seven for each recommendation algorithm specialist. Demand for AI education and talent development is also surging. Job openings for AI trainers after this year's Chinese New Year soared by 112 percent, with positions offering a monthly salary of over 15,000 yuan, according to Zhaopin. "The most urgent needs are fundamental scientists and cross-disciplinary experts," said Wang Liang, a researcher from the Institute of Automation under the Chinese Academy of Sciences. "They are crucial for advancing home-grown AI chip development and original algorithms while also accelerating AI's adoption across industries." The DeepSeek phenomenon has sparked an AI race among China's tech giants, including Alibaba and Tencent. At the same time, their models are being rapidly adopted across government services, manufacturing, healthcare, consumer goods and urban management, creating an unprecedented demand for professionals who can blend AI expertise with industry-specific knowledge. AI only became an official undergraduate major in China in 2019. Currently, most AI professionals transition from backgrounds in computer science, software engineering, electronics, or mechanical engineering. These fields require a strong foundation in advanced linear algebra, probability theory, statistics and programming skills. China's higher education system has introduced AI programs at over 500 universities, marking one of the fastest disciplinary expansions in its history. Leading Chinese universities such as Tsinghua University, Wuhan University and Shanghai Jiao Tong University have announced plans to expand their enrollments in AI and related interdisciplinary fields to meet the growing demand for talent. Industry reports indicate that by 2030, China is expected to face a shortage of 4 million AI professionals. AI entrepreneurs are urging working professionals to upskill in AI. "AI competency must become a core citizen skill," said Liu Qingfeng, chairman of iFLYTEK. "Free AI training initiatives targeting low-income and disadvantaged groups should also be considered." "Young professionals should dedicate weekly time to track global AI advancements across industries," said Wang Xingxing, founder of Unitree Robotics. "This will be the opportunity multiplier." The Republican Party of New Mexico said its office in Albuquerque was damaged in a deliberate act of arson. The organization said in a statement that someone had spray-painted the words ICE=KKK on the outside of its headquarters, calling it a horrific attack that was fueled by hatred and intolerance that was directed toward the partys values, freedoms and right to political expression. This is not an isolated incident. It is part of a disturbing pattern of politically motivated violence that has plagued our country fueled in part by the silence and implicit encouragement from progressive leaders who refuse to condemn these acts, the New Mexico GOP said in its statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The state partys chair, Amy Barela, said in a statement that officials were working closely with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; local law enforcement; and federal investigators to find those responsible. Barela slammed the states broken criminal justice system and said the party would not let state leaders downplay the event. We are deeply relieved that no one was harmed in what could have been a tragic and deadly attack, Barela said in a statement. Those who resort to violence to undermine our state and nation must be held accountable, and our state leaders must reinforce through decisive action that these cowardly attacks will not be tolerated. The statement included photos of the charred entrance to the office, which also featured signs supporting President Trump. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Firefighters responded to the fire just before 6 a.m. and got it under control within about five minutes, Lt. Jason Fejer with Albuquerque Fire Rescue told The Associated Press. Politically motivated crimes of any kind are unacceptable, and I am grateful to our fire department for their swift response, Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller, 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. Updated on March 31 at 7:20 a.m. EDT Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. SANTA FE, N.M. (KRQE) A hearing took place Monday considering the request from Gene Hackmans estate to block the release of a variety of records from the investigation of the deaths of Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa. These records include any footage showing the bodies of Hackman and Arakawa. A court put a temporary restraining order on the release of the records pending Mondays hearing. The hearing is available to watch on this page. Story continues below Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Opening statements from the Hackman estate argued the footage could give a full blueprint of the home, making the property vulnerable to theft and break-ins. Family representatives also stated that images and videos of the body would be exploited in the media, which could jeopardize Hackman and Arakawas name, image, and likeness. My clients have a right of privacy for their fathers death images to not be cast over the internet in perpetuity, as well as audio recordings about his decomposing body, said Greg Mackenzie, attorney for Gene Hackmans children. They brought two witnesses in. One was a New Mexico lawyer testifying previous accounts of homes being burglarized due to lael video being released to the public. The other witness was Hackmans publicist, who attested the couple valued privacy and even moved to Santa Fe for that value. Representing the defense were the Office of the Medical Investigator and the County of Santa Fe, who say public records law requires them to comply. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ultimately, the judge denied the locking request, allowing the records to be out with some conditions. Petitioners have established the petitioner and the families of Mr. Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa Hackman would suffer irreparable injury unless the court grants a preliminary injunction, said Judge Matthew Wilson. Hackman, Arakawa, and their dog Zinna were found dead inside their home on Old Sunset Trail in Santa Fe on Feb. 26. A pest control worker arrived at the home and thought the couple was not there, so they told a security officer in the gated community. Deputies were called to the home around 1:45 p.m. and found Hackman, 95, on the floor of the homes mudroom alongside a walking cane and sunglasses. Arakawa, 65, was found on the bathroom floor. In the bathroom closet, deputies found one of the couples three dogs dead inside a crate. The medical investigation would later reveal that Arakawa died first of hantavirus. Authorities said Hackman died more than a week later of heart disease with complications from Alzheimers. It was determined that one of their dogs died of starvation and dehydration. On Monday, Judge Wilson ruled that no video or photos showing Hackman and Arakawas bodies shall be distributed, but ultimately, audio captured on the videos is allowed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hackmans estate and family lawyers declined to make a comment on the proceedings. The judge clarified that the lapel video would be okay to distribute if the bodies were blurred. The judge also denied blocking the release of autopsy reports, which OMI has yet to finalize. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. By Andrew Hay (Reuters) - The headquarters of the Republican Party of New Mexico was set on fire on Sunday and "ICE=KKK" spray painted on the building in what the party called "a deliberate act of arson." Fire officials in Albuquerque, the largest city in Democratic-controlled New Mexico, were called to the blaze around 6 am and put it out in five minutes. The single-story structure suffered damage to its entryway and smoke damage throughout, Albuquerque Fire Rescue said on social media. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The FBI said it was leading the investigation to find the "culprit(s) responsible," a spokeswoman for the agency said in a statement. The fire comes after US Immigration and Customs Enforcement said it arrested 48 illegal immigrants, 20 of them with criminal convictions, during raids in Albuquerque, state capital Santa Fe and Roswell, New Mexico earlier this month. The graffiti appeared to equate the white supremacist Ku Klux Klan hate group to ICE, the agency President Donald Trump has tasked to deport millions of illegal immigrants. ICE did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Our state leaders must reinforce through decisive action that these cowardly attacks will not be tolerated," Republican Party of New Mexico Chairwoman Amy Barela said in a statement. The Democratic Party of New Mexico said it condemned the "vandalism" of the Republican Party headquarters. "We firmly maintain that this sort of act has absolutely no place in our democracy," the state Democratic Party said on social media. "We hope whoever is responsible is found and held accountable." The fire follows the conviction this month of a failed Republican candidate for the New Mexico House of Representatives who carried out drive-by shootings on the Albuquerque homes of Democratic officials during 2022 and 2023. (Reporting By Andrew Hay in New Mexico; Editing by Saad Sayeed) The Michigan Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big. Heres a look at March 30, 2025, results for each game: Winning Daily 3 numbers from March 30 drawing Midday: 7-4-6 Evening: 0-5-9 Check Daily 3 payouts and previous drawings here. Winning Daily 4 numbers from March 30 drawing Midday: 8-3-7-1 Evening: 1-0-8-5 Check Daily 4 payouts and previous drawings here. Winning Lucky For Life numbers from March 30 drawing 19-20-27-36-39, Lucky Ball: 06 Check Lucky For Life payouts and previous drawings here. Winning Poker Lotto numbers from March 30 drawing QD-QH-8D-10D-6H Check Poker Lotto payouts and previous drawings here. Winning Fantasy 5 numbers from March 30 drawing 08-13-23-28-37 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 02-10-20-22-38 Check Fantasy 5 payouts and previous drawings here. Winning Daily Keno numbers from March 30 drawing 01-06-10-13-17-21-22-25-28-41-42-43-50-54-57-59-60-69-72-74-75-78 Check Daily Keno payouts and previous drawings here. Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results Are you a winner? Heres how to claim your lottery prize All Michigan Lottery retailers can redeem prizes up to $600. For prizes up to $99,999.99, winners have the option to submit their claim by mail or in person at one of Michigan Lotterys Regional Offices. To claim by mail, complete a ticket receipt form, sign your winning ticket, and send it along with original copies of your government-issued photo ID and Social Security card to the address below. Ensure the names on your ID and Social Security card match exactly. Claims should be mailed to: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Michigan Lottery Attn: Claim Center 101 E. Hillsdale P.O. Box 30023 Lansing, MI 48909 For prizes over $100,000, winners must claim their prize in person at the Michigan Lottery Headquarters in Lansing located at 101 E. Hillsdale in downtown Lansing. Each winner must present original versions of a valid government-issued photo ID (typically a drivers license or state ID) and a Social Security card, ensuring that the names on both documents match exactly. To schedule an appointment, please call the Lottery Player Relations office at 844-887-6836, option 2. If you prefer to claim in person at one of the Michigan Lottery Regional Offices for prizes under $100,000, appointments are required. Until further notice, please call 1-844-917-6325 to schedule an appointment. Regional office locations are as follows: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lansing: 101 E. Hillsdale St. Lansing; Phone: 844-917-6325 Livonia: 33231 Plymouth Road, Livonia; Phone: 844-917-6325 Sterling Heights: 34700 Dequindre Road, Sterling Heights; Phone: 844-917-6325 Detroit: Cadillac Place, 3060 W. Grand Blvd., Suite L-600, Detroit; Phone: 844-917-6325 Grand Rapids: 3391-B Plainfield Ave. NE, Grand Rapids; Phone: 844-917-6325 Saginaw: Jerome T. Hart State Office Building, 411 E. Genesee Ave., Saginaw; Phone: 844-917-6325 For additional information, downloadable forms, and instructions, visit the Michigan Lottery's prize claim page. When are Michigan Lottery drawings held? Daily 3 & Daily 4: Midday at 12:59 p.m., Evening at 7:29 p.m. Fantasy 5: 7:29 p.m. daily Poker Lotto: 7:29 p.m. daily Lotto 47: 7:29 p.m. Wednesday and Saturday Lucky for Life: 10:38 p.m. daily Daily Keno: 7:29 p.m. daily This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Michigan editor. You can send feedback using this form. Our News Automation and AI team would love to hear from you. Take this survey and share your thoughts with us. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan Lottery Daily 3, Daily 4 results for March 30, 2025 The Israeli military indicated on Monday it could soon launch another major offensive in Rafah and ordered most of the southernmost city in the Gaza Strip evacuated. Israel ended its ceasefire with Hamas and renewed its air and ground war earlier this month. At the beginning of March it cut off all supplies of food, fuel, medicine and humanitarian aid to the territorys roughly 2 million Palestinians to pressure Hamas to accept changes to the truce agreement. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has nominated a new domestic security chief, after he moved to fire the current one over a crisis of confidence that critics say was politically motivated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement ___ Here's the latest: UN says continuous forced movement of people in Gaza is causing panic and uncertainty At least 140,000 people were affected by the Israeli evacuation order for Rafah on Monday, according to Philippe Lazzarini, the head of the U.N. agency helping Palestinian refugees. People are treated like pinballs with constant military orders playing with their fate and lives, Lazzarini wrote on the social platform X. This is causing panic, anxiety & uncertainty on the first day of Eid, a time to be with family & loved ones, he added. Eid al-Fitr is normally a festive Muslim holiday marking the end of the fasting month of Ramadan. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Palestinians flee from Rafah as Israeli offensive looms People fled Gazas southernmost city on Monday with their belongings loaded onto donkeys and stacked on car roofs. Families traveled by foot carrying luggage as children held adults hands. We are dying. There is no food, no drink, no electricity, no medicine, said Hanadi Dahoud, who was displaced from the southern city of Khan Younis. We want to live. We just want to live. We are tired. Israel's sweeping evacuation orders cover Rafah and nearby areas. Palestinians are being told to head to Muwasi, a sprawl of squalid tent camps along the coast. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement UN demands justice and answers for Israeli killings of emergency responders U.N. humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher made the demands, saying, They were killed by Israeli forces while trying to save lives. Jonathan Whittall, the U.N. aid coordination agencys top official for Gaza, said the clearly identified humanitarian workers from the Palestine Red Crescent Society, Palestine Civil Defense and the U.N. had been sent to collect injured people on March 23 in the Rafah area of southern Gaza when they came under fire from advancing Israeli forces. Fifteen emergency responders were killed including eight Red Crescent staff members. Israels military has said its forces opened fire on several vehicles that raised suspicions by advancing without headlights or emergency signals. The military said a Hamas operative and eight other militants were among those killed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Israeli military only granted access to the area five days later, and Whittall said the buried bodies were recovered on Sunday. They were killed in their uniforms, driving their clearly marked vehicles, wearing their gloves, on their way to save lives, he said. This never should have happened. Israeli police investigate ties between Qatar and Netanyahu Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was summoned by police Monday to give testimony in an investigation into ties between his office and the Gulf Arab state of Qatar. Police confirmed the summons but declined to comment further, citing a gag order on the case. Israeli media said Netanyahu testified for approximately an hour and said he was not currently a suspect in the case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Earlier Monday, police said they arrested two suspects in connection with the investigation. One of the suspects was later identified by Netanyahus Likud party as Jonatan Urich, a top aide to the Israeli leader. The investigation is looking into accusations that Qatar, which is a key mediator between Israel and Hamas, hired people in Netanyahus orbit to manage public relations campaigns. Funeral held for 8 Palestinian paramedics killed by Israel Dozens of people gathered Monday as the bodies of eight Palestinian Red Crescent Society paramedics killed by Israel arrived at Nasser Hospital in southern Gaza. Grieving family members and mourners bid them a final farewell, many overcome with tears. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Saleh Muammars mother Asmahan said she waited for days to hear from her son, and was later told he was either killed or wounded. The first responders' bodies were pulled from beneath a mound of sand on Sunday after they'd been missing for over a week. The fact is that they (Israel) killed them from the very first moment, she told The Associated Press, adding that she believes the Israeli military buried the bodies to cover their awful actions so that no one knows what the Israelis are doing. Israel has said its forces opened fire on several vehicles that raised suspicions by advancing without headlights or emergency signals. The military said a Hamas operative and eight other militants were among those killed. Funeral prayers for the eight paramedics were held outside the hospital, their corpses wrapped in white body bags with their pictures on them, before they were loaded to ambulances to be taken for a dignified burial. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Raed al-Nems, a spokesperson for the Palestinian Red Crescent, said the paramedics were killed in cold blood despite wearing uniforms and operating in clearly labeled ambulances. 3 suspects arrested in Lebanon over rocket attacks on Israel Lebanese security officials said they have arrested two Lebanese and one Syrian in connection with rocket attacks from southern Lebanon into Israel. At least eight rockets were launched into Israel on March 22 and 28. The militant group Hezbollah denied involvement, and no group claimed responsibility. In response, Israel carried out strikes in southern and eastern Lebanon, as well as in Beiruts southern suburbs. They were first strikes there since ae ceasefire took effect between Israel and Hezbollah in late November. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The security officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media. By Sally Abou AlJoud in Beirut Netanyahu's Likud Party slams arrest of a top aide to the prime minister Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus Likud party has slammed the arrest of a top aide to the Israeli leader, saying it is part of a civil servant-driven effort to topple Netanyahus rule. The Likud named the adviser arrested as Jonatan Urich, a longtime aide to Netanyahu. It said in a statement that his arrest was a new low in the political witch hunt against the Israeli leader. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police said earlier Monday it had arrested two suspects in connection with an investigation looking into ties between the Gulf state of Qatar and people in Netanyahus close orbit. Israeli police arrest 2 suspects linked to investigation into ties between Qatar and Netanyahu Israeli police say they have arrested two suspects in connection with an investigation into ties between the Gulf Arab state of Qatar and the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The case is under a sweeping gag order and police did not name the suspects in their announcement on Monday. The investigation is looking into accusations that Qatar, which is a key mediator between Israel and Hamas, hired people in Netanyahus orbit to manage public relations campaigns. The alleged Qatar links are also being investigated by the countrys internal security agency. Netanyahu moved to dismiss the agencys head earlier this month, saying he had lost confidence in the official in part because of the security failures leading up to Hamas Oct. 7, 2023 attack. Critics accuse Netanyahu of trying to derail the Qatar probe and undermine state institutions that check his authority. Israeli military orders evacuation of most of Rafah The Israeli military on Monday issued sweeping evacuation orders covering most of the southern city of Rafah in the Gaza Strip. Israel ended a ceasefire and renewed its air and ground war against the Hamas militant group earlier this month. Israel launched a major operation in Rafah, on the border with Egypt, last May, leaving large parts of it in ruins. Israeli forces seized a strategic buffer zone along the border and did not withdraw from it as called for in the ceasefire agreement. Israel said it needed to maintain a presence there to prevent weapons smuggling. Former Israeli hostage calls on Trump to end the war in Gaza A former Israeli hostage who learned upon his release that his wife and two young children were killed in captivity in Gaza called on U.S. President Donald Trump to bring an end to the war in Gaza. In his first media interview since being freed in a ceasefire last month, Yarden Bibas told CBS 60 Minutes on Sunday that Trump was the only one who can convince Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Hamas to halt the renewed fighting. He said as a hostage, as he was held in Hamas underground tunnels, Israeli strikes were terrifying. Youre afraid for your life, he said. Everything could collapse at any moment. He said his captors, who had taunted him over his familys fate, told him youll get a new wife. New kids. Better wife. Better kids. Please stop the war and help bring all the hostages back, Bibas called on Trump. UN releases footage from Gaza operation to recover first responders killed by Israeli forces The United Nations has released footage from the operation to recover 15 first responders killed by Israeli forces in the Gaza Strip. The footage released Sunday showed members of the Civil Defense, first responders who operate under the Hamas-run government, exhuming a body from a mound of sand. The body was wearing the same orange vest as the rescuers. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies called it the deadliest attack on its workers since 2017. Israel said its forces opened fire on several vehicles that raised suspicions by advancing without headlights or emergency signals. The military said a Hamas operative and eight other militants were among those killed. The United Nations humanitarian office said eight Red Crescent workers, six members of the Civil Defense and a U.N. worker were killed. The shooting occurred when Israeli forces launched a surprise ground incursion into the Tel al-Sultan neighborhood of Rafah on March 23. MIDDLESBORO, Ky. (FOX 56) Just two days after authorities announced the arrest of two people on Friday for child abuse charges in Middlesboro, a couple was arrested on Sunday in connection with a separate child abuse investigation. On Sunday, the Middlesboro Police Department announced in a news release that Ricky North and Nichole North were arrested and charged with first-degree criminal abuse, tampering with physical evidence, first-degree strangulation, and failure to report child dependent neglect first offense. LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ricky and Nichole were both lodged in the Bell County Detention Center. The child abuse 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. National security adviser Mike Waltz is grasping at straws to defend the fact that he invited The Atlantics Jeffrey Goldberg to a Signal group chat about bombing Yemen. During an interview on Fox News last week, Waltz attempted to explain away the enormous bluster by claiming that the editors number had simply been sucked in to his phone. Im sure everybody out there has had a contact where you, it was, it said one person, and then a different phone number, Waltz told the network. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But you never talked to him before, so how is the number on your phone? pressed Foxs Laura Ingraham. Well, if you have somebody elses contact, and then somehow it gets sucked in. It gets sucked in, Waltz said. That responsewhich comes from an individual who is supposed to be the pinnacle of American expertise on national security matterscompletely misunderstands how cell phones work. Lest it need explanation, cell phones do not suck in phone numbers; instead, numbers are inserted by the people who use the device. This isnt The Matrix, Goldberg told NBC News Sunday, responding to Waltzs comments. Phone numbers dont just get sucked into other phones. I dont know what hes talking about there. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement My phone number was in his phone because my phone number is in his phone, Goldberg continued. Hes telling everyone that hes never met me or spoken to me. Thats simply not true. Goldberg on Waltz: "This isn't The Matrix. Phone numbers don't just get sucked into other phones. I don't know what he's talking about ... my phone number was in his phone because my phone number was in his phone. He's telling everyone that he's never met me or spoken to me. pic.twitter.com/Nh8FCQrqcB Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) March 30, 2025 Democratic Representative Sean Casten was a little more blunt, branding Waltz as full of shit. If what he says is true, then he is choosing to discuss classified information on a platform wherein his own tellinghe has no control over who is listening in, Casten tweeted Sunday afternoon, reposting a clip of Goldbergs interview. Either hes a liar or a traitor. Pick one. Waltz was the singular admin for a group chat created earlier this month on the retail app Signal in which over a dozen senior Trump administration officials discussed seemingly classified information regarding an imminent attack on Yemen. To make matters worse, Waltz blindly added Goldberg, who reported on the exchange last week. Donald Trump has continued to back Waltz publicly, but in private, the president was reportedly mad and suspicious that Waltz had Greenbergs contact in his phone to begin with. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Former intelligence officials have warned that Americas adversaries undoubtedly already have the chat records, largely thanks to the Trump administrations special envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoffs physical presence in Russia when he was added to the chat. In an interview with MeidasTouch Tuesday, former national security adviser Susan Rice said that Witkoffs use of Signal while in Russia basically hand-delivered news of the attack to the Kremlin hours before it took place. Russians have whatever Witkoff was doing or saying on his personal cell phone, Rice told the podcast. The Signal fiasco also angered U.S. military pilots, who claimed that such a careless leak had blatantly put the lives of service members at risk. Dozens of interviewed Navy and Air Force pilots told The New York Times that the Trump administrations operational security blunder had not only upended decades of military doctrine but had also shattered pilots trust that the Pentagon would prioritize their safety. The whole point about aviation safety is that you have to have the humility to understand that you are imperfect, because everybody screws up. Everybody makes mistakes, Lieutenant John Gadzinski, a retired Navy F-14 pilot who flew combat missions from aircraft carriers in the Persian Gulf, told the Times. But ultimately, if you cant admit when youre wrong, youre going to kill somebody because your ego is too big. Mike Waltz has multiple Signal group chats in addition to the now infamous Houthi PC small group that he added a reporter to earlier this month, according to a report from The Wall Street Journal. Two officials close to the situation told the Journal that Waltz has started Signal chats with Cabinet members regarding a peace treaty between Russia and Ukraine as well as various other military activities. While Trump has publicly stood behind Waltz, the presidentand the rest of his inner circlehas castigated the national security adviser for the biggest blunder of Trumps second term (so far). The Journal reports that Trump went on a few different expletive-filled rants about Waltz over the phone last week, and multiple staffers have made their discontent clear. Some noted that if a conservative outlet like Breitbart had broken the Signalgate story rather than The Atlantic, Waltz would be long gone. Others went so far as to spread past clips of Waltz being critical of Trump, alleging he is a neocon unfit to serve the MAGA agenda. The administration has rejected reports of internal frustrations with Waltz. The chattering of unnamed sources should be treated with the skepticism of gossip from people lacking the integrity to attach their names, said National Security Council spokesman Brian Hughes. Another batch of electric buses is heading to Chile! Manufactured by China's Zhongtong Bus Co., Ltd., these vehicles, equipped with customized intelligent functions, are set to drive Chile's green mobility forward #GLOBALink Produced by Xinhua Global Service Amid peace talks mediated by the U.S., Ukraine and Russia have been observing a limited ceasefire this past weekend, designed to halt strikes on the countries energy infrastructures and ensure safe navigation in the Black Sea. However, on Sunday, President Donald Trump expressed his frustration with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Meet The Press. Describing a recent conversation with Putin, Trump said, I was very angry, pissed off, when Putin started getting into Zelenskyys credibility and started talking about new leadership in Ukraine. Russian Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov quickly responded to Trumps statements, saying, We continue working with the U.S. side, first of all, on building our relations, per BBC. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Peskov added that there are no calls scheduled between Trump and Putin this week, but Putins line will be open if necessary. Trump raises 50% oil tariff threat against Russia over ceasefire Accompanying his statement of being pissed off at Putin over his comments about Zelenskyy, Trump told reporters he would impose a secondary tariff of 25% to 50% on Russian oil buyers. 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 reportedly told NBC News on Sunday, as Reuters reported. He continued, 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If no ceasefire deal is reached within a month, the tariffs will go into effect. However, Trump is optimistic that the tariffs wont be necessary. He told The Epoch Times, I dont think hes going to go back on his word. Ive known him for a long time. Weve always gotten along well. Trump had words for Zelenskyy as well, and minerals deal talks reignite After White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt announced that Trump and Zelenskyy had moved beyond discussions about a minerals deal between Ukraine and the U.S., Trump suggested that talks of the deal are ongoing. Aboard Air Force One, Sunday, Trump told reporters, Zelenskyy is trying to back out of the rare earth deal, and if he does that hes got some problems, big, big problems, per the New York Post. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is the same deal that brought heated discussion between Trump, Zelenskyy and Vice President JD Vance in the Oval Office at the end of February. Trump has characterized the deal as a way the country could repay the U.S. for its billions in aid during the Biden administration. If agreed on, it would allow U.S. access to Ukrainian oil, gas and minerals through a joint investment fund. However, at a Ukrainian press briefing, Friday, Zelenskyy told reporters about the latest draft hed received. The draft is a completely different document, with many new provisions that were not previously discussed, as well as some aspects that had already been rejected by both sides, Zelenskyy said. Zelenskyys latest concern over the bill is whether it would prohibit his countrys accession into the EU. He told reporters he would consider the bill when there are no relevant legislative threats in it. Three of the four U.S. Army soldiers who went missing during a training mission near Pabrade, Lithuania, last week were found dead on Monday, but the search is ongoing for the fourth soldier, the Army said. Their identities were not released. PHOTO: U.S. soldiers attend a Holy Mass for the four U.S. soldiers who went missing during exercises conducted by the United States at the Pabrade training ground, at the Cathedral Basilica in Vilnius, Lithuania, March 30, 2025. (Mindaugas Kulbis/AP) The M88 Hercules armored recovery vehicle the soldiers were in when they went missing was removed from a swamp early Monday morning after six days of work to retrieve it, the Army said. A major step forward the first cable is attached to the sunken armored vehicle. One more is needed, but progress is clear. Attaching it took hours of diving in complete darkness, but the progress is clear. pic.twitter.com/ZuCvIOben0 Lithuanian MOD (@Lithuanian_MoD) March 30, 2025 MORE: Army bringing in more assets to reach missing US soldiers' vehicle in muddy bog in Lithuania Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The soldiers, who are all based in Fort Stewart, Georgia, went missing on Tuesday during a training exercise, the Army said. On Wednesday, their 63-ton vehicle was found submerged in about 15 feet of water and "clay-like mud" in a training area, the Army said. PHOTO: The U.S. Army is searching for four soldiers who went missing during a scheduled training exercise near Pabrade, Lithuania. (U.S. Army) MORE: 4 US Army soldiers go missing in Lithuania during training exercise, vehicle recovered "Most likely, the M88 drove into the swamp," and the vehicle "may have just gone diagonally to the bottom," Lithuanian Defense Minister Dovile Sakaliene told ABC News via phone last week. The multiday search effort was complicated by the swamp's muddy conditions, officials said. PHOTO: The U.S. Army is searching for four soldiers who went missing during a scheduled training exercise near Pabrade, Lithuania. (U.S. Army) The Army said last week it brought in assets including "a large capacity slurry pump, cranes, more than 30 tons of gravel, and subject matter experts." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The Polish Armed Forces have also volunteered a unit of military engineers, which is bringing in an additional water pump, tracked recovery vehicles, other additional equipment and supplies needed along with 150 personnel," the Army said. PHOTO: A soldier stands next to cordon tape at the scene of a rescue operation at Pabrade training ground, in Lithuania, March 31, 2025. (Lithuanian Armed Forces via Reuters) U.S. Navy divers arrived at the site this weekend, and on Sunday night they "maneuvered through thick layers of mud, clay, and sediment with zero visibility to reach the vehicle and hook steel cables that were attached to two [recovery vehicles]," the Army said. It took about two hours of hoisting the cables to retrieve the soldiers' vehicle from the bog, the Army said. "The dive team has since transitioned to gridding out the area to enable a systematic search and the team is using a ground penetrating radar provided by Lithuanian experts to assist in the ongoing recovery operations," the Army said Monday. PHOTO: The U.S. Army is searching for four soldiers who went missing during a scheduled training exercise near Pabrade, Lithuania. (U.S. Army) "The Soldiers we have lost in this tragedy were not just Soldiers -- they were a part of our family," Maj. Gen. Christopher Norrie, 3rd Infantry Division commanding general, said in a statement Monday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The search isnt finished until everyone is home," Norrie added. "Words cannot express our gratitude to those still working around the clock during these extensive search and recovery efforts." The cause of the accident remains under investigation, the Army said. 3 missing US soldiers found dead in Lithuania, search continues for 4th soldier originally appeared on abcnews.go.com JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) Mississippis 2025 Municipal Primary Election Day will take place on Tuesday, April 1. Polls will open at 7:00 a.m. and close at 7:00 p.m. Any voter in line at 7:00 p.m. is legally entitled to cast a ballot. To familiarize yourself with the upcoming election, visit the My Election Day portal to receive election information tailored to your specific address, including a sample ballot. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Problems at the polls observed by state observers or otherwise reported to the Elections Division will be referred to the authorities, including the Attorney Generals Office or the appropriate District Attorneys Office. Mississippi governor signs income tax elimination bill For questions, contact the Elections Division at 1-800-829-6786, email ElectionsAnswers@sos.ms.gov, or visit YallVote.ms. Election Day Reminders In-Person Absentee Voting Deadline: The last day to vote absentee vote in-person was Saturday, March 29. Mail-In Absentee Voting Deadline: All mail-in absentee ballots must be postmarked by April 1 and received by Municipal Clerks Offices by April 8. Voter ID Affidavit Ballot Deadline: Voters who cast an affidavit ballot because they forgot their voter ID must present an acceptable form of photo ID to their Municipal Clerks Office by April 8. Polling Place Location: Contact your Municipal Clerks Office to verify your polling place. Voter Photo ID: Voters are required to show photo identification at the polls. A voter without an acceptable form of photo identification is entitled to cast an affidavit ballot. Click here to view a list of acceptable photo IDs. Campaigning: It is unlawful to campaign for any candidate within 150 feet of any entrance to a polling place, unless on private property. Loitering: The polling places should be clear for 30 feet from every entrance of all people except election officials, voters waiting to vote, or authorized poll watchers. Camera Phones: Voters are prohibited from taking pictures of their marked ballot. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily News Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJTV. STARKVILLE, Miss. (WJTV) Mississippi State University (MSU) has been recognized this year as a Top 5 Military Friendly School. VIQTORY, also known as GI Jobs, ranked MSU as a top institution nationally in its recently released Military Friendly Schools ranking, which surveyed more than 1,800 participating institutions. Six Mississippi teachers are finalists for prestigious PAEMST award The distinction simply validates the work we are doing across the university to support and care for our military-connected students, faculty and staff, said Andrew Rendon, MSU executive director for Veterans and Military Affairs. Through our award-winning programs, expertise in benefits, incredible space at the G.V. Sonny Montgomery Center for Americas Veterans at Nusz Hall, and our passionate and dedicated staff, we are taking care of what mattersour military-connected students. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Including dependents, the veteran community at MSU now includes more than 3,000 students. These students are served by MSUs Montgomery Center for Americas Veterans at Nusz Hall and a network of specially trained university personnel. According to officials, the university offers many financial resources to the veteran community, including specific scholarships and an out-of-state tuition waiver for military members, veterans and dependents. 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. BRISTOL, Tenn. (WJHL) Rivers of Love, a local ministry in the Tri-Cities, is giving back to those impacted by Hurricane Helene by sharing its love for coffee. Rivers of Love, a non-profit organization dedicated to community outreach, was established two years ago. In September, the focus of their outreach efforts shifted. When we started meeting the families that were devastated by the hurricanes, our heart was filled with compassion for the community, Rivers of Love President Caleb Walker said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Johnson County to distribute clothing, shoes to Helene victims Tuesday Soon after the focus shifted, the group began brainstorming ways to continue giving financially. And we just started asking the question, what can we do as a church?' Walker said. We had given everything that we could give financially, and we were just scraping the bottom of the barrel going, Lord, how will you provide? What can we do?' Soon, the group came up with an idea to repurpose a part of their current outreach. We had this outreach trailer that we were going around the community already serving people from taking food to homeless shelters, things like that, Walker said. And so we decided to turn it into a coffee trailer and use the gifts of two great leaders in our church. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Those leaders were Jonathan and Bre Leverett, whom Walker describes as coffee extraordinaire. Jonathan said the goal of the trailer was to make the donations a mutual transaction. We thought it would be amazing to not only be able to ask people for a donation to help but to also give back, Leverett said. The trailers expenses are paid for entirely by donations, but that hasnt stopped the public from giving. People have been coming and donating and give above and beyond the price of a normal coffee even, Walker said. And its just incredibly to see peoples hearts be stirred. The trailers main location is in Bristol, but they have also been setting up across the Tri-Cities, helping to expand their reach. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Weve got some stuff coming up with other churches that weve met along the way, Leverett said. Were going to be going out and serving the church to also be able to get donations and be able to serve the people. In the last few months, Rivers of Love has raised around $45,000, including the donations from the trailer. Leverett said this is only the beginning. I just hope the community can get behind what were doing and can help us be able to get to the goal of being able to rebuild another home or at least help rebuild another home, Leverett said. Because we do have people that are signed up and ready to go as far as like contractors even that are willing to go out and help us. Walker and Leverett said the goal is to expand the ministry to provide donations to overseas missions in the future. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Information about Rivers of Love Coffee can be found on their Facebook. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Moldova expelled three Russian embassy employees on March 31, citing activities contrary to diplomatic status, the country's Foreign Ministry announced. The move follows reports that Moldovan lawmaker Alexandr Nesterovschi, sentenced to 12 years in prison for illegally financing the banned pro-Russian Shor Party, escaped to Russian-controlled Transnistria with help from Russian diplomats, according to Moldovan media Newsmaker. Transnistria is a Russian-occupied breakaway region of Moldova that Moscow invaded in the early 1990s under the pretext of protecting the Russian population. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Moldovan Information and Security Service confirmed that Nesterovschi, convicted on March 19 for corruption, fled to Transnistria with Moscow's assistance. The Foreign Ministry summoned Russian Ambassador Oleg Ozerov and delivered a formal expulsion notice for three embassy employees. Russian state media TASS quoted Ozerov dismissing the accusations as "groundless and unsubstantiated." The pro-Russian Shor Party, led by fugitive oligarch Ilan Shor, has been accused of spreading Kremlin-backed narratives and attempting to destabilize Moldova through protests against its pro-European government. In a related case, Evghenia Gutul, governor of Moldova's Gagauzia region and a key Shor Party figure, was detained at Chisinau Airport on March 25 while attempting to leave the country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Moldova's Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office alleges she funneled Russian funds into the country while serving as the party's secretary. Gutul, elected in July 2023, has maintained ties with Moscow, meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin during a visit to Russia in March 2024. Chisinau has actively countered Russian influence, expelling dozens of Russian diplomats and embassy staff in July 2023 over espionage concerns. Tensions escalated further after Chisinau said that Russian drones repeatedly violated Moldovan airspace during attacks on Ukraine, with some of the drones crashing on Moldovan territory. Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. By Alexander Tanas CHISINAU (Reuters) - Moldova expelled three Russian diplomats on Monday after it accused Russia's embassy of engineering the escape of a pro-Kremlin lawmaker to prevent him being jailed over illegal political funding. The case of Alexander Nesterovschii, who could not be reached for comment, is the latest in which Moldova's pro-European government has accused Russia of meddling in its domestic politics. Moscow denies the accusation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Interference by the Russian Federation with the judicial system of the Republic of Moldova is unacceptable. Imagine that the Republic of Moldova interfered with justice in the Russian Federation," President Maia Sandu told Radio Moldova. The Russian ambassador to Moldova, Oleg Ozerov, said the accusation of meddling was unfounded and unsubstantiated. Russia's Foreign Ministry said Moscow would retaliate for the expulsions. Moldova's security service released a video which it said showed Nesterovschii entering the Russian embassy in Chisinau, the Moldovan capital, on March 18, a day before a court sentenced him in absentia to 12 years in jail. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He was found guilty of illegally channelling money to a pro-Russian party associated with fugitive businessman Ilan Shor during local elections in 2023, as well as the 2024 presidential vote and a national referendum on Moldova's aspirations to join the European Union. Nesterovschii denied the charges, calling them politically motivated. The security service said that on the day of his sentencing he was driven in a white car with diplomatic plates to the Russian-backed Transdniestria region that broke away from Moldovan control in the early 1990s. "This type of activity is part of the mechanism of hybrid aggression directed against the Republic of Moldova," Alexandru Musteata, the director of Moldova's Security and Intelligence Service, told a briefing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement EU ASPIRATIONS The Moldovan government, which aims to take the former Soviet republic into the EU by 2030, has repeatedly accused Russia of meddling and trying to destabilise it. Moldova is scheduled to hold a parliamentary election this autumn that will be a test of the popularity of the pro-EU government's course. Moldovan authorities said last Tuesday they had detained Eugenia Gutul, a pro-Russian governor of Moldova's Gagauzia region, made up mainly of ethnic Turks, on charges of illegal political funding as she tried to leave the country. Gutul said the charges were politically motivated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A court ruling then ordered her to be kept in custody for at least 30 days. On Monday, Gutul sought U.S. President Donald Trump's "moral and political support" after issuing similar appeals last week to Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan. A Chisinau court sentenced another lawmaker, Irina Lozovan, to six years in prison on Monday on similar charges. Police say Lozovan, who says the charges are politically motivated, is also hiding from law enforcement. (Reporting by Alexander Tanas; writing by Yuliia Dysa; editing by Tom Balmforth, Mark Heinrich, Gareth Jones, Ron Popeski and Paul Simao) MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (WBOY) The Monongalia County Sheriffs Office has arrested a Kentucky man on charges of malicious assault and strangulation following an investigation. According to a press release posted by the sheriffs office to Facebook, on March 30, deputies arrived on the scene of a domestic dispute near Mont Chateau Road and the Ices Ferry Bridge after a witness reported seeing a man drag a female from the back of a black SUV. Jonathan Mathis Motorcycle driver killed in Bridgeport accident Saturday morning Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When they arrived they found the female victim suffering from significant injuries, including heavy bleeding from the back of her head and visible swelling and bruising on her face. The victim later told deputies that Jonathan Mathis had assaulted her with a rock and left her laying in the parking lot. Mathis was taken into custody near his residence in Cornerstone Village without incident on an unrelated warrant out of Florida. He has been charged with malicious assault and strangulation based on evidence and witness statements. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBOY.com. BEIJING, March 31 (Xinhua) -- China welcomes more foreign companies to cultivate the Chinese market, share in its development opportunities, and work cooperatively to create a better future together, a spokesperson for China's foreign ministry said on Monday. Spokesperson Guo Jiakun made the remarks when asked to comment on the view that China has embarked on a "charm offensive" for foreign investment over the past week, evidenced by the Chinese leader's meeting with foreign business representatives and the presence of global CEOs at both the China Development Forum 2025 in Beijing and the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2025 in south China's Hainan Province. Guo said foreign enterprises and China have contributed to each other's success in the past and will win the future together. With its firm commitment to deepening reform and high-level opening-up, broad market, stable policy expectations and sound development environment, China is a fertile land in which international companies can invest and develop, he said. Guo said that as the world's second-largest consumer market, China has continually released its potential, accelerated its development of new quality productive forces, and worked to improve its business environment. MONTICELLO, Ky. (FOX 56) A Monticello man is facing charges and being lodged in Adair County after allegedly stealing a pickup truck, robbing a gas station, and leading multiple law enforcement agencies on a chase across several counties on Sunday morning. The Monticello Police Department posted on Facebook that around 3 a.m. on Sunday, the Monticello-Wayne County 911 Dispatch Center had gotten a call about an armed robbery at Murphys USA in the Walmart Plaza. Middlesboro pair charged amid investigation into possible child abuse video, officers say Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Sunday, the department posted photos on social media of security camera footage showing a person wearing a hoodie pointing a gun, with an emptied cash register on the counter in front of them. The Monticello Police Department posted security camera footage on Facebook Sunday, showing a person pointing a gun with an empty cash register. (Monticello Police Department) Monticello police posted a photo captured by security camera footage of the alleged stolen pickup truck on social media. (Monticello Police Department) Shortly after Monticello police were told about the call, deputies with the Wayne County Sheriffs Office (WCSO) reportedly saw a pickup truck that matched the one described by the robbery victim. The MPD wrote that the WCSO deputy initiated his emergency lights & siren in an attempt to stop the suspect vehicle, however, the driver would not pull over resulting in a multi-agency pursuit that ultimately ended in Adair County when KSP Troopers deployed tire deflation devices then forced the fleeing vehicle off the roadway. LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Christopher Eric Guinn, 36, of Monticello, was arrested on Sunday following the chase and lodged in the Adair County Detention Center and charged by Kentucky State Police (KSP) with: Speeding Reckless driving Wanton endangerment of peace officers Fleeing or evading police Receiving stolen property Tampering with physical evidence Terroristic threatening Resisting arrest The robbery 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. The Moscow subway's website became unavailable on March 31, displaying only a banner with a message on the technical failure from recently hacked Ukrainian Railways (Ukrzaliznytsia). Russian users on the crash detection service Downdetector.su have reported malfunctions with both the Moscow Metro app and the mosmetro.ru website. A large-scale cyberattack hit Ukrainian Railways' computer networks on March 23, causing the website and app to fail and making it impossible to purchase tickets online. The state-owned rail operator's press service blamed "the enemy" for the attack. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Earlier on March 31, the Moscow Metro website displayed the same banner as the one on Ukrainian Railways' website during its technical failure. As of the moment of publication, the website is not accessible. The Moscow transport department wrote on its Telegram channel that due to technical maintenance, users may encounter temporary problems accessing personal accounts in the Moscow Metro application. According to the transport department, specialists are working to resolve the technical issues, and passengers can still replenish their "Troika" Moscow transport cards at ticket offices and terminals throughout metro stations. Roskomnadzor, the Russian information agency, confirmed in a comment to the Russian media outlet Rusbase that there was a spike in problem reports with the Moscow Metro app on March 31 but did not specify the causes of the technical failure. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to Downdetector.su, a crash detection service, up to 40,000 users have noticed malfunctions in the Moscow Metro service over the past day. Users from Russia complained that "the site is hacked," "the app does not load," "I cannot enter my personal account," and "the section with cards doesn't show, making it impossible to pay." On March 27, Ukrainian Railways announced a partial restoration of online ticketing services after "89 hours of non-stop work." The Ukrainian Railways press service told the Kyiv Independent that despite the attack, 96% of trains were running on schedule, although passengers faced hours-long lines at ticket offices and staff worked in emergency mode to restore the system. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read also: 89 hours of non-stop work Ukrainian Railways battle against a cyberattack by the enemy Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-Fla.) knocked Sen. Mike Lees (R-Utah) bill to abolish the Transportation Safety Administration (TSA), suggesting only terrorists would support it. Lee reposted a Fox News article about his legislation and asked, in a post on the social platform X, Who supports my bill to abolish TSA? Bin Laden, Moskowitz responded, referring to the infamous al Qaeda founder, Osama bin Laden, who masterminded the attacks on the U.S. on Sept. 11, 2001. Bin Laden was tracked down and killed by U.S. special forces in Pakistan in May 2011. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lee, along with Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), unveiled last week the Abolish TSA Act of 2025, which would require the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) secretary to expeditiously eliminate or transfer all authorities, enforcement functions, and programs of the Administration. It would also require the DHS secretary to privatize all commercial airport security to increase cost-efficiency and security. The TSA was created in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks to oversee security in all modes of transportation. It comprises nearly 65,000 employees, who screen more than 2 million passengers each day at nearly 440 airports across the country, according to its website. Lee told Fox News Digital he is leading the bill because The TSA has not only intruded into the privacy and personal space of most Americans, it has also repeatedly failed tests to find weapons and explosives. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our bill privatizes security functions at American airports under the eye of an Office of Aviation Security Oversight, bringing this bureaucratic behemoth to a welcome end. American families can travel safely without feeling the hands of an army of federal employees, Lee continued in his statement to Fox News Digital. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. TOBACCOVILLE, N.C. (WGHP) FOX8 honors Mrs. Kathleen Waterman of Old Richmond Elementary School. Congrats, Mrs. Waterman! If you know of an educator who is worthy of this nomination, please fill out the nomination form here. Educator of the Week is sponsored by the North Carolina Education Lottery. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. CLEVELAND (WJW) A Sunday afternoon crash involving multiple vehicles closed a portion of Interstate 90 in Cleveland. According to Cleveland Police dispatchers, the accident happened at 2:52 p.m. at I-90 westbound and Martin Luther King Jr. Drive. The Ohio Department of Transportation reported several lanes were blocked while emergency crews responded to the scene. Live video from ODOT cameras showed fire engines blocking the entire interstate at one point before opening three lanes to traffic (as seen above). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Man allegedly trying to open car doors at local university arrested after chase Credit: Ohio Department of Transportation Cleveland EMS told Fox 8 News that nobody was transported to the hospital from the scene. Cleveland police later confirmed no one was injured in the crash but that four vehicles were involved. The scene was cleared and traffic in the area was moving normally by 4 p.m. At this time, its not clear what led to the crash and an investigation is ongoing. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW. CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, Ill. (WCIA) Multiple significant crashes occurred on I-57 and I-74 in Champaign County during Sundays storm. State Police said some of the people who were involved in the crashes have been hospitalized. Around 1:34 p.m. State Police responded to a rolled over truck-tractor semi-trailer in the median. It happened on I-57 in the southbound lane, at milepost 205 in Arcola. State Police said the driver was brought to a nearby hospital with injuries. As of 4:50 p.m. the lanes were reopened. PREVIOUSLY: Crashes shut down part of I-57, I-74 in Champaign Co. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shortly after the crash in Arcola, State Police were called to another crash on I-57. At 1:37 p.m. troopers responded to I-57 southbound at milepost 229, near Champaign County. State Police said the accident involved three vehicles. The driver of one of the cars was brought to the hospital with injuries. All of the lanes reopened at 3:29 p.m. State Police then responded to a crash on I-74 at 1:50 p.m. The third accident happened in the westbound lanes, at milepost 194 near St. Joseph. State Police said when they arrived, they found a rolled over truck-tractor semi-trailer in the roadway. All of the lanes reopened around 3:36 p.m. State Police added that there is no further information at this time regarding any of the accidents. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. (NewsNation) A line of strong to severe thunderstorms is sweeping east across the United States, bringing bruising winds and potential tornadoes. Multiple people have already died from the dangerous storms, according to local media reports. NewsNation local affiliate WXIN reports that in Valparaiso, Indiana, a semi-driver was killed after the vehicle tipped over, with at least two other deaths reported in the state from the storms effects. Three died in Michigan after a tree struck their car, authorities told The Associated Press. In Oklahoma, a fallen tree killed a couple in their trailer, according to CNN affiliate KJRH. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement How the Southeast is doing six months since Hurricane Helene Nearly 400,000 remain without power as of late Monday morning, particularly in Michigan, Wisconsin and Indiana. The massive storm front will continue to bring dangerous conditions to the Southeast through Wednesday, according to an early Monday forecast from the National Weather Service. Sundays storms resulted in 367 incidents of reported wind damage, 198 reports involving hail and three reported tornadoes in Missouri, Michigan and Tennessee, according to WXIN. The NWS said the Midwest and Great Plains regions can expect continued large hail, damaging winds, and a few tornadoes, as well as flash flood threats. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Michigan NewsNation Affiliate WOOD reported that roof damages at Beach Elementary near Fruitport canceled Monday classes, and damage has been reported near the Gerald R. Ford International Airport in Cascade Township. Videos show damage at a gas station in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and a home. Six hurricanes forecasted to strike US this season According to AccuWeather reporting, tornadoes were spotted in Missouri and Michigan on Sunday. In Indiana, most damage was attributed to straight-line winds and hail, according to the NWS. Wind gusts exceeding 60 mph were reported in several communities, and multiple fatalities happened on Sunday. Hail rained down in western Kentucky, with footage from the Graves County Sheriffs Office showing chunks of pea-sized hail pounding down near Fancy Farm. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement WXIN said many Tennessee counties saw significant damage after Sundays thunderstorms, hail and Tornado Watches and Warnings. Arkansas will stay safe on Monday and Tuesday, though NewsNation affiliate KARK predicts another round of severe weather could come to the state on Wednesday. As the intense storms continue eastward, Kentucky, Tennessee and other Appalachia areas could see more hail, tornado alerts and flash flooding. Intense thunderstorms are expected to hit the Northeast on Monday, with some storms predicted to evolve into ice and snow, according to the NWS. NewsNation local affiliate PIX11 predicts an unseasonably warm Monday night for New York City as strong storms take over the region. Wildfires blaze across US The onslaught of severe rainstorms comes as the nation faces out-of-control wildfires. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In North Carolina, wildfires stoked by unusually dry air and debris from last years Hurricane Helene are burning out of control. In Florida, there are dozens of blazes, including one that scorched about 42 square miles in Miami-Dade County. And they continue to burn in Oklahoma, where four people have died this month due to wind-driven fires. West Virginia, Tennessee, Georgia, Missouri and South Carolina also report large wildfires. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation. Update 12:04 PM PT -- Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... Jayden Dandridge was found shot multiple times in an abandoned building on March 27. The Harris County Institute of Forensic Science ruled his death a homicide. Houston PD detectives have not made any arrests, nor have they disclosed a motive. Continue reading original story below. Memphis Police are no longer pursuing the suspect they ID'ed on video in the Sauce Walka shooting that also killed rapper Sayso P ... because the guy is no longer alive!!! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Monday morning, Memphis Police announced 21-year-old Jayden Dandridge had been found deceased in Houston, Texas. No further details were released. We obtained footage last week of Dandridge inside the stolen 2021 Dodge Charger 392 Scat Pack that was used in the murder. The warrant for Dandridge, which was issued last Wednesday, is no longer active. Sauce Walka Shooting Video Shows Gunmen Running Up to Kill Rapper Sayso P Investigators revealed they are now looking for 22-year-old Kevin Brown in the area and charged him similarly to Dandridge -- first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, employment of a firearm during the commission of a dangerous felony, and property theft. Sauce Walka Updates Fans After Shooting, Appears on Crutches in New Video Sauce Walka has been on the mend since the shooting but has been mourning his slain friend online. TMZ Police are offering a $6K reward for any info leading up to Brown's arrest via their hotline 901-528-CASH. YANGON, March 31 (Xinhua) -- Friday's 7.9-magnitude earthquake killed one Chinese national and injured 15 other Chinese citizens in Myanmar, the Chinese Embassy in Myanmar confirmed on Monday. The Chinese diplomatic missions in Myanmar have been assisting the families of the victims, according to the embassy. Myanmar's authorities said on Sunday that the death toll of the earthquake has risen to about 1,700. Muscatine Assistant Fire Chief Mike Hartman made a deliberate decision to retire from active duty with the Muscatine Fire Department on April 1, 2025. It was part of a plan to get the last laugh on his way out the door and start his next adventure with a smile. I told people that by retiring on April Fools Day, I can come back a few days later and say, Just kidding, I want my job back, Hartman said. Probably wont be as funny since everyone knows that I was thinking of doing it. The department is hosting a retirement celebration on Tuesday, April 1 from 12 2 p.m. in the firefighters dayroom upstairs in the Public Safety Building, 312 E, Fifth Street in Muscatine. Mike Hartman (Muscatine Fire Department) Hartman has worked for the Muscatine Fire Department for over 30 years and is looking forward to his next phase as the Camp Director of Camp Loud Thunder, the Scout Camp for the Illowa Council. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One of the proudest moments of my life is when I got the call that I was being hired as a Muscatine firefighter, Hartman said. He started with the Muscatine Fire Department on November 21, 1994 and was promoted to Fire Lieutenant on December 7, 1999, and then to Fire Captain on March 7, 2005. The Assistant Fire Chief position was created during a department reorganization, and he assumed that role on January 7, 2013. Shift commanders performed the duties of assistant chief before then, but the department realized that the position needed a dedicated 40-hour-per-week staff member instead of relying on overworked shift commanders. I was fortunate enough to see Mikes talent early on and promoted him to Assistant Fire Chief in 2013, said Fire Chief Jerry Ewers. Mike has been our citys Fire Marshal for over 12 years, keeping our community safe. During my career I would always ask myself how can I have a bigger impact as a fire professional, Hartman said. I never lost sight of where I came from with every promotion I received. Hes a firm believer in preventing fires, not just fighting them. The fire we prevent is the most effective way to protect ourselves and the citizens from harm, he said. His inspiration came from Mike Kruse, the only Muscatine firefighter to die in the line of duty. I worked with Mike and he was also a big proponent of fire prevention, Hartman said. One of the reasons we put such an emphasis on firefighter training and fire prevention education is to honor him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hartman carried a picture of Kruse when he participated in the inaugural stair climb at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis., after the tragedy of Sept. 11, 2001, as well as a picture of Michael Fiore, a New York firefighter from Rescue 5 who lost his life responding to the terrorist attack on Sept. 11. Hartman visited Rescue 5 while attending the first class of the National Fire Academy after Sept. 11. It was amazing to visit and stay at Rescue 5, to see the pictures of those who lost their lives, and the history of the station, Hartman said. Hartman helped develop the fire investigation program and the training of the fire investigation team, which Hartman says is probably the best investigation team in the state. He also worked to develop the HAZMAT team in Muscatine in November 1996 after then Fire Chief Steve Dalbey gave his approval to create the team and develop the training program. The Muscatine HAZMAT team is now designated as a Regional HAZMAT team that provides services to Muscatine, Louisa, Henry, Washington and Keokuk counties. We worked to develop and train in the areas of hazardous material handling, confined space rescue, high angle rope rescue, trench rescue, and clandestine lab clean up, Hartman said. His earlier accomplishments are really tied back to creating our first HazMat team, which now is a designated HazMat team for Iowa covering five counties in Southeast Iowa, Ewers said. This is really something to be proud of, along with furthering and elevating our fire investigation program for the department. I wish Mike well in his retirement and want to thank him for his service to our department and our community. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hartman has a long history of working with the Boy Scouts of America and local Scouts and is looking forward to his new position as Camp Director at Camp Loud Thunder. I am truly excited to provide the leadership and mentoring to current scouts similar to what I received since I was a youth, he said. There is no better organization for strong character development in todays youth than the Scouts. I look forward to spending time with these youth and my staff, and to emphasize the principles of scouting. Hartman, an Eagle Scout, watched with pride as his youngest daughter entered the inaugural class of female Eagle Scouts. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) Elon Musk and his political operatives have tried to shape the closely watched Wisconsin Supreme Court race in ways that are not immediately obvious but could be critical to Tuesday's outcome. Musk's America PAC has sent paid canvassers across Wisconsin since early February, before conservative Brad Schimel advanced in a nonpartisan primary to face liberal Susan Crawford for an open seat on the state's highest court, where liberal justices hold a 4-3 majority and retirement this year of a liberal justice puts majority control of the court in play. Over the eight weeks since, canvassers are expected to have reached hundreds of thousands of potential Schimel voters, based on the more than $4.3 million alone that spending records a week before the election showed America PAC had poured into this labor-intensive aspect of the campaign. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As I travel around the state, Ive been hearing from quite a few folks who say theyve got America PAC knocks at their doors, said Brian Schimming, the state Republican chairman. And its not just in the big areas. Though the group has been aggressive in GOP-heavy Waukesha County in suburban Milwaukee, Schimming and others report hearing that America PAC canvassers have appeared in Racine County, a blue-collar area south of Milwaukee and areas such as Sauk County northwest of Madison. They have been on this more than anybody, Schimming said. Musk played up the stakes at an America PAC event Sunday night in Green Bay, saying Schimel was in danger of losing and calling for a movement to dragnet the state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Everybodys going to mobilize everywhere like crazy for the next 48 hours, he said. And I think this will be important for the future of civilization. Its that significant. You dont hear me saying that very often. Its a big deal. He encouraged attendees to sign up at America PAC's website to be a block captain, for which they could earn $20 for knocking on doors in their neighborhoods and uploading a photo as proof. It's ... thumbs up and hold a picture of Judge Schimel. And that's it, and you get $20, he said. Though America PAC declined to discuss details of its work, the group's commitment confirms Musk's uniquely powerful role in Republican politics as someone working closely with President Donald Trump and willing to spend tens of millions of dollars to boost Trump and his allies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During the 2024 presidential election, Musk, the world's richest person, committed more than $200 million to America PAC's work on Trump's behalf in the seven most competitive states, including Wisconsin, where Trump won by fewer than 30,000 votes, less than a percentage point. The Wisconsin Supreme Court comes as the court is expected to rule on abortion rights, congressional redistricting, union power and voting rules that could affect the 2026 midterms and the 2028 presidential election. Musk and America PAC are trying to elevate Schimel, who has attached himself publicly to Trump and Musk. America PAC representatives were working the crowd Friday at a Schimel rally in Beaver Dam, northeast of Madison. They were seeking petition signatures to oppose activist judges." The political action committee promised $100 for each Wisconsin voter who signed the petition and another $100 for each signer they referred. Musk has become a Democratic target and the center of the party's messaging against Schimel. Crawford, who is backed by liberal billionaires including George Soros and Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, referred to her opponent in their debate as Elon Schimel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Many standing nearby waved signs in protest to Musk. Musk Hates Judges Who Do Their Job!," said one man's cardboard sign, held over his head. The man next to him held one that simply said, NO DOGE," referring to the Department of Government Efficiency, Trump's government cost-cutting effort, which Musk directs. Musk drew widespread attention with the Sunday rally in Green Bay and his $1 million giveaways to people who sign the petition decrying judicial activism. Groups linked to Musk have spent more than $17 million to support Schimel in whats become the most expensive judicial race in American history. A significant portion of that money is going into the tedious but critical work of voter turnout. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As of one week before the election, America PAC had spent $4.3 million on canvassing alone, according to figures compiled by the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that advocates for transparency in campaign spending. Americans for Prosperity, a group founded by anti-tax billionaire brothers Charles and David Koch, is also canvassing in the supreme court race and also was active in Wisconsin during the 2024 campaign. But the group also was a distant second in the Supreme Court race, having spent only about a sixth of America PAC $712,000 on canvassing, according to the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign. While the millions America PAC has spent on canvassing are far beyond what other groups have committed, America PAC also had spent as of last week at least another $4 million on mail, printing, online advertising, phone-banking, text messaging and other organizing costs, also far ahead of other groups. The group was canvassing this month in Sauk County, where the presidential candidate who took the state has won in five straight elections. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump last year won Sauk split between Democratic-leaning areas closer to Madison and a more conservative rural northwest by 626 votes after Democrat Joe Biden won the county by 615 votes in 2020. America PAC canvassers were in Sauk County knocking on doors last fall, trying to reach voters who had voted Republican in the past but had not been reliably active. America PAC is in our neck of the woods, said Jerry Helmer, the county's Republican chairman. They were up knocking on doors in the Wisconsin Dells this month. America PAC has been doing a really good job in our area. They are just killing it in Sauk County. The News Elon Musk gave two Wisconsin voters $1 million each after the states highest court declined to hear a case that his payments amounted to bribery. The billionaire adviser to US President Donald Trump wants to boost turnout in Wisconsins supreme court election Tuesday, which could overturn a liberal majority. The judicial race on which Musk has reportedly spent $22 million is set to be the most expensive in US history. We just want judges to be judges, the Tesla and Space X CEO said Sunday, before handing out checks to two voters who had signed a petition to stop activist judges. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lawyers for Musk said the payments were intended to generate a grassroots movement in opposition to activist judges, not to expressly advocate for or against any candidate, the BBC reported. Musks dollars [...] have transformed what is usually a low-key, provincial election into a referendum on the current US administrations policies and agenda, the Financial Times wrote. Know More Musk employed a similar tactic before the US presidential election last year, offering $1 million a day to voters in Wisconsin and six other battleground states if they signed a petition supporting First and Second Amendment rights. A judge in Pennsylvania later ruled that the giveaway was legal, saying prosecutors failed to show it was an illegal lottery. GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN - MARCH 30: Demonstrators protest outside the KI Convention Center before the start of a town hall meeting with Elon Musk on March 30, 2025 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The town hall was held ahead of the states high-profile Supreme Court election between Circuit Court Judge Brad Schimel, who has been financially backed by Musk and endorsed by President Donald Trump, and Dane County Circuit Court Judge Susan Crawford. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images) Days before Wisconsinites go to the polls to decide which candidate will win an open seat on the state Supreme Court, the richest man in the world, Elon Musk, gave oversized $1 million checks to two Wisconsin voters. Appearing on stage in front of more than 1,000 people and wearing a cheesehead hat, Musk, who has spent more than $20 million supporting the candidacy of conservative-backed Waukesha County Judge Brad Schimel, gave out the money at a rally in Green Bay Sunday night. From the stage, Musk said the race, which will decide the ideological balance of the Court, could affect the entire destiny of humanity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Aside from the two checks he gave out on Sunday, America PAC, the political action committee Musk has used to funnel money into the race, offered Wisconsin voters $100 each to fill out a petition against activist judges and provide contact information. Musks money has also been used to hire people from out-of-state to knock on doors on behalf of Schimel and blanket the state in ads. The group has also sent texts to voters in an effort to recruit canvassers that offer $20 for each person they get to vote. Democrats and Schimels opponent, Dane County Judge Susan Crawford, have accused Musk of trying to buy a seat on the Court, pointing out that Musks company, Tesla, is currently fighting a lawsuit against the state of Wisconsin over its law that prevents car manufacturers from selling directly to consumers. Musk said the $1 million giveaway was a strategy to get attention on the race. We need to get attention, he said. Somewhat inevitably, when I do these things, it causes the legacy media to kind of lose their minds. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wisconsin state law includes provisions that make it illegal to offer people money in exchange for voting. In an initial post on his social media site, X, Musk said that the winners of the money would need to prove they had voted. He later deleted that post and updated the contest so that people only had to complete the America PAC petition. Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul sued to block the giveaway, alleging that it violated state law against election bribery. Judges at the circuit, appellate and Supreme Court levels declined to step in. Musks involvement in the race has become one of the campaigns major issues as voters are about to head to the polls. The state Democratic party has held People v. Musk town halls across the state as liberals worry about Musks involvement in the election and his DOGE agencys work to cut funds at a variety of federal agencies. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Tech billionaire Elon Musk handed out oversized $1 million checks to two attendees of his town hall in Wisconsin on Sunday evening, saying the stunt is cheaper and more effective than paying for the same amount of media coverage. The reason for the checks is that its really just to get attention. Its like, we need to get attention. And its somewhat inevitably, when I do this, these things it causes the legacy media to, like, kind of lose their minds, and then theyll run it on every news channel, Musk said on stage at the town hall, before giving out the large checks. And Im like, I couldnt pay them to, it would cost, like, 10 times more to get the kind of coverage that we get without distributing the checks, Musk said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He added, later: This is just helpful for getting attention, and then, like, its kind of fun to see the legacy media lose their minds over it too. Musk appeared to make good on his promise on Sunday to give checks to two members of the audience, all of whom were required to sign his petition against so-called activist judges in order to get a seat at the event. The town hall was held in advance of Tuesdays critical Wisconsin Supreme Court race, into which Musk and his America PAC have poured millions of dollars to support the conservative candidate, Judge Brad Schimel. The promise of giving out $2 million caused significant controversy leading up to the event. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Earlier that day, Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul (D) asked the states top court to block Musk from giving away the checks at his town hall, arguing they were illegal payments to buy votes. Kauls appeal came after lower courts declined to block the giveaways as an illegal bribe to voters. Musk presented the checks to Nicholas Jacobs and Ekaterina Diestler on Sunday evening. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Tech billionaire Elon Musk on Sunday stressed the importance of the Wisconsin Supreme Court race, saying it could determine the future of America and Western Civilization. Musk reposted a report from a right-wing social media account suggesting if Democrats win the Supreme Court seat, they would redraw up districts and add seats for Democrats. 1000%, Musk wrote in response on the social platform X, which he owns. Whats at issue here is control of the US House of Representatives. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This Wisconsin Supreme Court race might decide the future of America and Western Civilization! he continued. Its a big deal. Musks remarks come just before hes expected to speak at a town hall in Wisconsin, where voters will head to the polls on Tuesday to cast a vote in the closely watched Supreme Court race. Many voters have also opted to vote early or by absentee ballot. Musks political and financial influence will be put to the test this week. He 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, added $4.7 million to the race. 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. 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 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. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. U.S. President Donald Trump talks with members of the press after signing an executive order in the Oval Office of the White House on March 26, 2025 in Washington, DC. Credit - Win McNameeGetty Images This past month, President Donald Trump issued executive orders targeting the business of several big law firms and launched investigations into the human resource practices of many more. Some have rushed to condemn the law firms that were the victims of the Presidents recent threats for giving in to his demands. However, not enough focus has been placed on the real actor behind this vindictive act: Trump. Three of the targeted firmsJenner & Block, WilmerHale, and Perkins Coiechallenged the President in court and won, obtaining restraining orders against their respective executive orders. Another firm, Covington & Burling, took no action in response to a more limited executive order, while two others, Paul, Weiss and Skadden Arps, reached cosmetic settlements with the President, allowing Trump to back down from his threats. As Paul Weiss chairman Brad Karp outlined to his colleagues, the firms deal resolved an existential threat to the firm without compromising its policies or cultural principles. This letter also revealed that Paul Weiss became a target after Brad Karp had tried to rally the other major firms to support the early targeted peer firms. In fact, some rival firms responded just the opposite way trying to poach Paul Weiss attorneys and clients sensing vulnerability. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Paul Weiss and Skadden Arps agreements with the President have included offers of substantial pro bono legal work on causes such as veterans rights, anti-Semitism, and promoting fairness in the legal system. These are causes the firms have long supported and in dollar amounts that are a fraction of what the firms already dedicate to pro bono work. Plus, Karp maintains that Paul Weiss' settlements did not include condemnation of previous firm engagements or HR practices, nor does it impose any formal limits on future representations, including representations against the Trump Administration. Such a deal seems like a great way to calm anxious major clients and potentially poached top attorneys. In our legal system, conflict resolution balances protracted, expensive litigation against faster negotiated settlements. The choice depends on the strategic positions of each party. The President is unlikely to prevail in litigation challenging his executive orders. Thus, he is motivated to settle with face-saving ways of backing down, which Paul, Weiss and Skadden Arps realized. Plus, as my Yale colleague John Morley wrote in the Wall Street Journal, the firms that quickly settled had much larger corporate transaction practices, with a higher propensity of flight risk, than those firms that have larger litigation practices. It is understandable that law firms with different business models would approach this same crisis differently. With the perishable quality of law-firm assets and firms fiduciary duties to their clients and employees, firms can make different business choices while still securing their futures with honor. The continuing complex situation at Wilmer Hale shows further why the settlements of Paul Weiss and Skadden Arps are attractive. Wilmer Hale was granted partial relief, but the judge expressly denied relief on seeing security clearance block seeing that discretion of the purview of President Trumps executive authority requiring ongoing litigation. Clients who require their lawyers to have security clearances may not be comfortable if there is some urgency in representation. Attacks on the actions of Paul Weiss and Skadden Arps have missed the real story. The Presidents motive was to attack virtually every leading law firm that has represented or hired those who challenged the Presidents actions in court. It is noteworthy that not among the firms he attacked were such Trump-friendly firms as Jones Day, Quinn Emanuel, and Sullivan & Cromwell. In fact, one of the most disturbing aspects of this saga was that the President sought advice from the co-chairman of Paul Weiss rival, Sullivan & Cromwell, Trumps personal attorney in his appeal of his conviction on 34 counts for falsifying business records, as he was negotiating with Karp, the Wall Street Journal and others reported. It is extraordinary that this involvement has not been the subject of greater scrutiny and criticism. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The leaders in the legal profession could take a page from their peers in other fields. After financial firms were devastated by the loss of their colleagues in the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, their competitors rushed to offer assistance. Clients were not stolen and talent was not poached from the firms most affected by the attacks. Similarly, during the 2008 financial collapse, leaders of top financial firms worked together to develop support for the TARP program, even though those firms were in competitively healthy positions to take advantage of their fallen rivals. Rivals such as UPS or FedEx routinely do not try to benefit from each others misfortunes but instead offer assistance to one another in the face of operational failures, labor strife, and other interruptions. When in 2021, Delta Airlines expressed concern for the restrictive new voting laws, the President called for a boycott of Delta. I called the chief executives of American and United, who instantly expressed public support for Delta and joined a virtual forum of 100 CEOs hastily called for that purpose. Collective action by chief executives in the business world has had a profound impact on blunting unchallenged authoritarian erosion of American democratic institutions. The legal industry stands apartand the resulting spotlight is not flattering. The hypocritical chest pounding of attorneys condemning those law firms who settled is noteworthy, because many of those same attorneys previously failed to join the efforts to support those firms from the Presidents attacks. Instead, they blame the victim here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hopefully, the leaders in the legal world can learn from bolder leaders in other fields. Already 80 deans of law schools have spoken out in unison in denouncing the Presidents attack on law firms, while smaller firms such as Munger, Tolles & Olson and Keker, Van Nest & Peters have spoken out in defense of their larger rivals, suggesting friend of the court briefs. Monday, the American College of Trial Lawyers joined the condemnation of President Trumps coercive partisan executive orders attacking these law firms, while the American Bar Association has condemned this attack on the rule of law. Perhaps the big firms can join with the scrappy little firms out of enlightened self-interest. It wouldnt hurt to hear from their clients now, either. It is not too late for the legal industry to redeem itself in this perilous moment. Contact us at letters@time.com. Four days after a massive earthquake toppled buildings across Myanmar, isolated stories were still emerging Monday of people being pulled alive from the rubble. The confirmed death toll has continued to rise since the disaster, reaching at least 2,056 on Monday, according to the French news agency AFP citing the ruling military junta in the country. The number of deaths is likely to rise further, as many parts of the country have been cut off. Getting help to those in need and even assessing the extent of the destruction has proved difficult in a country where key infrastructure was badly damaged and where a civil war had already been raging before the 7.7 magnitude quake struck on Friday. There have been significant aftershocks in its wake. The occasional rescue may have helped to keep hope alive over the weekend, but they were the lucky ones. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Building after building in Myanmar's second largest city, Mandalay, and beyond lie in ruins. Damaged roads, bridges and downed powerlines have made it impossible for rescue teams to reach many communities in the impoverished nation that's been engulfed by war since the junta seized power in a coup four years ago. A rescue worker walks during a search operation at the site of a collapsed building in the aftermath of a strong earthquake, in Mandalay, Myanmar, March 31, 2025. / Credit: Stringer/REUTERS Just hours after the big quake struck on Friday, there were reports the junta had carried out airstrikes in rebel-controlled areas that were impacted by the temblor, compounding the misery for survivors. In neighboring Thailand, the quake was felt strongly in capital Bangkok, but only one large building completely collapsed. Thai authorities have ordered an investigation into that isolated collapse to determine whether it could have been due to inadequate building materials, design flaws or a failure in the inspections process. The junta has maintained its strict controls on foreign journalists entering Myanmar but has appealed for international aid. As of Monday, China, Russia and India had responded with humanitarian supplies and rescue and recovery teams on the ground, along with other regional neighbors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement President Trump said the U.S. would be helping, but while America has long played a leading role in international disaster relief, Mr. Trump has gutted foreign aid spending in the first couple months of his second term, including a virtual abolishment of the USAID agency. Programs that would typically have been galvanized to rush in American help could be far less able to provide assistance in the wake of the disaster still unfolding in Myanmar. 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 SUVA, March 31 (Xinhua) -- The Samoan government declared a 30-day state of emergency on Monday due to a severe power crisis on Upolu, Samoa's main island. A fault in the country's main underground power cable caused a blackout in Upolu last month, leading to further repairs, and three key generators have failed, reducing power generation, Radio New Zealand reported on Monday. Besides, severe weather causing damage to power lines and poles, and the failure of backup generators were also to blame, said Samoan Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata'afa last week. Major disruptions to Samoa's electricity supply have affected residents and businesses. In response to the power crisis, the government issued a state of emergency orders, including lifting tax on electricity-related equipment and mobilizing assistance to support households, businesses and the private sector, according to local media Samoa Observer. Fiame said on Monday that the government will ensure the timely arrival and operation of temporary generators before the end of April, with permanent generators expected in August. The entryway of the Republican Party of New Mexico's Albuquerque headquarters was scorched early Sunday morning in what a party leader called "a deliberate act of arson." "We are deeply relieved that no one was harmed in what could have been a tragic and deadly attack," state Republican Party Chair Amy Barela said in a statement. She added, "Those who resort to violence to undermine our state and nation must be held accountable, and our state leaders must reinforce through decisive action that these cowardly attacks will not be tolerated." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officials with several local and federal agencies confirmed an investigation into the incident was underway. "It is an active arson investigation," said Lt. Jason Fejer, a spokesperson for Albuquerque Fire Rescue. City firefighters and crews from Bernalillo County Fire Rescue were dispatched to the GOP headquarters on San Francisco Drive NE in northwestern Albuquerque around 6 a.m. Sunday in response to a report of a commercial structure fire, according to an incident summary. Firefighters contained the blaze within five minutes and no injuries occurred, Albuquerque Fire Rescue noted in the report, but the building sustained smoke damage and the front entryway was charred. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cody Monday, a spokesperson for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, wrote in an email Sunday, "ATF along with the FBI and the Albuquerque Fire and Rescue are conducting a fire investigation and have recovered incendiary materials at the scene." Margot Cravens, a spokesperson for the FBI's Albuquerque office, confirmed in an email the agency is working with "partners" to investigate the incident. Both Monday and Cravens declined to provide additional information. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham said in a statement Sunday she was "relieved that no one was hurt" in the incident. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "There is no excuse for political violence or vandalism of any kind, and I strongly condemn Sunday's attack on the New Mexico Republican Party headquarters in Albuquerque," the governor said. Barela framed the incident as the latest step in aggressive political discourse. The incident "included spray painting the words 'ICE=KKK,' " the statement said, adding, "This horrific attack, fueled by hatred and intolerance, is a direct assault on our values, freedoms, and our right to political expression." The statement specifically called out the Democratic Party. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Let us not forget: it was the Democrat Party that once supported the formation of the KKK, pushed Jim Crow laws, and defended slavery," Barela said. "Today, we see the same dangerous tendencies play out in new forms attempts to suppress free speech, silence dissent, and use fear to control the political narrative." The Democratic Party of New Mexico, however, condemned the incident "as strongly as possible," spokesperson Daniel Garcia wrote in an email to The New Mexican. "We firmly maintain that this sort of act has absolutely no place in our Democracy, and that peaceful discourse and organization are the only ways to approach political differences in our country," Garcia wrote. "We hope whoever is responsible is found and held accountable." State Senate Republican leadership placed blame for the incident on Democrats, too, writing in a statement, "Actions such as these further divide New Mexicans and seek to completely undermine the very foundations of how we govern ourselves." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They also appeared to cite U.S. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez's "Republican Ripoff" town hall Saturday in Santa Fe, during which the congresswoman encouraged supporters to "legislate, litigate, agitate" in response to changes made under President Donald Trump. "In the wake of a prominent Democrat official calling for her supporters to be 'agitators,' it appears some unhinged supporters took the message to heart and acted out in a violent manner," Senate Republicans said in the statement. "Democrats must turn down the rhetoric and restore civility to our political process." Leger Fernandez disputed this interpretation of her words, condemning "political violence of any sort" and arguing the town hall emphasized "the importance of showing respect and listening." At one point during the event, she even invited attendees to greet each other in a town hall equivalent of passing the peace. "It is a ludicrous leap to twist encouraging democratic participation, calling your Representatives and showing up at town halls into an insinuation of violence," Leger Fernandez said in a statement Sunday. She added, "The Republican Partys accusations are themselves dangerous and the ultimate disrespect to our political process. They distract from the real work of bringing people together to build a better future." Mohamed al-Fayeds former personal staff are seeking to sue the tycoons estate over sexual abuse they allegedly suffered while working for the billionaire. Law firm Leigh Day has sent pre-action letters to Mr Fayads estate on behalf of two former air hostesses who worked for his luxury air carrier Fayair, and three of the familys former nannies. The five women claim they suffered serious sexual abuse, harassment and mistreatment while working for the Egyptian billionaire between 1995 and 2012. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The women allege they also faced verbal abuse and threats when they tried to raise concerns about the mistreatment. All of the women, whose cases have not been publicly reported before, have chosen to stay anonymous. The group are seeking compensation for the alleged abuse, and have called for an independent public inquiry into the business mogul and his brother Salah al-Fayed, who has also been accused of abuse. Mr Fayed died in 2010. Richard Meeran, partner at Leigh Day, said: We have taken this step on behalf of those of our clients who were abused by Mr Fayed while working for him or his other businesses outside of Harrods. Our clients took on roles as professionals and should have been able to expect a safe working environment, instead they were subjected to serious sexual abuse, harassment and mistreatment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The lawsuits come as Harrods, the Knightsbridge department store Mr Fayed bought in 1985, faces a string of allegations of sexual misconduct by the businessman made by former employees. Mr Fayed, who died in 2023 aged 94, is accused of multiple counts of rape and attempted rape by women who worked at Harrods. Allegations include claims Mr Fayed sexually assaulted a 15-year-old girl inside Harrods boardroom. Another woman who worked as Mr Fayeds personal assistant claimed the businessman raped her in his luxury apartment that overlooked Londons Hyde Park. Mr Meeran said: Much of the media reporting around Mr Fayeds decades of depraved and predatory behaviour has centred around his work at Harrods, but it is important that his estate is also made legally accountable for the widespread abuse he perpetrated against those who may never have had dealings with the famous store. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Women who worked for Mr Fayeds other ventures, including Fulham FC and the Ritz Hotel Paris, have also alleged they were sexually abused by the Egyptian billionaire. Harrods itself, which is now owned by the Qatar Investment Authority, has said it has received more than 250 claims from former employees who allege they were abused. The Knightsbridge store has also reportedly increased the maximum amounts it is offering in compensation to ex-Harrods staff who were abused by Mr Fayed, from sums of 330,000 to 400,000, Sky News reported on Sunday. Commenting on the new compensation scheme, a Harrods spokesperson said: It would be premature for us to comment on the nature and details of a scheme that is currently under consultation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are actively inviting the valuable input from survivors and their legal representatives to establish the final scheme that aims to be survivor-first, trauma-informed, and fair in its approach to compensation. Further updates will be provided once the consultation period is complete. Lawyers for Mr Fayeds estate were contacted for comment. Al-Fayed was born the son of a school inspector in Alexandira, Egypt in 1929. He started his career selling fizzy drinks on the streets of his home city before branching out to furniture and shipping. The Egyptian tycoon moved to London in 1964, where he cultivated linked to British high society including the Royals. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mr Fayed acquired Harrods for 615m in 1985. He sold it to the Qatari royal family for a reported 1.5bn in 2010. 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. Officers recently confiscated nearly 6.5 tons of cocaine from a semi-submersible vessel, or so-called "narco sub," intercepted off the Azores while bound for the Iberian peninsula, Portugal's judicial police said. The bust, dubbed Operation Nautilus, amounts to nearly a quarter of the record 23 tons seized across the whole of 2024 in Portugal, often considered one of the first points of entry for the drug into Europe. Drug traffickers have been caught using semi-submersible vessels to smuggle cocaine while attempting to evade detection. The vessel was intercepted "in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, around 500 nautical miles" south of Portugal's Azores archipelago, the judicial police statement said. Portuguese police said they seized a semi-submersible vessel transporting 6.5 tons of cocaine destined for Europe. / Credit: Portugal's judicial police Five crew members were onboard the vessel, which was used by an international crime ring, the statement added. Police released video of the operation, showing the vessel loaded with orange packages as well as four suspects with their faces blurred out. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Besides the Portuguese navy and air force, international partners including the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the British National Crime Agency and the Spanish Guardia Civil contributed to the bust, according the police. Portuguese police said that the operation happened recently, without specifying the date. Portuguese officials said that they arrested five crew members after intercepting the vessel / Credit: Portugal's judicial police Many "narco subs" cannot fully dive like a true submarine, but some are able to dip completely underwater. Most of the cocaine smuggled into Portugal comes across the sea from Latin America. Though most commonly seen off the coast of Colombia, "narco subs" have been spotted across the globe in recent months. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In January, a "narco sub" broke in two pieces as a fishing boat was towing it to a port in northwestern Spain. In November, the Mexican Navy said it seized about 8,000 pounds of cocaine aboard a "narco sub" about 150 miles off the resort of Acapulco. In September, the U.S. Coast Guard said that it had offloaded more than $54 million worth of cocaine including over 1,200 pounds of drugs that were seized from a "narco sub." 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 (NEXSTAR) NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams held their first question-and-answer session with reporters since returning to Earth on March 18. The pair, who spent more than nine months aboard the International Space Station after issues with their return flight, said they were taken aback by all the interest and insisted they were only doing their job and putting the mission ahead of themselves and even their families. Wilmore didnt shy from accepting some of the blame for Boeings bungled test flight. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ill start and point the finger and Ill blame me. I could have asked some questions and the answers to those questions could have turned the tide, he told reporters. All the way up and down the chain. We all are responsible. We all own this. NASA astronauts Suni Williams, left, and Butch Wilmore stand together for a photo before launching on a Boeing Starliner test flight from Cape Canaveral, Florida, on June 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Chris OMeara, File) Wilmore and Williams blasted into orbit in June 2024, as part of a test flight of Boeings new Starliner crew capsule. They were scheduled to return about eight days later, but problems plagued the mission and NASA ultimately decided to bring the Starliner home, leaving Wilmore and Williams on the International Space Station. Spaceflight is risky, even at its safest and most routine, said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson in August 2024. A test flight, by nature, is neither safe, nor routine. The decision to keep Butch and Suni aboard the International Space Station and bring Boeings Starliner home uncrewed is the result of our commitment to safety: our core value and our North Star. Physical effects of space life include dizziness and baby feet Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement NASA eventually tasked SpaceX with the astronauts return trip, initially scheduling their homecoming for February 2025. Issues with the SpaceX capsule caused further delays into March, when a relief crew was sent to the ISS and Wilmore and Williams ultimately returned to Earth. Williams (top row, third from left) and Wilmore (bottom row, left) are pictured in an image taken from a NASA video showing the astronauts greeting the crew from a SpaceX capsule that docked at the International Space Station on March 16, 2025. (NASA via AP) Despite the ordeal, both astronauts said they would strap into Starliner again. Because were going to rectify all the issues that we encountered. Were going to fix it. Were going to make it work, Wilmore said. Williams noted that Starliner has a lot of capability and she wants to see it succeed. NASA said engineers still do not understand why Starliners thrusters malfunctioned; more tests are planned through the summer. If engineers can figure out the thruster and leak issues, Starliner is ready to go, Wilmore said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The space agency may require another test flight with cargo before allowing astronauts to climb aboard. That redo could come by years end. Kite reportedly made contact with United flight near Reagan National Airport: airline Wilmore and Williams plight captured the worlds attention, giving new meaning to the phrase stuck at work and turning Butch and Suni into household names. While other astronauts had logged longer spaceflights over the decades, none had to deal with so much uncertainty or see the length of their mission expand by so much. Wilmore and Williams ended up spending 286 days in space 278 days longer than anticipated when they launched. They circled Earth 4,576 times and traveled 121 million miles (195 million kilometers) by the time of splashdown. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Associated Press contributed to this report. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News. In their first public comments since their dramatic return to Earth, NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore said they were surprised by the intense focus on their mission. At a news briefing Monday at NASAs Johnson Space Center in Houston, Williams and Wilmore described their unique mission, on which they unexpectedly spent more than nine months at the International Space Station when they were originally supposed to stay for only about a week. The duo launched to the space station in June on the first crewed test flight of Boeings Starliner capsule. However, they encountered problems with the vehicles thrusters during the docking process, forcing them to remain in orbit for 286 days. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The plan went way off for what we had planned, but because were in human spaceflight, we prepare for any number of contingencies, Wilmore said. This is a curvy road. You never know where its going to go. Wilmore said hes focused on whats ahead and applying the lessons learned from his unusual mission rather than blaming any organization or anyone for what happened. But he said both Boeing and NASA, all the way up and down the chain, shoulder responsibility for the outcome of the flight. You cannot do this business without trust, Wilmore said. You have to have ultimate trust. And for someone to step forward in these different organizations and say, Hey, Im culpable for part of that issue that goes a long way to maintaining trust. Wilmore even pointed the finger at himself, as commander of the Starliner test flight, for not having asked more questions before its launch. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I could have asked some questions, and the answers to those questions could have turned the tide, he said. Williams and Wilmore became famous for their longer-than-expected stay at the ISS. They have been back on Earth now for nearly two weeks after they flew home in a SpaceX Dragon capsule and splashed down on March 18. NASA ultimately decided to bring the Starliner spacecraft back to Earth without anyone on board in September, and agency officials shifted plans around to bring Wilmore and Williams back in a SpaceX capsule. Williams and Wilmore left the space station along with NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, who were wrapping up a roughly six-month ISS mission. NASAs SpaceX Crew-9 members, Suni Williams, Aleksandr Gorbunov, Nick Hague and Butch Wilmore, in the SpaceX Dragon crew spacecraft docked at the International Space Station. Despite becoming known as the astronauts who were stranded in space, Williams and Wilmore have repeatedly said they enjoyed their extended time living and working at the orbiting outpost. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And when SpaceX CEO Elon Musk and President Donald Trump made unsubstantiated claims that the Biden administration held up the flight back to Earth for political reasons, both astronauts carefully stayed out of the fray. Wilmore told NBC News that he was somewhat aware of the politically charged rhetoric surrounding their mission but that he never felt abandoned in space. I didnt think about those type of things, he said. We were busy. We were focused on our mission. Hague said at Mondays news conference that he and his astronaut colleagues were largely insulated from political noise aboard the space station. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When were up there operating in space, you dont feel the politics, he said. Its focused strictly on mission. During their extended stay, Williams and Wilmore conducted science experiments, helped with spacewalks and assisted with maintenance projects. But while they stayed busy in orbit, Williams said, their longer-than-expected mission in space was most likely much harder for their families and loved ones. I wanted to hug my husband and hug my dogs, she said when she was asked about the first thing she wanted to do after having landed. Shortly after his return, Wilmores daughter had shared on TikTok her excitement over finally being reunited with her father after nine months. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wilmore said he and Williams are scheduled to meet with Boeing leaders, program managers and engineers this week to discuss upgrades to the Starliner capsule. NASA has yet to make a decision about the vehicles next flight, including whether it will be crewed or uncrewed. Still, the astronauts said they would fly on Starliner again if given the opportunity. Were going to rectify the issues that we encountered, Wilmore said. Were going to fix it. Were going to make it work. Boeings completely committed. NASA is completely committed. And with that, Id get on in a heartbeat. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com In their first interview since returning to Earth after an unexpected nine-month stay in space, astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams say they are not looking to point fingers, dont consider their mission a failure and that theyd go back again if given the chance. Space flight is hard. Its really hard, Williams told Fox News when asked about Boeings Starliner malfunctioning and being unable to safely return them from the International Space Station as originally planned in June. I wouldnt characterize as they failed us. I would characterize it as, there was a huge team working together diligently to try to weigh all the risks of putting people in a spacecraft for the very first time with brand-new systems, she said. EXCLUSIVE: NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams sit down with @AmericaNewsroom co-anchor @BillHemmer for their first interview since returning to Earth, giving thanks to @realDonaldTrump and @elonmusk for rescuing them after nine months in space. pic.twitter.com/C6asjRibOD Fox News (@FoxNews) March 31, 2025 Wilmore also disputed whether they were truly stranded, as the media and President Donald Trump said, saying: In the big scheme of things, we werent stuck. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He added, OK, in certain respects, we were stuck. In certain respects, maybe we were stranded. But based on how they were couching this, that we were left, forgotten, and all that, we were nowhere near any of that, at all. He also said that he believes everyone shares a piece of the blame for what went wrong, including himself as the commander of Boeings Crew Flight Test mission. Is Boeing to blame and culpable? Sure. Is NASA to blame? Are they culpable? Sure. Everybody has a piece in it, he said. There are some things I should have asked that I didnt know I needed to ask. Boeing Crew Flight Test astronauts Butch Wilmore, left, and Suni Williams pose for a portrait on the International Space Station's Harmony module and Boeing's Starliner spacecraft on June 13. via Associated Press Both said they were never upset or angry about their time away, with Wilmore calling their unexpected time from family part of the job and also a common occurrence among people who have a position in the military, police, or other forms of public service. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Their families had it harder than they did, though, Williams said. They havent planned and made this their life passion to fly in space. This is not what they love and signed up for. They have to watch us launch into space and be there and not be there for activities that we may have planned on, she said. I kept telling my family, Im not back until Im back, Wilmore said. This is the nature of the business we do. Weve had changes in the past. We may have changes now. But it was certainly a great feeling when you have a date and youre marching towards a date. NASA astronaut Suni Williams is helped out of the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft after she and fellow NASA astronauts Nick Hague and Butch Wilmore, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, landed off Florida's coast on March 18. NASA via Getty Images The pair was also asked what theyd say to Trump and Elon Musk, whose company SpaceX helped bring them back after Trump said the Biden administration had virtually abandoned them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I respect you. I trust you. Youve given me no reason not to trust you, either one of them, Wilmore said. I cant say what they say, I havent lived that. But I have no reason not to believe anything they say because theyve earned my trust, and for that Im grateful. Both also stated they would go back to space if given the opportunity, though they would prioritize others who havent yet had the experience first. Related... MT. JULIET, Tenn. (WKRN) A wanted Nashville man was taken into custody following a traffic stop in Mt. Juliet Sunday afternoon, marking at least the seventh Nashvillian to be arrested over the past week after Mt. Juliet authorities followed up on issues with vehicles. According to the Mt. Juliet Police Department, an officer observed a vehicle with a suspended registration on S. Mt. Juliet Road near Hershel Drive on Sunday, March 30, which led to the discovery of a 45-year-old Nashville man wanted for felony sexual assault. The man who also had a suspended license was apprehended and will reportedly be transferred to Nashville law enforcement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tactical operation underway on Antioch Pike in Nashville Thanks to vigilant policing and proactive patrols, we continue working hard to keep Mt. Juliet one of the safest communities around, officials wrote on Facebook. No additional details have been shared about Sundays incident, including the name of the man who was apprehended. News 2 has reached out to the Metro Nashville Police Department for more information. Based on social media posts, at least six other Nashvillians have been taken into custody in or just barely outside of Mt. Juliet as a result of MJPDs vigilance when it comes to potential problems with vehicles. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement CRIME TRACKER | Read the latest crime-related reports from across Middle Tennessee On Monday, March 24, police said an officer spotted a car with the wrong license plate heading down Mt. Juliet Road toward Interstate 40 West and ended up arresting a 33-year-old convicted felon from Nashville who was riding around with three guns and drugs intended for resale. He was charged with various offenses related to the possession of those items. Then, on Tuesday, March 25, an officer patrolling Lebanon Road near Lookout D noticed a tag registered to a Ford F-150 was improperly displayed on a Honda Accord, but when he was signaled to stop, the driver reportedly continued for almost half a mile into Nashville before pulling over. Not only did the 29-year-old Nashville man have active felony warrants for fraud, theft, and forgery related to stolen checks totaling nearly $10,000, but law enforcement said the vehicle had methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia, and stolen checks in it. Two days later, authorities announced a suspicious vehicle investigation in the Pleasant Grove Road area led to the arrests of a 40-year-old Nashville man wanted for felony aggravated assault with strangulation in Nashville and contempt of court in Cheatham County, as well as a 43-year-old Nashville woman with warrants out of Williamson County for failure to appear and Madison County for probation and community corrections violations. Read todays top stories on wkrn.com On Friday, March 28, another wanted Nashvillian was taken into custody in the Pleasant Grove Road area. Police said they pulled over a vehicle for displaying the wrong license plate and discovered the 50-year-old man behind the wheel was wanted out of Nashville for two felony probation violations, once of which was related to aggravated assault. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The following day, officials said a car was stopped on Mt. Juliet Road near I-40 for a window tint violation, but then the officer found a 21-year-old Nashville man wearing a full ski mask who had a handgun which was taken during a 2017 home burglary in Florida in his possession. The man was booked into the Wilson County Jail on stolen firearm charges. MJPD has not released any information indicating these incidents are connected. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. MT. JULIET, Tenn. (WKRN) An 18-year-old from Nashville who was on bond for his involvement in a pool party shooting last summer is now facing multiple charges following a dangerous and intentional attempt to intimidate and harm Mt. Juliet Police officers Sunday, according to law enforcement. On Sunday, March 30, the Mt. Juliet Police Department said the man deliberately drove his vehicle toward an officer who was conducting an unrelated traffic stop. That afternoon incident led to two separate vehicle pursuits where the suspect drove recklessly through the community, intentionally targeting officers and police vehicles in an apparent effort to cause harm, authorities said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nashville man wanted for sexual assault arrested after Mt. Juliet traffic stop The same vehicle was actually involved in a similar, purposeful confrontation with MJPD officers on Monday, March 17, but nobody was apprehended, officials said. MJPD said the Metro Nashville Police Departments Aviation Unit offered critical support by safely tracking the suspect from the sky, allowing Mt. Juliet officers to disengage from active pursuit. An MNPD spike system on Clarksville Highway near Old Hickory Boulevard ultimately disabled the suspects vehicle, so law enforcement took him into custody without further incident. (Courtesy: Mt. Juliet Police Department) (Courtesy: Mt. Juliet Police Department) Officials initially described the suspect as a 19-year-old Nashville man but later identified him as 18-year-old Sujoy P. Guha-Perry. At the time of his arrest Sunday, he was reportedly wearing a GPS ankle monitor while out on bond for a July 2024 shooting at an Antioch apartment complex pool party where a 16-year-old girl was seriously injured. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to MNPD, on July 11, 2024, Guha-Perry drove 18-year-old Davin Denson Jr. to Cambridge at Hickory Hollow Apartments, where Denson exited the vehicle and began shooting toward a group of people attending the party. Guha-Perry was arrested in November for five counts of felony aggravated assault and one count of reckless endangerment, but Denson had been in jail since October after he allegedly shot his girlfriend during an argument over her pregnancy. Read todays top stories on wkrn.com Shortly before 10:30 p.m., MJPD announced Guha-Perry had been booked into the Wilson County Jail and charged with criminal attempted homicide, two counts of aggravated assault on a first responder, felony evading, reckless endangerment, and reckless driving. We are incredibly thankful that no officers were injured during these multiple, intentional attempts to cause harm. Our gratitude extends to MNPD for their rapid assistance as we continue to work together to keep our communities safe, MJPD wrote on Facebook. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No additional details have been released about this incident. 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. A new study from the University of Utah uncovered the racial and ethnic inequities of air pollution monitoring in the U.S. What's happening? According to the investigation, the Environmental Protection Agency's air quality monitors are disproportionately more common in predominantly white neighborhoods than in communities of color. The researchers included data from monitors that tracked particulate matter, ozone, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, lead, and carbon monoxide and were active between March 2019 and March 2024. They also used census block groups from all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Results showed monitoring disparities for all six pollutants, especially sulfur dioxide and lead, then ozone and carbon monoxide. All racial and ethnic groups generally had fewer monitors for nitrogen dioxide, ozone, lead, and particulate matter than the White non-Latino group. Furthermore, regions with Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander populations generally displayed the largest disparity, followed by American Indian and Alaska Native populations and individuals of two or more races. "If there was a disparity for just one type of monitor, it could conceivably be accidental or just poor design," co-author Simon Brewer told Deseret News. "The fact that it's a consistent pattern across all pollutants suggests that the decision-making process needs to be looked at carefully these monitors are not being distributed equitably." Why are air monitoring inequities important? Bryce Bird, director of Utah's Division of Air Quality, told Deseret News that his department is required by the EPA to distribute monitors based on locations expected to have the highest concentrations of air pollution. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "They aren't located targeting specific ethnicity, but they're targeting those areas where, because of the industry or the proximity to roadways, they would be expected to have the highest levels of air pollution," he said. Nonetheless, gaps in air quality coverage could further expose marginalized communities which are already susceptible to environmental injustices to medical complications tied to these pollutants. Contaminated air has been linked to adverse health effects, such as respiratory illnesses, decreased cognitive function, and child mortality, and it also contributes to Earth's overheating. What's being done to address air quality inequities? Recent studies have shined light on the extent of environmental injustices suffered by people of color. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For example, Stanford University found that particulate matter has killed more Black Americans than any other group in the country. Meanwhile, NASA reported that Black and Hispanic residents living in the U.S. have been disproportionately affected by nitrogen dioxide produced by warehouses. This coverage can help spur legislative action to hold responsible parties accountable. GreenLatinos Colorado is leading a lawsuit against the state's air quality commission for failing to protect vulnerable populations from major air polluters, while a group of young Hawaiians sued the state's transportation system for producing "untenable levels" of planet-warming gases. Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the latest innovations improving our lives and shaping our future, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet. SAO PAULO, March 30 (Xinhua) -- Five people were killed and an infant was injured early Sunday morning when their car collided head-on with a truck in south Brazil's Parana state, the local fire department reported. According to the truck driver, the car had crossed into the opposite lane before crashing into his vehicle at a curve on the BR-373 Highway in the municipality of Chopinzinho. Upon arriving at the scene, firefighters found the one-year-old infant crying in the arms of her mother, who had died on the spot. The baby girl, who sustained minor injuries, was rushed to a hospital in the neighboring city of Pato Branco. DES MOINES, Iowa Three people escaped uninjured in a house explosion that happened Sunday morning on Des Moines south side. 2 arrested following police chase after robbing Walmart Sgt. Paul Parizek, spokesperson for the Des Moines Police Department, said it happened shortly after 11:00 a.m. at home in the 4300 block of SE 10th Street. The explosion caused significant structural damage to the home. House explosion in 4300 block of SE 11th Street on March 30, 2025. (Courtesy: Des Moines Police Department) House explosion in 4300 block of SE 11th Street on March 30, 2025. (Courtesy: Des Moines Police Department) House explosion in 4300 block of SE 11th Street on March 30, 2025. (Courtesy: Des Moines Police Department) House explosion in 4300 block of SE 11th Street on March 30, 2025. (Courtesy: Des Moines Police Department) House explosion in 4300 block of SE 11th Street on March 30, 2025. (Courtesy: Des Moines Police Department) A preliminary investigation by DMPD and the Des Moines Fire Department indicates a significant contributing factor in the explosion was a natural gas flow within the home. Sgt. Parizek said there may have been a valve in the basement that was accidentally opened. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The investigation into the explosion continues. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to who13.com. The destroyer USS Spruance recently helped the Coast Guard and agents with U.S. Customs and Border Protection, or CBP, take 13 people into custody as part of the ships mission to bolster security on the southern border, according to U.S. Northern Command, or NORTHCOM. The Spruance left San Diego on March 22 to assist U.S. government agencies assigned to combat transitional crime, piracy, illegal immigration, and other activities, a NORTHCOM news release says. An embedded Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment is aboard the Spruance during its border security mission. One day after getting underway, the destroyer used its radar to help the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter and a CBP interceptor boat interdict a suspect vessel, NORTHCOM wrote in a March 29 post on X. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No further information was immediately available about what type of alleged illicit activity the 13 people apprehended by CBP agents are accused of doing. Since President Donald Trump issued an executing order in January directing the military to support the Department of Homeland Security on border security, more than 10,000 troops have either deployed or been approved to deploy to the region, including about 2,400 soldiers with the 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division. The Spruance, which is operating in the Pacific, is one of two Navy destroyers taking part in border security missions. The USS Gravely left its homeport of Naval Weapons Station Yorktown, Virginia on March 15. The Gravely and Spruance are deployed to the waters off Mexico. According to Air Force Gen. Gregory Guillot, head of NORTHCOM, the warships presence represents our resolve to achieve operational control of the border. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prior to returning to its homeport of San Diego in December, the Spruance spent five months deployed with the strike group for the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, during which the Spruance and another destroyer, USS Stockdale, were attacked by Houthi drones and anti-ship missiles. Neither ship was damaged, and no sailors were hurt in the attack. A photo posted on the Spruances Facebook page in January showing the ships victory markings indicates that it had downed six missiles and seven drones during its deployment. The latest on Task & Purpose RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) A bill in the North Carolina General Assembly looks to remove certain books around gender identity and sexuality. The bill bans books considered to have harmful material for students in kindergarten through sixth grade and requires parental consent for students to get access to those books if theyre in seventh grade or older. Additionally, the bill would allow school teachers or staff to be criminally prosecuted if they distribute certain materials to students, including books around gender identity and sexuality. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bill also lays out strict requirements for how health and puberty subjects are taught to students, including requiring teachers teach that a mutually faithful monogamous heterosexual relationship in the context of marriage is the best lifelong means of avoiding sexually transmitted diseases. CBS 17 did not receive a response from state Democrats, who have previously opposed similar bills, saying books around gender identity and sexuality are helpful for students who are learning who they are. Supporters of the bill though said these topics shouldnt happen in schools. If parents want to expose their children to these types of books, I think thats their prerogative, Tami Fitzgerald with the NC Values Coalition said. They can do it at home, but the rest of the children and their parents shouldnt be made to suffer through this radical gender ideology, sexual activity, and sexuality in K through grade six. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Furthermore, the bill requires a review system for library books to be regularly reviewed and monitored. The bill has been referred to 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 CBS17.com. Oleh Didenko, Head of Ukraines Central Election Commission (CEC), has revealed that thousands of citizens remain registered in cities such as Bakhmut that have been effectively destroyed by Russias full-scale invasion. At present, there is no viable solution to address the issue of voter registration for potential elections. Source: CEC Head Oleh Didenko in an interview with Ukrainska Pravda Details: When asked about the state of the electoral list, Didenko said: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Quote: "There are two aspects here. One is the legal accuracy of the State electoral roll But then theres the real-life aspect: we have millions of internally displaced persons, and millions more have gone abroad. We have occupied territories. We have areas that have been completely destroyed. And the actual information about residents of these settlements is not reflected in the register. If a citizen hasnt re-registered at their new place of residence, then they remain in the system under their previous address even if thats a place like Bakhmut. To give you an idea, at the beginning of the full-scale invasion, around 57,000 voters were registered in Bakhmut. Today, that figure is around 56,000. Although the change is only one thousand, it is obvious that no one is actually there. So the question arises: which mechanism may reflect and account for this real discrepancy? At the moment, no one has proposed a viable option. It's very unclear what to do; not even a census would solve this. That is our reality." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Details: Didenko explained that relevant authorities submit monthly updates about changes in voter data. However, the CEC suspended updates to the register at the start of the invasion. Work to restore the register began in December 2023. Quote: "During the first six months, we filled the database with data that government agencies had been submitting for nearly two years but hadn't yet been recorded in the register. Then we moved on to updating the "address database," which contains information about polling stations. The second phase, which is currently ongoing, entails establishing a Personal Voter Account. This will allow voters to check their information in the register, modify their voting address, and so on. So, as of now, the State electoral roll is now up to date." Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Mar. 31A new union representing Portland Adult Education's part-time teachers is about to enter mediation with the school district after many months of meeting without reaching an agreement on their first contract. Although negotiations have been productive, union members are frustrated with the district's recent decision to bring in a mediator, which they're concerned will delay progress. The administration said the choice is designed to move the negotiations forward. Neither party shared specific points of disagreement in the negotiations. Portland Adult Education is the district's largest school by enrollment, and serves about 2,000 students. Its courses in English for Speakers of Other Languages, or ESOL, are in high demand, with more than a thousand on waitlists to take courses. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Among the school's teaching staff, 18 are full-time employees represented by the district's teacher union who receive a salary and benefits, but the majority of teachers, 31, are part-time adjuncts who teach up to 20 hours a week and are paid hourly ($26.78 an hour). Portland Superintendent Ryan Scallon said the district also pays for planning time. At a school board meeting this month, Portland Adult Ed part-time teacher Lucy Shulman expressed frustration with the latest development in the negotiation process. "Our team was really surprised to hear that the school board chose to pull the plug on negotiations and file for mediation, rather than make a good-faith attempt to collaborate," Shulman said. "We thought that members of a board that affirm their commitment to equity so often and so publicly would immediately see the problem with a two-caste system of compensation among the teachers at Adult Education." Scallon said it's common for a first contract, where both parties are starting from scratch, to take longer than a renewal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement UNION FORMATION Vanessa Sylvester, a part-time ESOL teacher at Portland Adult Ed, said the idea for the union rose out of a 2023 district study about hourly compensation. "Out of that study, which found that our pay rate was not as high as it should be, we got together and talked about organizing a union so we can be able to address the issues of compensation," she said. "With overwhelming support, we went ahead and organized." The Portland Adult Education members said they are organized by the Portland Education Association, but are negotiating a separate contract. The president of the Portland Education Association did not respond to a request for comment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The new union of hourly workers officially achieved certification in February of 2024 and began bargaining with the district that summer. Sylvester and Scallon agreed there has been progress, but Scallon said that there are a lot of different interests among the bargaining group, which have extended the timing of the negotiations. Recently, Scallon said, the district decided to call in a mediator, a neutral party from the Maine Labor Relations Board that either group in a collective bargaining negotiation can request. "We felt like a mediator at this stage could help us, as a collective, move forward in this process," he said. "And so I think everybody has been engaged in it so far in good faith ... We didn't want to get stuck, or remain stuck." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sylvester said she is worried not just about the delay, but also the cost to the district. "Our interest is to better serve our students, and we should be able to figure that out together," she said. Going forward, Scallon said, the two parties will have to agree on a mediator and then schedule a meeting, or series of meetings. There is no specific timeline in which the negotiations need to be completed the union members say a contract feels overdue, while Scallon said the goal is to reach an agreement that will stand the test of time, and to do that sooner rather than later. The district is right in the middle of its budget season, but Scallon said once the negotiations are done, the district can make adjustments to the budget as needed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SUSTAINABLE WORK Union organizers agree that there are different reasons they're negotiating, from higher pay to benefits to retirement benefits to schedules. But overall, Shulman said: "We'd like this to be more sustainable work." Both Shulman and Sylvester would like to make Portland Adult Ed their full-time job, and say a goal of negotiations is creating an on-ramp for hourly employees to do that. "We're all coming to this job from different places, and we're all here 100% for the students. Some people are in retirement, or semi-retirement, and teach a class," Sylvester said. "And then there's people like myself. I got my master's five years ago, and I love teaching adult education, I really consider this my profession, and it's really hard for me to continue to work here just because I don't have benefits." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In an op-ed published in the Press Herald last week, part-time teacher Shoshana Hoose wrote that the school's current pay scale hinders retention and recruitment. "I've seen many talented young teachers come and go from PAE because they couldn't support themselves on the low pay," she wrote. "That also makes it difficult for the school to fulfill its goal of diversifying its workforce so that it better represents our student body." Shulman said just four Portland Adult Ed staff members out of nearly 60 are people of color, despite the overwhelmingly African student population. Having higher pay and a more sustainable job structure, union organizers argue, is an important step toward diversifying staff. "Having a diverse staff that look like your students, part of it is having jobs that can support that," Sylvester said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Scallon said the district recognizes the importance of those goals and is working on increasing its overall staff diversity, which has been slowly climbing over the last decade. One item included in the proposed budget for the next fiscal year is a review of Portland Adult Education, a $150,000 item. Scallon said that review would be mostly programmatic and would not focus on pay. The goal is to create a strategic plan for the growing school, he said, with a focus on potentially serving more students, offering more classes or creating more workforce partnerships. The funding would bring in a contracted worker to complete that review. Copy the Story Link (Bloomberg) -- Israel named former naval commander Eliyahu Sharvit as the new head of the countrys domestic-intelligence agency after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dismissed his predecessor over a series of disputes. Most Read from Bloomberg Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sharvit is set to lead the Shin Bet after 36 years serving in the Israeli military, a statement from Netanyahus office said on Monday. The appointment still requires full cabinet approval and needs to be signed off by a public integrity commission. Netanyahu fired Ronen Bar, the previous holder of the post, earlier this month after disagreements over who should be held responsible for failing to prevent the October 2023 attack by Hamas that triggered the war in Gaza. The duo also clashed over hostage negotiations and a probe about links between the prime ministers aides and Qatar. Netanyahu was supposed to wait until an April 8 court hearing over Bars dismissal before appointing a new head of the Shin Bet, so the swift appointment of Sharvit could exacerbate domestic tensions. Thousands of Israelis have taken to the streets in recent weeks to protest against Bars firing, as well as challenges to the independence of the judiciary and the return to fighting Hamas after a ceasefire. Israels attorney general, whos also in the process of being ousted by Netanyahus cabinet, opposed Bars firing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The turmoil triggered the biggest losses in Israeli markets since the Oct. 7 attacks by Hamas, which is designated a terrorist organization by the US and European Union. Conflict of Interests Multiple petitions were submitted to the High Court following Bars dismissal, claiming that Netanyahu had a conflict of interest because of a Shin Bet inquiry into several of his close aides. Benny Gantz, a leader of the opposition, praised Sharvits experience but said on X that its clear Netanyahu has decided to continue his campaign against the judiciary and lead the State of Israel toward a dangerous constitutional crisis. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some legal experts, however, say that line hasnt been crossed given Sharvits appointment hasnt been confirmed. And the former military man isnt likely to be seen as the ultra-loyalist replacement for Bar that some feared, according to Amichai Cohen, a senior fellow at Israels Democracy Institute, whose expertise is constitutional law and security. By announcing the identity of someone who enjoys wide consensus, the concern over the prime minister appointing a mere loyalist has dissipated, he said. Israeli Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu, from the far right of Netanyahus ruling coalition, opposed the appointment, saying Sharvit, like Bar, shares the views of anti-government protestors and wont solve the problem. Under Bar, the Shin Bet started an investigation into allegations that aides to Netanyahu were working with Qatar to bolster the Gulf states image, possibly risking state secrets. Netanyahus office has denied the accusations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Israeli police, who are jointly handling the investigation with the Shin Bet, said Monday it had made two arrests, the first since the probe officially started several weeks ago. Oct. 7 Attack Netanyahus appointment of a new Shin Bet chief may help him distance himself from blame for the Oct. 7 attack, said Cohen. Ronen Bar was very motivated to place some of the responsibility for the Oct. 7 attacks on the political echelon, and this was evident in the recently published Shin Bet inquiries, he said. Its possible that a new chief, who was not in any official role during the attack, will place greater emphasis moving the organization forward and less on the question of past responsibility. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Netanyahu has refuted calls to establish a state commission of inquiry into Oct. 7 and has largely refrained from claiming personal responsibility. About 1,200 people were killed and 250 abducted in the attack, while more than 50,000 Palestinians have been killed in the subsequent conflict, according to the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza. While serving as Israels naval commander, Sharvit led the construction of the maritime defense force in the economic waters and managed complex operational systems against Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran, the statement from Netanyahus office said. Iran sponsors Hamas as well as Hezbollah, a Lebanon-based militant group, which is also designated a terrorist organization by the US. If confirmed, Sharvit will be the first Shin Bet chief in three decades who did not come from within the service. The last time the intelligence service had an outsider as head was in 1996, after the Shin Bet failed to prevent the assassination of the Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement (Updates with detail and context throughout) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2025 Bloomberg L.P. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has named a new head of the Shin Bet domestic intelligence agency, despite fierce protests over the dismissal of its current chief and a pending decision at the Supreme Court. The prime minister's office announced on Monday that retired Navy commander Eli Sharvit had been picked to replace Ronen Bar. Netanyahu's decision to remove Bar earlier this month triggered mass demonstrations. The Supreme Court has since issued a temporary injunction suspending his dismissal as it weighs the move's legality. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Netanyahu cited a "lack of trust" in Bar as the reason for his removal, amid long-standing tensions between the two. The Shin Bet is currently investigating close associates of Netanyahu for alleged ties to Qatar, which has been mediating indirect negotiations with Hamas. While Qatar plays a key diplomatic role, it is also known for its support of the militant group. Netanyahu also faced criticism following an internal Shin Bet investigation into security failures that allowed the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, which led to the ongoing war in Gaza. Despite the court's injunction, the Supreme Court permitted the government to interview potential successors, the Times of Israel reported. Netanyahu interviewed seven candidates, and Sharvits nomination will now be reviewed by a committee before being submitted for Cabinet approval. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has named a new head of the Shin Bet domestic intelligence agency, despite fierce protests over the dismissal of its current chief and a pending decision at the Supreme Court. The prime minister's office announced on Monday that retired Navy commander Eli Sharvit had been picked to replace Ronen Bar. Netanyahu's decision to remove Bar earlier this month triggered mass demonstrations. The Supreme Court has since issued a temporary injunction suspending his dismissal as it weighs the move's legality. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Netanyahu cited a "lack of trust" in Bar as the reason for his removal, amid long-standing tensions between the two. Prime minister under investigation by agency The Shin Bet is currently investigating close associates of Netanyahu for alleged ties to Qatar, which has been mediating indirect negotiations with Palestinian extremist group Hamas. While Qatar plays a key diplomatic role, it is also known for its support of the militants. Netanyahu also faced criticism following an internal Shin Bet investigation into security failures that allowed the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, which led to the ongoing war in Gaza. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite the court's injunction, the Supreme Court permitted the government to interview potential successors, the Times of Israel reported. Netanyahu interviewed seven candidates, and Sharvit's nomination will now be reviewed by a committee before being submitted for Cabinet approval. Netanyahu advisers arrested Israeli police have detained two people as part of their investigation into alleged illegal ties between Netanyahu aides and Qatar, according to Israeli media reports on Monday. The two suspects are both high-ranking advisers to the Israeli prime minister, it said. Further details were not initially disclosed. A court-ordered gag order applies, the police said. Netanyahu will also testify in the case, according to the reports. Criticism of arrests from Likud Netanyahu's Likud party criticized the arrest of one of the two men as an attempt to bring down the Israeli prime minister and prevent Bar's dismissal. The party called the affair a "fabricated scandal." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The attorney general and the head of the Shin Bet intelligence agency are working "to carry out a coup with the help of arrest warrants," a party statement charged, without providing details. Opposition leader Yair Lapid said that one sentence was missing from the Likud statement namely, that no one from Netanyahu's office had received money from the hostile country of Qatar. Netanyahu is trying to sabotage the investigation into the affair, opposition politician Yair Golan charged. He called for an investigation into the suspicion that Netanyahu sold security for money. Netflix has made its hit drama series Adolescence available to stream in all secondary schools in the United Kingdom as part of an initiative supported by Prime Minister Keir Starmer that seeks to help teachers, parents and caregivers guide children through the challenges depicted in the series that kids in real life face daily. As a father, watching this show with my teenage son and daughter, I can tell you it hit home hard, Starmer said in a reported statement. Its an important initiative to encourage as many pupils as possible to watch the show. As I see from my own children, openly talking about changes in how they communicate, the content theyre seeing and exploring the conversations theyre having with their peers is vital if we are to properly support them in navigating contemporary challenges, and deal with malign influences. The news came with a roundtable discussion featuring Starmer and representatives from several charities, including the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC), Tender and The Childrens Society, along with Adolescence co-creator Jack Thorne and producers Emily Feller and Jo Johnson. The four-part series will be available to screen through the Into Film+ streaming platform and it will be coupled with educational resource material. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is not a challenge politicians can simply legislate for, Starmer added. Believe me, if I could pull a lever to solve it, I would. Only by listening and learning from the experiences of young people and charities can we tackle the issues this groundbreaking show raises. Adolescence has captured the national mood, sparking important conversations and helping articulate the pressures young people and parents face in todays society, Netflix U.K.s Vice President of Content Anne Mensah, said. Were incredibly proud of the impact the show has made, and are delighted to be able to offer it to all schools across the U.K. through Into Film+. As part of this, healthy relationships charity Tender will create resources for teachers and parents to help them navigate the important topics the show explores. Adolescence premiered on Netflix on March 13 and tells the story of a 13-year-old boy named Jamie (Owen Cooper) whose familys world is flipped upside down after he is accused of murdering his schoolmate. As the series progresses, it becomes clear that Jamie is guilty of the crime. But why he did it remains intentionally shrouded in mystery. Over its four episodes, the series pieces together that Jamie spent a great deal of time in toxic communities online that perpetuate violence against women. Thats as clear of a motive as the series ever presents, but even that explanation feels confusing and lacking to his parents and friends, an experience that mirrors the loved ones of people who have been sucked into similar communities in real life We made this show to provoke a conversation. We wanted to pose the question how do we help stop this growing crisis, Adolescence co-creator and star Stephen Graham said. So to have the opportunity to take this into schools is beyond our expectations. We hope it will lead to teachers talking to the students, but what we really hope is it will lead to students talking amongst themselves. The post Netflixs Adolescence to Screen in All UK Schools in Prime Minister-Backed Initiative appeared first on TheWrap. The Netherlands has announced it will allocate 500 million for a drone production project to support Ukraine in its ongoing fight against Russian aggression. Source: Dutch Ministry of Defence, as reported by European Pravda Details: The 500 million is part of an accelerated funding package worth 2 billion, which the Netherlands plans to allocate in 2025, the Dutch Defence Ministry stated. The announcement was made by Defence Minister Ruben Brekelmans and State Secretary for Defence Geis Tuinman during their visit to Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It was important to announce that we are providing Ukraine with accelerated support totalling 2 billion, including a 500 million drone development project. These drones will play a crucial role on the battlefield and will literally save lives," the ministry quoted Brekelmans as saying. The minister noted that this support would strengthen Ukraines position both on the front line and at the negotiating table. Following his meeting with Brekelmans in Kyiv, Ukraines Defence Minister Rustem Umierov said that the Netherlands is additionally allocating 3.5 billion to Ukraine, a significant portion of which will go toward security assistance in 2025. Umierov also stated that the Netherlands supports the Drone Line initiative and is investing in Ukrainian drone production, although he did not disclose the amount of investment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Background: In March, Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof announced a 700 million investment package for drone production, aimed in part at supporting Ukraines defence industry. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! SUVA, March 31 (Xinhua) -- Fijian Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka announced on Monday that the government is acquiring and will install a Micro Modular Reactor (MMR) on its Ocean of Peace vessel. A MMR is a compact, nuclear-based power sources designed for efficient and safe energy production, reported the Fiji Times on Monday. Rabuka said in a government statement that the time had come for creative approaches to using the latest technology to ensure the goal of making Fijian life cleaner and with ample power to achieve its goals at greatly reduced costs. He said the Fijian government is working with Lloyds Register of London, Deployable Energy of Houston Texas, and Seatransport of Queensland, to incorporate MMR onto the 73-meter Ocean of Peace vessel. This will happen as soon as the MMR technology is demonstrated as living up to its cost-saving, emission elimination, and safety goals, said the prime minister. "At that point, the initial diesel engines would be replaced by an MMR, which would not require refueling for 10 years," he said. Rabuka also acknowledged that the largest handbrake on the Fiji economy and prosperity is the importation and distribution of diesel for power generation. The Netherlands will allocate 2 billion euros ($2.2 billion) to support Ukraine in 2025, said Dutch Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans and State Secretary Gijs Tuinman on March 31. This support will include 500 million euros ($540 million) for Ukraine's Drone Line project, Brekelmans noted. Ukraine's Defense Ministry announced the project in February, presenting it as a new military initiative aimed at integrating unmanned aerial systems into front-line operations. Various aerial, naval, and ground drones have been developed and successfully used by Ukrainian troops for reconnaissance, combat, and other tasks. Ukraine is also working to scale up domestic production, having the capacity to produce over 5 million first-person-view (FPV) drones per year, presidential advisor Alexander Kamyshin said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "These drones will make a difference on the battlefield and literally save lives," said Brekelmans in a statement. During their recent trip to Ukraine, Brekelmans and Tuinman visited the city of Dnipro after a Russian mass drone attack. Four people were killed and 28 injured, according to authorities. The two also visited military headquarters on the eastern front and met with Defense Minister Rustem Umerov. Since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022, the Netherlands has provided Kyiv with a combined 7.33 billion euros ($7.87 billion) in support, according to the Kiel Institute for the World Economy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read also: How the next generation of Ukrainian drone pilots are being trained at UAV schools Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Stillwater residents Val and Amy Castor have covered many wildfires, but none so close to home and none where they could only assume rounds of ammunition exploded as a house burned. The News 9 storm chasers were covering a fire in Leedey, Oklahoma when they first heard the news of the wildfires popping up in Stillwater on March 14. The fires in Payne County raged for 12 hours Friday afternoon and evening, destroying more than 200 homes and structures, as high winds knocked out power lines across town and the skies filled with first dust, then ash. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As the town of Leedey continued to follow mandatory evacuation orders, we began hearing reports that our hometown was under evacuation orders, as well, Amy said. We made our way back to Payne County for the 10 p.m. newscast. They rushed back to Stillwater and found burning homes as they entered the city at 44th Street. Man, Im telling you, it was worse than I thought, Val said. Im not for sure if that might have been part of another fire, but we were going through 8 miles of fire before we started coming to the city limits. Amy described the scene as a bright orange glow surrounding them in three directions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Friends asked them to stop by Nottingham Addition to check on a house there. We began giving street-by-street updates as we made our way closer to the flames affecting homes and thick areas of trees, Amy said, adding that as they reported live on Facebook, they saw 15 homes already burned in the Nottingham Addition and several more still burning. (Our friends) house was still standing, but all the other houses around were just already burned to the ground or in the process of burning, Val said. There was another house that had just caught on fire, and we were near it. The flames rose rapidly, he said, and Amy described the flames as shooting more than 50 feet into the air. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Then all of a sudden, we started hearing these gunshots, Val said. There were shell casings going off. Evidently, what happened was, the fire must have gotten into the area of that house where they had their ammo stored. He said the residents must have been preparing for something big, because they had a lot of ammo. I am not kidding you, there were thousands of rounds of ammunition just going off, just in rapid fire, Val said. Val said with other fires theyve chased, theyve heard propane tanks and paint cans explode, but nothing quite like this. Then Amy heard something hit the side of the truck. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When those things are going off, theyre not going to come like theyre shot out of a gun, you know, because theyre not in the barrel of a gun, theyre not going to be channeled, Val said. Val said brass casings could probably fly everywhere, and the possibility of getting hit by a lead slug is strong. We kind of started ducking in the truck, just in case something comes through the windshield. My wife led the way on that one, Val said. We were doing reports on television during all of this. They decided to pull back a distance, and not long after, the tree they had been sitting under caught fire. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Val said they were getting texts from many residents, asking if they could check their houses to see if they were still standing. Everybody had to be evacuated, they couldnt get back in and they were all worried about their houses, Val said. So, we checked on as many as we could. Val said hed never seen a wildfire quite like this in Stillwater. Ive seen lots of fires around Stillwater, and they were bad, but this is the first time its really actually came this far into Stillwater, Val said. Once the fire makes it into some of those houses with that kind of wind, each house kind of seeds another house the heat and the flames and the embers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As storm chasers, theyre both familiar with fast-paced destruction. But this was on a level we had never seen before. It brought with it many emotions, especially since we got news a family from our church lost everything, Amy said. We always feel a sense of heartache and heavy burden when we witness property damage and destruction. As storm chasers, the responsibility always seems so great, and we wish there was more we could do to communicate the sense of urgency to our viewers. Theres always a sense of disappointment that we are unable to help in a greater way. Knowing our community we call home was enduring wildfires of that magnitude was very overwhelming. We are so thankful for all of the brave men and women who sacrifice so much to protect others during disasters that reach beyond our control. Across Oklahoma, wildfires burned 170,000 acres. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement City of Stillwater Mayor Will Joyce said preliminary data reveals 992 properties were impacted and 539 were destroyed across the state. In Payne County, 229 properties were impacted and 180 homes were destroyed. Within Stillwater, 123 properties were impacted, and 98 homes were destroyed in the west and southwest areas of town and the Citys service area. Val said the winds were at the top end, with gusts as high as 64 mph within Stillwater, Perkins and Lake Carl Blackwell. Later reports by City officials clocked winds at 69 mph. The Oklahoma Mesonet located at Lake Carl Blackwell registered 173 degrees before melting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Mesonet measures barometric pressure, air temperature, wind speed, relative humidity, solar radiation and rainfall. Theres definitely some equipment, some money invested in that, Val said. Theres stations all over, and theres actually been cases when stations have been hit by a tornado or sideswiped. Val said some, like the El Reno Mesonet, registered 150 mph winds during an F5 storm the Castors once chased. A portion of the coverage from March 14 can be seen at youtu.be/pBiIbPaeshs?feature=shared. More Information The Stillwater Strong Relief donation location will move from the Stillwater Armory to Our Daily Bread at 701 E. 12th Street. Donations may be picked up from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesdays and from 4-6 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays. There will be a designated room for those impacted by the wildfires throughout April. If residents need to arrange a time outside of the scheduled times, they may call 405-533-2555, extension 104. A New Jersey man accused of tearing down an LGBTQ pride flag from a donut shop and giving a Nazi salute has been arrested, police said. Maciej Wojciak, 61, was charged Saturday with bias intimidation after cops said he threatened to burn down Main Street Donuts in Matawan, the Asbury Park Press reported. I was in the back and an employee said someone just took the flag, store owner Joe Rizzuto told the paper. I ran out and saw him across the street parked and yelling. He was dressed like Trump, with a MAGA hat and a wig. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cops said Wojciak left before officers could arrive, but then returned to the shop and gave a Nazi salute, simulated sex acts in the street and threatened to burn the building down, according to News 12 New Jersey. At that point, officers tracked down Wojciak and arrested him, the Press reported. In addition to bias intimidation, he was charged with terroristic threats, criminal mischief and disorderly conduct. Rizzuto and his husband, Rick Canero, own two donut shops in New Jersey. Rizzuto told the Press a similar incident with the pride flag happened two years ago, but he didnt publicize it. I will not stay quiet, Rizzuto said Sunday. In 54 years as a gay man I have never had a hate crime occur until these. New London The owners of Favorites Bistro Bar would like their restaurant to be known for its Sunday brunches or Caribbean-inspired culinary delights - not a random act of violence. Two years of work to establish themselves on Bank Street might have been dismantled on the evening of Jan. 30 when a gunman opened fire on a patron inside the restaurant. Police described the shooting as a targeted attack. Restaurant owners Majan, 39, and Ederjson Pierre, 38, had just picked up their two young daughters and arrived at their Ledyard home when they received a phone call about the shooting. Majan said she was in tears. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Aside from the many questions about why the shooting happened and whether anyone was hurt, there was the realization the restaurant might have to close. In a business that's notoriously tough to be successful, a shooting could have been devastating and forced them out of business. This was a direct threat to everything we worked for. It was not a good feeling, Majan Pierre said. Police said the fact the shooting took place at the restaurant was happenstance. They have since arrested the alleged gunman though his motive is not known. It had nothing to do with us but the end result is we suffer. It is our names out there, Ederjson Pierre said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The two former Norwich residents said that despite a stigma about New London being unsafe, theres no doubt it is a welcoming community. The two have run a successful cleaning business - True Maid Cleaning- in the city and dabbled in real estate for two decades. Immediately after the shooting, the couple said there was unwavering support for them from the community. Leaders from the Mystic Chamber of Commerce and Garde Arts Center were among the first to reach out, they said. There were reassurances from numerous neighboring business owners that Majan Pierre said reminded us of the strength and unity within our community. Getting those phone calls, messages and people coming in, it all felt very good, Majan Pierre said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Pierres said their staff remained resilient and continued to work with passion and professionalism. Looking ahead, the couple said theyd like to focus more on the unique food and atmosphere Favorites brings to the region. The Pierres, who are Haitian, described the food as a mix of the familiar infused with culture and island flavors. The restaurant's menu features everything from honey jerked chicken wings and oxtail rangoons to coq au vin and braised short ribs. The restaurant, which features a Passport Dinner series and jazz nights on its waterfront patios, will debut a Saturday brunch on April 5. g.smith@theday.com Lincoln Yard in Birmingham takes the No. 10 spot on the 2025 Detroit Free Press/Metro Detroit Chevy Dealers Top 10 New Restaurants & Dining Experiences list for its eclectic offerings and bright, family-friendly atmosphere. From Union Joints, the hospitality group behind eateries, such as Vinsetta Garage, Union Assembly and Moms Spaghetti, Lincoln Yard joins the roster with its little sister, Little Yard. The side-by-side establishments come as a twofer: Little Yard, with an all-day breakfast menu, soups and coffee; and Lincoln Yard, offering brunch, lunch, dinner and spirited beverages. In line with Union Joints mission to bring new life to old spaces, the project repurposed a former school bus yard for Birmingham Public Schools in the city's Rail District. While Little Yards menu is concise theres just a burrito and breakfast bowls, an egg sandwich and avocado toast Lincoln Yard offers a wider range. For lunch, a sweet olive oil and cornbread loaf is served hot in a cast iron dish with a generous side of hot honey butter with cracked sea salt. The Micro Bus salad nods to the history of the space, pairing crisp baby kale with tomatoes marinated in olive oil and champagne vinegar, pickled celery and crispy curried chickpeas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theres a dedicated area where diners can gather around a hearth to watch cooks craft wood-fired pizzas topped with rotisserie chicken, Calabrian chiles or fontina cheese. For brunch, housemade brioche French toast is made crispy with a cashew crust and served on a puree of tangy passionfruit curd. [ Subscribe to the Eat Drink Freep newsletter for extras and insider scoops on Detroit-area dining. ] Lincoln Yard menu highlight The hardwood-smoked chicken wings of enormous proportions are the true crowd pleasers. Lincoln Yard and Little Yard address 2159 E. Lincoln St., Birmingham. 248-653-5353; eatlincolnyard.com. Save the Date: On Tuesday, May 13, Lincoln Yard, the Detroit Free Press and Metro Detroit Chevy Dealers will host a Top 10 Takeover dinner. Stay tuned for ticket information at Freep.com. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Best New Restaurants 2025: Lincoln Yard in Birmingham Vesper, a wine bar and cookbook store in Detroit, takes the No. 7 spot on the 2025 Detroit Free Press/Metro Detroit Chevy Dealers Top 10 New Restaurants & Dining Experiences list for its youthful atmosphere and impressive selection. One of the most highly anticipated openings of 2024, Vesper made a splash with its collection of wines by the bottle or glass. The new wine bar is operated by Rob Wilson, an alum of Kiesling in Detroits North End, and partner Symantha Duggan. The duo has established a space that defies the traditional expectations of a stuffy wine bar. Wilson takes the curation seriously, sourcing bottles from purveyors in France and Italy, Napa and Argentina, yet his approach to the pour is lighthearted. Rather than dainty-stemmed, perfectly polished vessels, sturdy wines glasses at Vesper are stamped with the bars squiggly red and yellow logo. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There are also fun small food pairings, like chilled olives dusted in lemon zest, cheese plates with housemade jam and a range of tinned fish offerings. The space embodies the playfulness of the wine program here. The walls are lined with green brush strokes, cushy seats boast vibrant orange hues and menus are printed on paper the color of marigold petals. Wilson and Duggan describe Vesper as a "third place," a venue that becomes an alternative for placemaking outside of home or work. It offers the energy of a cafe, replacing dark roasts with burly reds. As much as it is a wine bar, it is a cookbookstore, selling the most current titles in the food space. Guests can lounge on a couch, flipping through the sacred text, Daily Bread, an issue of the indie magazine Cake Zine or gather a book club in a quaint back room anchored by the original vault of the century-old Detroit Savings Bank. Behind a steel door is a space lacquered in emerald walls and matching tufted velvet benches, perfect for discussing literary gems, like Diana Henrys Roast Figs Sugar Snow, and Eric Adjepongs new Ghana to the World. [ Subscribe to the Eat Drink Freep newsletter for extras and insider scoops on Detroit-area dining. ] Vesper menu highlights A glass of acidic Jean Louis et Fabienne Mann Pinot Blanc Fly Me to the Moon prickles the tongue. To eat, sliced rye bread from Core City neighborhood breadmaker, Mother Loaf, is a real treat paired with salted butter. Vesper Books and Wine address 5001 Grand River Ave., Detroit. 313-716-1708; vesperbooksandwine.com Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Save the Date: On Tuesday, July 8, Vesper, the Detroit Free Press and Metro Detroit Chevy Dealers will host a Top 10 Takeover dinner. Stay tuned for ticket information at Freep.com. 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. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Best New Restaurants 2025: Vesper in Detroit Savoy in Detroit takes the No. 9 spot on the 2025 Detroit Free Press/Metro Detroit Chevy Dealers Top 10 New Restaurants & Dining Experiences list for its whimsical approach to Southern and Creole offerings. For many years, the east side of Detroits culinary scene has been driven by fast food and fast-casual restaurants. When it opened last summer, Savoy offered an upscale dining experience for the Cornerstone Village neighborhood. Led by chef Melba Dearing, the restaurant delivers an amalgam of Southern dishes and Creole flavors, plus a few fun riffs in between. A creative starter elevates a classic carnival food. Dearing dunks two meaty lobster tails into a sweet cornbread batter and deep fries the tails until theyre crispy and golden brown for a surf take on the corndog. The crustaceans hard, peach-toned shell gets pierced with a wood skewer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Two thick slabs of meatloaf are made even heartier with crunchy onion straws, a generous helping of dense garlic mashed potatoes and a spicy Tennessee pepper gravy poured over top. With its navy and orange decor, live jazz performances and a spirited waitstaff, the Savoy has a refreshingly uplifting air. [ Subscribe to the Eat Drink Freep newsletter for extras and insider scoops on Detroit-area dining. ] Savoy menu highlights Nolas Fish and Grits brings a twist to a Southern staple. Fried catfish filets are served with sticky grits cakes that have been molded into triangular wedges and deep fried. The dish is topped with a creamy Cajun sauce chock-full of chopped crawfish. Savoy address 17131 E. Warren Ave., Detroit. 313-469-7558; savoydetroit.com. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Save the Date: On Tuesday, June 24, Savoy, the Detroit Free Press and Metro Detroit Chevy Dealers will host a Top 10 Takeover dinner. Stay tuned for ticket information at Freep.com. 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. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Best New Restaurants 2025: Savoy in Detroit No charges will be filed in the death of a 10-year-old boy who drowned last summer in the Yellow Breeches Creek, which borders York and Cumberland counties, according to the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission. Matthew Coffroth Jr. of Lancaster County was kayaking with family and friends on Aug. 10, 2024 when they ran into heavy debris, including some from the remnants of Tropical Storm Debby. Most of the party was able to get out of the creek, but the youth was swept away. Debris is cleaned away from a dam August 14, 2024 in the area of the dam on the Yellow Breeches Creek at Limekiln and Slate Hill Roads. His body was found in the morning on Aug. 14, 2024 in Fairview Township after a 3.5-day-long search and recovery along the creek. The boy was not wearing a life vest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission issued the following statement on Monday: "After consultation with the York County District Attorney's Office, it was determined that no charges will be filed in this case. The investigation is now closed." Matthew Coffroth Jr. "was known for his kind heart, quick wit, and infectious smile," according to his obituary. This article originally appeared on York Daily Record: No charges in drowning of 10-year-old boy in York County: official FAIRFAX COUNTY, Va. (DC News Now) No one was hurt after a fire broke out in a house in Fairfax County on Sunday, according to the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue. Officials said crews responded to reports of a house fire at around 3:30 p.m. in the 7900 block of Hill Stream Court. There, heavy flames and smoke could be seen from the roof and were rapidly spreading to the rest of the house. Kite reportedly makes contact with United flight near Reagan National Airport, airline says Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Crews from the Prince William County Fire and Rescue System and the City of Alexandria Fire Department assisted in extinguishing the fire. According to firefighters, all occupants were safely evacuated. Fire investigators are working to determine the cause of the 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 DC News Now | DC, Virginia, Maryland News, Weather, Traffic, Sports Live. BEIJING, March 31 (Xinhua) -- China's Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development on Monday released new national standards for residential projects, aiming to meet the people's demand for improved living quality. The new standards, targeting residential projects as a whole, emphasize safety, comfort, green practices and smart design while specifying requirements for construction, use and maintenance in terms of scale, layout, functionality, performance and key technical measures. The new standards, effective May 1, cover seven aspects that include general principles, basic regulations, living environment, building space, structure, indoor environment, and building equipment. Key provisions include a minimum ceiling height of three meters for new residential buildings, mandatory elevators for structures with four or more floors, and enhanced sound insulation standards for walls and floors. According to China's existing home design standards, which have been in effect since 2012, the ceiling height requirement is 2.8 meters. An official from the ministry said that rapid economic and social development, coupled with improvements in living standards and construction technology, have raised expectations for housing quality. The new standards, formulated through extensive consultation and research, will further support the high-quality development of urban housing, the official added. NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) A Norfolk jury convicted a man of rape Thursday after he sexually assaulted a former coworker after a 2023 house party, the Norfolk Commonwealths Attorneys office said. Eddie Lee Simon, 30, had initially pleaded not guilty and opted to be tried by a jury, but after a jury heard evidence Tuesday and Wednesday of last week, the jury Thursday convicted Simon of rape. Judge David W. Lannetti set a July 25 sentencing hearing. Eddie Lee Simon Sex without consent, whether through threats or intimidation or by taking advantage of another persons helplessness or unconsciousness, is rape, period, said Commonwealths Attorney Ramin Fatehi in a statement. I am grateful to the survivor of Mr. Simons assault for coming forward, telling the truth, and helping the police and us hold Mr. Simon accountable. We will seek a fitting sentence for this crime, and we will continue to focus our resources on the individuals who hurt other members of our community. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the Commonwealths Attorneys office, the victim and Simon had been friends and coworkers at a Norfolk bar for about two months before the incident, and, on the night of Oct. 27, 2023, the victim worked her shift at the bar and had plans to meet Simon and other friends at a house party. After midnight on Oct. 28, the victim showed up to the house party, with everyone drinking alcoholic beverages, including the victim, who had not eaten before arriving, according to the Commonwealths Attorneys office, who noted that at some point during the party, Simon and his girlfriend had gotten into an argument, with the girlfriend leaving. At that point, according to evidence, Simon then complained about the fight to the victim and other people at the party, and that was the last thing the victim remembered before blacking out. The victims next memory, according to evidence, was of finding herself not at the house party but at Simons bedroom, which she had recognized from two prior, and brief, visits with friends. She told Simon she wanted to take a nap and set an alarm on her phone, with him agreeing to sleep on his couch. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After the victim went to sleep, Simon raped her without a condom, according to evidence, and the victim woke up to the rape, pulled away from him and then gathered her belongings to leave Simons residence and went home around 8 a.m. Oct. 28, according to evidence. The victim went to a hospital later that day to undergo a sexual assault nurse exam. Based on their investigation, police charged Simon with rape of an incapacitated person. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCT) The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services plan to prevent the spread of rabies with an oral rabies vaccine. Starting the week of Mar. 31, 2025, Wildlife Services will be distributing an annual oral rabies vaccine for raccoons in Western North Carolina. This program usually takes place annually each fall but has been delayed in 2024 due to Hurricane Helene. Rabies is a deadly but preventable disease, and this program plays a critical role in protecting both public health and animal populations across North Carolina, DVM, State Public Health Veterinarian Carl Williams said. By vaccinating wildlife like raccoons, we create a barrier that helps stop the spread of the virus keeping people, pets and communities safer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Starting on Tuesday, April 2, 2025, baits containing the oral rabies vaccine will be aerially distributed in these counties: Ash, Avery, Buncombe, Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Swain, Transylvania, Watauga, and Yancey. There will be additional hand baiting in Buncombe County on April 3-9, weather depending. The baits consist of a sachet, or plastic packet, that contains the oral rabies vaccine. The packets are sprinkled with a fishmeal coating or are encased inside hard fishmeal-polymer blocks about the size of a matchbox to make them more attractive to raccoons. Once the raccoon bites into the bait and is exposed to the vaccine, the animals immune system is activated to produce antibiotics that provide protection against rabies infection. Please report any sick or dead wild animals to the NC Wildlife Helpline at 1-866-318-2401 (Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. 5 p.m.) or anytime via email at HWI@ncwildlife.org. If you come into contact with the liquid vaccine, call the number listed. The vaccine will not harm domestic dogs or cats but is only approved for use on raccoons and coyotes. Contact your local veterinarian to get your pet vaccinated against rabies. Baiting should be completed by the end of April 2025. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For more information, please visit the National Rabies Management Program webpage. To learn more about rabies, visit the NCDHHS Division of Public Health website. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WNCT. BURNSVILLE, NC (WGHP) At Mountain Heritage High School in Yancey County, the sounds of saws and hammers fill the air. To those in that part of Yancey County, its the sound of hope. Students in Jeremy Dotts Advanced Carpentry class are building a tiny house that will go to help a victim of Hurricane Helene. Find out Whats Right With Our Schools! Says Dotts, We literally started in January on the very first house and thats what you see right over there. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This house is special for a number of reasons. Hurricane Helene hit their community hard, so they all felt and saw the loss firsthand. According to Dotts, The floodwaters were really what hit me and see more than anything because we have really two major rivers that flood that come through. Yancey County, that just wiped-out whole areas. So its been its been devastating. Jesse Taylor, a senior advance carpentry student, remembers it well. There was trees down all over the roads. Driveways were destroyed. A lot of my neighbors driveways . We live next to a Creek, rocks everywhere in the yards. Just a lot of damage. It was really sad to see, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But knowing they are a part of the rebuilding and healing process helps. They (the students) have bought in completely to what theyre doing. Their hearts are in it. They know who this house is going to. They know that the foundations that theyre working with, like rebuilding hollers is, you know, their hearts in the right place with doing this to help our community members, said Dotts. And while they are raising the walls, their level of experience has gone up as well. I have 18 kids in here building 3 individual projects, so theyre not always able to get to me right away, Dotts says. They have to figure that out and make those mistakes and in the process of making those mistakes, they really learn. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Plus, he says they are also learning something that cant be taught in any book: empathy and compassion. That is something that you its very difficult to teach kids to do, but if you instill it in them. They really get it. And they love it. They really do buy into it. For the students it makes them feel useful in the clean up and rebuilding. Its great being able to get the experience and give back to the community just to help someone thats needing it, said senior Carter Tabor. Jesse Taylor added, Yeah, its brought back, you know, lot of hope getting back in here after the hurricane. Its pretty nice getting able to work and give back to the community. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A community that recognizes and needs their help. This house was paid for with donations to the Rebuilding Hollers Foundation. They are hoping to build many more homes in the future as they try to regain what once was. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Iowa Workforce Development manages unemployment claims filed on behalf of Iowans. (Photo by Getty Images, logo courtesy the State of Iowa) An Iowa nurse who was fired for an alleged pattern of patient neglect is not entitled to unemployment benefits, a judge has ruled. State records indicate Ashley K. Brooks worked as a registered nurse for Mercy Health Services, which operates four hospital divisions in Iowa, from April 2022 through her termination in early January 2025. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The final incident leading up to her firing occurred on Dec. 30, 2024, when a doctor ordered a urine analysis for a patient shortly after 8 a.m. Brooks allegedly failed to collect the urine sample for several hours, during which time the patients husband informed the staff that his wife had become nonverbal. According to her employer, Brooks was to have checked on the woman multiple times during her shift but either failed to notice the change in the patients condition or did not act on it. Brooks collected the sample at 2:45 p.m., after which the patient was taken to the emergency room for a severe urinary tract infection. Mercy Health Services also alleged Brooks had failed to provide adequate care to patients on several other occasions. On Dec. 28, 2024, one of Brooks patients complained of chest pain and was in need of an EKG and a blood draw before they could be being sent to the emergency room for evaluation. Brooks allegedly sat at the nurses desk, scrolling through her phone while three other staff members performed the tasks, although the patient was specifically assigned to Brooks, Mercy Health Services alleged. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On two other occasions, Brooks allegedly failed to take patients blood pressure including one instance in which an aide took the patients blood pressure, which registered as 26 over 13 a level so low it was almost incompatible with life. Although the nurse aide was concerned, Brooks allegedly advised her only to have the patient drink fluids. Brooks was also accused of falsifying records by indicating she had completed certain tasks that she hadnt actually performed, and other nurses alleged she regularly failed to perform wound care for diabetic patients, increasing the risk that the patients would lose a limb. After she was fired, Brooks applied for unemployment benefits, which led to a hearing before Administrative Law Judge Stephanie Adkisson. Recently, Adkisson ruled Brooks was not entitled to jobless benefits, finding that Mercy Health Services had presented credible evidence that Brooks failed to provide proper care to patients including ignoring dangerously low blood pressure, chest pains, and wound care. As a registered nurse, (Brooks) was aware of the reasonable standards of care. (Her) conduct was clearly against the best interest of the employer and its patients. State records indicate that Brooks Iowa license remains active and unencumbered, with no history of disciplinary action by the Iowa Board of Nursing. Rep. Nydia Velazquez, a powerbroker of Brooklyn and Queens politics, is throwing her weight behind Justin Brannans city comptroller run, giving him his first endorsement from a member of New Yorks congressional delegation. In a statement to the Daily News announcing her endorsement, Velazquez credited Brannans push as City Council Finance Committee chairman to reverse budget cuts to libraries and other public services enacted by Mayor Adams over the past few years. Justin has the backbone, the values, and the vision to make sure our citys budget reflects the priorities of the people not the powerful, said Velazquez, who has represented parts of Brooklyn and Queens in the U.S. House of Representatives for more than three decades. Im proud to endorse Justin Brannan because I know hell always put working New Yorkers first. Brannan, whose Council district spans a part of Brooklyn that includes Coney Island, is facing off against Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine in the June 24 Democratic comptroller primary. Levine has to date raised more money than Brannan for his comptroller run and racked up high-profile endorsements, too, including from Rep. Adriano Espaillat (D-Manhattan, Bronx), whos highly influential in Manhattan politics. NEW YORK Mayor Eric Adams on Monday urged the judge presiding over his public corruption case to hurry up and decide on outstanding dismissal motions before upcoming deadlines in the mayoral race. In the new filing, lawyer Alex Spiro urged Manhattan federal Judge Dale Ho to issue his highly anticipated decision on whether to dismiss the bombshell case promptly. [With] the petition-filing deadline just days away, we respectfully urge the Court to issue its decision as soon as practicable, Spiro wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ho is weighing arguments from the Justice Department and Adamss lawyers to dismiss the indictment against the mayor. The indictment accuses him of abusing his political power in exchange for illegal campaign contributions and plush travel benefits from wealthy Turkish officials and businessmen. Adams denies the allegations. Weeks after Donald Trump took office, his former defense attorney-turned-top Justice Department official, Emil Bove, asked Ho to dismiss the case without prejudice meaning it could be filed again in the future. Bove argued that the case was interfering with Adamss ability to assist the Trump administrations aggressive deportation agenda in the nations largest sanctuary city. Bove filed the motion after Danielle Sassoon, the former Interim U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, quit rather than obey an order to ask the court to drop the charges. Sassoon, a Republican, said the deal underlying the motion amounted to an illicit quid pro quo between the mayor and the Trump administration, one that would see Adams let off the hook in exchange for giving Trump free rein to target New York Citys immigrant communities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While the mayor has agreed to that widely-criticized arrangement, which does not speak to his guilt or innocence, he has separately asked Ho to dismiss the case with prejudice meaning it would go away for good. With the two sides arguing for the same cause, Ho appointed an independent lawyer to advise him on the matter, Paul Clement, who was solicitor general under President George W. Bush. Clement advised Ho to dismiss the case with prejudice, writing that it would be deeply troubling to sign off on a deal that could see Adams beholden to Trump and not New Yorkers. Ho has received arguments from several outside parties, including former U.S. attorneys, former federal judges, and good government groups, urging him to closely scrutinize the terms of the deal and some arguing he should appoint a special prosecutor. After receiving the initial dismissal bid, Ho canceled the trial that was set to take place this month, and said Adams was not required to attend any more court hearings while he weighs complex legal questions. CHELSEA, Manhattan (PIX11) Outdoor dining sheds are allowed to be on New York City streets and sidewalks from April 1 through Nov. 29, but on the eve of their opening, a demonstration accompanied legislation to bring them back year-round. Not everyone approves of the measure, but advocates for year-round outdoor dining say they have support from Gov. Kathy Hochul and others. More Local News State Assemblymember Tony Simone led a demonstration at the Empire Diner on Monday morning after introducing a bill in the state legislature calling for outdoor dining structures to be allowed year-round in city streets. The measure is in contrast to a New York City Council law passed last year that now requires dining sheds to be up for the eight-month period only. The City Council law also restricts the design and types of structures that can be built. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Simone said that the current city law is too restrictive, which is why he introduced a legislative change. It fosters community, he said at the morning news conference. [Its] good for small businesses, improves public safety, increases tax revenue, and makes our streets more than a way to get around. It makes them a place to be. More: Latest News from Around the Tri-State The city imposed the new law in response to complaints about some of the thousands of dining sheds that were built around the city during the COVID-19 emergency. Simone said hes confident that Hochul favors his bill. However, it was just introduced in the State Assembly, the lower house, so its too soon for it to have co-sponsors in the Assembly or the state Senate, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But not everyone is a supporter. Debra Seiter, a Chelsea resident, was among a variety of people who said that they dont miss the dining structures. I dont like it on the street, she said, when asked by PIX11 News, because it clogs up traffic. Im glad the huts are gone, she continued, because they were rat city, they were scary, they were yucky. The citys Department of Transportation oversees outdoor dining structures. It said, through a spokesperson, that its reviewing Simones bill. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11. SYDNEY, March 31 (Xinhua) -- Police in Australia are searching for a man who allegedly shot one man and stabbed another, leaving both with life-threatening injuries. The police service in the state of Queensland said that a 30-year-old man fled the scene after allegedly shooting one neighbor and stabbing another during a dispute in the early hours of Monday morning. Police said that emergency services responded to a disturbance at an address in Surfers Paradise -- 70 km southeast of Brisbane on Queensland's Gold Coast -- just before 2 a.m. local time. A 21-year-old man was found at the scene with a gunshot wound to his stomach and stab wounds to his back and a 44-year-old male was found with stab wounds to his head, neck and leg. Both men were treated at the scene for life-threatening injuries before being taken to a nearby hospital in a critical but stable condition. Police located a firearm at the scene and have launched a search for the 30-year-old male who fled the address before officers arrived. Queensland Police Service Acting Chief Superintendent Peter Miles told Australian Broadcasting Corporation radio that police have a "fair idea" of who they are looking for. "The appeal is for that gentleman to give himself up. This isn't going away, this is attempted murder," he said. "We just need you to come in and give yourself up and we'll deal with you from there on in." He said that the incident occurred in a common area after the 44-year-old and 21-year-old males intervened in a disturbance in a neighboring unit. Rep. Adriano Espaillat has endorsed City Councilman Keith Powers in the race for Manhattan borough president, his most prominent endorsement yet. The congressmans endorsement is a significant gain for Powers, as Espaillat holds sway in upper Manhattan and among many Latino voters. Espaillat said he chose to throw his weight behind the term-limited East Side councilman because of his record of fighting for working and middle-class people and immigrants. Keith grew up in rent-stabilized housing and knows what its like to work hard to make ends meet, Espaillat (D-Manhattan, Bronx) said. Thats why hes dedicated his career to building more affordable housing, protecting our workers, and driving down the cost of living for our families. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Powers is facing off in the June primary against West Side state Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal. Current beep Mark Levine is not seeking reelection, instead running for city comptroller. Im incredibly grateful to have the support of Congressman Adriano Espaillat, a longstanding champion for our communities in upper Manhattan, Powers said. In this campaign, were building a broad coalition of support that spans the entire borough and consistently fights for working people and democratic values. Hoylman-Sigal secured the endorsements of Reps. Dan Goldman (D-Manhattan, Brooklyn) and Jerrold Nadler (D-Manhattan) in February. (NEXSTAR) Kim Delaney, an actress who appeared on such shows as NYPD Blue, Army Wives and The O.C., was arrested over the weekend for an assault with a deadly weapon, according to the Los Angeles Sheriffs Department. Kim Delaney arrives at a Rolling Stone Live event in Minneapolis on February 2, 2018. (Cassidy Sparrow/Getty Images for Rolling Stone) The actress was arrested Saturday morning at around 10:15 a.m., according to booking information released by the LASD. More Local News TMZ, citing law enforcement sources, reported that Delaney and her partner, James Morgan, had gotten into an argument which became physical. A representative for the LASD confirmed that deputies from its Marina Del Rey station responded to a domestic disturbance call at around 9:45 a.m. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Subsequent to an investigation by deputies, Mrs. Kim Delaney was arrested for an assault with a deadly weapon and Mr. James Morgan was arrested for battery, reads a statement the LASD shared with Nexstars KTLA. An investigation is ongoing, the department said. The LASD website indicates that Delaney is facing a felony charge, while Morgan was charged with a misdemeanor. Booking information made public by the LASD shows Morgan was released on bond; it was unclear if Delaney had also been released as of Monday morning. Both are scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday. More: Latest News from Around the Tri-State Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Delaney played Det. Diane Russell on ABCs NYPD Blue between 1995 and 2003, per IMDb. During the course of the series, she was nominated for an Emmy three times (in 1997, 1998 and 1999), winning once in 1997 for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 NYPD is reviewing its $734,000 contract with a veterinarian overseeing the agencys mounted horse unit after his history of violating racehorse care rules surfaced, The Post has learned. Camilo Bravo Sierra, of Northport, New York, who has been a contract veterinarian with the Department of Health since 2019, was fined at least seven times and suspended twice while working as a horse racing veterinarian at Queens Aqueduct Race Track, according to state data first reported by Gothamist. While there have been no complaints or problems with the care that our horses have received, we take any allegations of abuse very seriously, and we are reviewing the contract, an NYPD rep told The Post. Larry Wallach, whose Long Island-based Sloth Encounters was closed amid animal abuse allegations. Sloth Encounters A rep for the DOH, which oversees the citys carriage horses and has a $3,000 horse veterinarian contract with Sierra until late 2026, declined to comment on personnel issues. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sierra was awarded the massive NYPD contract last October to treat the citys fleet of roughly 50 horses for the next five years after the agencys longtime vet died in 2023, a source familiar with the matter said. In an interview with The Post last year, Sierra called his violations minor and contended that he was only suspended from the racetrack grounds, and that his license itself was never suspended. A member of the NYPD mounted police gestures during the 264th annual St Patricks Day parade on 5th Avenue in Manhattan. REUTERS A rep from the state gaming commission did not return a request for comment on the violations. If I had committed serious violations, my license would have been suspended, period, said Sierra, who declined a phone interview this month. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to ruling documents, Sierra committed an improper, corrupt and fraud act in 2017 at Aqueduct by submitting health certificates for horses he didnt evaluate, prescribing the now-banned drug Albuterol to a horse he hadnt treated and using a fictitious horse name on documents. NYPDs Mounted Unit patrol officers riding their horses during the 2021 New Years Eve celebration in Times Square. Getty Images Sierra was fined $4,500 and suspended for 21 days. Other violations issued to Sierra over the years include allegedly submitting health certificates for horses he didnt evaluate in 2016; breaking the gaming commissions rules regarding steroid drug use in horses in 2013; and failing to follow proper licensing requirements in 2006. Separately, the New York State Board for Veterinary Medicine fined Sierra in 2020 for professional misconduct for failing to sign a medical exam form, list medication he gave and provide information to support his treatment of a horse in Queens in 2016, records show. A Central Park carriage horse as seen in New York in May 2021. Christopher Sadowski His veterinary license was ordered suspended for two years, though he was put on a probation instead, Gothamist reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The doctor, who has been licensed in the state since 1992, has a troubled past aside from the state-level volitions, animal activists say. Sierra performed the autopsy for carriage horse Aysha who collapsed while working and was euthanized in February 2020 after suffering from a treatable genetic disease. Long Island-based Sloth Encounters allegedly kept sloths in overcrowded conditions. Instagram/@slothencounterspetshop Sierras autopsy contended the horse was in good condition and showed no injuries consistent with abuse or mishandling, despite online videos depicting carriage drivers pushing and dragging the mare directly following its collapse. Medical records also show Aysha was given a clean health exam from another vet in October 2019, but the mare would have had symptoms for a while that went ignored, according to Edita Birnkrant, executive director of animal advocacy group NYCLASS. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The reason there was no animal cruelty investigation into Ayshas death, and the mishandling that led up to her death, was because Camilo Sierra was the only vet to do the autopsy and declare that there was absolutely no wrongdoing on anyones part, Birnkrant told The Post. Sierra has also treated sloths owned by Larry Wallach, documents show, whose Long Island-based Sloth Encounters was shuttered last year amid animal abuse allegations. If somebody calls me to care for an animal I dont ask if they went to jail or if they have a criminal record or speeding tickets, Sierra said. Thats none of my business. Sierra added he is not a criminal. I have saved countless horses lives over the years, he said. I have an excellent reputation as a large animal vet. Officers with the NYPDs Harbor Unit are searching for the owners of a lost dog after rescuing the frosty pup from the ruff waters of the East River on Sunday. The drenched dog was safely fished out of the waterway on Sunday morning, according to a post by the NYPD on X. The NYPDs Harbor Unit rescued a stray dog who wound up in the East River on Sunday morning. X/NYPDnews The dog has not been claimed yet. X/NYPDnews This morning, officers from the @NYPDSpecialops Harbor Unit rescued this little pup from the ruff waters of the East River! They ensured she was safe, wrapped her in a warm blanket, and thanks to their quick actions, she can look forward to happier days! the NYPD wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The canine was composed as could be while she sat patiently in the officers arms so they could snap a picture of her swaddled in a blanket. She was soaked from head to toe and somehow still had a pink dog harness on her even after besting the East Rivers choppy waters. The dog is perfectly safe on land now, but still hasnt found her way home. The NYPD said that she still hadnt been claimed but hope that someone might recognize her soon. In the meantime, the dog will remain in the Animal Care Centers of NYC until her owners come forward. While man and dog may be best friends, the NYPD should be considered a close second given how often they save wayward strays. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One police officer in Brooklyn rescued a pup that was abandoned in Brownsvilles Betsy Head Park only to adopt the stray just a month later. The department even has an annual calendar featuring officers across divisions alongside their own dogs. Women convicted of crimes related to their gender-based victimization intimate partner violence, rape and sexual assault, and trafficking are oftened sentenced as if they were not victims long before they became criminal defendants.(Photo by Justin Paget/Getty Images) This week, the Maryland Senate is scheduled to vote on HB 853, the Maryland Second Look Act. The Second Look Act would enable people who have served at least 20 years in prison to ask the court to reconsider sentences that may have seemed appropriate when first handed down but are no longer necessary to safeguard the public. People like our clients. The Gender, Prison, and Trauma Clinic at the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law represents incarcerated women convicted of crimes related to their own gender-based victimizationintimate partner violence, rape and sexual assault, and trafficking. Despite their histories of victimization, the criminal justice system labels our clients offenders, often ignoring that they were victims long before they became criminal defendants. Your opinion matters Maryland Matters welcomes guest commentary submissions at editor@marylandmatters.org. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We suggest a 750-word limit and reserve the right to edit or reject submissions. We do not accept columns that are endorsements of candidates, and no longer accept submissions from elected officials or political candidates. Opinion pieces must be signed by at least one individual using their real name. We do not accept columns signed by an organization. Commentary writers must include a short bio and a photo for their bylines. Views of writers are their own. Our clients frequently receive very long sentences for defending themselves against abusive partners, acting under coercion or duress from abusive partners, or because they were unable to prevent their abusive partners from hurting their children. In cases involving felony murder and imputed liability, our clients are sentenced as though they were the people who carried out violent crimes, despite never having harmed anyone. Many of our clients are serving life in prison. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sentenced to long prison terms, our clients use their time in prison as productively as they can to seek education, engage in programming, and learn skills that make them employment ready. They do so much programming, in fact, that within a few years, there is nothing left for them to take. Left to age in prison, our clients develop serious (and expensive to treat) medical issues. They grow old in a place that is not designed to meet the needs of the elderly. They are not dangerous. They are not violent. Our clients use the limited legal options that are available to them to seek review of their sentences. But most of those processes are focused on legal errors, and so dont take into account a persons programming, growth, or positive institutional record. The only pure review option, sentence modification, is severely time limited. Under current law, judges can only modify sentences if asked to do so within 90 days of the original sentence and within five years of the sentencing date. Judges are often disinclined to reconsider sentences that close in time to the original ruling and our clients may not have had time to amass the kind of record that might make a judge reconsider a sentence within that short period. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Opponents of the Second Look Act argue that individuals who have been convicted of crimes of violence the kinds of crimes that generate long sentences are the worst of the worst. Our clients are far from the worst. They have been convicted of crimes of violence, but they are not violent people. They are mothers and grandmothers, sisters and aunts. They are eager to show their sentencing courts the hard work they have done while incarcerated. They could be productive members of society if given the opportunity. All they ask is for the chance to make that case in court. This is a developing story. ABC4 will update this post as new information becomes available. SARATOGA SPRINGS, Utah (ABC4) Officials have identified the two victims who were found in a Saratoga Springs home on Friday, one of whom was an 8-year-old boy who was later declared dead. Police identified the victims as Eli Painter, 8, and Jessica Lyman, 44. The boy was found to be deceased without chance of revival at the scene, and Lyman was flown to a local hospital in critical condition. As of Sunday, police said Lyman is still in critical condition. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement PREVIOUSLY: 8-year-old dead, woman in extremely critical condition at Saratoga Springs home According to a March 30 press release from the Saratoga Springs Police Department, the identification of possible suspects is on-going and evidence is still being processed. Officials have said family members and those present in the home have been interviewed or will be interviewed. Police said the two victims were found in a home on the 1200 block of Willowbrook Lane with apparent gunshot wounds. According to officials, a 17-year-old had just returned home and called 911 after discovering the victims. Officials were initially called to the home around 10:15 a.m. on March 28 for a medical assist call. After officers had responded to the area, the home was sealed off as a crime scene, and several other officials (including detectives, forensic technicians, and the medical examiner) arrived and began investigating and collecting evidence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police said the area was canvassed for witnesses and checked for surveillance cameras, but the investigation is continuing. All other possible investigative techniques are being employed, police said Sunday. Anybody who may have additional information about the case has been asked to call Saratoga Springs police at 801-766-6503. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. When ecologist Anthony Bicknell went looking for fish around the foundations of wind turbines a dozen or so miles off the coast of Scotland in the North Sea, he wasnt sure what hed find. But he was ready for something surprising. Around that time, some European lobsters were catching researchers off guard by taking up residence in wind turbine foundations in the waters off of the British Isles. Sure enough, Bicknell and his team counted two more sea creatures that scientists had never documented congregating around wind turbines: a flatfish known as a dab and, most strikingly, haddock. Haddock is one of Scotlands highest-value commercial fish, ranking above cod and just below herring in total number of fish caught annually. Unlike cod, haddock dont usually hang out around shipwrecks and other human-made structures on the seafloor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The discovery that these sleek silvery fish are utilizing wind foundations, described in a study published earlier this year, demonstrates how much researchers are still learning about the potential benefits of installing wind structures in the ocean floor. Offshore wind is growing rapidly in some parts of the world, particularly in northern Europe and China, as nations look to complement other carbon-free resources like solar. In the U.S., the industry has faced opposition from the fishing industry, environmentalists, and other anti-wind groups who have raised concerns about how turbines will affect marine life. False claims about offshore winds impact on ocean animals especially whales have been spread by opponents including President Donald Trump, who issued an executive order on his first day in office that has slowed the industry to a crawl. The new study from Bicknell, a senior research fellow at the University of Exeter, is the latest in a growing body of research that suggests offshore wind turbines, like other hard structures introduced to the seabed, can not only coexist with marine life but potentially benefit certain species. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Scientists have repeatedly found, for example, that an oil rig or oil platform can become an oasis of hard structure in ocean expanses devoid of much else but sand. They attract barnacles, shellfish, invertebrates, and, eventually, the fish that like to eat those creatures. An entire food web can grow. Studies like Bicknells find the same phenomenon is playing out around some wind turbines installed on the seafloor of the North Sea. Except, unlike oil rigs, these massive pieces of infrastructure are helping to reduce the carbon emissions caused by burning fossil fuels, which is rapidly warming the ocean and devastating marine life worldwide. Bicknell and his coauthors discovered that the older the wind foundation, the more fish and sometimes bigger fish like to call it home. This is true, they found, for many demersal fish like flatfish, haddock, and cod, which sit lower on the food chain. His team focused on the U.K. offshore wind farms known as Beatrice and Moray East; some of the studied turbines were built in 2017, while others went in around 2020. These studies also underscore that offshore wind farms are clearly changing the ocean. Scientists are still debating which species are most feeling the change. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Are they good or bad for fish? The caveat is, well, what fish? said Bicknell. Take the case of the European lobsters that like to turn wind foundations into homes. In 2021, researchers tagging lobsters around turbines installed off the coast of North Wales found that almost half of tagged animals hung out around a turbines base to find food or hide from predators. The doughnut of rocks and boulders deposited around a turbines base may also protect the lobsters. At least one tagged lobster ended up in a local fishermans trap, providing the first anecdotal evidence that turbines can support lobsters that also feed people. For haddock, the turbines are more like a buffet. Bicknell described the fish as enjoying what he and other scientists call indirect benefits. Because haddock dont usually hang around hard structures, preferring instead the sandy sea bottom, the groups that showed up on the researchers underwater cameras likely come there to feed and then leave. His study provides more evidence that wind foundations may increase the availability of food for many fish. Some of these discoveries are helping researchers in the U.S., where offshore wind has been slow to catch on. Five projects are actively under construction in the country, but only one commercial-scale offshore wind project, South Fork Wind, is in operation today. Meanwhile, the U.K. has over 40 offshore wind installations with a total capacity of 15 GW plugged into its grid. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think when it comes to surveying offshore wind infrastructure for fish, yes, we are a little bit behind, said Brendan Runde, a marine ecologist with The Nature Conservancy who is based in Virginia. Runde is part of an ongoing research project to understand how fish use two wind turbines installed off the coast of Virginia as part of a 2020 pilot by Dominion Energy. This installation and the fish that use it serve as a glimpse of whats to come in the regions waters. Less than a mile away, the states first commercial-scale project is under construction and, according to its developer Dominion, on track to be completed in 2026. During construction, wind farms could have negative effects on fish, said Runde. Artificial noise, changes to seafloor sediment, and newly laid cables that emit electromagnetic fields can all impact fish in the short-term. However, his teams research has found that the Atlantic sturgeon, an endangered species, and a variety of sharks are not avoiding the area even during ongoing construction. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At least 78 wind foundations have already been installed off the coast of Virginia, according to Dominion, while new ones continue to be built in spite of federal headwinds from Trump. In Virginia, offshore wind has a history of bipartisan support, and Gov. Glenn Youngkin, a Republican, is a vocal supporter of Dominions 2.6-gigawatt, 176-turbine project. Rundes research is ongoing and must now endure a challenging political moment for the offshore wind sector. In addition to calling wind farms garbage and vowing to halt the construction of new turbines, President Trump has gutted the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of staff and resources in recent months. Runde actively collaborates with NOAA scientists on this research, and his project itself is funded by the NOAA Northeast Fisheries Science Center. When it comes to measuring the long-term benefits of these structures, Runde and his team use some of the same methods as their British counterparts: baited remote underwater video, which measures fish abundance, size, and diversity at the pilot turbines. The foundations they explore can reach depths of 120 feet below the waters surface. Black sea bass are already making homes out of these foundations. Runde said that one fish that was tagged at a Virginia wind foundation in February 2024 was still there seven months later when he returned. We know that, for many species of fish, this wind foundation is a really big deal, said Runde. Support for victims and survivors of domestic violence is available 24/7: 1-800-897-LINK (5465). If you or someone else is in immediate danger, or in an emergency, please call 911 immediately. OGDEN, Utah (ABC4) An 18-year-old Ogden man was taken into custody on aggravated cruelty to an animal charges after police say he killed his girlfriends two kittens. The Ogden Police Department responded on Saturday, March 29, after receiving a call reporting the suspect, identified as Edwin Sebastian Chavez, was fighting with his family. The 911 Dispatcher reported hearing someone in the background on the phone call yell, Im going to kill you. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Witnesses say Chavez became enraged after one of his juvenile girlfriends kittens urinated on the bed. Court documents said Chavez began hitting the small kittens against the wall while they were in their cat bed. Chavez then allegedly told his girlfriend that she was next, later choking her and allegedly attempting to suffocate her with a pillow. When officers with the Ogden Police Department arrived on the scene, they reportedly saw Chavez strike his brother with a closed fist. According to court documents, Chavez was intoxicated and had been gulping from a large bottle of alcohol throughout the night. Officers reported finding the bottle in his bedroom with shot glasses that still contained liquid. Police had also responded to reports of Chavez allegedly stealing the victims cats in the past after arguing with her. First responders said they also found the bodies of the two kittens with fresh blood nearby. A vape pen containing THC was also reportedly found in his pocket. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chavez was safely taken into custody and booked into the Weber County Jail. According to court documents, he faces two third-degree felony counts of aggravated cruelty to an animal, one third-degree felony count of aggravated assault, and misdemeanor charges of assault, marijuana possession, intoxication, and measurable amounts of alcohol consumption by a minor. He has been ordered to be held without bail, pending a pretrial hearing. Charges are allegations only. All arrested persons are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. GALLIPOLIS, Ohio (WKBN) An Ohio cellphone repairman was sentenced Monday for downloading personal photos from customers phones. Read next: Downtown bar shuts down early Saturday morning after large fight Calvin Jordan, 27, of Gallipolis, was sentenced to 49 to 51 years in prison and will be required to register as a Tier II sex offender. Jordan pleaded guilty to a 40-count indictment filed in June 2024, according to the Ohio Attorney Generals Office, on charges of pandering sexually oriented matter involving a minor, illegal use of a minor in nudity-oriented material or performance, and unauthorized use of computer, cable or telecommunications property, a fifth-degree felony. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More than 40 customers were impacted by Jordans crime, including teens between 14 and 17 years old. Jordan was employed by Direct Computing Solutions when he took possession of customers cellphones for repair. The indictment alleged that from December 2021 to April 2022, Jordan downloaded nude and intimate photos from his clients cellphones. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. By Scott DiSavino (Reuters) -Oil prices climbed about 2% to a five-week high on Monday on worries supplies could decline if U.S. President Donald Trump follows through on threats to impose more tariffs on Russia and to possibly attack Iran. Brent futures were up $1.11, or 1.5%, to settle at $74.74 a barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude rose $2.12, or 3.1%, to settle at $71.48. That was the highest close for Brent since February 24 and the highest close for WTI since February 20. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Brent's premium over WTI fell to $3.02 a barrel, its lowest since July 2024. Analysts have said when Brent's premium over WTI falls below $4 a barrel, it does not make much economic sense for energy firms to send ships across the ocean to pick up U.S. crude, which should result in lower U.S. exports. Trump said on Sunday he was "pissed off" at Russian President Vladimir Putin and will impose 25%-50% secondary tariffs on buyers of Russian oil if he feels Moscow is hindering Trump's efforts to end the war in Ukraine. "(Trump's) threat on secondary tariffs on Russia and Iranian oil is a factor oil market participants are tracking, although he has indicated he is not planning to introduce them for now," said UBS analyst Giovanni Staunovo. "But, there is a rising risk of larger supply risks down the road." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Kremlin said on Monday that Russia and the U.S. were working on ideas for a possible peace settlement in Ukraine. China and India are major buyers of Russian crude and their acquiescence would be crucial to making any secondary sanctions package seriously hurt exports from the world's second-largest oil exporter. Trump also threatened Iran on Sunday with bombing and secondary tariffs if Tehran did not come to an agreement with Washington over its nuclear program. Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Monday the U.S. would receive a strong blow if it acts on Trump's threat. Iran's Revolutionary Guards, meanwhile, seized two foreign tankers in the Persian Gulf carrying over 3 million litres (792,516 U.S. gallons) of allegedly smuggled diesel fuel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some analysts believe that Trump may not act on his threats, a view that is putting a cap on oil prices. IG analyst Tony Sycamore said the market felt Trump would not follow through. If enacted, he said, the tariffs would be another step toward a trade war that would weigh on global growth and demand for crude oil. On Monday, several Chinese traders were unfazed by the latest threat. Three who spoke with Reuters all said Trump's constant brinkmanship meant they discounted what he said. Elsewhere, talks to restart Kurdish oil exports through the Iraq-Turkey pipeline have hit a snag as a lack of clarity over payments and contracts persists, two sources with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In another move that could limit world oil supplies, U.S. authorities notified Spanish oil company Repsol that its license to export oil from Venezuela is to be revoked. Repsol said it is talking with U.S. authorities on ways the company can keep operating in Venezuela. In the U.S., crude oil production fell by 305,000 barrels per day to 13.15 million bpd in January, the lowest since February 2024. SIGNS OF RISING DEMAND In China, the world's second-biggest economy, manufacturing activity expanded at the fastest pace in a year in March, a factory survey showed on Monday, with new orders boosting production, giving the economy some reprieve as it deals with an intensifying U.S. trade war. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Germany, Europe's biggest economy, inflation fell more than expected in March, bolstering the case for policymakers seeking further interest rate cuts from the European Central Bank. Lower interest rates reduce consumer borrowing costs, which can spur economic growth and demand for oil. (Reporting by Scott DiSavino, Arunima Kumar, Robert Harvey, Yuka Obayashi, Anjana Anil and Jekaterina Golubkova; Editing by Jamie Freed, Joe Bavier, Chizu Nomiyama, Jan Harvey, Andrea Ricci and Nia Williams) TEHRAN, March 31 (Xinhua) -- An adviser to Iran's supreme leader warned on Monday that if the United States or Israel were to attack Iran under the pretext of nuclear concerns, the country would be compelled to pursue the development of nuclear weapons, according to the official news agency IRNA. Ali Larijani, an adviser to Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, made the remarks in response to recent anti-Tehran threats made by U.S. President Donald Trump and Israel. Larijani noted that Iran had been prohibited from acquiring nuclear weapons under a religious directive issued by Khamenei. However, he added, "If the United States makes any mistake, Iran will be forced to pursue nuclear weapons due to pressure from its people." Larijani stressed that taking military actions against Iran would have consequences, saying Iran's nuclear program would not be destroyed through bombing. Larijani said any potential indirect negotiation with the United States would be aimed at understanding each other's demands and winning mutual concessions regarding the nuclear issue. Trump, in an interview with NBC News on Sunday, threatened to launch "unprecedented military strikes" on Iran if it refused to negotiate over its nuclear program. "If they don't make a deal, there will be bombing like they've never seen before," he said, claiming U.S. and Iranian officials are "talking," without offering details. The remarks followed a letter Trump sent to Iranian leaders in early March via the United Arab Emirates, proposing direct negotiations on Tehran's nuclear activities. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian confirmed on Sunday that Tehran had rejected the proposed face-to-face talks but left open the possibility of indirect talks. He stressed that while Iran is not against negotiations in principle, Washington must first rectify its past "misconduct" and rebuild trust. American filmmaker Oliver Stone whose political thriller, JFK, made waves more than 30 years ago will testify on Tuesday before a House committee on the release of new documents related to the assassination of John F. Kennedy Jr., according to a press release from the committee. The Task Force on the Declassification of Federal Secrets announced on Sunday it will hold a hearing on Tuesday on the so-called JFK files. The panel, in its hearing notice, listed Stone as a witness, along with independent journalist and author Jefferson Morley and researcher and author James DiEugenio. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After six decades of deception and secrecy surrounding the assassination of President Kennedy, the Trump Administration is lifting the veil and giving the American people the truth, Task Force Chair Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) said in a press release announcing the hearing. Luna said the task force will get to the bottom of the mystery surrounding former President Kennedys assassination. By investigating the newly released JFK files, consulting experts, and tracking down surviving staff of various investigative committees, our task force will get to the bottom of this mystery and share our findings with the American people, Luna said. Our hearing is the first step and we look forward to hearing from our witnesses, she added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The hearing comes after the National Archives released nearly 2,200 files nearly two weeks ago related to the assassination of former President Kennedy. Multiple analyses have found that many of the documents have already been released to the public in some form but were previously redacted. The release of the files followed an executive order President Trump signed in January, just a few days after the start of his second term, ordering the release of remaining federal government documents concerning the assassinations of former President Kennedy, former Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy and civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. By David Shepardson WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Film director Oliver Stone will testify at a U.S. House of Representatives hearing Tuesday on thousands of pages of documents related to the 1963 assassination of John F. Kennedy released this month at the direction of President Donald Trump. Representative Anna Paulina Luna, chair of the Task Force on the Declassification of Federal Secrets, said Sunday lawmakers will hear from witnesses about the value of the documents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "By investigating the newly released JFK files, consulting experts, and tracking down surviving staff of various investigative committees, our task force will get to the bottom of this mystery and share our findings with the American people," Luna said. Shortly after taking office for his second term in January Trump signed an executive order directing national intelligence and other officials to quickly come up with a plan for the full and complete release of all records relate to President Kennedy's assassination. The archives' Kennedy assassination collection has more than six million pages of records, the vast majority of which had been declassified and made public before Trump's order. Kennedy's murder has been attributed to a sole gunman, Lee Harvey Oswald. Stone's 1991 film "JFK" faced harsh criticism from historians for its suggestions that Kennedy's death was the result of high-level conspiracies. Stone has said Kennedy was not killed by a lone assassin and believes certain elements within the U.S intelligence community were involved. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Justice Department and other federal government bodies have reaffirmed the conclusion in the intervening decades that Oswald acted alone. But polls show many Americans still believe his death was a result of a conspiracy. Also testifying Tuesday are journalist and author Jefferson Morley and author James DiEugenio. Morley said on social media he will focus on the CIA's complete pre-assassination file on Oswald during the hearing. Trump promised on the campaign trail to provide more transparency about Kennedy's death. (Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Stephen Coates) Lisa Murkowski says she isn't worried about political blowback from her DOGE-related critiques. "We've got to stop being so anxious and looking over our shoulders," she told The Washington Post. Murkowski earlier in March said she'd "stand up" for Alaskans in the face of any primary threats. Earlier in March, Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska was the only Republican in the upper chamber who voted for an amendment to defund the White House DOGE office. Despite the political pressure that GOP lawmakers face in backing President Donald Trump's agenda, Murkowski in a recent interview told The Washington Post that she wasn't afraid of any pushback. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We've got to stop being so anxious and looking over our shoulders and saying, 'Oh, my gosh, am I going to offend somebody and there's going to be political retribution?'" Murkowski said. "This is the United States of America," she continued. "Political retribution should not be something that even exists." Murkowski who voted to convict Trump in his impeachment trial after the January 6, 2021, attack at the US Capitol and who won reelection to a fourth term over a Trump-backed GOP challenger has been able to thrive politically as a moderate Republican in a party dominated by the president. In the interview, Murkowski said she backed Trump's efforts to reduce government spending but was opposed to the more aggressive tactics employed by DOGE, which has rattled Washington and caused uncertainty for the millions of federal workers across the US. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Murkowski said her vote to defund DOGE was a result of concerns that her constituents raised about federal job cuts. The amendment, which was sponsored by Democratic Sen. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland, failed in a 48-52 vote, falling far short of the 60 votes needed to advance. Still, Murkowski said her critiques of DOGE hadn't stopped her from having a working relationship with the Trump administration. "Everybody has their own approach," she told the newspaper. During a press conference in Alaska earlier in March, Murkowski said she wouldn't let up on her criticism of DOGE, even with Elon Musk threatening to fund primary challenges against Republicans who aren't fully on board with Trump's agenda. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Murkowski isn't up for reelection again until 2028. "It may be that Elon Musk has decided he's going to take the next billion dollars that he makes off of Starlink and put it directly against Lisa Murkowski," she said at the time. "And you know what? That may happen." "But I'm not giving up one minute, one opportunity, to try to stand up for Alaskans," she added. Read the original article on Business Insider Since artificial intelligence came onto the scene, the U.S. has been leading the world in innovation in this new technology. As with other aspects of our economy, adversarial nations are racing to catch up in an effort to overtake our technology and influence our citizens. Most recently, weve seen this play out with DeepSeek, an AI platform linked to the Chinese Communist Party that aims to attract users in order to capture their personal details and internet activities, to give them to government operatives in Beijing for who-knows-what sinister purpose. This technological wolf-in-sheeps-clothing should be cause for outrage and concern for everyone. DeepSeeks connection to the Chinese Communist Party is potentially far more entrenched than that of other applications before it. The model cloaks its ability to funnel user data directly to a company that belongs to Chinas government, according to cybersecurity experts. The U.S. government banned that company, China Mobile, from operating on American soil more than five years ago. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Responding to this threat in real time requires the same kind of bipartisan, bicameral resolve that Congress demonstrated when it banned a Chinese government-connected app, TikTok, on millions of government devices in 2022. Thats why we have partnered across the aisle to put our nations security first. We did so by introducing No DeepSeek on Government Devices Act, legislation to safeguard our nations government systems from the Chinese Communist Party. The DeepSeek menace stretches well beyond foreign surveillance and influence. The White Houses lead AI official believes the new company may have built its AI bot by hitching a ride on the back of American innovators. Some claim that after the American-owned OpenAI refined ChatGPTs ability to generate conversations, DeepSeeks makers may have flouted OpenAIs terms in order to leapfrog over the hard work and time it would have taken for the Chinese firm to hone its bots abilities itself. The hallmark of the U.S. economy is our intellectual property. Xi Jinpings party has attempted, for years, to steal it. When DeepSeek cribs off the creativity and sweat U.S. workers have poured into AI development, it undermines Americas economic strength. Theres no reason to kneecap our countrys GDP and job market by ceding large swaths of the AI landscape and market share to a communist regime that didnt earn it. While DeepSeek isnt outright hacking into American phones as Chinese hackers did during the recent Salt Typhoon cyber attacks, the model is part of a new tactic luring Americans into downloading various tools of the Chinese Communist Party on their devices. And the company has been bold enough to admit to hoarding our data and storing it in China. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Whats more, DeepSeek is not an honest information broker. In exchange for siphoning personal information from American users, the chatbot provides them with China-aligned misinformation on numerous issues. As one outlet put it, the model has a habit of regurgitating Chinese government talking points. This influence operation is a major threat to our national security. Censorship is also part of the DeepSeek menu. The model feigns ignorance when asked about topics that cast Chinas regime in an unflattering light, like the Tiananmen Square massacre. Whats the policy solution? While the public continues to learn more about how DeepSeek endangers their data and selectively feeds them lies, we must protect sensitive government data from falling into the hands of one of our biggest adversaries. DeepSeek lies to its users, exposes their data to a hostile foreign power, and potentially even exploits American innovation in order to undermine our economy. Theres no defense for allowing this Chinese government bot to burrow into our government devices. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its our job to protect federal employees, steward our proprietary information, and defeat falsehoods with facts. Along with our House partners, Reps. Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.) and Darin LaHood (R-Ill.), we are working to pass the bipartisan No DeepSeek on Government Devices Act into law. Its an urgent step towards common sense AI policy. Jacky Rosen is the junior senator from Nevada and is ranking member of the Armed Services Subcommittee on Cybersecurity. Jon Husted is the junior senator from Ohio. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. If not for Signalgate, Democrats would likely still be busy lashing out at Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), who allowed a Republican spending bill to pass, thus averting a government shutdown. For the last few weeks, Schumer has found himself the target of attacks from within his own party over his and nine other Democratic senators decision, despite what was, ultimately, the correct decision. I say this for two reasons. First, contrary to Rep. Alexandra Ocasio-Cortezs (D-N.Y.) contention that Schumer should have opposed the bill rather than roll over and give up, Democrats would have completely owned a government shutdown. Indeed, President Trump and Republicans would have been able, with ease, to lay the blame at the foot of congressional Democrats, saying they shut down the government and harmed Americans purely out of political spite. Interestingly, then-Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) made this exact same decision in 2021, when he went against his own party in an attempt to prevent a shutdown. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Moreover, as Schumer and Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) have noted, a shutdown would have given Trump (and Elon Musk) virtually unchecked power to gut the federal government, halt necessary social programs, and more. Schumers realist calculation hasnt stopped other Democrats, particularly Ocasio-Cortez, from mobilizing against the longtime Democratic leader. As CNN has reported, there have even been discussions about her challenging Schumer in a primary. To that end, Democrats who have attacked Schumer would be wise to note that only 27 percent of registered voters have a favorable view of the Democratic Party, according to NBC polling. It is difficult to see how that rating the lowest since NBC pollsters began asking this question in 1990 would improve if Democrats directed the government to shut down, with all of the negative consequences Americans would have felt. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thats even more the case given that Democrats have enjoyed some genuine wins of late. For example, last week, they narrowly won a Pennsylvania state senate district that Trump had won by 15 points just a few months ago. And in the special election to replace former Rep. Mike Waltz (R-Fla.) now Trumps White House national security advisor the Democratic challenger has turned a heavily Republican district into a competitive race. It would be foolish for Democrats to squander this momentum with infighting. The second reason I believe Schumer calculated correctly is that he recognizes the urgency of Democrats adopting an entirely new approach to Trump and Republicans. Now a minority in both chambers of Congress, Democrats cannot simply dust off the resistance playbook and work to obstruct Trump at every turn. Longtime Democratic strategist James Carville seemed to recognize this. He recently told Wolf Blitzer that this may be a wiser decision than people think, given how many other, more important, legislative priorities Democrats should have. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Further, Trump won the election and the popular vote because Americans believed that his policies on immigration, the economy, government spending, and more, were aligned with what they wanted. Democrats must recognize that some of Trumps ideas of securing the border, cutting taxes and regulations, cracking down on crime and reducing federal spending are worth advancing. If Democrats continue to reject these policies in toto without offering alternatives, they will remain a minority party for the foreseeable future. At this point, Democrats must adopt a policy of strategic cooperation, something I advocated for even before Trump was sworn in. By working with the administration or congressional Republicans on issues where there are common sense, moderate solutions, Democrats would be doing themselves a tremendous service ahead of the midterms. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Schumers bravery in going against a considerable part of his own party was also evident in his willingness to do something too few Democrats are doing today: Call out the antisemitism that is rampant within the partys ranks. Overshadowed by the spending bill was the news that Schumer, the highest-ever-ranking Jewish elected official, recently published a book, Antisemitism in America: A Warning. Within the book, Schumer called out fellow Democrats such as Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) for her past antisemitic comments, and also condemned the anti-Israel protests that have roiled college campuses for much of the past 18 months. Unfortunately, aside from a handful of Jewish Democrats such as Reps. Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.) and Jared Moskowitz (D-Fla.), and the non-Jewish Fetterman, too few Democrats have been willing to call out the rise in antisemitism within their own party. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ultimately, it may be too early to tell whether or not the anger directed at Schumer grows into a serious threat to his leadership. But, in my opinion, it would be a mistake for Democrats to keep pillorying the minority leader, whose decision to avoid a government shutdown was not only the right one for the country, but also politically the right decision for Democrats. Douglas E. Schoen is a political consultant who served as an adviser to President Clinton and to the 2020 presidential campaign of Michael Bloomberg. His new book is The End of Democracy? Russia and China on the Rise and America in Retreat. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Attention to civics education often spikes during election years, as educators collectively wonder if theyve done enough to prepare young people to become informed voters. Thats important, of course, but focusing on civics education only during federal election cycles misses a broader purpose: understanding how government works 365 days a year, fueling engagement over cynicism and offering young people the skills to solve common problems together. The recent turbulence in government including widespread restructuring of federal agencies, executive orders with immediate public impact and shifts in longstanding policies offers a crucial opportunity. Rather than disengage in frustration, teachers and education leaders should seize this moment to deepen civic literacy, ensure that communities understand how government functions and empower citizens to be active participants in self-governance. With headlines dominated by government upheaval, now is the time to turn confusion into curiosity and curiosity into community involvement. The more people understand the roles of the three branches of government, the function of federal and state agencies and their own rights, the better equipped they are to engage as citizens. Get stories like this delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for The 74 Newsletter Civics education is most effective when state and local officials, both elected and appointed, are open to input, feedback and participation by constituents, allowing students to see firsthand how citizen engagement leads to real outcomes. Nationally, state and local governments employed approximately 19.6 million people in March 2023, an increase from 19.2 million in 2022. This demonstrates that the vast majority of government operations occur at the state and local levels, not in Washington, D.C. The teachers in public schools, the sanitation workers who keep streets clean, the public health officials who guide communities through crises all are part of local governance. When young people see how these systems work, they realize government is not an abstract institution; its the infrastructure of daily life. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Related Going for Blood: After Mass Firing, Many Wonder How Ed Dept. Will Function Generation Citizen, the education nonprofit organization I lead, has long worked to engage students in community-based civic learning. Through research and projects that address real issues, students interact with elected officials and government agencies at the city and state levels, building critical problem-solving skills while making a tangible impact. For example, a group of high school students from Urban Assembly Institute for Math and Science for Young Women in Brooklyn, New York, used community-based civics to tackle tensions between youth and law enforcement. They launched a project to improve police-student relationships through open dialogue and policy recommendations, demonstrating how civic learning can lead to real change. More than just casting a ballot, participating in self-government involves talking to neighbors about issues, organizing with peers and attending school board or town council meetings. The confidence students gain in these settings gets put to use in job interviews, workplace conversations and, ultimately, in boardrooms. These actions also cultivate skills that translate across all areas of life, from public speaking to teamwork and collaboration. They are the foundation of an engaged society and a functioning democracy. Related Amid Polarization, Civics Education Enjoys Bipartisan Support, Survey Finds The stakes of neglecting a robust civics education are high, risking a more polarized society if people are unable to learn how to communicate across lines of difference, listen deeply, persuade effectively and reach consensus on solutions. The consequences also include erosion of everyday skills that Americans need to function in the workplace and, more globally, in the marketplace. These abilities ought not to be mere add-ons to secondary school curriculums. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As the nation navigates these uncertain times, civic literacy must become mainstream and hands-on something that is as fundamental to education as learning in a science lab. American democracy is a tapestry woven from generations of participation and action. This is a moment to add to it, not let it unravel. The next generation of leaders needs the tools and skills to repair that fraying fabric. That means schools, policymakers and communities must prioritize experiential learning, ensuring that students engage in civic participation before they reach voting age. Related Making HS Grads Pass Citizenship Test Is Fine. But Civics Ed Must Start Earlier Educators have long understood that the best way to prepare students for careers in science and medicine is through labs and hands-on experiments, not just by reading a textbook. The same is true for civics. If this country wants an engaged, informed citizenry, schools and government alike must provide young people (and adults) with opportunities to practice democracy in real time. Now is not the time to tune out. Its time to lean in, learn more and take action. A version of this essay originally appeared on Robert Pondiscios Substack. The most recent National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) results delivered a familiar gut punch: Just 30% of eighth graders read at or above the proficient level, a number thats barely budged in decades. Even in states like Mississippi and Louisiana, which have earned national attention thanks to literacy reforms that have smartly lifted fourth-grade scores in recent NAEP cycles, early gains tend to plateau or evaporate by eighth grade. A substantial number of U.S. students simply seem to run out of gas as readers as they move from upper elementary to middle school and beyond. A compelling explanation may lie in something called the decoding threshold. Teachers often assume that once students master decoding in early elementary school, theyre set to shift from learning to read to reading to learn. However, in 2019, researchers at the Educational Testing Service published a noteworthy study that measured foundational literacy skills like decoding in students from upper elementary through high school. Most reading tests in the older grades focus solely on comprehension; they dont offer much insight into whether students have mastered the basic skills necessary to read fluently. The findings showed evidence of a troubling phenomenon: Students with weak decoding skills consistently performed poorly on comprehension tasks, while those who surpassed a certain level of decoding ability tended to understand texts much more effectively. In other words, although decoding isnt the only skill older students need to succeed in reading, those who havent yet mastered it are likely to struggle with understanding complex material. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A follow-up study three years later confirmed it: Those below the decoding threshold stagnated, while those above the line advanced offering tantalizing evidence to explain why eighth-grade NAEP scores plateau even as fourth-grade numbers rise. A recent research brief put the matter succinctly and starkly: If children do not have adequate word-recognition skills, their reading comprehension often wont get better no matter how much direct support for comprehension they receive. Related New NAEP Scores Dash Hope of Post-COVID Learning Recovery The tripwire that appears to be holding kids back is multisyllabic decoding. Students who can decode simple words like cat and bed with relative ease may still struggle to break down longer, more complex words into smaller, manageable parts to read them correctly. Imagine two eighth graders reading a science passage that includes the word photosynthesis. The student above the decoding threshold effortlessly breaks it into photo and synthesis, adjusts the sounds in her head like syn to sin and reads it smoothly, quickly grasping it as a plant process shes studying. Meanwhile, the student below the threshold freezes at the unfamiliar term and mangles it as photo-sith-esis or photo-sy-thee-sis. Struggling to decode the big word, he loses the thread of the sentence, missing the whole idea of plants making energy. Its another manifestation of cognitive load theory: Brainpower spent decoding multisyllabic words is not available to attend to the meaning of the text. Worse, the decoding threshold fuels a rich-get-richer, poor-get-poorer phenomenon often referred to as the Matthew Effect: Students who are below the decoding threshold stop growing in vocabulary, reading comprehension and knowledge acquisition, while those who are above have what it takes to keep learning and growing, leaving the struggling readers in their wake. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Worse still, evidence of the decoding threshold reveals a blind spot in common approaches to teaching reading. We basically dont teach [multisyllabic decoding] anywhere in the system because its too advanced for second graders. And after second grade, we stop decoding instruction and flip into comprehension and fluency, observes Rebecca Kockler, a former Louisiana state education leader who now heads Reading Reimagined, a $40 million initiative of the Advanced Education Research and Development Fund. If I had a magic wand, I would pull decoding fluency work up almost into seventh or eighth grade, she says, while pushing down to early elementary grades the building blocks of multisyllabic decoding, such as morphology and etymology. If you teach kids to break words into their smallest meaningful pieces, like un- for not or -ness for a state of being, theyre more likely to be able to handle unhappiness by spotting its parts, for example. And by showing them where words come from like how photo in photosynthesis means light from Greek they will be better able to infer what words mean. Related Trump Cuts Research Lab That Helped Nurture Mississippi Miracle As persuasive as the decoding threshold thesis might be, the wish for a magic wand to wave at curriculum and standards hints at a serious problem: There is no immediate or obvious solution at hand to address the issue. Nor is there simply a lack of appropriate curriculum or materials. A recent RAND survey of teachers in grades 3 to 8 found that 44% of their students always or nearly always experience difficulty reading the content of their instructional materials. The report also found many of those same teachers hold misconceptions about how students develop word recognition skills. A new nonprofit venture called Magpie Literacy, a collaborative effort with the fund led by Kockler, has been piloting a set of tech-enabled instructional tools aimed at addressing these issues directly. In a 12-week pilot in grades K-2 across 11 schools in Little Rock, Arkansas, early results were promising, with evidence of impact in only 8 to 12 weeks of use. Student growth was most pronounced, according to Kocklers colleagues, among students starting at the lowest levels of proficiency. K-2 may sound early to address a problem that shows up starkly in eighth grade, but it reflects a growing conviction: unless students start building sophisticated decoding skills young, and those skills are reinforced often, too many will continue to hit the wall in middle school and never get back up to speed. Weve had this belief that we teach kids to read and then they read to learn, Kockler explains, and we just fundamentally do not believe thats true anymore. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Related Louisiana Saw Rare Gains on National Exam. K12 Chief Cade Brumley Explains How If you had asked her years ago, when she was assistant superintendent of academics with the Louisiana Department of Education, to estimate the percentage of middle schoolers who struggled with decoding to the point that it interfered with their reading comprehension, Kockler would have guessed 7% to 10%. We think that number is more like 30% to 40%, she now says, which really mirrors this group of middle schoolers who never ever show growth on state tests or NAEP. HELSINKI, March 31 (Xinhua) -- Sweden on Monday pledged 16 billion Swedish kronor (1.59 billion U.S. dollars) in new military support for Ukraine. The package would bring Sweden's total military assistance to Kiev to 29.5 billion Swedish kronor this year and around 80 billion Swedish kronor since 2022, the government said. "This is our largest military support package to date," Swedish Defence Minister Pal Jonson said on social media platform X. The aid would include air defence systems, artillery, satellite communications, and naval support, as well as equipment from the Swedish Armed Forces and industry. (1 Swedish krona = 0.099 U.S. dollar) It is almost impossible to believe that more than a dozen of the Trump administrations most senior officials would convene on Signal to approve a strike on Yemen. Why? Three reasons: security, security and security. Yet this happened. So the first questions are why and what are the immediate and longer-term consequences? By way of context, during World War II in 1942, the U.S. Navy intercepted Japanese radio traffic and concluded that their target was Midway Island using basic signals analysis research. Dont China, Iran, North Korea, Russia and the United Kingdom also do this? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its a safe bet that Atlantic Editor in Chief Jeffrey Goldberg, who was incredibly included in these communications, was not the only outside eavesdropper. Second, National Security Advisor Mike Waltz was a retired Army Reserve colonel. It is difficult to understand that, after all the security clearance documents he would have signed regarding handling classified material, using Signal would not seem like a problem. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, a Reserve lieutenant colonel, should have possessed the same caution. Yet no one did. Third, why? Any White House is affected by groupthink and the understandable reaction of conforming to the commander-in-chief. In that regard, President Trump has not proven to be the best steward of classified information, going back to storing very sensitive material in insecure Mar-a-Lago rooms and closets. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Why would his staff not follow this lead, as this was easier than using the very secure other means of communications? Does this matter? The administration was in full defensive crouch in congressional hearings trying to make the impossible argument that none of this was classified. Having served in the Vietnam War, I can attest that if the time of a raid or the start of an operation in which I was involved were leaked in this manner, any sensible commander would have scrubbed the mission. Even the North Vietnamese then had good electronic surveillance. So yes, it matters. First, disregarding basic security is against both the law and against professional intelligence practices. Second, showing such disdain toward security cannot promote good order and judgment in the ranks. Third, what happens in the ranks if juniors commit the same errors and demand that, as with the secretary of Defense, no punishment or sanctions be applied? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our allies will take this very, very seriously. Put yourself as head of one of our Five Eyes intelligence services in Australia, Canada, New Zealand or the U.K. Suppose you have life-threatening intelligence from one of your agents warning of a massive threat. You would be reluctant to endanger that person or source, given how casually the president and his team appear to be towards security. That is natural. Other questions also need answers. In intelligence, the rule is check, check and double-check again. Were any unauthorized personnel other than Goldberg on the call? And who was the one checking? Finally, while the call was to approve the raid, it did not appear that any military personnel from Central Command in charge of the strike or the Joint Chiefs were present. Supposing someone questioned collateral damage or intelligence that had changed, who was going to provide the operational military response? Last, one of the participants posted emojis registering deep insensitivity to the human costs of war. Whether or not Navy F-18 pilots were at risk on the mission, flying off aircraft carriers is not like taking a taxi cab. It is inherently dangerous. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And on the ground, people were killed. Taking out an enemy is one thing. But suppose there was collateral damage and civilians were killed or wounded. This is no time for such a casual reaction to the use of lethal force that suggests a certain immaturity and superficiality in senior officials engaged in matters of determining life and death. And to the public, this may seem like clowns in action and an example of how the government does not work. That is understandable. But make no mistake: Whether this is a one-off error in which no one will be held accountable or not, this is serious as it demonstrates that the administration is not professionally prepared yet for conducting what are ultimate acts of using force. And where is the on-the-job training? The buck stops with the commander-in-chief. If he does not take this very seriously, worse will happen. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Harlan Ullman Ph.D. is UPIs Arnaud deBorchgrave Distinguished Columnist, a senior advisor at the Atlantic Council, the chairman of two private companies and the principal author of the doctrine of shock and awe. He and David Richards are authors of the forthcoming book, The Arc of Failure: Can Decisive Strategic Thinking Transform a Dangerous 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 The Hill. Last week, as my recent lab results loaded into the patient portal, my fears came true: No significant level of detectable measles IgG antibody. My heart sank as I read the words. As someone who is immunosuppressed, I am unable to receive an MMR booster because live attenuated vaccines can potentially cause me severe illness. Suddenly, I felt even more vulnerable than I had only moments before. I began taking immunosuppressants to treat multiple sclerosis in 2017, and my life changed instantly. I no longer had the luxury of relying on a fully functioning immune system to protect me from infectious disease. As a result, I adopted additional modes of protection beyond simply washing my hands. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Before my children have friends over, I check that their household is healthy. We use hand sanitizer when were out, I mask indoors in public spaces, and when we enter our home, we all wash our hands immediately. Do not pass Go. Do not collect $200. Get those hands clean, I joke. But theres nothing humorous about my situation. The medication that calms my multiple sclerosis kills an entire class of B-cells the same cells that fight viruses like COVID and the flu. Being extra cautious isnt a choice for me its a necessity. Becoming infected with a virus when youre immunosuppressed not only means potentially becoming sicker than someone with an unaltered immune system (and possibly requiring hospitalization) it also means my disease symptoms will likely flare. Walking, standing and activities of daily living become harder as my weakness escalates, weighing me down with unfathomable force. Although my life has changed immensely since becoming immunosuppressed, vaccines and herd immunity have been my one consistent protection. I continue to get vaccinated against flu and COVID yearly despite a blunted response secondary to my immunosuppression because some protection is better than none. Vaccines give me peace of mind because they fill in where my immune system is lacking. And when sporadic cases of once eliminated diseases sprout up here and there, herd immunity helps to protect me. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But the current measles outbreak changed everything. In Texas, at least 327 people have been infected since late January. Forty of the patients have been hospitalized, and the virus has already claimed the life of at least one child. As the outbreak spreads to other states, including my own, those of us who are immunosuppressed become victims amid the anti-vaccination movement. Matters became worse when Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a long-time vaccine skeptic, took over the federal Department of Health and Human Services. Kennedy has made claims about disease causes and interventions that lack strong evidence. He demanded data supporting vaccine safety, but when provided with this evidence, he dismissed it. Those of us in the immunocompromised community arent safe with RFK Jr. making decisions regarding public health. According to Time, much of RFK Jr.s opposition to vaccines seems to center around the false claim that they cause autism, but studies including millions of children have found no relationship between the two RFK Jr. fails to accept this. He also made the false claim that the COVID-19 vaccine is the deadliest vaccine ever made. Yet results from clinical trials show that the vaccine is safe and effective, especially against severe illness, hospitalization and death. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During RFK Jr.s first week on the job, and amid a brutal flu season, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention halted a successful flu vaccination campaign. In particular, the campaign aimed to communicate that flu vaccination can lessen symptoms and the chance of getting severely ill, even if it doesnt prevent someone from catching the flu, NPR reported. Without the campaign, vaccination rates will decline, and flu will rage yearly. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration then cancelled the meeting to update next seasons flu vaccines, leaving uncertainty over how this may affect vaccine preparation or availability. Those most vulnerable will be at risk. Vaccines available to the public have already been through rigorous testing in multiple phases of clinical trials to prove their safety. Many of the vaccines used today have also been proven safe and effective through decades of use and the elimination of once harmful childhood viruses. Yet Kennedys lawyer recently asked the FDA to revoke approval of the polio vaccine a vaccine that has allowed 20 million people alive today to walk who would have otherwise been paralyzed. Without the vaccine, this disease, which is almost eradicated, may return, along with the symptoms of paralysis, limb deformities and death. Kennedy has discouraged people from receiving vaccines and may limit access to them. Parents are listening to his bogus advice and treating their children with vitamin A to combat the measles several of children thus treated have since been hospitalized for vitamin A toxicity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There are many of us living with diseases like multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, Crohns, ulcerative colitis and more who rely on immunosuppression to stay alive and able-bodied. Some of us have lost protection to viruses like the measles and are unable to receive a booster. We also lack the ability to mount a strong immune response if exposed. Without herd immunity, we lose the safety net we have relied upon. The spread of fear and misinformation has already severed the American peoples trust in science and public health, and the impact on the immunocompromised community will be immense. Vaccinate yourself and your children. Not only will your family be protected, youll be protecting others too. Lindsay Karp is a freelance writer with a background in speech-language pathology. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. The sweet smell of baked sugar and butter filled my kitchen nearly every afternoon that spring of 2019. My son was in middle school and upping his cupcake game. He had perfected an Instagram-worthy icing method, in which he piped a channel of every color of the rainbow onto plastic wrap, then rolled it together and squeezed out a swirl of rainbow icing in a small mountain on top of perfectly baked cake. Then he planted a small flag with a friendly message about trans kids. His idea was to hand out cupcakes for Trans Day of Visibility. I want to raise awareness, Mom, he said. I want people to know trans kids are just working on being themselves. On this Trans Day of Visibility, its jarring for me to recall how the same day felt then. That year, in California, the ACLU was fighting on behalf of a trans man whod been denied gender affirming surgery at a Catholic hospital on the day his procedure had been scheduled. I learned then that the hospital closest to my sons school was run by a Catholic company. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Raising my kids in a cozy Northern California town, Id done my best to teach all of them how to treat others with respect, how to reach out to friends who were having a tough time on the playground, how to work with other kids with humor and lightness to help them see it wasnt cool to pick on the weaker kids. Theyd learned to have faith in kindness and learned that neighbors help one another live better lives. But I spent that cupcake spring wondering if Id handed my trans kid a daisy for a gun fight. In 2021, Arkansas became the first state to outlaw gender affirming care for minors. Now 26 states have. I expect most parents of trans kids feared Donald Trump being elected again and had a hunch about what to expect if he was, but the administrations actions have been swifter and more concrete than we thought possible in the U.S. Trumps executive orders opposing the participation of the trans community in American life are plainly rooted in bigotry and lies. My son is in college now and doesnt have much time for baking. Hes studying engineering and spent the last two weeks disassembling an antique typewriter to study the mechanics of joinery and levers. Hed like to someday work on a team that builds devices for people with mobility challenges. Some of the best companies doing this work are in other countries. To work abroad, or to even see what those companies are doing, hell need to use a passport. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For years hes had one that matches his identity. But when he renews it in a few months, because of an executive order Trump signed on this first day of this term, it will be returned from the State Department with the wrong gender marker. Imagine the scene at the airport when a TSA official looks at the F on my sons new passport and does a double take. The flow of travelers through the line will stall. My sons personal security will drift into precarity. What happens next, Im not sure. What I do know is that no one, not one single person, will be better for this, and in fact many people the security officials, delayed travelers and especially my son will all be worse off. Despite the wintry chill felt by the trans community and many other communities targeted by Trump, spring is breaking through. Purple crocuses and buttercup-yellow daffodils punch skyward. More than one friend has asked me how they can support my family, my son, the trans community on this Trans Day of Visibility. My suggestion is that we go back to the basics. I know Im not the only mom in the United States who raised her kids to treat people with respect and to reach out to others who were struggling. I wasnt the only mom who taught her kids that its not cool when bullies pick on those who are weaker. Even though I used to wonder if equipping my kids with kindness was leaving them unprepared for the fight against cruelty, its obvious to me now that simple kindness is a radical act, a powerfully subversive form of resistance. So, on this Trans Day of Visibility, the job of allies is simple but not easy: be kind. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Heres a place to start. Treat others the way you would like to be treated. Keep an eye out for fellow travelers knowing their safety is partially in your hands. Check on friends and loved ones to see how theyre doing knowing that many people are losing their health care coverage, their sense of belonging and their sense of safety. If you review passports at the airport or work as an administrator at the passport agency, hold on to your own convictions about what you think American citizenship is and should be. Do not be coerced into executing orders that require you to treat others in a way you would not want to be treated. Embrace the best of yourself. And make cupcakes. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com I recently wrote that our form of government, established by the U.S. Constitution, has collapsed. The shredding of that centuries-old document, and its substitution with an imperial presidency, has serious implications both at home and overseas. While much attention has been paid to President Trumps usurpation of powers granted to Congress and his challenges to the courts, his remaking of the presidency into an American-style kingship has serious foreign policy ramifications. In an interview, Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.), the ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, listed for me the damage done during the early days of the Trump presidency: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The weakening of NATO, which provided stability to the post-World War Two world. A pervasive doubt among our allies that if America does something, we would stick with it. The dismantling of the FBI section charged with enforcing sanctions on Russia. Trumps refusal to enforce the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, which Reed says, is an invitation to establish a quid pro quo for the Russians. The dismantling of USAID, which provided support for maternity, tuberculosis, and AIDS cases in Africa and allowing Russia and China to fill the void. The silly dialogue about Canada becoming the 51st state that, according to Reed, has no coherence strategically and is just delusional. The damage, Reed concludes, is a foreign policy in total disarray. The view from abroad is just as bleak. Former Lithuanian ambassador to NATO Ginte Damusis wrote to me via email: The bromance between Presidents Trump and Putin makes many of us writhe in agonizing discomfort. The result, says Damusis, is a tectonic shift in Americas relationship with Europe that is not for the better. It seems as if President Trumps goal is to strike fear into the heart not of Americas enemies but rather its friends. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The foreign policy disarray is compounded by the disclosures made by The Atlantics editor-in-chief, Jeffrey Goldberg, who was inadvertently included in secret discussions about the U.S. plans to attack the Houthis in Yemen. The use of Signal, an app available for public consumption, to discuss Americas military secrets, along with the disparaging comments made by Vice President JD Vance about Europe, sends a strong signal that the U.S. can no longer be trusted. During the Cold War, Republicans ran on the mantra of peace through strength and accused the Democratic Party of being soft on communism. Long after the Cold War ended, the Republican position remained unchanged. In 2002, George W. Bush addressed the Baltic states with these words: No more Munichs. No more Yaltas. The long night of fear, uncertainty and loneliness is over. In 1972, Democratic presidential candidate George McGovern pleaded with voters to Come Home, America. Today, its Donald Trump who wants America to come home. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As Ronald Reagan stared down from his Oval Office portrait during Trumps phone call with Vladimir Putin to discuss a ceasefire in Ukraine, former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev gloated that the conversation proved there is only Russia and America in the dining room. The main course, said the figuratively hungry Medvedev, is a Kiev-style cutlet. One can only imagine what Reagan, who famously repudiated the evil empire that Putin is trying to recreate, would have thought. This complete reversal of the Republican hardline stance toward Russian expansionism symbolizes the completion of a hostile party takeover executed by Donald Trump. It is Trump, Damusis wrote, who should be advised against a policy of appeasement which would enable Russias failing economy and give Putin more time to restore military power. So much for no more Yaltas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Such a remaking of Reagans beloved Republican party leaves many uneasy. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), for one, says she will not compromise my own integrity by hiding from my words when I feel they need to be spoken. But Murkowski is a rare exception. What mutes even the mildest Republican criticism of Trump is the power wielded by Elon Musk. Musk, the wealthiest person in the world, invested $288 million in Trumps 2024 campaign and is pledging another $100 million to groups allied with Trump. What gives Musks dollars an amplified voice is a Supreme Court that has equated money with speech. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, Chief Justice John Roberts argued that the First Amendment protects more than the individual on a soapbox and the lonely pamphleteer. According to Roberts, the First Amendment gives Musk the right to spend unlimited sums on any Republican of his choosing. That threat allows Trump to put a chokehold on most Republican officeholders. Murkowski concedes that Trump and Musk have most Republicans zip-lipped, not saying a word because theyre afraid theyre going to be primaried. A primary challenge fueled by millions of unregulated dollars is not an idle threat. However, thanks to the Supreme Courts unleashing of millions of unregulated dollars into electoral politics, the political calculus once used by most Republican officeholders has changed. As Reed explained: It used to be that if you were a senator, and you were physically in your state, and you were working hard and they liked you, you could tell the president, No, I cant do that. That maxim, says Reed, no longer holds. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Together, Trump and Musk have remade the Republican Party into an organization that resembles the political machines of yesteryear. Armed with unlimited dollars and using social media to transform every federal contest into a national one, they are operating like the old-time corrupt party bosses, where loyalty is rewarded, and dissent is squelched. And as they transform the Republican Party into a Trump Party, their reordering of U.S. priorities means that Ukraine is slowly being nailed to a cross with hammers wielded by Trump, Putin, and, yes, Roberts. Standing by are too many quiescent Republicans who know better. John Kenneth White is a professor emeritus at The Catholic University of America. His latest book is titled Grand Old Unraveling: The Republican Party, Donald Trump, and the Rise of Authoritarianism. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. For all the talk of President Trump turning America inward, this is certainly not true when it comes to Latin America. U.S. presence and partnerships to the south are being strengthened by visits from top ranking officials from the State Department, Homeland Security, the Department of Agriculture, the Southern Command, among others. For the first time in history, a U.S. Secretary of State began his term with a tour across Latin America, not Europe or Asia but the region known as the U.S. backyard. Secretary of State Marco Rubio visited Panama, but it was not the classic protocol visit. Rather, it brought very tangible and timely results beyond expectations. The Central American nation decided to end the Belt and Road Initiative with China. This is the first time in history, but definitely not the last, that a country stepped out from the powerful commercial and political alliance with China a milestone overshadowed by the political agenda of the deep state and the mass media. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After Rubios visit to Panama, a key event took place. For two decades, CK Hutchinson, a Hong Kong-based company, had control over Panamas Balboa and San Cristobal ports. But those days are over. The American company BlackRock struck a deal to buy 90 percent of Panama Ports Company, which runs the two facilities on the Pacific and the Atlantic Oceans. BlackRock is also acquiring 80 percent ownership of 43 ports operated by Hutchinson in 23 countries. These ports are strategic for trade and security and now an American Company is taking leadership over them. During Rubios visit to El Salvador, the Central American country offered to receive and reimprison criminals from MS13, Tren de Aragua, Mexican cartels and convicts from other nationalities. Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele promised to be a key partner on security, migration and fight against drug trafficking. The U.S. has also announced that it will support cooperation on nuclear energy in El Salvador to ensure an abundance of cheaper and cleaner electricity generation. This week, during a visit to the Caribbean, Rubio put three key topics on the agenda: security, stability and prosperity. The U.S. also expressed its concerns over the extortive cooperation model promoted by Petrocaribe, an oil alliance led by Venezuelas dictatorship, and the human trafficking scheme implemented by the Cuban Medical Brigades. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem has also carried out a strategic visit to El Salvador, Colombia and Mexico. The partnership with these three countries is fundamental to address migration, combat drug trafficking and reduce transnational crime. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For the very first-time migration is being conceived as a crisis that goes beyond the borders. The new approach includes an interagency work at home and a shared responsibility abroad. Yes, migration is not a problem that concerns only the U.S. During Noems visit to Mexico, migration and drug trafficking were key items. The U.S. acknowledges Mexicos deployment of 10,000 soldiers to the border and acceptance of deportation flights with migrants of Mexican and other nationalities. This strategic partnership will help make America and the Central American region safer and stronger. In Colombia, DHS authorities signed a statement of intent for biometric cooperation. The agreement will facilitate the sharing of biometric data between the two countries to better identify and prevent criminals and terrorists from operating across the hemisphere. Biometric data-sharing has already led to more than 1,700 deportations and 1,000 arrests. The U.S. and El Salvador signed a memorandum of cooperation to update the Security Alliance for Fugitive Enforcement. The agreement ensures access to fugitives criminal records and information sharing between America and El Salvador, so that criminals are not inadvertently released into American communities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Agriculture is another key aspect of the U.S. agenda in Latin America. U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brook Rollins announced a tour to expand market access for U.S. agricultural products. Secretary Rollins will visit Peru and Brazil. In addition, new agricultural trade missions have been announced for the Dominican Republic and Mexico. Peru is the third-largest market for agricultural exports in South America and is the second largest supplier of agricultural products to the U.S. The U.S. exports products such as ethanol, dairy products, meat, and tree nuts to Peru. In defense and security, the U.S. is also strengthening cooperation with Guyana (on the Caribbean), Panama (in Central America) and Argentina and Peru in South America. The new head of U.S. Southern Command, Alvin Holsey, traveled to Panama in February to address cooperation issues and discuss critical topics such as safeguarding the canal area from Chinese Communist Party influence and control. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement U.S. Pacific Fleet Commanders Adm. Steve Koehler traveled to Peru in recent days. The visit underscored the United States commitment to strengthening deterrence alongside partners to maintain a secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific region. In Guyana, the U.S. Navy cruiser USS Normandy and the Guyanese patrol vessel Shahoud conducted a joint exercise in international waters and the Guyana Exclusive Economic Zone to exercise communications and interoperability, and practice joint maneuvers. Guyana is a new rising star in oil and gas production, but it faces threats from Venezuelas dictator, Nicolas Maduro. The U.S. power and presence play a key role in this region. Greater security cooperation with Argentina is also underway. The U.S. Special Operations Command and Argentinas Joint Special Operations Command held the first Special Operations Forces talks. This joint effort seeks to strengthen military readiness, defense, and regional security. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Trump Administration, with great similarity to President Regan, is focused heavily on Latin America, building partnerships for security, stability and prosperity for all. These extraordinary achievements are not making headlines, but they are making a significant difference in the Western Hemisphere. Arturo McFields is an exiled journalist, former Nicaraguan ambassador to the Organization of American States, and a former member of the Norwegian Peace Corps. He is an alumnus of the National Defense Universitys Security and Defense Seminar and the Harvard Leadership course. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Pop quiz: If you knew you were going to lose your wallet, which country would you choose to lose it in? Thats an unhappy question to which, fortunately, there is a happy answer. If you said Finland (or any of the Scandinavian countries), you would be right. And its not a coincidence that those countries also rise to the top of the list as the happiest nations on Earth. The second question is, what can we, in the increasingly unhappy United States, do to be more like Finland? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The answer may be that we should simply believe more in the goodness of the people around us. That can be easier said than done in the current political climate, where perceptions about corruption and dishonesty seem to outpace reality. Happy Nordics Gallup, in partnership with the Oxford Wellbeing Research Centre and the U.N. Sustainable Development Solutions Network, just released the annual World Happiness Report. Finland leads the world for the eighth year in a row, followed by Denmark, Iceland and Sweden. Norway came in seventh. No surprise there. Its pretty much all pickled herring and ski parties at the top. The U.S. came in 24th. One year ago, I was walking through a small Swedish city with my wife at about the time this annual report was published. As I wrote at the time, we were battling a headwind registering a windchill of 17 degrees Fahrenheit miserably and unhappily cold. The people around us were scurrying. Few of them looked ready to burst into song. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement By contrast, a month ago I was on an assignment in Bangladesh, where the weather was pleasant in February. Virtually everyone I cast a smile at returned it readily, but Bangladesh came in 134th on the happiness report. Turning in lost wallets Clearly, happiness, at least as Gallup and co. measured it, has nothing to do with the weather or other external conditions. But those lost wallets, on the other hand Ive written about lost wallet tests before. In one such experiment, researchers littered the world with 17,000 of them, filled with different amounts of cash, or in some cases a key, and a business card. Researchers would hand them in at public places, such as banks, hotels or the post office, and then wait to see what happened. The vast majority were returned, intact, to the name on the business card. The more money they contained, the more likely they were to be returned. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The problem is, we dont tend to believe this is so. The happiness report asked people to guess how many times folks around them engaged in benevolent activities, including volunteering, donating and helping strangers. Then it asked, specifically, how likely did they think it was that their own lost wallet would be returned by either a neighbor, a stranger or a police officer. The Finns and Danes each scored high in their expectations of people in each category. So did the Swedes, although they were more skeptical of strangers, finishing 32nd in that measurement. Americans finished 52nd in their faith in strangers returning wallets. Underestimating other people In reality, virtually all nations performed better in real terms than their people projected, but the Nordics were indeed the most honest with wallets. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It turns out that human expectations are at least as important as real performance. In the United States, the percentage of returned wallets was roughly double what U.S. respondents expected it to be. The reports authors said that expected benevolence is a substantial predictor of life satisfaction, meaning that people may be made needlessly unhappy by their unwarranted pessimism. In other words, exaggerated cynicism emanating from Washington about corruption and dishonesty can make us less happy and more skeptical about our neighbors. Americans ranked 25th in their faith that a police officer would return a wallet a result, the report said, that reflects how people rate the quality of their public institutions. The power of good works The good news is that the antidote to this cynicism is as simple as doing good things. The report said simply witnessing someone else giving has positive effects on wellbeing. That is a note of encouragement to people who believe one person can influence many for good. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gallup CEO Jon Clifton is quoted in the report as saying it proves we underestimate how kind the world really is. If we want stronger communities and economies, we must invest in what truly matters: each other. The report also ties happiness to simple things such as sharing meals with someone, connecting with others and living in large households with family bonds. But the need for faith in other people is the biggest lesson. It turns out you dont need to fight a biting late-winter wind in a Scandinavian town square to be happy. You just need to see the good around you, and maybe step back from toxic partisanship for a while. Editors note: This story has been updated to clarify the nature of actions President Trump has taken against law firms and the description of the work Covington and Burling performed for Jack Smith. We regret the errors. There has been a lot of discussion about the Trump administrations detention of green card holder Mahmoud Khalil, the legally dubious deportation of Brown University professor Dr. Rasha Alawieh, and, as of March 21, the demand by Immigrations and Customs Enforcement that Cornell University graduate student Momodou Taal, a dual Gambian-U.K. citizen and pro-Palestinian activist, surrender to face deportation proceedings. ICEs move against Taal came shortly after he filed a lawsuit challenging the administrations deportation actions against pro-Palestine political activists. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The administrations deportation operations are much broader, of course they include children and persons from multiple countries here on U.S. soil. Trumps attacks are taking place in tandem with assaults on institutions of higher education that experienced Israel-Hamas war-related protests, sit-ins, and even the occasional building takeover. Columbia University has arguably been hardest hit. Trumps rhetorical, reputational and financial attacks on those he politically disfavors are a cancer, one that is metastasizing to other critical professions and institutions. His most recent and consistent target has been those in the legal profession, both inside and outside government. It began with a Trump memo on Feb. 25, targeting the international law firm Covington and Burling. Trump ordered the suspension of any active security clearances held by Peter Koski and all members, partners, and employees of the firm who assisted Jack Smith during his time as Special Counsel. According to a recent disclosure by Smith, he received $140,000 worth of pro bono legal services from Covington and Burling during his time in government. Another legal megafirm was next on Trumps target list on March 6. Its transgressions? Representing Hillary Clinton during her 2016 presidential campaign and FusionGPS, the opposition research firm tied to the now-discredited Steele dossier on Trump. Trump also targeted the firm for its diversity, equity, and inclusion policies. Trump charged that the firm announced percentage quotas in 2019 for hiring and promotion on the basis of race and other categories prohibited by civil rights laws. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Just over a week later, the law firm of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton and Garrison (known as just Paul Weiss) was attacked via another Trump executive order. Current and former Paul Weiss attorneys had been involved in litigation related to Jan. 6, 2021, and one other former Paul Weiss attorney Mark Pomerantz was accused by Trump of assisting Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg of manufacturing a prosecution against me (Trumps words). Paul Weiss also received the same DEI-related accusations from Trump as Perkins Coie. On March 25, Trump added another major law firm to his hit list, Jenner and Block, who he accused of DEI-related transgressions; of hiring Andrew Weissmann, who assisted then-Special Counsel Robert Muellers probe of Russian election interference in the 2016 presidential campaign; and with alleged Weissmann lawfare involving Arthur Anderson. All of these actions are pure Trump revenge tour and culture war gruel, designed as much to satisfy his thirst for vengeance against political enemies (real or imagined) as they are meant to titillate his political base. But they were also something more: harbingers of worse to come. On Saturday, March 22, Trump issued a memorandum to Attorney General Pam Bondi titled Preventing Abuses of the Legal System and the Federal Court. Trump directed Bondi to seek sanctions against attorneys and law firms who engage in frivolous, unreasonable, and vexatious litigation against the United States or in matters before executive departments and agencies of the United States. And, of course, it would be Bondi who decides what constitutes frivolous, unreasonable or vexatious litigation in the regime. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The American Immigration Council, the San Francisco-based firm of Keker, Van Nest and Peters, and former Justice Department official Vanita Gupta denounced the unprecedented attack on civil society lawyers and legal firms. Trumps attacks on the federal judiciary have also intensified in the wake of his decision to invoke the nearly 230-year-old Alien Enemies Act in an attempt to fast-track the deportation process. That move has sparked a very public confrontation between Trump and D.C. District Court Chief Judge James Boasberg. Trump declared Boasberg a Radical Left Lunatic of a Judge, a troublemaker and agitator and called for his impeachment, actions that drew a sharp and detailed rebuke from former Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals Judge J. Michael Luttig. Trumps actions to date likely presage a much broader assault on the rule of law, best visualized as the political equivalent of an asteroid striking the country in this case, with the waves of legal, professional and personal destruction he wreaks spreading ever wider across the nation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His attacks on the civil society legal profession are clearly designed to silence or otherwise intimidate its members from contemplating representing other administration critics or legal targets. If Trump is successful with this campaign of political terror and intimidation, it will embolden him to go after other domestic political opponents. If the administrations targets get legal counsel and a federal judge rules against Trump, he will go after the judge involved, just as he has Boasberg in the current deportation case. Trumps intimidation tactics appear to have succeeded already with Paul Weiss. And which lawyers are going to be willing to defend people accused of torching Tesla dealerships when the act has been misleadingly labeled domestic terrorism by the attorney general? It is not simply those opposing the administration who are to be targeted, but those who attack friends of the administration as well. Destroying defendants or plaintiffs ability to get representation is exactly the kind of lawfare the administration is waging. It will make legal, public relations and political resistance far more difficult and costly financially and otherwise. The administrations desired effect is an ever-downward spiral of activists deciding not to speak out, much fewer file lawsuits, as well as a slowly vanishing number of attorneys willing to take on court cases against the administration. As fewer defendants or plaintiffs actually get before a federal judge, Trump will be able to focus his ire and threats more intensely on the federal judges who hear anti-administration cases. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is systematic naked political repression, manifested through the tactics of an authoritarian administration bent on achieving and maintaining absolute power. Former CIA analyst and former House senior policy advisor Patrick Eddington is a senior fellow at the Cato Institute. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has expressed his solidarity with French far-right icon Marine Le Pen after she was barred from running for office by a Paris court. He posted in French "Je suis Marine!" (I am Marine) on the platform X. Orban, an ally of Le Pen, leads the Fidesz party, which, alongside Le Pens National Rally, forms the core of the far-right faction Patriots for Europe, the third-largest group of lawmakers in the European Parliament. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She was found guilty on Monday of misusing European funds and sentenced to four years in prison, two of them suspended and the other two with an electronic tag rather than in custody. She was barred from running for office with immediate effect, jeopardizing her plan to run for the presidency in 2027. Turns out there's another ocean creature that scares the hell out of great white sharks A pair of orcas terrorizing white sharks off the coast of South Africa may have captured the popular imagination, but their activities may be quite damaging, new research suggests. Port and Starboard, as the orcas (Orcinus orca) are known, have been documented hunting white sharks (Carcharodon carcharias) off the coast of South Africa for years, handily eviscerating them to feast on their nutritious livers, potentially reducing shark numbers in the area. The impact of a declining shark presence has been difficult to determine, but we may be closer to an answer. Over the last few decades, white sharks have disappeared entirely from False Bay near the Cape of Good Hope and the cascading effects of the loss of a top predator have been remarkable. "The loss of this iconic apex predator has led to an increase in sightings of Cape fur seals and sevengill sharks, which in turn has coincided with a decline in the species that they rely on for food," says marine ecologist Neil Hammerschlag, formerly of the University of Miami. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "These changes align with long established ecological theories that predict the removal of a top predator leads to cascading effects on the marine food web." An ecosystem is a delicate balance maintained by the interaction of the organisms that inhabit it. Although the predators at the top are considered scary by some, removing them from the environment has significant consequences. Suppression of natural predators in Pando forest in Utah, for example, has allowed deer and elk to run riot, feasting on the ancient aspen colony and slowly killing it. Port and Starboard photographed by drone in Mossel Bay in July 2024. ( EstherJacobs1/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 For more than 20 years, scientists have been monitoring wildlife populations in False Bay. This meant that they were able to see, in real time, the decline and ultimate disappearance of white sharks from the ecosystem there, and the consequent changes in populations of other species in the food web. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement From 2000, scientists conducted standardized surveys of white shark sightings at Seal Island, and until around 2015, the shark population was pretty stable. After 2015, however, sightings started to fall dramatically; by 2018, there were no sharks to be seen. The reason for this hasn't been officially confirmed. It's worth noting, however, that white sharks started washing up along the southern coast of South Africa, without their livers, in 2015 attacks that would later be traced to Port and Starboard. Although the cause of the shark disappearance is yet to be confirmed, we know the effects. White sharks prey on Cape fur seals (Arctocephalus pusillus pusillus). With no sharks around to keep their numbers in check, seal populations boomed. At the same time, sevengill sharks (Notorynchus cepedianus) started appearing large-bodied sharks that are both prey and competitor to white sharks. A diagram illustrating how the loss of white sharks altered population statistics in False Bay. (Hammerschlag et al., Front. Mar. Sci. , 2025) As the numbers of Cape fur seals and sevengill sharks rose, populations of the species they prey upon in turn dramatically declined small fish for the seals, and small sharks for the sevengills. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We know, based on other animal population booms, that a sudden increase in food competition between members of the same species can have dire consequences, with individuals taking greater risks to access food, and the weaker individuals starving when they are unable to compete. It may take some time for the ecosystem to recover balance; and, once it does so, it could be very different from the ecosystem it was before. Such changes are pretty normal in the natural world after all, the world we live in today looks very different from the world of, say, 11,000 years ago, at the end of the last glacial period, or the world 70 million years ago, before the dinosaurs were eradicated. However, understanding what drives such changes in the Anthropocene can help us try to minimize our own impact, and protect vulnerable habitats and the animals that need them to survive. At least 17 sevengill #sharks have been killed by infamous #killerwhale pair Port & Starboard this week in South Africa. Only the livers were eaten with the leftover carcasses washing ashore [1/3] @MarineDynamics Christine Wessels pic.twitter.com/PQVk1KI9mF Dr. Alison Kock (@UrbanEdgeSharks) February 24, 2023 Port and Starboard have been observed hunting white sharks around Gansbaai and Mossel Bay, both further along the southern coast of South Africa. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The pair has also been sighted hunting in False Bay, although white sharks are not among the prey observed in that specific area. Nevertheless, it's reasonable to infer that their ongoing mischief at least plays a role in the changes at False Bay. However, we cannot rule out overfishing, pollution, and shark cull programs as contributing factors, either. This is information that is relevant to understanding the wider impact of our own activities. "Future work at this site would benefit from understanding if and how community structure and function may have been altered and the extent to which they will continue to change through time," the researchers write in their paper. "While impacts of apex predator declines are difficult to detect in the wild, especially in marine environments, they are likely more widespread than recognized given the pace and extent of apex predator declines globally." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The research has been published in Frontiers in Marine Science. Related News State Rep. Mark Gamba, D-Milwuakie (right), joins activists from the Oregon Coalition for an Environmental Rights Amendment at a rally in Salem March 26, 2025, after a public hearing on Senate Joint Resolution 28, which would enshrine the right to a healthy environment in the Oregon Constitution. (Photo by Julia Shumway/Oregon Capital Chronicle) By the time Joanna Rogers got to give testimony at the Capitol on a bill that could one day help enshrine the right to a healthy and safe climate in Oregons Constitution, she and other speakers were told theyd have one, rather than two, minutes to make their case for or against the bill. The 11-year-old from Portland made fast edits to her testimony so she could cut straight to the heart of the matter. You are in charge of so many kids fates. Please do what you can, Rogers told the lawmakers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If passed, Senate Joint Resolution 28 would refer a ballot measure to Oregon voters in November to amend the state constitution so that it guarantees the inherent, fundamental right to a clean, safe and healthy environment, including but not limited to clean air, clean water, thriving ecosystems and a stable climate system. It would make Oregon one of four states to make such a promise to future generations in its guiding legal document and would allow Oregonians to sue the state government and its agencies if it reneges on that promise. At the first public hearing for the bill Wednesday in the Senate Rules Committee, Rogers was among a crowd so packed with people hoping to give testimony that a second room was opened to accommodate them. More than 170 people submitted written testimony in support of the bill in advance of the hearing and 26 submitted written testimony in opposition. Those opposed include large trade associations such as the Oregon Farm Bureau, Oregon Business & Industry, Associated Oregon Loggers and home building groups. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We see this as a pathway to an endless stream of lawsuits against family farms and ranches, Lauren Kuenzi, a lobbyist for the Oregon Farm Bureau, told lawmakers. This will put the court in the drivers seat, allowing them to shape public policy for a lot of industries. The bills chief sponsor, state Sen. Jeff Golden, D-Ashland, said it would not lead to lawsuits against private parties or individuals. The government has a responsibility to uphold constitutional rights. Private interests have no responsibility to uphold constitutional rights, he explained. Citizens could sue the Department of State Lands for permitting a new mining operation, but they could not sue the mining company under the amendment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sharla Moffett, a lobbyist for Oregon Business & Industry, expressed concern that it would raise environmental rights to the same level as the right to due process and equal protection under the Oregon Constitution, without clarifying what all those rights entail. The terms clean air, clean water, thriving ecosystems and a stable climate could be highly subjective and are not defined in the bill, Moffett said. The bill is cosponsored by state Sens. James Manning Jr., D-Eugene, Floyd Prozanski, D-Eugene, and Reps. Tom Andersen, D-Salem, Thuy Tran, D-Portland, and Mark Gamba, D-Milwaukie. Gamba, who tried to suppress tears as he gave testimony, described the need for the Legislature to meet climate change as the existential threat that it is. He said suing corporations over the environmental harm theyve caused has proven to be extraordinarily difficult. But holding Oregons government accountable into the future could offer options. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its a clever idea. Its a bold idea. It allows voters to put an environmental rights amendment into our constitution and reclaim some of our power to stand up to big polluters, Gamba said to applause in the hearing. Among those in attendance was Miko Vergun, a 22-year-old plaintiff in the landmark youth climate case Juliana v. United States, filed a decade ago in U.S. District Court in Eugene against the federal government by 11 young Oregonians and 10 peers from several states. The case, which attempted to hold the U.S. government accountable for accelerating global climate change through lawmakers policies and fossil fuel subsidies, never got a trial. It recently hit a dead end after the Supreme Court declined a petition from the plaintiffs to throw out a lower courts decision to dismiss the case. Vergun told the senators things might have been different if the state had guaranteed a constitutional right to a healthy climate for her and other young Oregonians. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In states like Montana and Hawaii, young people like me have won their cases because their constitutions explicitly protect the right to a healthy environment. Thats why SJR 28 matters. It would give Oregonians the same chance to be heard and protected, she said. This article was first published by the Oregon Capital Chronicle, part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Oregon Capital Chronicle maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Julia Shumway for questions: info@oregoncapitalchronicle.com. ROME, March 31 (Xinhua) -- Italy's fertility rate fell to the lowest level ever recorded in 2024, the country's main statistical entity said on Monday. According to Italy's National Statistics Institute, known as ISTAT, around 370,000 births were registered in Italy last year, a decrease of 2.6 percent from the previous year. The death rate also declined, ISTAT said, falling by 3.1 percent last year to 651,000. That means there were 281,000 more deaths than births in the country in 2024, pushing the country's average life expectancy to 83.4 years - among the highest in the world - an increase of nearly five months compared to 2023. In broader terms, there were six births and 11 deaths per 1,000 residents, according to ISTAT data. The data showed that the country's overall fertility rate in 2024 fell to 1.18 children per woman, well below the replacement level of 2.1 needed to maintain a stable population. That rate is just below the previous record of 1.19, set in 1995. ISTAT said that the downward population trend, combined with an increase in the number of people living alone, has reduced the average family size in Italy to 2.2 people, down from 2.6 two decades ago. Italy's overall population decline was partially offset by the arrival of 166,000 new legal foreign residents in 2024. That pushed the foreign-born segment of the population to 5.31 million, ISTAT said. OSSEO, Wis. (WLAX/WEUX) A summer retreat to Colombia was a life-changing experience for Osseo-Fairchilds Spanish teacher, Kayla Velasquez. Velasquez explains, Called Experiencia Colombia and it was a week-long professional development, linguistic immersion, cultural immersion workshop. During Experiencia Colombia, Velasquez was able to form friendships with staff in the Bucks County Organization for Intercultural Advancement. Where she earned an opportunity to go on their annual mission trip to Guatemala. Velasquez explains, Im one of 11 board of directors now of Bucks County and really, our mission is to expand and broaden opportunities for education in Guatemala. She says education in Guatemala was a bit shocking when visiting schools and seeing the number of limited resources they had, But a lot of the furniture in the classroom, a lot of the materials and the resources were rather old, worn down. One of the teachers showed us a makeshift whiteboard that she crafted out of cardboard and saran wrap. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Through the organization, more advanced resources like whiteboards were able to go into the schools. Velasquez says, The kids and the teachers were very very grateful for whatever they had to be able to use to learn in the classroom. Making an impact overseas, but also right here in Western Wisconsin. Osseo-Fairchild School District Superintendent Lori Whelan says, Shes able to bring back what she learned from the education system over there and enrich her classroom through culture but also sharing the experience of what education looks like here in the United States versus what education looks like in Guatemala. It really helps students understand what a gift education is and what theyre receiving. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX2548 & WIProud. House lawmakers sent over 400 bills to the Oklahoma Senate for consideration. Members of the House sit at their desks on the chamber floor for their organizational day on Jan. 7. (Photo by Emma Murphy/Oklahoma Voice) OKLAHOMA CITY The Oklahoma House has officially sent 438 bills to the Senate. The bills that advanced make up just over 20% of the roughly 1,960 House measures filed at the start of session. And while a supermajority of those were authored by Republicans, a record number of Democrat bills advanced, the House minority leader said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Speaker Kyle Hilbert, R-Bristow, attributed the chambers success to a two-tiered committee system with new oversight committees that he implemented this session. We went into the evenings a few nights, but you never saw any super late nights, he said Thursday during a media availability. I think this might be the first session Ive experienced, at least that I can remember, where we werent in here past 10 p.m. hearing legislation. And I think thats kudos to our new two tier committee system, where bills, when they made it to the floor, they were ready for primetime because members put in work on their bills on the front end. Minority Leader Cyndi Munson, D-Oklahoma City, said 29 Democratic bills were sent over to the Senate this year. I think thats a record for us. In the last several years weve been working well with the Republican caucus to get our bills done, she said Thursday. But you know, our members have worked really hard on our priorities and working across the aisle and looking for things that solve problems for Oklahomans. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Of the hundreds of bills that passed through the House, some have garnered more attention. House lawmakers advanced: House Bill 1003 that seeks to raise the age sexual of consent in Oklahoma from 16 to 18 years old; a bill creating the first residential setbacks for wind turbines, requiring they be half a nautical mile from dwellings and 1.5 times the turbines height from neighboring property lines. A similar measure passed the Senate, but with smaller setback requirements; legislation creating a new felony for being in the U.S. illegally that would repeal a controversial law that was signed last year; a ban on cellphone use in schools. The House sent legislation requiring a bell-to-bell ban to the Senate; two bills that would legalize sports betting in Oklahoma, with exclusivity granted to tribes despite the threat of veto from Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt; a bill allowing health care providers to refuse to offer specific procedures or care based on moral, religious or conscientious beliefs is on its way to the Senate. It advanced despite earlier opposition from Oklahoma physicians; a handful of bills from Rep. Suzanne Schrieber, D-Tulsa, addressing child care issues in the state. These measures include granting a tax credit to employers that provides childcare subsidies to employees and exempting the income of child care providers when applying for the Child Care Subsidy Program; a bill, which increases the amount a person who is wrongfully convicted can claim, advanced. It would allow wrongfully incarcerated inmates to claim $50,000 per year of incarceration. State law caps the compensation amount at $175,000; a bill increasing payments to foster care families intended to help families cover the cost of caring for a foster child by $5 per day; a bill requiring school districts to show a video on human growth and development while in the womb to high school students passed through the House; an effort to give the Oklahoma Attorney General the ability to investigate and enforce reported violations of the Open Records Act by public bodies; and a bill creating a license for professional storm chasers that allows them to subvert road closures, run red lights, add flashing lights and act as emergency vehicles. Two bills seeking to alter Oklahomas cockfighting statutes did not advance and did not receive a hearing in a committee. A bill to bar undocumented immigrants in Oklahoma from driving vehicles using licenses issued in other states also did not get heard on the floor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bills that advanced are eligible to be heard in Senate committees over the coming weeks. The Senate sent 321 bills to the House for consideration. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Erie, PA (WJET/WFXP) A Pennsylvania man was arrested over the weekend after a camera was found in the bathroom of a local Krispy Kreme. According to PSP Erie, troopers were called to the Krispy Kreme location on Upper Peach Street around 1:13 p.m. on Friday, March 28, after two people found a camera hidden in the air vent of the mens room. After the two gave the camera to the restaurant staff, they were allegedly approached by 34-year-old Corey Clark of Punxsutawney, PA, asking for the camera to be returned to him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When police arrived, they allegedly found Clark outside the restaurant and taken into custody with both his phone and the camera being taken for evidence. Hes since been arraigned on charges of invasion of privacy, attempted invasion of privacy and possession of an instrument of a crime. Hes since been released after posting bail and is set to appear in court again on April 9. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJET/WFXP/YourErie.com. PacifiCorp has been involved with bills across western states in recent years that woud offer some protection against lawsuits for powerline-ignited wildfires if companies get mitigation plans approved by the state. (Photo by Robert Zullo/States Newsroom) The Oregon Legislature is expected to advance two bills this week that could provide electric utilities with a financial safety net and some level of protection from bankruptcy-inducing lawsuits if their equipment starts a catastrophic fire. The bills bear striking resemblance to others being considered and passed by legislators in three other states, as well as controversial laws passed in Utah in 2020. PacifiCorp, owner of Pacific Power in Oregon, contributed to all of the bills and the Utah law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Each of those bills confers upon utilities some version of state-sanctioned approval for acting reasonably to prevent wildfires, if they get wildfire mitigation plans approved annually or every few years by the state. Cooperative and private investor-owned utilities such as PacifiCorp say they need this to ensure that they are making smart investments in wildfire prevention and grid reliability, and to ensure they dont go bankrupt. Thats the argument being used by Oregons bill sponsors, too. But trial lawyers across the West, who represent victims of utility-caused wildfires, say the bills are meant to shift the costs of utility-caused wildfire damages from companies to customers. Oregons House Bill 3666 would grant utilities a state wildfire safety certificate for having annual wildfire mitigation plans approved by the Oregon Public Utility Commission, while House Bill 3917 would set up a catastrophic wildfire fund that utilities pay into. Victims of utility-caused fires could collect from the fund 80% of allowable damages, as long as they agree not to sue the utility that caused the fire. The utilities would be allowed to raise customer rates to pay for the fund. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Reps. Pam Marsh, D-Ashland and Kevin Mannix, R-Salem, are sponsoring both bills, which could be voted out of the House Judiciary Committee as early as Tuesday. Marsh contends Oregons bills do not in any way infringe on wildfire victims ability to sue utilities for maximum damages for causing wildfires. She said in an email that legislative attorneys assured her House Bill 3666, offering utilities state certificates for having approved wildfire plans, would not provide immunity or limit liability to utilities. Trial lawyers do not agree. This sort of regulatory compliance defense is a standard thing that corporations across the country are always asking for. This is what they would love, said Daniel Hinkle, a lawyer and senior state affairs counsel for the American Association for Justice. They would love to check a box and get it rubber-stamped by an agency without opposing counsel, without anybody there to sort of push back on it, and then be able to use that prior certification as a complete, total defense against any claims for accountability later on. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Washington, D.C.-based association made up of trial lawyers has been tracking bills across the country that were introduced this year to limit utility-caused wildfire liabilities, including in Oregon. The overall goal, as I see it across a lot of these bills, is to shift the cost of this (utility-caused wildfires) onto ratepayers, Hinkle said. Insurers, as well as timber, farm and ranchland owners have come out against the bills in Idaho and Wyoming and expressed concerns about Oregons bills. Kenton Brine, president of the NW Insurance Council, said in an email Oregons bills would likely impact policy holders and insurance companies. The group has not taken a formal stance on them yet. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The impact for property owners of bills that limit or grant immunity from liability is significant, he said in an email. He said he shares concerns with the trial lawyers over Oregons approach, and that legislation as proposed is likely to impose a new burden of proof on a property owner seeking recovery after a utility-ignited wildfire. PacifiCorp involvement In Oregon, PacifiCorp lobbyist Annette Price and lawyer Jennifer Hudson participated in Marshs work group on the bills, along with representatives of Oregons cooperative and public utilities and lobbyists for the two other electricity monopolies operating in the state, Portland General Electric and Idaho Power. Combined, the three monopoly utilities control 75% of Oregons electricity market. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Omar Granados, a PacifiCorp spokesperson, said in an email that the companys work on bills such as Marshs are business as usual. Consistent with our long-standing practice to provide information to lawmakers who are considering energy policy legislation that could impact the utility and our customers, we provide comments, answer questions and participate on a number of proposed energy policy bills in the states we serve, which include Oregon, Washington, Utah, Idaho and Wyoming, he wrote. Marsh has said in public hearings that she started working on House Bill 3666 and House Bill 3917 after hearing from constituents about lackluster wildfire prevention work being done by Pacific Power, her areas monopoly utility, and to ensure utilities operating in the state dont go bankrupt. She said House Bill 3666 will hold utilities to a high standard of performance through implementation of a safety certification. Marsh said House Bill 3917, establishing the catastrophic wildfire fund, is needed so wildfire victims have options. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Without the fund, individuals have these paths: 1) Those with insurance can use their coverage. 2) Those without insurance will, most likely, struggle to cover basic needs with savings, government assistance, or friends and family. 3) All affected individuals can choose to take the utility to court, she wrote in an email. About 2,300 homes burned up in her southern Oregon district during the 2020 Labor Day Fires. Because no cause of the fires in that area were identified, her constituents werent able to collect any damages from an at-fault party and those without insurance have been left with nothing. She added that she sees the bill as a starting point. If people agree that a fund of some kind could be useful, we will need to discuss questions around structure and operations, including coverage, administration, the mix of fund contributions, and so forth. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cody Berne, a governor at large for the Oregon Trial Lawyers Association and an attorney at Portland-based law firm Stoll Berne, said Oregons catastrophic wildfire fund as proposed would likely encourage low-income fire survivors and those without insurance to forgo collecting maximum damages in a lawsuit against a utility in a powerline-ignited fire and instead settle for less from the fund a fund seeded with victims own money, collected through rate increases by utilities. This bill would charge customers to create a fund and also make them pay the next time Berkshire Hathaway burns down an Oregon town, Berne said. Berne is representing survivors of the historic 2020 Labor Day fires that killed 11 and destroyed more than 4,000 homes. Some of those fires were found to have been started by PacifiCorp equipment. PacifiCorp is owned by the multinational conglomerate Berkshire Hathaway. A jury in 2023 found the company guilty for negligence and recklessness. A recent report from the Oregon Department of Forestry concluded that PacifiCorp did not start fires it was previously found to have started in the Santiam Canyon, refuting statements from first responders from the U.S. Forest Service and trial testimony. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement PacifiCorp executives estimate the 2020 Labor Day Fires and 2022 wildfires caused by the companys equipment in Oregon cost them nearly $2.7 billion. Berkshire Hathaway estimates it could face up to $8 billion in claims related to lawsuits over California and Oregon wildfires since 2020. Thats a bit more than half of Berkshires 2024 revenue a record $14.5 billion. Most people including fire victims have to live with the justice system as it is. But when the justice system holds billionaires and their trillion-dollar corporations accountable, they think they can change the rules, Berne said. Starting with Utah PacifiCorp had its first success in contributing to legislation that limited its liability and the damages wildfire victims can collect in a powerline-ignited fire in 2020. PacifiCorp lobbyists provided comments and answered questions for lawmakers working on Utahs House Bill 66, according to spokesperson Granados. Granados did not answer questions about whether the lobbyists or company lawyers participated in bill workgroups or helped with the bills in the drafting stage. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This was an effort by a broad coalition, he said. The Utah law offers electric utilities statutory protection from negligence charges in powerline-ignited wildfires if the utilities have an approved wildfire mitigation plan. It also limits damages that survivors of wildfire can collect in suits against utilities as the lesser of either the cost to rebuild, or the difference of the fair market value of the home before the fire and the fair market value of the property after the fire. That means if it costs $300,000 to rebuild a burned home, but the fair market value of the home before the fire was $100,000 and the fair market value of the scorched property after the fire is $20,000 a victim only gets to claim $80,000 in damages. In the years since Utahs law passed, PacifiCorp attempted to pass liability limits via states utility commissions. In Idaho in 2024 the company asked the states commission to include language that would have made its electric utility Rocky Mountain Power liable only for actual economic damages in a powerline-ignited fire, excluding noneconomic, punitive and incidental damages. It made nearly identical requests to commissions in Washington, Oregon, California and Wyoming, according to reporting from Boise State Public Radio. Idahos commission declined to approve the changes, so the company went to the Idaho Legislature. Other state legislatures followed. Reasonable and prudent Oregons bills share similarities to that original 2020 Utah law. House Bill 3197, establishing a catastrophic wildfire fund, also limits recoverable damages from the fund to the lesser of either the cost of repairs or the difference in the fair market value of the property immediately before and immediately after a catastrophic wildfire. The goal has been in a lot of these bills to restrict the recovery to the loss of fair market value, which is always going to be less than the cost of repair, said Geoffrey Louden, a lawyer with the American Association for Justice. All of the bills requiring approval or certification for wildfire mitigation plans that PacifiCorp has weighed in on in the West include language that describe the utilities as having acted reasonably and prudently to prevent fire in securing state approval. Trial lawyers take the greatest issue with those words, as they are often used to establish a statutory presumption that an entity has not acted in a negligent, grossly negligent or reckless manner in cases of civil wrongdoing. Hinkle, of the American Association for Justice, said getting laws passed with language like this is standard corporate behavior 101. Marsh recently amended House Bill 3666 to remove language that previously said a wildfire safety certificate from the state establishes that an applicant is acting reasonably with regard to wildfire safety practices, to instead say a certificate indicates the utility was consistent with the commissions wildfire safety standards, and cut off a provision making the certificate valid for 12 months. She said she worked with trial lawyers on the amendment. But Berne of the Oregon Trial Lawyers Association and large landowners say this is not enough. If the goal is safety, this bill wont accomplish it, Berne said in an email. It recycles fire safety rules that are already in place. There are no resources to investigate and make sure that investor-owned power companies are following the rules. The bill just gives the appearance of safety. Betsy Earls, a lobbyist for timber giant Weyerhaeuser, said issuing safety certifications to the utilities could have unintended consequences for companies like Weyerhaeuser even with Marshs amendment. It will amount to perhaps a thumb on the scale when juries are deciding and people are thinking about whats being introduced and proven in court, she told lawmakers at a March 18 public hearing for House Bill 3666. The companys 1.5 million acres in Oregon are prohibitively expensive to insure, she said, and though it deals every year with all kinds of fires and losses, sometimes the fires are caused by utility equipment, and the only recompense the company has for its losses is to sue the utility. We have no other way to recoup losses that are due to others negligence unless we go to court, Earls said. How are Californias utility and wildfire damage bills different? In 2019, California passed laws creating a wildfire safety certification program for utilities as well as a catastrophic wildfire fund. But the policies in California are far different than those being proposed in Oregon and other states in the West, according to Berne of the Oregon Trial Lawyers Association. Wildfire safety certificates in California cannot by law be used to limit utilities liability in lawsuits because monopoly utilities in California are considered strictly liable for any fires they start. Having an approved plan and certificate from the California Public Utility Commission means the utility is allowed to raise rates to pay for wildfire prevention work and to participate in Californias catastrophic wildfire fund. The fund is available for qualifying utilities to recoup costs after theyve paid fire victims damages. The fund does not send money directly to victims, who are never forced to give up their lawsuits, and who face no artificial caps on what they can collect in damages from utilities. PacifiCorp did not contribute to Californias legislation, according to Omar Granados, a company spokesperson. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Power lines are pictured near Salt Lake City on July 2, 2023. (Photo by Jason Cameron/Getty Images) The Oregon Legislature is expected to advance two bills this week that could provide electric utilities with a financial safety net and some level of protection from bankruptcy-inducing lawsuits if their equipment starts a catastrophic fire. The bills bear striking resemblance to others being considered and passed by legislators in three other states, as well as controversial laws passed in Utah in 2020. PacifiCorp, owner of Pacific Power in Oregon, contributed to all of the bills and the Utah law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Each of those bills confers upon utilities some version of state-sanctioned approval for acting reasonably to prevent wildfires, if they get wildfire mitigation plans approved annually or every few years by the state. Cooperative and private investor-owned utilities such as PacifiCorp say they need this to ensure that they are making smart investments in wildfire prevention and grid reliability, and to ensure they dont go bankrupt. Thats the argument being used by Oregons bill sponsors, too. But trial lawyers across the West, who represent victims of utility-caused wildfires, say the bills are meant to shift the costs of utility-caused wildfire damages from companies to customers. Oregons House Bill 3666 would grant utilities a state wildfire safety certificate for having annual wildfire mitigation plans approved by the Oregon Public Utility Commission, while House Bill 3917 would set up a catastrophic wildfire fund that utilities pay into. Victims of utility-caused fires could collect from the fund 80% of allowable damages, as long as they agree not to sue the utility that caused the fire. The utilities would be allowed to raise customer rates to pay for the fund. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Reps. Pam Marsh, D-Ashland and Kevin Mannix, R-Salem, are sponsoring both bills, which could be voted out of the House Judiciary Committee as early as Tuesday. Marsh contends Oregons bills do not in any way infringe on wildfire victims ability to sue utilities for maximum damages for causing wildfires. She said in an email that legislative attorneys assured her House Bill 3666, offering utilities state certificates for having approved wildfire plans, would not provide immunity or limit liability to utilities. Trial lawyers do not agree. This sort of regulatory compliance defense is a standard thing that corporations across the country are always asking for. This is what they would love, said Daniel Hinkle, a lawyer and senior state affairs counsel for the American Association for Justice. They would love to check a box and get it rubber-stamped by an agency without opposing counsel, without anybody there to sort of push back on it, and then be able to use that prior certification as a complete, total defense against any claims for accountability later on. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Washington, D.C.-based association made up of trial lawyers has been tracking bills across the country that were introduced this year to limit utility-caused wildfire liabilities, including in Oregon. The overall goal, as I see it across a lot of these bills, is to shift the cost of this (utility-caused wildfires) onto ratepayers, Hinkle said. Insurers, as well as timber, farm and ranchland owners have come out against the bills in Idaho and Wyoming and expressed concerns about Oregons bills. Kenton Brine, president of the NW Insurance Council, said in an email Oregons bills would likely impact policy holders and insurance companies. The group has not taken a formal stance on them yet. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The impact for property owners of bills that limit or grant immunity from liability is significant, he said in an email. He said he shares concerns with the trial lawyers over Oregons approach, and that legislation as proposed is likely to impose a new burden of proof on a property owner seeking recovery after a utility-ignited wildfire. PacifiCorp involvement In Oregon, PacifiCorp lobbyist Annette Price and lawyer Jennifer Hudson participated in Marshs work group on the bills, along with representatives of Oregons cooperative and public utilities and lobbyists for the two other electricity monopolies operating in the state, Portland General Electric and Idaho Power. Combined, the three monopoly utilities control 75% of Oregons electricity market. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Omar Granados, a PacifiCorp spokesperson, said in an email that the companys work on bills such as Marshs are business as usual. Consistent with our long-standing practice to provide information to lawmakers who are considering energy policy legislation that could impact the utility and our customers, we provide comments, answer questions and participate on a number of proposed energy policy bills in the states we serve, which include Oregon, Washington, Utah, Idaho and Wyoming, he wrote. Marsh has said in public hearings that she started working on House Bill 3666 and House Bill 3917 after hearing from constituents about lackluster wildfire prevention work being done by Pacific Power, her areas monopoly utility, and to ensure utilities operating in the state dont go bankrupt. She said House Bill 3666 will hold utilities to a high standard of performance through implementation of a safety certification. Marsh said House Bill 3917, establishing the catastrophic wildfire fund, is needed so wildfire victims have options. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Without the fund, individuals have these paths: 1) Those with insurance can use their coverage. 2) Those without insurance will, most likely, struggle to cover basic needs with savings, government assistance, or friends and family. 3) All affected individuals can choose to take the utility to court, she wrote in an email. About 2,300 homes burned up in her southern Oregon district during the 2020 Labor Day Fires. Because no cause of the fires in that area were identified, her constituents werent able to collect any damages from an at-fault party and those without insurance have been left with nothing. She added that she sees the bill as a starting point. If people agree that a fund of some kind could be useful, we will need to discuss questions around structure and operations, including coverage, administration, the mix of fund contributions, and so forth. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cody Berne, a governor at large for the Oregon Trial Lawyers Association and an attorney at Portland-based law firm Stoll Berne, said Oregons catastrophic wildfire fund as proposed would likely encourage low-income fire survivors and those without insurance to forgo collecting maximum damages in a lawsuit against a utility in a powerline-ignited fire and instead settle for less from the fund a fund seeded with victims own money, collected through rate increases by utilities. This bill would charge customers to create a fund and also make them pay the next time Berkshire Hathaway burns down an Oregon town, Berne said. Berne is representing survivors of the historic 2020 Labor Day fires that killed 11 and destroyed more than 4,000 homes. Some of those fires were found to have been started by PacifiCorp equipment. PacifiCorp is owned by the multinational conglomerate Berkshire Hathaway. A jury in 2023 found the company guilty for negligence and recklessness. A recent report from the Oregon Department of Forestry concluded that PacifiCorp did not start fires it was previously found to have started in the Santiam Canyon, refuting statements from first responders from the U.S. Forest Service and trial testimony. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement PacifiCorp executives estimate the 2020 Labor Day Fires and 2022 wildfires caused by the companys equipment in Oregon cost them nearly $2.7 billion. Berkshire Hathaway estimates it could face up to $8 billion in claims related to lawsuits over California and Oregon wildfires since 2020. Thats a bit more than half of Berkshires 2024 revenue a record $14.5 billion. Most people including fire victims have to live with the justice system as it is. But when the justice system holds billionaires and their trillion-dollar corporations accountable, they think they can change the rules, Berne said. Starting with Utah PacifiCorp had its first success in contributing to legislation that limited its liability and the damages wildfire victims can collect in a powerline-ignited fire in 2020. PacifiCorp lobbyists provided comments and answered questions for lawmakers working on Utahs House Bill 66, according to spokesperson Granados. Granados did not answer questions about whether the lobbyists or company lawyers participated in bill workgroups or helped with the bills in the drafting stage. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This was an effort by a broad coalition, he said. The Utah law offers electric utilities statutory protection from negligence charges in powerline-ignited wildfires if the utilities have an approved wildfire mitigation plan. It also limits damages that survivors of wildfire can collect in suits against utilities as the lesser of either the cost to rebuild, or the difference of the fair market value of the home before the fire and the fair market value of the property after the fire. That means if it costs $300,000 to rebuild a burned home, but the fair market value of the home before the fire was $100,000 and the fair market value of the scorched property after the fire is $20,000 a victim only gets to claim $80,000 in damages. In the years since Utahs law passed, PacifiCorp attempted to pass liability limits via states utility commissions. In Idaho in 2024 the company asked the states commission to include language that would have made its electric utility Rocky Mountain Power liable only for actual economic damages in a powerline-ignited fire, excluding noneconomic, punitive and incidental damages. It made nearly identical requests to commissions in Washington, Oregon, California and Wyoming, according to reporting from Boise State Public Radio. Idahos commission declined to approve the changes, so the company went to the Idaho Legislature. Other state legislatures followed. Reasonable and prudent Oregons bills share similarities to that original 2020 Utah law. House Bill 3197, establishing a catastrophic wildfire fund, also limits recoverable damages from the fund to the lesser of either the cost of repairs or the difference in the fair market value of the property immediately before and immediately after a catastrophic wildfire. The goal has been in a lot of these bills to restrict the recovery to the loss of fair market value, which is always going to be less than the cost of repair, said Geoffrey Louden, a lawyer with the American Association for Justice. All of the bills requiring approval or certification for wildfire mitigation plans that PacifiCorp has weighed in on in the West include language that describe the utilities as having acted reasonably and prudently to prevent fire in securing state approval. Trial lawyers take the greatest issue with those words, as they are often used to establish a statutory presumption that an entity has not acted in a negligent, grossly negligent or reckless manner in cases of civil wrongdoing. Hinkle, of the American Association for Justice, said getting laws passed with language like this is standard corporate behavior 101. Marsh recently amended House Bill 3666 to remove language that previously said a wildfire safety certificate from the state establishes that an applicant is acting reasonably with regard to wildfire safety practices, to instead say a certificate indicates the utility was consistent with the commissions wildfire safety standards, and cut off a provision making the certificate valid for 12 months. She said she worked with trial lawyers on the amendment. But Berne of the Oregon Trial Lawyers Association and large landowners say this is not enough. If the goal is safety, this bill wont accomplish it, Berne said in an email. It recycles fire safety rules that are already in place. There are no resources to investigate and make sure that investor-owned power companies are following the rules. The bill just gives the appearance of safety. Betsy Earls, a lobbyist for timber giant Weyerhaeuser, said issuing safety certifications to the utilities could have unintended consequences for companies like Weyerhaeuser even with Marshs amendment. It will amount to perhaps a thumb on the scale when juries are deciding and people are thinking about whats being introduced and proven in court, she told lawmakers at a March 18 public hearing for House Bill 3666. The companys 1.5 million acres in Oregon are prohibitively expensive to insure, she said, and though it deals every year with all kinds of fires and losses, sometimes the fires are caused by utility equipment, and the only recompense the company has for its losses is to sue the utility. We have no other way to recoup losses that are due to others negligence unless we go to court, Earls said. How are Californias utility and wildfire damage bills different? In 2019, California passed laws creating a wildfire safety certification program for utilities as well as a catastrophic wildfire fund. But the policies in California are far different than those being proposed in Oregon and other states in the West, according to Berne of the Oregon Trial Lawyers Association. Wildfire safety certificates in California cannot by law be used to limit utilities liability in lawsuits because monopoly utilities in California are considered strictly liable for any fires they start. Having an approved plan and certificate from the California Public Utility Commission means the utility is allowed to raise rates to pay for wildfire prevention work and to participate in Californias catastrophic wildfire fund. The fund is available for qualifying utilities to recoup costs after theyve paid fire victims damages. The fund does not send money directly to victims, who are never forced to give up their lawsuits, and who face no artificial caps on what they can collect in damages from utilities. PacifiCorp did not contribute to Californias legislation, according to Omar Granados, a company spokesperson. Oregon Capital Chronicle is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Oregon Capital Chronicle maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Julia Shumway for questions: info@oregoncapitalchronicle.com. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Demand for electricity in the Northwest is expected to grow at its fastest pace in decades. (Robert Zullo/States Newsroom) The Oregon Legislature is expected to advance two bills this week that could provide electric utilities with a financial safety net and some level of protection from bankruptcy-inducing lawsuits if their equipment starts a catastrophic fire. The bills bear striking resemblance to others being considered and passed by legislators in three other states, as well as controversial laws passed in Utah in 2020. PacifiCorp, owner of Pacific Power in Oregon, contributed to all of the bills and the Utah law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Each of those bills confers upon utilities some version of state-sanctioned approval for acting reasonably to prevent wildfires, if they get wildfire mitigation plans approved annually or every few years by the state. Cooperative and private investor-owned utilities such as PacifiCorp say they need this to ensure that they are making smart investments in wildfire prevention and grid reliability, and to ensure they dont go bankrupt. Thats the argument being used by Oregons bill sponsors, too. But trial lawyers across the West, who represent victims of utility-caused wildfires, say the bills are meant to shift the costs of utility-caused wildfire damages from companies to customers. Oregon Legislature considers two bills related to wildfire, utilities Oregons House Bill 3666 would grant utilities a state wildfire safety certificate for having annual wildfire mitigation plans approved by the Oregon Public Utility Commission, while House Bill 3917 would set up a catastrophic wildfire fund that utilities pay into. Victims of utility-caused fires could collect from the fund 80% of allowable damages, as long as they agree not to sue the utility that caused the fire. The utilities would be allowed to raise customer rates to pay for the fund. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Reps. Pam Marsh, D-Ashland, and Kevin Mannix, R-Salem, are sponsoring both bills, which could be voted out of the House Judiciary Committee as early as Tuesday. Marsh contends Oregons bills do not in any way infringe on wildfire victims ability to sue utilities for maximum damages for causing wildfires. She said in an email that legislative attorneys assured her House Bill 3666, offering utilities state certificates for having approved wildfire plans, would not provide immunity or limit liability to utilities. Trial lawyers do not agree. This sort of regulatory compliance defense is a standard thing that corporations across the country are always asking for. This is what they would love, said Daniel Hinkle, a lawyer and senior state affairs counsel for the American Association for Justice. They would love to check a box and get it rubber-stamped by an agency without opposing counsel, without anybody there to sort of push back on it, and then be able to use that prior certification as a complete, total defense against any claims for accountability later on. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Washington, D.C.-based association made up of trial lawyers has been tracking bills across the country that were introduced this year to limit utility-caused wildfire liabilities, including in Oregon. The overall goal, as I see it across a lot of these bills, is to shift the cost of this (utility-caused wildfires) onto ratepayers, Hinkle said. Insurers, as well as timber, farm and ranchland owners have come out against the bills in Idaho and Wyoming and expressed concerns about Oregons bills. Kenton Brine, president of the NW Insurance Council, said in an email Oregons bills would likely impact policy holders and insurance companies. The group has not taken a formal stance on them yet. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The impact for property owners of bills that limit or grant immunity from liability is significant, he said in an email. He said he shares concerns with the trial lawyers over Oregons approach, and that legislation as proposed is likely to impose a new burden of proof on a property owner seeking recovery after a utility-ignited wildfire. PacifiCorps involvement on Oregon bills In Oregon, PacifiCorp lobbyist Annette Price and lawyer Jennifer Hudson participated in Marshs work group on the bills, along with representatives of Oregons cooperative and public utilities and lobbyists for the two other electricity monopolies operating in the state, Portland General Electric and Idaho Power. Combined, the three monopoly utilities control 75% of Oregons electricity market. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Omar Granados, a PacifiCorp spokesperson, said in an email that the companys work on bills such as Marshs are business as usual. Consistent with our long-standing practice to provide information to lawmakers who are considering energy policy legislation that could impact the utility and our customers, we provide comments, answer questions and participate on a number of proposed energy policy bills in the states we serve, which include Oregon, Washington, Utah, Idaho and Wyoming, he wrote. Need to get in touch? Have a news tip? CONTACT US Marsh has said in public hearings that she started working on House Bill 3666 and House Bill 3917 after hearing from constituents about lackluster wildfire prevention work being done by Pacific Power, her areas monopoly utility, and to ensure utilities operating in the state dont go bankrupt. She said House Bill 3666 will hold utilities to a high standard of performance through implementation of a safety certification. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Marsh said House Bill 3917, establishing the catastrophic wildfire fund, is needed so wildfire victims have options. Without the fund, individuals have these paths: 1) Those with insurance can use their coverage. 2) Those without insurance will, most likely, struggle to cover basic needs with savings, government assistance, or friends and family. 3) All affected individuals can choose to take the utility to court, she wrote in an email. About 2,300 homes burned up in her southern Oregon district during the 2020 Labor Day Fires. Because no cause of the fires in that area were identified, her constituents werent able to collect any damages from an at-fault party and those without insurance have been left with nothing. She added that she sees the bill as a starting point. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If people agree that a fund of some kind could be useful, we will need to discuss questions around structure and operations, including coverage, administration, the mix of fund contributions, and so forth. Cody Berne, a governor at large for the Oregon Trial Lawyers Association and an attorney at Portland-based law firm Stoll Berne, said Oregons catastrophic wildfire fund as proposed would likely encourage low-income fire survivors and those without insurance to forgo collecting maximum damages in a lawsuit against a utility in a powerline-ignited fire and instead settle for less from the fund a fund seeded with victims own money, collected through rate increases by utilities. This bill would charge customers to create a fund and also make them pay the next time Berkshire Hathaway burns down an Oregon town, Berne said. Berne is representing survivors of the historic 2020 Labor Day fires that killed 11 and destroyed more than 4,000 homes. Some of those fires were found to have been started by PacifiCorp equipment. PacifiCorp is owned by the multinational conglomerate Berkshire Hathaway. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A jury in 2023 found the company guilty for negligence and recklessness. A recent report from the Oregon Department of Forestry concluded that PacifiCorp did not start fires it was previously found to have started in the Santiam Canyon, refuting statements from first responders from the U.S. Forest Service and trial testimony. PacifiCorp executives estimate the 2020 Labor Day Fires and 2022 wildfires caused by the companys equipment in Oregon cost them nearly $2.7 billion. Berkshire Hathaway estimates it could face up to $8 billion in claims related to lawsuits over California and Oregon wildfires since 2020. Thats a bit more than half of Berkshires 2024 revenue a record $14.5 billion. Most people including fire victims have to live with the justice system as it is. But when the justice system holds billionaires and their trillion-dollar corporations accountable, they think they can change the rules, Berne said. Starting with Utah legislation PacifiCorp had its first success in contributing to legislation that limited its liability and the damages wildfire victims can collect in a powerline-ignited fire in 2020. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement PacifiCorp lobbyists provided comments and answered questions for lawmakers working on Utahs House Bill 66, according to spokesperson Granados. Granados did not answer questions about whether the lobbyists or company lawyers participated in bill workgroups or helped with the bills in the drafting stage. This was an effort by a broad coalition, he said. The Utah law offers electric utilities statutory protection from negligence charges in powerline-ignited wildfires if the utilities have an approved wildfire mitigation plan. It also limits damages that survivors of wildfire can collect in suits against utilities as the lesser of either the cost to rebuild, or the difference of the fair market value of the home before the fire and the fair market value of the property after the fire. That means if it costs $300,000 to rebuild a burned home, but the fair market value of the home before the fire was $100,000 and the fair market value of the scorched property after the fire is $20,000 a victim only gets to claim $80,000 in damages. In the years since Utahs law passed, PacifiCorp attempted to pass liability limits via states utility commissions. In Idaho in 2024 the company asked the states commission to include language that would have made its electric utility Rocky Mountain Power liable only for actual economic damages in a powerline-ignited fire, excluding noneconomic, punitive and incidental damages. It made nearly identical requests to commissions in Washington, Oregon, California and Wyoming, according to reporting from Boise State Public Radio. Idahos commission declined to approve the changes, so the company went to the Idaho Legislature. Other state legislatures followed. Reasonable and prudent Oregons bills share similarities to that original 2020 Utah law. House Bill 3197, establishing a catastrophic wildfire fund, also limits recoverable damages from the fund to the lesser of either the cost of repairs or the difference in the fair market value of the property immediately before and immediately after a catastrophic wildfire. The goal has been in a lot of these bills to restrict the recovery to the loss of fair market value, which is always going to be less than the cost of repair, said Geoffrey Louden, a lawyer with the American Association for Justice. All of the bills requiring approval or certification for wildfire mitigation plans that PacifiCorp has weighed in on in the West include language that describe the utilities as having acted reasonably and prudently to prevent fire in securing state approval. Trial lawyers take the greatest issue with those words, as they are often used to establish a statutory presumption that an entity has not acted in a negligent, grossly negligent or reckless manner in cases of civil wrongdoing. Hinkle, of the American Association for Justice, said getting laws passed with language like this is standard corporate behavior 101. Marsh recently amended House Bill 3666 to remove language that previously said a wildfire safety certificate from the state establishes that an applicant is acting reasonably with regard to wildfire safety practices, to instead say a certificate indicates the utility was consistent with the commissions wildfire safety standards, and cut off a provision making the certificate valid for 12 months. She said she worked with trial lawyers on the amendment. But Berne of the Oregon Trial Lawyers Association and large landowners say this is not enough. If the goal is safety, this bill wont accomplish it, Berne said in an email. It recycles fire safety rules that are already in place. There are no resources to investigate and make sure that investor-owned power companies are following the rules. The bill just gives the appearance of safety. Betsy Earls, a lobbyist for timber giant Weyerhaeuser, said issuing safety certifications to the utilities could have unintended consequences for companies like Weyerhaeuser even with Marshs amendment. It will amount to perhaps a thumb on the scale when juries are deciding and people are thinking about whats being introduced and proven in court, she told lawmakers at a March 18 public hearing for House Bill 3666. The companys 1.5 million acres in Oregon are prohibitively expensive to insure, she said, and though it deals every year with all kinds of fires and losses, sometimes the fires are caused by utility equipment, and the only recompense the company has for its losses is to sue the utility. We have no other way to recoup losses that are due to others negligence unless we go to court, Earls said. How are Californias utility and wildfire damage bills different? In 2019, California passed laws creating a wildfire safety certification program for utilities as well as a catastrophic wildfire fund. But the policies in California are far different than those being proposed in Oregon and other states in the West, according to Berne of the Oregon Trial Lawyers Association. Wildfire safety certificates in California cannot by law be used to limit utilities liability in lawsuits because monopoly utilities in California are considered strictly liable for any fires they start. Having an approved plan and certificate from the California Public Utility Commission means the utility is allowed to raise rates to pay for wildfire prevention work and to participate in Californias catastrophic wildfire fund. The fund is available for qualifying utilities to recoup costs after theyve paid fire victims damages. The fund does not send money directly to victims, who are never forced to give up their lawsuits, and who face no artificial caps on what they can collect in damages from utilities. PacifiCorp did not contribute to Californias legislation, according to Omar Granados, a company spokesperson. Oregon Capital Chronicle, like the Idaho Capital Sun, is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Oregon Capital Chronicle maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Julia Shumway for questions: info@oregoncapitalchronicle.com. PESHAWAR, Pakistan (AP) Pakistan plans to expel 3 million Afghans from the country this year, as a deadline for them to voluntarily leave the capital and surrounding areas expired on Monday. Its the latest phase of a nationwide crackdown launched in October 2023 to expel foreigners living in Pakistan illegally, mostly Afghans. The campaign has drawn fire from rights groups, the Taliban government, and the U.N. Arrests and deportations were due to begin April 1 but were pushed back to April 10 because of the Eid al-Fitr holidays marking the end of Ramadan, according to government documents seen by The Associated Press. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement About 845,000 Afghans have left Pakistan over the past 18 months, figures from the International Organization for Migration show. Pakistan says 3 million Afghans remain. Of these, 1,344,584 hold Proof of Registration cards, while 807,402 have Afghan Citizen Cards. There are a further 1 million Afghans who are in the country illegally because they have no paperwork. Pakistan said it will make sure that Afghans do not return once deported. Authorities wanted Afghan Citizen cardholders to leave the capital Islamabad and Rawalpindi city by March 31 and return to Afghanistan voluntarily or be deported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Those with Proof of Registration can stay in Pakistan until June 30, while Afghans bound for third-country resettlement must also leave Islamabad and Rawalpindi by March 31. Authorities have said they will work with foreign diplomatic missions to resettle Afghans, failing which they will also be deported from Pakistan. Tens of thousands of Afghans fled after the Taliban takeover in 2021. They were approved for resettlement in the U.S. through a program that helps people at risk because of their work with the American government, media, aid agencies, and rights groups. However, President Donald Trump paused U.S. refugee programs in January and 20,000 Afghans are now in limbo. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Taliban want Afghan refugees to return with dignity No Afghan officials to be made part of any committee or formal decision-making process, one of the documents said about the expulsion plans. A spokesman for Afghanistans Refugee Ministry, Abdul Mutalib Haqqani, told The Associated Press that Pakistan was taking decisions arbitrarily, without involving the U.N. refugee agency or the Taliban government. We have shared our problems with them, stating that unilaterally expelling refugees is neither in their interest nor ours, said Haqqani. It is not in their interest because expelling them in this way raises hatred against Pakistan. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For us, it is natural that managing so many Afghans coming back is a challenge. We have requested they should be deported through a mechanism and mutual understanding so they can return with dignity. Two transit stations will be set up in the northwest province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to help with deportations. One will be in Nasir Bagh, an area in the Peshawar suburbs. The second will be in the border town of Landi Kotal, some 7 kilometers from the Torkham crossing. Afghans are unsure of their future in a country they dont know It is not clear what will happen to children born in Pakistan to Afghan parents, Afghan couples with different document types, and families where one parent is a Pakistani citizen and the other is Afghan. But officials indicated to the AP that social welfare staff will be on hand to help with such cases. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Omaid Khan, 30, has an Afghan Citizen Card while his wife has Proof of Registration. According to Pakistani government policy, he has to leave but his wife can stay until June 30. Their two children have no documents, including passports or identity cards from either country. I am from Paktia province but I have never been there and I am not sure about my future, he said. Nazir Ahmed was born in the southwest Pakistani city of Quetta and has never been to Afghanistan. His only connection to the country was through his father, who died in Quetta four years ago. How can we go there? said Ahmed, who is 21. Few people know us. All our relatives live in Quetta. What will we do if we go there? We appeal to the Pakistani government to give us some time so we can go and find out, at least get some employment." - Associated Press writer Abdul Sattar contributed to this report from Quetta, Pakistan. ISLAMABAD (AP) Pakistan saw the highest number of militant attacks during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan in a decade, a think tank reported Monday. Some militant groups previously paused hostilities for Ramadan, but the country has seen an overall increase in violence in recent years. The Pak Institute for Peace Studies reported at least 84 attacks during Ramadan, which ended Sunday in Pakistan. It reported 26 attacks during last year's Ramadan. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Pakistani Taliban unilaterally ended a ceasefire with the government in November 2022, while the Baloch Liberation Army has developed its capabilities to stage elaborate attacks. Both have contributed to the rise in violence. The outlawed BLA was behind a train hijacking on March 11 in the southwest province of Balochistan that killed at least 25 people. Another think tank, the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies, recorded 61 attacks in the first three weeks of Ramadan. There were 60 total attacks in the previous Ramadan, it said. It also said this was the deadliest Ramadan in a decade for security personnel, with 56 killed between March 2 and March 20. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Abdullah Khan, managing director of the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies, cited an overall escalation in militant activity. There has been a unification of different groups, Khan said. Baloch factions are joining hands. In some areas (of the northwest), the Hafiz Gul Bahadur faction is more lethal than the Pakistani Taliban, it is competing with them. He said there was also a revival of banned organizations like Lashkar-e-Islam, which operates from the northwest province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Pakistan accuses the Taliban government in neighboring Afghanistan of giving haven to such groups, saying militants have thrived since the Taliban returned to power in 2021. Kabul rejects that. Khan also pointed to intelligence failures, including those that led to the train hijack in Balochistan, and the widening trust gap between the state and the population: Its important to get back public support. The public is the first line of defense. LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) Kentucky lawmaker Pamela Stevenson, the top-ranking Democrat in the GOP-led state House, launched her U.S. Senate campaign on Monday, vowing to help stop the recklessness in Washington if elected. The seat has long been held by Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell, who is not seeking reelection in 2026. Stevenson, an attorney and minister, ran for state attorney general in 2023 but lost by a wide margin to Republican Russell Coleman. The only Kentucky Democrats to win statewide that year were Gov. Andy Beshear and his running mate, Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman, who won reelection to second terms. Known for a fiery speaking style at the Kentucky Capitol, Stevenson pledged to continue fighting for health care access and public education, noting in an introductory digital profile that her legislative colleagues know they only have a problem with me if they go after her causes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Her Senate announcement came days after Kentucky lawmakers ended their 2025 session. In the digital profile, Stevenson didn't mention by name Republican President Donald Trump who has dominated the political landscape in GOP-trending Kentucky since first winning the White House in 2016 but the Democrat signaled her disapproval with the country's direction since Trump started his second term. We need someone to stop the recklessness in Washington," said, Stevenson, the minority floor leader in the Kentucky House. Someone to restore the balance of power. Stevenson is the first Black woman to lead a legislative caucus in the Kentucky General Assembly. In her digital biographical sketch, the Louisville, Kentucky, native says her father was a union welder and her mother was a clerk. Stevenson says they lived down the street from her grandparents church, where Stevenson serves as a minister, and she talks about her military service as a judge advocate general in the U.S. Air Force. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement McConnell, the longest-serving Senate party leader in U.S. history, announced in February that he wont seek reelection next year but will retire when his current term ends. Kentucky hasnt elected a Democrat to the Senate since Wendell Ford in 1992. On the Republican side, former state Attorney General Daniel Cameron has entered the Senate race, while U.S. Rep. Andy Barr and businessman Nate Morris are considering Senate runs. All three speak glowingly of Trump, hoping to land his endorsement. Beshear defeated Cameron in the 2023 governor's race, and speculation continues to build over whether the term-limited Beshear will run for president in 2028. One potential wild card in Kentucky's Senate race next year is Democrat Rocky Adkins, a former longtime state lawmaker who has deep political connections statewide. Adkins lost to Beshear in the 2019 Democratic gubernatorial primary and now serves as Beshear's senior adviser in the governor's office. While Rocky continues to receive tremendous encouragement from across Kentucky, he has not made any decisions on any race, said Emily Ferguson, a spokesperson for Adkins. The Panama Canal is one of the most important waterways in the world, with about 7% of global trade passing through. It also relies heavily on rainfall. Without enough freshwater flowing in, the canals locks cant raise and lower ships traveling between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Droughts mean fewer ships per day, and that can quickly affect Panamas finances and economies around the world. But the same freshwater is also essential for Panamas many other needs, including drinking water for about 2 million Panamanians, use by Indigenous people and farmers in the watershed, as well as hydropower. When the region experiences droughts, as it did in 2023-2024, the resulting water shortages can lead to increasing water conflicts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One of those conflicts involves a new dam the Panama Canal Authority plans to begin building in 2027. It would be designed to secure enough water to keep the canal, which contributes about 4.2% to the countrys gross domestic product, operating into the future, but it would also submerge farming communities and displace over 2,000 people from their homes. The Panama Canal Authority plans to build a new dam and reservoir that would submerge the village of Limon and hundreds of homes in the region. AP Photo/Matias Delacroix This recent drought wasnt an anomaly. As a researcher in Panama who studies the effects of rising temperatures on water availability and sea level rise, Im aware that as the climate warms, Panama will likely face more extremes, both long dry spells and also periods of too much rain. That will force more trade-offs between residential needs and the canal over water use. Complex engineering remade the landscape The Panama Canal was built over a century ago at the narrowest point of the country and in the heart of its population center. The route was historically used by the Spanish colonies and later for a rail line between the oceans. The idea of a canal connecting the Atlantic and Pacific oceans began as a French endeavor, led by architect Ferdinand D. Lesseps, designer of the Suez Canal in Egypt. After the French effort failed, the U.S. government signed a treaty with newly independent Panama in 1903 to take over the project. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The U.S. acquired the rights to build and operate the Panama Canal in exchange for US$10 million and annual payments of $250,000. Later, the Torrijos-Carter Treaty in 1977 committed the U.S. to transfer the control of operations to Panama at the end of 1999. The canal project was designed to take advantage of the regions tropical climate and abundant average rainfall. It harnessed the water of the Chagres River basin to run three sets of locks chambers that, filled with fresh water, act like elevators, lifting or lowering ships to compensate for the difference in water levels between the two oceans. To ensure enough water would be available for the locks, the canals designers changed the shapes of the regions mountains and rivers to create a large watershed over 1,325 square miles (3,435 square kilometers) that drains toward the canals human-made lakes, Gatun and Alajuela. About 65% of the water that flows from the watershed today goes to operate the locks. The majority of that water is quickly lost to the oceans. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even the two newest locks, built in 2016, only reuse about 60% of water on each transit 40% is flushed to avoid saltwater from the oceans intruding into the watershed. Threats to water security Panamas wet tropical weather is predominantly influenced by its location near the equator, the trade winds and the oceans. Most of its rain falls during the wet season, from May to November. However, weather records show a drop in average precipitation starting around 1950. The driest years resulted in dangerously low water levels in Gatun Lake that made canal operations difficult, including in 1998, 2016 and most recently 2023-2024. El Nino weather patterns can mean particularly low rainfall. Water levels at Gatun Lake since 1965 show how low 2023 and 2024 were. EIA In December 2023, the Panama Canal Authority was forced to limit the number of daily transits to 22, compared with 36 to 38 usual crossings, because too little freshwater was available. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To avoid steep financial losses, the Panama Canal Authority raised prices and auctioned transit opportunities to the highest bidders. Without those measures, the authority estimated it would lose $100 million a month from reduced ship traffic because of the water shortage. Ecosystems also need enough water, and changes in forest tree composition have become evident on Barro Colorado Island in Gatun Lake in response to rising temperatures and more frequent droughts. Climate change is also creating greater variability in rainfall. Too much rain can also be a problem for canal operations. In December 2010, the biggest storm on record caused landslides and $150 million in damage that interrupted transits on the canal. Sustaining Panamas canal and its people Temporary measures for saving water have been already implemented. The Panama Canal Authority shortened the chamber size in some of its locks to use less water for smaller vessels and minimized direction changes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In January 2025, the authority approved plans to build the new dam on the Indio River to increase water available for the canal. The dam could solve some water concerns during drier periods for the canal. However, it also illustrates the countrys water conflicts. Once filled, the dams reservoir will submerge over 1,200 homes by some counts, and more people in the region will lose access to land and travel routes. The Panama Canal Authority promises that residents will be relocated, but some of those living in the region fear they will lose their livelihoods, along with the communities their families have lived in for generations. Panama Canal representatives explain to community members in El Jobo in 2024 how a planned dam on the Indio River would affect the future of their community. AP Photo/Matias Delacroix Residents across Panama, meanwhile, regularly hear media campaigns that encourage them to save water. An Environmental Economic Incentives Program promotes forest conservation and sustainable family agriculture to conserve water resources. The Panama Canal is a crucial part of international trade, and it will face more periods of water stress. I believe responding to those future changes, as well as market and societal demands, will require innovative solutions that respect ecosystem limits and the needs of the population. 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: Karina Garcia, Universidad Tecnologica de Panama Read more: Karina Garcia does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment. SANAA, April 1 (Xinhua) -- Yemen's Houthi armed group said in a statement early Tuesday that it has shot down a U.S. MQ-9 drone over Yemen's central province of Marib. "Our air defenses shot down a hostile American MQ-9 drone in the airspace of Marib province, using a locally manufactured missile," Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Sarea said in a statement aired by the group's al-Masirah TV. "This is the sixteenth U.S. drone that our air defenses have successfully shot down since October 2023," he said, without specifying the exact timing. Local Houthi media reported that the drone was downed on Monday. "We affirm that we will continue to prevent Israeli navigation in the Red Sea and the Arabian Seas ... until the aggression against Gaza stops and the siege is lifted," Sarea said, adding they will also keep carrying out attacks against "enemy warships." He was referring to the U.S. Navy, including the aircraft carrier, stationed in the northern Red Sea. The U.S. military has resumed airstrikes on Houthi-held areas in northern Yemen since March 15 in a bid to deter the group from attacking Israeli targets, the U.S. Navy, and international shipping lanes in the region. On Monday, fresh U.S. airstrikes killed two people and injured a child in Bani Qa'is in Yemen's northwestern province of Hajjah, according to residents and local health authorities. UPDATE: Caleb was located. PANAMA CITY, Fla. (WMBB) The Panama City Police Department is seeking the publics assistance in locating a missing runaway teenager. According to a news release, 16-year-old Caleb Leonardi was last seen on March 29, 2025, wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, black jeans, and orange shoes. Walton County deputies searching for missing man in the Eastern Lake Trialhead area PCD officials said Caleb has blonde hair, hazel eyes, and is 59 and 125 lbs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Caleb was last seen near the 1000 block of Florida Avenue at approximately 3:30 p.m. Anyone with information on this case is urged to call the Panama City Police Department at 850-872-3100. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. LOS ANGELES (AP) There are brief moments when Annisa Faquir forgets that the Little Red Hen Coffee Shop, the Altadena diner her grandmother founded a half century ago, burned down in the Eaton Fire. You think, I can go grab something oh wait, its in ashes, said Faquir, who has worked at the shop since her mother, Barbara Shay, took over the family business seven years ago. The women want to rebuild the diner loved by neighbors for its shrimp and grits, catfish, and Shays secret house coffee blend. They knew they'd need help, but were surprised when Paris Hilton called to offer it to them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Little Red Hen Coffee Shop is one of 50 women-owned businesses impacted by the Eaton Fire receiving a recovery grant of up to $25,000 from Hilton s nonprofit 11:11 Media Impact and GoFundMe.org. These women are the backbone of their communities, the reality TV star said in a statement. Through this powerful partnership, were not just helping them rebuild were investing in their futures, their families, and their neighborhoods. Faquir said the significant grant and the ease of the process was helpful, especially compared to tougher questioning for smaller grants from other donors who asked for an arm and a leg. They saw us, she said. They heard our story. More than 1,800 businesses were located in the Eaton and Palisades fire zones, according to Los Angeles Countys Economic Development Corporation. They employed 9,600 workers and generated $1.4 billion in annual sales. The county estimates subsequent losses in economic output, income reductions, and tax revenue will be in the billions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Making sure they stay afloat now is supercritical so that we can even talk to them about longterm recovery, Kelly LoBianco, director of L.A. Countys Department of Economic Opportunity, said of those businesses. Businesses generally struggle to reopen after catastrophes. In 2023, three-quarters of small businesses were underinsured, according to the insurer Hiscox, and less than half had property insurance. In the L.A. fires, many business owners also lost their homes. Some are still repaying loans from the COVID-19 pandemic. The county is distributing about $20 million in emergency grants, but LoBianco said much more will be needed. After applications flooded in for its own program, 11:11 Media Impact and GoFundMe.org expanded it from 11 to 50 grants. The recipients include childcare centers, bakeries, bookshops, dance studios, and salons. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Seeing the overwhelming response from women entrepreneurs in need of support showed us how important and urgent the need is to help this community rebuild, said Hilton. The money will boost entrepreneurs who worried the Eaton Fire had destroyed their futures, said Lizzy Okoro Davidson, director of the Pasadena Womens Business Center, which is partnering on the grant program. The money can help pay back-rent after long closures, secure new spaces, and replace equipment. In some cases the $25,000 will be the bridge to get them to 100% of what they need, said Okoro Davidson. Renata Ortega, owner of Orla Floral Studio, used to run her floral design company out of a converted garage next to the home she shared with her husband and three dogs in the Altadena foothills. Since the Eaton fire destroyed their property, Ortega has been working from a shared workshop in downtown LA lent to her by a fellow floral designer. It was a kindness Ortega deeply appreciates, but she knows she'll eventually need her own space. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I really didnt know if we were going to make it or how long we were going to make it, having to start from scratch, so this grant is really giving me hope right now at a time of uncertainty, she said. Ortega will use the money for a deposit and rent on a studio while she and her husband rebuild their property. She also needs to replace all the vases, shelving, and tools she lost. I can continue a business that was once just a dream for me, said Ortega, adding that she will be forever grateful to Hilton. Now were going to make it. The Pasadena Womens Business Center will also receive $25,000 to provide no-cost advising to local business owners. Okoro Davidson said entrepreneurs will need lots of encouragement to keep going. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were really at the beginning of the beginning of the rebuild process, she said, adding that reimagining businesses will come next. Companies that never even had websites might now sell their products online, she said, or restaurants could convert to food trucks while they and their customers rebuild. The grants came largely from GoFundMe.orgs Wildfire Relief Fund, which has raised $7.7 million from 43,000 donors so far. Hilton, whose Malibu home burned in the Palisades Fire, donated $150,000 to the Wildfire Relief Fund. Her nonprofit, which normally focuses on protecting children and amplifying female voices, raised $1.2 million in the first week after the fires. Faquir said she and her mom will put the money toward building the restaurant, replacing equipment, and finally buying the land their diner has stood on for the last 53 years. Its our family legacy, said Faquir. We have to uphold what her mom started. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Associated Press coverage of philanthropy and nonprofits receives support through the APs collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content. For all of APs philanthropy coverage, visit https://apnews.com/hub/philanthropy. Jordan Bardella, leader of the right-wing nationalist National Rally (RN) party, has condemned the guilty verdict against his party colleague Marine Le Pen, describing it as a death knell for French democracy. "Today, it is not only Marine Le Pen who is being unjustly condemned: it is French democracy that is being executed," Bardella wrote on X. Le Pen was found guilty by a Paris court for embezzling EU funds through the fraudulent employment of staff in the European Parliament. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She was sentenced to four years in prison, two of them suspended and the other two with an electronic tag rather than in custody. As a result, her plan to run as the RN's candidate in the 2027 presidential election appears to have been derailed. While Le Pen can appeal, the slow-moving process is not likely to be over by the time of the election. The arrival of spring marks the approach of a couple of important religious holidays. In 2025, they're coming later than most people are used to. Easter's date is based on the lunar calendar. Easter comes on the first Sunday after the first full moon following the spring equinox. The spring equinox arrived March 20 this year, which marks the astronomical start of spring. It's the time when there are roughly the same number of hours of day and night on all parts of Earth, according to NASA. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Can I shop at Publix on Easter Sunday? What to know What do the moon and the equinox have to do with Easter and Passover? The Jewish calendar is a lunisolar calendar based on lunar months that begins with the first day of Rosh Hashanah, according to the U.S. Naval Observatory Astronomical Applications Department. When is Passover 2025? On the Gregorian calendar, Passover will be observed starting at sundown on April 12. In the Christian religion, the Last Supper the final meal Jesus shared with his apostles before his crucifixion was a Passover feast. Passover dates 2025 The holiday of Pesach, or Passover, falls on the Hebrew calendar dates of Nissan 15-22. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Passover begins before sundown on Saturday, April 12, 2025, and ends after nightfall on April 20, 2025, according to Chabad. When is Easter this year? Easter in 2025 will be observed on Sunday, April 20. It marks the last day of the eight-day Pesach or Passover Jewish holiday. Why is Easter so late in 2025? Easter is a movable feast, so it doesnt happen on the same date from year to year, according to the Old Farmer's Almanac. In the Gregorian calendar, it is always observed on a Sunday between March 22 and April 25. "Over a 500-year period (from 1600 to 2099 AD), Easter will most often be celebrated on either March 31 or April 16. "Easter Sunday always occurs on the first Sunday after the Paschal full moon, which is the first full moon that occurs on or after the March or spring equinox," according to the Old Farmer's Almanac. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 2025 spring equinox fell on March 20 this year. The next full moon will arrive Saturday, April 12. What's the earliest date Easter is held? You'll wait until 2285 for the next one The earliest date Easter is held falls on March 22. The last time Easter was on March 22 was in 1818. The next time will be in 2285, according to earthsky. What's the latest date Easter is held? That will come in 2038 The latest date Easter can fall is April 25. The last time Easter was on April 25 was in 1943. The next time Easter will be on April 25 will be in 2038. What is Easter? Easter is the holiest day in the Christian calendar. It observes the most central tenet of the Christian faith that Jesus Christ was resurrected from the dead. What is Passover or Pesach? Pesach is an eight-day Jewish holiday that commemorates the Israelites emancipation from slavery in ancient Egypt. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Exodus 12:23, Moses told the Israelites to slaughter a Passover lamb and paint its blood on their doors. "The Lord protected the Israelites from death by passing over their doors and would not 'allow the destroyer to enter your houses to strike you down,'" according to the Old Farmer's Almanac. This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Easter Sunday, Passover 2025 day, dates The Ohio Department of Commerce Division of Industrial Compliance's Bureau of Wage and Hour is highlighting important changes that will soon impact Ohioans paychecks. When the Pay Stub Protection Act, or House Bill 106, goes into effect Wednesday, April 9, employers will be required to include certain details within their employees pay statements. One key provision requires all Ohio employers to provide employees with comprehensive earnings and deductions statements for each pay period. These statements must include details such as gross wages earned, itemized deductions and net pay. This will help to ensure employees have the information they need to more fully understand their compensation. If an employee has not been provided with this information once the law takes effect, they have the right to request this information from their employer. If, after ten business days, the employer has not provided this information, the employee may file a complaint with the Bureau. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Starting Wednesday, April 9, a complaint form along with instructions will be available on the Bureaus website, which is available at com.ohio.gov/WageAndHourBureau. Employees can choose to submit the completed form to the Division via mail, email or fax. Ohioans with any questions about these changes or the process should contact the Division of Wage and Hour at 614-644-2239 or wagehour@com.ohio.gov. PELLA, Iowa A Pella woman has been arrested and charged with attempted murder for allegedly stabbing her husband multiple times with a kitchen knife. The Pella Police Department said officers and an ambulance responded to the 1200 block of Main Street just before 10:00 p.m. Sunday after receiving a 911 call about a man who had a knife wound to the neck. The victim, identified in court documents as Henry Allen, told police his wife had attacked him with a knife. Natural gas believed to be cause of house explosion on Des Moines south side Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Henry Allen was found in the basement of the home, suffering from multiple stab wounds. Criminal complaints filed in the case say 56-year-old Marci Allen, Henrys wife, took a large kitchen knife and carried it downstairs, then stabbed him in the neck during an argument. Henry Allen had to be transported by air ambulance to a Des Moines hospital because of the injuries to his neck and jugular. Pella Police said he is in critical condition. Court documents said Marci Allen told officers she had stabbed Henry and demonstrated how. The complaint said she told them he (Henry) would not answer questions about the text. Investigators found what appeared to be blood on Marci and her clothing, a downstairs sofa, and a large kitchen knife. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Marci Allen is charged with attempted murder and domestic abuse assault use of a dangerous weapon. She is being held on a bond of $50,000. A preliminary hearing in the case is scheduled for April 10. Iowa news Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to who13.com. In recent weeks, My Sistah's House finished its 11th tiny home, the latest iteration of its Tiny House Project, which seeks to provide transgender and gender non-conforming citizens with transitional housing in a safe, inclusive community in South Memphis, Tennessee. The LGBTQ+ housing organization has built 10 other homes since it established the project in 2022 and is working on erecting more while developing the community green space at the corner of the neighborhood. The goal, according to Founding Director Kayla Gore, is to chip away at the high rates of housing instability for transgender and gender expansive Memphians, who, like trans Americans across the country, more frequently face homelessness and housing insecurity due to employment discrimination. "A lot of trans people are seen as the problem, so they're either not hired or they're fired very quickly," Gore told Salon in a phone interview. "Our program, it helps people in the sense that, one, the housing is affordable, it's safe, it's adequate, it's in a nice community. But it also shows other organizations that this is a community that really needs to be prioritized within your programming." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since President Donald Trump took office and signed an executive order limiting sex to male and female at the federal level, My Sistah's House has had to funnel more of its limited resources into national organizing, a change Gore said she'd prefer not to have to make. But, she said, the top-down attacks have inspired the organization to temporarily take their project in a new direction: building an emergency shelter. It's just one example of how the 2024 election has prompted activists to reassess their work and the needs of their communities. Amid the onslaught of anti-transgender legislation threatening their rights, freedoms and access to basic services in state legislatures and with the Trump administration's laser-focus on the demographic fanning the flames, trans activists are finding different ways to support their community and address disparities. In the process, they're shifting focus from just staving off the infringement of their rights and freedoms from outside actors to cultivating joy and belonging within their communities. "A lot of people are in fear, so it would be really important for us to come together and show a unified support system that's here in Memphis, that people don't have to leave the city or the state to flee to a sanctuary city or state, that there is a sanctuary within the state of Tennessee," Gore said, adding that she's hoping to provide a glimpse of that during a rally for International Transgender Day of Visibility on Monday. While anti-trans legislation in Tennessee, like the state's recently passed bathroom bill, has been an issue for years, the Trump administration's moves to eliminate what the president terms "gender ideology" from the federal government threatens to upend Gore's efforts. The Department of Housing and Urban Development earlier this year announced it would no longer enforce the Equal Access Rule, which barred discrimination based on gender identity, sexual orientation and marital status in HUD-funded housing, facilities and services. Gore said that she and other housing rights activists anticipate the administration will move to eliminate the rule altogether. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But the threat has only made her more determined to continue her work. Though My Sistah's House initially had plans to build a triplex each unit with two bedrooms and a backyard porch Gore said the organization, instead, has decided to build a shelter and drop-in space in anticipation of greater need for housing and resources for trans Memphians during the Trump presidency. Current plans for the building include a top-floor emergency shelter with four, single-occupancy living quarters and a commercial ground floor replete with a communal space for hosting programming, internet access, shower and bathroom facilities, and mailboxes. If all goes according to plan, Gore said she hopes the space will be near completion in December. "It's really so many different layers to how impactful this work is, not just to the folks who are in the houses but to the people who live in the community," she said. "They're seeing streets that once had no houses on it or rotting lots or dilapidated houses that we've come in, purchased the land, tore down the houses, and we're rebuilding the community." In Texas, where state lawmakers are considering bills to establish biological definitions of sex in state code and charge people with a felony for identifying with a gender not aligned with their birth-assigned sex, activists with the Normal Anomaly Inititative have launched new health and advocacy programs dedicated to empowering community members to fight for themselves and safely navigate the current political climate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It's PrEPHer program, named after the preventative medication protecting against HIV transmission, seeks to provide Black and brown women with education on sexual health, encourage PrEP usage and connect them with resources. Joelle Espeut, the Normaly Anomaly Initiative's advocacy program director, said that the program's inclusion of Black and brown women across "the spectrum of womanhood" builds an intentionally inclusive space that similar sexual health programs don't typically do. "It's [for] cisgender women, heterosexual women, queer women, trans women," Espeut said in a phone interview. "We wanted to create space for women to engage with their sexual health and wellness, and that is unique in the sense that we usually don't see that, especially for Black and brown women." Meanwhile, the group's Drag University cohort part of its Luminate initiative aimed at teaching members of queer subcommunities how to advocate connects drag entertainers across the gender spectrum with leadership skills and resources. It also enriches their drag performance through lessons on makeup application, garment tailoring and stage presence. The program culminates in a an outreach activity, a digital media project and a pageant during the organization's annual Black Queer Advancement Festival, slated for the final week of April. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Trump administration's executive orders have inflamed the barrage of anti-trans legislation and opinions targeting the trans community, which have sparked "necessary" outcry, marches and protests. But, Espeut said that, going forward, the organization will commit further to creating more positive visibility of and "brave spaces" for Houston's trans and broader Black and brown LGBTQ+ community that allow them to be their "full authentic selves." "Our work has always centered community. Our work has always centered creating brave spaces, but we've really leaned into, 'What does visibility and joy mean?'" she told Salon. "We think that that is one of the most important things because if the community can't experience joy, and trans people can't experience joy, then there really is no hope for the future," Espeut added. Activists with One Iowa in Des Moines, which works toward bolstering equality in education, workplace culture and healthcare access, have taken a similar approach in the wake of Trump's presidency. Executive Director Max Mowitz told Salon that the state-wide organization has shifted its focus more to supporting individuals and marginalized rural communities in 2025, a reaction both to the fallout of Trump's anti-DEI efforts and the increased attacks on trans rights within the state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In February, Iowa's Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds signed a bill into law that strikes "gender identity" from the list of protected groups in the state's Civil Rights Act, making it the first in the nation to strip civil rights from a previously protected class. The law, which takes effect July 1, opens trans and gender expansive Iowans up to discrimination in housing, employment, education and public services. "Visibility without safety is tokenization it's dangerous. I think that we are more at the apex of that than we maybe have ever been in American history," Mowitz said. "It feels a little bit more dangerous and unsafe than before because all of our protections are being rolled back, and we're being villainized in these ways." To combat that, One Iowa has started to recenter its workplace education on equipping individual workers with tools to take care of themselves and protect themselves from discrimination rather than only offering diversity trainings to corporations. One such effort, Mowitz said, is to increase the amount of educational resources the organization provides to rural healthcare providers. The group has also started to embed itself in smaller communities, traveling to rural parts of Iowa to host office hours, connecting with LGBTQ+ residents and better supporting their Pride events. While still in its early stages, those communities have so far been receptive to One Iowa's increased presence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We know that the Iowa State Legislature and the Trump administration, they want us to feel isolated. They want us to feel, like, very, very disconnected from each other," Mowitz said. Residents have recognized that "there are people that are fighting for us. There are people that want to connect, and there are people that care about us outside of our small town." Mowitz said that he's taken away a similar lesson from the current moment: Iowans, including cisgender allies, are strong in numbers and unrelenting in their fight against the attack on trans Americans' rights. That's also the message he said he wants the trans community to internalize on Trans Day of Visibility. "For all of the stuff that I see that is really bad, up close and personal legislation, vitriol, hostility I see just as many people that are trying to step up and do something to support our community," Mowitz said, adding: "Even if you don't see them, folks are fighting for you in every single corner of our community." COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) Columbus Division of Fire rescued at least one person from a home in east Columbus after a tree fell on it due to severe storms that surged through central Ohio Sunday night. According to Columbus Division of Fire Battalion Chief Jeffery Geiter, crews responded to the 1400 block of Noe Bixby Road, where a tree that had fallen on the home. A tree fell on a home in the 1400 block of Noe Bixby Road after severe storms rolled through the area, March 30, 2025. (NBC4) Officials said three people were reported to be in the home at the time. Two adults were taken to a nearby hospital with unspecified injuries and one adult was treated at the scene. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Strong storms and heavy winds tore through central Ohio Sunday night, resulting in damage across the region. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV. CAIRO, March 31 (Xinhua) -- Millions of Egyptians took to the streets on Monday in a show of solidarity with the Palestinian people, protesting against any attempts to displace them from their land, Egypt's State Information Service (SIS) said. The SIS said in a statement that demonstrators, carrying Palestinian and Egyptian flags, gathered in public squares and mosques across the country following Eid al-Fitr prayers, denouncing Israel's ongoing military campaign in Gaza. The crowds expressed support for Egypt's political leadership and its stance against what they called the "bloody aggression" on Gaza. The demonstrators urged the international community to take swift action to end the conflict and to support the Palestinian cause. Egypt has repeatedly rejected the displacement of Palestinians from Gaza and has stepped up efforts to counter a proposal by U.S. President Donald Trump, announced in January, to relocate Gaza's residents to Egypt and Jordan. As part of its response, Egypt has put forward an alternative reconstruction and development plan for Gaza, which was endorsed at an emergency Arab summit in Cairo earlier in March. An Ohio cell phone repairman learned his punishment after downloading nude photos from customers phones. [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Calvin Jordan, 27, Gallipolis, was sentenced to 49 to 51 years in prison and will be required to register as a Tier II sex offender, according to Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost. Jordan pleaded guilty to 40 charges in February. This included three counts of pandering sexually oriented matter involving a minor, one count of illegal use of a minor in nudity-oriented material or performance, and 36 counts of unauthorized use of computer, cable or telecommunications property. TRENDING STORIES: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jordan worked at Direct Computing Solutions in Gallipolis, which is in Gallia County, when the crimes took place. Investigators determined that he took possession of customers phones and downloaded private photos without their knowledge. This allegedly happened between December 2021 and April 2022. More than 40 customers were victimized, including minors ranging in age from 14 to 17. Violating your customers privacy isnt just creepy its illegal, especially when some of your clients are minors, Attorney General Dave Yost said. [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] By now, you've probably seen campaign ads for the state Supreme Court race, schools superintendent election or even local candidates on your April 1 ballot. But there's been far less attention on a statewide referendum question at the bottom of the ticket. The referendum is asking about voter ID, a decade-old rule in Wisconsin that requires voters to show photo identification at polls or when requesting an absentee ballot. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The question isn't asking voters whether to get rid of or keep the voter ID law it will remain in place regardless of the referendum results. Instead, it's asking whether Wisconsin should essentially make the law permanent by adding it to the state constitution. That would make it harder for a court to declare voter ID unconstitutional in the future. Here's a simplified guide to understanding the referendum question and what a 'yes' or 'no' vote means. What is the Wisconsin voter ID referendum question? The question is written as follows. You can preview your ballot here. "Photographic identification for voting. Shall section 1m of article III of the constitution be created to require that voters present valid photographic identification verifying their identity in order to vote in any election, subject to exceptions which may be established by law?" What does a 'yes' vote mean on the Wisconsin voter ID referendum, and what groups favor it? Voting "yes" means you want the state's voter ID law to be elevated to the state constitution. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If a majority of voters choose "yes" Tuesday, the state constitution will include a new section that says voters must show valid photo identification. The Republican Party of Wisconsin supports voting "yes" on the referendum and has sent mailers featuring a photo of President Donald Trump, who is "counting on you to keep our elections secure." What does a 'no' vote mean on the Wisconsin voter ID referendum, and what groups favor it? Voting "no" means you don't want to add the voter ID requirement to the constitution. If a majority of voters choose "no" Tuesday, the state constitution won't change. The state laws, or "statutes," on voter ID also won't change or go away. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement About 20 liberal-leaning and voting rights groups including the League of Women Voters of Wisconsin and the ACLU of Wisconsin signed a public letter encouraging a "no" vote. What's the difference between having the law and putting it in the constitution? Republicans placed the question on the ballot in hopes of protecting the law from being overturned by the Supreme Court. Tuesday's state Supreme Court election will also determine whether the court stays under liberal control. While the court doesn't have a case challenging voter ID, it would be much harder for justices to declare the law unconstitutional if voter ID is part of the constitution. Raising voter ID to the constitution also makes it difficult for Democrats to get rid of the law if they eventually gain a majority. They'd have to go through the lengthy amendment process again to take it back out of the constitution. What are arguments for, against voter ID in Wisconsin? Supporters of the voter ID law argue it increases confidence in elections and photo identification is required in other everyday situations, like checking into a hotel or buying alcohol. They also point to its popularity among voters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Opponents argue voter ID is a solution in search of a problem. Voting fraud is extremely rare, especially cases of impersonation. Some groups, including low-income voters and voters with disabilities, are more likely to be affected than other voters who can easily show a Wisconsin driver's license. More in-depth coverage: What to know about the voter ID referendum in Wisconsin's April election How popular is voter ID among voters? Very. A poll conducted by the Marquette University Law School in late February found 77% of voters in Wisconsin backed the law, including 52% of Democrats. Of the 864 voters surveyed, 73% supported raising the law to the constitution. That indicates the referendum is likely to pass on Election Day. Are there other referendums on the ballot? Depending on where you live, you might see referendums from local governments or school districts seeking additional funding from taxpayers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nearly 90 school districts in Wisconsin are going to referendum this spring. And Brookfield residents will vote on a $6 million operating referendum as the Milwaukee suburb faces a budget gap. More: See what Milwaukee area school districts have referendums on the April ballot The voter ID referendum is a different kind of referendum, known as a constitutional amendment. Wisconsin voters saw five of those questions in 2024, the most in a single year since 1982. The Republican-controlled Legislature must pass constitutional amendments twice in a row before it goes to voters. Wisconsin does not have a process that allows citizens to put forward referendums on issues like marijuana and abortion, though Democrats have pushed for the idea. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More: What to know about referendums in Wisconsin, and why citizens can't petition for them What are valid photo IDs for voting in Wisconsin? Here are examples of valid photo identification to vote in Wisconsin: Wisconsin driver's license or instructional permit State ID card issued by the DMV Military or veteran's ID card Tribal ID card U.S. passport Certificate of naturalization College ID card, if it includes date of issuance, student's signature and expires no later than two years after it was issued. Some universities issue separate ID cards that fit the requirements. If the referendum passes, lawmakers could still tweak the state law, such as changing what types of ID are accepted or creating new exceptions. That's what the "subject to exceptions which may be established by law" part of the question means. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin voter ID referendum: What to know for April ballot, election A judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed by more than 30 Pierce County residents who claimed they were swindled after investing in a California-based business whose leader was later federally charged for allegedly operating a Ponzi scheme. Thirty-three Pierce County residents said they collectively contributed more than $1.2 million into the business, Creative Legal Fundings in CA, which invested in personal-injury lawyers. Instead of receiving high returns as promised, the investors said they lost their money. The lawsuit, filed in April 2023 in Pierce County Superior Court, was tossed on March 17, when neither the plaintiffs nor the defendants appeared for the trial scheduled on that day, according to a court filing. The dismissal indicated that an option remained for the plaintiffs, who were apparently no longer represented by an attorney, to later refile the case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Attorney Kyle Berti, who initially represented the plaintiffs, withdrew himself from the case in May, and no new legal counsel was subsequently listed for the plaintiffs, court records show. Berti did not return a message seeking comment. The suit claimed that the Sacramento-based Creative Legal Fundings in CA had partners and investors in different states and countries and marketed to the Filipino community through seminars, social gatherings and social media posts. Pierce County residents made up 29 of the 32 total plaintiffs in the suit, alleging that they were victims of fraud, negligent misrepresentation, breach of contract and other wrongdoing since 2021. Investors, who contributed between $5,000 to $200,000 to the business, said they expected to be able to make monthly draws, examine business records upon request and receive their money in full within 30 days of a written request. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They alleged that Creative Legal Fundings in CA not to be confused with the similarly named but unrelated Creative Legal Funding LLC had denied their moneys return and not allowed plaintiffs to examine records. The business purportedly told investors that its bank accounts were frozen amid an investigation into money laundering but assured that the FBI and other agencies had found no wrongdoing. The lawsuit named the business, another California-based LLC and Maria Dickerson, a.k.a. Dulce Pino, as defendants. Dickerson was listed as the CEO and board chairperson of Creative Legal Fundings in CA, according to a California business incorporation document. She did not respond to the lawsuit in court and had no listed legal representation, records show. Within 18 months of the lawsuits filing, Dickerson would be facing criminal charges. Dickerson, 47 at the time, was charged in September with 32 counts of wire fraud, securities fraud and money laundering after a federal grand jury returned an indictment that alleged she operated the business as a Ponzi scheme, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorneys Office in the Eastern District of California. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dickerson promised approximately 140 investors a fixed percent of return per month on their principal investment with additional compounding monthly interest if they left their money invested with her, the news release said. In reality, Dickerson used new investor money to pay off prior investors, to fund a lavish lifestyle, and to purchase Mercedes-Benz vehicles and a home in Sacramento. The news release referred to her business as Creative Legal Fundings of California. Dickerson pleaded not guilty to the federal charges, court records show. A parallel case filed against her by the Securities and Exchange Commission has been paused until the U.S. Attorneys Office case is completed. Mark Reichel, an attorney representing Dickerson in both federal matters, didnt return messages seeking comment from The News Tribune but previously told ABC 10News in San Diego that the business had paid out returns to investors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Many investors got well in excess of their original investment and reaped huge profits, Reichel was quoted as saying, according to the outlets December 2023 story about accusations against Dickerson, which reported that she also had been separately sued in California. In filings in federal court in California, Reichel wrote that Dickerson had known since April 2023 that charges were likely and had paid nearly $1 million in restitution to unspecified investors, as of September, through the surrender of two vehicles and the sale of her family home. Four people allegedly tied to the business and initially named as defendants in the Pierce County civil case were dropped from the litigation in August 2023, court records show. Berti supported the dismissal based in part on conversations with law enforcement that he had said provided more context related to evidence, according to a court filing. STORY: The Kremlin said on Monday Vladimir Putin remained open to contacts with U.S. President Donald Trump... ...after Trump said on Sunday he was "pissed off" with the Russian president. Trump threatened to impose secondary tariffs of 25% to 50% on buyers of Russian oil if he felt Moscow was blocking his efforts to end the war in Ukraine. He told NBC News he was angry after Putin last week criticized the credibility of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's leadership. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump has adopted a more conciliatory stance towards Russia that has worried Western allies... :: Kherson Regional Military Administration ...as he tries to end what he calls a "ridiculous" war, which began when Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. He himself has called for new elections in Ukraine and denounced Zelenskiy as a dictator. Trump criticized him again on Sunday over a critical minerals deal that U.S. officials have been pushing Kyiv to accept. A summary of the draft suggests the U.S. is demanding all Ukraine's natural resources income for years. Zelenskiy has said Kyiv's lawyers need to review it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I think Zelenskiy, by the way, I see he's trying to back out of the rare earth deal. And if he does that, he's got some problems. Big, big problems. We made a deal on rare earth and now he's saying, 'well, you know, I want to renegotiate the deal'. He wants to be a member of NATO. Well, he was never going to be a member of NATO. Asked about Trump's anger with Putin, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Moscow continued to work with Washington and a call between Trump and Putin could be set up at short notice if necessary. Trump had later repeated that he was disappointed with Putin but added: "I think we are making progress, step by step." He said he could impose new trade measures on Russia within a month. Russia has called numerous Western sanctions and restrictions illegal and designed for the West to seize economic advantage in its rivalry with Russia. Plant City police warn of fake missing officer posts as part of nationwide scam PLANT CITY, Fla. (WFLA) The Plant City Police Department is warning residents about false posts circulating on social media regarding a missing female officer as part of a nationwide scam. According to PCPD, several fake posts have been shared on city-related social media websites claiming that an officer is missing. Police urge the public to avoid clicking on any links associated with them or sharing them as they may contain viruses. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is part of a broader, nationwide emerging trend where false missing person reports involving local officers are spread across social media platforms with the intention of going viral. Plant City Police are working diligently to remove any fraudulent posts and remind residents to report legitimate missing person cases to law enforcement directly. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA. Can sustainability survive? The political will toward sustainability is constantly shifting, and with the official exit from the Paris Agreement and a drill, baby drill fossil fuel mentality, that answer becomes murkier every day. This has created a climate of uncertainty for eco-minded businesses seeking support from government sustainability requirements. That said, the underlying drivers of a sustainable futureinnovation, tapping into cost-efficient renewable energy, and consumer demand for ethical practicesremain intact. In other words, eco-champions are a tenacious bunch. More from Sourcing Journal Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sourcing Journal dug into the situation with its State of the Industry Sustainability Report, released the same day as its Sustainability Summit in New York. In this podcast, Lauren Parker, director of Fairchild Studio, chats with Jasmin Malik Chua, SJs sourcing and labor editor, and Alex Harrell, SJs sustainability & innovation reporter, about the industrys progress. To listen to the podcast, click here. WARSAW (Reuters) - Polish law enforcement are investigating the disappearance of an exiled Belarusian opposition activist, one of her colleagues said on Monday, adding that her phone had been traced to Belarus. Warsaw became a key hub for the Belarusian opposition, including a shadow government in exile, when many activists and politicians, including Angelika Melnikova, fled their homeland following a government crackdown after elections in 2020. "The police informed us that she had left the territory of the European Union at the beginning of March," Pavel Latushka, deputy head of the self-described United Transitional Cabinet of Belarus, said by phone. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said there had been no contact with Melnikova since March 25 and that he had informed police on March 27 that she and her two children had disappeared. Melnikova is speaker of a body known as the Coordination Council, which aims to facilitate the transfer of power in Belarus to a democratic government. It was formed by opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya after elections in 2020 that critics of President Alexander Lukashenko said were rigged in his favour. Latushka said Melnikova's phone had been traced to Belarus. "We managed with our specialist to independently establish that her phone was in Belarus, in Minsk, on March 19 and March 25." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Latushka said there were "various possibilities" regarding her disappearance but that she may have been subject to coercion. The Belarusian embassy in Warsaw did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment on the case. In a social media post on Saturday, Latushka said that "key figures of Belarus's democratic forces are priority targets for the special services of the regimes in Belarus and Russia." The two countries label opposition figures as puppets of a Western conspiracy to overthrow their legitimate authorities but have denied any links with threats received by such activists. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Poland's Interior Ministry spokesperson Jacek Dobrzynski wrote on X on Saturday that Warsaw would "support the activities of services of other countries and the Coordination Council of Belarus in order to determine the whereabouts of Melnikova". Belarusian and Russian opposition figures have faced heightened fears over their safety after an attack in 2024 on Leonid Volkov, an exiled aide to late Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny. Latushka says he has frequently received threats and in 2024 Polish prosecutors launched an investigation into a crime against him under sections of the penal code covering homicide and the activities of foreign intelligence networks. Belarusian leader and Russian ally Lukashenko extended his 31-year-old rule in January after electoral officials declared him the winner of a presidential election that Western governments rejected as a sham. (Reporting by Alan Charlish; editing by Philippa Fletcher) (Bloomberg) -- Poland will sign a $2 billion contract with the US on Monday to supply logistical support for Patriot missile-defense systems, the countrys defense chief told broadcaster Polsat. Most Read from Bloomberg Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Air-defense is the biggest investment into the Polish army, requiring the largest funds, Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz said in Krakow. This is the protection of the Polish sky, this is within Polish airspace so it is an absolute priority for us and it is very good that there is a Polish-American cooperation in this area. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has urged the European Union to establish an air-defense shield to bolster the blocs ability to deter aggression. The delivery of technical support and training is the final step for Patriot batteries to become fully operational. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2025 Bloomberg L.P. ALGIERS, March 31 (Xinhua) -- Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune and his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron held a phone conversation on Monday, during which they agreed to immediately resume security and migration cooperation between the two countries. The two leaders held an "open and cordial" discussion about the state of bilateral ties and the tensions that have accumulated in recent months, and reiterated their willingness to resume the fruitful dialogue established in August 2022, read a statement published by the Algerian Presidency on Facebook. They agreed on the need for returning to an equal dialogue between the two countries, and for "the immediate resumption of cooperation on migration in a credible, smooth and effective manner," read the statement. "The Joint Commission of Historians will resume its work immediately and will meet soon in France," with the outputs of its work and concrete proposals expected by this summer, read the statement. The joint commission is what the two countries agreed to establish in 2022 in order to settle "the memory issue," which refers to the French colonial rule starting from 1830 before Algeria won the eight-year independence war in 1962. Bilateral judicial cooperation will also be resumed, with French Justice Minister Gerald Darmanin expected to visit Algeria in the near future, read the statement. The two leaders stressed the importance of developing bilateral economic cooperation in future fields, read the statement, noting that Macron confirmed France's support for revising the Algeria-EU partnership agreement, which Algiers has long criticized as unbalanced and serving primarily European interests. During the call, Macron again urged Tebboune "to grant pardon" to jailed French-Algerian writer, Boualem Sansal, an 80-year-old who is sentenced to 5 years in prison on charges of "undermining national unity," citing his age and health. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot will visit Algiers on April 6 to solidify progress, read the statement, adding that the two presidents agreed in principle to hold an in-person meeting in the near future. The phone conversation came as the diplomatic rift between Algiers and Paris has deepened in recent months due to disagreements over immigration issues and policies, historical grievances, and France's backing of Morocco in disputes over Western Sahara, among others. Algeria has been urging the French government to recognize crimes conducted during the 132-year French colonial rule, a step seen by Algiers as essential for both nations to move beyond past grievances and establish stable and constructive ties. On March 23, Algeria's parliament established a commission to draft a law criminalizing the French colonial rule, a move deemed "historical" and backed by local lawmakers, historians, and legal experts. JAMES CITY COUNTY, Va. (WAVY) A man was shot and killed by police in the parking lot of the Food Lion adjoining Williamsburg Premium Outlets Sunday afternoon. (WAVY viewer photos) The shooting took place around 4:55 p.m, and the man, identified by Virginia State Police as James Andrew Evans, 57, was pronounced dead at the scene. A witness, Julius Meeks, said a man fired at police before they returned fire. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He came to an abrupt stop and he got out and it looked like he had a really big gun of some sort, Meeks said. I dont know what it was, but then he started shooting at the police officer, and then she started shooting back at him, and he was just on the ground. Video shared with 10 On Your Side showed what appeared to be two James City County Police officers, with one officer shouting to put the hands away from the gun, and put your weapon down, before they fired at the man. James City County Police said they responded to a report of a fight involving a potentially-armed man around 4:38 p.m. in the 100 block of Delhaven Court, but before officers arrived, the suspect left the scene in a green Nissan truck. Using Flock technology, officers identified the suspects vehicle heading toward Olde Towne Road, police said, and two James City County Police patrol officers spotted the truck and followed it into the Food Lion parking lot, where the suspect came to a stop. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When the truck stopped, the man got out of the vehicle with a long rifle and exchanged gunfire with the two responding officers, police said. The suspect was shot by return fire from the officers, and police said they gave lifesaving aid, but the man was pronounced dead at the scene. There was a heavy police presence throughout Sunday evening, James City County Police said, in order to secure the scene and canvass the surrounding area. They had advised the public to avoid the area, but added there was no ongoing threat to the community. At the request of James City County Police Chief Mark Jamison, Virginia State Police is investigating the shooting between the man and James City County police officers. A State Police spokesperson said that because it is still an active scene, agents will be investigating through the night, and that any information about the shooting can only be shared when it is found not to hinder or jeopardize the investigation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Once the investigation is completed, it will be provided to the Commonwealths Attorneys Office, who will then make a final determination, a State Police spokesperson said. James City County Police are investigating the domestic-related incident that preceded the shooting involving the man and the two officers. Both officers have been placed on a non-enforcement, modified assignment pending the completion of the investigation, in accordance with department policy. You dont have this type of activity, really, here, said a woman who identified herself as Courtney. Summertime starting, its getting warm outside, of course things are starting to happen, but you dont really have officer-involved shootings and things like that around here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are still working to learn more about the circumstances surrounding the shooting. 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. HAMPTON, Va. (WAVY) Three teen boys were shot on Jordan Drive in Hampton Sunday, police said. Hampton Police responded around 6:19 p.m. to a call for a shooting in the 1st block of Jordan Drive, and when officers arrived, they found a 15-year-old boy suffering from a non life-threatening gunshot wound, police said. While at the scene, officers were told that two other teen boys, ages 14 and 16, had suffered non life-threatening gunshot wounds and had walked into the Sentara CarePlex for treatment, said police, who determined that the incidents were related. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Detectives from the Major Crimes Unit are investigating the shootings as a maiming, and police said details are limited at this time. Anyone with information on the shootings is asked to call the Hampton Police Division at 757-727-6111 or the Crime Line at 1-888-LOCK-U-UP. People can also send an anonymous tip 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 WAVY.com. MIDTOWN SOUTH, Manhattan (PIX11) A man wanted for allegedly stealing items from unsuspecting New Yorkers was apprehended in Manhattan on Saturday, according to the NYPD. The man was recognized by members of the NYPD Patrol Borough Midtown South Pickpocket Team during a patrol of the subways. More Local News Courtesy of the NYPD Police say they discovered 45 stolen cards and a ghost gun with a high-capacity magazine during the arrest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Submit tips to police by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), visiting crimestoppers.nypdonline.org, downloading the NYPD Crime Stoppers mobile app, or texting 274637 (CRIMES) then entering TIP577. Spanish-speaking callers are asked to dial 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). 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. A contractor has been arrested after swastikas were spray painted onto a building in Beaver County. The hate symbols were tagged on a building at the intersection of Fifth Street and Sharon Road in Beaver on Friday. Crews quickly painted over the swastikas and an award was offered for an arrest. PREVIOUS COVERAGE >>> $2K reward offered after Beaver County building spray painted with swastikas Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Sunday, the Beaver Borough Police Department said they were able to link the crime to a contractor who is not from the area as the suspect, by identifying the vehicle used in the incident. The contractor was allegedly having a dispute with the business owner. Police said that person confessed to vandalising the building. We want to thank our community, the Beaver County Commissioners, and Beaver County Crime Solvers for their cooperation and assistance in this matter. Your support plays a vital role in keeping our town safe, a spokesperson for Beaver Borough said. Officers say there is no widespread threat to the community. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anyone with more information is asked to contact the Beaver Borough Police Department at 724-775-0880. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH) Police confirmed two separate shots fired incidents in Hartford on Sunday. The incidents took place in the areas of 166 Homestead Ave. and 359 Woodland St. One hospitalized in Hartford after car crashes into truck At this time there are no victims, police say. This is a developing story. Stay with News 8 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 WTNH.com. PRINCE GEORGES COUNTY, Md. (DC News Now) The Prince Georges County Police Department (PGPD) has released the name of a man who was found dead in Clinton on Friday. Minutes after 7 a.m. on March 28, officers were called to the 4900 block of Plata St. for an unresponsive person. There, police found 33-year-old Donald Logan Coleman, of Clinton, outside with gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Man to serve 7 years in prison for deadly 2023 crash in Mechanicsville As of Monday, detectives were still working to determine a motive and identify a suspect. PGPD said it is offering a reward of up to $25,000 for information that leads to an arrest and indictment in this case. Anyone with information about what led up to the shooting is encouraged to call 866-411-8477 or enter a tip online. All tips can remain anonymous. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. ROME (Reuters) - An overnight fire at a Tesla dealership in Rome that destroyed 17 cars was an act of terrorism, the company's billionaire owner Elon Musk said on Monday. Italy's special police unit Digos is leading an investigation looking into the possibility that anarchists set fire to the cars on the eastern outskirts of the Italian capital, a security source said. Tesla cars have become targets for vandalism across several countries in response to Musk's right-wing activism. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The tech tycoon, who also owns social media platform X, joined U.S. President Donald Trump's administration and has come out in support of far-right parties in Europe. Commenting in a post on X that made reference to the Rome fire, Musk used the single word "terrorism". Drone images of the fire showed the burnt-out remains of cars lined up in a parking lot, with two rows of vehicles back-to-back and a third row some distance away. The fire brigade said in a statement that the blaze broke out at around 4:30 a.m. (0230 GMT). The dealership was partially damaged, but nobody was injured. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Italy's Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini, leader of the right-wing League party, also took to X to express his support for Musk. "Too much unjustified hatred against the Tesla car company," he posted. "The season of hate and conflict must come to an end as soon as possible. My solidarity goes out to Elon Musk and to all the workers who have been threatened and attacked," Salvini said. TWO STORES IN SWEDEN HIT Two Tesla stores and some cars were also vandalised in Sweden's capital Stockholm and coastal city Malmo on Monday, several Swedish media outlets reported. Orange paint was sprayed on a Tesla store in Malmo, public broadcaster SVT reported, adding police had detained four people and were investigating the motive behind their actions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "A patrol was alerted to a store on Boplatsgatan due to someone painting a building and cars with orange paint," the Malmo police said in an online statement, referring to a street near the city centre. (Reporting by Paolo Chiriatti and Philippe Leroy Beaulieu, writing by Alvise Armellini and Gavin Jones; editing by Crispian Balmer, Andrew Heavens and Mark Heinrich) PANA, Ill. (WCIA) The Pana Police Department is investigating after a video of an incident inside a restroom, involving multiple students at Pana High School, was shared online. The police department said on Saturday, they reached out to school officials to learn more about the details of the incident and the status of the investigation. They added that throughout the day on Saturday, information and evidence was collected. Now, multiple criminal investigations are being opened. Hundreds in Urbana come out to protest Trump Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The police department also reached out to the parent/ guardian of the alleged victim, and received statements leading up to the incident. WCIA reached out to the Pana Community Unit School District for a statement. They said in part, Pana C.U.S.D. #8 High School Administration became aware of a video that was posted on social media late morning Friday, March 28th which immediately initiated an in depth investigation into the students involved in an incident inside a restroom at Pana High School involving multiple students. The district added that they are taking the matter very seriously, and that they will work together with law enforcement to ensure student safety. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Following the Districts investigation, school officials deemed the matter serious enough to have involved the Pana Police Department to conduct their own investigation into the incident, the district added. The District is not at liberty to comment further on the results of its investigation or student discipline administered due to student records protections and minors confidentiality rights. Operation: Dad podcast does heavy lifting for parenting The investigation is ongoing, and all information will be brought to the States Attorney to consider any charges. The police department asks that anyone with additional information contact them at 217-562-2141. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Two people were injured in a three-vehicle crash at Ind. 13 and C.R. 10 at 4:06 p.m. Friday. According to a report from the Elkhart County Sheriffs Office, a 2007 Toyota Rav 4 driven by a 17-year-old Bristol girl, who police only identified as A.M., was northbound on Ind. 13 when it collided with the rear of a stopped 2014 Cadillac Escalade. The Escalade was driven by Terry Costner, 53, Nappanee. It, in turn, collided with the rear of a 2003 Ford Explorer Sport driven by Brett Hoover, 38, New Paris, which was stopped because a vehicle in front of it was turning. The 17-year-old Bristol girl and her passenger, Jennifer Bell, 38, New Paris, both complained of pain. Officers did not state if any medical treatment was required. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Neither Hoover nor Costner reported any injuries at the scene. Runaway horse damages vehicle A runaway horse and buggy in the parking lot of Menards, 1925 Lincolnway East, Goshen, struck a parked truck causing minor damage at 10:42 a.m. Saturday, according to a report from Goshen police. THEFTS A firearm was stolen from the vehicle of a 30-year-old Goshen woman sometime within the past three weeks while at 61108 C.R. 17, Goshen, according to Goshen police. BATTERY A 29-year-old Elkhart man reported to Goshen police at 8:45 p.m. Saturday that he was battered by someone he knows int he 300 block of Oakridge Avenue. The victim was injured and required medical treatment, police reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement ARRESTS A 39-year-old Goshen woman was arrested by Goshen police at 1 a.m. Sunday on a charge of operating a vehicle while intoxicated following a traffic stop in the 1000 block of Sedgefield Way. She was taken to the Elkhart County Jail. A 19-year-old man was arrested by Goshen police at 1:02 a.m. Saturday on charges of underage drinking and criminal recklessness after officers were called to Brookside Manor, 61108 C.R. 17, to investigate the sound of gunfire. WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (WGHP) The Winston-Salem Police Department has released photos of the suspect who allegedly started a fire at Garner Foods earlier in March. Investigators are asking the community for assistance in identifying the suspect. Garner Foods Arson Suspect Photos Anyone with information is asked to call the WSPD at (336) 773-7700, Crime Stoppers at (336) 727-2800 or En Espanol (336) 728-3904. Tips made to Crime Stoppers can be made anonymously. A Crime Stoppers Tip Form can also be located online. You can also view Crime Stoppers of Winston-Salem Forsyth County on Facebook. Tips, including photos and videos, can be texted to the WSPD at (336) 276-1717. Background Fire at Garner Foods, manufacturer of Texas Pete hot sauce, in Winston-Salem At around 2:25 a.m. on March 4, Winston-Salem firefighters came to the Garner Foods facility on 614 West Fourth Street after getting a report of a fire. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Flames were visible on the south side of the building and the fire was quickly contained and extinguished. Firefighters say that a small gas line attached to the building was damaged in the fire. However, it was quickly contained and turned off and there is no threat to public safety. Garner Foods, headquartered in Winston-Salem, manufactures Texas Pete hot sauce and Green Mountain Gringo brand products. Garner Foods released the following statement on the fire: Overnight, a small fire occured on the exterior of the Garner Foods downtown Winston-Salem headquarters. Thanks to the quick response of local fire and police crews, the fire was contained and extinguished before causing significant damage. There were no injuries. At Garner Foods, the safety of our employees and community is our top priority. We are working closely with local fire and police officials to fully evaluate the situation and ensure all necessary precautions are taken. We are grateful for the swift response from first responders and appreciate their efforts in keeping our business and community safe, said Matt McCollum, President and CEO of Garner Foods. We are actively working with fire and police officials to assess the situation and will take all necessary steps to ensure continued safety. We will provide updates as needed and appreciate the support of our employees, customers, and community. Garner Foods Responds to Small Overnight 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 FOX8 WGHP. TEHRAN, March 31 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Foreign Ministry on Monday condemned recent threats by U.S. President Donald Trump to bomb the country, calling the remarks a violation of international law, and summoned Switzerland's envoy to Tehran to formally protest the comments. Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei, in a post on social media platform X, denounced Trump's statements as "a shocking affront to the very essence of international peace and security" and accused the U.S. leader of breaching the United Nations Charter and undermining safeguards under the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The Swiss envoy, representing U.S. interests in Iran, was handed an official protest during a meeting with Iranian officials. Tehran warned it would respond "decisively and promptly" to any aggression, according to a ministry statement. Trump, in an interview with NBC News on Sunday, threatened to launch "unprecedented military strikes" on Iran if it refused to negotiate over its nuclear program. "If they don't make a deal, there will be bombing like they've never seen before," he said, claiming talks were ongoing but offering no details. The remarks followed a letter Trump said he sent to Iranian leaders in early March via the United Arab Emirates, proposing direct negotiations on Tehran's nuclear activities. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian confirmed on Sunday that Tehran had formally rejected Trump's proposal for face-to-face talks, citing U.S. sanctions. "The U.S. behavior will determine the continuation of the negotiation path," Pezeshkian said, leaving open the possibility of indirect diplomacy. Polish Foreign Minister Radosaw Sikorski has said that US President Donald Trump is beginning to understand who he is dealing with, referring to Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin. Source: Radosaw Sikorski on Monday 31 March, as reported by European Pravda citing Polish news portal RMF24 Details: Commenting on recent statements Trump has made about Putin which indicate that the US leader is becoming irritated with the Kremlin's negotiating position, Sikorsky said: "It seems that President Donald Trump is beginning to understand what kind of partner he is dealing with." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Quote from Sikorski: "Unfortunately, the fact that Ukraine has agreed to an unconditional ceasefire has not been reciprocated by the other side. And even this limited ceasefire, in terms of the type of targets being attacked, is unfortunately not being respected." More details: The Polish foreign minister stressed that he believes that Trump is gradually realising what kind of partner he is dealing with, and that "sooner or later he will realise the value of European allies in these negotiations". Sikorski also noted that the American diplomatic concept of negotiating peace in Ukraine without Europe is probably a mistake, and that European representatives may be helpful to the White House in understanding and managing the Russian way of thinking about the world. "We have to support this willingness of the whole of Europe to stand up to Putin," Sikorski added. Background: On 30 March, US President Donald Trump stated that he was "very angry" and "pissed off" with Putin for talking about an interim administration in Ukraine. He also threatened to impose additional sanctions on Russian oil if Moscow does not come to the negotiating table and stop the fighting in Ukraine. Trump also said that there is a "psychological deadline" for Russia to agree to a full ceasefire in Ukraine. On 31 March, the Weimar+ support group for Ukraine announced that it would increase its aid to Ukraine while considering new sanctions against Russia to force it to agree to a ceasefire. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) Tourist agencies in Western New York are sounding the alarm, saying that tourism from our northern neighbors is significantly down so far this year following political strain between the two countries. Patrick Kaler, president and CEO of Visit Buffalo Niagara, said typically 35% to 45% of tourists in the area come from Canada adding that the recent strain between the U.S and Canada might be to blame for these lower numbers. The cross-border numbers for the month of February were down 14.4% over February 2025 compared to February of 2024. Very concerning to us, said Kaler. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Destination Niagara USA shared similar numbers. President and CEO John Percy said hotel occupancy in the Niagara Falls area is down 11% compared to this time last year. I dont think that is necessarily due to the presidents actions that took place after his inauguration, said Percy. I think a lot of ours, unfortunately, was due to the weather. The cold temperatures and the snow, etc., really played a role into our numbers. Both Percy and Kaler, when talking to other industry partners like hotels, attractions and more said they all have noticed a drop in the volume of Canadian visitors. Statistically, Kaler said travel decreased by over 14% from January to February. Due to this strain on relationships, Visit Buffalo Niagara has paused its advertising efforts in Canada and is now targeting other markets. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are going to some new destinations where weve never advertised before, said Kaler. Through our research, we know that they come to Buffalo and they spend a lot of time, and they do spend a lot of money. So were starting to go to Detroit, Boston, Washington, D.C., Philadelphia. For Percy, Canada isnt an international border its another neighborhood for the region, one that plays a big role. When we lose business for Canada, we lose business from international countries, said Percy. That affects sales tax in various communities and that will affect fire and safety and police force and everything else. Our sales taxes in a lot of communities, people dont realize are paid for by tourism. Kaler added that lingering effects from the pandemic, an unfavorable exchange rate and newly imposed tariffs are also to blame for the drop in border crossings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Percy said that drops in tourism happened after 9/11, the 2008 recession and the COVID-19 pandemic all events the region bounced back from. Fortunately, this is something that was manufactured by people, not a natural crisis or a downturn in economy, said Percy. We are resilient in Niagara Falls. Travel is resilient to the ebbs and flows of our world. Percy, also a member of the U.S Travel Association Board of Directors, will be in Washington this week to talk to leaders on Capitol Hill about this, making sure international relations remain strong. Latest Local News Dillon Morello is a reporter from Pittsburgh who has been part of the News 4 team since September of 2023. See more of his work here and follow him on Twitter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) Strong thunderstorms knocked out power to more than 24,000 AEP customers in three central Ohio counties Sunday night. As of 10 a.m. Tuesday, a total of 2,646 Franklin County customers were without power. In total, 24,741 customers across Ohio were without power, though that number is now just at around 2,864 homes in the area. AEP said power to one of the hardest hit areas of Franklin County on the west/southwest side of the county was restored by 2:30 a.m. Monday. The other part of the county with the most outages in the New Albany area is still waiting for the cause of the outages to be assessed before power can be restored. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You can track outages statewide in the map below. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV. CHICOPEE, Mass. (WWLP) One of President Trumps main goals since taking office two months ago has been tariffs. He says more are coming this week. President Trump has already placed tariffs on multiple countries, creating the beginnings of trade wars, but he doesnt seem to be stopping there. This past Wednesday, President Trump announced new 25 percent tariffs on foreign-made vehicles and parts that he said will go into effect on April 2, just two days away, on what he has dubbed Liberation Day. Trump says hes considering ways to serve a third term Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are basically going to put the same tariff on other countries that they put on us for the same products, said Mark Teed, Senior VP of Investments at Raymond James and Associates. Thats more defensive play than an offensive play. So really what hes doing is saying, okay, lets do exactly what you do and see how you feel about it.' Further, these tariffs will include all nations. His goal through all of these tariffs is to bring manufacturing back onto U.S. soil, as well as protect the domestic economy from unfair global competition, hes saying America has been ripped off because it imports more goods than it exports. In the instance of the manufacturing of vehicles, critics say it could slow down international supply chains. While these tariffs can be startling for many Americans, others think they will be short-lived and are not as worried at this time. I honestly believe its all temporary until things get straightened out with fair trade, said Al Bealieu, president and owner of Phil Bealieu and Sons Home Improvement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Beaulieu told 22News that they have already received messages of possible price increases. Weve been notified by some of our suppliers that some of the aluminum products we purchase theres going to be some increases, and some lumber materials as well, Beaulieu said. My only concern is that jobs were quoted at normal pricing and now there is a certain percentage of that tariff applied, then we will have to foot that. Beaulieu said some of his suppliers did say they have plenty of stock right now, but after that, it is all unknown how it will change. Just like a few of the other tariffs President Trump has said he will place, there is still the possibility they are delayed or short-lived if he feels like they could reach a deal, saying, certainly open to it, if we can do something. 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. WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) This week, President Donald Trumps tariffs are expected to go into effect, including the new 25% tax on imported vehicles and auto parts. They will be kinder than those countries were to the United States of America over the decades. They ripped us off, President Trump said. West Virginia Republican Senator Shelley Moore Capito says its about protecting the American auto industry. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This tariff, I think, will raise the price of certain cars, the imported cars, no doubt, Capito said. But Democrats, like Louisiana Congressman Troy Carter, warned the presidents trade policies could backfire. We have to be selective and very diligent and deliberate how we use tariffs. Im afraid the way the presidents using it will hurt and not help, Carter said. Those new auto tariffs are expected to go into effect on April 3. Not only is President Trump making headlines on his trade policy, but he also claims there are methods for him to seek a third term. Over the weekend, the president suggested he could run for a third term, despite the Constitution limiting presidents to two terms. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So many people are saying youve got to run again. They love the job we do, he said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | DC, Virginia, Maryland News, Weather, Traffic, Sports Live. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt is insisting that the media is overreacting to Donald Trumps theories about staying in office for a third term. Speaking with reporters on Monday, Leavitt seemed to suggest that there was no merit to the idea, or the medias alarm over itdespite the fact that Trump said he is not joking about staying in power. Look, you guys continue to ask a question about a third term, and then he answers honestly and candidly with a smile and then everyone here melts down about his answer, Leavitt said. Leavitt then pointed to Trumps interview with reporters aboard Air Force One over the weekendin which the president raised the idea that people were prompting him to run againas the reason why Americans should not be worried about the unconstitutional effort. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I have had more people ask me to have a third term, which in a way is a fourth term because the other electionthe 2020 electionwas totally rigged, Trump said. I just dont want the credit for the second because Biden was so bad, did such a bad job, and I think thats one of the reasons that Im popular. I think weve had the best almost hundred days of any president. But during a Sunday morning phone call with NBC Newss Kristin Welker, the president insisted that he was actually very serious and not joking about potentially circumventing the Constitution in order to lead the country for another four years after his second term ends. No, no Im not joking. Im not joking, the president said, during a call in which he agreed with Welker that one such plan to keep him in office involved having Vice President JD Vance front the next Republican presidential ticket with Trump as his number tworoles that they would then switch once back in office. Thats one. But there are others too. There are others, Trump said, refusing to clarify what the other plans are. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The seemingly far-fetched and unconstitutional idea would require the consent of most of the countryif Trump attempted to use traditional methods to stay in the Oval Office. As outlined in Article 5 of the Constitution, any such change requires at least two-thirds of the Senate and the House to agree on the modification, with that change then requiring ratification by a minimum of three-quarters of states in the nation. A second approach to repealing the term-limiting amendment could be via a Constitutional Convention, though two-thirds of states would need to support the motion to have one at all, and any proposed changes to an amendment would still require ratification by three-fourths of the states. Virginia Giuffre, one of Jeffrey Epsteins victims, who accused the Duke of York of sexually assaulting her as a teenager, has claimed that she is dying after being hit by a school bus. The 41-year-old shared a picture from a hospital bed, showing her covered in bruises. In the caption, she said a speeding bus had collided with her car, and that doctors had told her she has four days to live. Ms Giuffre used the post to express the wish to see her three children, from whom she is believed to be estranged. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ive gone into kidney renal failure, theyve given me four days to live, transferring me to a specialist hospital in urology, she wrote on Instagram. Im ready to go, just not until I see my babies one last time, but you know what they say about wishes. Police in Western Australia confirmed to The Telegraph a minor crash occurred between a bus and car in the farming locality of Neergabby, located about 12 miles (20kms) north of Perth, on March 24 just after 3pm local time (7am GMT). According to Australian media outlets, Ms Giuffre was involved in this crash. However, police and Acting WA Police Commissioner Kylie Whiteley said no injuries were reported, which appeared to contradict Ms Giuffres claims. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There were no reported injuries as a result of the crash, the Western Australia Police spokesperson said in a statement. The collision was reported by the bus driver the following day and the car sustained approximately $2000 AUD worth of damage, police said. Prince Andrew, Virginia Giuffre, and Ghislaine Maxwell - US Department of Justice Sky Roberts, Ms Giuffres father, told The Telegraph his daughter was depressed and wanted to be reunited with her children. Shes not doing good. Shes depressed because she misses her kids, the retired engineer added. Shes got four days unless she gets another opinion from another doctor. It could be that she could pass away in four days, like she said. But if she gets another doctor, they could probably do other things for her. So thats all Im waiting to hear. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mr Roberts said he was trying to stay strong for his daughter, whose last known address was with her estranged husband in Western Australia. Its terrible, I want to cry and everything else, but I want to stay strong for her just in case she needs something. Then Ill be there for her, he said from his home in Florida. The family of Ms Giuffre released a statement on Tuesday saying that she thanks everyone for the outpouring of love but remains in serious condition while receiving medical care. Describing the incident, they said a school bus hit Ms Guiffres car on March 24 in rural Western Australia. The police were called but said that there was no one available to come to the scene. They asked if anyone was injured and suggested that if they were, they should make their way to the hospital. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Virginia was banged up and bruised and returned home. Virginias condition worsened and she was admitted to the hospital, it said. The statement added that she meant to share the post which said she had four days to live on her private Facebook, not public Instagram. Virginia Giuffre (right) at a hearing in the criminal case against Jeffrey Epstein in 2019 - Reuters/Shannon Stapleton US-born Ms Guiffre had recently separated from Robert Giuffre, her husband of 22 years, and had been living in a small town north of Perth since 2020. She finished her post: S--t in one hand and wish in the other & I guarantee its still going to be s--t at the end of the day. Thank you all for being the wonderful people of the world and for being a great part of my life. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ms Giuffre alleged that she was sexually abused or raped by Prince Andrew on three separate occasions in 2001, when she was 17. She had sued him for unspecified damages. The case was settled by the Prince, who allegedly paid his accuser more than 12 million using money from the Queen. The terms of the deal have remained secret, but at the time the Duke expressed regret about his friendship with Epstein and confirmed that he would make a substantial donation to Ms Giuffres charity in support of victims rights. It contained no admission of liability and no apology. The Duke has always vehemently denied the allegations, insisting he has no recollection of meeting Ms Giuffre, who was trafficked by Epstein. 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. RIO DE JANEIRO, March 31 (Xinhua) -- At least 11 people from the same family died and four others were injured after a serious traffic accident occurred late Sunday in the northeastern Brazilian state of Bahia, local authorities said Monday. The accident occurred in the municipality of Ruy Barbosa, after a van carrying 16 people from the same family crashed into a truck traveling in the opposite direction for unknown reasons. Ney Dias, mayor of Ruy Barbosa said in a radio interview that the fatal victims were three minors and eight adults. The family was returning from the town of Boa Vista do Tupim where they had spent the weekend. LONDON 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. Baby brand to drop surprising ice cream flavor Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Will Smith addresses Oscars slap, marriage on new album 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. A person close to the charitys patrons and trustees and familiar with events countered Chandaukas claims. The person, who requested anonymity because the allegations are under scrutiny by the Charity Commission, said Harry and Seeiso had sent a resignation letter to the chair on March 10 two weeks before they went public with the news. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The person said the trustees and patrons were firm in their decision to leave and had collectively decided to resign with the expectation Chandauka would pull such a publicity stunt after their departure. 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. Meghans surprise appearance at the event led to an awkward moment during the trophy presentation after the match, Chandauka said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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 Harrys request that she issue a statement in support of Meghan, because we cannot be an extension of the Sussexes. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Last week, on March 26, Prince Harry made a surprising decision and resigned from his role as patron of Sentebale, a Lesotho-based HIV and Aids charity that he established in 2006 in honor of his mom, Princess Diana. Now, the chair of the board of Sentebale, Dr Sophie Chandauka, is speaking out and going after Harry. This drama first went public on March 26 when Harry released a statement alongside Sentebale co-founder Prince Seeiso of Lesotho. In it, the princes accused the charitys trustees and the chair of the board of creating an untenable situation. More from SheKnows Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With heavy hearts, we have resigned from our roles as patrons of the organisation until further notice, in support of and solidarity with the board of trustees who have had to do the same, they wrote, per Sky News. It is devastating that the relationship between the charitys 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 well-being of staff in mind, the statement continued. In turn, she sued the charity to remain in this voluntary position, further underscoring the broken relationship. Whats transpired is unthinkable, they continued. We are in shock that we have to do this, but we have a continued responsibility to Sentebales beneficiaries, so we will be sharing all of our concerns with the Charity Commission as to how this came about. Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, at the Sentebale ISPS Handa Polo at the Royal County of Berkshire Polo Club on July 26, 2018, in Windsor, England. At the time, Sentebale chair Dr Sophie Chandauka already fought back. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Beneath all the victim narrative and fiction that has been syndicated to [the] press is the story of a woman who dared to blow the whistle about issues of poor governance, weak executive management, abuse of power, bullying, harassment, misogyny and misogynoir, Chandauka said. Most recently, Chandauka made an appearance on Skys Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips. 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, she said. 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, she stated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to The New York Times, a spokesperson for Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle, declined to comment on Chandaukas latest claims. More drama will surely follow. Before you go, click here to see more of Meghan Markle & Prince Harrys milestones since leaving the royal family. Best of SheKnows Sign up for SheKnows' Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. All is not well inside the last Hermit kingdom in public service. Im referring to His Majestys Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS), a closed and secretive fiefdom that has acquired a reputation for security scandals and managerial incompetence that even high walls, literal and figurative, cant contain. Behind the austere perimeters of the prison side of business, another disgrace looms corruption. I was a prison officer and governor for a decade in the 1990s. During this purple patch for the service, the men and women who wore the uniform largely did so with pride and either had years of jailcraft experience to draw on or came to the landings from other walks of life with the requisite emotional maturity to conduct themselves properly. Was it a perfect institution? No. Indeed, the fundamental stressors of the job working in an environment where anything bad could happen and often did remained. We employed racists and people who caused prisoners and their colleagues no end of difficulty by misusing their immense discretionary power. But these miscreants were in a distinct minority, and staff corruption was either deeply concealed or driven out by an esprit de corps that is so important and so badly missing from todays service. Outside Whitehall, nobody is blind to the multiple lurid stories that have emerged in recent months and years with an uncomfortably common theme: female staff being caught in sexually compromising situations with male prisoners. Jails are places saturated with risk and trauma. Officers and prisoners are locked away in an environment that is far from normal, where sexual predation, conditioning and coercion is baked into the fabric. But I think these recent stories are symptoms of a much larger and more worrying problem than was ever the case when I worked inside. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Here is an emblematic example. In June 2024, a female prison officer at HMP Wandsworth (where I was head of security in the 1990s) gained global notoriety after a video filmed inside the prison showed her having sex with an inmate. The footage, which went viral online, led to her arrest. Linda De Sousa Abreu was jailed in January having pled guilty to misconduct in a public office. This officer had passed the HMPPS recruitment security vetting process despite having a publicly available OnlyFans account and being previously featured on the Channel 4 series Open House: The Great Sex Experiment. Neither of these activities is illegal, but only an imbecile would say they were compatible with a front-line security role near seasoned and manipulative criminals. Part of the footage was recovered from her body-worn camera. You couldnt make it up. Writer Ian Acheson worked at HMP Wandsworth as head of security in the 1990s De Sousa Abreu was hired as a result of a rushed process to get boots on wings denuded of staff as a result of utterly destructive Conservative austerity cuts that drove experience out and allowed in people patently unsuitable to the job. HMP Wandsworth, a major London prison, is falling apart in plain sight. Yet, it is a 20-minute cab ride from HMPPS Headquarters, where thousands of bureaucrats labour in roles that seem to make no difference to the abject state of our penal slums. On some occasions, up to 40 per cent of officers at Wandsworth were routinely unavailable for a workplace that was drowning in filth and drugs where staff could not routinely account for the whereabouts of prisoners. This sort of environment, where leadership and even basic supervision are absent, is ideal for illicit relationships to flourish. The state is not in charge at Wandsworth. When I was head of security there, we were the biggest gang in the jail. There was a sense of discipline in the organisation that is now sneered at and deprecated by the cartel of activist groups and academics that have far too much influence on prison operational policy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These long-dead attributes meant it was almost impossible for blatant abuses of power to occur. Order and control are foundational to prison safety and legitimacy. Where this has foundered, and we have hugely inexperienced youngsters badly selected, poorly trained and unsupervised all sorts of corruption will flourish. The rot extends far beyond prison officers too. Female prison psychologists and teachers have all been exposed in illicit affairs with prisoners. Male staff in female prisons have been jailed for relationships with particularly vulnerable women. Prisons without even elementary security screening processes allow both men and women in uniform and other staff corrupted by sophisticated and well-heeled offenders to run drugs and phones into prisons. The quantities of these items delivered to offenders, who should be doing rehabilitation, not lines of coke, simply cannot be explained by drone deliveries alone. The rampant drug economy flourishing in our prisons unopposed is the lubricant or by-product of much of the corruption we are now reading about. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prof John Podmore, who used to run the counter-corruption operation in the prison service, put it like this: Serious organised crime is increasingly well organised in prisons. Control over so many jails has been ceded to highly profitable criminal enterprises. I feel for the thousands of decent and effective female staff who pull on a uniform every morning and who, on top of all the other stresses of the job, must endure the humiliation of being associated with a minority of their colleagues who have brought the service into such disrepute. I do not accept the formula the spinners at the Ministry of Justice increasingly rely on that the number of staff being detected means that counter-corruption strategies are working. Something else is going on. Over a third of prison officers now have less than one years experience in uniform. Many of these recruits will learn on the job as I did and become effective officers doing a vital job for society. But they wont have any of the experience and numbers of colleagues I had to lean on. Too many others will be unsuitable for a uniquely complex job and their immaturity will put them at risk to themselves and security. This law enforcement agency has lost its way. Ministers know this and are helpless to act. 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 Tennessee Supreme Court ruled Wednesday that a private employer may fire an employee for exercising their right to petition the government. Citizens are protected from such government actions by the First Amendment of the United States Constitution. But justices said private employers are not subject to the same restraints under state law. The ruling comes out of a case that started in 2021, after Hamilton County resident Heather Smith was fired from her job at BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee. Smith was accused of violating company policy after she emailed her state House representative in the Tennessee legislature, detailing her opposition to her employers vaccine mandate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More: Can you be fired in Tennessee for petitioning your state lawmaker? Appeals court weighs in Her email, which Rep. John Ragan, R-Oak Ridge, read aloud during a special session at the Tennessee General Assembly, asked for legislative protection for individual liberties and rights relating to vaccine mandates. Smith filed a lawsuit against BlueCross in December 2021, alleging that the company violated Tennessee law by firing her for exercising her right to petition the government a right granted within the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, and under the Tennessee Constitution. The Hamilton County trial court dismissed her lawsuit, but the state Court of Appeals reversed the decision. The Tennessee Supreme Court then granted BlueCross permission to appeal, where it ruled against Smith. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There are very limited circumstances, the court explained, where employers may violate Tennessee law by firing an employee for exercising a constitutional right. This is called retaliatory discharge. However, the court found that employees cannot claim a retaliatory discharge against a private employer for violating their right to petition, as the right to petition is only enforceable against the government. For hundreds of years, the constitutional right to petition has been considered a bulwark against government oppression, not a constraint on private parties, said Chief Justice Holly Kirby, who wrote the ruling. "As outlined above, the majority of states that have considered whether their constitutional right to petition is enforceable against private entities have concluded that it is not. Justice Sarah Campbell concurred with the decision, but wrote a separate opinion, arguing that the legislature is better suited than the Court to create public-policy exceptions to this situation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There are undoubtedly situations in which the termination of an employee would violate public policy, she wrote. But courts are not well-equipped to determine which public policies are sufficiently clear and important to warrant the strong remedy of a retaliatory discharge claim. The USA TODAY Network - Tennessee's coverage of First Amendment issues is funded through a collaboration between the Freedom Forum and Journalism Funding Partners. Have a story to tell? Reach Angele Latham by email at alatham@gannett.com, by phone at 931-623-9485, or follow her on Twitter at @angele_latham This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Tennessee Supreme Court: Companies can fire you for petitioning gov't When a 64-year-old pro-life campaigner stood outside an abortion clinic in Bournemouth holding a sign saying Here to talk if you want to, she hardly imagined her silent protest would inflame a global free speech row that threatens to jeopardise Britains so-called special relationship with the US. Livia Tossici-Bolt, a retired medical scientist, was charged with a public order offence for allegedly breaching a protected buffer zone outside the British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS) facility on two consecutive days in March 2023. Now, days before she is expected to receive a verdict on Friday, she has found herself the subject of an extraordinary intervention by US government officials after a state department bureau announced on Sunday that it was monitoring her case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a statement issued on X, the US bureau of democracy, human rights and labour said: We are concerned about freedom of expression in the United Kingdom We are monitoring [Ms Tossici-Bolts] case. The move marks an escalation between Donald Trumps administration and British politicians over the UKs commitment to free expression. In recent months, the row has increasingly focused on the right to protest outside abortion clinics. Buffer zone legislation in the UK that bans protest outside clinics has been backed by all major political parties. But in America, where 12 states now prohibit abortion in almost all circumstances, the issue is much more divisive. Adam Smith-Connor was given a conditional discharge for his protest outside the same Bournemouth clinic In February, JD Vance, the US vice-president, used his speech at the Munich Security Conference to criticise British authorities prosecution of another activist, Adam Smith-Connor, 51, for a similar protest outside the same Bournemouth clinic in 2022. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mr Vance said the case of the British Army Reserves veteran showed that the basic liberties of religious Britons, in particular were under threat. Mr Smith-Connor denied committing an offence, but in October last year a judge found his actions had been deliberate. He had claimed that he had the right to silently pray for an unborn son whom he now regrets aborting and that prosecuting him amounted to criminalising someones beliefs. He was handed a two-year conditional discharge and ordered to pay more than 9,000 costs. Like Mr Smith-Connor, Ms Tossici-Bolt is also being prosecuted under a public spaces protection order (PSPO), legislation that restricts anti-social behaviour in a specific area. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last October, Sir Keir Starmers government replaced these local powers with national restrictions making it a criminal offence to attempt to influence a persons decision to access or provide abortion services within 150 metres of a clinic in England and Wales. The new safe access zones law does not automatically ban silent prayer outside abortion clinics, but Crown Prosecution Service guidance states there is no defence on religious grounds under the statute, meaning that holding a vigil or praying, including silent prayer, could be considered a violation. Ms Tossici-Bolt, leader of the Bournemouth branch of the anti-abortion charity 40 Days of Life, has always denied the charges against her and claimed she was just there to offer support to women seeking an abortion. In March, Poole magistrates court heard that she stood outside the BPAS clinic in Bournemouth for around two hours on two consecutive days in March 2023, holding up her sign. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She was approached by police and a local council official who told her that one person had felt harassed by Ms Tossici-Bolts protest. The court heard that Ms Tossici-Bolt refused to vacate the area, despite being repeatedly asked to leave. She claims she was given no legitimate reason to leave and told magistrates that she did not see how someone standing there can be seen as harassment and intimidation. My signs are solidarity signs. I am just there to offer support. I rejoice when a life is saved. People can say yes or no when they see me, she said. I always made sure I did not come across as aggressive. I always try and do it in a loving way. I never tell people to terminate. If they decide to go ahead with the abortion then we can offer support afterwards, she added. Livia Tossici-Bolt shows off the sign ahead of her appearance at court on Friday - ADF International Ms Tossici-Bolt said she had been standing diagonally opposite the Bournemouth clinic, about 50 metres away, for just under two hours on March 2 when a police officer approached her to report that someone had complained about her presence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She said: I asked him how this could possibly happen. I dont see how someone standing there can be seen as harassment and intimidation. I dont see the problem with people seeing me. It would have been lovely if the officer had gone to the person and asked me why I was harassing them. I was being completely passive. She added that she would have left if they had given me a reason but they could not provide one. I was sure that I was not in breach, she said. I still maintain that. After hearing all the evidence, District Judge Orla Austin adjourned the case and will deliver her verdict on April 4. 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. NEW MEXICO (KRQE) With a push to make affordable housing more available, a new program aimed at rehabbing old homes and turning them into rentals has launched. One nonprofit is already rolling out their first success with the program. The Rehab2Rental was approved by Housing New Mexico, also known as MFA, back in February. On Friday, one of the early recipients opened its first home using the funding. Theres a shortage of both single-family homes for sale and rental units for rental. So with this program, the intent is to revitalize some existing stock and make it available for rentals, said Dan Jennings, a county coordinator with 100% Chaves County. Housing New Mexico launches program aiming to increase affordable housing Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The program by Housing New Mexico would give landlords a $25,000 forgivable loan to fix up old, run-down houses, turning them into affordable rental homes that would be used for tenant-based housing vouchers. In Chaves County, the owner of the home worked with the organizations 100% Chaves County and Hagerman Forward to help ring in the program, saying having something like this helps more than just the homeowner. We feel it helps stabilize neighborhoods, taking a vacant house and turning it into a house that can be safe and habitable. We feel that its good for the property owner because now we have another property owner who can be in the system and rent houses at an affordable rent. And we feel its great for the families that can now have a voucher, said the Executive Director and CEO of Housing New Mexico. Housing New Mexico says the program is not just limited to Chaves County and is open to other landlords across the state. For more information on the Rehab2Rental program, you can follow the link 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 KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos. The construction industry is often perceived as a male-dominated field, but that perception is changing and for good reason. Women have increasingly stepped into roles within construction, proving their value, expertise and unique contributions to an industry that has long overlooked their potential. Despite the progress, the sector still struggles with gender disparity, and many women are hesitant to pursue construction as a career. It is time to highlight the importance of women in construction, the reasons this career is often overlooked, and the lasting impact women can have on the industry. Grading Oklahoma: Our state is ranked the worst state for women. Here's where equity needs to improve. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Construction offers stable, well-paying jobs, career growth and the opportunity to shape the physical world. Yet, women often overlook this path due to long-standing gender biases, lack of encouragement and limited exposure to construction careers at a young age. Many schools and career guidance programs still push women toward traditional roles in health care, education or office-based professions, while construction is often portrayed as too physically demanding or unsuitable for women. The absence of female role models in construction further discourages women from considering this career. When young women do not see others like them in the field, they may assume the industry is not welcoming or lacks opportunities for them. Additionally, workplace culture can sometimes feel unwelcoming, with some women encountering challenges such as discrimination, lack of mentorship or difficulty advancing in leadership roles. Lisa Phifer works with Lisa Anns Renovation & Upgrades in Oklahoma City. The Central Oklahoma Home Builders Association encourages women to consider careers in the construction industry. But the construction industry is facing a significant labor shortage, with demand for skilled workers at an all-time high. Women represent an untapped talent pool that could help fill this gap. Encouraging more women to join construction is not only a matter of equality but also a practical solution to the industry's workforce challenges. Beyond addressing labor shortages, women bring diverse perspectives and skills to construction. Studies have shown that gender-diverse teams tend to be more innovative and efficient. Women often excel in problem-solving, collaboration and attention to detail, which are critical in construction projects. Their leadership and organizational skills contribute to better project management and workplace safety, helping to create more structured and inclusive work environments. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Safety in construction is a major concern, and women contribute positively to this area. According to industry reports, female construction workers are statistically less likely to take unnecessary risks on-site, leading to fewer accidents. Their approach to safety protocol and adherence to regulations benefit both workers and project outcomes. More: Career and Technical Education is a driving force for economic growth in OK | Opinion Women are influencing the design and functionality of infrastructure. From residential homes to commercial buildings and public spaces, their perspectives contribute to creating spaces that are more ergonomic, accessible and sustainable. Female architects, engineers and construction managers are leading initiatives that emphasize environmental responsibility, community development and user-friendly designs. Education and awareness play a significant role in this transformation. Schools, career counselors and industry leaders must work together to challenge stereotypes and introduce young girls to the possibilities within construction. Outreach programs, internships and women-focused industry events can provide much-needed exposure and support. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The future of construction depends on harnessing the full potential of the workforce, and women are a vital part of that equation. By breaking down barriers and creating a more inclusive environment, the industry will benefit from a diverse talent pool, fresh ideas and a more sustainable workforce. Women in construction are not just filling gaps they are shaping the future of the industry, proving that strength, intelligence and leadership know no gender. Patricia Felix Patricia Felix is chair for the Professional Women in Building (PWB) Council within Central Oklahoma Home Builders Association. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Despite barriers, more women joining construction teams | Opinion ALTOONA, Pa. (WTAJ) It might not be prom season yet, but that didnt stop organizers of the African American Heritage Festival from having one to raise money for this years event. It was an adult crowd at the African American Prom at The Casino in Altoona, now in its third year. The popular social event was sold out with 400 tickets sold, organizers said. Its really important because it also shows unity in the community. Everybody comes together, gets dressed up, and has a good time. It does raise a lot of money to help with some of the finances we have, Paige Lightner, President of the African American Heritage Festival and Prom, said. Stay up to date with the latest news in the palm of your hand. Click here to download the WTAJ app for Apple and Android devices. The African American Heritage Festival will take place in Altoona July 26-27. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTAJ - www.wtaj.com. UTICA, N.Y. (AP) A special prosecutor said Monday he made offers to resolve criminal cases against 10 New York prison guards indicted in the beating death of a handcuffed man. Six correctional officers were charged with murder last month in the December death of Robert Brooks, 43, whose brutal beating at Marcy Correctional Facility was captured on body-worn cameras. Three other prison employees were charged with manslaughter and another with evidence tampering. The offers were publicly revealed during a pretrial court conference by Onondaga County District Attorney William Fitzpatrick, who declined to provide details afterward. The individual defendants will appear in court in April to either accept or reject the offers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The prosecutor's offer to David Walters, charged with second-degree manslaughter, was to plead guilty to the existing charge with a recommendation for a mid-range sentence, his attorney Nick Passalacqua said. Weve not been made an offer as I define it. Weve been asked to plead guilty to the charge, Passalacqua said, adding that he believed other defendants received similar offers. Other attorneys declined comment after court. Walters was due back in court April 30. Fitzpatrick also told defense attorneys that he talked to federal prosecutors looking into Brooks' death about the offers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They are actively pursuing the matter. I have suggested to them that the dispositions I have offered would satisfy the case completely, Fitzpatrick said in court. They have not agreed to that, but they did respond in a favorable manner indicating they would consider that. The body-worn camera video shows officers beating Brooks the night of Dec. 9 while his hands were cuffed behind his back. Officers are seen striking him in the chest with a shoe, lifting him by the neck, and dropping him. Brooks died the next day. Brooks had been serving a 12-year prison sentence for first-degree assault since 2017. He had been transferred from a nearby facility to the prison 200 miles (320 kilometers) northwest of New York City shortly before the videotaped beating. Three other prison employees have reached plea agreements, Fitzpatrick has said. Fitzpatrick also is investigating the death of Messiah Nantwi on March 1 at nearby Mid-State Correctional Facility in Marcy. A court filing by the attorney generals office said there is probable cause to believe that as many as nine correctional officers either caused or could be implicated in his death. JOHANNESBURG, March 31 (Xinhua) -- South African Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Ronald Lamola on Monday reaffirmed the country's commitment to diplomacy, emphasizing that it will remain firm on its principled positions. Speaking on Monday at the opening of the inaugural Annual Aziz Pahad Peace, Security, and Human Rights Dialogue in Pretoria, the country's administrative capital, Lamola noted that South Africa will not engage in "trading insults" with any country. "We're practicing diplomacy. We're not in the business of trading insults with anyone in the world. We will remain firm on our principled positions. We will continue to pursue our national interest in line with diplomatic decorum," Lamola said. "If we disagree with any country, it should not be on the basis of insults but the substance of the matter." He further noted that South Africa valued its "mutually beneficial trade relations" with the United States, and the government remained committed to extending a "hand to bridge our recently challenging relationship with the U.S." While Pretoria was open to mending its strained ties with Washington, it remained firm on its policies, including taking the Israeli government to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in 2023 over alleged genocide in the Gaza Strip. Addressing international relations matters at the African National Congress media briefing on Sunday, Lamola said South Africa is not prepared to withdraw its case at The Hague. "This is a matter that we will not withdraw from the court, which we have already put. This is a matter that we will not compromise. There are issues of progressive internationalism that we cannot compromise on, including the issue of the ICJ. This is an issue of international law, which has to be respected by everyone," he said. Speaking at the Monday dialogue, Lamola also asserted that South Africa would continue to pursue its redress policies, including the Expropriation Act, despite its role in recent tensions with Washington. He said these policies were enshrined in the country's constitution. "The foundational elements of redress are powerfully articulated in the preamble of the Constitution. As a sovereign state, we will continue to pursue the transformative objective as recently outlined in the Basic Education Laws Amendment Act, the National Health Insurance Act, and the Expropriation Act." YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) Prosecutors are recommending a city man spend at least 10 years in prison after guilty pleas last week in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court in three separate cases. Read next: Woman charged with firing shots at Howland bar A sentencing date has not been set yet for Jaquon Mixon, 25, who entered pleas Wednesday before Judge John Durkin in one case to charges of improper discharge of a firearm at or into a habitation, a second-degree felony; and felonious assault, also a second-degree felony. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a separate case, Mixon pleaded guilty to charges of being a felon in possession of a firearm, a second-degree felony; and possession of fentanyl, a fourth-degree felony. In a third case, he pleaded guilty to charges of being a felon in possession of a firearm and improper handling of a firearm in a motor vehicle, a fourth-degree felony. A sentencing recommendation from prosecutors calls for a sentence of 10 to 11 and a half years in prison. Mixon had been free on bond in two cases when he was arrested by city police on April 13 during a traffic stop on East Avondale Avenue. Reports said Mixon, a passenger in the car, had a loaded handgun when he was searched by 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 WKBN.com. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Monday warned of the risks to global trade from rising protectionism. During a visit to the Hannover Messe, a world-leading trade fair in the northern German city, Scholz said he is working to "ensure that the misguided path of protectionism does not destroy the entire world's growth prospects." The outgoing chancellor said no country can build, sell and refine highly specialized technology on its own. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Even large countries such as the US and China are too small to develop specialized products that are only suitable for their own market," Scholz argued. He added: "By exchanging ideas, we can achieve better progress, better prosperity and better growth throughout the world." MIA ANZALONE / MANZALONE @STARADVERTISER.COM Maximo Ramos Arango was arrested on suspicion of third-degree assault Sunday outside the Tesla showroom in Waikiki. MIA ANZALONE / MANZALONE @STARADVERTISER.COM Maximo Ramos Arango was arrested on suspicion of third-degree assault Sunday outside the Tesla showroom in Waikiki. A man was arrested on Sunday at a Tesla showroom in Waikiki during a rally against Tesla that drew a crowd of around 200 people. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Honolulu police said they arrested Maximo Ramos Arango at around 12 :50 p.m. on suspicion of third-degree assault. The rally was advertised as protesting against Donald Trump and Elon Musk, according to the events flier.RELATED : However, there were crowds of both anti-and pro-Trump protestors. No more information about what caused the arrest was available. Don 't miss out on what 's happening ! Stay in touch with breaking news, as it happens, conveniently in your email inbox. It 's FREE ! Email 28141 Sign Up By clicking to sign up, you agree to Star-Advertiser 's and Google 's and. This form is protected by reCAPTCHA. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 132 Comments By participating in online discussions you acknowledge that you have agreed to the. An insightful discussion of ideas and viewpoints is encouraged, but comments must be civil and in good taste, with no personal attacks. If your comments are inappropriate, you may be banned from posting. Report comments if you believe they do not follow our. Having trouble with comments ? . A health care worker administers the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine.(Photo courtesy of Executive Office of the Maryland Governor) Several physicians and experts testified against two proposals introduced before the Health and Human Services Committee on Monday that they said would undermine public health and spread misinformation about the COVID-19 vaccine. One proposal, LD 871, would prevent the state from requiring healthcare workers to be vaccinated against COVID-19, including emergency medical services personnel. Marygrace Cimino (R-Bridgeton) introduced the bill despite the fact that in 2024 the COVID-19 vaccine was removed from the list of immunizations the state requires healthcare workers to have, based on guidance from the Maine Department of Health and Human Services, although the agency continues to recommend the vaccine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Given the current lack of a mandate, the legislation serves no obvious purpose, said Dr. Sydney Sewall, a pediatrician in Waterville and representative of the Maine Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics. The motivating force appears to be anti-vaccine sentiment, he said. We find it unfortunate that vaccine policy in general and COVID vaccine in particular, has devolved into a partisan issue. Northe Saunders, executive director for Maine Families for Vaccines, said the bill would tie the hands of future leaders and public health experts in the case of a possible new COVID variant or another surge. We cannot afford to ban the use of a tool that has saved millions of lives worldwide just because were no longer in a crisis, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another bill presented to the committee, LD 436, sponsored by Rep. John Eder (R-Waterboro), would prevent any state agency from providing informational or educational materials about the COVID-19 vaccine for children under 18. That restriction would ban health care provider networks and offices, the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention, and the MaineCare program from sharing resources with families to help make decisions about vaccination for their children. During the public hearing, Eders bill was similarly critiqued by public health experts for promoting anti-vaccination rhetoric, endangering public safety and undermining trust in evidence-based healthcare. This bill does not address a legitimate concern, said Jessica Shiminski, program director of the immunization program within the Maine CDC. Instead, it increases vaccine hesitancy and misinformation, posing a significant threat to public health. The states efforts to increase vaccination rates are crucial in protecting the health of children in Maine, and this bill undermines those efforts. Eder said he introduced the bill based on questions about the efficacy of the latest COVID-19 vaccine and the diminishing seriousness of infections in recent years. He cited the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which found that only 12.8% of children and 23.1% adults got the updated 2024-25 COVID-19 vaccine. Combined with the fact that children are far less likely to fall seriously ill or face severe symptoms from COVID, Eden said the Maine CDC should stop promoting the vaccine for kids. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement American adults are abstaining, but children, babies as young as six months old, rely on informed decisions made by their parents based on information they get from us, he said. For many parents like myself, its foreboding to see the vaccine recommended atop the childhood vaccine schedule. The COVID-19 vaccine decreases a childs risk of hospitalization by more than 50%, according to Sewall of the American Academy of Pediatrics. While most pediatricians recommend the shot, Sewall said that when given accurate information about the low risk of serious illness in children, most parents decline. The exception is children who are immunocompromised. While the public health burden from COVID has greatly decreased, it still circulates and causes disease in kids, Sewall said. Parents and clinicians should have access to the most up to date, scientifically based information making decisions regarding child health. Politics should not play a role in vaccine policy. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE LITTLE ROCK, Ark. Officials with the Pulaski County Sheriffs Office said that multiple law enforcement agencies are investigating a possible drowning Sunday evening on the Arkansas River. According to a post on social media, the incident happened at Rebsamen Park. Officials said the PCSOs Water Patrol is currently on-scene and conducting a search. There is no information regarding the identity of the victim. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Around 7:00 p.m., authorities said they were notified that a person was missing in the river near Murray Park. According to witnesses, a boat became loose from the shore and two people swam in to try to recover it, but only one was able to get back out of the river. This is a developing story, please check back 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 KARK. SAVANNAH, Ga. (WSAV) On Sunday, the pursuit of a suspect, Damein Beach, 43, ended in a single car accident on I-95. A Georgia State Patrol trooper responded to a request from Port Wentworth Police Department about a vehicle pursuit. The trooper was advised the fleeing vehicle was reported stolen out of South Carolina and that the driver was wanted in connection to a deadly assault that occurred on Quail Drive in Colleton County earlier that day. When Hardeeville Police attempted a traffic stop on Beach, Beach fled from authorities. Hardeeville Police and Port Wentworth Police departments were also involved in the pursuit. The Georgia State Patrol trooper took position as the pursuit passed exit 106 southbound and successfully conducted Precision Immobilization Techniques (PIT) near mile marker 105. The vehicle traveled into the median, overturned, and Beach was ejected. He was transported to Memorial Health University with severe injuries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As a result of the crash, the middle and inside lanes of I-95 were closed for approximately three and a half 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 WSAV-TV. Russian President Vladimir Putin has called up 160,000 young men for military service against the backdrop of his war against Ukraine. Russians aged between 18 and 30 are to be conscripted by mid-July, the relevant presidential decree from Monday said. This is the highest number of conscripts since the Kremlin began focusing more on professional contract and short-service soldiers as part of army reform since 2012. Twice a year - in the spring and autumn - Russia still calls up more than 100,000 men each time for the one-year military service. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Russia is relying in this conscription campaign on a central electronic database, the General Staff announced. However, the district recruitment offices have not dispensed with printed call-up notices, which would continue to be sent to registered addresses. At the same time, there are also electronic call-up notices, which the young conscripts would receive on their account on the state services website Gosuslugi. Due to the multitude of services managed through the portal, practically all adults in Russia now have a customer account there. The Kremlin has already increased the troop strength of the Russian army three times since the invasion of neighbouring Ukraine. Most recently, Putin ordered the increase of the target strength to 2.4 million military personnel last autumn - including 1.5 million soldiers. Officially, conscripts do not participate in the war against Ukraine, but they have been involved in fighting in the Russian border region multiple times. President Volodymyr Zelensky has called for intensified pressure on Russia, urging the international community to impose tougher sanctions and provide Ukraine with additional air defense systems. In his March 30 address, he said all possible measures are needed to break Russias "capacity to wage war and sustain the system that wants nothing but war." "The geography and brutality of Russian strikes, not just occasionally, but literally every day and night, show that Putin couldnt care less about diplomacy," Zelensky added. "For several weeks, there has been a U.S. proposal for an unconditional ceasefire. And almost every day, in response to this proposal, there are Russian drones, bombs, artillery shelling, and ballistic strikes." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A Russian drone attack killed two civilians and injured at least 55 people in Kharkiv, including five children between the ages of 5 and 17, late on March 29, according to the president. A military hospital in Kharkiv was among those deliberately targeted by Russian forces overnight, the General Staff reported. In total, Russia launched a ballistic missile and 111 drones at Ukraine overnight, the Air Force reported on March 30. Commenting on the attacks, Zelensky said Ukraine expects the United States, Europe, and all other partners committed to peace and lasting security to use every tool to achieve a ceasefire. Ukraine has agreed to a U.S.-proposed full 30-day ceasefire, saying on March 11 that Kyiv is ready if Russia also agrees to the terms. So far, Moscow has refused. 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. Russian President Vladimir Putin says hes open to staying in touch with the White House after critical comments from the U.S. president toward Russias leader, which have been rare amid his efforts to get peace talks rolling. Putin criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday, suggesting he may not be a legitimate leader and would therefore be unable to represent Ukraine in peace talks. President Trump said Sunday he was very angry and pissed off at Putins remarks about Zelensky, and threatened to impose new tariffs on Russian oil exports. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov indicated on Monday the remarks would not derail ongoing discussions related to Ukraine. We are working to implement some ideas in connection with the Ukrainian settlement. This work is ongoing, Peskov said, per The Associated Press. There is nothing concrete yet that we could and should announce. This is a drawn-out process because of the difficulty of its substance, he said. While Peskov didnt directly address Trumps criticism, he said the Russian president remains absolutely open to contacts with Trump. Trump has made halting progress in his efforts to move Russia and Ukraine toward a peace deal, but he has already scaled back ambitions around the scope and timeline of a ceasefire. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While both sides have engaged in talks with the U.S., Russia rejected an American proposal for a full 30-day stop in fighting. Both countries have signaled openness to a partial ceasefire on energy facilities and shipping through the Black Sea, but Zelensky said Russia has shown no signs of scaling back its attacks on the country. 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. Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree on March 31 ordering the spring conscription of 160,000 men for compulsory military service, state-owned media TASS reported. The draft, running from April to June, applied to citizens aged 18 to 30 and marked the largest conscription campaign in 14 years. Russia conducts conscription twice a year, in spring and fall, requiring eligible men to serve for one year. The last time conscription numbers exceeded this level was in 2011, when 203,000 people were drafted, the Moscow Times noted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2024, the spring campaign required 150,000 people, and the fall draft required 133,000. Putin signs decrees specifying the number of recruits required during each period. The Russian government has earlier implemented new measures to streamline the conscription process, making it easier to draft young men, including those who previously evaded service. Although Russian conscripts are typically not deployed in active combat, Moscow has relied on financial incentives and pardons to recruit civilians for the war in Ukraine. Following the unpopular September 2022 mobilization, which saw over 261,000 Russians flee the country, Putin has avoided another large-scale draft, instead using alternative methods to bolster troop numbers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read also: Sweden unveils its largest military aid package for Ukraine worth nearly $1.6 billion Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. BEIJING, March 31 (Xinhua) -- China will carry forward "Paukphaw" (fraternal) friendship and work with Myanmar to overcome difficulties after a massive earthquake hit the neighboring country on March 28, according to the Chinese foreign ministry. Guo Jiakun, the spokesperson for the ministry, on Monday briefed the media on China's disaster relief assistance for Myanmar, where the 7.9-magnitude quake had left 2,056 people dead, 3,900 injured, and 270 missing as of Monday noon, while causing heavy property losses. Guo noted that China attaches great importance to the disaster situation in Myanmar. In a message to Myanmar's leader Min Aung Hlaing, Chinese President Xi Jinping mourned the deaths and extended sincere condolences to the bereaved families, the injured and the people affected by the disaster. "A rescue team from southwest China's Yunnan Province was the first international rescue team to reach the quake zone of Myanmar 18 hours after the earthquake. They successfully rescued one person in collaboration with local rescue forces," Guo said, adding that a number of governmental and non-governmental rescue teams from all over China have entered or will soon enter Myanmar. Up to now, about 400 Chinese earthquake experts, rescue and medical workers have joined in rescue and relief efforts across Myanmar, and Chinese rescuers have successfully rescued six people, Guo said. China has decided to provide Myanmar with 100 million yuan (about 14 million U.S. dollars) of emergency humanitarian aid. The first batch of urgently needed supplies such as tents, first aid kits and blankets has already arrived in Myanmar, Guo said. The Red Cross Society of China has also provided disaster relief materials, he added. China will continue to work with Myanmar to search for survivors, treat the injured, and deliver aid supplies to those affected by the disaster, said the spokesperson. "We believe that with the support of the international community, the government and people of Myanmar will surely unite to overcome the disaster and rebuild their homes," he added. If you think about Quakers at all, it is probably for wholesome breakfast cereals like Quaker Oats. So it might be a bit of a surprise to see that the police recently raided the Westminster Quaker Meeting House. Why would the authorities be interested in the Religious Society of Friends, a Protestant denomination founded in the 17th century, which is best known for their pacifism, teetotalism, and opposition to slavery? The answer is they were hosting a meeting of Youth Demand, a protest group which is part of a wider umbrella of groups (alongside the now-disbanded Just Stop Oil), which has said they will be launching demonstrations every day this April. The groups two aims are to implement a trade embargo on Israel and to tax the rich 1 trillion by 2030 to pay damages to those impacted by climate change, and theyve previously targeted Labours HQ, the Ministry of Defence, and even the Cenotaph in their protests. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In context, the decision to arrest the six members of Youth Demand at the Quaker Meeting House on suspion of conspiracy to cause a public nuisance seems eminently reasonable. Some Quakers, however, were very upset. Paul Parker, the recording clerk for Quakers in Britain, criticised the police for their aggressive violation of our place of worship, while Quakers in Britain put out a statement saying they support the right to non-violent public protest. The Quakers have often been criticised for allowing hard-Left or pro-Palestine groups to use their meeting houses. As of 2016 there were 354 such houses in Britain, serving around 23,000 Quakers. Often built in prior centuries, they occupy strategic locations and, especially with the decline in religious Quakerism, sometimes also host community or political events. This network is in part testament to the wealth created by Quaker industrialists. At a time when poor business practice was common, the Quakers built up a trustworthy reputation. Confectioners like Cadbury ensured that their chocolate wasnt cut with cheaper substances. Banks like Barclays were respected for the moral way in which they handled their business. The shoe company Vivobarefoot, which has a strong environmentalist ethic, was co-founded by Galahad Clark, whose Quaker ancestors founded Clarks shoes. In the early 20th century, Quakerism became associated with the political Left, as members promoted social reform in imitation of Christs good works. Quaker charities like the Joseph Rowntree Social Services Trust went from promoting sobriety to creating a counter-civil service in the 1960s, which provided a base for groups like Friends of the Earth, to funding Marxist guerillas like FRELIMO in Mozambique. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Today many of the charities whose angry press releases can be found in the Left-wing media receive much of their income from Quaker groups, even when said groups have long since repudiated their own founders for failing to live up to modern woke ideals. If the allies of modern Quakerism get their own way and functionally abolish our borders and police services, we will only see the resurrection of the sort of low-trust society where the Quakers integrity once set them apart. Until then, be wary of those who seek to conflate progressive ideology with religious worship. 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 you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Credit: Karwai Tang/WireImage/Getty Images King Charles is continuing his cancer treatment, the side effects of which led to a brief hospitalization earlier this week. As well as canceling royal engagements within the United Kingdom, King Charles has reportedly been forced to postpone several planned international trips, including a private vacation with his wife. Throughout The King's health difficulties, Queen Camilla is allegedly showing "strength." In an interview with OK! magazine, royal editor Katie Nicholl said, "There is clearly a rod of steel that runs through her. She is so strong, so resilient." Nicholl continued, "She also has a great sense of herself and an ability to overcome all sorts of adversity. Those are the qualities you really see in her when the going gets toughand it did get tough last year." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to The Sun, Charles has canceled "an African spa retreat," which he planned to take with Camilla, "and his annual walking holiday in Romania." Charles was reportedly "forced to pull out" of the spa vacation "only days in advance." While Charles and Camilla's lives must be incredibly complicated as they lead the Royal Family, Nicholl believes The Queen is Charles's rock. "I think it just shows her strength and resilience and the fact that she's a remarkably positive person," Nicholl told the outlet. Charles has canceled "an African spa retreat," which he planned to take with Camilla. | Credit: Getty Images Reflecting on some of the challenges Queen Camilla dealt with in 2024, Nicholl told the outlet, "Not only was she having to care for King Charles, but she also had to stand in for him and carry out engagements on his behalf. And she had to reassure the public that their King was okay." King Charles waves from his car as he leaves Clarence House in London on March 28. | Credit: Carl Court/Getty Images Nicholl also noted, "If you look back at her time traveling up and down the country [while Charles was unwell], she was always smiling for the crowds, always having a word of encouragement about The King." The royal expert continued, "She never let the mask slip. The laughter is spontaneous, the smile is genuine. I think she's incredibly authentic." When Karen Reads defense team and prosecutors for the Commonwealth select jurors for her second murder trial this week, the potential jury members will be asked a wide range of questions, including how inclined they are to believe law enforcement figures. The filing in Norfolk Superior Court Monday shows that potential jurors will be asked over 30 questions about the case. Potential jurors will be asked if they have any knowledge of the case, if Read should have to prove her innocence and if they are likely to believe a police officer over a citizen in the case of conflicting testimony. Reads second murder trial begins with jury selection on Tuesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read, 45, is accused of hitting John OKeefe, her Boston police officer, with her Lexus SUV in Canton on Jan. 29, 2022, and leaving him to die after a night of drinking. The defense has sought to portray Read as the victim, saying OKeefe was actually killed inside the Albert family home at 34 Fairview Road in Canton and then dragged outside and left for dead. She has pleaded not guilty to charges of second-degree murder, manslaughter while operating under the influence, and leaving the scene of a crash resulting in death. Cannone also released a list of 150 other witnesses that the prosecution and defense could call during the retrial. After several failed attempts to get the case thrown out, Reads retrial will kick off at 9 a.m. when the first batch of prospective jurors will be brought into Dedhams Norfolk Superior Court for questioning. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Reads first trial ended with a hung jury in July 2024. Since the end of the first trial, Michael Proctor, who served as the lead investigator in the Read case, was fired from his role within the Massachusetts State Police in mid-March. Cannone recently extended the buffer zone in the area of Bates Court, Bullard Street, Ames Street, and Court Street to keep demonstrators a distance from the Dedham courthouse. Read supporters hosted standouts across the country on Sunday to bring attention to her case. The full list of questions can be viewed below: Read Jury Questionnaire by Boston 25 Desk on Scribd This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW The Republican nervousness around the special election in Floridas deep-red 6th Congressional District was enough to bring Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin to the area to canvass over the weekend. Buoyed by strong performances in recent special elections, including a narrow state Senate win in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, the DNC is now turning its attention to the race between Republican state Sen. Randy Fine and progressive teacher Josh Weil. I wanted to come out to make sure that we help close strong in this election, Martin, a longtime Democratic tactician and Minnesota state party leader, told Florida Playbook in a phone interview after spending the morning in DeLand. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More than halfway through the 25-minute interview, however, Martin hadnt brought up Fine once. When Florida Playbook pointed this out, he said: I haven't heard much about him at the doors, to be honest with you. And so I think this race is about Donald Trump and Elon Musk and people's deep dissatisfaction with what's happening. What are voters bending his ear about instead? Concerns about how life is still very expensive and could become more so under looming tariffs, he said, and fears from seniors who worry Trump will cut Social Security. Trump promised repeatedly that he wouldnt touch peoples benefits, but that hasnt stopped Democrats from accusing Republicans down-ballot of wanting to cut Social Security anyway. Seniors have reported seeing their services impacted through longer wait times when they call the agency after a swath of federal workforce firings. There's a lot of buyer's remorse right now amongst the Republican base and voters who felt like Donald Trump was actually going to do something to improve their lives, Martin said, but he hasn't. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While Martin said he thought Weil could win, he also said a close race would send a message about how voters were feeling about Trumps presidency. The White House did not respond to a request for comment, but Gov. Ron DeSantis recently disputed such assessments, instead blaming the closer-than-expected race on a candidate-specific issue. (Its not clear whether certain other factors may be at play, including whether GOP voters are holding out against Fine because he clashed with DeSantis over the last year.) Nevertheless, Martins comments help show how Democrats are messaging and strategizing as the party struggles to regain its footing after Trumps November victory. Martin said Florida and the rest of the South were hugely important to Democrats given population growth. The state alone could gain as many as five congressional seats "and so we cant give up on Florida, he said. Martin acknowledged that overcoming Republicans 1.2 million voter registration advantage wouldnt be easy. But Martin added a good place to focus would be on unregistered voters. He declined to share just how much the DNC is spending in the special election, other than to say it was a six-figure investment. This isnt the first time national Democrats have promised to take Florida seriously. They said repeatedly leading up to the 2024 election that Florida was in play even as Vice President Kamala Harris never visited the state after she became the presidential nominee, and even as Democrats spent little cash here. So, whats different this time? This is a new DNC, Martin said. I'm a new chair. I ran on a platform of getting the DNC out of D.C. and not focusing just on seven battleground states and a few congressional races. I ran on a 50-state strategy, which means we are contesting races up and down the ballot, not just congressional races, but local races, state races, federal races, and that we're going to compete everywhere. BALTMORE The trial of the man accused in the 2023 killing of Rachel Morin, which sparked fear in the Bel Air community and later became a talking point in the immigration debate amid the presidential race, is set to start this week. The 37-year-old Bel Air mother of five was reported missing by her boyfriend on Aug. 5, 2023, hours after she went for a walk on the Ma & Pa Heritage Trail in Bel Air. Morins body was found in a ditch the next day, about a mile from the trailhead, after what the Harford County Sheriffs Office described as a violent attack. Victor Antonio Martinez-Hernandez, 24, of El Salvador, was arrested in June in Oklahoma and is facing several charges, including first-degree rape and first-degree murder in Morins death. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His trial, predicted to last two weeks, is expected to draw national attention, with Bel Air police warning of traffic delays around Harford County Circuit Court and the closure of several roads, including Courtland and Office streets. The case is set to begin Monday with a pre-trial hearing, followed by several days of jury selection. Opening statements are tentatively set for Friday. Martinez-Hernandez entered the United States illegally in 2023, authorities said, after having been accused of murdering a woman in El Salvador. He is also accused of assaulting a mother and daughter during a home invasion in Los Angeles. On the campaign trail last year, then-candidate Donald Trump spoke with Morins family members numerous times and invited them to the Republican National Convention in July. There, Morins brother Michael addressed a crowd of thousands, telling them his sister was raped and murdered by a suspected illegal immigrant in what has been described as among the most brutal and violent offenses that has ever occurred in Harford County, Maryland history. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Open borders are often portrayed as compassionate and virtuous. But there is nothing compassionate about allowing violent criminals into our country and robbing children of their mother, Michael Morin said. My sisters death was preventable. Despite the emphasis placed on immigration in this case, experts say Martinez-Hernandezs prior allegations and illegal entry into the U.S. will probably not be spoken about during his trial. I understand from a political perspective why this is relevant in todays world, but it has nothing to do with if he is guilty or not guilty of committing this crime, said Anne Arundel County criminal defense attorney Peter ONeill. It is highly prejudicial and is not probative to if he is guilty or not guilty. ONeill, a member of the Maryland Bar since 1985 and a senior partner at the Murnane & ONeill law firm, said that if the extraneous information regarding Martinez-Hernandezs immigration status, the political traction the case has gained and the prior allegations were to be brought up during the trial, the chances of a mistrial would increase. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Michael Steele, former Maryland lieutenant governor and MSNBC political analyst, emphasized the importance of ignoring politics and focusing on due process in the case. Justice is blind to take the emotion out of it so our courts and justices and jurors can look objectively at the facts and rule based on law, said Steele, a Republican. The infection of politics into this space by Trump and anyone else is not only unwarranted, its outside of the bounds that the framers had in mind when designing a balance between the branches. Seating a jury The defense team for Martinez-Hernandez comprised of four public defenders requested that the trial be moved outside Harford County in January due to concerns about Martinez-Hernandez getting a fair trial due to the controversy surrounding the case. Harford County Circuit Court Judge Yolanda Curtin denied the request and said jury questioning formally known as voir dire is a trusted process to eliminate biased jurors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement ONeill explained that jury selection in Maryland is limited and does not allow the defense or prosecutors to probe too far into a potential jurors background. Numerous jury selection requests have been filed ahead of the trial, according to online court records. ONeill said the filings are likely a request to expand jury questioning to further eliminate potential bias. They are trying to get a fair and impartial jury and the defense is asking the court to grant relief to allow for a more exhaustive voir dire to avoid a scenario of questioning that yields very little information, ONeill said. You dont want a situation where someone disregards evidence and convicts someone because of immigration policy. Randolph Rice, the attorney for Morins mother, Patricia Morin, said he believes Martinez-Hernandezs defense team will try to question potential jurors on immigration and that the presiding judge will decide on any requests for additional questions. Rice, a former prosecutor, does not expect the trial to be postponed for a second time and anticipates jury selection to take two to three days. Morin family anxious Speaking on behalf of Patricia Morin and other family members, Rice said the family met with prosecutors Tuesday and is anxious about the trial. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Patty has the feeling that when Rachel was found, she wasnt there to protect her, Rice said. She said she is having that same feeling now that she cant protect her at the trial, but she knows she is in good hands with the states attorneys office who has been working on the case for 18 months at this point. The day Morins body was discovered, Rice said Harford County States Attorney Allison Healy was at the scene. With Healy working on the case for over a year, Rice called the trial a clean case for prosecutors and said he expects the trial to go on for a week and a half to two weeks. He said he expects forensic genealogy experts, witnesses, officers from Tulsa, Oklahoma and even FBI investigators to testify during the trial. Healy declined to comment due to the pending trial. -------------- BALTMORE A Harford County judge denied two defense motions related to jury selection Monday during a pre-trial conference for Victor Antonio Martinez-Hernandez, who is charged with rape and murder in the August 2023 killing of Rachel Morin of Bel Air. Martinez-Hernandezs trial is scheduled to begin Tuesday. Harford County Circuit Judge Yolanda Curtin said jury selection will take place Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, with 120 to 130 potential jurors arriving at the courthouse each day. Her plan is to have a jury selected by the end of the day Thursday and opening statements on Friday. Morin, a 37-year-old Bel Air mother of five, was reported missing by her boyfriend on Aug. 5, 2023, hours after she went for a walk on the Ma & Pa Heritage Trail in Bel Air. Morins body was found in a ditch the next day, about a mile from the trailhead, after what the Harford County Sheriffs Office described as a violent attack. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Martinez-Hernandez, 24, of El Salvador, was arrested in June in Oklahoma and is facing several charges, including first-degree rape and first-degree murder in Morins death. Lawyers representing Martinez-Hernandez filed two motions Monday, one asking the judge to sequester jurors and a second requesting the use of an additional questionnaire during juror selection. During the conference Monday Martinez-Hernandez sat in a black-and-white prison uniform with shackles around his ankles and his wrists cuffed in front of his stomach. He was accompanied by three defense attorneys and two translators who spoke to him through microphones and headphones. According to police, Martinez-Hernandez entered the U.S. illegally in 2023 after he was accused of murdering a woman in El Salvador. The courtroom was mostly empty with Patricia Morin, Rachel Morins mother, sitting next to her attorney, Randolph Rice, in the second row behind prosecutors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Similar to the January hearing during which Martinez-Hernandez requested to have his trial moved out of Harford County, much of the conversation Monday revolved around pre-trial publicity, the political climate surrounding the case and the potential impact those two things could have on jurors. In their first motion, Martinez-Hernandezs attorneys asked for the ability to give potential jurors a questionnaire to further identify potential bias and knowledge of the case. Harford County States Attorney Allison Healy objected to the questionnaire primarily because it was filed so close to the start of the trial. Healy said the questionnaire was an attempt to delay the trial, since the questions would have to go through an approval process. The motion was denied by Curtin, who said some of the proposed questions, asking whether jurors made campaign contributions to Healy or if they donated to the Morin family, were a fishing expedition that didnt identify bias. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Curtin said the current process for juror questioning is sufficient. The second motion filed by the defense aimed to sequester jurors by housing them in a hotel each night of the trial without access to electronics. The defense argued that pre-trial publicity and growing national interest in the case could potentially prejudice jurors by presenting information outside of the courtroom that will not be discussed during the trial. Curtin asked if the defenses intention was to have the jurors cut off from their everyday lives and the outside world during the trial. Public defender Marcus Jenkins responded, Yes. Curtin denied the request, calling it extreme and not necessary and noted that jurors havent been sequestered in a Maryland trial in more than 20 years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The defense maintained that their job is to ensure Martinez-Hernandez receives a fair trial and that pre-trial publicity is posing a challenge to that. During Mondays hearing, the defense team, Healy and Curtin all agreed that Rices comments to the media have been an issue in the case. Healy requested that Curtin order Rice to not speak to the media during the trial. Curtin had a sidebar conference with the attorneys, including Rice, after which Rice said he was asked to be mindful in his comments to the media, but that he was not barred from speaking to journalists. -------------- PICKENS COUNTY, S.C. The Upstate is getting a much-needed dose of rain as two wildfires continue to burn thousands of acres. Its an answer to prayers all across the Upstate, the sight of rain falling on both the Table Rock and Persimmon Ridge fires. We are hoping for more (Sunday night), maybe tomorrow even- but all that helps does help firefighting effort, said Russell Hubright with the South Carolina Forestry Commission. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The rain followed a dry and windy week, which helped the fires rapidly spread. Now, with Mother Nature on their side, firefighters are taking advantage of having the upper hand. The rain doesnt put out the fire, but it does a couple of things for us: it allows our firefighters to get closer to the active fire, so if the fire is really rocking n rolling and going to the tops of the trees, we cant get in there anywhere close, Hubright added. So, what we have been able to do today because the flames are so much lower is to get up right next to them and put the fire breaks right next to the line. When strengthening fire lines, crews make sure all fuels close to the line are cooled off, a hard job made easier by rain, we have to use water and hand tools, and anything the size of your arm, your finger, twigs, branches, everything in there that is smoldering has to be cooled off, so that those embers dont get flamed by the next dry wind we have and cause the fire to reignite. However, firefighters are not alone; the South Carolina State Guard was activated Friday evening to assist. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are always revaluating what our needs are, we are working very closely with the National Guard up here. They have provided ariel assets and a lot of the overflights and tanker flights. They have dropped just under 850,000 gallons of water on this fire so far and had over 700 flights, Major David Finleyson said. The South Carolina Forestry Commission stated that the Saturday burnout operation greatly helped firefighters on the west and southwest sides of the 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 WSPA 7NEWS. Table Rock in northern Pickens County is obscured by smoke from a wildfire on Friday, March 28, 2025. (Photo by Mark Susko/Special to the SC Daily Gazette) Firefighters have begun to contain wildfires in the Upstate, with the help of some weekend rain. Together, the two fires burning in Greenville and Pickens counties grew to more than 13,500 acres over the weekend. By Saturday, the Table Rock wildfire in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains had become the largest, single mountain fire in state history. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Neither grew significantly between Sunday and Monday, with help from rain and increasing containment, according to a Monday update from the state Forestry Commission. As of Monday morning, the Table Rock fire was 30% contained, and the Persimmon Ridge fire was 64% contained, according to the commission. That was a big improvement from Friday, a week after the first fire started, when both were at 0% containment. Yesterdays rainfall, coupled with the strong firefighting efforts over the past several days, have allowed us to make great progress on the fires, Mike Brod, who oversees a team of firefighters, said in a Monday morning update. No homes had been damaged, and no injuries or deaths had been reported as of Monday, according to the commission. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement People in Pickens County were allowed to return home Saturday evening as evacuations shifted from mandatory to voluntary. Greenville County residents nearest the blaze on Persimmon Ridge remained under mandatory evacuation orders. The larger Table Rock fire, which was burning at more than 12,500 acres Monday, jumped the North Carolina border Sunday, igniting more than 500 acres over the state line in Transylvania County. Officials planned to focus Monday on the northern and eastern edges of the Table Rock fire where the fire was smoldering. The half-inch or so of rain that fell Sunday will allow firefighters to work much closer to the flames, preventing them from spreading, Brod said. The eastern edge of the Persimmon Ridge Fire was also a concern, since the flames had reached debris leftover from Hurricane Helene. Crews planned to break up the piles of debris to reduce fuel for the fire, Brod said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More rain is expected Monday, with the National Weather Service predicting thunderstorms throughout the day Monday and again Wednesday. Following the weekend rain showers, officials lifted a statewide burn ban for all but five counties. Residents in Greenville, Horry, Oconee, Pickens and Spartanburg counties still may not set fires outdoors because resources are already stretched thin fighting fires in those areas, according to a news release. Both fires were set by people. Four teenage hikers have been questioned by police about the Table Rock fire, and charges are pending, according to the latest update from the Pickens County Sheriffs Office. WYOMING COUNTY, WV (WVNS) A Raleigh County man was sentenced for a role in an incident at a mine plant in Wyoming County. According to a press release, 44-year-old Jared W. Harvey, of Beaver, was sentenced on Wednesday, March 26, 2025 to one to five years for Conspiracy to Commit a Felony and one to three years for Attempt to Commit a Felony. Pennsylvania man pleads guilty to role in attempting to get contraband into FCI McDowell with a drone Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The sentences will be served consecutively, and Harvey pleaded guilty to the charges on February 4, 2025. Members of the Wyoming County Sheriffs Office responded to reports of a breaking and entering on May 25, 2024 at the Bluestone Coal K2 Coal Preparation Plant near Burke Mountain in Wyoming County. During an investigation, a large amount of property destruction and attempted theft were discovered. Harvey was found in the car that left the scene of the incident, and he revealed his part in the crime. Mercer County woman receives maximum sentence for sex crime against a child As I have pointed out in the past, commercial theft goes beyond the loss of property and extends to financial impacts associated with salaries and production. We will continue to aggressively prosecute these crimes. Greg Bishop | Wyoming County Prosecuting Attorney Bishop thanked members of the Wyoming County Sheriffs Office, as well as the prosecutors staff, for their work on the case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WVNS. The League of Women Voters of Kentucky highlighted the Democracy Principle during a Capitol rally on the last day of the 2025 regular session, March 28, 2025. (Kentucky Lantern photo by McKenna Horsley) The League of Women Voters of Kentucky joined with other advocacy groups at the Capitol Rotunda on March 28 for the Democracy Principle Rally. Why? Because our representative democracy rests on a fundamental principle: We, the people, have a right to participate in decisions that affect us. The League of Women Voters of Kentucky has documented how Kentuckys legislative process, since 1998, has been manipulated in ways that increasingly minimize public input, stifling full and open debate on significant legislation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 2025 legislative session was no exception, with numerous bills passed and sent to the governor using fast-track maneuvers and undemocratic tactics, often in combination. Legislators used combinations like these: File a shell bill with minor changes to existing law and assign it to a standing committee. Rush a bill by holding bill readings on the chamber floor before the committee even discusses and votes on the bill. Reschedule committee meetings with short notice to the public. In committee, introduce and vote on a substitute bill that some committee members cannot access before the meeting and the public has not seen. Send the bill for a floor vote that same day, giving non-committee legislators and their constituents little time to review the new language. Then, the shenanigans rinse-and-repeat in the next chamber. If such strategies produce a bill different from the originating chamber, specially appointed committees can produce yet another version for a final vote before the public and many legislators have time to review. These strategies not only interfere with public participation, but legislators themselves may have limited access to bill substitutes before a vote, let alone journalists whose job it is to inform the public. Overall, these fast-tracking methods are unnecessarily hasty and may lead to careless mistakes or laws that are out of step with public opinion. Lawmaking should not be reduced to power plays, but be approached with careful consideration of intended and unintended consequences. Among the bills that were passed using one or more of these maneuvers were: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement HB 4 , restricting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs and constraining instruction in public postsecondary institutions. HB90 , originally focused on free-standing birthing centers, but last-minute additions included abortion-related provisions. HB241 , a two-page bill allowing school districts to adjust calendars due to weather-related emergencies had multiple provisions about virtual education programs added on the Senate floor. HB 695 , included last-minute changes to the state Medicaid program by adding mandatory work requirements for able-bodied adults. HB 775 , a four-page bill on development districts that transformed to a 108-page bill making substantive taxation changes beyond development districts. SB 202, a five-page shell bill making innocuous word changes that became a 60-page bill to regulate the sale of cannabis-infused beverages. Prior to these past two sessions, the League made recommendations to the General Assembly on how to strengthen public participation by respecting the Democracy Principle. We described how Kentuckys Constitution, laws and legislative process rules actually provide opportunities for public participation in the lawmaking process. We urged the legislature to respect these constitutional and statutory requirements alongside its own procedural rules. The 2025 legislative session lacks evidence that the General Assembly has taken these recommendations to heart. Thats why we took the message to the Capitol on the last day of the session, to unequivocally affirm that there should be no laws about us, without us. That is the heart of the Democracy Principle, and we will not let the people be ignored. Flash: First batch of disaster-relief material by the Chinese government arrives in Myanmar The outcome of Tuesdays special election to decide former Congressman Mike Waltzs replacement in Floridas 6th Congressional District is being closely anticipated across the country. >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] Early and mail voting stats suggest we could be in for a much closer race than the one seen just six months ago. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As of mid-day Monday more than 47,000 Republicans had cast a ballot in the race for Floridas 6th Congressional District. Meanwhile, more than 38,000 Democrats had voted in the race. Its a difference of more than 9,000 votes, representing about a 10-point turnout advantage for the GOP. We have a real shot to win this race on Tuesday, said Ken Martin, Chair of the Democratic National Committee during a stop in St. Augustine Sunday. The national attention on the race brought Martin to CD 6 to help campaign for Democratic candidate Josh Weil. We have to compete everywhere. We have to organize everywhere because I believe when you organize everywhere you can win anywhere including in ruby red districts like this, said Martin. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Given that Republicans tend to turn out more on Election Day, current numbers suggest Weil has a difficult path to victory over Trump-endorsed Republican candidate Randy Fine despite outraising him by a 9-1 margin. But Democrats wont necessarily view a defeat as a total loss. Lets say he wins by 10 or 12 points Thats still an enormous shift, said UNF political science professor Dr. Michael Binder. Binder any major gains in the district Republicans won by 33 points in November could help Democrats frame the outcome as a referendum on the Trump Administration. It can be telling about where the country is at, particularly with a lot of the pushback on the DOGE and what feels like some indiscriminate slashing of benefits, says Dr. Miochael Binder, Political Science Professor at the University of North Florida. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And thats exactly the message St. Johns County voter Carol Holtz told us she cast her ballot to send. Because if we dont then its a continuing spiral into something that we have not seen and would not ever have imagined for America, said Holtz. Polls open Tuesday at 7 AM and close at 7 PM in St. Johns County. [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. For the sixth year in a row, Walmart captured more Charlotte-area shoppers grocery dollars than any other store, despite intense competition from local grocers like Harris Teeter and Food Lion. Its a lucrative market that saw record sales of $10.4 billion last year, a 2% increase from $10.2 billion in 2023, according to a new annual report by Chain Store Guide. The sales tracking firm gets its data directly from grocery stores. Walmart had the most sales revenue of any grocer in the region, the report found. It grabbed 23% of the market share last year, the same as 2023 but that still accounted for $2.4 billion in revenue. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Matthews-based grocer Harris Teeter, owned by The Kroger Co., was second for the sixth year with 16% of the market share, about the same as 2023. Harris Teeter saw $1.6 billion in regional sales. We sought out the lowest-priced grocery stores in Charlotte. Heres what we found Salisbury-based Food Lion, owned by Ahold Delhaize, consistently ranked third. Food Lion took 15% of the market share last year, which was slightly up from 2023. Food Lion saw $1.5 billion in sales. The trio of chains continue to comprise more than half of all local grocery sales. Walmart has dominated the Charlotte market share since 2019, knocking Harris Teeter from its No. 1 perch that year. Harris Teeter had held the top ranking from 2016 to 2018. The Walmart at 2101 Younts Road in Indian Trail is one of seven recent renovated stores int eh Charlotte by the retail giant with updates including new and expanded merchandise in every department. About the Charlotte grocery report Walmart has 32 supercenter stores in the region, Harris Teeter has 60 stores and Food Lion has 103 regional stores. All are unchanged from 2023. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Walmart Neighborhood Markets eight area stores gained over $169 million in sales for 1.6% of the market share. The report counts those smaller store sales separately from the Walmart supercenters. Retail giant closing its Charlotte corporate office with over 260 layoffs In the report, the Charlotte region includes Cabarrus, Gaston, Iredell, Lincoln, Mecklenburg, Rowan and Union counties, as well as Chester, Lancaster and York counties in South Carolina. Food Lion opened a new store in January at at 155 Crosstie Lane in Troutman, about 35 miles north of uptown Charlotte in Iredell County, with ready-made meals, a walk-in garden cooler and a hot food bar. The Salisbury-based grocery chain consistently ranks third in capturing market share, behind Walmart and Harris Teeter, respectively. Other grocers in the Charlotte area Rounding out the top 10 in market share were: Publix, 10.8%; Sams Club, 5.6%; Costco Wholesale, 4.3%; Super Target/Target, 4.2%; Lidl, 2.8%; Dollar General, 2.3%; Aldi 2.1%. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After the top 10, heres how other stores ranked for capturing market share: Whole Foods Market, 1.6%; BJs Wholesale Club, 1.6%, Ingles, 1.5%; Family Dollar, 1%; Trader Joes, 0.9%; Dollar Tree, 0.8%; The Fresh Market, 0.6%; Earth Fare, 0.6%; Lowes Foods, 0.6%. Another 92 stores made up 3.2% of the market share, about the same as 2023 with 96 stores. Compare Foods dropped off the market share list this year, falling into other operations. Charlottes changing grocery store scene Store expansions continue to shake-up where Charlotte supermarket customers shop. There are 729 grocery stores in the Charlotte region, down from 745 in 2023, according to the report. Dollar General has the most stores, 149, followed by Food Lion and Dollar General, 93. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This year, several grocery stores have opened and more are planned: This month, Publix supermarket debuted a 55,477-square-foot grocery store at 11525 Carmel Commons Blvd. Its Publix 24th store to open in the Charlotte region since the first one opened in Ballantyne in 2014. Publix has at least five more stores planned at: Wesley Chapel, The Arboretum, 10 Tryon building in uptown, Clear Creek Crossings and one in South Park. In January, Food Lion opened a store at 155 Crosstie Lane in Troutman, about 35 miles north of uptown Charlotte in Iredell County. The company opened three stores in the Charlotte area since 2022 at 2201 West W. T. Harris Blvd. and 5939 Weddington Road in Charlotte, and 11745 Statesville Blvd. in Cleveland. Food Lion in Troutman, N.C., on Monday, March 24, 2025. Sprouts Farmers Market will open a 21,000-square-foot store this summer at the One NoDa Park development on the corner of 36th and Tryon streets in Charlotte. It will be the third location for the Phoenix-based grocer, which opened a store in Steele Creek in fall 2023 and also has a store in Ballantyne. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The West Boulevard Coalition is opening Charlottes first cooperative grocery store, Three Sisters Market. The full-service grocery store will debut in an area that has been without a traditional supermarket for over 30 years. Its expected to open this year. Last July, Matthews Board of Commissioners approved changes to a grocery store plan with illustration signage similar to Trader Joes in a 13,5000-square-foot building at Matthews Gateway on East John Street. Last May, Mecklenburg County commissioners OKd $1.5 million for California-based grocer Spanglers to build an 8,000-square-foot store at Kohler and Statesville avenues, north of uptown. In 2026, Rochester, N.Y.-based Wegmans will make its Charlotte debut with a 110,000-square-foot grocery store on the east side of Ballantyne in south Charlotte. Construction is under way. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Historic West End Partners will open a 15,000-square-foot cooperative grocery store in partnership with Weaver Street Market, which has four stores in the Raleigh region. Its part of the grassroots groups larger development plan that includes 290 apartments. Harris Teeter will open two 60,000-square-foot stores in York County, The Herald previously reported. The 5366 Hwy. 55 E. store in Lake Wylie is expected to open in fall 2026. A Fort Mill store on Fort Mill Parkway also is expected to open in 2026. A Milwaukee County judge has recused herself and any current sitting judge in the county from presiding over the case of a former public defender accused of abusing his position and paying clients for sex. Circuit Judge Michelle A. Havas filed the notice of recusal Friday in the case involving Travis Schwantes, who was arrested last year as part of a sprawling human trafficking investigation. Schwantes, 54, faces two counts of felony misconduct in office, felony solicitation and falsifying paperwork, and two misdemeanors related to prostitution. Travis Schwantes (left) appears with his attorney Joseph Bugni (right) for his initial court appearance after being charged in a sprawling investigation into a prostitution ring on Dec. 20, 2024 at the Milwaukee County Safety Building. "Recent filings have triggered concerns that ongoing relationships with the defendants prior place of employment may be impacted by any currently sitting Milwaukee County judge presiding over this case," Havas said in her notice, which she read aloud in court. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Schwantes, who once ran for judge, was a prominent public defender who won several high-profile cases involving caregivers accused of homicide. The case has put a harsh spotlight on the relationship between two adversaries who meet every day in the courthouse: The Milwaukee County District Attorneys Office and the State Public Defenders Office. The district attorneys office did not seek a special prosecutor in this case. It typically does so when there is a conflict of interest. Asked about that decision earlier in March, District Attorney Kent Lovern told a reporter he did not see a need for one. The district attorneys office also sought records from the public defenders office detailing the names, dates of birth and phone numbers of all defendants represented by Schwantes and the dates of his representation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The public defenders office moved to quash the court order, arguing it was overly broad and that Schwantes' clients could be found in court records. The office also said that the subpoenas chilling effect on client trust and confidentiality cannot be overstated. Such an erosion of trust would harm not only current clients but also future clients by deterring them from being "fully candid" with their public defender attorneys, said Nicholas G. Smith, an attorney for the State Public Defender's Office, in a motion. "These risks are not speculative," Smith wrote. Ultimately, prosecutors obtained Schwantes client list using data from Wisconsin's online court records system. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In addition, prosecutors sought subpoenas for three staff members of the State Public Defender's Office, including Bridget Krause, trial division director, in advance of Schwantes' scheduled preliminary hearing. Court records include an email Assistant District Attorney Nicolas Heitman sent in January to Smith, the attorney for the public defender's office. In the email, Heitman said he would reconsider the subpoenas for each person who agreed to an interview before the preliminary hearing. "We are in deep negotiations with his attorney to resolve the matter," he wrote in January. "If that happens you will be notified. I would be the happiest person if this case resolved without a witness being called whoever that witness might be. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The public defender's office had pushed back on the subpoenas, with Smith, the office's attorney, noting the purpose of the preliminary examination is to present evidence, not discover evidence. Krause was made available to answer general questions about the office's policies and procedures, according to one filing, and her subpoena and another were dropped. A third subpoena for another public defender remains. Schwantes seeking dismissal of felony counts Schwantes, who has yet to have a preliminary hearing, is asking for the felony charges to be dismissed. Schwantes is not trying to duck responsibility, his attorney, Joseph A. Bugni, wrote in a motion. If the case was every count of prostitution or patronizing a prostitute, he would stand before this Court and admit what hes done. No question. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But this case is not about just that conduct, he said. Its about the States attempt to stretch the law far beyond what its ever been, all in an effort to punish Schwantes and brand him a felon. In a response, Heitman, the prosecutor, argued the complaint was sufficient to show probable cause for the charges. According to the complaint, two women told authorities that Schwantes had paid them for sex acts on multiple occasions. One of the women disclosed Schwantes knew she had open warrants and that he falsified information to represent her as a public defender in those cases, the complaint says. Authorities also say Schwantes had a sexual relationship with an essential witness to a homicide investigation and paid other vulnerable women for sex. The women knew he was a public defender and he used that to gain their trust, prosecutors allege. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bugni acknowledged Schwantes represented one woman "in an exercise of exceedingly bad judgment." In the course of that representation, he logged 1.5 hours. That behavior violates several statutes. But it does not constitute felony solicitation, making a false representation to qualify for counsel, or misconduct in public office, Bugni wrote in a motion filing. He argued no matter what Schwantes wrote on a form, the woman would have qualified for a public defender just as she had before, and that the woman did not receive a dishonest advantage having Schwantes as her attorney instead of another public defender. Bugni also took aim at the felony solicitation charge issued by prosecutors. He cited the law's text that it involves someone who intentionally solicits or causes any person to practice prostitution or establishes any person in a place of prostitution. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He argued the statute has never applied to customers of sex workers. Heitman, the prosecutor, strongly disagreed, writing that Schwantes habitually paid for sex from a person he knew had drug addiction problems and advised her not to go to court to stay out of jail. He did this knowing she was engaged in prostitution, so her remaining out of custody would make it practically certain she would continue to engage in the practice of prostitution," Heitman wrote in response. "So the defendant absolutely encouraged the practice of prostitution." Schwantes' case is temporarily assigned to Milwaukee County Chief Judge Carl Ashley for the next three weeks until an outside or retired judge is appointed. That new judge will take up the motion to dismiss the felony counts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The human trafficking investigation also led to charges against five other men, including an investment banker, firefighter and retired municipal judge from Kenosha. Those cases will remain before Havas. Ashley Luthern is a reporter and deputy investigations editor at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. She can be reached at ashley.luthern@jrn.com. This story has been updated to add a gallery. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Judge recuses from former public defender Travis Schwantes case (COLORADO SPRINGS) El Paso County hosted the Regional Competition for the annual National Civics Bee on Saturday, March 29. Out of 20 finalists, three advanced to the State Competition in May. On Saturday, middle school students from all over the area showcased their knowledge and spirit for the region when they were tasked with writing an essay on how they would improve their community. The goal of the competition is to get students involved in Civics and their community. I think this is important because it helps me realize and learn about my country and how I can become an active member in it and how I can change laws for the better, said Camilla Balser, who scored first place. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Balser emerged as the regional champion with her thoughtful and compelling essay. I think its great getting our kids involved in our community, said Michael Lordino, President of the Eastern Plains Chamber of Commerce. Im always amazed in the depth of knowledge these students have of their community and how they want to better it, so it is always just very impressive to hear them talk about it. The winners will have the chance to compete on May 30 at the State level in Denver. Those who win will then pass on to the National Civics Bee in Washington D.C. in 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 FOX21 News Colorado. LONDON, Ky. (FOX 56) A Tennessee man faces several charges after a chase on Friday evening. London police said the chase ensued around 9:11 p.m. on March 29 after attempting to pull over a driver who was operating his vehicle erratically on I-75. LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The driver, later identified as 33-year-old Naythen Edwards, attempted to take exit 15 but damaged his vehicle and returned to the interstate. Officers said that when Edwards realized it was no longer operational, he fled on foot into a wooded area. Eventually, Edwards was apprehended. According to the London Police Department, he told officers hed swallowed narcotics during the chase. It was also believed that Edwards was a registered Sex Offender on Parole out of Tennessee, the London Police Department wrote in a press release. Read more of the latest Kentucky news Officers said they administered Narcan and took Edwards to an area hospital for treatment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to London police, he faces the following charges alongside numerous traffic offenses: First-degree wanton endangerment First-degree fleeing or evading police (motor vehicle) First-degree operating a motor vehicle under the influence First-degree fleeing or evading police (on foot) First-degree possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine) First-degree possession of a controlled substance (fentanyl) Tampering with physical evidence Edwards was lodged in the Laurel County Detention Center and is set to be arraigned on Monday, March 31. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. President Donald Trump isn't the first U.S. leader to contemplate annexing Canada, though he may be the first to take the idea seriously in a long timeif he is serious. The "51st state" comments and maps of a unified North America could be an elaborate joke with no obvious punchline. If it's a joke, Canadians aren't amused; they're upset and making plans to defend their country against a hostile takeover. Standing in the way, though, is their country's pathetic excuse for a military, and the severe restrictions, relative to the U.S., that Canada's government imposes on private weapons needed to resist an invasion. If they're to avoid becoming Americans, Canadians need to become a little more American. Annexing Canada Isn't Popular Outside the White House Thankfully, Trump stands pretty much alone in his obsession with absorbing our harmless northern neighbor. According to Angus Reid Institute pollsters, 60 percent of Americans, including 44 percent of Trump voters, have no interest in seeing Canada become part of the U.S. Probably, nobody wants to find out what that would do to America's fraught political balance. Another 32 percent of Americans "and 42 per cent of Trump voters say they would only be interested if the idea was supported by Canadians." Ninety percent of Canadians say, "no, thanks," so that should be the end of that. But what if Trump and company pushed the issue anyway? Hopefully, those number mean Americans, including those in the U.S. military, would refuse to comply with an invasion plan. At least, Canadians had better hope we would, because their military is in no condition to put up a fight. Canada Is in Poor Condition To Defend Itself The Canadian Armed Forces' "objectives since the end of the Cold War have been to sustain four frigates for deployment, 18 CF-18 fighter jets for peacetime operations (12 on alert in Canada and six abroad for NATO), and a half brigade's worth of soldiers (2000-2500) with ancillary capabilities," defense expert Richard Shimooka wrote for Canada's Macdonald-Laurier Institute in 2023. "Among Western states, this is a fairly small contribution." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Worse, Shimooka added, the armed forces struggle to maintain even that minimal level of readiness, ensuring that "Canada's military is less capable than ever." Canada's former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau reportedly told NATO allies that the country will "never" meet the alliance's defense spending goal. Having piggybacked on American defense for decades, Canadian leaders ensured their country is ripe for the taking should the U.S. turn hostile. That leaves Canadians relying on the prospect of a prolonged guerrilla war to resist a takeover. "A military invasion of Canada would trigger a decades-long violent resistance, which would ultimately destroy the United States," vows Aisha Ahmad, a professor of political science at the University of Toronto. "Trump is delusional if he believes that 40 million Canadians will passively accept conquest without resistance." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ahmad envisions resistance fighters retreating to Canada's rough terrain to be trained by veterans of the country's armed forces. Weapons would flow to the insurgents, she insists, from China and Russia. In fact, Canadians are a bit better armed than Americans usually recognize. The country has an estimated 12.7 million firearms in private hands. That likely underestimates the total given the Canadian government's long-gun registry fiasco, which met with widespread noncompliance before it was abandoned. That said, the Canadian government has been trying to disarm its unfortunate subjects. Also, "restricted" weapons, including handguns and semiautomatic riflesthe most effective weapons for resisting an invasionare subject to registration. Unless quickly purged, those registration records would be available for use in confiscation efforts by occupying troops. Resistance Begins With Culture Another concern is that resisting invasion requires an ornery culture that encourages noncompliance with authorities. In the absence of such independence, governmentswhether elected or imposedcan exercise power over a docile population. And, despite that long-gun registry resistance, Canadians have a reputation for obedience. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We all like to think in our hearts that we would fight to the bitter end, but I honestly don't think that would be the case," Howard Coombs, director of the Queen's Centre for International and Defence Policy and a veteran of the Canadian Armed Forces, told The Canadian Press. "We don't have a porous border that would allow the shipment of supplies to Canadians. Is Russia going to ship stuff across Alaska to us? Are we going to get air drops from the U.K.?" Ironically, it's Americans who often have a tense relationship with their own government dating back to the founding of the country in revolution and through various (sometimes violent) acts of resistance to authority. In 1946, returning war veterans who found a corrupt gang in charge of Athens, Tennessee, and the surrounding county tossed them out with gunfire and dynamite. Americans are well-armed with mostly unregistered guns. Making firearms at home is a popular pastime in the U.S. My family vacation this year will be a week-long defensive pistol class at the same facility where my wife's rabbi and members of her synagogue trained to defend their house of worship. This is the kind of culture that lends itself to fighting a hostile takeover. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Perhaps it's no surprise, then, that George S. Rigakos, a Carleton University professor of the political economy of policing, rests many of his hopes for Canadian sovereignty on American resistance. "An attempted annexation would not only provoke resistance in Canada, but also ignite widespread unrest in the U.S.," he wrote last month. "Combined with existing partisan divides, this would likely shatter U.S. political unity and inevitably lead to armed secessionist movements." This might well be true. But it's another sad example of Canadians hoping Americans will save their bacon (both the real stuff and the ham slices Canadians call by the name). Becoming More American To Remain Canadian Canadians won't want to hear it, but if they're to remain Canadian, they need to drop some dysfunctional qualities they've adopted to distinguish themselves from their neighbors to the south. They should build a national defense worthy of the name. That will take time. More quickly accomplished is to permanently abandon registration of "restricted"or anyfirearms and ease the purchase and ownership of a wider range of weapons useful for personal and national defense. Armed people are harder to conquer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While they wait for their government to change, Canadian salvation may lie with friends to the south. Despite President Trump's ridiculous protectionism, the U.S. has a proud history of thwarting trade barriers with smuggling. Americans unsympathetic to annexation fantasies might help supply Canadians with the hardware necessary for an insurgency, for the right price. To keep from being forcibly being converted to Americanor any other nationalityCanadians need to become just a little more American. The post To Remain Canadian, Our Northern Neighbors Should Become a Little More American appeared first on Reason.com. Donald Trump told NBC News that he's "very angry" with Putin, may impose secondary tariffs on Russian oil if he feels like President Vladimir Putin is to blame for failing to negotiate a ceasefire with Ukraine, and threatened to bomb Iran if a nuclear deal isn't reached. Democratic Rep. Becca Balint of Vermont tells MSNBC's Ayman Mohyeldin that these comments are attempts to distract from this week's national security breach and a "way for him to once again flex his muscles as the tough guy. It The foreign ministers of France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Poland, and the United Kingdom, together with the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas and European Commissioner for Defence Andrius Kubilius, will gather in Madrid for the fourth meeting of the Ukraine Support Group in the "Weimar+" format on Monday 31 March. The discussions will centre on providing further military assistance and security assurances to Ukraine, as well as Europe's future participation in the peace process. Source: a senior official from one of the EU member states speaking to European Pravda on condition of anonymity Details: The source said that the EU aims to intensify efforts to help Ukraine achieve peace through strength, which includes plans to scale up military assistance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Quote: "The meeting will be divided into two sections. The first will focus on boosting European security, the EU's Readiness 2030 defence initiative, and Kubilius' White Paper. The second stage will concentrate on increasing military support for Ukraine, with an emphasis on attaining peace through strength." Details: The official clarified that both sessions will include discussions on establishing lasting peace in Ukraine and enhancing the EUs defence capabilities. Quote: "There will also be talks on security guarantees for Ukraine from Western states, the potential contribution of the Weimar+ countries to a ceasefire process in Ukraine, and Europes role in the diplomatic efforts to establish peace." More details: The Madrid meeting is taking place ahead of an informal summit of EU defence ministers in Warsaw, which will primarily assess the EUs real capacity to increase military support for Ukraine particularly the urgent provision of ammunition to the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Background: At the coalition of the willing summit held in Paris on 27 March, agreements were reached to announce new military aid packages for Ukraine at the next Ukraine Defence Contact Group (also known as Ramstein format) meeting, scheduled for 11 April in Brussels. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Members from the China Search and Rescue Team and the civilian rescue team of RAMUNION RESCUE jointly transfer a survivor at a quake site in Mandalay city, Myanmar, March 31, 2025. (Photo by Myo Kyaw Soe/Xinhua) MANDALAY, Myanmar, March 31 (Xinhua) -- Chinese rescuers successfully pulled out another survivor at the Sky Villa residential area in Mandalay, Myanmar, at about 7:20 local time on Monday. Chinese rescuers have rescued four survivors within seven hours in earthquake-hit Myanmar. Earlier, the China Search and Rescue Team and a civilian rescue team of RAMUNION RESCUE pulled out a girl and a pregnant survivor at the Sky Villa quake scene at 05:37 and 06:20 local time, respectively, on Monday. In addition, Chinese rescuers successfully rescued a female survivor at the Great Wall Hotel rescue site in Mandalay, Myanmar, at 00:40 local time on Monday. Since Sunday, Chinese rescue teams have been conducting search and rescue efforts in the earthquake-hit areas of Myanmar. A team from China's Yunnan province rescued an elderly man who had been trapped for nearly 40 hours under the rubble of a hospital in Nay Pyi Taw, another severely affected city, on Sunday. Members of the Blue Sky Rescue Team from China's Hunan Province rescued a survivor at the Mandalay Buddhist Hall in Mandalay city on the same day. Members from the China Search and Rescue Team and the civilian rescue team of RAMUNION RESCUE jointly transfer a survivor at a quake site in Mandalay city, Myanmar, March 31, 2025. (Photo by Myo Kyaw Soe/Xinhua) Chinese rescuers transfer a survivor at a quake site in Mandalay city, Myanmar, March 31, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhang Dongqiang) Members from the China Search and Rescue Team and the civilian rescue team of RAMUNION RESCUE jointly transfer a survivor at a quake site in Mandalay city, Myanmar, March 31, 2025. (Photo by Myo Kyaw Soe/Xinhua) Chinese rescuers transfer a survivor at a quake site in Mandalay city, Myanmar, March 31, 2025. (Photo by Myo Kyaw Soe/Xinhua) Chinese rescuers transfer a survivor at a quake site in Mandalay city, Myanmar, March 31, 2025. (Photo by Myo Kyaw Soe/Xinhua) Don Bacon, a Republican member of the US House of Representatives, has called on the Trump administration and Congress to reaffirm their commitment to Ukraine and to resist Russian expansionism. Source: European Pravda; an opinion piece by Don Bacon for The New York Times Details: Bacon says that in recent weeks, many of his Republican colleagues, including Donald Trump, have "treated Russia with velvet gloves, shying away from calling out Mr Putins flatly illegal war and even blaming Ukraine for starting it". Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He reminds readers that Russian aggression against Ukraine began a century ago with the suppression of the Ukrainian independence movement by the Soviet Union. The United States and the rest of Europe allowed Putin's aggression in 2014 "to stand, paving the way for his full-scale invasion in February 2022". Quote from Bacon: "This history makes clear that America has a moral obligation to continue providing aid to Ukraine until Russia commits to fair and just peace negotiations. That means including Ukraine in the conversation." Details: The congressman also stresses that supporting Ukraine is in the USs national interest, as a Russian victory would threaten other European states and encourage other autocracies to take similar actions. Bacon also addresses the isolationist wing of the Republican Party, which justifies its opposition to further support for Ukraine by fear of excessive costs. He argues that refusing to support Ukraine will lead to even greater losses. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Quote from Bacon: "If Ukraine loses, the resulting refugee flows and instability will disrupt trade, increase energy prices, force American consumers to spend more and constrain US economic growth." More details: Baon concludes by emphasising that the Trump administration must declare its commitment to democracy, free markets and the rule of law, otherwise the US "risks losing what makes America a great nation". Quote from Bacon: "Peace wont be easy, but we must reject the trap of making a false choice. It is possible to end the war for Ukraine, preserve our moral clarity by holding Russia accountable and advance Americas long-term national interests in the process. This is a Ronald Reagan moment, and the stakes for all of us are too high to waver in our resolve." For reference: The US president's rhetoric towards Russia has changed somewhat in recent days. Background: On 30 March, Trump said he was "very angry" and "pissed off" with Putin for talking about an interim administration in Ukraine. He also threatened to impose additional sanctions on Russian oil unless Moscow comes to the negotiating table and stops the fighting in Ukraine. Trump has also said that there is a "psychological deadline" for Russia to agree to a full ceasefire in Ukraine. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Republicans are pulling out all the stops ahead of the special election in Floridas 6th Congressional District as worries of a narrower-than-expected margin grow in the district President Trump won by more than 30 points in November. Trump called into two tele-town halls for state Sen. Randy Fine (R) in an effort to drive out the Republican base ahead of Tuesday. Meanwhile, Elon Musks America PAC spent roughly $10,200 in the race earlier this week and dropped another $66,000 into the race Thursday. The efforts come as Democratic candidate Josh Weil has outraised Fine, while an internal poll from the Republican firm Fabrizio Ward showed Weil holding a 3-point lead over Fine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Democrats and Republicans continue to maintain that a Republican loss in the district is highly unlikely, given its red lean. However, a narrow margin would give Democrats material to claim there is discontent among Republicans in Trump country. As for Republicans, Democrats overperformance in the polls and fundraising is too close for comfort as Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) seeks to navigate a razor-thin House margin. House Republicans control a narrow 218-213 majority, which does not allow Johnson a ton of flexibility to pass a budget reconciliation package that would combine border security, tax legislation, as well as energy and defense spending. Trump acknowledged his concerns over the small House majority and the leeway Johnson has to pass his agenda Thursday, when he pulled Rep. Elise Stefaniks (R-N.Y.) nomination to be U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, writing in a Truth Social post that we dont want to take any chances. Its about having reinforcements in the House more than anything else, said Ford OConnell, a Florida-based Republican strategist. [Trump] wants to make sure hes able to drive home the big beautiful bill. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Republicans push back on the theory that Stefaniks nomination being pulled had to do with the special House race in Florida, noting it amounted to bad timing and to what they said was New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) slow-walking the special election to replace Stefanik. Despite the nervousness ahead of election day, most Republicans and Democrats maintain that Fine will likely win in the end. The question is by how much. Democrats are already using the potentially close margins in the race as evidence of what they say is trouble for the GOP even in parts of the country that are favorable to Trumps agenda. These are races that should not under ordinary circumstances be on anyones political radar. They are safe Republican seats that Donald Trump won by more than 30 points, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) told reporters earlier this week. The American people are not buying what the Republicans are selling. That is why they are on the run. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Republicans, including Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, have also issued warnings about the Tuesday election. Regardless of the outcome in that, its going to be a way underperformance from what I won that district by in 2022 and what the president won it by in November, DeSantis told reporters. Its a reflection of the candidate thats running in that race, DeSantis said. DeSantis and Fine have a contentious history dating back to when Fine switched his endorsement from DeSantis to Trump in the 2024 Republican presidential primary. Some Republicans say Fine will ultimately come through with a comfortable enough margin. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Remember, he didnt get on TV until last week, one Republican strategist said. Thats why Josh is doing so well. I mean, hes burned through a sload of money, but hes been up on TV since the beginning of March. Republicans argue that between Fine getting up on TV and the influx of outside spending, Fine will be able to extend his lead to a more comfortable margin. Another likely promising sign for Republicans is that early and absentee voting slowly moved toward Fines favor last week. According to early and mail-in voting data compiled by Decision Desk HQ on Tuesday, it was estimated Fine narrowly led Weil. That trend appeared to be continuing into the weekend as of Friday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The [absentee/early vote] returns have been steadily moving towards the GOP this week and we expect it to be R+8 going into the weekend, said Scott Tranter, director of data science at Decision Desk HQ. Given GOP voters tend to turn out more on Election Day, we expect the electorate to settle in the R+14 range once all the votes are counted Tuesday. All that being said, we have seen special elections recently where the Democratic candidate has overcome R+15 electorates so thats why this race remains close in a district President Trump won handily in 2024, Tranter added. The most recent example of a special election flip took place Tuesday in Pennsylvania, where Democrat James Malone won an open Pennsylvania state Senate seat in a district Trump carried with 57 percent of the vote. Democrats have touted the win as a sign of grassroots enthusiasm in the second Trump era. But Florida leans much more red than Pennsylvania, with the Florida GOP boasting a registration advantage of nearly 1.2 million voters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Should Fine win with a comfortable double-digit margin, some Republicans argue, then Democrats will have a tough time playing up their loss as a victory. If he wins by 10, then theres no narrative, OConnell 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. Swaths of Republicans on Capitol Hill are scrambling to shield their states from Donald Trumps next wave of tariffs, a sign of the private alarm in the presidents party about the impacts of his trade agenda. Trump has promised his rollout of global tariffs on April 2 will amount to a Liberation Day for the American economy. But dozens of GOP lawmakers worry privately that another round of tariffs will raise prices on U.S. consumers, cripple American farmers and rattle the stock market. In anticipation, they are coordinating with various industry groups to push the administration for exemptions that protect key local industries from that kind of pain. Theyre also trying to effectively void some of the tariffs on key products once they go into effect, lining up to push Trump officials for so-called exclusions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Their quiet maneuvering signals the heightened anxiety among Republicans about the next phase of his trade wars and the political pitfalls ahead for the president and his party. Four Republicans with direct knowledge of the strategy, granted anonymity to discuss the private conversations, described the behind-the-scenes planning as concerted and targeted. Fueling their anxiety: GOP lawmakers dont yet know the full scope of what Trump has dubbed reciprocal tariffs and possibly other duties the White House is preparing to unveil Wednesday. The president and top aides have said they will calculate different tariff rates for the countrys major trading partners, based on the barriers other countries put on U.S. imports. But they have yet to detail any figures or say which countries will be hit and even many White House aides remain in the dark. As they attempt to head off the worst of the initial hit from the reciprocal tariffs, some congressional Republicans are coordinating with powerful private sector groups as well as conservative-leaning agriculture lobbyists and other representatives of affected industries. The hope is to pressure administration officials to limit the tariffs scope and incorporate key carve-outs ahead of time. U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer did provide a general outline of Trump's goals to GOP members of the House Ways and Means Committee last week, according to two people granted anonymity to discuss the private meeting. Greer also promised Republican senators more certainty on trade policy , going forward, during their lunch last Tuesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tariffs in Kansas often are very harmful to agricultural producers, farmers and ranchers, said Sen. Jerry Moran of (R-Kan.). And we're often the retaliatory target by those we impose tariffs against. Moran said he is planning to push for exclusions to Trumps tariffs to limit the fallout on his home state, where the agriculture sector is already facing some of the worst economic headwinds in years. In the last Trump administration, we were successful in getting the Department of Commerce the opportunity to have exclusions. And we'll pursue that again, said Moran, also noting he chairs the Senate Appropriations subcommittee that oversees the Commerce Department. Our farmers are stretched. This is one of the worst, certainly maybe the worst time I've seen, in agriculture We need every market. Many MAGA-aligned Republicans in Congress are celebrating this next wave of levies. They say the tariffs work as bargaining tools, aiming to lower trade barriers to U.S. goods in the long term by forcing other countries to the negotiating table. But even some Trump administration officials are nervous about the fallout for key industries, especially American farmers whose livelihoods rely on selling their products abroad. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trumps own Agriculture Department inquired about securing exemptions for critical agricultural inputs before the White House rolled out 25 percent tariffs on Canada and Mexico earlier this month, according to two people with direct knowledge of the matter who were not authorized to discuss it publicly. The president ultimately changed course just hours later and scaled back the levies on a wider scale. Administration officials also expect Trump on April 2 to move ahead with tariffs on foreign agriculture products, something the president floated in a Truth Social post earlier this month. That has some Hill Republicans worrying that such a move would only trigger a new wave of retaliatory tariffs on the U.S. farm sector, plus cut American farmers off from critical export markets abroad when there won't be enough demand in the U.S. to sell all of their goods. Beyond Canada and Mexico, Nebraska Republican Rep. Don Bacon said hes heard from meat processors and popcorn producers in his state who have lost market access in Europe in the last week amid Trumps trade tumult. And while Bacon said new reciprocal tariffs may help lower trade barriers to some countries, the immediate result is higher costs for a lot of products: In the end, consumers pay more. And so it's going to raise costs. Ultimately, Bacon said he views Trumps reciprocal tariffs as a negotiating tactic but even then, look at the ruckus all this causes, he added. Our stock market doesn't handle this stuff too well. When she was working as an election official in Arizona years ago, Tammy Patrick encountered voters who supported what was then the states new proof of citizenship law for voter registration only to realize that they had been disenfranchised by it. Theyd say, I voted for that! she recalled of the voters, many of whom were snowbirds, older people, who didnt have the wherewithal to get [the correct documents] because the documents didnt exist anymore. It was heart-wrenching, Patrick said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the time, Arizona was the only state in the nation with a documentary proof of citizenship requirement for voters, and thousands of people have since lost out on the right to vote in state elections. Kansas, which later also tried its own citizenship requirement for voter registration, saw similar results. Kansas did that 10 years ago, Kansass Republican Secretary of State Scott Schwab told The Associated Press in December of his states own requirement, which prevented tens of thousands of voter registrations and was ultimately blocked in court in 2018. It didnt work out so well. Nonetheless, despite data showing tens of millions of Americans dont have ready access to proof of citizenship documents, Republicans are now pushing hard to require those records nationwide for voter registration. They havent been able to make it happen yet. But two efforts, one each from the White House and congressional Republicans, have made the prospect of a national proof of citizenship requirement a real possibility. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Tuesday, President Donald Trump signed the executive order Preserving and Protecting the Integrity of American Elections. In addition to ordering a slew of changes to voting machine standards and information-sharing arrangements between the federal and state governments, the order which is not a law instructs the Election Assistance Commission to change its national mail voter registration form to require documentary proof of citizenship. In Congress, the so-called SAVE Act would similarly mandate proof of citizenship documents. The bill passed the House last year and is scheduled for a vote in the House this week, according to House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.). Though neither effort is a law right now, they both present significant risks to millions of voters. The Trump White House has in its first two months asserted unprecedented executive authority over the federal government, even on matters legally outside its purview, like trying to shut down entire agencies created by Congress, and its not clear how far Trump is willing to take his power grab. Millions At Risk As things stand, would-be voters swear under penalty of law on registration paperwork that they are citizens, and state officials have various methods to confirm that citizenship, including by checking against Social Security data and state databases. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Republicans efforts to require documentary proof of citizenship to register to vote a push that gained political support from widespread lies about non-citizen voting would change that. And if voters needed to provide documentary proof themselves, millions would be at risk of disenfranchisement. Over 21 million voting-age American citizens dont readily have access to documentary proof of citizenship, and over 3.8 million lack any of those documents at all, one 2023 survey from the Brennan Center for Justice and several other groups found. The impact would be felt across political and demographic lines: While poor voters, voters of color and indigenous voters are lesslikely to have certain documentation, states with high levels of passport ownership generally vote blue and Republican women are more likely to report taking their husbands last names, which complicates the process, the Center for American Progress noted in January. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Both the White House efforts and the SAVE Act are also strangely vague when it comes to what documentation is required. Both mention passports as an acceptable proof of citizenship, but half of American citizens dont have a valid passport. They both also mention the REAL ID Act of 2005, though so-called REAL ID cards dont actually list citizenship status on them, and non-citizens can obtain REAL IDs. Both also list military IDs, but only if they specify citizenship. If not, the SAVE Act requires further documentation. The SAVE Act notes birth certificates can be used in conjunction with government-issued photo IDs; Trumps order makes no mention of birth certificates at all, though it does say photo IDs can work when accompanied by proof of United States citizenship. What would happen to the millions of voters who dont have these forms of ID, or a handful of others the SAVE Act mentions, such as a naturalization certificate? Thats not clear. The SAVE Act includes language directing states to establish a process for applicants who dont have documentary proof of citizenship to attest that they are citizens and submit such other evidence to the appropriate State or local official demonstrating that the applicant is a citizen of the United States, but it doesnt get more specific than that. And it also allows prosecutors to pursue criminal charges for election officials who register anyone who fails to present documentary proof of United States citizenship, adding a ton of pressure on those officials to not give would-be voters any flexibility. When HuffPost reached out to the office of the bills top sponsor, Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas), for more details, it did not provide any. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The line of questioning you have sent makes me very inclined to believe that this is yet another smear attempt at the SAVE Act filled with hypothetical questions and baseless claims, Roys communications director, Armani Gracia, said in an email. I can assure you that the bill (linked here) is not that deep it literally will simply require states to verify US citizenship when registering an individual to vote in federal elections, give states the tools to remove non-citizens from their voter rolls, and penalizes [sic] officials who register non-citizens. Lets be very clear: The bills opponents want non-citizens to vote, he added. Gracia also included a statement from Roy, who condemned absurd armchair speculation by the media and said the legislation provides a myriad ways for people to prove citizenship and explicitly directs States to establish a process for individuals to register to vote if there are discrepancies in their proof of citizenship documents due to something like a name change. Other supporters of the bill have similarly dismissed concerns. The open borders lefties who oppose the SAVE Act requiring proof of citizenship to register to vote have now come up with the DUMBEST argument ever, saying that requiring proof of citizenship will mean that married women cannot register to vote, because their birth certificate wont have their married name...huh? wrote Cleta Mitchell, a major player in the right-wing election space. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Under their theory, married women who change their names would also be unable to get a passport, credit card, REAL ID, any drivers license, bank account, social security...and on and on...because, under this nonsensical theory, married women are not capable of bringing the necessary documentation that shows citizenship AND married status....something that MILLIONS of women do every day when they change their names upon marriage...or divorce. Others say the lack of citizenship documentation should itself be disqualifying. Referring to the Brennan Center study, the Federalists election correspondent Brianna Lyman wrote Thursday that even if people without ready access to proof of citizenship documents are in fact citizens, failing to require proof of citizenship still poses a threat to the integrity of U.S. elections. Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) reposted the article, writing that people who cant prove their citizenship shouldnt vote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The documentary requirements arent the only part of the bill that has scholars and voting rights advocates nervous. Severalanalyses have also noted, for example, that the SAVE Act would effectively end online, by-mail and volunteer voter registration efforts, as it requires that documentary proof of citizenship be presented in person to government election officials. This dynamic would harm voters who live far away from election offices, particularly in rural areas. Whats more, the SAVE Act would likely apply to all interactions with the voter registration process, even by already-registered voters, such as people changing their address or party affiliation. Nothing we have found in the SAVE Act addresses these concerns, wrote the Brennan Centers Wendy Weiser and Andrew Garber in Election Law Blog in February. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bill consistently cuts in favor of in-person registration at a select few places for your registration to count. And that would likely be the case every time you need to update your registration. Trumps Executive Order Is A Dramatic Attempted Power Grab On top of its proof of citizenship requirement language, Trumps executive order is alarming simply because it exists at all. American elections are almost entirely run at the state and local level, and any national rule changes must generally be approved by Congress. Trumps apparent belief that he can simply declare changes to the nations elections represents an extremely aggressive assertion of presidential power. In the order, Trump instructs both independent agencies and Cabinet officials to pursue various investigations of (and vast changes to) the election system, including regarding election machine certifications and information-sharing between states and the federal government. At one point, the order tells the so-called Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, to review each States publicly available voter registration list in conjunction with the Department of Homeland Security. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Given his track record over the past two months an unending series of executive commands, even on topics where the president has no legal authority some election experts are ringing alarm bells. Its dangerous to put such power in the hands of the president, who could attempt to manipulate election rules to favor his party and his self-interest, wrote Rick Hasen, a professor of law at UCLA and director of UCLA Laws Safeguarding Democracy Project. And it seems especially dangerous to take power away from the states when there are many threats to our democracy. Hasen called Trumps order an affront to principles of federalism. That concern crosses ideological lines. While some provisions might point in the right direction, Trump is making a critical error in pushing these measures through an [executive order] rather than pursuing a more durable and decentralized solution via legislation, wrote Matt Germer, director of the governance program at the conservative R Street Institute think tank. As a result, the order moves our country toward a more top-down election system and sets a dangerous, destabilizing precedent for future executive action. A future Democratic president, Germer warned, could use Trumps precedent to seek any other election changes they wished unilaterally. Various aspects of the order will almost certainly face legal challenges. Patrick, who is now chief program officer at The Election Center, said the order was astounding, in many ways. Many people are perplexed and dumbfounded on how this is happening, in some cases, because there are constitutional questions to be raised, she said, adding later, When we try and frame some of these things with a historical perspective, or a constitutional perspective, or the way these things have been done in the past, it doesnt seem to apply, for some reason, in this moment. U.S. Coast Guard Chief Warrant Officer Jeffrey Ritter supervises his crew aboard the cutter Sycamore after the launch of a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration weather buoy near Prince William Sound's Hinchinbrook Entrance on Dec. 10, 2018. The buoy, which has been periodically pulled out of the water for service and then redeployed, is designed to record and transmit weather data from a site called Seal Rocks. The information is important to oil tanker safety in Prince William Sound, but the buoy has had service outages in recent years. It has operated for only 35 days in the past year and a half, according to the Prince William Sound Regional Citizens' Advisory Council. (Photo by Nate Littlejohn/U.S. Coast Guard) Too many of the weather buoys floating in the waters off Alaska are out of service and the federal government should devote more resources to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in the interest of marine safety, according to a resolution pending in the Legislature. The measure, Senate Joint Resolution 12, calls for Congress to take actions necessary to restore the full functionality, of the NOAAs National Data Buoy Center meteorological sites in Alaska, which relay real-time weather information important to mariners. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The resolution calls for the states three-member congressional delegation to work to secure federal funding for that NOAA program, even as the Trump administration is slashing NOAAs workforce and operations. And it points to Alaskas vast size, harsh weather and heavy reliance on maritime operations. Sen. Forrest Dunbar, D-Anchorage, the resolutions sponsor, said Alaskans depend on the weather buoys and the information they provide to a degree that policymakers in the Lower 48 might not appreciate. These are serious life safety issues, he said. But the resolution is about more than buoys, Dunbar said. It is a defense of a federal agency and federal scientists currently enduring an onslaught of mass firings and budget cuts, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is a good argument for preserving National Weather Service and NOAA funding, Dunbar said, listing one of NOAAs best-known divisions. Of the 27 National Data Buoy Center meteorological/ocean stations deployed in Alaska, seven are currently out of service, according to the center. There is particular concern about outages at a Prince William Sound site called Seal Rocks. The buoy there is supposed to be transmitting critical information about winds, wave heights and other conditions that affect the safety of oil tankers using the Trans Alaska Pipeline System terminal in Valdez. That Seal Rocks buoy, an important source of weather data for marine-safety studies, has had intermittent outages for several years and is currently out of service. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is at Hinchinbrook Entrance, the passageway between islands that connects Prince William Sound to the wider Gulf of Alaska. The area from Hinchinbrook Entrance to the Valdez terminal which includes Blight Reef, site of the1989 Exxon Valdez disaster, is of special concern for tanker safety. Under post-Exxon Valdez rules, oil tankers are escorted there by safety tugs, and shipments by loaded tankers are stopped when winds exceed 45 knots or waves are above 15 feet at Hinchinbrook Entrance. The Prince William Sound Regional Citizens Advisory Council, a marine safety watchdog created by Congress after the Exxon Valdez spill, raised concerns about the outages as early as 2018. Those outages continue. John Guthrie, the councils maritime operations project manager, told lawmakers at a recent hearing that the buoy has been operating for only about 35 days during the past year and a half. That hampers the U.S. Coast Guard, he said, because it has to make decisions about tanker traffic based on less-reliable information from more distant buoys, weather forecasts or chance observations by other mariners, he said. An oil tanker is seen through Valdez Narrows, near Entrance Island, in Prince William Sound in this undated photograph. Tankers are escorted by safety tugs in the sound under rules put in place after the Exxon Valdez oil spill, and Valdez Narrows is a spot where extra care is required in navigation. (Photo by Nelli Vanderburg/Prince William Sound Regional Citizens Advisory Council) While subsistence fishers, commercial fishers and others on the water depend on the real-time weather information relayed by the buoys, the Seal Rocks buoy, in particular, is a key component of the oil spill prevention system in Prince William Sound. The risk of another oil spill increases whenever it is not working, Guthrie said at a March 20 hearing of the Senate Transportation Committee. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dunbar said the Seal Rocks buoy situation should be compelling. Heres a concrete example where National Weather Service and NOAA funding is absolutely essential to the safety of the environment in Prince William Sound but also to the economy in the state and, frankly, the nation, he said. Legislative resolutions do not create laws, but they express lawmakers sentiments. Resolutions directed at federal agencies or at Congress, such as the pending resolution on NOAA buoys, are intended to persuade federal policymakers and influence their actions. The sentiment expressed in SJR 12, however, conflicts with Trump administration policies concerning NOAA and its divisions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Already, the Trump administration has fired hundreds of NOAA employees around the nation, including many in Alaska. The National Weather Service has lost about 10% of its workforce. Another 1,000 NOAA employees may be fired next. The agency is among those targeted by the administrations Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, which is led by billionaire Elon Musk. The Trump administrations objections to NOAA appear to be related to the agencys work on climate change. Project 2025, a preelection blueprint for a second Trump administration produced prior to the 2024 election by the conservative Heritage Foundation, cited that work in its conclusion that NOAA should be broken up and downsized. NOAAs divisions, including the National Weather Service and National Marine Fisheries Service, form a colossal operation that has become one of the main drivers of the climate change alarm industry and, as such, is harmful to future U.S. prosperity, the Project 2025 Mandate for Leadership document said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Though Trump attempted to distance himself from Project 2025 before the November election, many of the plans authors have high-level positions in his administration. Those include Russell Vought, director of the Office of Budget and Management, who was Project 2025s lead author. Impacts to NOAA of the DOGE-imposed cuts and restrictions go beyond lost jobs and workers. NOAA just canceled a scientific conference that has been held annually for half a century. The 2025 Global Monitoring Annual Conference would have focused on information about greenhouse gas emissions, carbon cycle feedbacks and other atmospheric science subjects. The 2024 conference was the 52nd held by NOAA. Senate Joint Resolution 12 was pending in the Senate Rules Committee as of Friday. An oil tanker is docked at the Trans Alaska Pipeline Systems Valdez Marine Terminal in this undated photo. Tanker traffic is put on hold when high winds or high waves are recorded at Hinchinbrook Entrance. But the buoy sending that real-time information has been out of service. (Photo by Nelli Vanderburg/Prince William Sound Regional Citizens Advisory Council) SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE BINGHAMTON, N.Y. (WIVT/WBGH) A former NASA employee is coming to Binghamton to discuss his new book about space travel. Frank Hughes, a retired NASA Chief of Space Flight Training, is coming to TechWorks! on April 3 and April 4 to speak about his career. Hughes started at NASA the day the Apollo Mission Simulator crates arrived from Binghamton. He will discuss his new book The Great Apollo Space Wreck that details his three decades preparing astronauts for space travel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The event will take place at 6:30 on Thursday and again at 10 a.m. on Friday. Tickets are $5 per person and include the talk, snacks, and beverages. Reservations are recommended and can be made by calling (607)723-8600 or emailing to info@ctandi.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 WIVT - News 34. Former Washington Supreme Court Justice Susan Owens, who retired from her 44-year judicial career at the end of December, passed away Friday morning, March 28. She was 75. According to a release from the Washington State Courts, Justice Owens was visiting family in California. Justice Owens was a true original and a good friend. Though she had been in declining health recently, she never lost her wit, her humor and her strong sense of justice, said Washington Supreme Court Chief Justice Debra Stephens on Friday in the release. The world will not be the same without her in it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Susan made a positive difference in peoples lives, on and off the bench. She was so genuine and easy to love. Her family, friends and the people she touched through her work and in the community will feel her loss deeply, said Washington Supreme Court Justice Barbara Madsen, who was on the Court in 2000 when Owens became a justice. As stated in the Washington State Courts release, Owens was elected to the state Supreme Court in the November 2000 general election, becoming the seventh woman to serve on the Court. Before the election, she had served for 19 years as a judge on the Clallam County District Court and was the first woman to serve on that court when she was appointed to a new part-time judicial position in 1981, and then elected to six terms. Washington State Courts added the following: Owens was a champion of rural and tribal courts, founding the Rural Courts Committee of Washingtons District and Municipal Court Judges Association (DMCJA). She taught on the subject of rural courts at the states Judicial College. She had also served as a part-time chief judge for both the Quileute Tribe for five years, and the Lower Elwha SKlallam Tribe for more than six years. As a Supreme Court justice, she became active on Washingtons Tribal State Court Consortium. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another focus of Owens career was improving judicial education on domestic violence cases. In her time on the district court bench, she found the cases were prevalent, and the same people and situations kept returning again and again. There was little education for judges in understanding or handling these cases, and people were being injured, Owens said in 2024 just before her retirement. It needed changing. We all needed education. She joined numerous committees to gain knowledge, then became a national trainer on the topic. She lectured at the National College of Prosecuting Attorneys Domestic Violence Conference, and co-authored the Northwest Tribal Judges Domestic Violence Manual. Now with a great deal more education available for judicial officers, benchbooks that are regularly updated, numerous tools for survivors, and treatment options for offenders, its 200 percent better than it used to be, Owens said in 2024. She also became the first woman on the Supreme Court to serve until the mandatory judicial retirement age of 75. She was remembered by her colleagues as someone who would help everyone who comes through the door. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Justice Stephens confirmed that the Supreme Court will be planning a memorial for Owens. Justice Owens career timeline, shared from the Washington State Courts: 1971 Graduated from Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 1975 Earned J.D. from University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill 1975 Admitted to Oregon Bar 1976 Admitted to the Washington Bar 1976 Moved to Port Angeles, worked as a Legal Aid attorney, one of the first women attorneys working in the county. 1981 Appointed by Clallam County Commissioners to a new part-time judge position on the Clallam County District Court 1982 Elected to the new judge position, and subsequently re-elected to five additional terms. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 1987 Accepted position as part-time chief judge for Quileute Tribe, and later accepted position on Lower Elwha SKlallam Tribal Court. 1990 2000 Active in District and Municipal Court Judges Association (DMCJA), serving as board member, secretary-treasurer, vice president, and president-elect prior to joining the Supreme Court. Co-founded DMCJA Rural Courts Committee. Sierra Pape, a senior at Midtown High School, was among the high school students at the state Capitol Friday pushing for lawmakers to require safe gun storage in Georgia. Ross Williams/Georgia Recorder A bill originally designed to encourage safe gun storage now includes a controversial tax break on firearm purchases, and a proposed database that was seen as the central element of a school safety bill has been dropped in response to privacy concerns. The compromises were forged as lawmakers head into the final week of the 2025 legislative session the first since a 14-year-old accused gunman killed two other students and two teachers at Apalachee High School in September. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lawmakers have until this Friday to send bills to the governor, who then has 40 days to decide whether to sign them into law. Safe storage incentive spliced with sales tax holiday for guns, accessories A House bill that would have created a $300 income tax break for firearm safes and other safe storage devices now only applies to gun safety training. And the bill which had passed overwhelmingly in the House and with bipartisan support has been spliced together with a Senate bill creating a sales tax holiday in October for the purchase of firearms, ammunition and other accessories, like scopes and magazines as well as gun safes. The Senate Finance Committee advanced the measure Friday. Rep. Mark Newton (right), an Augusta Republican, and Dallas Republican Sen. Jason Anavitarte talk about a compromise they struck over rival proposals to offer tax breaks for gun safes and firearms. The Senate Finance Committee advanced the bill over the objection of some Democrats. Jill Nolin/Georgia Recorder A similar version of the Senate bill, sponsored by Dallas Republican Sen. Jason Anavitarte, passed in the Senate this session with a party-line vote. The proposal originally called for an 11-day tax holiday, but it has been shrunk to a four-day window under the compromise. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The House proposal stalled largely over concerns among Second Amendment advocates that the tax incentive would create a registry or a record of who benefited from it. Rep. Mark Newton, an Augusta Republican who is the bills sponsor, said Friday that the proposal is a way to promote gun safety training in a Second Amendment-friendly way while also saving taxpayers money. Democrats immediately objected. We took a responsible gun ownership bill and turned it into a gun proliferation bill, Sen. Jason Esteves, an Atlanta Democrat, said after the committee vote Friday. Republicans dismissed those concerns. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Isnt true if youre going to buy a safe that you need to buy a gun to put in it, said Sen. Steve Gooch, a Dahlonega Republican who serves as Senate majority leader. Not all Democrats opposed the bill, though. Sen. Michael Doc Rhett, a Marietta Democrat, voted for it because he said sees it as a start. Anything that will promote gun safety is a good start, Rhett said. House Speaker Jon Burns, a Newington Republican, told reporters Friday that he still thought the larger picture is being accomplished, and thats to ensure that we have gun storage, gun safety devices that are available to Georgians. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I just want to see us get something done, Burns said. Gun safety advocates who spoke at an already-planned press conference at the state Capitol Friday blasted the compromise. Rep. Michelle Au, a Johns Creek Democrat who has pushed for gun storage requirements, said HB 79 has been essentially completely neutered. Im not exactly sure what this bill aims to do at this point, Au said Friday. I dont know if they think that the activists who are here and the students and the families that are listening are stupid enough to think that this is action on gun safety. Heather Hallett, the founder and director of Georgia Majority for Gun Safety, said the House measure went from a promotion of safe storage to a tax bill related to guns and related gun products. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We have a problem with safe storage (in Georgia) and the fact that our Legislature, after the worst school shooting in Georgias history, cannot unequivocally take up some legislation to say Georgians should adopt safe storage practices thats a real statement of where our Legislature stands on gun safety, Hallett said. House Republicans have also revived a controversial Senate proposal that targets a Savannah ordinance penalizing gun owners who leave their firearms in unlocked vehicles. If passed, someone facing a fine would be able to sue the city for as much as $25,000 in damages. That measure was added to Senate Bill 204 last week. Database cut from high-priority school safety bill Burns signature school safety bill passed unanimously through a Senate committee Thursday, but with some key elements stripped out. One of the most controversial aspects of House Bill 268 was the creation of a statewide database of information on students who might pose a threat to school safety. That provision was removed after an outcry from parents and child advocates who worried that youthful mistakes or behaviors caused by disabilities could follow a student and harm their future opportunities. Sen. Bill Cowsert. Ross Williams/Georgia Recorder An amazing number of parents, particularly of teenage boys, who, by definition, they are immature and compulsive and do dumb things were fearful that their child might end up having a stigma attached to them of having a record that would go with them permanently about some stupid comment, threat, or behavior they had done as a teenager when, in fact, they were really not criminal, never engaged in criminal behavior, just immature behavior, said Athens Republican Sen. Bill Cowsert, who is sponsoring the bill in the Senate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bill, which is 57 pages long, still touches myriad aspects of school safety. It would require public schools to implement a panic button system and share data with local law enforcement including school maps. It would also require schools to more quickly share data when a student transfers, a response to the Apalachee shooting in which the accused gunman had allegedly been interviewed by the FBI in connection with shooting threats at a different school in another district more than a year before the attack. You can see this is an extraordinarily comprehensive approach to addressing the known problems we have with school violence, Cowsert said Thursday to his Senate colleagues. And hopefully, with Gods help, we wont have another Apalachee in this state. The bill will have to go back to both the House and Senate by April 4 if it is to become law this year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Speaking to reporters on Friday, Burns was comfortable with the bills chances and about the database being removed from the bill. This is a great process we have up here, he said. I think we all come together, we deal with the facts, sometimes we have a little different viewpoints, and final passage of anything is never the final statement on it. So, we look forward to working with the Senate next week, and I believe theyll get school safety across the finish line, and I know that it will offer protections for our students in Georgia for a safe learning place. Though the measure passed the Senate committee unanimously, some still hope to see the bill changed before it heads to the chambers. Rep. Michelle Au speaks at a press conference Friday. Ross Williams/Georgia Recorder Some child advocates say parts of the bill calling for trial as an adult for teenagers charged with making terroristic threats against a school could sweep children, especially children of color, into the justice system for youthful behavior. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Au said she is grateful that Burns is prioritizing safety in schools, but shes disappointed the bill makes no mention of firearms despite concerns about the danger of shootings. When we talked about the cell phone bans in schools, which was presented as a bill to increase student performance and concentration and reduce distractions in schools, most of the objections I heard about that bill reverted back to the argument about school safety and how are kids going to call us if theres a school shooting? she said. Au was referring to House Bill 340, a ban on personal devices for students through middle school, which passed both chambers and is awaiting Gov. Brian Kemps signature. Several lawmakers indicated that they agree with the principle of removing cell phones in schools to increase student focus but said the idea of a child not being able to call 911 or text loved ones in case of an emergency gave them pause. Everyones thinking about it, Au said. I its a really conspicuous omission therefore to have any legislative push, an omnibus bill that has many different aspects to it addressing school safety, but to leave out the most obvious piece of it that any parent or any student will tell you is top of mind. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE In addition to his fight against ultra-processed foods and seed oils, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is pushing to ban artificial food dyes from the nations food supply and many states are following suit. Last week, West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey signed into law a bill that was passed earlier this month by state lawmakers banning seven food dyes commonly found in food products and drugs. The ban applies to Red No. 3, Red No. 40, Yellow No. 5, Yellow No. 6, Blue No. 1, Blue No. 2 and Green No. 3 along with the preservatives butylated hydroxyanisole and propylparaben. West Virginia ranks at the bottom of many public health metrics, which is why there's no better place to lead the Make America Healthy Again mission, Morrisey said in a statement obtained by CBS News, citing RFK Jr.s ongoing campaign. By eliminating harmful chemicals from our food, we're taking steps toward improving the health of our residents and protecting our children from significant long-term health and learning challenges. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Starting Aug. 1, the dyes will be banned from meals served through school nutrition programs, according to the governor's office. On Jan. 1, 2028, the dyes and the two preservatives will not be allowed in drugs and foods sold in the state. According to the Environmental Working Group, a food safety advocacy group, 58 states have introduced legislation targeting artificial food dyes and food chemicals. Twenty of those states including Arizona, Oklahoma, West Virginia and New York have introduced nearly 40 bills within the first three months of this year. Arizonas H.B. 2164, for example, would prohibit public schools from serving or selling foods containing the following additives: Red No. 3, Red No. 40, Yellow No. 5, Yellow No. 6, Blue No. 1, Blue No. 2, Green No. 3, potassium bromate, propylparaben, titanium dioxide and brominated vegetable oil (BVO). Additionally, New Yorks S. 1239 and A.B. 1556 would ban the sale, distribution and production of food products containing Red No. 3, potassium bromate and propylparaben. It would also ban public schools from serving or selling foods containing Red No. 40, Yellow No. 5, Yellow No. 6, Blue No. 1, Blue No. 2 and Green No. 3. The recent legislation comes after California enacted the California Food Safety Act back in 2023. The law prohibits the use of four harmful additives potassium bromate, propylparaben, Red No. 3 and BVO in food products sold, manufactured or distributed in the state. Last year, California also enacted the California School Food Safety Act, which bans Red No. 40, Yellow No. 5, Yellow No. 6, Blue No. 1, Blue No. 2 and Green No. 3 from food served in public schools. Concerns about artificial food dyes have regained traction in the wake of the Trump administration. RFK Jr. and supporters claim that synthetic dyes are both unnecessary and harmful, pointing to reports linking such dyes to behavioral problems in children. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Most recently, RFK Jr. urged CEOs of several food industry giants including PepsiCo, General Mills, Smucker's, Kraft Heinz, and Kellogg's to eliminate artificial food dyes from their products. The secretary expressed the strong desire and urgent priority of the administration to remove [Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetics Act, or FD&C] colors from the food supply, said Melissa Hockstad, president and CEO of the Consumer Brands Association, in a readout first reported by Food Fix. RFK Jr. reportedly wants this done before he leaves office and expects real and transformative change by getting the worst ingredients out of food. The readout also included a statement from Kyle Diamantas, Acting Deputy Commissioner for Human Foods at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), who attended the closed-door meeting. Diamantas recognized the industry cant [eliminate harmful colorants and additives from the food supply] alone and that FDA will step up and work with [industry and stakeholders] to reinforce the need for a federal framework and avoid state patchworks, per the readout. Want more great food writing and recipes? Subscribe to Salon Food's newsletter, The Bite. The FDA permits the use of 36 color additives in food and drinks, including nine artificial dyes. They include Blue No. 1, Blue No. 2, Green No. 3, Orange B, Red No. 40, Yellow No. 5, Yellow No. 6, Red No. 3 and Citrus Red 2. In January, the FDA banned Red No. 3 from the nations food supply in response to a 2022 color additive petition filed by two dozen food safety and health advocates. The petition found that Red No. 3 causes cancer in male laboratory rats exposed to high levels of the dye. Although similar effects were not observed in other animals and humans, they were enough for the FDA to issue a ban. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Red No. 3 which gives certain foods and drinks a bright, cherry-red hue is commonly found in candies, artificial fruit products, processed meats, frozen desserts and baked goods and snacks. Manufacturers who use FD&C Red No. 3 in food and ingested drugs will have until January 15, 2027, or January 18, 2028, respectively, to reformulate their products, the FDA said in a statement. Consumers could see FD&C Red No. 3 as an ingredient in a food or drug product on the market past the effective date in the order if that product was manufactured before the effective date. TOKYO, March 31 (Xinhua) -- Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry announced Monday that it will provide up to 802.5 billion yen (about 5.4 billion U.S. dollars) in additional support to Rapidus, a company aiming to mass-produce cutting-edge semiconductors. With the latest funding, the total government support for Rapidus could reach approximately 1.72 trillion yen. Rapidus, founded in 2022, is spearheading Japan's efforts to regain a competitive edge in the global semiconductor industry. The company plans to launch trial production in April at its factory in Chitose, Hokkaido, with the goal of achieving full-scale mass production by 2027. The ministry has already provided funding for the construction of the facility and will now extend financial support for equipment procurement, raw materials, production management system development, and manufacturing technology advancements. Ridership of Milwaukee's streetcar ticked slightly upward last year with its highest monthly totals of rides thanks to a boost from Summerfest, according to new data posted on the organization's website. Until earlier this month, ridership data had not been updated since last August after the former streetcar manager submitted his resignation in October in lieu of discharge, according to city records. Following his resignation, the city hired engineering consulting firm HNTB in the interim to assist with operations, and posted the job listing last month to hire a replacement for the role. "We are always aiming for strong ridership numbers and we know that certain events, and weather play a part in that, but we didn't have any anticipated numbers per se," wrote DPW spokesperson Tiffany Shepherd in an email. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Here's a breakdown of the most recent Hop ridership data. Ridership of the Hop increased slightly last year, dipped during 2024 RNC Total ridership for the Hop last year was 532,460 passengers, up slightly over the previous year from 494,445 passengers. That's a nearly 8% year-over-year increase. Ridership continues to increase since the COVID-19 pandemic, although it still falls short of total ridership numbers prior to 2020. The streetcar recorded more than 760,000 passengers in 2019, according to data on its website. Hop ridership dropped 28% during the RNC, held July 15-18 in downtown Milwaukee, compared to the same week in 2023. Ridership during Bastille Days also decreased 22% compared to 2023, with 14,269 riders taking it during the festival, held July 11-14. However, ridership increased 30% year-over-year during Summerfest with 28,383 total trips during the festival. An average of 3,154 passengers took the Hop during Summerfest, which ran nine days over a three-weekend stretch (June 20-22, June 27-29 and July 4-6). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Hop started running in 2018 and is a fixed-transit network stretching across a 2.1-mile route that runs in a loop through eastern downtown to the edge of the Historic Third Ward. Another .4-mile lakefront line through the Couture high-rise started last year. RELATED: Do visiting Republicans also think The Hop is a boondoggle? How to take the Hop streetcar: The Hop M-Line operates Monday through Friday from 5 a.m. to midnight, Saturday from 7 a.m. to midnight, and Sunday from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Streetcars arrive every 15 minutes during peak hours and every 20 minutes during off peak hours and on Sunday. The L-Line streetcar provides service to existing stations at Wisconsin Avenue northbound and southbound, City Hall northbound and southbound, Historic Third Ward eastbound, and stations Michigan at Jackson eastbound, Clybourn at Jefferson westbound, and the Lakefront inside the Couture transit plaza. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Passengers can ride the streetcar for free. Complete ridership data for The Hop is available online at https://thehopmke.com/ridership. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Ridership of Milwaukee's streetcar the Hop increases in 2024 over 2023 Mar. 31Happy Monday. Just a reminder: Comanche Road at Interstate 25 will be closed from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. through April 7 so crews can perform utility work. Traffic will be detoured via Candelaria and Montgomery. Drivers should expect delays, plan extra travel time and follow posted detour signs, according to I-25 Improved. 'RETHINK YOUR WHOLE LIFE': A Potamkin Hyundai study asked 3,000 people, "Which rush hour stretch makes you rethink your whole life?" Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Three New Mexico roads made the list. Interstate 40 from Rio Grande to Coors: "Each morning, eastbound I-40 clogs up approaching the river, and each evening the westbound side does the same leaving the city," the study states. "Stuck here, many residents think hard about their choices. By the time you reach Coors (Boulevard) and things loosen, you've possibly resolved to talk to your boss about 7 a.m. start times, or considered selling the house and renting Downtown." The Big I: "When traffic backs up on those flyover ramps, drivers get a rare New Mexico experience: honest-to-goodness gridlock," according to the study. "You might find yourself gazing at the Sandia Mountains in the distance, wishing you were up there instead of stuck here." New Mexico Highway 528: "People who moved to Rio Rancho for affordable homes find themselves in a daily philosophical debate on 528: cheaper house vs. longer drive was it worth it?" the study asked. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement TRAFFIC FATALITIES: There were 30 traffic fatalities across New Mexico in February, according to data from the University of New Mexico and NMDOT. There were 29 fatalities in January. The 30 fatalities marks about a 19% drop from February 2024, according to the data. Of the 30, nine (or 30%) happened in Bernalillo County. The second highest amount was five in McKinley County, according to UNM and NMDOT. DIPS: The northside of Irving by Eagle Ranch Road has dips so deep that drivers have to slow down so their vehicles don't get damaged, reader Lenny Lucero said. If the dips were resurfaced, traffic would move through the intersection more smoothly, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement REPAVING REQUEST: Reader Richard Feferman said the worst road conditions in the city are on the Interstate 25 on- and off-ramps at Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue. "When will these sections be repaved?" he asked. There is no project planned for this area, but it will be considered "if we have available funds," NMDOT spokesperson Kim Gallegos said. THE 'CHIEF' DIES: Thomas H. MacDonald, also known as the "Chief," died on April 7, 1957. MacDonald headed the U.S. Bureau of Public Roads from 1919 to 1953. "The country had scarcely a quarter million miles of public roads when Chief MacDonald took office and very little of that mileage was hard-surfaced. Few bridges were adequate to carry heavy truck traffic," according to the Federal Highway Administration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For 34 years, MacDonald directed national road policy, supervising the creation of 3.5 million highway miles, promoting road building for economic stability and national security. After World War II, he proposed a program for interstate highways, and his idea became the model for the interstate system, according to the National Highway Institute. "By the time he left office, he (had) ushered the nation to the brink of the Interstate era," the FHA states. Arctic Blast A rocket by German startup Isar Aerospace tore into the sky over Norway's Arctic Andoeya Spaceport, a European launch base for small satellites, over the weekend only to plummet back down to the ground, exploding in a dramatic fireball. Fortunately, while the spaceport's "crisis management" was triggered, nobody was hurt. As Reuters reports, the rocket, dubbed Spectrum, was meant to kick off Europe's efforts to keep up with steep international competition when it comes to launching satellites into orbit. The company says it's the first rocket designed for orbital flight that has ever been launched from continental Europe, excluding Russia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Elon Musk's SpaceX, in particular, has made major headwinds in establishing a massive constellation of Starlink satellites. "Europe urgently needs to ensure its sovereignty in space," said Marie-Christine von Hahn, managing director of Germany's BDLI aerospace industries association, in a statement, as quoted by Reuters. "Elon Musk's Starlink is not without alternatives nor should it be." https://twitter.com/spacecoastwest/status/1906297425062428674 Launch, Rinse, Repeat While the launch may have resulted in an epic fireball in glorious footage of a rocket exploding in front of gorgeous, snow-covered mountains Isar Aerospace claims it was an important step in the right direction. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "With this test flight, we were able to successfully gather valuable data and experience for future missions," the company tweeted. "Thanks to strict safety procedures from both Isar Aerospace and Andya Spaceport, all personnel remained safe at all times." "Isar Aerospace met its set goals: After ignition of its first stage, Spectrum successfully lifted off," the company wrote in a statement, "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." It's a particularly noteworthy development, given Europe's broader goals of reducing its dependence on the United States, particularly when it comes to security. "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," said Isar Aerospace CEO and cofounder Daniel Metzler in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Launch, learn, repeat," the company wrote, echoing SpaceX's iterative design methodology. More on Starlink: It Looks an Awful Lot Like Elon Musk Is Awarding a Huge Government Contract to Himself ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) The Rockford Fire Department responded to a call for an apartment complex fire Sunday afternoon that temporarily displaced residents in nine different units. Fire officials were dispatched to 3113 Meriday Lane around 12:56pm for reports of smoke emitting out of multiple sides of the building. Authorities said one resident was rescued from the third floor of the building but did not need medical attention. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A fire investigator determined the cause of the fire to be faulty electrical wiring. Nine of the eleven apartment units were occupied at the time of the fire and all tenants required temporary relocation. No injuries to residents, firefighters or pets were caused. The total damage costs were $100,000. 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 MyStateline | WTVO News, Weather and Sports. HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM) A Romanian national has been sentenced to two years in prison for conspiring to steal SNAP benefits in Central Pennsylvania. The United States Attorneys Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania said Stefan-Alin Doleanu, 29, of Romania, was sentenced to 24 months imprisonment for wire fraud conspiracy and aggravated identity theft. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Subscribe Now Livestream Alerts According to the U.S. Attorneys office, Doleanu and multiple others, including co-defendant Eliza Doleanu, conspired to use stolen SNAP EBT card information at Sams Club and BJs Wholesale Club stores in Camp Hill, Chambersburg, Mechanicsburg, and York between November 2022 and March 2023. Doleanu illegally purchased several thousand dollars in goods, the attorneys office said. He was ordered to pay $14,255.97 in restitution and spend two years in prison. Hershey unveils new freeze-dried treats Additionally, he will be removed from the United States after completing his sentence. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) called on Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts to rein those judges in who have issued orders blocking parts of President Trumps agenda. Youll notice the activist judges, that the radical leftists, that the super legislators on the courts are issuing national injunctions against what hes [President Trumps] trying to do, what we wanted him to do, what the people elected him to do, Johnson said, speaking to a crowd of constituents who gathered to hear tech billionaire at a town hall in Wisconsin on Sunday evening. We cant let that continue, Johnson said. Now, what should happen is, is John Roberts ought to rein those judges in. He ought to take care of his own branch of government. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Johnsons remarks come as some Republicans have taken steps to target judges making decisions that have slowed the Trump administrations efforts to advance his agenda. Several Republican lawmakers have filed impeachment resolutions against certain judges. Trump, too, has called to impeach at least one district judge, James Boasberg, who issued a nationwide injunction to block his administration from using the Alien Enemies Act to deport Venezuelan migrants. Impeachment is seen as a largely futile effort, given the near-zero chance that at least 14 Senate Democrats would join Republicans in convicting and removing any of the judges. Calls to impeach federal judges who have issued disappointing decisions have concerned legal experts, including Roberts, who issued a rare statement earlier this month warning against calling for impeachments. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For more than two centuries, it has been established that impeachment is not an appropriate response to disagreement concerning a judicial decision, he wrote in the statement. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. The Trump administration expelled another 17 immigrants alleged without evidence or due process to be members of Tren de Aragua and MS-13 gangs to El Salvador Sunday night, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced on X Monday. "These criminals will no longer terrorize our communities and citizens," Rubio said in the statement, adding that the group included "murderers and rapists." The move comes after a federal appeals court last week upheld a court order barring the Trump administration from expelling detained immigrants suspected of gang affiliation, but not convicted or charged with gang-affiliated criminal activity, to a maximum-security Salvadoran mega prison under the Alien Enemies Act. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Aaron Reichlin-Melnick, a senior fellow at the American Immigration Council, said in a post on BlueSky that if the Trump administration is "not violating the AEA court order," this action means "these people had final orders of removal." He added, however, that he "wouldn't trust any allegations of gang membership." Earlier this month, the Trump administration invoked the 1798 wartime authority to expel some 260 Venezuelan migrants to El Salvador's Terrorism Confinement Center, a notoriously opaque facility that prevents prisoners, largely suspected or convicted gang members, from having contact with the outside world. Family members and immigration attorneys of the deportees maintain that many if not all of the men were not gang-affiliated and were unfairly accused based on their tattoos. Human rights advocates previously told Salon that El Salvador's prison system is "no place for migrants" because of its sprawling list of alleged human rights violations, including instances of extreme overcrowding, torture and denial of access to adequate medical care. "It's likely that, given how widespread throughout the Salvador criminal justice system these violations are, the kinds of suffering that we have documented in our jails would be similar to the conditions faced at [the Terrorism Confinement Center]," said Juanita Goebertus, director of the Human Rights Watch Americas division. Russia is concentrating its main offensive efforts on the Pokrovsk sector in Donetsk Oblast but is "stalling" and failing to advance, Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi said on March 31. Pokrovsk, situated about 70 kilometers northwest of Donetsk, remains one of the most hotly contested areas of the front. Syrskyi previously claimed that 7,000 Russian soldiers were killed near the town in January alone. In February, the situation near Pokrovsk somewhat stabilized, with the Ukrainian military saying that Russian troops were "bogged down" near the city. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The commander-in-chief said Ukraine's main tasks are holding defensive lines and stabilizing threats, which have been partially achieved, particularly in the Pokrovsk direction. "At the same time, our troops use active defense tactics wherever possible. In some areas of the front line, they are advancing, improving the tactical situation, restoring dozens of positions, and restraining significant enemy forces," Syrskyi posted on Facebook. The estimated Russian advance in the Pokrovsk sector in Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine, as of March 31, 2025, according to DeepState map. A white symbol marks Pokrovsk. (DeepState / OpenStreetMaps) President Volodymyr Zelensky previously warned of renewed Russian offensives across the front, including in Kharkiv, Sumy, and Zaporizhzhia oblasts. In March, Russia made major advances in its Kursk Oblast, a territory that Ukrainian forces took in August that Zelensky's administration had hoped to use as leverage in negotiations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Capturing more Ukrainian territory would likely encourage Russian President Vladimir Putin to seek even harsher conditions in a potential peace deal that the U.S. seeks to mediate. Read also: A very bloody war What is the death toll of Russias war in Ukraine? Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Gazprom, Russias largest private oil giant, will significantly increase gas supplies to Slovakia through the Turkish Stream pipeline starting in April. This has been stated by Slovak importer SPP's CEO Vojtech Ferencz. Source: Reuters Details: Ferencz said that the supply volumes would increase several times compared to the level of the last two months, and not just double, as previously expected. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We will not have a problem with supply, we will not have a problem filing storage," SPP trade director Michal Lalik said. After transit through Ukraine ended at the end of 2024, Slovakia mainly received gas from Hungary, which supplies Russian fuel through the Turkish Stream. Bratislava and Budapest are pushing for the resumption of transit through Ukraine, and Slovakia has even threatened to veto EU aid to Kyiv if it does not reconsider its position. Background: As part of a working group set up at Slovakia's request to resolve gas supply problems after Russian gas transit through Ukraine was halted, the European Commission is looking for ways to diversify supplies, including exploring the possibilities of Azerbaijan in this context. European energy companies filed lawsuits against Gazprom for a total of 18 billion over the suspension of gas supplies. This is almost twice as much as the Russian monopolist has in cash reserves. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Russian soldiers tried to enter Ukraine's rear in Toretsk in Donetsk Oblast via underground communications as battles in the city continue, said Victor Tregubov, a spokesperson for Ukraine's Khortytsia group of forces, on March 31. Toretsk, which lies roughly 20 kilometers (12 miles) southwest of Russian-occupied Bakhmut, has seen fierce fighting in recent months, and Ukraine launched a counterattack in late February and early March. The city is largely occupied by Russian troops. Speaking on national television, Tregubov said that Russian troops are having difficulty moving through the streets of Toretsk, so they have resorted to underground communications to attempt to advance in the city. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Since this is also a priority sector, the Russians are trying to use every chance to bypass Ukrainian troops," the spokesperson said. In a similar instance, Russian troops allegedly used a gas pipeline to gain a foothold on the outskirts of Sudzha in Russia's Kursk Oblast earlier this month to conceal their movement. Last week, Ukraine's military also said that Russian forces have resumed their attacks in the Pokrovsk sector, which had experienced a relative lull in Russian activity until then. President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Russia is planning renewed offensives in various parts of the front line, including in the Kharkiv, Sumy, and Zaporizhzhia oblasts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. Russian attacks against Ukraine killed two civilians and injured 17 others over the past day, regional authorities said on March 31. Ukrainian forces downed 57 out of 131 Shahed-type drones and decoy drones launched by Russia overnight, the Air Force reported. Another 45 drones disappeared from radars, according to the statement. Drones that disappear from radars before reaching their targets are usually decoys. Russia launches them alongside strike drones to overwhelm Ukraine's air defense. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Moscow's forces also launched two Iskander-M ballistic missiles from Kursk Oblast overnight, the Air Force said, without elaborating on the consequences of the missile attacks. Russian forces dropped a guided aerial bomb on a five-story building in Kupiansk in Kharkiv Oblast, injuring two men and three women, Governor Oleh Syniehubov reported. Russia launched a mass drone strike against Kharkiv overnight, starting a fire at warehouses that covered an area of almost 4,000 square meters (43,000 square feet). Three civilians suffered shock as a result, Syniehubov said. Two people were killed in the city of Pokrovsk in Donetsk Oblast, Governor Vadym Filashkin said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One person was injured in a community in Sumy Oblast as a result of Russian attacks, local authorities reported. In Kherson Oblast, Russian forces targeted 33 settlements, including the regional center of Kherson. Eleven people were injured, Governor Oleksandr Prokudin reported. Read also: Ukraine war latest: Putin will have nothing to say at peace negotiations, Zelensky says Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. MOSCOW (AP) Russia's Supreme Court on Monday said it received a petition from the prosecutor general's office to lift a ban on Afghanistan's Taliban, who were outlawed two decades ago as a terrorist group. The court said in a statement it would hold a hearing on the petition, submitted by Prosecutor General Igor Krasnov, on April 17. Russia last year adopted a law stipulating that the official terrorist designation of an organization could be suspended by a court. The Taliban were put on Russias list of terrorist organizations in 2003. Any contact with such groups is punishable under Russian law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the same time, Taliban delegations have attended various forums hosted by Moscow. Russian officials have shrugged off questions about the seeming contradiction by emphasizing the need to engage the Taliban to help stabilize Afghanistan, which the group rules. The former Soviet Union fought a 10-year war in Afghanistan that ended with Moscow withdrawing its troops in 1989. Since then, Moscow has made a diplomatic comeback as a power broker, hosting talks on Afghanistan involving senior representatives of the Taliban and neighboring nations. There is a deepening divide in the international community on how to deal with the Taliban, who have been in power for three years and face no real opposition. Afghanistans rulers have pursued bilateral ties with major regional powers. In recent years, the Central Asian nations of Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan have removed the Taliban from their lists of terror groups. There are U.N. sanctions on the Taliban. Olga Bykovskaya, a Russian citizen who urged her husband, a Russian soldier, to rape Ukrainian women, has been convicted in absentia of violating the laws and customs of war and sentenced to five years in prison by the Shevchenkivskyi District Court of Kyiv. Source: Skhemy, a Radio Liberty project Details: The judgment, the text of which has been seen by Skhemy, was handed down by the court on 24 March 2025. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In April 2022, the Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) released audio of an intercepted conversation between a Russian soldier and his wife. The woman gave her husband permission to rape Ukrainian women as long as he "uses protection". Journalists from the Ukrainian and Russian services of Radio Liberty identified the couple as Olga and Roman Bykovsky, who live in Feodosia, occupied Crimea. The Russian woman was served with a notice of suspicion of violating the laws and customs of war and put on the international wanted list. Ukrainian law enforcement officers completed the investigation and filed an indictment against Olga Bykovskaya (nee Pinyasova) with the court in December 2022. The court has now sentenced her to five years' imprisonment starting from the date of her arrest. Bykovskaya is currently on the international wanted list. She is also required to compensate the Ukrainian state for more than UAH 15,000 (approx. US$362) in legal costs, including a forensic linguistic, semantic and textual examination and an examination of the sound recording of the Bykovskys' voices. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The court also considered the video version of the Skhemy investigation and the conversations between the journalists and the Bykovskys which formed the basis of the criminal proceedings. The verdict will become effective upon the expiry of the time limit for filing an appeal. The investigation was conducted by the SSUs Main Investigation Department under the supervision of the Prosecutor General's Office. Paratrooper Roman Bykovsky took part in Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. He and his wife are from Russias Oryol Oblast. In a conversation with Radio Liberty journalists, Bykovsky claimed that the voice in the SSU recording was not his. However, his voice is the same as the one in the law enforcement officers recordings. Olga Bykovskaya's voice is also a perfect match for the voice in the audio recording publicised by the SSU. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Olga told the journalists that her husband was in Sevastopol receiving hospital treatment after being wounded. She said she did not know exactly where he was. After that, Bykovskaya cut the conversation short and declined subsequent calls. Neither Roman Bykovsky nor his wife responded to messages on social media. After the conversation, Olga deleted her account on Vkontakte, a popular Russian social media site. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Since President Vladimir Putin launched his full-scale invasion of Ukraine three years ago, more than 100,000 Russians have crossed the border with Georgia. While their country devolved into autocracy and spurned the West, their small southern neighbor seemed to be moving in the opposite directiontoward democracy and membership in the European Union. Soon, however, the authoritarianism theyd tried to escape began spilling over the border. The Kremlin appeared to exert greater influence over Georgias leaders, and Russian refugees saw their adoptive home come to resemble their native one. Repressive laws that Georgia adopts are copied from the Kremlins, Stanislav Dmitriyevsky, a human-rights activist who has served multiple prison sentences in Russia, told me, and Moscows brand of oppression is catching up with Russian exiles. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2006, Dmitriyevsky became the first activist that the Russian regime convicted under its so-called counter-extremism laws. But he didnt decide to try to leave until the fall of 2022, when he found out that Russias Federal Security Service was investigating him for opposing the war in Ukraine. Dmitriyevsky applied for asylum in Georgia, where he lived for two years awaiting a ruling. On New Years Eve, Georgian authorities denied his petition, explaining in a letter that no facts of international or internal conflict or significant violations of human rights were recorded. He was dumbfounded. They must be blind, Dmitriyevsky told me. He plans to appeal. [Read: Democracy in Eastern Europe faces another crisis] Dmitriyevsky is one of a growing number of asylum seekers whom Georgia has rejected. In the first days of the war, the country mostly welcomed Russian refugees, but then it started closing itself off. Authorities interrogated border crossers, arrested some, and deported others to nearby Armenia. Russians who applied for permanent residency confronted increasing rates of rejection. And some of the Russians who made it across the border havent been able to stay, including those who face prison time back home. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Georgias evolving stance toward refugees mirrors the countrys recent turn away from the West. In December 2023, the European Council granted EU-candidate status to Georgiaa goal that the countrys leaders had long pursued. But late last year the ruling party, Georgian Dream, abruptly suspended accession talks. That decision came after several indications that repression in Georgia was deepening. Earlier in 2024, the countrys Parliament had enacted a law requiring media companies and NGOs to register as foreign agents if more than 20 percent of their funding came from a foreign power, which was generally understood to mean any Western country. And in September, lawmakers passed legislation curtailing LGBTQ rights. Some Georgians followed the Russians example and went into exile themselves. Georgia was once a refuge for the Russian opposition. In the first year of the war, thousands of activists crossed the border. Some founded NGOs, such as Volunteers Tbilisi, which organized aid for Ukrainian refugeesthe kind of venture that would lead to a prison sentence in Russia. Georgia welcomed them initially but has since cooled to Putins opponents. In December, authorities blocked the Russian founder of Volunteers Tbilisi from returning to her home in Georgia. Even Russian visitors are having a hard time getting into Georgia. Several members of the protest group Pussy Riot tried to see their family members over the holidays, but Georgia denied them entry. The countrys border control also rebuffed Andrey Kurayev, a dissident priest whom the Kremlin has designated as a foreign agent, even though he was reportedly invited by a Georgian university. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Georgias realignment toward Moscow has been especially painful for Ivan Pavlov. A Russian lawyer, Pavlov moved his family to Georgia in September 2021, after the Federal Security Service opened a criminal case against him, seemingly because his firm had defended critics of Putin. Even though hes Russian, Pavlovs move to Georgia was a kind of homecoming: His mother was born in Tbilisi, where he spent time as a child. But in February 2023, he was forced out. First Georgia banned entry to seven of my colleagues, and eventually canceled my residency permit on an order from counterintelligence, Pavlov told me. I was called a threat to national security. [Read: A wider war has already started in Europe] I dont think authorities ban Russian exiles out of their love for Putin. They do it out of fear, Pavlov said. He appealed to Georgias supreme court, which denied his petition to stay; his case is now pending before the European Court of Human Rights. Georgian authorities may be shirking their duties under international law, some advocates say. They have obligations to give people in need the opportunity to apply for asylum, Rachel Denber, a deputy director at Human Rights Watch, told me. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anna Rivina, a Russian womens-rights activist, was rejected by Georgia, too. In February 2023, authorities kicked her out of the country after she had been there for eight months and registered her NGO, which provides support for women fleeing the war in Ukraine. The reason is still classified, even after I have appealed to the supreme court, Rivina told me. I was told that my case fell under a law about terrorist activities. I am a threat to the nation in their view. She was able to resettle in Western Europe, an option that many Russians dont have. The journalists Marfa Smirnova and Vladimir Romenskyi were able to get into Georgia, unlike Rivina, but given how quickly the countrys political situation has changed, the couple are not sure theyll be able to stay. In Russia, they had reported on the countrys opposition movement for an independent television station. Now Smirnova regularly receives threats from anonymous users on Telegram. In 2023, somebody sent her photographs of her two children, who were visiting their grandparents in Russia during a school break. When we travel in order to do reporting, she told me, we never know if we can get back home. Protesters and police clash on the streets of Tbilisi every night, a reminder to Dmitriyevsky, the human-rights activist, of the repressive politics he escaped in Russia. On a recent Sunday evening, he watched as law-enforcement officers beat demonstrators until they fell to the ground. He told me he felt a powerful sense of deja vu as riot police dragged dozens of them awaya scene hed witnessed in Russia many times. When Dmitriyevsky first arrived in Georgia, he welcomed recent anti-corruption reforms in law enforcement. Now he avoids the police whenever he can. Hes worried that theyll target him, as they have other opposition activists. Last month, Georgia detained two Russian opposition activists, who allege that police planted drugs on them. I dont want to run away from Georgia, Dmitriyevsky said. If we run from every authoritarian regime, wed have to move to the moon soon. Article originally published at The Atlantic With much fanfare, the U.S. on March 25 announced it had brokered an agreement between Russia and Ukraine to "eliminate the use of force" in the Black Sea after two days of talks in Saudi Arabia. But while Kyiv said it was ready to abide by it straight away, Moscow stalled, insisting the U.S. lift some of the sanctions imposed on it since the start of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The Kremlin has innocuously framed its request as a badly-needed boost to its global food and fertilizer trade, largely in the hands of several Russian agro-oligarchs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But experts and officials who spoke to the Kyiv independent said lifting sanctions could in fact help line the pockets of both Russian oligarchs and Moscow's war machine, as well as putting pressure on what has so far remained a largely unified Western sanctions response to Russian aggression. "Any easing of sanctions directly benefits the system fueling Russias war," a Ukrainian official who works on sanctions told the Kyiv Independent under the condition of anonymity because he wasnt authorized to comment on the issue. "Its impossible to separate Russian oligarchs from their chemical assets especially fertilizer plants which are deeply intertwined with the Russian military-industrial complex," they added. Which sanctions does Russia want lifted? When announcing the ceasefire deal, the U.S. said it would "help restore Russias access to the world market for agricultural and fertilizer exports," but did not provide further details of how this could happen, or if it would involve the lifting of sanctions. Russia's main demand is to lift sanctions on some financial institutions including the state-owned agricultural bank Rosselkhozbank. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In addition, it wants other banks related to agriculture to be reconnected to the Brussels-headquartered SWIFT global banking payment system. Russian banks were disconnected from SWIFT after the start of Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Despite the Kremlin insisting Russia's global agribusiness needs the boost from eased sanctions, it is in fact already on the up. "An integral part of the Black Sea initiative is the lifting of sanctions on our banking institutions involved in settlements related to agricultural goods," Kremlin spokesperson Dmitriy Peskov told reporters on March 28, Russian state news agency TASS reported. "If European countries refuse to take this step, it means they are not interested in following the path of peace," he added. Russian President Vladimir Putin grimaces during the Expanded Board of the Ministry in Moscow, Russia, on March 5, 2025. (Contributor / Getty Images) What is the state of Russia's global agribusiness? Russia is one of the top agricultural exporters globally and its food and fertilizer companies were not sanctioned to ensure global food security. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite the Kremlin insisting Russia's global agribusiness needs the boost from eased sanctions, it is in fact already on the up. Sanctions have made it harder for the sector to secure insurance for shipping and access to finance and machinery, but this has not majorly impacted their trade. Russian agricultural exports increased by 8% in 2023 compared to 2022, and by nearly 10% in 2024. Fertilizer exports dropped by 27% in 2023 compared to 2022 but increased by 15% compared to 2021. In the last year, Russian fertilizer has become even more competitive, thanks largely to cheap gas, Lilit Gevorgyan, Associate Director, Economics at S&P Global Market Intelligence, told the Kyiv Independent. Despite a 30% tariff on Russian fertilizer imports in the EU, they have become increasingly common in the bloc, making up 25% of the market, according to S&P Global Market Intelligence. Read also: As Ukraine, Russia agree to ceasefire at sea, Moscows battered Black Sea Fleet is set to get a reprieve Why is Russia focused on these sanctions? Moscows demands are likely less about boosting its agriculture sector and more about overcoming wider financial sanctions, several experts told the Kyiv Independent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Currently, due to being disconnected from SWIFT, Moscow is reliant on the Chinese banking system, although problems emerged last year when Chinese banks began curbing Russian transactions over fears of losing access to the U.S. dollar. Regaining access to the Western financial system would be a major boon for Moscow as all of its major state-owned banks are sanctioned, so they cannot be used for trade or capital operations. The Kremlin likely picked Rosselkhozbank because of its agricultural lending, which fits its narrative around the deal being important for its agricultural sector. However, the state-owned bank is not limited to agribusinesses. If the sanctions against it are lifted, it could lend to anyone while also being used to circumvent other sanctions, launder money, and receive oil export revenues. Russia "needs to have a large state-owned or state-controlled bank outside of the sanctions perimeter," said Alexander Kolyandr, a non-resident Senior Fellow with the Democratic Resilience Program at the Center for European Policy Analysis (CEPA). That will generally help Russia to reduce risks and prices of imports, facilitate export, and make capital movements easier, he added. Additionally, while food and fertilizer companies have not been sanctioned, its agro-oligarch owners, such as billionaire fertilizer tycoon Andriy Melnichenko, one of the most important businessmen in Russia with close connections to the Kremlin, have been. If sanctions on Rosselkhozbank are lifted, they would be able to use the bank to move money, get loans, and make potential investments, funneling money into the pockets of businessmen that have fuelled the Kremlin's war machine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fertilizer companies in particular have sold chemicals to Russias military industrial complex, such as Melnichenkos company Eurochem, Reuters has previously reported. Russia also wants to get rid of restrictions on European ports that have prevented its vessels from docking, and wants sanctions lifted on ships flying the Russian flag. This would boost Russias exports and allow its ships to seek maintenance at EU ports. Moscows final demand is to allow the import of agricultural machinery, like tractors, which have been banned by the U.S. and the EU. Western machinery could improve productivity and revenue for Russian agribusinesses, meaning more money for their oligarch owners. Ships, including those carrying grain from Ukraine and awaiting inspections, are seen anchored off the Istanbul coastline in Istanbul, Turkey, on Nov. 2, 2022. (Chris McGrath / Getty Images) French Navy personnel operate an ATL2 Atlantique 2 airplane over the Black Sea during the Sea Shield 2023 military exercise off Constanta, Romania, on March 30, 2023. (Daniel Mihailescu / AFP via Getty Images) What is the current US position? U.S. President Donald Trump sees sanctions as a negotiation tool and threatened Russia with secondary oil sanctions on March 30 for heel-dragging during the peace process. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite this, the White House has already said it is mulling over lifting sanctions as part of the Black Sea deal, and noted that some of the sanctions Russia wants lifted belong to the EU, not the U.S. Ukraines Foreign Ministry spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi said on March 27 that so far, Ukraine and the U.S. haven't agreed to lift any sanctions on Russia. What happens if the US agrees to lift these sanctions? If the U.S. does heed Moscows demands, Russia will have access to hard currency and a more productive agricultural sector, Gevorgyan said. "The loosening of sanctions will have the very real effect of immediately helping to feed the defense industrial machine within Russia." In turn, this would benefit the oligarchs that have profited off the war, from stealing Ukrainian grain in occupied territories, to selling chemical products to Russias military sector. "The loosening of sanctions will have the very real effect of immediately helping to feed the defense industrial machine within Russia," Steven Horrel, non-resident Senior Fellow with the Transatlantic Defense and Security Program at CEPA, told the Kyiv Independent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Horrell adds there is also concern that even the lifting of limited and specific sanctions could undermine the entire sanctions regime imposed by Western nations in their support for Ukraine and fight against Russian aggression. Giving in to Putin now would be a "fools errand" and a "show of weakness" from the U.S., he said, adding it would also destigmatize Russian companies that have stolen from Ukraine and "reward an aggressor for invading its neighbor." U.S. President Donald Trump in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S. on March 28, 2025. (Saul Loeb / AFP via Getty Images) Even if the White House eases restrictions, European countries are likely to continue sticking to their guns. "This may be intended to drive a further wedge between the U.S. and Europe", Taisa Markus, adjunct professor at the University of Illinois College of Law, and visiting professor at Kyiv Mohyla Faculty of Law, told the Kyiv Independent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Even if the U.S. lifts financial sanctions, so long as EU, U.K. and other sanctions remain in place, Moscow is unlikely to gain meaningful access to the global financial markets, and major American financial institutions are likely to remain hesitant to do business with Russia," she added. Read also: Unless you act, its just rhetoric Baltic states skeptical of Western European leadership Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has filed a petition with the Supreme Court requesting the suspension of the ban on dealings with the Taliban, pro-government media outlet Interfax reported on March 31. The Supreme Court is set to review the request on April 17 in a closed session. The Taliban remains on Russia's federal list of terrorist organizations since 2003. The Taliban, an Islamist militant group, seized control of Afghanistan in August 2021 following the withdrawal of U.S. and NATO forces, toppling the Western-backed government. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite its control over the country, the Taliban-led administration has not been formally recognized by any state, including Russia, due to its failure to meet international commitments on human rights, governance, and counter-terrorism. Russia's State Duma passed legislation in December 2024 allowing the possibility of removing organizations from the list of banned terrorist groups. In May 2024, the Foreign Ministry and Justice Ministry submitted a report to Russian President Vladimir Putin advocating for the Taliban's removal from the list. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova defended the move as a pragmatic decision, while Putin signaled support for the measure, saying that Russia was moving in that direction but hoped the United Nations would take the lead. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite maintaining the terrorist designation, Moscow has expanded engagement with the Taliban, deepening trade ties and investing in Afghan infrastructure. The Taliban regularly participates in Russian economic and educational forums. Putin has referred to the Taliban as "allies," while Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has called them "sane people." The Taliban, however, continues to enforce strict Islamic law, banning women from education, restricting social interactions, and carrying out the public stoning of women to death. Read also: Kremlin says it remains open to US talks despite Trumps reported anger at Putin Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. OZONA, Texas (Concho Valley Homepage) Crockett County Fire and EMS battled a blaze that ignited an RV in Ozona over the weekend. According to a social media post from Crockett County Fire and EMS, personnel were dispatched at around 6:26 p.m. on Saturday for a fire on Rio Grande Street. Upon arrival, firefighters found an RV in front of a home, engulfed in flames. Crockett County reported no injuries or damage to the adjacent property and thanked the Crockett County Sheriffs Office for their assistance and support. Crockett County Fire and EMS on the scene of an RV fire in Ozona on March 30, 2025. This photograph is courtesy of Crockett County Fire and EMS Crockett County Fire and EMS on the scene of an RV fire in Ozona on March 30, 2025. This photograph is courtesy of Crockett County Fire and EMS Crockett County Fire and EMS on the scene of an RV fire in Ozona on March 30, 2025. This photograph is courtesy of Crockett County Fire and EMS Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Performers union SAG-AFTRA and advertisers have extended their current labor deals as negotiations continue for successor agreements. The union and the Joint Policy Committee which bargains on behalf of advertisers and advertising agencies announced that they were prolonging their current three-year contracts until the end of the day on Friday. The contracts were initially set to end at the end of Monday, with the change allowing union performers to continue working under the old contracts as negotiations carry on. More from The Hollywood Reporter Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Both sides have been tight-lipped about their objectives with these talks. SAG-AFTRA conducted its usual survey process with members, which it calls its wages and working conditions meetings, in the fall of 2024 to help inform the unions priorities. Likewise, the Joint Policy Committee surveyed members during that same time period on areas of the contracts that were working and others that had proved to be stumbling blocks. Industry firms and the labor group last negotiated in 2022, a year before SAG-AFTRA helped shut down the scripted film and television industry with its months-long strike, which hinged partially on concerns about AI. The parties addressed the burgeoning technology in part by agreeing to an audio commercials waiver in June of 2024 that dictated consent and compensation for ads that use AI to personalize their message for listeners. Two months later SAG-AFTRA announced a deal with the AI ads marketplace Narrativ that offered a means for members to license their digital voice likenesses for commercials. Negotiations for the latest commercials contracts began on Feb. 20. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Duncan Crabtree-Ireland is leading the discussions for SAG-AFTRA, while DLA Piper partner Stacy Marcus is heading up negotiations for the employers. Best of The Hollywood Reporter Sign up for THR's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Tajik President Emomali Rahmon (C), Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov (L) and Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev hold a trilateral meeting in Khujand, Tajikistan, March 31, 2025. The presidents of Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan signed a treaty on the junction point of their national borders in Khujand, Tajikistan's second-largest city, on Monday. (Photo by Zafar Khalilov/Xinhua) DUSHANBE, March 31 (Xinhua) -- The presidents of Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan signed a treaty on the junction point of their national borders in Khujand, Tajikistan's second-largest city, on Monday. According to the Tajik presidential press service, Tajik President Emomali Rahmon, Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov and Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev held a trilateral meeting in Khujand to formalize the agreement. Rahmon called the treaty's signing "a highly symbolic" event, highlighting its significance for the three countries. He said that Tajikistan deeply values its relations with Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, which are founded on the principles of good neighborliness, equality, mutual respect and the consideration of each other's interests. The comprehensive development of relations among the three countries is one of the priorities in Tajikistan's foreign policy, according to a statement from the Tajik presidential office. The leaders discussed key issues related to regional cooperation, underscoring the need to strengthen neighborly relations, advance joint infrastructure and economic projects, and expand the region's tourism potential, according to a statement from the Kyrgyz presidential office. Japarov said that regional integration is progressing well and that enhancing cooperation across various sectors will be critical to achieving sustainable development and prosperity in Central Asia. Mirziyoyev extended his congratulations to Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan for successfully resolving border-related issues and signing the delimitation treaty. He said the agreement would foster regional stability, promote sustainable development, and raise the international standing of the entire region. In addition to the trilateral discussions, Rahmon and Mirziyoyev held a one-on-one meeting, during which they signed a protocol to exchange instruments of ratification for the treaty on allied relations between Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. The meeting, conducted in an atmosphere of friendship and brotherhood, concluded with the exchange of these historic documents, officially bringing the treaty into force. The treaty was initially signed during a high-level bilateral summit in Dushanbe on April 18, 2023. Meanwhile, Rahmon and Japarov also signed a protocol to exchange the ratification instruments for the border treaty between Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. The two leaders engaged in comprehensive discussions on cooperation in trade, economy, energy, culture and humanitarian affairs, culminating in the signing of the protocol, which finalized the agreement. The border between Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan stretches approximately 970 km, and delimitation talks began in 2002. Since the autumn of 2022, the two countries have conducted intensive negotiations, successfully finalizing the border's delineation in December 2024. Tajik President Emomali Rahmon (C), Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov (L) and Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev sign a treaty on the junction point of their national borders in Khujand, Tajikistan, March 31, 2025. (Photo by Zafar Khalilov/Xinhua) Tajik President Emomali Rahmon (R) shakes hands with Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev in Khujand, Tajikistan, March 31, 2025. Rahmon and Mirziyoyev held a one-on-one meeting, during which they signed a protocol to exchange instruments of ratification for the treaty on allied relations between Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. (Photo by Zafar Khalilov/Xinhua) Tajik President Emomali Rahmon (R) shakes hands with Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov in Khujand, Tajikistan, March 31, 2025. Rahmon and Japarov signed a protocol to exchange the ratification instruments for the border treaty between Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. (Photo by Zafar Khalilov/Xinhua) The Rolling Fork River in New Haven, Feb. 17, 2025. ( Kentucky Lantern photo by Austin Anthony) Gov. Andy Beshear signed a bill into law that sets up a new state aid fund for Kentucky communities affected by recent floods, though he has said the bill isnt enough. House Bill 544, which received final passage in the General Assembly Friday with bipartisan support, establishes a new SAFE fund, or State Aid for Emergencies, to respond to widespread mid-February floods. The bill does not appropriate new dollars to respond to the floods. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kentucky previously started SAFE funds after floods in Eastern Kentucky and tornadoes in Western Kentucky. Beshear said in a video shared on social media Sunday that he was grateful the legislature passed a new SAFE fund on the final day of the 2025 legislative session. The governor said the legislation is going to help communities, cities and counties affected by the floods, which took 24 lives. After all or any of these natural disasters, the families that are impacted deserve our very best, Beshear said. They deserve that promise that were going to rebuild every structure and every life. Under the legislation, $48 million will be transferred from the previous SAFE funds to the new one created by the bill. With a Senate addition, the bill also allows $100 million to be spent on flood aid from the current state budget on governor-declared emergencies, instead of the $50 million limit per fiscal year set by the legislature last year. Beshear said in February that the $50 million cap for the current fiscal year already had been reached. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When asked about the legislation before the veto period began in March, Beshear told reporters that the bill was a little bit better from where it originally was as it would allow funds allocated for next fiscal year to be used now. However, he said, that could be a problem for future natural disasters in Kentucky if funding is still limited. Beshear said that while the bill isnt nearly enough, Ill sign it. In a Monday statement, Sen. Chris McDaniel, R-Ryland Heights, praised his fellow senators for taking strong bill and made it even stronger, doubling the immediate resources available for flood recovery and future disasters. McDaniel is the chair of the Senates Appropriations and Revenue Committee and said the changes to the House bill ensures relief gets to where its needed while maintaining accountability. With this bill, were making sure communities in crisis get the help they needfaster and with greater certainty, McDaniel said. In other flood-related legislation that was filed this session, Beshear allowed a bill to become law without his signature that gives Kentucky public school districts options to make up or waive days lost to bad winter weather and floods. The Senate added protections for a controversial online school from enrollment caps imposed by state education officials. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Additionally, the Senate passed a resolution that would have created a task force that would review how the state could become better prepared for natural disasters. However, the legislation did not move in the House. This story was updated with additional comments Monday afternoon. COLUMBIA, S.C. (WSPA) A bill in the state house is looking to give low-income students free school breakfast and lunches. Currently in South Carolina, students living in poverty can access free or reduced meals at school. A bill could make this provision a permanent state law. Its kind of a problem thats sort of already been solved, Sen. Greg Hembree (R Horry). Its really a question of its in proviso we can keep it right there and let it ride, but quite honestly I just dont like that practice. I think thats not a good way to legislate, and I think weve already got system that is working really well. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bipartisan bill said students who qualify for the National School Lunch Program can get free meals. Some criteria needed to qualify as a student in poverty include being eligible for Medicaid benefits, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) benefits or being homeless, in foster care or transient. Sen. Hembree said many parents were not even aware that their child qualified for the program. You had all these children that for whatever reason they qualify, but their parents didnt apply for free lunch, Sen. Humbree continued. They just didnt get on the list for whatever reason, and it literally doubled the number of districts and schools that were eligible. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement School districts can participate in the Community Eligibility Provision known as CEP. If more than 40% of students in a school district qualify, then the entire district could receive free school lunch. The school lunch provision has been in the state budget for the last two years. Now theyve seen that it can work, that it has not caused disruptions to district operations or caused an unfunded mandate on districts, explained Patrick Kelly with the Palmetto State Teachers Association. An amendment made last week said if the CEP is discontinued by federal action, then the requirement to participate in the program is suspended. If the federal program went away, the state doesnt have the funding to backstop what the federal government is currently spending money on, Kelly said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kelly said this is a commonsense amendment and will hopefully not impact the program, but it makes sense that lawmakers would be cautious. This program is funded by the Federal Department of Agriculture and does not use any state dollars. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. CONNECTICUT (WTNH) On International Transgender Day of Visibility, members and allies of the transgender community in Connecticut gathered at the Legislative Office Building to advocate for stronger protections. They tell News 8 it comes as the Trump Administration has taken harmful actions against trans individuals. Transgender teens fight back against Trumps ban on participation in girls sports Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Among those measures, President Trump has been trying to ban folks from the military. Its a move that has been blocked twice by federal judges. The President also signed an executive order in February to ban men from womens sports. Its scary, June Carpenter, a transgender teen, said. Its put a lot of what trans people have relied on to stay happy and achieve the bodies they want, achieve the lives they want, into jeopardy. Trans residents and allies in Connecticut are pushing for a number of state bills that would strengthen their rights and protections in various sectors, including healthcare and education. Were really seeing an alarming trend of harassment and isolation and stigma in these long-term care facilities and this bill will reinforce what those discrimination laws mean in those facilities, Matt Blinstrubas with Equality Connecticut said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advocates, like Carpenters mother, Melissa Comes, say they also want to prevent bans on LGBTQ+ books in libraries. Theres two library bills that are very important, Comes said. One is addressing book challenges, the other is addressing e-book licensing. While folks are pushing for more protections in various sectors, they say the most important legislation they want to see passed is a constitutional amendment, which would enshrine LGBTQ+ rights into the state constitution. We dont just deserve visibility, we deserve legibility, trans ally Leah Juliett said. We deserve to be understood, heard, seen in public and feel safe. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement News 8 reached out to state Republicans and Democrats for comment, but did not hear back. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTNH.com. BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) Severe weather is passing through the Baton Rouge area on Monday, March 31. Some school systems in the area are delaying their opening times or closing due to this weather. Check below for a list of schools and offices that have announced delays or closings on Monday. K-12 schools in, near Baton Rouge closures Ascension Parish School District: Flexibility is being offered to those who are late to school in the parish on Monday morning. A statement from the school system can be found below. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Due to the inclement weather this morning, Ascension Public Schools is offering flexibility with tardy times today. East Baton Rouge Public School System: Superintendent LaMont Cole released this statement about tardies and absences due to the severe weather. Due to the severe weather conditions we are currently experiencing, we want to prioritize your safety above all else. As a result, tardies and absences will be excused until 9:30 AM. We encourage everyone to use their best judgment when traveling to school and to put safety first. Please take the necessary precautions and stay safe. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation during this time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thank you for your attention, and we look forward to seeing everyone when its safe to do so. East Feliciana Parish School District Schools in East Feliciana Parish are closed due to the severe weather that is passing through our area. A statement from the school system can be found below. Due to untimely and dangerous weather and road conditions, East Feliciana Public Schools will be closed today (Monday, March 31). Students already on the bus will be safely transported to their school and can be picked up after the weather passes. We thank you for your patience, as your childs safety is our number one priority. Livingston Parish Public Schools: The school system said any student who gets to school late on Monday will be excused. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Due to the severe weather affecting our area this morning, we want to remind everyone to prioritize safety when traveling to school and work. Any student who arrives late due to the weather will be excused. Parents, please use your best judgment when deciding if and when to travel. The safety of your family and our students remains our highest priority. Thank you for your cooperation and stay safe. Pointe Coupee Parish School District: The school system is allowing for tardies and absences on Monday due to the severe weather. They said, all tardies and absences will be excused today due to severe weather in our area. Please stay safe. St. Helena Parish School District: A decision has been made about how school will be handled on Monday in the parish. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Severe weather conditions are moving at a rapid pace and we are aware of the many power outages around the parish. The school day will not be counted against any learner if their parent(s)/guardian decide to keep them home today. ELC learners who arrived at school this morning are currently in the gym. They will be transported to SHATA if power isnt restored. Electricity is working at SHCCA. West Baton Rouge Parish School District: The school system released this statement on Monday. West Baton Rouge Schools Superintendent Chandler Smith has announced that all WBR schools will excuse students who are late arriving at school today due to the weather conditions. School is in session as usual. West Feliciana Parish School District A remote learning day was planned for today. The school system is providing a one hour delay for employees. They may now arrive at 9 a.m. on Monday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Louisiana First News will update this list as new information becomes available. Zachary Community School District School is canceled today in Zachary. The school system said, due to dangerous weather and road conditions, all schools will be closed today. If your student was already on a bus they can be picked up at their school when the weather passes. Thank you and please stay safe. You can get the latest weather updates by downloading the BRProud weather app. The app is available in the App Store and on Google Play. Baton Rouge Weather 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. This story originally published April 3, 2023. Spring is here and Hoosiers are preparing to plant all sorts of things: flowers, shrubs and trees. Of those DIY yard projects, trees are the most difficult. If youve noticed trees that arent thriving, it may go back to how they were planted. We covered problems with mulching last year and now we are further digging into how to care for your trees. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For this edition of the Scrub Hub, we answer the question: Am I planting my trees the wrong way? To answer this question, we spoke with a tree steward as well as someone from Purdue. Ethan Olson, director of native landscapes for Keep Indianapolis Beautiful, teaches volunteers how to plant trees Thursday, March 18, 2021, at Andrew Ramsey Park in Indianapolis. The group of volunteers and employees planted 68 trees across two parks near Butler University, symbolizing the 68 teams that will compete in the NCAA March Madness basketball tournament. Short Answer: How am I planting my trees wrong? Planting trees seems like it should be pretty simple: Dig a hole and put the tree in it. But theres actually a lot more to it. Elizabeth Jarvis, a certified tree steward, said she sees two major issues: planting trees still in their wrappings from the nursery, and planting the wrong depth. The wrappings, especially if wire, nylon or a plastic container, can inhibit root growth and spread. The twine or plastic fibers can also embed in the roots, causing damage. While burlap is believed to be more natural and will decompose, Jarvis said it often is sprayed with materials that makes it harder to break down. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Scrub Hub: Hoosiers may not be able to plant the same trees they used to The depth of the hole is another key factor. Many people either dig the hole too deep or not deep enough but, like Goldilocks, it needs to be just right. Roots normally grow within a foot of the surface, so too deep and its difficult for the roots to get the oxygen they need. Too shallow and they struggle to anchor themselves into the ground and are too exposed, which makes the roots vulnerable. Long answer: What are the correct steps to plant a tree? When trees are not planted properly, it sets them up for failure, Jarvis said. It might take several years for a tree to start having problems often after the nursery warranty has expired but an incorrectly planted tree will make it more difficult for a tree to survive and thrive. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So what is the correct way to plant a tree to give it the best chance of living a long and healthy life? Follow these steps, according to Kyle Daniel, who works in the Nursery and Landscape program at Purdue University. First, remove any and all wrappings or container around the root ball. Then remove dirt from the top of the ball until you could see the root flare or where the trunk starts to widen into the roots (think ankle into the top of the foot). This graphic shows some of the different factors to keep in mind when planting a tree, including the depth and width of the hole and removing the wrappings on the root ball and pruning the roots that are circling the ball. Then, Daniel recommends shaving off the root ball on all sides and the bottom by about an inch. And remember to shake off some of the dirt and stretch out any roots that are circling around the ball. Over time, the roots will circle and eventually girdle the tree, resulting in death, he said. For the long-term health of the tree, removing those roots is very important. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When digging the hole, it should be deep enough so the root flare is flush with the surrounding ground. Dont go deeper where the flare is covered, and dont go less where part of the root ball is sitting above the ground. The hole should also be at least twice as wide as the root ball. Daniel said its important to backfill the hole with the same soil that was removed, and not to use other materials such as sand or peat which wont drain water properly. Scrub Hub: What is a spotted lanternfly? And how can you help stop the invasive insect? Once planted, Daniel said to stake only if totally necessary, to water when needed and to mulch the correct way. We looked at the topic of volcano mulching in a previous Scrub Hub. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And most importantly, Jarvis said to consult with an arborist or make sure to talk with your landscapers before they plant trees in your yard. There are good resources on how to plant a tree at treesaregood.org, a site managed by the International Society of Arboriculture. If you have more questions about trees, planting or any other topics, let us know! You can ask us by submitting a question through our Google form below. Cant see the form? Click here. Join The Scrub on Facebook. IndyStar's environmental reporting project is made possible through the generous support of the nonprofit Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust. This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Homeowners might be planting their trees the wrong way. What to know. MAXTON, N.C. (WBTW) A second person has died after a house fire in Maxton last week that also killed a child, the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation said. Peggy Priest, the familys grandmother, died over the weekend, the SBI said. The fire happened at about 7:25 p.m. Thursday in the 100 block of Marada Road. Crews found heavy smoke and flames coming from the home when they arrived. After the fire was extinguished, a childs remains were found inside the residence, according to the SBI. The remains were sent to the North Carolina Medical Examiners Office for an autopsy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the time of the fire, three other people were inside the home, with Priest receiving treatment before her death. The SBI is investigating the fire, and its cause has not been determined. Count on News13 for updates. * * * Caleb is a digital producer at News13. Caleb joined the team in January 2023 after graduating from Liberty University. He is from Northern Virginia. Follow Caleb on X, formerly Twitter, and read more of his work here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBTW. A group of Senate Democrats on Monday sent a letter to the Department of Homeland Security demanding the release of a Harvard Medical School researcher who was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) amid the Trump administrations crackdown. We write with great concern about recent reports that Kseniia Petrova, a Russian citizen and Harvard Medical School researcher, had her J-1 scholar visa revoked over a month ago, said the letter, from Sen. Adam Schiff (Calif.) and 15 other Democrats to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. Petrova was detained on her way back from France over failure to disclose frog embryos she was bringing into the country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A subsequent K9 inspection uncovered undeclared petri dishes, containers of unknown substances, and loose vials of embryonic frog cells, all without proper permits, a DHS spokesperson said in the statement. Messages found on her phone revealed she planned to smuggle the materials through customs without declaring them. She knowingly broke the law and took deliberate steps to evade it, they added. When the officers gave her the opportunity to go back to her country and reapply for a visa, Petrova said she was afraid of political persecution after the Russian government arrested her back in 2022 for protesting the war in Ukraine. After she said that, she was taken to a detention center in Louisiana where she is waiting for her case to be heard by a judge in May. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Petrovas lawyer is arguing that not disclosing substances to Customs and Border Patrol is a $500 fine, not a cause for deportation. Petrova is reportedly being held with at least 70 other detainees in the same cell, the letter reads. Absent evidence that Petrova is a flight risk or a danger to the community, we strongly urge you to reconsider ICEs recent decision not to grant Petrova parole and exercise discretion within your authority to release her from detention while her asylum case is pending. Moreover, we are deeply concerned about the possibility that Petrova could face persecution if deported to Russia. We urge the Administration to ensure full due process in her case and take all appropriate and necessary measures to ensure she is not deported to Russia, the senators added. Petrova is one of several academics and scholars caught up in President Trumps immigration crackdown. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said last week that at least 300 student visas have been revoked under the Trump administration, and multiple high-profile cases are going through the courts as the federal government tries to revoke the visas or green cards of international students and faculty who have participated in pro-Palestinian protests. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Senate Republicans are racing to consider a compromise budget resolution as they look to advance President Trumps legislative agenda, with a vote potentially taking place this week. House and Senate Republicans each adopted their own budget blueprints last month, with the lower chamber moving forward with one big, beautiful bill, as Trump refers to it, and the upper chamber utilizing a two-track strategy. Top Republicans have been working to reconcile the two visions ever since. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) signaled that his ranks could consider the compromise measure this week, which would require a vote-a-rama. One large wild card, however, is when and how the Senate parliamentarian rules on whether Republicans can use the current policy baseline, the budgetary gimmick that leaders are hoping to utilize to make the 2017 Trump tax cuts permanent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Also this week, the House is scheduled to consider a bill that would restrict the power of district court judges to issue injunctions after Trump, Elon Musk and GOP lawmakers sounded the alarm over a move by a judge that prevented the administration from deporting Venezuelan migrants. The House may also vote on a resolution that seeks to allow parental proxy voting, after Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) successfully executed a discharge petition to force action on the measure despite Speaker Mike Johnsons (R-La.) strong opposition. Additionally, the House Task Force on the Declassification of Federal Secrets, led by Luna, is slated to hold a hearing on the files related to the assassination of former President Kennedy. Senate GOP eyes vote on compromise budget blueprint The Senate could vote on an emerging compromise budget resolution as soon as this week a timeline Thune has indicated is possible though a number of key questions remain as the chamber looks to move forward on an agreed-upon framework. The biggest unknown is whether Republicans can utilize the current policy baseline in the reconciliation process, which would allow the party to permanently extend Trumps 2017 tax cuts without adding to the deficit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Senate parliamentarian must rule on whether the gimmick is permissible before the upper chamber votes on the compromise budget resolution. Regardless of the outcome, the parliamentarians ruling will be significant. If she allows the current policy baseline to be used, Republican leaders in both chambers will have to convince some fiscal hawks to back the effort despite their skepticism. If she rules that it cannot be used, however, GOP leaders will be forced back to square one in determining how to make the tax cuts permanent. Aside from the uncertainty surrounding the current policy baseline, Republicans must also grapple with how much spending cuts they include in the compromise budget resolution. The House GOPs blueprint called for at least $1.5 trillion in cuts, with a target of $2 trillion. Those levels direct the Energy and Commerce Committee to find at least $880 billion in cuts, which many believe will require slashes to Medicaid a detail that is prompting concern among Republicans in both chambers. In one bright spot for the party, however, the conferences appear to be on board with including a debt limit increase in the reconciliation bill. House GOP lawmakers included a $4 trillion debt ceiling hike in their budget resolution, though some Senate Republicans balked at that idea. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Emerging from a meeting with Johnson, Thune, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett and top tax writers last week, the chambers appeared united on that front. I think theres consensus forming there, Thune said of the debt limit question. House GOP looks to limit injunctions from district judges The House this week is slated to vote on legislation that would limit the power of district court judges across the country to issue injunctions, a response to calls from Trump and other Republicans to impeach judges that have blocked the administrations actions. The House Rules Committee is scheduled to consider the No Rogue Rulings Act, led by Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.), during its hearing Monday at 4 p.m. EDT. If it advances, full debate in the chamber and a vote are expected on the floor later in the week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The legislation seeks to restrict the ability of district court judges of which there are 677 to issue injunctions that impact individuals beyond the parties directly involved in the case, which would essentially disallow nationwide injunctions. The effort comes after Judge James Boasberg issued a ruling that prevented the Trump administration from using the Alien Enemies Act to deport Venezuelan migrants. Trump, Musk and other GOP lawmakers have called for Boasberg to be impeached, but that push is unlikely to advance through the House or move in the Senate amid opposition from some Republicans and Democrats. In a floor outlook Sunday, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) said the legislation under consideration prevents partisan judges from abusing their authority and issuing politically motivated nationwide injunctions that inhibit the President from carrying out the policy agenda the American people elected him to implement by blocking federal judges from issuing injunctions that extend beyond specific parties involved in a case. Luna eyes movement on paternal proxy voting push The fight over whether new parents should be allowed to vote by proxy could hit a fever pitch this week, as Luna eyes action on her resolution to allow for such conditions despite the strong objections from Johnson and his leadership team. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Luna would not reveal when she would move on her resolution but hinted that it could take place this week, telling reporters, You guys will have a good news cycle next week. The Florida Republican successfully spearheaded a discharge petition to force a vote on Rep. Brittany Pettersens (D-Colo.) resolution, which would allow members who give birth or lawmakers whose spouses give birth to select another member to vote for them for 12 weeks. A total of 218 lawmakers supported the effort including 11 other GOP lawmakers enough to dispatch the legislation to the floor. Johnson has argued that proxy voting is unconstitutional and has raised concerns that Pettersens resolution could prompt the extension of the practice. As a result, he is searching for ways to stop the resolution from coming to the floor, and potentially being adopted. One idea being floated is language to turn off the privilege that would force leadership to consider the proxy voting legislation, which would involve likely adding it to an unrelated procedural resolution. If that avenue is used, Luna and her allies would have to remain united and defeat the procedural hurdle, either by voting it down or working to force it another way. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the meantime, the heat surrounding the debate is rising. On Friday, Luna wrote on the social platform X that she is probably no longer going to be a member of the freedom caucus following the proxy voting debacle. House task force to hold hearing on JFK files The Houses Task Force on the Declassification of Federal Secrets is scheduled to hold a hearing on the JFK assassination files at 2 p.m. Tuesday, two weeks after the National Archives released more documents related to Kennedys death. Three witnesses are slated to testify are Oliver Stone, an American filmmaker; Jefferson Morley, an independent journalist and author; and James DiEugenio, a researcher and author. Trump has made declassifying documents related to the 1963 assassination a priority in his second term. Three days after being sworn in, he signed an executive order directing the release of federal government documents related to JFKs assassination, in addition to those of former Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy and the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Earlier this month, the National Archives released thousands of files related to JFKs assassination. In a statement on Sunday, Luna, the chair of the task force, said this weeks hearing is the first step in its goal of tracking down more information related to JFKs assassination. After six decades of deception and secrecy surrounding the assassination of President Kennedy, the Trump Administration is lifting the veil and giving the American people the truth, Luna said. By investigating the newly released JFK files, consulting experts, and tracking down surviving staff of various investigative committees, our task force will get to the bottom of this mystery and share our findings with the American people. Our hearing is the first step and we look forward to hearing from our witnesses, she added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Notably, none of the mechanisms that the president is using were put in place by conservatives for leverage against progressive institutions. No, Trump is simply availing himself of the vast federal apparatus created by liberals on the assumption that an ever-more powerful and extensive federal government was synonymous with righteousness. Now that someone is in charge who doesn't agree with them and who is willing to use all the influence that the progressive state affords him, they are vulnerable to the centralized power that they've eagerly built up over decades. Expanding the federal government has been a progressive priority since the time of Woodrow Wilson, and now its tentacles via federal funding and a skein of rules reach into practically every corner of American life. Universities are particularly dependent on government and intertwined with it. They are quickly learning how uncomfortable it is when their paymaster isn't ideologically aligned with them and is willing to throw his weight around. A recent interview in the online publication Slate was headlined, "Colleges Are Getting in Line: An expert in higher-ed finance explains why every school in the US is vulnerable to Trump." "The power is essentially the same for every college in the country that gets federal funding," said Robert Kelchen, a professor of higher education at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, "and it does not make a difference whether it's public or private." "If the federal government is giving money to students for research, all that money can be taken away," he said. "And that's the leverage that the federal government has over the vast majority of higher ed. Some large universities can get well over $1 billion a year in total revenue from the federal government." The interviewer asked, "Did any leaders in higher education recognize ahead of this the vulnerabilities that came with this dependence on the federal government?" Kelchen's answer was basically, "no." Even if the Trump approach has been more aggressive than anticipated, it shouldn't be news that federal money comes with strings. Universities already had to make all sorts of commitments to the feds to tap into funding. A University of Florida website says that among the assurances it has to make to the federal government are that it is in compliance with: federal discrimination regulations federal lobbying regulations federal regulations regarding promoting objectivity in research federal regulations regarding research misconduct Title VI of the Civil Rights Act Title IX of the Education Amendments Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act National Occupational Safety and Health Act FDA Good Laboratory Practices Act Drug-Free Workplace Act Smoke-Free Workplace Act On top of this, the Obama and Biden administrations used federal dollars as the lever to coerce educational institutions into adopting their preferred policies on the handling of sexual-assault cases and trans students. Progressives put Chekhov's proverbial gun on the table, assuming that it would be used only against someone else. The minimalist "night-watchman state" wouldn't be able to do what Trump is doing (and not just with universities, but with disfavored law firms and with corporations beholden to woke ideas), or what his predecessors did in the other direction. Progressives can't say they weren't warned, even if it's been a long time coming. In "G od and Man at Yale" in 1951, Bill Buckley wrote of the issue of public funding. He warned that Yale was "working toward her own destruction, i.e. to the day when some future Yale president, fedora in hand, will knock at the door of some politician with palm outstretched. This day, of course, means the end of Yale as a private institution." If the academic establishment is now fully realizing the power that its federal patron has over higher education, maybe it should have made a little more time for libertarian critiques of government power all along. (COMMENT, BELOW) TASHKENT, March 31 (Xinhua) -- Three people were killed and 10 others injured as a result of a gas explosion at a mosque in Andijan region in eastern Uzbekistan, the country's Ministry of Emergency Situations said on Monday. The incident happened earlier in the day when a gas-air mixture caused an explosion in the bathroom of the mosque, the ministry said. An investigation into the cause of the explosion was underway. Republican senators are warning that any efforts to impeach James Boasberg, the federal judge who ruled against President Trumps deportation of alleged Venezuelan gang members and is now handling a lawsuit related to senior Trump officials use of Signal, would be dead on arrival in the Senate. Senior Senate Republicans also say they will oppose any effort by Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) to defund federal courts that rule against Trumps agenda, sending a message that they want to de-escalate Trumps war against the federal judiciary. Rep. Brandon Gill (R-Texas) introduced an article of impeachment against Boasberg earlier this month, citing abuse of power. It already has 22 co-sponsors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Johnson separately has floated the idea of simply eliminating courts that rule against Trump. The Senate voted 96-0 to confirm Boasberg to the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia in March 2011, with yes votes coming from Republicans still in the chamber today such as Sens. Susan Collins (Maine), John Cornyn (Texas), Lindsey Graham (S.C.), Mitch McConnell (Ky.) and Senate Majority Leader John Thune (S.D.). And while the Senate has become more partisan over the past 14 years, many Republican view themselves as the stewards of the federal judiciary and are not fond of Trumps escalating war of words with the third branch, which in some cases have been echoed enthusiastically by Trumps House allies. Trump called for Boasberg to be impeached after the judge ruled he could not invoke the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to deport more than 200 people, including alleged gang members, without a hearing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That earned a rare rebuke from Chief Justice John Roberts, who noted that for more than two centuries, it has been established that impeachment is not an appropriate response to disagreement concerning a judicial opinion. The Trump administration on Friday asked the Supreme Court to overturn Boasbergs order. Senate Republicans are pleading with Trump and his allies to cool it with the courts. Were not even 100 days in [to the new administration]. We just cant be impeaching every judge that we dont like their decisions on, Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) said. The threats about going after judges and then going after attorneys who are going to file lawsuits and not only forward but going back eight years to see whos done what doesnt make sense, she added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cornyn, the former Senate GOP whip and a senior member of the Judiciary Committee, said the prospect of removing Boasberg or any other federal judge from the bench because Trump and his allies disagree with their rulings is a fantasy. Its not going to happen, he said. The numbers arent there. Cornyns comment reflected the simple math problem any impeachment effort would face. Republicans would need to muster a two-thirds vote to convict a judge of an impeachment charge and remove that person from office. Republicans now control 53 Senate seats, which means they would need 14 Democrats to support a conviction. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think the focus ought to be on things like Darrell Issas bill that just passed the [House] Judiciary Committee dealing with nationwide injunctions. To me, thats been an abuse of power by district judges, Cornyn said, referring to the Republican representative from California. Issas four-page bill, the No Rogue Rulings Act, would limit the power of judges such as Boasberg from imposing nationwide injunctions. It would restrict injunctive relief only to the parties of a case before the district court. House GOP leaders plan to hold a vote on the legislation this coming week. Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) says hes willing to advance legislation to curb the use of nationwide injunctions by district court-level judges. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But he is warning House colleagues that any articles of impeachment passed in the House to retaliate against judges who rule against Trump wont go anywhere in the Senate. You cant impeach a judge just because you disagree with their opinion, Grassley told Fox News when asked about calls to impeach lower-court judges who have blocked elements of Trumps agenda. Weve got to be a legislative body. I know the president is irritated with some of these judges, and I dont blame him, but you cant impeach a judge just because you disagree with an opinion, he said. Grassley plans to hold a hearing April 2 to explore legislative solutions to the bipartisan problem of universal injunctions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Given the difficulty of mustering enough votes in the Senate to remove a judge from the bench, Johnson and other House Republicans are looking more seriously at defunding or eliminating courts that emerge as an obstacle to Trumps agenda. We do have the authority over the federal courts, as you know. We can eliminate an entire district court. We have power of funding over the courts and all these other things, Johnson told reporters Tuesday at the Capitol. Desperate times call for desperate measures, and Congress is going to act, he warned. Republicans would be in a better position to defund a court than impeach a judge, as they control both chambers of Congress and the White House. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Democrats earlier this month accepted a partisan House GOP-drafted government funding bill because they feared a government shutdown would empower Trump and Elon Musk to accelerate their efforts to fire federal workers and shrink government agencies. But Senate Republicans are warning Johnson not to attempt to defund any courts, even if they block core elements of Trumps agenda. No, I think theres a better way of doing [it], which is limit the effect of a single district judge to affect nationwide policy. The court actually has a procedure to do that, but it aint working. Thats the solution, said Graham, a senior member of the Senate Judiciary Committee. Graham said Grassley is working on a bill to do that. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) said he is firmly opposed to defunding courts. Ive watched Democratic colleagues for four years under President Biden try to undermine the federal judiciary, pack the Supreme Court, try to write a punitive ethics law [for the Supreme Court] [and] threaten them if they ruled a particular way on a particular issue, Kennedy said. I did not support that and I dont support the efforts now to undermine the federal courts, he said. Kennedy said the president and his allies have the right to criticize federal court orders that defy their agenda and to appeal those rulings to higher courts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But he warned they must still comply with those decisions. You dont have the right to just unilaterally because you disagree with it defy a court order, he said. The Trump administration got into a heated fight with Boasberg after it appeared to ignore his verbal and written order to halt two deportation flights carrying alleged Venezuelan gang members. The flights continued to El Salvador after touching down in Honduras, even after Boasberg had ordered them to turn around. The judge, who was appointed by former President Obama, vowed to get to the bottom of whether the administration violated his order and to know who ordered the flights to continue. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. On March 15, an estimated crowd of 300,000 demonstrators took to the streets throughout Serbias capital city of Belgrade to stage the largest protests in the countrys history. The massive Belgrade rally was the latest in a series of student-led marches across the country that have been gaining momentum since November 2024. They serve as a testament to the shifting tide of Serbian politics and the publics frustration with the rampant corruption that is by now synonymous with the regime of Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic. The protests initially began after a concrete canopy collapsed at the central railway station in Novi Sad, Serbias second-largest city, killing 14 people immediately, with two more victims subsequently succumbing to injuries sustained in the incident. Despite having taken credit amid much fanfare for the reconstruction of the station in July 2024, the government quickly attempted to wash its hands of responsibility for the tragedy that occurred just four months later. However, the Higher Public Prosecutors Office in Novi Sad argued that the institutions entrusted with maintaining the railway station were responsible for the canopys corrosion, while further public scrutiny raised suspicions that the added concrete layers during reconstruction contributed to the accident. Furthermore, calculations by outside experts indicate that the reconstruction of the station building should have cost no more than 3 milliona stark contrast with the 16 million spent on the building alone. Worse still, according to former Minister of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure Goran Vesic, 65 million was reportedly dedicated to the entire project. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Though a significant turning point, the tragedy was merely the latest demonstration of the corruption and negligence that have been hallmarks of Vucics ruling Progressive Party, or SNS, over the past decade. Vucic himself has been in power in one role or another since 2012, serving as the countrys deputy prime minister, prime minister and now president over that time. His ruling methods have been described as characteristic of a hybrid regime, maintaining the formality of elections and some democratic practices while keeping a firm grip on the media and much of the financial and hard-power instruments of control. To get more in-depth news and expert analysis on global affairs from WPR, sign up for our free Daily Review newsletter. Over the past two years, however, a series of fatal incidents have fed public outrage, including unprecedented mass shootings that claimed 19 lives in the span of two consecutive days in May 2023 and a fire at a nursing home in January 2025 that left 11 senior citizens dead. The list of similar incidents is both extensive and exhaustive, with each generating varying degrees of public backlash. This raises the question of what makes the latest round of protests stand out. In the context of Serbian politics, the primary reason behind their success lies in their politically leaderless and peaceful nature, as well as the ingenuity of the student protesters, who have demonstrated admirable organizational skills. In particular, throughout the demonstrations, which have often included countrywide marches of hundreds of miles between Serbias major cities, the students have carefully avoided the traps that Vucic and his allies have previously laid for Serbian opposition movements. The students have clearly won over the Serbian public, achieving more in the past four months than any opposition party has managed in the past 13 years of SNS rule. First and foremost, this has consisted of targeting individual opposition leaders, both existing and emerging, with relentless smear campaigns, a tactic the government has been successfully executing for years. These campaigns have predominantly focused on accusations of corruption or unpatriotic sentiment, both of which hold significant weight in a traditional society like Serbia. While the public has not necessarily taken these campaigns at face value, the sheer amount of negative messaging targeting opposition figures often left them tainted among the electorate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To evade this well-worn tactic, the student organizers of the most recent protests did much of their work behind closed doors, in university-style plenums away from the public eye. Furthermore, they were quick to distance themselves from activists attempting to assume leadership roles in the rallies. In many ways, the students represent the future of the country, both figuratively and literally, in that they bear no identifiable traces of a murky past or shady dealings that could be attributed to them. And they proudly display Serbias national flag at the protests, signaling that they hold Serbian societys traditional values close to their hearts. That has helped fuel another difference between these protests and previous iterations: the divided allegiance of older citizens, who generally make up the governments traditional base. Increasingly disillusioned with the hubris of local SNS office-holders, Serbias senior citizens have found themselves torn between the studentswhom they have been embracing as they would their own grandchildren, which in many instances is the caseand Vucic, whose narrative in recent months has become increasingly febrile and reactive. Faced with such a stark choice, the preferences of the elderly appear to be shifting away from the president. Finally, opposition parties have supported the students and contributed to the protest movement by disrupting the work of municipal assemblies that have lost legitimacy in the public eye. But a clear division of labor seems to have emerged organically. As mentioned, opposition leaders have not taken a leading public-facing role, nor have they been featured speakers at any of the rallies or traffic blockades that have taken place across Serbia over the past four months. That reflects the fact that the students have clearly won over the Serbian public, achieving more in the past four months than any opposition party has managed in the past 13 years of SNS rule. The demonstrations have now led to widespread acts of civil disobedience beyond the protests themselves, including public service workers openly siding with the students, an increasing number of workers across different sectors going on strike and even public acts of defiance by national television employees. Although the countrys security services have not defected, signs of discontent among them have been widely discussed. Protesters increasingly report friendly encounters with police units, including their willingness to share information about the presence and whereabouts of regime-planted provocateurs within the protests. Meanwhile, the SNS has increasingly faced difficulties holding even minor rallies or setting up outreach booths in its constituencies, as disgruntled citizens keep showing up to confront them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Interestingly enough, the students demands have never included the resignation of government officials or Vucic himself, even though public sentiment clearly leans in that direction. Instead, they have consistently called for greater accountability and the release of all documents that would help uncover those responsible for the fatal accident in November. Nevertheless, despite refusing to meet the students stated demands, Prime Minister Milos Vucevic ultimately resigned due to mounting public pressure in January. After some stalling by the SNS, parliament formally accepted Vucevics resignation on March 19, disbanding the government and triggering a 30-day deadline for either forming a new one or calling snap elections. That leaves the SNS with mere weeks to come up with a solution to the crisis, but with no real pathways to a favorable outcome. Thus far, the regimes main public response has been to search for a narrative to undermine the protests. The best it could come up with so far was to portray them as a threat from abroad, with Vucic repeatedly calling them a color revolution. This narrative aims to deter conservative audiences from further participation in the popular revolt for fear of acting as pawns of globalist architects of regime change. Yet paradoxically, throughout this time, officials from the European Union have been tacitly voicing their support for Vucic and his party by continuing to issue communiques about ongoing affairs in a business-as-usual fashion. Meanwhile, as is nearly always the case, Russia has been echoing the color revolution rhetoric while refraining from direct involvement in Serbias domestic affairs, although Moscows messaging has lately been less supportive of Vucic due to a diplomatic spat over a United Nations resolution. And the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump has been signaling it is prepared to continue working with Vucic, including through a visit by Donald Trump Jr. to Belgrade, where he met with Vucic in mid-March, and comments by Trumps special envoy Richard Grenells on X warning the protesters against the use of violence. Unsurprisingly though, the protests do not appear to be high on the list of Washingtons priorities, as no other U.S. official has commented on the situation in Serbia to date. Facing an increasingly precarious situation, Vucic now has limited room for maneuver. He could push for the naming of a new SNS government, which would amount to a mere reshuffling of the partys existing cohort of faceless loyalists and would do nothing to ease growing public discontent. Alternatively, he could agree to a transitional power-sharing government with the opposition that would set the stage for fairer elections in due course, a proposal already put forward by some parties in parliament. Finally, Vucic could opt for a technical government of experts that would likely enjoy public support as an interim solution to the ongoing crisis. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, none of these options offer Vucic a path to comfortably maintaining the status quo, leaving him in many ways cornered, with the ruling partys mechanisms for holding onto power steadily crumbling. Unlikely to allow the formation of any sort of transitional government, as this would effectively spell the end of his control over the media and his ability to influence electoral processes, Vucic could still resort to a much darker fourth option: quelling the protests with brute force. While the students never intended to turn the March 15 protest into a popular revolt seeking regime change, Vucics effort to secure the perimeter around the presidential offices with fences, tractors, paid pro-government campers and riot police forces has stoked fears that he might be prepared to fight tooth and nail to stay in power at all costs. Worryingly, security forces seem to have already resorted to the use of sonic weapons, which were apparently deployed to disperse the crowd while it was observing a moment of silence during the March 15 protest, resulting in horrifying images of panic. Some experts claim that the available evidence is consistent with the noise and effect typically produced by a Vortex Ring Gun or Vortex Cannon, leading some to speculate about the use of a long-range acoustic device. Yet Serbias Ministry of Interior has since denied deploying any acoustic weapons against the protesters. However, given that the ministrys public messaging shifted from denying possession of such a device to acknowledging it was in storage and finally to admitting it was used in the field but not as a weapon, the public has been further enraged by what amounts to a familiar pattern of denial and concealment. Considering the timing of its use and the lack of any threat posed by the protesters to law enforcement, public concern over the governments propensity for violence has intensified. Commentators thus continue to speculate that Vucic may indeed opt for measures as severe as martial law if all else fails. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Still, even if Vucic and his party end up overcoming the ongoing outburst of discontent throughout the country, there is no scenario in which the public will somehow forget its deep dissatisfaction with Serbias existing ruling class. As a result, it appears that the regimes days in power are numbered and that a transition to a post-SNS era may soon be on the horizon. What remains to be seen is whether Serbia will get there through a peaceful transition or a more dangerous escalation. Stefan Antic is a Serbian political scientist. The post Serbias Student-Led Protests Have Vucic Cornered appeared first on World Politics Review. BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) Thousands of Serbians marched in four cities on Monday protesting government pressure and hate speech directed at university students and professors behind months of anti-corruption protests shaking populist President Aleksandar Vucic. The marches were organized a day after a woman attacked a faculty dean in Serbia's south with a knife, which protesters blamed on a hate campaign that they say is fueled by top officials and pro-government media. Increasingly authoritarian Vucic has struggled to quell persistent demonstrations triggered by a train station canopy collapse in November, which killed 16 people. Critics have blamed the deadly crash on rampant government corruption leading to sloppy and unsafe renovation work on the station building. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Serbian university students and their professors have been a key force behind the nationwide demonstrations also reflecting a wider discontent with Vucic's rule. He has accused protesters of working against the state interests. Serbia is formally seeking European Union entry but Vucic has maintained close ties with Russia and China while facing accusations of stifling democratic freedoms. Ivan Videnovic, assistant professor at Belgrade University's faculty of physics, said he joined the march Monday in the capital city because of repression against people ... because of physical and verbal attacks on university professors and deans. Natalija Jovanovic, dean of the Faculty of Philosophy in Nis on Sunday, suffered a hand injury in Sunday's knife attack in the southern city of Nis. She blamed the attack on Vucic, who has repeatedly branded her a criminal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last week, a senior government official called for the arrest of Vladan Djokic, the head dean of the University in Belgrade. Apart from Belgrade, demonstrations were held in the northern city of Novi Sad, the central city of Kragujevac and Nis, in the south. The four cities are the university centers in the Balkan country. Several high-rise buildings in Bangkok have been evacuated on Monday after what appeared to be aftershocks, three days after a deadly 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck neighbouring Myanmar. At least 1,700 people have died in Myanmar, with another 3,400 injured so far, state TV reported. Many people are still missing as the desperate search and rescue efforts continued on Monday in both Myanmar and neighbouring Thailand. Officials have said the casualty figures could rise by thousands due to the proximity of populated areas and the vulnerability of many structures. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Aftershocks continue to be felt in the region, though no new quakes have been recorded by the US Geological Survey. "I felt it, though it was much lighter than Friday's quake," an office worker in Bangkok's Sathorn district told dpa. "I think the authorities just want to play it safe now," he added. Along with dozens of colleagues, the worker stood on the street in front of the Tisco Tower office building. Other high-rise buildings, including the One Bangkok shopping mall, the Criminal Court building and various government offices, have also been evacuated as a precaution, according to the Khaosod newspaper and eyewitnesses. Sirens from emergency vehicles could be heard throughout the city. OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) Oklahoma Army National Guard Soldiers are preparing to deploy overseas working with Special Operations Command Europe. While there, they will work on public affairs and media relations and document stories of military work. Theyre going to get the chance to team up with activel duty components and basically tell the storythats all thats out there in that area, said Command Sgt. Major Christopher Solis, with the 90th Troop Command. Okla. National Guard preps 145th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment deployment Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One soldier headed to Germany is KFOR News Photographer, Sergeant Tyler Brahic. This deployment is his first and he said hes proud to serve this country. Im hoping to learn and immerse myself in different cultures and maybe build relationships with people from other armies and militaries, said Sgt. Tyler Brahic, 145th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment. There was a short ceremony on Sunday morning congratulating the soldiers. Ive always wanted to deploy in the army, and it feels good that I can serve my country in this way, said Sgt. Brahic. As they soak up the final moments with family and friends, those who are staying behind are proud to see these men and women serve this country and represent this state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Oh, its amazing. Having soldiers to just volunteer to be a part of this organization is amazing. Were very proud to have them go forth and represent Oklahoma, said Command Sgt. Major Solis. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City. A fire broke out at a Tesla car dealership in Rome early on Monday, damaging 17 electric cars and leaving some of them seriously impacted, the Italian fire brigade reported. Photos on social media showed completely burnt-out vehicles. The fire started at 4:30 am (0230 GMT) and was extinguished during the course of the day. Damage was also inflicted on the showroom building, where some Teslas were parked, according to the fire brigade. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The cause of the fire remains unclear and investigations are ongoing. Various lines of investigation are being pursued and arson is not being ruled out, the Italian news agency ANSA reported. Tesla vehicles have recently been set on fire in various locations across the United States in protest at Tesla founder Elon Musk and his role as US President Donald Trump's cost-cutter-in-chief. Earlier this month, four Teslas were set on fire in Berlin. Other attacks have targeted Tesla dealers and charging stations for the electric cars. TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) Communities across the United States experienced severe weather over the weekend that has impacted flights at the Tampa International Airport. As of 4:30 p.m., TPA has 49 cancellations and 311 delayed fights. Passengers should always check with their airlines for most up-to-date flight information, TPA said. To check the status of your flight, visit their website. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA. GREECE, N.Y. (WROC) The latest location of Shake Shack in the Rochester area currently under construction in front of the Mall at Greece Ridge looks to serve alcohol. According to a public filing, the location has been granted a 30-day waiver on a comment period, indicating it has applied to the State Liquor Authority for a license. The SLA map does not show a pending or active license. Shake Shack has been making inroads in our area, with recent openings along the thruway and in Henrietta. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A spokesperson for Shake Shack told News 8 over email in January that there is no firm timetable for completion at this time. News 8 has reached out to Shake Shack regarding its application and hasnt heard back yet. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to RochesterFirst. FRANKFORT The governor has signed House Bill 315, a measure sponsored by Rep. Scott Sharp, Ashland-R, to protect Kentuckys agricultural land from hostile foreign entities, into law. With the support of my colleagues in both chambers and both sides of the aisle, Kentucky has now closed a door which has stood open to our nations enemies for too long, Sharp said. I am proud of the General Assembly for recognizing the seriousness of this issue, and for joining me in taking this necessary action to protect our citizens, our commonwealth, and our country. House Bill 315 will prohibit any foreign entity from purchasing, leasing or acquiring agricultural land in Kentucky if they are associated with a hostile foreign government identified by Title 22, section 126.1 of the Code of Federal Regulations and do not have a national security agreement with the Committee on Foreign Investment, according to a press release. These countries include China, Cuba, Iran and Venezuela among others. HB 315 will also prohibit any foreign entity associated with these countries from participating in agricultural programs offered by the commonwealth. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In addition, the bill requires agricultural land purchased for non-agricultural purposes by all foreign entities to be developed within five years of purchase, stated the release. Visit legislature.ky.gov for more information. When David Hachfeld saw Sheins press release extolling what the e-tail Goliath said was the continuation of its drumbeat of support for the factories in its supply chain, his immediate thought was that it sounded like the same old PR tactics. Hachfeld is the textiles expert at Public Eye, a Swiss watchdog group whose investigations into Sheins Chinese supply chain, most recently in 2024, uncovered widespread evidence of excessive overtime, poverty wages and dangerous conditions, often in violation of local labor laws. He greeted with skepticism the Singapore-headquartered firms claims that it would be earmarking $70 million until 2028 to empower its ecosystem of third-party manufacturing suppliers and the workers within. It was the same feeling he felt when he saw Sheins photos of gleaming factory floors, polished canteens and even a newly renovated multipurpose recreation room. More from Sourcing Journal Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its quite telling that while they boast in detail about every square meter renovated at a supplier, they still steadfastly refuse to disclose their authorized supplier list, he said. Credibility and secrecy dont go together. And this lack of transparency makes it impossible to independently verify their claims of improvement. Shein, which doesnt operate its own facilities but rather contracts from a vast network of partners, said it has to date upgraded 203 factories spanning 500,000 square meters as part of its so-called Supplier Community Empowerment Program, which it unveiled in 2022 on the heels of allegations by Britains Channel 4 that employees at two Guangzhou suppliers were toiling 18-hour days, with only one day off per month, for as little as 3 cents per hour. The Temu nemesis refuted most of the claims, denying, for instance, that the factories withheld or deducted wages if mistakes were made or quotas unmet. As of 2024, Shein has disbursed more than $33 million to SCEP initiatives in southern China, including $7.5 million for factory upgrades and expansion, $280,000 for the construction or renovation of canteens for workers and $430,000 to build or enhance free accommodation options for migrant workers. But Hachfeld would need to see it to believe it, he said. In 2023, when we looked into Sheins claims about their Supplier Community Empowerment Program and revisited production clusters in Guangzhou, we unfortunately couldnt confirm any tangible improvements on the ground, he said. In fact, workers interviewed at different manufacturing sites reported again severe violations of labor standards, including shocking 75-hour work weeks. We asked Shein to disclose the facilities supposedly covered by the program back then, but they refused to be transparent, and they continue to refuse [to reveal] their suppliers to this day. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These were the days, as rumor had it, when Shein was still pursuing a U.S. initial public offering. But bipartisan backlash from Capitol Hill, which urged the Securities and Exchange Commission to hold off with registration until the fast fashion purveyor could independently certify that it didnt use forced labor from Chinas persecuted Uyghur minority, sent Sheinreportedlyto seek a float in London, where it was criticized at a parliamentary hearing for failing to say whether it uses Chinese cotton, 90 percent of which hails from Xinjiang. (The answer, as it turned out? It depends, Shein appeared to say in a written response later.) By all appearances, Sheins provision of summer camps for hundreds of workers children, a commitment to establish and staff dozens of childcare centers for free afterschool care, and its offer of financial assistance for funding medical expenses, childrens education or other personal challenges would be good things. Not so, however, for author and Columbia University fashion policy and sustainability lecturer Elizabeth Cline, who said that she found all of this honestly disturbing. Why should a person working for multi-billion dollar Shein need financial aid for health expenses? she said. These programs raise questions that urgently need to be answered: Are the childcare services running after school, or do they exist so parents can work well into the night? Are parents paid enough to feed and house their kids, or does the company-owned dormitory exist to keep wages at a level of dependence? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ditto with the technology enhancements that the Missguided owner says its investing in through research and development at its sprawling Centre of Innovation for Garment Manufacturing in Guangzhouthe same one that a group of influencers toured in 2023 to public ridicule and outrage. Shein said it has spent more than $23 million on developing innovative lean production solutions for garment manufacturing, such as the use of automated guided vehicles. In 2024, the center submitted 30 patents for new technology that Shein says are employed in complex craftsmanship methods, including dealing with specialized fabrics. Cline isnt sold. Shein is primarily investing in more automated machinery to speed up production, she said. We do not need faster fast fashion. It threatens to push garment workers to sew faster, does nothing to improve the lives of workers, and will add more waste and consumerism to our world that only benefits these giant companies and their shareholders. Katrina Caspelich, chief marketing officer at the fashion advocacy group Remake, is well-versed in PR speak. She said that at first glance, Sheins Supplier Community Empowerment Program reads like a well-crafted PR play: full of big numbers, strategic facility upgrades and worker-focused initiatives. But she also urged those scanning it not to be blinded by the flashy headline. Lets focus on the root cause of why Sheins supply chain has needed such a massive overhaul in the first place, Caspelich said. Shein built its empire on an ultra-fast fashion model that thrives on rapid production speeds, low costs, and a lack of transparency. The brands historical issues with worker exploitation, unpaid wages, excessive overtime and even child labor allegations arent solved by upgrading canteens or adding robots to factory floors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A $70 million largesse may sound impressive, she said, but Shein was valued at $66 billionwith a bin 2023. Its Caspelichs belief that its commitment is a tiny drop in the bucket that is more about making a good public impression than driving meaningful improvements. The true test isnt how many childcare centers they open or how many QR codes workers can scan for financial assistance; its whether Shein will fundamentally change the exploitative business model that fuels its success, she said. Genuine change would mean slowing down production, ensuring living wages, embracing transparency, and allowing independent auditsnot just controlled, self-reported narratives. Shein has said that any supply chain partner that signs its code of conduct must agree to shun the use of forced labor, including prison and bonded labor, while complying with the International Labour Organisations forced labor conventions in their direct or indirect procurement activities. Even so, audits, as experts have previously pointed out, are especially inadequate when it comes to state-sponsored forced labor, which is what Beijing is being accused of promoting both in and outside of Xinjiang. Hachfeld didnt mince words. Honestly, Shein should stop trying to distract with summer camps and charity programs for workers in need, he said. What they really need to focus on is [to] ensure that all workers in their supply chain, from the seamstress to the warehouse picker, earn living wages within regular working hours and social security so they dont need charity in the first place. A local resident opened fire against a police patrol from a roof of a residential building in the northwestern Russian city of Murmansk on the evening of March 30, authorities said, adding that nobody was injured by the attacker. The man began shooting from the roof of a building at Kolskiy Avenue 10 in the central part of the city, after which the authorities stormed the roof and "neutralized" the attacker, the regional Investigative Committee said. The shooter has been "seriously wounded" during the arrest, the Telegram news channel Mash claimed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The man's motives are currently under investigation. The Investigative Committee identified him as a resident of Murmansk born in 1981. The authorities have begun investigating the incident as an attempt on the life of a law enforcement officer. The Kyiv Independent could not verify the claims. Murmansk, a city of 270,000 residents within the Arctic Circle and the regional center of northwestern Murmansk Oblast, lies some 1,450 kilometers (900 miles) north of Moscow and about 100 kilometers (60 miles) east of the Russian-Norwegian border. 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. A shooting in Hilltop, Minnesota left a man critically wounded this past weekend, authorities say. The Anoka County Sheriff's Office said on Saturday just after 6:50 p.m., officers with the Columbia Heights Police Department were called to the 4600 block of Monroe Street Northeast on a report of gunshots. Shortly after, a man arrived in a vehicle at Mercy Hospital Unity Campus in Fridley with a gunshot wound. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The man was taken to another local hospital for further care and remains in critical condition as of Sunday. The sheriff's office says no suspects have been detained in connection to the incident and there is no known threat to the public. An investigation remains active as of Monday morning. Note: The details provided in this story are based on law enforcements latest version of events, and may be subject to change. A Connecticut state representative has heard from more than 100 of his constituents in Groton and Stonington expressing their concerns about the rise of short-term rentals and their impact on neighborhoods, availability of housing and quality of life. In response, State Rep. Aundre Bumgardner, D-Groton, has co-sponsored An Act Establishing a State Short-term Rental Registry and Authorizing an Optional Municipal Supplemental Tax on Short-term Rentals, which took another step forward this past week during a Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee hearing on March 24. Bumgardner said the proposed legislation, also known as HB-07238, will create a short-term rental registry maintained by the Department of Revenue Services and reduce administrative burdens on local governments. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It will allow communities such as Groton and Stonington to opt into a local supplemental tax (up to 2.75%) on STRs, with revenue directed to local housing initiatives, including deposits into an affordable housing trust fund, require short-term rental platforms like Airbnb and VRBO to collect and remit taxes and report revenue by municipality, giving towns better tools to track activity and enforce local regulations, Bumgardner said. As a member of the Groton Town Council, I worked closely on this issue, and Ive continued to carry that work with me to the legislature, he added. In 2023, I proudly co-sponsored legislation that explicitly gave municipalities the authority to regulate STRs through local ordinances an important clarification that empowered towns to act, Bumgardner said. Bumgardner said in recent years, the Town of Groton Planning & Zoning Commission passed regulations restricting short-term rentals including requiring permits and limiting rentals to certain residential zones. Noank, a fire district with independent zoning authority and political subdivision of the Town of Groton, banned short-term rentals entirely. Groton, like most municipalities, is in the midst of a housing crisis, both in terms of availability and affordability, Groton Town Manager John Burt stated in written testimony. I strongly support the ability for local municipalities to create a supplemental tax on short-term rentals, which could be used to combat the housing crisis by increasing the supply of housing for renters and prospective homeowners. Additionally, this would create a more level playing field with hotel operators. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Town of Stonington pursued regulation through its ordinance, supported by the framework we established in 2023 legislation, Bumgardner added. I believe these decisions should remain in the hands of our local communities, as Groton and Stonington have demonstrated through thoughtful public processes. Among the biggest supporters are those in the lodging business, such as hotels and bed and breakfasts. Several members of the industry voiced support for the proposed bill. Victor Antico, the owner of Holiday Inn Express in Vernon, believes this bill is a necessary step toward creating a fair and equitable lodging marketplace while ensuring transparency, tax compliance, and consumer safety. For too long, hotels, inns, and bed and breakfasts have been subject to strict regulations, including health and safety inspections, licensing fees and the full remittance of state and local occupancy taxes, Antico said. Meanwhile, short-term rental operators who compete directly for guests have operated with minimal oversight. This has created an unlevel playing field that places traditional lodging establishments at a disadvantage. Bill No. 7238 addresses this imbalance by requiring short-term rentals to meet the same registration and tax obligations as hotels and other licensed lodging providers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Alan Miller, the general manager of Sheraton Hartford Hotel at Bradley Airport, is a strong proponent of the bill By passing Raised Bill No. 7238, the Connecticut General Assembly will take a meaningful step toward modernizing lodging regulations, protecting consumers and ensuring tax fairness across all accommodation providers, Miller said. I urge you to support this legislation and create a more balanced and competitive hospitality industry. Ryan Albers, the senior manager of government affairs of the Asian American Hotel Owners Association, said his organization was also in ardent support of the bill. Hotels, inns, and bed & breakfasts have long been subject to strict regulations, including health and safety inspections, licensing fees, and the full remittance of state and local occupancy taxes, Albers said. Meanwhile, short-term rental operatorswho compete directly for guestshave operated with minimal oversight. This has created an uneven playing field that places traditional lodging establishments at a disadvantage. Bill No. 7238 addresses this imbalance by requiring short-term rentals to meet the same registration and tax obligations as hotels and other licensed lodging providers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One of the highest-profile opponents of the bill is Mark D. Boughton, the Connecticut Department of Revenue Services commissioner. After careful review, the Department of Revenue Services opposes this legislation as drafted due to the significant administrative and fiscal burden that would be created for the agency, Boughton said. The legislation as proposed creates additional enforcement responsibilities, which has the potential to take us away from our core function of collecting and administering taxes. In addition, this legislation would result in significant administrative costs, including but not limited to additional staffing. David Haberfeld, a Bristol-based real estate investor and entrepreneur, runs Haberfeld Enterprises. He owns 11 short-term rentals and manages four others. He also opposes the proposed law. Its more overregulation and its a double tax because short-term rental hosts already pay taxes to Airbnb and VRBO and we already pay taxes on our income. Its like a double tax which is always inappropriate if you ask me, Haberfeld said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As far as the registration part of the proposed law, Haberfeld said short-term rentals shouldnt be handled any differently than long-term rentals. The registration is so someone can reach out when there is a problem like a party, Haberfeld said. Im not going to say its not an issue, but its barely an issue. But its what they think they have to combat. we discourage parties, but Airbnb hosts are the victims of parties, we are not proponents or the cause of them. The guest is the person who has the party. They want to have this so if there are too many complaints they can shut you down. Bumgardner said the bill is still in the beginning stages, but the public hearing was a big step. He initially raised this concept two years ago and didnt get a hearing. Bumgardner said he spoke with a representative from Airbnb recently who said said they would not oppose a registry, which I was shocked by, Bumgardner said. Im not anti-Airbnb, its another tool in our municipality. Airbnb said they would like to be involved in the process and as someone who is passing legislation, its good to give someone a seat at the table, Bumgardner said. I believe when you follow that process and bring as many people as you can to the table, you have a better bill. Mar. 30LIMA "Justice delayed isn't justice at all," said Dennis Kerber, magistrate in the domestic relations division of Allen County Common Pleas Court and president of the Allen County Bar Association, when asked about a statewide shortage of attorneys that is becoming increasingly noticeable locally. According to a recent statement from the Ohio Bar Association, rural communities face a growing crisis as legal needs are going unmet due to a statewide attorney shortage. The legal needs of many residents are going unhandled in areas that include child custody, real estate disputes, consumer fraud or defending against criminal charges, according to the state bar. Mary Amos Augsburger, chief executive officer of the Ohio Bar, testified in early March before the Ohio House Finance Committee to urge continued state funding for programs that help fill this gap. The group is advocating for the expansion of the Rural Practice Incentive Program, which provides loan repayment assistance to attorneys who practice in underserved areas, and continued funding and expanded eligibility to attract more lawyers to these communities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The need is real Auglaize County Common Pleas Court Judge Frederick Pepple answered with an emphatic "yes" when asked if a shortage of attorneys is affecting courtrooms in that county. "Just look at the size of our bar," Pepple said of the shrinking number of local attorneys. "The practice of law has become less attractive in recent years, and fewer people are going to law school. Those who do graduate are increasingly choosing to live in larger metropolitan areas." The Ohio Bar says a ratio of one lawyer for every 700 residents is ideal for rural counties. Using that formula, Auglaize County would need nearly 65 practicing attorneys to keep pace. Pepple said state lawmakers could ease the current shortage by changing one key state mandate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The General Assembly statutes don't allow a deputy public defender from one county to help out other counties when a conflict of interest arises. That needs to change," Pepple said. According to Kerber, who became a magistrate in the local court in 1998, membership in the Allen County Bar Association currently stands at around 175 and is on the decline. Some members are willing to take court-appointed assignments, but many are not. "Back in the 90s we had maybe 40 attorneys that were willing and eager to take court-appointed work. Now there might be a half-dozen. And their workload is increasing greatly due to the smaller pool of attorneys we can pick from," Kerber said. "The numbers of attorneys are definitely declining, and the reasons are varied," he said. "Becoming a lawyer is an expensive undertaking, and attending law school is a stressful time. In our bar, we are seeing members that are getting a little older and taking on less work. All of the courts in the county are flexible in working with the available attorneys and trying to accommodate their schedules." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cost-prohibitive? Allen County Common Pleas Court Judge Terri Kohlrieser agreed that the current economic climate nationwide may be making a law degree less attractive than it once was. "What I'm seeing is that the current educational crisis, especially when it comes to student loans, is having an effect on the number of attorneys out there. It's expensive to get a law degree like $25,000 to $30,000 annually. And that's just tuition. And it's not as easy to get student loans as it once was," the judge said. Kohlrieser is an adjunct professor at Ohio Northern University. When walking the halls of the law school, she sees class photos of graduating classes through the years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "My class had about 82 graduates," she said. "Now class sizes are down to about 25. Small towns and rural areas across the state are seeing a crisis. Private practice in a small town is hard work. You end up taking all kinds of cases just to make ends meet, and it can get overwhelming." Kohlrieser agreed the pool of attorneys willing to take court-appointed assignments is dwindling significantly. "I have maybe three attorneys I can reach out to ... then I have to go searching," she said. Why come here? Lima Municipal Court Judge John Payne came to Lima from Youngstown, and he's glad he did. But Payne is uncertain how many new attorneys will follow that path. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I've been blessed to be in Lima, but unless you're from Lima, why would you come here?" Payne said. "I think a lot of new graduates are heading to the larger metropolitan areas. They can probably make more money, but I'm not sure they're taking into account the high cost of living." In the mean time, the pool of local attorneys is contracting due to retirements and deaths. "I've got about six people who are willing to take court appointments," Payne said. "And even those take a lot of urging." Payne was happy to report that the poorest of Allen County residents are suffering the least, even as local attorney numbers decline. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I think we have the best public defender representation we've ever had. The full-time county public defenders office is representing indigent clients very adequately. I think it's the best it's ever been," Payne said. In that vein, Kohlrieser gave a shout out to Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, who she said has "really tried to make indigent defense a priority." But without enough lawyers, people will still struggle to navigate the legal system, according to the state bar association. "This shortage doesn't just inconvenience Ohioans it denies them their legal rights," Augsburger said. Featured Local Savings SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS) The owner of a popular Shreveport nightclub is taking extra steps to ensure safety after a deadly shooting earlier this month. More local news Four people were shot on Texas Street on March 15th, leading to the arrest of Kentavious Taylor for second-degree murder. Dr. Chelette Holden, owner of Club Haze, is beefing up security, hiring four police officers to patrol outside the club on weekends. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, city council members are discussing expanding police mobile response trailers and adding more real-time crime center cameras in downtown Shreveport. Dr. Chelette Holden says the extra security measures, including new surveillance cameras on two Texas street corners, will help protect patrons between 10 p.m. and 3 a.m. If there are more people across the street at royalty, well move our efforts over there. We just want everybody to feel safe in and around downtown. But starting here on Texas street, my goal and my hope is that some of the other property owners and club owners will also get on board and add the additional resources to help SPD out, said Dr. Holden. Dr. Holden says the extra security measures will help protect people between 10 p.m. and 3 a.m. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTALnews.com. Lloyd Austin, the former defense secretary and a four-star general with 40 years of military experience, was nonetheless labeled a DEI hire of the Biden administration. Pete Hegseth, the current secretary of defense, lacks adequate expertise and experience, on top of the fact that hes had allegations of sexual assault and is known as an excessive drinker. A former National Security Council member and a Senate member deemed Hegseth unqualified for the position. However, according to Donald Trump, Hegseth had a tremendous track record that qualified him for the position. The MAGA crowd called for Austin to resign because he failed to share that he had an emergency medical procedure, yet they explain away Hegseths failure to keep the details of a war plan confidential. Clearly, the ability to keep a secret wasnt a qualification for Hegseth to get the job as defense secretary. What Signalgate, the recent scandal involving the Trump administration discussing war plans in a text thread with a journalist mistakenly added to the conversation, made abundantly clear is that the only qualification for Hegseth is that he was what Mishel Williams calls WEI: white, entitled and incompetent. The rationale of white people whove accepted privilege in exchange for power in solidarity, what W.E.B. DuBois coined the racial bribe the deliberate and strategic method of the planter elite class to extend special privileges to poor whites to drive a wedge between them and enslaved African people is that a Black person in a position of power and authority is unqualified. Specifically, it is the belief that affirmative action and diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives are merely a euphemism, implying that a Black person, or a person of color, was hired for a position or selected to attend a prestigious institution solely to fulfill a quota. Rather than accept that affirmative action and DEI initiatives address the systemic racist practices and policies of the past that prevent African Americans and other historically oppressed and underrepresented groups from gaining access to positions they are qualified for, many white individuals believe that only they are capable of holding positions and occupying spaces of power, privilege and authority. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What this scandal shows is that the practice of hiring unqualified and mediocre white people and calling it making America great can, and has, compromised national security. And yet, many white people are so convinced that Black people and other people of color are wholly unqualified to lead, specifically those who dont think like or act like them. Donald Trump has reinforced that belief, proving Lyndon B. Johnson right when Johnson said, If you can convince the lowest white man hes better than the best colored man, he wont notice youre picking his pocket. Hell, give him somebody to look down on, and hell empty his pockets for you. I guess you can call Donald Trump the pick-pocketing pied piper say that three times fast. The Trump administration's removal of all DEI initiatives through executive orders will undoubtedly keep people uninformed and restrict others from attaining positions and places of power and influence. But its important to understand that a driving reason for these executive orders is to appease the racism he has fomented among his voter base. The consequence of this is the perpetuation of white mediocrity. Historically, the cause of racial justice has needed to align with the agenda of white people. Legal scholar Derrick Bell referred to this as interest-convergence. According to Bell, racial progress for marginalized groups only occurs when the aims of racial justice converge with the goals of the dominant oppressor in this case, white people or if those aims are beneficial to them. An example is the Brown decision. The doctrine of "separate but equal," established in Plessy, was overturned by the Supreme Court in Brown, in part due to the executive branch's efforts to win the trust and allegiance of Black and brown nations around the world during the Cold War by granting African Americans rights. A more recent example was the Trump administration and the GOP supporting prison reform to reduce federal spending on inmates, aligning with advocates against mass incarceration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its likely that before anything changes for the better in a second Trump administration, white people, particularly the MAGA base, will need to experience some discomfort. With cuts to federal jobs, reductions in funding for federal agencies like the Department of Education and the Department of Health and Human Services, and tampering with Social Security, theres pain to be felt by all including white people. Perhaps then, things will begin to change. It shouldnt have to come to that, but these individuals are too accustomed to having their pockets picked versus being outright robbed. Its why a convicted felon was elected president and why his incompetent advisors are permitted to stay in their roles. And as conservatives determine their fate, those on the side of justice cant wait to act. We must continue to highlight injustice and resist it. However, we cannot operate business as usual. The goal shouldnt be a return to what America was before Donald Trump. The goal must be to construct the America our collective humanity deserves. That means finding new leaders to champion the cause of human rights; we cant afford to follow those who are too afraid to fight or those who go on tour, acknowledging our anger only to lead us back to those who are too afraid to fight or the oligarchy being criticized. This scandal is a microcosm of where we stand as a country. Believing that whiteness will save America has put the nation at risk, and the pain stemming from the mistakes of white mediocrity will be, in the words of el Hajj Malik el Shabazz, the chickens coming home to roost. Expect to see and hear more chickens roosting in the next four years. SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KCAU) Did you know that littering can lead to fines and jail time? The Sioux City Police Department wanted to remind Sioux City residents of that fact. In Iowa, littering is a simple misdemeanor with penalties that include citations and possible fines ranging from $105 to $855 plus possible court costs. According to a release from the police department, this could also include up to 30 days in jail. Siouxland District Health announces upcoming Health Fair Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The police department said recent complaints led to them wanting to issue this reminder. They are asking residents to properly dispose of trash to help keep the city clean. Gill says that if someone sees someone else litter, they shouldnt confront them, as it could be dangerous. I wouldnt approach the person or say anything to them, Gill said. You know, you could pick up the trash for them. Make them see you do it. Or if you videotape them, you can send it in. And we will try to get that person identified and cited for littering. View the City of Sioux Citys code on littering below: City Code 8.24.111 Littering Prohibited No person, firm or corporation shall discard any litter onto or in any water or land of this City, except that nothing in this section shall be construed to affect the authorized collection and discarding of such litter in or on areas or receptacles provided for such purpose. No person, firm or corporation shall permit litter of any kind or description to be so placed or deposited upon private premises over which any such person, firm or corporation has control in such a manner that the same may be carried onto the streets or alleys of the City. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to SiouxlandProud | Sioux City, IA | News, Weather, and Sports. SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KCAU) Siouxland District Health has announced that they will be hosting a Health Fair later this week. In a release from the Siouxland District Health Department, they announced that they will be hosting a Health Fair on Friday. Siouxland Multi-Cultural Fair kicks off for what may be its final year The Health Fair will take place at the Long Lines Family Rec. Center from 2 p.m. until 5 p.m. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the fair, Siouxland District Health will be offering free health screenings, educational opportunities, and tips on maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Food and snacks will also be provided. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to SiouxlandProud | Sioux City, IA | News, Weather, and Sports. FRANKFURT, March 31 (Xinhua) -- German companies are expressing renewed confidence in economic cooperation with China, as business leaders and officials from the two countries gathered to mark the 10th anniversary of the China International Investment Promotion Agency (Germany), also known as CIIPA Germany. The event, held last Friday in Frankfurt, brought together over 100 senior executives, officials, and trade representatives from both countries. The strong turnout and tone of the gathering underscored growing interest in expanding bilateral investment and trade ties. "Germany and China - this is not just a success story of the past, but one that remains crucial today for prosperity in both our countries," said Hans-Peter Friedrich, former vice president of the German Bundestag and chairman of the Germany-China Parliamentary Group. Since 2017, CIIPA Germany has helped foster cooperation by building platforms for industry cluster partnerships, launching regional offices, and working with more than 20 German partners to promote strategic collaboration in key sectors including automotive, smart manufacturing, life sciences, and green industries, said Yu Guangsheng, deputy director of the investment promotion bureau of China's Ministry of Commerce. "CIIPA Germany has effectively built a bridge for Sino-German cooperation," said Huang Yiyang, consul general of China in Frankfurt. He noted that through targeted industry connections, study tours, annual investment reports, and forums such as "Invest in China," the agency has played a central role in connecting regional resources and stakeholders from both countries. Among the business leaders in attendance was Guenter Weippert, CEO of Weippert Kunststofftechnik GmbH & Co. KG, who first visited China last September as part of a German entrepreneur delegation organized by CIIPA Germany. "Visiting China has been a truly delightful experience. I have met many enthusiastic representatives from Chinese companies," said Weippert, who credited the trip with opening up new opportunities for cross-border cooperation. He added that he is looking forward to attending another trade and economic event with a Chinese delegation this week. Weippert's enthusiasm was echoed by other German participants who joined the trip to China last year. More than 20 business representatives took part, many of whom met potential Chinese partners and initiated talks that have since developed into concrete investment plans and agreements. Volker Treier, a member of the executive board at the German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DIHK), expressed optimism that China would remain an essential market for German companies for decades to come. Herbert Diess, former Volkswagen CEO and Infineon board member, highlighted China's low-carbon transformation as a compelling reason for global partners to collaborate with the country on climate goals. "Cooperation with China is a must if the world is to successfully tackle climate change," said Diess. Friday's event also saw the launching of the Sino-German Enterprise Investment Cooperation Annual Report (2024-2025), which features insights from 30 leading executives across both countries. The report outlines continued opportunities for collaboration in technology, innovation, and green industries. Markus H. Mueller, vice president of the Frankfurt Chamber of Industry and Commerce, described bilateral ties as extending beyond economics. "Our relations bridge cultures, lay a foundation of mutual trust, and drive forward-looking innovation," he said. Frank Aletter, managing director of the Hessian Chamber of Industry and Commerce, urged governments, agencies, and business organizations from both sides to work together, "to ensure that investment flows are not only maintained but made future-proof." Friedrich expressed his optimism toward the future of bilateral cooperation, saying: "even if conditions change, the success story of Sino-German cooperation can and will continue with a firm resolve." SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KCAU) An Akron, Iowa, native has spent his life working on his love for puppets, designing many characters that you might recognize. From plays like the The Last Firefly to even Alice in Wonderland, there are so many stories this Siouxland native has brought to life for families. Plymouth County Historical Museum celebrates 60th anniversary At 12 years old, Eric Van Wyk and his family moved to Ireton, Iowa. With his already having an interest in arts and theatre, one play sealed the deal for what he wanted to do in life. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theres a very specific memory I have while in high school, and I was attending a production at Dort University and of a Bertolt Brecht play. And these large figures came kind of sweeping through the aisles, and they were these large-scale puppets that people were wearing. And I just remember the mystery, but the beauty and also just the joy of it, said Van Wyk. Once Eric graduated high school, he ended up attending Dordt University, even working alongside the person who designed the play he saw, as well as the University of Maryland. Eventually, Eric got a job at the Childrens Theatre Company in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where he created puppets and backgrounds for many plays. One theater production and two different ballet productions of Alice in Wonderland. And, of course, theres a wonderful large dragon, the Jabberwocky, that Alice and the White Knight get to fight. But theres also some delightful, whimsical, smaller creatures, said Van Wyk. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement From The Biggest Little House in the Forest, Babe the Sheep Pig, and even Frozen. Eric has worked on many iconic characters like Sven and Olaf. Theyre kind of theatrical in that they are in that believing world related to Elsa & Anna, But theyre are also you know, Sven is Christophes best friend. And they also are very light hearted, theyre very gregarious, and so those are all emotions that come into the design and how they work and how they move, said Van Wyk. Siouxland Multicultural Fair kicks off for its final year Eric encourages folks that have a passion for the arts to pursue it, but reminds folks it takes time and a whole lot of effort. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A lot of the arts and indeed a lot of disciplines, you know, starts with perseverance and dedication and imagination. And so to all young people out there, I would say, you know, embrace those three and start to cultivate what you want to tell. Whats your story? What are the things youre interested in? And then to follow that passionately, said Van Wyk. Eric has also created his own shows, Mop Dog and The Elephant Speaks Jazz. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to SiouxlandProud | Sioux City, IA | News, Weather, and Sports. Historians will remember the current period of geopolitical turmoil as the moment Western nations lost trust in the U.S., Sir Richard Branson has warned. The British billionaire behind the Virgin brand gave a furious assessment of the new U.S. administration on LinkedIn, lambasting a rhetorical U-turn from being the Wests peacekeeper to its main antagonist since Donald Trumps return to the White House. Policymakers in Europe have been scrambling since Trump took office. The president is pushing for Ukraine to agree to a peace deal with Russia, going so far as to temporarily withdraw military support for the country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump has also discussed pulling the U.S. out of the NATO military alliance after complaining for years about European member states failing to reach their targeted spending relative to GDP. Meanwhile, EU member state Denmark is batting off fresh attempts by Trump to acquire Greenland for the U.S. The EU has since rallied together to collectively pledge more than $800 billion for defense spending. Germany recently approved a $1.3 trillion spending plan on infrastructure and defense that would see it partially remove its strict debt brake in order to fund its military spending. In a post that touched on the U.S.s past roles in World War II and the Cold War, Branson expressed incredulity at the current situation that has seen the U.S. rhetorically split with Europe, with Branson highlighting Trumps labeling of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as a dictator as a particularly contentious act. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Branson struggled to imagine a precedent for what he called an about-face of this scale and significance. Imagine President Roosevelt changing his mind halfway through World War II, calling Winston Churchill a dictator and then seeking to befriend Hitler, he wrote. And yet, this is the situation European powers are now faced withtheir principal military ally suddenly switching allegiance. Historians will look back at this era in global politics as the time when Western nations trust in America ended. Its frustrating (and incredibly sad) to see this great nation let down its allies, not only because it is the greatest threat to global stability seen in decades, but because it will ultimately do irreparable harm to America, its reputation, and its capacity to advance its interests positively in the world. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Branson also referenced the Budapest Memorandum, a 1993 agreement that led to Ukraine, alongside Belarus and Kazakhstan, giving up its nuclear weapons in return for future protection against Russia. He implied the U.S. risked abandoning its obligations to Ukraines safety as a result of that memorandum. The billionaire has developed close business and cultural ties with the U.S., using the country as the main export market for his music and transport brands over the years, including Virgin Records and Virgin Atlantic. A representative for the Virgin Group didnt immediately respond to a request for comment. This story was originally featured on Fortune.com The Weimar+ support group for Ukraine has said on Monday 31 March that it would increase its aid to Ukraine while considering new sanctions against Russia to force it to agree to a ceasefire. Source: European Pravda; Reuters citing the joint declaration of the Weimar+ group Details: The foreign ministers of France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Poland and the UK, together with the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas and European Commissioner for Defence Andrius Kubilius, discussed increasing military aid and security guarantees for Ukraine, as well as Europe's future role in the peace process on 31 March, during the fourth meeting of the Weimar+ support group for Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The joint declaration after the meeting called on Russia to agree to an "immediate and unconditional ceasefire on equal terms and with full implementation". They said they were prepared to put further pressure on Moscow through new sanctions to ensure that Kyiv was in the "best possible position to secure a just and lasting peace". The countries also said they would increase military, political and humanitarian funding for Ukraine's war effort. They said any peace agreement must be backed by credible security guarantees for Ukraine but stressed, "We stand ready to play a leading role in this regard." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The statement also emphasised that the countries would not accept any agreement limiting Ukraine's defence industry or the military presence of partner countries on Ukrainian territory. The Weimar+ group stated that it is committed to ensuring full accountability for Russia's war crimes by working to establish a special court within the Council of Europe. The statement added that the frozen Russian assets should remain frozen until Moscow ends the war and compensates Ukraine for the damage it has caused. Background: Prior to the meeting, Kallas called on Russia to show goodwill and agree on a ceasefire in Ukraine. The Madrid meeting is taking place ahead of an informal summit of EU defence ministers in Warsaw, which will primarily assess the EUs real capacity to increase military support for Ukraine particularly the urgent provision of ammunition to the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Brenna Frey resigned from Skadden after the firm signed a deal with the Trump administration. It marks another public resignation from the firm. Rachel Cohen did the same. The firm said it would provide $100 million in pro bono work to causes the administration supports. After President Donald Trump announced a deal with Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom on Friday, Brenna Frey decided she'd had enough. Frey was an associate at the firm's Washington, DC, office and said she had worked in Big Law for over a decade. She told Business Insider on Sunday it was a "dealbreaker" for her that Skadden chose to preemptively reach an agreement with the administration to avoid punitive executive actions similar to those taken against other law firms, such as Paul Weiss, Perkins Coie, and WilmerHale. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In recent weeks, Trump has targeted several Big Law firms with executive actions that have stripped their lawyers of security clearances and ordered reviews of their government contracts. "The deal was announced, and that was it for me," Frey said, adding that she was "absolutely not considering leaving" before Skadden's decision to provide $100 million in pro bono legal services to causes that Trump supports. The firm also promised it would not "engage in illegal DEI discrimination," a copy of the agreement that Trump posted on Truth Social said. In her resignation announcement posted on LinkedIn, Frey called Skadden's deal with Trump "a craven attempt to sacrifice the rule of law for self-preservation." She told BI she wanted to make her resignation public to show solidarity with people disappointed or angered by the agreement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I know there are people still at the firm who can't leave for whatever reason, financial reasons, needing to pay back law school loans, the breadwinner for their family," she said. "I knew that those people can't speak out, so because I was able to, I felt it was important to make that public." In her LinkedIn post, Frey quoted Rachel Cohen, another now former Skadden associate who, in a firmwide email, resigned earlier this month. Frey said she also tried to send her resignation to all of Skadden's US firms but found the distribution lists disabled. Two other Skadden associates told BI that they had tried to send firmwide emails seeking more information about the deal but found that their access to the internal distribution lists had been blocked after Cohen's resignation. In her March 20 resignation email to Skadden, which she posted on LinkedIn, Cohen said the situation was not normal. She also circulated an open letter among hundreds of associates at Big Law firms calling on their employers to take a stronger stand against Trump's executive orders. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Friday, Cohen, who worked at the firm's Chicago office, responded to Frey's LinkedIn post, complimenting her decision to "stand for the rule of law." "Brennayou and many others are the reason that I will never be ashamed to say I worked at Skadden Arps, despite leadership's determination to try to ruin the firm's name," Cohen wrote. Frey said she'd received support from some associates within Skadden, as well as from people outside the firm. "With respect to Big Law more generally, I'm grateful that the world is watching, that clients are watching," she said. "There are examples of firms out there who have successfully fought back." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While firms like Skadden and Paul Weiss have signed deals with the president, drawing ire from many within the industry, other firms have chosen to sue in response to Trump's executive orders. Jenner & Block and WilmerHale are two of those firms. In both cases, judges approved temporary restraining orders to halt Trump's executive actions. The judges in both cases expressed concern that the targeted actions threatened the rule of law. "I hope that they look to the firms who have fought back about, against, this infringement on the rule of law," Frey said, "rather than the firms who have chosen to acquiesce to the Trump administration's demands." Read the original article on Business Insider ST. LOUIS A St. Louis Metropolitan Police officer was left injured overnight Monday morning after being struck while attempting to conduct a traffic stop in north St. Louis. According to the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department (SLMPD), the incident took place around 12:40 a.m. near Peck Street and Carter Avenue in north St. Louis Fairground neighborhood. The incident occurred after officers interrupted a large number of vehicles driving recklessly at 9th Street & La Beaume Avenue, police said. When officers attempted to conduct a traffic stop on one of the vehicles involved, the vehicle fled, starting a pursuit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Middle school student hospitalized after attack at Rockwood South During the pursuit, officers deployed spike strips near Peck Street and Carter Avenue in an attempt to disable the fleeing vehicle, police said. After deploying the spikes, the suspects vehicle struck a marked police cruiser, injuring an officer who was exiting the vehicle at the time of the crash. Following the crash, the injured officer was transported to a nearby hospital, suffering from non-life-threatening injuries, according to police. The officer was later discharged from the hospital after receiving treatment. The suspect involved in the crash, a convicted felon, was taken into custody after the crash, police said. Authorities have not identified the suspect in the incident or the officer that was injured during the pursuit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has complained about his last phone conversation with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, which concerned future US tariffs against the EU. Source: Fico at a press conference on 31 March, as quoted by TA3; European Pravda reports Details: Fico said that during the conversation, "Ursula scolded me terribly". "Like, Robert, what have you done? Why did you go to such negotiations with Trump? She scolded me for half an hour, saying I was a complete idiot," he told reporters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Later, Fico said that his remark about being an "idiot" was a joke, but "the Slovak media and opposition did not understand it". Meanwhile, the Slovak prime minister promised von der Leyen that he would take an active position in resolving the issue of tariffs, which are expected to hit the country's automotive industry first. "We will soon have a meeting with the producers, we will listen very carefully to what measures they will propose, and we will again propose them professionally to the European Commission so that the European Union negotiates and reacts together," Fico added. Background: Robert Fico has repeatedly parroted pro-Russian talking points and openly confronted Ukraine on the issue of Russian gas transit. Recently, the Slovak prime minister threatened to block further European sanctions against Russia if, in his words, they threatened the peaceful settlement of the war in Ukraine. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! March 31 (UPI) -- Police in New York are trying to find the owner of a small dog rescued from "ruff waters" in the East River. The New York Police Department said on social media that the Special Operations Division's Harbor Unit rushed into action and "rescued this little pup from the 'ruff waters' of the East River" on Sunday morning. The NYPD said members of the Harbor Unit "ensured she was safe, wrapped her in a warm blanket, and thanks to their quick actions, she can look forward to happier days." Officials said they are still working to identify the canine's owner and return her home. (COLORADO SPRINGS) The topic surrounding the Earth, its heating climate, and what we can do about it, is a daunting conversation for many, but a select few throughout Colorado Springs are championing the conversation and advocating for the planet. John Schoch is a 38-year Navy veteran and former Department of Defense employee who focused on counter-terrorism efforts throughout his career, but since retirement, he has taken up a new form of service advocacy. I had some personal experiences with the consequences of climate change, Schoch said. My elderly parents were evacuated by boat twice from floods in upstate New York, where floods never used to happen. I, myself, was on pre-evac for the Black Forest Fire in 2013. Once I retired from the very busy job that I had, I started digging into the science on climate change. Courtesy: FOX21 News Photojournalist Cora Mitchell Courtesy: FOX21 News Photojournalist Cora Mitchell Schoch said that Bill Gates book, Avoiding the Climate Crisis, was his first exposure to the actual science of climate change. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On page five of that book, I ran across the name of a friend of mine that I had in the U.K. when I was stationed over there. His name is David J.C. Mackay, Schoch recalled. The shocking thing was the adjective late in front of Davids name. Mackay was the former British Senior Advisor on Climate and Energy who was knighted by the British government. Since Mackays death, Schoch was moved to carry on his climate work. I spent my whole career working against terrorism, and then Ive seen in our own society the polarization and the extremism on the rise. Why are we wasting so much time on these kinds of ideological squabbles when the dragon thats going to incinerate us all is climate change, if we dont get our act together? In September 2024, Schoch founded his company, Colorado Climate Advocates LLC. Schoch describes it as a not-for-profit business, selling t-shirts, bumper stickers, buttons, and more with the phrase, Fight climate change, not each other, and donating any profit made to climate education and advocacy groups throughout Colorado. One of those groups is the climate team for Colorado Public Radio. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Schoch admits his goals are lofty, but he hopes to encourage conversation and individual action by setting up a table in front of willing businesses and approaching people as they pass by. I had one fellow who came by and he said, Well, youre trying to do the impossible. I said, Yeah, that occurred to me as well,' Schoch said. But I re-thought that. No, its not impossible. Its an improbable possibility, and its impossible only if we dont give it a shot. Schoch is one of many throughout Colorado Springs who want to fight to protect the natural beauty of our planet. 350Colorado is a statewide climate advocacy group, while 350Colorado Springs focuses specifically on decarbonizing the Pikes Peak region. Courtesy: FOX21 News Photojournalist Cora Mitchell Courtesy: FOX21 News Photojournalist Cora Mitchell Courtesy: FOX21 News Photojournalist Cora Mitchell Having more public transportation, more walkability, more bikeability, thats a pretty growing campaign at the moment. said Chelsea Alexander, Movement Building and Volunteer Director with 350Colorado. Alexander finds Schochs mission admirable. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theres not, as far as I know, a lot of Johns out there doing that. Hes building up a lot of, I think, powerful energy, and helping expose issues to people that probably need it. Alexander said. 350Colorado Springs meets monthly and is open to anyone with a desire to fight climate change, join in activism and be involved. Grassroots organizations, such as 350Colorado, are important and growing in popularity in the world of advocacy for any cause. People really come to grassroots issues because they see changes that need to happen in their community or in the world at large. So, it really is just reassuring to know that people Im working alongside are doing this because they care. Alexander said. 350Colorado participates in frequent lobbying to local lawmakers to see bills passed or blocked. Schoch also lobbies alongside the Pikes Peak chapter of the Citizens Climate Lobby. In a democracy, where speaking up for ones beliefs are sacred, these advocates are speaking up for the entire planet. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The antidote to despair is action. And, going to one protest or signing one petition isnt necessarily going to be what creates that everlasting change, it contributes towards it. But I think if people can shift their mindset about how they show up to grassroots organizing, I think thats going to be the most powerful thing that can happen. Alexander said. Lets raise money for climate advocacy and lets talk to people about getting on board with pumping the brakes on climate change. Schoch said. Schoch says his goal is to talk to 2,000 people on the streets of Colorado Springs by mid-2025, but ultimately, to fight climate change, not each other. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. MOSCOW, March 31 (Xinhua) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree on the routine spring conscription campaign, a document from the Kremlin showed on Monday. A total of 160,000 citizens aged 18 to 30 will be drafted from April 1 to July 15, said the decree. The conscription campaign is not linked with the special military operation in Ukraine, the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement, adding that conscripts will be sent to permanent deployment locations of military units, formations and other military structures. Russia conducts conscriptions twice a year, namely in spring and autumn. The spring 2024 draft saw the enlistment of 150,000 people. All men in Russia are required to participate in military service for one year or equivalent training during higher education from the age of 18. BROOKLYN PARK, Minnesota (KCAU) Authorities were responding to a airplane that crashed into a house and caused a large fire in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, on Saturday. Several local residents watching as flames engulfed the house on Kyle Avenue North, near Nobel Parkway. Officials said no one inside the house was injured. However officials added no plane occupants survived the crash. The Federal Aviation Administration, said a six-seater Socata TBM7 aircraft was flying from Des Moines International Airport, in Iowa, and was headed to Anoka County-Blaine Airport in Minneapolis, when it crashed in Brooklyn Park around 12:20 p.m. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Governor Tim Walz, said his team was in touch with local officials on the scene in Brooklyn park and were monitoring the situation closely. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to SiouxlandProud | Sioux City, IA | News, Weather, and Sports. March 30 (UPI) -- A small plane crashed into a Minnesota home over the weekend, with U.S. Bank reportedly on Sunday stating its vice chair was on board. The single-engine plane crashed into a home on Kyle Avenue in Brooklyn Park, a northwestern suburb of Minneapolis, shortly after noon on Saturday. During a Sunday press conference about 24 hours after the crash, officials said that at least one person was on board the aircraft. U.S. Bank told media that it believes its vice chair, Terry Dolan, was the plane's sole occupant. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A spokesperson with the bank said the plane was registered to Dolan, 63, who served as U.S. Bank's chief administration officer. UPI has contacted U.S. Bank for confirmation. Officials at the press conference said they would not be able to release the identity of the aircraft's pilot. Dr. Jessica Campbell, a forensic anthropologist at the Hennepin County Medical Examiner's Office, said her office will release that information when ready. "We have to make sure we have scientific identification when we release that," she said. The plane was traveling southwest when it crashed into the southeast side of the home's roof, officials said. One of the two occupants was home when the crash occurred, but was able to "self escape," Brooklyn Park Fire Chief Shawn Conway said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There were no reported injuries. Conway said the home was a "total loss," while the vinyl siding of a neighboring residence to the south was damaged. Yards also incurred debris damage, he said. Video of the scene circulated online shows the house completely engulfed by flames. The plane, which suffered severe damage, is to be moved to a second location where National Transportation Safety Board officials will continue their investigation. Weather, pilot experience and condition of the plane will be looked at, NTSB aviation accident investigator Tim Sorensen said. "We're also looking into all other aspects ... that may have affected the operations, such as the weather, such as the background experience of the pilot, the status of the aircraft, maintenance of the aircraft -- all of that will be taken into account as the investigation proceeds," he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Conway told reporters that they are in ongoing communication with those affected. "Supporting all the families, loved ones, friends -- they are our priority," he said. "We are in ongoing conversations with them because those needs are changing." An ongoing federal lawsuit alleges that social media companies have designed addictive platforms, exploiting young users. Corpus Christi Independent School District wants in. The Corpus Christi ISD board of trustees voted Monday evening to approve a legal services contract with three law firms, requesting approval from the Texas attorney general to participate in the litigation. Plaintiffs, including numerous U.S. states, are taking on social media companies such as Meta Platforms Inc., Instagram LLC, Snap Inc., TikTok Inc., ByteDance Inc., YouTube LLC, Google LLC and Alphabet Inc. The plaintiffs allege that these companies have targeted school-aged children, a population "uniquely susceptible to harm," creating a youth mental health crisis. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The plaintiffs' first amended master complaint claims that school districts "have been forced into a constant struggle for students' attention, as well as a constant struggle to provide the social, emotional, mental health, and learning support they need." The Corpus Christi Independent School District is attempting to join a federal lawsuit against social media companies that claims their platforms have created a youth mental health crisis. Schools allege social media lead to bullying, discipline issues, mental health crisis Social media has "fundamentally changed the learning and teaching environment," according to the complaint. About 800 school districts have joined the lawsuit, Corpus Christi ISD board attorney Philip Fraissinet said during the Monday meeting. School districts have been dealing with the results of social media addiction, Fraissinet said, including having to hire additional mental health staff, facing bullying and discipline issues and losing learning opportunities. Corpus Christi ISD intends to participate in the case by working with Fraissinet's firm Thompson & Horton LLP, as well as Eiland & Bonnin PC and O'Hanlon, Demerath and Castillo PC on a contingent fee basis. This means that the school district will not pay any legal fees related to the litigation "until and unless" there is a successful judgment or settlement, Fraissinet said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fraissinet said that 46 Texas school districts have approved participating in the litigation, pending Texas attorney general approval. A 2023 advisory from the U.S. surgeon general describes evidence of the effects of social media on youth mental health, including data that social media provides some benefits but also presents a meaningful risk of harm to youth, such as depression and anxiety. A 2023 report from the American Federation of Teachers claims that "dealing with social media-related issues detracts from the primary mission" of schools, which is educating children. The potential harms of social media to youth have not gone unnoticed in the Coastal Bend. Last year, a parents group called Champions for Childhood coalesced in Corpus Christi, concerned about youth social media and smartphone usage. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the start of the current school year, Corpus Christi ISD banned cellphones and smartwatches during the school day for pre-K through eighth grade. High school students are still allowed to use cellphones between classes and during lunch, but district rules call for devices to remain turned off and out of the way in the classroom. Photos: Corpus Christi Water patrols neighborhood during Stage 3 drought restrictions Which Texas public schools are meeting state standards? Here's how you can learn more CCISD AD Marshall named one of 10 influential women by Dave Campbell's Texas Football This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: Corpus Christi ISD seeks to join social media addiction lawsuit Since the North Korean invasion of the South on June 25, 1950, United Nations forces had managed to reverse the situation by September, retaking the capital of Seoul and driving a routed Korean Peoples Army (KPA) back into its home territory. The newly established communist China, however, could not tolerate a united pro-Western Korea on its Manchurian border, and in late October, the so-called Peoples Volunteer Army (PVA) intervened in the conflict, crossing the Yalu River into Korea. By mid-November the PVA had thrown the U.N. forces back, retaking Seoul and giving the North Koreans a chance to regroup. In February 1951, however, the Chinese supply lines were overextended and recovering U.N. forces brought their offensive to a halt in the Battle of Chipyong-ni on Feb. 13-14 and Operation Killer nearly a week later. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On March 7, the U.N. launched another offensive, dubbed Operation Ripper, conceived by Gen. Matthew Ridgway to flank Seoul and destroy the PVA and KPA. Ridgway achieved the first objective, with his troops advancing an average of 30 miles of frontage, flanking Seoul and encountering virtually no opposition as the South Korean capital changed hands for the fourth and last time on March 15. By the declared conclusion of the offensive on March 23, the communist armies suffered thousands of casualties, but a well-executed fighting retreat kept them intact for the fighting yet to come which for the next two years would see even greater casualties but no decisive battles on either side. It was at the very beginning of Operation Ripper that Sfc. Nelson Brittin experienced the sort of savage hill fighting that became the norm for the rest of the Korean War. When his company was ordered to take a hill during Operation Ripper, Sfc. Nelson Brittin led the way. (Congressional Medal of Honor Society) Nelson Vogel Brittin was born in Audubon, New Jersey, on Oct. 31, 1920, and was drafted into the U.S. Army on July 7, 1942. Brittin served in Italy during World War II and discharged in 1946. He briefly attending the University of Florence, Italy, before deciding to reenlist in 1948, serving in the occupation forces in Japan. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He had risen in rank to sergeant first class when he was shipped to the Republic of Korea with I Company, 3rd Battalion, 19th Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. He was wounded in December 1950 and February 1951, but had returned to his unit in time for Operation Ripper. On March 7, 1951, U.N. forces on either side of Seoul crossed the Han River, encountering small, often stubborn pockets of Chinese resistance whose sole purpose proved to be slowing down the U.N. offensive while the bulk of their armies withdrew northward to more defensible ground. Near Yonggong-Ni that day, I Company crossed the Han and encountered a pocket of resistance in the form of fortified machine gun positions on a hill. Brittin volunteered to lead a squad to secure the hill and due to the meager cover it afforded, he ordered his men to cover him while he moved up alone. He threw a grenade at the first enemy position he engaged, but the enemy returned it in kind with a grenade of their own, which knocked him down and wounded him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Refusing medical attention, Brittin replenished his grenade supply, which he hurled at several enemy positions until their occupants abandoned them and he shot them as they fled. As he approached one defensive position, Brittins rifle jammed, but without hesitation he leaped into the hole and killed all its occupants using his bayonet and his rifle butt. At that point, Brittin noticed one of his squads pinned down by an enemy machine gun, so he rushed it from behind, threw a grenade into it, then ran around to the front to kill the emerging three-man crew with his rifle. As they resumed their climb, Brittin and his squad had not advanced 100 yards before coming under fire with what his citation described as a camouflaged, sandbagged machine gun nest well-flanked by supporting riflemen. As his citation continued, Brittin again charged this new position in an aggressive endeavor to silence this remaining obstacle and ran directly into a burst of automatic fire which killed him instantly. In his sustained and driving action, he had killed 20 enemy soldiers and destroyed four automatic weapons, the conspicuous valor, and noble self-sacrifice displayed by Sfc. Brittin enabled his inspired company to attain its objective. Brittins body was returned home in November 1951 and buried at Beverly National Cemetery in Beverly, New Jersey. On Jan. 16, 1952, his parents received a posthumously awarded Medal of Honor from then-Defense Secretary Robert Lovett. The roll on/roll off Military Sealift Command cargo ship ESB-4, built in 2002, is named Nelson V. Brittin in his honor. The News Somalias breakaway region of Somaliland dismissed a plan by Mogadishu to hand the US control of two ports on the Gulf of Aden as desperate and misguided. The comments by Somalilands Foreign Minister Abdirahman Dahir Adan, posted on X, came shortly after Semafor first reported the Somali governments offer to Washington on Friday. Mogadishu does not control the assets it offered and the move was widely seen as an attempt by the government to prevent Washington from recognizing breakaway regions in the troubled region. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As Semafor also first reported in December, the Trump administration is considering recognizing Somaliland in order to counter Chinese presence in the Horn of Africa. Adan said on X that there was nothing [Mogadishu] can do to stop the upcoming recognition of Somaliland. Couples Celebration Day I am a woman. I was born a woman. My husband is a man. He was born a man. We are not able to have children. We arent rich and cannot afford IVF. Im deeply offended by the statement that only couples who can produce a child are real people. Im also tired of people who make hurtful statements saying theyre sorry if anyone was offended or misunderstood. I perfectly understand what youre saying. And that is not an apology. Capitol riot Could you please give me the name of the news outlet where you got the information that six policemen died at the Capitol on Jan. 6th? My information states that one person died on that day, Ashli Babbit. She was shot by a Capitol policeman. Sewage pond Depravity seems to be the adjective to best describe the current state of American culture. There seem to be no restraints at all on the ways people are behaving socially, publicly or privately. Social media, airplanes, streets, events, parties, schools, work places. Nearly everyday there seems to a new report on the arrest of a female teacher molesting children under her care. Everybody that wants to make quick but large sums of money, including former actors and celebrities, has an OnlyFans account. The money they claim to make serves to entice others to go that route for income. Road rage, embezzlement, subway violence, cons, increasing drug use and anarchy. It would be incorrect to use adjectives like civility, decorum, moral or respectful. Certainly not principles like honest, fair, thoughtful, kind, unselfishness or helpful. It seems like weve fallen into a great big sewage pond and cant find a ladder to get out. Guilty or innocent? Apparently according to President Trump if you are an American citizen you are innocent until proven guilty. If you are not an American citizen you are guilty until proven innocent. DOGE I saw some vets picketing outside the Biloxi VA on my way home from Keesler. Not sure if they are veterans upset at possible loss of VA care or veterans upset at being laid off. As a military retiree and one who also retired from a second career in the civilian sector, I empathize in both situations I want good VA care but I also know our government has become extremely bloated. I fully support President Trumps efforts to downsize our government, cut the financial fat and fairly call out fraud, waste and abuse in all government agencies. I realize that there will be pain, but I believe it will be worth it in the long run. DEI at the Smithsonian President Trump wants any mention of race or gender from Smithsonian. This is a historical institution. History is what has happened. Misinformation is false facts. History should be accurate accounts of events. Is he so insecure he cant give credit for what others have accomplished? Keep the faith Keep the faith, liberals. Polls that show the Democrat party in the toilet are just Fox lies. With Rep. Ocasio-Cortez as your new leader, the country will yours once again. Send your Sound Offs to soundoff@sunherald.com. The population in South Carolina is growing, according to reports from WPDE. From 2019 to 2023, 161,000 people moved into the Palmetto State. ALSO READ: Plan to keep Rock Hill homeless population out of hotels to be reconsidered The bulk of those new residents migrated to the coast, with a combined 34,000 people moving to Horry and Charleston counties. York County had the fifth-highest number of newcomers, with nearly 12,000. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Economic development officials believe people are moving to South Carolina for the weather, lifestyle, and employment opportunities. VIDEO: Plan to keep Rock Hill homeless population out of hotels to be reconsidered A gray, rainy weekend washed over South Florida, and while it brought some relief from Marchs dryness and heat, it wasnt nearly enough to get the region out of its drought, especially as dry conditions persist this week. Lingering moisture in South Floridas atmosphere creates about a 30% to 40% chance for isolated or scattered showers and thunderstorms on Monday and Tuesday afternoon, but any development would be expected to be shallow and weak in nature, according to the National Weather Service in Miami. From Tuesday night through Sunday, rain chances will fall to around 10% as increasingly dry air and breezy conditions will mar the region. Barry Baxter with the weather service said a weak, isolated tornado cannot be ruled out, either. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Each major South Florida metropolitan has seen well below the level of rain usually experienced during the regions dry season. Miami is about 7.5 inches below normal, Fort Lauderdale is about 5.5 inches below normal and the area around the Palm Beach International airport is about 12 inches below normal, Baxter said. South Florida is also on the tail end of any cold front potential, Baxter said. High temperatures will hover around the mid-80s each day this week, with the heat index in the mid-90s due to the humidity. The low temperatures will be in the mid-70s. Cold fronts will kind of stop coming down here early April, and then summer starts to show its face to us for South Florida, Baxter said. (Bloomberg) -- South Koreas interim leader Han Duck-soo faces the threat of yet another impeachment proceeding as the Constitutional Court drags out its deliberations on President Yoon Suk Yeols political fate, irking politicians in both the liberal and conservative camps. Most Read from Bloomberg Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Park Chan-dae, the floor leader of the main opposition Democratic Party, warned of an important determination if Han doesnt make an appointment to fill the last remaining vacant seat on the nine-judge bench of the Constitutional Court by Tuesday. Park did not elaborate on what his party might do, but some of his colleagues earlier said they would push for Hans impeachment again, and do the same for any other Cabinet member who might fill his post as the countrys acting president. Han returned to office just last week after the court overturned his December impeachment, which was orchestrated by the opposition-controlled parliament for the same reason. The court said Hans refusal to appoint court justices was a violation of the law, but wasnt sufficient to justify his removal from office. The ruling People Power Party is also urging the court to make a swift decision on Yoon. Its a necessary step to fulfill its responsibilities as a constitutional institution, and to end the national chaos, PPP leader Kwon Young-se said Monday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The frustration over the long wait for the Yoon verdict underscores concerns from policymakers as they cope with instability and uncertainties clouding the outlook for Asias fourth-largest economy. US President Donald Trumps tariff campaign threatens to deal a fresh blow to the trade-reliant countrys car exports, adding to recent weakness in the growth of chip sales. In two previous cases of presidential impeachment, the court took no longer than two weeks to reach a verdict after the last hearing. Yoons case has already dragged on for more than a month. Its not immediately clear if the appointment of the additional justice, who is considered a liberal, would expedite the courts decision or boost the chances of Yoons removal from office. The currency market is on edge and economists warn that as the court drags its feet on the highly-anticipated decision, the won will stay under pressure. The currency lost 2.2% over the past month, making it the worst performer in Asia versus the greenback. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2025 Bloomberg L.P. A man was arrested after he allegedly stole a pizza from a restaurant and punched a customer in the face during the incident, authorities say. The San Bernardino County Sheriffs Department issued a release on Monday morning stating that a call regarding a fight at a business came in around 5:45 p.m. Friday. Publics overwhelming love and support means beloved West Hollywood eatery will stay open Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Upon arriving at the business, located in the 22300 block of Barton Road in Grand Terrace, the deputy learned that an altercation broke out between multiple customers. A customer attempted to leave the restaurant with a pizza and he was attacked by the suspect, SBSDs media release said. A second customer observed the altercation and attempted to intervene. The suspect punched the second customer in the face and fled the location with the pizza in a black Lexus sedan. Investigation into the incident led to the identification of the suspect as 24-year-old Henry Mancillas-Gomez. Multiple Orange County sheriffs patrol cars involved in wild crash Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mancillas-Gomez, a resident of Lancaster, was arrested on Sunday at a motel in Fontana after his car was located there, SBSD said. He was booked at the Central Detention Center for robbery. Inmate search records indicate he was released on bail and is no longer in custody as of Monday morning. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. LONDON, March 31 (Xinhua) -- British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced on Monday that Britain has returned over 24,000 illegal immigrants since the Labour Party took office - marking the highest number in the past eight years. The announcement came as Britain hosted representatives from 40 countries at Lancaster House for a two-day summit focusing on combating organized immigration crime. Starmer described people-smuggling as a global security threat comparable to terrorism and urged summit attendees to adopt counter-terrorism methods to combat smuggling gangs. He said the government would "pull every lever available" and enhance international coordination to "tackle the problem upstream" by targeting every stage of the people-smuggling chain. Citing cooperation with France and Germany as models of effective international collaboration, Starmer noted that Britain and France are enhancing border patrols and deploying specialist units along the French coast, backed by advanced surveillance technology. He also noted Germany's move to criminalize the facilitation of illegal migration to non-EU countries. He also urged British employers to tighten checks on illegal workers, warning that companies failing to meet these requirements would face "tough" new rules. Britain would no longer be a "soft touch" for illegal immigration, he said. In a bid to reinforce border security, Starmer announced the creation of an elite Border Security Unit composed of hundreds of specialist investigators drawn from the police, Border Force, and intelligence agencies. The government will invest approximately 150 million pounds (194.07 million U.S. dollars) over the next two years in this initiative. Additionally, police will be granted new powers to seize phones and electronic devices from arriving migrants to extract intelligence on suspected smuggling operations, and to act where there is evidence of potential criminal activities. Despite the government's efforts, local media reported that nearly 25,000 people crossed the English Channel to reach Britain between July 2024 and February 2025 - a 28 percent increase compared to the same period in 2023. Meanwhile, Home Office data showed that detentions under immigration authorities in 2024 rose by 12 percent from 2023, a reversal of the decline observed since 2015. (1 pound = 1.29 U.S. dollar) LAWRENCE COUNTY, Mo. Lawrence County authorities are investigating a shooting that left one man dead and one person in custody. Austin Stone, 24, of Billings, is being held in the Lawrence County Jail with no bond on charges of first-degree murder, armed criminal action, unlawful use of a weapon,n and unlawful possession of a weapon. Sheriff deputies responded to the area of Lawrence 1210 and Lawrence 2240 near Aurora just after 11:00 p.m. yesterday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They found Joshua Snider, 33, of Aurora, dead in the road with a gunshot wound to the chest. Investigators say there were several people in the area at the time of the incident who helped identify Stone as the suspect. FOUR STATES CRIME Witnesses say Stone drove up next to the victims vehicle and stopped in the ditch. They say the victim got out of his vehicle and walked over to Stones vehicle, thats when Stone shot him and sped off. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Greene County authorities arrested him and took Stone back to the Lawrence County Jail within hours of the first 911 call. If it wasnt for the quick cooperation with all of those other agencies it could have taken who knows how long to find the suspect and take him into custody, but fortunately with the cooperation with the other agencies it took about two hours to locate him and take him into custody, said Brad DeLay, Lawrence County Sheriff. DeLay says Stone and the man hes accused of shooting previously knew each other, and there is no threat to the public. PREVIOUS: LAWRENCE COUNTY, Mo. Southwest Missouri authorities confirmed Monday morning they are investigating a deadly shooting from over the weekend. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lawrence County Deputies responded to the area of Lawrence 1210 and Lawrence 2240 in Aurora Sunday night. Thats where they found a man lying dead in the roadway with an apparent gunshot wound. Police say the suspect had already left the area. Officers received a description of the suspects vehicle, and based on that description, Greene County deputies located the suspect. He was taken into custody. Austin Stone, 24, is in the Lawrence County Jail awaiting charges of first-degree murder and a number of weapons charges. Hes being held without bond. Investigators said the victim and suspect were known to one another. They add the cooperation between agencies resulted in the suspects arrest in less than two hours from the call. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We will bring you more information as soon as its available. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNF/KODE | FourStatesHomepage.com. A wealthy Chinese-born bitcoin entrepreneur, a Norwegian cinematographer, a German robotics expert and an Australian adventurer blasted off atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket Monday, kicking off the first crewed flight over the North and South poles. Using a first stage booster making its sixth fight another first for a Crew Dragon liftoff from historic pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center came on time at 9:46 p.m. EDT. A SpaceX Crew Dragon carrying four world-traveling adventurers blasted off on a chartered private mission Monday on the first crewed flight orbiting Earth's poles / Credit: Michael Cain/Spaceflight Now Lighting up the night sky, the Falcon 9 initially climbed straight up and then arced over onto a due south trajectory along Florida's east coast before soaring out over the Gulf on a course carrying it above Cuba and Panama toward a polar orbit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After dropping off the first stage for a successful droneship landing, the rocket's upper stage shut down 10 minutes after liftoff and the Crew Dragon was released to fly on its own. It is expected to fly over the North and South Poles 55 times between Monday night and splashdown Friday in the Pacific Ocean. The Fram2 Crew Dragon capsule floats away from the Falcon 9 rocket's second stage after safely reaching a 273-mile-high orbit around Earth's poles. / Credit: SpaceX "On behalf of the SpaceX team, we're honored to deliver you safely to your polar orbit," radioed Bill Gerstenmaier, NASA's former director of space operations and now a senior manager at SpaceX. "Enjoy the views of the poles, send us some pictures. Our hearts and our minds will be flying with you ... Have a great flight." Who are the private adventurers on the Fram2 mission? Chun Wang, a Chinese-born citizen of Malta who lives mostly in the extreme north of Norway, paid SpaceX an undisclosed amount to charter the Crew Dragon "Resilience" for a trip in polar orbit. The deal marks SpaceX's third privately funded civilian space tourism flight. The Fram2 crew (left to right): Australian polar guide Eric Philips, Maltese bitcoin entrepreneur and mission commander Chun Wang, German roboticist Rabea Rogge and Norwegian cinematographer Jannicke Mikkelsen. / Credit: SpaceX "My own journey has been shaped by lifelong curiosity and a fascination with pushing boundaries," Chun (pronounced choon) told reporters Friday. "As a kid, I used to stare at a blank white space at the bottom of a world map and wonder what's out there. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Curiosity eventually took me across the continent and to the southern most tip of Earth in 2021, and also the North Pole in 2023, and now, soon, into space." The flight, he added, "isn't just about going to space. It's about pushing boundaries, sharing knowledge ... and we hope our mission will further inspire later people to do the same." Chun named the mission after the 19th century sailing ship Fram "forward" in Norwegian that carried arctic pioneers to the polar regions in the 1800s. A small piece of Fram's teak decking was carried into space aboard the Crew Dragon. An artist's impression of the Fram2 Crew Dragon flying over the poles and the shimmering lights of an auroral display. / Credit: SpaceX "Pretty wild to see the Fram adventurers sailing to the poles once again, over 130 years from (the original ship's) christening," SpaceX's launch director radioed the crew. "This time, though, with Starlink. Cheers." A veteran world traveler, Chun offered the Crew Dragon's three other seats to a trio of explorers he met during a recent polar trip. Jannicke Mikkelsen, a Norwegian cinematographer, is the designated vehicle commander, joined by German roboticist Rabea Rogge as the mission pilot. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The fourth member of the crew is Australian Eric Philips, a professional polar tour guide, adventurer and veteran of some 30 trips to the North and South poles. He is serving as the crew's medical officer. Some might view the crew as seasoned adventurers and now, space tourists. In an interview with CBS News, Mikkelsen made it clear the crew is well qualified, but she said "space tourists" doesn't reflect the extensive training required by SpaceX. "I wish it was tourism," she said. "But our education has lasted well over a year, so I have never studied so hard for a three-and-a-half-day expedition in my life." History of private space flights Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chun said he was inspired to book the mission by the example set by entrepreneur Jared Isaacman, the billionaire who chartered SpaceX's first two fully commercial missions, and fellow billionaire Yusaku Maezawa, who flew to the International Space Station aboard a Russian Soyuz spacecraft. "I owe my inspiration to Jared," Chun posted on X. "If it weren't for @yousuckMZ and @rookisaacman taking the first step, I would have never had the courage to book an entire spaceship and bring along three people I had only met once before. I also copied many good practices from his previous missions hope he doesn't mind." Isaacman, who owns and flies a Russian fighter jet, is the Trump administration's nominee to serve as NASA's next administrator. The Fram2 crew during training at SpaceX's Hawthorne, California, manufacturing facility. Left to right: Rabea Rogge, Eric Philips, Jannicke Mikkelsen and Chun Wang, the mission commander. Chun paid SpaceX an undisclosed amount to charter the Crew Dragon for a flight around Earth's poles. / Credit: SpaceX Unlike Isaacman, no one on the Fram2 mission is a licensed pilot. While Blue Origin has launched non-pilot crews to the edge of space in sub-orbital New Shepard flights, no crew has flown to orbit without at least one crew member with aviation expertise or astronaut experience. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SpaceX says Fram2 will help refine training procedures aimed at opening up spaceflight to more and more non-professionals. "As a roboticist, I'm so hyped about Dragon being an autonomous vehicle which really, I think, shows you how much times are changing in the space sector," Rogge said. "We are really at a crucial point in time where the spacecraft does so many of the tasks itself. "I think that really spearheads the accessibility to space, right? Because the dream is (to) have many people in space if we want to live and work there as a civilization." She added, "right now I think the stereotype of an astronaut is that, you know, super, super, super human, medically perfect. But we should really flip this question and be like, OK, how do we design living and working in space for everyone?" Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Plans for orbiting around the poles The crew plans to carry out 22 experiments during the flight, ranging from filming auroral displays from orbit to testing compact exercise equipment for use in smaller spacecraft, growing oyster mushrooms in microgravity and taking the first X-rays in space. Along with three high-end professional cameras, the crew is equipped with four iPad Minis, two iPhone Pro Max cellphones, three laptop computers, a ham radio "and even an X-ray generator, which we'll use to capture the first-ever X-ray image of the human body in space something crucial for future long-duration missions to Mars and beyond," Chun posted on X. Also on board: a Starlink laser terminal mounted in the Crew Dragon's lower trunk section that will give the crew, in theory, data relay speeds of up to 100 gigabytes per second or better. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To reach the planned orbit around the poles, one tilted 90 degrees to Earth's equator, the flight plan called for the Falcon 9 to follow a due-south trajectory carrying the crew above southern Florida, Cuba and Panama on the way to space. The 273-mile-high orbit will allow 55 passes above the poles between launch and splashdown. Jon Edwards, a SpaceX vice president who oversee Falcon 9 flight operations, said the Crew Dragon's flight software was modified to ensure the vehicle passes safely over populated areas, guiding the rocket as needed to keep the capsule or other components well away from any populated areas in an emergency. "We're going to fly out of 39A in Florida and go pretty much straight south," Edwards said. "In fact, the flight path is going to go over Florida. If you were in Miami and you looked straight up, you know, at the right time. would see the rocket and the crew flying right overhead. "What we call the instantaneous impact points, which is where, if we cut power, it would land, that will stay offshore, so it's totally safe to do this. But it will be flying over Florida and over Cuba and Panama and just to the west of Peru and Ecuador." A Falcon 9 rocket and the Crew Dragon NASA and the U.S. Space Force routinely launch military satellites and science probes into polar orbits from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, where rockets can fly due south over the Pacific Ocean without passing over populated areas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But the maximum inclination for orbital payloads launched from the East Coast has traditionally been limited to avoid flying over areas where debris from a catastrophic failure might fall. In recent years, SpaceX has launched satellites into polar or near-polar orbits from Cape Canaveral, but no piloted flights. While NASA and the Air Force once planned to launch space shuttles into polar orbit from Vandenberg, the military space program changed priorities in the wake of the 1986 Challenge disaster and those plans were shelved six months before the initial flight. The polar orbit will provide spectacular views for the Fram2 crew that Mikkelsen plans to document, from the ice caps to shimmering auroras. The public is invited to share the experience, photographing auroras at the same time Fram2 is capturing the view from space. "We have reached out to 2.2 million auroral citizen scientists," she said. "And anyone can join, where you go outside if there is aurora where you live and you note where you live and you ... take a photo of the aurora at the same time as we and Fram2 fly over. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Local observatories are also activating their instruments so that we get this incredible data bank during our mission of the aurora from Earth and from space at the same time so we can understand ... what the phenomena can bring to humankind and specifically to satellite technology." Chun said the Fram2 mission is expected to last three days and 14 hours from launch to splashdown in the Pacific Ocean off the southern California coast. Freed Israeli hostages call for end to war, to bring remaining Gaza hostages home Ex-Trump intelligence official: "Nothing" shared was "appropriate" for Signal group chat Poll finds most American think Trump not focusing enough on loweirng prices Tonight, SpaceX is scheduled to launch a first-of-its-kind mission that will carry four private astronauts or depending on how you see it, glorified space tourists to fly above the Earth's poles. Named "Fram2" after the Norwegian ship that made expeditions to both the Earth's poles over a century ago, the mission will use a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket to carry a Crew Dragon capsule containing the crew to an altitude between 264 to 280 miles. The mission commander is the same person who's financing it: Malta-based crypto entrepreneur Chun Wang, who founded the Bitcoin mining pool F2Pool. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wang is joined by three of his pals: Norwegian cinematographer Jannicke Mikkelsen, who will be the vehicle commander; German robotics researcher Rabea Rogge, the mission's pilot; and Australian polar explorer Eric Philips, the mission specialist and medical officer. None of them have ever flown into space before. Inexperienced as they may be, the crew will be venturing to where no astronauts have ever gone before: directly above the Earth's poles. During their three-to-five-day stay in space, the Crew Dragon spacecraft will attempt to fly at a 90 degree orbital inclination, putting its path perfectly perpendicular to the Earth's equator. Historically, there was little reason to fly at these steep inclinations, which burns more fuel and can put a spacecraft's path, when launched from the US, over heavily populated areas. There's also less protection from space radiation over the poles. Until now, the crewed mission that came closest to polar orbit was the Soviet Vostok 6 mission, which reached an inclination of about 65 degrees, according to CNN. Besides its unique trajectory, Fram2 boasts a bevy of scientific objectives, with the crew expected to carry out 22 experiments. Some of the research includes monitoring how humans adapt to motion sickness in space, growing mushrooms in microgravity, and testing the use of blood flow restriction exercise. The mission is also collaborating with startups to explore whether space conditions can disrupt sleep patterns and women's hormone levels (half of the crew members, Mikkelsen and Rogge, are women.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Perhaps the most spectacular item on the bucket list is observing an atmospheric phenomenon known as the Strong Thermal Emission Velocity Enhancement, or STEVE, a streak of light in the night sky that often accompanies the northern lights, which has seldom been observed from space. Some experts, however, are dubious about the actual scientific value of some aspects of Fram2. "There's nothing unique to a polar orbit, (and) the science advantages are kind of overblown," John Prussing, professor emeritus of aerospace engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, told CNN. "This is a private mission. You need something to say that's different and exciting about it," echoed Christopher Combs, associate dean of research at the Klesse College of Engineering and Integrated Design at the University of Texas at San Antonio. It's "a notch above gimmick," Combs told CNN, "but not exactly a groundbreaking milestone." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fram2 is slated to lift off from Florida as early as 9:46 PM EST tonight, but delays are common. More on spaceflight: Fireballs Appear Around the World as Parts of SpaceX Crew Dragon Scream Back to Earth ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. A Spectrum employee is accused of stealing a diamond wedding ring from a customers Bridgeton home and later pawning the jewelry. According to the Bridgeton Police Departments probable cause statement, the theft happened Dec. 10, 2024. The victim contacted both police and Spectrum to report her wedding ring, valued at approximately $10,000, had been taken from her home. She said she realized her ring was gone two days after Spectrum employees came to her house to do work on the television in her bedroom. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The ring itself was on a ring holder atop a dresser in the bedroom. The victim said the Spectrum employees were the only other people whod been inside the home between the last time she saw the ring and realized it was missing. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily News Police said Spectrum launched an internal investigation. Spectrum, which has the ability to track company-issued vehicles, discovered one of the two employees whod been to the victims home had gone to a pawn shop in St. John later that day. Police confirmed that the stolen ring had been pawned at the store and identified the employee as Jalyn Leonard. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Leonard turned herself in to Bridgeton authorities. Police said Leonard confessed to taking the victims ring and pawning it for $200. She said she needed the money to help family members. The St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorneys Office charged Leonard with stealing $750 or more. She was issued a criminal summons and ordered to appear in court on April 30. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2. ST. LOUIS GreaterHealth Pharmacy, the only Black-owned pharmacy in St. Louis, saw hundreds of community members rally in support today as national pharmacy chains continue to close in the area. The event was organized with the help of at least seven to ten local churches, aiming to bolster the pharmacys economic standing and ensure continued access to medication and healthcare essentials for the community. We sold out a lot of items in the store today that we got to replenish now, Kenneth Powell Jr., chief pharmacist at GreaterHealth Pharmacy & Wellness, said. The amount of support economically really makes a difference in our community because thats money that can be circulating in our community. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pastor Riley emphasized the importance of supporting local Black-owned businesses, particularly in the wake of major chain closures. Middle school student hospitalized after attack at Rockwood South The buyout event was a success, with GreaterHealth Pharmacy expecting up to 1,000 new prescription transfers. The pharmacy, which already serves 5,000 customers, also provides free delivery and fresh produce for the community. Pastor Riley announced a financial gift of $3,000 in copay assistance for those struggling to afford their medications, further demonstrating the communitys commitment to supporting local businesses. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Riley highlighted the financial impact Black communities can have, referencing national boycotts like the 40-day Target boycott, which reportedly cost the company $12.4 billion. Im just elated that St. Louis has strong Black-owned businesses. Its not something weve done historically only, were doing the work right now, Riley said. The closure of national pharmacy chains has prompted local leaders to focus on supporting businesses like GreaterHealth Pharmacy. All facts from this article were gathered by KTVI journalists. This article was converted into this format with assistance from artificial intelligence. It has been edited and approved by KTVI staff. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. ST. LOUIS A St. Louis man appeared in court last Friday to be sentenced for a series of robberies across the city. Prosecutors with the St. Louis Circuit Attorneys Office said Jeremiah Pearson, 20, targeted people at banks and ATMS between Jan. 23 and Feb. 2, 2023, and stole wallets, keys, cell phones, and a car. Motorcycle crash claims life of 4-year-old boy in Saint Peters Pearson was charged with four counts of first-degree robbery, one count of attempted robbery, and five counts of armed criminal action. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pearson was sentenced to 12 years for the robberies and three years for armed criminal action. The sentences will run consecutively. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer and U.S. President Donald Trump reaffirmed their commitment to advancing a U.K.-U.S. economic prosperity deal during a call on March 30, agreeing that efforts would continue at pace in the coming days. On Ukraine, Starmer briefed Trump on the recent meeting of the Coalition of the Willing in France, describing the discussions as productive. Leaders from 31 countries gathered in Paris on March 27 to coordinate military aid for Ukraine and outline steps toward a just and lasting peace. Starmer and Trump also emphasized the importance of maintaining "collective pressure" on Russian President Vladimir Putin. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The comment followed Trump's phone call with NBC, where he reportedly said that he is "pissed off and very angry" over Putin's ongoing focus on President Volodymyr Zelensky. Talking to NBC journalist Kristen Welker, Trump criticized Putins latest demand for a transitional government to replace Zelensky, saying that such comments are "not going in the right location." Trump also warned that he would impose tariffs on Russian oil if he believes Moscow is obstructing progress toward a peace deal. 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. Despite the criticism, Trump noted that he maintains a very good relationship with Putin and added, anger dissipates quickly ... if he does the right thing. He also said he plans to speak with the Russian leader again in the near future. Read also: As Ukraines fate hangs in the balance, Soviet command culture damages war effort Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Whitney Hammer of Columbus (center) with activists from Save Ohio Parks in front of the corporate office headquarters of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company to protest fracking under State Parks and Wildlife Areas, February 26, 2024, at One Nationwide Plaza in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Graham Stokes for Ohio Capital Journal. Republish photo only with original article.) A Texas-based company was chosen as the highest and best to lease land in Leesville Wildlife Area in Carroll County for fracking at Fridays Ohio Oil and Gas Land Management meeting. Encino Energy was chosen to lease 62 acres of land in Leesville, which is property of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. Fridays meeting lasted about 15 minutes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The commissioners posted the nominated leasing parcel for bid on Jan. 2, and the deadline to submit bids was Feb. 1. Each lease agreement includes a 12.5% royalty paid to the state for production, per state law, with an additional financial incentive paid by the winning bidder to the state, according to ODNR. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX The lease bonuses for these nominations chosen by the committee is $218,715 for ODNR properties, according to ODNR. Fracking is the process of injecting liquid into the ground at a high pressure to extract oil or gas. Anti-fracking advocates from Save Ohio Parks shouted questions and concerns while the commissioners conducted their meeting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Two nominations were considered and approved to go to bidding for fracking by the commission on Friday 171 acres of Leesville and a possible right-of-way along SR 149 owned by the Ohio Department of Transportation in Belmont County. These nominations will go out to bid in April. Two nominations were up for a vote during Fridays meeting that were not voted on 3.6 acres in Valley Run Wildlife Area in Carroll County and a possible right-of-way along SR 151 owned by ODOT in Harrison County. I propose we bring it up only for discussion today, OGLMC Chair Theresa White said. Even though the commissioners approved the motion, there was no discussion on either piece of land. OGLMC plans to take action on these nominations at a future meeting. Melinda Zemper with Save Ohio Parks said Ohio needs a moratorium on natural gas fracking under state parks and public lands. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gov. Mike DeWine and state legislators risk good health, our pristine lands, our water and air and livable planet by continuing to support this dangerous and polluting 20th century energy industry in our quickly warming 21st century, she said. Before the meeting, Roxanne Groff also with Save Ohio Parks talked about the Jan. 2 well pad explosion in Guernsey County. The well pad is operated by Gulfport Energy and no one was injured. The Guernsey County Emergency Management Agency issued an evacuation notice within half a mile of the well pad. Salt Fork State Park is going to be completely surrounded by frack well pads, and any one of those pads can have an explosion, Groff said. What are you going to do when there are 2,000 people in that park and theres a well padded explosion? There were about 2,000 fracking incidents associated with oil and gas wells in Ohio between 2018 and 2023, according to FracTracker Alliance a nonprofit that collects data on fracking pipelines. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our parks, our children, our grandchildrens lives are at stake here, and youre about to just say that doesnt matter, Groff said. Andrew Goode and Anthony Jesko are two new members of OGLMC. Both men were appointed to the commission by DeWine on Dec. 19, 2024. Jesko is an attorney from Northeast Ohio and his term will expire Sept. 29, 2028, and Goode is an attorney from central Ohio and his term expires on Sept. 29, 2029. Ive listened intently to what you guys have said, and I will continue to listen to that, just so you guys are aware, Goode said, referring to the comments Groff made before the meeting. Follow Capital Journal Reporter Megan Henry on Bluesky. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE MADRID, March 31 (Xinhua) -- The foreign ministers of the United Kingdom (UK), Germany, France, Italy, Poland, Spain, and the European Union (EU) High Representative issued a joint statement here on Monday, reaffirming a united stance in supporting Ukraine amid its ongoing conflict with Russia. "We remain committed to further political, financial, economic, humanitarian, military and diplomatic support for Ukraine, together with our international partners," the ministers stated. The joint statement highlighted that Europe currently provides approximately two-thirds of all aid to Ukraine and said it rejects any potential peace agreement "that restricts Ukraine's military and defense industry or the military presence of partner countries in Ukraine." "We reiterate the inherent right of Ukraine to choose its own destiny and to defend its democracy. Ukraine's future is in Europe and in the European Union, and Ukraine's future is crucial for the security of Europe," the statement emphasized. "Europe must be fully involved in the negotiations and will make its own decisions," said the statement. Rep. Enrique Sanchez, a Providence Democrat, is shown during a vehicle stop in Cranston early Monday. (Still from Cranston police body camera courtesy of Cranston Police Department) A state lawmaker accused of driving while intoxicated in Cranston in February can keep his license, but must use a breath alcohol ignition device for six months after pleading guilty to a traffic court citation. State Rep. Enrique Sanchez, a Providence Democrat, pleaded guilty Friday before the Rhode Island Traffic Tribunal to refusing to take a breathalyzer test in exchange for prosecutors dropping a citation for failing to obey traffic control devices. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He had pleaded not guilty to the citations during his initial appearance Feb. 19. Sanchez, 28, must complete 10 hours of community service, undergo alcohol treatment, and use a breathalyzer-activated ignition device for six months, according to an order from Traffic Tribunal Magistrate Mark Welch. Welch had also ordered Sanchezs license suspended 30 days, but the ruling was retroactive to Feb. 19 meaning its since been reinstated. Sanchez still faces a misdemeanor DUI charge in Providence County Superior Court, where a pre-trial conference is scheduled for Friday, April 4. The second-term lawmaker deferred inquiries Monday to his attorney, former Rhode Island House Speaker John Harwood, who did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi has reserved comment on Sanchezs Traffic Tribunal plea as the criminal case continues. Sanchez was arrested by Cranston Police on Feb. 3 after an officer spotted him behind the wheel of a 2017 Nissan Altima stopped at a green light on Reservoir Avenue at 3 a.m. The arresting officer claimed Sanchez was disoriented and smelled of alcohol, which Sanchez has denied. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX North Carolina is among the states considering legislation designed to regulate health insurers prior authorization and claims reviews. (Getty Images) Health insurance companies are under increasing scrutiny for allegedly using artificial intelligence bots and algorithms to swiftly deny patients routine or lifesaving care without a human actually reviewing their claims. The high-profile killing late last year of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson has focused even more attention on so-called prior authorization, the process by which patients and doctors must ask health insurers to approve medical procedures or drugs before proceeding. There had been protests and outrage over the companys practices for months before Thompsons death, and UnitedHealthcare has been accused in a class-action lawsuit of using AI to wrongfully deny claims. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As more patients and doctors voice their frustrations, states are responding with legislation designed to regulate prior authorization and claims reviews. So far this year, lawmakers in more than a dozen states are considering measures that would, for example, limit the use of AI in reviewing claims; exclude certain prescription medications from prior authorization rules; ensure that emergency mental health care is not delayed for more than 48 hours; and require that insurers review boards include licensed physicians, dentists or pharmacists with clinical experience. Insurers have long required doctors to obtain their approval before theyll pay for certain drugs, treatments and procedures. They argue it is necessary to rein in health care costs and limit unnecessary services. But many doctors and patients say the practice has gotten out of hand, causing delays and denials of care that are harming and even killing people. In a survey last year by the American Medical Association, 93% of doctors said that insurers prior authorization practices delayed necessary care for their patients. Twenty-nine percent said such delays had led to a serious adverse event, such as hospitalization, permanent injury or death. In 2023, insurers selling plans on the marketplaces created under the Affordable Care Act denied a combined average of 20% of all claims. Of the 73 million in-network claims they denied, only 1% were appealed, according to KFF, a health policy research group. The federal role Under the Biden administration, the Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Justice took a firmer hand against health care corporations alleged to be engaging in behavior resulting in limited and more expensive care for patients. The administration also approved rules requiring that beginning in 2026, Medicare and Medicaid plans create a streamlined electronic process for reviewing claims, making decisions more quickly and providing specific reasons for denying care. But its difficult to hold insurers accountable, according to Timothy McBride, a health policy analyst and co-director of a program at the Institute for Public Health at Washington University in St. Louis. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Each part of the health care industry hospitals, pharmaceuticals, insurers they all have a lot of concentrated power, McBride said in a phone interview. And unless somebody actually takes it on directly, its going to stay that way. I think the Biden administration tried to take it on, but didnt make a lot of progress. Its unclear whether the Trump administration and Congress will reverse course. During his confirmation hearing on March 14, Dr. Mehmet Oz, President Donald Trumps pick to lead the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, defended the use of artificial intelligence in reviewing claims. AI can be used for good or for evil, and it to a large extent depends on whos using it and for what purpose, Oz told members of the U.S. Senate Finance Committee. I think AI could play a vital role in accelerating preauthorization. In the past, Trump has supported measures to help patients, such as increasing hospital price transparency and lowering prescription drug prices, McBride noted. But Republicans and conservatives generally are anti-regulation, he said. My gut feeling would be that they back off on the Biden push on this. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement States have limited power to act on their own. They have authority only over state-regulated health plans, which include Medicaid, plans for state workers and policies residents purchase from the ACA marketplaces. About 90 million people are covered that way. State laws do not apply to the 156 million workers, retirees and dependents who get their coverage through employer-sponsored health plans, which are regulated through a federal law known as ERISA. Furthermore, health insurance companies are large and have deep pockets, allowing them to easily absorb state fines. But Kaye Pestaina, the director of the program on patient and consumer protection at KFF, said states have an important role to play. Much of the focus around prior authorization at the federal level has kind of originated from state protections, so I imagine there will be continual activity by state legislatures to come at the problem, Pestaina told Stateline. What states are doing Pestaina said states are trying a number of solutions. For example, states such as Arizona, Michigan and Pennsylvania have given their insurance regulators more authority to directly access claims denial information, in order to overturn decisions or potentially enforce state rules. And these efforts have largely had bipartisan support. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Pennsylvania, Republican state Sen. Kristin Phillips-Hill pushed through bipartisan legislation in 2022 to streamline prior authorization practices for state-regulated health plans after hearing numerous complaints from patients and doctors. The legislation created an Independent External Review organization that allows Pennsylvanians to submit an online form to request a review if their insurer denies a service or treatment. If the review organization decides the service should be covered, the insurer must do so. Before then, patients could turn only to a federal review process, which may have been more challenging to navigate and taken more time. There is a role for some oversight to make sure that things are covered. But right now, I think the system is out of balance. North Carolina Republican state Rep. Timothy Reeder Our reforms created clear rules, clear timelines for the prior authorization process, and it removed ambiguity or uncertainty from the system that at times, insurers could exploit and providers could be confused over, Phillips-Hill told Stateline. Prior to that reform, if you had a denial from your insurer, you had very little recourse. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The program began in January 2024, and in its first year the Pennsylvania Insurance Department overturned half of 517 denials, which amounted to claims from 259 people. Jonathan Greer, president and CEO of the Insurance Federation of Pennsylvania, said his trade group worked with lawmakers to come to an agreement on how to change the prior authorization process in a way that worked for insurers and patient advocates. Greer says he thinks Pennsylvania could be a model for other states. Prior authorization, I think unfairly, has been characterized as a reason to say no by insurers, Greer said. The purpose of prior authorization is to make sure that you know the care that you get is consistent with the care that you need. In North Carolina, Republican state Rep. Timothy Reeder is hopeful that his prior authorization bill will make it across the finish line this year. Reeders bill would set tight deadlines on insurers claim decisions and require companies to have licensed practitioners on their claim review boards. Insurers would also have to publicize a list of services they require authorization for. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Im not saying that we need to get rid of it completely, Reeder told Stateline. There is a role for some oversight to make sure that things are covered. But right now, I think the system is out of balance. But some state laws have proven to be less effective than advertised. In 2021, Texas enacted a first-of-its-kind law creating a gold card standard, under which physicians whose care recommendations are approved by insurers at least 90% of the time are exempt from the prior authorization process. But as of the end of 2023, only 3% of Texas physicians had earned gold card status, according to the Texas Medical Association. Thats why the group is pushing legislation that would require insurers to report which preauthorization exemptions they granted and denied and how many claims went to independent review. Dr. Zeke Silva of the Texas Medical Associations legislative council said it would be in the same spirit as what Pennsylvania has done. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our focus with the [Texas Medical Association] is our physicians being able to provide the best care possible. And we want that to be free of burden, Silva told Stateline. We want to minimize third parties coming in and inappropriately denying care that our physicians and our patients think is in their best interest. Stateline 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. GREENVILLE COUNTY, S.C. (WSPA) The South Carolina Forestry Commission (SCFC) reported that the statewide burning ban will be lifted Monday, March 31 in 41 counties. Officials say that the Greenville, Horry, Oconee, Pickens and Spartanburg counties will still remain under the burning ban until further notice. The SCFC said that the reason for lifting the burn ban is due to the changing weather condition in the state. However, the ban remains in effect in the other specified counties due to the significant amount of personnel focused on the wildfires that have yet to be contained. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. In Los Angeles, where I live, you dont expect to be heckled while driving an electric car to the grocery store. But on a recent afternoon, a couple of men on bikes saw the Tesla logo on the front of my car and shouted, Fuck you, Tesla guy as I rolled by with the windows down. I bought my Tesla Model 3 in 2019, after my wife and I moved from New York to L.A. and needed a car. Not willing to burn gasoline, we got the most practical EV we could afford. Six years later, that car carries a different connotation. In the aftermath of Elon Musks MAGA embrace and his scorched-earth tactics running DOGE, Tesla has become a primary target for protests. On Saturday, demonstrators marched outside all 277 Tesla showrooms and service centers in the United States; Teslas across the country have been vandalized and even destroyed in recent weeks. Even in Los Angeles, where Teslas are as familiar as Fords and not primarily viewed as right-wing totems, this wasnt the first time Id been shouted at since the election. Tesla owners who dont support Musk are playing defense. Some have begun to slap on bumper stickers such as I bought this before Elon went crazy. Others are simply done. Sheryl Crow sold her Tesla and donated the money to NPR; Senator Mark Kelly of Arizona also got rid of his, saying he couldnt stand to own a car that is a rolling billboard for a man dismantling our government and hurting people. Teslas that are eight years old or newer now account for 1.4 percent of all car trade-ins, up from 0.4 percent a year ago, and EV brands such as Lucid and Polestar offer tantalizing deals to Tesla drivers looking for an out. Youre definitely seeing a lot of people say, You know what? I dont want to be associated with the trash thats going on right now around Elon Musk, Robby DeGraff, an analyst at AutoPacific, told me. Im just going to get rid of my car. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Great Tesla Sell-Off is producing a glut of politically tainted pre-owned cars. Used Teslas are now shockingly cheap: One 2021 Model 3 for sale near me, which would have cost more than $50,000 new, is going for less than $20,000. Even if you resent Musk, you should consider buying one. In this moment of DOGE madness, its difficult to see a Tesla as anything other than an avatar of Musk. But Elon doesnt make any money off the Model Y you get secondhand. Strip away the symbolism, and an old Tesla is just a good, affordable car. [Read: My day inside Americas most hated car] No, you shouldnt buy a new Tesla if youre enraged at Musk. The boycotters are correct that rejecting these vehicles directly hurts him. It drives down sales numbers, which hurts Teslas bottom line and saps the companys stock price. Teslas remarkable valuation, buoyed as much by a cult of personality as by the companys sales figures, has made Musk the worlds richest person: The company was worth three times more than Toyota in 2024, despite selling six times fewer vehicles. Even so, collapsing sales, not only in the U.S. but also across Europe and Australia, have wiped out billions of dollars from Teslas stock. Buying a pre-owned Tesla might feel just as unseemly. But its not. Start with the sustainability question. Anti-Musk liberals would surely agree that more Americans should go electric to cut carbon emissions. Only about one in 10 registered vehicles in America is an EV, so its likely that a used-Tesla buyer will be replacing an old gas-burner. The switch might be permanent: More than 90 percent of EV owners say they wont go back to combustion. For the most part, Tesla refugees arent retreating to the polluting purr of the V-6; theyre switching to electric cars from other brands, such as Chevy, Lucid, and Kia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Used Teslas also help solve the main problem with getting Americans to go electric, which is price. Even with government tax credits, EVs tend to cost a premium compared with gas cars or hybrids. Pre-owned EVs, though, are shockingly affordable. Electric cars in general depreciate faster than gas-powered cars for a number of reasons, including fading battery life and used-car buyers unfamiliarity with the technology, Brian Moody, a senior staff editor at Kelley Blue Book, told me. All of this is bad for sellers but good for buyers. [Read: America finally has the answer to the biggest problem with EVs] Even before the Great Tesla Sell-Off, the bulk of used EVs were Teslas. The math doesnt lie: Just five years ago, Tesla sold nearly 80 percent of the electric cars in America. Now that virtually every major car company offers EVs, Teslas dominance is waning, but most of those non-Tesla EVs have yet to reach their second owners. Used Teslas were already pretty affordable, but now they are getting even cheaper. Moody said the average transaction price for a used Tesla dipped from nearly $32,000 in November to about $30,400 in early March as more flooded the market. Teslas resale value is reportedly falling three times as fast as the rest of the used-car market. Perhaps most important of all: Unless you purchase a used Tesla directly from the company, Musk isnt getting your money. Its possible to buy a pre-owned Tesla and avoid his other revenue streams too. Just like every carmaker, Tesla maintains a network of service centers to repair its vehicle, and because so few car mechanics specialize in electric vehicles, paying Tesla to do the work is much easier (and can feel safer) than taking a gamble on your neighborhood repair guy. However, a used car is likely to be past its four-year basic warranty, so you could take your old Model Y to an independent shop without voiding any coverage. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Then there is the question of charging. Teslas Supercharger network is admittedly excellent and convenient. But that is relevant for more than Tesla owners. Over the past couple of years, the rest of the industry has adopted Teslas plug standard, and many other brands EVs can now visit the companys fast-charging stations. Musk-hating Rivian owners might still find themselves paying him for kilowatt-hours in a pinch. Still, avoiding them is easier than you might think. EV newbies tend to fret about charging, given that plugging in a car is still not as simple or quick as pulling into the nearest Shell. But the anxiety tends to be exaggerated. Something like 80 percent of EV owners primarily charge at home, which provides enough electricity for daily driving. On road trips, drivers can plan ahead to make a point of visiting charging stations that arent owned by Tesla. Of course, a used Tesla may not spare you from getting shouted at while youre getting groceries. Buying any kind of Tesla in 2025 can practically feel like an invitation to get graffitied, or at least a tacit endorsement of the brand. But set aside the opticsno simple taskand a pre-owned Tesla is just as climate-virtuous as all the Chevy Bolts and Ford Mustang Mach-Es that arent carrying around any MAGA baggage. Refusing an old Model 3 doesnt hurt Elon or help the planet. But it does stop you from getting a good deal. If youre still feeling trepidation, consider an apology bumper sticker: I bought it from someone who bought it before Elon was crazy. Article originally published at The Atlantic New technologies today often involve electronic devices that are smaller and smarter than before. During the Middle Paleolithic, when Neanderthals were modern humans neighbors, new technologies meant something quite different: new kinds of stone tools that were smaller but could be used for many tasks and lasted for a long time. Archaeologists like me are interested in the Middle Paleolithic a period spanning 250,000 to 30,000 years ago because it includes the first appearance of our species, our arrival into many parts of the world for the first time, and our invention of many new kinds of stone tools. Illustration of a typical Quina scraper and related tools. The toolmaker would flake pieces of stone off the core to carefully shape the Quina scraper. Pei-Yuan Xiao In our study just published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, a team of international collaborators and I describe our discovery in China of the first complete example of a Middle Paleolithic technology previously seen only in Europe and the Middle East. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Archaeologists have thought that ancient people in East Asia completely skipped the Middle Paleolithic. Our discovery challenges the long-standing notion that while ancient people in Europe and Africa were inventing new tools during this period, people of East Asia stuck to only the most basic tools that remained unchanged for thousands of years. The Quina tool kit from Longtan. (AD) Quina scrapers. (EG) Quina cores. (H-J) Resharpening flakes showing Quina retouch at the near end of the top face. (K) Small tool made on resharpening flake. Hao Li Quina scrapers helped hunters process kills The tool weve identified is called a Quina scraper. This type of stone tool is well known from archaeological sites in Europe and the Middle East. Quina scrapers are typically quite thick and asymmetrical, with a broad and sharp working edge that shows clear signs of being used and resharpened multiple times. This shape results in durable cutting edges, ideal for long cycles of use followed by resharpening. People used Quina scrapers to scrape and cut soft materials, such as meat and animal skins, and medium-hard materials, such as wood. We know this from tiny scratches and chips on the scrapers that match traces caused by working these materials in experiments using contemporary stone tools. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement European archaeologists believe that Quina scrapers were invented to meet the needs of highly mobile hunters living in cool and dry climates. These hunters were focused on seasonal migratory prey such as reindeer, giant deer, horse and bison. Quina scrapers would have helped them process their kills into food and other resources for example, to extract marrow. A. Map showing the location of the discovery of the Quina tool kit in China, at the southern margin of the Hengduan Mountains of the Tibetan Plateau. B. View of the landscape showing the Longtan archaeological site. Hao Li, CC BY-ND First find of a Quina tool in East Asia Our team, led by Hao Li of the Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research and Qijun Ruan of the Yunnan Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology, excavated Quina scrapers and related stone tools from the Longtan archaeological site in southwest China. Bo Li collects samples from Longtan for luminescence dating at his laboratory at the University of Wollongong. Qijun Ruan Our colleague Bo Li at the University of Wollongong used optical luminescence dating methods on the layers of earth that contained the artifacts. This technique can identify how much time has passed since each individual sand grain was last exposed to the Sun. Dating many individual grains in a sample is important because tree roots, insects or other animals can mix younger sediments down into older ones. After we identified and removed intrusive younger grains, we found the layers containing the artifacts were 50,000 to 60,000 years old. This is roughly the same time Quina scrapers were being used in Europe at Neanderthal sites. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Keliang Zhao from Chinas Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology looked at pollen grains from the Longtan excavations. He found that the Middle Paleolithic people of Longtan lived in a relatively open forest-grassland environment and a dry and cool climate. This environment is similar to that of Quina sites in Europe. Davide Delpiano, Marco Peresani and Marie-Helene Moncel, experts on European Middle Paleolithic tools, joined our team to help with the comparison of the Chinese and European specimens and confirm their similarities. Helene Monod, from Universidad Rovira i Virgili in Spain, looked at our Quina scrapers under the microscope and found traces on them from scraping and scratching bones, antlers and wood. She also found polish from using the tools on meat, hides and soft plants. Who lived in East Asia during this period? Our new discovery of Quina scrapers joins another recent find of a different kind of Middle Paleolithic technology in East Asia: Levallois tools from Guanyindong Cave in Guizhou Province in south-central China. Levallois tools result from a distinctive multistep sequence that efficiently produces lots of useful cutting tools, with minimal wasted stone. Taken together, these two finds make a strong case that Middle Paleolithic technologies were present in East Asia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But why are we only just finding this Quina tool kit now, when it has been known in Europe for such a long time? One reason is that archaeologists have been looking in Europe for longer than almost anywhere else in the world. Another reason Middle Paleolithic evidence appears rare in East Asia is because what now seem to be less typical variations of the Quina tool kit previously found in China had been overlooked, likely due to archaeologists narrow definitions based on European examples. The Quina tools at Longtan are among the earliest artifacts from that site, which makes it hard for researchers to determine the origins of this new technology. Was it introduced by visitors from Europe? Or did local people in East Asia independently invent it? The research team shows off the Longtan artifacts. Hao Li To answer these questions, we hope to find more Quina scrapers at sites with deeper meaning older layers than Longtan. If older layers hold what look like the remnants of experiments in stone toolmaking that would eventually result in Quina tools, it suggests Quina tools were invented locally. If deeper layers have dissimilar tools, that suggests Quina technology was introduced from a neighboring group. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We also hope future work will reveal who made these tools. Our excavations at Longtan did not find any human bone or DNA that could help us identify the toolmakers. During the Middle Paleolithic, there were multiple human species that could make tools like this. It could have been modern humans like us. But it could also have been Neanderthals. Considering that the Quina technology in Europe is directly associated with Neanderthals, this seems likely. But it could also have been Denisovans, an extinct species similar to modern humans found during this time in Siberia, the Tibetan Plateau and Laos, or even a new human species that hasnt been seen before. Whoever was making and using these Quina scrapers, they were able to be inventive and flexible with their technology, adapting to their changing environment. 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: Ben Marwick, University of Washington Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more: Ben Marwick does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment. Approximately 73 million people in Ohio, Mississippi and the Tennessee Valleys are currently under threat of tornadoes, large hail, thunderstorms and destructive winds as a storm system sets in. The National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center has warned of enhanced severe weather risks for areas where Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas borders are connected. Other cities included in the risk area are: Detroit, Michigan; Indianapolis, Indiana; Memphis, Tennessee; Nashville, Tennessee; Chicago, Illinois; Dallas, Texas and Cleveland, Ohio. A few of these tornadoes could be strong, the agency wrote in an update, noting severe wind gusts could reach 60 to 70 mph. Tornado warnings had been issued in St Louis, Missouri from 2:53 p.m. until 3:30 p.m. and parts of Illinois. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dozens of preliminary damaging wind and hail reports were issued on Saturday in the areas, according to NBC News. In Amber, Oklahoma, a three-inch hail report was issued. Around 9 p.m. EDT tonight, severe weather will move through Kentucky with damaging winds, hail and the possibility of tornadoes. These storms will happen while folks are sleeping, so please be prepared and make sure you have weather alerts that can wake you. Stay safe, everyone. pic.twitter.com/38u75YHcnw Governor Andy Beshear (@GovAndyBeshear) March 30, 2025 In a Sunday morning update, the NWS said very large, significant damaging winds were expected, particularly heading into the evening hours. Additionally, the agency warned of heavy downpours and potential flash flooding as the storms began moving in an organized line. The storms began moving across the Midwest around 1 p.m. and are expected to last past midnight in Ohio and Tennessee. In another update around 4 p.m. the agency said not to expect any changes to guidance. In a video message posted to X, Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear asked residents to have a weather radio on or have a way to be alerted in the event of an emergency as the storms will be moving as people sleep. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The state is expecting additional amounts of rain heading into next week, meaning there could be potential for flash flooding. An ice storm knocked down trees and power lines in Alpena, Michigan (AP) Severe storms are likely to continue into Monday as they move across the Southeast and mid-Atlantic, affecting 68 million. The harshest weather is expected to touch down in Alabama, Georgia, Virginia, and the Carolinas. Some of the cities that could be impacted are: Raleigh, North Carolina; Charlotte, North Carolina; Atlanta, Georgia; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Washington, D.C. and New Orleans, Louisiana. Tornadoes and high-speed winds will still be possible. As the voter registrar for Travis County, I can assure you that the registration system we have today is safe and secure. My office is responsible for maintaining an accurate and robust database of voters eligible to vote in our elections. Unfortunately, President Donald Trumps latest executive order on this topic suggests we shouldnt wait for legislation and instead forge ahead with requiring citizenship documentation as part of the registration process. This order sows mistrust and hinders voter registration rather than helping Texas county officials strengthen and improve the process. For decades now, Texas voters are required to fill out a voter registration form, check a box to confirm they are a citizen of the United States, and sign to attest that the information is true and correct. This form also warns the registrant that providing false information is a felony it is a crime. Furthermore, the Texas Secretary of State verifies the identity and citizenship of the applicant before that person is confirmed as a registered voter. Students cast their ballots during early voting at Texas State University in 2018. President Trump's recent executive order says people should have to show proof of citizenship in order to register to vote. This is a simple and trusted process that has worked extremely well. This is good policy. No digging for documents, no worries that your married name doesnt match your birth certificate. Mismatched paperwork should not be a reason to silence any citizens voice in our democracy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our Texas Secretary of State, who oversees our elections processes, reaffirmed on its website last year that Texas leads the way against noncitizen voting. That is based not only on the honesty pledge but also the strong penalties involved, as promulgated by the Texas Legislature. I know of only one case in Texas in which a noncitizen voted illegally. A woman in Tarrant County was here for many years with an expired work visa. That woman was found guilty in 2018 and sentenced to eight years in prison. In other words, these cases are rare, and the penalties are harsh. I served in the Texas House of Representatives for nine years. During my first term in 2015, I found strong bipartisan support and nearly passed a bill that would provide the simplest way to ensure an even more accurate voter database: allowing for online voter registration. If this online process were in place today, we would have an even more accurate system. Names and apartment numbers would be entered correctly the first time, rather than staffers playing the squinty game of reading other peoples handwriting and risking the applicants eligibility to vote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Online voter registration is also more secure. It requires you to electronically confirm your identity using personal information such as Texas identification numbers, date of birth and Social Security number. Thats a lot of data. And we would save money: Travis County spends hundreds of thousands of dollars on staff trying to decipher handwriting in the runup to every voter registration deadline. Nonpartisan national organizations such as the Brennan Center suggest the threats to our elections do not come from individuals voting illegally, but rather influences from foreign governments in the form of cyberattacks and deliberate misinformation. It is embarrassing that Texas is one of only eight states to not allow online voter registration. Elections officials around Texas who want common sense from their Legislature are instead getting fear and mistrust of systems we have relied upon for decades. Ultimately, how voters are registered and how elections are run falls to every state. President Trumps order ignores pending legislation that could provide the relief he is seeking in a more thoughtful way. The chaotic pattern of moving by executive order rather than with the support of Congress continues. Texas and the United States of America can and should do better. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Celia Israel is the Travis County Tax Assessor-Collector and Voter Registrar, and previously served in the Texas House of Representatives. This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Trump's order sows mistrust and hinders voter registration | Opinion CLEVELAND (WJW) A student is in police custody after bringing a loaded gun to school. Thats according to the Cleveland Metropolitan School District. No longer Sour Patch Kids, company says The district sent a letter to parents Monday morning alerting them of the incident at John Marshall school. The student with the weapon was caught in the checkpoint area, according to the district. One of our Safety and Security Officers immediately confiscated the weapon, and the student has been arrested by Cleveland Police, the district said in the letter to parents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One of Ohios most abundant snakes ready to mate, give birth to 20-25 young The student has not been identified. No charges have been announced at this time. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW. The Trump administrations dismantling of the Department of Education and GOP-led efforts to repeal Bidens SAVE program have created confusion for some student loan borrowers, as Income-Driven Repayment (IDR) Programs were temporarily removed. Rokeya Worthy went online to make her regular monthly student loan payment, not expecting to be blindsided. For years, the 41-year-old marketing professional had faithfully paid her loans to pay back her college degree. Despite her parents saving money for college, Worthys father had an unexpected accident, and their funds had to be redirected to his medical expenses when she was off to pursue her education. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Like many Black graduates who statistically pay higher monthly payments in student loan debt than their white peers, Worthy paid $278 monthly based on her income an accommodation offered by the Department of Education to help graduates who may not be able to afford larger payments. But in early March, Worthy checked her upcoming payment schedule and was shocked to see her student loan payments had increased to $746.77 monthly an additional charge of more than $500. I thought I was seeing things, Worthy told theGrio in an interview. She immediately called her student loan provider to investigate, only to learn that due to a court injunction on the SAVE program and related Income-Driven Repayment (IDR) programs and the removal of IDR applications online, she no longer had the protection of loan payments being determined by her income. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They basically told me that with the injunction that the current administration had put in place, we would not be able to recertify [income-driven repayment] and that this was what we had to do as far as payment was concerned, Worthy told theGrio. They did offer a couple of repayment options, but none of those options had anything where the payments were affordable. I was extremely frustrated, she continued. I was angry because, in my head, Im trying to calculate how am I going to be able to make this payment along with my other student loans and, of course, you have life that you have that has finances as well. Worthy wasnt alone. She posted her frustrations on Facebook, garnering numerous responses. Im sick It really matters WHO you vote for, she wrote. Many other borrowers on social media chimed in with frustration. Having the same issue. I dont know how they think we can afford it, wrote another Facebook user. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The SAVE program came from the era of President Joe Bidens efforts to greatly reduce or completely eliminate student loan debt for millions of borrowers who had been saddled with debt. It also created pathways for some student loan debt to be eliminated entirely. The Supreme Court dealt the Biden administration a blow when it ruled the former president had overstepped his authority in canceling student loans for millions of borrowers. In the wake of the ruling, some Republican-led states banded together to sue over the SAVE program, portraying it as a bailout for privileged people and won. Their lawsuit had repercussions for multiple income-driven repayment programs once courts extended an injunction against the SAVE program in February. Thats what led the Department of Education to remove all online applications for income-driven repaymentthe same program that Rokeya Worthy relied on to keep her payments in check. Worthy said she feared for her credit score and started to rethink the idea of buying a home because both payments wouldnt be affordable. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, after some days in limbo, Worthy got better news. The Department of Education has put the application for income-driven repayment back online, albeit with different options available. The option to pick the lowest possible payment no longer exists, and neither does total loan forgiveness. Forgiveness as a feature of any IDR plan created by ED is currently paused, says StudentAid.gov. Worthy put her loans into forbearance for two months while her application is pending and she waits to hear what her new income-driven adjusted loan payment may be. Everything is still kind of up in the air, Worthy explained. It might be manageable. But its just that nervousness of trying to figure out how to maintain it with everything else. The uncertainty is being felt across the board. As part of President Trumps dismantling of the Department of Education, he has vowed that the DOE will no longer oversee student loans and a different federal agency, the Small Business Administration, will handle it. Experts predict a shift to more private loan providers. Although the income-driven loan application system has reopened, some IDR applications submitted before are still unprocessed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For her part, Worthy says she will always remember this period of uncertainty and will forever link her vote at the polls with real-world outcomes. Seeing dozens of responses to her Facebook post affirmed to her that regardless of differences in race, gender, background, or political leanings, the flurry of changes happening in the federal government is touching lives everywhere. Were all in this together when it comes to being affected by this current administration and the decisions that theyre making, Worthy told theGrio. All we can do is just hope that theyll take all of that into consideration, and knowing that were trying to do the best, were taking one day at a time, one payment at a time. Natasha S. Alford (Photo by Beowulf Sheehan) Natasha S. Alford is the Senior Vice President of TheGrio. A recognized journalist, filmmaker and TV personality, Alford is also author of the award-winning book, American Negra. (HarperCollins, 2024) Follow her on Twitter and Instagram at @natashasalford. More must-reads: Subaru of Jacksonville gave a huge gift to Wolfson Childrens Hospital on Friday. As part of its annual Share the Love campaign, the auto dealership presented the hospital with a check for nearly $205,000. Its the dealerships largest-ever donation. This year, Subaru of America raised money for charity by donating $250 for every new vehicle purchased or leased between Nov. 21 and Jan. 2. Customers could choose which charity gets the donation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This year, Subaru of Jacksonville took it a step further by donating an additional $350 for every new car sold or leased to Wolfson Childrens Hospital. Subaru of Jacksonville chose the hospital as its hometown charity in 2016. To date, the dealership has donated nearly $1.8 million. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] Giving back to our community has always been at the heart of what we do. For the past nine years, our partnership with Wolfson Childrens Hospital has been incredibly meaningful, and were honored to support the amazing work they do for children and families. Seeing the impact of these donationswhether its funding life-saving treatments or simply bringing a smile to a childs facereminds us why this commitment is so important. Were not just a dealership; were a family, and this community is part of that family, Phil Porter Sr., owner of Subaru of Jacksonville, said in a news release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wolfson Childrens Hospital is a nonprofit that relies on charitable donations to provide care for its young patients, regardless of their families ability to pay. [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Our communitys unwavering support empowers us to deliver top-decile, lifesaving care to children in North Florida and beyond when they need it most, Allegra C. Jaros, MBA, president of Wolfson Childrens Hospital, said in the release. Thanks to the generosity of donors like Subaru of Jacksonville and the Porter family, were able to enhance a multitude of services, invest in cutting-edge technology, and ensure that every child, no matter their background or their familys financial situation, receives the highest level of specialized care. 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. ROME, March 31 (Xinhua) -- A fire broke out at a Tesla dealership on the outskirts of Rome early Monday, destroying at least 17 electric vehicles (EVs), local authorities confirmed. Rome fire brigade told Xinhua that an investigation has been launched, and that arson is among the possible causes. Despite a swift response from firefighters and police, the flames quickly engulfed 17 EVs in the showroom and damaged parts of the dealership's structure. Declining to confirm any specific cause, local authorities said they are reviewing surveillance footage from at least seven cameras and examining the aftermath to collect evidence. This post contains graphic images and/or details. Reader discretion is advised. SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) A substitute teacher was arrested after a middle school student reportedly walked in on him masturbating during school hours, according to arrest documents. Morris Richard Saunders, 81, was arrested on Saturday on one count of lewdness involving a child, which is a class A misdemeanor. According to an affidavit of probable cause filed in Salt Lake County, Saunders is accused of locking himself in a side closet with his personal laptop. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The incident happened on March 18, when Saunders was substitute teaching a class at Clayton Middle School in Salt Lake City. The school received a tip from SafeUT on March 20 about a substitute teacher later identified as Saunders reportedly masturbating in a closet. On March 27, officials interviewed the 13-year-old student who walked in on Saunders. The victim said Saunders had put students in charge of the class before he locked himself in a connected office with his personal laptop, according to documents. The victim went to go get Saunders after some other students in the class were reportedly not listening. The victim knocked on the door where Saunders had taken his laptop and opened the door when there was no answer. The victim told officers that Saunders had pornography playing on his computer and that he was masturbating. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The victim stated that the substitutes private parts were out and he was stroking himself, arrest documents say. The victim reported that when the substitute finally exited the office, he had a bulge in his pants and white stuff on his shirt and pants. After being read his Miranda rights, Saunders admitted to being the substitute teacher who was in the classroom at the time of the incident, documents said. Saunders was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail on the aforementioned charge. After being notified of the incident, Clayton Middle School Principal Kate Arch sent a message to the school community. Arch said in the statement that she immediately investigated and contacted the victims parents and local authorities after learning of the incident. We wanted you to hear about this incident from us as soon as we were able to share the information, Arch wrote. The individual is no longer employed with the district. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Arch also said the student involved and their family had received support from the school and the Salt Lake City School District. An offer was extended for parents and guardians to reach out to the principal if students wished to speak with a counselor upon returning from spring break. The full message from the principal to the school community is included below: Dear Clayton community, We take matters related to student safety and well-being very seriously. Im writing to inform you about an incident regarding inappropriate behavior by a substitute teacher that was witnessed by a student. The incident took place at Clayton Middle School on March 18. On learning of the incident, I immediately investigated and then contacted the parents of the student involved, the districts Human Resource Services department, the Salt Lake City Police Department, and the Utah Division of Child and Family Services. At the request of police, we delayed sharing information with the school community until now. Please know we acted immediately and have cooperated with the police at every step. This morning, we received word from the Salt Lake City Police Department that the individual was arrested last night and booked on one count of lewdness involving a child. We wanted you to hear about this incident from us as soon as we were able to share the information. The individual is no longer employed with the district. We are distressed that something like this happened on our campus and understand our families will feel similarly Clayton Middle School and Salt Lake City School District have provided support to the student and their family. If you feel your student could benefit from speaking with a school counselor when we return from spring break, please contact me at Kate.Arch@slcschools.org. Message from Principal Kate Arch to parents/guardians after substitute teachers arrest Charges are allegations only. All arrested persons are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Cuts in federal food assistance have left the Rhode Island Community Food Bank looking for a way to replace more than 500,000 pounds of food, worth over $1 million, to feed hungry Rhode Islanders through the end of September. U.S. Sens. Sheldon Whitehouse and Jack Reed are drawing attention to the problem as they've joined 24 other senators in a letter to United States Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins. The senators say the Trump Administration is "dramatically reducing aid for local food banks across the country" as grocery prices rise and more families rely on help from food banks and other sources. All of the senators signing the letter are Democrats, except for Sens. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, and Angus King of Maine, who are independents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Rhode Island Community Food Bank distributes food to its 147 member agencies, including food pantries and soup kitchens, across the state, helping to feed 84,400 hungry Rhode Islanders each month, a record number, according to the food bank. An employee moves boxes of food for delivery from the Rhode Island Community Food Bank in this file photo. "We're facing an incredible challenge" Fourteen truckloads, carrying 541,529 pounds of food and scheduled to arrive at the food bank between now and Aug. 18th, have officially been cancelled, according to Kate MacDonald, director of communications. "These canceled loads include important proteins like chicken, pork and eggs," MacDonald said via email. In the last fiscal year, 30% of the food bank's food came from USDA commodities, while 42% was purchased and 28% came from donations, according to MacDonald. The food bank doesn't receive federal funding, just food from the federal government. Food bank is facing cuts from the state budget as well The federal cuts in food deliveries are coming at a time when the food bank is in danger of losing some of its financial support from the state as well. Governor Dan McKee's proposed budget for fiscal year 2026 lowers the food bank's allocation from $800,000 to $550,000, according to MacDonald. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "At a time when were already serving more than 81,000 people per month, the cumulative effect of cuts to SNAP, Medicaid, and school meals will have a catastrophic impact on Rhode Island families," MacDonald said. "If the food bank is hit with a cut to our state budget, a cut in the federal commodities we receive, plus increasing food costs due to the administrations tariff policies, were facing an incredible challenge," MacDonald said. The federal government provides food to communities around the country through USDA programs such as The Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program (LFPA) and The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP), according to Whitehouse and Reed. Senators say cuts hurt the hungry, as well as U.S. farmers The senators describe TEFAP as a "core USDA nutrition program" that buys food from American farmers to provide food assistance to those in need. The senators say cuts to the program hurt the hungry, as well as American farmers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We write regarding the reported cancellation of hundreds of millions of dollars in previouslyapproved funding for food banks and other emergency food providers through The EmergencyFood Assistance Program (TEFAP)," the senators wrote to Rollins. "A cancellation of these funds could result in $500 million in lost food provisions to feed millions of Americans at a time when the need for food shelves is extremely high due to costly groceries and an uncertain economy." If true, this major shift in a program utilized by emergency food providers in every state in the nation will have a significant and damaging impact upon millions of people who depend upon this program for critical food assistance, the senators wrote. In addition, this program consists of purchases of U.S. commodities at a time when Americas growers and producers are struggling due to tariffs, proposed tariffs, animal disease and many other challenges. There's confusion around the federal government's plans, and the senators say their letter asks Rollins key questions. The following are among those questions: Has USDA cancelled previously approved purchases of food provided through TEFAP? If so, what level of funding has been cancelled thus far and when will state agencies be notified of any cancelled TEFAP purchases? Does USDA plan to cancel additional purchases of food provided through TEFAP? Has USDA paused any TEFAP food orders or purchases? If so, what is the current status of those orders or purchases? Does USDA intend to un-pause these funds? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2023, the senators noted that 50 million Americans turned to emergency food providers like food banks and food pantries, according to a report from Feeding America, Americas largest network of food banks. "While food banks rely on a variety of sources (including private) to obtain food for distribution through their networks, federally purchased commodities are a key part of how they provide nutritious meals to Americans," the senators wrote. In Rhode Island, nearly two out of five households have trouble affording adequate food, according to the food bank's 2024 Status Report on Hunger in Rhode Island. This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: USDA cuts deliveries to RI's Food Bank. Leaders say it hurts everyone. The Supreme Court on Monday seemed swayed by a Catholic charity groups bid for tax relief in Wisconsin in a case that could drastically alter eligibility for religious tax exemptions. A Wisconsin chapter of Catholic Charities, a social services arm of Catholic dioceses nationwide, challenged the top state courts determination that it does not qualify for a religious tax exemption because it isnt operated primarily for religious purposes. Catholic Charities Bureau is controlled by the Diocese of Superior but claims it was denied an exemption from a state unemployment tax because it serves and employs non-Catholics, completes work that could be administered by nonreligious groups and doesnt attempt to proselytize, or sway those it serves to become Catholic. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Eric Rassbach, a lawyer for Catholic Charities, argued no court would hold that clergy members who preach on Saturday arent ministers because preaching on Sunday is more typical, nor would a court suggest that religious leaders who help the poor arent ministers because secular leaders help the poor, too. By that measure, Mother Teresa might not qualify, Rassbach said, suggesting the Wisconsin Supreme Court erred in declining to qualify Catholic Charities for the exemption. The justices sharply pressed Wisconsin over its contention that whether a group receives the tax exemption hinges on if it proselytizes or engages in activities that express and instill religious doctrine. Justice Clarence Thomas asked Wisconsins lawyer, Colin Roth, what changes Catholic Charities would have to make to qualify for the exemption under the states perspective. Roth suggested saying the Lords Prayer before serving a meal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You dont get the soup unless you pray first, Justice Samuel Alito interjected. Justice Sonia Sotomayor posited that it might be a matter of religious doctrine not to say the Lords Prayer before serving a meal, suggesting it would be problematic to qualify religious groups that do have that requirement while denying those who dont. I thought it was pretty fundamental that we dont treat some religions better than other religions, she said. But Roth argued that allowing groups like Catholic Charities to qualify where their work is largely identical to secular groups in the state could incentivize states to cut back on religious accommodations altogether. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Petitioners theory ultimately leads to an all-or-nothing rule exempting all religious groups or not, he said. The justices did weigh the limits of such exemptions. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson posed a hypothetical in which a religion views eating meat as a sin and opens a vegetable-only restaurant. Do they have a claim to be exempt from state taxes, food taxes, everything else? she asked. Because thats a sincerely held belief and its important to them and youre going to be taxing them youre going to be taxing the exercise of their beliefs. She also asked whether motivation should factor in deciding whos exempt, such that if one vegan restaurant was underpinned by faith and another was not, only the former would receive the exception. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Justice Amy Coney Barrett questioned how to distinguish religion from nonreligion under the law, quipping that the high court would not wade into religious philosophy in its opinion. Thats kind of a big question, right? she joked. Rassbach pointed to a duty owed or obligation to something transcendent or supernatural as the distinction. Deputy Solicitor General Curtis Gannon, who argued for the government, urged the justices to take a narrower view. He said the plain law has two clear prongs: that any group receiving the exemption must be controlled by a church and operate for primarily religious purposes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The justices should stop short of defining religious and nonreligious work and instead find the Wisconsin Supreme Court erred in its interpretation of the law regarding Catholic Charities, he said. Second-guessing what counts as inherently religious is just something that courts shouldnt be in the business of doing, Gannon said, and so thats a problem for a court to be defining what is inherently religious. The tax exemption case is the first of three religion cases to be argued before the Supreme Court this term. The justices will also weigh whether parents of children in public school can opt out of LGBTQ book instruction and whether an online Catholic school can become a charter school in a nationwide first. In recent years, the Supreme Court has handed a string of wins to churches and religious plaintiffs in disputes with states. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A decision is expected this summer. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Nearly two years after it last heard a religious freedom case, the Supreme Court on Monday will turn its attention to the First Amendments religion clauses as it considers a case about tax exemptions. The justices are weighing whether Wisconsin officials violated the Constitution when they denied a religious exemption to a Catholic nonprofit and several of its subentities in 2016. Catholic Charities Bureau and the associated groups cite their faith as inspiration for their efforts to feed the hungry, house homeless people and serve people with disabilities, but state officials determined their programs are not religious enough to qualify for the faith-based exemption to Wisconsins unemployment tax. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement State leaders say their actions are in line with national norms, while the Catholic groups say Wisconsin is improperly drawing lines between different types of religious practice. The Supreme Courts decision in the case could reshape religious exemptions nationwide. How does unemployment tax work in Wisconsin? Wisconsin, like other states, requires most employers to pay into its unemployment tax system. But some exemptions are available, including for certain religious organizations. To qualify for the faith-based exemption, you must show that you operate primarily for religious purposes, according to Wisconsins initial Supreme Court brief. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Faith groups that are eligible for a religious exemption often create or join a faith-based unemployment system. Several Catholic groups in Wisconsin use a program called CUPP, the Church Unemployment Pay Program, which was created by church bishops in 1986. What happened in the lower courts? The Supreme Court case, called Catholic Charities Bureau v. Wisconsin Labor and Industry Review Commission, originated in 2016, when Catholic Charities and some of its subentities asked Wisconsin state officials for the religious exemption that would make it possible for them to use the Catholic Churchs unemployment program instead of the states. When the Department of Workforce Development determined they didnt qualify, the Catholic organizations filed a religious freedom lawsuit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Over the past nine years, the case has worked its way through Wisconsins judicial system, and each side has claimed a few temporary victories. Its been a long process and, at every stage, the outcome has flipped. We won, then they won, then we won, then they won, said Nick Reaves, senior counsel for Becket, the law firm representing Catholic Charities and its subentities. The last ruling, which came from the Wisconsin Supreme Court, was in favor of Wisconsin officials. While the court acknowledged that Catholic Charities draws inspiration from Catholic teachings, it ruled that the groups activities do not serve primarily religious purposes, in part because theres no proselytizing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Wisconsin Supreme Court said Catholic Charities is not religious enough, Reaves said. What question is before the Supreme Court? After losing in front of the top court in Wisconsin, Catholic Charities appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court. It asked the justices to take up its case and answer two key questions: Does Wisconsins criteria for religious behavior violate the First Amendments religious freedom protections? Did state courts in Wisconsin handle the federal constitutional challenges appropriately? The Supreme Court took up the case in mid-December, but announced that it would consider only the first of the two questions. The justices are expected to clarify what states can and cant do when theyre assessing requests for faith-based exemptions. Whats at stake? The Supreme Courts eventual ruling will affect not just Catholic Charities future in Wisconsin, but also the future of religious exemptions nationwide. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While the court has weighed in on several memorable cases about whether government officials need to create faith-based exemptions, including recent battles over religious adoption agencies and a Christian baker, its more rare for the justices to discuss the criteria controlling existing religious exemptions and how those criteria should be applied. Reaves said hes hoping the justices will agree that Wisconsins approach to its religious exemption is leading officials to draw unlawful distinctions between religious groups. The problem is theyre drawing distinctions along religious lines, he said. Its like theyre saying churches that operate on Saturdays can have the exemption, but churches that operate on Sundays cant. Reaves added that you dont have to be Catholic to have a stake in the case, since his clients are essentially fighting for their right to serve non-Catholics and still be seen as religious. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The state has adopted a very cramped view of what religion and charity are, he said. For their part, Wisconsin officials reject the notion that their process for assessing faith-related activities is controversial. Its normal for government officials to dig deeper into a groups activities when it claims a religious exemption and that digging doesnt violate the First Amendment, they argued in their initial Supreme Court brief. The Wisconsin Supreme Court got it right. Courts routinely deny religious tax exemptions to entities that assert religious motivations without overly entangling themselves in religious matters. That effort does not violate the church autonomy principle because it does not regulate internal church governance or compel any activity, the brief said. Who supports Wisconsins position? Among the organizations that filed Supreme Court briefs in favor of Wisconsin officials are faith-related groups that generally oppose government entanglement with religion, like the Freedom From Religion Foundation and American Atheists. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The groups argue that officials need to be able to assess an organizations purpose and activities to ensure that religious exemptions are not too broad. The First Amendments no-preference, entanglement, and church-autonomy doctrines do not prohibit states from offering limited, categorical religious exemptions or from distinguishing between religious and nonreligious entities and activities in assessing the applicability of exemptions, as Wisconsin has done here. In suggesting that governments and courts may ask only whether an entity has a sincere religious motive for its conduct, Petitioners seek to twist the First Amendment beyond recognition, argued a brief from a variety of civil rights organizations, including the ACLU and Interfaith Alliance. Who supports Catholic Charities? Several prominent religious organizations and religious freedom scholars, as well as the Trump administration, filed Supreme Court briefs in favor of the Catholic groups. The briefs generally argue that government officials should not be allowed to second-guess whether a religious organizations activities are actually religiously motivated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This case is about who decides whether an organizations faith-based practices are religious the organization itself or the courts? Since the Founding and across decades of precedent, the answer has been (and still is) straightforward: religious organizations have an inalienable right to determine their own beliefs and practices, and those beliefs and practices are entitled to constitutional protection. The role of courts has been equally clear and especially narrow: avoid judicial entanglement and faith-based discrimination by assessing only whether an organizations religious beliefs or practices are sincere, not whether they are religious enough," said a brief from religiously affiliated schools, including Baylor and BYU. A brief from several major groups, including the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, the United Methodist Church and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, said that the Wisconsin Supreme Court ruling threatens church autonomy nationwide. Autonomy would be severely undermined if the First Amendment allowed the government to second-guess (faith groups) decisions on matters of church government such as a religions organizational structure or employment or service decisions, the brief said. What will happen next? Oral arguments in the Catholic Charities case will begin at 8 a.m. MDT on Monday. You can access the live audio on CSPAN or the Supreme Courts website. In addition to the attorneys for Catholic Charities and Wisconsin state officials, the deputy solicitor general will offer arguments. The Supreme Courts decision is expected by early July. The Supreme Court on Monday debated how to define religion as it considered a case on a faith-based tax break. The justices generally seemed to think the government officials involved had adopted the wrong approach, but they struggled to identify how best to ensure that only sincere religious actors and organizations can access exemptions. The Supreme Courts eventual ruling in the case, which is expected by early July, could reshape religious exemptions nationwide by disrupting how government leaders assess the groups seeking to be treated like a religion in the eyes of the law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The attorney fighting for narrow exemptions during arguments on Monday warned against radical expansion of faith-based tax breaks, while the attorneys on the other side of the case said our religiously pluralistic society is best served by broad, generous exemptions. Here are three key takeaways from the debate. The Supreme Court is skeptical of Wisconsins approach to religious exemptions The case on religious exemptions came to the Supreme Court from Wisconsin, where the state Supreme Court ruled that a nonprofit called Catholic Charities Bureau and a few of its subentities are ineligible for a religious exemption to Wisconsins unemployment tax system. To receive the faith-based tax break, groups must show they operate primarily for religious purposes. Wisconsin officials and the Wisconsin Supreme Court said the Catholic organizations fail that test, in large part because they dont attempt to convert people to Catholicism as they feed the hungry, house homeless people and serve people with disabilities, as the Deseret News previously reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Colin Roth, an assistant attorney general for Wisconsin, said the ruling reflected that the states religious exemption is meant to be narrow and available to only those groups that the government would struggle to oversee without getting entangled with religion. The exemption is limited to employers that are the most likely to draw the state into doctrinal disputes, he argued. Several justices challenged that claim on Monday, arguing that hinging the exemption on proselytization is just as problematic as getting involved in doctrinal disputes. Isnt it a fundamental premise of our First Amendment that the state shouldnt be picking and choosing between religions? Doesnt it entangle the state tremendously to go into a soup kitchen, to send an inspector in to see how much prayer is going on? Justice Neil Gorsuch asked. The justices seem interested in crafting a simple, straightforward ruling Compared to Roth, attorneys for Catholic Charities Bureau and the Trump administration, which supports the Catholic groups case, faced much less pushback. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The justices asked them about which religious freedom issues the courts ruling should focus on and spent little time trying to challenge their claims. Eric Rassbach, vice president and senior counsel for Becket, which represents the Catholic groups, said the justices need to make it clear that government officials cant discriminate between religious groups by basing exemptions on certain types of religious practices. He said a ruling in favor of the Catholic groups could focus on the discrimination present in Wisconsins current approach to the tax break or on church autonomy principles, which say government officials cant pressure religious organizations into changing their structure or programs. Curtis Gannon, U.S. deputy solicitor general, did not challenge Rassbachs characterization of the case, but he urged the court to keep the ruling focused on Wisconsins interpretation of its statute rather than only the phrasing of the statute, which is drawn from federal policy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A ruling that challenges the phrase primarily for religious purposes could create confusion nationwide, Gannon said. The Supreme Court is wrestling with big religion questions The Supreme Court is unlikely to settle the question What counts as religion? once and for all with its ruling in this case. But that didnt stop several justices from reflecting on the challenge of defining religion during Mondays oral arguments and asking attorneys to weigh in. Justice Amy Coney Barrett asked whether government officials should simply try to evaluate a groups sincerity or if deeper questions need to be asked. What should the opinion say if we try to articulate a test to separate religion from non-religion? she asked. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rassbach said the test should involve looking for whether an individual or group feels a sense of duty to some kind of God or gods. There are nontheistic religions. ... But overall, theres typically something transcendent or supernatural that you are feeling obligated by, he said. When it was his turn to answer a similar question, Gannon said the question of what counts as a religion should focus on sincerity and whether religion is the principle or fundamental reason that the work is being done. The court has repeatedly said that its OK to decide if (beliefs) are sincerely held, Gannon said. Workers in Surrey have been left unable to book a taxi first thing in the morning because firms are too busy ferrying pupils to state schools. Taxi companies in the county have said they routinely turn down customers who order a lift before 9am because their drivers are fulfilling lucrative taxpayer-funded council contracts. One resident in Redhill said she found it so difficult to book a morning taxi to transport her to work that she was forced to quit her job. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Telegraph revealed last week that Surrey County Council spent 5.3m last year on taxis for more than 1,500 children who do not have special educational needs (Send) to state schools. When factoring in Send children, the bill swells to 51.1m for 6,985 pupils. Councils are required by law to offer free transport to school-age children if their nearest suitable school is more than three miles away (two miles if they are under the age of eight), or they are not able to walk there safely. Abdul Mohammed, whose taxi firm Nivoshan was paid 486,380 by Surrey County Council between October and December last year, said his business would not exist were it not for the school contracts. He said his firm transported between 200 and 300 children every day across the north of Surrey, taking them to schools as far as 14 miles away from their homes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mr Mohammed said: In the mornings, we mostly do school runs between 7am and 9am. We do try to take other bookings, but mostly we are unable to fulfil them because the driver is already allocated to school runs. He said that the council contracts made up around 90pc of his revenue, and without school runs, I would go home to nothing. Andrew Bird, managing director of AMK Chauffeur Drive, a large taxi firm that holds school transport contracts with Surrey County Council, as well as Portsmouth City Council and Sussex and Hampshire County Councils, said he has seen a significant increase in children relying on taxis to get to school. He said: We tend to bring around 100 children in Surrey to and from school each day. Our business was set up as a local disabled accessible company and we primarily transport children with Send. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The firm operates a fleet of larger pre-booked vehicles, and home to school transport similarly makes up 90pc of its business. Mr Bird said that depending on the contract in place with the council, drivers are also paid for their empty mileage, this being the journey for the driver to get to the passenger. He said: We are certainly transporting more children now than we ever have before. Amanda*, a mother of two, from Redhill, said she was forced to give up her job as a teaching assistant at a local primary school because of the difficulty of getting a taxi in the morning. Due to her disability, she is not able to drive and was reliant on a taxi getting her to the school on time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, after joining in January 2023, she was forced to quit after six months because she could not find a reliable taxi service to get her to work. She said: I kept being late because taxis wouldnt turn up on time. I complained to my taxi driver, but he said he could not always get to me on time because of the other children he was transporting. I tried three other local taxi firms, all of which said they would be able to take me, but not if I wanted to arrive before 9am. I had to be there before 9am to do the job. Ive lived in Redhill all my life and it was never that hard to get a taxi, but in more recent times its changed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The owner of another taxi firm in Redhill, who wished to remain anonymous, said they had set up their company five years ago to take advantage of the council contracts. They said: The fleet is only there for that purpose. We do try to take bookings early in the morning for other customers, but generally our main business is with Surrey [County Council] doing school runs with them. They added that while some journeys were as short as one mile, it was not uncommon for drivers to travel 50 miles to bring children to school across the county. A Surrey County Council spokesman said: Due to pressure on school places in certain areas, some children are attending schools further from their homes as closer schools are unable to admit them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Additionally, some homes in rural areas are situated more than three miles from the nearest school. The authority will aim to offer public transport passes or travel budgets where feasible however, in some cases, contracted transport is necessary. Every application for travel assistance is rigorously evaluated, with careful consideration given to the eligibility of the applicant and to the mode of transport provided, to ensure the assistance we offer is appropriate and represents the best value for money. 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. STOCKHOLM (Reuters) -Sweden announced a new military aid package to Ukraine worth 16 billion crowns ($1.59 billion) on Monday, the biggest package to date from the Nordic country, saying it wanted to help Kyiv strengthen its position in talks on ending the war. The bulk of the package, nine billion crowns, will consist of new equipment that will be purchased in processes led by the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration, Defence Minister Pal Jonson told a press conference. Around five billion crowns will be financial donations for Ukraine's defence industry. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We are now at a critical stage of the war. Our focus is now on supporting Ukraine as much as possible so that they can get into a position of strength during these negotiations," he said. Jonson said all European countries now need to increase their support to Ukraine. "More need to do more." Since taking office in January, U.S. President Donald Trump has sought to broker a ceasefire to end fighting in the three-year-old war in Ukraine. Jonson, asked at the press conference if Europe has the financial and production capacity to take on more of the responsibility if the United States scales down, said: "I'm slightly more concerned with the defence industrial production than the financial resources." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The EU alone has an economy eight times as big as Russia, so if there is a will, there is a way for extensive support. The limitation has been the defence industrial production in Europe which has been adapted to peacetime," he said. The government has said Sweden will ramp up aid to Ukraine this year, boosting the 2025 budget allocation to 40 billion crowns from 25 billion projected earlier, to aid Kyiv's fight against Russian invasion. Including the new package, Sweden's military support since 2022 totals 80 billion crowns. ($1 = 10.0316 Swedish crowns) (Reporting by Niklas Pollars and Anna Ringstrom, editing by Louise Rasmussen, William Maclean) PARIS Sweden announced additional military aid for Ukraine to the tune of 16 billion Swedish kronor ($1.6 billion), in response to a Ukrainian request for capabilities in air defense, artillery, satellite communications and the maritime domain. The new military aid package, Swedens biggest yet, brings support for Ukraines defense to 29.5 billion kronor this year, the government said on Monday. The Nordic country said it has provided 80 billion kronor of military aid to Ukraine since 2022. We are stepping up the support and we are increasing it in strength and scope, and there are strong reasons to do this in light of the very serious situation in Ukraine, Minister for Defence Pal Jonson said at a press briefing in Stockholm on Monday. Russia has the initiative in the war, and we need to support Ukraine to break that trend right now. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Swedish government has proposed to provide 40 billion kronor in aid in Ukraine in 2025, partially by moving funds earmarked for 2026 to this year. Todays message again is that more people have to do more, Jonson said. Now it is a time for all European countries to really increase support for Ukraine. The Swedish Defence Material Administration will use about 9.2 billion kronor of the new aid to buy equipment for donation to Ukraine, taking into account industrys ability to produce the requested material with short delivery times. Sweden said Ukraine needs ammunition, air defense systems, marine equipment, satellite communication systems, infantry equipment and armored vehicles. Conditions are in place for the Swedish defense industry to quickly deliver relevant equipment for Ukraines defense, Jonson said. The support package will include artillery systems, air-defense systems and small combat vessels, according to the minister. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sweden will provide around 500 million kronor of aid from its own stocks, including machine guns and small-caliber munitions. The government will channel more than 5 billion kronor of aid via various funds and capability coalitions buying equipment for Ukraine, as well as increased collaboration to provide support for Ukraines defense industry through the so-called Danish model . Around 70% of the new aid can be delivered in 2025, according to a presentation by Jonson. Sweden has announced its largest military aid package for Ukraine to date, valued at almost 16 billion Swedish kronor ($1.6 billion), Defence Minister Pal Jonson said at a press conference on Monday. This 19th aid package brings Sweden's total military support for Ukraine this year to around 29.5 billion kronor. Since 2022, the total aid has amounted to nearly $8 billion. Jonson's ministry emphasized the importance of Europe increasing its support for Ukraine, stating that ongoing and increased assistance is crucial for European security. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ukraine has said that it has significant requirements for the battlefield, requesting support in areas such as air defence, artillery, satellite communication and naval forces. In response to these needs, Jonson stated that approximately 9 billion kronor of the new package will be used to procure defence goods from Swedish and other European arms manufacturers, which will then be supplied to Ukraine. A custom motorcycle is seen during the 2025 Spring Toronto Motorcycle and Powersports Supershow in Mississauga, the Greater Toronto Area, Canada, on March 30, 2025. Featuring vintage motorcycles, custom motorcycles and more, the annual two-day show was held here from March 29 to 30. (Photo by Zou Zheng/Xinhua) People look at a custom motorcycle during the 2025 Spring Toronto Motorcycle and Powersports Supershow in Mississauga, the Greater Toronto Area, Canada, on March 30, 2025. Featuring vintage motorcycles, custom motorcycles and more, the annual two-day show was held here from March 29 to 30. (Photo by Zou Zheng/Xinhua) People visit the 2025 Spring Toronto Motorcycle and Powersports Supershow in Mississauga, the Greater Toronto Area, Canada, on March 30, 2025. Featuring vintage motorcycles, custom motorcycles and more, the annual two-day show was held here from March 29 to 30. (Photo by Zou Zheng/Xinhua) People look at a custom motorcycle during the 2025 Spring Toronto Motorcycle and Powersports Supershow in Mississauga, the Greater Toronto Area, Canada, on March 30, 2025. Featuring vintage motorcycles, custom motorcycles and more, the annual two-day show was held here from March 29 to 30. (Photo by Zou Zheng/Xinhua) A man looks at a custom motorcycle during the 2025 Spring Toronto Motorcycle and Powersports Supershow in Mississauga, the Greater Toronto Area, Canada, on March 30, 2025. Featuring vintage motorcycles, custom motorcycles and more, the annual two-day show was held here from March 29 to 30. (Photo by Zou Zheng/Xinhua) By Johan Ahlander STOCKHOLM (Reuters) - Sweden's homicide and manslaughter rate dropped sharply last year as increased surveillance lessened gang crime that had pushed gun-related deaths to the highest level in the European Union. There were 92 cases of deadly violence in Sweden in 2024, 29 fewer than in 2023, and the lowest number since 2014, when 87 people were killed, statistics from the Swedish National Council for Crime Prevention (BRA) showed on Monday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement BRA said that it was a substantial decrease but added that year-on-year changes should be interpreted with caution. "When comparing years, it should be borne in mind that 2023 stood out as a year when unusually many women and minors fell victim to deadly violence compared to previous years," BRA said in a statement. Gun violence remained the most common cause of violent death and claimed 45 lives in 2024, eight fewer than in 2023. Sweden, which has suffered from a wave of gang-related violence for more than a decade, had 2.5 times more gun deaths than the EU average in 2023. Police have attributed the decrease to new powers including increased electronic eavesdropping and more surveillance cameras. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sweden's right-wing minority government came to power in 2022 on a promise to fix gang-related violence. It has tightened laws and given more powers to police. While deaths have come down, Sweden's gang crime problem is far from resolved and the capital was hit by an unprecedented spate of gang-related bombings in January. (Reporting by Johan Ahlander; editing by Niklas Pollard and Philippa Fletcher) Sweden has announced the transfer of its largest military aid package to Ukraine, worth almost US$1.6 billion. Source: Swedish Defence Minister Pal Jonson, as reported by European Pravda Details: Jonson said that the package includes support for Ukraine's air defence, artillery, satellite communications, and maritime capabilities. The government intends to authorise the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) to purchase defence equipment from the Swedish, Scandinavian and European defence companies for the Armed Forces of Ukraine, based on Ukraine's needs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The selection of equipment will be based on FMV's ongoing analysis of the market's ability to produce the required equipment with short delivery times. Jonson added that as part of this package, Sweden would purchase new equipment worth about US$912 million from the defence industry. "Much of the international military support goes through multilateral initiatives, coalitions within the Ukraine Defence Contact Group, and purchases from Ukrainian defence industries for donations. Sweden will donate about US$465 million to these funds and initiatives," he said. The support package envisages strengthening cooperation with Denmark within the established model of support for the Ukrainian defence industry. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The support package also includes the delivery of equipment from the Swedish Armed Forces. In particular, the following equipment will be handed over to Ukraine: Medical vehicles; Training weapons for firing M86 armour-piercing projectiles; Machine guns of the M58 type; Small calibre ammunition; About 100 vehicles of various types for maintaining the airbase; Basic and skilled equipment to support the airbase activities; Medical equipment and vehicles; Individual equipment; Equipment and provisions. As part of the support package, funds are allocated to identify and utilise technical innovations that require additional funding to complete and launch production. The FMV is tasked with identifying, testing and financing solutions that are in demand in Ukraine but need to be refined for use in wartime. The work will be based on specific demand and a short timeframe. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Background: Last week, the Swedish government instructed the Swedish Armed Forces to make payments to coalitions of forces and assets in the areas of demining and unmanned aerial vehicles under the Ramstein format. On 13 March, Sweden announced that it would purchase Archer self-propelled artillery systems and Arthur counter-battery radars for Ukraine as part of the 18th military support package. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Sweden will provide Ukraine with a military aid package worth almost $1.6 billion, Swedish Defense Minister Pal Jonson announced on March 31. The latest package is Sweden's largest tranche of military assistance since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022, according to Jonson. "The package includes, among other things, support for Ukraines air defense, artillery, satellite communications, and maritime capacity," the minister said on X. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With this package, Sweden's support to Ukraine since 2022 amounts to 80 billion Swedish kronor ($8 billion), the country's government said. This assistance has included Archer self-propelled howitzers, Strv 122 tanks, and CV90 infantry fighting vehicles. The latest package includes $912 million worth of equipment that will be procured from the Swedish defense industry and delivered to Ukraine in the span of "about 0-24 months." It also encompasses a $465 million donation to international multilateral initiatives, the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, and purchases from the Ukrainian defense industry. Kyiv will further receive material and spare parts from the Swedish Armed Forces worth about $93 million, including m/58 machine guns, ammunition, roughly 100 vehicles of various types for air base maintenance, and other support. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Stockholm is also allocating $46 million for an export guarantee to supplement procurement for donations to Ukraine, ensuring more Swedish companies can support Kyiv by providing requested material. Finally, the Swedish Defense Materiel Administration, a state military procurement agency, "will also be tasked with identifying, testing and funding military solutions from small tech companies that need to be verified or scaled up for military purposes in Ukraine," Jonson said. The package comes as European countries seek to bolster support for Ukraine as future backing from the U.S., the leading military donor, grows increasingly uncertain under President Donald Trump. Read also: Ukraine war latest: Putin will have nothing to say at peace negotiations, Zelensky says Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. The Tacoma Police Departments second in command, Deputy Chief Paul Junger, was fired Monday following the conclusion of an equal employment opportunity investigation, according to an internal statement from Interim Chief Patti Jackson. Jacksons statement said an external investigation resulted in sustained findings, but it did not explain what those findings are. A police spokesperson also did not speak to the details of the investigation. A message sent to Jungers work email on Monday returned with an auto reply stating that he was no longer with the City of Tacoma. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We recognize that changes in leadership can raise questions and impact morale, Jacksons internal statement reads. We also understand that this news will land differently for everyone. As a leadership team, were committed to acknowledging that range of emotions while continuing to build a culture grounded in professionalism, respect, and trust. The decision to fire Junger comes in the wake of a shakeup among the Police Departments top brass. Former Police Chief Avery Moore resigned in February, and the department is now led by Jackson, who formerly spent decades working in the Pierce County Sheriffs Office. Junger and Moore who both came to Tacoma from the Dallas Police Department were placed on administrative leave last year for investigations in separate matters. Junger was on paid leave for about three weeks until Nov. 13. At the time, the Police Department provided few details about why Junger was being investigated but said an allegation was made against him. When he returned to the job, a police spokesperson said there wasnt sufficient information to warrant keeping him on leave. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The News Tribune requested public records in February related to an allegation from a member of the departments leadership team claiming Junger created a hostile work environment, but the public-disclosure request was denied March 6 on the grounds that the records were part of an active equal employment opportunity investigation. Did TPD chief deliberately mislead city over $1K+ phone bill? Heres what probe found Its unclear who will fill Jungers position. Jacksons internal statement said the department remains fully operational and that its command staff was focused on ensuring a smooth transition. While changes like this can bring uncertainty, we are committed to maintaining stability and moving the agency forwardstronger and more unified, Jackson said. Tacoma Police Chief Avery Moore (right) and Deputy Chief Paul Junger address the citys new crime prevention plan during the Hosmer Business Association meeting at the Tacoma Nursing & Rehabilitation Center on Hosmer Street in Tacoma, Washington on Wednesday, June 22, 2022. Junger was under the direction of Interim Chief Jackson. According to the Police Departments website, the deputy chiefs duties include assisting in the direction of internal operations, directing assigned activities of the department and assuring the protection of lives, property and constitutional rights. The deputy chief also develops and implements department policies and goals. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Junger has worked at TPD as its deputy chief since 2022. According to his Linkedin, Junger worked in law enforcement in Dallas for more than 30 years, including as Lieutenant of Police from 2010 to 2015. He was the Major of Police before his departure. The deputy chief was also named in a lawsuit filed in April last year alleging that Moores former chief of staff, Curtis Hairston, experienced racial bias and discrimination during his 18 months with TPD. Hairston alleged Junger, whom he didnt report to, once rudely instructed him to retrieve someone waiting for Junger, The News Tribune previously reported. When Hairston told Junger that he might as well have said, Boy, go fetch me my guest, Junger allegedly replied: No. You will go do it because I am your boss and if I said, Boy, go wash my car, you will do that too. The lawsuit is ongoing in Pierce County Superior Court. The Talibans former ambassador to Spain remains detained by U.S. immigration officials after a federal judge declined his petition for immediate release on Monday. The Afghan diplomat, Mohammad Rahim Wahidi, is a lawful permanent U.S. resident living in Sterling, Virginia with his wife, Mary Shakeri-Wahidi, a U.S. citizen, according to a court filing by his lawyer, who expressed fears his client was caught up in a Trump administration crackdown on immigrants deemed to be at odds with U.S. foreign policy. He was detained at Dulles International Airport on Saturday after arriving on a flight from Turkey. However, Wahidis case appears distinct from some of the other cases in which lawful residents and visa holders have been targeted for deportation over their political advocacy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A petition filed Sunday in U.S. District Court in Alexandria links Wahidis detention to criminal charges his brother-in-law, Farhad Shakeri, faces in a New York federal court accusing him of involvement in a plot to assassinate a U.S.-based journalist critical of Irans government. Two men connected to the Russian mob were convicted on March 20 of a second Iran-backed attempt to assassinate that journalist, Masih Alinejad. Wahidis petition says that after his arrival at Dulles he has been interrogated by an unclear number of officers believed to be from the FBI regarding his brother in law. The petition indicates he was accompanied by his wife, who was eventually released from detention. Further complicating the tale: Spain reportedly stripped Wahidi of his diplomatic immunity earlier this month following allegations of sexual assault. No criminal charges have been filed against Wahidi. After Wahidis lawyer filed the petition Sunday, U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema immediately blocked authorities from moving Wahidi out of the judicial district, and she ordered Wahidi brought to court in Alexandria Monday morning for a hearing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Following that hearing, Brinkema declined to order Wahidis release, but left in place the order prohibiting his transfer and reminded officials of their obligations to abide by U.S. Customs and Border Protections detention standards. At this point the Court cannot offer any relief, Brinkema, an appointee of President Bill Clinton, wrote in the order. Wahidis lawyer, Hassan Ahmad, and a spokesperson for the U.S. Customs and Border Protection did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Brinkemas brush with Trump administration immigration emergencies doesnt end there. The judge also last week ordered the release of a Venezuelan couple targeted for deportation by Immigration and Customs Enforcement after what she described as a woefully inadequate case that they had gang ties. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wahidis lawyer, Ahmad, is also representing Badar Khan Suri, a Georgetown University researcher who is fighting the Trump administrations efforts to deport him over alleged links to Hamas. Suri denies any involvement with Hamas and suggests the governments allegation stems from his U.S. citizen wifes father, a former adviser to the Hamas-led government in Gaza. Ahmad indicated that both Wahidi and his wife were questioned to an unclear extent. Eventually, Ms. Shakeri-Wahidi was released at approximately 12:15 A.M. (after being held for nearly 12 hours) and allowed to go home, Ahmad wrote. However, Mr. Wahidi remained detained and locked in a room with a thin mattress overnight. Ahmad said he traveled to Dulles Sunday night to try to visit with Wahidi but was denied permission by an agent who cited border search authority and standard operating procedures. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The serious nature of the allegations against Mr. Wahidis brother in law, the extensive detention and lack of freedom to leave unquestionably renders the interrogation custodial, Ahmad argued. The court filing does not directly respond to the sexual assault allegations against Wahidi, although it attributes them to an activist in Spain who has campaigned for the closure of the Afghan embassy there. The embassy also reportedly issued a statement calling the claims baseless. No criminal charges were ever filed by the Spanish authorities, and Mr. Wahidi, though stripped of his title, was allowed to leave the country, the U.S. court filing says. TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) The Tampa Police Department honored several officers on Monday for their life-saving efforts in recent months. During the Tampa Police Quarterly Awards Ceremony, officers received a Life-Saving Award for two separate incidents. Had to flee orphanages: Tampa nonprofit rescues 2 children from Haiti as gang violence deepens According to Tampa police, the Life-Saving Award is a prestigious honor awarded to any employee who, in the line of duty, performs a heroic act that directly prevents the imminent loss of life. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Tampa Police Department said on February 1, a 26-year-old man was working on his car when he got pinned underneath it. Officers responded to the scene and worked to remove the car from the victim, lifting the sedan from the mans body. The officers then worked to revive the man, who had no pulse at the time. Fire Rescue credited the officers swift actions with saving his life, highlighting their dedication to the community. Officer Jeremiah Harvey, Officer Landen Hopkins, Officer Jason Sikoski, Officer Benjamin Urdiales, and Officer Jeremy Wells received awards for their heroic efforts. A separate award was given to officers who saved the life of Tampa Master Patrol Officer Eric Book. While responding to a domestic dispute, Tampa police said Officer Book collapsed from a medical emergency. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fellow officers quickly performed life-saving measures, until medical personnel arrived. Their efforts are credited for Officer Book surviving. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. TAOS, N.M. (KRQE) A Taos man pleaded guilty to killing his girlfriend, who was an up-and-coming Native American artist, according to the Department of Justice. Story continues below Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Santiago Martinez and DeAnna Autumn Leaf Suazo got into a heated argument outside their home about the future of their relationship, during which Suazo reiterated her desire to end things in November 2021, according to court records. The argument escalated into a physical altercation, and Martinez intentionally ran over Suazo with her SUV, resulting in her death due to mechanical asphyxia and blunt trauma. Although Martinez had consumed alcohol, he acknowledged being aware of his actions at the time of the incident, according to court documents. Martinez pleaded guilty in federal court to voluntary manslaughter for the death of Suazo. At sentencing, Martinez faces between 10 and 15 years in prison followed by not less than three years of supervised 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 KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos. WOONSOCKET, R.I. (WPRI) Two suspects were arrested after a stabbing in Woonsocket over the weekend. Officers responded to Landmark Medical Center on Sunday after a 19-year-old man walked in with stab wounds. BACKGROUND: Man in critical condition following stabbing in Woonsocket Police said the victim was barely able to communicate and could not provide details. He was later taken to Rhode Island Hospital for trauma care. Ryan Skyes (Courtesy: Woonsocket Police Department) Police said the stabbing stemmed from a crash on Elm Street around 4:45 p.m., which led to a fight between two groups of young adults and juveniles. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As a result, a 17-year-old boy was charged with felony assault and battery and sent to the Rhode Island Training School, according to police. Ryan Skyes, 19, of Lincoln, was also charged with obstructing officers. At last check, police said the victim was in stable condition. The incident remains under investigation. Download the WPRI 12 and Pinpoint Weather 12 apps to get breaking news and weather alerts. Watch 12 News Now on WPRI.com or with the new 12+ smart TV app. Follow us on social media: Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily Roundup Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WPRI.com. LOS ANGELES, March 30 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump said Sunday that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is attempting to back out of a rare earth minerals deal with the United States, warning that if he does that, he could have "problems." "I think Zelensky, by the way, he's trying to back out of the rare earth deal, and if he does that, he's got some problems -- big, big problems," Trump told reporters on Air Force One. Trump said that a deal had already been made regarding rare earth minerals, but now, Zelensky is looking to renegotiate. "He wants to be a member of NATO. Well, he was never going to be a member of NATO. He understands that, so, if he's looking to renegotiate the deal, he's got big problems," said Trump. On March 20, Trump announced that a rare earth minerals deal with Ukraine would be signed "very shortly." The agreement, initially scheduled for signing in Washington at the end of February to grant the U.S. access to Ukraine's mineral resources, was delayed following a tense exchange of words between the two leaders at the White House. Zelensky said last Friday that Ukraine has received a new draft version of the minerals deal proposed by Washington, while its text was "entirely different" from an earlier framework agreement that he had been set to sign with Trump. A bill that would impose a state tax of up to 10% on vape products a higher rate than tobacco and effectively ban sale of many vape products in the state by requiring application for FDA approval before products are sold is headed for a final Senate vote this week. Senate Bill 763 which has been criticized by opponents as a legislative weapon for big tobacco to crush competition has passed the Senate Finance Committee in a 9-2 vote, and a counterpart House panel with bipartisan support. Sponsors of the bill, and many lawmakers who have voted for it so far, have received thousands in campaign contributions from a political action committee of major U.S. cigarette manufacturers like Camel and Newport. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Senate sponsor Ken Yager, R-Kingston, said the bill is aimed at stoppiong "the influx of Chinese vape products that are addicting our children and wreaking havoc on our schools" not an attack on Tennessee's vape industry. "I don't take my orders from big tobacco," Yager told reporters Thursday. Sen. Ken Yager, R-Kingston, speaks during the third day of special session at the Tennessee State Capitol building in Nashville, Tenn., Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025. But the bill goes far beyond cracking down on age verification requirements for vape product sales. Bill would effectively outlaw certain vape products If signed into law, the bill would ban the sale of vapor products including hundreds of disposable and flavored products in Tennessee that are not approved or in the process of being approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Testifying in committee, David Nelson, who owns five vape stores in upper East Tennessee said limiting sales only to FDA approved products could be a step back for people trying to quit smoking. These tobacco and menthol-only products fail to meet the needs of the 15 million current adult vapers, 83% of whom prefer sweeter, fruity flavors to stay off cigarettes, Nelson said. Currently just 34 vapor products have been approved by the FDA, and all are tied to big tobacco companies. Most vape products sold in the U.S. are imported from China. If passed, the bill would fine vape retailers of $500 to $1,500 per product illegally sold. Big tobacco is panicking as smoking declines and their inferior products arent selling," Nelson said. "This bill ensures their monopoly by eliminating competition under the guise of regulation." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Studies have shown that vape products like e-cigarettes with nicotine can help adults stop smoking, but their long-term health impacts remain unknown. The FDA has not approved any e-cigarette products to help people stop smoking. Sen. John Stevens R-Huntingdon, staffer, Rhett Pratt and Sen. Ken Yager, R-Kingston, during the third day of special session at the Tennessee State Capitol building in Nashville, Tenn., Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025. We are not at all advocating the closure of any vape stores, Yager said. Theres plenty of business without having to resort to illicit products. Yager said the bill seeks to reduce "products made from illicit material imported from communist China," and would simply setting up guardrails to make sure that the practices in these stores do not in any way harm the lives of young people. Sponsors and supporters have taken thousands from tobacco PAC Yager and House sponsor Rep. David Hawk, R-Greeneville, are both longtime recipients of campaign contributions from the Reynolds American PAC, fueled by manufacturers of the countrys best-selling cigarette brands including Newport, Camel, Pall Mall and Lucky Strike. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Yager and his PAC have accepted $13,500 in contributions from Reynolds American since 2010. Hawk has accepted $3,750 from the PAC. "Let me be very clear: I don't trade my vote in this body for a contribution," Yager said Thursday. "I have never discussed an issue with anyone who's given me a contribution." Tennessee Reynolds American PAC has contributed more than $443,000 to state candidates since 2010, including the following Senators who have all voted for the bill in committee: Sen. Paul Bailey, R-Sparta $4,000 Sen. Ferrell Haile, R-Gallatin $500 Sen. Joey Hensley, R-Hohenwald $1,000 Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson, R-Franklin $11,500 Sen. Bill Powers, R-Clarksville $1,000 Sen. Shane Reeves, R-Murfreesboro $1,250 Sen. Paul Rose, R-Covington $1,000 Sen. John Stevens, R-Huntington $2,000 Sen. Brent Taylor, R-Memphis $2,000 Sen. Bo Watson, R-Hixson $4,500 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Yager has taken more in campaign contributions from Reynolds American than any other senator except Lt. Gov. Randy McNally, R-Oak Ridge, whose political action committee has received $45,000 from the PAC since 2010. "I don't know whether I've received a donation from them. If you look at my voting history, I've voted against tobacco, marijuana, and also these vaping products and will continue to vote against them, whether they give me money or not," McNally said Thursday. Vape products would be taxed more than tobacco Tennessee is one of about 20 states that does not currently levy a tax on vape products. If passed, the bill would impose a 10% tax on open system vape products, and a 7% tax on closed system vape products. Tennessee taxes tobacco products at 6.6%. Yager told reporters on Thursday his proposed tax on vape products "is really no different from the tax on other nicotine products." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Wednesday, Hawk called the tax a user fee. Representative David Hawk presents a bill during a house session at the State Capitol Building in Nashville , Tenn., Monday, March 6, 2023. It is not a general tax on all citizens, but a user fee on these products, so that the adults who use them are the ones paying for them to be regulated, Hawk said Wednesday. Its a small price to pay for what we're hoping will stop the influx of Chinese vape products into our communities and poisoning our children. Revenue collected expected to come to $16.5 million will go to the state's general fund, less the cost of administration and enforcement. 21% of Tennessee high schoolers vape State law already bans sale of any vape products to consumers under the age of 21. Still, vaping is a serious issue among Tennessee high schoolers. State analysts estimate about 400,000 people in Tennessee regularly use vaping devices, including about 21% of Tennessee high school students, according to data from the Tennessee Department of Education. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bill would require government issued photo ID for sale of vape products requirements making the standard for vape products the same as alcohol and tobacco. Scott County Juvenile Judge Scarlett Ellis wrote in a letter to Yager that youth vaping is the biggest issue I face as a juvenile judge. One student shared with me about 10 minutes after vaping for the first time in the bathroom I started getting dizzy, my vision was narrowing, and I felt like I was going to die as I held to the wall so I could get to the principals office for help, Ellis wrote. One mother shared my daughter woke me up while she was swaying side to side about to pass out, she was shaking all over and then started convulsing. About 30% of youth who come before Ellis court and consent to a drug test have tested positive for THC the psychoactive compound found in the cannabis plant. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our juvenile courts across Tennessee are being flooded with minors who are victims of illegal Chinese vape products, Yager said. Elementary and middle school students that are buying vaping products at these stores, are coming to school spaced out nauseated with other physical problems that have been wrought by the use of this and illegally so. State board recommended different approach A state review board has recommended some aspects of the bill like universal carding but the bill does not follow other recommendations. The Tennessee Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations earlier this year said the state should require licensing for vapor retailers, establish universal carding, increase funding for smoking cessation efforts, and require school districts to report more data on students' substance use and abuse. Sen. Jeff Yarbro R- Nashville, speaks during a press conference at the end of session at Tennessee Capitol in Nashville, Tenn., Thursday, April 25, 2024. Sen. Jeff Yarbro, D-Nashville, argued the state should follow those recommendations and require safety standards from people who actually control the access to vapor products not regulate the products themselves. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theres no question that we do have significant youth vaping issues, Yarbro said. The problem that I see is the one of access. I think we do need to tax this. I do think that we should have serious ID requirements. I really think that funds from this ought to go to smoking cessation programs. Yager responded he feels his idea will be a more effective approach. Vivian Jones covers state government and politics for The Tennessean. Reach her at vjones@tennessean.com. Want to share your thoughts with the legislators that represent you? Find your state Senator and Representative and their contact information on the Tennessee General Assembly website here. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: TN 10% tax, ban on certain vape products nears final Senate vote (FOX40.COM) A series of protests at Tesla car dealerships throughout Northern California have triggered mixed emotions within the region. On Saturday, nearly 300 people gathered in Placer County for a Tesla Takedown protest against Elon Musk. It happened at the Tesla Rocklin Showroom and organizers said the purpose was to express their displeasure with The Trump administration, Musk, and the Department of Government Efficiency. Wave of violent Tesla attacks prompts US DOJ to take action Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump and Musk are actively working to dismantle and defund the federal government, putting Social Security and other vital services at risk of ending, organizers said in the press release. Several protesters carried signs that read Stop the Coup, Fire Musk, and NO Oligarchs. This is about saving democracy, said one of the event organizers, Barbara Brass. Everybody deserves a good life and thats what our democracy was trying to do and thats what they (Musk/Trump) are trying to break. Northern California city declares itself a non-sanctuary city Brass said she was inspired to protest after Trump was elected as the president for the second time. She said that as a member of the LGBTQ community who isnt rich, shes worried about billionaires stripping her of her rights in America. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I just had to get involved. These protests are my way of keeping my mental health, Brass said. People protested against President Donald Trump and Elon Musk at the Tesla Rocklin Showroom and Arden Way dealership on March 29, 2025. On the other side of town, in Sacramento, another protest was happening at the Tesla dealership on Arden Way. While several people protested against Trump and Musk, others expressed support for them. I believe that there is so much waste waste in government and how are tax dollars are used. I find it refreshing that someone is willing to look at where our tax dollars go, said Peggy Sawyer. Sawyer said she worked for the California legislator for 30 years and knows from experience that DOGE is necessary. She passed by the protest in Sacramento and was taken aback by what she saw. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I find it very sad that Tesla dealerships have been used as an anti-Trump and Elon podium, Sawyer said. I think very highly of Elon. The money being spent in the United States budget is despicable and I think the individuals that are against what is being done (DOGE) havent looked into it. Sawyer added, Im afraid for my daughter. Im afraid for my grandson. Im afraid for all of his children because if it doesnt stop if (the government) keeps going unchecked, I believe the United States will self-implode. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Voting rights advocates are concerned that a proposal by Republicans in the Legislature to require proof of U.S. citizenship when registering to vote could disenfranchise more than a million Texans by making it more difficult and potentially more expensive to access elections. Though state and federal law already prohibits noncitizens from voting, Senate Bill 16 by Mineola Republican Sen. Bryan Hughes would require voters to prove their citizenship to their local voter registrar. The bill would create a bifurcated voter registration system and would require applicants and already-registered voters to provide a document like a birth certificate, passport or naturalization certificate to be eligible to cast a ballot in state or local elections. If a voter does not provide citizenship documents, they would be able to vote only in federal races. Meanwhile, an executive order signed last week by President Donald Trump aims to mandate citizenship checks to vote in federal elections. The order is expected to face significant legal challenges and could complicate discussions around the Texas proposal, according to voting rights experts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More: Trump's plan to tighten voting rules faces more than a few problems SB 16 passed the Senate State Affairs Committee and was sent to the full Senate last week. All 20 GOP senators have signed on as co-authors, indicating a clear path to passage in the upper chamber. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, the three-term Republican who presides over the Senate, has identified the bill as a legislative priority. Hughes push to tighten Texas voter registration relies on largely debunked claims that thousands of noncitizens appeared on the states voter rolls. He cited the claim during a hearing this month. Before the 2024 general election, (Gov. Greg Abbott) announced that, since 2021, Texas had removed over 6,500 noncitizens from its voter rolls, Hughes said. The presence of these voters on the rolls certainly raises questions about our voter registration process and how so many noncitizens were able to register. Senate Bill 16 by Mineola Republican Sen. Bryan Hughes would require voters to prove their citizenship to their local voter registrar. A 2024 investigation by three nonprofit news organizations found the state actually identified fewer than 600 registered voters who were believed to be noncitizens, and, in some cases, counties mistakenly purged U.S. citizens from the rolls. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Texas proposal is modeled on a long-standing Arizona law that requires proof of citizenship to vote. The law has faced legal battles since its 2004 inception but partially survived a 2013 U.S. Supreme Court challenge. The high court ruled Arizona could not keep voters from casting a ballot in federal elections but could require citizenship documents for state and local elections, creating the split state and federal-only rolls. Gina Swoboda, chair of the Arizona Republican Party, was invited to testify at the March 20 hearing in favor of SB 16, which she called a beautiful piece of legislation. In contrast to Republican lawmakers arguments that the bill is common sense, voting rights advocates like Jessica Hulett, the Houston regional director at VoteRiders, an organization that assists in navigating voter identification laws, believe the bill could potentially keep more than a million eligible Texans from exercising their democratic right. She told the American-Statesman the bill would have a chilling effect on Texas voters. A lot of people aren't going to be aware of what is going to be required of this new documentary proof of citizenship law, so what happens is you have people that are worried about being turned away or shamed or questioned when they go to vote or when they register to vote, and as a result, they just don't in the first place, Hulett said. That's on top of the people that are already automatically disenfranchised from bills like this, like the 1.3 million Texas voters that don't have ready access to a passport or birth certificate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hulett said cost barriers could also affect voters who dont have easy access to documents and need to obtain replacements, ranging from $30-$50 for a copy of a birth certificate to upwards of $500 for replacement naturalization papers. These proof of citizenship laws aren't about what proponents of them say they are, about safeguarding elections, things like that, Hulett said. They're about silencing voters. This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Texas proof of citizenship to vote bill lifts disenfranchisement worry March 31 (UPI) -- A Texas land official has asked the Trump administration to lock down three border islands purportedly used by drug cartels to smuggle contraband into the United States. Texas Land Commissioner Dr. Dawn Buckingham sent a letter to the White House Monday requesting that President Donald Trump have the U.S. Border Patrol collaborate with the Texas Military Department to take control of the islands in the Rio Grande River. Buckingham wrote that the islands were determined by her agency, the Texas General Land Office, to be of "sovereign status" and are subject to American law enforcement operations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She wants the federal government to secure and defend Beaver Island, a 20.3-arce island in Starr County and the Roma Islands, which are 12.13 and 20.3 acres and are situated near the city of Roma. She alleged that the Roma islands have been known as a "smuggler's paradise," and that the islands should be cleared of vegetation and illicit activity to enhance border security and improve the safety of law enforcement agents and soldiers that serve in the area. "Clearing vegetation and criminal operations on these cartel-ridden border islands will help safeguard the men and women who patrol our border, allowing them to continue defending Texas families and communities," Buckingham said. She added that she stands "ready and unwavering in my commitment to carry out this next critical step in the [land office's] mission to help secure Texas' southern border." U.S. President Donald Trump said on March 30 that there is a "psychological deadline" for Russian President Vladimir Putin to agree to a ceasefire in Ukraine, without naming a specific date. "If I think they're (Russia) tapping us along, I will not be happy about it," Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One, voicing his belief that the Kremlin's chief "wants to make a deal." Trump has softened his rhetoric on Putin after telling NBC News earlier on March 30 he was "pissed off" with the Russian leader over his fixation on President Volodymyr Zelensky, threatening 25%-50% tariffs on Russian oil. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When asked whether his relationship with Putin is at its "lowest point," Trump said, "No, I don't think so. I don't think he's going to go back on his word... We've always gotten along well." The U.S. president has threatened additional tariffs and sanctions against Russia several times in the past months but has yet to take the step. In turn, Trump has exerted significant pressure on Ukraine to bring it to the negotiating table, including by temporarily cutting off military and intelligence support. Putin has rejected a full 30-day truce agreed upon by the U.S. and Ukraine in Jeddah on March 11 unless it includes conditions undermining Ukrainian defense capabilities and only agreed to a partial ceasefire on strikes against energy facilities and in the Black Sea. Kyiv has already accused Russia of violating the energy ceasefire, while the future of the Black Sea ceasefire is in doubt as Moscow has linked it to the lifting of Western sanctions on food producers and some banks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Finnish President Alexander Stubb, who visited Trump over the weekend at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida, said that the U.S. president is frustrated with Russia's delays. Stubb also proposed April 20 as a "good time" for an unconditional ceasefire. Trump acknowledged on March 25 that Russia may be "dragging their feet" in peace talks, while Kyiv and other observers warn that Moscow intentionally prolongs the process to allow Russian forces to capture more territory. Talking to reporters, Trump also criticized Zelensky for allegedly wanting to back out of the U.S.-Ukraine deal on natural resources. "He's trying to back out of the rare earth deal and if he does that, he's got some problems, big, big problems," Trump said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "He wants to be a member of NATO, but he's never going to be a member of NATO. He understands that." Zelensky said on March 28 that he would not sign a minerals deal that interferes with Ukraine's plans to join the European Union. Bloomberg reported on March 29 that Kyiv was requesting changes to the current proposal, including greater investment from the U.S. and more clarity on how the joint fund would operate. Read also: Trump says hes pissed off and very angry at Putin in phone interview with NBC News Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. U.S. President Donald Trump walks on the South Lawn upon his return to the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States, March 30, 2025. Trump said Sunday he may impose "secondary tariffs" on Russian oil if he believes Russia is at fault for not reaching a ceasefire with Ukraine. (Xinhua/Hu Yousong) WASHINGTON, March 30 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump said Sunday he may impose "secondary tariffs" on Russian oil if he believes Russia is at fault for not reaching a ceasefire with Ukraine. In a phone interview with NBC News, Trump said he was "very angry" and "pissed off" when Russian President Vladimir Putin criticized the credibility of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's leadership, adding that the 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 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. "That would be that if you buy oil from Russia, you can't do business in the United States," he said. "There will be a 25 percent tariff on all oil, a 25- to 50-point tariff on all oil." Trump noted that the tariffs on Russia would come within the next month if Moscow does not sign up to a ceasefire with Ukraine. Trump said Putin knows he is angry, but he has "a very good relationship" with Putin and would speak to the Russian leader again this week. During a phone conversation on March 18, Trump and Putin agreed that the peace in Ukraine "will begin with an energy and infrastructure ceasefire." U.S. President Donald Trump steps off Marine One upon arrival on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States, March 30, 2025. Trump said Sunday he may impose "secondary tariffs" on Russian oil if he believes Russia is at fault for not reaching a ceasefire with Ukraine. (Xinhua/Hu Yousong) U.S. President Donald Trump walks on the South Lawn upon his return to the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States, March 30, 2025. Trump said Sunday he may impose "secondary tariffs" on Russian oil if he believes Russia is at fault for not reaching a ceasefire with Ukraine. (Xinhua/Hu Yousong) Carpentersville Fire Chief Bill Anaszewicz confirmed Monday that a third child has died as a result of a house fire Sunday morning. Two children were killed in the fire in the 1700 block of Kingston Circle and a third, who had been taken to the hospital, died of their injuries later the same day, he said. While identification has been released, its believe all were under the age of 4. A fourth person, an adult, was also hospitalized; their condition is not known. Two other people who live in the home refused treatment, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Two dogs perished in the blaze as well, officials said. Village President John Skillman said a social worker employed by the village was working with the family, particularly helping them with funeral and burial arrangements for their three children. The Fire Department was alerted to the fire about 9:30 a.m. Neighbors said six people had been living in the home three adults and three children. The Fire Department is scheduled to hold a news conference on the fatal fire at 3 p.m. Monday. Check back later for more details. "I'm not joking," said President Donald Trump to NBC this past weekend, referring to his talk of seeking a third term. "A lot of people want me to do it," said Trump on the air. "But I mean, I basically tell them we have a long way to go, you know, it's very early in the administration." "I'm focused on the current," he added. When pressed on how exactly he could seek a third termsomething barred by the 22nd Amendmenthe claimed "there are methods which you could do it." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some sycophants, such as Rep. Andy Ogles (RTenn.), have in the past introduced legislation to amend the Constitution to allow for a third Trump term. Former Trump advisor Steve Bannon told NewsNation earlier this month that "I'm a firm believer that President Trump will run and win again in 2028." Bannon called himself a "huge believer in democracy" in the very same interview, claiming the country is experiencing a "1932-type realignment." He's of course referring to President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, who served four terms. (The 22nd Amendment, limiting the number of terms for which a president can serve, was passed after FDR's death.) No modern presidents have broken with precedent or attempted to skirt the Constitution in this manner. It would be wrong and bad for Trump to attempt this, and even his attempts to anchorframing the whole negotiation, beginning to normalize such an idea early, going for the plausible-deniability approach and not endorsing the idea outright, resting it on how other people want him to do itshould be forcefully opposed. The government can't tell what a gang tattoo looks like: On Friday, the Trump administration asked the Supreme Court to rule on whether the wave of deportations they've been conducting is legal. The administration claims that the case presents "fundamental questions about who decides how to conduct sensitive national-security-related operations in this country" and that we cannot wait for it to wend its way through lower courts. This case will give us a sense of how the Supreme Court intends to handle the due processfree deportations Trump has been attempting under the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, which was used to put Japanese-Americans in camps during World War II and is now being used to mass-deport Venezuelans. With the gang Tren de Aragua declared a "foreign terrorist organization," the Trump administration has made the case that during times of war or invasion, citizens of a "hostile nation" ages 14 and above may be removed from the country with few legal protections. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One disturbing piece of all of this, beyond the basics: The Trump administration has apparently been deporting people based on their tattoos, with very sparse evidence that the tattoos signify actual gang affiliation. The tattoos worthy of deportation listed below include a nautical stars tattoocommon among people who've served in the Navyand a Michael Jordan "jumpman" tattoo. There are reports that asylum seekers were sent to a third-world prison for: having a tattoo based on Real Madrid, having a tattoo for autism awareness, and another for an alleged paperwork error. Maybe they were guilty. And maybe they weren't, which is why due process is vital. Billy Binion (@billybinion) March 27, 2025 If you're concerned about safety within our borders, you should be terrified that the government is so unsophisticated at weeding out actual Tren de Aragua members. And if you're concerned about civil liberties, you should be terrified that an unknown number of innocent people are being deported from the country over harmless tattoos totally unrelated to gangs. NEW: Another documents filed by the ACLU is an unclassified ICE document showing what it alleges are Tren de Aragua tattoos. The @nypost also published these in 2024. But reverse image search shows these images were stolen from the internet and have nothing to do with TdA! ???? https://t.co/BFOlQQDM27 pic.twitter.com/HzB3CNxVGN Aaron Reichlin-Melnick (@ReichlinMelnick) March 30, 2025 Scenes from New York: Michael Flynn, a dispensary owner in Syracuse, New York, "is in some ways the type of person whom the state's legalization efforts were intended to support," reports The New York Times. "His conviction for marijuana possession 25 years ago put him at the front of the line for a state license to sell recreational cannabis products, part of New York's effort to right the wrongs of the war on drugs." (In this regard, he reminds me of Jonathan Elfand, whose story I featured in this recent Reason documentary, embedded below.) Now Flynn is in hot water because he's attempting to exploit a loophole in the law to get around the fact that it bars a single owner from owning more than three dispensaries: He has started giving advice to would-be dispensary owners and allowed them to use his brand name, in exchange for a cut. The state's cannabis regulators are now scrutinizing his practices. QUICK HITS "What [Secretary of State Marco] Rubio and his bosses are trying to do, via these guilt-by-association tactics[Rumeysa] Ozturk wrote a pro-Palestinian op-ed, other Palestinian activists did bad or unlawful things, and therefore Ozturk has to gois take every available measure to chill and outlaw pro-Palestinian advocacy, full-stop," writes Jesse Singal at his Substack. "Barring its adoption of truly frightening legal theories, the administration can't really do anything to directly punish American citizens for engaging in pro-Palestinian or anti-Israel speech. But it can try to stretch the law to the breaking point by targeting visa and green card holders, who are more vulnerable, and it can pressure universities to crack down on such speech with funding brinkmanship, such as it did with Columbia.I would have thought it too on the nose, even for the Trump administration, to try to ship someone back to Erdogan's Turkey for the infraction ofcoauthoring a college newspaper op-ed expressing a viewpoint disfavored by the regime. But here we are. We're living under an administration that admires the Erdoganian way of doing business." On Friday, a federal judge ordered that a Venezuelan couple here on temporary protected status, with legal authorizations to live and work here, be released from federal custody. Judge Leonie M. Brinkema "rebuked government officials for claiming in court that the couple posed a public threat, and ordered both of them released straight from the courthouse," reports The Washington Post. "'There is no reason why they're being held,' the judge said. Addressing a government lawyer, Brinkema said, 'If this was a criminal case.I'd throw you out of my chambers.'" Very bad: Wow. Huge drop in consumer sentiment among all income groups. Even the rich are worried now. 1) Sentiment is down more than 30% since November 2) People are worried they will lose their jobs. Two-thirds of consumers expect unemployment to rise in year ahead--> highest concern pic.twitter.com/8215hFFDgo Heather Long (@byHeatherLong) March 28, 2025 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Amazing: Can't decide whether to laugh or cry pic.twitter.com/mJ1kuiKOme Jeremiah Johnson ???? (@JeremiahDJohns) March 30, 2025 In case you missed it: Our conversation with Phil Magness on Just Asking Questions. The post Third Term appeared first on Reason.com. The ban on Marine Le Pen from contesting the next French presidential election that she was expected to win is an extraordinary blow against democracy that could well backfire. The National Rally leader, who stormed from the Paris courtroom after the sentence, feared it would kill our movement. But it could also supercharge it if voters feel that their right to decide at the ballot box is being thwarted. The involvement of the EU also reinforces the partys deep antipathy towards the Brussels-based bloc. The judiciary may insist that the case was judged on its merits; but the inescapable impression for millions will be that a concerted effort has been made to stop Le Pen precisely because she is the favourite to win in 2027. If the ban is not overturned on appeal the main beneficiary will be her protege Jordan Bardella who would be the likely presidential candidate in her place. Marion Marechal, Le Pens niece, is also a potential runner and is close in her conservative views to Giorgia Meloni and J D Vance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Those hailing Le Pens removal from the political scene only need to look across the Atlantic to see what can happen when the courts are accused of trying to block a presidential candidate. The backlash against the ruling in France will cast Ms Le Pen as a political martyr and reaffirm the views of her supporters that the establishment has lost touch with the people. Mr Bardella, still in his 20s, said his mentor had been unjustly condemned and French democracy is being executed. But if the ruling is reversed then Ms Le Pen will be an even stronger favourite to succeed Emmanuel Macron. If not, then one of her close allies will campaign against the perceived injustices in the French system while she pulls the strings in the background. This sends a worrying signal to autocrats everywhere, with the Kremlin gloating over what it called a blow to EU democracy. Right-wing, often pro-Russia candidates have been blocked elsewhere, most recently in Romania where the election was annulled. Another thorn in Brussels side, Viktor Orban, the prime minister of Hungary, tweeted Je Suis Marine while Italys deputy premier Matteo Salvini said, Those who fear the judgment of the voters often find reassurance in the judgment of the courts. The reverberations will be felt not just in France, but across Europe. 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. Jose Diaz-Balart sat down with three congressional caucus chairs, chair of the Asian Pacific American caucus Rep. Grace Meng (D-NY), chair of the Hispanic caucus Rep. Adriano Espaillat (D-NY) and chair of the Black caucus Rep. Yvette Clarke (D-NY) to discuss the state of the U.S. economy, the future of the Democratic Party, and more. TASHKENT (Reuters) - Three people were killed and ten more injured on Monday after a gas explosion at a mosque in Uzbekistan, the country's emergencies ministry said. In a statement published on Telegram, the ministry said that the blast had struck the bathroom of a mosque in Uzbekistan's eastern Andijan region. It said that an investigation was ongoing into the blast, which came during the Islamic holiday of Eid al-Fitr. (Reporting by Reuters Writing by Felix Light; Editing by Sharon Singleton) JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) Three tribal members were sentenced for their roles in a murder that occurred in the Pearl River Community of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians Reservation in September 2023. 3 arrested, 3 wanted in Moss Point homicide According to court documents, Michael Jeffrey Shaffer, Sr., 48, and Montero Ray Willis, 22, were both sentenced to prison for murder in the second degree. Shaffer was sentenced to 262 months, and Montero was sentenced 151 months. Deyonkia Alice Willis, 32, was sentenced to 60 months for the crime of accessory after the fact. Michael Jeffrey Shaffer, Sr. (Courtesy: Madison Co. Detention Center) All three were previously indicted by a federal grand jury in November 2023 and previously pled guilty. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Choctaw Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case as part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods Tribal Initiative. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily News Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJTV. Mar. 31Thursday is the last day to register to vote in the May 3 election. Would be voters may register to vote in person at the Elections Office at 1010 E. Eighth St. Mailed applications must be postmarked by April 3. Applications can be submitted online with the Secretary of State at: tinyurl.com/2cbtzc7u or at sos.state.tx.us This May election is a smaller election than the whopper in November 2024, but the May election in Ector County has a number of important issues and offices for voters to decide including weighing in on a property tax increase to fund an Odessa College bond. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Odessa College is taking a second request to voters for funds to bolster the campus. The $325 million bond issue will raise property taxes for residents. The bond is a 30-year commitment and, if approved, property owners of a taxable value $167,000 home would see an increase of about $14 per month or $168 annually in property taxes. Owners of a taxable value $334,000 home would pay about $28 more per month or $336 more per year in property taxes. Trustees approved calling the bond Feb. 14 following the narrow failure of the bond in November for $355 million. OC officials have cited a need for more space. OC's enrollment numbers show a growth of about 1,000 since 2019 with some dips in attendance during the COVID years. Fall 2024 in-person enrollment was 6,044 with 2019 at 4,957. Also on the ballot is the Ector County Emergency Services District 1 and District 2 election for those who live in Ector County but outside of the city limits. The election will impose a property tax that will be used to fund emergency services for county residents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Supporters of the issue have said the wait time for those needing critical care is simply too long and this measure could help cut that time and improve health outcomes. The May elections also includes some local offices. The Ector County Hospital District Board of Trustees shows incumbents Bryn Dodd, District 1, Richard Herrera, District 3, and Kathy Rhodes, District 7, filing on the last day to file. Sylvia Rodriguez-Sanchez filed against Herrera. Former longtime Ector County Hospital District Board member Judy Hayes filed for the District 7 position and will square off against Rhodes. Incumbent Don Hallmark, District 5, filed previously as well. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Also up for election are members of the Odessa College and Ector County ISD Board of Trustees. Stacy King filed for Position 5 on the Ector County ISD Board of Trustees. That spot is currently held by Steve Brown who has filed for reelection. Delma Abalos, Position 2, Chris Stanley, Position 4, and Bob Thayer, Position 7, have all filed for reelection. On the OC board, incumbents Laci Harris, Place 9, Montie Garner, Place 6, and Trudy Lewis, Place 3, have filed. Early voting for the May 3 election is 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 22 to 25 and 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. April 28 and 29 at the Ector County Annex, 1010 E. Eighth St., Room 104. Election day is May 3. President Donald Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One over the weekend that he expects TikTok to have a new owner before its Friday deadline ban. In January, Trump set the April 5 deadline, initially postponing the online video platform from going dark in the U.S. again so that an American buyer could swoop in and take over the app currently under the management of its Chinese parent company Bytedance. A lot of people want to buy it, Trump told reporters aboard the presidents aircraft on Sunday, emphasizing that hed like to see TikTok remain alive, crediting it for winning him the young voters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ill be honest, selfishly speaking, I won the young vote by 36 points. Republicans generally dont do very well with the young vote, and I think a lot of it could have been (because of) TikTok. In actuality, Trump received 46% of the votes of people ages 18-29 in 2024, with Kamala Harris garnering 52% of the votes by young people. However, it was an improvement for Trump of 10% over his performance with the young vote in 2020. In his first term, Trump supported the platforms ban, sharing the same national security concerns that led to the Supreme Court voting in favor of Congresss bipartisan legislation signed into law by former President Joe Biden banning the app if it did not divest from its Chinese ownership. For years, the app has been accused of being a Chinese government tool used to spy on America. However, TikTok ownership has previously denied that. The app was initially banned in the U.S. on Jan. 19. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Though he appeared confident that the app would be acquired before the deadline, Trump told reporters he would extend it if necessary. While some billionaires have been speculated upon, no confirmed conversations have taken place regarding which American entity is most likely to purchase the app. Congress reactions to potential ban Three Democratic senators sent a letter to Trump on Monday requesting that he work with Congress to preserve the app, according to USA Today. To the extent that you continue trying to delay the divestment deadline through executive orders, any further extensions of the TikTok deadline will require Oracle, Apple, Google and other companies to continue risking ruinous legal liability, the letter written by Massachusetts Sen. Edward Markey, Maryland Sen. Chris Van Hollen and New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker said, urging their Republican counterparts to sign the Extend the TikTok Deadline Act. If the act passes, it would extend the TikTok ownership deadline to Oct. 16, 2025. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Republican Arkansas Sen. Tom Cotton, who has been favorably outspoken about the ban, has apparently said he would allow the White House to develop a deal structure that complies with ban legislation that he has long favored, per the New York Post. The Trump administration has made it evident that TikTok remaining accessible in the U.S. is a top priority. As deals remain uncertain, TikToks 170 million U.S. users will have to wait and see if the popular video app will black out again. Sen. Maggie Hassan speaks during an event in Tilton on Friday, March 28, 2025. (Photo by William Skipworth) U.S. Sen. Maggie Hassan, while visiting Tilton on Friday, railed against President Donald Trumps national security team for the controversial leak of military plans to a journalist, stood behind her vote to confirm the presidents pick for Food and Drug Administration commissioner, and discussed her efforts to get more information about the Nashua German-American detained by immigration officials. In late March, The Atlantic published a story revealing that National Security Adviser Mike Waltz accidentally added Jeffrey Goldberg, the news magazines editor in chief, to a group chat on the messaging app Signal. That group chat also included Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Vice President J.D. Vance, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, and over a dozen other high-level military and administration officials. In the chat, the officials discussed extremely sensitive details about a series of military airstrikes in Yemen. The leak was immediately lambasted by critics who said the officials were being careless with confidential information and skirting record-keeping laws. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Signalgate scandal and it is a scandal reflects how reckless and careless this administration is, Hassan said. They put our servicemen and women at risk by casually discussing war plans, literally the timing of air strikes on a Signal chain. Its unacceptable, and as I have said before, its one thing to misidentify somebody in a Signal chat when youre making dinner plans. Its another thing to do it when youre planning an airstrike. Hassan was one of 20 Democrats who voted to confirm Ratcliffe in January; 24 Democrats voted against him. (One independent, Sen. Angus King of Maine, who caucuses with the Democrats, voted for him, and another, Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, who also caucuses with Democrats, voted against him. Democratic Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania did not vote.) Hassan wouldnt say whether the Signal scandal was giving her pause about her vote. Additionally, Hassan was one of three Democrats (Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, New Hampshires other U.S. senator, was another) who voted to confirm Martin Makary, a Johns Hopkins University surgeon and outspoken health care commentator, to his role as commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dr. Makary has a very strong record of fighting the opioid epidemic and of holding FDA and past FDA administrators and commissioners to account for their role in fueling the opioid epidemic, Hassan said. And I think it was very important to have somebody at the FDA who will continue to work to fight the opioid epidemic as strongly and effectively as he can. However, Makary has received criticism from some of Hassans fellow Democrats who, in questioning leading up to the vote, couldnt get the doctor to rule out tightening restrictions on the abortion pill mifepristone and were alarmed by his tepid responses on vaccines which he said he supported but he wanted the FDA to reevaluate how it gathers input from vaccine experts. Makary previously garnered attention during the COVID-19 pandemic as an outspoken opponent of vaccine mandates, though he supported voluntary vaccinations and other public health measures like shutdowns early in the pandemic and masking. He was also the author of a 2021 Wall Street Journal op-ed that incorrectly predicted the virus would be mostly gone by April. Hassan also discussed the detainment of the German national Fabian Schmidt, who holds a green card and lives in Nashua. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Schmidt was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (a division within the Department of Homeland Security) officials at Bostons Logan Airport in early March and taken to a detention center in Rhode Island. It is unclear why Schmidt, a 34-year-old man whose parents say hes lived in the U.S. since he was a teenager, is being detained, but he has a court date set in June. We are in contact with the Department of Homeland Security about that, she said, adding that her and Shaheens teams are collaborating. We have made it clear that DHS needs to follow the law, and we are waiting to get more information from legal representatives of the detainee, but it is very concerning. Hassan said she did not know the justification for Schmidts detainment. SIGN UP FOR THE DAILY JWR UPDATE. IT'S FREE. (AND NO SPAM!) Just click here. Setting aside any "national security" concerns arising from letting The Atlantic's Russia-hoaxer Jeffrey Goldberg in on the Administration's Houthi-bombing call, I doubt that any creature more sentient than an amoeba can have been surprised to learn that US cabinet members "loathe" European "freeloading". If you're paying attention, you'll know that total contempt for the Euros appears to be entirely bipartisan. Are you shocked by Hegseth dismissing the Continent as "pathetic"? Well, you should have been around in the Obama era, when Victoria Nuland, She-Wolf of the Donbass, was rather pithier: F**k the EU! Or in the Bush era, when Ms Nuland's house-husband Robert Kagan summed up the relationship as: Americans are from Mars, Europeans are from Venus. Or a generation earlier, in the first Bush era. From General Norman Schwarzkopf, who certainly wore the uniform better than Admiral Levine, even if in terms of accomplishing strategic goals in the national interest it didn't ultimately make much difference: Going to war without the French is like going hunting without an accordion. I hasten to add that, when it comes to expeditionary soldiering in faraway countries of which we know little, I take neither side and nor should you. Pace Mr Kagan's butch-boy banter, US victory in war is slipping beyond living memory. Pace Stormin' Norman, American inability to use forty per cent of the planet's military budget to any strategic purpose is now so deeply ingrained that I'm seriously minded to try hunting with an accordion. So forget foreign warmongering. As readers of my big-picture piece in the current issue of Quadrant Down Under will be aware, the entire west (America included) is now so demographically enfeebled, economically kaput and culturally self-loathing that it is no longer about Take Your Child-Bride To Work Day in Jalalabad or making a world safe for non-binary Houthis; it is about saving ourselves and in that respect the old sneers still have some relevance. In the last two months the forty-seventh presidency has shown such tremendous energy in the executive that illegal crossings of the southern border are down ninety-four per cent and even more remarkably NeverTrumper Bill Kristol's share of the "foreign aid" budget is down one hundred per cent. To be sure, the filthy corruptocrats of the District of Columbia are pushing back, using any old rinky-dink district judge to force a government that hasn't won anything since VJ Day to prioritise the further trannification of the Pentagon. So for those who didn't think Thoroughly Modern Milley was sufficiently gender-ambiguous there's new Chairman of the Joint Chiefs "Judge" Reyes: Since "Judge" Reyes is now a top military planner, she/they can report to Fort Benning at 0600 to instruct our Army Rangers on how to execute High Value Target Raids...after that, Commander Reyes can dispatch to Fort Bragg to train our Green Berets on counterinsurgency warfare. https://t.co/CNrl252Irs Pete Hegseth (@PeteHegseth) March 22, 2025 Chief Justice Roberts, the designated non-binary voter on the Supreme Court, has demanded, re the ongoing judicial coup, that Trump allow the lethargic appellate process to play itself out. The problem with that is, if the Roberts court permits these "temporary" restraining orders to remain in place until, say, the end of the year, it's over: We need to move as if we have two years, not four, and as much of that as possible needs to happen between now and December https://t.co/u5X4FRaJPr Mike Lee (@BasedMikeLee) March 24, 2025 That's the political reality: if you're wondering about all the energy of these last two months, well, a year isn't a lot of time to turn around a continent-sized Titanic. Meanwhile, up north, the big political news this weekend was supposedly that the globalist apparatchik installed as PM by Tony Blair and his Davos chums has called a Canadian election for April 28th. That's the shortest possible campaign, because Mark Carney has a bit of a Kamala problem: he's not as stupid as she is, but he has to win before the voters wise up to how unlikeable he is. The opposition leader whose strategy was to sit on his lead and munch an apple while not being Justin Trudeau now has to figure out something different to do for the next month. After prolonged study of the apple-muncher's manifesto, it seems clear that, even if he manages to reverse the poll slippage and secure a stonking Starmer-sized majority in the House of Commons, there is no prospect of Trump-scale pushback from the Canadian Tories. Albeit not on the ballot, the real choice for Canadian voters is whether to join Trump, Vance and their senior colleagues in a last-ditch effort to save their societies or go down the Eurinal of history with the Continentals. Canada's "natural governing party" has made its choice: Justin's final act as PM was to fly to London as the token non-European in Sir Keir's "coalition of the willing", and Carney's first act as PM was to announce that he has no plans to meet with the orange bloke next door. But they're the alternatives on offer when it comes to the future of the west: Trumpian energy or Euro-passivity. If it is true that the King has offered the United States something called "associate membership" in the British Commonwealth, maybe Cruella von der Leyen could offer Canada associate membership of the European Union. Or maybe an artful straddle is possible. You pretend to be the forty-seventh president's best and butchest pal (which would be news to Trump) while as a practical matter being a sopping wet, hand-wringing, nothing-can-be-done Princess Pouffy-Pants parody of a Uniparty Euro-pol: It's unclear what Nigel Farage thinks mass deportations means. "People will always come and go..." Well, obviously, but what does that have to do with the 200,000 young men who are sitting in hotels at taxpayer expense? They need to go. pic.twitter.com/pMV7l1obJG Carl Benjamin (@Sargon_of_Akkad) March 9, 2025 If you want the perfect contrast between the new US administration's energy and wimpy suicidal Euro-passivity, skip the French and the Belgians and the Germans and go straight to "Trump's best friend": Trump is from Mars, Farage is from Uranus. As my compatriot Ezra Levant pointed out on Dan Wootton's show, Nigel is talking bollocks: instead of paying to house "migrants" in four-star country-house hotels up and down the land, you could requisition ten medium-size jets and send 2,500 illegal aliens per day on one-way tickets out of Heathrow. That would be just shy of a million gone in the first year not to mention the deterrent effect on millions more, as America's instant ninety-four per cent drop-off in illegal southern-border crossings demonstrates. And it would be considerably cheaper than what London and Dublin et al are doing now. But that would require Farage to be emotionally secure enough to have someone as effective as Tom Homan, and not report him to the coppers by claiming he put his hand on Nigel's knee over dinner at Boisdale six months ago. Ezra's plan is practically very do-able, but not politically do-able, not for Farage, the faux-Populist branch of the faux-Conservative/faux-Labour Uniparty. So I'll make a general observation you can hold me or my shade to in the 2030s: this next half-decade is much of the west's last meaningful election cycle. Indeed, if the present UK government and incoming German government serve their full terms, the last real-ish elections have already been held. As Trump and Vance and their senior colleagues all grasp, the times call for urgency. If 47 succeeds, the western world will be getting a lot smaller - unless the Europeans and the Canadians can rouse themselves from their Faragian passivity. And John Roberts and his chums have been forced to deploy five "temporary restraining orders" per day in order to ensure that 47 will not succeed - and that America's corrupt judiciary can stall the administration into the same torpor as Canada and Europe. By contrast to 47's energy, most of the Continental political class is happy to go quietly into a long Eurabian night, as I wrote (here we go first of the week) twenty years ago - in my boffo international bestseller America Alone (2006): As Kofi Annan [the then UN Secretary-General] framed it, rather more soothingly: 'The offensive caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad were first published in a European country which has recently acquired a significant Muslim population, and is not yet sure how to adjust to it.' If you've also 'recently acquired' a significant Muslim population and you're not sure how to 'adjust' to it, well, here's the difference: Back when my Belgian grandparents emigrated to Canada, the idea was that the immigrants assimilated with the host country. As Kofi & Co see it, today the host country has to assimilate with the immigrants. And so it goes two decades on. Over the weekend, I read a piece at the excellent Conservative Woman website headlined: Instead of migrants integrating with us, we have integrated with them Dr Campbell Campbell-Jack is a sound fellow and I disagree with nary a word he wrote. But I am slightly amazed that in 2025 this is still news to anyone. It was obvious even in 2006 that the citizens of the west were doing a lot more "adjusting" to the incomers than the incomers were ever going to do to "adjust" to the west. So it is mildly dispiriting to me that nineteen years later the subject can still only be broached in The Conservative Woman and not in The Daily Telegraph or on the BBC. America Alone: In defiance of normal immigration patterns, the host country winds up assimilating with Islam: French municipal swimming baths introduce 'gender'-segregated bathing sessions; Australian hospitals remove pork from the cafeteria menu. Just small things. But the way to look at it is like this: Are this year's "small things" likely a decade hence to be smaller? Or bigger? We all know the answer to that. So in Paris, almost two decades after the above, "the world's best pastry chef" Pierre Herme offers his "Ramadan collection" of upscale macarons and bonbons; in London Piccadilly Circus will remain bedecked in municipal Ramadan lights and decorations enjoining one to have a "Happy Ramadan" until March 30th, at which point the authorities will switch to wishing Britons a "Happy Eid". Up and down the United Kingdom's provincial high streets, mainstream retailers seem to have decided that Ramadan is now universally observed: in branches of the grocery chain Sainsbury's, faintly hectoring banners demand to know, "Are you Ramadan ready?" At Windsor Castle, the King (and Defender of the Faith, such as it is, of the Church of England) hosts an "iftar" in St George's Hall (named for the patron saint of England under whose flag the Crusader knights rode into battle). So, to return to the question posed above, next Ramadan is there going to no Royal iftar and less supermarket propagandising? Or will there be even more institutional Islamisation? Demography is destiny when your politico-media culture has already decided to join the incomers. How Muslim do you want your society to be? How Muslim do you want your children and grandchildren to be? Whatever Islamo-lite Ramadan-macaron Windsor-iftar level of Islam you reckon you could live with, they're already galloping way beyond. As JD Vance has reminded them (to their faces), in order to ease assimilation with their fastest-growing demographic, the Europeans are already abandoning all those core "values" we hear so much about, like freedom of speech. And it was all perfectly obvious two decades ago, when a few of us stated the obvious: The host country has to assimilate with the immigrants. See France, Germany, Austria, Sweden, Canada, Ireland... America is, for the moment, a partial exception to the rule and it's certainly fun to see JD Vance rubbing the Europeans' noses in it. But, if you're wondering what I mean by "partial", see Patterson, New Jersey: I'm sorry what? This is Patterson, NJ. pic.twitter.com/TxSP0q95yh Michelle Maxwell (@MichelleMaxwell) March 22, 2025 As I've mentioned before, upon the publication of America Alone, large numbers of princes, presidents and prime ministers called me in to chew over the general thesis ...and then they did nothing. So any political solution is a lot more difficult than it was twenty years ago while the politico-media class is, especially across His Majesty's dominions, even squishier than it was. And yet the last two months has been kind of inspiring. From Snow White to Adolescence, the corporate storytellers of Big Woke peddle the same cobwebbed drivel. Polls on either side of the Atlantic show that - after two decades of being force-fed the demonisation of straight white men - the young are moving rightward, if only because over on that side they're not outright hated. In America, a majority of young guys now identify with Trump and his determined pushback. Faced with picking and choosing from the suicidally passive Euro-Canadian establishment, where does that youthful energy go? Mark's international bestseller America Alone: The End of the World as We Know It. If you haven't read the book during its first seventeen years, well, you're missing a treat. It's still in print in hardback and paperback. (Buy it at a 77% discount by clicking here or order in KINDLE edition at a 47% discount by clicking here. Sales help fund JWR) (COMMENT, BELOW) Mark Steyn is an international bestselling author, a Top 41 recording artist, and a leading Canadian human rights activist. Among his books is "The Undocumented Mark Steyn: Don't Say You Weren't Warned". (Buy it at a 49% discount by clicking here or order in KINDLE edition at a 67% discount by clicking here. Sales help fund JWR) LOS ANGELES, March 31 (Xinhua) -- NASA astronaut Butch Wilmore said on Monday he should have asked more questions about Starliner to prevent subsequent issues, adding that both Boeing and NASA share responsibility for the challenges encountered. Wilmore and fellow NASA astronaut Suni Williams held their first press briefing on Monday after their return to Earth earlier this month. The astronauts refrained from assigning blame to any specific organization but emphasized their collective responsibility. "There were some issues, of course, that happened with Starliner ... there were some issues, of course, that happened that prevented us from returning on Starliner," he said. "And I'll start with me, there were questions that I as the commander of the spacecraft that I should have asked. And I did not at the time. I didn't know I needed to." "I could have asked some questions and the answers to those questions could have turned the tide," Wilmore added. "Responsibility with Boeing? Yes. Responsibility with NASA? Yes. All the way up and down the chain. We're all responsible. We all own this," he said. Despite the challenges, both astronauts expressed confidence in Boeing's Starliner and their intention to fly aboard the spacecraft again. "Because we're going to rectify all the issues that we encountered. We're going to fix them. We're going to make it work," Wilmore said. Williams noted that Starliner has "a lot of capability" and she wants to see it succeed. The team will meet with Boeing leadership on Wednesday to discuss the spacecraft's future. Williams and Wilmore returned to Earth, along with their fellow Crew-9 members, on March 18 after spending over nine months in space. The duo astronauts arrived at ISS on June 6 on the first crewed mission of Boeing's Starliner spacecraft. They were meant to return after about eight days, but have been stuck in space since then due to technical problems of the spacecraft. The Starliner experienced several technical issues, including helium leaks and propulsion malfunctions, leading NASA to deem the spacecraft unsafe for the astronauts' return. While the Starliner returned to Earth last September, Williams and Wilmore remained aboard the ISS as part of the station's regular crew rotation, ultimately completing over 280 days in space before their return. Following their landing, Wilmore and Williams participated in NASA's post-mission recovery program at the Johnson Space Center in Houston to help them readjust to Earth's gravity. Its been two years since the mass shooting at The Covenant School in Nashville, which claimed the lives of three students and three adults. Following the tragedy, Tennessee state Rep. Justin J. Pearson, D-Memphis, has pushed tirelessly for gun reform though his appeals, as well as those of likeminded others, have gone unheeded. Sadly, in a devastating display of injury to insult, Pearson lost his brother to gun suicide at the end of last year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He naturally missed the early part of this years legislative session to grieve and deal with the fallout from his brothers death, including the arrangement of care for his young nephews. But last Wednesday he was back: back at the Capitol and back to his fight for commonsense gun control. We have the power to do something about the gun violence epidemic and we dont just have to offer some empty thoughts and prayers, Pearson said after presenting a new bill that would end permitless carry of firearms. Andrew Farmer, a Republican representative from Sevierville, took offense to Pearsons assertion that Tennessee's elected officials haven't been doing their jobs. I know every member in this committee has been here this year working during committee, during session, voting on bills, he said. And I know you may have some things going on, but you have not. Pearson fired back, detailing how his family has been impacted by gun violence and how he, personally, has had to pick up the pieces. He was clearly, justifiably emotional. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But as his emotions continued to swell, and he rushed toward Farmer, jabbing a finger just inches from his face, Pearsons actions became impossible to justify ... Even if one could, ultimately, understand them. The Civil Rights Movement was built on strategy Largely because of his gifted oratory (but also his adopted Afro and affinity for dashikis), Pearson has drawn comparisons to leaders of the 1960s Civil Rights movement. For the 30-year-old, this is high praise. Pearson seems to have eagerly embraced these parallels, so I also consider the Movement a useful benchmark by which to measure his own effectiveness. Rep. Justin Pearson D- Memphis speaks to the crowd after representatives voted on HB 739 in a committee hearing at Cordell Hull State Office Building in Nashville, Tenn., Wednesday, March 26, 2025. Consider: Before students were allowed to participate in the 1960 sit-ins that rocked downtown Nashville and lead to the city becoming the first in the South to desegregate public spaces, students had to train for a year with Rev. James Lawson. The students were taken through rigorous simulations designed to strengthen their psyche to withstand attacks both physical and verbal and weed out those who couldnt, or wouldn't, submit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This process wasnt meant to strip away the dignity of those young activists, or to teach them how to cower when faced with disrespect. Rather, Lawson and others understood that the best way to highlight the violence of the Jim Crow South, no matter how it manifested, was not to meet it blow for blow. It was to force it into the spotlight on its own, where it would stand naked and ugly for all to see. Indeed, some of the Movements biggest wins were achieved when people outside the South - who'd watched, horrified, as Southern whites heaped their unbridled hate upon people who refused to play along - decided to get involved. With a warrant of arrest in hand, Nashville Police arrested the Rev. James Lawson, center, expelled Vanderbilt University divinity student, in front of the First Baptist Church March 4, 1960. Rev. Lawson, shaking hands with a supporter, was arrested on charges of conspiring to violate the state's trade and commerce law. Black folks may have been marginalized to second-class status in society, but on the matter of moral standing, there was no question who had the upper hand. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the years following the Movement, there has been considerable debate about its effectiveness. This is fair, given the persistence with which Black people remain affixed to the lowest rungs of society. And even Movement participants have suggested that leadership may have given in too soon, granted too many compromises, and allowed for an individualized approach to reform that created wins for a few and catastrophic losses for the rest. Yet for all its purported flaws, the strategy and tactics of the Movement are largely unimpeachable. Despite the reality that Black people had neither control of the levers of power, or the collective resources to influence them, Movement leaders were able to secure wins tangible wins for their people, however complete. Today's Movement requires the 'de-centering' of one's self In 2025, as in 1960, the work on behalf of the most marginalized requires strategy. Tactics. Today, however, those tasked with doing this important work seem to be lacking it. Its evident in the news reports that broadcast the publics frustration with elected leaders who wont lead, who wont fight back. And its clear in the way Pearson lunged at Farmer last week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Someone will read this as a plea for respectability, as a command for Pearson and others to smile and dance even in the face of oppression. But its not that. Its a demand for a plan, for an approach that looks like something other than theater. To truly serve the people ones direct constituents as well as the wider community is to be engaged in exhausting, thankless work. And it demands the intentional de-centering of self. When ineffective, however, service looks like grandstanding and ego and little tangible benefit. The people, after all, cannot pay their bills with legislative shouting matches. They cannot secure access to quality education with intimidation and threats. Neither can they protect their children from gun violence with viral social media clips, or a chorus of supportive replies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The people who are pinned to the edges of society, where they dangle, perpetually, from humanitys cliff, need more. They need empathy. They need legislation. And an emotional outburst, however understandable, garners neither. Andrea Williams This isnt a critique of Pearson alone. The tendency to measure effectiveness by campaign donations and social media followers, or to conflate headlines with headway, isnt unique to one race, gender, political party, or even the state of Tennessee. This political pageantry, whether intentional or not, is everywhere. But its important to speak to Pearsons recent actions. Its important because it is the marginalized, to whom Pearson has pledged his devotion, who suffer most when emotions rule and the powerful are emboldened. Civil rights leaders of the past werent perfect; neither was their Movement. Yet at a minimum, they understood that desperate times called for strategic, intentional measures. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Andrea Williams is an opinion columnist for The Tennessean and curator of the Black Tennessee Voices initiative. She has an extensive background covering country music, sports, race and society. Email her at adwilliams@tennessean.com or follow her on X (formerly known as Twitter) at @AndreaWillWrite and BlueSky at @andreawillwrite.bsky.social. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Tennessee Rep. Justin Pearson needed to de-center himself | Opinion Tolono storage building collapses during Sunday storms TOLONO, Ill. (WCIA) The strength of Sundays high winds was seen in Tolono. A building owned by the Illinois Foundation Seeds was brought to the ground with debris scattered several yards away. An employee of the company told WCIA that the building was used for storage. On Sunday, however, it turned into a scene of downed power lines and exposed structure. Sheet metal blew in the wind as pieces hung by singular wires. Thousands without power in Central Illinois Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some heard about the damage and had to see it for themselves. It looks like we had some strong westerly or southwesterly wind gusts coming through, storm chaser Andrew Pritchard said. I mean, not the most sturdy structure in the world but it looks like those winds were able to get under there and disrupt this structure here and once it came apart, we had pieces of sheet metal that were then blown against the building here kind of wrapped around the powerlines as well. Tolono Fire Protection District said they handled a small fire at the site after it collapsed. The employee who spoke with WCIA said shes not sure what was stored in the building. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. The White House says it killed some very important Houthi commanders, but it won't tell you which ones. Earlier this month, National Security Advisor Mike Waltz insisted to ABC that President Donald Trump's war in Yemen was different from former President Joe Biden's campaign because the Trump administration "actually targeted multiple Houthi leaders and took them out." Who were those leaders? Waltz didn't say. White House spokeswoman Anna Kelley referred Reason to the Department of Defense, which referred us to U.S. Central Command, which said that it "confirmed the death of several Houthi leaders" but didn't name any of them. The silence is strange from an administration that normally enjoys parading around the scalps of its defeated enemies, from Iran's Qassem Soleimani to the Islamic State's Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi to deported immigrants. Waltz is the fellow who apparently added Atlantic editor Jeffrey Goldberg to a White House group chat for planning the attack before it began. In the chat, Waltz wrote that the U.S. military killed the Houthi forces' unnamed "top missile guy" by blowing up and collapsing "his girlfriend's building." U.S. officials have told The Wall Street Journal that the missile commander was targeted with the help of Israeli intelligence, but again they did not name him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Houthi government in Sanaa has acknowledged 41 members killed in naval and air combat, 30 killed in ground combat, and 5 killed in unspecified operations during the month of March, according to a list compiled last week by the Yemeni-American researcher Mohammed Al-Basha, who describes the Houthi commanders killed by U.S. airstrikes as a group of "mid-level officers with expertise in missile and drone technology." The highest-ranking acknowledged Houthi casualty was Col. Zayn al-Abidin Al-Mahturi, a "security official" responsible for protecting a local government headquarters, according to Fares Alhemyari, a Yemeni journalist who opposes the Houthis. Of course, it's always possible that the Houthis simply haven't acknowledged some of their casualties. The U.S. air campaign has also killed at least 25 civilians, including four children, the nonprofit Yemen Data Project reports. Although the U.S. military publicly claims that it has "no credible indications of any civilian casualties," Hegseth admitted in the group chat to targeting at least one bystanderthe "girlfriend" of the "top missile guy." That strike likely killed other people in the apartment building. The Trump administration may be trying to replicate the Israeli successes at killing Hezbollah and Hamas leaders last year. But Hamas has been sealed off in the tiny, flat Gaza Strip for years, under intense AI-enabled surveillance. (Even so, Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar avoided detection with a simple blanket. He died on the battlefield in a chance encounter with Israeli troops.) Meanwhile, Hezbollah was deeply penetrated by foreign intelligence agencies and seemed caught off guard when the Israeli campaign began in earnest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Houthis, meanwhile, have weathered over a decade of war in the mountainous expanse of northern Yemen. After they seized control of Sanaa, Saudi Arabia attempted to stop them, waging a vicious campaign of airstrikes and blockades from 2015 to 2022. Houthi forces are now dug into underground fortresses, which the U.S. government has "struggled" to gain good intelligence on, according to The New York Times. U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth told Fox News earlier this month that "we don't care what happens in the Yemeni civil war. This is about stopping the shooting at assets in that critical waterway." By that measure of success, Trump's war has so far failed. On March 16, a day after the "top missile guy" supposedly died, a Houthi missile hit Tel Aviv, injuring 16 people. The missile attacks have continued since then. The post Who Is the 'Top Missile Guy' the U.S. Killed in Yemen? appeared first on Reason.com. TOPEKA (KSNT) Police have identified the person who died last Saturday in a two-vehicle crash in central Topeka. Kerry Connell with the Topeka Police Department (TPD) announced in a press release on Monday, March 31 the victim of last weeks deadly crash just south of Washburn University was Benjamin Edwards, 40. He was killed in a deadly crash over the weekend. The TPD was called around 3 p.m. on March 29 to the intersection of Southwest 21st Street and Southwest College Avenue on reports of a crash. Officers arriving in the area found one person suffering from life-threatening injuries who was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment. The individual, identified as Edwards, died at the hospital a short time later. Food shipment to Harvesters canceled amid DOGE cuts Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement People were asked to avoid the area of the crash for hours on March 28 as police investigated the scene. No other injuries were reported in connection to the crash initially. People who have information to share with police regarding this incident are encouraged to send an email to telltpd@topeka.org or call 785-368-9400. You can also reach out to Shawnee County Crime Stoppers to leave an anonymous tip by calling 785-234-0007 or by clicking here. For more local news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here. Follow Matthew Self on X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/MatthewLeoSelf Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNT 27 News. Thousands remain without power after a line of strong thunderstorms pushed through central Ohio late Sunday and early Monday. The National Weather Service in Wilmington said Monday morning it would evaluate the need to do storm surveys following a line of strong thunderstorms that pushed through central Ohio. As of 11:30 a.m., AEP Ohio was reporting about 4,300 customers without power across central Ohio, most of them in Franklin County. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a post on X, the weather service said there were no definitive plans for surveys, which are conducted after reports of damage, based on the reports that were coming into their offices. Tornado warnings issued around 9:30 p.m. for parts of central Ohio expired at 10:15 p.m., but a severe thunderstorm warning from the National Weather Service continued until 11:15 p.m. At 10 p.m., in a post on X, the National Weather Service in Wilmington said, "The line of storms with embedded circulations will move through central OH and the Columbus metro area through the next 60-90 minutes. Strong/damaging straight-line winds on the order of 60+ MPH remain the primary threat. Some brief tornado potential also exists." [10:00 PM] The line of storms with embedded circulations will move through central OH and the Columbus metro area through the next 60-90 minutes. Strong/damaging straight-line winds on the order of 60+ MPH remain the primary threat. Some brief tornado potential also exists. NWS Wilmington OH (@NWSILN) March 31, 2025 An earlier watch, issued at 9:10 p.m. Sunday, includes Delaware, Fairfield, Fayette, Franklin, Hocking, Licking, Madison, Pickaway and Union counties along with other counties in south central Ohio and northern Kentucky. That watch expired at 1 a.m. Monday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The storms were part of a band of severe weather that spread across the South and Midwest Sunday from the Mississippi, Ohio, and Tennessee valleys. The storms are expected to move on to the East Coast on Monday. The NWS said storms could include large hail, damaging winds, tornadoes and frequent lightning with heavy rainfall. The National Weather Service predicts severe storms throughout a large swath of Ohio Sunday and into Monday morning. The thunderstorms could include tornadoes and hail. What's the difference between a tornado watch and a warning? The National Weather Service issues three levels of tornado alerts: watch, warning and emergency. A tornado watch is the lowest level of severity and means tornadoes are possible. The conditions are there for possible tornadoes. Watches are usually large and can cover multiple counties or even states. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A tornado warning means a tornado has been spotted or is imminent based on weather radar in a small area. If a warning is issued for your area, you should seek shelter. A tornado emergency indicates a tornado has touched down in a watch area and damage has been confirmed. Immediately seek shelter. Similarly, a severe thunderstorm watch indicates conditions are favorable for a strong thunderstorm to form and tells you to prepare. A severe thunderstorm warning means severe storm conditions like large hail or damaging wind are already occurring or will shortly occur, and you should seek shelter. What to do during a tornado warning A tornado warning means there is imminent danger. You should seek shelter in a sturdy building on the lowest floor, preferably a basement. Avoid windows. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If you are outside, seek the closest available shelter. See this week's forecast: Large hail, tornadoes possible amid severe storms expected Sunday night in central Ohio How to track power outages in central Ohio AEP Ohio serves Columbus and most of Eastern and Southern Ohio. Customers can view its power outage map here. You can report a power outage online or by calling 800-672-2231. As of 6:15 a.m., AEP Ohio was reporting less than 5,000 customers without power across central Ohio. Columbus Division of Power customers can view an outage map here. DOP customers are encouraged to report outages not shown on the map by calling 614-645-7627. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement FirstEnergy and its affiliates cover parts of Central Ohio to the north and west of Columbus. You can check FirstEnergy's power outage map here. You can also report an outage online here or by phone at 888-544-4877. This story has been updated to add new information. It will continue to be updated. Reporter Jordan Laird can be reached at jlaird@dispatch.com. This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Severe thunderstorms lead to power outages in Ohio; NWS on next steps SIOUX FALLS S.D. (KELO) Human trafficking involves the use of force, fraud, or coercion in exchange for labor, services, or a sex act. Becky Rassmussen founded Call to Freedom 10 years ago because she saw a need to help victims of human trafficking right here in KELOLAND. She recounts the story of a young woman, a trafficking survivor, who came to Call to Freedom as the victim of domestic violence. Counselors would eventually help her realize she had been trafficked by her father her entire life. And had actually been groomed by her father from age 3 until age 7, introduced to pornography, to drugs to sexual activity with him, once he had groomed her and set the stage to sell her to his friends for his drug addiction, said Rasmussen. And so he sold this young girl from age 7 to 18 and she had no idea because the person she trusted the most had introduced her to this lifestyle. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sioux Falls likes its car washes in national trend For many, its hard to believe it happens right here in our cities and towns, but it does. On this day at their headquarters in Sioux Falls, workers were dealing with dozens of victims with similar stories. The number of victims prompted Attorney General Marty Jackley to appeal to lawmakers to toughen up South Dakota trafficking laws. Those statutes are now consistent with federal laws, including mandatory minimums. One of the things that I wanted to do, is make sure we were all on the same playing field, that we have the same laws that apply and I also wanted to make it more serious offenses that when you human traffic, especially a young child that there are serious serious consequences. Its a 25 year felony now and I also wanted to protect those victims, said Jackley. From 2000 to 2022, there were 63 Human Trafficking cases prosecuted in South Dakota. one percent were labor trafficking, 8 percent were adult sex trafficking and 90 percent were underage sex trafficking. Most cases were investigated in Sioux Falls, Rapid City and Sturgis Rasmussen says a next step will be educating everyone from first responders, to prosecutors to judges on how to identify those who are being trafficked. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These traffickers are very good at what they do, they will manipulate, they will hold their basic needs, they will threaten their family, where they feel they have to engage in this act, which is called coercion, and they engage in this act and it really is trafficking not prostitution and so bringing clarity to that in our judicial systems I think is really key, said Rasmussen. Rasmussen is grateful to lawmakers and the Attorney General for seeing the need for tougher laws. Human trafficking is happening within our community and the fact that the Attorney General believes that we need to take a stronger position on human trafficking, not only speaks to us as staff but also to our community and to those that we serve that they are going to be heard and believed in these situations. So it is a game changer, said Rasmussen. Rasmussen says the age of consent in South Dakota is 16, she would like to see South Dakota move it to 18. If you are a victim or know someone who is you can text or call 1-605-759-3565 or the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-866-347-2423. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Since the start of 2022, Buffett has been gobbling up shares of integrated oil and gas giant Occidental Petroleum at a furious pace (nearly 265 million shares). A tight global supply for oil following three years of reduced capital spending by energy majors during the COVID-19 pandemic pushed the spot price of crude oil higher. Unlike most integrated energy companies, Occidental is heavily reliant on its upstream drilling segment. Thus, a higher price for oil disproportionately benefits Occidental, relative to other integrated energy companies. If there's one aspect of Buffett's investment philosophy that he's unwavering about, it's his desire to get a good deal. He's first-and-foremost a value investor that's always on the hunt for price dislocations in any market environment. Both Buffett and late right-hand man Charlie Munger long believed in putting more capital to work in their best ideas. As of the late evening on March 27, more than 85% of the $290 billion in invested assets Buffett oversees at Berkshire Hathaway have been put to work in just 12 magnificent stocks: But the biggest surprise investors are likely to find in Buffett's $290 billion portfolio is that it's highly concentrated. With Buffett consistently running circles around the benchmark S&P 500 in the return column, it's no surprise that investors wait eagerly for Berkshire's Form 13F filings to see which stocks he's been buying and selling. When it comes to top-notch money managers on Wall Street, Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE: BRK.A)(NYSE: BRK.B) CEO Warren Buffett is in a class of his own . Since taking over Berkshire six decades ago, the appropriately named "Oracle of Omaha" has led his company's Class A shares (BRK.A) to a cumulative return that topped 6,475,000%, as of the closing bell on March 27. Story continues With the stock market trading at one of its highest valuation multiples when back-tested more than 150 years, Occidental Petroleum's forward price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 12 speaks to a value-focused Buffett. Likewise, Buffett has been adding to Berkshire's stakes in Japan's five trading houses, which includes Mitsubishi, Itochu, and Mitsui from the list above. These businesses are integral to the success of Japan's economy, and they have their proverbial fingers in more industries than most investors can count. Most importantly, these "forever" holdings are valued at high-single-digit to low-double-digit P/E ratios, which makes them a phenomenal value in a pricey stock market. Image source: Getty Images. The Oracle of Omaha favors shareholder-friendly businesses Another common theme for the Oracle of Omaha is that he gravitates to businesses that have a shareholder-first mentality. By this, I primarily mean companies that offer shareholder-friendly capital return programs. For example, Apple has the largest share buyback program on the planet among publicly traded companies. Since introducing share repurchases in 2013, close to $750 billion worth of its stock has been bought back. During this timeline, Apple's outstanding share count has fallen by 43%, which has had a discernably positive impact on its earnings per share (EPS). It's a somewhat similar story for Bank of America, which has been increasing its dividend following the financial crisis, and hasn't been shy about buying back its stock when the U.S. economy is firing on all cylinders. Bank of America has lowered its outstanding share count by nearly 30% since 2013, which for companies with steady or growing net income tends to increase their EPS. Don't forget about beverage behemoth Coca-Cola, either. Coca-Cola's board has increased its base annual dividend for 63 consecutive years. Since Coca-Cola is Berkshire Hathaway's longest-held stock (since 1988), the annual yield relative to Berkshire's cost basis in the company is almost 63%! In other words, Buffett's company is more than doubling its initial investment in Coca-Cola from dividend payments alone in less than two years. Sustainable moats/competitive advantages go a long way with Berkshire's chief Lastly, the 12 magnificent stocks that comprise more than 85% of Berkshire Hathaway's $290 billion in invested assets almost always have sustainable moats and/or clearly defined competitive advantages. The aforementioned Coca-Cola has virtually unparalleled geographic diversity on its side. With the exception of North Korea, Cuba, and Russia, it has ongoing operations in every other country. This means Coca-Cola's organic growth needle is moving higher in emerging markets, and it's generating predictable operating cash flow in developed countries. Moreover, its marketing department has been hitting the right notes with consumers for decades. Whether Coca-Cola is relying on its more than 100 years of history to connect with mature audiences, or leaning into social media channels and artificial intelligence to engage younger consumers, few if any companies have done a better job of staying relevant across generational gaps. American Express, which is Berkshire Hathaway's second longest-tenured holding (since 1991), offers competitive advantages, as well. American Express benefits from its ability to play both sides of the transaction aisle. In addition to collecting fees from merchants as one of America's most-trusted payment facilitators, it also lends via credit cards to businesses and consumers. Long periods of economic growth allow AmEx to double-dip. Furthermore, American Express has done a phenomenal job of attracting high earners to its card network. The well-to-do are less likely to alter their spending habits or fail to pay their bills during minor economic disruptions. This should allow AmEx to weather downturns better than most lending institutions. Dont miss this second chance at a potentially lucrative opportunity Ever feel like you missed the boat in buying the most successful stocks? Then youll want to hear this. On rare occasions, our expert team of analysts issues a Double Down stock recommendation for companies that they think are about to pop. If youre worried youve already missed your chance to invest, now is the best time to buy before its too late. And the numbers speak for themselves: Nvidia: if you invested $1,000 when we doubled down in 2009, youd have $284,402 !* Apple: if you invested $1,000 when we doubled down in 2008, youd have $41,312 !* Netflix: if you invested $1,000 when we doubled down in 2004, youd have $503,617!* Right now, were issuing Double Down alerts for three incredible companies, and there may not be another chance like this anytime soon. Continue *Stock Advisor returns as of March 24, 2025 Bank of America and American Express are advertising partners of Motley Fool Money. Sean Williams has positions in Bank of America. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Apple, Bank of America, Berkshire Hathaway, Chevron, and Moody's. The Motley Fool recommends Kraft Heinz and Occidental Petroleum. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. 85% of Warren Buffett's $290 Billion Portfolio Is Invested in These 12 Magnificent Stocks was originally published by The Motley Fool The International Transgender Day of Visibility, recognized globally for more than a decade, is, for many trans Americans, taking on a new weight this year as President Trump and his administration seek to deny their existence. Orders signed by Trump since his return to office in January aim to bar transgender troops from serving openly in the military, end federal support for gender-affirming care for minors, ban trans girls from school sports, and prohibit federal prisons from housing trans women in female facilities. None of the orders use the word transgender. An order Trump signed hours after his inauguration on Jan. 20 declares the government recognizes only two sexes, male and female, which federal agencies have used to justify cutting funds for LGBTQ services and removing references to trans people from government websites, including web pages for the Stonewall National Monument in New York. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To a lot of people, [Trans Day of Visibility] means hope, said Rachel Crandall Crocker, the Michigan-based psychotherapist and transgender rights activist credited with founding the day in 2009. It means we will resist, and were not going back into the closet its a unified, strong voice saying, We are here. We are here, and were not leaving. When Crandall Crocker started Trans Day of Visibility 16 years ago, she had no intention of founding a worldwide movement; she just wanted to help transgender people connect. At the time, the only day dedicated to the community was Trans Day of Remembrance, which honors lives lost to anti-trans violence. In an interview, Crandall Crocker said she created Trans Day of Visibility, sometimes referred to by the acronym TDOV, with her wife, Susan Crocker, to focus on the living. First, it was slow, she said, and then it began to snowball and snowball and snowball, until it turned into the international movement it is right now. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Celebrations are slated across the globe this year, including marches and educational events in major U.S. cities. More than a dozen lawmakers are expected to attend a rally Monday evening on the National Mall, roughly a mile from the White House, where Trump has signed most of his executive orders. Last year, landmarks including New Yorks One World Trade Center and Niagara Falls were lit in pink, white and light blue, the colors of the transgender flag. Trans Day of Visibility also drew renewed attention last year when it landed on Easter Sunday, Christianitys holiest day. Religious conservatives and President Trumps reelection campaign criticized former President Biden, the first to acknowledge Transgender Day of Visibility in 2021, for issuing a presidential proclamation urging Americans to uplift the lives and voices of transgender people throughout our Nation and to work toward eliminating violence and discrimination based on gender identity. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, then-spokesperson for Trumps campaign, demanded Biden apologize for the proclamation; House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), who is Christian, called the declaration outrageous and abhorrent. Capitalizing on the backlash, Trump pledged to make Nov. 5 the date of the 2024 presidential election Christian Visibility Day. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Crandall Crocker said the nationwide attention last years Trans Day of Visibility garnered, negative or otherwise, ended up benefiting the cause everyone everywhere was talking about trans people. Actually, that gave us a lot of advertising and publicity, she said. I dont think thats what they wanted. However, thats really what happened. It really helped us enormously. It also put transgender Americans under a more powerful microscope, and some event organizers said they are bolstering security measures this year out of an abundance of caution. This year, visibility comes with that layer of not feeling safe, said Sean Ebony Coleman, CEO of Destination Tomorrow, a New York nonprofit. This year, I think we trans folks, particularly Black and brown trans and gender-nonconforming folks need to be more intentional about what that visibility is actually going to mean for us and choosing time and spaces to be visible. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Coleman said he wants the community to show a united front against the Trump administrations policies targeting transgender rights and what he said is an inadequate response from Democrats and demonstrate to the world that trans people are multifaceted individuals whose identities extend far beyond their gender. We are a brilliant, resilient community, and I just need folks to see it, he said. Im going to do everything in my power to make sure folks see that that they see us for who we truly are. For trans people, visibility has also come at a cost. Trumps executive orders and policies effectuated by his administration seek to sharply curb transgender rights and remove them from public life. Outside Washington, more than 800 bills introduced this year in state legislatures would negatively impact trans and gender-nonconforming people, according to the Trans Legislation Tracker. While theres been such a focus on visibility, there hasnt been enough focus on vitality, said Raquel Willis, a writer and community organizer. What does it mean that you can see a trans person on a runway or a magazine cover or a television or film screen, when many trans people still face so many barriers to employment, to health care, to housing, to safety and security? I think that those narratives have been really drowned out by the sheen of visibility, and thats a problem. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We have to move beyond visibility for visibilitys sake, added Willis, the founder of the Gender Liberation Movement, a grassroots collective that calls attention to issues around bodily autonomy and gender. We need to use visibility to drive folks towards action. In 2021, Willis, recently named one of Times Women of the Year, organized Trans Week of Visibility and Action, which mobilizes in defense of trans rights. The venture, which Willis launched with Chase Strangio, an American Civil Liberties Union attorney who last year became the first trans person to argue before the Supreme Court, supplements Trans Day of Visibility with direct action and political education. Trans Week of Visibility and Action, now a Gender Liberation Movement project, is raising money this year for the Trans Youth Emergency Project, which supports access to gender-affirming health care. We are living in a time when our existence is under attack from so many different angles, and a lot of us right now are having to draw strength not just from our community, but from the legacy of those who came before us people who refused to be erased, who found ways to care for one another when the world didnt, said Ash Orr, a transgender rights organizer in West Virginia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fighting to be recognized as oneself is something Orr is perhaps uniquely qualified to discuss: He is the lead plaintiff in a legal challenge to a Trump administration policy preventing trans, nonbinary and intersex Americans from changing the sex designations on their passports, a policy that has caused confusion and concern within the community over whether they can travel safely. Officials in Denmark and Finland recently advised transgender and gender-nonconforming travelers to proceed with caution in the U.S., citing the new policy, and trans people across the nation including the actress Hunter Schafer have shared on social media stories of their passports being updated to reflect their sex at birth, rather than their gender identity, against their wishes. Orr, who sued the Trump administration in February alongside six trans and nonbinary Americans, argued in the lawsuit that the policy, which stems from the presidents two sexes order, is motivated by impermissible animus. Orr is also no stranger to making himself visible. In December, while the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in a case that will determine whether statewide bans on gender-affirming care for minors are constitutional, Orr and a friend took their prescribed doses of testosterone at a protest outside the court. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That moment, as vulnerable as it was, was an act of resistance, Orr said. Taking care of my body, affirming my existence, refusing to hide. That wasnt just about me, he added. It was a reminder that trans people, we are not theoretical. We are living, we are breathing, we are surviving in 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 The Hill. In a time when it is especially dangerous to be a transgender person in America, visibility matters. This is why its so important to stand together on March 31 as the world observes Transgender Day of Visibility. Transgender Day of Visibility was born out of trans people daring to proclaim joy. In defiance of all the barriers they face, they have the audacity to thrive in the face of hate and bigotry. The contributions of trans people are endless and seen here in our citys rich diversity, economic vitality and quality of life. Trans joy is worthy of celebration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Transgender Day of Visibility is also an occasion to draw attention to the poverty, discrimination and violence the community faces. It is most unsafe to be a black transgender person, transgender person of color or transgender immigrant. Many trans people hold multiple identities, furthering their risks and impacts. While we join together to celebrate, it is equally vital that we steadfastly enforce anti-discrimination laws and advance equity in all we do. I am thankful to live where state and local leaders pass laws to protect access to health care facilities and gender affirming care and prohibit sexual orientation and gender identity discrimination. Given that a minority of Americans say they personally know someone whos transgender, a majority of the public learns about trans people from the media. This allows the tenor of national discussions to shape public perception of our transgender neighbors. In 2025, much of the media coverage has focused on federal actions that target transgender individuals and anti-trans bills that continue to be introduced across the country. According to the 2025 anti-trans bills tracker, 806 pieces of legislation have been introduced across the country seeking to block trans people from receiving basic healthcare, education, legal recognition and the right to publicly exist. The attacks on trans individuals directly threaten their safety, erode their sense of security, and have a particularly harsh impact on youth. Nearly one in five people who identify as transgender are ages 13-17. Youth are feeling vulnerable, unsafe, and under-resourced. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tacoma must continue to stand strong in support of our transgender residents. In a historic first, this year, the city raised the Trans Pride flag above the Tacoma Dome, where it can make our support of trans rights visible to our entire region. Our work to make visible the intrinsic value of transgender individuals provides a little bit of hope and helps inoculate the community from some of the fear intentionally being created across the country. What we need now is everyone in Tacoma, Washington state and the United States to stand together and be visible in their support of our trans family and neighbors. March 31 is a moment for us to pause to honor and celebrate the tremendous value they bring to our community and society. This is an opportunity to speak in one voice to say we see you, we affirm you, and there is a community standing in support of you. Olgy Diaz is an at-large member of the Tacoma City Council. Lisa Keating is the director of the Tacoma School Board. House Bill 1004 introduces measures to increase transparency in hospital pricing and to put pressure on exorbitant cost.(Getty Images) As the voice of Indianas manufacturers, the Indiana Manufacturers Association (IMA) is deeply concerned about the escalating cost of health care particularly hospital prices which place Indiana businesses at a significant competitive disadvantage. Transparency and accountability are the answer. The Employer Price Transparency Study Round 5, conducted by RAND, has consistently shown that Indianas hospital prices are among the highest in the nation, ranking 8th overall. Hoosier employers and employees are paying nearly three times what Medicare pays for the exact same services at the same hospitals an average of 297% compared to the national average of 254%. This alarming statistic demonstrates a clear need for reform. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These inflated hospital costs have a direct and negative impact on Indianas manufacturing sector. Every dollar spent on excessive health care charges is a dollar that cannot be invested in workforce development, technological advancements, or business expansion. In a global marketplace, our ability to compete hinges on our efficiency and our ability to attract and retain a skilled workforce. The current high cost of health care in Indiana makes it more difficult for manufacturers to offer competitive benefits packages and to allocate resources strategically for future growth. Since self-funded employers pay directly for their employees health care claims, escalating hospital prices translate to immediate and substantial increases in their expenditures. These rising costs force employers to allocate more resources to health care, potentially diverting funds from other critical business areas. Ultimately, the financial burden of high hospital prices significantly affects the sustainability and competitiveness of all employers, but most acutely self-funded insurance models. House Bill 1004 takes meaningful steps toward addressing this issue. It introduces measures to increase transparency in hospital pricing and to put pressure on exorbitant costs. For instance, the bill establishes a hospital facility fee excise tax for charges exceeding 265% of Medicare facility fees. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Under this legislation, nonprofit hospitals would be mandated to report aggregate data on billed services and their comparison to Medicare reimbursement rates. Nonprofit hospitals charging more than 300% of their modified Medicare reimbursement rate could forfeit their nonprofit status. These provisions are critical for bringing much-needed transparency and accountability to our health care system. The passage of HB 1004 is not just about lowering health care costs; it is about strengthening Indianas economy and ensuring a prosperous future for our manufacturing industry and its employees. By addressing the issue of high hospital prices, we can free up valuable resources that can be reinvested in our workforce, making Indiana a more attractive place to do business and create jobs. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX TRANSYLVANIA COUNTY, N.C. (WSPA) Transylvania County is currently under a State of Emergency due to danger from three forest fires. Here is the latest information: Pisgah National Forest Fire Estimated to be at 1,882, with containment percentage currently unknown. The US Forest Service is reported to be focusing on this fire. Persimmon Ridge Fire (South Carolina) Estimated at approximately 2,078 acres, and is now 24% contained. As of Sunday, March 30, the wildfire has not breached into the county. The Southern Area Blue Team working this area is expected to maintain the boundaries on the fire and are working towards further containment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Table Rock Fire (South Carolina) Estimated at approximately 11,468 acres, and is reported to be 9% contained. The Table Rock wildfire has breached state lines and into Transylvania County. Multiple fire crews have been utilizing techniques such as back burning to continue strengthening containment. There is currently a burn ban in place in the county. Evacuation areas are currently being evaluated, and are reportedly expected to begin reducing, and residents will be notified when it is safe to return 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 WSPA 7NEWS. PIERRE, S.D. (KELO) Jury selection begins Tuesday morning at the Hughes County Courthouse in the criminal trial of a former state government employee accused of stealing more than $1.7 million from the South Dakota Department of Social Services. TenHakens Chief of Staff to step down as term ends A grand jury indicted Lonna Carroll last year for allegedly committing a long series of thefts from the departments office of child protection services over a 13-year period starting in 2010. A DSS employee reported the financial inconsistencies to her superiors in 2023. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Carroll, 68, has pleaded not-guilty to the alleged crimes, which prosecutors claim took place while she lived in Pierre. She moved to Algona, Iowa, after her 2023 retirement from the department. Circuit Judge Christina Klinger has scheduled a four-day trial. Carroll has been held at the Hughes County Jail since her arrest because she hasnt able to post bail. In Carrolls previous court appearances, the defendant wore standard orange-and-white jailhouse clothing, with her wrists and ankles shackled. During the trial, Carroll will be allowed to wear street clothes and be without restraints. Representing Carroll is court-appointed attorney Timothy Whalen of Lake Andes. On March 3, 2025, Whalen requested a $10,000 payment for Williams & Co., a Spencer, Iowa, business that analyzes financial records; the voucher reflected a $7,585 discount. On March 13, 2025, Whalen requested payment for his legal services so far, submitting a voucher for $25,288.25. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In proposed jury instructions filed on March 18, 2025, Whalen requested that the judge instruct jurors that they could find Carroll guilty of a series of lesser charges ranging as low as second-degree petty theft. Whalen also wanted the judge to instruct jurors that they must find Carroll had specific intent to deprive the department of the money. If specific intent did not exist, this crime has not been committed, her attorney wrote. Whalen indicated that he might not call Carroll as a witness in her own defense and wanted the judge to include a statement to jurors that says, Every defendant in a criminal case has the absolute right not to testify. You must not draw any inference of guilt because the defendant did not testify. The prosecutions exhibits list includes 81 pages of state auditors warrants; the state Department of Legislative Audits special report; Carrolls 2023 retirement letter; Carrolls personal banking records at Wells Fargo; 60 photographs of items in a storage unit; and an audio recording of Carrolls interview by the state Division of Criminal Investigation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The prosecutions witness list of 24 includes mostly current or former DSS employees and current DCI agents, as well as three members of Carrolls family who would testify to defendants statements, observations about Defendants demeanor during Defendants interview with law enforcement, and any relevant observations about Defendant during the time listed in the indictment. The defense might attempt to suggest that the department was at fault for what Carroll allegedly did, as indicated by an objection Whalen filed on March 15, 2025. Whalen argued to Judge Klinger that the record shows that had the State been more diligent, many of the records necessary to fully investigate that alleged criminal activity would not have been complex at all. Moreover, the DSS staff were so grossly negligent that their actions were the equivalent of intentional conduct or intentional disregard of their work duties relative to the subject records. Court records indicate there was a request for expanded media coverage that would allow pool audio from the trial. Whalen objected, while state prosecutor Nolan Welker argued for it. The public has an express interest in these proceedings, Welker wrote. Judge Klinger recently denied the request. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. 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. 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. Abigail Echo-Hawk, of the Pawnee Nation of Oklahoma and director of the Urban Indian Health Institute, poses for a photo at a maternal mental health forum in Washington, D.C., this month. (Nada Hassanein/Stateline) 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All of data is a story. It's a grandmother, it's a son, it's a story of a community's well-being. Abigail Echo-Hawk, director of the Urban Indian Public Health Institute 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. Cheryl Ellenwood, right, is pictured with her students at an Indigenous data governance conference. (Courtesy of Cheryl Ellenwood) 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 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. Donald Trump has said Ukraines President Volodomyr Zelensky faces big, big problems if he backs out of a mineral deal with the US. The US presidents remarks come hours after he criticised Russian President Vladimir Putin for comments he made about the leader of Ukraine. Hes trying to back out of the rare earth deal, Trump told reporters on Air Force One of Mr Zelensky, referring to an agreement that would provide the US with access to Ukraines rare earth minerals. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If he does that, hes got some problems. Big, big problems. We made a deal on rare earth. And now hes saying, well you know, I want to renegotiate the deal. Speaking en route from Florida to Washington, Trump said: He wants to be a member of Nato. He was never going to be a member of Nato. He understands that. Although he insisted to reporters that were making a lot of progress, he acknowledged that theres tremendous hatred between Mr Zelensky and Putin, a fresh indication that negotiations may not produce the swift conclusion that he promised during the campaign. In an earlier interview with NBC News, he referenced comments Putin made on Friday about temporarily putting Ukraine under external governance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump said he was angry, pissed off when the Russian leader started getting into Zelenskys credibility. Putin reaffirmed his claim that Mr 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, 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nonetheless, he reiterated that he and Putin have a very good relationship. On his flight back to Washington on Sunday evening, Trump reiterated his annoyance towards Putin but somewhat softened his tone. 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. 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 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. Mr Zelensky said on Sunday that over the past week most regions of Ukraine had come under Russian attack. Writing on X, 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. Donald Trump has said he is not joking about plans to run for a third term in the White House, despite the move being prohibited under the US constitution. The president told NBC that he was sincere about his ambitions to run again, adding there are methods by which he could do it. Under the terms of the constitution, presidents are limited to serving a maximum of two terms in office. However, calls have grown in recent months among Mr Trumps Maga base for the constitution to be amended, with a Republican lawmaker introducing a resolution in January to increase the limit to three terms. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Steve Bannon, the former Trump adviser and host of the War Room podcast, told News Nation earlier this month that he believes the president will run and win again in 2028. Heres how Mr Trump could try to run for a third term. Can Donald Trump run for president for a third term? Presidents are limited to serving two terms in office under the US constitution. No person shall be elected to the office of the president more than twice, begins the 22nd Amendment, which was introduced in 1951. The only president to remain in office for more than two terms was Franklin D Roosevelt, who served for four terms amid the chaos of the Great Depression and the Second World War. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It has been suggested that Mr Trump could serve a third term within the confines of the constitution if he were to run as vice-president and assume the presidency after the sitting president stepped aside. Asked if JD Vance would run for office and then pass the role to Mr Trump, the president told NBC thats one method. But there are others, he added. Another possible avenue could be for one of Mr Trumps family members to run in his place, and then serve as a figurehead president while Mr Trump makes the key decisions. Andy Ogles, the Republican congressman for Tennessee, has introduced a resolution to amend the constitution to allow Mr Trump to seek another term. Donald Trump is sworn in as the 47th president of the US on Jan 20 - SAUL LOEB/AFP However, it has little chance of passing as a two-thirds majority vote is needed in both the House and the Senate to propose a revision to the constitution. Three-quarters of all state legislatures must approve it for the amendment to pass. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The decision for George Washington the first president of the United States to voluntarily step down from office after two four-year terms established a tradition for future presidents to respect the same term limit. This tradition was challenged at various times, notably by Theodore Roosevelt, who stunned the country in 1912 by breaking from the GOP to mount a third-party challenge against the Republican incumbent Willliam Howard Taft. His challenge split the Republican vote, paving the way for Woodrow Wilson to win the presidency for the Democrats. Wilson later planned to run for a third term himself but suffered a stroke in 1919 that left him incapacitated until the end of his presidency in 1921. What has Donald Trump said about a third term? Mr Trump has sent out mixed messages on his plans to run again, stating this term will be his last in office white taunting his opponents by floating the idea of going for a third term. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Am I allowed to run again? Mr Trump joked at a House Republican retreat in Florida in his second week back in office. Then on Feb 6, the president again mused on the idea that his presidency could be extended beyond two four-year terms at a Washington hotel breakfast. They say I cant run again; thats the expression, he told reporters. Then somebody said, I dont think you can. Oh. Whether he is teasing or taunting, Mr Trumps comments form a pattern, with the president suggesting shortly after winning re-election that he might stick around beyond his term limit. I suspect I wont be running again unless you say, Hes so good we got to figure something else out, Mr Trump said to laughs from the lawmakers in November. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Going back to his first term in office, the president raised the prospect of extending term limits at a September 2020 rally in Nevada. Were going to win four more years in the White House, he said. And then after that, well negotiate, right? Because were probably based on the way we were treated we are probably entitled to another four after that. Despite Mr Trumps taunts, asked on election day whether the 2024 campaign was his last, the president said: I would think so. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. The Trump administrations recent efforts to gut funding and personnel that support state and local election security efforts have left officials deeply concerned about their ability to guarantee physical and cyber security during the voting process. This swift overhauling of funds means that states could lose access to information on emerging threats and election officials may be left without funding for key security services, which could leave certain states and localities more vulnerable to interference efforts than others. "There is no difference between red states and blue states when it comes to concerns about election security, and no state can do this on their own," said Pennsylvania Secretary of State Al Schmidt. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agencys programs for securing elections everything from scanning election system networks for safety to sharing data with the public on potential threats have been put on hold pending a review by the Department of Homeland Security, with no guarantee they will start up again. Should support from CISA permanently lapse, states will be forced to come up with funding, and theres no clear plan for how to do this nationwide, as election administration and processes vary from state to state. Withdrawing CISAs support for local election officials will make elections less secure, Schmidt warned in a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem this month. The lack of support from the cyber agency was further complicated this week when President Donald Trump signed an executive order that would completely overhaul the election process across the country and require DHS and the Election Assistance Commission a federal organization that helps with election administration to review the security of voting machines across the nation. Its unclear how the agencies will carry this out, particularly with CISA support on hold. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The pullback in support which includes personnel at CISA tasked with helping state officials secure voting systems and some funding for these efforts stems in part from an assessment CISA conducted and recently sent to officials at DHS on the future of its election security programs. According to DHS officials, the review was finished in early March, but it wont be made public. Jared Auchey, a spokesperson for CISA, said that the review will help inform how the agency moves forward to best support critical infrastructure. Still, CISAs election security efforts remain on pause, part of an effort by the Trump administration to review the agencys overall work. A key issue at play is the cuts to funding for both the Election Infrastructure Information Sharing and Analysis Center and the Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center two organizations focused on sharing cyber threat intelligence among state and election officials. The Center for Internet Security a nonprofit that aims to protect organizations against cyber threats supports both the MS-ISAC and EI-ISAC, but CISA last week announced it would cut $10 million annually to CIS, leading the center to stop all funding for the EI-ISAC. Schmidt is one of many election officials grappling with the pullback in support from CISA, which for Pennsylvania in recent years has included physical and digital security assessments for the Pennsylvania Department of State and county partners, along with tabletop exercises in preparation for various security threats. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Crucially, it also includes CISA officials sharing top-level threat information with states and localities, such as the latest efforts by cybercriminals and state-backed hacking groups to interfere in the process information that, without CISA, will be difficult for these officials to gather. No state can assess threats posed by foreign countries the way that the federal government can, Schmidt said this week, adding that he has yet to hear anything back from DHS in response to his letter. Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon agreed that the halt to information sharing created a major problem for state officials, saying in a recent interview that even if states move toward hiring private companies to track election security threats, it wouldnt match the value CISA provided with its vast access to information. CISA officials have secret level or higher clearances so they can connect the dots between the cybersecurity needs of states and what the threat environment is out there, Simon said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These fears are more pressing in a handful of states set to hold elections in 2025. This includes Virginia, where the governors race will be decided in November. Edgardo Cortes, former commissioner of elections in Virginia and a current adviser at the Brennan Center for Justice, said that while he was confident Virginia officials would be able to hold secure elections, the state would likely need to funnel more funding to election officials. The things CISA was providing are going to have to come from somewhere, and so that most likely is going to mean that additional state resources have to be put in to make up some of those shortcomings and shortfalls, Cortes said. On Capitol Hill, alarm bells are also ringing. Senate Rules Committee ranking member Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) and House Administration Committee ranking member Joe Morelle (D-N.Y.) who both serve on the two main panels with election administration oversight sent a letter to CISA earlier this month that raised serious concerns about mass layoffs of CISA employees and the pause to election security efforts. Their concerns have not been assuaged since. Padilla said this week that the Trump administration had provided no explanation for the drastic changes to election security work, which the senator noted put our elections at risk and open us to interference from foreign adversaries. Morelle said in a separate statement that the moves were suffocating CISA and vowed to keep pushing back against the election security cuts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The National Association of Secretaries of State a bipartisan group of top election officials from across the country sent a letter to Noem last month detailing concerns with cuts to CISAs election security programs. Noem responded in early March, reiterating the ongoing review of the programs and pointing the officials toward resources from the MS-ISAC within days of news emerging that cuts had been made to funding for the group. This has done little to calm fears. I'm hearing from members on both sides of the aisle about not wanting to work with CISA anymore, about concern about what all of this means, because they won't provide us with any information, said a source who works closely with election officials, granted anonymity to discuss sensitive conversations. This is an election community issue. It's not a partisan issue, as far as I'm concerned. Auchey pushed back against concerns about the cuts to information-sharing efforts, saying in a statement that the cooperative agreement between CISA and CIS is still in place, with CISA allocating $25 million to the group around 70 percent of what was initially planned. Auchey also suggested that CIS could use non-CISA funds to keep the EI-ISAC running. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Election infrastructure owners and operators have access to the same CISA support as other critical infrastructure entities, including access to cyber and physical security services and incident response, Auchey said. But even if the programs are restarted, many state and local election officials, left without federal resources to figure out the next steps for keeping elections secure, may find it difficult to trust the agency in the future. They've hung us all out to dry for the last six weeks, the source who works with election officials said. Why would anyone want help from them now? By Casey Hall and James Pomfret SHANGHAI (Reuters) - Orders have evaporated for Richard Chen, who manufactures Christmas decorations in southern China for U.S. retailers, including Walmart and Costco, facing crippling U.S. tariffs. "The orders are half of what they were last year," said Chen, who is based in the manufacturing hub of Dongguan. He is now in survival mode. "Theres no more scope to cut prices. But to get orders we sometimes have to take a price cut ... we have no choice," Chen said, declining to elaborate on cuts he had agreed to. "Were losing money." On February 4, U.S. President Donald Trump applied a new 10% tariff to the $400 billion worth of Chinese goods exported annually to the United States, with an additional 10% tariff announced on March 4 and further reciprocal tariffs expected on April 2. Chinese suppliers and their American clients are now coming to grips with the grim reality that this trade war will hit harder than in Trump's first term in 2018. This time is different because low-end manufacturers are already struggling with razor-thin margins, so they cannot cut prices to help their U.S. customers, and local Chinese governments that might have provided support to protect jobs are mostly too cash-strapped to give new subsidies. THIN MARGINS Suppliers estimate wages have grown by 2-5% since the first U.S.-China trade war of 2018, while raw material costs have climbed for some sectors and overseas competition has intensified, making Trump's latest tariffs the final straw for many low-end manufacturers. Liz Picarazzi, the Brooklyn-based founder and CEO of trash box company Citibin, said her goods produced in China are now subject to 52.5% tariffs and she can no longer afford to manufacture there. "My whole business has been based on a long-term rate of 7.5%. It's been a real shock," she said, referring to two rounds of 10% tariff increases on Chinese goods in addition to a global 25% aluminium tariff. "We knew this was coming but there's no way any company can mitigate an additional 45% in tariffs." U.S. customers are pressing for 10% price cuts, according to interviews with 10 Chinese manufacturers and exporters and two U.S.-based retail executives with Chinese supply chain exposure. Ongoing negotiations are yielding average discounts of 3%-7% from suppliers, they said. "You have companies in the U.S. who have hundreds of factories that work for them sending out a mass letter asking for a blanket 10% reduction from all suppliers on all products," said Jonathan Chitayat, the Asia boss of Genimex Group, a contract manufacturer for a range of products that derives 70% of its revenue from U.S. customers. President Donald Trump said Monday he would "love" to run against former President Barack Obama when asked about a hypothetical matchup. Though the Constitution prevents a third term in office, Trump did not rule out seeking one when asked by NBC on Sunday. "A lot of people want me to do it," Trump told NBC. He later told reporters on Air Force One, I dont want to talk about a third term right now ... No matter how you look at it, we got a long time to go." Meanwhile, tariffs on imported autos are to go into effect on Wednesday. While economists predict Trump's tariffs will raise prices in the U.S., Trump told reporters Sunday that automakers "are going to make a lot of money," suggesting the measures would encourage companies "to build in the United States." Latest Developments Mar 31, 7:56 PM Trump says Musk will be back after he leaves White House Asked if he wanted to keep Elon Musk in the White House after his 130-day term as a special government employee expires, Trump said Musk would return at some point. Well, I think he's an amazing. But I also think he's got a big company to run. And so, at some point he's going to be going back. He wants to, Trump said. PHOTO: Elon Musk looks on during a Cabinet Meeting in the Cabinet Room of the White House Mar, 24, 2025 in Washington. (Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images) Oh, I'd keep him as long as I can keep him. He's a very talented guy. You know, I love very smart people. He's very smart, and he's done a good job, Trump said, pointing to the 400 billion, 500 billion that the Department of Government Efficiency has saved the government. DOGEs website currently puts the savings at $140 billion, though largely without receipts. Mar 31, 7:53 PM Trump offers no new details on tariffs When asked about what Wednesday's sweeping tariffs set to go into effect on Wednesday would look like, Trump said that Americans would "see in two days." Though Trump was light on specifics, he seemed to indicate that the tariffs might be lower than those imposed by other countries on the U.S. "So, whatever they charge us, we charge them. But we're being nicer than they were, he said. We have a lot of countries, friend and foe. I always say friend and foe, but the friend in many cases is worse than the foe. They took advantage of us. And, we are going to be very nice by comparison to what they were. The numbers will be lower than what they've been charging us, and in some cases, maybe substantially lower." PHOTO: President Donald Trump boards Air Force One as he departs for Florida, at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, March 28, 2025. (Kevin Lamarque/Reuters) When asked whether any countries might be exempt from the reciprocal tariffs, Trump said "it depends," and seemed to indicate he wouldn't target countries that had smaller trade deficits with the U.S. Asked by ABC News' Karen Travers if hes heard any concerns from automakers about the pending tariffs, especially after a meeting today with the chairman of Stellantis, Trump said no. Well, I gave them a big break for a month. I didn't charge them anything, you know, for a big month, for that first month, and they brought a lot of material into this country, because they could bring it in with that tariff, Trump said. Travers also pressed Trump on news that China, South Korea and Japan are working together to respond to U.S. tariffs, asking if he was concerned that the tariffs would push allies closer to China. Trump said he was not aware of that news, but did brush off the concerns. -ABC News Michelle Stoddart Mar 31, 6:28 PM Trump says he would love to run against Obama in 2028 Despite the constitutional two-term limit, Trump mused about running against former President Barack Obama in the 2028 presidential election.Boy, Id love that -- that would be a good one, Trump said Monday Trump has often mused, and even joked, about seeking a third term. On Sunday, he told NBC News Kristen Welker, "I'm not joking," about a third term. PHOTO: President Donald Trump in the Oval Office of the White House, March 31, 2025. Former President Barack Obama speaks at a campaign rally in Madison, Wis., Oct. 22, 2024. (Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images | Kamil Krzaczynski/AFP via Getty Images) On Monday, he downplayed a third term. No, people are asking me to run, and there's a whole story about running for a third term. I don't know, I never looked into it. They do say there is a way you can do it, but I don't know about that. But I have not looked into it. Mar 31, 6:40 PM Kid Rock joins Trump in Oval Office for ticket-scalping executive order Kid Rock was in the White House with Trump as he signed an executive order that charges the Federal Trade Commission and the Justice Department with cracking down on the ticket reselling industry. It's gotten worse and worse with time, and I didn't know too much about it, but I checked it out and it was a big problem, Trump said, with Kid Rock standing alongside his desk. And I thought, I think you've been trying to get this done for 20 years or something. He said, Trump got it done in two weeks. PHOTO: President Donald Trump signs an executive order alongside Kid Rock in the Oval Office of the White House, March 31, 2025. (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mar 31, 5:47 PM Trump meets with Stellantis chair ahead of auto tariffs going into effect Trump met Monday at the White House with the chairman of one of the Big 3 automakers just days before he is expected to impose 25% tariffs on all imported cars and auto parts. John Elkann, the chairman of Stellantis, met with Trump, according to sources familiar with the meeting. One source, without offering additional details or specifics, told ABC News that automakers appear to be "coming to the table." Stellantis declined to comment on whether Elkann had a meeting with Trump. PHOTO: President Donald Trump walks from the Oval Office to board Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House en route to Florida, March 28, 2025, in Washington. (Mark Schiefelbein/AP) On an investor and analyst call last week, Elkann expressed concern over how the auto tariffs would impact the price of cars. "(It) made a very clear statement about the dialogue ongoing with the Trump administration, and the importance of the competitiveness of the integrated North American automotive sector," Elkann said. "But more importantly, the concern on the affordability of our products, our products made in America, and the implications on demand, on what will this uncertainty mean for demand in the United States of America." Trump told NBC on Sunday that he "couldn't care less" if prices on foreign cars go up, because he says that Americans will reap the benefits of more production and more jobs in the United States. -ABC News Katherine Faulders and Mary Bruce Mar 31, 4:37 PM Transgender Day of Visibility rally being held in Washington A rally is being held in front of the U.S. Capitol on Monday to commemorate Transgender Day of Visibility. It is being led by the Christopher Street Project, in coordination with more than 20 members of Congress and a dozen advocacy organizations. PHOTO: People attend a Trans Day of Visibility rally in Washington, D.C., March 31, 2025. (Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images) Rep. Summer Lee, a Pennsylvania Democrat, slammed the Trump administration's policies she said sows "fear" within the community. "We will not let them demonize this community," House Democratic Whip Katherine Clark said from the podium. The Trump administration's taken action to try to restrict gender-affirming care for people under the age of 19, ban transgender people from military service and require the government to only recognize a person's sex assigned at birth on government-issued documents. Many of the moves have been challenged in court. Mar 31, 2:27 PM White House downplays Trump not ruling out possibly seeking a 3rd term White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt also downplayed President Donald Trump not ruling out the possibility of running for a third term after he told NBC News on Sunday that he was "not joking" about it. Asked about what methods the president was looking at to possibly run for a third time, Leavitt dismissed the question. "The president talked about this last night on the plane. He said it's not really something we're thinking about. He has four years. There's a lot of work to do," she said. PHOTO: White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt speaks with reporters in the driveway of the West Wing of the White House in Washington, DC, March 31, 2025. (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images) Trump told NBC News on Sunday morning "there are methods which you could do it" regarding possibly seeking a third term. Later Sunday night, Trump avoided several questions about his comments as he spoke with reporters on Air Force One. "I don't even want to talk about it, I'm just telling you I have had more people say, please run again," Trump said. "I said we have a long way to go before we even think about that." Legal scholars told ABC News the Constitution bars a third term. Read more here. -ABC News' Hannah Demissie, Michelle Stoddart and Molly Nagle Mar 31, 2:25 PM White House offers little clarity on upcoming tariffs White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt offered little clarity on the pending tariffs set to go into place on Wednesday -- which it's dubbed as "Liberation Day." Despite being pressed on the topic multiple times by reporters on Monday, Leavitt wouldn't get into any details on the announcement, from which countries would be targeted or what rate they'd face. She instead deferred to President Donald Trump, saying, "It's his announcement to make." PHOTO: White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt speaks with reporters at the White House, March 31, 2025, in Washington. (Evan Vucci/AP) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Asked by ABC News Chief White House Correspondent Mary Bruce if there's any way for countries to stave off the pending tariffs and if the president has decided the scale and scope of them, Leavitt said that now is "the time for reciprocity." "Well, I think, first of all, unfortunately, these countries have been ripping off our country for far too long, and they've made, I think, their disdain for the American worker quite clear," she said before listing levies from other nations. -ABC News' Hannah Demissie, Michelle Stoddart and Molly Nagle Mar 31, 12:37 PM Americans disapprove of Trumps handling of the economy, trade negotiations: Poll A new Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll (AP-NORC) published on Monday found that a majority of Americans (58%) disapprove of how President Donald Trump has been handling the economy, while they are about evenly split on Trump's handling of immigration -- two top issues in the 2024 campaign. Amidst the back-and-forths about tariffs, 60% of Americans said they disapprove of how Trump is "handling trade negotiations with other countries," and it is Trump's weakest issue in the poll among Republicans. Overall, Trump's job approval rating is underwater: 56% of Americans disapprove while 42% approve. PHOTO: President Donald Trump holds a signed executive order on cryptocurrencies, in the Oval Office of the White House, in Washington, U.S., January 23, 2025. (Kevin Lamarque/Reuters) -ABC News' Oren Oppenheim Mar 31, 11:00 AM Elon Musk visiting the CIA to discuss government efficiency Elon Musk is heading to the CIA on Monday to discuss efficiencies there amid the Department of Government Efficiency's radical overhaul of the federal government. A CIA spokesman said Musk was invited by CIA Director John Ratcliffe. PHOTO: Billionaire businessman Elon Musk speaks during a town hall meeting at the KI Convention Center on March 30, 2025 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Scott Olson/Getty Images) "Director Ratcliffe has invited Elon Musk to meet with him at the Agency to discuss government efficiency," the spokesperson said. Musk's visit to the CIA follows his recent trips to the Pentagon and the National Security Agency. Click here to read the rest of the blog. The News While the Trump administrations use of the Alien Enemies Act to deport migrants from the US remains halted amid a legal fight, it conducted new deportations to El Salvador over the weekend. The administration worked with El Salvador over the weekend to transfer 17 alleged Tren de Aragua and MS-13 gang members out of the country, an operation that Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced Monday morning as a joint counter-terrorism effort with El Salvador. A senior State Department official confirmed to Semafor that the individuals were removed from the naval base at Guantanamo Bay to El Salvador; the deportation occurred under other authorities, including Title 8 under immigration law, the official added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The administration also provided Semafor with the names of each alleged gang member who was deported, along with details of their criminal history. That marked a shift from the Alien Enemies Act flights to El Salvador earlier this month, when names of deported migrants were not released but a leaked list of names was later published by CBS. These criminals will no longer terrorize our communities and citizens, Rubio wrote in a post on X. There are reportedly several dozen migrants being held at Guantanamo Bay following the weekend deportation. A delegation of Democratic-aligned senators visited the base on Friday and decried the Trump administrations use of the base, where its still considering plans for larger-scale housing of migrants. The names of the 17 migrants, and their Guantanamo Bay origin of their deportation flights, were first reported by Fox News. Know More The latest deportation flights to El Salvador comes amid an escalating legal battle over the presidents use of the 18th-century Alien Enemies Act. The Trump administration maintains it will follow court orders as the case progresses and argues that it did not defy a judges order to turn around the flights carrying alleged gang members earlier this month. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the same time, Trump advisers have been clear that deportations will continue. Border czar Tom Homan recently told NewsNation that theyd continue flights under Title 8 or another way clarifying remarks he had made where he noted that he did not care what the judges think. Well let DOJ and the courts fight this out, and well see where we go from there, Homan told NewsNation. Were going to keep targeting the worst of the worst. Notable Early last Tuesday, 25-year-old Alfredo Juarez Zeferinoa longtime farmworker union organizer who goes by the name Lelowas driving his partner to her job on a tulip bulb farm in Skagit County, Washington, when officers with Immigration and Customs Enforce pulled him over. According to those whove spoken with him since, Juarez Zeferino stopped, rolled down his window and asked the officers if they had a warrant before being asked to show identification. As he reached for his ID, ICE officers allegedly broke the window of Lelos car, told him to get out, and handcuffed him. He was taken first to an unmarked warehouse that, in 2021, Lelo and other local organizers had revealed to be an ICE holding facility. Hes currently being held at the Northwest ICE Processing Center in Tacoma, where hundreds have rallied over the last week to demand his release. A berry picker whos organized with the Indigenous farmworkers union Families Unidas por la Justicia since he first came to the United States from Mexico as a teenager, Lelo is well known to farmworkers and campaigners in Central Washington, as well as to state lawmakers. Juarez Zeferino was a key part of strengthening Washingtons heat protections for outdoor workers. Those protections now mandate that workers receive water and regular breaks to cool off once temperatures reach 80 degrees. He lobbied, as well, for a 2021 state law to guarantee that farmworkers receive overtime pay. Lelo is one of several prominent activists to have been abducted by ICE in recent weeks. While the most prominent of those arrests have targeted participants in pro-Palestine demonstrations on college campuses, Lelos detention and other recent developments suggest to some that the White House may be broadening its attacks on free speech and its political enemies. We think this is a politically motivated detention, says Edgar Franks, political director of Families Unidas por la Justicia, who met Juarez Zeferino when he was a teenager. When farmworkers were on strike more than a decade ago, Lelo volunteered to translate during daily assemblies for fellow Indigenous Mixteco workers who didnt speak Spanish. Fluent in English, Spanish, and Mixteco, Lelo has been consistently eager to help members of his union and anyone else who called looking for advice on how to demand higher wages and navigate the court system or the DMV, Franks said. ICE reportedly arrested several other people on Tuesday, and claims to have detained Juarez Zeferinowho does not have a criminal recordfor refusing to comply with a 2018 removal order. According to Franks, Lelo had no idea about the order. He was not hiding, Franks told me. He was in the media and in videos. He goes to lobby in our state Capitol. If he thought he had a deportation order, he wouldnt have done that. (DHS did not respond to a request for comment for this story.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Franks credits Lelo for helping come up with the recommendations their organization and allied groups made to state officials in updating Washingtons heat protections for outdoor workers, after several farmworkers died throughout the Pacific Northwest during a brutal heat wave in 2021. Alfredo would be out in the fields talking to workers and letting them know about the old rule, asking about what they thought, Franks said. Most of the recommendations that we gave were because of the work Alfredo was doing listening to workers, including to lower the temperature at which heat protection rules kick into effect. Republican governments in Texas and Florida have overruled municipal-level workplace heat protections in recent years. The Trump administration has now halted a pending rule from the Occupational Health and Safety Administration that would have established the countrys first-ever national heat protections. Aside from pushing to strengthen those rules in Washington state, several farmworker organizations that Juarez Zeferino has organized with have been an active part in climate policy fights in the state. That includes a recent effort to rebuff several ballot initiatives targeting the states climate measures, backed by hedge fund millionaire and Republican donor Brian Heywood. Lelos immigration status hasnt been confirmed. The Bellingham Herald has noted that he would have been eligible to apply to the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, program given that he was only 13 when he arrived in the U.S. (DACA provides a path to citizenship for undocumented U.S. residents who arrived in the country before the age of 16.) In 2015, Lelo was detained and then transferred to ICE by Bellingham police after he drove the wrong way down a one-way street and police were unable to verify his identity. He was released after a brief stay at the Northwest ICE Processing Center. Zeferinos family sued the police department, alleging racial discrimination; they later settled with the city for $100,000. He served on Bellinghams Immigration Advisory Board until it was dissolved last October. Among its recommendations was to create a resource center for immigrants in Whatcom County. Were worried theyre going to deport him to El Salvador, Gitmo, or these other places that are horrific, Rosalinda Guillen, longtime organizer and founder of Community to Community Development, where Lelo volunteered, recently told Seattle-based news publication The Stranger. This administration is just punitive and mean. Theyre cruel. Lawyers in Seattle have filed a lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security to prevent the administration from deporting people without legal status to third countries rather than their countries of origin. But in other recent cases, DHS has continued to defy federal courts and send people arrested by ICE to a hellish El Salvador prison under the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, refusing to acknowledge mounting evidence that people are ending up there who have no connections to criminal gangs, as the White House alleges. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The administration is also now embroiled in a court battle over whether it can deport legal residents it deems to threaten national security. The casecurrently being heard in Newarkcenters on 31-year-old Columbia University graduate student and green card holder Mahmoud Khalil, whom ICE abducted from his university-owned apartment earlier this month. Khalil had not been charged with a crime. The State Department said it revoked his legal status because he was undermining the Trump administrations foreign policy goal of halting the spread of antisemitism via his involvement in pro-Palestine protests on Columbias campus. Several other students and academics have been targeted by ICE on similar grounds, under obscure and legally dubious federal statutes. In what her lawyers argue is a politically motivated arrest, high-profile immigrant rights advocate Jeanette Vizguerra was ambushed by ICE while on break from her job in Denver, Colorado, on March 17; shes currently being held in an Aurora detention facility. Lelos arrest has sparked some of Washingtons largest protests since Trumps inauguration. The Washington State Labor Council mobilized its members in some of the states largest unions to a rally outside of the ICE facility where hes being held alongside Lewelyn Dixon, a University of Washington lab tech and SEIU member whos been detained since late February over a nonviolent misdemeanor she was convicted of in 2001; a green card holder, Dixon first came to the U.S. in 1974. As the Trump administration widens its attacks on migrants and free speech, even U.S. citizenship likely wont be enough to protect people whose views the White House wants to punish. Trump officials have promised to charge those who vandalize Teslas as domestic terrorists and revoke federal funding from any university that allows illegal protests. As Juarez Zeferino and other activists snatched up by ICE sit in federal custody, Franks says that the attention Lelos capture has garnered is a testament to the organizing work that Lelo has devoted his life to. If it wasnt for us being organized, he told me, Lelo would just be another guy that ICE picked up. President Donald Trump said he has agreed to meet with perennial critic Bill Maher as a favor to their shared friend, Kid Rock. I got a call from a very good guy, and friend of mine, Kid Rock, asking me whether or not it would be possible for me to meet, in the White House, with Bill Maher, a man who has been unjustifiably critical of anything, or anyone, Trump, he wrote on Truth Social on Sunday. I really didnt like the idea much, and dont like it much now, but thought it would be interesting, Trump continued. The problem is, no matter how much he likes your Favorite President, Me, he will publicly proclaim what a terrible guy I am, etc., very much like the Democrats at my recent Address to the Joint Session of Congress, where I stated, correctly, that no matter what I said or did, they wouldnt stand, they wouldnt applaud, they wouldnt smile or laugh and, certainly, they wouldnt be in any way nice.' Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Who knows, though, maybe Ill be proven wrong? In any event, Im doing a favor for a friend. I look forward to meeting with Bill Maher, Kid Rock and, I believe, even the legendary Dana White will be present, the president concluded his message. It might be fun or, it might not, but you will be the first to know! The update comes after Maher laid into Republicans during his New Rules segment on Fridays Real Time. On his HBO show, the host said he refuses to join the Right because he doesnt want to live in North Korea. Republicans dance like Trump now. They may name weapons systems after him. Theyve even dressed like him with the trademark suit and tie, available exclusively at Banana Republic, he noted. All these super macho guys eating the ass of another man. Maher also acknowledged Trumps speech from earlier this month in the episode, pointing out that the president incorrectly stated that the country spent $8 million on making mice transgender. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Heres the important thing about this: the fact that President Trump got this wrong isnt what bothers me Whats worrisome about it is that nobody around the president would dare tell him that transgenic is not transgender, he explained. It makes you think that if Trump came down one day and his fly was open, Republicans wouldnt tell him. Theyd just start showing up with their flies open. The comedian also touched upon another of Trumps latest talking points on Friday: his unconstitutional belief he could achieve a third term as president since, as he put it on Sunday, there are methods. At the end of Trumps first term, there were still some people who would occasionally correct him on little details, like, You lost that last election. But now we have Lauren Boebert saying we must rally behind President Trump to secure his third term, something Steve Bannon is advocating for as well, Maher said. You just know that soon the entire Republican Party will be on this page. OK? Theres no fuzz on this. Its as clear as 123 presidents get two terms, not more, no matter how wonderful you think they are. Its written in black and white in the Constitution. Guys, you know this is wrong. You know in your heart this is the moment when Rome stops being a republic. So come on, be like those mice and grow a pair of balls. Indeed, Trump told Meet the Press earlier on Sunday that while its too soon to think about (hypothetical) re-election since hes focused on his current second administration, A lot of people want me to do it. Im not joking, he insisted. But Im not it is far too early to think about it. The post Trump Agrees to Meet With Bill Maher as a Favor to Kid Rock appeared first on TheWrap. A federal appeals court on March 26, 2025, upheld a temporary block on President Donald Trumps deportation of hundreds of Venezuelan immigrants, including alleged members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, to a maximum security prison in El Salvador. The court was skeptical of Trumps use of the Alien Enemies Act to defend the deportations. The act, passed in 1798, gives the president the power to detain and remove people from the United States in times of war. On March 28, Trump asked the Supreme Court for permission under the act to resume deporting Venezuelans to El Salvador while legal battles continue. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Attorney General Pam Bondi previously said the deportations are necessary as part of modern-day warfare against narco-terrorists. Nanya Gupta, policy director of the American Immigration Council, is among experts who note that the Trump administrations evidence against the migrants, which relied in part on the immigrants tattoos and deleted social media pictures, is flimsy. Those who are challenging Trumps actions in court say the administration has violated constitutional principles of due process. Thats because it gave the migrants no opportunity to refute the governments claims that they were gang members. But what is due process? And how does the government balance this important right against national security? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As a constitutional law professor who studies government institutions, I recognize the delicate balance government must strike in protecting civil rights and liberties while allowing presidential administrations to preserve national security and foreign policy interests. Ultimately, the U.S. Constitutions framers left it to the courts to determine this balance. Due process explained The phrase due process of law goes back to at least 1215. Thats when Englands Magna Carta established the principle that government is not above the law. This principle guided the framers of the U.S. Constitution. The Fifth Amendment and 14th Amendment, for example, prohibit federal and state governments from depriving people of their life, liberty, or property, without due process of law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But what constitutes due process has varied over time. Government officials see the limits of their power from one lens. People affected by the exercise of that power view it differently. To combat this problem, the Constitutions framers placed the judiciary in charge of determining what due process means and when peoples due process rights have been violated. Court decisions on the issue traditionally weigh the governments interests in taking specific actions against claims that those actions violate peoples civil rights and liberties. Even when the law authorizes the president to detain people, historically the Supreme Court has held that those people should receive notice of the reason for their detention, and they should have a fair opportunity to rebut the governments claims. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When the high court, for example, heard cases about the rights of detainees held in Guantanamo Bay by President George W. Bush after 9/11, it ruled that principles of due process apply to noncitizens and even those whom the government designates as enemy combatants. One of the important considerations in legal analysis of the procedures the government must follow when depriving people of their liberty is the risk that the government will make a mistake in its decision-making. For example, some representatives of the deported Venezuelan migrants argue that they have been falsely accused of having ties to Tren de Aragua based on their country of origin and tattoos. They claim that without more investigation, including an opportunity for the migrants to present their evidence refuting the governments claims, there is a large risk that government will mistakenly deport people. When can the president avoid due process? In some cases, the president can skirt traditional due process considerations in pursuit of broader policy concerns. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As put by U.S. District Judge James Boasberg in his initial order blocking the deportations, the presidents action in this area implicate a host of complicated legal issues, including fundamental and sensitive questions about the often-circumscribed extent of judicial power in matters of foreign policy and national security. Before Trump took executive action using the Alien Enemies Act, the measure had only been used three times all during times of war. The act was part of a series of four laws passed in 1798 known as the Alien and Sedition Acts. These laws, among other things, gave the president the power to deport any noncitizen thought to be dangerous. A woman holds a sign during a rally on March 18, 2025, in Caracas, Venezuela, to protest the deportation from the U.S. of alleged members of a Venezuelan gang, who were transferred to an El Salvador prison. AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos President Thomas Jefferson allowed most of the acts to expire. But Jefferson and subsequent presidents kept in place the provisions that empowered the president to detain or deport noncitizens in times of war, invasion or predatory incursion by foreign powers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Today, the law authorizes the president to apprehend and remove people over the age of 14 that the administration determines to be alien enemies. However, it places procedural requirements on the president. Notably, the presidents ability to act requires a declared war against or an invasion or predatory excursion by a foreign nation. In such an event, the president must issue a proclamation saying he plans on using the act against perceived enemies. To justify the Venezuelan deportations, Trump issued a proclamation on March 15 claiming Tren de Aragua is perpetrating and threatening an invasion against the U.S. But the act also says people considered alien enemies must be given reasonable time to settle their affairs and voluntarily depart from the country. And it gives the courts power to regulate whether such persons even fall within the definition of alien enemies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Venezuelan migrants claim Trump has violated these parts of the act. The current fight This is where things become complicated. All parties in the case acknowledge that the Alien Enemies Act grants the president authority to act. However, the argument is whether the government has given people the opportunity to challenge the governments decision to classify them as alien enemies. Trump claims Tren de Aragua is a foreign terrorist organization engaged in warfare against the U.S. in the form of narco-terrorism the use of drug trade to influence government operations. His administration argues that it doesnt have to tell migrants it considers them alien enemies. And the administration says its not required to give them time to ask the courts to step in before they are deported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a March 24 hearing on the issue, D.C. Circuit Court Judge Patricia A. Millet noted that during World War II, even the Nazis got better treatment under the Alien Enemies Act. The dispute has prompted international questions about the legality of the U.S. governments deportation procedures and its treatment of the migrants. And Democratic members of Congress have called for an investigation into the administrations deportation practices. The case will most likely head to the Supreme Court to determine what due process means and when the president can act in the name of national security to limit peoples due process rights. Thats just as the framers of the Constitution intended. 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: Jennifer Selin, Arizona State University Read more: Jennifer L. Selin has received funding and/or support for her research on the executive branch from the Administrative Conference of the United States. The views in this piece are those of the author and do not represent the position of the Administrative Conference or the federal government. President Trump slammed the media for its never-ending coverage of the Signal group chat leak, calling it old and boring. In a post Sunday on Truth Social, Trump praised Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, after he pushed back on NBC host Kristen Welker over the matter. A GREAT job by Senator Markwayne Mullin on beating back Kristen Welkers, and the Radical Lefts Witch Hunt, on the never ending Signal story, Trump said in his post. They just dont stop Over and over they go! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump and his allies have been sharply criticized over the last week after it was revealed that The Atlantics editor in chief, Jeffrey Goldberg, was added to a group chat on Signal with agency heads discussing a forthcoming attack on the Houthi rebels in Yemen. The administration and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth have said no classified information or war plans were shared via the commercial app, but a second round of released screenshots from The Atlantic show Hegseth detailing the time, location and weapons the U.S. planned to use in the attack. Trump has dismissed the incident as not a big deal, but is looking for the news to move on to something new, even as Democrats call for investigations and continued examination into what happened. This story and narrative is so old and boring, but only used because we are having the most successful First One Hundred Presidential Days in the history of America, and they cant find anything else to talk about, Trump wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Fake News Media has the lowest Approval Ratings in history, and for good reason, 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 The Hill. President Donald Trump told an NBC interviewer on March 30, 2025, that he was not joking about a third term as president, despite such a term being barred by the Constitution. There are methods which you could do it, he said in the interview. For months, Trump has been hinting in joking tones that hes interested in finding a way to continue in the White House past the legal limit of two terms. But the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution is clear that Trump cant be elected again. The text of the amendment states: 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. That amendment was passed in response to Franklin Roosevelts four elections to the presidency. Since George Washington had stepped down at the end of his second term, no president had sought a third term, much less a fourth. The amendment was clearly meant to prevent presidents from serving more than two terms in office. Because Trump has been elected president twice already, the plain language of the amendment bars him from being elected a third time. Some have argued that since Trumps terms were nonconsecutive, the amendment doesnt apply to him. But the amendment makes no distinction between consecutive and nonconsecutive terms in office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Though the 22nd Amendment prohibits Trump from being elected president again, it does not prohibit him from serving as president beyond Jan. 20, 2029. The reason for this is that the 22nd Amendment only prohibits someone from being elected more than twice. It says nothing about someone becoming president in some other way than being elected to the office. Skirting the rules There are a few potential alternate scenarios. Under normal circumstances, they would be next to impossible. But Donald Trump has never been a normal president. On issue after issue, Trump has pushed the outer limits of presidential power. Most importantly, he has already shown his willingness to bend or even break the law to stay in office. And while Trump claims hes only joking when he floats the idea of a third term, he has a long history of using jokes as a way of floating trial balloons. Furthermore, once he leaves office, Trump could once again face the prospect of criminal prosecution and possibly jail time, further motivating him to stay in power. As Trumps second term progresses, dont be surprised if Americans hear more about how he might try to stay in office. Here is what the Constitution says about that prospect. Other ways to become president Nine people have served as president without first being elected to that office. John Tyler, Millard Fillmore, Andrew Johnson, Chester Arthur, Theodore Roosevelt, Calvin Coolidge, Harry Truman, Lyndon Johnson and Gerald Ford were all vice presidents who stepped into the office when their predecessors either died or resigned. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 22nd Amendment does not bar a term-limited president from being elected vice president. On the other hand, the 12th Amendment does state that no person constitutionally ineligible to the office of the President shall be eligible to that of the Vice-President of the United States. Its not clear whether this restriction applies to a two-term president who is ineligible for a third term because of the 22nd Amendment or whether it merely imposes on the vice president the Constitutions other criteria for presidential eligibility, namely that they be a natural-born citizen of the United States, at least 35 years of age and have lived in the U.S. for at least 14 years. That question would have to be decided by the U.S. Supreme Court. Should the justices decide in Trumps favor as they have recently on questions regarding the 14th Amendments insurrection clause and presidential immunity then the 2024 ticket of Trump-Vance could become the 2028 Vance-Trump ticket. If elected, Vance could then resign, making Trump president again. No resignation needed But Vance would not even have to resign in order for a Vice President Trump to exercise the power of the presidency. The 25th Amendment to the Constitution states that if a president declares that he is unable to discharge the powers and duties of the office such powers and duties shall be discharged by the Vice President as Acting President. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In fact, the U.S. has had three such acting presidents George H.W. Bush, Dick Cheney and Kamala Harris. All of them held presidential power for a brief period when the sitting president underwent anesthesia during medical procedures; Cheney did it twice. In this scenario, shortly after taking office on Jan. 20, 2029, President Vance could invoke the 25th Amendment by notifying the speaker of the House and the president pro tempore of the Senate that he is unable to discharge the duties of president. He would not need to give any reason or proof of this incapacity. Vice President Trump would then become acting president and assume the powers of the presidency until such time as President Vance issued a new notification indicating that he was able to resume his duties as president. Tandemocracy But exercising the power of the presidency doesnt even necessarily require being president or acting president. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump has repeatedly expressed his admiration for autocratic Russian President Vladimir Putin, so he might want to follow the example of the Medvedev-Putin tandemocracy. Russian leaders Vladimir Putin, left, and Dmitry Medvedev have collaborated to hold power for more than a quarter-century, despite laws imposing term limits or other restrictions. Mikhail Svetlov/Getty Images In 2008, term limits in the Russian constitution prevented Putin from running for president after two consecutive terms. Instead, he selected a loyal subordinate, Dmitry Medvedev, to run for president. When elected, Medvedev appointed Putin as his prime minister. By most accounts, Putin remained firmly in power and made most of the important decisions. Following this example, a future Republican president could appoint Trump to an executive branch position from which he could still exercise power. In 2012, Putin was able to run for president again, and he and Medvedev once again swapped roles. Since then, Putin has succeeded in amending the Russian Constitution to effectively allow him to remain president for the rest of his life. Using a figurehead Then again, Trump might just want to avoid all of these legal subterfuges by following the example of George and Lurleen Wallace. In 1966, the Alabama Constitution prevented Wallace from running for a third consecutive term as governor. Still immensely popular and unwilling to give up power, Wallace chose to have his wife, Lurleen, run for governor. It was clear from the beginning that Lurleen was just a figurehead for George, who promised to be an adviser to his wife, at a salary of $1 a year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The campaigns slogan of Two Governors, One Cause, made it clear that a vote for Lurleen was really a vote for George. Lurleen won in a landslide. According to one account of her time in office, the Wallaces had something of a Queen-Prime Minister relationship: Mrs. Wallace handles the ceremonial and formal duties of state. Mr. Wallace draws the grand outlines of state policy and sees that it is carried out. Trumps wife was not born a U.S. citizen and therefore isnt eligible to be president. But as the head of the Republican Party, Trump could ensure that the next GOP presidential candidate was a member of his family or some other person who would be absolutely loyal and obedient to him. If that person went on to win the White House in 2028, Trump could serve as an unofficial adviser, allowing him to continue to wield the power of the presidency without the actual title. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is an updated version of a story that was originally published on Jan. 16, 2025. 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: Philip Klinkner, Hamilton College Read more: Philip Klinkner does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment. President Donald Trump on Sunday criticized both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as he pushes for a Russia-Ukraine ceasefire. Trump said he's disappointed that Putin questioned Zelenskyy's credibility. Trump also said Zelenskyy is trying to back out of the rare earth deal, commenting 'if he does that, he's got some problems.' NEW YORK (AP) As the trade wars launched by U.S. President Donald Trump continue to escalate, all eyes are on Wednesday. Trump has repeatedly called April 2 Liberation Day, with promises to roll out a set of tariffs, or taxes on imports from other countries, that he says will free the U.S. from a reliance on foreign goods. To do this, Trump has said he'll impose reciprocal tariffs to match the duties that other countries charge on U.S. products. But a lot remains unknown about how these levies will actually be implemented. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Monday that Trump would unveil his plans to place reciprocal tariffs on nearly all American trading partners on Wednesday, but maintained that the details are up to the president to announce. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since taking office just months ago, Trump has proven to be aggressive with tariff threats, all while creating a sense of whiplash through on-again, off-again trade actions. And its possible that well see more delays or confusion this week. Trump has argued that tariffs protect U.S. industries from unfair foreign competition, raise money for the federal government and provide leverage to demand concessions from other countries. But economists stress that broad tariffs at the rates suggested by Trump could backfire. Tariffs typically trickle down to the consumer through higher prices and businesses worldwide also have a lot to lose if their costs rise and their sales fall. Import taxes already in effect, coupled with uncertainty around future trade actions and possible retaliations, have already roiled financial markets and lowered consumer confidence while enveloping many with questions that could delay hiring and investment. Here's what you need to know. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What will happen on April 2? Details around Trump's plans remain uncertain. Reciprocal tariffs could take the form of product-by-product duties, for example, or broader averages" imposed across all goods from each country or perhaps something else entirely. The rates could reflect what other countries charge as well as their value added taxes and subsidies to domestic companies. White House trade adviser Peter Navarro told Fox News Sunday that the tariffs could raise $600 billion annually, which would imply an average rate of 20%. Trump has talked about taxing the European Union, South Korea, Brazil and India, among other countries, through these levies. On Monday, Leavitt said Trump had been presented with several proposals by his advisers. She added that the president would make a final decision, but right now was not contemplating any country-wide exemptions from the tariffs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Previously-delayed import taxes could take effect very soon. Trumps month-long delay for many goods from Canada and Mexico, for example, is set to elapse in early April. Earlier this month, Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social that the extension granted for Mexican imports covered by the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement runs through April 2. But further confirmation around a specific date has not been issued since. Which of Trump's tariffs are about to start? Trump has said he will place a 25% tariff on all imports from any country that buys oil or gas from Venezuela, which includes the U.S. itself, starting Wednesday in addition to imposing new tariffs on the South American country. His 25% tariffs on auto imports will start being collected Thursday, with taxes on fully-imported cars kicking off at midnight. The tariffs are set to expand to applicable auto parts in the following weeks, through May 3. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The White House says it expects to raise $100 billion in revenue annually from these new duties, but economists stress this trade action will upend the auto industrys global supply chain and lead to higher prices for consumers. Which tariffs have already gone into effect? Trump imposed a 10% tariff on all Chinese imports beginning Feb. 4, a levy he later doubled to 20% from March 4 onward. And China has hit back with retaliatory tariffs covering a range of U.S. goods, including a 15% tariff on coal and liquefied natural gas products and 10% tariff on crude oil from the U.S. that took effect Feb 10. China also imposed tariffs of up to 15% on key U.S. farm exports starting March 10. Trumps expanded steel and aluminum tariffs went into effect earlier this month, too. Both metals are now taxed at 25% across the board with Trumps order to remove steel exemptions and raise aluminums levy from his previously-imposed 2018 import taxes taking effect March 12. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Canada and Mexico, Americas two largest trading partners, have also faced steep tariffs. Earlier this month, Trump implemented a partial, month-long delay of his 25% tariffs on both countries delaying taxes for auto-related imports as well as goods that comply with the 2020 US-Mexico-Canada Agreement until early April. But other imports are still levied, as well as a lower 10% duty on potash and Canadian energy products. In response to these tariffs, as well as the new steel and aluminum import taxes, Canada has rolled out a series of counter measures amounting to billions of dollars on U.S. goods. Mexico, meanwhile, has yet to formally impose new levies signaling it may still hope to de-escalate the trade war, although the country previously promised retaliation to Trumps actions. Can we expect additional tariffs down the road? Even more tariffs from Trump are likely, with the president also threatening import taxes on products like copper, lumber, pharmaceutical drugs and computer chips. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And many countries have promised retaliatory measures if not already imposed them, like Canada. Trump has said he won't negotiate with other countries on Wednesday's tariffs until after they're imposed, though he has said his 25% taxes on auto imports would be permanent. In response to Trump's steel and aluminum tariffs, the European Union announced measures on U.S. goods worth some 26 billion euros ($28 billion) to target steel and aluminum products, but also American beef, poultry, bourbon, motorcycles, peanut butter and jeans. The 27-member bloc had intended to roll out this retaliatory trade action in two phases, on Tuesday and April 13, but later said it will delay it until mid-April, without giving a specific date. We'll potentially see more retaliatory announcements this week, particularly if Trump confirms more details of sweeping reciprocal tariffs on Wednesday. _________ Associated Press Writers Josh Boak and Zeke Miller in Washington contributed to this report. Thames Water is scrambling to stave off a looming cash crunch - Neil Hall/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock A US private equity firm is in pole position to buy Thames Water as the embattled utility tries to stave off a looming cash crunch. New York-based KKR, whose staff were once dubbed barbarians at the gates for their aggressive culture, has entered the second stage of negotiations over a potential cash injection that would help the company avoid collapse. However, Thames Water said there was no certainty that a deal would be reached as it remained subject to due diligence and regulatory approvals. A takeover of Thames by KKR would reduce the risk that the utility requires a government-backed bailout if it runs out of cash. Bosses said senior creditors, which include hedge funds Elliott and Apollo, are continuing separate discussions over an equity raise in case the deal falls through. Thames, which serves 16m customers across London and the South East, recently agreed a 3bn emergency loan from its creditors. But the company, which is struggling under debts of roughly 20bn, is now seeking billions of pounds in fresh equity to shore up its finances and avoid unprecedented renationalisation. Thamess existing shareholders, who include the sovereign wealth funds of China and Abu Dhabi as well as the pension funds USS and Omer, last year walked away from the company, branding it uninvestable. The apparent breakthrough comes days after Thames announced the surprise departure of its chief financial officer. The company last week said that Alastair Cochran, who has been at the company since 2021 and recently served as interim chief executive, will step down within days. The financial crisis at Englands biggest water supplier comes amid public anger over rising bills and sewage leaks. Thames plans to raise average water bills by 31 a year, meaning the average annual household bill would jump from 436 to 588 between now and 2030. Bosses have argued the price rises are necessary to fund a 21bn investment in the companys crumbing Victorian infrastructure. But Thames has faced vocal opposition from rival creditors and campaigners including Charlie Maynard, the Liberal Democrat MP for Witney in Oxfordshire. Mr Maynard argued against the 3bn emergency loan, saying the Government should instead step in to nationalise the utility. He described the restructuring as simply throwing good money after bad. KKRs selection as preferred bidder comes after it saw off competition from rival suitors, who are reported to have included Hong Kong giant CKI Infrastructure, UK-based Castle Water and a French consortium led by Covalis. Thames said KKRs proposal included financial metrics that indicate a material impairment of the companys class A debt, while other aspects of the deal remain under discussion. OTTAWA The return of Donald Trump has forced a reckoning in Canada with the potential to reshape the Canadian economy including the direction its energy flows. We will need to do things previously thought impossible, at speeds we havent seen in generations, Prime Minister Mark Carney said last week as he declared Canadas traditional economic relationship with the United States over. During his first week in office, Carney gathered Canadas premiers and got them to agree that in the face of Trumps tariffs, they will remove all internal trade barriers by Canada Day on July 1. The Canadian Chamber of Commerce, among others, has estimated those barriers diminish Canadas GDP by 4 percent annually. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Carneys plan includes trying to make it seamless for people and products to flow east-west, rather than south to the U.S. That includes energy, especially the clean kind most electricity, nuclear power, as well as wind and solar. On Monday, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre promised to create a Canada First National Energy Corridor, a pre-approved corridor for pipelines, transmission lines and rail lines. People in Canadas clean energy sector have been advocating for years for the country to think big and do more to leverage an abundance of clean power. POLITICO spoke to Philippe Dunsky, the president of a Montreal-based consultancy that bears his name. Dunsky recently wrapped up his chairship of the federal governments Clean Electricity Advisory Council, delivering a report last June to Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson called Powering Canada. The report offered a blueprint to deliver an essential thing to Canadians: clean, affordable electricity created within their own country to heat their homes and power their lives. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The report received scant attention. But now, thanks to Donald Trumps economic threats, its thesis has become a central plank in Canadas economic pivot away from the U.S. This transcript has been edited for length and clarity. We have problems getting electricity to flow east to west in this country. Can you explain the basics of the problem? The problem is a natural one theres greater demand and concentration of demand south than east-west. Were a less dense country [compared to the U.S.]. So naturally, if we do nothing, our power goes south. If were deliberate about it, we can do something. In your report for Energy and Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson, you talked about the need to stitch the country together a little better. Can you summarize what you recommended? I can start with what were not recommending. This is not about an east-west power line. Thats kind of a railway analogy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What this is, is more east-west integration regionally. Look expansively at something like Vancouver-to-Winnipeg; this tremendous opportunity to integrate that region and really optimize the system and make electricity more affordable and cleaner. Thats true in the west. True in central Canada as well. Between Ontario and Quebec, theres some trading now, some exchange, but there can be an awful lot more. Quebec, especially going forward, could benefit if Ontario is really going to build out its nuclear base load infrastructure. Same thing in Atlantic Canada, and Ill say Atlantic/Quebec, because theres a really important linkage there. Youre looking, broadly speaking, at three big regions that could be doing an awful lot more trading, ... and that would allow us to clean the grid faster and cheaper. Its just not there because we just naturally go to where demand is easiest and most apparent and thats south. How would this regional-based system make energy more affordable for Canadians? Give me an example. Its like Trade 101. We had an election about free trade [in 1988]. And what was that election all about? It was about the belief that when you have free-flowing trade, you can actually lower costs for everyone, and thats because youre optimizing systems. That is definitely true for electricity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Look at B.C. and Alberta. Alberta has the best wind resources and the best solar resources in all of Canada. British Columbia wants wind power, so theyre going out and putting out RFPs [requests for proposal] to have a whole pile of new wind development in B.C. The winds in Alberta are twice as good as B.C.s, meaning wind power in Alberta costs half as much as it would in British Columbia. If B.C. could tap into Albertas wind, and Alberta gets all the economic development benefits, B.C. gets the cheaper power. Right now, its the opposite. What needs to be done to link those two provinces? The real issue is largely political will. Right now, Canada has just like with our broader discussion about trade we have 10 silos, plus the territories. Each one is planning and building its system as if its an island, with the odd connection here and there. We have to open up a bit. Mark Carney is talking about the need to connect internal trade. Its a big deal because of whats going on with the U.S. When you look at the urgency with which this is being talked about now, how does that make you feel? It makes me feel hopeful. We finally have an opportunity. We have a window in front of us to actually see this happen. Everyone whos ever looked at this knows that it should happen, knows that it needs to happen, knows that its beneficial for Canadians across the board. And the politics have not been there. The politics may be there now. Donald Trump is not joking about running for a third term. In a Sunday morning phone call with NBC Newss Kristin Welker, the president insisted that he was very serious about potentially circumventing the Constitution in order to lead the country for another four years after his second term ends. I know youre joking about this, but Ive been talking to a lot of your allies. They say theyre very serious, Welker said, referring to Trumps former chief strategist Steve Bannon. He says hes really seriously looking at potential plans that would allow you to serve a third term. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump replied that he could seek another term on the basis of his popularity alone, claiming to have the highest poll numbers of any Republican for the last 100 years, though thats blatantly untrue. Welker then pressed if Trump had been presented with the possibility of staying in office, since he wasnt ruling it out. Well, there are plans. There arenot plans, Trump said. There are, there are methods which you could do it, as you know. Welker said that one method she had heard discussed among Trump allies would be for Vice President JD Vance to run at the top of the ticket in 2028 with Trump as his number two, before passing the torch to Trump once theyd won. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Well, thats one. But there are others too. There are others, Trump said. There are others? Can you tell me another? Welker pressed. No, Trump replied. OK. So, but, but, sir, Im hearingyou dont sound like youre joking. Ive heard you joke about this a number of times, Welker said. No, no Im not joking. Im not joking, the president said, adding that its far too early for him to discuss such a move. But while speaking to reporters on Air Force One over the weekend, Trump again raised the idea that people were prompting him to run again. I have had more people ask me to have a third term, which in a way is a fourth term because the other electionthe 2020 electionwas totally rigged, Trump said. I just dont want the credit for the second because Biden was so bad, did such a bad job, and I think thats one of the reasons that Im popular. I think weve had the best almost hundred days of any president. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The seemingly far-fetched and unconstitutional idea would require the consent of most of the countryif Trump attempted to formally run for president again. As outlined in Article 5 of the Constitution, any such change requires at least two-thirds of the Senate and the House to agree on the modification, with that change then requiring ratification by a minimum of three-quarters of states in the nation. A second approach to repealing the term-limiting amendment could be via a Constitutional Convention, though two-thirds of states would need to support the motion to have one at all, and any proposed changes to an amendment would still require ratification by three-fourths of the states. Trump has repeatedly pitched the idea that he could stay in office after 2028. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The MAGA leader would be 82 years old in 2028the same age that President Joe Biden was when he left officeand thats unlikely to play well with an American public that is increasingly tired of being led by the elderly. Still, that hasnt kept conservatives from trying to keep Trump in power. Republican lawmakers have already started to pave the way for the unconstitutional takeover. In January, Representative Andy Ogles filed a joint resolution to amend the Constitutions Twenty-Second Amendment so that the executive branch leader could serve for up to but no more than three terms. Faith is an integral part of millions of Americans daily lives. One Nation Under God is committed to reflecting Americas voices, values and communities covering stories of faith and religion, from the latest headlines to stories of hope. Subscribe here. (NewsNation) President Donald Trump thanked his Muslim supporters last weekend during an iftar dinner at the White House, marking the month of Ramadan when Muslims abstain from food and drink from dawn to dusk. The Muslim community was there for us in November, and while Im president, Ill be there for you, Trump said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement NASA astronaut Butch Wilmore says faith got him through time in space According to the Detroit Free Press, Hamtramck Mayor Amer Ghalib and Dearborn Heights Mayor Bill Bazzi who endorsed Trump and were chosen by him to be ambassadors to Kuwait and Tunisia, were in attendance along with evangelical leader and Trump adviser Paula White, U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard. What is iftar during the month of Ramadan? Iftar is the meal that Muslims eat at sunset to break their fast during the month of Ramadan, which concludes on March 30 this year. Eid al-Fitr is the festival that marks the end of the holy month of fasting, prayer and reflection. In the 2024 election, Muslims shifted away from backing Democratic candidates for the first time in two decades. A Council on American-Islamic Relations survey of 1,575 Muslim voters found that Kamala Harris captured only 20 percent of the Muslim vote after overwhelmingly supporting Joe Biden in 2020. Traditional sweets are served at the tables as residents prepare for Iftar, the fast-breaking meal, during Ramadan in the war-devastated Beit Lahia, northern Gaza Strip, Saturday, March 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi) Palestinians perform Friday prayers at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in the Old City of Jerusalem, during the holy Muslim month of Ramadan, Friday, March 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Mahmoud Illean) Karim Rahal prays in a home following an iftar meal Friday, March 7, 2025, in Dearborn, Mich. (AP Photo/Mike Householder) A table is prepared for iftar, the fast-breaking meal, organized by the Turkish Humanitarian Relief Foundation (IHH), on the first day of Ramadan in the Jobar neighborhood, which was devastated by the Syrian war, in Damascus, Syria, on Saturday, March 1, 2025.(AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed) Muslims attend prayers at National Mosque for the Eid al-Fitr, marking the end the holy fasting month of Ramadan in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Wednesday, April 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian) Balloons are distributed for free after Eid al-Fitr prayers, marking the end of the Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan outside al-Seddik mosque in Cairo, Egypt, Friday, April 21, 2023. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil) WASHINGTON, DC MARCH 27: U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during the White House Iftar Dinner March 27, 2025 in Washington, DC. Iftar is the evening meal that Muslims have after fasting throughout the day during Ramadan, a month long period of fasting, communal prayer and reflection. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) WASHINGTON, DC MARCH 27: U.S. President Donald Trump arrives at the White House Iftar Dinner March 27, 2025 in Washington, DC. Iftar is the evening meal that Muslims have after fasting throughout the day during Ramadan, a month long period of fasting, communal prayer and reflection. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) In Dearborn, Michigan, home to the largest Muslim population in the country, Trump won nearly 47% of the votes, according to the city. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were keeping our promises to the Muslim community. My administration is engaged in relentless diplomacy to forge lasting peace in the Middle East, building on the historic Abraham Accords, President Trump said at the dinner. India PM Narendra Modi details fasting routine The White House streamed the event live on X and Facebook. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. National missile defense is not a new idea, but in a world of expanding threats and technological advances, many argue its one whose time has come. Theres a case to be made that the Cold War deterrence paradigm of mutually assured destruction (MAD) is no longer valid in the face of rogue-state nuclear proliferation, and that Israels Iron Dome and related systems demonstrate the potential for such defenses at achievable costs. President Donald Trump can be counted among those making that case. He signed an executive order in January directing the secretary of defense to submit a plan outlining architecture, requirements, and an implementation plan for a next-generation missile defense shield. This Iron Dome for America should defend the United States from ballistic, hypersonic, advanced cruise missiles, and other next-generation aerial attacks, according to the White House, which called such attacks the most catastrophic threat facing the United States. Detractors argue that a comprehensive defense is not technically feasible without exorbitant cost, and that even if it were feasible, it would result only in creating strategic instability, potentially engendering a new arms race while providing only fleeting advantages. Weighing arguments on both sides of the debate requires a basic understanding of the technologies and theories involved. Missile defense 101. Missile defense systems are designed to locate, track, and destroy incoming missiles by intercepting them before they reach their targets. To destroy a ballistic or hypersonic missile, the missile must be defeated in its boost, mid-course, or terminal phase. Its most vulnerable in the boost phase, when its path is relatively slow and predictable. A missile in mid-course transits through space, which presents targeting challenges. And a missile in its terminal phase travels at high speeds and steep trajectories leaving very little time in which to intercept it. The U.S. has deployed interceptor missiles, consisting of a booster rocket and a kill vehicle that either collides with or detonates near an incoming missile, both overseas and in the homeland. Kill mechanisms, the means of destroying missiles, can be kinetic, e.g. using missiles or other projectiles, or non-kinetic, using cyber technology or directed energy such as lasers. The executive order also directs the Department of Defense to explore options for destroying missiles before they even launch, methods that would presumably include cyber and sabotage. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In addition to kill mechanisms, countering objects crossing continental ranges at high speeds and/or low altitudes requires complex detection, tracking, and command-and-control systems spanning the globe to enable continuous tracking and instantaneous coordination between multiple theaters and layers of command. Defenses must also address two distinctly different types of missile threats. Ballistic missiles, on the one hand, follow a computable trajectory. Defending them requires putting sensors and interceptors between the launcher and the target and then shooting at the missiles along their flight path. Hypersonic and cruise missiles, however, (including uncrewed aerial systems and, loosely, stealth aircraft) can maneuver and approach a target from any direction and altitude. Stopping these missiles requires defensive systems capable of sensing and firing in any direction or at very long ranges. The impracticality of protecting an entire continent from threats approaching from any direction and altitude has led to an emphasis on terminal defenses capable of defending specific areas, such as densely populated cities. Responses to increasing missile threats. The list of unfriendly countries that can threaten the United States with missiles or bombers is short but significant. Russia has about 540 strategic delivery systems, and China around 300. North Korean missile numbers are harder to come by, but probably track closely with their 50 or so nuclear warheads. Irans missile arsenal can threaten Europe but, so far, not the U.S. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Effective missile defense is a relatively new phenomenon, even if the idea of limiting attacks is not. The United States and the Soviet Union signed the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty in 1972, under which each side was allowed one missile defense site. President George W. Bush withdrew from the treaty in 2002 in the face of increasing worldwide missile threats and the futility of differentiating between increasingly sophisticated anti-aircraft technology and anti-missile systems. Current U.S. missile defense efforts are overseen by the Pentagons Missile Defense Agency, which traces its roots to President Ronald Reagans Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI). It is tasked with overseeing all missile defense development efforts, and coordinating with allies and partners for national defenses as well as defenses in specific theaters of operations. Coordination with global allies is useful not just to fulfill treaty commitments, but also because they can provide prime locations for key missile defense components. Pituffik Space Base in Greenland, for example, is situated to provide early warning in the event that Russia launches a missile toward the U.S. over the North Pole. What are the current capabilities? As of today, nine nations have credible anti-missile systems either deployed or in advanced stages of development. None of these could be called truly national defense systems, with the possible exception of Israels simply because, with a land mass about the size of Maryland, its small enough to fit under the umbrella of both tactical and theater interceptors. The U.S. Ground Based Midcourse Defense provides limited homeland defense with fewer than 50 interceptors in Alaska and California. The system uses ground-based interceptors carrying exoatmospheric hit-to-kill vehicles that are directed to incoming missiles using ground radar and onboard sensors. The system, which has cost about $63 billion to develop and deploy, has had 12 successful tests out of 22 attempts, and is presented as an effective defense against a limited strike. The Pentagons 2024 budget request for missile defense was $10.9 billion, about 80 percent of which was earmarked for research and development. Personnel assigned to the Air Forces 30th Space Wing, the U.S. Missile Defense Agency and U.S. Northern Command test the nations ground-based missile defense system at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, on March 25, 2019. (Photo by Joe Davila/U.S. Air Force) Most nations systems are land-based, but there are some sea- and even air-launched capabilities. Many are designed as both anti-missile and anti-aircraft systems, and almost all use kinetic kill mechanisms. Directed energy systems are in development with a few limited deployments, but still considered a nascent capability. Thats because such systems require enormous amounts of energy to function and are susceptible to environmental factors like clouds, because the target needs to be within line of sight. On the plus side, since the projectile is merely a beam of highly concentrated energy, magazines are virtually unlimited and the cost per firing is minuscule compared to the missiles being intercepted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement National missile defense today would either take orders of magnitude more gear than we have now, or an acknowledgement that national really means defending a limited set of targets. Trumps executive order tacitly admits this fact by placing the initial focus on defending civilians and infrastructure rather than military targets. Missile defense theory v. practice. While its not surprising to hear defense companies and politicians with facilities in their districts advocate for national missile defense, serious strategic thinkers and organizations also present credible arguments in its favor. The primary argument for national missile defense is that the governments first and foremost duty is to protect the homeland and its citizens. Although mutually assured destruction may be an outmoded idea, a credible missile defense can also have a deterrent effect on an adversarys strategic calculus by decreasing its odds of success and increasing the odds of a retaliatory response. And as with the space program, advanced missile defense would likely result in spinoff technologies with immense potential for military and commercial applications. Thoughtful arguments against missile defense largely come from organizations that trace their lineage to Cold War arms control advocacy, based largely on cost and technology. Undoubtedly, it will be expensive. Costs are impossible to estimate without knowing what recommendations the Pentagon will make, but will almost certainly range into the hundreds of billions of dollars. Even if a national umbrella is possiblea point detractors are unlikely to concedeand no matter how many of an adversarys missiles can be stopped, an enemy may be able to produce more missiles to overwhelm the system at less cost than creating a system to defend against them. The way forward. As Trumps executive order seems to acknowledge, missile defense systems cannot credibly defend the entire United States now or even in the near- to mid-term. Several challenges must be overcome for missile defense to become national. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement First, for missile defense to become affordable the cost per intercept must radically decrease to far less than the cost of an incoming missile. Directed-energy weapons present opportunities here and are advancing, albeit with significant technical and operational challenges. Next, while we can currently detect and track intercontinental or theater ballistic missile launches, maneuverable hypersonics and uncrewed systems require radically enhanced surveillance capabilities, to include high- and low-altitude detection along the entire U.S. border at a minimum. Finally, terminal defense cannot be the primary focus. There are simply too many points on a continent (plus Alaska, Hawaii, and Guam) to defend. Anti-launch, boost, and mid-course options are required. These may include forward deployed systems, space-based systems, and cyber operations, among other options. The late Israeli leader Shimon Peres said, If a problem has no solution, it may not be a problem, but a factnot to be solved, but to be coped with over time. The problem of how to defend America from missiles may not present a ready solution, at least in the near term. But there are ways to strengthen existing defense systems and essentially create new facts. The question will be where the incremental benefits are justified by the incremental costs. 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. Samson Tafolos final count read 119. For 45 minutes, he had tugged a wagon packed with mini water bottles, hemp cigarettes and miscellaneous hygiene products around Skid Row, handing out the supplies and keeping a tally of everyone he served on his usual route. Tafolo and other leaders at the Sidewalk Project, a harm reduction nonprofit headquartered a few blocks down, make their rounds several times a week. The counting, he said, has become a high-stakes part of the job, because the numbers are reported in grant applications. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With the shifting political climate, their funding is suddenly in jeopardy. Community ambassador Samson Tafolo, with the Sidewalk Project, shows how many homeless and needy have been helped during one morning's outreach efforts on L.A.'s Skid Row. (Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times) The Sidewalk Project is one of several groups that provide resources to homeless people, including some supplies specifically geared toward drug users, such as sterile syringes. While credited by advocates with saving lives during the opioid epidemic, the programs remain controversial, with critics arguing they fuel addiction. Read more: L.A. County wants to curb riskier fentanyl use. Its approach worries some activists Leaders of similar organizations across the state are worried that recent pledges by the Trump administration to trim federal spending and reduce redundancy in government agencies will have far-reaching ramifications for their work. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It's just a scare," Tafolo said of the uncertain future under President Trump. "It keeps us on our toes." Federal health officials said Friday that cuts to HIV prevention efforts, a key component of many harm reduction programs, are already in motion. "It's definitely a different level of threat than normal," said Elly Jalayer, director of harm reduction at Bienestar Human Services, which offers HIV testing and treatment as well as syringe exchange. Read more: Sidewalk Project artists mask up and hit skid row. 'Since COVID, we havent slowed down' Jalayer said the L.A. County Department of Public Health has been vocal about its continued support for harm reduction programs, but federal funding streams are more precarious. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In San Francisco, Mayor Daniel Lurie has pledged to restructure the city's homelessness services and take a critical look at the efficacy of city-funded nonprofits, including ones that offer supplies to drug users. The days of just handing things out, and no accountability those are over, Lurie said at a news conference. Clive Jackson, right, receives a hug from the Sidewalk Project's Samson Tafolo. (Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times) Last year, the Sidewalk Project was passed over for a grant because of questions about its syringe service program, said Soma Snakeoil, the nonprofits co-founder and executive director. In 2023, the program distributed more than 267,000 sterile syringes and collected more than 53,000 syringes from the Skid Row and MacArthur Park areas, according to an impact analysis by a third-party research firm. When youre consistently performing in a way that shows that you're successful, you would imagine that you would be refunded, Snakeoil said. But they said that they are moving in a different direction. Members of the Sidewalk Project dispose of a needle they found on the street while giving out water, hygiene bags, CBD Gummies and other harm reduction supplies on Skid Row. (Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times) That shift tends to mean more emphasis on treatment and less on harm reduction, Snakeoil said. She and others warned that scaling back syringe programs could have serious public health consequences. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more: CDC to slash infectious-disease funding for states; California impact uncertain Federal officials told the Wall Street Journal earlier this month that the Department of Health and Human Services is considering moving the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions Division of HIV Prevention under a different agency or eliminating the division altogether. Either move would set back decades of progress and be "devastating for our efforts to end the HIV epidemic," said Timothy Zembek, harm reduction program manager at Being Alive L.A., an HIV services nonprofit. Local officials are bracing for sweeping cuts to research and prevention efforts in the event of the CDC's ceased involvement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cheryl Barrit, executive director of the L.A. County Commission on HIV, said that her fellow commissioners 33% of whom live with HIV are nervous. There's a deep sense of anxiety and worry about what the current situation in the near future holds for their lives, Barrit said. Programs that offer clean syringes to intravenous drug users have been shown to prevent the spread of hepatitis and other blood-borne pathogens. But Barrit said it seems decisions at the federal level are now being made "with what appears to be a lack of analysis and with lack of community input and lack of partnership with stakeholders who are experts in the field. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services did not reply to requests for comment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more: These departments investigating Elon Musk have been cut by DOGE and the Trump administration The sense of disconnect between what government leaders believe will improve public health outcomes and what local communities actually need is what landed Snakeoil and her Sidewalk Project co-founder Stacey Dee in their line of work. Soma Snakeoil, executive director and co-founder of the Sidewalk Project, sits inside her facility in Skid Row in downtown Los Angeles. (Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times) The group was initially founded as an arts and music program, Snakeoil said. It only morphed into a harm reduction organization, she continued, once she and Dee realized "we were the right people to be doing that work because of our lived experience with drug use." That lived experience is also shared by much of Sidewalk's staff. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more: Shoshanna Scholar: Harm reduction strategist One of the main knocks on harm reduction is that it enables and encourages illicit drug use. But some Sidewalk staffers who have turned their lives around said they wished they had gotten access to such services when they were on the street. Crushow Herring, who heads Sidewalk's Community Ambassador Program, used to sell drugs and live on Skid Row. He stopped dealing in 2006 when his son was born and has since painted a mural at his old selling spot. When Herring made the neighborhood rounds with his team one Wednesday in late March, he stopped at every block to greet old friends passing by. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We're like lighthouses," he said. "When you're treading water, you need a lighthouse." Crushow Herring, right, gives out a hygiene bag to a man on Skid Row in downtown Los Angeles. (Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times) As Herring doled out supplies, he directed new recipients to Sidewalk's drop-in site on Stanford Avenue a renovated garage space where unhoused community members can eat, rest and shop a free stock of the overdose reversal drug naloxone, clean syringes and sharps containers and other first-aid and hygiene supplies. There, Sidewalk regular Michelle Ortiz was loading up on juice, oatmeal and underwear. Ortiz, who is HIV-positive, has lived on Skid Row for more than a decade, she said. In that time, she was assaulted and even gave birth on the street. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more: Hundreds of children live on Skid Row. Can L.A. do more for them? Last year, Sidewalk helped Ortiz move into the Weingart residential tower, she said. She still uses drugs occasionally "I'm not gonna lie to you" but less than she used to, and she now takes medication for HIV. Without Sidewalk, Ortiz said, "I wouldn't be here it would've been different." Despite testimonials from people such as Ortiz, the tide seems to be shifting against harm reduction. Last year's passage of Proposition 36 enacted harsher penalties for some drug offenses, and now the Trump administration is poised to enact sweeping changes. Snakeoil noted that nearly "every single aspect of our work is on the list of banned terms," citing the hundreds of terms that the Trump administration has reportedly instructed federal employees to avoid. Some nonprofits are scrambling to change their organizational language to secure federal funding, Snakeoil said, while others are fleeing to the private sector. For Snakeoil, "it's hard to see the way forward to sustainability" especially when Trump and California officials are fueling public interest in tough-on-crime tactics. "A lot of people have already lost patience," said Sebastian Perez, a state affairs specialist at APLA Health & Wellness, a nonprofit focused on preventing overdoses and diseases such as HIV. As indicated by Proposition 36's passage, Perez said, "I think the public is more willing to be punitive right now." Read more: Prop. 36 drug and theft felonies to force millions in state cuts, projection shows But drug policy researchers have long argued that being tough on drug users is not an evidence-based approach. Peter Davidson, a professor at UC San Diego who has studied the efficacy of so-called overdose prevention sites, where drugs are used under the supervision of harm reduction workers and medical professionals, said the current system sets people up for failure. "We give them criminal records, so it's hard for them to have legitimate jobs and be part of the legitimate economy, and with all the instability that comes with that, we make it hard for them to get housing," Davidson said. "Then we expect them to somehow successfully quit using drugs." Meanwhile, research indicates those who use syringe exchange programs are more likely to enter treatment, he said. And those on Skid Row continue to worry they'll lose some of the bit of good they see being done in their neighborhood. "I'm afraid Trump wants to shut down all this," resident Alvaro Rodriguez said while in line for Sidewalk supplies. As he walked away, Rodriguez clutched a pair of worn composition books in them, business plans to get himself and his neighbors off the street. The Sidewalk Project's Crushow Herring receives a hug from a friend while doing outreach work on Skid Row. (Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times) 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. President Trump tore into Kristen Welker, moderator of NBCs Meet The Press, over her questioning of a Republican lawmaker about a Signal leak of Pentagon attack plans that has consumed headlines for the past week. Kristen Welkers entire first half hour of the Lowly Rated Meet the Fake Press this morning, was devoted to the boring Signal Witch Hunt, Trump wrote Sunday evening on his Truth Social platform. She doesnt want to talk in detail about anything that matters like how well we are doing against the Houthis, substantive Peace Talks with Russia and Ukraine or, Iran, Iran, Iran. Welker pressed Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, on Sunday over the incident, in which a journalist was added to a group chat in which Trump administration officials planned an attack on Houthi rebels in Yemen. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump has repeatedly dismissed the disclosure, published in The Atlantic, calling it boring and accusing media outlets of obsessing over the breach. Welker said Trump called her over the weekend and said I dont fire people because of fake news and witch hunts, in reference to questions about the job security of the government officials on the call. The network earlier this month issued a press release celebrating its audience wins with viewers aged 25-54. Comcasts MSNBC and NBC have fought me for years, spending almost all of their waking hours making up Fake Stories and look, Im PRESIDENT, with really high Poll Numbers and Great Accomplishments, Trump wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Updated: 10:58 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 The Hill. The News US President Donald Trump said he was pissed off with Vladimir Putin for stalling on a Ukraine peace deal, and threatened new tariffs on Russia. His comments marked a notable change in tone: Trump has until now been conciliatory towards Moscow, and the latest remarks suggest he may be losing patience with the Russian leader. Putin has imposed a series of conditions on potential peace deals which go far beyond existing US-led proposals, some of which effectively push out Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Trump said that if Russia were to block a peace deal, he would impose secondary tariffs of 25% on any country buying Russian oil, which would include China and India. The News Wisconsin will go to the polls Tuesday to elect a new state Supreme Court justice, in what has become this years most high-profile election with national implications, and high stakes for US President Donald Trump and his billionaire adviser Elon Musk. The race pits a Democrat-backed judge, Susan Crawford, against Trump-endorsed Brad Schimel. Schimels victory would tilt the court to a conservative majority, with nationwide consequences for the future of abortion rights, congressional redistricting, and voting laws, potentially impacting the 2026 midterms and the 2028 presidential election in the critical battleground state. Its become the most expensive judicial race in the US history: Groups linked to Musk have given $17 million to support Schimel, and a PAC he founded offered voters $100 to sign a petition opposing activist judges. Musk also handed out two $1 million checks to voters Sunday who signed the petition after the states high court refused to hear a case that his payments amounted to bribery. SIGNALS The race is a referendum on Trump Sources: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, The New York Times Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Political analysts widely see the Wisconsin election as an early test for how voters judge the start of Trumps second term. Schimel is leaning heavily into his Trump endorsement a risky strategy, a local pollster told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Pro-Trump voters may be more energized to go to the polls, but it could also mobilize more Democrats. One Milwaukee voter who supports Crawford told The New York Times that if youre unhappy with the presidential election, its a way to send a message. Conservatives, though, see the election as a way to block liberal judges who legislate from the bench to enact policies that lack support from lawmakers, a Schimel voter said. and on Musk Sources: Wisconsin Public Radio, The New Yorker, The Wall Street Journal Musk has become central to the election through his gambits aimed at mobilizing support for Schimel. Democrats have accused Schimel of being bought by the billionaire. Eighty per cent of our canvassing interactions are about Musk, a Democratic Party leader in Waukesha County told The New Yorker. Musk has a personal stake in the race, since the Wisconsin Supreme Court could soon hear a case related to a state law barring automakers from selling directly to consumers, which Tesla has challenged. But Democrats strategy of putting Musk on the ballot ignores voters real concerns, The Wall Street Journal argued. Tariffs are on the ballot, too Source: Politico The Wisconsin vote will also test support for Trumps trade policy in rural areas. Wisconsins agricultural communities helped Trump win the state, but they are now particularly uneasy about the tariffs hes imposing, Politico reported. How conservative support in rural regions stacks up to Trumps performance in 2024 will be the biggest signal that were going to get headed in the midterms, a rural policy specialist said. A majority of rural Wisconsin voters think tariffs hurt, not help, the economy, according to a recent poll. But one local Republican lawmaker brushed off concerns, saying, these people are by and large red voters they see that the red side is Brad Schimel. U.S. President Donald Trump has "expressed displeasure" with both Russian and Ukrainian leaders amid efforts to secure a ceasefire in the full-scale war, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said on March 31. Leavitt's comments come a day after Trump said he was "pissed off" at Russian President Vladimir Putin for continuing to disparage President Volodymyr Zelensky. On the same day, Trump warned that Zelensky would face "big problems" with the U.S. if he did not sign a critical minerals deal. "The president is working incrediby hard to get a peace deal done between Russia and Ukraine," Leavitt told reporters on March 31. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "And he has expressed his displeasure with comments that have been made by leaders of both sides of this conflict. He has expressed what he believes needs to take place in order to see this conflict come to an end. He contines to work very hard on it and our teams continue to be engaged." After saying he was angry with Putin and threatening to impose additional economic penalties on Russia, Trump later softened his rhetoric, telling reporters aboard Air Force One that he and Putin have "always gotten along well." Trump did not name a specific date by which Moscow must agree to a complete ceasefire in Ukraine, but said there was a "psychological deadline" for such a deal. Ukraine has already agreed to a U.S. proposal for a total 30-day ceasefire, while Russia continues to refuse. Kyiv has accused Moscow of violating the partial ceasefire covering strikes on energy facilities and in the Black Sea. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump has threatened additional tariffs and sanctions against Russia several times in the past months but has largely avoided taking the step. Instead, the administration has exerted significant pressure on Ukraine in negotiations, including by temporarily cutting off military and intelligence support. Read also: Ukraine-US talks on minerals deal ongoing, not tied to NATO membership, source says Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. A Los Angeles-based federal prosecutor was reportedly fired Friday on instruction of the White House, with sources saying that it was likely due to his part in a case involving one of Trumps top donors. Citing several sources familiar with the matter who spoke on the condition of anonymity, the Los Angeles Times reports that prosecutor Adam Schleifer was fired Friday morning at around 11 a.m. via an email that read on behalf of President Donald J. Trump. Carley Palmer, a former Los Angeles federal prosecutor, told the outlet that Schleifer received his termination from a one line email and it came from a White House staff account. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His former colleagues helped him pack up his office belongings swiftly after the email came through. U.S. President Donald Trump walks towards Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House on March 28, 2025 in Washington, DC. / Andrew Harnik/Getty Images Sources also noted that Schleifers boss, acting U.S. attorney for the Central District of California, Joseph T. McNally, was not involved with the decision. In a statement to the Daily Beast, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said: The White House, in coordination with the Department of Justice, has dismissed more than 50 U.S. Attorney and Deputies in the past few weeks. The American people deserve a judicial branch full of honest arbiters of the law who want to protect democracy, not subvert it. The Times sources also said that they suspect Schleifers termination was caused in part by one case in particular: a probe of Andrew Wiederhorn, the former CEO of restaurant operator Fat Brands Inc. which owns fast-food chains like Fatburger and Johnny Rockets. Andrew Wiederhorn and then-wife Tiffany Wiederhorn attend According to a press release from the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Central District of California, Wiederhorn was indicted by a grand jury last May on federal charges alleging a scheme to conceal $47 million in distributions he received in the form of shareholder loans from the IRS and other appropriate bodies. The former CEO pleaded not guilty. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Citing Federal Election Commission records, the Times reports that Wiederhorn donated approximately $40,000 to the Republican National Committee and Trump political action committees since 2023. Meanwhile, Schleifer has reportedly made several public remarks criticizing President Donald Trump. In one 2020 tweet, the prosecutor wrote: 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. Why is Biden holdover @AdamSchleiferNY Adam Schleifer still working for the US Attorneys office under the new Trump administration? He is a Trump hater who has been working at the US Attorneys office since 2021. Fire him. He supported the impeachment of President Trump and pic.twitter.com/AhCDEFEqPS Laura Loomer (@LauraLoomer) March 28, 2025 Conservative influencer Laura Loomer even spotlighted Schleifers old tweets in an X post Friday, where she asked why a Biden holdover was still working for the US Attorneys office under the new Trump administration? He is a Trump hater. Fire him. He supported the impeachment of President Trump and said he wanted to repeal Trumps tax plan, she continued. We need to purge the US Attorneys office of all leftist Trump haters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The president has been on a tear against the federal judiciary, criticizing judges and firing prosecutors left and right for what he claims is political bias and weaponization of the legal system. In a February Truth Social post Trump slammed the Department of Justice and announced: Over the past four years, the Department of Justice has been politicized like never before. Therefore, I have instructed the termination of ALL remaining Biden Era U.S. Attorneys. We must clean house IMMEDIATELY, and restore confidence. Americas Golden Age must have a fair Justice System - THAT BEGINS TODAY! Wealth transfer is the biggest topic in private banking at the moment with trillions sent to change hands. So what is the right strategy? Maryann Umoren Selfe, head of investment solutions at Banque Internationale a Luxembourg (BIL) Suisse, belives its all about relevancy to clients' identities. Wealth transfer is not just financial, it is personal. PBI: Wealth transfer is a huge topic in the sector at the moment, but what are people not talking about within that space? Maryann Umoren Selfe, head of investment solutions, Banque Internationale a Luxembourg (BIL) Suisse: While much of the discussion around wealth transfer focuses on tax efficiency and estate structuring, whats often overlooked is how this shift will redefine investment priorities. Women are set to inherit and control significant capital over the next decade, yet the investment landscape has not fully adapted to their needs and interests. One of the most underfunded yet commercially promising sectors is womens health. Despite being a trillion-dollar market in the making, it continues to be overlooked by mainstream investors. As more women take control of wealth, they are increasingly interested in deploying capital toward investments that align with their values, whether thats gender-lens investing, impact-focused strategies, or funding innovations in womens health. The real conversation should not just be about how wealth is transferred, but where it is invested, and whether the financial industry is equipped to support this shift. Maryann Umoren Selfe, head of investment solutions at Banque Internationale a Luxembourg (BIL) Suisse How has engagement between the bank and its clients changed now that wealth transfer is a big topic? The dynamic between banks and their clients is evolving. Previously, wealth management was largely focused on preservation, but today, we see a growing emphasis on purpose-driven investing. Women inheriting wealth are not simply looking to maintain capital; they want to understand how it can be used to create impact, generate strong financial returns, and support causes they care about. This shift mirrors broader societal trends. The concept of wealth is evolving, not just in terms of financial assets but in the ability to access exclusive opportunities, whether in healthcare, longevity, or private market investments. Similarly, investment strategies are expanding beyond traditional asset allocation, with growing interest in private markets, including venture capital and private equity in sectors like womens health. However, many financial institutions have yet to fully adapt to this shift, continuing to prioritise standardised investment products rather than offering tailored access to emerging, high-growth opportunities. On March 28, 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump pardoned three co-founders of the cryptocurrency exchange BitMEXArthur Hayes, Benjamin Delo, and Samuel Reedwho had previously pleaded guilty to violations of the Bank Secrecy Act. These violations involved failing to implement Anti-Money Laundering (AML) programs at BitMEX, which led to accusations that the exchange was being used for money laundering. The BitMEX founders actions were scrutinized by U.S. authorities, who then charged them with operating without proper Know Your Customer (KYC) procedures. In 2022, Hayes, Delo, and Reed agreed to pay a combined $30 million in penalties as part of a settlement with the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). Additionally, BitMEX, the parent company of the exchange, was fined $100 million in January 2025 for violations that took place between 2015 and 2020. This fine came after a protracted legal battle involving the exchanges failure to comply with U.S. financial regulations. The decision to pardon the BitMEX co-founders follows a series of controversial pardons granted by President Trump, including his previous clemency for Silk Road founder Ross Ulbricht. The timing of the pardons raised eyebrows, as Hayes, Delo, and Reed had already received sentences that included home arrest and probation. However, the pardon effectively nullifies these penalties, allowing the co-founders to move forward without the burden of further legal consequences. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hayes expressed his gratitude on social media after the news broke, thanking the President for the clemency. The move to pardon the BitMEX co-founders also adds to the growing list of legal and regulatory challenges facing the cryptocurrency industry. BitMEXs legal troubles stemmed from allegations that the exchange allowed U.S. customers to trade without verifying their identities. Additionally, the company was accused of altering customer information to conceal the location of its U.S. clients, which led to further investigations by U.S. authorities. In addition to the legal battles in the U.S., BitMEX has been working on addressing its reputation and regulatory compliance issues. Earlier this year, reports emerged that the exchange was seeking a potential buyer, which may have influenced the timing of the pardon. The exchange has also faced ongoing scrutiny for its role in the broader cryptocurrency market, which continues to navigate complex regulatory environments in the U.S. and abroad. Trumps actions come as his administration has increasingly focused on crypto-related policies, with figures like Hester Peirce, an advocate for crypto-friendly regulation, rising to prominence within his administration. The pardons for Hayes, Delo, and Reed reflect the growing intersection between cryptocurrency and U.S. politics. A Jan. 6 defendant who was tried alongside leaders of the Oath Keepers was pardoned by President Trump on Monday, after previously receiving a sentence commutation. Thomas Caldwell, a U.S. Navy veteran from Virginia, stood trial in 2022 alongside Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes for seditious conspiracy. Federal prosecutors said he called for civil war ahead of the 2021 Capitol attack and played a key role in the anti-government militias planning ahead of the riot. While Rhodes was convicted of the rare Civil War-era charge, Caldwell was acquitted of all conspiracy counts. He was found guilty of two other felonies, but after the Supreme Court narrowed an obstruction charge used against scores of rioters, one of those two counts was vacated. A federal judge sentenced him to time served, rendering Trumps clemency toothless. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Caldwells only remaining conviction was tampering with evidence for deleting messages he sent after the riot. Throughout the trial, he maintained he never formally joined the Oath Keepers and was not a member. On Jan. 6, 2021, he neither entered the Capitol nor donned tactical gear, like other members of the group. Instead, he and his wife joined rioters at the Lower West Terraces exterior on the opposite side of the building from the Oath Keepers, wearing street clothes. Still, prosecutors described him as an avid and willing participant in an unprecedented crime, drilling down on his efforts to help the group create an armed quick reaction force a cache of weapons stored across the Potomac River in case the plan went south. The president initially commuted Caldwells sentence alongside the sentences of 13 other Oath Keepers, including Rhodes, and leaders of the right-wing Proud Boys. He granted full pardons for the roughly 1,500 other Jan. 6 defendants, including Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. WASHINGTON (AP) President Donald Trump has pardoned a Virginia man whose sentence already was commuted for his convictions stemming from the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol. Thomas Caldwell, a retired Navy intelligence officer, was tried alongside Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes but acquitted of seditious conspiracy the most serious charge brought in the Jan. 6 attack. Caldwell's pardon is dated March 20. Defense attorney David Fischer said he informed Caldwell of the pardon on Monday after learning about it from news reports. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And he's elated, Fischer added. A jury convicted Caldwell of obstructing Congress and of obstructing justice for tampering with documents after the riot. One of those convictions was dismissed in light of a U.S. Supreme Court ruling last year. On Jan. 10, U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta sentenced Caldwell to time served with no supervised release. Prosecutors had recommended four years in prison for Caldwell. Ten days later, on his first day back in the White House, Trump issued a sweeping grant of clemency to all 1,500-plus people charged in the Capitol riot. Trump commuted the sentences of several defendants who were leaders and members of the Oath Keepers or Proud Boys extremist groups. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More than a dozen defendants were convicted of seditious conspiracy for what prosecutors said were violent plots to keep Trump in power. Prosecutors had alleged at trial that Caldwell helped coordinate quick reaction force teams prosecutors said the Oath Keepers stationed outside the capital city to get weapons into the hands of extremists if they were needed. The weapons were never deployed, and lawyers for the Oath Keepers said they were only there for defensive purposes in case of attacks from left-wing activists. But Caldwell, who didnt enter the Capitol, took the witness stand and down played messages he sent leading up to Jan. 6, including one floating the idea about getting a boat to ferry heavy weapons across the Potomac River. Caldwell said he was never serious about it, calling it creative writing. Fischer said his client was first among equals for a pardon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When a progressive D.C. jury acquits him of most of the charges and an Obama-appointed judge sentences him to basically time served and a fine, I think its safe to say the government got it wrong, the attorney said. ___ Associated Press writer Alanna Durkin Richer contributed to this report. We might think of him as a tax-cutter, an enemy of big government, and an instinctive ally of businesses and consumers, and in his first term he certainly was. And yet as his second term takes shape, President Trump is morphing into something very different. The final details of Liberation Day on Wednesday still have to be finalised. But the White House appears to be planning steep new tariffs, imposed on all of the USs trading partners. On Fox News, Peter Navarro, one of the key backers of the tariff policy, suggested that levies on auto imports should raise $100 billion a year for the federal government. More significantly, he estimated that across the board tariffs would collect $600 billion annually. Economists and trade experts will no doubt argue about the precise sum that might be raised. No American government has imposed tariffs on this scale in more than a century. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some of the burden might be absorbed by foreign companies. State-backed Chinese companies, for example, might choose to live with the levies, given that they are more interested in increasing market share than making money. In other cases, production might shift from Stuttgart to San Francisco, or Lyon to Louisville, turning imports into domestic products. By far most likely, however, is that much of the increased cost will be passed onto consumers in the form of higher prices. Either they will be forced to pay more for imported goods, or prices may rise in general because US companies have less of an incentive to improve productivity thanks to the protections afforded by that tariff wall. And if tariffs do raise $600 billion annually, that is no small sum of money, even for an enormous economy like the United States. For context, the US government raises $4.9 trillion a year in tax revenue, so if Navarro is right the tariffs will add a little under 15 per cent to that total. It would be more than the $424 billion the government raises from corporate taxes annually. Tariffs would be turned into the third largest source of government revenue, after federal income taxes, which account for just over 50 per cent of the total, and social security or payroll taxes, which account for around 30 per cent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In effect, it would be the largest tax rise any president has ever imposed, and trigger a huge shift in how the federal government raises money. President Trump and his team occasionally talk about replacing income or other taxes with tariffs instead. In fairness, it is not a completely ridiculous idea. Re-wind the clock by 150 years, and tariffs were indeed the main way that the American government, like most others around the world, funded itself (in 1850 they accounted for 90 per cent of revenues). Heres the catch, however. The government was far, far smaller in those days, and needed to collect far less money. Even if we assume that Elon Musk manages to cut $1 trillion or more out of the budget, the tariffs would have to be at least five or six times larger than anything yet proposed to cover Washingtons annual expenditure. They would need to be at least 100 per cent and possibly more simply to replace the federal incomes tax. Tariffs at that rate would be off-the-scale, and would do huge damage to the global trading system. At risk of stating the obvious, if trade collapses to zero because of tariffs, then tariff revenue would also be zero. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even worse, the president, and perhaps more importantly, the team around him, are getting this the wrong way around. If tariffs are imposed, they should be immediately offset by cuts elsewhere. Corporate taxes could be abolished, for example, or income taxes cut by at least a fifth, or social security contributions dramatically reduced, or some combination of all three. That would be a shift in the tax base, and one that could be rationally debated. Instead, the president is imposing tariffs, while at the same time talking vaguely about taxes that might or might not be reduced at some point in the future. That is not even close to an acceptable way to run the administration. So Trump is about to impose a huge tax rise, and the blunt truth is that like any other tax rise it will crush the American economy. 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. President Donald Trump boosted a vague conspiracy targeting the CEO of NPR, who also happens to sit on the board of Signal, as his administration continues to grapple with the fallout of a major intelligence leak on the messaging app. Trump reposted Sunday an X users claim of a Signal scandal: Katherine Maher, the leftist NPR CEO, is currently the Chair of the Board of Signal! an account called Publius wrote. WHAT ARE THE ODDS? SIGNAL SCANDAL: Katherine Maher, the leftist NPR CEO, is currently the Chair of the Board of Signal! WHAT ARE THE ODDS? pic.twitter.com/jWNTeAt3Jz Publius (@OcrazioCornPop) March 27, 2025 Publius published a series of posts detailing Mahers professional background, listing her membership in the State Departments Foreign Affairs Policy Board and her stints at the National Democratic Institute, World Bank, and UNICEF. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shes donated to Democrats like Biden. And, of course, just happens to be the Chair of the Board of Signal Foundation, the user wrote, calling on Secretary of State Marco Rubio to probe what policies Maher pushed. The idea appears to have taken hold in conservative circles as well. On Friday, Fox News host Maria Bartiromo asked Texas Rep. Pat Fallon, who questioned Maher in a congressional hearing on NPR: What are the odds that Katherine Maher, the leftist NPR CEO, is on the board of Signal as well? Its unclear what the significance of Mahers presence on the Signal Foundation board is. Neither Trump nor any of the conspiracys high-profile proponents have laid out a theory and appear to have settled on merely pointing out her seat on the board. Trump earlier this weekend admitted that he was clueless about Signal, which became the site of a massive leak after national security officials discussed details of a military strike in Yemen after The Atlantic editor in chief Jeffrey Goldberg was inadvertently added to their group chat. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I have no idea what Signal is. I dont care what Signal is, Trump told NBC on Saturday. 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. The president railed against criticism and media coverage of what has been dubbed Signalgate in a Truth Social post on Sunday, branding it the radical lefts witch hunt on the never-ending Signal story. They just dont stop - Over and over they go! he wrote. This story and narrative is so old and boring. A Pentagon-wide advisory issued days after Goldberg was added to the group chatand another one issued as far back as 2023warned against using Signal for discussing nonpublic official information, according to NPR. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Signal has since clarified that the vulnerabilities referred to in the Pentagon memo did not lie within the app, but in phishing scams targeting its users. There are known vulnerabilities with Signal that are not being addressed. Seems odd Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 6, 2024 This isnt the first time Signal has been the subject of scrutiny. In 2024, tech mogul and now DOGE chief Elon Musk claimed there are known vulnerabilities with Signal that are not being addressed in response to an article raising questions about Mahers membership on the Signal board. This prompted Signal president Meredith Whittaker to respond: We dont have evidence of extant vulnerabilities, and havent been notified of anything Weve put a lot of thought into making sure our structure and development practices let people validate our claims, instead of just taking our word for it." President Trump said late Sunday there is a psychological deadline for Russia to agree to a ceasefire in Ukraine, shortly after he had expressed frustration with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Its a psychological deadline, Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One when asked if there was a deadline for Russia to agree to a deal. If I think theyre tapping us along, I will not be happy about it. Trump said he did not think Russia was dragging the U.S. along, saying he believes Putin wants to make a deal. He went on to criticize Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, suggesting he was wavering over a deal to grant the U.S. access to Ukraines mineral supply. Multiple outlets reported the Trump administration put forward a new proposal last week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And if he does that hes got some problems. Big, big problems, Trump said of Zelensky. 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. Well, he was never going to be a member of NATO. He understands that. So if hes looking to renegotiate the deal, hes got big problems. Trump told NBCs Kristen Welker on Sunday he was very angry, pissed off at Putin for suggesting there should be new leadership in Ukraine. He also threatened to impose additional sanctions on Russian oil if Moscow did not come to the table to end the fighting in Ukraine. Russian forces invaded Ukraine in February 2022 after amassing troops near the border. Trump campaigned on a pledge to end the fighting, and his administration has met with officials from both Russia and Ukraine to seek a ceasefire agreement. Critics have argued Putin is not interested in a lasting peace in Ukraine, with some Democrats suggesting the Trump administration is being strung along while Moscow makes gains on the battlefield. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. President Donald Trump said Sunday he basically trusts Russian President Vladimir Putin to do the right thing as he attempts to hash out a peace deal in the Russia-Ukraine war. Speaking to reporters on Air Force One, Trump said of Putin: "I don't think he's going to go back on his word. You're talking about Putin. I don't think he's going to go back on his word. I've known him for a long time. We've always gotten along well." Trump's words seemed to be a softening of his language earlier Sunday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Saying he was "pissed off," Trump had been critical of Putin in an interview with Kristen Welker of NBC. 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. On Sunday night, the president did express displeasure over Putin's criticism of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, whom Putin clearly doesn't want to remain in power. "Some of the things that he said over the last day or two," Trump told reporters, "having to do with Zelenskyy because when he considers Zelenskyy not credible he's supposed to be making a deal with him, whether you like him or you don't like him. So I wasn't happy with that. But I think he's going to be good." Trump has frequently expressed his own disapproval of Zelenskyy over the last months. On Sunday night, he added to that criticism by saying Zelenskyy may be backing away from the minerals deal that the Trump White House had been working on with him, in which Ukraine would trade mineral rights for American assistance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That deal was to be signed the day in February that Trump and Vice President JD Vance had a blow-up with Zelenskyy in the White House. "I see he's trying to back out of the rare earth deal," he said. "And if he does that he's got some problems. Big, big problems. We made a deal on rare earth and now he's saying, well, you know, I want to renegotiate the deal." During the campaign, Trump repeatedly said he was going to be able to end the Russia-Ukraine war on his first day in office. At this point, though, Trump said he doesn't have a specific deadline for Putin to meet. "It's a psychological deadline. If I think they're tapping us along, I will not be happy about it," he said. President Donald Trump slammed NBC and Meet the Press in a series of Truth Social posts Sunday, taking ardent issue with an interview the network aired between journalists Kristen Welker and Jeffrey Goldberg discussing last weeks Signal group chat fiasco. Kristen Welkers entire first half hour of the Lowly Rated Meet the Fake Press this morning, was devoted to the boring Signal Witch Hunt. She doesnt want to talk in detail about anything that matters like how well we are doing against the Houthis, substantive Peace Talks with Russia and Ukraine or, Iran, Iran, Iran, Trump wrote. He notably conducted a phone interview with Welker the day prior on Saturday where they discussed Greenland, tariffs, and the Signal group chat in which he reiterated that he doesnt fire people because of fake news and because of witch hunts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She wastes my Administrations time by talking to them about NOTHING. Why cant NBC, one of the Worst Broadcasters on Television, hire people that are honest and credible? The reason they dont is because their Chairman, Brian Roberts, is a pathetic Loser, who is petrified of the Left, and always will be, Trump continued on Truth Social. Comcasts MSNBC and NBC have fought me for years, spending almost all of their waking hours making up Fake Stories and look, Im PRESIDENT, with really high Poll Numbers and Great Accomplishments. Good job Brian! U.S. President Donald Trump delivers remarks during a Cabinet meeting at the White House on March 24, 2025 in Washington, DC. / Win McNamee/Getty Images Goldberg, The Atlantics editor in chief, revealed in a report published March 24 that he was added by National Security Adviser Mike Waltz to a group chat on commercial messaging app Signal discussing military operations in Yemen. Waltz meanwhile has spent the past week claiming that hes never met Goldberg and has no idea how his number got onto his phone, suggesting in an interview on Fox News last week that his number got sucked in because he had somebody elses contact. Moreover, though Waltz denied ever meeting Goldberg, an unearthed photo from a 2021 book launch shows the two standing next to each other. Sitting down with Welker for a segment of Meet the Press Sunday, Goldberg clapped back at Waltzs claims and quipped: This isnt The Matrix. Phone numbers dont just get sucked into other phones. 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. My phone number was in his phone because my phone number is in his phone, 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 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. Goldberg also addressed the Trump administrations see-sawing claims on whether or not information on the group chat could be considered classified, arguing: American pilots were about to fly into possibly a deadly situation and the Secretary of Defense is telling everyone on the group chat, which by the way included me, that these pilots were about to go into harms way. U.S. President Donald Trump listens to a reporter's question during an Ambassador Meeting in the Cabinet Room of the White House on March 25, 2025 in Washington, DC. / Win McNamee/Getty Images Letting that information out on a commercial messaging app, it seems odd, Goldberg continued. So I was aghast. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In another Truth Social post, the president continued to berate Goldbergs interview on Meet the Press and the never ending Signal story which he simultaneously penned as the Radical Lefts Witch Hunt. They just dont stop Over and over they go! Meet the Fake Press should instead explain how successful the attack was, and how Sleepy Joe Biden should have done it YEARS AGO, Trump said. This story and narrative is so old and boring, but only used because we are having the most successful First One Hundred Presidential Days in the history of America, and they cant find anything else to talk about. The Fake News Media has the lowest Approval Ratings in history, and for good reason. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!!! No time to be 'rootin' for Putin Sufficient evidence supports the conclusion that President Donald Trump is "rootin for Putin." At the time of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Trump said he thought Russian President Vladimir Putin's move was "brilliant." Trump has temporarily halted all U.S. military support including strategic intelligence for a time and Putin, who has rightfully been declared a war criminal by The Hague, has taken this opportunity to kill more Ukrainian civilians. Perhaps the answer to why Trump sides with Putin is that he envisions lucrative real estate deals and billions in a future partnership. While most people are disgusted by Trump's malignant narcissism and disrespect for U.S. allies, there are millions of MAGA faithful who see him as a brave man, strong enough to turn his back on the Ukrainian families and their elected leader, Volodymyr Zelenskyy. It took Putin about 10 years to control a fifth of Ukraine but only about 60 days to control nearly half of America via MAGA voters. European leaders support Zelenskyy and if somehow Ukraine prevails, Zelenskyy will be viewed as the new leader of the free world. Letters: Why is Trump letting Putin force us into submission on Ukraine? Bill Wink, South Hutchinson Island This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Trump siding Russia, Putin is an affront to US democracy | Letter By Guy Faulconbridge, Andrew Osborn and Jeff Mason MOSCOW/WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The Kremlin said on Monday that Russia and the United States were working on ideas for a possible peace settlement in Ukraine and on building bilateral ties despite U.S. President Donald Trump saying that he was "pissed off" with Vladimir Putin. Trump told NBC News he was very angry after the Russian leader criticised the credibility of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, and the U.S. president suggested he could impose secondary tariffs of 25%-50% on buyers of Russian 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." Asked about Trump's comments, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Moscow was continuing to work with Washington and that Putin remained open to contacts with Trump. "We are continuing to work with the American side, first of all to build our bilateral relations, which were badly damaged during the previous (U.S.) administration," Peskov said. "And we are also working on the implementation of some ideas related to the Ukrainian settlement. This work is underway, but so far there are no specifics that we could or should tell you about. This is a time-consuming process, probably due to its complexity." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A call between Trump and Putin, he said, could be arranged at short notice if necessary, though none was scheduled for this week. Trump, who says he wants to be remembered as a peacemaker, has repeatedly said he wants the three-year conflict in Ukraine to end and has warned of the risks of it escalating into a world war between the United States and Russia. He reiterated on Monday, when speaking to reporters at the White House, that he would impose secondary tariffs if Putin did not cooperate. "I want to see him make a deal so that we stop Russian soldiers and Ukrainian soldiers and other people from being killed," Trump said in the Oval Office. "I want to make sure that he follows through, and I think he will." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Finland's President Alexander Stubb said on Sunday he had told Trump during a Florida meeting on Saturday that a deadline needs to be set for establishing a Ukraine ceasefire in order to make it happen. "I came out with an impression that obviously he's the only person who can broker a peace, a ceasefire, because he's the only one that Putin is afraid of and in that sense, respects," Stubb told Sky News in an interview on Monday. "We were talking a lot about the ceasefire, the frustrations he had that Russia was not committing to it." OIL AND RARE EARTHS Since taking office in January, Trump has shifted the U.S. to a more conciliatory stance towards Russia that has left Western allies wary as he tries to broker an end to the war. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His 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 Russia's fault ... I am going to put secondary tariffs on oil, on all oil coming out of Russia," Trump told NBC. "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." Oil prices were little changed on Monday as traders tried to work out how Trump's threat of secondary tariffs against the world's second largest oil exporter might look. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement China and India buy about 80% of Russian crude exports. Chinese traders said they were unfazed by the threat, while Beijing said its cooperation with Russia was neither directed against, nor affected by, third parties. India declined comment. Amid efforts by Trump to end the fighting in Ukraine, minerals cooperation has been floated by both Kyiv and Moscow, though Trump said on Sunday that Zelenskiy wanted to back out of a proposed deal. Russia and the U.S. have started talks on joint rare earth metals and other projects in Russia, and some companies have already expressed an interest in them, Putin's investment envoy, Kirill Dmitriev, said on Monday. "There are no specifics here yet, but the interest is evident. The interest is mutual because we're talking about mutually beneficial projects," Peskov told reporters. (Reporting by Gleb Stolyarov and Jeff Mason; Additional reporting by Kate Holton in London Writing by Anastasia Teterevleva and Andrew Osborn, Editing by Timothy Heritage, Mark Heinrich, Gareth Jones and Himani Sarkar) Occidental Petroleum (NYSE: OXY) is a major player in the energy sector and is one of the United States' top oil and gas producers. After a banner year in 2022, Occidental strengthened its balance sheet and reduced its debt. However, the past couple of years have been tough for the company. Since its recent peak at $76 per share in late 2022, the stock has fallen by 35% over the past few years. With the stock down in recent years, investors may wonder if now is the time to jump in. Let's delve deeper into the business and see if the stock is right for you. Berkshire Hathaway can't stop buying Occidental Occidental is perhaps best known as one of Warren Buffett's largest holdings in his Berkshire Hathaway portfolio. Last year, the conglomerate sold down numerous stock positions, including Apple, Bank of America, and Citigroup. However, it continued to hold and even add to its position in Occidental. Last year, Berkshire Hathaway added 20 million shares to its Occidental position and now has 264 million shares, or about 28% of Occidental's outstanding stock. Berkshire Hathaway was a key player in helping Occidental finance its acquisition of Anadarko Petroleum in 2019, outbidding Chevron in the process. As part of the deal, Berkshire provided $10 billion in return for preferred stock yielding 8%. Berkshire also has warrants that give it the right to purchase another 83.9 million shares for around $59.62. Breaking down Occidental's business Occidental Petroleum operates in various segments of the oil and gas industry. The company has a significant presence in the United States, particularly in the Permian Basin, and operations in the Middle East and Africa. In addition to its exploration and production activities, Occidental transports oil and gas through pipelines, manufactures chemicals, and is expanding into carbon removal solutions. Occidental's primary source of revenue is exploration and production. This focus makes the stock particularly sensitive to fluctuations in oil and gas prices, which can be affected by broader economic conditions. For example, Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022 resulted in a significant surge in oil prices. This increase was driven by sanctions imposed by the U.S., Europe, and other nations on Russian oil. The combination of tight supplies and market uncertainty contributed to rising prices. Occidental Petroleum used this windfall to pay down debt and improve its balance sheet. Last year, it achieved record production levels, with strong performance in the Delaware, DJ, Midland, and Powder River basins. The company also acquired CrownRock, enhancing its presence in the Midland Basin, and repaid $4.5 billion in near-term debt seven months ahead of schedule. While President Trump continues to muse about the possibility of serving more than two terms in office, the Trump Organization is teasing the idea by offering Trump 2028 hats and T-shirts in its online store. The future looks bright! Rewrite the rules with the Trump 2028 high crown hat, the product description reads, alongside an image of the presidents son Eric Trump wearing the red-and-white baseball cap, which is priced at $50. The T-shirts ($36) have (Rewrite the Rules) printed underneath the Trump 2028 logo. Asked whether the new merchandise is a sign hes running, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said it is not. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its just a hat, Leavitt said during a live interview with Axios on Friday. Its not something hes thinking of, though I hear the hats are flying off the shelves. Trump Organization Trump is the second U.S. president ever to serve a second nonconsecutive term in the White House. The only other president to do so was Grover Cleveland, who served from 1885 to 1889 and again from 1893 to 1897. During an interview with NBC News last month, Trump said, Im not joking when asked about trying to serve a third term. There are methods which you could do it, the president said. In an interview with Time magazine published on Friday, Trump was asked what methods he was referring to. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Id rather not discuss that now, but as you know, there are some loopholes that have been discussed that are well known, the president said. But I dont believe in loopholes. I dont believe in using loopholes. Asked whether one of those loopholes would be for him to run for vice president, Trump said he didnt know anything about it. All I can say is this, I am being inundated with requests, he said. What does the Constitution say? Donald Trump is sworn in as president by Chief Justice John Roberts on Jan. 20. (Julia Demaree Nikhinson/Pool/Getty Images) Trump is legally barred from running for a third term by the U.S. Constitution. The 22nd Amendment prohibits any president from serving more than two terms in the White House. This also applies to terms served nonconsecutively, as in Trumps case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The amendment states: 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. The 22nd Amendment was adopted into the Constitution in 1951 after Franklin D. Roosevelt was elected to the White House an unprecedented four times: in 1932, 1936, 1940 and 1944. Until that point, U.S. presidents honored a long tradition dating back to George Washington of a self-imposed two-term limit. While the 22nd Amendment does not say anything about barring a two-term president from serving as vice president, the 12th Amendment states that no person constitutionally ineligible to the office of President shall be eligible to that of Vice-President of the United States. Could Congress change the 22nd Amendment? President Trump at an executive order signing ceremony in the Oval Office on Feb. 10. (Kevin Lamarque/Reuters) Yes, but changing a constitutional amendment is a lengthy and involved process. It would require a two-thirds vote from both the House of Representatives and the Senate. Then it would need to be ratified by three-fourths of the state legislatures. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But at least one GOP lawmaker appears willing to try. In January, Rep. Andy Ogles, a Republican from Tennessee, introduced a resolution that would revise the 22nd Amendment to allow presidents who serve two nonconsecutive terms to run again. President Trumps decisive leadership stands in stark contrast to the chaos, suffering, and economic decline Americans have endured over the past four years, Ogles said in a statement on Jan. 23 three days after Trumps inauguration. He has proven himself to be the only figure in modern history capable of reversing our nations decay and restoring America to greatness, and he must be given the time necessary to accomplish that goal. Rep. Dan Goldman, a Democrat from New York, introduced his own resolution to reaffirm the 22nd Amendment in November 2024. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement How he [Trump] operates is by floating trial balloons that he often claims are jokes, Goldman said on Bloomberg TV. But hes very serious about it. What else has Trump said about a 3rd term? Trump speaks at a rally in Las Vegas on Jan. 25. (Ian Maule/Getty Images) On Election Day in November, Trump was asked by a reporter whether the 2024 campaign was his last. I would think so, he said. Since then, though, he has repeatedly floated the idea of running again. In a meeting with congressional Republicans in November after his election victory, Trump suggested they could help him seek a third term. I suspect I wont be running again unless you say, Hes so good weve got to figure something else out, Trump said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They say I cant run again thats the expression, Trump said at the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 6. Then somebody said, I dont think you can. Oh. At a Black History Month reception at the White House in late February, Trump asked the crowd whether he should run again. The audience responded with chants of Four more years! The presidents impromptu poll came after he mentioned the next time, in an apparent reference to running again. At a rally in Las Vegas shortly after taking office, Trump said, It will be the greatest honor of my life to serve not once, but twice or three times or four times. President Donald Trump, currently in the second month of his second term, has joked before about running for a third go even though it is specifically prohibited by the United States' Constitution. Now he says he's 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." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When asked to clarify, he said, "I'm not joking," and said there were methods to do it, although he only confirmed one in the interview: running as Vice President under JD Vance, who would then step down if he won. This is also prohibited in the Constitution. He teased it multiple times in rallies last year. Former Trump White House chief strategist Steve Bannon told News Nation that Trump will run and win again in 2028 and that there were "a couple of alternatives" to let him. Within days of Trump's inauguration, Rep. Andy Ogles, R-Tennessee, proposed amending the 22nd Amendment to remove the restriction. Could Trump run again? Here are some ways he might try, 1. Trump could just announce he was running THE METHOD: Do it anyway. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump's second term, even more than the first, has been marked by doing things his administration doesn't have the power to do without Congressional or state approval while blaming federal judges who block his efforts. He could simply announce he was running for office and dare states to keep him off the ballots or legislators not to certify the results. WHY IT SHOULDN'T WORK: The 22nd Amendment. The 22nd Amendment, added in 1951 after President Franklin D. Roosevelt was elected to four terms, starts off with: "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." That's pretty straightforward. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump wants to run again: Who else has served more than 2 terms? Hint: There is only one 2. Trump could run for Vice President President Trump did not rule out the possibility of seeking a third term in the White House, which is prohibited by the Constitution under the 22nd Amendment, saying in an interview with NBC News that he was not joking. https://t.co/r4qXWPcnVu NBC News (@NBCNews) March 30, 2025 THE METHOD: Run for Vice President with the understanding that the person elected President would immediately resign. This is the method Trump confirmed was possible in the NBC interview, although he said there were others. WHY IT SHOULDN'T WORK: The 12th Amendment. The 12th Amendment lays out the rules for the election of the president and vice president. The last line says, "But 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 Since the 22nd Amendment makes Trump ineligible for President, the 11th therefore makes him ineligible for Vice President. However, the 22nd Amendment prohibits Trump from "being elected" more than twice. Using this method, it could be argued that he is not technically being elected president but would become president through circumstances. 3. Trump is named Vice President THE METHOD: Vance runs for president with someone else as vice president, who steps down after the election. Vance then names Trump as his veep, the Senate confirms it, and Vance resigns in favor of Trump, who still hasn't technically been elected to anything. WHY IT SHOULDN'T WORK: Like all the other methods, this sort of musical chairs is an obvious end-run around the Constitution with the goal of installing someone who is prohibited from being in office. Confirmation of a vice president also requires a majority vote of both houses of Congress, per the 24th Amendment. 4. Electors could choose Trump no matter who wins THE METHOD: Electors chosen by the states ignore the results from the state's election and instead submit their votes for Trump. Congress certifies the votes, Trump is back in. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement WHY IT SHOULDN'T WORK: Enshrined in the U.S. Constitution, the Electoral College was how the founders struck a balance between a popular vote, where whoever gets the most votes wins (the way other elections work) and a congressional vote, where members of Congress would choose the president of the United States. Each state gets as many electors as it has members of Congress both the House of Representatives and the Senate chosen by the state's political parties. Florida had 30 of the nation's 538 electoral votes in the 2024 general election. In 1952, the Supreme Court ruled that state parties can require electors to pledge to vote for their parties nominee before they are certified as electors and the vast majority of the time, they do just that. As of 2024, 38 states, including Florida, require electors to cast their votes for the candidates of the party they were nominated to represent, although about half of them have no method of enforcing it. Florida law states that if an elector does not vote for their party's chosen candidate, they are considered to be resigned, but it's unclear if that invalidates the actual electoral vote as far as the total count is concerned. In short, more than half the states require electors to behave and vote for the state's winner, but when the time comes anything could happen. 5. Congress could change the Constitution THE METHOD: Change the Constitution to allow Trump to have a third term, or more. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement WHY IT SHOULDN'T WORK: Changing the Constitution requires a two-thirds vote in Congress, which is unlikely to happen with the current makeup of the House and Senate. It also can be changed by a constitutional convention, but that requires 34 states to request it. 6. Trump could be named speaker of the house THE METHOD: Anyone could run for president and vice president, with the understanding that once elected Trump would be made speaker of the house, something he would still be eligible to become, and they would both resign. The Constitution merely says, "The House of Representatives shall choose their Speaker and other Officers," but does not explicitly say the House speaker must be a member of the House. Non-members have been floated for the job before, including Trump himself in 2023 during the turbulent battle to replace deposed Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif. Last December, Sen. Rand Paul, R-Kentucky, wanted megabillionaire Elon Musk to become Speaker. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The speaker of the house is third in line for the presidency. With the president and vice president both out of the picture, that would put Trump back in the Oval Office. Again, he would not have been "elected." WHY IT SHOULDN'T WORK: That could be a harder sell to make sure voters understood what they were really voting for and it would require two people to run for, win and willingly give up the most important jobs in the federal government. The move would almost certainly be challenged legally since it is, again, an obvious attempt to work around the Constitution. However, making Trump speaker of the house would require only a simple numerical majority of House votes. 7. Trump could declare a national emergency THE METHOD: Trump declares a national emergency or martial law and orders elections to be delayed until conditions improve, as defined by Trump. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement WHY IT SHOULDN'T WORK: The Constitution does not allow for any delay of the presidential and vice presidential elections. According to the National Constitution Center, the only hard deadline listed in the Constitution is that the terms of the president and vice president end on Jan. 20 the year following a general election and that those elected officials are limited to two four-year terms. The Constitution also spells out fairly strict deadlines for when states must submit their electoral votes and when Congress must validate them. In 2020, the Congressional Research Service released a report saying a state under its own laws could postpone a general election date and at least 45 states had statutes detailing what to do for election day emergencies. But a 2004 CRS report about contingencies after 9/11 said that while Congress could delay elections, it could not delay them without a deadline and a separate study said rescheduled elections had to be held "before the date in December when the Electoral College casts its ballots, and the beginning of the next Congress, respectively. Absent a general election, the president and vice president's terms would still end on Jan. 20 the next year and the speaker of the house would serve as acting president. There is no provision in the Constitution for a person to remain president indefinitely under any circumstances. 8. Trump could just not leave THE METHOD: Trump is already in the White House, he could just stay there, citing fraudulent elections and tying up any legal methods of removing him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Basically, this would be Jan. 6 again, but with more Trump loyalists in key positions. WHY IT SHOULDN'T WORK: While the Constitution and the rule of law should immediately prevent this, it could come down to how many legislators and military leaders are loyal enough to Trump to support the move and how many are willing to risk defying it. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Trump for president in 2028? 8 ways he get around Constitution Early on Sunday, during a phone interview with NBC News, President Donald Trump said there are methods to evade the constitutional barrier that prevents him from running for a third term. And given the current state of affairs as Trump begins his second term, the comments set the world ablaze. The president, aboard the Air Force One, flying from Palm Beach airport to the Joint Base Andrews on Sunday evening, addressed the looming questions about his interest in seeking an unconstitutional term in the future. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Asked whether he would leave office four years from now, the president initially dismissed the question before saying that the people wanted him to run again. At one point, he clarified that it would allegedly be his fourth term since he categorizes the 2020 presidential election as totally rigged. Trump touted his popularity and claimed his administrations had the best hundred days of almost any president. When pressed for more details regarding another potential term, Trump said he didnt want to talk about it. 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, he said. Is this constitutional? A person can be elected as the president for two terms, and thats according to the 22nd Amendment, which became a part of the Constitution in 1951, following President Franklin D. Roosevelts fourth term in office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite Roosevelts unprecedented win, Washington, D.C., held a strong two-term tradition set by the first and third presidents George Washington and Thomas Jefferson. Trump in a 2024 interview with Time magazine said he isnt in favor of reforming the 22nd Amendment. 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. Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, in a post on X said what Trump suggested isnt allowed. The Constitution isnt optional, sir. This isnt a reality show its reality," she said. Two terms, thats it. Rep. Dan Goldman, D-N.Y., recalled his cautionary comments about Trumps ambitions to stay in office. This is yet another escalation in his clear effort to take over the government and dismantle our democracy, he said in a statement reported by CBS News Scott MacFarlane. If Congressional Republicans believe in the Constitution, they will go on the record opposing Trumps ambitions for a third term. What did Sens. John Thune, John Curtis say Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., told the Deseret News Monday that the president is likely joking around. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You guys keep asking the question and I think hes probably having some fun with it, probably messing with you, he said. Late last month, Utah Sen. John Curtis chuckled at the possibility of supporting Trumps run for the office of president again. I wouldnt have supported a third term for George Washington" he said on NBC News Meet the Press. Thats a no, yeah, Curtis said while laughing. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt reaffirmed the presidents vague comments. Look, you guys continue to ask the president about a third term, and then he answers honestly and candidly with a smile, and then everybody here melts down about his answer, said Leavitt. Trumps loyal allies, like Steve Bannon, told Newsmax last month that he thinks the president will run and win again in 2028 and hinted that the administration has a couple of alternatives to make this a reality. For some weeks now, President Donald Trump has been calling Wednesday "liberation day," the day he has promised to announce and thereafter enact widespread tariffs on the nation's global trading partners. Trump's motive, as he has made clear since his first term in office from 2017-21, is to use tariffs which is a term for a tax a country places on imported goods as a way to force other countries to lower their own tariffs on U.S. goods and services, so as to create a more balanced economic playing field for U.S. exports, and to create a strong incentive for companies to manufacture goods (like cars, for instance) inside the U.S. to avoid paying the tax. Problem is, economists widely agree that tariffs, if applied broadly, result in higher prices for consumer goods regardless of where they are being made, push other countries to raise their own tariffs instead of lowering them and, generally, hurt consumer sentiment and drive down stock prices at home, hurting investment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With that in mind, let's take a closer look at what this new "liberation day" is all about. The idea of 'Liberation Day' isn't anything new A lot of the "Liberation Day" celebrations around the world are linked to the end of World War II in Europe and elsewhere. The French celebrate the liberation of Paris from the Nazis on Aug. 25, 1944, and the Italians celebrate the beginning of the popular uprising and general strike that overthrew the Fascists and Mussolini on April 25, 1945. When did Trump begin referring to a 'liberation day?' It grew over several weeks in March of this year, though the formulation had a much longer run-up than that. Trump referred to several days as "liberation day" during his last presidential campaign. In February 2024, he told a conservative audience that Election Day, Nov. 5, "will he our liberation day" and repeated it several times after that. Then, Inauguration Day, Jan. 20, 2025, became "liberation day," with Trump repeating that at his inaugural address. During a speech to a joint session of Congress on March 4, Trump said, "We are achieving the great liberation of America but there still is much work to be done" and spoke about his plans to implement what he called "reciprocal tariffs" on other nations, adding "Whatever they tax us, we tax them." By St. Patrick's Day on March 17, Trump was telling reporters, according to the Washington Post, that April 2 "is a liberation day for our country because were going to be getting back a lot of the wealth that we so foolishly gave up to other countries." What's going to happen on this 'liberation day?' As of this writing, on March 31, no one knows. Trump has already announced a lot of tariffs on imported steel and aluminum, which are already in effect; on imported autos and auto parts, which are set to go into effect at midnight April 3, and have Detroit automakers extraordinarily concerned about the additional pressures and costs to Canadian and Mexican supply lines they rely on; on Chinese goods generally and any country buying oil from Venezuela but the new set of taxes or tariffs are a mystery for now. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump first talked about a broad series of import tariffs that would not only match the tariffs charged by other countries but also account for other economic obstacles to U.S. trade, such as quotas that might limit the level of imports allowed into a country, or value-added taxes like those in Europe and elsewhere that can add to the price of imported goods. Then, as recently as last week, he was talking about being more lenient, saying otherwise his plans might be too tough and it looked like it might be restricted to certain trading partners. On Sunday night, he was again talking about them being broader and the Wall Street Journal said he was pushing aides to be more aggressive in applying them. Still, there seemed to be some room for compromise. After imposing the auto tariffs last week, Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney had a call after which Trump suggested negotiations were possible, adding, "I think things will work out very well between Canada and the United States." Does Trump have a point on trade and tariffs? The United States runs a deficit in terms of its trade in goods and services with the rest of the world. In January of this year, that deficit meaning the value of imports compared with the value of U.S. exports was about $131 billion, up from about $98 billion in December. The U.S. hasn't run a trade surplus, however, since the mid-1970s. Trump has consistently argued that is proof the U.S. is treated unfairly by its trading partners, and some labor leaders, including the UAW's Shawn Fain, have agreed, in part, saying tariffs will result in more work for U.S.-based manufacturing. And there are some claims that the U.S. may be more vulnerable financially or militarily if it doesn't protect its ability to make things. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But there is another argument that in a world with global supply chains, it makes more sense economically and diplomatically for the U.S. to spend less than it otherwise might on some consumer goods by using imports to lower prices on some items, freeing up more for wages, savings, investment and other goods. It is hard for economists to imagine U.S. wages falling to a level where they would meet those in some other parts of the world and provide an advantage for U.S. exports. Meanwhile, there are questions as to what damage could be done to businesses; major manufacturers are not able to willy-nilly change product lines, open factories and alter supply chains, circumstances that can take years to plan and execute, lasting longer than a president's term. If Trump is able to use tariffs as a way to pull more business into the U.S. and negotiate better access to foreign markets for American-made goods, while raising some revenue for the federal government to offset promised tax extensions, he may be widely praised. If, on the other hand, his actions lead to a possible recession after what had been a period of stock market and job expansion, despite higher prices it could lead to strong reaction among the public, if history is any guide. Contact Todd Spangler: tspangler@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter@tsspangler. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Trump says 'liberation day' is April 2: What does that mean? (Bloomberg) -- President Donald Trump said he plans to start his reciprocal tariff push with all countries, tamping down speculation that he could limit the initial scope of tariffs set to be unveiled April 2. Most Read from Bloomberg Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Youd start with all countries, so lets see what happens, Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One. I havent heard a rumor about 15 countries, 10 or 15. Trump is set to launch so-called reciprocal tariffs on April 2, a centerpiece of his plan to rebalance global trade and boost US manufacturing while collecting tariff payments to fund his domestic policy priorities, including an extension of tax cuts from his first administration and additional tax promises made during the 2024 campaign. Follow The Big Take daily podcast wherever you listen. The White House hasnt yet outlined what tariffs are coming, how theyll be calculated, or what countries will need to do to secure coveted exemptions. Trump has also said his tariffs will account for other countries non-tariff barriers, though hasnt detailed how those calculations will be made. The administration also hasnt specified when these new tariffs will take effect. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were going to be much nicer than they were to us, but its substantial money for the country, he said. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent earlier this month said the Trump administrations coming action would focus on what he called the dirty 15, a percentage of the worlds economies that have substantial tariff and other barriers and together account for a huge amount of our trading volume. Though Bessent didnt name them, a Bloomberg Economics report shows 15 US trade partners, nine of which are in Asia, together account for more than 75% of all US imports and were also included in a recent administration document inviting public comment to identify any potential unfair trade practices. The Trump administration has signaled that each countrys reciprocal tariffs could form the starting point for future negotiations, a stance that has sent countries rushing to offer concessions and play up their trade relationships with the US. At the same time, Trump has also said he means to limit exceptions to his tariff push. (Updates to add details of Bessents dirty 15 focus and countries pushes for exemptions.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2025 Bloomberg L.P. By Andrea Shalal ABOARD AIR FORCE ONE (Reuters) -U.S. President Donald Trump said on Sunday that reciprocal tariffs he is set to announce this week will include all nations, not just a smaller group of 10 to 15 countries with the biggest trade imbalances. Trump has promised to unveil a massive tariff plan on Wednesday, which he has dubbed "Liberation Day." He has already imposed tariffs on aluminum, steel and autos, along with increased tariffs on all goods from China. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "You'd start with all countries," he told reporters aboard Air Force One. "Essentially all of the countries that we're talking about." White House economics adviser Kevin Hassett recently told Fox Business that the administration's tariffs focus would be on 10 to 15 countries with the worst trade imbalances, though he did not list them. Trump sees tariffs as a way of protecting the domestic economy from unfair global competition and a bargaining chip for better terms for the U.S. However, concerns about a trade war are unsettling markets and creating fears of a recession in the U.S. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump has said he will impose a suite of reciprocal tariffs against nations that charge fees on U.S. exports, promising to match those countries' duties. In February, Trump signed a memorandum that directed U.S. trade officials to go country by country and put together a list of tailored counter-measures. Last week, he suggested he might scale back his reciprocal plans, perhaps imposing tariffs in some cases at lower rates than countries charge the United States. (Reporting by Andrea Shalal, Jarrett Renshaw and Trevor Hunnicutt; Editing by Kim Coghill, Clarence Fernandez and Jamie Freed) US President Donald Trump believes that Russian leader Vladimir Putin wants to conclude a ceasefire agreement in Ukraine but added that he has set a "psychological deadline" for Russia to agree to it. Source: European Pravda Quote from Trump on whether there is a deadline for Russia to agree to a ceasefire: "It's a psychological deadline. If I think they're tapping us along, I will not be happy about it." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Details: When asked if he thinks Russia is dragging its feet on this matter, Trump said he doesn't know. "I think he [Putin] wants to make a deal," he said. Immediately after that, Trump stated that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy would face "big problems" if he refuses to make a deal with the US regarding minerals. Background: On 30 March, US President Donald Trump stated that he was "very angry" and "pissed off" with Putin for talking about an interim administration in Ukraine. He also threatened to impose additional sanctions on Russian oil if Moscow does not come to the negotiating table and stop the fighting in Ukraine. Trump announced plans to hold a new conversation with Putin this week to discuss Ukraine. Earlier, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, after meeting with Trump in Florida on Saturday, proposed setting 20 April as the deadline for Russia to agree to a ceasefire before imposing new sanctions. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! President Donald Trump says hes serious about pursuing a third presidential term. Im not joking, Trump told a reporter for NBC News over the weekend. The U.S. Constitution says thats not allowed. No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice, the 22nd Amendment reads. Trump was elected in 2016 and 2024. The peaceful transition of power from president to president is the bedrock of the American political system. It began with George Washington, who stepped away from office after his second term. The amendment limiting presidential terms was passed after Franklin Delano Roosevelt died during his fourth consecutive term. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In theory, Florida could work to make Trumps vision a reality. The state could ratify a constitutional amendment allowing him to serve another term. However, such an amendment would need to be approved by three-quarters of the states. Short of that, Trumps idea is blatantly unconstitutional. If Floridas elected Republicans are troubled by this, they arent saying so. The Tampa Bay Times reached out Monday to Tampa Bays GOP congressional representatives, leaders in the state Legislature and the governors office. Heres how they responded to questions about Trump seeking a third term. Congress Sen. Rick Scott: Did not respond. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sen. Ashley Moody: Did not respond. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna: Did not respond. Rep. Vern Buchanan: Did not respond. Rep. Gus Bilirakis: Did not respond. Rep. Laurel Lee: Did not respond. State leaders State House Speaker Danny Perez: Did not respond. State Senate President Ben Albritton: Did not respond. Gov. Ron DeSantis: Did not respond. This story may update if an official shares a response. Check back at tampabay.com. ABOARD AIR FORCE ONE (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump said on Sunday Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy wants to back out of a critical minerals deal, warning the Ukrainian leader would face big problems if he did. "He's trying to back out of the rare earth deal and if he does that hes got some problems, big, big problems," Trump told reporters. "He wants to be a member of NATO, but he's never going to be a member of NATO. He understands that." (Reporting by Andrea Shalal; Writing by Daphne Psaledakis; Editing by Clarence Fernandez) We recently published a list of the 12 Best Oil and Gas Dividend Stocks According to Billionaires. In this article, we are going to take a look at where Canadian Natural Resources Limited (NYSE:CNQ) stands against other best oil and gas dividend stocks to invest in according to billionaires. The United States of America is now producing more oil than any country in history. The countrys oil and gas operators produced more than 13.49 million barrels per day (bpd) of crude in December 2024, an all-time high rate of production. Oil production in America has increased by almost 50% over the last decade, and the US Energy Information Administration (EIA) now expects American crude oil production to average 13.59 million bpd in 2025, up from its previous estimate of 13.55 million bpd. But at the same time, the countrys production is at risk of decline due to falling Brent prices, which are expected to average around $74 this year and then fall further to about $66 in 2026. READ NEXT: 12 Best Nuclear Power Stocks To Buy Now Another major problem for the US oil and gas industry is that the countrys largest oil field is flagging and may be nearing peak output. The Permian Basin led the US shale revolution and was responsible for almost half of the countrys overall production in December. However, relentless drilling over the last two decades has exhausted the oilfields core, and shale executives now expect oil production growth from the Permian to slow by around 25% to 250,000 to 300,000 bpd this year. Oil and gas executives are also irked by the tariff policies adopted by the Trump administration, as the constant uncertainty is now threatening their drilling plans. A recently published survey by the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas has revealed that oil executives are discontent with President Trumps administration, and nearly a third even said that their business outlook had worsened since the end of 2024. Moreover, the imposition of the 25% tariff on steel and aluminum has already led to an estimated 4% increase in costs for drilling a well. However, despite all the aforementioned issues and declining margins, the countrys oil and gas companies remain committed to shareholders and have increased their returns to record levels. A report by Janus Henderson has revealed that operators in the energy sector distributed over $49 billion in dividends during the third quarter of 2024, up from $32.2 billion three years ago. However, to maintain such high levels of payout, the industry will need to shift focus to its second major source of revenue natural gas. Trump speaks exclusively to NBC News Over a series of phone calls with Meet the Press moderator Kristen Welker on Saturday and Sunday, President Donald Trump told NBC News he couldnt care less if foreign automakers raise prices because of tariffs, said he has no plans to fire top officials over the Signal chat incident and said he was very angry and pissed off at Russian President Vladimir Putin. He also discussed his commitment to annexing Greenland, reiterating that a military option wasnt off the table, and said he hasnt ruled out seeking a third term. Here are more highlights from the conversations: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On tariffs impact on car prices: Asked whether he was concerned about prices going up, Trump said, No, I couldnt care less, because if the prices on foreign cars go up, theyre going to buy American cars. He also said the tariffs would be permanent: 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. Read the full story here On being pissed off at Putin: Trump said he was very angry at Putins comments criticizing the credibility of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyys leadership, adding that the remarks were not going in the right location. He said that if he believes Russia is at fault for a ceasefires not being reached with Ukraine, he might impose secondary tariffs on Russian oil. Read the full story here On a potential third term: Trump said he hasnt ruled out seeking a third term, which the Constitution prohibits under the 22nd Amendment, saying there were methods to do so and clarifying that he was not joking. He also added that it is far too early to think about it. Read the full story here Meet the Press Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Colo., told Meet the Press moderator Kristen Welker on Sunday that 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. Also on Meet the Press this week was Jeffrey Goldberg, the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, who disputed the idea he had never met national security adviser Michael Waltz before he was added to a Signal chat with top government officials. Meanwhile, Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., defended the messages administration brass sent. Politics in brief Vance angers GOP: Vice President JD Vances last-minute concerns about Trumps decision to strike the Houthis in Yemen angered some senior Republican lawmakers. First Amendment fight: Conservative religious activists want to dismantle the longtime understanding of the separation of church and state and the Supreme Court may be on board . A Trump bump? 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, through either confrontation or diplomacy. Musk sparks protests: Protesters gathered around the country Saturday for Tesla Takedown demonstrations that targeted CEO Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency. More federal layoffs: All but a small group of U.S. Institute of Peace employees received formal termination notices Friday evening, effective immediately, people familiar with the situation told NBC News. March Madness gets down to business Walter Clayton Jr. and Alijah Martin celebrate after Florida defeated Texas Tech 84-79 in the NCAA Tournament in San Francisco on Saturday. No. 1 seeds Florida and Duke reached the mens Final Four with victories Saturday, albeit by taking different routes. The Gators made a furious comeback to defeat No. 3 seed Texas Tech 84-79, while the Blue Devils cruised to an 85-65 victory over No. 3 seed Alabama. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Sunday, No. 1 seed Houston got off to a flying start against No. 2 seed Tennessee and never looked back in a 69-50 victory. And Auburn held off second-seeded Michigan State, winning 70-64 to round out the Final Four lineup. It's the first time since 2008 and only the second time in tournament history that all four No. 1 seeds have advanced to the Final Four. In the womens bracket, Paige Bueckers had a career-high 40 points, rescuing UConn from its first-half doldrums and single-handedly turning a tight game against Oklahoma into an 82-59 rout. No. 1 seed South Carolina beat No. 2 seed Duke to reach its fifth straight Final Four. In case you missed it This article was originally published on NBCNews.com As Donald Trumps April 2 Liberation Day for announcing reciprocal tariffs on Americas trading partners approaches, the question in Beijing is whether this will be the moment when its nascent trade war with the US really escalates. Mixed messages have kept Chinese officials guessing. The US president has long railed against the gaping trade deficit between the worlds two largest economies and on the campaign trail threatened upwards of 60% duties on all Chinese goods coming into the US. Thats potentially putting Beijing prominently in line for Wednesdays expected measures. And yet, in recent days, Trump has suggested he could reduce tariffs on Chinese imports as part of a wider bargain on the sale of Chinese-owned social media platform TikTok. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Speaking on Air Force One on Sunday, he vowed again to complete a deal on the platform ahead of a Saturday deadline. Trump has also touted a a great relationship with Chinese leader Xi Jinping even as his government slapped tough controls on Chinas access to US tech and called for tighter investment controls. Beijing is not alone in facing vacillations from Trump in his second term. The US leader appears to use uncertainty as a tactical weapon as he faces off against trade partners near and far. On Monday, Asian shares followed US futures in falling because of the riskiness over what the upcoming tariffs could be. Stock markets in Japan and South Korea, whose carmakers are likely to be disproportionately affected by measures announced by Trump last week, were hit especially hard. Pedestrians walk past an electronic board showing the Nikkei 225 index on the Tokyo Stock Exchange along a street in central Tokyo on March 28, 2025. - Kazuhiro Nogi/AFP/Getty Images But for China, Americas closest peer in economic size and its key geopolitical rival, the shape and tenor of their relationship can affect the whole world. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One possible outcome, a de facto decoupling, would upend global supply chains and roil parts of each economy. Another could see the two reframe how they co-exist amicably in a global economy. Were at a real fork in the road, Scott Kennedy, a senior adviser at the Center for Strategic and International Studies think tank in Washington, told reporters on the sidelines of a global business forum in Beijing last week. We might see these negotiations and pressure result in a pulling back of these threats and a resumption of a more stable relationship, but things could get a lot worse. We could see tariffs go sky high and investment fall. That would lead to some sort of at least incremental decoupling between the two economies, and thered be a lot of suffering, he said. In the face of the uncertainty, Beijings message has been clear: The US should return to the right track of dialogue and cooperation at an early date, a Foreign Ministry official said earlier this month. But if war is what the US wants, be it a tariff war, a trade war or any other type of war, were ready to fight till the end. Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng sits in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on March 28. - Johannes Neudecker/dpa/picture-alliance/AP Tit for tat During what the US described as an introductory meeting between Americas top trade representative Jamieson Greer and Chinas Vice Premier He Lifeng last week, He expressed serious concerns about existing US tariffs and the potential introduction of further duties on April 2, according to a state media readout. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A separate summary of the call from a social media account linked to Chinas state broadcaster was more explicit on what He said: If the US insists on damaging Chinas interests, China will resolutely counterattack. Any US changes to Chinas trading status will not affect Chinas win-win cooperation with the world, He also said. China has already hit back swiftly though modestly on the two tranches of additional 10% tariffs Trump has imposed on Chinese imports to the US so far, while sharpening a toolbox of other countermeasures. Chinese Premier Li Qiang last week signed an order strengthening Chinas anti-sanctions law, which allows Beijing to take action against foreign countries that contain or suppress China or discriminate against its entities and individuals. Earlier this month, Beijing used anti-discrimination measures under its Foreign Trade Law for the first time to raise tariffs on Canadian imports. Late last year, the government also overhauled its export controls for dual use items and then swiftly tightened export of gallium, germanium, antimony key materials with military applications. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement China knows the way it handled the US for Trumps first term might not work. Beijing underestimated the US determination to wage a war, it did not have enough bullets to have a tit-for-tat war, said Shanghai-based foreign affairs analyst Shen Dingli. Then, Chinas retaliatory measures largely consisted of slapping tariffs across a wide swath of US imports before the two sides reached a phase one trade deal that analysts say China never fully implemented. This time, Beijing is moving more strategically and using other tools as it aims for leader-level talks with Trump to stop the escalation, Shen said. Beijing has also been using global uncertainty around Trumps America First and trade policy to pitch itself as a champion of the global economy and win economic allies among US trade partners and companies from Asia to Europe. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Decoupling and breaking supply chains harm everyone and lead nowhere, Xi told an audience of global executives in Beijing last week, which included CEOs of US firms FedEx and Qualcomm. Blocking others paths will ultimately only obstruct your own, the Chinese leader said. Data show China has already diversified imports and exports away from the US since the first Trump trade war. But access to European and Asian markets will become increasingly critical for Beijing if it faces mounting barriers to enter the American market. Those could be numerous as Trump seeks to close trade deficits and also punish behaviors he sees as harming the US. The president last week also threatened hefty tariffs on imports from countries that import Venezuelan oil, a list that China tops. Over the weekend, he also threatened to put similar, secondary sanctions on Russian oil, of which China is also a major purchaser. It feels like its gravitating towards a situation where the overall tariff rate on Chinese goods shipped the United States by summertime could actually reach the Presidents proposed 60%, said Kurt Tong, managing partner at Washington DC-based advisory firm Asia Group, a former ambassador who served as consul general in Hong Kong. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thats a level economists say will lead to a dramatic decline in shipments, he added. Chinese Premier Li Qiang, right, meets US Senator Steve Daines in Beijing's Great Hall of the People on March 23. - Ng Han Guan/AFP/POOL/Getty Images Getting to the table Both sides have a strong interest, ultimately, in cutting a deal. But the question is how to get to the negotiating table and whether they can reach an agreement when they are there. During a recent visit to Beijing, Trump ally and US Senator Steve Daines told Bloomberg News that China must halt the flow of fentanyl ingredients into the US before any trade negotiations could begin. That could be a challenging bar, if true, as China has vociferously defended its efforts to stem the flow of fentanyl-related chemicals outside the country and slammed the US for smearing and scapegoating China. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump, meanwhile, will want to build a maximum pressure campaign before the other side will spit out the best deal that they can offer, said Yun Sun, director of the China Program at the DC-based Stimson Center think tank. And China wont want to negotiate issue after issue, rather favoring a package deal. But it has to be a two-sided deal. It cannot be a unilateral concession, and unlike smaller economies, China is not going to roll over, she said. Analysts have gamed out a range of potential negotiation points that could be on the table if talks between the two sides take off. Those range from agreements for China to buy more US goods, reduce its exports or pledge more US investment a proposition made more difficult by fresh US efforts to curb Chinese investment in sectors deemed sensitive. Chinese officials will be eying concessions around US restrictions on technology, a tone reset or even changes to the level of military aid the US gives to Taiwan, the self-ruling democracy Beijing claims, observers say. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Whether a so-called grand deal between the two is possible, experts remain unsure. Donald Trump, theoretically, can consider the entire exercise successful if he puts on high tariffs and theres no deal, said Tong, pointing to how in that case, the president could take credit for restructuring the US-China economic relationship. However, he said that a similar calculation exists for Xi, who can be seen as a winner in his own political sphere if Beijing retaliates step by step on its own terms. That, he said, is the thing that both US analysts and the White House, dont fully grasp. CNNs Fred He, John Liu and Hassan Tayir contributed reporting. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com The News US President Donald Trump will reportedly visit Saudi Arabia in mid-May, his first foreign trip since returning to office. The decision mirrors a move he made at the beginning of his first term, Axios noted, and cements Riyadhs growing heft in global diplomacy. The kingdom has hosted ceasefire talks between the US, Ukraine, and Russia, and has played a role in efforts to end the Gaza war, with a potential normalization of relations with Israel still on the table though Riyadh says this depends on the creation of a Palestinian state. The visit also points to the importance Trump himself attaches to Saudi Arabia and the Gulf, and the regions growing influence in Washington. The president this month said he would go to Saudi as the first foreign trip of his second term, linking the visit to Riyadhs decision to invest $1 trillion over four years with American companies. Saudi Arabia isnt the only Gulf nation opening its checkbook to garner the White Houses attention: The UAE this month committed to invest $1.4 trillion in the US over a decade, the Trump administration said, following a visit by the Emirates national security adviser to Washington. U.S. President Donald Trump is set to visit Saudi Arabia in mid-May for the first foreign trip of his second term, Axios reported on March 30, citing two U.S. officials and a source with knowledge of the president's travel plans. The specific plan and official information have not yet been provided, but talks will include "discussing foreign investments, strengthening relationships with Gulf nations and ending conflict in the Middle East," an official told Axios. Saudi Arabia has remained an important ally of Trump's since his first term and the capital of Riyadh has been the primary host of the ongoing peace negotiations between the U.S., Ukraine, and Russia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Initially considered for April 28, the visit was postponed, an official said. Earlier this month, Trump said his first trip during his second term would be to Saudi Arabia, as it had agreed to invest $1 trillion in the U.S. economy. "Last time I went to Saudi Arabia they put up 450 billion dollars. This time, I said I will go if you put up a trillion dollars to American companies. Meaning the purchase over four years of a trillion dollars. They agreed to do that. So I am gonna be going there," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on March 6. Trump's visit to Saudi Arabia may also involve discussions on the Abraham Accords. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Abraham Accords, signed in 2020 and negotiated by Trump's administration, established diplomatic relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco, Sudan, marking a dramatic shift in Middle Eastern geopolitics. Although the White House has identified Saudi Arabia as a potential participant in the accords, it remains hesitant due to concerns over Israel's actions in the Israeli-Palestinian war. Read also: Trump says hes pissed off and very angry at Putin in phone interview with NBC News Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. President Trump and his media team are aiming to make it easier to exact punishment on journalists by taking control of the seating chart in the White House press briefing room, the White House Correspondents Association warned on Monday. The complaint follows an Axios report that the Trump Administration is looking to take the responsibility of assigning seats away from the WHCA, which has decided where reporters sit in the press briefing room since 1981. The move would come after the Trump Administration already took one responsibility away from the WHCA in February assigning which reporters are part of the White House press pool. On Monday, the WHCA said another encroachment by the Trump Administration on its responsibilities would further damage the relationship it has with the White House. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If the White House pushes forward, it will become even more clear that the administration is seeking to cynically seize control of the system through which the independent press organizes itself, so that it is easier to exact punishment on outlets over their coverage, the WHCA board said in a statement. The board added: The most obvious end result of this reported plan is the punishment, not elevation, of journalists. Its the same at the Pentagon, where the administration removed longstanding outlets whose coverage they disagreed with for other outlets that did not regularly cover the building. Trumps media team, led by Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, has already looked to punish outlets that disagree with the administration, the WHCA argued. It pointed to the ongoing Trump-Associated Press feud, where the AP has been blocked from certain parts of the White House over its refusal to use the term Gulf of America, following President Trumps executive order renaming the Gulf of Mexico on government documents. The AP has said its free speech rights are being violated, while the Trump Administration has said no outlet is guaranteed to ask the president questions. A federal judge is now weighing the arguments made by both sides. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Trump Administration wants to obscure its battle with legacy media outlets, the WHCA further stated on Monday, by suggesting that they are ushering in new media outlets that have been excluded by the WHCA. Leavitt has opened the press briefing room up to new outlets as part of its rotating new media seat, where podcasters and non-mainstream outlets have been included since January. The WHCA said it reached out to the Trump press team on Sunday about having a meeting on Monday about the potential changes, but it did not say whether a meeting is actually taking place. The post Trump Wants to Exact Punishment on Journalists by Controlling White House Seating, WHCA Says appeared first on TheWrap. President Donald Trump has yet to win over his own party with his push to immediately transfer the Education Departments massive student loan operation to another agency slated for deep staff cuts. Trump was expected to propose moving the agencys $1.6 trillion portfolio to the Treasury Department a concept long-discussed on Capitol Hill and suggested in Project 2025, The Heritage Foundations conservative policy blueprint. Instead, the president announced this month that the Small Business Administration would get it, surprising many lawmakers and conservatives who track the issue. Although SBA, which provides financial support to companies for disaster relief, training and other needs, managed a wealth of Covid relief programs, it normally runs a much smaller operation than student debt. Its also slated to lose 43 percent of its staff. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now, many Republicans are worried about the size of the debt and the staffing needed to manage the complex system of servicers, borrowers and loan applications. And with about 43 million borrowers and a record number of them starting to fall behind on their payments since the pandemic-era hiatus ended in 2023 transferring this work may be one of the most challenging hurdles for unwinding the agency Trump has pledged to close. A lot of us were thinking it would go to the Treasury. Were talking about the huge nature of student loans, House Education and Workforce Chair Tim Walberg said in an interview. They have much larger staffing capabilities right now, than SBA, but the president may have something specific in mind that Im not aware of. Early legislation from Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) aimed at dismantling the Education Department also recommended the Treasury Department for the job. And at a recent House Rules Committee meeting, Walberg suggested that moving the portfolio to SBA which likely requires an act of Congress to complete might not be permanent. Some Republican lawmakers have been hesitant to say the move is official. Neither the Education Departments Federal Student Aid office, which manages the loan program, nor SBA have provided a timeline or details of a plan to move the portfolio. But Education Department officials skeptical of Trumps SBA plan met the week after his announcement to discuss if the Treasury Department should manage the massive portfolio instead of SBA, according to a person granted anonymity to discuss the matter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some conservatives are concerned about SBAs lack of experience with colleges and universities and the time crunch its staff will be under to learn the complex student loan system. The plan to move the portfolio sounds rushed, it sounds like no one has been briefed on it, and its not clear what the purpose is, said Jason Delisle, who served on the Education Department review group on Trumps presidential transition team. FSA largely works with direct loans, meaning that instead of a bank lending the money, the Education Department disburses the funds directly to the institution in the students name. Colleges and universities, however, aren't on the hook if the loan isn't repaid the borrower is. SBA only started working with direct loans at a massive scale in the aftermath of the pandemic. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theyre laying off 43 percent of the SBA staff at the same time [SBA is] being handed a $1.6 trillion portfolio that's three times the size of what they have, and is generally, much more complicated, said Michael Negron, who worked on small business and student loans for the National Economic Council during the Biden administration. The administration has not clearly stated whether FSA workers who have expertise on the student debt system would be transferred to SBA, which is a concern for Negron. That doesnt mean its impossible. SBA could be a good fit, he said, but the conditions need to be right. There is a world where this could work, but the resources have to be there, said Negron, who is now a fellow at Groundwork Collaborative, a left-leaning think tank that focuses on economic policy. The White House did not acknowledge questions about how it would transfer the student debt portfolio to another agency but said the administration would protect it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement President Trump is doing everything within his executive authority to dismantle the Department of Education and return education back to the states while safeguarding critical functions for students and families such as student loans, special needs programs, and nutrition programs, press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement. The President has always said Congress has a role to play in this effort, and we expect them to help the President deliver. SBA doesnt have a history of working with colleges and universities or FAFSA, the application borrowers must complete to get financial aid both key aspects to disbursing student loans, said Delisle, who is a nonresident fellow at the Urban Institute. The disbursement process could be left with the student aid office and SBA could handle the repayment, Delisle said, but then youd have two federal agencies running one program, and that sounds less efficient. Theres also political exposure. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Recent technical problems with the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, a form millions of families fill out every year, triggered bipartisan outrage on Capitol Hill the Biden administration spent months trying to clean up. Recognizing that challenge, acting Education undersecretary James Bergeron has said the FAFSA form is a priority for the Trump administration. But neither SBA nor the Education Department have said who is meant to manage it amid the reorganization. An SBA spokesperson said the agency is working closely with the White House, Department of Education, and Congress to finalize a plan to transfer responsibilities related to the student loan program. Some former Trump officials say the administration should create a new independent agency to oversee student loans. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bob Eitel, a co-founder of the Defense Freedom Institute and former senior counselor in the Education Department during the first Trump administration, said moving student loans to SBA wont fix a system that he sees as flawed. All youre doing is recreating FSA within another agency, Eitel said. The FSA model as currently structured is currently broken. You need an entirely new paradigm and entirely new organization and leadership to run it. Rep. G.T. Thompson (R-Pa.), a senior member of the House Education and Workforce Committee, believes SBA can handle student loans and noted that the Treasury Department doesnt do a lot of loan processing. The Small Business Administration has proven themselves and they would do an outstanding job, Thompson said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As for student loans being housed at SBA for the long term, he said, There are a lot of discussions going on right now. Walberg said there could be disruptions as education policy changes, but he believes disruption is necessary. There will be alterations, changes when youre doing something as large as this. You dont deal with massive change like this with a scalpel, Walberg said. Sometimes you have to go in with a much larger instrument. It causes disruption, but if you dont disrupt it will never happen. While speaking to journalists, US President Donald Trump has stated that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wants to withdraw from the mineral deal and has warned him of "big problems" if he does so. Source: Reuters Quote: "He's trying to back out of the rare earth deal and if he does that hes got some problems, big, big problems." Details: In addition, Trump reiterated that Ukraine would never become a NATO member, despite Zelenskyys aspiration to join the Alliance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "He wants to be a member of NATO, but he's never going to be a member of NATO. He understands that," he said. Background: According to Bloomberg, US officials did not raise any objections to Kyiv's concerns about the draft minerals agreement during a video call with Ukrainian officials on Friday 28 March, which may indicate that Washington is open to discussing changes to the draft. Earlier, European Pravda reported that Donald Trump's administration had restored the requirement for Ukraine to reimburse all the assistance that the United States has provided after the start of Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022 to the latest version of the minerals agreement. The revised text of the sizeable agreement states that Ukraine will undertake to compensate the United States for all aid budgetary, military and humanitarian provided since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy insisted on Friday 28 March that Ukraine is not ready to recognise the US aid provided in recent years as a debt as part of the minerals deal with the US. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! In another brazen step to weed out President Donald Trumps perceived political enemies and break down the barrier of political influence between the White House and the DOJ, Trumps White House directly dismissed two career prosecutors without reason. The firings are representative of Trumps vow to retaliate against his supposed political enemies in a department he claims has been weaponized against him. On Friday Los Angeles based federal prosecutor Adam Schleifer was fired via email from a White House official, with no reason for the dismissal given, according to reporting from the New York Times. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Schleifer had been working on a case against the founder of Fatburger, Andrew Wiederhorn, who was also a donor to political action committees that have supported Trump, per the Times. Shortly before he was fired, right-wing political activist and conspiracy theorist Laura Loomer, posted on X, highlighting old social media posts from 2020 where Schleifer was critical of Trump. Why is Biden holdover @AdamSchleiferNY Adam Schleifer still working for the US Attorneys office under the new Trump administration? He is a Trump hater who has been working at the US Attorneys office since 2021, Loomer wrote on X. Fire him. He supported the impeachment of President Trump and said he wanted to repeal Trumps tax plan. We need to purge the US Attorneys office of all leftist Trump haters, Loomer added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Also last week, career attorney Reagan Fondren was similarly dismissed as acting U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee and from the DOJ, according to reporting from the Daily Memphian. She also received the news via a one line email. In a statement on Friday, Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) said that Joe Murphy would replace Fondren, saying that Memphis is in need of a U.S. Attorney who will return to increased caseloads, aggressively enforce our federal criminal laws, and keep violent offenders behind bars so that Memphians can feel safe again. And in a statement to TPM regarding the dismissals, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said: The White House, in coordination with the Department of Justice, has dismissed more than 50 U.S. Attorneys and Deputies in the past few weeks. The American people deserve a judicial branch full of honest arbiters of the law who want to protect democracy, not subvert it. It is worth noting that prosecutors are part of the executive branch, not the judicial branch. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These recent dismissals are only the latest of several retaliatory purges within Trumps DOJ. Since February, according to New York Magazine, over 20 officials involved in the January 6 prosecutions and criminal prosecutions against Trump have been fired from the Justice Department and several have resigned in protest. Earlier this month, the head of the FBIs New York field office was forced to resign from his position after resisting the departments order to go after officials involved in January 6 prosecutions. And in February, a federal prosecutor in charge of the criminal division in the Washington, D.C. U.S. Attorneys Office resigned after refusing to follow an order to freeze assets of a Biden administration-era grant initiative. We recently published a list of 12 Most Oversold Large Cap Stocks to Invest in Now. In this article, we are going to take a look at where CGI Inc. (NYSE:GIB) stands against other most oversold large cap stocks to invest in now. Impact of Tariff Uncertainty on Wall Street and the Future of US Stocks Wall Street is being impacted by the uncertainty surrounding the tariff news. The broader has dropped a lot since Trump took office on January 20, and investors are mostly worried about tariffs because they think they could hurt economic growth and cause inflation. Investors think trade policies can reduce consumer confidence and restrict businesses ability to invest capital, while Trump believes tariffs can boost national revenue, promote broad-based growth, and be used as a negotiation weapon with other nations. According to Franklin Templeton, the Magnificent Sevens supremacy in AI has allowed US stocks to generate significant returns over the last few years, with the broader market frequently hitting all-time highs. The outlook for the market as a whole is favorable, notwithstanding high valuations. Sales growth has been accelerating, innovation and investment are still happening at a rapid pace, and this years earnings are predicted to increase by double digits. Additionally, the administration of the US economy is more business-friendly. However, there are concerns, primarily associated with US trade policy and the anticipated effects of tariffs on important industries, such as technology. Franklin Templeton thinks that despite these risks, investor confidence in US stocks should continue to be high. The new administrations policy reforms are anticipated to finally produce long-term benefits for the larger US economy, notwithstanding the possibility of increased dangers. Franklin Templeton also stated that although the Mag 7 stocks are positioned for long-term success, market leadership is anticipated to expand as and when innovation accelerates. According to the investment firm, active management is crucial. The transition from AI platforms to infrastructure is still in progress. Consequently, it is anticipated that the success of investments will depend on the ability to select the appropriate companies at the right timethose that have the technology, strategy, and flexibility to continue and sustain long-term growth. Thanks to innovation and investment, US stocksmostly large-cap stockshave been doing well. Notably, the Dow index has increased by more than 4.5% in the last six months. The investment business sees expanding chances beyond such market leaders, even though the Mag 7 stocks still sustain the market momentum. The competitive landscape is still dynamic and has been generating new development sectors as a result of the ongoing AI-driven cycle. Pastor Mark Burns, the personal spiritual adviser to US President Donald Trump, has arrived in Ukraine on a visit. Source: Chief Rabbi of Ukraine Moshe Asman, as reported by European Pravda Details: Asman said that Burns had come to Ukraine at his invitation. Asman described Burns as "a well-known figure in religious and political circles of the United States, whose voice today carries weight in shaping America's new strategy and policy". Photo: Asman on Facebook Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During his visit, Burns visited Bucha, Irpin and Borodianka to see the consequences of the Russian crimes against Ukrainian civilians and to hear the memories of witnesses. "What he saw deeply affected him he did not hide his pain, indignation and sincere compassion. I am sure that he will not keep these emotions and testimonies to himself. Pastor Burns is a man who has the ability to be heard in places where big decisions are made. And I believe that the voice of truth from Ukraine will be brought to the very heart of the new American leadership," said the Chief Rabbi of Ukraine. Background: Since Donald Trump returned to power on 20 January, few members of his administration have visited Ukraine. Among them are Keith Kellogg, Trump's Special Envoy for Ukraine and Russia, and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. The day before, in an interview with NBC News, Donald Trump said that he was "pissed off" with Vladimir Putin for talking about an interim administration in Ukraine. The US president also threatened to impose additional sanctions on Russian oil if Moscow did not come to the negotiating table and stop the fighting in Ukraine. Trump announced that he will have another conversation with Putin this week to discuss Ukraine. While speaking to journalists, Trump stated that Zelenskyy wants to withdraw from the mineral deal and has warned him of "big problems" if he does so. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! WASHINGTON (AP) President Donald Trump is taking a blowtorch to the rules that have governed world trade for decades. The reciprocal tariffs that he is expected to announce Wednesday are likely to create chaos for global businesses and conflict with Americas allies and adversaries alike. Since the 1960s, tariffs or import taxes have emerged from negotiations between dozens of countries. Trump wants to seize the process. Obviously, it disrupts the way that things have been done for a very long time, said Richard Mojica, a trade attorney at Miller & Chevalier. Trump is throwing that out the window ... Clearly this is ripping up trade. There are going to have to be adjustments all over the place. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pointing to Americas massive and persistent trade deficits not since 1975 has the U.S. sold the rest of the world more than its bought -- Trump charges that the playing field is tilted against U.S. companies. A big reason for that, he and his advisers say, is because other countries usually tax American exports at a higher rate than America taxes theirs. Trump has a fix: Hes raising U.S. tariffs to match what other countries charge. And he's expected to roll out his reciprocal tariffs possibly along with unknown details about other import taxes on Wednesday April 2. He's taken to calling the date "Liberation Day'' because his protectionist policies aim to free the U.S. economy from dependence on foreign goods. The president is an unabashed tariff supporter. He used them liberally in his first term and is deploying them even more aggressively in his second. Since returning to the White House, he has slapped 20% tariffs on China, unveiled a 25% tax on imported cars and trucks set to take effect Thursday, effectively raised U.S. taxes on foreign steel and aluminum and imposed levies on some goods from Canada and Mexico, which he may expand this week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Economists don't share Trump's enthusiasm for tariffs. They're a tax on importers that usually get passed on to consumers. But it's possible that Trump's reciprocal tariff threat could bring other countries to the table and get them to lower their own import taxes. It could be win-win, said Christine McDaniel, a former U.S. trade official now at George Mason Universitys Mercatus Center. Its in other countries interests to reduce those tariffs. She noted that India has already cut tariffs on items from motorcycles to luxury cars and agreed to ramp up purchases of U.S. energy. What are reciprocal tariffs and how do they work? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They sound simple: The United States would raise its tariff on foreign goods to match what other countries impose on U.S. products. If they charge us, we charge them, the president said in February. If theyre at 25, were at 25. If theyre at 10, were at 10. And if theyre much higher than 25, thats what we are too. But the White House didnt reveal many details. It has directed Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick to deliver a report this week about how the new tariffs would actually work. Among the outstanding questions, noted Antonio Rivera, a partner at ArentFox Schiff and a former attorney with U.S. Customs and Border Protection, is whether the U.S. is going to look at the thousands of items in the tariff code from motorcycles to mangos -- and try to level the tariff rates out one by one, country by country. Or whether it will look more broadly at each countrys average tariff and how it compares to America. Or something else entirely. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its just a very, very chaotic environment, said Stephen Lamar, president and CEO of the American Apparel & Footwear Association. Its hard to plan in any sort of long-term, sustainable way. How did tariffs get so lopsided? Americas tariffs are generally lower than those of its trading partners. After World War II, the United States pushed for other countries to lower trade barriers and tariffs, seeing free trade as a way to promote peace, prosperity and American exports around the world. And it mostly practiced what it preached, generally keeping its own tariffs low and giving American consumers access to inexpensive foreign goods. Trump has broken with the old free trade consensus, saying unfair foreign competition has hurt American manufacturers and devastated factory towns in the American heartland. During his first term, he slapped tariffs on foreign steel, aluminum, washing machines, solar panels and almost everything from China. Democratic President Joe Biden largely continued Trumps protectionist policies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The White House has cited several examples of especially lopsided tariffs: Brazil taxes ethanol imports, including Americas, at 18%, but the U.S. tariff on ethanol is just 2.5%. Likewise, India taxes foreign motorcycles at 100%, America just 2.4%. Does this mean the U.S. been taken advantage of? The higher foreign tariffs that Trump complains about werent sneakily adopted by foreign countries. The United States agreed to them after years of complex negotiations known as the Uruguay Round, which ended in a trade pact involving 123 countries. As part of the deal, the countries could set their own tariffs on different products but under the most favored nation approach, they couldnt charge one country more than they charged another. So the high tariffs Trump complains about arent aimed at the United States alone. They hit everybody. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trumps grievances against U.S. trading partners also come at an odd time. The United States, running on strong consumer spending and healthy improvements in productivity, is outperforming the worlds other advanced economies. The U.S. economy grew nearly 9% from just before COVID-19 hit through the middle of last year compared with just 5.5% for Canada and just 1.9% for the European Union. Germany's economy shrank 2% during that time. Trumps plan goes beyond foreign countries tariffs Not satisfied with scrambling the tariff code, Trump is also going after other foreign practices he sees as unfair barriers to American exports. These include subsidies that give homegrown producers an advantage over U.S. exports; ostensible health rules that are used to keep out foreign products; and loose regulations that encourage the theft of trade secrets and other intellectual property. Figuring out an import tax that offsets the damage from those practices will add another level of complexity to Trumps reciprocal tariff scheme. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Trump team is also picking a fight with the European Union and other trading partners over so-called value-added taxes. Known as VATs, these levies are essentially a sales tax on products that are consumed within a countrys borders. Trump and his advisers consider VATs a tariff because they apply to U.S. exports. Yet most economists disagree, for a simple reason: VATs are applied to domestic and imported products alike, so they don't specifically target foreign goods and haven't traditionally been seen as a trade barrier. And theres a bigger problem: VATs are huge revenue raisers for European governments. There is no way most countries can negotiate over their VAT ... as it is a critical part of their revenue base, Brad Setser, senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, posted on X. Paul Ashworth, chief North America economist for Capital Economics, says that the top 15 countries that export to the U.S. have average VATs topping 14%, as well as duties of 6%. That would mean U.S. retaliatory tariffs could reach 20% much higher than Trump's campaign proposal of universal 10% duties. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tariffs and the trade deficit Trump and some of his advisers argue that steeper tariffs would help reverse the United States' long-standing trade deficits. But tariffs haven't proven successful at narrowing the trade gap: Despite the Trump-Biden import taxes, the deficit rose last year to $918 billion, second-highest on record. The deficit, economists say, is a result of the unique features of the U.S. economy. Because the federal government runs a huge deficit, and American consumers like to spend so much, U.S. consumption and investment far outpaces savings. As a result, a chunk of that demand goes to overseas goods and services. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The U.S. covers the cost of the trade gap by essentially borrowing from overseas, in part by selling treasury securities and other assets. The trade deficit is really a macroeconomic imbalance," said Kimberly Clausing, a UCLA economist and former Treasury official. It comes from this lack of desire to save and this lack of desire to tax. Until you fix those things, well run a trade imbalance. _____ AP Retail Writer Anne D'Innocenzio in New York contributed to this story. President Donald Trump threatened Iran with bombing like "they have never seen before" over the weekend. His threat came amid the unusual deployment of B-2 stealth bombers to the Indian Ocean. The bombers arrived amid a larger build-up of US military assets in the Middle East area. President Donald Trump is threatening Iran with bombing to get to a new nuclear deal. The threat comes as the US appears to be massing B-2 stealth bombers at a strategic base in the Indian Ocean that has been used to stage strikes in the Middle East. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "If they don't make a deal, there will be bombing," Trump told NBC News' Kristen Welker over the weekend, adding that "it will be bombing the likes of which they have never seen before." Earlier this month, Trump gave Tehran a two-month deadline to agree to a new nuclear deal or face military action. On Sunday, Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian rejected direct talks with the US, though he left the door open to indirect negotiations. Trump withdrew from a landmark 2015 nuclear deal with Iran during his first term in office. The president's threat comes as the US has been deploying B-2 Spirit bombers to Diego Garcia, a tiny British island in the Indian Ocean that has served as a joint UK-US military base for decades, in an unusual move. Open-source intelligence analysts began tracking the arrival of multiple aircraft over the past few days. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A spokesperson for Air Force Global Strike Command confirmed that there are B-2s at Diego Garcia, though they would not say how many. Recent satellite imagery indicated that as of last Tuesday, there were at least three of them there, but possibly more. A B-2 Spirit bomber. US Air Force/Cover Images via Reuters Connect "Their mission is to deter, detect, and, if necessary, defeat strategic attacks against the United States and its allies," the spokesperson told Business Insider on Monday without elaborating further. The bombers could be there in relation to developments in the Middle East or Bomber Task Force missions. Either way, it's a lot of firepower readily available. The B-2 Spirit is a long-range strategic bomber manufactured by Northrop Grumman. The Air Force has just 19 of these stealth aircraft in active service. Built for penetrating strikes against hard-to-reach targets, the bombers are based at Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The roughly $2 billion B-2 is capable of delivering both nuclear and conventional strikes and is able to carry up to 40,000 pounds of ordnance, including the GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator. The MOP is a 30,000-pound bunker buster. It's been speculated that an attack on Iran's nuclear facilities, which are largely underground in hardened bunkers, would require capabilities only that the B-2 can deliver. The specific purpose of the B-2s on Diego Garcia is unclear, but they have the potential to serve as a show of force for Iran and its proxies. Last fall, the US sent a clear message to Tehran by sending B-2 bombers to strike hardened Houthi facilities. Iranian support for the Houthis has fueled the Red Sea crisis, which has heated up again lately. A B-2 Spirit in the sky. US Air National Guard photo by Senior Master Sgt. Vincent De Groot The Trump administration has pounded the Iran-backed rebels with airstrikes over the past two weeks in an effort to stop their attacks against military and civilian vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, the Houthis demonstrated as recently as Sunday that they can still fire long-range missiles at Israel, which they continue to do in protest of the Gaza war. The deployment of the B-2s noticeably comes amid a larger US military build-up in the Middle East. There have been rising tensions and threats between Trump's White House and Iran and the Tehran-backed Houthis. On Saturday, the Idaho Air National Guard's 124th Fighter Wing announced the deployment of more than 300 Airmen and several A-10 Thunderbolt II attack aircraft to the Middle East area of operations. The unit has previously deployed in support of the US-led war against the Islamic State. The Navy is also sending a second aircraft carrier to the region. USS Carl Vinson will join the USS Harry S. Truman and its strike group, which has been striking the Houthis for weeks. When it arrives, the Vinson would be the fifth US carrier to partake in combat operations against the rebels. Read the original article on Business Insider SDI Productions/Getty Images Starting Tuesday it will no longer be a crime to enter into a surrogacy contract in Michigan. The Michigan Family Protection Act will go into effect April 1, officially repealing a ban that made Michigan the only state in the nation to criminalize surrogacy contracts, with supporters of the legislation saying it also provides long overdue legal safeguards for families formed through assisted reproduction. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Among them is Ginanne Brownell, the communications and research director for the Michigan Fertility Alliance, which advocated for the nine-bill package that also strengthens the rights of children born through surrogacy in arenas such as inheritance and access to their own birth certificates. I think its really important that we change the narrative around surrogacy, Brownell told the Michigan Advance. I think the problem is that for such a long time weve talked about these misconceptions of who surrogates are in the U.S. Brownell, who has unexplained infertility, said when she decided to utilize surrogacy, she was surprised to find that there were no agencies willing to work with her in Michigan because of the 1988 Surrogate Parenting Act, which prohibited compensated surrogate parentage contracts. After finding a surrogate in Illinois who delivered her twins in 2018, Brownell started researching the history Michigan has played in surrogacy. Ginanne Brownell | Photo by Johanna Urshel Michigan was pivotal to surrogacy across the globe for many, many reasons. The first compensated surrogacy contract in the world was signed in Dearborn in 1976. Noel Keane was the lawyer in that, Brownell said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 1986, she said Keane helped arrange a contract for a New Jersey couple whose embryos were implanted in a surrogate, resulting in the worlds first child born through a gestational surrogate in Ypsilanti. However, that same year a child born through a surrogacy contract arranged by Keane made international headlines when the surrogate mother refused to honor the contract and fled to Florida with the child, sparking a legal battle that spotlighted the ethical implications of surrogacy. The so-called Baby M case resulted in the 1988 ban on compensated surrogacy in Michigan. And thats where the law stayed for almost 40 years, Brownell said, adding that she was introduced to Stephanie Jones, the founder of the Michigan Fertility Alliance while she was working on her book, Elusive Mommyhood: An Investigative Reporters Personal Journey into IVF and Surrogacy. She had her daughter born through surrogacy as well. We both realized we were really passionate about this, and so we both kind of decided, Hey, lets try and change the law, Brownell said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After her twins were born in 2018, Brownell, who works in London while maintaining her residency in Michigan, told the Advance she had an opportunity to interview Gretchen Whitmer as she campaigned for governor. Because my kids had just been born, I was back in Michigan for several months waiting for their passports to be issued, Brownell said. And so I was explaining this to her and she said, Why is that? Thats so weird,and so we both spoke about it briefly and she said, Well, thats something that should be changed and I was like, Yeah, it should be. Brownell said she reflected on that conversation when Whitmer signed the legislation into law, which she was present for. It felt like it came full circle that wed had this conversation about changing the law and here we were in the same room where she signed it into law and I had been a part of that, Brownell said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The process to get the law changed included testimony from parents across Michigan who related their stories of infertility and frustration at the barriers Michigan had enacted to starting their families. Among those testifying was state Rep. Samantha Steckloff (D-Farmington Hills), sponsor of the main bill in the package, who said that as a breast cancer survivor, she was unable to conceive naturally due to the chemotherapy treatments she underwent. But I was lucky I was able to put off chemo by one month in order to go through IVF [in vitro fertilization] and egg harvesting so that one day I might be able to have a family of my own, Steckloff said during testimony last year. Steckloffs bill, HB 5207, established the Assisted Reproduction and Surrogacy Parentage Act, which sets standards for creating a surrogacy contract including that a surrogate be 21 or older, have previously given birth to a child, completed a medical and mental health consultation and have independent legal representation of their choice, all paid for by the intended parents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Although Whitmer signed the Michigan Family Protection Act into law in April 2024, Republicans in the Legislature actively opposed the measure and refused to give it immediate effect, making it unable to officially begin until 90 days after December 31, when the 102nd Legislature adjourned its session, which will be April 1. Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks (D-Grand Rapids), Stephanie Jones of the Michigan Fertility Alliance, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Tammy Myers, and Rep. Samatha Steckloff (D-Farmington Hills) at the bill signing for the Michigan Family Protection Act. April 1, 2024. | Ken Coleman That opposition, supported by the Michigan Catholic Conference and Right to Life of Michigan, was based on concerns that legalized surrogacy contracts can exploit vulnerable women. Among them was state Sen. Thomas Albert (R-Lowell), who urged his colleagues to vote no on the legislation that he contended puts vulnerable women at risk of exploitation and fundamentally redefines family. Meanwhile, Brownell says the Michigan Fertility Alliance is now launching a new grassroots coalition called State Strong, which will be advocating for surrogacy and fertility access nationwide. In a lot of these states they might just have one or two advocates that, for example, theyre seeing that theres like really bad IVF legislation in say Nebraska. So they would kind of reach out to us and say, what should we do with the messaging on this? Do you have any legislation thats happened that you can share with us? Because a lot of these people are just kind of like us, volunteers, people who have never really worked on legislation advocacy before. And so State Strong is continuing that fight on a national level now as well, Brownell said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While those issues will also get more attention later this month during National Infertility Awareness Week from April 20-26, Brownell says when it comes to the children who are created through surrogacy, the details of how they came to be are not nearly as important as their very existence. We need to start asking them how they feel about it. And I think that you have hundreds of thousands of children who are born through surrogacy, the majority of whom are still under the age of 18, but as they start coming of age, they can tell their stories, Brownell said, pointing to a University of Cambridge 20-year longitudinal study of third-party assisted reproduction which found positive family relationships and child adjustment from childhood to adult life. It found that children born through surrogacy, how did they feel about it? They didnt care. It was just like Whatever. Why do I care how I was born? SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Tulane University student Cameron McLaren speaks about being detained at a press conference in front of Tulane's campus on Wednesday, March 19, 2025. (Arielle Robinson / Verite News) NEW ORLEANS Seven Tulane University students who participated in a protest demanding the release of pro-Palestine activist Mahmoud Khalil from immigration detention could face consequences from school administrators. The students are alleged to have committed conduct violations and face a series of administrative hearings, students and their supporters said at a news conference last week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They believe Tulane administrators are targeting them after a March 11 protest that was held off-campus near Tulane and Loyola University, where activists called on the schools to not cooperate with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and to make the schools sanctuaries for immigrant students, faculty and staff. The calls came after Khalil, a pro-Palestine protester and former Columbia University student, was arrested at his university apartment and sent to Jena, Louisiana, to await deportation. [Tulane] will suppress anyone who dares to exercise their First Amendment right to condemn them, Tulane student Cameron McLaren said at the press conference. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX This latest crop of disciplinary measures from Tulane is part of a nationwide wave of discipline that student activists have been met with for their pro-Palestine activism. Student organizers from Tulane and Loyola still face discipline, including semester-long suspensions, from the encampment or other pro-Palestine-related activism. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to emails sent to two of those students and reviewed by Verite News, Tulane investigators contend that the students are associated with a group called Tulane Students for a Democratic Society. The group was suspended as a student organization by the university last year over a different unauthorized pro-Palestine protest and is currently forbidden from operating on campus. The group, which now calls itself Together United Students for a Democratic Society, said in response in an Instagram post that the university is repressing students who are exercising their right to freedom of speech. The group now operates off-campus under a different name, though it continues to use a logo in university colors that is identical to the one it used when it was recognized by the university. University spokesperson Michael Strecker declined to comment on the individual student conduct charges, noting that the code of conduct applies to student actions on and off campus. We fundamentally respect the right to protest, Strecker said. However, students may be held accountable for behavior if it violates university conduct policies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The students deny the universitys accusations, pointing out that the group has changed its name, met off-campus and didnt hold the March 11 protest on school property. Atticus Pratt, one of the students involved, is facing a probe called a major matter investigation that could lead to suspension or expulsion. Pratt said they had faced conduct charges before for their activism. They want to suspend students so we cant go on campus and we cant organize, Pratt told Verite News. They want to scare us out of continuing to organize. They want to make other people known that there will be consequences for joining an organization like SDS, or for attending an off-campus protest. Adelaide Ritzman, another student facing conduct charges, said they believe the university is violating the First Amendment rights of students who participate in such protests. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tulane is trying to figure out who they can scapegoat and who they can kind of make an example of, Ritzman said. New Orleans-area First Amendment attorney William Most, whose law firm has been involved in some of the legal matters surrounding protests at Tulane, agrees. Tulane may have violated federal law in its drastically harsher treatment of pro-Palestine students as compared to other students for comparable conduct, Most said in statement to Verite News. And [Tulanes police department] in particular may have violated the First Amendment in its crackdown on students based on the content of their speech. As the Trump administration targets immigrant students and diversity, equity and inclusion efforts in higher education, some Tulane students say the school is cracking down on student speech beyond just protests. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement McLaren, another one of the seven students facing discipline, said she was arrested and briefly detained earlier this month after briefly leaving her backpack unattended in the Lavin-Bernick Center for University Life, which resulted in the evacuation of the building. McLaren spoke up at the press conference publicizing the disciplinary allegations. She said she was walking around campus with a sign on her backpack that criticized the universitys decision to get rid of its diversity, equity and inclusion office and encouraged people not to attend Tulane because of it. The note read: Tulane just got rid of DEIif you have the means, go elsewhere, according to the Tulane Hullabaloo. Strecker said McLaren was neither arrested nor charged. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to Strecker, Tulane police were made aware of an abandoned backpack that had a note attached to it left on the Lavin-Bernick Centers second floor. The university said the building was quickly evacuated due to safety concerns. University police immediately responded, investigated the event and eventually found that the backpack posed no threat and normal operations resumed after the location was deemed safe, the spokesperson said. Tulane crime logs show that a suspicious package was reported in the building and that the case was closed with no further action being taken. The same website says that this term means that no further investigative action is needed. McLaren declined further interview requests, but said in an email to Verite News that her arrest and conduct charges are clearly politically motivated. I did not break any laws nor did I violate any conduct rules. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE This article first appeared on Verite News New Orleans and is republished here under a Creative Commons license. By Daren Butler DIYARBAKIR, Turkey (Reuters) - Turkey's crackdown on President Tayyip Erdogan's main rival and silence on what reforms might follow the end of a 40-year conflict with Kurdish militants are stoking distrust among Kurds anxious to see what a fragile peace process may bring. At stake is a potential boost to NATO member Turkey's political and economic stability that may encourage moves to ease tensions elsewhere in the Middle East. Failure could fuel economic and social woes in the country's less developed southeast and add to a death toll already exceeding 40,000. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jailed leader Abdullah Ocalan's call last month for his militant Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) to disband following an approach by an Erdogan ally was a gift to the government, after unsuccessful past attempts to end the conflict. The pro-Kurdish DEM Party, parliament's third largest, is now demanding that democratisation steps follow. The PKK heeded the call, declaring an immediate ceasefire. The group added it wanted Ocalan himself to manage the disarmament and political and democratic conditions must be established for peace to succeed. Interviews with two dozen Kurds and politicians show doubts outweighing peace hopes in Turkey's mainly Kurdish southeast amid a crackdown on opposition parties and the surprise arrest and detention of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu. His jailing pending trial on corruption charges has sparked Turkey's biggest protests in more than a decade. "We are entering a minefield. It could go off the rails and end in failure. That's possible," said DEM lawmaker Cengiz Candar, closely involved in the Kurdish issue since the early 1990s, when the first in a series of peace efforts failed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement DEM has held three meetings with Ocalan at his Imrali island prison, south of Istanbul, where he has been held since his capture in 1999. But they say Ankara is keeping them in the dark about any reform roadmap. Turkey's presidency did not respond to a request for a comment on the issues raised here and officials from Erdogan's AK Party say it is for the president to speak on the peace process. But he has not shed much light. "The democratic space for politics will naturally expand further after disarmament," Erdogan said after Ocalan's peace call. STEP TOWARDS PEACE? One sign of common thinking did emerge as Kurds celebrated the March 21 Newroz spring festival. Erdogan suggested making it a national holiday, echoing a bill sent to parliament a day earlier by DEM MP Gulcan Kacmaz Sayyigit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She told Reuters it was a coincidence that both made the call but that it could help cement peace. Turkey banned Newroz gatherings in the 1990s, resulting in Kurds clashing with security forces. Clashes peaked during the so-called "Bloody Newroz" in 1992 when dozens were killed, mostly in Sirnak province. Distrust of the state remains widespread there. At Sirnak's Newroz celebrations last week, Kurds danced and sang folk songs. A DEM lawmaker there, Mehmet Zeki Irmez, said his party was gathering local opinions on Kurdish political and language rights. "The state should take steps, but unfortunately we cannot feel this locally," Irmez said, amid tight police security and with Turkish military bases perched on hills around the town. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the last decade, Turkey has ousted dozens of elected pro-Kurdish party mayors, jailed their leaders and detained thousands over alleged PKK ties, which they deny. Meanwhile from their base in northern Iraq's Qandil mountain region, the PKK, who are designated a terrorist group by Turkey and its Western allies, also voiced distrust of Ankara. "Since Ocalan announced his initiative for peace, Turkey has not stopped its attacks or reduced its military operations," a PKK representative said. "Turkish warplanes continue to fly over our heads". "Turkey must make concessions if it is serious about moving forward in the peace process, and so far we have not seen that." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When asked about the issue of military operations, a Turkish defence ministry official said, "as long as there is an armed terrorist, our operations will continue." He said 14 militants had been killed in Iraq and Syria in the last week. "BLOOD AND TEARS" As imam of Nebi Mosque in Diyarbakir, southeast Turkey's largest city, Omer Iler experienced the conflict at first hand in 2016 when security forces fought militants nearby in its historic centre, half of which was devastated as a result. "Blood and tears came in floods," Iler said of the violence. He praised Erdogan for correcting injustices against Kurds, who make up some 20% of Turkey's 86 million population. He cited repression of Kurdish language and even denial of their existence as an ethnic group before Erdogan came to power. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Iler, appointed by Erdogan to head the AKP in Diyarbakir in January, said he had no knowledge of reforms that might follow the PKK's disbandment. Outside the mosque where Iler preached for 14 years, bustling with market traders and shoe-shiners, few had confidence in the peace process. "The state has deceived us many times. Many times the PKK has declared ceasefires, but for nothing," said 63-year-old retiree Bahadir, who gave only his first name due to the sensitivity of the issue. "Ocalan must be released to speak to the PKK." The PKK itself has demanded to speak to its founder, but it remains unclear if Ankara will grant access. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The last bid to end the PKK insurgency collapsed in 2015, coinciding with the Kurdish YPG militia viewed by Turkey as a PKK extension - consolidating its influence in Syria. That experience engendered greater government caution, given the continued power of the YPG, which is influenced by Ocalan but denies that his disarmament call applies to them. EYES ON NEW CONSTITUTION Erdogan is seeking consensus on a new constitution that would enable him to stand in 2028 elections and Kurdish support would make that easier. But he must tread carefully as steps seen as concessions in the PKK process may alienate many Turks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Former Prime Minister Binali Yildirim, no longer active in government, suggested last month the definition of citizenship as being "a Turk" could be modified, so other ethnic groups do not feel neglected. AKP party spokesperson Omer Celik dismissed the idea of such a constitutional amendment, but Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc said on Thursday that Turkey needed a new constitution that embraces "all segments of society". Nevertheless, Candar saw some glimmers of hope, noting Erdogan had chatted with a DEM lawmaker in the Ocalan delegation during a parliamentary dinner this month and had said he was open to meeting the delegation in early April. Erdogan's nationalist ally Devlet Bahceli, who launched the peace bid in October, seeks a rapid resolution of the process, proposing that the PKK hold a congress to disband in eastern Turkey in early May. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Candar noted that Bahceli referred to Ocalan recently as the PKK's "founding leader", in contrast to his past denunciations of him as "terrorist chief" and "baby killer". "From this we understand that this is going somewhere despite all these negative images, the arrests, bans and appointments of trustees (in place of mayors)." (Reporting by Daren Butler and Baghdad newsroom; Editing by Alexandra Hudson) The party of the ousted Istanbul mayor Ekrem Imamoglu has demanded the release of hundreds of imprisoned protesters. "Chanting slogans, marching, or protesting is not a crime, but a right enshrined in the constitution," Republican People's Party (CHP) party spokesman Deniz Yucel said after a visit to a prison near Izmir. He said the arrest and detention of the largely student protesters was unlawful. Yucel also criticised what he described as "disproportionate use of force" by security forces during the protests. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The arrest and subsequent imprisonment of the now-ousted Istanbul mayor Imamoglu have triggered the largest anti-government protests in Turkey in years. Following his arrest, Imamoglu, who was selected as the presidential candidate of the CHP, the largest opposition party in Turkey, is considered the main domestic political rival of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. According to the Interior Ministry, nearly 2,000 people were detained during the protests, with 263 arrested. The opposition claims that 301 people are in pre-trial detention. An initial indictment is seeking up to three years in prison for some of them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The CHP has accused the police of "torturing" those detained and has reported instances of sexual abuse. The Turkish government has not yet addressed any misconduct. The government-appointed provincial governor of Istanbul, Davut Gul, thanked the police on Sunday, stating that they had "properly" fulfilled their duties in connection with the protests. During the current post-Ramadan holidays in Turkey, the street protests have temporarily subsided. The CHP has called for a rally in Istanbul on Wednesday evening. On the same day, people plan to express their protest through a consumer boycott. Simultaneously, the party is running a petition campaign demanding the release of Imamoglu and early elections. However, despite all the aforementioned issues and declining margins, the countrys oil and gas companies remain committed to shareholders and have increased their returns to record levels. A report by Janus Henderson has revealed that operators in the energy sector distributed over $49 billion in dividends during the third quarter of 2024, up from $32.2 billion three years ago. However, to maintain such high levels of payout, the industry will need to shift focus to its second major source of revenue natural gas. Oil and gas executives are also irked by the tariff policies adopted by the Trump administration, as the constant uncertainty is now threatening their drilling plans. A recently published survey by the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas has revealed that oil executives are discontent with President Trumps administration, and nearly a third even said that their business outlook had worsened since the end of 2024. Moreover, the imposition of the 25% tariff on steel and aluminum has already led to an estimated 4% increase in costs for drilling a well. Another major problem for the US oil and gas industry is that the countrys largest oil field is flagging and may be nearing peak output. The Permian Basin led the US shale revolution and was responsible for almost half of the countrys overall production in December. However, relentless drilling over the last two decades has exhausted the oilfields core, and shale executives now expect oil production growth from the Permian to slow by around 25% to 250,000 to 300,000 bpd this year. The United States of America is now producing more oil than any country in history. The countrys oil and gas operators produced more than 13.49 million barrels per day (bpd) of crude in December 2024, an all-time high rate of production. Oil production in America has increased by almost 50% over the last decade, and the US Energy Information Administration (EIA) now expects American crude oil production to average 13.59 million bpd in 2025, up from its previous estimate of 13.55 million bpd. But at the same time, the countrys production is at risk of decline due to falling Brent prices, which are expected to average around $74 this year and then fall further to about $66 in 2026. We recently published a list of the 12 Best Oil and Gas Dividend Stocks According to Billionaires . In this article, we are going to take a look at where Chevron Corporation (NYSE:CVX) stands against other best oil and gas dividend stocks to invest in according to billionaires. Story Continues Unlike crude oil, the benchmark US natural gas price at Henry Hub has surged by over 114% over the last year, thanks to slowing output in 2024, booming LNG exports, and fast-depleting inventories during the coldest winter in six years. The EIA expects the US gas demand to reach record highs this year and next, and it has forecasted the countrys gas output to surge to 105.2 billion cubic feet per day (bcfd) in 2025, up from 103.2 bcfd last year and a record 103.6 bcfd in 2023. It is worth mentioning that despite the industrys recent decline in earnings, Warren Buffetts Berkshire Hathaway has invested hundreds of millions of dollars in an oil and gas giant over the last few months. The Oracle of Omaha has a knack for dividends as around 80% of his portfolio is concentrated in dividend stocks, so the recent investment could be a reflection of his confidence in the sectors payout potential. 12 Best Oil and Gas Dividend Stocks According to Billionaires An aerial view of an oil rig at sea, the sun glinting off its structure. Our Methodology: To collect data for this article, we observed various companies working in the oil and gas sector and then picked out companies with the highest dividend yields as of March 28, 2025, and ranked them by their number of billionaire investors according to the Insider Monkey database as of Q4 2024. Following are the Best Oil and Gas Dividend Stocks According to Billionaires. At Insider Monkey, we are obsessed with 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). Chevron Corporation (NYSE:CVX) Number of Billionaire Holders: 14 Dividend Yield as of March 28: 4.1% Chevron Corporation (NYSE:CVX) is the second-largest integrated energy company headquartered in the United States. Through its subsidiaries and affiliates, the company produces crude oil, natural gas, and many other essential products. Chevron Corporation (NYSE:CVX)s revenue surged by 10.7% YoY to $52.23 billion in Q4 2024, as the industry giant increased its worldwide and US production by 7% and 19%, respectively, to record levels last year. However, the companys adjusted EPS of $2.06 narrowly missed expectations by $0.05 as weak margins dragged its refining business into a loss for the first time in the last four years. Chevron Corporation (NYSE:CVX) maintains a robust balance sheet and generated $31.5 billion in operating cash flow and $15 billion in free cash flow in FY 2024, ending the year with a net debt ratio of 10%. The oil and gas company returned a record $27 billion in cash to its shareholders in 2024 and increased its quarterly dividend by 4.9% to $1.71 per share, maintaining a 38-year streak of consistent dividend growth, which makes it one of the best dividend stocks in the oil and gas sector. It was revealed earlier this month that Chevron Corporation (NYSE:CVX) has acquired a 4.99% stake in Hess Corp since the start of the year, reflecting its confidence in completing the planned acquisition of Hess, which it agreed to back in October 2023. CVX was also included in our list of the 25 Best Dividend Stocks to Buy According to Billionaires. Overall, CVX ranks 4th on our list of the best cannabis stocks to buy according to billionaires. While we acknowledge the potential for CVX to grow, 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 CVX 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. The Tennessee Valley Authority Board of Directors selected Chief Operating Officer Don Moul as its next CEO, Knox News has learned. Moul joined TVA in 2021 after nearly four decades in the utility industry, including two stints as a chief nuclear officer and senior nuclear reactor operator. He will become TVA's fourth CEO on April 9 in what he described as a "seamless" transition in an interview with Knox News. The announcement came after Sens. Marsha Blackburn and Bill Hagerty of Tennessee asserted the board was conducting an "inside job" to find the next CEO. The senators called for an interim CEO to ensure TVA's proposed small modular reactors would come online fast enough for President Donald Trump to be christened "America's Nuclear President." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The TVA board selects new CEOs, not the president or the U.S. Senate. Trump fired a board member on March 27, after the board offered Moul the job, though Moul said he believes the termination and his hiring are "not directly tied whatsoever." Trump has not said publicly why his administration fired board member Michelle Moore of Virginia, and the White House has not responded to a request for comment. Jeff Lyash, who came to TVA as its chief executive in 2019, announced in January he would retire this year once the board selected a successor. TVA needs a steady hand right now, Moul told Knox News. We're in a period of growth like we've not seen before, making one of the largest capital investments in our history, and we also have to make sure we have reliable, resilient power for the next generation of American jobs." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Moul is the second TVA chief operating officer to lead the Knoxville-based utility after the board named Tom Kilgore its first CEO in 2006, the year after Congress reformed TVA and created the position. The board went outside the agency to hire TVA's second and third CEOs, Bill Johnson and Lyash. The TVA board conducted an internal and external search for a new CEO, Moul said. He underwent a series of interviews with board members and experts, in addition to psychological and leadership evaluations, before the board offered him the job March 25. Dons vision, depth of industry knowledge and favorability among TVA employees position him well to unleash TVAs potential from Day One, with little to no learning curve, said Joe Ritch, chair of the TVA board, in a release. As chief operating officer, Moul has overseen TVAs power plants and transmission grid, which supplies electricity to 10 million people across seven Southeast states. He was appointed to Gov. Bill Lee's Nuclear Energy Advisory Council in 2023. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Congress created TVA in 1933 to bring electricity and jobs to the rural Tennessee Valley. It's now the nation's largest public power provider, though it is self-funded through electricity sales and does not receive taxpayer funding for its operations. Next TVA CEO experienced in nuclear energy The CEO position is emblematic of TVA's status as a quasi-public corporation. It is the highest paid federal job at $10.5 million in total compensation last year, but the salary is paid by ratepayers rather than taxpayers, and is lower than CEO compensation at similarly sized private utilities. It is an incredibly big job, and it took discussions with my family and making sure that I was truly prepared and ready to take on this incredible responsibility, Moul said. I am humbled and honored to be given this opportunity. Moul, 60, was born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He lives in Knoxville with his wife and has two sons, one of whom works at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville and one of whom lives in Chicago. He pronounces his last name like "mall." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are burying some deep roots into East Tennessee. We love living here. The place is so welcoming and were thrilled to be here, Moul said. Moul served in various management roles at Ohio-based electric utility FirstEnergy Corporation from 2004 to 2019, including as chief nuclear officer and head of fossil operations and environmental compliance, as well as president of Ohio Edison and Penn Power, two of the utility's operating companies. Before joining TVA, Moul was chief nuclear officer for NextEra Energy for two years, overseeing seven reactors at five plants in Iowa, Florida, New Hampshire and Wisconsin. He earned a bachelors degree in nuclear engineering from Penn State and an MBA from the University of Notre Dame. New TVA CEO 'surprised' by political op-ed Moul will lead TVA as it spends $16 billion on new power plants and transmission upgrades to meet rising demand from population growth and industrial expansion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The utility plans to submit a construction application this year for what could be the nation's first small modular reactors at the Clinch River Nuclear Site in Oak Ridge. Small modular reactors have potential to be built faster and more frugally than traditional large nuclear plants, and they can be located flexibly depending on power needs. In an op-ed in POWER Magazine on March 20, Sens. Blackburn and Hagerty called for faster development of the new nuclear technology to secure President Trumps legacy as Americas Nuclear President. They wrote that the TVA board "lacks the talent, experience and gravitas" to oversee development of the first small modular reactor and called for the Trump administration to help install an interim CEO. All five members of the board, down from six after last week's termination, were nominated by President Biden and confirmed to five-year terms by the U.S. Senate. The board voted last year to increase funding for the small modular reactor project from $200 million to $350 million. TVA has applied for $800 million for the project made available by the Biden administration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I was surprised, like many others, Moul said about reading the op-ed. I would welcome any opportunity to sit down with any member of the (Tennessee Valley) delegation, and certainly Senators Hagerty and Blackburn, to dive a little deeper into what their concerns are and have a deeper conversation about it. The offices of Blackburn and Hagerty have either not responded to or declined multiple requests from Knox News for comment by phone and email. TVA is pursuing an "all-of-the-above" approach to new electricity generation, supported mostly by large natural gas plants it is building and solar energy it plans to buy from other companies. It generated about half its energy in 2024 from carbon-free sources: three nuclear plants, 29 hydroelectric dams and purchased solar and wind power. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The board set a goal for the utility to cut operational costs by $500 million, an effort now run through the "Enterprise Transformation Office." The program began under Moul's watch as chief operating officer and he told Knox News he will continue cutting costs as CEO. We are really trying to drive closer to a billion dollars of sustainable savings, and what this really does is starts to unlock our full potential to meet the needs for the future, Moul said, describing the effort as similar to the budget-cutting efforts run by the U.S. Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE. Though TVA is exempt from many DOGE federal cuts, it offered its employees a voluntary buyout with five days of pay for every year worked. It is in the "final stages" of evaluating the voluntary buyouts, and it's too early to say if there will be other workforce reductions, Moul said. Daniel Dassow is a growth and development reporter focused on technology and energy. Email: daniel.dassow@knoxnews.com. Signal: @danieldassow.24. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Support strong local journalism by subscribing at knoxnews.com/subscribe. This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: TVA board names operations chief Don Moul next CEO in internal hire SHAWNEE, Okla. (KFOR) According to the Oklahoma Attorney Generals Office, two people have been indicted for burglarizing a marijuana grow in Shawnee. Officials say a Multi-County Grand Jury has indicted 21-year-old Zion Edwards and 19-year-old Emmanuel Turner, who now face multiple felony counts for breaking into the grow and stealing processed marijuana. LOCAL NEWS: Guthrie man arrested for shooting wife and sparking standoff Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the A.G.s Office, both men are accused of using a pry bar to break into storage at the CannaBrother Farm medical marijuana grow. Edwards and Turner allegedly stole more than 25 pounds of marijuana before running away. Edwards is also accused of eluding a county sheriff peace officer when he did not stop as directed near Hazel Dell Rd. and U.S. Highway 177 in Pottawatomie County. We are committed to apprehending dangerous criminals, driving bad actors out of Oklahoma and enhancing public safety, said Attorney General Gentner Drummond. Officials say both men are charged with conspiracy to commit burglary in the second degree, second degree burglary and trafficking a controlled dangerous substance. Turner is also charged with using a firearm in the commission of a felony and Edwards is also charged with endangering others with eluding a peace officer. According to the A.G.s Office, those indicted are presumed innocent unless and until convicted in a court of law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City. DANVILLE, Ill. (WCIA) Two people are under arrest in Danville after police said a routine traffic stop led to the discovery of illegally possessed guns and an illegal amount of marijuana. Deputy Chief Terry McCord said the arrests happened late Saturday evening/early Sunday morning in the area of Clarence and Collett Streets. An officer pulled a car over after they saw both an equipment and a seatbelt violation. Crime Stoppers seeking tips to identify aggravated robbery suspect in Urbana Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When a K9 arrived at the scene of the traffic stop, McCord said the dog indicated something was inside the car. A search found two guns and over 100 grams of marijuana; the legal amount to possess in Illinois is only 30 grams. There were two people inside the car, McCord said. They were 20-year-olds Amiyah Helton and Keshawn Cotton, both of Danville. Cotton, McCord added, is a convicted felon who was not supposed to have a gun. Helton and Cotton were both booked into the Vermilion County Public Safety Building on the following charges: Helton aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, no valid FOID card, possession of a controlled substance, and endangering the life/health of a child. Cotton aggravated use of a weapon, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of over 100 grams of cannabis, and armed violence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The incident remains under investigation, and McCord reminded that all people who are arrested are considered innocent until proven guilty in court. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCIA.com. Senate President Mattie Daughtry looks on as Minority Leader Trey Stewart and Majority Leader Teresa Pierce converse before tabling the supplemental budget proposal on March 4, 2025. (Photo by Emma Davis/ Maine Morning Star) The Legislature passed a two-year budget that everyone agrees doesnt work on its own. Democrats pushed through this plan without Republican support after Senate Republicans refused to support a change package for the current fiscal year to address the immediate MaineCare funding deficit unless it included structural reform to the program. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The majority party argues a stopgap two-year budget was needed to keep the lights on and provide consistency to Mainers amid federal uncertainty, but that it was only part one. The budget leaves some things unfunded, notably another expected shortfall for MaineCare, the states Medicaid program. Democrats say that was an intentional decision to wait for updated state revenue projections and any changes coming from Washington D.C. Republicans argue, because of that, the budget isnt balanced and also doesnt include any of the policy changes Democrats may be looking to adopt in a part two budget a framework they disavow as disingenuous. Some from the minority party have started collecting signatures for a Peoples Veto of the budget that passed, which, if they secure at least 67,682 signatures from Maine voters by June 18, would put the law on hold until the November election or an earlier statewide special election causing a government shutdown. Its reckless. Its chaotic. Its what were seeing in Washington, D.C., brought here to Maine, Speaker of the House Ryan Fecteau (D-Bidderford) said of the Peoples Veto. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Political jabs aside, how are legislators honestly thinking about re-evaluating spending in light of the projected $450 million deficit over the next two years? That budget bill was not the last word, Senate President Mattie Daughtry (D-Brunswick) said. We need to start having the conversations about what the 132nd Maine Legislature wants, Daughtry said. Minority Leader Trey Stewart (R-Aroostook) said his primary concern for the remainder of session is MaineCare. Its not fixed, Stewart said. We are highly likely to be right back in here within a year dealing with yet another Medicaid bailout, to say nothing of what happens on the federal front. First, how much money is left? Republicans argue there is no money left for more work this session. Democrats argue thats not true. Theres validity to both claims, depending on how you view the situation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The state is expected to bring in $11,224,416,665 in revenue over the next biennium, fiscal years 2026 and 2027, based on the latest forecast from December. While the general fund appropriations in the budget that passed last week total $11,320,717,493 for that timeframe, the total net impact is actually a bit less, $11,229,531,053. Factoring in these new appropriations, remaining balances carried over and transfers, Christopher Nolan, director of the nonpartisan Office of Fiscal and Program Review, said fiscal year 2027 is expected to end with $127,737,632. This is whats left for lawmakers to still appropriate in a part two budget or through individual bill spending. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, funding the expected Medicaid gap in 2027 would absorb most of it. The tax increases and program cuts Gov. Janet Mills proposed will be considered in the next budget, which could free up more dollars for new initiatives. Uncertainty on the federal level adds another layer of complications to the funding landscape. On the state-level, the latest fiscal briefing from the Office of Fiscal and Program Review released last week shows general fund revenue is currently $28 million below budget. Much could change before the updated revenue forecast in May. Theres also another strategy lawmakers have expressed interest in exploring that could alter how much money they have to work with: resetting baseline spending, which the recently passed budget continued as is. Regardless, there is apprehension about fiscal possibilities, as underscored by Rep. Amanda Collamore (R-Pittsfield) on the House floor last week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What is the point of working any bill with a fiscal note that isnt negative? Collamore asked. Im not sure its responsible to vote for any bill, including my own. The process will, and should still play out, Stewart said. We dont know what we dont know until we get there, he said. In any session, regardless of the economic landscape, the budget process is murky with many bills dying by way of the appropriations table, which all legislation with a fiscal note ends up on even after passing the House and Senate. Last session, less than 10% of bills on the table became law. The final arbiters are the legislators who sit on the Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee, and the behind-the-scenes negotiating that determines their votes, along with the governors veto pen. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Daughtry and Fecteau both said they believe what comes next shouldnt actually be up to them. I recognize as a leader I have a larger bully pulpit than the average members but I have trust in my colleagues not only on the policy committees but also on the Appropriations Committee, Daughtry said. I really am trying to keep my palate dry and wait and see what my colleagues are able to come up with, what our members of the public say as well. While acknowledging that the Legislature has a balancing act ahead of it, Fecteau agreed. Im not going to sit here and say I can identify all of the ways in which we can save money from the baseline or we can save money from not moving forward new initiatives that were proposed or how we can generate revenue in the most effective way, Fecteau said. But what I can say is it will all be on the table and up for consideration amongst my colleagues on the Appropriations Committee. Thats their charge. The offices of the Joint Standing Committee on Appropriations and Financial Affairs in the State House in Augusta. Photo by Jim Neuger/ Maine Morning Star) Whats possible with whats left? Stewart often repeats his stance that the state has a spending problem, not a revenue problem. Before the start of the session, he told Maine Morning Star he wanted the Legislature to audit the state budget to assess whether current funding levels are adequate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So what do lawmakers want to reassess? Its all the above, Stewart said. Youve got to start peeling back the layers of the onion. Vacancies Theres the assumption, and historic reality, that the governor will get most of what she asks for, which includes a plan for approximately 250 more government positions. Stewart wants to see the state address vacancies first. As of Feb. 13, there were 1,975 vacancies out of 13,557 permanent positions, amounting to a 14.6% vacancy rate, according to the Maine Department of Administrative and Financial Affairs. For comparison, the vacancy rate in February 2024 was 16.6% and in March 2023 was 16.2%. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement DAFS Director of Communications Sharon Huntley said there are many reasons positions are vacant, and sometimes its intentional, such as with seasonal positions, which make up 10% of the current vacancies. Its also important to note that eliminating a position will not necessarily save money, Huntley said. Of the 1,975 permanent vacancies, nearly half dont include any general fund funding. For example, positions that are in place to use on as-needed basis funded with non-general fund dollars. While vacant they dont cost the state or the fund anything, and, similarly, eliminating them wont save anything. Additionally, each biennial budget includes savings from attrition the assumption that there will be gradual staff reductions due to employees leaving and not being replaced. The two-year budget that passed included a 5% attrition rate level, up from 1.6%, which means the state has to have some level of vacancy in positions that are funded with general funds to achieve this budgeted savings. Aside from a focus on vacancies, Stewart questioned, whats the vision? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pointing to Maine students low test scores, inadequate mental health supports a key point of contention in budget debates last year and closing hospitals, which had already been struggling financially with high operating costs and low reimbursement rates before the supplemental budget scuffle, Stewart said reforming systems is whats needed. In Stewarts view, thats namely MaineCare. Health care Legislative Republicans already presented proposals for reforming the program during supplemental budget negotiations, which Stewart said theyll continue to push. These include requesting waivers from the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to mandate reductions in enrollment, as well as institute work requirements for able-bodied, childless adults. The mandated reduction could start with a full review of everyone on the program to eliminate people who no longer qualify, Stewart said. What exactly work requirements would look like, he doesnt know. The Trump administration may make such changes on the federal level, though he doesnt see that as a reason to avoid doing it on the state-level first. Daughtry said shes willing to discuss MaineCare reform. If were having provider fraud or someone taking advantage of the system, Im willing to hear those ideas, Daughtry said, but when youre penalizing people whose very lives depend on the health care, thats not promoting the economy. Thats going after people in need. Approximately 30% of Mainers and roughly half of all Maine children are covered by MaineCare. I really do feel healthcare is a human right, Daughtry said. She also said its the will of the people, who have twice approved expansions to MaineCare at the ballot box. If were having provider fraud or someone taking advantage of the system, Im willing to hear those ideas, but when youre penalizing people whose very lives depend on the health care, thats not promoting the economy. Thats going after people in need. Senate President Mattie Daughtry Fecteau said hed entertain the reforms left on the table by Senate Republicans rejecting the supplemental deal, specifically restrictions to ensure that people who win the lottery or who are incarcerated dont remain eligible for MaineCare. While Fecteau said the two-year budget could have fully funded MaineCare through 2027, the decision not to was an effort to say lets have an open and earnest conversation around potential reforms. Senate Minority Leader Matthew Harrington (R-York) explained in a press conference last week that the minority partys ultimate goal is to shift people currently on MaineCare to federal exchanges. Maine is one of 19 states, and Washington D.C., that fully run their own health insurance marketplace, called CoverME.gov. Last month, nearly 65,000 Mainers signed up for affordable health coverage through CoverME.gov for 2025, according to Health and Human Services Commissioner Sara Gagne-Holmes. However, Maines Office of Health Insurance Marketplace is the smallest in the nation and the office is requesting more positions in this next budget to keep up with growing enrollment. For people who are working, Harrington argued, These folks can afford to pay something for health insurance. We should be encouraging them to do so. Daughtry said such a claim misunderstands how the marketplace works, as people are not able to enroll if their income threshold is below the bar that qualifies them for MaineCare. Its ensuring that folks are able to find a product that meets with their income guidelines, Daughtry said. Now, if we could actually have the real conversation behind driving more people to the marketplace, its making sure people have more money in their pockets. Daughtry hopes the Legislature considers bills that seek to establish a living wage, particularly addressing underpay in the public sector, as well as proposals to help families, such as better supporting childcare. Harrington and Stewart also argued that high MaineCare enrollment hurts hospitals, as they only receive a 70% reimbursement through the program compared to higher private-payer reimbursements. Daughtry argued the state should increase MaineCare reimbursements. However, she added that private insurance is also not reimbursing people enough. Its not just MaineCare, Daughtry said. The health care system as a whole is broken. Taxes and cuts Given the $450 million deficit the state is facing over the next biennium, and that only $127 million remains for the second year, program cuts and taxes are being considered, including the slate of changes Mills proposed that were not included in the part one budget. Progressives are not supportive of her plan to cut some programs, including childcare workers stipends, and Republicans have already drawn a line in the sand regarding tax increases of any kind. While Mills has suggested a number of largely regressive taxes, which have a greater impact on low earners, some Democratic legislators are alternatively pushing for a model that taxes the wealthy more, including a millionaire tax, similar to a law recently passed in Massachusetts to tax income over $1 million by an additional 4%. One of Fecteaus proposals, LD 1082, is to increase the real estate transfer tax on home sales above $1 million to increase the resources the state commits to the construction of affordable housing. Other lawmakers have proposed taxes on short-term rentals or changing the timeframe for accessing Historic Property Rehabilitation Tax Credits to fund things like affordable housing and education without adding to state spending. Albeit in different ways, theres consensus that systems need to change. Stewart said of Democrats, They want to be all things to all people all the time, intentionally or not, calling back to the phrase Mills repeated when she first introduced her budget plan in January. I dont think government can, or should, be all things to all people at all times, Mills said in defense of her proposed cuts and tax increases. Ultimately, as Fecteau put it, Its going to be a balancing act. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE WATERTOWN, Mass. (WWLP) Two people were injured when they were struck by a vehicle during a protest at a Tesla dealership in Watertown on Saturday. Woman stabbed at Westfarms Mall, suspects in custody The Watertown Police Department states that during the protest, the side mirror of a black pickup truck struck two people. No serious injuries were reported and the victims refused medical treatment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police identified the suspect, however they did not release the name of the suspect or say whether the incident was intentional or accidental. The investigation remains active. If anyone has any additional information, contact the Watertown Police Department at 617-972-6500. Hundreds of anti-Elon Musk protests were held across the world on Saturday as part of what organizers called a Global Day of Action. 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. Russian forces attacked the city of Kupiansk in Kharkiv Oblast using the Uragan multiple-launch rocket system on 31 March, injuring civilians a 35-year-old woman and a 63-year-old man. Source: Oleh Syniehubov, Head of Kharkiv Oblast Military Administration, on Telegram Details: Syniehubov reported that two people sustained injuries of varying severity as a result of the Russian attack a 63-year-old man and a 35-year-old woman. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Early reports indicate that the strike was carried out using the Uragan multiple-launch rocket system. Background: In January, reports indicated that Russian forces were positioned just two kilometres from the city of Kupiansk in Kharkiv Oblast, constantly attacking Ukrainian positions and trying to reach the main Svatove-Kupiansk road to continue their offensive. Russian troops launched a large-scale attack on the town of Kupiansk in Kharkiv Oblast on 19 March, killing two civilians and injuring three others. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! NEW YORK (AP) Two New York City police officers have been suspended after being charged with burglary and forcibly touching a sex worker while responding to a complaint about an illegal brothel, prosecutors said Monday. Officers Justin McMillan and Justin Colon intentionally turned off their body cameras as they broke into a residential building, stole money and forcibly touched a woman while on duty last July, according to Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz. The patrol officers, who were still on probationary status after entering the police academy in 2023, had been responding to a report of prostitution inside the building. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prosecutors say the two shut off their bodycams before approaching a woman leaving the building and taking a key to the residence from her. They returned eight hours later, unlocked the door and found a woman having sex with a man, who immediately fled, according to Katz's office. McMillan then stole money from the woman's purse and groped her. The woman ran away and eventually called 911 with the help of others, prosecutors said. The officers, meanwhile, returned to their stationhouse without reporting the incidents. McMillan, 27, of Long Island, and Colon, 24, of Queens, pleaded not guilty during their arraignment hearings Monday in Queens. They were released and are due back in court April 28, according to Katz's office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They each face one count of forcible touching and petit larceny, two counts of burglary, and four counts of official misconduct. Lawyers for the two didn't immediately respond to messages seeking comment. The officers have been suspended without pay. They were placed on modified duty last August as the NYPD's internal affairs bureau and Katz's office investigated, according to police. We hold our officers to the highest standard of professionalism and integrity, and failing to meet that standard is disqualifying," Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said in a statement. "Let me be perfectly clear: Any officer who violates their oath will be investigated, exposed, and held fully accountable. That standard will never change. Two rookie NYPD cops have been arrested for groping and robbing a prostitute inside a Queens brothel they had been assigned to investigate, authorities said Monday. Officers Justin McMillan, 27, and Justin Colon, 24, surrendered Monday and were suspended from the force without pay. They are accused of turning their body-worn cameras off to hide their alleged misconduct. They were arraigned in Queens Supreme Court on an eight-count indictment charging them with burglary, forcible touching, petty larceny and official misconduct. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The allegations in this case are an affront to the shield worn by the countless police officers who serve and protect the residents of this city, said Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz. The defendants, both sworn NYPD officers, are accused of using their authority to break into a building, steal money and forcibly touch a woman while on duty, with their body-worn cameras intentionally turned off so that their misdeeds would not be recorded. The incident happened last July 19 when the officers, rookies on foot patrol in the 115th Precinct, responded to a 311 complaint about prostitution at a residential building on 89th St. in Jackson Heights. The officers turned on their body-worn cameras then shut them off after indicating they didnt see anything illegal, Assistant District Attorney Christine Oliveri said in court. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After leaving the building, they lingered for a while then allegedly approached a woman exiting the building and stole her keys. That woman ran off and McMillan and Colon also left, only to return eight hours later, still in uniform, Oliveri noted, and with their cameras still off. The officers allegedly used the key to get into the brothel, scaring off a john, then focusing on the woman he had hired for sex. They shut the lights off, went in with their flashlights on in the dark, took money from her andMcMillan groped her breast and her buttocks. Oliveri said. The woman ran off and called 911, Katz said, sparking an NYPD Internal Affairs Bureau investigation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The officers were stripped of their guns and shields and assigned to desk duty monitoring video feeds at a Bronx Housing Bureau command last August as authorities continued to investigate. The officers were released without bail. Michael Cibella, McMillans lawyer, said the officer, who lives in Atlantic Beach, L.I., with his parents, both retired cops, denies the allegations and has every intention of fighting these charges. Michael Martinez, Colons lawyer, said the officer, who lives in Long Island City, vigorously denies these allegations. NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said it is a privilege to wear the NYPD uniform and that any official who violates the public trust that comes with the job will be investigated, exposed and held fully accountable. The accused officers joined the force in 2023, McMillan in April, Colon in July. Both are probationary officers because they have less than two years on the job. Two Russian generals who ordered the Iskander missile strike on the Drama Theatre in Chernihiv on 19 August 2023, Mikhail Zusko and Alexander Dragovalovsky, have been served in absentia with a notice of suspicion by the Security Service of Ukraine (SSU). Source: Ukrainska Pravda.Zhyttia; Security Service of Ukraine Details: The investigation established that upon receiving an order from his Russian superiors, Lieutenant General Mikhail Zusko, First Deputy Commander and Chief of Staff of the Russian Armed Forces' West Group, ordered Major General Alexander Dragovalovsky, Deputy Commander of Russia's Missile Troops and Artillery, to strike the civilian facility in Chernihiv. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Chernihiv Oblast Academic Music and Drama Theatre, named after Taras Shevchenko, was attacked by an Iskander-M cruise missile launched from Kursk Oblast. The attack killed seven residents of the city, including a six-year-old child. More than 200 other people received injuries of varying degrees of severity. Residential buildings, administrative buildings and cars were damaged. The law enforcers noted that Zusko received the order from Russian Colonel-General Yevgeny Nikiforov, who has previously been served with a notice of suspicion in absentia by the SSU. Based on the evidence gathered, the SSU investigators served Zusko and Dragovalovsky with a notice of suspicion in absentia under Articles 28.1, 28.2 and 438.2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (violation of the laws and customs of war committed by a group of persons by prior conspiracy). Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! OOLOGAH, Okla. (KFOR) A man and a woman have been sentenced following a child abuse investigation in Rogers County, Oklahoma. According to the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, the Oologah Police Department requested the bureaus help on September 13, 2023, regarding child abuse allegations. ORIGINAL STORY: Two arrested on child abuse charges in Rogers County Officials say Owasso and Oologah Police officers responded to a local hospital where medical personnel were worried about a childs well-being. The OSBIs Child Abuse Response Team and Crime Scene Unit began investigating. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Authorities determined the child had endured neglect and abuse. The investigation led authorities to 26-year-old Cameron Gough and 27-year-old Maria Wilson. Both were arrested on one count of Child Abuse and one count of Child Neglect. Cameron Gough. Image courtesy OSBI. Maria Wilson. Image courtesy OSBI. The OSBI says on June 21, 2024, Wilson pled guilty to both charges. She has been sentenced to serve 25 years in the custody of the Oklahoma Department of Corrections as well as 10 years of supervised release. On March 27, 2025, Gough pled guilty to both charges. He has been sentenced to serve 25 years in prison for the one count of Child Abuse and life in prison for the one count of Child Neglect. Both Wilson and Gough will need to serve 85 percent of their sentence before they are eligible for parole. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City. Richard Stevenson, Chief Executive Officer of Cleverbridge Richard Stevenson succeeds CEO Wendi Sturgis as Cleverbridge builds on momentum and enters the next phase of its growth COLOGNE, Germany & CHICAGO, March 31, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Cleverbridge, a leading provider of ecommerce and billing solutions for global software companies, today announced the appointment of Richard Stevenson as Chief Executive Officer, effective April 1, 2025. He succeeds Wendi Sturgis, who will transition into a board advisory role. With over 25 years of leadership across B2B software and B2C financial services, Richard brings deep operational and strategic expertise to Cleverbridge. He has held executive roles at companies undergoing rapid transformation and global expansion, including CEO of Standard Lifes DACH region and VP and GM at Uniphore, where he led the companys European growth following its acquisition of Red Box. Throughout his career, Richard has been at the forefront of launching and scaling innovative SaaS platforms, including Conversa, the first open Enterprise Voice AI platform. "I am delighted with Richards appointment," said Tom Buehlmann, Chairman of the Board at Cleverbridge. "Richard pairs extensive experience leading global technology growth companies with significant industry-specific knowledge in SaaS and financial services. His expertise and leadership skills will be decisive for the next stage of Cleverbridges growth." Buehlmann also expressed gratitude to outgoing CEO Wendi Sturgis: "I would like to thank Wendi for all her contributions. With her energy and commitment, she has made a major impact on Cleverbridges journey thus far building a profitable growth trajectory and positioning us as a market-leading merchant of record provider." Founded in 2005 in Cologne (Germany) and Chicago (Illinois, USA), Cleverbridge has grown to a global team of 300+ employees, setting new standards as a leading merchant of record (MoR) solution provider. Some of the worlds largest technology companies including Red Hat, Dassault Systemes, and Sony trust Cleverbridge to process payments, manage subscriptions, and simplify the complexities of global ecommerce. In 2024, Cleverbridge achieved record growth, expanding its client portfolio across industries while maintaining 99% logo retention and 100% platform uptime. "Im incredibly proud of what weve accomplished over the past few years from deepening our client relationships to advancing our global ecommerce capabilities," said Sturgis. "With strong momentum in place, Im confident that Richard will bring the right leadership and expertise to build on that success. I look forward to supporting him and the company as it moves into a new chapter." HENDERSON, Ky. (WEHT)- Crews for the Indiana Department of Transportation are expected to close the west side approach to Columbia Street from Highway 41 in Evansville today. INDOT Crews will work to improve drainage and conduct other upgrades to the area as part of the Highway 41 Pavement Replacement project. Work on the project is expected to last until the end of April. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Eyewitness News (WEHT/WTVW). March 31 (UPI) -- The bodies of three of four U.S. Army soldiers missing after their armed vehicle was found submerged in a bog in Lithuania last week have been recovered, the Army announced Monday. The search is continuing for the fourth soldier, and all names are being withheld pending notification of next of kin, U.S. Army Europe and Africa said in a news release. They were assigned to the First Armored Brigade, Third Infantry Division in Fort Stewart, Ga. They were deployed to Lithuania in support of support of Operation Atlantic Resolve, an operation formed in 2014 to build readiness with NATO allies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Approximately 6,000 soldiers participate in Atlantic Resolve activities for nine-month rotations in Lithuania, Bulgaria, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Poland and Romania. The M88A3 is a heavy equipment recovery combat utility lift evacuation system designed to rescue disabled tanks from the battlefield. It first went into service in 1961. The M88A3 is a heavy equipment recovery combat utility lift evacuation system. It is designed to rescue disabled tanks from the battlefield. Photo courtesy U.S. Army The four U.S. soldiers were taking part in a tactical training exercise, mounting a major engineering and logistical operation involving experts from remote underwater vehicle specialists to geologists. "The soldiers we have lost in this tragedy were not just soldiers -- they were a part of our family," said Maj. Gen. Christopher Norrie, the commanding general of the Third Infantry Division. "Our hearts are heavy with a sorrow that echoes across the whole Marne division, both forward and at home. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We stand in grief with the families and loved ones of these extraordinary 'dogface soldiers' during this unimaginable time. But the search isn't finished until everyone is home. Words cannot express our gratitude to those still working around the clock during these extensive search and recovery efforts and your unwavering commitment not to rest until all are found." The M88A2 disappeared Tuesday. At 4:30 a.m. local time Wednesday, U.S Army units and Lithuanian Armed Forces found the 70-ton vehicle beneath 15 feet of watery clay-like mud at a training ground near Pabrade, 30 miles northeast of Vilnius. Also assisting were Polish Armed Forces and other Lithuanian government and civilian agencies. Lithuanian Armed Forces provided military helicopters, fixed-wing aircraft, unmanned aerial systems, as well as search and rescue personnel immediately. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Also brought in were excavators, sluice and slurry pumps, other heavy construction equipment, technical experts, and several hundred tons of gravel and earth. "Today is a very sad and tragic day," said Maj. Gen. Curtis Taylor, commander of Task Force Iron and the 1st Armored Division. "The loss of these soldiers weighs heavy on me, the hearts of all Task Force Iron service members, and the 3rd Infantry Division." U.S. Navy divers deployed a remotely operated submersible and handheld sonar to locate "lift points" on the vehicle. They maneuvered through thick layers of mud, clay and sediment with zero visibility. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They hooked steel cables attached to two M88A2 Hercules. During the extraction, the M88A2s began to lose traction with several dozers attached to provide additional grip. It took about two hours of winching to remove the M88A2 from the bog. Engineers also worked to pump water away from the site and stabilize the surrounding ground. "The Raider family is heartbroken over the tragic loss of our Soldiers," said Col. James Armstrong, commander of the First Armored Brigade. "We are an incredibly tight-knit family, and their absence is keenly felt, and we will hold them close in our memories." Gintaras Grusas, the archbishop metropolitan of Vilnius, led a mass at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Stanislaus and St. Ladislaus of Vilnius on Sunday. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi testifies before the Senate Judiciary Committee during her confirmation hearing on Jan. 15, 2025. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi Monday ordered the dismissal of a longstanding Department of Justice lawsuit challenging Republican Georgia lawmakers overhaul of the states election laws in 2021. Bondi said in a statement Monday that the federal lawsuit against Senate Bill 202 will be dismissed because it contained false claims that the Georgia election legislation was a politically motivated retaliation against Black voters and other Democratic-leaning voters who supported Democratic President Joe Biden. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Biden narrowly won Georgias 16 electoral votes in 2020 by less than 12,000 votes. Republican legislators defended changes they made to Georgias election as part of an effort to restore public confidence in elections by tightening absentee ballot requirements, improving voter security and other aspects of the voting process. Bondi is dismissing the Biden-era lawsuit challenging a law that critics called Jim Crow 2.0. The turnout of Black voters in Georgia actually increased following the passage of the election overhaul, Bondi said. Contrary to the Biden Administrations false claims of suppression, Black voter turnout actually increased under SB 202, she said. Georgians deserve secure elections, not fabricated claims of false voter suppression meant to divide us. Americans can be confident that this Department of Justice will protect their vote and never play politics with election integrity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Various progressive voting and civil right organizations and the Democratic Party targeted SB 202, a package of nearly several election bills Republican lawmakers pushed through with only five days left in the 2021 legislative session. Prior to the 2024 election cycle, a Georgia federal court judge declined to temporarily block the states controversial election rules. Trump won a second term in the White House in 2024 after securing 312 electoral votes to defeat Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris. Georgia cast all 16 of its electoral votes for Trump. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Officials of U.S. Bank said Monday they believe one of their executives was on the small plane that crashed in a Minneapolis suburb over the weekend. The plane was registered to vice chair and chief administration officer Terry Dolan, a spokesperson for the Minnesota-based bank told the Daily News. At this time, the medical examiners office has not been able to confirm whether he was on board, but we believe he was, the spokesperson said in an emailed statement. Our thoughts and prayers are with him, his family and friends, and anyone who may have been affected by yesterdays 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The SOCATA TBM 700 single-engine plane plummeted into a home in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, at about 12:20 p.m. Saturday, the Brooklyn Park Fire Department said. It had taken off from Des Moines International Airport in Iowa and was headed for Anoka County-Blaine Airport in Minneapolis, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. The home was engulfed in flames. One of two residents was inside but was able to escape, the Brooklyn Park Fire Department said in a statement Sunday. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) was moving the plane to a secure location for further examination, the fire department said, adding that a report would be forthcoming in about two weeks, though that would be too early to determine a cause. Dolan, U.S. Banks chief administration officer since 2023, worked on corporate strategy oversight, social responsibility, marketing, analytics and transformation, according to his profile on the company website. He has also been a leader in its community development work and investments in affordable housing, economic development and renewable energy tax credit financing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He was also heavily involved in community organizations that helped the homeless and promoted arts, culture and higher education. He served on several boards, including a 2021-17 stint at Catholic Charities Twin Cities. It was a real sad shock, Catholic Charities former CEO Tim Marx, who recruited Dolan for the role, told CBS News. He was a perfect fit, enthusiastic and taught us so much and did so much for the organization, as he did for many throughout the community. Originally appeared on E! Online A Minnesota plane crash has presumably ended in a terrible tragedy. U.S. Bank vice chair Terry Dolan is believed, per NBC News, to have been on a small plane that crashed into a home in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, March 29. That same day, Brooklyn Park Fire Chief Shawn Conway confirmed at a news conference that there were no survivors, adding that it wasnt clear how many people how many people were aboard the plane. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The single-engine aircraftwhich the Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State business records, per NBC News, confirmed was registered to one of Dolans businessescrashed into the two-person home and subsequently caused a fire. Only one resident was home at the time, and according to Conway, was able to exit safely. While it is unknown what caused the SOCATA TBM7 to crash, the National Transportation Safety Board is leading an investigation into the crash with aid from the Federal Aviation Administration, the FAA said in a statement. More from E! Online Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, Hennepin County Medical Examiners office shared that they have been working on identifying all the passengers who were aboard the plane. However, amid the continued investigation, Dolans company indicated he was among those killed in the crash. "At this time, the medical examiner's office has not been able to confirm whether he was on board, but we believe he was, a U.S. Bank spokesperson said of Dolan. Our thoughts and prayers are with him, his family and friends, and anyone who may have been affected by yesterday's tragic incident." The Federal Aviation Administration has since reported, per CBS News, that preliminary information may indicate that there was only one person on board at the time of the crash. U.S. Bank Among those who were shocked to hear the news included former CEO of Catholic Charities Tim Marx, who, according to CBS News, worked closely with Dolan during the five years he spent on the board of directors for Catholic Charities Twin Cities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "[The news] just really hit me hard," Marx said. "It was a real sad shock." And in reminiscing on the times they spent together, he recalled that Dolan would often talk about his passion for flying and his plane, which he noted was almost as great as his passion for helping others. "He was a perfect fit, enthusiastic and taught us so much and did so much for the organization, as he did for many throughout the community," he added. "Wonderful heart, his deep soul and his very creative and brilliant mind. (E! and NBC News are both part of the NBCUniversal family.) For the latest breaking news updates, click here to download the E! News App YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) The U.S. Marshals Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force is looking for a man wanted by Struthers police and on a federal parole violation. Read next: Woman charged with firing shots at Howland bar Jimmy Figueroa, 30, is wanted by Struthers police on a charge of felonious assault, a second-degree felony. Details of that incident are not available, but records from municipal court show Figueroa is wanted for something that happened on March 19. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Figueroa was sentenced in 2020 to four years in federal prison and three years parole after he pleaded guilty in the U.S. Northern District Court of Ohio to a charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm. A news release from the Marshals says that Figueroa is wanted for violating his parole in that case. Anyone with information on where Figueroa may be can contact the Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force at 1-866-4WANTED or send a tip online. Tipsters can remain anonymous and reward money 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 WKBN.com. U.S. Rep. Seth Magaziner speaks at a press conference at the Bannister Center in Providence on Feb. 28, 2025. (Photo by Alexander Castro/Rhode Island Current) Despite his 2022 campaign promise to move into the congressional district he was elected to represent, U.S. Rep. Seth Magaziner hasnt moved and now, he doesnt plan to. The 41-year-old Democrat first revealed his change of heart during a taping of WPRI-TV 12s Newsmakers on Friday, citing familys circumstances for why he has backed off his campaign pledge. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Weve decided that at this point, it makes sense for us to stay in our house in Providence, Magaziner said. He referenced his familys new baby, born in April 2024, and his wifes new job that requires a two-hour commute from Providence to Cambridge, Massachusetts. Moving to Cranston would likely extend that travel time. Rhode Islands 2nd Congressional District, depicted in light yellow, spans the southern and western sides of the state and Block Island. (Courtesy U.S. Census Bureau) The U.S. Constitution requires members of Congress to live in the states they represent, but not the district. Yet Magaziner pledged during his first run for congressional office in 2022 filling the seat vacated by former Rep. Jim Langevin that he would move into the 2nd Congressional District, which covers the states southern and western areas. At the time of the 2022 election, Magaziner and his family lived on the East Side of Providence, which falls within the 1st Congressional District. The capital city is the only state municipality bifurcated by the congressional district line. Indeed, Magaziners Providence home falls one mile away from the district line. In 2023, Magaziner and his wife bought a house in the Edgewood section of Cranston. However, during his 2024 reelection campaign, Magaziner was still living and voting in Providence, outside his district, WPRI reported at the time. Magaziner told WPRI that renovations to his Cranston house were more extensive than expected, which is why he had not moved. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now, the move is off, though the Cranston home is still listed under his wife, Julia McDowells name, according to city records. Magaziner defended his decision on Newsmakers, insisting that where he lives has not hurt his ability to do his job or represent the 559,000 district residents. I continue to fight for the working people of the 2nd Congressional District with legislation in Washington, and Ill continue to show up and deliver, just as I have for the last two and a half years, Magaziner said during the taping. John Marion, executive director of Common Cause Rhode Island, chalked up the scrutiny surrounding residency requirements in Rhode Island as more symbolic than practical. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were so geographically compact in Rhode Island, Marion said in an interview Monday. If this were someone in Colorado who lived in another corner of the state, it might be a problem. Yet, Marion acknowledged the poor optics of Magaziner not fulfilling his pledge to move. Rhode Island GOP Chair Joe Powers seized on the empty promise in a statement Friday. Magaziners decision is yet another example of how little respect career politicians have for the people of this state, Powers said. He told voters he was moving into the district. He made that promise. Now hes casually breaking it with a shrug and a smile, hoping no one notices or cares. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Powers described the situation as a pattern among Rhode Island Democrats who say one thing to get elected, then quietly do the opposite. A Washington Post analysis in 2017 found 21 U.S. representatives, of both political parties, living outside of their districts. Updated information for the current Congress was not immediately available. Its not the norm but its not unusual, Marion said of congressional members living outside their district. Katherine Riordan, a spokesperson for Magaziners office, responded to requests for comment Monday with an emailed statement that repeated exactly what Magaziner said during the WPRI interview. She declined to comment about what Magaziner plans to do with the house his family bought in Cranston, Updated to include a response from Katherine Riordan on behalf of U.S. Rep. Seth Magaziner. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) A court in the United Arab Emirates has sentenced three people to death for the killing of Israeli-Moldovan Zvi Kogan, state media reported Monday. The state-run WAM news agency announced the verdicts of the three after a trial in Abu Dhabi Federal Court of Appeals State Security Chamber. It said a fourth person who aided the killing received a life sentence. It did not identify those charged. However, three Uzbek nationals had been arrested in Turkey and brought back to the UAE over the killing in November. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The defendants had tracked and murdered the victim, the WAM report said. The evidence presented by the State Security Prosecution to the court included the defendants detailed confessions to the crimes of murder and kidnapping, along with forensic reports, post-mortem examination findings, details of the instruments used in the crime and witness testimonies. Authorities in the UAE have not offered a motive for the killing, nor any details about how Kogan was kidnapped and slain. However, it came amid the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip, which has inflamed anger across the wider Muslim world. Diplomatic ties between Israel and the UAE have remained intact, though strained, by the war as Israel maintains a consulate in Dubai and an embassy in Abu Dhabi. While not directly blaming Iran, Israeli officials including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and others have referred to an axis of evil being responsible for Kogans killing a phrase Israel in the past has used to refer to Iran and its allies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Irans Embassy in Abu Dhabi has denied Tehran was involved in the rabbis slaying and the UAE itself has not made the allegation. However, Western officials believe Iran runs intelligence operations in the UAE and keeps tabs on the hundreds of thousands of Iranians living across the country. Iranian intelligence services also have carried out past kidnappings in the UAE. Iran also has used criminal gangs in the past to target dissidents and its enemies. Kogan, 28, an ultra-Orthodox rabbi, ran a kosher grocery store in the futuristic city of Dubai, where Israelis have flocked for commerce and tourism since the two countries forged diplomatic ties in the 2020 Abraham Accords. The UAE has a burgeoning Jewish community, with synagogues and businesses catering to kosher diners. Kogan was an emissary of the Chabad Lubavitch movement, a prominent and highly observant branch of ultra-Orthodox Judaism based in Brooklyns Crown Heights neighborhood in New York City. He was buried in Israel. The UAE is an autocratic federation of seven sheikhdoms on the Arabian Peninsula and is also home to Abu Dhabi. Capital cases are rare in the country of 9 million people, but executions typically come swiftly after defendants have their appeals exhausted. Typically, the UAE uses firing squads to execute the condemned. By Menna AlaaElDin and Jana Choukeir (Reuters) -The United Arab Emirates on Monday sentenced three people to death for the murder of an Israeli-Moldovan rabbi who was killed in November in the Gulf country, state news agency WAM reported. The Abu Dhabi Federal Appeal Court ruled the murder of Zvi Kogan, 28, was committed by the defendants in pursuance of a "terrorist purpose," according to WAM. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kogan, who had been living in the UAE, was a representative in the UAE of Chabad, an Orthodox Jewish group that has chapters around the world and seeks to build links with non-affiliated and secular Jews or other sects of Judaism. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office had denounced Kogan's killing as an "antisemitic terrorist act". Three of the defendants were found guilty of Kogan's murder, while a fourth defendant was sentenced to life in prison in connection with the killing. Death penalty sentences can be challenged on appeal under Emirati law. The UAE interior ministry said in November that three of the people arrested were citizens of Uzbekistan. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Such crimes are rare in the UAE, which is largely viewed as one of the safest places in the Middle East. Kogan had been living in the UAE for several years and had been involved in outreach to the country's Jewish community. He was reported missing in November with his body discovered days later in the Emirati city of Al Ain which borders Oman. The UAE's Israeli and Jewish community has grown more visible since 2020, when the UAE became the most prominent Arab state in 30 years to establish formal ties with Israel under a U.S.-brokered agreement dubbed the Abraham Accords. The UAE has maintained the relationship during the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, which has killed tens of thousands of people since it began in October 2023. However, Israelis and Jews have been less evident in public since the Hamas attack on Israeli communities of October 7, 2023, that triggered the Gaza conflict. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Members of the Jewish community said informal synagogues in Dubai were closed after the October 7 attack over security concerns, with Jews instead gathering to pray at home. There are no official statistics on the number of Jews or Israelis living in the UAE. Jewish groups estimate there are several thousand. (Reporting by Menna Alaa El-Din and Jana Chokeir; Editing by Alison Williams) LONDON (Reuters) -Britain expects to be hit by U.S. President Donald Trump's plans to impose global tariffs this week and the government has been preparing for all eventualities, Prime Minister Keir Starmer's spokesman said on Monday. Talks between Britain and the United States to negotiate a new economic deal that would avert the tariffs are expected to continue beyond Wednesday, when Trump is expected to unveil the worldwide tariffs, the spokesman said. "We have been actively preparing for all eventualities ahead of the expected announcement from President Trump this week, which (we) would expect the UK to be impacted alongside other countries," the spokesman told reporters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump is set to announce new reciprocal tariff rates on what he has called "Liberation Day" on April 2, after implementing levies on aluminium, steel and automobiles, along with increased tariffs on all goods from China. The action aims to shrink a $1.2 trillion global goods trade deficit by raising U.S. tariffs to levels charged by other countries and counteracting their non-tariff trade barriers. Starmer held what Downing Street called a "productive" phone call with Trump on Sunday as the British leader seeks to avoid the tariffs. Although British ministers have said no options are off the table in response to any such tariffs, they have played down the likelihood of immediate retaliation against the United States, arguing that a trade war is bad for global economic growth. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Britain's Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) watchdog said last week that higher U.S. import tariffs would harm the UK's economic activity and would wipe out almost all of the government's fiscal buffer. The OBR said U.S. tariffs on its trade partners in general could cut the size of Britain's economy - which is highly exposed to swings in international trade - by as much as 1%. (Reporting by Elizabeth Piper. Writing by Andrew MacAskill, editing by Sarah Young) China International Search and Rescue Team arrives in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar Xinhua) 08:35, March 31, 2025 NAY PYI TAW, Myanmar, March 30 (Xinhua) -- A total of 118 members of the China International Search and Rescue Team (CISAR) arrived in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar, on Sunday night. The team consists of earthquake experts, structural engineers, search and rescue workers, medical personnel, and canine units. They are equipped with life detectors, demolition equipment, and field hospital systems. Established in 2001, the CISAR is a United Nations-certified heavy-duty rescue team that has participated in over 20 international missions. According to Myanmar's State Administration Council on Sunday, about 1,700 people died, 3,400 were injured, and 300 remained missing in a massive 7.9-magnitude earthquake that hit the country on Friday. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) SIGN UP FOR THE DAILY JWR UPDATE. IT'S FREE. (AND NO SPAM!) Just click here. White House aide Peter Navarro claimed Sunday that President Donald Trump's new tariffs would raise more than $6 trillion in federal revenue over the next decade, a figure that experts said would almost certainly represent the largest peacetime tax hike in modern U.S. history. Appearing on Fox News, Navarro said the president's tariffs on auto imports, set to take effect Wednesday, would raise $100 billion per year. Meanwhile, a regime of additional tariffs - details of which have yet to be released - would raise another $600 billion per year, or $6 trillion over the next decade, Navarro said. Navarro's remarks suggest Trump is preparing dramatic new measures for Wednesday, which the president has referred to as "Liberation Day." Navarro is among the most hawkish voices on trade in the president's inner circle, and it was not immediately clear whether he was previewing official administration policy or speaking for one side of an internal debate over the tariffs. Also speaking on Fox News on Sunday, Kevin Hassett, director of the White House National Economic Council, declined to outline Trump's tariff plans. "I can't give you any forward-looking guidance on what's going to happen this week," said Hassett, who is widely regarded as more skeptical of tariffs than Navarro. "The president has got a heck of a lot of analysis before him, and he's going to make the right choice, I'm sure." Whatever the case, Navarro's comments are sure to rattle markets amid intensifying fears about the global trade war Trump has touched off since taking office in January. Though investors had appeared to cheer Trump's return to the White House, markets have since tumbled, with the benchmark S&P 500 on track to finish the first quarter down about 5 percent. Tariffs are taxes imposed on foreign goods imported into the United States. A tariff regime that generated $600 billion per year would amount to the biggest increase in federal tax revenue since World War II, according to budget expert Jessica Riedl, a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute, a center-right think tank. "We've never seen a president propose such a drastic tax increase at a time where there is no national emergency requiring it" and the economy is already slowing, Riedl said. "You just do not hear numbers like $6 trillion over 10 years in legislation or executive orders." By way of comparison, the U.S. is set to spend nearly $900 billion on the Pentagon this year. Extending Trump's 2017 tax cuts is projected to cost roughly $4 trillion over the next decade, adding roughly $400 billion a year to the national debt. Generating $600 billion a year in fresh revenue theoretically would cover the cost of those tax cuts and then some. But economists say new taxes of that magnitude also could deepen instability on Wall Street and further increase the risk of a U.S. recession. The Trump administration argues that steep tariffs are necessary to bring production and manufacturing jobs back to the United States. "The message is tariffs are tax cuts. Tariffs are jobs. Tariffs are national security," Navarro said. "Tariffs will make America great again." Navarro offered no details to explain his enormous revenue projection. But Trump has in recent days revived the idea of imposing a single universal rate on all imports to the United States, regardless of the product or the country of origin. During the 2024 presidential campaign, Trump proposed setting this flat tariff rate as high as 20 percent. Because the U.S. imports more than $3 trillion worth of goods per year, simple math suggests that a 20 percent import tax on all goods could raise close to $600 billion in annual revenue. However, economists argue that such a tax ultimately would raise far less because the costs would be passed on to American consumers in the form of higher prices, and consumers would therefore purchase fewer imported goods. In an interview with NBC on Saturday, Trump nodded to this effect, saying he "couldn't care less" if his auto tariffs raise prices, because higher prices on imports would encourage people to buy American-made cars instead. Economists in both parties have heavily criticized a universal flat tariff, arguing that it would raise prices indiscriminately, striking even some goods - such as food and cheap consumer electronics - that either cannot be produced in America or make little sense to produce domestically. This month, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent outlined a more moderate approach to "Liberation Day" that calls for the United States to determine a new tariff policy for its each of its key trading partners, leaving room for negotiations and dealmaking. But Trump has told advisers in recent days that he is wary of being insufficiently ambitious with his tariff policy, and it remains unclear precisely what Wednesday will bring. (COMMENT, BELOW) We came across a bullish thesis on Comfort Systems USA, Inc. (FIX) on Value Investing Subreddit Page by Aevykin. In this article, we will summarize the bulls thesis on FIX. Comfort Systems USA, Inc. (FIX)'s share was trading at $324.11 as of March 28th. FIXs trailing and forward P/E were 22.20 and 18.59 respectively according to Yahoo Finance. Is Dominion Energy, Inc. (D) the Most Undervalued Utility Stock to Invest in Now? Comfort Systems USA (FIX) has faced a sharp 30% decline in its stock price over the past four months, primarily due to macroeconomic concerns surrounding data center expenditure and AI-related projects. Despite this downturn, the companys business fundamentals remain intact, showing no signs of an actual slowdown. FIX derives a significant portion of its revenue from technology infrastructure projects, including data centers and semiconductor plants, and fears of weakening demand appear to be overblown. The current valuation, with a trailing P/E of 22 and a forward P/E of 18, presents a compelling opportunity for investors looking beyond short-term market noise. Comfort Systems USA operates as a roll-up business specializing in HVAC and MEP (mechanical, electrical, plumbing) solutions. The company follows a disciplined capital allocation strategy, dedicating approximately 75% of its capital to acquisitions, 15% to share buybacks, and 10% to dividends. Growth in the MEP industry remains strong, with substantial tailwinds propelling FIXs performance. Over the past few years, revenue has grown at an average rate of 30%, while EPS has nearly doubled from 2022 to 2024. FIX also boasts an impressive return on invested capital (ROIC) of 30% in 2024, underscoring its efficient use of capital. The companys backlog remains robust, currently standing at approximately $6 billion, and CEO Brian Lane has stated that demand is so high that the company is being selective in choosing the most profitable projects. Lanes leadership has been instrumental in FIXs long-term success, and under his guidance, the stock has tripled in value over the past few years. Even under conservative assumptions, FIX remains undervalued. Assuming revenue growth slows to 15% annually over the next four years, with free cash flow margins at 10.5%, the stock is currently trading at a 20% discount to fair value. However, if FIX maintains its historical growth rate of 25-30%, the stock could be trading at a 40-50% discount, presenting significant upside potential. Given the companys ability to compound earnings at a high rate and its essential role in critical infrastructure, FIX represents an attractive long-term investment. (Bloomberg) -- UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer held productive discussions about an economic prosperity deal on a call with US President Donald Trump Sunday evening ahead of a crunch week in which the government hopes to carve out exemptions from looming US tariffs. Most Read from Bloomberg Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A statement from Downing Street said the two leaders agreed that negotiations will continue at pace this week and that they will stay in touch in the coming days. Washington is scheduled to unveil a series of reciprocal tariffs worldwide on Wednesday, branded Liberation Day by Trump, that would remake the global trading system. Economists say the move would hammer UK growth and could lead to tax increases in the autumn. Trump wants to rebalance trade where he considers the US is being penalized, and may take non-tariff barriers such as taxes and regulations into account. Starmer has been working for months on strengthening White House relations and is considering cutting digital taxes on US tech firms to secure special treatment. So far, the UK has had little success. Last week, Trump preempted Liberation Day by imposing 25% tariffs on car imports starting April 3, with further levies expected on goods from the UK, European Union and Canada. More on computer chips and pharmaceuticals may follow. The threat of new tariffs comes at the start of what may also prove a tricky week domestically as businesses face a double whammy of rising costs. Employers will be hit with a 6.7% increase in the National Living Wage on Tuesday and on Sunday a 26 billion ($33.6 billion) payroll tax rise comes into effect. Both were unveiled at the October budget, which sparked a backlash by firms. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The start of a global trade war would complicate Labours plans further by wiping out Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves slim 9.9 billion budget headroom, the Office for Budget Responsibility said last week. To repair the damage to the public finances, she might have to raise taxes at the budget in autumn, economists say. UK officials are in intense talks with Washington to secure an exemption or reduction to tariffs, according to Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, who was speaking to Sky News on Sunday. She didnt rule out the UK retaliating. No option is off the table, Cooper said. The UK government will always act in the national interest. Starmer and Trump also agreed on the call to keep up the collective pressure on Russian leader Vladimir Putin, the statement added. The comment came after Trump said he was pissed off with Putin for what appeared to be delaying tactics over a cease-fire deal with Ukraine. If Russia didnt engage properly, Trump said he could impose secondary sanctions on Russian oil to prevent all sales. Trump Threatens Russia Oil Penalties Citing Anger at Putin (2) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Separately, UK services exports hit a record 508 billion in 2024, official figures showed. Data from the Office for National Statistics confirmed the UKs position as the second-largest services exporter globally after the US, according to a statement from the Department for Business and Trade. The figures cement the UKs status as a services superpower, said Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds, adding that services would be a priority in the governments forthcoming industrial strategy. The ONS figures showed the value of UK services exports in current prices rose 36 billion from the previous year, and accounted for 58% of total UK exports. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 2025 Bloomberg L.P. A ceasefire in Ukraine would increase security risks for the Baltic states, as Russia would continue rearming and moving troops to NATO's northeastern border, Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur said in an interview with the Financial Times published on March 30. Russia's invasion of Ukraine has sparked concerns that the Baltic countries, which are among Moscow's biggest critics and Kyiv's staunchest allies since day one of the all-out war, could become the next target for aggression. These fears are reinforced as the West is growing more divided due to U.S. President Donald Trump's U-turn in foreign policy. 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," Pevkur said. According to the Estonian minister, 300,000 of the 600,000 Russian troops currently in Ukraine are likely to be redeployed. He says Russian soldiers will not return home because their salaries in the army are five to 10 times higher than what they could receive elsewhere in Russia. Western leaders and intelligence agencies have warned of a potential large-scale war in Europe within the next five years, citing Russia's increasingly aggressive posture. Pevkur's warnings echo those of Lithuanian Defense Minister Dovile Sakaliene. Last week, she said Moscow would use the time after the ceasefire to speed up its military buildup. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "They (Russia) already have a huge, battlefield-trained army, which is going to get even bigger," Sakaliene said. The two ministers also warned against the redeployment of any NATO troops from their countries to form a so-called Europe-led "reassurance force" that may be sent to Ukraine as a means of deterring Russia from a new attack. "We cannot fall into the trap that our forces are somehow fixed in Ukraine. Then we will have risks at our border," Pevkur added. Read also: Talk about an invasion is everywhere How Lithuania is preparing for war with Russia Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. KYIV, Ukraine (AP) Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy would have had to face a reelection campaign in the spring of 2024 if it had not been for Russias full-scale invasion. Now, the question of the legitimacy of his rule is being weaponized by Russia. U.S. President Donald Trump also called Zelenskyy a dictator without elections, echoing Russian propaganda, but later appeared to rescind the comment by denying he said it. It is not the first time Western officials have expressed concern about Zelenskyys tenure as president especially under martial law when his office has consolidated control of government policy to sustain and direct the war effort. Western officials have also privately expressed their preference for elections to take place in the last year, before Trump assumed office, according to lawmakers who maintain contacts with their European counterparts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Zelenskyy has declined to hold polls until a ceasefire is declared in line with Ukrainian law and his Ukrainians largely support that decision. Here is a look at why Ukraine has not been able to hold elections after the full-scale invasion: Why havent there been elections in Ukraine? Putins invasion of Ukraine triggered martial law in the country, which effectively postponed presidential and parliamentary elections. Facing an existential war, with a fifth of the country under occupation and millions of Ukrainians evacuated to third countries, holding polls was simply not logistically feasible. Ukraines natural election period for its parliament was slated for October 2023 and Zelenskyys five-year term was up in May 2024. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Martial law is established in the Ukrainian constitution and another law states elections cant be held when martial law is in place, which has been the case since the February 2022 invasion. What has Zelenskyy said about elections in the future? Zelenskyys position is that elections will take place once there is a ceasefire with Russia, at which point martial law will be lifted. Russia, meanwhile, has used his remaining in power after his expired term as a tool to cast him as an illegitimate leader of Ukraine. Zelenskyy has also said he would step down as president if Ukraine was granted NATO membership. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Holding elections while the war is ongoing would be counterproductive and weaken Ukraine at a critical juncture, Zelenskyy has said. It would be difficult to find a way for Ukrainian soldiers engaged in pitched battles to cast a vote, as well as the many millions of Ukrainians living abroad because of the war. Then there is the question of Ukrainians living in occupied Russian territory. To back the president, Ukraines parliament passed a resolution affirming the legitimacy of Zelenskyy as president and reiterated elections are not possible until after the war ends. Who are Zelenskyys key political rivals? Holding elections in the middle of a war would also sow division in Ukrainian society at a time when the country should be united against Russia, Zelenskyy has also said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The one potential candidate widely expected to beat Zelenskyy in polls were he to run is former Army chief Valery Zaluzhny, the current Ukrainian ambassador to Britain. Petro Poroshenko is a key political rival of Zelenskyys and the leader of the largest opposition party. He is unlikely to run again, analysts said, but his backing of a particular candidate would be consequential for elections. Ukraine and the United States held their first in-depth discussion, initiated by the US, regarding the draft mineral agreement on 28 March. Source: Ukrainian public broadcaster Suspilne, citing a source in the Office of the President of Ukraine Details: The source stated that the work on the agreement between both teams and their lawyers is ongoing. Quote: "Ukraine is ready to continue working on it [the agreement ed.]." Background: US President Donald Trump stated that Ukraine and the US would soon sign an agreement on critical mineral resources. The framework agreement on mineral resources between Ukraine and the United States is already prepared, with the next step being the development of a detailed document with specific figures. On 27 March, Ukrainian MP Yaroslav Zhelezniak reported that the US had submitted a new draft mineral agreement to Ukraine, which is expected to be reviewed and ratified by the Verkhovna Rada (Ukrainian Parliament) in the near future. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that the updated mineral agreement with the US is fundamentally different from previous drafts, and it contains provisions that Ukraine had previously rejected. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Ukrainian and U.S. government and legal teams continue discussions on the mineral deal, a source in the Presidential Office told the Kyiv Independent on March 31 as U.S. President Donald Trump is escalating his rhetoric on the agreement. "On Friday (March 28), we spoke with the American side; now we (Ukraine) will discuss it, then (the parties) will talk again," the source said. The comments came after Trump said on March 30 that he believed President Volodymyr Zelensky wanted to back out of the agreement and warned that his refusal would have consequences. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump followed up his comments about the mineral deal by saying that Ukraine continues to hold NATO aspirations, which he presented as hopeless. "He (Zelensky) wants to be a member of NATO, but he's never going to be a member of NATO. He understands that," Trump said. According to the Kyiv Independent's source, Ukraine's NATO membership is not a part of the minerals deal. "We are not tying (the minerals deal to NATO), it's a misunderstanding," they said. The Financial Times reported on March 27 that the latest version of the agreement proposed by the U.S. includes terms that would grant Washington unprecedented control over Ukraine's natural resources through a joint investment fund. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ukrainian online newspaper European Pravda also wrote that the deal may contradict Ukraine's EU accession due to severe restrictions affecting Ukraine's economic sovereignty. Following the news, Zelensky said that Kyiv would not sign the deal if it threatened the country's EU membership and reiterated that he does not consider Washington's aid to Kyiv a debt. Bloomberg reported on March 29 that Kyiv was requesting changes to the current proposal, including greater investment from the U.S. and more clarity on how the joint fund would operate. The Trump administration has touted the minerals deal as an essential part of Ukraine's path to peace but has failed to offer concrete security guarantees in exchange for broad access to resources. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kyiv and Washington were set to sign an earlier version of the agreement on Feb. 28, but the plan fell apart after a heated Oval Office dispute between Zelensky, Trump, and Vice President JD Vance. The White House has described the minerals deal as a mechanism for the U.S. to "recoup" some of the financial aid it has provided to Ukraine since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion. Read also: US, Russia begin talks on rare earth minerals projects, Moscow claims Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Key developments on March 31: There's 'psychological deadline' for Putin to agree to Ukraine ceasefire, Trump says Kremlin says it remains open to US talks despite Trump's reported anger at Putin Ukraine-US talks on minerals deal ongoing, not tied to NATO membership, source says Russia trying to bypass Ukraine's positions in Toretsk by going underground, military says Sweden unveils its largest military aid package for Ukraine worth nearly $1.6 billion Trump's spiritual adviser visits Bucha, meets Ukraine's religious leaders U.S. President Donald Trump said on March 30 that there is a "psychological deadline" for Russian President Vladimir Putin to agree to a ceasefire in Ukraine, without naming a specific date. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "If I think they're (Russia) tapping us along, I will not be happy about it," Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One, voicing his belief that the Kremlin's chief "wants to make a deal." Trump has softened his rhetoric on Putin after telling NBC News earlier on March 30 he was "pissed off" with the Russian leader over his fixation on President Volodymyr Zelensky, threatening 25%-50% tariffs on Russian oil. When asked whether his relationship with Putin is at its "lowest point," Trump said, "No, I don't think so. I don't think he's going to go back on his word... We've always gotten along well." The U.S. president has threatened additional tariffs and sanctions against Russia several times in the past months but has yet to take the step. In turn, Trump has exerted significant pressure on Ukraine to bring it to the negotiating table, including by temporarily cutting off military and intelligence support. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Putin has rejected a full 30-day truce agreed upon by the U.S. and Ukraine in Jeddah on March 11 unless it includes conditions undermining Ukrainian defense capabilities and only agreed to a partial ceasefire on strikes against energy facilities and in the Black Sea. Kyiv has already accused Russia of violating the energy ceasefire, while the future of the Black Sea ceasefire is in doubt as Moscow has linked it to the lifting of Western sanctions on food producers and some banks. Finnish President Alexander Stubb, who visited Trump over the weekend at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida, said that the U.S. president is frustrated with Russia's delays. Stubb also proposed April 20 as a "good time" for an unconditional ceasefire. Trump acknowledged on March 25 that Russia may be "dragging their feet" in peace talks, while Kyiv and other observers warn that Moscow intentionally prolongs the process to allow Russian forces to capture more territory. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Talking to reporters, Trump also criticized Zelensky for allegedly wanting to back out of the U.S.-Ukraine deal on natural resources. "He's trying to back out of the rare earth deal and if he does that, he's got some problems, big, big problems," Trump said. "He wants to be a member of NATO, but he's never going to be a member of NATO. He understands that." Zelensky said on March 28 that he would not sign a minerals deal that interferes with Ukraine's plans to join the European Union. Bloomberg reported on March 29 that Kyiv was requesting changes to the current proposal, including greater investment from the U.S. and more clarity on how the joint fund would operate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Join our community Support independent journalism in Ukraine. Join us in this fight. Support Us Kremlin says it remains open to US talks despite Trump's reported anger at Putin The Kremlin remains willing to engage with the U.S. despite reports that President Donald Trump is "very angry" over Russian President Vladimir Putin's latest remarks on Ukraine, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on March 31. The statement follows reports that Trump was "pissed off" over Putin's fixation on President Volodymyr Zelensky's legitimacy, NBC News reported on March 30. In a call with NBC journalist Kristen Welker, Trump said that Putin's latest demand for a transitional government in Ukraine to replace Zelensky suggests that peace talks are "not going in the right location." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Peskov downplayed the reports, claiming Trump's comments were paraphrased rather than direct quotes. He also reiterated that Putin remains open to dialogue with Washington. "We are working on implementing some ideas related to the Ukrainian settlement. This work is underway. So far, there are no specifics that we could and should have informed you about," Peskov added, as pro-government outlet Interfax reported. Moscow rejected a full 30-day truce agreed upon by the U.S. and Ukraine in Jeddah on March 11, demanding conditions that would weaken Kyiv's defenses, such as a halt to foreign military aid. Although Washington mediated a partial ceasefire in March, Russia targeted energy infrastructure in Kherson on March 27, despite earlier claims that it was adhering to a moratorium on such strikes since March 18. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump has floated measures such as additional sanctions and tariffs on Russian oil but has yet to take concrete steps to pressure Moscow. Instead, the U.S. president has largely focused his leverage on Ukraine and Zelensky, already cutting off U.S. military aid and intelligence sharing once. Ukraine-US talks on minerals deal ongoing, not tied to NATO membership, source says Ukrainian and U.S. government and legal teams continue discussions on the mineral deal, a source in the Presidential Office told the Kyiv Independent on March 31 as U.S. President Donald Trump is escalating his rhetoric on the agreement. "On Friday (March 28), we spoke with the American side; now we (Ukraine) will discuss it, then (the parties) will talk again," the source said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The comments came after Trump said on March 30 that he believed President Volodymyr Zelensky wanted to back out of the agreement and warned that his refusal would have consequences. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump followed up his comments about the mineral deal by saying that Ukraine continues to hold NATO aspirations, which he presented as hopeless. "He (Zelensky) wants to be a member of NATO, but he's never going to be a member of NATO. He understands that," Trump said. According to the Kyiv Independent's source, Ukraine's NATO membership is not a part of the minerals deal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We are not tying (the minerals deal to NATO), it's a misunderstanding," they said. A map showing the location of critical raw materials in Ukraine. (The Kyiv Independent) The Financial Times reported on March 27 that the latest version of the agreement proposed by the U.S. includes terms that would grant Washington unprecedented control over Ukraine's natural resources through a joint investment fund. Ukrainian online newspaper European Pravda also wrote that the deal may contradict Ukraine's EU accession due to severe restrictions affecting Ukraine's economic sovereignty. Following the news, Zelensky said that Kyiv would not sign the deal if it threatened the country's EU membership and reiterated that he does not consider Washington's aid to Kyiv a debt. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bloomberg reported on March 29 that Kyiv was requesting changes to the current proposal, including greater investment from the U.S. and more clarity on how the joint fund would operate. The Trump administration has touted the minerals deal as an essential part of Ukraine's path to peace but has failed to offer concrete security guarantees in exchange for broad access to resources. Kyiv and Washington were set to sign an earlier version of the agreement on Feb. 28, but the plan fell apart after a heated Oval Office dispute between Zelensky, Trump, and Vice President JD Vance. The White House has described the minerals deal as a mechanism for the U.S. to "recoup" some of the financial aid it has provided to Ukraine since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion. Read also: US, Russia begin talks on rare earth minerals projects, Moscow claims Russia trying to bypass Ukraine's positions in Toretsk by going underground, military says Russian soldiers tried to enter Ukraine's rear in Toretsk in Donetsk Oblast via underground communications as battles in the city continue, said Victor Tregubov, a spokesperson for Ukraine's Khortytsia group of forces, on March 31. Toretsk, which lies roughly 20 kilometers (12 miles) southwest of Russian-occupied Bakhmut, has seen fierce fighting in recent months, and Ukraine launched a counterattack in late February and early March. The city is largely occupied by Russian troops. Speaking on national television, Tregubov said that Russian troops are having difficulty moving through the streets of Toretsk, so they have resorted to underground communications to attempt to advance in the city. "Since this is also a priority sector, the Russians are trying to use every chance to bypass Ukrainian troops," the spokesperson said. In a similar instance, Russian troops allegedly used a gas pipeline to gain a foothold on the outskirts of Sudzha in Russia's Kursk Oblast earlier this month to conceal their movement. Last week, Ukraine's military also said that Russian forces have resumed their attacks in the Pokrovsk sector, which had experienced a relative lull in Russian activity until then. President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Russia is planning renewed offensives in various parts of the front line, including in the Kharkiv, Sumy, and Zaporizhzhia oblasts. Read also: Unless you act, its just rhetoric Baltic states skeptical of Western European leadership Sweden unveils its largest military aid package for Ukraine worth nearly $1.6 billion Sweden will provide Ukraine with a military aid package worth almost $1.6 billion, Swedish Defense Minister Pal Jonson announced on March 31. The latest package is Sweden's largest tranche of military assistance since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022, according to Jonson. "The package includes, among other things, support for Ukraines air defense, artillery, satellite communications, and maritime capacity," the minister said on X. With this package, Sweden's support to Ukraine since 2022 amounts to 80 billion Swedish kronor ($8 billion), the country's government said. This assistance has included Archer self-propelled howitzers, Strv 122 tanks, and CV90 infantry fighting vehicles. The latest package includes $912 million worth of equipment that will be procured from the Swedish defense industry and delivered to Ukraine in the span of "about 0-24 months." It also encompasses a $465 million donation to international multilateral initiatives, the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, and purchases from the Ukrainian defense industry. Kyiv will further receive material and spare parts from the Swedish Armed Forces worth about $93 million, including m58 machine guns, ammunition, roughly 100 vehicles of various types for air base maintenance, and other support. Stockholm is also allocating $46 million for an export guarantee to supplement procurement for donations to Ukraine, ensuring more Swedish companies can support Kyiv by providing requested material. Finally, the Swedish Defense Materiel Administration, a state military procurement agency, "will also be tasked with identifying, testing and funding military solutions from small tech companies that need to be verified or scaled up for military purposes in Ukraine," Jonson said. The package comes as European countries seek to bolster support for Ukraine as future backing from the U.S., the leading military donor, grows increasingly uncertain under President Donald Trump. Read also: Netherlands pledges over $2 billion for Ukraine in 2025, including $540 million for drones Trump's spiritual adviser visits Bucha, meets Ukraine's religious leaders U.S. President Donald Trump's spiritual advisor, Pastor Mark Burns, arrived in Ukraine and visited cities in Kyiv Oblast liberated from Russian forces in 2022, Chief Rabbi of Ukraine Moshe Azman said on March 31. Azman invited Burns to visit Bucha, Borodianka, and Irpin. Three years ago, Russia's attempts to encircle Kyiv failed after more than a month of heavy fighting, with Moscow's troops retreating from the capital's outskirts. Hundreds of residents of the three towns were found to have been tortured, raped, and executed by the Russian army. "The war in Ukraine is bigger than Democrats or Republicans, the left or the right. Whether you dislike President Trump or President (Volodymyr) Zelensky, real people are dying here," Burns said on X. Reflecting on his trip to Kyiv Oblast, Burns listed Russian war crimes, including deported children and raped women, executions of civilians and destruction of multiple churches. Ukraine's top religious leaders also told him about Russia's systematic religious persecution. "Yet despite these horrors, Ukraine stands strong as a beacon of religious freedom, welcoming all faiths," Burns said. The pastor said that Ukrainian soldiers on the front line "are not asking for money" but for more weapons and fighter jets "to shoot down the drones that still fire at civilian buildings, and killing people." Ukraine has agreed to a U.S.-proposed full 30-day ceasefire, saying on March 11 that Kyiv is ready to take such a step if Russia also agrees to the terms. So far, Russia has refused, instead attempting to extract major concessions from the U.S. in exchange for partial ceasefire agreements. Mark Burns is a televangelist and pastor of Harvest Praise & Worship Center in South Carolina. He supported Donald Trump in the 2016 presidential election and was labeled by Time Magazine as "Donald Trump's Top Pastor." "Pastor Burns is a man who has the ability to be heard where big decisions are made. And I believe that the voice of truth from Ukraine will be brought to the heart of the new U.S. leadership," Azman said. Trump has adopted a more critical stance toward Ukraine than his predecessor, former President Joe Biden. The new administration has temporarily paused military and intelligence support for Kyiv while praising the U.S. president's supposedly warm relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Note from the author: Ukraine War Latest is put together by the Kyiv Independent news desk team, who keep you informed 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you value our work and want to ensure we have the resources to continue, join the Kyiv Independent community. Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Russia attacked Ukraine with two Iskander-M ballistic missiles and 131 Shahed-type strike drones and various decoy UAVs on the night of 30-31 March. A total of 57 drones were shot down. Source: Ukrainian Air Force on Telegram Quote: "As of 09:00, the confirmed number of Shahed-type strike drones (and other types of UAVs) downed is 57, intercepted over the north, east and central parts of the country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another 45 enemy decoy drones disappeared from radar without causing any damage." Details: The Russian attack affected Sumy, Donetsk, Kharkiv, Kyiv and Zhytomyr oblasts. The missiles were launched from Russias Kursk Oblast, while the drones were launched from the areas of the Russian cities of Oryol, Millerovo, Kursk, Bryansk and Prymorsko-Akhtarsk. The air attack was repelled by anti-aircraft missile units, electronic warfare systems and mobile fire teams from the Air Force and Ukraines defence forces. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! We came across a bullish thesis on Compass Minerals International, Inc. (CMP) on Substack by Dominick D'Angelo. In this article, we will summarize the bulls thesis on CMP. Compass Minerals International, Inc. (CMP)'s share was trading at $9.56 as of March 28th. CMPs forward P/E was 15.67 according to Yahoo Finance. kmichal/Shutterstock.com Compass Minerals is a dominant player in the essential minerals industry, with a strong presence in North America, the U.K., and Brazil. The companys Salt segment, contributing 83% of revenue, includes highway deicing salt, industrial salts, and consumer salts, backed by assets like the worlds largest underground salt mine in Goderich, Ontario, and the Cote Blanche mine in Louisiana. Its strategic distribution network ensures a competitive edge, while the Plant Nutrition segment, accounting for 17% of revenue, focuses on sulfate of potash (SOP), a high-value fertilizer produced cost-effectively through solar evaporation at the Great Salt Lake facility. This segment benefits from a streamlined focus following the divestment of non-core businesses, allowing Compass to serve key agricultural markets efficiently. Despite its industry leadership, Compass has faced setbacks, including a failed lithium extraction initiative, the costly and ultimately abandoned Fortress North America acquisition, and a disruptive ceiling collapse at the Goderich mine in 2017. Additionally, increased competition from Morton Salts acquisition by Stone Canyon Industries and pricing pressure from imported salt in coastal markets have challenged profitability. However, Compass has taken significant steps to improve operations, refocusing on core businesses and implementing cost reduction strategies to stabilize financial performance. The companys stock has been weighed down by high leverage, management turnover, and a weak start to the 2025 winter season, where mild weather led to a 12.7% decline in salt volumes through Q1 and lower highway salt pricing. To mitigate these challenges, Compass curtailed production at Goderich, optimized working capital, and unlocked an $80M accounts receivable release, setting the stage for a $180M free cash flow tailwind. While early winter conditions were unfavorable, Q2 2025 saw a turnaround, with record snowfall in Rochester, NY, and regional salt shortages benefiting Compass. Competitor American Rock Salt struggled to meet demand, and Compass secured a $56M contract to supply Buffalo, NY, at premium pricing, positioning the company for a significant revenue boost. Ukraines Security Service has uncovered a spy network that was helping coordinate Russian strikes on Kyiv. Three individuals, including a Russian citizen, have been detained for passing on coordinates used to target defence plants and weapon storage sites belonging to Ukraines defence forces. Source: Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) Quote: "The investigation established that the main task of the perpetrators was to adjust fire for Russian airstrikes on the capital of Ukraine." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Details: The law enforcement reported that the agents operated separately but were all under the command of the same Russian handler, who had already been identified by Ukrainian counterintelligence. The detaining of the agent. Photo: SSU The detained Russian spy had lived in Ukraine prior to the full-scale war and acquired his assignment from Russian intelligence after the invasion began. He established an observation point on the rooftop of a high-rise building in Kyiv after gaining access from a local housing co-op representative. The other two agents were a current and a former employee of Ukrainian defence facilities. The first was gathering data on the aftermath of Russian strikes, while the second collected information from former colleagues on potential targets. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During searches, investigators confiscated computers, mobile phones containing intelligence reports and a drone that the group intended to employ for monitoring of defence facilities. All three suspects are now in custody. They have been formally charged under three articles of Ukraine's Criminal Code, including high treason. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! LONDON (AP) British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Monday that a lack of coordination between U.K. police and intelligence agencies is partly responsible for a surge in the number of migrants reaching the U.K. in small boats across the English Channel. At an international meeting on boosting border security and tackling people-smuggling, Starmer expressed frustration at the difficulty of stopping thousands of people a year risking the dangerous sea crossing from France. We inherited this total fragmentation between our policing, our Border Force and our intelligence agencies, Starmer said as officials from more than 40 countries met in London. A fragmentation that made it crystal clear, when I looked at it, that there were gaps in our defense, an open invitation at our borders for the people smugglers to crack on. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Starmers center-left government, elected nine months ago, is grappling with an issue that vexed its Conservative predecessors. Despite law-enforcement cooperation with France and work with authorities in countries further up the route taken by migrants from Africa, Asia and the Middle East, more than 6,600 migrants crossed the channel in the first three months of this year, the highest number on record. The opposition Conservatives say the figure shows Labour should not have scrapped the previous governments contentious and never-implemented plan to send asylum-seekers who arrive by boat on one-way trips to Rwanda. Starmer called the Rwanda plan a gimmick and canceled it soon after he was elected in July. Britain paid Rwanda hundreds of millions of pounds for the plan under a deal signed by the two countries in 2022, without any deportations taking place. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mondays meeting was addressed virtually by Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni, whose far-right government has opened centers in Albania to hold some asylum-seekers while their claims are processed a project being closely watched by Starmers government. Meloni said the plan was criticized at first, but had gained increasing consensus, so much so that today, European Union is proposing to set up return hubs in third countries. The governments of Albania, Vietnam and Iraq, whose nationals account for a significant number of asylum-seekers in the U.K., were also represented. Starmer, who has said organized people-smugglers should be treated in the same way as terror gangs, has been criticized by refugee groups, and some Labour supporters, for his hardline approach to irregular migration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But he said theres nothing progressive or compassionate about turning a blind eye to this. Nothing progressive or compassionate about continuing that false hope which attracts people to make those journeys. This vile trade exploits the cracks between our institutions, pits nations against one another and profits from our inability at the political level to come together, Starmer said. Weve got to combine our resources, share intelligence and tactics, and tackle the problem upstream at every step of the people smuggling routes. BATON ROUGE, La. (KLFY) The University of Louisiana-Lafayette has longstanding issues with complying with accounting procedures, according to the annual audit released Monday by the Louisiana Legislative Auditors Office. For the third consecutive year, auditors found the university did not bill for federal, state, local, and non-governmental grants and contracts revenue in a timely manner. Failure to bill timely causes noncompliance with the contract, agreement, and/or internal policy, the audit read. Additionally, untimely billing increases the risk that receivable accounts could become uncollectable. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In its response letter, signed by University President E. Joseph Savoie, Vice President Jerry LeBlanc and Judith Maina, director of schools Office of Sponsored Programs Finance Administration and Compliance, the university said the delays in billing were primarily due to staff shortages and high employee turnover over the last couple of years. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now KLFY Daily Digest (S)ignificant progress has been made in reducing delays and improving processes despite ongoing challenges such as high turnover and staffing shortages within the Office of Sponsored Programs Finance Administration and Compliance, the letter said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For the fourth consecutive year, auditors said the university did not have adequate controls in place to ensure personnel expenses charged to federal Research and Development awards accurately reflected work performed. Inadequate controls related to federal documentation standards for personnel expenses could result in noncompliance with federal allowable costs and cost principles, as well as noncompliance with special tests and provisions related to key personnel effort, the audit read. The university said the omissions were not intentional, and was the result of a changeover in accounting systems. PREVIOUSLY: University of Louisiana-Lafayette audit shows recurring issues Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement (T)he University has been transitioning from a manual to an electronic effort certification system, the response letter read. In the transition, we had opted shifting from a fiscal-year-based reporting framework to a calendar-year-based framework. The effort certifications for the period in question are scheduled for completion by April 15, 2025, at which point they will fully support that salaries and wages charged to federal awards are based on records accurately reflecting work performed. Also for the fourth consecutive year, the university did not adequately monitor subrecipients of the R&D Cluster programs. In addition, auditors found the university did not ensure that all expenses charged to federal R&D awards complied with period of performance requirements. Failure to properly monitor subrecipients results in noncompliance with federal regulations and increases the likelihood of improper payments which may have to be returned to the federal awarding agency, auditors said. The university admitted the noncompliance and again cited staff turnover and attrition for the shortcomings in its response letter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The University remains committed to making continuous improvements and appreciates (auditors) understanding and support as we address these challenges, the letter read. Read the audit in its entirety here: 00007144Download Latest news Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLFY.com. Annelise Mennicke and her team started trying in 2018 to get federal funding for their research at UNC Charlotte, and in April 2024, it finally came through. On Mar. 20, it was rescinded. Its one of multiple research grants to be cut at the university in 2025 following President Donald Trumps inauguration. Its pretty traumatic, the professor in UNC Charlottes school of social work told The Charlotte Observer. Its something we had been working toward for a very long time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mennickes team researches how to improve mental health outcomes for LGBTQ survivors of sexual abuse. She says the grant was canceled because it focused on LGBTQ health outcomes. This award no longer effectuates agency priorities, states the termination letter her team received that she shared with The Observer. Research programs based on gender identity are often unscientific, have little identifiable return on investment and do nothing to enhance the health of many Americans. The letter went on to claim many such studies ignore, rather than seriously examine, biological realities. More than 68 grants at 49 universities around the country that the National Institutes of Health cut this month pertain to LGBTQ health research, the Associated Press reported last week. The grants totaled $40 million. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All four federal grant terminations at UNC Charlotte in 2025 were related to LGBTQ individuals or diversity, equity and inclusion, a spokesperson for the university told The Observer. Cuts from grants specifically given by NIH total $905,873. A UNC Charlotte spokesperson said its research division is working with faculty to determine next steps. Mennickes grant was just over $450,000. At only six months into a three-year project, around $400,000 of that hadnt been spent yet. They intended to study the best ways to respond to someone when they disclose theyve experienced sexual violence and train peers in those response techniques. Then, they would measure what effect that had on survivors healing. Research shows that people will often first disclose it to a friend who may not respond in a helpful way. That can lead to re-victimization, increased post-traumatic stress and other negative outcomes, Mennicke said. But with some training, peers may be able to respond in a way thats better. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Six students were employed by the grant and expected to be employed through the end of the year. With the termination of the grant, UNC Charlotte has promised to pay them through the end of the academic year, Mennicke said, but theyll need to seek new jobs come summer. To Mennicke, the message seemed clear. It seemed to imply that the inclusion of language that even merely acknowledges that trans people exist is why this grant was cut, she said. These people exist in our community... How are we supposed to make our community safer if we cant even acknowledge they exist and include them in research studies? Sonyia Richardson, a researcher previously at UNC Charlotte and now at UNC Chapel Hill, also saw her grant be terminated. Richardson was studying how to prevent suicide among Black youth in Charlotte. Her research didnt focus specifically on LGBTQ people but examined sexual orientation as one facet of the issue, as LGBTQ youth are at greater risk for suicide. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement NIH is the largest public supporter of U.S. medical research. In North Carolina, the agency awards grants to nonprofits, foundations, health startups and dozens of universities. In 2023, NC State received $42.9 million through 116 awards. Yet given the NIHs mission, universities with medical schools like Duke and UNC-Chapel Hill are the states biggest recipients. Not only has the news taken a toll on Mennicke and her fellow team members, she says its a loss to Charlotte and the greater population as a whole. What this means for the LGBTQ community is there will no longer be an intervention for this, she said. And that could lead to decreased safety and worse mental health in our community. There could also be economic repercussions. NIH data from 2023 show the return on investment from federally funded research is greater than 30 percent every $1 of NIH funding generated approximately $2.46 of economic activity. Town hall meeting in Tallahassee on March 22, 2025. (Photo by Mitch Perry/Florida Phoenix) Floridians are big mad. Not all 20-odd million of us, of course: We tend to be politically soporific, occasionally becoming passionate over potholes or maybe a too-short grouper fishing season, but preferring to keep reality at arms length. Still, something is changing. People are angry, auto-calling their representatives, making signs, demonstrating and showing up at town halls. U.S. Rep. Neal Dunn via U.S. House MAGAs will tell you these are nothing but a bunch of disgruntled Democrats, but Ill bet cash money a good number of those veterans protesting silently outside Tallahassee City Hall last week usually vote Republican. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And Ill bet a decent number, frightened and frustrated over President Musks scorched-earth attacks on the Department of Education, NOAA, USAID, etc. (its a terrifyingly long list), didnt vote at all in 2024. I overheard a couple of them talking about it during a recent town hall in Tallahassee. They both said they didnt like either candidate: Harris was too pro-Israel, Trump was good at business (highly debatable) but a terrible person, and until now they never really thought it mattered who got elected. Now they know. The town hall was organized by the Democratic Party of Leon County, hoping to get our congressman to come and talk to us, his constituents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rep. Neal Dunn was invited. He never even responded. He certainly didnt show up. Republicans dont show up, not any more. They dont like getting booed. They dont like facing outraged citizens. A few tried holding town halls. Did not go well. But hey, at least they actually held town halls. Nobodys seen hide nor hair of Florida Republicans. Maybe theyre huddled together in an undisclosed location. I doubt anyone expected to see either of our senators: Ashley Moody remains a MAGA acolyte, while Rick Scott held a telephone town hall once, but that was back during the pandemic. Invisibility Lawmaker invisibility hasnt stopped constituents from arranging meetings and imploring these politicians who allegedly work for them to come and listen. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tampa Bay voters put on a town hall in Clearwater on March 15 in Rep. Anna Paulina Lunas district. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, via U.S. House She was, unsurprisingly, absent. Undeterred, a large crowd addressed a cut-out of her. Some told the cardboard Luna they feared DOGE would wreck Social Security. One lady, whose husband was fired from the U.S. Geological Survey in DOGEs senseless purges, said, Ive called and I have emailed and heard nothing from you. Maybe Lunas too busy lobbying to carve Trumps face on Mt. Rushmore. Luna doesnt support Ukraine, and pitched a little hissy fit when Democrats waved the blue and yellow flag in the House, snapping, Put those damn flags away! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But by God, shes determined to get to the bottom of the great JFK assassination cover-up, demanding the doctors who treated JFK in Dallas and members of the Warren Commission who investigated it appear before Congress. Unfortunately for her and for the CIA/Cuba/KGB/Space Aliens conspiracy theorists, all those people are quite dead. No-show Neal Dunn, last weeks no-show, is a urologist from Panama City and is, like Luna, one of the states least impressive members of Congress. Hes done absolutely nothing of note, unless you count his proposed resolution to Protect American Businesses from Onerous Refrigeration Regulations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Youd think he might have bothered to attend a room of 500+ voters, eager to hear from him. It wouldnt have been much of an inconvenience, either: According to his website, he was in Tallahassee that morning, hosting an event for young people who might want to attend one of the service academies. That event ended at 11 a.m.; the town hall started at 11 a.m.; the distance from City Hall to the American Legion Hall is 1.8 miles. It would have taken him a solid five or six minutes to drive there. Concerns The standing-room-only audience created a list of what theyd like to talk about: the unelected Musk, DOGEs trashing of government services, Ukraine, health care, reproductive rights, our endangered planet, our endangered entitlement programs, and our endangered democracy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A panel of worthies, including a county commissioner, a city commissioner, legendary activist Karen Woodall, and former Democratic congressman Alan Boyd, tried to address peoples issues. It wasnt smooth sailing. Many were thoroughly annoyed with the good souls on the panel as well as the minority party in Washington. Democrats are good at lamenting, hand-wringing, and doom-predicting all reasonable responses to the atrocities visited upon the country by President Musk and his henchpersons. They just dont seem to have much in the way of answers. One guy stood up and yelled, Whats the solution? I think we know the problem! Attack on universities Sentient Americans understand the United States is being dismantled, hurled into a Dumpster, and set on fire. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rep. Dunns district contains six institutions of higher education. All receive federal funds. If DOGE gets its way and slashes the budgets of the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health, what will become of research at FSU, FAMU, and other colleges and universities? FSU alone could lose $65 million. That would be a direct hit on the College of Medicine, all the science departments, and the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory the largest and most important magnet lab in the world. It conducts experiments in (among other things) superconductivity, critical to efficient and sustainable energy sources. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If that money goes away, it wont just be scientific research that suffers: There will be a knock-on effect, harming the whole university. The best professors will leave; the best students wont enroll; lots of people will be laid off. What will happen to the hundreds of federal jobs at Tyndall Air Force Base at the western end of Rep. Dunns territory? How about the USDA Farm Service office in Madison at the eastern end? Florida is home to 100,000 federal employees, most of them represented by Republicans. How about DOGEs decimating NOAA and the National Weather Service? Floridas entire Democratic congressional delegation warned that this was a Very Bad Idea. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No Republicans signed onto their letter. Remember Michael? Maybe Dunn thinks Florida doesnt need hurricane forecasters; maybe hes forgotten what Hurricane Michael did to his district in 2018. Without NWS it would have been even worse. Hurricane Michael, a Cat 5 storm fueled by the excessive warmth of the Gulf, destroyed much of Tyndall AFB in Panama City. (Photo via the Florida Air National Guard) What would Dunn or any of Floridas senators and representatives say to the 400 statewide whove lost their jobs with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service? Or the untold numbers wholl soon be sacked by the Veterans Administration? Dunn is a veteran himself, but hes pretty offhand about their concerns. Its only 20 in the region (whatever than means VA jobs, maybe? This is not a massacre, he said. Maybe not to him, but the veterans protesting outside his recent event at Gulf Coast State College werent impressed: Theres nowhere in the Constitution that what is going on with DOGE and Elon Musk is appropriate, one told WJHG TV. Thats putting it mildly. But the Constitution doesnt seem to matter to DOGE, President Musk, Trump, or the Republican-controlled Congress. Maybe it will mean something to the Supreme Court. What do you say, Rep. Dunn? SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE 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 The Hill. It must not be killed or shot at except in an emergency arising out of self-defense. That was one of the U.S. State Departments cardinal rules for American fortune seekers, proto-cryptozoologists and adventurers who were making the trek into the Himalayas and hoped to encounter the Abominable Snowman also known as the Yeti. The Yeti, like its legendary North American relative Bigfoot, is a mythical ape-like creature that many have claimed is real. Some said they saw the creature, while others say theyve found evidence (in the form of footprints and folk tales) of what they believe to be the beast. Also like Bigfoot, there is no conclusive evidence that the Yeti exists or has ever existed. In spite of this fact, the Department of State, specifically the U.S. Embassy in Nepal, determined the key rules for any Americans who should encounter one of them. Before the 20th century, the mythical Yeti was just that: a creature of myth. It was part of the cultural belief systems of many Buddhists in the region, but no one in the West knew (or even cared) about whether or not such an ape was real. As Western explorers began to trek in the area in the 1800s, reports of the creature found their ways into journals and travelogues from visitors who returned from Himalayan expeditions. But as Westerners became more and more determined to summit the worlds tallest mountain, interest in the areas resident apeman only grew. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More and more explorers began to make claims of seeing the Yeti, while others photographed strange prints in the snow. Not only were the footprints those belonging to something that was certainly a biped walking upright, the creature had a unique footprint, with anywhere from three to five toes of various sizes. Even Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay, summiting Mount Everest for the first time, claimed to have seen the tracks of a Yeti. The Yeti Craze reached a fever pitch in the late 1950s, when wealthy Americans began leading expeditions to Nepal specifically to search for Yeti-related evidence. Then in 1958, mountaineer Peter Byrne traveled to Nepal for that same purpose. It was there he found a purported Yeti hand in a monastery. He returned the next year with the mission of getting either the hand or a finger from it to return to London for testing. He managed to smuggle a finger to India and, with the help of actor Jimmy Stewart, smuggle the finger to London. That finger turned out to be a regular human finger. But the incident was enough for the United States mission in Nepal to release a memo that governed visiting Americans who were looking for evidence of the Abominable Snowman. The memo, written by U.S. Ambassador Ernest Fisk, published three rules that specifically applied to those Yeti hunters: They would pay a royalty of 5,000 rupees to the Nepalese government in exchange for a permit to carry out a search expedition for the Yeti. If a Yeti is traced, it can be photographed or captured alive, but it must not be killed or shot at unless it becomes a case of self-defense. Any photographs of the creature, dead or alive, must be surrendered to the government of Nepal. Any news that substantiates the actual existence of the Yeti must be submitted to the Nepalese government and cannot be released to the press for public consumption without Nepals express permission. The U.S. National Archives, upon releasing this document, was careful to stress that the existence of the memo did not mean the United States government recognized the existence of the Yeti. It was just a means for the U.S. to demonstrate its support for Nepals national sovereignty. It was a Cold War-era policy designed to keep Nepal, strategically situated between China and India, in the American sphere of influence and out of the Soviet Unions. (WHTM) A performance audit of UPMCs Community HealthChoices contract with the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services revealed that UPMC failed to update participant information, costing taxpayers over $350,000 in 2022. According to the Pennsylvania Department of the Auditor General, UPMC didnt properly perform all its required participant assessments, failed to notify the DHS of changes to participants program eligibility status, and didnt consistently provide participant eligibility information to DHS. Close Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Local Business Beat The auditor generals office found that the DHS overpaid UPMC by $357,048 in 2022. The auditor generals office said that the DHS was unable to recover $120,977 due to contract limits. UPMC is required to report to DHS whether a person has died, went to jail or is no longer eligible to be part of the program, Denlinger said. DHS uses this as part of the data to set the rate it pays UPMC to provide care to people on Community HealthChoices. UPMC needs to make sure there is greater accountability in its management structure to ensure the required assessments are happening on time and regularly. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The DHS recommended changes to UPMC to prevent future issues. According to the Auditor Generals office, some of these include requiring UPMC to have additional procedures in place in its payment reconciliation process and in its Medicare eligibility outreach to participants. We have some specific recommendations for DHS as well, Denlinger said. DHS can make sure Pennsylvanians get back all the money owed to them when they overpay for services by changing the contract language to close this loophole. And it can update its contracts to make sure UPMC contacts all participants at least once a year to make sure their status hasnt changed. Auditor General Tim Defoor did not participate in this audit due to his past work as an auditor and fraud investigator for UPMC. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. URBANA, Ill. (WCIA) The Urbana Police Department is warning residents about a recent telephone scam. The police department said a community member reported receiving multiple phone calls from someone claiming to be with the Urbana Police Department. The caller was able to use a spoofed number matching the departments main line, which is 217-384-2320. Multiple crashes in Champaign Co. following Sundays storm: State Police Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Then, the caller requested personal information and claimed the residents bank accounts were compromised. The caller also threatened arrest and said federal authorities were involved. The police department assured the community that no officer with the Urbana Police Department will ask for your banking information, or demand payment over the phone. At times, police will ask for identifying details during investigations, but this generally takes place in person, with official documentation. Hundreds in Urbana come out to protest Trump The police department added that scammers can spoof legitimate phone numbers. This makes them appear legitimate, and as if a call is coming from a trusted source. If you receive a call that is suspicious, the police department said you should hang up and redial the department directly at 217-384-2320 to verify the call. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If you or someone you know receives a scam call similar to this, report it to the police department immediately. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCIA.com. By Alexandra Alper WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The federal human-resources agency leading efforts by billionaire White House adviser Elon Musk to slash the federal workforce has decided to hire its first new career employee since President Donald Trump took office, according to emails seen by Reuters. The position is a new driver to ferry around leaders of that agency, the Office of Personnel Management, the emails indicate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement OPM's acting director, Chuck Ezell, last week authorized an exemption to a government-wide hiring freeze to replace one of two drivers for agency leadership after one retired in mid-March, according to the messages. The decision, not previously reported, shows that Musk's Department of Government Efficiency, which is directing the cuts, is not making the government more effective, said Kathleen Clark, a professor of ethics at Washington University in St. Louis. "It is becoming increasingly obvious that Musks & DOGEs mission has absolutely nothing to do with efficiency, and instead is aimed at enabling Musk to use - and abuse - power within the federal government," she said. "Authorizing a Musk-controlled agency like OPM to hire a driver while slashing essential federal workers who actually help Americans in need is a good example." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The White House, DOGE, Musk and Ezell did not respond to requests for comment. An OPM spokesperson said in a statement that the agency "has ongoing security concerns" requiring a driver, without providing further detail. Ezell said he has received death threats in the role in an interview last month with byFaith, which describes itself as the Magazine of the Presbyterian Church in America. One of Trump's first acts as president was to create DOGE, to root out waste, fraud and abuse, slash government spending and purge the federal workforce of low-performing, disloyal and unnecessary workers. Trump has said he is "very proud" of what he describes as a vital initiative to turn off the spigot of wasteful spending. In practice, some say DOGE has mostly pursued long-time Republican policy objectives, shuttering agencies such as USAID and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, which provide a lifeline to the world's needy and protect Americans from unscrupulous lender respectively. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It has also announced drastic cuts at departments that provide critical social services including the Department of Veterans Affairs, which administers healthcare for veterans, and the Social Security Administration, which sends out checks to retired, disabled and widowed Americans. OPM, which has led the charge on federal government firings, has laid off more than 200 of its own employees and allowed over 400 to opt in to voluntary exit programs since Trump took office, two people familiar with the matter said. (Reporting by Alexandra Alper in Washington; Editing by Chris Sanders and Matthew Lewis) We recently published a list of Top 9 AI Ratings and News Updates on Wall Streets Radar. In this article, we are going to take a look at where Corning Inc. (NYSE:GLW) stands against other top AI ratings and news updates on Wall Streets radar. Despite AIs potential to transform our lives for the better, security threats associated with the technology continue to make headlines. North Koreas Kim Jong Un oversaw tests of newly developed AI-powered suicide drones and called for increased production. Kim Jong Un had reportedly said that unmanned control and AI capability should be prioritized in modern arms development. Elsewhere, Alabama Governor Kay Ivey banned Chinese AI tools over data security concerns. When it comes to the threat posed by the Chinese government, Alabama takes no chances. Our citizens information must be protected in the strongest possible ways, which is why we are not only putting a ban on these two Chinese AI companies within our state government but also safeguarding our states IT infrastructure from any foreign country of concern, she said. Bill Gates also recently reiterated concerns about AI replacing most jobs. He believes the rate of advancements in AI could mean that the technology could replace many professions, including doctors and teachers. Its very profound and even a little bit scary because its happening very quickly, and there is no upper bound, Gates said in a recent interview. However, he noted that certain types of jobs will likely never be replaced by AI. He said last year that he remains optimistic about the overall benefits of AI, like breakthrough treatments for deadly diseases, innovative solutions for climate change, and high-quality education for everyone. We selected AI stocks by reviewing news articles, stock analysis, and press releases. We listed the stocks in ascending order of the number of hedge funds that hold stakes in them, as of Q4 2024. 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). Corning (GLW) Revolutionizes Data Centers with GlassWorks AI Cable Solutions! A technician wearing protective glasses installing optical fibers and cables. Corning Inc. (NYSE:GLW) Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 73 Corning Inc. (NYSE:GLW) is an innovator in materials science. It applies its expertise in glass science, ceramic science, and optical physics, combined with engineering capabilities, to design diverse products for industries such as optical communications, mobile consumer electronics, automotive, solar, semiconductors, and life sciences. Houthi rebels said U.S. airstrikes hit Yemens capital overnight and into early Monday morning, killing at least three people. Strikes in Sanaa reportedly killed one person, with the Al-Masirah satellite news source showing footage of broken glass in homes, but withholding specifics about the targets, The Associated Press reported. A separate strike targeted a pickup truck in Hajjah, killing two people and wounding a child, the Houthis said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It would be the first known example of U.S. strikes hitting a vehicle in Yemen. U.S. attacks on the Yemen-based group have continued sporadically since the start of Israels war against Hamas in Gaza and have escalated under the Trump administration. A renewed U.S. aerial assault on the group this month was at the center of the Houthi PC Small Group Signal group chat scandal that involved Vice President Vance, national security adviser Mike Waltz, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and a dozen other top Trump officials. Hegseth has pledged an unrelenting campaign until the group stops its attacks on various vessels in the Red Sea. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the group chat, Vance suggested the U.S. was mostly helping Europe by clearing the crucial international shipping lanes, and argued the Trump administration should exact a higher price for its help. The attacks went ahead, and Houthis responded by declaring they will not be deterred, and would launch retaliatory airstrikes. The Houthis say the U.S. airstrike campaign has killed at least 61 people, the AP reported. The Hill has reached out to the Defense Department for comment. The Associated Press contributed. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) Suspected U.S. airstrikes struck around Yemen's rebel-held capital overnight into Monday morning, attacks that the Iranian-backed Houthis said killed at least three people. The full extent of the damage 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. The strikes around Sanaa, Yemen's capital held by the Houthis since 2014, and Hajjah governorate also wounded 12 others, the rebels said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Their Al-Masirah satellite news channel aired footage of broken glass littering homes in Sanaa after the concussive blast of the bombs, but continued not to show the targets of the attacks suggesting the sites had a military or intelligence function. Strikes there killed one person, the rebels said. Another strike targeting a pickup truck in Hajjah killed two people and wounded a child, the Houthis said. It marked the first, publicly known time the American strikes targeted a vehicle in this campaign. An Associated Press review has found the new American operation against the Houthis 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. The new campaign of airstrikes, which the Houthis now say have killed at least 61 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 loosely defined what constitutes an Israeli ship, meaning other vessels could be targeted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Houthis had targeted over 100 merchant vessels with missiles and drones, sinking two vessels and killing four sailors from November 2023 until January of this year. They also launched attacks targeting American warships, though none has 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. Three of the four U.S. Army Soldiers based out of Fort Stewart in Georgia who disappeared during a training exercise were found dead Monday in Lithuania, officials said. A search continues for the fourth soldier. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] They went missing March 25 in their M88A2 Hercules armored recovery vehicle while conducting a mission to repair and tow an immobilized tactical vehicle in the town of Pabrade. They have not been publicly identified, pending notification of their families. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The spokesperson for U.S. Army Europe and Africa said earlier Monday that crews had pulled the armored vehicle from a swamp on Sunday after a six-day search. The four were assigned to 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division. Today is a very sad and tragic day. The loss of these soldiers weighs heavy on me, the hearts of all Task Force Iron service members, and the 3rd Infantry Division. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and loved ones of these brave soldiers, said Maj. Gen. Curtis Taylor, commander of Task Force Iron and the 1st Armored Division. A search discovered the vehicle submerged in a swamp on March 26, and several agencies assisted in the days-long effort to remove it. Service members from the U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, Lithuanian Armed Forces and the Polish Armed Forces - along with others from the Lithuanian government and civilian agencies - had to solve the engineering challenge of recovering the 63-ton-vehicle from an area surrounded by unstable ground conditions, the Army spokesperson said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The armored vehicle was pulled ashore at 4:40 a.m., the towing operation is complete, Lithuanian Military Police and US investigators continue their work, Defense Minister Dovile Sakaliene said. TRENDING STORIES The Associated Press contributed to this report. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] Editor's note: The story has been updated with comments from U.S. President Donald Trump. Three American servicemen who went missing during a training exercise in Lithuania have been found dead, the U.S. Army's Europe and Africa Command announced on March 31. The soldiers and their tracked vehicle disappeared on March 25 during an exercise at a training ground near the Lithuanian city of Pabrade, located about 10 kilometers (six miles) from the border with Belarus. Pabrade hosts Camp Herkus, a U.S. military facility. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Three are no longer with us and one is unfortunately probably in the same category, but they haven't declared that yet," U.S. President Donald Trump said on March 31 in the Oval Office. Trump added that it "would seem that the bank of a lake collapsed" under the weight of the truck the soldiers were in. "It's a massively heavy vehicle and if they slipped a little bit they that's probably what happened, and it flipped," the U.S. president said. The U.S. Army confirmed that the bodies were found on March 31. Their identities have not been disclosed as officials await notification of next of kin. A search operation remains underway for another missing American soldier. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The U.S. Army and Lithuanian authorities are investigating the cause of the accident. Updates will be provided as more information becomes available," the statement reads. An M88 Hercules armored recovery vehicle was also reported missing alongside the soldiers and was later discovered submerged in a pond within the training area. After the armored vehicle was lifted, the Lithuanian prosecutor's office announced that it had launched a preliminary investigation "to determine the cause of death." Read also: Moldova expels 3 Russian diplomats for aiding fugitive MPs escape to Transnistria Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. (NewsNation) According to a White House official, President Trump has told automotive companies not to raise their prices ahead of tariffs on foreign parts. The president believes they are capable of paying this cost given the looming 25% tariffs on foreign parts and cars, which are set to be implemented Wednesday. Trump is unconcerned about foreign automakers hiking prices because he says people will start buying American cars. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement President Trumps senior trade adviser, Peter Navarro, says the tariff plan will raise more than $6 trillion in federal revenue over the next decade. Senate Democrats are set to vote on this resolution Tuesday, which aims to block the president from imposing a 25% tariff on Canada. Powerful US storms kill 2 and bring threats from critical fire weather to blizzard conditions Meanwhile, President Trump says he will decide whether or not he will put secondary tariffs on Iran following Irans rejection of direct negotiations with the U.S. on Sunday regarding its nuclear program. Trump then threatened to bomb Iran should it not comply. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Well see what happens, Trump said later Sunday on Air Force One. Very, very interesting. I cant imagine them doing anything else but making a deal. I would prefer a deal to the other alternative, which I think everybody in this play knows what that is, and thats not going to be pretty. And I do not prefer 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 NewsNation. A Turkish student detained by federal officers as she walked along a street in a Boston suburb is the latest supporter of Palestinian causes to be swept up in the Trump administrations crackdown on immigrants who express their political views. Civil rights lawyer Robert McWhirter discusses what the administration has to show to prove the student was aiding Hamas. McWhirter says the U.S. is becoming like other regimes that caution free speech. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation. The US government has sent a letter to major EU corporations, demanding that they adhere to an executive order signed by US president Donald Trump banning diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programmes, according to the Financial Times. This letter, distributed by the American embassy in Paris, among others, highlighted that the DEI executive order applied to US government service providers or suppliers, even if they were based outside of the US. US diplomats in Belgium and eastern EU countries also distributed this letter to companies, with Italian and Spanish corporations receiving it as well. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The letter was first reported by French daily financial newspaper Les Echos. Although it is unclear which EU companies received this letter, in France, defence, aviation, infrastructure and consulting companies are likely to be the most vulnerable to such a demand. In the US, the US Federal Communications Commission has already informed media giant Walt Disney and its ABC division that it will be starting an investigation into its DEI practices. A French minister on Sunday accused US diplomats of interfering in the operations of French companies. The US embassy didn't respond to questions this weekend from The Associated Press. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The document also asked recipients to complete, sign and return within five days a separate certification form to demonstrate that they are in compliance. That form, also published by Le Figaro, said: All Department of State contractors must certify that they do not operate any programs promoting DEI that violate any applicable anti-discrimination laws. The form asked recipients to tick a box to confirm that they do not operate any programs promoting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion that violate any applicable Federal anti-discrimination laws. The letter added: If you do not agree to sign this document, we would appreciate it if you could provide detailed reasons, which we will forward to our legal services. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Aurore Berge, France's minister for equality between women and men and combating discrimination, said Sunday that the letter is "a form, obviously, of interference. Thats to say its an attempt to impose a diktat on our businesses. Speaking to broadcaster BFMTV, she said that France's government is following the situation very closely and working to determine how many companies received the letter. The minister said that many companies have told the government that they dont plan to reply. It's out of the question that we'll prevent our business from promoting social progress, the minister said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Thankfully, a lot of French companies don't plan to change their rules, she added. Euronews has contacted the American Chamber of Commerce to the EU for comment. Why is Trump clamping down on DEI programmes? Ever since his presidential campaigning days, Trump has consistently denounced DEI practices across the US, but especially in government offices, claiming that they were discriminatory. He also promised to "forge a society that is colourblind and merit-based" in his Inauguration Day address. On 20 January this year, Trump has issued an executive order, called "Ending radical and wasteful government DEI programs and preferencing", which reverses Joe Biden's 2021 moves to boost DEI programs in the federal government. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This new order meant that all federal government DEI programmes, offices, plans, positions, actions and initiatives would be wrapped up within 60 days. Employees of federal accessibility and DEI offices were also put on paid administration leave. Another executive order, known as "Defending women from gender ideology extremism and restoring biological truth to the federal government", also requires the federal government to take out all racial gender ideology communication, guidance, forms and policies. Critics of DEI policies have slammed measures such as tying executive compensation to diversity goals, or offering sponsored internship and fellowship programmes to people from only certain groups. Hiring targets for people of colour and women have been criticised as well. Efforts by the US government to eliminate diversity initiatives have not been well-received in Europe, after French media reported last week that major companies in the country had received a letter saying President Donald Trump's rollback of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives also could apply outside the US. European Commission spokesperson Eva Hrncirova acknowledged a letter had been sent, but said "we need to know a bit more details before we react and as you know and as you have pointed out, anti-discrimination and equality is based on our main values." The demands in the letter reportedly include abandoning inclusion policies that align with French and European Union laws, such as gender equality, the fight against discrimination and racism, and the promotion of diversity to assist people with disabilities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After the US State Department demanded that French companies that do business with the US abandon DEI initiatives, France's minister for foreign trade, Laurent Saint-Martin, said his country would refuse to compromise. He said French authorities would seek explanations from their US counterparts regarding the letter. Minister for Budget and Public Accounts Laurent Saint-Martin arrives for a weekly cabinet meeting in Paris, 10 October, 2024 - AP Photo "All of this represents progress that corresponds first and foremost to our French values. We are proud of this and we do not wish to compromise on it," Saint-Martin told RTL Radio. "We cannot simply cancel the application of our own laws overnight." The French daily newspaper Le Figaro published what it claimed was a copy of the letter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The document stated that an executive order Trump signed in January, which terminated DEI programs within the federal government, also "applies to all suppliers and service providers of the US Government, regardless of their nationality or the country in which they operate." Recipients were asked to complete, sign and return a separate certification form within five days to demonstrate compliance. Saint-Martin said he was "deeply shocked" but stressed the importance of maintaining a "positive agenda" and continuing dialogue with the US. "We have no lessons to learn from the boss of America" In Belgium, where some companies reportedly also received similar demands, the government strongly criticised what was perceived as pressure from Washington. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Finance Minister Jan Jambon emphasised that Europeans have a "culture of non-discrimination" that must be upheld. "We have no lessons to learn from the boss of America," he told RTL-TVi. US President Donald Trump signs executive orders in the Oval Office of the White House, 20 January, 2025 - AP Photo In a joint statement quoted by local media, Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot and Equal Opportunities Minister Rob Beenders lamented what they called a "step backward" by the US. "Diversity and inclusion are not merely buzzwords; they are the foundations of a strong and dynamic society," they said. "They strengthen our economy, foster innovation, and allow talent to flourish." In Spain, Barcelona's mayor announced last week that his municipal government would defy Trump's attack on DEI initiatives, which have included a cultural program hosted by the city. MADRID/WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The Trump administration has warned suppliers to U.S. embassies and consulates as well as recipients of U.S. grants worldwide that they must comply with its ban on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) programmes or risk losing payments. Suppliers for U.S. diplomatic missions have been told to confirm compliance with the DEI crackdown in a questionnaire entitled "Certification Regarding Compliance With Applicable Federal Anti-Discrimination Law", according to a copy reviewed by Reuters. Separately, a letter sent to those firms warned that failing to submit the required information and confirm compliance will result in a payments freeze, a Spanish official said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The warning reflects U.S. President Donald Trump's goal to extend outside the U.S. his January executive order directing U.S. government chiefs to dismantle DEI policies for their agencies and contractors and for the private sector to do the same. This has created a legal standoff in the U.S. after years in which American firms have embraced DEI policies that track race and ethnicity data and set diversity targets in hiring and other corporate practices. A February 11 cable sent to all U.S. missions worldwide reviewed by Reuters instructed them to obtain from vendors with current contracts or proposals under review the certification that they are adhering to Trumps DEI ban. They also must certify that they will not spend U.S. funds for any initiatives or programs that do not comply with Trumps order, according to the cable. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Asked about the issue, U.S. State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce told reporters on Monday that the notifications were "an effort to comply with the executive order from the president, and it is (an) essentially self-certifying statement to local consulates and embassies." Reuters has been unable to establish how many companies have received letters or how much their combined contracts are worth. But the anti-DEI pressure from Washington has highlighted the extraterritorial reach of U.S. policies and their potential impact on European corporate practices. Other "America First" policies pursued by Trump have stoked economic and political tensions between the U.S. and Europe since his January 20 inauguration, at a time when his actions on tariffs and security ties have upended transatlantic relations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 'FLAGRANT VIOLATION' OF LAWS, SPAIN SAYS The instructions have been sent to a wide range of firms, the Spanish official said, including those supplying the homes of U.S. embassy staff with water, gas and electricity, to newspapers to which embassies subscribe, and catering suppliers. The Spanish Labour Ministry said the American directive was a "flagrant violation" of Spain's strict anti-discrimination and diversity laws, and companies seeking to comply would face investigation by the Labour Inspectorate. American Space Barcelona, based at the Spanish city's Sant Andreu municipal library, is one Spanish organisation to have received the letter as it includes a project that gets U.S. Embassy funds. The project provides English-language resources, cultural programmes and educational guidance and information about the United States. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Barcelona Mayor Jaume Collboni told media the letter was part of a "reactionary avalanche" being driven by the Trump administration "against Europe and the democratic values that we defend". Major German carmaker BMW has received a letter from the U.S. Embassy in Bulgaria, which has bought BMW vehicles, asking it to address questions about its DEI policy, a person familiar with the matter said. In a statement to Reuters, BMW said it believes that "diverse perspectives and talents strengthen our company" and "contribute to increasing our innovative strength and competitiveness". "Discrimination in any form has no place in our company," it said. "We will continue our activities on ESG (environmental, social and governance) topics as planned. We do not follow short-term trends in these areas either, but pursue a clear plan of moderation and balance." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some French companies with U.S. government contracts have also been ordered to comply with Trump's DEI ban. "American interference in the inclusion policies of French companies, along with threats of unjustified tariffs, is unacceptable," France's Ministry of Foreign Trade said in a statement sent to Reuters last week. (Reporting by Aislinn Laing and Christina Amann in Madrid and Jonathan Landay in WAshington; additional reporting by Humeyra Pamuk and Patricia Zengerle in Washington; writing by Charlie Devereux; editing by Mark Heinrich, Don Durfee and Stephen Coates) We recently published a list of 12 Most Oversold Large Cap Stocks to Invest in Now. In this article, we are going to take a look at where Deckers Outdoor Corporation (NYSE:DECK) stands against other most oversold large cap stocks to invest in now. Impact of Tariff Uncertainty on Wall Street and the Future of US Stocks Wall Street is being impacted by the uncertainty surrounding the tariff news. The broader has dropped a lot since Trump took office on January 20, and investors are mostly worried about tariffs because they think they could hurt economic growth and cause inflation. Investors think trade policies can reduce consumer confidence and restrict businesses ability to invest capital, while Trump believes tariffs can boost national revenue, promote broad-based growth, and be used as a negotiation weapon with other nations. According to Franklin Templeton, the Magnificent Sevens supremacy in AI has allowed US stocks to generate significant returns over the last few years, with the broader market frequently hitting all-time highs. The outlook for the market as a whole is favorable, notwithstanding high valuations. Sales growth has been accelerating, innovation and investment are still happening at a rapid pace, and this years earnings are predicted to increase by double digits. Additionally, the administration of the US economy is more business-friendly. However, there are concerns, primarily associated with US trade policy and the anticipated effects of tariffs on important industries, such as technology. Franklin Templeton thinks that despite these risks, investor confidence in US stocks should continue to be high. The new administrations policy reforms are anticipated to finally produce long-term benefits for the larger US economy, notwithstanding the possibility of increased dangers. Franklin Templeton also stated that although the Mag 7 stocks are positioned for long-term success, market leadership is anticipated to expand as and when innovation accelerates. According to the investment firm, active management is crucial. The transition from AI platforms to infrastructure is still in progress. Consequently, it is anticipated that the success of investments will depend on the ability to select the appropriate companies at the right timethose that have the technology, strategy, and flexibility to continue and sustain long-term growth. Thanks to innovation and investment, US stocksmostly large-cap stockshave been doing well. Notably, the Dow index has increased by more than 4.5% in the last six months. The investment business sees expanding chances beyond such market leaders, even though the Mag 7 stocks still sustain the market momentum. The competitive landscape is still dynamic and has been generating new development sectors as a result of the ongoing AI-driven cycle. By Kanishka Singh WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The U.S. Treasury Department's Office of the Comptroller of the Currency withdrew principles providing guidance to banks for climate-related financial risk, the financial regulator said on Monday. Since taking office on January 20, President Donald Trump has announced withdrawal from the Paris Agreement, canceled U.S. global climate finance and severed international partnerships on climate, including stopping the participation of U.S. scientists in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The principles providing guidance to banks for climate-related financial risk are overly burdensome and duplicative," Acting Comptroller of the Currency Rodney Hood said in a statement. "I will continue to look for appropriate opportunities to calibrate regulatory requirements to be effective, not excessive, while ensuring the safety, soundness and fairness of the federal banking system." Identifying climate risks was one of Democratic former President Joe Biden's key administration priorities. Trump, a Republican, has vowed to eliminate many of those, arguing they have created unwanted burden for corporations. Advocates have raised alarm over Trump's actions. (Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Washington; Editing by Leslie Adler and Nick Zieminski) By Brad Brooks and Kanishka Singh (Reuters) -The Trump administration said on Monday it was reviewing $9 billion in federal contracts and grants awarded to Harvard University, part of a crackdown on what it says is antisemitism on college campuses. The Departments of Education, Health and Human Services and the U.S. General Services Administration said in a written statement that $255.6 million in contracts between Harvard, its affiliates and the federal government were being reviewed, along with $8.7 billion in multi-year grant commitments. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The investigation is the latest move by the Trump administration to pressure American universities to change their policies on a number of issues at the heart of culture wars that have beset the U.S. in recent years. Supporters of Trump's efforts say it is a long-needed check on far-left extremism at U.S. colleges. Critics say the crackdown is a draconian over-reaction that stomps on academic freedom and the right to free speech. "If this funding is stopped, it will halt life-saving research and imperil important scientific research and innovation," Alan Garber, the president of Harvard, said in a written statement. Garber said that antisemitism "is present on our campus" and that he had experienced it himself, even as the university president. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said Harvard had been enacting reforms to combat antisemitism during the past 15 months, though he acknowledged that "we still have much work to do", and the university will work with the federal government's antisemitism task force on the matter. The focus on Harvard comes after the Trump administration this month canceled $400 million in federal funding for fellow Ivy League school Columbia University. It was the epicenter of anti-Israel protests that broke out on college campuses following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack inside Israel, and Israel's subsequent incursion in Gaza, the Palestinian enclave controlled by Hamas. Protesters, including some Jewish groups, say the administration conflates their criticism of U.S. ally Israel's assault on Gaza with antisemitism and their support for Palestinian rights as sympathy for Hamas. Columbia earlier this month announced it had made some changes demanded by the Trump administration to start negotiations to win back its federal funding. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The university's interim president announced over the weekend that she was stepping down after an outcry by some students and faculty over what they characterized as the school's acquiescence to the federal demands. In addition to targeting funds, Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents have detained some foreign student protesters in recent weeks and are working to deport them. Earlier this month, the Trump administration suspended $175 million in funding to the University of Pennsylvania, another Ivy League school, over its transgender sports policies. The Department of Education this month sent a letter to 60 universities - including Harvard - warning that it could bring enforcement actions against them under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act if they failed to protect Jewish students on their campuses. It said antisemitic "eruptions" have disrupted life at elite schools around the country for a year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Harvard's failure to protect students on campus from antisemitic discrimination - all while promoting divisive ideologies over free inquiry - has put its reputation in serious jeopardy," said Secretary of Education Linda McMahon. "Harvard can right these wrongs and restore itself to a campus dedicated to academic excellence and truth-seeking, where all students feel safe on its campus." Harvard and other elite universities came into the crosshairs of conservatives in late 2023, when the presidents of Harvard, the University of Pennsylvania and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology appeared before a congressional committee looking into a rise in antisemitism on campuses. Former Harvard President Claudine Gay, along with the other school leaders, declined to give a definitive "yes" or "no" answer when asked if calling for the genocide of Jews would violate their schools' codes of conduct regarding bullying and harassment, saying they had to balance it against free-speech protections. Rights advocates have also raised concerns about Islamophobia and anti-Arab bias since the start of Israel's war in Gaza. The Trump administration has not yet announced any specific steps to tackle bias against Muslims and Arabs. (Reporting by Brad Brooks in Colorado and Kanishka Singh in Washington; Editing by Frank McGurty, Stephen Coates and Lincoln Feast.) Washington and Moscow have begun discussions on projects related to Russian rare earth minerals, said Kirill Dmitriev, head of Russia's sovereign wealth fund, in an interview with the Russian newspaper Izvestia published on March 31. The news comes as the Trump administration pushes for a swift ceasefire in Ukraine and explores venues for economic cooperation with Russia. "Rare earth metals are an important area for cooperation, and, of course, we have begun discussions about various rare earth metals and projects in Russia," said Dmitriev, who also serves as presidential representative for economic cooperation with foreign countries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some companies have already demonstrated interest in the projects, the official claimed. Dmitriev was one of Russia's negotiators during the Trump administration's first direct talks in Saudi Arabia in February. The Feb. 18 talks were followed by two more rounds of discussions, with a meeting on March 24 focusing on a partial ceasefire in Ukraine. Dmitriev said that the next round would take place in mid-April and concern both political issues and economic cooperation. Russian President Vladimir Putin said in February that Russia is open to working with the U.S. in developing rare earth deposits, including in the occupied parts of Ukraine, which Putin called "newly controlled regions." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement U.S. President Donald Trump has also pushed for a deal on natural resources with Ukraine, though multiple sources indicated that its latest iteration imposes harsh conditions on Kyiv and would potentially endanger its EU accession efforts. U.S. President Donald Trump said on March 30 that Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky is looking to back out of a critical minerals agreement, warning him of "big, big problems" if he does so. Read also: Trump says hes pissed off and very angry at Putin in phone interview with NBC News Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. By Michael Martina and Jessie Pang WASHINGTON/HONG KONG (Reuters) -The U.S. sanctioned six senior Chinese and Hong Kong officials on Monday, citing "transnational repression" and further erosion of Hong Kong's autonomy in the Trump administration's first major move to punish China for a crackdown on the financial hub. Western countries have criticised Beijing for using the national security law it imposed on Hong Kong to jail pro-democracy activists, as well as shut liberal media outlets and civil society groups. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Beijing says the law, which punishes acts like subversion and foreign collusion with up to life in prison, has brought stability after mass pro-democracy protests there in 2019. "Beijing and Hong Kong officials have used Hong Kong national security laws extraterritorially to intimidate, silence, and harass 19 pro-democracy activists who were forced to flee overseas, including a U.S. citizen and four other U.S. residents," the State Department said in a statement. In response, it added, the United States was sanctioning six individuals who "engaged in actions or policies that threaten to further erode the autonomy of Hong Kong in contravention of China's commitments, and in connection with acts of transnational repression." Monday's sanctions block any transactions on property, funds or deals within the United States by these individuals, including Dong Jingwei, a former senior official at China's main civilian intelligence agency. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dong, now the director of China's Office for Safeguarding National Security in Hong Kong, was previously China's top spy catcher, who had oversight of counter-intelligence. He was also vice minister of state security, a high-profile role that included hunting down foreign spies in China and nationals who colluded with foreign countries. Also sanctioned was justice secretary Paul Lam, Hong Kong's top legal official, who has driven prosecutions against scores of democratic activists. Security and police officials Sonny Au, Dick Wong, Margaret Chiu, Raymond Siu were also sanctioned for their role in "coercing, arresting, detaining, or imprisoning of individuals" under the security laws. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Such despicable actions constitute serious interference in Hong Kong affairs and China's internal affairs," Guo Jiakun, a spokesperson of China's foreign ministry, told reporters, noting China would take firm countermeasures against Washington. They "grossly trampled" on international law and international relations, exposing Washington's intent to undermine Hong Kong's prosperity and stability and suppress China's development, Guo added. U.S. lawmakers, both Democratic and Republican, had pushed the Biden administration to sanction all six officials, as well as 43 more, such as senior judges Esther Toh, Susana D'Almada Remedios, and Alex Lee, and senior prosecutors Maggie Yang and Anthony Chau who have been involved in national security cases. China's record on human rights, a contentious issue between the nations, has been a focus for Secretary of State Marco Rubio since he was a U.S. senator, and Hong Kong democracy activists have long seen him as a champion of their cause. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The sanctions "demonstrate the Trump Administration's commitment to hold to account those responsible for depriving people in Hong Kong of protected rights and freedoms," the State Department said. Frances Hui with the Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong Foundation in Washington who was granted U.S. political asylum, called the sanctions a "critical step in addressing the worsening crackdown in Hong Kong." "We hope it marks the beginning of a sustained and broader effort to hold perpetrators accountable, including not only top officials, but also the judges and prosecutors at all levels who have played key roles in silencing dissent," Hui said. Separately, Rubio said the U.S. would impose additional visa curbs on Chinese officials involved in policies on access for foreigners to Tibetan areas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Foreign tourists are allowed to visit Tibet but must travel in groups and obtain a permit in advance. Diplomats and foreign journalists require the approval of Tibet's local authorities. (Additional reporting by Ryan Woo and Ethan Wang; Editing by James Pomfret, Kim Coghill and Clarence Fernandez) The US will set up a war-fighting headquarters in Japan to prepare for a possible conflict with China. Pete Hegseth, the US defence secretary, said on Sunday that US troops in Japan would be reorganised to keep the enemy guessing and create strategic dilemmas for China. He said the upgrade, first announced by the Biden administration, would help US Forces Japan co-ordinate better with local troops, amid fears China might invade Taiwan. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Peace through strength with America in the lead is back, Mr Hegseth said at a joint press conference with Gen Nakatani, his Japanese counterpart, in Tokyo on Sunday. Japan is our indispensable partner in deterring Communist Chinese military aggression, he said as he opened the event. Pete Hegseth (left), the US defence secretary, with Gen Nakatani, his Japanese counterpart - Kiyoshi Ota/Getty Mr Hegseth continued: Soon, we will add additional personnel in Tokyo and at US Forces Japan headquarters to conduct activities that will strengthen our bilateral bonds and deepen our operational co-operation. This also means reorganising US Forces Japan into a war-fighting headquarters, increasing its staff and giving its commander the authorities needed to accomplish new missions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He added: As I mentioned in our meeting, America and Japan, we seek peace. But as my first platoon motto says: Those who long for peace must prepare for war. Japan has been concerned about how US engagement in the region might change under Donald Trumps America First policy, Japanese defence officials said. Mr Trump has threatened to impose trade tariffs on Japan, a key US ally, contributing to concern in Tokyo. The two allies agreed to accelerate plans to jointly develop and produce missiles such as advanced medium-range air-to-air missiles and to consider producing SM-6 surface-to-air missiles to help ease a shortage of munitions, Mr Nakatani said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The ministers also agreed to speed up the maintenance of US warships and warplanes in Japan to strengthen and complement Japanese and US defence industries. Japan is home to more than 50,000 US troops. Tokyo and Washington first decided to upgrade their command and control, and that of the Japanese military, which works alongside them, last July. Last week, Tokyo launched the Japan Joint Operations Command to co-ordinate Japanese ground, maritime and air self-defence forces, in a significant move to strengthen capabilities, respond to contingencies and better co-operate with the US. Mr Hegseth and Mr Nakatani also said they agreed on the need to improve Japans defence posture in its south western islands, which are in critical locations along disputed areas in the East China Sea and near Taiwan, to further step up deterrence against China. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The US defence secretary 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 territory. The US is obligated under a 1979 law to provide Taiwan with sufficient military hardware and technology to deter invasion, and its arms sales to Taiwan have always drawn strong opposition from Beijing. On Saturday, Mr Hegseth joined the US-Japan joint memorial to honour the war dead of the Battle of Iwo Jima as they marked the 80th anniversary of the end of one of the fiercest clashes of the Second World War. Before landing in Japan, Mr Hegseth stopped in the Philippines, where he reiterated Mr Trumps commitment to step up ties with the country, which faces maritime disputes with China. 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 U.S. Supreme Court building in Washington, D.C., is shown earlier this month. The court heard oral arguments Tuesday in a case that could allow states to challenge federal environmental rules in more favorable courts. (Win McNamee/Getty Images) U.S. Supreme Court justices heard oral arguments last week in a case that could allow states to challenge federal environmental rules in more favorable courts. The case could determine whether certain U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regulations are reviewed in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit which has more liberal judges or in regional courts, where certain states and industry groups would prefer to make their arguments. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The dispute centers around EPAs decision that 21 states plans for ozone pollution failed to meet federal Clean Air Act standards. Oklahoma and Utah challenged that disapproval in the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which spans six Western states. The federal agency argued the challenge should be heard in the D.C. Circuit. The D.C. Circuit is the venue for lawsuits over rules that are national in scope, while local or regional issues are heard in regional circuit courts. The EPA argues that it used a consistent methodology for all 21 denials, making it an issue that should be resolved nationally in a single court. Oklahoma and Utah contend that regional courts are better suited to account for state-specific factors. During oral arguments, Justice Neil Gorsuch seemed to question the notion that states should bring their challenges to regional courts. [Air pollution] crosses the country in ways that dont respect our jurisdictional boundaries between circuits, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gorsuch suggested such an approach could create confusion, if states bring challenges to varying regional courts that issue conflicting rulings. Were going to have different interpretations of the statute with different different circuits and all these terrible splits and and, gosh, we wont have the immediate resolution of the D.C. Circuit that we could have, he said. Meanwhile, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson noted that state-specific factors informed each EPA denial. It matters that you are Denver versus, you know, Arizona or whatever in terms of how the modeling works, she said. Alex Brown can be reached at abrown@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. President Donald Trumps latest threats will help the U.S. address Iran's growing nuclear program sooner rather than later, NewsNation senior national security contributor, Retired Gen. Richard Newton, tells Morning in America. Newton explains what Trumps warnings would look like and breaks down the presidents ongoing economic warfare with Russia. #Russia #Iran #Trump DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) A building in downtown partially collapsed during Sundays stormy weather, forcing several people to evacuate. As of Monday evening, the area near 121 Valley Street remains closed after heavy winds caused several bricks to fall from the 100-year-old building. Five people were evacuated from the building in Old North Dayton after the storms. The mixed-use commercial and residential building is home to several residents and businesses. Storm damage at 121 Valley St. in downtown Dayton, Sunday, March 30, 2025. (Joe Gurnig/WDTN) Storm damage at 121 Valley St. in downtown Dayton, Sunday, March 30, 2025. (Joe Gurnig/WDTN) Storm damage at 121 Valley St. in downtown Dayton, Sunday, March 30, 2025. (Joe Gurnig/WDTN) This is the third building to partially collapse in Dayton this month one happening on Jackson Street in the Oregon District and the other on North Main Street in the heart of downtown. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Each building is historic in the city of Dayton, and officials say this building on Valley Street is over 100 years old. It is a very old building, built at the turn of the century, late 1800s, 1900s. It is a unreinforced masonry on the front side with load bearing, unreinforced masonry on the two sides with wood structure underneath, said Dayton Fire Chief Matt Shirles. 2 NEWS reached out to the company the city of Dayton contracts with for structural engineering about the pattern of older buildings partially collapsing. We have not yet heard back. However, Dayton Fire says this building has no damage to the interior, but utilities were shut off while they assessed and investigated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After a very close investigation, weve determined that there there could be more bricks that come off of here. But there should be no structural collapse, said Shirles. To see more storm damage reports from across the Miami Valley, click here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDTN.com. Vanderbilt University Medical Center acknowledged a hiring freeze Friday for most research positions as it and the nation's leading research hospitals brace for anticipated cuts in federal funding. Chief Communications Officer John Howser declined to give specifics on the amount of money Vanderbilt expects to lose annually as President Donald Trump continues shrinking federal spending including research aid from the National Institutes of Health. But other school officials reportedly said they expect a $250 million reduction in funds. "In response to recent administrative orders impacting financial resources for medical research, it is necessary for VUMC to strategically reduce research operating costs," Howser said in a statement to The Tennessean Friday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Hiring for most research positions will be paused and other cost-saving measures will be implemented." The medical center hasn't suspended all hiring, stating that it "is continuing to hire frontline staff for its health system to accommodate ongoing growth in patient care and in preparation of the October opening of the 180-bed Jim Ayers Tower." The Nashville-based health care system announced last fall that it would hire thousands of doctors, nurses, technicians and others to staff the 15-floor tower. The more than $500 million project, off 21st Avenue across from Peabody College's Wyatt lawn, is the largest facility expansion in the medical center's history. Vanderbilt has not yet discussed what it will do to reduce costs or which research programs might be at risk. Here's what you should know as Tennessee's other top medical research centers, including Meharry Medical College, also face drastic cuts. How does the NIH impact Nashville? The National Institutes of Health is the largest public funder of biomedical research in the world and is overseen by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. It provides grants to Tennessee, including: Vanderbilt's hospital and university as well as Meharry in Nashville; St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis; and the University of Tennessee System. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Leaders at the universities and research hospitals teamed in February to send a letter on Feb. 11 to the Tennessee legislative delegation expressing "grave concern" and asking for help stopping a 15% cap the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and NIH adopted Feb. 7. The cap cuts off funding for "indirect costs" for research, including equipment, laboratory space and utilities. These top Tennessee research institutions receive a combined $770 million annually in NIH funding. That means they face losing more than $115 million. Why could NIH cuts impact Americans? The NIH had invested most of its nearly $48 billion budget in medical research to enhance life and reduce illness and disability. It helped fund key breakthroughs and new treatments. In Tennessee and across the nation, this research fueled new ways to treat cancer, dementia, sickle cell, diabetes and many other diseases and disorders impacting residents. How would NIH cuts impact Meharry? The proposed NIH cuts could surpass $30 million annually and would be "crushing" to North Nashville's Meharry, Dr. James Hildreth, its CEO and president, told The Tennessean. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "If the indirect costs are capped at 15%, I can tell you that many institutions will have no choice but to shrink their research enterprise," Hildreth said. He also is concerned about Trump's targeting programs across the nation that address diversity, equity and inclusion, or DEI. Meharry is 149-years-old, one of the nation's oldest and largest historically Black academic health science centers and conducts pioneering research, including addressing racial disparities to promote health equity. Beth Warren covers health care and can be reached at bwarren@tennessean.com. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Vanderbilt freezes some Nashville jobs as Trump NIH cuts loom We recently published a list of the 12 Best Oil and Gas Dividend Stocks According to Billionaires. In this article, we are going to take a look at where EOG Resources, Inc. (NYSE:EOG) stands against other best oil and gas dividend stocks to invest in according to billionaires. The United States of America is now producing more oil than any country in history. The countrys oil and gas operators produced more than 13.49 million barrels per day (bpd) of crude in December 2024, an all-time high rate of production. Oil production in America has increased by almost 50% over the last decade, and the US Energy Information Administration (EIA) now expects American crude oil production to average 13.59 million bpd in 2025, up from its previous estimate of 13.55 million bpd. But at the same time, the countrys production is at risk of decline due to falling Brent prices, which are expected to average around $74 this year and then fall further to about $66 in 2026. READ NEXT: 12 Best Nuclear Power Stocks To Buy Now Another major problem for the US oil and gas industry is that the countrys largest oil field is flagging and may be nearing peak output. The Permian Basin led the US shale revolution and was responsible for almost half of the countrys overall production in December. However, relentless drilling over the last two decades has exhausted the oilfields core, and shale executives now expect oil production growth from the Permian to slow by around 25% to 250,000 to 300,000 bpd this year. Oil and gas executives are also irked by the tariff policies adopted by the Trump administration, as the constant uncertainty is now threatening their drilling plans. A recently published survey by the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas has revealed that oil executives are discontent with President Trumps administration, and nearly a third even said that their business outlook had worsened since the end of 2024. Moreover, the imposition of the 25% tariff on steel and aluminum has already led to an estimated 4% increase in costs for drilling a well. However, despite all the aforementioned issues and declining margins, the countrys oil and gas companies remain committed to shareholders and have increased their returns to record levels. A report by Janus Henderson has revealed that operators in the energy sector distributed over $49 billion in dividends during the third quarter of 2024, up from $32.2 billion three years ago. However, to maintain such high levels of payout, the industry will need to shift focus to its second major source of revenue natural gas. ATHENS, Vt. (ABC22/FOX44) A 33-year-old man faces roughly 14 charges after police connected him to a Saturday morning fire in Athens. Multiple crews responded and worked to extinguish the fire at Valley Cemetery Way March 29. Police say investigations lead them to Benjamin Stocker, of Springfield, VT. Stocker was located at his residence and arrested. He faces the following charges: Arson 1st degree aggravated domestic assault Violation of Conditions of Release Negligent Operation Violation of an Abuse Prevention Order Aggravated stalking Unlawful mischief Persons Prohibited from owning a firearm Unlawful restraint Possession of Stolen Property Larceny Cruelty to a Child Reckless Endangerment Disorderly Conduct Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Stocker received a criminal citation and is set to appear in Vermont Superior Court, Windham Criminal Division Monday. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC22 & FOX44. A veterinary nurse injected herself with a spaniels pain killers to calm her nerves about starting a new job, a panel has heard. Dayna Johnson took pain relief intended for pets at four veterinary practices on five occasions over a year. She has been struck off the veterinary nurses register after a Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons disciplinary committee found her guilty of misconduct. The committee heard that in September 2023, while working her first shift at Yatton Vets in Bristol, Ms Johnson nearly fell asleep on a spaniel lying on the operating table. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement CCTV footage showed her going into the controlled drugs unit, and putting the drugs into her pocket. She stole two boxes of nerve painkiller gabapentin and put an empty bottle of buprenorphine in the bin. When she was helping a surgeon with dental work on a spaniel that day, the surgeon asked Ms Johnson if she was alright, as the surgeon noticed she was sweating profusely and had to repeat herself on a number of occasions. Gross misconduct Ms Johnson replied that she was fine, adding that she was tired and had not got much sleep the night before, as she had been nervous about starting the job, the report said. But Ms Johnsons condition deteriorated and she appeared to fall asleep standing up. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Detailing the incident, the report said: The respondents condition deteriorated further, to the point where she was almost leaning on the spaniel, asleep. The veterinary surgeon reported to other staff how the respondent had been acting strangely, appearing to fall asleep. They too noticed that the respondent appeared to be falling asleep over the patient. They saw that the respondent was supposed to be monitoring the anaesthetic, but that she was hunched over the patient and her eyes were almost closed. When Ms Johnson was writing the anaesthetic record, the report said that her pen was not touching the paper and that the record was illegible. Dayna Johnson has been struck off the veterinary nurses register after her misconduct The committee heard that Ms Johnsons condition worsened to the point where she was almost leaning on the spaniel, asleep Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Colleagues around her insisted that she went on a break, despite Ms Johnson insisting that she was fine to continue. She then reported that the 13-year-old spaniel had a normal body temperature, when in fact it was hypothermic. Following the incident, Ms Johnson was very apologetic, saying that she had not slept well and that it had been her birthday the night before. I know I will never do anything like this again Her job offer was then rescinded, and the practice discovered that 10ml of buprenorphine, 100 tablets of 100mg gabapentin and 116 tablets of 300mg gabapentin were missing. In a police interview following the incident in October 2023, Ms Johnson said in a written statement: I know I will never do anything like this again. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She added that she was about to begin therapy, and that since the incident she had been completely sober and a positive member of the community. But the following month she was found to have taken drugs from a vet charity Peoples Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA) while working as a nurse. The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons said: The College submits that [Ms Johnson] has directly breached three of the most fundamental tenets of the profession: the promotion of animal welfare, the responsible use of drugs and behaving with honesty and integrity. It is also submitted that she breached the trust of her employer and risked placing her colleagues under suspicion regarding dishonestly taking the drugs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The College submitted it was significant that the conduct was sustained and repeated: it took place at four different practices over the period of approximately one year, it involved three different controlled drugs and it took place on five separate occasions. The drugs in question were all controlled drugs, and of a type which are associated with misuse and dependency. The conduct took place repeatedly despite intervention, warnings and promises that it would not happen again. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. By Daren Butler KIZILTEPE, Turkey (Reuters) - Cihan Sincar clings to hope that Turkey's bid to end a decades-old Kurdish insurgency brings the peace her lawmaker husband sought before his assassination - one of hundreds of political killings at the height of the conflict. Mehmet Sincar, one of Turkey's first pro-Kurdish party lawmakers, was gunned down in the southeastern city of Batman in 1993 as he himself investigated unsolved killings. His wife has waited in vain for the perpetrators to be brought to justice. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His is one of tens of thousands of deaths during a conflict which jailed militant leader Abdullah Ocalan is calling on his Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) to end. Many Kurds like Cihan are torn between distrust of the government and longing for peace. "We want to see those days. He really gave his life for peace, for the struggle for peace and democracy," she said in the city of Kiziltepe, near the Syrian border, where she has served as mayor since her husband's murder. "But I also have doubts. They (the Turkish state) have deceived me many times," she said before visiting the cemetery where her husband is buried, caressing the gravestone bearing his picture. Clandestine paramilitary groups are suspected of having carried out extra-judicial killings in the 1990s, mostly related to the PKK conflict, human rights groups say. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The PKK conflict has killed more than 40,000 people since it began in 1984, leaving tens of thousands wounded, including Turkish security force members, militants and civilians alike. One Turkish military veteran of the conflict, Major Mehmet Bedri Aluclu, lost his eyesight and both forearms when a PKK mine that he was defusing exploded in Siirt province in 2007. Aluclu, with books that he has since written about the PKK on the table beside him, is sceptical about peace prospects. "If only the PKK would dissolve itself... The probability of such a thing is zero," he said at his home in Ankara. "It has a history of 50 years. These things don't happen in one day." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement MOTHERS OF PKK RECRUITS In Diyarbakir, main city in Turkey's predominantly Kurdish southeast, mothers of youths believed to have joined the PKK have protested in recent years against Turkey's main pro-Kurdish party, accusing it of helping the PKK recruit their children. The party denies this. Guzide Demir said her son, Aziz, left home in Diyarbakir nine years ago when he was 17. She said he called six years ago, saying he was in hospital with a wounded leg in Syria, where the Kurdish YPG militia which Turkey says is part of the PKK has fought against both Islamic State militants and Turkey-backed forces. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since then she has not heard from him again, but said "God willing this peace will happen and all our children will come". Rahime Tasci's son Faruk was 15 when he left home in Kars province 11 years ago to go to the market and did not return. "Surrender to justice. Do something Faruk. Put down that gun," she said, clutching a photo of her only child. "These children must be brought home. God willing, with the power of the state, there will be peace." (Reporting by Daren Butler and Tuvan Gumrukcu; editing by Mark Heinrich) BOURNE Seventy people stood at the rostrum at the Massachusetts National Cemetery in Bourne on Monday to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War. Most of those in attendance were veterans; a few served during the war itself. A handful of civilians attended the event. Winds snapped a row of 13 American flags held by members of the Patriot Guard. Speaker after speaker acknowledged the service and sacrifice of the millions of veterans who served during the Vietnam War but had terrible welcomes when they returned. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I got spat at in the Port Authority, John Gibbons said. The 74-year-old served in the Army from 1970 to 1974 and in the Coast Guard for 20 years. He carried a rifle in the honor guard from the Clark Haddad Post 188 American Legion. He carried his rifle with halting steps to the side of the podium where he stood for the hour-long ceremony. Brigadier General Christopher Faux, who is the executive director of Joint Base Cape Cod, called Vietnam veterans the least appreciated of any war heroes. The career military man reminded the crowd that servicemen and women prosecute wars that are declared by civilians. It all comes down to service, integrity and honor, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement U.S. Rep. William Keating, D-Massachusetts, called the anniversary an important one to remember. Three million served during the Vietnam War period, from 1958 when the first U.S. observers were sent to Vietnam, until 1975 when the last combat troops were pulled out. Vietnam War veteran Steve Wynot of Southborough salutes with retired Air Force Brig. Gen. Christopher Faux after receiving a medal commemorating his service at Massachusetts National Cemetery in Bourne on March 31. They were commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War. Fifty-eight thousand names of the dead are inscribed on the Vietnam Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C. Sixteen hundred are still missing in action. No words will ever be worthy of their service, said Dennis Strock, a cemetery technician and retired U.S. Coast Guardsman. Denise Coffey writes about business, tourism and issues impacting the Capes residents and visitors. Contact her at dcoffey@capecodonline.com . Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thanks to our subscribers, who help make this coverage possible. If you are not a subscriber, please consider supporting quality local journalism with a Cape Cod Times subscription. Here are our subscription plans. This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Bourne National Cemetery commemorates 50th anniversary of Vietnam War Indonesia is the world's leading producer of nickel (almost half of the world's supply, per Statista), but that economic progress has come at a high price for locals near processing sites. Residents at a village near Weda Bay Industrial Park are speaking out against the dire health consequences that have arisen since the park's establishment in 2018. The development is a joint venture between French and Chinese companies. What's happening? Weda Bay Industrial Park is on Halmahera Island, one of roughly 17,000 islands (Indonesia doesn't even know exactly how many islands it has, the BBC explained) on the archipelago and home to over 600,000 people. Respiratory infections have spiked dramatically since the nickel processing plant was built. Mongabay Indonesia reports that the number has gone from 434 reported cases in 2020 to over 10,000 in 2023. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Everything's filthy," a villager told Mongabay Indonesia. "You need to wear a mask just to go out onto the road." Why this matters Weda Bay is powered by coal, the dirtiest fuel source of all; one terawatt-hour of coal electricity causes an average of 24.6 deaths, according to Our World in Data. Aside from accidents caused by coal extraction still a very dangerous occupation coal leads to many harmful emissions. These include carbon and sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide, mercury, and fly and bottom ash, which the U.S. Energy Information Administration reports all contribute to respiratory illnesses. Additionally, clearances for more nickel plants are causing other environmental consequences through deforestation. As the Associated Press reported, each new plant leads to over 24 square miles of rainforest loss, yet Indonesia plans to build 22 more plants. Timer Manurung, chairman of Auriga, an Indonesian nonprofit, told the AP: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Deforestation has significantly increased rivers are polluted, mangroves are cut to develop smelter areas, coastal areas and coral are being damaged by the smelters," Manurung said. What can be done about it? Much of the environmental damage caused by the processing plants is due to their fuel source. If, instead of coal, the companies utilized clean, renewable energy, the impact would be sharply reduced. Clean energy already accounts for about a third of the world's supply and is becoming cheaper and more efficient every year, so it also makes economic sense. Another avenue is putting pressure on the companies that use Indonesian nickel. Considering the material is a critical component of batteries used in electric vehicles, this could be an opportunity for brands to pave the way in responsible consumption and incentivization. China currently dominates Indonesian nickel production but is actively seeking new international partners, per Reuters, which could also present an opportunity for negotiation. 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. March 31 (UPI) -- Virginia Giuffre, who accused Jeffrey Epstein and Prince Andrew of sex crimes, said she has only days left to live after being hit by a bus and suffering kidney failure. Giuffre, a 41-year-old mother of three living in Australia with her husband, on Sunday shared a battered picture of herself from a hospital bed covered in bruises. "This year has been the worst start to a new year, but I won't bore anyone with the details, but I think it important to note that when a school bus driver comes at you driving [60 mph] as we were slowing for a turn, that no matter what your car is made of, it might as well be a tin can," she wrote on Instagram. The day, location and circumstances of the incident weren't given. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I've gone into kidney renal failure, they've given me four days to live, transferring me to a specialist hospital in urology," she wrote, "I'm ready to go, just not until I see my babies one last time, but you know what they say about wishes. [Expletive] in one hand and wish in the other & I guarantee it's still going to be [expletive] at the end of the day. "Thank you all for being the wonderful people of the world and for being a great part of my life," she added. Giuffre's father, Sky Roberts, commented on the Instagram post: "Virginia my daughter, I love you and praying you get the correct treatment to live a long and healthy life," he wrote. "If there is anything in the world, I can do to help you, please let me know. My spirit is with you now and holding your hand." Giuffre, who was born in California and moved to Florida, said Epstein introduced her to Prince Andrew in 2001. She alleged that Andrew, who is King Charles III's oldest brother, took part in Epstein's sex trafficking ring. Andrew, now 65, was in his 40s at the time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Giuffre said she was recruited in 2000 by Ghislaine Maxwell, who was Epstein's ex-lover and accomplice, from her job as a locker room attendant at Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Fla. Giuffre was 16 at the time. Giuffre said she was forced to have sex with Prince Andrew three times when she was 17, including on Epstein's Little St. James island, in New Mexico and in Maxwell's London home. Andrew said in an interview with BBC Newsnight in 2019 that he had no recollection of meeting Giuffre. In 2022, Prince Andrew paid Giuffre and her victims' rights charity an out-of-court civil settlement reported to be about $16.3 million. "Prince Andrew regrets his association with Epstein, and commends the bravery of Ms Giuffre and other survivors in standing up for themselves and others," his lawyer said in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2015, Giuffre sued Epstein. Police in Palm Beach, Fla. investigated Epstein in 2005 after a parent reported that he had sexually abused her 14-year-old daughter. Federal officials identified 36 girls, some as young as 14 years old, who may have been victimized. Epstein was charged and pleaded guilty in Florida state court of procuring a child for prostitution and of soliciting a prostitute. In a plea deal, he served almost 13 months in custody, but with extensive work release. On July 6, 2019, Epstein was arrested on federal charges for the sex trafficking of minors in Florida and New York. Epstein, 66, was found dead on Aug. 10, 2019, in federal detention in New York, awaiting his sex trafficking charges. Authorities determined he killed himself. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Before his death, Giuffre released a manuscript that included more than 2,000 documents of a lawsuit against Epstein and his famous associates. In 2022, Maxwell was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for conspiring with Epstein to sexually abuse minors. Virginia Giuffre, who accused Prince Andrew and Jeffrey Epstein of sexual abuse, claims she has four days to live after a brutal car crash. Giuffre, who was most recently living in Australia, posted a photo of her bruised face lying on a hospital bed on Instagram, explaining that doctors told her she had four days to live due to kidney failure following the wreck. This year has been the worst start to a new year, but I wont bore anyone with the details but I think it important to note that when a school bus driver comes at you driving 110km as we were slowing for a turn that no matter what your car is made of it might as well be a tin can, the 42-year-old wrote in a post on Sunday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ive gone into kidney renal failure, theyve given me four days to live, transferring me to a specialist hospital in urology, she continued. Im ready to go, just not until I see my babies one last time, but you know what they say about wishes. S*** in one hand and wish in the other & I guarantee its still going to be s*** at the end of the day, she wrote. Dini von Mueffling, Giuffres representative, told The Independent: Virginia has been in a serious accident and is receiving medical care in the hospital. She greatly appreciates the support and well wishes people are sending. In 2021, Giuffre alleged in a civil suit that Jeffrey Epstein forced her to have sex with Queen Elizabeths second son on at least three occasions in London, New York and the U.S. Virgin Islands when she was 17 years old and he was 41. On one of these occasions, she told the court that she had been paid $15,000 for having sex with the Duke of York. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He has vehemently denied these claims. Virginia Giuffre, who accused Prince Andrew and Jeffrey Epstein of sexual misconduct, says she has four days to live (Virginia Giuffre/Instagram) During each of these incidents, she was compelled by express or implied threats by Epstein, [Ghislaine] Maxwell, and/or Prince Andrew to engage in sexual acts with Prince Andrew, and feared death or physical injury to herself or another and other repercussions for disobeying Epstein, Maxwell, and Prince Andrew due to their powerful connections, wealth, and authority, her suit says. Her complaint included a photo of the duke with his arm around Giuffre as Maxwell, Epsteins associate and former girlfriend, smiles at the camera in the background. Despite the fact that the photo had already surfaced years earlier, in 2019, he told the BBC: I have no recollection of ever meeting this lady. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Giuffre previously accused Epstein and Maxwell of grooming her and has claimed the pair had introduced her to Prince Andrew in 2001. Giuffre, who was born in California, had moved to Florida to rebuild her life. She had a rough childhood; she was sexually abused by a family friend at age 7 and wound up in and out of foster care homes later in childhood, she told the BBC. By age 14, she was living on the streets, where she found hunger and pain and [more] abuse. By 16, she found a job at Donald Trumps Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach as a locker room attendant when Maxwell recruited her to become a massage therapist, according to court documents. Giuffre and Epstein settled in 2009 for $500,000, which included an agreement that Giuffre not take legal action against anyone connected to Epstein that could be described as a potential defendant. Lawyers for the Duke of York argued that Giuffres sexual assault case against him should be dismissed, citing this document, but the judge rejected that request. Virginia Giuffre pictured with Andrew along with Ghislaine Maxwell (right) (PA) The pair settled in February 2022 for an undisclosed amount. A month earlier, Buckingham Palace stripped the duke of his military roles and HRH title. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a joint statement confirming the settlement, the duke said he regretted his association with late pedophile Epstein whom he acknowledged trafficked countless young girls over many years. Prince Andrew intends to make a substantial donation to Ms Giuffres charity in support of victims rights. Prince Andrew has never intended to malign Ms Giuffres character, and he accepts that she has suffered both as an established victim of abuse and as a result of unfair public attacks. The statement continued: It is known that Jeffrey Epstein trafficked countless young girls over many years. Epstein was charged with sex trafficking and conspiracy, but died by suicide in his jail cell in July 2019 before facing trial. Maxwell was convicted for her role in the scheme and sentenced to 20 years behind bars in 2022. In response to her post, Giuffres father Sky Roberts commented: Virginia my daughter, I love you and praying for you to get the correct treatment to live a long and healthy life. If there is anything in this world I can do to help you, please let me know. My spirit is with you now and holding your hand. CARROLL COUNTY, Va. (WGHP) The public is rallying around two deputies in Virginia who were injured in a shootout with the suspect of a separate Greensboro shooting. Deputies say they found the suspect, Edmond Johnson, 29, of Louisiana, in a Swift tractor-trailer in the parking lot of a Loves Truck Stop off Interstate 77, Exit 1, in the Lambsburg area on Friday. When Johnson got out of the tractor-trailer, he reportedly exchanged gunfire with deputies. During the confrontation, Johnson and two deputies were hit by gunfire. Johnson was killed. The deputies were taken to the hospital. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Greensboro makes downtown safety a priority as weather warms up In a statement on Sunday, the Carroll County Sheriffs Office expressed gratitude to everyone who has offered support and reaffirmed that the two deputies injured as in stable condition. The sheriffs offices full statement is included below: Thank you for the overwhelming love and support to so many law enforcement agencies, citizens, community partners, community leaders, Va. State Officials, NC State Officials, Carroll Fire/EMS, all hospital staff and so many others that I may have missed. The last twenty-four plus hours have been a whirlwind and full of challenges for the entire Carroll County Sheriffs Office. I am so thankful that two of my Deputies are in stable condition after being shot. These brave men and women of law enforcement put on a badge every day and place their lives on the line to serve their communities and fellow citizens with always knowing that they may not make it back home. I am so thankful for each and every Carroll County Deputy and each law enforcement officer that serves to protect our communities. Thank you all again for your love and support of our agency and thank you to the Lord above for watching over my Deputies as they did their duty. Prior to the shooting in Carroll County, Johnson was reportedly involved in a shooting in Greensboro. Around 1:44 p.m. on Friday, Greensboro officers, Greensboro firefighters and Guilford County EMS were sent to a reported shooting on I-85 South near mile marker 131. Police say the incident involved drivers of two tractor-trailers, including Johnson. One person was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Johnson reportedly fled north to Virginia, prompting Greensboro police to contact the Carroll County Sheriffs Office and inform them that the suspect was potentially at a truck stop in the Carroll County area. Greensboro police said in a statement, The Greensboro Police Department is grateful for our dedicated partners in law enforcement who put their lives on the line to protect and serve. We extend our heartfelt support to the Carroll County Sheriffs Office and our prayers for a full recovery for both injured deputies. Virginia State Police say the suspect was also wanted in Maryland. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. By Danilo Masoni, Yoruk Bahceli and Alun John LONDON (Reuters) - A more independent, less U.S.-reliant Europe is taking shape and investors sense opportunities in a long-shunned region that go beyond just snapping up defence shares. Yes, there is reason for caution since massive German spending on defence and infrastructure will take time to be felt. Yet many are playing the long game. "It seems that MEGA (Make Europe Great Again) trades are now rapidly replacing MAGA trades, which have lost their appeal," said Mark Dowding, CIO at RBC's BlueBay fixed income team, referring to U.S. President Donald Trump's Make America Great Again movement. 1/ DEFENCE FIRST Brussels' plan to mobilise up to 800 billion euros ($866 billion) for rearmament and German fiscal expansion mean defence stocks remain fertile ground for investors, even after their surge since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022. European aerospace and defence stocks have gained 33% this year, and valuation multiples have topped those of U.S. peers, reaching levels associated with luxury or tech. Tankmaker Rheinmetall was briefly more expensive than Ferrari this month, trading at 44 times its expected earnings, highlighting investor willingness to pay a premium for exposure to this long-term trend. Defence companies' expected average yearly profit growth to 2028 range from 8% for BAE to 32% for Rheinmetall, Citi estimates. The European Union wants to buy more European arms, but it's a challenge. Since 2022, 78% of EU procurement has gone outside the bloc, with 63% to the U.S., European Commission data show. And after a broad rally, some advise caution. Vontobel fund manager Markus Hansen believes investors should focus on areas with real and pressing demand such as rebuilding depleted ammunition stockpiles and infantry-related equipment. Defence supply chain firms and other sectors including communications meanwhile could benefit. Eutelsat has surged 260% this month, driven by suggestions the Franco-British satellite operator could replace Elon Musk's Starlink in providing internet access to Ukraine. "Apart from weaponry, defence is also about logistics, data and communication, and personnel. It's a comprehensive value chain where suppliers play an important role," Evli portfolio manager Tomas Hildebrandt said. Truckmaker Scania, a unit of Traton, Atlas Copco, which makes machinery for infrastructure and industrial projects, and construction companies in general, are possible examples, he said. 2/ HEY BOND Whether it's joint EU bonds or more German debt, a wider pool of triple-A rated bonds that supports the euro's reserve currency status is coming. BOSTON (WPRI) With border security tightening under the new Trump administration, some experts are warning those who dont have full citizenship to avoid leaving the country if they want to return. Concerns have grown after reports of legal visa and green card holders being detained at Boston Logan Airport. Just last month, a Russian research scientist at Harvard Medical School was taken into custody by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Court documents say her visa was revoked for failing to disclose frog embryo samples at customs. ALSO READ: Turkish student at Tufts University is latest Palestinian supporter swept up in US crackdown CAIR-Massachusetts Executive Director Tahirah Amtul-Wadud said travelers are also at risk of having their devices searched when entering the country. Everyone, including U.S. citizens, are at risk of having their phones and devices not only taken and searched but the contents also downloaded, she explained. Americans do have the right to refuse, but they could remain detained until consenting to the search. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement NEXT: Why are Republicans trying to abolish TSA? 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. Editors note: This story corrects the entrance for early in-person voting in Mahoning County. We regret the error. (WKBN) With a little over a month away from the May Primary Election in Ohio, early in-person voting in Ohio has begun. Read next: Dr. Amy Acton to visit Youngstown For all Ohioans, the primary election is on Tuesday, May 6. The deadline to request an absentee ballot is April 29. This is an off-year election, so ballots are going to be light. In Mahoning County, directors are predicting just a 10% turnout. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There is a primary in Youngstown. Theres some local liquor options and some tax issues out in the townships, but what most voters are gonna see is this State Issue 2 thats on the ballot, said Mahoning County Elections Director Tom McCabe. Issue Two has to deal with whether to renew a program that has funded thousands of local infrastructure projects. The money is used by local governments to pay for critical infrastructure projects, like improvements to roads, bridges, waste water treatment and water supply systems. Voters will be required to show a photo ID in Ohio to cast an in-person early ballot. If you do not provide a photo ID and want to vote early in person, you may cast a provisional ballot. The early in-person voting schedule for Ohio is as follows: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement April 8-11: 8 a.m. 5 p.m. April 14-18: 8 a.m. 5 p.m. April 21-25: 8 a.m. 5 p.m. April 28: 7:30 a.m. 7:30 p.m. April 29: 7:30 a.m. 8:30 p.m. April 30 May 2: 7:30 a.m. 7:30 p.m. May 3: 8 a.m. 4 p.m. May 4: 15 p.m. Here is where to vote early in your county, as well as some key issues and races on the ballots: Trumbull County Early in-person voting will take place at the countys Board of Elections at 2947 Youngstown Road SE in Warren. An interesting race is setting up for the Democrat for Warren City Council at Large. Five candidates are running for three seats. Incumbent Gary Steinbeck has decided not to run. Helen Rucker and Mike OBrien are also incumbents seeking re-election. Theyll be challenged by former councilman Ken MacPherson, Greg Thumm of Thumms Bike and Clock Shop, and Felicia Pruitt Davis. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Champion is asking for an additional 1.6 mills for police and EMS, and Vienna is asking for an additional 3.5 mills for fire and EMS. Visit this page to preview your ballot. Mahoning County Absentee ballots can be filled out on this page. Sample ballots can be viewed here. Early in-person voting will take place at the countys Board of Elections at 345 Oak Hill Ave (use entrance C). The race that will likely generate the most interest will be the Democratic primary for Youngstown Mayor. Incumbent Tito Brown will have a challenger. Brown will be challenged by current Third Ward Councilwoman Samantha Turner. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another interesting race will be for the Youngstown City Council President. Incumbents Mike Ray and Anita Davis have filed to take over as president after current President Tom Hetrick decided not to run again. Republican Tracy Randall has also filed and will run against the Ray-Davis winner in November. Columbiana County Check this page to preview your ballot. Early in-person voting will take place at the countys Board of Elections in Lisbon at 7989 Dickey Drive, Suite #3. There are a number of races in Columbiana County where there is a lack of candidates. Most are in East Liverpool, where no one filed to run for president of council, treasurer, or council members in the first, third and fourth wards. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Only one person filed for the three positions of council at large. Lisbon needs three more council members, and Wellsville needs two. A one percent sales tax renewal will be on the May ballot, and Salem will be looking to renew a quarter-percent income tax. Mercer County Absentee ballots must be completed and mailed to the Board of Elections office by April 29. Fill out this online form or call the office at 724-662-7542 for it to be mailed to you. Ballots are typically mailed to voters 21 days before the election, and the postmark return date deadline is May 19. Find information about how to get an emergency absentee ballot should one persist. Voter registration for the Tuesday, May 20 primary election is due by May 5 and can be completed here. Voting on May 20 will take place from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Early in-person voting, also known as on-demand voting, is at the Board of Elections office at 130 North Pitt Street, Suite B: Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. from April 29 to May 13. 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. May 14-16 (If you requested a ballot before May 13) For state races, one judge of the Superior Court and one for the Commonwealth Court are up for grabs. These positions are 10-year terms. For Mercer County, controller and treasurer, both four-year terms, are on the ballot. Republican controller Stephen Sherman II is seeking reelection, as well as Republican treasurer Amber White. Both are currently running uncontested. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A few municipalities have contested mayoral races, including Greenville, Grove City, Stoneboro and Sharpsville, whose long-time mayor Alex Kovach resigned in July and Democratic candidate Mark Gill has been in the position since. All races in Mercer County can be found here, and an unofficial list of candidates is on this page. Stan Boney and Gerry Ricciutti 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. WALTON COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) The Walton County Sheriffs Office and Walton Correctional K-9 Team are currently in the area of the Eastern Lake Trailhead searching for a missing person. Officials said 36-year-old Brett Valona was reported missing by his sister. He was last seen approximately four weeks ago when he was dropped off at the trailhead. Bonifay woman ejected from SUV, dies at scene in Walton County crash Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Valona is an avid outdoorsman who uses minimal equipment and gear to camp and survive. He was last seen wearing a flannel shirt and Dickies khaki pants with a yellow rain jacket, officials confirmed. Valona has brown hair, blue eyes, and a sandy brown goatee. If you have any information about Valonas whereabouts, contact WCSO at (850)-892-8111. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. LEHIGHTON, CARBON COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) A wanted man was arrested at a gas station and found with various amounts of drugs inside his car, police stated. On March 27, around 4:00 p.m., the Lehighton Police Department assisted the attorney generals office in arresting a wanted man. Officers say 41-year-old Kyle Kubin, of Lehighton, had an active warrant for aggravated assault with a weapon, out of Franklin Township. Man sentenced for stealing SNAP benefits from Pa. residents Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Investigators said Kubins vehicle was driving into a Sunoco Gas station on Blakeslee Boulevard, and multiple police agencies converged on the location and arrested him. During the arrest, Kubin was found with $730 in cash, a digital scale, and various amounts of narcotics, including: 321 grams of methamphetamine 41.5 grams of cocaine 32.8 grams of heroin Kubin will be facing additional charges of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PAhomepage.com. The Trump administration has criticized Monday's ruling barring French far-right icon Marine Le Pen from running for office for the next five years, after she was found guilty of embezzlement. "We have got to do more as the West than just talk about democratic values. We must live them," said State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce when asked about the case. "Exclusion of people from the political process is particularly concerning given the aggressive and corrupt lawfare waged against President [Donald] Trump here in the United States," Bruce added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Le Pen was found guilty of misuse of EU funds. Besides being banned from running for public office for five years, effective immediately, she was also sentenced to four years in prison, two of them suspended and the other two with an electronic tag rather than in custody. Trump's son, Donald Trump Jr., also reacted to the ruling on social media platform X. "France is sending le Pen to jail and barring her from running?!" he wrote. "Are they just trying to prove JD Vance was right about everything?," he added, apparently referring to a speech by the US vice president at the Munich Security Conference last month, in which he charged that European allies were restricting free speech and democratic values. ST. LOUIS Washington University announced last week it plans to implement the largest tuition increase in over a decade, citing a cap on federal government funding for the hike. According to a news release, undergraduate tuition for students who do not receive financial aid will be $68,240 during the 2025-2026 school year, which is $3,740 more than the current rate of $64,500. The universitys leadership noted the increase as a necessary move after confronting the National Institutes of Healths new cap on grant funding for indirect costs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Motorcycle crash claims life of 4-year-old boy in Saint Peters Companies and institutions in Missouri were awarded more than 1,500 NIH grants in 2024, and 1,192 of those went to Washington Universityworth $732 million. The new NIH rule aims to cap grants to 15% on indirect costs. Those are defined as facilities and administrations. Researchers said they could lose key funding for administration, accounting, and personnel. The university said the decision came after potential significant loss of federal research funding as well as a possible increase in the federal endowment tax. In 2024, WashU received over $1 billion of external funding for the first time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The university said the majority of that funding came from the federal government, including $629 million from the National Institutes of Health and another $116 million from the National Science Foundation, the Department of Health and Human Services, and other agencies. With anticipation of a reduction in those funds and increases to the federal tax rate on university endowments, the school said these changes threaten to create a significant budget shortfall. Editors Note: The video above is from Feb. 14. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2. AKRON, Ohio (WJW) A man accused of trying to break into a behavioral health facility from its roof got stuck inside the chimney, according to Akron police. Officers were called to Minority Behavioral Health Group along Copley Road in Akron at about 3:15 p.m. on Saturday, March 29, for a report of a suspicious man on the roof who was trying to get inside. Student with loaded gun arrested at Cleveland school Officers found the man, identified as Jabin D. Cuckler, 29, of Akron, stuck in the chimney. He was seen on police drone footage, which you can watch in the player above. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It took firefighters several hours to remove him, according to the release. He was arrested without incident and transported to a hospital for evaluation, then booked into the Summit County jail. Wayne Dawson makes donation to cancer support center Cuckler now faces a felony count of breaking and entering and a misdemeanor count of criminal trespass, Akron Municipal Court records show. He was set for arraignment on Monday morning. His case now goes before a grand jury for possible indictment. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. March 31 (UPI) -- A pair of Queensland, Australia, men were left scratching their heads when they came across a freshwater crocodile several miles from the animal's nearest natural habitat. Zane Hemmings spotted the crocodile on a street in Mudgeeraba, a Gold Coast suburb, and alerted his friend, Lachlan Sainsbury, who initially thought the other man was looking at a lizard and was simply confused. The men captured the out-of-place reptile and alerted the Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Freshwater crocodiles are native to Queensland, but their natural habitat is in rural areas in central, western and northwest Queensland," a department spokesperson told 7News. "The Gold Coast is not considered to be freshwater crocodile habitat." The department said the 2-month-old crocodile was likely an escaped pet or an animal illegally relocated from its habitat in the wild. The spokesperson said the croc will likely end up with a new home at a zoo or rescue farm. Im old enough to remember a time when the federal government, by way of the Department of Health and Human Services, worked hard to keep as many Americans alive for as long as possible. But that was way back in 2024. The plan now seems to involve thinning the herd. Donald Trump and the conspiracy-spreading anti-vaxxer running HHS, Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., are working to eliminate 20,000 jobs from the department. Roughly 25%. And they are blindly eliminating all manner of health-related programs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Arizona, for example, officials were told that $190 million in grants to more than 200 organizations have been terminated. The move will impact all of Arizonas 15 county health departments, several tribal health departments and university partners, and prevent us from completing a project to update the statewide real-time disease surveillance system. Cuts are 'a direct threat' to Arizona's health Will Humble, executive director for the Arizona Public Health Association, said of the cuts, In short, the termination of these grants marks a big blow to Arizonas public health system. With vital programs cut and surveillance tools stalled, the state will be ill-equipped to face future health crises. These changes are not just a setback they are a direct threat to public health and well-being in Arizona. It's like that all across the country. The cuts arent being made carefully and with precision. Directors often didnt know about layoffs or closings until staffers told them about termination notices they had received. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dr. Georges C. Benjamin, longtime head of the American Public Health Association, said, Losing people, losing money, making relationships dysfunctional is not going to improve the health of the American people. Wrong diagnosis, wrong therapy. Cancer research, disaster response could be hobbled Wayne A. I. Frederick, interim CEO of the American Cancer Society and the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, said the massive cuts would touch all points of the cancer continuum, from prevention to research, to treatment access and survivorship care, and could disrupt our nations ability to develop early detection tests and treatments for the more than 200 diseases we know as cancer. Former HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra said, This has the makings of a manmade disaster. Opinion: Exposing DOGE's dodgy plan to cut Social Security Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Downgrading services for our elderly and our disabled, downgrading services for our mental health, downgrading our strategic preparedness and response capabilities how can that be good for the health of any American? On the other hand, the drastic cuts to might be a twofer for the Trump administration. Not only do they radically reduce Health and Human Services spending, but they add to the reductions already being made to the Social Security Administrations budget. Imagine the money saved when there are fewer people alive to collect Social Security benefits. Reach Montini at ed.montini@arizonarepublic.com. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Like this column? Get more opinions straight into your email inbox by signing up for our free opinions newsletter, which publishes Monday through Friday. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Kennedy's HHS restructuring plan will kill Arizonans | Opinion We recently published a list of the 12 Best Oil and Gas Dividend Stocks According to Billionaires. In this article, we are going to take a look at where Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM) stands against other best oil and gas dividend stocks to invest in according to billionaires. The United States of America is now producing more oil than any country in history. The countrys oil and gas operators produced more than 13.49 million barrels per day (bpd) of crude in December 2024, an all-time high rate of production. Oil production in America has increased by almost 50% over the last decade, and the US Energy Information Administration (EIA) now expects American crude oil production to average 13.59 million bpd in 2025, up from its previous estimate of 13.55 million bpd. But at the same time, the countrys production is at risk of decline due to falling Brent prices, which are expected to average around $74 this year and then fall further to about $66 in 2026. READ NEXT: 12 Best Nuclear Power Stocks To Buy Now Another major problem for the US oil and gas industry is that the countrys largest oil field is flagging and may be nearing peak output. The Permian Basin led the US shale revolution and was responsible for almost half of the countrys overall production in December. However, relentless drilling over the last two decades has exhausted the oilfields core, and shale executives now expect oil production growth from the Permian to slow by around 25% to 250,000 to 300,000 bpd this year. Oil and gas executives are also irked by the tariff policies adopted by the Trump administration, as the constant uncertainty is now threatening their drilling plans. A recently published survey by the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas has revealed that oil executives are discontent with President Trumps administration, and nearly a third even said that their business outlook had worsened since the end of 2024. Moreover, the imposition of the 25% tariff on steel and aluminum has already led to an estimated 4% increase in costs for drilling a well. However, despite all the aforementioned issues and declining margins, the countrys oil and gas companies remain committed to shareholders and have increased their returns to record levels. A report by Janus Henderson has revealed that operators in the energy sector distributed over $49 billion in dividends during the third quarter of 2024, up from $32.2 billion three years ago. However, to maintain such high levels of payout, the industry will need to shift focus to its second major source of revenue natural gas. The Weimar+ group announced on March 31 that it would increase aid to Ukraine while considering additional sanctions on Russia to pressure Moscow into a ceasefire, Reuters reported. Foreign ministers from Spain, Germany, France, Italy, Britain, and Poland, along with EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, called on Russia to agree to an "immediate and unconditional ceasefire on equal terms and with full implementation." Moscow has refused a full 30-day ceasefire agreed upon by the U.S. and Ukraine in Jeddah on March 11, insisting on conditions that would undermine Kyivs defenses, such as a halt to foreign military assistance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Although Washington brokered a partial truce in March, Russian forces attacked Khersons energy infrastructure on March 27, despite earlier claims that they had imposed a moratorium on such strikes since March 18. The Weimar+ countries pledged to ramp up military, political, and humanitarian aid for Ukraine and warned that they are prepared to impose further sanctions on Moscow to ensure Kyiv secures the "best possible position to achieve a just and lasting peace." Any future peace agreement must include reliable security guarantees for Ukraine, the group said, emphasizing that they are "ready to play a leading role in this regard." They also rejected any settlement that would limit Ukraine's defense industry or restrict the presence of partner countries' military forces on Ukrainian soil. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement U.S. President Donald Trump claimed on Feb. 24 that Russian President Vladimir Putin would allow European peacekeepers to operate in Ukraine as part of a settlement, though Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov publicly rejected the idea. The meeting took place on the third anniversary of Ukraines recapture of Bucha, where Russian forces left behind mass graves and bodies of executed civilians in the streets. The Weimar+ group reaffirmed its commitment to holding Russia accountable for war crimes and supporting efforts to establish a special tribunal within the Council of Europe. The statement also stressed that Russian assets frozen by Western countries should remain inaccessible until Moscow ends the war and pays reparations for the destruction it has caused. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022, around $300 billion in Russian assets were frozen, with roughly two-thirds held in Europe. While Ukraine has received loans backed by interest accrued on these funds, Kyiv has repeatedly urged full confiscation to finance its defense and reconstruction. Weimar+ is a European diplomatic and geopolitical alliance introduced in February 2025 to expand the original Weimar Triangle, which included France, Germany, and Poland. The alliance was formed in response to shifts in U.S. policy under Trump, particularly after his direct negotiations with Russian President Vladimir Putin on war in Ukraine, which excluded European participation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read also: Unless you act, its just rhetoric Baltic states skeptical of Western European leadership Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. WHEAT RIDGE, Colo. (KDVR) Intermountain Health Hospice celebrated its Colorado veterans this year during the Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day. March 30, marks the day when U.S. Armed Forces withdrew all combat troops from Vietnam in 1973. Back then, the reception was much different than it is now. Decades later, Colorado nurse who served in Vietnam continues helping those in need When I got home, everybody was so committed to their opinion, they absolutely had to tell you, especially if you had a short haircut and you looked like you were in shape, you were obviously an ex-veteran, said Reno Unger, a U.S. Navy Vietnam veteran. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Colorado lawmakers established the commemorative holiday in 2021 to pay tribute to the approximately 124,000 U.S. veterans from Colorado who served during the Vietnam War, and the 623 of whom lost their lives during the conflict. Amanda Shon, a speaker at the event and senior nurse manager for Intermountain Health Hospice said this is recognition for veterans that is long overdue. It was a very divisive time and so this just gives us an opportunity to right that wrong and thank them for their service, she said. Local Vietnam veterans were honored for their service and sacrifice during a special pinning ceremony and military honors flyover. Col. Jim Kiekhaefer, who served in the Army during the Vietnam War, and was the events keynote speaker and former Denver Broncos player Billy van Heusen spoke about his brothers time in the war. He also presented each veteran with custom challenge coins. Veterans were treated to a military honors flyover for the conclusion of the ceremony (KDVR). Veterans were honored for their service and sacrifice during a special pinning ceremony and were presented with custom challenge coins (KDVR). Several military anthems were played by a live band during the ceremony (KDVR). Intermountain Health Hospice celebrated its Colorado veterans during Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day (KDVR). Next to our wedding, and Im 80 years old, and weve been married 58 years, this is the most amazing ceremony that Ive ever been to, said Nancy Unger, Renos wife. It was people who knew what they were talking about and it was very, very emotional. I was tearing up quite a few times. The speakers were phenomenal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Iwo Jima survivor from Aurora remembers costly battle as 80th anniversary approaches There was also an emphasis on the battle veterans continue to fight every day including PTSD, suicidal ideation and survivors guilt. According to Intermountain Health, veterans are at a 58% higher risk of suicide than those who havent served. Also, Colorado has a significantly higher veteran suicide rate than the national average, at 47.6 per 100,000 compared to the national rate of 34.7 per 100,0000. About 200 veterans and armed forces have died by suicide every year in Colorado over the last decade. Speakers encouraged veterans struggling to seek help and talk to those around them. For those with veterans in their lives, they asked them to keep an eye out for the warning signs and if someone is in an acute crisis or experiencing suicidal thoughts call 911 or 988, the Suicide and Crisis Hotline. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Find mental health resources in Colorado. If you are thinking of hurting or killing yourself: Call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org. Please get help immediately. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver. COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) Gov. Mike DeWine said he disagrees with advocates who argue the state is unwelcoming to the LGBTQ+ community. The governor was answering questions during a moderated Columbus Metropolitan Club forum on March 26 when he was asked whether Ohio is fostering an unfriendly climate for LGBTQ+ residents. The moderator said advocates claim DeWine has signed into law several bills that prompt bullying against transgender youth, like legislation regulating school restroom use. Id disagree with that, I would totally disagree with that, said DeWine. I dont think we have done that. Look, you go back and look at everything that I have said as governor, in State of the State speeches and other times, this should be a welcoming state. We want everybody to come to Ohio and feel welcomed in the state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Delaware, Marysville LGBTQ+ groups say local businesses are dialing back support When pressed, DeWine firmly denied theres an anti-LGBTQ climate in Ohio but said its important for all of us who in public office to speak out about that and for all of us to continue to make it clear that this is a state that welcomes everyone. DeWine reiterated that, we want you to come to the state of Ohio, we want you to feel welcome here. DeWines comments come as the Statehouse has advanced several bills that opponents deem anti-LGBTQ+, instead of repealing Ohios dormant same-sex marriage bans, removing antiquated HIV criminalization laws, passing a statewide conversion therapy ban or prohibiting LGBTQ+ discrimination. Ohios list of anti-LGBTQ+ bills includes a measure requiring academic institutions to set separate bathrooms based on students biological sex. After the bill was signed into law last November, Ohios only statewide trans-led organization, TransOhio, said more than 10,000 people called, emailed and wrote to DeWine urging for a veto. Our trans students and educators deserve so much better. Trans people have been a part of Ohio long before it was Ohio, and we always will be, the group said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Proponents argue the legislation addressed concern from Ohio parents about their local schools allowing the opposite sex into shared restrooms or locker rooms. Sen. Andrew Brenner (R-Delaware) said he sponsored the bill because he supports protecting women, and our daughters, by simply providing the specific facilities reserved for them. Columbus City Schools said this law is why the district reverted students names to those reflected on birth certificates, leading to backlash from parents who said the move came without notice and harmed trans students. The district rescinded its trans and gender variant student policy in February, removing policy protecting names and pronouns. Longtime advocate warns of Ohio deaths if federal HIV funding is cut DeWine also signed into law in January a bill coined by supporters as The Parents Bill of Rights, which goes into effect in April and will require teachers to notify parents before teaching sexuality content and of changes in a students mental, emotional or physical health. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A national crisis hotline said it received a significant increase in calls from LGBTQ+ youth in Ohio within hours after the governor approved the measure. Opponents said the bill will strip those youth of being able to confide in educators and school staff, putting them at risk of being outed to unsupportive families. The governor argued to reporters in January that the measure will provide a path for parents to be informed about whats going on in their childs life. [Parents are] the first teachers, theyre the best teachers, and thats very, very important, DeWine said, also noting that he does not see the bill as harming LGBTQ+ students. Another bill banning gender-affirming care for trans youth was vetoed by DeWine in late 2023. However, after the Statehouse voted to override the governors veto, the ACLU filed a lawsuit against the measure, which yielded a five-day trial last July. While the Franklin County judge in that trial ruled in August the measure could go into effect, an appeals court decided in March that the law is unconstitutional. Children are just not old enough, theyre not mature enough to be able to make these lifelong decisions, said Rep. Gary Click (R-Vickery), the legislations primary sponsor, when the law was enacted. We wanted to put on the brakes and say, Wait a minute, this is an adult decision.' Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Measles outbreak reported in Ohio after several more cases confirmed Mayors for Akron, Cleveland, Columbus and Toledo said in a joint statement that while they are proud to offer trans-inclusive health care benefits to their employees, the law prevents young people from accessing those benefits. While our city does everything we can to empower and lift up all our youth, the state law prevents parents in our city from making health care decisions for and with their child, Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther said. Other LGBTQ-related bills that have been debated at the Statehouse include a measure prohibiting adult cabaret performances that opponents say would amount to a ban of drag queens in public, a bill to ban universities from asking students their preferred pronouns, and legislation prohibiting mental health service to minors without parental consent, which a leading advocacy group said could prematurely out LGBTQ+ teens. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. SIOUX FALLS S.D. (KELO) People in Wessington Springs continue to mourn the loss of two victims from a Thursday night house fire. Neighbors react to deadly Wessington Springs fire In a Facebook post, the Wessington Springs Volunteer Fire Department expressed their grief and condolences, while saying the victims of the fire were Assistant Fire Chief Michial Brodkorb and his partner Tiffany Knipfer. We lost one of the best, the post said. Anyone that knew Michial, knows that he gave 110% to the fire department. His selfless service did not go unnoticed, as he would always volunteer to help with any community function or project. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The pain and sorrow that our department sustained was immeasurable, the post said. The fire broke out Thursday night and the couple were found the following morning. There are still questions about how the fire started, and authorities say they hope to find those answers soon. An autopsy was scheduled for Monday morning, according to the South Dakota Attorney Generals office. We are awaiting the results, the AGs office said. In an update Monday afternoon, the AGs office said it continues to await a cause and manner of death along with the origin of the 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 KELOLAND.com. LITTLE ROCK, Ark. Its been two years since the March 31 tornado hit Little Rock, but Renata Jenkins Byler said she remembers it like it was yesterday. My husband called and said weve been hit, and weve been hit hard, Byler said. Little Rock funeral home continues to serve others with the help of the community Byler owns Roller Funeral Home, one of many businesses damaged from the storm. Our roof lifted, and the walls shifted, so we had to take this whole building down to the ground and start over, Byler said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The process lasted two years and Byler says its been a long journey, but theyre now ready to reopen their doors. We have a new selection room, state of the art the only one in Arkansas that has it, a lot of chapels have pews we took that out we put chairs that we can configure to whatever the family needs, Byler said. Arkansas storm chaser reflects on March 31 tornado Byler says she was intentional with remodeling process of the funeral home in honor of her familys legacy. They had been serving people for generations and she wanted to ensure that it continued to feel like home for families. When you come in you still have that warm feeling that you had before we served your family. Roller has been here since the 1800s taking care of families and were still here to take care of you now, Byler said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A grand reopening will be held at 1 p.m. next Sunday. Everyone in the community is invited to go celebrate. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Flood debris piles left in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene in Bat Cave, North Carolina. (Photo by Sean Rayford/Getty Images) When Hurricane Helene tore through western Yancey County, Steve Boyd was one of thousands in the area who lost internet access. The 70-year-old retiree, who lives outside of Burnsville, knows he got lucky. He didnt lose his house, or his belongings just a couple nearby trees that knocked out the power. For days after, getting back online was an afterthought. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You dont even think about internet when you dont have lights, or anything else, Boyd said. His home, which sits off a miles-long county road, had been connected by coaxial cable. Shortly before the storm, hed bought a new wi-fi system and new computers for him and his wife. But six months later, hes still without internet. His provider, formerly a local shop that was later bought up by a larger company, has been working to restore service; he stops by their office daily. Eventually, he broke down and decided to try out Starlink, the buzzy satellite internet service owned by SpaceX and Elon Musk. Boyd drove out to Best Buy and bought a $350 residential kit. When he got home, he set it up, only to realize there was a waitlist in the region. He paid $9 to get on it. Many in western North Carolina impacted by Helene are now back online, after even the largest companies struggled to get service back up and running in the weeks after the storm. But the state isnt just looking at getting access back to pre-Helene levels it wants the entire state to have steady internet access. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was set to be a long, complex process, even before Helene. Statewide connectivity means using a patchwork of solutions to reach communities like Boyds, investing hundreds of millions of dollars and navigating federal regulations that are about to see major changes. All the while, natural disasters remain top of mind. When the mountains got hit, the whole region went off the grid. Can North Carolina prevent it from happening again? Swaths of NC remain offline or underserved. The path to getting connected is complicated Many parts of North Carolina remain either without stable internet or limited to slow speeds. Many of those places are rural communities but not all of them. Parts of Wake and Mecklenburg counties, the states most populous areas, still struggle with limited connectivity. But the most challenging regions to get online are the rural ones: parts of the northern Piedmont, and long stretches of the southwest. A map of unserved and underserved internet locations in North Carolina, according to June 2024 FCC data. (Graphic: NC Department of Information Technology) We have the second largest rural population in the country, said Angie Bailey, the director of North Carolinas broadband infrastructure office, in an interview with NC Newsline. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So its those people in those areas that are sparsely populated, and its also figuring out how to work with broadband providers so they can get a return on investment. In total, there are more than 213,000 unserved locations across North Carolina, according to Federal Communications Commission data from June 2024. Those places have less than a 25 megabit per second download speed and three megabit per second upload speed. An additional 130,000 locations are underserved, with higher but still subpar speeds. But finding agreement between locals and government surveyors on where exactly wiring is needed isnt always easy, as one North Carolinian told attendees of a recent panel put on by the NC Rural Center. I have verified the same hog house four times, that it doesnt need power, said Erna Bright, who has led broadband expansion efforts in northeast Gates County. The satellite picture says its there, its unserved. Well, that pig doesnt know how to use it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the states most remote communities, laying fiber lines for just a few homes often doesnt equal profits for prominent fiber companies. So officials have to look to other methods: wireless systems that bounce signals off mountains, or satellite connections like Starlink. Erna Bright, who has helped lead broadband expansion in North Carolinas northeast Gates County, speaks at a panel in Raleigh on March 25, 2025. (Photo: Galen Bacharier/NC Newsline) Still, some are wary of those regions getting the short end of the stick in the process. It feels a lot like rural America doesnt matter to the people who are making those decisions, said Sara Nichols, an energy and economic development manager for Land of Sky Regional Council. Because rural America has been given the alternative technology solutions time and time again, that doesnt quite meet their needs. Or it doesnt meet them for long enough, because the technology changes pretty quickly. Lawmakers ask DC: Extend key deadlines for broadband plans The bulk of the dollars set to pay for those new connections is federal through the American Rescue Plan Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, both passed by Congress during the Biden administration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement State officials have awarded ARPA money at a steady clip, with more approvals coming week by week. North Carolina is light years ahead of other states, said Jeff Sural, a broadband consultant based in Raleigh. But the Trump administration is expected to alter a number of regulations around broadband projects likely putting states efforts on pause as they work to comply. All the while, a key deadline looms Dec. 31, 2026, when all projects using American Rescue Plan money have to be completed. In December, officials with the state Department of I.T. asked the soon-departing Biden administration to extend that deadline to 2027 they did not. So Rep. Jake Johnson (R-Polk) wrote to North Carolinas congressional delegation in late February, asking them to get in touch with the U.S. Department of the Treasury. Broadband providers want to continue aggressive buildout plans into unserved rural areas but cannot risk claw backs with such a short deadline, Johnson wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Johnson, who led efforts in the legislature to allocate the federal broadband money, is also preparing for the new federal regulations on using the money from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Act. Hes set to introduce a bill he said would allow the state to move swiftly and comply with changes so they can continue building with little interruption. Building for resiliency: How North Carolina can prevent hurricane blackouts in the future Nobody knows whether it will be eastern or western North Carolina that takes the brunt of the next storm. But theres no question that there will be a next storm. Im not sure people thought about resiliency in the same way before the storm as they do now, said Rep. Eric Ager (D-Buncombe). People just didnt imagine that mountainsides were going to slide down. Part of the federal requirements for broadband projects is having safety nets in place for both regional residents and first responders during emergencies. But state officials will have to decide how to build them and how much to spend. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A new contract signals one key part of that plan Starlink, Musks low-earth orbit satellite service. The state plans to buy kits from the company for local governments and emergency officials to use during disaster scenarios. Angie Bailey, director of North Carolinas Office of Broadband Infrastructure, speaks at a panel in Raleigh on March 25, 2025. (Photo: Galen Bacharier/NC Newsline) We see them as a huge, important partner, said Bailey, the state broadband office director. A huge resource for the state and country. The worlds richest man garnered praise and headlines when he suspended Starlink charges in western North Carolina directly after the storm, and had additional equipment flown into the region. State lawmakers, after struggling to find kits, had backchanneled with some of Musks people to get more dropped off, said Johnson. The Republican lawmaker envisions a library-esque loaner system with Starlink kits in the future, where residents can check out a unit and pay the monthly subscription fee as needed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Really, youre just no-interest financing it from the state, Johnson said. Concerns remain among some about Starlink as a permanent solution. Months after the storm, theres a lengthy regional waitlist for residents who want to boot up and get connected. And others are wary of Musks close ties to the Trump administration. Obviously, I think there are real corruption problems that were going to have to manage going forward, Ager said. I dont think we know what those are yet, but we certainly dont want people making decisions about the federal government having the ability to enrich themselves. Money for hurricane-safe upgrades could come through extra federal money that doesnt get spent on connection needs. Bailey said any money thats left over could be used to address redundancies, as well as amping up cellular connections. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And Johnson predicted there would be a hefty chunk left from a $100 million program to replace fiber poles. It could be used to buy Starlinks, he said, or to upgrade communications for fire departments, shelters and county emergency staff. That was kind of the worst part of the storm that nobody could talk to each other for a long time, Ager said. Communication got really difficult. And that was true for emergency responders as well as just regular people. UPDATED, with Leavitt comment: The White House Correspondents Association warned today that reports that the Trump administration plans to take control of the seating chart for the briefing room would be another effort to punish journalists over coverage it disfavors. Axios reported that Trumps team was considering taking over seating assignments in the cramped briefing room, a task that the WHCA has handled for decades. Major networks, top wire services and print publications now have the front row seats and most often are the first reporters called upon during the press secretarys regular briefings. More from Deadline Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a note to members today, the WHCA board wrote that if the White House pushes forward, it will become even more clear that the administration is seeking to cynically seize control of the system through which the independent press organizes itself, so that it is easier to exact punishment on outlets over their coverage. The reason the White House wants control of the briefing room is the same reason they took control of the pool: to exert pressure on journalists over coverage they disagree with, the WHCA board wrote. This was explicit with The Associated Press, where the president and his staff plainly said their removal from covering presidential events was punishment for their style guide. And their motives here are explicit again. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told Fox News today that we believe that it is fundamentally unfair that a group of D.C. based elite journalists get to choose who gets to cover the president of the United States. The media has changed a lot in the decades of press coverage here at the White House, and its time that coverage changes with it. She called the WHCA note to members a fundamentally unserious email that made it clear that this is a group that doesnt care about press freedom, transparency, and access for all media voices, but just cares about having their monetized monopoly over the briefing room. There are just 49 press seats in the room. The Trump White House also has started selecting different individuals to fill a new media seat, and it is located off to the side of the lectern, next to where Leavitts staff sits. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The WHCA, though, took issue with the idea that the administration was seeking to bring in new media outlets excluded from the WHCA. Our organization has always been and will always be open to professional outlets covering the White House, and weve evolved over more than a century to reflect the changes in our press corps, the board wrote. For instance, of the 296 news organization WHCA members, 45 are digital-only, 29 are new media founded since 2000, and 29 are local U.S. outlets hailing from 18 different states. The WHCA noted that all-digital outlets added to the briefing room in recent years include Daily Caller, Huffington Post, Daily Beast, Newsmax, Yahoo and The Grio. The most obvious end result of this reported plan is the punishment, not elevation, of journalists, the WHCA board wrote. Its the same at the Pentagon, where the administration removed longstanding outlets whose coverage they disagreed with for other outlets that did not regularly cover the building. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Axios report also quoted a senior White House official that a WHCA member had privately raised the possibility of changing the organizations bylaws so the sitting White House press secretary, currently Karoline Leavitt, always serves as WHCA president. The WHCA board also called such a suggestion ridiculous. No board member or official representative of the WHCA has ever put forward such a non-starter suggestion, the board said. The WHCA board wrote, Lets be clear about why seats and who assigns them even matter. Its simple: for the American people. For the public to get the information it needs to understand and make decisions about the most powerful office in the world, it needs news produced by experienced, professional journalists who ask tough questions and produce fair coverage. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The WHCA backed the Associated Press after it was banned from Oval Office and other White House events, as well as Air Force One travel, because the news organization declined to change the name of the Gulf of Mexico to Gulf of America in its style guidance. The AP sued Trump administration officials, and a judge is considering their request for a temporary injunction. The White House also has taken control of who is a member of the White House pool, the smaller group of a dozen or so journalists who cover presidential events where access is extremely limited. The WHCA handled those assignments for decades. Although networks and wire services (but not the AP) continue to be in the pool, so are Trump-supporting outlets like Real Americas Voice, often leading to the president getting extremely softball questions. Chuck Todd, the former moderator of Meet the Press and NBC News chief White House correspondent, wrote on X that major networks should be speaking out about what is happening, not just the WHCA. He wrote, The lack of leadership by the execs of these impacted media outlets is quite striking. I admire the journalists at WHCA in trying to push back but without full throated public support from their bosses, it will go nowhere. WH press shop knows this. Best of Deadline Sign up for Deadline's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. The quiet suburban streets of Massapequa Park seem an unlikely backdrop for one of the most notorious serial killer cases in recent history. But it was there that Rex Heuermann, a former architect and father of two, is believed to have led a double life as the alleged Long Island Serial Killer. With Netflixs documentary Gone Girls: The Long Island Serial Killer bringing renewed attention to the case, many are wondering about the current whereabouts of the man accused of murdering multiple women and disposing of their bodies on Ocean Parkway. After years of investigation, authorities arrested Heuermann in July 2023, charging him with murdering several women whose remains were discovered along Gilgo Beach. Investigators allege he targeted women working as escorts, using burner phones to arrange meetings before killing them and carefully disposing of their bodies. The case, which had gone cold for years, shocked the community where Heuermann had lived an otherwise unremarkable life. More from StyleCaster Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As investigators continue to build their case and media coverage intensifies, true crime enthusiasts are left wondering if the alleged Long Island Serial killer is still behind bars today. So, where exactly is Rex Heuermann now, and what does daily life look like for the man accused of one of the nations most notorious murder sprees? Is Rex Heuermann still in jail? Image: James Carbone-Pool/Getty Images. Yes, Rex Heuermann is still in jail. As of March 2025, he remains incarcerated at the Riverhead Correctional Facility in Suffolk County, New York, as he awaits trial for multiple murder charges. His daily existence has shrunk dramatically from designing buildings as an architect to occupying a 60-square-foot cell equipped with only the bare essentials: a bunk, toilet, sink, and plastic mirror. Suffolk County Sheriff Dr. Errol D. Toulon Jr. told People that Heuermann has become more acclimated with jail life since his arrival in July 2023 For the most part, it just seems like this is a new way of life for him, Toulon explained. 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 doesnt congregate with the rest of the population because of the crimes hes accused of. While Heuermanns cell is monitored around the clock by corrections officers, his movements throughout the facility require special protocols. When Mr. Heuermann has to move throughout our facility, we will stop all inmate movement, Toulon revealed, explaining that this measure protects Heuermann from potential attacks by other inmates who might target him due to the nature of his alleged crimes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Interestingly, Heuermanns estranged wife, Asa Ellerup, has begun visiting him approximately once a week in recent months, despite filing for divorce. According to her attorney Bob Macedonio, Ellerup still struggles to reconcile the man she was married to for 27 years with the heinous crimes hes accused of committing. A lot of that, I think is therapeutic for her and to get whatever kind of grasp on the situation she possibly can, Macedonio told People. Heuermann was initially charged with the murders of Melissa Barthelemy, Amber Costello, and Megan Waterman in July 2023, with authorities later adding charges for the murder of Maureen Brainard-Barnes. All four women had worked as online escorts and disappeared between 2007 and 2010. In subsequent months, prosecutors expanded the case against him to include the killings of Jessica Taylor and Sandra Costilla, with charges for Valerie Macks murder added in December 2024. Investigators allegedly linked Heuermann to the crimes through DNA evidence, burner phones used to arrange meetings with victims, and disturbing internet search history. Authorities claim he conducted over 200 searches about the investigation, including queries like Why could law enforcement not trace the calls made by the Long Island serial killer and why hasnt the Long Island serial killer been caught. Perhaps most chillingly, investigators reportedly found a hair from Heuermanns then-preschool daughter Victoria in the sealed garbage bag containing some of Valerie Macks remainsa grim detail that underscores the proximity between his family life and alleged criminal activities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Throughout these proceedings, Heuermann has maintained his innocence, pleading not guilty to all charges. But as the justice system processes his case, he will remain in his closely monitored cell. Best of StyleCaster Sign up for Stylecaster's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. WASHINGTON (AP) The recent firings of career Justice Department lawyers by the White House is a sign of President Donald Trump's tightening grip over the law enforcement agency known for its long tradition of political independence. On Friday, an assistant U.S. attorney in Los Angeles was fired without explanation in an terse email from the White House Presidential Personnel Office shortly after a right-wing activist posted about him on social media, according to a person familiar with the matter. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were concerned about potential retribution. That followed the White House's firing last week of a longtime career prosecutor who had been serving as acting U.S. attorney in Memphis, Tennessee. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The terminations marked an escalation of norm-shattering moves that have embroiled the Justice Department in turmoil and have raised alarm over a disregard for civil service protections for career lawyers and the erosion of the agency's independence from the White House. That one of them was fired on the same day a conservative internet personality called for his removal adds to questions about how outside influences may be helping to shape government personnel decisions. The integrity of our legal system and the independence of DOJ requires that laws are enforced impartially, which cannot happen when the White House fires career prosecutors to advance a political agenda, said Stacey Young, a former Justice Department lawyer and founder of Justice Connection, a network of department alumni that works to support employees. The Trump loyalists installed to lead the Justice Department have fired employees who worked on the prosecutions against the president and demoted a slew of career supervisors in an effort to purge the agency of officials seen as insufficiently loyal. The latest firings of the U.S. attorney's office employees, however, were carried out not by Justice Department leadership, but by the White House itself. A Justice Department spokesperson declined to comment Monday. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement that the White House in coordination with the Justice Department has dismissed more than 50 U.S. attorneys and deputies in recent weeks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The American people deserve a judicial branch full of honest arbiters of the law who want to protect democracy, not subvert it, Leavitt said. The Justice Department is an executive branch agency. Justice Department political appointees typically turn over with a new administration, but rank-and-file career prosecutors remain with the department across presidential administrations and have civil service protections designed to shield them from termination for political reasons. The breadth of terminations this year far outpaces the turnover typically seen inside the Justice Department. Adam Schleifer, who was part of the corporate & securities fraud strike force at the U.S. attorney's office in Los Angeles, received an email Friday morning saying he was being terminated on behalf of President Donald J. Trump," according to the person familiar with the matter. The email came exactly an hour after right-wing activist Laura Loomer called for him to be fired in a social media post that highlighted Schleifer's past critical comments about Trump while Schleifer was running in a Democratic primary for a congressional seat in New York. Loomer described Schleifer as a Trump hater and Biden administration "holdover." Schleifer, however, re-joined the U.S. attorney's office in California at the end of the first Trump administration after losing the primary to Mondaire Jones. At the time of his firing on Friday, Schleifer was prosecuting a fraud case against Andrew Wiederhorn, the former CEO of Fat Brands Inc., who donated during the presidential campaign to groups supporting Trump. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The email to Schleifer came from the White House Presidential Personnel Office, which recruits, screens and manages political appointees and has no role in the hiring or firing of career civil servants. Meanwhile, Reagan Fondren, a longtime career prosecutor in Tennessee, was fired Thursday in a one-line email from the White House, she told The Daily Memphian. Fondren became acting U.S. attorney in the Western District of Tennessee in September after the Biden appointee stepped down. Fondren did not respond to a request for comment. While it was expected that her position as acting U.S. attorney would be temporary, acting U.S. attorneys usually return to their old jobs when a new politically appointed leader has been chosen. She was not just removed as acting leader of the office but fired from the Justice Department entirely, the newspaper reported. Shortly after the Trump administration took over in January, the Justice Department fired more than a dozen employees who worked on the criminal cases against Trump, which the department abandoned in light of his electoral victory. Days later, then-acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove ordered the firings of a group of prosecutors who were involved in the cases against the more than 1,500 people charged in the Jan. 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol riot. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Leavitt is one of three administration officials who face a lawsuit from The Associated Press on First- and Fifth-amendment grounds. The AP says the three are punishing the news agency for editorial decisions they oppose. The White House says the AP is not following an executive order to refer to the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America. ___ Associated Press writer Eric Tucker in Washington contributed to this report. Some Florida homeowners hardest hit by hurricanes Milton and Helene must now also see their homes completely demolished or, if they're lucky, elevated. This follows a federal mandate that impacts majorly damaged homes those impacted by natural disasters. Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) 50% rule dictates that if a house is in a flood zone and local building officials deem it to be substantially damaged, straightforward repairs may not be sufficient. The complex regulation kicks in when the repair costs exceed 50% of the home's market value (the test for substantially damaged), amounting to hundreds of thousands of dollars for the homeowners. Don't miss The impact of hurricanes Milton and Helene Hurricane Milton took at least 24 lives in Florida and caused over $34.3 billion in damages last October, while just days prior, Hurricane Helene's aftermath killed 34 in the state and caused over $78.7 billion in damages across the U.S. The west coast barrier islands of Pinellas County were one of the state's most impacted areas. Redington Shores resident Derek Brunney has lived in his home for over 20 years and has had to contend with it being demolished. You start seeing different events you had on the property. Weddings, birthdays, things like that. It just rehashed everything," Brunney told WFLA News Channel 8 On Your Side about the aftermath. "Its one step forward, two, or three steps back. You get punched in the eye at the same time. The trouble for many homeowners like Brunney is that they still must pay for their insurance and utilities. But he and many other Florida homeowners still hold out hope for a better future. Its slow, he said. Its daunting. Its exhausting, but its the only way youre going to move forward right now until you get to the end of it. How to budget for the unexpected When it comes to home repairs and rising insurance costs, you often cant anticipate when they'll hit. The key is to be prepared. While this isn't a simple feat for many, there are some practical things you can start doing today to budget for the future and any rebuilding efforts. The Trump administration says its moving on from Signalgate and that embattled national security adviser Mike Waltz is keeping his job. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters Monday that the administration has decided to put the embarrassing scandal in the rearview mirror, even if others aren't ready to do the same. As the president has made it very clear, Mike Waltz continues to be an important part of his national security team, Leavitt said. And this case has been closed here at the White House as far as we are concerned. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Her quotes capped off a remarkable, weeklong stretch that began after The Atlantic's editor-in-chief, Jeffrey Goldberg, reported that hed been added to a Signal group chat with senior White House defense officials, including Waltz and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, in which the officials discussed plans to attack Houthi rebels in Yemen. What followed was a classic Washington political frenzy. Trump weighed firing Waltz, who took responsibility for accidentally adding Goldberg to the group chat. Democrats and some Republicans ripped the senior officials for using the Signal messaging app to divulge classified information. Even pro-Trump media figures expressed frustration with how the administration handled the fallout. The White House is only too eager to stop talking about an episode that has captured multiple news cycles and attracted unwelcome scrutiny. There have been steps made to ensure that something like that can obviously never happen again, Leavitt said at a White House briefing. And were moving forward. Asked by POLITICO for details about those steps, the White House declined further comment. The White House will remove from its property a magnolia tree planted nearly 200 years ago with seeds said to have been brought from former President Jacksons home in Tennessee. President Trump announced Sunday that, after consulting with the Executive Residence Staff and the National Park Service, the administration has decided to replace the tree, saying it poses a safety hazard. The bad news is that everything must come to an end, and this tree is in terrible condition, a very dangerous safety hazard, at the White House Entrance, no less, and must now be removed, Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social, noting that the good news is that his administration is making tremendous enhancements to the White House. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This process will take place next week, and will be replaced by another, very beautiful tree, Trump said. Trump added that White House staff will preserve the trees Historic wood, which, Trump said, may be used for other high and noble purposes!!! The tree was planted with seeds from a tree at the Hermitage, Jacksons home in Tennessee, to honor his late wife, Rachel, who died just months before Jackson took office. Efforts have been made for decades to preserve the historic tree, which underwent a significant branch removal and pruning in December 2017, according to the National Park Service. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) will deliver a speech in Washington, D.C., on Thursday focused on her vision for working with both parties on a number of issues, including manufacturing and national defense. According to a press release announcing her visit, Whitmer will outline her bipartisan approach to bring supply chains home from China, create more good-paying jobs, and invest in our defense industry. The governor is focused on a long-term strategy that puts America at the forefront of manufacturing and strengthens our national defense. Governor Whitmer will continue to work with anyone to continue getting things done, grow the economy, and protect our nation, the press release said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The governor will sit down with former Fox News host Gretchen Carlson following her speech. Whitmer has served as Michigan governor since 2019 and is term-limited. However, Whitmer has been floated as a potential 2028 presidential contender. Whitmer hails from a swing state President Trump flipped in November, but Democrats have performed successfully at the state level during her tenure as governor. Whitmer has taken a notably bipartisan tone in the first months of Trumps second administration. The governor met with Trump at the White House earlier this month. I had a productive meeting at the White House today with President Trump where we discussed bringing good paying jobs to Michigan, Whitmer said at the time. We also discussed tariffs, the importance of keeping our Great Lakes clean and safe, and additional defense investments in the state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer meeting with foreign leaders during an investment mission to the United Kingdom and Ireland. Photo from Whitmer's office. Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer wrapped up a weeklong mission in the United Kingdom and Ireland aimed at strengthening foreign economic relationships while state Republican lawmakers criticize her for being a frequent flyer. This investment expedition is the latest venture in a string of economic-focused trips in recent months, including a trip aimed to build economic partnerships in Spain in November and a mission to seek out partnership opportunities in the United Arab Emirates in February. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The European trip included meetings with industry and business leaders, as well as government officials to discuss collaborations in tourism and agribusiness, as well as defense and aerospace manufacturing, a news release from Whitmers office said. The goal is to place Michigan at the forefront of innovation, Whitmer said in the release, placing the state in the best position to build upon its legacy of excellence in manufacturing and leadership in the agriculture industry. 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, Whitmer said. Whitmer had a delegation of leaders from Michigan on the trip with her including the directors of the Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development and the Department of Natural Resources. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Efforts to connect with Michigans partners across the globe reinforces Michigan as a go-to ally in economic development, CEO of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation Quentin L. Messer, Jr said. Whether in tourism, agribusiness or advanced manufacturing, by engaging directly with business and government leaders, Team Michigan is demonstrating our commitment to companies currently with Michigan presences and encouraging new ones to establish presences, while showcasing our world-class workforce, infrastructure, innovation ecosystem and location advantage, Messer said. But as Michigan leaders across the political aisle tackle the issue of growing the states slow-growing population and making Michigan a prime choice to live and work, some state lawmakers say Whitmer ought to focus on domestic needs rather than racking up frequent flyer miles. While Michigans international image may be dazzling, Rep. Tom Kunse (R-Clare) encouraged Michigans governor to lower her sunglasses long enough to see all the issues in Michigan that he says require her executive attention, offered in a tongue-in-cheek special tribute resolution To Express Admiration for the Governors Tireless Commitment to International Visits and Frequent Flyer Programs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kunses special tribute implores Whitmer to recognize that there is more than enough work that needs to be done in Michigan that ought to take precedence over international relations. Further, Michiganders are still waiting on Whitmer to deliver on her promise of a long term road funding plan and improvements in education and lowering the costs of living. Michigan State Rep. Tom Kunse (R-Clare) listens as House Speaker-elect Matt Hall presents his plan for road funding in Lansing, Michigan on Nov. 25, 2024. (Photo: Anna Liz Nichols) While Michigan residents are busy dodging potholes, its reassuring to know that our governor is off admiring the roads of Europe, Kunse said in a statement. International diplomacy is alive and well, thanks to her firm belief that state business is best conducted from a poolside cabana located anywhere but Michigan. In order to bolster transparency and efficiency of overseas trips made by the governor, Rep. Steve Carra (R-Three Rivers) introduced a bill Thursday that would require a majority vote in both the state House and Senate to approve state funding for such trips. House Bill 4310 would also require the governors office to submit the destination of travel, what the dates are of travel and the purpose of the excursion. Whitmers office was asked about the GOP response to the trade trip, but did not return a request for comment by the time of publication. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX The nationwide teacher shortage is staggering. From June to December 2024, the Oklahoma State Department of Education reportedly issued 4,676 emergency certifications, which are provisional licenses for the 2024-2025 school year. In response, there are legislative bills to improve teacher pay and provide technological tools. State agency incentive programs offer financial support to recruit and retain teachers to teach in high-needs schools and in content areas like math, science and special education. These are all initiatives to offset the disparities. In 2024, the National Assessment of Education Progress (NAEP), the Nations Report Card, reported Oklahomas academic performance made little progress since the pre-pandemic levels. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Major innovations are underway to close the achievement gaps and improve teacher shortages. However, Tyler Glover, an African American sixth-grade math teacher at Santa Fe South Middle School, a public charter school with Oklahoma City Public School (OKCPS), says too many underserved students are being left behind. More: Ryan Walters should support trauma-informed interventions for Oklahoma kids | Opinion Linda Darling-Hammond, president and CEO of the Learning Policy Institute (LPI), a national educational scholar and expert, echoes Glovers sentiments. Her research shows that teachers of color bring benefits to all students, and especially to students of color, including by improving academic performance and attainment. Talitha Tollett-Bray, an African American educator, now retired, taught at John Franklin Hope Early Childhood Center and in the Tulsa Public Schools system. As a child, Bray started school at the all-Black Dunbar Elementary School and, by fifth grade, she had entered the integrated Pershing Elementary School. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When I attended Pershing Elementary, it was the first time I experienced racism. My teacher ... was very prejudiced. She belittled Black students," Tollett-Bray said. "One day, I wrote a derogatory statement on a piece of paper. Later, I balled it up and threw it in the trash. One of the white girls got it out of the trash and gave it to her. I still got in trouble for my behavior. However, the white principal understood because parents complained about (the teacher's) treatment of Black children." When I attended school as a child, my Black teachers showed interest in you. They were stern. They knew the importance of education. They emphasized the value of education in their teaching. They wanted you to succeed. They drilled into us daily that education is how you get ahead. Education is how you get a good job, take care of yourself, be a productive citizen, and become an independent thinker by obtaining an education, Tollett-Bray said. More: Opinion: Bilingual teacher pipeline program at OKCPS helping to improve student outcomes Bray stressed that our communities of color need and benefit from more teachers of color, particularly in the early grades. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The attrition rate for novice teachers is five years before they leave the classroom. Glover graduated from the University of Central Oklahoma (UCO). She has taught for seven years, gaining experience from the Putnam City district and at KIPP OKC College Prep (OKCPS). Our schools are made up of children of color from underserved communities. These kids seldom see teachers or administrators who look like them, Glover said. Fifth-graders Camila Chavez and Giovanni Aleso are pictured with their teacher, Tyler Glover, at Santa Fe South Middle School. Isaiah Massing, founding principal of Santa Fe South West Middle School, said studies show that students, particularly those from underrepresented backgrounds, tend to perform better when taught by teachers who share their racial or cultural background. The shared experience between the students and the teachers leads to a deeper understanding of students experiences. Massing said shared experiences decrease the need for behavioral interventions with less harsh consequences. Suspension rates are greatly reduced. Reductions in suspensions give students more time in the classroom, and students benefit from increased learning. He added: "Having a teacher who looks like them makes students feel more comfortable with who they are. That increased comfort is crucial for learning. It is much easier to learn when you are not worried about how you are being perceived. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Giovanni Aleso, a fifth-grader at Santa Fe South West, said Glover, his teacher, "takes time to show us how to work on math problems when we did not get it the first time. I like that. A classmate, Camila Chavez, added: Ms. Glover is kind. Tomorrows her birthday. If we win (a school competition), we get a party. I hope we win. Deena V. Thomas Deena V. Thomas is a retired Oklahoma City Public Schools teacher This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Many school children never see teachers who look like them | Opinion (NewsNation) Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, and Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., introduced the Abolish TSA Act of 2025 last week, which aims to eliminate the Transportation Security Administration altogether. The bill would require Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to expeditiously eliminate or transfer all authorities, enforcement functions, and programs of the Administration. The bill outlines that, with TSA gone, all commercial airport security should be privatized to increase cost-efficiency and security. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The legislation would also mandate the formation of an Office of Aviation Security Oversight in the Federal Aviation Administration. Trump administration potential travel ban concerning airlines: Editor What is TSA? Founded in 2001 by President George W. Bush following the 9/11 terrorist attacks, TSA is the DHS branch in charge of protecting the nations transportation. TSAs scope includes commercial and general aviation; mass transit systems; freight and passenger rail; highways, pipelines and ports, according to its official website. Planning to visit these national parks? You may need a reservation to get in Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The agency said its 65,000 employees screened 904 million passengers and 494 million checked bags in 2024, a 5.3% increase from 2023. It is most commonly recognized for its rigorous airport measures including taking your shoes off and condensing your liquids into one quart-sized bag. Why are Republicans trying to abolish TSA? Despite its Republican founding, most support for abolishing TSA comes from the GOP, who claim the agency oversteps and underperforms. The TSA has not only intruded into the privacy and personal space of most Americans, it has also repeatedly failed tests to find weapons and explosives, Lee said in a news release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A 2017 undercover test found that TSA screeners failed to find and confiscate test weapons more than half the time, though a specific percentage was not confirmed. A similar 2015 investigation showed TSA agents failing to detect 95% of test items. In 2024, TSAs budget was $10.4 billion. FILE A sign warns travelers not to bring guns through the Transportation Security Administration checkpoint at Orlando International Airport in Orlando, Fla, on April 23, 2022. The TSA said Friday, Dec. 16, 2022, it is raising the fine for people caught with a gun in their carry-on bag to a maximum fine to $14,950 after intercepting a record number of firearms at security checkpoints this year. Previously it was $13,910..(AP Photo/Ted Shaffrey, File) A TSA agent assists an airline passenger at a security checkpoint in Chicagos OHare International Airport. A Transportation Security Administration (TSA) worker screens luggage at LaGuardia Airport (LGA) on September 26, 2017 in New York City. Passengers traveling on Delta at Terminal C will now go through new automated security screening lanes that hat officials claim will improve security while reducing wait times by 30 percent. The new automated security lanes, which have recently launched at some terminals at neighboring John F. Kennedy Airport, feature four partitioned areas for passengers to load their belongings, as well as a second rotating belt for bins. These bins, which are 25 percent larger, are automatically sent back to the front of the line after each use, freeing up TSA officers to focus on the screening travelers. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images) Kite makes contact with United flight near DC airport, airline says Another contentious piece of airport tech is TSAs recently-introduced face scan technology, which bipartisan senators called out of control in a November 2024 letter to the TSA Inspector General. This technology will soon be in use at hundreds of major and mid-size airports without an independent evaluation of the technologys precision or audit of whether there are sufficient safeguards in place to protect passenger privacy, the letter stated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Notably, facial recognition is optional. TSA told NewsNation that the technology is the most secure form of identity verification and that they do not retain any personal data from passengers. Senators press FAA, Army on policies prior to DC plane crash If the bill is made into law and airport security is privatized, Lee predicts: American families can travel safely without feeling the hands of an army of federal employees. Democrats respond to TSA elimination bill Several Democrats have ridiculed Lee and Tubervilles bill on social media, pointing out potential safety pitfalls that come with eliminating TSA. Lee asked in a post on X, Who supports my bill to abolish TSA? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rep. Jared Moskowitz, D-Fla., responded: Bin Laden, referencing al Qaeda founder and 9/11 mastermind Osama bin Laden. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla., responded, The Ayatollah, probably, referencing Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Off Road Confidential special takes viewers across California coast Air travel safety concerns grow The call to end TSA comes amid a turbulent time for the aviation industry, which has been racked with disasters and close calls for months. Recent disasters include a deadly midair collision between a Black Hawk helicopter and an American Airlines aircraft near Washington, D.C. and a medical transport jet crash in Philadelphia which both happened in January. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This month, an overweight Alaska flight crashed into sea ice, killing 10 people. A Delta flight from Minneapolis to Toronto crashed and flipped over while landing, injuring 18, in February. The National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration are investigating these recent crashes and close calls to determine what caused them and look for ways to prevent recurrences. NewsNations Xavier Walton and The Associated Press contributed to this report. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation. (Stock photo via Getty Images) When state lawmakers talk about enticing businesses to Nevada, they are typically referring to businesses relocating or expanding operations within the state, creating new jobs, perhaps in new professions, for residents, and generating new revenue through tax collection. But one state lawmaker believes there exists another untapped market: corporate litigation. Delaware and its centuries-old Court of Chancery is the undisputed leader of business incorporation and corporate law in the United States. Delaware proudly boasts that 67% of Fortune 500 companies and 80% of the companies filing initial public offerings in 2023 were incorporated there. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nevada movers and shakers have long toyed with the idea of the Silver State jumping in on that corporate action. A bubbling of recent corporate dissatisfaction with Delaware has rekindled interest and created a new window of opportunity. Democratic Assemblymember Joe Dalia is sponsoring Assembly Joint Resolution 8, which proposes amending the Nevada State Constitution to establish a dedicated business court. This will allow Nevada to compete more capably for the multibillion dollar corporate filings market by offering businesses greater legal predictability and efficiency, Dalia told lawmakers on the Assembly Judiciary Committee, which heard his resolution in early March. Nevada over the past two decades has taken steps to make itself a more enticing option for incorporation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, despite the progress weve made, and despite having some very talented judges on the bench right now, our system still suffers from certain structural limitations that put us at a disadvantage relative to Delaware, he said. AJR8, if passed in the current legislative session, would have to pass again in the 2027 legislative session. Then it would go to voters in the 2028 general election for final approval. The particulars of the business court would then have to be established by the Legislature, presumably during its 2029 session. Once established, the court would handle complex business matters, such as disputes over shareholder rights, mergers and acquisitions, and fiduciary duties. Courts dedicated to specific areas of law are not unusual. In Nevada, family court is its own division and judges do not hear civil or criminal cases. Courts in Clark and Washoe counties have operated dedicated business dockets since 2001, with the goal being to adjudicate those cases more quickly. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement UNLV Boyd School of Law professor Benjamin Edwards worked on the resolution with Dalia. He explains a dedicated business court using a metaphor of a busy roadway or highway. This is basic infrastructure that creates a lane attractive for trailers so they are not next to your Corolla, he said. But the financial benefit would come when more businesses choose to incorporate in Nevada and pay the states filing fees. Delaware, a state with a population of 1 million people and 2.2 million businesses, generates $2 billion a year in revenue from commercial business filings. That revenue makes up 29% of their states general fund. (On top of that, additional taxes, and economic activity, are generated by the lawyers and their staff doing increased business in the state.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement By contrast, in Nevada, business licensing generated approximately $200 million last fiscal year, according to a report from the Nevada Secretary of States Office, whose commercial recordings division oversees them. Nevada Secretary of State Francisco Aguilar, who supports AJR8, says if Nevada could siphon just 5% market share off Delaware, that could mean an additional $100 million in revenue that could help solve some of our problems education, health care, a lot of things. Edwards doesnt think Nevada will cause a DExit a silly term being thrown about that plays off the UKs Brexit but instead will influence new companies. Even the initial approval of AJR8 sends a signal to the business community, he added. I dont think Delaware will stop growing anytime soon, said Edwards, but if their growth slows while Nevadas business community grows that impact will compound rapidly and translate into additional revenue for the state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Other supporters of the prospect of a Nevada business court agree. This is the type of economic development that is very cheap for the state, said Bryan Wachter of the Retail Association of Nevada, which testified in support of the resolution. You are going to consider a multitude of ways of approaching economic development. Some of those are going to come with a very heavy price tag. This one does not. Dissatisfaction in Delaware Everybody who really understands (AJR8) supports it, said Edwards. If you talk to business lawyers or people who are familiar with it, they get it immediately. But for everyone else, including the lawmakers whod have to approve it twice and voters whod have to approve it once, the issue may come across as Nevada kowtowing to corporate overlords who are throwing a fit because Delaware was mean to them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anybody who tells you they know the right balance between protecting investors and management in corporate law is an idiot, opined Edwards. Nobody has a clear sense of the perfect ratio. Nevada and Delaware simply strike different balances, he added. Enter the 1,000-lbs elephant in the courtroom: Elon Musk, the controversial billionaire who in addition to being CEO of Tesla and other companies is currently running amok as the head of the Trump administrations slash and burn Department of Government Efficiency. Musk has been one of the loudest critics of Delawares Court of Chancery and has transferred the incorporation of three of his companies to other states. In early February, he posted on his social media platform: Texas and Nevada are the best choices for incorporation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Texas became the state of incorporation for Tesla and SpaceX last year. Nevada became the state of incorporation for X Corp (formerly Twitter) in 2023. Hes someone who has brought a lot of attention to the issue, acknowledged Edwards, but he believes its shortsighted for Nevada lawmakers to see the business court proposal as being associated with Musk. It has nothing to do with him really. Aguilar, when asked about Musk being outspoken on the issue, all but changed the subject, and said there are a lot of good corporate actors: You dont hear about them in the contest of business litigation venue attractiveness because they are driving their businesses forward, and they want a fair environment. Businesses have broader issues primarily how easy it is to file litigation against corporations in Delaware that are long-standing but largely uninteresting to people outside of the insular corporate law world. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Every maybe 30 years or so there will be something that happens in Delaware that leads to a lot of people freaking out about something, said Edwards. Indeed, proponents in the late 1990s and early aughts pitched the establishment of dedicated business dockets in Nevada as having the potential to be a siren song for businesses contemplating a state other than Delaware. Musk and the corporate law worlds current flavor spike centers on controlled companies companies where one person owns more than 50% of stock. Delaware law is currently seen as being friendlier to shareholders than controllers, and has ruled that some companies for some purposes can be considered controlled even if technically 50% of the stock isnt held by one person. That includes Tesla and a massive $50 billion shareholder-approved CEO compensation package for Musk, which the Delaware Chancery Court rejected. (The CEO package case is being appealed to the Delaware Supreme Court.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Delaware lawmakers last week passed legislation to make it more difficult for small investors to challenge decisions made by controllers or powerful shareholders. Opponents called it a billionaires bill. Nevada, while it does not have nearly as extensive a corporate law history as Delaware, does have an established statutory environment, according to Edwards, and is already seen as a business friendly state for incorporating. TripAdvisor, which is moving its incorporation from Delaware to Nevada, has acknowledged in filings the legal appeal in Nevada. Specifically, company leadership says it has more protections from legal liability in Nevada than it does in Delaware. Aguilar as secretary of state, with assistance from Edwards, filed an amicus brief in the TripAdvisor case. Aguilar says lawyers in that case were attempting to paint Nevada as the wild wild west where laws cant be trusted and arent sophisticated enough. Delaware Gov. Matt Meyer publicly said companies that relocate to Nevada are rolling the dice. Its not the wild wild west, Aguilar told the Current. There is accountability. There are measures to do what is best for shareholders. For large corporations, especially publicly traded ones, where to incorporate is a highly complicated decision made in consultation with an army of attorneys, Aguilar continued. All the law firms are aware of Nevada. Those movements (like TripAdvisor) are starting to come because attorneys are saying Nevada is sophisticated and does a good job. Other companies reportedly considering leaving Delaware include Dropbox and Meta, the parent company of Facebook. Dalia, a freshman assemblymember, is employed by Meta as lead privacy and product counsel. He told the Current his work generally centers on enforcement against bad actors using Meta products and Federal Trade Commission compliance and is completely unrelated to the resolution he is sponsoring. AJR8 comes out of my earlier legal career advising investors and startups in Silicon Valley, where I saw first-hand how Delaware profited massively from its Court of Chancery, he added. That sentiment has been echoed by other supporters of the resolution. Jeff Saling, co-founder of the nonprofit business incubator StartUpNV and venture capital fund Sierra Angels, jokingly told lawmakers during support testimony of AJR8s hearing that he is part of the problem. When founders come to me to ask where to incorporate, I have to say Delaware, he said. Whether or not theyll be able to get funding depends on whether they have a Delaware C corp. Nevada Court of Chancery? What exactly the dedicated business court greenlit by AJR8 would look like would be decided in a future legislative session, presumably in 2029, the session after voter approval. Lawmakers on the Assembly Judiciary Committee, noting that Nevadas existing court system is already strained, raised questions about how a dedicated business court would be funded. Edwards told lawmakers he believes the additional costs of running a business court would be offset by court filing fees and additional revenue from business recordings, but that the Legislature would ultimately have to decide its structure. Democratic Assemblymember Selena La Rue Hatch pointed out there are incarcerated people who have been waiting for years and years in the court system. Can you explain why we are jumping business ahead of our constituents needs? she asked. Edwards and Dalia argued that a dedicated business court could free up the non-business judges to more expeditiously handle civil and criminal cases, benefitting the judicial system overall. They also expressed their support of additional resources for other aspects of the court system. Edwards said a large public corporation could close a deal in Delaware in 90 days, but in Nevada could be on hold for years because the average adjudication time for business cases is currently around 1,200 days. Thats a real barrier in terms of selecting Nevada, he added. Another potential hangup is that AJR8 proposes business court judges be appointed for 6-year terms by the governor from a list of three nominees vetted by a special nominating commission. Thats different from Nevadas current status quo of electing all judges. Dalia said that elected benches offer no guarantee that the judge will be an expert or even familiar with business law, creating an efficiency that would be seen unfavorably by businesses and result in longer timelines for cases. He added that, unlike criminal and civil law, business law is not part of the standard curriculum at law school. In Delaware, judges are appointed for 12-year terms and there is a rigorous process to ensure competence and expertise, said Edwards. Texas, which is also making a push to establish a business court, is contemplating judges appointed to 2-year terms by the governor. Edwards told the Current that structure could be problematic, especially if Texas were to ever become a swing state as people have long predicted. If youre sued in Texas and politically connected and you dont like the judge, you can just stall and wait until a new governor can appoint a new judge, he added. AJR8s proposal is more like Delaware than Texas. Edward believes it would be more stable because the special nominating commission would be a mix of lawmakers (the assembly speaker and senate majority leader) and judicial officials (the chief justice of the state supreme court and chief judges of the states three most populous district courts). The Assembly Judiciary Committee took no action on the resolution during its March 3 hearing. On March 25, AJR8 was withdrawn from the committee and placed on the Chief Clerks desk. That is typically not a positive sign for a bill or resolution. But proponents are still making the case for why Nevada should try. Were in a period where theres a lot of discussion around this shift in corporate law, said Edwards. Its my view that Nevada should do things that make sense. You can create infrastructure that will pay for itself and also make things more efficient and draw in more revenue. I'm Hope Karnopp, and this is the Daily Briefing newsletter by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Sign up here to get it sent to your inbox each morning. It's going to be chilly for the Brewers' home opener today, with temperatures feeling like the mid-30s by first pitch. It should stay dry for Election Day tomorrow, though western parts of the state could see rain and snow. Meteorologists are tracking the potential for more strong storms Wednesday. Donald Trump dances as he wraps up his political rally at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee on Friday, Nov. 1, 2024. Why tomorrow's election is a referendum on Trump Wisconsin voters will elect a new Supreme Court justice tomorrow. But the April election is much more than a state-level race it represents a referendum on President Donald Trump and his first 20 weeks in office, Molly Beck and Daniel Bice report. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Brad Schimel, the conservative candidate, has leaned heavily into Trump's endorsement and joined him for a "tele-rally." A spokesman for Susan Crawford, the liberal in the race, said Schimel "resorted to being fully at the mercy of Elon Musk and Donald Trump." Charles Franklin, director of the Marquette Law School poll, said Schimel's strategy has never been tried before in Wisconsin, making it "risky." It probably will mobilize some Trump voters who dont normally vote in spring elections, but also is likely to mobilize Democrats who are extraordinarily opposed to Trump, but perhaps not otherwise intense about the court race, Franklin said. So is mobilization or counter-mobilization the greater effect? Can We Energies demand backpay on a faulty meter? Sharon Saxelby, who is retired and on a fixed income, got a We Energies bill for $926 in January. After calling We Energies three times, she was told she owed nearly $700 in backpay due to a "bill irregularity." She contacted our Public Investigator team, who looked into the matter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We Energies discovered in December that the "wrong meter" was installed for Saxelby's Brookfield condo. That meter had recorded just 75% of the electricity used for "the last few years," a spokeswoman said. Now, We Energies is demanding Saxelby pay for the additional electricity she used over the past two years because of a state law. Although Saxelby owns her condo, she doesn't own or control the electricity meter and says it's unfair for her to pay for We Energies' mistake. We Energies says customers should know this is a "a very rare case, and the overwhelming majority of our 2.2 million meters work exactly as they should." Gina Lee Castro also breaks down whether back billing is legal, and how a similar situation was resolved in the 1970s. Don't miss these Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hope Karnopp can be reached at HKarnopp@gannett.com or on X at @hopekarnopp. Did someone share this newsletter with you? Sign up here to get it in your inbox. Not yet a Journal Sentinel subscriber? Please consider signing up at jsonline.com/deal. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Why tomorrow's election is a referendum on Trump Sign up for Trumps Return, a newsletter featuring coverage of the second Trump presidency. Donald Trumps interest in seeking an unconstitutional third term as president, like many of his most dangerous or illegal ideas, began as a joke. Trump would muse on the stump that he deserved an extra term because he was robbed of his first (by Robert Muellers investigation) or his second (by imagined vote fraud in 2020) without quite clarifying his intent. But in an interview with NBC News this weekend, and then in remarks on Air Force One, Trump said he was completely serious about at least exploring the notion. A lot of people want me to do it, he told NBC, adding, Im not joking. When he was asked if the method he envisioned was to have J. D. Vance run at the top of the ticket, and then pass the baton to Trump, he said, Thats one. Later, on Air Force One, reporters asked him if he intended to stay on beyond the end of his current term. Im not looking at that, he replied, 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. When a reporter mentioned the Constitutions prohibition, Trump brushed it off. I dont even want to talk about it, he said. Im 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 Ive had a lot of people. In Trumps mind, the timing is an impediment to declaring for a third termits too earlybut the Constitution is not. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One question is, does Trump seriously mean this? Perhaps not. Trump has a long-standing habit of answering reporters questions about future actions in the most open-ended way, refusing to commit to any specific course of action, which means he often refuses to rule out even the most outrageous things. This can give ammunition to his political opponents, such as when he said he would look at cuts to Medicare and Social Security. But it is also a way to flood the zone with shit, as Steve Bannon put it, by proposing an endless stream of wild ideas and reducing the shock effect of any of them. And Trump admires dictators, and enjoys the power that comes with serving as president. Having concluded that his first term failed because his enemies in the deep state and the independent media stopped him, he is now carrying out an elaborate set of schemes to sideline, control, and intimidate them. To concede that he will leave office in 2029 would reduce the atmosphere of menace he has cultivated. Why forfeit the power of another term, or at least the threat of one? Another question is whether we should take this threat seriously. The Constitution is clear that he cannot run for a third term as president, and most scholars agree that running as a vice president, and then having the elected president step down, is not a valid loophole. But as Trump has repeatedly demonstrated, questions of the law and the Constitution ultimately reduce to power struggles. If you hear somebody say Trump is not allowed to do something, the first question to ask is Whats the enforcement mechanism? The courts may be likely to rule against permitting him to run as either president or vice president. But such cases are unlikely to be decided until after the Republican convention has locked in the partys choice, forcing the courts to choose between effectively canceling the presidential election and enforcing the Twenty-Second Amendment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Would five justices on the Supreme Court have the guts? Would the states follow such a ruling in a white-hot atmosphere where Republicans would accuse the judicial branch of nullifying democracy? Every apparently solid assumption about the inviolability of the two-term limit gets porous upon close inspection. Over the past eight years, in case after case, the protections that seemed to be hard laws have turned out to be softer norms. Trump has erased a series of norms by reimagining reality, first as a joke, and eventually in earnest. There is a pattern to the way in which transgressive ideas occupy a liminal space in MAGA discourse between troll and policy platform. Trump has often floated running for a third term as a joke, and his supporters have repeated the joke as a way to indicate their own loyalty. The Conservative Political Action Conference in February featured a Trump 2028 sign, depicting the president in Roman imperial iconography, promoting a bid to amend the Constitution. That same month, The New York Times reported that Trumps advisers mock those who take his comments about a third term seriously, saying he has been trolling his critics with the idea of a permanent presidency since he launched his campaign to return to the White House. The notion of violating Canadian sovereignty likewise circulated on the right as a joking way to imagine Trump acting out imperial fantasies. Trump himself seemed to be in on the joke, repeatedly calling Canada the 51st state and referring to its prime minister as governor. But more recently, he has crossed over into something closer to earnestness. His trade policies toward Canada have a more aggressive tinge than his general support for tariffs, and appear designed to collapse the countrys economy. Canadian officials reported alarm when Trump told them he refuses to accept the legitimacy of the border between the two countries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He has likewise floated the idea of turning the Gaza Strip into an American-owned international resort, a campaign that includes sharing overtly ridiculous memes on social media, but also giving Israels government the green light to carry out a military operation that may well displace the Palestinian population. These jokes, while frequently absurd and often genuinely funny, serve a serious purpose. They allow the most committed diehards to spread edgy new ideas, expanding the boundaries of the possible for Trump. But their initial humorous quality allows traditional Republicans to keep their distance. Slowly, though, the unthinkable becomes normalized, so that when the moment finally arrives, it feels inevitable. When Trump entertained questions on his plane about a third term, he had a faint smirk on his face, indicating that the idea hasnt fully progressed from the joke phase into a plan of action. Trump turned the question into an opportunity to extol his alleged popularitypeople are asking about another term, he says, because he is so successful and wonderful. Trump has always understood questions about his abuses of power as a kind of compliment. The prospect of smashing imagined limits on his power gives him an obvious thrill. He is probing, exploring. And when he finds softness, as he so often does when he presses against a supposed boundary, he presses on. Article originally published at The Atlantic In his latest attempt to rid the country of diversity, equity, and inclusion and as many Americans believe, even strip away Black history President Donald Trump announced plans to target federal funding for the Smithsonian, forcing folks to question why hes taken an interest in the National Museum of African American History and Culture (MAAHC) but not in similar museums like the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum or the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian, all of which receive federal funding. In an executive order, Trump said the (MAAHC) located in Washington D.C. is under the influence of a divisive, race-centered ideology. Because of this, Trump wants to end funding to the African American Museum as well as other Smithsonian museums honoring the expansive history of the nation. This means the fate of Black history and culture is up in the air. Will He Keep the Same Energy for Others? Opened in 2016, the MAAHC is dedicated to telling the full story of the Black American experience, which is why Trump says the institution is a threat. But while he has called out the MAAHC and the Smithsonian American Womens History Museum by name for so-called radical narratives, Trump hasnt mentioned other museums who would be up for questioning. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This begs the question...Will Trump keep the same energy and go after other museums supporting diversity? Or does he only have the smoke for Black folks and women? The president hasnt yet dared question the fate of the Museum of Jewish Heritage A Living Memorial to the Holocaust in New York, the National Museum of the American Indian or the Museum of the American Latino. But that doesnt mean theres no plans to add them to his hit list. Whats the Motivation? The National Museum of African American History and Culture has proclaimed that hard work, individualism, and the nuclear family are aspects of White culture, the order reads. Targeting its federal funding is just another example of the president trying to rid the nation of DEI. After banning DEI at the federal level, forcing agencies to close down their diversity offices, many accused the president of trying to re-white history, and after recent attacks on the Tuskegee Airmen and Jackie Robinson. It is a five-alarm fire for public history, science and education in America, Samuel Redman, a history professor at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, told the Guardian. The Smithsonian database is also a notable, trusted and well-referenced global system, making Trumps attempt to have his hands in the entity even more nefarious. While the Smithsonian has faced crisis moments in the past, it has not been directly attacked in quite this way by the executive branch in its long history, Redman continued. Its troubling and quite scary. What Are the Consequences? When you target the Smithsonian, a global organization operating in a public-private partnership, you can expect immediate backlash. So far, several politicians, historians, and activists have denounced the administrations attempt to regulate the Smithsonian. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Vice President JD Vance and Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. are already members of the Smithsonian board by law, but its important to note the executive branch has no authority over the institution. The Smithsonian gets most of its funding from private partnerships, but the federal government does allocate some money in the budget, according to its website. In his order, Trump charged Vance to seek the appointment of citizen members to the Smithsonian Board of Regents committed to advancing the policy of this order. Without the Smithsonian, which provides nearly two dozen museums free to the public, Americans and tourists wont have access to accurate accounts of history. But maybe thats the real plan for Trumps America. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. By Florence Loeve and Foo Yun Chee PARIS (Reuters) -Apple was hit with a 150 million euro ($162.4 million) fine by French antitrust regulators on Monday for abusing its dominant position in mobile app advertising on its devices via a privacy control tool. The fine - the first by any antitrust regulator over Apple's App Tracking Transparency tool - comes a year after the European Union hit the company with a 1.8 billion euro antitrust fine for thwarting rival music streaming services on its App Store. The head of the French Competition Authority dismissed worries that the decision would prompt retaliation from U.S. President Donald Trump who has threatened to slap fines on EU countries fining U.S. companies. "We apply competition law in an apolitical manner," Benoit Coeure told a press conference. "But what we have heard ... is that they (U.S. authorities) intend to apply antitrust law to the big digital platforms as strictly as their predecessors. So in terms of antitrust, I don't see any controversy between the United States and Europe on how we apply the law," he said. The ATT tool lets iPhone and iPad users decide which apps can track their activity. Digital advertising and mobile gaming companies complained it made it more expensive and difficult for brands to advertise on Apple's platforms. "While we are disappointed with today's decision, the French Competition Authority has not required any specific changes to ATT," Apple said in a statement. Coeure told reporters the regulator had not spelled out how Apple should change its app, but that it was up to the company to make sure it now complied with the ruling. The compliance process could take some time, he added, because Apple was waiting for rulings on regulators in Germany, Italy, Poland and Romania who are also investigating the ATT tool. The French case, which covered the period 2021 to 2023, was triggered by complaints from several associations for online advertisers, publishers and internet networks accusing Apple of abusing its market power. "While the objective pursued by ATT is not in itself open to criticism, the way it is implemented is neither necessary nor proportionate to Apple's stated objective of protecting personal data," the regulator said in a statement. It added that the privacy tool "particularly penalized smaller publishers," as they depend to a large extent on the collection of third-party data to fund their businesses. Alliance Digitale, the Syndicat des Regies Internet (SRI), the Union des Entreprises de Conseil et d'Achat Media (Udecam) and the Groupement des Editeurs de Services en Ligne, which had complained to the French watchdog, said the decision was a significant victory for advertisers. Lawful gun owners and supporters of the Second Amendment should understand why the Supreme Court election in Wisconsin next month is so important. The April first election has become one of the most watched, most contentious, and most expensive statewide elections in the nation. Voters must choose between two very different judicial candidates. Dane Countys liberal Circuit Court Judge, Susan Crawford, is running against a solid conservative candidate, former state Attorney General, and Waukesha County Circuit Judge, Brad Schimel. The election will determine who fills one open seat on the high court and if the court will maintain its slight liberal majority or shift back to a more conservative-leaning body. Liberal Justice Ann Walsh Bradley opted out of running for another term, making the partisan tilt of the Wisconsin court an even 3-3 split. Election observers believe the Wisconsin Supreme Court race will see more than 51 million dollars in advertising and campaign-related spending. If that happens, it will make the Wisconsin Supreme Court race the most expensive judicial election in the nations history. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The state Democrat party has pledged to spend well over $1 million in ads to punch back against Elon Musk, who is backing Judge Schimel. But Musk isnt on the ballot and this election is solely about the qualifications and judicial temperament of the candidates. The Wisconsin Supreme Court election will have a significant impact on each decision before the court. For gun owners, this election is particularly critical, as a litany of anti-gun laws from mandatory waiting periods to red flag gun confiscation laws have been proposed or signaled by the governor. With so much at stake, the National Rifle Association Political Victory Fund (NRA-PVF) has endorsed Brad Schimel to fill the vacancy on the Wisconsin Supreme Court. As Attorney General of Wisconsin, Mr. Schimel received an A+ rating, the highest grade possible, for his defense of the individual right to keep and bear arms. And in Wisconsin, this is a right doubly guaranteed, as a 1998 amendment to the state constitution ensures, The people have the right to keep and bear arms for security, defense, hunting, recreation, or any lawful purpose. Brad Schimel has been an ardent supporter of the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding gun owners and sportsmen in Wisconsin. He opposed efforts aimed at criminalizing private firearm transfers. He also opposes magazine capacity restrictions and legislation that would ban commonly owned semi-automatic firearms used for hunting, recreational shooting, and self-defense. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Schimel has a record of supporting Constitutional Carry and recognizing the right of law-abiding Wisconsin gun owners to carry firearms without government permission. He also believes 1820-year-olds have the same Second Amendment rights as those 21 years and older. And like the NRA, he has also advocated for improving safety at schools. As Attorney General, Schimel joined an amicus brief in support of a petition to the U.S. Supreme Court to determine whether a San Francisco ordinance that requires citizens to lock up handguns in homes violates the right to keep and bear arms under the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. The Second Amendment rights of Wisconsinites will be protected and strengthened with him serving on the court. In contrast, his opponent, Susan Crawford, will no doubt greenlight any number of restrictions on Second Amendment rights to appease radical gun control activists. Her soft-on-crime record as a judge includes issuing a $500 bond in the case of Curtis OBrian, who was convicted of repeated sexual assault on a five-year-old. She allowed OBrien to walk free back to his home near an elementary school on six years of supervised release when she could have handed down a 60-year prison sentence. Her record as a judge and as a prosecutor aligns with the incongruous position of the most ardent of anti-gun radicals: soft on criminals, yet all too ready to penalize law-abiding gun owners. As early voting has already begun, the NRA encourages its members and all Second Amendment proponents in Wisconsin to make their voices heard and support Brad Schimel in the 2025 Wisconsin Supreme Court election. While the ads inundating the airwaves will paint both candidates in bright colors, for those concerned about ensuring that constitutionally protected rights will be respected and thrive in the Badger State, the choice is clear. John Commerford is the Executive Director of the NRA Institute for Legislative Action. The wife of a man indicted for trying to kill her on a Hawaii hiking trail said in her restraining-order petition that his suspicion she was having an affair led to extreme jealously on his part that culminated in an attempt to throw her off a cliff. Anesthesiologist Gerhardt Konig, a former assistant professor of anesthesiology and bioengineering at the University of Pittsburgh, was being held on $5 million bail, charged with second-degree attempted murder. He was scheduled for a preliminary hearing on Monday, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported. A judge on Friday ordered Konig to stay away from his wife and their children. The alleged attack happened last Monday during a getaway the 46-year-old Konig and his wife, Arielle, 36, took to celebrate her birthday. They had left their two children, ages 2 and 4, in Maui with family and a nanny so they could jaunt to Oahu, People reported. As the couple hiked Honolulus Pali Puka Trail, a short drive from the citys downtown, Konig requested a selfie with his wife at the cliffs edge. Arielle Konig later told police she refused, uneasy with their proximity to the drop, and started walking away. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When she did not accede to his demands that she come back, he pushed her into some bushes and they struggled, she testified. She got away, but then Konig started smashing her head with a rock, grabbing the back of her hair and smashing her face into the ground, she said. He also produced two syringes and attempted to inject her, but she wrested them away. I do not know what was in the syringe, but Gerhardt is an anesthesiologist and has access to several potentially lethal medications as part of his employment, she wrote in the court filing, obtained by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Her screams alerted two nearby hikers, one of whom confronted Konig and the other who called 911 as Konig fled. He was picked up later that day after a brief foot pursuit, police said in a statement. Arielle Konig was taken to Queens Medical Center in serious but stable condition, according to the affidavit obtained by People. Arielle, a nuclear engineer, had spent more than a decade at Westinghouse in Pittsburgh, the Post-Gazette noted. She and her husband, who married in 2018, had moved to Hawaii about two years earlier. He worked as an anesthesiologist at Maui Health, a network of hospitals and clinics affiliated with Kaiser Permanente, but has since been suspended. With News Wire Services Hordes of hoodlums vandalized three police cars including smashing windows and jumping on at least one vehicle early Sunday during a wild car meet-up in Queens, according to police and footage of the chaos. The bedlam happened along Rockaway Boulevard in a commercial area of Ozone Park as rowdy brutes engulfed the police cars responding to disorder around 1 a.m., police and law enforcement sources said. Jaw-dropping video shows a handful of perps either leaning against or slapping an unmarked car before one vandal gets on the hood of the vehicle and slams a traffic cone against the windshield, cracking it. Hordes of hoodlums vandalized three police cars, including smashing windows and jumping on at least one vehicle, early Sunday during a wild car meet-up in Queens. Instagram/ksoostayoutside Other rabble-rousers then jumped on top of the car and threw another traffic cone at it before the vehicle with its sirens blaring pulled away, footage shows. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The ruffians also threw traffic cones at a marked NYPD cruiser during the skirmish, additional video shows. The NYPD said three police cars sustained dents and broken windows. No injuries were reported. We will not tolerate lawlessness or vandalism aimed at the police, Commissioner Jessica Tisch said on X, announcing that several individuals were arrested for crimes that endangered our cops and our streets. Rest assured, well be back soon for the rest of them, she vowed. The arrests included three people who were allegedly at the scene of the chaos who were busted around 3:45 a.m. in the Bronx, sources said. The bedlam happened along Rockaway Boulevard in a commercial area of Ozone Park as rowdy brutes engulfed the police cars responding to the disorder around 1 a.m. Instagram/ksoostayoutside Jordi Montesquieu, 23, of Massachusetts, was charged with third-degree criminal mischief, second-degree reckless endangerment, second-degree unlawful fleeing a police car and obstructing governmental administration, police and sources said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tyler Newman, 18, of New Hampshire, was hit with obstructing governmental administration while Queens local Tristian Nandram, 18, was charged with third-degree criminal mischief, obstructing governmental administration, possession of stolen property and petty larceny, according to cops and sources. Nandram is accused of stealing a bag that had paperwork from the back of a police car, sources said. The NYPD said three police cars sustained dents and broken windows. Instagram/ksoostayoutside Authorities said they are still hunting for more perps involved in the vandalism and recklessly driving cars Saturday night into Sunday. Images of several more suspects released by the NYPD show most of the suspects masked up, with some wearing neon-colored vests. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement GOP candidate for mayor Curtis Sliwa blamed progressive policies for the brazen law-breaking. Our officers are the best in the world, but we must let them do their jobs without fear, hesitation, or political interference, he said on X. We must restore law and orderand a Sliwa Administration will bring back the New York we know and love. One of the recipients of Elon Musk's $1 million checks at his event in Green Bay Sunday night is the chairman of the Wisconsin College Republicans, sparking some suspicion on social media that the giveaway was fixed. Nicholas Jacobs, a student at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls, is listed as the chairman of Wisconsin's College Republicans chapter. He has made his account private on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter that Musk owns. More: All our reporting on the Wisconsin Supreme Court race between Susan Crawford, Brad Schimel Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to his LinkedIn account, Jacobs worked for the campaigns of U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson and Rep. Derrick Van Orden. In the fall of 2024, he worked as a "ballot chase representative" for Turning Point Action, which began as a youth-focused group active on college campuses but has expanded its voter outreach operations, especially in Wisconsin. More: Behind the scenes of the Supreme Court race, a 'turf war' simmers between Wisconsin GOP and Turning Point The connection was pointed out on X by Niall Stanage, a White House columnist at The Hill. The recipient of Elon's first $1 million check in Wisconsin, Nicholas Jacobs, has the same name and looks very similar to the chairman of the Wisconsin College Republicans. pic.twitter.com/RD9Qj34MGm Niall Stanage (@NiallStanage) March 31, 2025 The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and Green Bay Press-Gazette have attempted to reach Jacobs and the other recipient, Ekaterina Diestler, for comment. Diestler works as a graphic designer, according to her LinkedIn profile. She does not appear to have worked in politics. Billionaire Elon Musk presents a check for $1 million made out to Ekaterina Diestler during a town hall on Sunday, March 30, 2025, at the KI Convention Center in Green Bay, Wis. Musk held the event to drive turnout for Tuesdays state Supreme Court election between Brad Schimel and Susan Crawford. Tork Mason/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin Jacobs and Diestler recorded testimonial videos posted on America PAC's X account. The political action committee, led by Musk, has spent at least $11.5 million on digital advertising, mailers, texts, field operations and voter turnout in Wisconsin's Supreme Court race. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I was in the audience, and my name was called as the recipient of a check for $1 million, and I didn't believe it. I was nervous, I was shaking," Jacobs said in his video. "(Musk) is motivating people to go out and vote in a way that hasn't been done before." In her video, Diestler said she would invest the money, which represents "a big step into the future. A lot of opportunities will open up for me to be on my own and live my life." Musk said residents receiving the $1 million checks would serve as spokespeople for his "Petition In Opposition To Activist Judges." Musk initially said he would hand out the checks "in appreciation for you taking the time to vote," but reframed the giveaway to focus on the petition after election experts and Democrats questioned whether the offer violated the state's election bribery laws. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite that reframing, Musk's giveaway followed a weekend-long legal scuffle over its legality, with Democratic Attorney General Josh Kaul filing a lawsuit to block the payments on Friday and the liberal-controlled state Supreme Court rejecting Kaul's request minutes before the event was set to begin. He also announced what he termed a "block captain" program in which Wisconsinites could earn $20 for each neighbor they recruit to pose for a photo while holding a specific picture of Schimel and giving a thumbs-up sign. Last week, Musk gave away $1 million to a Green Bay voter identified as Scott Ainsworth for signing the petition. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Who were the Wisconsinites that received $1 million from Elon Musk? A new Wisconsin Hospital Association report finds continued challenges for hospitals seeking health care workers. In this January 2024 photo, an information screen for visitors at Sauk Prairie Hospital displays a recruiting message directed at health care workers. (Photo by Erik Gunn/Wisconsin Examiner) As more Wisconsinites need more hospital care, the supply of health care workers to provide that care remains slim and to change that outlook will take concerted effort, according to a new report released Monday. Wisconsins health care workforce must grow faster, says the 2025 Wisconsin Health Care Workforce Report, produced by the Wisconsin Hospital Association (WHA). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Health care employers are working hard to retain current employees, re-recruit those who left for what they thought might be greener pastures and attract new talent to health care fields in Wisconsin, the report states. The report finds some glimmers of improvement and promising pathways for hospitals to further address their need for more trained staff. Over the last two years hospital job vacancies have fallen slightly and employment has increased. But filling jobs remains a challenge and will remain that way for years, the report states. It suggests a combination of strategies to overcome current trends. Some of the strategies involve how hospitals themselves structure jobs and hiring practices. But the report contends other sectors government, educational institutions, and the insurance companies and government programs that pay the lions share of health care bills will also need to shift their policies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Reimbursement rates are not keeping up with increased costs as hospitals and other providers weather rising payroll and supply expenses, for example, the report finds. By far the dominant contributor to the workforce challenges hospitals and health systems face, however, is demographic, according to the report. Wisconsinites continue to get collectively older. Only Wisconsins population over 65 has grown between the 2010 and 2020 census, said Ann Zenk, senior vice president of workforce and clinical practice for the hospital association. The working-age population ages 18 to 65 decreased in that same period. Those younger than 40 go to the hospital once a year on average. From ages 40 to 65 that ticks up to three times a year. After 65, it doubles to six visits a year, Zenk said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As we age, we need more health care, she said. That is going to be a double challenge for hospitals because our available workers are a smaller pool and our demand is even greater. The population preparing to enter the workforce people ages 19 and younger is not large enough to replace retiring baby boomers, the report states. Growing the health care workforce needed to respond to this demographic challenge will require increasing in-migration, ensuring access to career pathways and increasing interest in hospital careers. That starts with giving students in high school or even earlier the opportunity to have exposure youre walking in the shoes of what its like to be a health care professional, Zenk said. Then theres the education process itself making sure that educational pathways remain accessible, Zenk said. The report urges policymakers not to add requirements to training programs that would make them longer, more complex or more expensive. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One promising training innovation, said Zenk, is the use of an apprenticeship program to prepare new registered nurses, pioneered in the last few years in Wisconsin by UW Health and the state Department of Workforce Development. While the program stretches over four years for the equivalent of a two-year associate degree, she said, it also allows the participating students to earn while you learn. The concept is being expanded to prepare respiratory therapists. The report also identifies generational shifts in what people expect from their jobs. Zenk said addressing demands for more flexible and family-friendly schedules can make it possible to hire and retain more successfully. But those changes may also mean demand for even more personnel. So where you need a roster of 10 nurses, you need 15 now to cover the exact same shift, Zenk said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The report also sees technology offering some relief. Some of that might be replacing people for tasks such as registering at the front desk for a medical visit, Zenk said. But another example is monitoring equipment that could go home with a patient and be checked remotely, with nurses and clinicians visiting the patient at home every day, she observed. Zenk said some regulations in health care can be reexamined and streamlined without endangering safety or the quality of care. Physician assistants, for example, collaborate with and are overseen by a medical doctor. Zenk said in the past a physician could supervise no more than four PAs. That has since been relaxed, making it less burdensome for both doctor and PA alike, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Zenk said another form of regulation has gotten worse, however: When health insurers interpose an increasing number of steps for them to sign off on the care a doctor or hospital provides. That requires staff to make those phone calls or enter that data, or requires physicians to document more and more and more to justify the care that they want to provide and that the patient needs, she said. Shes seen insurer-driven requirements increase in the last five years. Thats a major tug-of-war on clinicians time, Zenk said, and for patients also very frustrating. In the end, however, theres no single silver bullet to resolve what is likely to be a persistent challenge for hospitals or their employees. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theres no one answer. Were more than likely not going to be able to grow ourselves out of this one fast enough, Zenk said. But anything we can do to grow the workforce faster is going to help. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX MADISON, Wis. (AP) President Donald Trump's preferred candidate for Wisconsin Supreme Court and his Democratic-backed challenger made a final blitz across the state on Monday, the day before voting concludes in a race where early turnout has surged and spending is nearing $100 million. Billionaire Elon Musk, a top Trump adviser, held a rally in Green Bay on Sunday night to push for the election of Brad Schimel, a Waukesha County judge and former Republican attorney general. He faces Susan Crawford, a Dane County judge and former attorney who fought for abortion rights and to protect union power. Liberals currently hold a 4-3 advantage on the court, but the retirement of a liberal justice this year put the ideological balance in play. The court in battleground Wisconsin is expected to rule on abortion rights, congressional redistricting, union power and voting regulations in the coming years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This election is going to determine all of our fundamental rights and freedoms," Crawford told supporters at a Monday night rally in Madison. Through Sunday, the last day of early voting, at least 644,800 people had cast ballots, based on a Monday tally from the Wisconsin Elections Commission. That number will rise as some municipalities report additional ballots collected over the weekend. As it stands now, early voting numbers were 57% higher, or about 235,000 ballots greater, than the 409,755 early ballots counted the day before the last Supreme Court election in 2023. Milwaukee County, the states largest county and the one that is home to the most Democrats, has seen a 40% increase in early voting compared with 2023. Liberal Dane County, the states second largest county and home to the state capital of Madison and the University of Wisconsin, has seen a 43% increase. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Voting was up even more in the three suburban Milwaukee counties of Waukesha, Ozaukee and Washington, which are commonly referred to as the WOW counties. Ballot returns were up 62% in Waukesha County and 53% in Ozaukee County. In Washington, the most heavily Republican of the three counties, early voting was nearly double two years ago. I believe that were getting the energy and were getting people motivated, Schimel said after his first campaign stop Monday morning in Madison. Former Republican Gov. Scott Walker, who campaigned with Schimel in Madison, said he's not overly confident based solely on the early voting numbers, given the increased push from Republicans to vote absentee. Voters dont register by party in Wisconsin, so it is impossible to know how many ballots have been cast by Republicans or Democrats. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Sauk County, a swing-voting county northwest of Madison, retired financial planner Jim Greenwood was knocking on doors in a working-class neighborhood on the west side of town. The activist with the county Democratic Party was making a late-campaign round of canvassing stops. Mary Bellis, a dispatcher for the Sauk County Sheriffs Department, told Greenwood that she typically votes Democratic but not always. Bellis said she planned to vote for Crawford, in large part because she sees establishing a liberal majority on the state high court a necessary check on Trumps authority. Trump is scaring the living daylights out of me, said Bellis, 54. Id rather not have Republicans have the upper hand across the board. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump won Sauk County by only a little more than 600 votes in 2024 en route to carrying Wisconsin by fewer than 30,000 votes. Joe Biden carried the rural and exurban county on the edge of the Madison metro area by about the same margin when he won Wisconsin in 2020. The high-stakes race has become a proxy battle over the nation's politics, with Crawford and Democrats trying to make it a referendum on Musk given his deep involvement in the contest. He and two groups he funds have combined to spend more than $21 million on the race that will determine majority control of the court, based on a Brennan Center for Justice count. Let me talk for a minute or two about my opponent, Elon Musk," Crawford said at the Monday rally. Crawford said she never imagined the race would come down to her fighting against the richest man in the world. Crawford has benefited from $2 million given to the state Democratic Party by billionaire megadonor George Soros and $1.5 million from Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, also a billionaire. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To date, more than $90 million has been spent on the race, according to the Brennan Center. That is nearly double the previous record-high of $51 million for a judicial race, set in Wisconsin in 2023 when control of the Supreme Court was also on the line. Both Musk and Trump, who endorsed Schimel, have been pushing his candidacy as a way to protect Trumps agenda as it faces legal challenges in one of the few battleground states in the country. They've also pointed to the potential that congressional district boundary lines in Wisconsin could be redrawn by the court to favor Democrats. Speaking in the Oval Office Monday, Trump called the election a big race and recounted his own history in the state. Republicans typically dont do very well in Wisconsin. But I did, actually won it twice, he said, before falsely claiming that he also won the state in 2020 when he lost to Democrat Joe Biden. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump hinted as to why the outcome of the state Supreme Court contest was important. The court can decide election-related laws and settle disputes over future election outcomes. Wisconsins a big state politically, and the Supreme Court has a lot to do with elections in Wisconsin, he said. Winning Wisconsins a big deal, so therefore the Supreme Court choice its a big race. Schimel has leaned heavily into the Trump endorsement with a TV ad running in the final days of the race that says voting for Schimel will protect Trumps agenda. He wore a Make America Great Again hat while campaigning over the weekend and has posed for pictures in front of a giant inflatable Trump. Crawford has the backing of Democrats who have tried to focus the race on Musk, casting it as the first chance for liberal voters to push back against the Trump agenda since his narrow win in November. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Musk, at his Sunday rally in Green Bay, put the stakes of the race in stark terms. I think this will be important for the future of civilization, he said. Its that significant. ___ Associated Press writer Thomas Beaumont in Baraboo contributed to this report. The race for an open seat on the Wisconsin Supreme Court, to be determined Tuesday, is poised to shatter fundraising records for a state Supreme Court race. Tomorrows #WIPol Supreme Court race is the most expensive state Supreme Court race on record. Its seen $75.8m in ad spending: 89% more than the second place 2023 WI Supreme Court contest, ad-tracking firm AdImpact posted on the social platform X. Dem advertisers backing Susan Crawford currently have a $8.4m spending advantage overall. Between the week of Jan. 15 and the week of April 1, Democrats have spent $42.1 million in ad spending and reservations, while Republicans have spent $33.7 million. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Conservative candidate Brad Schimel is running against liberal candidate Susan Crawford for an open seat on the Wisconsins high court Tuesday, which will determine whether it remains a 5-4 liberal majority or flips to a conservative one. President Trump and Elon Musk have backed Schimel in the race, with Musk spending over $12 million from his super PAC, America PAC, alone to support the conservative candidate. Meanwhile, donors like George Soros and Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker (D) have also waded into the race as Democrats look to push Crawford over the finish line. The last time there was an open seat on the Wisconsin Supreme Court that determined its partisan tilt, in 2023, $40.1 million was spent in the race. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. MADISON - The liberal-controlled Wisconsin Supreme Court rejected a last-minute effort by Democratic Attorney General Josh Kaul to block Elon Musk from giving away $2 million to Wisconsin voters ahead of Tuesday's pivotal Supreme Court election that will decide partisan control of the court. The court in a unanimous decision turned down Kaul's request to bar Musk from handing out $1 million checks to attendees of a Sunday event organized to boost conservative candidate Brad Schimel just minutes before the rally was set to begin in Green Bay. The court's order ends Kaul's quest to block Musk that began Friday after Musk posted on his social media platform X that he would be giving checks to voters in the Supreme Court election a legally dubious idea he later deleted from his timeline. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More: All our reporting on the Wisconsin Supreme Court race between Susan Crawford, Brad Schimel "This case involves an issue of great public importance that requires urgent and authoritative resolution," Kaul wrote in his request Sunday, arguing Musk's intentions violated Wisconsin laws barring election bribery. 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." The court did not provide a reason for rejecting Kaul's request. In a since-deleted post on X, Musk said he would hold an event Sunday in Wisconsin and hand out $1 million checks to voters "in appreciation for you taking the time to vote." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But after election experts and Democrats raised questions about whether the offer violated the state's election bribery laws, Musk deleted the post and said he would instead be handing over the checks to two people who would serve as spokespeople for his "Petition In Opposition To Activist Judges." 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. "To clarify a previous post, entrance is limited to those who have signed the petition in opposition to activist judges," Musk wrote. "I will also hand over checks for a million dollars to 2 people to be spokesmen for the petition." Kaul 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. Musk, the world's richest person and a close ally of Trump, has poured about $20 million into the race to back Schimel through spending from his own coffers and via two outside groups. The race has broken national spending records for statewide races. 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." 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." Molly Beck can be reached at molly.beck@jrn.com. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin Supreme Court refuses to block Elon Musk voter payments By Jody Godoy (Reuters) -The U.S. Federal Trade Commission is concerned about the potential sale or transfer of Americans' personal information by 23andMe ancestry testing company which recently filed for bankruptcy, the agency's chairman said on Monday. Any purchaser of 23andMe assets should agree to be bound by the company's existing privacy policy, FTC Chairman Andrew Ferguson said in a letter to the U.S. trustee, a government office that oversees bankruptcies. The company filed for bankruptcy protection on March 23 amid weak demand for its ancestry testing kits. It has said the bankruptcy process will not affect how it stores, manages or protects customer data. Officials including California Attorney General Rob Bonta had questioned what would happen to the genetic data collected by 23andMe. The company's privacy policies say that the data could be sold to other firms. Bonta has urged 23andMe customers to delete their genetic data. In 2023, hackers exposed the personal data of nearly 7 million 23andMe customers over a five-month period, dealing a major blow to the company's reputation and compounding its growth problems. The breach raised alarm among customers concerned about their privacy and how DNA-testing firms handle their data. (Reporting by Jody Godoy in New York, Editing by Franklin Paul and Matthew Lewis) Just hours after the state Supreme Court rejected Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul's effort to block Elon Musk from handing out $1 million checks on Sunday night, the billionaire took the stage at a town hall in Green Bay and gave away two $1 million checks to attendees in his latest effort to support conservative candidate Brad Schimel. Urging the crowd to back Schimel, Musk cast Tuesday as "a vote for which party controls the House of Representatives" and implied "the future of civilization" is at stake. One of the recipients of a large, showy check, Nicholas Jacobs, is the chair of the Wisconsin College Republicans. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Wisconsin Supreme Court's order came just minutes before the event was set to start. Notably, the court also rejected a bid from Musk's lawyers to ask two justices, who had campaigned for Wisconsin Supreme Court candidate Susan Crawford, to recuse themselves. PHOTO: Elon Musk Holds Town Hall Ahead Hotly Contested Wisconsin State Supreme Court Election (Scott Olson/Getty Images) The ruling came after an appeals court on Saturday denied Kaul's emergency motion to stop the giveaway from taking place. Kaul wrote in his initial filing on Friday that he was asking for emergency relief to stop Musk and America PAC "from further promoting a million-dollar giveaway to attendees of a planned event on Sunday, March 30, 2025, and prohibiting Respondents from making any payments to Wisconsin electors to vote." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, the judge assigned to the case, the Honorable Columbia County Circuit Court Judge W. Andrew Voigt, refused to hear the lawsuit before Sunday's Green Bay rally with Musk -- prompting Kaul's emergency motion asking a Court of Appeals to take action. MORE: Musk PAC offers $100 to Wisconsin voters who sign petition against 'activist judges' After that emergency motion was rejected, Kaul appealed to the Wisconsin Supreme Court to step in on Sunday. Lawyers for Elon Musk and America PAC then filed motions for the recusal of Wisconsin Supreme Court Justices Rebecca Frank Dallet and Jill J. Karofsky. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They argued that because Dallet and Karofsky campaigned for Crawford, and Crawford has been critical of Musk, "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." The lawyers also framed the planned Sunday night giveaways as "spokesperson agreements" for spokespeople for the PAC. MORE: Trump admin live updates: Trump won't rule out running for a third term: Report In the initial lawsuit, shared by Kaul's office, Kaul argued that "Musk's announcement of his intention to pay $1 million to two Wisconsin electors who attend his event on Sunday night, specifically conditioned on their having voted in the upcoming April 3, 2025, Wisconsin Supreme Court election, is a blatant attempt to violate" state law, which "forbids anyone from offering or promising to give anything of value to an elector in order to induce the elector to go to the polls, vote or refrain from voting, or vote for a particular person." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The suit asked for a restraining order "prohibiting Defendants from any further promotion of the million-dollar gifts to attendees of the planned Sunday March 30, 2025," as well as a temporary restraining order "prohibiting Defendants from making any payments to Wisconsin electors to vote," and injunctive relief to "restrain and prohibit all actions by Defendants taken in furtherance of a planned violation" of the state law. MORE: After months of cuts, State Department says it's officially shuttering USAID In addition to presenting the checks on Sunday night, Musk said his PAC is launching a "Block Captain" program ahead of the election on Tuesday, where participants will make $20 for each picture they post of someone with a Schimel sign and a thumbs up outside of their home. So far, two political groups aligned with Musk -- America PAC and Building America's Future -- have poured nearly $20 million into supporting Schimel for the open seat. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The world's richest man has used cash giveaways in the past, including a controversial $1 million sweepstakes offered to voters in swing states during last year's election cycle as part of an effort to boost President Donald Trump's chances of winning in those states. The Wisconsin Supreme Court election, on Tuesday, has generally become the center of a political firestorm, and has become the most expensive state supreme court race in American history, according to the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University. Musk hands out $1M checks after efforts to block the giveaways in court are rejected originally appeared on abcnews.go.com BREATHITT COUNTY, Ky. (FOX 56) Wolfe County rescue team members carried out efforts on Saturday to find a person who has reportedly been missing since January. The Wolfe County Search and Rescue Team (WCSART) posted on Facebook that ground crews, along with search and rescue dogs, searched on Saturday across the middle fork of the Kentucky River in Breathitt County. Team members reportedly covered more than a mile downstream from the missing persons last known location. LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Part of the search plan was to also utilize the teams Jon boat with side scan sonar, but water levels prohibited this asset from being deployed, WCSART officials said. Wolfe County rescue team members searched on Saturday for a person who went missing in January. (Wolfe County Search & Rescue Team) (Wolfe County Search & Rescue Team) (Wolfe County Search & Rescue Team) While Saturdays operation may not have resulted in finding the missing person, rescue team members said other sites in need of further investigation were marked and provided to local authorities. The search 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. MIAMI, Fla. (WFLA) A woman was accused of burglarizing an officers apartment in South Florida and stealing his patrol car Sunday night. According to a report from NBC affiliate WTVJ, deputies with the Miami-Dade Sheriffs Office received reports of a burglary and stolen vehicle at an apartment complex in the area of 72nd Ave. and SW 82nd St. Child finds mother dead in home after ex-husband flees: deputies Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Andrea Assaf, 27, and the Miami police officers stolen car were located by authorities. She was arrested on Monday on charges of grand theft of a vehicle and battery of a police officer. WTVJ said the stolen vehicle was recovered. WFLA.com has reached out to the sheriffs office for additional 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 WFLA. LINDALE, Texas (KETK) A woman was arrested after allegedly striking a 64-year-old woman in the face in Lindale on Saturday. Mugshot of Avery Martinez, courtesy of Smith County Jail According to the arrest affidavit, around 2:45 p.m. deputies responded to a reported assault in progress on Stewart Street in Lindale where they found 64-year-old Tina Davis with bruising and redness on her face. Drugs, gun, stolen vehicle recovered after chase ends in Henderson Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The document said that 30-year-old Avery Martinez showed deputies a video of the incident that occurred prior to their arrival. The video showed Martinez step onto Davis property and threaten to harm Davis, the deputy said. The deputy then saw Martinez put her hands on Davis and then the fight falls out of view in the video. Appalling: 3 former Tyler ISD staff members arrested for injuring disabled student, district says Based on the apparent injuries to Tinas face and video of the incident Martinez did then and there intentionally, knowingly and recklessly cause bodily injury to Davis by striking her in the face causing redness and bruising, the document said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Martinez was arrested and booked into the Smith County Jail for assault causing bodily injury on Saturday and was released on Sunday. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KETK.com | FOX51.com. A woman died after crashing into a utility pole early Sunday along Broadway between the Country Club Plaza and the Westport area in Kansas City, a police spokesman said. The fatal crash occurred shortly after 3 a.m. as the woman was driving north on Mill Creek Parkway, which becomes Broadway at West 43rd Street, said Sgt. Phil DiMartino with the Kansas City Police Department. A preliminary investigation revealed that as the woman was passing through a green light at the intersection of Broadway and West 43rd Street, she drove into a utility pole, DiMartino said. The woman was taken to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead by emergency medical staff. The womans identity was not released. PICKENS COUNTY, Ala. (WIAT) A woman was killed in a single-vehicle crash that left a 2-year-old passenger injured in Pickens County Saturday evening. Ariana C. Lang, 24, was killed when the 2007 Chevrolet Malibu she was driving left the roadway and struck a ditch. Lang was not using a seat belt at the time of the crash, and she was pronounced deceased at the scene. School delays, closures in central Alabama on March 31 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 2-year-old passenger in the vehicle was transported an area hospital for medical treatment. The crash occurred at around 7:25 p.m. on Franconia Road, about one mile north of Aliceville. Troopers with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agencys Highway Patrol Division are investigating the crash. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CBS 42. BANGKOK (Reuters) -Signs of life were detected in the ruins of a skyscraper in Bangkok on Monday as efforts intensified to find people trapped three days after a massive earthquake in Southeast Asia that killed at least 2,000. Scanning machines and sniffer dogs were deployed at the unfinished skyscraper and Bangkok's Deputy Governor Tavida Kamolvej said rescuers were urgently working out how to access an area where signs of life had been detected, three days on from the quake. Realistic chances of survival diminish after 72 hours, she said, adding: "We have to speed up. We're not going to stop even after 72 hours." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In central Myanmar, rescuers freed four people, including a pregnant woman and a girl, from collapsed buildings in the city of Mandalay near the epicentre of Friday's 7.7-magnitude earthquake, China's Xinhua news agency reported. Chinese rescue workers in red helmets carried one survivor, wrapped in a metallic thermal blanket, through heaps of shattered concrete and twisted metal at an apartment building in Mandalay, China's state broadcaster CCTV showed. Drone footage of the city showed a huge, multi-storey building pancaked into layers of concrete, but some gilded temples were still standing. Civil war in Myanmar, where a military junta seized power in a coup in 2021, was complicating efforts to reach those injured and made homeless by the Southeast Asian nation's biggest quake in a century. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Access to all victims is an issue ... given the conflict situation. There are a lot of security issues to access some areas across the front lines in particular," Arnaud de Baecque, resident representative of the International Committee of the Red Cross in Myanmar, told Reuters. One survivor in Mandalay said that after rescue workers pulled him out of the rubble of his restaurant, he had rented a bulldozer with his own money to try to find the body of one of his workers and make the building safe for his neighbours. One rebel group said Myanmar's ruling military was still conducting airstrikes on villages in the aftermath of the quake, and Singapore's foreign minister called for an immediate ceasefire to help relief efforts. SEARCH GOES ON AT COLLAPSED BUILDING IN BANGKOK Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the Thai capital Bangkok, rescuers pulled out another body from the rubble of the unfinished skyscraper that collapsed in the quake, bringing the death toll from the building collapse to 12, with a total of 19 dead across Thailand and 75 still missing at the building site. Initial tests showed that some steel samples collected from the site of the collapsed building were substandard, Thai industry ministry officials said. The government has launched an investigation into the cause of the collapse. "We will have to collect more samples and conduct more tests once we can," official Nontichai Likitaporn told a press conference. In Myanmar, state media said the death toll had reached 2,065 with more than 3,900 injured and over 270 missing and that the military government had declared a week-long mourning period from Monday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Wall Street Journal, citing the junta, reported the death toll had reached 2,028 in Myanmar, while the opposition National Unity Government, which includes remnants of the government ousted in 2021, put the toll at 2,418 as of Monday. Chinese state media said three Chinese nationals were among the dead. Reuters could not immediately confirm the new death tolls. Media access has been restricted in the country since the junta took power. Junta chief General Min Aung Hlaing warned at the weekend that the number of fatalities could rise. RELIEF EFFORTS The opposition appealed to countries to deliver aid directly to earthquake victims, saying there was a risk the junta could divert or obstruct humanitarian assistance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We are in a race against time to save lives," the National Unity Government said in a statement. "Any obstruction to these efforts will have devastating consequences." A spokesperson for the junta was not immediately available to comment. China, India and Thailand are among Myanmar's neighbours that have sent relief materials and teams, along with aid and personnel from Malaysia, Singapore and Russia. "It doesn't matter how long we work. The most important thing is that we can bring hope to the local people," said Yue Xin, head of the China Search and Rescue Team that pulled people out of the rubble in Mandalay, Xinhua reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The United Nations said it was rushing relief supplies to survivors in central Myanmar. "Our teams in Mandalay are joining efforts to scale up the humanitarian response despite going through the trauma themselves," said Noriko Takagi, the U.N. refugee agency's representative in Myanmar. The United States pledged $2 million in aid "through Myanmar-based humanitarian assistance organizations". It said in a statement that an emergency response team from USAID is deploying to Myanmar. The agency is undergoing massive cuts as the two-month-old Trump administration tries to shut the agency. The quake devastation has piled more misery on Myanmar, already in chaos from the civil war that intensified after the elected government of Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi was ousted by the military. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The earthquake has laid bare the deeper vulnerabilities facing Myanmars people and underscored the need for sustained international attention to the broader crisis," said U.N. Special Envoy on Myanmar Julie Bishop, calling for access to all areas for aid groups and condemning what she said were continuing military operations. Critical infrastructure - including bridges, highways, airports and railways - across the country of 55 million is 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. "We see devastated communities across the country in Mandalay and (the capital) Naypyidaw in particular...People are still sleeping outside, can't access their homes, so they don't have capacity to cook their meals, said the ICRC's de Baecque. "All the health structures that have been damaged... are not delivering what they were doing in terms of healthcare and have a difficulty to absorb extra needs." (Reporting by Bangkok Bureau, Panu Wongcha-um, Shoon Naing, Wa Lone, Chayut Setboonsarng and Michelle Nichols; Writing by Kay Johnson, John Mair, Ros Russell, Philippa Fletcher; Editing by Lincoln Feast, Raju Gopalakrishnan, Gareth Jones and Deepa Babington) FARMINGTON, CT. (WWLP) Police in Farmington, Connecticut are investigating a stabbing at the Westfarms Mall. Enfield Police seek identity of alleged shoplifters Police found a woman who was stabbed in the leg in the parking lot on Sunday afternoon at around 4:25 p.m., WTNH states. She was brought to a nearby hospital and is expected to be okay. Police say a group of mostly juveniles went to the mall in order to have a fight. The woman walked out of the upper-level parking garage. Then, 18-year-old Destiny Burgos of Hartford, began fighting a 15-year-old girl. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As the fight took place, other juveniles were recording with their phones, and the 15-year-old allegedly took out a pocketknife from her pocket and stabbed Burgos multiple times in the leg before running off. Two juvenile suspects left the fight and went into an adjacent wood line and were found hiding in the woods. The woman was taken to the hospital for her injuries and is expected to be okay. Four people, including three juveniles, were charged with breach of peace in the second degree. The 15-year-old was arrested and charged with assault in the first degree and reckless endangerment in the first degree. Burgos was charged with assault in the third degree. 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. But no one denies that the texting leak in a group chat about an air attack on the Houthi terrorists was an embarrassing screw-up for the Trump administration. No one seems to know yet exactly how Atlantic editor Jeffrey Goldberg ended up being included in a secret Defense Department discussion about the pending military strike in Yemen. Eighteen government officials including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and VP JD Vance were in on the group conversation, which was being held on Signal, an encrypted Internet communications network that government and media people rely on all the time. The president was not on the chat, so he cant be blamed by the liberal media for inadvertently adding the name of a prominent Trump-hating journalist to the list of participants. Secretary Hegseth didnt make the mistake, either. But national security adviser Mike Waltz did, and though he said he doesnt know how it happened, he has taken responsibility for the goof up. But owning up to the mistake was not good enough for the desperate Democrats in Congress and their pals in the media. Theyve tried to blow up the accidental leak of unclassified but sensitive material to Goldberg into a major political scandal. From all the political and media noise it has generated, youd think Goldberg had been given privy to the details of General Eisenhowers plans for D-Day or that he was learning how we were going to invade Iran in two days. The chat was only about an air attack on Houthi missile sites in Yemen, like many others before it. But Democrats immediately called for heads to roll on Trumps security team because of their incompetence something they know a lot about. At this point in SignalGate, or whatever the liberal media is calling it, Trump needs to take a cue from Ronald Reagan. During the time my father was going through Iran-Contra, when the liberal press was calling for his impeachment, he handled it the smart way. He decided to take full responsibility for the arms trafficking scandal. Its on me, he basically said. He took the political heat but then he and his administration stopped talking about it. The Iran-Contra headlines faded away quickly after that and the liberal New York-DC media machine went on to find other things to criticize him for. If President Trump and his people keep talking about Signal-gate, the media will keep talking about it. And keeping the issue alive in the media just opens the door to more questions and new troubles. SignalGate is nothing even close to Iran-Contra. Its a 100% U.S. Prime Nothingburger. President Trump called it a minor glitch which it was and said it wont happen again. That should have been the end of it. No harm, no foul, as they say. But we know the Democrats and the media will keep what President Trump called a witch hunt and a distraction in the news as long as possible. Thats why the best thing Trump and everyone who works for him can do now is simply shut up about SignalGate. If they are asked another question about the Houthi group chat by an enemy reporter or friendly one, they should just say, Asked and answered. Next question? (COMMENT, BELOW) Michael Reagan is the son of President Ronald Reagan, a political consultant, and the author of "The New Reagan Revolution" (St. Martin's Press). He is the founder of the email service reagan.com and president of The Reagan Legacy Foundation. Company Logo Dublin, March 31, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Ghana Construction Market Size, Trends, and Forecasts by Sector - Commercial, Industrial, Infrastructure, Energy and Utilities, Institutional and Residential Market Analysis to 2029 (H1 2025)" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The Ghanaian construction industry is expected to grow by 5.9% in real terms in 2025, supported by public-private investment in transport, mining and energy infrastructure development, coupled with increase in export activity. In October 2024, the Minerals Commission of Ghana issued a Mine Operating Permit to Atlantic Lithium Limited, an Australia-based company specializing in lithium resource exploration and development, to begin the construction work on Ghana's first lithium mine, the Ewoyaa mine and processing plant. The company aims to produce a total of 3.6 million tons of spodumene concentrate over 12 years, which translates to an annual production of 300,000 tons. According to the Ghana Statistical Services (GSS), the total export activity grew by 53.2% in the first three quarters of 2024, preceded by an annual growth of 29.3% in 2023. According to the GSS, the construction industry's value-add rose by 9% in the first nine months, preceded by an annual decline of 9.9% in 2023. Over the remainder of the forecast period, Ghana's construction industry is expected to register an average annual growth rate of 5.2% from 2026 to 2029, supported by investments in the industrial and energy sectors. In January 2025, the World Bank approved an investment of GHS 2.4 billion ($150 million) for Ghana to bolster its energy sector, ensuring a reliable electricity supply for households and industries across the country. Additionally, in August 2024, Ghana's state-owned Petroleum Hub Development Corp. (PHDC) and private-sector partners began the construction work on the first phase of West Africa's first integrated downstream petroleum hub in Nawule, Jomoro. This project will be developed in three phases from 2024 to 2036 with an investment of GHS1 trillion ($60 billion), to enhance Ghana's energy capacity and economic stability. Phase 1 includes the construction of a 300,000-barrel-per-day refinery, a 90,000-barrel-per-day petrochemical plant, and storage tanks with a capacity of three million cubic meters. Phase 2 will add another 300,000-barrel-per-day refinery, two additional petrochemical plants, and four million cubic meters of storage capacity, with construction expected to start after Phase 1 completion. Phase 3 will include the final 300,000-barrel-per-day refinery, two more petrochemical plants, and an additional three million cubic meters of storage capacity, completing the hub's development by 2036. Scope PRICEVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) A woman wanted for assault in Dallas, Texas, was arrested during a traffic stop in Priceville on Sunday, police say. According to the Priceville Police Department, a vehicle was stopped on Sunday, March 30 around 2:30 a.m. on Point Mallard Parkway. During the traffic stop, officers discovered the driver, later identified as 31-year-old Tyeisha Shanay Taylor of Hartselle, had a nationwide felony arrest warrant for assault through the Dallas County Sheriffs Office in Dallas, Texas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement PPD said Taylor was arrested and taken to the Morgan County Jail, where she is being held as a fugitive from justice pending her extradition to Dallas. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. WETHERSFIELD, Conn. (WTNH) A Newington man was arrested for allegedly driving the wrong way on Route 5/15 South and Interstate 91 North while under the influence in Wethersfield Monday, state police said. Aaron Miranda, 39, was charged with reckless driving, illegal operation of a motor vehicle while under the influence of drugs/alcohol third offense, failure to drive on the right side of the road, driving the wrong way on a divided highway and illegal entry onto a limited access highway. New York man clocked at 107 mph arrested for reckless driving on I-84 in Vernon Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The incident happened around 12:51 a.m. when Troop H received 11 emergency calls reporting a black sedan driving the wrong way, state police said. Troopers responded to the area of Exit 26, where they found a black Nissan Maxima traveling westbound in the eastbound lanes of Great Meadow Road. State police said the call matched the description provided by callers. Troopers pulled the suspect over and noticed a smell of alcohol, red and glossy eyes, state police said. According to state police, he admitted to drinking alcohol before driving. Troopers asked him to perform a sobriety test, which he failed. A chemical breath test at processing revealed his BAC was more than twice the legal limit. Miranda was held on a $10,000 bond and is scheduled to appear at New Britain Superior Court on Monday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Dozens of people gathered Monday, March 31, 2025, to speak against a bill that would have implemented a trigger to end the state's Medicaid expansion program if the federal government changes the federal matching rate. House leaders pulled the bill, saying they received word that the federal government will not change its match. (Rafael Barker | West Virginia Women's Alliance) West Virginia lawmakers on Monday walked back a measure that would have put more than 165,000 residents at risk of losing their health care coverage through Medicaid expansion. House Bill 3518 would have put in place a trigger so that if the federal government lowered the rate at which it pays for the Medicaid expansion program, West Virginia residents on the program would be disenrolled and the expansion program would be eliminated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The House of Delegates Rules committee moved the bill to the inactive calendar Monday because of strong assurances from the federal government that it will not change its share of the cost, said Deputy House Speaker Del. Matthew Rohrbach, R-Cabell. That bill was, in effect, a message to Washington, and it got communicated back to me Saturday from someone dealing with the negotiations in Washington: theyve heard us loud and clear. These changes to Medicaid dont appear as though now they are going to occur, he told reporters. Medicaid is a joint health care program between the state and the federal government. Under the Affordable Care Act, 41 states, including West Virginia, have expanded their Medicaid programs to cover families who make up to 138% of the federal poverty line. West Virginia expanded its program in 2014. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The federal government currently matches coverage of those in expanded Medicaid at a 90/10 match. As the federal government considers cuts to Medicaid, at least 12 states have enacted trigger laws like House Bill 3518 in case the federal government decides to lower the rate at which they fund the expansion portion of the program. House Speaker Roger Hanshaw, R-Clay, said leaders are in communication almost daily with the states federal delegation. We got some very fairly encouraging news over the weekend that the most recent version of what the president and some of the leadership of the current Congress is pursuing doesnt implicate that bill in the way that we were originally told that it would, Hanshaw said. So we didnt feel a need to move forward at this time. Rohrback said he feels confident that the federal government will not change the federal matching rate for the program. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I was told Saturday by the congressional people that they have heard a firestorm over this from red states, blue states and purple states, Rohrbach said. We are all saying that the federal government made a deal. Youve got to stay with it if were going to have to stay with it. Thats only fair, because the states just cannot absorb that kind of a new budget request. The bill originated in the House Finance Committee last week and was advanced to the floor, where it would have been on first reading Monday. House Democrats have criticized saying that it would take health care from 160,000 West Virginians, including children, people with disabilities and the elderly. This is not what we were sent here to do, but unfortunately after 45 days of doing nothing, the Republicans have tipped their hand as to what their priority is, and thats to take health care away from nearly 10% of our state, Del. John Williams, D-Monongalia County, said in a post on social media. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If the federal government dropped its Medicaid expansion match from 90% to 73%, the rate at which it funds the rest of the program, that would cost the state about $170 million in addition to the $100 million it already pays for Medicaid expansion, officials say. In West Virginia, 166,000 West Virginians are covered under Medicaid expansion. Before the bill was pulled, health care advocates and Medicaid recipients gathered outside the House chambers Monday morning to urge lawmakers not to pass it. South Charleston resident Paula Lepp and her family would lose health care if Medicaid expansion were to be eliminated in the state. Lepp and her husband, a full-time storyteller, have qualified for Medicaid for a few years since the COVID-19 pandemic led to them losing nearly 80% of their income. Lepp was diagnosed with breast cancer last fall. Shes had several surgeries since then and is scheduled for another on April 18. Now, she worries she wont have health insurance by then. Im sitting here worried, stressed out about what that is going to look like for our family, Lepp said. What does that look like for my recovery, if we have to choose between finding the money for my surgery and finding the money to continue helping [my daughter] pay for college, or having her go into massive amounts of debt. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What a horrible choice that were going to have to make, she said. Rich Sutphin, executive director of the West Virginia Rural Health Association, said that cutting Medicaid expansion would be devastating to the states rural hospitals, five of which are already at immediate risk of closure. A cut like this to our health care delivery system would be catastrophic for those five hospitals, he said. So were advocating for the House of Delegates to vote no on House Bill 3918. According to the West Virginia Center on Budget and Policy, Medicaid expansion contributes about a billion every year to the states health care economy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement [Ending Medicaid expansion] would more than double the states uninsured rate, harm health, put hospitals at risk of closure, and likely result in a significant loss of health care jobs throughout the state, the organization wrote in a post. Dan Hager, executive director Ebenizer Medical Outreach, a free and charitable clinic in Huntington that provides care to people without health care and on Medicaid, also spoke against the bill. When we talk about how 166,000 of our friends and neighbors could lose their coverage, I know what that looks like, Hager said. That looks like someone you know, someone you go to church with, someone in your family, someone you work with, walking into the pharmacy to pick up their diabetes medicine, to pick up their blood pressure medicine, and finding out they can no longer afford it because they got disenrolled by their insurance coverage and they didnt even realize. It means someone you know going to the infusion center to get their chemo delivered and be told that theyre not going to be able to get their treatment that day because they no longer have their Medicaid coverage. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX NEW MEXICO (KRQE) Xcel Energy says they are monitoring severe weather in Texas and New Mexico this week. The company says that with high winds and low humidity in the forecast, there could be an elevated risk for wildfires. New wave of smaller, cheaper nuclear reactors sends US states racing to attract the industry They say some customers may experience a power shutoff for public safety Tuesday, April 1. The company says it will provide further information as it continues to watch conditions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Xcel Energy advises customers to make sure their account information and communications preferences are up to date through the Xcel Energy website. Xcel Energy encourages customers to be prepared of there is an outage or shutoff by building a home emergency kit. They suggest the following should be in your kit: Battery-powered radio Flashlights Batteries Backup phone chargers A phone that does not require electricity Non-electric alarm clock Bottled water and non-perishable food Manual can opener First aid kit Extension cords (for partial outages) Manufacturers instructions on how to manually open power-operated doors (e.g. garage doors) Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos. A lawyer for New York City Mayor Eric Adams on Monday asked the judge handling his federal corruption case to hurry up and decide if he's going to toss the charges, arguing that the embattled mayor needs to turn his attention to running for reelection. In a letter to Judge Dale E. Ho, Adams' attorney Alex Spiro requested for Ho to issue a ruling in the case as soon as practicable, noting that petitions to get on the city's Democratic primary election ballot are due just days away on Thursday. Adams hasnt done much publicly to set up a formal campaign apparatus, but the Democrat has repeatedly insisted that he is running for a second term as mayor. A cast of Democratic challengers are mounting serious campaigns ahead of the primary election in June. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The mayor was charged last year with conspiracy, wire fraud and bribery following allegations that he accepted illegal campaign contributions and travel perks from people, including a Turkish official, seeking to buy influence while he was Brooklyn borough president. Adams pleaded not guilty and was set for a to go on trial in April. But in February, President Donald Trump's Justice Department moved to drop the case, arguing that the charges were filed too close to Adams' reelection campaign and would interfere with the mayor assisting with the Trump administration's immigration agenda. The Justice Department also left open the option to refile the case after the mayoral election in November. In response to the extraordinary move from the Justice Department, Ho canceled the trial and brought in an outside lawyer to provide neutral advice on the case. The court-appointed attorney issued recommendations in early March for Ho to grant the Justice Department's unusual request to dismiss the case. The recommendations included one saying that federal prosecutors should also be barred from reviving the charges. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Spiro, in his Monday letter to the judge, noted that Ho himself has said it is in the best interest for the case to conclude quickly given the mayor's political calendar. We urge the court consistent with its own comments to promptly reach a decision in this matter, Spiro wrote. ___ Izaguirre reported from Albany, NY. YORK COUNTY, Va. (WAVY) A York County student was named as one of three winners of the eighth annual Virginia Lottery Thank a Teacher Art Contest, for the second time. Allie Beatley is a ninth grader at Grafton High School. She won in the contests high school category. In 2023, Allie won the contest when she was a seventh grader at Grafton Middle School. Courtesy-Virginia Lottery The Virginia Lottery received nearly 600 entries and selected three winners from the elementary, middle and high school levels to have their artwork featured on thank-you notes that will be given to teachers across the Commonwealth during National Teacher Appreciation Week. Virginia Lottery partnered with The Supply Room, IGT, and NeoPollard Interactive to organize the Thank a Teacher campaign. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Her art will be used to thank thousands of public school teachers throughout Virginia this Teacher Appreciation Week. Teachers and students are at the core of the Lotterys role to support K-12 public education, and the Art Contest is a unique opportunity to recognize them by giving back to the winning schools art departments, thanks to our partners at The Supply Room. said Virginia Lottery Executive Director Khalid Jones. In a presentation, Allie was awarded a $200 gift card, and the school received a $2,000 credit from The Supply Room for its art 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 WAVY.com. New York man clocked at 107 mph arrested for reckless driving on I-84 in Vernon VERNON, Conn. (WTNH) A New York man was arrested for reckless driving on Friday after state police say he was clocked at 108 mph on Interstate 84 in Vernon. Abdullah Qureshi, 25, of New York, was charged with reckless driving, failure to slow down/ move over for a non-emergency vehicle, failure to maintain proper lane on a limited access highway and failure to drive at a reasonable distance apart. Ansonia man arrested on drug, firearm charges: Police Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to state police, it happened just before 3:30 p.m. on I-84 between Exits 64 and 65 when a sergeant saw a grey Volvo sport utility speed past them in the right lane. State police said the sergeant tried to catch up to the driver, but continued to speed past traffic in the right lane. The sergeant passed the Volvo from the left lane before approaching Exit 66 and continued to see the driver speeding in the right lane. When the driver cut to the left lane, the sergeant clocked the Volvo, which was driving at 107 mph, state police said. State police said he was also seen driving too close to a car at around 80 mph. When the car approached Exit 67, the car ahead moved to the center lane, and the Volvo began speeding again, reaching 102 mph. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The sergeant stopped the Volvo and arrested Qureshi, who allegedly told police he thought he was driving with the flow of traffic. He was arrested and taken to Troop C, state police said. Qureshi was released from custody on a $1,000 bond and is scheduled to appear at Rockville Superior Court on April 8. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTNH.com. PETERSBURG, Ill. (AP) Before his famous debates, before the Civil War rent the nation, before he helped end slavery and before his tragic assassination, Abraham Lincoln had New Salem. The tiny central Illinois village, where Lincoln accidentally spent half-a-dozen years in the 1830s, perhaps did as much to prepare him to be the Union-saving 16th president as any other aspect of his humble yet remarkable life. Volunteers in period clothing provide historical demonstrations for hundreds of thousands of visitors each year at the site, now part of a state park over 200 miles (330 kilometers) southwest of Chicago. But long-neglected maintenance has taken a toll on the setting, which was re-created by a federal public works program in the 1930s during the Great Depression. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It took a dedicated volunteer and state lawmakers' advocacy this spring to secure state money to begin rehabbing the site. Work has not yet been scheduled. What is New Salem's connection to Lincoln? Lincoln, a clean-shaven 22-year-old with the barest of formal schooling, had set out in 1831 to haul freight down the Mississippi River to New Orleans when he snagged his flatboat on the Sangamon River dam at New Salem. "That was destiny, said Guy Fraker, a Bloomington, Illinois, lawyer and Lincoln biographer, because if he hadnt, I really firmly believe wed be two countries. Lincoln freed the boat and continued to New Orleans, but returned to take up residence in the village just northwest of the capitol, Springfield. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In New Salem, Lincoln encountered the religious and the atheist, the learned and the illiterate. It's where he ran a store into bankruptcy, went off to war, served as postmaster, was offered a job as surveyor and thus taught himself geometry and by association, logic, began practicing law and lost his first political race but came back to win. This is where he got all of the education necessary to run for office, so this is probably the most important historic site in the state of Illinois, and certainly one of the most important historic sites in the country, state Sen. Steve McClure said. What's next for New Salem? But some spots are off-limits. The drive shaft of the rebuilt gristmill fell out of the structure's floor following a 2016 flood. It's hard to get to it anyway because a pedestrian walkway over Illinois Route 97 is closed. A hole in the roof of the carding mill, used to straighten wool for spinning, grew this winter to the size of a refrigerator and half of the roof on the replicated Trent brothers' barn has collapsed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gina Gillmore-Wolter, president of the New Salem Lincoln League, roused McClure and another central Illinois Republican, state Rep. Wayne Rosenthal, to introduce legislation to appropriate money for rehabilitation and create a commission to oversee New Salem conservation. McClure has put the brakes on the legislation because 10 days after Gillmore-Wolter and the lawmakers led a media tour of the village, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, which oversees state historic sites, promised $8 million for repairs. It should be enough to stabilize structures and make some headway, but McClure said no one has inventoried problems or priced out remedies. Natural Resources officials did not respond to emailed questions. Why were improvements delayed? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement New Salem withered shortly after Lincolns 1837 departure as residents picked up and moved when many transplanted their structures in the new county seat of Petersburg. Ironically, one of the best-preserved buildings is New Salems lone original: the Onstott Cooper Shop. Henry Onstott lent the auger Lincoln used to drain his swamped flatboat and ease it over the dam. The barrel-maker moved his shop to Petersburg in 1840, though it has since returned to its original spot. By 1906, New Salem was a cow pasture with impressions marking erstwhile foundations. Media mogul and presidential hopeful William Randolph Hearst visited, then bought the property and donated it to the New Salem Chautauqua, an educational group. It became a state park in 1918 and private donations paid for some reconstructed cabins, with many more added during the 1930s by the New Deal's Civilian Conservation Corps. Budget shortfalls have hampered maintenance. Financial troubles closed all state parks for five months in the late 2000s. Advocates believe New Salem hasn't seen major improvements since the 1970s. This is Lincolns alma mater, Gillmore-Wolter said. This should be a priority. PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) A young girl was rescued after being pulled out to sea from the Seaside beach Saturday evening. Around 6:30 p.m. fire and rescue crews responded to the beach in front of Turnaround on reports a young girl had been pulled into the ocean. Emergency responders had jet skis in the water, a swimmer and multiple others participating in the search. Seaside fire marshal talks safety, calls for summer lifeguards Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A little while later, the Coast Guard also aided by launching a helicopter and a boat. Almost 20 minutes after the initial response, officials said crews found the girl after she had been pulled out beyond the breakers and pushed back into the surf. It was quite a fast, efficient activation of partners & a really good outcome for such a serious rescue effort, a spokesperson for the City of Seaside said. The spokesperson added the girl was taken to a hospital by ambulance conscious and alert. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Protesters rally outside of the Theodore Roosevelt Federal Building headquarters of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management on Feb. 5, 2025, in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images) Its not surprising that Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin, in our current partisan landscape, failed to protest the damage inflicted on Virginians by President Donald Trumps reckless cuts to the federal workforce. Rarely do politicians publicly criticize the president when theyre from the same party. Thats why Youngkin focused on the nations monetary struggles rather than the indiscriminate, rapacious actions of Trump and his designated henchman Elon Musk, who runs the DOGE apparatus. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Today, we know we have a federal government that is facing huge fiscal issues with $37 trillion in debt, with $2 trillion being added every year, Youngkin said earlier this month. What that requires is real action quickly. Youngkin didnt mention how the tax cuts that Trump rammed through in 2017 exacerbated the situation. After all, the national debt rose almost $7.8 trillion during Trumps first term. Nor did he acknowledge that Virginians are losing job security even though theyve done nothing wrong. He also left out the lawsuits and recalls to work of thousands of employees that have followed some of the initial layoffs, and the protesters that have rallied against the callousness emanating from Washington. Instead, the guv noted more than a quarter-million jobs are available through a state portal. He suggested many people who are laid off can still land on their feet. Youngkin deserves opprobrium for suggesting Virginia can absorb a huge portion of those federal jobs especially since many wont be at comparable salaries. More than 341,000 federal workers lived in the commonwealth in 2023, the U.S. Census Bureau reported. The potential economic hardships that residents here face are too real, too devastating to Virginians livelihoods. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The indifference to the suffering of Virginians whove done absolutely nothing wrong and were, in fact, extremely valuable to their agencies is really problematic, Jacqueline Simon, policy director of the American Federation of Government Employees, told The Washington Post. Besides, the correlation between the skills among Virginias federal employees and the states available jobs at best was 30%, Terry L. Clower, director of George Mason Universitys Center for Regional Analysis and a professor who studied the issue, said in an interview. The Washington Post reported, just days after Youngkins comments, that many offerings the state has listed come with large pay cuts compared to federal jobs. Clower noted the ongoing uncertainty for laid-off federal workers has complicated their lives. Should they try to relocate? If recalled to the federal government, should they go back to their jobs knowing their return to civil service could be reversed, yet again? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An ancillary factor: A lot of the (federal) contractors are starting to pull back on their hiring, even if their contracts havent been touched, Clower said. A Youngkin spokesman told me Thursday by email that the state has identified 259,000 jobs open in the public and private sectors, and roughly 120,000 of them require a bachelors degree or higher. We are committed to ensuring that these opportunities are accessible to people with a wide range of experience and backgrounds, said Peter A. Finocchio. Whether someone wants to continue in their current field or explore something new, Virginia is ready to support them with the tools, training, and guidance they need to thrive. The problem begins when someones skills dont match up with available jobs in Virginia. Theres also the issue of whether the employment opportunity is nearby or clear across the state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For example, would someone living in the states Urban Crescent (the major localities from Northern Virginia down through Richmond and jutting southeast to Hampton Roads) move elsewhere and vice versa? Cultural and urban-rural differences could be factors. Families with school-age children probably would think twice about selling their home, changing school divisions and jettisoning established relationships in their communities especially if pay and benefits are significantly lower under a new employer. If laid-off federal workers from the commonwealth dont like the job market here, Theyre likely to leave Virginia and go somewhere else. Thats a bad thing, said Vinod Agarwal, deputy director of Old Dominion Universitys Dragas Center for Economic Analysis and Policy. Such individuals would take their skills and tax dollars to another state. Thats not good for Virginias economy, Agarwal told me. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last week, Axios.com reported that the Virginia Department of Health is facing layoffs after the Trump administration announced its cutting $11.4 billion in COVID-related funding. Axios said it was unclear how many VDH employees would lose their jobs. So federal cuts are having a ripple effect. On Thursday, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said it would cut 20,000 positions, half through layoffs. Based in Washington, HHS said it would save $1.8 billion per year through a reduction in workforce from 82,000 to 62,000 full-time employees. These announcements never seem to acknowledge how services to Americans will inevitably decline because there will be fewer employees to handle the various duties. Military veterans are especially at risk from the layoffs. They constitute around 30% of the federal workforce. Virginia is home to the third-highest share of veterans nationwide, based on percentage. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its bad enough that Trumps administration continues to announce cuts. What makes it worse is the lack of transparency about the decision-making process used by DOGE, or why jobs in specific agencies are now deemed extraneous. Which brings me back to Youngkin. Its fine hes taken steps to assist Virginians affected by the chaos in Washington over federal layoffs. His rosy pronouncements, however, cant make up for lower pay and benefits and questionable job security. He should convey that reality to the president. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX TRIGGER WARNING: This story mentions suicide among young American Indians and Alaska Natives. Amanda Hernandez Stateline Firearm-related deaths among children and teenagers in the United States have risen sharply in recent years, increasing by 50 percent since 2019. In 2023, firearms remained the leading cause of death among American youth for the third year in a row, followed by motor vehicle accidents, according to the latest mortality data released by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The data shows 2,581 children aged 17 and under died from firearm-related incidents in 2023, including accidents, homicides and suicides, with a national rate of nearly four gun deaths per 100,000 children. Young people in the United States were killed by firearms at a rate nearly three times higher than by drowning. This means that for every child who died from drowning in 2023, nearly three died from gun violence. Every single number is a life lost is a kid that wont go back home, said Silvia Villarreal, the director of research translation at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Center for Gun Violence Solutions. Children, she added, are an inherently vulnerable population, and this vulnerability is even more pronounced among children of color. Black children and teens in 2023 were more than eight times as likely to die from firearm homicide than their white peers. Since 2015, firearms have been the leading cause of death for Black youth, according to CDC data. Since 2018, firearm suicide rates have been highest among American Indian or Alaska Native and white children and teens. In 2023, American Indian and Alaska Native youth had the highest firearm suicide rate of any racial group. Youth gun deaths dont just affect family members, close loved ones and friends; they ripple through entire communities, making it difficult for people to heal, Villarreal told Stateline. Communities that have suffered really high-impact losses are never the same, and I dont know if its possible to be ever the same as it was before, Villarreal said. One of the major policies championed by gun control and safety groups to address youth gun violence is safe storage laws, which establish guidelines for how firearms should be stored in homes, vehicles and other properties. In recent years, some states also have proposed and adopted measures to create tax credits for purchasing gun safes. Twenty-six states have child access prevention and secure storage laws on the books, according to Everytown for Gun Safety, a gun control research and advocacy group. A report released in July by RAND, a nonprofit, nonpartisan research organization, found that laws designed to limit childrens access to stored firearms may help reduce firearm suicides, unintentional shootings and firearm homicides among youth. This year, lawmakers in states across the country including in Alabama, Georgia, Indiana, Utah, Washington and Wisconsin have considered gun storage policies. Stateline reporter Amanda Hernandez can be reached at ahernandez@stateline.org. Advertisement Advertisement By Dan Peleschuk KYIV (Reuters) - President Volodymyr Zelenskiy called on Monday for Russia to be punished for more than 183,000 alleged war crimes documented by Ukraine since Moscow's 2022 invasion, saying justice was needed to prevent "evil from proliferating." He made his comments to a summit of European officials in Bucha, northwest of the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, where Russian troops have been accused of atrocities including executions, rapes and torture while occupying it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Russia did not immediately comment after business hours on Zelenskiy's remarks, but has previously denied its soldiers have committed atrocities and says the West has ignored Ukraine's crimes, a charge denied by Kyiv. "More than 183,000 crimes related to Russia's aggression against Ukraine have been officially documented," Zelenskiy said on the third anniversary of Russian troops being forced out of Bucha. He added that the tally documented by Ukraine since the February 2022 full-scale invasion did not include most of the Ukrainian territory Russia currently occupies. "We need effective international law to guarantee the protection of our people and all European society from such threats," Zelenskiy said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Justice must be served to prevent evil from proliferating. Pressure on Russia and sanctions against it are necessary to ensure that the war and abuse do not expand further." The vast majority of war crimes cases against Russia are being investigated by Ukraine and tried locally. The International Criminal Court in The Hague, which Ukraine officially joined this year, has also conducted investigations into high-profile cases. The United States and Russia do not recognise the court's jurisdiction and U.S. President Donald Trump has authorised economic and travel sanctions against the war crimes tribunal over its investigations of U.S. citizens or U.S. allies. A U.S. freeze of foreign funding has also impacted an international effort to hold Russia responsible for alleged war crimes by cutting aid programmes that provided expertise and oversight to Ukrainian authorities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A spokesman for Ukraine's foreign ministry expressed cautious optimism last month that the ICC sanctions would not affect Ukraine-related investigations. HONOURING BUCHA VICTIMS The ICC has issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin over the deportation of Ukrainian children, a move dismissed by Moscow as legally meaningless. Zelenskiy, with first lady Olena Zelenska and visiting European officials, paid tribute to the victims of Russia's month-long occupation of Bucha in 2022. Russian troops left bodies lying in the streets when they fled the Kyiv suburb during a broader retreat. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Russian forces committed more than 9,000 crimes in the area around Bucha, including 1,800 killings, according to Ukraine's acting prosecutor general, Oleksiy Khomenko. Khomenko said on Monday that Ukrainian authorities had so far charged 178 individuals and convicted 21. He said Kyiv was continuing to work with the ICC and 25 other countries that were carrying out their own investigations. "Ukraine will not stop on the path of bringing those responsible to justice," Khomenko said. (Editing by Timothy Heritage) Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called for further "tough measures" against Russia to push President Vladimir Putin into a ceasefire agreement, suggesting after another round of drone strikes that Moscow "couldn't care less about diplomacy." Long-range cross-border strikes have continued throughout U.S.-mediated efforts to secure a ceasefire in Ukraine, intended as a springboard for a broader peace deal to end Russia's 3-year-old invasion of its neighbor. Both Kyiv and Moscow last week agreed to freeze attacks in the Black Sea and on energy infrastructure, though both have since accused the other of violating the pause on attacking energy targets. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a Sunday evening video address, Zelenskyy reported "more strikes and shelling" in seven Ukrainian regions. "The geography and brutality of Russian strikes, not just occasionally, but literally every day and night, show that Putin couldn't care less about diplomacy," he said. PHOTO: Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyattends a meeting with the British prime minister at the UK ambassador's residence following the Ukraine summit in Paris, France, Mar. 27, 2025. (Benjamin Girette/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock) MORE: Ukraine accuses Russia of war crime for 'deliberate' strike on hospital "For several weeks now, there has been a U.S. proposal for an unconditional ceasefire," Zelenskyy continued. "And almost every day, in response to this proposal, there are Russian drones, bombs, artillery shelling and ballistic strikes." "Russia deserves increased pressure -- all the tough measures that can break its capacity to wage war and sustain the system that wants nothing but war," Zelenskyy said. "Sanctions against Russia are essential. More air defense for Ukraine is essential. More cooperation and unity among all partners is essential." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement President Donald Trump on Sunday hinted at his apparent frustration with the lack of progress toward a peace deal in Ukraine, telling NBC News he was "very angry" at Putin after the Russian leader again criticized Zelenskyy and called for his removal in favor of a transitional government. Trump added that he would consider applying new sanctions on Russia's lucrative oil exports and on any nations purchasing its oil. China and India are among the most significant customers for Russian oil products. The president later told reporters on Air Force One that his administration was making significant progress toward ending the war. Asked about his relationship with Putin, Trump responded, "I don't think he's going to go back on his word." "I've known him for a long time," Trump said. "We've always gotten along well despite the Russia, Russia, Russia hoax." PHOTO: This combination of pictures created on March 30, 2025 shows President Donald Trump at the White House on March 24, 2025, in Washington, D.C., and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on March 18, 2025. (Brendan Smialowskimaxim Shemetov/AFP via Getty Images) MORE: Russia launches 'hellish' overnight drone bombardment of Ukraine Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The president said he was "disappointed" by Putin's latest attacks on Zelenskyy. "He considers him not credible, he's supposed to be making a deal with him, whether you like him or you don't like him, so I wasn't happy with that." Asked if there was a deadline for Russia to agree to a ceasefire, Trump suggested there was a "psychological deadline." He added, "If I think they're tapping us along, I will not be happy about it." On Monday, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Putin "remains absolutely open to contacts with President Trump, so if necessary their conversation will be very promptly organized." "Right now there is no phone conversation fixed in the schedule, but once again I repeat, President Putin remains open for such communication and if necessary such a conversation can be very promptly arranged," Peskov said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Russia and Ukraine continued cross-border strikes through Sunday night into Monday morning. Ukraine's air force said Russia launched two missiles and 131 drones into the country overnight, of which it said 57 drones were shot down and 45 lost in flight without causing damage. The Sumy, Donetsk, Kharkiv, Kyiv and Zhytomyr regions were affected by the attack, the air force said in a post to Telegram. Russia's Defense Ministry, meanwhile, said its forces shot down 66 Ukrainian drones overnight -- 41 over Bryansk region, 24 over Kaluga region and one over Kursk region. ABC News' Hannah Demissie and Will Gretsky contributed to this report. Zelenskyy urges 'tough' Russia measures after Trump shows frustration with Putin originally appeared on abcnews.go.com A ward at the Stafford Creek Corrections Center in Aberdeen. The state plans to open a 48-bed center, dubbed "Harbor Heights," on the grounds of Stafford by June 1. (Ellen M. Banner / The Seattle Times, 2024) How much are people utilizing their workplace's retirement savings plan? It's a question worth asking since the size of anyone's retirement nest egg ultimately depends on how much they contribute to it in the meantime. The more you put in now, the more you'll have later. To this end, here's a closer look at how much money people put into their 401(k) accounts last year and the added bonus they received as a result. If there was any doubt that these employer-sponsored accounts should be a prioritized way of building wealth, this just might convince you. The number Cutting straight to the chase, retirement plan administrator Fidelity reports that participants in its 401(k) plans diverted an average of $8,800 of their 2024 salaries into these workplace retirement accounts. That's up from 2023's figure of $8,530, again according to Fidelity. That's not the noteworthy part of Fidelity's look at how much money people are tucking away for retirement via their employer-offered plan, though. Far more interesting is the fact that these workers' employers chipped in an average of $4,770 of their own money into each of these employees' 401(k) accounts, bringing the full-year funding figure up to an average of $13,570. This additional cash injection is usually called a matching contribution, although the amount of match can vary from one employer to the next. Most companies are willing to match anywhere between 50% and 100% of the amount that the employee is willing to put into their 401(k), up to a limit of anywhere between 3% and 6% of that worker's salary (depending on the employer). In this vein, Fidelity's analysis of the retirement plans it administers indicates that 2024's average match was 4.7% of employees' pay. Baby Boomers and Generation X workers -- who generally earn more and have more discretionary income to put toward retirement -- did just a bit better than this average. Your best bet for building wealth during your working years There's an important footnote to add here. That is, not all of this matching contribution is necessarily the employee's to keep just yet. Although 100% of employee's own salary deferrals are always that worker's money to keep no matter what, many companies also apply a vesting schedule to their matches. This means that only a growing portion of the employer's contributions to a particular worker's 401(k) account is fully his or hers until a minimum length of service has been achieved. While each plan's vesting rules are a little bit different, a fairly typical vesting schedule would only allow a worker to keep 20% of this matched money after the end of their second year of service, with an additional 20% added to this vesting figure every year thereafter. After the six-year mark is reached, all matched contributions automatically become 100% vested. Loan Duong, mother of Hien Trung Hua, stands over a shrine in his memory in Yakima, on June 18, 2024. Hien Trung Hua died in the Yakima County Jail in November 2023. (Kevin Clark / The Seattle Times, 2024) Looking for a break? Test your knowledge of this week's news from the Yakima Valley. Chuo University welcomed Ms. Karen Curtis, Deputy Director of the International Labour Standards Department at the International Labor Organization (ILO; headquarters in Geneva), who gave a lecture entitled "Recent successes and challenges for international labour standards." The lecture was made possible due to friendship formed between the ILO and our university through an ILO internship course held annually during summer vacation by the Chuo University Faculty of Law. The lecture lasted approximately 90 minutes and featured simultaneous interpretation from English to Japanese. During the Q&A session, many students asked questions in English. The lecture was held as part of our university's efforts to cultivate global professionals and it was a big success in that respect. (October 26th, Tama Campus Classroom #8302, 2nd Chuo University Special Lecture Event to Commemorate the Founding of the Association for Global Initiatives) 20 years of surveillance in Burma/Myanmar Lecture by Ms. Karen Curtis Ms. Curtis introduced a case from Burma/Myanmar, a Maritime Labour Convention, a case from the Philippines, rights for domestic workers, and a case from the International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour (IPEC). First was the case Burma/Myanmar. Not only is forced labor conducted in Burma/Myanmar, freedom of association is not recognized. There is a fundamental link between these two aspects, since freedom of association would make it possible for groups to speak against the parties who use forced labor. The ILO has positioned Burma/Myanmar as a key area. For 20 years, the organization has conducted patient surveillance and persuasive dialogue. Even today, the ILO is working to completely eliminate forced labor and to promote freedom of association. Ms. Curtis introduced the following activities of the ILO: 1) establishment of an office to received complains regarding forced labor in Myanmar, 2) recommendations for constructing a legal framework which will solve disputes and promote the right to assemble, 3) establishment of a labor union, 4) realizing the reentry into Burma/Myanmar of labor union leaders who defected from the country, 5) conducting technical cooperation activities and holding ILO seminars, and 6) preparing reports focusing on the impact of overseas investment on decent work (fulfilling and humane work) in Burma/Myanmar. Decrease in child labor The next topic addressed by Ms. Curtis was domestic workers. Women, immigrants, children and other people in a weak position become domestic workers, who sometimes are forced into oppressive domestic work. In this case, workers have not entered into a written contract and their workplace is their home. The ILO seeks to protect the rights of domestic workers through dialogue that includes the government, labor groups, employer groups and groups of other related person (third-party plus dialogue). Child labor continues to show a decreasing trend from 222 million in 2006 to 215 million in 2010. The number of children working between the ages of 5 and 14 has decreased by 10%. Also, the number of girls in child labor has decreased by 15%. However, the number of child laborers who have reached the legally stipulated age of 15 to 17 years old (depending on the country) has increased by 20%. Currently, child labor is decreasing in the Asia-Pacific region and Central/South America, but is increasing in sub-Saharan Africa. In addition to conducting a variety of training, the ILO implements South-South cooperation which includes the exchange of information, experience and opinions. The ILO also engages in certain intermediate activities such as ensuring the income of parents, providing employment opportunities, supporting materials and tools which eliminate the need to rely on child labor, and expansion of opportunities for credit financing. [Impression of the lecture] I now have a clear understanding of ILO activities. If nations do not protect the rights of workers, corporations will enter overseas markets and spread oppressive labor. Within such conditions, I felt that the ILO transcends national borders and works to protect laborers. Furthermore, when considering labor issues, it is common to focus on the relationship between employers and workers. However, I now realize the deep connection with standards established by national governments and municipalities, as well as homeowners in the case of domestic workers. (Student Reporter: Yoko Satake, 3rd-year student in the Faculty of Law) A Revolutionary Tool for Aerospace Quality Enhancement Brussels, Belgium--(Newsfile Corp. - March 31, 2025) - The International Aerospace Quality Group (IAQG) is proud to announce the launch of OASIS Insights, a groundbreaking benchmarking and quality improvement tool designed to leverage the 9100 series audit data to enhance transparency, performance, and continuous improvement in the aerospace industry. OASIS Insights brings audit performance to life by providing context and benchmarking to help suppliers and supply chain partners understand the 9100 series audit outcomes. Beginning April 1, this distinctive report will be generated after newly published initial, recertification, or surveillance audits are entered into the Online Aerospace Supplier Information System (OASIS), offering insights into comparative anonymized audit performance. Furthermore, these reports provide guidance support based on the IAQG's AIMM and SCMH frameworks to assist suppliers in enhancing and improving their Aerospace Quality Management Systems compliance. "The launch of OASIS Insights marks a significant milestone in our ongoing efforts to improve quality management within the aerospace sector," explained Eric Jefferies, president of IAQG. "By providing audit ratings and benchmarking, OASIS Insights will transform how organizations showcase the value of audits and identify areas for improvement, ultimately driving continuous improvement in the aerospace industry." Developed in collaboration with IAQG technology partner Intact, a leading provider of audit and certification management software, OASIS Insights is designed to support suppliers and help raise the overall standard of aerospace quality. Jake Lewin, CEO of Intact US, added, "By transforming audits into actionable intelligence, we're providing suppliers with visibility into audit outcomes that were previously impossible. This is a major step forward for audit and certification as a whole, and we're thrilled to have collaborated with IAQG to bring it to life." OASIS Insights will be provided automatically to certified organizations following an audit. The tool will be initially accessible through the organization's files area in OASIS. OASIS Insights To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8890/246558_d4f1155b641d6b07_001full.jpg For more information about OASIS Insights, please visit the https://iaqg.org. ### About the International Aerospace Quality Group: As an international non-profit association established under Belgian law and registered in Brussels, Belgium, the IAQG sets the high standard for quality within the global aerospace industry supply chain. The organization consists of member companies from the aviation, space, and defense sectors that design, develop, manufacture, and support original equipment at both system and subsystem levels. The IAQG is dedicated to creating a common framework for quality systems and improvement standards. These standards are utilized internationally by original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and applied throughout the supply chain. To learn more, visit https://iaqg.org. VILLANOVA, Pa. (March 31, 2025)Rosemont College and Villanova University have entered into a merger agreement that will preserve the legacy and heritage of Rosemont College and merge the neighboring institutions. During this multi-year transition, Rosemont College will continue operating as a separate entity, providing students the opportunity to graduate with Rosemont College degrees. The leaders of both boards have worked to create a true partnership that recognizes the changing higher education landscape while ensuring a smooth transition for Rosemont students, faculty, staff and alumni, said Maria Feeley, chair of the Rosemont College Board of Trustees. Rosemont is proud to announce this next chapter, which will build on our decadeslong relationship with Villanova and preserve Rosemonts mission. Villanova and Rosemont enjoy a longstanding connection, and many families in the Greater Philadelphia region celebrate alumni from both institutions, said Villanova University President the Rev. Peter M. Donohue, OSA, PhD. This merger agreement represents a unique and powerful opportunity for our two institutions given our shared commitment to advancing Catholic higher education, our close physical proximity and deep alumni connections. We are committed to securing the best possible options for our students, faculty and staff and believe this merger with Villanova offers the best opportunity to ensure that the Rosemont College history and legacy endures, said Rosemont College President Jim Cawley. During the transition, the first phase of which will start in 2027, Rosemont College's educational and many extracurricular activities will continue as plannedsupported by Rosemont faculty and staff. Rosemont students who have not completed their degree by 2028 will have multiple options, which include the ability to transfer to Villanovas College of Professional Studies where they will have the opportunity to complete a degree. Following the transition, Rosemont will become Villanova University, Rosemont Campus, and the campus will honor the legacy of Rosemont's founders, the Society of the Holy Child Jesus. Additionally, the Chapel will be preserved as a place of gathering and inspiration, and an endowed scholarship will be established supporting the mission of the Society of the Holy Child Jesus. The terms of the merger are subject to approval from The Middle States Commission on Higher Education as well as state and federal regulators. Additional information will be shared as it becomes available. Villanova University President the Rev. Peter M. Donohue, OSA, PhD added, This agreement represents an opportunity to build upon our strengths, invest in critical areas and enhance the Villanova experience for our entire communitynow and well into the future. About Rosemont College Founded in 1921 by the Society of the Holy Child Jesus, Rosemont College is a private, Catholic liberal arts institution located in the heart of Pennsylvanias Main Line. Guided by the values of reverence for each person, justice, and care for the earth, Rosemont is committed to fostering a supportive community where students are encouraged to pursue academic excellence, personal growth, and meaningful service. With a deep sense of mission, Rosemont prepares students to think critically, act compassionately, and lead with purpose in an ever-changing world. About Villanova University Since 1842, Villanova Universitys Augustinian Catholic intellectual tradition has been the cornerstone of an academic community in which students learn to think critically, act compassionately and succeed while serving others. There are more than 10,000 undergraduate, graduate and law students in the University's six collegesthe College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the Villanova School of Business, the College of Engineering, the M. Louise Fitzpatrick College of Nursing, the College of Professional Studies and the Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law. Ranked among the nations top universities, Villanova supports its students intellectual growth and prepares them to become ethical leaders who create positive change everywhere life takes them. For more, visit www.villanova.edu. Sikandar: Salman Khan has been busy promoting his latest release 'Sikandar' for the past few weeks. Amid this, the superstar was in Dubai, where he had a heartwarming interaction with a few fans. Salman made a sweet gesture by obliging them with selfies 'in the middle of the road. The pictures and the videos are rapidly going viral across social media and generating buzz among his fans. Recently, a fan from Dubai took to Instagram and shared some glimpses from her meeting with Salman Khan. The first slide was a selfie in which Salman was seen sitting in his car as he smiled and posed for a selfie with the fan. The Sikandar actor was wearing an Avengers-themed shirt. There was also a video of Salmans car, which the fan was recording from far away. He was seen lowering the window and waving at the fan with a smile. The next video showed a few fans walking towards the car and posing with Salman happily. The caption of the post read, WHAT IN THE CHAOS OF LIFEE!! @beingsalmankhan just called us in the middle of the road so we could get a picture of him. with all credits to papa joe. Have a look at the post here: Netizens showered their love on the sweet moment in the comments section of the post. One person said, Luckiest girl in Salmans world, while another wrote, Lucky girl. A user stated, Blockbuster click. Many others left red hearts and fire emojis. Meanwhile, Sikandar was released in cinemas on March 30. The action thriller marks Salman Khans first collaboration with Rashmika Mandanna. Prateik Babbar, Sharman Joshi, Kajal Aggarwal, Anjini Dhawan, and Sathyaraj also play pivotal roles. The film is directed by Ghajini fame AR Murugadoss and produced by Sajid Nadiadwala. Earlier, it was revealed that the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has given Sikandar a UA 13+ rating. As per their website, the certified duration of the film is 135 minutes and 47 seconds, which means 2 hours, 15 minutes, and 47 seconds. Looking ahead, Salman Khan is set to collaborate with Sanjay Dutt for an action movie. Indonesia, Philippines and China showcased the most notable growth in messaging WhatsApp, RCS, Viber, and other chat apps were among the most popular channels driving the rise in conversational messaging KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, March 31, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Global cloud communications platform, Infobip released its latest Messaging Trends Report, unveiling Asia-Pacific as the world's fastest-growing messaging region, recording a 51% surge in conversational messaging in 2024. The report is based on an analysis of over 530 billion interactions between businesses and consumers on Infobip's platform. According to the research, APAC is spearheading global messaging growth, driven by dynamic markets like Indonesia (59%), the Philippines (33%), and China (29%). Infobip Messaging Trends 2025 Infobip AI Hub data highlights the surge in AI adoption, giving conversational messaging apps a major makeover and enabling richer and more meaningful connections. For instance, WhatsApp usage doubled with 100% growth, driven by seamless in-chat purchasing features. Indonesia led the rise at 110%, followed by India (27%), Singapore (20%), and Malaysia (17%). RCS interactions surged 102% across the region with India (850%) leading the growth chart. Viber also gained 41% more traction in the region, with the Philippines seeing a significant rise in messaging interactions. Additionally, our research shows that customers in the APAC region prefer messaging channels that are culturally and locally relevant. Notably, KakaoTalkwidely used in South Koreaaccounts for 87% of customers interactions from Korean brands, with some engagement also seen in from brands in Singapore. In Vietnam, 63% of brand conversations happen on Zalo, a popular local platform. Meanwhile, LINE dominates in Thailand, Taiwan region, and Singapore, contributing to 98% of messaging interactions. As a result, brands are increasingly turning to these local platforms to build stronger, more familiar connections with their end users. Globally, Infobip recorded a 30% increase in the number of brands orchestrating conversational marketing interactions with their customers on its platform. The report also reveals the rapid adoption of conversational messaging across key industries in the region. The Retail and eCommerce sector saw a 169% surge in interactions, with South Korea leading at 371%, followed by Singapore (133%) and the Philippines (16%). Telecom also saw explosive expansion, with China's interactions skyrocketing by 4200% and Indonesia recorded 121% growth. Ivan Ostojic, Chief Business Officer, Infobip said: "The surge in business interactions across APAC reflects a broader shift toward richer, more localized, and conversational messaging experiences. Customers in the region engage best with culturally relevant and language-specific content, driving higher engagement and conversions. Brands have successfully leveraged this approach through personalized RCS, WhatsApp, and Viber campaigns or localized promotions for relevant festivities in the region such as Singles Day, to build stronger customer relationships. As conversational marketing evolves, understanding its suitability is key for businesses to enhance connections with their audiences and ensure seamless, secure, and real-time interactions." Swami Ramdev and Acharya Balkrishna started Patanjali in 2006, with the main goal of combining Ayurveda and yoga with modern scientific methods. This means testing ancient Indian medical practices through scientific research and lab testing to make them trustworthy globally. Global Reach of Patanjali Patanjali has exported its products to many countries and opened several wellness centers abroad. For instance, Patanjali Wellness Center was set up in Houston, Texas (USA), where people can avail services like Ayurvedic massages, health consultations, and personal treatment plans. This has attracted people towards natural medical treatments in those regions. Additionally, Patanjali Yoga Peeth branches or trusts are present in countries like the UK, Nepal, Canada, and Mauritius. Patanjali Group, led by Baba Ramdev, claims that its products are now being sold in 200 countries. Furthermore, Patanjali Research Foundation has published its research in various international science magazines such as the International Journal of Yoga and BMC Research Notes. These research papers scientifically prove the benefits of yoga and Ayurveda. In addition to all this, Patanjali is working to expand its reach through online sales and e-commerce platforms, making their products easily accessible to people across the world. Especially in countries where traditional Ayurvedic treatments are not very popular, people are now being drawn to natural and holistic health options. International Yoga Day and Patanjalis Contribution The idea of celebrating International Yoga Day on June 21st was made possible with the help of the Indian government, Swami Ramdev, and Patanjali Yogpeeth. Swami Ramdev conducted large yoga camps both in India and abroad, which significantly promoted yoga. In 2015, when 177 countries celebrated the first International Yoga Day, Patanjali played a significant role in this global movement. Patanjalis yoga is considered simple, effective, and scientifically correct. Anyone can learn it without spending money. Practicing yoga daily helps in controlling problems like stress, obesity, heart disease, diabetes, asthma, and depression. Swami Ramdev and Patanjali have presented yoga not just as a practice but as a science for staying healthy. Today, yoga is not only popular in India but is also widely appreciated in countries like the USA, Europe, Australia, and Africa. (This article is part of IndiaDotCom Pvt Lts consumer connect initiative, a paid publication programme. IDPL claims no editorial involvement and assumes no responsibility or liability for any errors or omissions in the content of the article.) Eid is one of the most significant celebrations in the Islamic calendar, marking the end of the month-long fasting during Ramadan. It is a time of gratitude, spiritual reflection, and community. Among the many customs associated with Eid, the practice of giving and receiving "Eidi" stands out as a beloved tradition that adds an extra layer of joy and excitement to the festival. What is Eidi? Eidi (also spelled Eed, Eidiya, or Eed gifts) refers to gifts, often in the form of money, that are given to children, relatives, and loved ones during the celebration of Eid. While the tradition varies in different cultures, the essence of Eidi remains the same: it is a symbol of love, blessing, and goodwill, shared to make the holiday even more special. The word "Eidi" is derived from the Arabic word "Eid," meaning festival or celebration. Therefore, Eidi can be understood as a gift to mark the occasion of Eid, a way to spread happiness and celebrate togetherness. Eidi is typically given by elders, such as parents, grandparents, uncles, aunts, or other family members, to younger relatives or friends. The Significance of Eidi Eidi holds cultural and emotional significance for Muslims around the world. It is not just about the monetary value but the thoughtfulness and generosity behind it. The practice of giving Eidi strengthens bonds within families and communities, fostering a spirit of unity and sharing. It is a way for adults to show appreciation for the younger generation, while also teaching them the importance of giving and receiving with a grateful heart. In many cultures, children eagerly look forward to receiving Eidi as it is one of the highlights of the Eid celebration. For them, it serves as a form of reward and recognition for their participation in Ramadan, symbolizing the joy and excitement that Eid brings. The joy is not limited to the children, as the exchange of gifts creates a sense of mutual respect and love within families and between neighbors. Eidi Across Different Cultures While the concept of Eidi is common across the Muslim world, its forms and practices can vary depending on the country, region, or cultural norms. In South Asia (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh) One of the most famous traditions of Eid in these countries is the giving of money in small denominations, particularly to children. It is common for elders to visit family members and hand out Eidi, often along with sweets like mithai and sevaiyan (vermicelli). The amounts may differ depending on the relationship between the giver and the receiver, but it is usually seen as a token of love and affection rather than something lavish. In the Middle East (Saudi Arabia, UAE, etc.) While money remains the most common form of Eidi, gifts like clothes, toys, or other thoughtful items are also exchanged, especially for children. Traditional items like gold or silver coins may also be given as Eidi to symbolize prosperity and blessings. In Turkey Eidi is often given in the form of money, but the tradition of gifting small tokens, such as clothing or sweets, is also quite common. Many families may also use this occasion to visit the elderly, paying their respects and giving small tokens of appreciation. In Southeast Asia (Malaysia, Indonesia) The tradition of giving "duit raya" (similar to Eidi) involves gifting money to children. However, this is usually done in special envelopes, often adorned with colorful designs and symbols of good luck. The Spiritual Aspect of Eidi Although Eidi is a joyful custom associated with Eid, it also has a spiritual and charitable dimension. The act of giving during Eid is rooted in the Islamic principles of generosity and charity. Muslims are encouraged to help those in need, especially during the festival. This is why alongside the exchange of gifts, many Muslims also make a point of donating to charity (known as Zakat al-Fitr) before Eid prayers, ensuring that even the less fortunate can participate in the joy of the holiday. Eidi serves as a reminder to focus not only on personal celebrations but also on extending kindness and sharing blessings with others. It emphasizes the values of giving, gratitude, and communal harmony that are central to the teachings of Islam. Eidi is more than just a gift; it is a manifestation of the love, joy, and generosity that define the spirit of Eid. Whether it is in the form of money, sweets, or thoughtful presents, Eidi embodies the essence of sharing happiness and building stronger relationships with family and friends. Through this beautiful tradition, Muslims worldwide celebrate Eid with a sense of unity and joy, creating lasting memories that resonate through generations. (This article is intended for your general information only. Zee News does not vouch for its accuracy or reliability.) Eid-ul-Fitr, one of the most significant festivals for Muslims worldwide, marks the end of Ramadan, a month of fasting, prayer, and reflection. Celebrated with joy and gratitude, Eid is a time for Muslims to come together with family and friends to share meals, give charity, and embrace the spirit of unity and love. In 2025, Eid-ul-Fitr will be observed with even more excitement as people come together to celebrate after months of fasting and devotion. If you're looking for the perfect Instagram wishes, messages, images, and quotes to share with your loved ones this Eid, weve got you covered! Whether you want to send a heartfelt message, share a beautiful picture, or inspire others with a powerful quote, here are 30 ideas to make your Eid celebrations memorable. India celebrates Eid one day after Saudi Arabia. Accordingly, Eid-ul-Fitr will be celebrated on Monday, March 31, in India. Eid-ul-Fitr is the festival that brings the 29, or 30-day-long fast of Ramadan to a close when practising Muslims refrain from food and water from sunrise to sunset. Eid-ul-Fitr arrives with the sighting of the moon. The crescent moon sighting has been confirmed today, i.e Sunday, March 30. Thus, millions of Muslims across India will celebrate the festival of Eid-ul-Fitr on Monday, March 31. Eid Mubarak Wishes for Instagram "Eid Mubarak! May Allah bless you with joy, peace, and prosperity on this holy occasion." "On this blessed day, may Allahs blessings be with you and your loved ones. Eid Mubarak!" "Wishing you a joyful Eid full of peace, prosperity, and happiness. Eid Mubarak!" "Eid is a time to celebrate the blessings we have. May your life be filled with love and light. Eid Mubarak!" "May the spirit of Eid bring you closer to your dreams. Wishing you success and happiness today and always. Eid Mubarak!" "May Allah accept your prayers and fasting. May this Eid bring you endless happiness. Eid Mubarak to you and your family!" "Eid is the time to cherish your family, friends, and everything you hold dear. Have a blessed Eid!" "Sending you my warmest wishes on this special day. Eid Mubarak to you and your loved ones!" "As the crescent moon is sighted, may it bring you joy, love, and peace. Eid Mubarak!" "This Eid, lets pray for the well-being of all. Eid Mubarak!" "Eid Mubarak! May this Eid bring you closer to your dreams and may Allah bless you with endless happiness." "On this blessed occasion, I pray that Allah fills your heart with peace and your life with prosperity. Eid Mubarak!" "Wishing you a day full of joy, love, and laughter. May your Eid be as wonderful as you are. Eid Mubarak!" "Eid Mubarak to you and your family! May this joyous occasion bring peace to your heart and home." "On this special day, I wish you and your loved ones happiness, health, and success. Eid Mubarak!" "May Allahs blessings shine upon you and your family today and always. Eid Mubarak!" "Let this Eid bring you love, peace, and joy, and fill your life with prosperity and happiness. Eid Mubarak!" "Wishing you a wonderful Eid filled with happiness, joy, and blessings from Allah. Eid Mubarak to you and your family!" "May this Eid fill your heart with happiness and your home with peace. Have a blessed and joyous Eid!" "Eid Mubarak! May the guidance of Allah always illuminate your path and bring peace to your life." "As we celebrate this blessed day, I pray that Allah grants all your wishes and showers you with His endless mercy. Eid Mubarak!" "May this Eid bring joy and prosperity to your life. Celebrate the blessings of Allah with your loved ones. Eid Mubarak!" "Eid is a time to forgive and forget. Lets cherish the blessings we have and spread love around us. Eid Mubarak!" "Wishing you an Eid filled with love, peace, and joy. May all your prayers be answered and your heart be at ease." "Eid Mubarak to my dearest friend! May this special day bring you happiness, good health, and endless blessings." "May the light of Eid shine upon you and guide your way towards success and happiness. Eid Mubarak!" "Wishing you a blessed Eid filled with happiness, peace, and the love of family and friends. Eid Mubarak!" "May the magic of this Eid bring happiness, peace, and prosperity to your life. Eid Mubarak!" "Eid Mubarak! May the blessings of Allah fill your life with joy, prosperity, and peace today and always." "On this sacred occasion of Eid, I wish you all the best in life. May Allahs mercy guide your way. Eid Mubarak to you and your family!" Eid Mubarak Messages to Share with Loved Ones "May your heart and home be filled with happiness, peace, and prosperity. Eid Mubarak to you and your family!" "May this special day bring peace, happiness, and prosperity to everyone. Eid Mubarak!" "On this blessed occasion of Eid, I pray that your life is filled with joy and success. Eid Mubarak to you and your loved ones!" "May the Almighty shower His mercy and blessings upon you on this sacred occasion of Eid. Have a wonderful and blessed Eid!" "The blessings of Eid will always stay with you. May you have a blessed and peaceful year ahead!" "Eid is the time to be thankful for the blessings in our life. I am grateful to have you by my side. Eid Mubarak!" "This Eid, I wish you love, joy, and happiness, and may Allah answer all your prayers. Eid Mubarak!" "May the holy month of Ramadan end with the happiest and most blessed Eid. Enjoy this special day with family and friends!" "Wishing you a very joyous and blessed Eid. May your day be filled with love, joy, and prosperity!" "As the crescent moon is sighted and the festivities begin, I wish you nothing but happiness and joy. Eid Mubarak!" Eid Mubarak Quotes To Share With Images on Instagram For those who love to express their feelings through pictures, Eid Mubarak images are the perfect way to spread festive joy. Here are a few ideas to caption your Eid photos with: "As the moon shines bright tonight, may your life be filled with light. Eid Mubarak!" "Eid is all about love, togetherness, and spreading joy. Cherishing these moments with my loved ones. Eid Mubarak!" "Sweet treats to celebrate the sweetness of Eid. May your life be as sweet as this day. Eid Mubarak!" "On this blessed day, let us all pray for the happiness and peace of the world. Eid Mubarak! Eid Mubarak Quotes To Share Eid is not just about the prayers, its about spreading love, joy, and kindness. May your life be filled with all these blessings. Eid Mubarak! Eid is the time to forgive, forget, and be thankful for everything we have. May your heart always be filled with love. Eid Mubarak! May this Eid bring peace, joy, and prosperity to your life. Celebrate with gratitude and love. Eid Mubarak! Let the light of Eid bring peace into your home and happiness into your heart. Wishing you a blessed and joyous Eid! Eid Mubarak! May the teachings of Ramadan stay with us, filling our hearts with kindness and love for others. Eid Mubarak Images To Share On Instagram, Facebook And WhatsApp Status Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who visited the Eidgah in Kolkata on Eid, asserted that she is a supporter of secularism. She also emphasized that Muslims in West Bengal are free to do whatever they wish. On the occasion of Eid, Mamata addressed a gathering at Red Road in Kolkata and assured the Muslim community of her support. 'Don't think that you are alone... We are always with you in every way....,' said. To attend the Eid celebration, Mamata returned from her foreign trip and said, "I had a program in two countries, but I cancelled one for Eid." She added, "It is not necessary for us to be outside; it is important to convey our good wishes to those inside." However, on March 27, communal tension broke out in Malda and Mamata has not visited the area yet despite the violence and hatred faced by Hindus in Malda. While Mamata addressing to the Muslim community she added, "Don't think that anyone will tell you to follow these restrictions in any place." On the other hand, after the fireworks erupted in front of a mosque in Malda which led to communal violence but still CM Banerjee was unable to make such an appeal to the Hindu community. Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav on Monday accused Uttar Pradesh police of stopping him from preventing the Eid celebration and asserted the move as "dictatorship" and "emergency". "What should I understand from this? Should I understand it as dictatorship or emergency?" Akhilesh Yadav told ANI. The former Uttar Pradesh CM accused the saffron party of failing to uphold the constitution and claimed his convoy was halted, with only one vehicle allowed to proceed, criticizing the party's actions and governance Yadav, former Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of "not running" the country according to the constitution. He said that his convoy was stopped and only one vehicle was allowed to go ahead. "When I was coming here today (to attend Eid celebrations), the police deliberately stopped me. After talking for half an hour, I was allowed to go ahead. When I wanted to know why this was being done, no officer had any answer. Is such pressure being created so that we do not attend other people's celebrations? BJP is not running this country as per the constitution," Yadav told ANI. On the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr, the SP chief extended greetings and said that Uttar Pradesh is the only place where people of all religions and communities have lived together. "I extend my wishes to everyone on the occasion of Eid. This festival brings sweets and Sevaiyaan to us and sends a message that India has always had a mixed culture. It is the only land where people of all religions and communities have lived together...Today's Eid, along with that, celebrations of Navratri, have started," the SP chief said. A Mumbai Police team visited standup comedian Kunal Kamra's residence on Monday regarding his controversial joke about Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, as per ANI. #WATCH | Comedian Kunal Kamra row: A team of Mumbai Police arrives at the residence of Kunal Kamra in Mumbai More details awaited pic.twitter.com/oSdph3kKOh March 31, 2025 Standup comedian Kamra Reportedly, a resident of Tamil Nadu was summoned by Khar police for questioning in connection with a controversy during his stand-up at Habitat Studio in Mumbai's Khar. He was called for questioning on March 31 but failed to appear, leading the police to visit his residence in Mumbai. Kamra shared his picture in a post on X and said, "Going to an address where I havent lived for the last 10 years is a waste of your time & public resources." New Delhi: Aam Aadmi Party leader and Delhi Leader of Opposition (LoP) Atishi on Monday hit out at the Bharatiya Janata Party, alleging there has been a rise in power cuts in the national capital since the BJP came to power. Attacking the Rekha Gupta-led government further, she said the BJP is "not eligible" to run the government, which is why the 24-hour electricity model has failed today. "Since the formation of the BJP government in Delhi, the power cuts have constantly increased. On social media, you can see such posts daily...The data from the Delhi government shows that power cuts have increased in various areas of Delhi since March 1," Atishi told reporters on Monday. "BJP doesn't know how to run the government. They are not eligible; that's why the 24-hour power supply has failed now," she added. Atishi also stated that in the last 10 years, during Arvind Kejriwal's governance, the usage of inverters and generators had completely reduced in the national capital. "In the last 10 years, inverters have disappeared from the houses of people of Delhi...Like every year, they did not buy new inverter batteries," Atishi said. This comes after residents of Jagatpur village, Burari, staged a protest against Delhi's electricity department claiming prolonged power cuts in the area. Aam Aadmi Party's chief Arvind Kejriwal slammed the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Delhi government for "making the power situation worse" in the national capital. On March 28, Atishi, along with other AAP MLAs, staged a protest in the Delhi Assembly against the BJP on the issue of Mahila Samridhi Yojana 2025. Speaking to reporters, Delhi LoP Atishi accused the BJP government of not fulfilling the promises they had made during the elections, adding that they don't even intend to give Rs 2500 in future. She further stated that when AAP MLAs questioned the government on this, they were removed from the assembly. "The BJP leaders and Prime Minister Narendra Modi had promised the women of Delhi that by March 8, Rs 2500 will be credited to their accounts but the BJP government of Delhi did not fulfill this promise... When we asked questions in the House on when Rs 2500 will be credited into the accounts of women, one all our MLAs were thrown out of the House... this clearly means they haven't given money on march 8 and they don't intend to do so. It is clear that BJP and PM Modi lied to Delhi, and gave 'jumlas' on the name of promises." Majority of the Islamic organisations are protesting against the Waqf Amendment Bill and the organisations have urged Muslims to tie black bands around their hand while offering Namaz in protest agains the Waqf bill. While the opposition parties like Congress are opposing the Bill, the ruling NDA has managed to build a consensus within on the issue. Amid the protests, the Narendra Modi government has got support from an unexpected quarters over the bill. The Kerala Catholic Bishops' Council (KCBC) has extending support to the Waqf Amendment Bill while requesting 20 Kerala MPs support the bill in Parliament. The KCBC urged Kerala MPs to vote in favour of amending the ';unconstitutional' and 'unjust' provisions of the Waqf Act. In a statement, Fr. Thomas Tharayil of the KCBC secretariat said that provisions in the Waqf law, which legitimise the illegal claims in such a way that people in Munambam are unable to exercise their revenue claims on the land, need to be amended. "The Farooq College management, which sold the land to the residents of Munambam, has asserted that the land in question was received as a gift, the MPs should cooperate to amend the waqf bill Which has provisions to raise claims against this. KCBC will send letter to each MPs requesting to vote in favour of amending waqf bill," KCBC said in a statement. Around 610 families of Munambam, a coastal village in the Ernakulam district, have been protesting against the claim by the Waqf Board on their land. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) welcomed the move saying that the support comes as a strong response to those 'Bhadkaau Bhaijaan' Committee members who are trying to use the Waqf in order to polarise insight and in order to mislead the Muslim community. "It was never an issue of minority versus majority. The unlimited powers given to Waqf have led to land grabbing even of the Christian community...Today, this is an issue between land grabbers and poor Muslims, but those who are turning it into Hindu versus Muslim or majority versus minority have got a tight slap from KCBC," said Shehzad Poonawalla, BJP leader. Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said that those opposing the Waqf Bill are 'powerful people' who encroached upon properties. "Who are those who are opposing this bill? There are a few powerful people who have encroached upon the Waqf properties. They are misguiding people. They are saying the bill is unconstitutional. It's everyone's right to criticise things, but criticism must have some substance in it," Rijiju told ANI. "The request letter sent by the Kerala Catholic Bishops' Council is extremely important for everybody. Many of the organisations across communities are supporting the Waqf (Amendment) Bill. We must understand that the Bill is basically in the interest of the poor Muslims, children and women and also to ensure that the properties of the Waqf are managed in a transparent and accountable manner. We ensure the welfare of the common people," Rijiju said. Kerala BJP President Rajeev Chandrasekhar on Monday said that many Christian organisations, including the Kerala Catholic Bishops Council (KCBC), are extending support to the Waqf Amendment Bill proposed by the centre after poor families in the Munambam suburb claimed to be living under the threat of their land being seized by the Waqf board. New Delhi: Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, demanding the cancellation of tenders for offshore mining along the coasts of Kerala, Gujarat, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Gandhi raised concerns over the environmental impact of offshore mining, stating that the decision to allow private players without a proper assessment threatens marine life. "I write to you to strongly condemn the central government's decision to permit offshore mining along the coast of Kerala, Gujarat, and Andaman & Nicobar," he said in his letter. He highlighted that coastal communities have been protesting against the tenders, which were issued without evaluating their environmental impact. "Millions of fisherfolk have expressed grave concerns about its impact on their livelihood and way of life," he added. Gandhi also shared his concerns on his WhatsApp channel, stating, "Offshore mining will impact the livelihoods of millions of fisherfolk and irreversibly damage our diverse marine life. The government must immediately revoke this decision." The Congress leader pointed out that the Offshore Areas Mineral (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2023, had already faced strong objections. He noted that studies have shown offshore mining could harm marine life, damage coral reefs, and reduce fish populations. The Ministry of Mines recently invited tenders for 13 offshore mining blocks, sparking widespread protests. Gandhi said these include three blocks near Kollam, a crucial fish breeding area, and three blocks off the coast of Great Nicobar, a biodiversity hotspot. According to Gandhi, the tenders were issued without consulting stakeholders or assessing long-term socio-economic effects on coastal communities. He cited an ongoing study by the Marine Monitoring Lab at the University of Kerala, which warns that offshore mining could severely impact fish breeding in Kollam. He also stressed that over 11 lakh people in Kerala rely on fishing, which is their traditional occupation and integral to their way of life. Great Nicobar is globally recognized for its rich biodiversity and unique wildlife. "Any damage due to offshore mining could potentially do irreparable damage," Gandhi warned. "At a juncture where erosion of our coastal ecosystems has worsened the impact of natural calamities like cyclones, it is concerning that the government is wilfully greenlighting activities without a scientific assessment," he added. He urged the government to cancel the tenders and conduct thorough scientific studies to evaluate the environmental and socio-economic effects of offshore mining. "Most importantly, all stakeholders, especially our fisherfolk, must be consulted before any major decision is taken. Their lives are intertwined with the fate of our oceans. Let us work collectively towards building a sustainable future for all," he wrote in his letter dated March 25, which he shared on Sunday. (With PTI inputs) Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday rejected speculation about Prime Minister Narendra Modis retirement, asserting that he will continue to lead India for many years. Fadnavis was responding to Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Rauts claim that Modi visited the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) headquarters in Nagpur to signal his retirement. Dismissing this, Fadnavis said, In 2029, we will see Modi as the prime minister again. Fadnavis insisted there was no need to talk about Modis successor while he remains active in politics. There is no need to search for his successor. He (Modi) is our leader and will continue, he said. He also criticized Rauts remarks, stating that discussing succession in Indian culture is inappropriate. In our culture, when the father is alive, it is inappropriate to talk about succession. That is Mughal culture. The time has not come to discuss it, Fadnavis said, referring to Rauts claim that Modis successor would be from Maharashtra. What Sanjay Raut Claimed On Monday, Raut claimed that the RSS wanted a new political leadership. He alleged, He (Modi) probably went to the RSS headquarters to write his retirement application in September. Raut linked his claim to the fact that some leaders in the ruling party retire at 75. Modi will turn 75 this September. RSS Headquarter Visit This was Modis first visit to the RSS headquarters in Nagpur since becoming prime minister 11 years ago. He described the RSS as the banyan tree of Indias immortal culture. The Ptime Ministers visit also included a stop at the Dr Hedgewar Smruti Mandir, where he paid tribute to RSS founder K B Hedgewar. The RSS headquarters in Mahal and the Smruti Mandir in Reshimbagh are considered key sites for the organization. Modi became the second sitting prime minister to visit the RSS headquarters, following Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who visited in 2000 during his third term. This is also Modis third term in office. We recently published a list of 12 Most Oversold Large Cap Stocks to Invest in Now. In this article, we are going to take a look at where Infosys Limited (NYSE:INFY) stands against other most oversold large cap stocks to invest in now. Impact of Tariff Uncertainty on Wall Street and the Future of US Stocks Wall Street is being impacted by the uncertainty surrounding the tariff news. The broader has dropped a lot since Trump took office on January 20, and investors are mostly worried about tariffs because they think they could hurt economic growth and cause inflation. Investors think trade policies can reduce consumer confidence and restrict businesses ability to invest capital, while Trump believes tariffs can boost national revenue, promote broad-based growth, and be used as a negotiation weapon with other nations. According to Franklin Templeton, the Magnificent Sevens supremacy in AI has allowed US stocks to generate significant returns over the last few years, with the broader market frequently hitting all-time highs. The outlook for the market as a whole is favorable, notwithstanding high valuations. Sales growth has been accelerating, innovation and investment are still happening at a rapid pace, and this years earnings are predicted to increase by double digits. Additionally, the administration of the US economy is more business-friendly. However, there are concerns, primarily associated with US trade policy and the anticipated effects of tariffs on important industries, such as technology. Franklin Templeton thinks that despite these risks, investor confidence in US stocks should continue to be high. The new administrations policy reforms are anticipated to finally produce long-term benefits for the larger US economy, notwithstanding the possibility of increased dangers. Franklin Templeton also stated that although the Mag 7 stocks are positioned for long-term success, market leadership is anticipated to expand as and when innovation accelerates. According to the investment firm, active management is crucial. The transition from AI platforms to infrastructure is still in progress. Consequently, it is anticipated that the success of investments will depend on the ability to select the appropriate companies at the right timethose that have the technology, strategy, and flexibility to continue and sustain long-term growth. Thanks to innovation and investment, US stocksmostly large-cap stockshave been doing well. Notably, the Dow index has increased by more than 4.5% in the last six months. The investment business sees expanding chances beyond such market leaders, even though the Mag 7 stocks still sustain the market momentum. The competitive landscape is still dynamic and has been generating new development sectors as a result of the ongoing AI-driven cycle. New Delhi: 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 said. 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. New Delhi: Sanoj Mishra, the director who offered viral sensation Monalisa a role in his film during the Kumbh Mela, has been arrested in connection with a rape case. The arrest follows the rejection of his bail application by the Delhi High Court. On March 30, 2024, Sanoj Mishra, aged 45, was apprehended by the Delhi Police following intelligence gathering and technical surveillance. The arrest took place in Ghaziabad, and Mishra, who resides with his family in Mumbai, was taken into custody by the Nabi Karim Police Station. The case centers around a 28-year-old woman from a small town, who alleged that Mishra repeatedly raped her over a period of four years. The woman, who aspired to become a film actress, claimed that she had been in a live-in relationship with Mishra in Mumbai during this time. She further alleged that Mishra forced her to undergo abortion procedures on three separate occasions. The complainant, in her statement to the police, also accused Mishra of reneging on his promise to marry her. According to a statement from the Delhi Police, an FIR was lodged on March 6, 2024, under several sections including rape, assault, causing miscarriage, and threatening. The complainant also supported her allegations during a statement under section 164 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC). The police were able to gather medical evidence related to the alleged abortions from Muzaffarnagar. The incident that triggered the complaint occurred on February 18, 2025, when the accused allegedly brought the victim to Hotel Shiva in Nabi Karim. Mishra is accused of having physical relations with the woman during this visit before abandoning her, leading to her filing the police complaint. The arrest follows the denial of Mishra's bail application by the Delhi High Court, which had previously examined the case. Ever since ChatGPT's Ghibli-style AI image generator was launched by OpenAI last week, it has taken social media by storm. From politicians and celebrities to everyday users, everyone seems to be sharing their artificial intelligence-generated portraits in the signature style of Ghibli legend Hayao Miyazaki. The latest version helps people turn their own photos or even viral internet memes into amazing Ghibli-style artwork. Although not everyone is on board with this viral trend. Digital privacy activists and professionals are sounding the alarm on social media platforms, claiming OpenAI might be using this trend as a way to gather thousands of personal images for AI training. While many users are having fun with the feature, critics warn that they could unknowingly be handing over fresh facial data to OpenAI, raising serious privacy concerns. Explaining the process of how AI models generate images, self proclaimed AI Engineer Thakur Harsh Singh wrote, "Upload your pics, but keep personal ones safe! It's safe to use popular AI tools like GPT, Google, and Grok for your Ghibli imageassuming their claims are true. The only thing is, just be cautious with lesser-known AI image generators (especially from unknown sources/Chinese ), as you never know how they handle your data. This video is meant to raise awareness so that you avoid sharing personal data with AI models in the future. Right now, we dont have a model that can create an exact replica of your image, but soon we might. So, you DON'T NEED TO WORRY much about it. As per the speed at which AI is evolving. Its important to be cautious and think twice before uploading personal photos to any random AI tools. Secondly, You dont need thousands of images to train an AI model to generate custom images anymore! With recent advancements like DreamBooth Stable Diffusion , etc you can fine-tune AI models using just 10-12 images. These techniques allow AI to learn and recreate personalized images with minimal data. Be aware of how AI is evolving." Watch the video here: Not just Harsh, many activists have urged that OpenAIs data collection strategy is more than just an AI copyright issue. According to them, it allows the company to acquire voluntarily submitted images, bypassing legal restrictions that apply to web-scraped data. Under GDPR regulations, OpenAI must justify scraping images from the internet under the legal basis of legitimate interest, which means they must implement additional safeguards to protect user privacy and ensure compliance. This includes demonstrating that data collection is necessary, does not override individuals' rights, and follows strict transparency and accountability measures. In a lengthy X post, Luiza Jarovsky, co-founder of the AI, Tech & Privacy Academy, said when people voluntarily upload these images, they give their consent to OpenAI to process them (Article 6.1.a of the GDPR). This is a different legal ground that gives more freedom to OpenAI, and the legitimate interest balancing test no longer applies. Moreover, OpenAI's privacy policy explicitly states that the company collects personal data input by users to train its AI models when users haven't opted out, she wrote. Most people haven't realized that the Ghibli Effect is not only an AI copyright controversy but also OpenAI's PR trick to get access to thousands of new personal images; here's how: To get their own Ghibli (or Sesame Street) version, thousands of people are now voluntarily pic.twitter.com/zBktscNOSh Luiza Jarovsky (@LuizaJarovsky) March 29, 2025 Himachal Cyber Warriors, which claimed to be a team of cyber security experts, wrote: Think before you #Ghibli. That cute Ghibli-style selfie? It might cost more than you think. Your photo could be misused or manipulated. AI may train on it without your consent. Data brokers might sell it for targeted ads. Stay cyber smart. Your privacy matters." Think before you #Ghibli That cute Ghibli-style selfie? It might cost more than you think. Your photo could be misused or manipulated. AI may train on it without your consent. Data brokers might sell it for targeted ads. Stay cyber smart. Your privacy matters. pic.twitter.com/aEjT3sHtTN Himachal Cyber Warriors (@hpcyberwarriors) March 29, 2025 How to Secure your Biometric Information Be cautious before hopping on the next AI image trend, consider the risks. Check how to guard your privacy: Think twice before posting personal photos for AI-created images. Don't post high-resolution pics on social mediathey can be scraped for AI training. Instead of facial recognition, use PINs or passwords to unlock devices. Restrict camera access by checking which apps have access to it. (This article is intended for your general information only. Zee News does not vouch for its accuracy or reliability.) The United States President Donald Trump's threat of bombing and tariffs against Iran did not go well with Tehran. According to reports, the Iranian Army has reportedly readied missiles for a potential response to Washington. "Information received by the Tehran Times indicates that Iran's missiles are loaded onto launchers in all underground missile cities and are ready for launch. Opening the Pandora's box will come at a heavy cost for the US government and its allies," said Iranian army on X. Reports indicate that a significant number of launch-ready missiles have been found in underground facilities located throughout the country. On Sunday, Trump threatened Iran with bombings and secondary tariffs if Tehran did not reach an agreement with Washington regarding its nuclear program. In his first remarks since Iran rejected direct negotiations with Washington last week, Trump told NBC News that the US and Iranian officials were talking, but did not elaborate. "If they don't make a deal, there will be bombing," Trump said in a telephone interview. "It will be bombing the likes of which they have never seen before...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," he added. In response, Iran sent a letter to Trump through Oman, urging Tehran to reach a new nuclear deal, saying its policy was to not engage in direct negotiations with the US while under its maximum pressure campaign and military threats, Tehran's Foreign Minister was quoted as saying on Thursday. In the interview, Trump also threatened so-called secondary tariffs, which affect buyers of a country's goods, on both Russia and Iran. He signed an executive order last week authorising such tariffs on buyers of Venezuelan oil. Trump did not elaborate on those potential tariffs. In his first 2017-21 term, Trump withdrew the US from a 2015 deal between Iran and world powers that placed strict limits on Tehran's disputed nuclear activities in exchange for sanctions relief. Trump also reimposed sweeping US sanctions. Since then, the Islamic Republic has far surpassed the agreed limits in its escalating program of uranium enrichment. Tehran has so far rebuffed Trump's warning to make a deal or face military consequences. (With agency inputs) KYIV: US President Donald Trump has voiced anger at Russian President Vladimir Putin for comments he made about Ukraine and its president Volodymyr Zelenskyy. 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 Zelenskyy's credibility. Putin repeated his claim that Zelenskyy, whose term expired last year, lacks the legitimacy to sign a peace deal. Under Ukraine's constitution it is illegal for the country to hold national elections while it's under martial law. If a deal isn't made, and if I think it was Russia's fault, I'm going to put secondary sanctions on Russia, Trump told Kristen Welker, 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, he said. Nonetheless, Trump reiterated that he and Putin have a very good relationship. The US 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 US 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. Trump's comments on Putin come after weeks of intense pressure on Ukraine to agree to a ceasefire. Russian drones hit Ukraine's 2nd largest city Kharkiv Meanwhile, Russian drones hit a military hospital, shopping centre and apartment blocks in Ukraine's second-largest city of Kharkiv, killing two people and wounding dozens. Ukraine's 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 Kremlin's negotiating position in ceasefire talks. 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. Russia's 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 Ukraine's partly occupied Donetsk region. The Russian claim could not be independently verified, and Ukraine did not comment. Brazils JBS plans to build two meat factories in Vietnam with a total investment of $100m. Beef, pork and poultry products will be produced at the pair of sites, once operational, although the worlds largest meat processor said the facilities will mainly use raw materials imported from Brazil. The owner of global protein brands such as Friboi, Seara and Pilgrim's Pride added in a statement that the Vietnamese plants will supply the local market and others in South East Asia. JBS said the twin projects are expected to create around 500 jobs, with the production sites to be built in two phases. Under the first, a facility will be constructed in Khu cong nghiep Nam inh Vu located in the city of Hai Phong in north-east Vietnam. It will include a logistics centre with storage facilities, along with pre-processing, cutting and packaging activities. As part of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed with the Vietnamese government, the second site will be built in the south of the country in an unspecified location. It will be similar in operation to the first, with construction likely to start two years after production begins at the initial plant. Just Food has asked JBS to confirm what production presence the meat packer currently has in Vietnam and the wider South East Asia region, and for an idea of when the projects are due to get off the ground. JBS said in the statement that the two Vietnamese plants are intended to expand its presence in the region and also to strengthen its position in the global market. Renato Costa, the president of JBSs Friboi business, said: The new factories in Vietnam will not only be an expansion of production capacity, but an investment with purpose: to generate value for the local economy, create qualified jobs, contributing to food security throughout South-east Asia. We are investing in the future, with a focus on innovation, sustainability and development. JBS has recently announced other global investments to expand its capacity and reach. In February, $200m was earmarked for US beef production in the states of Texas and Colorado for plants located in Cactus and Greeley. A major investment was also announced at the back end of last year for Nigeria. JBS said it would spend $2.5bn on six meat-processing facilities in the African country over five years - three for poultry, two for beef and one for pork. Also last year, JBS announced the business would quadruple production in Saudi Arabia with a new chicken facility in Jeddah. The company also has a processing unit in the city of Dammam. We recently published a list of 10 Best Very Cheap Stocks to Buy According to Billionaires In this article, we are going to take a look at where JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM) stands against other best very cheap stocks to buy according to billionaires. Coming off 2 years of healthy broader market performance (~26% total return in 2023, ~25% in 2024), the US Bank Wealth Management believes that the S&P 500 valuations kicked off 2025 at elevated levels. In 2025, stocks continue to face a volatile environment, and in mid-March, the S&P 500 index witnessed a correction (a fall of 10% or more). Despite this, the indexs expected P/E ratio remains marginally above the historic 5-year and 10-year average, says the firm. As per Rob Haworth, senior investment strategy director, U.S. Bank Asset Management, its critical that, in 2025, earnings growth remains on track. Corporate Earnings Projections in 2025 US Bank Wealth Management believes that current market projections hint at the 11.5% S&P 500 earnings growth in 2025 versus the prior year. This number is subject to change. However, Terry Sandven, chief equity strategist for U.S. Bank Asset Management, mentioned that when considering the potential impact of tariffs and other issues, it is difficult to expect that 2025 earnings would meet the current projections. Haworth says that the impact of tariffs on company profits is expected to be mixed. Companies that are more dependent on importing goods manufactured overseas can witness more challenges. In comparison, the smaller companies, which are not as dependent on foreign trade, are expected to be better placed to mitigate the impact of the trade environment. Because they are not selling in the foreign markets and are not relying on foreign goods, smaller companies can have more pricing power, opines Haworth. This can equate to a healthier earnings picture. READ ALSO: 7 Best Stocks to Buy For Long-Term and 8 Cheap Jim Cramer Stocks to Invest In. Technology Sector Remains Well-Placed JPMorgan believes that uncertainty related to the trade and other factors of the US administrations policy agenda continue to lead to a wait and see attitude from businesses and households. Given that household and corporate balance sheets remain relatively healthy, this attitude is expected to be consistent with a slowness in the broader US activity rather than a recession. Coming to the technology sector, in most part, the balance sheets are in healthy shape, with valuations based on forward earnings sitting at a decent place, says JP Morgan. As per the investment firm, these valuations still demonstrate anticipations for very strong 20%+ earnings growth from the US technology sector in 2025. We came across a bullish thesis on Lam Research Corporation (LRCX) on Substack by Daan Rijnberk. In this article, we will summarize the bulls thesis on LRCX. Lam Research Corporation (LRCX)'s share was trading at $72.61 as of March 28th. LRCXs trailing and forward P/E were 22.07 and 17.54 respectively according to Yahoo Finance. Himax Technologies (HIMX) Joins Tata Electronics in Made in India Display and AI Sensing Push An aerial view of a modern fabrication center with equipment for producing semiconductor components. Lam Research (LRCX), the third-largest provider of semiconductor manufacturing equipment, presents a compelling long-term investment. Since its 2013 merger with Novellus, the company has demonstrated impressive growth, with revenue expanding at a 14% CAGR and EPS at 24% CAGR. This success is driven by increasing semiconductor complexity, market share gains, and disciplined capital allocation, including significant share buybacks. With a $96 billion market cap and $17 billion revenue run rate, Lam remains well-positioned for continued expansion. AI and high-performance computing trends are fueling demand for its core manufacturing processesDeposition, Etching, and Wafer Cleaningmaking it an essential supplier to TSMC, Intel, Samsung, and GlobalFoundries. Management forecasts low to mid-double-digit revenue growth and a high-teens EPS CAGR through 2028, outpacing the broader wafer fabrication equipment (WFE) industry. A key strength of Lams business is its Customer Support Business Group (CSBG), which generates recurring revenue from maintenance contracts and system upgrades. Since 2013, CSBG has grown at a 17% CAGR and remained resilient through industry downturns. In fiscal Q2, CSBG revenue rose 20% YoY to $1.8 billion, reflecting strong demand for equipment upgrades. With an installed base of 96,000 tools, this segment strengthens Lams cash flow generation. Lams financials highlight its capital efficiency. Gross margins reached 48.2%, the highest since the Novellus merger, while operating margins expanded from 15% in 2013 to over 30% today. In fiscal 2024, Lam returned nearly $4 billion to shareholders, allocating 98% of its free cash flow to dividends and buybacks. Over the past decade, it has retired 65% of its shares, contributing significantly to EPS growth. The semiconductor sector has outperformed over the past decade, with WFE spending growing 1.7x the rate of semiconductors. AI-driven demand is accelerating this trend, with an estimated $200 billion in WFE spending over the next five years for data center expansion. Lams core marketsetch and depositionare growing even faster, essential for AI-driven advancements like 3D NAND, high-bandwidth memory, and next-generation logic chips. WFE spending per leading-edge wafer has surged 20% over the past five years, with projections for another 50% increase. Since 2013, WFE spending has grown at an 11% CAGR, while Lams revenue has compounded at 14% annually. Looking ahead, Lam expects NAND SAM to grow 1.8x, DRAM SAM 1.7x, and foundry/logic SAM 2x, supported by innovations like gate-all-around transistors and backside power distribution. With a strong product portfolio, Lam is poised to outpace the broader WFE industry. TORONTO, ON / ACCESS Newswire / March 31, 2025 / Mongolia Growth Group Ltd. (the "Company") (TSX V:YAK), announced today that TSX Venture Exchange (the "Exchange") has accepted a Notice of Intention to renew its normal course issuer bid to purchase outstanding common shares of the Company on the open market in accordance with the policies of the TSXV. Pursuant to the NCIB, (the "Bid") the Company may acquire up to 1,700,000 common shares (representing up to approximately 6.64% of the 25,584,399 common shares of the Company currently issued and outstanding, or approximately 9.92% of the 17,138,649 common shares constituting the Company's current Public Float (as that term is defined in the policies of the Exchange) from time to time during the next 12 months. In accordance with the Policies of the Exchange, the maximum number of common shares that may be purchased under the Bid in any 30-day period may not exceed 2% of the issued and outstanding common shares of the Company when aggregated with all other common shares purchased under the Bid in the preceding 30 days. The Company is undertaking the Bid because, in the opinion of its board of directors, the market price of its common shares, from time to time, may not fully reflect the underlying value of its operations and future growth prospects. The Company believes that in such circumstances, the purchase of the common shares of the Company may represent an appropriate and desirable use of the Company's funds and further enhance market stability. The Company may, subject to market conditions, sell one or more of its investment properties to finance purchases under the Bid from time to time. From April 1, 2024 to March 31, 2025, the Company purchased 510,000 of its shares at an average price of $1.37 under its most recently expired NCIB. The Company has retained Research Capital Corporation of Toronto, Ontario as its broker Member for the purposes of conducting the bid. The Bid will commence on or about April 1, 2025 and the Bid will end no later than March 31, 2026. The common shares will be purchased for cancellation on the open market through the facilities of the Exchange, at market price. This transaction is subject to the TSX Venture Exchange approval. For further information please contact: Genevieve Walkden, Corporate Secretary 877-644-1186 GWalkden@MongoliaGrowthGroup.com This news release includes forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. All statements within, other than statements of historical fact, are to be considered forward looking. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include general economic, market and business conditions, the regulatory process and actions, regulator and corporate approvals, technical issues, new legislation, competitive and general economic factors and conditions, the uncertainties resulting from potential delays or changes in plans, the occurrence of unexpected events, and the Company's capability to execute and implement its future plans. Actual results may differ materially from those projected by management. There can be no assurances that such statements will prove accurate and, therefore, readers are advised to rely on their own evaluation of such uncertainties. We do not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to sell any securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available. We seek safe harbour. The News in Brief Monday, March 31, 2025 Georgia's Public Defender has expressed serious concerns over the arrest of opposition leader Elene Khoshtaria, citing allegations of mistreatment during her detention. The statement from the Public Defender's Office condemned the manner in which Khoshtaria was subjected to a full body search, describing it as "humiliating and degrading treatment.""During a full search by law enforcement officers, a person should not be required to undress different parts of the body at the same time - such a practice is humiliating and degrading treatment of a person," the statement reads.The Public Defender also highlighted that the treatment Khoshtaria allegedly faced contradicts official regulations. "Article 5 of the Internal Regulations of the Temporary Detention Centers of the Ministry of Internal Affairs stipulates that during a personal search, it is not permissible to completely undress a person being searched. Such treatment of women is particularly noteworthy," the statement emphasized.Despite these concerns, Khoshtaria refused to meet with a representative from the Public Defender's Office while in pre-trial detention on March 29. She also declined to engage with the office after her release."It should be noted that on March 29, in the pre-trial detention center, Elene Khoshtaria refused to meet with a representative of the Office. The Public Defender's representative contacted Elene Khoshtaria even after her release from the center, and she again refused to cooperate with the Office," the statement said.Nevertheless, the Public Defender's Office has announced that it will conduct its own independent investigation into the case. "The Public Defender's Office will study the case on its own initiative and will contact all relevant agencies for further action," the statement concluded.Georgia and China are set to deepen their financial ties after the National Bank of Georgia (NBG) and the People's Bank of China signed a memorandum of understanding to expand cooperation. The agreement, signed by NBG President Natia Turnava and Governor of the People's Bank of China, aims to strengthen trade, improve financial stability, and encourage collaboration in key banking sectors.According to the NBG, the memorandum lays the groundwork for joint efforts to tackle global financial challenges, reduce risks, and promote business relations between the two countries. "Our joint task is to make the banking sectors of the two countries more efficient and closer," Turnava said. "We plan to make the Georgian financial market more attractive for Chinese banks and representatives of the Chinese financial sector. It is welcome that the Chinese side has expressed great interest and desire for close cooperation with us."The agreement includes provisions for cooperation in monetary policy, financial technology, and payment systems. It also focuses on modernizing Georgia's financial infrastructure, particularly by improving the interconnection of payment systems to ensure faster and more secure international transactions."In addition, within the framework of cooperation, the NBG and the People's Bank of China will implement joint projects and promote the development of banking services between the two countries," the NBG said in a statement. Thomas Fuller / SOPA Images / LightRocket via Getty Images Key Takeaways The New York Stock Exchange launched its Texas exchange with its first listing by Trump Media & Technology Group. President Lynn Martin explained that the move would give companies the ability to capitalize on the "pro-business dynamics" in the Lone Star State. Trump Media & Technology Group will continue to have its primary listing on the NYSE in New York, with a dual listing in Texas. The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) has gone to Texas, and President Donald Trump's company has gone with it. The iconic equities trading operation owned by Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) announced it has opened NYSE Texas in Dallas with the first listing: Trump's social media firm, Trump Media & Technology Group, or TMTG (DJT). NYSE Texas is the first securities exchange to open in the Lone Star State, and NYSE Group President Lynn Martin said that the new offering "will allow companies to capitalize on the pro-business dynamics in Texas." Texas Is Home to Most NYSE-Listed Companies of Any State NYSE noted that Texas is home to more NYSE-listed companies than any other state, representing more than $3.7 trillion in aggregate market value. TMTG CEO Devin Nunes praised Texas' climate for business and entrepreneurship, adding that this listing "alongside our plans to reincorporate in Florida, shows we're part of a growing movement to take our business to states that value free enterprise and personal freedom." The stock will continue to be primarily listed on the New York-based NYSE, while being dually listed on NYSE Texas. Intercontinental Exchange shares hit an all-time high last week but lost ground today amid a broad selloff, as did those of Trump Media & Technology Group. TradingView Read the original article on Investopedia Fiji Airways adopts award-winning AAdvantage as its travel rewards programme FORT WORTH, Texas, March 31, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- oneworld alliance today welcomes Fiji Airways, the flag carrier of Fiji and the South Pacific, as its newest member airline, with a full suite of oneworld benefits available to customers around the world beginning 01 April 2025. Fiji Airways joins oneworld alliance Fiji Airways will provide top tier customers with a full suite of oneworld benefits as a full member airline: Access to a network of nearly 700 airport lounges globally, including recently opened one world branded lounges in Amsterdam's Schiphol and Seoul's Incheon airports Priority check-in and boarding Earning and redeeming miles Earning Tier Points "The introduction of Fiji Airways marks an important strategic step for our alliance as we connect even more people, places and experiences than ever before," said Nat Pieper, CEO of oneworld. "Fiji Airways customers will benefit from oneworld's global reach of more than 900 destinations, priority services and premium lounge access, and we're thrilled to welcome them to the oneworld family." Fiji Airways, with its hub at Nadi International Airport, serves 25 destinations in 14 countries and territories globally, including oneworld hubs in Hong Kong, Tokyo, Sydney and its newest global destination, Dallas-Fort Worth, further connecting the airline into the oneworld network. "Becoming a full member of the oneworld alliance is a proud and momentous milestone for Fiji Airways. This achievement reflects our commitment to providing world-class service and expanding our global reach, while showcasing the warmth and hospitality of Fiji to the world, said Andre Viljoen, Managing Director and CEO of Fiji Airways. "As a full member, we are excited to offer our customers even greater benefits and seamless connectivity across the extensive oneworld network. We look forward to welcoming more oneworld customers onboard to experience the beauty of Fiji and the exceptional service of Fiji Airways." Fiji Airways has also adopted the American Airlines award-winning AAdvantage travel rewards programme as their frequent flyer programme, ensuring its most frequent travellers can now enjoy all the benefits of oneworld alliance as AAdvantage members. Taking to the skies on 1st September 1951, Fiji Airways now boasts a fleet of 23 state-of-the art aircraft, including its flagship A350-900s, offering customers warm and welcoming Fijian hospitality on all flights. Fiji Airways continues to be recognised for its excellence, earning a Five Star Major Airline rating from APEX for the third consecutive year and multiple Skytrax 2024 awards, including Best Airline, Best Business Class Onboard Catering, and Best Cabin Crew in Australia/Pacific. As part of its oneworld integration, Fiji Link joins as an affiliate airline, further expanding the alliance's reach with domestic services across Fiji and regional connections to Tonga, Samoa, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu. LOUISVILLE, KY The Playbook, a newly launched knowledge hub and support platform for small fleets and owner-operators, made a powerful first appearance at the Mid-America Trucking Show (MATS) this weekend, offering a fresh, on-the-ground perspective and leaving a lasting impression on the industry. Throughout the three-day event, The Playbook team handed out over 500 copies of its inaugural Small Carrier Almanac, a quarterly publication packed with insights, tools, and planning guidance tailored to small trucking businesses. Designed to meet carriers where they are in the cab, on the yard, or in the trenches the almanac quickly became a must-have resource. But it wasnt just about the giveaway; hundreds of fleet owners and independent drivers stopped by the booth, hungry for deeper conversation about business growth, operational knowledge, and elevating their position in the supply chain. We had incredible conversations with real people who are rethinking how they run their trucking businesses, said Adam L. Wingfield, co-creator of The Playbook. Theres a movement happening, and were proud to help lead it. Flatbed Momentum and Market Shifts Many of those conversations came from flatbed operators, who reported a notable spike in rates a sentiment supported by recent tender rejection data and the surge in front-loading freight ahead of pending tariffs. One flatbedder from Texas noted, Its the best its looked in months. The urgency in the market is finally shifting in our favor. This wasnt just anecdotal. The conversations at MATS showed a growing awareness of macroeconomic movements and how data-backed insights like those found in The Playbooks resources can help carriers make smarter, more strategic decisions. Brokers Breaking the Mold Surprisingly, brokers were not shy about stepping into the spotlight either. One broker from New Jersey, who specializes in hazmat tanker freight, proudly shared that she pays her small fleets and owner-operators between $3.80 and $5.50 per mile well above the national average. Its simple, she said. If you want quality service, youve got to pay what theyre worth. We dont cut corners, and we dont nickel and dime the people who keep the wheels turning. This approach reflects a quiet but powerful trend: a segment of brokers redefining the transactional reputation of freight brokerage by investing in long-term relationships and transparency. Trust Over Transactions That same theme carried into another notable moment, a conversation with a shipper attending MATS for the very first time. Her goal was simple and refreshing: I came here to find a carrier face to face that I can really trust, she said. Palantir Technologies stock has been on a monster run since going public in 2020, with shares up close to 1,000%. I am here to tell you the stock is now overvalued. Shares of Palantir currently trade at a trailing price-to-sales (P/S) ratio of 79. No matter how fast the company grows its artificial intelligence (AI) services, the stock will take decades to catch up to this extreme valuation. If not Palantir, which AI stocks are set up for success over the next few years? One of my top choices is Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (NYSE: TSM). Known simply as TSMC, the manufacturer of computer chips can help set investors up for life who buy today. Here's why. The backbone of AI computer chip development The leading AI chipmaker is Nvidia, with over $100 billion in annual revenue in 2024. However, Nvidia doesn't make its own computer chips. It leaves the dirty work to TSMC, which is a third-party provider of manufacturing and assembly for semiconductors, and the leading player in this space by a wide margin. Without TSMC, Nvidia would not be able to sell its advanced AI chips at its current scale. Rapid growth in spending on AI computer chips has led to an increase in demand for TSMC's factories, which are pumping out chips as fast as they reasonably can. Revenue grew to $90 billion on the back of this increase in demand, with revenue from TSMC's High-Performance Computing segment growing a blistering 58% year over year in 2024. Management expects this growth to continue in 2025. Over half of TSMC's revenue now comes from cloud and AI customers, with the company taking market share from semiconductor manufacturing competitors such as Intel. This is is a nice growth runway that could help accelerate consolidated revenue growth this year. Long runway for growth, geographical diversification The long-term looks even sweeter for TSMC. Demand for AI computer chips, cloud computing, and other semiconductor-intensive activities keeps growing, while the overall chip market is expected to reach $1 trillion in annual sales by 2030. Analysts and other industry players such as ASML believe that 40% of revenue will come from AI computer chips by 2030, or $400 billion in annual sales. Not all of these sales will flow to TSMC, but they should provide a fantastic long-term tailwind for the leader in the space. I expect TSMC's revenue to surpass $100 billion in 2025 and keep marching higher for the rest of the decade. Management at TSMC has a history of thinking for the long haul to help create a more robust business. Today, it is working to diversify its geographical footprint for its manufacturing facilities, which are now centered in Taiwan. Taiwan is under threat from China, which keeps stating it will reclaim the island and regularly practices amphibious invasions of the nation. TSMC can't control what China does, but it can prepare for any dour scenario if it actually occurs. The company has built a factory in the United States and plans to spend a total of $165 billion building manufacturing plants in the country. The Company is currently focused on landowner mapping and community engagement with the intention of commencing on-ground exploration that prioritizes additional discoveries of high-grade skarn and Porgera-style gold. The Company remains committed to responsible exploration, ensuring that all activities are conducted in a safe, ethical, and environmentally sustainable manner. Most recently, results from the latest targeting exercise (see October 1, 2024, press release ) have revealed 10 new exploration targets proximal to the Central Porphyry with at least three mineralization styles identified (see Figure 1), including bulk-tonnage copper-rich targets (Ieru Porphyry), Porgera-style gold-rich targets (Ridge Gold Area), and high grade skarn as evidenced by historical drilling that returned 12.98% Cu, 11.75 g/t Au and 21.07 g/t Ag over 7.8 m within 54 m @ 2.1% Cu, 1.82 g/t Au, 3.87 g/t Ag (from 878 m depth down hole) 2 . With road access to the tenement and a nearby airfield, the Project is situated in the Western Highlands of Papua New Guinea within the world-class producing Papuan Fold Belt and just 40 km west of Barrick/Zijin's Porgera Gold Mine and only 20 km northwest of the Mt. Kare Project, a historic gold mine. The Project was acquired from Harmony Gold Exploration Limited (" Harmony Gold ") in 2023, having completed extensive exploration in and around a copper porphyry deposit (the " Central Porphyry "). This included extensive diamond drilling of approximately 36,000 m at an estimated cost if US$20 million within the deposit. The Warden's Hearing for EL 2310, which is a mandatory part of the renewal process for all exploration licenses in Papua New Guinea, took place on March 11, 2025, with principal landowners present. The meeting was conducted by senior Mineral Resources Authority Mining Warden Mr. Kopi Wapa and attended by community stakeholders and landowners who were supportive of EL 2310's renewal and plans for exploration programs under new SPMC management. Renewals of exploration licenses are for two-year terms. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 31, 2025) - South Pacific Metals Corp. (TSXV: SPMC) (OTCQB: SPMEF) (FSE: 6J00) (" SPMC " or the " Company ") is pleased to report the successful completion of the Warden's Hearing for the renewal of Exploration License EL 2310, covering the 253 km 2 concession comprising the Kili Teke Copper-Gold Project (the " Project "), located in Papua New Guinea. The Project currently hosts an Inferred Mineral Resource defined on only a portion of the system: the Central Porphyry hosts 1.81 Moz Au, 802 kt Cu & 40 kt Mo contained metal, in 237 Mt at 0.34% cu, 0.24 g/t Au &, 168 ppm Mo 1 (see January 12, 2023, press release and technical report available on SEDAR+ under the Company's profile at www.sedarplus.ca ). Story Continues Figure 1: Map illustrating the Kili Teke Cu-Au Porphyry Complex, recently identified sub-surface targets and the 2.5 km x 1.5 km Au-Te-As surface geochemical footprint. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10890/246516_db4e4fe4d4dfd995_001full.jpg About the Kili Teke Project The Kili Teke Project consists of a 253 km2 land package located approximately 40 km west of the Porgera Gold Mine, in the Western Highlands of Papua New Guinea. The Project is 100% owned by the Company and was acquired from Harmony Gold in late 2023. The majority of the previous exploration work completed by Harmony Gold focused on advancing the Central Porphyry to resource stage. This deposit hosts an Inferred Mineral Resource of 1.81 Moz Au, 802 kt Cu & 40 kt Mo contained metal, in 237 Mt at 0.34% cu, 0.24 g/t Au &, 168 ppm Mo1. Harmony Gold also conducted regional exploration on the wider intrusive complex including mapping, rock chips, soil geochemistry, airborne geophysics (magnetics and radiometrics) and a small amount of trenching and drilling. There remains exciting potential for further Cu-Au porphyry, skarn and alkalic-epithermal mineralization on the Project. Qualified Person The scientific and technical information disclosed in this release has been reviewed and approved by Darren Holden, Ph.D., FAusIMM, a "Qualified Person" as defined under the Canadian Institute of Mining National Instrument 43-101, 2014 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. Dr. Holden is a Technical Advisor to the Company. About South Pacific Metals Corp. South Pacific Metals Corp. is an emerging gold-copper exploration company operating across Papua New Guinea's proven gold and copper production corridors. With an expansive 3,100 km land package and four transformative gold-copper projects contiguous with major producers K92 Mining, PanAust and neighbouring Barrick/Zijin, new leadership and experienced in-country teams are prioritizing thoughtful and rigorous technical programs focused on boots-on-the-ground exploration to prioritize discovery across its portfolio projects: Anga, Osena, Kili Teke, and May River. Immediately flanking K92's active drilling and gold producing operations to the northeast and southwest, SPMC's Anga and Osena Projects are located within the high-grade Kainantu Gold District - each having the potential to host similar-style lode-gold and porphyry copper-gold mineralization as that present within K92's tenements. Kili Teke is an advanced exploration project situated only 40 km from the world-class Porgera Gold Mine and hosts an existing Inferred Mineral Resource with multiple opportunities for expansion and further discovery. The May River Project is located adjacent to the world-renowned Frieda River copper-gold project, with historical drilling indicating potential for a significant, untapped-gold mineralized system. SPMC common shares are listed on the TSX Venture Exchange (TSXV: SPMC), the OTCQB Marketplace (OTCQB: SPMEF) and Frankfurt Stock Exchange (FSE: 6J00). For further information please contact: Michael Murphy, Executive Chair or Investor Relations South Pacific Metals Corp. Tel: +1-604-653-9464 Email: info@southpacificmetals.ca Neither the TSX-V nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX-V) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Disclaimer and Forward-Looking Information Statements contained in this release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements that involve various risks and uncertainty affecting the business of SPMC. In making the forward-looking statements, SPMC has applied certain assumptions that are based on information available to the Company, including SPMC's strategic plan for the near and mid-term. There is no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Forward-looking statements may involve various risks and uncertainty affecting the business of the Company. These forward-looking statements can generally be identified as such because of the context of the statements, including such words as "believes", "anticipates", "expects", "plans", "may", "estimates", or words of a similar nature. Forward-looking statements or information in this news release relate to, among other things, future exploration or development programs, and any results therefrom and effect thereof. These forward-looking statements and information reflect the Company's current views with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions that, while considered reasonable by the Company, are inherently subject to significant operational, business, economic, regulatory or other unforeseen uncertainties and contingencies. These assumptions include, without limitation: success of the Company's projects, prices for metals remaining as estimated, currency exchange rates remaining as estimated, availability of funds for the Company's projects, capital, decommissioning and reclamation estimates, prices for energy inputs, labour, materials, supplies and services (including transportation), no labour-related disruptions, no unplanned delays or interruptions in scheduled construction and production, all necessary permits, licenses and regulatory approvals are received in a timely manner, and the ability to comply with environmental, health and safety laws. The foregoing list of assumptions is not exhaustive. The Company cautions the reader that forward-looking statements and information involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results and developments to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or information contained in this news release and the Company has made assumptions and estimates based on or related to many of these factors. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Such factors include, without limitation: fluctuations in gold prices, fluctuations in prices for energy inputs, labour, materials, supplies and services (including transportation), fluctuations in currency markets (such as the Canadian dollar versus the U.S. dollar), operational risks and hazards inherent with the business of mineral exploration, inadequate insurance, or inability to obtain insurance, to cover these risks and hazards, the Company's ability to obtain all necessary permits, licenses and regulatory approvals in a timely manner, changes in laws, regulations and government practices, including environmental, export and import laws and regulations, legal restrictions relating to mineral exploration, increased competition in the mining industry for equipment and qualified personnel, the availability of additional capital, title matters and the additional risks identified in the Company's filings with Canadian securities regulators on SEDAR+ (available at www.sedarplus.ca). Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated, described, or intended. Investors are cautioned against undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and, except as required under applicable securities legislation, the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances. Mineralization hosted on adjacent and/or nearby properties is not necessarily indicative of mineralization hosted on the Company's property. 1For more information on the Kili Teke mineral resource please refer to the independent National Instrument 43-101 Technical Report for the Kili Teke Cu-Au Project, Papua New Guinea, prepared by Graeme J Fleming, B. App. Sc., MAIG, and dated 18 November 2022. Mr. Fleming is a qualified person under NI 43-101 and is an independent consultant to the Company. Reference should be made to the full text of the Technical Report, which is available for review on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. 2 Refer to Harmony Gold news release dated April 13, 2016 To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/246516 We recently published a list of 10 Best Very Cheap Stocks to Buy According to Billionaires In this article, we are going to take a look at where Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (NYSE:TSM) stands against other best very cheap stocks to buy according to billionaires. Coming off 2 years of healthy broader market performance (~26% total return in 2023, ~25% in 2024), the US Bank Wealth Management believes that the S&P 500 valuations kicked off 2025 at elevated levels. In 2025, stocks continue to face a volatile environment, and in mid-March, the S&P 500 index witnessed a correction (a fall of 10% or more). Despite this, the indexs expected P/E ratio remains marginally above the historic 5-year and 10-year average, says the firm. As per Rob Haworth, senior investment strategy director, U.S. Bank Asset Management, its critical that, in 2025, earnings growth remains on track. Corporate Earnings Projections in 2025 US Bank Wealth Management believes that current market projections hint at the 11.5% S&P 500 earnings growth in 2025 versus the prior year. This number is subject to change. However, Terry Sandven, chief equity strategist for U.S. Bank Asset Management, mentioned that when considering the potential impact of tariffs and other issues, it is difficult to expect that 2025 earnings would meet the current projections. Haworth says that the impact of tariffs on company profits is expected to be mixed. Companies that are more dependent on importing goods manufactured overseas can witness more challenges. In comparison, the smaller companies, which are not as dependent on foreign trade, are expected to be better placed to mitigate the impact of the trade environment. Because they are not selling in the foreign markets and are not relying on foreign goods, smaller companies can have more pricing power, opines Haworth. This can equate to a healthier earnings picture. READ ALSO: 7 Best Stocks to Buy For Long-Term and 8 Cheap Jim Cramer Stocks to Invest In. Technology Sector Remains Well-Placed JPMorgan believes that uncertainty related to the trade and other factors of the US administrations policy agenda continue to lead to a wait and see attitude from businesses and households. Given that household and corporate balance sheets remain relatively healthy, this attitude is expected to be consistent with a slowness in the broader US activity rather than a recession. Coming to the technology sector, in most part, the balance sheets are in healthy shape, with valuations based on forward earnings sitting at a decent place, says JP Morgan. As per the investment firm, these valuations still demonstrate anticipations for very strong 20%+ earnings growth from the US technology sector in 2025. By Anton Bridge and Miho Uranaka TOKYO (Reuters) - Japanese banks may need to offer business turnaround support to companies hit by tariffs imposed by the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump, the head of the country's banking lobby said. Many large Japanese firms, including major exporters and manufacturers, are grappling with U.S. duties on imports of steel and aluminium and a 25% tariff on imported cars and light trucks starting this week. "We think tariffs could lead to a deterioration in corporate earnings," the new chair of the Japan Banks Association, Junichi Hanzawa, told Reuters in an interview. "We will have to ascertain whether this weighs on employment and salaries and then become a burden for companies' and households' repayments," Hanzawa added. Almost 90% of Japanese companies see the Trump administration as bad for business, with the majority of these pointing to trade policy including tariffs as the most detrimental factor, a Reuters poll showed in February. On top of their usual financing, bank customers may also need turnaround support, Hanzawa added. Hanzawa also said that Japans banks and companies remained committed to decarbonisation efforts despite the withdrawal of several major banks from the Net Zero Banking Alliance decarbonisation framework. Following the departure of Wall Street banks from the framework, Japanese signatories including Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group and Norinchukin Bank have pulled out in the past month. "We don't see recent moves as connected to a change in Japanese banks' fundamental principles about responding to climate change," Hanzawa said. Hanzawa is also chief executive of MUFG's banking arm, MUFG Bank. "It was a very good framework for sending out information, but with the withdrawal of major U.S. and Canadian banks it has lost influence," Hanzawa said of MUFG's withdrawal. MUFG has no intention of altering its existing commitments and strategy on carbon neutrality, Hanzawa said. (Reporting by Anton Bridge and Miho Uranaka; Editing by Kate Mayberry) We recently published a list of Billionaire Ken Fishers Top 13 Growth Stock Picks. In this article, we are going to take a look at where Visa Inc. (NYSE:V) stands against other billionaire Ken Fishers top growth stock picks. Who am I to tell you anything, much less anything that counts? Or that there are only three questions that count and I know what they are? Why should you bother reading any of this? Why listen to me at all? This is the opening paragraph in one of Kenneth Lawrence Fishers books, The Only Three Questions That Count: Investing by Knowing What Others Dont. Fisher has over ten books to his name, but that is not why investors pay attention to what he has to say whenever he says it. Known to many as Ken Fisher, the 74-year-old is ranked at position 212 in the latest Forbes Billionaires list (as of March 11, 2025). This is thanks to the $11.2 billion of wealth he has amassed through Fisher Investments, a firm that has more than $270 billion in assets under management. Fisher has a lot to say about the market, and he is an active commentator on current events. As youd expect, he had something to say about Trumps tariffs. On Tuesday, March 11, 2025, President Trump doubled down on tariff talks, threatening to double the planned tariff on Canada-imported aluminum and steel to 50%. He said the levies would be effected in 24 hours and that if Canada doesnt play ball, he would set tariffs on cars from Canada so high that they would permanently shut down the Canadian car industry, the New York Times reported. READ ALSO: Top 10 Blue Chip AI Stocks to Buy According to Billionaire Cliff Asness and Cathie Woods Top 12 AI Stock Picks in 2025. President Trump has given four reasons for the tiff with Canada. On raising tariffs on Canadian aluminum and steel, the president argued that the move is a response to Ontario bumping up prices on the electricity exported to the United States. He has also mentioned concerns about fentanyl trafficking, high levies on dairy imports, and that the tariffs are the current administrations broader strategy to use economic leverage to address national security concerns and promote domestic manufacturing. Fisher agrees with President Trump but only as far as the tariffs are negotiating tools. In a recent video posted on YouTube, he explains that tariffs are rarely fully enforced and argues that the actual impact of tariffs is often much smaller than people fear. The levies might be set at, say, 10-15%, but the real cost impact on goods is usually around 1.5%. He also emphasizes that markets often overreact to tariff announcements, causing unnecessary fear and volatility. By Marie Mannes and Nick Carey STOCKHOLM/LONDON (Reuters) -Volvo Car's abrupt decision to tap Hakan Samuelsson as its CEO puts the car industry veteran back in charge of steering the automaker through U.S. President Donald Trump's tariff turbulence and a wobbly transition to electric cars, analysts and investors said. Samuelsson, who led the Swedish automaker for a decade from 2012 to 2022, helped to revitalise the Volvo brand and oversaw the company's initial public offering in 2021 on the Stockholm Stock Exchange. He was also running Volvo during Trump's first term, during which the company built a car assembly plant in South Carolina, a move that could prove crucial if Trump goes ahead and slaps 25% tariffs on U.S. car imports on Wednesday. His car industry background contrasts with outgoing CEO Jim Rowan, who joined in 2022 from Dyson without any car industry experience. Rowan was an unconventional choice with a three-decade career in the consumer and technology sectors. But at the time, the automaker said Rowan's experience of digitalisation, disruption, innovation, engineering and supply chains would be valuable. Volvo Cars board Chair Eric Li, also known as Li Shufu, said Samuelsson's experience was exactly what was needed as the car industry was entering a more complex phase. "We know Hakan Samuelsson as a very knowledgeable and experienced leader in the industry," Carina Silberg, head of Governance and ESG at Alecta, the fifth largest shareholder in Volvo Cars, said. Sverre Linton, chief legal officer of the Swedish Shareholder's Association, which represents small shareholders in Volvo, said: "But ... Samuelsson is not a wizard, he also needs the help of a solid strategy in which the board plays a central role creating." Other investors and analysts said in research notes and interviews with Reuters that they were surprised by the news, but echoed the view that it was Volvo going back to its roots. Samuelsson, 74, has been appointed for a two-year stint while the company searches for a long-term replacement. Volvo's shares, which are down almost 70% since the group's 2021 listing, fell slightly on Monday, hitting a new all-time low although the move was in line with the wider market in Stockholm, which was down nearly 2%. "For me it was kind of unexpected, the share price has clearly underperformed the automotive industry, but on the other side operationally, the company has done better," said Handelsbanken analyst Hampus Engellau. The return of Samuelsson to the helm of Volvo also comes at a challenging time for the Swedish automaker's owner, China's Geely, which owns 78.7% of Volvo's stock. The investment firm opines that the total return opportunity for REITs remains compelling. The listed real estate provides a ~4% dividend yield, which remains competitive versus private real estate income. This dividend continues to grow and is based on the conservative payout level. Amidst moderating central bank target rates as well as range-bound long-term yields, the firm believes that listed real estate is expected to prosper. CBRE Investment Management sees earnings accelerating into 2025 across the real estate sectors. Globally, it expects 5% earnings growth, which is around double that of 2024 levels. Broad-based strength remains visible, with private-pay senior housing continuing to capitalize on powerful demographics and data center growth accelerating with generative AI. Also, the cell towers continue to gradually recover from customer churn, and retail and net leases have been performing, thanks to supply/demand and their prevailing capital costs. CBRE Investment Management believes that a new cycle for listed real estate kicked off in Q4 2023 with the recognition of a pause in the rate hikes. The absence of hikes is expected to be powerful for listed real estate, even though there isnt a strong fall in target rates themselves. Notably, real estate has performed well during periods of range-bound long-term yields. Over 2001-2007, the US 10-year bonds delivered between ~4% 5%, and listed real estate managed to generate double-digit average returns. The investment firm also added that strong access to capital of listed real estate, versus more constrained private real estate participants, can be maintained moving forward. In 2025, CBRE Investment Management sees the potential for global listed real estate to outperform broad equities and offer a differentiated total return as compared to the private markets. As per the firm, the listed real estate remains in the early days of a new upcycle, one where long-term yields remain range-bound, earnings continue to accelerate, listed capital market access remains abundant, and valuations can aid continued returns. In 2025, the listed real estate is expected to be characterized by accelerating organic earnings based on improved supply/demand throughout various sectors and access to capital supporting potential acquisitions and upside to estimates, among others. We recently published a list of 10 Best Real Estate Stocks to Buy According to Billionaires . In this article, we are going to take a look at where Welltower Inc. (NYSE:WELL) stands against other best real estate stocks to buy according to billionaires. Story Continues Our Methodology We used the Finviz stock screener and Insider Monkeys exclusive database of billionaire stock holdings to shortlist the companies catering to the broader real estate sector. We also mentioned the hedge fund sentiment around each stock, as of Q4 2024. 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). Is Welltower Inc. (WELL) the Best Real Estate Stock to Buy According to Billionaires? A real estate broker standing in front of an outpatient medical property. Welltower Inc. (NYSE:WELL) Number of Billionaire Investors: 8 Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 44 Welltower Inc. (NYSE:WELL) is the worlds pre-eminent residential wellness and healthcare infrastructure company. Wells Fargo upped the price objective on the companys stock to $158 from $140, keeping an Equal Weight rating. The firm noted that it announced a large portfolio acquisition with Amica, demonstrating the continued opportunities in the senior housing transaction market. Welltower Inc. (NYSE:WELL) highlighted that the communities will join the top echelons of the Welltower portfolio, demonstrated by their location in the most desirable neighbourhoods in all of Canada and their ultra-luxe amenities and finishes. Amidst rapidly growing demand and limited new supply, Welltower Inc. (NYSE:WELL) expects the portfolio to drive outsized revenue and cash flow growth over the upcoming years. The stable Amica assets have showcased strong pricing power with RevPOR growth even surpassing Welltower Inc. (NYSE:WELL)s overall SHO portfolio over the previous 5 years. Elsewhere, Scotiabank analyst Nicholas Yulico upped the price objective to $166 from $165, keeping an Outperform rating. The analyst opines that the companys C$4.6 billion Amica Senior Lifestyles Canadian portfolio acquisition reflected its ability to get top-notch-quality senior housing portfolios at an attractive discount. Baron Funds, an investment management company, released its Q3 2024 investor letter. Here is what the fund said: We initiated a new position in Welltower Inc. (NYSE:WELL), which owns and operates senior housing and medical office buildings in the U.S. and internationally. We believe that operating fundamentals in the senior housing industry will continue to be robust, and Welltower is well positioned to capture both a cyclical and secular inflection in growth during the coming years. If occupancy of the companys units were to return to levels achieved before the pandemic, we believe that senior housing cash flow would grow by more than 50%. In addition, we believe that there is further structural upside opportunity to both occupancy and operating margins by enhancing asset management, employing proprietary data analytics, and introducing initiatives such as amenity-based pricing. We recently met with the entire Welltower executive team in our offices and came away encouraged by the multi-dimensional growth opportunities ahead. Welltower has recruited top senior executives from the multi-family housing market to execute and deploy various initiatives that they believe can drive profitability beyond what other industry participants have achieved. Overall, WELL ranks 10th on our list of best real estate stocks to buy according to billionaires. While we acknowledge the potential of WELL as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some deeply undervalued AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns, and doing so within a shorter time frame. If you are looking for a deeply undervalued AI stock that is more promising than WELL 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. Business decision makers will come together to learn about new technologies and share best practices to ignite the future of health and benefits PORTLAND, Maine, March 31, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--WEX (NYSE: WEX), the global commerce platform that simplifies the business of running a business, welcomes business decision makers, industry leaders, and partners across the health and benefits space in San Diego starting March 31 through April 3 for WEX SPARK Health & Benefits 2025, a premier event for the health and benefits industry. Now returning with a dedicated agenda for healthcare industry professionals for the first time in three years, the annual learning and networking event features expert keynote speakers, panel discussions, and hands-on workshops designed to help attendees navigate the evolving landscape of employee benefits and discover the latest innovations impacting the future of benefits technology. Keynote and breakout sessions will center around the following: Leveraging AI-driven insights to help employees make smarter benefits decisions, provide personalized recommendations, guide more informed healthcare spending, and drive greater contributions to their accounts. Simplifying the reimbursement process for FSAs, HRAs, and HSAs through advanced automation, as well as breaking down studies around how consumers perceive and utilize HSAs and their unique challenges with their overall benefits experience. Enhancing fraud detection and compliance to strengthen security. Diving into policy objectives of the new administration and Congress and the implications for the health and benefits industrys markets and businesses. "We are excited and honored to bring our partners together to learn, network, share, and celebrate as collectively we ignite the future of health and benefits," said Robert Deshaies, Chief Operating Officer of Health & Benefits at WEX. "SPARK empowers attendees to grow their businesses and reshape the benefits experience through AI, data-driven insights, streamlined processes, and intuitive technology, all of which ultimately leads to employers being able to help their employees lead happier and healthier lives." Other key highlights and events taking place at WEX SPARK Health & Benefits include: Right off the bat, it should be noted that Archer Aviation (NYSE: ACHR) should be thought of as a risky investment that only aggressive investors will want to consider. But if the company can successfully execute one of its key 2025 initiatives, Archer could prove that its business concept has a long-term future. Here's why you'll want to pay attention to where Archer Aviation is in one year if you are interested in this upstart airplane maker. What does Archer Aviation do? A cynic might say Archer Aviation loses money. It, in fact, did that extremely well in 2024, posting red ink of more than half a billion dollars on the bottom line of its income statement. On a per-share basis, that amounted to a loss of $1.42, which was an improvement over 2023's $1.69 per-share loss. Don't get too excited by that, however, because the absolute loss was worse. The per-share loss was reduced because it was spread over more shares. Image source: Getty Images. That's not unusual for a start-up company, especially one attempting to build a capital-intensive business from scratch. It gets even harder when you add that Archer Aviation is attempting to create a product that doesn't exist in a highly regulated industry. In fact, even if management executes at the top of its game, the red ink will likely continue for years. Capital to fund the investment is vital, and stock sales are an effective means to raise it, even if it ends up diluting current shareholders. But what, exactly, is Archer Aviation attempting to do? The company has built a vertical-lift, short-haul electric aircraft. For lack of a better description, it is an air taxi intended to move a small number of people over short distances. The early goal is to do this in congested cities, where flying over traffic will result in material time savings. Archer Aviation has a prototype and is working toward Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approval. This is likely to be a multiyear, expensive effort. In 2025, the company is building 10 of its vehicles, a number of which will be used just for testing. Even though it is a necessary expense, every test vehicle is just more money out the door. There's a key test of the company's business in 2025 But not all of those 10 aircraft will be used for FAA testing. Archer Aviation has inked a deal with Abu Dhabi Aviation (ADA) to launch the first air taxi service using the company's aircraft. It is important for Archer Aviation to get regulatory approval in the United States, of course. But the Abu Dhabi air taxi service is the first real test of the entire air taxi concept. Kraken : The SEC told Kraken it would drop its case against the exchange alleging it violated securities laws and commingled customer and corporate funds earlier this month. A joint stipulation dismissing the case was filed on March 27, though a judge does not appear to have signed off just yet. ConsenSys : The SEC said it would drop its case against ConsenSys over the MetaMask wallet, CEO Joe Lubin said last month, and a joint stipulation dismissing the case with prejudice was filed on March 27. A court docket entry dated March 28 said the civil case was terminated. Coinbase : Coinbase announced last month it had reached an agreement with the SEC to drop the regulator's ongoing case against it. The SEC filed to withdraw the case with prejudice meaning it cannot bring the same charges again and a judge signed off on the withdrawal at the end of February. The SEC alleged that Solana (SOL), Cardano (ADA), Polygon (MATIC), Sandbox (SAND), Filecoin (FIL), Axie Infinity (AXS), Chiliz (CHZ), Flow (FLOW), Internet Computer (ICP), Near (NEAR), Voyager (VGX), Dash (DASH) and Nexo (NEXO) all appeared to be traded as securities in its initial lawsuit. Ripple : Ripple announced it had reached an agreement with the SEC to drop both the SEC's appeal of a federal judge's 2023 ruling and RIpple's cross-appeal. Ripple will receive back $75 million of the $125 million fine it was assessed by a federal judge. The agreement does not yet appear to be on the public court docket. The crypto industry argued the SEC was "regulating by enforcement" under former Chair Gary Gensler. Some of these cases and investigations had been going on for years. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission appears to have closed almost all of its outstanding crypto-related cases at least the publicly disclosed ones in the last two months since Mark Uyeda took over as acting chair of the agency. In many of the court filings, the SEC argued that it needs to pull these cases while the regulator's new crypto task force reassesses how exactly it applies securities laws to digital assets, though in at least some of these cases the SEC is leaving itself no recourse to sue again should it find some cryptos from previously active suits are indeed securities. Youre reading State of Crypto, a CoinDesk newsletter looking at the intersection of cryptocurrency and government. Click here to sign up for future editions. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has dropped or paused over a dozen ongoing cases (and lost one) since U.S. President Donald Trump retook office just over two months ago and appointed Commissioner Mark Uyeda as acting chair. Story Continues Cumberland DRW: The SEC told Cumberland DRW it would drop its case alleging it was acting as an unregistered securities dealer earlier this month. The SEC and Cumberland filed a motion to stay proceedings on March 18, saying "the parties have agreed in principle to dismiss this litigation with prejudice" but needed three weeks to work out the details. The judge overseeing the case granted the motion, ordering the parties to file a joint status report by April 8 unless the dismissal filing is on the docket by then. Pulsechain: A federal judge dismissed the SEC's suit against Pulsechain and HEX, saying the agency did not plausibly show that the project targeted U.S. investors and that it had jurisdiction over the case. The SEC has until April 21 to file an amended complaint. Immutable: The SEC told Immutable Labs it closed its investigation into the Web3 gaming firm, it said earlier this week. Yuga Labs: The SEC closed its investigation into Yuga Labs, the NFT firm said earlier this month. Robinhood: The SEC told trading platform Robinhood it closed its investigation into the company, it said late last month. OpenSea: The SEC closed its investigation into OpenSea, the NFT marketplace's CEO said late last month. Uniswap: The SEC closed its investigation into Uniswap Labs, the firm announced last month. Gemini: The SEC closed its investigation into Gemini, co-founder Cameron Winklevoss said last month. Binance: The SEC and Binance (alongside the various affiliated parties/co-defendants) filed to pause the regulator's case for 60 days in early February. The judge overseeing the case paused the case until April 14, ordering the parties to file a joint status report by then. The SEC alleged commingling violations alongside securities law violations, as well as allowing U.S. persons to trade on the global platform. Tron Foundation: The SEC and the Tron Foundation (alongside the various affiliated parties/co-defendants named) filed to pause the SEC's case for 60 days in late February. The judge overseeing the case granted the motion, which should bring the new deadline to around April 27 (a Sunday). The SEC alleged market manipulation and fraud, alongside securities law-related registration violations. Crypto.com: Crypto.com announced on March 27 that the SEC had closed its case into the crypto exchange and would not take any enforcement action. Trump Media, the company behind Truth Social, is also partnering with the exchange to issue exchange-traded products. Unicoin: Unicoin appears to be the only publicly-disclosed ongoing investigation by the SEC, though its CEO has asked the agency to close that investigation as well. HAWK: On Thursday, Haliey Welch, whose "HAWK" token appeared to pump and dump (falling from a $491 million market cap to under $100 million within minutes) when it launched last year, told TMZ that the SEC had closed its investigation into her as well. Stories you may have missed Trump-Backed World Liberty Financial Confirms Dollar Stablecoin Plans With BitGo: World Liberty Financial is launching USD1, a stablecoin, on the Ethereum and BNB Chain networks. Trump Media Wants to Partner with Crypto.Com for ETP Issuance: Trump Media, the company behind the Truth Social social network, wants to launch crypto exchange-traded products with Crypto.com. U.S. House Stablecoin Bill Poised to Go Public, Lawmaker Atop Crypto Panel Says: The House's latest stablecoin bill draft more closely aligns with the Senate's GENIUS Bill, which passed out of committee already, Rep. Bryan Steil said at the Digital Chamber's annual conference. Trump-Tied World Liberty Financial Pitches Its Stablecoin in Washington With Don Jr.: Donald Trump Jr. and other World Liberty Financial leaders promoted its new stablecoin at the Chamber event. SEC Drops Investigation into Web3 Gaming Firm Immutable: The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has dropped another investigation, this time into Immutable. Shuttered Russian Crypto Exchange Garantex Rebrands as Grinex, Global Ledger Finds: Garantex is an exchange sanctioned by the U.S. and seized by international law enforcement officials. That does not appear to have stopped some of its operators from rebranding it as Grinex and launching anew, based on on-chain and off-chain data. Crypto Bill to Combat Illicit Activity Gets New Push After Passing U.S. House in 2024: Reps. Zach Nunn and Jim Himes have reintroduced the Financial Technology Protection Act. President Trump Pardons Arthur Hayes, 2 Other BitMEX Co-Founders: U.S. President Donald Trump pardoned Arthur Hayes, Ben Delo and Sam Reed, the co-founders of BitMEX. The three had all previously pleaded guilty to Bank Secrecy Act violations and were sentenced to parole. Sei Foundation Explores Buying 23andMe to Put Genetic Data on Blockchain: This headline is self-explanatory, though I would love to know more about what it would mean to put individuals' genetic data on an immutable public ledger. This week Thursday 14:00 UTC (10:00 a.m. ET) Paul Atkins and Jonathan Gould (among others) faced the Senate Banking Committee for their confirmation hearing. Outside of Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) asking questions about Sam Bankman-Fried's parents (and a few other passing references to FTX's collapse), there were no crypto-related questions. Elsewhere: (The Atlantic) Jeffrey Goldberg, the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, said he was inadvertently added to a Signal group chat by National Security Advisor Michael Waltz, which contained other key figures in the Trump Administration and where Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth shared details about an imminent strike on Yemen hours before it occurred. Middle East envoy (and World Liberty Financial investor) Steve Witkoff confirmed that he was part of the group through one of his "personal devices," rather than his government-issued secure phone. Tulsi Gabbard, the director of national intelligence and John Ratcliffe, the director of the CIA, said the messages were not classified, and The Atlantic published them. (Wired) A Venmo account named "Michael Waltz" that Wired reports was "connected to accounts bearing the names of people closely associated with him" left its transactions public until after the news organization reached out about it. (The Verge) U.S. President Donald Trump fired Federal Trade Commissioners Alvaro Bedoya and Rebecca Slaughter, both Democrats, reportedly in violation of a Supreme Court precedent. Both have since sued Trump contesting the firings. (The Washington Post) The IRS is projecting it will collect $500 billion less in 2025 than 2024, the Post reported. (The New York Times) "SpaceX is positioning itself to see billions of dollars in new federal contracts or other support," the Times reported. (The Washington Post) Plainclothes officers arrested Tufts University Ph.D student Rumeysa Ozturk and relocated her to a Louisiana facility. The Department of Homeland Security said she "engaged in activities in support of Hamas," but has not published any evidence supporting the claim. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said he canceled Ozturk's visa because she was "creating a ruckus," but does not appear to allege she committed any crimes. If youve got thoughts or questions on what I should discuss next week or any other feedback youd like to share, feel free to email me at nik@coindesk.com or find me on Bluesky @nikhileshde.bsky.social. You can also join the group conversation on Telegram. See yall next week! Update (March 29, 2025, 13:53 UTC): Inserts missing section. Thank you, WSU Dear WSU community, On our last day as President and First Lady of Washington State University, we wanted to take this opportunity to extend one final thank you for a memorable nine years. When we arrived in March 2016, we appreciated the warm Cougar Family welcome we received from students, faculty, staff, alumni, and university partners as we moved from Manhattan, Kansas to Pullman, Washington. The welcoming nature of WSU across the entire system is one of the universitys defining features and has been a consistent thread in all of the interactions weve had since. This community has been through some incredible highs and lows over the past nine years and we have appreciated the many words of support, cards, texts, and email notes we received when we were all experiencing notable successes or unanticipated challenges. One of our favorite aspects in serving in such public roles has been the chance encounters with members of the Cougar Family on travels, in restaurants, or just walking down the street and getting a hearty Go Cougs. Leading a public research university requires an all in, all the time mindset and we have enjoyed the opportunity to interact with many of you on our campuses and in communities across the state. We are excited about what we have accomplished together over the last nine years to advance the institution as a whole. Leadership in todays climate means that every leader has supporters and detractors. We appreciate that you have been active participants in discussions, including sometimes questioning decisions or university direction. The passion that the Cougar Family has for advancing WSU is very evident. The relationship between the faculty, staff, students, and administration at this university is the best we have ever seen in our careers and is part of what continues to make WSU an amazing place to study, live, and work. The Republican members of Colorado's congressional delegation on Wednesday called on Gov. Jared Polis to veto legislation that would require purchasers of certain firearms to undergo gun safety training. A federal judge this month partially dismissed the wrongful termination claims the Florissant Fire Protection Districts former chief lodged against the special district, citing procedural deficiencies. Private judges hired to handle divorce cases in Colorado suppress them from public view at far greater rates than in cases that rely on district court judges, leaving some legal experts wondering whether affluent clients are simply buying their way into secrecy. American authorities returned a decorated Fort Carson Army veteran and also a convicted felon to Colorado this weekend, the latest stop on the former soldier's criss-crossed deportation trail. At a ripe 3 weeks old, the Denver Zoos new reticulated giraffe calf is already stealing hearts, and the attention, of visitors. Staff have been slowly introducing the still unnamed calf to the outdoor enclosure and zoo audiences. Dozens stopped at a time to catch a glimpse of the baby giraffe on Friday morning, with many parents sharing a moment of amazement with their children. Having this educational resource in Denver is super cool. We come here all the time and she was still pregnant last time we came, Josh Been, there with his own newborn son, Otto, said. The zoo is also seeking help choosing a name for the young heartthrob. Staff whittled the name down to Dagg, in honor of late giraffe expert Dr. Anne Innis Dagg, Thorn, a favorite food of giraffes and, Kujali, which translates to to care in Swahili. Reticulated giraffes are most abundantly found in northern and north-eastern Kenya, according to the zoo. Voting for the young giraffes name ends April 18 and takes a $5 donation. For those unable to make it to the zoo, a live stream of the indoor giraffe enclosure gives a behind the scenes look into the indoor giraffe enclosure. A car chase northbound on Interstate 25 Monday morning ended with two people arrested and damage to two Colorado State Patrol vehicles, according to a news release. A trooper was conducting a traffic stop on I-25 near the Briargate Parkway exit at about 4 a.m. when a Honda Odyssey almost sideswiped the trooper. The trooper called for backup and the two vehicles chased the Odyssey to Colorado 83 just south of the Northgate area, the release from State Patrol stated. The troopers were able to stop the Odyssey and arrest the female driver identified as 19-year-old Analecia Lovato, and the passenger of her car just before 5:30 a.m. The troopers were not injured but Lovato and her passenger were taken to a hospital before being taken into custody. Lovato is facing charges for reckless driving, reckless endangerment, vehicular eluding and driving under the influence of alcohol among other charges. Lovato is being held at the El Paso County jail on a $2,000 bond. Her next court appearance is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Tuesday. CCTV: We noted that China extended condolences and provided disaster relief assistance to Myanmar right after the country was stricken by an earthquake. Could you share more information? Guo Jiakun: China is closely following the aftermath of the earthquake in Myanmar. President Xi Jinping sent a message of condolence to Myanmars leader Min Aung Hlaing, expressing deep condolences over the loss of lives and sympathies to the families who lost their loved ones, those who are injured and people in the quake zone. Immediately after the earthquake, China launched an emergency response with an all-out rescue and consular protection operation. A rescue and medical team from Yunnan Province arrived in Myanmar within 18 hours the first international rescue team to arrive on the scene. Working with local rescuers, the team successfully pulled a survivor from under the rubble. The China Search and Rescue Team (CSAR), the China International Search and Rescue Team (CISAR), a rescue team sent by the Hong Kong SAR and the International Emergency Rescue Team of the Red Cross Society of China traveled to Myanmar overnight. Non-governmental rescue groups from China are also arriving in Myanmar. As we speak, around 400 Chinese experts, rescuers and medical workers are working against the clock on the ground. They have rescued six survivors so far. China has announced 100 million yuan worth of emergency humanitarian aid and urgently needed supplies including tents, first-aid kits, food and drinking water to Myanmar. The first shipment of aid has already arrived. The Red Cross Society of China delivered the relief supplies. A merciless disaster can bring out the best of humanity. China, in the spirit of pauk-phaw friendship, will continue to stand with Myanmar and work closely with the country as it emerges from the disaster. The Chinese teams will do everything they can to fully seize the 72-hour golden window for search and rescue, treat the injured and deliver the aid supplies to the people in need. We believe that with the support of the international community, the government and people of Myanmar will stand together, and recover from the disaster and rebuild better. Reuters: Is the Foreign Ministry able to provide an update on the number of Chinese nationals and businesses affected by the Myanmar earthquake? What does the death and injury toll stand at now? Guo Jiakun: So far, it has been found that one Chinese national was killed and 15 injured in the massive earthquake in Myanmar. The Chinese embassy and consulate-general in Myanmar are assisting the family of the deceased in their handling of related matters. Chinese diplomatic missions in Myanmar will continue to do everything we can to assist Chinese nationals who are injured or affected by the disaster. China Daily: We noted that President Xi Jinping met with representatives of the international business community last week, which received high attention and triggered heated discussion. Recently chief executives of foreign businesses have attended events such as the China Development Forum and the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference and had in-depth discussion with people of various sectors in China. Some say that China is rolling out a charm offensive to foreign investors and will bring warmth to the world economy. What is Chinas comment? Guo Jiakun: Foreign businesses can benefit from Chinas development and vice versa, and together we can create a win-win future. China is committed to deepening reform and advancing high-standard opening up. With an enormous market, stable policy outlook and a sound development environment, China is a favored choice for foreign investment. In the first two months of this year, Chinas economy has rebounded notably, continuing to unleash the potential of the worlds second largest consumer market and foster new quality productive forces at a faster pace. From putting forward 20 new measures for stabilizing foreign investment to proposing to roll out more policies in the Report on the Work of the Government, China has kept lowering the threshold of market access, aligning with high standards, upgrading efforts to attract foreign investment, and fostering a sound environment, so as to share growth opportunities of our mega-size market with the world. Foreign investment is now found in 20 industrial categories and 115 major sectors in China. A total of 1.24 million companies have been set up and close to USD 3 trillion has been invested by foreign investors. As President Xi Jinping noted, embracing China is embracing opportunities, believing in China is believing in a better tomorrow, and investing in China is investing in the future. We welcome more foreign businesses to cultivate the Chinese market, share in Chinas development opportunities and jointly create a better future. Reuters: U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth describes warrior country Japan as indispensable for tackling Chinese aggression on Sunday. Does the Chinese Foreign Ministry have any comment on his remarks? Guo Jiakun: China always believes that military and security cooperation between the U.S. and Japan should not target any third country, or endanger regional peace and development. By calling China a threat and using it as a pretext, the U.S. has been instigating ideological antagonism, stoking division and confrontation, and even inciting certain countries to be the cannon fodder of U.S. supremacy. Regional countries need to stay on high alert and guard against such practice. This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese Peoples War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-fascist War. Japan in particular needs to learn from history and be prudent in military and security areas. The Taiwan question is purely Chinas internal affair. Resolving the Taiwan question is a matter for the Chinese ourselves that no one can interfere. We urge certain people in the U.S. to give up the illusion of using Taiwan to contain China, abide by the one-China principle and the three China-U.S. joint communiques with concrete actions, and honor the commitment made by the U.S. on Taiwan-related issues. Japan committed aggression against Taiwan and exercised colonial rule over the island. It bears serious historical responsibilities to the Chinese people. Japan should abide by the principles of the four political documents between China and Japan, act prudently on the Taiwan question, and refrain from sending wrong signal to Taiwan independence separatist forces. AFP: Three Chinese citizens went missing over the weekend off the coast of Ghana after their vessel came under a suspected pirate attack, according to the Ghanaian military. Has China been in touch with Ghanaian authorities regarding this incident and does the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have an update on the whereabouts of the three Chinese sailors? Guo Jiakun: After learning about the incident, our embassy in Ghana immediately activated emergency response mechanism and has been in close contact with Ghana since then. The crew members are physically safe now. China will work with Ghana to earnestly protect the safety and security of Chinese nationals and institutions in Ghana. The Australian: Right now there is a Chinese research vessel on the south of the Australian coast. It has caused a bit of controversy in Australia today. There are some Australian defense analysts who say that this Chinese scientific ship also can be used for dual purposes, so it could give information to the PLA navy, for example. And the Australian Prime Minister was asked about the ship today and what the Australian government was doing. He said the Australian government is monitoring the ship and that he would prefer it wasnt there. But he said that its not breaching any international law. So I wanted to know what do you think of the Australian reaction to the ship? Guo Jiakun: Id refer you to competent authorities for anything specific. Let me say more broadly that China carries out normal activities at sea in accordance with international law, including UNCLOS. We hope Australia will have a right understanding of this and stop the groundless suspicion and speculations. Shenzhen TV: According to reports, Chinas State Administration for Market Regulation said it will review CK Hutchisons planned ports sale to BlackRock. Whats your response? Guo Jiakun: We noted relevant reports. The State Administration for Market Regulation said it has noted the deal and will review it in accordance with the law to ensure fair market competition and protect public interests. Let me stress again that China firmly opposes using economic coercion and bullying to harm other countries legitimate rights and interests. The Australian: Just following up on that question about the boat. One of the reasons its got a lot of attention is because the Australian election is about to begin. I wonder does the Chinese government take into account elections in Australia when ships like this, scientific vessels or maybe future PLA navy ships, come. Australias elections are gonna be on May 3. Do you think there will be more ships coming around Australia ahead of that date? Guo Jiakun: I just answered your question. Let me stress again that China carries out normal maritime activities in relevant waters in accordance with international law, including UNCLOS. At the same time, China always upholds the principle of non-interference in other countries domestic affairs. Reuters: Are you able to confirm whether the Chinese leader will visit three countries in Southeast Asia in the middle of April? Guo Jiakun: I have nothing to read out at the moment. Reuters: U.S. President Trump said yesterday he might consider putting secondary tariffs on any country who buys Russian oil. China is a major purchaser. Does the Foreign Ministry have any comment on this statement? Guo Jiakun: Chinas position on the Ukraine crisis is consistent and clear. We always believe that dialogue and negotiation are the only viable solution to the Ukraine crisis. Cooperation between China and Russia does not target any third party and will not be affected by any factor from any third party. The Australian: Another question on trade. Its some new research by an economics professor at Peking University that found last year in the WTO, almost half of all the cases were against China. Quite a number were from developed countries like Europe and Japan, but lots and lots, the most ever, were also from developing countries like India, Turkiye, Pakistan, Brazil. Some say its evidence of a clear stress that Chinas huge exports are putting on the rest of the worlds economies. So the problems are not just ones America is having with China, but the whole world is having. I wonder what are your responses. Guo Jiakun: The WTO is an international organization based on rules. China stands ready to work with all parties to uphold the multilateral trading system with the WTO at its core and build an open world economy. Let me also stress that the formation of the landscape of world trade also needs full market competition. We stand that relevant trade disputes should be settled through the dispute settlement mechanism in the WTO and in accordance with WTO rules. Rachel Gabel writes about agriculture and rural issues. She is assistant editor of The Fence Post Magazine, the regions preeminent agriculture publication. Kevin Erickson is Chairman of the Board of the Colorado Bankers Association. Jeff Crank (R-Colo.) is the the representative for Colorado's Fifth Congressional District in the 119th Congress. LETTERS: A better and fairer way; best of times, worst of times Partnering with More Than 1,000 Local Churches, Evangelists Andrew and Wendy Palau Proclaim the Gospel to More Than 50,000 in Santo Domingo NEWS PROVIDED BY Palau March 31, 2025 SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic, March 31, 2024 /Standard Newswire/ -- Four years after the passing of evangelist Luis Palau, his legacy is alive and thriving as the Gospel continues to impact the worldmost recently in Latin America at the Palau Santo Domingo Festival, where thousands of believers were activated to bring their friends and family to hear the Gospel. More than 1,000 local churches partnered together to make this outreach possible. This festival was the culmination of months of preparation as the local church equipped and motivated Christians to be bold in their witness. It was a citywide movement with a heart to ensure that all of Santo Domingo heard the voice of God. This campaign marked the Palau team's first return to Santo Domingo since Luis Palau's last visit in the 1970s. Some of the local leadership committee members had come to faith during that campaign and were now instrumental in bringing this new generation of evangelistic outreach to life. Andrew was honored to meet with the top leaders of the nation, even sitting down with the president of the Dominican Republic as a warm welcome to the festival at the start of the week. Despite forecasts of rain, the first night of the festival launched under a clear, moonlit skyan answered prayer for an unforgettable night of worship, testimony, and transformation. Families, children, and young people flooded the historic grounds of Faro a Colon, filling the air with anticipation. The celebration kicked off with vibrant performances from renowned artists like Jameson Ramirez, Kike Pavon, Ingrid Rosario, and Redimi2, leading the audience in an explosion of praise. The second night of the festival was a powerful finale, drawing more than 50,000 people over two nights for an unforgettable proclamation of the Gospel. A sudden downpour on Saturday evening couldnt dampen the spiritIngrid Rosario led worship with only a piano as thousands lifted their voices in praise. The most powerful moments of each night came when Andrew Palau took the stage, opened the Bible, and shared his personal journey from emptiness to the life-changing hope found in Jesus. You were never created to be alone, he declared, calling attendees to embrace their identity in Christ. Across the crowd, hands were raised as many made decisions for Jesusmany with tears of repentance and renewed faith. Mayor Dio Astacio honored Andrew Palau with the key to the city, a recognition of the lasting impact of Palaus ministry. Andrew gratefully accepted it on behalf of the local churches he had come to serve. Throughout the week, the Gospel reached every corner of the city. In addition to festival events, special outreach efforts focused on key sectors of society. Andrew and Wendy visited both mens and womens prisons, sharing messages of hope and restoration with inmates, underscoring the commitment to minister to those often overlooked. At a special gathering with national police cadets, they shared a message of purpose and transformation. Through an intimate dinner for entrepreneurs and professionals, business leaders were encouraged by Nike designer Wilson Smith and his testimony of faith, culminating in a powerful invitation from Andrew to live fully for Christ. The festivals childrens event and health fair extended love to thousands, meeting both physical and spiritual needs. Media played a key role in amplifying the message, as Andrew and Wendy were featured on some of the most influential television, radio, and digital platforms throughout the week, extending the reach of the Gospel to an even wider audience. A particularly moving moment took place at the womens dinner, where a woman named Suzanna found herself deeply touched by Wendys testimony. Struggling with the pain of infertility, she listened intently as Wendy opened the Word of God and shared her story. As Wendy invited her to pray together, tears streamed down her face. She wasnt alonedozens of women responded to the Good News that evening. That night, Suzanna surrendered her life to Jesus. The transformation was undeniable, her face beamed with joy as she shared her decision with Wendy, and later with Andrew as they were leaving. Now, she is eager to share her story and newfound faith with others. As Palau continues its mission, this festival stands as a testament to the unstoppable movement of the Gospel in Latin America. The work is far from overGod is on the move, and lives are being transformed like never before. To see highlights from the Palau Santo Domingo Festival, visit www.palau.org/santodomingo. While local leaders continue in this effort, Palau will press forward in supporting similar campaigns in cities across the globe. Upcoming outreaches include campaigns in Curahuasi, Peru (April); Tirana, Albania (June); Reno, Nevada (August); Harare, Zimbabwe (September); and Rosario, Argentina (November). You can learn more about Palau and their worldwide work at www.palau.org. ABOUT PALAU Palau exists to proclaim the Good News, unite the Church, and activate believers worldwide. Weve had the great privilege of sharing the Gospel far and wide for more than 60 yearsand the legacy lives on through the next generation of evangelists, Andrew and Wendy Palau. By Gods grace, we reach millions each week with a message of hope in Christthrough in-person festivals, digital outreaches, collaboration with a global network of evangelists, City Gospel Movements, and our Hope with God radio program. ABOUT ANDREW PALAU For more than 25 years, Andrew Palau has shared the Good News of Jesus Christ with millions of individuals around the world through festivals, digital media, and the printed word. In his role as evangelist for Palau, he has been instrumental in building the Palau model for citywide evangelistic outreach to every sector of society. He has led hundreds of citywide campaigns on six continents, with notable festivals in Washington, DC; New York City, New York; Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam; Manado, Indonesia; Cairo, Egypt; Buenos Aires, Argentina; Bogota, Colombia; San Jose, Costa Rica; Kingston, Jamaica; Lilongwe, Malawi; Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire; and Manchester, England. Andrew is also passionate about raising up other evangelists through a global network spanning 71 nations, offering encouragement and insight to nearly two thousand emerging voices. Andrew's weekly radio broadcasts and ongoing digital Gospel campaigns are heard by millions of people in nearly every nation. He is also the author of multiple books, including Secret Life of a Fool, a retelling of his personal journey to faith in Christ, and What is Christmas?, a groundbreaking evangelistic book published in China in 2012. He and his wife, Wendy, live in Portland, Oregon, close to the world headquarters of the Palau ministry. They have three children, Christopher, Jonathan, and Sadie. SOURCE Palau CONTACT: www.palau.org Iowa Medical Society representatives met with Mason City medical personnel Thursday to plot a course to slow Iowa's escalating physician shortages. The visit comes following the passage of House File 972 in the Iowa House, a bill meant to boost the number of young physicians practicing in Iowa. If the Senate passes the bill and it becomes law, the state will request an additional $150 million in federal funds to open more than 100 medical residency slots every year for the next four years. It also will expand and streamline student loan repayment options for physicians and other medical professionals if they agree to practice in high-need regions for at least five years. In 2023, Iowa was ranked by the Association of American Medical Colleges as one of the worst states in the nation for physician-to-patient ratios, especially in rural areas and in specialty fields, coming in 44th with only 233 practicing physicians for every 100,000 Iowans. The problem is projected to get worse, due in part to how long it takes to become qualified to practice as a physician. According to the Association of American Medical Colleges, there was a shortage of about 46,000 doctors in the U.S. in 2021. By 2034, that number is expected to climb as high as 86,000, wreaking havoc on the medical community by bloating workloads for already taxed health care workers and increasing wait times and travel distances for patients. Mason City has not been exempt from Iowa's physician shortage. According to cardiologist Dr. Michael Spooner, the region is missing doctors in key specialties like obstetrics, rheumatology, and anesthesiology. "It's a national problem, but it's a more acute problem for Iowa," Spooner said. "It's even more acute here locally, especially as you get into the more rural areas." Spooner said the medical community is concerned about shortages. "We're seeing already in areas of shortages where people are having to travel long distances to get care, or have to wait very long periods to get access to what they need," he said. The Iowa Medical Society sent Dr. Alison Lynch, its incoming president, to help spearhead listening sessions focused on the issue in Mason City. Lynch is director of the Opioid Addiction Clinic at the University of Iowa's department of psychiatry, the director of the University of Iowa Addiction and Recovery Collaborative, and clinical professor at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. Lynch and Spooner agreed the physician shortage is a multifaceted issue with a variety of causes. In Iowa, fewer young adults enter medical school, fewer residency spots are available for those that do, and a competitive national market offers many high-paying jobs in more glamorous locations. Part of Gov. Kim Reynolds' Condition of the State address referred to the shortage, and some of HF 972 was inspired by a report IMS submitted to the Statehouse. Lynch said IMS wants to hear from the health care community to drive its recommendations. She felt the House bill is a positive move, especially the push to open more residency slots at Iowa's teaching hospitals. "Once we have medical students, we need to make sure they want to practice in Iowa. ... Wherever people do their residency training is a big predictor for where they're going to practice. So we need those new residency spots," she said. The IMS also hopes to show young Iowans a career as a physician can be accessible to them. "We know there are counties in Iowa that haven't sent students to apply for medical school in years. So that's an issue. We need to make sure we're expanding that pipeline so that all students across Iowa have that chance," Lynch said. "We think there's a lot of things that can be done even at the high school level to help more students in Iowa envision themselves as potentially going to medical school." There's still the chance medical students who do their residency in state will be lured away by the promise of higher salaries, warm weather, and the hustle and bustle of larger cities. But Spooner says he feels more fulfilled in a smaller community where it's easier to build long-term relationships with patients. He hopes young physicians willing to give rural Iowa a chance will feel the same. "I don't feel burnout at all in this practice, because I feel an attachment to my patients. I feel like I'm effecting my community," Spooner said. Julien Vicard has worked as a baker at 227-B S. Elm St. for more than 15 years. He still works there, but now hes the bakery owner. Vicard, a native of France, opened Breakfast in Paris two weeks ago in this spot right in the middle of downtown but down a quiet alley. He didnt mean to open so soon. I was fixing it up. I still am fixing it up. But people were banging on the doors, asking for bread, he said. The reason people were banging on the door may have to do with the fact that Greensboro lovers of European bread and pastries know Vicard well. In fact, he has been using the Breakfast in Paris name for about five years even though he didnt have a retail bakery. Instead, he has been selling his croissants, sugar brioche and more to appreciative regulars at the Corners Farmers Market in Greensboro on Saturday mornings. The road to opening the bakery, though, has been long and winding. Vicard, 58, was born in the French Alps. My house was right on the (Swiss) border, he said. At age 23, just after completing his compulsory military service in France, he came to the United States, where a good friend was an exchange student at Clemson University and where he met his wife. Vicard didnt enroll himself he had already completed his culinary training in France. And for a couple years he went back and forth between the United States and Europe. Once married, though, he stayed in the United States, first taking a job managing Stax restaurants in Greenville, S.C. He was considering a baking job at Disney World in 2003 when he learned about an opening in a popular Greensboro bakery and cafe called Ganache (now closed). Vicard worked at Ganache a couple of years and then had stints at Rendezvous in Oak Ridge and Bistro 150. Other gigs included Piedmont International Bakery and Bestway. His first encounter at 227 S. Elm was when it was called Loaf, and he was hired primarily to train other bakers and get the place up and running. (Loaf opened in 2011; another bakery, Simple Kneads had been there since 2002.) After Loaf, Table on Elm took over in 2016 and Baked Downtown in 2019. Vicard worked with all three of them in some capacity. During the last few years of Baked, Vicard was using the space mainly to bake for his farmers market customers. When Bakeds owner decided to close and start a family, Vicard decided to take it over. Breakfast in Paris Address: 227-B S. Elm St., Greensboro, N.C. 27401 Phone: (336) 285-8377 Hours: 7 to a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, bakers choice on Monday (call first) I already had all my equipment in here. I didnt want to move, he said with a laugh. Vicard plays with tradition a tiny bit, but hes definitely a European baker. I use all European flour, he said, and I use European butter. His five staples of bread are baguettes, pain de levain, country boule and brioche, and French sourdough the latter he bakes in a loaf pan in a concession to American tastes. On the weekends, he often bakes other flavors, such as cheese, walnut and rosemary. Loaves run $5 to $6. Pastries run $4 to $6. Croissants dominate his pastry selection, and he makes several flavors: butter (plain), chocolate, almond, cream cheese-raspberry and more. He also makes cinnamon rolls, macarons, and several types of Danish. For fun, he might fill a croissant with spinach and feta, or with sausage and mustard. Then theres the sugar brioche as rich (or maybe richer) as it is sweet. In a cafe in Paris, when you order a standard basket for breakfast, you get a butter croissant, chocolate croissant and sugar brioche, Vicard said. Thats why I called the bakery Breakfast in Paris. The shop also sell espresso, tea and other beverages. Theres only one table inside underneath a handful of French people kissing on the streets of Paris. Thats the French kiss section, Vicard said. There also are a handful of tables outside in the alley a peaceful respite from Elm Street. Vicard said the bakery has been busy. He fills the case at 7 a.m. and its often practically empty by 10 or 11. Everything is handmade. Everything is fresh daily, he said. The one exception is on Mondays. I call that bakers choice. Anything we had left over during the week is flash frozen. Then I sell it (at a discount) on Mondays. Its like day-old on Mondays. A lot of the college students come in on Mondays. They love it. Though he finally has his own retail location, Vicard plans to continue selling at the Corner Farmers Market, too. I have my Corner Market family, he said. I will never give that up. I love those people. Ben & Jerry's Abortion Ad Runs 59 Times in Jacksonville and Orlando Florida Today NEWS PROVIDED BY Randall Terry for Congress and Stephen Broden for Congress March 31, 2025 JACKSONVILLE, Fla., March 31, 2025 /Standard Newswire/ -- Randall Terry for Congress has purchased dozens of TV ad time slots in Jacksonville and Orlando Florida airing "Ben & Jerry's Chunky Baby." Due to FCC and FEC law, the advertisement air exactly as shown here, without edits. the Ben & Jerry's Chunky Baby spot is scheduled to run so far, starting Monday: Jacksonville WJAX 47 (CBS): 10 spots WFOX 30 (Fox): 16 spots WCWJ 17 (CW): 9 spots WJXT 4 (ind.): 1 spot Orlando WOFL 35 (Fox): 22 spots WFTV 1 (ABC): 1 spot. Randall Terry is on the ballot as an independent for Congress in Florida District 6, which includes the TV DMA markets of Jacksonville and Orlando. Mr. Terry states, "Ben & Jerry's has shamelessly touted their support for child-killing by abortion. These spoof ice cream flavors show the horror of what they are promoting: the murder of innocent human beings. They are a disgusting company." The spoof flavors are: Chunky Baby, Half Baked Baby, Chocolate Baby Split, Bloody Baby Therapy, and the new Disney flavor, Grooming and Mutilation See other ads running in Florida, including "Disney is grooming our children," at: www.DestroyTheDEMOCRATParty.com Mr. Terry further states, "We are actively searching for other congressional candidates who wish to run these ads in upcoming elections , as a rebuke to Ben & Jerry's, Disney, and the Democrat Party." SOURCE Randall Terry for Congress and Stephen Broden for Congress CONTACT: To interview Pastor Stephen Broden, 214-394-0098 To interview Randall Terry, 904-687-9806 When the federal government first took control of the former American Hebrew Academy property off Hobbs Road, the goal was to house young migrants who came into the country without their parents. As of Tuesday, the federal government is set to hand the property back to its owners without ever having housed any juveniles after nearly three years of stewardship. The government has spent $241.8 million leasing and maintaining the property over the last three years, according to the Administration for Children and Families, an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. When Mike Malpass, a resident of the Westridge Heights neighborhood near the academy property, learned the total cost, he paused for a moment and cast his eyes to the floor. Where is Musk? Malpass said, referencing Elon Musk, head of the Department of Government Efficiency. Frank Moore, another resident who lives close to the property, said he was also struck by the expense. If it has cost that much, I really think its up to the government to explain to taxpayers generally, not just our little neighborhood why it would cost that much, Moore said. U.S. Rep. Virginia Foxx, the Republican who represents the area where the academy is located, said the project was textbook case of the federal government, more specifically the Biden administration, squandering taxpayer dollars. The government has faced criticism over its handling of the property, particularly when it came to communication about the goings-on at the center. Now, with the federal government relinquishing its authority, the property will enter a new period of uncertainty. The News & Record has attempted to reach the owners of the property to learn about their plans but there has been no response so far. The Jewish boarding school operated at the property between 2001 and 2019. For neighbors, town officials and local candidates vying to represent the communities in that area, there is hope that the property will eventually be put to good use. What the hell are they really doing? From the beginning, the project has elicited differing views among the neighbors over the appropriateness of using the location as a migrant housing center. Malpass said he was concerned about the prospect of impulsive teens being housed so close to the neighborhood. Teenagers are bad enough but a teenager with the moxie to go 1,000 miles and cross the border illegally, I worried about our safety, Malpass said. I worried about crime. I thought that was reasonable. Moore, on the hand, said he was supportive of using the site for the young migrants. I was for that, he said. Greensboro has a long history of resettling refugees and migrants, and I think it has a good reputation for doing so. Moore added: I think that immigration over the years has been a good thing for Greensboro. Both Malpass and Moore agreed on at least one point: the government should have done more to clearly communicate what was going on at the site. Frustration over a lack of transparency goes back to the period when plans for the migrant center were first announced. Residents and even several public officials struggled to get answers. I think the government missed an opportunity to be more transparent, more forthcoming about what the property was being used for, Moore said. We would drive by and see a couple hundred cars, it seemed like, and maybe three people. Its like, well, what was going on there? Malpass said he found it disturbing that they dont want to be open about it, adding: What the hell are they really doing? In March 2024, there was finally some indication the center might finally be put to use, when the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced that the center was officially operational. While no teens were brought in at that time, the government specified the center was ready to accept up to 800 migrants with a staff of 1,500 to support the centers operations. The operational phase of the center did not last long. By June, the Office of Refugee Resettlement announced operations would wind down and the center would effectively be on stand by to ramp back up if needed. U.S. Rep. Kathy Manning, a Greensboro Democrat who formerly represented the area, attributed the change in operational status to a drop of migrants entering the country and the lack of need for the space. In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene in September, officials including Manning and Greensboro Mayor Nancy Vaughan advocated for using the center in a way that might help Western North Carolina recover. At first, it appeared that proposal might become a reality. The Federal Emergency Management Agency took over the property in October for the purpose of training agency workers. However, its not clear to what extent the center was used for training or if it was used at all. On Jan. 16, the Office of Refugee Resettlement announced it would be ending its lease on the property and that operations would formally end by April 1. An update on the refugee resettlement agencys website specified that FEMA had ended its activities at the center starting Feb. 21 in anticipation of the final closeout of the facility. Regarding the potential use by FEMA, Rep. Foxx said she and the Trump administration are all committed to ending FEMA at the federal level and I dont think we have any reason to be renting a place like that to working people in FEMA, adding that she felt that continuing to maintain the property for FEMA use would be a terrible waste of money. Foxx added that she is working with a council created by the White House as part of an effort to make the transition from a Federal Emergency Management Agency to state emergency management agencies being in charge. Whats next for American Hebrew Academy site? With the federal government ending its involvement with the property, the fate of the site now sits in the hands of the propertys owner. Per property records posted to Guilford County GIS, the property is owned by the nonprofit corporation American Hebrew Academy Inc. The News & Record reached out to William Scarborough, who is listed as the nonprofits chief financial officer on documents posted to the N.C. Secretary of States website, to ask about the future of the site. Scarborough referred the inquiry to Maggie Zhaou, whom he referred to as the person most in charge. Zhaou had not responded to two emails asking for more information on the future of the site as of Thursday evening. While it is unclear at this point what the future holds for the site, at least some members of the community would like to see a school operating at the site. Dassi Sklan lives down the road from the academy and two of her children graduated from the school. She is concerned about whether the property will continue to be properly maintained. It worries me that if its empty it will become in disrepair, Sklan said. As for potential uses for the property, Sklan said: Im probably more likely to say that we could do lots of things with it that some people wouldnt agree with. Im OK if we turn it into something for the homeless cause weve got so many homeless here. I know that some of the neighbors would not agree with that. The possibility of using the site to house the homeless has come up before. Mayor Vaughan addressed the idea in a Facebook comment in January, saying that the property was too expensive last time we spoke with them. Sklan said she would also welcome the idea of a school operating once again at the location, a sentiment shared by others in the community. District 4 Councilman Nancy Hoffmann, whose district includes the school property and surrounding neighborhoods, said maintaining the site as an institution for learning, in other words an academic setting, I think that would be the most pleasing to me and certainly the neighborhood. Hoffmann is not seeking reelection this year but the two candidates currently running for the seat, Adam Marshall and Nicky Smith, also pointed to the sites potential for school or university use. You look at the property, thats how it was built, thats how it was set up, Marshall said. I would like see it continue to be used for educational purposes in some form. Smith said he had put out feelers about the site potentially becoming a satellite campus for High Point University or a site for Guilford County Schools but had heard those institutions were not interested in using the property. He called it really a sad situation and expressed his concern that the property is going to sit dormant. The owners are probably not going to do anything with it other than let it sit and grow old, Smith said. Uncertainty about tariffs, retaliatory tariffs, reciprocal tariffs, and other government policy changes are creating a lot of angst in the dairy markets. Ive given up trying to predict what policies will be implemented, when they will be implemented, or what the end goal of the administration actually is. However, I think it is worthwhile thinking through some of the policies and putting some rough estimates on their potential impacts. While there is a long list of issues and policies that are currently in play, I think the most impactful and timely are the threat of retaliatory tariffs, the macroeconomic impact of tariffs on our trading partners, consumers boycotting U.S. products in importing countries, and the potential impact of the tariffs on the U.S. economy. The U.S. has already put some additional tariffs in place on our trading partners and the administration is threatening more tariffs. Our trading partners are responding with talk of retaliatory tariffs on U.S. dairy products. This breaks down into three categories, the tariffs that are in place, the tariffs that have been announced but arent in place yet, and potential tariffs. On April 2, the U.S. is planning to announce reciprocal tariffs. My understanding is that they are researching reciprocal tariffs on G20 countries in which the U.S. typically has trade deficits with. In 2024, 77% of U.S. dairy exports went to G20 countries. But Mexico, Canada, and China are all part of the G20, and I think we will reach separate agreements with those countries, which leaves 26.2% of exports going to the other G20 countries. Assuming that the average retaliatory tariff is 20% and that somewhere between 26% and 77% of U.S. exports get hit with the additional tariff, it would reduce U.S. exports by somewhere between 1.4% and 4.2% in my model. In rough numbers, that would knock 2.3% to 6.9% off of U.S. dairy prices. My gut says this is an underestimate of the potential impact of widespread retaliatory tariffs. Impacts on trading partners The second issue for the market is the potential impact of retaliatory tariffs on economic conditions with our trading partners. Higher tariffs are going to reduce economic growth for everyone involved. Canadas exports to the U.S. account for nearly 20% of their GDP. Mexicos exports to the U.S. account for 30% of their GDP, and some estimate that 25% tariffs across the board on Mexico would knock 16% off of their GDP. In a worst-case scenario where a 25% tariff is applied to all products imported from Mexico, GDP could drop knocking an estimated 17.7% off of U.S. dairy prices. I think the impact on Mexicos economy is so massive that its unlikely they will be hit with a flat 25% tariff across the board (or the tariff wont be in effect for very long). If the U.S. puts tariffs on some countries but not others, its possible economic growth in those countries could turn out stronger than expected. Beware of the boycott Another concern is consumers boycotting U.S. tariffs. Threats of tariffs and taking or re-taking Canada, Greenland, and the Panama Canal have consumers in some countries boycotting U.S. goods. A small amount of U.S. dairy exports is destined directly for retail in packaging that is clearly a U.S. brand, while some exported ingredients are shipped to countries where they are combined with other ingredients to produce a packaged good that carries a brand associated with the U.S. Importantly, a decent amount of the cheese exported is being used in restaurants that are associated with the U.S., which might face backlash. On a milk equivalent basis, I think that about 7.9% of U.S. exports (mostly driven by cheese) could be impacted by boycotts. As a rough estimate, we could see a 5% to 10% drop in sales of affected U.S. dairy products in importing countries where consumers are boycotting U.S. goods, such as Canada, Mexico, the EU, and China. Lastly, U.S. tariffs on imported goods will negatively impact GDP growth, which should have a negative impact on domestic demand for dairy inside the U.S. The Tax Foundation has done an analysis of the estimated impact on U.S. GDP from the announced tariffs, and they estimate these tariffs would reduce U.S. GDP by 0.4%. Threatened tariffs on the EU, vehicles, and vehicle parts would reduce GDP by another 0.3%. It is hard to tease out a direct relationship between GDP and dairy demand in the U.S., but my best estimate is that every 1% change in real GDP growth changes U.S. per capita dairy consumption by 0.4%. The announced and threatened tariffs knock an estimated 0.7% off the U.S. No analysis would be complete without some discussion of upside risks. With the U.S. raising tariffs on imports, we will import fewer dairy products, although the impact will likely be small. Second, there is some talk about stimulus checks that would be based on savings generated by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which could help boost domestic demand for dairy products. Additionally, if the trade war significantly reduces commodity prices, there is a chance the government could step in with additional purchases of commodities or a food box type program. To comment, email your remarks to intel@hoards.com. (c) Hoard's Dairyman Intel 2025 March 27, 2025 Rianne van Veldhuizen, the upbeat Managing Director of AWS in Australia and New Zealand, highlighted two very different customer case studies at the recent Data and AI Day in Melbourne. The first was about leading health insurer nib Group (ASX: NHF) which is using Amazon Bedrock to support customer service, automate call centre operations and invoice processing, and personalise travel insurance recommendations for its members. According to nib, since its launch in 2021, nibby, nibs quirky-named AI-powered voice and text AI assistant, has handled four million member queries and delivered more than $22 million in savings, according to van Veldhuizen. The second case study was from left field how AWS is using artificial intelligence to help capture and preserve the Ngalia language, an indigenous language which has just three fluent speakers, a number of partial speakers and was in danger of being lost forever. The Melbourne Data and AI Day was attended by more than 1,500 mainly business owners. It was followed two days later by a similar event in Sydney. Van Veldhuizen outlined AWSs investment in Australia and New Zealand including investing $13.2 billion over the next two years into cloud infrastructure to create opportunities and to build a resilient infrastructure here locally. This will contribute $35 billion to Australia's economy by 2027 and support an estimated 11,000 jobs locally. That is on top of the $9.1 billion we have invested since 2012. We are also building Australia's tech pipeline, collaborating with universities and TAFE on real world cloud courses. Van Veldhuizen said New Zealand is also a focus. We are investing $7.5 billion into the region adding an estimated $10.8 billion to New Zealand's GDP over the next 15 years. Our commitment to Australia and New Zealand runs deep. We're investing, we're innovating, and we're showing that world class technology knows no boundaries. nib case study in detail The majority of nib's generative AI workloads are using Anthropics Claude 3.5 Sonnet. In the past six months, the group has integrated generative AI across several of its businesses to support customer service, augment call centres and claims processing, and personalise travel insurance recommendations. By reducing the need for manual support, nibby has lowered chat-based interaction support by 60% and voice call support by 15%. With recent enhancements, nibby can better understand complex queries with multiple follow-up questions and personalise its interactions with members leading to faster resolution and higher customer satisfaction. Additionally, nib uses Amazon Bedrock to automatically generate and summarise notes from customer chats and calls, reducing post-call work by up to 20%, and allowing more members to be served quickly and efficiently. nib also uses Amazon Bedrock to enhance its internal knowledge base by summarising and analysing knowledge articles, to provide accurate and timely responses to member inquiries, resulting in an 8% reduction in average call times. These augmentations help call centre agents focus on more complex queries that require direct support and deeper empathy. Other improvements include: Using an AI tool that automatically reads and processes text from documents with near-100% accuracy, to automate member claims and process over four million invoices annually. Offers travel insurance plans for international and domestic trips with coverage options including medical assistance, lost luggage and trip cancellations. nib can create personalised email marketing campaigns based on predicted destinations. Ngalia language case study in detail The Ngalia indigenous language is spoken fluently by just three people Kado, Talbot and Zabar Muir. There are some who can partially speak it, but no children speak it or are learning it. To prevent the complete loss of the language, Kado Muir is leading a conservative effort to preserve his peoples 60,000-year-old culture. Our language is not just words, Muir explains, it's the key to our identity, our connection to country, and our way of understanding the world. To preserve their language a collaboration has been set up between the Ngalia Heritage Research Council (Aboriginal Corporation), Kiwa Digital (a global Indigenous-led technology company originally from New Zealand), and AWS using the latest in artificial intelligence to help safeguard this irreplaceable knowledge. Kiwa Digital has developed a digital archival system to store, manage, interact, and publish cultural assets. Using Kiwa Digitals CultureQ app, which is built on AWS and underpinned by generative AI, Indigenous communities can promote knowledge and cultural sustainability. CultureQ provides text-to-speech, voice generation, translation capabilities, and chat functionality that helps users practice and revitalise languages and cultures. Until now, Indigenous people had limited ways to preserve language and culture. Using generative AI integrated into CultureQ, users can now have conversations and interact with their cultural data in a secure, managed environment, when previously they were only able to access static content, said Steven Renata, managing board director, Kiwa Digital. AWS plays a central role in fostering a respectful digital environment that promotes Indigenous self-determination, knowledge, and cultural sustainability. Some of the Indigenous content being preserved on CultureQ includes stories passed down through centuries of story-telling. The mobile app combines Indigenous Dreamtime storytelling with educational content focused on science, specifically aimed at teaching children about the lifecycle of the antlion, known as Mamutjitji in Ngalia language, to preserve the story and language for future generations. Eagles Wings First-Ever Womens Trip Departs for Israel NEWS PROVIDED BY Eagles Wings March 31, 2025 BUFFALO, N.Y., March 31, 2025 /Standard Newswire/ -- For 3 decades, the Eagles Wings organization, spearheaded by Bishop Robert Stearns, has brought thousands of evangelical Christians to Israel to explore the roots of their faith and to be activated as those standing in solidarity with Israel. Now, from March 31 to April 10, Eagles Wings is bringing its very first womens pilgrimage to the Land of Israel: the Awakened and Empowered Womens Israel Tour. The tour will be led by Eagles Wings Israel department representative Sue Ten Eyck and Pastor Leisa Nelson of the Rock Family Worship Center in Hamilton, AL. Those who travel on this powerful journey through the Land of Israel will have the opportunity to find a greater purpose and identity as women of God, through encountering Gods presence and covenant faithfulness to His people. The group will meet women leaders in Israel, such as Deputy Mayor of Jerusalem Fleur Hassan-Nahoum, and discover more about the unique role that women have in the unfolding of Gods plan. In this time of history when Israel has come under attack like never before, Eagles Wings believes that this womens delegation will be a significant catalyst contributing both to the defense of Israel and to the empowering of women leaders in their identity as servants of God. Eagles Wings tour leader Sue Ten Eyck shared, We believe that God is raising up women to serve His purposes for such a time as this. For decades we have seen that God has encountered His people in the Holy Land in life-transforming ways, and now it is time for the women to rise up as never before, pray with increased understanding, and fulfill all that God has called them to be and to do. Bishop Robert Stearns added, For centuries, since the days of Deborah and Esther, God has used women as courageous leaders and a vital part of His covenantal narrative. This amazing trip to Israel will bring eternal fruit in and through the lives of those who are uniting for this divine journey. As they make this pilgrimage, these women leaders are joining together to bring spiritual awakening to a generation of women, by connecting them to the land of Israel and enabling them to be advocates for Israel in their respective spheres of influence. Through this focus, the impact of this trip will be felt for years to come not only in the lives of those attending but in those that they lead in their families, churches, communities, businesses, and more. To learn more about this groundbreaking trip, visit awakenedandempowered.com, and to follow the groups progress during the tour, view the latest updates on the Eagles Wings Travel Instagram Page at instagram.com/eagleswings.travel. And join next years womens trip, April 22 - May 2, 2026. SOURCE Eagles Wings CONTACT: Sue Ten Eyck, steneyck@eagleswings.org Leisa Nelson, leisa.nelson@therockfwc.org Office, office@eagleswings.org, 716-759-1058 The ability to manage cyber risks whilst at the same time delivering technological transformation places CISOs and CTOs in the drivers seat of fast, sustainable organisational growth. This concept, known as "cyber agility," is the foundation of resilient and adaptive organisations, and a recent study by BT confirms cyber agile businesses consistently outperform their peers. In the study we identified six key dimensions crucial to achieving cyber agility: Awareness, Compliance, Connectivity, Strategy, Skills, and Innovation. 1. Awareness Cybercriminals constantly evolve their tactics to outmaneuver organisations. Awareness, encompassing clear visibility and contextual, actionable threat intelligence, is the bedrock of cyber agility. Traditional infrastructure once allowed organisations to maintain strong oversight, with network access controlled through a single point through a Demilitarised Zone (DMZ). However, todays hybrid infrastructureincluding a complex mix of legacy systems, cloud workloads, remote workforces, and third-party integrationhave eliminated that single point of control, leaving organisations blind. Moreover, malicious actors are adapting their techniques to exploit cloud-based systems. The Australian Signals Directorate (ASD) warns that cybercriminals increasingly use brute-force attacks and password spraying to access highly privileged service accounts. This underpins the importance of comprehensive digital oversight to mitigate both domestic and international threats. Underlining the importance of threat intelligence, in FY202324, the ASD notified entities more than 930 times of potential malicious activity on their networks, highlighting the crucial role of government-industry collaboration in defending against cyber threats. To strengthen visibility and defence, organisations should implement tools that continuously monitor traffic and system logs, such as a Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) system. Leveraging User and Entity Behaviour Analytics (UEBA) powered by machine learning can help detect anomalies. Introducing Security Orchestration, Automation, and Response (SOAR) services can accelerate responses to threats. And regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to proactively identify and address weaknesses. 2. Compliance Meeting regulatory obligations and adopting industry-standard cyber security best practices is essential. The Australian Governments 20232030 Cyber Security Strategy aims to enhance regulations, secure government systems, and establish robust incident response frameworks. Compliance plays a vital role in strengthening both national and organisational cyber resilience. Every organisation has industry-specific, geographic, and data-related compliance requirements. A good starting point is conducting a comprehensive risk assessment to map digital assets, identify vulnerabilities, and determine an organisations crown jewels. Ensuring compliance requires implementing robust preventative security controls, such as firewalls, multi-factor authentication, and data protection, and backing this up with real-time monitoring to detect and respond to vulnerabilities. Compliance should be viewed as a baseline rather than the ultimate goal; effective cybersecurity policies should naturally align with broader regulatory requirements. 3. Connectivity Trust is fundamental to digital business; without it everything grinds to a halt. Secure connectivity can insulate you against cyber threats while enabling seamless team collaboration and innovation across work boundaries. It includes several aspects - your network, your devices and users, and your supply chain. A zero trust security framework provides a structured approach by assuming threats can originate both inside and outside the organisation. It operates on three core principles: assume breach, verify every access request through authentication and authorisation, and enforce least privilege to restrict user access to whats necessary for their role. Therefore, understanding identity and access management is critical, encompassing employees, Internet of Things (IoT) devices, and third-party suppliers. It requires mapping out personas and defining access levels to safeguard critical systems. 4. Strategy A well-defined cybersecurity strategy aligns with broader business goals and enables an organisation to adapt effectively to both opportunities and threats. Our recent report highlights that cyber agile organisations leverage security as a mechanism for sustainable growth and enhanced service delivery. Resilience is key, and organisations must establish a minimum viable service model to ensure continuity in the event of a cyber breach. Rather than attempting to restore 100% of systems immediately, the focus should be on restoring critical functions to keep operations running. 5. Skills The global cybersecurity skills shortage plays into the hands of cybercriminals, with organisations grappling to recruit and retain qualified professionals. Organisations need the right mix of generalist and specialist skills to execute their cybersecurity strategy. Company-wide training programs should be in place to address gaps. Closing the skills gap requires broader thinking, such as retraining existing employees, promoting knowledge sharing, and diversifying recruitment efforts, including gender equity initiatives. Collaborating with cybersecurity partners who function as an extension of an organisations team can provide expertise where needed. And leveraging AI-driven security tools can enhance detection, response, and scalability, supplementing but not replacing human expertise. 6. Innovation Cybersecurity can be an enabler of transformation and market competitiveness. Cyber agile organisations invest in innovative security solutions that unlock creativity and drive transformation. BTs cyber agility report reveals that businesses embracing this mindset achieve 24% higher revenue growth than their peers. However, AI is a double-edged sword. The Australian Cyber Threat Report 20232024 warns that cybercriminals are weaponising AI to lower the technical barriers for attacks. A key mindset shift for organisations is to view cyber security as a guiderail, not a guardrail. Security should facilitate rapid innovation by providing clear guidelines rather than road-blocking progress. Additionally, products and services should be secure by design to ensure scalable, built-in security from the outset. Collaboration is also essential. Engaging with industry partners, participating in threat intelligence networks, and leveraging shared insights can significantly enhance cyber agility. Cybersecurity is no longer just about risk mitigation. It is a critical enabler of innovation and growth. By focusing on Awareness, Compliance, Connectivity, Strategy, Skills, and Innovation, organisations can strengthen their cyber agility and unlock new opportunities in an increasingly complex digital world. About John Penn John is the Security Propositions Architect for BT, where he is responsible for developing the go to market messaging for BTs global security portfolio. He also manages outreach partnerships for BT Australasia, working with universities and not for profits to promote cyber security education and female participation in STEM. John joined BT in 2011 and has held a number of roles including Showcase Manager, Head of Marketing, and Security Portfolio Manager. Sources: 1. ASD Cyber Threat Report: https://www.cyber.gov.au/about-us/view-all-content/reports-and- statistics/asd-cyber-threat-report-july-2022-june-2023 2. BT Insights, Cyber Agility: https://business.bt.com/insights/agile-cyber-security/ In the aftermath of the devastating Los Angeles wildfires estimated to cost more than $250 billion, Dryad Networks, a pioneer in ultra-early wildfire detection technology, has announced a successful demonstration of the worlds first fully functional drone prototype solution to autonomously detect, locate, monitor, and eventually extinguish wildfires. At an event on March 27 in Eberswalde, Germany, Dryad demonstrated that its Silvaguard drone system autonomously responded to a controlled fire detected almost instantly by its Silvanet sensor system for ultra-early wildfire detection. Upon detection, a Silvaguard drone was released and autonomously navigated to the sensor location, providing real-time aerial observation to pinpoint the fires location and size, helping to save precious time and resources. This demonstration marks a key milestone toward the vision of autonomous wildfire suppression. Silvaguard drones ultimately will also be able to extinguish wildfires in their initial stages with innovative suppression technology such as foam-based technology or acoustic waves. Carsten Brinkschulte, CEO and co-founder, Dryad Networks, said, With wildfires growing more destructive each year, ultra-early detection alone may no longer be enough as the response time of traditional fire suppression methods often takes too long; we need to extend to rapid and autonomous suppression systems. Silvaguard represents a critical leap forward toward the vision of AI-powered drones extinguishing fires before they spread. This demonstration marked the first step toward a future where we can detect and extinguish fires within minutes from ignition. Dryad is in a unique position to deliver on this vision, because our Silvanet system detects fires within minutes, when the limited capabilities of a drone-based response may still have a chance to extinguish a fire. Sohan Domingo, VP of sales, technology, and operations, Dryad Networks, said, Silvaguards integration of ultra-early detection and drone-based observation represents a significant leap toward managing fires at their critical early stages effectively. This proactive technology allows emergency responders and communities to pinpoint threats and intervene sooner using autonomous drones, protecting natural resources and reducing environmental and economic impacts across vulnerable environments. The drone-based system offers rapid situational awareness by autonomously deploying to fire locations sent by the Silvanet sensors and uses advanced visual AI to assess conditions in real time. In the future, these drones could also support direct fire suppression. Imagine the vast forest landscapes of Australia and New Zealandregions where traditional response methods may face delays due to remoteness. By strategically positioning drones in solar-powered hangars across these terrains, Silvaguard ensures that every second counts, enabling faster response and potentially saving lives and infrastructure. Additionally, data from our current sensors can be transmitted via application programming interfaces (APIs) to third-party applications such as computer-aided dispatch (CAD) systems and fire analytics tools, ensuring seamless integration into existing emergency response ecosystems. Moderated by Lindon Pronto, senior wildfire management expert at the European Forest Institute, the event featured presentations by Dryads CEO Carsten Brinkschulte and Pedro Silva, Dryads chief technology officer. The highlight was a real-time wildfire scenario where Dryads Silvanet sensors detected a fire, sent an alert, and a Silvaguard drone autonomously dispatched from its solar-powered hangar to investigate the threat, providing overhead optical and infrared imagery. Dryad Networks demonstrated that Silvaguard has reached its first major milestone as a fully functional prototype for wildfire suppression using drones. By integrating Silvanets ultra-early wildfire detection using sensors, already deployed in more than fifty installations worldwide, with Silvaguards autonomous drone response, Dryad Networks is laying the groundwork for real-time, automated wildfire prevention. Silvanet and Silvaguard: An integrated solution for wildfire detection and suppression Silvanet is Dryad Networks ultra-early wildfire detection system, designed to detect wildfires at the smouldering stage using solar-powered gas sensors connected via a wireless IoT mesh network. It provides real-time fire alerts, allowing firefighters to respond before flames spread. Silvanet is already fully operational and deployed in multiple regions, including Lebanon, where it detected an unauthorised fire within minutes, enabling rapid intervention. Other deployments are in Italy, Germany, Thailand, Canada, and the United States, where public agencies, utilities, and forestry companies use Silvanet to protect critical infrastructure and natural reserves. Last week, Dryad announced its expansion into Australia and New Zealand. Silvaguard is Dryads next step in wildfire response: an autonomous drone system that will actively suppress wildfires at their earliest stages using suppression technology such as acoustic waves. In the future, Silvanet and Silvaguard will work together. Once Silvanet detects a fire with its solar-powered gas sensors, it will trigger a nearby Silvaguard drone, which will fly to the location, confirm the fire, and deploy suppression technology to stop it before it spreads. While Silvanet detects and alerts, Silvaguard responds and extinguishes, making them a seamless, end-to-end solution for wildfire detection and suppression. The destructive power of wildfires According to Global Forest Watch, which maintains a dashboard of interactive charts and maps summarising statistics about global forests and searchable by country, from 2001 to 2023 there was a total of 138 million hectares (341,005,426 acres) of tree cover lost from fires globally, which is larger than Peru at 128 million hectares. From 2001 to 2023, Germany lost 7,080 hectares (17,495 acres) of tree cover from fires. The Silvaguard roadmap Today, Silvaguard has reached its first major milestone as a fully functional prototype, marking the successful completion of Phase 1. At this stage, the system autonomously responds to a fire detected by Silvanet sensors, triggering a drone to fly to the location for real-time observation and situational awareness. The next phase of Silvaguard will focus on fire suppression capabilities, exploring multiple suppression technologies, including acoustic wave fire suppression. In Phase 2, the drone will undergo rigorous testing and optimisation to assess the effectiveness of different suppression methods, refine drone autonomy, and optimise deployment logistics. After that, the system will be scaled for real-world deployments, integrating multi-drone coordination, and AI-driven decision-making to optimise response times across large, fire-prone areas. Silvaguard is evolving toward a fully autonomous, scalable wildfire suppression network, with the long-term vision of deploying fleets of drones stationed in strategic locations to initiate rapid, automated wildfire response using the most effective suppression technology available. Silvaguard funding and markets The European Union is co-funding the Silvaguard project with 3.8 million of European Region Development Fund (ERDF) grants and loans. As Dryad Networks continues to refine the technology, the company invites investors, policymakers, and wildfire management professionals to collaborate in bringing Silvaguard to real-world deployments. Prospective Silvaguard customers include: Public sector agencies such as national and regional fire departments, forestry and environmental agencies and civil protection authorities in wildfire-prone regions like the United States, Canada, Australia, Southern Europe, and South America. Utilities and infrastructure operators, including power grid companies, railway authorities, and oil and gas firms, which could use Silvaguard to protect critical infrastructure from fire risk. Private forestry and landowners, including commercial forestry firms, pulp and paper producers, and agricultural estates in fire-prone areas, which would benefit from early suppression capabilities. Insurance and reinsurance companies, which could use Silvaguard to reduce wildfire-related claims. Nonprofits and conservation organisations, which may support deployments for environmental protection and climate adaptation. About Dryad Networks | https://www.dryad.net/ Dryad provides ultra-early detection of wildfires and health and growth-monitoring of forests through the Silvanet solution solar-powered gas sensors deployed in a large-scale internet of things (IoT) sensor network. Dryad aims to reduce unwanted wildfires, which cause up to 20 per cent of global CO2 emissions and have a devastating impact on biodiversity. By 2030, Dryad aims to prevent 3.9 million hectares (9.6 million acres) of forest from burning, preventing 1.7 billion metric tons of CO2 emissions. Aryaka, a provider of software defined wide area network (SDWAN) and secure access service edge (SASE) services, has ramped up its presence in the Asia Pacific and Japan regions with the appointment of partners in Japan and Australia and of several senior regional executives. Newly appointed partners are Sydney based ASV Platforms for Australia and New Zealand and network and systems integrator Nippon Information and Communication (NI+C) for Japan. Nitin Ahuja has been named vice president and general manager for APAC and APJ and William Ho, former CEO of Hong Kong Broadband Enterprise Solutions, has been named a strategic advisor for the Asia Pacific region. Other regional appointments include Meng Foo as channel sales director, ASEAN and Abhijit Neelga as channel sales director, India. Foo joined Aryaka from Cato Networks in late 2024. Neelga is a former Southeast Asia partner manager for Google Cloud. Ahuja told ITWire that Aryaka gained about 10-15 percent of its revenues from the APAC region and was looking to lift its regional resources by 25 percent by the end of 2025. The global [SDWAN and SASE] market will be worth about $US28b to $US30b by 2028. Our market in APJ today is between $US4b and $US5b, he said. Aryakas ANZ partner, ASV platforms, was formed specifically for the role (its website is https://www.aryakaanz.com/). Ahuja said the key factor in the companys appointment was the CXO level connections of its staff. ASV is a brand new company. These are people with the right CX connections who came out of their existing operations and businesses to form ASV platforms. I believe our solutions will resonate extremely well with the CX level. ASV is one partner we believe can take us from having a small presence in Australia to the next level. Ahuja said the creation of ASV and its role came out of a meeting with its principals at an event. We had conversations about how we wanted to grow the Australian market, and what we were looking for. We thought they had the right skillset and the right executive connections to help us penetrate that market quite extensively. They're going to be a strategic premier partner for us, which basically means we are operating at the moment through ASV Platforms. They will be one of our very few strategic partners. There could be others, but we're not looking to add them at this stage. Ahuja said Aryaka was looking for partners to serve specific vertical markets: manufacturing, retail, logistics and transportation, healthcare and financial services. He said Aryaka had only a handful of customers in ANZ at present, the local arms of multinationals, but there was ample opportunity to expand, and the company was investing to meet expected demand. We have a PoP in Sydney. We're also investing in a virtual PoP in Melbourne (software running in a commercial data centre). So that tells you that we have commitment to grow the ANZ market. He attributed the forecast 25-30 percent market growth rates to the convergence of SDWAN, a fairly mature market with SASE as customers looked for integrated solutions. A lot of companies are realising the benefits of converged SASE and SDWAN. And I think Aryaka is well positioned to be that single platform offering SDWAN, plus the security components that will help them reduce latency and increase application performance. Aryaka is headquartered in Santa Clara and its main presence in the region is in Bangalore in India, where it has some 300 employees, but Ahuja said Singapore, where he is based would become the regional hub. Prior to joining Aryaka, Ahuja ran the cybersecurity specialisation business for Imperva in APAC and APJ and was previously general manager and sales director for Asia emerging markets at VMware. He spent 14 years in Australia in roles with HP, Microsoft, Xerox and others and holds masters degrees in engineering management and telecommunications from, respectively, the University of Technology Sydney, and the University of New South Wales. He told ITWire he had been attracted to Aryaka by the companys vision and by its technology, acknowledging that the company operated in a crowded market. Many customers today are asking for convergence of network and security, but what they are getting is patchy, because a lot of architectures are driven by acquisitions: companies that have a SASE offering do not have an SDWAN offering, and vice versa. That causes a lot of integration and performance issues, and management complexity. On top of that, most of our competitors are carrying traffic through the public Internet, which is not stable and is completely exposed to security blind spots. At Aryaka, we have our own private network weve built from the ground up, enabling us to provide convergence of network and security. We are probably the only SDWAN provider offering a five nines service level guarantee. Like almost every other IT company, Aryaka sees artificial intelligence having a big impact, both on how it operates its services and on customer requirements driven by AI. Ahuja said AI was a core enabler making networking security smarter, faster and autonomous, and the company was deploying AI in two main ways. We are optimising and protecting customers Gen AI implementations. We want to ensure that these Gen AI workloads perform really well across the network. We are also protecting organisations from knowledge and data leakage from Gen AI applications, while protecting against AI model specific network threats. Also, he said Aryaka had just launched a service in which we use hundreds of AI models to provide a real time visibility into network security, both for AI and the non AI traffic. We're also trying to inherit AI as a company inside our platform for traffic optimisation, to ensure that applications always take the fastest, the most reliable path. This will allow self-healing and reduce downtime without human intervention. Further down the track, Ahuja said the components of SASE/SDWAN were expected to converge into a new entity powered by AI. Today, the word SASE has five components [ChatGPT lists these as: SDWAN, firewall as a service, secure web gateway, cloud access security broker and zero trust network access]. Already you can see the market is converging. In the future, it may be called something else, powered by AI, but at the end of the day, this is all going to be converged into a single platform. You're going to have all the components from security and networking fully converged and running AI for threat models, for threat detection and a security models. That is exactly where we are heading. Our vision is to ensure that we can look at Gen AI applications from a convergence landscape, and use AI embedded into our own platforms to make sure that we have positive security models, we have threat detection covered, and we are detecting threats faster than they're operating. That is the vision we have, and we're moving in that direction. SAP announced it has strengthened its leadership team in Australia and New Zealand (ANZ) with two strategic appointments, accelerating momentum in one of its fastest-growing cloud markets. Brian Senior joins as Executive General Manager, Federal Government, SAP ANZ, to boost public sector engagement. Gretta Svendsen, joining as Executive General Manager - Corporate, SAP ANZ will drive new customer acquisition through partner expansion and SAP's digital channel. Gretta Svendsen, Executive General Manager - Corporate, SAP ANZ. Commenting on the appointments, Angela Colantuono, President and Managing Director SAP ANZ, said, "Businesses across ANZ are navigating increasing pressure to digitise and speedily innovate. For more than 35 years, SAP has worked with ANZ businesses to operate, compete and deliver value. Now, with our modern cloud and AI solutions, both existing and new customers are turning to us to adapt and scale in this era. The combined expertise and vision that Brian and Gretta bring, combined with their deep relationships in the public sector and with partners, will play a vital role as SAP continues to deliver solutions that create real impact." Deepening commitment to the government and public sector SAP is fully committed to helping the government and public sector simplify operations and drive productivity. Strengthening this focus, Brian joins SAP in Canberra with extensive experience of over 20 years in sovereign hyperscale cloud solutions across Federal, Defence, State and Education sectors within ANZ. Brian's deep understanding of the public sector landscape, combined with his direct experience in shaping and delivering cloud solutions previously at both Google Cloud and Amazon Web Services (AWS), will be instrumental in driving SAP's strategic initiatives working with the government and public sector. A key aspect of Brian's role will be to champion the successful adoption and expansion of the relationship between SAP and the Digital Transformation Agency (DTA). "My background and experience in sovereign cloud solutions have provided me with a comprehensive understanding of the unique needs of government agencies. As a long-time Canberran, I am thrilled to join SAP and apply this knowledge locally when working with our customers. With SAP's deep history across the government and public sector in ANZ, I am excited to help even more organisations maximise the transformative impact of AI and cloud technologies, as they accelerate their digital journey while improving efficiency gains, fostering innovation, and delivering enhanced services to citizens," said Brian Senior. Driving growth through partners and digital channels Recognising the crucial role partners play in driving value for customers across their entire lifecycle, for 2025 and beyond, SAP ANZ has expanded the opportunities for partners to work directly with customers. In her new role, Gretta will be responsible for accelerating SAP's partner-led growth strategy and strengthening collaboration and operational excellence to deliver greater value to customers. Building on a successful trial across Australia and New Zealand in 2024, she will lead the expansion of this go-to-market model, enabling partners to play a pivotal role in accelerating innovation and business transformation. With a strong digital sales record, Gretta is poised to leverage the SAP Digital Hub in ANZ to provide customers with resources and automation to maximise their investment. "I'm always excited by new challenges and driven by helping customers transform. With AI reshaping business operations, we're in an era of innovation. SAP is poised to lead, and to stay ahead, we must scale through our partners and digital channelsthat's the future," said Gretta Svendsen, who will be based in Sydney. Customers can tap into insights from Cloudflares global network one of the largest in the world which blocked an average of 227 billion cyber threats each day during Q4 2024 Cloudflare, Inc. (NYSE: NET), the leading connectivity cloud company, today launched the Cloudforce One threat events platform to provide real-time intelligence on cyberattacks occurring across the Internet. Based on telemetry from Cloudflares massive global network, Cloudforce Ones threat events platform helps security teams get more done with the same resources by spotting issues faster, responding to threats quickly and staying one step ahead of how cybercriminals operate and what systems they target. Every day, cybercriminals change tactics, finding new vulnerabilities to exploit and ways to overwhelm their victims. Whats more, cybercrime costs are projected to reach $10.5 trillion in 2025. For organizations to keep up, they need to understand the threat landscape they face. However, traditional threat intelligence feeds often lack meaningful or complete context for why a threat event was placed on the feedsimilar to getting a warning without an explanation or path to resolution. Optimal threat intelligence feeds need to cut through the noise to deliver specific, actionable information about cybercriminals, emerging risks, and indicators of compromise (IoCs) that directly impact an organization's security posture. Not all threat feeds are reliable or timely. The industry is plagued by insights that are stale or fragmented, significantly increasing organizations chances of falling victim to hackers, said Matthew Prince, co-founder and CEO, Cloudflare. Cloudflare has built one of the worlds largest global networks, which positions us to be one of the only companies that has access to the most complete and accurate threat intelligence. Our unique robust visibility makes our threat events platform the most comprehensive option to move the needle. Built on Cloudflare Workers AI, the threat events platform is designed to both scale and maintain resiliency during surges in data that reflect the unpredictable nature of attacks on the Internet. Starting today, the Cloudforce One threat events platform can help organizations: Gain a single view of the constant attack stream across the Internet : Now, organizations will have access to an attacker timelapse view powered by threat insights no one else has, designed to answer strategic questions and drill down into the details of an attack. This approach ensures that users have access to the most relevant information at their fingertips. : Now, organizations will have access to an attacker timelapse view powered by threat insights no one else has, designed to answer strategic questions and drill down into the details of an attack. This approach ensures that users have access to the most relevant information at their fingertips. Take action against todays sophisticated threat actors : Security teams can tap into personalized information for a specific environment, industry or region. Threat events provide users with actionable IoCs and event summaries, including the associated threat actor group, with profiles that break down methods and map tactics. : Security teams can tap into personalized information for a specific environment, industry or region. Threat events provide users with actionable IoCs and event summaries, including the associated threat actor group, with profiles that break down methods and map tactics. Boost efficiency and reaction speed of security teams: Threat events provide valuable context around the data gathered, allowing security teams to prioritize activity and focus limited resources on the most pressing threats. Businesses can significantly improve their threat intelligence ecosystem and overall security posture by routing and integrating the right threat intelligence into cybersecurity tools. Organizations need actionable threat intelligence to understand the scale of threats they are up against, and how the aggression and techniques of hackers are evolving, said Blake Darche, Head of Cloudforce One, Cloudflare. Most industry tools flood security teams with threat intelligence that's irrelevant, often leading to false positives and/or negatives. Cloudforce Ones threat events platform keeps customers focused on the most pressing threats to their direct environment, from trivial risks up through complex use cases like the exploitation of CVEs or insider threats. MATTOON The City Council is set Tuesday evening to consider implementing the city manager form of government and appointing City Administrator Kyle Gill as the interim manager. The council also will consider agreements preparing for widening Swords Drive to include new turning lanes at its intersection with Illinois 16 and lighting a planned tunnel for the Lincoln Prairie Grass Trail under an eventually reconfigured Interstate 57 during its meeting at 6:30 p.m. in City Hall, 208 N. 19th St. Regarding the city manager, the council will vote on establishing this form of government and amending the city's ordinances to codify this management position. Mattoon residents voted 3,922-3,092 in a Nov. 5 referendum, placed on the ballot by Citizens to Advance Mattoon Prosperity, to switch from the current commissioner form of government to the city manager style. Administrative tasks now handled by council members, as department commissioners with the city administrator's guidance, will be shifted to a professional city manager under the new form of government while the council continues serving in its planning and policy-making roles. Mayor Rick Hall has proposed appointing Gill as interim city manager, a proposal that the council will vote on Tuesday. The appointment would be effective that evening if approved. The city is currently reviewing job applicants, including Gill, to fill the city manager position on a long-term basis. The proposed contract for the interim position, which includes a $145,000 annual salary, will terminate immediately upon the appointment and installation of a city manager by the council. The city will provide three months pay at the end of the contract period as a lump sum into an escrow account only to be released by Gill if he is not retained as the manager. "In the event you are retained by the city, the funds in the account will automatically revert to the city on the effective date of the new contract between you and the city establishing you as the city manager. In the event a new contract is not executed within one month following the termination of this contract, the funds in the account will be paid to you within one month," the contract states. Regarding Swords Drive, the council will vote on an intergovernmental agreement through which the Illinois Department of Transportation would provide $114,350 to help fund an engineering study on widening this roadway to include new turning lanes at Illinois 16. The council also will consider accepting the Farnsworth Group's $228,700 bid to conduct this study, with the remainder of the costs being covered by the city's motor fuel tax funds. "With all the development related to the Emerald Acres development (to the south), there is anticipation of major demands that will be placed upon this intersection now and more in the future," said Public Works Director Dave Clark in his council decision request. "IDOT (already) plans improvements to the I-57 interchange east of Swords Drive and resurfacing Illinois 16 to the west of Swords." In a related matter, the council also will vote on an agreement through which IDOT will provide $14,000 to cover the city's costs of designing lighting for the tunnel that will take the Lincoln Prairie Grass Trail under I-57 when its interchange at Illinois 16 is eventually reconfigured. The council will consider accepting Farnsworth's bid for this project, as well. The Lincoln Prairie Grass bicycle and pedestrian path is currently routed through an underpass at I-57, but this bridge is set to be eliminated as part of the interchange upgrade project. "IDOT has agreed to pay for the design of lighting the trail tunnel using solar lighting," Clark said. He added that, "The (tunnel) construction costs will be 100% covered by IDOT in their contract for the construction." SPRINGFIELD On a sweltering July day in Springfield, Heather Anderson, a 47-year-old resident of the capital city, walked out onto her front porch and into a nightmare. At her feet was a package she hadnt expected: a delivery containing her prescribed Stelara, a vital injection that keeps her psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis under control. The medication is supposed to remain chilled between 35 and 46 degrees Fahrenheit. But with the package baking in the summer heat on her porch, that was not the case. The ice packs were warm, Anderson said. The shot was warm. Panicked, she called the company that supplies her Stelara, Accredo, a specialty pharmacy and subsidiary of Express Scripts and the third-largest pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) in the United States. Anderson explained her concerns, and Accredos representative told her to take the shot anyway. For two weeks, Anderson hoped for the best. Then the symptoms hit. By then, the arthritis was full blown, she said. Her body was covered head to toe in red, scaly psoriasis patches. It's like a horrible, horrible, horrible sunburn all over your body, Anderson said. Soon after, her joints flared up. She could no longer walk barefoot due to the pain in her feet. Her hands were so weak she couldnt open bottles or hold objects. All of her joints elbows, knees, ankles, hips became painful when her arthritis flared. Even her toes swelled up like little sausages. Im in tears because it hurts so bad, Anderson said. But Andersons battle wasnt just with her body. It was also with Accredo. She had already paid a $150 copay for a damaged injection. Now she was being told shed need to pay it again for a replacement. I've already paid the $150 and that was for a bad shot, Anderson said. Why do I have to pay another $150 just to get a replacement? After weeks of calls, Accredo finally relented and sent a new dose, without charging her another $150. To this day, Anderson dreads delivery days. But she has no choice. Her insurer, through Express Scripts, requires her to get Stelara by mail from Accredo. She cannot pick it up from her local pharmacy. What are PBMs? Andersons experience isnt unique and it traces back to the often unseen role of PBMs in the U.S. health care system. PBMs are the middlemen between health insurance companies, drug manufacturers and pharmacies. Originally, they were meant to help manage prescription drug benefits for health plans, employers and government programs such as Medicaid. Today, many pharmacists, and others in the pharmaceutical industry, argue that PBMs are focused more on profit than patient care, steering patients toward their own vertically integrated pharmacies like CVS Caremark directing patients toward CVS, or OptumRx toward UnitedHealth-affiliated providers. Gov. JB Pritzker took aim at PBMs during his State of the State address in February, and is backing a legislative measure that would rein them in. One of the great ironies of our modern age is that breakthroughs in research are producing medications that can treat and even cure long-standing chronic diseases, but the high costs of these drugs are making them unaffordable for people who need them the most, Pritzker said during his address. What's causing that? Well, patients, health care providers and independent pharmacists will all tell you that pharmacy benefit managers, or PBMs, are driving up prices. The legislation, SB 2385, filed by state Sen. David Koehler, D-Peoria, would curb PBM abuses by stopping steering, mandating fair reimbursement and requiring PBMs to submit annual pricing reports. The bill, which has been assigned to the Senate Executive Committee, is still being negotiated. The Pharmaceutical Care Management Association, the national association representing the countrys PBMs, told Lee Enterprises in a statement that the "core mission" of PBMs was to reduce drug costs for patients. "PBMs are working on behalf of Illinois employers, unions and patients in the fight against high drug costs," said PCMA spokesman Greg Lopes. "In fact, PBMs save Illinois patients and employers $1,154 per person per year." " PBMs for pharmacy closures is not based on facts," Lopes said. "PBMs recognize the vital role Illinois pharmacies play in creating access to prescription drugs for patients and are supporting community pharmacies in rural areas through programs that increase reimbursements. But Pritzker, who last year took on health insurance companies in a successful effort to ban the cost control measure known as step therapy, along with reining in prior authorization, said PBMs extract extra profit from patients through opaque and often predatory tactics. They are not doctors, but they work with insurance companies to deny people the drugs and treatments doctors prescribe, the governor said. Not only are they driving up health care costs for Illinois families by hundreds of millions of dollars per year, but they are also putting small, local, independent pharmacies out of business. According to the American Medical Association, Nationally, insurers that are vertically integrated with a PBM covered 72% of people with a commercial or Medicare Part D (prescription drug plan). Essentially, this means the four largest PBMs CVS Health, Optum Rx, Express Scripts and Prime Therapeutics dominate the market. This monopolization has ripple effects. Independent pharmacies are being squeezed out of business, unable to compete or even survive. Patients then lose access to nearby pharmacies, and pharmacy deserts begin to grow. In urban areas, a pharmacy desert is defined as a low-income area with limited vehicle access and no pharmacy within a half mile, or no pharmacy within a mile regardless of transportation. In rural areas, a pharmacy desert is considered an area where a community of 500 people or more is located at least 10 miles from the nearest pharmacy. The other issue is that PBMs are reimbursing pharmacies, especially local, independent pharmacies, well below the actual cost of the drug. We cannot dispense a brand-name medication if it means we're going to lose $50, $100, $350, said Lauren Young, owner of Dales Southlake Pharmacy in Decatur and Colees Corner Drug in Forsyth. We've seen multiple hundreds of dollars of loss on a single prescription, and that's just not feasible for a small business to have to shoulder and that's just for one patient. And its not just the drug cost. PBMs also underpay dispensing fees, which cover costs for pill bottles, labels, the salary of the pharmaceutical tech who is providing counseling on the medication, and even electricity. All of those things need to be accounted for, because no pharmacy and I don't care if you're Walgreens or you're the corner drug store nobody can sell enough on the front end to ever make up for the losses in the prescription end, said Monique Whitney, executive director of Pharmacists United for Truth and Transparency. Pharmacies didn't go into the business to sell sundries. They're in the business of dispensing medication. How have PBMs affected Illinois? Between 2009 and 2021, nearly 838 pharmacies closed in Illinois, according to researchers at Southern Illinois University in Edwardsville. Pharmacy owners have cited poor reimbursement, rising overhead costs and patient loss due to PBM steering as reasons for closing locations. Dave Falk, who owns 10 independent pharmacies across central and southern Illinois, including the now-closed Sav-Mor pharmacy in Shelbyville, the Family Drug in Shelbyville and Bertram Pharmacy in Robinson, has had to close five of his pharmacies in the past four years. Three of the five were the only (pharmacies) in the community, Falk said. It left those communities without a pharmacy. Falk said residents in those areas now without his pharmacies are having to travel upward of 18 miles to get to the closest pharmacy, meaning they are living in pharmacy deserts. The same study from SIUE found that 73% of counties in Illinois fit the definition of pharmacy deserts. PBMs have hidden in the weeds for decades, Falk said. In the last five or six years, they've gotten so egregious in their actions that it used to be 10% of your business that you've lost money on because of their payment methods. (That) is one thing. When its 80%, it's just not sustainable. David Bagot, owner of Petersburg Pharmacy and president of the Illinois Pharmacists Association, has seen similar trends. He said patients are also giving up essential medications due to cost. Medicare Part D is a very unique federal benefit that has a deductible phase. And every year, (patients on Medicare Part D) come in and they're on Eliquis, which my cost is $575 for a 30-day supply. They come in to get their Eliquis. They're like, what? And I've seen people turn around, walk out yeah, wow not get it, find out they had a heart attack, and were in the hospital a week later, Bagot said. Bagot said his patients, like Falks, have also been steered to PBM-integrated pharmacies. Patients of Bagots who have lower incomes have been hurt by steering practices the most. The people who are doing well financially in our economy, they can just drive to Springfield, right? It's an inconvenience. It's not a massive problem, Bagot said. But what about the people who are on a fixed income because they're old or they're the poor, once again, in this (freaking) nation, we're seeing the people hurt the worst by this are the people who are most economically vulnerable. Editor's note: This story has been updated to include a comment from the Pharmaceutical Care Management Association. Criminal Trial for Episcopal Priest and Alleged Child Rapist Richard Losch Set for April 8 NEWS PROVIDED BY Anglican Watch March 31, 2025 ALEXANDRIA, Va., March 31, 2025 /Standard Newswire/ -- A criminal trial of Episcopal priest and alleged child rapist Richard Losch is set for April 8-9, 2025 in the Grafton New Hampshire Superior Court. The case is State v. Richard Losch, docket: 215-2023-CR-0609. The case stems from allegations dating from the 1970s that Losch drove a boy across state lines to a Boy Scout camp in New Hampshire, where he sexually assaulted the boy. A particularly troubling aspect of the case is that the Episcopal Church has brushed off the issue at every level. Indeed, despite more than a dozen pleas for help from the victim and intervention by an ELCA bishop, officials at every level of the church ignored the matter. Those who did so include: Then-Presiding Bishop Michael Curry Bishop for Pastoral Development Todd Ousley Title IV Intake Officer for Bishops Barb Kempf President of the House of Deputies Julia Alaya Harris National Youth Ministry Officer Canon Myra B. Garnes Safe Church Manager Bronwyn Skov Assistant to the Presiding Bishop Sharon Jones Bishop of Alabama, Glenda Curry Alabama Title IV Intake Officer Rob Morpeth Executive Assistant to Massachusetts Bishop Alan Gates, Laura Simons Diocese of Massachusetts Title IV Intake Officer Starr Anderson Furthermore, one retired bishop, Herman Holly Hollerith said, in an email he accidentally sent to the alleged victim, I got this this morning. It's from "Jack". I'm just glad it's directed toward Barbara and not us. Needless to say, I wouldn't touch this complaint with a 1000 ft. pole. Additionally, Alabama diocesan staff lied to Massachusetts police investigators, saying that Losch did not have access to children and was not serving at church. This despite serving as acting rector at two churches and living close to a school building. Alabama diocesan staff also lied to an ELCA bishop who requested assistance with this matter and to the ELCA legal department. None of the church officials identified above have apologized or accepted responsibility in this matter. Nor has the church made any effort to comply with mandated reporting laws of the various jurisdictions involved. A few church staff did help, including Diocese of New Hampshire Canon to the Ordinary Tina Pickering, Connecticut Bishop Ian Douglas (now retired), and the Rev. Canon Robin Hammeal-Urban, who was profoundly helpful and supportive throughout. As a matter of law, Losch is innocent until found guilty in a court of competent jurisdiction. Anglican Watch encourages other media outlets to cover the story, and for all Christians to demand accountability from the Episcopal Church and an end to corruption in the denomination. Founded in 2015, Anglican Watch is the unofficial watchdog of the Episcopal Church, but covers both sexual and non-sexual abuse in all faith traditions. Anglican Watch is online at www.anglicanwatch.com. SOURCE Anglican Watch CONTACT: Eric Bonetti, 240-630-3767, eric@anglicanwatch.com A 72-year-old Nebraska man accused of stabbing a young mother of two to death nearly two decades ago in her home in Colorado agreed to be taken back to the state to face a murder charge for it at a court hearing Wednesday in York. For now, Darrell Burklund waits in a jail cell for law enforcement there to come get him. To be clear, the story of Jessica Bejarano's stabbing death in 2007 and what followed is a tale of woe. The only witnesses, her 4-year-old daughter and 2-year-old son. A husband under suspicion. His brother-in-law, the man who found her body, later killing himself, his wife and her mother. It wasn't easy to tie Burklund to 25-year-old Jessica Bejarano's stabbing death, as evidenced through the 41-page affidavit for his arrest obtained by the Journal Star. Burklund had practically been a stranger to her, a service technician on the new modular home Jessica and her husband, Daniel, had just bought in Frederick, Colorado. If they found a door that didn't close right or caulk that needed fixing, they called Summit Crest Homes. They sent "Darrell from Nebraska," a warranty worker who traveled back and forth to Colorado every couple of weeks, to take care of it. There were breadcrumbs that helped. Darrell's name was jotted on a work order March 22, 2007. Keys for the Bejaranos' front door weren't working. But the story starts two weeks later, on April 6, 2007, a Friday. When Jessica didn't respond to her husband's texts and calls all morning, he called his sister, Alisha, who lived nearby and asked her to check on her. A half hour later, she called to say Jessica was home. Her car was in the driveway and the garage door was up. All seemed fine. After lunch, when Jessica still wasn't answering, he called back Alisha to send her husband, Cimmeron Jones, to check on her. At 2:18 p.m., according to phone records, Alisha called to say her husband was headed over to the house. Twelve minutes later, Frederick police were called to the Bejaranos' home on Larkspur Circle, where they found Jessica dead in the bathroom, a single stab wound to her chest and defensive wounds on her hands. Investigators collected clippings from under her fingernails and noted damage to the shower door. The screws holding the full-length hinge had partially separated from the glass door. Interviews quickly followed in an attempt to find out who had killed her and why. In an interview with police the same day, Daniel Bejarano, Jessica's husband, said his sister, who had taken the kids, told him the 4-year-old, who witnessed it, had mentioned "a big man" who pushed something into her. Daniel Bejarano repeatedly and adamantly denied killing his wife. In another interview two days later, he mentioned a suspicious biker who had been seen in the area two weeks earlier and "Darrell" who had worked in their home "and he made Jessica nervous." Darrell was a big man, he said. The young witness would be interviewed five times over the next three years. Among the bits and pieces, the Bejaranos' daughter said that a guy had come in, a big man. He had a toolbox and white hair, but no hair on the top. Jessica's best friend told investigators Jessica had asked her to come over one morning because the maintenance man was coming over and she thought the way he stared at her was creepy. Still, the investigation petered out. Witnesses were disappearing. In 2014, Cimmeron Johns, who had found Jessica's body, killed his wife, Alisha, and her mother, Sheri Pachello, then himself. Then came the cold-case investigation. In early 2020, a retired Colorado Bureau of Investigations agent was contracted to review cold cases and started looking closer at "Darrell from Nebraska." He found Darrell Burklund's name jotted on a work order in the case file. On Nov. 13, 2020, another CBI agent interviewed him at a truck stop near Fort Collins and he agreed to give his DNA on a swab for testing. He said he remembered working on the house and gave details of the time period more than 13 years earlier, and said he took a week of vacation after he heard about the murder because there wasn't any work. He stayed in Nebraska and helped his dad. CBI Special Agent Francine Gonzales noted Burklund's extremely detailed recollection of events around the time Jessica was killed as unusual. "From my training and experience, it is unlikely that any person would recall a random date with such specific detail unless the date/day was associated with a major event in their life (such as Sept. 11, 2001, the death of a family member, or another significant date in history)," she wrote. The case was assigned to CBI Agent Kevin Koback, of their newly formed cold case unit, in July 2022 and Burklund's DNA swab was turned in for comparison to the unknown male DNA profile from nail clippings and a hole in the drywall of the bathroom. In July 2024, Burklund was determined to be the likely source. But there was an issue. In September, investigators learned the case had been considered "affected" in relation to the investigation into Missy Woods, a retired forensic scientist in Colorado accused of manipulating DNA data. Woods, who was charged in January for her alleged misdeeds, had collected and analyzed the DNA that had been collected from Bejarano's fingernail clippings and the hole in the wall in 2007. So DNA testing was redone in October, with the fingernail clippings again coming back consistent with Burklund, according to Koback. In December, Daniel Bejarano agreed to a video interview by CBI agents. He said he kissed his wife and told her he loved her before he left for work. She was drawing a bath. At 5:19 a.m. he'd gotten a call from her number, when he called her back, the call was picked up but there was noise and no one talking. Shown a picture of Burklund, Bejarano immediately confirmed he was the maintenance man who had been to their house and "creeped" Jessica out enough she didn't want to be alone with him. Burklund, who had been working at Champion Homes in York, agreed to an interview March 14. Gonzales, the CBI special agent, said in the interview that day, Burklund confessed to two other agents, saying Jessica had opened the door in a towel. He told her he needed to go to Nebraska, and they argued. In the struggle, she scratched him, and he lost it. He had a knife, and he stabbed her. She fell to the floor. The children woke up in the bedroom and were crying. He panicked and left. He got his work truck and headed back to Nebraska, throwing the knife out the window along the way. The investigators say Burklund wrote a letter to the eyewitness, calling what happened "an accident and bad judgment" and saying he was sorry it happened. "I don't expect your forgiveness. My conscience will torture me for the rest of my life," he'd allegedly wrote. Burklund was charged with Jessica Bejarano's second-degree murder later that day. Physicians are healers; they were not meant to be hunted. Yet in modern America, the very system that once revered physicians has turned against them, weaponizing regulations and laws into weapons and transforming healers into criminals. The Controlled Substances Act, health care fraud statutes, and a labyrinth of federal regulations have ensnared countless physicians in a trap of legal peril, branding them as fraudsters when their only crime was dedication to their patients. For centuries, physicians have stood as pillars of trust, ethics, and sacrifice. Among the signers of the Declaration of Independence were four physicians (Josiah Bartlett, Lyman Hall, Benjamin Rush, and Matthew Thornton). This underscores the foundational role of medicine in American democracy. But today, white coats are being exchanged for prison uniforms, as prosecutors pursue doctors with a zeal more fitting of criminal kingpins than health care providers. In 2018, Thomas Sachy, MD, a neuropsychiatrist from Georgia, was indicted for allegedly operating a pill mill and causing the deaths of two patientscharges carrying mandatory minimum sentences of 20 years each. Despite his commitment to patient care, he was arrested alongside his family members and endured nearly three years of incarceration before his trial. In May 2023, a federal judge dismissed the most severe charges against him, highlighting significant flaws in the prosecutions case. Dr. Sachys ordeal underscores the peril physicians face when legal systems conflate medical judgment with criminal activity. His case serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for judicial reform to protect health care providers from unwarranted legal actions that not only devastate their lives but also deprive patients of essential medical care. In 2021, Dr. Loey Kousa, a Kentucky primary care physician, was also acquitted of all charges after facing pill mill allegations. His legal nightmare included aggressive federal tactics that sought to portray compassionate pain management as criminal drug dealing. The jury saw through it. They found no intent to commit fraud, no conspiracy, no crime. Dr. Kousas case reveals a wider pattern: the conflation of aggressive medicine with criminal intent. When prosecutors substitute clinical discretion with courtroom assumptions, it is not just the physician who suffers; patients are left without care. In my case, I was acquitted by a federal jury in May 2024 after facing serious health care fraud charges. The case, built on flimsy evidence and flawed audits, was emblematic of how prosecutorial overreach has become normalized in the name of compliance. Despite the acquittal, the damage to reputation and livelihood was severe. Yet I am fighting back in a powerful Hyde Motion (a federal law that grants those frivolously prosecuted the right to sue the government for attorney fees and expenses). Court records detail a disturbing pattern of conduct by federal prosecutors after I was called schizophrenic by a U.S. attorney in open court and smeared in a press release by U.S. Attorney Jacqueline Romero as one of the dirty doctors who poisoned our communities. The irony? I was found not guilty on all charges. This kind of prosecutorial zealotry reflects a fundamental erosion of the presumption of innocence. Now unfolding in Philadelphia is the case of our colleague Dr. Neil Anand, a pain management specialist accused under federal drug and fraud laws. Dr. Anand was targeted using data manipulation and inconsistent standards within Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs (PDMPs). He is a 9/11 hero who was at Ground Zero providing health care to first responders, but now caught in the crosshairs of a system that punishes statistical outliers, not actual wrongdoing. The Anand case follows a familiar playbook: broad accusations, damning press releases, and legal proceedings that presume guilt based on incomplete or misleading data. If history is any guide, we may be watching yet another unjust prosecution unfold. The language used by federal authorities is often inflammatory and prejudicial. U.S. Attorney Jacqueline Romeros press release referencing dirty doctors was issued just days before she was fired. Though she did not name any doctors, the timing and context made the insinuation clear. Such rhetoric is not just inappropriate; it is dangerous. Physicians are not beyond accountability, but they deserve fair treatment, not vilification. When prosecutors act as judge, jury, and media spin masters, they corrode public trust and chill the practice of medicine. The statistics are sobering. According to Pew Research, only 0.4 percent of federal defendants are found not guilty. The odds are stacked against any physician who finds themselves in the governments crosshairs. Most plea out, not because they are guilty, but because the risk of fighting back is too great. The Hyde Amendment, intended to provide compensation for unjust prosecutions, has been used successfully only a handful of times. Dr. Rifai is now fighting for such relief, highlighting how rarely physicians find justice even after vindication. Worse still, racial and ethnic bias cannot be ignored, as physicians are denied the standard presumption of innocence in DOJ press releases. Every unjust prosecution leaves a trail of wreckage: ruined reputations, shuttered practices, and patients left stranded. These are not victimless bureaucratic missteps; they are systemic failures with human costs. When pain physicians are prosecuted for high prescribing patterns, we forget that those numbers often reflect complex patient populations with real needs. When psychiatrists are accused of billing fraud, we ignore the administrative chaos and opaque rules that govern health care documentation. Justice is not served by targeting physicians who are doing their best in a broken system. We need reform, not retribution. That includes: Clearer guidelines for health care billing and prescribing. Accountability for federal prosecutors who misuse their power. Reform of DEA administrative processes to ensure due process. Equal application of the presumption of innocence, regardless of race, religion, or specialty. Physicians must not be made scapegoats for systemic dysfunction. It is time to end the criminalization of care. The war on health care fraud has too often become a war on healers. Cases like those of Drs. Sachy, Kousa, and Anand illustrate how prosecutorial overreach undermines justice, harms patients, and drives good physicians out of practice. We must return to a system where physicians are respected, due process is honored, and justice is blind. Because when we criminalize compassion, we do not just destroy careerswe destroy care itself. ADVERTISEMENT Muhamad Aly Rifai is a practicing internist and psychiatrist in the Greater Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania. He is the CEO, chief psychiatrist and internist of Blue Mountain Psychiatry. He holds the Lehigh Valley Endowed Chair of Addiction Medicine. Dr. Rifai is board-certified in internal medicine, psychiatry, addiction medicine, and psychosomatic medicine. He is a fellow of the American College of Physicians, the Academy of Psychosomatic Medicine, and the American Psychiatric Association. He is the former president of the Lehigh Valley Psychiatric Society. He can be reached on LinkedIn, Facebook, X @muhamadalyrifai, YouTube, and his website. You can also read his Wikipedia entry and publications. Minhwa class (Photo by Hyemin Lee) For the U.S. military community in Pyeongtaek, a local university is fostering cultural connections through free Korean art classes for military spouses and children. At Hangyeong National Universitys Pyeongtaek campus, military spouses can learn Minhwa, a traditional Korean folk painting style, and kids can take 3D printing classes. Under the direction of Professor Jeanny Lim, the classes are designed to teach students new skills and also create a bridge between the local community and the largest military community in Korea. Professor Lim (Photo by Hyemin Lee) These programs are not for short-term experiences, Lim said. Each student will ultimately be cultural ambassadors who can foster mutual understanding between the two communities. Students get access to professional facilities, high-quality resources and support from trained university students. More importantly, the courses sponsored by the Ministry of Education in Korea provide a safe and reliable learning environment from an accredited university. The campus is about nine kilometers from Osan Air Base and 15 kilometers from Camp Humphreys, making it easily accessible for the base community. Anyone who is interested in participating in the program can inquire by phone or email. Location: 5-3 Jangan-dong, Pyeongtaek-si, Gyeonggi-do (Hankyeong National University Pyeongtaek Campus), Naver Map Eligible participants: Anyone from U.S. military community in Pyeongtaek Class schedule: 9:30 a.m. 12:30 p.m. on Wednesdays Inquire: email - uddesign@hknu.ac.kr or text at 010-2764-1438 *This article was written at the request of the Pyeongtaek SOFA Support Center. (The Pyeongtaek SOFA Support Center, operated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, serves as a bridge connecting the local community with the U.S. military community in Pyeongtaek.) Korean traditional painting class (Minhwa) Minhwa class (Photo by Hyemin Lee) Minhwa class (Photo by Hyemin Lee) Minhwa class (Photo by Hyemin Lee) Students work (Photo by Hyemin Lee) Students work (Photo by Hyemin Lee) Minhwa is a folk painting form depicting the lives of commoners and natural elements like flowers, butterflies and tigers dating back to the Joseon Dynasty. The art form employs techniques and media like traditional hanji paper, natural pigments and animal hair paintbrushes. Each brushstroke connects students with the joy, beauty and traditions of historical Korea while allowing them to express their own creativity. Sharon Galyon, a Minhwa student from Osan Air Base, said the class was a dream come true for her and a great opportunity to learn about Korean art while interacting with locals. Most art programs only offered one-day sessions or short-term classes, Galyon said. This Minhwa class has allowed me to attend for nearly a year, giving me the time to fully immerse myself in the beauty of traditional Korean art. The class is led by Eunha Park, a professional Minhwa artist, and does not require prior art experience. Students are carefully guided to create their own masterpieces in a supportive group setting. Later, they even have opportunities to showcase their work during planned exhibits open to the public. Art exhibit at Osan AB Ms. Shannon Ng at the exhibition (Photo by Hyemin Lee) Exhibition (Photo by Hyemin Lee) Earlier this year, more than 20 pieces of students art were displayed through a temporary exhibit at Osan Air Base. The exhibit had its opening at the Osan Air Base Officers Club on March 6, then the pieces were displayed until March 12 at the base library. The exhibition attracted members of the military community seeking to appreciate the work of the Minhwa artists. At the opening, Shannon Ng, a student representative, expressed gratitude for both Lim and Parks commitment to military spouses and children. Ng said the class helped instill a deeper connection to Korean traditions and art, while also cultivating friendships. 3D printing class 3D printing class (Photo by Hyemin Lee) Ezra Latterell, a 3D printing class student (Photo by Hyemin Lee) 3D printing class (Photo by Hyemin Lee) Students work (Photo by Hyemin Lee) Students work (Photo by Hyemin Lee) 3D printing class (Photo by Hyemin Lee) (Photo by Hyemin Lee) The universitys 3D course gives children the opportunity to design and create accessories or cups using cutting-edge printing technology. Students get to take their creations home, which in turn can be meaningful souvenirs of their time spent in Korea. For Ezra Latterell, a student from Osan Air Base, the class has meant learning new skills from Professor Giwon Kim to create more 3D-printed objects. I usually build a paper elevator or a LEGO city at home, and now Im learning new skills to make more fun stuff through this class, Latterell said. A cat is the first thing I made! Children are encouraged to bring any questions or ideas back to the classroom. By blending technical education with opportunities to connect with the local community, the program provides valuable learning experiences for participants from U.S. military bases in Pyeongtaek. Brian Baumgartner, who played the endearingly dim-witted accountant Kevin Malone on NBC's "The Office," can't escape the role that defined him for nine seasons. He even recently appeared in an episode of the NBC drama "Suits LA," playing himself. In the show, he asked his attorney to find a way to do away with the character so he could realize his dream of becoming an Oscar-worthy dramatic actor. Loyal "Office" fans surely caught the inside gag. In fact, Baumgartner has for years served as a happy ambassador for the beloved mockumentary about the employees of a Scranton, Pennsylvania, paper company. He hosted a podcast celebrating "The Office" and turned it into a bestselling oral history book. Kevin Malone's famous chili paved the way for two cookbooks. Many hit shows from decades ago have been embraced by audiences thanks to exposure on Netflix and other streaming platforms. But even among that group, "The Office" which is celebrating its 20th anniversary lives in rare air. While never a blockbuster hit during its initial run that began on March 24, 2005, streaming has helped turn "The Office," an adaptation of the eponymous British series, into an enduring pop culture touchstone. 'A very powerful thing' The familiar cast members have ridden the wave, evoking their famous roles in TV commercials for Cheerios, Panera Bread, Bush's Beans, Fox's telecast of the 2020 Super Bowl and AT&T Business. The show is being licensed for toys (Lego, Little People, Funko Pop! and Polly Pockets) and children's books including "The Office: A Day at Dunder Mifflin Elementary." Tickets for an annual unofficial fan convention known as the Reunion, to be held in New Jersey this year, go for as much as $400. "The Office" continues to have a stylistic influence on TV comedy as well. Its faux-documentary style reminiscent of Christopher Guest movies became a template for other successful sitcoms including "Modern Family," "Abbott Elementary" and most recently NBC's "St. Denis Medical." While fans have been content to rewatch "The Office," they will finally get a spinoff series from executive producer Greg Daniels. The still-to-be-named series, set at a Midwestern newspaper that depends on citizen journalists, will premiere this year on Peacock. The series will take place in "The Office" universe with alum Oscar Nunez joining the cast. (Daniels, protective of "The Office" canon, noted that Oscar Martinez was the only character who did not have a life-changing resolution in the finale). Baumgartner has helped feed "The Office" popularity machine for years, but he's still taken aback at how much the show means to fans who have discovered it since it ended. "They have an intense need to tell me how the show helped them through a difficult time," Baumgartner said. "A medical condition, a family issue, a domestic problem. It's a very powerful thing." Streaming juggernaut Even with its cringe-generating moments, often created by Steve Carell's malapropism-prone Michael Scott, the familial atmosphere of Dunder Mifflin is a welcome escape at a time of political division and angry social discourse. "In this fractured society, just seeing and feeling a disparate group of people who care about each other is rare, particularly in TV right now," Baumgartner said. While streaming services entered bidding wars for "Friends," "Seinfeld" and other hit sitcoms of the past, "The Office" quietly outperformed them. Nielsen data showed it was the most streamed show in 2020, a time when more consumers were turning to Netflix, where "The Office" was streaming, during the COVID-19 pandemic. That demand translated into a big-money deal. Comcast Corp. shelled out $100 million to its own Universal Television unit that produced "The Office" to bring the series to its Peacock streaming service in 2021 five times what Netflix was paying, according to people familiar with the deal who were not authorized to comment publicly. The series is the most popular program on the service. NBC says the average Peacock viewer has watched 59 episodes of the series. Peacock enlisted the show's producers to create "super fan" episodes that restore material cut for its original 22 minute broadcast run-time (they are just getting to the ninth and final season). They have helped drive 1.7 billion hours of viewing of "The Office," accounting for 7% of all Peacock usage. "The Office" also has remained a staple of traditional TV, currently running on three cable networks: E!, Comedy Central and Freeform. The show airs on more than a dozen international broadcast services. A hit with the kids The durability of vintage TV sitcoms such as "I Love Lucy" and "Friends" are driven in part by the nostalgia of fans who grew up with them. But some audiences flocking to the "The Office" are discovering as if it were a new show. As streaming video gained audience, Daniels heard from coworkers on his other projects about how their preteen kids were watching "The Office" obsessively on Netflix which first bought the rights in 2011. Being trapped in a cubicle and forced to deal with a buffoonish boss resonates with the junior high crowd. "It's like your experience in school, when the teacher is lecturing you and you're unable to avoid it," Daniels said. "Or the person at the desk next to you is someone you didn't necessarily choose to be your best friend and you're kind of stuck there." Jim Donnelly, executive vice president for comedy at Universal Television, said the show's youthful appeal helps replenish the audience. "I do think that as television viewers come of age, they are finding the show," he said. "We haven't really seen any drop-off in interest." The practical jokes on the show appeal to a younger generation that devours prank videos from MrBeast to Dude Perfect across YouTube and other social media platforms. The official TikTok account for "The Office" has 4.2 million followers, nearly 1 million more than "Friends." Enduring 'dynamic' Ash Tavassoli, executive vice president and creative director of ad agency BBDO LA never caught "The Office" during its network run. But when he was recovering from surgery he went down the series rabbit hole of 192 episodes. "I'm like, 'I can't turn this thing off,'" Tavassoli said. "I had to immediately tell anyone who I knew who hadn't watched it, 'You need to go watch this thing.'" The on-screen alchemy between the cast members inspired him to use them in an ad campaign for AT&T Business that started running last year. "The Office" co-stars Baumgartner, Rainn Wilson, Jenna Fischer, Craig Robinson, Kate Flannery and Creed Bratton appear in the series of trippy commercials depicting the launch of a line of pillow speakers called Sleep with Rainn. Tavassoli said it didn't take much to get the tight-knit group to make their own creative contributions to the spots. "You put them on a set together and they have their own dynamic," Tavassoli said. "When we shot with them, they didn't even feel us on set. We let them cook for three days." Former serf embraces new life after democratic reform in Xizang Xinhua) 08:50, March 31, 2025 Losang burns incense at home in Doilungdeqen District of Lhasa, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, March 20, 2025. (Xinhua/Jigme Dorje) "In old Xizang, we were treated like livestock, ignored even in death," The 91-year-old former serf Losang, now living in Doilungdeqen District of Lhasa, still finds it hard to contain his emotions as he recalls the suffering endured before the democratic reform in Xizang. From the age of 13, Losang was forced to work for serf owners. "We had to borrow food from serf owners in summer and repay debts in autumn. Failure to repay would result in beatings," he recalled, adding that serfs had no human rights, insufficient food and clothing, and even lived in livestock sheds. "In old Xizang, death laid in wait for us at every turn," Losang said. Losang, along with some one million serfs, gained freedom after Xizang's democratic reform in 1959, which shattered the centuries-old feudal theocratic serfdom. "No longer do we have to bow to the serf owners, and we can choose our own life," exclaimed Losang. Now, Losang peacefully enjoys retirement and lives a prosperous life with his family. Today, Xizang has seen a rapid rise in the per-capita disposable income of residents, and the rights of people in Xizang to an adequate standard of living, education, work, health, and social security are better guaranteed. Losang's son serves tea to him at home in Doilungdeqen District of Lhasa, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, March 20, 2025. (Xinhua/Jigme Dorje) Losang (front) poses for a photo with his son at home in Doilungdeqen District of Lhasa, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, March 20, 2025. (Xinhua/Jigme Dorje) Losang wipes a record player at home in Doilungdeqen District of Lhasa, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, March 20, 2025. (Xinhua/Tenzin Nyida) Losang waters a plant at home in Doilungdeqen District of Lhasa, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, March 20, 2025. (Xinhua/Tenzin Nyida) Losang (2nd L) talks with his son and neighbors at home in Doilungdeqen District of Lhasa, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, March 20, 2025. (Xinhua/Tenzin Nyida) Losang is pictured in Doilungdeqen District of Lhasa, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, March 20, 2025. (Xinhua/Jigme Dorje) (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) By Nazrin Abdul Azerbaijani Ambassador to Kenya, Sultan Hajiyev, met with Kenyan Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi to discuss the growing relationship between the two countries, Azernews reports, citing the embassy. Both sides expressed satisfaction with their dynamic cooperation, highlighting upcoming visits that are expected to enhance bilateral and multilateral ties. Prime Minister Mudavadi shared positive reflections on his visit to Azerbaijan and praised the decisions made under Azerbaijan's leadership at COP29. He also emphasized Kenya's interest in adopting Azerbaijan's digital solutions, particularly through collaboration between "ASAN service" and Kenya's "Huduma" citizen service. Ambassador Hajiyev highlighted Azerbaijan's upcoming hosting of the 13th UN World Urban Forum and World Environment Day in 2026, stressing the potential for impactful collaboration between the two nations. Mudavadi expressed Kenya's readiness to work closely with Azerbaijan on sustainable urban development and climate change initiatives. The meeting also touched on the recent humanitarian aid from Azerbaijan, with Mudavadi thanking the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and Azerbaijan International Development Assistance Agency (AIDA) for their support to Kenya's educational and medical sectors. March 31 marks the tragic date - the Day of the Genocide of Azerbaijanis. It is timed to coincide with the massacre of the Dashnaks in Baku, but in reality the genocide of the Azerbaijani people began much earlier. As soon as the Armenians appeared in the South Caucasus, they began to clear their living space for themselves. The aliens not only began to settle the Azerbaijani lands, they set a goal to take possession of them and own them individually. Earlier, at a meeting on transport issues, touching upon the issue of the Zangezur corridor, President Ilham Aliyev stressed that Armenia must fulfill our demands, and it should be taken into account that in November 1920, the Soviet government took Western Zangezur from us and committed a crime against the Azerbaijani people. "This was not the first and not the last crime... We have not forgotten and will not forget Zangezur," the Azerbaijani leader said. The Armenians have accumulated a huge amount of debts to the Azerbaijani people. The Zangezur corridor would be a chance for the neighbors to at least partially repay them. The Zangezur land preserves the memory of the terrible deeds of the Armenian nationalists, who left a bloody mark in the history of the Caucasus. This is probably why the Armenian people do not have a normal life on this land, where thousands of crimes against humanity have been committed. At that time, it was not yet called the word "genocide," but it was a real, true genocide committed in the name of a delusional war "from sea to sea." Let's take a brief look into the tragic history of Western Zangezur. The archives have preserved enough evidence of the Zangezur genocide. Since the spring of 1906, the Zangezur district has become one of the hotbeds of large-scale Armenian terror against the Azerbaijani population. In this regard, the prosecutor of the Tiflis Judicial Chamber, Kukuranov, noted in his report: "...Many villages have been turned into ruins, some of the inhabitants have fled, and some have been killed, and their bodies are being buried by troops, with traces of Armenian brutality everywhere on the corpses." In the summer of the same year, the Zangezur massacre, as historians write, took on enormous proportions. By unleashing terror in Zangezur, the Dashnaks aimed to destroy Muslim villages located between Zangezur and Nakhchivan in order to unite their armed groups operating in these two regions. The massacre of Azerbaijanis in Zangezur began in September 1905, when thousands of armed Armenians carried out a "raid" on ten Azerbaijani villages. Villages were completely burned, the villagers' property was looted, and the surviving residents took refuge in forests and mountains. The authorities intervened only when the Azerbaijani population, without waiting for justice, began attacking Armenian villages. The result of the government's intervention did not help restore justice. Rather the opposite. Their property was returned to the Armenians, and the Azerbaijanis who were considered guilty were arrested. At the same time, not a single Armenian was punished, nor was the property looted by Armenians in Azerbaijani villages returned. The tragic story of the Azerbaijani village of Qatar, which was home to copper mines and which the Armenians had long been eyeing, can only be described as a betrayal of the tsarist authorities. On August 1, 1906, the Armenians surrounded the village and began shelling. The tsarist officials who were in Qatar moved to a nearby Armenian village and watched the tragedy from the sidelines, leaving civilians alone with armed Dashnak gangs. After ten days of heroic resistance, the village was captured and its population massacred. According to historians, Cossacks also took part in the capture of the village of Qatar. According to archival sources, from August 2 to August 24, 1906, many Azerbaijani villages of the Zangezur district were devastated and destroyed by the Armenians. In total, about 50 Azerbaijani villages have become victims of Armenian robbery in two years. By the time of the Sovietization of Armenia, Zangezur had been thoroughly "cleansed" of the indigenous population. Having fled Nakhchivan from the Turkish troops in 1918, the bloody Andranik shifted his activities to exterminate the indigenous population of the region in Zangezur and Karabakh. His appearance inspired the local Armenians, who launched terror against the Azerbaijani population. In September of the same year, dozens of Muslim villages were destroyed in Zangezur and more than 500 people were killed. After the arrival of Andranik's gangs in Gerus on November 22, 1918, 30 Muslim villages were destroyed here. The British mission, which was in charge of the region at that time, pretended to want to reconcile the parties. However, as a member of the ADR parliament, Jalil bek Sultanov, wrote, "the British, under the guise of providing assistance to the Andranik detachment, pay salaries to all armed Armenian detachments operating in the Zangezur district." As you can see, what began in the late 80s, and what happened in the next thirty years, was only a continuation of the script that the powers wrote, snatching the pen from each other. According to archival documents, during the attacks on the Azerbaijanis of Zangezur, the Armenians "brutally slaughtered them without distinction of gender and age, mocked the corpses." ADR Prime Minister Fatali Khan Khoysky noted that Andranik's goal is to "cleanse" Zangezur and Shusha from the Muslim population and tear these "pieces" from the living body of Azerbaijan. The main results of the bloody actions of Andranik's gangs in the region were reflected in the materials of the Extraordinary Commission of Inquiry, established in July 1918 and operating until April 1920. Based on the testimony of witnesses and official documents, the commission found that only in the late summer and autumn of 1918, 115 Muslim villages were destroyed and destroyed in the Zangezur district. In all the listed villages, 3257 men, 2276 women and 2196 children were killed and maimed. About 50,000 Azerbaijanis were left homeless and became destitute. In December 1920, an agreement was signed between the RSFSR and Armenia, according to which Zangezur was assigned to the Armenian SSR. It should be noted that Azerbaijan itself was not invited to participate in the division of its territories. Completing the work of their predecessors, the Nzhdeh units took measures to fully Armenize Zangezur by massacring and expelling the Azerbaijani population. Having captured Zangezur, the Nzhdeh gangs destroyed the remnants of the Armenian population, those who survived the genocide committed by Andranik. At the beginning of 1916, despite the massacre of Azerbaijanis, the Azerbaijani population was still the majority in Zangezur. Of the total population of 226,398 people in the county, Azerbaijanis accounted for 119,705 (52.8 percent), Armenians - 101,055 (44.6 percent). Andranik and then Nzhdeh "corrected" the situation. According to the agricultural census of 1922, the population of the part of the Zangezur district that had been ceded to the Armenian SSR numbered 63,533 people, including 56,886 (89.5 percent) Armenians and 6,464 (10.2 percent) Azerbaijanis, who were referred to as "Turko-Tatars" in the document... As the President of Azerbaijan said in one of his speeches, "We have not forgotten this, the Azerbaijani people have not forgotten this. We have not forgotten and will not forget Zangezur. Once again, we have no territorial claims against Armenia. However, Armenia must fulfill its obligations by providing unhindered passage from Azerbaijan to Azerbaijan." It would be frivolous to expect remorse from the neighbors. No one expects this. Even if they ask for forgiveness for their crimes, guided by fear or profit, this repentance will not be sincere. Unfortunately, the Armenian people are still driven by hatred and myths. The neighbors will have to find a cure for this scourge on their own and within themselves. On 28 March Mexicos Presidentreceived US Secretary of Homeland Securityto discuss migration and security issues including drug trafficking. End of preview - This article contains approximately 598 words. Subscribers: Log in now to read the full article Not a Subscriber? Choose from one of the following options On 28 March Panamas Presidenthosted his Colombian counterpart, End of preview - This article contains approximately 400 words. Subscribers: Log in now to read the full article Not a Subscriber? Choose from one of the following options On 30 March Venezuelas Vice President and Oil Ministersaid that her government was prepared for the US decision to revoke foreign companies oil and gas production licences. End of preview - This article contains approximately 330 words. Subscribers: Log in now to read the full article Not a Subscriber? Choose from one of the following options On 30 March Chiles Presidenttook off from Santiago on the presidential plane at the head of a large trade delegation for a four-day official state visit to India as his government seeks to deepen bilateral trade relations and drum up investment. End of preview - This article contains approximately 367 words. Subscribers: Log in now to read the full article Not a Subscriber? Choose from one of the following options US President Donald Trump is planning to travel to Saudi Arabia in May on his first foreign trip since returning to the White House, the Axios news website reported Sunday, Azernews reports, citing Yeni Safak. Planning for the trip is ongoing as the Trump administration works to resume a ceasefire in Gaza between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas and to get Hamas to release more hostages, it said. Trump had told reporters on March 6 that he would likely visit Saudi Arabia "over the next month and a half." "I am going to Saudi Arabia. Normally, you would go to the UK first. Last time I went to Saudi Arabia. They put up $450 billion," he said. "This time, I said I will go if you put up a trillion dollars to American companies. Meaning the purchase over four years of a trillion dollars. They agreed to do that. So I am gonna be going there," he added. The current plan is for Trump to travel to Saudi Arabia in mid-May, said a US official and a source familiar with the matter. Two men have been arrested by the Judiciary Police (PJ) in connection with a counterfeit chip scheme that defrauded at least 13 people, including five money changers, in a casino in the peninsula. The suspects, Zhao (31) and Gao (39), were apprehended after attempting to use high-quality fake chips, each valued at HKD10,000, resulting in total losses of HKD330,000. The incident occurred on the evening of March 27, when the casino reported that several counterfeit chips had been used at gaming tables and the cashiers office. Following an investigation, police identified the two suspects and seized 46 fake chips. Zhao was found to have discarded additional fake chips while attempting to flee the scene. The counterfeit chips closely resembled authentic casino chips, making them difficult to distinguish without specialized equipment. The two men admitted to being hired by a mastermind based in the mainland and were promised 10% of the proceeds from the fraudulent activities. The PJ said they are continuing to investigate the case and are searching for the mastermind and additional suspects involved in the operation. The 13 individuals affected by the scam experienced losses ranging from HKD10,000 to HKD0,000 each. Staff Reporter The government has said that the coordination among different entities related to roadworks has been improving to avoid repeated excavation on public roads and streets. Such a response came in response to an inquiry from lawmaker Ella Lei, who noted the continuous and successive roadworks in many locations across the territory. In response, the government said, In recent years, the Roadwork Coordination Taskforce has improved the approval process, systems, and coordination among construction entities for roadworks, adding, A comprehensive review is underway, especially for large-scale road projects, intending to continually enhance coordination under the principle of continuous improvement and ongoing optimization. According to the roadworks coordination group, the reviews primary focus is minimizing residents disruptions during construction. In the same response, the Municipal Affairs Bureau (IAM) stated that regarding the projects under this entity, it maintains regular communication with relevant departments and contractors, noting that such coordination helps reduce repeated road excavations, ensures full manpower and equipment deployment, and improves site management. The IAM also added that work hours may be extended as needed for the most critical sections to accelerate progress, minimize the duration of construction work, and minimize the impact on the public. The Bureau said to apply the same standards for third-party projects involving trenching and utility installation, enforcing strict monitoring of contractors, and enforcing deadlines to reduce road closures and inconvenience. In the inquiry, submitted through the Legislative Assembly, the lawmaker called on the authorities to explain the need for so many roadworks at many locations, noting the inconveniences for traffic, residents, and businesses. Lei noted that according to government information, this year, the government and utilities companies submitted 69 construction proposals, an increase of 15% year over year. Of those, 39 are large-scale projects that take plawce on main roads and are expected to last for periods longer than 30 days, an increase (by 39%) compared to last year. Citing public concern, she called on the government to improve coordination and oversight of road projects and inform the public earlier about detours and traffic changes. She also urged the government to actively seek public feedback to minimize disruptions to daily life, commerce, and traffic. Platform for coordination of roadworks available for entities Following interdepartmental coordination and following the guidelines of the Roadwork Coordination Taskforce, the Transport Bureau (DSAT) and the Municipal Affairs Bureau (IAM) have made some of the features of the Roadworks Management Platform available to private entities on a trial basis. The features include the first application, renewal, consultation of application progress, and submission of missing documents. DSAT and IAM said the goal is to simplify and facilitate administrative tasks for applicants. DSAT also added that it will closely monitor the results of this trial phase to assess a further expansion of functionalities. Chief Executive Sam Hou Fai has sent a message of sympathy to Myanmars leader, Min Aung Hlaing, following the massive earthquake that struck Myanmar on Friday. The 7.7-magnitude quake has killed more than 1,644 people and caused widespread infrastructure damage. In a statement, Sam expressed his sorrow on behalf of the Macao Special Administrative Region (MSAR) Government and its residents. He extended condolences to the victims families, the injured, and all those affected. He also praised the efforts of rescue personnel working on relief operations. The Chief Executive reaffirmed the citys solidarity with the Myanmar people and its readiness to provide assistance for disaster relief and reconstruction. Meanwhile, the Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) is closely monitoring the situation. So far, it has received one request for assistance and several inquiries, mainly concerning flight disruptions and transportation issues. One local resident in Thailand sought help after missing a flight due to road closures, and the MGTOs local representative provided assistance. The bureau has issued a Level 1 Travel Alert for both Myanmar and Thailand, advising local residents to stay alert and reconsider travel plans. MGTO director Helena de Senna Fernandes emphasized that although the local situation is improving, passengers should remain cautious, as road congestion, long airport queues, and potential flight delays may still occur. Fernandes also reassured the public that there are no immediate plans to increase the travel warning for Thailand or send charter flights, highlighting that the situation is not yet deemed extremely dangerous. Additionally, emergency contact information has been sent to 1,475 Macau residents currently roaming in Myanmar, Thailand, and Laos. Meanwhile, three non-governmental organizations in MacauThe Red Cross, World Vision Macau, and Caritashave established donation accounts to assist victims of the recent earthquake. These organizations are raising funds to support ongoing relief efforts. Hong Kong has deployed a 51-member rescue team to provide emergency support in disaster-affected areas. Medical support is also part of the mission, with two doctors and two nurses joining the operation. Having already visited Europe, where he openly declared the United States attention was focused on the Asia-Pacific and underscored Washingtons singular fixation on China as a strategic competitor, US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has embarked on a visit to Hawaii, Guam, the Philippines and Japan. This marks Hegseths first official trip to the Indo-Pacific since assuming office, and the itinerary, conspicuously omitting the Republic of Korea, reflects Washingtons deepening obsession with containing China. By prioritizing the Philippines a nation embroiled in maritime disputes with China over the ROK, the US has effectively signaled its intent to undermine regional stability by escalating confrontations in the South China and East China seas, in a bid to keep China on the back foot. Hegseths exclusion of the ROK, ostensibly due to its uncertain domestic politics, cannot mask the true motive: refocusing Washingtons Indo-Pacific strategy on the maritime containment of China. The inclusion of the Philippines, a nation the US has encouraged to militarize its stance in the South China Sea, exposes a deliberate effort to transform the Philippines into a frontline proxy. The US rhetoric about strengthening alliances for a free and open Indo-Pacific is a thinly veiled justification for rallying its partners to serve US geopolitical interests. By amplifying the Philippines baseless claims and reinforcing its military presence in Guam and Japan, the US seeks to create a lattice of pressure points against China. But while its potential to destabilize the region is the downside of his visit, Hegseths visit does have a potential upside. His superficial grasp of the region evidenced by his inability to articulate basic facts about the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, such as the number of members, during his nomination hearing reveals the transactional and insincere nature of US engagement. While the US Indo-Pacific strategy is in reality the US prioritizing its own interests over the well-being of the Asia-Pacific by means of a destabilizing campaign that perpetuates division and dominance, there is always the hope that Hegseth might take note of other realities in the region from which the US could benefit. Rather than a divisive and disruptive approach, he might take heed of the distinctive ASEAN way, which emphasizes consensus, noninterference and flexibility instead of confrontation and coercion. Given the dynamism of the region, which is based on its stability and cooperative relations, the US would unquestionably reap greater benefits from more constructive engagement with it. The peace and stability in Asia has been hard-won and it requires the sustained efforts of regional countries to maintain. The US would gain from a change of approach that forgoes its conflict-risking militarization of the region in favor of a more constructive approach that seeks to foster cooperation rather than escalating tensions. By prioritizing diplomatic engagement over military posturing, it could encourage the strengthening of regional partnerships focusing on the environment, trade and maritime safety, and support economic alternatives to resource competition, such as the joint oil/gas exploration agreements that have been proposed. China remains committed to fostering mutual development and trust with its neighbors, and its growing ability to manage complex situations coupled with its strategic composure ensures that any external attempts to derail its development will be met with firm, proportionate responses. By continuing to try and exploit the maritime disputes between China and some of its neighbors, the US can only expect to see both its image and clout in the region decline. [Abridged] Editorial, China Daily Hundreds of thousands of protesters again congregated in Istanbul this weekend to how their support for the citys imprisoned mayor and demand his release. Turkeys main opposition party, the Republican Peoples Party (CHP) organized the demonstration, the latest in a series of protests that resulted in hundreds of detentions and have turned up the pressure on the countrys long-time leader, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, a key rival to Erdogan, was detained on March 19th on corruption and terrorism charges that many saw as politically motivated. The government insists the judiciary is independent and free of political interference. His detention, and later formal arrest over the corruption charges on March 23rd, sparked nationwide protests despite assembly bans, police crackdowns, and legal prosecution by authorities. Theyve detained hundreds of our children, thousands of our youths arrested hundreds of them, CHP leader Ozgur Ozel told protesters. 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, and pro-government media reported Friday that public prosecutors had requested up to three years imprisonment for 74 of the detainees. Police kept their distance at Saturdays rally with no new arrests reported. Ozel called for the immediate release of Imamoglu, as well as for other political prisoners including Selahattin Demirtas, a former presidential candidate and founder of the pro-Kurdish Peoples Equality and Democracy Party, or DEM. In the Turkey we envision presidential candidates will not be imprisoned, added Ozel. Last Sunday, hours after he had been formally arrested, Mayor Imamoglu won a symbolic primary to be the CHPs candidate in a presidential election currently scheduled for 2028, but which is likely to take place earlier. Ozel noted they would begin collecting signatures for Imamoglus release and also to demand an early election. Other speakers at Saturdays rally included Dilek Imamoglu, the imprisoned mayors wife, as well as Ankara Mayor Masur Yavas, another high profile CHP figure. Yesterday, Turkish authorities they arrested a Swedish journalist dispatched to cover ongoing nationwide protests on charges of terrorism and insulting the president. Joakim Medin of the daily Dagens ETC was detained as he arrived at Istanbul airport on Thursday and placed under arrest on Friday on charges of membership in a terrorist organization and insulting the president. The Counter Disinformation Center, part of the Turkish Presidencys Communications Department, said in a statement that Medins arrest was not over his journalism activities. The Center accused Medin of taking part in a rally in Stockholm on January 11, 2023 attended by supporters of the Kurdistan Workers Party, or PKK, which included an effigy of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The PKK has waged a 40-year insurgency in Turkey which has cost tens of thousands of lives and is designated a terrorist organization by Ankara and its Western allies. A peace initiative between the Turkish state and the PKK was initiated in October, and the organization declared a ceasefire at the beginning of March upon a call to do so by its imprisoned leader Abdullah Ocalan. MDT/AP Palestinians in the Gaza Strip had little to celebrate yesterday as they began marking a normally festive Muslim holiday with rapidly dwindling food supplies and no end in sight to the Israel-Hamas war. Israeli strikes overnight into Sunday killed at least 19 people, mostly women and children, health officials said. Many held prayers outside demolished mosques on the Eid al-Fitr holiday marking the end of the fasting month of Ramadan. Its supposed to be a joyous occasion, when families gather for feasts and purchase new clothes for children but most of Gazas 2 million Palestinians are just trying to survive. Its the Eid of sadness, Adel al-Shaer said after attending outdoor prayers in the central town of Deir al-Balah. We lost our loved ones, our children, our lives, and our futures. We lost our students, our schools, and our institutions. We lost everything. Twenty members of his extended family have been killed in Israeli strikes, including four young nephews just a few days ago, he said as he broke into tears. Israel ended the ceasefire with Hamas and resumed the 17-month war earlier this month when the militant group refused to accept changes to the agreement reached in January. Israeli strikes have killed hundreds of Palestinians, and Israel has allowed no food, fuel or humanitarian aid to enter for four weeks. Arab mediators are trying to get the truce back on track, and Hamas said Saturday that it had accepted a new proposal from Egypt and Qatar, the exact details of which were not immediately known. Israel said it had advanced its own proposal in coordination with the United States, which has also been mediating. Israeli strikes on Sunday killed at least 16 people, including nine children and three women, according to Nasser Hospital in the southern city of Khan Younis. Two of the children, young girls, appeared to be wearing new clothes purchased for the holiday, according to an Associated Press cameraman. Another three people were killed in a strike in Deir al-Balah late Saturday, according to Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital. 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. 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 of whom are believed to be alive after most of the rest were released in ceasefires or other agreements. Israels offensive has killed over 50,000 Palestinians, according to Gazas 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. Israels bombardment and ground operations have destroyed vast areas of Gaza and at their height had displaced around 90% of the population. Israel approves controversial road project in West Bank Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus influential security Cabinet on Sunday approved the construction of a road for Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, which critics say will open the door for Israel to annex a key area just outside Jerusalem, further undermining the feasibility of a future Palestinian state. A statement from Netanyahus office said 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 that is deemed essential for the territorial contiguity of a future Palestinian 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 that there is no disruption to Palestinian movement. Critics say Israeli settlements and other land grabs make a contiguous future Palestinian state increasingly impossible. Several roads in the territory are meant for use by either Israelis or Palestinians, which international rights groups say is part of an apartheid system, allegations Israel rejects. Netanyahus office said the decision to pave new roads meant only for Palestinians was based on security considerations that have increased during the war in the Gaza Strip. Israel captured the West Bank, Gaza and east Jerusalem in the 1967 Mideast war. The Palestinians want all three for their future state, and a two-state solution is widely seen internationally as the only way to resolve the decades-old conflict. WAFAA SHURAFA & MOHAMMAD JAHJOUH, DEIR AL-BALAH, MDT/AP Chief Executive Sam Hou Fai met with Portugals Minister of State and Foreign Affairs, Paulo Rangel, to discuss continued cooperation between Macau and Portugal in the fields of judicial, economic, trade, and educational exchanges. During the meeting yesterday, held at the Government Headquarters, Sam welcomed Rangels delegation and provided updates on Macaus recent developments, including progress in the Guangdong-Macao Intensive Cooperation Zone in Hengqin. Sam also reaffirmed Macaus commitment to the One country, two systems principle, emphasizing the regions adherence to European legal traditions and its role in fostering exchanges between China and Portuguese-speaking countries. Rangels trip last week to China encompassed a range of activities, including attending the Boao Forum for Asia and visiting both Macau and Hong Kong. Meanwhile Rangel confirmed that Sam is expected to visit Portugal later this year. It will probably be just before August or in September. But ultimately, thats something hell have to confirm. I know for sure it will be his first foreign visit, Rangel stated, as cited in a TDM report. According to the same report, the official asserted that Portugals membership in the European Union does not jeopardize its relationship with China. Anyone who believes that EU membership harms Portugals ties with China does not understand Portugals role within the EU or in the international context, Rangel said. He added that Portugals position within the EU is seen as an advantage, not a hindrance. Also, the official emphasized that regardless of the outcome of Portugals upcoming legislative elections in May, China will remain a priority for the country. Failing to prioritize China would be a significant geopolitical mistake, he said, underscoring that a strong and dynamic relationship with China is crucial for Portugals future strategy. Staff Reporter In a written inquiry to the government, submitted via the Legislative Assembly, the lawmaker Ron Lam has urged the government to take action regarding the announced closure of local satellite casinos at the end of this year. Lam noted that if nothing is done to smooth the process, ensure the reintegration of workers, and revitalize the areas currently occupied by these businesses, the impacts on The lawmaker noted that although the deadline is imminent, there is no clear plan for what the satellite casinos intend to do. He recalled that we are now nine months away from the government-established limit, but no concrete arrangements have been made between concessionaires and satellite casino operators. The same lawmaker noted that without an explicit agreement by mid-year, most (if not all) of the casinos may be forced to shut down suddenly, which would be devastating to an already weak local economy. Lam also noted that although the government has claimed that workers will retain their jobs through the current gaming concessionaires, concerns remain. These are fueled by the fact that 10 of the 11 remaining satellite casinos operate under a single operator, making the reassigning of employees to equivalent roles challenging. If the casinos and their associated hotels close, nearly 10,000 jobs would be at risk, and the impacts would extend to other local businesses and the community in general. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) near satellite casinos depend heavily on casino-driven foot traffic, Lam said, adding, A shutdown could cause a sharp drop in customers, hurting retail, dining, and tourism-related businesses. Additionally, he warns of the risks related to the financial sector, stating that many satellite casino properties are heavily mortgaged, and the closure could create a wave of new non-performing loans, worsening the health of local banks and destabilizing the financial system. Due to all the concerns listed, he calls on the government to take proactive measures to prevent significant impacts by setting a clear deadline for stakeholders to submit cooperation agreements. He also urges the same stakeholders to clarify how the gaming tables freed up by closed casinos will be redistributed. Lam wants the government to proactively enforce concessionaire responsibility for directly hired workers and support reemployment plans for those indirectly affected. Lastly, the government should assess the financial risks to banks and prepare contingency plans to avoid systemic collapse. Other lawmakers, including Jose Pereira Coutinho, Ella Lei, Lei Chan U, and Leong Sun Iok, have recently expressed similar concerns. The smell of decaying bodies permeated the streets of Myanmars second-largest city yesterday 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. 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 17 people there, or worried that the continuing aftershocks might cause structures left unstable to collapse. Many areas still have not been reached 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, 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. 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 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. Few details have come out so far, however, from areas other than the main urban areas of Mandalay and Naypitaw. Foreign aid starts to arrive in Myanmar 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. Yesterday, 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 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 U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs noted the severe damage or destruction of many health facilities, and 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. 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. Teams from Singapore have been working already in Naypitaw. Malaysia dispatched a team of 50 personnel on Sunday with trucks, search and rescue equipment and medical supplies. Thailand said 55 of its soldiers arrived in Yangon on Sunday to help with search and rescue operations, while Britain announced a $13 million aid package to help its locally-funded partners already in Myanmar respond to the crisis. 17 people reported dead in Thailand In neighboring Thailand, the quake rocked much of the country, bringing down a high-rise building under construction in Bangkok, some 1,300 kilometers (800 miles) away from the epicenter. So far, 10 people have been found dead at the construction site near the popular Chatuchak market, where 83 people are unaccounted for and the latest body was recovered from the rubble early Sunday morning. A total of 17 people have been reported killed by the quake in Thailand so far. Rescue efforts delayed by civil war In Myanmar, which is also known as Burma, rescue efforts so far are focused on Mandalay and Naypyitaw, which are thought to have been the hardest hit, but many other areas were also impacted and little is known so far about the damage there. Were hearing reports of hundreds of people trapped in different areas, said Bragg. Right now were at 1,600 (known fatalities) and we dont have a lot of data coming out but youve got to assume it will be increasing in the thousands based on what the impacts are. This is just anecdotal information at this point. Beyond the earthquake damage, rescue efforts are complicated by the bloody civil war roiling much of the country, including in quake-affected areas. In 2001, the military seized power from the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi, sparking what has since turned into significant armed resistance. Government forces have lost control of much of Myanmar, and many places are dangerous or impossible for aid groups to reach. More than 3 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 Defense Forces, and has heavily restricted much-needed aid efforts to the large population already displaced by war even before the earthquake. Military attacks continued with airstrikes on Friday and reports of mortar and drone attacks on Saturday. Tom Andrews, a monitor on rights in Myanmar commissioned by the U.N.-backed Human Rights Council, called for the military to immediately call a ceasefire. Aid workers should not have to fear arrest and there should be no obstructions to aid getting to where it is most needed, he said on X. Every minute counts. THEIN ZAW, DAVID RISING & GRANT PECK, MANDALAY, MDT/AP Azerbaijanis living in Europe have gathered in front of the "Peace Palace" in The Hague to protest against ongoing injustices and double standards towards their homeland, Azernews reports. Organized by the Azerbaijani community in Europe, the demonstration voiced strong opposition to the continued bias against Azerbaijan, particularly in European and Dutch parliamentary discussions. Protesters marched and held placards in front of the "Peace Palace" to demonstrate their unity and solidarity in the face of unfair treatment. The demonstrators chanted slogans such as Rise for Justice!, Truth for Azerbaijan, Justice for All!, Say No to Armenias Occupation!, Recognize Azerbaijans Rights Worldwide!, Together for Justice, Peace, and Truth!, Lets Return to International Justice!, End Double Standards!, and No Mercy for Ruben Vardanyan on the Mirotvorets List. Participants also recalled the tragic history of mass killings and genocide committed against Azerbaijanis by Armenian forces. They highlighted the large-scale atrocities and their devastating consequences, emphasizing that these crimes should be recognized under international legal conventions as crimes against humanity. One of the key demands of the protest was the recognition of the March 31, 1918, genocide, in which thousands of Azerbaijanis were killed in brutal massacres. Demonstrators urged international institutions to acknowledge this historic injustice, calling for justice and accountability for the crimes committed 107 years ago. The United States, Japan and the Philippines last week staged joint naval drills to boost crisis readiness off a disputed South China Sea shoal as a Chinese military ship kept watch from a distance. The Chinese frigate attempted to get closer to the waters, where the warships and aircraft from the three allied countries were undertaking maneuvers off the Scarborough Shoal in an unsettling moment, but it was warned by a Philippine frigate by radio and kept away. There was a time when they attempted to maneuver closer but, again, we challenged them, Philippine navy Commander Irvin Ian Robles told reporters on board the frigate BRP Jose Rizal. The latest naval drills, called the Multilateral Maritime Cooperative Activity, were opened for the first time to a small group of Manila-based media, including an Associated Press photojournalist, since such high-seas maneuvers and joint naval sails began last year. During the daylong maneuvers, the BRP Jose Rizal, a U.S. Navy guided missile destroyer, the DDG Shoup, and a Japanese multi-mission frigate, the JS Noshiro, sailed in formation and communicated by radio. U.S. and Philippine helicopters flew around. A small group of American sailors from the DDG Shoup used a speedboat to transfer to the BRP Jose Rizal and hold discussions with Filipino counterparts. We are here to support our allies and support a free and open Indo-Pacific for everyone, U.S. Navy Lt. Alexander Horvath told the AP. Such naval drills result in the vital improvements in our coordination, tactics and shared maritime awareness, Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. said in a statement. Every iteration strengthens our capacity to respond to maritime security challenges while reinforcing our collective ability to safeguard our national interests, Brawner said. China claims virtually the entire South China Sea. A 2016 international arbitration ruling invalidated those claims, but Beijing refused to participate in the arbitration, rejected the outcome and continues to defy it. The Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan have also been involved in the long-seething territorial disputes but confrontations between Chinese and Philippine coast guard and naval forces have particularly spiked in the last two years. The United States, Japan and the Philippines have been strengthening a security alliance and pressing efforts to bolster deterrence against Chinas growing assertiveness in the South China Sea, a key global trade route. The trilateral security bloc emerged during the previous Biden administration. MDT/AP In an address to major global business leaders, Chinese President Xi Jinping urged foreign investors to have faith in Chinas business prospects, the latest move to revive the worlds second-largest economy that has been dragged down by a property bust and a loss of momentum. China has always been and will certainly be an ideal, safe and promising investment destination for foreign investors, Xi told executives, including Akio Toyoda, chairman of Toyota, Lee Jae-yong, chairman of Samsung Electronics and Stephen Allen Schwarzman, CEO of investment firm Blackstone. China remains a major exporter of products to countries around the world and boasts a domestic market of 1.4 billion people. However, massive overbuilding in the property sector has tied up trillions of dollars in capital, sapping business and consumer confidence and depriving the economy of its past vitality, while a tariff war unleashed by the U.S. is compounding those problems. Private businesses, which provide a large share of growth and jobs in the countrys state-dominated economy, have borne much of the burden after years of regulatory crackdowns have shaken the confidence of entrepreneurs and other investors. Chinas unprecedentedly tough response to the COVID-19 outbreak also shut down business for much of three years and some sectors of the economy have yet to recover, particularly where global supply chains are involved. Yet, Xi, considered something a sceptic when it comes to inviting in overseas businesses, said foreign investors could have confidence that the door of opening up will only open wider and wider. The policy of utilizing foreign investment has not changed and will not change, he said. China contains huge investment and consumption potential, he added. China has set an economic growth target of about 5% for this year, the same as last year and a level that analysts said would be difficult to achieve. The government has said it would attempt to stimulate the roughly $20 trillion economy by borrowing more money for a slew of initiatives, such as giving 300 billion yuan ($41.3 billion) in rebates to consumers who trade in old cars and appliances for new ones. But much of the borrowing will go to supporting the housing market and local governments weighed down by debt. What is clear is that a trade war with the United States has left the outlook for the coming months uncertain. Trump has raised tariffs on imports from China twice since taking office in January, leaving them at 20% across-the-board. China has shown no sign of backing down, retaliating with tariffs on U.S. goods. Xi did not mention the tariffs directly, but appeared to be referring to the importance of stable trade terms by saying: Blowing out other peoples lights will not make your own lights brighter. Blocking other peoples paths will eventually block your own paths. For now, however, China is seeking to portray itself as an ideal, safe and promising investment destination for foreign investors, he said. Going with China is going with opportunities. Believing in China is believing in tomorrow. Investing in China is investing in the future, the president, who has made himself leader for life and also heads the ruling Communist Party, said. Others in attendance Friday included Amin H. Nasser, president of Saudi Aramco; Sherard Louis Cowper-Coles, the chair of China-Britain Business Council; Oliver Zipse, BMW CEO and Ray Dalio, chief investment officer of hedge fund Bridgewater Associates. MDT/AP Last weekend, 21-23 March, saw Organizacion Comunista Revolucionaria (OCR), the Spanish section of the Revolutionary Communist International, hold its first national congress. Around a hundred delegates and guests attended this important event. [Leer en espanol] A third of those attending were participating for the first time in a national meeting of the OCR, showing what steps forward we have taken in recent months. In addition to comrades from almost all parts of Spain (Madrid, Catalonia, the Basque Country, Andalusia, Valencia, Castile-Leon, Asturias, Murcia, the Balearic Islands and the Canary Islands), several international guests also participated, including comrade Jorge Martin, from the International Secretariat (IS) of the Revolutionary Communist International (RCI), and comrade Alessandro Giardiello, from the leadership of Partito Comunista Rivoluzionario in Italy, and comrade Caspar Oertli, leader of the Revolutionare Kommunistische Partei in Switzerland. Several comrades were also unable to attend the congress, because of last minute difficulties linked to the storm that occurred that weekend. The congress was smoothly organised throughout and for this we thank the team of comrades responsible for organising everything, both before and during the Congress. Apart from the high quality of the political discussion, and the serious attention which comrades paid to the discussion, the most remarkable thing about the congress was undoubtedly the excellent atmosphere and the feeling of camaraderie that ran through the whole event. World perspectives The congress began with the afternoon session on Friday 21 March with a discussion on world perspectives, introduced by comrade Jorge Martin, from the IS of the RCI. After the lead off, a discussion was opened which brilliantly covered all the main points of the world situation. We discussed the phenomenon of Donald Trump and his ilk, and the deep social unrest that this expresses. We examined the shifts now going on in inter-imperialist relations, the decline of European imperialism and its policy of rearmament, which involves savage cuts in social spending, the war in Ukraine, the Middle East, and the risk of trade wars. All of this will add fuel to the flames of the world situation, and it will impact on the consciousness of millions of oppressed people around the world. This will stir up the class struggle everywhere and will raise the task of socialist revolution sooner rather than later. Hence we must urgently accelerate the building of the Revolutionary Communist International and its national sections. In the end, comrade Jorge Martin summarised the fundamental points of the discussion. The RCI's recent analysis has shown the superiority of Marxist analysis for grasping events like the new Trump presidency and its meaning at their root / Image: OCR After this, the same comrade presented a brief report on the work of the RCI around the world. Although it was necessarily limited, it was nonetheless inspiring. The RCI has doubled its membership in the last four years. Our International presently operates in more than 60 countries, in 45 of which it has established national sections and groups in formation, covering all five continents. Jorge reported on the inspiring work ongoing from small groups of revolutionaries initiating political work in remote countries, to national sections with more than a thousand members in major imperialist countries. Our sharp analysis, especially in the wake of Trumps second presidency, has shown the superiority of Marxist analysis in acting as a guide in the face of new developments, and grasping the meaning of these events at their root. While the rest of the revolutionary left, not to mention the reformists, see a rise of fascism everywhere, we see a fundamental change in inter-imperialist relations, an expression of deep social unrest and a prelude to the outbreak of class struggles in every corner of the world. Unlike 10 or 15 years ago, when radical mass political movements emerged in Europe and the USA, where in general we had to be content with being mere observers, now the RCI is preparing itself to play a very important role in a large number of countries when faced with similar events to come. In August we will hold the first world congress of the RCI, for which we will have political and organisational documents available from June onwards, which we will debate at all levels of the organisation. Perspectives for the Spanish State In the session on the morning of Saturday 22 March, comrades held a discussion on perspectives for the Spanish State, which was introduced by comrade Roberto Zocato, from the Executive Committee. The session highlighted the extraordinarily weak foundations of the current Spanish economic miracle, which rests on the unproductive service sector, particularly tourism, with its low-quality employment and low productivity. This consumer-led and speculative boom is driving up house prices to unattainable levels and is the source of a deep social malaise that is translating into massive demonstrations, as well as protests against the deterioration of healthcare and education, among others. The government's rearmament policy, which Sanchez is trying to disguise at all costs, was also discussed. An interesting discussion arose around Vox and the prospects of a Trumpist current developing in Spain. It is clear that, at present, such a movement has a smaller social base than in other European countries (France, Italy, Austria, Germany, the Netherlands), and it remains to be seen if this will change. In any case, the outlook is the same as in other countries: the inevitability of an economic crisis, problems in repaying the debt, and radicalisation and rising class struggle, for which we must be prepared. Finally, after voting on some amendments that developed and enriched the original document, our document on the outlook for the Spanish State was approved unanimously. The organisational debate A central session of the congress was the debate, at the end of the morning session and throughout the afternoon of Saturday 22 March, during the organisational session, which discussed the balance sheet of the work and the orientation of the OCR. This session had the highest participation of the whole congress, with dozens of interventions. The comrades not only talked about the general organisational issues and the construction of the OCR but also presented the work they were doing in their areas. Most revealing of all in this debate was the fact that young comrades who had never taken part in a national meeting had the opportunity to do so for the first time, which they did with enthusiasm. As a young comrade from Barcelona put it, our objective is to turn every young communist who joins our organisation into a Bolshevik. The campaign for a revolutionary programme for youth The final session on Sunday 23 March was one of the most important points of the event: the launch of our Campaign for a Revolutionary Programme for Youth. It was introduced by comrade Leire Rodas, from the national leadership of the OCR. With our Revolutionary Programme for the Youth, we aim to reach the most advanced layer of youth who want to fundamentally changes society / Image: OCR This campaign, which branches of the OCR had been preparing in the weeks prior to the congress, will be the main focus of the whole organisation between now and May, and will consist of a massive poster campaign around schools, universities and neighbourhoods; the distribution of leaflets with stalls at universities and public squares; and the distribution of the pamphlet that summarises the 10 main points of our programme for young people. These are: anti-militarism, housing, labour conditions, public services, climate change, democratic rights, repression and authoritarianism, the fight against all types of oppression, leisure, and the world socialist revolution. It was agreed that this campaign would culminate with public events in all areas. With this campaign, we aim to reach the advanced layer of young people who long for a fundamental change in society and who are not satisfied with simple activism and empty slogans. The importance of theory The OCR congress also took time to set the theoretical training objectives for our comrades over the course of the coming year. We decided to focus on Marxist economics, with courses in all areas during the first half of the year, and also on the 50th anniversary of the dictator's death and the so-called transicion democratica [the so-called democratic transition of the 1970s, which saw a mass struggle against Francoism] starting in the summer. We have reprinted our old document on the Transition for this, with some updates, and have also made Alan Woods' book The Great Betrayal available. We also agreed to launch a public campaign on this from October this year. We also endorsed the publication of four issues a year of the theoretical magazine En defensa del marxismo (In defence of Marxism), which the RCI publishes in Spanish. As far as book publishing is concerned, in the coming weeks we are going to print Engels book Socialism: Utopian and Scientific, as well as Alan Woods book, The History of Philosophy: a Marxist Perspective, which we have sold out of, among other titles. Over the two days of the congress, we sold 600 worth of Marxist literature, which shows the thirst for ideas, particularly among young comrades. Bolshevik traditions Finally, we addressed the revolutionary finances with which to sustain our activity. The congress was completely self-financing and made extra money with the sale of t-shirts, badges and raffle tickets for various artistic works donated by several comrades, with which we obtained another 600. Finally, we obtained more than 6,000 in the final collection before the closing. If we are moving forward it is because we are firmly rooted in Bolshevik organisational traditions, with an uncompromising defence of the scientific ideas of Marxism, with the central role played by our printed magazine and our website, and secured by our financial independence. The congress was closed by comrade Jorge Martin, who encouraged all those present to continue their revolutionary work and to strengthen the development of the OCR, as the Spanish section of the Revolutionary Communist International. To close the event, all those present gathered to sing the anthem of the world proletariat, The Internationale. In short, this Congress was a great step forward for the organisation, and it is now up to us to put its decisions into practice and thus take the OCR to the next level in the task of building the revolutionary party that our class needs, at the national and international level. 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 Patients with narrowing of at least 50% in three major coronary arteries did equally well when treated with a minimally invasive stent placement guided either by ultrasound-based imaging or by a novel, artificial-intelligence-powered (AI), non-invasive imaging technique derived from angiography, researchers reported at the American College of Cardiology's Annual Scientific Session (ACC.25) on March 30 in Chicago. The work was simultaneously published in The Lancet. "This is the first such study to be conducted in patients with angiographically significant lesions," said Jian'an Wang, MD, a professor in the Heart Center at The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine in Hangzhou, China, and the study's senior author. "Patients whose evaluation was non-invasively guided by the novel, AI-powered technique underwent approximately 10% fewer procedures, and their outcomes were comparable with those for patients whose evaluation was guided by a commonly used ultrasound-based imaging technique." The study, known as FLAVOUR II, met its primary endpoint, a composite of death, a heart attack or need for a repeat procedure at one year, Wang said. Patients enrolled in the study had angiographically significant coronary artery disease in which three of the major arteries that supply blood to the heart become inflamed or partially blocked by cholesterol deposits, causing chest pain and shortness of breath. Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI, also known as coronary angioplasty) is a minimally invasive procedure in which tiny metal tubes called stents are inserted into partially blocked coronary arteries to prop them open. Fractional flow reserve (FFR) assessment, a technique for measuring blood pressure and flow in the partially blocked coronary arteries, is used to identify which patients would benefit most from PCI and which patients can safely continue to be treated with medication. Generally, patients with an FFR score of 0.80 or lower undergo PCI, while those with a score higher than 0.80 continue medication. Conventional FFR assessment is performed by threading a wire or catheter through the body to the blocked coronary arteries to examine blood flow and pressure through these arteries. Although FFR assessment is helpful in identifying which patients are most likely to benefit from PCI, Wang said, technical and logistical challenges have limited its use. In FLAVOUR II, Wang and his colleagues used a novel, AI-powered method of FFR assessment known as AngioFFR, which calculates FFR from a single-view angiogram (X-ray) of the coronary arteries. Compared with conventional FFR assessment, AngioFFR is non-invasive, simpler and less time-consuming to perform, Wang said. The aim of FLAVOUR II, he said, was to determine whether outcomes for patients treated with AngioFFR-guided PCI were comparable with those of similar patients who received PCI guided by IVUS, which uses sound waves to view the extent of arterial narrowing and is the imaging technique used most often to guide PCI. The study enrolled 1,872 patients (average age 65 years, 68% men) at 22 medical centers in China. To be eligible for the study, patients had to have narrowing of at least 50% in three major arteries, but no significant narrowing in the left main coronary artery. Most patients had at least one co-existing condition: 67.6% had high blood pressure, 31% had diabetes, 66.9% had high cholesterol, 24.3% had chronic kidney disease, 25% were current smokers and 13.9% had previously had a heart attack. Patients were randomly assigned to undergo either AngioFFR-guided or IVUS-guided PCI. In the AngioFFR group, PCI was performed if the AngioFFR score was 0.80 or below. In the IVUS group, PCI was performed if the narrowest part of the blood vessel was between three and four millimeters wide and the "plaque burden" (a measure of the amount of plaque in the most severely narrowed cross-section of an artery) was above 70%. At the one-year follow-up, 73.9% of patients who received AngioFFR were treated with PCI, compared with 83.1% of those who received IVUS. In the AngioFFR group, 6.3% of patients experienced a composite of death, a heart attack or the need for a repeat procedure at one year compared with 6.0% in the IVUS group, a difference that was not statistically significant. Similar clinical outcomes were seen between the two groups in the occurrence of each component of the primary endpoint (i.e., death, heart attack or need for a repeat procedure), or in any patient subgroups, such as those with diabetes. Wang and his colleagues plan to follow the patients enrolled in the study for at least five years to evaluate whether any differences in long-term effectiveness emerge between the two groups. The study has limitations, Wang said. While the patients enrolled had angiographically significant lesions, they did not have complex lesions that are more difficult to treat with PCI. In addition, because the study was conducted in a single country, China, its patient population lacked diversity. More information: Xinyang Hu et al, Angiography-derived fractional flow reserve versus intravascular ultrasound to guide percutaneous coronary intervention in patients with coronary artery disease (FLAVOUR II): a multicentre, randomised, non-inferiority trial, The Lancet (2025). DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(25)00504-5. www.thelancet.com/journals/lan (25)00504-5/abstract Journal information: The Lancet 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: Postgraduate student Laura Capasso, Prof. William Alexander Donald and study lead author Merryn Baker look at results of breath samples analysed by AI for early detection of silicosis in a UNSW Chemistry laboratory. Credit: UNSW Sydney/Richard Freeman A new diagnostic tool developed by physicians and scientists from UNSW Sydney that analyzes a person's breath for signs of silicosis has the potential to catch the disease earlier rather than wait for irreversible lung damage to appear. In a study published in the Journal of Breath Research by Professor William Alexander Donald and Conjoint Professor Deborah Yates, the researchers describe a rapid, AI-powered breath test that could transform the way silicosis is diagnosed. The test combines mass spectrometrya scientific technique that analyzes moleculesand AI to rapidly detect silicosis from breath samples, providing a fast and non-invasive diagnostic tool for at-risk workers. Silicosis, which is a lung disease caused by inhaling tiny crystalline particles of silicon dioxide, is a major occupational health concern in Australia, with cases now extending beyond engineered stone workers to workers in tunneling and construction. The Australian government has responded with a ban on engineered stone, but with new cases emerging from other high-risk industries, there is an urgent need for better diagnostic tools. Unlike traditional methods such as X-rays and CT scans that detect silicosis at later stages, the UNSW-developed test provides results in minutes. "Our study shows that the AI-driven model accurately distinguished silicosis patients from healthy individuals based on their breath profiles, providing a reliable tool for early detection," says lead researcher Prof. Donald, from UNSW's School of Chemistry. "This suggests that breath testing could be a practical tool for large-scale worker screening and early intervention." How it works The study analyzed breath samples from 31 silicosis patients and 60 healthy controls, confirming the test's ability to differentiate between affected and unaffected individuals with high accuracy. To be tested for silicosis using the new technology, participants breathe into a bag. The breath content then gets pushed to a mass spectrometer which detects all the different molecules present. "In human breath, there are thousands of organic molecules that you breathe out," Prof. Donald says. "Our instrument can make a profile of someone's breath, and then we feed that into an artificial intelligence algorithm that's really good at finding patterns. In this case, it's looking for patterns in the organic compounds that are present in the breath of people in the early stages of silicosis. And we're getting very high accuracies, like over 90% accuracy, for just such a simple, non-invasive breath test." The entire breath sampling and analysis process takes less than five minutes per patient, making it suitable for routine screening of at-risk workers. "By combining advanced chemical analysis techniques with AI, it means we can now detect silicosis in minutes rather than waiting for irreversible lung damage to appear on scans," Prof. Donald says. The researchers emphasize that while the breath test shows great promise, further validation in larger cohorts is needed before it can be implemented as a routine screening tool. The instrument is a compact benchtop system, occupying less than a cubic meter, making it feasible for installation in clinical settings for point-of-care testing. While breath samples are currently collected in clinics and transported to the lab for analysis, future implementation could enable direct, on-site testing. "We've now installed this testing at a second site to test its effectiveness with hundreds of at-risk workers, including coal miners, to further validate its effectiveness," Prof. Donald adds. Future studies will refine the technique, integrate it into screening programs for silica-exposed workers, and explore its ability to differentiate silicosis from other lung diseases. Early detection Prof. Yates has seen many cases of silicosis as a clinician. Silicosis is an incurable and totally preventable disease which only has one causethe inhalation of excess respirable free silica dust. Silica dust exposure occurs in a wide variety of different jobs, from tunneling and stone benchtop work to construction and tiling. "There are three stages of silicosis," says Prof. Yates. "It can be difficult to diagnose such patients, especially in the early stages of disease. Sometimes a biopsy is needed, which is invasive and expensive. So it is crucial to detect affected workers early and remove them from further silica exposure in order to stop the progression of their disease." There is no cure for silicosis, and in its worst stages, it is fatal. Lung transplantation is a rare option for silicosis but is a scarce resource and not every patient is suitable. "Currently in NSW, workers are increasingly being diagnosed with silicosis at younger ages, reflecting excess dust exposures," Prof. Yates says. In addition to silicosis, there are several other diseases that can arise from silica exposure, including lung fibrosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, and autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis and scleroderma. "Breath testing is a new and simple technique for patients and doctors but has been valuable in other lung diseases such as asthma. It could provide the non-invasive method needed to monitor such workers for the development of silicosis. Although this research is still in its early stages and will need further development, it provides a 'breath of hope' for the future," Prof. Yates says. More information: Merryn J Baker et al, Rapid, non-invasive breath analysis for enhancing detection of silicosis using mass spectrometry and interpretable machine learning, Journal of Breath Research (2025). DOI: 10.1088/1752-7163/adbc11 Journal information: Journal of Breath Research This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: A new 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. Credit: Intermountain Health 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," 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 of 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 equationthat 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 (ACC.25) 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. Provided by Intermountain Healthcare 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 Using cerebral embolic protection devices during transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) procedures does not reduce a patient's risk of experiencing a stroke, according to a large UK clinical trial. The findings of the BHF-PROTECT-TAVI trial are presented today at the American College of Cardiology conference and published in the New England Journal of Medicine. Professor Rajesh Kharbanda, Associate Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine at the University of Oxford, led the trial. He said, "The BHF-PROTECT-TAVI trial was the largest study to date to investigate the utility of CEP devices in TAVI, finding no difference in the number of strokes whether the device was used or not. "Our trial made use of NHS research infrastructure to recruit over 7,600 participants over four yearsaround 30% of all TAVI patients in the UK during that period. This trial provides persuasive evidence that the routine use of CEP offers no benefit on stroke risk for TAVI patients. However, we need to better understand which patients are at high-risk of stroke and whether embolic protection may work in those patients. This will be the basis of our ongoing research." During a TAVI, a catheter is inserted into a blood vessel and toward the aortic valve, where it guides and delivers a replacement aortic valve. Debris from the diseased heart valve or blood vessels may be dislodged during the procedure. If debris travels to the brain, it can cause a stroke. Cerebral embolic protection (CEP) devices are designed to stop this debris reaching the brain, and they have been suggested as a solution to reduce stroke risk for TAVI patients. However, evidence of their effectiveness to date has been inconclusive, and they are not recommended for routine use by NICE. The trial, sponsored by the University of Oxford and coordinated by London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, involved 32 of the 33 NHS TAVI centers across the UK. Between October 2020 and October 2024, 7,635 people scheduled to undergo a TAVI were recruited to the trial. Participants were randomly assigned to have the procedure either with the Sentinel CEP device or without. There was no difference in the stroke rate between groups, with 81 (2.1%) patients in the TAVI plus CEP group and 82 (2.2%) patients in the TAVI without CEP group experiencing a stroke. Similar results were also seen between the groups for severe strokes and all cause death, as well as disabling strokes at six to eight weeks after TAVI. Professor Bryan Williams, Chief Scientific and Medical Officer at the British Heart Foundation, said, "This excellent trial demonstrates the importance of research funding to answer internationally relevant clinical questions. It's clear that the benefits of CEP devices do not outweigh the additional cost and training requirements involved. Based on this strong evidence, we would not expect these devices to be recommended for routine use in the U.K." More information: Rajesh K. Kharbanda et al, Routine Cerebral Embolic Protection during Transcatheter Aortic-Valve Implantation, New England Journal of Medicine (2025). DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa2415120 Journal information: New England Journal of Medicine Provided by British Heart Foundation 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 Tobacco Control Research Group (TCRG) at the University of Bath has published the first study examining tobacco and nicotine industry submissions on the 2023/24 Tobacco and Vapes Bill, introduced by the Conservative government. The Bill proposed banning tobacco sales to anyone born after 2009 and tightening regulations on nicotine products, including e-cigarettes. The Bill was later updated in 2024/25 by the current government. The study is based on 43 documents submitted by the tobacco and nicotine industries, along with related organizations, in response to the UK government consultation and a House of Commons Public Bill Committee evidence request. It reveals the industry's use of well-established tactics long employed by tobacco companies to resist regulations. Researchers found: 42% of the submissions to government came directly from transnational tobacco companies (TTCs) and organizations with current links to them. Others included nicotine product manufacturers, trade associationssome with historic TTC tiesand retailers. Opposition to the generational ban was rooted in claims that it lacked evidence, would fuel the black market, harm retailers, and potentially lead to violence against shopkeepers. Tobacco companies argued that nicotine product restrictionssuch as limits on flavors, display, and packagingwould violate consumer rights, stifle innovation, and push people back to cigarettes. Companies pushed for weaker alternatives to the generational ban, suggesting exemptions for heated tobacco products (HTPs) or raising the legal age for tobacco sales to 21. By continuing to oppose policies designed to curb smoking and youth nicotine addiction, the TCRG researchers say the findings fundamentally challenge their claims that they are evolving into public health-focused businesses. Dr. Britta Matthes from TCRG and the Department for Health at the University of Bath, said, "Despite claims of transformationlike British American Tobacco's vision for a smokeless world and Philip Morris international's pledge for a smoke-free futureBig Tobacco continues to rely on the same old playbook to undermine public health policies. Policymakers must recognize these tactics and ensure industry influence doesn't weaken vital regulations." Hazel Cheeseman, chief executive from ASH (Action on Smoking Health) said, "The tobacco industry has a tired playbook of worn arguments that they have wheeled out to counter every proposed regulation to reduce smoking in the last 50 years. Very little of their hyperbolic claims have been born out in the past nor are they likely to be in the future." The 2023/4 Bill fell at the Committee stage when new elections were called last May. However, the new government has introduced a new, even more ambitious version of the Bill in November which has in January passed the House of Commons' committee stage. The researchers warn that, as the UK moves towards one of the world's most ambitious tobacco and nicotine control policies, government officials must prepare for intense industry pushback. Prof Anna Gillmore, director of TCRG said, "There is nothing the industry hates more than a ground-breaking policy like this. It fears the domino effectthat the implementation of a smoke-free generation policy here will prompt its implementation elsewhere. The tobacco industry's business model is based on addicting young people. "As a 1984 internal industry document stated: 'Younger adult smokers have been the critical factor in the growth and decline of every major brand and company over the last 50 years.' The government must therefore stand firm against the industry lobby if it is to safeguard our children's future." 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: Andrea Piacquadio from Pexels April 1 marks National Caregivers Day in Canada. The day is meant to recognize the caregivers who provide vital care and support to those in need. We all need care and support to navigate challenges in life. Help can come from formal support (paid professionals and government programs), and from natural support networks (family, friends and neighbors). People with disabilities and their families often have an even greater need for support over time, especially if a disability is progressive or family members experience their own health challenges due to aging. The Canadian Center for Caregiving Excellence (CCCE) released its National Caregiving Strategy on Feb. 18, stating that caregiving is the next frontier in Canadian public policy. As the CCCE's executive director, Liv Mendelsohn, said: "Millions of Canadians are navigating caregiving with minimal support, and it's simply unacceptable." This article's co-author, Donna Thomson, is a caregiver, author and educator. She is the mother of two grown children, one who has severe cerebral palsy and medical complexity. Thomson also helped care for her mother who lived with dementia until she passed away in the summer of 2018 at the age of 96. Family caregivers often need support themselves in order to keep working both inside and outside of the home. Parents of adult children with developmental disabilities in Canada are hardly ever asked: "What do you do for your son or daughter that paid helpers cannot?" Even less often, that question might be followed by: "Wow, that's a lot. Would you like some support to continue doing those things?" Importance of natural caregivers Our research recognizes that both formal and informal supports are essential in enabling people with disabilities and their families to live their best lives. We want to understand how individuals, families, organizations and communities can best come together to get people with disabilities and their families the types of supports they need and want, when they need and want them. Over the course of our research, we conducted a document and literature review, alongside interviews and focus groups with people with disabilities, family members and formal disability support providers. We identified that family or friend caregivers often support a person they care for with a sense of love and commitment to a depth that is rare in formal support relationships. Unbound by professional obligations, safety standards or employer/funder priorities, these natural supporters can often be vocal advocates for the best interests of those they are supporting. However, sometimes finding and sustaining natural support in the community doesn't come easily for people with disabilities and their families. In those instances, organizations and facilitators (formal supports), can help broker the creation and maintenance of natural support networks. Community organizations offering formal supports and supporting the creation and maintenance of natural supports can sometimes be beholden to funder obligations. This can limit the flexibility and adaptability required to best meet the needs of those they support. Additionally, organizations are often constrained by safety considerations, aversion to risk or the challenges posed by overly bureaucratic systems. Sometimes, this can mean the support provided to a person or family does not directly respond to what the individual or family needs. Even more frustrating is that waiting times can be so long to access formal supports that identified needs or priorities change in the meantime. CCCE's caregiving strategy The CCCE strategy is a recognition that care work makes all other work possible. It echoes our research findings that both paid and unpaid caregivers need financial support as well as targeted programs and services. The strategy calls upon the Canadian government to make caregiving a priority while ensuring a sustainable care provider workforce. Supports are also a provincial issue. For example, in Ontario, the Ministry for Children, Community and Social Services has published a framework that offers a long-term vision for transforming developmental services so people with developmental disabilities fully participate in their communities and are supported to live their lives. Care and support can also be a gender issue, given that in Canada and around the world the majority of both formal and informal support is being provided by women and girls. Missing perspectives Our research also highlighted a notable gap in the research landscape. Research on natural support in Canada is often not explicit about or does not incorporate understandings of natural support from the perspectives of Indigenous, Black, rural, LGBTQ+ and other marginalized groups. People belonging to these groups may have their own needs and experiences that relate to navigating natural and formal support systems in Canada. Future-focused research agendas into natural supports, such as those proposed in the CCCE strategy's recommendations, must intentionally seek to understand support and care experiences from these perspectives. At the Global Disability Summit taking place this week in Berlin on April 23, we will join voices from around the world to call on national leaders and decision-makers to ensure disability policies translate into tangible actions and inclusive practices. Our research shows the deep, important impact of federal and provincial policy and funding both for formal and natural supports to flourish. With a federal election on the horizon, Canadians can call on their governments to improve support for caregivers, ensure support systems are in place and flexible enough to respond to individual and family needs, and enable natural support networks to flourish. This is important, because the care we give to each other, regardless of age or ability, is what will sustain us as families. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: CC0 Public Domain Sitting in a recliner in her south Kansas City home, wearing a bright pink sweater, matching lipstick, and with her nails neatly manicured, Shantell Williams recalls the months she spent recovering and rehabbing from the effects of long COVID. Her vivid outfit stands in contrast to the dark story she shares about her experience with the disease. Brain fog, joint pain, mobility problems, heart issues, and hair loss were just a few of the challenges that long COVID put on her body. Five years after the declaration of the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic, Williams, 56, finds herself as a part of a small portion of adults in the U.S. who suffered from an initial infection from the virus but continue to have lingering health issues long after showing no signs of infection. A study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that nationally, 6.4% of U.S. adults reported ever having experienced long COVID. For the region, people in Kansas and Missouri who were initially infected with the virus suffer the effects of long COVID at rates between 7.2% and 8.8%. From long-haulers to long COVID Williams tested positive in December 2020, months before vaccines were available to the public. She received an antibody infusion and initially felt fine. But a month later, she says her health took a terrifying turn. "I woke up, my heart hurt real bad," she recalled. Though her husband urged her to go to the hospital, she insisted on finishing out her workday. When she finally sought medical attention, doctors found nothing alarming, diagnosing her instead with a urinary tract infection. Within 24 hours, she was back in the emergency room, and this time, it was clear something was seriously wrong. Williams recalled doctors scrambling to understand what was happening to her. "They were having trouble with my heart," Williams said. "They had me hooked up to a heart machine, everything." Doctors repeatedly asked if she had a history of heart failure. "I kept telling him, no, no, no, no, not knowing all along that my heart was failing." She was rushed to the ICU, where even the slightest movement made her heart rate plummet. "Every time I moved, my heart rate would drop, drop, drop," she recalled. "Any time I would turn, drop, drop." One night, feeling increasingly unwell, she begged for fluids, but the nurse warned, "Miss Williams, we can't give you fluids because if we give you fluids, then that's going to cause more problems for your heart." Hours later, doctors rushed in, and the next thing she remembered was waking up the following morning, being told she had suffered a "rough night." Williams had to be resuscitated by doctors. Williams' struggle with long COVID began before it even had a name. Before she left the hospital's intensive care unit, she says the medical staff told her she had "long-haulers." Since then, the accepted name for the condition is long COVID. Before contracting the virus, Williams was active. The lingering health effects have forced her to give up walking four or more miles a day. "I mean, I get around, but it's not like it used to be. When there's pain, there's pain." She gets shots in her pelvis to help her to be able to move around. "Some days I don't feel good," she said. Other issues remain. "My hair began to come out like I had been having chemo treatments," she said. "Every morning I would get up and I would comb my hair and brush it. It would just come out in clumps and clumps," she recalled. The hospital stay and subsequent treatment left her with a mountain of medical bills. Life trajectories changed by disease Kansas City resident Mikayla Dreyer, 34, also had her first brush with a COVID-19 infection in December 2020. She was also active before contracting the virusdoing yoga and lots of outdoor activities. Dreyer says she was diligent in taking precautions to not get infected but did anyway. For Dreyer, the ill effects of having COVID never went away. She has dealt with long COVID symptoms, including a diagnosis of POTS, a condition characterized by a significant increase in heart rate when standing up from sitting or lying down. Dreyer says she has yet to return to the active lifestyle she knew before. Long COVID changed the course of Kansas City resident Jen Benkert-Goche's life. Benkert-Goche, 33, has suffered from long COVID and major health issues that have arisen after contracting the virus in 2021. Benkert-Goche contracted the virus while they and their wife were going through fertility treatments. Because of the complications from COVID, they were forced to stop fertility treatments. Because of the complications from COVID, they were forced to stop fertility treatments. Part of the diagnosis was Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, a group of inherited connective tissue disorders characterized by joint hypermobility, stretchy skin, and other systemic abnormalities. Due to this diagnosis, Benkert-Goche was forced to have a complete hysterectomy at 32 years old. "COVID was the first domino to fall. It changed all our plans and kind of the trajectory of what our life was going to be," Benkert-Goche said. A fight to keep going Shantell Williams remains resilient through her battle with the chronic health conditions tied to long COVID. She takes every COVID shot available, stays cautious in public, and works to maintain a positive outlook. "I know God kept me here for a reason," she said. "I try to make a difference in everybody's life," Williams said. "Even on my worst days, I always try to say something funny at work," Williams said. Her children check on her frequently, especially her son, who "comes in and peeks" and reports back to the family if something seems off. Though the fear of reinfection rests in the back of her mind, she refuses to let it consume her. She knows there are others who suffer like her. "If you do have long COVID, you're not by yourself, you can still make it. Just keep trying and don't quit," Williams said. 2025 The Kansas City Star. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: RDNE Stock project from Pexels Expressing frustration, anger and moral distress, emergency department (ED) nurses interviewed in states with abortion bans say they are getting no information or guidance from nursing leaders or hospital administrators on how to provide care to obstetric patients, according to new, multidisciplinary research by the University of Massachusetts Amherst. "Basically, the nurses felt like they were set adrift with no guidance, no support, no backup, and they were concerned for their patients," says Lisa Wolf, associate professor at the Elaine Marieb College of Nursing and lead author of the paper published in the Journal of Nursing Administration. The new research is expected to inform discussion at the American Organization for Nursing Leadership 2025 annual conference in Boston, which runs through April 2. The lack of communication impacts the quality of careeven whether pregnant patients get care at alland represents a stark contrast from the usual protocols in an ED, adds Wolf, a longtime ED nurse whose research focuses on making the emergency environment safer for patients and nurses. "In an emergency department, if we change how we do EKGs or how we do stroke care, there's like 150 ways that that information is communicatedand immediately," Wolf says. Wolf and co-author Lynnette Arnold, a linguistic anthropologist at UMass Amherst, found that confusion reigns over the wording and interpretation of legislation in the 12 states with total bans on abortion, seven states with bans under 18 weeks, and 22 with bans after 18 weeks. All the states provide an exception if the life of the pregnant patient is in danger, and some of the states also allow medical intervention for the "health" of the pregnant person, in the case of rape or incest, or a fatal fetal condition. Nurses told the researchers that some ED doctors refuse to provide even clearly legal reproductive health care for patients, such as prescribing Plan B, a contraceptive pill that remains legal in all states. "The nurses were talking about calling around to three different emergency departments to try to get Plan B for patients who are sexual assault victims because the physicians in their hospital won't write the prescription, even though it's legal and not an abortion," Wolf says. "So there's a lot of moral distress." What struck Arnold was the virtual silence even among the nurses, due to the political nature of the issue and the potential for legal and professional repercussions. "The overwhelming takeaway for me was the communicative isolation that nurses faced. They were essentially operating in the same kind of informational vacuum that all the rest of us are. And there wasn't a lot of that kind of horizontal communication among nurses that can sometimes fill the gap of institutional communication." Some of the more experienced nurses used "workarounds." One strategy was what Arnold called "reading the room for allies" to try to figure out who is safe to talk to about reproductive care. "So they're reading things like who has a rainbow pin, or who's wearing Chuck Taylors [sneakers] and pearls to signal that they're going to vote for Kamala Harris," Arnold says. One nurse in the study put it this way: "It's political, it's religious. It just kind of stems from a bunch of issues you don't really want to talk about at work." The lack of protocol and communication leaves pregnant patients in a precarious situation. "They're not coming in for elective abortions," Wolf emphasizes. "What is showing up in emergency departments are pregnancy complicationscardiomyopathy, preeclampsia, miscarriage, fetal demise, sepsis." Living in "obstetric deserts" has led to more pregnant patients showing up in EDswhere nurses are not necessarily trained in obstetric emergenciesbecause it's often the only place they can seek health care. "There are more people who are pregnant because they can't get abortions," Wolf says. "And there are more pregnant people who are having complications, and the only place that they can go, at least prior to the second trimester, is an emergency department, because a lot of OB practices in those states will not see you in the first trimester because they don't want to get tangled up in any accusations of causing an abortion or a miscarriage." Arnold and Wolf recruited nurses for the study over social media. In one-hour Zoom sessions between March and May 2024, they interviewed 22 ED nurses, 19 of whom worked in a state with care-limiting legislation. More than 45% of the ED nurses worked in the Southwest; 41% in the Southeast; 9% in the Northeast; and 5% in the Midwest. This is the third study Wolf, who is also director of Emergency Nursing Research at the Emergency Nurses Association, has undertaken about the ED nurse experience since the Supreme Court's Dobbs decision overturned Roe v Wade in 2022. The first study, published in 2023 in the Journal of Emergency Nursing, explored the impact of a post-Roe environment on how ED nurses cared for people in obstetrical emergencies. The second one, published in Nursing Ethics in 2024, examined the question of moral courage among ED nurses caring for patients amid bans on abortion and gender-affirming care. Wolf says the current study shows ED nurses have grown more confused, wary and angry. "We're pretty sure that what we've said here is accurate and representative, although maybe not 100% generalizable," Wolf says. "We had interdisciplinary triangulation. We had subject matter triangulation. We had geographic triangulation." 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: DSP experimental setup and RTT sample maps of the orientation -dependent parameters. Credit: Scientific Reports (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-86893-0 Researchers from the Faculty of Physics and the Life Sciences Center of Vilnius University (VU), with co-authors from Harvard University, the University of Toronto, National Cancer Institute and "Light Conversion," have developed a method that can improve the diagnostics of cancer and other diseases. Their novel multidisciplinary study published in Scientific Reports describes how to quickly and accurately analyze the structure of collagen in tissue. Collagen is a structural protein with various functions related to cell activity. Researchers say that the method, Double Stokes polarimetry, is based on the dependence of the response of collagen to variously polarized laser light. "Polarization measurements allow us to determine the ultrastructural parameters of collagen, which describe its molecular structure. This lets us evaluate the changes in collagen structure appearing during various diseases. Similar methods have been used to investigate breast and lung cancer tissues, among other cancer types, as well as other diseases, such as keratoconus. "The changes in collagen structure are related to disease progression and symptoms. The main advantage of this method is its speed, which is several hundred times greater than that of other similar methods. That's important for its wider application in clinical settings," says VU Life Science Center's Ph.D. student Viktoras Mazeika. VU Faculty of Physics' Ph.D. student Mykolas Maciulis states, "The work done here is fundamental, and we continue doing related research. Next, we'll apply this method to analyze cancerous samples, as well as those of other diseases. Science has to answer society's needs, and disease diagnostics are important for humanity." Prof. Dr. Virginijus Barzda says, "This work can significantly contribute to the development of oncological and histopathological diagnostics. We hope that this method will allow physicians to more effectively detect subtle tissue changes. Collagen is the most common protein in the human body, so investigation of its structure would allow for more accurate disease diagnostics." Biophysicists from the VU Advanced Biomedical Photonics Group are developing nonlinear microscopy methods and devices that can be applied in life sciences, medical, pharmaceutical or materials engineering research. More information: Viktoras Mazeika et al, Double Stokes polarimetric microscopy for chiral fibrillar aggregates, Scientific Reports (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-86893-0 Journal information: Scientific Reports 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: Predicted spatio-temporal prevalence of any form of anemia, i.e., P(hemoglobin < 110 g L-1). The maps show the estimated prevalence of anemia in children aged 6 to 59 months for the years 2010 (left) and 2020 (right). Credit: Communications Medicine (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s43856-025-00765-2 Children living in poverty often suffer from anemia, a condition linked to serious health risks. A research team led by statistical experts from the University of Innsbruck has now provided high-resolution estimates of anemia prevalence among children in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. Their model-based analysis draws on a dataset comprising about 750,000 observations from 37 countries. In 2019, the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences was awarded to three development economists who have used experimental approaches in their research on global poverty alleviation. Their research aims to identify which types of aid actually help improve living conditions in low-income countriesand which do not. This drew political attention to the importance of targeted and effective measures, particularly in relation to the UN's Sustainable Development Goals. One major challenge is "hidden hunger"a deficiency in essential micronutrients such as iron or vitamin Acommon in low- and middle-income countries. Anemia, which can result from this, occurs in various forms. Although anemia in children is associated with stunted growth, impaired physical and cognitive development, and a higher risk of mortality, it has received less attention than other health issues. "To establish effective monitoring, it's crucial to understand how anemia is distributed over time and space, and which age groups are most affected," says Kenneth Harttgen, co-author of the study from ETH Zurich. Until now, such information has only been available for selected countries or regions. A study published in early March in Communications Medicine now provides model-based estimates of anemia prevalence in children aged 6 to 59 months in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia between 2005 and 2020. The study is the result of a long-standing collaboration between statistical researchers Johannes Seiler, Nikolaus Umlauf, and Mattias Wetscher from the University of Innsbruck, development economist Kenneth Harttgen from ETH Zurich, and epidemiologist Jurg Utzinger, Director of the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute at the University of Basel. First author Johannes Seiler, who conducted the research while at the University of Innsbruck, is now based at the Technical University of Munich. Complex and computationally intensive modeling The team at the University of Innsbruck's Department of Statistics used Bayesian distributional regression models to estimate the risk of anemia based on factors such as place of residence, age and climatic conditions, and to assess how the disease has changed over time. The method relies on assumptions about possible associations, which are then refined using data. "Bayesian models are particularly well suited to drawing inferences about populations based on sample data, but they require significant computational power," explains Nikolaus Umlauf. "Distributional regression allows us to make fully probabilistic predictions and to examine how specific variables are relatedfor example: What's the probability that a child with certain characteristics has a particular hemoglobin level?" adds first author Johannes Seiler, who conducted the study as part of a research project at the University of Innsbruck. To perform the calculations, the team used the university's high-performance computing cluster LEO 4. The models were trained on observational data from the Demographic and Health Surveys programone of the key data sources for analyzing education, health, and nutrition in low- and middle-income countriesas well as on climate, population, environmental, and geospatial data, which first had to be combined in an efficient way. Anemia remains a major issue in parts of Africa The following picture emerges from the model-based estimates: In 2020, approximately 98.7 million children aged 6 to 59 months in sub-Saharan Africa and 95.1 million children in South Asia were affected by anemia. Based on a 20-kilometer grid, the maps produced in the study show how anemia prevalence evolved between 2010 and 2020highlighting substantial regional disparities within and between countries. In sub-Saharan Africa, prevalence decreased slightly from 65.0% in 2010 to 63.4% in 2020. In South Asia, the rate declined from 63.1% to 58.8% over the same period. Despite this modest progress, anemia remains a widespread health concern, particularly in many parts of Africa. In West African countries such as Burkina Faso and Mali, the prevalence has declined slightly but remains very highdropping from 87% in 2010 to 77% in 2020 in Burkina Faso, with similar figures in Mali. However, there are also positive examples. In Madagascar, for instance, the predicted prevalence in 2020 was 47.3%remarkably low given the country's high rates of chronic and acute malnutrition. The models also provide detailed insights, such as how different age groups are affected by mild, moderate, or severe anemia, and how prevalence varies by gender. More information: Johannes Seiler et al, High-resolution spatial prediction of anemia risk among children aged 6 to 59 months in low- and middle-income countries, Communications Medicine (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s43856-025-00765-2 Journal information: Communications Medicine 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 National Institutes of Health employee said she knew things would be difficult for federal workers after Donald Trump was elected. But she never imagined it would be like this. Focused on Alzheimer's and other dementia research, the worker is among thousands who abruptly lost their jobs in the Trump administration's federal workforce purge. The way she was terminatedin February through a boilerplate notice alleging poor performance, something she pointedly said was "not true"made her feel she was "losing hope in humans." She said she can't focus or meditate, and can barely go to the gym. At the urging of her therapist, she made an appointment with a psychiatrist in March after she felt she'd "hit the bottom," she said. "I am going through hell," said the employee, who worked at the National Institute on Aging, one of 27 centers that make up the NIH. The worker, like others interviewed for this story, was granted anonymity because of the fear of professional retaliation. "I know I am a mother. I am a wife. But I am also a person who was very happy with her career," she said. "They took my job and my life from my hands without any reason." President Trump and his allies have increasingly denigrated the roughly 2 million people who make up the federal workforce, 80% of whom work outside the Washington, D.C., area. Trump has said federal workers are "destroying this country," called them "crooked" and "dishonest," and insinuated that they're lazy. "Many of them don't work at all," he said earlier this month. Elon Muskwho is the world's richest person and whose Department of Government Efficiency, created by a Trump executive order, is infiltrating federal agencies and spearheading mass firingshas claimed without evidence that "there are a number of people on the government payroll who are dead" and others "who are not real people." At a conference for conservatives in February, Musk brandished what he called "the chainsaw for bureaucracy" and said that "waste is pretty much everywhere." The firings that began in February are taking a significant toll on federal employees' mental health. Workers said they feel overwhelmed and demoralized, have obtained or considered seeking psychiatric care and medication, and feel anxious about being able to pay bills or afford college for their children. Federal employees are bracing for more layoffs after agencies were required to deliver plans by this month for large-scale staff reductions. Compounding the uncertainty: After judges ruled that some initial firings were illegal, agencies have rehired some workers and placed others on paid administrative leave. Then, Trump on March 20 issued a memo giving the Office of Personnel Management more power to fire people across agencies. Researchers who study job loss say these mass layoffs are not only disrupting the lives of tens of thousands of federal workers but will also reverberate out to their spouses, children, and communities. "I'd expect this will have long-lasting impacts on these people's lives and those around them," said Jennie Brand, a professor of sociology at UCLA who wrote a paper about the implications of job loss. "We can see this impact years down the road." Studies have shown that people who are unemployed experience greater anxiety, depression, and suicide risk. The longer the period of unemployment, the worse the effects. Couples fight more when one person loses a job, and if it's a man, divorce rates increase. Children with an unemployed parent are more likely to do poorly in school, repeat a grade, or drop out. It can even affect whether they go to college, Brand said. There's an "intergenerational impact of instability," she said. And it doesn't stop there. When people lose their jobs, especially when it's many people at once, the wealth and resources available in their community are reduced. Kids see fewer employed role models. As families are forced to move, neighborhood stability gets upended. Unemployed people often withdraw from social and civic life, avoiding community gatherings, church, or other places where they might have to discuss or explain their job loss. Although getting a new job can alleviate some of these problems, it doesn't eliminate them, Brand said. "It's not as if people just get new jobs and then pick up the activities they used to be involved with," she said. "There's not a quick recovery." Slashing cultural norms The firings are upending a long-standing norm of the public sectorin exchange for earning less money compared with private-sector work, people had greater job security and more generous benefits. Now that's no longer the case, fired workers said in interviews. With the American economy moving toward temporary and gig jobs, landing a traditional government job was supposed to be "like you've got the golden goose," said Blake Allan, a professor of counseling psychology at the University of Houston who researches how the quality of work affects people's lives. Even federal workers who are still employed face the daily question of whether they'll be fired next. That constant state of insecurity, Allan said, can create chronic stress, which is linked to anxiety, depression, digestive problems, heart disease, and a host of other health issues. One employee at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, who was granted anonymity to avoid professional retaliation, said the administration's actions seem designed to cause enough emotional distress that workers voluntarily leave. "I feel like this ax will always be over my head for as long as I'm here and this administration is here," the employee said. Federal workers who passed on higher-paying private sector jobs because they wanted to serve their country may feel especially gutted to hear Trump and Musk denigrate their work as wasteful. "Work is such a fundamental part of our identity," Allan said. When it's suddenly lost, "it can be really devastating to your sense of purpose and identity, your sense of social mattering, especially when it's in a climate of devaluing what you do." Andrew Hazelton, a scientist in Florida, was working on improving hurricane forecasts when he was fired in February from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The mass firings were carried out "with no humanity," he said. "And that's really tough." Hazelton became a federal employee in October but had worked alongside NOAA scientists for over eight years, including as an employee at the University of Miami. He lost his job as part of a purge targeting probationary workers, who lack civil service protections against firings. His friends set up a GoFundMe crowdfunding page to provide a financial cushion for him, his wife, and their four children. Then in March, after a federal judge's order requiring federal agencies to rescind those terminations, he was notified that he had been reinstated on paid administrative leave. "It's created a lot of instability," said Hazelton, who still isn't being allowed to do his work. "We just want to serve the public and get our forecasts and our data out there to help people make decisions, regardless of politics." Health coverage collateral Along with their jobs, many federal workers are losing their health insurance, leaving them ill-equipped to seek care just as they and their families are facing a tidal wave of potential mental and physical health consequences. And the nation's mental health system is already underfunded, understaffed, and overstretched. Even with insurance, many people wait weeks or months to receive care. "Most people don't have a bunch of money sitting around to spend on therapy when you need to cover your mortgage for a couple of months and try to find a different job," Allan said. A second NIH worker considered talking to a psychiatrist and potentially going on an antidepressant because of anxiety after being fired in February. "And then the first thought after that was: "Oh, I'm about to not have insurance. I can't do that,'" said the worker, who was granted anonymity to avoid professional retaliation. The worker's health benefits were set to end in Aprilleaving too little time to get an appointment with a psychiatrist, let alone start a prescription. "I don't want to go on something and then have to stop it immediately," the worker said. The employee, one of several NIH workers reinstated this month, still fears getting fired again. The worker focuses on Alzheimer's and related dementias and was inspired to join the agency because a grandmother has the disease. The worker worries that "decades of research are going to be gone and people are going to be left with nothing." "I go from anxiety to deep sadness when I think about my own family," the employee said. The NIH, with its $47 billion annual budget, is the largest public funder of biomedical research in the world. The agency awarded nearly 59,000 grants in fiscal 2023, but the Trump administration has begun canceling hundreds of grants on research topics that new political appointees oppose, including vaccine hesitancy and the health of LGBTQ+ populations. The NIH worker who worked at the National Institute on Aging was informed in mid-March that she would be on paid administrative leave "until further notice." She said she is not sure whether she would find a similar job, adding that she "cannot be at home doing nothing." 2025 KFF Health News. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Legionella sp. colonies growing on an agar plate and illuminated using ultraviolet light to increase contrast. Obtained from the CDC Public Health Image Library. Credit: CDC/James Gathany (PHIL #: 7925) Offices, courthouses, a jail and a psychiatric facility throughout Marylandmost in downtown Baltimoreall found Legionella bacteria in their water systems last year, but state law doesn't have any regulations to address it on a large scale. One group hopes to change that next legislative session. Legionella is the bacteria which causes Legionnaires' disease, a severe pneumonia that can be fatal. Nationally, Legionella largely remains unregulated, though a handful of states, including New York and New Jersey, have laws governing it. A water quality expert told The Baltimore Sun that Maryland should be next in line to implement a Legionella management policy to avoid potential outbreaks. Since July 2024, 15 government buildings across Maryland have tested positive for high levels of Legionella, with the bacteria showing up in July, November, December, January and Februaryat times recurring in the same buildings despite treatment. "It is a serious and demonstrated public health concern," said Baltimore City Councilman Zachary Blanchard, whose district includes several downtown buildings that saw repeated outbreaks of the bacteria during that six-month period. And workers' groups worry that their members could be sickened by the bacteria and even die if the state does not address the problem lurking in its plumbing. One union protested statewide worker safety issues like Legionella, caused by what they believe to be deferred maintenance. Todd Reynolds, a political coordinator for the American Federation of TeachersMaryland, another union that represents some state workers in affected buildings, attributed the lack of Legionnaires' cases or deaths among workers or the public to luck, rather than preparedness. "We can see the future, we're just powerless to stop it," Reynolds said. "We know unless we get more proactive about worker safety, there's gonna be more tragedies." Calls for better regulation Bob Bowcock, a former municipal water manager and member of nonprofit expert coalition and lobbying group The Alliance to Prevent Legionnaire's disease, has advised state officials on water quality and outbreaks of Legionnaires' disease in Ocean City for two years. While he told The Baltimore Sun Maryland was not an outlier in terms of Legionella occurrences, he said the state is more aware than others and could benefit from writing its own law on mitigating and treating the bacteria. Bowcock ranked New Jersey as the state with the best Legionella law as it regulates elements that can lead to Legionella growth throughout the entire water system. Bowcock helped the state develop said law, and said it was comprehensive, regulating water as it moved from the water source to the tap. "New Jersey took it from the lake, to the water treatment plant, to the reservoir, to the transmission main, to the distribution main, to the building," he said. Bowcock said Maryland should look to New Jersey as an example. The Alliance plans to bring a similar law to Maryland, according to Marcy Savage, Director of Policy and Government Relations. That effort is still in the very early stages, with no state lawmakers yet attached, she said. "We appreciate the fact that Maryland is a unique jurisdiction in many ways, and we look forward to working with the stakeholders over the coming months," she said, with the goal to have legislation ready for the next session. Senate President Bill Ferguson, who represents Baltimore City, did not respond to a request to comment by publication. Multiple buildings register Legionella In July 2024, the Social Security Administration and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and Spring Grove Hospital Center in Catonsville all registered potentially dangerous levels of Legionella. In November and December, all four buildings in the State Center office complex in downtown Baltimore tested positive for the bacteria, alongside City Hall, the Abel Wolman building, three district court houses (501 E. Fayette, 5800 Wabash, 700 E. Patapsco) and the city's two circuit court houses. In January, Dorsey Run Correctional Facility reported a case of Legionnaires' disease potentially stemming from showers there. Another building at Spring Grove had shower restrictions following the discovery of elevated Legionella levels Jan. 30 through Feb. 5. And in late February, Baltimore's circuit courthouses and district court at 501 E. Fayette all tested positive for elevated levels of Legionella for the second time. Results for the three courthouses received March 5 cleared them again, city Department of General Services spokesman John Riggin wrote in an email to The Sun. Voluntary standards like those produced by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), the American Water Works Association and the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials have taken the place of traditional regulation or policy in many places. On the federal level, the EPA's safe drinking water regulations have a maximum contaminant level goal of zero Legionella, but it's not explicitly regulated in surface water. The Occupational Health and Safety Administration doesn't have an exclusive Legionella standard, saying it falls under employers' general duty to keep workers safe. "Everybody's got an oar in the water, but we're spinning," said Bowcock. Michael Patton is the chair of the ASHRAE committee working on its guideline to manage legionellosis risk in buildings, Standard 188. ASHRAE has several standards regarding Legionella, which Patton said are sometimes incorporated into official regulatory codes. Standard 188, which Bowcock said is already utilized by Maryland's building managers, governs Legionella risk management inside a building as opposed to the whole water system. It doesn't outright mandate testing at certain intervals, but says water quality managers should decide whether and when to test depending on the holistic risk management plan they create for each building. Patton, however, was skeptical that top-down federal regulations would necessarily help control Legionella. "The market is pretty much taking care of itself," he said, using an example of hotels that might be required by insurance companies to enact water management plans to mitigate infection risk. He pointed out that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services said hospitals that receive funding from Medicare and Medicaid should have a water management plan to control Legionella and other pathogens, suggesting they follow ASHRAE standard 188. But Bowman felt legislation would provide better protection. New Jersey's law "far exceeds" ASHRAE's standard 188, Bowcock said. Though it's now too late to introduce legislation in the Maryland General Assembly to address water quality concerns, Blanchard, who represents the 11th district, said he would be open to the idea of citywide Legionella management policies. "I need to learn more about this entire system [and] what exactly the risk is," Blanchard said. He said Wednesday he had reached out to the Department of General Services to learn more. 2025 The Baltimore Sun. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Muller glia (green) and their progeny (red) regenerate nerve cells and photoreceptors in a mouse retina. Credit: Ksenia Gnedeva/USC The same genes could hold the key to regenerating cells in the ear and eye, according to a new mouse study from the USC Stem Cell laboratory of Ksenia Gnedeva, Ph.D., published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. "The proliferation of progenitor cells in response to injury is a crucial step in the regeneration of sensory receptors, but this process is blocked in the mammalian inner ear and retina. By understanding the genes that enforce this block, we can advance efforts to restore hearing and vision in patients," said Gnedeva, an assistant professor in the USC Tina and Rick Caruso Department of OtolaryngologyHead and Neck Surgery, and the Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine at the Keck School of Medicine of USC. In the study, first authors Eva Jahanshir and Juan Llamas from the Gnedeva lab focused on a group of interacting genes called the Hippo pathway, which serve as a "stop growing" signal that the lab has shown to inhibit cell proliferation in the ear during embryonic development. In their experiments, the scientists demonstrated that the Hippo pathway also suppresses the regeneration of damaged sensory receptors in the ear and eye of adult mice. The scientists used an experimental compound that the lab earlier developed to inhibit a key protein in the Hippo pathway: LATS1/2. When exposed to this drug-like compound in a Petri dish, the progenitor cells, known as supporting cells, responded by proliferating in the utricle, which is a sensory organ in the inner ear that helps with balance. However, the same cells did not respond in the organ of Corti, which is the hearing sensory organ. The scientists next identified what was blocking this important step towards sensory cell regeneration in the organ of Cortia gene encoding a protein called p27Kip1and showed that this inhibitory protein was also high in the retina. They created a transgenic mouse in which the level of p27Kip1 could be reduced in the inner ear and the retina to see how that would impact the proliferation of progenitor cells in response in both organs. In these mice, inhibiting the Hippo pathway effectively caused supporting cells proliferation in the organ of Corti, an important step towards the regeneration of the ear's sensory cells. In the retina, inhibiting the Hippo pathway induced the proliferation of progenitor cells known as Muller glia. Surprisingly, the researchers discovered that some of the Muller glia progeny, without further manipulation, converted to sensory photoreceptors and other neuronal cell types in the retina. "There have been reports that p27Kip1 levels drop following injury, so that might offer a brief window of opportunity for using a drug-like compound to inhibit the Hippo pathway and encourage regeneration in the ear and the eye," said Gnedeva. "Alternatively, it could be possible to develop another drug-like compound to reduce p27Kip1 levels. So, our discoveries have identified potential new targets for stimulating the regeneration of both hearing and vision." Additional co-authors are Yeeun Kim, Kevin Biju, and Sanyukta Oak from the Gnedeva Lab. More information: Gnedeva, Ksenia, The Hippo pathway and p27Kip1 cooperate to suppress mitotic regeneration in the organ of Corti and the retina, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2025). DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2411313122. doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2411313122 Journal information: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: RDNE Stock project from Pexels Scheduling practices significantly impact job satisfaction for nurses at all levels, with flexibility, transparency, equity, and autonomy key factors for scheduling success, according to a new study led by researchers at NYU Rory Meyers College of Nursing. The study, published in the Western Journal of Nursing Research, also describes nurses' pragmatic solutions for improving scheduling processes. "Nurses are innovators by nature, and scheduling is one less-considered area where they can innovate, which may help to increase satisfaction and retention," said Amy Witkoski Stimpfel, assistant professor at NYU Rory Meyers College of Nursing and the lead author of the study. In hospital settings, nurses care for patients around the clock, often working 12-hour shifts. Scheduling nurses is a complex process driven by ever-changing patient needs and the availability of staff. Shift work and scheduling are major contributors to occupational stress for nurses and can lead to job dissatisfaction, burnout, and risk of turnover. These stressors were exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic's intense working conditions that drove many nurses from their jobs, stretching an exhausted workforce even thinner. To better understand nurses' perspectives of job and scheduling satisfaction, researchers conducted a qualitative study with both staff nurses and nurse managers, interviewing 16 nurses in total. The overarching theme that emerged from the nurses interviewed was "scheduling is everything," reflecting the importance of scheduling for nurses' satisfaction in and outside of work. Nurses described the interconnectedness between their schedules and their physical and mental health, job satisfaction, and intention to stay in their roles. Nurses reported that they were satisfied with their schedules when the process involved having some control over the shifts they worked, including preferences for days off or working consecutive days; flexibility for unit-specific needs and not overly relying on organization-wide policies; equity among staff; and transparency. When staff nurses faced scheduling challenges, they noted that it could cause conflict in their home lives, influence whether they intended to stay in their jobs, and compromise their health, sleep, and well-being. However, both staff nurses and managers recognized the tensions between scheduling for staff and patient care needs, with vacancies contributing to these tensions. "When nurses' schedules don't meet their needs or preferences, this dissatisfaction can lead to turnover, which can then lead to greater dissatisfaction and intent to leave among the nurses still on the unit who are left with less desirable schedules," said Witkoski Stimpfel. "Collaborating with nurses to find schedules that work for them can help to interrupt this cycle." The staff nurses and nurse managers interviewed provided pragmatic ideaswhich, in some cases, need little investment from organizationsfor improving scheduling practices: Involving staff nurses in the process, including trusting nurses to work out innovative and flexible solutions to scheduling challenges (e.g., piloting a schedule in which nurses work four 10-hour shifts per week, rather than five 8-hour shifts) Expanding the scope of staff preferences considered in the scheduling process (e.g., preferences for working consecutive days versus non-consecutive days) Enabling nurses to request planned time off for medical appointments and other self-care activities The findings also suggest that technology may be useful for improving scheduling practices and nurse satisfaction. For example, computer or AI-assisted scheduling programs could allow for customized staff preferences to be considered, reducing some of the work of nurse managers and other staff. "To date, much of the research on the use of AI in scheduling has been focused on patient scheduling, but there is potential to leverage technology for staff scheduling as well," said Witkoski Stimpfel. Additional study authors include Kathryn Leep-Lazar and Maile Mercer of NYU Rory Meyers College of Nursing and Kathleen DeMarco of NYU Langone Health. More information: Amy Witkoski Stimpfel et al, "Scheduling Is Everything": A Qualitative Descriptive Study of Job and Schedule Satisfaction of Staff Nurses and Nurse Managers, Western Journal of Nursing Research (2025). DOI: 10.1177/01939459251330280 Journal information: Western Journal of Nursing Research 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 Excessive sodium consumption can worsen high blood pressure, which is linked to cardiovascular disease, which in turn is responsible for 20 million deaths a year globally. Stroke, which is a type of cardiovascular disease, is also a leading cause of disability. In response, South Africa became one of the first countries in the world and the first in Africa to pass regulations on sodium content. The idea was to encourage people to eat less salt and other sodium-rich food. Salt and sodium are not the same. Sodium is the part of salt that raises blood pressure and leads to an increased risk of heart disease and stroke. Table salt comprises 40% sodium. A study by researchers at Wits University and Harvard, titled "Sodium reduction legislation and urinary sodium and blood pressure in South Africa," published in JAMA Cardiology in February 2025, now reveals that this legislation has worked and could continue to have an impressive impact in years to come. The World Health Organization recommends less than 2 grams of salt per day; participants in this study reduced their sodium intake by 10% over seven years. "In addition, many more people achieved the ideal sodium consumption: the number went from 7% to 17% and with every gram of sodium reduction, there was a reduction in blood pressure," says Professor Steve Tollman, Director of the SAMRC/Wits Rural Public Health and Health Transitions Research Unit (Agincourtwhere the study was done). SA's sodium legislation the most extensive any country has passed The legislation has seen 13 categories of food reduce their sodium content, including bread, cereals, fat spreads, chips, processed meats, soups, sauces and stock concentrates. By 2016, manufacturers were required to reduce sodium content in these foods between 20% and 70%, then lower them further, between 5% and 46%, by 2019. Blood pressure reductions "If this reduced sodium consumption remains constant over time, it could be associated with lower rates of cardiovascular disease mortality as well as of stroke, heart failure, end-stage renal disease, and vascular dementia, all of which are also associated with high blood pressure," says Associate Professor Thomas Gaziano of the Harvard T.H Chan School of Public Health. Gaziano is also the lead and corresponding author of the study. He notes that reductions of even 1 millimeter of mercury (mmHg) of blood pressure can lead to tens of thousands of deaths averted each year. Tollman adds, "This kind of research insight suggests other countries can adopt similar laws and potentially see reductions in death and disability, including the US." Possible reversal of increased blood pressure levels linked to aging population South Africa has a growing aging population and so-called "transitioning" societies. When an area is in transition, chronic diseases like heart disease, cancer, obesity, and diabetes replace infectious diseases as leading causes of death. This shift happens as countries develop economically and populations migrate from rural to urban settlements, undergo lifestyle changes, and where the rural/urban divide is less well-defined. It is in this aging cohort that the study was situated, forming part of the Health and Aging in Africa: Longitudinal Studies in South Africa (HAALSA) program, a partnership between Wits, Harvard, University of Cape Town, and the Columbia University Department of Neurology. HAALSA evaluates how policy and other drivers of health influence chronic and infectious diseases, including dementia, cardiometabolic disorders, and HIV, among South Africans ages 40 and above, in order to better understand health outcomes within an increasingly aging society. To assess the effectiveness of sodium regulation, the study looked at salt consumption and blood pressure among the HAALSA cohort, comprising more than 5,000 adults aged 40 and above, in rural SA. The researchers measured sodium levels in participants' urine and took their blood pressure at three different times: in 2014, before the regulations were implemented, and again in 2018 and 2021. "Most governments around the world have only encouraged or advised sodium reduction with limited effectiveness. Stricter legislation is better than a voluntary approach," says Tollman. "This study demonstrates that government action with accountability is able to impact not only on sodium intake but blood pressure levels as well." More information: Thomas Gaziano et al, Sodium Reduction Legislation and Urinary Sodium and Blood Pressure in South Africa, JAMA Cardiology (2025). DOI: 10.1001/jamacardio.2024.5410 Journal information: JAMA Cardiology 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: Brain-body interaction impacts aGVHD via the biological rhythm. Credit: Prof. Zhans team A research team has identified the impact of stem cell infusion timing on the incidence and severity of acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD) in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT), highlighting the role of the recipient's circadian rhythms. The team was led by Prof. Zhan Cheng from the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Chief Physician Zhu Xiaoyu from the Department of Hematology at the First Affiliated Hospital of the University of Science and Technology of China. The results are published in Cell. Allo-HSCT is a critical therapeutic strategy for diseases including hematological malignancies, bone marrow failure syndromes, and congenital immunodeficiencies. However, despite effective prophylactic measures, aGVHD remains a common complication and a leading cause of transplant-related mortality in allo-HSCT. The research team pioneered a novel approach taking the recipient's circadian rhythms into consideration. Using animal models and clinical cohort studies, they explored how stem cell infusion timing affects aGVHD development. Their findings underscored the importance of infusion timing in allo-HSCT and suggested that infusion early in the day should serve as a simple yet efficient way for aGVHD prophylaxis. To investigate the mechanisms, the researchers established MHC-mismatched and xenogeneic aGVHD mouse models, infusing stem cells at different times of the day. Results indicated that while the timing of stem cell collection had no impact on aGVHD development, the recipient's circadian rhythms significantly influenced the onset and severity of aGVHD. Furthermore, the research team conducted a single-center peripheral blood stem cell transplantation cohort study as well as a multicenter haploidentical transplantation validation cohort study in China. Both clinical studies corroborated the results above. This study provides strong evidence that circadian rhythms play a crucial role in allo-HSCT, highlighting the need for clinicians to consider infusion timing when performing transplants. By optimizing stem cell infusion timing, this research opens a new avenue for reducing the risk of aGVHD and improving prognosis in allo-HSCT. More information: Yiwen Hou et al. Optimizing Stem Cell Infusion Timing in the Prevention of Acute Graft versus Host Disease, Cell (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2025.03.022. www.cell.com/cell/fulltext/S0092-8674(25)00295-8 Journal information: Cell 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: With a new law, signed by Gov. Spencer Cox on March 27, Utah has become the first U.S. state to ban the addition of fluoride to public drinking water, The New York Times reported. The law will go into effect on May 7, 2025. This new legislation arrives as fluoride faces increased scrutiny. Since 1945, this mineral has been widely added to U.S. drinking water to prevent cavities. While the safety of water fluoridation has been debated since the 1940s, recent years have seen heightened concerns. Most concerns with adding fluoride to public drinking water revolve around potential cognitive effects in children. A recent review of studies suggested a link between high levels of prenatal or childhood fluoride exposure and lower IQ scores in children. However, Scott Tomar, M.D., a public health dentist and oral epidemiologist at the University of Illinois Chicago, told The Times that levels associated with cognitive problems are twice as high as those typically encountered through community water fluoridation. The bill does not specifically mention any health concerns relating to fluoridation, according to The Times. Gov. Cox has previously claimed the oral health benefits of water fluoridation have been insubstantial in Utah, adding that in 2022, about half of Utah residents had fluoridated public drinking water and half did not, but there were no drastically different outcomes between the two groups. That claim, however, runs counter to published research, according to The Times. Studies suggest that fluoridation improves oral health. In a systematic review of 20 studies published in 2007, researchers found a 27% decline in cavities associated with water fluoridation among adults. Furthermore, a 2018 study revealed that water fluoridation led to a 30% reduction among children. Tomar voiced his concern that the Utah law, along with other potential bans, may result in a rise in oral health issues nationwide, particularly in underserved communities. "The benefits of community water fluoridation are most pronounced in low-income communitiescommunities that often have the least access to dental care and to other sources of fluoride," Tomar said. Fluoride bans, he added, are "misguided on a number of levels." Copyright 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain Since the COVID-19 pandemic, when much of medical education shifted from in-person to virtual settings, Yale School of Medicine (YSM) researchers have sought to understand how virtual learning environments impact medical student learning. In a quantitative study published in the Journal of Medical Education and Curricular Development, led by Alex Choi, MD, assistant professor of medicine (general medicine), and Jaideep Talwalkar, MD, associate professor of medicine (general medicine) and of pediatrics, researchers used objective assessment scores and survey results from medical students to investigate differences between in-person and virtual learning environments for an advanced communication skills Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE). The OSCE is a station-based assessment method in health care education that uses standardized patients and structured checklists to evaluate clinical, communication, and decision-making skills in a simulated environment. At YSM, senior medical students are required to attend an advanced communication skills OSCE, which emulates clinical scenarios involving intense emotions they will encounter during residency. The team found that although the modified Master Interview Rating Scale (mMIRS) scores from virtual workshops were unchanged from in-person workshops, Communication Behavior Checklist (CBC) scores were lower. While preserved mMIRS scores suggest that students were able to carry out medical interviews effectivelyfor example, avoid jargon and demonstrate empathydecreased CBC scores suggest that the content of the virtual interviews lacked depth compared with those that took place in-person. To better understand the qualitative differences between these learning environments, the team performed a subsequent study comparing virtual and in-person OSCEs on advanced communication skills. Based on qualitative analysis of transcripts from debriefing sessions with Yale medical students, the research team determined that some medical students may struggle with experiential learning in the virtual format and have difficulty accessing or practicing reflective observation skills. "Subtle yet significant qualitative differences exist between these two learning environments," says Choi. "For example, in the virtual format, medical student debriefs focused on more matter-of-fact or fact-checking content, whereas in the in-person debriefs, students discussed challenges and reflections from the cases." Overall, the research team's findings show that virtual learning environments can be sufficient alternatives to in-person, though perhaps with specific alterations. Down the road, the team plans to investigate how to alter virtual learning environments to accommodate the loss of in-person experience. Additionally, they hope to explore which types of skills are adequately taught through virtual versus in-person learning environments. The challenge is using technology to improve how we teach, Talwalkar said. "Virtual platforms can offer distinct advantages in preparing students for patient care," he says. "In addition, medical students need to learn to communicate virtually since telehealth is here to stay." More information: Alex Choi et al, A Comparison Between In-Person and Virtual Communication Skills OSCE for Medical Students, Journal of Medical Education and Curricular Development (2024). DOI: 10.1177/23821205241241375 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: Researcher wearing virtual reality headset as used in the tests. Credit: European Neuropsychopharmacology (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2024.11.006 Researchers have developed a virtual reality-based system that shows promise in improving the differentiation between common mental health conditions, potentially paving the way for earlier and more personalized treatment. The work is published in the March edition of the journal European Neuropsychopharmacology, with a subsequent comment also being published in the same journal. Accurate diagnosis remains one of the biggest challenges in psychiatry, with more than half of psychiatric patients changing their diagnosis within 10 years. Most psychiatric diagnoses rely on patients reporting their symptoms, but many mental health conditions share overlapping features. For example, apathy, hallucinations, and cognitive problems may be present in both schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, making it difficult to distinguish between the two. Misdiagnosis can lead to suboptimal treatment and poorer outcomes. Now, a group of Danish scientists have combined virtual reality with physiological measurements (such as skin conductivity) to explore a more objective method for identifying different mental health conditions. Lead researcher Professor Kamilla Miskowiak (University of Copenhagen) said, "This is an important step forward. Until now, diagnosis has largely depended on self-reporting of symptoms, but our findings suggest that virtual reality scenarios combined with physiological measures may help differentiate between similar conditions. This is an area where psychiatry has long faced difficulties." Crying baby, as seen on VR headset. The crying baby induces a stressful environment. The use of VR and other physiological measurements means that this stressful environment can be standardised and reproduced, giving optimal conditions for accurate diagnosis. Credit: European College of Neuropsychopharmacology The researchers recruited 100 participants, including individuals with bipolar disorder, borderline personality disorder, schizophrenia, and healthy controls. Participants were exposed to various immersive virtual reality scenarios designed to elicit emotional and physiological responses, such as a video of a crying baby, a discussion in a canteen, and a cramped elevator scenario. The researchers measured emotional responses and skin conductivity during these scenarios. Their results indicate that these responses differed systematically between diagnostic groups, suggesting that this approach has the potential to enhance diagnostic accuracy. However, larger studies are needed to confirm these findings and to explore how such methods might be used in clinical practice. Professor Miskowiak said, "This study is part of the VIRDIS project, which aims to develop objective tools to support psychiatric diagnosis. Our initial findings are promising, but further large-scale research is needed to validate this approach and develop it into a practical clinical tool. "We are now launching a follow-up study with 300 participants and implementing machine learning methods to improve individual-level diagnostic predictions. Our long-term goal is to improve early and personalized treatment for patients with mental health disorders." The paper has attracted attention since it was placed online, including a published commentary from Dr. Sijia Liu at Liaoning University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shenyang, China, stating, "This study offers a groundbreaking approach to addressing the persistent challenges in psychiatric diagnosis and treatment by leveraging virtual reality (VR) technology. I suggest that future research should consider integrating artificial intelligence algorithms to analyze the extensive data generated from these VR scenarios. I believe this work holds significant promise for advancing our understanding and clinical practices in mental health care." More information: Hanne Lie Kjrstad et al, Optimizing differential diagnostics and identifying transdiagnostic treatment targets using virtual reality, European Neuropsychopharmacology (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2024.11.006 Here's some business news in the Missoula area: Bernice's Bakery in Missoula is getting a fresh new look and will be undergoing a renovation project this spring. There will be a new sidewalk installed along with a new atrium seating area where the old patio area currently is located. They'll also spruce up their original seating area in time for their 47th anniversary in July. "During this time, we will be making improvements to our space while keeping the charm and warmth you love," the bakery stated. "As with all construction work, it will be disruptive, however, we will do everything within our power to stay open during the entire project." Missoula County will be hosting a service event for residents experiencing homelessness and other resource insecurities on Friday, April 11, from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. at the Missoula Public Library. The event, called Project Community Connect, will offer health services, legal and employment services and community support in a safe, welcoming and stigma-free environment. There will be dental care, vaccinations, STI/STD testing, mental health and addiction recovery support, shelter court and legal services, employment assistance, credit checks, haircuts, IDs and driver's license help, veteran services, public benefits assistance, pet vaccinations, youth and family services, food and beverages and a community clothing closet. There will be a free breakfast from 8 a.m. until 10 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall at 300 E. Main Street the same day. Last year, the event provided services to 400 people. Project Community Connect recently won the Montana Library Associations Program of the Year award, a testament to the incredible power of collaboration and collective care within our community, said Missoula Public Library director Slaven Lee. PCC exemplifies service excellence through its holistic and person-centered approach, ensuring attendees are met with dignity, respect and a welcoming environment. The Missoula Public Library and our All Under One Roof library building partners are honored to coordinate an event that brings essential resources together, fostering resilience, hope and a sense of belonging for all. Project Community Connect organizers are still looking for a few more volunteers for day-of support. No matter your skills or availability, theres a place for you to volunteer at the event, according to county community engagement specialist Selya Avila. To volunteer visit: https://tinyurl.com/PCCVolunteers2025. For the first time since 2018, the nonprofit Preserve Historic Missoula is seeking nominations for endangered historic properties in Missoula and surrounding areas in order to "highlight the importance of the historic natural landscape and the threats it faces." "The purpose of this list is to generate public discussion about historic properties in the community in order to preserve and maintain our historic resources," the organization said in a press release. "This year, we are looking for nominations for significant properties facing risks of deterioration, neglect, encroachment, development or possible demolition. This list will help us create public awareness of the wide variety of historic resources within our community." Submissions will be accepted through May 1 and should include the name of the property, current address, a description of the property and its history (please also indicate if its part of one of Missoulas historic districts, or if its on the National Register of Historic Places), and brief remarks as to why you are nominating the property. Nominations can be submitted online via a Google form, or emailed to preservehistoricmissoula@gmail.com, or shared via a private message to Preserve Historic Missoulas Facebook or Instagram pages. Nominators can request to remain anonymous when the list is released to the public, but we ask that you please include your name and contact information in the event we need to reach you for more information. Previously, St. Francis Catholic Church in Hamilton, Cold Springs School, LaLonde Ranch and Howards Apartments on Main Street were recognized on the list in 2018. Preserve Historic Missoula is a local nonprofit organization dedicated to saving historic resources in Missoula and surrounding areas since 2007. The PS Mini Mart gas station and convenience store at 930 N. Russell Street in Missoula is temporary closed while it undergoes renovations. The North Missoula Community Development Corporation and the Northside/Westside Neighborhood Leadership Council are hosting a community potluck at the Burns St. Community Center on April 2 from 6-8 p.m. at 1500 Burns Street. There will be vegan and meat tamales provided but people are encouraged to bring a side dish. There will be a chat about neighborhood organizing, housing advocacy and more. People are encouraged to RSVP to jana@nmcdc.org. The workers of Complexly, a media production company that is based in Missoula and in Indianapolis, recently announced that they have organized a union. Under the name "Complexly United," over 95% of eligible workers voted in favor of the union. Complexly was founded by brothers Hank Green (who lives in Missoula) and John Green. They produce the well-known YouTube shows Crash Course, SciShow, PBS Eons and others. Collectively bargaining with the company will only strengthen our ability to create educational, accurate, fun, and free content, said Katie Brink Ryan, a Complexly employee and union member. We look forward to a productive relationship with Complexly leadership. The Patna zonal office of the directorate of enforcement (ED) conducted search operations at seven locations across Patna on 27 March 2025 under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002. During the search operations, cash amounting to around Rs11.64 crore was seized along with other incriminating documents. ED has been investigating a case against Sanjeev Hans, an officer from the 1997 batch of the Indian Administrative Services (IAS) and others and uncovered irregularities in the tendering process within some government departments in Bihar. The agency accused Mr Hans of 'earning illicit money by indulging in corrupt practices' from 2018 to 2023 during his tenure in Bihar and while on deputation in the Union government. According to a report from CNBCTV18 , when ED officers descended on the residence of Tarini Das, the chief engineer of the building construction department (BCD), they stumbled upon a stash so enormous that it took four counting machines and eight long hours to even begin tallying it all. "Upon entering the bungalow, they (ED officials) were reportedly taken aback by the sheer volume of currency stacked inside multiple rooms. The raid also extended to the residence of Mr Das, further deepening the investigation. Authorities suspect that several officials and contractors involved in government tenders may be implicated," the report says. ED says its investigation under PMLA in the case of Mr Hans and others revealed the names of Mr Das, Mumukshu Chaudhary (joint secretary, finance department, government of Bihar), Umesh Kumar Singh (executive engineer, urban development and housing department (UDHD)), Ayaz Ahmed, (deputy project director, Bihar Urban Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd (BUIDCO)), Sagar Jaiswal (DGM (Projects), Bihar Medical Services and Infrastructure Corporation Ltd (BMSICL)), Vikash Jha (DGM, BMSICL) and Saket Kumar (executive engineer, BCD). These people are recipients of bribe money to give favourable outcomes in several tenders as well as clearance of bills of various contractors, including that of a Patna-based contractor named Rishu Shree, the agency says. The ED carried out searches at the residential premises of these officials in Patna. The searches led to the seizure of cash amounting to around Rs11.64 crore, a huge number of property-related documents, documents relating to the sharing of bribe money, along with various other incriminating documents and digital evidence. Following the ED raids, the Bihar government decided to sack Mr Das. Although Mr Das retired in October last year, he was reinstated by the state Cabinet for two years. Justice (Retd) Tarun Agarwala, who had been the presiding officer of the Securities Appellate Tribunal (SAT) at Mumbai from December 2019 to December 2023 passed away in Mumbai. Mr Agarwala is understood to have died following injuries sustained in an accident when he was hit by a reversing taxi at Nariman Point in Mumbai. According to a securities lawyer, justice Agarwala epitomised the values one expects from a judge: erudite, fair, learned, strict, and balanced. He was not an easy judge to appear before; one had to be well prepared and ready to respond to his thoughtful questions. His judgements spoke of his incisive mind and clear understanding of complex issues in financial sector law. He ensured that SAT functioned during the difficult months when COVID-19 ravaged the world. Using a free platform and minimal resources, he ensured that hearings continued and orders were passed. He also oversaw the construction of the new premises of SAT in Mumbai which had modern courtrooms and adequate space for staff and lawyers. Justice Agarwala had retired from the judiciary as chief justice of the Meghalaya High Court in February 2018. He had obtained his law degree from the University of Allahabad and specialised in civil law, constitutional law, taxation, labour, testamentary and corporate law at the Allahabad High Court. Justice Agarwala was elevated as an additional judge of the Allahabad High Court in January 2004. He was transferred to the Uttarakhand High Court in 2009, where he has served as the acting chief justice for a while before returning to the Allahabad High Court in 2012 followed by his elevation as chief justice of the Meghalaya High Court in February 2018. Press Release March 31, 2025 Legarda calls for Senate inquiry on reported violence against Non-Moro Indigenous Peoples (NMIPs) in BARMM Senator Loren Legarda on Monday filed proposed Senate Resolution No. 1329, calling for a Senate inquiry into the situation and security of Non-Moro Indigenous Peoples (NMIPs) in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) following reports of killings and acts of violence against these communities. The move comes in the wake of the brutal killing of Teduray-Lambangian tribal chieftain Fernando Promboy, whose beheaded body was found near a water reservoir in Maguindanao del Sur on 19 February 2025. Promboy was a respected community leader known for his firm stance against armed encroachments on ancestral lands. Timuay Justice and Governance (TJG) and Climate Conflict Action (CCAA) have documented at least 84 NMIP killings from 2014 to 2024, including 12 leaders, seven youth, and eight women. Meanwhile, the Police Regional Office Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (PRO-BAR) recorded 36 NMIP killings during the same period. The Commission on Human Rights, in its 2024 Situation Report, cited 65 males, seven females, and seven youth victims between 2018 and 2024. "These significant discrepancies among the records highlight the urgent need for independent validation, comprehensive investigation, and reinforced protection measures to hold perpetrators accountable while safeguarding NMIPs from further risks, threats, endangerment, and violence," Legarda stated. The resolution directs the Senate to assess the full range of challenges faced by NMIPs in BARMM, including barriers to accessing justice, the adequacy of existing protection programs, and the urgent need for strengthened legal and policy interventions that ensure the full inclusion of NMIPs in the peace and development agenda of both the Bangsamoro region and the broader national framework. On 10 December 2024, the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) passed Bangsamoro Autonomy Act No. 64, or Bangsamoro Indigenous Peoples' Act of 2024, making it the sixth of the seven priority codes to be enacted. Legarda emphasized that the code must be implemented effectively, with clear operational mechanisms that prioritize the protection of the rights and safety of NMIPs. "Beyond ensuring accountability for specific incidents of violence, there is a pressing need to reinforce the rule of law and establish clear, enforceable mechanisms that safeguard the rights and security of NMIPs without exacerbating tensions or exposing communities to further vulnerabilities," Legarda added. Legarda is widely recognized as a long-time champion of indigenous peoples' rights. She authored and sponsored landmark legislation, including the National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009 (RA 10066), Cultural Mapping Law (RA 11961), National Indigenous Peoples Day (RA 10689), and the Integrated History Act of 2016 (RA 10908). Through her advocacy, she has been strongly supporting Schools of Living Traditions (SLTs), community-based centers that safeguard and transmit traditional knowledge and practices. As former Chair of the Senate Committee on Cultural Communities, Legarda convened regional consultations and led the First National Indigenous Cultural Summit, creating vital spaces for dialogue between policymakers and Indigenous leaders. She has also brought indigenous heritage into the national and global spotlight through initiatives such as the National Arts and Crafts Fair and Hibla ng Lahing Filipino, which open opportunities for indigenous artisans to share their work and stories with broader audiences. Her decades-long advocacy has earned her deep respect among indigenous cultural communities across the country, conferring her honorific titles such as "Bae Matumpis" or "the one who takes care" in Mindanao, "Cuyong Adlaw Dulpa-an Labaw sa Kadunggan" or "shining sun rising in power" by the Panay-Bukidnon in Visayas, and "Tukwifi" or "bright star" by the Cordillera Indigenous Elected Women Leaders' League. The Bombay High Court on Friday ruled that amounts received by a claimant under a mediclaim policy or medical insurance policy cannot be deducted from the compensation awarded under the Motor Vehicles Act (MV Act). (The New India Assurance Co. Ltd v Dolly Gandhi) A three-judge bench of Justices AS Chandurkar, Milind Jadhav and Gauri Godse emphasised that such payments are based on contractual agreements and should not be used to reduce the statutory compensation owed to accident victims. A three-judge bench of Justices AS Chandurkar, Milind Jadhav and Gauri Godse emphasised that such payments are based on contractual agreements and should not be used to reduce the statutory compensation owed to accident victims. Any amount received by a claimant under a mediclaim policy or under a medical insurance policy is not liable to be deducted from the amount of compensation payable to a claimant under the head medical expenses in proceedings under Section 166 of the MV Act, the Court said. The Court was deciding a reference by a single-judge on the issue. The case arose from a dispute between New India Assurance Company and one Dolly Satish Gandhi, who had been awarded compensation by the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal (MACT) in Mumbai for medical expenses incurred due to an accident. The insurance company challenged the tribunal's decision, contending that the compensation awarded for medical expenses should be reduced from the MACT compensation because the claimant had already received reimbursement for these expenses under the mediclaim policy. During the hearing, the company's counsel contended that a mediclaim policy operates on the principle of indemnity, which compensates for losses incurred due to medical expenses following an accident. He argued that the claimant should not be compensated twice for the same accident. He explained that once the insurance company paid out the medical expenses under the mediclaim policy, the claimant was already indemnified for those expenses. Any further compensation for the same would be a "windfall" or "double compensation" and would amount to an unjust enrichment. He also cited judgments from the Karnataka High Court where mediclaim amounts were deducted from the compensation. On the other hand, counsel representing the claimant, argued that a medical insurance policy is a contractual arrangement between the insured and the insurer, and the compensation under the MV Act is statutory. He emphasised that the statutory right to compensation under Section 166 of the MV Act cannot be reduced by the amount the claimant receives under a separate contractual agreement with the insurer. He further contended that the tortfeasor (the party responsible for the accident) should not benefit from the compensation received under the mediclaim policy. The Court while deciding the reference relied on the Supreme Court ruling which established the principle that amounts received under life insurance policies or other contractual agreements should not be deducted from the compensation under the MV Act. The Court further noted that the Act provides for "just compensation" and emphasised that the purpose of such compensation is to restore the claimant to the position they would have been in, had the accident not occurred. It observed that since insurance payout is a contractual obligation, the insurer company cannot take advantage of the foresight of the deceased, "From the aforesaid decisions, it is now clear that the amount received on account of insurance is due to the contractual obligations entered into by the insured with others. Having paid premium it was clear that the beneficial amount would accrue to the share of the deceased either on maturity of the policy or on death, whatever be the manner of death. The tortfeasor cannot take advantage of the foresight and wise financial investments made by the deceased. This is the settled position of law," the Court held. It further stated that Section 168 of the MV Act, which empowers the Claims Tribunal to award just compensation, does not contemplate any deductions for amounts received under contracts like mediclaim policies. The Court also emphasised that such deductions would lead to unjust enrichment for the wrongdoers insurer, contrary to the fundamental principle of fairness in awarding compensation. The Court then directed that the matter be sent back to the single-judge for further consideration based on the facts of the case. After a man was charged Monday, March 24, with communicating a threat of mass violence at an educational property, Burke County Public Schools said the district is committed to childrens safety. Still, some parents kept their kids home from school on Wednesday after learning about the arrest of 40-year-old Brandon Dean Johnson and the guns, ammunition and ballistic vest police seized from his home on South Main Street in Drexel. Attendance dropped slightly at Drexel Elementary School on Wednesday, the day after parents were notified of the investigation and arrest. I dont feel like it was handled the right way, said Keely Pritchard, a mother who has students at Drexel Elementary, Heritage Middle and Draughn High schools. Considering that they went into the mans house on Monday around 2:30 and thats the same time kids are getting out of school, kids are outside playing on playgrounds at that time, and the school didnt even know that it was happening. Johnsons home is less than half a mile from Drexel Elementary and Hallyburton Academy. Karen Auton, deputy superintendent of Burke County Public Schools, said messages were sent to parents about the investigation with as much detail as the school district could release within about 20 minutes of getting the OK from law enforcement. School officials did not learn about the investigation, which culminated in an arrest Monday, until Tuesday morning, March 25. Were trying to be as transparent as possible without compromising any law enforcement business or investigations, Auton said. We just want parents to know that the safety of their children is our top priority. Dr. Sain and I both have children in Burke County schools, so we have a vested interest in making sure that all of our campuses are safe and secure. So does Dr. Swan, he has a daughter in school, too, so we can empathize with the frustration and the anxieties that come along with it. Pritchard sent her middle school and high school students back to class Wednesday, but she said she didnt feel safe sending her elementary school students back to school. I just feel like until the schools come out and tell us how theyre making Drexel safer, especially Drexel, its not appropriate to send a kid back to school there, Pritchard said. Because, to be honest with you, Drexel is probably one of the most unsafe elementary schools. Pritchard said she thinks the school needs to have better fencing around the property and more police on the property. Dillon Sain, director of student and family services for Burke County Public Schools, said the district heightened security, increased patrols and had officers in the area after learning of the investigation on Tuesday. When we visit campuses, were always thinking of the what ifs and looking with fresh eyes of, Hey, this might be a problem to address, Sain said. Were always thinking and looking ahead of what could possibly be an issue. Students can report any concerns they have using the schools Say Something app. Teachers can use an app called Rave to report any concerns, from weather-related issues to suspicious people on campus and more. Sain said the man who was charged with communicating a threat against one of the schools, Johnson, has been hand delivered a letter banning him from any Burke County Public Schools properties. He said Johnsons mugshot has been distributed to each of the schools in the district with instruction to call the police immediately if hes seen on campus. He said all of the schools in the district recently underwent a safety audit. The audit, performed by an outside agency, gave schools advice on areas where they could improve and highlighted things they were doing right. We know that theres some opportunities at every school for us to continue to get better and things we can do differently to increase safety, Auton said. Its an ongoing conversation, and through that safety audit, they identify things we can do at each campus, and thats one thing our board is going to do at their planning retreat in May, is to really prioritize those safety measures that theyve identified. ATLANTA President Donald Trump's order accusing the Smithsonian Institution of not reflecting American history notes correctly that the country's Founding Fathers declared, all men are created equal. However, it doesn't mention that the founders enshrined slavery into the U.S. Constitution and declared enslaved persons as three-fifths of a person for the purpose of the Census. Civil rights advocates, historians and Black political leaders sharply rebuked Trump for his order, entitled Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History. They argue that his executive order targeting the Smithsonian Institution is his administrations latest move to downplay how race, racism and Black Americans shaped the nations story. It seems like were headed in the direction where theres even an attempt to deny that the institution of slavery even existed, or that Jim Crow laws and segregation and racial violence against Black communities, Black families, Black individuals even occurred, said historian Clarissa Myrick-Harris, a professor at Morehouse College, the historically Black campus in Atlanta. Last week's executive order cites the National Museum of African American History and Culture by name and argues that the Smithsonian as a whole is engaging in a concerted and widespread effort to rewrite our Nations history. Instead of celebrating an unparalleled legacy of advancing liberty, individual rights, and human happiness, the order argues that a corrosive divisive, race-centered ideology has reconstructed the nation as inherently racist, sexist, oppressive, or otherwise irredeemably flawed. It empowers Vice President JD Vance to review all properties, programs and presentations to prohibit programs that degrade shared American values or divide Americans based on race. Trump also ordered Interior Secretary Doug Burgum to determine if any monuments since January 2020 have been removed or changed to perpetuate a false reconstruction of American history or inappropriately minimize the value of certain historical events or figures. Trump long criticized the removal of Confederate monuments, a movement that gained steam after the May 2020 police murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis prompted nationwide protests. Critics argued the order is the latest move by the Trump administration to quash recognition of Black Americans contributions to the nation and to gloss over the legal, political, social and economic obstacles they have faced. Trumps approach is a literal attack on Black America itself, said Ibram X. Kendi, a race historian and bestselling author. The Black Smithsonian, as it is affectionately called, is indeed one of the heartbeats of Black America, Kendi argued, and also one of the heartbeats of the United States at large. Congressional Black Caucus Chair Yvette Clarke, D-N.Y., suggested Trump wants to distort the national narrative to racist ends. We do not run from or erase our history simply because we dont like it, she said. We embrace the history of our country the good, the bad, and the ugly. Trump once praised the Black Smithsonian The African American museum, one of 21 distinct Smithsonian entities, opened along the National Mall in 2016, the last year that President Barack Obama held office as the nations first Black chief executive. The museum chronicles chattel slavery, Jim Crow segregation and its lingering effects, but also highlights the determination, successes and contributions of individual Black Americans and Black institutions throughout U.S. history. Former NAACP President Ben Jealous, who now leads the Sierra Club, said museums that focus on specific minority or marginalized groups enslaved persons and their descendants, women, Native Americans are necessary because historical narratives from previous generations misrepresented or overlooked those individuals. Attempts to tell the general history of the country always omit too much and the place that weve come to by having these museums is so we can, in total, do a better job of telling the complete story of this country, he said. Trump visited the African American museum in 2017. Im deeply proud that we now have a museum that honors the millions of African American men and women who built our national heritage, especially when it comes to faith, culture and the unbreakable American spirit, Trump said after a tour that included Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina and then-Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson, both of whom are Black. Trump's war on woke targets history Trump won his comeback White House bid with a notable uptick in support from nonwhite voters, especially among younger Black and Hispanic men. He ratcheted up attacks during his campaign on what he labeled woke culture and diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, not just in government but the private sector. He also used racist and sexist tropes to attack Democratic nominee Kamala Harris, the first Black woman and person of South Asian descent to serve as U.S. vice president, and regularly accused her and other liberals of hating our country. Since his Jan. 20 inauguration, Trump banned diversity initiatives across the federal government. The administration launched investigations of colleges that it accuses of discriminating against white and Asian students with race-conscious admissions programs intended to address historic inequities in access for Black students. Warnings of a chilling effect Civil rights advocates and historians expressed concern about a chilling effect across other institutions that study Black history. Kendi noted many museums and educational centers across the country exist with little to no federal or other governmental funding sources. Some are struggling to stay open. Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has advised President William Ruto to concentrate on launching fresh projects in the Mount Kenya region rather than claiming credit for initiatives started by former President Uhuru Kenyatta. This statement comes as President Ruto gears up for a five-day tour of the region, kicking off on Tuesday. During this visit, he plans to commission completed projects, check on ongoing developments, and introduce new ones across several counties, including Laikipia, Nyeri, Meru, Kirinyaga, Nyandarua, Muranga, Embu, Tharaka-Nithi, and Kiambu. Gachagua, who was removed from his role in Rutos administration last October, expressed concerns over what he sees as a lack of significant progress in the region. He accused Ruto of misleading the residents and urged them to be cautious of his promises. As you come here, speak the truth. All these projects in the Mt Kenya region, it is former President Uhuru Kenyatta who initiated them. You have refused to finish them. None is yours. Do not dare lie to the people, Gachagua declared during an impromptu visit to Wangige in Kiambu County. This visit marks President Rutos first trip to the Mount Kenya region in nearly six months. His agenda includes projects aimed at enhancing road infrastructure, affordable housing, fresh produce markets, last-mile electricity connectivity, water, and irrigation. Supporters of President Ruto have criticized Gachagua for his comments, suggesting they might generate negative feelings toward the President during his visit. The tour is expected to be closely monitored as it unfolds over the coming days. Following a powerful earthquake that hit Myanmar and Thailand, the Kenyan government has issued a safety advisory for its citizens in these regions. The quake, which struck central areas, has tragically led to at least 2,000 deaths, raising alarm across the globe. The Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs in Kenya is urging Kenyans in the affected areas to prioritize their safety. Its crucial to stay informed through local media and official updates to keep track of aftershocks and the ongoing emergency efforts. If youre in these regions, its best to avoid traveling to the hardest-hit areas. Find shelter in stable and open spaces to reduce your risk. For those in Thailand, reaching out to the Kenyan Embassy in Bangkok is vital for support and the latest information. You can contact the embassy at +66990745752 or by emailing [email protected]. The Kenyan authorities strongly recommend following evacuation orders and adhering to local safety guidelines. Its also important to keep communication lines open with fellow Kenyans, including students, diaspora workers, and others who may be vulnerable, to ensure everyones safety and well-being. The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) is gearing up for a significant change as it looks to appoint a new Commission Secretary and CEO. With Dr. Nancy Macharias term wrapping up in June, a new leader must be in place by July 1, 2025, according to the TSC Act 2012. This transition is crucial, and the process aims to be transparent and merit-based, although the Act doesnt specify the exact timeline or steps. The current leadership, headed by Chairperson Dr. Jamleck Muturi John, is tasked with ensuring a smooth transition by June 30, 2025. Starting in April, the recruitment process is expected to unfold over three months. This includes advertising the position, reviewing applications, shortlisting candidates, conducting interviews, and making the final selection. Dr. Macharia will begin her terminal leave in April, which aligns with the start of the search for her successor. The role is likely to attract interest from senior education professionals, including school principals and Ministry of Education officials. Many believe an internal candidate might be favored due to the TSCs complex operations. The appointment could also draw political attention, given TSCs status as East Africas largest employer. There is speculation that President William Ruto might propose a candidate from the Public Service Commissions pool for Permanent Secretary roles, as the TSC CEO position carries similar weight. Qualifications and Appointment Criteria According to the TSC Act 2012, the new CEO must be a Kenyan citizen, hold an education degree from a recognized university, and have at least ten years of relevant experience. This role involves strategic leadership and administrative duties and is a five-year term that can be renewed once. Removal from office can only occur due to incompetence or misconduct, with the right to a fair hearing. Dr. Macharias time as CEO has been marked by significant reforms and digital advancements. Shes been praised for recruiting over 100,000 teachers and implementing key reforms, though some policies have faced criticism. Appointed in 2015, Dr. Macharia was the first woman to hold the CEO position. Her career began as an assistant teacher and progressed to Deputy Principal at Kianderi Girls Secondary School. She holds a Doctorate in Education and has been awarded the Order of the Grand Warrior (OGW). During her tenure, Dr. Macharia navigated complex relationships with teacher unions, initially marked by conflicts over CBAs and career progression policies. However, relations improved under new union leadership, allowing for dialogue on salary and promotions. Some policies, like teacher delocalization, faced strong opposition until they were repealed. Dr. Macharia led the digitization of TSC operations, enhancing payroll processing and service delivery. This transformation has been praised for improving confidentiality and efficiency. As the search for a new CEO begins, there are calls for reforms that address career progression and restore trust within TSC. Union leaders emphasize the need for consultative leadership and depoliticized operations. Enhancements in working conditions and structured career progression are also sought to maintain morale and efficiency. Dr. Macharia leaves behind a legacy of both achievements and debates. As TSC prepares for new leadership, the focus is on a smooth transition that builds on past successes. The education community is eager to see a leader who will promote inclusivity, transparency, and progressive management reforms. On Tuesday night at Sagana State Lodge, President William Ruto opened up about a major demand from former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua. During a rocky phase in their political alliance, Gachagua insisted on a Ksh 10 billion payment according to his former boss. Ruto, speaking to local media in the Mt Kenya region, disclosed that Gachagua warned him of a potential single-term presidency if these financial conditions werent met. Ruto, who had mostly stayed quiet amidst Gachaguas criticisms, chose this moment to address the matter publicly. He explained, Gachagua told me that he would make me a one-term president. He asked for Ksh 10 billion to conduct politics in Mt Kenya region. Ruto added, I told him I would not do it. I thought elections are determined by the people and God. I told him if he can make me one term, its okay. So the MPs started a war. This demand, as Ruto sees it, played a key role in the fallout between them. He also accused Gachagua of bullying Mt. Kenya MPs into bowing for him. President Ruto also took time to defended his decision to restart infrastructure projects that were initially launched by his predecessor, Uhuru Kenyatta, arguing that these projects had been put on hold due to financial issues, prompting a need to reassess the budget and refocus priorities. The Mau Mau roads, when I came into office, were already stalled. So, what I have done over the past two years is to reorganize the economy, he stated, addressing the controversy over revisiting these initiatives. Press Release March 31, 2025 PIMENTEL: PALAKASIN PHILHEALTH KONSULTA PACKAGE PARA MAKINABANG LAHAT Senate Minority Leader Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III called on the Department of Health (DOH) and the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) to strengthen the implementation of the Konsulta Package so that more Filipinos can benefit from it. According to Pimentel, despite the program being available since 2020, very few Filipinos are aware of it or able to access its services due to the limited number of accredited providers. Based on PhilHealth's latest data, while 102.75 million Filipinos are registered as members, only 27.8 million or 24.6 percent have enrolled with Konsulta-accredited providers. Worse, only 6.37 million or 5.6 percent have undergone a "first-patient encounter," where a provider records or updates a member's basic health data. Health advocates estimate that only 1 percent of the total population actually availed of Konsulta benefits in 2024. "The Konsulta package is part of the progressive realization of the Comprehensive Outpatient Benefit Package under our Universal Health Care Law. We encourage all qualified package providers, including rural health units and private clinics, to apply for accreditation," Pimentel said. One of the main challenges facing the Konsulta program is the lack of accredited providers. As of now, there are only 3,149 Konsulta-accredited providers nationwide--2,661 public and 488 private facilities. This is far from the 12,765 PhilHealth-accredited hospitals and clinics in the country. PhilHealth President and CEO Dr. Edwin Mercado admitted that many private hospitals and clinics are hesitant to become Konsulta providers due to concerns about delayed payments from PhilHealth. Despite 3,149 Konsulta-accredited facilities, only a few local government units (LGUs) are proactive in encouraging their residents to register for the program. Pimentel thus urged LGUs to intensify their efforts in registering their constituents and ensuring they benefit from the free healthcare services offered by PhilHealth and called for a stronger nationwide information campaign to make Filipinos aware of the benefits they can avail of through Konsulta. "Kailangan nating ibaba sa bawat barangay ang Konsulta Package. Huwag nating hintayin na mangailangan pa ang ating mga kababayan bago nila malaman ang serbisyong ito. Mas mainam na maagapan ang sakit bago pa man ito lumala," Pimentel added. He emphasized that prevention is better than cure and that efforts must be made to bring the Konsulta Package down to every barangay. To achieve this, Pimentel proposed launching a Konsulta Package caravan across the country. "Dapat tayo mismo ang magdala ng serbisyo sa mga komunidad. Magkaroon tayo ng caravan para maiparating ang Konsulta Package sa bawat barangay," he said. Pimentel, who is now running for congressman of Marikina's first congressional district, has been proactive in bringing healthcare services directly to the people. He has conducted house-to-house medical consultations where he brings a complete medical staff composed of a doctor and nurses to households. In partnership with the Manila Doctors Hospital, he has organized medical missions to ensure that essential healthcare services reach underserved communities. On the morning of Saturday, Feb. 15, two buses carrying Emory students and scholars representing countries from all around the world departed Emorys campus to embark on a day-long educational journey exploring Atlantas civil rights history. This marked the beginning of the third annual International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) Black History Month field trip. For this years trip, ISSS partnered with Atlanta Global Partnerships a unit under Emory Global Engagement, as well as the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, and the Truth, Racial Healing and Transformation Initiative at Emory. These new partnerships allowed for an expansion of the opportunity to additional members of the Emory community, both domestic and international. The trip provided students and scholars the chance to learn about the important history of civil rights in America and the key historical role played by the city of Atlanta. Prior to boarding the bus, participants kicked off the morning with a group discussion on the meaning of civil rights facilitated by Sharon Stroye, director of Emorys Truth, Racial Healing and Transformation Initiative. This conversation primed students and scholars to reflect on the overall theme of the field trip: the importance of civil rights and the struggles for these rights both here in America and abroad. Then, participants heard a panel discussion featuring Gene Kansas, author Civil Sights: Sweet Auburn, a Journey Through Atlanta's National Treasure, where they learned about the history of Atlantas Sweet Auburn neighborhood and its role as the epicenter of Atlantas Black business community. Panelists also shared about the historic preservation efforts and the creation of murals intended to preserve the areas important history and character. During a bus tour of the Sweet Auburn neighborhood guided by Gene Kansas and Peri Frances, an Atlanta-based interpretive guide and tour director, participants saw landmarks like the Atlanta Daily World building and Big Bethel AME Church. They were also given an overview of the ways in which the Sweet Auburn neighborhood has changed over time. Participants then headed to the King Center, where they visited the crypts of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his wife Coretta Scott King. After taking photos near the crypts and the Eternal Flame, the group headed over to the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Parks Visitor Center. Students were greeted by Barbara Harrison, the King Centers senior director of external affairs and strategic Partnerships, and Sara Singha, the centers manager of internships and fellowships who shared about the King Centers new interns and fellows program. Students then watched a film about Kings legacy and the history of the civil rights movement in America. The last stop of the field trip was a visit to Ebenezer Baptist Church led by Clyde Robertson, a National Parks Service ranger. During their visit, participants had the opportunity to sit in the pews of the historic churchs chapel and learn about topics ranging from the significance of each piece of the churchs unique stained glass windows to the pivotal role the church played in Kings life and identity. To walk where Martin Luther King Jr. once walked was enthralling and awe inspiring. It was literally walking in the footprints of courage, says Susy Wekesa, a J-1 research scholar from Kenya. Walking through these historic sites, engaging in conversations with people from different backgrounds and reflecting on profound topics like the origins of hate and fear and how they can be overcome all on the same day made this experience especially meaningful to me, says Adrian Lungu, an exchange student from Romania who is studying at Goizueta Business School. After a bus ride back to the Emory campus, participants gathered one last time for a closing reflection. It was a very moving and inspiring time to reflect on why I am here at Emory University, why I am taking the road and what kind of change I want to bring in the world... making it an experience I wont forget, says Jiyoon Jang, a student from South Korea who is pursuing her PhD in nursing. Bera Topkara, a masters student in theology from Germany, agrees. Listening to the individual stories of the civil rights movement has inspired me to reflect on my vocation and calling, prompting me to act for what is right and just. This stands in accordance with Emory University's mission statement, which is committed to educating and raising leaders who serve humanity as a whole. 2025 SIU Civil Service Flea Market to raise funds for scholarships is April 26 CARBONDALE, Ill. The regions vendors have an opportunity to sign up for the 2025 Southern Illinois University Carbondale Civil Service Councils spring flea market. Proceeds from vendors fees go to the Civil Service Education Assistance Fund toward scholarships for SIU students. This years flea market is from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 26 in the Banterra Center parking lot. Customer parking will be in the adjacent lot. If hazardous weather conditions, such as thunderstorms and lightning, occur, the event will be moved to April 27. There will be concessions. The cost to sellers is $35 for a single space (18 feet wide by 18 feet deep) and $50 for a double space (36-by-18 feet). Additional individual spaces (9-by-18 feet) are available for $10 per space. Payment is due by 4 p.m. April 17. Sellers renting space the day of the sale will pay an additional $10. Applications to rent space at the market and to pay are available online. Because this is a fundraiser for the Civil Service Council Education Assistance Fund, there are no refunds. There are a few regulations for vendors to remember. The university is a gun-free school zone, and concealed firearms cannot be carried on campus. Regulations also prohibit the sale of: Alcohol. Ammunition. Firearms. Food. Hazardous materials. Live animals. Pharmarceuticals. There also cannot be: Amplified sound of any type, including microphones. Generators. If fees are not paid online, send checks or money orders, payable to SIU Carbondale, to Civil Service Council, c/o Campus Mail Services Professional Constituencies Office, Woody Hall, B342, Mail code 4712, 900 S. Normal Ave., Carbondale, Illinois, 62901. Please include your mailing address and telephone number. For more information and an application, if needed, contact Anthony Travelstead, vice president, SIU Civil Service Council, at 618-453-7601. PRNewswire Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], March 31: BRISKPE, India's pioneering cross-border payments platform powering the global ambitions of Indian exporters, freelancers, and service providers, has earned ISO 27001:2022 and SOC 2 Type 2 certifications -- two of the most stringent and globally recognised standards for information security and compliance. For a company growing steadily across India's export ecosystem, this achievement reflects more than just regulatory compliance. It underscores BRISKPE's commitment to building responsibly. In a space where trust and reliability are essential, these certifications signal BRISKPE's focus on laying a strong, secure foundation for long-term operations. ISO 27001 assesses how well an organisation integrates security into its processes, while SOC 2 Type 2 reviews how consistently those measures perform over time. While an increasing number of fintech companies are pursuing these certifications, BRISKPE's decision to prioritise both, early in its growth journey reflects a deliberate focus on infrastructure, credibility, and customer confidence. "We didn't pursue these certifications to check a box," said Nilesh Pathak, Co-founder and CPTO at BRISKPE adding, "We did it because trust is foundational to what we do. If Indian businesses are relying on us to move their money across borders, then they deserve complete confidence in how we protect their data, ensure compliance, and deliver peace of mind." Since launch, BRISKPE has made it dramatically easier for goods and service exporters to collect international payments. With features like local currency virtual accounts, card payments, Low transaction charges, transparent forex rates, and 24-hour settlements, among others, the platform has already begun rewriting the cross-border payment experience for thousands. But as cyber threats rise and global compliance standards grow more complex, BRISKPE chose to go further -- investing heavily last year in strengthening its security architecture and risk controls. That investment has paid off. The newly awarded certifications, granted after months of independent audits, position BRISKPE among a select group of Indian fintech companies capable of serving enterprise-grade clients, regulated industries, and international partners, without compromising on agility or accessibility. For Pathak and the team, the message is simple: security isn't a one-time goal, it's a continuous commitment. "This is just the beginning," said Pathak. "We've set a high standard, and we're committed to raising it even further." With this milestone achieved and a bold roadmap ahead, BRISKPE is set to scale across global markets and customer segments. If its track record is any indication, it will continue to grow with discipline, transparency, and an unshakeable focus on trust. Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2260059/4368299/Briskpe_Logo.jpg (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by PRNewswire. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) ATK New Delhi [India], March 31: India is set to make a strong presence at the Arabian Travel Market 2025 (ATM Dubai), solidifying its position as a world leader in outbound tourism. Led by the Ministry of Tourism of India, the nation is looking to highlight its growing presence in the international travel and hospitality industry at the Dubai World Trade Centre. India's Growing Influence in Global Travel and Hospitality According to recent updates, India's outbound tourism market is projected to reach USD 55 billion by 2034, emerging as a significant contributor to the industry. With more and more Indian tourists visiting foreign destinations, Dubai continues to be one of the most popular destinations, drawing millions of people annually. Arabian Travel Market Dubai is an important platform for India to enhance its travel partnership and accelerate the promotion of tourism prospects. ATM 2025: "Global Travel: Developing Tomorrow's Tourism Through Enhanced Connectivity"Arabian Travel Market 2025 this year takes the theme "Global Travel: Developing Tomorrow's Tourism Through Enhanced Connectivity" into focus, where the need for hassle-free travel experiences is paramount. The Arabian Travel Week (April 28 - May 1) will gather tourism leaders, travel professionals, and global businesses together to address what the future holds for tourism. India at ATM 2025 will present India's vibrant presence and efforts within the international travel sector. Akbar Travels: Your Trusted Partner for Dubai Travel Akbar Travels, India's premier travel service provider, offers a variety of services designed to cater to the increasing needs for hassle-free travel to Dubai. From Dubai visa online applications to budget-friendly Dubai flights and exclusive Dubai tour packages, travelers can rely on Akbar Travels for a hassle-free experience. Why choose Akbar Travels for your Dubai visa? With over 45 years of expertise in the travel industry (since 1978), Akbar Travels offers a seamless and reliable Dubai visa application process tailored to your needs. Whether you're traveling for leisure, business, or events, our 100% online application ensures you receive your Dubai eVisa directly in your inbox--quickly and hassle-free. - Comprehensive Visa Services - Get tourist, transit, family, business, events, and exhibition visas. - Flexible Visa Durations - Choose from 14-day, 30-day, or 60-day Dubai visa options at the best prices. - High Success Rate - A 99.8% visa approval rate guarantees peace of mind - Fast & Convenient Processing - Opt for our express visa services to get your visa in just 24 hours. - Dedicated Support - Enjoy personalized assistance at every step. Plan Your Dubai Trip with Akbar Travels Akbar Travels makes it easy for Indians to apply for a Dubai visa online with a smooth and hassle-free process. Whether you're traveling for leisure, business, or a special occasion, securing your visa has never been simpler. While you're at it, you can also book cheap flights to Dubai, find top-rated hotels in Dubai, and explore exclusive Dubai tour packages to make the most of your journey. Let Akbar Travels take care of your travel needs effortlessly! Dubai: The Ultimate Destination for Indian Travelers With its modern skyline, luxurious experiences, and lively culture, Dubai remains a favorite among Indian travelers. Whether it is getting the best Dubai visa price, accessing complete UAE visa information, or making an unforgettable Dubai tourist visa tour, Akbar Travels offers a hassle-free and memorable travel experience. As India increases its presence at ATM Dubai, the two nations' cooperation in the tourism industry is likely to get stronger. With Akbar Travels taking the lead in ensuring complete Dubai travel solutions, Indian tourists can expect a better and hassle-free experience. Start planning your Dubai trip today with Akbar Travels! (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by ATK. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], March 31: Renowned Bollywood filmmaker and television personality Karan Johar has renewed his association with IITIIMSHAADI.COM for a third term as its brand ambassador. The premium matrimonial platform, known for catering exclusively to highly educated individuals from the top 10-15 institutions, continues to strengthen its position as a leading matchmaking service. Adding to its list of remarkable achievements, the platform's Founder & CEO, Taksh Gupta, recently received a prestigious special award in the Parliament of the UK. This honor recognizes his contributions towards bringing a positive cultural shift in society through the platform's unique and selective approach to matchmaking. IITIIMSHAADI.COM has also reached a significant milestone, crossing an impressive 4 lakh+ members. This achievement highlights the growing trust and popularity of the platform among highly educated individuals looking for compatible life partners. Moreover, the platform recently celebrated its 11th anniversary, marking over a decade of success in connecting like-minded, high-achieving individuals. Known for its stringent authentication process, IITIIMSHAADI.COM ensures that all members are verified, further enhancing its credibility and appeal. In a bid to further promote its services, the platform recently shot a captivating television advertisement featuring Karan Johar, often referred to as Bollywood's cupid. The ad, upon being posted on Johar's Instagram account, quickly gained traction and became a trending topic across social media platforms, garnering widespread attention and engagement. With its continued expansion, exclusive member base, and high-profile endorsements, IITIIMSHAADI.COM is set to redefine elite matchmaking and maintain its position as the go-to platform for educated professionals seeking meaningful relationships. Visit: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DHyL0O1oukd/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) PNN Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], March 31: Spinaroo Commercial Limited, a prominent manufacturer of aluminium foil containers, paper cups, plates, bowls, and semi-processed materials for paper cups, is set to launch its Initial Public Offering (IPO). The IPO will raise Rs1,016.94 Lakhs by offering 19,94,000 equity shares at Rs51 per share, listed on the BSE SME platform. About Spinaroo Commercial Limited Spinaroo Commercial manufactures a wide range of high-quality products, including aluminium foil containers, home foil, paper cups, plates, bowls, and semi-processed materials like paper coating, printing, and blanking. The company also offers machinery for paper cup production, including high-speed paper cup-making machines, flexo printing machines, and automatic roll die cutting machines. With two facilities in close proximity at the Jalan Industrial Complex in Kolkata, West Bengal, Spinaroo operates with significant operational and logistical advantages. The company serves clients across 12 states and 2 Union Territories, including West Bengal, Delhi, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Assam, and even the Andaman & Nicobar Islands. Promoter and Management The company is managed by experienced professionals who ensure its products meet high standards, with raw materials sourced from reliable vendors. Under their leadership, Spinaroo is committed to delivering quality products and services tailored to client specifications. -Amit Sultania - Aditya Todi - Mridula Todi IPO Issue Details -Issue Size: Rs1,016.94 Lakhs (19,94,000 Shares @ Rs51/- each) -Face Value per Share: Rs10 - Issue Price: Rs51 per Equity Share - Retail Allocation: Rs483.48 Lakhs (9,48,000 Shares) - Non-Retail Allocation: Rs482.46 Lakhs (9,46,000 Shares) - Market Maker Portion: Rs51 Lakhs (1,00,000 Shares) - Bid Lot Size: 2,000 Equity Shares (Rs1,02,000 per lot) - Issue Open Date: March 28, 2025 - Issue Close Date: April 3, 2025 - Post-IPO Dilution: 28.51% Capital Structure (Standalone Basis) -Pre-Issue Share Capital: Rs500.00 Lakhs - Post-Issue Share Capital: Rs699.40 Lakhs - Authorized Share Capital: Rs700.00 Lakhs - Net Worth (Pre-Issue): Rs664.40 Lakhs - Net Worth (Post-Issue): Rs1,681.34 Lakhs - Total Borrowings: Rs742.98 Lakhs Financial Performance (As per Restated Financials) -Revenue: *FY 2023: Rs5,312.50 Lakhs * FY 2024: Rs4,083.68 Lakhs * H1 FY 2025: Rs2,101.50 Lakhs -EBITDA: *FY 2023: Rs219.22 Lakhs (Margin: 4.13%) * FY 2024: Rs264.50 Lakhs (Margin: 6.48%) * H1 FY 2025: Rs132.78 Lakhs (Margin: 6.32%) -Profit After Tax (PAT): * FY 2023: Rs93.06 Lakhs (Margin: 1.75%) * FY 2024: Rs140.05 Lakhs (Margin: 3.40%) * H1 FY 2025: Rs61.48 Lakhs (Margin: 2.93%) Use of Proceeds The IPO proceeds will be used for: 1.Working Capital Requirements 2.General Corporate Purposes Risk and Disclaimer Investors are advised to carefully read the offer documents and consider the risks associated with investing in the IPO. There is no guarantee of active or sustained trading of the shares post-listing. The company has not yet established a formal market for its shares. Note: The face value of the equity shares is Rs10, and the issue price is Rs51. Investments in equity and equity-related securities involve risk. Investors should only invest if they can afford to bear the risk of loss. Contact Information For more details, please contact: -Company: Spinaroo Commercial Limited, Kolkata * Ankita Periwal | Tel: +91 84206 45159 | Email: compliance@spino.co.in - Lead Manager: Finshore Management Services Ltd., Kolkata * S Ramakrishna Iyengar | Tel: +91 33 22895101 | Email: info@finshoregroup.com - Registrar to the Issue (RTA): CAMEO Corporate Services Ltd., Chennai * K. Sreepriya | Tel: +91-44-40020700 | Email: ipo@cameoindia.com -Market Maker: Black Fox Financial Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi * Suresh Bohra | Tel: +91 11 4161 1745 | Email: suresh@blackfoxindia.com (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) BusinessWire India New Delhi [India], March 31: NIIT Limited, a leading global skill and talent development corporation, has been recognized with two top honors - the BW People Tech Future Awards 2025 and the BW People HR 50 Under 50. The awards celebrate innovation, excellence and impact in the Human Resource and People Technology domain. The recognitions were presented recently, in the presence of an eminent jury comprising industry leaders such as Dr. Annurag Batra, Chairman & Editor-in-Chief, BW Businessworld; Deepak Jolly, Founder & Director, Consocia Advisory; Arup Sinha, former Executive Director, Indian Oil Corporation; and Dr. Aquil Busrai, CEO, Aquil Busrai Consulting, among others. NIIT's HR leaders Dr. Mita Brahma, KV Radhakrishnan, and Vandana Negi were present to receive the awards. NIIT's HR team has been awarded the Gold in the category 'Best HR Tech Team of the Year (Product & Services) for its pioneering work in the deployment and adoption of AI-assisted HR products and services. Central to this transformation is N.AI.R.A (NIIT's Artificial Intelligence Resource Assistant), a Gen AI-powered tool designed to respond to NIITians' queries and to help the sales team by bringing together real-time information on NIIT's digital offerings, competition insights, and value propositions. Also, in the works is enabling AI-generated customized pitch support. NAIRA has become a critical enabler for enabling business teams -- by reducing preparation time, improving message precision, providing enhanced customer experience and directly impacting lead progression. Complementing this is Amber, an AI-powered engagement bot that interacts with NIITians at key milestones to track sentiment and promote well-being. By fostering compassionate listening and timely actions, Amber has played a key role in building a more connected, inclusive, and responsive workplace environment. The award acknowledges the team's success in scaling adoption of these platforms through structured communication and training initiatives, continuous enhancements in functionality, and the development of high impact use cases that have delivered tangible organizational outcomes. In addition to this team recognition, Vandana Negi, Head of Learning & Development at NIIT Ltd., has been named among the "BW People HR 50 Under 50 Awards 2025." The award recognizes Vandana's personal journey of professional growth, from heading NIIT's Sales Training Academy to leading the L&D function, and her significant contributions as an L&D professional across industry platforms. This award was conferred on March 20, 2025, at the conclusion of the conference. Vandana's award was decided by a distinguished panel of jurors including Dr. T.V. Rao, Chairman of TV Rao Learning Systems; Paneesh Rao, Chief Sustainability Officer at LTI Mindtree; SV Nathan, CEO & Co-Founder of Visara Partners; and Yogi Sriram, Consultant to the CEO & MD at Larsen & Toubro, among others. Speaking on this dual recognition, Dr. Mita Brahma, HR Head, NIIT Limited, said, "At NIIT, we have always believed that people-centric innovation is the foundation for a future-ready organization. We are truly grateful to Business World for acknowledging our work and appreciating our team for their unwavering dedication. We look forward to continuing our journey of leveraging cutting-edge technology to enhance employee experiences, streamline processes, drive organizational success, and contributing to shaping the future of HR." Vandana Negi, Head of Learning & Development at NIIT Limited, added, "It's incredibly humbling to be recognized among the BW People HR 50 Under 50. My professional trajectory, commencing with the design and delivery of sales training and culminating in my current leadership of the learning charter for NIIT, represents a journey of continuous and profound evolution. This significant milestone is not solely my own; it is an honor I share deeply with every colleague and mentor whose guidance and support have been instrumental in shaping my path. Furthermore, I extend my gratitude to the broader NIIT community, whose unwavering belief in the transformative power of continuous learning has been a constant source of inspiration and a driving force behind our collective achievements." These recognitions further validate NIIT's long-standing commitment to building a future-ready workforce through technology, innovation, and a deeply ingrained culture of learning and development. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by BusinessWire India. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) NewsVoir Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) [India], March 31: Saras Salil, one of India's most widely read Hindi magazines, will organise the 6th edition of the Saras Salil Bhojpuri Cine Awards 2025 in Lucknow. The event will take place at the Indra Gandhi Pratishthan on 10 April 2025. It is going to be a grand extravaganza celebrating the best in Bhojpuri cinema talent. Saras Salil Bhojpuri Cine Awards have become a hallmark event where the best work of filmmakers, actors, technicians, and other members of the booming Bhojpuri film industry is celebrated and awarded. This year's awards ceremony will celebrate excellence in Bhojpuri cinema across 50+ categories, recognizing achievements in acting, directing, music, cinematography, and more, including Best Film, Best Director, and Best Actor (Male and Female). Some of the biggest names in Bhojpuri cinema will grace the occasion, including Dinesh Yadav Nirahua, Arvind Akela Kallu, Amrapali Dubey, Anjana Singh, Sanjay Pandey, KK Goswami, Samar Singh, Raksha Gupta, Yamini Singh, Dev Singh, Vimal Pandey, C P Bhatt, Vinod Mishra, Shubham Tiwari, Pallavi Giri, Radha Singh, Mahi Khan, Richa Dixit, and Vidhya Singh. Their presence adds immense prestige to this grand celebration of Bhojpuri cinema. These awards serve as a platform to recognise not only the stars of Bhojpuri cinema but also the behind-the-scenes heroes who make it all possible. From producers and directors to technicians, choreographers, and sound engineers, every individual contributing to a film's success is recognized and honoured. Paresh Nath, Editor-in-Chief and Publisher of Delhi Press, said, "The Saras Salil Bhojpuri Cine Awards are more than just an event; they honour the passion and creativity that shapes Bhojpuri cinema. We are proud to recognize and honor the incredible talent that has contributed to the industry's growth and success. This year's edition promises to be even more spectacular, highlighting the stars and the unsung heroes who make cinema an art form." The nomination process for the awards is thorough. Eligible films for this year's awards include the ones released between January 1st, 2024, to December 31st, 2024. A panel of industry experts, critics, and prominent figures in the cinema world will evaluate the nominees and select the winners from each category. The award ceremony will feature several categories for performances (Best Actor and Actress, Supporting Roles, etc.), technical awards (Best Cinematography, Best Editing, etc.), and creative contributions such as Best Screenplay and Best Music. In addition to these, special categories like the Lifetime Achievement Award, Emerging Talent, and Best Bhojpuri Film of the Year will also be presented to recognize the career-defining contributions of veterans and rising stars. To know more about the Saras Salil Awards and stay updated with the latest news, visit their official website Saras Salil Awards. Saras Salil is one of India's leading Hindi magazines, published by Delhi Press known for its high-quality content that covers a wide range of topics, including cinema, lifestyle, culture, and social issues. With a readership that spans across India and beyond, Saras Salil has been at the forefront of promoting and celebrating various regional film industries, with a particular focus on Bhojpuri cinema. Through its awards, Saras Salil continues to be a beacon of recognition for the talent, hard work, and creativity that goes into making films that entertain and inspire audiences. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) VMPL New Delhi [India], March 31: JSR Traders, a name that comes to mind when wire mesh and metal mesh stand us, gets jubilated today to announce the comeback of its most popular products namely, Perforated Sheets, Expanded Metal, Wire Mesh and Filter Disc & Circle. With nearly two decades of experience in the market, JSR Traders continue leading innovations in manufacturing and supplying a wide range of wire netting and metal mesh products. The product relaunch then does not only reflect the company's commitment to innovative development but more so, embody its promise to stay in touch with the evolving needs from its customers across industries. A Legacy of Excellence Established in 2006 by Mr. Rakesh Jangid in Bangalore, it has come a long way since its modest origins. Starting as a manufacturer and stockist of wire netting and metal mesh products, the very next moment, one could realize the establishment of its identity as a business firm of today, known for superior quality of product matched with timely delivery. JSR Traders, today, is trusted across sectors that include mining, oil and gas, automobiles, construction, and many more. The sole award-winning parameters for growing up in this industry comprise quality, precision, and unparalleled customer satisfaction. With numerous industrial needs, JSR Traders offers an extensive range of products manufactured from best quality Trusted Brands materials such as iron, mild steel, stainless steel, aluminium, brass, and copper made - Wire Mesh, Perforated Sheets, Expanded Metal, Crimped Mesh, Welded Wire Mesh, Filter Mesh, Chain Link Fences, Plaster Mesh, and Hexagonal Wire Netting, among others. Product Relaunch: A New Era of Quality and Durability The successful relaunching of Perforated Sheets, Expanded Metal, Wire Mesh as well as Filter Discs & Circles Made on modern Machinery by JSR Traders marks the beginning of a new chapter in their journey. Such products have gone through careful craftsmanship and refinement to qualify as products conforming to the highest quality standards, durability, and functional use. Whether for construction, filtration, or industrial applications, materials supplied by JSR Traders are engineered to deliver superior performance. Perforated Sheets Perforated sheets are used in different industries and applications for ventilation, filtration, and screening. JSR Traders manufactures outstanding perforated sheets that have precise strength with high durability and a good appearance. These perforated sheets can be made in many hole patterns and thicknesses and in multiple metals to customize to any customer's specific needs for individual projects. Expanded Metal JSR Traders is the excellent name kept there in terms of highly durable, yet versatile products expanded metal offers. Expanded metal is most popularly seen in industries like construction, automotive, and security because of its excellent strength-to-weight ratio combined with its ability to provide effective ventilation and screening. The expanded metal available at JSR Traders is available in different thickness and opening hole sizes and patterns according to different needs of every industry. Wire Mesh Wire mesh, which is one of the flagship products from JSR Traders, is manufactured to give the maximum performance in demanding applications. JSR Traders' wire mesh is made in various materials such as stainless steel ( SS304L, SS316L), aluminium, galvanised iron (GI), Brass etc which the company distributes in different kinds of industries like construction, mining, agriculture, etc. The manufacture of the company's wire mesh products is measured to ensure their uniformity and strength, further guaranteeing their durability. Filter Discs & Circles JSR Traders' filter discs and circles are important parts of filtration systems offering high efficiency in separating solids from liquids or gases. Companies such as this create filter discs from stainless steel ( SS304L, SS316L) which ensure their long run and corrosion resistance. These products are highly applicable in was adopted by the oil and gas, water treatment, and food processing sectors. Why Choose JSR Traders? What differentiates JSR Traders from the rest is its quality commitment which solidifies its market presence. Over time, the company has developed a comprehensive portfolio of products and built a reputation for providing solutions that customers can rely upon without much concern for cost or longevity. JSR Traders prides itself in its excellently manufactured products with the best techniques and quality materials life span. Customer satisfaction is another reason for the successful march of the company. As every client has different requirements, the company makes sure that all products are made to fulfil the specific needs of the industry. Consistent deliveries on time and every time put the company down to be one of the favourite partnerships for construction bucketing, mining, oil, and gas, etc. Additionally, JSR Traders innovates the products regularly and thus will always be ahead in performance and designs. The images of its Perforated Sheets, Expanded Metal, Wire Mesh, and Filter Discs & Circles are clear evidence of the company's commitment towards being relevant in a fast-evolving market. Conclusion Years of consistent performance with superior quality and customer-centric service have built a reputation for JSR Traders as a trusted name in the industry. With the revamp of Perforated Sheets, Expanded Metal, Wire Mesh, and Filter Discs & Circles, the company will now have more innovative solutions to offer its customers. Continuing the legacy of being the frontrunner in the wire mesh and metal mesh industry, JSR Traders will keep on promising quality, reliability, and excellence.JSR Traders, for a variety of businesses in differing sectors, is the firm that you can really trust to provide the best solutions, customized solutions in the area of wire mesh and metal mesh products. For More Information on Jsr traders please visit our website on: https://jsrtraders.co.in/ (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by VMPL. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) NewsVoir Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) [India], March 31: Nikhil Singhal, a distinguished media strategist, Founder of Vigor Media Worldwide, and President of the Noida High Rise Federation, was honored with the prestigious Uttar Pradesh Anmol Ratan Award. The award ceremony, hosted by the Tapasya Foundation Trust, took place at the iconic Taj Lucknow. This recognition highlights his remarkable contributions to the public relations industry and his exemplary leadership in strategic communication. The event brought together distinguished personalities from diverse sectors, including media, public relations, corporate communications, and governance. Shri Akhilesh Yadav, former Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, presented the award in recognition of Nikhil Singhal's groundbreaking efforts in revolutionizing the PR landscape and crafting impactful communication strategies. In his acceptance speech, Nikhil Singhal expressed gratitude for the honor and attributed his success to his dedicated team and unwavering commitment to excellence. "I am deeply humbled to receive this prestigious award. It is a recognition not just for me but for my entire team at Vigor Media Worldwide, who work tirelessly to redefine public relations with innovation and integrity. This motivates me to continue striving for excellence and setting new benchmarks in the industry," he said. As President of Noida High Rise Federation, Nikhil has been instrumental in advocating for the rights and concerns of high-rise residents in Noida, ensuring effective communication between stakeholders and government authorities. His leadership has facilitated numerous initiatives for community development and better infrastructure. Beyond his role in community service, Singhal has made remarkable contributions to the public relations sector. His strategic insights and innovative approach have significantly influenced corporate branding, media relations, and crisis communication. Under his leadership, Vigor Media Worldwide has emerged as one of the most sought-after PR firms, catering to a global clientele. Nikhil Singhal's illustrious career in media strategy and public relations has been adorned with numerous accolades, underscoring his remarkable expertise and influence in the industry. Among his noteworthy achievements are his inclusion in the Times 40 Under 40 list in 2022, which recognized him as one of the most influential leaders under 40 for his exceptional contributions to PR and media strategy; the ET Global Leader award in 2021 by The Economic Times, celebrating his significant impact on the global PR landscape and his excellence in business leadership; and the prestigious recognition by Khaleej Times in 2022 as the most followed Indian media strategist, highlighting his unparalleled reach and influence in the field. Awarded as ET Global Leader title by The Economic Times in 2021, Nikhil was also recognized as the Most Followed Indian Media Strategist by Khaleej Times in 2022. He was featured in the Times 40 Under 40 list in 2022, an honor that celebrates young leaders making a significant impact in their fields. This recognition highlighted his exceptional contributions to PR and media strategy. The Uttar Pradesh Anmol Ratan Award is a well-deserved recognition of his efforts, reinforcing his reputation as a game-changer in public relations. Moving forward, Singhal aims to expand Vigor Media Worldwide's global footprint, leverage emerging technologies in PR, and continue contributing to the industry through mentorship and thought leadership. Webiste: www.vigormedia.in. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) To expand the 'Ease of Living' of its 7.5 crore members, Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has decided to enhance the auto settlement of advanced claim (ASAC) limit by five times from currently Rs 1 lakh, sources told ANI. According to sources, Sumita Dawra, Secretary, Ministry of Labour and Employment had approved the proposal to enhance the limit from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 5 lakh in the 113th meeting of Executive Committee (EC) of Central Board of Trustees (CBT), held last week. This revision will enhance the ease of living for its crores of members. The meeting was held in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir on March 28, which was attended by Ramesh Krishnamurthi, Central Provident Fund Commissioner, EPFO. Now, the recommendation will go for the approval of CBT. After the approval of CBT, EPFO members can withdraw PF up to Rs 5 lakh through ASAC. The auto mode of claim settlement was introduced in April 2020 for advance for illness. In May 2024, the EPFO increased the auto settlement of the advanced claim limit from Rs 50,000 to Rs 1 lakh. EPFO has also introduced auto mode settlement of advance claims for 3 more categories: education, marriage, and housing. Earlier, members were able to withdraw their PF for only illness/hospitalisation purposes. The auto-mode claims are processed within three days, with 95 percent of claims now being automated. The EPFO achieved a historic high of 2.16 crore auto-claims settlement as of March 6, 2025, during the current financial year, up from 89.52 lakh in 2023-24. According to sources, the rejection of claims ratio has also been reduced to 30 per cent, from 50 per cent last year. The EPFO has introduced an auto-claim solution in which claims are processed automatically by an IT system without any human intervention. According to sources, the validation formalities for withdrawing PF have also been reduced from 27 to 18, and it was decided in the meeting to bring it down to 6. Certain upfront validations have been developed to guide members about the eligibility /admissibility of claims and ensure that members do not file ineligible claims. The claim settlement process is being further simplified with the centralization of member databases under Centralized IT Enabled. The entire auto-settlement process is IT system-driven, eliminating human intervention. Any claim with KYC, eligibility, and bank validation are processed for payment automatically by IT tools. As a result of this, the periodicity of claim settlement is reduced significantly from 10 days to within 3-4 days for such advances. Claims that are not validated by systems are not returned or rejected. They are further undertaken for a second level of scrutiny and approval. In a groundbreaking development for India's workforce, the EPFO is set to introduce a revolutionary new system for PF withdrawals through Unified Payments Interface (UPI). Last week, Labour and Employment Secretary Sumita Dawra said that the ministry has approved NPCI's recommendation, and members may withdraw PF through UPI and ATM by the end of May or June this year. This may also be a good pilot to members of others schemes like General Provident Fund (GPF) of Govt Employees of Public Provident Fund (PPF) of Banks. (ANI) VMPL New Delhi [India], March 31: Findoc successfully hosted the fourth edition of its flagship event, Traders For Life (TFL 4.0), on March 28-29, 2025, at the Novotel Convention Centre, Jaipur. Building on the success of its previous editions, TFL 4.0 emerged as one of the most impactful knowledge-sharing, learning, and networking platforms for the trading community. Focused on Algo and Options Trading, the event brought together a distinguished gathering of professional traders, HNIs, market experts, and enthusiasts keen on exploring India's dynamic derivatives markets. Nitin Shahi, Executive Director, Findoc, welcomed all participants and set the theme of the event, underlining its vision to empower traders through knowledge and innovation. The event was honoured by the presence of eminent dignitaries, including Shri Krishan Kumar Vishnoi, Minister of State for Sports, Youth Affairs, Skill, Employment & Entrepreneurship, and Shri Prem Chand Bairwa, Deputy Chief Minister of Rajasthan. Both leaders appreciated Findoc for choosing Jaipur for hosting this event and also shared their vision for India's growth, highlighting the pivotal role of youth and the financial sector in shaping the nation's future under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Industry stalwarts such as Anay Mittal, Dinshaw Irani, Vishal Mehta, and Govind Jhawar delivered insightful sessions. A special highlight was the talk by Harshubh Mahesh Shah (HMS), recently featured in the Guinness World Records. His session on Financial Astrology received a standing ovation, especially during his felicitation by Hemant Sood, Managing Director of Findoc. Speaking at the event, Hemant Sood expressed his pride in bringing TFL to Jaipur for the first time. He stated, "Rajasthan holds immense potential in the financial services sector, and it was a privilege to host TFL 4.0 in this vibrant state. We see a strong appetite for knowledge and trading innovation here, and we are committed to expanding Findoc's presence in Rajasthan in the coming months." TFL 4.0 delivered valuable insights into trading strategies and wealth creation, along with enriching networking opportunities that fostered meaningful industry connections. The event received widespread appreciation for its impactful content and seamless execution. With enthusiastic interest already building, TFL 5.0 is set to return even bigger, continuing its journey as one of India's most successful financial events. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by VMPL. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) PRNewswire New Delhi [India], March 31: Naugaon, the fast-growing hotspot along the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway, is poised for a transformation that could rival Gurgaon's rise as a premier investment destination. Key government initiatives-- the upcoming Alwar Airport, the Aravalli Green Wall project, and a new elevated road to Sariska--promise to significantly enhance the region's connectivity, infrastructure, and environmental appeal. These developments present a major fillip to the ongoing projects by Ram Rattan Group, which is already spearheading the luxury transformation of Naugaon with over 1,000 acres of high-end residential projects, including luxury farmhouses, villas, and farmlands. Ram Rattan Group: A Leader in Luxury Living Ram Rattan Group, under the visionary leadership of Chairman Vijay Ram Rattan, has been a pioneer in introducing luxury farmhouse living to India. The Group's flagship developments in Naugaon, such as the sprawling Ananda Farms and Green Step Farms, represent a bold vision for upscale living that combines luxury, sustainability and cutting-edge infrastructure. With more than 1,000 acres developed for gated luxury farmhouse living, the Group is transforming Naugaon into a premier destination for those seeking a lifestyle of peace, privacy, and grandeur just a short drive from Gurgaon. Key Government Initiatives Fueling Growth The Alwar Airport, once ready, will greatly enhance Naugaon's connectivity, making it more accessible to business and leisure travelers. The proximity to a world-class airport will not only boost tourism but also attract high-net-worth investors. Additionally, the upcoming elevated road connecting Naugaon to Sariska will improve traffic flow and drastically reduce travel time to key cities like Gurgaon and Jaipur, further elevating the region's profile. In parallel, the Indian government's ambitious Aravalli Green Wall project--aimed at creating a continuous stretch of green cover from Gujarat to Haryana, including Alwar--further aligns with the region's sustainable development goals. This initiative will combat desertification, enhance biodiversity, and improve air quality, ensuring Naugaon remains an eco-friendly and desirable investment choice. Vijay Ram Rattan's Vision: Naugaon as the New Gurgaon Vijay Ram Rattan, the visionary behind Ram Rattan Group, has positioned Naugaon as the next big investment destination in India. With an emphasis on eco-friendly design, world-class amenities, and unmatched connectivity, Ram Rattan Group's developments in Naugaon are designed to appeal to modern investors looking for the perfect blend of luxury, convenience, and sustainability. Vijay Ram Rattan envisions Naugaon as the 'New Gurgaon', a place where opulence and nature coexist seamlessly. A Prime Investment Destination As Naugaon continues to evolve with these major infrastructure and environmental projects, its appeal to investors is undeniable. The strategic location, coupled with the region's rapid development, presents tremendous opportunities for both high-end residential and commercial investments. With Ram Rattan Group's proven track record in delivering high-quality, luxury developments, investors can expect significant returns as Naugaon becomes one of the most sought-after destinations in India. About Ram Rattan Group Ram Rattan Group has built a formidable reputation in the real estate sector for over four decades, specializing in luxury farmhouse and farmland developments. The group is known for its innovative approach, commitment to excellence, and strong focus on customer satisfaction. For more information on their projects in Naugaon and other regions. Media ContactRam Rattan GroupPhone: +91 9910888324Email: enquiry@ramrattangroup.comWebsite: www.ramrattangroup.com Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2653877/Ram_Rattan_Naugaon.jpgLogo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2653876/Ram_Rattan_Group_Logo.jpg (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by PRNewswire. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) NewsVoir New Delhi [India], March 31: The Belgian Meat Office is pleased to announce the third consecutive year of "The Art of European Pork" campaign in India, cultivating stronger relationships with key Indian trade professionals and showcasing the superior quality of European-Belgian pork. The campaign will launch with the participation of Belgian meat suppliers at the prestigious Food & Hotel Asia (FHA) exhibition in Singapore. Building Stronger Partnerships Through "The Art of European Pork" Year Three Returning for the third year, "The Art of European Pork" campaign will focus on deepening collaborative ties between Belgian meat suppliers and key Indian importers, distributors, and retailers through strategic promotional activities. A key component will be a trade mission to India, featuring one-on-one meetings, site visits and networking events, complemented with continuous communication actvities on online and offline platforms. These efforts aim to provide Indian professionals with comprehensive insights into the exceptional quality of Belgian pork and the professional supply services offered by Belgian suppliers, fostering trade relationships and potential partnerships. Exploring potential import opportunities at FHA 2025 As part of the campaign, Belgian pork suppliers will exhibit at the upcoming Food & Hotel Asia trade show in Singapore, from 8th-11th April 2025. FHA is Asia's largest international trade event for the food, hospitality, restaurant, and service sectors, attracting leading manufacturers and brands and creating valuable international trade opportunities. Professionals in the food and hospitality industry are invited to visit The Art of European Pork booth at Booth 8E4-01 & 8E3-06 in Hall 8, to explore the diverse offerings from Belgian meat suppliers and discover potential import opportunities. Participation in FHA marks a significant milestone in "The Art of European Pork" campaign, raising awareness of Belgian pork standards and quality in the Asian market. Belgian pork suppliers aim to introduce the quality of European-Belgian pork to potential customers and forge new business partnerships in the region. "The Art of European Pork" is an initiative by the Belgian Meat Office and co-funded by the European Union to promote the exceptional quality of European-Belgian pork and strengthen the trade relationship between India and EU nations. The campaign includes various events, media outreach, and social media activities to foster collaborative potentials between Belgian pork suppliers and relevant Indian stakeholders. Transparent Quality Certified European pork's transparent quality is made up of two things. First: its 100% traceability. Thanks to careful logging, you can trace the product back to any point in the supply chain, from the pig's feed to meat processing. Second: European pork meets the highest standards. This way, you will always be assured of our pork's safety and quality. Belgian pork is renowned for its exceptional quality, tender texture, and exquisite taste. Produced with expertise, ensuring traceability, and adhering to stringent food safety standards, Belgian pork has earned a reputation for excellence in the global market. Minimum risk for maximum food safety and quality We subject our process to extensive internal and external audits, carried out by independent bodies. In this way, we can carefully assess any possible risk and take action when necessary. For more detailed information about "The Art of European Pork" campaign, how to connect with our meat suppliers, and our offerings, please visit our website at: www.europeanpork.eu (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) VMPL New Delhi [India], March 31: Velosting, a leading cloud service provider in India, proudly announces the launch of myCloudCam, the nation's first fully cloud-powered surveillance service. Designed to address the growing need for secure, scalable, and cost-effective surveillance, myCloudCam offers flexible plans starting at just INR 499, making cutting-edge security accessible to individuals and businesses alike. Built on Velosting's robust cloud infrastructure, myCloudCam is an innovative, scalable solution designed for seamless integration with system integrators (SIs), internet service providers (ISPs), cloud service providers (CSPs), and other technology partners. This launch marks a significant step towards redefining India's security and surveillance landscape. Key Features of myCloudCam Cloud-Based Multi-CDN Storage: Unlimited, secure cloud storage distributed across multiple CDNs to ensure low latency and uninterrupted access. 24/7 Real-Time Monitoring: Live-streaming in high-definition for constant surveillance. AI-Powered Analytics: Advanced motion detection, facial recognition, and intrusion alerts. Multi-Device Compatibility: Seamless access via smartphones, tablets, desktops, and smart TVs. Customizable Plans: Affordable pricing starting at INR 499 for 50GB storage, with scalable options up to multiple terabytes. Enhanced Security: End-to-end encryption and compliance with global data protection standards. Why Choose myCloudCam? Cost-Effective: Eliminates the need for expensive on-premise hardware and maintenance. Scalable & Flexible: Easily expand storage or add cameras as needed. Multi-Location Monitoring: Manage multiple locations through a single, centralized platform. Global Accessibility: Monitor and control your surveillance system from anywhere. Unmatched Reliability: Backed by Velosting's world-class cloud infrastructure, ensuring maximum uptime and performance. Eco-Friendly Approach: Reduces reliance on physical hardware, promoting sustainable digital practices. Industry Insight: The Growing Need for Cloud Surveillance With rapid urbanization and digital transformation, India's security needs have evolved significantly. Traditional surveillance systems often struggle with scalability, security, and efficiency. myCloudCam bridges this gap by providing an easy-to-deploy, cloud-based solution tailored for modern security demands. Leadership Perspective Dr. Pawanpreet Dhaliwal, CTO & Director, Velosting, commented on the launch: "Security should not be a privilege but a necessity accessible to all. With myCloudCam, we bring an advanced yet affordable cloud surveillance solution to businesses and individuals across India. By leveraging the power of AI and cloud computing, we are setting a new benchmark for security technology. This is just the beginning of a transformative journey." Partner with Velosting: Growth Opportunities Await Velosting is actively seeking resellers, distributors, system integrators, ISPs, CSPs, and technology partners to expand myCloudCam's reach. By joining forces, partners can leverage this revolutionary technology to build a safer, more connected India. About myCloudCam myCloudCam is India's first fully cloud-based surveillance platform, offering real-time monitoring, AI-powered analytics, and scalable security solutions for individuals and enterprises. Built on Velosting's industry-leading cloud infrastructure, myCloudCam ensures secure, seamless, and efficient surveillance. About Velosting Velosting is a premier cloud service provider in India, delivering cutting-edge cloud solutions to enterprises across various industries. With a strong focus on security, reliability, and innovation, Velosting empowers businesses to achieve digital transformation effortlessly. For Media Inquiries, Contact: Velosting Media RelationsEmail - help@velosting.comPhone No - +91 89685 10675 (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by VMPL. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], March 31: A new milestone in industrial worker safety was achieved today with the inauguration of AI-powered Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) by Maharashtra's Industry Minister Uday Samant. The initiative, launched by Extremus Safety Pvt. Ltd., aims to enhance workplace safety through cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI) technology, ensuring a safer and more secure environment for workers. Speaking at the event, Industry Minister Uday Samant praised the contributions of India's workforce to the nation's industrial growth. He emphasized, "Progress should never come at the cost of worker safety. The government is committed to strengthening industrial safety laws, enforcing strict compliance, and supporting industries that prioritize employee well-being." The newly introduced AI-based PPE system by Extremus Safety Pvt. Ltd. features real-time hazard detection, smart monitoring, and predictive safety measures, enabling workers to operate in a more secure environment. Minister Uday Samant commended Extremus Safety Pvt. Ltd. for this groundbreaking innovation and urged all industries to adopt advanced technology, implement best safety practices, and work collectively towards a future where every worker returns home safely. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by India PR Distribution. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) VMPL New Delhi [India], March 31: The 15th edition of the MT India Healthcare Awards concluded recently with great success in New Delhi, celebrating the extraordinary achievements of India's healthcare sector. The event honoured over 70 awardees, doctors, hospitals, innovators, companies, and healthcare professionals from across the country. Regarded as one of the most credible recognitions in the industry, the awards brought together stalwarts of Indian and global healthcare to acknowledge innovation, service, and excellence. This year's ceremony was once again marked by the partnership of Prius Brand and Business Partner as the official PR and Digital Partner of the MT India Awards 2025. From building narratives to leading digital conversations, Prius played a vital role in amplifying the reach and impact of the event. The awards were presented in association with Medical Fair India. The winners were selected by a Jury consisting experts from India, Singapore, and Germany. The jury was chaired by Afzal Kamal, Chairman of Medgate Today, whose leadership reinforced the transparency and global credibility of the selection process. The jury included Dr. Minnie Bodhanwala, CEO of Wadia Group of Hospitals; Rajiv Nath, Forum Coordinator, AiMED; Kishor Khanna, Managing Director, Romsons; (Hony.) Brig. Dr. Anil Kohli, Padmashri Padmabhushan; Himanshu Baid, Managing Director, PolyMedicure; Jatin Mahajan, Managing Director, J. Mitra & Co.; Dr. B.K Rana, Founder and CEO, Dr. (Prof.) M. Wali, Former Physician to the President of India; Dr. D.R Rai, Former IMA Secretary General; Anjan Bose, Independent Advisor and Mentor; and Dr. Y.P Bhatia, Managing Director, Astron. The event celebrated individuals and institutions driving transformative change in healthcare. Lifetime Achievement in Healthcare was awarded to Prof. Dr. A. V. Srinivasan and Dr. Vinod Kohli for their contributions. In specialized medical categories, Dr. Surendra Nath Khanna was named Most Promising Doctor in Cardiology, and Dr. Devendra Jain and Dr. Latika Arya were awarded Best Surgeon in Dermatology/Aesthetic. Dr. Rahul Ashok Patil and Dr. Aashima Bhalla were honored as Most Promising Doctors in ENT. Dr. Kapil Sharma and Dr. Sachin Palnitkar received Best Doctor in Gastroenterology, while Dr. Shelly Batra won Best Doctor in Gynaecology. Dr. Saquib Azad Siddique was recognized as Best Doctor in Neurosurgery, and Dr. (Prof.) Raju Vaishya and Dr. Abhishek Vaish as Most Promising Doctors in Orthopaedics. In Pediatrics, Dr. Rakesh Joshi and Dr. Rajeev Seth were honored, while Dr. Mohit Singh Tandon and Dr. Pooja Baradia won in Physician/Internal Medicine. Dr. Tanvi Chawla and Dr. Ashish Gupta were named Most Promising Doctor of the Year. Dr. R K Mishra received Best Doctor in Education (Laparoscopic & Robotic Surgery), and Dr. Prof. Rajesh Shah excelled in Surgery, Obstetrics & Gynecology, Medicolegal Science, and Health & Hospital Management. In hospital category, Manipal Hospital Hebbal won Best Hospital of the Year. Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Institute & Research Centre (RGCIRC) was Single Specialty Hospital of the Year, and Civil Hospital and Rajdhani Hospital earned Multispecialty Hospital of the Year. ClearMedi Healthcare was named Best Oncology Care Provider, while Care Hospital and Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital won Green Hospital of the Year. Sir Ganga Ram Hospital and KJ Somaiya Hospital & Research Centre were recognized for Best Hospital as a Workplace. Corporate excellence was honored with Trivitron Healthcare and Spectrum Medical Technologies LLP as Most Promising Company in Radiology & Imaging Devices, and BPL Medical Technologies Pvt. Ltd. as Leading Company in the same field. RSMS Architects Private Limited and Workspace Metal Solutions led in Healthcare Infrastructure, while Zoho Corporation and Medika Bazaar excelled in Healthcare Technology (IT). Nirnayan Healthcare and The Bone Bank won Leading Healthcare Start-up of the Year. Biosci Healthcare and Shimadzu Analytical (India) led in In-Vitro Diagnostics, Sahajanand Medical Technologies and Aether Biomedical in Medical Devices, and Plasti Surge Industries and SS Medical System India in Infection Control. Trax Diagnostics and Research Laboratory was named Most Promising in Molecular Diagnostics, while Iatome Electric India, Q-Line Biotech, and Suresh Enterprises were honored for 'Make in India' Initiatives. Medisys was recognized for its impact in Medtech & Critical Care, and Red Health and Bharti Ambulance Services as Best Healthcare Service Provider for Ambulance Services. In individual excellence, Rupak Barua and Dr. Pradeep V Mahajan were named Healthcare Personality of the Year (Men), while Dr. Pooja Sharma and Anu Priya Bali won in the Women category. Dr. Annie Thakore and Pranav Paithankar were recognized for Excellence in Healthcare Quality & Management Leadership. Young entrepreneurs Dr. Faith Jiwakhan, Dr. Sabine Kapasi, and Mr. Kunj Shah were honored. Dr. Vishal Gandhi and Dr. Simon Grant won Most Promising Leader in Healthcare Investment & Consultants and Next-Gen Healthcare Personality of the Year, respectively. Dinesh Lodha and Manabu Sakamoto were named Most Promising CEO of the Year. Adding a global dimension, the event was graced by Mr. Christian Grosser, Director of MEDICA/COMPAMED - Portfolio Health & Medical Technologies (Germany); Ms. See Lay Eng, Deputy Portfolio Director, MEDICARE ASIA, Messe Dusseldorf Asia Pte Ltd (Singapore); and Ms. Daphne Yeo, Assistant Director (Sales & Stakeholder Management), MEDICARE ASIA, Messe Dusseldorf Asia Pte Ltd (Singapore). For Media Queries; Please Contact-Rahul Chawla: 9953948687 (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by VMPL. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) As per E! News, the reunion comes amid rumours of a breakup between Sweeney and her fiance of three years, Jonathan Davino. According to reports obtained by E! News, Sweeney and Powell were photographed at a Tex-Mex eatery in Dallas, where they allegedly attended a rehearsal dinner for Powell's sister's wedding. The event sparked rumours of a potential romance between the two actors, who had previously denied speculation about their relationship. In an interview with Variety, Sweeney had dismissed the romance rumors, saying, "It's a rom-com. That's what people want!" Powell had also addressed the speculation, telling in an interview, "When all that stuff happened, you know, publicly, it felt disorienting and unfair," as per E! News. However, the two actors seemed to poke fun at the rumours during Sweeney's hosting gig on Saturday Night Live in March 2024. Sweeney joked about the "craziest rumour" of an affair with Powell, saying it was "obviously not true." She also introduced her fiance, Jonathan Davino, who was in the audience. (ANI) Matthew Lillard, who is set to return to the slasher genre with the film Scream 7, expressed his fear of affecting the film's legacy with his role, reported People. Joining the original castmates David Arquette, Jamie Kennedy, Dermot Mulroney and Skeet Ulrich at Hartford's 90s Con held at the Connecticut Convention Center, Lillard spoke on a panel moderated by People about his fear of ruining the seminal horror movie's legacy upon his possible resurrection. "I will say, I can't say anything about it, obviously. But I am very excited and slightly terrified to be back because all I can do is really screw up a legacy that we have," said Lillard as quoted by People magazine. He continued, "I could really suck, and so that's my fear. My fear is that I come back and sort of punish something that I could never have touched and been just fine. I hope I don't ruin it up for everyone." as quoted by People Scream was originally premiered in 1996, and quickly became a cult classic in the slasher genre. It has spawned six sequels, with the seventh instalment being released by Paramount on February 27, 2026. It will be directed by Kevin Williamson, who wrote the script for the original 1996 film. The project will include the highly anticipated return of many familiar faces, including Courteney Cox, Lillard, Scott Foley and Neve Campbell, the latter of whom starred in the original 1996 Scream and all of its sequels except for Scream 6, due to a pay dispute. Lillard's career catapulted following his turn in the flick as Stu Macher, one-half of the evil duo (including Ulrich's Billy Loomis) behind the savage killings at Woodsboro High, reported Deadline. As a refresher, both die at the end of the film. Since his iconic performance in Scream, the actor has starred in the movies She's All That and The Descendants and played a prominent role in the Blumhouse/Universal hit Five Nights at Freddy's. According to Deadline, Melissa Barrera and Jenna Ortega were originally set to return as their on-screen sister duo; however, the former was unceremoniously dropped from the project for calling for a ceasefire in Gaza and the latter departed due to scheduling conflicts with Wednesday Season 2. (ANI) The 117th anniversary of the Ooty Lovedale Hill Railway Station was celebrated with great enthusiasm in Ooty on Sunday. The historic railway station, built in 1907, was adorned with decorations, including a cake, while the Toda tribal people performed traditional dances. Tourists joined in the celebrations, danced enthusiastically and enjoyed themselves. During the celebration, the Toda tribal women sang songs highlighting the unique features of the mountain train and performed their traditional dances. Tourists who watched with interest also danced with the Toda tribal people and enjoyed themselves. A cake was cut, and sweets were distributed to the tourists and the public. Stella, a tourist from Bangalore, said, "I got a vacation from college and came to visit Ooty. When I arrived, I saw they were celebrating a wonderful, traditional function. Lovedale is so grand; it looks so beautiful." Darshak, a tourist from Mumbai, said, "We just came as tourists and were lucky to be part of the 117th celebration of Lovedale station." The Nilgiri Mountain Railway, also called the Nilgiri Hill Railway and the "Toy Train" by locals, received UNESCO World Heritage status in 2005. It is part of the "Mountain Railways of India" group, which also includes the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway and the Kalka-Shimla Railway. Constructed by the British in 1908, this train is the only working rack railway in India today. It runs on steam engines and is managed by the Southern Railway of India. The train journey starts in Mettupalayam and ends in Ooty, passing through scenic hill stations like Coonoor, Wellington, Lovedale, and Fern Hill. The railway line is a metre gauge that is 1000 mm long. The train slowly ascends the hills, letting people soak in the beauty of the surroundings, passing through tunnels with sharp edges and forested tunnels. The total distance that the train covers is 46 km, and it takes nearly 5 hours to reach the top point at Ooty. (ANI) Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha on Sunday graced the grand celebration of the State-Level Basanta Utsav in Agartala, a festival that marks the arrival of spring. Speaking at the event, Chief Minister Saha emphasized the importance of cultural festivals in promoting unity and showcasing the state's diverse traditions to the world. Chief Minister Saha highlighted that this is the first time Basant Utsav was celebrated at the state level in Tripura. "Till date, Basant Utsav has never been celebrated in Tripura in this manner, this is a state-level Basant Utsav. Manipuris are also here, they are also celebrating it. I have asked to organize it on a bigger scale next time. 250 artists participated in it and I want to thank the organizers. There is peace in Tripura and we can say that Tripura is terrorism-free," CM Saha told ANI. The Tripura Basanta Utsav Ujjapan Committee, in collaboration with the Tripura Municipal Corporation, District Administration, and the state's Tourism Department, organized a festival that brought together a large gathering to celebrate the spirit of spring. Several key dignitaries, including Cabinet Ministers Ratan Lal Nath, Pranajit Singha, Tinku Roy, and Sushanta Chowdhury, along with the District Magistrate, were present at the event. Their presence highlighted the significance of this festival in preserving Tripura's rich cultural heritage. Basant Utsav is a festival that marks the arrival of spring in India. It is celebrated in the month of February or March. The festival is associated with Rabindranath Tagore, who started it at his Visva-Bharati University in Shantiniketan, West Bengal. During Basant Utsav, people dress up, sing and dance, and participate in cultural programs. Basanta Utsav holds special importance in Tripura, where it is observed with deep cultural sentiment. The festival is celebrated with vibrant performances, traditional songs, and community participation. (ANI) The Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) has been withdrawn from Assam's Dibrugarh district, as per a government order. However, AFSPA will remain in effect for an additional six months in the Tinsukia, Charaideo, and Sivasagar districts due to ongoing security concerns. This development follows a significant improvement in the overall security situation in Assam, particularly in the past three and a half years, owing to the combined efforts of the Assam Police and other security agencies. Following this decision, former Assam police chief Gyanendra Pratap Singh and current Director General of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), GP Singh, said, "The years of hard work of Assam Police and sister agencies bearing fruit under able political leadership." https://x.com/gpsinghips/status/1906400618740392115 A government order dated March 30 read, "In exercise of the powers conferred under Section 3 of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 (Act No. 28 of 1958), the Government of Assam declared the areas of four districts-Tinsukia, Dibrugarh, Charaideo, and Sivasagar -as "Disturbed Area" vide notification No. HMA-19015/9/2019-Political(A)/Pt-1/104, dated 08/10/2024, with effect from 01/10/2024, for a period of six months." Whereas, following the receipt of reports from various security agencies, it has been observed that the overall security situation in Assam has significantly improved, particularly over the last three and a half years, due to the sustained efforts and proactive counter-insurgency measures by the Assam Police and security forces. "Whereas, in light of these improvements, the Government of Assam believes that the 'Disturbed Area' status under the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958, need not be extended in Dibrugarh district beyond 31st March 2025," the order read. Despite these improvements, there have been sporadic incidents of IEDs being planted by ULFA (I), the only militant group active in the state, in various districts, alongside their involvement in kidnapping for ransom to fund their activities. "Therefore, the Government of Assam recommended that the 'Disturbed Area' status under AFSPA be continued for an additional six months in the three districts of Tinsukia, Charaideo, and Sivasagar," the order read. The Government of Assam submitted a proposal to the Government of India, Ministry of Home Affairs, through letter No. ECF-200043/119 dated 11/03/2025. "And whereas, the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, in its letter No. 11011/51/2015- NE.V dated 24/03/2025, has communicated its agreement with the State Government's view to retain the "Disturbed Area" status under AFSPA for an additional six months in the three districts of Tinsukia, Charaideo, and Sivasagar, beyond 31st March 2025," the order read. Now, therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred under Section 3 of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958, and in continuation of the earlier notification vide HMA-19015/9/2019-Political(A)/Pt-1/104, dated 08/10/2024, the Governor of Assam is pleased to declare the areas of Tinsukia, Charaideo, and Sivasagar districts as "Disturbed Area" for an additional period of six months, effective from 01/04/2025, unless withdrawn earlier. (ANI) Security forces in Manipur have recovered a significant amount of arms, ammunition, and explosives and arrested several cadres of insurgent groups and drug traffickers in various operations conducted over the last 24 hours, Manipur Police said on Sunday. According to a statement, 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 a search operation on March 29, security forces recovered three heavy mortar launchers, five metal IEDs, one IED, five kg of plastic IEDs, and other arms and ammunition from Tengnoupal District. "Three heavy mortar launchers (country made), five metal IED, one IED, five Kg of plastic IED, one 7.62 mm country made pistol with magazine, one 7.65 mm pistol with magazine, four AK-47 ammunition, six SLR ammunition, six 12 Bore ammunition, two hundred grams of gunpowder, two helmet, two BPJ harness from Molnom-Senam under Tengnoupal-PS, Tengnoupal District on 29.03.2025. Five metal IEDs and one plastic IED were destroyed in situ and remnants deposited at Tengnoupal-PS," the statement read. In a separate operation, security forces arrested an active cadre of KCP (PWG), identified as Salam Malemnganba Singh from the Bishnupur district. "On 29.03.2025, security forces arrested 01 (one) active cadre of KCP (PWG), namely, Salam Malemnganba Singh @ Wanglen (23) from a field on the eastern side of Tiddim Road at near Upoki Village under Bishnupur-PS, Bishnupur District and seized 01(one) mobile phone from his possession," the statement read. In another separate operation, security forces arrested six drug traffickers from Kangpokpi District. "On 29.03.2025, Manipur District Police arrested 06 (six) drug traffickers, namely, (i) Khaikahao Kipgen @ John (40), (ii) Letgoumang Touthang @ Amon (33), (iii) Aabi Baral (28), (iv) Jitten Kharka (22), (v) L H Ranirou (42) and (vi) Leah Chao (44) in connection with a case registered at Kangpokpi-PS, Kangpokpi District. 174 (one hundred and seventy-four) soap cases of suspected Brown Sugar were seized in connection with the case. A four-wheeler was also seized," the statement read. In another operation, security forces also arrested four poppy cultivators in the Kangpokpi district. "On 29.03.2025, Manipur Police arrested 04 (four) poppy cultivators, namely, (i) Janggoulen Kipgen (41), (ii) Letginlal Kipgen (41), (iii) Kamginlen Kipgen (25), (iv) Thangminlen Kipgen (34) in connection with a case registered in Kangpokpi-PS, Kangpokpi District regarding illegal poppy cultivation in Songjang village, IT road under Kangpokpi-PS, Kangpokpi District," the statement read. On March 30, security forces arrested one cadre of KCP (PWG)-Lamyanba Khuman from Jiribam District. "On 30.03.2025, security forces arrested 01(one) cadre of KCP (PWG)-Lamyanba Khuman faction, namely Thoudam Suresh Singh @ Lemba (34) from Ningsingkhul, Jiribam, under Jiribam-PS, Jiribam District," the statement read. Movement of 283 nos. of vehicles carrying essential items along NH-2 has been ensured. 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 installed in different districts of Manipur, both in the hill and the valley. No one was detained by Police in connection with violation in different districts of the state. "Appeal is made to the general public not to believe in rumour and be aware of false videos. Any circulations of unfounded videos etc. may be confirmed from the rumour-free number 9233522822 of Central Control room. Also, there are many fake posts being circulated in social media. It is hereby cautioned that uploading of such fake posts on social media will face legal action. Further, appeal is made to the public to return the looted arms, ammunition and explosives to the police or nearest security forces immediately," the statement read. On February 13, the President's rule was imposed in Manipur after receiving a report from the state governor. Violence broke out in Manipur on May 3, 2023, following clashes during a rally organised by the All Tribals Students Union (ATSU) to protest against the demand for the inclusion of the Meitei community in the Scheduled Tribe category. (ANI) Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu said at a developmental meeting that reformation, performance, and transformation are leading the state on the path of accelerated development. He highlighted the quantum jump the state made in GSDP, State Budget, per capita income, GST collection, and state-owned resources since he took over the reins in 2016. Speaking at a developmental meeting in Shergaon, West Kameng district, on Sunday, Khandu informed everyone that Arunachal Pradesh's GSDP has increased by 135% since 2016. "The state budget, which was Rs 12,500 crore in 2016, has increased to Rs 40,000 crore plus in 2025. If we compare 2016 and 2025, our per capita income has jumped by 105%, GST collection by 584%, and our state-owned resources, which was just Rs 900 crore in 2016, has risen to Rs 40,000 crore plus this year," Khandu said. The Chief Minister thanked every stakeholder, from his cabinet and MLA colleagues to the panchayat members to the chief secretary and district officials, for the leap in development witnessed by the state in about 8 to 9 years. "We are lucky to have a Prime Minister in Narendra Modi, who believes that India will progress only when India's North East progresses," he said. Pema Khandu talked about 'Team Arunachal' and said that Arunachal Pradesh is at the centre stage and a topic of hot discussion across the country. "The reason is not only that we share international boundaries with three countries, but it's also about us, our potentials and our pace of development in all spheres," Khandu said. Citing road connectivity as one of the major contributors to development in the state, Khandu further informed that since 2016, rural connectivity has increased by 251% and National Highways by 143%. "Connecting almost all unconnected ADC, CO headquarters and villages across the state was made possible by our futuristic Chief Minister's Comprehensive Road Development Programme," Khandu said. Khandu informed that the central government has approved the realignment of the OKSRT (Orang-Kalaktang-Shergaon-Rupa-Tenga) road, which will shorten the Balemu-Kalaktang distance from the existing 50 km to about 19.2 km. Responding to various memorandums submitted during the program, the Chief Minister informed that the Shergaon to Mandala top road is under survey by the PWD and assured approval as soon as possible. He also assured positive consideration for the Shergaon to Doimara road, water projects for Kalaktang and Rupa townships and a stadium at Shergaon as requested. Earlier in the day, Khandu inaugurated 14 projects worth Rs 102 crore and laid the foundation for 21 new projects worth Rs 126 crore for the district's Kalaktang assembly constituency. Home Minister Mama Natung, BJP State President Kaling Moyong, MLAs Phurpa Tsering, Dongru Siongju, Tenzing Nima Glow, and Tseten Chombay (local legislator), former Chief Minister PK Thungon, former Speaker T N Thongdok, the Chief Secretary, and others were present at the developmental meeting. (ANI) The crescent moon signalled the end of Ramzan the night before, and millions of Muslims across the country gathered in mosques and prayer grounds on Monday morning to offer Namaz in celebration of Eid ul-Fitr. The air was filled with joy and unity as communities came together in prayer, marking a moment of gratitude and reflection. From bustling city centers to peaceful rural towns, the spirit of togetherness and devotion was palpable as families, friends, and neighbors shared in the festivities. With heartfelt prayers for peace and prosperity, today's celebrations exemplified the essence of Eid - a time for renewal, charity, and compassion. In the national capital, thousands of people gathered at the iconic Jama Masjid to offer Namaz early this morning. The grand mosque, which is one of the largest and most historic in the country, saw worshippers in their finest attire, united in prayer to mark the end of the holy month of Ramadan. The morning air was filled with a sense of reverence and community as people sought blessings for peace and prosperity in the year ahead. In Mumbai, devotees gathered at the Juma Masjid Mahim Dargah to offer Namaz in celebration of Eid ul-Fitr. The vibrant city witnessed large crowds at the mosque, with families and friends coming together to share in the joy of the occasion. This reflected the spirit of unity and devotion that marks the festival. In Patna, Bihar, the atmosphere was filled with reverence and joy as thousands of devotees gathered at Gandhi Maidan to offer Namaz on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr 2025. The expansive ground was filled with worshippers dressed in their finest attire, reflecting the unity and spirit of the occasion. As the prayers echoed through the air, a sense of peace and gratitude prevailed, with people coming together to mark the end of Ramadan with heartfelt devotion and reflection. In Bhopal, the Eid-ul-Fitr 2025 celebrations took on a different tone as many people arrived at the Eidgah wearing black bands to protest the Waqf Amendment Bill. Despite the protest, the community came together in solidarity to offer Namaz, marking the importance of the occasion. The gathering demonstrated the intersection of religious observance and political expression, with locals voicing their concerns while also celebrating the spirit of Eid. The excitement for Eid-ul-Fitr has been palpable. Since Sunday, people have been flocking to local markets to purchase clothes, sweets, and other festive items. The city's markets were bustling with activity, with vendors offering a wide range of traditional Eid essentials. The streets were filled with the sounds of bargaining and joy as everyone prepared to celebrate in style with their loved ones. In Kolkata, West Bengal, the markets near Nakhoda Masjid were beautifully decked up for Eid-ul-Fitr celebrations. The area has been adorned with colorful lights, and shops are lined with an array of traditional clothes, accessories, and festive delicacies. The hustle and bustle in the markets reflect the city's eagerness for the celebrations. People are seen shopping for new clothes and special items for Eid, contributing to the festive atmosphere in the heart of Kolkata. In Hyderabad, Telangana, markets around the historic Charminar were illuminated and adorned with colorful decorations. The area near the iconic monument is packed with vendors selling everything from clothes to accessories and sweets, with locals eagerly picking out their Eid essentials. Shoppers were busy purchasing various goods, including clothes, dry fruits, perfumes, and traditional sweets, to celebrate the festival. On the last day of Ramadan, markets were busy with shoppers making their purchases. Women shopped for burqas and salwar suits, while men purchased kurtas and pyjamas. After the evening namaz on the last day of Ramzan, markets remained open late into the night. Across various cities, including Delhi, Mumbai, and Bhopal, Eid celebrations have taken on diverse forms, from grand prayer gatherings at historical mosques like Jama Masjid and Fatehpuri Masjid to peaceful protests at places like Eidgah in Bhopal. Eid-ul-Fitr, which means "Festival of Breaking the Fast," is celebrated at the conclusion of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting. After a month of abstaining from food, drink, and other physical needs during daylight hours, Eid marks a time of festivity, where Muslims express their gratitude for the strength and patience shown during Ramadan. Eid reinforces the values of charity, kindness, and compassion. In addition to giving Zakat, many people choose to help others by providing meals, clothing, and support to those less fortunate, reflecting the Islamic principles of empathy and care for others. (ANI) As today marks Eid ul-Fitr, people across the country are celebrating the festival with joy and fervour. In Tamil Nadu's Coimbatore, people gathered at the Islamiyah Matriculation Higher Secondary School on Monday morning to offer namaz, marking the end of the holy month of Ramzan. The crescent moon signalled the end of Ramzan the night before, and millions of Muslims across the country gathered in mosques and prayer grounds on Monday morning to offer Namaz in celebration of Eid ul-Fitr. The air was filled with joy and unity as communities came together in prayer, marking a moment of gratitude and reflection. From bustling city centers to peaceful rural towns, the spirit of togetherness and devotion was palpable as families, friends, and neighbors shared in the festivities. With heartfelt prayers for peace and prosperity, today's celebrations exemplified the essence of Eid - a time for renewal, charity, and compassion. In the national capital, thousands of people gathered at the iconic Jama Masjid to offer Namaz early this morning. The grand mosque, which is one of the largest and most historic in the country, saw worshippers in their finest attire, united in prayer to mark the end of the holy month of Ramadan. The morning air was filled with a sense of reverence and community as people sought blessings for peace and prosperity in the year ahead. In Mumbai, devotees gathered at the Juma Masjid Mahim Dargah to offer Namaz in celebration of Eid ul-Fitr. The vibrant city witnessed large crowds at the mosque, with families and friends coming together to share in the joy of the occasion. This reflected the spirit of unity and devotion that marks the festival. In Patna, Bihar, the atmosphere was filled with reverence and joy as thousands of devotees gathered at Gandhi Maidan to offer Namaz on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr 2025. The expansive ground was filled with worshippers dressed in their finest attire, reflecting the unity and spirit of the occasion. As the prayers echoed through the air, a sense of peace and gratitude prevailed, with people coming together to mark the end of Ramadan with heartfelt devotion and reflection. The excitement for Eid-ul-Fitr has been palpable. Since Sunday, people have been flocking to local markets to purchase clothes, sweets, and other festive items. The city's markets were bustling with activity, with vendors offering a wide range of traditional Eid essentials. The streets were filled with the sounds of bargaining and joy as everyone prepared to celebrate in style with their loved ones. On the last day of Ramadan, markets were busy with shoppers making their purchases. Women shopped for burqas and salwar suits, while men purchased kurtas and pyjamas. After the evening namaz on the last day of Ramzan, markets remained open late into the night. Across various cities, including Delhi, Mumbai, and Bhopal, Eid celebrations have taken on diverse forms, from grand prayer gatherings at historical mosques like Jama Masjid and Fatehpuri Masjid to peaceful protests at places like Eidgah in Bhopal. Eid-ul-Fitr, which means "Festival of Breaking the Fast," is celebrated at the conclusion of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting. After a month of abstaining from food, drink, and other physical needs during daylight hours, Eid marks a time of festivity, where Muslims express their gratitude for the strength and patience shown during Ramadan. Eid reinforces the values of charity, kindness, and compassion. In addition to giving Zakat, many people choose to help others by providing meals, clothing, and support to those less fortunate, reflecting the Islamic principles of empathy and care for others. (ANI) Noida Police on Monday deployed 5,000 personnel at mosques and all religious places in Noida on the occasion of Eid-al-Fitr and Navratri. Shivhari Meena, Joint Police Commissioner, Gautam Buddha Nagar, said that the police personnel had interacted with all religious leaders to maintain peace and order. Speaking to ANI, Meena said, "Police have been deployed at all religious places since it is Eid today and Navratri is also going on. We have also interacted with religious leaders of all places to maintain peace and order. We are ensuring that security is tight in all places of worship today." The Police Commissioner also stated that an eye was being kept on social media and security was being ensured through drones. "We are also keeping a check on social media. Security arrangements are also being ensured through drones and CCTV cameras..." he further added. Meanwhile, people gathered at the Jama Masjid in Noida Sector 8 to offer Namaz on the occasion of Eid-al-Fitr 2025. Delhi's Jama Masjid, the largest and most historic mosque in the country, witnessed worshippers in their finest attire, united in prayer to mark the end of the holy month of Ramadan. The morning air was filled with a sense of reverence and community as people sought blessings for peace and prosperity in the year ahead. In Mumbai, devotees gathered at the Juma Masjid Mahim Dargah to offer Namaz in celebration of Eid ul-Fitr. The vibrant city witnessed large crowds at the mosque, with families and friends coming together to share in the joy of the occasion. This reflected the spirit of unity and devotion that marks the festival. In Patna, Bihar, the atmosphere was filled with reverence and joy as thousands of devotees gathered at Gandhi Maidan to offer Namaz on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr 2025. Eid reinforces the values of charity, kindness, and compassion. In addition to giving Zakat, many people choose to help others by providing meals, clothing, and support to those less fortunate, reflecting the Islamic principles of empathy and care for others. (ANI) Amid administrative orders of meat ban in some places during Navratri and Eid-ul-Fitr celebrations, Union Minister Chirag Paswan lashed out at those engaging in such "divisive" politics and said that all these talks are "trash". Paswan, Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) chief, said that political parties must refrain from commenting on anyone's religion since it was a matter of personal faith. "People try to create division in society for their politics. There are big issues today which should be discussed. At least, political parties should not comment on other people's religion or anyone's religion. This is a matter of personal faith," Paswan told reporters after attending the meeting of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) at Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's residence here. Labelling the discussions over shutting down of (meat) shops during Navratri as "worthless", Paswan said that people from all religions have maintained brotherhood for centuries and have lived simply. "Faltu ki baaten hai ye sab (this is all trash talk). This is not required. This has been happening for centuries, where every religious person has maintained brotherhood and lived simply. Who will offer Namaz and where, whether shops will remain open or closed during Navratri - all these are worthless talks. There is no need for a discussion over this," the Union Minister said. Paswan asserted that 90 per cent of the issues would be resolved if religious organisations and political parties hold back from "interfering" in each other's matters. "The day religious organisations stop protecting political parties and the day politicians or political parties stop interfering in the matter of faith, nearly 90 per cent of the problems would be resolved. The trouble happens when controversies emerge due to politics," he added. Earlier, the Maihar district administration in Madhya Pradesh banned the purchase and sale of meat, fish, and eggs within the limits of Maihar Nagar Palika during the Navratri festival from March 30 to April 7. Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM), Maihar, Vikas Kumar Singh, issued an order for the purpose on Friday under section 163 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) 2023, which grants the power to issue immediate preventive orders in urgent cases of nuisance or apprehended danger. (ANI) The joyous occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr was celebrated with fervor and devotion at the Chandrasekharan Nair Stadium in the state capital. Thousands of people gathered early this morning to offer their prayers in unison. The atmosphere was filled with spiritual harmony as the faithful, clad in festive attire, marked the end of the holy month of Ramadan with prayers, goodwill, and a renewed sense of community. The morning air was filled with the sounds of the adhan as Muslims from across the city came together to offer the special Eid namaz, marking the culmination of the month-long fasting period of Ramadan. The prayers began promptly at 7 AM, with a large turnout of men, women, and children who had gathered in solidarity to observe the important religious ritual. As the imam led the congregation in prayer, the participants bowed in unison, seeking blessings for peace, prosperity, and unity. The sense of togetherness was palpable, with families, neighbors, and friends coming together to celebrate the festival after a month of fasting and reflection. The occasion also saw the exchange of Eid greetings, with people embracing each other, wishing peace, joy, and prosperity for the year ahead. Local leaders and dignitaries joined in the celebrations, offering their prayers and extending their warm wishes to the people. The stadium grounds were adorned with colorful decorations, reflecting the spirit of Eid, and a sense of festivity filled the air. As is customary during Eid, the faithful also gave zakat (charitable donations) to help those in need, reinforcing the values of compassion and generosity that are central to the celebration. In Tamil Nadu's Coimbatore, people gathered at the Islamiyah Matriculation Higher Secondary School on Monday morning to offer namaz, marking the end of the holy month of Ramzan. The crescent moon signalled the end of Ramzan the night before, and millions of Muslims across the country gathered in mosques and prayer grounds on Monday morning to offer Namaz in celebration of Eid ul-Fitr. The air was filled with joy and unity as communities came together in prayer, marking a moment of gratitude and reflection. From bustling city centers to peaceful rural towns, the spirit of togetherness and devotion was palpable as families, friends, and neighbors shared in the festivities. With heartfelt prayers for peace and prosperity, today's celebrations exemplified the essence of Eid - a time for renewal, charity, and compassion. On the last day of Ramadan, markets were busy with shoppers making their purchases. Women shopped for burqas and salwar suits, while men purchased kurtas and pyjamas. After the evening namaz on the last day of Ramzan, markets remained open late into the night. Across various cities, including Delhi, Mumbai, and Bhopal, Eid celebrations have taken on diverse forms, from grand prayer gatherings at historical mosques like Jama Masjid and Fatehpuri Masjid to peaceful protests at places like Eidgah in Bhopal. Eid-ul-Fitr, which means "Festival of Breaking the Fast," is celebrated at the conclusion of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting. After a month of abstaining from food, drink, and other physical needs during daylight hours, Eid marks a time of festivity, where Muslims express their gratitude for the strength and patience shown during Ramadan. Eid reinforces the values of charity, kindness, and compassion. In addition to giving Zakat, many people choose to help others by providing meals, clothing, and support to those less fortunate, reflecting the Islamic principles of empathy and care for others. (ANI) Iran's president rejects direct negotiations with Washington Xinhua) 09:27, March 31, 2025 Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian attends a press conference in Tehran, Iran, on Sept. 16, 2024. (Xinhua/Shadati) 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. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) Ahead of Panchayat elections in Assam, BJP MP and Assam BJP President Dilip Saikia stated that their party will together fight the upcoming elections with Asom Gana Parishad. A meeting of both the parties was conducted on Sunday at the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Bhawan, Basistha in Guwahati. Speaking to ANI, Saikia said that the whole NDA is united for the upcoming 2026 legislative assembly elections in Assam, and they are preparing for 'Panchayat se Parliament tak. ' "Today, the leaders of AGP and BJP held a meeting under the leadership of CM Himanta Biswa Sarma. We are ready to contest the Panchayat elections together. We will contest the elections together for the service of the people... A senior leader will be given responsibility for this. Leaders from both party will talk to workers on the district level and will prepare for the roadmap of the elections... We (BJP and AGP) are together in 2026 legislative assembly elections and not just us, whole NDA is united, including UPPL and other parties. We are preparing for 'Panchayat se Parliament tak'," said the BJP MP. Assam minister and Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) President, Atul Bora also affirmed that his party and the BJP will contest the Panchayat and assembly elections together. "We will contest the election together, regarding that we had a discussion in BJP office... We will contest the Vidhan Sabha elections together too. Panchayat elections are just semi-finals for us... Amount of work that has been done after Himanta Biswa Sarma become CM was never done by any party," Bora said. On March 25, Assam Panchayat and Rural Development Minister Ranjeet Kumar Dass said that the Panchayat elections in the state will be held in the month of April. "Our government is ready to conduct the panchayat polls in the state. The Assam State Election Commission will conduct the panchayat polls. We urge the State Election Commission to announce the poll dates as soon as possible. If the State Election Commission announces the poll dates on April 3 then the election process will be completed by May 3, if the poll date is announced on April 4, 5 or 6 then it will be completed by May 4, 5 or 6. So we request the State Election Commission to announce the poll dates as soon as possible," Ranjeet Kumar Dass told ANI. He further said that, this time there will be no political parties affiliated candidates in the Gram (village) panchayat level. "The political parties affiliated candidates will be only in Anchalik panchayat and Zila Parishad level. Apart from this the previous two child norms and educational qualification norms will also be applicable in this election," Ranjeet Kumar Dass said. The Assam government passed the Assam Panchayat (Amendment) Bill, 2025, in the state assembly. According to the new amendment bill all Haats within the territorial jurisdiction of the Gaon Panchayat or Anchalik Panchayat or Zilla Parishad shall be settled in the manner as may be prescribed for a period coinciding with and not exceeding one Panchayat Year by inviting tenders at the office of the respective Gaon Panchayat or Anchalik Panchayat or Zilla Parishad by its President, the State Government will transfer such Government Haat which has settlement value of Rs 5 lakh upto Rs 10 lakh in a year to the Anchalik Panchayat within the jurisdiction of which the Haat is situated, the Haats falling under the jurisdiction of Zilla Parishad with a yearly settlement value of more than Rs 10 lakh shall be settled by the Zilla Parishad concerned for a period coinciding with and not exceeding one Panchayat Year in the manner as may be prescribed. The powers of examination and final acceptance of such tenders shall be vested in the Standing Committee as under clause (a) of sub-section (1) of section 81: Provided that a transfer under this sub-section above, shall be given effect from the following Panchayat Year of such income and few other amendments. (ANI) After the Kerala Catholic Bishops Council (KCBC) supported the Waqf Amendment Bill proposed by the centre, Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju asserted that the proposed bill was not against any community while calling out the "propaganda" being spread around it. "This act is not against any community - that is propaganda being spread to poison minds of some," Rijiju posted on X, adding, "I welcome the request by Kerala Catholic Bishops' Council (KCBC) to all MPs of Kerala to support the Waqf Amendment Bill as a Minister and as a minority community member." Reacting to the support extended by the Bshop's Council, the Union Minister argued that it was the duty of those in politics to address the challenges faced by the people while highlighting the struggle of hundreds of families in Kerala's Munambam to protect their properties. "It is the duty of those in politics to care for and address problems and challenges faced by our people. For example, hundreds of families in Munambam, Kerala, have suffered and continue to seek a solution to protect their properties and homes," Rijiju added. He said that the central government would continue to protect the rights of every citizen and urged the MPs from Kerala to support the Waqf Amendment Bill. "Prime Minister Narendra Modi and our government strive to protect the rights of every Indian citizen and will continue to do so. I sincerely hope all Kerala MPs will support this Bill in the interest of all people and not sacrifice the interest of people for petty appeasement politics," Rijiju said. Meanwhile, Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman also welcomed the support extended by the KCBC to the Waqf bill. "A welcome step by the Kerala Catholic Bishops Council (KCBC). Their call is for amending the sections which are "unfair" and "anti-constitutional" in the existing Waqf Act," Sitharaman posted on X. These reactions come after the KCBC urged MPs to vote in favour of amending the "unconstitutional" and "unjust" provisions of the Waqf Act. The statement issued by Fr. Thomas Tharayil of the KCBC secretariat said that provisions in the Waqf law, which legitimise the "illegal claims" in such a way that people in Munambam are unable to exercise their revenue claims on the land, need to be amended. "The Farooq College management, which sold the land to the residents of Munambam, has asserted that the land in question was received as a gift, the MPs should cooperate to amend the waqf bill Which has provisions to raise claims against this. KCBC will send letter to each MPs requesting to vote in favour of amending waqf bill," KCBC said in a statement. Around 610 families of Munambam, a coastal village in the Ernakulam district, have been protesting against the claim by the Waqf Board on their land. (ANI) Eid-ul-Fitr, the festival marking the end of the holy month of Ramzan, is being celebrated with joy and unity across India. The sighting of the moon has led to special prayers (Namaz) being offered at mosques, Eidgahs, and open grounds, with people from different parts of the country coming together to celebrate the occasion. In Delhi, children and families gathered at the historic Jama Masjid, one of the largest mosques in India, to offer Namaz. After prayers, a devotee said "I think this is needless. If All India Muslim Personal Law Board has to protest, they can do it in other ways. On the occasion of Eid, we have all come here to celebrate and not to protest or wear black bands. All this sends a wrong message...This is the biggest festival of Muslims. Today, we have prayed here that the country progresses and our brotherhood should remain intact. We have also offered prayers for PM Modi that he stays healthy and lives long..." A foregin student from GD Goenka University, who attended the Namaz at Jama Masjid for the second time, said, ""...I have come to Jama Masjid for the second time. This is a nice place. We meet many people from different parts of the country, from our country..." Another foreign student of GD Goenka University said, "Jama Masjid is a very nice place. I met many friends and people here. We prayed here together. It is one of the biggest mosques in India." In Uttar Pradesh's Ayodhya, police carried out foot patrols as part of heightened security measures while Namaz was being offered. Speaking to ANI, IG Praveen Kumar said, "We are conducting continuous foot patrols to maintain peace. We are in contact with everyone and vigilant, especially during Navratri and Eid celebrations." In Kalaburagi, Karnataka, people gathered at the Eidgah to offer their prayers for Eid. Similar celebrations were seen in several parts of the country, including the Birbhum district in West Bengal, where people offered Eid Namaz at Siudi Idgah, followed by warm greetings and hugs. Vikas Rai Choudhary, MLA from Birbhum, congratulated the people and wished them Eid Mubarak. In Jaipur, the celebrations took a special turn when Hindu brothers showered flowers on the thousands of Namazis at the Idgah on Delhi Road, sending a message of unity. In Jammu and Kashmir's Bhaderwah, a large procession was held as the community marched to the Eidgah, chanting religious slogans before offering Namaz. Similarly, special prayers were held in Tirunelveli and Vellore, where more than 50,000 people participated in the Ramadan celebrations. International students also joined in the celebrations. A foreign student from Mozambique studying at GD Goenka University, said, "This is my first time celebrating Eid in India, and it's been amazing. It's incredible to see different communities--Muslims, Hindus, Christians--living together, sharing love and culture." As the festival unfolds, it is clear that Eid-ul-Fitr is not just about religious observances but also a day to celebrate unity, love, and community spirit across India. (ANI) Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) working president KT Rama Rao slammed the Congress government in Telangana for reportedly detaining a journalist covering student protests at Hyderabad University, saying that the "blatant suppression" of free speech and expression was "unacceptable". KTR took a dig at the Congress leader and Leader of Opposition (LoP) in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, over the detention of the journalist and said that he goes to "town preaching about democracy and free speech". The students were protesting against the felling of the forest on the university campus and the auction of 400 acres of land. "The draconian police overreach in Telangana is alarming. Journalists are being detained & 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 are beyond sickening," KTR posted on X. Journalist Sumit was reportedly detained by police while reporting on the detention of students at the University of Hyderabad. He had posted a video of his detention on social media. Reacting to Jha's detention, BRS spokesperson Krishank said, "Journalist Sumit arrested by Congress Government for reporting Arrests of Students in University of Hyderabad over the protests on cutting down of forests in campus and auction of 400 acres." Earlier, BRS MLA Kalvakuntla Sanjay took a swipe at the Chief Minister Revanth Reddy-led Congress over the recent case filed against party chief KTR and others, stating that the party has been consistently filing cases against anyone who questions government actions. Terming the Congress as 'Dushman ki Dukaan,' the BRS MLA said, "In the past 15 months, the Congress party has only been filing cases against anybody questioning the government processes. The government has not reacted to media reports of a question paper leak but filed cases against KTR and others." "While Rahul Gandhi speaks about the Constitution and 'Mohabbat ki Dukaan, ' this government has only 'Dushman ki Dukaan," he stated. Adding further, he said, "The BRS is moving an adjournment motion in the Assembly to discuss when the state govt will pay the DA and when it will start the process revisiting the PRC, which was promised during the elections". (ANI) A fire that broke out in a multispecialty hospital in the Laxmi Nagar area of the national capital in the late hours of Sunday has been brought under control. The incident occurred at Makkar Hospital in Priyadarshni Vihar, Laxmi Nagarat around 11.42-11.43 pm on Sunday. Soon after receiving the information, four fire tenders were rushed to the site at 12.15 am on Monday and engaged in a firefighting operation and eventually, the situation was brought under control. According to reports, the fire started in the bed and window air conditioner on the ground floor of the B+G+2 storey building. Fortunately, no casualties or injuries were reported in the incident. Makkar Hospital is a multi-specialty hospital with a 50-bed capacity, providing various healthcare services, including dermatology, dentistry, pediatrics, gynecology, orthopedics, and physiotherapy. Earlier on Sunday evening, in a different incident, a massive fire broke out at a tea hotel in Pune's Dhankawadi area due to a gas cylinder leakage, resulting in the death of one person and causing extensive damage to nearby shops. The blaze destroyed the hotel's materials and affected two neighboring clothing shops. A hotel worker who was critically injured in the incident was rushed to the hospital but was declared dead upon arrival. According to a Press statement issued by Pune Fire Department PRO Nilesh Mahajan, "The Pune Fire Department responded promptly and deployed fire fighting vehicles from Katraj and Gangadham fire stations, managing to bring the fire under control and dousing it completely to ensure to stop further spread of fire." As per the statement, preliminary information suggests that the fire started due to a leakage in one of the eight gas cylinders stored in the hotel. Upon arrival, firefighters rescued the victim from the hotel in an injured state, but he succumbed to his injuries. (ANI) After the recent tensions over Mothabari violence, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday visited the Eidgah being organised in Kolkata on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr and said that her government was committed to stopping the "riots". She hit out at the opposition parties in the state, saying that "red" and "gerua" have joined hands. She said that the West Bengal government only had one focus, which was to stop the riots. "We are ready to sacrifice our lives for all religions...The duty of the majority is to protect the minority, and the duty of the minority is to stay with the majority. We will not let anyone riot. We have only one voice, which is to stop the riots," Banerjee said while addressing the gathering here. In a veiled attack against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Communist Party of India (Marxist), Banerjee said that both the parties were in cahoots with one another. She added that it was never the commoners who create chaos, but political parties. "We are secular. Navratri is going on; I extend my best wishes for that as well, but we do not want anyone to create chaos...Common people do not create chaos, but political parties do. Aaj Lal aur Gerua ek ho gaya (Today Red and Saffron are one). Let it be. This is a matter of shame," Banerjee said. Her remarks come after violence erupted between two groups in the Mothabari area of West Bengal's Malda district, where 61 people have been arrested. Internet was suspended in three areas after the clashes, which broke out on March 27. 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." BJP also held a protest againstthe Mothabari (Malda) incident on Friday. (ANI) Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Monday extended greetings on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr to all the countrymen. "Chief Minister Shri Nitish Kumar offered Eid Mubarak and congratulations to all the Namazis, Muslim brothers and sisters, people of Bihar and the countrymen," stated an official press release. The Chief Minister went to Gandhi Maidan in Patna to celebrate Eid, where he met Imam Idain Hazrat Maulana Mehsud Ahmed Qadri Nadvi and exchanged greetings with him. The official press note from the Bihar government reads, "On the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr today, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar reached Gandhi Maidan and met Imam Idain Hazrat Maulana Mehsud Ahmed Qadri Nadvi, exchanged greetings with him and offered Eid Mubarak. Imam Idain Hazrat Maulana Mehsud Ahmed Qadri Nadvi also wished Eid Mubarak to Chief Minister Shri Nitish Kumar and prayed for the happiness, prosperity, progress, development and progress of Bihar." Earlier, the head of Edain Committee, Mahmood Alam honoured Chief Minister Nitish Kumar by presenting him a bouquet and a turban, the release stated. On this occasion, Rural Works Minister Mr. Ashok Choudhary, Chairman of Bihar State Sunni Waqf Board Md. Irshadullah, Commissioner of Patna Division Mr. Mayank Barbade, District Magistrate, Patna Mr. Chandrashekhar Singh, Senior Superintendent of Police, Patna Mr. Avkash Kumar and other dignitaries were present, the release added. Earlier today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended greetings on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr. Taking to social media X, the PM wrote in a post, "Greetings on Eid-ul-Fitr. May this festival enhance the spirit of hope, harmony and kindness in our society. May there be joy and success in all your endeavours. Eid Mubarak!" President Droupadi Murmu also extended her best wishes on the occasion. "Greetings to all countrymen, especially Muslim brothers and sisters, on the auspicious occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr. This festival strengthens the feeling of brotherhood and gives the message of adopting compassion and charity. I wish that this festival brings peace, prosperity and happiness in everyone's life and strengthens the spirit of moving forward on the path of goodness in everyone's hearts," said the President's post in Urdu on social media X. The crescent moon signalled the end of Ramzan the night before, and millions of Muslims across the country gathered in mosques and prayer grounds on Monday morning to offer Namaz in celebration of Eid ul-Fitr. The air was filled with joy and unity as communities came together in prayer, marking a moment of gratitude and reflection. From bustling city centers to peaceful rural towns, the spirit of togetherness and devotion was palpable as families, friends, and neighbors shared in the festivities. With heartfelt prayers for peace and prosperity, today's celebrations exemplified the essence of Eid - a time for renewal, charity, and compassion. In the national capital, thousands of people gathered at the iconic Jama Masjid to offer Namaz early this morning. The grand mosque, which is one of the largest and most historic in the country, saw worshippers in their finest attire, united in prayer to mark the end of the holy month of Ramadan. The morning air was filled with a sense of reverence and community as people sought blessings for peace and prosperity in the year ahead. Eid reinforces the values of charity, kindness, and compassion. In addition to giving Zakat, many people choose to help others by providing meals, clothing, and support to those less fortunate, reflecting the Islamic principles of empathy and care for others. (ANI) In a post on X, Stalin urged citizens to help ease the suffering of birds by providing them with water and food. "Let's provide water and food to birds suffering from the summer heat!" posted Stalin. As temperatures soar across the state, many birds are facing dehydration and food scarcity. The Chief Minister highlighted the simple yet effective ways in which people can contribute--by placing water bowls and bird feeders in their homes, parks, and public spaces to provide relief to the creatures struggling to survive in the extreme heat. Stalin's call to action is part of a broader effort to raise awareness about environmental conservation. His initiative encourages citizens to take small but impactful steps to ensure the survival of birds during the hot summer months. Earlier on Sunday, Chief Minister MK Stalin participated in the Ramzan festivities. For this occasion, an event called 'Let's Light the World with Love' was organised, and nearly 2,500 people received gifts. "We have been organising a program every year to greet Muslims and give gifts on the occasion of Ramzan. I am grateful and respectful to the administrators and Muslims who have given me the opportunity to participate in the program this year," Stalin said. His participation in the religious festivities comes amid the ongoing budget session in the Tamil Nadu assembly. On Sunday, Stalin extended his warm wishes to the 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. Stalin also called out the imposition of Hindi and changes to political boundaries through delimitation and stressed that these issues threaten the region's identity and rights. (ANI) A drone light show held at Vikramotsav in Madhya Pradesh's Ujjain district on the occasion of the Hindu New Year on Sunday became the centre of attraction as the skies lit up with synchronized drones leaving everyone attending the event mesmerised. Around 1000 drones illuminated the skies, creating portraits of Lord Mahadev, Mata Parvati, the Sun, Moon, and stars, which were seen moving in the sky. Additionally, the Simhastha song was also launched on the occasion, according to an official release. "On the auspicious occasion of the Hindu New Year, sanatan culture came alive in the drone show organized on the banks of Kshipra river in Ujjain and the feeling was amazing. The presentation of drones flying in the sky created a unique confluence of faith, tradition and modernity, which infused pride and devotion in the hearts of the devotees," CM Yadav posted on X. Along with this, Governor Mangubhai Patel, Chief Minister Mohan Yadav and Union Minister of State for Law and Justice Arjun Ram Meghwal also graced the event and launched the state-wide Jal Ganga Sanvardhan Abhiyan, which will run continuously for three months till June 30, aiming at increasing public participation in water conservation and constructing more water structures. Addressing the occasion, Governor Patel remarked that the celebration of the New Year in its various forms across the country reinforces the spirit of 'Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat'. He noted that this festival is observed as 'Gudi Padwa', 'Chaiti Chand', 'Yugadi', 'Ugadi', and 'Navroz Agdu' in different regions, reflecting the cultural unity in diversity of India. He further said that the beginning of the New Year also marks the commencement of the nine-day festival of Navratri, a period dedicated to health, introspection, and renewal. "Indian New Year promotes the preservation, advancement, and construction of nature, where the cosmos, culture, and society come together. These transitional days between seasons carry a message of awakening and new energy. The tradition of celebrating this time was initiated with the aim of ensuring the well-being and prosperity of individuals, families, and society at large. It is a moment of great pride for the people of the state that Vikram Samvat originated from Ujjaini. Emperor Vikramaditya is revered across the world for his virtues of justice, wisdom, patience, valour, courage, and leadership," Governor Patel said. Meanwhile, CM Yadav said, "Ujjain is the revered land of Emperor Vikramaditya's reign--a city of immense historical and spiritual significance. It is in Ujjaini that Yogiraj Krishna received his education, and where many just and wise rulers once guided the world with their sense of justice and righteousness. Emperor Vikramaditya was a man of multi-faceted personality. His reign reminds us of Ram Rajya. Our government is also constantly working for the betterment of the people. Vikramaditya took care of his subjects with his efforts and always protected them. He waived off the debt of the people. He re-established the Sanatan tradition by initiating Vikram Samvat. The justice tradition of Emperor Vikramaditya is still recognized. His love for justice has been known for thousands of years." The Chief Minister also requested Union Minister Meghwal to start a national institution related to justice in the name of Emperor Vikramaditya in Ujjain in the future. The CM further said, "The state-wide Jal Ganga Samvardhan Abhiyan is being started from the Vikramotsav programme in the presence of Governor Patel. Jal Ganga Samvardhan Abhiyan has started from today with a district-level program in the presence of the Minister in charge, MLAs and other public representatives in all the districts of the state. Cleanliness, renovation and renewal work is being done in more than 100 wells, stepwells, ponds and other water sources in Ujjain." Additionally, Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal also expressed pleasure over celebrating Vikramotsav on the holy banks of Kshipra River in Ujjain and extended greetings to everyone. The Union Minister also said that an action plan would be made by Rajasthan and MP to create a tourist circuit in the future. This tourist circuit will give tourists an opportunity to see and understand the innovative heritage related to the reign of King Bhartrihari and Emperor Vikramaditya. Through this tourist circuit, tourists coming to Rajasthan will go to Madhya Pradesh, and tourists coming to Madhya Pradesh will go to Rajasthan. This will awaken a new feeling among the tourists, which will take the heritage of both states to global heights. (ANI) The blast at a mosque in Beed, Maharashtra, on Sunday has resulted in opposition leaders pointing fingers at the Maharashtra government. Samajwadi Party (SP) MLA Abu Azmi on Monday said that the blast was a result of what ministers and the Chief Minister have been saying against Muslims, which created a hatred in the mind of the common man against the religion. Speaking to ANI, the SP MLA said, "When ministers and even the Chief minister say things against Muslims every day, then there will be hatred in the common man against Muslims, and this is the result of the same." Further, he demanded strict action against the culprits. He also stated that if a Muslim had committed such an action, the bulldozer action would have been taken very quickly and questioned why action had not been taken yet. "if I see someone in my country being involved in a blast, I would demand strict actions against him. NIA and ATS must do the investigation. If any Muslim commits such a thing, bulldozer action is taken very quickly, but I think in this case, the bulldozer is punctured. What is happening in this country?..." Azmi said. Earlier in the day, All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) National Spokesperson Waris Pathan has called on the Maharashtra government to impose strict Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) laws against those responsible for the explosion at a mosque in Beed, urging severe punishment for the accused. Speaking to ANI, Pathan said, "Who encourages them? They get encouraged by the hate speeches that the BJP leaders give every day. The government should impose strict UAPA laws against the accused in this case, their case should be heard in fast-track court and they should get severe punishment. Those BJP leaders who keep talking such nonsense every day should also be punished. Only then will we be able to prevent such incidents from happening in the future." A blast occurred at a mosque in Beed, Maharashtra, on Sunday, causing significant damage to the internal structure of the mosque. Two accused have been arrested in connection with a blast at a mosque in Maharashtra's Beed, police officials confirmed to ANI on Sunday. The police added that they received the information that the accused went to the mosque and carried out the explosion with the help of gelatin. Superintendent of Police (SP) Navneet Kanwat said in a video statement that the village sarpanch informed the police about the incident at about 4 am. "All our senior officers and the Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad (BDDS) team reached the spot. We got information that the accused had gone to the mosque and carried out the explosion with the help of gelatin. When our team reached there and started an investigation, we came to know about two accused and before 6 am, we arrested both the accused," SP Kanwat said. (ANI) Two children lost their lives after a fire broke out in their rented premises in the national capital's East Punjabi Bagh area, officials said on Monday. The deceased children have been identified as Aakash (7) and Sakshi (14). The incident occurred on Sunday evening at around 8.20 pm in Manohar Park area of East Punjabi Bagh. According to the Delhi Police, a PCR call was received at Police Station of Punjabi Bagh around 8:20 PM on March 30, reporting the fire incident at a house. As per the Delhi Police, the incident occurred when a woman Savita (34) was cooking in the kitchen and suddenly a cloth caught fire nearby, trapping her son Aakash (7) and daughter Sakshi (14) in the room while Savita and her 11-year-old daughter Minakshi managed to escape unharmed. Savita called for help and the son of the landlord and other tenants rushed to their aid, rescuing the two trapped children. Despite their efforts, both Aakash and Sakshi succumbed to their injuries. They were brought to Acharya Bhikshu Hospital in Moti Nagar where doctors declared them brought dead due to 100 per cent burns. The father of the children, Lal Bahadur (40), was working as a private security guard in Ashoka Park Main, in the national capital, at the time of the incident. The reason behind the blaze is yet to be ascertained and the Delhi Police is further investigating the case. Earlier, in a different incident, a fire broke out in a multispecialty hospital in the Laxmi Nagar area of the national capital in the late hours of Sunday. However, after consistent efforts, it was brought under control. The incident occurred at Makkar Hospital in Priyadarshni Vihar, Laxmi Nagarat around 11.42-11.43 pm on Sunday. Soon after receiving the information, four fire tenders were rushed to the site at 12.15 am on Monday and engaged in a firefighting operation and eventually, the situation was brought under control. According to reports, the fire started in the bed and window air conditioner on the ground floor of the B+G+2 storey building. Fortunately, no casualties or injuries were reported in the incident. (ANI) West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has hit out at the opposition parties after the recent tension and violence in Morhabari. Speaking at the Eidgah on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr the West Bengal CM said that her government was committed to stopping the "riots". She hit out at the opposition parties in the state, saying that "red" and "gerua" have joined hands. "We are secular. Navratri is going on; I extend my best wishes for that as well, but we do not want riots to take place. Common people do not involve in such things only political parties do. This is a matter of shame. Earlier, the 'Laal' party used to give statements about secularism. Today, 'laal' and 'geua' have united. We will fight alone. We are ready to sacrifice our lives for all religions...The duty of the majority is to protect the minority, and the duty of the minority is to stay with the majority..." Her remarks come after violence erupted between two groups in the Mothabari area of West Bengal's Malda district, where 61 people have been arrested. Internet was suspended in three areas after the clashes, which broke out on March 27. 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." Earlier BJP leader Amit Malvya alleged that Mamata Banerjee has completely lost control over the state's law and order. " The relentless attacks on Hindus continue unchecked across West Bengal. Hindu religious events, properties, and individuals are being targeted by Muslim mobs. Today, two major incidents occurred--one in Nowda, Murshidabad district, and another in Dakshin Barbaria village, Purba Medinipur district. Much like the violence in Mothabari, Malda district, Hindu-owned shops have once again been selectively vandalized in Jhaubona and Trimohani Bazar under Naoda Police Station in Murshidabad. Jihadist mobs unleashed terror in broad daylight, even as the police stood by...Mamata Banerjee is pushing West Bengal toward a dangerous transformation--one that mirrors Bangladesh's past. The BJP will not allow her to succeed," he said in a post on Sunday on X. (ANI) Lucknow Police on Monday used special AI drones to monitor the crowd coming to celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr in mosques of Lucknow. Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Vishwajeet Srivastava said that through the use of AI drones, the message of any suspicious activity would be sent to the mobile phones of the police personnel and the control room. Speaking to ANI, the DCP said, "Today, people are offering Namaz on the occasion of Eid-Al-Fitr. The security arrangements have been made at all the mosques. We are constantly monitoring the situation through AI drones...These drones are equipped with AI technology. A message of any suspicious activity is sent to our mobile phones and control room." Further, he stated that police personnel had also been deployed at the mosques, stating that CCTV cameras were also being used to monitor the situation. "Heavy police personnel have been deployed at the mosques. We are also using CCTV cameras to monitor the situation... an eye is also being kept on social media..." he further added. Earlier on Sunday, Uttar Pradesh minister Danish Azad emphasised that the state administration had made special arrangements to ensure a smooth celebration for the Muslim community, following all safety and law guidelines. Ansari also highlighted that Uttar Pradesh is known for its strong law and order and that Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has assured people that Muslims are safe in the state. Speaking to ANI, Uttar Pradesh Minister Danish Azad Ansari said, "After the holy month of Ramzan, the moon has been sighted, and Eid will be celebrated throughout India. May Eid bring happiness to all... This 'meethi' Eid, which increases sweetness in our society... I appeal to everyone to follow all the guidelines issued at the administrative level...:" He further added, "Uttar Pradesh administration has made special arrangements so that the brothers of the Muslim community do not have to face any problems... Everything is in accordance with law and order. Uttar Pradesh is considered a state of law and order... Our chief minister, Yogi Adityanath, also said that Muslims are the safest in Uttar Pradesh..." (ANI) People are celebrating Eid-ul-Fitr, the festival marking the end of the holy month of Ramzan, with joy and offering Namaz on the occasion across Madhya Pradesh on Monday. Scores of people gathered at Eidgah in the state capital Bhopal, offered Nazam and greeted each other to celebrate the festival. Similarly, thousands of people assembled at Kampoo Idgah in Gwalior to offer Namaz and in other regions of the state on the occasion. "Eid is celebrated to express one''s happiness. There should be harmony in the country, the atmosphere should be good and people should meet each other to help and be a part of their happiness and sorrow, this is the message of Eid," said Syed Shakir Ali Jafri, a resident of Bhopal. Another local, Mohammad Alam said that a huge number of people came at Idgah to offer Nazaj and prayed that there should be peace and harmony in the country. "We have prayed for our country that peace and harmony should be maintained here. We all gather here to pray for the purpose. Our one month period of Ramadan is over and during those periods too we worship for the same," Alam said. Similarly, people in Gwalior, along with children offered Namaz and worshipped for the peace, harmony and brotherhood to remain intact in the country. "Eid is being celebrated on the end of our holy month of Ramzan with joy and unity. We offered Namaz and prayed to maintain the peace and harmony in the nation," Shabbir Ali said. Additionally, the district administration and police also made proper security arrangements in place in view of the festival across the state. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP, Gwalior) Dharmvir Singh said, "Complete security arrangements have been made at all the prominent places where Namazs are being offered for Eid festival in the district. Additional police forces have been deployed at the sensitive places so that no one faces any problem. Traffic is being operated properly and cameras and drones are also being used to look after the arrangements." Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav also extended greetings to the residents of the state on the occasion of Eid. Taking to X, CM Yadav wrote, "Greetings to all of you on Eid-ul-Fitr." Eid-ul-Fitr is not just about religious observances but also a day to celebrate unity, love, and community spirit across India. (ANI) People's Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti on Monday extended her greetings to everyone on Eid and expressed her sadness over the suffering of Muslims in the country. National Conference President Farooq Abdullah also joined the people in offering Eid Namaz at the Dargah Hazratbal in Srinagar, a significant religious site in the region. Speaking to the media, PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti said, "I extend greetings to everyone at the Eid festival. My heart is saddened due to the atrocities against Muslims in the country. I pray to Allah for them and also for peace in Jammu and Kashmir." In addition to Hazratbal, people gathered at various locations, including the Government Boys High School Sonwar, to offer prayers on this special day. The celebrations were peaceful, with people coming together to pray for peace, prosperity, and unity in the country and the region. The day was marked by prayers for harmony and a hopeful outlook for a better future for all. Eid-ul-Fitr was celebrated with prayers and goodwill in Srinagar's Jammu and Kashmir, on Monday. People gathered in mosques and prayer grounds to offer Namaz and celebrate the festival with family and friends. Eid-ul-Fitr celebrations have kicked off across the country with an outpouring of joy and togetherness as families and communities come together to mark the end of Ramzan. With heartfelt embraces, the exchange of Eid greetings, and the sharing of sweets and traditional delicacies, the day unfolded with an infectious spirit of unity. In cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, and Kolkata, people were seen donning new clothes and smiling as widely as their hearts. The streets and homes were adorned with festive decorations, and the aroma of freshly prepared biryanis, kebabs, and sweet treats like sevai, kheer, and sheer khurma wafted through the air. In the rural areas, small gatherings and family feasts created an equally heartwarming atmosphere, where the essence of Eid was celebrated through acts of charity, the giving of Zakat, and the spirit of giving. (ANI) Eid-ul-Fitr, a festival marking the end of the holy month of Ramzan, is being celebrated with great enthusiasm across the country. However, the celebrations were accompanied by some protests and heightened security measures in various places. In cities like Vadodara, Agra, and Ghaziabad, Muslims participated in Eid prayers and greeted each other with hugs. In Agra, Eid prayers were offered near the Taj Mahal, where many devotees gathered to pray for peace and unity. The prayers were followed by warm greetings among the community. However, in some areas, protests broke out against the Waqf Board Amendment Bill. In Hyderabad, a protest was held outside the Ujale Shah Eidgah in Saidabad, where a group of people tied black bands around their hands to express their opposition to the Waqf bill. Similarly, in Aishbagh, people gathered to offer prayers, but a few also took part in protests against the bill. Security measures were heightened in several cities to ensure the smooth and peaceful celebration of Eid. The police in Ghaziabad continuously patrolled Muslim-dominated areas like Kela Bhatta, Islam Nagar, Mirzapur, and Dasna Mussoorie. Drone cameras are also used for surveillance so that no antisocial elements can disturb the Eid festival. Lucknow Police use special AI drones to monitor the crowds coming to celebrate Eid-Al-Fitr in mosques. DCP City Rajesh Kumar said, "the occasion of Eid ul Fitr, a large number of police force, PAC has been deployed. To ensure the safe completion of Eid festival, surveillance is being done with drones. To maintain peace and order, Namazis are also being appealed to celebrate Eid festival with mutual harmony and brotherhood." In Moradabad, there was a brief verbal clash between police and devotees when they were stopped from entering Moradabad Eidgah to offer Namaz. Police stopped devotees from entering the Eidgah as a large number of people were present inside. After this, the namaz was offered Speaking to ANI, SSP Moradabad Satpal Antil said, "Namaz has been offered everywhere peacefully. Preparations were done for the last 5-6 days. Some people wanted to offer Namaz at the Eidgah after the Namaz was offered. They had talks with the Imam, and now they are offering Namaz peacefully again. Currently, the situation is under control." In Ayodhya, the local district officer, Chandra Vijay Singh, visited the Eidgah and congratulated young children who participated in the Namaz by giving them chocolates. He praised the peaceful completion of Eid prayers and ensured that all safety measures were in place. Overall, while Eid celebrations were a time for community bonding and prayers, the day also saw some tensions related to protests against the Waqf Board Amendment Bill, with authorities working to ensure peace and security across the country. (ANI) DMK leader TKS Elangovan on Monday launched a fierce attack on the BJP-led Centre over the issue of the New Education Policy (NEP), alleging that they want the people of India to remain as "Shudras." In a scathing attack on the BJP government, TKS Elangovan accused it of trying to "kill" the Macaulay system of education, which has produced renowned students and scientists from India. Elangovan claimed that the government wants to introduce a Vedic system of education without any "scientific basis." "They want to kill Macaulay system of education which has produced very good students, scientists from India, and the world over Indian citizens are heading organisations. The education system in Tamil Nadu is the best in India. But they want to kill this and introduce a Vedic system of education without any scientific base. They want the people of India to remain as Shudras. That is the idea of RSS, which this BJP government is following. Language is a secondary thing. They are violating the principles of the Constitution. Let them follow the New Education Policy in Central schools with CBSE, and there won't be any students left there. The students will come to the State Board," the DMK leader told ANI. This comes after Maharashtra Chief Devendra Fadnavis reacted to the remarks of Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP) chairperson Sonia Gandhi and lauded the New Education Policy (NEP) saying that NEP is "Indiansation" of the education system of India. "I think this (NEP) is Indianisation of the education system of India..." Fadnavis told reporters in Nagpur. Sonia Gandhi had launched a fierce critique on the Centre on the issue of NEP, accusing it of implementing its "three core agendas -- centralisation, commercialisation and communalisation" in an opinion piece written in The Hindu. Reacting to this, Chief Minister Fadnavis stated that Sonia Gandhi should gain more information and support the 'Indianisation' of the Indian education system. The Chief Minister said, "If the Education Policy that Macaulay brought to enslave our country, if that system is replaced and Indianisation is done, I think no one should have any problem with that. Any patriot will support it. I think Sonia Gandhi ji should know more about it and fully support the Indianisation of the Indian education system." 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. (ANI) A team of security forces on Monday recovered the body of a female Naxalite, carrying a reward of Rs 25 lakh, along with an INSAS rifle, ammunition and other items of daily use from an encounter site of Dantewada, as per officials. The security forces under the DRG area had gone on an anti-Maoist operation in the areas of Geedam police station of the Dantewada district and Bhairamgarh police station of Bijapur border villages - Nelgoda, Akeli and Belnar. The woman, identified as Renuka alias Banu alias Chaite alias Saraswati, a resident of Kadvendi district, Warangal, was shot in the firing that took place at the encounter site, which started at 9 a.m. today. On March 30, Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced that 50 Naxalites surrendered in Bijapur, Chhattisgarh. He assured them that they would be rehabilitated and integrated into the mainstream. "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. Modi ji''s policy is clear that any Naxalite who leaves weapons and adopts the path of development will be rehabilitated and connected to the mainstream," Amit Shah wrote on X. He also urged other Naxalites to surrender, stating that Naxalism would be eradicated by March 2026. "I once again appeal to the rest of the people to give up arms and join the mainstream. After March 31, 2026, Naxalism will become history in the country, this is our resolution," Shah said. On Saturday, 15 Naxalites surrendered before the Dantewada police. Superintendent of Police (SP) Dantewada confirmed the surrender, stating that all 15 individuals would receive the benefits provided by the state government under the rehabilitation policy. Speaking to the media, Dantewada SP Smruthik Rajanala said, "15 Naxalites have surrendered in front of the Dantewada police today...All the benefits of the state government will be given to all these 15 Naxalites who have surrendered today." On Wednesday, nine Naxals surrendered in Sukma in the presence of Superintendent of Police Kiran Gangaram Chavan. Meanwhile, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai on Saturday congratulated the security forces for their bravery as they neutralised 16 Naxalites and recovered a large cache of arms and ammunition in a major encounter in the Kerlapal area of the Sukma district. (ANI) All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Monday conveyed his best wishes on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr, a festival marking the end of the holy month of Ramzan. Owaisi hoped that peace and justice would prevail in the country. "I extend my best wishes to all on the occasion of Eid Al Fitr, and we hope that peace and justice will prevail in our country..." Owaisi told reporters. Samajwadi Pary Chief Akhilesh Yadav also extended his wishes saying, "Today I extend my warm greetings to all the people of the entire state, country and the world. We all celebrate the festival of Eid with joy by hugging each other and hope that we all respect each other by hugging each other... This is the beauty of our country, where people following different religions live together." Eid-ul-Fitr, the festival marking the end of the holy month of Ramzan, is being celebrated with joy and unity across India. The sighting of the moon has led to special prayers (Namaz) being offered at mosques, Eidgahs, and open grounds, with people from different parts of the country coming together to celebrate the occasion. In Delhi, children and families gathered at the historic Jama Masjid, one of the largest mosques in India, to offer Namaz. In cities like Vadodara, Agra, and Ghaziabad, Muslims participated in Eid prayers and greeted each other with hugs. In Agra, Eid prayers were offered near the Taj Mahal, where many devotees gathered to pray for peace and unity. The prayers were followed by warm greetings among the community. However, in some areas, protests broke out against the Waqf Board Amendment Bill. In Hyderabad, a protest was held outside the Ujale Shah Eidgah in Saidabad, where a group of people tied black bands around their hands to express their opposition to the Waqf bill. Similarly, in Aishbagh, people gathered to offer prayers, but a few also took part in protests against the bill. Security measures were heightened in several cities to ensure the smooth and peaceful celebration of Eid. Eid-ul-Fitr, which means "Festival of Breaking the Fast," is celebrated at the conclusion of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting. After a month of abstaining from food, drink, and other physical needs during daylight hours, Eid marks a time of festivity, where Muslims express their gratitude for the strength and patience shown during Ramadan. Eid reinforces the values of charity, kindness, and compassion. In addition to giving Zakat, many people choose to help others by providing meals, clothing, and support to those less fortunate, reflecting the Islamic principles of empathy and care for others. (ANI) The Karkardooma Court has acquitted 12 accused in two cases related to murder during the North East Delhi Riots of February 2020. In one of the cases, a body was identified through a DNA test. Delhi police had relied upon chats to show the complicity of the accused, Lokesh Solanki, in the alleged crime. The court said that chats relied upon by the Delhi Police can not be substantive evidence to show that the accused killed the two deceased. Two FIRs were lodged in Police Station Gokul Puri for the alleged offences of Rioting, murder, unlawful assembly, promoting enmity between the communities, destruction of evidence, etc. Additional Sessions Judge Pulastya Pramachala acquitted all the accused persons in both cases after considering the facts and circumstances of the cases. ASJ Pramachala said, " In view of my foregoing discussions, observations and findings, I find that charges levelled against the accused persons in this case are not proved at all." "Hence, all accused namely Lokesh Kumar Solanki, Pankaj Sharma, Ankit Chaudhary, Prince, Jatin Sharma alias Rohit, Himanshu Thakur, Vivek Panchal alias Nandu, Rishabh Chaudhary alias Tapas, Sumit Chaudhary alias Badshah, Tinku Arora, Sandeep alias Mogli and Sahil alias Babu, are acquitted of all the charges," ASJ Pramachala held on March 28. Delhi police had relied on chats related to a group. They were also accused in other cases related to the murder of nine people. The court noted that the accused in this case were accused in nine cases. The chats purportedly refer to the killing of two persons on the night of 26.02.2020. The same chat has been used to support allegations of the murder of nine persons. "In the present case, the prosecution alleged the time of murder at 10.30 A.M. This scenario itself shows that these chats cannot be related to the incident probed in this case," the court pointed out. It further pointed out that such a post may be made in the group solely with the intention of becoming a hero in the estimation of other members of the group. It could also be a boast without truth. The court said, "Therefore, the relied upon chats cannot be substantive evidence to show that accused Lokesh had actually killed two Muslim persons. These chats could be used at most as corroborative pieces of evidence to support the substantive evidence showing Lokesh's complicity in the alleged incident. Hence, for want of any substantive evidence, they cannot be given much attention," the court held. As per the chargesheet, on March 1, 2020, a PCR call was received that a body was lying in Bhagirathi Vihar Nala. In this regard, DD No.18-A was recorded in PS Gokalpuri. Police had found one male dead body in a decomposed condition lying in the drain (nala). The body was recovered from the drain and sent to RML Hospital, where the doctor declared him brought dead. The body was preserved in the mortuary of RML Hospital for the purpose of identification. Later on, the aforesaid body was identified as Bhure Ali alias Salman by his brother Md Rafiand father Hasan Ali. As per the chargesheet in another case, one Aamin was killed. It was alleged that on February 25, 2020, at about 9:30 PM, the deceased Aamin was killed by the rioters and thrown in Nala, near C-Block, Bhagirathi Vihar, when he was coming on foot from Brijpuri Pulia. During the course of the investigation, exhibits collected during the postmortem of deceased Amin, like Tooth and Blood on gauze, were sent to FSL, Rohini, Delhi, after taking blood samples of his parents, namely Shahbuddin and Amir Bano. In this regard, the FSL result was received wherein it was mentioned that Shahbuddin and Amir Bano were the biological parents of the deceased Amin. The court said that the question was whether the accused persons prosecuted in this case were members of the mob which killed Amin. When the court is not even sure about the incident wherein Amin was killed, and when there is no clarity from the evidence as to which mob had killed Amin, then it is only a formality to say that there is no evidence on the record to show that any of the accused was member of the culprit mob. (ANI) Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) leader Suresh Bhaiyyaji Joshi on Monday refuted the reports of "differences" between RSS and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, stating that there is "no gap" and it's all a "creation of media." When asked if the differences between RSS and PM Modi have widened, Joshi said, "There is no difference; duriyaan to sirf media banata hai (it's all a creation of media)." The RSS leader further applauded the Prime Minister for his works, saying that he has been doing and supporting many great works. "He (PM Modi) has been doing and supporting many great works; it's in his nature, and it is good that he laid the foundation stone of Madhav Netralaya..." the RSS leader told ANI. On Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) headquarters and paid tribute to RSS founder Keshav Baliram Hedgewar at Smruti Mandir in Reshimbagh in Nagpur. The Prime Minister started his visit by paying tribute to Hedgewar at Smruti Mandir, the administrative headquarters of the organisation. He was accompanied by RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. In a post on X, PM Modi said, "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." Addressing a public rally, PM Modi lauded RSS workers. PM Modi praised their selfless contribution to humanitarian efforts, including disaster relief. "Their selfless service has been evident in times of floods, earthquakes, and most recently, at the Maha Kumbh," he said. PM Modi emphasized their dedication with the phrase, "Jahan seva kaarya, wahan swayamsevak." Commending the service of RSS volunteers, PM Modi noted that whether it was the Maha Kumbh or any other occasion, the 'swayamsevaks' were always 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'... (We move forward with the life mantra of devotion to the nation and duty towards our country.) That is why, no matter how big or small the task, in any field, the volunteers of the Sangh work selflessly. We have seen in the Maha Kumbh how the swayamsevak helped the people. 'Jahan seva kaarya, wahan swayamsevak.' Where there are problems and difficulties, the swayamsevaks are there to help. They put aside their personal problems and work selflessly with the spirit of service," PM Modi said while addressing a gathering in Nagpur. With RSS celebrating its centenary year, PM Modi said that the organization, which started as an idea a hundred years ago, has now grown into a 'Vat Vriksh' big tree symbolising longevity and immortality. "The ideas that were sown a hundred years ago have today grown into this 'Vat Vriksh' before the world. The principles and ideologies give height to this tree. The lakhs and crores of 'kar sevaks' are its branches. This is not just any tree, it is the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, the modern 'Akshay Vat Vriksh' of India's immortal culture... Today, this 'Akshay Vat' constantly energizes Indian culture and consciousness of our nation," he said. RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat said that due to such a long journey, society has seen, tested and accepted the volunteers of the Sangh. "With a long journey, society has seen, tested and accepted the volunteers of the Sangh. As a result, there was a favourable situation, and the obstacles were also removed, and the volunteers are moving ahead," Bhagwat said. Bhagwat said that in Sangh's philosphy, we say spend 1 hour on self-development and 23 hours for growth of society's growth. "In Sangh's philosophy, we say spend 1 hour on self-development and 23 hours using that growth for society's welfare. This is our vision, and all our efforts are driven by this very principle," he said. (ANI) According to the police, the arrested accused have been identified as Pooja Devi and Rohit. The operation, conducted under the "Nasha Mukht Bharat Abhiyaan," was carried out by the Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) of the Delhi Police. The team worked tirelessly to track down the accused, who were supplying heroin in Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR). Pooja Devi, one of the accused, was arrested on December 4, 2024, with 415 grams of heroin. Further investigation revealed that the source of the recovered heroin was Rohit, a resident of Sultanpuri, Delhi. Rohit was subsequently arrested on March 24, 2025, with 133 grams of heroin. The police are continuing their investigation to uncover the entire chain of drug trafficking. The accused, Pooja Devi and Rohit, have confessed to their involvement in the drug trade, revealing that they started supplying heroin to various people after getting attracted to the lucrative business. Earlier, 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. (ANI) Syed Naseruddin Chishty, the chairman of the All India Sufi Sajjadanshin Council (AISSC) and successor of the spiritual head of Ajmer Dargah, has hailed the BJP's initiative of distributing 'Saugat-e-Modi' kits to the underprivileged Muslims ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr. Chisty said that the kit has reached 22 lakh people. The chairman of AISSC said that people are fortunate enough to live in a country which has Ganga-Jamuni culture as people are celebrating both Navratri and Eid-ul-Fitr today. "We are fortunate that we are living in a country which has Ganga-Jamuni culture. Yesterday, it was Cheti Chand, Navratri is ongoing, and it is Eid ul-Fitr today. I am confident that across India today, you will see people congratulating each other on these festivals. It is the culture of the country to stay together, and this is our strength..." Syed Naseruddin Chishty told reporters. Speaking on the Saugat-e-Modi kits, he said, "This is a good initiative. We also try to reach out the people who are financially poor and help them to celebrate the festival. PM Modi has done the same as a Prime Minister of India. PM Modi has ensured that 'Saugat-e-Modi' reaches 22 lakh people in the country...I believe there is a need for amendment in the Waqf bill. I am confident that this bill will bring transparency..." BJP Minority Morcha had launched its "Saugat-e-Modi" campaign, with the aim to distribute special kits to 32 lakh underprivileged Muslims across the country ahead of Eid. The initiative was kicked off from Nizamuddin in Delhi under the guidance of BJP National President JP Nadda and seeks to ensure that poor Muslim families can celebrate the festival without any hardship. As part of the campaign, 32,000 minority morcha workers collaborated with 32,000 mosques nationwide to reach the needy. Earlier, Jamal Siddiqui, the National President of the BJP Minority Morcha, outlined the campaign's broader vision, stating that on occasions like Eid, Good Friday, Easter, Nauruz, and the Indian New Year, the Minority Front will reach out to those in need through the "Saugat-e-Modi" campaign. The National Media Charge of the Minority Morcha, Yasir Zilani, explained that the "Saugat-e-Modi" scheme is a campaign launched by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) with the goal of promoting welfare schemes among the Muslim community and gathering political support for the BJP and NDA. (ANI) Another Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) audit report will be presented in the Delhi assembly on the "Prevention of Air Pollution from Vehicles" on April 1. Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta is set to present the CAG report in the House. Earlier, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, during a discussion on the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) audit report on the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC), alleged that DTC suffered a loss of Rs 70,471 crore under the previous Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government. "They turned a profitable department into a loss-making one. DTC suffered a loss of Rs 70,471 crore. There was an operational loss of Rs 14,198 crore. Buses were run on only 468 routes out of 814. Money was spent only on advertisements. Even the Rs 233 crore received from the Centre was not spent. There used to be 4344 buses, but during their tenure, the number reduced to 3937," Delhi CM said. She further alleged that IDFC, a DTC partner agency, had advised the Delhi government to purchase its shares. "They did not accept and IDFC sold the shares worth 95 crores to a private company for just 10 crores. Did the government not have even 10 crores? Today, the value of DTC is only 20 crores. They crippled DTC. Today 4 thousand bus drivers are being paid salaries without work because there are no buses," she said. CM Rekha Gupta said that the CAG report should be sent to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC). "We will not only bring DTC into profit but will also make DTC a revenue generator. We will issue cards for free travel to women. Today, there is no data on how many women are travelling for free," she added. The House held a detailed discussion on the CAG report concerning the "Functioning of the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC)," with several members expressing concerns in this regard. The CAG audit covers the period from 2015-2016 to 2021-2022. This report highlights serious irregularities in the functioning of DTC. The CAG report suggests that due to the government's mismanagement and negligence, crores of rupees from Delhi taxpayers have been wasted. This report is now being referred to the Committee on Government Undertakings with instructions to submit its report within three months. Additionally, the Transport Department and DTC must submit their Action Taken Note to the Legislative Secretariat within one month from now. (ANI) Deputy Inspector General (DIG) South Bastar, Kamlochan Kashyap, on Monday congratulated the security forces for carrying out a successful anti-Naxal operation in Chhattisgarh. Earlier in the day, a team of security forces recovered the body of a woman Naxalite, carrying a reward of Rs 25 lakh, along with an INSAS rifle, ammunition and other items of daily use from an encounter site of Dantewada, as per officials. The security forces under the DRG area had gone on an anti-Maoist operation in the areas of Geedam police station of the Dantewada district and Bhairamgarh police station of Bijapur border villages - Nelgoda, Akeli and Belnar. The woman, identified as Renuka alias Banu alias Chaite alias Saraswati, a resident of Kadvendi district, Warangal, was shot in the firing that took place at the encounter site, which started at 9 a.m. today. On March 30, Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced that 50 Naxalites surrendered in Bijapur, Chhattisgarh. He assured them that they would be rehabilitated and integrated into the mainstream. "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. Modi ji's policy is clear that any Naxalite who leaves weapons and adopts the path of development will be rehabilitated and connected to the mainstream," Amit Shah wrote on X. He also urged other Naxalites to surrender, stating that Naxalism would be eradicated by March 2026."I once again appeal to the rest of the people to give up arms and join the mainstream. After March 31, 2026, Naxalism will become history in the country, this is our resolution," Shah said. On Saturday, 15 Naxalites surrendered before the Dantewada police. Superintendent of Police (SP) Dantewada confirmed the surrender, stating that all 15 individuals would receive the benefits provided by the state government under the rehabilitation policy. (ANI) The Delhi High Court, in a recent ruling regarding disability pensions for soldiers, underscored the inherent challenges and risks of military service. While granting disability pensions to two soldiers, the bench of Justice C Harishankar and Justice Ajay Digpaul acknowledged that the potential for illness and disability is an inevitable reality for those who dedicate themselves to serving the nation. "The most valiant of soldiers, given the arduous conditions under which they serve, may succumb to physical ailments, sometimes leading to disabling conditions that force them to step away from military duties. In such cases, it is the nation's moral obligation to offer support and compassion as a gesture of gratitude for the soldier's selfless service, providing them solace and security in the years to come," said the bench. The bench observed that no further elaboration was necessary in the present case. The key elements of the RMB report concerning the respondent had already been emphasized. The report explicitly acknowledged that the respondent's Type II Diabetes Mellitus was contracted 30 years after he joined military service, with the disease manifesting during his tenure in the armed forces. This fact was not contested. However, the report offered minimal evidence to establish that the respondent's military service was not a contributing factor to his illness. Since the respondent's claim was filed within 15 years of his discharge, the responsibility to prove that his military service did not cause the disease remained with the RMB, as outlined in Rule 7 of the 2008 Entitlement Rules. A mere mention that the disease emerged during a peace posting was insufficient to fulfill this responsibility. The Supreme Court has consistently held that RMB reports must be detailed, substantive, and supported by clear reasoning. In this instance, the RMB report failed to meet these criteria. While the Bench acknowledged that they were not medical experts, they noted that it is widely recognized that diabetes can be triggered and aggravated by stressful living conditions. Consequently, the fact that the disease emerged during a peace posting cannot be a decisive factor in determining whether it was related to the respondent's military service. Under such circumstances, the RMB carries a heightened responsibility to thoroughly investigate the origins of the disease and present unequivocal evidence dissociating its onset from the respondent's military service. The court was addressing two appeals filed by the Union of India, challenging the Armed Forces Tribunal's (AFT) decision to grant disability pensions to two soldiers. One of the soldiers, Gawas Anil Madso, enlisted in the army in 1985 and served until 2015, when he was discharged after being diagnosed with Type II Diabetes Mellitus. According to the findings of the Release Medical Board (RMB), he was assessed to have a 20 percent lifelong disability but was deemed ineligible for a disability pension. The bench further observed that the broader circumstances in such cases generally share commonalities. Typically, the officer or jawan who has suffered a disability or contracted an illness attributed to military service seeks a disability pension. In some instances, the individual may have been discharged or invalidated due to the illness or disability, whereas in other cases, the pension request is made after leaving military service. Despite these variations, the underlying issue in dispute remains consistent. (ANI) Union Home Minister Amit Shah is scheduled to visit Jammu and Kashmir on April 7-8 to review the security situation and interact with security personnel, said sources on Monday. During his visit, Shah will chair a high-level security review meeting in the Union Territory to assess the current law and order scenario. Senior officials from the Jammu and Kashmir Police, Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), and intelligence agencies will likely attend the meeting. Discussions are expected to focus on counter-terrorism operations, cross-border infiltration attempts, and the overall security landscape in Jammu and Kashmir. In addition to the review meeting, the Home Minister is also expected to visit forward areas along the International Border to inspect security arrangements and boost the morale of the forces stationed there. This visit comes against the backdrop of heightened efforts to combat terrorism and enhance border security. Shah's visit to the Union Territory is significant considering the recent terror activities in the Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir that deteriorated the peace and tranquil atmosphere in the region. The Home Minister's previous visit to Jammu and Kashmir in October 2022 marked a significant moment. During this visit, he announced several developmental projects and emphasized the government's commitment to bringing peace and stability to the region. He also held extensive discussions with political leaders, security officials, and local representatives to address regional concerns. Since the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019, the government has intensified its counter-terrorism operations and launched various initiatives to bolster infrastructure and development in the region. Shah's upcoming visit is seen as a continuation of these efforts, with a focus on strengthening security mechanisms and ensuring the safety of civilians. Shah had alao visited Jammu during the recent Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir. In September 2024, he launched the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) election campaign in the region. During his visit, Shah addressed party workers and public rallies, emphasizing the BJP's commitment to development and security in the Union Territory. He criticised opposition parties, particularly the National Conference (NC) and Congress, accusing them of misleading the public regarding the restoration of statehood. Shah then reiterated that the central government would restore Jammu and Kashmir's statehood at an appropriate time after the elections. (ANI) Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) Chairman and BJP MP Jagdambika Pal on Monday questioned the 'black band' protest against the Waqf bill when the amendment law had not been passed. Speaking to ANI, the JPC Chairman said, "While many Muslim clerics are supporting this bill, the All India Muslim Personal Law Board is objecting to it. On the day of 'Alvida Namaz', they asked people to wear black armbands in protest against this bill, and even today, on Eid, they have appealed to people to protest against this bill. But why? First, let the amended law come." Further, he stated that while Muslims were thanking Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the 'Saugat-e-Modi', Congress, Owaisi and AIMPLB were looking at Muslims as a vote bank and doing appeasement. "Today, Muslims are thanking Modi for 'Saugat-e-Modi. While we are talking of 'Sabka saath, Sabka Vikas', Congress, Owaisi and AIMPLB are looking at Muslims as a vote bank, doing appeasement...1.25 crore people have sent their representation on this bill...We even heard people from all over the country, including J&K's Mirwaiz Umar Farooq...The bill will be tabled on the date BAC gives," he said. Earlier in the day, Syed Naseruddin Chishty, the chairman of the All India Sufi Sajjadanshin Council (AISSC) and successor of the spiritual head of Ajmer Dargah, hailed the BJP's initiative of distributing 'Saugat-e-Modi' kits to the underprivileged Muslims ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr. Chisty said that the kit has reached 22 lakh people. The chairman of AISSC said that people are fortunate enough to live in a country which has Ganga-Jamuni culture as people are celebrating both Navratri and Eid-ul-Fitr today. "We are fortunate that we are living in a country which has the Ganga-Jamuni culture. Yesterday, it was Cheti Chand, Navratri is ongoing, and it is Eid ul-Fitr today. I am confident that across India today, you will see people congratulating each other on these festivals. It is the culture of the country to stay together, and this is our strength..." Syed Naseruddin Chishty told reporters. Speaking on the Saugat-e-Modi kits, he said, "This is a good initiative. We also try to reach out to the people who are financially poor and help them to celebrate the festival. PM Modi has done the same as the Prime Minister of India. PM Modi has ensured that 'Saugat-e-Modi' reaches 22 lakh people in the country...I believe there is a need for an amendment in the Waqf bill. I am confident that this bill will bring transparency..." BJP Minority Morcha had launched its "Saugat-e-Modi" campaign, to distribute special kits to 32 lakh underprivileged Muslims across the country ahead of Eid. The initiative was kicked off from Nizamuddin in Delhi under the guidance of BJP National President JP Nadda and seeks to ensure that poor Muslim families can celebrate the festival without any hardship. As part of the campaign, 32,000 minority morcha workers collaborated with 32,000 mosques nationwide to reach the needy. (ANI) Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav on Monday accused the Uttar Pradesh police of stopping him from attending Eid celebrations, labelling the move as "dictatorship" and "emergency". "What should I understand from this? Should I understand it as dictatorship or emergency?" Akhilesh Yadav asked while speaking to ANI. Yadav, former Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of "not running" the country according to the constitution. He said that his convoy was stopped and only one vehicle was allowed to go ahead. "When I was coming here today (to attend Eid celebrations), the police deliberately stopped me. After talking for half an hour, I was allowed to go ahead. When I wanted to know why this was being done, no officer had any answer. Is such pressure being created so that we do not attend other people's celebrations? BJP is not running this country as per the constitution," Yadav told reporters. Meanwhile, Yadav extended greetings on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr, saying that Uttar Pradesh was the only place where people of all religions and communities have lived together. "I extend my wishes to everyone on the occasion of Eid. This festival brings sweets and Sevaiyaan to us and sends a message that India has always had a mixed culture. It is the only land where people of all religions and communities have lived together...Today's Eid, along with that, celebrations of Navratri, have started," the SP chief said. Speaking on the issue of the Waqf Amendment Bill, he reiterated his party's stand on the proposed bill, saying that they are also against it like most of the parties in the nation. He said that the SP would oppose the Waqf amendment bill in the Parliament. Yadav said that the decisions taken by the BJP government have failed to benefit the public. "Most of the parties of the nation are against this bill. The political parties will oppose it. Samajwadi Party is also against this bill. We will oppose this in the Parliament. The big decisions taken by the BJP have failed to benefit the public. They finished reservations for Anglo-Indians. They brought in GST on the pretext of increasing efficiency for businesses. However, corruption has increased due to GST," he said. "There are many legislations which have affected the public. For example, you can't buy land in the neighbouring state (of Uttarakhand), which was a part of Uttar Pradesh," he added. (ANI) As the search operation in the Udhampur-Reasi region is ongoing, Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Rayees Mohammad Bhat reaffirmed the security forces' commitment, stating that the operations would continue in a defensive posture. "We have maintained a defensive position, and search operations are being conducted in Udhampur-Reasi areas. We will continue to stand with the families of the personnel who have laid down their lives in the line of duty," Udhampur-Reasi Range, DIG Bhat told ANI. The ongoing operation in the region is part of ongoing efforts to ensure security and combat any threats. The authorities remain determined in their mission, prioritizing the safety of civilians while honoring the sacrifices made by the brave personnel who have given their lives in service to the nation. Earlier in the day, security forces intensified their efforts in the Kathua-Samba region, launching a search operation in the Samba sector near the international border to sanitise the area. The search operation is still going on in Kathua to nab the terrorists after the encounter in the Sufian. Authorities placed the entire region on high alert as the search operation continues to track down potential threats. Earlier, during the counter-terror operation 'Safiyan' in the Kathua region, four Jammu and Kashmir police personnel lost their lives in the operation, while two terrorists were gunned down. Security forces recovered war-like stores from the encounter site. The operation began on March 23, when locals reported the sighting of suspected Pakistani infiltrators in Sanyal. Union Home Minister Amit Shah is scheduled to visit Jammu and Kashmir on April 7-8 to review the security situation and interact with security personnel, said sources on Monday. During his visit, Shah will chair a high-level security review meeting in the Union Territory to assess the current law and order scenario. Senior officials from the Jammu and Kashmir Police, Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), and intelligence agencies will likely attend the meeting. Discussions are expected to focus on counter-terrorism operations, cross-border infiltration attempts, and the overall security landscape in Jammu and Kashmir. (ANI) Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav on Monday reiterated his party's stand on the proposed Waqf Amendment Bill, saying that they are also against this bill like most of the parties in the nation. He said that the SP would oppose the Waqf amendment bill in the Parliament. Yadav said that the decisions taken by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government have failed to benefit the public. "Most of the parties of the nation are against this bill. The political parties will oppose it. Samajwadi Party is also against this bill. We will oppose this in the Parliament. The big decisions taken by the BJP have failed to benefit the public. They finished reservations for Anglo-Indians. They brought in GST on the pretext of increasing efficiency for businesses. However, corruption has increased due to GST. "There are many legislations which have affected the public. For example, you can't buy land in the neighbouring state (of Uttarakhand), which was a part of Uttar Pradesh," he added. Former Union Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Alphons KJ on Monday said that the proposed Waqf (Amendment) Bill was "very rational" while calling out the previous implementation of the Waqf Act as "irrational". He said that the history of the implementation of the Waqf Act depicts that it has benefited a few people only and its implications have been "absolutely communal". "Kerala Bishops' Council, which is a congregation of all the Bishops of Kerala, have made a request to all the MPs from Kerala to support the Waqf Amendment Bill. Why? Because it's a very rational bill. If you look at the history of how the Waqf Act was implemented in India, we see that it was completely irrational. It has benefited a few people; it has been absolutely communal in its implications," Alphons KJ told ANI. While talking about the Munambam case, where people bought hundreds of acres of land that Waqf claims to be its property, he said that the central government has brought in the Waqf Amendment Bill to resolve such "anomalies". Meanwhile, Communist Party of India (Marxist) or CPI (M) politburo member Brinda Karat reiterated her party's stand against the proposed amendments to Waqf Act, saying that it was "anti-constitutional" and "unfair" to the minority community. "The CPM has taken a position against the Waqf Amendment Bill. We believe that it is anti-constitutional and completely unfair to the minority community. People have their own opinions, but definitely, the way that this is sought to be pushed in Parliament is not good for democracy in our country," Karat told ANI. Earlier today, Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju dismissed the opposition against the proposed Waqf Amendment Bill, saying that those opposing the same are "powerful people" while accusing them of "misguiding" people. He said that criticising the bill was everyone's right, but it must be substantial. Kerala BJP President Rajeev Chandrasekhar said that many Christian organisations, including the Kerala Catholic Bishops Council (KCBC), are extending support to the Waqf Amendment Bill proposed by the centre after poor families in the Munambam suburb claimed to be living under the threat of their land being seized by the Waqf board. He urged the MPs in the state to assist people instead of engaging in "appeasement politics". Earlier, the Kerala Catholic Bishops Council (KCBC) urged MPs to vote in favour of amending the "unconstitutional" and "unjust" provisions of the Waqf Act. The statement issued by Fr. Thomas Tharayil of the KCBC secretariat said that provisions in the Waqf law, which legitimise the "illegal claims" in such a way that people in Munambam are unable to exercise their revenue claims on the land, need to be amended. "The Farooq College management, which sold the land to the residents of Munambam, has asserted that the land in question was received as a gift, the MPs should cooperate to amend the waqf bill Which has provisions to raise claims against this. KCBC will send a letter to MPs requesting to vote in favour of amending Waqf bill," KCBC said in a statement. Around 610 families of Munambam, a coastal village in the Ernakulam district, have been protesting against the claim by the Waqf Board on their land. (ANI) Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami visited Coronation Hospital on Monday, to inquire about the health of people admitted there after consuming buckwheat flour supplied from Saharanpur. This comes after over 100 people fell ill due to food poisoning in the Dehradun district. According to preliminary information, people's health deteriorated due to the possibility of adulteration in buckwheat flour supplied from Saharanpur, said an official release. Speaking to reporters, CM Dhami stated that the dealer's shop had been sealed, and a notice has been given to all the other places where the flour was supplied. CM Dhami added that the Saharanpur administration has also been informed regarding the same and an investigation is underway in the case. "The buckwheat flour was supplied from Saharanpur. The dealer's shop has been sealed. A notice has been given to all the other places where the flour was supplied. We have informed the Saharanpur administration regarding the same. People who fell ill are receiving treatment here. Whoever is responsible for this will not be spared. An investigation is underway," CM Dhami told reporters. The Chief Minister spoke to the patients admitted in Coronation Hospital and wished for their speedy recovery. He directed the District Magistrate Dehradun and Health Department officials to provide proper treatment to the people admitted in hospitals. He said that if necessary, the number of beds in the hospital should be increased. Due to food poisoning, 66 patients are admitted in Coronation Hospital and 44 in Doon Medical College. The Chief Minister directed the Health Department and the District Magistrate Dehradun to make full arrangements for the treatment of patients coming to the hospitals. CM Dhami said that the shop for which buckwheat flour was supplied from Saharanpur has been sealed. The shops to which buckwheat flour was supplied from that shop have also been informed. The district administration of Saharanpur has also been informed about this by the Dehradun district administration. The Chief Minister said that full arrangements have been made for the treatment of the patients. He said that the Health Secretary has been instructed to investigate the entire matter and take strict action against the culprits who are responsible for this incident. The Chief Minister said that to prevent recurrence of such an incident, the Health Department, Food Safety Department and other related departments will jointly investigate the incident. Action will be taken against all those who are negligent. (ANI) BJP MLA Tarvinder Singh Marwah has written to Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, urging that shopkeepers across the city be asked to display their names in front of their establishments during the ongoing festivities of Navratri and Eid. The proposal aims to promote transparency and ensure a sense of identification and accountability within the bustling markets during these significant religious celebrations. In his letter on Sunday, Marwah emphasised the importance of clear identification in maintaining public safety and fostering a more organised shopping environment. "As we approach Navratra and Eid, it is important to ensure that celebrations are conducted with mutual respect and harmony. I request your esteemed office to issue guidance for shopkeepers across Delhi to display nameplates in front of their establishments. This will allow citizens to make informed choices while purchasing sacred items, maintaining the sanctity of their rituals and beliefs," read Marwah's letter. "This step will promote transparency and communal harmony. Your intervention will help ensure smooth festivities and prevent misunderstandings," it read further. As these festivals see an influx of customers, the MLA believes that displaying names will also help improve communication and customer service. The suggestion came at a time when Delhi was witnessing vibrant celebrations for both Navratri and Eid, reflecting the city's rich cultural and religious diversity. Meanwhile, as the crescent moon signalled the end of Ramzan the night before, millions of Muslims across the country gathered in mosques and prayer grounds on Monday morning to offer Namaz in celebration of Eid ul-Fitr. The air was filled with joy and unity as communities came together in prayer, marking a moment of gratitude and reflection. From bustling city centers to peaceful rural towns, the spirit of togetherness and devotion was palpable as families, friends, and neighbors shared in the festivities. With heartfelt prayers for peace and prosperity, today's celebrations exemplified the essence of Eid - a time for renewal, charity, and compassion. While Muslims observe Eid with prayers, feasts, and family gatherings, marking the end of Ramadan, Hindus embrace the sacred days of Navratri, dedicating themselves to fasting, devotion, and vibrant celebrations. In every corner of the nation, communities have come together to observe these significant festivals, reflecting India's rich cultural and religious tapestry. The festivities, marked by prayers, dances, and communal harmony, remind us of the nation's enduring spirit of inclusivity and respect for all faiths. From the grand feasts of Eid to the energetic Garba dances of Navratri, the celebrations have brought people of all backgrounds together, fostering a sense of shared joy and collective peace. As the country continues to honor its diverse religious heritage, the festivals stand as a testament to India's tradition of embracing unity in diversity. (ANI) Former Union Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Alphons KJ on Monday said that the proposed Waqf (Amendment) Bill was "very rational" while calling out the previous implementation of the Waqf Act as "irrational". He said that the history of the implementation of the Waqf Act depicts that it has benefited a few people only and its implications have been "absolutely communal". "Kerala Bishops' Council, which is a congregation of all the Bishops of Kerala, have made a request to all the MPs from Kerala to support the Waqf Amendment Bill. Why? Because it's a very rational bill. If you look at the history of how the Waqf Act was implemented in India, we see that it was completely irrational. It has benefited a few people; it has been absolutely communal in its implications," Alphons KJ told ANI. While talking about the Munambam case, where people bought hundreds of acres of land that Waqf claims to be its property, he said that the central government has brought in the Waqf Amendment Bill to resolve such "anomalies". "Therefore, the government decided to bring about an amendment that would rectify these big anomalies. If you take the case of Kerala's Munambam, where hundreds of acres of land were bought by citizens after going through all the formalities. However, now, they claim that it is Waqf property. Tomorrow, they can walk upto the parliament building and say, this is Waqf property. This is as simple as that," the former Union Minister said. "I think the entire Act has many anomalies, which is exactly what the government is trying to rectify. I think all parties, irrespective of political affiliations, should support this," he added. Meanwhile, Communist Party of India (Marxist) or CPI (M) politburo member Brinda Karat reiterated her party's stand against the proposed amendments to Waqf Act, saying that it was "anti-constitutional" and "unfair" to the minority community. "The CPM has taken a position against the Waqf Amendment Bill. We believe that it is anti-constitutional and completely unfair to the minority community. People have their own opinions, but definitely, the way that this is sought to be pushed in Parliament is not good for democracy in our country," Karat told ANI. Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Monday dismissed the opposition against the proposed Waqf Amendment Bill, saying that those opposing the same are "powerful people" while accusing them of "misguiding" people. He said that criticising the bill was everyone's right, but it must be substantial. "Who are those who are opposing this bill? There are a few powerful people who have encroached upon the Waqf properties. They are misguiding people. They are saying the bill is unconstitutional. It's everyone's right to criticise things, but criticism must have some substance in it," Rijiju told ANI. Speaking about the letter sent by the Kerala Catholic Bishops' Council (KCBC) extending support to the Waqf Amendment Bill and requesting MPs in the state to do the same, Rijiju said that many organisations across religious lines are supporting the bill proposed by the central government. Kerala BJP President Rajeev Chandrasekhar said that many Christian organisations, including the Kerala Catholic Bishops Council (KCBC), are extending support to the Waqf Amendment Bill proposed by the centre after poor families in the Munambam suburb claimed to be living under the threat of their land being seized by the Waqf board. He urged the MPs in the state to assist people instead of engaging in "appeasement politics". Earlier, the Kerala Catholic Bishops Council (KCBC) urged MPs to vote in favour of amending the "unconstitutional" and "unjust" provisions of the Waqf Act. The statement issued by Fr. Thomas Tharayil of the KCBC secretariat said that provisions in the Waqf law, which legitimise the "illegal claims" in such a way that people in Munambam are unable to exercise their revenue claims on the land, need to be amended. "The Farooq College management, which sold the land to the residents of Munambam, has asserted that the land in question was received as a gift, the MPs should cooperate to amend the waqf bill Which has provisions to raise claims against this. KCBC will send letter to each MPs requesting to vote in favour of amending waqf bill," KCBC said in a statement. Around 610 families of Munambam, a coastal village in the Ernakulam district, have been protesting against the claim by the Waqf Board on their land. (ANI) Vanguard, an investment management company, announced on Monday its decision to establish its first Global Capability Centre (GCC) in Hyderabad, Telangana, after a discussion with Chief Minister Revanth Reddy. According to the Chief Minister's Office, the Vanguard Centre will employ 2,300 employees in the next four years. "Vanguard, which operates under a unique, investor-owned structure, manages global assets worth approximately USD 10 trillion and serves more than 50 million investors, will formally open its Hyderabad office later this year, and will employ 2,300 members over the next four years," read the statement from CMO. The senior delegation from the company, led by its Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Salim Ramji, and Chief Information Officer and Managing Director of IT division, Nitin Tandon, Chief Human Resources Officer John Couture, and Principal, Head of GCC--Vanguard India, Venkatesh Natarajan, met the official Telangana Rising delegation led by Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy and top officials, including Chief Secretary Shanti Kumari. During the discussions, Vanguard said it would immediately look to hire engineers with a special focus on Artificial Intelligence, Data and Analytics, and Mobile Engineering at its Hyderabad facility. "We're excited to be adding talent who will focus on AI, mobile, and cloud-based technologies that drive our business outcomes and deliver a world-class experience for our clients. Hyderabad was a great obvious choice for us because of its diverse talent pool, quality of living, an ecosystem of tech expertise and innovation mindset and the friendly policies of the Telangana state government," said Vanguard CEO Salim Ramji. Welcoming Vanguard to Hyderabad, Chief Minister Reddy said, "I am delighted to welcome Vanguard to join the irresistible and unstoppable Hyderabad Rising vision. As part of Telangana Rising, we are shaping Hyderabad into a GCC hub for the world across domains and Vanguard's endorsement will further strengthen our global positioning." Vanguard's Office in India is a significant milestone in its global expansion, which builds on a decade of partnership with third-party partners to enable it to directly access talent and increase the proportion of technology crew in its global workforce, the statement read. The company says it is committed to establishing an enduring technology center in Hyderabad, as its office aims to serve as an integral part of the global organisation, become an innovation hub that will support IT mission and goals, and drive AI strategy, unlock potential of our data and analytics, and support the firms' mobile-first initiatives. Vanguard is currently designing its strategy to ensure it finds right talent to add to its global crew with a special focus on AI, Data and Analytics, and Mobile Engineering. "As with all of our locations, we will foster an inclusive environment centered around clear mission, meaningful work, and unique employee experience," the Vanguard CEO said. Vanguard completes 50 years of operations in 2025, the company is known for its low costs, with an asset-weighted average US expense ratio of 0.08 per cent, well below the industry average of 0.44 per cent, the statement read. Lowering the cost of investing is a core tenet of Vanguard's business, based on which it has established tremendous advantages and have major business achievements. In 2025, Vanguard poised to help investors save more than USD 350 million in value through our largest expense ratio reduction to date, Vanguard have led the low-cost revolution in investment management industry and have lowered expense ratios more than 2,000 times since its founding 50 years ago, according to the statement. (ANI) The BJP will stage a series of protests against the Congress government in Karnataka over price rise starting from April 2, said the party's State president BY Vijayendra. "Price rise is the only guarantee that the common man has got from the ruling Congress government in the state...The common man is affected and fed up with this price hike," Vijayendra told reporters here. "On the 2nd of April, the BJP will stage a protest in the state against the price hike...On the 5th of April, in all district and Taluq offices, the BJP will stage a protest... On the 7th of April, we will take out 'Jan akrosh yatra' from Mysore... All the leaders of the party will participate in this yatra," he added. Vijayendra accused the Siddaramaiah government of appeasing the Muslim community even as it "ignores" SC and ST communities. "The Siddaramaiah government, which pronounced the budget, hasn't given a separate budget to the Muslim community, but they have given everything... Siddaramaiah, in the name of Ahinda, says everything but ignores all the Hindu communities... Siddaramaiah has done an injustice to the SC and ST communities," Vijayendra said. When asked about the delimitation row, he said, "If the CM of Tamil Nadu has so much love for the people of Karnataka, tell him to come forward and resolve the issue of Cauvery river water... Then we will say anything else." On March 22, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin chaired the first meeting of the Joint Action Committee (JAC) in Chennai over the proposed delimitation issue. The meeting was joined by Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar, Telangana CM Revanth Reddy, Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan, Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann and other prominent leaders. After the first meeting of the Joint Action Committee on delimitation, a resolution was unanimously adopted which asserts that any delimitation exercise carried out by the Centre should be done "transparently" and after discussion and deliberation with all stakeholders. (ANI) Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara on Monday dismissed reports of a rift between Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar over the issue of cabinet reshuffle. He stated that no such discussion had taken place and that the party high command would handle any decisions regarding the matter. "There is no rift in our party. The word about the cabinet reshuffle has not come yet. There is no rift; the high command is there, and they will take care of it," Parameshwara told reporters on Monday. Meanwhile, the Karnataka BJP has announced an overnight sit-in protest against the Congress government's price hikes. BJP Karnataka President and MLA B Y Vijayendra stated that the protest would take place at Freedom Park in Bengaluru on April 2 at 11 AM. Speaking to ANI, Vijayendra said that all BJP MLAs, Legislative Council members, former MLAs, candidates from the last Assembly elections, district presidents, and state office bearers would participate in the protest. "Today, we have discussed many issues with the party senior leaders. We have taken a decision. On April 2nd, all BJP leaders, office bearers, and district presidents will protest the decision of the Congress government to increase the milk price by Rs 4. After the Congress government came to power, this was the third time Siddaramaiah's government increased milk prices," the Karnataka BJP Chief said. Vijayendra accused the Congress government of guaranteeing price hikes, stating that water tariffs, petrol prices, and milk prices had all been increased. He sarcastically called the milk price hike the Congress government's "Ugadi gift" to the people. He added that the BJP would launch a public movement to raise awareness and fight against the Congress government's policies. On Thursday, the Karnataka government announced a Rs 4 per litre price hike for Nandini milk and curd, effective April 1. The decision was taken during a Cabinet meeting led by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. The state government stated that the move aims to support dairy farmers, considering the rising costs of milk production and processing. (ANI) Fire tenders and the Gandhidham Municipality are at the scene, working to control the blaze. No casualties have been reported so far, and all employees of the petrol pump have been safely evacuated. Further details are awaited. Last week, a fire broke out at a paper mill in Varsola village, near Nadiad in Gujarat's Kheda district, burning large bundles of stored paper. Fire tenders and officials rushed to the spot and began efforts to bring the fire under control. (ANI) The National Institute of Health and Family Welfare (NIHFW) is likely to conduct training programs for health professionals in Delhi under the Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) scheme. According to official sources, the Government of India is expected to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government of Delhi for the scheme's implementation. Speaking to ANI, Dr. Dheeraj Shah, Director of NIHFW, said, "Ayushman Bharat-related training, we have a collaboration with the National Health Authority (NHA), and then these courses are designed, which are related to even the technology related to Ayushman Bharat, like the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission. And these courses also take care of, sometimes, the management of the systems, management of the health systems, and health system strengthening, which are involved in the implementation of Ayushman Bharat at the grassroots level." NIHFW has been training health professionals based on the requirements set by the NHA across the country. Elaborating on the training process, Dr. Dheeraj Shah said, "So we train those health professionals who are involved in the delivery of the Ayushman Bharat program so that the delivery is effective and reaches the last mile." As the MoU between the Government of India and the Government of Delhi is yet to be signed, NIHFW has expressed its readiness to undertake the training if required. "So definitely, if we have a proposal, then we, in collaboration with the National Health Authority, will take it up and do it," Dr. Shah stated. (ANI) Indian Union Muslim League's Rajya Sabha MP Haris Beeran on Monday accused BJP of unleashing "propaganda" that if the Waqf Amendment Bill, 2024, becomes law, Kerala's Munambam land issue will be resolved. His reaction came after the Kerala Catholic Bishops' Council (KCBC) extended support to the Bill. Beeran said that his party's leaders are in touch with KCBC in order to address their concerns regarding the Munambam issue. "IUML leadership has excellent relationship with Kerala Catholic Bishops' Council (KCBC). Our leaders are in regular touch with the Archbishop and other Bishops of the Catholic Church. Regarding concerns of the Catholic body, surely we will discuss it out, and we will try to find a way out," Beeran told ANI. "That's not an issue. Any concerns, I am sure we can iron it out. I believe the Catholic bodies' request has come on one specific point, the Munambam land issue. There is a propaganda, a narrative that the BJP has unleashed over there, saying that if this Amendment Bill comes, the Munambam land issue can be sorted out. This is far from the truth; they are misleading the people there," he added. Around 610 families of Munambam, a coastal village in Ernakulam district, have been protesting against the claim by the Waqf Board on their land. "Munambam is a separate issue, it is a land issue. There is already a ruling by the Tribunal. So our stand always has been that people who have purchased that land and settling over there, should not be disturbed. Whatever be the decision, our president has categorically said that those people who are residing over there cannot and will not be disturbed," Beeran said. Earlier, KCBC urged MPs to vote in favour of amending the "unconstitutional" and "unjust" provisions of the Waqf Act. The statement issued by Fr. Thomas Tharayil of the KCBC secretariat said that provisions in the Waqf law, which legitimise the "illegal claims" in such a way that people in Munambam are unable to exercise their revenue claims on the land, need to be amended. "The Farooq College management, which sold the land to the residents of Munambam, has asserted that the land in question was received as a gift, the MPs should cooperate to amend the Waqf bill which has provisions to raise claims against this. KCBC will send letter to each MPs requesting to vote in favour of amending Bill," KCBC said in a statement. On Sunday, Kerala BJP President Rajeev Chandrasekhar said that many Christian organisations, including the KCBC, are extending support to the Waqf Amendment Bill proposed by the Centre after poor families in the Munambam suburb claimed to be living under the threat of their land being seized by the Waqf board. He urged the MPs in the state to assist people instead of engaging in "appeasement politics." (ANI) Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) leader Suresh Bhaiyyaji Joshi has commented on the ongoing controversy surrounding Aurangzeb's tomb in Maharashtra, stating that those who have faith in the Mughal ruler should visit his tomb. He added that in "our" tradition, people do not concern themselves with a person after death. "...Those who have faith in him go there (to his tomb). I don't know who has faith in him or not. In our tradition, we don't worry much about the person after death." The issue of Aurangzeb's tomb in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar has sparked a major political row in Maharashtra. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Shiv Sena MLAs staged a protest outside the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly on March 18, demanding the removal of Aurangzeb's grave. The controversy also led to violent clashes in Nagpur on March 17. Unidentified individuals vandalized shops, set vehicles on fire, and pelted stones in the Hansapuri area following an earlier clash between two groups in the Mahal area, which had already heightened tensions in the city, according to reports. In connection with the March 17 violence, where rumors spread that a holy 'chadar' had been burned, more than 114 people have been detained, and 13 cases have been registered. Nagpur Police Commissioner Ravinder Singal told ANI, "Action is continuously being taken against those involved in the incident. Thirteen cases have been filed in connection with the incident and more than 114 accused have been detained. In a few instances, they (accused) were from outside and some were from Nagpur." On Monday, the Nagpur Municipal Corporation anti-encroachment squad demolished illegal construction at the house of accused Yusuf Sheikh and Faheem Khan in the Nagpur riots case.This follows violent clashes in Nagpur on March 17 over the demand for the removal of Aurangzeb's grave, with stones hurled at police amid rumours that a holy book of a community was burnt during an agitation. On March 22, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said that 92 people have been arrested in connection with the violence. (ANI) Air Force officials conducted an inspection at the helipad near Mandapam Camp on Monday, where PM Modi is scheduled to arrive. The test landing of a helicopter was successfully carried out as part of the security and logistical arrangements. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the newly constructed Pamban Railway Bridge on April 6 and pray at the Ramanathswamy Temple in Rameshwaram, Tamil Nadu, on the occasion of Ram Navmi. The bridge, built at an estimated cost of Rs 535 crore, replaces the old structure, which was damaged by corrosion. Located in Tamil Nadu's Ramanathapuram district, the bridge connects the Indian mainland with Rameswaram Island, one of the Char Dham pilgrimage sites. It will be India's first vertical lift railway sea bridge, marking a significant milestone in the country's railway infrastructure. The old bridge, originally built for Metre Gauge trains, was strengthened for Broad Gauge traffic and reopened in 2007. In February 2019, the Ministry of Railways sanctioned the construction of a new bridge to replace the ageing structure. Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw posted on X in November 2024 about "India's first vertical lift railway sea bridge." "Built in 1914, the old Pamban Rail Bridge connected the mainland to Rameswaram for 105 years. Decommissioned in Dec 2022 due to corrosion, it paved the way for the modern New Pamban Bridge, marking a new era of connectivity!" he said. The bridge spans over 2.5 km and was built by Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL). "It's designed to handle faster trains and increased traffic. The New Pamban Bridge is not just functional, it's a symbol of progress, connecting people and places with modern engineering," Vaishnaw posted on X. (ANI) A father falsely declared his son dead and obtained a fake cremation certificate to claim a term insurance amount of Rs 2 crore, DCP Dwarka said on Monday. An FIR has been registered against the accused. DCP Dwarka Ankit Singh said, "In Najafgarh, on March 5, 2025, we received a PCR call of a man reporting his son's bike accident. Father Satish said that his son Gagan was dead and had been cremated. The case was suspicious. ACP Najafgarh asked for a detailed report. The Investigation Officer inquired thoroughly. It was revealed that there was no accident and there was no CCTV footage of one bike hitting another bike." He further added that even local informers were unaware of any such accident. "The caller was interrogated. The father said that his son met with an accident and was taken to a rural health centre. From there, he was taken to a private hospital. After his death, he was cremated in Hapur. He also showed a cremation certificate. During interrogation, it was revealed that the father had got his son's term insurance of Rs 2 crore done before 3 months. He orchestrated a plan with an advocate called Manmohan," he further said. He further revealed that the accused was under financial distress due to outstanding loans and debts. "His financial condition was not good. The advocate supported him. The advocate suggested him to get false documents from a private hospital," he added. An FIR has been registered in the case. (ANI) Congress MP and party's General Secretary in-charge Communications Jairam Ramesh on Monday called the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, "a direct attack on Constitution," vowing to protest against the implementation of the bill, and demanding that NDA allies Telegu Desam Party (TDP) and Janata Dal (United) clarify their stance on the issue. "Waqf (Amendment) Bill is a direct attack on the constitution and against its foundation, it has been bulldozed through the JPC (Joint Parliamentary Committee). If they implement it, we will we will oppose it democratically," Jairam Ramesh told ANI. "Every opposition party opposes it, Samajwadi Party, TMC, AAP, everyone opposes it, but the question is what parties like JD(U) and TDP do? The parties who call themselves secular, who say they believe in it, what is their stand on it?" he added. Claiming that the bill was "bulldozed" through the Joint Parliamentary Committee, he said that a thorough discussion of each clause was not done in the committee. "The way JPC was conducted, this was the first time that there was no clause-by-clause discussion in the committee, when it is referred, each clause is debated, even I have been part of many JPC's, we try to reach a consensus, and if that is not reached then we give a dissent note, but we do try to reach a complete consensus, or a simple consensus," he said. Claiming that the parliament was only given two days to read a 450 page report, he added, "But this time, a 450 page report was given to Parliament and we were told to read it in 2 days, and clause by clause discussion was not done then too, this is against Parliamentary traditions and procedures, but also an attack on the Constitution." Earlier today, Kerala Catholic Bishops' Council (KCBC) extended support to the Bill, urging MPs to vote in favour of amending the "unconstitutional" and "unjust" provisions of the Waqf Act. The statement issued by Fr. Thomas Tharayil of the KCBC secretariat said that provisions in the Waqf law, which legitimise the "illegal claims" in such a way that people in Munambam are unable to exercise their revenue claims on the land, need to be amended. The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, also called the 'Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency, and Development (UMEED) Bill' aims to address key challenges by introducing reforms such as digitisation, enhanced audits, improved transparency, and legal mechanisms to reclaim illegally occupied properties. The Waqf Act of 1995, enacted to regulate Waqf properties, has long been criticised for issues such as mismanagement, corruption, and encroachments. (ANI) In a swift response, the troops challenged him to stop and subsequently apprehended him at about 01.35 am. Upon preliminary questioning, the intruder revealed his identity as a Pakistani national. This apprehension took place in an area adjacent to the village of Bharopal in the district of Amritsar, the BSF said. After initial questioning by the BSF and sister agencies, the Pakistani intruder has been handed over to local Police for further investigation and to know about his motive for crossing the IB, the BSF said. The Vigilant BSF troops once again displayed their keen observation, followed by swift execution to apprehend a Pakistani intruder illegally crossing into the Indian territory, the BSF added. Earlier this week, the Border Security Force handed over a Pakistani woman named Humra to the Pakistan Rangers at the Anupgarh border area in Rajasthan on humanitarian grounds, as confirmed by officials. According to the release, the woman had illegally crossed the India-Pakistan International Border near the Anupgarh area of the Sriganganagar sector on March 17, 2025, and entered Indian territory. She was apprehended by the BSF and subsequently handed over to the local police before being repatriated. The handover was carried out following a medical examination, reflecting a humanitarian approach, as confirmed by the Public Relations Officer, Frontier Headquarters, Border Security Force. (ANI) Senior Advocate Dr Adish C Aggarwala, Chairman of the All India Bar Association and former President of the Supreme Court Bar Association, has issued a statement regarding the recent incident involving the alleged burning of currency notes at the outhouse of Justice Yashwant Verma. Dr Aggarwala has expressed his confidence that the three-judge In-House Committee appointed by the Supreme Court will recommend to the Chief Justice of India that the matter be referred to the Delhi Police or the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). In his statement, Dr Aggarwala highlighted the limitations of the In-House Committee in addressing the criminal aspects of the case. He pointed out that the Committee is not adequately equipped to investigate the origins of the planted currency notes or to establish how they were introduced into the outhouse of Justice Verma. Additionally, the Committee lacks the authority to record witness statements under Sections 180 BNSS and 183 BNSS, which significantly hampers its ability to conduct a comprehensive inquiry into the incident. Dr Aggarwala further noted, "It cannot render a conclusive finding regarding the criminal intent or source of the currency notes. The Committee members, too, may be reluctant to be witnesses in any future criminal investigation." The Allahabad High Court Bar Association (HCBA), which has been voicing its opposition to the transfer of Delhi High Court Judge Yashwant Verma to the Allahabad High Court, decided to temporarily halt their strike. This decision comes as the association awaits the outcome of an in-house inquiry against the judge. As per a resolution passed, the lawyers agreed to suspend their strike until the three-judge inquiry committee completes its investigation into Justice Verma and the unaccounted cash discovered at his residence by firefighters on March 14. (ANI) BRS working president KT Rama Rao (KTR) on Monday questioned the state government's urgency in acquiring Hyderabad Central University (HCU) land, and warned of environmental consequences. "Why is the state in such a hurry to grab this land? What is the rush to turn a green haven into a concrete jungle worth Rs 30,000 crore? HCU and its surrounding areas are among the last green lungs of this part of the city. Destroying them without an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is a crime against Hyderabad's future. Are we heading towards a Delhi-like situation where breathing becomes a luxury?" KTR said. Criticising the government's approach, he further stated, "Instead of stadiums and training centres, they now plan massive constructions to create another concrete jungle. This is a government obsessed with selling assets and piling up debt." An official statement said that on March 24, BRS extended its full support to the ongoing protest by students against the Telangana State Congress government's decision to allegedly put the lands of Hyderabad Central University up for sale. KTR announced this support on Monday. A delegation of student union leaders and students from Hyderabad Central University met KTR at Telangana Bhavan, appealing for his backing in their movement.The students expressed their anguish, explaining to KTR that while the Congress government had previously allocated these lands for university use, the same party's administration is now acting unjustly by auctioning them off. Responding positively to their plea, KTR advised the students to expand their agitation to students of Hyderabad Central University and other Central universities across the country. Given that the university operates under the Central government's jurisdiction, KTR assured the students of BRS' support in raising the issue with the Central government. He promised cooperation in facilitating a meeting with Union Minister of Human Resource Development Dharmendra Pradhan to address the preservation of the university's lands. (ANI) In a commendable effort to support underprivileged patients and their families, Agartala Government Medical College (AGMC) and Govind Ballabh Pant Hospital (GBP Hospital) have introduced a midday meal service priced at just Rs 10 with various items for their convenience. The initiative, launched in collaboration with the Rotary Club and the Patient Welfare Committee, aims to provide nutritious meals at an unbelievable cost. GBP Hospital, one of the oldest medical institutions in the region, serves a large number of patients, many of whom travel from outside Agartala for treatment. "Recognizing the financial strain on these patients and their families, the hospital administration, along with the state government, has ensured that wholesome meals--including eggs, vegetables, and lentils--are available at a nominal cost. Agartala Government Medical College and Govind Ballabh Pant Hospital, commonly known as GBP Hospital, is one of the oldest hospitals in the city. It currently has 150 undergraduate students and about 89 postgraduate students. Many patients come here from outside the city", Tripura CM Manik Saha said while speaking to ANI. "I have worked at this hospital before, and recently, discussions were ongoing about the fact that patients often have family members accompanying them. In collaboration with the Rotary Club and the Patient Welfare Committee, a midday meal service has now been launched, providing meals for just Rs 10. I personally provided a meal to a patient, and they were very happy. You can understand how significant it is to get a meal for Rs 10, which includes eggs, vegetables, and lentils", he added. "As the Prime Minister has emphasized the importance of such initiatives, we have ensured that this program remains within our budget. Additionally, we are constructing a shelter room for those coming from outside, where they can stay and have meals. This facility has already been launched, and we are working further to enhance it." Archana Roy, a former hospital staff member, expressed her happiness at the initiative, stating, "I personally provided a meal to a patient, and they were very happy. Getting a nutritious meal for just Rs 10 is a significant relief for many. I appreciate the government's support in making this possible." In addition to the meal service, a new shelter facility has been constructed for families accompanying patients. This initiative ensures they have a place to stay and access to affordable food, significantly reducing their hardships. The Tripura Chief Minister recently inaugurated this program, reinforcing the government's commitment to the welfare of the poor. Many patients and their families have expressed gratitude, acknowledging that such a facility was previously unavailable. "We have been here for the past one and a half months, and earlier, we had no choice but to eat outside. This initiative has truly helped us," shared one beneficiary. The initiative aligns with the vision of the Prime Minister, who has emphasized the importance of affordable meal programs for the economically disadvantaged. The government has ensured that the initiative remains within budget while maximizing its reach and impact. With such welfare initiatives gaining momentum, many residents of Tripura, including Archana Roy from Udaipur, hope that future governments continue to prioritize the needs of the underprivileged. "No matter how many generations come in the future, we always hope to have a government like this that cares for us," she added. The state government remains committed to further enhancing the program, ensuring that every patient and their family receives adequate support during their stay at GB Hospital. (ANI) The Hyderabad City Police, under the supervision of DG Commissioner of Police C.V. Anand, ensured a peaceful and incident-free Ramzan celebration at Miralam Eidgah, said an official statement from Hyderabad Police. Anand distributed chocolates to children and extended warm wishes to the Muslim community, emphasizing the importance of happiness and peace, a press release said. According to a police official, CV Anand supervised the arrangements at the Muslim Eidgah on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr. On behalf of the Hyderabad police, sweets were distributed to children. The police officials further stated that the month of Ramzan ended peacefully and arrangements were made for the shopping of Musim community people without any problems. "Today, C.V. Anand IPS DG Commissioner of Police, Hyderabad supervised the arrangements at Miralam Eidgah on the occasion of Ramzan (Eid ul Fitr). On behalf of Hyderabad City Police, he distributed chocolates to the children and wished all the Muslim brothers a happy Ramzan and said that we wish everyone to be happy and peaceful. The month of Ramzan ended peacefully without any incidents. We have made arrangements for shopping for the Muslim brothers without any problems. We have made special arrangements for prayers during the month of Ramzan", the police official said as per a press release. Vikram Singh Mann IPS, Additional CP Law and Order, Joel Davis IPS Joint CP Traffic, Sneha Mehra IPS DCP South Zone and other officers participated in this program. (ANI) Inaugurating the Gujarat program forever in Bhopal, the capital of Madhya Pradesh, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel said that Gujarat has become a synonym for the holistic development of not only a four-letter word, said an official statement from Gujarat CMO. In this regard, he stated that the renewable energy water grid and gas grid are fully equipped to take the lead in semiconductor green growth, etc., the emerging fields of the new era in the grid infrastructure. The Chief Minister described the progress story of Gujarat as a development role model of the country, along with an influential presentation of the development of the state in this everlasting Gujarat program before more than 2000 Gujarati families living in Bhopal, the statement added. The Gujarat Program forever is organized by the non -resident Gujarati division of the state government in various states of the country every year. The purpose of this program is to make the families of the natives of Gujarat in other states- the people of Gujarat- to make the relationship with the development of Gujarat more. In this tradition, the ever -present Gujarat program of 2025 was held in the capital of Madhya Pradesh. This program was held in Karnataka Bangalore in 2024. Madhya Pradesh Governor Mangubhai Patel and Deputy Chief Minister Rajendra Shukla, MP Vishnudatta Sharma and Minister of Gujarat State Non -Residential Division Harsh Sanghvi were present in the program. Bhupendra Patel also held a meeting with the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, Mohan Yadav. CM Bhupendra Patel and Minister of State Harsh Sanghvi also started the Gujarati Food Festival on this occasion and held a meeting with the leaders of the Gujarati society. CM Patel said that when Gujarat became a separate state in 1960, there was a question of how the desert sea and the hill would develop this state. The same Gujarat has become the country's growth engine today in the direction of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He added that there was a difficult situation, such as electricity shortages, water scarcity, and a lack of roadside assistance. Narendra Modi has changed the situation in handling governance. He delivered Narmada water to Kutch, electricity was available for 24 hours, and health services reached rural areas. Referring to the Vibrant Summit launched by Gujarat, the Vibrant Summit, which has started in other states of the country today, Bhupendra Patel said that the Vibrant Summit has been inspired to invest in Gujarat along with keeping the Vibrant Summit a leader in employment creation. Today, 100 out of the world's top-500 companies are in Gujarat. The Chief Minister has given the role of such ever -like Gujarat programs in realizing the idea of one of the best India given by the Prime Minister. He said that the states of the country have to move together for the developed India by mutually exchanging each other's best practices. Bhupendra Patel expressed confidence that Gujarati families living in Madhya Pradesh would also contribute to the development of Madhya Pradesh. He also expressed the pleasure of the mantra of Gujarat, wherever there is a Gujarati mantra in the country wherever all the Gujarati people live in the country. Governor Mangubhai Patel thanked Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel for organizing programs like Gujarat in Madhya Pradesh as the first citizen of Madhya Pradesh. He said that it is the specialty of Gujarati that wherever it goes, milk is mixed like sugar. An estimated two lakh Gujarati people live in Madhya Pradesh have a major contribution to the development of the region. The Governor added that the Prime Minister has given the mantra of all the development and effort of all the development and all the people of the country. He said firmly as a result of this under the leadership of the Prime Minister of India. Deputy Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, Rajendra Shukla described Gujarat as the land of Ishwar Kripa, saying that Gandhi, who is led by Swarajya, Sardar Saheb, the sculptor of the unbroken India and now the inspiration of Surajya, is Narendra Modi. He described the ever-appreciation of the Gujarat program to bring Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat closer. Harsh Sanghvi, Minister of Home Minister of Gujarat and Minister of Non -Resident Gujarati Division, gave the role of the entire planning of the Gujarat program forever. He praised the functions of Gujarati society, praising him wherever he lived, the Gujarati people living outside the homeland. Harsh Sanghvi also gave details of the state government for the construction of Gujarat societies in other states for the construction of Gujarat societies and the youth of Gujarat Darshan for the youth of that state. Madhya Pradesh BJP president and MP Vishnudat Sharma welcomed all and mentioned that the Row Material-Kacho goods for diamond policing in Gujarat, diamonds are found in their constituency. (ANI) The Assam government and the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR) government jointly organized the first Bodofa Upendra Nath Brahma Memorial Lecture at Cotton University in Guwahati on Monday. The event, held on the occasion of Students' Day (Chatra Diwas), marked the 69th birth anniversary of Bodofa Upendra Nath Brahma, revered as the "Father of the Bodo people." Assam Education Minister Ranoj Pegu, Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) Chief Pramod Boro, and Cotton University VC Prof. Ramesh Chandra Deka were present on the occasion. Pramod Boro, Chief of Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC), said, "Bodofa Upendra Nath Brahma's dedication to peace, justice, and social upliftment laid the foundation for a harmonious Bodoland. Inspired by his ideals, we strive to build a future where everyone thrives with dignity, respect, and equal opportunity." Delivering his speech on the "Bodoland Model of Peace--Transformation of Bodoland and a Vision for the Future" at the event, Pramod Boro outlined the BTR government's efforts in fostering peace, progress, harmony, and integrity in BTR. "Today, the legacy of Bodofa has profoundly impacted many generations of our society. Bodofa's revolutionary ideals illuminate a path that steers away from hatred and destruction and points towards freedom, justice and victory - Sangharsh to Nirman - a roadmap where everybody becomes the winner. It is only because of Bodofa that a roadmap for peace was made possible in the Bodoland region," Pramod Boro said. "Thus, as we commemorate Bodofa as a champion of the marginalized and oppressed, one who advocated for the rights of the poor., vulnerable and discriminated, we also celebrate his life and teachings that emphasized the importance of peace, understanding and conflict resolution through negotiation, dialogue and reciprocity," he added. Pramod Boro also inaugurated the Language Laboratory at Cotton University. Established and funded by the Government of Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR), this state-of-the-art facility will serve as a vital hub for research, preservation, and promotion of Bodo and other diverse languages of Assam. (ANI) Bihar Governor Arif Mohammad Khan greeted citizens on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr, emphasizing the importance of unity and shared celebrations among communities. Speaking to ANI on the occasion, the Governor said, "I congratulate everyone... I hope everyone celebrates every festival together just like Eid." Earlier in the day, he took to the social media platform X to extend his wishes, stating, "Hearty greetings and best wishes to all the countrymen and people of Bihar on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr. This festival gives us the message of self-restraint, sacrifice and generosity. I wish that Eid-ul-Fitr brings happiness, peace and prosperity in everyone's life. On this occasion, let us pledge to build a civilized, harmonious and inclusive society." Meanwhile, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar also extended greetings on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr to all the countrymen. "Chief Minister Shri Nitish Kumar offered Eid Mubarak and congratulations to all the Namazis, Muslim brothers and sisters, people of Bihar and the countrymen," stated an official press release. The Chief Minister went to Gandhi Maidan in Patna to celebrate Eid, where he met Imam Idain Hazrat Maulana Mehsud Ahmed Qadri Nadvi and exchanged greetings with him. The official press note from the Bihar government reads, "On the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr today, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar reached Gandhi Maidan and met Imam Idain Hazrat Maulana Mehsud Ahmed Qadri Nadvi, exchanged greetings with him and offered Eid Mubarak. Imam Idain Hazrat Maulana Mehsud Ahmed Qadri Nadvi also wished Eid Mubarak to Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and prayed for the happiness, prosperity, progress, development and progress of Bihar." Eid-ul-Fitr marks the end of the holy month of Ramzan and is widely celebrated with prayers, feasts, and community gatherings. (ANI) A young woman named Vatika Aishwarya (20) was found hanging in a mango orchard near Cheepuruvalsa village, Saluru Mandal, Parvathipuram Manyam district, an official statement said. Within 48 hours, the district police successfully cracked the case and arrested the prime suspect. Parvathipuram Manyam district SDPO Ankita Suran held a press conference and informed everyone about the case and its developments. Vatika Aishwarya, a resident of Marrivanivalasa village in Saluru Mandal, had developed an acquaintance with Rambabu from Dativalasa village six months ago. She later asked him to marry her, unaware that he was already married. Aishwarya began pressuring Rambabu for marriage, which led to frequent arguments between them, the statement added. During one such conflict, Rambabu killed Aishwarya by strangling her with a rope inside their house. She lost consciousness and was rushed to a nearby hospital, where doctors declared her dead on arrival. In an attempt to mislead authorities and make the death appear as a suicide, Rambabu, with the help of two friends, transported her body on a bike from Visakhapatnam to Cheepuruvalsa. They then hung her body using her scarf from a tree in the orchard. "During the investigation, police uncovered this elaborate cover-up. Rambabu, the prime accused (A1), has been arrested, and the other two accomplices will soon be taken into custody and presented in court", SDPO Ankita Surana said in her statement. (ANI) Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel on Monday inaugurated the Sadakal Gujarat program in Bhopal and said that the Gujarat is no longer just a four-letter word but has become synonymous with holistic development. In this context, he said that Gujarat, which has been a leader in renewable energy, water grids, gas grids, and infrastructure, is well-equipped to lead in emerging sectors of the new era, including semiconductors and green growth. Addressing the gathering of over 2,000 Gujarati families residing in Bhopal, the Chief Minister presented an inspiring overview of the state's development during the Sadakal Gujarat program. He also narrated Gujarat's success story as a role model for holistic development. The Sadakal Gujarat program is organized annually by the state government's Non-Resident Gujarati Division in various states across the country. The objective of this program is to strengthen the bond between Gujarati families living in different states, fostering a deeper connection with Gujarat's development journey. Continuing this tradition, the Sadakal Gujarat program for the year 2025 was organized in the capital of Madhya Pradesh. In 2024, the program was held in Bangalore, Karnataka. The event was graced by the Governor of Madhya Pradesh, Mangubhai Patel, Deputy Chief Minister Rajendra Shukla, Member of Parliament Vishnu Datt Sharma, and Minister for Non-Resident Gujaratis' Division Harsh Sanghavi. On this occasion, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and Minister of State Harsh Sanghavi also inaugurated the Gujarati Food Festival and held a meeting with the leaders of the Gujarati community. Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel remarked that when Gujarat was formed as a separate state in 1960, many doubted how a region with deserts, seas, and hills could prosper. However, under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Gujarat has now become the nation's growth engine. He added that Gujarat once faced severe challenges, including electricity shortages, water scarcity, and a lack of roads and infrastructure. However, under the leadership of Narendra Modi, the state has seen a remarkable transformation. The Narmada water was successfully brought to Kutch, 24-hour electricity became available, and healthcare services were extended to rural areas. Speaking about the Vibrant Gujarat Summit, which was launched under the guidance of the Prime Minister, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel said that what began in Gujarat has now spread to other states across the country. He said that the Vibrant Gujarat Summit has played a key role in positioning Gujarat as a leader in creating job opportunities while also attracting foreign investment. Today, 100 of the world's top 500 companies have established their significance in Gujarat. The Chief Minister emphasized that initiatives like Sadakal Gujarat have been crucial in bringing Prime Minister's vision of Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat to life. He stated that for Viksit Bharat, all states must collaborate by sharing best practices and development strategies to progress together. CM Bhupendra Patel expressed his belief that the Gujarati families living in Madhya Pradesh will play a key role in the state's development. He remarked that wherever Gujarati resides, the spirit of Sadakal Gujarat is upheld, with Gujaratis across the country actively contributing to the growth of the regions they inhabit. He also shared his happiness in witnessing this ongoing contribution. Governor Mangubhai Patel expressed his gratitude to Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel for organizing programs like Sadakal Gujarat in Madhya Pradesh. He said that Gujaratis have a unique quality of blending well with others. With approximately two lakh Gujaratis residing in Madhya Pradesh, their contribution to the region's development is significant. The Governor further added that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's mantra of Sauno Saath, Sauno Vikas, Sauno Vishwas, Sauno Prayas has fostered unity and cooperation from all citizens in the nation's development. He confidently asserted that under Prime Minister Modi's leadership, India is destined to emerge as a global leader. Madhya Pradesh's Deputy Chief Minister, Rajendra Shukla, referred to Gujarat as the land of divine grace and stated that Gujarat has produced great leaders such as Gandhiji, the leader of Swaraj, Sardar Patel, the architect of United India, and now Narendra Modi and Amit Shah, who continue to inspire and guide the nation. He considered the Sadakal Gujarat program as a timely initiative to bring Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat even closer together. On this occasion, Minister of State and Minister for Non-Resident Gujaratis' Division Harsh Sanghavi outlined the significance of the Sadakal Gujarat program. He lauded Gujaratis living outside Gujarat for preserving and sharing the spirit of their homeland wherever they go and acknowledged the valuable contributions of the Gujarati community in Madhya Pradesh. Harsh Sanghavi also provided details about the Gujarat government's support for Gujarati communities in other states towards the grand development of Gujarat. He also gave insights about the Vatan Pravas Yojana, which facilitates visits for the youth of those states to explore Gujarat. Madhya Pradesh BJP President and Member of Parliament, Vishnu Datt Sharma, extended a warm welcome to everyone and highlighted that Panna, located in his parliamentary constituency, supplies the raw materials essential for Gujarat's diamond polishing industry. On this occasion, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel presented a memento to Sanjay Patel of the Akhil Bharatiya Gujarati Samaj - Bhopal, acknowledging his dedicated service. Several other members of the Gujarati community were also honored. The event saw the presence of Hareet Shukla, Secretary of the Non-Resident Gujarati Division, Seth, Director of the Energy Foundation, Rajendra Rathod, Deputy Secretary, and a large number of Gujarati families. (ANI) Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav has demanded an apology from the Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP) chairperson Sonia Gandhi for her criticism of the National Education Policy (NEP), stating that her remarks are the result of her "limited knowledge." "Had Sonia Gandhi spoken on NEP 2020 after speaking with the educationists in the country, it would have been better. This is the result of her limited knowledge. For a long time after independence, Congress had reduced Education to a joke; this has been exposed. PM prepared the New Education Policy 2020, this was the third Education Policy after the ones in 1968 and 1986. On both earlier occasions, just the wrapper of Lord Macaulay's education policy was changed. Injustice was done to Maharana Pratap and Shivaji, and an attempt was made to glorify invaders," CM Yadav told reporters. He further said that the British and Congress ignored everything and enlarged the army of the unemployed. "Under the leadership of PM Modi, meetings were held with over 2 lakh people, and the draft of this Education Policy was prepared...As the then State Education Minister, I am proud to say that ours was the first state to implement the Education Policy...Today, there are PM Excellence Colleges across 55 districts...It is very unfortunate that, in a way, Sonia Gandhi has mocked the intellectuals. She should apologise. Had she made someone intelligent write her speech, it would have been better," he added. Earlier, in an opinion piece in The Hindu, Sonia Gandhi had launched a fierce critique on the Centre on the issue of NEP, accusing it of implementing its "three core agendas-centralisation, commercialisation and communalisation" in an opinion piece published today. She accused the union government of shutting down public schools and pushing people out of the education system. The National Education Policy (NEP), 2020, aims to upgrade India's education system, with the aim of implementing a slew of reforms. The National Policy on Education has been introduce thrice in the country's history. The first was formulated in 1968, under the leadership of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, and the second policy was made in 1992 by the P V Narasimha Rao-led government, a modification of the 1986 policy. (ANI) Union Minister G Kishan Reddy has alleged that the Congress government in Telangana is planning to auction 400 acres of green land under Hyderabad University (HCU) to real estate companies, a move he claims will disturb the ecosystem. Speaking to the media, G Kishan Reddy said, "Congress government wants to auction the land to real estate companies, which will disturb the ecosystem. Tree cutting is being done at night. Rahul Gandhi advocates for stopping mining in Kerala and gives big speeches in Delhi, so he should think about what his government is doing in Telangana. This is why students (of Hyderabad University) are protesting and the state government is using force on them, which is wrong. I wrote a letter to the CM to stop this auction and cutting down of trees." Earlier, G Kishan Reddy had called for an immediate halt to the sale of the 400 acres of land under Hyderabad University, citing environmental concerns and the potential displacement of local wildlife. He also demanded an end to the tree felling, a measure that has triggered protests from students. "I have written a letter to the Chief Minister (A Revanth Reddy) in the Congress government to stop this action. I demand from the CM and Rahul Gandhi that 400 acres should be saved. Also, the equipment which has been installed for tree cutting should be removed," the Union minister told ANI. "Forest Department, Central University, everyone has developed this land for a long time. But today, the Congress-led Telangana government wants to auction it off and give it to a real estate company. Due to this, there will be a lot of concrete jungle. Eco-sensitivity will be damaged and environmental problems will arise, we don't know where birds, animals will go," he added. Minister Reddy claimed that the government is cutting trees down in the middle of the night, accusing the Congress government of hypocrisy as party leader Rahul Gandhi talks about the ecological damage of mining in Kerala. "They are putting floodlights and cutting trees in the middle of the night. This Congress government gives a big speech in Delhi. Sonia Gandhi gives a big speech. Rahul Gandhi should think about what his government is doing. He says that mining should not be done in Kerala, so Rahul Gandhi gives a letter to the Prime Minister, but where his government is, they want to give away the green land, so students are protesting against it," the minister said. The Union Minister also criticized the government's response to the protests, describing the lathi charge and arrests of students as "undemocratic." He further stated, "To crush that movement, the Congress party government is doing this by arresting the police and charging them with sticks, charging them with lathis, this is an undemocratic system." (ANI) These partnerships mark a significant step in the institute's commitment to fostering international collaboration in management education, research, and cultural exchange. The newly signed MoUs are with POLIMI Graduate School of Management, Italy; IE Business School, Spain; Westsachsische Hochschule Zwickau - University of Applied Sciences Zwickau, Germany; University of Johannesburg, South Africa; Laurentian University, Canada (most recently signed). These agreements will facilitate a wide range of collaborative initiatives, including student and faculty exchange programs, joint research projects, and the development of dual-degree and immersion programs. By creating global learning opportunities, IIM Shillong continues to position itself as a hub for academic excellence, equipping students and scholars with a truly international perspective. The MoUs align with IIM Shillong's ongoing mission to build a strong global academic network, ensuring its students and faculty benefit from world-class research opportunities, cross-cultural interactions, and a diverse learning environment. The institute has consistently expanded its international partnerships, reaffirming its commitment to academic innovation and excellence. (ANI) Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha on Monday said that for the first time in state, a G+14 type multi-storey building is being built in the Gurkhabasti area of Agartala, Tripura, which is expected to be completed by 2026. CM Saha informed this after inspecting the construction of the multi-storey building in the Gurkhabasti area of the capital on Monday. "This will add another feather of pride to the crown of the state. If everything goes well, its construction will be completed by 2026. This multipurpose building is being built on about one acre of land," he said. During the inspection, CM Saha reviewed the progress of the work and gave necessary instructions to the concerned officials. "For the first time in Tripura, a multi-storey office building is being built with the aim of bringing the directorate offices of all government departments of the state under one roof. The latest technology from California is being used in the construction of this building. The current government of the state is working with special priority on infrastructure development. This multi-storey building is being constructed on about one acre of land. The initial cost allocated for its construction is approximately Rs 133.89 crore," he said. CM Saha informed that initially, the target was set to complete the construction work by April/May 2026. However, due to some changes in the plan, the target has now been set for December 2026. The Chief Minister also stated that this multi-storey building, being constructed using state-of-the-art technology, will include all necessary security measures. "In addition, four lifts, a 180-seat dining hall, a 400-seat conference hall, car parking facilities, solar electrification, and other amenities will be provided. This is the first time in the state that such a state-of-the-art multi-storey building is being constructed. It will benefit officers, employees, and visitors coming to the office. The government is working to ensure that people can easily access various important government services under one roof. Notably, this building is being constructed with complete earthquake-resistant technology," he added. On the multi-storied state administrative building, Kiran Gitte, Secretary of Urban Development, Industries and Tourism, Government of Tripura, said that this is a green building, "The government of Tripura has started the work on the 14-storied state administrative building. Work has been ongoing for the past year. This is a green building. Tripura comes in seismic zone 5. So, a pendulum, which is a base isolator, has been installed. It means that even if there is an 8.8-magnitude earthquake, the base can be isolated from the rest of the building. This pendulum has been developed and tested in the US. It has been vetted by IIT Bombay. Such a pendulum is being used in the northeast for the first time. There are very few buildings in which such base isolation can be done. So, such a modern building is being constructed which can accommodate 1200 people, officers and staffers can sit and work. All offices of the state government will sit in one place and work. This will speed up our administrative work," Gitte said. During the inspection, the Chief Minister was accompanied by Public Works Department Secretary Kiran Gitte, top officials of the Public Works Department, officials of construction agencies, and high-ranking officials of the administration. (ANI) With the government slated to table the revised Waqf Amendment Bill in Parliament this week, the meeting of the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) of Lok Sabha will be chaired on Tuesday, the sources said. According to the sources, the Waqf Amendment Bill is likely to be listed for discussion on Tuesday. Union Minister of Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju has hit out at leaders seeking to "misguide" people and said the Waqf law has been in existence for decades. "Some people are saying that this Waqf Amendment Bill is unconstitutional. Waqf rules have been in existence since before independence... All these provisions are already in existence. If the Waqf Act has been in existence since before independence, then how can it be illegal? Innocent Muslims are being told and misled by saying that the government is going to snatch the properties and rights of the Muslims. The false things being spread by some people are very harmful to our society and nation," Rijiju told media persons. The proposed amendments to the Waqf Act are being opposed by many opposition parties. Earlier, Rijiju said that criticising the bill was everyone's right, but it must be substantial. On Monday, Congress MP and party's General Secretary in-charge Communications Jairam Ramesh called the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, "a direct attack on Constitution," vowing to protest against the implementation of the bill, and demanding that NDA allies Telegu Desam Party (TDP) and Janata Dal (United) clarify their stance on the issue. "Waqf (Amendment) Bill is a direct attack on the constitution and against its foundation, it has been bulldozed through the JPC (Joint Parliamentary Committee). If they implement it, we will we will oppose it democratically," Jairam Ramesh told ANI. Claiming that the bill was "bulldozed" through the Joint Parliamentary Committee, he said that a thorough discussion of each clause was not done in the committee. The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, also called the 'Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency, and Development (UMEED) Bill,' aims to address key challenges by introducing reforms such as digitisation, enhanced audits, improved transparency, and legal mechanisms to reclaim illegally occupied properties. The Waqf Act of 1995, enacted to regulate Waqf properties, has long been criticised for issues such as mismanagement, corruption, and encroachments. (ANI) In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Ambassador Sharma expressed his pleasure in meeting CM Adityanath and mentioned that they had discussed a wide range of topics related to Nepal-India relations. He further thanked the Chief Minister for initiating the impressive Gurkha museum in Gorakhpur, which aims to honor the legacy of the Gurkha regiment and its connection to India and Nepal. "Very pleased to meet Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Yogi Adiyanath in Lucknow. We talked extensively about a wide array of issues in Nepal-India relations. I would especially like to thank him for initiating an awe-inspiring Gurkha museum in Gorakhpur," Shankar Sharma's post on X. Earlier, on February 5, Nepal's Ambassador to India, Shankar Sharma, took a holy dip in the Ganga in Uttar Pradesh's Prayagraj, participating in the Maha Kumbh Mela. Sharma was part of a 118-member delegation from 77 countries that participated in the Maha Kumbh. Speaking to ANI, Sharma expressed his excitement about attending this spiritual congregation for the first time, saying, "There was a lot of excitement as I was attending the Maha Kumbh for the first time. I also did 'snan' in Ganga. It was an amazing experience, and I am very happy." The Maha Kumbh Mela (the festival of the sacred pitcher) is anchored in Hindu mythology. It is the world's largest public gathering and collective act of faith. This congregation primarily includes Ascetics, Saints, Sadhus, Sadhvis, Kalpvasis and Pilgrims from all walks of life, as per the Maha Kumbh website. The Maha Kumbh Mela 2025 began at Prayagraj on January 13 and concluded on February 26. (ANI) US President Donald Trump has set off a firestorm by suggesting he may seek a third term in office, despite the constitutional barriers, CBS News reported. In a phone interview with NBC News on Sunday, Trump claimed, "There are methods which you could do it," prompting concerns about his willingness to challenge the amendment, which limits presidents to two terms. "I'm not joking," Trump emphasized, although he added, "It is far too early to think about it." "I'm not joking," Trump said, but reiterated, "It is far too early to think about it." According to CBS News, the 22nd Amendment, ratified in 1951, explicitly states that "no person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice." This limit was established after President Franklin D. Roosevelt's unprecedented four consecutive terms. Any attempt to remain in office would be legally suspect, and it is unclear how seriously Trump might pursue the idea. The comments nonetheless were an extraordinary reflection of the desire to maintain power by a president who had violated democratic traditions four years ago when he tried to overturn the election he lost to former President Joe Biden, as per CBS News. Trump's comments have been met with fierce criticism, with Rep. Daniel Goldman labeling it an "escalation in his clear effort to take over the government and dismantle our democracy." Goldman urged Congressional Republicans to oppose Trump's ambitions. "If Congressional Republicans believe in the Constitution, they will go on the record opposing Trump's ambitions for a third term," he said. Goldman, a New York Democrat who served as lead counsel for Trump's first impeachment. Steve Bannon, a former Trump strategist who runs the right-wing "War Room" podcast, called for the President to run again during a speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference last month. "We want Trump in '28," he said. Jeremy Paul, a constitutional law professor at Boston's Northeastern University, said, "There are no credible legal arguments for him to run for a third term." According to Derek Muller, a professor of election law at Notre Dame, the 12th Amendment, which was ratified in 1804, says "no person constitutionally ineligible to the office of President shall be eligible to that of Vice-President of the United States." Muller said that indicates that if Trump is not eligible to run for president again because of the 22nd Amendment, he is not eligible to run for vice president, either. "I don't think there's any 'one weird trick' to getting around presidential term limits," Muller said. In addition, pursuing a third term would require extraordinary acquiescence by federal and state officials, not to mention the courts and voters themselves. Trump, who would be 82 at the end of his second term, when asked about continuing to serve, simply said, "Well, I like working." However, experts consider a third term highly unlikely, given the significant constitutional hurdles. (ANI) US President Donald Trump on Sunday (local time) outlined his administration's approach to upcoming tariffs, the auto industry, and the economy, stating that the US would be more generous than other countries. When asked if tariffs will be set at higher rates the US president said, "No, the tariffs will be far more generous than those countries were to us, meaning they will be kinder than those countries were to the United States of America over the decades. They ripped us off like no country has ever been ripped off in history, and we're going to be much nicer than they were to us. But it's substantial money for the country nevertheless." Addressing reporters here, Trump when pressed on how many countries would face these tariffs said, "Essentially all of the countries that we're talking about. We'd be talking about all countries that are not cut off." He pointed to historical trade imbalances, particularly in Asia, stating, "You go to certain places, go to Asia, and you take a look at every single country in Asia, at what they've done to the United States in trade... I wouldn't say anybody has treated us fairly or nicely. But we are going to treat them. We're going to be much more generous to them in terms of heart." Regarding outreach from car manufacturers, Trump dismissed any reconsideration of his plans, saying, "The automakers are going to make a lot of money. The American automakers or international automakers... They're going to build in the United States." He emphasised the benefits of US-based production, adding, "The people that are going to make money are people that manufacture cars in the United States. Outside of the United States, that's going to be up to them. I don't care too much about that." Trump predicted unprecedented profits for US car manufacturers and other industries like chips, pharmaceuticals, lumber, and steel, provided they operate domestically. The Trump Administration, in a policy announcement, declared a 25 per cent tariff on all imported vehicles entering the United States, a move he described as "very exciting" for domestic manufacturing. The tariffs, set to take effect on April 2, will impact nearly half of all vehicles sold in the United States, including American brands assembled overseas. The wide-ranging measure aims to incentivise car manufacturers to establish more production facilities within US borders. Addressing economic concerns, particularly stagflation, Trump brushed off the notion, stating, "I haven't heard that term in years... This country is going to be more successful than it ever was. It's going to boom. You're going to have Boomtown USA." He outlined a vision of self-reliance, saying, "We don't want to be buying our pharmaceuticals from other countries because if we're in a war, we're in a problem. We want to be able to make our own. We have our own lumber. We have our own energy... We don't need anything from Canada." Trump concluded. (ANI) The Baloch National Movement (BNM) has escalated its global initiative to shed light on the ongoing repression in Balochistan, attracting attention from international political leaders and human rights groups. The campaign, led by the BNM's Foreign Department, has reached out to officials and lawmakers in Ireland and the European Parliament, expressing concerns about human rights abuses, unlawful detentions, and the violent suppression of peaceful demonstrations. A significant element of this initiative is the potential impact on Pakistan's GSP+ trade privileges, which are dependent on the country's compliance with international human rights norms. BNM has called upon European legislators to hold Pakistan responsible for its actions in Balochistan. At the 58th session of the United Nations Human Rights Commission, BNM Chairman Dr Naseem Baloch headed a delegation that took part in various UN activities and organised the 6th Balochistan International Conference in Geneva. The delegation engaged in diplomatic efforts and advocacy to urge the international community to take action. This campaign has elicited responses from multiple European leaders. Ireland's Tanaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Simon Harris, recognised the escalating concerns and confirmed that Ireland's embassy in Islamabad is closely observing the situation. Ireland is in communication with the EU and other partners regarding the detainment of Dr Mahrang Baloch and other activists. Members of the European Parliament have also expressed their worries. MEP Barry Andrews condemned the arrests and reiterated his commitment to upholding human rights, vowing to take further action. He recalled his meeting with Baloch activist Sammi Deen Baloch and committed to urging Pakistani authorities on this matter. Likewise, MEP Cynthia Ni Mhurchu criticised the arbitrary detentions and promised to raise the issue with her colleagues in the Renew Europe group. Irish MP Richard Boyd Barrett also condemned Pakistan's efforts to silence Baloch voices, noting that a parliamentary question has been sent to Ireland's Foreign Minister concerning this issue. BNM's Foreign Department has pledged to continue its outreach to lawmakers in Europe and the US, human rights organisations, and the UN to amplify the struggle of the Baloch people. (ANI) India's National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) team has begun rescue operations under Operation Brahma at the U hla thein monastery, where around 170 monks are still stuck, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated on Monday. The Army team will visit the hospital site on Monday and will setup their Medical Services on Tuesday. The NDRF are also trying to get the NDRF team deployed at the Sky Villa (where four towers of 11 storeys each have collapsed). The towers have several foreigners. The relief material (arriving tomorrow) will also be given to the Secretary General of state Mahanayak Committee (2nd highest of the Committee in Myanmar) where around 2,000 monks are sitting outside the monastery. The monks are not injured, but they have nowhere to go and have no basic amenities. Teams will also be deployed to the Mandalay Palace, Maha Muni Pagoda, MIIT, and other such places where substantial damage has occurred. The teams are providing assistance to members of Indian community for their stay and food. Rescue efforts are underway in Myanmar after a devastating 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck the country, killing at least 1,700 people and leaving widespread destruction in its wake. The quake, which was felt as far away as Bangkok and Chinese provinces, has left many more injured or trapped under rubble, CNN reported. 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 that the final death toll could surpass 10,000 people based on early modeling, as per CNN. The earthquake's epicenter was located in Myanmar's central Sagaing region, near the historic city of Mandalay. The region, home to over 1.5 million people, has been severely affected, with multiple buildings, bridges, and temples destroyed or damaged. In Bangkok, the earthquake's impact was devastating, with at least 18 people killed and dozens more trapped under the rubble of a collapsed high-rise building. The building, which was under construction, came crashing down in a matter of minutes, claiming the lives of 11 people. The earthquake that struck Myanmar was the most powerful to hit the country in over a century, with a magnitude of 7.7. It was followed by a series of aftershocks, including a 6.7-magnitude tremor, which continued to rattle the region throughout the weekend. (ANI) Law enforcement officials in Pakistan's twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad have been instructed to arrest and deport Afghan nationals involved in criminal activities, along with their families, as the Pakistan government's deadline for Afghan Citizen Card (ACC) holders to leave the country expires on Monday, the Dawn reported. March 31 also marked the deadline for relocating all Afghan citizens from the twin cities. According to the Dawn, citing sources, the Rawalpindi police chief has ordered officials in Rawal, Potohar, and Saddar divisions to take legal action against undocumented Afghan residents. Police have been directed to detain those engaged in illegal activities, with orders extending to their families, implying collective deportation. Following directives from the Rawalpindi city police officer (CPO), all station house officers (SHOs) are required to detain Afghan nationals residing in their jurisdictions. "We have received directions that all Afghan nationals holding ACC cards must be expelled from Rawalpindi and Islamabad," a police official said, as quoted by Dawn on Sunday. Additionally, Afghans holding Proof of Registration (PoR) cards living in the twin cities have been warned to leave Pakistan by June 30, 2025, in accordance with government policy, as per Dawn. However, the police order does not clarify if documented refugees will face eviction. Ongoing police operations continue in Rawalpindi to verify residents, particularly those living in rented properties. According to Dawn, since the crackdown on illegal foreigners began in January, 923 Afghan nationals have been detained and taken to a refugee holding center near Golra Mor. As of March 26, official data indicates that 715 out of the 923 detainees were released after verification, while 213 were repatriated via Torkham. The detainees included 116 ACC holders, 290 PoR cardholders, 21 UNHCR token holders, and 24 individuals applying for third-country resettlement. Meanwhile, in response to the deportation, the UN's refugee agency (UNHCR) recognised Pakistan's longstanding hospitality toward Afghan refugees and emphasised the need for collaborative solutions involving Pakistan, Afghanistan, and the international community, the Dawn reported. In her Eid message, UNHCR Pakistan representative Philippa Candler acknowledged that Pakistan could not be expected to bear the refugee burden indefinitely. She stressed the importance of long-term solutions, including continued humanitarian aid and development programmes. According to Dawn, Candler urged Pakistan and Afghanistan to work together to ensure the safe and voluntary return of Afghan refugees, pointing out that many deported in 2023 have already returned to Pakistan. She highlighted the need for a peaceful and stable Afghanistan to prevent forced returns and called for expanded access to education, healthcare, and employment opportunities for Afghans who cannot safely return home. Pakistan currently hosts 1.52 million registered Afghan refugees, around 800,000 Afghan citizens, and many others without official status, as reported by Dawn. (ANI) According to Al Jazeera, the government, which was revealed on Saturday, includes Yarub Badr, an Alawite, as transport minister, while Amgad Badr from the Druze community will oversee the agriculture ministry. "The formation of a new government today is a declaration of our joint will to build a new state," al-Sharaa stated in a speech as quoted by Al Jazeer,a commemorating its establishment. Unlike traditional structures, the government will not have a prime minister, with al-Sharaa expected to directly lead the executive branch. al-Sharaa also aims to demonstrate that the new administration represents Syria's diverse population, while critics had previously accused him of appointing only close associates to ministerial positions in the caretaker government, as reported by Al Jazeera. Syria's leadership has faced mounting pressure from Western and Arab nations to form a government that reflects the country's ethnic and religious diversity, especially after the recent killings of hundreds of Alawite civilians on Syria's western coast. For the first time, a woman, Hind Kabawat, a Christian opposition figure and long-time critic of Bashar al-Assad, has been appointed as minister of social affairs and labour, Al Jazeera reported. Mohammed Yosr Bernieh will take over the finance ministry, while Murhaf Abu Qasra and Asaad al-Shibani, who previously held the positions of defence and foreign ministers, will continue in their roles. Since the fall of former President Bashar al-Assad in December, Syria has been governed by a caretaker cabinet under al-Sharaa. After being named interim president in January, he pledged to establish an inclusive transitional government to rebuild Syria's institutions and manage the country until elections, which he estimated could take up to five years. In a significant move, al-Sharaa also announced the creation of a ministry for emergency situations and disasters, appointing Raed al-Saleh, the leader of the White Helmets rescue organisation, to head it. Earlier this month, Syria introduced a constitutional declaration to outline the framework for the interim period under al-Sharaa's leadership. (ANI) The courtyards of Nepali Kashmir Jama Mosque in Kathmandu on Monday filled up with the faithful for the festival of Eid-ul-fitr, which marks the end of a month-long Ramzan fasting. One of the revered festivals of the Islamic community, people observed it by reciting special Namaz and exchanging greetings with each other. The festival is celebrated after the conclusion of the dawn-to-dusk fasting during the entire month of Ramzan. "After the Namaz ceremony in the morning we all gather together- brothers, mothers and other relatives come to same place. We enjoy the feast as well as pray together. We go around to relatives house, This is a day of happiness and celebration for us," Sheikh Tajiyawali, one of the Namaz attendees told ANI. On the day of Eid-ul-Fitr, Muslims gather mainly in mosques or any outdoor location in the early morning for prayer and break their fast with delicacies. Nepal's government declared a public holiday on Monday. Eid-ul-Fitr- Arabic for "the feast of the breaking of the fast"- when Muslims return to their regular eating cycles after undergoing vigorous fasting spanning one month. On this day, the Muslims typically enjoy a small breakfast ahead of morning prayers and then visit friends and relatives where a lavish feast is served. Gifts are also exchanged with clothes the most popular presents. The annual celebration of Eid-ul-Fitr is marked by the Prophet Mohammed in 624 CE following a victory in battle. After a month of abstaining from food, drink, and other physical needs during daylight hours, Eid marks a time of festivity, where Muslims express their gratitude for the strength and patience shown during Ramadan. Eid reinforces the values of charity, kindness, and compassion. In addition to giving Zakat, many people choose to help others by providing meals, clothing, and support to those less fortunate, reflecting the Islamic principles of empathy and care for others. On the occasion of Eid, Nepal Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli extended his best wishes. Taking to social media, Oli conveyed his greetings, stating, "Today marks the celebration of Eid, an important and holy festival for Muslims, signifying the end of a month-long fast. The Islamic community is rejoicing in the completion of Ramadan. Best wishes to all on this auspicious occasion." (ANI) In an email referenced by Taipei Times, an unnamed spokesperson from the US Department of State stated, "China's urging for private individuals to inform on alleged 'persecution or suppression' by so-called 'Taiwan independence henchmen and accomplices' is both irresponsible and reprehensible." The spokesperson indicated that this action is part of Beijing's "intimidation campaign" against Taiwan and its allies, which they claim is "threatening free speech globally, destabilizing the Indo-Pacific region, and intentionally undermining the cross-strait status quo". Taipei Times mentioned that the spokesperson pointed out that the "threats and legal pressures" from the Chinese Communist Party only worsen tensions and threaten peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. "The United States will persist in its support for Taiwan in the face of China's provocative and irresponsible conduct," the statement said. These comments followed China's Taiwan Affairs Office announcing last week the launch of a new section on its official website, as reported by Taipei Times. As stated by Taipei Times, China's state-run Xinhua News Agency noted that the section would enable citizens to report "vile behaviors by those promoting 'Taiwan independence' and their accomplices in mistreating Taiwanese compatriots." According to the Xinhua report, office spokesperson Chen Binhua claimed that specific organizations, government representatives, and online influencers have acted as enforcers of "Taiwan independence," "abetting wrongdoing and enabling aggression." The Mainland Affairs Council condemned Beijing for the launch of the new website section last Thursday, branding it as "a complete interference in Taiwan's internal matters," according to Taipei Times. Council Deputy Minister and spokesperson Liang Wen-chieh remarked, as quoted by Taipei Times, "It also serves as a reminder that Taiwan must stay alert." (ANI) The Tibet Support Groups in Japan conducted their annual meeting via an online platform on March 29. According to a report from the Central Tibet Administration (CTA), the meeting was jointly organised by the Save Tibet Network, Tibet House Japan, and the Tibetan Community in Japan. Makino Seishu, Chairman of the Save Tibet Network, greeted the attendees and shared insights about his longstanding involvement with the Tibetan cause, including his visits to Dharamshala and interactions with His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama. He encouraged the attendees to persist in their support for the Tibetan movement during this challenging chapter in Tibetan history, as stated by the CTA. He emphasised that the democratisation of China is crucial for addressing various issues related to Chinese aggression in Asia and beyond, as noted by the CTA. Lawmaker Yamada Hiroshi, the current Secretary of the Japan Parliamentary Support Group for Tibet, welcomed the participants and highlighted the necessity of addressing the human rights abuses occurring in China, as well as in the occupied territories of Tibet, Southern Mongolia, and East Turkistan, according to the CTA report. Tsewang Gyalpo Arya, representing the Liaison Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama for Japan and East Asia, expressed gratitude to all participants and informed them about the current oppressive Chinese policies aimed at completely eliminating Tibetan identity by denying Tibetan children their rights to learn their own language, culture, and religion. The CTA report mentioned that he elaborated on the malicious intent behind the Chinese colonial boarding schools and their interference in the selection of high Tibetan reincarnate Lamas. He asserted that the Tibetan issue is interconnected with the broader international movements advocating for peace, democracy, and justice, as emphasised by the CTA. Approximately twenty attendees, including Secretary Karma Choeying and DIIR staff member Tenzin Palmo, took part in the meeting. Kitazawa Anri from the Save Tibet Network facilitated the event. Finally, Chairman Makino Seishu and Representative Tsewang Gyalpo Arya expressed their appreciation to the participants and prayed for a swift resolution to the Tibet issue and for global peace, as reiterated by the CTA report. (ANI) Taiwan detected seven Chinese Navy ships around its territory, Taiwan's Ministry of National Defence said on Monday as of 6am (local time). However, no Chinese aircraft were detected, unlike the usual trends witnessed daily. In a post on X, "7 PLAN ships operating around Taiwan were detected as of 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. Illustration of flight path is not provided due to no PLA aircraft operating around Taiwan were detected during this timeframe." https://x.com/MoNDefense/status/1906511770149150937 Earlier on Sunday, 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). "1 sortie of PLA aircraft, 8 PLAN vessels and 1 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," the MND said in a post on X. https://x.com/MoNDefense/status/1905787515300385196 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 invading Taiwan one day. 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) Tel Aviv [Israel], March 31 (ANI/TPS): Despite a temporary injunction against the dismissal of Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) chief Ronen Bar, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu named Vice-Admiral (ret.) Eli Sharvit, former head of the Israeli Navy as the new security chief. Hours after the Israeli government voted to dismiss Bar on March 21, the High Court of Justice issued a temporary restraining order against the move. The court is expected to hold a hearing on the matter by April 8. The Shin Bet and police are investigating alleged unlawful ties between two of Netanyahu's aides and Qatar. Attorney General Gali Baharav Miara, who the government also seeks to fire, warned that Netanyahu's efforts to replace the Shin Bet chief could pose a conflict of interest. The government cited a loss of trust in Bar for his dismissal. Netanyahu and Bar have been blaming each other over what was known before Hamas' October 7 attack and whether it could have been prevented. The opposition's Benny Gantz, leader of the National Unity Party, said that while Sharvit has the "values and experience" to lead the Shin Bet, the High Court must first rule on Bar's dismissal. "However, what is clear is that the prime minister decided this morning to continue his campaign against the judicial system and lead the State of Israel toward a dangerous constitutional crisis. The appointment of the head of the Shin Bet must be made only after a High Court decision," Gantz said. The Shin Bet, Israel's domestic intelligence service, is responsible for counterterrorism, counterintelligence, internal security, VIP protection, and cybersecurity. The only Shin Bet director to ever resign before the end of his five-year term was Carmi Gillon in the aftermath of the 1995 assassination of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin. Vice-Adm. Sharvit served 36 years in the IDF, including five years as Navy Commander. He led the development of maritime defenses for Israel's offshore natural gas fields and oversaw covert naval operations against Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran. (ANI/TPS) Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday engaged with the representatives of the Dawoodi Bohra community, extending greetings on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr and commending the community's service efforts. Taking to social media platform X, Rajnath Singh noted that he had a "delightful interaction" with the delegation of the community, which was led by their Shahzada Burhanuddin Saifuddin, who is the son of Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin; the present leader is the 53rd al-Dai al-Mutlaq. "Had a delightful interaction with the delegation of the Dawoodi Bohra community led by Shahzada Burhanuddin Saifuddin. Extended my warm wishes to them on the special occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr. They apprised me of their extensive community service efforts. Wishing them success in their future endeavours," the Defence Minister said. https://x.com/rajnathsingh/status/1906592417010044949 Meanwhile, Jaishankar also shared his sentiments on X about his meeting with the representatives of the community on the occasion of Eid along with Shiv Sena MP Milind Deora. "Glad to meet Shehzada Husain Burhanuddin and representatives of the Dawoodi Bohra community, alongside MP Milind Deora, today. Conveyed Eid greetings and spoke about their inspirational community work," the EAM stated. https://x.com/DrSJaishankar/status/1906600362762740061 The Dawoodi Bohras are a Muslim community hailing mainly from West India that have settled in over 40 nations across the globe. The Dawoodi Bohra community traces their heritage to the Fatimi Imams, direct descendants of the Prophet Mohammed, in Egypt. The Dawoodi Bohras throughout the world are guided by their leader known as the al-dai al-mutlaq (unrestricted missionary), who first operated from Yemen and then, for the last 450 years, from India. Meanwhile, Eid-ul-Fitr, a festival marking the end of the holy month of Ramzan, is being celebrated with great enthusiasm across the country. However, the celebrations were accompanied by some protests and heightened security measures in various places. In cities like Vadodara, Agra, and Ghaziabad, Muslims participated in Eid prayers and greeted each other with hugs. In Agra, Eid prayers were offered near the Taj Mahal, where many devotees gathered to pray for peace and unity. The prayers were followed by warm greetings among the community. (ANI) Abu Dhabi [UAE], March 31 (ANI/WAM): The United Arab Emirates has welcomed the announcement of the formation of the new Syrian government, and affirmed its support for the Syrian people's aspirations towards achieving stability and prosperity. In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) expressed confidence that the new government will meet the requirements of the transitional phase. The UAE extended its wishes for success, and reaffirmed its commitment to reinforcing bilateral relations across various fields for the benefit of both countries and peoples. Furthermore, the Ministry reiterated the UAE's steadfast position in supporting all endeavours aimed at fulfilling the aspirations of the brotherly Syrian people for security, stability, peaceful coexistence, and development. (ANI/WAM) The pledge came during the participation of the UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure in the Second Meeting of BRICS Committee of Senior Energy Officials, held in Brasilia, with the presence of high-level representatives from member states. The meeting focused on achieving a balance between energy security and sustainable development, while promoting a shift towards a low-carbon future. Participants highlighted the UAE's pioneering role in ensuring global energy supply security and its leading position in energy transition, hydrogen, and its derivatives. The UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure presented the country's accomplishments in the energy sector, including global leadership in universal access to electricity and clean cooking fuels, investments in renewable and clean energy projects, and improved energy efficiency. These achievements reflect the UAE's dedication to fulfilling the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 7. The meeting also stressed the importance of implementing the outcomes of the historic "UAE Consensus" reached at COP28, which aims to triple global renewable energy capacity and double energy efficiency by 2030 - objectives that align with the BRICS vision for a sustainable, clean-energy future. (ANI/WAM) Campaign for Uyghurs (CFU) extended warm Eid Mubarak wishes to all Muslim brothers and sisters around the globe. According to CFU, the Eid festivities for the Uyghur population are overshadowed by the ongoing genocide and attack on Islam perpetrated by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). As Ramzan concluded, CFU underscored their perseverance in enduring severe religious oppression and the systematic erasure of their ethnic and religious identity. The persecution of Uyghurs has become more severe under the oppressive system of surveillance and coercion imposed by the CCP during this Ramzan, CFU reported. It has been indicated that Uyghurs are compelled to record themselves while eating lunch to demonstrate they are not observing the fast, and the state organizes collective meals along with obligatory political "study sessions" to disrupt sahur (the pre-dawn meal) and iftar (the meal to break the fast). Programs involving forced labor have also increased to monitor Uyghur workers and obstruct religious practices continuously. Those who oppose these measures face harsh penalties, which may include confinement in so-called "re-education" camps, as reported by CFU. Since 2017, approximately 16,000 mosques, representing two-thirds of the total in the region, have been either destroyed or damaged, frequently replaced by shopping centers and tourist attractions as part of the CCP's initiative to sanitize the genocide and disseminate propaganda. The mosques that remain have had their Islamic symbols removed and transformed into bars, cafes, and clubs, while religious leaders have been arrested and imprisoned, CFU detailed. "As the Muslim community gathers to celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr, a time for joy, reflection, and unity, millions of Uyghurs are reminded of families separated and faith suppressed due to the ongoing genocide executed by the Chinese government. For them, Eid signifies increased surveillance, restrictions, and the unending need to conceal their beliefs. The genocide has deprived the Uyghurs in the region of their freedom to observe this sacred day, and for the diaspora Uyghurs, the CCP has taken away their ability to celebrate alongside their loved ones," stated CFU Executive Director Rushan Abbas. "My sister, Gulshan Abbas, continues to be unjustly imprisoned by the regime, spending yet another Eid apart from her children and grandchildren. As we commemorate this joyful occasion, we must keep in mind those who suffer in silence, amplify their voices, and fight for justice," he said. CFU emphasized that this Eid-ul-Fitr, it is essential for individuals to express their solidarity with the Uyghur people as they strive for freedom, dignity, and the right to exist. (ANI) Nepal Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has held former King Gyanendra Shah responsible for the violence, arson and looting during the pro-monarch protest on March 28. Addressing the House of Representatives on Monday amid the disruption by the opposition Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP), Oli said that the former king should take full responsibility for the incident. "Those involved in criminal incidents should not get immunity and won't get the immunity. The former King Shah also cannot be spared for the violence. Shouldn't the one who says he will become a king and destroy the system publicise his views in all these series of incidents? A leader who incites people to die, a person who has been thrown into a corner by history, a coordinator of a campaign, a person who has the intention of becoming a ruler and causing loss of wealth and looting; How can a person who has the intention of becoming a ruler remain silent in the shadows? He is the one who is ultimately responsible for all these incidents, he must take responsibility," Oli said despite the protest from the RPP lawmakers in the parliament March 28 protest, led by Durga Prasai- controversial business person and Nawaraj Subedi, turned violent, resulting in vandalism and clashes. Oli pointed out that the former king had met with the protest leaders at Nirmal Niwas a day before the incident, raising concerns about his role in fueling the unrest. Oli also recalled the post-monarchy agreements that allowed the Shah to live as a regular citizen with state security and privileges. He accused the former king of violating those commitments by encouraging political instability. "All the acts are condemnable and regrettable. In this kind of incident, whoever is involved, no matter the cover they are getting, they will face strict administrative actions. The detailed report about the incident will be presented before the parliament by the Home Minister with time. An investigation has already started against those involved in the incident. The government is investigating the planner, and those involved are further investigated. A detailed report will be released later," Oli said. Nepal has arrested over 100 protestors, including top leaders from the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP), for inciting violence in Kathmandu's Tinkune, which resulted in two deaths. The police on Sunday extended the custody of those arrested, with 11 of them facing charges related to crimes against the state. Nepal in the year 2006 had abolished centuries old constitutional monarchy after then King Gyanendra seized power and imposed emergency sending all the leaders under house arrest. The movement, also referred to as "People's Movement II", witnessed a bloodshed with dozens killed in a crackdown against protestors by the government. After weeks of violent protests and increasing international pressure, Gyanendra gave up and reinstated the dissolved parliament. The dawn of a new democracy was highlighted as Loktantra (People's Rule). Formed in the 1990s after the lifting of the ban on political parties by the then-monarchical system, the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) has consistently supported the Kingship. It has also participated in periodic elections and presented its demands. In the year 2008, right after the overthrow of the monarchy rule from Nepal, the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) had secured 8 seats in the then Constituent Assembly out of the 575 seated strong parliament. In the 2013 election, it was able to secure 13 seats, while in the year 2017, it fell down to 1 seat. It bounced back in the election of 2022 with 14 seats. The party, since its inception has been supporting the Hindu State and the Kingship as interdependent in the tiny nation buffered between two giants India and China. The Himalayan Nation of Nepal has a population of 30.55 million and a Hindu population of 81.19 per cent, as per the census of 2022. (ANI) A French court has found National Rally leader Marine Le Pen guilty of embezzling European Union funds, Al Jazeera reported on Monday. As per Al Jazeera, the Paris court ruled that Le Pen used more than 3 million euros (USD 3.3m) of the European Parliament funds for paying the members of her National Rally party. The ruling therefore threatens to push her out of the 2027 presidential race, in which she is currently the front-runner, according to opinion polls cited by Al Jazeera. The sentencing could see Le Pen be declared ineligible to run for the office. According to Al Jazeera, she has accused the prosecutors of seeking her "political death". Notably, a jail sentence and heavy financial penalty are also possible. According to CNN, the court's president, Benedicte de Perthuis, said Le Pen's actions amounted to a "serious and lasting attack on the rules of democratic life in Europe, but especially in France." Le Pen left the courtroom before her sentence had been read out in full. Currently a member of the French parliament, Le Pen was found guilty alongside eight MEPs from her party and 12 assistants. They were accused of using European Parliament money to pay staff who were in fact working for her political party, the National Rally (RN), in France. As per CNN, the Paris prosecutor had requested a prison sentence of five years, including two suspended; a Euros 300,000 (USD 3,25,000) fine and ineligibility to run for office for five years. Prosecutors had requested the ban to stand even if she appeals. According to previous polls, it was seen that Le Pen was on course to replace Emmanuel Macron, who will be unable to seek a third consecutive term in office. Under her leadership, the RN has attempted to distance itself from its racist and antisemitic roots, hoping to give the party a more acceptable - and potentially electable - face, CNN reported. (ANI) In Swabi's Gadoon Amazai, two people were killed and two injured in an exchange of fire between rival groups after Eid ul Fitr prayers, ARY News reported. According to police, the incident was linked to an old enmity, and a passer-by was also injured. In Bannu's Mandan police jurisdiction, a confrontation between two parties led to the deaths of a child and another person, while one individual sustained injuries. In Abbottabad's Mirpur area, two people were injured in a shooting incident inside a mosque following Eid prayers. Police attributed the incident to personal enmity and are conducting further investigations. In Karak's Rahmatabad area, a man was shot dead under unclear circumstances, and a case has been registered. In Lower South Waziristan's Gangi Khel stop, police constable Shah Hussain was injured in a firing incident and was shifted to the hospital, ARY News reported. In Umerkot's Khosa Mohalla, a man shot and killed his former wife before fleeing. According to police, the suspect took the action after his ex-wife remarried following their divorce. In Karachi's Super Highway, Fakira Goth, a man was killed and another injured in a suspected robbery resistance case. The injured man was taken to the hospital in critical condition. In Malir City's Ghazi Town, a youth was also injured in a similar incident. Earlier, on February 16, five people were killed over old enmity in Peshawar's Badh Bair, ARY News reported, quoting local police. As per ARY News, unidentified attackers opened fire on a vehicle in the Badh Bair area of Peshawar, resulting in the death of five people. The incident took place in the wee hours of the day. Initial investigations suggest that the attack was a result of personal enmity, police said. (ANI) Sibghatullah Shah Ji Baloch, a central member of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), has been detained by Pakistani forces from his home in Quetta and is currently unaccounted for, according to a post by the BYC, as reported by The Balochistan Post (TBP). "In yet another instance of state brutality, security personnel have taken our Central Committee leader from his residence in Satellite Town," the BYC remarked in a statement on X, as cited by TBP. This event occurred during a sustained crackdown in Balochistan, during which numerous senior BYC members, including Mahrang Baloch, Sammi Deen Baloch, Bebarg Zehri, and Beebow Baloch, were also been taken into custody. These arrests have sparked widespread demonstrations and international outcry, according to TBP. TBP reported that over 100 notable figures from civil society in Pakistan have penned an open letter to Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, pleading for the release of the detained BYC leaders. "Their arrests represent a clear effort to silence voices calling for an end to enforced disappearances and essential rights and justice for the people of Balochistan," the letter added, as reported by TBP. The letter voiced concerns about the treatment of female activists by law enforcement and condemned the use of "excessive force" against peaceful demonstrators, as noted in TBP's report. The signatories demand the immediate release of detained BYC leaders, an end to enforced disappearances, the commencement of a meaningful political dialogue with the Baloch population, and an investigation into alleged police brutality against activists through an independent inquiry, TBP reported. "The current crackdown on peaceful demonstrations, enforced disappearances, and extrajudicial killings in Balochistan has instilled a climate of fear and suppression," the letter asserts, according to TBP. The letter claimed that the actions of the government's security forces in Balochistan are raising significant concerns regarding human rights violations, stating that "by obstructing the public's right to protest freely, the government is infringing upon the UN's International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which ensures the right to freedom of assembly and association," as quoted by TBP. (ANI) Three UN Special rapporteurs, Mary Lawlor, Astrid Puentes Rian, and Irene Khan, issued a collective statement expressing their concerns regarding the summoning and interrogation of Tibetan environmental activist Tsongon Tsering in Ngaba, Sichuan, as reported by the Central Tibet Administration (CTA). As stated in the communication, "Tsongon Tsering, a 29-year-old environmental human rights advocate residing in Tsaruma Village, Kakhog County, Ngaba, Sichuan Province, has frequently led online initiatives promoting the significance of environmental conservation and is affiliated with the 'Environment Protection Group,' a volunteer organization comprising around 50 members committed to cleaning their local environment," according to CTA. The CTA reported that Tsongon was detained after staging a protest against sand extraction conducted by Anhui Xianhe Construction Engineering Company Ltd. This company's operations were connected to road construction and allegedly resulted in significant environmental damage, threatening local rivers and endangering residential areas. On October 28 of the previous year, the Kyungchu County People's Court sentenced Tsongon to eight months in prison on charges of "disrupting social order." His current location is unknown, and his social media profiles have been removed, as per the CTA. The UN Special Rapporteurs have called on the People's Republic of China (PRC) to clarify the details surrounding Tsongon's detention, furnish comprehensive information regarding the charges and legal proceedings, and ensure that he has access to legal counsel and communication with his family. The CTA also pointed out that they have sought information concerning the environmental repercussions of the sand extraction initiative and the government's response to the concerns expressed by the local community. This UN communique follows earlier statements made by the UN Human Rights Office concerning the harassment of Tibetan activists. The Special Rapporteurs have indicated that Tsongon's detention is a direct consequence of his environmental advocacy and the exercise of his freedom of expression, as documented by the CTA. According to the CTA, they have strongly urged Chinese authorities to take action to prevent additional human rights abuses and to hold those accountable for their actions. The Chinese government has been given 60 days to reply to this communication before it is made public. The Tibet Bureau in Geneva praised the intervention of the UN Special Rapporteurs and condemned the unjust detention of Tsongon Tsering. "This incident exemplifies the ongoing targeting of Tibetan human rights defenders, particularly those advocating for environmental issues. China must uphold its international human rights obligations, release Tsongon Tsering without delay, and cease its efforts to silence Tibetan activists who peacefully advocate for their communities and the environment," as reported by the CTA. (ANI) External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday welcomed Netherlands Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp to India for an official visit from March 31 to April 1. The External Affairs Minister said he looked forward to their discussions. In a post on X, he said, "Welcome FM Caspar Veldkamp of Netherlands to India. Look forward to our talks." https://x.com/DrSJaishankar/status/1906655350524195149 Veldkamp mentioned that he would be meeting Jaishankar and National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval during his visit. He emphasized the importance of strengthening ties between the two nations. In a post on X, he said, "I look forward to visiting India. I will speak there with Foreign Minister S Jaishankar and NSA Ajit Doval, amongst others. Considering today's geopolitical reality, it is important for both the Netherlands and India to strengthen our cooperation and deepen our relationship." https://x.com/ministerBZ/status/1906618710166507950 The two leaders previously met on September 28 in New York on the sidelines of the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). "Delighted to meet FM Caspar Veldkamp of the Netherlands. A very open and positive discussion on strategic issues of the day," he said in a post on X. https://x.com/DrSJaishankar/status/1839754808829358273 According to the Indian Embassy in The Hague, their discussions covered bilateral cooperation in areas such as water management, agriculture, trade, and investment. They also exchanged views on regional and global developments. India and the Netherlands established diplomatic relations in 1947, and in 2022, they marked 75 years of diplomatic ties. The two nations share strong political, economic, and commercial relations. High-level engagements have strengthened this multifaceted partnership, with water, agriculture, and health (WAH) being priority sectors alongside technology and innovation. India and the Netherlands have regular contact at high levels. Prime Minister Narendra Modi conveyed his congratulations to the new government of the Netherlands led by PM Dick Schoof on assuming office on July 2, 2024. Jaishankar, also conveyed his congratulations to the new FM of the Netherlands Caspar Veldkamp. (ANI) Under the terms of the law, which passed its final reading in the Knesset plenum by a vote of 37-0, the government will lead an accelerated seven-year recovery plan, reinforcing the Takuma Directorate's role in regional restoration. While the majority of the funds will go to communities within seven km of the Gaza border, the law earmarks NIS 1 billion (USD 270 million) for cities outside the immediate border area affected by the war, including Ashkelon, Ofakim and Netivot. (ANI/TPS) Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has rejected the joint statement issued by China and Bangladesh after the meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Bangladesh's Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus. The statement upheld the "one-China principle" and claimed that Taiwan is an "inalienable part of China." Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs reiterated that Taiwan is a "sovereign and independent" nation and "is not subordinate to the People's Republic of China." It stated that any statement distorting Taiwan's sovereignty cannot change the cross-strait status quo. In a statement, Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, "Muhammad Yunus, chief adviser to the interim government of Bangladesh, visited Beijing from March 27 to 29 and met with Chinese leader Xi Jinping. The two sides issued a joint statement on the 28th, claiming to uphold the so-called "one China principle" and that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has solemnly refuted this fallacy. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reiterates that the Republic of China (Taiwan) is a sovereign and independent country and is not subordinate to the People's Republic of China." "Any statement that distorts Taiwan's sovereignty cannot change the internationally recognized cross-strait statusquo. The Chinese government will firmly defend national sovereignty and dignity, and work with like-minded friendly countries to safeguard the values of democracy and freedom, regional peace, stability and development," it added. Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has urged Bangladesh to adopt a "pragmatic and open attitude to strengthen economic and trade cooperation" between Taiwan and Bangladesh. The statement reads, "The Ministry of Foreign Affairs calls on Bangladesh to adopt a pragmatic and open attitude to strengthen Taiwan-Bangladesh economic and trade cooperation and substantive relations in various fields, and make positive contributions to promoting democracy, peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region." On March 28, Bangladesh's Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus and Chinese President Xi Jinping held a meeting in Beijing. According to the statement released by China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Bangladesh expressed opposition to "Taiwan independence" and supported the "one-China principle." Xi Jinping emphasised that China and Bangladesh should continue to deepen their political mutual trust and firmly support each other on issues related to each other's core interests and major concerns. The statement issued by China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, "Bangladesh firmly supports the one-China principle and opposes 'Taiwan independence. '" 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 government, military, and economy. 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. China, which considers Taiwan part of its territory, insists on eventual reunification by force if necessary. Meanwhile, Taiwan, supported by a significant portion of its population, continues to maintain its independence. (ANI) The price of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) has been increased by Pakistani Rupees 54 paisas per kg in Pakistan, ARY News reported on Monday. According to a notification issued by the Oil, Gas and Regulatory Authority (OGRA), new LPG price is set at PKR 248.37 per kg, effective from April 1, as per ARY News. The price of an 11.8 kg domestic LPG cylinder has increased by PKR 6.40, bringing the new price to PKR 2,930.71. Earlier on March 4, A large number of people staged a protest against gas loadshedding, which continues even during Sehri and Iftar times, in Mardan, ARY News reported on Tuesday. The protesters, including enraged women, blocked the Malakand Road in Takht Bhai Tehsil, causing a massive traffic jam and lengthy queues of vehicles. The protesters demanded that the gas pressure be restored and loadshedding be ended in the tehsil and surrounding areas. They emphasised that the continued gas loadshedding during critical times like Sehri and Iftar is unbearable. The demonstrators warned that they would surround the Sui gas office if the gas loadshedding not end. Meanwhile, on Tuesday, the Governor of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Faisal Karim Kundi, wrote a letter to the Prime Minister of Pakistan urging him to take immediate action to end electricity and gas loadshedding in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, as per ARY News. Expressing serious concerns over electricity and gas loadshedding in the province during the holy month of Ramadan, the governor stated that KP is a province that produces an ample amount of electricity and natural gas, yet it is being deprived of its own resources. He criticised the ongoing power and gas outages, saying they have made life miserable for the people of the province. He further pointed out that despite the Prime Minister's announcement of uninterrupted power and gas supply during Ramadan, the reality on the ground is different. Load-shedding during Sehri, Iftar, and prayer times has caused immense difficulties for citizens, he added. "The sanctity of Ramadan demands that people be provided with a peaceful environment," the Governor emphasised. He stressed that resolving these issues would allow the people of KP to focus on their religious obligations like the rest of the country. (ANI) The Asturias regional government stated that two of the injured were transported to Ponferrada, a city in the neighboring autonomous region of Castilla y Leon, for medical treatment. Another injured individual, who suffered a head injury, was taken to Cangas del Narcea in Asturias, Euro News reported. According to Asturias' emergency services, two people remained unhurt in the accident, as per Euro News. Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez expressed condolences to the families of the deceased and thanked emergency workers for their rescue efforts. https://x.com/sanchezcastejon/status/1906647049920978970 In a post on X, Sanchez wrote, "My heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims of the mine accident in Degana, Asturias. And I wish a speedy recovery to those injured. Thanks to the emergency services working on the rescue efforts." (ANI) Tel Aviv [Israel], March 31 (ANI/TPS): Two key advisers to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Yonatan Urich and Eli Feldstein, were arrested on Monday as part of an ongoing investigation into potential connections between Israeli officials and Qatar. Although Netanyahu is not a suspect, but investigators want to question the Prime Minister. The two men are facing serious charges, including contact with a foreign agent, bribery, fraud, breach of trust, and money laundering. Israeli police are expected to request an extension of their detention as the investigation continues. The case, referred to as the "Qatar-Gate" affair, is being handled by the police's International Crime Investigations unit, Lahav 443. A third individual, a central figure in the investigation, is also under questioning. The police have also summoned a journalist to testify in connection with the case, after receiving the necessary approvals from the State Attorney's Office. However, further details of the investigation have been placed under a gag order. The police confirmed the arrests of Urich, a senior adviser to Netanyahu, and Feldstein, his former spokesman. The Attorney General, Gali Baharav-Miara, has also authorized the summoning of Prime Minister Netanyahu to provide testimony in the affair. Netanyahu's statements will not be used against him unless he is formally placed under investigation at a later stage. The arrests comes shortly after Netanyahu announced his intention to appoint Vice-Admiral (ret.) Eli Sharvit as the new head of the Shin Bet. The agency is involved in the investigation due to its focus on Qatar-related matters. However, tensions are rising within the security establishment, with Shin Bet head Ronen Bar claiming that Netanyahu's decision to dismiss him was influenced by a conflict of interest related to the ongoing investigation. (ANI/TPS) Netherlands Minister of Foreign Affairs Caspar Veldkamp arrived in Delhi on Monday for a two-day official visit to India. During his visit, he will meet External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar and National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has extended a warm welcome to Veldkamp and said that the visit will further strengthen the "multifaceted relationship" between the two nations. In a post on X, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated, "A warm welcome to FM Caspar Veldkamp @MinisterBZ of Netherlands on his first official visit to India. This visit will further strengthen India - Netherlands multifaceted relationship." https://x.com/meaindia/status/1906714543751151671 Earlier in the day, EAM Jaishankar welcomed Caspar Veldkamp to India and said he looked forward to talks with him. "Welcome FM Caspar Veldkamp @ministerBZ of Netherlands to India. Look forward to our talks," Jaishankar posted on X. https://x.com/DrSJaishankar/status/1906655350524195149 His statement came in response to Caspar Veldkamp's post on X, where he said that he looks forward to visiting India and holding talks with Jaishankar and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval. He called it important for both nations to strengthen cooperation between two nations. In a post on X, Veldkamp wrote, "I look forward to visiting #India. I will speak there with Foreign Minister @DrSJaishankar and NSA Ajit Doval, amongst others. Considering today's geopolitical reality, it is important for both the Netherlands and India to strengthen our cooperation and deepen our relationship." https://x.com/ministerBZ/status/1906618710166507950 Earlier in September, Jaishankar and Veldkamp met on the sidelines of the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York. In a post on X, Jaishankar had stated, "Delighted to meet FM Caspar Veldkamp of Netherlands. A very open and positive discussion on strategic issues of the day." https://x.com/DrSJaishankar/status/1839754808829358273 India and the Netherlands established diplomatic relations in 1947, according to Indian Embassy in Hague. The two nations marked 75 years of diplomatic ties in 2022. The two nations share strong political, economic, and commercial relations. High-level engagements have strengthened this multifaceted partnership, with water, agriculture, and health (WAH) being priority sectors alongside technology and innovation. India and the Netherlands have regular contact at high levels. Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the new government of the Netherlands led by PM Dick Schoof on assuming office on July 2, 2024. (ANI) New York [US], March 31 (ANI/ WAM): The United Nations Security Council has strongly condemned the recent attack on the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) in the village of Tabani, located 24 kilometres west of Zemio in the Haut-Mbomou prefecture, which resulted in the death of a Kenyan peacekeeper. The Council also denounced the targeting of peacekeepers during long-range patrols aimed at protecting civilians. In a statement, the Security Council reaffirmed that attacks against peacekeepers constitute war crimes under international humanitarian law. It urged the government of the Central African Republic to swiftly investigate the incident with support from MINUSCA and to ensure accountability by bringing those responsible to justice, in line with Security Council Resolutions 2518 (2020) and 2589 (2021). The statement warned that involvement in attacks against peacekeepers may lead to sanctions under relevant UN Security Council resolutions. It also expressed deep concern over reports of illicit transnational smuggling networks that continue to fund and supply armed groups in the Central African Republic, stressing the need to address these threats. Council members reiterated their full support for MINUSCA, its troop-contributing countries, and the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for the Central African Republic, Valentine Rugwabiza, in their efforts to achieve lasting peace and stability. (ANI/ WAM) Thailand's Prime Minister, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, has expressed heartfelt appreciation to world leaders who extended condolences and support following the recent earthquake in Thailand. In a post on X on Monday, she conveyed gratitude on behalf of the Thai government and its people, saying, "On behalf of the Government and the people of Thailand, I would like to express my heartfelt appreciation to leaders from around the world who sent their condolences, kind messages of concern and support regarding the earthquake situation in Thailand. We are deeply touched to all who have reached out and extended a helping hand, which reflects your solidarity and care." PM Shinawatra further said that the situation has largely returned to normal, with search and rescue operations continuing at certain sites. She noted that agencies continue to monitor the situation and are ready to provide further assistance. "I wish to inform you that the situation has largely returned to normal. The areas affected by the earthquake have been limited to certain sites where search and rescue have continued. Thailand's relevant agencies remain on alert to monitor the situation and stand ready to provide further assistance to those in need," Shinawatra said. https://x.com/ingshin/status/1906638443758969051 She also offered prayers to Myanmar, which was severely impacted by the earthquake, and reaffirmed unwavering support towards disaster relief efforts. "My thoughts and prayers also go out to our close neighbour Myanmar, also severely affected by the devastating earthquake. I wish to emphasise Thailand's unwavering support for Myanmar's disaster relief efforts and the rebuilding of affected communities," she added. Meanwhile, search and rescue efforts are underway in Bangkok following the earthquake that shook the region. Rescuers are searching for survivors more than three 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, as reported by CNN. More than 2,000 people are now confirmed dead in Myanmar. Widespread damage was reported after the earthquake caused infrastructural damage, CNN reported citing authorities. The epicenter was recorded in Myanmar's central Sagaing region, near the former royal capital Mandalay, home to around 1.5 million people, as well as multiple historic temple complexes and palaces, CNN reported. (ANI) Days after returning to Earth following their nine-month-long stay on the International Space Station (ISS), NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams shared their reactions to the unexpected extension of their mission, Fox News reported. They also thanked SpaceX CEO Elon Musk and US President Donald Trump for their involvement in ensuring their safe return. Wilmore and Williams spent over 280 days in space after their eight-day mission, which began in June last year, was prolonged due to technical issues with their Boeing Starliner spacecraft. In an interview with Fox News, Williams said, "My first thought was we've just got to pivot," recalling the moment when the two astronauts were told that their return would be delayed. "If our spacecraft was going to go home based on decisions made here, and we were going to be up there 'til February, I was like, 'Let's make the best of it,'" she added. Williams, who has been to the ISS before, said she loved the experience of living in space, witnessing "scientific experiments" unfolding around them, and observing the changes made to the station since her last visit. "We planned, we trained, that we would be there for some part of a time, so we were ready to just jump into it and take on the tasks that were given to us," she said. Meanwhile, Wilmore spoke about coming to terms with the delay. "It's about what this human spaceflight program is about. It's our national goals," he said. He also mentioned how his family has been trained to be resilient. "And I have to wrap... my mind around, what does our nation need out of me right now? That's going back to when we're in the fleet, and we're operating from the pointy end of the spear... We're an instrument of our nation, of our national goals," he said. "Did I think about not being there for my daughter's high school year? Of course. But... we've trained them to be resilient, my daughters and my family," he added. Speaking to Fox News, Wilmore acknowledged the uncertainty of space missions. "We don't know what's going to happen. We might not be back in eight days or whatever the plan was. Focus on that; focus on the mission. Certainly [we] deal with the personal side of it, but I can't let that interfere with what I'm called to do at the moment," he said. Wilmore also stated that he trusts and respects Musk and Trump, calling their involvement "empowering and strengthening." When asked what he would like to say to Musk and Trump, he responded, "I respect you, I trust you. You've given me no reason not to trust you, either one of them. What they say, I can't say what they say, I haven't lived that." "I am grateful that our national leaders actually are coming in and taking part in our human spaceflight program, which we see is hugely important global significance, and they take an active role. Based on the past and what we see now, with them doing that, it's refreshing, not just refreshing, it's empowering. It's strengthening, for our nation. I think it's a good thing for our nation when the national leaders, especially something that's high visibility, are involved in the process. I'm grateful for that," he told Fox News. Sunita Williams echoed a similar sentiment, saying that she is glad to see them "involved and taking notice." She said that their nine-month-long stay allowed a lot of people, including Musk and Trump, to see what is happening at the ISS and "take it very seriously." She further said, "[It allows them to] understand that our involvement as a country, as a spacefaring nation, is really important throughout the world. It sets an example, and it shows our ability to be able to do the hard things, put people in space, operate in space, work in space, and then bring us back. It's important, and I appreciate that." NASA Crew-9 astronauts Sunita Williams, Nick Hague, Butch Wilmore, and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov breathed earthly air for the first time in over nine months on Wednesday after the successful splashdown of SpaceX's Dragon capsule. They returned to Earth at 5:57 p.m. EDT on March 18. Following their return, the White House highlighted President Trump's role in prioritising their rescue. It stated that the astronauts had safely landed in the Gulf of Mexico and credited Musk for their return. In a post on X, the White House wrote, "PROMISE MADE, PROMISE KEPT: President Trump pledged to rescue the astronauts stranded in space for nine months. Today, they safely splashed down in the Gulf of America, thanks to Elon Musk, SpaceX, and NASA!" Trump had previously accused former US President Joe Biden of abandoning the astronauts in space. On March 7, Trump stated that he had authorized Musk to bring back American astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore, who had been at the ISS since June last year. (ANI) The US Department of State welcomed the release of American citizen Faye Hall, who was recently freed from Taliban captivity. In a post on X, US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio said, "The United States is pleased to welcome home Faye Hall. @POTUS' commitment to the American people is clear -- we will not rest until all Americans detained in Afghanistan, and held hostage around the world, are brought home." https://x.com/SecRubio/status/1906700890200834439 In a press statement issued by the US Department of State, it was noted, "The United States is pleased to welcome home Faye Hall, an American who was released from Afghanistan just this weekend." "We extend our sincere gratitude to the Government of Qatar for its support of American citizens in need and we thank the European Union delegation in Kabul for their assistance", the statement further added. "President Trump's strength, leadership, and commitment to the American people is clear -- we will not rest until all Americans detained in Afghanistan, and held hostage around the world, are brought home," the statement mentioned. Earlier, 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. 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 authorisation 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's 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) India has sent machinery for setting up an integrated automatic fruit and vegetable processing plant for Trinidad and Tobago, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Monday. In a post on X, the MEA said that the machinery has been sent under the Government of India's grant of INR 1 million to Trinidad and Tobago. This will help support the local population thereby boosting the SME sector. "Together for the people of Trinidad & Tobago. India sent Machinery to establish an Integrated Automatic Fruit & Vegetable processing plant, under GOI grant of Rs. 1 mn to Trinidad & Tobago today. This will support the local population and boost SME sector of Trinidad & Tobago," MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal wrote. https://x.com/MEAIndia/status/1906616883115360591 Earlier this year during the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, Christine Kangaloo, President of Trinidad and Tobago on highlighted India's contributions to global development. Citing achievements such as the establishment of the ancient Takshila University, the invention of zero, and advancements in algebra, trigonometry, she praised India's historical innovations. The relationship between India and Trinidad and Tobago is warm and friendly and based on deep-rooted people-to-people ties. Previously, EAM S Jaishankar and Amery Browne, the Minister of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs of Trinidad and Tobago, had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in the presence of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Keith Rowley during the 2nd India-CARICOM Summit in November last year. During PM Modi's visit, he held talks with PM Rowley on the sidelines of the summit. In a post on X, PM Modi mentioned that the two leaders discussed how to diversify trade relations between India and Trinidad and Tobago. He said, "Had a very fruitful meeting with Prime Minister Keith Rowley of Trinidad and Tobago. We talked about how to diversify trade linkages between our nations. Areas like science, healthcare, education, renewable energy and agriculture offer great potential for cooperation." PM Modi also expressed his pleasure at Trinidad and Tobago's adoption of India's UPI (Unified Payments Interface) system and welcomed the signing of an MoU on agro and food processing. The relationship between India and Trinidad and Tobago dates back to 1845 when the first ship, Fatel Razack, brought 225 Indian indentured workers to Trinidad. Today, the descendants of these workers form the largest ethnic group in the country, making up nearly 42 per cent of the population. This strong Indian-origin community has played a major role in fostering close ties between the two countries. India and Trinidad and Tobago have had several important exchanges over the years. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh attended the CHOGM Summit in Trinidad and Tobago in 2009, and Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar visited India in 2012. In recent years, PM Modi and PM Rowley have met to discuss expanding cooperation. (ANI) Protests erupted across several places in Pakistan, demanding the release of leaders of the Baloch human rights group, Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), on Monday. In a series of posts on X, BYC said that protests took place across Chagai, Nokundi, Tump, Surab and Mastung, amongst other places. BYC noted that in Tump, thousands of people turned up and refused to celebrate the festival of Eid "under oppression". It said on X, "In Tump, thousands of men and women marched on the streets, raising their voices against the illegal detention of BYC leadership. On this day of Eid, the Baloch people refuse to celebrate under oppression--they are out, resisting, demanding justice!" https://x.com/BalochYakjehtiC/status/1906736054884876504 BYC noted that protestors took to the streets on the day of Eid, demanding the release of the Baloch leadership. It said, "On the day of Eid, thousands took to the streets of Washuk, turning the occasion into a day of resistance. The march echoed the demands for the release of BYC leadership and an end to Pakistan's brutal crackdown on Baloch activists. The streets of Balochistan are filled with unwavering voices--BYC is the movement of every Baloch, and no amount of repression can silence this struggle for justice and freedom." https://x.com/BalochYakjehtiC/status/1906721721278673299 "Massive protest rallies continue across Balochistan. Today, a huge rally was carried out in Buleda, where thousands of women and men took to the streets, demanding the immediate release of BYC leadership and all detained protesters. From Dhadar to Dalbandin, Buleda to Khuzdar, the resistance grows stronger--the state's crackdown cannot silence the voice of Balochistan! No to Oppression, No to Pakistan's Tyranny! BYC is the Movement of Every Baloch--it Cannot Be Crushed!", BYC said in another post on X. https://x.com/BalochYakjehtiC/status/1906715447082299791 The crackdown on the BYC leaders and their peaceful protests has drawn widespread condemnation from human rights groups, who accuse the government of attempting to silence dissent and curtail the political activities of Baloch activists. (ANI) Former Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Veena Sikri, has strongly condemned the statement made by Bangladesh's Chief Advisor, Muhammad Yunus, claiming that Bangladesh is the "only guardian" of the Indian Ocean for the region, as the seven northeastern Indian states are "landlocked." Sikri called Yunus' comments "shocking" and emphasised that the Northeast is an integral part of India. After Yunus made these remarks during his four-day visit to China, the former Indian envoy asserted that the Nobel Laureate had "no right" to make such a statement. Speaking to ANI, Sikri said, "Very shocking statement by Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus. He has absolutely no right to make a statement like that. He knows that the northeast is an integral part of India, and we have had very close discussions with the Government of Bangladesh on access by Northeast India to the Bay of Bengal, and there are formal agreements on this." Sikri further warned Bangladesh that if it 'not interested' in granting connectivity rights to Northeast India, it could not expect riparian rights in return. "We must condemn the statement," she said, "I can tell Bangladesh one thing very clearly: if they are not interested in giving connectivity rights to Northeast India, then they cannot expect any rights as a riparian. So they should know this very clearly, and they should not have any illusions about this," she added. Further, Defence expert Praful Bakshi also responded to Yunus' statement, saying that India had created Bangladesh and did not take any cartographic advantage while doing so. Bakshi expressed concerns that Bangladesh, China, and Pakistan have been discussing ways to strangle India by exploiting the Siliguri Corridor, a vital connectivity route for the northeastern states. He warned that India could take similar action against Bangladesh, cutting off their sea access. "We created Bangladesh. We did not take any cartographic advantage while creating Bangladesh. Bangladesh, China, and Pakistan have, of late, been talking about the chicken's neck (Siliguri corridor) and about strangling India and taking advantage. Now Bangladesh is saying that China must help and get into the seven landlocked Indian states, which depend on the Siliguri corridor," Bakshi said. "They don't realise that we can do a similar thing on the opposite side of Bangladesh. We can cut across the sea and strangle them," he added. Bakshi also noted that Yunus is attempting to involve China in creating problems for the seven northeastern states, which is already happening. He assured that the Indian government is aware of the situation and has taken action, without elaborating further. "Yunus is thinking that he will involve China into creating problems for the seven states, which they are already doing. Not just China, but many other agencies are at work in the northeast," he said. "The Indian government will not go running to the media and create noise about it; the government has already gotten into action. Even Yunus knows what India is going to do," he added. (ANI) External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar on Monday met with Netherlands Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp in New Delhi and discussed growing bilateral cooperation, including in trade, investments, innovation, and water and new possibilities in semiconductors. https://x.com/DrSJaishankar/status/1906772196393132297 Jaishankar expressed his delight at meeting Veldkamp, highlighting the growing cooperation between India and the Netherlands in various sectors. "Delighted to meet FM Caspar Veldkamp @ministerBZ of Netherlands this evening. Discussed our growing bilateral cooperation, including in trade, investments, innovation, water, agriculture, health, security and people-to-people ties," he wrote on X, "Explored new possibilities in semiconductors, green hydrogen, education and talent flows. Also spoke about global strategic developments and the significance of multipolarity," he added. Notably, Veldkamp is on a two-day official visit to India. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has extended a warm welcome to Veldkamp and said that the visit will further strengthen the "multifaceted relationship" between the two nations. In a post on X, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated, "A warm welcome to FM Caspar Veldkamp @MinisterBZ of Netherlands on his first official visit to India. This visit will further strengthen India - Netherlands multifaceted relationship." Earlier in the day, EAM Jaishankar welcomed Caspar Veldkamp to India and said he looked forward to talks with him. "Welcome FM Caspar Veldkamp @ministerBZ of Netherlands to India. Look forward to our talks," Jaishankar posted on X. His statement came in response to Caspar Veldkamp's post on X, where he said that he looks forward to visiting India and holding talks with Jaishankar and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval. He called it important for both nations to strengthen cooperation between two nations. In a post on X, Veldkamp wrote, "I look forward to visiting #India. I will speak there with Foreign Minister @DrSJaishankarand NSA Ajit Doval, amongst others. Considering today's geopolitical reality, it is important for both the Netherlands and India to strengthen our cooperation and deepen our relationship." India and the Netherlands established diplomatic relations in 1947, according to Indian Embassy in Hague. The two nations marked 75 years of diplomatic ties in 2022. India and the Netherlands have regular contact at high levels. Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the new government of the Netherlands led by PM Dick Schoof on assuming office on July 2, 2024. (ANI) Mar 31 (East Asia Forum) - Japan is busily laying the groundwork for a state visit by Xi Jinping, in what has now become a roughly once-in-a-decade occurrence. The last visit was derailed by COVID-19. Japans relations with China deteriorated sharply during the pandemic at official and public levels. While there have been steady diplomatic gains with Beijing by Shinzo Abes prime ministerial successors Yoshihide Suga, Fumio Kishida and now incumbent Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, relations between the two societies are proving more of a challenge. Around 90 per cent of Japanese people surveyed by Genron NPO have had a poor impression of China for the last decade. The same survey shows that the impression that Chinese people have of Japan has deteriorated in the past year. Since 2017, around half to two-thirds of Chinese people had a poor impression of Japan but that jumped from 63 per cent in 2023 to 87.7 per cent of respondents in 2024. Its difficult to have a stable Northeast Asia and manage relations between the two Asian giants without the ballast of people-to-people links. In early 2025 both countries launched initiatives to boost those ties. In this weeks lead article, from the new edition of the East Asia Forum Quarterly, Yumi Aoyama argues that [t]he Ishiba administrations foreign policy aims to pursue equality and autonomy in the JapanUS alliance without distancing itself from the United States, at the same time as seeking to improve ChinaJapan relations without weakening deterrence against China. This balancing act between deterrence and diplomacy has come to characterise Japans foreign policy toward China amid the spectre of Beijings rise. Under the Abe government, there was a dawning recognition that Japans alliance with the United States was no longer capable of achieving deterrence alone. Recognition of this gave impetus to Abes Indo-Pacific policy and its attendant norms (the Free and Open Indo Pacific) and institutions (the Quad). The aim was not to reduce dependence on the US alliance, but to strengthen the United States security architecture in the region. Aoyama worries that the Chinese leadership perceives the Ishiba administration to be deviating from Abes pro-US stance and reducing its hedging against China but that this will prove to be a critical miscalculation on Beijings part. In any case, both Ishiba and Xi appear to believe that the time is ripe to steer the bilateral relationship on a more positive trajectory. Doubtlessly, this has been reinforced by the chaotic overture of Donald Trumps second term. In addition to the many high-level developments between Beijing and Tokyo, the two leaders have attempted to spur people-to-people exchanges. To this end, as Aoyama explains, China has reinstated a visa-free regime for short-term Japanese visitors, allowing stays of up to 30 days. Reciprocally, Japan has announced the introduction of 10-year multiple-entry tourist visas for Chinese travellers. These diplomatic initiatives, however, may not be sufficient to repair the deterioration of a relationship that has appeared to be in structural decline since the onset of the pandemic. Traditionally, the track II level of the relationship, which encompasses experts on ChinaJapan relations in both countries, has remained robust in the face of diplomatic turbulence. It has also served to mitigate turbulence from other shocks to an extent. Yet track II relations have themselves become strained in the past few years with few China experts in Japan willing to visit Beijing. Thats no wonder when in the past decade 17 Japanese nationals have been detained on suspicion of espionage or other charges. There are far fewer Japanese businesspeople and academics visiting China now. And Australia has become the home to the second largest community of expatriate Japanese after the United States, having overtaken China where the number of Japanese residents has dropped below 100,000 for the first time in many years. Aspirations to improve the bilateral relationship will not be easy. What would seem to be required is a major reconception of the relationship and the base of common interests on which a constructive partnership can be built. The response to Donald Trumps America provides an incentive to reboot JapanChina ties. But that is hardly a viable foundation for cooperation given the nature of Japans strategic relationship with Washington and the persistent anxieties about the risks that a more politically assertive and militarily advanced China presents to Japans future security. Those anxieties need not, and should not, get in the way of cooperation on globally important policy challenges where cooperation yields benefits for both countries and positive spillovers for everybody else. What especially begs for ChineseJapanese cooperation is common cause on climate change and energy transition and keeping the global trading system open in the face of Trumps onslaught. Today we also launch Issue 1 of our 17th Volume of East Asia Forum Quarterly on A Single Green Market in Asia. In this issue of the Quarterly we explore ideas for creating a green trade bloc in East Asia, and cementing and deepening cooperation between East Asia, China and Europe in the development of common financial frameworks for green investment as a complement to working together on keeping trade and investment open. East Asia (Japan and China included) has the leverage to make a difference to global outcomes if it can move swiftly on both these fronts. FUKUSHIMA, Mar 31 (Abroad in Japan) - In August 1990, two men hiking in the Scottish Highlands captured a striking photo of a silent, diamond-shaped object hovering in the skylater dubbed "the greatest UFO photo ever taken." A Harrier jet was seen circling the object before it suddenly shot straight up and vanished. The men, reportedly chefs at a nearby hotel, disappeared from public view not long after the incident, deepening the mystery. For years, the original photo remained hidden until its rediscovery in 2022, when experts suggested it may depict real, possibly advanced military technology. In recent years, global interest in UFOsor UAPs (Unidentified Aerial Phenomena)has escalated, driven by declassified military videos, official whistleblower accounts, and credible eyewitness reports. The 2017 New York Times expose revealed the Pentagons secret AATIP program and included footage showing unidentified objects performing flight maneuvers that defy known physics. The Tic Tac, Gimbal, and Go Fast videos, taken by U.S. Navy pilots, depicted wingless, silent objects moving at extreme speeds against the wind. Former officials like Luis Elizondo and David Grusch have further claimed that the U.S. government has recovered non-human technology and even biological material. Grusch, testifying under oath before Congress, revealed a long-running crash retrieval and reverse-engineering program. While skeptics remain, many who were previously doubtful have begun to reconsider in light of increasing physical evidencephotos, military sensor data, and consistent testimony. In Japan, Chris Broad explored the countrys own UFO hotspot: Eno Village in Fukushima Prefecture. Nestled at the base of Mount Senganmori, a perfectly conical 400-meter peak that resembles an artificial pyramid, the village is widely known for its unusually high number of UFO sightings. Since the 2011 nuclear disaster, scientific monitoring in the area has increased, possibly contributing to a rise in unexplained aerial observations. Eno is home to the International UFO Lab, opened in 1992, which houses over 3,000 pieces of UFO-related materialincluding many rare and unpublished photos. Broad meets with a local witness named Muran, who describes seeing a mysterious formation of lights above Mount Senganmori nearly 50 years ago. They visit the site of the sighting, which is also rumored to host occult gatherings. At the summit, Broad observes a stranger performing cryptic hand gestures before vanishing into the woods. Mount Senganmori is also composed of highly magnetic rock, which Broad tests using a compass in a cana quirky local attraction. The mountains magnetic properties are often cited as a possible reason for the area's attraction to UFOs. Broad notes that Fukushima ranks second in Japan for UFO sightings, with one incident in 1974 involving an entire school reportedly seeing 10 UFOs simultaneously. Chris Broad, a long-time skeptic with a deep curiosity for unexplained phenomena, reflects on how visiting haunted sites in Japan never changed his disbelief in the paranormal. But UFOs, he admits, are differentanchored by tangible evidence and military testimony rather than belief alone. His experience in Eno Village, meeting locals like Muran and seeing the museums trove of evidence, leaves him more open-minded. While he remains cautiously skeptical, Broad finds himself inching closer to beliefnot necessarily in aliens, but in the reality that something genuinely unexplained is happening around the world. Whether tied to secret military projects, natural phenomena, or something more mysterious, the UFO question remains unanswered. As Broad concludes, keeping a balance between curiosity, skepticism, and respect for eyewitness stories might be the most honest approach to this enduring mystery. Source: Abroad in Japan KYOTO, Apr 01 (News On Japan) - Kyotos signature spring event, the "Miyako Odori," held its final rehearsal on March 31st ahead of its official opening. Performed by around 50 geiko and maiko at the Gion Kobu Kaburenjo Theater, the annual dance performance undergoes its final run-through, known as the "ozarae," before opening to the public on April 1st. This years theme, "Back to the Roots," highlights some of Kyoto's most iconic landmarks, including Kiyomizu Temple and Heian Shrine, in an effort to help audiences rediscover the citys timeless charm. Yuzuha, a 21-year-old maiko taking part in her final performance before transitioning to a geiko, said, "I want to enjoy this final stage as a maiko while staying focused so I dont forget my moves from nervousness." The Miyako Odori will run from April 1st through April 30th. Source: YOMIURI U.S. Trump administration moves to abolish USAID, eliminate remaining positions Xinhua) 09:31, March 31, 2025 WASHINGTON, March 28 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump's administration is taking steps to formally dissolve the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and eliminate its remaining positions, according to the U.S. Department of State. Both the State Department and USAID notified the U.S. Congress on Friday of their intent to reorganize, which will involve realigning certain USAID functions with the State Department by July 1. The remaining USAID functions, which do not align with the administration's priorities, will be discontinued, according to a statement of the State Department. "Foreign assistance done right can advance our national interests, protect our borders, and strengthen our partnerships with key allies. Unfortunately, USAID strayed from its original mission long ago," said U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in the statement. "We are reorienting our foreign assistance programs to align directly with what is best for the United States and our citizens," Rubio said. "We are continuing essential lifesaving programs and making strategic investments that strengthen our partners and our own country." A memo sent to USAID employees on Friday informed them that all positions not required by law would be eliminated. USAID has maintained disaster response teams despite the reorganization, as seen in the U.S. response to a devastating earthquake in Myanmar. State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said Friday that USAID remains on standby to offer immediate assistance, including food and safe drinking water needed to save lives in the aftermath of a disaster. "The United States is evaluating the need for assistance based on requests and dynamic reporting," Bruce told a press briefing. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) 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." There is not a week that goes by without Morocco making headlines in international media as a top tourist destination. In this vein, French specialized website Infotravel published Saturday a story where it points out that as spring approaches, Morocco remains a prime destination for travel and relaxation. The website, which highlights seven iconic places to explore without further delay in various Moroccan cities, notes that the Kingdom is brimming with activities to enjoy as a couple, with family, or among friends. While Rabat offers an immersion into the countrys history and culture through the majestic Mohammed V Mausoleum, the Hassan Tower, the Medina, and the Kasbah of the Oudayas, Marrakech, on the other hand, invites visitors to discover a city where cultures intertwine, blending local tradition with a contemporary touchbetween the mythical Jemaa-el-Fna Square and the prestigious Hivernage district, with the Atlas Mountains looming in the distance, the website points out. In Essaouira, the historic medina, the bustling port, and the majestic ramparts immerse visitors in the authenticity of the City of the Trade Winds. For the author of the article, Casablanca, Agadir, and Mdiq are also must-visit destinations in spring, an ideal season for exploration and relaxation. In Berlin, flagship magazine Brisant, a publication of the German public broadcaster Das Erste, has ranked the Moroccan northern city of Tangier among the top ten tourist destinations to visit in 2025 for German travelers looking for experiences outside Germany. Tangier is featured on this ranking alongside several other dream destinations around the world, such as the Greek islands, Mokra Gora (Serbia), Jyvaskyla (Finland), East Sussex (England), Tarn (France), Albania, Guadalajara (Mexico), the Faroe Islands and Arequipa (Peru). Brisant recommends, in its Travel section, Tangier to German tourists keen to get off the beaten track, away from classic destinations such as Majorca, Italy or Croatia. The magazine highlights the citys singular charm, thanks to its exceptional location lodged between Africa and Europe, and between the Atlantic and the Mediterranean. Among the tourist sites to discover in this emblematic city, the magazine cites the Kasbah Museum and the ancient medina. It also points out that diving enthusiasts can enjoy a unique underwater display, combining seaweed, rocks, and schools of fish. The German magazine also recommends a visit to the famous Hercules Caves, a fascinating immersion in legend and natural heritage. As the fourth-largest outbound market for Moroccan tourism, Germany is recording strong growth in the number of visitors to Morocco, and offers promising development potential. In 2024, Morocco saw 826,282 German tourist arrivals, up 22% from 2023. Morocco has asked three Spanish pro-Polisario leftists activists to go back onboard the same flight that brought them to Laayounes airport in the Sahara. The three activists are known for their pro-separatism stands and came equipped with Polisario flags as part of a mission sugarcoated in monitoring human rights. The group is the third to be deported on arrival after a group of EU MEPs, who attempted to back separatism in the Sahara territory. Another group of three Spanish jurists were also asked to go home in the same airport. The repetitive attempts point at a new tactic by pro-Polisario separatists to force their way into the Sahara territory, in provocative attempts that have been met with indifference by international media and credible rights NGOs. They were either mis-led by the Polisario and Algerian propaganda depicting Laayoune as a terra nullius or sought media attention, as they shared videos of their access ban. Morocco is practicing its sovereignty over the territory and has the right to deny access to those backing the armed Algerian proxy, known as the Polsiario. Niger withdrew from a joint military force formed by countries bordering Lake Chad to fight terrorist groups. The move aims to free-up forces to reinforce oil installations at home, which has been targets of terrorist attacks. The Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) was established in 1994 and has been reactivated in 2015 to counter Boko Haram and other security threats in the Lake Chad Basin region. The group includes soldiers from Benin, Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and Nigeria. It operates under the mandate to create a safe and secure environment, reduce violence against civilians, and facilitate humanitarian operations. On the occasion of Eid Al Fitr, celebrated on March 31 in Morocco, King Mohammed VI granted pardon to 1533 People, sentenced by the different Moroccan courts, the Justice Ministry said in a statement. The Ministry of Justice unveiled the list of the beneficiaries of the royal pardon, who are either detained or serving a suspended sentence. The list includes 31 individuals who had been convicted in cases of extremism and terrorism. The Royal pardon to these 31 persons came after they had officially expressed their commitment to the unwavering and sacred constants of the Nation and national institutions, revised their ideological orientations and rejecting extremism and terrorism, the Ministry of Justice said. On this glorious occasion, His Majesty the King, may God preserve Him, has kindly granted His Pardon to prisoners convicted in cases of extremism and terrorism, who have obtained the Royal Approval after officially expressing their attachment to the unwavering and sacred constants of the Nation and national institutions, revising their ideological orientations and rejecting extremism and terrorism. The list of the beneficiaries of the royal pardon also includes inmates who were granted pardon over their remaining jail terms, convicts who had their prison terms reduced, and prisoners who saw their sentences commuted from life imprisonment to fixed jail terms. Some convicts benefited from pardon over their imprisonment terms but their fines were maintained. Other convicts saw their fines canceled, while others benefited from both a pardon over their prison terms and fines. The King usually grants free pardon to inmates and convicts on religious and national holidays. The World Bank approved the DREAM project, a major initiative aimed at supporting the development of energy resources and the mineral sector in Mauritania. With a funding of $82.5 million, the project is set to enhance the countrys energy infrastructure by developing electricity storage systems, advancing battery technology, and fostering the growth of green hydrogen. The project is a crucial step in promoting economic growth, creating jobs, and ensuring long-term energy security in Mauritania. The DREAM project aligns with Mauritanias national energy objectives and supports the broader goal of achieving universal electricity access by 2030, as outlined in the Energy Charter 300 initiative. The projects key components include the construction of the countrys first large-scale battery-based electricity storage facility, which will enable Mauritania to fully harness its abundant solar and wind resources, ensuring a more reliable and sustainable electricity supply. Furthermore, it supports the implementation of the recently adopted Green Hydrogen Code, helping to develop legal frameworks, environmental standards, and institutional capacities while attracting private investment. This initiative underscores the strong collaboration between Mauritania and several international partners, including the World Bank, the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ), the European Union, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and others. Together, these partnerships will help Mauritania realise its vision of energy security and establish a robust foundation for sustainable development, benefiting both its citizens and the broader economy. The European Union Delegation to Libya has expressed approval following the release of a group of detainees by Libyan judicial authorities, hailing the move as a step towards strengthening the rule of law and human rights in the country. In a statement, the mission also voiced concern over troubling reports of arbitrary disappearances, particularly the case of Mohamed El-Gamaty, the brother of activist Hossam El-Gamaty, who remains missing. The EU urged Libyan authorities to immediately investigate these cases and ensure the safe return of the disappeared individuals to their families. This call aligns with the recent statement from the United Nations Support Mission in Libya, which emphasised the need to put an end to arbitrary detention and disappearances, stressing the importance of respecting human rights in line with international standards. Mohamed Menfi, head of Libyas Presidential Council, had announced on Friday that an initiative had led to the release of Hassan Jaballah Al-Farjani, a member of the House of Representatives from Tarhuna, who had been detained for over a year at Mitiga Prison in Tripoli. Justin Posey in Gold & Greed: The Hunt for Fenns Treasure. Photo: Netflix Spoiler alert: This story contains a major twist in the new Netflix series Greed & Gold: The Hunt for Fenns Treasure, a docuseries based on the New York Magazine story The Great 21st-Century Treasure Hunt, by Benjamin Wallace. In late summer of 2020, when most people I knew were still keeping their social distance, I attended a gathering of treasure hunters in the town of West Yellowstone, Montana. Very few of them were wearing masks. These were people whod spent up to ten years looking for a bronze chest hidden somewhere in the Rocky Mountains. It contained, among other things, gold nuggets, a 24-karat-gold bracelet with a dragon head at each end, and a sealed glass olive jar containing the 20,000-word memoir of Santa Fe art dealer Forrest Fenn, the man whod hidden the treasure. It was thought to be worth at least $1 million. The hunt had begun in 2010 when Fenn published a poem containing nine clues to the treasures location. But now it was over. In June, Fenn had announced that the treasure had been found by an unnamed man from back East. I went to Yellowstone expecting to meet a group of dedicated treasure hounds having one last hurrah, and there was some of that. I heard inspiring stories about families who had reunited through searching and about the hunters coming together to support each other. But I also found a community struggling with a lot of unanswered questions. Who was the finder? Where had he found the treasure? How had he succeeded where tens of thousands of others had not? What would they do with their lives now? The news was particularly hard for Justin Posey, who had spent 780 days hunting for the treasure and had even trained his vizsla, Tucker, to smell bronze at depths up to four feet. The saga was also shadowed by accusations that Fenn had played favorites with some female treasure hunters and given them hints that he hadnt shared publicly. There were lawsuits at least a half-dozen have been filed claiming underhandedness of one sort or another. Two months later, Fenn died at age 90, which did nothing to extinguish the controversy. I chronicled this messy denouement in New Yorks article, but the conspiracy theories didnt abate. Jack Stuef, a medical student and former writer for Wonkette, was eventually revealed as the finder, but he wouldnt divulge where or how hed found the treasure, beyond saying that it had been in a nook, covered, from the passage of time, by natural debris. Now people wondered whether Stuef and Fenn had been in cahoots somehow. And Fenn never revealed the location of the treasure beyond saying it was in Wyoming. Adding to the mystery, after the treasure was found, according to Posey, Fenn, on his lawyers advice, recorded a video in which he explained each of the nine clues in his puzzle poem. That is something that, to my knowledge, the Fenn Estate has to this day, says Posey. Some of the more fervent treasure hunters have continued to obsess over the unanswered questions. A hunter named Rudy Greene grid-searched Nine Mile Hole, a fishing spot on the Madison River, in Yellowstone National Park, and found what appears to be a very distinctive twig that was present in photos Stuef took when he first found the treasure chest thereby seeming to pinpoint the precise spot where the chest had been buried. Posey ultimately formed an LLC with partners to privately buy the treasure from Stuef. The hunt is the subject of a new Netflix documentary, Gold & Greed, which, over three hourlong episodes, tracks a handful of the most dedicated treasure hunters, including Posey. And the series adds a new twist: Posey has now launched his own Fenn-style treasure hunt by publishing a memoir, Beyond the Maps Edge, with a puzzle poem containing clues to his treasures hiding place, and embedding additional clues in his scenes in the documentary without specifying how or where to the producers. I caught up with him as the documentary release date approached and after hed watched the series. He was generally thrilled with how it had turned out but was bothered that it portrays me as single-handedly going out and finding this Nine Hole location, specifically, and there were many more people involved in that. Everything that Rudy Greene did was astounding; I dont know if it ever would have been found without him. You spent, by your calculation, 780 days looking for the Fenn treasure, then someone other than you found it. Did you experience something like postpartum depression? I mean, theres certainly the full dynamic range of emotions, and I think that first summer after it had been found, I was feeling a little lost, I guess you could say, but it was a good opportunity to get back into some of the other pastimes Ive had mostly fly-fishing. After Forrest announced that the treasure had been found, a lot of conspiracy theories circulated in the treasure community. One was that Forrest, and later Jack Stuef, lied about when the chest was found. You believe that theory is right. There were some photos Jack sent to Forrest when the chest was initially found. I think those also came out as part of the court cases. And if you look at the state of the soil and the surrounding vegetation and I actually talked to some photo-forensic analysts about this the conditions strongly indicated that it was not June of 2020. It wasnt that part of the year. It was more late summer to early fall. And also, if you look at the actions that Jack took between the latter part of 2019 and June of 2020, he started the process of establishing residency in Puerto Rico. [Editors note: Residents of Puerto Rico are exempt from the U.S. capital-gains tax.] Why would someone preemptively set up residency there when they hadnt found the treasure? Why would the timing matter? I think Jack chose to delay the find date because of tax implications. He wasnt sure if Forrest would gift the treasure to him. There was an email that came up in litigation in which Jack inquired at least once, Are you going to gift it to me? And Forrest was being coy. To the enormous frustration of treasure hunters who want to know how close they got to finding the treasure, neither Jack Stuef nor the Fenn family have ever revealed the hiding spot, and all we really know is, as Forrest eventually stated, that it was somewhere in Wyoming. I think theres enough compelling evidence to say with confidence that Nine Mile Hole is the correct location. There are certain emails that have come out as a function of litigation that strongly suggest that area. Do you think youd stood in the location of the treasure before it was found? The last clue in the poem, If youve been wise and found the blaze, Look quickly down, your quest to cease: That really was the end all, be all right there. It was the blaze, and I spent an inordinate amount of time when that location was finally established looking at that area and doing some forensic analysis on the surrounding timber and everything. I could not, for the life of me, find anything that would resemble a blaze. And we still dont know what the blaze was? Well, I know someone whom I would trust well enough who has seen the nine-clues video that Forrest filmed, and the blaze clue was one or more notches on a tree. And I think one of two things happened. Either he actually put notches on downed timber that was in the area that disintegrated fairly quickly or was just not noticeable. Or he put the notch on a tree that fell down shortly after he hid it. And the reason I say very shortly is because in 2013 or 2014, somewhere in there, I did a full grid search of Nine Mile Hole, and I feel fairly confident in saying that if there was a blaze on a tree, I would have seen it, and it wasnt there then. Isnt a notch on a tree a fairly ephemeral blaze for Forrest to have used for a hunt he thought could take a thousand years? It is, and it kind of makes me wonder just how much he wanted that treasure to be found in his lifetime. So lots of people theoretically might have found the treasure except for the fact that the blaze was missing? I think the treasure wouldve been found a lot sooner if it had not been buried, or if the blaze was visible. There were a number of searchers who had poked around in the Nine Mile Hole area. The other thing that Forrest really had going for him is that that area in the early years of the search was very accessible, but he knew that there had been a fire there a number of years ago, and he knew that with all the new growth coming up that would all just grow in. Let me tell you, by the later years, like 2018, it was just a sea of waist-high saplings everywhere. It just made it much, much harder to search. Jack Stuef also hasnt revealed how he found the treasure. I dont think Ill ever know exactly how he found it. Certainly there was evidence unearthed or found in the Nine Mile Hole area that helped fill in some blanks for me, and at some point, Jack mentioned, Im paraphrasing, something around him having to use a technology to find this. I think the most likely technology hed be employing would be a metal detector. Which isnt permitted in national parks. Thats right. Given what you now believe about how and where the treasure was found, would you have done anything differently in your own search? Its a funny question to ask, because in essence what thats implying is would I have broken the law to find the treasure? Was it findable without that? I think there were only two ways to find that treasure. One would be to have a bronze-sniffing dog and the other would be a metal detector. Given that you did have a bronze-sniffing dog, did you just not go to the right place? Well, I mean, the issue there is that dogs arent allowed outside the parking area. So Tucker spent a lot of time at Nine Mile Hole. He was just in the truck. I mean, it would have been very conspicuous to have a dog crossing the Madison in a very popular area. Youre a software engineer, but someone might wonder, Whered you get the kind of money needed to buy the treasure chest? I dont come from a wealthy family or anything like that. There was no massive inheritance or much of an inheritance at all for that matter. It was really a function of two main things. One is early investments that I made when I first started out in my career the stock market and the other is just working really hard. You then sold most of the treasure through Heritage Auctions in Dallas. The struggle that I had at that time was whats the right thing to do once you have it, especially around that olive jar, which hadnt been broken. So its like, whats the right path to open it or preserve it or what? Ultimately, I felt like the right balance was to make sure the vast majority of the contents were distributed to those who were part of the journey. Did you break even from the amount raised at auction? All the LLC members made a profit except for me Theres just a lot of ancillary expenses. Which items did you keep? I wanted the treasure chest. I wanted the dragon bracelet. Those were the main two items. And the reason is because the treasure chest, to me, its very symbolic for a decade-long journey that was epic in nature. So it felt like something I needed to do. And the dragon bracelet itself, even at that time, I was mulling around the idea of putting a full-fledged treasure hunt together. And that really was the marquee piece of treasure. It was actually way more dazzling to see in person than I could have imagined. So it felt like that was the one to get. Does the treasure community seem excited about your new hunt? My original intention was not to announce it until the documentary series airs. Unfortunately, in order to publish a book, you have to have an ISBN, which includes a description. I waited as long as possible to register. Someone found it. Unfortunately, in the description, it has a link to my website. I just had a test page up at that time, so my website started getting pummeled with traffic People very quickly pieced it together. What does the treasure youve hidden consist of? I tried to include artifacts from throughout history. There are coins from the Byzantine era, the Buyid dynasty, the Kushan empire, all sorts of different eras. I also included one of the oldest coins ever made by man. Its from the Lydian empire, around maybe 560/600 BC. And I included one of the coins that Ive held most near and dear. Its a 1652 Oak Tree shilling. Its that ANDO edition. [Editors note: The edition that includes an engravers error that may have been an intentional act of anti-British rebellion.] Years ago I paid around $50,000 for that one coin alone. And there are many, many coins in the treasure. There are loose gemstones: rubies, emeralds, and so on. There are some things Ive chosen not to divulge. There are multiple kilogram gold bars in the treasure. Just one of the bars is worth whatever the price of gold is, I think probably around $90,000 today. Forrest Fenns dragon bracelet. Some of Forrests gold flakes and dust, and I think a few of his coins as well those are the highlights. I wanted it to be something that would be dazzling when someone sees it. I havent announced what its hidden in the container but it will be immediately obvious when someone finds it. There wont be any doubt. And I think in total the treasure weighs about 60 pounds. Theres also a cryptocurrency wallet in the treasure, and as book sales increase I can send money to that wallet. Its not the main attraction, but its a way to give some transparency to whats happening here. When the treasures found, the finder has a 30-day countdown to get in touch with a steward in order to get the other half of the cryptocurrency wallet. And they also get a legal transference of the treasure. All of the legal paperwork is with the steward. Is the steward a law firm? I havent divulged who the steward is, mainly because I dont want someone hassling them. The Fenn chase went haywire: At least five people died while searching; Forrests granddaughter was stalked; someone broke into his home with an ax; Forrest was accused of indiscretions. Why put yourself in that position? I felt like Forrest was an incredible case study. There were a few things he did that went well, and there were a lot of things he didnt do. And I think he wouldve done things differently, of course, if he had known what was to come. But I also still think he mightve hidden the treasure. And I believe theres a path here to iterate on what hes done and make it I dont know if better is the right word, but safer. And also with some built-in integrity that makes the ending much more palatable. What have you done differently? Ive actually spoken to the vast majority of attorneys who have been involved in litigation and solicited their feedback: if they were to set this up again, what they would have done differently. Also, throughout the treasure hunt, I engaged with some of the top-rated land attorneys in every state and Rocky Mountain range to get input on land designations and so on. And then there are a lot of things Ive done just with how the hunt is structured. So I have used some mathematical algorithms or cryptography in order to ensure that certain types of claims can be quickly dismissed. For example, if someone were to claim that I hid the treasure at point A and at some point moved it to point B, that actually is not possible. When someone finds the treasure, they will reach out to the steward and they will provide information that conveys the exact location of where the treasure was found, plus what you call a salt, or basically a pass phrase. Those two things combined can be run through a cryptographic hash algorithm and the output I have placed in a notarized document. There were several legal documents that constitute this treasure hunt, and all of those have in turn been hashed. And that hash has been placed on X, or Twitter, and the time stamp as well. So what this means is that if anything in the legal documents changes, the hashes wont match up to whats on Twitter. And if the wrong location is verified, it will come up with a different cryptographic hash value, which will not match the legal documents. So its kind of a chain. How is your hunt safer than Forrests? Ive been very clear that you dont need to do any rappelling or anything dangerous, and theres no trespassing necessary at all. Forrest was accused of playing favorites and privately giving hints to this or that treasure hunter. One of the things that was frustrating from my perspective was information asymmetry. Forrest did a plethora of interviews with all these different outlets, and my gosh, just trying to compile all that and keep it straight, what are the chances? So thats something Im keen on getting right from the first day. So if there are interviews that I think will be helpful for searchers, I want to make sure that theyre linked through the website. And then any clarifying information or new hints that come out will be very apparent on the site. So theres basically one source you go to. Forrests family was harassed; are you concerned about something similar happening to you? I think it would be naive to go into an endeavor like this and expect that there would be no downsides. So there were a lot of discussions I had with close family and friends to make sure there was awareness and that people understood the implications of this. Ive had the benefit of spending multiple years preparing for whats to come, from multiple angles. How do you write a poem in which youve embedded the clues needed to find the treasure youve hidden and make certain that its both solvable and not too easily solvable? How do you test the level of difficulty? It was important to me that this is something that is approachable and something that I think the average person can go and find. It doesnt take an advanced degree. In fact, it doesnt take a degree at all. Really what this takes is maybe a little bit of online research and then some time in nature, and if you know where youre going, not a lot of time at all. But to your point, I designed this in a vacuum. I dont think anyones seen the poem yet. Even editors and everybody involved, the poem was not in the text. The world will see it all together for the first time on the 27th, and it might be something that is found within days. I dont know. If its found right away, would that be a bummer? I feel pretty ambivalent about it at this point. Planning this has been a lot of my time and attention. I hope that it lasts for a little while just because the main purpose here is to get people out. I had such a great time over the last ten years searching for it, and I just hope that enough time passes so that someone can get that feeling. But from my perspective, I think its going to be something thats found very quickly, or its going to take a while. I dont think theres any in between. Has your opinion of Forrest changed? I think that a lot of people put Forrest on a pedestal. He was almost some god or something. And he was just a man. And I felt that I was never treating him as more than he was. He made mistakes, but at the core, he created something that I think is very special. And all I can think back on is the experience that I had in that context. I dont have a different view of him now, no. Three years ago, British actress Jodie Comer debuted in London's West End with the one-woman play Prima Facie, a production that earned her the prestigious Olivier Awards for Best Actress the following year. During the award ceremony, the actress from Killing Eve emotionally explained how the play changed her life. Xin has showcased her versatility in stage plays, films, television productions and reality shows, attracting a large following of keen fans. [Photo provided to China Daily] The play revolves around Tessa, a barrister who specializes in defending men accused of sexual assault. Her perspective on the legal system undergoes a profound transformation after she becomes a victim of sexual violence. The role demands intense physical and emotional commitment from the lead actress, requiring her to deliver a high-energy performance with no breaks. In June 2023, on the other side of the Eurasian continent, Chinese actress Xin Zhilei made her theater debut in the Chinese adaptation of the play in Shanghai. Xin, 39, also described the experience as life-changing. It won her the best leading actress award at The 32nd Shanghai Magnolia Stage Performance Awards and completely altered her perception of acting. The play required Xin to memorize approximately 60,000 Chinese characters of dialogue. In a 130-minute performance with no intermission, she portrayed and narrated 20 different stories. To prepare for the physical and emotional demands, she woke up early every day for over three months to memorize her lines while running or climbing stairs. She also attended intensive training sessions at the Shanghai Theatre Academy, working alongside freshmen to hone her skills. "She isn't shy in the sessions and doesn't put on any celebrity airs. I see her unlimited potential," comments Zhou Ke, director of the Chinese version of Prima Facie. "The role of Tessa is the most challenging one of my career. After performing in this play, I feel like nothing can defeat me. I can achieve anything if I work hard and set my mind to it," she says. "Before playing Tessa, acting was just a job to me. Now, I feel a sense of responsibility that comes with this profession. The play not only provided me with personal strength but also allowed me to transmit that strength to the audience through my performance," Xin says. Xin mentioned that female audience members often sent her letters after her performance. She recalled one evening after a show, a woman in her 70s had her daughter guide her backstage to meet Xin. "She hugged me and, with tears in her eyes, thanked me. I will cherish that moment for a long time. It didn't require many words and I didn't ask what she had been through. At that moment, we understood each other. It's moments like these that make me feel being an actress is truly worth it," she says. Growing up in Hegang, a small city in Northeast China's Heilongjiang province, Xin initially dreamed of becoming a fashion designer. However, while studying fashion design at Harbin Huade University, she was scouted by a talent agent who encouraged her to become an actor. At the time, her family was going through a difficult period. Her father was bedridden due to an accident. Although Xin had no experience in the acting profession, she was then eager to earn money to support her family. For the next six years, she remained relatively unknown, working as a model to make ends meet while constantly auditioning for roles. Her breakthrough came when she landed the lead role in the film Crosscurrent after one of her many auditions. Despite not knowing how to swim, she performed a series of underwater scenes in a partly frozen river in Beijing. The film was selected to compete for the awards at the 66th Berlin International Film Festival, one of the most prestigious film festivals in the world. There, she met Meryl Streep, an actress she deeply admired, and received praise from her idol. "Crosscurrent made me feel for the first time that I could act, that I was slowly finding a place where I belonged. Acting became enjoyable," Xin recalls. Since then, she has gained wider recognition through her roles in notable productions, including the film Brotherhood of Blades II: The Infernal Battlefield (2017), the hit costume drama Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace (2018), Hong Kong director Wong Kar-wai's acclaimed TV series Blossoms Shanghai (2023), and the suspense film The Unseen Sister (2024). Xin has always been perceived by her fans as a daring, ambitious, and powerful woman. She actively seeks out acting opportunities and never hides her desire for fame because she believes that it grants actors more choices in their careers. "With more choices, I hope to take on a wider range of roles," she says. In Blossoms Shanghai, she plays a mysterious and beautiful restaurant owner. Although not a native, she builds the most successful restaurant on Shanghai's Huanghe Road, deftly managing relationships with the local elite. In the film Upstream (2024), she portrays a full-time housewife who, after her husband loses his job, suppresses her panic and despair to support her family. In the recently aired TV series Good Will Society, she plays a neurosurgeon who is calm and professional in the operating room and also humorous and straightforward in her personal life. Through these diverse roles, Xin has deepened her understanding of women's strength and resilience. "Through the process of shaping a character, I gradually bring the role to life with every small effort I make. It's only when I complete the role and present it to the audience that I understand who she is. This process is like building with Lego blocks: piece by piece, the character takes shape. Over the past two or three years, I've enjoyed it more," says Xin. In the Chinese adaptation of Prima Facie, Xin has a favorite line that resonates deeply with her: "In my heart, there has always been a courageous girl. If I were to shrink back, I would lose her." When asked what characteristics she values the most in herself, she answers without hesitation: "Courage, perseverance, and kindness." . Trump has repeatedly floated the idea of running for an unconstitutional third term as president, but its never clear how seriously hes actually considering it, and some of his allies have insisted the president who has likened himself to a king is joking. Asked about it in the NBC interview, Trump insisted Im not joking. He just says its too early to make that call. A lot of people want me to do it, he said. 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. But Trump also sounded convinced that he could have another term if he wanted one: When asked whether he has been presented with plans to allow him to seek a third term, Trump said, There are methods which you could do it. NBC News asked about a possible scenario in which Vice-President J.D. Vance would run for office and then pass the role to Trump. Trump responded that thats one method. But there are others, too, Trump added. To be clear, there arent multiple legal methods for Trump to be able to serve a third term. Theres only one method: win another election after repealing the 22nd Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which says No person shall be elected to the office of the president more than twice. Some of Trumps allies support making that change, but theres no chance that will happen. That being said, some people have speculated that there might be a kind of trap-door path to a third term, in which a term-limited president runs as a vice-president and wins, then that president, for some reason, resigns and makes the vice-president president again. This is probably what Trump was referring to, which would also give J.D. Vance the chance to be the most sycophantic vice-president in American history. When Welker asked Trump why hed want another term, he replied, I like working. Trump also presumably wasnt joking when he said on Sunday night his third term would actually be his fourth term: Amidst diplomatic efforts for a cease-fire, Ukraine has accused Russia of war crimes, citing attacks on civilian targets, including a military hospital, and calls for tougher sanctions and more air defense capabilities. Ukraine is considering the US draft agreement on rare earth minerals, but internal consensus is needed before making a final decision, as these minerals are crucial for defense and technology. President Trump has threatened Russia with new oil tariffs if it obstructs cease-fire initiatives in Ukraine and has also pressured Ukrainian President Zelenskyy to finalize a rare earth minerals deal with the United States. US President Donald Trump threatened Russia with new tariffs on oil products if Moscow blocks his cease-fire initiatives, while he also said Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy faces "big, big problems" if he doesn't sign a key minerals deal with Washington. "He's trying to back out of the rare earth deal, and if he does that he's got some problems, big, big problems," Trump told reporters on March 30 in reference to the Ukrainian president. "We made a deal on rare earth. And now he's saying, well you know, I want to renegotiate the deal." "He wants to be a member of NATO, but he's never going to be a member of NATO. He understands that," Trump added. On March 28, the Ukrainian government said it was still considering a draft agreement from the United States on the country's rare earth minerals amid media reports Washington had changed the terms of the deal several times. Ukrainian Economy Minister Yulia Svyrydenko announced at a government meeting that Kyiv was forming its position on the agreement, but lawmakers would only state their stance once there was consensus. Before then, she said, public discussion would be harmful. Ukraine possesses significant deposits of critical minerals, including rare earths, although their exact size remains uncertain. Rare earth minerals are highly valued for their use in defense technologies, as well as in devices such as computers, smartphones, and batteries. Ukraine and the United States earlier this month agreed to conclude a comprehensive agreement for developing Ukraine's critical mineral resources. Efforts to seal the deal had earlier fallen apart on February 28 after a heated exchange between Trump and Zelenskyy at the White House. Meanwhile, earlier on March 30, Trump said he would impose secondary tariffs of 25-50 percent on all Russian oil if he feels President Vladimir Putin is blocking his efforts to end the war in Ukraine. During a phone interview with NBC news, Trump said he was "very angry" and "pissed off" when Putin 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. "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 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. 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. Tougher Tone Toward Putin 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 "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. 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 military's 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 soldiers undergoing treatment in the medical center. In total, Ukrainian authorities said that the overnight attacks killed at least two people and injured 26 others across the country. 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." By RFE/RL More Top Reads From Oilprice.com When Donald Trump returned to the White House, he did so on the promise, among others, of unleashing U.S. energy dominance. This was good news for Europe. It needed gas, and the U.S. had it. But Europe also has transition ambitions. These might now interfere with its energy security needsor prove that security trumps any ambitions. Last year, the European Union adopted a so-called Methane Regulation. The piece of legislation aimed at forcing producers of liquefied natural gas to reduce their methane emissions as much as possible in order to earn the privilege of supplying their LNG to European buyers. The regulation requires that producers monitor, record, verify, and ultimately reduce their methane emissions to help the planet survive. That monitoring, recording, verifying, and reduction, however, cost additional money. In a recent opinion piece, Reuters authors suggested U.S. producers of LNG may be unwilling to spend that additional money for the sake of exporting to the European Union, especially when the latter had strict plans in place to give up gas altogether at some future point in time. It is neither the first nor the only outlet to suggest such unwillingness on the part of U.S. LNG producers. Gas liquefaction is an expensive process and every penny countsand so does every molecule of gas. Related: Equinors Giant New Arctic Find Starts Pumping to Recoup $8B in 2 Years Curbing methane emissions in the LNG industry essentially means wasting less of its product, which means producers have the motivation to invest in that curbing. Indeed, it seems this is what they are doing, based on another Reuters report that cited two industry trade groups as saying they were going to continue tracking and reducing their methane emissions despite the change in the guard at the White House. Also, Our members have invested tens of millions of dollars reducing their emissions all before any U.S. regulations were in place. They are committed to continuing to drive down their emissions, a representative of a group seeking to address emissions in the LNG industry told the publication. Yet the European Unions ambition to give up natural gas altogether still seems to be potentially dangerous for LNG producers to some observers. The unwillingness of EU buyers to commit to long-term contracts is a symptom of this danger, they note, perhaps oblivious to recent developments in Europe. First, there was joint gas buying. It was a short-term means of securing the European Unions energy needs during peak demand season, and it did not work very well, only accounting for a minuscule portion of total demand, but the EU counted it as a success and plans to do it again. It also plans to invest in LNG capacity abroad to secure supply. That sure sounds like a long-term commitment. The European Union would "immediately engage with reliable LNG suppliers to identify additional cost-competitive imports from existing and future LNG export projects, a draft proposal of the European Commission said, as cited by Reuters last month. The draft also said, EU joint purchasing power should be harnessed by exploring the option of longer-term contractual engagements to make prices more stable, evidence that long-term contracts are very much back in style in Brussels. The question, of course, is what the EU is going to do about the methane emissions of those alternative suppliers. The question becomes especially topical in the context of its current LNG mix. While the United States is the top supplier, at number two, we find none other than Russia, which is supposed to be thwarted at every step, and purchases of Russian hydrocarbons are supposed to end within two years, and thats without even mentioning any methane efforts. The fact that the EU still buys so much gas from Russia is telling, and the story it tells should make U.S. LNG producers happy. Whatever regulations the EU adopts in the name of its planet-saving push, energy supply security will always come on top. The decision to go long-term on LNG is one key piece of evidence. More evidence comes from the regulation itself, and it suggests implementation might be challenging, to put it mildly. LNG buyers in Europe genuinely cannot get the producer-level data that the EU methane regulation demands, as each molecule of gas cannot be tagged or tracked back to the wellhead, so the relevant producer cannot be identified, law firm Baker and Botts partner Alex Kerr told the FT recently. So, the EU has a regulation on tracking, recording, and reducingand verifying the reductionof methane emissions that ensures that the LNG that enters the bloc is the cleanest possible in the world. Enforcing this regulation is practically impossible, which provides producers with a certain leeway in addressing their methane emissions, which they are already doing because theyve decided its good for business. Meanwhile, the EU has recognized the benefits of long-term commitments despite the dozens of media commentariesand EU commentsarguing that the bloc was never going back to long-term gas commitments. It seems that U.S. LNG producers are safe. By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com U.S. benchmark crude oil prices soared 2.65% on Monday, with West Texas Intermediate (WTI) hitting $71.20, up $1.84 at 11:47 a.m. ET on fears Trump will follow through on more tariff threats for buyers of Russian oil, combined with the prospect of a military response to Iran. Brent crude was also climbing on Monday, up 1.47% to $74.71. Two geopolitical deals are in play here. The first is a ceasefire deal over Russia-Ukraine, and the second focuses on a new deal over Irans nuclear program. Late on Sunday, Trump warned that he could impose secondary sanctions on Russias energy sector if the U.S. and Russia are unable to reach a ceasefire agreement regarding the war in Ukraine. If Russia and I are unable to come to an agreement to stop the violence in Ukraine, and if I believe Russia is responsible which may not be the case but if I believe they are to blame, I will impose secondary tariffs on all Russian oil exports, Trump told NBC. Trump lashed out at remarks made by Putin, who questioned the legitimacy of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskys government and suggested that a change in leadership may be necessary for a peace deal to be valid. Putin has consistently emphasized that elections in Ukraine will have to precede any ceasefire deal. Even more worrying to markets, Trump earlier on Monday threatened to bomb Iran if a new nuclear deal is not agreed. If they don't make a deal, there will be bombing, Trump said in a telephone interview with NBC. It will be bombing the likes of which they have never seen before. The U.S. president said, however, the two sides were engaged in negotiations, which did not prevent him from extending a 25% indirect tariff threat to Tehran. Trumps remarks follow Iran's official refusal to engage in direct negotiations with the U.S. Tehran emphasized that its willingness to negotiate would depend on the actions of the U.S. In the meantime, oil and gas executives in the Dallas Fed Energy Survey published last week said they expected WTI to average $68 per barrel for the six-month forecast, $70 per barrel for 12 months and $74 for the two-year forecast, reaching $80 in five years. By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com The "America First" slogan often used by candidate Donald Trump in his first and second presidential campaigns might sound on its surface to indicate disengagement from global affairs and a focus on domestic priorities. So, it may seem puzzling that President Donald Trump is talking about annexing Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark, a NATO ally; Canada, a sovereign country and a NATO ally; and retaking the Panama Canal. If, however, you see Trump's pronouncement within the context of global economic and military competition in what he perceives is a zero-sum world (a win by one side must be a loss by another), then this kind of rhetoric begins to make sense. Such a view actually implicitly presumes that resources available to global society are finite or, at the very least, worryingly scarce and therefore must be produced domestically for security reasons or extracted willingly or unwillingly from other countries. Trouble is, there is a very long list of important minerals that the United States must get either partially or wholly from other countries in order to maintain the smooth functioning of its modern technical economy. In addition, America, which had previously been a breadbasket to the world, is now a net importer of foodthough this is on a value basis, not necessarily on a tonnage or calorie basis. So if the Trump administration believes that we are moving toward a last-man-standing contest with other major powers, then it's not surprising that the administration is trying both to bring production of basic resources and finished goods back onto U.S. soil AND seeking to secure mineral and other resources from other countries. There is no quicker way to increase domestic production of important minerals than to make countries and territories rich in mineral resources part of the United States. Hence, Trump's desire to annex Greenland and Canada. We already know for sure that Canada has large mineral resources including vast oil and natural gas reserves. Greenland is believed to host large, undiscovered economically viable deposits of minerals. So that leaves the Panama Canal. Of course, the canal is a pinch point for world trade. It carries 6 percent of the world's maritime trade and 40 percent of U.S. container traffic. In fact, the United States is "the canal's largest user. In 2021 over 73% of all vessels transiting the canal were destined for or departing from U.S. ports." How goods and resources get moved around the world can be just as important as the goods themselves. There are contrasting approaches to the emerging scarcity of critical resources. China chooses mostly the path of diplomacy and investment in places such as Africa in order to secure resources including food for the Chinese nation. Russia, which has long had access to huge mineral and energy sources domestically, has had to become even more self-sufficient in response to stringent trade sanctions applied by the United States and its European allies in response to the invasion of Ukraine. The question is not whether nations will seek out critical materials and food outside their borders when they cannot produce them at home, but how they will go about it. Trump has not ruled out military action to take the Panama Canal and Greenland. Annexing Canada seems like a passing fantasy. On the other hand, so many things which seemed unlikely on January 19 are now reality, and so it might be premature to rule out increasingly unsettling talk and even concrete moves to annex one or more of these targets. By Kurt Cobb via Resource Insights More Top Reads From Oilprice.com Chinas state energy company CNOOC said today it had discovered a new oil field in the South China Sea that could contain over 100 million tons of crude oil, equal to around 733 million barrels. Dubbed Huizhou 19-6, the field is located some 100 miles offshore the province of Shenzhen. Test drilling produced 413 barrels of crude oil and 68,000 cu m of natural gas daily, state news agency Xinhua reported. Deepwater and ultra-deepwater oil and gas deposits are garnering growing attention from oil and gas explorers as they run out of more easily accessible reservoirs in shallower waters and onshore. Last October, CNOOC reported record oil and gas production from a field called Deep Sea #1. The field was the companys first ultra-deep project, an example of the pursuit of new, untapped resources that lie deeper under the sea in the push to secure local supply. Domestic oil and gas production is crucial for China as it seeks to reduce its dependence on energy imports. To boost this domestic production, Beijing has been investing heavily in both onshore and offshore exploration. Deepwater drilling, however, comes with numerous challenges, including high temperatures and pressure, and complicated geological conditions. There are similar challenges in deeper than usual onshore drilling but it has not stopped Chinese energy majors from pursuing such exploration. A CNPC project in the Tarim Basin in Northwestern China saw the state oil major experiment with drilling depths of up to 11,000 meters onshore. The drilling began in 2023. Last year, after 279 days of drilling, the drill broke the 10,000-meter mark, per Chinese media reports, making the well the deepest ever drilled in the country. It was also the deepest well drilled in Asiaand the fastest drilled well of over 10,000 meters. The well was completed in March last year. By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com Following several months of delays due to inclement winter weather in the waters in Norways Arctic, Equinor started up the Johan Castberg oilfield on Monday, which will add 220,000 barrels of oil per day at peak production rates. Equinor has already delayed the start-up twice, in December and in early March, due to bad weather. As Norways newest oilfield, Johan Castberg in the Barents Sea, is now on stream, it will produce crude for 30 years, boost Norways oil exports, and bolster the role of Western Europes biggest oil and gas producer as a reliable and long-term supplier of energy, Equinor said. At peak output levels, Johan Castberg can produce 220,000 bpd, while recoverable volumes are estimated at between 450 and 650 million barrels of oil. Equinor expects that this major field development, which cost $8.2 billion (86 billion Norwegian crowns), will be repaid in less than two years, said Geir Tungesvik, Equinors executive vice president for Projects, Drilling and Procurement. Johan Castberg opens a new region for oil recovery and will create more opportunities in the Barents Sea. We've already made new discoveries in the area and will keep exploring together with our partners. We've identified options to add 250-550 million new recoverable barrels that can be developed and produced over Johan Castberg, commented Kjetil Hove, Equinors executive vice president for Exploration & Production Norway. Norway expects its oil liquids production to rise by 5.2% in 2025 from 2024, also thanks to the start-up of Johan Castberg. OPEC also considers Norway as one of the producers that would contribute to the rise in oil output from non-OPEC+ countries this year, alongside the United States, Canada, and Brazil. Yet, further exploration efforts and new discoveries would be crucial to slowing the expected decline in Norways oil and gas production in the 2030s, the authorities of Western Europes largest oil and gas producer have said in recent years. By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com South Africa has allowed eight coal-fired power plants run by state-owned utility Eskom to exceed air pollution and emissions limits this decade as the most industrialized economy in Africa looks to avoid crippling electricity blackouts. Six of the coal plants were granted a five-year exemption that allows them to breach the limit of emissions in the countrys air quality regulation. Two other coal-fired power plants were exempted from these regulations until 2034, which is their planned decommissioning date. Despite the exemptions granted, South Africa isnt giving Eskom a blanket reprieve from the emissions regulations. These exemptions are not a blanket reprieve but are tailored to each facility with stringent conditions," Environment Minister Dion George said at a press conference on Monday, as carried by Reuters. Last year, Eskom received government approval to keep five of its old polluting coal power plants operational for five years after the country implements a limit on plants emissions in 2025. South Africa has been in the grips of an energy crisis with daily rolling power cuts that have been crippling the economy as Eskom continually fails to boost generation capacity to keep pace with growing demand in recent years. South Africa, one of the worlds largest coal producers and exporters, continues to rely on coal for a large part of its energy mix. Currently, some 85% of South Africas electricity is generated at coal-fired power stations. Despite efforts to boost the share of renewables in its power mix, South Africa continues to rely on coal, also because it is seeking billions of U.S. dollars in support from international lenders and partners for its Just Transition plan. Minister George said last week that South Africa should consider shifting to renewable energy sources as essential. The transition to renewable energy is not negotiable, George stated. South Africas economic future depends on more renewable energy entering the grid, not less. By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com President Donald Trump has threatened Iran with bombings and sanctions if the two fail to reach an agreement on a new nuclear deal that would see Iran pledge not to build nuclear weapons. Trumps comments come in response to Irans official refusal to negotiate a new deal directly with Washington. The refusal came straight from Irans president, Masoud Pezeshkian, who, however, added that indirect negotiations are welcome. It will be the actions of the Americans that determine whether negotiations continue, Pezeshkian also said. 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, adding that Iran had never avoided talks on a new nuclear deal but the United States had failed to keep its end of the previous bargain and terminate the original nuclear deal during Trumps first term, media reported. If they don't make a deal, there will be bombing, Trump said in a telephone interview with NBC. It will be bombing the likes of which they have never seen before. The U.S. president said, however, the two sides were engaged in negotiations, which did not prevent him from extending a 25% indirect tariff threat to Tehran, as he had done in a separate NBC interview with regard to Russia. We'll probably give it a couple of weeks and if we don't see any progress, we're going to put them on. We're not putting them on right now. But if you remember, I did that six years ago, and it worked very well, Trump told reporters, as quoted by Reuters. Irans foreign minister, meanwhile, said this weekend that the country will not negotiate under pressure or threats, IRNA reported, citing Abbas Arakchi as saying that Anyone who speaks to the Iranian people with the language of threats will receive the same response. By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com President Donald Trump has threatened secondary sanctions on Russias energy industry if Washington and Moscow fail to seal a ceasefire deal for Ukraine. 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 in an interview. Trump also said he was pissed off with comments that Russias Vladimir Putin made about the legitimacy of Volodymyr Zelenskys government and the suggestion that the Ukrainian leadership must change if a peace agreement is to be legitimate. Russias president has repeatedly argued that elections in Ukraine are key to the success of the peace-negotiations process. It seems President Trumps idea for additional punishment of Russias energy industry is the same as the one adopted with regard to Venezuela. As Trump explained it to NBC, 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. Such a step would almost certainly push oil prices considerably higher, given Russias weight as an oil exporter, and that would go against Trumps promise for cheap energy. The 25% secondary tariffs on Venezuelan oil already had that effect on benchmarks. The tariff is activated for any trade with the U.S. of a country that imports Venezuelan crude. Immediately after Trumps announcement of the tariffs, loadings of Venezuelan oil slowed, according to a Bloomberg report from the end of last week. This pushed Brent crude and West Texas Intermediate to a third consecutive gain, although this week trade began with a dip for both benchmarks. By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com You are here: Business China will issue 500 billion yuan (about 69.7 billion U.S. dollars) of special treasury bonds to support large state-owned commercial banks in replenishing their core tier-one capital, the Ministry of Finance said Monday. The capital injection will be carried out prudently, in line with market-oriented and law-based principles, to support Bank of China, China Construction Bank, Bank of Communications, and Postal Savings Bank of China. China's major state-owned commercial banks currently enjoy stable operations, sound asset quality, and sufficient provisions for potential losses. Key regulatory indicators remain within a "healthy range," the ministry said. The capital support is expected to further consolidate and enhance the banks' capacity for sound operations, promote their high-quality development, and deliver greater value and long-term stable returns for investors. The move will also enable these banks to better serve the real economy, providing stronger support for the country's steady and long-term economic development, the ministry added. January U.S. crude oil production was down 305,000 barrels per day, hitting 13.15 million bpd, a level it hasnt dipped down to in over a year, according to data released by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) on Monday, also revising its December estimate downward by around 40,000 barrels, to 13.45 million bpd. The top producer, Texas, saw a decline of 105,000 bpd, sitting at 5.58 billion bpd and its largest decline in 15 months, while the countrys number two producer, New Mexico, saw output fall by 53,000 bpd to 2.06 million bpdalso its lowest level in seven months. U.S. production of natural gas also fell 1.7% in January. Despite the downward trajectory, earlier this month, the EIA reported that the U.S. set a record for crude oil production in 2023, averaging 12.9 million barrels per day (b/d), surpassing the previous global and U.S. record of 12.3 million b/d set in 2019. No other countries breached the 13 million b/d capacity, and the Saudis recently withdrew their plans to boost production to 13 million b/d by 2027. In 2023, the U.S., Russia, and Saudi Arabia together accounted for 40% of global oil production, totaling 32.8 million b/d, according to the EIA. Raw data is often competing for space in reality with headlines and statements from the Trump administration, which has been the single-biggest market mover this month, as noted by Oilprice.coms Michael Kern. Declining production is not compatible with a tightening of Venezuela sanctions and the imprisoning of 20 million barrels of Iranian oil, not to mention the long-term impacts of looming tariff wars. By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com Varo Energy, owned by the worlds biggest independent oil trader, Vitol, and the Carlyle Group, has reached a deal to buy Swedish refiner Preem, an early mover in renewable fuel production. Following more than a year of exclusive negotiations, Varo Energy in which Carlyle, which owns 66.66%, and Vitol, which owns 33.33%, announced on Monday that they had reached agreements to buy Preems parent in an all-cash transaction, the value of which was not disclosed. The deal is subject to customary closing conditions and the receipt of regulatory approvals and is expected to be completed in the second half of 2025. Preem owns two major fuel manufacturing facilities in Sweden, at Lysekil and Gothenburg. The two facilities have a combined capacity of 352,000 barrels per day (bpd), which is 80% of Swedens refining capacity, and the ability to co-process renewable feedstock. Primarily located in Scandinavia, Preems assets are highly complementary to VAROs existing operations across northwest Europe with limited overlap, the company backed by Carlyle and Vitol said. Vitols CEO Russell Hardy, who is also Supervisory Board member of VARO, said: The company will be Europes second largest producer of biofuels which are key to decarbonising transport in Europe. It will benefit from access to Vitols network and global expertise. The company will also be the largest co-processor of renewable feedstocks in Europe. On completion, the combined group will rank in the top five largest producers of Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) and Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) globally. It will be Europes second largest renewable fuel producer and the top producer in Sweden, Varo said. Following the completion of the transaction, Varo will use the decarbonization expertise and proven track record of both organizations to support national and European energy transition agendas and drive progress toward a low-carbon future. Preem also operates seven renewable storage facilities in Sweden, Germany, the Netherlands, and Spain, with a combined capacity of 2.1 million barrels. By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com A rich reputation for strong family life and quality Catholic education are two of the factors that have already impressed the man tapped Monday to be the sixth archbishop of the Omaha Archdiocese. Bishop Michael McGovern of the Diocese of Belleville, Illinois, said during a press conference Monday that his appointment to lead the archdiocese that covers much of northeast Nebraska is a "humbling" experience. Pope Francis recently accepted the resignation of Archbishop George J. Lucas and appointed McGovern to follow him. McGovern said he is looking forward to becoming involved with the many Catholic schools and healthcare facilities in the archdiocese. The archdiocese has 67 Catholic schools across 23 counties, including 58 elementary schools and 16 high schools. "Omaha, you have a great reputation as a local church when I think of all the activities, especially Catholic education which is so strong here," McGovern said. "Education is one of the things that the church does best in our many ministries." Getting to know the faithful and those who have left the church will be among McGovern's priorities. "Omaha also has a rich tradition of family life and it's really a melting pot with all of the different groups that have come here over the years. Immigrants arriving every generation," he said. "So there's always new people and opportunities to meet people and to learn about their stories, their customs, and to be able to understand their faith." Lucas submitted his resignation in June 2024 as is required by canon law when a bishop reaches the age of 75. Pope Francis has appointed Lucas as apostolic administrator to govern the Archdiocese of Omaha until Archbishop-designate McGovern is formally installed on May 7. Pope Francis has been appointing new archbishops around the U.S. in recent months including in Milwaukee, Cincinnati and Detroit where archbishops have reached retirement age. McGovern said that Cardinal Blase Cupich of Chicago, an Omaha native, and Cardinal Christophe Pierre, the Apostolic Nuncio to the U.S., are expected to attend his installation ceremony at St. Cecilia Cathedral. Cupich installed McGovern as the ninth bishop of the Diocese of Belleville. Prior to his consecration and installation as bishop, McGovern served as a priest of the Archdiocese of Chicago under Cupich. He served as associate pastor at three Chicago parishes, then as pastor of St. Mary in Lake Forest and finally as pastor of St. Raphael the Archangel Parish in Old Mill Creek, Illinois. He also served in several administrative roles for the Archdiocese of Chicago, including as vice chancellor. McGovern said he will forever be grateful for his time as a pastor and bishop of his home state. He thanked the people of southern Illinois for their support and the many ways they shared their faith with him. He also said that he looks forward to meeting the priests who serve the more than 230,000 Catholics in the Omaha Archdiocese. "I pledge my constant support," McGovern said. "Please know, my brother priests, that I am here for you, and I will do my best to be the shepherd for the shepherds." McGovern, 60, was born on July 1, 1964, in Evergreen Park, Illinois, one of seven children. He grew up in the Beverly neighborhood of Chicago, where many of his family members continue to reside. McGovern attended St. Ignatius College Prep in Chicago. During high school, he served as a lector both at St. Ignatius and at his home parish, Christ the King. McGovern attended Loyola University in Chicago, graduating in 1986 with a degree in philosophy. After graduation, McGovern worked for four years before applying for admission as a seminarian for the Archdiocese of Chicago at Mundelein Seminary. He was awarded a baccalaureate degree in theology in 1993 and a master of divinity degree in 1994. On May 21, 1994, Cardinal Joseph Bernardin ordained McGovern to the priesthood in Chicago's Holy Name Cathedral. On July 1, 2016, Cardinal Cupich appointed McGovern pastor of St. Raphael the Archangel Parish in Old Mill Creek, Illinois. Archbishop Lucas, who will celebrate his 50th Jubilee as a priest this year, expressed gratitude for his time leading the archdiocese. It has been my privilege to serve as the Archbishop of Omaha for almost 16 years, Lucas said in a statement released prior to the press conference. It gives me great joy to know that such a good shepherd has been sent to guide us on our pilgrim way in the coming years. Please join me in praying for Archbishop-designate McGovern as he prepares to leave the people in the Diocese of Belleville whom he has served with such dedication and to make his home here in the Archdiocese of Omaha. Lucas has repeatedly denied an accusation in an ongoing lawsuit filed last year in St. Louis County Circuit Court against the Archdiocese of St. Louis and Archbishop Mitchell T. Rozanski. In the lawsuit, he is accused by an anonymous person of sexually abusing a teenage seminarian. The allegation against me by an anonymous person is a complete fabrication, he said in a statement last July. It never happened. I have never had sexual contact with another person. Editor note: For live results from the City of Omaha primary election, go here. Voters will be able to weigh in on candidates for Omaha's mayor and city council seats in Tuesday's primary election. The City of Omaha primary election is nonpartisan, meaning all voters will be able to select from a list of all candidates for mayor and the city council district in which they live. The top two vote-getters in each race will move on to the general election, which starts with early voting April 28 and continues through Election Day, May 13. How can I vote? Polls will be open from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. Tuesday. Voting will take place across 168 polling places, according to the Douglas County Election Commission. Voters can use the "Find My Voting Information" tool on the election commission's website to locate their polling place. The deadline to request to vote early by mail has passed. Those who received a ballot by mail have until 8 p.m. Tuesday to return their ballot to the Election Commission office or a drop box. A list of drop box locations is available here. Who is running? Voter guide: Get to know the candidates running for Omaha mayor Omaha voters have a chance to shake things up around the metro in the 2025 election. Get to know the five candidates running for Omaha mayor. In the mayoral race, incumbent Jean Stothert faces challengers John Ewing Jr., Mike McDonnell, Jasmine Harris and Terry Brewer. Among city council districts, North Omaha's District 2 has the most candidates running, with nine contenders. Incumbent Juanita Johnson faces challengers LaVonya Goodwin, William King, Tyrone Eure, Ben Gray, Maurice Jones, Michael A. Lee, Anthony K. Rogers-Wright and Cheryl Weston. In the District 1 race, incumbent Pete Festersen faces challenger Mark Brannen, and in District 3, incumbent Danny Begley faces challenger Michael Pilypaitis. The District 4 race is between incumbent Ron Hug and challengers Andrew Adams, Jonathan Renteria and Gilbert Ayala. In District 5 and District 6, incumbents Don Rowe and Brinker Harding are running unopposed. In District 7, incumbent Aimee Melton faces challenger Tim Carter. What do I need to know about voter ID law? Under voter ID requirements that were first used in the May 2024 primary election, voters must show ID at their polling place in order to vote. Valid photo ID options include Nebraska driver's licenses; U.S. passports; military IDs; tribal IDs; IDs issued by local governments in Nebraska, such as schools, counties or cities; and IDs issued by public or private colleges and universities in Nebraska. More information on Nebraska voter ID requirements is available here. The ID can be expired, but must show the voters name and photo. The ID doesn't have to include an address and can still be used if it has an out-of-date address. People who vote in person but dont have an acceptable ID with them can cast a provisional ballot. For the ballot to be counted, the voter must go to the county election office by the Tuesday following the election to present an ID. When will we learn the results? The first round of election results is expected to go live just as polls close at 8 p.m. Tuesday. Additional results will be released at 8:45 p.m., 9:45 p.m., 10:45 p.m. and periodically thereafter, according to a press release from the election commission. Depending on how close a race is, the winner may not be able to be called until provisional ballots have been counted, which takes place during the week following the election. A total of 294,817 people are registered to vote in the primary. Voter turnout in the last municipal primary in 2021 was 28.5%. The World-Herald staff will update polling and race results on Omaha.com throughout the night Tuesday. WASHINGTON 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. It also raises 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've done successfully for years. Hegseth's memo calls for a review of how standards changed and the effects of those shifts since Jan. 1, 2015 the year the Defense Department opened all combat jobs to women. 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 generally are 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-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 3-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 monthslong qualification courses. 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 were adjusted for reasons ranging from religious tolerance to recruiting and evolving societal trends. In large part, they were 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 started bringing in people who didnt graduate from high school or get a GED. Both were shifts that the other services largely avoided. The Navy argued it needed those lower-scoring recruits to fill jobs that involve intense manual labor. Hegseth said little about that type of standard and focused on physical rather than mental fitness. In addition, several services 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. Most of the services relaxed policies on marijuana in recent years. Similarly, they 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. The Evaluation Report on Worldwide City Hotline Services and Governance Effectiveness is pictured during the 2024 Beijing Forum on Swift Response to Public Complaints in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 18, 2024. [Photo/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. By Taxpayers Association of Oregon OregonWatchdog.com Oregon independent journalist Andy Ngo has reported on a downtown hotel that was targeted by protestors. The crime was that the hotel dared to call the polcie during a riot. This is a serious problem when businesses and pedestrians are afraid to call police as Leftist rioters vandalize downtown. Protestors are now like the mafia. Breaking: On March 27, Antifa in Portland launched a violent attack on @TheSocietyHotel in downtown as revenge for it allegedly calling police over criminal activity on the street that Antifa seek to maintain as part of their racket. Portland Antifa ringleader Alyssa Azar was pic.twitter.com/8kP569r8nT Andy Ngo (@MrAndyNgo) March 28, 2025 . The Tweet is featured here in case it does not load. Support Andy Ngo efforts here. . . . 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: 16s rRNA PCR of human pathogens in wound fluids. Credit: Nature Machine Intelligence (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s42256-025-01019-5 Researchers have developed new AI models that can vastly improve accuracy and discovery within protein science. The models could assist the medical sciences in overcoming present challenges within personalized medicine, drug discovery, and diagnostics. In the wake of the widespread availability of AI tools, most fields in the technical and natural sciences are advancing rapidly. This is particularly true in biotechnology, where AI models power breakthroughs in drug discovery, precision medicine, gene editing, food security, and many other research areas. One sub-field is proteomicsthe study of proteins on a large scalewhere vast amounts of protein data are gathered in databases against which a sample can be compared. These databases enable scientists to discern which proteinsand, thereby, microorganismsare present in a sample. They allow a doctor to diagnose diseases, monitor the effectiveness of a treatment, or identify pathogens present in a patient's sample. Although these tools are useful and effective, there are limits to what they can do, says Timothy Patrick Jenkins, an Associate Professor at DTU Bioengineering and corresponding author: "First off, no database includes everything, so you need to know which databases are relevant to your particular needs. Then deep searches are very time-consuming and demand a lot of computer power. And, finally, it's nearly impossible to identify proteins that haven't been registered yet." For this reason, some groups have worked on so-called "de novo sequencing algorithms" that improve accuracy and lower computational costs with increasing database size. Still, according to Jenkins and colleagues from DTU, Delft University in the Netherlands and the British AI company InstaDeep, their performance remained "underwhelming." Exceeding state-of-the-art In a new paper in Nature Machine Intelligence, they propose two novel AI models to assist researchers, medical practitioners, and commercial entities in finding exactly the necessary information in the vast amounts of data. These are called InstaNovo and InstaNovo+ and are available to researchers through the InstaDeep website. "Seen together, our models exceed state-of-the-art and are significantly more precise than currently available tools. Furthermore, as we show in the paper, our models are not specific to a particular research area. Instead, these tools could propel significant advances in all fields involving proteomics," says Kevin Michael Eloff, a research engineer at InstaDeep and co-first author of the paper. To assess the usefulness of their models, the researchers have trained and tested them on several specific tasks within major areas of interest. One investigation was conducted on wound fluid from patients with venous leg ulcers. Since venous leg ulcers are notoriously difficult to treat and often become chronic, knowing which microorganisms, such as bacteria, are present is crucial to treatment. The models could map 10 times as many sequences as a database search, including those of E. coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosathe latter being a multidrug-resistant bacterium. Another use case was conducted on small pieces of protein, called peptides, displayed on the surface of cells. These help the immune system recognize infections and diseases such as cancer. The InstaNovo models identified thousands of new peptides that were not found using traditional methods. Discover the latest in science, tech, and space with over 100,000 subscribers who rely on Phys.org for daily insights. Sign up for our free newsletter and get updates on breakthroughs, innovations, and research that matterdaily or weekly. In personalized cancer treatments, empowering the immune systemalso known as immunotherapythese peptides are all potential targets for attack. "In combination, our tests of the model on complex cases, where, for example, unknown proteins are present, or where we have no prior knowledge of the organisms involved, show that they are suitable to improve our understanding significantly. That this bodes well for biomedicine is a given, since it can directly improve identification of our microbiome, as well as improve our efforts within personalized medicine and cancer immunology," says Konstantinos Kalogeropoulos, co-first author and Assistant Professor at DTU Bioengineering. The paper provides six additional cases that demonstrate how these models improve therapeutic sequencing, discover novel peptides, detect unreported organisms, and significantly enhance proteomics searches. The implications of their results extend far beyond the medical sciences, says Timothy Patrick Jenkins: "Looking at it from a purely technical, scientific perspective, it is also true that, with these tools, we can improve our understanding of the biological world as a whole, not only in terms of health care, but also in industry and academia. "Within every field using proteomicsbe it plant science, veterinary science, industrial biotech, environmental monitoring, or archaeologywe can gain insights into protein landscapes that have been inaccessible until now." More information: Kevin Eloff et al, InstaNovo enables diffusion-powered de novo peptide sequencing in large-scale proteomics experiments, Nature Machine Intelligence (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s42256-025-01019-5 Journal information: Nature Machine Intelligence This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain In a continued effort to expedite rebuilding after Los Angeles' devastating firestorms, Gov. Gavin Newsom this week suspended California environmental laws for utility providers working to reinstall key infrastructure. His latest executive order eliminates requirements to comply with the California Environmental Quality Act, commonly known as CEQA, and the California Coastal Act for utilities working to rebuild "electric, gas, water, sewer and telecommunication infrastructure" in the Palisades and Eaton fire burn zones. Newsom also continued to encourage the "undergrounding" of utility equipment when feasible, which he said will help minimize the future fire risk in these communities. "We are determined to rebuild Altadena, Malibu and Pacific Palisades stronger and more resilient than before," Newsom said in a statement. "Speeding up the pace that we rebuild our utility systems will help get survivors back home faster and prevent future fires." The move builds on Newsom's previous executive orders that exempted work rebuilding homes and businesses destroyed or damaged by the fires as well as wildfire prevention efforts from the two environmental laws. CEQA requires local and state agencies to identify and mitigate the environmental impacts of their work. The California Coastal Act, which made permanent the California Coastal Commission, lays out regulations for coastal development and protection. While the laws have been heralded by environmentalists, their processes have long been considered onerous by developers, and residents and officials have urged their requirements be lessened or waived to expedite fire recovery. The Trump administration has also taken issue with the California Coastal Commissionwhich typically regulates any coastal development as enumerated by the state's Coastal Actand has indicated further federal aid could have stipulations that target the commission's work. "The key now is to make sure that we move quickly to address the needs to underground not just traditional utilities for electricity but also water and sewer lines, and do it concurrently," Newsom said in a video posted on social media this week. Joshua Smith, a spokesperson for the Coastal Commission, declined to comment on the latest executive order. Previously, the commission's executive director had clarified that coastal development permits are typically waived after disasters like the L.A. fires, as long as new construction won't be 10% larger than the destroyed structure it is replacing. That statement, however, has since been removed from the commission's website. In a letter sent last month, Newsom urged Southern California Edison, the area's largest electricity provider, to do all it can to rebuild lines underground in these areas. "SCE has the opportunity to build back a more modern, reliable and resilient electric distribution system that can meet the community's immediate and future needs," Newsom wrote, adding that he welcomed information and suggestions that would ease such efforts and keep costs down. Installing utilities underground is much more expensive than typical above-ground construction, which has limited the practice. David Eisenhauer, an Edison spokesperson, said waiving CEQA and the Coastal Act will help the utility's ongoing efforts to rebuild and move lines underground. 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. "We appreciate Gov. Newsom's action to help expedite permitting," Eisenhauer said. "This will help us continue this process of undergrounding and help the communities rebuild stronger." Eisenhauer said SoCal Edison is already in the process of reestablishing and moving some of its electrical wires underground in the areas affected by the fires. Some of this work had been plannedand permittedbeforehand, including moving 40 miles of line underground in Altadena and doing likewise with 80 miles in the Palisades area, he said. However, this executive order will help ease the permitting process for future work. It wasn't immediately clear how other utilities might benefit from the executive order, if at all. Representatives for Southern California Gas Co. and the L.A. Department of Water and Power didn't immediately respond to requests for comment. Newsom has previously said his executive orders waiving these environmental laws do not signal a shift in California's support of such efforts, though many environmental activists worry such broad exemptions could have serious consequences down the road. Bruce Reznik, executive director of Los Angeles Waterkeeper, a nonprofit that advocates for clean waterways, said he understands the urgency to rebuild but those efforts need a balance that considers important environmental protectionsnot blanket waivers and exceptions. "We all want to see the rebuilding happen as quickly as we can but we also have to be smart about it," Reznik said. "We have to build recognizing the reality of today's climate change." He said the natural space in Altadena and Pacific Palisades was a big part of why people loved living there, and it's important to protect those areasas CEQA and the California Coastal Act do. "These laws play a really critical role in making sure as we rebuild we're doing it with an eye toward climate resilience, protecting against further natural disasters (and) the health of our waterways and ecosystems," he said. "Unfortunately, that hasn't been the way the governor has operated, and you have to worry about what that will mean." Susan Jordan, executive director of the California Coastal Protection Network, said Newsom's continued exemptions build on concerning environmental practices she's seen in the fires' aftermath, including the decision not to test soil in affected areas. "I hope that the governor will one day recognize that the Coastal Commission is a willing partner and one of the best tools he has in his toolbox to ensure a quick, informed and coordinated response to establish future long-term resiliency along the coast," Jordan said in a statement. 2025 Los Angeles Times. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Finger paintings made by children in Rouffignac Cave, 14,000 to 20,000 years ago. Credit: Dr. Van Gelder A team of Tel Aviv University researchers from the field of prehistoric archaeology has proposed an innovative hypothesis regarding an intriguing question: Why did ancient humans bring their young children to cave-painting sitesdeep undergroundthrough dark, meandering, hazardous passages? The researchers explain, "Next to many cave paintings, there is clear evidence of the presence of children as young as two years old. So far, most hypotheses have focused on the educational aspectlearning the community's traditions and customs. However, we believe that children also played a unique cultural role in these caves: Young children were credited with special qualities in the spiritual world, enabling them to communicate with entities from the beyondwhich were believed to be accessible from the depths of the cave." The study was conducted by Dr. Ella Assaf, Dr. Yafit Kedar, and Prof. Ran Barkai from the Jacob M. Alkow Department of Archaeology and Ancient Near Eastern Cultures at Tel Aviv University. The paper is published in the journal Arts. Dr. Assaf explains, "Cave art created by early humans is a fascinating phenomenon that intrigues many researchers. To date, around 400 caves containing cave art have been discovered, mainly in France and Spain, with the artwork dated between 40,000 and 12,000 years ago. There is solid evidence of children's participation in the artworkhandprints and finger paintings made by children aged two to twelve. In addition, footprints and handprints of children have been found in some caves, alongside those of adults. "This naturally raises the question: Why were the children there? Why were very young children taken on exhausting and hazardous journeys deep into the dark, meandering caves with low oxygen levelscrawling through crevices, descending shafts, and climbing rocks to reach their destination?" Finger paintings made by children in Rouffignac Cave, 14,000 to 20,000 years ago. Credit: Dr. Van Gelder Dr. Kedar elaborates, "Despite extensive research on cave art, few studies have focused on the presence of children. The prevailing hypothesis is that their participation served an educational purposepassing down knowledge, traditions, and customs to the next generation. In our study, we argue that children's involvement had an additional meaning: In fact, they played an important, unique role of their owndirect communication with entities residing in the depths of the earth and otherworldly realms. "This study follows our previous works, in which we presented cave artworks as expressions of cosmological approaches, with emphasis on relationships between humans and various entities." Dr. Assaf adds, "Based on extensive studies about children in Indigenous societies, along with new insights into rituals performed in caves with cave paintings, a new understanding is emerging regarding the role of children in the creation of cave art. By integrating data from these research fields, we were able, for the first time, to propose a novel and original explanation for the inclusion of children in creating cave paintings: The world of childhood differs from that of adults, and children possess a range of unique mental and cognitive traits. "For this reason, indigenous cultures worldwide, throughout history and prehistory, have viewed children as 'active agents'mediators between this world and the entities inhabiting the natural world, the underworld, and the cosmos as a whole. In this way, children made a vital contribution to their communitieshunter-gatherers who lived in nature and sought to maintain continuous, respectful relationships with various entities: animals and plants that served as food sources, stones used for toolmaking, ancestral spirits, and more." Children's footprints from Basura Cave, 14,000 years ago. Credit: Prof. Marco Romano; Romano et al. 2019 Prof. Barkai continues, "Many of these societies regarded caves as gateways to the underworldwhere, through shamanic rituals, they could communicate with cosmic entities and inhabitants of the underworld, to resolve existential problems. In this context, young children were perceived as liminal beingsbelonging to both the realm they had left just recently (before birth) and the world they currently inhabit. "Thus, small children were considered particularly suited to bridging the gap between the worlds and delivering messages to non-human entities. In this paper, we connect these insights and propose that children joined adults on journeys into the depths of caves and participated in painting and rituals as part of their role in the communityas ideal mediators with entities from the beyond." More information: Ella Assaf et al, Child in Time: Children as Liminal Agents in Upper Paleolithic Decorated Caves, Arts (2025). DOI: 10.3390/arts14020027 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: Meghan Blumstein studied red oak genotypes across New England, concentrating on trees that were within reach in Cambridge, Massachusetts. She then collaborated with people doing research at the Harvard Forest, a research forest in rural central Massachusetts. Credit: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2025). DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2408564122 It's tricky to predict precisely what the impacts of climate change will be, given the many variables involved. To predict the impacts of a warmer world on plant life, some researchers look at urban "heat islands," where, because of the effects of urban structures, temperatures consistently run a few degrees higher than those of the surrounding rural areas. This enables side-by-side comparisons of plant responses. But a new study by researchers at MIT and Harvard University has found that, at least for forests, urban heat islands are a poor proxy for global warming, and this may have led researchers to underestimate the impacts of warming in some cases. The discrepancy, they found, has a lot to do with the limited genetic diversity of urban tree species. The findings are published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, in a paper by MIT postdoc Meghan Blumstein, professor of civil and environmental engineering David Des Marais, and four others. "The appeal of these urban temperature gradients is, well, it's already there," says Des Marais. "We can't look into the future, so why don't we look across space, comparing rural and urban areas?" Because such data is easily obtainable, methods comparing the growth of plants in cities with similar plants outside them have been widely used, he says, and have been quite useful. Researchers did recognize some shortcomings to this approach, including significant differences in availability of some nutrients such as nitrogen. Still, "a lot of ecologists recognized that they weren't perfect, but it was what we had," he says. Most of the research by Des Marais' group is lab-based, under conditions tightly controlled for temperature, humidity, and carbon dioxide concentration. While there are a handful of experimental sites where conditions are modified out in the field, for example using heaters around one or a few trees, "those are super small-scale," he says. "When you're looking at these longer-term trends that are occurring over space that's quite a bit larger than you could reasonably manipulate, an important question is, how do you control the variables?" Temperature gradients have offered one approach to this problem, but Des Marais and his students have also been focusing on the genetics of the tree species involved, comparing those sampled in cities to the same species sampled in a natural forest nearby. And it turned out there were differences, even between trees that appeared similar. "So, lo and behold, you think you're only letting one variable change in your model, which is the temperature difference from an urban to a rural setting," he says, "but in fact, it looks like there was also a genotypic diversity that was not being accounted for." The genetic differences meant that the plants being studied were not representative of those in the natural environment, and the researchers found that the difference was actually masking the impact of warming. The urban trees, they found, were less affected than their natural counterparts in terms of when the plants' leaves grew and unfurled, or "leafed out," in the spring. The project began during the pandemic lockdown, when Blumstein was a graduate student. She had a grant to study red oak genotypes across New England, but was unable to travel because of lockdowns. So, she concentrated on trees that were within reach in Cambridge, Massachusetts. She then collaborated with people doing research at the Harvard Forest, a research forest in rural central Massachusetts. Discover the latest in science, tech, and space with over 100,000 subscribers who rely on Phys.org for daily insights. Sign up for our free newsletter and get updates on breakthroughs, innovations, and research that matterdaily or weekly. They collected three years of data from both locations, including the temperature profiles, the leafing-out timing, and the genetic profiles of the trees. Though the study was looking at red oaks specifically, the researchers say the findings are likely to apply to trees broadly. At the time, researchers had just sequenced the oak tree genome, and that allowed Blumstein and her colleagues to look for subtle differences among the red oaks in the two locations. The differences they found showed that the urban trees were more resistant to the effects of warmer temperatures than were those in the natural environment. "Initially, we saw these results and we were sort of like, oh, this is a bad thing," Des Marais says. "Ecologists are getting this heat island effect wrong, which is true." Fortunately, this can be easily corrected by factoring in genomic data. "It's not that much more work, because sequencing genomes is so cheap and so straightforward. Now, if someone wants to look at an urban-rural gradient and make these kinds of predictions, well, that's fine. You just have to add some information about the genomes." It's not surprising that this genetic variation exists, he says, since growers have learned by trial and error over the decades which varieties of trees tend to thrive in the difficult urban environment, with typically poor soil, poor drainage, and pollution. "As a result, there's just not much genetic diversity in our trees within cities." The implications could be significant, Des Marais says. When the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) releases its regular reports on the status of the climate, "one of the tools the IPCC has to predict future responses to climate change with respect to temperature are these urban-to-rural gradients." He hopes that these new findings will be incorporated into their next report, which is just being drafted. "If these results are generally true beyond red oaks, this suggests that the urban heat island approach to studying plant response to temperature is underpredicting how strong that response is." More information: Meghan Blumstein et al, Genomics highlight an underestimation of phenology sensitivity to the urban heat island effect, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2025). DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2408564122 Journal information: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences This story is republished courtesy of MIT News (web.mit.edu/newsoffice/), a popular site that covers news about MIT research, innovation and teaching. 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. [Photo/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. 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. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Lead research author Stephen Peters-Collear measures a log in a stream. Credit: Bill Keeton Living trees absorb carbon, aiding climate change mitigation. But what role do dead trees play in carbon storage? UVM researchers found that large, downed trees in streams tie up tremendous stores of carbonand this pool of carbon storage is growing over time. Moreover, large trees in streamside forests proved important for recruiting carbon into streams over timereflecting the environmental value of big, old trees. "We know that about 20% of global annual greenhouse gas emissions come from land use and deforestation," University of Vermont professor and study author Dr. William Keeton said, "but we can also use forests and other land cover as what we call a natural climate solutionfinding ways to sequester and store more carbon in vegetation." Keeton had long suspected that water-bound wood in old-growth forests was surely storing carbonbut how much? Turns out, quite a lot. "Old-growth forests stored four to five times more carbon in the wood lying in the streams than mature forests did," said lead author and University of Vermont Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources graduate student Stephen Peters-Collaer. "And in mature forests, this in-stream, dead-wood carbon pool is about 50% to 60% larger than that stored in downed wood in an area of equivalent size on the forest floor." He noted that although upland streams take up less space than land in forests, by focusing on large pieces of wood in streams, the study, published in the journal Ecosystems, found a key missing piece of the carbon-storage calculation in these ecosystemsone that hadn't been measured before. "One of the reasons that we were interested in this question is because there's been increasing realization in recent years that wood in streams, lakes and other aquatic systems stores carbon, but that carbon storage wasn't well-quantified," Peters-Collaer, a Gund Institute for Environment Graduate Fellow, said. The field sites, which had established research histories that provided extensive context for their data, were Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest in New Hampshire, and old-growth forests in the Adirondack State Park of New York Keeton has studied for years. Large fallen logs and branches can be significant carbon sinks, Keeton said, because their lower surface-area-to-volume ratio leaves less access for decomposing agents to break down the wood, especially when submerged, so they release stored carbon more slowly. Such logs can also fully span small upland streams, Keeton added, forming persistent dams, accumulating ever more wood and other organic materials, and compounding their carbon-banking effect. While headwater streams are often relatively small and narrow, they account for 70% of total river milesand their upland location leaves them typically undeveloped, Peters-Collaer said. Taken together, these factors mean these carbon-hoarding soggy logs might be a significant carbon sink. Yet researchers had no idea how much carbon this stream-bound wood might be holding onto, or how it might vary between mature and old-growth forests, Peters-Collaer noted. In part, Keeton muses, this is because "scientists will often study either the streams or the forest, but not both, or they won't look at the relationships between them." This is a relationship that is constantly changing, Keeton emphasized. "The connection between stream and forest is not static but dynamic. One of our major messages is that we must take a long view, and we must think of these as dynamic systems." 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. Researchers, joined by UVM undergraduate field crews, spent three summers tramping a total of 4,500 meters of headwater streams at Hubbard Brook, carefully surveying the wood in streams, measuring their size to calculate the amount of carbon they held, and inventorying the surrounding streamside forests. "We found that a forest that's developing toward old-growth condition is accruing more wood in the stream than is being lost through decomposition," Peters-Collaer said. "As long as the wood recruitment rates exceed the loss rates, you have a net increase in total carbon stored. Large trees were especially important in this respect." The effect will continue in coming decades, Keeton said, because many mature New England forests are only about halfway through their long recovery from 19th- and 20th-century clearing for timber and agriculture. As mature forests like Hubbard Brook approach old age like the Adirondack forests the researchers examined, they'll continue to suck up and accumulate stored carbon for many decades to come. "We can expect the carbon pool stored in these forests to increase substantially," Keeton said. "We've quantified a type of carbon storage that had been missing from previous global carbon modelsan important part of understanding natural climate solutions." The work provides notable insight for Vermont landowners80% of Vermont's forested lands are privately ownedwho may include carbon storage and natural climate solutions in their land-use plans. This is a valuable aspect of this research, said Keeton: serving Vermonters with valuable knowledge to guide sustainable land management. "This is something that we're very proud ofwhen our work has benefits for the community," Keeton said. "That's part of the University of Vermont's land-grant mission." More information: Stephen Peters-Collaer et al, An Emerging Carbon Sink in Headwater Streams and the Role of Large Wood and Riparian Forest Structure, Ecosystems (2025). DOI: 10.1007/s10021-025-00965-w Journal information: Ecosystems 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: Ramaz Bluashvili from Pexels Europe's physics lab CERN is planning to build a particle-smasher even bigger than its Large Hadron Collider to continue searching for answers to some of the universe's tiniest yet most profound mysteries. The Future Circular Collider (FCC) has not yet received a political green light or funding. Even if approved, the vast project would not start operations until the 2040sor be completed until the end of the century. CERN's Large Hadron Collider (LHC), which famously discovered the "God particle" Higgs boson and is currently the world's powerful particle accelerator, is expected to have run its course by the 2040s. These massive machines smash particlessuch as protons which are inside every atom, or lead ionsinto each other. To do so, they use superconducting magnets to beam the particles at incredible speeds around giant underground rings, using detectors to capture the collisions. This can expose new elementary particles of matter, revealing their true nature. For example, in 2012 the LHC proved the existence of the Higgs boson, a long-theorized maker of mass known as the God particle. It is a key element of the standard model, which is our best understanding of how the universe works. The LHC spins around a 27-kilometer tunnel deep under the border between France and Switzerland. The future collider would be more than three times this size, stretching around 91 kilometers, also under the two countries. That extra runway would allow it to smash particles into each other with eight times more energy. It would also have far more sensitive detectors. The hope is that this will allow the collider to discover lighter or heavier particles than the ones scientists already know about. Bigger to see smaller Other mysteries abound. Scientists believe that normal mattersuch as everything we can seemakes up just 5% of the universe. The rest is thought to be dark matter and dark energy, the nature of which remains unknown. Exactly what is going on with antimatterthe mysterious twins of visible matteris another open question. The mass of super-light neutrino particles has also remained elusive. CERN hopes that its future collider could finally shed some light on these quandaries. A feasibility study is under way for the FCC, which CERN estimated earlier this year will cost around $17 billion. If approved, the project would be in two separate phases. An electron-positron collider would start smashing lighter particles together in 2046, aiming to further explore the physics of the Higgs boson. Then the heavy duty proton-proton collider for heavier particles would come online in 2070. Its energy target would be 100 trillion electronvoltscrushing the LHC's record of 13.6 trillion. Work is scheduled to start in 2033 on a 5.5 meter-wide tunnel passing 100 meters under Lake Geneva in Switzerland, and looping round through a range of the French countryside. There will be eight sites on the surface, seven of which will be in France. Then from 2038, the scientific equipment would start getting installed. The two main experiments will need huge underground caverns up to 66 meters tall to house the particle detectors. 2025 AFP This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain The 2011 Egyptian uprisingspart of what became known by many as the "Arab Spring"were noted for their heavy social media use, with protesters often broadcasting demonstrations in real time. But a prominent Facebook group's posting style changed markedly in the subsequent period that brought new leadership to the country, according to a new study led in part by a Virginia Commonwealth University researcher, who said its findings point to the era's misperceptions about technology, media and freedom. Mariam Alkazemi, Ph.D., an associate professor in the Richard T. Robertson School of Media and Culture, and colleagues wanted to investigate how one Egyptian activist group shifted its Facebook posting tactics between two periods of protestthe 2011 uprisings, and 2019, when a new wave of protests targeted the rule of Abdel Fattah el-Sissi, who has served as president since 2014. Between these periods, journalism in Egypt was either very limited or controlled by the state. The study's findings, Alkazemi said, point to how the early-2010s optimism that the internet and social media would lead to greater social and media freedoms was misplaced. Instead, she asserts that the rise of social media has coincided with a global drop in media freedom. And while social media increased public awareness of the protests in Egypt, it didn't ultimately lead to greater social freedoms as some originally expected. "Today, in 2025, we can honestly look back and say that the scholarly community and political commentators got the story wrong," Alkazemi said. "That's why this study is exciting." The findings are published in Journalism. Egypt's political landscape was dominated by a series of massive protests between 2011 and 2014, which initially culminated in the resignation of President Hosni Mubarak and a brief tenure of his successor, Mohamed Morsi. Much of the online discourse during this span was led by the April 6th Youth Movement, an activist organization with several hundred thousand followers on Facebook. The movement was characterized by its diversity and intense social media usageso much so that the Egyptian government blocked Facebook in the country for several days in 2011. But Alkazemi's new study found that the movement's style and frequency of posting changed notably between the decade's protest periods, shifting from on-the-ground citizen journalism to general activism. "In the first time period, when people were protesting the government, they were extremely critical of the media," she said. "And in the second time period, the narrative really shifts as the government controls social media more." The researchers downloaded 661 posts from the April 6th Youth Movement's Facebook page from February 2011, when the group was posting 22 times per day on average, and 354 posts from February 2019 to October 2019, when the group had slowed its activity to roughly one post every other day. They then categorized the posts into nine categories, such as "nationalistic or revolutionary slogans" or "political demands," and extracted hashtags from the 2019 posts. (Alkazemi noted that Facebook has changed considerably since 2011, adding new post "reactions" in addition to "likes," as well as larger changes to the platform's algorithm and user base. The researchers' work is also constrained to one page on one social media platform.) While the number of posts dropped between the two time periods, the percentage of posts calling for support for the April 6th movement, providing revolutionary slogans and commenting on the impact of the Egyptian revolution did not change, and the percentage of posts criticizing the government and making political demands increased. Posts from 2019 also received more "likes" than posts from 2011. Discover the latest in science, tech, and space with over 100,000 subscribers who rely on Phys.org for daily insights. Sign up for our free newsletter and get updates on breakthroughs, innovations, and research that matterdaily or weekly. However, the percentage of posts calling for national unity, expressing Egyptian pride, mentioning the plight of the Egyptian people and providing time-sensitive information to protesters declined. Most significantly, the group shifted its journalistic and activist roles over time. During the 2011 study period, the group functioned as citizen journalists, posting videos and information about current sit-ins, protests and demonstrations. But by 2019, the group had transitioned to posting bigger-picture, activist messages. The group also moved from criticizing the mainstream media to showing support for journalism. "In media environments where journalists don't have access, what do they do?" Alkazemi said. "If you think about how hard the job is, and then you add all these structural pressures, it's really fascinating to see all the different variations of journalism that come out of it." More information: Brian J. Bowe et al, Parallel spheres: The shifting role of digitally engaged activist journalism after Egypt's January 25 revolution, Journalism (2025). DOI: 10.1177/14648849251325708 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 Like so many others, the Northern transplant flew to Florida for warmer temperatures, landed in Osceola County and stayed for over 20 years. Now he's moved on. This particular snowbird, however, was an actual birdone of the last two whooping cranes in the region and one of just five in the state. His departure leaves Central Florida without a local celebrity, at least among those in the know, while underscoring a failed, decades-long effort to establish a population of one of the world's rarest birds in the Sunshine State. "He's a very handsome bird," said Diane Gates, who traveled to see the crane after learning of him from posts on eBird, a website where bird-watchers post sightings. "It was kind of overwhelming because it's so different and the guy is so huge." Only about 830 whooping cranes exist in the world but they used to number in the tens of thousands in North America alone, though they were not native to Florida. The whooping crane was listed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as threatened in 1967 and endangered in 1970. The agency said the bird's name probably originated from the loud, single-note vocalization it makes repeatedly when alarmed. The 25-year-old Osceola bird, known as 1018 for the number on the metal band encircling his leg, had hatched in a Maryland facility. But he became a fixture of the Buena Lago neighborhood under construction just outside St. Cloud off the shore of Alligator Lake. State wildlife officials relocated him to Louisiana earlier this month to live in a colony of dozens of his kind. He left behind his ex-wife, who is also his sister. She is shier and not often seen. In contrast, 1018's height of 5 feet and stark white feathers made him a star in the community. He caught the attention of bird-watchers near and far. "I was just really amazed by his size," said Ashley Hill, 23, a resident who'd seen the crane on walks with her dog, Zen. "I Googled him because I have never seen a bird like thatso he is really cool." Gates drove over an hour from her Merritt Island home to Osceola for a chance to see a whooping crane in real life for the first time in over 15 years of bird-watching. "I watched him fly in with two sandhill cranes and he was making some sounds so he was pretty vocal," she said. "I parked my Jeep and he like walked right next to my Jeep looking for food." Those entering Buena Lago are greeted by rows of townhomes with dark blue doors and a clubhouse pool. Roughly 50 homes are occupied, mainly by families, but hundreds of lots sit empty with weeds and pipes for water connections rising up from the grass. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission on March 6 captured 1018 from this subdivision and relocated him to Louisiana where a population of 73 cranes live. He was wandering Buena Lago alongside much-smaller sandhill cranesmating with them and begging for food, a behavior researchers said was problematic. Tim Dellinger, an avian researcher for FWC and part of the team which captured 1018, said with only two females left in the state it's highly unlikely he'd find a mate. He said moving him was his best bet to find onehe can reproduce even after age 25, but not for much longer. 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. "We just didn't feel like he would survive much longer [in Buena Lago] as they've already put in the roads for the new development," Dellinger said. "They're starting to build houses and so he may walk up and get hit by a car." Experts also grew concerned he'd lost the fear of human interaction just as his habitat was shrinking, with the community planned for over 300 homes starting to rise up around him. Larry Rosen, with Audubon of Osceola County, said every time a piece of land is developed it takes away habitat from many species of birds. "Birds can't breed on a driveway or parking lot," Rosen said. "Development definitely has an impactthat's one of our biggest problems with wildlife here in Osceola County." Some bird species adapt better to living in subdivisions, like meadowlarks or sandhill cranes, he said, but whooping cranes stand out due to their heightthey are the tallest birds in North America. He said the fearless nature of 1018 around people was an indication they were feeding him, which is illegal. "They've done very well coming into subdivisions and foraging on people's lawns," Rosen said. "But their natural habitat is out on the prairie and in wetlands, so they get hit by cars a lot." Dellinger said 1018 was part of the state's experimental effort to create a self-sustaining population of cranes289 were released into the wild between 1993 and 2005. The effort failed largely due to high mortality and low reproductive success. "Their survival was difficult mainly because of predation from bobcats and then we had a number of birds hit by power lines and more areas are being developed, so you're kind of losing the marshes too," he said. After hatching in 2000, 1018 was brought to Florida and released alongside seven others in 2001 near headwaters to the Everglades. But he flew north to just outside the St. Cloud city limitswhere he'd been since 2004. The birds are generally monogamous but will "divorce" if they repeatedly fail to successfully raise chicks with their mates. Dellinger said 1018's first mate died in 2010 after an alligator bite. "An alligator actually came up and took the leg off the female and we had a fake egg in the nest that was recording information and it chomped that too," he said. In December he "divorced" his second matethe last remaining crane in Osceola. He's had multiple chicks but only one surviveda daughter hatched in 2006 who now lives in the Gainesville area. The Florida relocation effort officially ended in 2012 but Louisiana's experimental self-sustaining population has been successful. The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries has reintroduced captive-reared whooping cranes to the White Lake Wetlands Conservation Area in the southwestern part of the state since 2011 and that's 1018's new home. The area of about 72,000 acres provides cranes ample space to roam. But 1018 isn't the only whooping crane to move from Florida to Louisiana. Since 2019, five have been relocated and three have found mates and nested. Dellinger said 1018 will be released into the wild with other whooping cranes but needs to gain weight and get healthier first. As far as the other two cranes in Florida, one hatched in 2000 is in the Lake Wales area and another hatched in 2003 lives in Sumter County. 2025 Orlando Sentinel. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: An overview of the sensor arrays from fabrication to gas detection. Credit: Md Abdul Momin Imagine walking into your kitchen and instantly knowing if the fish you bought yesterday is still freshor entering an industrial site with sensors that immediately alert you to hazardous gas leaks. This isn't science fictionit's the promise behind our newly developed nanomechanical sensor array, a powerful tool we've created to detect and analyze complex gases in real-time. In our recent study published in Microsystems & Nanoengineering, we introduce a miniaturized array of silicon and polymer-based sensors capable of detecting various gases quickly and accurately. This array utilizes a simple yet ingenious principle: when gas molecules enter the sensor, they diffuse into specific polymers, causing them to swell slightly. This swelling generates mechanical stress detected by tiny piezoresistive sensors embedded in silicon. It's like watching a sponge expand as it absorbs waterbut at a microscopic scale, with the expansion measured electrically to detect and identify gases. We carefully chose four different polymerspolyolefin, fluorocarbon, acrylic resin, and amino polymereach with distinct chemical properties, ensuring our sensors could detect a broad spectrum of gases ranging from water vapor and ethanol to complex organic vapors. Why four different polymers? Think of each polymer as having its unique sense of smell, tuned to pick up specific molecules. Together, they form a robust array that accurately identifies multiple gases simultaneously. During our tests, we exposed these sensors to various gas mixtures, mimicking real-life scenarios like humidity fluctuations, ethanol vapors, or even mixtures resembling hand rubbing alcohol. Remarkably, each polymer responded differently, creating a unique signal pattern or "fingerprint" for each gas or gas mixture. By applying principal component analysis, a statistical technique, we successfully distinguished between different gases and even their varying concentrations, achieving impressive sensitivity and selectivity. But detecting gases isn't just about laboratory precisionit has practical, everyday applications. To demonstrate this, we monitored the freshness of mackerel filets over seven days using our sensor array. As the fish gradually spoiled, microbial activity released distinctive gases. Our sensors accurately tracked these changes, offering precise information on freshness and spoilage progression. This kind of real-time monitoring could significantly enhance food safety, reduce waste, and optimize storage conditions. Beyond food safety, these sensor arrays have enormous potential across various industriesfrom health care, where analyzing human breath could lead to earlier disease detection, to environmental monitoring, where swift identification of hazardous gases can protect communities using only one sensor array. What excites me most about this innovation is its simplicity and potential for integration into everyday life. Unlike conventional bulky gas detection systems, our nanomechanical sensor array is compact, highly sensitive, and incredibly efficient, providing reliable results in mere seconds. This story is part of Science X Dialog, where researchers can report findings from their published research articles. Visit this page for information about Science X Dialog and how to participate. More information: Md. Abdul Momin et al, Investigation towards nanomechanical sensor array for real-time detection of complex gases, Microsystems & Nanoengineering (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41378-025-00899-2 Bios: Dr. Md Abdul Momin conducted research at Tohoku University, Japan (20202022), collaborating with Mitsui Chemicals, Inc., under Prof. Takahito Ono's lab. His work focused on developing highly sensitive MEMS sensors integrated with specialized smart polymers. Currently, Dr. Momin continues his research at the University of Southern Mississippi's School of Polymer Science and Engineering, following his tenure at the University of Pittsburgh, where he developed wearable technologies, including a finger ring for blood pressure monitoring. His research emphasizes the versatility of MEMS technology in enhancing human health and safety. Prof. Takahito Ono has been a professor in mechanical systems engineering at Tohoku University's Graduate School of Engineering. He served as Director of the Micro/Nanomachining Research and Education Center (20122014) and has been Co-Director of the Microsystem Integration Center (SiC) since 2010. Additionally, since 2013, he has held a professorship (guest courses) in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at The University of Tokyo, focusing on nanomechanics. Prof. Ono is a recognized expert in MEMS, nanoelectromechanical systems (NEMS), silicon-based nanofabrication, and ultrasensitive NEMS/MEMS sensors. Journal information: Microsystems and Nanoengineering 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: NASA NASA's Electrodynamic Dust Shield (EDS) successfully demonstrated its ability to remove regolith, or lunar dust and dirt, from its various surfaces on the moon during Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost Mission 1, which concluded on March 16. Lunar dust is extremely abrasive and electrostatic, which means it clings to anything that carries a charge. It can damage everything from spacesuits and hardware to human lungs, making lunar dust one of the most challenging features of living and working on the lunar surface. The EDS technology uses electrodynamic forces to lift and remove the lunar dust from its surfaces. The "before" image highlights the glass and thermal radiator surfaces covered in a layer of regolith, while the "after" image reveals the results following EDS activation. Dust was removed from both surfaces, proving the technology's effectiveness in mitigating dust accumulation. This milestone marks a significant step toward sustaining long-term lunar and interplanetary operations by reducing dust-related hazards to a variety of surfaces for space applications ranging from thermal radiators, solar panels, and camera lenses to spacesuits, boots, and helmet visors. The EDS technology is paving the way for future dust mitigation solutions, supporting NASA's Artemis campaign and beyond. NASA's Electrodynamic Dust Shield was developed at Kennedy Space Center in Florida with funding from NASA's Game Changing Development Program, managed by the agency's Space Technology Mission Directorate. Provided by NASA This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Conceptual diagram showing the level of fundamental understanding of extreme events related to weather conditions versus the inferred level of knowledge on how Greenhouse Gases related warming will impact their occurrence and magnitudes (redrawn after National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, 2016. Attribution of extreme weather events in the context of climate change. National Academies Press). The blue circles highlight those types of weather extremes that are relevant for the extreme flooding in the NW-European hydroclimatic setting. To the right various often overlooked factors in flood event attribution are summarized. Credit: Climatic Change (2025). DOI: 10.1007/s10584-025-03904-9 Recent "unprecedented" floods are not exceptional if we look further into the past, new research shows. A team of scientistsled by the University of Exeterused geological paleo-flood records to examine extreme floods in western Europe over several thousand years. Published in Climatic Change, the study finds many previous floods exceeded recent extremes, highlighting the need to use these paleo recordsnot just river gauge data that typically exists for the last century or less. The researchers challenge the idea that recent floods can be attributed solely to greenhouse gas emissions, but they warn that the combination of natural extremes and global warming could lead to truly extraordinary floods. "In recent years, floods around the worldincluding in Pakistan, Spain and Germanyhave killed thousands of people and caused enormous damage," said Professor Stephan Harrison, from the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences at Exeter's Penryn Campus in Cornwall. "Such floods are seen as 'unprecedented'but if you look back over the last few thousand years, that's not the case. In fact, floods we call unprecedented may be nowhere near the most extreme that have happened in the past." Compilation of extreme flood data from NW-Europe, based on gauged, documentary and palaeoflood data. Frame (A): Measured and reconstructed peak discharges of the Lower Rhine (the Netherlands). Frame (B): Measured and reconstructed peak discharges for the Upper Severn River (United Kingdom). Frame (C): Proxy flood magnitudes based on boulder berm deposits in upland catchments in the United Kingdom. Frame (D): Flood data from Spanish catchments. Frame (E): Locations of research sitesfor the Severn and the Rhine the catchment areas are shown in gray Credit: Climatic Change (2025). DOI: 10.1007/s10584-025-03904-9 Paleo-flood records use a range of evidence including floodplain sediments, dating sand grains and past movement of boulders to identify past extremes. Professor Harrison added, "You need that knowledge of the past if you're going to understand the present and make predictions about the future. "Coupling evidence of past extremes with the extra pressure now being added by human-caused global warmingwhich causes more extreme weatheryou see a risk of genuinely unprecedented floods emerging." Projects such as housing and infrastructure are built to be resilient to extreme floodsbased on assumptions such as a "one-in-200 year" or "one-in-400 year" flood event. "If we rely on relatively short-term records, we can't say what a 'one-in-200 year' flood isand therefore our resilient infrastructure may not be so resilient after all," said Professor Mark Macklin. "This has profound implications for flood planning and climate adaptation policy." The study examined paleo-flood records for the Lower Rhine (Germany and Netherlands), the Upper Severn (UK) and rivers around Valencia (Spain). In the Rhine, records for about 8,000 years show at least 12 floods that are likely to have exceeded modern peaks. The Severn analysis shows that floods in the last 72 years of monitoring are not exceptional in the context of paleo-flood records of the last 4,000 years. The largest flood in the Upper Severn occurred in about 250 BCE and is estimated to have had a peak discharge 50% larger than the damaging floods in the year 2000. More information: Stephan Harrison et al, Robust climate attribution of modern floods needs palaeoflood science, Climatic Change (2025). DOI: 10.1007/s10584-025-03904-9 Journal information: Climatic Change 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: Stentor coeruleus is a giant unicellular, filter-feeding protist that uses the coordinated motion of its oral ciliary structure to generate feeding currents. These currents allow the organism to capture and direct prey toward its oral opening. This image displays tracer particle tracks from a time-lapse recording, revealing the flow patterns generated by an individual S. coeruleus in its immediate vicinity. Credit: Shekhar et al., Nature Physics, 2025. Humans like to think that being multicellular (and bigger) is a definite advantage, even though 80% of life on Earth consists of single-celled organismssome thriving in conditions lethal to any beast. In fact, why and how multicellular life evolved has long puzzled biologists. The first known instance of multicellularity was about 2.5 billion years ago, when marine cells (cyanobacteria) hooked up to form filamentous colonies. How this transition occurred and the benefits it accrued to the cells, though, is less than clear. A study originating from the Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL) presents a striking example of cooperative organization among cells as a potential force in the evolution of multicellular life. Based on the fluid dynamics of cooperative feeding by Stentor, a relatively giant unicellular organism, the report is published in Nature Physics. "We took a step back in evolution, to when organisms were independent. Why did they even come together in a colony before they ever became fixed in position relative to each other?" says John Costello of Providence College, senior author on the study and an MBL Whitman Center scientist, along with co-author Sean Colin of Roger Williams University. "So much work on the origin of multicellular life focuses on chemistry. We wanted to investigate the role of physical forces in the process," says lead author Shashank Shekhar, Assistant Professor of Physics at Emory University and a former Whitman Center Early Career Awardee at MBL. A Flowtrace movie showing the particle tracks representing the flowfield of the individual Stentor. The movie consists of maximum intensity Z-projection images over a moving window of 1.5 s. Credit: Shekhar et al., Nature Physics, 2025. Many mouths are better than one Stentor is a trumpet-shaped, single-celled organism that can grow up to 2 mm long. In its native habitat of ponds or lakes, Stentor attaches its slender end (called the holdfast) to leaves or twigs while the trumpet end sways freely, creating a vortex of water to suck in food, such as bacteria, with its cilia-lined mouth. In the lab, the scientists noted, when Stentors are dropped into a dish of pond water, they quickly form a dynamic colony where the cells don't actually attach to one another, but their holdfasts touch together on the glass. By quantifying fluid flows, the team showed that two neighboring Stentors in a colony can double the flow rate of water into their mouths, as compared to their individual capacity. This allows them to suck in more prey and faster-swimming prey, by creating stronger vortexes that sweep in water from a greater distance. Flowtrace movie showing the particle tracks representing the resulting flowfield of a pair of Stentor individuals. Movie consists of a maximum intensity Z-projection images over a moving window of 0.5s. Credit: Shashank Shekhar, Emory University 'She loves me, she loves me not' However, the feeding benefits accrued by two neighboring Stentor aren't equal, the team found. The weaker Stentor gains more from teaming up than the stronger one does. And, curiously, they display what Shekhar calls "she loves me, she loves me not" behavior. When paired Stentors sway their trumpet ends together, their fluid flows increase, but then they invariably oscillate, pulling their mouths apart again. Why? To answer this, they turned to mathematical modeling of fluid dynamics across the colony, led by co-authors Hanliang Guo of Ohio Wesleyan University and Eva Kanso of the University of Southern California. Guo and Kanso confirmed a "promiscuity" in the colony, where individuals keep switching between neighboring partners. And the result is that all the cells in a Stentor colony, on average, gain stronger feeding flows. "In a colony, even though an individual might appear to be moving away from one neighbor, it is actually moving closer to another neighbor," the team writes. This makes sense from an evolutionary standpoint, "as individuals are expected to seek the most favorable energetic payoff by associating with a neighboring individual that benefits them most." "You might look at them as always attempting to optimize their income," Costello says. And the colony as a whole reaps more food. A Flowtrace movie showing the particle tracks representing the flowfield of the individual Stentor. The movie consists of maximum intensity Z-projection images over a moving window of 1.5 s. Credit: Shashank Shekhar, Emory University. 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. Just a phase But wait. The Stentor we know and love today is not multicellular. The colonies it forms are ephemeral; they disperse just by bumping the lab table. If the individuals collectively benefit from working together, why do they separate again? The scientists don't know for sure. But they've noted that when they give Stentors plenty of food, they are happy to remain attached to the glass and feed in colonies. But when the food is taken away and becomes scarce, the Stentors detach and go into individual foraging mode. "Humans do that, too," Shekhar says. "When there are plenty of resources and prey, we collaborate and cooperate. But when the resources reduce, it's each one to its own." We are not clones In other models of early multicellular life, such as the green algae Volvox cateri, cells that failed to divide properly eventually evolved a matrix between them, forming a colony of genetically identical cells which later differentiated. But the ephemeral Stentor colonies are formed not of clones, but of genetically distinct individuals. That's why the scientists think their Stentor model precedes other models of early multicellularity (which is believed to have evolved at least 25 times in different lineages). "This is earlier, much earlier in evolution where happy single cells said, OK, let's hang out together and benefit, but then let's go back to being single again. Multicellularity wasn't done permanently yet," says Shekhar. Shekhar began this study as a student in the 2014 MBL Physiology course with then course co-director Wallace Marshall of the University of California, San Francisco, an expert on Stentor. More information: Cooperative Hydrodynamics Accompany Multicellular-like Colonial Organization in the Unicellular Ciliate Stentor, Nature Physics (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41567-025-02787-y Journal information: Nature Physics 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 glacier in Priestley Glacier, Terra Nova Bay, Antarctica, featuring debris which has fallen from higher in the mountains. The surface of the glacier is fractured by the middle of the glacier moving much faster than the edge of the glacier. Credit: David Prior A University of OtagoOtakou Whakaihu Waka-led study is developing innovative methods to accurately predict how ice sheets and glaciers are deforming and moving. Just published in the journal Nature Geoscience, the study features researchers from the Universities of Cambridge, Pennsylvania and Maryland. It investigates ice deformation, a key process in the movement of glaciers and ice sheets that has been significantly impacted by climate change. Warmer ocean temperatures make ice sheets thinner at the edges so that ice and meltwater enter the ocean, which makes the sea level rise. Lead author Dr. Sheng Fan, of Otago's Department of Geology, says being able to estimate sea level rise is important to protect communities from flooding and plan for coastal erosion. "One of the key parts of how scientists do this is based on a model called flow law, a mathematical equation that describes the physics of how ice flows," Dr. Fan says. There are currently two commonly used flow laws, but they do not capture the full complexity of ice behaviors. "We need a more precise flow law so we can reduce prediction errors, especially with the way climate change is progressing." Researchers gathered 70 years' worth of data from experiments around the worldincluding New Zealand, the United Kingdom, the United States, Australia and Franceto form a detailed database. Simplified schematic illustrations to show how flow-law parameters are derived from experimental measurements. Credit: Nature Geoscience (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41561-025-01661-z The research used advanced statistical methods that account for uncertainties and limitations of previous ice-flow models, enabling more reliable predictions about future ice-sheet movement. Professor David Prior, of the Department of Geology, says the study is significant. "There are lots of things that contribute to sea level rise and the future of the ice sheet is probably the biggest uncertainty. "This study illustrates that we need to describe the behavior of the ice much more precisely, particularly if we want to use ice sheet modeling as a predicting tool. If we want our predictions of ice movement over the next few decades to be robust, we need to get the physics right." More information: Sheng Fan et al, Flow laws for ice constrained by 70 years of laboratory experiments, Nature Geoscience (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41561-025-01661-z Journal information: Nature Geoscience 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 In December 2001, a small but lively meeting in Budapest, Hungary, launched a whole new international movement. The resulting Budapest Open Access Initiative opened with the words: "An old tradition and a new technology have converged to make possible an unprecedented public good." This was the first definition of open access and referred to harnessing the internet to make scientific research openly available, without a subscription. It was a "statement of principle, a statement of strategy, and a statement of commitment." More than two decades later, the open access movement has broadened beyond simply research articles. It now incorporates research data, protocols, software and all aspects of the research process. The universal term for this is "open science." With its focus on transparency, open science offers part of the solution to the growing problem of scientific misconduct. A system that enables misconduct Academic institutions and researchers are focused on a very narrow set of metrics for success. These come down to authorship on a publication being the most valued currency in academia because this is the primary measure towards career progression and academic prestige. Another industry resulting from these metrics is the international university ranking systems. These are run by commercial organizations that publish lists of universities, which in turn promote their institution as being in the "top X%" of whichever list they have done well in. Despite widespread criticism, these systems continue to give institutions incentive to reward their academics for publishing in certain journals for the purpose of raising their rank. This "publish or perish" push is undermining science. For example, it has opened up several exploitative industries, such as predatory publishers. These are entities that exploit authors by charging fees for publication without providing adequate editorial services. Also on the rise are covert entities known as "paper mills," which manufacture academic articles (either using a human or a machine) and submit them to journals on behalf of paying researchers. This causes serious issues for editors who need to work through an increasing number of rubbish articles to choose which ones are genuine before sending them out for review by other researchers. These paper mills create major problems for the scientific record. Some experts believe they are also illegal. Many of the current problems with research integrity were highlighted by a 2024 study, which estimated that as many as one in seven papers is based on suspect data. A whole new area of research called forensic scientometrics has developed to try to identify some of these questionable publishing practices. Science does have a way of correcting itself through retractions, where a problematic paper is withdrawn from the journal and a retraction notice put up instead. But identifying problem papers is only part of the solution. For example, one 2024 study found less than 5% of all papers identified as retracted were actually removed from journal websites. 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. Working openly improves science So how can making science more open and transparent help? When we talk about research integrity, we often look to the integrity of the researcherexpecting them to show "moral character." However, ultimately it is the integrity of the research itself that really matters. Working in an open environment helps research integrity in several ways. Making the data used for the work freely available means the work can be better scrutinized. This is something that would have helped prevent the publication of the now-retracted study in The Lancet examining whether the antimalarial drug hydroxychloroquine was effective at treating COVID. The study was retracted after investigations revealed the data the research was based on was deeply flawed and unable to be verified. Requiring clinical trials to be registered means drug studies that are unfavorable or show no effect cannot be buried. Reviewing the "instruction manuals" of how research studies are going to be conducted, called the protocols, before the studies are undertaken also ensures more rigorous research. That's because the quality of the protocols determines the robustness of the work. These are just a few of the ways open science creates an environment where poor research practice is much harder to undertake. Working openly won't necessarily stop bad actors. But it will make it much harder for them to operate without being noticed. A true paradigm shift A 2022 study on open access policies in Australian universities showed only 50% had an open access policy at the time, even though this is a requirement under the Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research. Despite this, there is some hope for open science in Australia. For example, in 2024, the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia convened a roundtable event to discuss how to transition to a fair and equitable open research system. This led to the formation of the National Open Science Taskforce, which is currently co-ordinating open activity in Australia. Internationally, the European Union was an early advocate for open science, beginning work on the European Open Science Cloud in 2015. Individual European countries are forging ahead, with The Netherlands having a National Open Science program and Ireland launching its National Framework on the Transition to an Open Research Environment in 2019. The EU-funded Open and Universal Science is being implemented by a consortium of 18 organizations across the world. It's due to be completed this year. Countries worldwide also submitted their first reports last month on their implementation of the 2021 UNESCO Recommendation on Open Science. Open science is a radical departure from traditional research practices. As the summary report of the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia's roundtable event says, transitioning to it requires "a true paradigm and cultural shift." But for the sake of improving research integrity, this shift is urgently needed. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. Flash A German-built rocket launched from Norway's Andoya Spaceport crashed and exploded shortly after liftoff on Sunday, marking the first commercial orbital launch from mainland Europe. The Spectrum rocket, developed by German startup Isar Aerospace, lifted off at 12:30 p.m. local time (1030 GMT). Around 30 seconds into the flight, it began to tilt before falling back to the ground and exploding. A loud bang was heard during the live broadcast of the event, and video footage showed the 28-meter-tall, 50-ton rocket crashing near the launch pad at Nordmela on the island of Andoya. No injuries were reported. Andoya Space, which operates the launch facility, said a crisis team had been activated and it was working closely with emergency services and Isar Aerospace to assess the situation. "Safety during operational activities is Andoya Spaceport's highest priority," the company said in a press release. The launch had faced several previous delays due to adverse weather conditions. Both Andoya Space and Isar Aerospace said they will provide updates as more information becomes available. Following the crash, Isar Aerospace issued a statement, saying that the launch had met its set goals and "the launch vehicle fell into the sea in a controlled manner." "Our first test flight met all our expectations, achieving a great success," said Daniel Metzler, CEO and Co-founder of Isar Aerospace. He emphasized that the mission provided important data and experience for future flights. "Now it's time to analyze all data, learn, iterate and be back on the launch pad as soon as possible," he added. Metzler also affirmed his company's ambition "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." Before liftoff, Andoya Spaceport Operations Director Jon Harr described the event as "an important milestone" not only for Norway but for European space activities as a whole. However, Isar Aerospace had cautioned that no company has ever succeeded in achieving spaceflight in its first test launch. Andoya Spaceport officials stressed that such incidents are part of the development process for new space technologies. "Making this work day after day, with so many actors involved, is demanding," Harr said. "Today's maiden flight has not been launched nominally. But that doesn't mean it wasn't a success," said Walther Pelzer, executive board member of the German Aerospace Center (DLR) and director general of the German Space Agency at DLR. He stressed the importance of today's test, noting that it allows the team to detect errors and adapt quickly - "exactly what we expect from agile companies." The project, known as "Going Full Spectrum," had been in preparation for months. Sunday marked the final day of an initial 10-day launch window. Previous attempts had to be aborted due to high winds. Headquartered near Munich, Germany, Isar Aerospace was founded in 2018 and now has over 400 employees from more than 50 nations. Sponsored by private funding from international investors, it builds and operates launch vehicles for transporting small and medium-sized satellites as well as satellite constellations into Earth's orbit. 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: Coho salmon, Tillamook State Forest, Oregon. Credit: Oregon Department of Forestry For decades, toxic tire dust has choked coho salmon before they can spawn in their natal streams. Now, King County scientists say they have made a "potential breakthrough" in how to save them. Preliminary results from a recently completed study show certain soil mixes can effectively filter a toxic chemical out of stormwater, boosting coho salmon's survival rates significantly. The key may be in special soil mixes containing sand, coconut fiber and biochar, a charcoal-like organic fertilizer, King County scientists said this week. The results suggest there is a potential solution to a seemingly intractable issue of how coho salmon can survive in urban streams where pollution from traffic is so ubiquitous. Scientists first identified toxic tire dust, or more specifically the chemical 6PPD-quinone, as a salmon-killer in 2020. For decades, observers had watched in agony as adult coho salmon mysteriously gasped at the surface of urban waters before dying. In the 2020 study, scientists, including some with the Center for Urban Waters in Tacoma, the University of Washington and Washington State University, were able to isolate 6PPD-quinone as the chemical at fault among some 2,000 chemicals in roadway runoff. The researchers found the chemical is so lethal it kills 40% to 90% of returning coho to some urban streams before they spawn. The chemical was the culprit behind the deaths of coho in about 40% of the Puget Sound area. "We're talking concentrations that are about a few drops in an Olympic-sized swimming pool could kill half of a population of coho that you might put in that pool," said Chelsea Mitchell, a senior ecotoxicologist with King County. 6PPD-quinone is a byproduct of a preservative in tires that is created when the tires come in contact with ozone, either from the atmosphere or a vehicle's exhaust, Mitchell said. The research around how toxic tire dust affects other fish is growing. The chemical also kills other species like rainbow trout and whitespotted char, she said. In the recent King County study, researchersincluding Mitchell and county science section manager Josh Latterellsought to evaluate how effective certain soil mixes approved for stormwater treatment are at filtering out toxic tire dust. In the study, researchers gathered polluted stormwater runoff from under the busy Ship Canal Bridge on Interstate 5. At a lab at Western Washington University, researchers filtered the untreated water through four different soil mixesincluding a compost and sand mix and three "high performance" mixes consisting of coconut fiber, sand and biochar. All four soil mixes filtered out 6PPD-quinone, with the high-performance mixes performing the best. Then, at a King County lab, researchers exposed 20 juvenile coho salmon to untreated and treated water. What they found made their jaws drop, Latterell said. Of the baby coho that were exposed to untreated stormwater runoff, only one or two survived. However, of the coho that were exposed to treated water, all 20 survived. "To me, this is just like a mic-drop moment," he said. "If you had a time machine and took this back 25 years to when people first started looking into prespawn mortality, they would be dancing in the streets to see this." 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. King County researchers are still finalizing a report on their results and intend to share it with the Washington Department of Ecology, which provides guidelines on stormwater treatment in the state. The compost and sand soil mix, which is used widely around the state, is prone to releasing nutrients and minerals into waterways, Mitchell said. Since 2013, Ecology has recommended against using it near sensitive waters. Now, researchers are testing a high-performance soil mix outside of the lab at a site near Bellingham. While there is still more work to make sure the mix is safe, Latterell said he hopes to see more stormwater treatment projects using it by 2027 or 2028. Latterell said he remembers being a graduate student in 1999 when his colleagues were just starting to notice that coho seemed to be mysteriously dying in creeks. "It's just been really gratifying to see how determined and systematic scientific inquiry has led to ... understanding what's going on here," he said. King County is working to identify roadways with higher concentrations of toxic tire dust and create a list of areas that need stormwater treatment. 2025 The Seattle Times. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Schematic of the Zhou et al magnet switch. Acronyms are as in the body of the text. FEAFM: ferroelectric antiferromagnet. Red and blue arrows indicate spins. is an applied, switchable electric field. P is electric polarization. P s is spin polarization. Credit: Tong Zhou, Eastern Institute of Technology, Ningbo and American Physical Society Controlling magnetism in a device is not easy; unusually large magnetic fields or lots of electricity are needed, which are bulky, slow, expensive and/or waste energy. But that looks soon to change, thanks to the recent discovery of altermagnets. Now scientists are putting forth ideas for efficient switches to manage magnetism in devices. Magnetism has traditionally come in two varieties: ferromagnetism and antiferromagnetism, based on the alignment (or not) of magnetic moments in a material. Early last year, physicists announced experimental evidence for a third variety of magnetism: altermagnetism, a different combination of spins and crystal symmetries. Researchers are now learning how to tune altermagnets, bringing science closer towards practical applications. We're all familiar with ferromagnetism (FM), like a refrigerator magnet or compass needle, where magnetic moments in atoms lined up in parallel in a crystal. A second class was added about a hundred years ago called antiferromagnetism (AFM), where magnetic moments in a crystal align regularly in alternate directions on differing sublattices, so the crystal has no net magnetization, but usually does at low temperatures. Altermagnets (AM) are a sort of mixture of the two: the crystalline material is ordered where the magnetic moments alternate, resulting in no net magnetization. But the spins don't simply cancel out, as in antiferromagnetism. Instead, the crystal's symmetry creates an electronic band structure with strong spins that flip in direction the deeper one probes through the material's energy bands. Altermagnets have some properties similar to ferromagnets, but new properties as well, having no net magnetism but with strong spin-dependent effects. This makes altermagnets potentially quite useful for spintronics applicationsdevices where electron spin is used to carry information, akin to how electron charge carries information in electronics. Altermagnets have been of great interest since their discovery, and new theoretical advances have shown how to create a switch for them, an important step towards applications in spintronics. The research, led by Tong Zhou of the Eastern Institute of Technology, Ningbo in China, is published in Physical Review Letters. "We've created a material that lets you control magnetism as easily as turning the handle on your faucet," said Zhou. "Imagine having two knobs: when they're set opposite each other, you get a special magnetic current; when they're turned the same way, it turns off. It's that simple." Altermagnets show electronic band levels that are divided between spin-up and spin-down bands. This splitting can be used to polarize an electric current, as one spin state will flow more easily through the material than the other. This implies more rapid spintronics applications are possible that operate with greater efficiency than current spintronics devices. What's still needed is a way to alter the spin properties of an altermagnet. 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. Researchers are now advocating using electric fields to do this switching. For this, electric fields have an advantage, since they're more amenable to controlling magnetic devices than are magnetic fieldseasier to manipulate and implement. They would also be much faster, potentially in the sub-nanosecond range, and use less energy. A proposal published by Zhou's group can be called an "antiferroelectric altermagnet" (AFEAM). Similarly to an antiferromagnet, an antiferroelectric (AFE) material consists of atomic structures whose electric dipoles are aligned in opposite directions. The group hypothesized a material where the electric dipoles are coupled to magnetic spins such that the population of spin-up sublattices is linked to the spin-down sublattices through rotational symmetry. Such a material would have both antiferroelectric and altermagnetic properties. A small applied electric field causes the electric dipoles to line up in the same direction, transforming the material into a ferroelectric (FE) crystal. In a ferroelectric state (again, dipoles aligned) it would no longer be an altermagnet but would be an antiferromagnet (magnetic moments not aligned). Then it would not polarize an electronic current. The electric field toggles the spin polarization on or off. "Controlling magnetism means future gadgets like memory storage and computers could become much faster, use less energy, and last longer on battery power," Zhou said. Another group and a lone researcher have also proposed technologies that also use electric fields for magnetic switching. A group led by Qihang Liu of the Southern University of Science and Technology in Shenzhen, China, and researcher Libor Smejkal of the Max Planck Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems in Germany also propose a ferroelectric switchable altermagnet, where an applied electric field interacts with deformation modes of the crystal to control the sign of the altermagnet's spin splitting. For Liu and colleagues, the deformation is the Jahn-Teller distortion, an alternating contraction and elongation of specific bonds. For Smejkal's proposal, the deformation comes from rotations of sublattice units within the material that, when activated electrically, reverse the ferroelectric polarization of the system, a phenomenon called the altermagnetoelectric effect. "It's rare to bring two big ideasantiferroelectricity and altermagnetismtogether into one material and have them work in harmony. That's what makes this discovery so special," said Zhou. "Honestly, it feels like we've uncovered a hidden switch inside materialsone that lets us toggle spin behavior without ever touching the magnetic structure. That's a game-changer." 2025 Science X Network This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: This picture courtesy of Fram2/SpaceX shows from left to right, mission specialist and medical officer Eric Philips, mission commander Chun Wang, pilot Rabea Rogge and vehicle commander Jannicke Mikkelsen. SpaceX is set to launch the first human spaceflight directly over Earth's polar regions on Mondaya days-long, privately funded orbital mission involving four astronauts. Named "Fram2" after the famed Norwegian ship built in the 19th century for Arctic and Antarctic expeditions, the mission will feature a range of experiments including taking the first X-ray in space and growing mushrooms in microgravity. It's hoped that the research will support future long-duration space travel to Mars. The crew will launch aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule on a Falcon 9 rocket in a window that opens at 9:46 pm Monday (0146 GMT Tuesday) from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Three other launch windows are available at 11:20 pm Monday, as well as 12:53 am and 2:26 am Tuesday, SpaceX said, adding that other windows could be opened if needed. "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," said mission commander Chun Wang. Wang, a Chinese-born Maltese adventurer and co-founder of crypto companies f2pool and skatefish, selected the rest of the crew: vehicle commander Jannicke Mikkelsen, a Norwegian film director; mission pilot Rabea Rogge, a robotics researcher from Germany; and mission specialist and medical officer Eric Philips, an Australian polar explorer. The team trained for eight months in preparation for the approximately four-day trip, including a wilderness expedition in Alaska to simulate living in close quarters under harsh conditions. Upon returning to Earth, the crew will attempt to exit the spacecraft without additional medical supportpart of a study to help researchers understand how well astronauts can perform basic tasks after spaceflight. Except for the Apollo lunar missions, Earth's polar regions have remained out of view for astronauts, including those aboard the International Space Station (ISS). Even on Apollo, they did not fly directly over Earth's poles. SpaceX has carried out five private astronaut missions to datethree in collaboration with Axiom Space to the ISS, and two free-flying in Earth orbit. The first of these was Inspiration4 in 2021, followed by Polaris Dawn, which featured the first spacewalk conducted by private astronauts. Both free-flying missions were chartered by e-payments billionaire Jared Isaacman, who has also been nominated by President Donald Trump to serve as the next NASA administrator. Isaacman is also a close associate of SpaceX CEO Elon Musk. 2025 AFP This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Barnabas Davoti from Pexels A new study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences has turned traditional thinking on its head by highlighting the role of human interactions during the shift from hunting and gathering to farmingone of the biggest changes in human historyrather than earlier ideas that focused on environmental factors. The transition from a hunter-gatherer foraging lifestyle, which humanity had followed for hundreds of thousands of years, to a settled farming one about 12,000 years ago has been widely discussed in popular books like "Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind" by Yuval Noah Harari. Researchers from the University of Bath, the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Germany, the University of Cambridge, UCL, and others have developed a new mathematical model that challenges the traditional view that this major transition was driven by external factors, such as climate warming, increased rainfall, or the development of fertile river valleys. This research shows that humans were not just passive participants in this process; they played an active and crucial role in the transition. Factors such as varying population growth rates and mortality ratesdriven by competition between hunter-gatherers and farmersshaped the agricultural development of these regions. Using a model originally designed to study predator-prey interactions, the researchers examined how early farmers and hunter-gatherers may have influenced each other. The results suggest that early farming societies spread through migration, competition, and cultural exchange, reshaping how hunter-gatherers lived and interacted with their environment. Dr. Javier Rivas, from the Department of Economics at the University of Bath, said, "Our study provides a new perspective on prehistoric societies. "By statistically fitting our theoretical predator-prey model to observed population dynamics inferred from radiocarbon dates, we explored how population growth shaped history and uncovered interesting patternssuch as how the spread of farming, whether by land or sea, influenced interactions between different groups. More importantly, our model also highlights the role of migration and cultural mixing in the rise of farming." The team plans to build on this model by adding more details and testing it in larger regions. Dr. Rivas added, "We hope the methods we've developed will eventually become a standard tool for understanding how populations interacted in the past, offering fresh insight into other key moments in history, not just the shift to farming." This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: The FCC is much larger than the current large hadron collider. Europe's CERN laboratory said on Monday that a detailed analysis revealed no technical obstacles to building the world's biggest particle collider, even as critics took issue with the "pharaonic" $17-billion project. The Future Circular Collider (FCC) project is essential for ensuring that Europe maintains its global leadership in fundamental physics, CERN chief Fabiola Gianotti told AFP. "There is real competition" from China in particular, she cautioned, hailing that the giant FCC "project is absolutely on the good track" and urging states to release the funding needed to move forward. After analyzing around 100 different scenarios, CERN on Monday published the results of a years-long feasibility study for its preferred option: a nearly 91-kilometer (56-mile) circular tunnel straddling the French-Swiss border. With an average depth of 200 meters (660 feet), the tunnel would accommodate a particle accelerator that would be more than three times the length of CERN's existing Large Hadron Collider, currently the largest of its kind. The LHCa 27-kilometer proton-smashing ring running about 100 meters below groundhas among other things been used to prove the existence of the Higgs boson. Dubbed the God particle, the Nobel Prize-winning discovery broadened science's understanding of how particles acquire mass. 'Rich in possibilities' With LHC expected to have fully run its course by 2041, CERN has been analyzing options to allow scientists to keep pushing the envelope. Gianotti hailed the success of the feasibility study, stressing that "we have found no technical showstopper so far". Others were similarly enthusiastic about the FCC. "To make major progress in its quest to understand the origin of the universe and the role the Higgs boson plays... the global scientific community needs a machine as powerful and rich in possibilities as the FCC," Catherine Biscarat of the L2IT lab at Toulouse University told AFP. CERN believes the Future Circular Collider to be essential to maintaining Europe's leadership in physics. But not everyone is thrilled with the idea of the giant project, which has been estimated to cost 15 billion Swiss francs ($16.9 billion). CERN's member states23 European countries and Israelneed to decide by 2028 whether to release the funds needed. But Germany, CERN's largest contributor, last year voiced reservations about the towering sums required. CERN spokesman Arnaud Marsollier tried to allay those concerns, insisting that up to 80% of the FCC's cost "could be covered by the organization's budget". 'Like David and Goliath' Some locals are meanwhile up in arms about the project and the impact it could have on their lives and livelihoods. Thierry Perrillat, a dairy farmer in Roche-sure-Foron in France, maintained that the planned collider would swallow "five hectares of our farm". "It's like David and Goliath," he said bitterly. The project has also sparked disagreement among scientists. "The financial, ecological, and operating costs are astronomical," physicist Olivier Cepas of the Neel Institute at the University of Grenoble told AFP. "It would be better to fund smaller scientific projects," he insisted. FCC project engineer Jean-Paul Burnet meanwhile insisted that the FCC plans had been "improved to reduce its environmental impact", by for instance lowering the number of wells and surface sites. CERN Director General Fabiola Gianotti warned it faced "real competition" from China in particular. But environmental groups in the region were not convinced. In a report, the environmental association Noe21 slammed the "excessive" FCC project, pointing to its "astronomical electricity consumption", its climate impact, its cost and scale. 'Stunned' Franco-Swiss collective CO-CERNes, which includes the WWF and Greenpeace, has been organizing information sessions in nearby communities. At a recent such session in Marcellaz, located near one of the eight planned FCC surface sites, organizer Thierry Lemmel told AFP the group was providing information about this "pharaonic project". 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. "Progress is necessary," he said. But, he asked, given the state of the planet today, "should we really be mobilizing so many resources, so much wealth ... for this project, with uncertain results?". Among the around 100 people who attended the Marcellaz meeting was Kevin Mugnier, who had only just heard of the FCC project. "I was a bit stunned," he said, worried his land might be requisitioned. In Ferney-Voltaire, at one of the seven surface sites planned on the French side, mayor Daniel Raphoz said he favored the "win-win" project, which he maintained would have positive effects on employment and energy. "CERN's overflow energy will be used to heat the town," he said. If the FCC is not built here, progress would move elsewhere, he warned. "It will be happening in China, (marking) European decline." 2025 AFP ATLANTIC CITY This wasnt the first rodeo for the team at Wander Back Beerworks. Two of the new Vineland brewerys three partners, Justin Vitti and Brian Hink, and members of their team huddled under their four-post canopy serving up their flagship lagers and IPAs. Vitti and Hink have worked a number of these festivals with two of their former breweries, Cape May Brewing Company and Ship Bottom Brewery. On Saturday afternoon, this was their first as owners. For us, were new. They dont know us. So (we sell) the fear of missing out, said Vitti, whose big grin highlighted by a bushy mustache fit in perfectly with the crowd of thousands who came to the Atlantic City Convention Center to try some beer, listen to music and have a good time. Wander Back was among a handful of breweries, including some local, to have opened in the past year that were making their first trip to the citys beer fest, in its 19th year. There were over 100 breweries at the show this past weekend, a good 60% or more of which were from New Jersey. Of those in-state locations were 22 from Atlantic, Cape May, Cumberland and southern Ocean counties. Many of these places held events leading up to beer fest selling discounted tickets. When we started (beer fest), I didnt think it would be what it is. We wanted it to be an opportunity for people to experience better beer, because it was coming and we were so far ahead of it, said Jon Henderson, whose Good Time Tricycle Productions runs the show. Our goal was to use (beer fest) as a catalyst to draw people to the breweries themselves. Earlier this month, the City of Vineland approved the location where Wander Backs taproom will go in the Landis Theater and Mori Building at 830 E. Landis Ave. in the citys downtown. The goal is to be open later this year. A lot of fun and a little bit of mystery at Atlantic City Beer & Music Festival Atlantic City Beer & Music Festival is in its 19th year. It is the flagship event run by Good Time Tricycle Productions in Linwood and has been held almost every year in March in the Atlantic City Convention Center. For now, their beer recipes are being used by Hidden Sands Brewing Company in Egg Harbor Township. For us, its also clean beer, its lagers, Vitti said. If you look at our lineup, we have a double IPA. If you dont have a double IPA, why would you be here? We have an Italian pilsner and a German Helles lager. So were really trying to embrace that old-school beer is beer again. Also under development this year is Royal Bine Brewing, which hopes to be open by midsummer in Absecon. Kenny Ward, who owns the brewery with his daughter, Gabriella, was pouring beers next to Pinelands Brewing Company, which has been creating Royal Bines recipes under their license. Ward has also worked this festival before with different breweries in the past, so the opportunity to pitch his own product is exciting. Its really about connecting with the people and letting them know the area is so strong and buildable, which is what were trying to do in Absecon, said Ward, who was pouring a Maibock and a Kolsch, two German-style beers. So were trying to connect on more of a personal level with the people that are gonna come to our brewery. Ward, whose journey to opening has lasted over five years, fielded plenty of questions Saturday about when the taproom will open. Like anything new, they will come, Ward said. The hard part is to sustain. ... Listen, its all about the beer. The beer has to be good to be successful. Hammontons newest brewery, Snouts & Stouts Brewing, continued to showcase its dog-friendly vibe. Pasted onto poster board behind owner Daniella Morrow was a collage of her three dogs and cat, all of whom have beverages named after them at her brewery. How a trio of nerds reunited to create Vineland's first brewery Wander Back Beerworks, which is brewing out of Hidden Sands Brewing Company in Egg Harbor Township, is ready to establish its roots in Vineland later this year. Morrow brought Alfies IPA, Fens Stout and Teddys Sour to represent her pups. Were looking forward to get the name out there, Morrow said. People are going to go somewhere within proximity. Snouts & Stouts opened in January in the location that used to be Vinyl Brewing Company off Route 54. Saturdays beer fest was Morrows first event she was pouring at. Whats the best way to get people to remember their brewery among the hundred there Saturday? Stickers! Morrow said with a laugh. Obscura Brewing may officially have been the youngest brewery at beer fest this past weekend. New owner Karlson Hughes opened up little more than two weeks ago after he took over his father Karls old spot, Bucket Brigade Brewing in Cape May Court House, which closed at the end of January. Karlson, whose recipes were slowly being integrated into Bucket Brigades tap list in its final year, couldnt have been more excited to finally have full control of his vision for the brewery. I finally got to create my own setup and my own vision and vibe behind the tent, plus bring all the beers that Ive been wanting to bring for a long time, Hughes said, pointing toward his award-winning banana pudding ale, sweet cream espresso stout and New England IPA. New brewery seen as boon to downtown Absecon Royal Bine Brewing, a father-daughter owned operation in Absecon, looks to begin brewing beer on site by Memorial Day. Hughes had cans on display for the beers he brought, which were brightly colored and a lot of fun. The tent was decked out with inflatable chairs, carpet and a general aesthetic that gave off the skater vibe Hughes is going for. Its the same vibe Hughes has at the brewery, which includes some couches, an idea he got from the setup of Central Perk, the iconic fictional coffee shop from the hit 1990s TV series Friends. The goal was to stand out. Just getting to connect with new people, and new people giving us a shot, because I never had it and I wanted to impress. Its finally time to show off what I can do. Flash Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian attends a press conference in Tehran, Iran, on Sept. 16, 2024. [Photo/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. More than 1,000 previously terminated National Parks Service employees will be reinstated. Among those is an Interior woman, Lydia Jones, who has served four years at Badlands National Park. On Feb. 14, the Department of Government Efficiency announced thousands of job cuts targeted mostly at workers in the first year or two on the job, in what is referred to as a probationary period. From National Parks to federal departments such as Veterans Affairs, thousands of employees were fired as part of an effort led by Tesla CEO Elon Musks DOGE. Among those returning to their positions are park rangers, law enforcement, firefighters and other essential personnel. The National Parks Conservation Association will be reinstating all employees terminated by DOGE, it said on March 20 in a press release. The administrations reckless and indefensible decision to fire 1,000 park staff has put our parks and millions of visitors and resources at risk, President and CEO for the NPCA Theresa Pierno said in the release. This court-ordered reinstatement is a welcome relief and getting these employees back to work as quickly as possible is critical. This decision by the Trump administration was met with opposition. Across the nation, protests and social media posts spoke out in defense of national parks and their employees. In Rapid City, several residents gathered on a Saturday in front of City Hall to protest against federal employee cuts from DOGE. The protest was formed by Indivisible Rapid City, a grassroots activism organization. For Ben Schreves, who worked at Wind Cave National Park for nearly a decade, being a park ranger wasnt just a job; it was a purpose. No matter the dedication, passion or sacrifices, the decision was made. I was given just a few hours to clean out my desk and say my goodbyes. No exit interview. No real explanation just a vague justification of 'poor performance,' despite nothing but strong reviews from my direct superiors, Schreves wrote in his Facebook post. The Journal reached out to Schreves for a follow-up, but didnt get a reply. On March 13, U.S. District Judge William Alsup ordered the Trump administration to reinstate thousands of previously terminated employees fired on Feb. 14 from several federal agencies. However, despite these efforts, there is rising concern about the lasting effects from this chaotic whiplash. When these park staff lost their jobs, many also lost their homes and communities. Now, with uncertainty looming over if or when the next cut might come, its unclear how many will choose to return, Pierno said. The Park Service stands to lose an irreplaceable wealth of expertise, experience, and institutional knowledge they may never get back. Back to where I belong Jones love for the countrys national parks began during an internship in 2021 at Badlands National Park. That internship soon grew into a seasonal position every summer. After years serving several national parks across the nation, Jones was hired as a full-time park ranger at Badlands National Park in summer 2024. In that position I just fell in love with the park service, Jones told the Journal. And everything just clicked into place for me and I realized that this is really what I want to do. I believed in the mission of the park service. While at Badlands National Park, Jones found immense joy in delivering educational programs to park visitors. The spark of excitement in childrens eyes as they learned about the rich history of the Badlands was a deeply rewarding experience, Jones said. While educating park visitors was one of the many roles Jones played, her job required her to be a jack-of-all trades. Jones also served as a mentor to seasonal workers, an EMT and a member of the search-and-rescue team. Things were going well for Jones until her supervisor called her on Feb. 14 to inform her of her termination. Jones said her world began to shatter. The termination was effective immediately as Jones was requested to go to the office and gather her belongings and turn in her badges. There was no notice. There was no time for me to turn over projects, nothing like that, Jones said. When I went in initially, they didnt even have a termination letter for me. Jones said she wasnt even given a reason as to why she was being terminated, only that it was non-negotiable. She received her termination letter two days after the incident, detailing that her termination was due to her performance not being adequate. Jones said she received exemplary performance reviews from her superiors and won several performance awards in the past year. It was definitely emotionally difficult. This was something I saw myself potentially doing for the rest of my life, for the rest of my career, and it was something I was really passionate about, Jones said. It was something I spent the last four years of my life working towards. The devastation of losing the position hit hard for Jones and her partner as they had just recently moved to be closer to her job. Jones said she had prepared to structure her whole life around the position and to have it taken away was difficult. However, Jones biggest concern wasnt her own well-being but for the future of the parks within the United States. The lack of nuance with which it happened just makes me really concerned for the continual operations of the park, Jones said. Because if were cutting some of our best and brightest, especially our younger employees who are going to be the future of the park service, its kind of concerning for the long-term operation of the park. Though Jones was initially in shock by the termination, she spent the past month speaking with support groups and advocating to the media about it. Jones mission was to ensure that the terminated park ranger community was heard and given an opportunity to do what they loved again. Fortunately for Jones and to the 1,000 other park rangers, someone listened. Jones was reinstated to Badlands National Park on March 19. The move came as the Journal was reporting for this story. Its been a month since my termination, and words cant express how happy I am to return to a job I love, in a place I love, with people I deeply respect, Jones wrote on Facebook. Im beyond grateful for the incredible support from so many of you, and for the solidarity shown to all terminated public lands employees. Despite the good news, Jones gave some warning and a promise. With plans for wide-scale reductions in force throughout federal government, there is still the possibility that my position could be cut again. However, one thing is certain: I will continue to do my job to the absolute best of my ability, as long as I am able, in service to the American people, Jones wrote. Geneva: Press Emblem Campaign (PEC), the global media safety and rights body expresses shock over the killing of a Nepali journalist in Kathmandu on 28 March 2025 and demanded a fair probe into the tragic incidents which led to the demise of television journalist Suresh Rajak (photo). Local media reports reveal that Rajak was burnt alive by a violent pro-monarchy mob in Tinkune locality of Nepal's capital city. The protestors were calling for restoring monarchy in the south Asian nation. During the protest, demonstrators vandalized and set fire to a house in Teku. Journalist Rajak (35), who had gone to capture photos and videos of the protest, was unable to escape when the building caught fire, according to Nepal Police spokesperson Dinesh Kumar Acharya. Acharya further stated that Rajak's body was found on the fourth floor of the burned building. The Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ) expressed serious concern over the attacks on several media houses during the pro-monarchy movement and condemned the killing of Rajak from Avenues TV, who was busy gathering visuals at the spot. The journalists organized a condolence meeting on Saturday at Radhakrishna Chowk in Kathmandu and also demanded legal actions against the perpetrators as well as safety & security to media persons. "We here in PEC express profound grief at the untimely demise of television cameraperson Suresh Rajak while doing his duty. The protesters have the right to demonstrate their anger, but they should not take laws into their hands. We hope a fair probe will be launched and book the culprits," said Blaise Lempen, president of PEC (www.pressemblem.ch/), adding that the government of Nepal should also adequately compensate the bereaved family. PEC's south and southeast Asia representative Nava Thakuria informed that Rajak is the first journalist to be killed in Nepal since 1 Januray 2025 where he is the 44th journalist killed globally till date this year. Last year the relatively peaceful Hindu majority nation with over 29 million people lost one journalist (Suresh Bhul from Gauriganga of Nepal) to assailants. While the city of Richmond was in the throes of the water crisis, Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center struggled to keep the heat on, and staffers carried buckets of water up the elevators to flush toilets. For seven days in January, the regions largest hospital had no regular supply of water for its steam boiler or faucets. The hospital asked ambulances to go elsewhere and canceled elective procedures, costing the health system roughly $20 million in revenue. And yet, no patients suffered adverse outcomes, said Dr. Marlon Levy, CEO of VCU Health, who recently spoke publicly about the crisis for the first time. This potentially could have been catastrophic, Levy said in an interview. The health system canceled and delayed so many procedures, it lost the $20 million in revenue, which represents less than 1% of the systems $3.6 billion yearly earnings. Some of the lost income may have come back to the health system as patients rescheduled, the CEO added. The hospital rescheduled most of the 20,000 missed clinic visits. VCU President Michael Rao praised the health systems response at a recent board meeting. It was a really big challenge, he said. But I think those challenges are proof of what this place is made of and what can happen when you work together and pull it together. Though the medical center has backup systems for electricity and a loss of cell service, it never considered losing water to be within the realm of possibilities, Levy said. Water was truly unanticipated, he added. This is not something thats ever happened certainly to me or any members of our team. The hospital has identified alternate sources of potable, bottled and bulk water if the hospitals supply becomes disrupted or contaminated, according to a partially redacted copy of the medical centers emergency operations plan obtained by the Richmond Times-Dispatch. The medical center has negotiated ways of resupplying water in the event of an outage. The plan notes that the hospital depends on the city of Richmond for its water supply and that the medical center will consider evacuating patients if the outage lasts for an extended period. Surgeries and clinic visits canceled When much of the city lost water Jan. 6, the medical center buildings, including the main hospital, the Adult Outpatient Pavilion and the Childrens Hospital of Richmond, lost the ability to produce heat in their steam boilers. For five days, temperatures outside the hospital stayed below 40 degrees. Water boilers are a standard form of heating hospitals, a spokesperson for VCU Health said. Making matters worse, there was no water for drinking, bathing patients, flushing toilets or sterilizing equipment. So VCU Health canceled about 500 elective surgeries and more than 20,000 patient clinic visits. It told ambulances to take most patients elsewhere, an act known as diversion. Sometimes, patients who show up at emergency rooms at smaller hospitals need to transfer to VCU Health to receive a higher level of care. The hospital asked most of those patients to find other destinations, too. VCU Health moved some of its outpatient procedures to its surgery center in Short Pump. The clinic extended its hours and remained open on the weekend to take the influx of patients. The fact that the regions largest hospital was redirecting most patients added to the strain the entire network of hospitals felt. At one point, every emergency room bed at St. Marys Hospital in Henrico County was full, and a line of ambulances waited outside to bring more patients. We really hate going on diversion, Levy said. Its a violation of our values to have to go on diversion ... We cant accept a patient whose care we cant deliver safely and effectively. At least four other local hospitals went on diversion early in the crisis, including St. Marys, Memorial Regional Medical Center in Hanover County, Chippenham Hospital in South Richmond and Retreat Doctors Hospital in the Fan. There was a real dire concern that the hospitals in the city of Richmond were going to have to start diverting patients and, even worse, evacuating patients, Gov. Glenn Youngkin said at the time. By early Tuesday morning, the second day of the crisis, water tankers had arrived at Chippenham, the areas second-largest hospital, and pumped water into its boiler and pipes. Less than 24 hours after the loss of water, Chippenham became operational again. 2.5 million gallons purchased VCU Medical Center isnt just the largest hospital in the Richmond area. It provides specialties other hospitals do not, such as organ transplantation, burn care and treatment for severe trauma caused by gunshots, car wrecks and other injuries. That had to continue, Levy said. Those are time-sensitive procedures. Plus there were patients already in the hospital not ready to be discharged. VCU Medical Center is a crowded facility, generally operating at greater than 90% capacity. To keep buildings heated, the medical center bought water from tankers, some coming from as far as North Carolina. Altogether, the health system purchased roughly 2.5 million gallons of water for about $220,000 and received one tanker from the Goochland Fire Department. Though VCU Medical Center struggled to keep the heat running at the childrens hospital, the campus never lost heat, Levy said. To flush toilets, the hospital established bucket brigades. Staffers filled containers, carried them into elevators and delivered them to the upper floors. To bathe patients, staffers used wipes and cleaned patients in their beds. Cleaning wounds was less of an obstacle the hospital uses a medical-grade sterile water that remained in supply. Hospitals also use steam to sterilize equipment. Without water to run the sterilizers, staffers at VCUs Community Memorial Hospital in South Hill sterilized more than 500 medical trays, which can contain oxygen masks, syringes or forceps, and drove them 75 miles to Richmond. Staffers and patients still needed drinking water, so the hospital bought thousands of pallets of bottled water. About 2,700 medical center employees live in the city and did not have drinkable water at home, either. At one point, the hospital distributed 172 cases of water to employees in a matter of minutes. Finally, on Jan. 11, five days after the crisis began, clean water gushed through the citys pipes again. The following day, the medical center resumed accepting ambulances and patient transfers. Despite the challenges the medical center faced, no patients experienced negative outcomes because of the water crisis, Levy said. With the crisis behind them, health system leaders are studying what changes they need to make. The hospital decided to install three tanks, each holding 20,000 gallons of non-potable water, that it can use in the event of another outage. Theyre monitoring the effect the lack of water had on their equipment some imaging equipment is cooled by water and may have been damaged when their pumps ran dry. Levy praised the work of his team, saying they rose to meet the challenge. It was really a remarkable exercise of how to pull together something we had never experienced and something we never could have anticipated, he said. Flash U.S. President Donald Trump said Sunday he may impose "secondary tariffs" on Russian oil if he believes Russia is at fault for not reaching a ceasefire with Ukraine. In a phone interview with NBC News, Trump said he was "very angry" and "pissed off" when Russian President Vladimir Putin criticized the credibility of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's leadership, adding that the 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 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. "That would be that if you buy oil from Russia, you can't do business in the United States," he said. "There will be a 25 percent tariff on all oil, a 25- to 50-point tariff on all oil." Trump noted that the tariffs on Russia would come within the next month if Moscow does not sign up to a ceasefire with Ukraine. Trump said Putin knows he is angry, but he has "a very good relationship" with Putin and would speak to the Russian leader again this week. During a phone conversation on March 18, Trump and Putin agreed that the peace in Ukraine "will begin with an energy and infrastructure ceasefire." Legal experts in Virginia say the U.S. Constitution appears to bar President Donald Trump from serving a third term, but the language is sufficiently ambiguous that proponents could try to make a case. Is the Constitution being read in insanely creative ways? Sure, said Henry L. Chambers III, a law professor at the University of Richmond. But he said the 22nd and 12th Amendments were meant to preclude the possibility. Ilya Somin, a professor at George Mason Universitys Antonin Scalia Law School, said: To my mind the combination of the two constitutional amendments still means someone in Trumps position would not be able to do it. But he said theres a not completely crazy argument on the other side. In a telephone interview Sunday with NBCs Meet the Press Trump told anchor Kristen Welker that he is not joking about the possibility of serving a third term. A lot of people want me to do it, Trump said. But, I mean, I basically tell them we have a long way to go, you know, its very early in the administration. Welker asked Trump about the idea of Vice President JD Vance winning the presidency, then turning over the office to Trump. Thats one scenario, Trump said. There are others, too, he said, declining to elaborate. The 22nd Amendment Franklin Delano Roosevelt was elected president four times in 1932, 1936, 1940 and 1944. In 1947, two years after FDR died, Congress approved the 22nd Amendment, which says: No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice. States completed ratification in February 1951. Then there is the last sentence of the 12th Amendment to the Constitution, ratified in 1804. It says No person constitutionally ineligible to the office of President shall be eligible to that of Vice-President of the United States. Does that end the discussion? Not necessarily. Steve Bannon, a former top Trump strategist, said recently that he fully expects Trump to run again and win in 2028. Well see what the definition of term limit is, Bannon said. A key to that question is whether the Constitution bars a president from being elected to three terms, or serving three terms. A huge loophole? Last year Joel A. Ready, a partner at Cornerstone law firm in Pennsylvania, posted an article on the firms website titled The 22nd Amendment Doesnt Say What You Think it Says. Ready wrote that The 22nd Amendment only requires that someone not be elected to the Presidency more than twice. Someone who was elected to two terms on his own is still eligible to be Vice President and to rise to the Presidency upon the death, resignation or removal of the President. In an accompanying video, Ready said: The 22nd Amendment leaves open a huge loophole that says if you are elected to the office of vice president, the president can resign and you can take over. Chambers at the University of Richmond, says Theres really no question that the intent behind the 22nd Amendment was to limit an individual to two terms. Now whether the language locks that down in the way modern lawyers assess the Constitution is another question. Somin at George Mason University said in an interview: I think the better interpretation is that the loophole doesnt exist and that the 22nd Amendment, in tandem with the 12th Amendment, would preclude Trump from serving a third term as president. But the language is sufficiently ambiguous that proponents of a third Trump term are likely to make a case, said Somin, who also is the B. Kenneth Simon Chair in Constitutional Studies at the Cato Institute. In January a Tennessee congressman, Rep. Andy Ogles, proposed a resolution to amend the 22nd Amendment to allow Trump to serve a third term. Passing a U.S. Constitutional Amendment requires a two-thirds vote in the House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate and ratification by three-fourths of the states. Given the nations political polarization that appears unlikely. Ready, the lawyer in Pennsylvania, said in a telephone interview on Monday that a third presidential term probably is unlikely for multiple reasons. For one, Americans might not support the idea. In addition, he said it would be extraordinary for someone like Vance to agree to run for president and then step aside if he won. Ready said there would be nothing to bind Vance to such a promise and preclude him from taking the presidential oath. Ready said Dean Acheson, President Harry Trumans secretary of state, might have the best line on the idea of a third presidential term: It may be more unlikely than unconstitutional. Ready added: We live in interesting times. Elderly swimmer dies off central Puerto Morelos beach Puerto Morelos, Q.R. An elderly swimmer died off a Puerto Morelos beach Saturday. The man, reported to be 77 and from Canada, died by drowning at Playa Sol in central Puerto Morelos Saturday. Despite immediate assistance from lifeguards and paramedics, the man was pronounced dead in the sand. The accident happened around 3:20 p.m. at Playa Sol, which is known as Ojo de Agua, near a lifeguard tower. Other swimmers noticed the man floating in the sea. A lifeguard rushed out in an attempt to return him to shore. The on-duty lifeguard performed CPR, however, the man did not respond. Paramedics arrived only to confirmed the death. Puerto Morelos Municipal Police covered the body and cordoned off the area while they waited for authorities to remove the body. An autopsy will confirm the mans official cause of death. Mexico City couple arrested for trashing Riviera Maya hotel room Riviera Maya, Q.R. A couple from Mexico City were detained over the weekend after being accused of trashing their hotel room. The pair were arrested Saturday from a Riviera Maya hotel after the manager called police. According to police, they responded to an emergency call over the weekend after guests were reported spilling liquids on hotel-owned electronics. The Citizen Security Secretariat (SSC) of Playa del Carmen arrested a couple for their alleged involvement in the crime of damaging a hotel on Playa del Carmen-Puerto Morelos Boulevard. The incident occurred when officers responded to the hotel following a report of damage to one of the rooms. Upon arrival, officers found a television damaged after being doused with soda, and the room in general showed similar damage, with liquids spilled on various surfaces. The detainees were identified as Ximena N, 26 and Diego Emilio N, both originally from Mexico City. The couple was handed over to the State Attorney Generals Office for the appropriate legal proceedings. The SSC reiterates its commitment to acting promptly to ensure the peace and well-being of the municipalitys citizens and visitors, the Seguridad Ciudadana Solidaridad said. Police did not provide a reason why the couple spilled liquids on the television or around their room. Profepa seize illegally kept tiger from Cancun home Cancun, Q.R. A tiger was seized over the weekend by environmental authorities after being found kept illegally. Profepa (Procuraduria Federal de Proteccion al Ambiente) personnel reported removing the tiger from the home with the help of a veterinarian. Profepa personnel in Quintana Roo collaborated with the Attorney Generals Office to care for and transport a tiger (Panthera tigris) found during an operation at a seized property in Cancun. With the support of a specialist veterinarian, the animal was restrained, physically evaluated, and its markings verified. It was subsequently transferred to an authorized PIMVS (Protective and Sanitary Institution) for safekeeping. Profepa will continue to provide technical support in coordination with ministerial authorities, in accordance with current environmental regulations. Suspect accused of planning murder of Tulum Secretary of Security arrested and charged Tulum, Q.R. A suspect identified as Alejandro N has been arrested for his involvement of the murder of Tulum Secretary of Citizen Security Jose Roberto Rodriguez Bautista. Alejandro N, alias El Rayo, was arrested in Veracruz March 27 after fleeing to Tampico, Tamaulipas from Tulum. He was located and taken into custody in a coordinated effort between the Quintana Roo State Attorney Generals Office (FGE), the Secretariat of Security and Citizen Protection (SSPC), the Secretariat of the Navy (Semar) and the Veracruz State Attorney Generals Office (FGE). He was returned to the state of Quintana Roo over the weekend and charged with negligent homicide. He has been ordered to remain in preventative detention by a Cancun judge. On Monday, State Prosecutor Raciel Lopez Salazar provided details of the logistics. He says according to their investigations, the plot to kill Rodriguez Bautista was planned five months before being carried out and was not related to his work in the municipality of Tulum. According to Lopez Salazar, Rodriguez Bautista was targeted while serving as Director of the Investigative Police in Colima and for his participation in a search operation on the border with Jalisco. The March targeted attack in Tulum, Lopez Salazar explained, was carried out on orders from higher up drug dealers. State Prosecutor Raciel Lopez Salazar He (Alejandro N) participated in the murder at the direction of a criminal leader from Tamaulipas, the Quintana Roo Prosecutor said. Eight others are currently being sought around Mexico City and possibly Veracruz for their involvement in the planned killing. Lopez Salazar says hitmen monitored Rodriguez Bautista both in person and online before making their move. The Tulum Secretary of Security was followed for at least five months during which time his movements, routes and security personnel were monitored, authorities said. Their investigation revealed that the hitmen closely monitored the officials activities through social media, unsuccessfully attempting to assassinate him on at least six previous occasions. The man arrested today is a dangerous individual allegedly linked to more than 100 executions carried out in the north of the country, Lopez Salazar said at the Monday morning press conference. Since his Thursday arrest, Alejandro N has been charged with negligent homicide after being found guilty of participating in the logistics, planning and execution of the March 21 murder that left Rodriguez Bautista dead. The murder was coordinated with eight other hitmen from Mexico City and Veracruz, one of whom, the shooter that killed Rodriguez Bautista, also died on the day of the events. Authorities say a 5.56 caliber M4 rifle and a .40 caliber pistol were used in the March 21 murder. It was confirmed that one of the hitmen killed at the scene was of Guatemalan origin nicknamed El Chaparro, El Kaibil, or El Guatemalteco, known for his bloodthirsty nature. He was the one who executed the municipal official on the day of the attack, the FGE confirmed. Although he succeeded in carrying out the murder, he was shot dead by one of the secretarys bodyguards. State authorities say they are continuing with their search for the other eight believed involved in the Tulum SSC head murder. We are deploying our entire operational and intelligence strategy through the Interinstitutional Group for Peacebuilding, both at the state and national levels, with the goal of locating and arresting the other perpetrators. In Quintana Roo, anyone who commits a crime of this nature will face the consequences, being prosecuted and sentenced to a maximum of 50 years in prison, the Prosecutor said. FINCASTLE A small room in the Fincastle Library houses hundreds of copies of historical documents many of which cannot be found online, or anywhere else. The collection has been curated by Rena Worthen, a retired librarian. Worthen started working at the Fincastle Library in 1998. Two years later, while the library was being remodeled, she requested a genealogy room. They built the room, but said she would never fill it. Worthen took that as a challenge. Now, 25 years later, the room is quite full. Its overflowing with records from funeral homes, churches, newspapers and schools around Botetourt County, as well as books about the countys history. Some of the books were published locally, and a handful of them are by Worthen. Rena has done a wonderful job curating the collection and adding to it over the years, said Sarah Rodgers, branch manager of the Fincastle Library. Many of the documents, particularly the family collections, were curated and donated to the library by locals who had taken a deep dive into their own family history. For instance, Geraldine Obenshain collected more than 60 books full of research and donated them to the library upon her death in 2010, Worthen said. The vast majority of the resources found in the genealogy room are unique in that theyre not digitized and, in some cases, not available anywhere else. The funeral home records, for example, can only be found at the funeral home and in the genealogy room. In part, this is on purpose, Worthen said. Many, many, many books in here are not digitized, so if you want to research here, you have to come here, she said. However, the library would like to digitize some of the records eventually, Rodgers said. Shed like to do that at some point by using a grant to partner with a digital processing organization, she said. In October, Botetourt County Libraries launched Botetourt Memory, a digital archive of records related to the history of the county and its residents. Photos, newspaper clippings, wills, death records and more are available on the site. The archive consists of approximately 20,000 records total, Rodgers said. So far, the website has been visited more than 6,000 times. Im thrilled that people are using it, Worthen said. Genealogy research requests can also be submitted online through the Fincastle Librarys website. Worthens quest to find out more about her family is what fueled her passion to help others do the same. Wills, deeds, death certificates and news articles can provide hints but not always the answer, she said and she cant stand it when theres a question that she cant find the answer to. My most satisfying thing is when I find the answer for someone, regardless of whether its genealogy or history, she said. I dont rest until I get the answer, usually. Botetourt County was formed before Virginia became a commonwealth and originally spanned across what are today several states, Worthen said. People from across the country have come to the Fincastle Library to do research on their roots. One time, someone came to the genealogy room from Japan, she said. As far as the range of people who use the room, I mean, about a month ago, we had a gentleman in here from California who was researching, Rodgers said. Oftentimes, people come to the genealogy room because theyve found some information about their family history online, but they cant find the documents to validate it, Rodgers said. Librarians help them find documentation and get on the right track. Genealogy without documentation is mythology, Worthen said. If you dont document it, you dont have anything. Jim Price and Peggy Price, of Jefferson City, Tennessee, are married. But they learned through Ancestry.com that they can both trace their family back some five or six generations to one couple. While in town visiting some friends, they learned about the genealogy room and decided to pop in March 18. They came with the name Henry Price and some other records, like the year he was born and the year that he died. He and his wife were born in the late 1700s, Peggy Price said. They moved from Fincastle to Hawkins County, Tennessee, where we were born, Jim Price said. Worthen inspected the shelves for just a moment before she pulled a book out. She was pretty certain there were records of a Henry Price in that book, she said, but she wasnt sure if it was the right one. It wasnt the Henry Price in that book had a different recorded year of death than the one the Prices from Tennessee were searching for. But there is a Henry in there, Worthen said before reshelving the book. Their search continued. Rodgers, another history buff herself, said the process is like sleuthing or trying to solve a puzzle. They tried to figure out what cemetery he was buried in, but that can be a challenge, as there are a lot of unmarked graves, Worthen said. Weve documented over 300 cemeteries in this county now, she said. Shes also meticulously documented around 160 forgotten communities that once existed in the county. Worthen teaches classes once or twice a month at the Fincastle and Buchanan library branches. Past topics for classes include introduction to genealogy and how to find womens maiden names. One of my goals in life is to keep everyone who has passed away, to keep their legacy alive, Worthen said. Everybody has a legacy. I want people to remember them. The Trump administration's use of a popular messaging app to discuss sensitive military plans with a journalist on the text chain raised questions about security and the importance of safeguarding the nation's secrets. It also highlighting the differences between classified and public information, and demonstrating that even encrypted apps like Signal can lead to embarrassing leaks if the humans doing the texting don't follow basic security tips. What's the difference between 'classified' and top secret? President Donald Trump's administration says no classified material was leaked when senior officials used Signal to discuss upcoming attack plans against the Houthi rebels in Yemen even though a journalist was on the chat. Even if the information was declassified, it contained details that would have been highly valuable to the Houthis or other adversaries, showing how sometimes the decision of what to classify is a judgment call. The federal government routinely classifies vast amounts of information pertaining to military and intelligence operations. The material ranges from top secret nuclear programs or the identities of undercover agents all the way to mundane records that would be of little interest to anyone, let alone U.S. adversaries. In 2011, for example, the CIA finally declassified its recipe for invisible ink from 1917. Advocates for open government long complained that the push for secrecy goes too far, by protecting information that could shine a light on government activities or matters of public interest. The government uses three broad categories to "classify" information based on the need for secrecy: confidential, secret and top secret. While files marked "confidential" contain information that's not meant to be released, the need for security or access restrictions isn't as great as for material considered "top secret," which includes the nation's nuclear secrets and other material that, if released, could pose a grave danger to national security. While the Pentagon hasn't offered classification details about the information in the Signal chats, information about upcoming military strikes is typically tightly guarded to ensure adversaries don't have advance warning that could jeopardize the mission or put American service members at risk. The Pentagon closely guards even some publicly available information. Material categorized as "controlled unclassified information," while not secret, still is considered sensitive enough that military service members are prohibited from discussing it on unsecured devices like personal phones. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and CIA Director John Ratcliffe were asked about that policy during a Senate hearing as they were grilled over the Signal chat. Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona noted that Department of Defense policy "prohibits discussion of even what is called controlled unclassified information on unsecured devices," and asked if Ratcliffe and Gabbard, who oversees the nation's 18 intelligence agencies, were aware of that rule. "I haven't read that policy," Gabbard said. "I'm not familiar with the DOD policy," Ratcliffe said. Who decides to classify or declassify something? The power to classify or declassify lies in the hands of top federal officials, including the president and Cabinet secretaries. For military information like the attack plans discussed over Signal, the power lies with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who faces demands that he resign over the leak. The president's ability to declassify information was invoked when presidents were accused of mishandling secrets. Trump ally Kash Patel, now the FBI director, said he witnessed Trump declassify material that was taken after his first term to the president's Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort, but no evidence emerged to support that claim. The Pentagon hasn't said whether Hegseth declassified the attack plans before or after the Signal conversation, but Ratcliffe, Gabbard and the White House all said the chats contained no classified information. "I haven't participated in any Signal group messaging that relates to any classified information at all," Ratcliffe proclaimed at one point. That explanation failed to satisfy Democrats who say plans for imminent military strikes are regularly classified. National security experts agree. They say it would be highly unusual for the Pentagon to publicize such information and any lower-level officer caught leaking such material on Signal would face serious repercussions. There's secure, and then there's secure enough for classified secrets For many consumers, encrypted apps like Signal can offer greater protections for everyday conversations. But that doesn't mean they're secure enough for government secrets, or immune to human error, as the inclusion of a reporter on the text chain shows. Senior federal officials who handle classified data receive extensive training about the need to use approved devices and platforms to discuss government secrets. Intelligence and national security agencies have whole departments devoted to cybersecurity and the protection of state secrets. Government cybersecurity officials recommended that federal employees use encrypted apps like Signal, which can offer greater security for routine communication, and Ratcliffe said it was a "permissible" app for senior officials to use. But the app is only as secure as the device it's downloaded onto. The government's most sensitive information is typically discussed in a facility known as a sensitive compartmented information facility, which is designed to allow officials to review or discuss secrets without fear of eavesdropping or cyber intrusion. Any senior official using a personal device to discuss classified material could be at risk of cyberespionage, said Michael Williams, an expert on international relations and national security at Syracuse University. Sign up for the Slatest to get the most insightful analysis, criticism, and advice out there, delivered to your inbox daily. Few people are as knee-deep in our work-related anxieties and sticky office politics as Alison Green, who has been fielding workplace questions for a decade now on her website Ask a Manager. In Direct Report, she spotlights themes from her inbox that help explain the modern workplace and how we could be navigating it better. At a time when many Americans are struggling with rising costs of living and worries about their households financial stability, many corporate executives are making it clear that they have no idea what life is like for their employees. At my work advice column Ask a Manager, I regularly hear accounts of out-of-touch executives who have alienated large portions of their workforce via clueless displays of wealth at the exact same time that theyre laying off employees, increasing health insurance costs, or otherwise squeezing their workers. To wit: My spouses large, local employer was failing, pretty spectacularly. Many, many people in the community had purchased stock (and were watching the stock prices tumble). During the week of another round of layoffs, the relatively new CEO had her brand-new luxury vehicle delivered to the main office (which was nearly all windows). It was unloaded right out front in the fire lane, while employees watched. Years ago, our director started our department meeting by talking about his vacation, how nice his vacation home is, blah, blah, blah. On the same day, I was notified that my pay was cut 30 percent and others were laid off. My husbands boss, when announcing a raise freeze, tried to commiserate with the employees by saying things were bad for him too: He didnt get to travel abroad that year and he had to sell one of his cars. Back then, my husband had never left the country, and we didnt (still dont, actually) have a car. My husbands boss shared photos of her familys cruise to Antarctica at an all-staff meeting, not long after a major staff layoff (so more like an all-that-was-left staff meeting). When she saw the looks she was getting, she tried to backpedal and said it was a once in a lifetime trip. Some executives seem utterly oblivious to the ways in which their lifestyles differ from their employees, and that oversharing about their own wealth isnt doing them any favors if theyre trying to relate to their workers: A few months ago, we had a reorg and got a new executive, Alex. Alex is new to the company and has done a lot of work to try to get to know the business and the people involved. The attempts have seemed mostly practical and sincere. Recently, however, an all-day event was scheduled under his auspices. A survey was sent out ahead of time, and it included questions like What dont you know but would like to know about Alex (personally or professionally)? I got to the meeting, and there was a slideshow playing of Alex on various horses and wandering through a vineyard. The first 20 minutes were all the executives giving each other gifts on a podium and sharing with us their plans for the holidays. It turns out they all own horses. Interspersed throughout the day were trivia questions with prizes (from Alexs winery) for knowing things like the names of his horses, his children, or the name of the wine he makes at his vineyard. One of the questions someone had put in the survey was about how he handles worklife balance. He responded by humblebragging and complaining about how early he has to wake up to tend to the horses before doing this job while also juggling his vineyard. How universal he imagines that struggle to be is hard to imagine. The head of the org I work for has been complaining about his home renovations for months. I get ithe had to move out of his house and [checks notes] into the other property he owns. This has been happening while several employees are dealing with being illegally ousted from their rentals due to landlords not legally following the lead abatement process. But, yes, that kitchen renovation that you chose to do is also clearly traumatic too. During his first all-staff meeting, our COO said he had taken the past two years off before this job and that he highly recommended we all do it. This obliviousness to inequality in resources was particularly visible during the COVID-19 pandemic, when differences in income and privilege surfaced in especially jarring ways: During COVID, my country was in extended lockdown. We had an all-hands meeting intended to be a check-in on our welfare, during which a senior staff member shared tips on managing working remotely. They said that they keep their work items like their headset in a little bag so that, whichever room in the house they were working from, they could take the bag and be sure they had everything they needed with them. We had junior staff living in shared houses, working standing up over an ironing board because they didnt have any private space other than their own tiny room, which was too small to fit even a table. Leaving work items in other rooms of our large homes was not something that was a cause for concern for most of us. In 2020 I was working at a place with a very unpopular leader, who decided to pass the pandemic by renting a luxurious cabin in the mountains for her family. Every all-staff meeting, she would dial in with the giant stone fireplace in the background and talk about how wonderful it was to spend this precious time with her family and luxuriating in nature. You can imagine how well this went over with the rest of the staff, many of whom were separated from their family and friends, had sick loved ones, etc. Most of us did not have the resources to relocate to a luxury vacation rental! At my previous employer, over a company-sponsored meal of cheap sandwiches, the VP gave a speech to thank essential workers. He told us we should not think of COVID as a bad thing but a blessing because without it we wouldnt have come together as a company and made the record profits we did over three years. All of us in the room were on a wage freeze the entire time because the company said that there wasnt enough money and that to avoid layoffs, hard decisions had to be made. Many of us got by being exposed at work due to shitty protections. You could have heard a pin drop. Im still surprised people didnt riot. They could not figure out why, a month later, they were approaching 50 percent turnaround in staff whod been required to be on-site during the pandemic. We got a very stern lecture about the importance of coming into the office and mandatory in-person attendance from an exec who was herself calling in remotely (to the mandatory, in-person meeting) because it was too cold. Some of this is just plain self-absorptionexecutives who let their power at work convince them that they must be extra interesting to those around them. (Spoiler: they generally are not.) The CEO of our division just held an all-hands meeting in which we had to play a trivia game about her. We had to vote on where she was born, how many coffees she drank a day, and which Netflix shows she had binged. Twenty minutes of that, with thousands of employees. It was one of the most clueless and expensive meetings Ive ever been to, especially since there was nothing about our business strategy or results. I used to work at a place where the CEO would come into an all-hands meeting with flashing lights and loud music playing (Rocky theme song, maybe? I forget), and all the employees were supposed to applaud and cheer. This behavior by executives has ramifications beyond merely being gauche. It betrays a fundamental divide between higher-level management and the people who work for themits tough for employees to respect managers who look this out-of-touch and oblivious or to feel that they share a common agenda. It ends up creating an us-vs.-them mentality, which is detrimental to running a healthy business where you need people to feel as if theyre all on the same team and share a reasonably common frame of reference. It causes people to feel disconnected from their work and cynical about their employersand rightly so. Leaders who want the respect of the people working for them need to do significantly more self-reflection on how their employees see them and whyand work on more intuitively understanding why their employees dont want to waste time watching vacation slideshows and guessing what their horses names are. Sign up for the Slatest to get the most insightful analysis, criticism, and advice out there, delivered to your inbox daily. If you needed a gauge for how abnormal this moment has become in American courts, the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey in Newark last Friday was a good place to start. The first thing I noticed was how overwhelmed the court staff appeared. Ive come to this building before, but I had never seen the federal courthouse like this. People poked their heads up from the security station, trying to get a glimpse of the long line of broadcast cameras on tripods that had already formed, ready to go, even though the days biggest hearing wasnt scheduled to begin for another hour. Across the river, in Manhattan, the federal courthouses security might have been more prepared for a case like this. But not here. Soon, strips of painters tape came out to affix our press badges to each device not allowed in to try to keep track of everyones property amid the chaos. By the time I made it through the checkpoint, the main courtroom was nearly full. I slipped in just before the doors closed. Outside, a crowd of protesters was chanting Free Mahmoud Now. Inside, you couldnt hear them; the courtroom was still. But there was clearly anxiety in the air. The person at the center of it allMahmoud Khalilwasnt even in the room. Khalil, a permanent legal resident, had suddenly been whisked away by federal agents with barely any justification at all several weeks ago. In the video of his arrest, he appeared calm, perhaps performatively so, for the sake of his wife, who was recording it. She was eight months pregnant at the time. She was there Friday, two rows ahead of me, and for a while, all eyes seemed to be on her. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Khalil still hasnt been charged with a crime. His detention is based solely on a broad and rare assertion made by the newly minted secretary of state, Marco Rubio, that his presence poses a threat to U.S. security. Advertisement But at issue in the courtroom that day was not Khalils guilt or innocence in any wrongdoing, but where his case should be heard. We were here because Khalil had been briefly held at a newly opened Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Newark after his Manhattan arrest, but before he was moved to Louisiana. (For a time, neither his wife nor his legal team knew where he was at all.) Who had the authority to hear Khalils challenge to his detention: New Jersey, where his habeas petition was filed, or Louisiana, where hes now detained? Advertisement What the government wanted was clear. Its lawyers asked that the case be dismissed in New Jersey and refiled in Louisiana, where the Trump administration apparently expects more favorable treatment. Mr. Khalil was only here for a few hours, August Flentje, a Justice Department lawyer, told the judge. For jurisdictional certainty, the case belongs in Louisiana. That is our bottom line. He sparred with Judge Michael Farbiarz, who got laughter in the court at one point after informing the government attorney he had done his reading. He pointed to the Supreme Court case Ex parte Endo, which dealt with the incarceration of a Japanese American in the 1940s. Advertisement Advertisement But the mood shifted when Baher Azmy, Khalils lead lawyer and the legal director of the Center for Constitutional Rights, was asked to address the court. His tone was charged. The governments position is radical, he said. Liberty is at stake. He accused the administration of manufacturing new limitations on habeas corpus to suit its goals of extrajudicially deporting a person to quell political dissent. He described a government bouncing a body from jurisdiction to jurisdiction not to pursue justice but to delay it. The longer we wait, he said, the more chill on free speech. People are afraid theyll be picked up off the street. Advertisement Advertisement I wondered what Khalils wife, Noor Abdalla, was thinking as these questions were dissected and debated. She wore a long coat. Her hijab masked her peripheral vision. I had heard she might make a statement. She didnt. She didnt need to. Her very presencevisibly pregnantwas a statement in itself. And as the back-and-forth dragged on, the odds that her husband would be present at their childs birth seemed to slip away. Advertisement Azmy continued to stress the urgency of the case, pressing the judge to recognize that Khalils detention is punishment already. After more than an hour of arguments, the hearing was adjourned. The judge acknowledged the urgency, even echoed it. But he made no commitment about when he would issue a decision. As the courtroom emptied and reporters reclaimed their painters-taped devices, the case spilled back into the street. The first to exit were the DOJ attorneys, who moved quickly to another building while reporters shouted questions and photographers chased after them. Then Khalils wife emerged through a side door, covering her face. Members of his legal team waved their arms and used their coats to shield her from the many photographers chasing after her. Advertisement Advertisement Outside the courtroom, Azmy stopped for the press. He framed the case not as a jurisdictional question. He called it a test of democracy. Advertisement This is not any routine immigration case, Azmy said. This is a case where the United States government has created a policy targeting Palestinian activists, and specifically Mahmoud Khalil, for arrest, detention, and potential removal because the United States government disagrees with his constitutionally protected right to dissent from U.S. foreign policy. They are using the device of moving somebody around to further that whole scheme, he added. When a reporter asked about the governments accusation that Khalil supported Hamas, Azmy bristled. This individual was trusted by Columbia University to be a negotiator and a mediator, he said. This is a sort of cheap Red Scare. Like calling anyone a Communist in the 50s or a radical in the 20s. And were not going to fall for it. When the reporter pressed again, Azmy snapped. Its a total, complete fabrication. Im not sure why youre following the trap of a government that seeks to repress free speech and make up claims to justify detention. Its false. Dont fall for it, he said. The secretary of state takes the astonishing position that if he thinks someones dissent is contrary to the foreign policy interests of the United States, he thinks he can arrest, detain, and try to deport somebody. And thats a maximum level of repression we havent seen since the Red Scare. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ramzi Kassem, a law professor and part of Khalils legal team, has been defending Arab and Muslim Americans for decades. I think its a turning point for our society, he told me after the hearing. All of the approaches, tactics, and strategies that have been honed against Black people and Muslim people, and now were seeing them expanded to student activists. This is a blueprint. Advertisement This template to detain and silence pro-Palestinian speech will be used for every other issue they disagree with, he added, whether its LGBTQ rights, racial justice, reproductive rights. Whatever it is, they will use this approach to silence people. I asked Kassem whether he thought Trump was succeeding. I think its backfiring, he said. Its really not silencing people. But thats the aim. And theyve been pretty transparent about it. Advertisement He mentioned other cases, like Rumeysa Ozturk and Yunseo Chung, both students whose visas were revoked for political speech. In Chungs case, the court prohibited ICE from detaining her pending a decision on the constitutional questions. That was a huge step in the right direction. And were hoping for another one, he said. But inside that gold-trimmed courtroom on Friday, under a velvet curtain, it was hard not to notice that the question of what crime Khalil is accused of committing had never even been asked. He wont appear in immigration court again until April 8, perhaps after his baby is born. As Kassem pointed out, the Trump administration was not only deploying these tactics against legal residents but openly gloating about them, all the while defying any court to stop it. The hearing in Newark was jurisdictional, but it felt nothing short of existential. Sign up for the Slatest to get the most insightful analysis, criticism, and advice out there, delivered to your inbox daily. Its the latest step in the MAGA plan to overhaul U.S. elections, by which overhaul means disenfranchise millions: The Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, or SAVE Act, will be put to a vote in the House on Thursday. The vote will follow President Donald Trumps unconstitutional power grab of an executive order on voting last week, and it comes hot on the heels of the presidents clarification over the weekend that he was absolutely not joking about securing an unconstitutional third term for himself. On this weeks Amicus podcast, Dahlia Lithwick talked with Wendy Weiser, vice president for democracy at the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University Law School, about why the SAVE Act would be an unprecedented move by Congress, how free and fair elections are under increasing threat in the United States, and what concerned citizens can do about it. Their conversation has been edited and condensed for clarity. Dahlia Lithwick: Can you just walk us through what the SAVE Act does and doesnt do? Wendy Weiser: In the past, every time Congress has passed rules regarding elections, theyve improved the voting process, expanded access to voting, but the SAVE Act, if passed, would be the first time in our nations history that Congress passes a law suppressing votes, restricting access to voting. The SAVE Act would require a passport, a birth certificate, or naturalization papers to register to vote in federal elections, which is a vote-suppression measure that could block millions of eligible Americans from voting. Just over half of Americans actually have a U.S. passport. To the extent that the act allows birth certificates or other documents to vote, weve run studies with the University of Maryland and other data analysts and found that more than 9 percent of voting age citizensthats 21.3 million American citizensdont have a passport, a birth certificate, or naturalization papers readily available. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Seventy-nine percent of married women change their names, so their current names are not going to match the names on their birth certificates. So, to the extent that a passport or a birth certificate is required to register to vote, its going to be especially harmful for married women. In addition to disenfranchising up to 21.3 million people, the SAVE Act would also completely upend voter registration. It would end mail registration. It would end voter registration drives. It would end online registration and make it much harder to do automatic voter registration, because it requires voter registration to happen in person. You need to show those documents in person to an election official. You cant mail it in. So rural voters, voters with disabilities, older voters are also going to face special burdens, in addition to the tens of millions of Americans who dont have these documents readily available. Advertisement Congressional Republicans have listed this bill as one of their top 10 priorities for legislation for this year. I think it is possible to beat this bill back. Its wildly poorly drafted and unpopular, and it completely upends elections and undermines women in particular, but it is actively moving right now. The SAVE Act, like Trumps executive order targeting elections, is claiming to solve a problem that has been proved over and over again to not really exist: this myth of horrific voter fraud, and foreigners voting, and Mickey Mouse voting 40 times. Remind us what the data shows about alleged noncitizen voting. We have multiple layers of protections in American elections to ensure that only citizens vote. To the extent that there are outliers or exceptions, they are caught and prosecuted. It is very, very rare. It is so rare that you are more likely to be struck by lightning than to find a noncitizen who voted or to find any kind of individual voter fraud in American elections. Advertisement Advertisement For a noncitizen, the benefits of voting, to that person, are very small, but the penalties are extraordinary. They could face jail time, $10,000 in fines, deportation, and being barred from the United States. Theres a record that you did it, a written record that you signed, so if you get caught, youre going to be in a lot of trouble. Its no wonder that this doesnt happen. And yet, House Speaker Mike Johnson had this to say last May about why he thinks the Save Act is so necessary: We all know intuitively that a lot of illegals are voting in federal elections, but its not been something that is easily provable. We dont have that number. Advertisement Advertisement Thats the trick: Generate panic about a crisis that doesnt exist, then say the only way to solve it is these sweeping authoritarian solutionsand, by the way, they just so happen to devalue women and minorities and the young, and they also substitute facts with feelings. Advertisement The other thing its really important to notice about the SAVE Act and the executive order is that they put the lie to the idea that as long as we have voting in America, we have democracy. We forget that they have elections in Hungary. They have elections in Russia. The mere fact that there would still be elections at the end of these interventions does not mean that we have free and fair voting. So give us your best argument, especially for the people who think we can just wait for Democrats to turn it around in the midterms, that elections matter more than ever and this is not the time to take them for granted. While our voting rights are under attack, they havent been taken away, and people should not be demoralized. You should not slow down. Mobilization does make a difference. You still have power and you should be using it, and now is the time to be using it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And that is not just a matter of voting. Showing up at town halls, having your own shadow town halls, writing to your editor, writing to your friends, taking to social mediaall this still matters. We still can stop this. We cannot take our eye off the ball of ensuring that our elections are free and fair in the face of creeping authoritarianism. Elections are the principal way in which we can hold power accountable, that we can change the course of the country. So the first attack is always on the elections, to try to make sure theyre not free and fair, to try to keep people from voting, to try to rig the redistricting lines. We need to continue to fight for free and fair elections, and the first thing we need to do is push back these very aggressive attacks on elections and on election integrity. Advertisement Make no mistake: The SAVE Act is not an election integrity bill. It does nothing to improve election integrity. It is a vote-suppression bill. The main thing it does is target millions and millions of eligible American citizens. It does not target ineligible people; they are not being caught up in this. It is a vote-suppression bill, pure and simple. But we cannot stop there. There have been attacks on election officials across the country. There are attacks on judges across the country. There are efforts to put in place vote-suppression measures in states across the country, including measures to require a birth certificate or passport to vote in state elections pending in almost half the states in the country right now. If the SAVE Act passed, all of those could immediately become law as well. So we cannot take our foot off the gas pedal. We need to be out there in the statehouses, we need to be out there in front of the White House, and we need to make sure that everybody in Congress knows that we will not tolerate a vote-suppression bill from this Congress, especially at this time. https://sputnikglobe.com/20250331/dugin-putin--trump-share-respect-for-traditional-values-1121719654.html Dugin: Putin & Trump Share Respect for Traditional Values Dugin: Putin & Trump Share Respect for Traditional Values Sputnik International Russia and its President Vladimir Putin have ceased to be the main evil guy with the arrival of Donald Trump and his team in the White House, Russian philosopher Alexander Dugin told CNN. 2025-03-31T12:21+0000 2025-03-31T12:21+0000 2025-03-31T12:21+0000 world alexander dugin donald trump ukraine russia moscow cnn vladimir putin volodymyr zelensky https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e5/02/0a/1082032733_0:160:3072:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_8d037d2216cf984cac62458c099e672d.jpg Russia and its President Vladimir Putin have ceased to be the main evil guy with the arrival of Donald Trump and his team in the White House, Russian philosopher Alexander Dugin told CNN.On Ukraine: Ukraine could theoretically save its sovereignty if it could manage neutrality, becoming a bridge between Western civilization and Russian-Eurasian civilization, noted the scholar. Ukraine was afforded a historical chance to create its nation after the Soviet Union collapsed, according to the political philosopher.However, after "critical decisions taken by Volodymyr Zelensky, I fear there is no more such thing as Ukrainian sovereignty, said Dugin. https://sputnikglobe.com/20250126/russian-philosopher-dugin-trumps-rise-marks-start-of-new-age-of-empires-1121492263.html ukraine russia moscow 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 how has arrival of trump in white house changed attitude to russia and president vladimir putin, russian philosopher alexander dugin, alexander dugin interview, russian philosopher alexander dugin talks to cnn, alexander dugin about ukraine https://sputnikglobe.com/20250331/mission-failed-uk--us-helped-orchestrate-ukraines-2024-crimean-bridge-attack-1121716124.html Mission Failed: UK & US Helped Orchestrate Ukraines 2024 Crimean Bridge Attack Mission Failed: UK & US Helped Orchestrate Ukraines 2024 Crimean Bridge Attack Sputnik International The UK helped plan and execute Ukrainian strikes using Western ATACMS missiles targeting the Crimean Bridge in August 2024, a New York Times investigation revealed. 2025-03-31T05:25+0000 2025-03-31T05:25+0000 2025-03-31T05:25+0000 world military & intelligence ukraine united kingdom (uk) cia crimean bridge army tactical missile system (atacms) russian air defense forces russia https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/03/02/1117090306_0:190:2968:1860_1920x0_80_0_0_b09729d441b63e2c4ac7b71fc9f487a8.jpg The UK helped plan and execute Ukrainian strikes using ATACMS missiles targeting the Crimean Bridge in August 2024, a New York Times investigation revealed.The blueprint of an attack to bring the bridge down was worked out jointly by the British, the US, and the CIA. Western-supplied ATACMS were supposed to weaken vulnerable points on the deck of the Crimea Bridge, while maritime drones would then blow up next to its stanchions, noted the outlet.The British military had considerable clout in Ukraine, it added, noting that unlike the Americans, they had placed small teams of officers in the country shortly after the conflict escalated in 2022. The US had first pushed back at Ukraines plan to strike with missiles alone, but eventually backed down. On the night of August 16, Russian air defense systems successfully repelled the entire volley of enemy ATACMS missiles.Ukraine previously attacked the Crimean Bridge on October 8, 2022, when a truck loaded with explosives blew up while crossing it, killing five people including the driver, and damaging both the road and rail spans. Kiev denied responsibility until finally admitting that it bombed the bridge "in order to break the logistics of the Russians." On July 17, 2023, a second explosion occurred after an attack by a naval drone. A family from Belgorod region who were driving across the bridge at the time were killed. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240816/russian-air-defenses-destroy-12-atacms-missiles-trying-to-attack-crimean-bridge---mod-1119791919.html ukraine united kingdom (uk) crimean bridge 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 uk helped plan and execute ukrainian strikes using western atacms missiles targeting the crimean bridge in august 2024, ukraine's attack on crimean bridge in 2024, ukraine's failed attack on crimean bridge, russian air defenses thwarted a group strike of 12 us-made atacms tactical missiles on the crimean bridge, all missiles were destroyed, https://sputnikglobe.com/20250331/paris-court-finds-le-pen-guilty-of-embezzlement-of-european-parliament-funds-1121718464.html Paris Court Finds Le Pen Guilty of Embezzlement of European Parliament Funds Paris Court Finds Le Pen Guilty of Embezzlement of European Parliament Funds Sputnik International A court in Paris found Marine Le Pen, the leader of the National Rally faction in the French parliament, guilty of embezzlement of European Parliament funds by hiring fictitious assistants to party members, the judge announced on Monday. 2025-03-31T09:46+0000 2025-03-31T09:46+0000 2025-03-31T11:16+0000 world marine le pen europe paris european parliament https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/06/1e/1119197141_0:0:3148:1771_1920x0_80_0_0_742088105d51e77a229db5d2098b9497.jpg "Madame Le Pen has been found guilty of embezzlement of public funds," the judge said. Another eight other party lawmakers were found guilty, while some 12 party members were found guilty of "hiding information." According to the court, the damage to the European Parliament is estimated at 2.9 million euros ($3.1 million). The court sentenced Le Pen to four years in prison, including two years on probation.Le Pen will not go to prison, and will serve her sentence with an electronic bracelet at home, the judge said.Le Pen was also ordered to pay a fine of 100,000 euros ($108,200).Le Pen and 24 of her party members are accused of allegedly laundering the funds of the European Parliament by allegedly fictitiously hiring assistants to lawmakers. The politicians are accused of "misuse of public funds" of the European Union in the period from 2004 to 2016, and Le Pen is accused of creating a "centralized system" of laundering European Parliament's money. According to the prosecution, the European Parliament allocated funds to pay for the work of parliamentary assistants to European Parliament lawmakers from Le Pen's party, although in fact the assistants worked only for the National Rally faction. https://sputnikglobe.com/20241014/le-pen-says-committed-no-violation-in-hiring-process-of-european-parliament-assistants-1120550359.html paris 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 a court in paris found marine le pen, the leader of the national rally faction in the french parliament, guilty of embezzlement of european parliament funds by hiring fictitious assistants to party members, the judge announced on monday. https://sputnikglobe.com/20250331/pepe-escobar-from-sanaa-to-saada--yemen-during-wartime-1121717925.html Pepe Escobar: From Sanaa to Saada Yemen During Wartime Pepe Escobar: From Sanaa to Saada Yemen During Wartime Sputnik International SAADA, northwest Yemen Its 2 pm on Wednesday, March 26, and I am standing in a deserted boulevard in Saada during Ramadan, in silence, surrounded by mountains, and watching a road sign telling me the Saudi border is only a two-hour drive away. 2025-03-31T10:42+0000 2025-03-31T10:42+0000 2025-03-31T10:42+0000 world saada yemen west middle east us central command (centcom) pentagon houthi https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e9/03/1f/1121718670_0:120:1280:840_1920x0_80_0_0_727510b43795d54cdafb98460b1a8b2e.jpg We had arrived in northwest Yemen the birthplace of the Ansarallah movement in a convoy of white Toyota SUVs, not really a convoy, actually a decoy, because they never rode together along the scenically spectacular highway for serious security reasons.We were a small group of around 12 people East and West who had spent the previous days in the capital Sanaa as part of a conference on Palestine titled You Are Not Alone. As our gracious hosts pointed out, we in fact broke physically - the Western/Arab blockade of Yemen, as the first group of foreigners to visit the country in years.Included in the group were former Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi; Prof. Ma Xiaolin, a wonderful man, a Hui (Chinese Muslim) from Ningxia province and dean of an Institute of Studies of the Mediterranean Rim in high-tech hub Hangzhou; top Malaysian researcher Aminurraasyid Yatiban, who delivered a stunning presentation during the conference on the militarization of archeology in al-Quds; Nelson Mandelas grandson, Mandla; and the Irish dynamic duo Mike Wallace and Clare Daly, formerly at the European Parliament.It took a while to realize why we were there at this particular time everything part of a meticulous security operation. That was no coincidence: the day before, March 25, marked the 10th anniversary of the first strike on Yemen by the proverbial coalition of the willing assorted Arabs except Oman led by Saudi Arabia with the Obama-Biden White House leading from behind.Later in the afternoon we would learn that no less than 45,000 buildings across Yemen, especially in Saada governorate, had been hit in these past 10 years; and now with direct input from the peace through strength Trump 2.0-led Pentagon which, as the tawdry Signal saga revealed, launched a war on Ansarallah and Yemen to send a message.We saw the message imprinted on a construction-in-progress cancer hospital in Saada, whose financing took enormous effort, now flattened by CENTCOMs bombs only two days before our visit. We collected fragments of American bombs, some with manufacturer name and contract number to be analyzed by Yemeni teams. One unexploded bomb lay in the bowels of the destroyed hospital.In a direct link to the 10-year-old war, we also visited the site where a school bus was hit by a Saudi airstrike in 2018: all 42 kids died, the evidence found in one of their cellphones amidst the rubble. They are all buried in a small martyrs cemetery.At night, I was told to expect another knock on the door around 4 a.m. Some of us in fact expected the impossible: a face-to-face meeting with the leader of Ansarallah, Abdul Malik Badr al-Din al-Houthi, who lives in Saada governorate. But that would have represented an unimaginable security risk, as hes now CENTCOMs number one target for decapitation in the whole of West Asia.Yemen: the Origin of All ArabsTo understand the complexities of Yemen, we need to start on how the system of government works. Its like a triangle.At the top of the triangle sits the Leader, Abdul Malik al-Houthi, the younger brother of late Hussein al-Houthi, the first leader of Ansarallah, a multi-layered religious/political/military movement mostly composed of Zaydi Shiites.Right below sits President Mahdi Muhammad al Mashad.At the other two angles of the triangle we have, on one side, the 9 members of the High Political Council which must answer to Parliament: we met 4 of them. On the other side we haveParliament which in fact has precedence over the Prime Minister. And then the institutions of the government, with primacy for the justice system.In Saada, an intel specialist told me, unambiguously, that the real set of power is here, not in Sanaa: a direct reference to Leader Abdul Malik al-Houthi.Yemen is the foundation stone of all Arab migrations; from the first Semitic migrations through the broken-apart Sheba due to the collapse of the Great Dam of Marib (the Queen of Sheba, incidentally, was born in Sanaa), to all the armies that spread Islam all over the world, from Africa to Mesopotamia, India and Southeast Asia.Yemen was ruled by the two greatest Queens in the Islamic world: Bilkis of Sheba and Arwa of the Sulayhid state. Prophet Muhammad specified more than 45 authenticated hadiths on Yemen and Yemenis.In a nutshell: Yemen is the origin of all Arabs. No wonder tawdry Wahhabi upstarts wallowing in sub-zero culture and hostages of bling bling bad taste, hate Yemen with a vengeance, especially since the Yemeni unification of 1990.Yemenis were the first to write in Yemeni Arabic letters the letters of Musnad, the Ancient South Arabian script. They documented their own history so it wont be distorted in the future, as much as contemporary Yemenis document their history of plunder by the Western oligarchy and its despicable Arab regimes surrogates.Yemens intrinsic power is a tremendous threat to turbo-capitalism configured as Plunder Inc.. No wonder the 10-year war still in progress has featured a litany of mobilized takfiri thugs, mercenaries, corrupt interim governments and a shameful UN-backed coalition designed to bomb and starve Yemenis into submission, as documented by Isa Blumis remarkable Destroying Yemen: What Chaos in Arabia Tells Us About The World.Trump 2.0 represents a logical conclusion of the process; in the peacemakers own words, these barbarians will be annihilated. As in the only way left for globalized financial oligarchy to plunder the riches of Yemen now is to destroy it.Fighting for Palestine Ethically and SpirituallyWe were relaxing in the dewanya of our hotel in Sanaa, drinking tea and waiting for the daily televised address to the nation by Leader Abdul Malik al-Houthi when suddenly he entered the room, unannounced. We were speechless: that was none other than Yahya Saree, the spokesman of the Yemeni Armed Forces, who Prof. Ma told me is a superstar in China actually all across the Global Majority.That was an astonishing security risk: to visit a group of foreigners in a well-known hotel in central Sanaa. As if he was daring CENTCOM in person, not virtually via social media, as he does it every day. Yahya Saree shook our hands, delivered a short speech and made his point crystal clear: We in Yemen have decided to take this position in support and solidarity with the Palestinians out of our moral and religious responsibilities.In a private conversation with Mohammed Ali al-Houthi, a member of the High Political Council and former head of the Revolutionary Committee, I asked him whether Yemen had diplomatic efforts with Russia and China. The response, in flowery Arabic with several metaphors lost in translation - and a profusion of smiles, was priceless: yes.We were also privileged to spend at least two hours with Prof. Dr. Abdulaziz Saleh bin Habtoor, a member of the High Political Council, former Prime Minister, the general supervisor of the conference You are Not Alone and a towering Yemeni old-school intellectual.Prof. bin Habtoor is also the author of a must-read book, Undeterred: Yemen in the Face of Decisive Storm, with an English translation published in 2017 by the language center in Sanaa University.Prof. bin Habtoor summarized Houthi power in three vectors: leadership/guidance; mobilization of the people; and resilience derived from History. And compared Saudis trying to fight us since 1967 to real Yemeni liberation achieved only in 2016.Houthi military power has come a long way from technical cooperation during the Cold War, top Yemeni students honing their skills in the USSR and China, and a good military connection with Egypt before Sadat.Prof. bin Habtoor also remarked how Beirut, Baghdad and Cairo used to be great cultural centers; no wonder they were all attacked by Western vultures and their surrogates. Now the reference in the Arab world has been degraded to cheap, tawdry, bling bling Persian Gulf.That complemented a sharp analysis by former Iraqi PM Mahdi, who extolled how Yemen has been liberated culturally and economically, self-sufficient and independent from the world system, although paying an enormous price. Former Bolivian Foreign Minister Fernando Huanacuni, very close to Evo Morales, delivered the clincher: We are walking in circles because all development models are connected to neocolonialism. We need a new trans-continental - model as we fight the same struggle in Latin America and West Asia.There Will Be SurprisesWhatever the several stooges exchanging bomb Yemen messages on a Signal chat crammed with CIA backdoors may dream of, Yemen will not be broken. Still, the Pentagon has dispatched at least four B-2A stealth strategic bombers to Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean. Together with the four B-52H already in the base plus KC-135 tankers and C-17 transport aircraft as support, the Pentagon is definitely bent on inflicting long-term Hell from Above on Yemen.Only on Sunday night, civilian (italics mine) buildings in Sanaa were bombed no less than 13 times. US on the ground intel in Yemen is a joke.The Fox News clown posing as head of the Pentagon has ordered the USS Harry Truman now routinely targeted by the Yemeni Armed Forces to stay in the Red Sea for another month. The USS Carl Vinson strike group, formerly deployed in the Asia-Pacific, left for West Asia this past Friday.So soon, in thesis, the US Navy may have two aircraft carrier strike groups with hundreds of fighter jets parked on both sides of the Bab el-Mandeb. The Yemeni Armed Forces are not even blinking.On the contrary. First they warned all airlines that what is referred to as Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv has become unsafe for air traffic - and will remain so until the genocide in Gaza stops, de facto declaring an aerial blockade on Israel.Then they ramped up their UAV force attacks on several warships attached to the USS Harry Truman.Even as B-2 bombers targeted an underground missile complex of the Yemeni Armed Forces with devastating bunker busters, they couldnt destroy it: only the entrances collapsed.That neatly tied up with leader Abdul Malik al-Houthi, on X, announcing there is an upcoming surprise regarding the development of Yemen's military capabilities that may surprise the United States. It could be revealed after its use, as actions will precede words.That may have been related to a senior source in the Yemeni Armed Forces High Command stating that they targeted the E-2 command and control aircraft of the USS Harry Truman, with the aircraft carrier losing its command. So far there has been thunderous silence from the Pentagon.Of course no one expects Team Trump 2.0 to understand what Prophet Muhammad himself had stated, unambiguously, in the 7th century: Faith is Yemeni, law is Yemeni and wisdom is Yemeni.Nor will they understand the top two imperatives of the Arab Fight Club. Rule number one: Dont mess with Yemen. Rule number two: DO NOT mess with Yemen. https://sputnikglobe.com/20250325/houthis-say-attacked-ben-gurion-airport-uss-harry-truman-aircraft-carrier---reports-1121683619.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20250324/trump-team-unwittingly-sends-yemen-strike-plans-to-editor-of-neoliberal-magazine-the-president-1121682439.html saada yemen west Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2025 Pepe Escobar https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/101642/49/1016424943_868:0:3100:2232_100x100_80_0_0_a742038b05a1847ce42e71952e4994d5.jpg Pepe Escobar https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/101642/49/1016424943_868:0:3100:2232_100x100_80_0_0_a742038b05a1847ce42e71952e4994d5.jpg 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 Pepe Escobar https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/101642/49/1016424943_868:0:3100:2232_100x100_80_0_0_a742038b05a1847ce42e71952e4994d5.jpg pepe escobar, saudi border, yemen during wartime, saudi border https://sputnikglobe.com/20250331/szijjarto-asked-ukrainian-energy-minister-to-stop-attacks-on-russian-energy-infrastructure-1121716380.html Szijjarto Asked Ukrainian Energy Minister to Stop Attacks on Russian Energy Infrastructure Szijjarto Asked Ukrainian Energy Minister to Stop Attacks on Russian Energy Infrastructure Sputnik International MOSCOW, (Sputnik) - Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said that he asked the Ukrainian Energy Minister German Galushchenko to stop attacks on the... 31.03.2025, Sputnik International 2025-03-31T05:24+0000 2025-03-31T05:24+0000 2025-03-31T05:24+0000 world hungary peter szijjarto ukraine https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/05/15/1118568059_0:0:3072:1728_1920x0_80_0_0_3b5f51564726f68a86491cffdf91b933.jpg "I had a meeting with the Minister of Energy of Ukraine just very recently where I have asked him to help me with convincing those who have to be convinced in Ukraine not to attack the energy infrastructure towards Hungary. I also told him that I can only look at this issue through a Hungarian angle, not an angle of anyone else," Szijjarto said. He also recalled that the security of oil and gas pipelines through which Russian energy supplies enter Europe was one of the security guarantees given to Hungary by the European Commission, and Budapest still expects them to be fulfilled. On March 18, Russian President Vladimir Putin held a phone conversation with US President Donald Trump. According to the Kremlin, during the conversation, Trump put forward a proposal for the parties to the conflict in Ukraine to mutually refrain from striking energy infrastructure facilities for 30 days. Putin supported this initiative and immediately gave the Russian military the corresponding order. Later, Volodymyr Zelensky said that Ukraine would support the proposal to stop striking energy infrastructure. The very next day, the Russian Defense Ministry reported that several hours after the conversation between Putin and Trump, Kiev had attacked an oil depot in Kuban with drones. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said there was no reciprocity on the part of Kiev to stop the strikes.Hungary Initiates Removal of Russian Businessmen from EU Sanctions ListAlisher Usmanov, Dmitry Mazepin, and Mikhail Fridman are among nine people initiated for delisting, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said. Hungary succeeded in delisting three of them, he added. "That's important because it's an icebreaker," Szijjarto said. https://sputnikglobe.com/20250125/szijjarto-calls-polands-tusk-soros-agent-after-his-threats-against-hungarys-orban-1121495974.html hungary ukraine Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2025 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International hungary, peter szijjarto, ukraine https://sputnikglobe.com/20250331/usaid-in-myanmar-a-legacy-of-soft-power-manipulation-1121721245.html USAID in Myanmar: A Legacy of Soft Power Manipulation? USAID in Myanmar: A Legacy of Soft Power Manipulation? Sputnik International Democrats and the mainstream media continue to blame US President Donald Trumps USAID cuts for crippling Myanmars earthquake response, despite his pledge of aid. 2025-03-31T16:56+0000 2025-03-31T16:56+0000 2025-03-31T16:56+0000 world donald trump us myanmar usaid https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/03/05/1117150257_0:0:3082:1734_1920x0_80_0_0_1ef2c647c3b2332865edc8ca0000a04f.jpg Trump and Elon Musk have slammed USAID for fraud, while Secretary of State Marco Rubio said it had strayed from its original mission. hat was USAID REALLY doing in Myanmar? Pushing Woke Agendas Musks DOGE axed a $45M DEI scholarship program in Myanmar, launched in 2024 to fund 1,000 students in SE Asia and online at the University of Arizona. It was less about education and more about grooming future US allies against China, insiders told Radio Free Asia. Media reports say many in Myanmar also fear the programs erode local culture and values. Terrorism Allegations Myanmars ruling State Administrative Council (SAC) urged the US in 2024 to rethink funding activities which some label as terrorism. We believe the US is manipulating Myanmar to counter China's influence in the region, the military government told US media. Despite the US presenting itself as a champion of democracy, the aid disproportionately benefits Myanmar's opposition groups. Media Manipulation USAID redirected $42.4M to advocacy groups post-2021. A now-frozen $1M was set for independent media like Mizzima, seen as an anti-government mouthpiece. The group Human Rights Myanmar said the frozen funds are vital for organizations challenging military rule and promoting democracy, which advance US interests by upholding American values and countering Chinas authoritarian influence. USAIDs Myanmar partners reportedly also include CARE International, which runs gender-focused projects and the Overseas Irrawaddy Association which relocates activists. https://sputnikglobe.com/20250330/what-is-the-us-institute-of-peace-the-latest-usaid-style-soft-power-tool-dismantled-by-doge-1121714075.html myanmar 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 usaid in myanmar, power manipulation, donald trumps usaid cuts, myanmars earthquake response https://sputnikglobe.com/20250331/zelensky-wants-to-abandon-us-ukraine-minerals-deal---trump-1121715954.html Zelensky Wants to Abandon US-Ukraine Minerals Deal - Trump Zelensky Wants to Abandon US-Ukraine Minerals Deal - Trump Sputnik International US President Donald Trump said Volodymyr Zelensky wanted to abandon the US-Ukraine critical minerals deal. 2025-03-31T02:51+0000 2025-03-31T02:51+0000 2025-03-31T04:51+0000 world donald trump volodymyr zelensky ukraine us minerals mining industry lithium https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e9/03/1f/1121715796_0:0:3072:1728_1920x0_80_0_0_0e1bc5e39e005993f246e45a2061e77f.jpg "He's trying to back out of the rare earth deal, and if he does that, hes got some problemsbig, big problems," Trump said, as quoted by Reuters. On February 28, Trump met with Zelensky in Washington to finalize the minerals deal. However, the discussions fell apart following a scandal in the Oval Office. Following talks on March 11, the US and Ukraine agreed to sign a comprehensive agreement on the development of Ukraines mineral resources, according to an official communique published on Zelenskys office website. Zelensky has already slammed the US for omitting any mention of security guarantees from the deal and making it all about US control over resources. He also whined how frequently the US was altering the terms of the deal, but caved saying that Kiev was still interested in striking the deal if that's what was required to continue receiving US aid and intelligence. https://sputnikglobe.com/20250215/what-are-ukraines-rare-earths-the-us-wants-so-much-1121569846.html ukraine Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2025 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International rare eaths, critical minerals, us-ukraine deal, trump deal, minerals deal, rare minerals deal, oval office, ukrainian minerals, ukrainian rare earths, mining, lithium, rare earth deal, rare earth Stories of High-Quality Development | Hangzhou provides 'sunshine, rain and dew' for enterprises to thrive 09:40, March 31, 2025 By Jiang Meng ( People's Daily Online Since the start of 2025, Hangzhou's "Six Little Dragons," each with unique strengths, have emerged to spark a wave of technological innovation. But why were these six star startups all born in Hangzhou? Patience and inclusiveness are Hangzhou's greatest offerings to businesses. While the "Six Little Dragons" differ in their fields and technical approaches, they all commend the city's highly supportive business environment. "In 2016, we plunged headfirst into robotics research and development, a field brimming with challenges. Back then, robotics technology was in its infancy. Even simple operations were performed with significant difficulty, and market interest was very low," recalled Chu Yang, marketing manager of Unitree Robotics. The government's proactive approach helps businesses avoid unnecessary detours in their development. Hangzhou has established a comprehensive government service system offering "one window for all needs, one stop for all services, and unwavering support for enterprises throughout their lifecycle," addressing the challenges businesses face. These measures have actively supported scientific and technological startups like Unitree, enabling them to focus entirely on R&D and grow into leaders in robotics technology. Ultimately, enterprises and employees are best positioned to judge whether a business environment is good. Government departments in Hangzhou follow the principle of being "proactive when necessary, non-intrusive when not, and giving just enough support without overstepping," a strategy that has won praise from businesses. The government's attention to detail underscores its dedication to helping enterprises thrive. "We've also focused on 'important minor' details related to talents and became the first city in China to embed preschools in industrial parks, ensuring that employees can bring their kids while they're at work," said Li Ziqiang, director of the Overseas High-level Talents Innovation and Entrepreneurship Service Center in Hangzhou High Tech Zone (Binjiang). The government acts as a dedicated "assistant" supporting, stabilizing, aiding and empowering various enterprises, helping them thrive in Hangzhou. The service is like "sunshine, rain and dew," nurturing enterprises to grow into towering trees. (Web editor: Hongyu, Wu Chengliang) Flood risk management, hydropower generation and salmon runs will suffer if the United States and Canada dont renew a key provision of the treaty that guides how they manage the Columbia River. If a new treaty doesnt come into force by then or the two sides cant agree on another set of interim measures, Canada will no longer have to hold back more than 1 trillion gallons of water it stores for the U.S. each spring to prevent flooding in the lower Columbia River and maximize hydropower production year-round. The two countries have been working on a new Columbia River Treaty since 2018. President Donald Trump paused negotiations earlier this month, a routine step at the beginning of a new administration, experts say. Whats not normal, they say, is the backdrop for the pause a dramatic trade war and diplomatic clash between the two countries. Things that we counted on that the United States would be a friend and ally to Canada are now no longer true, said Adrian Dix, British Columbias energy minister. Mutually profitable? The 1,243-mile-long river springs from Columbia Lake in southeastern British Columbia and flows into the Pacific Ocean near Astoria, Ore. Over the course of the 20th century dams transformed the once-wild Columbia into a machine that prevents previously inevitable seasonal flooding while also generating hundreds of millions of dollars in hydropower each year and allowing ships carrying billions of dollars in goods to travel from the ocean as far inland as Idaho. The U.S. and Canada have fine-tuned that machine since the Columbia River Treaty came into force in 1964. Under the treaty, Canada and the United States share the rivers benefits. Canada helps regulate the flow of water through a system of dams and reservoirs, and the U.S. sends back payment for half of the extra power that can be generated from that re-timed water. In recent years, the payments ranged from roughly $100 million to $300 million each year, but that amount will decline under the 2024 interim measures. Without a new agreement, worst-case scenarios could include increased flooding along the lower Columbia River in communities like Vancouver; river and reservoir conditions that threaten salmon runs; and costly disruptions to hydropower production, farm irrigation and commercial navigation. Either country alone could build dams and do stuff for flood control and power production and whatever else they want to do, but they could only get so much, said Richard Paisley, director of the Global Transboundary International Waters Governance Initiative at the University of British Columbia. But its only when they decided to cooperate and run together and synchronize their operations that both sides could do better. That, in turn, he said, has generated something more valuable than any other commodity: certainty. And certainty is the foundation of every dollar the Columbia River drives. Thats true for the $31 billion in goods shipped on the deep water channel each year; for the $3 billion in crops watered with nearly 1 trillion gallons of water in the Columbia Basin Project each year; and for the ever-growing residential, commercial and industrial power fueled by hydropower. All of those depend on the river to be managed just as it is now. They turn that relative consistency into the foundation of the regions economy. Tens of thousands of jobs rely on the system. And it all stands to be disrupted to varying degrees. The State Department, which is leading the negotiations for the U.S., declined to answer questions. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Bureau of Reclamation, which together run the Columbia River federal dam system, also declined to comment, as did the Bonneville Power Administration, which markets the power generated by the federal system. The Columbian spoke with 10 officials and experts from both sides of the border; four declined to be quoted. Diplomatic dominoes Although the two countries reached an agreement in principle late last year, Canadian officials fear the Trump administration will depart from it. Weve come to an agreement. The only question is, will that agreement get caught up in the currently erratic politics of the American government? Dix said. While Trump has singled out the Columbia River Treaty in talks with Canada, his threats to annex the country and the impact of his trade war policies on both countries economies are particularly worrying to Dix. Experts and officials on both sides of the border also fear negotiations wont succeed in time. During his first term, Trump was slow to appoint key figures, and thats shaping up to be the case again. Without those officials in place, negotiations cant continue. If the key flood-management provision expires Aug. 1, 2027, the Columbia River would shift to a called upon storage regime. From 1946 until 2024, Canada assured the U.S. about 3 trillion gallons of flood risk management storage each year. Without action, Canada would provide none. Instead, the burden of managing flood risk while trying to preserve U.S. hydropower generation capability would be shifted to the U.S. And while its taken for granted, the task of managing the Columbia Rivers nearly 65 trillion-gallon yearly flow is not easy. Thats especially true because Canadian runoff accounts for as much as half that amount each year, and most of that comes in May, June and July. Between 15 trillion and 19 trillion gallons barrel down across the border in those months alone. To combat those flows without pre-planned Canadian storage, the U.S. will have to call on Canada to hold back water as it becomes clear it will be necessary. But thats complicated because the two countries never agreed on the price the U.S. will pay, how drastically the U.S. will have to first disrupt its river operations and how much flood damage communities like Vancouver will have to be projected to incur before Canada will provide that called upon storage. To Barbara Cosens, a former law professor at the University of Idaho who has studied the treaty for more than 15 years, all of that leaves the U.S. vulnerable in the unlikely but possible event that these issues end up having to be settled during a year when theres extremely heavy precipitation and risk of a serious flood. Those two things mean that you have to have to have good working relationships when that occurs, she said, and even the interim measures themselves really depend on continued good working relationships, and so that is clearly one of the wild cards we have in play now. Impacts The potential loss of the last trillion gallons of pre-planned Canadian storage could have dramatic impacts on U.S. flood risk management, hydropower production, agricultural outputs and salmon runs. For flood control, the loss of the first 2 trillion gallons of storage earlier this year already increased flood risk along the lower Columbia in communities like Vancouver. Much of the burden of the loss of the final 1 trillion gallons would likely be shouldered by operations at the massive Grand Coulee Dam and Lake Roosevelt reservoir behind it, officials and experts say. But that comes with consequences. If Grand Coulee is being operated more conservatively to battle floods, its operations will, by definition, be less tailored to producing power when its needed and prices are higher. That lack of flexibility could lower production. The Corps Julie Ammann, acting chief of the Columbia Basin water management division, acknowledged that in a September 2023 talk. Changes to flow and storage project operations may have an impact on power generation, she said. Lower levels at Lake Roosevelt also mean higher pumping costs for area irrigators during an already difficult period for them. The potential loss of assured storage in 2027 would also affect salmon, said Joseph Bogaard of Save Our Wild Salmon. The change would increase uncertainty and, in the battle between all the competing interests looking to get their slice of the river, salmon would likely continue to come in last place. I think its safe to say that salmon will continue to pay a heavy price under that sort of scenario, perhaps even heavier than its been under the current scenario, Bogaard said. Theres a lot of uncertainty. Of course, the whole issue could be resolved if the two countries agree on another set of interim measures or manage to ratify a modernized treaty. Even barring those rosy outcomes, other factors may minimize the impacts of the potential end of assured Canadian storage in summer 2027. Hydropower coordination between the two countries is set to continue until 2044 and that lets the U.S. know a bit about how Canada will manage the river. Corps models show that will lessen the impact. Cosens also noted that Canadian hydropower operations happen to sometimes align with U.S. flood control interests. There is synergy between using those dams for flood control and using them for hydropower, she said. Those factors, combined with the long-standing, close relationships between water managers in the two countries and the fact that former President Joe Biden kept on Trumps lead State Department negotiator all leave Cosens hopeful. 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 Japan said Monday it had decided to inject more than $5 billion extra into semiconductor venture Rapidus, which is aiming to mass-produce next-generation chips in the country from 2027. The industry ministry said it would provide 802.5 billion yen ($5.4 billion) for the company, a joint venture involving Sony, Toyota, IBM and others. It brings total government assistance to Rapiduswhich is set to start test production at its factory in Hokkaido in Aprilto 1.7 trillion yen, the ministry said. Global demand for advanced, energy-efficient semiconductors is expected to explode as artificial intelligence technologies play an increasing role in people's daily lives. Securing stable supplies of chips has become a business and national security concern for Japan, which dominated the hardware industry in the 1980s. Rapidus aims to mass-produce logic chips using two-nanometer technology, the next frontier in semiconductors containing an even more dizzying number of minuscule transistors. Japan commanded half the global market for microchips in the 1980s through early the 90s, with the likes of NEC and Toshiba leading the way. But it now accounts for about 10% of the market, although it remains a leader in chip-making equipment and materials. Rapidus chairman Tetsuro Higashi told AFP in an interview last year that the project was the "last opportunity" to put the country's semiconductor sector back on the global map. "Japan is more than a decade behind others. It will require enormous money just to catch up," he said. Semiconductors, which power everything from mobile phones to cars, have become a key trade battleground in recent years. Meanwhile, Taiwanese chip behemoth TSMC is facing pressure to diversify its production as customers and governments worry about the possibility of China invading the island. TSMC opened a new $8.6 billion factory in southern Japan last year, and is planning a second, $20 billion facility for more advanced chips. 2025 AFP Demand for mental health services are at an all-time high in the Brazos Valley and clinics are seeking to increase supply, including the newly opened Ballem Harmony Clinic. While the cities of Bryan and College Station are not considered health care shortage areas by themselves, the rest of Brazos County is. The Health Resources & Services Administration uses a website to list Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSA) throughout the United States. The HPSA lists mental health, primary care and dental health resources and demand within an area to determine if a location has enough health care resources to accommodate needs. When deciding whether or not an area is officially designated a health care shortage area, the National Health Service Corps assigns each health care field a HPSA score ranging from 0 to 26. The higher the score, the greater the priority needs to be for the area. In Brazos County, the website scores dental health as a 19, primary care as a 21 and mental health as a 22, classifying it as a health care shortage area. Megan Bond, licensed professional counselor and referral coordinator for Texas A&M University, said there are around 215 licensed therapists in Bryan and College Station, believed to have a population of around 200,000 altogether. When you think about how relatively big Bryan-College Station and the number of students we have, that typically can result in therapists in town being pretty booked for services or having at least a couple of months of a wait before they can see somebody for their first appointment, she said. Nearly one week ago, Bond said she learned about Ballem Harmony Clinic and is interested in working with them to make sure students are receiving the mental health care they need. I dont think we can ever have too many licensed therapists in Bryan or College Station, she said. There are many things that can impact somebody being able to get connected to the support they need, whether thats affordability, insurance, stigma around seeking mental health support. I think there are other areas of work we need to do to get mental health care to everyone, but Ill never say, No, we have plenty of therapists here. Telemedicine has recently been explored as a possible solution to mental health supply shortages, including the use of Telehealth programs like the Texas Child Health Access Through Telemedicine (TCHATT), although it is not always the popular choice. According to the clinical services director at Texas A&M, 91% of all appointments booked on campus were for in-person meetings during the fall 2024 semester. Students really prefer that in-person connection, Bond said. They feel like theres a piece of connection thats missing over telehealth. Of course, there are students who prefer the flexibility of telehealth, but here at the counseling center, we see that preference for in-person support. I think [COVID-19] is a part of it. We spend so much time on screens with technology that students want to reduce that barrier between mental health providers and want to meet with a therapist in person, which we are able to offer a lot here at the counseling center. Increased wait times for mental health assistance can be difficult for students to navigate, especially if theyve been struggling with sudden change or loss. Bond said Texas A&M does offer crisis support Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., for students in need of immediate assistance. Maybe theyve experienced the death of a loved one or maybe theyre experiencing some suicidal ideation. A crisis for one person may not be a crisis for another person. It can also be a student feels like they did really poorly on an exam and theyre feeling like they need immediate support, she said. We really try to prioritize access for students. Right now our wait times for a first appointment is seven to 10 days and weve been able to get that number decreased. Faith Stroud, marketing manager for Ballem Harmony Psychiatric Clinic, said their clinic hopes to provide much-needed mental health services for the Brazos Valley. As we were doing market research around Bryan-College Station, we noticed a surprising lack of psychiatrists in the area. We know people are facing a severe lack of providers in the area and were looking to bring providers to people because its needed, she said. Right now were looking to provide mental health services to anybody 18 and older. We have been doing a lot of visits to nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, and were finding that theyre getting very few visits and that they severely need care. Right now, thats what were focused on. But, we also want to branch out to the younger populations as well, because students need mental health care as well and we want to offer our services to them as well. Ballem Harmony Clinic will provide psychotherapy, medication management and diagnosis. Currently, the team consists of two board-certified providers: Queen Idowi and Delphine Fru, and Stroud said they are working on hiring more psychiatrists or nurse practitioners to continue growing their team. I see us exploding in popularity. I think, in a matter of time, we will be full of patients. I dont see us staying slow for long because the need is here and people just have to know about us, she said. Ballem Harmony Clinic, located at 4500 Carter Creek Parkway, is currently accepting appointments through its website or by calling 979-316-1849. You have reached a premium content area of Transitions. To read this entire article please login if you are already a Transitions subscriber. Not a subscriber? Subscribe today for access to: Full access to the website, including premium articles videos, country reports and searchable archives (containing over 25,000 articles). 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. A Mexican man living in Arizona has been indicted by a federal grand jury on suspicion of passport and visa fraud after an old obituary tipped off investigators to an alleged fake identity scheme. Enrrique Ricardo Diaz Vazquez, 60, a Mexican national, was indicted on March 25, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorneys Office in Arizona. Diaz Vazquez is accused of using the identity of Gene Edward Katzorke, a 2-year-old who died in 1966. He used the dead childs identity for decades, according to prosecutors. He faces up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 if convicted. Diaz Vazquez first applied for an American passport in 1986. He said he was born in Tucson and used an Arizona drivers license and U.S. birth certificate to get the passport, according to the indictment. More than 30 years later, the case was flagged when investigators found an obituary from the 1960s for Katzorke. They also learned that Katzorkes name was linked to Enrrique Ricardo Diaz Vazquez in a criminal databases, the release said. Diaz Vazquez was arrested at the Western Passport Center in Tucson on March 7. Hed gone to the center for a regularly scheduled passport appointment. He was taken into custody after confirming that he applied for a renewal under Katzorkes name. Officials said Diaz Vazquez later revealed his real name during questioning after his arrest. He told investigators that he was born in Guadalajara, Mexico, the release said. Diaz Vazquez told investigators he wanted to join the military and took the dead childs name after visiting a cemetery. Diaz Vazquez successfully joined the military under Katzorkes name, but then fled to Mexico after facing criminal charges for a homicide involving a 9-month-old in Tucson, officials said. Diaz Vazquez was later deported from Mexico to the U.S. under the belief that he was a U.S. citizen. He continued to live under Katzorkes name up until his arrest, the release said. In fact, Diaz Vazquez was even deported from Mexico to the U.S. decades ago because authorities there thought he was a U.S. citizen. Steve Metzer Tulsa World Capitol Bureau Staff Writer Follow Steve Metzer 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 OKLAHOMA CITY So called bell-to-bell no cell legislation seems likely to pass into state law this year, as both the House and the Senate have supported bills that propose to keep phones out of the hands of students while theyre at school. As the 2025 legislative session reached its midway point last week, leaders of the Republican-dominated House and Senate commented on progress made so far and their priorities going forward, including passage of measures intended to improve education. During weekly meetings held with reporters, House Speaker Kyle Hilbert, R-Bristow, and Senate President Pro Tem Lonnie Paxton, R-Tuttle, referenced House Bill 1276 and Senate Bill 139. Each would require local school boards to adopt policies to keep students from using cellphones or other personal internet-connected devices during the school day. There would be limited exceptions, and boards would be allowed to review policies after a year to gauge their success. As the legislation was being considered in the House, HB 1276 author Rep. Chad Caldwell, R-Enid, called attention to data that he said has linked cellphones and social media use to academic decline. During debate over SB 139 in the Senate, the intrusion of cellphones on education was described as the crisis issue of this generation. Gov. Kevin Stitt has shown support for a ban. In his State of the State address delivered in February, he bragged on Bixby Superintendent Rob Miller for already implementing a cellphone-free policy. Hes seen a huge improvement in his students, Stitt said. I want to challenge the Legislature and school districts across the state to consider ways to make cellphone-free schools a reality for all students. Hilbert said lawmakers responded. Well continue to work with the Senate on what gets across the finish line, he said. Hilbert called attention to other House measures passed to elevate education, including: House Bill 1087, which would extend the teacher salary schedule from 25 years of experience to 35 years to encourage veteran teachers to remain in classrooms; House Bill 2288, which would allow teachers to draw earned retirement benefits while continuing to work in public school classrooms; House Bill 1727, which would waive Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program scholarship financial eligibility requirements for children of public school teachers; and House Bill 2854, which proposes a moratorium on statutory geographic restrictions for two- and four-year colleges, allowing state regents to meet their constitutional obligation to help degree-seeking students enter critical workforce areas. Paxton, too, commented on bills aimed at improving education. Senate Bill 758 would prohibit school districts and charter schools from counting virtual instruction days toward the number of days required in a school year, except under specific circumstances. The bill would also mandate that the State Department of Education publish an annual report detailing the use of virtual instruction across Oklahoma schools. Virtual instruction should be a tool for emergency situations, not a substitute for the critical, hands-on learning experiences that take place in the classroom, Paxton said. Senate Bill 409 would direct districts to add one additional day of classroom instruction to the school calendar each year when at least $25 million more is appropriated by the Legislature for education in the prior fiscal year. Senate Bill 796 would prohibit institutions within the Oklahoma State System of Higher Education from using state funds, property or resources to support diversity, equity and inclusion positions, programs or activities. Paxton and Hilbert identified other priorities, including passage of legislation supported in both the House and the Senate that would address constituent concerns about the rising sprawl and influence of the wind energy industry. House Bill 2751 and Senate Bill 2 would create setback requirements for industrial wind turbines. While both legislative leaders acknowledged the challenge of balancing the rights of property owners against those of neighbors who might reside as near as the other side of a fence, they agreed that a setback requirement is in order. The issue is, right now theres not a setback at all. So they can put these things pretty close to homes, to peoples property, Paxton said. The bill we passed today was a quarter-mile. Both leaders said debate on the appropriate distance and other details of the legislation will continue as the measures are taken up in the opposite chambers. Coming into the session, we knew it was a priority for our caucus to set some reasonable setback legislation when it came to wind in particular but also solar and battery farms, Hilbert said. Hilbert said other priorities in the House include passage of HB 2162 and HB 1728, both aimed at eradicating invasive woody species such as the eastern red cedar, which sap groundwater and can contribute to the rapid spread of wildfire. I knew we needed to pass that, but it wasnt high on my radar. Then, of course, in the wake of the wildfires, thats something thats really high on my personal priority list," Hilbert said, "having seen everything that people went through." Video: Governor visits Stillwater, Mannford to survey wildfire damage Ginnie Graham Tulsa World Columnist Follow Ginnie Graham 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 A natural calmness set in as yoga instructor Mary Sinnett lit incense and dimmed the lights in the dance hall at the VFW Post 577 near downtown Tulsa. A disco ball was turned on as veterans rolled out yoga mats. Then they sat in silence, waiting to start breathing exercises and subtle movements. The intensity of the practice the difficulty of poses was up to each veteran. The free, one-hour session offered by the nonprofit Humble Warrior Collective is tailored to veterans. The VFW provides an environment steeped in more than a century of history, providing a safe haven for veterans. Sinnett has one of those voices that feels like a warm blanket, reassuring and without judgment. She uses a vocabulary a little different from that in a typical yoga class. Easing into the session, she starts with a focus on breathing and follows with words emphasizing self-awareness and community. "This is more invitational," Sinnett said. "We move in a way that is about self-discovery and self-regulation of the nervous system." Yoga isn't always an easy sell to veterans. That's where Jeremy Founds comes in. He served in the Marine infantry from 2000 to 2006, experiencing combat in the Iraq War. Now he's an informal ambassador for yoga in the local veteran community. He's a student and a teacher. Jokingly, Founds says Marines are more likely to try yoga because of their motto to "improvise, adapt and overcome." That is a good way to describe yoga. "A lot of people who try it end up liking it," Founds said. His discovery of yoga came after a years-long struggle with post traumatic stress disorder and depression. Doctors kept prescribing medications, but the side effects were harsh. "I was not getting much sleep, was out-of-shape and my PTSD was getting out of control. I was trying to find alternatives to medication," he said. "That's when I found yoga." The practice worked for Founds in ways other treatments had failed. "Trauma takes on an out-of-body response. It has a numbness to it," Founds said. "In yoga, you note what your mind is going through, what your body is going through and can make adjustments for that." Humble Warrior Collective developed organically after founder Sarah Thomas in 2010 started a yoga practice for about a dozen teen girls attending an alternative school in Tulsa. Soon, that expanded into other schools, detention centers and women's reentry programs. Now it has 18 partner programs with 14 instructors teaching 100 classes a month, reaching between 600 and 800 people. That includes addiction recovery centers, mental health facilities, domestic violence shelters and senior centers. Those coming to classes may be dealing with trauma, poverty, neglect, isolation, hunger, violence or addiction. The approach was developed out of trauma-informed research and measured by the Hope Research Center at the University of Oklahoma-Tulsa. This is no cookie-cutter program. Each class looks different, depending on the location. The nonprofit strives to have an instructor with some connection to the population being served. Executive Director Kendra Guthrie calls it "bespoke yoga," referring to that customization. That means instructors may wear jeans for a class if their students are in places without access to gym clothes. They aren't going to use certain poses with a group who may be recovering from sexual assault. At the VFW, a person isn't going to hear "corpse pose" or hippie language. It's more straight-forward, more low-key, more communal. "Veterans are different. They just are," Guthrie said. "They walk different; they talk different; and they socialize different. And the pre-9/11 veterans are different from the post-9/11 veterans." Guthrie's involvement with Humble Warrior Collective came after having an intense response to her own yoga practice. She was able to understand a childhood trauma and have techniques to handle its physical effects. That experience connects her to others who may be struggling. Her father, a Vietnam War veteran, sometimes joins her practice. "We can talk about grief and loss because we hold all that in our bodies," she said. "For veterans, they have loss while in service. But for some, especially in the older generations, they are losing their cohorts in a different way. "We normalize things that are happening and pay attention to how a person is responding." Oklahoma sits at an epicenter of trauma, ranking high in adverse childhood experiences, domestic violence, addiction and mental health disorders. "Everybody breathes; everyone has movement; and everyone can stretch their body," Guthrie said. "This is about movement as medicine." Oklahoma is also near the top 10 in veteran residents. At the VFW, it's not unusual to see a few veterans taking in a beer before class. A service dog or two might be in tow. Founds wasn't a visitor to the VFW until the yoga classes began. He calls it a "nice, roomy place" for a session and has advice for fellow veterans. "If you're looking for something to lessen stress and to get better sleep and you're willing to try something a little outside of the norm, go to a yoga class," he said. Video: Optimize Your Yoga Workout With These Strength and Conditioning Tips Australian actor, stunt man, and choreographer Richard Norton has died, aged 75. Norton, who held black belts in karate and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, was involved in more than 80 films since the 1970s, and worked alongside some of the biggest names in Hollywood. Over his career, Norton helped train star actors including Scarlett Johansson, Charlize Theron, Sophie Turner, Anya Taylor-Joy, Ben Affleck, Margot Robbie, Charlie Hunnam and Liam Neeson. His wife Judy Green confirmed Norton died at home in Melbourne in an Instagram post on Sunday. I am numb and devastated, I have no words I have lost my everything, Ms Green said. I know there is, and will be lots of love and shock that we have lost this incredible human being. ABC reports Norton was born in Croydon, Sydney in 1950 and began studying martial arts as a child in the 1960s, training in judo and karate before picking up work as a security guard on live tours. He landed a job as bodyguard to The Rolling Stones during the bands Australian tour and trained with Mick Jagger in 4:00 a.m. workouts after concerts. His clientele would later include James Taylor, ABBA, Fleetwood Mac, David Bowie and Linda Ronstadt, who invited him to California as her bodyguard. A friendship with Chuck Norris brought him work in motion pictures. Norris cast Norton as the lethal Kyo, a masked ninja, in The Octagon. He was hired as the fight coordinator on Norriss television show Walker, Texas Ranger in 1993, and appeared in guest roles in eight episodes of the show. Norton was also a mainstay in the Hong Kong action scene, appearing in such films as Twinkle Twinkle Lucky Stars and Millionaires Express, opposite icon Sammo Hung. In recent years Norton passed on his martial arts knowledge to a range of modern movie stars, including Margot Robbie and Will Smith on 2016s Suicide Squad and Charlize Theron for Mad Max: Fury Road in 2015, where he also had a brief role as the Prime Imperator. In a post on Instagram, Chuck Norris said he was heartbroken by the loss of his friend and brother. The wonderful memories we shared will forever be cherished in my heart, he said. Richard, you made me not only a better martial artist but a better person. Actor Robert Patrick, who starred in Terminator 2: Judgement Day, paid tribute to Norton, saying I am deeply saddened to share that my friend Richard Norton has passed awayHe was an extraordinary individual, a towering figure in the martial arts community, and a contemporary of Chuck Norris. Source: ABC, IMDb news.com.au Four West Rusk senior welders competed at the Tulsa Welding School Senior High School Competition in Dallas this past Saturday. Students showcased their skills against talented welders from Duncanville, Dumas, Elgin, North DeSoto, Longview and other metroplex-area high schools. Only 30 spots were awarded, making this competition highly competitive. West Rusks Christian Manes, Cam Robinson, Thomas Scarborough and Aedyn Thurston represented the CTE AG Engineering program exceptionally well! Robinson placed 20th, and Manes was in eighth place.Both students were awarded welding jackets, sleeves, safety glasses, caps, gear bags and brand-new welding hoods. All four participants earned $500 scholarships for their outstanding performances. U.S. Rep. Nathaniel Moran, R-Tyler, will host a telephone town hall Monday night for residents of Texas First Congressional District to ask questions and share their thoughts. The event is scheduled for 7 p.m. Monday, March 31. It will be a virtual discussion. Participants can register online, and the participation line will be provided on the day of the event. Moran said, in a news release, that he is committed to keeping East Texans informed through his weekly email newsletter, which is distributed to more than 25,000 people. Additionally, Moran said his team organizes tele-townhalls nearly every month, reaching about 80,000 constituents per call. Since taking office, Moran has held 15 tele-townhalls. On average, around 6,000 people participate in each call, according to his office. In 2024, over 26,000 people joined his tele-townhalls to discuss topics like border security, taxes and energy. Moran has also hosted in-person town halls, roundtables and public forums across the district. Since August, he has held more than 20 in-person events on topics including national security, finance and technology, according to his office. For more information or to ask questions, visit moran.house.gov/contact or call Morans office at 202-225-3035. The SPCA of East Texas (SPCA ETX) is calling on the community to open their hearts and homes to animals in need. With shelters operating at capacity and calls for help coming in daily, the nonprofit organization said it urgently needs foster families to provide temporary care for dogs and cats until they find their forever homes. With more than 200 animals currently in the SPCAs rescue program, the nonprofit has recently closed intake until more foster homes can be found. Fostering saves lives, said SPCA ETX Executive Director Emily Heglund. Its going to take all of us working together to address the problem of stray and unwanted animals in our community. SPCA ETX provides all food, supplies, and medical care the animals need while in foster care, including spay/neuter surgeries, heartworm treatment and prevention, flea and tick prevention, and microchips. We only ask our fosters to provide space and care for our animals, Heglund said. It is incredibly rewarding to watch these animals, many of whom have never known the love of a family, blossom under our care. I would encourage anyone who is interested to reach out to us about fostering. To become a foster family for a dog or cat in need, visit spcaeasttx.com/foster to fill out an application. Those with questions can call 903-596-7722. SPCA ETX is a nonprofit, foster-based animal rescue group serving Tyler and surrounding areas. An independent agency, SPCA ETX operates solely on donor and volunteer support and does not receive any funding from national or state SPCA entities. For more information, visit www.spcaeasttx.com. The BBC One reality show trailer prompted speculation around the upcoming route which could include China, Nepal and India Clues to the Race Across the World 2025 route have been revealed. (BBC screengrab) Race Across the World is coming back to BBC One in April and the trailer prompted speculation around the upcoming route. Five pairs take on the challenge with only the cash equivalent of the airfare between the starting point and the final checkpoint. The teams are made up of friends, brothers and sisters, mothers, daughters, fathers and sons. Along the way, the contestants must work or rely on the kindness of strangers to help get them to the next checkpoint. "Goodbye comfort zone" is the tagline of the 2025 trailer which hints at the possible hardships the teams face on their journeys. Scottish actor John Hannah has given his voice to all of the series of Race Across the World. "We're totally in the wrong direction," one person could be heard saying in the 2025 Race Across the World trailer. ADVERTISEMENT "This is so busy," another contestant could be heard saying in the trailer below. Race Across the World 2025 route Race Across the World is coming to BBC One in April. (BBC screengrab) It may only be a 10-second clip but the Race Across the World trailer has offered up some important hints to the route this year. Big clues include an elephant walking down the road, a busy street, a narrow mountainous road and a village in the mountains. Have you managed to work out where the route is? Watch the Race Across the World trailer Race Across the World fans have been speculated that the contestants will explore China, Nepal and India on their travels. Among the comments, one person said on Reddit: "Opening shot is in Nepal, I think. Ratnanagar." Another person said: "Oh very interesting. India to China, perhaps? That's a route I had in the back of my mind but thought they'd struggle to pull it off, but that sure does appear to be implied from that teaser. Very exciting if so." ADVERTISEMENT Someone else said: "So Asia again? In fairness there are loads of options for routes." Why Race Across The World couldn't go through China Race Across The World series four couldn't go through China. (BBC) The 2024 Race Across the World series wasn't able to go through China. When the contestants made the journey from Japan to Lombok, China was deliberately missed out. Flights are banned from Race Across the World but there are some exceptions to the rule. The exception in the 2024 series saw the contestants fly from Sokcho to the Vietnamese capital Hanoi, missing out China. A Race Across The World spokesperson told Yahoo: "At the time of planning the route, due to time constraints and difficulties in travel in the aftermath of the global pandemic, it was not possible for production to travel through China and so a flight was organised from Seoul to Hanoi." ADVERTISEMENT Although the 2024 series didn't go through China, the country was being considered for future series. Race Across the World locations The Celebrity Race Across the World line-up included Kelly Brook and her husband Jeremy Parisi. (Studio Lambert) The Race Across the World routes so far include: Celebrity Race Across the World series two: The 12,500 km race begun in Belem, northern Brazil, which is the gateway to the Amazon, and the finish line was in the Andes, Frutillar in southern Chile. Celebrity Race Across the World series one: The journey started out in Marrakech, Morrocco, the most north-western country in Africa and they travelled 10,000 km to the final checkpoint in Troms, Norway, known as the Arctic capital. Race Across the World series one: It begun in London's Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich and ended in Singapore with checkpoints dotted across Europe and Asia. Race Across the World series two: It started in Mexico City in Mexico and ended in Ushuaia in Argentina, the most southerly city in the world. Race Across the World series three: The challenge only took place in Canada due to Covid restrictions, starting at Prospect Point in Vancouver and finishing in White Point Beach Resort in Nova Scotia. Race Across the World series four: The adventure was across East Asia, starting out in Japan and ended in Lombok in Indonesia. Race Across the World prize money Alfie and Owen are Race Across the World's 2024 winners. (BBC) The contestants are competing for 20,000 prize money. Last year's winners Alfie and Owen revealed how they were spending their winnings. ADVERTISEMENT Owen told Yahoo UK in 2024: "We had the travel bug before we did the race. We've been away loads together, and we love it, so we have no reason to stop especially with a bit more money. Now we can enjoy doing something we like!" Race Across the World starts on BBC One in April. Giuffre has died by suicide aged 41, her family has said, describing her as 'a fierce warrior in the fight against sexual abuse'. Virginia Giuffre, with a photo of herself as a teen, when she says she was trafficked by Jeffrey Epstein. (Getty Images) Virginia Giuffre, who was one of sex offender Jeffrey Epstein's most prominent accusers and also claimed Prince Andrew sexually abused her, has died by suicide, her family has said. Giuffre, 41, died on Friday in Western Australia state, where she had been living for several years, the family said in a statement. "Virginia was a fierce warrior in the fight against sexual abuse and sex trafficking. She was the light that lifted so many survivors," the statement said. "Despite all the adversity she faced in her life, she shone so bright. She will be missed beyond measure." Western Australia state police said they received a report late on Friday local time that a 41-year-old woman died at a residence in Neergabby, a rural area on Perth's outskirts, according to the Reuters news agency. ADVERTISEMENT American-born Giuffre became an advocate for sex trafficking survivors after emerging as a central figure in the prolonged downfall of disgraced paedophile financier Epstein. Prince Andrew has consistently denied the allegations she made against him. What did Giuffre accuse Jeffrey Epstein of? Giuffre (then known as Virginia Roberts) was one of the first people to call for the criminal prosecution against Epstein, which he eventually faced, after she accused him and his former girlfriend, British socialist Ghislaine Maxwell, of sexual abuse and trafficking her to their associates. Epstein, a US financier, was convicted in Florida 2008 of procuring a child for prostitution after he was accused of sexually abusing a number of underage girls, some as young as 14. He was released after 13 months in 2009. Giuffre then came forward publicly and, in subsequent lawsuits, she claimed she was a spa attendant as a teen at Mar-a-Lago US President Donald Trumps Palm Beach club when she was approached in 2000 by Maxwell and was lured her into becoming a "sexual servant" for Epstein. ADVERTISEMENT A lawsuit that was settled for $500,000 in 2009 and later made public, said Giuffre had been flown around the world by Epstein to have sexual encounters with men "including royalty, politicians, academicians, businessmen and/or professional and personal acquaintances". Virginia Giuffre pictured in August 2019 during the criminal case against Jeffrey Epstein in New York. (Reuters) Epstein was eventually charged with sex trafficking in July 2019, but he was found dead a few weeks later while in jail awaiting trial for federal sex-trafficking charges. His death has ignited controversy that continues to this day. Some have made unsubstantiated allegations that he was murdered in jail to cover up the exposure of the rich and powerful clients who allegedly were involved in trysts with some 250 underage girls on his island. However, in June 2023, a US Department of Justice report found that several failures at New York's Metropolitan Correctional Center had led to his death by suicide. Jeffrey Epstein in an undated Florida Department of Law Enforcement photo. (Reuters) The administration of President Trump has vowed to release all documents related to the charges against Epstein. In February the "first phase" of documents was released but contained no bombshells. ADVERTISEMENT Maxwell was sentenced to 20 years in prison in June 2022 for helping Epstein sexually abuse teenage girls, in what a judge called a "horrific scheme" that inflicted "incalculable" harm on victims. What did Virginia Giuffre accuse Prince Andrew of? In 2009, in a civil lawsuit against Epstein, Giuffre gave evidence under a pseudonym in which she said she had been exploited by Epstein's peers, including royalty. The case was settled before it went to trial. In December 2014, Andrew was named by Giuffre in US court papers relating to the handling of a case against Epstein as sexually assaulting her when she was 17. Andrew and Buckingham Palace denied the claims. Prince Andrew's lawyers said he had no recollection of ever meeting this lady, none whatsoever, which he later stated in a now infamous TV interview with the journalist Emily Maitlis in 2019 in which he discussed his relationship with Epstein. ADVERTISEMENT The interview, which was widely described as car-crash TV, saw the prince discuss his friendship with Epstein and claim that he could not have met Giuffre because he was at a Pizza Express in Woking at the time the alleged assault took place. It also addressed a photograph of Giuffre, Andrew and Ghislaine Maxwell, which had been published some years earlier as evidence the pair had met. Andrew seemed to imply the picture may have been faked in the interview, saying: "That's me but whether that's my hand or whether that's the position I but I don't I have simply no recollection of the photograph ever being taken." He also claimed it was not possible to prove the image had been faked because "it is a photograph of a photograph of a photograph". Virginia Giuffre submitted this photo as evidence that she had met Prince Andrew at the London home of Ghislaine Maxwell (pictured right). Following the interview, it was announced that Andrew would stand down as a working royal. He was later stripped of his military titles and royal patronages. He retains the HRH title but cannot use it in an official capacity. In August 2021, Giuffre sued Andrew in a US district court. The claim was settled out-of-court with an undisclosed amount being paid to Giuffre and her survivors' charity in 2022. As part of the settlement, Andrew accepted no liability and has consistently maintained that he did nothing wrong. The Met Police said in 2021 it would take no further action after conducting a review of the evidence relating to the allegations against Andrew following Giuffre's lawsuit. Andrew has largely remained out of the spotlight since then. His prominent role at Queen Elizabeth's funeral in 2022 led to concerns from Epstein's victims that Andrew would attempt to rehabilitate his image and rejoin the working royals - but this has not come to pass. Following her high-profile accusations, Giuffre set up the charity Speak Out, Act, Reclaim (SOAR), which empowers survivors to reclaim their stories and aims to bring an end to sex trafficking. She said of her charity work: "I do this for victims everywhere. I am no longer the young and vulnerable girl who could be bullied. I am now a survivor, and nobody can ever take that away from me. If you have been affected by any of the issues in this story you can find information and support at the Samaritans, which offers a listening service which is open 24 hours a day, on 116 123 (in the UK and Republic of Ireland this number is FREE to call and will not appear on your phone bill). HA NOI Viet Nams stock market experienced a volatile trading week from March 24 to 28, with growing downward pressure, particularly in the final sessions. The VN-Index fluctuated within a narrow range before succumbing to selling pressure and losing several key support levels. Market liquidity also declined, reflecting increased investor caution. Following a strong rally that pushed the VN-Index to a short-term peak around 1,340 points, the index has since reversed course. For the week, the VN-Index dropped by 0.33 per cent, closing at 1,317.46 points, still above the March 11 low of 1,315 points. Head of Macroeconomics and Market Strategy at VNDirect Securities Corporation inh Quang Hinh said that the likelihood of a deeper decline below this level is limited, as concerns over trade tariffs have largely been priced in the recent correction. Notably, Viet Nam has recently taken proactive measures to mitigate the risk of punitive tariffs from the United States. These include the signing of trade agreements with the US worth up to US$90 billion, as well as a proposal to lower import duties on items including automobiles, ethanol, liquefied natural gas (LNG), agricultural products and timber all aimed at helping rebalance trade relations with key partners. The direct impact of tariffs on the stock market remains limited, as export-related stocks account for only a modest share of the major indices. Therefore, I believe the risks and impact of tariffs may be somewhat overstated, Hinh said. According to Hinh, if the VN-Index sinks back to the 1,300-point support zone, it would offer an attractive entry point for medium- to long-term investors, particularly in sectors with strong 2025 outlooks such as banking, securities, residential real estate, electricity, and public investment. Looking ahead, Hinh believes the rest of the year will bring several tailwinds for the stock market, including attractive valuations, improved earnings prospects, the rollout of the KRX trading system, and potential upgrades in market classification. Viet Nams stock market has been under sustained correction pressure over the past week, especially during the last three sessions, driven by intensifying tariff concerns. On March 26, the United States raised import tariffs on automobiles to 25 per cent, a tenfold increase, effective from April 2. This sent global auto stocks tumbling and further dampened already fragile investor sentiment amid a prolonged trade conflict. Moreover, on April 2, the US is expected to announce retaliatory trade measures against 15 countries with high tariffs and trade surpluses Viet Nam may be among those impacted, Hinh noted. Head of Analysis at Saigon-Hanoi Securities Phan Tan Nhat echoed this view, stating that the VN-Index is exiting a strong upward cycle and entering a correction and accumulation phase. As we close March and the first quarter, the market is entering a crucial stage updating company fundamentals as Q1 earnings are released, while also re-evaluating macroeconomic conditions. Additionally, markets are awaiting further information on potential new tariffs expected in April, Nhat said. VNS HCM CITY o Van Phu, 50, has built a successful business managing hundreds of apartments for rent across various districts in Viet Nams largest city. For nearly ten years, Phu has found success in the short-term rental market in HCM City, transforming regular apartments into desirable homes for customers, mostly travellers. However, the recent citywide ban on short-term rentals has cast a shadow over his entrepreneurial dreams, replacing his optimism with worry. I expect to face losses in the hundreds of millions of ong, he told Viet Nam News. His business model involved renting apartments from owners for prices ranging from VN10-30 million (US$390-1,200) each month and then leasing them to short-term guests for up to VN50 million. This arrangement not only filled his pockets but also provided property owners with a reliable source of income. Phus successful approach was built on a careful balance of supply and demand, as he turned ordinary living spaces into sought-after stays for both domestic and international travellers. But with the new regulations in place, that balance has been thrown into disarray. Weve already committed to deposits on many units, and now our expected monthly income is going to take a major hit because of this policy, he said. Phus situation is far from unique. Numerous investors heavily invested in Airbnb-style accommodations are now bracing for financial challenges. The sudden change in regulations has left a community of entrepreneurs feeling uncertain about their futures. Were all in the same boat, Phu said, referring to his fellow investors who share his concerns. The once-bustling short-term rental market has now become a source of anxiety, as property owners face the harsh reality of empty apartments and financial strain. The Icon 56, The Tresor, and Millennium in District 4, for example, are just a few of the apartment complexes that have joined the ban, stopping homeowners from leasing their properties to short-term tenants. Nguyen Van Vinh, who operates three Airbnb-like apartments in Binh Thanh District, is similarly affected. He invested billions of Vietnamese ong, some borrowed, in these properties, including nearly VN1 billion on renovations alone. While he usually earns around VN30 million from two of his apartments each month, a sudden shift to long-term rentals due to the ban could threaten his familys finances and his ability to repay loans. If management requires me to stop short-term rentals, Ill have to switch to long-term leases, which just arent as rewarding. It would take much longer to recoup my investment, he noted. Luu Thi Bich Ngoc, 50, is also feeling the pressure as she manages 20 Airbnb-like apartments. Like many others, Ive invested a lot into these units for short-term leases, and now were looking at substantial losses, she said. Yet, not everyone is upset by the new regulations. Nguyen Van Thanh from Batdongsan, a southern regional property listing platform, believes this shift will create a safer and more orderly environment in apartment complexes. He argued that the ban will redirect the market toward meeting genuine housing needs instead of speculative investments, encouraging a move toward professional serviced apartments and hotels. Long-term rentals Phan Quoc Thanh, a real estate analyst, sees potential in the situation, suggesting that investors might pivot to long-term rentals, thereby increasing supply in that segment and potentially lowering rents. In the short term, some investors may even choose to sell their apartments, which could flood the secondary market and drive down prices, particularly for luxury units often purchased as investments, he noted. Vo Hong Thang, deputy general director of DKRA Group, said the ban is unlikely to hurt tourism, thanks to the abundance of hotels. However, he noted that in properties where short-term rentals were previously banned, rents have often dropped by 15-20 per cent. Some analysts, however, are sceptical about the enforcement of the ban, recalling how many landlords sidestepped restrictions on short-term leasing and continued operating under the radar to avoid taxes. Earlier this month, city officials prohibited short-term rentals in residential apartment complexes to address rising tensions between long-term residents and short-term guests. Under the new regulations, only tourist-specific properties, known as condotels, can be legally rented for brief stays, while regular residential apartments are off-limits for short-term rentals. The new Housing Law, effective August 1, 2024, further tightens these restrictions, classifying daily or hourly rentals as hotel operations that require proper licensing. In addition, the law mandates that residential apartments can only be used for living purposes, with severe penalties for commercial misuse. The rise of Airbnb rentals has led to mounting complaints from long-term residents about noise and the misuse of shared facilities. As Phu, the 50-year-old entrepreneur, considers his next moves, he remains hopeful yet pragmatic. I need to adapt quickly, he told Viet Nam News. VNS HA NOI The recent earthquake in Myanmar has compounded the already difficult business environment for Vietnamese enterprises operating in the country, according to the Viet Nam Trade Office in Myanmar. After a powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake in Myanmar on March 28, all Vietnamese businesses were reported safe, but trading activities will face significant obstacles, the trade office said. The earthquake affected not only Myanmar but also shook several cities in Viet Nam. As of March 29, the latest figures reported by Myanmars authorities indicated that the earthquake had left 1,002 people dead, 2,376 injured, and 30 missing. This toll could rise as authorities continue to assess the full extent of the damage. The quake also caused massive infrastructure damage, disrupting power supplies and telecommunications networks. In Yangon, some areas experienced a loss of mobile signal, and several buildings sustained significant damage. Emergency rescue efforts are underway, but the scale of destruction is vast. The recent tremor is just one of the many challenges Myanmar is facing. The country has long been dealing with political instability, conflict and a fragile economy. According to Nguyen Duong Kien, Trade Counsellor of the Viet Nam Trade Office in Myanmar, infrastructure damage, such as collapsed walls and power outages disrupting telecommunications, will undoubtedly create further barriers to trade between the two nations. Myanmar is already grappling with a political crisis that has left more than half of its 330 townships embroiled in conflict. Travel between regions has become increasingly difficult, leading to sky-high logistics costs and further complicating business operations. The ongoing instability and conflict have led to the closure of several customs stations along the Myanmar-China and Myanmar-Thailand borders, further restricting trade. Myanmars economy, already fragile due to years of internal conflict, is now facing even greater setbacks. Power shortages are frequent, with many industrial zones having power for only four hours per day. This lack of consistent power supply forces businesses to rely on expensive generators, driving up operational costs. Given these challenges, Myanmars economic recovery in the short term looks increasingly unlikely. Viet Nams trade with Myanmar has already been on the decline, and the earthquake is expected to exacerbate this trend. In 2024, the two-way trade turnover between the countries was reported at $574 million, a 16 per cent decrease from 2023. The first two months of 2025 saw an even steeper decline, with a 29 per cent drop in total import-export turnover, amounting to just $72 million. Viet Nam mainly exports textiles and garment materials, footwear, fertilisers, plastics and other products to Myanmar. The decline in trade can be attributed to several factors, including Myanmar's ongoing import restrictions as well as the fact that most goods must have import licences. These licences are difficult to obtain due to complex internal procedures, further hindering the flow of goods. Many Vietnamese companies have been forced to export their goods through Thailand before transporting them across the border to Myanmar. This significantly raises costs, as these shipments are not officially counted as exports from Viet Nam to Myanmar. The difficulties of doing business in Myanmar have led the Viet Nam Trade Office in Myanmar to caution Viet Nam's exporters. Kien emphasised the importance of closely monitoring the situation and maintaining communication with the trade office and other relevant agencies. He also highlighted that, due to strict foreign exchange controls and increased sanctions by the United States and the European Union, Vietnamese businesses should exercise caution in their dealings with Myanmar. Kien recommended that Vietnamese companies ensure they comply with the countrys policies and guidelines for conducting trade in Myanmar. He also urged businesses to adopt safe payment methods, as many Myanmar enterprises are facing financial difficulties and the risk of financial transactions being delayed or blocked. Despite these challenges, the Viet Nam Trade Office remains committed to supporting Vietnamese businesses in Myanmar. The office plans to organise the Viet Nam-Myanmar Trade Fair in 2025, providing a platform for Vietnamese companies to explore new business opportunities in Myanmar and better understand the market dynamics. VNS HA NOI Vietjet Air on March 30 operated two special flights from Noi Bai International Airport in Ha Noi, transporting 106 rescue and relief soldiers from Viet Nams Ministry of Public Security and Ministry of National Defence to Myanmar. The flights also carried search and rescue dogs and more than 60 tonnes of humanitarian aid, including medical equipment and food supplies, to support relief efforts in Yangon. Vietjet CEO inh Viet Phuong emphasised the airlines commitment to emergency response. He said: Always ready for special flights, Vietjet has quickly carried out the necessary preparations and successfully completed two flights transporting the emergency rescue delegation to Myanmar, promptly supporting the relief efforts for the earthquake victims. Upon arrival at Yangon Airport, relief personnel, alongside Vietjet staff, swiftly unloaded supplies and transported them to affected areas. Vietnamese police and military officers joined search and rescue operations, provided medical aid and assisted in disaster recovery efforts. The 7.7-magnitude earthquake that struck Myanmar on March 28 resulted in over 1,700 fatalities, nearly 3,500 injuries and widespread destruction. The powerful tremors were also felt in Thailand and Viet Nam. Vietjet has a history of participating in humanitarian missions, having previously carried out relief flights during the 2018 Indonesia earthquake and tsunami, as well as Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines in 2013. BIZHUB/VNS ONG NAI The first container ship from SITC International Holdings Co. Ltd, a leading container shipping company in Asia, arrived at the Phuoc An Port in the southern province of ong Nai on Monday. Representatives from Petrovietnam Phuoc An Port Investment and Operation JSC (PAP) and Saigon Newport Corporation (SNP) welcomed the vessel and their SITC partners. The ship has a deadweight tonnage (DWT) of nearly 13,000 tonnes and carried nearly 1,000 TEUs of cargo. After unloading, the goods will be distributed to businesses across the Southeastern region. The vessel's arrival highlights the strong demand for global shipping and reaffirms Viet Nam's strategic position in regional and global logistics networks. Phuoc An is the largest and first eco-friendly port in ong Nai, utilising electric forklifts, tractors, and cranes. Covering over 550 hectares and costing more than $1 billion to build, the port is being developed in three phases, with the first completed last year. The final construction will include a 160-hectare terminal area with a total berth length of over 2,800 metres, featuring nine container berths capable of handling vessels up to 100,000 DWT. Upon full completion, the port will have an annual capacity of 7 million TEUs. VNS HA NOI The Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Viet Nam will host Iran Film Week 2025 from April 11 to 14 at the National Cinema Centre. This cultural event aims to promote Iranian cinema and foster greater understanding between the people of Iran and Viet Nam. Irans cinematic landscape has long been renowned for its distinct minimalist style and emotionally-charged storytelling. With a rich history spanning over nine decades, Iranian cinema's journey began with the production of its first spoken film, and its first cinema was established in 1900, just five years after the Lumiere brothers invented film. As one of the worlds oldest and most revered cinematic traditions, Iranian films have made a significant impact at both domestic and international festivals, earning global recognition and accolades, including at the Oscars, Cannes and in Berlin. In recent years, Iranian cinema has also gained prominence at the Ha Noi International Film Festival, winning prestigious awards and further solidifying its reputation as a powerhouse of cinematic excellence. At Iran Film Week 2025, five acclaimed Iranian films will be screened at the National Cinema Centre, No 87 Lang Ha Street. The selected films explore themes of love, family, and personal struggle, offering audiences a unique glimpse into Iranian culture and society. They are: In the Arms of the Tree by director Babak Lotfi Khajehpasha, Fragrant by director Hadi Moghadamdoost, A Passenger from Ganora by director Ahmad Alamdar, Beyro by director Morteza Ali Abbasmirzaee and Goodbye Shirazi Girl by director Afshin Hashemi. Admission to see them is free. "We are delighted to bring Iranian cinema to the heart of Ha Noi," said the Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran to Viet Nam, Ali Akbar Nazari. "This film week celebrates our shared cultural values and highlights the enduring power of cinema to bridge cultures and nations." Iran Film Week 2025 is organised in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam. All films will be subtitled in English and Vietnamese. VNS For more information, please contact: Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Viet Nam 54 Tran Phu Street, Ba inh District, Ha Noi Tel: +84 24 38232068/9 ext. 11 Email: consuliri.vn@gmail.com PHU THO The Hung Kings Temple historical site in the northern midland province of Phu Tho welcomed tens of thousands of visitors on March 29-30, more than a week ahead of the Hung Kings Commemoration Day. According to the site management board, over 32,000 visitors came to the Hung Kings Temple, with more than 20,000 arriving on March 30 and 12,000 on March 29. Many people visited the temple on the weekend before the main event to avoid the peak crowds. Although the site was busy and the weather was unfavourable, the solemn atmosphere remained intact. Phu Tho province's police deployed about 1,000 officers to maintain security and order. Colonel Nguyen Minh Tuan, Director of the Phu Tho provincial Department of Public Security, said the force has coordinated with the Ministry of Public Security and neighboring provinces to enhance crime prevention. Online surveillance has also been intensified to counter misinformation. Authorities have reviewed and updated traffic signs on roads leading to the Hung Kings Temple. The Hung Kings Commemoration Day Festival and the Culture and Tourism Week of Ancestral Land for the Year of the Snake opened on March 29, featuring various cultural and sporting activities, including artistic performances, fireworks displays, traditional boat races, banh chung (square sticky rice cake) and banh day (round glutinous rice cake) making contests, xoan singing, water puppetry, and folk performances. Worshipping the Hung Kings is widely practiced in Viet Nam and among Vietnamese communities abroad as a way to maintain and promote their traditional cultural identity. VNA/VNS BANGKOK The Vietnamese community in Thailand's northeastern region gathered at the Xuan Que Huong (Homeland Spring) programme held by the Vietnamese Consulate General in Khon Kaen on March 30 night to honour cultural and traditional values of Vietnamese people. The programme, themed Overseas Vietnamese join the nation in the new era, also aimed to honour the overseas Vietnamese community and their contributions to the homeland. Addressing the event, which drew hundreds of Vietnamese residing, working and studying in Thailands northeastern localities, Vietnamese Consul General in Khon Kaen inh Hoang Linh briefed participants on Viet Nams achievements in 2024. He reiterated the Party and States constant policy of considering the Vietnamese community abroad as an inseparable part and an important resource of the nation. The diplomat expressed his hope that the community will continue to accompany and join hands with their fellows at home in striving towards a prosperous and powerful future for the country. Linh said that 2025 sees many milestones of the country, including the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and National Reunification (April 30, 1975-2025), and the 80th anniversary of the National Day (September 2, 1945-2025), showing his hope that overseas Vietnamese will support and respond to activities to celebrate these events. Siriwat Pinijpanic, Deputy Governor of Khon Kaen, expressed his delight to join the event. He praised the role and contributions of the overseas Vietnamese community to the province's development, highlighting their vital role as a bridge in strengthening the relationship between Thailand and Viet Nam. Meanwhile, President of the Vietnamese Association in Thailand Nguyen Ngoc Thin called on the community to continue fostering unity, building a thriving Vietnamese community in Thailand, and contributing to the home countrys prosperity. The guests enjoyed a feast, took part in a traditional ao dai (Vietnamese long dress) fashion show with the Consul Generals spouse, Nguyen Hoang Anh, and enjoyed musical performances by artists from Viet Nam. VNA/VNS LONDON Unlike countries bound by historical traditions that are very difficult to change, Viet Nam, as a developing country, has advantages in developing science, technology, and innovation. This view was shared by Dr Simon Best, senior lecturer in Management and Innovation at Middlesex University, during a recent interview with Vietnam News Agency correspondents in the UK. According to Dr Best, looking at the technological changes that are happening now, the world has gone deeply into the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Resolution No.57-NQ/TW on making breakthroughs in science, technology, innovation, and national digital transformation is a positive signal showing that Vietnam is already embracing and engaging in change. He pointed out that Viet Nam has enough enterprising and entrepreneurial people that don't need as much input from other countries in promoting innovation, recommending the country may start by looking carefully at its own resources. Speaking about the UKs experiences in developing human resources for science and technology, Dr Best said Viet Nam can learn from problems facing UK universities in this process, pointing to a massive transition in terms of how universities can compete against other sources of information. He said that since the creation of the internet, universities are no longer the creators, holders and disseminators of information. The internet has taken that away while higher education institutions have yet to adjust to this, and this applies to the UK and Viet Nam. He cited an example of AI, which has been around for at least five or six years, many universities in the UK don't have programmes or modules teaching students, including STEM students, the behavioural aspects of understanding AI, machine learning, automation and so on. In order to address this, universities cannot just teach the technical aspects, Dr Best said, stressing that STEM programmes need to make sure that students have the understanding of how to apply technical knowledge as well as get additional training in things like entrepreneurship and innovation. He also stressed the importance of cross-discipline collaboration to develop better human resources to go into industry, businesses and organisations, saying this cross-collaboration across different faculties or different expertise is crucial. The scholar said STEM has and will underpin all development, but STEM alone is not enough, pointing out the industrial revolution was led by practitioners (engineers and business people), not researchers or academics. Therefore, ways should be found to cut across the silos in industry and academia and create cross-discipline programmes from the pre-university level to university level. Dr Best pointed out survey after survey of all employers show that the ability to solve complex problems collaboratively are the key skills they need. In this sense, STEM students need to learn soft skills to enable them to develop critical thinking and collaboration skills to work with people from very different backgrounds. In his opinion, to promote the development of science, technology and innovation, there should be small local hubs that bring together all different-sized businesses to explore and share IT resources and innovations while the distillation of technology from large businesses to smaller businesses (AI, machine learning, automation) should be sped up as well as incentives for smaller businesses to adopt technology should be provided. In addition, a local-level business ecosystem map that shows how different sectors can support each other should also be built. To promote efficient collaboration between the state, scientists and entrepreneurs, he suggested Viet Nam invest in Erasmus Plus-style projects that bring together industry (both small and large) universities, and educational institutes to develop changes in the educational system. In this mechanism, the government can invite businesses to identify issues and problems they have around developing human resources, particularly from STEM students, and also how they can collaborate more on ideas and projects. The businesses then bring their ideas to the government which then publishes them and invites universities and other companies to join the project and provide certain funds to cover the cost of running the project. Speaking about how Vietnamese intellectuals overseas can contribute to their country, Dr Best said millions of ethnic Vietnamese all over the world are an incredible, rich, and valuable resource. He recommended the country adopt mechanisms to build relationship between the country and the overseas Vietnamese intellectual community, encouraging them to come back and engage more with the country. VNS ROME The resounding victory of April 30, 1975, was a historic turning point that not only transformed Viet Nams destiny but also left a lasting imprint on global revolutionary movements, according to Stefano Bonilauri, Director of Italys Anteo Edizioni Publishing House. In a recent interview with the Vietnam News Agency (VNA) ahead of the 50th anniversary of Viet Nams liberation of the South and national reunification (April 30, 19752025), Bonilauri described the victory as the culmination of decades of relentless struggle against some of the worlds most formidable military forces: Japanese fascists, French colonialists, and US imperialists. He noted that this momentous achievement was not only a cause for celebration among the Vietnamese people but also resonated with millions worldwide who had stood in solidarity with Viet Nams fight for liberation. Reflecting on Viet Nams post-war journey, Bonilauri highlighted the nations remarkable progress over the past four decades, particularly in national reunification, economic development, and universal education. However, he emphasised that advancing to socialism requires constant reform, adaptation, self-reflection, and the courage to challenge outdated doctrines. This was evident during the sixth National Congress of the Communist Party of Viet Nam, where the country acknowledged its shortcomings, identified causes, and laid the foundation for the transformative oi moi (Renewal) period. Viet Nams ability to embrace change and self-correction allowed it to navigate the crisis in the years after that and achieve sustained development. While the nation has made significant strides, Bonilauri acknowledged that the path to socialism remains a long and challenging journey. He underscored that the same spirit of national solidarity that fuelled Viet Nams victory in 1975 continues to drive its development today. The April 30 triumph cemented the Socialist Republic of Viet Nams resilience and determination to forge ahead on its chosen path. Bonilauri also praised the countrys strategic blend of military prowess and diplomacy, particularly its "bamboo diplomacy, a foreign policy approach that enables it to maintain positive balanced relations with global powers. He commended Viet Nams ability to navigate different geopolitical forces, ensuring its national interests without succumbing to external pressures. Addressing present-day challenges, Bonilauri stressed that as Viet Nam adapts to the digital economy and the Fourth Industrial Revolution, it must continue placing national interests and the well-being of its people at the core of its policies. By staying true to this principle, he believes Viet Nam will successfully overcome global uncertainties and maintain its upward trajectory. Reflecting on the lessons of the April 30 victory, he highlighted the unwavering resolve of the Vietnamese people. Despite being at a military and technological disadvantage, they demonstrated extraordinary determination in defending their homeland and sovereignty. This historic victory proved that the will of the people could overcome even the most formidable adversaries, serving as an inspiration for other nations in Asia and Africa striving for decolonisation and independence at that time. VNS HA NOI National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man and his spouses upcoming attendance at the 150th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU-150) and official visits to Uzbekistan and Armenia from April 2-8 carry profound bilateral and multilateral significance, Deputy Foreign Minister Le Thi Thu Hang told the press. Hang said Chairman Mans attendance at the IPU-150 themed, Parliamentary Action for Social Development and Justice, reflects Viet Nams renewed vigour and steadfast commitment to this crucial multilateral parliamentary forum. Amid a rapidly evolving global landscape, it is imperative for every nation to come together to discuss, share experiences, and propose solutions to shared challenges. The NA Chairman's presence stands as a compelling testament to Viet Nams robust support for multilateralism and IPUs pivotal role, marking his first multilateral diplomatic activity this year. It aligns with Viet Nams consistent foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, multilateralisation and diversification of external ties for peace, friendship, cooperation, and development, while actively engaging in comprehensive and extensive global integration as a trusted partner and responsible members of the international community. With Viet Nam approaching a new era of socioeconomic achievements, Hang noted, the delegation will engage global parliaments at IPU-150 to share development insights, enhance bilateral and multilateral ties, and secure external support and resources for national progress. Bilaterally, Mans visits to Armenia and Uzbekistan represent a milestone as the first by a top Vietnamese legislator and the highest-level exchanges since diplomatic relations began in 1992. These trips thus underscore Viet Nams dedication to its longstanding friendships with both nations and its aspiration to deepen mutual trust, paving the way for broader cooperation across multiple fields. Scheduled discussions with Uzbek and Armenian leaders will focus on overcoming obstacles and consolidating economic, trade, and investment ties - core pillars of bilateral relations. Man will also meet major businesses to introduce market opportunities, laying groundwork for expanded collaboration in processing industries, apparel, energy, transportation, and science-technology. The visits offer chances to boost cultural, sports, educational, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges. Reflecting on ties, Hang said political trust has grown through regular high-level visits. In 2024, Viet Nam-Armenia trade neared US$500 million, up over 40 per cent annually, while Viet Nam-Uzbekistan trade rose 26.5 per cent to $202 million. Viet Nam has established Inter-Governmental Committees with both nations to coordinate and advance trade, investment, and cooperation in industry, agriculture, transportation, and science-technology. A Free Trade Agreement with the Eurasian Economic Union (including Armenia since 2015) supports these efforts, while all three countries work to enhance transport connectivity for trade, tourism, and economic growth. Leaders of the three countries place great emphasis on fortifying cooperation across culture, education, sports, tourism, and people-to-people exchange, considering them vital pillars to preserve and deepen the long-standing friendship between their people, especially among younger generations. Looking forward, Hang proposed expanding rail, road, sea, and air links, enabling Viet Nam to export farm produce, seafood, apparel, footwear, and electronics to Armenia and Uzbekistan, and beyond via East-West and North-South corridors. She highlighted untapped potential in education, science-technology, and emerging fields like digital technology, clean energy, and new materials. Built on decades of friendship and Viet Nams 45-year legacy at the IPU, these visits will succeed, leaving a lasting mark on Uzbekistan, Armenia, and the global community, she concluded. VNS HA NOI Belgian King Philippe and Queen Mathilde arrived in Ha Noi on Monday early morning, beginning their five-day state visit to Viet Nam at the invitation of State President Luong Cuong and his spouse. The delegation was welcome at the Noi Bai International Airport by Vice Chairwoman of the State Presidents Office Phan Thi Kim Oanh, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang, and Vietnamese Ambassador to Belgium Nguyen Van Thao. This visit, the first of its kind in over five decades since diplomatic ties were established, takes place in the context of Viet Nam is entering a new phase of development, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang said in an interview with the press on the trip and the relations between the two countries. According to the diplomat, the visit reflects King Philippe and Queen Mathilde's deep affection for Viet Nam. While this is their first visit in an official capacity, it is also a meaningful return to a country where they have fond memories from previous visits. It underscores Viet Nam's steadfast foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, and proactive international integration. It also reaffirms Viet Nam's commitment to strengthening ties with Belgium, a key partner within the European Union. The visit is expected to boost political trust and expand collaboration in key areas, notably trade, investment, and agriculture. It will reinforce the Viet Nam-Belgium Strategic Partnership in Agriculture, established in 2018, while advancing cooperation in education, science-technology, and cultural exchanges. Viet Nam and Belgium established diplomatic relations in 1973 and launched a strategic partnership framework in agriculture in 2018. In recent years, bilateral ties have flourished across multiple sectors. In political and diplomatic spheres, the two countries have consistently demonstrated mutual trust through regular high-level visits, efficient cooperation mechanisms, and close coordination in multilateral forums. Notably, in October 2023, Belgium's Chamber of Representatives became the first European parliamentary body to pass a resolution supporting Vietnamese Agent Orange victims. This landmark resolution reflects Belgium's strong friendship with Viet Nam and raises international awareness of the ongoing challenges faced by these victims. In economic relations, Belgium is Viet Nam's sixth-largest export market in Europe, while Viet Nam is Belgium's top ASEAN trading partner. Bilateral trade in 2024 reached US$4.45 billion, and Belgium currently has 100 investment projects in Viet Nam, valued at $1.1 billion, spanning transport, logistics, and renewable energy sectors. Hang expressed her optimism that the upcoming visit by King Philippe and Queen Mathilde will be a significant success, delivering positive outcomes that further cement bilateral cooperation. The visit is expected to open a new chapter in Viet Nam-Belgium relations, fulfilling the aspirations of both peoples and contributing to regional and global peace, stability, and development. Meanwhile, Belgian Ambassador to Viet Nam Karl Van den Bossche told the Vietnam News Agency (VNA) that the visit reaffirms Vietnams 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. 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. VNS HA NOI Myanmar authorities have expressed profound gratitude to Viet Nam for its rapid response in dispatching rescue teams to support their country's in earthquake recovery efforts. Welcoming the Vietnamese delegation at Yangon International Airport on Sunday, Yangon Region Chief Minister U Soe Thein praised Viet Nams swift action, highlighting it as a testament to the strong ties and unwavering friendship between the two nations. Major General Pham Van Ty, head of the Vietnamese rescue mission, extended deep condolences to Myanmar over the heavy losses caused by the March 28 earthquake. He reaffirmed Viet Nams commitment to supporting Myanmar in overcoming the aftermath of disaster and hoped for the countrys speedy recovery. Upon arrival, the Vietnamese rescue team immediately proceeded to their designated coordination point in Naypyidaw, more than 450 km from Yangon. They will work closely with Myanmar authorities on search and rescue operations. The mission officially begins on Monday, focusing on relief efforts in the hardest-hit areas while also delivering humanitarian aid to affected people. VNS HA NOI Viet Nam's rescue forces will operate in Mandalay, which was the most heavily devastated by the 7.7 magnitude earthquake in Myanmar, Major General Pham Van Ty, Deputy Director of the Ministry of National Defence's Search and Rescue Department, said on Monday. Ty, who is also head of the Vietnamese mission, said that the forces from the Ministry of National Defence and the Ministry of Public Security arrived in Yangon at 8:30pm on March 30. They then immediately set off on a nearly 500 km journey by road and arrived in Naypyidaw at 3am on Monday. On the morning of Monday, the team is expected to meet with Myanmar's coordination committee to discuss and reach consensus on the tasks, methods, and organisation of the search and rescue operations. Following this meeting, the Vietnamese rescue team will proceed to Mandalay, located around 200 km from Naypyidaw, which is the epicentre of the most severe damaged area, with thousands of residents still trapped under rubble. As scheduled, the Vietnamese team will immediately begin their work in Mandalay once their specific tasks are assigned, while preparing accommodation and organising reconnaissance teams to begin search operations in line with the agreed contents in the discussions with Myanmar officials. Ty said that the Vietnamese team will be split into three groups to search the area as efficiently as possible, aiming to minimise the human suffering and loss of Myanmar people. He emphasised that the team is determined and undeterred by the challenges ahead, fully prepared to undertake all tasks to support Myanmar and its people in their time of need. VNS HA NOI Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on Monday urged universities in Viet Nam and the US to enhance educational cooperation through effective long-term collaboration plans. These efforts aim to help Viet Nam cultivate a high-quality workforce in emerging industries and effectively use marine, space and underground resources. Chinh's remarks came during a meeting with a delegation from 21 leading US universities participating in the International Academic Partnership Programme (IAPP) 2025 in Viet Nam. The PM expressed his delight in meeting the delegation during the 30th anniversary of the Viet Nam-US diplomatic relations. Reflecting on the history of bilateral ties, he recalled that in early 1946, shortly after Viet Nam gained independence, late President Ho Chi Minh sent a letter to then US President Harry Truman, expressing Viet Nam's goodwill and desire to establish formal diplomatic relations with the US. Over the decades, Viet Nam and the US have transitioned from former adversaries into comprehensive strategic partners. Both sides have emphasised setting aside past differences, seeking common ground, minimising disagreements, and respecting each other's differences, while advancing toward a better future. After 30 years of diplomatic relations, Viet Nam and the US have achieved remarkable progress and become key partners in various fields. Cooperation across education, training, science, technology and innovation has been identified as a key pillar of their partnership, delivering significant outcomes. Around 30,000 Vietnamese students are studying in the US, making Viet Nam the fifth-largest source of international students in the country. Additionally, about 50 joint training programmes between Vietnamese and US universities, primarily at the undergraduate and master's levels, have been established. Citing late President Ho Chi Minhs famous words, 'An ignorant nation is a weak nation,' PM Chinh reaffirmed Viet Nam's commitment to making education and training a top national priority. Viet Nam, he noted, has been focused on eradicating illiteracy and enhancing education since gaining independence. Viet Nam is building its future on three main pillars: a socialist rule-of-law state, a socialist democracy and a socialist-oriented market economy. The country is pursuing three strategic breakthroughs: institutional reforms, infrastructure development, and high-quality human resource cultivation, with a strong emphasis on scientific and technological advancement, innovation and digital transformation. To this end, Viet Nam has issued several key policies aimed at fundamentally and comprehensively reforming its education and training system, while fostering innovation and national digital transformation. Viet Nam has pledged to allocate up to one-fifth of its total State budget to education and training, underscoring its commitment to enhancing intellectual capacity, nurturing talent and fostering holistic human development. Chinh expressed hope that the US would continue to share expertise and collaborate in developing Viet Nam's education and training sector. US Ambassador to Viet Nam Marc E. Knapper and representatives from US universities expressed high appreciation for Viet Nam's strategic development goals, particularly in education and training. They reiterated their willingness to collaborate with Viet Nam in achieving its socio-economic development strategies, especially in education, science, technology and innovation. These efforts aim to improve the quality of Viet Nams workforce and deepen the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two countries. Representatives from US universities also highlighted the potential for cooperation with Viet Nam through the IAPP 2025 programme. This initiative seeks to connect Vietnamese and US universities strategically, facilitating the creation of practical and sustainable collaboration plans. During IAPP 2025, 21 US universities and 30 Vietnamese universities will explore areas of cooperation, focusing on STEM education, digital transformation, green transition, information and communication technology (ICT), semiconductors, AI, automation and biotechnology. While acknowledging past achievements, Chinh pointed out that collaboration between Vietnamese and US universities has not yet reached its full potential. He urged both sides to strengthen ties through innovative and flexible approaches such as student and faculty exchanges, joint training programmes and collaborative research in emerging fields. He also called on the US to expand scholarship opportunities and offer tuition incentives for Vietnamese students and researchers. The PM encouraged universities from both countries to work closely with major US corporations, including Intel, NVIDIA and Apple, which have been exploring and investing in Viet Nam, to develop specific cooperation programmes. These programmes would focus on high-tech industries such as AI, semiconductors, biotechnology, healthcare, agriculture, and foreign languages, ensuring the development of a highly skilled workforce aligned with the needs of businesses from both nations. Chinh noted that Viet Nam is striving for 8 per cent economic growth in 2025 as a foundation for achieving double-digit growth in the following years. To reach these goals, Viet Nam is implementing transformative strategies, including institutional reforms, administrative streamlining and a shift from passive to proactive public service delivery. He emphasised the critical role of science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation as new growth drivers, with the private sector serving as a key engine of economic development. Viet Nam is also making concerted efforts to balance trade with the US and sustain economic growth by reducing tariffs on US exports such as wood and agricultural products, while increasing imports of high-tech goods, including aircraft and liquefied natural gas (LNG). US university leaders were urged to advocate for recognising Viet Nam as a market economy, easing restrictions on high-tech exports to Viet Nam and minimising policies that could negatively impact bilateral trade and economic ties. With a philosophy of valuing 'intellect, time, and decisiveness', and a commitment to continuous improvement, the PM expressed confidence that Viet Nam-US educational cooperation would become deeper and more effective in the coming years. He believed these efforts would contribute not only to the development of both nations, but also to the promotion of peace, cooperation and sustainable development in the region and globally. VNS HA NOI The Lao Peoples Army wants to gain Viet Nam's experience in United Nations peacekeeping activities as well as working in an international environment in a bid to build its own force to join UN peacekeeping operations. Lieutenant General Vanthong Bouttavong, Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Lao People's Army, made the statement during a working session with the Ministry of Defences Viet Nam Department of Peacekeeping Operations in Ha Noi on Monday. Hosting the Lao delegation, Major General Pham Manh Thang, Director of the Viet Nam Department of Peacekeeping Operations, affirmed that Viet Nam is willing to share its experiences with Laos in UN peacekeeping operations, which is in line with the policy of the Vietnamese Party, State, Government, and the Viet Nam Peoples Army. Major General Thang briefed the Lao delegation on the operations of the Viet Nam Department of Peacekeeping Operations and outstanding achievements of Viet Nams UN peacekeeping forces over the past nearly 11 years as well as major policies and orientations of Viet Nam. He noted that Viet Nam has deployed nearly 1,100 military personnel to three missions in the Central African Republic, South Sudan, and the Abyei area, including three engineering teams, six Level-2 field hospitals, with an average female participation rate of over 16 per cent. He shared Viet Nams experience in humanitarian missions, such as force building, international cooperation, training, and the deployment of personnel to mission areas. Alongside agreeing on measures to build, train, and deploy the force, Major General Thang emphasised the need for synchronised efforts in preparation, communications and inter-agency coordination. Issues such as legal frameworks, force organisation, training, and logistics should be prioritised, he said. He added that for countries newly joining UN peacekeeping, it is important to leverage the strength and experience of international partners. Lieutenant General Vanthong Bouttavong affirmed that the Lao Peoples Army is eager to learn from Viet Nams experiences in peacekeeping operations and working in international environments and with the UN. He stressed that Viet Nam is the first country Laos wishes to cooperate with and exchange experiences in this field. He further noted that the Lao Peoples Army already has units ready to participate in peacekeeping missions in areas such as military medicine, demining, engineering, and search and rescue. The Deputy Chief of the Lao General Staff hoped that the Lao Peoples Army would receive guidance and support to establish legal frameworks and issuing necessary directives, regulations, and circulars for deploying forces in UN peacekeeping operations. He also asked for Viet Nams assistance in guiding Lao officers and personnel sent to Viet Nam to study related topics in the field. VNS HA NOI Vietnamese Ambassador to Hungary Bui Le Thai recently had a meeting with Barna Pal Zsigmond, Deputy Minister and Parliamentary State Secretary at the Ministry of European Union Affairs of Hungary, hailing the progress of the two countries' comprehensive partnership in politics, diplomacy, economy, trade, culture, and education. Thai affirmed that the visit to Viet Nam by the Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade on March 1819 was a success. He said the upcoming 10th session of the Viet Nam Hungary Joint Committee on Economic Cooperation in Ha Noi will introduce new measures to boost bilateral trade and investment ties. He also revealed the embassys plan to organise activities in celebration of the 75th founding anniversary of diplomatic relations between Viet Nam and Hungary, including cultural exchanges and trade promotion seminars. He called for cooperation from relevant Hungarian agencies in these events. The diplomat also mentioned the Communist Party of Viet Nam (CPV)s foreign relations, highlighting its ties with the Socialist Party, the Workers' Party, and the ruling Fidesz Party of Hungary. He proposed that the Deputy Minister, in his role within the Fidesz leadership, will help promote the implementation of the agreement signed between the two parties in 2017. For his part, Zsigmond expressed his delight at the fruitful development in Viet Nam Hungary relations across all fields, affirming that the ruling Fidesz Party wishes to strengthen relations with the CPV. He suggested exchanges between young leaders of the two parties, stating that he will propose the Fidesz leadership send a delegation to visit Viet Nam soon. Regarding bilateral cooperation, the official said that in the Eastern Opening policy of Hungary, Viet Nam is one of its top partners in Asia. The Ministry of European Union Affairs is ready to support Viet Nam in persuading the remaining EU countries to ratify the EU Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) and the European Commission to lift its yellow card warning against the Vietnamese seafood industry for illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing. VNS HA NOI Viet Nam always values its friendship and multifaceted cooperation with Belgium, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son told Belgian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Affairs, and Development Cooperation Maxime Prevot during a meeting in Ha Noi on Monday. Son welcomed the ongoing Viet Nam visit by King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of Belgium from March 31 to April 4, highlighting its significance as the first head-of-state exchange between the two nations in over 50 years since diplomatic relations were established. He thanked Belgium for being the first country to pass a resolution supporting Agent Orange (AO) victims in Viet Nam, a move that has helped heighten global awareness of chemical weapons dangers. To further bolster economic, trade, and investment ties, he underlined the need to fully leverage the EU Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) and urged Belgium to expedite the ratification of the EU Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA). Hailing Viet Nam as Belgiums leading partner in the Asia-Pacific, Prevot stressed the importance of fostering bilateral ties, especially amid rapid global changes, and pledged to assist Viet Nam in implementing the resolution in support of AO victims. He also reaffirmed Belgiums commitment to enhancing trade and investment with Viet Nam, ensuring stable global supply chains. Confident in the EVIPAs imminent ratification, he echoed Sons view on its mutual benefits. Both sides agreed to translate the outcomes of the Belgian Kings state visit into concrete actions and facilitate mutual visits at both central and local levels. They pledged to enhance dialogue through bilateral mechanisms like the deputy minister-level political consultation and the Strategic Partnership in Agriculture, while considering the establishment of new frameworks such as collaboration between the Diplomatic Academy of Viet Nam and Belgian research institutions. Host and guest pledged that their countries will continue close coordination and mutual support at international forums, including the United Nations, particularly the UN Human Rights Council, where both are serving as members for the 20232025 term, as well as within the ASEAN EU and Francophonie cooperation frameworks. Beyond traditional areas like trade, investment and education, they placed emphasis on scaling up cooperation across other spheres such as national defence, high technology, semiconductor, innovation, energy transition, and quality workforce training for the semiconductor industry. VNS HA NOI President of Burundi Evariste Ndayishimiye and his spouse is going to pay an official visit to Viet Nam this week, according to a statement from the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Taking place from April 3 to 6, the trip will be made at the invitation of State President of Viet Nam Luong Cuong and his spouse. VNS HA NOI Viet Nam consistently regards the US as a top strategic partner and hopes for close cooperation with the US to deepen bilateral relations in a substantive manner, Party General Secretary To Lam said while receiving US Ambassador to Viet Nam Marc Knapper in Ha Noi on March 31. During the reception, the Vietnamese Party chief highly valued the progress in bilateral relations across all field, notably, the steady growth of economic, trade, and investment ties. He emphasised the effective implementation of the joint statement and the action plan for the comprehensive strategic partnership, for common interests of the two nations, and for peace, cooperation, and sustainable development in the region and the world. Lam spoke highly of efforts made by Knapper and the staff of the US Embassy in promoting and effectively implementing high-level agreements and cooperation initiatives under the Viet Nam-US comprehensive strategic partnership, which focus on strengthening high-level engagements, building and consolidating political trust, and expanding all-around cooperation, including business, culture, and education. The Party chief stated that Viet Nam's relevant ministries, sectors and agencies are actively addressing the US' current concerns. He emphasised Viet Nam's commitment to encouraging the import of US products that Viet Nam needs, particularly farm produce, liquefied natural gas, and high-tech products. The Party and State of Viet Nam always pay attention to and create a favourable investment environment, and support foreign enterprises, including US firms, in expanding cooperation and investment in Viet Nam, towards maintaining a balanced economic relationship with sustainable growth, and brining tangible benefits for the countries people, Lam said. For his part, Knapper affirmed that the interest and support of Vietnamese Party and State leaders, along with the coordination of ministries and sectors of Viet Nam, have been a significant motivation in fostering the Viet NamUS relations in recent years and for many years to come. The US values the comprehensive strategic partnership with Viet Nam and hopes the two countries will continue to strengthen and further deepen their cooperation to bring tangible benefits to their people, he stated. The diplomat said the US highly values Viet Nams foreign policy of independence and self-reliance and always supports Viet Nam in upholding its growing role and influence in promoting peace and cooperation in the region and the world. He described a "strong, independent, prosperous, and resilient" Viet Nam as a positive contributor to regional and global peace and stability, saying that this is something the US consistently supports. Knapper showed his deep appreciation for the Party, State, and Government leaders of Viet Nam in effectively addressing the USs concerns. He also valued Viet Nams practical measures to promote a harmonious and sustainable trade relationship with the US. He affirmed that US businesses and partners attach importance to economic, trade, and investment cooperation with Viet Nam, recognising the Southeast Asian country as one of key partners in the global supply chain. He also noted that the Viet Namese market is creating many opportunities for US products and services. He promised to make efforts in promoting relevant US agencies to coordinate with Viet Nam to effectively implement the comprehensive strategic partnership on all pillars, especially promoting high-level meetings, expanding substantive cooperation in terms of economics - trade - investment, defence - security, education - training, handling immigration issues, preventing and combating transnational crimes, and other priority areas. VNS HUNG YEN A farmer in Hung Yen Province earns thousands of US dollars a year from growing tiny flowers that bloom rapidly and are used as a valuable medicinal herb. She is o Thi Hoa, director of the Hoa Thien Phu General Production and Service Co-operative in Nghia Trai Village, Tan Quang Commune of Van Lam District. She cultivates 40ha of cuc chi (Chrysanthemum indicum) flowers. Nghia Trai Village in Tan Quang Commune is known as the 'medicinal herb village', a traditional medicine village with a history spanning hundreds of years. Despite many ups and downs, the craft of cultivating and processing medicinal herbs in Nghia Trai Village continues to be passed down through generations, providing employment for hundreds of households. Like many farmers born and raised in Nghia Trai Village, Hoa has been familiar with medicinal plants since childhood. Initially, she became accustomed to the scent of herbal medicine and memorised plant names. Over time, her interest grew into a deep passion, and she became determined to promote the Nghia Trai medicinal brand to a wider audience. Starting with small-scale trading, Hoa and several households in Nghia Trai Village established the Hoa Thien Phu General Production and Service Cooperative in 2017. Today, the co-operative has nearly 20 members and over 40ha of production land. Reflecting on her journey, Hoa told danviet.vn: "After 20 years in the medicinal herb industry, the more I work, the more I love and appreciate this profession. Our knowledge of cultivating and processing medicinal herbs has been accumulated over many generations, Hoa said. In the past, my family faced financial difficulties, and I could not pursue higher education. What I have today is thanks to learning from that accumulated knowledge," she said. The model of cultivating, purchasing and processing medicinal herbs mainly cuc chi flowers generates billions of ong in revenue for the Hoa Thien Phu Co-operative. Hoa's own business earns VN2 billion (US$80,000) per year, with net profits of VN200300 million ($8,000-12,000) after expenses. Tiny but valuable flowers Cuc chi flowers are high-value medicinal plants that provide a substantial income for cooperative members. This herb thrives in cool climates, has a herbaceous stem, and produces multiple blossoms on each plant. The small, bright yellow flowers, about the size of a coin, bloom into round, full clusters, emitting a fragrant aroma. With a bitter taste, cuc chi flowers are highly valued in traditional medicine. "Cuc chi flowers thrive in Van Lams soil, giving them a unique fragrance unmatched anywhere else, Hoa said. In the past, our ancestors used cuc chi to improve eyesight, regulate blood pressure, reduce inflammation, soothe coughs, and clear phlegm. Cuc chi tea is excellent for skin and mental well-being," she added. The cuc chi harvest season lasts from November to January. Each year, the cooperative harvests around 150 tonnes of the flowers. After harvesting, the flowers undergo initial processing and are preserved using cold-drying technology. The final product sells for VN450,000500,000 ($17-19) per kilo, depending on whether it is sold wholesale or retail. The co-operatives cuc chi flowers have been certified as a 3-star OCOP (One Commune One Product) product, gaining market credibility. As a result, the product is sought after by various tea companies and processing factories. Preserving the medicinal herb trade In recent years, the land dedicated to medicinal herb cultivation in Nghia Trai Village has been shrinking due to urbanisation. As a result, medicinal herb production has declined, failing to meet market demand. Concerned about preserving this traditional craft and sustaining the co-operative, in 2021, Hoa partnered with farmers in Viet Hung and Luong Tai communes to expand medicinal herb cultivation. These two communes have soil conditions similar to those in Tan Quang and still have ample farmland. To support local farmers, the co-operative provides medicinal plant seedlings, fertilisers, and technical training especially in growing cuc chi flowers. After three years of cultivating cuc chi in Viet Hung and Luong Tai, the plants have produced high yields and are of an excellent quality. Currently, the cuc chi growing area has expanded, providing jobs for hundreds of workers. With improved cultivation techniques, farmers in the communes can now manage seedlings and pest control independently. Last year, Typhoon Yagi unexpectedly swept through, damaging dozens of hectares of the flowers just before harvest, putting farmers at risk of losing everything. However, thanks to years of experience, the co-operative and its members quickly regrew plants from surviving roots. The cooperative maintained stable production to meet market demand. To enhance product value, the Hoa Thien Phu Cooperative invested in modern cold-drying technology, enabling long-term storage while preserving medicinal properties. Currently, the cooperative operates three high-capacity cold-drying machines. The dried flowers are stored in air-conditioned warehouses in sealed plastic bags to prevent spoilage and maintain quality. Properly stored dried cuc chi flowers can last 12 years. By cultivating and processing cuc chi flowers and other medicinal herbs, members of the Hoa Thien Phu Cooperative have achieved stable incomes. Nguyen Thi Bang, a co-operative member, said: "Since joining the co-operative, I no longer worry about finding buyers. Nghia Trai medicinal herbs are well-known in the market, and because we uphold our reputation, customers keep returning. Every year, I earn VN300500 million from purchasing and processing medicinal herbs, Bang said. It is not just me. Many other members are also making good profits from this industry," she added. VNS HA NOI With the high school graduation exam just months away, students across Viet Nam are grappling with immense pressure from academic expectations, family aspirations and personal ambitions. The weight of these factors has led many to experience heightened stress, anxiety and even depression. During this crucial period, stress management skills, along with strong support from parents and schools, play a vital role in helping students cope with stress and stay motivated. The Ministry of Education and Training has officially announced that the high school graduation exam will take place from June 26-28, while entrance exams for Grade 10 in various provinces will begin in early June 2025. The preparation period for these major exams is the most stressful time for students, as they juggle intense revision schedules and mounting expectations. Adding to the academic pressure is the Ministry of Education and Trainings Circular No. 29/2024, which prohibits teachers from offering paid private tutoring to their students outside school. For many students, this change has significantly affected their exam preparation. Mounting pressure Ngoc Anh, a student at Marie Curie High School in Ha Noi, expressed her concerns about the regulations impact. "The lessons in class only cover the basics and are not enough for thorough revision or achieving high scores in the graduation exam. I used to attend extra classes taught by my school teachers to reinforce my knowledge and prepare better." However, with the new rule in place, many teachers have stopped offering extra lessons. "I was already familiar with my teachers' styles of instruction, but now I have to find new tutors at the last minute. This change is disrupting my studies at a time when I need stability the most," she said. For 12th-grade students, preparing for the graduation exam is not the only concern. Many are also required to sit for university competency assessments, which serve as an additional pathway for college admissions. Vu Phuong Anh, a student at Tran Phu High School in Vinh Phuc Province, described the overwhelming pressure she has been facing since the start of the year. "Since Lunar New Year, our school has organised multiple mock exams for final-year students. I am in the D1 track, and my scores vary significantly from last years university entrance benchmarks. Seeing this gap makes me incredibly anxious. My only solution is to keep practicing more and more exam papers. I have been studying so much that I have lost my appetite and struggle to sleep," she said. According to Phuong Anh, her situation is not unique. "Many of my classmates feel the same way. Not only do we have to prepare for school mock exams, but we also need to take university competency tests to improve our chances of getting into a good college," she said. Even securing a spot in these exams has become a stressful challenge. "Registering for the competency test felt like a battlefield. I spent an entire morning trying to secure a test spot in Ha Noi but couldnt get one. Now, Ill have to travel to Thai Nguyen Province in mid-March just to take the exam," she added. Overlapping exam schedules and the need to travel long distances for testing have left many students exhausted and overwhelmed. Even those who have already secured university placements are not immune to the pressures of the graduation exam. Le Anh Tuyet, a national-level academic award winner and student at Vinh Phuc High School for Gifted Students, admitted that she is struggling to keep up. "I spent three months preparing for the national competition, so now I am falling behind in my graduation exam subjects. I am struggling to catch up with my classmates and the imbalance makes me feel discouraged. Even though I have already secured direct admission to university through the ministrys selection process, preparing for the high school graduation exam is still incredibly stressful," she said. According to Dr Bach Thi My Ha, a psychiatric resident at the Ha Noi-based Military Hospital, cases of anxiety disorders and other mental health issues have increased significantly in the lead-up to exam season. "The main causes of this psychological strain stem from the immense pressure of achieving high scores, the fear of failing and the overwhelming challenge of choosing from hundreds of university majors," she explained. Stress management skills A recent study conducted by the Ha Noi National University of Education found that 57 per cent of students experience stress, particularly during their preparation for major exams. In severe cases, students have required hospitalisation due to prolonged psychological disorders, insomnia or physical exhaustion. According to clinical psychologist ang uc Anh, the impact of stress varies among individuals, influencing whether it leads to positive results or harmful consequences. "Stress, when kept at a moderate level, can actually enhance focus and improve performance. However, excessive stress can have serious negative effects. The key is to address sources of tension as early as possible to prevent long-term accumulation," he said. He also highlighted several fundamental stress management techniques that can be applied in high-pressure situations, including positive self-talk, visualisation of a peaceful place, muscle relaxation exercises, mindfulness practices, seeking support from others or journaling for emotional release. "These skills should be developed early, practised consistently and maintained over time to maximise their effectiveness," he added. Dr Ha said the collaboration between families and schools plays a vital role in supporting students through this challenging period. Regular communication between parents, teachers and school counsellors is essential in identifying students' emotional states and providing timely assistance. "Families should create a supportive and open environment where children feel comfortable sharing their thoughts and concerns. Parents should work with their children to resolve difficulties together," she said. "Counselling centres and school psychology departments should organise workshops and educational sessions tailored to students' actual needs. These initiatives should be made widely accessible to all students while also offering targeted support to those experiencing difficulties," she added. VNS NAYPYIDAW As part of Viet Nams relief support to Myanmars earthquake victims, the chief of the Vietnamese rescue forces on Monday held a meeting with local officials to assess search and rescue methods and operations. After the meeting, the Vietnamese search and rescue forces assigned ten officers to conduct a field survey to gather the specifics of the area and investigate the suspected number of victims. Engineering units will be deployed for demolition tasks. They will employ wall-imaging radar and search equipment to determine the exact locations of the victims. Approximately 30 medical personnel will also be deployed to establish a small-scale treatment facility, capable of providing both internal and surgical emergency care for the victims and locals in need. The Vietnamese officers also presented the Myanmar side with 30 tonnes of dry food for the earthquake victims. The delegation from the Viet Nam Peoples Army is set to divide into three teams and coordinate with the Ministry of Public Securitys delegation to conduct search and rescue operations as quickly as possible. The 106-member Vietnamese rescue delegation reached Yangon International Airport on Sunday night and travelled 500km to arrive at Naypyidaw, Myanmars capital city, at 3am on Monday. To help Myanmar address the consequences of the earthquake, Viet Nam has decided to provide emergency relief supplies worth US$300,000 at Myanmar's request. At least 1,700 people are now confirmed dead in Myanmar after what was the most severe earthquake to hit the country in more than a century, according to local authorities, but the true toll might be much higher. VNS HA NOI Real-world experiences and treatments for lung cancer and head & neck cancer were shared at scientific conferences entitled "Personalising Treatment for Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer and Head & Neck Cancer with Immunotherapy" in Ha Noi and HCM City recently. Jointly organisied by US pharmaceutical company MSD and Hanoi Medical University, the conference in Ha Noi was chaired by Assoc. Prof. o Hung Kien, deputy director of K Hospital, while the one in HCM City was chaired by PhD. MD. Specialist II Diep Bao Tuan , director of Ho Chi Minh Oncology Hospital. The conferences drew hundreds of experts nationwide, sharing insights to enhance clinical practice in lung and head & neck cancer treatment. By sharing real-world experiences and treatment insights from top hospitals, doctors and experts highlighted the growing role of immunotherapy in the management of advanced non-small cell lung cancer and head & neck cancer in Viet Nam. Advances in diagnostics, biomarker testing, and personalised treatment protocols are opening new opportunities - not only improving patients quality of life but also enhancing treatment outcomes, they stressed. In his opening remarks, Assoc. Prof. o Hung Kien emphasised: Lung cancer and head & neck cancer are among the most common cancers, with high mortality rates in Viet Nam. Notably, the majority of patients are diagnosed at a late stage, making treatment highly challenging. Therefore, regularly updating advancements in cancer treatment enables doctors to apply the latest knowledge and integrate it into personalised treatment regimens at their hospitals. According to an online database providing global cancer statistics, GLOBOCAN 2022, Viet Nam records approximately 24,000 new lung cancer cases annually, with over approximately 75 per cent diagnosed at unresectable stage. Alarmingly, every hour, three people succumb to lung cancer. Immunotherapy has been available in Viet Nam for nearly eight years, bringing hope for brighter tomorrows for patients. Additionally, head & neck cancer is a group of diseases that causes approximately 8,000 deaths each year, according to GLOBOCAN 2022. April is Head & Neck Cancer Awareness Month, a crucial time to come together to establish more effective treatment strategies for patients and harness the groundbreaking benefits of immunotherapy. Dr. Phan Trong Giao, medical lead of MSD Vietnam, shared: MSD is always looking for opportunities to exchange experiences with doctors on immunotherapy applications and personalised treatment while keeping them updated on the latest advancements. This contributes to improving the quality of diagnosis and treatment for patients. This event is a testament to MSDs enduring commitment to collaborating with hospitals, enhancing treatment standards, and expanding patient access to immunotherapy. With over 20 years of experience in oncology, Assoc. Prof. Surein Arulananda - deputy head of Medical Oncology Centre & head of Thoracic Oncology Trials Unit, Monash Health, Australia, delivered a compelling presentation titled How to Personalise Treatment for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer in the Immunotherapy Era. His insights sparked strong interest, enhancing attendees' confidence in personalized treatment. He highlighted PD-L1a protein with a broader presence, including on tumor cells as key to identifying patients for immunotherapy. Based on clinical data and experience, he explained how PD-L1 guides the choice between monotherapy or combination therapy, helping doctors tailor treatments for better outcomes and quality of life. Cancer patients deserve access to advanced treatments because they need more support to spend precious time with their loved ones and cherish meaningful moments in life. MSD will continue to strive to bring more tomorrows for cancer patients, shared Mrs. Katharina Geppert, Managing Director of MSD Vietnam. MSD, known as Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, N.J., USA in the United States and Canada, uses the power of leading-edge science to save and improve lives around the world. For more than 130 years, the company has brought hope to humanity through the development of important medicines and vaccines. VNS ASEAN has rapidly become one of the worlds most promising destinations for investment and business. (Photo: asean.org) Hanoi - The embassies of Vietnam, the Philippines, Thailand, and Indonesia in Denmark recently co-hosted the ASEAN-Denmark Business Forum, bringing together nearly 50 guests, including representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Chamber of Commerce, and major corporations of the host country. Addressing the event, Philippine Ambassador Leo Herrera-Lim, Chairman of the ASEAN Committee in Copenhagen, underscored ASEANs dynamic and strategically crucial position at the heart of the Indo-Pacific. With a booming economy, a market of over 670 million people, and a combined GDP of approximately 3.8 trillion USD, the region continues to attract European investors, including those from Denmark. During discussions, business leaders operating in ASEAN highlighted the thriving investment environment of member countries. They pointed to ASEANs emergence as a logistics hub, its young and increasingly skilled workforce, and its strong commitment to sustainable development and digitalisation, all aligning with Danish business priorities. However, challenges remain, including underdeveloped infrastructure, inconsistent legal frameworks, and complex administrative procedures, which pose hurdles for expansion. Despite these concerns, many Danish firms are determined to strengthen their footprint in ASEAN. Vietnamese Ambassador to Denmark Luong Thanh Nghi stressed that ASEAN has rapidly become one of the worlds most promising destinations for investment and business. With the third-largest GDP in Asia and the fifth-largest globally, ASEAN enjoys a prime strategic location between major economies like China, India, and Australia. He highlighted the blocs proactive economic integration efforts through initiatives such as the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA), the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC), and major trade agreements, including the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and ASEANs free trade deals with key global partners, including the EU. As global economic and geopolitical landscapes shift, ASEAN is emerging as a top choice for investors due to its adaptability to new trends such as digitalisation, cross-border trade, green transition, circular economy practices, and sustainable growth. Ambassador Nghi affirmed ASEANs position as a vast consumer market, a logistics hub, a production powerhouse, and a key partner for Danish businesses in various fields, particularly in green transition. He urged Danish enterprises to deepen their engagement in ASEAN, assuring them of the regions commitment to fostering a business-friendly environment and mutually beneficial partnerships. On this occasion, the ambassador also highlighted Vietnams efforts, as an ASEAN member, in implementing three strategic breakthroughs: institutional reform, infrastructure development, and human resource enhancement. He reiterated Vietnams and ASEANs shared dedication to improving the investment climate, ensuring the region remains a prime destination for global businesses, including those from Denmark. The world is going through a period of fluctuations, geopolitical competition, climate change, global epidemics, armed conflicts, trade competition, supply chain crises, and the remarkable development of science and technology, digital transformation, AI, and blockchain. These factors have caused the global financial and investment flow to constantly shift, said Minister of Finance Nguyen Van Thang. Minister of Finance Nguyen Van Thang gave a speech at the conference. Photo: Le Toan The conference was a continuation of activities to promote investment attraction and international capital mobilisation chaired by the Ministry of Finance on the same day, demonstrating strong political determination to realise the goal of building a financial centre in Vietnam. International finance centres are undergoing a restructuring process, moving from simply providing capital services to places where innovation converges, developing fintech, green finance, and innovative startup investment funds. In Asia, new financial centres have emerged in Mumbai, Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta. According to the minister, Vietnam, with its important geopolitical position, stable macroeconomy and improving investment environment, is facing a "golden opportunity" to position itself in the global financial centre chain. According to Nguyen Van Duoc, Chairman of Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee, the government's decision to choose Ho Chi Minh City as the location for an International Finance Centre (IFC) is a great honour, and at the same time, a heavy responsibility that the Party Committee, authorities, and people are making efforts to successfully implement. The IFC is not only a place where large capital flows converge, but also a strategic driving force to promote innovation, develop high technology, improve governance capacity, and increase competitiveness and integration. This is an opportunity to improve the efficiency of resource allocation, expand access to capital for businesses, develop infrastructure, and cement Vietnam's position in the global trade finance network, said Duoc. The development of the IFC in Ho Chi Minh City will bring socioeconomic benefits to the city and the country, and create a ripple effect to neighbouring cities and the Southeast Asian region. This will be the foundation for Ho Chi Minh City to improve its urban management capacity, develop sustainably, and expand comprehensive cooperation with global partners, he said. This year will be pivotal for the country's socioeconomic development strategy, and at the same time a strategic stepping stone towards the goal of becoming a modern industrialised country. To achieve that goal, Vietnam has identified the IFC as a strategic spearhead, helping Vietnam transform its growth model, improve efficiency, and increase international competitiveness by participating more deeply in the global financial system. Vietnam is currently drafting a National Assembly resolution on the IFC with the aim of establishing an open, transparent legal framework with preferential policies, in line with international practices. Building a financial centre is a new challenge for Vietnam, so we will learn from experience and work slowly to avoid missing this opportunity, said Minister Thang. We hope that the IFC will attract global financial flows and support existing financial centres." Experts debated how the IFC in Ho Chi Minh City should be developed. Photo: Le Toan Milcon Gulf Group expresses interest in international financial centre Private conglomerate Milcon Gulf Group on February 25 expressed its interest in the establishment of the Vietnam International Financial Centre (IFC) in Ho Chi Minh City. Ho Chi Minh City International Financial Centre to be built in Thu Thiem New Urban Area Thu Thiem New Urban Area on the Saigon River has been allocated as the site for Vietnam's first International Financial Centre. Quang Tri determines to have the VND5.8 trillion airport take off next year Quang Tri Peoples Committee on March 28 convened a meeting with relevant departments, agencies, and investors to resolve obstacles in the implementation of the provinces airport projectVietnams second airport developed under the public-private partnership (PPP) model. According to the Quang Tri Investment and Construction Project Management Board, Gio Linh district has completed land clearance for 239.4 hectares out of the total 265.3ha required for the project, with efforts ongoing to clear the remaining 26ha. The local authorities have already handed over the first phase of cleared landcovering 140.56haenabling the investor to begin work on the apron. Documentation for the second phase, which spans 98.9ha, has been submitted and is currently awaiting approval. To ensure flight safety, the relocation of a 110 kV power transmission line and two telecommunications towers is necessary. The project management board has proposed two options: either the investor undertakes the relocation directlymanaging compensation, support, and resettlement in coordination with Gio Linh districtor a state agency is appointed as the investor of a separate initiative to carry out the task. For water supply, the board worked with Quang Tri Clean Water JSC and the investor to survey and agree on a connection point at Quan Ngang Industrial Zone. Meanwhile, Quang Tri Power Company has identified a power connection point via the 22 kV feeder at the 110 kV Quan Ngang substation. Le Duc Tien, Vice Chairman of Quang Tri Peoples Committee, urged acceleration of land clearance and encouraged affected households to accept temporary resettlement to facilitate timely handover for construction. He also requested the investor to expedite the completion of documentation for the use of surface soil layers, submit it to the competent authority for approval, and proactively implement the relocation of technical infrastructure in line with regulations. The Quang Tri Airport project, led by the T&T GroupCIENCO 4 consortium, broke ground in July 2024. It is the second airport in Vietnam to follow the PPP model, after Van Don International Airport. The project has a planned implementation period of 50 years, including a 24-month construction phase. Operations are expected to begin in July 2026. Quang Tri breaks ground on delayed ecotourism project A groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of the Ru Linh ecotourism project in Quang Tri province was held on August 21. Quang Ninh faces $960 million economic hit after Typhoon Yagi Typhoon Yagi is estimated to have cost Quang Ninh province $960 million, accounting for more than half of the national damages during this storm. Hanoi to give over one million gifts to policy beneficiaries for Lunar New Year Hanoi People's Committee plans to present 1.1 million gifts worth over $22.4 million to policy beneficiaries and revolutionary contributors for Lunar New Year 2025. Shinhan Life Vietnam is rolling out initiatives focusing on three key strategic pillars: investing in distribution channels and expanding business operations; optimising operational management processes while developing a more diverse and competitive life insurance product portfolio; and enhancing employee and consultant satisfaction. Photo: Shinhan Life The company is refining its distribution ecosystem, streamlining internal operations and business activities, and implementing transparent and structured training courses to enhance customer experience. At the same time, Shinhan Life Vietnam remains focused on strengthening strategic partnerships to improve its capabilities and achieve a significant performance in 2025. Obtaining sustainable and comprehensive growth hinges on innovative initiatives that differentiate the company in terms of operational processes and product quality. Acknowledging this, the companys employees and consultants will continue to develop impactful innovations, leveraging insights from three years of operations in Vietnam and drawing from the expertise of its parent company in South Korea- Shinhan Life Insurance Corporation. These innovations are only possible with a team that understands the companys mission and vision and takes pride in the values it delivers to employees and the community. This 'Shinhan Pride' is nurtured and spread through a healthy corporate culture, demonstrated in mutual support to achieve common goals and meaningful corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives alongside business operations. On its journey towards achieving its growth targets this year, Shinhan Life Vietnam has taken decisive early steps, laying a solid foundation for future projects and initiatives. Photo: Shinhan Life With customers seeking transparent, swift, and seamless insurance solutions, integrating technology into operational processes has become a crucial focus for insurers. Recognising this, Shinhan Life signed an MoU with FPT Group on February 19. Under this agreement, FPT will collaborate with Shinhan Life in digital transformation, green transformation, and smart transformation, further enhancing ongoing digitalisation projects. A representative from Shinhan Life Insurance Corporation reaffirmed the companys strong commitment to full-scale digital transformation, emphasising efforts to improve service quality through technology and pledging continued support for Shinhan Life Vietnam in its tech-driven business operations. Alongside digital transformation, Shinhan Life Vietnam remains dedicated to developing new insurance products tailored to diverse customer needs, ensuring accessibility for Vietnamese consumers. On March 3, the company launched the regular premium universal life product 'Shinhan An Thinh', offering comprehensive protection, investment benefits, and additional privileges to help customers safeguard their financial future amid evolving economic and social challenges. Bae Seung Jun, general director of Shinhan Life Vietnam, noted that recent consumer trend reports indicate that global economic and political fluctuations significantly impact purchasing behaviour. "In this context, businesses must adopt differentiated strategies in products and services to meet customer demands and enhance accessibility. We will continue developing a diverse range of life insurance products tailored to specific customer segments, contributing to a fulfilling and secure life for our clients," he said. Photo: Shinhan Life Beyond business operations, Shinhan Life Vietnam continues to invest in CSR initiatives that deliver tangible value. Believing that supporting children and young people contributes to Vietnams sustainable future, the company has reinforced its partnership with SOS Childrens Villages Vietnam through an MoU signed on February 20. This agreement underscores Shinhan Lifes commitment to accompanying and supporting children and young people in their personal development and stable life-building journeys. 2025 is expected to be a period of recovery for the insurance industry, bringing both opportunities and challenges. With careful preparation and a well-defined strategy, Shinhan Life Vietnams leadership is confident that the company will achieve its growth objectives while continuing its mission to protect and support customers in Vietnam. General director of Shinhan Life Vietnam: Challenges offer pause for quality improvement Bae Seung Jun, general director of Shinhan Life Vietnam, delves into the companys strategy to enhance product and service quality, especially measures for monitoring sales teams to avoid risks and safeguard customers. Shinhan Life Vietnam is committed to sustainable community development Shinhan Life has been operating in Vietnam for more than three years with a commitment to sustainable and implementing impactful initiatives that deliver meaningful value to the community. What inspired you to join the Takeda Vietnam team, and what are your initial impressions of the country? On a personal basis, having visited Vietnam many times in the past, the culture, people, and food were something I could relate to. In addition, as a Singaporean who has been based overseas for the past three years, coming back to Southeast Asia was similar to coming home. On a professional perspective, Vietnams economic development and growth have been nothing short of astounding and the opportunity to be part of this growth bringing Takedas portfolio of innovative medical and vaccines to its population was very attractive. As I read more into Vietnams culture, its bamboo trees highly resonated with me, symbolising resilience, strength, and reflection of both the countrys spirit and our corporate philosophy. In my view, bamboo represents the strong foundation of values akin to its roots, the pivotal role of our people comparable to its sturdy trunk, and strategic flexibility, much like its bending branches. This metaphor encapsulates the essence of how I envision leading Takeda Vietnam, ensuring we remain rooted in our core mission and values while adapting to evolving healthcare needs. Benjamin Ping, the new general manager of Takeda Vietnam, Photo Takeda Vietnam What is Takedas corporate philosophy from your reflection? Takeda has a strong foundation for delivering long-term value and our philosophy passed down through generations. Our history began in 1781 with the sale of traditional Japanese and Chinese medicines in Japan, guided by the principle of sanpo-yoshi. A principle first practiced by a prominent group of Japanese merchants, it means good for the seller, good for the buyer, and good for society. Our successive CEOs have remained true to that in both word and action for more than 240 years, while articulating their own way to bring it to life. Today, Takedas corporate philosophy articulates why we exist through our purpose, where we are going via our vision, and how we deliver on that vision, through our values. Our corporate philosophy imperatives - patient, people, and planet - bring our corporate philosophy to life and guides where Takeda must invest to deliver on our purpose. More importantly, we cannot do this alone. We look to work with relevant stakeholders in Vietnam to bring these imperatives to fruition, ensuring that we continue by bringing values to the country, its people, and Takeda. How does Takedas corporate philosophy guide your commitments to patients, and how is this philosophy implemented in Vietnam? Takedas global corporate philosophy is centred around our commitment to delivering life-transforming treatments to patients. We prioritise patient-centric innovation, ensuring that our drug and vaccine development processes are aligned with the needs of patients. In Vietnam, we tailor this philosophy to address local health challenges by enhancing access to our innovative therapies in rare diseases, oncology, neuroscience, plasma-derived therapies, and vaccines. For instance, the introduction of a dengue vaccine in the country exemplifies our commitment to addressing vector-borne diseases exacerbated by climate change. Another key area of focus for Takeda is ensuring patients access to healthcare, medicines and vaccines; this is where we introduced tiered pricing of our products. At its heart, this is a framework designed to differentiate price levels based on a countrys economic development and healthcare system maturity. Takeda places significant emphasis on people. How does this translate into strategies for employee development and diversity? We believe that our people are our greatest asset, and our corporate philosophy reflects this through our commitment to fostering a culture of life-long learning, diversity, equity, and inclusion. Takeda people live our values every day, which are guided by incorporating integrity, fairness, honesty, and perseverance, with integrity at the core. They are brought to life through actions based on patient, trust, reputation, and business, in that order. To me, those words in that order are very powerful and truly reflect how we prioritise patients in our decision-making, and which is something I proudly remind the team regularly. Every employee, wherever they are in the organisation, has a responsibility to meet the highest standards of ethical behaviour at all times because everything we do impacts the most vital aspect of peoples lives - their health. Benjamin Ping is fostering innovation and collaboration aimed at ensuring Takedas positive impactful presence in Viet Nams healthcare landscape, and bringing meaningful improvements in patient care across the country. Photo Takeda Vietnam Can you elaborate on Takedas sustainability goals, and how they are adapted to the Vietnamese context? Takedas commitment to environmental sustainability is reflected in our ambitious goals to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in our operations by 2035 and across our value chain by 2040. We integrate environmental considerations into product development and operations through initiatives like the Sustainability by Design programme. For example, Takeda is committed to scaling its Plasma-Derived Therapies business while reducing its environmental footprint. Notable achievements include opening a zero-GHG emissions BioLife donation centre in Linz, Austria, and significant reductions in emissions, water consumption, and energy use across US BioLife centres. In Vietnam, we are aligning our local strategies with these global goals by assessing options to reduce our environmental footprint across the countrys value chain. The deployment of the dengue vaccine is an example of how we are addressing health issues linked to climate change. By collaborating with the Vietnamese government and local partners, we aim to contribute to national solutions for climate resilience and environmental sustainability. Takedas office was also specifically selected as it met both global LEED and WELL standards. Takedas values are guided by integrity, fairness, honesty, and perseverance, Photo Takeda Vietnam How does Takeda leverage data and technology to enhance its operations and patient engagement? Takeda is at the forefront of harnessing these aspects to drive innovation and improve patient outcomes. Our global digital transformation initiatives include virtual clinical trials, AI-driven drug discovery, and digital patient support initiatives. These efforts are designed to increase accessibility and diversity in clinical research while optimising our operations. In Vietnam, we are applying these technologies to enhance patient engagement and support. For example, we are exploring and applying digital tools to provide educational resources and personalised support to patients, ensuring they can manage their health effectively. By leveraging technology, we aim to create a seamless experience for patients and healthcare providers, ultimately improving health outcomes in the region and Vietnam. In addition, we are exploring various digital tools to augment our employees to do their work more efficiently and productively so that they can focus on more value-added work to better serve patients. (C-ANPROM/VN/NON/0010/ Mar 2025) Takeda Vietnam wins Best Workplace in Asia 2022 award by Great Place to Work Takeda Vietnam has prevailed over thousands of organisations to win the Best Workplace in Asia 2022 award by Great Place to Work, the global authority on workplace culture. Takeda Vietnam enhances effectiveness of dengue prevention and control The Pasteur Institute in Ho Chi Minh City joined hands with Takeda Vietnam to host a workshop on Innovating and enhancing the effectiveness of dengue prevention and control for public health on September 23. The Vietnamese rescue team from the Ministry of Public Security arrive in Myanmar on March 30 evening. (Photo published by VNA) Hanoi Vietnam's rescue forces will operate in Mandalay, which was the most heavily devastated by the 7.7 magnitude earthquake in Myanmar, Major General Pham Van Ty, Deputy Director of the Ministry of National Defence's Search and Rescue Department, said on March 31. Ty, who is also head of the Vietnamese mission, said that the forces from the Ministry of National Defence and the Ministry of Public Security arrived in Yangon at 8:30pm on March 30. They then immediately set off on a nearly 500 km journey by road and arrived in Naypyidaw at 3am on March 31. On the morning of March 31, the team is expected to meet with Myanmar's coordination committee to discuss and reach consensus on the tasks, methods, and organisation of the search and rescue operations. Following this meeting, the Vietnamese rescue team will proceed to Mandalay, located around 200 km from Naypyidaw, which is the epicentre of the most severe damaged area, with thousands of residents still trapped under rubble. As scheduled, the Vietnamese team will immediately begin their work in Mandalay once their specific tasks are assigned, while preparing accommodation and organising reconnaissance teams to begin search operations in line with the agreed contents in the discussions with Myanmar officials. Ty said that the Vietnamese team will be split into three groups to search the area as efficiently as possible, aiming to minimise the human suffering and loss of Myanmar people. He emphasised that the team is determined and undeterred by the challenges ahead, fully prepared to undertake all tasks to support Myanmar and its people in their time of need.